Chapter Fifteen

For Obi-Wan Kenobi, the sight of Coruscant had never been so relieving for as long as he could remember. Though he had to identify himself to Republic Intelligence, that was not difficult and soon, he and Satine were landing on a pad near the Jedi Temple. At this point, Satine decided to immediately go and see if she could find the Chancellor. "He will need to know what has happened on Mandalore first and foremost of anyone, including the Senate," she added.

"Much as I wish it were otherwise, I have to agree with you there, my darling. The Jedi and the Senate were of no help to us but perhaps he might. We'll go after I tell Master Skywalker what happened to his ship," he replied in agreement. "He's not going to be happy about that," she warned with a giggle.

"True but it's his fault it got into the condition that cost me its existence, not mine," she said with a smile. He kissed her on the cheek quickly and she blushed like a teenage girl with a crush at that while he went to the entrance of the Jedi Temple alone. "You look good as a Mandalorian, too bad you didn't bring my ship back intact," Anakin stated when he met Kenobi at the interest. "Hey, you said it was perfectly fine but it sputtered, broke down, and was so slow it was no wonder it was destroyed," Obi-Wan replied.

"So did you find out who was helping Death Watch and if they were acting alone?" Anakin inquired. "Yes and Death Watch wasn't acting alone: Darth Maul and his criminal allies were with him. Along the way back, however, I sensed a dark presence headed for Mandalore that literally eclipsed the auras of Maul and Savage. I wonder what it could be," Obi-Wan said with a nod. "Should I inform the Council of these revelations?" Anakin asked.

"Go ahead and do that, yes. I'll go with Satine to see if the Chancellor is available and can call for a special session of Congress to hear her out about the Mandalore situation," Obi-Wan answered. Anakin nodded and ascended back up the Temple while Obi-Wan went back to meet the former Duchess of Mandalore.

"I suppose you'll be wanting someone else to take lead of the League of Two Thousand now that Mandalore has fallen. Do you have a nomination already?" he asked when he returned to her. "Yes, Senator Amidala would be my vote for the leadership of the League of Two Thousand. She is a good friend and has a good head on her shoulders, capable of leading the League in my place," she answered.

"And where will you go once you retire?" he continued. "Perhaps to Zanbar, perhaps Malastare, who knows? I've been so free since the days before I met you all those years ago," she replied. "That's comforting to know," he said sarcastically.

"Hey, I didn't mean it in an insulting way at all. It's just ever since you left, I've had to really forsake my own desire for fun in favor of the greater good. Much like a Jedi might," she assured him. "And you wonder why I could never come back to you and why I did try to move on for a time to find that I just couldn't," he said.

"That's something I'm beginning to discover myself though for how my life was before I became Duchess of Mandalore. Before I took the responsibility of my lineage, I was a loose cannon even compared to my older and younger sister. I used to be one of those adventurous girls who would be out late and come home trodding mud and sticks into the marble floor. Sometimes, I even came with scrapes although my mother's spankings made sure I didn't after a while.

"But how I became the serious, responsible woman that you reunited with, I will never know. Even so, there is at least one question that I can answer for myself or a multitude that I can give one answer to. Such as this for instance: how can you pick up the threads of an old life after so long away from it? How can you ever hope to find normality after everything you thought to be normal about your existence is taken from you?

"See, that's the thing my dearest love: you can't. How do you know that you can even improve what you can reclaim of your old life and make it better? You don't... a Day of the Red Sun has fallen on Mandalore and while the rest of the galaxy may not care, I do. While the rest of the Republic is too busy waging war with its Separatist enemies, neutral systems are left powerless and victimized.

"Mandalore serves, if anything, as a great example of what can happen to many neutral systems left alone by both the Jedi and their Sith enemies. I am grateful you saved my life, I always will be, but there are times when some that live deserve to die and many who die deserve life. Perhaps, what I mean to say is when we were first beginning our escape I wondered if you should've let me die. But now, I know better and I am eternally indebted to you for your courage, Master Jedi," she agreed.

"Do not be afraid for what lies ahead Satine. I will be there to guide you whenever you need me or to be a part of your future for at least a brief moment in time," he said. By this time, they were almost at the building leading to the Chancellor's office having walked while talking. However, since they were alone and there were no recording devices at the entrance, they went to a corner besides the hallway.

Here, Obi-Wan and Satine shared a kiss for the first time since they were teenagers working together to build up the pacifist government called the New Mandalorians. As they kissed, they took notice of the shooting stars that passed by in the perfect starlit sky of Coruscant. "What did you wish for?" Obi-Wan asked, smiling down at Satine. "That after I make my request to the Chancellor, you and I share one night together as we did in the old days," Satine answered, giggling back up at him.

"My darling, your wish will be granted," he said as he passionately united his lips with her own. They held the kiss there for several long seconds and then, their need to see the Chancellor overwhelmed their desire to see each other in the night. However, they would not forget Satine's wish upon a shooting star to share the night together. Because of this, their pace was faster in arriving to the Chancellor's office all while trying to contain their feelings for each other as much as possible.

Disappointment met them at the door to his office when Mas Amedda told them that the Chancellor was offworld on "official business". "When will he return from this official business?" Satine asked. Kenobi also wanted to know since the Chancellor had last indicated nothing of being offworld for any reason, least of all, official business. "He did not disclose when he would be back but I am confident he will not be long," Mas replied.

"Very well, perhaps it would be best for us to try again in a day or two," Obi-Wan said. Before Satine could push the matter, he told her not to. "Besides that, the night is still young if you know what I mean," he whispered into her ear when they were out of Mas' sight. "You behave yourself, you little wolf," she said as she grabbed his buttocks.

Smirking and raising his eyebrows, he asked what that was for. "You'll see soon enough, my Jedi Knight," she answered. "I'll see if Senator Amidala can get you a room on the lower levels of her apartment, by now she'll know you're here and will probably be eager to welcome you to her home," he said. "Fine by me: better to be with a friend and the man of my dreams than be deprived of both forevermore," she said.

"You're acting just like you did when we were teenagers all those years ago. Now I know why I missed you so much," he said with a smile. "Oh shut up and get me over to Padme's apartment you bloody fool," she teased. He ordered a cab and then called Padme to make sure it was alright for the Duchess to stay with her until she was ready to find a permanent residence.

The Senator excitedly approved and said that her guards would await the two of them with a room ready for her. Does she suspect our feelings for each other? Is there someone who she loves herself? Obi-Wan asked himself at her reaction. He dismissed it after he noticed the way Satine reacted when Padme said that they were welcome to stay.

It was probably just a girl thing or it could've been that Padme noticed the big bump in the crotch of his trousers. Now that would be embarrassing if she did notice it. Do I have it all the time or just when I'm around Satine? If the latter, very embarrassing indeed Obi-Wan thought to himself.

But when he arrived, it had shrunk enough to where the women would make nothing of it even if they did notice it which was fine by him. "Master Kenobi, Duchess Satine, it's always a pleasure to have either or both of you visiting!" Padme exclaimed when they arrived. She jumped into a group hug and squeezed the lovers tightly though it was obvious she didn't know they were in love."Any possessions my guards need to help with?" Padme asked.

"No but is it alright to request a fresh set of robes and a bath? I stink of battle and so does Obi-Wan though he's probably used to it," Satine teased. Obi-Wan sniffed his arm briefly and had to admit that she was right about the stink of battle. "For once, I think I'll also request a bath from the residence of Padme Amidala," he admitted.

"You are both most welcome," Padme said reassuringly. Both Jedi and Duchess took their bath to remove the stains of war and misery. When they did, both obtained separate rooms but noticed that there was a connecting restroom. But when the night was still and not a creature stirred, Obi-Wan snuck across the connecting restroom.

There, they did not waste a minute of the pitch blackness of the night, acting out on Satine's wish. Not since the mission with Qui-Gon had Obi-Wan been so close and intimate with Satine Kryze nor she with him. Reminiscing those days, they enjoyed the entwinement of their bodies with all the energy and pleasure of the youth. And when it was done, Obi-Wan did the best he could to quietly sneak back into his room before Padme or her guards noticed.

Bo-Katan had been fighting on Mandalore for days without break nor an end in sight. Since Duchess Satine and Kenobi had escaped, Bo's pregnancy had not affected her fighting much. If anything, it seemed to act as an improvement. Most likely, her maternal instincts (which she was feeling for the first time in her life) helped with that seeing as she needed to protect her child.

Finally, after the days since Maul had ordered Death Watch to wipe out the Night Owls, Death Watch was on the retreat. Those who remained took what starfighters they could and fled to Concordia before then dispersing across the galaxy. For those civilians who survived the fighting, coming out of their homes and unlocking their doors was no easy task. But when the Night Owl soldiers went around and confirmed that the nightmare was over, the people were soon at ease.

It was after this that Bo-Katan announced the deception of Prime Minister Almec, sparking an applause as many were suspicious of treachery on Almec's part. They did not believe that Vizsla would ever side himself with a corrupted official of Satine's New Mandalorian government. On top of that, they wondered why the Death Watch soldiers would paint themselves red like the leader of the thugs. But when Bo-Katan confessed that the thugs' attack on Mandalore was a con on the part of Pre Vizsla, the people demanded to know why.

"Like his father Tor before him, Pre dreamt of the day when Mandalore would be restored to the glory it held in the days before Darth Revan. He hoped that we would become the feared warriors who nearly conquered the galaxy, allowing for us to stand up for ourselves in this frightening Clone War. I will see to the realization of his dream but not by the same means he would nor will I return us to the pacifism of my sister Satine," Bo said to answer their questions. She had been expecting an uproar at the knowledge that Satine was Bo's sister but there was none, probably because it was well-known.

When one member of the audience asked her if she would puppeteering anyone as Maul and Savage had done with Almec, she shook her head no. "Yes there will be a Prime Minister but no they will not be as weak-minded as Almec was. In fact, the Prime Minister I select for you will be stronger, faster, and smarter than Almec ever could be or would wish to be," she answered. She knew she was answering honestly and the people must've known it too for they applauded her reply to the question.

Vizsla might not agree with my means but we cannot always cling to tradition. Call me a hypocrite but unlike Vizsla, my hypocrisy would be a necessity of survival. I do not completely forsake the traditions of old, only the parts that would ruin our rebuilding process she told herself. "We will begin our rebuild of Mandalore by first patching up the buildings that are not too badly damaged from the battle.

"After that, we will reconstruct everything that has been destroyed from scratch. When Mandalore's buildings and constructs have been restored, training will begin. As my first act as ruler of Mandalore, I am declaring a state of martial law: everyone eligible shall be trained to fight. We will need an army to rebuild Mandalore's military interests and insure its future neutrality," she said.

"What if the Republic or the Separatists don't bother us during our reconstruction?" a civilian asked. "Then we'd be damned lucky but I know one of them is going to bother us. Death Watch will try to strike back again before we're done, that is for certain. Worse, they will come back with reinforcements to finish what their last Masters started with their orders," Bo answered.

The people agreed with this but another civilian had one final question for Bo that would test her sincerity. "If we were to believe a word you said, how fast could we count on training beginning when the reconstruction is finished? On top of that, how fast could we expect reconstruction to begin if the Republic or the Separatists were soon to invade Mandalore?" the civilian asked. "That depends on when the invasion would happen: if it happened real soon, we would do our best to keep you sheltered," Bo answered.

"Sheltered? Why?" the same civilian continued. "If you fought against the Republic, they would surely kill you. We will try to make it so that even we give way and direct them to the Death Watch soldiers, that way we can focus on training you for combat; I realize this sounds cowardly but even we do not have infinite supplies or manpower," she replied.

The people applauded, letting her know that she had passed her test and would allow her to begin immediately. Okay, now I will begin ruling my people and hopefully my heir lives long enough to benefit from this. I'd hate to have the same luck as my sister before the end of my life Bo thought to herself. However, as it would turn out, Bo-Katan's reign would last independently for one year before she decided it was time to be off with the Night Owls again.

Her work on Mandalore, nonetheless, allowed it to eventually be restored to its full glory by the adopted son of Jango Fett, known as Boba. For thirty-three years after her departure, Bo-Katan would fight against evil and corruption wherever she found it with her Night Owls. Dying only by the overwhelming number of stormtroopers in the Galactic Empire, Bo-Katan was remembered as a Healer. But her twin son and daughter by Pre Vizsla would be remembered as some of the greatest disappointments in Mandalorian history, however.

After dispatching the Zabrak brothers, Sidious immediately reported to Kamino where he had secret dealings with the cloners. While the Clone Wars themselves continued on to the end he foresaw, he would slowly groom the clone of his former apprentice to suit his purposes... Just as the original warrior had once done twelve years ago before Obi-Wan had sliced him in half in Theed. Let this one be unaltered like Jango's adopted son Boba had been, let this one train slowly as its source did.

One of Maul's hallmarks of success had been that he had had plenty of time to train before he was assigned on his missions. This clone would do no different nor would this clone be expected to do any less than its source of origin did. The clone shall still be more than a conforming hitman who will do my bidding from the shadows: he is my contingency plan.

After all, the apprentice I seek might turn out to be a disappointment or fail to kill Lord Tyranus in a final battle. There is no harm in being prepared for when such failures, though uncommon, should happen Sidious thought to himself. Now that he looked back on what he had done on Mandalore, he was beginning to wish he had cloned Savage as well.

Both brothers would have been useful to him as Maul's brother, though flawed compared to Maul himself, was very skilled. Very few could brag about killing a powerful member of the Jedi Council such as Master Adi Gallia. Fewer still could say they had held their own against Obi-Wan Kenobi with very little training and live to tell about it. Then there was the rare exception of those with very little training holding against both Kenobi and Skywalker as Savage had.

Though Dooku was powerful enough to do the very same with relative ease, he had required years of training in lightsaber combat. Savage had merely had weeks at most when he went toe to toe with those two Jedi. However, Maul was currently his most ideal apprentice but that would change soon enough. By the end of the war, Sidious would have all his prizes delivered on a gold platter for him to enjoy forevermore.

The Jedi Order was already more than prepared for their departure from this galaxy and into the realm of the dead, they just didn't know it yet. "Now correct me if I am not mistaken but you want an unaltered clone of this specimen?" Lama Su asked. "Yes and make no mistake, I will see to his development personally as I did with the source of this sample. If I find anything that remotely hints at a difference, I will ask for other copies to be made and acceleration only to be used as an emergency," Sidious answered.

"Understood, your demand will be met in time for whatever schemes you have in store for the specimen. Growing it should be no challenge as we grow millions of clone by the day with more well on the way. Tell me, is there anything else you request of our services or is this the only thing you have for now?" Lama asked. "No, that will be all for now: I must return to Coruscant before the Jedi start to ask questions about my mysterious absence," he answered.

He even added that his ally, Mas Amedda, had already reported Kenobi and Duchess Satine Kryze asking for him. Likely, something related to what has happened on Mandalore but not worry. An invasion force will be sent as per their request but not with the intent to kill when it can be avoided Sidious told himself. He needed as many Mandalorians alive as possible for yet another design in his plan.

Their skills were useful as Maul had observed during his time with Pre Vizsla and the Death Watch. They would prove useful again if he made room in his new galaxy to accommodate their fighting skills. But he didn't want to settle on just making room for them: if he could, he would recruit them as part of the army that would maintain and control his Empire. After all, who better to initiate a reign of terror than the descendants of those who fought in the Mandalorian Wars? He thought about all of this with a smile and had to admit that he could not satisfy all his designs and that might not be one of them; however, it couldn't hurt to try and see if the Mandalorian-Sith alliances of old could be restored, right?