Time for a Change
Obi-Wan groaned when he heard the comlink beeping, reaching out a hand blindly to answer it on the nightstand. "Kenobi," he muttered, feeling his wife - tucked into his side - attempt to shift closer to him.
"General Kenobi," came the voice of Commander Cody. "The Jedi Council is contacting Palace Command - they're requesting you be present for a meeting in five minutes."
"Well considering I'm fifteen hours away on Kalevala with a naked Duchess clinging to me," he smirked when Satine jabbed him with a toe and murmured a half-hearted threat. "I don't believe that's possible, Cody."
"General Windu is rather insistent - and I'd not be on his bad side."
"Fine - I'll be ready for in ten."
"Copy that sir."
He sighed, staring at the ceiling and worrying - just for a brief moment - what the meeting could possibly be about. No one in the Republic could exactly touch him, not even the Order - he was a war hero, a media darling, the husband of a powerful politician…
They wouldn't dare attempt to kick him out of the Order, not when he could easily have the entire society disgraced in twenty-four hours.
Not like he would do such a thing - he respected them to much. They were his people, his family in all but name. Where he had been raised and nurtured and loved…
But...he had found a different family just when the love began to fall short, a family that answered needs he didn't know he had.
A family that began with the beautiful woman in his arms, one that was touching his jaw and gently bringing his attentions away from his thoughts. Satine smiled when their eyes met, propping herself onto an elbow and leaning down to kiss him. Her hair fell forward, brushing against his neck. For a moment, they lay there, feeling each other's warmth and breath and love.
"Go see what they want," she muttered, thumb tracing his jaw. "Then get back here."
"As my lady commands." He grinned at the eyeroll he received, and gently untangled himself from her embrace. It didn't take long to find his clothes, though he did have to laugh at the scowl that passed his wife's face when he belted the tunics. "What?"
Satine - now laying on her back - wrinkled her nose. "It's a waste to hide such a figure under those robes."
Obi-Wan smirked, putting a knee on the bed to brace himself while he leaned down, his hands pinning hers over her head. "I'll make sure to change into the Kryze colors instead of the Jedi robes."
Her reaction could be best described as a purr, eyes glinting in the low light. "Thank you, my dear."
Mace Windu could not withhold the sigh when - fifteen minutes later - the colorized hologram of Obi-Wan Kenobi flickered into existence. Kryze colors, my gods.
"You're late."
The little shit had the audacity to grin. "I apologize, Mace - it's incredibly difficult to wake when you're in a comfortable bed and not worried about getting shot at."
"Mmm."
"What's wrong?"
Mace exchanged a look with Yoda before sighing. "Your padawan has informed us of something that's rather...troubling."
"Anakin? What did he -"
"Your other Padawan, young Kenobi." Yoda chuckled at the surprised blink, and settled his hands in his lap. "Concerns Barriss Offee and Ahsoka Tano, this matter does."
"What about?" Obi-Wan asked, leaning forward in concern. "Wait - why have you contacted me? I'm not either of their -"
"Well to be blunt Obi-Wan - your opinion will be unbiased, given how absent you have been from Jedi affairs."
"Fair point - what happened?"
Yoda sighed heavily, massaging his temple. "Disallusioned by the Dark Side, young Offee was. About to bomb the Temple, she was."
Obi-Wan sat back in shock, his hologram glitching while he ran a hand through his hair. "Barriss...Barriss Offee? Are you certain?"
Mace nodded, giving a heavy sigh. He glanced around the empty Council Chambers, glad that he had decided on the private meeting. It had been a rather loud one earlier, with every master bickering over each other, trying to get their say about the matter and only stopping when Luminara - the Luminara Unduli - broke down in tears.
"What made her change her mind?" Obi-Wan asked quietly.
"Your decision to come clean about your marriage."
"I'm sorry, Mace...what? You'll have to explain."
Yoda shrugged, looking at the young man he thought would once take his place as Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. "Disillusioned she was becoming, in our people. Losing faith, the longer war dragged on. Change for the modern era, she feared we would not."
"She saw I wasn't punished for having attachment and realized the Order could change." Obi-Wan smirked at the silent nods he received, leaning back more comfortably in his chair. "Masters...you'd be surprised how many Jedi have attachments. It's not just me -"
"Or your former padawan? Master Mundi? Fisto and Secura? Qui-Gon, when he was alive?" Mace muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "We're well aware, Obi-Wan."
"We're the only sect of Jedi who promises punishment when it comes to attachments - and the only sect that is actively fighting in the war," Obi-Wan murmured quietly. "I can understand why Barriss was so frustrated, even if I don't agree with it."
"Time for a change, you believe, Master Kenobi?" Yoda glanced away, shaking his head sadly. "Seen this coming, I should have."
"Well... there's always room for change." Obi-Wan attempted a small smile, though his eyebrows were creased with concern. "Now the real question remains: who swayed Barriss?"
Author's note: now how shall they discover the Sith in the Senate?
Hmm
Guess you'll have to wait and see ;)
ii Digestive Reader ii