School start! Don't worry, these will still be on time.

OneLittleSpark18: I know exactly the type of fic you're talking about. I'm glad I can provide one for you! I appreciate your support, and don't worry, I love every minute of writing these! (except when I have to do research for legal procedures)

nw150: Crap reset the system! I'm glad that everything is plausible. That's something my editors focus on. Thank you!

Okay, this is going to be a Obi Wan centric chapter. I mentioned in the first chapter that Obi Wan would have his own story within the fic. So no Rex and Ahsoka this week, besides a few mentions. This is a story I felt needed telling in this universe.

TW: Implied suicide

Mando'a translations at the end!

Obi Wan looked down at the bundles in his arms. He had to admit he was at least a little uncomfortable. He hadn't spent much time in the creche, especially not with younglings this small.

"Luke, Leia, this is your Uncle Obi Wan." Anakin said.

Obi Wan hadn't been able to meet them when they were first born. Only now, a few days later, had his Jedi duties allowed him to visit.

"Anakin, they're infants. They can't understand what you're saying." Obi Wan chided.

"Padme says it's good to talk to them. Helps them learn." Anakin replied.

Obi Wan didn't correct him. He certainly had no idea if that was true. He smiled down at the twins.

"Hello there." He tried.

It still felt odd to speak to them, so Obi Wan contented himself with just holding them a few minutes longer.

"Did you hear what the clones are doing?" Anakin asked.

"No." Obi Wan said, raising an eyebrow.

"They've been celebrating." Anakin said with a grin. "Every night since the twins were born, 79's has been packed with clones. They're ecstatic. I've gotten a message from every man in the 501st, plus some from other battalions, congratulating me and Padme."

Obi Wan chuckled at that. The clones were devoted to Padme, and the news of her safely delivering the twins must have been a relief.

"They're wonderful, Anakin, they truly are." Obi Wan told his former apprentice.

Anakin smiled and looked down at the twins.

"This is all your fault, you know." He said.

Obi Wan raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"For helping me make my choice."

Obi Wan handed the twins back to Anakin.

"That was months ago, Anakin." He said with a small smile.

Anakin grew serious.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to have my family." He said. "I wouldn't be able to be with my children."

Obi Wan stroked his beard.

"Do you ever regret your choice, Anakin?"

Anakin looked up and gave a thoughtful frown.

"Regret? No. I miss being a Jedi at times, but no. I don't regret leaving the Order."

Anakin looked down at the twins with an expression filled with adoration, enough to rival when he looked at Padme.

"I'm glad I didn't lead you down the wrong path." Obi Wan said.

Anakin nodded.

"The moment I left I knew it was the will of the Force." He said. "I still feel it tugging. There's something else it wants me to do."

He looked at Obi Wan.

"I'm worried, Obi Wan. These two are so strong in the Force."

"Yes." Obi Wan said.

The twins were bright beacons in the Force, rivalling their father.

"The Jedi will want them." Anakin went on. "I want them to be able to choose. And not just between the Jedi and no training at all."

Anakin studied the twins again.

"Why is it that the Jedi are the only choice for Force sensitives?" He asked. "Why is there no other way?"

Obi Wan put his hand to his beard again.

"There are other ways, Anakin." Obi Wan said. "Surely Master Plo has spoken to you of the Baran Do sages of his people. And there are the Dagoyan Masters as well."

Obi Wan raised his hand before Anakin could respond.

"I'm sorry, Anakin, I know that isn't what you meant. The truth is that I don't know why they are the only way right now."

Obi Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"But if there is another way, you are the man to find it."

Anakin grinned.

"Thank you, Master."

Obi Wan narrowed his eyes. What was his apprentice planning now? Obi Wan squeezed his shoulder. Then whipped his hand back as one of the twins vomited.

Anakin cursed and maneuvered to grab a rag draped on the couch.

"I must be going, Anakin." Obi Wan said.

"Won't you stay for dinner?" Anakin asked as he dabbed at the sick. "Ahsoka and Rex are coming and Rex is hilarious with the kids."

Obi Wan smiled at that. As much as he wanted to see the stoic captain fawn over the twins as Anakin said he did, he had other duties.

"I promised my men I would visit them tonight."

Anakin nodded. This was a duty they both took very seriously.

It was late by the time Obi Wan finished his rounds. Most of his men were all right. They were a little shaken by the sudden disappearances of Plug, Wet, Hup, Frisk, and Twist. There were no leads. Cody was near out of his mind with worry. But the remaining troopers were mostly calm and had promised him that they would be cautious.

Obi Wan was truly worried about Boil. He'd never been quite the same since Waxer died and was struggling even more now that the war was over. His condition was worrisome enough that Cody had assigned Wooley to shadow Boil. The Commander was especially strained about this after they hadn't kept a close enough eye on Crys.

Obi Wan still didn't know what they should have done.

Obi Wan lost himself in thinking of different ways to help Boil as he headed to his speeder. The street was deserted. Well, deserted save for the three people lying in wait for him.

Obi Wan couldn't conjure up any emotion about it save mild annoyance. He hated when someone needed to talk to him and they felt the need to jump him. Why couldn't they just approach him like a civilized person?

Obi Wan didn't call out to them. It would be rather rude to spoil their little plot. Eventually, right before he reached his speeder, there was the sound of jetpacks and the three landed right behind him. Lovely.

He placed a hand on his lightsaber. He didn't sense the intent to kill, but one did not have to intend to kill to intend to cause harm. Obi Wan was not keen to experience that.

"Kenobi."

It was a voice he knew. It was harsh and business-like, and achingly similar to another's voice.

Obi Wan turned to see a helmeted Bo Katan and two of her Nite Owls behind him. She removed her helmet. Obi Wan was surprised with how wan the young woman looked.

"I need your help."

"Maul has been terrorizing my people for months." Bo Katan said.

Mace Windu levelled a cool gaze at her.

"And yet you haven't come to us before."

"I didn't come because of your petty war!" Bo Katan snapped. "Would you have agreed to help a neutral planet?"

Mace didn't answer.

"Your war is over. I believe you are in a position to help us now." Bo Katan continued.

The council listened quietly to her request. Obi Wan knew she was being too harsh and there was no respect in her tone or posture. Many of the council would be displeased, but Obi Wan found her candor refreshing. Too many came to the council scraping and bowing. To her, this was a business deal and Obi Wan respected that.

"And don't say this isn't your problem!" She said, cutting off Master Windu, who had opened his mouth to speak. He frowned. "He's dar'jetii."

Obi Wan briefly wondered how many of the council recognized the Mando'a word for Sith.

"If you ask me, you should have taken care of him a long time ago." Bo Katan said.

Obi Wan wanted to protest that he had wanted to stop Maul, but it had been the council who had stayed his hand.

"Here's my deal." Bo Katan said. "Help me take back my planet and as the new Mand'alor, I will consider joining your Republic."

"That is no longer a concern of ours, whether or not you are members of the Republic." Windu said coolly.

"Fine. Help us and we won't declare war on the Jetii!" Bo Katan said smoothly. "We are ancient enemies after all."

Windu's frown deepened and many of the council stared at her. Bo stood proudly in front of them, straight backed. Obi Wan couldn't help but admire her courage, despite damning herself in the eyes of many of the council.

"We will discuss this among ourselves." Mace said.

"Fine." Bo said.

She turned on her heel and stalked out of the council chambers.

All eyes went to Obi Wan.

"I agree with her." Obi Wan said, knowing he was damning himself now. "We have ignored Maul far too long. He is our responsibility. It was I who failed to defeat him and is it not our duty to protect the galaxy from the Sith?"

There was silence. Obi Wan felt a flash of frustration. Could they not see the danger Maul posed? He glanced at Master Yoda. The small master was in one of his deep moments of contemplation, so Obi Wan continued.

"We owe this to the people of Mandalore. It was our inaction that led to the death of their duchess and the enslavement of their people." His voice raised slightly without him meaning to. They had to see what Maul had done to the Mandalorians. What Maul had done to him.

"One could argue," Ki Adi Mundi said. "That it was your actions against the council's wishes that led to the duchess' death."

Obi Wan's stomach lurched and he snapped his mouth shut.

"Regardless." Mace said. "This is a very dangerous situation. Are we willing to risk Jedi on this?"

"A people are enslaved!" Obi Wan snapped.

A discussion broke out. Masters Ti and Fisto were at the forefront of agreeing with Obi Wan. Masters Windu and Mundi were in favor of 'restraint'. These days, restraint from the Jedi council meant inaction.

Master Yoda raised a claw.

"Agree with Obi Wan, I do." He said. "Stopped, Maul must be."

Obi Wan heaved a sigh.

"I can leave immediately." He said.

Yoda shook his head.

"Betray you, your emotions do." Yoda said. "If go to Mandalore, you do, revenge, will this not be?"

Obi Wan clenched his fists.

"This isn't about revenge!" He said through grit teeth. "I would do it because Maul needs to be stopped!"

And because he needed to make things right, for Satine.

"Too much passion I sense in you. Another must be sent." Yoda said.

"Who can be spared?" Mundi asked.

Spared? Spared? Wouldn't the freeing of a people constitute sending their best?

"Stealth and subtlety, this mission will require." Yoda announced. "A good choice, Master Vos would be."

Quinlan? Obi Wan nearly spat the name out. They would send Quinlan Vos to face Maul.

"Master Yoda, I must protest." Obi Wan said. "I have fought Maul and his brother before. Quinlan will not be able to handle them alone!"

"The Mandalorians, he will have." Yoda said.

Obi Wan shook his head. The Mandalorians were great warriors, but they would be focused on fighting Maul's super commandos. And a Sith needed to be dealt with by Jedi.

Obi Wan wished again that Master Plo hadn't gotten himself removed from the council. He needed the Kel Dor's supporting voice now.

"You defeated Maul when you were just a Padawan." Master Allie said mildly.

"He was overconfident." Obi Wan said.

And did not say the true reason he'd been able to defeat Maul the first time. He'd drawn on the Dark Side of the Force for just a moment. Enough to cut Maul in half.

"And Maul will have his monster of a brother with him. Do you not remember what happened to Master Gallia? I barely escaped myself."

There were a few more moments of deliberation before Yoda silenced them.

"Agreed, the council is." He said.

"Not completely." Obi Wan said.

Yoda looked at him with tired eyes.

"Noted, your opposition is. Inform Bo Katan you must, of the council's decision." Yoda said.

Obi Wan stood with a tight nod and strode out of the council chambers.

"Well?" Bo Katan asked as Obi Wan approached her.

"The council has agreed to help." Obi Wan said.

Bo Katan nodded.

"Good. When do we leave?" She asked.

"They aren't sending me." Obi Wan said.

Bo Katan's brow furrowed.

"You're not coming?" She asked. "You're the only jetii I'll work with, Kenobi."

"Perhaps you should inform the council of that." Obi Wan retorted.

"I thought it didn't need saying." Bo said, folding her arms. "As you are the one who's fought him and survived multiple times."

"The council believes I have too much passion regarding this." Obi Wan said stiffly.

"Passion's good. Especially when you need to take down a bastard like Maul." Bo said. "Come with us anyway."

"What?" Obi Wan asked. "The council-"

"I was going to ask you to come regardless of your di'kutla council's decision." She said. "In any case, didn't you tell the council to kriff off when you came last time?"

Obi Wan glanced to the side. He wished people would stop bringing up his failure from before. He nodded.

"Why not now?" Bo challenged.

Obi Wan nearly made the protest that he would be removed from the council if he did. Then he found he didn't care.

"I'll speak to Quinlan. He is the Jedi they are sending."

Bo Katan raised an eyebrow at the way Obi Wan said 'Quinlan.'

"Not a fan?" She asked.

"We have had differences in opinion in the past." Obi Wan admitted.

"Great." Bo said.

"But I can work with him." Obi Wan said quickly. "We'll need more than two Jedi to take down Maul and Savage.

Bo frowned.

"Anyone else we can bring?" She asked.

Obi Wan immediately thought of Anakin, but no, Padme and the twins needed him. Ahsoka was just as needed by Padme. In any case, Obi Wan would not have his grandpadawan face this monster. Obi Wan couldn't ask any of his men to come with them, though they'd say yes in a heartbeat.

And then he thought of someone else.

Asajj Ventress was not having a pleasant day. Of the four bounties she had hoped to finish today, she had finished one. The least lucrative one at that. The first had been snatched from under her nose. It had been Dengar of all the idiots. The bounty wasn't worth killing him over, but she was going to get even one of these days.

The second had managed to escape off world. She hated moving off of Coruscant, but this one was a high bounty and she would need the money after missing the other two. She had an idea where he was heading off to, so she figured she could wait until tomorrow.

As for the third, there was no way Asajj was going to turn that pathetic girl back to her master. She had told the fat Rodian she had escaped. Before dropping a particularly painful poison into his drink. She was looking forward to the reports.

The bounty she had managed to collect was a pittance; if the job hadn't been so easy, she wouldn't have taken it. She probably shouldn't have taken it regardless. But the kidnapper had been easy to find, and the family had given her a fifty credit bonus that they probably couldn't afford. She wouldn't have accepted it, but she hadn't counted the credits until now. If the kriffing police force would do their karking job, Ventress wouldn't have to deal with these more personal jobs.

She ran a hand through her newly grown out hair. It was still short, barely flopping over her ear, but it made it a lot harder for the cameras to identify her.

She had meant to drop by her favorite diner on her way home, but then remembered it was closed after being vandalized. Living in the undercity could be a joy.

"Hello, my dear."

Ventress whipped around, hands on her sabers. Today was not the day she tolerated anything from the undercity scum that ogled her body. They were all lucky she only broke their noses and not their necks.

Then she realized who was speaking.

"Kenobi." She said. She glanced at his companions: a Mandalorian and a scruffy long haired man. "I didn't expect to see you this low."

"Anything to see you." Kenobi said with a smile.

"As much as I love our banter, I'm really not in the mood." Ventress said. "Has the council finally decided to bring me in?"

She kept her hands on her sabers.

Kenobi smirked.

"Quite the opposite, Asajj. I have a job for you."

Ventress raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"I thought perhaps you would like to," Kenobi paused. "Get even with Maul and Savage."

"I thought revenge wasn't the Jedi way." Ventress said.

"Oh, I'm not doing it for revenge." Kenobi said cheerfully. "But you can."

Ventress studied him. Despite his words and light hearted facade, Ventress had a hard time believing him. There was a hardness in his eyes.

"I get the bounty." Ventress said.

The Mandalorian made a derisive noise and the other Jedi, or at least that's what Ventress assumed he was, smirked.

"It's all yours." Kenobi assured her.

"I wonder if you wouldn't also mind speaking to your Senator friends about me." Ventress continued. "As incompetent as they are, it would be nice to not have to avoid every member of the Coruscant Guard down here."

"I can call in a few favors." Kenobi replied.

Ventress gave a smile, as predatory as she could manage.

"Kenobi, you didn't tell me Dooku's assassin was the third member." Kenobi's Jedi companion finally spoke up.

"I don't know if you've heard, Jedi, but it's been years since I was Dooku's assassin." Ventress said. "Now I'm just a simple woman trying to make my way through the universe."

The Mandalorian hadn't spoken, but Ventress could feel the warrior's eyes on her from under the helmet.

"So." Ventress said. "When do we leave?"

My family has a head canon that most clones absolutely adore Padme. Based a bit on the deleted Bad Batch scene and the fact Padme from near the beginning has spoken for the clones. So I think they would be really happy to see her have two healthy kids. We're starting to go into the darker side of this universe. Not every clone has it as good as Rex, Fives, and Jesse. Obi Wan is going to be fairly disillusioned with the Order at this point. And yeah, Maul wasn't dealt with in this universe yet. So... Also Ventress! I adore Ventress and I love writing her neutral with good leanings. And Obi Wan and Ventress have such a delightful dynamic. Don't worry, we'll be back to the scheduled slow burn Rexsoka next time!

Mando'a:

dar'jetii: sith

jetii: Jedi

Mand'alor: leader of Mandalore

di'kutla: idiotic

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great couple of weeks!