A/N 1: Hi everyone! Sorry I was away for so long, but I'm back in school now and it's finals week so….yeah. I don't know when I'm going to be able to start writing more chapters because I have to pack and study and take tests (yay?), so I have three new chapters for you to read and enjoy. I hope you enjoy them and they make up for the fact that I don't know when the next few chapters are coming out. Please enjoy them and let me know what you think.
Please read, review, and enjoy! See you next time!
Diplomacy or deception? The Council of Neutral Systems speaks for over 1,500 worlds who want to stay out of the war. But rumors have reached the Republic Senate suggesting that the Council's new leader – Duchess Satine of Mandalore – is secretly building her own army to fight for the Separatist cause! Now, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has been sent to Mandalore to discover the truth behind these claims….
With the war escalating and friends becoming harder and harder to find, the half-Nautolan had decided it was time to see an old friend of hers while she was on Mandalore. She had arrived a few days before, blended into the population for a few days, and went to Concordia beforehand to speak with Bo-Katan. Now she was on Mandalore for other reasons. With Bo-Katan agreeing to speak with her sister and act on an old debt between her and the half-Nautolan when asked, the half-Nautolan had returned to Mandalore and the capital city Sundari. Arriving there, she had slipped through the crowds before finally arriving not at Satine's palace but at her private residence.
Slipping in without the guards noticing was the work of only a few minutes, and she was waiting when Satine returned from spending time with Obi-Wan Kenobi. The half-Nautolan, knowing the history between the two of them, had decided not to get involved if she could help it. But Satine had other ideas because as soon as she was alone, she started pacing her quarters, her guards staying out to give her some privacy.
She was still pacing from one wall to the other when she turned suddenly and stopped short with a gasp of surprise. Standing there and watching her with something that might have been called amusement, was her old friend.
"Where did you come from?!" she said in surprise before taking a deep breath to settle her nerves and saying, "Sorry, you just surprised me. I wasn't expecting you," the half-Nautolan only smiled slightly as she sat down on the bed, ready to listen to whatever Satine had to say. The Duchess sighed before saying, "You always knew when I needed someone to talk to, ever since Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn protected me that year. I will never forget it, or your kindness when you listened to me."
The half-Nautolan only raised a brow, and Satine stopped for a moment to look her friend over. Whatever she had been up to wasn't visible, but Satine knew she had been busy. Even though travel between the Republic and the Separatist systems was highly restricted, it was possible by going through a neutral system like Mandalore, which is what the half-Nautolan was doing. It was easier for her than trying to avoid Republic and Separatist blockades. But other than that, her friend looked well; her eyes were as bright and alive as they had always been, and she was well-fed and strong. Satine could still remember when she first came when the war started and looked pale and thin.
Now that was gone, replaced with a young woman who was strong and healthy, dressed in blue, like Satine. A long multi-divided dark blue skirt like Satine's hung just below her knees, leggings underneath tucked into strong boots, her knives just peeking out when she sat. Satine knew there was no way to convince her to leave those behind, even on a planet with so few weapons, so she didn't try. She knew the half-Nautolan had been taught restraint and was careful with her blades, respecting the peaceful stance Satine had taken so many years before. Her lighter blue one-shoulder top exposed her midriff, and her fingerless gloves and blue wraps went up to her elbows. On her right wrist was the bracelet she always wore and her comlink; the other was bare of accessories. Her blue necklace was around her neck as it always was, no matter what she was doing, and her long hair was half braided, causing Satine to smile.
Qui-Gon Jinn had worn his hair like that, and it was clear the half-Nautolan still honored him even after all this time.
"You look well, old friend," Satine said as she sat down next to the half-Nautolan, "It is good to see you again. I don't suppose you have any advice for me regarding forbidden relationships? This one is between a Jedi and a pacifist."
The half-Nautolan only looked at her in amusement, clearly asking Satine if she knew anything about her, and the Duchess sighed as she said, "I know I shouldn't, but I still love him. Even after all these years and all this time, even with all that divides us now, I can't help it. I have missed him all this time, and I truly wish things had been different," staring down at her folded hands in her lap before sighing and looking up, trying to keep the tears out of her eyes, "And now to know that he is only here to investigate claims that Mandalore is getting involved in war, after all it has been through, it hurts. Does he have so little faith in me?" turning to look at the half-Nautolan.
The half-Nautolan didn't answer, couldn't answer, and Satine smiled gently as she said, "I know you can't answer right now; Master Fisto said your Basic is gone for now. But I know you can understand me and sense what I'm going through, and it helps to have a willing ear. It is hard being alone sometimes, and I know you understand that. You are more alone than anyone can ever imagine," she stood up then and said, "Obi-Wan and I are going to Concordia to investigate whether Death Watch still has a presence there, even though we both know it does. You have a message from my sister?"
The half-Nautolan nodded and gave her a small recording card. The Duchess took it and stared at it a long moment before saying, "If you can repair the bond between my sister and me, mostly by saying and doing nothing, you might be an even greater peacekeeper than the Jedi."
The irony wasn't lost on the half-Nautolan, who only raised an eyebrow and stayed seated. Satine said with a gentle smile, "You are welcome to stay until I get back. I doubt my guards know you are here, so you are free to come and go as you please, as always. I know better than to try and stop you," leaving the room to prepare for her journey to Concordia, leaving the half-Nautolan to settle in and get comfortable.
It wasn't often she got to sleep in a real bed, and she knew the Duchess wouldn't mind.
A few days later, the Duchess left for Coruscant on the Coronet after a rather exciting adventure on Concordia that the half-Nautolan found very interesting, protected by Obi-Wan and Anakin and their clones. Sneaking aboard before they all boarded wasn't just the half-Nautolan, but also a Mandalorian warrior. The two of them were guests of Satine but had to stay hidden, something they both knew very well. If they were seen, it would raise questions and destroy Satine's reputation as a pacifist, something neither wanted to happen.
Despite their differences, Bo-Katan wanted her sister to make her case for neutrality. It might even sway her opinion.
The half-Nautolan was only there for a ride to Coruscant. A Conspiracy meeting was happening after they arrived, and she couldn't be late. Neither could Bo-Katan or Satine. The meetings were starting to come more frequently as the half-Nautolan stepped up her activities and became more annoying to the Separatists and more interesting to the Republic. In time she would have to take more precautions than she already did, but for now, she wasn't worried about being caught by either side.
Once onboard the Coronet, the two fighters had settled in for the ride. While they weren't below decks in the cargo hold, they would be staying out of the way of the more traveled areas of the ship, especially where the Jedi would be.
This should be an interesting journey.
A royal welcome! Sent to investigate allegations that Mandalore was joining Count Dooku's Separatists, Obi-Wan Kenobi was reunited with an old friend, the Duchess Satine of Kalevala. While Satine claimed Mandalore's intentions were to remain neutral during the war, an attack on the capital city led Obi-Wan to the discovery of a terrorist organization known as Death Watch. Now the Duchess travels to the Senate, so she can plead her case against her involvement in the war, as the Jedi prepare a defense against her opponents….
Journeying aboard the Coronet, the half-Nautolan and Bo-Katan enjoyed the journey in relative peace. Neither got involved in the political machinations happening in the levels above them, although the half-Nautolan did manage to swipe a plate of deep-fried nuna legs destined for Orn Free Taa. The Twi-lek senator was none the wiser, while the two warriors got a bit of a laugh out of the whole ordeal, especially when they saw the kitchens go into a bit of an uproar from their hiding place in the vent system. The two of them were quick to go back to their quarters, where they started laughing so hard tears were coming down Bo-Katan's cheeks, unnoticed tension dissipating then.
Once she had calmed, Bo-Katan said, "I haven't laughed that hard in so long; it feels good to do so again. I wasn't expecting you to be so mischievous, but I'm glad you are. Did you see the cook's face when he turned around and saw the plate was gone?"
The half-Nautolan nodded from where she was enjoying a nuna leg, and Bo-Katan smiled again as she joined her. After a few minutes of silent eating, they sat back with contented sighs. Say what they wanted about Satine's pacifist ways, and Bo-Katan had a lot to say, but she certainly knew how to enjoy the finer things in life.
"Definitely better than military rations," Bo-Katan said, "Hopefully, this trip is worth it, even though I'm not sure if you've thought about how you plan to get us back to Mandalore without anyone noticing. I don't think we'll be able to take this ship back if my spies are to be believed."
The half-Nautolan only shrugged and settled deeper into her chair, closing her eyes with a slight smile on her face, clearly digesting what she had just eaten. Bo-Katan only shook her head as she looked around the room they were sharing. It wasn't all that big, but it had two cots and a few chairs and a desk. The air vent they had used to….borrow….the nuna legs was easy to get to, and the door was locked. No one would notice they were there, and they could also avoid the Jedi. Bo-Katan was interested in crossing blades with them, but she wasn't going to do so now. Now was the time to stay hidden, and she was glad she had left her Nite Owls behind. They were loyal warriors and disciplined, but even they wouldn't have been able to resist that kind of a fight.
Thinking about them led her to think about all that had happened since her sister's pacifist regime had started on Mandalore. True, her sister had banished her to Concordia, where she and her clan had joined Death Watch, but in the end, she wasn't angry at her sister for that. Her sister had had enough of war after the brutality of seeing their people killed, and Bo-Katan could respect that desire to not be part of it again. And she had found a friend in the half-Nautolan; they both had. The half-Nautolan had helped them reconcile their differences and repair their bond before their paths had diverged. Bo-Katan doubted their relationship would ever be the same again, but there may be a way forward where the warriors and the pacifists could live in peace together, without war between them. That would be something to look forward to, she thought, and while her Nite Owls were reluctant to take such a stance, what the half-Nautolan had told them was in store for the galaxy, and Mandalore, had convinced them to work not just with her but with Satine.
As much as they hated the Republic, they hated the Sith even more.
With the half-Nautolan's history with them, it was easier to form that alliance, although Bo-Katan had every intention of calling on old debts between her and the half-Nautolan when the time came for it. She and her Nite Owls may help her now, but she still owed Bo-Katan more than Bo-Katan owed her, which was something to take advantage of.
The half-Nautolan was one of the best warriors in the galaxy and a powerful ally if asked correctly for her help.
The half-Nautolan stirring brought her out of her thoughts, and Bo-Katan turned her attention to the other woman. Seeing her sit up and look around, eyes wide and aware and ears craning to hear what was happening, Bo-Katan waited for all of two seconds, knowing something was going on that only she could sense in the Force before turning to the desk and quickly slicing into the ship's internal communications, catching a transmission between Obi-Wan and Anakin: "Anakin, Tal Merrik is the traitor, and he's taken Satine hostage," Obi-Wan's voice sounded strained and worried, but nowhere near as strained as Skywalker's: "Copy that, but I've got problems of my own right now."
Hearing that exchange, the two women looked at each other, and then Bo-Katan said, "Kenobi will protect her, right? We don't have anything to worry about?"
The half-Nautolan looked at her and nodded, compassion easy to see in her eyes and smile. Despite their differences, it was touching to see how much Bo-Katan cared for her sister. She was wound tight, ready to blast out of the room and go after her sister, blowing their cover in the process. If she thought it was in her sister's best interests, she would leave the room in a heartbeat, consequences be damned.
The next few minutes passed in tense silence for the two women. Both were warriors and not used to waiting on the sidelines, and to have to do so now was hard. But finally, the half-Nautolan relaxed and settled, causing Bo-Katan to ask, "Is it over? Is she safe?"
The half-Nautolan nodded as a secret transmission came through her comlink. Answering it, the half-Nautolan and Bo-Katan heard Satine's voice say quietly, "I'm fine, and the traitor is dead, thanks to Master Skywalker. We will be underway again soon, as soon as the engines are repaired. Tal Merrik wired them to explode."
Hearing that, the two warriors looked at each other before deciding to let the ship's mechanics and the clones handle that part. They settled into their seats again and waited impatiently for the ship to enter hyperspace again. After a few hours, they were underway again, and the two warriors looked at each other in relief. Now that the disaster was over, hopefully, they could enjoy a more peaceful flight and a safe arrival on Coruscant.
An hour or so after entering hyperspace, the door to the room opened, and Satine walked in, looking calm and collected despite all that had happened a few hours ago. Her headdress was gone, and she was dressed more simply than usual. The two women in the room looked up when she came in, both reaching for their weapons since no one was supposed to enter the room, but they settled when they saw who it was. Seeing their reactions, Satine said, "I should have let you know I was coming. I was only able to get away now."
"It's alright," Bo-Katan said, "We just don't want anyone knowing we are here. It would be hard for all of us to explain. I'm a member of Death Watch whose not supposed to be here, she," nodding at the half-Nautolan, "is wanted by the Republic for being a supposed traitor and therefore not supposed to be here, and you are a pacifist who shouldn't have either of us on your ship."
"All in all," Satine said with a smile as she sat down on one of the beds, "a disaster for us if we are found. But I just wanted to make sure you were alright down here. I know staying out of the action is difficult for both of you."
"We're fine," Bo-Katan said, "But what about you? How are things going with Kenobi?" a sly smile on her face.
Satine stared at her in surprise before turning to the half-Nautolan and asking, "You told her?!"
"Easy, sister," Bo-Katan said, "She didn't have to. Even after all this time, there is still something between the two of you, and you said it yourself all those years ago: he would have left the Jedi Order in a heartbeat for you. That says something, doesn't it? Says more than the two of us ever could," nodding at the half-Nautolan, "He still loves you, doesn't he? Even after all this time?"
Satine stared at her sister before leaning forward and putting her face in her hands, clearly frustrated and unsure, "I don't know what to do about all this. One moment I think he would leave the Order without a backward glance, and the next I know he won't, not with a war going on."
"A war he is losing, even if he doesn't know it," Bo-Katan said, "Unless we can change it. That's where you come in. You need to convince the Jedi and Republic not to occupy Mandalore; otherwise, the Death Watch will fight them and be seen as heroes in the eyes of the people. They need to be seen as the occupiers and oppressors, or your pacifist regime has no chance in the long run."
Satine looked up then, staring at her sister and her firm resolve before saying, "It sounds so easy when you put it that way, but I know it isn't. Especially when I know that even if what you say does happen, Death Watch will still need to be removed from power, permanently. And that is something you will do, and there will be no peace on Mandalore for a bit longer."
"It's not ideal," Bo-Katan said, "But it is the only option that will likely work. Between the Nite Owls and us, we may have a chance of a free Mandalore where our two sides may be able to live in peace together. Isn't that worth fighting for, even if we use different methods?"
Satine nodded slowly before saying softly, "I never thought I would agree with a warrior after everything that has happened, and it's a strange feeling. Good, I think, but strange all the same," she looked at the half-Nautolan then, "See what I mean about being a better peacekeeper than the Jedi? You've done the impossible and mended the bond between us, without having to say a word," smiling as she said this.
The half-Nautolan smiled while Bo-Katan laughed a little before saying, "You should go before people start wondering where you are. We'll be fine here."
"Alright," Satine said quietly, "If you need anything…." she trailed off for a second before saying, "I guess you can raid the kitchens again. The cooks were so out of sorts about the missing nuna legs they told me about it. It took a while to calm them down, and they still want answers about where they went," seeing their slightly shamed faces and the empty plate of nuna leg bones, she smiled and said, "I'll just tell them Orn Free Taa helped himself to a snack while waiting for dinner. Hopefully, that will placate them."
Bo-Katan grinned in amusement while the half-Nautolan smiled as well, clearly enjoying the entire episode in the kitchens. Satine only shook her head with a smile before leaving, Bo-Katan walking her to the door. Just before she left, though, Satine turned to her sister and gave her a quick hug, surprising her so much she reacted instinctively and hugged her back. It was over in seconds, with Satine whispering in her ear, "No matter what happens, I'm glad I have a sister like you."
With that, she was gone, and Bo-Katan turned back to the half-Nautolan, who had watched the entire thing with a satisfied smile.
It was good to see the two sisters together again.
A few days later, they finally arrived on Coruscant so that Satine could plead her case to the Senate. After she and those with her had disembarked, the Coronet was taken to the shipyards for repairs and to get the droid boarding ships out of the hull. Only then did Bo-Katan and the half-Nautolan sneak off and disappear into the city's depths. A few hours later, they arrived at Padmé's apartments, who welcomed both of them and invited them to stay as long as they wanted. The two warriors accepted her invitation, Bo-Katan even changing out of her armor to blend in more and not seem so conspicuous when they went to the Conspiracy meeting in a few days.
It would be interesting when they did go since this would be the first meeting they went to where both Satine and Bo-Katan were there at the same time.
Hopefully, they wouldn't butt heads all that much. Both sisters were stubborn and clearly thought they were right even when they weren't, so this would be an interesting meeting.
A diplomatic mission! As dissent threatens to tear apart the peaceful Mandalore system, Duchess Satine struggles to protect her people against the escalating violence. Betrayed by two of her trusted allies, Satine now travels to Coruscant. There, she hopes to convince the Senate that a destructive splinter group, Death Watch, does not represent the entire Mandalorian government….
The half-Nautolan was running through the depths of Coruscant, Satine right behind her, trying to stay ahead of the police and clones following them. Somehow, a wrong turn had been taken; somehow, Satine had annoyed the right people in her quest to see who had altered her friend's testimony, Deputy Minister Jerec. With Jerec dead, there was no way to speak to him about what had happened or why he had said the words on the hologram, but Satine knew they were false. And so she had asked another friend of hers, Davu Golec, to look into the matter. And he had found something: the original recording made by Jerec.
But seconds after the hand-off, he had suddenly been killed by a sniper on the roof of a nearby building. The half-Nautolan, hiding in the shadows as protection in a cloak and cowl, had immediately grabbed Satine and started running, the two of them being chased by police droids and Coruscant Guardsmen. The police probe following them was becoming a nuisance, and the half-Nautolan knew they would have to get rid of it if they wanted a chance of escaping from the police. So far, the probe hadn't identified her or even knew she was there, the Force was taking care of that for her, and the police droids and Guards couldn't see her, but she knew they would keep chasing Satine until they caught her or she turned herself in. They needed to get rid of that probe, and soon, or this would be over very quickly.
They just needed a clear shot, and they got it a few seconds later when Satine suddenly stopped and turned, firing her deactivator at the probe and causing it to crash. It tripped the police droids, which caused the clones to fall, and the two women were able to disappear down an alley. Seconds later, a speeder took off from that alley, and the half-Nautolan heard one of the clones say, "Cancel that. She's escaping in a speeder, heading for section 1-G-44."
The clones left then, following the speeder, leaving the half-Nautolan and Satine to disappear once more into the crowded streets of Coruscant, but the half-Nautolan was still wary. Something wasn't right, and it was time to call in some help, reaching for and hitting a button on her comlink. After a few seconds, the blinking red light turned off, and she knew her message had been received. In a few minutes, Bo-Katan would be here to track down the assassin, but for now, Satine had other plans: "I need help with this. I need someone who can get into the Senate to show this to them," holding out the datacard, "I know it can't be you, but there must be someone," trailing off in thought while the half-Nautolan waited. She knew the answer to that question; she just needed Satine to figure out the answer as well.
Finally, the Duchess sighed and said, "I will need Obi-Wan's help, won't I?" as she looked at the half-Nautolan. The other woman only looked at her and stayed silent, and she sighed again and said, "Step back; I don't want him seeing you."
The half-Nautolan obliged and stepped a few paces back but still close enough to defend and protect if necessary. Satine smiled at her loyalty to her friends and her commitment to protecting them and activated her comlink, "Obi-Wan, come in. Obi-Wan, are you there?"
Obi-Wan's response was almost immediate, and his concern for her was clear: "Satine, where are you? Mas Amedda has demanded you turn yourself in."
"I know," Satine said quietly, "Listen to me. Obi-Wan, I need your help."
The half-Nautolan stepped another pace away then, letting the two old friends figure out where and when they would meet, and turned her senses out and away, looking for danger. There was none directed at them specifically, but this place wasn't exactly safe. They would need to move on again before the police came back or before some of the more unsavory characters of the Coruscant slums appeared. Already the half-Nautolan could sense people starting to take an interest in the two of them, and it wasn't the kind of interest she was tolerant of.
Movement caught her eye then, and she turned to see that Satine had finished her call with Obi-Wan and was ready to move on, "I've set a meeting place with him, and he will meet us there. It's not that far from here," she said as they started walking, the half-Nautolan walking half a pace ahead to scan for danger. Satine smiled at the sight; she didn't know what she had done to earn such a friend, but she was glad all the same.
They hadn't been walking long when Satine noticed they weren't alone. Walking a few paces behind them was another figure in a cloak, the hood pulled over their head. Satine started to get nervous, worried this was the same assassin from before, and started to match her pace with the half-Nautolan as the other being started walking faster as well. The half-Nautolan looked at her in confusion, but before she could voice her concerns, the other being was alongside them and said quietly, "It's alright, Duchess, it's just me. I heard you were in trouble."
Satine breathed a sigh of relief then and relaxed; it was Kit Fisto. Of course the Nautolan Jedi would be there to help her if he could, and now she had even more protection. And one more friend to help her.
"Thank you for coming, Kit," she said softly, "I wasn't aware you were on Coruscant yet, but I'm glad you're here."
Kit nodded without raising his head or removing his hood, "I'm here for the meeting happening later tomorrow and was with Bo-Katan when she got word you were in trouble. She is tracking the assassin; I told her I would help keep you safe until this is sorted out."
"Hopefully before the Republic sends its ships to occupy my home," Satine said, and Kit grimaced, "I have no control over that, but I know it will be a disaster. We need to get you and that recording to the Senate, but if you are searched if you turn yourself in, the recording will be taken and destroyed. We need another way."
"I have one," Satine said as they approached the meeting place she had set with Obi-Wan, "But I need to go in alone; otherwise, Obi-Wan will get suspicious. We have no reason to know each other, after all. I can't be seen with either of you."
Kit nodded, while the half-Nautolan only stared straight ahead, taking in where Satine was meeting Obi-Wan. It was the Coruscant version of a public park, and plenty of people were around. No one would notice one more person there, and there were too many people for that assassin to take a shot. She turned to Kit and nodded, and the Jedi said, "We will be watching if you need us. If something comes up that Obi-Wan can't handle on his own, I will step in. I can say I was meeting an informant and saw that he needed help. He will believe that; I have never lied to him before. At least, not to his face."
Satine smiled sympathetically at Kit, knowing he hated lying to the Jedi about everything, but there was no other way right now. She turned to the half-Nautolan and nodded. The other woman nodded back before watching as the Duchess walked into the middle of the park alone and sat down, keeping her hood up and working to avoid the police and Guards looking for her.
Kit and the half-Nautolan looked at each other before entering the park and hiding nearby, the half-Nautolan behind a large rock and Kit leaning against it but facing away from Satine, looking as though he was talking to the half-Nautolan. The half-Nautolan, in turn, looked like she was facing him but, in truth, was looking over his shoulder to watch the meeting between Satine and Obi-Wan. She was too far away to hear what was being said, but she could read lips and did so: "Seeing you all right is….well, it's a relief," Obi-Wan said as he sat down next to Satine, "You should turn yourself in. We've both sworn a loyalty to the Republic."
"Believe me, neither one of us is breaking our oath. And this will prove it," setting the disc down between them, Obi-Wan picking it up, "I need to get it into the proper hands."
Both Jedi and Duchess looked up then as Republic Guardsmen across the park asked a droid if they had seen Satine, Obi-Wan saying, "But the Republic Guards are hunting you, which means…."
"Whoever doctored this recording is likely in the government itself," Satine said as they both came to the same realization.
"If you set foot inside the Senate, they'll take you," Obi-Wan said, Satine finishing his thought: "And the disc will be destroyed before anyone can see it, which is why you must take the disc to Padmé."
Satine stood up then and dragged Obi-Wan with her as the Guards started heading their way, easily avoiding them with Obi-Wan. The half-Nautolan and Kit followed them at a safe distance but still near enough to help if necessary, disguising their presence in the Force so that Obi-Wan couldn't sense they were there. Now that their backs were turned, the half-Nautolan couldn't read their lips, but she and Kit both knew how to use the Force and the way the wind was blowing to listen in on conversations which is what they did now, listening as Obi-Wan asked Satine what she had in mind in terms of a plan: "Where will you be while I'm in the Senate?" he asked as they walked down the street, "What if they find you?"
"They won't," Satine said quietly from behind him, "I'm going to surrender to them," causing Obi-Wan to turn around in complete surprise: "What?!"
"You'll need a distraction to enter the Senate freely," Satine said quietly, using a hand to tell Obi-Wan to lower his voice and not give them away, "I can't risk them searching you just because you and I are….associates."
"I'm a Jedi," Obi-Wan said firmly, "They wouldn't dare," causing the half-Nautolan and Kit to look at each other, knowing that not being searched may become a thing of the past very soon. Satine knew it, too, because she only said sadly, "Things are changing, my dear."
Seconds later, a live grenade came down from above; Obi-Wan just able to Force-push Satine out of the way before running a few paces back as the grenade exploded. The explosion threw Obi-Wan to the ground, making the ears of everyone nearby ring, but seconds later, the Death Watch assassin was between them and getting ready to shoot Satine. Obi-Wan got up quickly and threw his cloak aside as he drew his lightsaber, running over and cutting the assassin's rifle in half, forcing the assassin to use it more as a club. One blow to his face threw Obi-Wan off-balance, another to his hand made him drop his lightsaber. Seeing this, Satine ran over to get it, while off to the side, the half-Nautolan and Kit watched closely. If Obi-Wan's life was in danger, Kit would step in, but for now it seemed like he was doing alright.
Obi-Wan and the assassin traded blows for a few seconds, but then Obi-Wan pushed the assassin into the wall in front of them, the assassin returning the favor a moment later. Obi-Wan blocked two swings before punching the assassin in the helmet and forcing him back a few paces, where he instantly drew his blaster as Obi-Wan rubbed his knuckles. Seeing this, Obi-Wan lunged forward and tackled the assassin, sending them both skidding across the ground, Obi-Wan on top of the assassin. Using a foot, the assassin sent Obi-Wan flying over his head, causing him to hit the wall behind him and fall to the ground for a few seconds. Seeing this, Kit almost got involved, but the half-Nautolan stopped him as Satine called, "Obi!" and tossed his lightsaber to him.
The Jedi Master caught it one-handed and ignited the blade, deflecting several shots from the assassin's blaster before using the Force to push him into a wall, where he struggled for a few seconds before Obi-Wan flew him into a hovering display nearby. The assassin fell down into the streets below, but just before he would have made contact with the ground, he activated his jetpack and took off down the street, disappearing into the maze of Coruscant streets.
Watching the entire thing, Kit and the half-Nautolan hadn't interfered. Even though Obi-Wan clearly wasn't expecting the assassin's skill, Satine's courage made it possible for him to triumph and cause the assassin to retreat. As Satine and Obi-Wan watched him fly away, Kit and the half-Nautolan watched from farther down the walkway. After a few seconds, Obi-Wan turned to Satine and said, "We should get to the Senate before something else happens," turning to leave.
Satine nodded before looking down the walkway. Seeing Kit and the half-Nautolan, she pointed at Obi-Wan's back and nodded. The others nodded back and followed at a distance as Satine and Obi-Wan navigated the slums of Coruscant, eventually reaching the upper levels and heading for the Senate. Once there, the half-Nautolan and the Jedi watched as Satine was taken into custody by the Senate Commandos and Obi-Wan slipped inside. Seeing this, and knowing she was as safe as they could make her, Kit and the half-Nautolan disappeared back into the city's crowds, knowing there was nothing else they could do.
They didn't stay together long; Kit headed for Padmé's apartment, staying there since the Jedi didn't know he had returned to Coruscant, while the half-Nautolan went back into the slums of Coruscant, looking for the Death Watch assassin and eventually joined by Bo-Katan. After many hours of searching, they finally tracked him down, Bo-Katan going in. The following day, the Coruscant Guards found the assassin dead in an alley, shot in the heart, and confirmed he was the one that had killed Davu Golec. With that confirmation, Satine was released by the Senate Commandos and was quick to thank those that had supported her during that difficult time.
And the difficult times would only keep coming.
Back on Concordia, Pre Vizsla was furious the plan had failed and even more enraged when he learned the assassin he had sent to Coruscant was dead. But with Dooku refusing to support him and the Republic not invading, there was nothing he could do at this point from a military perspective. But there may be something he could do from a political perspective. He just needed to appeal to the root of evil for some people: their greed.
Perhaps rampant corruption on Mandalore would make it easier to bring the planet back to its warrior roots. He just needed to wait and watch, sending out a communication to the more unsavory characters of the criminal underworld that would do anything for credits.
Even poison innocent children.
A day after the Senate decided not to send ships to Mandalore, the Conspiracy was again meeting. But this time, it wasn't in the motel. It had been raided by the Coruscant police as part of an operation into illegal activities on Coruscant and was no longer secure. With no other options and running out of time, Padmé offered her home to the Conspiracy for the meeting, knowing it was safe. The half-Nautolan had brought her droid R1, and Kit had brought R6, and the two droids had done a thorough sweep for listening devices or surveillance equipment. Finding none other than Kit's lightsaber that Kit had decided would stay with him so long as everyone gathered was careful about what they said, the meeting time was set, with Kit showing up a bit early with the half-Nautolan, the young woman not letting him out of her sight that easily. It had been quite a while since he had been rescued, but the half-Nautolan was still upset about the entire affair and was worried for his safety, which meant she was not going to let him out of her sight until he was safely back with his fleet.
At least there, he was surrounded by friends and loyalists that would protect him, unlike on Coruscant where it was getting harder and harder to tell friend from foe. In the fleet, the only enemy he had was Tarkin, and that was something that could be controlled for.
Padmé had already powered down Threepio when the two arrived and was setting out food and drink for everyone that would be coming, leaving Kit and the half-Nautolan no other option but to help. By the time the first people arrived, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, the food was laid out, and everything was set. The Conspiracy members started trickling in over the next hour or so: Chuchi and Onaconda, Satine and Bo-Katan, Cham Syndulla, and a few others. Also there, for the first time in person, was Captain Ackbar from Mon Calamari, sent on behalf of his king. The few Jedi involved in the Conspiracy were represented by Kit in the meeting, Ahsoka and Quinlan Vos out in the galaxy combating the Separatist threat, and the other Jedi knew they couldn't be there without raising suspicions. Nala Se from the medical station was there via hologram and quickly delivered her report before leaving, knowing that was her only contribution to the whole endeavor and wouldn't take long to talk about.
All there readily enjoyed the food offered while introductions were made since Cham Syndulla and Ackbar hadn't met before. Satine and Bo-Katan were also new to a few gathered there. Almost immediately, it became clear that Cham and Ackbar didn't like each other, and a debate was started over whether one should remain loyal to a government they thought was corrupt or rise up and lead the people into a future that was better for them. The half-Nautolan and Kit exchanged an amused glance over it before Kit intervened when their voices started getting a bit louder, calming them down before one of them said something they might regret later.
Once pleasantries were over and done with, the meeting started, everyone taking turns to report on the various tasks they had been given and how they were coming along. A few, like Chuchi, were still waiting for the right moment to carry out the tasks they were given, while others like Kit and the Jedi involved were slowly starting to put their part of the plan into play. It had to be done slowly and carefully; otherwise, the Council would notice, so it was a good thing Kit was back on the Council and could keep their attention away from what he and others were doing.
Finally, Satine was able to say, "I know my part in all of this is small, and my sister Bo-Katan is doing more than me, but there is a concern of mine that I would like to bring to this meeting in the hopes one of you might have some advice I can act on."
Glances were exchanged before Bail asked, "Go ahead, Duchess, what is wrong?"
Satine took in a deep breath before saying, "I am starting to become worried for the safety of my people and myself. I fear that the assassin sent after me a few days ago may be the first in a long line, and while my guards are skilled, I am worried they may not be enough for this new threat. I wonder if there is a way to stop that threat or make it not such a concern? Death Watch is also becoming stronger; I don't know how to protect my people from that threat. I'm starting to realize that this may be more than I can handle."
There was silence for a few minutes before Kit said quietly, "I might have a way, but it would require you going into hiding for the indefinite future and would likely cause Death Watch to take over Mandalore. I know that is not ideal, but if you can send communications of hope and peace to your people from a hidden location, the people will oppose Death Watch and be more willing to fight for their freedom. I don't think your planet will return to pacifism, but it may return to peace."
"As long as I can lead my people into that future, with the support from my sister and my people, I am willing to try anything," Satine said, while Bo-Katan added, "My Nite Owls and I are almost ready to break from Death Watch. If we can do so without losing too many warriors, we have a chance of taking control of Mandalore from Death Watch. We just need the right opportunity."
"You do realize what you are saying, Duchess?" Chuchi said suddenly, and the others there turned to her, "You are rejecting pacifism in the name of violence."
Satine shut her eyes for a long moment before opening them and saying, "I think I am, but not the kind of violence that has plagued my home for so long. I hope that we can find a solution that works for everyone, where my followers and those who follow the warrior path of our ancestors are allowed to live freely. In the end, freedom is more important than anything. That is what we are all fighting for in this fight, isn't it?" she looked at Chuchi then, "I may not be a warrior like my sister or her," nodding at the half-Nautolan, "I may not be as strong a diplomat as I would like to be, I may not be accepted by some of my people, but I will fight with every fiber of my being for that freedom we all hold close to our hearts. Knowing what I know about you, Kit," turning to the Jedi, "I know you understand what it is like to have your people oppressed and their freedom stolen by a tyrant. If I can prevent that, even if it means fighting, I will do so," while the others there, except for Padmé and Bo-Katan, looked confused. They didn't know what Satine was talking about, but it soon became clear that Kit wouldn't reveal what she meant either.
Jedi swore off their blood relations and distanced themselves from their homeworlds and people, so why would Kit care about them now?
Kit smiled gently at her courage, "Let's try fighting with your words first and then move on to other means. We'll leave the shooting to your sister; she is more than capable of that," Bo-Katan smiled at that while Kit continued, "If you are certain of this, we will need to set events in motion that would turn your people against Death Watch. That would mean arranging for a diplomatic visit of an old friend," looking at Padmé as he said this, "which would likely draw a Jedi to Mandalore. I am thinking Padawan Tano; she is anxious to help, and it would be expected of her to perhaps go to Mandalore and teach young ones about the importance of fighting for your people. If a Jedi, even a Padawan, were to go to Mandalore, it would send a message to Death Watch that their plans may be falling apart. If what you have told me about Vizsla is true," looking at Bo-Katan, "he is likely to rush in and start the fight that would cause Satine to leave Mandalore. I know you are reluctant to do so," turning back to Satine, "but you can't help or encourage your people if you are dead."
"And how do you plan to get her off Mandalore?" Padmé asked, "You can't go; you don't know each other as far as the Jedi and the Republic are concerned. Ahsoka won't stay long on the planet, and the Jedi won't react in time. What are you thinking of doing?"
Kit stayed silent before turning to the half-Nautolan, who only looked at him before nodding. Seeing that nod, he shut his eyes before opening them again and asking, "Mo bhràthair?" seeing her nod again, he turned back to the others, all looking confused at the language, having never heard it before in their lives. However, Padmé, Bo-Katan, and Satine recognized it even if they didn't really know what he said. Seeing their confused looks, he said, "Don't mind that, my friends. That language is older than the Republic, and there is not a protocol droid in the galaxy that would know what I just said. But it answers your question Padmé, about how to get Satine off Mandalore safely. I will need to reach out to a friend of mine and ask for a favor, and he will deliver and keep her safe. But Bo-Katan," turning to the warrior, "Let me know how your warriors decorate their armor so he doesn't accidentally harm one of them when getting Satine to safety. He will do what he has to to protect his charges, and your warriors will pay the price. Such is his way."
Bo-Katan nodded, while Bail asked, "So now that that is settled, for the most part, what happens next for the Conspiracy? It feels like we are just waiting for things to happen, and we're just expected to roll with the blows as they happen. Is there anything you want us to do right now?" looking at Kit and the half-Nautolan.
Kit turned to her for a brief moment before turning back and saying, "Unfortunately, many of the things happening are things you have no reason to know about or get involved in. There will be no reason for anyone here to be involved in it. In a few months, maybe by next year, the Jedi will be more involved than ever in tracking her," nodding at the half-Nautolan, "down. For now and in the near future, the only thing we can ask you to do is to keep as you are doing and be ready in case we fail. I'm hoping we won't, but in case we do, the steps you are putting in place will make it possible for the galaxy to fight back as a whole. In that way, the Sith can never return to power."
Bail nodded slowly, while the others only looked around at each other, knowing they had gotten involved in something so dangerous it made the war look tame. In the end, they weren't really part of this war between the Jedi and the Sith; that had been happening long before any of them were born, but they would still do what they could to help if it meant their people stayed free.
That was all that mattered in the end.
The meeting was finally over a few hours later, with a plan somewhat worked out for the next few weeks. All left then, Padmé also leaving so that Kit and the half-Nautolan could have a few minutes alone. Bo-Katan was walking Satine back to the apartments the Senate had lent her, and they needed to get there undetected so that no one would ask why Bo-Katan was there.
Finally alone, Kit had walked out onto the balcony to watch the cityscape, knowing no one could see him or the half-Nautolan from that height. The half-Nautolan joined him a few seconds later, and they stood there in silence for a few moments before Kit sighed and said, "It's so peaceful; I don't think anyone on Coruscant realizes what is at stake or what is happening. Not even the Jedi know," he turned to the young woman, "Not even the Jedi know the stakes, or could understand them. Is that why we are doing what we are doing? Because the Jedi can't be trusted to maintain peace in the galaxy anymore? It feels like that is the case," he turned back to the lights of Coruscant, squinting as if he could see the Temple in the distance, "I don't think I have felt this alone in a long time. Even with you here, I feel like I am the only one to understand all that is happening and all that is at stake."
The half-Nautolan stared at him a moment before also turning to watch the city; she felt the same way. Even with a war going on and Kit making alliances and forging friendships that would likely last the war, it still felt like he was alone. No one in the galaxy existed to share his burden, and it was made harder by the fact he couldn't tell anyone all of what was going on, not now. There was no one to help with that burden, and she felt for him. Sighing softly, she turned to him again and rested a hand on his, making him look up from where he was leaning on the railing, now looking down at the rail with hunched shoulders, looking like he was carrying the weight of the universe on those shoulders. He looked up when she took his hand and saw her eyes soften in understanding. He smiled slightly before drawing her into his arms, holding her close and feeling the tension melt out of her.
His burdens may be great; hers were greater. He shouldn't complain, but she was an avid listener and never judged or mocked him for his burdens. And she would never tell another soul about those burdens; those were between the two of them and maybe a few others.
Not even the Conspiracy knew fully what was going on.
A few minutes later, they pulled apart, Kit leaving a small kiss on her temple, knowing it was the most he could give her right now. She relaxed instantly, and Kit smiled; the smallest gesture of kindness was all she needed some days, and that was never clearer than today.
"I need to go," Kit said, "I snuck away from my fleet for this meeting; Tarkin will be wondering where I am by now. Monnk can only cover for so long," seeing the smile starting to spread across her face Kit smiled as well, "No, Tarkin hasn't figured it out yet. I hope I get to see his face when he does. It will definitely be worth the headaches he has given me."
The half-Nautolan continued to smile as Kit started walking away, stopping only a moment to say, "I will reach out to our friend, the one you helped on Iego. I will let him know about the plan and see what insights he has. Once his part has been figured out, I will contact Satine so she can prepare. Hopefully, this goes smoothly," he frowned then, "Well, at least as smoothly as something usually goes for us. Which means plenty of bumps and potholes in the road."
The half-Nautolan only smiled as well before turning back to watch the night-darkened city, leaving Kit to shake his head and leave Padmé's apartments, heading quickly for his starfighter and disappearing into space, heading back to his fleet while sending out a secure transmission to a distant world.
Far away from Coruscant, in the far reaches of the Outer Rim, a bounty hunter received a secure transmission from a friend. Seeing who it was, he immediately started preparing, knowing that whatever job his contact had in mind would be difficult and dangerous but worth it.
And it would help him prepare for an even more dangerous bounty he was considering scoring if he could.
He just had to make sure the negotiations were done on his terms.
And on the flagship of Kit Fisto's fleet, Tarkin ground his teeth in frustration at what he was watching. He saw nothing useful that would help identify the mysterious half-Nautolan, or what Fisto was planning. And what did Fisto mean when he said he hadn't figured out what was going on?
What was going on?
What games was this Jedi playing?
Translations:
Mo bhràthair? – My brother?
A/N 2: For those wondering, I have decided that Kit will speak in Gaelic when dealing with the half-Nautolan. I promise I will explain in later chapters why that is the case and why he is the only known Nautolan in the galaxy to do so. He is speaking Gaelic with a Jamaican accent for now, though, so if anyone can figure out how that will sound, please let me know. Personally, I think it would sound awesome, but let me know what you think.
See you next time!
May the Fourth be with you.