Chapter Seventeen: The Dark Side Rises


"How are you feeling about all this?"

His voice brought Depa back to reality, the reality that as a person she didn't want to face, but as a Jedi was becoming all to familiar with. It hard to put into words...well, everything that was happening, all the death and destruction because of Maul.

"Honestly?" Depa murmured, staring at the teacup before her before looking at her old master. "I wish I could take away Obi-Wan's pain."

"That seems to be the general consensus lately."

"Are you saying Obi-Wan doesn't need sympathy?" Depa mused, staring at him across the table with a bemused expression.

Mace chuckled, leaning back in the dining room chair. "The Galaxy's fate appears to be in the hands of Dooku's lineage."

"The Disaster Lineage - and maybe that's not a bad thing, old man? Are you jealous it's not your lineage?"

A rough laugh escaped Mace. "My lineage has only just resumed - you were in a coma, after all. I didn't even have a grandpadawan until a few months ago."

Shaking her head, Depa leaned across the table and clasped his nearest hand. He squeezed it firmly, trying to offer up a warm smile.

"You can grieve for Adi like the rest of us Mace."

"Who says I'm not? The thing about being a Jedi...you feel so deeply...but holding onto the grief is not healthy."

Depa nodded in understanding, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Well...I suppose we should head into the meditation room. Everyone will be arriving soon enough."

"...discussing the funeral of one of my crechemates… never thought I'd see the day."

"...it hasn't happened yet?" Depa asked softly while she followed into the room before the apartments, the one where guests first stepped in. She settled on the cushion next to him, her eyebrows raised a bit. "I cannot think of how many from my childhood I have buried - metaphorically, but still... it's not right."

"No, it's not...this war has been dragging on long enough." Mace waved a hand at the blinds, raising them so light could filter through. "If only the Chancellor could give up his emergency powers and allow negotiation. The former would make the war more bearable. I wouldn't have to sit in endless meetings with him."

"Don't let Anakin hear that. He'll have a lightsaber at your throat to defend the Chancellor."

Mace scoffed, eyes flicking to the door as it opened, revealing the first of the many that would be crammed in the room, sorting and distributing Adi Gallia's belongings. He then did a double-take, raising his eyebrows. "Care to explain Quinlan?"

Quinlan winced a little, gesturing to the woman beside him. Obi-Wan Kenobi walked in behind them, subdued and sullen while he took a seat on a cushion. "You know Ventress?"

"You've done a few jobs for us," Mace acknowledged. "What brings you to Coruscant besides…" he gave a vague gesture at the two of them. "Whatever you two have going on."

Ventress pulled a rue smile, settling against a wall beside Quinlan. "Mandalore brings me to Coruscant, actually."

Obi-Wan grimaced, scratching at his beard uncomfortably.

"You know about this Obi-Wan?" Mace asked cautiously. He felt like he was treading on dangerous territory. Mandalorians and Jedi never seemed to be far from each other...

"Unfortunately - or fortunately - Satine has eyes and ears everywhere. Quinlan and I probably heard about it the same time."

Depa furrowed her brow. "And what is it, I might ask?"

The door slid open again, revealing Anakin, Aayla, and Kit.

"Let's finish this after the meeting," Mace decided...though he had a bad feeling about it.


The minutes dragged on...and on...and on.

Everyone seemed to have something. Adi's wealth and belongings and preparation for her death seemed endless.

Most of her wealth went to her cousin Stass Allie, to be distributed as she saw fit.

To Master Tholme and Saa she left notes about her research into stem cell theory, a note asking them to continue to teach the next generation. They both cried, sitting together on a matt, looking at the box of Holos and datapads and notes.

To Anakin was her beloved ship, to be repaired and used as he wished. He was quiet receiving the key card, turning it around and around in his hands.

To Bant and Luminara there were college funds, with enough money to finance two doctorates if each wished to have one.

To Garen was a simple letter and her book collection, as he was minimalistic by nature. He was present via Holo, and signed off quickly, unable to keep the tears at bay.

To Depa, Quinlan, Mace, and Aayla were the contents of her apartment to split among them. There was a little note to remind them note to fight over anything...it was just material anyways…crude matter...

...there was a heavy silence when Mace finished everything, all eyes turning slowly to Obi-Wan. Throughout the entire reading of her will there had been no mention of Obi-Wan, no mention of what he would receive.

He shouldn't have been surprised. That would be his luck anyways.

Bant put a hand on his shoulder, as they were both pressed onto the same cushion. He put his hand over hers, looking at the Master of the Order.

"Anything?" he murmured, unable to keep the quiver out of his voice. The events of the morning were still fresh in his mind, and he knew he had to tell the Order, but...this had become more important.

Mace sighed, putting the datapad on the floor beside him. He reached into the box that had stored some of the things, grasped something, and stood. Crossing the room, he knelt to Obi-Wan's level.

"A comlink?"

"There is one message on it. That's all the people at the bank knew. It was the only thing that she absolutely insisted be delivered to you, the only thing she thought most important."

"Maybe she found Satine and Obi-Wan's sex tape and - ow!" Quinlan grumbled when Aayla stomped on his toe. Ventress snickered beside him, earning a few looks.

"That would be elsewhere," Obi-Wan murmured, more to himself. He took the comlink, holding it gingerly. He pressed a few buttons, seeing the length of the recording. Mace returned to his seat, watching quietly.

Depa cleared her throat. "You don't have to watch it in front - "

"I think I do." There was something in the Force, something telling him that this had to be listened to, that this was a turning point. A...a shatter point almost, like what Mace and Quinlan could see.

He turned it on and slid it forward, to the center of the room. Anakin, leaning against the wall with Kit and Luminara on the opposite side of the room, waved a hand at the blinds to close them.

An image of Adi Gallia shimmered upwards, looking youthful and bright as ever. It seemed impossible that she was gone.

"The time stamp is from a few months - "

Obi-Wan cut Quinlan off. "It's when we were heading to Meridian sector to face Maul...this was the night before she died."

"She must have known her time was near," Bant whispered. Tears started to gather in her eyes, and she pulled out a handkerchief. "How long had she been planning her death?"

"...her will and estate plans were edited a week before she was killed," Mace answered softly, still staring at the revolving, paused figure of Adi Gallia. "The Force warned her."

Without saying anything Obi-Wan used the Force to press play, trying to prepare himself.

"Obi-Wan...if you're listening to this, I suppose I must have passed onto the Force. Maybe the mission went wrong, or this is years in the future...and the war is over. I doubt it's the latter, but one can hope."

The image of Adi Gallia smiled down at him, and Obi-Wan had to close his eyes to keep in the sobs.

"...I suppose I should tell that I will be sending this file to my family's estate manager, and he will do as I wish with it. I hope it lands in your hands."

Obi-Wan wiped the tears away, not quite aware everyone else was doing the same. How did I not notice she took this recording? He couldn't tell where in the ship she had taken it - probably standing near the bunk.

The image of Adi Gallia sighed, folding her arms over her chest. "Obi...where do I even begin? You were always a stubborn boy, so eager to please but so angry at the injustices the Order could not fix. You were always wanted, son. Your friends have always loved you, your mentors adored you - even Qui-Gon, though he had his odd ways of showing it. What happened to you - everything that has happened to you, from being sent to the Agri Corps before becoming a padawan to dealing with Qui-Gon's wayward apprentices to taking on a padawan when you were prepared to head straight to Mandalore...to struggling with your heart versus your duty."

"You've almost left the Order so many times...and I hope now you will leave as best you can." Adi lost her smile, and she appears to struggle for breath for a moment. When she looked up, she was trying to smile. "I know you want to help everyone that has suffered because of this war, because of any atrocity. But your Duchess is a wonderful woman, and loves you more than anything. From the few times I've seen you two together in the past year, you glow. You're the happiest around her…"

Obi-Wan could feel a pit in his stomach, knowing there was something in this message that was not just for his ears.

Adi Gallia shook her head, head piece moving gently. "I'm so sorry you two lost your child. A grief like that... it's unimaginable, regardless how long you have had the child. I felt the same way when Siri passed on… any child of yours will be so loved by everyone, from both sides of their family… you talked about trying to conceive, the excitement and nervousness and glee you have about settling down."

"Ew," Anakin muttered.

Obi-Wan shot him a look, though he quickly turned back.

"... though I want nothing more for you to become a father...I hope it's not for some time…" Adi Gallia took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I hope you're alone, or at least with those you would trust with the fate of the Galaxy."

" ... Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been looking for."

The audio ended, then froze.

The silence was louder than he'd ever heard.

Quinlan cleared his throat, raising his hand sheepishly. "...this a bad time to mention what we were talking about Master Windu?"

"There's no way the Chancellor is - " Anakin began before the Master of the Oder gave him a stern look, a look that clearly said shut it.

Anakin closed his mouth, glowering while he looked at Quinlan.

"Go ahead - I suppose it can't be any worse than - "

"Darth Maul is working with Death Watch," Obi-Wan said bluntly, staring Anakin in the eyes while he said it. "We assume their goal is to assassinate Satine, taking the head of the Neutral Systems away and any chance of peace into the negatives…" he turned to Mace, shrugging a bit. "We don't know if Palpatine is working with them or not."

"He could still be innocent," Anakin pointed out. "We don't know!"

Mace sighed heavily, rubbing at his forehead. "...I need a drink."