Chapter 35 - Mandalore

Author's Note: I, apparently, lost my ability to check the calendar properly. Lol. So, you're getting this chapter earlier than you're expecting! ^-^

The next update should be on September 14th. :)

To Plague: Yep! And... your predictions... are scarily accurate. ;)

To ErwinvonBD: Thanks! :D

~ Amina Gila

Vader is on the landing platform at the Senate when the starships from Mandalore arrive, bringing Duchess Satine Kryze and Fenn Rau, the leader of the Protectors, a group of Mandalorian warriors exiled to Concord Dawn who have been helping the Republic during the war. Anakin would have been there, too, but he's otherwise occupied with ensuring everything on Tatooine is secure and helping Rael get used to the planet and people.

"Welcome to Coruscant," Vader greets them formally.

This is bound to be a very… interesting meeting, to say the least. Duchess Kryze is a pacifist, ardently against warfare of any kind, and Feen Rau is the kind of person that she has banished from Mandalore. If he's being honest with himself, he admires her spirit, her idealism. She's a strong leader, bold and courageous, not afraid to take steps that many would have fought against. Her planet and people have suffered so much over the years and decades, and while Vader personally does not think pacifism is the right path, that doesn't mean he doesn't fully understand why she's chosen what she has. Perhaps, it was her choices that led her people to endure as long as they did – even if it simultaneously made it easier for Sidious and the Empire to crush them. It was truly a double-edged sword for Mandalore.

"Thank you," she answers formally, casting a brief, inscrutable look towards Fenn Rau. Outwardly, she shows no distaste or antagonism though she must have feelings about seeing a warrior, especially given the way she was raised and where her sister has gone.

"We will speak in my office," Vader tells them, gesturing to them to follow him. The clones cluster in around them, protectively, not taking any chances of a possible attack. Though Vader does not think anyone would truly be foolish enough to make an attempt on either of the Mandalorians who are present, he has no doubt that there are many who are thinking of it; if he is successful in this deal, it will only increase the power of the Empire even further.

"I have been watching you," the Duchess admits freely once they're in the office, sitting in a seat opposite Rau. "You know my stance on violence, and I cannot condone it, but I admit that I admire your actions. You have done something that very few would have been capable of."

Vader pauses, his respirator cycling as he processes her words. Somehow, he'd expected something different from her. Maybe this will actually be easier than he thought. "Now that I have brought an end to the war, do you still intend to remain a neutral, independent entity?"

Her expression is shrewd. "That depends on what you have to offer me," she tells him. "I will always do what is best for my people."

"I admire that," Vader replies, "And I know that your views and actions have not always been popular." He glances pointedly at Rau. "There are some Mandalorians, such as the Protectors, who have offered aid to the Republic during the war."

"They are no longer under my jurisdiction," Satine answers, shaking her head. "I do not condone their actions. War has destroyed my people, and when I saw what it would lead to, I did what I had to do."

"I understand." He looks at Rau. "Do you support the Empire as you did the Republic?"

"Like Duchess Kryze, I will do what is best for my people," Rau informs him guardedly. "What are your intentions for us? If we do not go along with you, do you intend to force us to comply?"

Vader lets his respirator cycle once before answering. "No," he assures firmly, tone leaving no room for doubt. "I would never. I united the Republic and the Separatists; it was their choice to bring me to power. It will be your choice whether or not you choose to aid me, but I called you here, because I have a proposal which, I think, will benefit both of you."

The two Mandalorians look at each other, and then back at him. "I'm listening," Satine states.

"It will not be long, I imagine, before the Hutts attempt to retaliate for our liberation of Tatooine," Vader says. "They will be seeking resources and new worlds to plunder. As you and your territories are not under my protection, my hands will be tied if you are attacked. I will, of course, offer you aid, but I must do what is best for my people, too, as I'm sure you understand."

He waits for the murmurs of understanding and agreement. "So, what are you proposing?" Rau queries.

"If you join the Empire, you will fall under my protection," he tells them. "If – no, when you are attacked –" Because he keenly remembers the way the crime organizations have united in the past and infiltrated Mandalore. Even without Maul leading them, he can still imagine the same occurring even so, and he wants to take no chances. "– I will protect you. In return, you will only need to make certain concessions: working with the worlds most damaged by the war, offering resources and trade routes."

"What do you need from me?" the Duchess inquires, her blue eyes sharpening. She's shrewd, a politician through and through, and Vader can easily see how she was raised as the crown princess of her people. She's a good leader, a very good leader. She knows that Vader wants something in particular from her and from Mandalore, especially because Rau is here.

She's not wrong.

"I will not ask you to change your ways," Vader promises, because that's the most important thing, "But I could benefit greatly from the Mandalorian warriors who are still living." He looks at Rau as he says it. "What I need is protection for planets that we have liberated. The clones are soldiers, but they are not warriors as you are. Your life has been about war from when you were born, and you raise your children the same way. If you help me, I will grant you a planet on which you can live openly and freely as warriors. In return, all I ask is that you protect the planet and the people as your own. If you are attacked, I will, of course, send reinforcements to help you, but you will be the first line of defense."

"And what if Mandalore?" the Duchess questions again, intrigued.

"Beskar." The answer is prompt, simple. "All I ask is that you allow those Mandalorians who choose the old ways access to your beskar reserves. I will not tolerate them attempting to unseat you, but for them to fight, they must be adequately protected."

Satine's expression is thoughtful, and she looks impressed, admiring. "You present a strong argument," she murmurs, drumming her fingers on the arm of her chair. "If I permit the mining of beskar, who will pay for the cost?"

Vader hesitates. He hadn't thought of the details of the trade agreement – he'd hoped to hear their input on the matter. "That is something we must negotiate together," he responds at last. "I believe that my offer is the most beneficial for all parties involved, and we must merely work out the details, so we are all satisfied."

The Duchess straightens. "I agree. I have heard whispers of increasing criminal activity on Mandalore, and if there is indeed a threat, I wish to be prepared for it. Pacifism does not mean complacency."

Rau glances at her, and though his helmet is on, hiding his face, there's a flicker of grudging admiration from him in the Force. "And you wish for me to be the leader or representative of the Mandalorian warriors?" he asks Vader.

"Are you adverse to the proposal?" Vader replies. "Do you know of someone better suited?"

Rau hesitates and then shakes his head. "I was merely surprised."

"You have aided the Republic in the past. I have no reason to distrust you."

Another hesitation, and then, the warrior leans forward. "Very well," he says. "Let's work out a deal."

They're both Mandalorians, so it won't be an easy deal to hammer out, but Vader is confident that they'll reach a compromise that they both are content with.

**w**

Ahsoka is helping Anakin go over reports on Tatooine when her comm beeps. It's an unfamiliar frequency, and her expression scrunches on seeing it. She has no idea who it could be, but she still hits the button to answer, double taking when a small hologram of Barriss appears.

"Barriss?!" she blurts out, surprised.

"Ahsoka, I don't have much time," Barriss whispers, looking around furtively. She's wearing a cloak, hood drawn up, almost entirely shrouding her features. "But you must listen to me. Please."

"What is it?" she queries, instantly worried, exchanging a look with Anakin. "Did something happen?"

"I – I'm not sure," she answers, "But I heard whispers among some of the other masters, and Trilla, she's another Padawan who is with me here, said that her master told her that she overheard talk of a trap of some sort. I'm – I think that the Masters are setting up a trap for the Emperor and for Anakin, and I – you need to warn them. You need to be careful. Something is going to happen, something bad."

She sounds scared. Barriss never sounds scared. She's always been so good at controlling her emotions, even for all that she might have struggled with them, and a chill runs down Ahsoka's spine. "I'll tell them," she promises. "Thank you for warning us. We'll be careful."

"Ahsoka," she says, hesitating before continuing, "I – I think that they might be working with the Council still, even now."

Anakin's expression is grim, lips pressed together.

Ahsoka breathes out slowly, pain twisting her heart at the possibility that Plo is in on it. She doesn't want to believe that he would be capable, but she's heard from Anakin what Padme said about how Plo was one of the ones to ask her to spy on Anakin. She doesn't want to believe it, but Padme isn't lying and nor is Anakin. She'll need to be on her guard, too, in case one of the Jedi tries to reach out to her, tries to turn her against Anakin, either one, or – or worse, tries to kill her. Unpleasant as it is to consider, she can't overlook anything, not now.

"Okay," she answers, "I'll tell them. And Barriss? Stay safe. May the Force be with you."

"And with you," Barriss whispers, her hologram winking out.

For a long moment, Ahsoka just stands there, staring at Anakin, before he holds out an arm to her, knowing what she needs even before she does. She dives into his arms, and he hugs her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. "We'd better go tell Anakin," he murmurs finally, and Ahsoka nods, a shiver running through her. Somehow, she has a bad feeling about whatever is going to happen, like they're on the precipice of something big. And bad.

Vader – or Anakin, as even Anakin has begun to call him, and it makes Ahsoka so happy to see him beginning to reclaim himself and the person he used to be – is in his office when they go to find him, and he's quiet, just listening, as Anakin tells him what Barriss told Ahsoka.

"I have sensed it," he says at length, arms crossed. "I have been having… premonitions. Visions. They are unclear, but in them, I have often… sensed Anakin in danger. I know the Jedi are planning, or perhaps someone else, another force I have not yet seen."

Ahsoka goes cold, looking at Anakin with wide-eyes, and he seems similarly taken off-guard. "You – you've never… said anything," he stammers.

Vader looks away. "I have been trying not to dwell on it. The last time I had a vision, I destroyed the Jedi Order and became a monster. I do not… sense your death, but you are in danger. We are both in danger – I am unclear who it centers on the most."

Anakin's brow furrows. "If it was you, I ought to be having visions too, right?"

"Perhaps," Vader allows, "But I have been attempting to shield you. I am stronger, and one of us needs to be level-headed for the coming storm."

"What're we gonna do?" Ahsoka demands. "I'm not letting anything happen to either of you!"

"That may not be in your control, young one," Vader answers, seeming simultaneously tired and amused.

She crosses her arms and glowers. "You are the Emperor, Anakin. No one is more powerful than you, both of you. A few rogue Jedi aren't going to take down either of you, and definitely not if I have anything to say about it. Don't even think about leaving me out of it, either! I'm staying with you, both of you."

Anakin reaches out, squeezing her shoulder. "We don't even know where the threat is coming from, Snips," he replies, amusement echoing through their bond.

That… is unfortunately the truth.

"We will face it when it comes," Vader states. "All we can do in the meantime is prepare for the worst. At least I have arranged a deal with Duchess Kryze and Fenn Rau so Tatooine will be safe. It is not impossible that the true threat I am sensing has to do with the Hutts, or some other criminal faction. The Force is… clouded. Uncertain."

Ahsoka hates feeling helpless, especially like she does right now, looking at the two people who mean the world to her, knowing that she can't keep them safe from all the enemies who want to hurt them, who want them dead. She wishes she didn't feel so alone here, on the opposite side of almost the entire Jedi Order. The Jedi are strong, powerful, and going up against them is… scary. She knows Vader is capable of protecting himself, and Anakin, too, but it's still… There are so many Jedi out there, and they can't trust anyone. They're surrounded by enemies on all sides, and sure, she's far happier now than she has been in months, maybe since before the war even started, but she's still… afraid.

"We're going to be okay, Ahsoka," Vader says softly. "I will not let you come to harm, either of you. We will do what we always do. We will fight. The Force is with us."

And Ahsoka can only hope that it'll bring them through this alive.

**w**

Anakin has scarcely finished speaking to Vader and Ahsoka about the warning from Barriss when Rex lets them know that Quinlan Vos, of all people, is requesting an immediately meeting with the Emperor. He and Ahsoka move to flank Vader on either side as he tells Rex to send him in. Vos' expression is tense, worried, when he enters.

"I just got back to Coruscant," he tells them, "And I came straight here. I heard word of a top-secret meeting which will be occurring on Nal Hutta in three rotations."

Anakin stiffens. "Who will be there?" he demands, because if Vos is this worried, it must be serious, very serious.

"The heads of almost every crime organization out there," he answers, eyes serious. "The Hutts, the Pykes, Death Watch, the – I heard the Zygerrian Empire is rebuilding. The Queen, Scintel or something, will be there, too." Anakin doesn't miss the way Vader tenses at the name, a rolling storm of furious, helpless rage washing over him. Vos pauses, dropping a datapad onto Vader's desk, sliding it toward him. "Recognize him?"

Anakin leans forward, sucking in a breath when he sees the red and black tattooed face. "Darth Maul?" he hisses. "But he's dead!"

"Apparently not dead enough," Vader replies idly. "Is the Council aware of this?"

"I heard whispers," Vos replies, "And I reported them."

"I was not informed," he comments, looking up from datapad to Vos. "If this… meeting is occurring, I suppose it is only fitting that I attend as well." There's a vicious flash of satisfaction in the Force, the Dark curling closer to Vader, and it's only then that Anakin realizes Vader hasn't delved deeply into the Dark for a while. "I will speak to the Jedi Council about this at once. Dismissed."

Anakin waits until the door closes to look at Vader. "It's a trap," he states firmly. "If you bring in the Jedi, it'll be a trap for us, the one you've been sensing." He'd wondered if Vader was seeing something and hiding it from him; his sleep has been troubled, and he's been disturbed by something even in his waking hours, but Anakin had chalked it up to Tatooine and worry over protecting the planet.

Vader is silent. "I am aware, but it is a good opportunity to crush this once and for all. We can wipe out the criminals, and we can see where the Jedi stand. I tire of this game with them. If they will not be loyal, I will take action. It is time, Anakin, to bring this to an end. It is no longer just about us. The longer we let this continue, the greater the risk to Ahsoka, to Omega. To the clones, our family. We must end this, once and for all."

Anakin closes his eyes, knowing that Vader is right, no matter how much he hates it. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't terrified for what will happen. The Force is elusive, not answering when he reaches out to sense the future, to sense what is in store for them, but what he senses is… not exactly positive. It's muddled, mixed.

But he knows that Vader will only go through with this if he agrees. What they do, they do together, because they're strongest when they're united.

"I understand," he whispers finally, meeting Vader's eyes through the lenses of his mask, "And I will be with you. Anakin."

"Me too, Skyguys," Ahsoka vows fiercely, "Always."

Vader brushes against her Force signature with his own, radiating fondness and affection. "Then let us go and restore peace and order to our Empire."

**w**

Padme is more than a little surprised to be summoned to Vader's office so unexpectedly, so soon after she spoke to him, promising to prove herself loyal to him and to Anakin. She's even more surprised by his words.

"We need your help," Vader tells her, and even if she can't see his face, she can still feel his eyes boring into her.

"Anything," she answers. "Whatever you need, I will do my best to help."

"There is a mission we must go on," Anakin informs her, and his expression is unusually grave, serious. It worries her. He continues after exchanging a look with Vader. "A group of criminals are gathering, and we have reason to believe they will be preparing to go to war against us. We will wipe them out before that can happen."

She frowns. "And?" Because there's no way they could need her help with that.

Another shared look, and it's Vader who speaks. "We believe that the Jedi are planning a trap for us, to take us out," he answers, and her blood runs cold.

She had… sort of understood what it would mean for her to spy on them for the Jedi. She'd known that removing Vader from office could only be done through violence, through an assassination, and it was something she had chosen not to think about, because she had fully believed it would be for the greater good. She doesn't believe that anymore, and the thought of Vader dying, knowing what it would do to Anakin, doesn't sit well with her.

"What do you need me to do?" she queries.

"When we leave, Omega will be left behind," Anakin says quietly. "Can you take her to the Lake House with some of the boys? Keep her safe there, hidden. I don't – we cannot take the chance that the Jedi would harm her."

Her heart flips in her chest. "Do you really think the Jedi would hurt a child?" Anakin's child, she reminds herself, because Anakin has adopted her. Legally, that would mean Omega is her daughter, too, and she doesn't quite know what to make of the surge of emotions that thought arouses within her.

"I believe that they will stop at nothing to destroy the Sith," Vader answers, "And if she stands in their way, they will go through her."

She doesn't want to believe they would do that, but she promised to help, and she will, even if she's uncertain all of these measures are truly necessary. "I'll take her there, keep her safe," she assures them. "It just so happens that I might need to meet with the Queen about an important matter, after all."

Anakin meets her eyes, and he smiles at her, softly, a little shyly, and Padme grins back, feeling the flutter in her chest at his presence. It's been so long since the two of them have been together, and she misses him. So much. Maybe – maybe this will prove to him, to both of them, that she can be trusted, and maybe it means that she and Anakin will… be able to rekindle their relationship against as a result.

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~ Amina Gila

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