Chapter Thirteen: The Soft War


The Hologram of Steela floated in front of her vision as the elected leader of the Onderon rebels began to speak after the ambush on a droid company. Ahsoka had to admit, she was fond of the young woman. Then again, after nearly a week of fighting alongside her it was nearly impossible not to develop a relationship with any of the rebels.

"People of Onderon, the time has come to take back our freedom."

Ahsoka glanced at Lux beside her, and then at the people in the alley around her. Some looked apprehensive, some intrigued, and most just looked tired.

She was tired of war too. But she had a job to do.

"We have all been decieved. King Rash is a traitor who has sold Onderon to the Seperatists for the crown." Steela's face softened over the Hologram. "But Onderon is ours. We need your strength to reclaim our planet and restore out sovereignty under our true king, King Dendup."

"... they're not reacting much," Lux muttered while observing the people. "You'd think they'd be cheering for change."

"Change isn't easy, Lux." Ahsoka shrugged while the Hologram of Steela fizzled in front of them. "Come on - let's head back to base. I have a feeling something worse is about to happen."


Anakin groaned when he heard his comlink chirp, untangling himself from his wife's grip and rolled over.

"No…" Padmé muttered sleepily, following him and clinging like an adhesive to him. "You're warm."

"It's Mace's tone, I have to answer it."

"Mmmm - you should bring me ice cream when you're done."

Anakin laughed, managing to finally push himself out of bed. Pressing a quick kiss to her curls, he swiped up the comlink and went into the hallway. "Skywalker."

Mace inclined his head, then shook his head. "Your lineage hates shirts."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind - I have an update from Onderon. Or rather, the Holonet does."

"Oh no." Anakin went into the living room, blinking as the overhead lights shimmered to fifty-percent shine. "Anyone dead?"

"There's few casualties, and Padawan Tano is fine - but now the public knows the Jedi are siding with the rebels... people are angry."

Anakin sat on the couch, frowning. "I don't see the problem - we were sent to help them. Onderon used to be part of the Republic, we're just reaffirming our own beliefs and helping those who want to restore order."

"We're participating and siding in a civil war instead of negotiating a peace, Skywalker."

"Is that any different than when Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were sent to Mandalore during a civil war?"

Mace scowled, folding his arms across his chest. "We weren't in a Galatic War then."

Anakin opened his mouth to defend himself, but felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced over, noticing Padmé leaning against the couch.

A small smile flickered at Mace's lips. "Senator Amidala - my apologies for waking you."

"You didn't apologize to me," Anakin grumbled quietly.

Padmé yawned, covering her mouth before giving a small wave of her hand. "You're quite alright Master Windu - is there any damage control that the Senate needs to do as a result of the Jedi being revealed on Onderon?"

With a sigh Mace shook his head. "I do not believe so - but then again, I never did predict we would be fighting a war with clones of a Mandalorian. But we did not have the jurisdiction of the Senate to be on Onderon."

"Which might force you to pull Ahsoka prematurely and put her at risk at being captured by the Separatists." Padmé rubbed the bridge of her nose, thinking for a moment. "Last time I was on Onderon I did not have jurisdiction of the Senate either, and it was with Ahsoka. She could easily be charged with more than one crime."

"You never told me you took my padawan to - "

"The people's trust of the rebels is increasing, though Count Dooku may still retaliate."

"We could send reinforcements?" Anakin suggested. "Maybe Quinlan or Aayla or something? Someone that can fit in easily?"

Padmé put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I think Ahsoka can figure out what to do. She has before - she's part of your lineage after all."

"Your lineage is a disaster," Mace muttered as he shut the Holo off.


"How did you sleep Korkie?"

Korkie glanced from the flimsi spread around him, glaring a little at his future uncle pouring caf from the pot...and feeling a little amused too. There were scratches down his back, disappearing into the waistband of his sleep pants.

"Mmm - fine. It took awhile to fall asleep though."

"Oh?" Obi-Wan frowned while he sat, moving some of the flimsi away carefully. "Insomnia?"

Korkie lifted his mug to his lips, smirking into it before taking a sip. "The walls are thin."

"The walls are - oh, no." Obi-Wan massaged his brow, grimacing while the teenager cackled. His ears burned bright pink. "I apologise, I didn't think - in our defense, it's not solely for pleasure."

"Ew." Korkie took another sip of caf before looking back at his datapad, then glancing at the piles of flimsi beside him.

He couldn't concentrate on the word in front of him. He knew he had to finish the thesis proposal before the end of the week, he just...was out of ideas.

Everyone expected him to do something about the New Mandalorian government, which would make sense considering -

He glanced up when flimsi shifted, watching while Obi-Wan skimmed a few different pieces.

"Independent study?"

Korkie blinked, realizing there was genuine interest in the older man's eyes. He swallowed, debating on elaborating before -

"I have to do a thesis project next year to graduate. If my topic proposal is approved I only have to be on campus once a week, I can do most of it from home."

The prospect of being home was nice, though he realized that by that time, Satine and Obi-Wan would probably be married and have a newborn.

Well...there were other relatives that lived in Sundari.

"Can you not decide what to do?"

"...no." Korkie took another sip of his caf and sighed. He had hoped that traveling around the system would give him a fresh perspective, but all it had done was make his head hurt more. People looked up to him, he realized...and that was terrifying.

The people he was meeting and talking to and laughing with would someday be his subjects. His laws could impact every part of their lives…

"Everyone expects me to do something about the Civil War or the history of my clan or... something." Korkie ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I even had one of my professors ask if I was gonna do something on the Dark Saber because of...you."

Obi-Wan made a noise of disproval, searching through more of the flimsi and skimming it. "Oh, exploring the phenomenon of Twi'lekki nurses across the Galaxy is interesting."

"I think I'm the wrong species."

"Well we are the definition of privilege." Obi-Wan smiled when Korkie barked out a laugh, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling. Taking another sip of caf, his eyes went wide as he skimmed the flimsi. Swallowing quickly, he coughed and put the mug down, a frown creasing his face.

"... what?"

"...you have an article about the Morai?"

Korkie smiled a bit, giving a small nod. "Yeah. I mean, the Morai have only been seen a few times in history, usually in times of extreme unrest - and it'd be a good introduction into discussing the origins and myths of Mortis and the Father and Daughter and Son and also question why there isn't a Mother - "

"What?"

Korkie perked up, standing and beginning to put his flimsi into a neat pile. "Well historically, women are the forefront of most religions because they are the bearers of life. Even if the trinity of beings existed, why is there no mention of the Mother? It makes no sense - there is no hint of a patriarchal society erasing a matriarchal religion."

Obi-Wan stared at his future nephew, wondering what the hell was happening.

Korkie was still talking, his eyes flashing with excitement. "If we take into account that most of the early Force users are from gender neutral places - like Mandalore - we can probably conclude the Son and Daughter are the original, the physical embodiments of the Light and Dark Side!"

"...and the Father is the gray Jedi, the one who keeps balance?" Obi-Wan asked slowly, the image of the Father wanting Anakin to be in his place coming to his mind.

"It can be argued that the Father was created by the literal Force itself as a representation of Core worlds expanding into the mid and outer rims and bringing a patriarchal lean to most places and - " Korkie paused when he realized he was getting no response, and tried to keep himself from deflating. He sat back down, swallowing hard.

Obi-Wan shook his head, recovering himself and grinning. There was something not quite right in his eyes, but he was still smiling. "I think you found your thesis proposal."

Korkie raised his eyebrows, then scoffed despite the giddiness he felt about possibly doing such an assignment. "I highly doubt my advisor will accept it. It's so out there and resources are so hard to find - "

"I have three bins worth of my master's work regarding Mortis. I tried taking up his research after - " he stopped, shaking his head from saying anything about actually being on Mortis. "After your aunt got pregnant I stopped researching it. It deserves to be in the hands of someone who is passionate about the subject."

"...are you sure? You don't have too - "

"How else will I convince you to like me if we don't have something in common?"

Korkie opened his mouth to defend himself, then shut it with a wince. Taking a sip of caf to gather his thoughts, he eventually nodded. "Okay. I'll take them...and maybe you can review the proposal before I send it? I don't want to offend any Force user."

"My two favorite people getting along - I wish I had a Holo-cam."

They turned, watching Satine come down the stairs. Her hair was a mess, but she looked incredibly happy as well.

Korkie scrunched his face when she cupped his head and pressed a kiss to his brow, earning a chuckle and a ruffle of his hair.

"I'll only review it if you want me too Korkie," Obi-Wan answered, patting Satine's hand while she walked by and squeezed his shoulder.

"Did either of you eat - or head down to the kitchens?" Satine rolled her eyes at the meek expressions she received, rummaging in their burrowed quarters for some breakfast food. A few moments later she put bowls on the table alongside some yogurt, dried fruit, and roasted nuts before sitting down. "There. Korkie - you and Obi-Wan don't have to do anything until dinner. I have to have a meeting with the Neutral Systems before noon."

Korkie nodded absently, then widened his eyes when the clock chimed in the dining room. Frantically looking at the time, he gathered his stuff haphazardly and hopped upwards. "I have class, I need to go, see you at dinner and - "

"Ahem."

He froze near the stairs of their burrowed apartments on the _ planet and turned, grinning sheepishly and walking back to press a kiss to Satine's cheek. "Sorry. Have a good day Auntie - you too Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan did his damnest not to react, and simply smiled at his future nephew.

Satine squeezed his shoulder, eyes following her nephew up the stairs for a moment before she shook her head with a smile.

"He's a good kid Tina. Your brother would be proud of him, of how you raised him."

A heavy sigh left her, and Satine nodded. Sipping at her mug of cat, she leaned back in her seat, feeling the warmth seep into her fingers. "Richard was a good brother - he would have made a far better ruler than me. I wish you could have met him."

"Well his assassination began the Civil War...I suppose your father would have never asked the Jedi to interfere had that not happened."

A wry smile twisted at her lips. She looked at him, at the man she had promised a few weeks ago to spend the rest of her life with. "I suppose that is true...but I would like to think that even without Mandalorians killing Mandalorians we still would have met."

"Mmm...so do you really have a Neutral Systems meeting today my love?" Obi-Wan's face was serene while he moved his focus to his breakfast, but his eyes were sparkling with mischief.

"I do…"

"...and?"

Satine but her lip, thinking of how to phrase this to him. They hadn't focused much on the affairs of the galaxy lately, the threats that were still against them.

"Bo contacted me this morning."

Obi-Wan straightened, his body tensing at her unease. It was a shared secret between them, one that really wasn't talked about but acknowledged in only the briefest of moments.

That the very public split of the Kryze clan years ago had actually been a ruse. That her family was in Death Watch, gathering support for her rule from the inside, risking their lives for her…

"You're not going to like this."

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow, pushing his bowl away and twisting in his chair, putting a hand on her thigh. "Whatever do you mean? Death Watch, no offense, hates you. I've never agreed of your relatives decision to be a part of Death Watch...nor your trust in them but - "

"You talk about trust when your own people don't give a Bantha's backside about mental health and distrust anyone who fucks someone more than once."

"...my dear."

Satine rubbed at her face, sighing heavily and unable to stop the flutter in her chest when he took it and pressed her knuckles to his lips. The coarse hairs of his beard scratched against her skin.

"That was rude of me."

"...but not untrue, unfortunately. But what did your sister tell you?"

Satine knew the grief this would cause him. She didn't want to tell him.

She had too.

Damn it, why did they release the engagement announcement?

It put more of a target on Obi-Wan and all of his loved ones.

"Maul is working with Death Watch. He showed up last night, in this system. At their base."


A / N: hello. I know it's been awhile since I updated but omg, I love Satine so much.