Blood of Mandalore

by Kurenaino

Engaged in a bloody civil war, the Mandalorian government requests the aid of the Jedi to help protect their Duchess, the last hope for peace in their war-torn world.

14. Cadera

AN: Done! I know I said I'd have this up on Friday, but...the time I set aside for writing was taken up by a nap instead. Work kicked my ass this week.

Business keeping note, I'm going to update my profile a few times a week so you guys can have an idea on the progress on the things I'm writing. I've got a bunch of comments this week from you guys this week, and you seemed nervous about me abandoning this or my Sith Obi-Wan series, and I want you all to know that that's never, ever going to happen. The endings of both those fics are extremely clear in my mind, and I absolutely need to get there so I can write it.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this installment! Let me know what you think, your feedback helps shape the story. Most of you seem to want this thing to head fast into explicit territory, and I have no problem writing that, so let me know if that's what you guys are leaning toward. Alright, lovelies! Get to it!

Chapter 14: Cadera

Katra and Jakal Sharratt stared in wide-eyed, slack-jawed disbelief at Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and Duchess Satine Kryze as the two teenagers gracelessly shoveled food into their mouths from plates stacked high with an impressive assortment of the richest breads and meats and cheeses credits could buy, much of it imported from out of the war-torn system. They hardly chewed at all before they swallowed and returned to stuff more food into their mouths, the stacked plates quickly being cleaned before they grabbed more food from the spread at the center of the long table, their plates piled high by the time they returned to their seats to begin the process over again.

Many things about the Jedi and their royal charge impressed the last surviving members of the wealthy Clan Sharratt. The Jedi and their peerless combat prowess, aided by the mystical Force, a power that they could not understand. The pacifist Satine, so object to violence but just as skilled and accurate with a blaster as any of the mighty warlords that her clan had ever produced. But their ability to inhale nearly an entire banquet on their own was by far the most impressive thing about the impossibly thin teenagers.

"I don't understand," Jakal muttered to his sister beside him. "Where is all the food going? Look at the size of them, this is impossible."

"The poor dears have been starving, clearly..." Katra said, her eyes on the teenagers as she slowly leaned in toward Qui-Gon, the Master's face in his hands and shaking his head, his previous attempts to get his student and his charge to be civil and remember their manners such failures that he had given up and resigned himself to embarrassment and a future lecture on good breeding. "Master Jedi, have things truly been so terrible out there that our Duchess couldn't eat?"

"More often than not..." Qui-Gon muttered, pushing his own food around on the plate with a fork, the Jedi having nearly finished after eating only a modest amount. "We spent a month on Zanbar eating whatever we could find in the swamps or steal from the Death Watch, and the rest of the time, we have survived on ration bars when we could get them." Qui-Gon sighed heavily when Satine and Obi-Wan both reached to grab handfuls of freshly baked rolls from the trays as they were brought out from the kitchens. "We've had a few opportunities for real meals, but they're either been interrupted, or they refused to eat much for fear of having to run."

"A difficult thing for growing teenagers," Katra said with an understanding smirk. "When you leave, we'll be certain your ship is stocked with something more than simple rations. Nothing exactly fit for the royal company you keep, but your situation makes that difficult."

"Is the ship here?" Obi-Wan asked, his words muffled and barely audible through a mouthful of food, and he nearly choked when Qui-Gon shot him a warning glare. He swallowed hard, laughing nervously and tugging on his braid as he averted his eyes. "Has our ship been delivered, Lady Sharratt?" he asked again, and the woman chuckled as she leaned forward and tapped her fingers against the table.

"It has, you sweet thing..." Katra said in a low, seductive tone, one that made Obi-Wan flush furiously and Satine choke on the fruit she had just bitten into. "From the way the Duchess was speaking, it sounded as if she wasn't the only one attached to it. We made all haste to retrieve it."

"I-I'm not attached to the ship..." Obi-Wan muttered sheepishly. "Jedi don't really have attachments, we-"

"It will give us something to do while the ladies are speaking to the Caderas,"Jakal said, leaning in toward the Jedi across the table from him, and Obi-Wan sat straight up in his chair, his shoulders tightening as he looked between the lackadaisical Qui-Gon and Satine as she finished her plate.

"You and I will go over everything that is discussed," Qui-Gon quietly reassured his student. "We want to leave as soon as possible. The last thing we want is a repeat of what happened on Krownest. I need you to run the checks on the ship." When Obi-Wan's eyes flicked toward Satine, a swift, sharp pull through their connection made the Padawan quickly look at his Master, a faint flush coming to his cheeks when he felt that he had been found out. "Satine will be safe in my care, Obi-Wan."

"I-I know, Master, I just-"

"And here I thought Jedi didn't get attached..." Katra said in her amused, sultry tone, laughing softly when the Padawan cast his eyes down at the table. "Satine, your young defender is perfectly adorable, where ever did you get him?"

"I was assigned to the mission," Qui-Gon quickly cut in, explaining in Satine's place when it was clear that the Duchess was struggling to find the right words. "My student's presence is incidental. The indefinite nature of this mission made it impossible to leave him behind."

"Is that what you would have preferred?" Jakal asked, glancing sidelong at Obi-Wan as the hand grasping the braid tightened. "I've seen him fight, surely he has proven his worth."

"It was never a matter of proving himself," Qui-Gon explained. "Obi-Wan never had anything to prove. War is no place for a teenager. War is no place for anybody, but a young Jedi especially benefits most from an environment where they can study the Force in quiet, peaceful contemplation. The violence and horrors of war only serves to expose him to the darker sides of the Force, and he deserves better than that." The Jedi sighed heavily, the three young Mandalorians looking at him intently, and Obi-Wan staring at the floor, a slight, modest smile on his lips. "That being said, I could not do this without him."

"He is competent enough," Satine finally chimed in, a soft smile crossing her face as she looked at the Padawan beside her, her leg very gently brushing against his under the table, making the Padawan gasp and sit up straight in his seat, his hands quickly moving to his lap and balling into fists in the hem of his robes. "Even if several of our missteps were his doing."

"M-my doing?!" Obi-Wan gasped, turning in his seat to face the Duchess and gratefully moving his leg away from hers. "I would beg your pardon, Duchess, but none of this would be happening at all if your people weren't completely mental!"

"Mandalore needs guidance, it's true," Satine said, sitting up primly in her seat, her hands folded delicately on the table and her head lifted regally, looking every bit the high born woman she was despite her plain clothing. "But we wouldn't have crashed on Zanbar if not for your arrogance."

"I wouldn't have crashed if you hadn't been-" His breath caught in his throat, his words immediately swallowed when he felt Satine's ankle teasingly slide up and down his leg, a devious glint in the girl's eye that forced Obi-Wan to choke back a wanting moan. His Duchess was becoming bold, and even he could feel the pent up need from the night before burning just beneath his skin. "I-if you hadn't been such a distraction..." he managed to say without his voice shaking too much, though he was certain that his Master could feel the surge of desire before he slammed their connection shut, and he was fairly sure that his Mandalorian hosts, well-versed in the art of passion as all their kind were, could easily interpret his sudden discomfort.

"Are Jedi not trained to be steadfast in the face of distractions?" Satine asked sweetly, and when the Jedi didn't respond, she gently patted his cheek. "You must see how it is your fault."

"Y-yes..." Obi-Wan said breathlessly, a nervous laugh in his throat as he looked at the girl and smiled. "Apologies, Duchess. I'm...still learning."

"If you've had enough of teasing the poor boy, Satine, you and I must get you ready for your meeting with Clan Cadera," Katra said as she pushed herself up from her seat, the Padawan sighing in relief when the Duchess stood as well, her hand brushing along his shoulder as she moved away from the table. "Honestly, Duchess, I hope you're as sweet with that boy in the bedroom as you are hard on him in public."

"Don't be absurd..." Satine said coyly, glancing at the flushing Jedi, his chest rising and falling with his shaking, controlled breaths. "He's a Jedi. Jedi are forbidden from such things."

"Oh, the poor dears..." Katra drawled, running her fingers along Qui-Gon's jaw line when the Master rose to stand beside Satine, the Jedi quickly drawing back to get away from the unwanted contact from the sultry, amused Mandalorian. "Master Jedi, I would be happy to show you what you've been missing while we wait for Satine to bathe. I have a wealth of experience I'm willing to share, I promise you'll find it...informative," she said with a wolfish grin, and Qui-Gon calmly walked past her, his hand on Satine's lower back as he gently pushed her toward the door.

"A generous offer, Lady Sharratt, but I fear I must decline," Qui-Gon said evenly, though there was the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.

"Well, I have the walk to the rooms to convince you otherwise," Katra said, grabbing hold of Qui-Gon's arm and walking beside him. "I can assure you, you won't regret it."

"Perhaps not, but I fear you will," Qui-Gon said with soft, easy laughter in his voice. "I'm old enough to be your father."

"Younger still than the man that made me a woman," she said defensively as they strolled out of the dining room. "I was fourteen, you see, and my mother..." Her voice trailed off as she, the Duchess, and the Jedi left, her light and amused tones echoing down the hall, and at the dining table, Jakal sighed heavily and shook his head.

"She's a slut that knows what she wants..." Jakal said, leaning back in his seat and smiling at the flushing Padawan. "Great for business, but terribly embarrassing for a little brother if you have guests over." He gestured at the table. "Eat, Jedi, you're skin and bones, no doubt you're still hungry." Averting his eyes, Obi-Wan reached out and grabbed another roll and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing slowly as he continued to calm himself, the Jedi Code running through his mind. Becoming increasingly aware of the Mandalorian's eyes raking over him, Obi-Wan swallowed the roll and pushed away from the table, a shy smile on his lips and his gaze quickly averting.

"I-I have a great deal of work to do, Lord Sharratt, so-"

"Oh, please, you call me Jakal," the man said, standing up and walking around the table, grinning brightly at the Jedi as he slowly backed up to put some space between them. "Shall we get to work on your ship? Can't imagine what you need done, but I have a project of my own that you might help me with if you have some time waiting for your scans to finish..."

"Like my Master, I have no interest in-"

"This isn't about sex, Jedi!" the Mandalorian said swiftly, a sly smirk on his face as he looked Obi-Wan over. "While I would love to give you a sexual education, you beautiful creature, I'd hate to come between you and the Duchess."

"N-no, she and I...w-we aren't...sweet Force, you Mandalorians are torturous!" Obi-Wan said through clenched teeth as he quickly strode out of the room, Jakal close on his heels.

"Is it true you haven't gone to bed with the Duchess?" Jakal asked excitedly, and the Jedi simply rolled his eyes. "You must be mad, she is beautiful! The Mandalorian ideal of physical beauty. What are you waiting for? It's clear that you and she have something going on..." He frowned as he observed the Jedi's face. "...do you know how to-"

"Yes, thank you, I am human!" Obi-Wan growled. "The Jedi aren't all sexless, and I have a friend that speaks of sex without end, in great detail. I am educated on the subject."

"But your education isn't practical." Jakal laughed heartily when the Jedi flushed and shook his head, and he draped his arm over his shoulder and patted his chest. "Are you nervous about being unable to satisfy her, little Jedi?"

"No!" Obi-Wan gasped, shaking free of the man and staring at him completely appalled. "It isn't like that, she...I-"

"Because pleasuring a woman isn't so simple as pleasing a man." Jakal shrugged. "So I've heard."

"I told you!" Obi-Wan stressed, pulling hard on his braid. "She and I...w-wait, really?" he asked, stuttering over his words as he looked wide-eyed at the grinning Mandalorian, the man casually punching in the code into the console on the wall to open the secured hangar doors.

"Really," Jakal said when the door hissed open, ushering the Jedi through and slowly walking toward the Duchess' ship, Kenobi beside him breathing a small sigh of relief when he saw the vessel. "Us men are easy, a couple quick strokes, something warm to slide in and it's done, but women need extra attention, a skilled hand and practiced thrusts. You need experience to please a woman."

"Quinlan never mentioned anything about that..." the Padawan said under his breath, shutting his eyes tight and shaking his head. "...Satine and I aren't like that," Obi-Wan muttered, his hand running along the hull of the ship. "I am committed to becoming a Jedi Knight, my Code forbids love, and Satine has dedicated her heart and soul to Mandalore, she doesn't have the luxury of love because her life isn't hers to give."

"Noble goals, to be sure," Jakal muttered in disappointment, leaning in closer and searching for what he knew he had seen before, but couldn't seem to find it now. "You are better people than me, that's for certain. I don't think I could ever adhere to some higher purpose if it meant I couldn't take beautiful people to bed with me."

"...but suppose," Obi-Wan said as casually as he was able. "Suppose someone wanted to learn how, b-but only wanted that one girl. H-how would he-"

"Beats the hell out of me, I never learned how to pleasure a woman, I never needed to know," Jakal said dismissively. When he looked at Obi-Wan as the Jedi removed the panels on the engines, he found the teen crestfallen, the look on his face almost hopeless for a moment before it slid into an expressionless mask. "But, if you want my honest, expert opinion, I think this...supposed someone should perhaps go to this girl and practice with her as a way to both get a hands on education and to grow closer. Nobody is going to know how to please her better than she does, after all."

"...shit, that's a great idea..." Obi-Wan mumbled, and for the briefest of moments, he thought of what it would be like for lovely Satine to lay naked upon his bed and help guide the exploration of her body. He swiftly banished the thought when he felt his cheeks burn and the pull of carnal lust pull at the center of his being, but try as he might, the image of pale skin and the sound of soft moans stayed firmly rooted in his mind. "No, no!" Obi-Wan said swiftly. "Force, the thought! I-I don't want to...a-and with her, so help me!"

"Whatever you say, Jedi..." the Mandalorian said with a sly, knowing smile on his lips. Still, the idea was a good one! You're a clever bastard for having thought of it, Jedi," Jakal said as he patted the deeply flushed Obi-Wan on the shoulder. "Now, since you've shown me what a genius you are, you can help me with my project..."

"Y-yes, of course..." Obi-Wan said swiftly, grateful for something to distract him from his rogue thoughts and quickly replacing the engine panel when he saw nothing wrong. "As you said before, I will have plenty of time while I'm running the system checks and calibrations. Follow me, please."

Jakal followed Obi-Wan closely as the Jedi walked up the ship's ramp and into the narrow corridor back into the reactor where the inner workings of the fighter were housed, the Jedi running his hands over the consoles with a satisfied sigh, a slight smile coming to his lips as he stood in the familiar comfort of the ship's mechanics. It was simple here, devoid of any of the complicated emotions and primal urges that had been plaguing him as of late. It was almost meditative to be working on the machines, something that could be fixed with a swift and careful analysis, something that could be assessed with simple troubleshooting, something that worked beautifully when everything was in order. Even with his own conflict and troubles, everything here made it seem somehow manageable.

"What's your project, Jakal?" Obi-Wan asked softly after he had opened up the maintenance panel on the hyperdrive and ran a complete scan. The Mandalorian flashed him a cocky smirk and swaggered over to the complicated instrumentations and perched himself atop one of the consoles.

"Your trip's been hard, yeah?" Jakal asked, pointing at the Jedi and laying a finger on his chest, his absent tunic leaving part of his pale chest exposed underneath the fold of his robes. "You've got bruises and scrapes and more than one scar from blaster fire, and I doubt you picked that up in the Jedi Temple. And, you know, I could see the other Jedi being out there, but I think about you and gentle Satine fighting in this stupid war and running for your lives, and I don't know how you do it."

"It's not like we have a choice..." Obi-Wan said quietly, his arms crossed self-consciously over his chest and pulling his robes tighter to cover himself up. "Believe me, I'd like nothing better for this war to be over. I-I never wanted to even be here. Before I came here, I had to kill a man. One man, on a very dangerous mission. I had no choice in the matter, but it wrecked me." He laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair. "I kill people almost every day now and it weighs on me, but not like it should."

"It's awful what a person can get used to," Jakal said with a knowing nod. "But worth it for the safety of our Duchess." He laughed softly and held up his hand when the Jedi's jaw tightened, his fingers slowly winding around the braid draped over his shoulder. "Cheap words, I know, since you're the one bearing the burden-"

"No, no, protecting Satine isn't a burden..." Obi-Wan muttered, his hand running absently over the consoles, his eyes fixed on the readouts as the scan progressed.

"Of course it isn't..." Jakal backtracked, drawing closer to the man when he saw the teen's discomfort. "You care for her, that much is obvious. Which is why I thought I might do my part to help!" He waved his hand dismissively in the air when the Jedi shot him a curious look. "You know, beyond bringing you here and supporting your war effort, that falls on my sister. When we swept the ship before we brought it here, we found...armor." He grinned when the Jedi drew back. "Your armor, I assumed, and I thought, what better way to protect the future of Mandalore then by actually protecting her?"

"...you made her armor?" Obi-Wan asked, and the man's grin widened.

"The finest that Clan Sharratt's money can buy, which, I can assure you, is quite a lot," he said proudly, waving for the Jedi to follow him, and after quickly checking the progress of the scan, Obi-Wan followed the man out if the engine room and back into the hallway, the Mandalorian quickly leading the Jedi to the two rooms just outside the cockpit and pressing the button to open the door to Satine's room. Jakal walked inside, motioning for the Jedi to follow when he stayed out in the hallway, but Obi-Wan didn't move. "My Jedi friend, I know you're sweet on the Duchess, but she isn't even here! Come, there's nothing personal in here. I know it's hers, but this isn't intimate, you shy devil. Come on!"

With a deep, shuddering breath, Obi-Wan steeled himself and with a nod, he stepped inside, the room no bigger than the one he and Qui-Gon shared, but it somehow felt bigger. He crept closer to the bed where a dark gray set of folded iron armor lay, and he ran his fingers over the unfinished surface, the metal cool to the touch, and he picked up the chest plate, examining it with a critical eye, imagining it on his slight Duchess' body.

"It's light," he said quietly. "Much lighter than mine."

"You are bigger than she is," Jakal pointed out. "And as I said, the best that our credits can buy. I tool the liberty of sizing her up in the tank on the ride here, but...well, you've had your eyes on her more than I have, I've no doubt you know her measurements exactly."

"You've got a good eyes, it's perfect..." he said absently, laying the chest piece down and letting his fingers linger, brushing along it almost lovingly before he quickly drew his hand away and looked at Jakal almost apologetically. "Listen, I'm...I-I'm a Jedi, I'm not supposed to...Force help me, if my Master knew just how far gone I am, I-"

"Hey, relax, I understand..." Jakal said, laying a hand on the Jedi's shoulder and squeezing the lean, wiry muscle under his fingers. "It wouldn't be very Mandalorian of me to stand in the way of passion, especially not when it's the only damn thing to take comfort in so long as this stupid war goes on. Your secret's safe with me."

"...thank you..." Obi-Wan whispered, and the Mandalorian laughed softly when he felt the boy's shoulder trembling.

"Just doing for you what I wish had been done for me, my friend," he said, picking up the helmet from the bed and holding it in his hands. "It's the least I could do for the man protecting Mandalore's future...and Clan Sharratt's financial interests. Now!" he chirped, holding the helmet out to the Jedi. "What say you and I paint our fine Duchess' armor, and I'll tell you all about my teenage years. Make you look like a droid in comparison." He smirked and leaned in closer to the Jedi when Obi-Wan took the helmet and smiled. "Let's just call it part of your education."

---

"Satine, darling, we have clothing more fitting for a Duchess than that," Katra sneered, pointing at the simple, sky blue tunic she wore, the hems and sleeves trimmed with gold and fastened at her slender waist with a thick, black belt. Fine black leather boots that reached mid-calf covered light tan traveling pants, just loose enough to make movement easy and fluid. Beside the scion of Clan Sharratt, Qui-Gon smiled.

"Why, is there something wrong with it, Katra?" Satine asked, looking at herself critically in the mirror as she brushed out her hair.

"You are royalty, dear, we have apparel that reflects that!" Katra said, striding to the closet and throwing it open, the long, walk-in room lined with ornate, elegant gowns, gossamer shawls, intricate headdresses and enough shoes to outfit an army of party-goers. "No offense intended, but what you have chosen is so...common."

"I'm on the run, Katra, I can barely feed myself, I can hardly afford luxury."

"Yes, but you're not on the run now," Katra said with a roll of her eyes. "Right now, you are shielded under the roof of Clan Sharratt, and you're about to meet with the Caderas who are, might I remind you, your greatest potential ally, and I say potential because they have the army. If they wished it, they could put themselves on the throne of Mandalore and cut you out entirely. You need to look royal to remind them why they must follow you. You are their Duchess, and you must look the part."

"I-I don't know..." Satine said uncertainly, absently running her fingers through her hair and separating it into thick strands as she begun to create an elaborate braid. "Something about that just feels...disingenuous. I'm a Duchess, yes, but I have no clan and no people, not so long as the Death Watch holds Sundari. I think some humility is in order."

"I think you look lovely, Satine," Qui-Gon said, stepping beside his charge and kissing her cheek, and Katra scoffed, her hands on her hips and looking extremely offended.

"Oh, I see, I am not high born enough for you Jedi, is that it?!"

"Lady Sharratt, you had more than enough of my attention while we were waiting for Satine," Qui-Gon said, rubbing his temples and sighing. "Come, we'll be late."

"Follow me, you stick in the mud..." Katra mumbled, gesturing for them to follow and leading them out of the room and into the spacious halls. Qui-Gon gently took Satine's arm, forcing her to walk at his much more relaxed pace, her entire being anxious and trembling with tension, and Qui-Gon touched her consciousness with the Force and found her a turbulent mess of fears and hopes and nerves, the long months of war and running finally culminating in this moment.

"You must relax, Duchess..." Qui-Gon whispered. "You do not wish to look like a frightened child before the people that will help you achieve peace in Mandalore. You are to lead them, that cannot believe you to be-"

"W-what if this is a trap?" she whispered, frantically tugging on the Jedi's arm to make him lean down toward her. "What if they've been working with Death Watch this whole time!"

"Satine, if Clan Cadera is in league with Death Watch, who is left to fight the war against them?" he asked quietly, gently stroking her arm and using the Force to soothe her frazzled nerves, and although ineffective at first, the Duchess slowly began to relax. "I understand that it feels like the Death Watch is everywhere since they are hunting us, but you do have allies, and Clan Sharratt isn't the first to tell us about Clan Cadera."

"I know, I know you're right, I know..." Satine said, clinging tighter to the Jedi's arm. "I'm just...afraid, I guess." She suddenly stopped, her tight grip on Qui-Gon's arm pulling him to a halt as well, and the Duchess silently slipped her arms around his waist and gently embraced him. With a sigh, the Jedi returned the gesture, the thin woman getting lost in his robes.

"It's going to be alright, Duchess," Qui-Gon said quietly. "You are a truly remarkable young woman and Mandalore will follow you. This is just the start of it."

"You think so?" Satine asked, her voice muffled against the Jedi's robes, and she smiled when she felt the reverberated chuckle in his chest.

"I know so," Qui-Gon said, holding the girl out at arm's length and gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Trust yourself and trust your feelings. You don't need to pretend, just show them who you are, and they will follow."

"This is why she isn't sleeping with her young, hot Jedi," Katra shouted from the end of the hall, her voice echoing off the walls and making Satine stand stiff and rigid beside the relaxed Jedi. "She's sleeping with you!"

"I-I most certainly am not!" Satine gasped, appalled and disgusted by the very notion.

"Doesn't look that way from where I'm standing!" Katra said, her amusement only growing with the Duchess' discomfort. "I wouldn't have guessed you'd be into older men, Satine!"

"So help me, Katra Sharratt..."

"Hurry up, love birds, we're going to be late!" the woman drawled, pressing her hand to the wall and the door slid open. Stomping her foot in agitation and a pout upon her face, the Duchess strode with purpose after the woman, and with a sigh, Qui-Gon silently followed.

The room was dimly lit, mercenary soldiers stood along the walls, the holoprojector prepped and ready for the call to Clan Cadera. Standing in the center of the circular room were other Mandalorians in fine purple and gold armor, the others of high birth of Clan Sharratt who had come to get a look at the Duchess. The low buzz of conversation stopped when she entered the room, the armored men and women discretely pointing at the teenager, and Satine took a deep breath and drew up tall, her gait slow and purposeful as she walked to the center of the room to be within range of the holoprojector.

Qui-Gon stayed close behind her, his hands folded in the sleeves of his robes and keeping a watchful eye on the others in the room, save for the guards, all of them unarmed. He felt them through the Force, all anticipation and excitement and nerves, but he could sense no malicious intent. Closing his eyes briefly, he reached out to Obi-Wan, checking to make sure his student was safe, and found the Padawan to be not just at ease, but happy, a calm serenity surrounding him as he worked on the ship and passed the time with Jakal Sharratt. That confirmed it for Qui-Gon. If he nervous student wasn't fretting as he did, there was nothing to worry about.

The holoprojector flickered on, bathing the room in pale blue light, and Satine took a deep breath, her hands clasped together and her thumbs fidgeting, though she was otherwise still. After a moment of interference, the static took shape and slowly cleared, leaving behind a clear image of two Mandalorian warriors, both in black armor accented with white. They were both seasoned soldiers, perhaps thirty from the look of them, the man with dark blond hair ruffled from his helmet, the woman beside him possessing the pale blond hair so valued on Mandalore cropped just above the shoulder. Both the soldiers looked stern, cold, almost cross until they looked at Satine and very slowly, the two drew forward, curiosity quickly becoming disbelief and then elation.

"Duchess Satine..." the woman said softly laughing with relief as she looked the girl over. "I didn't believe them when they told me. I didn't want to believe them, it would be too much to find it wasn't true..."

"Duchess..." the man said, his voice straining with excitement and a bright smile on his face. "I am Torian Cadera, this is Shae Cadera, and we are at your service, Mand'alor."

"I told you..." Katra said, sauntering to Satine's side, and both Cadera's frowned, their arms crossed over their chests. "Satine is here and safe, as I said."

"Your prisoner, I take it?" Shae asked drolly, her foot tapping impatiently against the ground.

"My guest," Katra emphasized, and Torian scoffed with a roll of his eyes.

"For months, we have been trying to secure the aid of Clan Sharratt, only to have you deny us at every turn," Torian said harshly. "We heard Death Watch was vying for your favor as well, and now you contact us with our Duchess in your possession?!" He laughed, cold and hollow. "Tell me, did you contact Death Watch as well? Are we in a bidding war for the leader of Mandalore?! Your own family was murdered, I'd think you'd understand the plight of that poor girl! Has she not suffered enough?!"

"I understand your reluctance to trust me," Katra said softly. "My clan is opportunistic at best, and I am no different from my late mother who, by the way, the Death Watch murdered..." she growled dangerously, clearing her throat and straightening up. "But even still, would you have me lead my entire clan to extinction by resisting Death Watch while we were occupied? Yes, I hated them, but we only stood to lose."

"So what do you want," Shae asked tiredly. "What does Clan Sharratt demand of Clan Cadera so that we might bring Satine home where she belongs?"

"Nothing," Katra drawled with a shrug, smirking when she looked at the surprised and suspicious faces of the Caderas. "Satine isn't a product to be sold, she is an investment. As soon as this meeting is over, she and her Jedi will presumably be heading right to you while I sit at home and home I don't end up like the poor Iteras."

"Why..." Shae asked skeptically. "This is a big change for you. Our cause was never good enough for you before."

"Before your chances of winning were no better than any other clan in this conflict," Katra said, and Torian laughed harshly again.

"And it is different now?"

"Oh yes..." Katra said quietly, the two Caderas leaning in slightly as if to hear her better. "She has survived all this time being ruthlessly hunted. You haven't seen what the Duchess can do like I have. You haven't seen her and her Jedi, three people, defeat the Death Watch warriors occupying our fortress. You haven't seen what a good shot she is, as good as her brother and her father ever were, or how powerful her Jedi warriors are. But I have. I have seen it, and she cannot lose."

"I believe you,"Shae said, a small smile slowly spreading across her lips, her tense posture relaxing considerably, and she nodded her head toward the leader of Clan Sharratt. "Forgive us for our suspicion, this war has been more awful than you can imagine. Countless deaths, betrayal by ambitious idiots, the extinction of entire clans..."

"We have no unity," Torian said quietly. "Entire families are fracturing, nobody can agree on how to conduct the war or who to support, and just as many young idiots are looking for their own chance to take the throne of Mandalore. Clan Vizsla's hold is not a good one, and the clans have all jumped on the opportunity to show that they are strong enough to rule." He sighed and shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Everyone thinks they're a king."

"Which is why we need to end this war as quickly as possible!" Satine finally said, stepping forward and looking at the people around her with an intensity she hadn't felt in a very long time, her heart pounding in her chest and her blood rushing not with fear as it had so often as of late, but with purpose. "If we allow this to continue, there isn't going to be a Mandalore to rule, which is something all these would-be lords seem to have forgotten!"

"Which is why we turn to you, Duchess," Shae said respectfully, slightly inclining her head. "It's why Clan Cadera has always supported Clan Kryze. Your father was wise and just and strong, he raised warriors in your brother and your sister, but you, he groomed for rule. We have never forgotten that."

"We are up to our asses in ambitious idiots vying for the throne, all of them willing to kill and wage war to come out on top," Torian added. "But this isn't like the wars of old, this is a Clan War, and everyone is out for themselves, and not a single one of these idiots is wiling to lay down arms until everyone who opposes them is dead." He paused for a moment, his lips pursed as he thought, and with a slight nod of his head, he took a cautious step forward, as if testing unknown waters. "They believe we need a warlord when we need a diplomat. I see no other way for our people to have peace."

"Yes, exactly!" Satine said, her eyes lighting up with a fire she hadn't felt since before her family was butchered. "This war is...intolerable! It's an affront to life itself! We lost this war the moment the clans committed to fighting each other!"

"Duchess," Shae said, standing taller and her head held pridefully high. "We are by no means losing this war. Our allies-"

"We lost because Mandalore has lost!" Satine said sharply, her hand clenching tightly at her side. "We are dying. Our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers, all of us are children of Mandalore and we are killing each other! If we allow this butchery to continue, there won't be a Mandalore left to defend! We will just be another forgotten people, once great and reduced to nothing by foolishness. Is that to be our legacy?! Fearsome warriors who once brought the galaxy to heel, burned to ashes by our own ambition because we never learned?" She took a deep, shuddering breath, gasping softly as she laid her shaking hand over her chest and felt her pounding heart, and closing her eyes, she fought back the tears she felt stinging her eyes.

"We have to fight, Duchess," Torian said gently, stepping closer to the girl and his hands extended before him as if he made to comfort her. "Our enemies will not stop if we refuse to take up arms, they will just see us as easier targets. I know you idolize the ways of the New Mandalorians, but it just isn't possible."

"So are we to simply keep fighting until there is no one left?!" Satine snapped. "Where does it end, sir?" When the man had no answer, Satine quickly wiped the back of her hand over her eyes and stood up taller. "Our ancient warriors brought war to the galaxy so fierce that the Jedi had to be brought in to stop us, but we never did. And what did it get us? Mandalore and Kalevala devastated, made to be nothing but toxic, inhabitable wastelands, our cities forced to be encased in biodomes just for us to survive! It is madness that the warrior ways that saw to the devastation of our homeland still persist to this day. If we are to survive, if we are to move forward, we must lay down our arms and talk." She scoffed with disgust, taking a step back to bring her closer to Qui-Gon. "It's where all wars end anyway. With its leaders sitting around a table and talking. Why allow more dead to line the road to peace. We have had enough."

"Our enemies don't want to talk, Duchess," Shae said after a moment of silence. "A call for peace talks will be seen as weakness. They will take the opportunity to attack us."

"And if they do, we will defend ourselves," Satine said firmly. "I am against all this violence, but it is unreasonable to ask that we simply allow them to attack us. We will defend ourselves, we will protect our people, and when we do, we will do our best to capture, not kill, our enemies. Right or wrong, these are still my people, whether they like it or not."

"I doubt they will see it that way, Duchess," Shae continued. "They are Mandalorian, they will fight to their last breath, they will not accept peace unless it is on their own terms."

"And you believe them to be more stubborn than me?" Satine asked. "The blood of Mandalore runs in my veins as well as theirs, and I am just as relentless, if not more so, and my Jedi guardians will attest to that."

"I don't believe anyone could ever accuse you of being meek or weak-willed, Satine," Qui-Gon said with a slight smile on his face, his hands folded behind his back as he watched the Duchess draw up proudly.

"Anyone can be reasoned with," Satine said to the two Caderas. "Our enemies included. We are not the only ones who have lost their families, the other clans have suffered grievously as well. Nobody is fighting for the sake of war, we are fighting for our future. The continuation of this war offers only desolation and death. I offer peace and prosperity. There is only one choice. I can make them see it. I know I can."

There was silence in the room, every eye fixed on the young Duchess, the soft scraping of armor filtering through the air over the whir of the holoprojector as the mercenaries and Mandalorians shifted from foot to foot. Qui-Gon could see the Duchess' shoulders shaking, the remnants of the passion that ran through her like blood, the girl trying to calm herself but failing. She was a whir of emotions, determination and staunch idealism that she had hid deep within her, forged and enforced by the fires of war, her own fire only made brighter by hardship instead of doused as may have happened with a more timid teen.

"I believe you..." Shae said with a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders releasing. "There has been a great deal said about you, Duchess. Not all of it good. You stand opposed to our traditions, but though you may be a pacifist, you are a warrior, just as your brother and father were."

"Our fortress on Vorpa'ya is yours, Duchess," Torian added. "You have been running for far too long. Let us bring you home."

"I-I'll make my way as soon as I can!" Satine said with a bright smile, taking Qui-Gon's hand in hers and tightly squeezing it. "T-thank you. I know you're risking a great deal by putting your faith in me, but I will not disappoint, I swear it."

"I certainly hope not," Katra grumbled as she sauntered up to the hologram of the put-out Shae. "You're an investment opportunity, Satine, and if I had any doubts before, you've convinced me now." She quickly produced a datapad from a holster on her thigh, her finger quickly running along the surface. "Clan Sharratt will do what we can to support you, Duchess. Secretly, of course," she drawled, leaning toward the offended holographic images and smirking at their displeasure. "How is...five hundred thousand credits to start?"

A pleased smirk slid across Katra's face when the two holograms choked, their eyes wide as they gawked wordlessly at the hopelessly smug leader of Clan Sharratt. Even Satine staggered back, leaning against the Jedi for support and her small hand trembling in his. Pulling the stunned girl closer to him, Qui-Gon inched forward, looking between the three people that called themselves Satine's allies.

"That is an extremely generous gesture, Lady Sharratt," the Jedi said, bowing his head toward the now beaming Katra.

"As I said before, Jedi, lapis is extremely valuable, and all we do here on Draboon is mine it," Katra said in her playful, sultry tone as she winked at him. "Now, as I said, I will continue to fund your efforts to end the war in secret, which means I need you and Satine off my world as soon as possible. No doubt I'll be having to field the Death Watch soon enough. They're going to have questions, and it goes without saying that you need to be gone by then." She flicked a hand in the air and gestured to the holographic Caderas. "Lord and Lady Serious here will iron out the details of your journey to Vorpa'ya. I'll get you the clearance codes you need, and you go load up your ship and prepare for your journey."

Before Katra could move, Satine tore herself out of the Jedi's grasp and threw her arms around the stunned Sharratt, the woman gasping and wriggling and shooting a pleading look at the smirking holograms when the young Duchess tightened her grasp around her. "Thank you..." Satine whispered, sniffling as tears finally ran down her cheeks. "Thank you...all of you, thank you."

"We can't promise your safety, Duchess," Shae said, drawing up tall. "There is no such thing as safety anymore. But we can promise you the support of us and our allies. You needn't be alone anymore."

"We eagerly await your arrival, Mand'alor," Torian said, bowing slightly, and Satine released Katra, rubbing her eyes quickly before looking at the woman nervously.

"Will you be alright? If Death Watch is coming-"

"Don't you worry about me, Satine," Katra said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I survived the massacre of my family because I am very clever, and I know how to use my wealth as a shield. It will take more than Death Watch to bring about the end of Clan Sharratt. Just hold up your end of the bargain and end the war. This is an investment, after all, not charity."

"I will!" Satine said fervently, tightly grasping the woman's hands in her own. "I swear to you, I will."

"I don't doubt it..." she muttered, handing the Duchess off to the Jedi and wiping her hands on her leg. "Now get out of here. We all have a great deal of work to do."

With a bright smile at the holograms and her benefactor, Satine took Qui-Gon's hand and pulled him out of the room, the teenager practically floating down the halls as she led the Jedi swiftly through the fortress to ready herself for her journey to safety within Clan Cadera.

---

Satine grew increasingly more excited as she and Qui-Gon walked toward the ship, the girl clutching the hem of her tunic and wringing it in hands that shook with anticipation. The elation of the meeting hadn't worn off, and from the moment she left the room, she had been crawling out of her skin to tell Obi-Wan of what had happened. By the time she reached the hangar and saw the ship, she could take it not a second longer, and she tore herself from Qui-Gon's side and sprinted toward the extended entry ramp, grinning broadly when she heard her Jedi's clear, light laughter in the corridor.

She found him quickly, the boy sitting cross-legged on the floor in her room, and she nearly rushed inside and threw herself at him, swiftly stumbling to a stop when she observed her surroundings. Her Jedi wasn't alone, instead sitting opposite Jakal Sharratt, a bright, easy smile on his face as he spoke to the other man, an assortment of tools and pieces of Mandalorian armor laid out before them. Obi-Wan looked up, his blue eyes wide and almost nervous for a moment before he quickly jumped to his feet, his fingers quickly winding around his braid as he fidgeted, shy and uncertain as he stared at his equally awkward Duchess. On the floor, Jakal looked between the two, a knowing smirk on his lips and throughly amused.

"I-I'm sorry..." Obi-Wan said quickly when Satine said nothing, his cheeks burning as he remembered where he was. "I-I didn't mean to invade your privacy, Duchess, but Jakal had...w-we were just..." He groaned softly in irritation and tugged hard on his braid, taking a deep breath as he reorganized his thoughts and picked up the helmet from the bed, painted with painstaking care in the blue and white of Clan Kryze, the paint dried and burnished to a brilliant sheen. Holding his breath, he took a step toward Satine and held the helmet out to her. "Jakal had armor crafted for you. T-to protect you. We were painting it."

"You did this for me?" Satine asked quietly, reaching out and gently taking the helmet, a small smile on her face as she looked at the two men, and the girl made a move to enter the room, but hesitated and stayed firmly rooted in the doorway. "Thank you, Jakal. It's...beautiful," she said, looking at the completed chest piece on the bed and the helmet in her hands. "Truly, it is. I've never seen armor so fine."

"I simply paid for it, Duchess," Jakal said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Your Jedi is the one that made it beautiful. He's a fine artist, if he ever comes to his senses and abandons the Jedi to join Mandalore, he could do well painting and finishing armor." When the Jedi scoffed, his neck and cheeks reddening, Jakal laid his arm over Obi-Wan's shoulders and patted his chest. "It's a marketable skill, Kenobi! Trust me, I'm a Sharratt, we deal in marketable skills, and a good armor artist can make quite a lot of credits!"

"Obi-Wan is on the path to becoming a Jedi Knight, Jakal," Satine said, the slightest hint of pride in her voice. "It's a noble calling for one with his gifts. There isn't a more selfless way to put one's talents to use than in the service of others."

"Ugh, sounds boring!" Jakal said with a roll of his eyes, patting the terribly humbled Jedi on the back. "I suppose we need men like you so men like me can continue not giving a damn, yes?"

"I-I don't know if-"

"Don't answer that, Jedi," Jakal grumbled with a roll of his eyes, his arms crossed over his chest as he took a step back to observe the two teenagers as they shyly, awkwardly stood facing each other, though neither would look at the other.

"It's beautiful work, Obi-Wan," Satine whispered, clutching the helmet tighter. "It was a thoughtful gesture. T-thank you..."

"You deserve nothing less, Duchess..." Obi-Wan said quietly in return, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he struggled to resist the sudden pull he felt toward her, the swift surge of affection that had been sitting heavy inside him for so long. He long just managed to keep his feet rooted to the spot, just as Satine was doing. "How was your meeting with Clan Cadera?" Satine softly gasped, drawing up quickly as though she had suddenly remembered something she had forgotten, and a modest smile crossed her lips.

"I need you to set course for Vorpa'ya," Satine said firmly, though her voice trembled with barely concealed excitement. "Clan Cadera has extended the invitation for us to join them in their home. We're going, of course." She held her head up high, and Obi-Wan carefully ventured a glance at her, his breath catching in his throat when he noticed her for what felt like the first time that day. For a moment, he had almost forgotten how beautiful she was, but seeing her now, bathed and carefully groomed, it stood as an almost painful reminder of how stunning the teenage girl was. She was royalty, after all, and she wore her beauty with the grace of one born into her role. And even still, she was not yet a woman, but even just a few months after having met her, Satine had begun to grow into her body, the beauty that her features promised beginning to shine through as she neared adulthood. The Jedi couldn't help but wonder when that had happened. He certainly hadn't seen it before.

"Of course..." Obi-Wan said absently, quickly clearing his throat and looking shyly at the Duchess' feet. "The meeting went well then?"

"Very well!" Satine chirped, clutching the helmet to her tightly. "They said they will willingly follow me. A-and Katra is going to fund the war, she has already forwarded half a million credits to our cause!"

"A generous offer," Qui-Gon said as he walked down the hall toward them, stopping just outside and standing behind Satine, the Padawan quickly averting his eyes and pulling hard on his braid. "But a conditional one. We need to leave immediately, she is expecting Death Watch to come investigate their missing commanders. We need to be gone before then." When Obi-Wan shot Satine a worried glance, the Duchess awkwardly shrugged.

"She said she'll be fine..." Satine said, trying to sound confident, but the quivering in her voice quickly betrayed her.

"And she will, Duchess," Jakal quickly reassured her. "My sister is very clever, and so far as any of them know, she is the lover of one...both of the commanders stationed here," he said slyly, looking sidelong at the furiously flushing Satine. "The only thing Death Watch doesn't have their hands on is our credits, and they will remain here so long as they think they have a chance for it. As Katra said, war is expensive, and the Death Watch campaign is especially costly since they need to hold Sundari. They need us."

"And I am eternally grateful that your clan supports us," Satine said with a relieved sigh. "I don't want to leave them, but...Qui-Gon is right. We need to go if Katra has a chance of maintaining her ruse."

"Yes, yes, you must leave with all due haste!" Jakal drawled, looking wolfishly at Obi-Wan as he sauntered out of the room and grabbed hold of Qui-Gon's arm, the Jedi Master looking at the other man with confusion written on his face. "But not before we stock up your ship! We promised you real food, I believe, and in the event that something goes wrong on your journey to Vorpa'ya, you should be ready!" He tugged on Qui-Gon's arm, but the Jedi wouldn't budge. "And thank goodness you arrived when you did, Master Jedi!" Jakal chirped. "I need help loading the ship! Come, you need to select everything you want!"

"You couldn't have done this while we were in the meeting?" Qui-Gon asked, arching an eyebrow as he looked at his student as the teen chewed on his lip. Jakal gave his arm another tug.

"Have you seen how scrawny he is!" the Mandalorian asked, his tone shocked and appalled, and he once again pulled at the Jedi. "No, no, he can't lift a crate, I needed you! And we were busy installing a new hyperdrive in this piece of junk!"

"The top of the line, Master," Obi-Wan said meekly when Qui-Gon shot him a questioning look. "We should be a good deal faster now. There won't be many ships we can't outrun."

"And we had armor to paint," Jakal said quickly. "Very busy, you see. Come!" he said, tugging on his arm relentlessly, enough to make Qui-Gon stagger as his balance was disrupted.

"A-alright..." the Master said with a sigh, allowing the enthusiastic Mandalorian to pull him away, "I'll be back soon, Obi-Wan, ready the ship for our departure!" Qui-Gon said, his voice raised so the Padawan could hear him as he was led down the hall. "Make good choices!"

"I-I will, Master!" Obi-Wan called back, the boy sighing heavily as the Jedi disappeared, his hand running through his hair nervously as he looked at the Duchess in the doorway.

The moment Qui-Gon's footsteps could no longer be heard, Obi-Wan laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he started to say something, and was quickly cut off when Satine strode into the room and threw herself against him, her lips covering his own as she fiercely kissed him, her hand hooked behind his neck preventing him from pulling away. The shock was enough to keep the Jedi from doing anything, his hands instinctively coming to rest on her hips and his stunned mind suddenly flooded by the girl's overwhelming passion slowly returning the gesture, but the moment his senses returned, Obi-Wan tried to back away from the girl, only to find himself hitting the wall in his retreat and leaving him nowhere to go.

"Satine..." he hesitantly started when he managed to draw his head away from her, the struggle to catch his breath made much, much more difficult by the Duchess' wandering hands and the feel of her body pressed flush against his that kept him pinned to the wall. "Satine, we can't, my Master-"

"Isn't here..." she said breathlessly, lining slow, languid kissed down his throat and delighting in the soft, tortured groan she pulled out of hin when her fingers traced lower and lower on the strong muscles of his abdomen.

"B-but he'll be back soon!" Obi-Wan gasped, his hands swiftly wrapping around her arms with the intention to hold her at bay, but he found he lacked the strength to do so, his muscles tightening as he shivered and he instead drew her closer to him. "W-we can't! You're going to rule now, aren't you? Y-you can't...w-we can't-"

"Just shut up, will you? You're ruining everything..." Satine muttered, her hand wrapping around his braid and pulling him down to her level, and the deep, wanting groan in his chest and the struggle on his face as she watched his resistance crumble made her heart race, her own excitement rising and pushing her to press her lips against his again. The Jedi resisted less this time, instead of making attempts to reluctantly pull away now pulled her close and leaned into her touch, easily following her lead as she spurred them onwards.

Swift, light kisses almost frantic in intensity quickly became deeper, more passionate as the teens lost themselves in each other, all sense of time and place leaving them as they touched and stroked each other. All thoughts of Qui-Gon disappeared as the Duchess placed her hands on the Jedi's shoulders and pinned him against the wall, the breathless, moaning boy allowing her passion to infect him and sweep him away, barely managing to keep a grasp on his senses as he so eagerly allowed the Mandalorian to overcome him. For just a moment, he allowed himself to revel in the feel of her against him, his body relaxing and slowly easing into perfect harmony with the Duchess as he matched each of her movements.

Obi-Wan's conversation with Jakal echoed through his mind when a soft, wanting moan was pulled from his Duchess, the girl moving even closer and rolling her hips suggestively against his, and he couldn't help his mind from conjuring images of Satine and him more passionately engaged, naked and moaning as he thrust within her. The sudden pulse of lust within him and the stirring in the pit of his stomach was enough to shock Obi-Wan out of his haze, a feeling that Satine must have shared because the girl suddenly tensed in his arms and slowly broke the kiss with a reluctant groan, though she didn't draw away from him to allow sanity to reassert itself, instead laying her head on his chest and tightly clinging to him as if he would be gone the moment she let go.

"I wanted to say thank you, Obi," Satine whispered after she had caught her breath, her ear pressed against the Jedi's chest as she listened to the rapid humming of his heart, the rise and fall of his lungs, each and every gasp and soft moan torn from his chest as he tried to calm himself. "If it weren't for you and Qui-Gon, I'd be dead, and what happened today, this alliance, my...allies helping me step into my place...w-well, none of it would have happened if it weren't for you." She smiled up at him when the flushed boy modestly averted his eyes, and Satine gently cupped his cheek, her fingers gently stroking his jaw line as she turned his head to look at her. "All of it is because of you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I haven't forgotten that. I will never forget that."

"My Master did more than I did..." Obi-Wan muttered modestly, trying to tear his eyes away from the intense, adoring eyes of the Duchess, but he found himself trapped in the clear, bright blue. "A-and it's not like you didn't do anything. You're...amazing. Every time we get into a mess, you continue to impress me with what you can do and the lengths you will go to, not just to escape and survive, but to save the people trying to kill you." The Jedi smiled softly and brushed his fingers through her hair to twirl a stray strand. "It's...beautiful. You'll make a fine ruler for Mandalore."

"I'm glad that Clan Cadera could see what you do, my Jedi," Satine said, softly pressing her lips to Obi-Wan's jaw, and the boy laughed slightly as he drew her closer.

"How could they not? You shine so brightly, Satine, even the blind could see it." When the girl nestled against him with a satisfied sigh, her flushed cheek burning the skin of his chest and the contact between them making his heart race with the feel of electricity, Obi-Wan gently hooked his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up, gasping softly as he got lost in the look of longing on her face. "I wish I could have seen you in that meeting. I bet you were magnificent..."

"There will be others," Satine said, her fingers lightly tracing down Obi-Wan's neck and under the cut of his robes, soft, keening gasps torn from the boy when her fingernails gently scraped across his chest. "I have allies now, but the war isn't over yet. You'll be in my service for some time yet, my Obi-Wan," the girl drawled, her voice low and heavy with suggestion as her hands rested on the Jedi's sides and lightly grabbed at his hips, and the hapless Obi-Wan responded with a deep, wanting groan as his resistance crumbled.

"Y-you've been asked to lead," the Jedi stammered, swallowing hard and trying to steel himself against the Duchess' touch and the sparks that existed in the close contact between them. "Your duty, Satine, it begins now."

"Which means we need to take advantage of these moments when we have them," she whispered, pressing closer to the Jedi and eliciting a deep, breathless moan from the boy when her fingers dipped just below the waist of his pants, her own movements hesitant with nerves and her bravado faltering with her inexperience, but desire and the urgency of their limited time kept her hand in place. She waited for Obi-Wan to say something, anything to make her stop, to remind her they could not do this, that they were a distraction, that their feelings flew in the face of his precious Code, but the Jedi said nothing, only leaned back against the wall, his eyes closed as he surrendered to the blissful sensation of the Duchess' touch, his chest rapidly rising and falling with his mounting arousal.

Satine felt her own heart beat faster with the building of her own passion, a remnant from the heated blood that ran through her during her imposition to Clan Cadera, and though she knew that Qui-Gon wasn't far away, that they had already spent too much of their very limited time, she found she couldn't look away from her Jedi's face, a thrill running through her as she watched him struggle for control that was quickly slipping away from him. Pressed so closely to him, she could feel the beginnings of his arousal made physical, and instead of the nerves she had felt before each time they grew heated enough for this to happen, she felt curious. Nervous, yes, certainly a bit fearful, but the anxiety she felt wasn't all reluctance, but a fair bit of her own anticipation to go further, her fear less about allowing themselves to fulfil their desires and more about getting caught and being forced to stop.

And she didn't want to stop. They had always broken away before, always given each other the space they needed to calm themselves, to allow the space between them to stifle the arousal that pulsed strong through their bodies. Each time had been more and more difficult to break away, the intense passion between them more and more difficult t quell, and now it seemed as though those flames had never been completely doused, only left to smoulder so that the next time, the stoked flames could grow hotter than before. Now, the tension between them had grown to a near fever-pitch, and Satine knew that neither she nor her stalwart Jedi would be able to stop it for much longer. They needed each other. They wanted each other, and their limited time together made the prospect of waiting unbearable.

It just couldn't be now.

"Obi..." the Duchess started, trying to pull herself away, but the Jedi's gentle grip on her was insistent and he refused to let go, only pulled her closer and with a deep, desperate moan, he quickly seized her lips with his own, passionate and hungry and deep enough to drown Satine in the passion between them. She quickly took command when she felt the pull within her, her hands placed firmly on his shoulders to pin him against the wall and pressing back hard into him, their soft gasps becoming keening moans as they fed off each other's passion. It was easy for Satine to get lost within Obi-Wan, even easier for her to slide his robes off his shoulders and stroke the heated skin of his chest, her breath hitching when she felt the strong, lean muscle quiver under her touch, and leaning up into him, she let herself go, everything forgotten save for the inevitable conclusion they were swiftly rushing toward.

It only stopped when the Jedi shivered, the moan in his throat becoming a soft, reluctant whimper as his hands tightened on the Duchess hips, pulling away from the kiss with a long, shaking groan. When Satine reached up to stroke his face and bring him back down to meet with her once again, the Jedi turned his face away, his eyes shut tight and his jaw clenched, the hands on her hips straining with such effort that even the lost Satine noticed and slowly pulled away, a concerned look on her face as she closely examined her Jedi's face. When Obi-Wan finally opened his eyes and flashed her a shy, nervous smile, Satine found his clear blue eyes a stormy, thin ring encircling a wide, dark pupil, mad with lust and desire that he only just managed to control, and it was enough to give the Duchess pause, the girl reaching out and gently taking his hand as she took a small step back, the boy sighing in relief as she did.

"M-my Master..." he whispered, casting his eyes at the ground when he felt he could no longer look at the young woman and maintain his composure. "He'll be back soon, I-"

"I understand, Obi-Wan," Satine said gently, smiling when she felt the boy tightly squeeze her hand. "Truly, I do. You said so before, I should have listened. I'm...sorry to have put you through this, I just-"

"Your emotions run high," Obi-Wan softly added when the Duchess faltered. "They always have, it's a part of being Mandalorian. You are a creature of passion, Satine. It's...one of the things I admire most about you." With a soft smile that was equal parts grateful and apologetic, Satine slipped her arms around the Jedi's waist, the boy hissing softly when she laid her head on his chest and listened to the strong beating of his heart.

"I don't know next when we'll be alone, Obi-Wan, but when we are, when we have time, I'd very much like for us to get closer," Satine said, her fingers lazily twirling around his braid. "I-if you'll have me, that is," she added quickly when she felt him tighten in her grasp. "I know it's...breaking your Code. I may be asking too much of you, b-but-" She huffed in frustration and bit down on her lower lip as she thought about how to say everything she felt without scaring her timid Jedi away, but could come up with nothing. "I just...don't know what we are. You aren't my boyfriend, and we certainly aren't lovers, s-so..." She sighed and gently cupped the Jedi's cheek, her thumb running over his lips. "What would you even call a Duchess and a Jedi when we are forbidden from everything we wish we could be?"

"I-I don't know..." Obi-Wan quietly confessed, taking her hand and bringing her palm to his lips. "I-I know the time we do have is precious, but...there's no reason to rush this. We can take our time and find the answers together." For a long moment, Satine was silent, her lips pressed in a thin line as she looked into her Jedi's eyes and watched the enlarged pupil slowly recede, leaving her to look into clear, vibrant blue once again. Slowly, a relieved smile crossed her face, the tension she felt suddenly eased and her nerves about rushing into the unknown soothed.

"You know, for a boy that is so often making mistakes and saying the wrong things, you certainly know how to say the right things when it matters." Obi-Wan scoffed, and before he had a chance to say anything, Satine stood up on her toes and swiftly kissed his cheek. "You better go prepare yourself for your Master, my Knight. I'd hate for him to put an end to what we have before we could truly begin because your connection with him gave us away."

"With my luck, he already knows..." Obi-Wan groaned with a roll of his eyes, and with a swift, chaste kiss to the Duchess' lips, he walked slowly to step out into the corridor, the girl following him to lean in the doorway, her fingers tracing small patterns on the wall. "I'm...going to take a shower. If you need me-"

"Oh, stars above, Obi-Wan, I can manage myself while you're in the bathroom," Satine teased with a roll of her eyes. "I was going to try the armor on, which I was going to do alone anyway, thank you very much."

"But if you need me-"

"I know where to find you, dear," the Duchess said with a sly smile. "I suppose I should just barge in there while you are bathing were something to happen. Surely you could defend me even without your clothes on. Couldn't you, my Knight?" Satine grinned broadly when the Jedi flushed a deep shade of red, muttered something under his breath, and quickly made his way into the fresher, the door sealing behind him and the muffled sound of running water accompanying the soft hum of the engines. With a quiet, longing sigh, Satine shot one last look at the door her Jedi disappeared behind before she disappeared inside her room, the door closing with a hiss behind her.

Obi-Wan quickly shed his clothing as soon as he had locked himself in the room and turned the water on, and taking a deep breath of the air as it filled with steam, he stepped underneath the stream of water, wincing slightly as the hot water touched his skin before he became accustomed to the feel of it. Sighing heavily as the hot water did nothing to cool the blood in his veins, he reached out to turn the heat off, but quickly stopped, his hand hovering over the handle and his eyes glancing down the length of his body to where his member stood fully and painfully engorged. Swallowing his desires before had done him no favors, and was partially to blame for his inability to control himself now, the pressing need within him continuously repressed now bucking and aching for release which he had so adamantly denied himself.

He was uncertain how long it would be before he could have another chance to be alone, and in close quarters with watchful Qui-Gon and alluring Satine would do him no favors, and his rogue body wasted no time in reminding him how badly he desired to be intimate with the lovely Duchess. His Master would no doubt notice, which was far more embarrassment than Obi-Wan was willing to endure. Something had to be done, and with Qui-Gon away and Satine sequestered in her quarters, now was as good a time as any. Closing his eyes and quietly blocking himself off from the connection he and his Master shared, Obi-Wan took his hand away from the handle and wrapped it around himself.

Reveling in the feel of the water running through his hair and across his back and shoulders, he leaned his elbow against the wall and rested his head in the bend of his elbow as he slowly began stroking, his already full erection throbbing with each movement of his hand and hardening further in his grasp. For just a moment, Obi-Wan bit down on his lip and tried to stifle his ragged, breathless panting, but quickly stopped when it merely resulted in deep, shaking moans deep in his chest. With a shuddering sigh, he let himself go, relaxing and surrendering to the feeling of euphoric tension that rushed within him as he slowly pleasured himself, his mind filling with Satine as he imagined her naked and gripped in the throes of sexual euphoria.

Through the rushing of the water in his ears, he could almost hear her moaning his name in his ear, could almost see her laid out before him though his eyes remained closed. His shoulders shook as they heaved with each heavy breath, his throat occasionally tightening with a moan or a whimper as his thumb circled the sleek, sensitive head, his hand tightening with each pulse of pleasure torn from him, his stroking becoming quicker as he felt the building tension begin to reach its peak. It was more intense than the times he had done this in the past, his desires given focus lending him more pleasure than he knew what to do with, his imagination running wild with vivid images instead of the vague ones of before. Where before he had always felt tremendous shame for his body's weakness and his own submission to his baser needs, now he quietly embraced the feeling, reveling in the warmth spreading within him, embracing the feel of the Force as it's warm breeze turned hot with the passion he fed it.

Unable to hold off any longer, Obi-Wan bit down on his lip to keep himself from moaning Satine's name as orgasm crashed down upon him in a wave, his stroking slowing as his hips rolled with each pulse of pleasure tearing through him as his ejaculate splattered the wall. He moaned softly as he continued stroking his throbbing erection as it slowly began to subside, riding out the euphoric tide for as long as he could before he felt his hand slicked with semen that lazily pulsed out of the tip. When his breathing slowed and his pounding heart eased back into a calm, even beat, he opened his eyes and stared tiredly at the wall before him, the traces of his orgasm running in thick, white ropes down the wall.

For a long moment, he just stared, his shaking legs protesting any movement and the rest of him simply too tired in his satiation to consider anything other than falling asleep under the warm, running water. He stated still until his legs stopped shaking and the water had washed the evidence of his arousal down the drain, the shower wall clean as though he hadn't been there, as if nothing at all had happened. With a satisfied groan as he pushed away from the wall, Obi-Wan shut the water out and quietly got out to towel himself off, the Code running through his mind as he attempted to center himself in preparation to face his Master.

When Obi-Wan emerged from the fresher fully dressed and at home in his skin once again, he made his way to the cockpit where Satine and Qui-Gon were discussing strategy over a map as they waited for him to join them. The moment he stepped in the room, Qui-Gon sent the Padawan a look and sharply tugged on the connection between them, and Obi-Wan winced and quickly averted his eyes, the swift rebuke a clear warning that the Master was watching him. Clearing his throat, Obi-Wan sat in the pilot's seat, careful to avoid Satine's stare as he passed before her and swallowing hard when she laid her hand on his shoulder.

"Qui-Gon thinks we should take the long way to Vorpa'ya," Satine said, clearly displeased with the notion. "He thinks bounty hunters and Death Watch are watching and that we risk leading them into Cadera territory were they to get a lock on our jump coordinates. I think it won't matter, since Clan Cadera is well defended, and were we to arrive with enemies on our tail, they would be chased out of the system by our allies the moment we came out of hyperspace in their territory. Besides, everyone knows where the Caderas operate out of. It's not a secret where they make their home."

"None the less, we must exercise caution," Qui-Gon said calmly. "We must not rely on our allies, lest we become complacent. This is a matter where making a good choice, and we know all about making good choices, don't we, Obi-Wan?" the Master asked sharply, shooting an inquisitive, piercing look at his young student, and Obi-Wan calmly met his gaze.

"We do, Master," Obi-Wan said softly, looking back at the Duchess seated behind him. "I'm sorry, Satine. Qui-Gon's right. Safe is not always convenient, but we must do everything in our power to remain safe." The Duchess stared at him for a long moment in silence, her eyes wide with surprise, a feeling that was echoed in the Jedi Master, and while Obi-Wan wasn't looking at Qui-Gon, he could feel the man's sudden confusion reach through the Force to grasp for understanding.

"I'm sorry, what?" Satine snapped, standing from her seat and glaring at the other teenager. "Have you forgotten who is in charge here, Obi-Wan? I am royalty, and as of today, I have an army at my back supporting my claim to the throne of Mandalore!"

"I beg your pardon, Duchess Satine, but I was under the impression that the Jedi were called here to see to your safety," Obi-Wan said calmly, his face expressionless as the Duchess became more furious. "From my point of view, this appears to be a matter of your safety, and safety dictates we go the long way. Avoiding the hyperspace lanes will make us terribly difficult to find."

"Being out there away from my allies leaves me vulnerable!" Satine argued, and Obi-Wan scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Last I checked, we are your allies, Satine," Obi-Wan said, turning away from the cross girl and punching in coordinates into the navicomputer as he plotted their route, one that avoided the hyperspace lanes and the common routes through the Mandalore territories. "If Master Qui-Gon says we should take the long way because he has a bad feeling about the direct path, you would be a fool not to listen. Need I remind you about Clan Ordo?"

"Oh, you are awful!" Satine snapped, stomping her foot on the ground and defiantly crossing her arms. "Fine! Have it your way, you stubborn, foolish boy!" she said, grabbing his braid and sharply tugging it, causing Obi-Wan to hiss and pain and grab hold of the arm of his seat to keep himself from falling out of it.

"Children, enough..." Qui-Gon said tiredly, rubbing his temples as he leaned back and looked between the two quarreling teens. "Honestly, should this bickering keep up, you may as well marry each other."

"What, me marry him?!" Satine asked incredulously, laughing harshly after letting her eyes rake over the young Jedi. "I'll have you know, I'd rather marry Edric Ordo than ever, ever even consider such a vile thing with that...that Jedi!" Her hands planted firmly on her hips, Satine drew up tall and looked down her nose at the unaffected Padawan. "At least Edric Ordo is tall and strong and handsome, not some scrawny little child like you!"

Obi-Wan whistled softly, a sly smirk coming to his face that made Satine draw back slightly. "My, all that and a traitor to boot," Kenobi drawled, his grin widening when Satine's jaw clenched tight and her cheeks stained light pink. "You better marry him before he slips away from you, Duchess, though I don't think he'll be going anywhere very quickly, since I broke his legs..."

"Well, maybe I will!" the Duchess snapped. "We could sit together and bond over how awful you are, Obi-Wan Kenobi!" With that, she stormed out of the cockpit, the door hissing behind her as it closed, and the two Jedi breathed a sigh of relief in the silence that followed, only to quickly sit bolt upright in their seats when the door slid open once again and Satine poked her head in through the doorway. "And I don't like your stupid braid either!" she shouted, disappearing as suddenly as she had reappeared. For a long moment, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon sat in silence, holding their breaths in anticipation of her reappearing, and only relaxed when they felt the girl's presence slowly begin to calm back in her place in the ship.

"Tranquility," Qui-Gon mumbled softly, "is not something that girl has ever been accused of."

"She is still young, Master," Obi-Wan said quietly, his fingers flying over the console as he ran the ship's pre-flight checks. "In time, she will learn."

"That she will..." Qui-Gon said, looking at his student and reaching out to him through the Force, and Obi-Wan sighed and grabbed the controls, firing the engines as he lifted the ship off the ground and quietly let his Master in. "Did you make good choices, Obi-Wan?" he asked, looking for some sort of reaction out of his student, but getting nothing out of the guarded boy.

"I always do, Master, you know that..." Obi-Wan muttered, pulling the controls back when he received clearance to leave the hangar, and the ship shot up into the sky, a gradual angle as the ship sliced through the atmosphere toward space.

"Really," Qui-Gon drawled, lightly tugging on the boy's braid, and Obi-Wan swiftly snatched it away, running it nervously through his fingers and his eyes downcast with what felt like shame to the Jedi Master. "Because I felt something in the Force, my Padawan, and I thought maybe you and Satine-"

"I-I was alone, Master," Obi-Wan quickly interrupted, a furious red spreading across his cheeks as he pulled back on the accelerator, the smooth, even pace of before vanishing when it lurched forward with the sudden burst of speed made only faster when they tore out of Draboon's atmosphere and used the planet's gravity to sling them out into open space.

"Alone," Qui-Gon repeated skeptically, and the Padawan nodded.

"Alone. I-in the shower. U-understand?" For a moment, Qui-Gon continued to search his student, and with a gasp, he sat back in his seat, a knowing smirk on his lips.

"Ah...yes, I understand."

"There are just so many attractive Mandalorians, Master, it isn't fair! No wonder the Jedi historically fight these ruffians, their very presence is torture!"

"I can't say I envy teenagers and their hormones..." Qui-Gon said softly, looking over at his student as the boy tried to busy himself with checking and rechecking all the ship's systems now that they were out in space. There was more to this, and Qui-Gon knew it. Obi-Wan was clearly hiding something, something that was eating at the very core of him, and while he had promised himself he would leave well enough alone, he found it difficult to allow the Padawan that kind of space. "Obi-Wan..." Qui-Gon began slowly. "If all this is about Satine-"

"It isn't, Master," the boy quickly interrupted, and Qui-Gon frowned, the swift reply more than a confirmation for what the Master had feared.

"...I understand I haven't been the easiest Master, Obi-Wan," he began. "What you saw in me when Tahl died, I...fear I may have tarnished the way you see certain emotions that are both natural and expected for people, especially those as empathetic as you." It was subtle, so much so that Qui-Gon could barely see it, but the Padawan's hand tightened around the yoke, his eyes staring intently at the stars that filled the viewport. "If you ever have any need to talk about the things you're going through...w-well, I have been through it as well, even if I never did handle it in the best of ways, and I am always available to you."

"I-I'm not..." Obi-Wan began, but quickly trailed off when he glanced at his Master and found him to be both melancholy and understanding, like he saw right through him and knew exactly what his Padawan was going through. "...I will, Master," Obi-Wan whispered, his hand running through his ever-lengthening hair. "Thank you."

"Never forget, Obi-Wan, I am here to guide you," Qui-Gon said, his hand resting on the boy's arm. "If you never had any doubt or struggle, you would have no use for me." He chuckled softly and shook his head, reclining in his seat as he closed his eyes. "Remember, my Padawan, no matter what it is you get yourself into, I was a hundred times worse than you ever could be."

"...did you ever fall in love?" Obi-Wan whimpered, and Qui-Gon sat up and turned toward the tense boy.

"Is that the problem?" Qui-Gon asked, and before the Padawan could answer, the door hissed open once again, both Jedi looking to the back of the cockpit at the Duchess, her eyes cast at the ground and quietly rocking on her feet.

"Obi-Wan?" she began tentatively, taking a small, shuffling step forward when the boy quickly looked up at her. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean...I-I said some things that I..." She stopped and shook her head. "My behavior was unbecoming of one of my station. You deserve better that what I-"

"It's alright..." Obi-Wan said quietly, his hand raised to silence her, an easy smile on his lips as he looked at the fidgeting girl. "I understand you are eager to be reunited with your people so you can return home. But you won't be going home if you die because we take foolish risks."

"Yes, you're right, of course you're right..." Satine muttered, reaching out and gently laying her hand upon the Padawan's shoulder, her fingers stroking the heavy fabric of his robe. "I know I have said it before, but I will try to be more agreeable in the future." With a soft, shy smile, Satine's fingers very lightly touched his neck as she drew her hand back, the small look and the Padawan's slight shiver failing to pass Qui-Gon's notice. "Thank you for keeping me safe," she whispered, slowly taking her hand away and turning to leave the cockpit. "Goodnight, my Jedi protectors."

"G-goodnight, Duchess..." Obi-Wan stammered, swallowing hard to push back the stirring within him, awakening despite the attention to himself earlier. With a quick smile at the men in the cockpit, Satine left once again, and Qui-Gon turned his attention back to his Padawan.

"So...anything you want to tell me, Obi-Wan?"

"N-no..." Kenobi whispered, his eyes focused on the closed door behind him. "Nothing worth discussion, Master." With a slow, understanding nod, Qui-Gon leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest, leaving Obi-Wan to pilot them through space, his hand gingerly touching his shoulder where Satine's hand had been only a moment before, the warmth still spreading through him like she was right there beside him.

---

Entry one hundred seventeen.

After months of running, after months of being relentlessly hunted, after all this time of being alone and isolated from my people, I have finally found my allies in Clan Cadera and my silent benefactors in Clan Sharratt. I can scarcely believe it. I confess, after the deaths of my mother and father and brother, after my sister left me for Death Watch and condemned me to die with the rest of my family, I was beginning to lose hope. It is so easy to doubt myself when nobody stands for me, save for the Jedi, and they are the historic enemies of Mandalore. I suppose that's part of the problem. When I have the throne back, that will be the first thing to change. We cannot expect to maintain peace if we villainize the peacekeepers.

For a long time, I thought maybe what I wanted for Mandalore was an impossibility. Every clan I came in contact with wanted me dead, those that did not were slaughtered, and I began to think that there was nobody left who supported the New Mandalorian vision for our future. Supporting me simply became too dangerous, and that was made none more apparent than when Clan Wren executed Clan Itera. I still have nightmares about that. It haunts me. All this violence, all this death, and for nothing at all but more of the same. I can't understand how my people don't see this. We are trapped in a cycle of glory and revenge, and it will never stop until we stop glorifying all this bloody violence.

But we found them. Though they may be warriors, there are those left in Mandalore who still believe in peace, those who have grown weary of all the bloodshed, those who are tired of losing family and friends to pointless violence. I can scarce believe it. There is something for me to be fighting for, something other than my own life, and I cannot begin to describe how rewarding that is. I was made for this, groomed to rule, and while I was always scared and uncertain when I was younger and studying on Coruscant, I have never been more certain of my path than I am now. I will lead Mandalore to a new dawn and a new way. We will be peaceful and prosperous, and we will thrive as we work to foster a new image of the Mandalorians.

Of course, now that I can actually see an end to this war, there has been a limit placed on this...romance I have with Obi-Wan. It was always there, I suppose. He was always going to leave me, but before it seemed like that day would never come. We would run until we could no longer, until a misstep ended in my death, and that would be that. But now, the war will thankfully end, and he will leave me to become the Jedi Knight he was always meant to be. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't bittersweet, and maybe that makes me selfish, but I hate that it must end. It must, this war has to end, and I suppose losing him is the sacrifice I must make. It can be no other way.

I'd have thought this would make pulling him into bed with me easier. I've thought of nothing else for months, and now with our time increasingly precious, I thought it would be an easy thing to get the most out of him. It's not such a big thing to go from...whatever it is we are to lovers, but I find myself even more frightened than before, perhaps because the prospect is drawing closer and closer each time we touch. Even his legendary Jedi resistance is wearing increasingly thin, even I can see that. He wants me, I can see it in him, I can feel it every time we touch, I can hear it in the way his heart beats and in the way he moans when he struggles for control. I want him to lose it. I so badly want him to take the matter in his hands and make me his, but I know he will not. My Jedi is too careful, too cautious, too nervous to do anything I do not ask of him.

But I don't want to ask. I'm...afraid, I suppose. Stars, what sort of Mandalorian am I?

I wonder if Bo-Katan was afraid when she was first made a woman, or if she simply grabbed hold of her passions and rushed without thinking into it. Maybe she had no choice. Maybe she was seduced the way I was nearly seduced by Edric Ordo. I certainly hope not. I hope she had a choice. I hope it was easy for her. But more than anything, I wish I could ask her. I miss her dearly, and while I try not to think of her, I still do. We were friends once. We were close once, though we were always so different. If I could have helped her, if I could have seen that things went differently, if I could have somehow managed to keep her from her Vizsla lover, maybe we would have been fighting on the same side. Maybe she wouldn't condemn me as dar'manda with the rest of the people that slaughtered our family. Maybe if I hadn't failed her, I-

No, stop it, don't do this to yourself, you can't do this to yourself again, Satine. Bo made her choice, just as I have made mine.

Clan Cadera is a large clan. I remember some of them in Sundari when I was young. My brother's friends, Rimark and Tanik, the twins Randor and Randun, Bo's sparring partner Warr'an, beautiful Tayn, who I used to follow like a shadow. I wonder if any of them are still alive. I wonder if they'd remember me. Regardless, there are sure to be girls my age there. Maybe I can ask them about how to please a man. At the very least, they may be able to help ease my fears about going to bed with someone. My Jedi is timid, I don't want to frighten him away from the passion he works so hard to hide.

Stars, I feel like an idiot, pining over a boy when there is a war going on that I am expected to end. My duty is stressful enough without having to worry about being pleasing to a boy who isn't allowed to love.

It sounds even more stupid now that I have written it down. Honestly, what in blazes is wrong with me? I'm not ready to rule. I'd pray for more time, but each day that passes means more dead. It seems like no matter what I do, I will never be ready for it, though I suppose time is a luxury that I have never had. In times like these, I'd turn to my family, but they are all gone. Who do I have left to turn to?

Gods above, I want to go home.