KEYnote: There is a lot going on here in a short period of time, including how long it actually takes Dooku to reach his destination. Next chapter is literally titled, Palpatine's Bad Day. Human Rights: You may have noticed some of the themes in my stories. As an educator who is pan with disabilities, I just want to remind people to care about the well-being of all our vode who are being demonized for being trans, intersex, and for loving whom they love. We don't have to be the same for our lives and safety to be valued. Any meanness I show in my stories against people's origins, class, mental illnesses, disorders, or appearances is to illustrate how harmful and ignorant people can be.

P.S. Spell checks are starting to recognise more commonly used phrases and words as correct grammar and spelling, and I apologise because it's making it harder for me to catch things.

Chapter 29 - Living Well

After paying their respects to Qui-Gon, they were brought to Naboo's Council Chambers.

"Able to gather the Council so soon?" Obi-Wan asked Padmé.

She smiled at him minutely, "We knew you would return and you gave us enough forewarning."

"Afterwards, we will eat," Sabé added. "Unless your little ones are hungry?"

Cody and Ponds shrank against Obi-Wan's side. He placed a calming hand on their shoulders, "They will eat when we do, but do you need anything to drink, ner Co'ika, Po'ika?"

They shook their heads, in sync, amusing Obi-Wan. Appo and Gregor were the only twin pair of the vode he knew personally who had mimic behaviour as adults. Apparently, however, isolated from the others, being young and uncertain, their spirits and life that had begun entwined, sought each other out.

The vode tried very hard to be distinct from each other. To them, being surrounded by similar faces was normal, but faced by outsiders?

The twins' bond was visible in the Force. All the vode were connected, of course, Obi-Wan had certainly bonded with them before even seeing them in this life. Jango's bond with them grew more solid each day.

But within the Force, the twins appeared almost extensions of each other, perhaps like soulmates. It was not weaker or stronger for Cody pursuing his studies in the Force and Ponds abstaining from further development of such a relationship with the Force. However, Obi-Wan wondered if Cody was more swayed by Ponds's moods and thoughts now that he was more sensitive to them.

As a commander, Cody had been logical and level headed, but he hadn't been unfeeling, just very good at hiding emotions and working past them.

Shielding would be important for him to learn so he didn't feel anxious for having to deal with emotions that weren't solely his own.

"Perhaps they could be given an extended tour of the palace?" Jango asked, being more personable as was a Mandalorian custom of treating guests as family.

Ordinarily, that would be overstepping, but the Queen and her handmaidens had openly supported Jaster's Codex as a personally felt philosophy and way of conduct. Additionally, Obi-Wan's position as an honoured guest and had been recognized as a friend of the Queen.

Panaka stepped, "I would be happy to show them around."

"Yané," Padmé said, even as Ponds and Cody clung more firmly to Obi-Wan's legs.

Obi-Wan bowed to Yané, "Ah, the Seamstress."

Yané flushed slightly, dipping deeper in a bow.

Jango raised a brow.

Obi-Wan smiled, "She is the Queen's armourer."

Jango blinked at the slim woman before grinning, "Well met."

Obi-Wan knelt on the marble, placing a hand on the ade's backs, "Be brave, ner ade'ika, there is much this galaxy has to offer if you but allow the opportunity."

It was a veiled comment, sounding inspirational but really meant to encourage them to be aware of their surroundings.

On one hand, Obi-Wan didn't want them to be paranoid all of the time, and would much rather they simply sightsee instead of surveilling the area.

On the other hand, they were Obi-Wan's kids, which would mean either they would find trouble or trouble would find them, no ifs about it. There were also about to enter a war with terrorists and he had plans to purposely provoke Republic-backed pacifists to violence.

It wasn't paranoia if they were really out to get you.

At his remark, both boys straightened and nodded their understanding.

Yané offered her hands to them.

Obi-Wan smiled, ruffling their hair and he whispered in Mando'a, "Be cute."

Ponds and Cody glared at him viciously as they each accepted the handmaidens' proffered hands, looking for all the world like two Jedi younglings being escorted by their crechemaster after being caught out of bounds.

Sabé smiled after the door shut behind the four, "Those two are dangerously adorable."

Jango sighed.

Obi-Wan lips twitched as he continued to win that particular argument.

Marriage wasn't easy, Obi-Wan literally almost killed Jango last week and now he was planning to wage galactic warfare for him.

Rather than anger or resentment.

But it was immensely satisfying to win an argument and feel Jango's amused irritation in the Force.

Qui-Gon could never be wrong about anything. He would warp reality to say all was as the Force willed it. It was probably what made him such a good negotiator; training through stubbornness and survival.

Though it had been fun at times to see how far Qui-Gon would go to spin a tale. But most of the time —especially when he was younger— Qui-Gon won arguments by not engaging in them. The silent treatment was worse than being torn down.

Alternatively, Anakin had been a tornado. Obi-Wan would jest with him and the boy fly off the handle. When Obi-Wan was earnest, Anakin had believed him a liar. When he needed Anakim to understand a danger, it seemed to only incentive him to run off and do it anyway.

Yes, he loved Anakin, and yes, there had been good times, but his relationship with him had been less stable than Obi-Wan's bond with Qui-Gon —while also being somehow— more dependent.

It had been unhealthy, largely due to Palpatine who had convinced Anakin to not cooperate with the mind healers.

Or trust Obi-Wan.

And after the purge, well, what happy memories he had of Anakin were tainted.

No matter how hard he tried to let go of a past that would literally never happen, it was impossible for him to look back and not see all his own failings.

Now that he knew about the chips, Obi-Wan wasn't certain he had ever done anything right with Anakin at all.

"Obi-Wan?"

He blinked and flushed when he realised he had gotten lost in his thoughts. He saw —at least— that everyone was still getting settled in their seats as attendents were bringing in two temporary chairs for them.

Obi-Wan let out a breath, and said, "I love you."

Jango blinked at him, "What were you thinking about?"

"That your the only partner I've ever had who has treated me like an equal."

"That's depressing, Mesh'la. But I love you too."

And he meant it, there was no lie in the Force.

No hesitation.

No caveats.

No conditions.

Jango loved him, all of him, even if Obi-Wan was sometimes losing his mind with grief or sharing the insanity of his life that he had learned to laugh at lest he stop being able to function.

Jango just loved him, and actively cared if Obi-Wan was hurting.

Realising he was still having a moment, Jango caught his hand and led him to their seats across from the Queen.

She smiled at him.

Obi-Wan smiled back.

He had come here today planning to portray a happy family to the galaxy.

He hadn't fully internalised, hadn't yet let himself count on Jango, on Jango's love for him and devotion to the vode.

But Jango had pulled himself out of his own hellscape. And with no trigger being held to the vode throats, Jango was no longer afraid as he had been.

Because Jango was the most deadly man in the entire kriffing galaxy and had broken free of his chains.

And Obi-Wan was the man kriffing him.

The best revenge, it seemed, truly was living well.

Governor Sio Bibble began the meeting, "As honoured as we are by your visiting us, Master Kenobi, I fear intergalactic relations have suffered since Last the Mand'alor visited us."

Obi-Wan smiled, "Has Naboo sided with the Duchess of Mandalore then and renounced her interest in learning the Haat'Mando'ade Codex?"

The Governor spluttered.

Padmé spoke with her Queen voice, "No. It is not by the Duchess's request that we have been forced into negotiations."

"Then who—" Jango began but halted when Obi-Wan tilted his head away.

"Who matters not so greatly as the negotiations themselves," Obi-Wan interceded. "Here we sit in open discussion and wars have been fought for less fortune than to have an audience with the Queen of such a fair system."

Padmé didn't smile at him this time, but her eyes sparkled and her fondness permeated the Force. "And now that you have my attention, Master Jedi, what would you ask of me?"

Obi-Wan settled, this was far easier than any negotiations he had done in… He didn't actually know how long.

"What would you ask of us, my Lady?" he asked. "We seek to come to an accord and you know already what we wish. A place to gather our exiled people. Theoretically, we could return to Concord Dawn and Concordia, as many of our warriors have lived there these past decades. But both moons and any moon or planet in Mandalore's yoke and those who go there put themselves at the mercy of the Duchess's jurisdiction. She would be a fool to allow us to gather arms against her way of life. And while the Duchess is many things, she is not a fool."

Jango snorted, "Debatable, she's a pacifist Mandalorian and doesn't realise the oxymoron. And, she let you go."

Obi-Wan did roll his eyes this time.

Sabé perked up, "Wait, the rumours were right? You were with Satine Kryze?"

Obi-Wan swallowed a grimace, "Briefly, before she became Duchess and before she decided violence, even in self-defence, was abhorrent."

Sabé wrinkled her nose and sat on the arm of Padmé's throne, breaking the protocol to the horror of the Governor and the amusement of almost everyone else. "Fett is a more worthy partner for you. The copper is beautiful."

Obi-Wan grinned, his heart doing a weird wiggle at being seen in his armour.

Anyone who mattered would know what the armour meant and his Jedi kin would know in the Force that Obi-Wan was where he belonged.

The Force practically sang with it.

Hey had the stray thought that the reason he was reacting like this was probably because he and Jango hadn't really had time for the honeymoon period.

Or maybe it was something about Naboo.

Governor cleared his throat. "The Chancellor is against you and yours being here."

Obi-Wan didn't roll his eyes, though he wanted to. "In allowing us to use your land and orbit, the Haat'Mando'ade will provide training for your soldiers in armed combat, and self-defence lessons who wish to learn it. Any person who advances far enough and abides by the Codex will be permitted to earn Beskar. Additionally, by allying with us, we will protect Nubian airspace and go to war with any outside force that attempts to invade or otherwise harm Naboo in the manner that the Trade Federation once did."

"I accept these terms," the Queen said.

"No!" Governor exclaimed, a bit exasperated. "We need to discuss this within the Council."

There was a beat of silence.

Sabé laughed, "Is there anyone who disagrees?"

"Does that include children?" the Secretary of Education, Lufta Shif, asked.

"Of course," Jango said. "Ade are always welcome among the Haat'Mando'ade."

"What about unchaperoned children?" she asked.

Jango exchanged a look with Obi-Wan.

Jango shook his head, "That wouldn't be advisable. Training in itself is as safe as we can make it but I can't control the abilities or unknown adversaries among children I don't know. Their guardians' presence could head off most of the problems. Given the political nature of this deal, I would not be comfortable with a mere safety waiver for any child who has not reached their majority."

The Regent shook her head, "I meant from the orphanages. We may not have the staff necessary needed to be with them at practices and keep the houses running.

"Naboo is a sanctuary system. We take in more children, intergalactic security said. We take in more children each year than can be absorbed naturally into the population. Many come from traumatic backgrounds and self-defence would be excellent for their development and adjustment."

Obi-Wan shook his head, "Well, that certainly would be a problem."

Jango who know he was joking, nodded solemnly, "I think you may be forced to shut down the orphanages, beyond the initial intake documentation roles. And even then, that would be optional if you let the ade train with us."

Education Regent Shif looked honestly offended, "Orphans are not second class citizens."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard to hide his smirk as he said, "You miss understand, they wouldn't be Nubian citizens in our eyes, not for long at least."

Sabé laughed.

The Regent however was outraged, "Are you threatening our orphans!?"

Jango shook his head, "Never, but they wouldn't be orphans for long is the crux of our problem."

"What?" she asked flatly.

Padmé shook her head, the metal beads tinkling together at the gesture, "They mean, Education Regent Shif, that the Haat'Mando'ade will adopt any child who wants a home among them without hesitation, no matter their background."

"Oh," the Regent said, her anger deflating.

Sabé grinned and asked informally, "Any more protests?"

Another silence.

Padmé said, "Then an agreement has been decided, the Naboo and the Haat'Mando'ade will be allies for both domestic and military issues. In exchange for using our land for the gathering of their currently exiled people, they will help train our soldiers and any person who wishes to learn self-defence."

There was a chorus of agreement and Obi-Wan rose with Jango at his side, and Obi-Wan bowed while Jango dipped his head.

"Thank you, your Majesty," they said in unison.

She bowed her head in turn, "Your people will be granted permission to land, and you may retire to your rooms until the feast tonight. I will ensure you are given adequate forewarning when Panaka and Yané return with your ade to your suite."

It was proof of his being a bit slow at the moment that Obi-Wan didn't immediately understand her implication.

Jango, on the other hand, was radiant with merriment.

Apparently, Obi-Wan wasn't the only one feeling the renewed honeymoon rush.

By the time they were alone in their rooms, Jango taught him exactly how quickly armour could be removed as he was herded back into a walk-in shower.

Obi-Wan was feeling a bit spoiled by all these water showers. Yet as he wrapped his legs around Jango's waist, he couldn't help being anything but grateful for Nubian luxury as he allowed his Riduur to pound the tension out of his body.

No, Obi-Wan decided, marriage suited him just fine.

oOo

Satine went out into the city covertly to see how much her people supported the news being cast from Naboo.

The counter-propaganda against the Haat'Manda'ade would need to be fierce.

Korkie was waiting for her back in her suite when she returned to the palace.

He was the spitting image of her brother Adyn, and when he looked up at her with fear in his eyes, it just about broke her heart.

"What do we do?" he asked.

She took his hand as she sat down beside him, this boy she had raised as her own, "We hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

He nodded before asking quietly, "Aunty, is it —is it true what they say about the Stewjoni?"

She squeezed his hand, "What they say about the whole colony, no. And one man doesn't represent all of Stewjon. However…" She sighed and forced herself to lie, "I loved Obi-Wan once, and I realized in time that he didn't have true feelings for me in return. That he was only helping me to help himself. Just as he has done with Fett. Seduction is as powerful a weapon as any."

Korkie smiled, "But you saw through him."

Her heart ached, "He was a Jedi then, but now he is likely to use more violent means to achieve his aims. The True Mandalorians are just another face of Death Watch."

Korkie nodded, "Will our defences hold against them both?"

She pulled him into a hug. "Of course they will, their show of strength is just another type of deceit."

It wasn't true.

The sex had been good with Obi-Wan. Very, very good. But she could admit, to herself, that she had used him.

Because Stewjoni —as a general rule— were not a people of sex workers, or manipulators, or a "primal" people.

With exceptions like Tor Vizsla's wife who had been bloodthirsty and apathetic, she had been atypical to Stewjoni culture.

The Stewjoni were a free-giving people, who didn't hold back love or affection, familiar or romantic.

In truth, the Stewjoni were much more likely to be taken advantage of than to be the aggressors. They were, except in cases of self-defence, a peaceful nation.

It was why out of all Mandalore's moons and systems, Stewjon was the greenest and cleanest.

Why they were protected from outside invaders so fiercely throughout their history.

Why, a thousand years ago, the superstitions of Force-sensitive children being cursed and doomed to a painful death had been invented to keep the Sith or Jedi from ever trying to free or claim Stewjon for themselves.

Their ancestors had decided that the sacrifice of Force sensitive children was better than losing the colony to the Jedi or Sith.

Because the Stewjon had proven time and time again history that they would give and give for the benefit of others.

They were the antithesis of the rest of Mandalore's culture which was always seeking dominance over another.

But Satine knew there was a cost to peace, knew that the only true way to moderate Mandalore was to enforce near impossible standards that she would have to embody.

Jaster's Codex was ideal, the middle road, balance, but they were fools to think that if you allowed a Mandalorian any type of violence that they wouldn't escalate it.

Fett hadn't lived the Clan Wars, she had.

She had seen clans that shared the same principles kill each other without qualms.

Obi-Wan had called her father's dream a fantastical utopia.

But Satine knew in her heart, the only way to stop another Clan War was to take away the ability of the clans to wage war.

She had seized all armour and weapons, knowing that the damage that could be down with other materials was negligible. Contrary to what many believed, Satine had not sold a gram of ore to anyone outside their system.

No, she had taken their weapons and built her people a shield.

Her cities might be made of glass but their bones were Beskar.

oOo

Pre was watching footage of ships entering into Nubian space.

Isebet had gone undercover, and so had the Wren Clan, but Pre was hesitant to send in anyone else.

He doubted greatly that if any of the Watch faked their oaths to the Mand'alor, Obi-Wan wouldn't be able to find them out.

Isabet and the Wrens could lie better than anyone he knew, but with his little brother having been brought up by the Jetiiese, there was no telling what he was capable of.

He knew Fett and the Naboo would gladly kill any discovered traitors. Hopefully, Wren's young daughter would offer some protection.

Speaking of liars, Prime Minister Almec came in.

Pre dragged his gaze away from the scream, letting the droid do its work in counting the incoming number of Haat'manda'ade ships.

"How is the Duchess?" Pre asked.

Almec stared at him with an emotionless expression, "She's afraid. Are you?"

Pre motioned vaguely with hand, "Jaster Mereel died easily enough. Fett was a slave who let go of his ambitions."

"And Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

Pre snorted, "What of him? We've killed Jetii before."

"He put Satine on the throne," Almec said, unmoved. "The wider public might not know that but it is a prevalent enough rumour that will become common knowledge soon."

"We will deal with it," Pre said. "If Fett is taken care of, Kenobi won't be able to hold the mantle without him."

"Won't he?" Almec challenged.

Pre narrowed his gaze on the man, "What?"

Almec tossed a chip onto the table, "I looked into the official records. Kenobi and his Master, Jinn, were under a classification that only myself and the Duchess could access."

"Did Kenobi overperform?" Pre sneered.

Almec glared at him, "He is your brother, a Vizsla."

Pre sighed, "I didn't know until recently that he was even still alive."

"You didn't recognise the name?" Almec asked.

"It's not a name," Pre said. "I thought he died with his mother. Last time I checked, Jedi were killed on sight on Stewjon."

"So your mother was killed by a Jedi?" Almec asked.

"I suppose," Pre said, remembering the last time he had seen his brother and mother.

Obi had used his magic to save Pre from falling off a cliff and then she had grabbed Obi by the throat.

Pre had run for help, by the time he and his buir made it back to the cliffs, they had been gone.

They had fished his mother's armour out of the ocean a few days later.

If she hadn't survived, then how could have little Obi'ika?

"You're Stewjoni?" Almec demanded, drawing him from his thoughts.

"Half brothers," he said automatically whenever someone brought up Tor's Riduur'alor.

Though not many people knew or ever suspected she had been Stewjoni.

It was, of course, a blatant lie, she had been Pre's biological mother as well, but luckily, he hadn't been born with his mother and brother's biology.

Theoretically, it shouldn't matter in their culture, but the Watch had its roots in the Core where humancentric was the preferred. Stewjoni were commonly dehumanized.

Even if Stewjon's intersexed population was natural and spoke to the greater history of Mandalore, illustrated in the fact that Mando'a had no gendered pronouns or titles.

But the Watch had taken in too many from the Core worlds, and their culture had changed from other clans.

Haat'Manda'ade particularly, as the majority of them in being pushed to the Outer Rim, had a lot more non-humans in their population than almost any other fraction. Jaster Mereel and Jango Fett were a notable example, having Taung ancestry, which showed up more prominently in their females.

"Being Stewjoni may be used against him," Almec said. "But it could also be a point in his favour, for no matter a Stewjoni's stereotypes, they are still considered Mandalorian. Which will out shadow his having once been a Jetii."

Pre sighed, "I know."

"And Tor Vizsla was his father," Almec insisted.

Pre glared at him, "But never his heir. My father never named him. Neither did his Duchess for that matter."

"But Fett did," Almec said. "He was introduced to the galaxy as the Riduur'alor Kabiin Fett."

Kabiin.

It was a good name.

One that suited his vod'ika.

Beloved blue.

Pre missed his brother, "He's still a Jedi, and Obi-Wan put Satine on the throne. He had a sexual entanglement with her and now Jango. He will be hated and his biology will be used to undermine them both."

Almec shook his head, "It's a romantic story, it's a story. His faults may make him more popular. It's the type of story that sells. Depending on how they seek to move against the Duchy, they have the advantage."

Pre shook his head, he would not give up everything he had fought for all these years to bow to his little brother.

"Then let him die a legend," Pre said. "Dead men can't conquer Mandalore, neither can a story."

Almec put his hand to his chest, "So shall it be, ner Mand'alor."

oOo

AN: Thoughts, minke whales, or feedback, pretty please?