Chapter Eleven: Changing Morals

"She's a what?"

Cody grimaced, staring down at the floor of the prison before looking between the Duchess and the General. It was weird, to look at such a handsome couple and wonder how life could be so cruel to each of them. "She's a Shi'do."

"A shapeshifter…" Satine whispered, swallowing hard. She paced in the office, running a hand through her messy blonde hair and entirely ignoring the palace guards and police and everyone in the room. "Obi, you met a shapeshifter shortly before the beginning of the Clone Wars, correct?"

"...yes. Cinna - if that is her name - would not be the one Anakin and I encountered...whom was hired by Jango Fett." Obi-Wan ignored some of the glares he received, and scratched at his beard. "She was killed by him with a Kamonian dart."

"And this is all public information?" Chief Biblo asked suspiciously. "The Republic is known to hide - "

"Of course. Just because I'm a citizen of the Republic does not mean I support the actions of all politicians..." he glanced at Satine, then back at the Chief. "Even if I share her bed."

Satine scoffed, turning on her heel and palming the door open with a forceful palm. "While everyone's testosterone rages, I'm gonna yell at the bitch that nearly killed my son and dozens of college students."

Some of the officers were frozen in shock at her blunt statement, though it was Cody that recovered the quickest and hurried afterwards. He was loyal to his General...and now by extension, the General's family. It only made sense that this branch of the General's loved ones would be Mandalorian. Poetic irony, for those who knew the history between Jedi and Mandalorians.

"Just be prepared for what you'll see," Cody whispered while he took the lead down the sterile white halls. He heard the sure footsteps of Obi-Wan behind them, followed by a corrections officer and the chief. "She's...something else."

"There are two times I've wanted to murder someone: when I was in labor and right now. No one messes with my family." Satine couldn't help but feel a sense of power, feeling her skirts whip around her ankles and her heels clacking against the tile. She felt like some woman from a action-movie, on her way to seek vengeance -

"Darling."

Suddenly Obi-Wan was holding her wrist gently, a worried look on his face. He kept his voice low. "Don't do anything you will regret."

"This woman is related to Death Watch...and Obi, I'm done with this organization terrorizing my people and hurting my family." Satine pulled her wrist from his hand, and followed Commander Cody into the interrogation room. She raised her eyebrows slightly when she walked in, otherwise keeping composed at the struggling, bound changeling. Her skin was scaly and marred, shifting every few seconds and then back again while she tried to change into a different species. It was grotesque to watch, even more so when her beady eyes focused on Satine.

"I wish I had killed your son."

"You aren't the first person to try to kill him and you won't be the last."

Obi-Wan walked in behind her, the door sliding closed while the correction officers flanked the walls and Chief Biblo stood beside Obi-Wan. He kept his face neutral, not portraying any emotion in his voice.

In his teen years, his voice would have cracked.

"Your uncle have any part in this?"

Cinna glared at him, smirking a little. "It was his idea, but he was too much of a coward to do it. Liked your bastard too much."

Obi-Wan ignored the glances darted his way. "Uncle is only a formality, isn't it?"

"My family lives in poverty because of the New Mandalorians!" Cinna shrieked, trying to move from her chair. "We're outcasts! Joining Death Watch is the only way!"

"The Way?" Satine muttered sarcastically. "Oh goodness, you're from our moon of Dac, of course. Not the one controlled by The Trade Federation. Religious zealots, the lot of them. Joined with Death Watch not to long ago."

"The worst is yet to come!" Cinna yelled, trying to thrust herself forward. "You'll never be Manda'lor!"

"Oh someone gag her. Satine snapped. She shook her head when a guard finally did what they were told, looking terrified as the teenager glared at him. "Put her in solitary confinement - have guards with no political afflliation monitor her."

"Satine…" Obi-Wan murmured.

"I want everyone in this building screened for ties to Death Watch," Satine said hotly. "I want this place on lockdown - I'll talk to my cabinet what we will do about Death Watch from here on out."

Chief Biblo frowned, not used to his ruler being so blunt. "Duchess are you sure that - "

"Did I stutter?"

"Mom's doing what today?" Korkie asked while he clung onto his father's arm, slowly trying to hobble down the hall of the hospital. His other hand was dragging the IV stand.

Obi-Wan grimaced, keeping a firm but slow pace for his son while they walked around the circular halls of the ICU. He had felt so defeated, watching his partner stride out of the prison yesterday, infuriated and wanting revenge.

No, not revenge. Not exactly. Wanting justice, wanting peace, barely contained rage under her desire for there to be peace.

"Publicly her and her cabinet are holding a meeting to address questions about the bombing and what they know, discuss what will happen to Cinna, things like that."

"...privately?"

Obi-Wan thought about how to phrase his answer. Last night had been the first night they had slept in the palace since the bombing, away from their son. Instead of trying to sleep, they had argued all night about -

"Infiltrating Death Watch," he finally answered in a whisper when he was sure no one was around. "Take it down from the inside."

"...she's not doing it, is she? It sounds like something she would do."

Obi-Wan snorted, realizing his son was making a joke. He stopped and ruffled his son's hair. "You have my sense of humor."

Korkie smiled, his eyes lighting up while they walked - shuffled really - back to his room. He winced while sitting on his bed, struggling to breathe for a long thirty seconds or so before it evened out. Leaning back in his bed with his eyes closed, he muttered, "I'll do it if she wants an informant...I can honestly understand their point of view."

"They tried to kill you."

"Banning tradition is not the entire answer," Korkie said. "Nor is utter pacifism...there has to be a way where we can keep our traditions - Jedi hunting aside - and still have peace. We've managed in the past, I don't see why we can't do it in the future."

Obi-Wan frowned, leaning back in the duraplast seat he had taken to sitting in. "...changing people's opinions is easier said than done, Korkie. They've already had to recover from the damage of your grandfather - a warlord turned pacifist - and...and well, some of your mother's policies."

"You don't agree with all of them, do you?"

"...pacifism is hard to achieve, especially in a war dominated society. I do not pity her task in trying to meld the factions together, especially while a terrorist group is hellbent on usurping her."

Korkie smirked a little, opening his eyes. His pain medication was probably wearing off, given how tired he was beginning to be. "You two are perfect for each other."

"Pardon?"

"You avoid an answer, just like her...and you both try to remain diplomatic until it's not possible anymore. It's infuriating, in a respectable way. Using cruelty and violence as a last resort."

Obi-Wan sighed, remembering how exhausted and scared Satine had become once their long argument had begun to dwindle. He had held her tightly during the night, wishing he could kill whomever hurt his family...his son. His son that he had only known weeks and wanted to die for.

...no wonder attachments were forbidden among the Jedi.

"I've done things I'm not proud of Korkie...as a Jedi and a planetary leader we've both had to do things we're not proud of…" Obi-Wan licked his lips, taking in a shaky breath before looking his so in the eye. "Korkie, I love you...and you do not know the lengths I will go to make sure nothing like this happens ever again."

Despite the tears welling in his eyes, Korkie managed, "Don't compromise your morals for me."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth, then moved to the bed and moved to embrace his son tightly.

A / N: so uhh...life happened, I was too stressed to update. I love attached Obi-Wan though!