Author's Notes: And I'm back again! I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but coming up with titles can be a real headache. I got lucky on the last chapter, mainly 'cause I listen to Star Sky every night before I go to bed (two compositions from Two Steps from Hell have become part of a soundtrack for a story I'm working on, an original story). I got equally lucky with this one, because of that lovely quote from the novelization of Revenge of the Sith … love can ignite the stars. Every part of this particular chapter has to do with love in one form or another (alright, there is a definite emphasis on the love between parent and child). In an event, in this chapter, Master Dooku and Jango Fett have a much needed conversation; we get a glimpse of sexy times (well, more fluff than sexy times. Those sexy times are more hinted at that anything) between Obi-Wan and Asajj; while Palpatine mourns his daughter … and drops a bombshell of his own. Oh, and happy Easter/Passover/Ostara, whichever you happen to celebrate!

Guest Reviews:

Andy Hood: Thank you so much! (sheepish look) Once they tell me what happened at the wedding, I'll write about it. I honestly don't know what exactly was said … just that Padme tore into Mace and Yoda because of the mess with Xanatos, not realizing there were people nearby paying attention, a rookie mistake for a former queen (and taking attention away from the bride, not good). Beyond that, they refuse to tell me. If I ever get the details, I might just write that as a one-shot (companion piece).

Chapter Twelve

Ignite the Stars

Council Chambers

Jedi Temple

Coruscant

"Galidraan ... it was my first mission after taking my son as my padawan."

These were the first words spoken since the others left the Council Chambers. Jango barely noticed their departure … he was too busy reeling from his son's revelations. He cursed himself for the umpteenth time for leaving his son in that place. His boy was in danger because of one of Jango's jobs, and a damn Jedi did a better job of protecting Boba than his own father did! And not just any Jedi, either, but the son of the Jedi who … He turned back to look at Jedi Master Yan Dooku, who was staring ahead. He looked neither at the door, nor at Jango, but straight ahead.

"I didn't want to leave Obi-Wan … especially not since one of my previous padawans was still coveting him. Another former student accompanied me, and I remember the last thing Obi-Wan said to his older sister-padawan was, 'look after Master for me?' She didn't like him very much … I think she was jealous … but when he said that, she knelt in front of him, and put her hands on his shoulders and swore that she would do just that, and that we would be home soon. Dear Force, what a mess that became," Dooku rasped out hoarsely.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Jango asked hoarsely. He didn't need his memories of that time stirred up … it was bad enough that a Jedi protected his son when Jango couldn't. And yes, his son wouldn't have been in danger if it weren't for that Jedi, but his son befriended Obi-Wan Kenobi because he was lonely: a child left among the scum of the galaxy while his father … no. He couldn't blame Kenobi for any of this. He merely offered a lonely little boy companionship. If there was anyone at fault here, aside from this Lady Sidious, it was Jango himself. That didn't mean that he forgave Kenobi's father. He didn't. He couldn't.

"Because it needs to be said. For more than twenty years, I have pleaded with the Force to give me a way to atone for Galidraan. For what I did, for what Komari did. And it did … but not in a way I expected. That's the way of the Force, though. It acted through my son to save yours. I don't expect you to forgive me. In truth, I can't forgive myself. I suppose that's why I reacted so badly when I returned to the Temple without Komari, only to find my former padawan still saying that Obi-Wan should have been his … saying that Obi-Wan could have saved him. Of that, I have no doubt … but it wasn't Obi-Wan's job to save him," Yan Dooku replied.

Jango turned more fully to face him, stunned by this statement, and questioned, "Save him? Your kid was what, twelve? What was he supposed to save Jinn from, himself?" Dooku merely smirked bitterly and Jango stared at the old man in shock. That … that was exactly what Jinn was expecting. He knew most of the story between Jinn and Xan, knew about the events that led to his brother-in-law leaving the Jedi. The resulting fallout hurt them both, but Jinn was a grown man … Kenobi was a baby Jedi! He breathed, "What in the name of the Void is wrong with your Order, putting the responsibility of saving a fripping Master onto the shoulders of a kid?"

"It wasn't the entire Order … just one man. He had a great sensitivity to the Living Force, and yet believed in the Prophecy of the Chosen One. He was a mass of contradictions, my former Padawan, and I believe he saw a potential future where Obi-Wan was his padawan and drew him out of his grief and guilt back into the Light," the older man answered. Jango had no idea what the Living Force was, but it was still one kriffed-up way to look at the galaxy, and he said so. Dooku snorted and replied, "Oh, I agree completely. As to the Force … there are different aspects to it. Not just Light and Dark, but Living and Unifying. The Living side of the Force … no. Are you familiar with the saying, 'seeing the forest for the trees,' or the variations thereof?"

Jango nodded and Dooku went on, "Those sensitive to the Living Force see the trees … or, they focus more on the trees. Those sensitive to the Unifying Force, such as Obi-Wan, see the forest. In other words, those sensitive to the Unifying Force see the big picture … those sensitive to the Living Force see the small. Both are needed, and need to be in balance with each other." That … actually made sense. Sort of. Jango thought about his own life, about his lost wife, and something else occurred to him.

"I've noticed in listening to people who look at the small picture … they have a tendency to think theirs is the only correct interpretation, that people who look at the big picture don't care as much. When the truth is, they actually care more," he observed. In the past, he told people that he was just a simple man, trying to make his way in the galaxy and raise his son. And that was true. He didn't have time for philosophy or high ideals. But he'd worked with organizations, sometimes partnering with them to take out truly despicable people, and organizations were made up of people who had to look at the small and large pictures. And that? That was something he noticed in just about everyone who looked exclusively at the small picture.

"I wouldn't say that's exactly true with the users of the Living Force and the Unifying Force, but you're on the right track," Dooku answered. He didn't specify which side of the Force he was, but Jango supposed it didn't matter. The Master was silent for several moments, before saying softly, "I suspect we will never be friends … nor will we trust each other. Too much lies between us. But for the sake of our sons … can we at least put Galidraan to one side, until the Sith Lady, whoever she is, has been dealt with?"

And that was the whole thing, wasn't it? He couldn't forgive or trust Dooku … but this Lady Sidious was a far greater threat to Jango and those who mattered to him than a remorseful old Jedi who acknowledged he'd fripped up. Jango didn't have any great ideals beyond keeping himself and his child alive … but he had to see what a threat Sidious posed to the galaxy as a whole, the galaxy in which Jango lived and in which he was trying to raise Alazne's final gift to him. He answered quietly, "This changes nothing between us, old man … and when this Sidious bitch is dealt with, there will be a reckoning. But only then."

Jedi Master Yan Dooku inclined his head, murmuring, "So be it." And that concluded that. Now, Jango had a more pressing, and practical, issue to deal with. Where in the stars were he and Boba going to be staying? Well, yes, they could stay on the Queen of Naboo (but he would really rather not). As if hearing his thoughts (which he probably did … damn him), Dooku added, "And there will be accommodations here for you … for your protection as well as ours." Really, this was the last place Jango had any desire to stay … but Boba's well-being came before his own comfort. Besides, it would give him a chance to get to know Kenobi as more than his son's savior and Dooku's padawan/son. Give him a chance to find out if he was as great as Boba seemed to think he was. He offered a curt nod, and Dooku observed, "Then come … we should at least reassure our respective families that we've not killed each other." For now, at least. However, he followed Dooku out of the Council Chambers in search of their boys.

SWSWSWSWSWSW

Quarters of the Kenobi Family

Jedi Temple

"You do realize I can hear you thinking all the way over here?" his wife inquired, untangling yet another braid. He made a slight movement and she glowered at him, saying, "Don't even think about moving … I know you hurt your back when you picked up that little boy." He relaxed back against the pillows, grinning impishly at Asajj, who rolled her eyes and muttered, "An idiot. I married an idiot." That made Obi-Wan laugh and he rolled onto his back, closing his eyes as he allowed the memories to wash over him.

It wasn't just Boba he remembered now, and those last days before the memory machine became his world … no, he remembered much more. He remembered it all, and with those memories came something else: power. He knew who he was now, and he knew who he could have become … in essence, he was two people in one. The Sith Lady meant to destroy him by having him put in that machine, but instead … wait. Wait. Opening his eyes to stare up at the ceiling, he asked his wife, "Asajj? What would you say is a common weakness or failing in women?"

"Aside from falling in love with idiots? Women aren't a monolith, you know," his wife answered. Obi-Wan virtuously held back an eye-roll and kept his mouth shut. Asajj had ways of making him pay when she was annoyed with him. And the way he asked the question probably wasn't the most diplomatic, but he put that part of him away when he was home. After a moment, she pushed herself away from her dressing table, her long blonde hair falling in waves over her shoulders. She climbed onto the bed and straddled him, pinning his wrists against the headboard, murmuring, "Then again, I can't blame you for asking, now that we know the Sith is a woman. All right … keeping in mind that none of these flaws are limited to women: we do tend to be vain. Not all of us, not even sure if it's most of us, but we do have that tendency. Something else … we don't like being taken for granted or assumptions being made about us. If we think someone takes us for granted or doesn't appreciate us, things can get ugly."

Obi-Wan sifted through the information provided … which led him on a sideways journey to a possibility. As his wife lowered her head to his chest, Obi-Wan asked slowly, "What if someone else received the credit … or blame … for what they'd done?" He closed his eyes as Asajj began working her own particular form of magic, her lips and hair caressing his skin. Oh … oh, Force, how could he have ever forgotten this? How could he forgive himself for forgetting this, for buying into Sidious' lies for even a moment?

He yelped as his wife poked him in the ribs, growling, "Stop that right now! I won't tolerate you blaming yourself for something you had no control over! That's one thing that you share with your counterpart … you both blame yourselves for something you can't help." He offered his most contrite look, and Asajj continued, looking thoughtfully, "But … well … some women would have a problem with that, especially if they have something to prove, or think they have something to prove. Then again, once more, the same is true of men."

"True … but for a woman with that characteristic, do you believe it's even stronger?" Obi-Wan asked curiously. Asajj's hands (and lips) had stilled and she turned that over in her mind. After a minute, she shook her head, and Obi-Wan prepared himself to think of another possibility. But Asajj wasn't finished. She sat back against his hips (not exactly conducive to thinking clearly, at least not for him), but his wife was focused on whatever was going through her head. While they did have a latent bond, Asajj tended to keep her shields up high … as much to protect those around her as herself.

At last, she replied thoughtfully, "Not necessarily … but we're talking a Sith Lady here. The Sith are subtle. They spent a thousand years, pretending to be extinct." True … and he knew she had a point here somewhere. Asajj proved him entirely correct when she went on, "I'm not sure how the Chancellor would feel about being bait, but what we could do is lure Lady Darkside into a trap by announcing that the Sith behind the war was revealed and it was the Chancellor. Of course, we would need … Obi, what's wrong?"

"The clones … in the other reality, the clones had chips in their heads. There was a specific order, Order 66. The Chancellor issued the Order after Anakin Fell … and all the Jedi died. I still don't know … but that doesn't make any sense, my men were better shots than that," Obi-Wan answered, forcing himself to remember the horror of being fired upon by his own men, of the plunge into the icy water, and his attempts to stay one step ahead of the men he fought alongside for all those years.

Asajj inhaled sharply and put her hand on his cheek, drawing his attention back to her and back to the present. She said quietly but firmly, "That won't happen. We won't let it happen. I know what you're thinking … if it's a member of the Chancellor's staff, her authority might be recognized by the clone. I suppose she could also threaten Palpatine's life, try to get that Order issued. Either way, we won't let it happen. And you need to stop focusing on this. I finally have my husband back, and I am absolutely determined to seduce him before the night is over!"

"You've already made an excellent start, my darling, but by all means, do continue," Obi-Wan all but purred, smirking at the fire lit in his wife's eyes. Oh yes, that fire in her eyes always meant that his life was about to get very interesting in the very best of ways. In fact … he smirked up at her, and twisted his body, flipping them both over. Asajj squeaked, then burst out laughing … that quickly turned to other sounds when his bearded cheek brushed the side of her neck (just to begin with).

They still had a Sith Lady to locate and take out. That was one thing they needed to deal with, and only one thing. There was the continuing rift between Anakin and Padme (and while she was clearly happy with Xanatos, she and Anakin had been friends once). While the memories of that other reality were false, certain things were still true … including the corruption of the Senate and the struggles of the Jedi Order to wean itself away from being an arm of that body. That was another issue. But there was nothing Obi-Wan could do about any of that right now … and his wife had been so very patient with him during the last few weeks. It was long past time for him to reward that patience, that compassion.

Tomorrow, they would go into battle of one kind or another. Tomorrow, they would again face the darkness. But for now, they would take what they could of the light. Obi-Wan heard an echo from that other reality: love is more than a candle. Love can ignite the stars. It was time to start igniting those stars … for Luke and Leia, for Boba, for the younglings and the crechelings, for the entire galaxy.

SWSWSWSWSWSW

He sat alone in the dark, sipping at a glass of Corellian whiskey he'd bought years earlier, while his wife was expecting Jasleen. It was a rare impulse buy for him … he'd always left that to his wife. But he'd just learned that in a matter of months, he would have a little girl to spoil and teach and love, and he'd been in a mood to celebrate. It was always his intention to drink that Corellian whiskey in another celebration … perhaps his little girl's graduation, or betrothal, or the announcement that he would be a grandfather. None of those would ever come to pass.

And yet, the cloud that hovered over Sheev Palpatine for the last several years was vanishing. He still didn't forgive the people who let Jasleen die, not entirely … but now he felt like in time, he could, because they hadn't ignored his injured daughter by choice, but because she was blocked from their view. They hadn't let her die out of indifference. And given his partnership with the Jedi (because that was exactly what it was), he now knew that his little girl's murder would be avenged. That was cause for celebration. It wouldn't return his Jasleen to him, but this was the next best thing.

He took another sip of his whiskey, smiling to himself as he watched old vids of his princess. She was eleven standard years old here, her copper hair braided down her back as she 'flew' around their yard. Sweet Force, she was so beautiful! His precious Jasleen, his beloved jewel. Oh, she'd hated it when he called her that! But he'd persisted, telling her that her skin was pearl-white, her eyes were sapphire blue, and her hair was ruby red. Jasleen merely rolled her eyes and pointed out that her teeth were supposed to be pearl-white.

Before he left the office this afternoon, Knight Kenobi requested that Palpatine join him at the Jedi Temple the following day. He did find it amusing, they seemed to be playing an odd variation of 'tag,' something that would have amused Jasleen to no end. And yes, he knew he vacillated between referring the young Jedi as 'Knight' and 'Master,' but really, he was just moving ahead of the Order itself. Since his padawan was on the verge of being knighted, he would soon be a Master himself.

Anakin Skywalker, the youngster who helped to save Naboo … yes, Sheev was still intrigued by the boy. He shone like a small sun in the Force, but more than that, he'd never given up on his Master. The Chancellor remembered a conversation he had with the young man about six weeks before he found his Master, one of the few conversations he'd been permitted to have with his world's savior (because his young Master had very little use for politicians or the prophecies of the Chosen One, unlike his late brother-padawan).

The boy made it excruciatingly clear that he would never give up on his Master, regardless of what anyone had said. He … now how did he put that? 'I'd sooner stick my head in the mouth of a krayt dragon than give up on Master Obi-Wan. He's never given up on me, I won't give up on him.' Palpatine looked up 'krayt dragon,' just to see what kind of animal it was … he immediately wished he hadn't. Especially since he sensed the boy wasn't exaggerating in the least. Maybe he was, but Palpatine just didn't think so.

Maybe he would ask the boy tomorrow. He needed to have a long conversation, not just with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with many Jedi. The Chancellor sensed there was something they weren't telling him, something incredibly important. And that was more than fair. He'd shielded himself from other Force-sensitives. But there was a far more important secret that he would tell them tomorrow, something that would change everything.

He knew who the Sith was … and he would need the assistance of the Jedi to take her out.

TBC

Additional author's notes: Okay, who saw that coming? He may not be a Sith here, but he's still Palpatine.