hi hello i know it's been six months i'm so very sorry. I low-key had to reread my own work to remember where we're at so here is a quick summary of the road recently:

Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka are recovering on Mandalore after their encounter with Maul. Satine's been having Major Problems, which she and Obi-Wan discover have been the result of Vizsla trying to stage a coup. Padme is also here being the Icon she is, but she and Anakin get stuck in the palace when Vizsla takes over, holding many of Satine's people hostage (also he planted an explosive in Anakin's arm because he is, and I cannot state this enough, The Worst). Now, Obi-Wan. Satine, and Ahsoka are entering the palace to negotiate with Vizsla and save all inside...

Obi-Wan had no idea how Satine managed it.

Within the half-hour, he and Ahsoka were outfitted with the armor of Satine's guards, ready to face Vizsla. Satine herself had no access to the more stately clothes she would normally don for a meeting of such importance, still sporting the pants and tunic she had chosen for her impromptu undercover mission to Vizsla's warehouse. Yet, with her fierce gaze and steely walk, she looked as regal as ever to Obi-Wan.

"Here goes everything," murmured Satine as the trio approached the walls of the palace. "I truly hope this works."

"A plan thrown together last minute? With more than a little luck involved? It would at least have the Skywalker stamp of approval on it," grinned Ahsoka as she fought to control her anxious energy. While Obi-Wan had simply placed a helmet over his face, Satine's guards had helped Ahsoka cover her more distinguishable markings with a dark blue cloak thrown over her armor.

"'Skywalker-approved?' My, how our standards have fallen," said Obi-Wan dryly, though he smiled on the inside. How like Anakin she was- anxious to join the fight, anxious to save those who needed her, ready with a quip or a punch as the situation demanded.

Satine sighed. "Do they not teach students to restrain sarcastic comments before a mission at the Temple? Or is it actually encouraged?"

"I have no idea what you are referring to," said Obi-Wan mildly as they finally reached the gate. He wished he could squeeze her hand once more, to reassure her. But that would be unbecoming of a royal guard. Or a Jedi for that matter.

"Halt!" ordered one of Vizsla's men, clad in Mandalorian armor. "The palace has been taken. No one is granted access. By order of our Governor and Commander."

"Tell Vizsla the Duchess of Mandalore is here to negotiate with him," said Satine evenly. She refused to call Vizsla by any of his titles, earned or presumed. "You will find myself and my guards unarmed. I ask for the opportunity to at least fight for the lives of my people held hostage within the palace."

The Duchess and the Jedi held their breath as Vizsla's man spoke hurriedly with one of his colleagues, someone above him, Satine imagined.

"We will inspect you and your guards for weapons. Then you will be brought to the Governor," the man said eventually, nodding to his companions who roughly searched them. Cleared, Vizsla's men opened the gate and guided the trio through.

Silence painted the palace walls. On a normal day, the grand building would be bustling with servants hurrying about their tasks, assistants shepherding visiting dignitaries from one meeting to another. These empty halls, however, felt unfamiliar to Satine. Stray cups, datapads, and helmets dotted the floors, strewn carelessly as if suddenly dropped by startled hands. A cold shiver began to creep its way up Satine's spine as they turned the corner, senses alerting her to the horrid scene before her eyes could.

Bodies lay scattered in the hallway, faces that Satine saw everyday now smashed against the floors. From the shadows, she could see a pair of shoes peeking out, heels that looked chillingly similar to those worn by Zeria. Satine had seen so much pain in her life that she often thought she might be immune, each new shot of horror fortifying her against the suffering that sickened the galaxy. But, for better or worse, there was no remedy for compassion, and the grief swept through her like a raging virus.

Satine turned to their escort. "Why? These people were innocent."

The man shrugged. "Didn't give in when we asked." The group walked on.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka looked on at Satine worriedly. She had said nothing more, though the anguish in her eyes was clear to any who knew her well. Her hands shook ever so slightly, though she did not bow her head and her gait did not falter.

When they finally reached Vizsla, Satine wasted no time in addressing him. "You monster. How dare you hurt all of these people!"

Vizsla raised a brow at the Duchess, a smug smile stretching across his face. "My, Duchess, that's a rather aggressive tone coming from someone who is here to negotiate their surrender."

Satine narrowed her eyes. "I've said nothing about surrender."

Vizsla scoffed. "You don't need to. I've overtaken your palace. Your people are starving- who will support you when you've proven you can neither feed your planet nor protect the people living in your own home?" he said, glee slipping into his voice.

"You make it sound so easy," said Satine. "There are still those who support me. More than enough to make your coup a difficult affair."

Vizsla leaned forward, far enough to make Obi-Wan instinctively take a protective step towards the Duchess. Satine waved him off, stepping toward Vizsla herself. "It would be a mistake to underestimate me," she said.

"I would never, Duchess," said Vizsla. "I would never underestimate your commitment to your people. Particularly the hostages that I will execute if you refuse to cooperate with my coup." He smiled viciously. "Would you really like their blood on your hands? The blood of your counselors, your servants, your guards?"

Satine paused, pretending to consider. "If I am fighting for the lives of the hostages, then I will need proof that they are still alive. How will I know you haven't killed them, when the bodies of so many others line the corridors? I insist," she said looking Vizsla straight in the eye, "That you allow one of my guards to go and verify their survival while you and I negotiate."

"But of course, Duchess," said Vizsla graciously, statement dripping with the arrogance of a sabaac player who knows they've won before they've played their cards. "I'm sure we will have completed our negotiations by the time they return."

Satine nodded to Ahsoka, who nodded back and turned to follow her escort. Satine prayed that the hostages truly were alive, that Ahsoka would reach them and Padme and Anakin in time. Trust in your friends, whispered a voice that sounded suspiciously like Obi-Wan.

The plan was moving. She would not fail.

"So then, Vizsla," said Satine, donning her politician's face and haughty tone, "Where shall we begin?"

"Are you absolutely sure you're okay?" asked Padme.

"Of course," said Anakin, frowning. "Why?"

"Because we've only taken ten steps and you're already panting," said Padme, looking over her husband skeptically.

"Working with you takes the breath right out of me, Angel," said Anakin giving his wife a dazzling smile.

Padme groaned. "I'm cutting you off from the holodramas," she said placing a hand on his forehead.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I'm fine, Padme, I've worked through way worse injuries than this," he said suddenly pulling her against him as they heard footsteps down the hallway they were creeping down. The pair stood stock still until the steps receded, holding their bodies rigid against the wall.

"I wonder how many men Vizsla has in the palace," said Padme softly as they cautiously set off down the hallway again.

"Hopefully we'll be able to find out once we reach the security center," said Anakin.

"Do you have any idea where it might be?" asked Padme.

Anakin shrugged. "My impeccable Jedi instincts will just lead the way."

"Of course," sighed Padme before she grabbed Anakin and shoved him against the wall.

"Wha-"

"Quiet!" hissed Padme. "There's someone coming again." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Or did your impeccable Jedi instincts not sense it?"

"Hey, I'm very injured."

A familiar voice interrupted their whispers. "Padme? Anakin? Is that you?"

Anakin's face lit up. "Snips!"

Ahsoka pulled down her hood as she rushed to greet her friends. "Are you guys alright?"

"Yes, just fine," said Padme, looking at Anakin. "For the most part."

"Uh huh," said Ahsoka, casting a glance at Anakin's arm. "Sure."

"What's going on, Ahsoka?" asked Anakin. "How did Vizsla overtake the palace? Where's Obi-Wan?"

"And Satine?" added Padme.

"They're negotiating with Vizsla."

Padme gasped. "Satine wouldn't hand over her planet to that scum. She can't!"

Ahsoka shook her head, crouching to speak quietly to them. "She doesn't intend to. Me and Master Obi-Wan snuck in as guards with Satine. She and Obi-Wan are buying us time while I was sent to find you and the hostages."

Anakin raised a brow. "Vizsla just let go off on your own?"

Ahsoka shrugged, inspecting her fingernails. "I might have incapacitated a few people on my way out."

Padme patted her shoulder. "That's our girl." She peeked down the hallway. "Anakin and I were on our way to the security center. We figured if we could stop whatever's jamming communications, and take over the monitors, we can give the outside enough information to storm the palace."

Ahsoka nodded. "I know how to get us there. Follow me."

The trio crept down to the security center, Anakin leaning on Padme as he did his best to shuffle forward quickly. Ahsoka shed her disguise as they went, wishing she'd been able to bring her lightsabers with her but glad to regain some mobility.

They reached the security center with little difficulty. Vizsla, in his arrogance, had left only a handful of men in the center, who were readily dispatched by a few well-placed kicks and stuns from Ahsoka and Padme's blaster. Anakin whistled lowly, impressed.

"I wonder why you even bothered bringing me along," he said as sat before a monitor, examining the jamming processes Vizsla had put in place.

"You have your uses too," said Padme pressing a kiss against his forehead.

"Hmm, debatable," said Ahsoka, smirking.

Padme laughed. "You two work on this, I'll be outside on lookout," she said, disappearing behind the doors.

Ahsoka took a seat next to Anakin. "We had Satine and Obi-Wan put in some earpieces before we came in. I have their codes- as soon as you dismantle whatever's jamming communications, we should be able to talk to them."

"Got it," said Anakin working rapidly, while Ahsoka scoured the security monitors in search of Obi-Wan and Satine.

"There!" she said a few moments later, pointing to a screen on the left. Sure enough, there stood their friends facing Vizsla. Satine was speaking, her barely concealed anger evident even through the video. Obi-Wan was inscrutable, face hidden behind his helmet and hands clasped behind his back.

"Alright," said Anakin, "Here goes nothing." He punched in the code and leaned forward. "Obi-Wan," he said softly. "It's Anakin. Ahsoka, Padme and I are watching you from the security monitors. Can you give me some sign that you can hear me?"

They looked on breathlessly, Obi-Wan showing no signs of having heard for several moments. He continued to stand resolutely beside the arguing Duchess, when Anakin suddenly spotted a movement by the floor.

"He's heard!" said Anakin brightly.

"How can you tell?" asked Ahsoka.

"Look, he's tapping his foot," said Anakin pointing to the screen. "Obi-Wan's not fidgety, he doesn't really pace or tap or do anything except scratch his beard 'in contemplation.' He's definitely hearing us." He leaned in again. "Obi-Wan, keep on with the negotiations. We'll try to free the hostages so that you'll have more leverage and Satine's forces can strike. We'll keep you posted." The foot tapped twice more.

"Alright, that's all set," said Anakin turning to call Padme back. "Pad—"

"Wait!" hissed Ahsoka clamping a hand over Anakin's mouth. "There's something you should know," she whispered, glancing at the door. "The hostages aren't the only leverage Vizsla has over us."

Anakin frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Your arm," said Ahsoka, worriedly. "The doctor that operated on you was an imposter. They planted an explosive on you during surgery." She bit her lip. "I have no idea how it's going to go off."

Anakin blinked. "Oh Force," he said hoarsely, blood turning to ice. "I've been holding Padme this whole time, if it had gone off—" he said words choking in his throat. He fell silent for a minute, mind racing. He could have killed himself, killed Padme. To know that something in his own body could turn against him, without him ever having a say in it—it reminded him eerily of the slave transmitter he'd had buried under his skin so long ago. He gripped Ahsoka's shoulder with his good arm. "She has to go off with you," he said.

Ahsoka frowned. "What? No, someone has to stay here with you. What if you get attacked? You can't fight anyone off right now."

"I can't be around Padme with this thing in my arm," said Anakin harshly. "Or you for that matter. It's best that I guide you from the security center. Alone." He looked at her in the eyes. "If you want to save the hostages, you have to go. Padme is your best shot to help you with them anyway. But you cannot tell her."

Ahsoka bit her lip. "Padme won't forgive me for this."

"Padme won't be able to forgive you for anything if she's dead," snarled Anakin.

"Padme doesn't appreciate secrets being kept from her."

Both Anakin and Ahsoka jumped guiltily as Padme swept back into the room, eyes blazing. "I'm staying and helping you get that thing out of your arm."

"Padme," sighed Anakin. "You are an absolute goddess in the Senate, but mechanics aren't exactly your strong suit. They're mine, but I won't be able to deactivate this thing if I'm worried about blowing you up in the process. Please," he begged, looking at his wife with pleading eyes, "Help Ahsoka with the hostages."

"And I'm supposed to be able to focus on that job if I'm worried I'll come back to find you in pieces?" said Padme angrily.

Anakin smiled at her sadly, lovingly. "You've always been better at focusing. And this," he said gesturing to the monitors, "Is a one person job. Perfect for one person who can barely walk. Those hostages need you."

Padme looked at her husband for a long moment, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. To have him brought back from the brink of death, only to be thrust into this? She took a breath, centering herself, before she launched forward and captured Anakin's mouth in a fierce kiss, leaning him back gently and ignoring Ahsoka's gaping jaw. "I am going to kick Vizsla's ass," she said resolutely, breaking away, "And if you're not dead when I come back I will kill you anyway for putting me through this."

Anakin grinned, dazed and reeling from the kiss. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

"Um, if you're both done, we should probably get on our way," said Ahsoka looking on, amused. "Here's the code for my earpiece," she said to Anakin. "Let us know which hallways to take. And when you fix your little problem," she said gesturing to his arm, "Let us know, too."

"Roger, roger, Commander," he teased, while she rolled her eyes.

"Come on Ahsoka," said Padme giving the Padawan a small smile. "It's up to us to save the day. Again."

"There's four guys guarding the outside of the hostage room," whispered Ahsoka. She and Padme had stealthily made their way down, with Anakin steering them away from any potentially dangerous corridors. They perched themselves behind a corner, struggling to find a way forward.

"There's another four inside, armed," said Anakin in her ear.

"Of course there is," muttered Padme, crouching close to Ahsoka. She glanced at her young friend. "How many would you be able to take out?"

"With my sabers? All of them," snorted Ahsoka. "Hand to hand… I could still take a decent amount, but eight at once might be tricky."

Padme sighed. "I could get a few good shots off too, but they'd all come rushing if they heard."

"If only we could split them up," said Ahsoka. "Distract them maybe."

Padme straightened, face bright with an idea. "Follow me," she whispered, and took off back down the hallway, creeping into a dining room they had passed earlier. Ahsoka watched, dumbstruck, as Padme carefully pulled a tablecloth from its resting place and began hastily stuffing the fabric beneath her dress, settling the clump of cloth above her stomach. The result looked just like a baby bump.

Ahsoka looked at her, brows raised. "Something you and Anakin forgot to tell us?"

"Shut up, Snips!"

Padme laughed as Ahsoka relayed Anakin's comments to her. "See? Babies always throw men for a loop," she said, grabbing a glass of water and splashing it on the floor beneath her. "I think you see where I'm going with this."

Ahsoka grinned back at her. "Give me one second." She ran out into the hallway, skidding to a halt before the men the guarding the door.

"Hey, what are you-"

"Help!" said Ahsoka, channeling as much panic as she was able. "Oh please help! My lady and I hid when the palace was taken out of fear for the baby but now the baby is coming- "

Vizsla's men looked at each other uncertainly. "What do you mean baby-"

They were interrupted by an unholy wail coming from down the hallway that surprised even Ahsoka. Well. If Padme ever did have kids, Anakin was sure in for a pleasant time. Though Ahsoka honestly wasn't sure which of the two parents would be screaming more at the birth.

"You have to help!" pleaded Ahsoka as more screams erupted nearby. "Please! She's in labor."

"What do we do?" asked one of the guards helplessly. "Shoot her?"

"No, dummy," said another man smacking him. "It's a baby and pregnant lady for kriff's sake. Plus- plus Vizsla said not to hurt the remaining hostages right?"

"And if she really is a lady, she might be a more valuable hostage," added another.

"Uh, right," blustered the guard. "You three, go down the hallway and help the lady, then" he said to a cluster of bewildered guards. "You," he said grabbing Ahsoka by the arm and thrusting her into the room, "You stay here with the rest of 'em."

"Oh, but please, sir," blabbered Ahsoka, "You must allow me to assist my lady."

"You've already caused enough trouble—oof!" grunted the guard, hitting the ground hard as Ahsoka knocked away his gun and delivered a precise hit to his head.

"Only a few more to go," muttered Ahsoka as she took a firm stance, fists up as the remaining guards stormed toward her. Training with Anakin had always forced her to consider the best way to take down opponents that were far taller and heavier than her. Anakin never treated her like fragile girl. He always made it point to throw as much as he could at Ahsoka, a fact she was grateful for as she flipped a guard into his partner coming up behind him.

She turned to take out the last men only to find Padme looking unimpressed at the bodies now laying stunned on the ground. Ahsoka pouted. "I could've taken them."

Padme shrugged, tucking her blaster into her belt. "Quicker this way." She approached a wide-eyed young woman kneeling on the floor, the fire that had been burning in her eyes as she fought Vizsla's men fading into a gentle warmth. "My name is Padme," she said simply as she squeezed the young woman's hand. "You've worked here for some time, correct? Any ideas on the best way out?"

"Obi-Wan, it's Anakin. Ahsoka, Padme and I are watching you from the security monitors. Can you give me some sign that you can hear me?"

Obi-Wan let out the gentlest sigh of relief he could beneath his helmet while holding the rest of his body still. Good. Ahsoka had found them after all, and they had successfully taken over the security center. He tapped his foot softly, an action that might be read as an anxious habit by anyone else but Anakin. His former padawan would know better.

"Obi-Wan, keep on with the negotiations. We'll try to free the hostages so that you'll have more leverage and Satine's forces can strike. We'll keep you posted."

Excellent. Anakin would also be feeding information on Vizsla's numbers, positions to Captain Norvik, who would descend upon the palace quickly. With any luck, they would free the hostages soon, before their charade faltered. It was delicate work, pretending to promise your planet to a dung heap of a man, though, despite the dangerous position in which they found themselves, a small part of Obi-Wan couldn't help but delight in watching Satine go head to head with her adversary.

For a pacifist, Satine never failed to strike Obi-Wan as, occasionally, quite scary. Her blue eyes were frigid as verbally sparred with Vizsla who, despite having all the might and firepower in the room, seemed spineless in comparison to the woman before him. Though Obi-Wan knew that in their best case scenario these negotiations would ultimately prove useless and would crumble away once they liberated the palace, he couldn't help but find himself cheering internally each time Satine landed a point, gained a fraction of an inch on this field that threatened to dwarf her.

She was fearless and proud and caring, and he loved her for it.

"That's enough!" said Vizsla eventually. "There's only so much you can walk away with on the eve of your destruction, Duchess. Whatever scraps I could possibly give you, you now have."

"Obi-Wan, they've nearly got the hostages out. Hang in there a bit longer."

"This is all contingent on the well-being of my people," responded Satine calmly, though she could feel her heart beating faster. "My guard has not yet reported back to me. Perhaps you've hurt her has well?"

"Of course not," scoffed Vizsla. "What need would I have to harm a guard whose side has already lost?"

"Got 'em. Captain Norvik is coming in."

"Actually, Governor, I believe you are the losing side," said Obi-Wan, speaking up for the first during the negotiations. Removing his helmet, he gave Satine the smallest smile. "You'll find that you are no longer in possession of any hostages, and that your men will promptly be overwhelmed by Duchess Satine's forces."

"Kenobi?" said Vizsla, mouth flapping. "No! No, we are still in power-"

"Sir!" cried one of Vizsla's men as he sprinted into the room. "Sir, the outer gate has been taken over and we can't find any trace of the hostages! The men are all down."

"Shut up!" screamed Vizsla, backing away, looking like a cornered animal. "No, Mandalore is mine now-"

"I'm afraid Mandalore still belongs to its people," said Satine looking proudly at Obi-Wan. "Surrender now, Vizsla. You've no leverage."

Vizsla leaned against the wall breathing heavily, eyes darting back and forth as he surveyed the Duchess and his panicking men. Then slowly, gradually, a laugh escaped his mouth, bubbling into something closely resembling a fit.

"I've no leverage, eh?" he said reaching behind his back to reveal a small remote nestled in his hand, thumb hovering over a large button. "Did you forget about the other Jedi running around the palace? The poor one that just underwent surgery?"

"Anakin," breathed Obi-Wan trading horrified glances with Satine. He took a step toward Vizsla, pulling up abruptly when Vizsla thrust the remote towards him.

"Careful Kenobi. Wouldn't want my finger to slip now, would we? Let's scrap the negotiations and keep it simple," said Vizsla, a cruel, desparate smile twisting his face. "You give me the planet, and I'll spare the Jedi."

"Obi-Wan," said Satine breathlessly.

"You cannot take this planet," said Obi-Wan, fighting hard to keep the fear from his voice.

"Jedi it is then," snarled Vizsla as he prepared to push the button.

"No!" cried Obi-Wan, shooting an arm out to push Vizsla against the wall with the Force, wrapping a tendril of the Force around Vizsla's fist to freeze his thumb above the button.

"Guns on the Duchess!" screamed Vizsla, and the few men left in the chamber aimed the rifles at Satine. Obi-Wan froze, unwilling to release Vizsla, but yearning to protect Satine.

"Well, Kenobi," panted Vizsla. "You can keep your strength on me, your focus on keeping mefrozen. Of course," he said slyly, "You wouldn't be able to save your dear Duchess when I order my men to shoot her." He grinned, confidence returning to him. "Or you can call off the strike, hand over the planet to me, and negotiate in my favor. No one has to die."

"Except the millions you'll kill when you take over Mandalore," said Obi-Wan looking murderously at Vizsla.

Vizsla laughed. "Minor casualties."

Obi-Wan shook, rooted in the spot, never taking his eyes of Vizsla. Time seemed to stop in the room, silence screaming in Obi-Wan's ears as he took in the remote in Vizsla's hand, the guns pointed at Satine. He could hear his heartbeat, vision threatening to turn red. He waited, one minute, then two. Finally, finally, he spoke.

"Push the button," he breathed.

Chaos broke loose as Vizsla fell to the ground and Obi-Wan hurtled himself at Satine as the shots rang out in the room, hearing her screams as they went down together.