AN: I hadn't planned on ending with such a cliffhanger. The next chapter will be up sooner to not leave you hanging with it for a week :)
Chapter 10
Garen looked thoughtfully out of their shuttle when Quinlan came back into the cockpit. The Kiffar sat down on the copilot's seat and prepared himself to take over control. They had left hyperspace twenty minutes ago and were waiting for the Resolute to arrive. It would be much easier to dock onto the star destroyer than meeting them on Corellia. He was still deep in thought when the massive warship popped up in some distance from them. Shaking himself to return to the present, Garen typed in Master Windu's code and asked for permission to approach, and the Korun-Master sent them coordinates, informing them that they should land in the hangar of the star destroyer.
It took them a few moments to circle around the massive fighter, and Quinlan had to swallow against a lump forming in his throat. "That's. . . ." he whispered.
Garen gave him a nod, understanding what he wanted to say without him pointing it out. "Obi-Wan surely means business. . . . I don't want to know how much firepower that ship possesses."
Quinlan steered his shuttle into the hangar and landed smoothly, powering down the machines. When they walked out of the cockpit, Siri and Aayla were already waiting, the box safely tucked away in Siri's coat. They all made sure that their lightsabers were in place and walked down the ramp seeing Plo Koon standing at the end of the hangar. Beside the Kel Dor stood a young Togruta girl who had to be Ahsoka Tano, the famous Padawan of Anakin Skywalker in another life. In this reality, Master Koon had taken the girl as his apprentice. Garen smiled at her bewildered expression. All of this had to be exciting for a young Padawan, barely out of her status as an Initiate.
"Greetings," Plo Koon said, apparently glad that they were here, and he gestured for them to follow him. Garen narrowed his eyes. Something had happened. He felt a sense of anxiety in the Force, and a look toward his fellow Jedi confirmed his feeling. They all gazed around with alertness.
They made their way through gigantic hallways, and Garen saw Quinlan again swallowing at the colossal size of this warship. Slowly the realization of what it meant to fight a war crept upon them. Garen had been sure that this day would come, but he began to grasp that this conflict would change them forever for the first time.
A Clone Commander was expecting them at the entrance to the bridge. The door slid open, and he gave them a salute. "I will make sure that you won't be disturbed, Master Koon. Captain Rex is going to oversee the refueling process. According to our calculations, that will take some time, though. We have to prepare for a stay of about three standard hours."
"Thank you, Commander," the Kel Dor said. "Would you please make sure that Master Vos's shuttle is prepared for a longer trip? I gather it also needs refueling, and it can't hurt to check the systems."
Quinlan rolled his eyes, and Garen let out a sigh. They had another mission for the Kiffar so soon? Being a Shadow came with tremendous responsibilities, and Garen didn't envy his friend for it. They entered the bridge and saw Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Master Windu standing together, murmuring.
Komari Vosa was furious. First, Darth Tyranus had let himself get captured by Kenobi, and then Darth Ianus had ordered her to stop on Corellia to find a way to free the other Sith. She had hoped that her Master would decide that Dooku wasn't worth the effort any longer. But he seemed determined to make the former Jedi their ally and had told her in no uncertain terms that he didn't want to see her without having rescued Tyranus from the Republic.
Now she stood in a hangar, surrounded by a Corellian maintaining crew. It had cost an incredible amount of credits to bribe them into letting her in. They would ignore her entering the star destroyer which had just landed. Her only obstacle would be the Clones who supervised the refueling process. But she wasn't worried about them. Unlike the Jedi, who seemed to be nowhere in sight, the soldiers weren't Force-sensitive and wouldn't sense her presence.
She used a few crates as cover and approached the back of the massive ship. When the Clones were distracted, she jumped up and landed in the ship's hangar, which was gladly filled with more supply crates. Slowly she made her way to the doors, sensing Dooku in the lower levels. She didn't bother with any stealth to open the door. Her lightsaber would have to do. It would take the Clones some time to detect it.
Finally, she was in the hallways and jumped up to the ceiling, opening the ventilation hatch and climbing into the shafts. This was the best way to move around without being found. The Jedi were just too careless, she thought with a triumphant smile.
Luan shivered at the cold when she slowly awoke. With a groan, she tried to move up and realized that her hands were bound behind her back. She strained to gather her thoughts and hissed in a breath at remembering what had led to this precarious situation. She pushed herself upward onto her knees, trying to keep her balance, and looked at a grey wall. She closed her eyes, searching for her connection to the Force, only to realize that it wasn't there. A brief moment of panic was replaced by her concern for her fellow Jedi, and she turned around.
Across from her, Tahl was leaning against the wall, her eyes closed. Luan let herself fall to the side to also lean to the wall. Then she cleared her throat, prompting Tahl to open her eyes. "Are you all right, sweetie?" the healer asked with worry.
"As all right as I can be," Luan grumbled. "Where are Adi and Stass?"
"Vizsla came in a few moments ago and fetched them. I don't know where they are. I can't. . . ." She looked down at her neck, and Luan saw a collar being placed there. She swallowed thickly and sensed the same restriction on herself.
"Force-suppressants?" she asked, her voice a bit desperate.
Tahl nodded. "Unfortunately, Obi-Wan never taught me how to circumvent them."
"Yeah," Luan agreed. "That would come in handy now." Then she looked around. "What are we going to do?"
"I really don't know, but at the moment, I am more concerned for Adi and Stass than us. After what Vizla said, they were looking for you. He was pleased to see you. I don't think he wants to harm you," the healer replied, and Luan saw a deep sadness in her eyes.
"You are my family," she said firmly. "I do not want to end up with a terrorist group. And they have my mother. . . ."
"We don't know that," Tahl countered. "Let's get to the bottom of this before making any assumptions, Luan."
The door opened with a bang, and both women flinched. One of Vizsla's men walked in, his helmet preventing them from seeing his face. Without a word, he pulled Luan up and shoved her out of the cell. "Time to meet your new father, Paban!" he said with a chuckle. "Pre Vizsla is looking forward to performing the adoption ceremony."
Luan's eyes widened, and she gave her real adoptive mother a panicked look. Apparently realizing that Tahl's role was more critical than they had thought, the man yelled, "Can someone bring the other Jedi? I think her presence is going to tame our little price."
Luan struggled in his grip, but he held her steady, pushing her out, and when they arrived on a courtyard, he threw her to the ground, leaving her kneeling. Tahl wasn't far behind and landed directly at her side when Luan noticed Adi and Stass being bound to poles at the side of the massive space.
Around the courtyard were small huts, and one after another, Mandalorian men walked out of them. When they took off their helmets, Luan took a deep breath at seeing that they weren't all men. There were women between them, and all of them watched her with curiosity. Slowly it began to dawn on her that she didn't understand Mandalorian culture as well as she had thought after her conversations with Master Gallia. Apparently, women were equally fierce warriors as men here.
Then Pre Vizsla came out of the hut in the front, his helmet under his arm. He was accompanied by a red-haired woman. She gave Luan a contemptuous look and asked, "That her?"
Vizsla laughed at her attitude. "My dear Bo-Katan. What did you expect? If you had done as I asked and found her sooner, maybe she wouldn't look like a little Jedi pet. . . ."
Luan's eyes shot daggers at him, and he laughed even more. "But she has some Mandalorian fire within her. I was always told that Jedi shouldn't give in to their feelings, ad'ika." He crouched down in front of Luan and held her by her chin. "What is it, they say? Anger leads to hate. . . ."
"Let's get this over with," the woman called Bo-Katan said impatiently. "You shouldn't waste any time claiming her as yours."
"What are you talking about?" Tahl asked, her voice shaking.
Vizsla smiled broadly and looked toward Adi, who stood bound to the pole with an icy shimmer in her eyes. "Master Gallia, you should be accustomed to our traditions. Do you care to explain this to your fellow Jedi?"
She shook her head in denial, and Luan saw her eyes widen the slightest bit. Something was going on here that they couldn't understand, but Adi knew what Vizsla was about to do.
"No?" he asked, feigning disappointment. Then he stood up and said, "In Mandalorian culture, we cherish our young. We do not let them suffer. That's why it is pretty simple to adopt a homeless child and make it part of your Clan. We call it Gai Bal Manda, the ceremony of name and soul. "
Luan began to realize that this man was trying to make her part of his Clan, and she shook her head desperately. "I do not need a family!" she cried out. "I already have one!" Her gaze shifted toward Tahl, and Pre Vizsla's eyebrows lifted in curiosity. Realizing her mistake, she looked to the floor, taking deep breaths to regain her composure. But it was too late. The Mandalorian took a step to the side and gave the Jedi healer a contemplative look.
"I forgot that the Jedi changed their ways. So, you took my ad'ika here in and gave her the love she needed?"
Tahl's head lifted up, and she gave the man an icy stare. She didn't respond, and Luan began to shiver when Vizsla took a step forward, bowing down and placing his hand on Thal's head, slowly caressing her until his fingers rested on the Force collar. "I thank you for that. But she was destined to be mine, and I have to take her from you."
Luan was speechless at the sincere regret in his eyes, and after a moment, she whispered, "Why?" already feeling the weight of her own resignation. He was determined to adopt her, and she had the feeling he wouldn't put up with any resistance on the matter.
His gaze shifted toward her, and he gave her a smile. "There is the keen intelligence I expect from Clan Paban. Finally, you're asking the right question." He stood up, and Luan suspected he did so to regain his superior position, with her and Tahl still forced to kneel before him.
The woman, Bo-Katan, stepped to his side and began to explain, "There are few Clans on Mandalore who have a right to the Mandalorian throne. Clan Vizsla is one of them, as is Clan Kryze, from which I descend. There are a few more, and one of them is Clan Paban. You, my dear Luan, are the last of this Clan's descendants, and the moment you join Clan Vizsla, your claim on the throne transfers to it."
"It will solidify my position as the Mandalorian leader," Vizsla said, his voice betraying his desire. "The Mand'alor, a real king of all the Clans. That's why I was looking for you, ad'ika. It was so unfortunate that your mother hid you when you were young. She ultimately left you, and you would have been sold into slavery by the pirates on that ship if the Jedi hadn't found you." He took a step back and began to pace back and forth. Then he locked eyes with Luan, whose eyes were shimmering with utter terror.
"I promise to let your adoptive mother go if you agree to this adoption, Luan," he said softly. "I can't thank her enough for what she's done. But you belong here, and your place is at my side."
Adi Gallia couldn't keep quiet any longer and addressed Bo-Katan with an accusing voice, "How can you do this? Satine is your sister! You're giving up her claim as well as yours!"
Luan frowned, then she remembered what Bo-Katan had said, and the name Satine Kryze came to her mind. The red-haired woman gave Adi a glare and shrugged. "Satine has betrayed our ways. She is not worthy of the throne. Besides, I will be at the Mand'alore's side as soon as we have reclaimed the throne for us. Clan Kryze will survive."
Luan swallowed thickly. She hadn't missed what Bo-Katan didn't say – that her sister would survive. These people were fanatics, and they would kill anyone who stood in their way. However, she was not ready to give up her newly found last name to join such a crazy group of people. Her head moved upward, and she gave Vizsla a despising look. "I will not join you!" She said firmly and straightened a bit.
"I won't take no for an answer. Making you my daughter is not something you have to consent to," he replied coolly.
"But to join the two Clans, she needs to dedicate herself to the Resol'nare," Bo-Katan countered.
"And what's that?" Luan asked despite having sworn to herself not to ask any more questions. Curiosity won over her determination not to get caught in this bizarre ritual.
"It's our vow," Bo-Katan said, eager to explain it to her. "The core of being Mandalorian: wear armor, defend yourself and family, raise your children as Mandalorians, contribute to the Clan's welfare, and follow the Mand'alor when he calls you."
"I can't take another vow," Luan said in a surprisingly calm voice. She remembered her Master's words and repeated them to Bo-Katan, "I made a commitment, a commitment to the Jedi Order. To break my vows to the Jedi is just not possible. I can't be part of your Clan."
Tahl gave her a proud glance, but at that moment, Vizsla shot forward and placed his hand around the healer's neck, he pulled her up, and she hung in his arms, struggling against the firm grip. He dragged the Jedi over to a chair and let her fall down on it, her arms locked behind the backrest. A nod toward Bo-Katan brought the woman to their side, and she placed her hands on Tahl's shoulder, keeping her fixed on the chair.
"What are you doing?" Adi yelled, and Luan was shocked by the terror she heard in the Master's voice. Adi knew Death Watch better than they did. If the Tholothian panicked, she had to do something.
"Please," Luan said quietly. "Let her go. She is the only mother I ever had. Don't hurt her." She fought against the tears in her eyes. Still, they began to flow freely when Vizsla took out the bizarre lightsaber Adi had once called the Darksaber, apparently a symbol of Mandalorian leadership, and ignited it.
He held the weapon at Tahl's throat, and Luan began to sob. "No!" she cried. "You can't!"
"Listen," Pre Vizsla said with a steady voice and drew Luan's gaze toward him. "If you agree to the adoption, I will spare her life, but your defiance has to be punished. Do not make it any harder than it already is."
Luan's eyes widened, and she felt an abyss swallowing her. She desperately tried to reach into the Force, but it was to no avail. The Force-suppressant collar was feeling like fire burning on her throat, and she couldn't circumvent it. She fought her tears when she thought about Qui-Gon, her Master, who couldn't help her – who couldn't help Tahl. . . . Then she heard Master Gallia's voice breaking through her turmoil.
"Do not uphold the Jedi principles if it means giving up the people you love, Luan," the Tholothian said softly. "No one in the Order will judge you for saving Tahl's life."
It was what she needed to hear and Luan, looked up and locked eyes with her adoptive mother. Tahl's gaze was full of love, and Luan swallowed thickly. She gave a weak nod and whispered, "I will do as you ask. Just please, let her go."
Vizsla moved the Darksaber away from Tahl's neck, and Luan let out a breath of relief. Then the Mandalorian exclaimed, "Look at her one last time, Jedi!"
Luan tried to fight her restraints when he placed the Darksaber over Tahl's eyes, and the healer struggled in her bindings, catching another glimpse of her adoptive daughter yelling and crying in despair. With a sickening hiss, the saber was pressed onto Tahl's gold-green eyes, and she let out a painful wail, slumping down in the chair when she lost consciousness.
Obi-Wan made the connection with Padmé as soon as Quinlan and the others had joined them on the bridge while Qui-Gon explained the situation to them. It didn't take long until the holograms of Padmé and Satine appeared on the holo table, and he hissed in a breath at seeing the Duchess for the first time ever since she had died in his arms so long ago.
"Obi-Wan," Padmé greeted him, and Satine took a step forward to stand beside her.
"General Kenobi," she said with her unmistakable voice, and he fought the sudden wave of grief at seeing her alive and healthy.
The other Jedi joined him, and Qui-Gon placed a hand on his shoulder to ground him in the present.
Mace Windu, realizing that Obi-Wan was currently speechless, said, "Duchess, Senator. We're grateful that you took the time to speak to us personally."
"You must be Master Windu," Satine said with a smile. "I heard a lot about you. I am deeply sorry for what happened to Master Gallia on Concordia. Our intelligence points toward an abduction. And I have to admit that it was my fault that this was even possible."
His eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Why would you say that, Duchess?"
"Death Watch shouldn't have known that they were on their way to Concordia. However, the two guards I sent with them defected, and they must have betrayed them. I can assure you that Padmé and I didn't inform anyone about your rescue plans in order to make sure that you have a realistic possibility to get your fellow Jedi back." She took a deep breath and added, "I am not even sure of my Prime Minister's allegiance at the moment. So no one knows that you're going to Concordia to free them."
Obi-Wan had regained his composure and said, "Thank you, Duchess. Padmé told us that we are going to need more information to plan a rescue mission."
She nodded and began a detailed description of the terrain on Concordia, which Anakin, Garen, and Aayla listened to diligently. At the same time, Mace compared notes with what he had found in the Temple archives. Satine ended her speech with another warning, "Do not underestimate Death Watch, Masters. They are perfectly capable of defeating a Jedi, and it would be best if you had the element of surprise when attacking them. I really don't know what Padawan Luan's connection to Mandalore could be, but Padmé told me that you're suspecting her to be Mandalorian of origin. If that is the case, Vizsla will try to adopt her into his Clan."
"We assumed he wanted to kill her," Qui-Gon said with surprise.
"A Mandalorian would never kill a child, Master Jedi. If she is any threat to Pre Vizsla, he will make her swear her allegiance to him. The Resol'nare is a sacred oath that assures the Clan of one's loyalty. However, Pre Vizsla has no qualms about killing adult Jedi. I am sorry to say that I fear for your friends' lives."
Anakin looked up and asked, "The scanners, Duchess, are you sure they do not scan for life signs? It will be crucial for our mission that they are only detecting mechanical or computer activity."
She gave him a nod. "I am sure about that. I sneaked onto Concordia often enough. Death Watch doesn't expect anyone being suicidal and go down Concordia's vast atmosphere without having their engines turned on."
Anakin gave her a satisfied smile, and Obi-Wan had to fight a laugh despite the severity of the situation. No, no one would do that except Anakin and apparently Satine. But she had always been a brave woman.
Suddenly Qui-Gon let out a cry and held his head, sinking down to his knees. Master Koon, standing next to him, prevented him from falling forward and looked at the Jedi Master with shock. Qui-Gon let out a whimper, and Obi-Wan rushed to his side. "Master!" he cried out and crouched down to meet the older man's eyes, placing his hands on the Jedi's shoulders.
"Tahl," Qui-Gon said between gritted teeth. "Something happened to Tahl!" the despair in his voice made Obi-Wan cringe. He had to fight his own demons when memories threatened to overwhelm him – memories of a heartbroken Qui-Gon weeping over his lost love. He shook his head. No, she was not lost. That had been in another life. There had to be time to save her.
Anakin realizing what was happening, put his hand firmly on Obi-Wan's back, grounding him in the present, and the General asked with a shaky voice, "What? Qui-Gon, tell us what happened."
The Master took a deep breath and whispered. "She's alive, but Obi-Wan, this feels terrible. She must have been really hurt."
Obi-Wan stood up, and after a moment of contemplation, he said firmly, "That's it. We're coming with you."
"We can't fly a Republic star destroyer into Mandalorian airspace," Mace countered with bewilderment.
"No, we can't," Obi-Wan agreed. "But we can fly to the nearest hyperspace exit point. This ship is much faster than Quinlan's shuttle. And if Tahl is hurt, we're going to need its medical bay to treat her immediately. Besides, I know Death Watch, and I won't let any more people get hurt just to talk with Bail Organa about this army's installation. I can coordinate that over the commlink."
"You've dealt with Death Watch before, General Kenobi?" Satine asked, surprised. "I don't remember you ever having visited Mandalore, and this group rarely leaves the Mandalorian system."
All of them gave her an embarrassed look, but Obi-Wan was firmly back in the present thanks to Anakin's intervention, and he gave the Duchess his best diplomatic smile. "Duchess, as High General of the Republic, it is my duty to know everything about any possible terrorist group in the Galaxy. Believe me, I know Death Watch well enough to expect the worst."
She seemed satisfied with the explanation and gave him a nod. "Well, I'll leave you to it then. I would be grateful if you informed me when you freed your friends. If I can assist you in any way, do not hesitate to call."
She walked out of the picture, and Padmé gave Obi-Wan a pleading look. "Please take care of yourself," she said quietly, and he gave her a reassuring smile.
"I will," he promised. "And as soon as you are finished with your negotiations, I urge you to meet us on the Resolute. I do not want you to remain on Mandalore any longer than necessary."
She nodded. "I will make contact to get the coordinates when we have finished here. It shouldn't take us too long now."
Despite everyone listening in, Obi-Wan gave in to his emotions and said, "I love you, Padmé."
She swallowed thickly at his open admission and gave him a hesitant smile. "I know," she simply said, and understanding her intent, Obi-Wan smiled back warmly.
When the transmission was finished, everyone was quiet for a minute, and then Obi-Wan waved to the doors, letting them slide open with the Force. Commander Cody was standing outside and gave them an inquiring glance, looking with concern at Qui-Gon, who was still kneeling on the floor, his body slightly shaking.
"Call medical, Cody. We may need some help here, and please calculate a route to the nearest hyperspace exit point to Mandalore without entering their airspace."
"Yes, Sir," the Clone said, and with a salute, he took out his commlink to make contact to the medical bay.
The remaining Jedi accompanied Qui-Gon into the medical bay, and Cody's gaze shifted from them to the General. "Do you need anything else, Sir?"
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin in thought and said, "Yes, Cody. We are going to need blasters, detonators, and rifles. I am helping the Jedi free their friends, and the group who has them captured is not to be trifled with. I fear that lightsabers are not enough to beat them."
Cody nodded. "With all due respect, do the Jedi know how to handle these kinds of weapons? As far as I'm informed, they are not that well prepared for war. And. . . if you're about to fight Mandalorians. . . ."
Obi-Wan gave the Commander a contemplative look. The Clones had trained with Jango Fett for a long time. As opposed to his friends, they knew well enough what to expect from a Mandalorian warrior. Then he shook his head, "I am sorry, Cody. We cannot bring Republic soldiers into this. After all, Mandalore is a neutral system. The Republic has no business there. That's why the Resolute and all of you have to keep your distance. The Jedi will go there to rescue their own."
Cody snorted briefly. "And how are you going to explain that the High General of the Republic will be there? Or are you planning on staying behind, Sir?"
Obi-Wan couldn't help a mischievous smile and said, "No, Cody. As you pointed out, the Jedi are not used to fight against Mandalorians. They need me. But I won't go as High General of the Republic. I am still my own man and what I do, while my badge and my uniform are in the closet is entirely up to me."
Before Cody could say something, Captain Rex came running toward them, and Obi-Wan already knew what he would tell them.
"Dooku escaped," the Captain informed them between pants. "We don't know how anyone could have entered the ship, but someone did and freed him. There is lightsaber damage. . . ."
Obi-Wan gave them his best impression of a troubled look and said, "Well, if someone with a lightsaber broke him out, there is no way we can find him now. That's disturbing. I mean, who knew that we would refuel on Corellia?"
"The Jedi Council, the Chancellor, the Jedi who met us here. . . ." Cody answered with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Honestly, General, if we want to keep our movements a secret, we have to talk about clearance levels. It doesn't help if the whole Republic knows what we're going to do next. You never know where the Separatists' spies hide."
Obi-Wan had to suppress a grin. This Cody was so similar to his former Cody, and he was glad that he could work with him again. With a severe tone, he replied, "You're right. We really have to talk about a lot of things before heading into a full-scale war. Now, let's plot the course for Mandalore. I am going to join the Jedi in the medical bay."
He heard Rex whisper, "Mandalore?" with an incredulous voice and Cody replying, "I'll tell you all about it in a minute." Then he was too far to listen anymore.
Adi looked with horror at the scene in front of her. Luan was lying on the floor, sobbing and crying, inconsolable about what Pre Vizsla had done to Tahl. And the healer lay motionless in her chair, only held by the bindings behind the backrest. Her eyes were gone, hidden behind a ghastly lightsaber wound. There was no way Tahl would ever use them again, even if they somehow found a Jedi healer in record time, which wasn't the case. The Master swallowed and gave Stass a desperate glance. But they were powerless. Without the Force, they had no way of escaping, and they couldn't even call for help. Adi knew well enough what Death Watch had in store for her and Stass Allie. She had listened to Vizslas's promise to let Tahl live. There had been no mention of her and Stass.
She fought the overwhelming sadness when thinking about Mace and how cautiously they had progressed in their relationship. They always tried to take it slow, so slow that she now had the feeling that she was about to lose something she hadn't even come to experience fully yet. The lost opportunities, the past moments, all of it began to catch up on her, and she felt tears in her eyes. But she wouldn't give Vizsla the satisfaction of breaking down. She inhaled deeply and looked up when she heard Bo-Katan speaking.
"Let's get this over with," the red-haired woman urged Vizsla to perform the ceremony, but the Mandalorian had a content, almost absent smile on his face and shook his head. "We shouldn't have tried to do this now, Bo-Katan," he said firmly. "It's customary for all members of the Clan to witness a joining of two Clans. We will wait until nightfall and do it when our patrols are back."
Bo-Katan crossed her arms over her chest. "Do not postpone this," she countered. "She is weak now. She will do anything to protect the Jedi. Who knows what will happen if you give her time to come to her senses?" Her gaze shifted toward the weeping girl on the floor.
"I want her adoptive mother to hear her reciting the Resol'nare. The Jedi must realize that Luan Paban isn't one of theirs but mine." With that, he gave the order to bring Adi and Stass back into their cell and pulled Tahl from the chair roughly. "I know you are unconscious, but if your Jedi senses are alert, I tell you once more thank you for looking after my child. However, the Jedi remain our enemies and will all suffer. You were just the first one. And be grateful, I will let you live, and you can return to your remaining family. That's your reward for treating a Mandalorian child with the care it needed."
Adi was speechless. He seemed to believe his own words. That he had treated Tahl mercifully, that he did her a favor in not killing her. But looking at the lifeless healer in the Mandalorian's arms, Adi was not so sure Tahl would see it like that. She would have gladly died to spare Luan the pain she was experiencing right now – utterly alone amid the courtyard, surrounded by Mandalorians, who were about to separate her from her family.
Siri and Quinlan gave Obi-Wan a sign to stay back when the other Jedi left the medical bay where a Clone soldier had given Qui-Gon a mild sedative to put him to sleep. The General looked at them with raised eyebrows and waved his hand to open one of the private rooms, pulling them in.
"We need to talk to you," Siri blurted out, and Obi-Wan heaved a sigh.
"Can't it wait?" he asked, his voice slightly exasperated.
Quinlan understood well enough, but he shook his head. "I don't think so, Obi-Wan," he said, his voice uncommonly stern.
Siri took out the box and reached out with it to the General, who gazed at it with wary eyes. When he hesitantly touched it, his fingertips responded with a sudden golden spark, and he winced, pulling his hand back. "What?" he asked, regarding the box with suspicion.
"We found this box on Ossus," she explained. "We can't open it but Quin. . . ." she swallowed and looked at the Kiffar Master.
"It doesn't contain a single memory which means someone must have wiped them from it. No one would do that except a Jedi," Quinlan said.
"Or a Sith," Obi-Wan said, glancing at the box with an unreadable expression.
"Yes, but I know that it was a Jedi, and I am pretty sure it was none other than Ood Bnar," Quinlan responded and moved over to Obi-Wan, placing his hand on the General's arm.
Obi-Wan gave him a snort. "The legendary Jedi Master? Please, Quin. How would you know that if the box is wiped clean of memories?"
"A Jedi ghost appeared to me in a dream," Quinlan explained wryly. When Obi-Wan tried to protest, he held up his hands to stop him. "I know it sounds crazy, and I know that you often thought that I was mad. But listen, Obi-Wan, it was the ghost of Duron Qel-Droma, and what he told me sounded true. I couldn't have made that up in my mind. He pointed out that the Jedi must have lost their knowledge about Force ghosts. . . . he said the box can only be opened by one Jedi, someone who was destined to do so. . . ."
Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief. "And you instantly thought about me? Because of the Guardian prophecy? Quinlan. . . "
Siri stomped on the floor with her foot, and both men looked at her in shock. "Oh, Obi-Wan, please stop that! We all know that the Force has singled you out. You can deny it as often as you like. It doesn't make it any less true. If someone in this time is destined to open the box, I am pretty sure it is you. Just try it!"
Obi-Wan stood up and looked at them with an incredulous expression. "Now? You want me to try it now? Did you see what happened when I touched it? What if it renders me unconscious or incapable of functioning? What if this ghost needs to give me some lengthy instruction and holds me in his plane of existence for days? We have to rescue our friends. There is no way that I am doing this now. It's too much of a risk."
Siri swallowed at his words and tucked the box back into her coat. Then she looked to the floor uncomfortably. "You're right. But promise me we will look into it after this mission. You need to take the time to do this, Obi-Wan. Do not hide behind your duties."
He gave her an accepting nod, and Quinlan knew that the blonde Knight had a point. Obi-Wan would always find a reason to not verify his unique role for the Jedi Order.
Dooku leaned back in the copilot's seat of Komari's ship and let out a relieved sigh. He was glad that Obi-Wan had kept his promise and that they could escape without the Clones putting up a fight. Komari wouldn't have hesitated to just kill them, and Dooku wasn't sure if the young General would have forgiven him for wounding and maiming his soldiers.
Komari gave him a look that almost resembled concern, and after a while, she asked, "What was that? I mean, on Geonosis? How did Kenobi. . . ."
The older man rubbed his face. "The Sith are not the only ones capable of throwing Force-Lightning, Komari," he replied. He hadn't thought about that. Obi-Wan had probably saved Dooku's life by revealing his ability, but now the Sith would know about it, and one more advantage was lost.
"That was not throwing Force-Lightning, Master," she said, agitated enough to fall back into her old habit to address him as her Master. "That was directing Force-Lightning. I've never seen anything like it. He transformed the Lightning into bindings!"
Dooku had to suppress a smile at her outrage. Well, she had spent enough time surrounded by Dark-siders to have forgotten that even if the Jedi were clueless, there were still powerful Masters among them who could do things no one expected. "You shouldn't believe everything your Master tells you," he said, his voice admonishing. "There are more capable Jedi than he thinks. He should go out in the field some time to actually fight, and he would know it."
"Who says he's not out in the field fighting?" Komari inquired with a high-pitched voice.
Dooku liked how he could rile her up just by voicing the slightest criticism about the Sith Lord's behavior. It meant that she was not lost. She was defending him valiantly, but her doubt bled into the Force more and more. He decided to step it up a notch. "Are you even sure that you are his only apprentice? Or that he even is the one Sith Master? Maybe there is someone even more powerful in the background pulling strings." He really wanted to know if Kenobi's theory was correct, that the great Master was only known to one of the Sith.
"You should meet him," Komari scoffed. "Then you would know how powerful he is. His Force presence is so much darker than yours."
"Which means he can't hide it as effectively as I can," Dooku replied, unimpressed. She hadn't reacted to his provocation about another Master, which didn't help at the moment.
"It means he is deeply rooted in the Dark Side," she said heatedly. "And you, I am still not sure about you. You shouldn't have lost to Kenobi. Maybe this was the plan all along. Let yourself get captured to give him all the information you gathered, little spy."
His gaze became soft, and he instantly saw her reaction to it. She winced, and he gave her a tired smile, sighing deeply. "Do you really believe I would be so dumb to take that risk after having nothing more from you than a name? A name I gave Kenobi already while he was our prisoner? If I really wanted to spy on you and Darth Ianus, I would do so without you being able to see it, Komari." He practically breathed her name out, putting all the fatherly love he had felt for her once into the word, and it had the desired effect. Komari had left the Order because she had been in love with her Master and Dooku wasn't above using this now.
She swallowed thickly and began to tap on the navigation computer erratically. Then she said, "I will take you to Serenno. My Master will contact us as soon as we have prepared the droid army for an attack. You will take over command of the army, but as long as Ianus doesn't have the Holocron, you can't be trusted which means, that I am assigned to watch you."
Dooku inclined his head, hiding his smile at her continued unrest he could feel in the Force.
Luan didn't remember how long she had been sitting here. She just saw the image of Tahl's eyes throwing her a last loving look before that monster had blinded her with the Darksaber. She had stopped sobbing a while ago, feeling empty and defeated. Without the Force, she was powerless to help herself or Tahl. Tears sprang into her eyes when she thought about the Jedi healer who had replaced her mother for her entire life. She tried to cling to the belief that Vizsla would keep his word and let Tahl go when Luan just gave in to his wishes. But she didn't believe it any longer. And even if he would let Tahl go, how should she find her way home – to Qui-Gon? He would be devastated when he learned the truth.
She tried to regain her composure and fight against the overwhelming guilt that was consuming her. None of her fellow Jedi would be here if it weren't for her and her stupid dreams – dreams about a mother who had allegedly left her in the hands of pirates when she was too young to realize that she had been abandoned. Slowly the guilt began to change into anger. She should have just ignored the stupid drams. She should have done what Qui-Gon asked and trusted him that the dreams would pass in time. She was so stupid – walking into this trap and making Tahl suffer.
Pre Vizsla walked into the room and gave an inquisitive glance. "You have to make yourself presentable, ad'ika," he decided. "You can't go out there with red-rimmed eyes and a swollen face. They will think I forced you into accepting the adoption." He knelt down and caressed her cheek with a sad smile.
She winced and remained silent. She couldn't believe this man. He was still convinced that he was doing her a favor, that she was following his wishes because she had seen the error of her ways. Slowly a dark cloud built up in her mind, and she felt relief. Finally, the guilt was gone, and she could focus on another emotion – her hate. She hated Pre Vizsla for what he had done to her, to Tahl – to their family. Cultivating that hate helped her overcome the indescribable grief, and she closed her eyes, focusing on the burning flame within her – holding on to it.
Cody had calculated the exit point perfectly, and Obi-Wan nodded satisfied when they jumped out of hyperspace just far enough from Mandalore to not violate their airspace. Plo Koon took over the bridge again, and Ahsoka looked longingly toward the General when he was about to leave.
Obi-Wan heard Master Koon say, "Little' Soka, there will be plenty of dangerous missions for you. Someone has to stay here and make sure the Resolute isn't attacked, and General Kenobi wants us to make sure that Senators Amidala and Mothma are safe as soon as they arrive." The young man couldn't hide a smile when he remembered how often he had had this exact argument with another Ahsoka Tano. Then he let the door slide shut behind him, took a deep breath, and made his way to the hangar where the others were waiting for him.
They were about to mount Quinlan's shuttle when Qui-Gon staggered again. Obi-Wan looked at him with concern, and the older Master shook his head. "It's nothing," he tried to reassure his former Padawan. However, Obi-Wan knew better but decided to let it slip for now. He continued on his way and discreetly reached out his arm to stabilize Qui-Gon. His former Master would tell him if it were something he had to know.
Anakin was already in the cockpit, doing the necessary checkups, and Mace sat down at the small table in the cargo room, looking around with a slightly disgusted expression. "Do not even think about commenting on my ship," Quinlan said when passing the Korun-Master.
Garen, Siri, and Aayla looked at the arsenal of weapons Obi-Wan had brought from the Resolute. Their peaceful friend seemed to have decided that they were going on the warpath, and he had prepared for it. "We should have asked Master Koon to come with us," Siri said with a sigh and examined a thermal detonator warily.
"Why is that?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice unusually low.
"His restraint could be to our advantage," she replied with her gaze shifting over the weapons.
"I really think you're underestimating the situation we are in, Siri," he began to lecture her, and when she rolled her eyes, he banged his fist on the small table, making the whole group look at him with shock. "All of you, you need to listen. We are about to fight the only people in the Galaxy who have made it an art form to destroy Jedi. Not only are they prepared for our lightsabers and fighting style. They also have intimate knowledge on how to deprive us of our most powerful assistance, the Force. If you let a Mandalorian come too near, he will always find a way to put a Force suppressant collar, cuff, or any other device on you. Because they know that the average Jedi will be helpless without the Force."
They all looked at him with wide eyes, and he took a deep breath. "I. . . ." he suddenly looked toward the door, swallowing thickly. Then he turned toward Anakin and yelled, "Wait, Anakin!"
But it was too late the Padawan had already lifted off and steered the shuttle smoothly out of the hangar. Mace gave Obi-Wan an inquiring glance, and the young General rubbed his face. "Cody, Rex, you can come in. We can't turn back now," he said with resignation in his voice.
The other Jedi looked at the two Clone soldiers with surprise when they came into the cargo room. Cody shrugged his shoulders and said firmly, "I'm sorry, General, but you are going to need us despite you claiming otherwise. We left our identification badges on the Resolute. We are here as your friends, not as your soldiers."
"You can't," Obi-Wan tried to insist but was interrupted by Rex, who crossed his arms in front of his chest with determination.
"I heard your discussion. Your fellow Jedi do not have the faintest idea on how to use these weapons. If you want to defeat a bunch of Mandalorians, you are going to need Mandalorians with you. We know what to expect, and we will gladly instruct your friends here on how to beat Death Watch if you let us." Captain Rex gave them all a smile and looked at the arsenal in front of him.
There was no way to prevent Cody and Rex from helping them, and if Obi-Wan was honest, he had to admit that he was glad that they were here. If he had to fight an unknown enemy, these two were the ones he always could rely on.
Stass and Adi were led out of their cell, and their jailors bound them to the poles again. With worry Stass looked over the crowd gathering in the courtyard, trying to find Tahl and Luan. However, they were both not here yet. She had agreed to accompany her cousin on this mission despite knowing what to expect, but she had never thought that they would be beaten that easily. She hadn't even had enough time to ignite her lightsaber before the Mandalorians had put the Force-suppressant collar on her. She felt deeply guilty about what had happened to Tahl, and she cursed herself for not being able to protect Luan, who was a sixteen-year-old who shouldn't have to bear the burden of blaming herself for Tahl's predicament.
Adi gave her an asking glance, and Stass shrugged as much as was possible in her restraints. There was no way for them to make a move, and when Stass looked at the warriors gathering around her, she saw in their faces that they were looking forward to finally end the two Jedi who were helpless. Mandalore and the Jedi Order had a complicated history, and as much as Stass wanted to believe that there was no reason for Death Watch to execute them, her Force-sense told her otherwise.
The Mandalorians, men and women alike, formed a circle at the edge of the courtyard, and finally, Tahl was brought in by the woman who called herself Bo-Katan. The Jedi healer looked exhausted, and Stass was horrified when she saw how the red-haired woman pulled her roughly over the floor, throwing her to the ground in the middle of the circle.
Bo-Katan looked up at her audience, and with a wave of her hand, the men and women lit up torches, bathing the whole scene in an eerie light. The sun was already setting, and Stass looked up into the sky as if some rescue would fall from it. But there was no way that anyone would come. Mandalore was forbidden terrain for any Jedi, and even if someone had felt them, no one would be suicidal enough to dare enter Concordia's atmosphere.
She hissed in a breath when Bo-Katan brought out Luan. The girl shot daggers at her jailor and tried to resist the pull. But the moment she saw Tahl kneeling on the ground, she calmed down and gave up her resistance. Well, after what Vizsla had done the first time she rebelled, that was only logical. Adi gave the Padawan a nod, and Luan lowered her eyes in shame. When she was at Tahl's side, she tried to crouch down, but Bo-Katan held her up. "Stay here and do not dare to kneel!" she said sternly.
Then the Mandalorians began to sing, and Stass shivered. This was a well-known ceremony, and everyone did what was expected from them. She looked into the sky again and saw the light in the distance, briefly thinking that someone was about to land a ship but putting the shimmer hope instantly away. Death Watch would have known if a vessel were about to breach their airspace.
Cody took a deep breath when Anakin Skywalker shut off the engines, and the Jedi around him grew quiet, focusing on stabilizing the ship while it glided down onto the small moon. His eyes widened when he felt how they were picking up speed, and he just hoped that the almighty Force the Jedi were talking about would help them land safely.
General Kenobi, who stood in the cockpit, had his eyes opened, but Cody saw the deep concentration in them as the former Jedi tried to steer the vessel with the Force. How he could take the others' power into himself and do that was a mystery to Cody. But somehow, he found a clearing, and with his arms outstretched, directed the shuttle down without a sound. It didn't reassure the Clone Commander that Kenobi had beads of sweat on his forehead while doing it. But when they touched the soil, he let out a breath of relief. The General briefly slumped down on the copilot's seat, and Padawan Skywalker leaned over to him, placing his arm around the other man's shoulders. "You did it, Master," the young man whispered, and all of them gave the Padawan a relieved smile.
Mace Windu let down the ramp, and they gathered the weapons and left the ship silently. When General Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker joined them, Rex followed Master Windu, who walked to the forest with closed eyes. Cody shook his head. How the Jedi could see anything without having their eyes open didn't cease to amaze him, but he was disturbed in his musings when his General walked up beside him and pulled him forward. Apparently, Windu had given them a sign to follow.
They walked into the forest, and when they were covered by the massive trees, Master Windu said, "There is a settlement about two klicks away. I can feel Adi faintly. But they are surrounded by at least twenty-five other life-forms. We have to assume that all of them are warriors after what you've told me about Mandalorians, Rex."
Rex nodded and looked at the others. "Everyone, woman or man, on Mandalore is a capable warrior if he is a member of one of the great Clans. If we want to free your friends, we're going to need a distraction."
"Then let's proceed with our plan," Obi-Wan said, his gaze distant as if he was confirming Master Windu's information. "Rex, you stay here with Aayla and Garen while we make our way to the settlement. The moment we are there, I am going to give the signal."
No one disputed his authority, and Cody had to suppress a smile. He already began to realize why Obi-Wan Kenobi was their High General. When they had planned this attack, it had been apparent that he had much experience and a brilliant strategic mind. He lacked the naïveté the other Jedi still had. One would think he already fought multiple wars.
Luan was standing in the middle of the courtyard, carefully keeping up her shields and trying to keep her composure. She had seen Adi's gaze when she had come out of Pre Vizsla's hut. The Master had detected her rage instantly, and Luan knew that she had to hide it. It was not the Jedi way to harbor hate. But in a few minutes, she wouldn't be a Jedi any longer, and if Vizla took away from her what she loved most, he would have to live with the consequences. The only thing that counted now was to free Tahl and make sure that Master Gallia and Knight Allie could bring her home – home to Qui-Gon. It didn't matter if Luan lost her right to be a Jedi in the process. She would find a way to get out of here and get Tahl on her way to Alderaan. Then she would take her revenge, and she would find her mother. She really needed to know what had happened on that Pirate ship. Vizsla had taken her family from her. She would reclaim her real mother and kill him for it.
The Mandalorian stepped out of his hut the moment the singing began and gave her a bright smile, the Darksaber, loosely at his side. Bo-Katan had said that Luan was a descendant of Clan Paban, a Clan who had a claim to that saber. She would get it, and Vizsla would die by her hand. She swallowed her increasing hate when the man walked over to her, placing his hand under her chin and gently pulling her head up. "Do not fear what is about to happen, ad'ika," he whispered. "I will be a loving and fair father to you, and you will finally be reunited with your mother. She left you alone as a child, but she will always be your blood. We have to forgive her. It's the Mandalorian way. Family transcends everything."
She gave him a silent stare and twitched when he placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. "One day, you will be the Mand'alor. You will ascend to the throne as my daughter, and Clan Vizsla will be forever united with Clan Paban."
She shivered and felt a wave of hate beginning to creep up from her toes into her stomach. 'I will kill you,' she thought and began to gather all the emotions inside of her. She collected her guilt, fear, grief, anger, and above all, her hate and pictured it coming together to a gigantic sphere in her mind. She focused on the center of that ball, and with all that she had within herself, she lashed out at it.
The Force shifted, and she ignored Tahl's gasp at her side. She just kept pushing with all her strength, and the sphere exploded. Everything went black around her, and the last thing she felt was Tahl's cry in the Force. "No, Luan!"