Chapter: Four: The Stoic Master
Ch. Summary: Mandalorians and Jedi meet on Galidraan. Obi-Wan succeeds in keeping it bloodshed free.
Obi-Wan was a little alarmed by how fast things happened after Jaster started the ball rolling. Apparently all True Mandalorian battalions travel around with their own team of slicers when they're out on a job. And apparently they were really good, because once they had an idea of what they were looking for it didn't take them more than a couple of hours to find it.
Judging by the look on Jaster's face when he received the report, the Governor of Galidraan was not going to be in office much longer, if he was still alive that is. Obi-Wan also got the impression that Mandalorians were no strangers to revenge and justice and drawing arms against anyone and everyone that threatens them. Regardless of their enemies being planetary leaders or not.
He hadn't spent longer than a day in the True Mandalorian camp before Obi-Wan could see exactly why the rest of the galaxy found the Mando'ade - as they called themselves - so threatening. They didn't distinguish between kings and pirates when it came to defending themselves. They killed everyone equally dead.
Disconcertingly casual views on violence aside, Obi-Wan was fascinated by everything and everyone around him. He hadn't noticed when he'd first walked through camp, but the True Mandalorians were as diverse in terms of races as the Jedi were. That was a surprise seeing as the traditional style of armor seemed to lend itself to humanoid races.
Though when Obi-Wan got the courage to ask, Jaster explained, "It really comes from our roots in conquest." The man's eyes were lit up and his words had a distinctly familiar tone to them. Obi-Wan was internally amused to realize that it was the tone of every historian, teacher, or archivist he'd ever spoken to at the temple.
"When the ancient Mandalorians would conquer a planet or system they would assimilate the people into our culture as well. The first Mandalorians weren't humans either, they were Taung. As long as you swear the Resol'nare and follow its tenets to the best of your ability, you are a Mandalorian regardless of your race or planet of origin."
That was fascinating and Obi-Wan spent the next thirty minutes drilling Jaster on more history. Their impromptu history lesson ended when one of Jaster's warriors came and dragged the man away again, but the whole experience reminded Obi-Wan of just how much he enjoyed traditional learning, not just Force training or ethically dubious skills as he had been learning since leaving Bandomeer.
Late in the evening, Jaster grabbed Obi-Wan from where he'd been silently observing one of their weapons masters repairing a jet-pack and dragged him back to the command tent.
Shoving the boy down at the low table on the far side of the tent set with shig – Mandalorian tea - and dinner, Jaster took his seat on another cushion and impatiently waved Jango over to the spot next to him and across from Obi-Wan.
Once he had both boys' plates filled and their cups steaming with shig, Jaster began.
"Now, Obi-Wan, from our conversation earlier I get the idea that you don't know that much about Mandalore in general."
Swallowing a mouthful of spicy, tongue burning stew, Obi-Wan shook his head. "We were only given an over view of the Mandalorian-Jedi Wars while I was an initiate. The more detailed lessons of the wars we were involved in were generally taught after we're chosen as padawans."
Jaster's face creased at that with a distinctly displeased expression. "Well, we don't have the time for an ancient history lesson tonight, so I'll just explain the situation on Mandalore right now."
It wasn't strictly speaking pleasant conversation for dinner, but if Jaster expected Obi-Wan to be part of negotiations with the Jedi task force that was supposed to arrive sometime late tonight or early morning, then it was necessary.
While it was obvious Jaster tried to give an unbiased recounting of the various political factions and philosophies tearing Mandalore apart at the moment, Obi-Wan new he'd have to do his own research to get a truly comprehensive idea of the political situation he'd inadvertently thrown himself into. But for the purposes of keeping the True Mandalorians and the Jedi alive until everyone could get off planet and regroup, it was enough.
"So, Vizsla says he's the rightful Mand'alor because he claims to have possession of Tarre Vizsla's lightsaber," Obi-Wan concluded dubiously as he sipped at his cooling shig, enjoying the spicy – everything Mandalorian was spicy it seemed – but warming drink considering it was almost freezing outside the tent.
"I thought Mandalorians hated the Jedi," he commented. "Why does a Jedi weapon determine your sole ruler?"
Huffing, Jango scowled at the question. "It doesn't. Only the Vizslas still claim the Darksaber marks the Mand'alor. Buir is Mand'alor of the True Mandalorians because our people chose him."
"Clan Vizsla and all the clans that are allied to their House," Jaster corrected with a slight smile at his son. "Tarre Vizsla was the first Mand'alor after Mandalore the First to unite all the clans under their rule. Their saber became a symbol of that. I don't need the Darksaber to be Mand'alor of my people, but there are enough of the uber traditionalists that I won't be able to unite all the Clans and Houses and stop the civil war without it."
Obi-Wan nodded thinking that through. It seemed that while the True Mandalorians were perfectly fine without the tradition of the Darksaber, a great deal of the rest of the Mandalorians were not. So unless Jaster proves Vizsla is lying and the Darksaber is still lost to time, or he visibly wins the saber in single combat, Mandalore is in for a long and violent journey to unity.
"And the New Mandalorians don't care about the Darksaber at all," he clarified, trying to make sure he's got all the players correct.
The expression of complete disgust on Jango's face was a little surprising considering he figured Vizsla and Death Watch would have garnered more loathing.
"The New Dar'Manda are a bunch of hut'uun utreevok-"
"Jango!" Jaster shot his son a look and the older boy huffed and grumbled under his breath. "What Jango was trying to say is that the New Mandalorians are more Core Worlders than Mando'ade. They have lost all respect for the Resol'nare and our history. While Duke Adonai Kryze, their nominal leader, is honorable and was once one of my Supercommandos, he does not speak for all his people as I do. His council all have their own interests and their own ties to outside powers. The New Mandalorians run solely on politics and trade which if I'm being honest is a far more perilous arena than a battlefield."
Obi-Wan hummed thoughtfully, but eventually pushed that issue to the side for the time being. Right now, Death Watch and the Jedi were the players he needed to work with.
"So how do you want to approach tomorrow?" He looked to Jaster curiously. "I'm not sure how much help I'll be. Like I told you, I left the Jedi and I'm just a teenager. I doubt my word will have much sway over whoever is heading the task force."
Shrugging seemingly unconcerned, Jaster drained the last of his shig. "We don't need you to do all the heavy lifting. Truthfully, I'm counting on your presence throwing the Jedi off long enough I can get a word in edgewise."
Obi-Wan scowled at that. "Am I your hostage?"
"What?" Jaster blinked at him then shook his head. "No! That's not what I mean. Mando'ade are not unaware of how intimidating and threatening our armored appearance can be. Having a young, unarmored seemingly Jedi presence with us should be puzzling enough to make the Jedi question the situation."
Humming, not exactly convinced, Obi-Wan eventually nodded. "Alright, fine. I'm still not sure they won't immediately think you've kidnapped me, but I'll do my best to facilitate peace talks."
The corner of Jaster's mouth quirked up and Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at the amusement in the man's brown gaze, but the older man tipped his head in acceptance before he could get offended. "That's all I ask. I just need enough time to present the Jedi with evidence of foul play. After that I imagine your job will be over."
"What did your slicers find anyway?" Obi-Wan asked, suddenly burning with curiosity. The first time he'd heard the recording he'd found in the Governor's office, he'd known that all was not as it seemed. That the situation was a lot more complicated than rival Mandalorian groups warring with each other.
A dark look came over Jaster's face and Jango glared down at his shig.
"Someone powerful is bankrolling Death Watch," Jaster answered and Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "After the Governor received confirmation of the Jedi's response, he also received a first installment of payment. We were able to trace the money through several shell companies and anonymous bank accounts, but it lead back to the Trade Federation."
"What does the Trade Federation have to gain from supporting Death Watch?"
"Nothing, at least not enough to amount to a hill of beans," Jaster answered. "But everyone knows the Trade Federation is in bed with some very powerful people. We suspect that whoever is really invested in Death Watch just used the Trade Federation as a proxy, a way to conceal the money's origin."
"And you don't know who that could be?" Obi-Wan asked worriedly. This was bigger than it seemed. It meant that for some reason the True Mandalorians posed enough of a threat to more than just the other Mandalorian factions that they had a much larger target on their backs.
"We couldn't get anything definitive through following the money, but the Governor is less concerned with cyber security than the Trade Federation. The slicers discovered he'd been getting fairly regular calls from a Coruscant comm code. A comm code from the Senate district." There was an ominous ring to his words and Obi-Wan jumped when the Force enforced the warning with an off key discordant echo.
"Whoever this mysterious third party is that is bankrolling Death Watch and pulling the Governor's strings is very powerful. Considering that the Senate didn't even attempt to investigate the Governor's claim against us, they either have ties to the Senate or are a part of the Senate themselves."
That was not good, Obi-Wan thought as the Force still chimed in his ears in unpleasant tones.
"That is a problem for another time however," Jaster said and the Force was quiet once again. Obi-Wan, though, couldn't stop the shiver that rolled down his spine before he was able to push the feeling away and put the situation to the back of his mind. "As long as the Jedi stay peaceful long enough I can show them the recording, we should be getting out of this with our lives intact."
Obi-Wan was shown to one of the three barracks tents and given a free cot to get some rest before morning. He was so tired from all that had happened since he'd found that recording over twenty-four hours ago, that he fell into a deep sleep. Not deep enough that he didn't distantly register two of the three True Mandalorian troop transports lifting off and breaching atmo to make their way back to Mandalore in the cover of night.
Not deep enough that he didn't feel it in his bones when the Jedi ship touched down at the public space port in the gray hours of the morning.
He came awake as the presences of twenty-five Jedi burst bright and shining behind his eyelids. Sitting up, Obi-Wan rubbed at his eyes tiredly as he struggled to understand the implications. Twenty-five Jedi was a fighting force. It wasn't an investigation team, or even a judicial team. You didn't bring twenty-five Jedi anywhere unless you were ready for battle.
Heart pounding in his chest, Obi-Wan realized just how serious this all was. If he failed to keep the peace people would die. The True Mandalorians still on planet would be slaughtered. He'd known, when he'd found the recording, left Hondo's crew, and walked through the night to the True Mandalorian camp that lives were at stake. But feeling the twenty-five Jedi already gearing up for a fight as they steadily marched their way here, it felt real in a way it hadn't before.
"Jaster!" Obi-Wan burst into the command tent, barely registering that the camp had shrunk by two thirds while he'd been asleep. "They're here. The Jedi are on their way."
Jaster having glanced up when his new ward ran into the tent with a wild look around his eyes, didn't let this information worry him. He'd already sent away most of his warriors back to Mandalore, Jango included though under angry protest. Even if all went wrong, his people would live. He'd done all he could to prepare. His only regret was that Obi-Wan might be caught in the cross fire should something go horribly wrong.
"Alright, Obi-Wan," he said to his fiery little ward. "Go get dressed and we'll be ready when they get here."
Obi-Wan instead of following the direction bit his lip, worry on his face.
Concerned, Jaster stepped toward him. "What is it, Tracyn'ika? What's wrong?"
"There's twenty-five of them," Obi-Wan finally said, voice slightly strangled. "That's a fighting force. They came ready for battle."
Though impressed that the boy could tell how many Jedi were on planet presumably just from the feel of them in the Force, Jaster wasn't too worried. "There's fifty of us here, kid. We knew they'd be ready for a fight."
"Fifty is not enough," Obi-Wan whispered, not wanting to alarm the other Mandalorians still in the tent watching their interaction closely. "If they decide they need to fight, fifty won't be enough."
Seeing the understanding, caring expression in the older man's eyes then, Obi-Wan realized that he'd become very attached to these warriors in a very short amount of time. It would have been alarming if the Force wasn't currently ringing with reassurance and comfort.
A gentle smile on his face, Jaster placed a reassuring hand on the tense teen's shoulder. "Don't underestimate the Mando'ade, Obi-Wan. It won't come to a fight, but if it does, I promise you we can more than hold our own."
When the Force didn't register a lie in Jaster's words or a contradiction to his belief, Obi-Wan finally breathed out his worry and nodded stiffly. "Okay. I'll go get ready then."
With a squeeze to his shoulder, Jaster nodded too. "When you're done come back here and have some breakfast."
After that Obi-Wan retreated back to the remaining barracks tent and his meager collection of clothes. Staring down at the pile of haphazardly folded clothes he'd dumped out of his bag, Obi-Wan frowned. He had a feeling just wearing his leather jacket, open collared white shirt, and spacer style pants over his Weequay style boots wouldn't give off the effect Jaster was looking for. It certainly didn't immediately say, "Force-sensitive youngling, don't shoot," on first glance.
Pawing through the articles, Obi-Wan finally unearthed his old initiate robes. He'd grown several inches both in height and breadth since following Hondo off Bandomeer so they wouldn't fit perfectly, but if he did some creative arranging he'd be able to get the look he was going for.
The clothes were a little worn, but they were clean. Upon attempting to don them, Obi-Wan discovered that the leggings were actually much too small now, the under tunic was short in the arms and tight in the shoulders, and the belt needed another hole added to end. The outer tunic that was traditional had been a lost cause after the eventful trip to Bandomeer and the deep sea slave mine so it had long since been scrapped. The boots he'd left the temple with had been discarded as well.
With these difficulties in mind, Obi-Wan put his brown spacer pants back on. He used the utility knife Hondo had given him his first week on his crew to bore a hole into the thick leather of his belt and buckled it over his waist. He'd left the tails of the tunic untucked to give the look of the Jedi tabards. Since it was ridiculously cold and the brown outer robe that still mostly fit was not thick enough, Obi-Wan put his leather smuggler's jacket back on over the tunic. With the robe over top he couldn't really see the jacket so it didn't affect the over all look much.
Being the only shoes he had Obi-Wan pulled his Weequay boots back on and tucked the legs of his pants into them. After that he hung his lightsaber from the belt, having it free and visible for the first time since he'd joined the pirate crew. He did put his blaster on his hip as well. It had become such an ingrained habit to have it as well, that he felt naked without it now.
Making his way through what remained of the camp to the command tent was an experience. Previously the Mandalorians hadn't paid much attention to him, but when he stepped out of the barracks looking like a Jedi youngling he got stares.
Stepping into the command tent garnered him an abrupt silence and wide surprised blinking eyes from Jaster.
Shifting on his feet, Obi-Wan crossed his arms uncomfortable with the scrutiny. "What? You wanted my appearance to make them pause, right. Well now I look the part."
There was a discontented muttering from a couple of the Mandalorians in the tent, but Jaster just shook his head and flashed his ward a smile. "You do indeed, kid. I didn't realize you had a lightsaber," He commented with a curious look at said weapon.
Shrugging, Obi-Wan stepped over to the low table when Jaster invited him with a gesture. "I usually keep it hidden. Like you mentioned when we met, young Force-sensitives are a target. Not wearing it openly just seemed like a smart idea."
Humming at that Jaster's brow furrowed in confusion. "You've been carrying it this whole time?"
"Yeah," Obi-Wan filled the ready plate with surely spicy Mandalorian breakfast items and dug in.
"How didn't I notice?" Jaster murmured puzzled. "Mando'ade are trained to pick out weaponry no matter how concealed. How did no one notice your kad'au?"
A mischievous glint flitted through Obi-Wan's blue-green eyes. He'd noticed that while Jaster was fluent in Basic - more so than Jango at least - he would slip into Mando'a, the Mandalorian language, if he was caught by surprise.
"I was using the Force to conceal it from outside attention. Your eyes could probably pick it out, but your mind wouldn't register it."
Impressed and fascinated, Jaster asked, "Is that something they teach in yo- the Jedi temple?" He'd noticed that Obi-Wan got frustrated when he was referred to as being a Jedi so Jaster tried to keep all mentions of the Jedi and their temple free of possessive nouns.
"Nah," Obi-Wan negated, his mouth still mostly full of something that tasted great but burned his taste buds. "I learned that from a Sith text." Not noticing Jaster's or the other warriors' reactions, Obi-Wan shrugged casually. "I mean it could be something Knights or Masters learn since it's not an inherently Dark technique, but it is a type of mind trick so the initiates and padawans wouldn't be taught that."
There was a lot to unpack in that answer, but Jaster didn't get a chance to dig further because the tent flap opened again and Myles, Jango's best friend and Jaster's current right hand in his son's place, stuck his head in. "Mand'alor," he said his visor turned toward Jaster, "Haar Jetiise nu chaaj'yc. Val olaror iviin'yc.(1)"
"Jate." Jaster unfolded himself from the cushion and stood. "Let's go meet them."
Obi-Wan swallowed the last bit of shig at the bottom of his cup and took Jaster's offered hand letting the man pull him to his feet.
Jaster kept a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder and placed the boy at his right, Myles taking up his left. Since the Jedi were arriving in mass, Jaster figure he'd at least extend them the same courtesy. He had all fifty of his warriors still on planet line up in intimidating formation with Jaster, Obi-Wan, and Myles at the head.
They'd just stepped into place when the first Jedi stepped out of the treeline followed by the rest of them. All clad in browns and tans, faces unreadable and blank. It was just as an intimidating sight as the Mandalorians.
Obi-Wan clenched his hands nervously and waited for someone to make the first move.
Master Yan Dooku had been feeling something off since he'd been handed the mission briefing. The Force had been distantly whispering to him throughout the journey to Galidraan and it had only gotten louder then they'd landed on planet. He couldn't understand exactly what the Force was trying to tell him, but it was alarming nonetheless. He was anxious to get this mission over and done with.
He'd delayed them long enough to detour to the Governor's Mansion and get confirmation on the murdering Mandalorians' camp before they set off. When he'd stepped into the mansion he'd realized something had happened.
When questioned about the guards and other law enforcement figures milling around the property the Governor was quick to brush it off as a slight security breach. It seemed the man couldn't get Dooku and Knight Feemor MacLeod, who he'd brought with him, out of the mansion fast enough.
As they'd moved down the steps, Dooku caught Feemor's eyes and nodded his head. The Knight acknowledged the silent order by promptly disappearing. He didn't rejoin the rest of the task force until they were just stepping over the boundary of the town and heading into the forest that supposedly was between them and their query.
Dooku was currently ignoring Komari Vosa's, his padawan's grumbling of boredom when Feemor reappeared by his side.
"What did you find, Feemor?" He didn't bother turning to look at his former grandpadawan. He needed to keep his eyes on his surroundings, the discordance in the Force kept him on edge.
"Apparently there was a break in two nights ago, the Governor's hidden antiquities vault was cleaned out," Feemor said. "The supposed culprits being a group of Weequays that showed up almost two weeks ago. Whatever passes for their police force has gathered evidence that the Weequays were probably spending that time gathering intel, guard rotations, security measures, and such."
Nodding, Dooku prompted, "That's not all."
"No," Feemor agreed with a dry hint of amusement. "It would seem that the majority of the thieves' intel came from the guards themselves. Several of them admitted to getting drunk while playing a backroom game of sabacc also attended by a human youngling later seen in company with the Weequays."
Dooku raised an eyebrow and flicked his eyes toward the younger knight then, and repeated, "That's not all."
"It was also mentioned that a Mandalorian was at the game. Several of the bar goers the police spoke to said that the Mandalorian actually drew a blaster on a drunk guard that accused the youngling of cheating."
"The Weequays are working with the Mandalorians?" Dooku didn't think that sounded right, and apparently he was right to be skeptical.
"There isn't any indication of that. It seems like it was a coincidence," Feemor negated.
That didn't sound right either, but Dooku didn't see the value in following that mode of inquiry. "The Governor seemed too eager for us to leave if it was a simple robbery."
There was an agreeing, considering hum from Feemor before he answered. "I got the impression the thieves made off with something much more dangerous than a few antiques. When I got a peek into the Governor's window he was busy shouting into a comm unit and tearing his office apart looking for something."
Dooku was quiet for a time still trying to get a read on the signals the Force was sending him. All he could get out of it was that the robbery, the Governor's suspicious activity, and their mission were all somehow connected. Anything more than that and the Force's message was too clouded for Dooku to get an accurate read on.
"I sense that if this robbery is indeed connected to our mission we will find out soon enough."
"Why do you say that, Master?" Komari asked from his other side still sounding bored as they continued to trek through the trees.
"Because the Mandalorians are expecting us." Dooku turned his head and tracked the very well camouflaged scout hiding up on a ridge of the cliffs to one side of them.
Feemor frowned at that and followed his former grandmaster's gaze till he too spotted the fully armored Mandalorian crouched in the shadows of the early morning light watching their progress.
"We are being observed," Dooku called lowly to the other Jedi following behind him. What little chatter there had been was quieted and the rest of journey to their target was made in tense silence.
When they reached the edge of the trees and stepped out into the large clearing where the Mandalorians were supposedly camped it became clear just how expected they were.
The Mandalorians were lined up in clear formation waiting for them seemingly patiently. The camp behind their greeting party showed signs having been much larger recently. Every single Mandalorian before them was fully armored and armed, and though their paint jobs were varied, they all had the same symbol of a Mythosaur skull stenciled somewhere visible. It was a statement, the unified front the Mandalorians presented to them. The only thing out of place was the youngling.
Three figures stood ahead of the rest of the Mandalorian force, two armored warriors and one fair skinned, redheaded human teen dressed in what appeared to be Jedi style robes. He even had a lightsaber hanging visibly from his belt.
Before Dooku could fully register the implications of the boy's presence the Mandalorian in the middle stepped forward. This armored warrior had a long red cape hanging behind them. Presumably this was the leader.
"Welcome, Master Jedi." The Mandalorian's voice was projected over the empty space between them, clear and crisp though metallic through the helmet's speakers. "We've been expecting you."
"So, it would seem," Dooku drawled, eyes flicking between the leader and the presumably Jedi youngling. Now that he was looking, it was glaringly obvious that the teen was very Force-sensitive indeed. "I assume you also know why we are here."
The Mandalorian nodded. "The Governor of Galidraan sent a request for Jedi aid to stop Mandalorians from murdering his citizens."
"Then you know I am asking you to surrender on suspicion of murder." Dooku didn't particularly like how this interaction was going. From the second he'd spotted the scout he'd known this mission was going to be nothing like he expected. The fact that the Force was suddenly silent when it had been whispering in his ear since before he even left Coruscant did nothing to reassure him.
The Mandalorian just tipped their head at that. "I'm going to have to decline," they said, utterly calm and sure. "Seeing as how the Governor had legally hired my Supercommandos to stop a group of insurgents supposedly attacking his citizens."
A frown creased Dooku's implacable mask. "Do you have proof of this?"
"I have the signed contract," the Mandalorian replied. "And I also have something else I think you need to see, Master Jedi."
The teen at the Mandalorian's side shifted for the first time since the Jedi had appeared and he caught Dooku's attention again.
"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the reason you seem to have a Jedi youngling in your camp, would it?"
The teen's control of his emotions was good. Until this moment Dooku hadn't been able to read much from him other than deliberate calm and keen attention. His question however, had caused a spike of anxiety, frustration, and a tiny sliver of shame to cloud the boy's presence before it was all gone again and Dooku could feel even less from him.
"I'm not a Jedi, Master Dooku," the teen stated, his face an impressive impression of serenity, also surprising the Jedi Master by knowing his name. "I aged out of the Jedi Academy and instead of being reassigned to a Corps I chose to make my own way in the galaxy."
Now, the Mandalorian's strategy became apparent. If they knew that their people were being accused of murder and a Jedi force sent to apprehend them, putting a Force-sensitive youngling out in the open would guarantee at least a pause in hostilities to investigate.
Studying the teen for a moment, Dooku commented, "You seem to have me at a disadvantage. How is it that you know me, young one?"
There was a wry quirk to the boy's mouth as he answered. "Before I left the temple everyone knew of the Master of Makashi, Master Dooku."
There was faint whisper of curiosity from the Mandalorian leader, but they didn't interrupt.
"I see," Dooku drawled. "May I know your name, then? If you are to be a part of these proceedings."
It didn't go unnoticed by the Mandalorians or the Jedi that Dooku had deliberately shifted the tone the meeting from an interrogation and possible apprehension, to a negotiation.
The boy flashed the Master a sharp smile and nodded his head instead of bowing. This too was a deliberate move, to illustrate his separation from the Order and the Jedi traditions. "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi."
He hadn't expected his name to cause such a stir among the Jedi, however. Not that it was overly apparent, Jedi not being ones for particularly dramatic displays, but it was visible enough that it caused the Mandalorians at Obi-Wan's back to stiffen and Jaster in front of him to slightly shift on his feet.
Staring at the boy in mild surprise, Dooku studied his appearance a little closer. Then he could pick out the smuggler style pants, the not-Jedi style boots, the ill fitting tunic, and the outer robe that was just a few inches too short. Overall, however, the boy looked healthy. Confident and healthy and not like a nefariously abducted Initiate as it had been assumed when Qui-Gon had returned to the temple with the tale of his disappearance.
"It's generally believed that you were abducted from a Corps outpost, Young Kenobi," Dooku said before the Jedi's reactions could make the Mandalorians any jumpier.
His statement brought a puzzled expression to Obi-Wan's face. "No, I left of my own free will," he assured the Jedi Master.
"Perhaps, when more pressing matters have been resolved you will be willing to explain how you came to be in company with a troop of Mandalorians."
It was less of a suggesting and more of a demand, but Obi-Wan was willing to agree. The thought that all his friends still in the temple and the few Knights and Masters that cared for him, thinking something awful had happened to him didn't sit well. Especially the thought that Master Yoda, who had always been kind to him, and had taken time to listen to his troubles, could think he was maybe sold into slavery or something equally as bad made his stomach twist.
At the boy's nod, the Mandalorian leader, gestured back to the sturdiest tent in the camp behind them. "Master Dooku, if you and whoever you wish to accompany you, will come to my command tent, we can begin our talks. You can speak with Obi-Wan after our business is concluded."
"Very well." Dooku quickly communicated orders for the other Jedi to fan out and be on guard before he gestured for Komari and Feemor to follow him. "Lead the way."
As the formation of Mandalorians dispersed and fanned out to match the Jedi's movements, Dooku thought to himself that it has been a very long time since he'd been on a mission that had thrown so many surprises at him. The Force was calm around him, no alarms or warnings ringing through it, so he was confident that the day would at least not end in bloodshed.
He studied the back of Obi-Wan Kenobi's, the missing Initiate's head as they walked through the camp and hummed lowly to himself.
Everything else he'd just have to wait and see.
TBC...
1: Haar Jetiise nu chaaj'yc. Val olaror iviin'yc. - The Jedi aren't far. They'll arrive quickly.