"Leadership is an action, not a position"

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Chapter Thirty

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Translations

Kyr'tsad - Death Watch

Hut'uun - Coward, worst insult you can give

Tinglar - Mandalorian chili, especially spicy

Beskad - Mandalorian short sword

~*~

The time had come. You could feel it in your bones. Everything you had done leading up to this point, the pain and the training, the reason was now here.

"The Council refuses to assist me in this matter and therefore I can receive no help from the Jedi. You, my darling, are no Jedi."

"Not anymore," you smiled down at the hologram of Obi-Wan, ignoring the pang in your heart. It had been a month since you had left the Order and things for the most part had settled. The Vode were speaking to you again and they spoke in short sentences to Barriss, which was something. It didn't hurt to see other Jedi anymore, and you could work with them like old times again.

You had made the right decision. You could see that every time Barriss smiled and with every successfully completed meditation. It was easy to see it in yourself too. The bags under your eyes weren't so intense, and despite no longer being surrounded by Light Jedi, the darkness you had felt had sunk its claws into you was dissipating.

All was well up until Obi-Wan called you, but you were prepared for things to change once again by that point.

"I shall have to leave Barriss with the ship to assure that no one can accuse me of deserting," you smiled wryly, "I'll be there as soon as I can. Are you sure you don't want me to bring any backup?"

"There's no one you can bring. Anakin and Ahsoka are currently busy and the clones belong to the Order. We'll be on our own."

"Right, I'll see you soon then. It's... it's going to be okay, Obi-Wan."

The words were on the tip of your tongue, the confession of what was about to happen- but you bit your cheek and held back. He couldn't know what was to come. Just as Satine hadn't told anyone, you hadn't either. It had to be just the two of you until the battle was over and the Mandalorian government had the chance to make the announcement.

Leaving your room, you jumped when you saw Burner and Barriss at the door. The two of them had become fast friends when you took her on as a student, and they enjoyed causing trouble together. Burner was, perhaps, the quickest to forgive - not because it was easy to forget his brothers but because he too struggled with anger and how to properly cope with it. He knew why Barriss did what she did, and that paved the way for their friendship.

"Something is wrong, isn't it?" Barriss asked the obvious. In order to gain her trust and keep it, you had been very lax when it came to shielding from her, unless in serious situations where the two of you needed to be focused. You wanted to be open with her so she felt safe.

"Yes, something is," you admitted, "Mandalore is under attack and the Senate and Council have denied them assistance. However, I do not fall under their power anymore and therefore I can go and help. I want you to stay here under Drifter's command until I return."

"I can assist you in this, Master. It seems like you're going to need it if Mandalore has become a warzone."

"No, no, I'd feel much better if you were safe here. This won't be a battle for you, Barriss. Trust me, I'll stay in touch, okay? I need to go speak with Drifter and the Admiral."

After leaving command of the 377th to Drifter and the Admiral, you took one of the ships with the fastest hyperdrive and set course for Mandalore. The trip would take about an hour, and since Obi-Wan was already on the way when he contacted you, the two of you should arrive at about the same time.

You spent that hour deep in meditation, trying to reassure yourself that you were doing the right thing. The Force seemed to wrap you in a hug as if trying to comfort you and tell you that you were doing the right thing. The Force was your only true master now, and it was telling you this was the correct path, but the guilt was still hard to handle.

There were no attempted transmissions when you entered the atmosphere, although part of that could be thanks to you parking your ship outside of the Sundari dome. It would be easier to sneak inside that way than it would be to land.

Many of the Death Watch members weren't wearing pure beskar, as it was nearly impossible to find nowadays. Because of that, it was easy to enter their minds and scatter their thoughts long enough to slip inside the city.

Obi-Wan was near, you could feel it in the Force. Reaching out to your soul bond, you said, I've arrived on Mandalore. What's your status?

I'm currently in the city disguised as a Death Watch guard. I'm nearing the palace, but I'll wait for you.

Right, you needed a disguise then. Watching the passing Death Watch soldiers, you located one that was about your building and struck, dragging them into a dark corner and applying pressure to the gap between their helmet and the start of their armor until they fell unconscious.

The armor was a bit tight, and it was uncomfortably tight around your ears, but it would do for the time being. You slipped your lightsaber between the backplate and the jetpack and unlatched the hidden compartment in your boot to retrieve your beskad from your boot. The pure, hollow beskar would catch eyes but it was a Mandalorian weapon and would also help you blend in.

The beskar in the helmet was messing with your senses and making you a bit dizzy. Not enough to impact your ability to fight and think, but just enough to throw you off a bit. The sooner you could get this ordeal over with, the better.

Obi-Wan was pacing in front of the containment center, playing it off like he was a guard patrolling instead of an anxious Jedi. You released your hold on your Force presence to let him know who you were as you approached.

"Do you know where she is?" You asked quietly.

"In high security," Obi-Wan whispered back, "I managed to snag an access card."

As casually as the two of you could, you moved inside the prison and made your way to high security. Many of the cells were already full of Satine's former government, but at the very center of it all was Satine herself.

"Here to do more of your master's bidding?" Satine asked coldly when the door opened.

"We do our own bidding," you and Obi-Wan pulled your helmets off, and you were thankful for the temporary reprieve.

"Oh thank the Manda," Satine pulled the two of you into a tight hug, "Are the two of you alone?"

"Yes. The Jedi Council and the Galactic senate will be of no help to us here."

The two of you flanked Satine all the way to the elevator and slipped your helmets on while you were waiting. Satine remained silent, although you could feel her intense gaze on the side of your head. Neither of you could say anything with Obi-Wan here, but you knew what she was attempting to convey. In return, you inclined your head slightly. Her shoulder slumped. Your eyes burned.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a Death Watch guard already inside. Obi-Wan shoved Satin forward and the three of you stepped inside.

"There's no record of a prisoner transfer here."

"The orders came from upstairs," Obi-Wan answered confidently.

"What's the authorization code?"

"Oh, um-"

Rolling your eyes, you grabbed your beskad from your belt and slammed the hilt hard enough against his helmet that he was instantly unconscious. The elevator doors opened up to an outer bay with a speeder already waiting - which the three of you took back to the loading docks where the Twilight was parked.

"What's the hold-up?" You asked when the ship refused to start.

"Anakin gave me a piece of kark, that's the hold-up!" Obi-Wan hissed, laughing in victory when the ship finally let out a roar and he pulled it into the air.

"We need to contact my sister for help," Satine insisted.

"Who's your sister?"

The ship jerked and rapidly lost altitude as several missiles hit the wing. Grabbing Obi-Wan and Satine, you pulled them to the main door, "No more time for escaping, we need to get out."

Before the three of you could jump out, another explosion sent all of you hurtling to the ground. Your head slammed against the side of your helmet, leaving you dizzy and nauseous. Rolling to your side, you caught sight of red skin and dark tattoos before you finally passed out.

You woke up when you were thrown to the ground, the sudden jolt bringing your back to awareness. Snapping up, you immediately felt that your weapons were missing and your disguise helmet was gone. Hands were on you instantly, pushing you to your knees and keeping you down.

Shaking your head to clear it, you caught sight of Obi-Wan next to you. There was a legion of guards in the room - the palace's throne room to be exact. Maul sat on what once was Satine's throne, and Satine was on her knees next to him.

"And the last guest is finally awake," Maul said lazily, "Your noble flaw is a weakness shared by you and your duchess," Maul used the force to lift Satine, choking her in the process, "You should have chosen the Dark Side Kenobi, and you. I can smell the darkness on you. Waiting, longing to be embraced. Kenobi's fear and anger betray him, but you... I sense nothing but calm and contentment. How interesting."

Obi-Wan looked over at you, his brows furrowed in confusion at the revelation. You kept your eyes straight ahead, trained on the still struggling Satine. It was more so a bid for air than it was for freedom.

"Don't listen to him-" Satine gasped out.

"You can kill me, but you can never destroy me. It takes strength to resist the Dark Side, only the weak embrace it!"

You allowed the insult to roll off of you with little care. Obi-Wan didn't mean it about you whatsoever, and at this point, he was well aware of the strength it took to be able to both use and come back from the Dark Side as you have done several times now.

Maul, however, did not brush it off as easily, "It is more powerful than you know."

"And those who oppose it are more powerful than you'll ever be. I know where you're from. I've been to your village. I know the decision to join the Dark Side wasn't yours. The Nightsisters made it for you-"

"Silence! You think you know me? It was I who languished for years thinking of nothing but you. Nothing but this moment. And now the perfect tool for my vengeance is in front of us. I never planned on killing you, but I will make you share my pain, Kenobi. What better way to do so than to kill the woman you once loved, the mother of your child?"

Obi-Wan took in a sharp breath at the mention of Korkie - and you prayed to the Force that he was alright. You weren't sure how Maul had figured it out, but considering his obsession with Obi-Wan it also wasn't surprising.

Maul pulled Satine forward, activated the Dark Saber, and pushed it into her torso. The damage was done. He let her fall to the ground with little care. The guards released you and the two of you rushed forward to where Satine lay dying.

"It will be done?" Satine asked you urgently, tears falling from her eyes.

"Yes. I swear it," you grasped her hand.

"Good, yes," her speech was slurring, her breaths becoming shorter. With her free hand, she reached up and brushed Obi-Wan's cheek, "I love you, Obi-Wan. Please protect him."

Her hand fell limp, her chest stilled, and a final tear fell from her eyes as they fell closed. Obi-Wan reached for his hand and pulled it close, pressing a kiss against her knuckles.

"I'm sorry, Duchess," he whispered, tears brimming but not falling. He would not allow himself to cry in front of Maul, not when he was sitting on the throne waiting for proof of Obi-Wan's pain.

The hidden communicator sewed into the inner portion of your sleeve buzzed. Bo-Katan was right on time.

"Obi-Wan," you reached forward and grabbed his shoulder, speaking quickly, "Obi-Wan I'm sorry, but I beg you to understand that it had to be this way. The Force demanded it. Satine had to die for the good of the galaxy."

"What are you-"

Standing, you turned to face Maul, voice firm and unyielding, "Maul Opress, I challenge you to a duel for the ownership of the Dark Saber and the title of Mand'alor in the eyes of Kyr'tsad. Do you accept my challenge? Or will you prove to your followers that you are a coward- hut'uun?"

The Death Watch soldiers backed away as Maul made his way toward you, neither supporting him nor you. Now that the challenge had been given, none of them would show any clear support until it was over. Very diplomatic of them, considering they were an extremist organization.

"(Y/n), what are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked in a panic.

"What the Force wishes of me," you tried to send him a reassuring smile.

The doors to the throne room slammed open, and Bo-Katan along with several other members of her rebel contingent, and several high-up leaders of traditional Mandalorian clans outside of the sector stepped inside.

You had been extremely busy since you had left the Order, balancing your time on the front with extensive meetings with influential Mandalorian leaders pleading your case. Those in Kih'Keldabe were already willing to support you, and it certainly made it different in your other meetings, but it had taken a lot of debating and compromises for you to earn the support you did. There were still two factions you had to gain the support of, however. This fight would determine the support of one.

"I accept the challenge," Maul seemed to realize he had no choice. He pulled the Dark Saber from his belt and activated it.

Raising your hand, you summoned your Saber. It was on Savage's belt, and he made no attempt to take it back, Obi-Wan was carrying Satine's body, and Bo-Katan was at his side, whispering to him. Satine would receive a proper burial when this was over, no matter the outcome.

The soldiers formed a loose circle around the two of you to create the battlegrounds. Normally it was a much more formal affair than this, but many traditions were currently being bent so it didn't matter.

"Kenobi ruined me, and now I'll take you from him! I can sense it now. It wasn't Kryze, it was you. Your death will be his downfall," Maul growled out, his volume loud enough that Obi-Wan could surely hear him from where he was standing.

Scoffing, you shot back, "He didn't ruin you. He saved you."

"Liar!" Maul struck, and for a moment you struggled against his hatred-fueled strength. Even Ventress and Count Dooku hadn't been this focused on your destruction in particular in the past - more so destruction of what you stood for. Satine's death had clearly not broken Obi-Wan, and so now he was aiming for yours instead.

"I went to Naboo to look over the scene. You left behind a strong impression of hatred, pain, and fear."

Maul was skilled, extremely so, but his anger was impacting his judgment. His swings, as strong as they were, were just sloppy enough to reveal his weaknesses.

"I fear nothing."

Ducking under a swipe that would have beheaded you, you retaliated with just as much vigor. You wanted Maul to see the truth, yes, but you wouldn't die for it. Not when there were so many people to take care of and live for.

"Not even your former master?"

Maul hesitated just long enough for you to burn through his sleeve and hit his arm. He jumped away, but the damage was done. Any move he made from that point on would be affected by the injury.

"You know nothing of my master, and it will be your doom."

"I know he took you away from your home, your mother. I know he likely abused you to make you compliant- a pawn in his galaxy-wide game of chess. He twisted who you could have been into the perfect apprentice, but any failure no matter how small was proof you were replaceable. And how replaceable you were."

Roaring, the Dark Side slammed against you and knocked you across the room, nearly taking out several Mandalorians on the way. With the wind knocked out of you, you struggled to catch your breath as Maul approached, the crowd parting for him on the way.

"You will die for that."

In a moment of desperation, with the Force screaming in your ear and flowing through your veins, you slammed a hand against his temple and his heart. The world lurched.

Master was coming. You could sense him through the twisted training bond that felt more like a chain than a true connection. All bonds Maul once had were gone now, torn to shreds by Master as soon as he took Maul on as an apprentice.

You thought training had gone well, but Master was angry. You knew what happened when his anger felt like the Force lightning he so loved to use.

Lightning struck, just as you thought it would. You hadn't realized your Master was in the room, too caught up in your own fears.

Whoosh

Kill the queen. Kill the queen. Kill the queen.

Master wouldn't be pleased if you failed.

The planet was a miserable dustball, but anything was better than where you grew up - an apartment built like a prison.

Jedi were here. The older one was strong but had facets of darkness that you found interesting, there was darkness in his past. The younger one was not as strong, but bright. So pure and light that you felt your own darkness reach out for it to be purified. You growled and resisted. You hated that bright light, it was unknown and dangerous.

Whoosh

You hoped that killing the Master would dim the light of the Padawan. Hatred and suffering would invite darkness, as it had for Maul.

The light grew brighter, like the heart of a star. You were blinded. Then you were half of what you once were.

The light had saved you. Obi-Wan Kenobi ripped you away from all that you knew and thought you dead. It was salvation. You were not close enough to him to be purified. You were still dark.

You hated him because it was all you knew.

Maul stabbing your thigh straight through seemed more like instinct than anything else. The sharp pain-burn-sizzle brought you back to your senses, though. You refused to acknowledge the pain as it would distract you. The injury was immediately cauterized thanks to the lightsaber, and there was no danger of bleeding out. Shock was another thing that, again, would have to be set aside.

Calling your lightsaber to your hand - as it had been thrown from your grip when Maul pushed you across the room - you lit it and placed it at Maul's throat. The Zabrak was kneeling already and he called out, "Yield" before your saber could get close to his neck.

Maul held out the deactivated Darksaber to you. He was much more accepting of the duel's outcome than you thought he would be. The visions you shared must have completely thrown him off.

You took the Dark Saber into your free hand, keeping your guard high. It felt like tasting tinglar for the first time. Like war, loss, justice, and the space shanties the Vode sang. Warmth filled you but it was followed by a sharp chill.

Mand'alor the Lost, the Darksaber whispered, and a flash of blue and silver popped into your mind. Jango Fett, the Mand'alor who lost his way.

It was time to call in that life debt.

Maul looked up at you then, with gold irises ringed with violet, and said, "Kill me."

Blinking down at him, you wondered if you should. It would be proper, it would be justice. Obi-Wan would be at peace and oh if you didn't yearn for him to be at peace. But the Force was caressing Maul, its lost child, and you knew there were still plans for him. You were a servant of the Force before you were a spouse or a harbinger of justice.

Before you could announce your decision to Maul, Savage burst through the crowd. He hoisted Maul up and onto his shoulders. Guns were drawn and lightsabers were lit, but Savage was crashing through the window before any shots rang out.

"After them," you ordered. Several Death Watch jumped out the window, jetpacks activating.

Obi-Wan's anger rang bright across the room, though it was mostly directed at Maul. His feelings toward you were more rooted in frustration and confusion. He wanted to kill Maul, to avenge Satine, but he had once again escaped justice. If their paths crossed again, they would duel, Obi-Wan would win, and Maul would die. There would be no more escapes or power grabs for Maul Opress.

Despite the knowledge that Maul was on the loose, shouts celebrating the arrival of a new and true Mand'alor filled the room. It was then that you remembered you were surrounded by Death Watch, who no longer looked at you murderously for being a Jedi, but rather with reverence and respect. What a sudden shift thanks to the weapon you now wielded.

"You didn't tell me that he would kill my sister. I have every right to kill you where you stand!" Bo-Katan pulled you to the side and spoke in hushed tones. It would not do good to openly speak against the new Mand'alor, and you had a week before any challenges could be issued. You hoped to nip that in the bud right off the bat though.

"Satine was extremely important, but it was more so... more so her death. For almost a year I've known she was going to die," you admitted, much to Bo-Katan and Obi-Wan's shock, "And I did inform her of her fate so she could make the proper arrangements. Her fate never could have changed, I pleaded with the Force but it always came back with the same answer. Satine was destined to die today, but what came after could change. So that's what I focused on."

"(Y/n) contacted me after Maul took over, telling me of their plan. Several other clan leaders already agreed so it seemed like I didn't have much of a choice," Bo-Katan explained her side of the story to Obi-Wan, "I knew of their plan to challenge Maul and knew that he wouldn't be able to deny it. Death Watch is too deeply entrenched in tradition to ignore any denial of a challenge, even from a Jedi. I didn't know Satine would die today, perhaps I could have..."

"No," Obi-Wan's brows furrowed, his gaze distant, "There is nothing you could have done and nothing I could have done either. (Y/n), I am quite upset with you for not telling me this, but I would have had an obligation to inform the Council, and... well that probably would not have gone well, so I understand. I... will need time, however. I am still upset with you. This- I need time."

You were partially expecting another fight like the one you had when Obi-Wan went undercover as Rako Hardeen. You were extremely glad to have avoided that. If Obi-Wan needed space and time to process what had happened and your involvement in it, then you would give it to him.

This was Obi-Wan's fight and you finished it for him. Now he needed closure, and you would spend the rest of your life trying to give it to him.