Chapter Fourteen: Drawing the Line
Obi-Wan stared at her, unable to believe what she was saying. He swallowed hard, his heart pounding and blood roaring in his ears. Hands shaking, he searched her eyes trying to find some lie before running a hand through his hair. "I cannot - this is - what - how is this possible?"
"Obi - "
He stood, pacing around the dining room in shock. Everything was shaking. "...how - in this - Maul in the Mandalorian system?!'
Satine flinched at his yell, looking at the floor and twisting her fingers together. "...it shouldn't be a surprise my love...Maul has a vendetta against you...and he will stop at nothing to hurt you or those you love - "
"Nothing will happen to you!" Obi-Wan snapped.
The bowls that had held their breakfast shattered. Satine yelped, covering her face, tears beginning to fall down her face.
The sound made Obi-Wan turn, grimacing when he realized she was shaking. He grimaced, pinching the bridge of his nose. The recently eaten meal curdled in his stomach.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Satine whispered, picking a few shards of the bowl off of her sleeve.
"No it's not. I triggered you. That's never okay." Obi-Wan sighed, letting his shoulders drop. He went back near her, catiously, picking the shards into a pile and only sitting when she tugged at his arm. Looking incredibly mournful, he gathered her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "I am so sorry, my love."
"I don't blame you for reacting that way... it's just…"
"I know. I'm sorry," he pressed another kiss to her knuckles, then wrapped his arms around her when she slid into his lap. With a sigh he leaned his cheek against her hair, trying to process what she had just told him.
What it meant.
"Your family that's in the Death Watch camp.. they're on your side - they told you?"
"Bo messaged me," Satine whispered. "Half the camp wants to leave and resurrect the army...to protect our people, to protect me. Mandalorians may have hunted Jedi, but everyone is terrified of Sith."
"He's only half a Sith."
"What?"
"I may have chopped off his legs off about thirteen years ago."
Satine snorted, tucking her head into his neck.
"How long has your family been double-crossing for you?"
"Fifteen years, ever since upheaval began at my father's reign. Once Richard was murdered, really. People didn't think much of the clan splitting sides, even less so when a quarter of the clan went to Death Watch - obviously under my command...the Kryze family has a violent past. No one liked how the new generation - my siblings and I - were so against the pointless squabbles and violence."
Obi-Wan nodded, knowing most of this history but choosing not to say anything. He knew she needed to just vent, to talk through her thoughts…
...but Maul.
"The engagement announcement," Obi-Wan said suddenly. "Maul must have seen it...he knows you are my weakness."
"Gee, thanks - don't pinch my butt!" Satine had to giggle a bit, pushing at his shoulder while he grinned a little. "Can't believe we're trying to get knocked up with a Sith Lord wanting revenge on you."
"We need to tell the Council."
"What the hell are they gonna do, they're supposed to be peace keepers, not soldiers."
"Well...yes." Obi-Wan stroked her side, thinking deeply. "...but...they can help. I'm sure of it. Or send protection, at the very least, while we finish the tour - though I think we should head straight to Coruscant."
Satine snorted, pushing herself to her feet and gathering the non broken bowls. "My people do not need more reasons to hate me - I'm finishing this tour, then we will head to Coruscant for Adi's funeral."
"Maul and Death Watch are in the same system we are, working together. That doesn't concern you?" Obi-Wan asked, picking up the shards. "Both of our adversaries who want us dead."
"I know." Satine leaned against the sink, gripping the edge of the counter. She bowed her head, taking a few deep breaths. "I can tell the Royal Guards to mobilize. That's all I can do, without causing the New Mandalorians to protest the use of weapons."
"...true...but there's nothing against people of other governments having weapons…"
"King Dendup of Onderon was set for execution earlier this week, and now the Jedi are facing public scrutiny for training the Rebels...we need a third party to avoid - "
"Why avoid it? It's the Seperatists. We're fighting a war against them across the Galaxy. We should take a battalion, go to Onderon, destroy the Seperatists, and restore the throne. Everyone is happy."
Mace rolled his eyes, not bothering to answer Anakin Skywalker. A few people - Kit Fisto and Ki-Adi-Mundi and Stass Allie and Aayla Secura and Plo Koon and Shaak Ti and Depa, some via Hologram - in the command room were nodding their heads in agreement. "If we solve every civil war with violence this war will never end. We have to equip others to solve their differences."
"Then we ask someone like Hondo Ohnaks's," Kit Fisto murmured. "He's mostly on our side. He'll help if we offer a substantial amount and turn a blind eye to his next few spice runs."
Anakin shook his head, frowning at the map of the Onderon capital. "He's been running spice runs for both sides of the war - legally, to be made into medicine. There's good money in that right now, there's little we could offer that would make him want to help our cause."
"Obtain this information how, young Skywalker?" Yoda asked, looking intrigued. "Following in your grand-master's footsteps of befriending lifeforms, are you?"
Mace watched while Anakin hesitated, curious to see the response. He knew he probably should help, but it wasn't his job to always protect the Order members from scrutiny...even among each other.
"Being an amputate is expensive," Anakin managed with a shrug. "I looked into other avenues and found Hondo was linked."
"And thought to - "
"Why don't we just withdraw Ahsoka and her men when it's safe?" Aayla Secura snapped suddenly. She had been so quiet that everyone had forgotten she was there, but now the room had her attention. "If we fight in every revolution where do we draw the line?"
There was silence in the chamber. There weren't many in the command room - there weren't many in the Temple really.
So many were dead.
"Protect the Republic, we need too, Aayla Secura. If we - "
"There are dozens of other sects of Jedi in the Galaxy that are being run ragged, helping fix what our battles destroy. We're peacekeepers, not soldiers - but at this rate, the current generation won't remember that at all."
Mace couldn't help but snort, covering his mouth and looking at the floor. He was aware of everyone staring at him in confusion, wondering what was so -
"Something to say, Master Windu?" Yoda asked, cocking his head curiously.
"She's right, you know. This war has gone on far too long. We are dying by the scores, Master. This is a war of petty politics, and billions have suffered as a result. We need to end this, the sooner the better."
Yoda frowned, staring between the gathered. Most everyone was nodding, or at the very least looked contemplative. He sighed, gripping his cane with a shake of his head. "Withdraw Padawan Tano, we will...but the result of the civil war will be on our conscious."
"Something's wrong," Aayla muttered while they walked to the landing bay. "You've been quiet ever since the meeting."
"That was a few days ago, I'm fine - I'm happy Ahsoka is coming home, see?" Anakin pointed at his face and forcing a smile. He did manage a quick, real smile at her grimace before shoving his hands into his leggings. "What you said during the meeting … 'if we fight in every revolution where do we draw the line' - that's a line from a play musical that just came out of Tatooine - you knew what to say to get Mace's attention."
"The Galaxy is run by the arts, not violence." Aayla palmed the landing bay door open, clearing her throat from the onslaught of fumes and oil. She raised her voice to be heard over the din and clamor. "It's a fundamental difference that separates us from foes like the Mandalorians - I pity Obi-Wan and Satine, he's a soldier among peacemakers, she's a pacifist among warriors."
Anakin raised his eyebrows, intrigued by his friend's thought process. She was certainly underestimated by everyone around her…
"You should be a Jedi master by now."
Aayla smiled when she spotted the transport they were in search of, the landing bay folding in on itself and the hatch closing. The engines were still being cut, everything still clunking about. A few moments later, the ramp came down and Ahsoka stepped down. She looked exhausted and grumpy and filthy, though her shoulders slumped in relief when she caught sight of them.
"Glad you're home Snips," Anakin murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder while she embraced Aayla.
"Do you think we did the right thing? Removing ourselves from Onderon? What if more lives are lost?" Ahsoka whispered when she pulled away from Aayla's embrace.
"I think we did, 'Soka. I think everything will be okay…"
Anakin realized how tall she had become. With a wave to the man that was coming to attend the shuttle, he wrapped an arm around her. "Dex's for dinner? Once the Council has their report?"
Ahsoka nodded, rubbing at her arms before giving a smile and nodding.
A /N: I love Aayla - and theater nerd Mace Windu is my idol XD
