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Obi-Wan’s armor clattered as his knees hit the floor, held down by the grip of the two Mandalorian warriors above him, and the binders around his wrists. In front of him, Satine knelt at the foot of the throne she normally occupied, while Maul sat on the chair, his fingers tapping the armrest, the darksaber held loosely in his grip. Maul was taunting him, reveling in his power.
“The great Obi-Wan Kenobi, here in my power. What were you expecting, Kenobi? Did you truly think you could defeat me? I’ve had years to plan my revenge, years spent planning how best to make you suffer as I have.”
Obi-Wan attempted to ignore his taunts, looking instead to Satine. It had been a few days since Maul and his brother had captured them and returned them to the capitol, and Obi-Wan had not seen her since then. She seemed to be okay, her eyes filled with fire, as they always were, despite the precarious situation they found themselves in. Obi-Wan had to admire her courage. He at least planned to fight back, although how he was going to, he didn’t know. But he knew that she would not fight, even when it was her own life depending on it. She was resigned to whatever fate was in store for her, but she was still unafraid.
“I originally planned to kill you.” Maul shouted, pushing himself to his feet and igniting the blade of the darksaber. Obi-Wan’s muscles clenched, ready for a fight. His lightsaber may have been gone, destroyed in their failed escape attempt, but he was wearing Mandalorian armor, which would turn anything but a direct blow from a lightsaber. Or the darksaber. If he could get free, he might have a chance. “But that would have been too easy. I wanted to you to live on, sharing the pain and loss I have felt for so long. So here we are. How does it feel to know that she is going to die? And there is nothing you can do to stop it?”
Satine’s eyes widened, but she remained still. At least until Maul raised his hand, choking her with the force, lifting her feet off the ground as she vainly clawed at the invisible force restricting her throat. Obi-Wan tried to push to his feet to reach her, but the men above him were too strong, and he was weaponless. Maul raised the darksaber, flourishing it in the air in front of him for a few moments. “Isn’t this an interesting weapon? It’s been a killer of Jedi for so long, and I can feel it’s wish to do so again. But it will not kill one now. Only destroy him.”
Into Obi-Wan’s head flew a long forgotten memory, from the year he and Satine spent together on the run. In order to pass the time, she had taught him Mando’a, as well as Mandalorian history. “The Kyber crystal within its handle grants it a near sentience, which even lightsabers do not have. It answers to whoever defeats its previous owner. It will ignite for only two other beings in the universe. Stronger even than its allegiance to the victor is its allegiance to the duke or duchess of Manda’yaim. In the past, those were nearly always the same person. But now, that Death Watch has rebelled against my father, it has two allegiances. If my father could get his hands on it, it would belong to him. He would not even have to kill Vizla. He is the Duke of Manda’yaim, and it owes its strongest allegiance to him, if he were to ever try to claim it. But to do so would be to violate everything he believes in. He has tried to turn Manda’yaim into a place of peace…”
As the Duchess of Mandalore, Obi-Wan knew that Satine could claim that same allegiance. But, like her father, Obi-Wan also knew that Satine would never wield it. To even touch it would be abhorrent to her, when she had devoted her whole life to bring peace to her planet. And so it was in Maul’s hand now, as he began to draw Satine closer to him, the air still cut off from her lungs.
The closer she moved, the more Obi-Wan’s mind raced. Torn, he knelt, searching Satine’s eyes for her thoughts. Despite the lack of air, trust and love still shone in her eyes, and spurred him to act. Gathering his strength, Obi-Wan summoned the Force, and thrust it out, shoving the two men holding him into the nearest wall. Pushing himself to his feet, he raised his hand toward Maul. The Sith paused for a moment, momentarily stunned by the action.
“No, it will not. It will answer to a Jedi now.”
Maul threw his head back, his laughter echoing off the high ceilings of the throne room. “The darksaber answers to one person. Whoever defeated its last owner in mortal combat. As you can see, Pre Vizla” he gestured towards the headless body of the former Death Watch leader, “is no longer alive. The darksaber answers to me, and me alone.”
“You’re wrong.” Obi-Wan said evenly. “The darksaber answers to someone else, no matter who defeated its last owner. Its primary allegiance is to the Duke and Duchess of Mandalore.”
“Her?” Maul scoffed. “She will never take it from me.”
“No.” The darksaber flew across the room, landing in Obi-Wan’s hand and igniting. “But I will.”
Maul dropped Satine to the ground in shock, her gasps loud in the now otherwise quiet room. “No. It doesn’t work like that. Just because you may love her does not make you worthy to claim that blade. It will not answer to you.” He drew his saber and ignited the red blade, stepping forward. Over his shoulder, he shot orders to his men. “Hold her. Make sure she doesn’t escape. And block the doors. We can’t have him getting away either.” The men sprang into action, taking their places.
Obi-Wan waited for them to stop moving before he spoke to give his next words the maximum effect. “If I only loved her, that would be true. But I am Obi-Wan Kryze, husband of Duchess Satine Kryze, and Duke of Manda’yaim.”
Several of the Kyr’tsad stepped forward, dropping to their knees. The two holding Satine did not move, however, which Obi-Wan determined would be his next problem, after dealing with the angry Sith in front to him. Maul ran towards him, his saber held low behind him and attacked Obi-Wan aggressively. Obi-Wan stepped back for a moment, unprepared for his vehemence, but after a second to adjust his fighting style, he began to push forward.
Maul never stood a chance. He had threatened something that was very dear to Obi-Wan, and that could not be forgiven. Revenge was not the Jedi way, but Obi-Wan was defending the innocent, and he would not be stopped. He swung the darksaber, slicing the Sith in half the same way he had so many years ago, and then sliced off his head, knowing that was something he could never come back from.
Maul’s body hit the floor with a thud, and Obi-Wan stood for a moment, breathing heavily. “Obi!” He heard a voice cry, and turned to find the Duchess still held in the grasp of two Mandalorian’s. “Release her.” He demanded, his voice low. One of them dropped his hold immediately, stepping back and dropping to his knees in front of the man who was not only his Duke, but now, with Maul’s death, the leader of Death Watch. The other dropped his hold on her as well, but only to draw his weapon. “We will never be ruled by a Jetti.” He hissed, firing his blaster.
He ignited his jetpack and came flying toward Obi-Wan, who stood still awaiting his attack. Rather than fight him, Obi-Wan simply sidestepped his blow, and sliced through his jetpack, causing him to crash into the opposite wall before falling still.
Satine ran toward her husband, for the first time able to do that in front of others, and kissed him gently. Just then, Obi-Wan’s commlink beeped. “It’s the Council.” He groaned, twisting his arm away from his wife to press the button. She grabbed his hand. “They can wait. Before you speak to them, let’s get you into something more appropriate for the Duke of Manda’yaim. It seems to be time they finally know.”
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When Obi-Wan finally called the Council four hours later, looks of irritation crossed most of their faces, except for Anakin and Ahsoka. “Master Kenobi.” Mace Windu greeted him. Obi-Wan bowed. “Interesting to receive a call from you from a place we forbade you to go.”
“Ah, yes. I do apologize for that. I know you gave me a direct order not to come here. But you see, I was needed. Maul had returned, and taken over the system. He was planning to execute the Duchess to draw me into his trap. I was able to take the darksaber from him, and rescue the Duchess. The system is now safe, and Maul is dead.”
“How did you take the darksaber from him? His claim as leader of Death Watch should have prevented that.”
Satine stepped into view of the camera. “While it is true that as leader of Death Watch, he had a claim on the blade, there is another, stronger claim. That of the Duke or Duchess of Mandalore.”
“You claimed the blade, Duchess? Doesn’t that go against all of your beliefs?” Ahsoka received several dark looks from the Jedi Masters for speaking out of turn, but she had spoken what they were all thinking.
“No, it was not me.” She replied softly. Obi-Wan unclasped his cloak from his neck, dropping it to the floor and showing the spotless set of Beskar armor he now wore. “I did.”
Anakin laughed, at the same time as the Council began to frown. “You?” Yoda asked, his eyes wide at seeing Obi-Wan’s new armor.
“Yes.” Obi-Wan replied. Holding out his hand, he took Satine’s in his. She was wearing her own set of Beskar’gam, which was unusual for her, but they had thought it important to show a united front. They could allow no misunderstandings. “Twenty years ago, I married Duchess Satine Kryze. At that point, I became Obi-Wan Kryze, Duke of Manda’yaim, and the Mand’alor. I know marriage is against the Jetti code, and so I now renounce my position on this council, and am now leaving the order as well.”
Gasps sounded through the commlink, but he was not going to change his mind. For twenty years he had hidden this, but no longer. He refused to leave his wife and his people defenseless anymore. Anakin cleared his throat. “While we’re making declarations, I have one to make too.”
“Anakin.” Obi-Wan warned, but it had no effect. Clearly his example was too much.
“I, too, will be leaving the Jedi order, since for the past three years, I have been married to Senator Amidala.”
Ahsoka laughed. “If they’re going, I’m going with them.”
The council’s eyes were wide. This was clearly not how they had seen their day going. And they needed every Jedi they could get to continue fighting their war. “Perhaps you would consider staying on as generals in the clone armies, at least until the end of the war?” Master Windu ventured. Almost simultaneously, they shook their heads. “We will stay until you find replacements for us.” Obi-Wan offered. “No longer.”
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Two weeks later, Obi-Wan stepped onto the deck of his star cruiser, followed by Ahsoka and Anakin. He wore his new armor, colored the same blue that his wife wore so much, the colors of their house. The other two wore similar armor, but colored a slightly different blue, matching the armor of the clones. The clones had been told that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano had resigned from the Jedi order the day after they had informed the council, and yesterday had been told that their new commander would be the Duke of Mandalore.
Obi-Wan still wore his helmet as he stepped into the command room, as did the other former Jedi, and all the clones snapped to attention in front of him. Cody and Rex were at the front of their men, clearly nervous, but still determined to be professional. “Sir!” Cody greeted them. “Please, relax. Remove your helmets. There is no need for ceremony with me.” The voice modulator on his helmet scrambled his voice past recognition. As the men relaxed, Rex removed his helmet. “Sir, do you know what’s happened to General Kenobi? He was a good friend of many of ours.”
Obi-Wan removed his helmet. “I’m still here, Rex, although not General anymore.”
A cheer went up from the men as they saw his face, the face of their beloved general where they had expected to meet a stranger as the Mand’alor.
“You, sir?” Cody gasped again as Anakin and Ahsoka removed their helmets.
“The council has asked us to remain as your commanders until they can find suitable replacements for us. When they found out about my marriage, they were extremely upset. I resigned my position rather than be forced out, but I can no longer fight in their war. I believe it to be unjust, and no longer necessary. There are other ways to achieve our goals. And so I ask you, not as the Mand’alor, but as your former captain and friend, to follow me when I leave. To follow this.” He ignited the darksaber at his side, the men gasping around him.
“He carries the Kad’dha!” Most of them knelt immediately, the rest settling for a deep bow.
“You are all Mando’ade, and on Manda’yaim you could be free to live your lives as you see fit, not as you’re forced to.”
The men rose to their feet, cheering again, even louder this time. Obi-Wan had no doubt they would follow him, and with their strength, Mandalore would be a force to be reckoned with if the council ever decided to break their treaty with them.
“Sir,” Cody stepped up, looking almost sheepish. “How long have you known Mando’a?”
“The Duchess taught me twenty-five years ago, when I was her protector for a year during the civil war. We were married twenty years ago, and it’s gotten a lot better since then.”
“So, you’re fluent?”
“I would say so, yes.”
Cody cringed. “So all those times we were speaking Mando’a among ourselves, you could understand us?”
“Yes.” Obi-Wan laughed. “Even the times you were making fun of me.”
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The Duchess spent the next three months working with her good friend Padmè Amidala in Coruscant to create a peace treaty the Republic could agree with, and one the separatists could honor. Their marriages had been the talk of every gossip in the city, but both women were well practiced in ignoring their critics, and had no issues. Their husbands, on the other hand, on the rare occasions they were able to spend time together, were nearly getting into fights every few minutes because someone said something to insult them.
It was a joyful day for them all when they finally were free. New Jedi had been ordered to replace Kenobi and Skywalker commanding their ships, which were suddenly very devoid of any men to crew them. Anakin and Padmè returned to Naboo, with many promises to visit often. Ahsoka traveled with Obi-Wan and Satine back to Mandalore.
They returned home to a great celebration. The people of Mandalore were thrilled to finally meet their Duke, especially once they had learned that he was the one who had defeated the Kyr’tsad and rescued the Duchess. It was also the first time that Satine was able to publicly recognize their son, Korkie, as heir to the throne, instead of as her nephew, as she had claimed all his life. The men they brought with them only caused greater rejoicing. Any clones who had wished to had been allowed to leave, to make their own way, or to join other professions on Mandalore. But most of them had chosen to remain in the army. They had known nothing else in their lives, and preferred to stay with something they were familiar with.
Ahsoka took over the daily training of the army, since Obi-Wan was now busy helping Satine rule the system, keeping the peace between them and the republic. And if Korkie spent most of his time watching Ahsoka train, no one said anything. Satine and Obi-Wan watched the two with delight. They loved Ahsoka as their own daughter, and secretly hoped that one day she would truly join the family.
Mandalore truly did not need as large an army as they had. But the galaxy was in a precarious place. The newly ratified peace treaty was followed, but only barely. Mandalore took over the Jedi’s place in the galaxy as peacekeepers, traveling wherever needed to assist in rebuilding, or reminding any particularly obstinate systems of their obligations. Anakin and Obi-Wan went along on some of these missions, but Ahsoka and Korkie headed most of them, leaving the two men to be able to stay home with their wives and play their parts as leaders of their planets.
The people of Mandalore rejoiced. Death Watch was no longer a threat. The war in the galaxy was at an end, leaving them with peace. Their Duchess was home and safe. And with a former Jetti as the mand’alor, and at the head of such a large army, Manda’yaim was finally a force to be reckoned with.