Official Surrender

"Well I have the official transcripts of surrender." Bo-Katan waved the flimsi in hand while she walked into the parlor, Commander Cody close on her heels. "The heads of all clans involved in Death Watch have surrendered, the committee of Clans has decided to hold them on trial, and the prisoners will be held until their specific crimes are accounted for and pressed against them. They'll be held without bail until trials can be set in place."

Satine glanced up from her datapad, a wide smile on her face while she uncurled from her husband's side on the couch and reached for the flimsi. "Excellent - what about property damage? Personal damage? Government?"

"Paid for by the cumulative wealth of donors."

"Most of whom are Death Watch - former Death Watch." Cody glanced around the parlor, feeling vastly uncomfortable. In the month that he had been on Kalavala, he had yet to become accustomed to being in his General's home - his actual home, the royal apartment. It was so strange, to witness the man he had seen fight Grievous and participate in drinking games sit casually beside his wife, scanning the flimsi while she read.

"We'll have to release these to the public," Satine muttered. "Show the galaxy the official terms of surrender and all."

Obi-Wan sensed the nervousness, and gestured to the seating area without glancing upwards. "Take a seat, you two. This may - darling, wait a moment." He peered at the stamps on the flimsi, then frowned while he tried to make sense of where he had seen the same symbols...before.

Oh no.

Oh no.

He covered his hand with his face, feeling absolutely sick to his stomach. Everyone was watching him in concern, that he was aware of. Had they been Force Sensitive, they would have been aware of the raging emotions in his mind, the thousands of thoughts scrambling through his brain and spinning his life around.

Carefully, he braced hand against his knee and glanced at the confused Bo-Katan, who was now sitting on an armchair beside the fishtank.

"These are Death Watch symbols?"

Bo-Katan glanced at her sister, who shrugged. She raised her eyebrows at her brother-in-law. "They are - ancient Mandalorian symbols. Used by the original clans as -"

"No. They're not."

"...what?"

Satine opened her mouth to speak, then turned to her husband. "What in seven hells are you talking about - and do not say, Obi-Wan Kenobi, that's it's a matter of the Jedi or the Republic."

Obi-Wan snorted, scanning the flimsi again. "This is a matter of the entire galaxy - Cody!" He beckoned his clone commander forward, practically shoving the flimsi into Cody's hands. "Where have you seen this symbol before?"

"Besides on Death Watch armor?" Cody muttered dryly, scanning the flimsi before looking a little ill.

"Well?" Obi-Wan asked, grinning a little crazily.

"What's wrong with your husband?" Bo-Katan muttered to Satine, who gave a shrug in response.

Cody swallowed hard. "Dooku and Ventress had this symbol on their ships - sewn into clothing."

"So it's a Sith symbol?" Satine leaned back into the cushions, arms folding over her chest. "Well, not entirely surprising. The Jedi - by retrospect the Sith too - and the Mandalorians go back thousands of years. There's always an intermingling of cultures during periods of war and respite. It's no wonder that -"

"This is in the Chancellor's office. On his clothing...everywhere." Cody ignored the stunned silence around him, throwing the flimsi down on the desk. "You do realize how serious of an accusation this is General?"

"I do." Obi-Wan folded his arms over his chest, looking at his wife. "My dear?"

"You're insane. Handsome, but insane."

"But?"

Satine sighed, glancing at her sister and the commander. "It would make sense - your Sith Lord in the Senate...right under everyone's noses...how could nobody guess?"

"Force manipulation. Bribery. Money. Fear. All powerful tools."

Bo-Katan pressed her lips together. "Obi-Wan - how can you even prove this theory?"

Author's note: well hello guys. Am I leaving you on a cliffhanger? Yep? Am I regretting it? Nah.

Enjoy wondering how Obi-Wan plans to unmask Palps to the Galaxy. It may involve Ventress. Or Quinlan. Or Anakin. The possibilities are endless.

ii Digestive Reader ii