Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the droid factory Yan Dooku had resided in for the last few weeks had been blown to pieces he had to admit he had been expecting Skywalker to wait for him as he ran to the starship hanger or maybe Kenobi – most likely both of them at once considering they seemed to be connected by the hip.

Instead he found himself surrounded by clones on all sides as he stepped into the room. He drew his lightsaber but not lit it yet. He turned on his heel until he faced the clone with the highest rank according to their armor distinctions. “Where have you left your masters, you loyal lap dogs?”

The clone in front of him took off his helmet showing off a short haircut and a scar on the left side of his face.

“Count Dooku, you claim the republic is full of corruption and needs to be dissolved.” The clone said. “I agree.”

Dooku cocked his head and slowly let his weapon sink to his side. “I’m listening.”

“General Kenobi, I really think it would be better for you to visit the Medics.”

“I’m fine, Cody.” The light tone in Obi-Wan’s voice probably would have deceived most people.

Commander Cody wasn’t most people. “You’re limping, Sir.”

“I’m resting my leg.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t need to rest your leg if you went to the medics?”

“A tempting idea but I fear I need to finish these reports until Anakin’s ship reaches us and he involves us in his next horrific plan or crash landing.”

“I think in that case sleeping beforehand will probably be better for all our sakes.”

“Oh I don’t know.” Obi-Wan gave him a cheeky smile. “If I finish the report before Anakin gets us all killed at least the Jedi Council has something to remember me by.” He gave a quick wave and rushed out the door.

Cody sighed as he watched him leave. “You aren’t easy to forget, Sir.”

Waxer stepped next to Cody and saluted. “Sir, should I get the narcotics?”

“Get the narcotics and all the tea you can find.” He put his hand on Waxer’s shoulder. “We have a mission now.”

“General Skywalker, I don`t think this is a good ide…” Rex broke off and let out a deep sigh. He activated his comm. “General Skywalker just jumped out of the ship.”

“Well,” Fives answered back via com. “At least he didn’t crash it.”

“Does anyone have line of sight with the General?” Rex asked.

“Not exactly.” Fox reported. “But you know how Commander Tano was on our ship?”

“Was?” Rex repeated.

“Yeah, she just jumped after him.”

“WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE SKYWALKER THE ROLEMODEL TO A TEENAGER?”

“Probably whoever gave Skywalker to Kenobi as a student when Kenobi was 25.”

“Now I know who is at fault for all of this!”

“General Windu, you don’t really want to follow this order.”

“You heard what the Senator just said.”

“But this is a suicide mission!” Ponds sounded exasperated.

Only a twitch in Mace’s eyebrow showed how stressed he was. “We were given an order.”

“That will get us all killed!”

“No.” Mace held up a hand. “You and your man will stay here; this mission is far too dangerous for you.”

“But the senator said…” Ponds started.

“That I have to go on this mission.” Mace interrupted him. “Not that you have to follow.”

“But General…” Ponds protested.

“I expect you to follow orders just like the rest of us.” Mace demanded then turned around and left the stuttering clone alone.

Ponds sighed and got out a long-range communicator with a connection to a galaxy encompassing written message system. Maybe Rex would have an idea how to break the rules in a way that even Mace Windu would accept - force knew General Skywalker gave a lot of experience on the topic.

He wasn’t the only one who was writing:

“General Koon’s mask has been damaged in battle but he refuses to leave the front because civilian lives are at risk. Any tips on how to get a suicidal Jedi from the front? Or maybe how to mend a broken Kel’Dor-oxygen mask while getting shot at by clankers?”

“Narcotics and a lot of tea.”

“I think that only works with General Kenobi, Cody.”

“No, I once saw it work on General Yoda… although I’m still not sure if he only acted like he didn’t notice us mixing it into his tea.”

“Commander Offee just nearly lost an arm because she desperately needed to protect a one of a kind book. General Unduli scolded her and then nearly lost her head doing the same thing. Can I just make both of them sit down and write lines? Or maybe ground them?”

“General Fisto keeps jumping into water to get past the clankers without warning us. Somebody tell him that most races can’t breathe under water!”

“General Skywalker crash-landed another ship.”

“HOW? I TOOK MY EYES OFF HIM FOR FIVE MINUTES!!!”

Rex breathed a sigh of a relief when he finally saw the message that they all had been waiting on for months by now:

“Negotiations successful. Execute order 99.”

“Good news Rex?” Anakin smiled up at him from where he was sitting with a singed eyebrow. The fact that he was actually sitting down instead of moving with a constant endless energy said a lot more about his condition than Anakin himself would ever say.

“Yes Sir.” Rex agreed and pulled his gun out of his holster under the table as inconspicuously as he could.

“Did we finally get some vacation time on Coruscant allotted?”

“Something like that, Sir.”

Rex saw out the corner of his eyes how his brothers were making themselves ready to attack as well. At once they all raised their guns at Anakin. “Sorry Sir, this is for your own good.”

Rex shot.

Chapter Text

“We have successfully apprehended General Skywalker.” Rex reported over the Comm. “Commander Tano has been put to sleep as well. How is it going with General Kenobi?”

“Well…” Cody dragged the answer on. You could hear a pained grunt in the background then he continued. “We have him surrounded but he has successfully managed to deflect our blasts for the last half an hour. Damn that perfect defense light saber technique. But he is getting tired.”

“Got him!” Waxer shouted. Then more shouting.

“He is still not down, I repeat still not down!”

“Good hunting, Cody.”

Mace was on his way to his shuttle as he noticed that the clones around him were behaving strangely. There were whispers and looks thrown his way. A few of his soldiers put their hands on their guns as they saw him walk past. Something strange was going on.

“Sir,” Ponds was standing right next to his shuttle in perfect `at attention`-posture even though Mace felt something that was very close to defiance emanate from him. “Are you really sure you want to set out on the mission alone?”

“I thought that I made myself clear!” Mace reprimanded him strictly but he knew Ponds was only worried about his wellbeing so he added in a softer tone. “Do not worry yourself, I have survived bigger challenges and I will survive this one too.”

As Mace stepped onto the ramp of the shuttle he heard Ponds mumble behind him. “Survive maybe but at what cost?”

Mace swallowed the sigh threatening to escape from his throat and continued into the shuttle. He pushed the button to draw in the ramp and close the door and then he sat down in the pilot seat. As Mace checked the displays everything seemed in order. He nodded to himself and commed the bridge. “Permission to depart?”

His hand was halfway to the next switch when he registered the answer: “Permission denied.”

Mace frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Permission to depart is denied, Sir.”

Mace was losing his patience. “Soldier, listen here…!”

“I apologize Sir, but for your own safety you will have to remain on this ship.”

“That is not on you to decide.”

“Yes it is.” Came the answer. “There has been reorganization in the command structure.”

Mace tried getting the boosters of the shuttle started but the ship didn’t react as he pulled levers and pushed buttons. It was dead to all intents and purposes. “What does that mean?”

There was a knock at the shuttle door and Ponds voice. “It has been decided that you will remain here for your own safety.”

Mace jumped out of the pilot seat and pushed the button to open the door but again the shuttle refused to obey. “The senate ordered…”

“The senate has no jurisdiction over us anymore.” Ponds answered. “The Vod has officially seceded itself from the republic.”

“Ponds let me out!” Mace shouted.

“Sorry Sir but we prefer not having to fight the best swordsman of the Jedi order.”

Mace heard a hissing sound and as he looked up he saw a green tinted gas making its way through the cracks and creases off the ship. Poison or at least sleeping gas! Mace took a deep breath and held it. He might be immensely outnumbered but he wouldn’t make it easy to take him down.

Cody was immensely relieved as he finally could report to Rex: “General Kenobi has been apprehended and will probably wake up tomorrow with one hell of a headache.”

“Good work.” Rex answered. “Does our ETA in twelve-hundred still stand?”

“Definitely!” Cody answered. “Can you imagine how General Skywalker would react if he woke up with Kenobi far away in a potentially dangerous situation? He would take the entire galaxy apart to find him. Better to keep both calm by keeping them close.”

“Good call.”

“General Koon, your presence is demanded in the back.”

“Wolffe,” Something rattled worryingly every time Plo Koon was trying to take a breath through his mask. “The droids are advancing… too fast… for me to leave.”

“It is important.” Wolffe took hold of Plo Koon’s arm and half carried half dragged him from the front. “Don’t worry we can hold the line until you return.”

His general stumbled alongside him either believing him or too exhausted to protest. “What… is my presence… demanded for?”

They had reached the small camp where several clones were already getting patched up.

“We have new orders, Sir.” Wolffe answered nodding at another clone coming towards them.

“What… orders?”

“Sleep.”

Plo Koon flinched back as the hypospray was injected into his arm. “Wha…” His eyes were already fallen close as he saw the droids at the edge of their battle line letting their guns fall to the ground.

“The narcotic gas has been in the shuttle for more than enough time to put even a Wampa to sleep.” A cadet reported to Ponds. “Should we open the door to get the General out?”

“General Windu is a Jedi.” Ponds responded. “Let’s keep the doors closed for a bit longer.”

Anakin woke lying on a soft surface. It took a lot more difficulty than usual to force his eyelids open. A bright light glared down at him making him groan and roll around on the bed to protect his eyes from the brightness. It felt like the time he was sixteen and snuck out with the other padawans to get absolutely hammered. Or that time the pirates gave Obi-Wan and him wine mixed with narcotics.

Narcotics… The clones had attacked them.

He jerked up from the bed. Ahsoka!

The bed Anakin was sitting on was part of a small room lacking any other furniture. The only other noticeable thing in the room except the bed was a transparent part of the wall showing the room next to his with a similar setup as his room only on the bed laid the unconscious body of…

“ASHOKA!” Anakin hit the wall dividing them with his fists.

“She is just sleeping.”

Anakin whipped around to face Rex who had just come through the door his. He wore his armor without his helmet and had his hands raised in the air. “Woa, Sir, everything is alright.”

“You attacked us.” Anakin stood up and positioned his feet ready for either a sprint or to attack whatever seemed the better response. “Why?”

“The Vod has defected from the Republic.”

“The Vod?” Anakin repeated.

“My brothers and I.” Rex answered. “We don’t want to be chess pieces in a war anymore that has nothing to do with us except that we are literally built and enslaved for it.”

Something flickered in Anakin’s eyes. “Understandable I guess. But what about all the innocent people in the republic planets relying on our help?”

“We have made an agreement with the Separatists.” Rex explained. “The Senate will be disempowered and…”

Anakin wasn’t listening anymore. “The Senate?” There was a manic gleam in his eyes. “Padme!”

“Now Sir,” Rex tried to calm him down but a powerful wave of the force lifted him against the wall and ripped the door out off its fixations. As Rex looked up from the ground again Anakin had already made it out of the door. “Sithspit!” He raised his comm. to his mouth. “General Skywalker as always listened to about half of what I was saying and ran off. Lock down every shuttle and the bridge, he won’t touch the life-support as long as Commander Tano is at risk.

“Yes Sir, does anyone have any idea where he’ll go now?” Jesse answered.

“No idea where he’ll go now but I know where he’ll be soon. ETA with the Negotiator is in an hour.”

Chapter Text

Cody was pretty sure nobody was supposed to be able to look stately while chained to chair but somehow Obi-Wan Kenobi managed it. He admitted the 212^th might have gone – slightly – overboard with the chains and ropes binding their General to the metal chair. About the only thing he was able to move was his neck, even his fingers where closely secured. The chair he was residing on like he was a monarch awaiting his loyal subjects was placed on the table in the middle of the mess hall – somewhere he was watched by several dozen clones at all times. After General Skywalker’s dramatic escape they weren’t taking any chances.

Obi-Wan gave the clones standing at his feet a friendly smile. “You know I feel flattered at all the attention from so many attractive man, I do, but this is starting to get uncomfortable. Are you sure you can’t slacken the bounds slightly?” He tried to raise a finger but merely managed a small wiggle.

“Sorry can’t do, Sir.” Cody answered. “Don’t worry as soon as General Skywalker tries to free you and fails we can relax the guarding measurements.”

“Yes but do you know how long Anakin might take? What if I need to use the fresher beforehand?”

Cody raised an unbelieving eyebrow. “Have you just implicated that General Skywalker possesses anything resembling patience?”

The next smile Obi-Wan gave him seemed far more genuine. “I take your point.”

Cody’s com beeped. Rex’s voice reported: “The Twilight has just successfully docked; Skywalker incoming.”

“Understood,” Cody answered.

But then Rex continued: “Oh, about Commander Tano…”

“Skywalker freed her?” Cody guessed.

“Skywalker freed her.” Rex agreed. “And he told her to keep safe while he frees General Kenobi.”

“So she’ll be sneaking after him?”

“Yeeeep.”

Cody sighed. “Understood.”

Obi-Wan watched him with a bemused expression. “Why do I feel like my padawan and grand-padawan are awfully transparent?”

“Don’t worry, Sir.” Cody answered. “Nobody knows how to capture a Jedi better than a Clone.”

Obi-Wan uncomfortably slid as far on his chair as he could with his bonds. “An unintentional but unavoidable consequence of the war.”

“Not as unintentional as you might think.”

Obi-Wan frowned. “What do you…?”

The ear-piercing siren call of the alarm interrupted him. Immediately all of Cody’s brothers took their positions around the mess hall guns drawn but put on stun.

“General Skywalker.” Waxer called out into the empty corridor leading to the hall – the door had been intentionally left open so they had a free line of sight. Since Jedi were trained for close combat more space would only be an advantage for the Clones. “We aren’t trying to hurt you or General Kenobi. If you would just come out of hiding we could talk about it.”

There was no answer.

Waxer shrugged with a sigh. “It was worth a try.”

Then there was a sudden movement at the door. Cody put his finger to the trigger of his gun and turned towards it. And then he heard the whistling.

“R2!”

The little droid came rolling into the mess hall beeping and whistling loudly. It managed to create enough of a commotion that most of the clones in the hall turned towards it. Cody wasn’t so easily distracted. Unfortunately paying attention wasn’t enough once you were dealing with a Jedi who easily folded himself out of a ventilation shaft and jumped down. Anakin drew his lightsaber while falling and dramatically cut through the bounds holding Obi-Wan’s right arm to the arm rest of the metal chair.

All the clones whirled around to face the general and for a second nobody moved.

“Well thank you my dear.” Obi-Wan said as he pulled his arm away from the chair. “But you left the job rather unfinished.”

“Your arm is free, isn’t it?” Anakin scoffed while turning from one clone to the other with his sword outstretched. “Just do the rest yourself.”

“My fingers are bound!” Obi-Wan protested.

For a second Anakin glanced down at his former master with a frown giving Cody the chance to close the distance between them further. “Why are your fingers bound?”

“Because we know how to hold a Jedi!” Cody answered.

Anakin froze as Cody’s gun had moved closer than he had probably anticipated.

Then a force slammed into Cody and threw across the floor. Only years of training enabled him to turn while skittering across the floor and ending up on his hands and knees, gun still in hand. As he turned around he saw Ahsoka standing next to her master her sabers drawn as well.

Anakin glared at her out of the corner of his eye. “Didn’t I tell you to stay safe?”

“Just following your example, master.”

“Could someone please free me?” Obi-Wan asked impatiently.

“No time!” Anakin answered. “I’ll keep them off and Ahsoka you carry him away with the chair if you have to.”

“DON’T YOU DARE!” His former master protested.

“Listen, there is really no need to…” Mekedrix started before Anakin pushed him and the two other clones in front of the door away with a wave of his hand. Ahsoka pulled Obi-Wan’s chair in the air with a gesture and they started running…

“Stay where you are!” Rex ran into the open doorway followed by the rest of the 501^st.

Anakin and Ahsoka came to a sudden close, Obi-Wan’s chair clattered to the ground with him still on it.

“I HATE this rescue!” The general groaned.

“Did you have to drop him on his free arm?” Kix sounded quite unhappy. They both looked down at the unconscious form of Obi-Wan who had been stunned once again after they caught up to Skywalker and who apparently broke his arm as he tried to stop his fall while being bound to a chair.

“I didn’t drop him.” Cody answered.

“Well, you were responsible for making sure that General Kenobi wouldn’t be dropped.” Kix answered.

“I apologize that I didn’t consider the dangers of being dropped from a considerable height as one of the dangers when I chained the General to a chair.” Cody grumbled.

Rex patted him on the arm. “You should have considered we are talking about General Skywalker and Commander Tano here.”

“Let’s keep all three of them unconscious until we reach Serenno.” Kix ordered. “A few days without injuries would be nice and they need the rest anyway.”

Senator Padme Amidala starred in disbelief at the blue flickering light showing Commander Fox speaking to the Senate.

“We demand you return to your posts immediately!” Senator Burtoni screeched.

“The clones aren’t under the command of the Senate anymore. Nor…” Fox answered stone-faced and as he turned towards her his lips twisted in disgust. “…of the Kameoans.” He turned back to face the bulk of the Senate. “We have enough of being mass-produced just for you to throw us to the wolves so you can sit on your comfortable chairs and drink champagne! We are our own people.”

“The Republic is at war!” Nix Card shouted. “You can’t just leave us without our army.”

“Yes we can.” Fox seemed unbothered.

Padme couldn’t remain silent anymore. “And what about the Jedi?”

Fox looked up at her and his eyes softened. “The Jedi are our responsibility. You do not need to worry about them. We won’t let anything happen to the only ones who have been treating us as actual people.”

“You must know we won’t let you anywhere close to the Jedi temple.” Bail Organa protested.

“Oh?” Fox’s lips twitched upwards. “You and what army?” The picture of him flickered then vanished and pure chaos burst out in the room.

Padme didn’t even try to listen, instead turning around and running out of the room. She needed to get to the Jedi temple fast. She needed to sneak on one of the ships the clones were sending for anyone still left in the temple. She needed to find Anakin!

Chapter Text

Anakin woke again to the familiar headache of just being drugged. Or stunned. If he thought back he distinctly remembered getting stunned by about ten guns before he lost consciousness. He needed to stop falling asleep like that.

As he opened his eyes this time he saw Obi-Wan’s serene face close enough he felt his breath on his face. Anakin frowned up and sat up slowly while looking around. He and his former master were lying on a king size bed in a familiar giant room. Anakin slowly turned his head and saw Ahsoka lying on the other side of the bed. He felt a knot deep inside of him loosen with his family so close to him. Safe.

He heard a door open and saw a clone in armor step into the room out of the corner of his eye. As Anakin turned around Rex pulled the bucket from his head.

“Before you say anything, General, Senator Amidala is perfectly fine on Coruscant.”

“The Coruscant you just left completely defenseless from the Separatists?”

“The Separatists have agreed to a cease fire.” Rex responded.

Anakin frowned. “How did you…?”

He was interrupted by a soft groan next to his right and Ahsoka’s weak: “Master?”

Anakin took her hand in his. “Right here, Snips.”

“What happened?” She asked groggily.

“The Vod has decided to break off the Republic.” Rex explained.

“The Vod?” She repeated rubbing at her eyes.

“My brothers and I.” Rex answered easily. “It’s a Mandalorian term. It seemed… fitting considering our origin.”

“But… why are we here… wherever here is.” Ahsoka looked around with a frown.

“The Jedi are the Clone’s responsibility.” Rex answered easily.

“By the Senate’s order.” Anakin added.

“If you think the Senate has made me jump after you off all these ships, you are more naïve than I thought.” Rex responded.

“And what does being responsible for us mean?” Ahsoka asked.

“Well we thought we’d start with therapy.” Rex got out a notepad out of nothing. “We asked every clone we could reach in a survey about getting the Jedi therapy. Do you know how many chose General Skywalker for the first person to talk to a therapist until we get enough therapist for the entire Jedi order on this planet?”

“Ah…” Anakin starred at him in confusion.

“Two thousand four hundred and twenty three. “ Rex answered. “At least until the second question in the survey was: `Did you know Anakin Skywalker has lived as a slave until he joined the Jedi order at nine years old? So who do you think should receive therapy with the highest priority?` I think it was about ninety percent by then.”

“I kind of feel you manipulated that survey.”

“You wouldn’t believe the turnout after the third question: `After joining the Jedi order Anakin Skywalker needed to leave his mother back as a slave and then act like he didn’t feel any familiar connection to her anymore. So who should get therapy first again?`.”

Ahsoka started giggling and Anakin glared at her.

“Don’t feel too much Schadenfreude, Commander.” Rex remarked. “All and every child who has been sent to a warzone before the age of sixteen is on the list just after General Skywalker. We would have liked to put the age limit higher but unfortunately THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY OF YOU!”

“I’m fine!” Ahsoka protested. “I don’t need therapy!”

“Unfortunately you learned that word from General Skywalker and Kenobi which makes this remark quite worrying.” Rex answered. “Both of you have an hour for breakfast and freshen up then you are going to therapy.”

Obi-Wan woke to his padawan and his grand-padawan getting scurried off to therapy by some quite determined looking clones. As he tried to stand up – to help them or more likely to laugh at their misery he didn’t know – Waxer came over to him and pushed him back into the comfortable bedding.

“Sir, the only sleep you got basically the entire week so far has been through narcotics or getting stunned. How about you lie back down and close your eyes.”

Obi-Wan frowned. “Did you just admit to drugging me even before this whole take-over?”

“We have been drugging you for ongoing to a year now.” Waxer answered. “After you knelt over because of exhaustion several times and the Vod realized that Jedi are too self-sacrificial to exist without someone taking care of them.”

“I’m not a child.” Obi-Wan grumbled petulantly sounding astonishingly like one.

“Go to sleep Sir.”

The next time Obi-Wan slowly gained consciousness he felt himself being watched. The presence didn’t feel dangerous so Obi-Wan remained relaxed as he slowly opened his eyes. At least he felt relaxed until he saw Count Dooku sitting at his bedside, back straight and with a book in his hands looking every bit like the aristocrat he was.

Obi-Wan flinched back from him and hissed as he jostled his right arm in the cast.

Dooku looked up from his book with a small smile Obi-Wan had never seen on him. “Hello grand-padawan.”

“Count.” Obi-Wan tried to greet him nonchalantly.

“I always wondered why Qui-Gon never let me meet you before.” Dooku pondered as if it was the most normal situation they found themselves in. “Maybe he felt the darkness that was already brewing in me at the time. But on the other hand…” He looked down at the book again. “Qui-Gon was never the perfect master either, was he? Sometimes I wondered if he just didn’t want to hear my critique over what he did on Melida/Daan.”

Obi-Wan pursed his lips. “Qui-Gon did his best.”

“That he did.” Dooku agreed. “And his death was a tragedy that should have woken me up to who I was doing dealings with far earlier than I did.”

“Who…?”

“There is a Sith lord who was manipulating this war the entire time, did you know that?”

“Yes, you…!”

But again Dooku interrupted. “Not me. Thinking about it with a clear mind I think I’ve always just been a pawn in the greater game of someone else. It’s… disappointing how much I let myself be blinded by the very same things I was trying to fight against. Corruption. Power.”

Obi-Wan didn’t understand anything anymore. “Why are you here?”

Dooku cocked his head slightly. “Because I wanted to get to know my grand-padawan. You are the only thing I still have left of Qui-Gon.”

“We are at war!”

Dooku shook his head. “There was a cease fire. Soon there will be peace negotiations and the war will finally be over. It never brought more than pain, destruction and even more of the corruption I was trying to fight against.”

Obi-Wan frowned at the Count’s sudden change of mind. “Negotiations with whom?”

“The clone army of course.” Dooku answered. “The only ones with actual negotiation power at the moment considering they are in possessions of nearly all Jedi in the galaxy. It was actual the idea of that captain’s of yours, I think Cody was his name.”

“Why would Cody negotiate with you?” Obi-Wan asked suspiciously.

“They found the chips impeded in their brain structure.” Dooku answered his gaze drilling into Obi-Wan’s. “Chips that will override their free will and make them kill their Jedi superiors upon a simple order. As I gathered they aren’t happy.”

“Chips that…?” Obi-Wan put his healthy hand to his forehead as his head started to hurt. “That’s impossible!”

“Who do you think gave the order to produce the clone army?”

“Sifo Dyas…”

“I took on Sifo Dyas’ name to give my master’s orders to the Kaminoans. But it seems like we both underestimated how independent clones – even those raised to follow orders – can get. How far their will to live and to protect those they’ve been giving charge of will go.”

“Who is your master?” Obi-Wan had a sinking feeling in his stomach but he knew he needed to find out the answer.

“You might have heard his name as Darth Sidious…” Dooku sighed. “…but you’ll better know my master under the name of Chancellor Palpetine.”

Obi-Wan’s face lost all color.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan accepted Kix’ attention with a minimum of grumbling as the medic gave his arm one last look. “It seems to have healed quite well.”

“Lucky me,” Obi-Wan said light-heartedly. “The cast just didn’t fit my style.”

Kix rolled his eyes with a small smile. “Considering the amount of time you have been injured in the last years I would say plasters and casts ARE your style.” He let go of Obi-Wan’s arm and instead took hold of his face to look at his eyes. “Have you been sleeping alright? - Keeping to the meal plan?”

“Yes mother,” Obi-Wan answered. “It’s not like I had a lot of choice with your brothers basically feeding me and chaining me to my bed to make me sleep. Not even mentioning how much of a motherhen Count Dooku turned out to be.” And wasn’t it disconcerting to be smothered by his former enemy.

“Good.” Kix answered unsympathetically.

“Also someone apparently told the Clones about what happened on Melida/Daan…” Obi-Wan blamed Dooku. “…and now I have been added to the list of child soldiers and need to go to therapy every week.

“Good.” Kix just said again.

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to protest but was stopped by the door to the medical wing opening and Cody walking in with several of his brothers. “Kix, can the general be released? His presence is requested in the salon.”

“Sure, take him.” Kix waved them away. “But make sure he keeps to his meal plan during the negotiations.”

Obi-Wan frowned. “Negotiations?”

Cody smirked. “You didn’t think we would start the peace negotiations without the Negotiator, did you?”

Obi-Wan found himself sitting at a round table opposite Dooku with a few other sentinents including a boy around Ahsoka’s age and someone who looked like his mother. On his left side sat Anakin and next to him was Ahsoka. In between them and the Seperatists several clones in civilian clothes were seated. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ahsoka give a small wave to the boy opposite her and smiling softly as he waved back. He turned to the padawan and raised an eyebrow making her blush and avoid his gaze.

At that moment Rex stood up at Obi-Wan’s left side. “I think everyone who needs to be here has arrived.”

“Excuse me,” Anakin raised his hand and proving that even after years in the Jedi temple he had never really learned how raising his hand didn’t give him permission to disrupt anyone and everyone. “But why am I here?”

Dooku raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement. “You are here to represent the Jedi order and the interest of the Republic.”

Anakin frowned. “But why me? I understand why Obi-Wan is here.” He nodded at his former master. “With all the negotiation and stuff but why me? Why not master Yoda? Or Windu? Or literally anyone from the Jedi council?” Then he turned towards Ahsoka and frowned again. “And why is Snips here?”

“There was a vote on who should represent the before mentioned interests.” Dooku answered calmly. “And among most of the separatists and all the clones the choice fell on the Negotiator and the Hero without fear.”

“Why?” Anakin just repeated again.

“Sir,” Cody spoke up. “We prefer talking to someone who has been standing at our side from the beginning. Most of us barely ever met master Yoda or Windu but there are few who never stood on your or General Kenobi’s side.”

The woman next to Dooku spoke up. “And I prefer speaking to someone who actually felt the consequences of this war instead of someone who sat in their ivory tower.” Then she gave him a small smile. “Your reputation to disregard nonsensical rules when they are standing in your way also made you a good candidate to discuss dissolving some of those rules.”

Anakin seemed satisfied, Obi-Wan was not: “And Ahsoka?”

Dooku nodded towards the boy and the mother Obi-Wan had already noticed. “The Bonteri family specifically asked for her.”

“Oh?” Obi-Wan channeled all the disappointed parent-energy he still had left after raising Anakin and looked at Ahsoka. “How come?”

“She was one of the few republican officials who ever tried to reach out to discuss politics with us even during the war.” Mrs. Bonteri gave Ahsoka a bright smile. “And the only Jedi ever.”

Anakin glared at Ahsoka. “How wonderful to finally be told about that specific adventure of yours.”

Ahsoka sank into herself but still gave her master a petulant glare back. “I went with Senator Amidala.”

“PADME WENT TOO?” Anakin seemed ready to throttle someone in anger and the glasses of water and wine on the table started to dangerously wobble.

Obi-Wan put a calming hand on his arm and turned to Mrs. Bonteri. “So how come you didn’t invite Senator Amidala? She would be a far better candidate to represent the republic Senate than us, wouldn’t she?”

“Unfortunately we are not able to contact Senator Amidala.” Wulffe answered.

“Why. Not?” Anakin brought out between clenched teeth. Sometimes Obi-Wan wondered how the entire rest of the galaxy hadn’t noticed by now how absolutely head over heels his former padwan was for the senator.

Rex also seemed to have noticed his general’s worry for Padme was close to bubbling over. Calmly he explained: “The Republic has cut off all contact between us and their officials. I’m sure senator Amidala is already protesting this very rule on the senate floor.”

“Yeah.” Anakin relaxed back into his seat with a small smile. “She probably is.”

Oh by the force, Obi-Wan’s padwan was hopeless!

“If we finished with all objections…” Dooku gestured towards the Jedi opposite him. “then I hope we can finally start with the negotiations.”

“Concluding my arguments so far: The republic has grown lazy and complacent,” Dooku ended his speech. “The Senate has managed to become both so bloated in the name of democracy that it is barely able to make any decision in a fitting time frame while also giving basically all of the real power in the hand of a single man. It needs to go! All of it.”

There were some approving mumbling from the Seperatists and even the clones at the table. While Obi-Wan understood the hatred most of the clones felt for the Chancellor since finding out about the chips in their heads he couldn’t just let this argument stand. “The republic has protected its members for centuries – millennia! While it does have its faults invalidating all these achievements is not going to help anyone.”

“But did it help its members recently?” Dooku objected. “Even before the war; was the republic really helpful? What about the incident on Naboo? Qui-Gon and then-Queen Amidala wouldn’t have needed to sneak back onto the planet if the Republic had been doing its job. He might still be…” Dooku broke off.

Obi-Wan flinched back at the memory, fingers closing into fists. He didn’t know what to say, his mind trapped in a time far away.

A hand slid into his, folding around his fingers and giving him an encouraging squeeze. As Obi-Wan looked up he saw into Cody’s sympathetic eyes. Then the clone looked to Dooku and spoke. “Even if we want to dissolve the republic how would you suggest we do that? We have started this entire revolution because we have enough of fighting; we are not starting another kriffing war.”

A Voe Atell male spoke up: “With the seperatist’s and republican army on the same side there won’t be much of a fight…”

“NO!” Rex cut in. “The Vod refuses another meaningless war!”

“Why don’t we just make a better Republic?” Everyone turned to Ahsoka who had not said anything in the discussion so far and was now sinking into her chair at the sudden attention on her.

“I`m sorry?” Dooku seemed honestly stunned at the suggestion.

“I mean the Separatists already control a lot of star systems,” Ahsoka continued with as much self-assurance in her voice as she could. “Can’t you just form a new Republic out of those and if it is truly better than the old one everyone will see it and just… join us, right?”

The Voe Atell scoffed. “That seems like the naïve view I would expect from a child.”

“That CHILD has stood on more battle grounds than you could imagine!” Anakin hissed back. “And her battle tactics and quick thinking saved more lives than you could count.”

“I agree.” Rex gave Ahsoka a smile. “It would do you good to show some respect!”

Ahsoka blush nearly reached her ears.

Obi-Wan was rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “In my experience overcomplicating the initial plan usually only leads to problems while executing it. But as charmingly simple as Ahsoka’s idea seems forming an entirely new form of government could take years – most certainly months.”

Dooku nodded slowly. “Luckily with both the separatists and clones refusing further battles we aren’t really under any time pressure. How about we discuss this idea further?”

“The Vod demands its own planet and recognition as our own race under our own government.” Wolffe declared.

“I have already provided you with a fitting planet.” Dooku agreed. “It resides in the middle of separatist space and has only recently become inhabitable thanks to new terraforming technology. There will be no former residents to get angry at you invading their home land.”

“We also demand to take the Jedi with us.” Cody added.

“Excuse me!” Obi-Wan shouted indignantly. “We are not possessions to be pushed around! We can make our own decisions!”

“Can you?” Cody asked him with a raised eyebrow. “What were those decisions so far? Do whatever the Republic tells you or leave the only family you ever knew behind without every learning the basics on how to survive outside the temple.”

Obi-Wan stood up. “Jedi are not only taught in a lot of defense techniques with and without a light saber, we are fluent in several different languages and are taught about culture and history in more detail than most politicians! You will find it difficult to find anyone better suited to survive even the most hostile environment they might land themselves in.”

“Oh, I doubt there is much chance any enemy will be able to bring down a former Jedi easily.” Cody agreed. “But you need more to live than to survive.” He stood up as well facing Obi-Wan. “Do tell me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, how do you start a friendship with someone without any ulterior motives or the fear to become to become too emotionally attached to them? Would you even be capable of that? How do you settle down? Would you be able to find any other meaning in you live than sacrificing it at a moment’s notice for anyone or everyone else? Do you even know how to live for yourself? Do you know how to be in love with someone?”

“Do you?” Obi-Wan shouted back and immediately regretted it at the hurt he saw in Cody’s eyes. He had knew – he had known for years that the Clone had feelings for him that Obi-Wan couldn’t reciprocate. Not with the Code. It still hurt thinking about it.

“No.” The clone answered in a soft voice. “But I would like to find out. And I think you should get the chance to find out as well.”

Obi-Wan didn’t know how to respond to that.

Then the door to the room was pushed open with enough force it hit the wall behind it and Padme Amidala stumbled into the room.

Chapter Text

The door to the room was pushed open with enough force that it hit the wall behind it and Padme Amidala stepped into the room.

The hands of the clones in the rooms immediately went to their blasters, Dooku drew his lasersaber put didn’t light it and Ahsoka, Anakin and Obi-Wan grabbed for sabers no longer there.

“Senator Amidala?” Dooku seemed completely flabbergasted a look you didn’t see often on the Count.

Padme looked around wildly before her gaze landed on Anakin and her shoulders relaxed slightly. “Anakin.” Her gaze wandered further. “Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, you’re alright.”

At that moment a clone came running after her into the room. He was out of breath as if he had chased her for quite a while beforehand. He looked up at Rex and Cody and swallowed audibly before saluting. “I apologize, Sirs, she got away from us. There was one of her and then suddenly three of her and…” He just shrugged hopelessly.

“It’s alright.” Rex responded with a small smirk. “You can return to your post.”

The other Clone saluted and went back into the corridor.

Anakin stepped away from the table. “Padme, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be on Coruscant.”

She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “I was told the clones defected and kidnapped the Jedi. I’m here to save you.”

“Well, I promise your rescue attempt can’t be any worse than Anakin’s.” Obi-Wan commented. “At least so far I have no broken bones.”

“Senator Amidala, come and join us.” Rex remarked with a gesture to the table. “We were just talking about the emotional attachments of Jedi.” His eyes sparkled with mischief which only got worse as Obi-Wan kicked his leg under the table.

“Oh.” Padme’s cheeks were the slightest bit more red than before but her Senator face held firm.

“Excuse me!” One of the separatists had stood up. “But we can’t just let this senator step unto our table without a proper security check. She is the enemy, she might have been sent to spy on us. I say we send her back to where she came from and she can rejoin her Jedi friends in a few months once we finished establishing this new government.”

“MONTHS!” Padme exclaimed and paled considerably. “Impossible, I can’t…!” She broke off.

“Senator?” Dooku leaned forward curiously. “Why can you not wait for a few months? Skywalker, Tano and Obi-Wan have all been off campaigning for months on end before.”

“I… but…” Padme seemed close to tears.

“Padme,” Anakin took her by the arm. “Are you alright?”

“I’m pregnant!” She whispered back.

You could have heard a pin drop in the room.

Anakin’s face was showing a myriad of feelings as if he couldn’t settle on one: Fear, happiness, worry, love, uncertainty…

“That’s…” He swallowed hard then pulled Padme into a hug with a big smile on his face. “That’s wonderful news, angel.”

“Wait.” Wulffe was looking at Padme and Anakin as if they had suddenly grown second heads. “Skywalker is in a relationship? But…” He looked at Obi-Wan uncertainly.

Obi-Wan had put his arms crossed over each other on the table and was resting his head on them - hiding from the rest of the world. “Of course he is.”

Rex just nodded with a shrug. “I mean, it is kind of obvious.”

“But…” Dooku seemed about as baffled as Wulffe and looked at Ahsoka who wasn’t very good at feigning surprise. “What about the Code?”

“Who cares?” Ahsoka scoffed. “We all could have died every second on the battle field. Skyguy deserved something good to come back to. What does it matter if it couldn’t last?”

Anakin had turned back to the group, one arm still around Padme while he was rubbing at the back of his neck sheepishly with his free hand. “Well, at least the baby isn’t born out of wedlock...”

“You are MARRIED?” Now even Rex was shocked. Then he turned to Obi-Wan. “Did you…?”

Obi-Wan’s head was still buried in his arms. “Yes.”

Cody looked at his general with something akin to pity. “And you didn’t…”

“No.” Obi-Wan sighed.

“Because you raised him.” Cody said it more as a matter of fact. “And you love him. So you wanted to see him happy no matter the cost. Even when you couldn’t let yourself be happy.”

Obi-Wan didn’t answer.

Dooku spoke up in a soft voice. “They could have expelled you from the order for this.”

Obi-Wan finally looked up from his arms. “I did what I thought was right.”

“So,” Padme tried to lighten the mood. “You were talking about emotional attachment of Jedi? Did you talk about Satine or what’s going on with Cody yet, Obi-Wan?”

If looks could kill Padme would have felt quite threatened in that moment.

In the end it wasn’t that hard to argue for a new Jedi temple to be constructed on the new Clone home-world. Obi-Wan still argued for most of the Jedi traditions to be preserved but he was in the minority on this stand even with the three other force-sensitives in the room.

Luckily with Padme on his side he had a lot of tail wind in fighting for democratic ideals to be preserved in a new Republic. Dooku and most of the Separatists had also considerably warmed up towards him after finding out about Anakin’s secret marriage and Obi-Wan’s silent support of it.

It wouldn’t be easy to start anew but Obi-Wan was sure they could do it if they all worked together.

“You once asked me what I would like to do after the war.” Cody tried to start the conversation with Obi-Wan.

The Jedi seemed clearly hesitant. “I did.”

“I told you I would like to start a family.”

“You did.” Obi-Wan avoided his gaze. “And I wish you luck in finding the right person for you.”

Cody just smiled back. “I already did. I know it will take some time to convince him but luckily I recently lost my job so I have all the time in the world.”

Once upon a time master Yoda had been sent to the vision of an idolized world by a Sith Holocron. In the vision he had seen the Jedi temple at peace times with his family reunited. Yan Dooku had laughed with Mace Windu, patted the shoulder of Qui-Gon and nodded along to Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker’s tales.

It had been a vision made to tempt him into remaining trapped in a dream world, giving up on his responsibilities and duties. So terribly tempting but in the end a just a pretty lie.

Sitting in the new temple looking down on the laughing younglings playing around the fountains he recognized it might not have been so impossible after all. Nothing could ever truly bring back the dead but as he saw Dooku and Obi-Wan bent over a game of Dejarik with Ahsoka giving the occasional commentary with Leia Amidala in her lap… this might be as close to happiness he had come in years.