The marriage loophole (Tier 3)

Lana: Soo, what is it?

Anakin: You remember the marriage of Drek and Padmé, right?

Lana: Yes, what of it?

Anakin: Padmé found a way to annul their marriage at last!

Lana: Oh, great, I thought there wasn't a way to do that!

Anakin: Well, we thought the same too, but, following long days of searching at the main library of Theed, she managed to find an ancient law, that allows the marriage to be annulled.

Lana: That's great! Has she undone it already?

Anakin: Not yet... The law is very... specific, about the circumstances it requires.

Lana: Meaning what?

Anakin: It requires either the wife or the husband to lay with an offworlder or a non-human species...

Lana: But that's easy, essentially you and Padmé, not to mention Drek and Ranvi, have already done it! So it is done, isn't it?

Anakin: Not quite. It is also required to be personally witnessed by the then queen of Naboo... And at least one offworlder. The queen, then, must make the affair public with an announcement and dissolve the marriage herself. This is our only chance.

Lana: Well, that's a... dumb law.

Anakin: Yes! Drek could easily do it with Ranvi, but he is out of the question since he's been detained... This leaves only Padmé to do it... And since I am a Jedi, making our relationship public would cause me to be expelled from the order... Though it will be at least as hard to have somebody fuck her, who's not me...

Lana (curiously): And I come into this because she needs me as the offworlder?

Anakin: Yes, I wouldn't bear to witness it myself... And since you are here and know of the whole sensitive problem...

Lana (even more curiously): And for which role...?

Anakin (confused): As a witness of course! Why would she have sex with you, a woman?! She's not into that kind of thing!

Lana (thinking): Well, that would hardly be a first for her, but never mind...

Lana (rolling her eyes): Okay, forget I asked anything! At that point, I didn't know where all of this was going. Do you have a candidate for the "job"?

Anakin: It was harder to find than you would imagine.

Lana (thinking): I don't think it would have been too hard to find somebody who's willing to do that!

Anakin: We had to find someone without making the whole thing public information, otherwise her reputation would suffer for it and her enemies in the senate would use that against her. We asked Queen Neeyutnee for her opinion, as she must be part of it anyway. She suggested the previous leader of the Gungans, Rugor Nass, as a non-human candidate.

Lana: A Gungan? Why the ex-boss, not the current one, Boss Lyonie?

Anakin: Remember the invasion of Naboo by the CIS? Padmé had to personally kneel before Nass and swear that she would share the planet's administration with the Gungans, not to mention she would be forever in their debt, had they helped repel the invasion ****. He agreed, the administration has been shared, hence Jar Jar is a senator to this day, but her personal debt has never been collected by Nass technically. So, if they do "that", then she could have her marriage annulled and still be portrayed as a woman of her word, who would do anything for her planet as a queen or a senator. That's the best we could figure out.

Lana: Oooh, that must have taken some time to come up with! I mean, it's a good plan, it could still be used by some of her rivals to insult her honour, but she could somewhat counter that, if not fully. So, when do you need me?

Anakin: Padmé is here in Theed as we speak, I'll ask her about when we can arrange that, if you accept to be a witness.

Lana: I accept, I'll gladly help in any way I can.

Anakin (as your holocommunicator starts beeping): Thanks, I'll contact her right away!

Lana (looking at your com): What? Now? Okay, I'll have to answer that, privately, could you...?

Anakin (walking out of the room): Of course, I'll call her from the next room.

Anakin (activating his com once he's alone): I'm here, wishing you were here with me.

Padmé: Oh Ani, me too, but you know we can't be together all the time! Though I suppose you have persuaded Lana to be our witness.

Anakin: When have I ever failed you?

Padmé: This last obstacle and nothing will stand between our love!

They chat some more while you answer your com, the call is coming from Pre Vizsla.

Lana: Yes, Pre, what do you require? I don't have much time to chat now.

Pre (happily): Lana! It has been some time! Can't I just call my right-hand Mandalorian for no reason?

Lana: You are hardly the type for that.

Pre: How true, you know me well. Right to the point. We are preparing for the final siege of Mandalore. It'll commence 5 rotations from today. I expect to see you among our vanguard, which enters the city's dome first.

Lana: A siege? Already? You must have been busy.

Pre: It is our destiny to retake our homeland! Concordia has been our prison for some time, not to mention the clans that are scattered across the stars, but the time is here to make history! I'm assembling all the clans at our base, I hope you will be fighting by our side when the moment comes!

Lana: I'll be there if I can!

Pre: You are expected, as the most prominent member of Clan Ordo! Don't forget about your kin! Pre out.

Lana (after the com is turned off): Siege of Mandalore, well, that's... Interesting. I wonder what Satine is going to do about that.

Anakin (as he returns and knocks): Are you ready?

Lana: Yes, when can we meet Nass with the Queen and Padmé?

Anakin: They are all free to get this over with, in a matter of hours. We could head to Otoh Gunga, the Gungan city right away, Padmé is ready to go, the queen is busy attending a council, but she'll join us in the city via holo, as soon as she can.

You leave the palace with Anakin's ship and fly to the port, where Padmé has been waiting for you. Anakin stays at his ship, you and Padmé get into a submarine and dive into the deep waters, making your way to the great Gungan city.

As it appears on your horizon, the bright globes shine through the dark, flightless waters, like closely packed stars in the sky. The closer you get, the bigger the globes become, offering a magnificent sight. You have never been to Otoh Gunga before, nor have you ever seen such an underwater city. With your submarine docked, you meet the Gungan Boss, Lyonie, who instructs you where to find Nass. He's waiting for you at a private saloon, which could offer him and Padmé some privacy, once the deed is about to happen.

Nass was the boss of the Gungan during the invasion of Naboo, but was replaced by the Gungan during the clone wars. Padmé convinced him to help her and the Naboo in exchange for their recognition as equals. Then on, the Gungan had become friends and allies of the Naboo and the Galactic Republic.

Nass: Misa friends arrivin! Be welcommmmed, misa friends! Yousa Padmé bein much lately! Wesa had this debty for long timey!

Padmé: Forgive me Nass for making you wait for so long, I just had other businesses to take care of too.

Nass: Aaaah, yousa makin Nass waitin for so many years. Mesa thinken Padmé forgotten da debty!

Padmé: No, I haven't, I am a woman of my word.

Nass: Bbbbbbbbut yousa only coming to da Gungan, because yousa havin this marriagy business. Mesa feelin yousa usin mesa!

Padmé: Does it even matter Nass? You get what you want either way.

Nass (laughing): Haaaahaaahaaaa, yousa talkin tru! Mesa not carrrrrrin about what da Padmé want with it. Mesa thinken only that da Padmé seem tasty for long time! Mesa want da Padmé! And now da Padmé want mesa! Eeeeeh?

Padmé (embarrassed as Nass is blinking hard at her): Y-yes, I too want to be with you, Nass.

Lana (thinking): Oh my, this is rich! He can't even talk straight, this will sure be awkward to watch them fuck. But I did promise to help so...

Padmé: We still have some time Nass before the queen can join us, I suggest I and Lana leave you here alone, to properly prepare yourself for what is to come, okay?

Nass: Ahhh, yousa thinken mesa not prepared? Mesa always bein prepared for tasty thingy like da Padmé! But take your timey, but don't be latey like last timey!

Padmé: I would never, that's why I'm here!

You leave him in the room and Padmé makes a deep sigh.

Padmé: Phjuh, this is going to be rough! I have never been with a Gungan before, especially with an audience... If anybody needs time to prepare, it's me. I'll need some time alone and take a walk, I'll be back when the queen is ready.

Lana: Sure, take your time, I'll be there too!

Lana (thinking as Padmé walks away): Hmm, I have some time on my own, what should I do until they begin the "ceremony"? I could just stand here and wait, or I could take a walk and explore the city for myself.