Chapter 17: A New Order

Luminara's POV

Luminara woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and serene as she looks to see her Obi-wan still fast asleep. The Mirialan was surprised with herself in that she awoke right when the sun started to come up considering that she and her lover spent most the night pleasuring each other. Luminara smiles at the memory and plants a kiss on Obi-wan's forehead before rising from the bed and putting on a slik bathrobe over her nakes form. One of the woman's simple pleasures is having her morning coffee on the balcony whether it be by herself, with Barriss, or Obi-wan. The Jedi Master enjoys the quiet before whatever business is due throughout the day.

Once Luminara takes a seat with her mug, she laughs seeing the dishes from the night before still sitting on the table.

"I'll wash them in a little bit" she thinks to her herself before pondering on the fact that in a few hours, she and her fellow war heroes were scheduled to meet with Quinlan and Deppa on the possible resurgence of a new Jedi Order. Both Luminara and Barriss have openly shared their opinions on the matter, but the former had no idea what Obi-wan thought. Did he want to re-build a new Jedi society and take on another leadership role? Or did he want to possibly build a normal with her? Luminara doesn't know, but she does now that tomorrow she and her beloved will take their first vacation ever to Alderaan.

"Good morning love" Obi-wan says as he joins her with his own mug at hand. Luminara give him a cheeky grin seeing that he put on one of her own bathrobes on leaving very little to the imagination.

"Good morning, I suppose I should have picked up some men's bathrobes from somewhere yesterday, but I won't deny that you look very sexy in that darling" Luminara replies with a wink.

Obi-wan sighs and says, "I thought so too, perhaps I'll go robe shopping while we're sight seeing in Alderaan."

"I can't wait to leave the city for a bit, especially with the meeting today" Luminara exhales before going for another sip of her drink.

Obi-wan slaps his hand to his forehead and says, "Shit, that's today huh?"

"I'm surprised you of all people would forget" Luminara laughs, curious to know what his thoughts were on the matter.

"I guess I've just enjoyed my time being a normal human man a little too much" Obi-wan states happily.

"So what do you think about it all? Barriss and I have put forth our opinions, but you never said what yours" Luminara points out, her hands shaking a little.

Oni-wan pauses for a moment before speaking, "I like the idea of rebuilding, but I'm conflicted. I genuinely enjoyed being on the High Council and I loved what I stood for as a Jedi Master for the Republic, but things have changed so much that I'm not sure if I want to run back into that just yet."

"What do you mean by that?" Luminara asks.

"Well, it's about us. When we were in the Order, a romantic relationship would have never happened otherwise we'd be together long before now. These past few weeks have shown me what a peaceful life a man without such responsibility can have and I want nothing more than to work towards a brighter, happier future for the both us. I'm just not sure if it's possible to be a Jedi and a man at the same time" Obi-wan ponders, stroking his beard.

"I see…" Luminara sighs, feeling a little disappointed. Obi-wan gets up and kneels down before her, looking her in the eye.

"My dear I don't want you to think that I don't want to be with you for the rest of my life. I wouldn't trade any of the time we've spent together for anything in the world, not even for the opportunity of being apart of a Jedi Order. I love you and you are my top priority" Obi-wan reassures her, squeezing a free hand.

"But I don't want you to sacrifice something you love so much for me! I don't want you to wind up hating me or resenting me for robbing you of a life you could have had" Luminara argues, looking away from Obi-wan. Her heart was starting to sink at the thought that Obi-wan and she may have reached a point of contention. Obi-wan didn't seem to want Luminara to even think about the possibility but turning her head to face him again.

"Luminara, nothing is more important to me now than your happiness. Your happiness is my happiness and I promise you I'm not lying. We don't have to have all the answers right now because I think you're still thinking it over too. Let's just hear what Deppa and Quinlan have to say and we'll go from there. Soon we'll be in Alderaan together just you and me and we don't have to talk about the Jedi at all. We can just be Obi-wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, nothing more, nothing less. You're going to have to trust me that my feelings for you outshine anything else, okay?"

Luminara gives him a small smile and shakes her head in affirmation, "Okay Ben… I trust you."

Obi-wan smiles back at her, "Did I ever tell you who spoke to me when we confronted Palpatine?"

Luminara shakes her head, "No."

"I heard Qui-gon" Obi-wan admits, Luminara's eyes widening at the name.

"Really?" Luminara says with happiness, having been fond of the late Jedi Master.

"Yes, I did. Besides thanking me for training Anakin, he told me that you, my love, are my destiny. You always have been and if he didn't die by Maul's hand all those years ago, he would have fought for our relationship. You know my Master always listened to the will of the Force than the Order" Obi-wan says with a a bigger smile.

Luminara wipes some tears of joy from her eyes, "Oh Qui-gon….How kind of him, I wish he were here still." Obi-wan holds her hands, lightly tracing soothing circles with his thumbs.

"Me too… He was an amazing man and powerful Jedi to boot…. Did you hear anything during that time?" Obi-wan asks Luminara. It was at that moment that Luminara was shocked at herself for not remembering or telling anyone that she did in fact heard someone speak to her through the Force. It just never came into conversation until now.

"I heard Master Yoda" Luminara confesses looking up towards the blue sky, "He told me he was sorry for not saving me from my Master and that he was proud of me… that I have raised Barriss well and that the Force would be with me always."

Obi-wan exhales and takes on a sad expression, "I'm glad he apologized, I'm glad someone else besides Quinlan is standing up for you even though it's a little late. But he is right. I bet all of our Jedi ancestors watch over you with pride because you are an incredible Jedi Master who has put Barriss down the right path. You deserved to be Quin-gon's apprentice not me."

Luminara kisses the man before saying, "Don't say things like that love. You were meant to be his apprentice and things turned out alright in the end. I have you now and that's all that matters."

Obi-wan kisses her again, before looking at his chronowatch and asks her, "We probably should get ready, mind joining me in the shower?"

Ahsoka's POV

Ahsoka wakes up to hear the sound of running water coming from her personal bathroom before turning to see the time.

"Damn it, we have that meeting today!" Ahsoka scolds herself as Barriss re-enters the bedroom with nothing but a towel on.

"Good morning!" Barriss greets her as she starts to look through Ahsoka's wardrobe. Ahsoka couldn't help but blush and stare at her now Mirilan girlfriend who selected a basic blue tunic style top with some black leggings. "What?" Barriss asks looking back at the Togrunta.

Ahsoka shakes her head rapidly and says, "Nothing! I'm just happy to see that you're comfortable enough to shower and wear my clothes!"

Barriss chuckles, "Well I am your girlfriend now and I believe couples do such things all the time. I've seen Obi-wan wear Luminara's bath robes, it's so embarrassing!"

"No way!" Ahsoka laughs back "Oh I'm so going to give him shit for that!"

"You probably should start getting ready Soka, we have to leave soon and I'm sure it will be Anakin giving you shit if you're late" Barriss says, taking the towel off.

"Oh my…" Ahsoka thinks to herself drinking in Barriss's naked body. Barriss was slender and smooth, her olive green skin free from any blemishes and scars, which is a rarity for any Jedi. Her breasts were modest in size but full and perky with a perfectly rounded ass to go with it. If there was time, Ahsoka would have taken the girl right there.

"Soka?" Barriss asks blushing.

"Uh yeah! Sorry! You're just… Fuck you're perfect!" Ahsoka sputters as she quickly grabs a change of clothes and makes a dash to the shower.

Barriss smiles and proceeds to get ready for the day.

Barriss's POV

While Ahsoka was in the shower, Barriss leaves the bedroom to join Anakin and Padme in the kitchen as they finished eating their breakfast.

"Good morning Barriss! How'd you sleep last night?" Anakin says with a wink, causing the Mirialan teen to blush once more.

"Anakin!" Padme remarks, lightly punching her husband on the shoulder.

Anakin laughs and puts his hands up, "What? I can't inquire about the new couple?"

Barriss lets out a nervous laugh and says, "No worries, Ahsoka and I slept just fine, we probably stayed up too late watching holotv."

"I'll say, Ahsoka's ass better be out in five if we're going to meet Master Billaba and Vos in time" Anakin replies with a scoff.

"I'm right here Skyguy!" Ahsoka shouts back at Anakin who choked on his coffee and begins to cough.

"Serves you right for being an ass!" Ahsoka adds sticking her tongue out.

Barriss laughed at her girlfriend's antics much like she laughed all throughout the night they spent together watching holonet dramas and making fun of the actors in the films. It was the first time either of the girls did anything normal. Barriss remembered how much she loved snuggling up to Ahsoka and kissing her from time to time. The healer was relieved that Ahsoka didn't do anything to make Barriss feel obligated to do anything like sex. Barriss was still a virgin regardless of her sexual preferences and her knowledge was there yet which she was sure Ahsoka was in the same predicament since they were both Padawan learners. Seeing Ahsoka now eat some of the food leftover on Anakin's plate as he tries to take it away from her reminded Barriss of when Ahsoka lashed out at the young man yesterday when she caught him listening through her bedroom door. The interaction sent Padme and Barriss into hysterics watching the infamous duo go back and forth. Barriss would normally feel anxious being in other homes that weren't her own, but last night she felt like she was part of something bigger; like she was a part of an extended family and Barriss was all for it.

"Alright you two, knock it off, you three have to get going now!" Padme commands from the living room. Barriss then pulls Ahsoka away from Anakin and kisses her which successfully calmed the Togrunta down enough to focus her attention back on her. The new couple then proceed to walk to their destination hand in hand with Anakin trailing behind them.

Obi-wan's POV

Obi-wan couldn't help but scoff at his apprentice as he sees Anakin, Ahsoka, and Barriss finally arriving at the site where the Temple once stood ten minutes late.

"Surprise, surprise… Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano late to a scheduled meeting as usual" Obi-wan says teasingly which earned him a light punch to the shoulder by Anakin.

"Yeah, yeah, don't push yourself you geezer" Anakin retorts, rolling his eyes.

"Well…" Master Depa Bililabba begins to say calmly, "I suppose we can go ahead and get started."

"Indeed" Obi-wan hears his beloved say nervously. Obi-wan squeezes Luminara's hand in comfort as she holds onto Barriss with her other arm.

Quinlan then spoke, "So now that the five of you have had some time to re-adjust and rest from your confrontation with Palpatine, we're curious to know what your future plans are in terms of being a Jedi once more."

"Perhaps, you could fill us in on how exactly this new order would run before we give you our thoughts?" Obi-wan questions, which made Luminara exhale a breath of relief.

"Don't stress darling… it's going to be alright"

"Good point," Quinlan says before getting a portable holoprojector out and turning it on. The hologram showed what appeared to be blueprints for a new temple, "So we obviously need a new space to train and make decisions so Depa and I feel that it would be in our best interests to have not only one new temple built but several spread out the galaxy."

Obi-wan frowns "I believe Qui-gon has made that suggestion in the past when he discussed how much he didn't care for all younglings to be bought and trained in the same temple on one planet."

"Exactly!" Quinlan nods, "All things considered, the corruption Palpatine abused was because a majority of the Jedi were tied here on Coruscant where the Galactic government was also housed. It makes sense now how politics and the Jedi go entangled giving Palpatine the opportunity to take complete control. Furthermore, as Qui-gon has explained before, having all Jedi raised in a relatively rich planet hinders their view of the galaxy. Most Padawans struggle when on off-world missions because their views are so narrow. Issues such as poverty, slave trade, and whatnot were never included in Youngling education. That's probably why a majority of commoners were not in favor of Jedi presence because we were sending in people who unintentionally came off arrogant and crass to other galactic cultures and government."

Obi-wan sighs as he knows what his friend said was true, "So if I'm understanding this correctly, you two feel we should have multiple temples to raise future Jedi in different worlds thus producing more socially inept Jedi overall?"

"Yes" Depa says placing a hand on the young Caleb Dume besides her "I always felt it was important for Caleb to know that there was more to life than just the Jedi Temple on Coruscant."

Anakin speaks up, "I have to agree with Master Bililabba Master… I honestly hated having such a secluded childhood in a temple only to be brought onto other missions a decade later."

"I fail to see the difference in what's being proposed now than what's been done in the past" Obi-wan says confused.

"What we're suggesting is that we have a whole new system in place for the training of future Jedi. Instead of younglings being raised in one place, we'd have it to where after so many years, we transfer the Padawans to continue their training in the other temples we'd have built across the galaxy. In lamest terms, the kids would be switching schools in order to teach them diversity" Quinlan answers.

Obi-wan nods his head in understanding, "I understand now… where are we going to get the funds for building these temples since we decided it best to dissolve from the Senate?"

"That's the challenge" Depa replies, "We'd have to plead our case to local governing bodies to make it happen."

"So if we decide to join the new order, you'd separate us…" Luminara says glumly.

"Let me finish explaining our entire proposal Lumi" Quinlan says gently, "We've also come to the conclusion that perhaps Palaptine was going to use Anakin's marriage to Padme as his catalyst for turning him to the Dark Side. As you all know romantic relationships and attachments were forbidden in accordance with the Code. However given what's happened, Depa and I are willing to make a change. Lumi, you and Kenobi are obviously together as well as your Padawans as well as Skywalker with Padme. Clearly the Jedi of old were too blind to realize that healthy attachments are a source of strength for us rather than a source of fear. The Dark Side takes advantage of attachments and twists them for their selfish desires. So going forward, we understand that if you all weren't so accepting and loving of each other, then we would have failed. There wouldn't be a single Jedi alive today if it weren't for you five. Qui-gon was right the whole time; we must listen to the will of the Force not berate each other in fear we'll all end up as Sith Lords."

"So… you still want us to join the New Order even though we all have attachments?" Anakin says perking up.

"Yes Master Skywalker" Depa says bowing, "We would hate to have a new order where the five Jedi who saved us all were banned from being who they truly are. If you all will have us, you can resume being a Jedi and become a part of a new legacy built on familial values, not political ones. Master Luminara you can continue training Barriss in the ways of the Force as well as Master Skywalker with Ahsoka."

"You're giving me the rank of Master?" Anakin asks excitedly like a boy opening presents on his birthday.

"Of course" Depa replies happily, "You'd all be given a seat on the new High Council. Barriss and Tano will also receive a seat once they have completed their training and earn the rank of Master. You'd also be free to choose what world you'd like to build a temple on. If we are going to ask you all to move, we might as all give you options. Also, your holocron messages have been received by other surviving Jedi. I'm having them report on the planet Lothal, where Caleb and I will be staying as there is still an existing Temple there. It can be our home base for now until you all decide your future plans. You're all welcome to meet everyone once you feel ready. We know this is a lot of information to take in at once, so please take whatever time you need to sort things out. We'll be in Lothal waiting for you."

Obi-wan feels as if he's been given an offer too good to be true, yet there was another question gnawing at him that he has to know the answer to. Before Obi-wan could speak, Anakin beat him to it.

"What about children?" Anakin abruptly asks.

"I'm sorry?" Depa asks, "You mean Younglings? What about them?"

"I mean our children, say if Padme and I had a family, would my children be allowed to train in the New Order?" Anakin says with a tone of hope.

Quinlan and Depa give each other a knowing glance before Quinlan responds, "Since relationships will no longer be forbidden, it would be foolish to think that we wouldn't expect families to emerge. So with that being said, yes your prospective children would train under the Order with your full knowledge as we want to instill new values to new generations. I think it'd be best though if you personally didn't oversee the training personally so your children would have unbiased critique."

Anakin nods his head in approval, "Sounds fair, thank you Master."

"You're welcome, so are we all in?" Quinlan asks.

"I'm in," says Anakin, giving Quinlan a firm handshake.

Ahsoka then steps forward and also says, "I'm in."

Then Barriss after giving Luminara a glance, "I'm in."

Leaving just two left, Obi-wan looks down at Luminara. She maintained a cool expression on her face but her eyes and her breath told the man otherwise. Obi-wan squeezes her hand and nods, as if to reassure her that they can discuss more later in private. Luminara takes a deep breath, causing the other Jedi to look worried, before she said, "We're in."

"Then it's settled! Welcome aboard the New Order!" Quinlan shouts with a fist in the air. "We'll see you back on Lothal sometime soon, yeah?"

Quinlan gives Obi-wan a wink to which Obi-wan smiles back. He fully intended on proposing to Luminara within the next twenty four hours. Maybe by then, all the information will sink in and Luminara won't feel so overwhelmed and nervous.

Depa and Caleb then give the remaining Jedi a final bow before parting ways. Anakin and Ahsoka cheered in excitement while Barriss smiled at Ahsoka. Obi-wan looks to Luminara and whispers in her ear, "Are you ready to leave?"

Luminara smiles up at him and nods her head yes before explaining to Barriss about their upcoming trip and how she'll have to stay with Anakin, Padme, and Ahsoka for a few days. Barriss appears happy upon hearing the news and takes her Master's hand in the direction of their apartment. Obi-wan was starting to feel nervous now that his moment to speak to Barriss alone was fast approaching. He needed her blessing or he could never ask for Luminara's hand. Obi-wan then reaches into his right hand pocket, feeling the small, velvet box that contained the ring. The Jedi kept his hand there until the trio reached the apartments, hoping the ring could act as a good luck charm.