When Obi-Wan finally called the Council four hours later, looks of irritation crossed most of their faces, except for Anakin and Ahsoka. "Master Kenobi." Mace Windu greeted him. Obi-Wan bowed. "Interesting to receive a call from you from a place we forbade you to go."
"Ah, yes. I do apologize for that. I know you gave me a direct order not to come here. But you see, I was needed. Maul had returned, and taken over the system. He was planning to execute the Duchess to draw me into his trap. I was able to take the darksaber from him, and rescue the Duchess. The system is now safe, and Maul is dead."
"How did you take the darksaber from him? His claim as leader of Death Watch should have prevented that."
Satine stepped into view of the camera. "While it is true that as leader of Death Watch, he had a claim on the blade, there is another, stronger claim. That of the Duke or Duchess of Mandalore."
"You claimed the blade, Duchess? Doesn't that go against all of your beliefs?" Ahsoka received several dark looks from the Jedi Masters for speaking out of turn, but she had spoken what they were all thinking.
"No, it was not me." She replied softly. Obi-Wan unclasped his cloak from his neck, dropping it to the floor and showing the spotless set of Beskar armor he now wore. "I did."
Anakin laughed, at the same time as the Council began to frown. "You?" Yoda asked, his eyes wide at seeing Obi-Wan's new armor.
"Yes." Obi-Wan replied. Holding out his hand, he took Satine's in his. She was wearing her own set of Beskar'gam, which was unusual for her, but they had thought it important to show a united front. They could allow no misunderstandings. "Twenty years ago, I married Duchess Satine Kryze. At that point, I became Obi-Wan Kryze, Duke of Manda'yaim, and the Mand'alor. I know marriage is against the Jetti code, and so I now renounce my position on this council, and am now leaving the order as well."
Gasps sounded through the commlink, but he was not going to change his mind. For twenty years he had hidden this, but no longer. He refused to leave his wife and his people defenseless anymore. Anakin cleared his throat. "While we're making declarations, I have one to make too."
"Anakin." Obi-Wan warned, but it had no effect. Clearly his example was too much.
"I, too, will be leaving the Jedi order, since for the past three years, I have been married to Senator Amidala."
Ahsoka laughed. "If they're going, I'm going with them."
The council's eyes were wide. This was clearly not how they had seen their day going. And they needed every Jedi they could get to continue fighting their war. "Perhaps you would consider staying on as generals in the clone armies, at least until the end of the war?" Master Windu ventured. Almost simultaneously, they shook their heads. "We will stay until you find replacements for us." Obi-Wan offered. "No longer."