Clouded by the Dark Side

Chapter 30 - Mission to Mandalore

Anakin Skywalker

"You know your marching orders," Obi-Wan declares from where he stands at the front of the circle of clones. "The safety of the Duchess Satine is of the utmost importance. The Death Watch will stop at nothing to assassinate her before she pleads her case to the Senate."

"The Death Watch may be backed by the Separatists," I cut in, stepping out of the dark corner into the illuminated center of the room, "So stay sharp. Artoo, use your scanners to probe for any suspicious droid activity." The droid whistles.

"Anything else, sir?" queries Rex.

"No, that will be all," Obi-Wan responds. The clones turn, filing away into the lower parts of the ship to keep watch. Rex, Appo, and Cody pause for a moment, then turn to follow us.

Obi-Wan's comm suddenly beeps. "Yes?"

"The Duchess and her retinue request your presence."

"Very well," he replies, looking to Aniya and me.

"Let's get going," advises my sister. The three of us followed by our commanders file into an elevator.

"I sense some anxiety from you about the Duchess," I remark casually, "She couldn't be in safer hands." He's worried, though I know he'd never admit it. He must have known her better than I realized from before.

"Yes, I know," Obi-Wan replies, stroking his beard.

"Then why –" I begin asking.

"Never mind," he hastily cuts me off, trying in vain to suddenly act perfectly calm, "It's all in the past."

"I knew you knew her," Aniya says with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You were close to her?" I press.

"I did know her," he confirms, almost scowling for a moment, "A long time ago." For some reason, this elevator ride is almost reminding me of the one before I met Padme again in reverse. Aniya exchanges a smirk with me. This will be fun.

"War is intolerable!" I hear a distant voice ringing out from the room at the end of the hall. It must be Satine. "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."

"Excuse me, your Grace," a different voice interjects, "Are you suggesting we oppose the war on humanitarian grounds?"

"I'm going to oppose it as an affront to life itself," retorts Satine as we step into the room to see her seated on a fancy seat with several steps going up to it. Pillars are on either side of the seat, with red curtains draped behind it. Two guards stand on either side of the door and numerous other people mill about in the reddish colored room. "As the designated regent of one thousand five hundred 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," Obi-Wan breaks in as he crosses the room, approaching the throne.

Satine stares at him for a long moment, looking very unimpressed. "You are quite the general now, aren't you, Master Kenobi?" she retorts finally.

"Forgive me for interrupting, Your Highness, I mean no disrespect." Obi-Wan does not sound particularly apologetic. I do my best not to smirk from my place near the door.

"Really?" she responds coolly, her gaze flickering across the room to where several other Senators are gathered, "Senators, I presume you are acquainted with the collection of half-truths and hyperbole known as Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

I guess he'd annoyed her too much. Aniya chokes on laughter beside me and attempts to cover it up with a cough but fails miserably.

Obi-Wan looks like he's trying to suppress his flair of annoyance, and finally says, "Your Highness is too kind."