Chapter 3 – Not quite a welcome.
Sundari had a flair to it unlike any Obi-Wan had ever felt in a densely inhabited place before. As their glider descended down from the domes apex into the busy streets and lower to the levels that were somewhere halfway between the bottom and an in between, he could not shake the feeling of the city feeling somewhat … off. It was hard to tell what this feeling was caused by. The too smooth walls, telling a story that was much shorter than it seemed? They were freshly built he thought but found out it had to be rebuilt rather after they flew over some residential areas that still showed the scars of the civil war very clearly. For every three buildings that still carried the slightly not-quite-lived-in feel of something new, there was one at least that wore the scars of blaster fire, the blackened walls that were caused by enduring smoke and flame. Some were even in such a state of disrepair and destruction that it was obvious they were no longer inhabitable. There were constructions here and there, droids dutifully rebuilding as they probably had for years, but the streets were just a little too quiet for a city of this size, betraying the sad truth that there were, at this point, simply fewer people than there were inhabitable buildings. Sundari was clearly a place still flailing from its past, getting back on its feet but trying to emerge as something else than what it had fallen as.
There were people. Mostly following the routines of daily life. And he could see them more clearly as they descended lower. These levels were brightly lit. The dome was made of some kind of metal and yet Sundaris artificial light somehow managed to look natural, illuminating the oddly new teraces and landing pads. They overflew hydroponic gardens too, integrated into the facades of some more unique buildings, layered levels of greenery that, despite everything, looked just a bit too orderly, too impeccable, matching the mostly geometric shapes of the city. And yet there was little further decoration. No grand, glorious statues, nothing that screamed dominance or political power. It seemed as if the city was deliberately abstaining from it.
He could see small groups of people meandering around as they set down their speeder near one of the gardens on a level that seemed nowhere near the bottom, yet gave the feeling that any other below it might be similar, lacking the grit of lower levels on Coruscant.
Obi-Wan didnt know what he had expected, but found himself surprised when he looked around. It was clearly a residential era, possibly part of the government district, but no building or other structure stood out from it the way he expected the Duchess residence to stand out. Then again, maybe she had take to a different, more secure place after the failed assassination attempt and was keeping a low profile. All the better. That way their arrival, their involvement, might not be given quite as much attention.
They had been silent for the ride, but as they set down, Commander Varrin finally spoke again: "This is a city that wants peace." he said. "But many want others to create it. They are weary of the war, and all the more wary of outsiders. I doubt you will be in any danger, but you should be aware that this place is a tense one, held together more by a vision of the future than of that future being a reality already. It is important that you follow protocol."
As the speeders roof hissed open and they emerged from the vehicle, Obi-Wan briefly caught his masters eyes. Qui-Gon exchanged a long look with him —a silent message that it was time to trust the Force rather than the measures of protocol alone. He looked around, at the buildings rising above them, one of which bore a mural fading beneath layers of dust and war damage. A simple sore in the otherwise pristine small public square they had landed on. Around them people were walking about, some of them staring in their direction. He could detect no hostility in their gazes, but there was no trust either. Most broke eye contact again quickly, busy with other issues than puzzling over who those strangers might be, but once he saw that when a young boy started in their direction out of obvious curiosity, he was quickly grabbed by his mothers hand and ushered away.
As Obi Wans gaze traveled up the leanest building in the square he saw a grand hologram projected to its walls – not unlike a typical propaganda poster, with the difference that this one bore no insigia or marcial symbols, nor was it a call to arms. It simply showed the likeness of the young Duchess, eyes looking ahead into an elusive future, her posture poised and defiant. His gaze lingered for a moment ere he noticed his master was watching him. He lowered his eyes. "Its so peaceful. So clean." he said. "And yet it isnt." He could sense more than see his master nod. "This is a place built on refusal. Refusal to fight. Refusal to remain what they once were." In that moment, the commander stepped next to him and the two soldiers had joined to flank them.
"Shall we?" Varrin indicated with a hand towards a platform that was leading away from the smallish main square, towards a set of buildings nestled against a row of taller skyscrapers. There was an alley between them, metal and glass islands on smaller platforms creating a maze that could easily swallow non-locals.
"Where are we going?" The question was out before Obi-Wan could wonder about its potential impoliteness.
"To see the Duchess."
"She is not residing in the palace?" He had read up on the palace, feeling somewhat educated on the matter of things here.
The commander shook his head. "We brought her here to keep a lower profile. And to. avoid attention." So Obi-Wan had been right with his assumptions.
"Wont people wonder where she has gone?"
"Those are not my concerns, master jedi. We are headed to a safehouse."
Obi-Wan was slightly taken aback by the title before he recalled that to non-jedi the "Master" was less used as an indicator of actual jedi rank and much rather like a title that was assumed for all jedi. He ignored his masters amusement at the words and caught up to the commander. For a moment, before they vanished into the narrow alleyway, he felt oddly exposed . His pulse quickened at the thought that every step they took here was being watched, measured, and perhaps even judged. The uneasy welcome of Sundari was a far cry from the quiet calm of the freighter. He felt the attention. Not loud, but pointed. Some watching from the windows. Pedestrrians crossing their path. Like a city pretending not to stare.
Just before they reacheded the safehouse mere minutes later, they passed another small plaza nestled between the buildings that might have gone unnoticed if it had not been for the broken statue at its centre. A tall figure wearing what looked like more traditional Mandalorian armour, a helmet tucked under its arm. The statues face was disfigured. It looked as it if had been melted off. Varrin and the soldiers did not let them linger. It was bright daylight but they seemed uncomfortable staying out in the open for too long where others were around, crossing their path occasionally, among them two men in what was almost armour, whispering fragments in Mandoa that Obi-Wan found himself unable to translate.
The safehouse was not quite unassuming. A building tucked into the far end of a platform, guarded by walls and other buildings, but with a flair of some status despite its rigid geometry. They entered it through a side door and walked down a long, white marble corridor towards a meeting room at the far end. Two more guards, unarmed but clear of purpose framed t e door and, when they approached, opened a wide set of winged doors to them. To Obi-Wans surprise, the commander remained outside.
They stepped into a room flooded by daylight, a study, clearly, with a desk, a wide holodeck and a holnmap of the Mandalorian system projected to the far wall.
As they entered, the Duchess was already there, her back turned to them as she she looked out of the tall window. She looked fully exposed to the eyes of the public but from what Obi-Wan had seen about other buildings outside, the windows to this one might also be a one sided mirror that did not allow anyone to look inside. When they stepped in, she turned to face them, her eyes going first to his master, clearly the taller and therefore possibly the more noticable one of the two of them, then to him, briefly. She looked like in the holo, her youth layed with a deep determination and a fierceness that almost made Obi-Wan break eye contact when she sook it. Her eyes were a bright blue. Her hair the colour of wheat, tied back in another rather elaborate hairstyle that well would have fitted Corescants high society. She was slender and about his height and, probably, his age as far as he could guess. For a moment he felt himself taken aback by her presence. The intensity of it as she turned and then she started to speak.
"Ah," the young Duchess said, sligtly drawling the syllable for effect. "The jedi have arrived. I wonder now, should I feel safer? Or merely more observed?"
Qui Gon performed a small, formal bow. Obi-Wan imitated it and for a moment thought to sense here bemusement. "We are only here to serve, Duchess." he heard Qui Gon say.
"Serve?" she exclaimed in a controlled manner that still bore traces of a deeper frustration. "A flexible word. Like peace. Or neutrality. Very fashionable in Coruscant when convenient . I serve my people, master Jedi, but what about you?"
Obi Wan glanced at his master, somewhat surprised by the young womans sharp tone, but Qui Gon seemed unphased. "If our presence offends, Duchess, we will leave when you are safe."
Now she crossed her arms. „I wonder when that will be. Before or after someone decides that the definition of safe includes political reshuffling?"
Qui Gon shook his head. "We are not here to intervere with your government."
She gave a mirthless laugh. "Of course not. Just two jedi dropping from the sky, uninvited during a civil crisis. I would be foolish to question your timing."
"Duchess, it was your advisors reaching out with concerns for your safety. This is why we are here."
It felt to Obi-Wan that this was a good moment to add a few words of his own. "With respect, your serenity," he said politely. "our mission is purely protective. The jedi order does not aim to get politically involved."
She regarded him for a long moment, then cocked her head sligtly. It was a handsome quirk of posture. "Is that the padawan handbook speaking?" she asked pointedly.
He blinked. Not quite insulted, but suddenly unsure how to respond. She swept past him without waiting for a reply.
"Tell me, Master Jinn. Do your lightsabers come with diplomatic credentials these days? Or are you simply hoping no one notices the contradiction?"
"A jedi uses their lightsaber to defend, never to attack, Duchess. Sometimes such a weapon is necessary to protect peace."
She whirled around again. "No. Peace requires courage. And discipline. Not mystics who claim to be peacekeepers but wave swords when the talking stops."
Obi Wan glanced at his master in time to see a small, but indulgent smile curl the older mans lips. "There is more to us than that. We follow the will of the Force. We do not act in self-interest."
"Mh." she made "And yet here you are, appearing out of hyperspace just when it becomes politically inconvenient for me to die."
"You sound disappointed."
"Oh I am many things, Master Jinn." she poured herself some water. Offering none to either of them. "Disappointed. Irritated. Mildly amused. But mostly I am wondering why it took Coruscant years and four assassinations to remember my name."
Obi Wan was following the conversation with a mix of growing unease and yet a slight... fascination that came from seeing his master being challenged to a verbal sparing session. He shifted slightly. Immediately, Satine turned her attention to him. "Dont worry padawan. I dont blame you personally. Youre probably just following orders. Like everyone else."
For some reason that arrow found a target. And it stung. He could feel his cheeks flushing, the urge to contradict rising. "We came because someone cares what happens to Mandalore." He didnt like that he had, unnoticedly, raised his voice a bit, the incredulousness audible in his tone.
Her eyes softened a bit, but with disappointment, not agreement. "And yet no one came here when asked for clean water after the siege."
He opened his mouth, meaning to say something comforting. What came out sounded lame, to his own ears. "Better late than never, I hope."
She scoffed at that. "Youre young. Hope comes easy when you havent had it tested."
Obi-Wan frowned. How old was she even? His age he had guessed before. A year older perhaps, but more? He doubted it. That made her what? 19? 20? He opened his mouth once more for a hopefully witty reply, but his master beat him to it. "Careful Duchess, Obi-Wan tends to be sensitive about his age."
He could feel his cheeks flush further and couldnt keep himself from tossing the older man a rather loaded glance. She didnt see it, her back to them again. The silence stretched to the brink of discomfort ere she continued. "I do not want bodyguards" she said "What I want is not to need them."
"We are here now," Qui Gons voice was calm. "And we wont leave while youre in danger." He could sense something at that. The defiance again, the hint that his master was making his own rules again. But there was nothing that made sense to say against it right now.
She nodded, her voice a little softer, though not giving in completely. "I believe you, master Jinn, I truly do. But belief is a luxury. And trust. Trust takes longer."
She left the room then, saying something about having to see to some issues of importants before further plans could be discussed, because discussed they would be. The two jedi foundselves alone in the vast meeing chamber, Obi-Wan slightly behind his master who looked towards the door, then folded his arms in front of his chest losely and turned to look at his apprentice, his eyebrows slightly raised. As if aware of the things he was turning over in his head to make sense of the whirlwind of a conversation he had just been a part of, his master waited a beat before speaking.
"You handled yourself well."
Obi-Wan tried to hold back a frown, not quite succeeding. "I didnt say much."
A low chuckle from his master at that. "Sometimes that is the better path. Especially if one is … outmatched rhetorically."
This time the frown could not be suppressed. "Thank you, master, that is very comforting."
This time, Qui Gon smiled. "It is not criticism, Obi-Wan. She spoke with purpose and precision. Those are rare qualities."
He almost bristled. "She barely let me finish a sentence."
"She was just wasnt agreeing."
"It felt like I was being tested."
Qui Gon turned to him fully now, regarding him. "Oh, you were."
"Did I pass?" Not that it mattered. At this point he told himself he was defending himself against...he didnt even know. Having been dismissed? He wasnt used to that kind of talk. That kind of ...peer.
His master pretended seriousness but somehow Obi-Wan could not shake the feeling all of this somehow bemused him. "She has not decided yet."
He knew he should just let it go. And yet. "She was just so … sure of herself."
"That bothered you?" Raised eyebrows.
"No... I... I think it … just surprised me. I didnt know someone could be so... so pointed and still sound like they are completely in control." Force, he was stammering. Stammering for no reason at all. He could feel the flush in his cheeks, just underscoring his own insecurity at the situation.
"Ah."
Just that as a response. And only when Obi-Wan did not respond at all, his master added more and when he talked there was the edge of concern to be sensed within his presence in the Force. "Be careful, Obi-Wan. That kind of presence leaves and impression. Whether you want it or not."
Obi-Wan wound his hands into the ends of his sleeves. "She certainly made one," he muttered, meaning to sound dismissive at the same time.
He did not dare meet his masters eyes but the older man did not torment him for long, instead looking away again, towards the door through which the Duchess had vanished moments ago.
Qui Gon Jinn suppressed a somewhat worried sigh. "Yes," he said, "I noticed."
