When we rescue others, we rescue ourselves.

The freed slaves and the Mandalorians, working together, had what Obi-Wan considered a slightly worrying amount of fun converting the cells in the arena complex into holding areas for the surviving Hutts and bodyguards.

Qui-Gon and Tholme made several apologetic calls with the Council and the Senate. Obi-Wan had a chat with Madame Nu over a holo. Some Council members arrived, slightly late, with a few members of the Senate.

No one looked amused except for Bail Organa, who gave Obi-Wan a friendly smile, and Yoda, whose ears were twitching in suppressed entertainment.

They all gathered up into the communications room, where Shmi had more or less gotten things running so they could communicate with the outside world again. Some of the former slaves had begun work on the facility— moving in. There were plenty of quarters, with things moved out, and Obi-Wan bet that soon enough shops and mechanics and all sorts of other things would move in. There was a sort of poetic justice to that.

Shmi had brought Anakin and Jango, as well as Myrgan, the one who had helped to kill Jerga, as her backup.

Chancellor Vallorum himself had come to help sort out their mess, which was a compliment in its own way. He pinched the bridge of his nose now. "The Hutts and the Republic have long had a standing… unspoken agreement."

Qui-Gon blinked innocently at him. "I suppose we didn't know," he said. "It being unspoken at all." Several of the politicians and Mace gave him a death glare.

"In the end, we didn't do much of the revolution," Tholme said. "Only took advantage of the activities to free our padawans— young Republic citizens, you see, and Force-sensitive. You can see why we wouldn't leave them to the slavers."

Obi-Wan and Quinlan endeavored to look like respectable young Republic citizens. Vallorum looked less than convinced.

"We were in our rights for a citizen's arrest," Jango said lazily.

That caused a round of eye twitching from most assembled. "Yes," said one of Vallorum's aides. "The… Mandalorian citizens."

"You're welcome," Jango said.

"You promised you would arrest them," Shmi said severely.

"And we will," said another advisor. "The situation is simply delicate. Though we are, technically, in Republic space, Nar Hekka is a Hutt planet."

"Not legally," Obi-Wan said, and everyone looked at him. "I had a conversation with our archivist, Master Nu. We trawled through a few hundred years of records— as it happens, Nar Hekka does not legally belong to any of the Hutt families. They stole it several years ago when they finished enslaving the planet who it did belong to."

"Who knew we could just commit genocide and get all the planets we want?" Shmi said. "Maybe more people should try it."

Vallorum cleared his throat. "We will arrest the Hutts," he said.

"And help the refugees," Shmi added.

"And help the refugees," Vallorum said reluctantly.

"The Jedi Temple will help with that, at least," Mace said. He looked like he had quite the headache. Obi-Wan couldn't imagine why. "As well as some of the inevitable unrest that will result from taking down, and I can't stress this enough, all the crime lords from the cartel that controls huge parts of the galaxy."

Obi-Wan folded his arms. "The Jedi are peacekeepers," he said. "What is the point of us if not to keep the peace?"

"There's a difference between negotiating treaties and starting revolutions," protested one of the Senators.

"Slavery is not peaceful," Shmi said. "If you think otherwise you're a fool."

Quinlan covered a snort with his hand.

"Go to the courts, this will," Yoda said. "Prosecuted, the Hutts will be. The right way. Yes. The will of the Force, this is." He looked pleased with the proceedings. Obi-Wan was feeling pretty pleased too, though he made it a point never to look too smug in front of politicians. Yoda's support seemed to go a long ways with the politicians, who began to look less annoyed and more speculative. Everyone liked to be known for doing the right thing.

"Oh, I know something that might be of some assistance with that," Obi-Wan said, and moved aside so that Artoo could roll cheerfully into the circle of the meeting. Artoo beeped triumphantly and rocked back and forth a few times on his treads.

"What's he saying?" Bail asked, sounding a little too amused.

Obi-Wan patted the droid gently on the dome, and R2 spat out a hologram— the same one Obi-Wan had asked him to take when they were hiding above the Hutt elders in the vents. "Artoo got several minutes of the Hutts talking about their plans for slavery, squeezing local economies, and a few assassinations," Obi-Wan said. "Does that help anyone?"

"Yes," said Chancellor Vallorum, looking exasperated. "That will help."

They were interrogated for approximately a million hours about all their actions since taking the mission up until the end of it before they let Obi-Wan and his friends go.

Mace, Yoda, Adi Gallia, and Plo Koon— the members of the Council who had presumably lost the drawing of straws to be sent to deal with this— stayed behind, and indicated the other Jedi should do so too.

"Qui-Gon Jinn," Mace said, when everyone else had filed out. "Tholme. I should have known better than to send you two out into the galaxy without supervision."

"Hey!" Quinlan said. "We were supervising them."

"Very well, I'm sure," Master Gallia said. "A better job than they did at watching over you, I'd bet. What's this I hear about someone doing drugs?"

She was greeted with several innocent faces.

"And the complaints from the Hutts that you threatened to kill them if they didn't comply?" Mace added.

"I did not," Obi-Wan said indignantly. Implication was not the same as threatening, after all, and he hadn't even implied he was going to kill them, just to let them die. Really, what was the point of these subtleties if people didn't even appreciate them? "Shmi helped me save them, which I would say is the opposite of murder."

Plo chuckled. "In the end, the four of you did a very good thing, even if it was not what was recommended by the Council," he said.

"Please never do it again," Mace added.

"No promises," Qui-Gon said.

"Work, you have created," Yoda said, "For the Senate, and for the Jedi." His ears wriggled contemplatively. "Good work, this is. Good, it is, for us to remember that it is our duty to deal with the struggles of the galaxy. Too long we have been focused on the problems of our own insular Order."

"You've been talking to Dooku," Qui-Gon accused.

"Perhaps so," Yoda said, smiling, leaning on his gimer stick. "Dismissed, you are. May the Force be with you."

They dispersed at last. Obi-Wan found the young Senator Organa, who had rapidly been rising up the ranks of the Senate, outside the chamber.

"Bail," Obi-Wan said, genuinely pleased to see him. They had been friends since the early days of the Clone Wars, and even in this lifetime Bail had adapted quickly to Obi-Wan's eccentricities and struck up a camaraderie. "How are you?"

"I ought to be asking you that," Bail said. "I'm not the one recently sold into slavery." They started walking idly. Down in the former arena, Obi-Wan could smell someone cooking dinner. The Force was generally light and relieved.

"Please," Obi-Wan said, "There was no purchase involved."

Bail laughed.

"How is Breha doing?" Obi-Wan asked.

Bail's dark face flushed lightly. "She's doing fine," he said. Bail and Breha Organa were recently married, to the surprise of no one who had seen the two lovebirds around each other— except for possibly Bail, who still looked starstruck every time he spoke of his new wife. "She wants to invite you and your Master to Alderaan someday soon."

"I'm not sure if you want to inflict us on your planet," Obi-Wan said dryly. "This mission started with us looking for two missing people."

"You do attract trouble," Bail said.

"Why, thank you," Obi-Wan said.

Bail grinned. "I've come to offer my services," he said. "As a member of the anti-slavery taskforce, but also as the Prince Consort. Alderaan has a long history of taking in refugees— I get the feeling these ex-slaves will need somewhere to get back on their feet."

"It's very generous of you," Obi-Wan said, though truthfully he had expected nothing less. "I'm sure some will take advantage of your offer."

"Only some?" Bail slanted him a teasing smile.

Obi-Wan grinned. "Mandalorians are well-known for taking in strays," he said.

"Mandalorians and Jedi working together," Bail said, shaking his head. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"The Force is a pathway to all sorts of extraordinary deeds," Obi-Wan said, in his snootiest teaching Master voice.

"It certainly is," Bail said, significantly more impressed-sounding than Obi-Wan had meant to engender.

"You'll have to speak to Shmi about this," Obi-Wan said. "She's become sort of the accidental leader of the liberated slaves— she'd know best what they need."

"My ears are burning," Shmi said, and stepped out of one of the observation boxes, the one that had been repurposed as the children's playroom. She was holding Anakin, who was apparently coming off of a nap. The little Mon Calamari from the Controllers' ship tried to make a break for it behind her, giggling.

Obi-Wan scooped him up. "Hi, do you remember me?" he said.

The Mon Cala stuck his tongue out at him.

"How can I argue with that?" Obi-Wan asked. He stuck his tongue out back, which made the little boy giggle again. Saxcha, the orange Twi'lek from the same ship, poked her head out.

"There you are," she told the Mon Calamari. Obi-Wan handed her the boy. "Thanks."

"Obi-Wan, save me," came Quinlan's voice from inside. "I'm fading away." Obi-Wan, Bail, and Shmi craned their necks around to look inside. There were only about a half dozen children overall, but most of them seemed to be concentrated on wrapping a prone Quinlan Vos in blankets.

Aayla, apparently the main perpetrator, waved cheerfully at Obi-Wan, who waved back. Obi-Wan used the Force to shut the door.

Quinlan let out an annoyed scream.

"It's fine," Obi-Wan told the other two, who looked eminently amused.

Shmi shrugged. "Here, will you hold Anakin?" She gave him to Obi-Wan.

Anakin peered at Obi-Wan's face. Then he started to fuss. "What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, and lightly brushed Anakin's mind, the way the masters did in the creche. "Ah," he said, and fixed Anakin's tiny little sock, which had started to fall off his foot. "All better?" Anakin considered this then fisted his hands into Obi-Wan's shirt to fall asleep.

When Obi-Wan looked up Shmi was watching her son closely. She shook her head and looked back at Bail. "Thank you for your offer, Senator," she said, continuing their idle round of walking. "But I'm afraid you don't really know what you're getting into."

"Why do you say that?" Bail asked.

"Some of them will need places to stay," Shmi said, "But even more of them actually have places to go back to. Or families they need to find, which is another difficult undertaking, especially when families have been sent across the galaxy to a hundred different masters."

"Hmm," Bail said contemplatively. "That will be quite the challenge. But I think Alderaan is up to the challenge, if you are. There are several other planets with who will probably put in their support as well, ones allied with Alderaan. Naboo, for example, is known for providing refuge to those in need."

A Senatorial aide, who looked harried, hurried up to them. "There you are, Senator Organa. The Chancellor wants to talk to you—"

"Duty calls," Bail said with a smile. "We'll have to speak of this more later. It was nice to meet you, Lady Skywalker. Obi-Wan, good to see you again." He gave them a small, courtly bow. Obi-Wan bowed back, and Shmi inclined her head in farewell before Bail rejoined with the anxious aide.

"He's a good man," Shmi said, watching him go.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "He'll keep his promises."

Shmi looked nervous. Obi-Wan waited her out, bouncing Anakin softly. "You know Jango and I called you for Anakin, not the missing travellers."

"Of course," Obi-Wan said.

"How did you know?" Shmi asked, and Obi-Wan gave her a quizzical look. "Anakin," she said. "You know what he was fussing about— it took me a month to realize that he gets restless when his socks are uncomfortable."

"He told me, sort of," Obi-Wan said. "Not in words, just… his intentions in the Force. It's easy enough to do as a child. Practically every youngling in the creche does it by instinct." He saw Shmi's interested look and grinned. "It makes childhood a little different than for most people— when one youngling skins a knee, half the Clan starts crying; before we learned to shield, the Crechemasters could tell if we were up to no good a second after we decided to do whatever it was."

Shmi laughed softly. "If only all mothers could tell what their children were thinking," she said.

"I loved growing up in the Temple," Obi-Wan said gently. "It is not so solemn as people think. Quinlan and I grew up together, you know— he's a little bit older, and we figured out how to shield way before a lot of the other Initiates so that we could get away with his pranks."

Shmi shook her head. "To grow up without your mother's hugs, to be forbidden to marry, to not have a parent but a master… I could give him a good life. A happy life."

Obi-Wan gave her Anakin back. Anakin, sensing his mother's mood, grabbed sleepily at one of her braids and tugged reassuringly.

"The Order has always been my family," Obi-Wan said. "I never felt lesser for it."

Shmi looked relieved to have Anakin back in her arms. "It's not the same," she said.

"He'd never know the difference," Obi-Wan said, not unkindly.

"Oh," Shmi said.

They spent a few days on Nar Hekka— or, Qui-Gon supposed, what was formerly known as Nar Hekka. The refugees had been talking about changing the name. Master Nu back at the Temple was working on the rights to this planet, but it was likely that the original owners, a race who were mostly dead or enslaved now, wouldn't contest them for it.

Finally they were cleared to leave for Coruscant— on a separate ship than the Council members, possibly because the Council was already sick enough of them without adding hyperspace travel into it.

It was early enough in the afternoon by then. Someone had been working on the temperature controls of the artificial atmosphere biomes, turning it into less of a hellish swamp and into a day that was moderate and almost pleasant.

Qui-Gon pried his padawan from the grips of the makeshift creche so that they could be on their way. Because Obi-Wan could make friends within minutes of stepping on any given planet, he was followed out by a chorus of goodbyes and hugs.

Quinlan Vos, surprisingly, had to be removed from the creche as well, and he was followed out by something much more concrete. Qui-Gon looked down at the Twi'lek following the padawan cheerfully.

"Master Tholme already said she can come with us," Quinlan said defensively. "And the Council agreed— they checked her midichlorian count. The creche is going to take her in."

"Aayla Secura, then, is it?" Qui-Gon said, smiling down at the girl. "You want to be a Jedi?"

"Ka!" Aayla said cheerfully, monkeying up Quinlan's back. He accommodated her weight easily. "Yes! I be like Quinlanvos and Obiwan." She considered for a moment. "But not get hurt so much."

"Oh, ha-ha, very funny, see if anyone picks you as a padawan with a mouth like that—" Quinlan said, trying to wrestle her off his shoulders as he made his way over to his Master, who was waiting by the ship talking to Yoda.

Obi-Wan was hiding a smile behind his hand. It didn't take seeing the future to see that Quinlan and Aayla would grow up to be a good pair. Qui-Gon grinned and drew his padawan into his side, half crushing his opposite shoulder.

"Master," Obi-Wan protested, squirming, though Qui-Gon could feel that he was pleased.

"You did a good job on this mission," Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan's Force presence bloomed like a sun coming out behind a cloud, then was reined in. "Even if you do try to give me a heart attack at least once a day."

"Someone has to remind you that you're not infallible, oh great Master," Obi-Wan said, and slotted him a mischievous smile that made him look even younger than usual.

Xanatos had been conspicuously absent while the Council and the politicians were about— even though he was no longer wanted by the Order— but Obi-Wan glanced off into the shadows a moment before Qui-Gon sensed Xanatos' presence.

His former padawan stepped out, swiping his hair roguishly back from his face as he made his dramatic entrance. "If you ever figure out how to do that, let me know," he said.

"Xanatos," Qui-Gon said, lips twitching. "What have you been up to?"

Xanatos stretched, exaggeratedly lazy. "You know. A few investments here. Some political maneuvering there."

"Profiting off of the fall of the Hutt Empire," Obi-Wan translated. "You had some decidedly inside information."

"Possibly," Xanatos said. "Think of it more like a public service. Someone has to step into the economic gap the Hutts left."

"Luckily you have some practice in changing the economies of societies getting away from slavery," Obi-Wan said cheerfully. "I still have some of my papers from my Rights of Sentients class, do you want to borrow them?"

"Kriff off," Xanatos said, aiming a punch at Obi-Wan's shoulder which Obi-Wan ducked. Obi-Wan stuck his tongue out at him and Xanatos sneered.

Qui-Gon couldn't quite help the glow of contentment watching them. Obi-Wan's feverish words rung in his head; you can come back. Xanatos would never be a Jedi, and perhaps that was Qui-Gon's failing, or not, but perhaps he could be something new. Maybe with the help of Qui-Gon's very strange padawan, the galaxy could be just a little brighter.

"All right, I'm off," Xanatos said, waving a hand. "Just came to make sure my pardon was all legal and everything."

"It is," Qui-Gon said. "Just don't do any more crimes for a while, will you?"

Xanatos scoffed, which was not a promise. "Bye, kid," he said, and ruffled Obi-Wan's hair. "Next time you get sold into slavery, I'm not helping you."

"You couldn't afford me," Obi-Wan sniffed.

Xanatos rolled his eyes and turned to go.

"Xanatos," Qui-Gon said, and he paused, turning back. Qui-Gon bowed at the waist. "May the Force be with you."

"Cheesy," Xanatos said, and disappeared into the shadows once more, pulling his hood up over his head. He felt a little more cheerful as he went, though.

On the landing platform, the engines whined. The ships were getting warmed up to leave. There were still a few goodbyes to say.

One of them came up now. It was Shmi Skywalker, still in her Mandalorian vambraces but minus the helmet, with her hair in a long braid and her son, as usual, strapped to her chest. Qui-Gon was beginning to have doubts that Jango Fett was, in fact, the father— so far as he knew, Mandalorian parents were much more involved with their children than he was. Jango was helpful enough with the boy, and clearly cared about him, but he left the decisions about Anakin to his mother. That was, however, none of Qui-Gon's business.

"Thank you both for all your help," Shmi said. "And the other Jedi too. Your kindness, your assistance… it gives me faith in the Jedi." She patted Anakin's head. "However, I will not be sending my son with you."

Obi-Wan looked unsurprised.

"He is very strong in the Force," Qui-Gon told her. "It would be best to be among his own people."

"He already is," Shmi said. "I will not change my mind. I could give him up, if I needed to, if I knew he would be getting a better life. But I don't need to. Anakin stays."

Qui-Gon sighed— the boy, already strong in the Force, would only grow more powerful. The Force told him Anakin would be a great Jedi. But it wasn't his decision. He looked instead to Anakin. "You're a lucky boy, you know that?" he asked, and the baby chewed his fist and stared at him. "As you wish, Lady Skywalker."

"You call if you need help," Obi-Wan said.

Shmi smiled.

"Looks like I don't have to shoot anyone after all," Jango said, striding up. "Shame. I could use the practice."

"Rumor has it several of the former slaves are shipping off to Mandalore today," Obi-Wan said.

"Yup," Jango said. "The ones that aren't going out to free other slaves now that Hutts are gone, anyway."

"Are there a lot of former slaves turned freedom fighters, then?" Qui-Gon asked.

"You have no idea," Shmi said, looking pleased. "No one has a claim to the Hutt properties now that they're gone— the Hutts weren't ones for heirs. A lot of lieutenants and seconds-in-command will be trying to take over their operations. We don't intend to let them."

"Sounds like a properly Mandalorian fight to me," Obi-Wan said.

Jango grinned— apparently, this was a compliment. "You could join us," he said. "Anyone who can handle a sen'tra like that has to be manda. If you won't join the clan we can at least work out some kind of joint custody thing with the Jettise."

Obi-Wan laughed but Qui-Gon glared at Jango, because he knew he was not joking. He almost did the I'm watching you hand sign, but resisted because he was pretty sure it was undignified for a Jedi Master.

"We're going back to Coruscant," Qui-Gon said loudly, and Jango gave him a narrow-eyed look. "Come on, Obi-Wan, let's go."

A loud screech belayed that plan, attracting the attention of everyone on the platform. It was R2D2, who came barreling up the ramp and viciously knocked into Obi-Wan's legs. Obi-Wan stumbled and almost fell, but then he patted the droid gently. "Don't worry, little friend. I wasn't going to leave you."

"I suppose we're keeping him then?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I'm not his owner," Obi-Wan said, looking wistful for a moment. "But I suppose we can keep each other company for a while— that is, if you're up for it, Artoo."

The droid whistled and beeped.

"Well, not every day is this exciting," Obi-Wan said, and laughed at the disbelieving whine the droid let out. "Not always," Obi-Wan said. "But if you really want to come along, you're more than welcome."

"Don't I get a say in this?" Qui-Gon grumbled halfheartedly.

"Nope," Obi-Wan said, and the droid beeped something easily understandable as the same.

By the ships, Tholme let out a loud whistle. "Hurry it up!" he said, cupping his hands around his mouth when they looked over at him. "We don't have all day!"

Aayla looked delighted with the noise he had just produced and stuck her own fingers in her mouth, attempting to reproduce the whistle. Though it was too far away to hear, Qui-Gon was sure Quinlan was egging her on.

"Duty calls," Obi-Wan said wryly.

Shmi reached out and enveloped Obi-Wan into a hug that made his padawan let out a surprised squeak. Obi-Wan relaxed into it eventually and returned it with enough vigor that Qui-Gon suspected he had probably not been giving his padawan enough affection.

Shmi turned and gave Qui-Gon the same treatment, making him grunt in surprise and Jango snort a laugh. Finally Shmi released him and gave him a pat on the head that was very similar to the one people often gave Obi-Wan— even though Qui-Gon loomed a good few inches taller than her.

Aayla succeeded in her whistle and everyone winced as the high-pitched noise hit their ears. It was time to go— Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turned to Jango.

"I'm not gonna hug you," Jango said, his mouth twitching. He clapped a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Ret'urcye mhi," he said.

"Ret'," Obi-Wan said cheerfully.

"You should wear a bucket more often," Jango told him.

"I will not," Obi-Wan said.

Jango grinned, and, despite his words, lifted Obi-Wan into a back-cracking hug. Despite their similar heights Obi-Wan's feet dangled. He swore at him until Jango set him back down and tugged at his braid.

Qui-Gon settled on just bowing at him when Jango turned to him.

"Take care," Jango said, which was pretty fond for him.

"You too," Qui-Gon said.

"Seriously, you call when Anakin starts giving you trouble," Obi-Wan was telling Shmi. "And Anakin is going to give you a lot of trouble."

Everyone looked at the baby on Shmi's chest, who chose that moment to yawn adorably and blink at them.

"Troublemaker," Obi-Wan told the baby sternly, and a wave of Force energy— from both sides— clashed into each other. Anakin smiled toothlessly, then went back to sleep. Obi-Wan smiled.

"All right, enough," Qui-Gon said, grabbing Obi-Wan by the scruff of his cloak and starting to haul him off towards their ride home. "If we pick up any more pathetic lifeforms I daresay we won't get off the ground."

"That is so funny, Master," Obi-Wan said, in a tone that suggested the opposite. Obi-Wan turned around to wave goodbye to Shmi and Jango one more time and they waved back, laughing.

"Finally," Quinlan said, when they reached the ship.

"Are you ready to go?" Tholme asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, and the Force swirled gently, cheerfully, around them. "I suppose we are."

Chapter header from TCW - 5X08 Bound For Rescue

Ryl translations:
Ka - yes

Mando'a translations:
Sen'tra - jetpack
Manda - the state of being Mandalorian
Ret'urcye mhi - Until we meet again/goodbye

Come on, Shmi wasn't going to give up Anakin! She's way too smart to let him get involved with the Jedi.

That's the last chapter! Thank you so much for following along so far. I had so much fun writing this.