Announcement: I have been bulling through this story, 70k in less than two months, so I'm going to switch to a new story, and because my head is hell, probably a new story; time travelling Force sensitive Padme Amidala? Obidala?
AN: For those of you who don't know, Ewan sings, for others, he's a friendly reminder that Satine was likely named after the character in Moulin Rouge.
Chapter 18 - I Hope You Don't
Jango was feeling pretty good about life, about Obi-Wan, Boba, Omega —who had begun talking more while he was in the room, the vode, and the gathering of his people.
That was until Obi-Wan reminded him, he was a Jedi.
"I would treat it as a grand favour," Obi-Wan was saying as he walked back into his apartment.
Omega and Boba were playing a matching game with a sabaac deck.
"I'll come, of course I'll come. I've been telling the Council for centuries that stabilising Mandalore is important," a female voice answered.
Centuries?
"May the Force be with you, Master," Obi-Wan said.
"And with you, little one," the voice said, signing off.
"Who was that?" Jango demanded as he approached.
Obi-Wan raised a brow, completely unrepentant, "Are you going to call the clans to us any time soon?"
"I already have," Jango answered.
"When will they be here?"
"A few months," he said, leaving off, probably more than a few.
Obi-Wan seemed to hear it anyway, "We need help now, Mand'alor. They are too many and they deserve more than either of us could give them."
"We can—"
"We currently have two thousand children," Obi-Wan interrupted. "With a hundred thousand more on their way by next year. We can't do justice to them as their parents for the two thousand we have already."
"Who did you call?"
"A Jedi who answers to the Force, not the Republic. The vode will adore her."
"Centuries?" Jango asked, recalling what she had said.
Obi-Wan smirked, "She also is the oldest member of the Order. She is over a thousand years old."
"What is she?" Jango asked.
"No idea, aside from the ears, she could pass for human. Personally, I think it has less to do with her blood and more because of her connection with the Force, it sustains her."
"She sounds like everything a Jedi wishes they were, why isn't she in charge of the Order?"
"Because," Obi-Wan said. "She isn't a fighter, and let's just say she wouldn't be capable of improving our relations with the Senate."
"What does that mean?"
"She wouldn't disguise her disdain."
"Is that unusual? Jedi seem pretty disdainful."
"That's the persona, but Fey doesn't have the patience for that and it would be a waste of her talents. She's a healer, an educated, an explorer, and she never believed in the Republic and stopped answering to the Order a long time ago. We are still her people but she generally avoids conflicts."
Jango grimaced, "I hate her. I don't need any of the vode getting pacifist ideas, and think the New Mandalorian—"
"You have mistaken me," Obi-Wan said. "She does not preach nonviolence, and she will always defend those in need but she walks in harmony. For those among the vode who wish to become medics, there is no greater teacher. Or will you demand all of your son's be killers?"
Jango grimaced, knowing that Obi-Wan was comparing him to Tor Vizsla. "Fine, but what you say about her better be true."
"Fey has lived through many wars between the Jedi and the Mandalorains, she committed to seeing Mandalore become the system and people it should be."
"While we are on the topic, I have invited four others."
Jango shut his eyes, "More Jedi."
"Sort of, but like the antithesis of Jedi who aren't Sith. Three Darksiders and a Master who left the Order."
"Darksiders," Jango repeated flatly.
"It wasn't necessarily a choice, but I think you will warm up to them."
"And are they safe to have around the vode?"
"Is every single Mandalorian coming to your call going to be completely trustworthy? Do you know all of them personally?"
Jango gritted his teeth, "No, but they aren't Jedi."
"Neither are these four. I ask that you trust me, ner Mand'alor, I would never purposely endanger our ade."
"Fine," Jango spat, extremely uncomfortable with this but knowing that Obi-Wan had indeed some amount of trust with him.
He looked up and found his twins staring at him.
Omega looked back down at the cards, but Boba looked curious.
"Don't get caught eavesdropping, Bo'ika, unless you are prepared to start a fight," Jango chastised.
Boba looked back down at his cards.
"Where are your people gathering?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Naboo," he answered.
Obi-Wan looked startled. "No, you aren't."
"Yes, we are."
"Then change it."
Jango shook his head, "Some of them are already there."
Obi-Wan swore, turning away from him.
Jango crossed his arms, "What aren't you telling me?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, and without looking back, said, "Whatever you do, do it quickly."
"Why?" Jango asked warily.
"Because Naboo is owned by the Sith and you won't have room for error."
Jango threw up his hands, "You could have told me that!"
Obi-Wan looked back at him, "I told you to call your people not to go to a Republic planet."
"I'm trying to avoid Separatists."
Obi-Wan snorted, "Good job."
Jango flushed, "You don't get to keep withholding information."
"Then get us off Kamino Jango, I will tell you every sordid detail of what I know."
"Why not tell me now?"
"Because until I figure it out or until you tell me you planned to get the vode to turn on the Jedi in an instance, the information I have to tell you may or may not instigate a galactic civil war that much sooner."
"Maybe they just don't like Jedi," Jango said his gut turning.
He knew how; the vode were raised to be loyal to the Senate and Jango, not the Jedi; if the Jedi were deemed traitors, the vode would have the skills needed to hunt them out of the Republic.
Obi-Wan gave him an unimpressed, "Some secrets, I'll keep until you deem you can confide in the extent of your deal with Dooku."
"I will hold you to that," Jango said, walking off to go make dinner. Obi-Wan could boil water, he was otherwise rather useless in the kitchen.
If the man could live off of tea, he was pretty sure that's what Obi-Wan would choose to do so.
Obi-Wan didn't sing often, but music was one of the electives he had taken as a youngling. He didn't know if Jango or any of the vode could sing. But he was going to ensure that every vode was given the chance to do things that were fun or follow pursuits that had nothing to do with war and everything to do with making life better.
Whatever Satine's faults, Obi-Wan had fallen in love with the part of her that wanted to give freedom to her people, freedom for them to be who they wanted to be.
At the Temple, younglings and initiates were taught to value art, music, dance, theatre, writing, poetry, etc. because those things were often markers of peace and reflections of lifeforms' hearts and minds. The arts were how humans and many, many, other species learned empathy, learned how to understand each other, themselves, and the world they lived in.
"I hope you don't mind,
"I hope you don't mind,
"That I put down in words,
"How wonderful life is while you're in the world," Obi-Wan sang while watching the vode as they went impossibly quiet.
Cody's expression was transformative.
Shock, awed, and then… and then something that had no name for but for the golden feeling in the Force as Cody he and his others realized the words of the songs were meant for them, and that Obi-Wan meant them.
No, he hadn't actually written the song, but they were not wrong to believe that Obi-Wan meant them.
The vode were about the only thing in the galaxy Obi-Wan was thankful for being alive for.
Everything else… he could have passed on into the Force easily enough. But the looks of hope and adoration as Obi-Wan showed these little lives who deserved everything that they were loved and wanted and worth everything—
That was worth living for.
Jango knew that Jedi were not what they had been portrayed as, but he was beginning to wonder where any of the stereotypes had even come from.
The older man had long grey hair in a messy half bun. His robes truly made him look like a vagabond panhandler, his ungroomed beard making him look like he smelled bad.
He didn't smell bad, thankfully, but he gave the distinct impression of looking as if he hadn't seen a shower in a few months.
The woman next to him, a Dathomirian female with facial tattoos, was counter-wise immaculate. She wore a top that left little to the imagination and a skirt that didn't look as if she could fight in it. But that seemed unlikely given the two sabers she wore visibly on her hips. Such a display was an indicator, paired with her posture and expression, that not only could she fight, but she would likely take great joy in homicide.
"Nephew!" the man boomed, holding out his arms.
"Uncle," Obi-Wan returned more sedately but fondly, going to the man without hesitation.
The man wrapped him in a tight embrace, lifting him right off his feet.
Obi-Wan laughed which was likely the intent.
"Jango, this is Master Rael Aveross, and his Padawan, Asajj Ventress, Uncle, Sister, this is the Mand'alor, Jango Fett," Obi-Wan introduced.
Neither Aveross nor Ventress seemed impressed with Jango.
The feeling was mutual.
Averross approached Jango with a curious expression and a glint in his eyes that promised mayhem. He was short, but somehow Jango still felt like he was being examined from the top down.
"You getting laid, Nephew?" Averross asked Obi-Wan as if he wasn't still examining Jango.
"Nightly," Obi-Wan said cheerfully.
Jango glowered at the cheeky bastard, but noticed Ventress's hostility wane a bit in curiosity. Averross, despite his appearance, was a diplomat of his own making.
"How is Obi-Wan related to you?" Jango asked.
Averross patted Jango's shoulder, again, as if he wasn't a head and a half shorter than Jango, "I'm Dooku's first Padawan."
Jango reexamined him, "The Count must hate you."
Averross guffawed, "Obi-Wan is fast becoming his favourite relation. Well, him and Depa, but I've always taken my Master's disdain as a badge of honour."
Jango looked at the female, "You rebelling against your Master too?"
She sneered at him, "My Master is dead, Rael is just a convenience."
Harsh.
Jango gave Obi-Wan a look, "Are all your relations this baggaged?"
Obi-Wan smiled, "One day I will lock you in a room with Yoda, and you will understand us."
Averross whistled, patting Jango's back in commiseration, "You must need him big if he's secure enough that he's threatening you with the troll."
"He would be dead without me," Obi-Wan said with a sincere smile.
"I thought Jedi were supposed to be humble," Jango shot back.
Averross laughed, "He is humble, Mando. Obi-Wan is the duelling champion of the Order, a Sith slayer, and one of the greatest Knights and Masters the Order has produced in a thousand years. His bowing to your authority, is the definition of humble."
Duelling champion?
Jango scoffed, "As if I have any actual authority over him."
Averross's smile slipped a bit, "If you abuse him, I swear to the Force, I will ruin your life."
Jango was unimpressed, "Your Order already killed my people and sold me into slavery, and if you threaten the vode, Obi-Wan will kill you himself."
Averross cracked a grin, "Oh good, he has you wrapped around his fingers too, then."
Jango blinked.
Obi-Wan laughed, "Come on, I'll show you both around. The N-Class are going to adore you."
He wasn't wrong.
A Jedi who looked like he had done death sticks and gambled Republic credits in a back alley sabbac game? The Nulls, who were being specifically trained as spies and assassins not soldiers like the other vode, would love Aveross, even if it was just an aesthetic.
Though Jango was willing to bet Cody would be outraged by Aveross's lack of decorum.
It really wasn't a mystery why Obi-Wan was the Count's favourite.
"Where are the others?" Obi-Wan asked.
Jango glared at him, "What karking others?"
Averross held up three fingers out, and counted them downward; three, two, one—
Two little bodies came careening around a corner, crashing into Aveross legs. They peeked up at Jango and Obi-Wan with golden eyes.
Two male Dathomerian Zabraks, one with amber skin, the other with orcher, looked up at them with fear. Jango didn't miss, they put Aveross between them and Ventress.
She didn't seem perturbed by their fear of her.
Averross touched their horned heads with extreme gentleness, "This is Savage and Feral Oppress. If you haven't figured it out by now, Obi-Wan has a thing for collecting strays."
Seeing as the man had adopted two thousand foundlings and was really to claim two hundred thousand more, yes, Jango had figured that out.
"Foundlings are the foundation of Mandalorian society," Obi-Wan said dropping to his knee and offering a hand out to the little ones.
The older boy stepped in front of the younger, "You killed our brother."
Jango stared… that was not what he expected.
"The Sith who stole your brother, forced him to become an assassin. I stopped him. Neither of you will be forced to become anything you don't wish to be," Obi-Wan said, admitting that, yes, he had killed these boys' brothers.
The older boy hesitated, letting go of Averross's robes, and asked, "Will you send us back to her?"
"Never," Obi-Wan promised.
The boy took a cautious step forward, and then ran at Obi-Wan, his brother close behind. Obi-Wan hugged them both.
Jango pinched his brows, a headache forming. Weren't their lives complicated enough without adopting cultists?
"Come," Obi-Wan said, picking both boys up as he rose to his feet. "You're both a bit older than the others but you'll fit in just fine." He paused before tacking on, "No biting or scratching."
Obi-Wan was going to be the death of him, Jango decided.
But he couldn't deny the foundlings a place, not when he that Dathomerian males were kept segregated from the females. Knowing that they were raised in tribes of their brothers, Jango didn't doubt that they would fit in. If he remembered correctly, if a male sired a child, the mother would cannibalise them. If the child was male they threw them back to the tribes of brothers where no fathers were. Where they hunted and scrapped for survival, waiting for their female counterparts to ambush them and use them as slaves when the inclination moved them.
That Kamino was a large step up from that was both depressing and reassuring.
Jango couldn't help himself from asking, "Why didn't you just bring them all?"
Ventress snorted, "Because the Nightbrothers have their own traditions, they don't trust outsiders. They let us take these two because they were marked as a lost cause."
"Why?" Jango asked, thinking that Obi-Wan was a collector of lost causes.
"They are mother Talzin's sons," Ventress answered. "No one wanted to get attached to them when there was no chance of them surviving coming of breeding age."
"Said a Nightsister," Jango retorted.
She gave him an unamused look, "Talzin and my mother sold me into slavery when I was small to appease a group of pirates, there is no love lost between us."
There was something to be said for everyone in the galaxy having a story, Jango was beginning to believe anyone who ran in Obi-Wan's circles had been 'blessed' with an interesting life.
Cody was super upset until the General put the boys down and they scrambled away from the General, going back to back and hissing at Cody's vode.
The Prime made an indignant noise, "Cats, you're all cats."
Then the General said, "Feral, Savage, no biting, no scratching, if any of the vode upset you, walk away from them, or tell me. No fighting."
The yellow skinned boy bared his teeth and snarled at the General.
Surprisingly, the General pulled his lips back, barring his teeth and hissed in return.
It should have looked funny.
Cody thought it looked terrifying, and something like a warm breeze filled the room in a wave.
But Cody didn't think
The two Zabraks dropped to their knees, cowering from the General.
The Prime looked pissed, "Kenobi—"
The General held up a hand to silence the Prime, "Savage, Feral, no fighting, no hurting. These are your brothers. No Nightsisters will take you away. You will not hurt them. You will not be harmed, beatened, tortured, or killed. However, you will move into my apartment if you cannot learn to coexist with the vode, am I understood?"
The Zabracks nodded.
Master Quinlan Vos had thoughts about this meeting, but none of them were good.
"The Mandalorians are mobilising," the Chancellor said, long fingers spread.
"My people are not mobilising," Duchess Satine Kryze said.
Quin hated her.
Hated her in a way no good Jedi should hate anyone.
But Duchess Satine had broken Obi-Wan's heart in such a way that it was as if he believed he could never love again.
More than that, though, it was like she had finally convinced him that he was undeserving of love.
Quin knew he had never really helped in that regard, but he had never lied to Obi-Wan about what they were together. They had been friends, they had loved each other, and they shared a bed on occasion.
But there had never been a promise of more nor had they ever been exclusive.
Though frankly, as promiscuous as Quin pretended to be, most of it wasn't true. There just weren't a lot of people he'd ever met who he had been into enough to not mind slipping into their heads for a bit.
It brought a whole new meaning to kriffing yourself. Which meant Quin was typically limited to the Temple and among them, limited to partners who were good at shielding.
That wasn't a huge disqualification but it was part of why things had been so comfortable between him and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan who enjoyed cuddling sometimes more than he enjoyed sex.
But The Duchess was different, it hadn't been just a fling or arrangement.
She had let him believe she was interested, let him believe that she loved him, and maybe she had loved him, but she had used those feelings to manipulate Obi-Wan.
Make him believe she wanted him as a life-partner, make him believe she would give him a name, and a home… Qui-Gon Jinn and the Council had made Obi-Wan doubt his worthiness.
And why had the bitch done it?
Because she had seen in him the leader, the military genius, a young man who was a Mandalorian Warrior to his core, and the Duchess had seen the opportunity. She had been a shrewd enough politician to know that if she forced Obi-Wan into the heat of battle, into horror after horror, that he would rise above, solve it, and being at his side, she would be seen as the brave one, the hero.
The rightful leader of her people, especially with someone like Obi-Wan at her back who would defer to her and let her take the credit for his deeds.
When just that had unfolded, her planet was brought to peace, and Obi-Wan had promised to leave the Order for her, she had cut him loose.
She had done the political math and figured her vision of Mandalore was better suited without the paragon of an honourable soldier at her side.
Quin knew part of that was because of Mandalore and the Jedi's history, but if that was such a problem, then she shouldn't have strung him along. If she had just been honest with Obi-Wan, he still would have helped her.
Chancellor Palpatine looked wholly unamused, as he finally broke the stare down the Duchess was giving him.
"I respect your naturality, Duchess," the Chancellor said, placatingly. "But the call has been made. The Senate has absolved you of Death Watch's crime, but this is not Death Watch."
Currently, they were in Chancellor's office, they being, Quin, his old Master Tholme, the Chancellor, the Chancellor's bald lady aid, Sly Moore, Mandalorian Senator Prince Tal Merrik, Nubian Senator Oshadam, and then on hologram, Queen Amidala, Captain Panaka, and Mandalorian Prime Minister Almec.
"A call by who?" Senator Oshadam asked. "The Mand'alor Pre Vizsla?"
Prime Minister Almec cleared his throat, "The word 'Mand'alor' means rightful leader of Mandalore, Vizsla is a terrorist and not recognized as anything but a wanted criminal."
The Nubian Senator flushed, "My apologies, but was it him?"
"No," Sly Moore said, her eyes an unnerving silver that gave poor Oshadam her full attention. "It was the other Mand'alor, Jango Fett."
The one Obi-Wan took his oath to, Quin realized, suddenly much more invested in being here.
"Jaster Mereel's son, the warrior who started the True Mandalorian Codex?" Queen Amidala asked, looking curious.
All the Mandalorian politicians froze up, and Quin wanted to laugh at them.
Sure, the Jedi had been the executioners on Galidraan, but it was the Senate who had been the judge and jury to send both sides to slaughter.
"Jango Fett is a glorified bounty hunter," Prime Minister Almec bit out.
"But not a criminal," Queen Amidala countered non- subtlety.
"He killed multiple Jedi Knights and Masters," the Chancellor said.
"He paid his time for that," Master Tholme said. "Galidraan was a tragedy."
"The True Mandalorians are not allies of the New Mandalorian movement," Duchess Satine said.
"Nor are they allies of Death Watch," Mace inserted in defence to Quin's surprise.
Or maybe he shouldn't have been surprised, Obi-Wan's loss had hit the Order hard. Quin was pretty certain that if they thought it would help, they would have begged Obi-Wan to return to them.
"Is there a point you would like to make, Master Jedi?" the Chancellor asked.
"No, only to question why you wished for our presence. It is the Order's position that we will interfere in Mandalore's politics," Mace responded. "Unless a Mandalorian fraction moves the Order, the Order will no longer offer humanitarian or military aid."
"What?" Satine asked harshly.
Quin bit back a smile at her outrage.
"I was not informed of this," the Chancellor said. "We are informing you now."
"Why?" Satine asked.
"Because we have lost too much," Mace said. "Our numbers are not what they once were and we could not participate in war against or for Mandalore as we are now, not and survive it, at any rate."
At Satine's pinched expression, Mace continued, nodding to her, "I thought you might be pleased, Duchess, on the Order's movement to demilitarise."
Mace didn't like Satine either.
The Chancellor looked pretty upset at this, "The Jedi is the Republic's first defence."
"The Jedi also ruled the Senate once," Tholme rumbled. "Times have changed."
Quin loved his Master.
"The point remains," Captain Panaka said. "Naboo has little to do with Mandalore. And I'll admit, the request of my presence, in particular, Chancellor Palpatine, concerns me."
The Chancellor sighed, "The call has been given by Fett and the True Mandalorians are gathering on Naboo."
The silence in the room was oppressive.
"You can't allow it," Duchess Satine said.
Because of course, she did.
Queen Amidala sighed, "I'm afraid it's too late for that."
"Why?" Prime Minister Almec asked.
"Speaking as a planetary leader who has had to go to war due to the Senate's negligence," Queen Amidala said, her monotone voice sounding somewhat annoyed. "I find the True Mandalorian Codex to be progressive and admirable. They've requested permission to dock their ships, and I have granted it."
"You agreed to be occupied by the True Mandalorians?" Senator Prince Tal Merrik squeaked.
The Queen was very still for a moment, and Quin swore she was trying not to roll her eyes, "They are bringing children with them. I am not fool enough to call them undangerous, bet they have given us no reason to doubt their honour."
"A gathered force of Mandalorian warriors could take over your cities," Prime Minister Almec said.
"To what end?" the Queen asked with a tone that said he was being stupid. "The Chancellor of the Republic is Nubian, if the True Mandalorians are looking to start an empire in the Outer Rim, Naboo is one of the worst possible choices."
"They are looking for allies against our government," Satine said.
Captain Panaka winced, "I'm afraid, the True Mandalorians have a great many allies on Naboo."
"And you support this?" Satine asked, directing it toward the Queen.
"My guard has trained with True Mandalorian warriors, their trainings have helped save my life on a number of occasions," the Queen returned.
Satine looked outraged, "And will you be donning armour and training your people to kill, Queen Amidala?"
"I am currently wearing an armoured gown," Queen Amidala informed her. "And Naboo has a growing military. While you may have seen civil war, Duchess Kyrze, us Nubians were taken over by foreign Force with little to no resources in turn."
"The Jedi saved you," Satine said.
"We helped keep her alive, but we didn't win the war for them," Quin said, speaking up for the first time.
"So the Jedi support this?" Satine asked.
Mace shrugged, "They asked for a place to peacefully gather, there is nothing to not support."
"It's a blatant intent to conspire against our government," Prime Minister Almec said, sounding disgusted.
"It is my understanding that any Mandalorian warrior who does not serve as a guard to the government has been exiled. They cannot be both under your rule and living in exile," Mace said. "Where they gather, is beyond the Senate's jurisdiction, beyond yours."
"And then there are the bounty hunter guilds," Tholme said. "If you want to start a war, going against your word, in revoking safe passage, then you would find yourself in an uncomfortable place, Queen Amidala."
"Bad blood with the Guilds on the Outer Rim is not advisable," Quin agreed.
Queen Amidala inclined her head.
"Then I would ask you not allow them to return from whatever assault they have planned," Satine near demanded.
Queen Amidala narrowed her eyes, "You overstep yourself, Duchess."
The Chancellor raised a hand, "I would ask the same, my Lady. I do worry, if the True Mandalorians intend to start anything, Naboo is still recovering. You do not know who may end up targeting you or Naboo if they see you as being culpable."
The Queen was quiet for a long moment, "I will not rush them out, I will not stop them from coming, but if they leave and come back in force, I will have the repetition for aid."
"Does that satisfy, Duchy?" Quin asked Satine rudely.
She glared at him, "It is a start."
Quin hoped the True Mandalorians were planning on dethroning her.
He hoped Obi-Wan was the one to knock her down.
Quinlan Vos really wasn't that great of a Jedi Knight.
AN: Thoughts, nightingales, or feedback, pretty please?