Alright, thanks for the reviews last chapter really glad you guys enjoyed Matt and Obi-wan together with more to come in this chapter.
This is one I've actually been anticipating cause this is one involving a more serious philosophical debate that will be dived into heavily now that we have three Avengers forged by conflict who have a deep understanding of it. Satine is gonna be in for quite the argument between these three.
Now then, with the introduction out of the way, I gotta bring this up.
Thanos… guys come on. OF COURSE HE'S COMING. HE'S THE ENDGAME. This was planned from the very beginning. There's a reason why I chose 2015 as the starting point of this story. A good three years of time before getting to the inevitable.
The title of this story is called Infinite Wars after all and we will see it. But there's gonna be a lot of crazy shit on the way.
Other than that, let's get on with it.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.
Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 39: Conflict of Ideals
"I take it you had a busy time on Mandalore." Steve remarked as he stood with Matt Murdock within the storage room of the Coronet, a New Mandalorian liner they currently resided in.
Matt shrugged. "I figured it would get hectic, though not to that degree."
"Well, when you're dealing with people that are all about a warrior's lifestyle…" Nat left the statement unfinished, though it was enough as it is.
"What can you tell us about this Duchess Satine?" Steve asked, leaning back against a large crate within the storage room of the ship.
"She has her opinions and beliefs." Matt said candidly. "And isn't afraid to challenge them. A pacifist through and through."
"Ah, the people that want to run us out of work." Natasha joked; nudging Cap who scoffed though had a smirk present.
Matt then tilted his head to the side. "Mr. Skywalker."
Nat and Steve looked over to Anakin who was approaching them.
"You don't have to call me that, Murdock." Anakin said with an amused smile. "Just Anakin will do."
Matt only nodded in acceptance.
"What's the word, Anakin?" Steve inquired.
"Just debriefed the boys." Anakin thumbed to the clones behind him. "Leaving Echo down here in charge of this one. Last thing I need is to have Hevy to go gung-ho on us all."
Steve chuckled knowingly, familiar with Hevy's tendencies to rush into battle with guns ablazing by this point. What really "tickled" him, as people say these days, was the marking of his shield on Hevy's left pauldron. Told him that it will undoubtedly protect him from anything.
Like that would work but who was he too deny Hevy that idea.
The group heard a few beeps and whistles, looking down at Anakin's personal Astromech droid R2-D2.
"Yeah, go ahead R2, you can start making your rounds." Anakin said. "Come on guys, The Duchess requested a meeting with us."
"This should be interesting." Widow noted, entering into the elevator with Kenobi, Rex and Cody already waiting for them inside.
"It's good that you're here with us, Steve, Natasha." Kenobi regarded them both.
"Ah, I see that I wasn't enough, I take it." Matt said blankly, making Obi-wan smirk at the lawyer for a brief moment a thought went through his head and he crossed his arms and stroked his beard.
"Everything alright, Obi-wan?" Steve asked, easily picking up on the Jedi's change in demeanor. "You look anxious."
"Is it about the Duchess?" Matt asked with Obi-wan's silence all but confirming it for them.
"The duchess couldn't be in safer hands." Anakin assured.
"Yes, I know." Kenobi said distantly, making the others exchange looks.
"Then why…" Anakin raised a brow.
"Never mind." Quickly said the general. "It's all in the past."
"Oh? So you're close to her?" Anakin said
"I knew her. A long time ago." Obi-wan shot back defensively.
Anakin was befuddled by his former Master's response yet the gears clicked in place as soon as he saw the looks on the Avengers' face. A small mischievous grin grew one that Nat returned with Steve rolling his eyes good naturedly.
Matt was silent and unresponsive, ears picking on strange sounds coming from back below yet he couldn't identify them.
All these sounds were new to him and he still needed a bit more time in adjusting to them and discerning what it was he picked up on.
Meanwhile, up in the lounge area of the ship, Duchess Satine sat upon an elevated platform regarding the assemblage of Senators before her.
"War is intolerable!" Spoke the Mandalorian duchess. "We have been deceived into thinking that we must be a part of it. I say the moment we committed to fighting, we already lost."
Tal Merrik, a senator under Satine, grabbed a drink from a tray before addressing the Duchess. "Excuse me, your Grace, are you suggesting we oppose the war on humanitarian grounds?"
"I'm going to oppose it as an affront to life itself." Satine vehemently stated. "As the designated regent of 1,500 systems, I speak for thousands of worlds that have urged me to allow them to stay neutral in this war."
"And yet some might argue that the strongest defense is a swift and decisive offense."
Everyone turned to the newly arrived Jedi Knights and Avengers that have now entered the room.
Obi-wan went up to the steps, Satine's eyes upon his before he inclined his head respectfully.
"You are quite the general now aren't you, Master Kenobi?" Satine said plainly.
"Forgive me for interrupting, your Highness, I meant no disrespect."
"Really? Senators, I presume you are acquainted with the collection of half-truths and hyperbole known as Obi-wan Kenobi?" Satine said with a slightly condescending tone.
"Your highness is too kind." Kenobi said amicably.
"You're right. I am." Satine said somberly.
Anakin and the Avengers unknowingly looked between the Duchess and Jedi General back and forth several times. They could tell there was something more between them.
Obi-wan cleared his throat and gestured behind him to his companions.
"Allow me to introduce my fellow Jedi, Anakin Skywalker."
Said Jedi stepped forth and bowed slightly. "Your servant, my Lady."
"Accompanying us are Natasha Romanoff, Captain Steven Rogers and Matthew Murdock of the Avengers."
Each Avengers stepped forth with the Duchess regarding each of them.
"I am already familiar with you, Mr. Murdock." Satine said kindly enough. "But as for your colleagues. If I were to take a gander, these are the Avengers I have been hearing so much about."
Steve and Natasha exchanged glances.
"And what have you heard about us, Duchess?" Natasha asked respectfully.
"That you are different from anything that has come before. That you all have a set of skills and abilities that rival or even outclass that of Jedi." Satine listed off. "Is it true that there is one amongst you that can enlarge himself to the size of buildings?"
"Scott?" Steve said the Avenger she was referring to. "Yeah, that was… quite a sight to see."
"So it is true then?" Satine was clearly interested. "And pray tell, what do you use these astonishing abilities for?"
"For the protection of others." Steve said with a fierce, unflinching gaze. "We as a team fight the battles that no one person can. We fight so other people don't have to."
The other senators gazed upon Steve and the other two Avengers with a sense of impressed approval with Satine somewhat sharing in those sentiments.
"And what exactly is it that you fight to protect people against?" Satine questioned challengingly.
"Tyrants, demagogues, crazy gods from other planets with the intents of conquest of our planet, evil super robots that want to end our planet." Natasha listed off casually. "You know, those sorts of things. Kinda like Jedi but not really."
The other occupants within the room could only stare on with slight bewilderment save for one Twi'lek Senator who grinned approvingly at the trio. Steve spotted him, recognized the man and nodded in greeting with the Twi'lek returning the gesture.
Anakin chortled silently yet Satine was slightly put off.
"I remember a time when Jedi were not generals but peacekeepers." Satine directed this line more so at Obi-wan then at Anakin.
"We are protectors, Highness. Yours, at the moment." Anakin pointed out. "We fight for peace."
Satine softly scoffed. "What an amusing contradiction."
"It is no contradiction, Duchess Satine." The Twi'lek Senator spoke up. "I myself am all too familiar with that concept."
"Be that as it may, Syndulla." Satine said with a slight frown. "Do you not believe that if the Jedi are Peacekeepers, then why resort to a war for that belief?"
"What Master Skywalker means is that we are acting at the behest of Your Highness to protect you from the Death Watch and the Separatists who don't share your neutral point of view." Kenobi cut in.
"I asked for no such thing." Satine sharply said with a slight glare.
"That may be so, but a majority of your court did." Obi-wan countered.
To say that the air was now tense would be underselling it.
"I do not remember you as one to hide behind excuses." Satine said with a small sneer.
"I do not remember you as one to shrink from responsibilities." Kenobi shot back, with a slight twinge in his tone
Wanting to defuse the situation, Cham Syndulla stepped in between the arguing pair. "Enough. We are not here to start a heated argument that accomplishes nothing. Duchess Satine and General Kenobi have proven there are two sides to every dilemma. Let's just leave it at that and leave it to the Senate vote"
"I think a multitude creates discord, not good council." Satine said with Cham smirking in mirth.
"You have no idea how right you are, Duchess." Cham remarked. "All the same, we have to have politicians do something in their free time."
From behind Cham, Obi-wan muttered out his own opinion to Anakin and the Avengers.
"There may be two sides to every dilemma, but it seems the duchess only favors hers."
"Really?" Widow said with a wry look. "Couldn't tell ya from lookin'"
Meanwhile, down below in the storage level. The Domino squad along with several other clones continued their sweeps as they checked in with one another announcing cleared areas.
"Alright, Mixer, Redeye, head over to sector 6." Echo instructed. "Fives and I have sector 2."
The two followed orders, reaching a fork in the hallway.
"I'll check out the South quadrant." Redeye said.
"Careful over there, it's dark." His Clone brother teased.
"Ah, shut up, Mixer."
What they didn't see or hear was the pair of sharpened legs pushing itself out of a large crate. None heard it but Matt Murdock who tensed at the unfamiliar sound.
Steve saw this and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Matt?"
The Lawyer only shook his head. "I'll talk to you in a moment."
Steve frowned but nodded, allowing Matt to do what he does best. He looked back to see his Jedi friend engaging in another debate with the woman that he clearly has some history with.
"A Republic military presence is the only sure defense against the Separatists." Kenobi argued.
"Even extremists can be reasoned with." Satine said, now raising up from her seat.
"Perhaps, if one can be heard over the clanking of their battle droids." Obi-wan went over to her platform with a more irritable expression.
"Ah, the sarcasm of a soldier."
"The delusion of a dreamer."
"Are you two done?" Cham said with an amused look, one shared by the other Jedi in the room and the Avengers.
It was not every day one was able to witness a more irked Obi-wan Kenobi.
"Damn… just need to lock these two in a room together…" Nat muttered to Steve and Matt with the former chuckling slightly yet the latter had a more intense look to him.
Tal Merrik had then decided to step in between the two "Duchess, Master Jedi, it's been a long trip. I think we could all use a little rest and refreshment."
"Duchess Satine." Matt stepped forward, hands grasping his walking stick as he directed his gaze at the Mandalorian ruler. "If I may ask, why is it that you are so adamant against this war? Against the idea of conflict as a whole?"
Satine blinked, finding herself rather caught off guard by the sudden question yet she managed to clear her throat and recover.
"When you have suffered and seen the horrors that have been responsible for such needless amounts of death and chaos, you develop an aversion to the idea of war." Satine stated with her chin raised.
"And believe me when I say this," Steve had now spoken up. "What you say has merit but that is too narrow minded.
"Excuse me?"
"War is not something that can be so easily categorized nor is it so simply defined." Steve said with an edge to his voice. "There are times where war is unavoidable and where extremists can't be reasoned with whatsoever."
Satine didn't respond, allowing Steve to go on.
"Take for example this Death Watch who opposes you." Steve said. "How do you reason with extremists who are hellbent on returning to the ways of old that utilize terroristic tactics to get their point across? Innocent people are dying because of it."
"I never wanted such a thing to happen." Satine argued back. "They crossed the line; I understand but we can still-"
"You crossed the line first, ma'am." Natasha interrupted. "You squeezed them, hammered them to the point of desperation and in their desperation they turned to the CIS."
"I have never intended to do such a thing." Satine said defensively. "I only wish for peace. I had seen enough of my people die for our ancient ways. I did not expect them to resort to terrorism against their own people."
"Terrorism is complicated, Satine. Mostly wanting to have what their target can't fully provide, making them drastic." Natasha stated. "In their case, they want things back to what they once were. Simpler, familiar times where they don't have to be persecuted for their beliefs."
"So they choose to remain to be viewed as warmongering blood thirsty fools then?" Satine asked with a sharp look. "How can anyone wish for that on themselves? I don't understand why you can't see that."
"With all due respect, Duchess, perhaps these are people you don't fully understand either."
"They are Mandalorians." Satine said passionately. "Am I not a Mandalorian?"
"You are an extreme reaction to the Mandalorians to the point that the only planet that recognizes your rule is the home planet of Mandalore itself." Matt countered. "From what we have learned, it is only your planet that recognizes your government unlike the rest of your system."
"But there has to be a way without bloodshed." Satine was not about to falter. "Enough has been shed as it is."
"Duchess, if I may." Natasha began slowly walking towards her. "Ya see, a long time ago, I was on an assignment with several agents in this third world country back on Earth. We were investigating the local government, who were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones." Natasha stood in the center of the room now. "But their caravans were constantly raided in a forest in the northern provinces by bandits. To effectively complete the mission, we had to look for the disturbance in order to find proper connections to help overturn the leaders of said government. For months, we never met anyone who traded with the bandits. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a large fruit. When I brought it back to command, we came to realize the bandits were throwing them away."
This left the room utterly silent.
"So why steal them?' Anakin found himself asking on the behest of the assemblage of people.
"Oh because they thought it was good sport. Because some people aren't looking for anything logical like money or peace or even a compromise. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men merely want to watch the world burn." Natasha's eyes bore into the Duchess. "These men… these Death Watch… they are not like the bandits I had encountered before. But if you continue down this path, these are the results that will plague you one day."
The silence that permeated the air was palpable to say the least. A silence that was broken by Matt Murdock tapping his cane lightly on the ground to gain everyone's attention.
"There's something many throughout life itself wishes to happen. Given the current case, it would be galactic peace, where everyone could be happy. No one to ever suffer life's problems such as famine, poverty and of course war." Matt sighed as he "looked" at those around him. "But therein lies a problem in that conflict must happen for everything to move forward in order to make things better for all. It's a great goal but should not be a means to the end. If progress does not occur, then everything becomes stagnant and no one wants that."
"But if you are to prevent such progress then you will be met with severe opposition and threats beyond your control."
"Are you implying that it is the fault of the Duchess for men like Death Watch to rise?" Merrick brought up. "I'll have you know that the Death Watch has been in existence for quite some time now, well before the current standing government the Republic recognizes to this day."
Matt only shook his head. "I'm saying that this is the result of cause and effect. Causality, if you will for short."
The occupants in the room were silent as the blind lawyer gave his reason. "Causality is a universal concept and no one can change it. Always occurring whenever people start moving forward in order to progress with one's beliefs, ideologies, goals, etc. The Death Watch comes to mind as of right now. For that brings in challenges, which incites conflict. And yes I know conflict breeds catastrophe, but… but despite what catastrophes occur, people hope they can work together to make things better. So if one were to wish to end all of that, then what will people learn from all these problems. Not to mention that there will be no confidence whatsoever in humanity… apologies, sentient life for asking for that wish. Everyone fights against their problems to make themselves better."
"We can't always rely on such barbaric mindsets for the sake of progress." Obi-wan, surprisingly cut in.
"It's not just about barbarism, Kenobi." Steve politely stated. "This is about something that is an inevitability. What Satine is doing, while noble, is too sudden and radical to the point of view of those that are familiar to thousands of years of a single mindset. There may be multiple perspectives on it, but for centuries, I've been told that the Mandalorians are a warrior's culture. To suddenly switch to peace and pacifism in an abrupt and short amount of time would only lead to extreme clashes, not compromise."
Matt then shook his head. "It's not just that, but a reality without pain or death or actual problems would eventually bring chaos from the facade order. Sure… it's an idealized dream many have sought for, but it causes confusion and everyone would want to change that. It's unnatural and unsettling for any living, breathing being out there. But if everyone was given -I don't know- immortality so quickly and easily, they'd stop in their potential all together. Should that happen, everyone would be too contemptuous with what's been given to them, making their lives meaningless. I believe you have not offered them a proper means of changing their outlook to align with your own. From what I have been shown so far, you have offered no alternatives other than your own. Either you adhere to the pacifistic ways or simply be banished. And judging from the Mandalorian nomadic culture, this did not present them with much of a challenge or alternative."
The lounge chamber was quiet, leaving a tense feeling all around. The invited senators digesting the recent discussion, contemplating on what roads to carefully tread on what actions they'll do for the duration of their political careers. Even being reminded on such topics made a few uneasy.
Satine stared hard at the Avengers, silently clasping her hands behind her back and moving to exit the room.
"Well… that was certainly… something." Anakin commented wryly. "Where did you all pull that one out of?"
"In my kind of life and what I've been through, one needs to be very insightful; even if it's going into certain uncomfortable territories." Matt said plainly.
"Lawyers." Nat rolled her eyes with a small grin.
"You certainly know how to put on a show." Obi-wan's dryly.
"It comes with our line of work, Mr. Kenobi." Matt said, slightly straightening out his tie.
"Ah, we're going with formalities now?" Kenobi remarked with an unamused look in his eyes which served to make Anakin chortle at his expense.
-Scene Cut-
While this heated debate went on, the clones continued their sweeps below with the luxury ship entering hyperspace.
The Avengers and Jedi conversed within the room that Anakin and Obi-wan shared for the duration of this trip.
It was a bit awkward between them all, Obi-wan being unusually silent with all eyes on him.
"What? Why must you all look at me like that?" Kenobi said aloud, finally addressing the prolonged gazes.
"So~" Nat began. "What's the deal with you and headdress?"
"It's nothing." Kenobi attempted to brush off with his former padawan scoffing.
"Come on, master. Don't avoid the subject cause we know that's not like you. What's the history you have between yourself and Satine?"
Obi-wan didn't respond at first, opting to remain silent.
"Your heart rate spiked there for a moment, Obi-wan." Matt pointed out, making the Jedi Master tense up.
With a defeated sigh, Obi-wan acquiesced to their request.
"An extended mission when I was younger. Master Qui-Gon and I spent a year on Mandalore protecting the duchess and her family from insurgents who had threatened her world. They sent bounty hunters after us. We were always on the run, living hand-to-mouth, never sure what the next day would bring." He said with a faraway tone.
"Sounds romantic." Anakin quipped, earning a wry look from his master with Natasha and Steve chuckling. Matt only smirked slightly.
"To you it is." Kenobi said.
"Well, what's not romantic about it?" Nat asked with a small grin. "Sounds like a typical cliché romance film from Earth. Boy is a bodyguard who is charged with protecting a girl. Girl is resistant to boy at first before they fall in love."
Matt picked up on the spike in Obi-wan's heart rate once more, though remained silent.
"A civil war killed most of Satine's people, hence her aversion to violence. When she returned, she took on the difficult task of rebuilding her world alone." Kenobi went on, unperturbed by Natasha's comments.
"You didn't stay to help her?" Steve asked.
"That would have been problematic. My duty as a Jedi demanded I be elsewhere." Obi-wan stated plainly.
"Demanded? But it's obvious you had feelings for her. Surely that would affect your decision." Anakin vehemently.
"Oh, it did." Obi-wan said, not denying it one bit. "I live by the Jedi Code."
The Jedi Master did not miss the looks of disapproval shared by the Avengers.
"Of course. As Master Yoda says, 'a Jedi must not form attachments'." Anakin said in a rather bitter tone, one that the Avengers did not fail to pick up on.
"Yes. But he usually leaves out the undercurrent of remorse." Obi-wan admitted.
"Then why don't you try?" Natasha asked. "Why run from attachments?"
"It would only lead to suffering." Kenobi stated. "The Jedi Code states that attachments would only lead to conflict within one's self and can lead you down to the path of the dark side."
"Sounds contradictory in all honesty." Steve said with his arms crossed. "How can you forbid attachments yet emphasize compassion and care?"
"Our compassion and care is to be directed to all and not a singular individual." Obi-wan countered. "Attachments can get in the way of that notion."
"Boy you guys are lucky Tony isn't here." Natasha stated with a flat look on her face. "If he was, he'd eviscerate the whole order if he could. And he'd probably mess with you all just cause."
"Sounds like it would be fun to see." Anakin said with a grin.
"Anakin." Kenobi gave him a disapproving look with the Jedi Knight merely shrugging it off.
"What? They gotta lighten up sometimes." Anakin said unashamedly. "All these rules and restrictions can come back to bite us you-"
"Something's wrong." Matt suddenly spoke up with a sharp tone. "I just heard a clone trooper…. His heart rate stopped entirely."
"What?" Anakin said in alarm. "Are you certain?"
Steve instead held up his wrist comm. "Captain Rex, Commander Cody come in."
"Yes Captain Rogers?" Rex responded.
"Call in all Troopers, make sure they're all accounted for." Steve ordered with Rex undergoing the order when…
"Redeye, do you copy?"
The silence was all they needed to hear.
"We need to get down there." Obi-wan said, moving to leave the room when Anakin held out his hand.
"I'll go, Master. If there's something dangerous down there, the clones and I can handle it."
"Mind if I join you?" Steve stepped forth to join Anakin with the Jedi nodding. "Nat, Matt, think you two can hold down the fort up here with Obi?"
"We'll do our part."
"What he said, Steve."
With a nod, both Steve and Anakin departed with Nat looking to Obi-wan.
"So what now, Obi?"
"Now we must do our part in keeping the senators and the Duchess safe." Obi-wan said as it was the most obvious thing to do.
As the Jedi with his two companions departed to meet with the senators and Duchess, said group of people were currently sitting down to have dinner.
Among the Senators, Cham Syndulla sighed to himself as he stared at all of these luxury and exquisite foods and compared them to the scraps and rations he had eaten back on Ryloth not so long ago.
It was still a jarring experience to say the least for the Twi'lek war hero who was more used to fighting on the battlefield for his people rather than debating for them. But he wasn't just here for himself. He was here for his beloved wife and daughter, using the influence he has garnered to shape the galaxy into a better place.
"Syndulla."
The Twi'lek blinked, glancing over at Satine who was looking at him curiously.
"Is everything alright? Is the food to your liking?" Satine asked politely.
Cham gave her a slightly strained smile.
"Just getting used to all this still, Duchess." Cham admitted. "Still not used to all this pomp and circumstance."
Satine opted to respond when the door to the dining room opened and in walked Obi-wan with Murdock and Romanoff.
"I beg your pardon, Senators. Our men are investigating a situation below decks. I respectfully ask you to wait here until it is settled." Kenobi informed all present making them slightly nervous yet now with the Jedi and two Avengers present, it seemed that things were under control.
For the moment.
Down below, Steve and Anakin arrived to see Rex, Cody and the rest of the Clones all assembled at the front of the elevator.
"All right, men. What's the problem? I'm missing dinner."
"Any sign of Redeye?" Steve asked.
"We're not sure yet, sir." Rex stated. "Mixer here last saw him but we haven't heard from him since and we can't find him."
R2 began to let out a series of beeps and whistles.
"What's the matter, buddy?" Anakin asked his faithful astromech.
The Droid responded with a concerned set of beeps with a whine.
"I know, I know, but I'm here now. Use your scanners. See if something's out of place."
R2 had a small compartment on his domed head pop open with a small satellite looking device rising up as he began scanning out the area. They followed after the Astromech with Steve gazing up at the rather darkened ceiling.
"This isn't ominous at all." Steve commented with his eyes still up, Anakin glancing back at him directing his gaze upward a moment later.
"Yeah… this lighting is weird, isn't it?" Anakin noted.
"Sir."
Both Steve and Anakin looked ahead to see Rex, Cody and the Clones standing before a large empty crate.
"Well, do we have here?" Anakin muttered.
"Looks like the contents of this box are missing." Fives said aloud.
"Or it got up and walked away." Steve stated with Anakin nodding in agreement.
"All right, fan out. Separate squads. I'll contact Obi-wan." Anakin ordered, holding up his wrist comms.
Echo stood next to Captain Rogers, noticing the slightly concerned expression he held.
"Sir?"
Steve didn't respond at first. "Where did Redeye go missing?"
"I last saw him, sir." Mixer, stepping forward after hearing this question.
"Lead on then. Echo, Cutup, with me."
Steve left with the trio of Clones whilst Anakin was speaking with Obi-wan.
"Anakin, what have you found?" Obi-wan asked from the dining room.
"There's a large open container and the contents are missing." Anakin said, looking back to the empty crate with the Clones surrounding it. "Steve went off with three of the Troopers to find our missing man."
Kenobi thought over the information, nodding a moment later. "Keep things quiet. I'll stay with the senators."
"Got it." Anakin said, turning back to the Clones. "Rex, Fives, you're with me. Cody, divvy up the men and search the area. Watch your six."
"Yes sir." Cody said, getting right to his orders as he divided up the clones.
Steve, Echo and Cutup followed after Mixer, arriving at the fork in the path where he split from Redeye.
"This way." Mixer said, going in the direction Redeye went off to.
The group soon reached a sort of dead end though Cutup kicked something on the ground. Glancing down, he saw a blaster rifle.
"Found something." Cutup said, picking up the rifle for the others to see.
"We found our rifle." Echo muttered. "Question is…"
"Where's our missing man?" Steve finished for the clone when they heard a large commotion back in the direction of Anakin and the other Clones with blaster fire echoing from there.
"Let's move." Steve said with the group running back from where they came from.
They ran back around in time to see the Clones gunning down an arachnid-like droid that fell over with its red eyes dimming.
As soon as they arrived, Mixer saw something out of the corner of his eye and cried out in vain as another one of those multi-legged droids appeared from above and tackled him to the ground.
The clone struggled with the droid, being relieved of it a moment later as Steve grabbed the droid and pulled it off the Clone. He threw it away with the droid skittering about to maintain balance.
"The lift!" Anakin abruptly cried out with several heads turning towards the elevator door.
There, they saw another of those droids getting the door open and quickly clambering up the shaft.
"Dammit." Steve said aloud, throwing his shield at the droid that was still here and active.
Anakin quickly contacted his Jedi comrade. "Obi-wan, there's assassin probes down here. One made it up the lift. I'll hold the others here."
Up with Obi-wan and the others, Daredevil initiated his suit with Black Widow whipping out her electric batons.
"Quickly, secure the lifts!" Kenobi ordered, igniting his lightsaber just as the doorway to the dining room opened.
The senators moved back with Cham pulling out a blaster pistol he had hidden on him.
The Assassin droid entered the room and swatted aside the guards before it had its legs swept aside from Daredevil's extended Billy club. It attempted to rise back up to the ground when Widow quickly jabbed her batons at its head with the electricity causing it to jolt about.
Not a moment too soon did it have a lightsaber embedded in its largest red optic, slumping over a moment later.
Yet as soon as it hit the ground, from the top of its head came more smaller assassin droids that all made a beeline for those present within the room.
Cham was the first to act, firing upon the many mini-droids crawling all over the place.
Black Widow attached her batons together to form an electrified bo staff which she swung in a wide sweeping arch.
Matt used his Billy club in a similar manner as his fellow Avenger. Knocking whatever mini-droid came remotely close while he defended the other senators.
Rushing across the dining room, Satine pulled out what appeared to be a small blaster from her sleeve. Pulling the trigger, a small electric bolt was fired. Once landing on one, many mini-droids were electrified due to how close they were. Seeing this, Obi-wan noticed the weapon in the Duchess' possession
Deflecting and slicing through the small army of mini-droids, Obi-wan voiced an inquiry to Satine. "Do you always carry a deactivator?"
"Just because I'm a pacifist doesn't mean I won't defend myself."
"Now you sound like a Jedi."
Down below, Anakin, Steve and the clones were experiencing the same problem with the little spider droids clambering all around them.
"Watch it!"
"They're everywhere!"
"Agh! Get 'em off!" Mixer cried out as one got beneath his helmet. Fives saw this and quickly grabbed him and pulled his helmet off in time to see the droid on his head.
Mixer grabbed the little droid and tossed it away with Anakin slicing it in two with his lightsaber.
Steve used his shield to swat aside the little droids, catching any that jumped or climbed on him with R2 utilizing an electrizer to take out the droids as well.
The droids were all soon taken care of with Anakin deactivating his saber.
"Nice work everyone." Anakin said, looking to R2. "You too buddy."
R2 let out triumphant beep.
"Assassin droid? How did that monster end up in the hold?" Rex asked aloud.
"There was that empty container." Steve pointed out with Anakin frowning in thought.
"So the better question is, who smuggled them onboard?" Skywalker asked.
Back with Obi-wan, he had picked up one of the deactivated droids to inspect it.
"Just like that swarm of venom-mites on Draboon, remember?"
"How could I forget? I still have the scar." Satine remarked with a small smile.
"Begging your pardon, Duchess. I distinctly remember carrying you to safety." Obi-wan said with a bit of a strange tone.
"I meant the scar I got after you fell and dropped me." Satine said slyly.
"...Oh. Yes." Kenobi muttered.
"Oh… my God. Could they be any more in love with one another?" Nat asked with a dry voice next to Matt who didn't respond yet the growing smirk he had was enough of an answer.
As the dining hall was getting cleaned up of the mess, Anakin showed up holding a datapad. Seeing his former padawan, Obi-wan made his way over to see what was going on, learning why he was here instead of calling him over the wrist-com.
His answer was not looking good as the Jedi general was presented with the data-pad. Reading through the contents, a grim look marred his features.
"One of our four distinguished senators appears to be a traitor." Anakin stated.
Obi-wan merely nodded before hearing a faint noise behind him. Looking over, he saw Matt snatching one of the mini-droids off the ground before it could escape.
"It looks like one of our little visitors is still alive." Kenobi then handed back the data pad. "I have an idea how to expose the turncoat. Return to the bottom of the ship. Destroy the last assassin droids. I'll find out which of the senators is the traitor."
Anakin nodded, quickly heading back down with Natasha joining him to aid in the search. Not long after, the Senators soon had themselves seated back around the table. Only Matt remained with Kenobi, the two sharing a look.
"You're not eating, Syndulla."
"Eating this… luxury food is sadly not for me, Senator Merrik." The Twi'lek senator looked over to Satine and saw she wasn't eating as well. "Is something wrong, Duchess?"
"Forgive me, but after what happened, I have no appetite at this time." Satine said with a downtrodden tone.
"That's to be expected." Matt spoke up, still suited up. "It was after all a bit of a harrowing moment.
"Maybe it would be best if we forgo continuing dinner and return to our quarters for the rest of the trip to Coruscant." Merrik suggested, ready to stand back up.
"Just a moment, senator." Obi-wan spoke up, holding something that was hidden beneath a cloth. "I would think that leaving before desert would be rather unbecoming when having dinner with such fine, upstanding individuals."
Without another word, Obi-wan removed the cloth to reveal the mini-droid that had been caught by Daredevil earlier.
Many of the senators shifted about uncomfortably at the sight of the droid.
"You see, Mr. Murdock here caught this little one scampering about the dining room hall." Kenobi stated. "Yet where it was found was quite unusual."
Turning to the blind lawyer, Matt picked up from Obi-wan's statement.
"When the droids were attacking, emotions were running high on top of adrenaline." Matt began calmly, slowly walking around the table with Kenobi doing the same on the other. "Everyone's heart rate was accelerated and there was a clear sense of panic considering how sudden this attack was."
He heard the man's heart rate elevate.
"All but one of the senators remained calm." Matt said as Obi-wan held up the mini-droid next to the Rodian senator.
Satine saw this and grew angry, rising from her seat.
"This is borderline torture."
"Now, now." Matt said placatingly. "The situation is well under our control. Now, where was I, ah yes, the Senators." He stood behind Cham's seat. "One may suspect Syndulla in the beginning yet many factors detract from this idea. His readiness to fight back stems from his time fighting in the war as well as having no prior relations to the Duchess nor Mandalore until this very meeting that had been arranged by the Senate."
He went over to Merrik just as Obi-wan rounded over to Satine.
"However, one man in particular remained relatively calm all the while with an air of assuredness that he would not get attacked by these little droids." Matt stood directly behind Merrik's chair with Kenobi now next to the senator while holding up the trapped mini-droid.
"Strange." Obi-wan said. "It appears that this droid likes you, Senator Merrik? Any reasons as to why?"
Merrik's eyes darted about rapidly.
"Is everything alright, Senator?" Matt inquired with a slightly taunting tone. "You seem a bit troubled now."
The Senator then laughed snidely a moment later.
"Really, Mr. Murdock, you're quite clever." Merrik shoved his chair back as hard as he was able to while swatting the contained droid up into the air.
Daredevil had tossed aside the chair though was not quick enough to stop the prince from getting to the Duchess and wrapping his arm around her neck while holding up a blaster to her head. Cham had attempted to get up out of his seat yet Merrik shot the Twi'lek in the leg, causing him to fall to the ground.
The smaller assassin droid ran about, having jumped upon the Rodian senator yet it was quickly dispatched by Obi-wan who looked over to see Merrik backing out of the room with Satine as his hostage.
"She'll be coming with me." Merrik said aloud, the door closing as he exited the room.
Obi-wan held up his wrist comm as he and Matt followed after the man.
"Tal Merrik is the traitor and he's taken Satine hostage." Kenobi informed Anakin, him and Matt now running through the halls.
"This way." Matt directed Kenobi towards the front of the ship.
"Copy that, but I've got problems of my own right now." Anakin grunted out, slicing through yet another slew of smaller Assassin droids.
Behind him, Black Widow and Captain America were dealing with their own small army of mini-droids with the large carrier having been destroyed already.
"Cody, Rex, what's your status?" Anakin spoke into his wrist comms.
"All quiet over here, sir." Reported in Cody as both he and Rex rounded a corner. About to traverse further, the Clone Commander spotted a helmet lying on the ground. "Wait a minute…"
Cody cautiously turned the helmet to view the interior, seeing a small mini-droid inside that pounced on the Commander. Several more mini-droids appeared, attacking the two high ranking Clone officers as they swarmed around him.
Thankfully, Anakin appeared right around the corner with R2 as he sliced off the mini droids with the Astromech shocking the others off Rex.
"Thanks little guy." The Clone Captain said with an appreciative nod.
R2 chirped in appreciation as the two clones rose to their feet.
"Well, we found the little ones." Said Skywalker. "What about the mother?'
"Haven't seen it."
From right behind them, a metallic shriek was heard. Turning around, they were too late as the mother droid pounced out from the darkness and tackled Captain Rex into a more open area. It brought two of its front legs up and poised to strike him down.
Rex grabbed both sharp legs from impaling him, kicking the droid off of him. The droid scrambled upwards on the wall when a disk was flung at its legs, cleaving right through them. The disk returned to its owners awaiting hand as the Clone Captain took advantage of the opportunity given to him by Rogers.
Jumping atop the droid, Rex had his blasters aimed right onto the entry points for the mini-droids and unloaded a volley of bolts right into it. The assassin droid sparked as the optics soon died out.
He looked back to the others with a satisfactory nod, one shared by the others.
"That takes care of that."
On the bridge of the Coronet, the crew consisting of Republic guards were stationed throughout the chamber. Working the controls and maintaining their trajectory towards Coruscant via hyperspace. Everything was normal up to this point, even when they were placed on high alert earlier from the assassin droids being present on the ship.
The occupants of the bridge minded their own business when the door leading into the chamber opened up. Some expected it to be a guard coming by or perhaps someone else. Yet to their surprise it was Senator Merrik as he held Duchess Satine in a hostage hold.
Some of the guards were about to respond accordingly, but Merrik was too fast for them with his already drawn out blaster. In quick precision, he fired upon the guards before aiming his weapon at the defenseless captain.
"No, please, I beg-"
The man was silenced with a point blank shot to the head.
"Monster! You're a horrid monster!" Satine cried out, horrified by the death of the guards and captain.
"Get used to it." Merrik snarled. He stepped into the center of the bridge and activated a transmission.
"Death Watch Command." Pre Vizsla greeted the sight of the Duchess and turncoat Senator.
"Tal Merrik here."
"Senator Merrik. It seems you've completed your mission." Pre noted with approval.
"Yes, sir. I have the duchess, but I'll need help getting her away." Merrik said. "There are two Jedi and Three of those Avengers on the Coronet. This may prove problematic."
"Rest assured, Merrik, reinforcements are on their way." Pre's tone was foreboding. "Our esteemed allies of the Confederacy have generously donated someone of equal capabilities to those Jedi and Avengers that concern you. Be ready to exit hyperspace so they may come accordingly."
With the transmission ended, Merrik held the Duchess tighter as he worked the controls to have the Coronet abruptly depart out of hyperspace. From there, he sent out a signal for the CIS so they may board the ship.
Back with Obi-wan and Daredevil, they encountered Anakin and Widow running towards them down the same hall.
"Did you find them?" Kenobi asked straight away.
"No, but I've stationed troopers at every escape pod." Anakin said. "Steve is with them, making sure nobody gets past."
"Merrik will try to signal his allies for help. We have to find him." Kenobi stated as they entered a lift within the corridor.
"He already has." Matt stated, his hearing having picked up on the conversation between Merrik and Pre. "We have enemies incoming as soon as we're out of Hyperspace."
All present were only silent as they rode upon the lift to their destination.
That was until Anakin broke the silence. "This may not be the time to ask but were you and Satine… ever…"
"I don't see how that has any bearing on the situation at hand." Obi-wan said in an aggressively defensive manner. Anakin blinked as he caught the eye of Nat and both shared an amused grin
The moment they exited the elevator, they felt the Coronet shake with a resounding alarm soon after, signaling to everyone on board that they were being attacked. Many clones went into battle stations, rushing through many hallways to stop their attackers.
"Looks like they're here." Natasha stated.
"We'll take care of this, Obi-wan. You? Go find your girlfriend." Anakin said, running off with Matt and Nat.
"Right. Uh, no, Anakin, she's not my…" Obi-wan knew it was pointless, running off to find Satine.
In one corridor, a mixture of Mandalorian guards and clone troopers were holding down the line against the small battalion of Super Battle Droids.
Steve led the defense, throwing his shield as the Vibranium disk bounced around the hallways and cut through the droids like butter. The Clones behind him with the Mandalorian guards advanced when suddenly something slammed into one of the guards.
Something large, elongated and made up of nerves. It crushed the guard to death in an instant, the limb retracting back to where it came from.
"Hello, meat." Snarled the large hulking mass of the Gen'Dai bounty hunter Durge.
"Oh shit, it's that guy." Steve muttered. "Fall back! Fall back now!"
Captain Rex fired at the bounty hunter, trying to keep its attention on him while the others retreated.
"Anakin." Steve called him in. "We have a serious problem on our hands."
"What is it?" Anakin replied in concern.
"Durge is on the ship."
"WHAT?!" Anakin was completely caught off guard by this little tidbit.
"That's wonderful." Nat remarked sarcastically. "How the hell are we gonna get rid of this guy?"
"Captain Rogers, we can't have him running rampant on the ship." Captain Rex said aloud.
"What do you have in mind?" Steve said, narrowly dodging a large fist that left a sizable dent in the wall that he hit.
"We need to get him off the ship." Rex said, firing at Durge's head which caught the attention of the large monstrous bounty hunter.
Understanding what Rex was hinting at, Steve nodded and threw his shield at the Gen'Dai with Durge snarling angrily, swiping at him with Rogers barely making it past these manic swings.
"Move, move." Steve barked out to the guards and clones, the ensemble running away towards the escape pods.
Steve had sent the message for Anakin, Nat and Murdock to meet them there while trying his best to evade Durge and keep his attention on having him follow after them.
Meanwhile…
Reaching the bridge, Obi-wan ignited his lightsaber as he stared down the turncoat Senator holding Satine in a tight grip.
"Come in, Kenobi. You're expected." Spoke Merrik.
"Tal Merrik, you are under arrest." Said the Jedi. "Release the duchess."
It wasn't going to be that easy for the Jedi. For the briefest of moments, he thought Merrik still had a blaster out. If Merrik did, then Obi-wan would've used the Force to pry it out of his grasp and take care of things accordingly. Yet that wasn't the case as what was within his hand was not a blaster, but a detonator.
"Hmm, I took the precaution of wiring the ship's engines to explode. I press this remote, and we all die."
Satine struggled to free herself from Merrik's hold, but he was a bit too strong for her. Looking at the Jedi general, she made a request. "Obi, if you have any respect for me you will not take such risks with so many people's lives at stake."
"Satine… Don't."
All Obi-wan could do was watch Merrik pulling Satine out of the room before carefully moving backwards to keep the Jedi in his line of sight. Not wanting to lose them, Kenobi gave chase.
All the while, Anakin, the Clones and the Avengers were now fighting maniacally in an enclosed space in an attempt to get Durge into an escape pod to jettison him off the ship. The Gen'Dai bounty hunter was running rampant, having killed a dozen clones already with several Mandalorian guards.
He wasn't giving any quarter, only focused on killing all these Clones and Mandalorians. That's what the Count promised him when he enlisted himself into the Sith's services.
"He's just gonna destroy the ship if we don't get him off right now." Matt stressed, his enhanced hearing picking up on the damage that this Durge figure is causing.
"Get an escape pod ready." Anakin ordered with a Clone improvising as he aimed at one of the control panels of an escape pod.
Steve moved forward and began to rapidly throw his shield at the Gen'Dai, the disk bouncing off the bounty hunter with every strike. Nat was using her own set of blaster pistols, the other clones joining in.
The overwhelming display of power momentarily startled the Gen'Dai which was all Anakin needed to see. Stepping forth with his arms raising up into the air, Skywalker felt the Force flow through his being within every cell of his body.
With a grunt, Anakin unleashed a powerful Force push that shoved the bounty hunter straight into the opened escape pod. Quickly closing it telekinetically, he used the force one last time to initiate the launch that sent Durge out and far away from the ship.
The group slumped over slightly in exhaustion until they heard blaster fire down the corridor, around the corner.
"Anakin." Steve spoke up. "You head off and find Obi-wan. We'll deal with this."
Anakin only nodded, running off to where his master may be.
Navigating his way through some hallways, Merrik came across one of the CIS drop ships still pierced into the Coronet's hull. With him still staring down Kenobi, the turncoat Senator activated his wrist-com and spoke towards his Death Watch allies.
"This is Merrik. Stand by to disengage." Said Merrik before turning towards his hostage. "Say farewell, Duchess."
"Obi-wan, it looks like I may never see you again." Satine said with worry in her eyes. "I don't know quite how to say this but… I've loved you from the moment you came to my aid all those years ago."
Merrik looked at his hostage with a look of bewilderment before groaning in annoyance. "I don't believe this…"
If Obi-wan were to be honest, this was a rather awkward predicament as he didn't know what to properly respond back to her.
"Satine, this is hardly the time or place for…"
He was silenced upon seeing her eyes. Gazing into them, he could see the utter sadness and love as they bore straight through him. Memories of their time together all those years passed rushed through his head. The joyful times, the saddened times and the times they were alone together as their feelings blossomed into something more than just a close friendship.
"All right. Had you said the word I would have left the Jedi order."
Despite the circumstances, Satine felt utter happiness when hearing the genuine words coming out of Obi-wan's mouth. Yet the mood quickly died with her captor speaking up.
"That is touching. Truly, it is." Mocked the traitorous senator. "But it's making me sick, and we really must be going."
Satine looked at Merrik in an affront manner, growling at him. "You have the romantic soul of a slug, Merrik."
With that, she quickly lifted up her foot and slammed the heel into the top of his foot. The force and pressure behind it slammed into the Senator's toes, possibly breaking them in the process.
"Ow! You-"
The distraction paid off, giving Satine the chance to break free from her captor's hold. In a fluid motion, she snatched the blaster out of Merrik's grasp and stood a few feet away. Both the weapon in her hand and the lightsaber in Obi-wan's were aimed right at the turncoat.
"And slugs are so often trod upon."
Merrik looked towards both the Duchess and the Jedi, scoffing soon after as he bit back the pain he was feeling from his aching foot. "Interesting turnabout, but even if I do not deliver the duchess alive to the Separatists, I still win. The second I'm away, I'll hit the remote and blow the Coronet to bits."
"I will not allow that." Proclaimed the Mandalorian leader.
Merrik saw Duchess tremble, trying her best to keep the blaster in her grasp steady. She seemed fine knowing how to wield it, but merely using it was conflicting with her.
"What will you do? If you shoot me, you prove yourself a hypocrite to every pacifist ideal you hold dear." Merrik then looked at the Jedi before him. "And you, Kenobi. You are no stranger to violence. You'd be hailed as a hero by everyone on this ship… almost everyone."
Obi-wan glanced over, knowing Merrik's words to be true. If he took down the turncoat here and now, in Satine's presence, he would lose whatever affections she held left of him.
"Come on, then. Who will strike first and brand themselves a cold-blooded killer?"
It was upon these words did Merrik soon let out a painful gasp as a lightsaber was plunged through his chest. He let loose of the remote as it fell towards the ground. Before the detonator's button could connect with the floor and destroy the Coronet, it was caught.
Seeing the dead senator falling to the ground, Satine snapped out of her focus and looked at the blaster in her grasp. She quickly tossed it aside as her hands still trembled.
Kenobi looked at the new arrival and let loose a frustrated sigh. "Anakin…"
"What? He was going to blow up the ship." Said the Skywalker nonchalantly, deactivating his lightsaber.
When Obi-wan put away his weapon, he looked over to Satine as their eyes met. Silence surrounded them as they seemed lost into each other's gazes. Seeing this, Anakin had to step away to give the two a bit of respectful privacy.
"Obi-wan… I…"
Whatever Satine tried to say next died in her throat with a flurry of steps came towards their location. It didn't take her to look to know reinforcements had come to see if she was safe and sound.
"General Skywalker," spoke the clone commander, "the last of the droids have been defeated, sir."
Anakin bit back a growl of annoyance as the clones practically ruined a tender moment between his former Master and the Mandalorian Duchess. "Very good, Cody."
Both Obi-wan and Satine looked at each other before the Duchess broke away, not wanting to look at the Jedi any further. "I must get back to the business of diplomacy."
"As you say, Duchess. Some other time."
Hearing Obi-wan's words as she departed made her heart ache. They both had to do what needs to be done now. Nothing more, nothing less.
Duty comes before love. And this was clearly the saddened case for these two star-crossed lovers.
-Scene Cut-
After some time cleaning up the mess onboard the Coronet, the ship eventually made it back to Coruscant. The trip was not as it was intended to be with all of the death and destruction happening onboard the ship, but everything went out alright in the end… for the most part.
Docking at their assigned platform, the Coronet lowered the ramp for many of its passengers to unload and go to their intended destinations. And greeting them was Chancellor Palpatine with an armed escort some feet behind him.
"A job well done, Master Jedi."
Obi-wan politely bowed a little to the galactic leader. "Thank you, Chancellor."
"Your Excellency." Said the Skywalker as other passengers came flowing out.
While the other senators greeted the Chancellor before heading off, Cham Syndulla hanged back a little longer to give a thankful nod to the Jedi and Avengers before catching up with the other politicians.
It wasn't long after when Satine approached Obi-wan with many of her guards standing around her.
"How ironic to meet again, only to find we're on opposing sides."
Obi-wan could hear the masked pain in her voice. She hid it well with the layer of tiredness from what happened earlier. All she could do now was wear a small smile as she gazed at him.
"The needs of your people are all that matter. They couldn't be in better hands with you to guide their future."
The Duchess' smile grew a little more from his genuine sincere words. She even chuckled a little. "Kind words indeed from a mindful and committed Jedi." She gazed at his face as her smile died a little. "And yet…"
"What?"
"I'm still not sure about the beard."
This utterly confused Kenobi. "Why? What's wrong with it?"
She brought a hand and ran it through his neatly trimmed beard, making him fight the urge to lean into it. "It hides too much of your handsome face."
Satine pulled away, leaving with a teasing grin as she walked away to get to the transport carrying the other politicians.
"What was that all about?" Anakin asked in bewilderment.
"I think there's still that spark that Obi-wan is oh so trying to deny." Nat stated, nudging the master Jedi who for once appeared slightly flustered.
"If only I had a camera right about now." Anakin said with a grin, making Obi-wan frown, only to serve in making the others laugh at his plight.
Anakin, chuckling, placed a comforting hand on his former master's shoulder.
"She's a very remarkable woman." He said softly.
Giving his former Padawan a wry look, he sighed a moment later with an agreeing nod. "She is indeed."
They watched as the Duchess and her entourage departed from the platform, entering a transport ship to take them to the senate building.
"Hey guys!"
Blinking, all heads turned to see none other than Spider-man swinging towards them being joined by Falcon and Quicksilver, who was carried by the avian Avenger via arm grab.
"Sam?" Steve said aloud in surprise. "What are you guys doing out here?"
"And why do you guys smell dirty?" Daredevil's nose scrunched up.
"Oh… well about that." Peter rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "We've been busy so to speak and it's a bit of a long sto-"
"Save it for later." Anakin said, holding up his hand. "Quite frankly, I figure we could all use this time for some rest if you don't mind the suggestion."
"Agreed." Resounded some of the present Avengers.
"How was the trip?" Sam asked.
"We'll tell you along the way." Natasha soon picked up something from her nose and it was coming from the Sokovian. "And is that perfume on you, Pietro?"
"M-maybe."
Alright, there's another one.
So this week in writing has been… rough so to speak but I'd rather not dwell on it.
So there's much to be done in the coming chapters, with the Mandalore plot coming to an end in the next chapter while focusing on things to come.
There's a lot I wanted to do for this chapter but that would have prolonged it unnecessarily so that's being saved for the next chapter.
Not much to say really cause there's so much to do.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.