Savage-Time chapter 36 (Patreon)

[Mandalore, Sundari Royal Palace]

Obi-Wan Kenobi

When Obi-Wan had volunteered for this mission he expected to find a peaceful world, he had expected to see Satine in a beautifu- Obi-Wan shook his head at the thought. He expected to engage in diplomatic talks and maybe relieve some of the days he spent in his youth while guarding the duchess. What he found instead was a city filled with fear and loathing, guards that should be using non-lethal weapons were carrying around blasters and the vibrant city was instead a shadow of what he had once seen.

Despite his instinct to look for Satine immediately, Obi-Wan spent some time inside the city listening to the rumors, he wanted a clear picture of what was happening before the politicians lied to him.

What he heard wasn’t encouraging.

Slavers and pirates had seen the weakness in Mandalore’s defenses as well as the unwillingness to kill and took it as an invitation, many had been taken as prizes no doubt to be sold as slaves or worse. Some species were fond of human meat and there were many people in the outer rim that disliked the idea of becoming cyborgs who would pay a lot for organs and bones to replace what they had lost.

The shops were closed, the parks empty, only the sound of marching soldiers and burning buildings filled the air. As he walked on the steps of the palace Obi-Wan couldn’t help but think that this was their fault. The war had been the opportunity the cartels were waiting for to infringe on peaceful worlds and Obi-Wan would bet his beard that many more neutral planets were suffering the same fate as Mandalore.

The guards at the gate of the palace approached him with raised weapons and that finally made him lower his hood, despite how Satine talked about it fame had its uses and the guards quickly realized that he was not looking for a fight.

“General Kenobi” the gruff tone of an older man came from under the helmet of the leading guard, he had a stockier build than his partner and Obi-Wan was sure that by the way he carried himself he was one of the survivors of the civil war “The Duchess isn’t taking any diplomatic visits that aren’t urgent”

“Luckily for all of us, this is more of a social visit, an old friend checking up on another, no politics involved at all”

The man grunted and turned around as he talked on his wrist comm, leaving Obi-Wan with the other guard who was smaller and if Obi-Wan had to guess also younger. As he waited Obi-Wan noticed something about his young friend.

“You’re holding it wrong”

“What?” the young guard said as he looked around, the very eloquent response confirmed what Obi-wan thought as he raised his hand.

“Your blaster you’re holding it wrong, you need to let it rest on your shoulder not your arm otherwise you might hurt yourself, it will also help you in aiming better as your blaster has a stronger balance point to make yourself more accurate.”

Obi-Wan didn’t like blasters but he had learned a lot by watching the clones while on route to different places and he wanted to help the young man live a little longer if he could.

“Listen to the general kid, I was planning on waiting until we had to practice to tell you that myself, thought a little pain would teach you a lesson but somehow I don’t think you will forget it now” the older guard started placing the blaster properly on the young man’s arms before turning to Obi-Wan “The Duchess will see you now general”

The man waved him in but stayed at the doors, inside he could see more guards all equipped with lethal weapons, as he approached the doors that led to the throne room Obi-Wan feared what he would see. He couldn’t imagine Satine being happy with this, a part of his heart ached at the thought of Satine in pain another feared for her life, could all this be possible if Satine was still alive, Obi-wan didn’t think so.

The comforting touch of the light calmed his heart and steeled his nerves, the guards opened the doors to something he wasn’t expecting, it was Satine alive but instead of a regal dress that denoted her status as a non-combatant she was dressed in armor.

She looked imperiously at him from her throne but Obi-Wan noticed through the Force that she was happy and that above all else made him happy.

“Satine, it has been some time since we last saw each other.” Obi-Wan looked at the array of guards to indicate his desire for more privacy before he asked something that was bothering him “I didn’t know you still had that armor, if I may…why are you wearing it?”

“I’m happy to see you again Obi-Wan, I’m glad you came to visit as a friend even if it wasn’t the best time to do so” with a wave of her hands the guards started getting out of the room but Obi-Wan could feel their presence waiting close by in case they were needed “As for the armor, well, the members of Death Watch wouldn’t meet with me unless I was in the proper attire”

“You’re holding meetings with the Death Watch now, that’s not like you.”

“Do you think I like it!” Satine’s voice rose in tone just as she stepped away from her throne “Do you think I enjoy being in the company of killers and terrorists, people who would kill me if they could? The only reason I’m talking to them is because they care about the people under my rule and right now we have a common enemy”

“The gangsters,” Obi-Wan said grimly while his hand went to his beard “Don’t you think it a little too convenient?”

“I may not respect what they represent and I don’t like the vision they have for Mandalore but I know they care about the people, our people have suffered enough, and even Pre Vizsla knows that”

Obi-Wan could see the tiredness in her eyes and said nothing more as he finally got close enough to hug her.

“I’m losing control Obi” Satine’s voice broke as continued to hug him “the ideals I championed for so long have left Mandalore unprotected, I thought I was saving my people but the only thing I’ve done is making them a target”

“Satine…I” There were no words that could help, no ancient wisdom to offer. The peaceful ideas of the new Mandalorians were beautiful and very much in line with Jedi philosophy but the galaxy wasn’t a nice place, sentients would always rush to get an advantage and unlike the Jedi who could count on the support of the Republic, Mandalore was alone.

“Day by day I lose supporters, day by day more people are taken, day by day my ideals crumble. I’m a hypocrite Obi-Wan, no matter what I say from this point onwards I can’t deny there is blood on my hands”

Obi-Wan knew there was only one thing he could say “I will help you Satine, it may be difficult but I will do it and one day you will see a new Mandalore free from its violent past”

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[Mandalore, Statue of Tarre Vizsla]

Pre Vizsla

It had been a long time since Pre had last seen the statue of his ancestor, he admired the way it overlooked the desolate land around itself, like an old guardian that was prepared to move at the slightest hint of trouble. Pre hoped that he was making his ancestors proud as he worked to maintain the way of life of the true Mnadalorians, no matter the sacrifices they had to make.

Already his work was bearing fruit, children across the dome cities of the planet ditched their place as students as they moved to practice their martial abilities. Old soldiers who had sworn to leave behind the strength of the past donned their armor again and most importantly of all Pre was being hailed as Mand'alor.

Pre ignited the Darksaber, the soft glow of the blade drew him in and he knew that one day it would be with this weapon that Pre Vizsla would finally lead his people into war.

“Only the strongest shall rule” he said to himself before making the blade disappear.

Pre raised his head as a shadow approached his vision and he rose from his place at the feet of the statue, the shapely figure of Bo-Katan soon entered his vision. she was an excellent soldier, a great warrior, and a good leader but she was too soft. Bo-Katan wasn’t willing to do whatever was necessary to ensure that the true Mandalorians ruled.

“Report” he said as he put on his helmet while walking to one of the nearby camps.

“The new recruits are green and useless but they have spirit, everything else will come with time an experience. We have succeeded in dealing with another pirate raid and rescued those who were taken I-“

“This is the third time we stop them completely is it not? In quick succession too” Pre interrupted her before she could continue “Don’t you think it’s a little too convenient, we don’t want anyone to get any ideas about what’s happening”

“I’ve made sure that our people were in place days before and that they stayed there through coincidences or luck, no one suspects anything and we have also been killing all the pirates and gangsters before they can talk”

“I hope your men know that if any word of this reaches the people we will never accomplish our goal to make Mandalore as it once was”

“They know the consequences of a loose tongue and just like you instructed most of our people don’t know the truth about what’s happening only the lieutenants and some squad leaders”

“Good, I don’t want anyone getting any…distracted by what’s happening. Was your other mission successful” as callous as it may sound Bo-Katan’s second mission was more important than saving their people.

“I found it” there was a frown on her face which told him that whatever he was about to hear would be interesting “His base is in Dxun”

Pre couldn’t stop himself from laughing, he probably startled her as well as the guards that were around but he couldn’t really help himself in this case, what were the odds that in a galaxy as big as this one his new ally would end up on a place were another Mand'alor once ruled from.

“I’m glad you think this is funny but there are things there, graveyards and ancient sites that belong to us!” Bo-Kata spoke with passion but she was wrong.

“Those things belong to whoever holds that moon, we lost it many generations ago and have made little effort to reclaim them, it is no insult to us that he now dwells there, this is an opportunity”

“What opportunity is worth abandoning pieces of our heritage!” Pre didn’t hesitate before punching her and then he did it again driving the air out of her before he put a blaster to her head.

“Listen to me, and listen well I excused your earlier disrespect because of how emotional you were about those news but once is enough, I am Mand'alor and you will act with honor in my presence and if you don’t like it then we can fight for it. I will meet you and everyone else who doubts my right to lead in the circle but I will fight to the death”

“I understand” Pre nodded at her before letting her go, before he could say anything else a messenger came inside the tent.

“Sir!” the man saluted and with a wave of his hand Pre ordered him to continue “Obi-Wan Kenobi is meeting the Duchess, he arrived earlier today”

Under his helmet Pre started smiling at the news “Good work keep me informed about his movements and if he tries to leave the planet stop him, I have some accounts to settle with him”

“The people won’t stand with you if you kill a friend of Satine, much less if he came to help” Bo-Katan said as she rubbed her throat.

“I won’t be the one attacking him, I heard a rumor that one of our new friends has some history with Kenobi. As their ally I will inform them of who is on the planet and if something were to happen while they fight then we can say it was an accident”

Despite Savage’s help Pre Vizsla would never accept being an underling, Mandalore would be free, this he vowed.

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Author note: sorry i was hit with writer's block and couldn't do anything to snap me out of it but here it is, i hope you enjoy the chapter.