Thank you to the 15 people who reviewed the last chapter. Here is the chapter that shall focus on "Duchess of Mandalore" and it is liable to be shorter than my other chapters. The next chapter will focus on "Bounty Hunters" in response to a request made by Mia Vaan. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated
Chapter 32
Obi-Wan made his way toward the entrance to the Jedi Temple. He was on his way to the Senate Building to check on Satine as he knew that it was what happened last time and he wanted to see if things were going as they did the first time around. Obi-Wan was hoping he could prevent Satine from getting into trouble to where the authorities would be after her.
"Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan glanced up before smiling when Siri came to a stop at his side. "When did you get back?" he asked.
"Just before you did," Siri replied. "Where are you going?"
"To the Senate building. Technically speaking, I am still protecting the duchess so I want to make sure she's all right."
"Aren't they in a senate meeting?"
"Yes. I'm going to speak with her after the meeting," Obi-Wan replied.
"Can I come with?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "You dislike politics as much as Anakin does," he said.
Siri shrugged. "We haven't had some time to ourselves in a while," she said quietly to avoid being overheard.
"All right, Siri." Obi-Wan was actually glad to spend some more time with Siri; the last time they were able to spend some time together had been after Cad Bane was arrested.
The two of them walked out of the Jedi Temple and toward the speeder that was parked nearby. Obi-Wan and Siri climbed into it before Obi-Wan guided it toward the Senate building. Once they were out of sight of the Temple, Siri stole a quick kiss.
"What was that for?" Obi-Wan asked glancing at the blonde Jedi.
Siri smiled. "Do I really need a reason?" she asked mischievously.
Obi-Wan smiled back slightly, hesitantly. He was still getting used to no longer hiding his feelings for Siri from her, even if he had to from the rest of the Temple until he could figure out what to tell the council, because he never had to worry about it the first time around. It was still taking some time for him to get used to the bond that flared between him and Siri too.
The speeder glided through the airlanes of Coruscant toward the Senate district and Obi-Wan guided it to a stop on the landing bay just outside the Senate building. After shutting the speeder down, he led the way into the building with Siri just behind him. They walked in silence until they reached the audience chamber and entered to listen in on the meeting. Even though he knew of what would be said, he still listened to see if anything had changed.
As it turned out, nothing much had changed. Palpatine still wanted to occupy Mandalore even though doing so would bring the war to the otherwise neutral planet. Siri was listening to the meeting as well and her blue eyes narrowed. "I can understand why Satine doesn't want any part of the war," she said softly, "However, her pacifist ideas seem to conflict with what her people need."
"So you believe that there really is a civil war on Mandalore?" Obi-Wan said casually as that had been what was being discussed with the recording of Deputy Minister Jerec.
"You don't?"
"It doesn't seem to fit," Obi-Wan admitted. Of course, he already knew that there wasn't a civil war on Mandalore and that the recording that was played at the meeting wasn't the real recording; it was a recording that took what Jerec actually said and took out key words to make it seem as though they were talking about a civil war.
Before Siri could reply and as the hologram disappeared, Satine began speaking again. "This isn't right, something isn't right. I wish to speak with Jerec immediately," she said causing Siri to turn her gaze to the duchess.
"Sadly," Palpatine said, "Deputy Minister Jerec perished this morning in a Death Watch bombing on Kalevala."
Satine looked surprised and saddened as the Chancellor went on. "Let us insure that his death is not in vain. Let us commit our military might to defend the Mandalorian people," he declared.
"Defending?" Satine echoed disbelievingly. "You mean occupy our home and trample our right to self-determination."
"She has a point," Siri said softly.
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement eyes narrowed. It seemed as though the meeting was going just as it went the first time around.
"We mean to save your people," Palpatine replied.
"You will turn our planet into a military target, which will bring the war to us," Satine protested. "Mandalore must remain a neutral system."
"The vote shall commence in the next session," Palpatine declared and the meeting ended.
Obi-Wan turned around before walking out of the audience chamber as the rest of the senators left. Siri fell into step beside him. "Going to check on Satine?" she asked.
"I just want to make sure she's all right," Obi-Wan replied before he led the way out of the building. He was only a little surprised when Siri followed him but he decided against commenting. He didn't mind the company at all.
He jogged over to join Satine where she was walking with her bodyguards. "Duchess!" he called but she kept on walking again. "Satine, wait!" He decided against grabbing her arm like last time as she slowed down.
"I heard what happened in the Senate," he said causing Satine to stop and look at him.
"You're sweet to be concerned," Satine said as the guards stepped away. "But I promise I'll be all right."
"I am concerned," Obi-Wan said softly. "We're friends, are we not?"
"Yes friends and nothing more," she murmured. It was obvious she was still disappointed at learning that Obi-Wan didn't share the same feeling she felt for him. Siri also noticed Satine's tone and she narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
Obi-Wan thought about how to go forward with this. "Satine, as your friend, I am going to be honest with you. With everything that is going on, and after everything that has happened, you shouldn't make your decision with everything you have on your mind. It's too risky. You should think about it more."
"Think about it more?" Satine echoed. "What's there to think about? The Republic is trying to force it's will upon innocent people. I only wish more people would be willing to stand up for themselves when the Republic decides to trample upon their rights."
"Satine, rushing into this is foolhardy," Obi-Wan said in an attempt to get through to the duchess.
Satine glared at him. "Ironic words from a man who spends his days running hither and yon, wielding his lightsaber with deadly force as if on a crusade! Why should I listen to someone who so frequently relies on violence? In my opinion, you're the one who's foolhardy!" she snapped
Without giving Obi-Wan a chance to respond, Satine turned around and stalked away toward her speeder with her guards just behind him. They stepped into the speeder before it flew away.
"Well, I'm pretty sure that could have gone better," Siri said.
"Yes, it could have," Obi-Wan murmured.
Duchess Satine watched the other speeders fly past as the speeder she was in flew onward through the airways deep in thought. She was surprised to find her thoughts drifting to Obi-Wan and his words.
She sighed softly. He had only been trying to help and she had snapped at him. She hadn't meant to snap at him but she had so much stuff on her mind that she couldn't think straight.
Maybe that's why he told me to think about everything before I made a decision, she thought.
And that's when the explosion sounded.
The speeder started to list to the side as her pilot, Arabis, attempted to regain control of the speeder. "What's happening?" Satine asked.
"It's the navigation system," Arabis replied.
The speeder drifted further down and the pilot gritted his teeth. "Get her out of here," he said to the guards who stood up and grabbed Satine's arm just before she could have fallen out of the speeder.
"There's a platform up ahead. I'll try to get closer," the pilot said before attempting to get the speeder closer to the platform.
"No, stop. Arabis!" Satine shouted as her guards grabbed both her arms.
"Jump," Arabis shouted.
The guards jumped taking Satine with them. They crashed onto the platform and rolled before coming to a stop. Satine immediately scrambled to her feet before shielding her eyes when the speeder she had been in crashed into the side of a building in front of them sending fire and shrapnel flying in all directions.
Later that day, Satine went to Chancellor Palpatine's office to see if charges would be filed against the person who sabotaged her speeder and cost Arabis her life. Unfortunately, Palpatine stated charges weren't going to be filed.
"What do you mean no charges are going to be filed? None at all," she protested. "Someone tried to kill me. The controls on my speeder were compromised."
"Sadly, my dear, there is no proof anyone tampered with anything. I'm afraid it might have been just an accident," Palpatine said.
"An accident? And it just happened to coincide with me defending my homeworld," Satine retorted.
Mas Amedda glanced at her. "I agree with Satine," he said.
"Well, finally," Satine said relieved but her relief was short-lived as Amedda went on.
"It proves what I've been saying all along. Death Watch is out of control. The Republic must step in and help," Amedda said.
"No, wait, I didn't…" Satine began.
"You can't keep them reined in obviously so we will," Amedda said firmly.
"This is patently offensive. You can't do this," the Duchess protested.
"Unfortunately, it's up to the Senate now," Palpatine said. "I'm sure they'll make a reasoned and thoughtful decision.
Obi-Wan knew Satine was all right but that didn't stop him from making sure. He waited in the hallway outside of Palpatine's office for Satine to leave while remembering what happened the first time he checked on Satine after the assassin sabotaged her speeder.
Satine left the office with her guards at her side and Obi-Wan walked over to join her.
"Satine, I just heard about what happened," Obi-Wan said avoiding calling it an accident since he knew it wasn't one.
"Those two are…this government is…ugh," Satine growled in frustration.
"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked more to calm her down than anything.
"I'm fine, I wasn't hurt, I didn't want to worry you," she said finally.
"Well, I'm afraid you failed rather spectacularly," Obi-Wan admitted honestly; she had worried him the first time around and she had worried him again this time around because he wasn't sure if things would happen as they did last time. There was a chance, however slim, that she wouldn't have survived and he certainly didn't want to lose one of his friends.
"This attack proves I've upset someone," Satine said turning to look at Obi-Wan as the two of them walked down the corridor. "I must be on the right track."
Obi-Wan sighed inwardly. "This attack proves your enemies are here on Coruscant too," he said before adding, "You aren't going to let the authorities handle this, are you? You're not backing down." He phrased the last words as a statement.
Satine looked away snorting. "Republic authorities? Certainly not. I'm on my way to the Ministry of Intelligence to meet with my contact."
Obi-Wan thought about what to do and decided to try the same approach he did the first time around. "You need your friends with you, Satine, not held at arm's length," he said. "Have you decided to cut your friends out of your life in your quest to be self-reliant?"
"I…I don't know," Satine stammered out just as Padmé Amidala walked over and stopped a few feet from where they were standing.
"Senator Amidala, what is it?" Obi-Wan asked his brother's wife calmly.
"The Senate has completed its vote. They've decided in favor of occupation," Padmé replied.
"When did this happen?" Satine protested. "The vote was supposed to be tomorrow."
"It was during your meeting with the Chancellor. Your accident merely accelerated the Senate's decision," Padmé said. "Republic forces are set to leave for Mandalore at sunrise tomorrow morning."
"You see? I was right before," Satine said before she walked off leaving Obi-Wan and Padmé in the corridor. She paused for a moment before glancing back at Obi-Wan and Padmé. "Counting on the Republic is a mistake."
Satine waited for her contact to join her on the streets of Sector GL5 of the Coruscant Underworld. Davu Golec walked over to join her. "I don't have much time. I'm being followed," he said.
He gently took her arm and guided her away. She sighed. "You've put yourself in great danger. I'll never forget it," she said.
"I had to come," Golec said before he held up the recording. "This is worth it."
"Where did you get this?" Satine asked taking the recording with surprise in her eyes.
"Very deep in the evidence facility in the Ministry," the Mandalorian said. "It was not easy to fine, believe me. You were right, someone faked the evidence. The recording presented to the Senate was not the full recording but this disk is. You must show the Senate…"
The shot came out of nowhere and struck Golec in the heart.
"Davu! No!" Satine gasped kneeling beside Golec as he crumpled lifelessly to the ground before she pulled out her weapon and gazed around for the culprit.
The probe droid arrived at that moment. "We have a shooting in Sector GL5. Suspect identified as Duchess Satine Kryze," it said.
"We have you surrounded. Put your hands up," the tall, skinny police droids said walking forward and pushing their way through the crowd. "You are coming with us."
"I didn't kill him," Satine protested and, in her panic, she turned around and ran. She didn't know of where she was going only that she had to get away. She wasn't responsible for Davu's death but they blamed her just because she had her weapon out.
She rounded a corner and continued to run with the police droids just behind her. A couple of blaster bolts flew toward her and missed her by a few millimeters and she gasped in fright. She hadn't expected that. She dodged another bolt before taking off running now with an assassin and the Republic authorities after her. Before long, two of the clone troopers joined the chase.
She pointed her deactivator at the probe droid and fired. The flying patrol droid fell deactivated and caused the skinny police droids and the two clone troopers to trip and fall to the ground. Without pausing, she turned around and began running again. She turned into an alley before spotting a speeder. When the speeder began to take off, she ducked down behind the crates that were located in the alley as it flew off.
She heard the clone troopers speak from her position. "She just entered the alley," one clone trooper said before he spotted the speeder and added, "Scratch that, she's escaping in a speeder heading for Sector IG44."
Satine breathed a sigh of relief before she began moving again this time moving at leisurely place.
Obi-Wan was expecting Satine's call so he wasn't surprised when he heard his comlink go off as he stood in his room gazing at the airlanes. Siri was there and narrowed her eyes as the hologram of Satine appeared before them. She had come so that they could spend some time together because they haven't had any chances to spend time together recently. Jenica was with Ahsoka in the Room of a Thousand Fountains and Anakin was probably with his apprentice or visiting Padmé.
"Obi-Wan, are you there?" Satine called.
"Satine, where are you? Mas Amedda has demanded you turn yourself in," Obi-Wan said turning his gaze to the hologram of the duchess.
"I know. Listen, Obi-Wan, I need your help," Satine said softly.
Obi-Wan already knew of what to do. "I'll help you, Satine," he said before he told the duchess of where to meet him.
"Thank you," Satine said softly before she disconnected the transmission.
Obi-Wan didn't bother looking around for Satine. He just started walking toward where he met her last time hoping she would be there like the first time around. Sure enough, she was there sitting on one of the benches with the hood of her red-cloak covering her face. When a police droid neared, she turned slightly to avoid being seen.
Obi-Wan joined her before sitting down with his back to her. "Nice disguise," he murmured quietly. "I'm relieved to see you are all right but you should really turn yourself in. We've both sworn our loyalty to the Republic."
"Believe me neither one of us is breaking our oath," Satine replied. "And this will prove it." She pushed the recording to Obi-Wan who took it into his hand.
"I need to get it into the proper hands," she added.
"The Republic guards are hunting you, which means…" Obi-Wan began but Satine interrupted him.
"…whoever doctored this recording is likely in the government itself," she said.
"If you set foot in the Senate then they'll arrest you on sight," Obi-Wan reminded the duchess.
"And the disk will be destroyed before anyone can see it," Satine agreed softly eyeing the crowd that wandered around the plaza and keeping her head down to avoid letting the police droids see her face.
"Which is why you must take the disk to Padmé," she added.
Obi-Wan was silent for a moment. "What are you going to do while I'm in the Senate?" he asked as the two of them stood up and began making their way out of the plaza walking out of the way to avoid the police droids.
"I'm going to surrender to them," Satine said softly.
Obi-Wan nodded slowly in response; he wasn't surprised by Satine's decision. "I don't like this though," he said.
"You'll need a distraction if you want to enter the Senate freely. I can't risk them searching you because we're associates," the duchess said briefly glancing at the Jedi Master.
Obi-Wan knew that they would even though he was a Jedi. "I suppose this is the only way," he said quietly as they continued to walk side by side. He kept his senses alert though since he knew it was around that time that the assassin attacked. They were currently walking down an alleyway and Obi-Wan kept his eyes peeled until he sensed the danger.
He Force pushed Satine out of the way before lashing out with the Force to sending the thermal detonator flying back at the assassin causing him to leap clear to avoid it when it exploded. The determined assassin leapt down pointing his blaster at Satine but before he could fire, Obi-Wan was on him. His lightsaber took care of the assassin's blaster but the assassin had a secondary blaster that he fired at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan, expecting this, decided he would take care of the assassin quickly. He lashed out with the Force and the assassin flew backwards near the edge of the walkway. He snarled before firing at Obi-Wan who easily deflected the blaster bolts back at the assassin. Obi-Wan, knowing the assassin would flee, Force pushed him over the edge of the walkway. Just as he expected, the assassin activated his jetpack and flew away.
Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber before moving back to Satine's side. "We should probably get moving before he comes back," he said.
Satine nodded in agreement.
Obi-Wan watched as Satine approached the police droids looking resolved to what would happen next. As she neared the droids, Obi-Wan slipped past them toward the doors leading into the Senate building.
"Excuse me?" Satine said. "I believe you were looking for me."
Obi-Wan didn't wait for Satine to get arrested. Instead, he slipped into the Senate building and immediately made his way to Padmé's office. When he reached the office, he knocked on the door and Padmé opened it.
"Master Kenobi, what are you doing here? I don't have much time. I have a Senate meeting to attend," she said.
"I know," Obi-Wan replied before he held out the recording. "This is a recording of what Deputy Minister Jerec really said. You need to play this before the Senate."
Padmé took it. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
"Long story," Obi-Wan admitted.
A while later, Obi-Wan stood in Padmé's repulsorpod waiting for Palpatine to begin speaking about the occupation of Mandalore.
"The occupation of Mandalore will provide more security for the Republic in its fight against corruption," Palpatine was saying when Obi-Wan tuned back into the talk. "If there are no objections…"
"Supreme Chancellor," Padmé began guiding her repulsorpod forward. "There has been a development in the case for Mandalore's neutrality."
"The chair recognizes the senator from Naboo," Palpatine said and Obi-Wan could see a brief gleam of frustration in his eyes before he hid it.
Padmé put in the recording before gazing at the gathered Senate members. "This should shine more light on the so-called evidence we saw before," she said and began playing the recording. Obi-Wan listened to Deputy Minister Jerec but, as subtly as possible, he observed Palpatine's reaction to the message.
"Death Watch is far stronger than we once thought. But we have been training for this. We can stop them. But if we are to combat them effectively, we must have the temerity to stand strong in the name of peace. And if we are to do so, we must reject any Republic assistance. Instead, this government will act. It acts not out of pride, but for safety. Intervention by the Republic will inflame the opposition and this is why our government rejects the help of the Jedi. We must listen to the Duchess Satine. If we do not, we will ultimately cause our defeat."
Obi-Wan smiled inwardly as he saw the look of anger and frustration in Palpatine's eyes before it disappeared. Just like last time, Mandalore was not to be occupied by the Republic.
Obi-Wan waited outside the Chancellor's office for Satine, Padmé, Palpatine and Mas Amedda to leave. Satine stopped next to him while the others walked off to finish ratifying the Senate's decision. She gazed at him for a moment. "If it wasn't for you, this wouldn't have happened," she said.
"You were the one that accomplished this, Satine, because of your sheer determination," Obi-Wan said calmly.
"I appreciate that," Satine said softly. "But I wish I knew who was behind all of this. Who tampered with that recording? Who tried to convict me of murder and send me to jail?"
"I'm not sure," Obi-Wan admitted honestly; he suspected Palpatine, or one of his lackeys, might have been behind everything but he couldn't be positive. "But I can say this, things are changing. Sometimes the line between friend and foe is blurred now more than ever."
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: yes, I managed to finish and post this chapter before the New Year!
Darth: congrats. How many months do we have to wait for the next chapter?
Blaze: (glares at Darth)
Anakin: (cruising around in Mace's Mustang) what is the next chapter you're going to do?
Blaze: I was going to do "Nightsisters" but I decided that since "Bounty Hunters" occurs in Season 2 after this arc and I wanted one more episode from Season 2 before I went on to Season 3 and one of my reviewers was kind enough to request this episode from me, I decided to do it
Severus: your story is going to be long
Blaze: yup. It's already going to be over 50 chapters by the time I finish the Clone Wars part and the Revenge of the Sith part will probably add another ten or so chapters so it looks like it's going to be over 60 chapters
Harry: wow! None of your stories are that long!
Severus: correction, none of her serious stories are that long except, perhaps, A Prince By Blood
Blaze: yeah, that's going to be my longest Harry Potter story and this story is probably going to be my longest Star Wars story
Harry: COOL
Anakin: (still cruising around in Mace's Mustang) yup
Mace: GIVE ME BACK MY MUSTANG!
Anakin: I'm driving it. It's mine now
Mace: no it isn't
Anakin: you signed it over to me
Mace: no I didn't
Anakin: well that's not what the paper says
Mace: I'm going to get you for stealing my car and forging my signature
Anakin: I didn't forge or steal 'em. I bought 'em from a Jawa
Mace: how the blazes did a Jawa get my Mustang and the paperwork for it?
Anakin: they just had the paperwork. I just got your Mustang from your driveway
Mace: that does it! (Steals Blaze's flaming machete and chases after Anakin)
Obi-Wan: those two are at it again. Where's my caf?
Anakin: yeah, Palpypie took it. And I'm not facing a flaming machete. (Gives Mustang and paperwork back to Mace and takes off)
Obi-Wan: he gave in? Anakin actually gave in? Now I've seen it all (ignites lightsaber) now where's my caf and Palpypie?
Palpypie: I'm getting out of here (takes off)
Obi-Wan: GET BACK HERE WITH MY CAF! (launches a bolt of Force lightning at Palpypie)
Palpypie: ow!
Obi-Wan: (stares at hand) where did I learn that?
Blaze: (laughs) please review and I will post chapter 33, which will cover "Bounty Hunters", as soon as I possibly can but it will likely be in the New Year