The halls of Sundari Palace were quiet, the usual thrum of activity reduced to a faint whisper in the evening hours. The sleek, polished walls of the palace glowed faintly in the soft lighting, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The Mandalorian architecture, with its sharp lines and intricate structures, was a testament to the strength and resilience of the people who called this world their home.
Rex stood near a large window, gazing out at the sprawling cityscape of Sundari. The pristine domes and spires of the capital stretched out before him, but his mind was elsewhere—on Dakota, now light-years away on a task. His task, issued by her, was to watch over Senator Amidala while she was gone. Simple enough, but his thoughts kept drifting back to her at every turn.
He wondered where she would've walked when she called this place her home. How she would've been if she had stayed here, and took up the title of a royal instead of forfeiting it. Not a soul could guess her lineage, he hadn't even been aware of her Mandalorian heritage until after months of knowing her.
Her Sorganian blood, the rich brown of her skin, the deep dark of her hair, and her unique features made it hard to connect the dots. But seeing her standing side by side with Satine, their shared bloodline became clear in the subtle echoes of their expressions—half-sisters, fully devoted to each other.
A quiet rustle of fabric alerted him to the presence of someone approaching. He turned to see Duchess Satine Kryze, her presence commanding the hall as she breezed towards him. Her elegant blue and purple gown trailed delicately at her feet, and her calm demeanor was only betrayed by the slight furrow in her brow as she studied Rex.
"Captain Rex," she greeted, her voice warm and smooth. "May I join you?"
"Of course, Duchess," Rex replied, standing straighter and meeting her gaze. Striking blue eyes, pale skin, soft blonde hair—if the epitome of beauty hadn't already been his General, Rex might have thought the Duchess deserved that title herself.
The resemblance between them was undeniable, though subtle. The same sharp cheekbones, the same half-smile, a near-identical glimmer in their eyes. He could see it clearly now.
Satine came to stand beside him, her hands gently clasped behind her back. The light from the window pooled over her, and Rex waited for her to speak first. She gazed out at the city, her expression softening as she looked at the distant skyline. After a moment, she spoke.
"Do you see that building?" she asked, her eyes moving to a distant structure, its towering spires glinting faintly in the evening light.
Rex nodded. It stood apart from the other buildings, its ancient design a stark contrast to the more modern structures around it.
"The Mandalore Archive," Satine explained, her voice tinged with reverence. "A repository of our people's culture, history, and all that we are. The good and the bad. It's a symbol of our resilience, but also a reminder of the complexities of our heritage."
She paused for a moment, allowing the weight of her words to settle. Then a small smile tugged at her lips. "When your Jedi General was a girl, she climbed to the top of that building's spire and glued one of our deacons' most prized ritualistic robes to the roof. The glue stains are still there, to this day."
"I'm not surprised," Rex chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I've heard more than a few stories of her and glue."
Satine looked at him with a raised brow. "What surprises me is that you haven't asked how I know such a tale about your General."
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Afterglow II | The Clone Wars
Fanfictionbook 2 although the Clone War is drawing to a close, there is still a war within the Jedi of many secrets. The Order has shaped her ethics, but that which is forbidden is her inner compass. She is a warrior, a sister, a friend, a lover. Ultimately...
