Reading Time: 78 Minutes

Title: Mysterious Ways
Series: Way of the Force – The Kenobi Years
Series Order: 3
Author: WestWind
Fandom: Star Wars
Genre: Action Adventure, Science Fiction
Relationship(s): Gen
Content Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slavery, Violence-Graphic, Minor Character Death, Kidnapping, Discussion-Rape/Force orchestrated conception, Discussion-Slavery
Beta: Grammarly
Word Count: 19,428
Summary: Feemor becomes a victim to the suspected slavers he was investigating and spirited off planet. Obi-Wan, who does not get there in time to stop it, leads the hunt for his missing master across the galaxy with a fleet of Mandalorians to aid him.
Artist: Saydria Wolfe

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Act 1

Obi-Wan grabbed the overhead strap and braced himself as the drop ship lifted off the ground. They were headed back to the Haat Mando’ade – True Mandalorian in basic – ship New Horizon after finishing a protection job on Rusnul for one of their leaders.

Obi-Wan and his master came along on the job to follow up on whispers the Jedi Shadows heard. This job got them in the vicinity without drawing suspicion. Being part of a larger group of Mandalorian mercenaries usually worked to their benefit, depending on the planet and what they were tracking.

It was not the first time or the last that they would partner with the Haat Mando’ade. Feemor’s timely intervention that saved Jaster Mereel’s life from Death Watch was the first step to forging an amicable relationship between the Haat Mando’ade and the Jedi.

The general members of either side would not welcome the other with open arms, but they were more willing to talk before drawing weapons. As a whole, the Order was more informed on the players and politics in Mandalorian space because of Feemor. On the other side, a select group of Jedis were accepted and allowed to operate in the area without being run out.

What most did not know was the number of Jedi Shadows that used Mandalorian planets and communities as a safe place to switch identities, find refuge, get an untraceable transport to another location, and sometimes back up. In return, they kept their eyes and ears out for information on Death Watch or other threats to the Mandalorian Sector to pass on to Jaster.

Concord Dawn now had enough corps members and ‘retired’ Jedi living on it to be considered a satellite temple if it was acknowledged. Most of the non-corps Jedi were Shadows that got a little too close to the dark and to falling on a mission and did not feel comfortable returning to the temple.

Before, they would either vanish and be considered dead or they would not venture out of the areas of the temple controlled by the Shadows. Feemor’s rescue of Shadow Knight Sollu Bamek and taking him to Jaster’s armorer to recover early in his wandering Knight years laid the groundwork for the sanctuary.

Obi-Wan understood why that was, having spent half his padawnship on Shadow missions. You have to have a flexibility and tolerance that some traditional bound Jedi do not understand. In his experience, working in the gray areas required a stronger reliance and trust in the Force to keep you on the right path than doing what has always been done without question.

It was harder. The odds of falling were greater – that was when they needed others who understood to keep them from sinking or falling.

Studying the Order’s history and the last war with the Sith, Obi-Wan understood why the Order moved in that direction after losing many of their members to the dark side. However, no matter the time period, the Shadows have not had that luxury.

The ship landed in the hangar bay of the New Horizon. The Mandalorians were in a good mood having successfully accomplished their mission and were looking forward to a good Mando meal to celebrate.

“Good work, Ben,” Jard said, clapping him on the pauldron as he headed to the exit.

“Thanks,” Obi-Wan said.

“Yeah, you saved my ass by noticing them trying to sneak up on us,” Nix said.

Jango wrapped an arm around Obi-Wan’s shoulders after giving his helmet a friendly knock. “The kid’s been good luck for us since Thal adopted him.”

Thal Orvic was Feemor’s Mandalorian identity when out and about in his armor.

Jaster pulled Obi-Wan along with him.

The good luck was true. The first mission he and Feemor accompanied Jango on was to Galidraan. Jango took the job with a promise of leads on Death Watch only to have a group of Jedi sent by the senate show up looking for “Mandalorians” that killed the locals.

The governor did not get the outcome he expected when the two groups were face to face. Between Obi-Wan stepping forward to de-escalate the confrontation, Feemor cautioning the Mandalorians, and Master Dooku learning about the different Mandalorian factions from Feemor over the years, the Jedi were willing to verify who they should be after, and it led to them partnering together to discover the governor and Death Watch were working together.

“Agree,” Kussoe said, joining their group. “You and your parent have the Manda’s luck. Where is your parent? I know he was on the ship here with us.”

Jango answered, “He and Myles are following up on a few bounties on the boards for this area while we’re here. See if they are worth pursuing.”

Kussoe grunted in agreement. “More credits in our coffers is a good thing.”

They walked down the loading ramp into the busy hangar.

“See ya at late-meal,” Kussoe said.

“Probably. Depends on what urgent messages are waiting for me in my office.” Jango waved farewell to the commandos around them and guided Obi-Wan to his office aboard the ship.

As they got closer, Obi-Wan felt Feemor’s presence.

“They’re back and waiting for us,” Obi-Wan told Jango over the helmet’s internal com.

Jango’s slight head tilt was the only form of acknowledgment he received.

Myles and Feemor sat, sans helmets, at the small table kept in the office just for such meetings. There were several datapads spread out.

Jango locked the door behind them.

“How’d it go?” Myles asked as they sat down at the table.

Obi-Wan took his helmet off and set it aside. He worked his fingers between the coiled braids he kept his hair in to disguise his padawan braid. He got the idea from Quinlan and decided hiding in plain sight was the way to go.

“We kept the client safe and caught the people after him,” Jango said. “Contract fulfilled and paid. Your trip?”

Myles snorted and jabbed his thumb at Feemor. “He got propositions by three beings in the bounty guild house. He was in full armor the entire time! How do you get anything done with him?” He looked at Obi-Wan.

“Use him as a distraction.” Obi-Wan fought not to grin as he said it.

Myles nodded as if that made everything clear.

“I don’t get it. Does he just radiate ‘hit on me’ vibes?” he continued to complain.

“I think it’s the ‘don’t mess with me’ message he gives off when in armor,” Jango said. “Some people can’t resist a challenge.”

“Especially other Mandelorians.” Myles’s eyes danced with amusement.

Feemor buried his face in his hands and groaned long-sufferingly.

“It’s true, Feemor. It’s what makes you good at undercover work – your ability to truly inhabit the persona you are at the moment. You learned to move in the armor from the Armorer.”

Myles cocked his head and squinted at Feemor. “That’s it. You do move like the Armorer! Why didn’t I see it before?”

Feemor sat up. “We have more important things to discuss.”

“We do,” Jango agreed. “So…” He gestured to the two across the table from him.

“We did bring in two of the bounties we tagged as possible to get this trip. We added 20,000 credits to the accounts.”

“They were the right cover to find the leads on Death Watch,” Feemor said.

“Did you find them?” Jango leaned forward.

“There is at least one cell working on Crolsel. I have a few possible locations. We didn’t have time to check them out. I also picked up a lead on the missing people. If we have time, I’d like to go back out of armor and do some investigating on both topics. See if I can shake more information from a different tree.”

Jango gave it some thought. “Myles, are there any other worthwhile bounties some of the men could be sent after to extend our stay?”

Myles picked up a pad and scrolled through. “There are a few that fit.” He rattled off the offender’s name, stats, and the bounty.

“I’ll make the offer to the commandos at the beginning of late-meal. I can have Siag and Dewren check out the possible Death Watch locations tomorrow.”

Feemor handed Jango a pad. “The information I gathered is there, along with my impressions of it and the people I got it from.”

Jango nodded and accepted the pad. “Anything else I need to know?”

They exchanged quick looks.

“No, that covers it,” Myles said. “I’ve marked a couple of messages you should look at ASAP just so you know what’s going on. I don’t think you will need to take any action.”

Feemor and Obi-Wan stood.

“I’m ready to get cleaned up,” Obi-Wan said, brushing at dried mud caked onto his kute between armor pieces.

Jango waved them out, acknowledging their leaving before Myles caught him up on the administrative side of things.

~~X~~

Feemor, dressed as one of the locals, walked through the market close to one of the suspected Death Watch bases. Jango’s men were checking out the other locations. This one was close to the disappearances he was investigating. People, not just children, were going missing.

It was the disappearance of an older sibling of a Force sensitive that had first brought the issue to his attention. He did not know if they were targeted because they hoped the ability ran in the family or just chance. It did not take long for him to learn it was a bigger issue than just one missing individual.

He had already talked to several of the families as a Jedi. The one thing they had in common was this market. Nothing stood out about it yesterday when he and Myles were there. So far, nothing stood out today either.

Whoever was taking them was being smart about it. There was no one time or type of person targeted. They were avoiding easily recognizable patterns.

He paid the seller and placed the two apples in his bag. He continued to walk around, looking at the items for sale. He cautiously reached out in the Force for a clue where he should go. He headed for the exit and out into the city.

There was nothing unusual going on in the street – no construction or displays that would force beings to go a different way or distract them for a grab. However, he did feel eyes on him. There was a warning of danger in the Force. There was also the feeling of forward.

He mentally groaned. That combination usually meant there was unpleasantness in his future if he wanted to continue on his current path. Sometimes he did not. Another option would open in those cases. This time… that was not the case.

‘Good. Best,’ said the Force.

He was glad that he had Obi-Wan take his robe and lightsaber back to the ship when he changed after meeting with the families. If he was dealing with slavers, it was better that they did not realize he was a Jedi or Force sensitive.

He pulled out his com and sent Obi-Wan a coded message letting him know he may be in trouble soon. He moved on and followed in his second master’s tradition of springing the trap.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan read the message from Feemor. “Haar’chak!” he cursed.

“What?” Myles asked.

“Fe…” he started but corrected himself since there were other commandos around. “Thal sent me a com. He suspects trouble.”

“Osik, he really is the distraction.”

Obi-Wan retrieved the reading of his last location and showed it to Myles.

“That’s outside the market we visited yesterday. We’ll grab a speeder and check it out, and I’ll com Jango what we’re doing.”

Within minutes, they were headed to where Feemor was. Obi-Wan prayed they made it in time. He could feel the pressure of an important event growing. He tried to seek answers… even hoped for one of his visions for a clue to what was going on, but there was nothing. The Force only hummed contentedly, which he found frustrating.

It could be because of that kind of answer in the Force that prompted Feemor to send him the message.

They neared the location. Obi-Wan jumped out as soon as they parked. He reached out and located Feemor. He took a step in the direction…

Boom! A gas cloud rose into the sky.

People started running away from what sounded more like several gas canisters than a bomb going off to Obi-Wan. Feemor was alive even if he was not responding to their bond.

“Gas?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Myles said. “We’ve got filters.”

They both started running in the direction of the disturbance. The fleeing people hindered their movement. Obi-Wan wished he could Force jump or had a jetpack, but neither was an option. He reminded himself that Feemor was alive.

They finally made it to the edge of the affected area to see Death Watch members loading knocked-out beings into three transport vehicles. They pulled their blasters and started firing.

Obi-Wan took out one before they started firing back. He and Myles had to take cover. Death Watch took the opportunity to take off.

“Aim for the one in the back,” Myles ordered.

Obi-Wan obeyed even though he knew that was not the transport with his master in it. If they could deprive Death Watch of whatever they gained by taking the beings, it was good in his book. He aimed and let the Force guide his shot.

The engine sputtered and died. The vehicle spun and crashed into a light pole. They raced to it. The Death Watch members recovered quickly and got out, shooting in their direction.

The other two transports continued on, leaving their members behind.

Volleys of shots were exchanged before the two blue armor-clad beings were down – one more permanently than the other.

Obi-Wan checked the cargo area while Myles secured their prisoner. He removed his glove and checked the nearest individual’s vitals. A probe with the Force reassured him the only thing wrong with them was being drugged.

He checked several others by the time the local authorities showed up asking questions and demanding answers from those around. Obi-Wan would rather be chasing down those who escaped than answering questions.

“Jango’s on his way and has sent a group after them,” Myles assured over com.

~~X~~

Feemor woke up with a throbbing head and in a cage full of beings. He slowly sat up. Half the beings were still out and most of them were from Crolsel by their garments. There were other cages with more beings in them but not as crowded.

Obi-Wan was tugging at their bond as soon as he realized he was conscious. He sent ‘captured’ and ‘safe for now’ to him. Relief and reassurance were returned. He knew Obi-Wan was looking for him. Jango and Myles were probably right beside him helping.

A scowling man in Death Watch armor walked through the cages, making sure everything was secured.

“All good!” he called out.

He walked back to the doorway where another Death Watch member was standing.

“Hang on! We’re taking off now. Mereel’s brat is on his way here with a ship full of his men.”

They grabbed onto handholds built into the ship a split second before the thrusters were engaged.

Feemor was thrown against those around him at the rough takeoff. The ship took evasive maneuvers when it broke atmosphere. He wondered if they were surprised by the New Horizon in orbit.

The ship shook under a couple of blasts, but they made it into hyperspace before the Haat Mando’ade could stop them.

Feemor settled against the back wall and rested his head against it. He closed his eyes and focused on his bond with his padawan. He let him know he was still safe and to see him soon. He hoped.

~~X~~

Myles was talking to the officers when Jango let out a string of very creative curses that drew everyone’s attention.

“They got away,” he growled. “The New Horizon tried to intercept, but they jumped before they could take out the engines.”

“We’ll just have to follow them,” Obi-Wan said. He should be able to get a general direction they went in.

They finished giving their reports and returned to the ship.

~~X~~

As the beings woke up, the amount of fear they radiated went up. One of the teens in his cage recognized another teen in the other cage. She had been here for a week after being taken on her way home. Her story was not good, but Feemor knew she could have been treated a lot worse.

On the other hand, what were they doing with all the beings? He had an idea… an idea he did not like. Only a portion of those in the cells fit the age Death Watch likes to ‘recruit’ for easy conversion to their cause… what other reasons they wanted them were just as ugly.

Jaster and Jango had made it harder for Death Watch to “recruit” in the past decade. They routed them out of their strongholds. They have targeted their funding and those funding them. They had made it hard for them to operate in the Mandalorian sector.

Unfortunately, Jaster had not been able to bring them to heel. Death Watch had gone farther afield for bases and branched out into other ways to obtain funds. They were a threat that must be watched to keep them from creeping back in to cause mayhem and destruction. The Shadows had been passing on more sightings of them in the Outer Rim, which did not mean good things for him and those with him.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan and Jango took his personal ship Slave I to track the Death Watch ship and report the locations back to the New Horizon. It was the best solution they had. Jango’s mercenaries needed to finish the jobs they had taken when they believed they had more time. They did not want to gain a reputation for not following through on jobs.

Myles would make sure their supplies were stocked so they would not have to worry about it later. They did not know how long they would be chasing them, where they would end up, or what sort of campaign they would face when they found them.

He sank into the Force to calm his emotions and reached out to Feemor to check he was still fine.

“We’ll get him back,” Jango assured.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes. “I know we will.”

“Force osik.”

He could not keep the curl from the corners of his mouth at the often cursed refrain from the older man. Jango had been through enough Force shenanigans with them to know the ways the Force directed and aided them through the most interesting situations to trust when they told him things. He was a man of action and the physical and seeable world – and very Force null. He preferred to ignore such mystical things.

“Yes, Force osik. I’m just worried about his well-being when we find him. They are currently headed for Hutt space.”

Unsaid was that the danger to Jedi in Hutt space was great. He would count on Feemor’s years as an undercover Shadow to keep him safe until they got to him.

“That may not be their final destination,” Jango said. “Or this was the first jump of many to lose anyone who followed them.”

“Or it could have been set in a panic to get away or a previously traveled course that was easy to initiate in the time they had,” Obi-Wan added. He had already gone over the possibilities of the reasons for choosing the hyperlane they were in. They did not give him comfort.

“Sabacc to kill the time?”

Obi-Wan appreciated the distraction he was offering. “Sure.”

~~X~~

Feemor emerged from his meditation by the shifting of the person beside him. He opened his eyes and scanned the beings around them. He studied them so he would remember their faces and feel in the Force. He wanted to help them if he could once Obi-Wan and the Mandalorians found him.

He did take heart that there were no young children in the cages. The youngest, by his estimation, was seventeen.

“I’m hungry,” muttered the man beside him. “Do you think they will feed us?” He looked at Feemor.

Feemor shrugged. “Who knows?”

It would depend on the length of the trip and what shape they wanted the kidnapped beings in when they got there, but he was not going to tell them that.

“Who are they? Why did they take us?”

An older man huffed. “Doesn’t matter who they are. With this many people, they don’t mean us any good. Say goodbye to life as we know it.”

“Charming,” the man beside him said.

Feemor rubbed his face. “Unfortunately true.”

Whispered conversations were exchanged between small groups throughout the cell.

Three armored individuals entering the room with a hover cart drew everyone’s attention. A few braver individuals demanded answers. They received a jolt from a shock baton.

“If you want food, step back!”

The beings in the other cell murmured but moved to the back of the cage. They pushed a box of ration bars through the opening in the door. Once the opening was secured and their captors’ attention turned to the other cage, they started handing out the bars.

Those in his cell moved back without being told and the process was repeated.

“At least they are feeding us.”

~~X~~

“They’ve dropped out of hyperspace again,” Obi-Wan informed Jango.

Jango initiated the procedure for them to follow. They dropped into standard space. The ship had already jumped. Jango scanned the area for their trail.

“Looks like they took the Triellust Run away from Hutt Space.”

Obi-Wan felt for Feemor. “Yes. He feels like he’s moving in that direction.”

Jango entered the coordinates and jumped them back into hyperspace. He pulled up the hyperlane map so they could examine the possible destinations. Obi-Wan stepped closer to the projection to refresh his memory of the major planets. He pointed at one.

“There’s nothing there – barely habitable unless they are using it as a base,” Obi-Wan said.

“With a load of sentient beings… probably not,” Jango said.

“Unless they are using them as labor for a project like building a base or ship. Wouldn’t be the first time in history slave labor was used to create infrastructure, harvest materials, and build armaments for a conflict.”

Jango pulled up the information on the system. “No local resources that would make it worth it – no metals or minerals. They would have to ship everything if they were using it for manufacturing. That would draw attention eventually.” He scrolled through the survey information. “I would pick someplace like here.” He pointed to a small dot several parsecs off the hyperlane.

“It’s close to the hyperlanes for travel but far enough away to be of no interest to most. There are large areas with little or no population – mostly agrarian-based but it does have decent ore deposits that could be mined.”

Obi-Wan stroked his chin in contemplation. “Yes. The question is do they have the resources for something like that.”

“Not unless they’ve found another financier we don’t know about,” Jango said.

“They have a ship full of sentient cargo.” He spat the last word out in loathing at the concept. “There are several planets along the way that are known for being slavers or allowing slavery.”

The perimeter alarms sounded, and the ship shook. They both grabbed the holo-table to steady themselves before dashing back to the cockpit and sliding into the pilot seats. Jango’s hands flew over the controls.

“We’re being pulled out of hyperspace,” Jango growled.

“Death Watch trap or pirates?” Obi-Wan asked before putting on and securing his helmet.

“With our luck, it will be both.”

They dropped back into real space. Four starfighters of various makes were waiting for them and one modified G5-D corvette. Jango was already taking evasive maneuvers while Obi-Wan manned the weapons.

A blast, probably aimed at their ion engines, skimmed the hull shield as Jango rolled the Slave I out of the way and propelled the ship up above the pirate ships. Obi-Wan shot back, aiming at the closest fighter as they passed. He hit the thruster of one, reducing its mobility.

It fired back before the mines Jango released earlier exploded. They took out three of the fighters. The shock wave hit and shook the Corvette but probably did minimal damage.

The last fighter followed them up and was not caught in the blast. It released a series of blaster shots at them. This time Jango was not fast enough to get out of the way. A warning alarm sounded, and the ship wabbled.

“Lost a stabilizer,” Jango hissed.

Obi-Wan targeted the last fighter and fired again. It exploded leaving only the bigger and more heavily armed corvette. The Slave I shook before changing direction. Obi-Wan managed to steady himself at the jarring change.

“Tractor beam,” he guessed.

“Dank farrik!” Jango slammed his hand against the chair arm. He stood up and grabbed his helmet. He had a feral smile. “Let’s go greet the breaching party.”

Obi-Wan stood and checked his blaster before reholstering it. “I feel up to some aggressive negotiations.”

~~X~~

The ship shuttered. Feemor felt them drop out of hyperspace suddenly. Those around him made noises of surprise.

“What happened?” the man beside him asked.

“Either they are having issues with the hyperdrive or someone set an ambush and pulled the ship out of hyperspace,” Feemor answered.

The man wrung his hands. “Neither sounds good.”

The ship shook.

“Is it shaking apart?” a panicking teen asked.

They were all thrown as the ship took a hard turn.

“Just under attack… probably by pirates,” Feemor answered, having been in similar situations in the past.

The atmosphere understandably was flooded with fear and despair at the news.

Vibrations in the wall at his back told Feemor they were close to the gun turrets. He heard and felt the reverberation of them firing. Several shots were exchanged.

He reached out with the Force to get a better idea of what was going on. He did not get much beyond the saturated panic from those around him. He occasionally felt a spike from those beyond the room.

The exchange was quick. Death Watch managed to get the ship back into hyperspace, but there was something off. The ship was not moving as smoothly as it should. Feemor suspected that something had been damaged.

“Are we safe?” his neighbor asked.

“Safe as we were before, for what it’s worth,” scoffed an older woman.

‘All’s well,’ the Force radiated.

Maybe they would be landing soon. Then he would have to figure out why the Force wanted him here.

~~X~~

The Slave I was pulled into the belly of the pirate ship. Obi-Wan pulled out the modified vibro-sword the Armorer had made for him. It was not his lightsaber, but with the use of beskar and cortosis in its construction, he could use it to deflect blaster shots like his lightsaber. It allowed him to continue to use his sword skills without announcing to the world that he was a Jedi.

They took up positions by the back ramp.

“There’s fifteen of them with blasters waiting for us.” Jango must be accessing the camera mounted over the loading ramp.

“Only fifteen.” Obi-Wan accessed the feed to get the lay of the land.

Jango loaded the grenade launcher and aimed it at the top of the closed ramp. “We won’t break a sweat.”

“Flash or sonic detonators?”

“Sonic.”

Obi-Wan set his helmet to counter the blast of sound.

Before they were set down, Jango activated the ramp to lower. He could feel the pirates’ anticipation at the ‘easy’ entry. Jango shot the sonic detonator through the three-foot opening. The sphere arched over the descending ramp and down into the cargo hold.

Jango set the launcher down and pulled out his blasters.

The sphere activated just over their heads.

The pirates clasped their hands over their auditory receptors and stumbled about at the loss of balance.

The ramp touched down. They walked down the ramp – Jango shooting and Obi-Wan deflecting the few blaster bolts the pirates managed to fire at them back at the shooter. The pirates went down for good quickly under Jango’s marksmanship.

They stepped off the ramp. They assessed their surroundings.

“No life signs in the area,” Jango said.

“There are more further in the ship headed our way.” Obi-Wan sheathed his sword to take up his blaster.

Jango set the ramp to close. “Let’s teach them not to pick on people traveling the hyperlanes.”

They marched side by side through the door.

A group of four pirates turned the corner, running toward them. Obi-Wan got the first shot off before they realized they were there. They continued past the bodies.

They rolled through the ship like a tsunami, picking off the groups as Obi-Wan directed them through the ship. When they were done, they had three prisoners to question and a handful of kidnapped beings in the cells they freed after checking and verifying identities. They did not want to release someone who would stab them in the back before the others joined them.

Act 2

The air was hot and dry when Death Watch force marched them off the ship in small groups into the shipyard. Feemor’s group was the last.

Feemor squinted under the light of two suns. His cellmate stumbled beside him. Feemor raised his shackled hands to steady him. The knockout gas they used on them was still not fully out of many of their systems. It was, probably, how they preferred them during the handoff to the awaiting slavers.

Waiting for them was a group of beings with cage transports. A Death Watch member was accepting what was probably payment from a Joblagian as they were handed over to their associates.

A Klatooinian used the threat of a shock baton to force them onto the transport. Feemor shuffled up the ramp with his head down and shoulders rolled forward. His cellmate collapsed beside him on the built-in bench seating.

The cage door clanged shut. The slavers spoke to each other in Huttees. Feemor’s Huttees was passable. He was better at understanding it than speaking it.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was fluent in it and several other languages. He was better at picking up languages than Feemor was. It was a skill that had come in handy over the years.

“Do you know what they are saying?” his neighbor asked.

Feemor almost told him they were just checking in before heading out, but doubted the average Crolsel citizen would know Huttees.

“Don’t know. Sounds sort of like Devaronian or maybe Huttees with the guttural sounds.”

The transport headed out of the spacedock and into the city. Feemor took the opportunity to look around to identify what planet they were on. At least this section of the planet was a desert going by the type of buildings they were passing and the small piles of sand along the edges of buildings and doorways.

He could only guess what sector of the galaxy he was now in. He did not know if he was in Hutt space or a planet controlled by them, or if the slavers spoke Huttees because they worked for a Hutt controlled group.

The suns were hot. Squinting through the bars at the sky proved one was past the zenith. Those around him were complaining of the heat and fanning themselves in an attempt to cool off. They were not used to such temperatures.

His neighbor kept shifting and tried looking at the back of his arm. He groped at it. He turned to Feemor.

“What did they do to my arm? Is that a bacta-patch on it?”

“Slave chip,” Feemor answered. “They knocked us out to put them in before delivery. Don’t know what kind.”

“What?” He seemed shocked. “What do you mean kind?”

“I’ve heard they can sometimes have explosives,” Feemor said.

A few seemed shocked at the news. Feemor wondered how sheltered they must have been before today. If only all the galaxy was as kind as they had believed it to be.

The transport passed through a gate and into a courtyard of a compound. There were two empty transports parked to the side. Theirs backed up to a loading dock. The doors to the building opened. Guards stepped out and unlocked the cage door.

They were chivvied out of the cage and into the building. They were separated by one of the slavers based on a criteria none of them knew. Feemor was placed in a room with four other males of similar build. So he guessed the sorting had something to do with appearance or possibly the type of slave they thought to sell them for.

He huddled down in the cot he was ordered and pushed to. He closed his eyes. He kept tabs on what was going on around him through the Force. He focused on flushing the last of the gas from his system and examining the chip.

He felt the electrical current running through it, listening for a signal. He could break one of the electrical paths and make it useless.

‘Wait’

Obviously it was not yet time to do that. They would probably verify the chip was working before or after the sale. Waiting until after being sold was best. Now that he knew the feel of it, he could break it in an instant.

Guards walked the halls, checking in on the slaves periodically. They conversed in low tones, but bits of the conversation could be heard as they passed. From the bits Feemor picked up, the current stock was to be auctioned tomorrow.

He could probably get free and escape from here.

‘Wait’

But it would probably be easier after he was sold. Less security especially if they do not see him as a threat. There was something he needed to do or someone he needed to find out there. The Force was still indicating he was here for a reason. He just wished he knew what that reason was. But, walking into situations blind was part of following the Force.

~~X~~

“Jango’s doing a more thorough diagnostic on his ship now,” Obi-Wan told Myles over the holo-call. “Neither ship is currently flyable. On the positive side, life-support is fully functioning.”

Myles laughed. “Only you… So in more detail why are both ships out of commission? I know Jango has equipped his ship with a good selection of weapons, but the odds of damaging a corvette to that extent during a firefight are low.”

“They pulled the Death Watch ship out of hyperspace before us, thinking it was a simple freighter. To their surprise, it was a better-armed RT-30 Corvette. “

Myles nodded. “They took damage then.”

Obi-Wan nodded. “Both Corvettes did, according to our prisoners. The ship sensor logs validate it. The RT-30 was able to limp away, while the G5 lost most of its maneuverability. That’s why they were still in the area when their trap got us.”

“A smaller ship looked like easy pickings and a boon after the damage they took.”

“Exactly. They had already lost two of their fighters to the previous attack.”

“Any of them have a price on them?” Myles asked.

Obi-Wan picked up a pad and scrolled through. “Several of them. I’m sending you the file. I’ve moved the bodies into storage for transfer if we want to collect them.”

Myles gave him the stink-eye. “Of course we’re collecting them. We’re mercenaries and bounty hunters. It can go towards the cost of fixing the Slave I and the G5 if it’s worth fixing.”

“It’s older but appears to be in decent shape,” Obi-Wan reported. “As soon as it’s complete, I’ll send you the list of parts needed to get both ships operational again. Figured it would be easier to fly the G5 back for further repairs versus towing it.”

“As long as the fixes aren’t too involved,” Myles said. “I’ll pass on the reports to Relmar and get their opinion. You mentioned captives?”

“They had eight captives from previous attacked ships. I’ve got them settled in a couple of the crew quarters, all freighter personnel.”

“We’ll see about dropping them off when we take the bounties in. Do we know where Death Watch went?”

“Based on the pirates’ ship readings of their heading and my own, my guess is they are going to Tatooine.”

Myles made a face. “Hutt controlled desert planet – right up their hyperlane.”

“I concur. I don’t know what luck they will have on getting repairs made to their ship there.”

“Depends what’s damaged and what parts they need,” Myles said. “If we’re lucky, they will still be on planet when we get there.”

~~X~~

Jango returned to the G5’s control room. Obi-Wan was monitoring the sensors for any approaching crafts. The living pirates said they did not contact anyone, but that does not mean one of the others did not.

“Myles said they will be setting out within the hour,” Obi-Wan told him.

“Good. They should be here within eight hours then.”

Obi-Wan filled him in on the other plans Myles had made. Jaster looked the room over again with a new perspective. A mouse droid passed through, cleaning the floors a second time.

“It would be a good addition to our fleet. Not worth the lost time… but it will make a nice compensation. Depending on the modifications, it could be a good patrol vessel. What’s the bounty’s come to?”

“Close to 90,000 credits depending on conversion rates when collected for different ones,” Obi-Wan said.

“Not bad. Feemor?”

“Still alive. I think they’ve landed. He isn’t getting further away. I’m sure they went to Tatooine. That’s what feels right.”

“That would be the closest port from here. They could sell the kidnapped beings to Jabba for repairs.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Obi-Wan said.

Jango rested a hand on his pauldron. “He’s good in tight situations. We won’t be that far behind him – a day at most.”

~~X~~

Feemor did not know if he should be honored or take offense that he was purchased by a local who was content that he could read, do basic math, had some mechanical skills, and was somewhat pleasant to look at. At least it was not straight out as a sex slave.

He did not fool himself. That could be demanded of any slave no matter their duties based on their owner’s whim. To avoid that specific fate, he was forthcoming on his skills if not admitting to his true proficiency when the slavers questioned them.

He followed the holder of his detonator into the local inn. The entry was nothing fancy, but he had been in worse places. Things were clean even if they had seen better days. There appeared to be a dining area through one of the doorways that had a handful of beings in it.

“Delig, I’ve the replacement for Halid.”

Delig, a standard human appearing being, snapped to attention.

“Show them where they will be working and doing!”

“Yes, Riblik,” Delig said, kowtowing to their owner.

The man left him in Delig’s care. Delig looked him over briefly. “Come. You’ll be helping clean the rooms and keep the server droids functioning.”

Feemor followed Delig deeper into the inn.

~~X~~

Feemor now knew he was on Tatooine. He appreciated that he had not been purchased by one of Jabba’s procurers. Getting out of his palace would have been tricky from what he heard about the place and knew about Hutts.

This place he could get out fairly easily. Riblik relied on the threat of the chips to keep them in line. As long as things were running smoothly and he did not have to get involved, he was happy and let them be.

Feemor had cautiously tested Riblik’s mental fortitude and learned that his mind was easy to influence. That was something he would leverage to escape if he needed to. For now, Feemor would play the biddable slave and see where the Force led him.

Once he was done for the day, Delig led him away from the inn – to Feemor’s surprise.

“Where are we going?” Feemor ventured to ask.

“Slave quarters,” Delig answered.

“We don’t stay at the inn?”

Delig shook his head. “And take up a room that can be rented out for four times what it costs to place us in the slave quarters.’

A group of ragged-looking kids ran past them laughing. Feemor stepped to the side to avoid being run into.

“Only those working stay at the inn. There is a cot in the back office for those working the night desk shift.”

There were more flat-roofed buildings in the area Delig led him through versus the domed buildings around the inn. He caught the occasional snap of fabric in the wind and the sight of a clothesline on the roof.

“This one is yours,” Delig said. He stopped in front of one of the identical buildings. He led Feemor inside.

There was a sleeping pallet, a table, and a small cooking area.

“There are a few provisions in the cooler, but you are responsible for obtaining any extras.”

Delig gave him a quick rundown of what their master provided them before leaving. Feemor stood in the middle of the room and took a deep breath to center himself after the long, stressful day. He felt a presence approach before there was a knock on his door.

He opened the door to a dark-haired human woman standing outside his door. He did not detect any hostility from her, but she was cautious.

“Hello,” he said. He shifted his stance to be unthreatening and radiated calm.

“Hi. I’m Shmi Skywalker.” Other slaves were passing by who took notice of them. “I live just down the road.” She studied him.

“The local welcome committee?” he asked.

She snorted. “Something like that. It’s my turn to give the newcomer the rundown. So, are you new to Mos Eisley?”

“Yes… new to Tatooine as well.”

She pressed her lips together in concern. “First time living in a desert?”

“Yes.”

“Then you have a lot to learn. Come, I’ll show you around and explain how things run here.”

“I appreciate that. Delig said I was responsible for obtaining extras but didn’t tell me how.” Feemor inclined his head in thanks to her.

He stepped out and closed the door behind him. He could feel eyes on him and the curiosity of his neighbors despite not seeing them watching them.

Shmi set out down the road.

“Where are you from?” Shmi asked.

“I was taken from Crolsel.”

She side-eyed him, picking up on his misdirection of an answer but did not question him further on it.

“You’ll need to get used to a new way of life. Being a slave and living on Tatooine is harsh, and many don’t survive,” she warned.

Feemor nodded. “It has been an adjustment. What do I need to know? What’s provided, and what do I have to scavenge for myself?”

“A lot depends on the owner,” Shmi admitted. “For us in the slave housing, most masters pay a fee for us to live here. We receive rations from the commissary depending on what they have arranged. It’s down this way.”

She led him onto another street.

“I see,” Feemor said.

“It usually covers one to two meals a day, depending on your duties and water rations. Ribik usually provides a meal at the inn during the day for his slaves.”

That was reassuring.

She showed him the key places he needed to know and which ones to avoid. He managed to get a better idea of the political landscape and the power dynamics of the area. Jabba was the top dog, but it was those who worked for him that he needed to keep an eye out for.

On the way back, an older, hunched woman with a small stall on the side of the road called out to Shmi. Shmi went over and accepted the two pieces of fruit the woman handed her.

Feemor watched the exchange.

“So… how’s that work?” he asked her once she returned.

She patted his arm. “We help each other out – barter skills and favors for items.”

She told him what sort of items were available and a basis for cost as they returned to the street they lived on.

A small blond boy ran out of an open door and towards them. “Mom!” He grabbed onto Shmi’s leg. He looked up at Feemor with wide blue eyes full of curiosity.

She rested a hand on top of his blond hair and huffed. “Anakin, you shouldn’t run out like that.”

“Important!” said the Force.

“Who’s that?” Anakin asked.

“This is Emor.”

Emor Hawl was the name on the identity card he was carrying when captured.

Feemor squatted down to be closer to the child’s level and reached out cautiously with the Force. “I’m new here, and your mom was showing me around.”

He was subjected to a very immature Force probe. He did not block it. He made sure to return feelings of “safe” and “not meaning any harm.” Shmi shifted her hand to Anakin’s shoulder and the probe vanished.

“This is my son Anakin, who was supposed to stay with Granny until I came to get him.”

Anakin looked up at her. “It was boring, and I knew you were coming.”

Shmi’s expression became more cautious. Any sense he had of her or Anakin in the Force was muffled. “Just because you saw me doesn’t mean you should leave Granny’s,” she scolded.

It was all very interesting…

~~X~~

Obi-Wan went with Jango and several of his Mandos to the Mos Eisley spaceport in one of the transport ships the New Horizon had on board for such trips. The New Horizon was a cruiser and only landed on a planet if it was a must. It was best kept off planet, out of sight behind a moon, and not where it would announce their presence to their prey.

They approached the port along the path given to them.

“There’s their ship,” Nix said.

“Good news. We can take them out easily,” Jard said.

Obi-Wan got a tug in the Force. “I have a feeling,” everyone groaned, “that might not be our best course of action.”

“What do you suggest?” Jango asked.

“Watch them. They could lead us to their base or others. We know the fanatical ones won’t give up locations in an interrogation, or they give us abandoned ones to waste our time and resources.”

The Mandalorians nodded. They had all been on missions to locations gotten from an interrogation of a Kyr’tsad member to find it empty.

“Put a tracker on the ship, slip onto it and slice their nave-computer for travel history, follow and get one drunk to see what they tell us… anything to give us more information on their movements and who they are dealing with. We are never going to catch them in an honorable confrontation.”

“The cowards always attack and run at the first sign of things not going their way,” Nix said.

“They would rather take you out in an ambush or trap,” Jard complained.

“Therefore, we have to force a confrontation in a location they can’t easily flee,” Obi-Wan said. “Maybe… a bit of information gathering before we confront them will do that.”

They accepted his logic even if they wanted to take action. This was not the first campaign for any of them. They understood the need for intelligence going into any battle. However, having the enemy before them and not being able to act was like an ill-fitting kute – rubbing in the wrong places.

“Jard, you scope out the ship. Reyi, stay with our ship. Ben is good at blending in when out of the armor. He can visit any cantina they visit and see if he can drink them stupid.”

Cheers went up at that. They all knew Ben could outdrink many of them, and he was good at ferreting information out.

“Nix and I will visit the guild hall to cement our reason for being here,” Jango said.

With assignments given, they headed out. They grabbed cloaks to attempt to prevent some of the sand from getting into the crevices of their armor and to prevent being immediately spotted by Kyr’tsad.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan walked through town with his helmet off and cloak hood up as he tried to locate Feemor. He knew Feemor was alive and in Mos Eisley. The bond between them attested to that. But, it was muted as if Feemor was hiding his presence. It was a logical action if he was in the situation Obi-Wan feared he was in. Keeping his abilities hidden would give him the best chance of getting out.

He tugged on the bond, hoping Feemor would respond. He did respond with the feelings of ‘safe’ and ‘busy’ before muting the bond again. He huffed in frustration before releasing it and felt out the flow of the Force for any clue as to what was going on or what he should do.

He felt a pull to the right. He casually looked that way. An armored Kyr’tsad member, short and stocky, moved confidently through the street and headed into a cantina. Obi-Wan wrapped the Force around him to deflect attention from him as he adjusted his cloak to better hide his armor and followed. He ducked his head as he descended into the darkened opening that led to the shady space most cantinas fostered.

He headed to the bar to order a drink and scanned the room for the blue armor. He did not let his eyes rest on his target, only skim over him. He was headed to one of the booths along the wall.

“An ale,” Obi-Wan said when the bar attendant turned to him.

He filled a glass and set it in front of him. Obi-Wan placed the currency on the bar top and accepted the beverage. He slowly turned as he took a drink and scanned the room. He also reinforced the ‘nothing interesting here’ Force suggestion.

Mr. Stocky sat at a booth with another man. Kyr’tsad armor and taller with long graying hair were what he could see at first glance.

He casually walked across the room to a table from which he could get a better view of them. He would not be able to hear them, but he would be able to identify them. He sipped his drink and pretended to watch the band on stage.

From here he could see half the man’s face was scarred or maybe burnt. Guessing, he was probably Jaster’s age. His eyes were hard and narrowed at whatever Stocky was saying. Stocky talked faster. Scar calmed.

Obi-Wan wished he could hear them. The Force warned it was not safe to get closer. He stayed away for now.

The more he watched, the more the exchange appeared to be someone reporting to a superior.

He finished his drink and headed out to wait for them to leave. Where they went was important. He turned down an alley out of sight of observers. A Force aided jump carried him to the roof of a nearby building that gave him a good view of the door. It was important.

He secured a camera linked to his gear on the top of the wall and focused it on the cantina door. He settled down out of sight and watched the feed on his helmet screen for them to leave.

Stocky came out first. Obi-Wan made sure to capture several still holos of him. Stocky headed back to the shipyard. They could follow up on him later. Obi-Wan waited. He was rewarded when the scarred man came out ten minutes later.

Scar stopped two paces outside the door and looked around suspiciously. Obi-Wan held his breath wondering if this was Scar’s standard reaction or did he sense he was being watched. Scar put his helmet on. Obi-Wan knew what possible capabilities for scanning it could have.

Obi-Wan stretched his arms over his head before Scar looked in the direction of his hiding spot. He pushed into the Force, ‘I’m just a local waking up from a nap’ and was ready to move if it did not work. He watched the screen.

Scar looked in his direction for several seconds as Obi-Wan continued with stretches. He walked on and hesitated at a few other locations before he decided to move on. He stalked over to a speeder bike.

He got on and headed toward the city gate. Obi-Wan stood up and followed him visually the best he could from his location before he lost him behind other buildings. He did verify he appeared to be heading out of the city.

Obi-Wan retrieved his camera before heading back to meet with Jango.

~~X~~

Feemor sat at Shmi’s small table. He had managed to obtain a sweet cake that the inn’s kitchen was going to throw out and brought it to Shmi in thanks for her helping him figure things out. Anakin had been thrilled with the special treat.

Once he finished it, he went to the other room to play. Shmi insisted he stayed for a cup of tea.

She sat down across from him, cradling the ceramic mug between her hands. She studied him over the top of it.

Feemor studied her in return with both eyes and lightly with the Force. There was no traditional sign that she was Force sensitive, but he could not dismiss her being, at least in part, the reason Anakin’s presence was muted.

That was not a topic to be brought up in such situations. He did not want to be seen as a threat to either of their welfare.

“You seem to be settling in well,” she said.

“The work is familiar, and being bought by Riblik is one of the better scenarios for my situation,” he said. “I’ve traveled enough to know what’s out there and how beings use and misuse their power and others.”

“True,” she said.

He took a sip of the tea.

“Is it alright to inquire about others’ situations? I don’t want to bring up bad memories or get them in trouble. Since you were my ‘welcoming committee,’ I figured you were the one to ask about social norms around here.”

“It depends on who, when, and where. Never when at ‘work.’”

Feemor nodded. “Logical.”

Shmi snorted. “Not every new slave catches on to that at first.” She rubbed at her temple. “In the right place – like our residential area, many don’t mind sharing their stories. Who else would understand our trauma other than those who are going through it with us?”

“Find comfort and support where you can to make it to the next day.”

She cocked her head slightly, studying him once more. A crash from the next room interrupted them. Shmi looked at the wall.

“I’m fine!” Anakin called out.

Feemor could feel that he was fine despite whatever happened.

“Ani, be careful,” she responded.

“Yes, Mom.”

“A handful,” Feemor said with a smile.

She huffed. “He can be, but I can’t imagine life without him.”

Feemor hesitated but gently asked, “His father?”

“He has no father,” Shmi said flat in tone and in her presence in the Force.

The weight of truth hung on the four words.

“Is that a slave euphemism?” he haltingly asked. He rubbed his beard.

Shmi shrugged. “It can be. Owners will do what they will.”

He nodded.

“But… it doesn’t… I don’t think you mean it in that way.”

She looked him in the eye. “I don’t.” She dared him not to believe her.

That was what he assumed and marked this as another one of the ‘crazy situations the Force led me to.’ He took a breath and moistened his lips.

“He is a blessing,” Feemor settled on after discarding other quips that ran through his mind in Obi-Wan’s voice.

The tension in Shmi’s shoulders lessened.

“He is.” She pushed back the loose strand of hair. “Many don’t believe me, but I don’t remember any activity to conceive him. Gardulla had others as sex slaves. My mechanical skill was where my worth was for her.” She shrugged and looked to the doorway. “It doesn’t mean that she did not accept a deal or payment for such.” She shook her head. “I have no memory of it, nor can I identify any missing chunk of time.”

Feemor looked at the doorway as well. He could feel Anakin contentedly playing on the other side.

“I have no explanation for it. I accepted him as the gift he is and hope he will find his way free of this life. I know he is special… and because of that, I fear how others will want to own him and to use him.”

She studied him. It felt like she was going to say something… but decided against it. He wondered once more if she suspected he was ‘special’ in the same way.

“A good parent wants the best for their children and is willing to do much for them,” Feemor said.

“What would you do for your child?” she asked.

“What makes you think I have a child?” he asked, trying to hide his surprise.

“The way you interact with Anakin and… a feeling.”

He reached out to her in the Force with more heft than the gossamer touches of before. She side-eyed him. He marked that as a point to his suspicion that she was a bit Force sensitive based on her reactions… or maybe she had developed a sense about these things because of her son.

“I have two sons not of blood but of my heart,” he answered. “I’ve raised them to adult-hood and would give my life to protect either of them…”

Shmi gave him an approving nod.

“So you understand what I would do if someone could get him away from here – from this life, even if it meant letting him go without me and never seeing him again.”

He did understand. Life as a slave was hard. Life on Tatooine was harder. The odds that Anakin’s ‘gifts’ would be noticed in the future as he got older were good and did not bode well for his future. It would most likely be the wrong sort of being and not a Jedi finder unless he pointed them her way or took him when they left.

He had no doubt that she would hand him to a Jedi if they would free him. But that did not feel like the right path… well not totally wrong… but sending him to the temple felt dangerous. He reached out trying to get a better understanding of what the Force was wanting him to do.

Shmi narrowed her eyes. “You’re more than you appear.”

Feemor held his hands out open palms facing up. “No one is only what they appear.”

She rested a hand on her hip and gave him a look that reminded him of a crèchemaster ferreting out their charges’ mischief.

“You’re like Ani. You can do things like he does,” she said. “Why are you here?”

‘Tell truth.’

Feemor ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He checked that Anakin was still occupied before telling her.

“I was brought here by Kyr’tsad… Death Watch.”

She was confused by the name.

“Jabba’s new armor-clad enforcers.”

The confusion vanished.

“They are an extremist faction – considered terrorists – of Mandalorians. They captured me and sold me with others they took from Crolsel when we got here.”

“You are not concerned like a new slave. Many assumed you had been a slave before,” Shmi said.

“It isn’t my first time being a slave, but I’ve been lucky and my friends and sons came for me.”

Shmi leaned back in her chair. She pressed her lips together and cocked her head. “You expect that to happen this time as well. What will happen to us when you disappear?”

“What I would like to happen and what will happen once contact is made…” He shrugged. “I don’t want to bring down more hardship on your heads because of me.”

“Hardships will always come with and without a reason,” Shmi pointed out.

He inclined his head in acceptance of her truth.

“What would you see happen when they come for you.”

Her gaze felt like it was seeing into him.

“If I could free all the slaves, I would,” he admitted. “I know freeing beings without support, instigating a new power structure, or a way off planet will often lead to them being enslaved again within a year. The heart of the issue is rooted in beings’ greed. Greed for power. Greed for control. Greed for wealth. Greed for possessions.”

She pressed her lips together again. He watched her take a breath before offering him a nod.

“True, but that is of no comfort to those of us caught in their control.”

The air between them was somber. He knew she was right. He wanted to help those enslaved in Mos Eisley. That would take a greater force and organization than he could provide on his own. If they did pull off a successful slave revolt and killed or imprisoned the slave owners, Jabba and the other slave owners would not let it go unpunished. They would attack the city to punish and retake the lost property and to discourage others from trying the same thing in the future.

“It isn’t.” Feemor rubbed his temple and bit his lip as he reached out into the Force seeking what he was to do. What was the best path forward for him, for Shmi, for both of his families, for Tatooine, and for the galaxy? He knew there was no guarantee that the best path for all of those would align.

“You know the local systems and government. What would be the best way to change Tatooine – to abolish slavery on the planet?” he asked.

Shmi did not laugh at the suggestion. She contemplated the question.

“As you pointed out, as long as those in charge and hold power in each community see slavery as an easy and profitable path for workers and power… nothing will ever change. That is why, as slaves, we may dream of such change but look to gaining our freedom as individuals through various methods.”

The flavor wrapped around the last words tasted more of the bitterness of tragedy than the sweetness of joy. Feemor suspected that freedom was more often only found in death than escape.

“Who or what is the weak link in the system?” Feemor stood and paced the three steps of the room’s width. “How can it be exploited?”

Shmi shook her head. Escaped brown locks swayed with the movement. “If all the slave chips were deactivated and we were able to overthrow the owners… we may be able to free Mos Eisley. The chips and threats of punishment keep most from acting out as a group.”

Feemor nodded and kept silent on his ability to deactivate them like he did his own for now.

“If the chips weren’t an issue?”

“Most would revolt because we could, even if we were free for only days.” Her eyes hardened and resembled those warriors who have experienced the worst treatment at enemy hands. “We would make it very costly to retake the town.” She shot a look at the wall separating them from her son. “If we knew the most innocent of us were safe… we would gladly make the sacrifice.”

They were not covering anything Feemor did not already know. He tried looking at the problem from a different angle. Could he make having Death Watch on Tatooine something the slaves could use to their advantage?

Obi-Wan would be coming for him with Jango in tow. Jango and the Mandalorians with him would want to take out Death Watch if they could. If Death Watch was working with Jabba… they could take him out… with him gone maybe….

“What are you planning?” Shmi asked.

“Nothing.”

Shmi continued to study him. He tried to not fidget under her gaze. He was nearly a 50-year-old Master Jedi. This young woman should not have the power to make him squirm like a crècheling, yet he did.

“Nothing yet… just the beginnings of something.”

“Something to free us?”

He nodded. She nodded back and let the topic drop.

~~X~~

They all returned to the ship by nightfall and gathered to share what they had found over late-meal.

Jard said, “Couldn’t get close to the ship. Too much activity with repairs being made. They had a couple of guards keeping an eye on things. Thought about trying to sneak in as a mechanic,” Jard shook their head. “I watched them for a while. They checked identities before letting them on the ship.”

“Not the first time they’ve been docked here,” Reyi said. “Talked to the dockworkers while passing the time.” She grinned mischievously.

“More like flirting,” Nix muttered.

“I was counting on that to our advantage,” Jango said. “What else did you learn?”

“They aren’t the only ones in blue armor with a shriek-hawk on the planet. Telldif didn’t know how many for sure, but he’s seen at least thirty.”

“That’s more than that ship will carry as crew,” Nix said.

“I saw an older guy with a scarred face head toward the gate on a speeder bike,” Obi-Wan said. “I managed to get a holo of the two I saw at the cantina.”

“Load it up and let us see,” Reyi said.

Obi-Wan removed the memory chip and inserted it into the holo-table. He manipulated it to put an image of each up side by side. The 3D images slowly rotated so all could see.

“Karking Vizsla!” Jango yelled and jumped to his feet. “Karking Vizsla is here. I’ll be sure to kill him this time.”

Myles guided Jango back to his chair. “You can’t go off half-cocked. We don’t have enough information. We don’t know where he is. We don’t know what defenses he has in place.”

Jango muttered darkly but sat.

“This is our chance to take out the head of Kyr’tsad… to surprise him for once.”

Jango rubbed his temple. “To do that, we need information and a plan.” He waved a hand to get Myles to stop hovering. “I know… just an initial reaction. I’ve got it leashed now.”

“We have to do it without them suspecting we are on to them,” Obi-Wan pointed out. “How long will our ‘reason’ for being here give us before we draw the wrong attention?”

“Kid has a point,” Reyi said. She winked at him, causing him to blush.

“We spend another day in Mos Eisley,” Jango said. “See what other information we can ferret out with casual conversation – bribes if needed. Reyi, touch base with the local bounty hunters guild – following up on a few bounties or looking for new ones… whatever gets the job done.”

“Will do,” she said.

“Ben, go out and talk with the locals. Find out what the political situation is. I want to know what are the hot buttons and the tension points between those in power.”

“OK,” Obi-Wan said.

“I don’t expect all of that in one day,” Jango warned.

“Yes, sir.”

Jango continued handing out assignments to the others. “We’ll return to the New Horizon to make plans and update the Mando’alor. We can gear up to land outside the city’s range and return by speeder or speeder bike to not draw attention to our presence or numbers.”

~~X~~

Obi-Wan stayed on planet when the others returned to the New Horizon. He was going to track down his missing master and find out what was going on. He waited for night to settle in before following the bond to Feemor.

Feemor sent a warm welcome to him. He followed it through the streets of Mos Eisley and into what he learned was the slave housing section.

He was not the only one out and about. He moved like he knew where he was going to not draw unwanted attention. He did know… from a certain point of view.

He weaved his way deeper into the heart of the housing section.

“Psstt.” sounded from above him.

He looked up. Feemor’s blond head was just visible over the edge of the building. He waved him up.

Obi-Wan Force jumped and landed beside Feemor on the flat rooftop. He immediately hugged Feemor.

“When they took you…” he whispered into the side of his master’s head. “I was afraid for you.”

Feemor wrapped his arms around Obi-Wan and cupped the back of his head with one palm.

“The will of the Force,” Feemor said.

“I know.” He stepped back, releasing Feemor. He motioned to the area. “For a relative definition of safe.” He raised an eyebrow in question.

Feemor guided him away from the roof edge and sat down.

“What’s your situation?” Obi-Wan asked, sitting down beside him. “Slave… I assume.”

“Yes, sold as a slave,” Feemor confirmed. “Been chipped too.”

Obi-Wan pulled a scanner out of his bag and slid it over. “Have a place you can hide it if you need to?”

“Yes. I know where mine is and have deactivated it already, but this can be useful for the others.”

Obi-Wan sighed very long-sufferingly. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing… yet.”

“I’m not going to like this,” he muttered.

“Probably not,” Feemor agreed. “There’s a woman…”

Obi-Wan sighed. “That’s not allowed.”

Feemor swatted his leg.

“She’s my neighbor. Her son is very Force sensitive.”

“Of course the Force brings you here via slavery for a finding mission,” Obi-Wan grumped.

“The Force works in mysterious ways,” he teased. “Seriously, they are part of the reason I’m here but not the only reason. The Force says wait. That’s why I haven’t escaped yet. Otherwise I would have been out of here my first night.”

“What are you supposed to do… insight a slave rebellion?” Obi-Wan snarked.

‘Correct,’ said the Force.

Obi-Wan covered his face with his hand and moaned in despair. Feemor sighed like a man accepting his fate and was girding his loins to march into the fray.

“As if having Vizsla on the planet wasn’t bad enough,” he bemoaned.

“Was he on the ship with me?” Feemor asked.

Obi-Wan shook his head. “Already here. Seems they are working with or for… I haven’t got a clear answer on that… Jabba. There are at least thirty Kyr’tsad here.”

“In town?”

“Only five or six to keep eyes on the ship repairs. The rest of them are in Jabba’s palace. They seem to be filling the role of hired muscle and enforcers.”

“What’s the plan to take him out? Jango and Jaster can’t let this opportunity pass by.”

‘True.’

“I’m getting a headache,” Obi-Wan moaned.

“The Force is being efficient. It brought us here to find and take out the head of the Kyr’tsad and to free the slaves,” Feemor said with a wide grin.

“You can’t free all the slaves.” Obi-Wan tried to apply logic to the situation. “Mos Eisley – sure, but what will keep them free? The slavers or Hutts will sweep in with a greater force to stomp down what threatens them.”

Feemor let the somberness return to his features. “I know. Part of what I’ve been contemplating and talking with Shmi about – get a better understanding of their culture and ideas.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But… if Jabba is taken out when Vizsla is… that leaves a power vacuum.”

“If the slave revolt occurred at the same time,” Obi-Wan continued, “it might go unnoticed by the rest of Tatooine’s overlords until things settled.”

“Give them time to fortify or get off the dust ball,” Feemor said. “So, you think Jango will add ‘freeing slaves’ to his to-do list?”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with taking out Kyr’tsad, he probably would. Might even provide some manpower depending on who shows up from the Haat Mando’ade.”

Feemor rolled his neck and rubbed his shoulder.

“What are you doing in your new position?”

“Cleaning rooms at an inn and keeping the bots working. The guy who purchased me owns the town inn. Has slave staff running, cleaning, and tending to the daily activities and upkeep. As far as jobs go, it’s not horrendous and he’s more of an inattentive slaver than malicious and cruel. As long as things run smoothly and he doesn’t have to deal with it, he’s hands off.”

Obi-Wan sighs in relief. They had both seen and heard about worse situations slaves were put in. The situation Feemor described was not one they found in their missions often.

“How safe is it for me to contact you?”

“Here at night is probably best,” Feemor admitted. “Don’t try at the inn unless it’s an emergency.”

“Can you have a com?”

Feemor thought about it. “If I leave it hidden in my place during the day… probably.”

Obi-Wan pulled an extra com out of his bag and gave it to Feemor.

“I hate when we’re separated.”

Feemor patted his head. “I know, but it’s good experience. The time is nearing when you won’t be my shadow anymore but out on your own, working your own jobs.”

Obi-Wan did not pout. “I like doing what we are doing where we are doing it.”

“Maybe that is where the Force will have you, but it might have other places for you to go.”

He knew continuing to work with Feemor in Mandalorian space was not a guarantee once knighted. However, joining the Shadows increased the odds of continuing in his current position. He felt called to follow the Shadows’ path. Over half their missions were tied into the Shadows’ work one way or another, and that was what he wanted to continue to do – what he felt called to do.

The last few times he had been back in the Temple, Yoda had encouraged him to focus on diplomatic missions after he was knighted. He promised to consult the Force on the issue. He knew that was not the path the Force had for him, even if it had been at one time – a time before he met Feemor.

Yoda would just have to learn to live with disappointment when it came to him.

Working as a Shadow was important – especially now. All the Shadows and their padawans he talked to felt it as well. They were the ones collecting the data. They saw the ugly picture forming. They, along with the corps and the other councils, were working on ways to protect and preserve the Jedi in some form. Because whatever the reason or cause for Obi-Wan’s early vision of a life of infinite sadness, it was still out there. They were aware of it and attempted to follow its tracks. They were all hunting for the danger to the Jedi while carving out boltholes.

That was for future contemplation. Right here and now he had slaves to help Feemor to free and terrorists to help Jango capture.

“Anything else I should know before leaving?” Obi-Wan asked.

“I’ve picked up a lot of bits and pieces from the other slaves,” Feemor said. He filled him in on the slave gossip he had collected about their owners, Jabba, and his new enforcers over the past few days.

They stood preparing to part ways.

“Anything I should keep an eye out for as I leave?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Just the standard nightlife,” Feemor said. “They rely on the chips to keep the slaves from running so security isn’t overly tight.”

“I noticed coming in.”

“They are more there to bring back the pieces.”

Obi-Wan winced at the horrible thought.

“May the Force be with you,” Obi-Wan softly said and offered an abbreviated bow.

“And with you, dear one.”

Act 3

Shmi introduced Feemor to Merth after he explained his growing idea for a slave revolt. Merth had connections that provided her with useful information. She was happy to share if it got them freedom.

“There are secret passages in and out of Jabba’s palace?” Feemor asked Merth.

“Groth said there is a network of tunnels under it. Part of a cave system. They use them to haul bodies and other things out to the Northern Dune Sea for disposal.”

“Not a way to escape in case of an emergency or attack.”

Merth snorted. “If Jabba was attacked, He’d just lock himself in his throne room and wait for reinforcements. It’s a large panic room.” She leaned over her cup of tea. “There’s a room off it with enough food and water for a week. Can you imagine that much in one place?” She leaned back with a sigh and patted her chest. “It sounds like a dream.”

Feemor nodded along.

“It’s Groth’s job to keep it stocked and fresh.”

“How much of it goes bad?” Feemor asked.

“Groth has a system he rotates things out on. They get used elsewhere.”

“Smart,” Feemor praised. He took a sip of his tea.

“Groth has always been a smart one. That’s how he bought his freedom and got his job.”

~~X~~

Feemor summoned the com from its hard-to-access location when he returned to his quarters.

“Underground tunnel/cave system from Jabba’s to Northern Dun Sea – used by staff for disposal,” he typed and sent to Obi-Wan.

The rest would wait for their next meetup. This he needed to know now so he could look for a way into the fortress. Maybe these paths were not as heavily monitored. He had a good feeling about it.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan took a speeder bike out of the city and into the desert to meet up with Jango where they landed. He had several more Mandos with him. Greetings were exchanged.

“I made contact with Thal,” Obi-Wan told them. “He’s a slave and is making contacts within the community. He provided me with a timeline of Kyr’tsad’s local activity from them. They have made no friends among the slave population.”

That had not been a source Obi-Wan had considered at first, but it had proved very informative. Slaves are often overlooked. Beings will speak more freely with slaves around than others.

Reyi leaned forward. “Do tell.”

“They showed up about nine months ago seeking an alliance with Jabba. Merth’s cousin works in the palace and told her about it. Jabba found their first offer insulting and dropped them into the rancor pit.”

Approving shouts and laughter went up from the group.

“Enough survived to impress Jabba.”

Disbelieving exclamations of “Really” and “unbelievable” were groaned out.

“He sent them back to Vizsla with a demand that he would only deal with the head of the group.”

“That’s why Vizsla’s here,” Jango said.

Obi-Wan nodded. “He came and worked out an agreement with Jabba. He’s using them like his own army.”

“What do they get in exchange?” Reyi asked.

“Funding, ships, weapons, a place to take refuge, access to Hutt hyperlanes,” Obi-Wan said. “Vizsla is pleased enough with the deal that he’s recently arranged for another hundred of his men to be based here.”

“When are they going to arrive?” Jango asked, making notes on a pad.

“Not for another two weeks, at least, according to the conversation I overheard at a table full of them in the cantina,” Obi-Wan answered. He pulled a scrap of flimsy from his pocket and handed it to Jango. “Here are the locations I heard them mention having people in.”

Jango read the list. “The notations?”

“The dashes indicate the ones being packed up to move here. The triangles are underground cohorts. They hinted at being involved in other operations… businesses… but I don’t think they knew much about it or were good at not letting details slip.”

Jango lifted the flimsy. “This is helpful. I’ll pass it on to those that can act on it.”

“What is your parent planning?” Nix asked.

Obi-Wan sighed. “Slave revolt timed to when we go after Vizsla in Jabba’s fortress.”

“Worthy goal,” Reyi said. “What’s his plan afterward?”

“Not clear yet, as far as I know.”

Reyi cackled. “This should be fun.”

She had been involved in a few of their past missions and witnessed the chaotic paths and connections they often followed to reach an unexpected end. She was a chaos gremlin at heart and found the experiences to be a grand adventure.

“Sounds like we have things to plan and more information to gather,” Jango said.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan and Reyi found what appeared to be a trash dump location.

“I’m not getting anything conclusive on any of my scanning options,” she said. “What’s the Manda telling you?”

They had never told her that they were Jedi, but she had been around them enough and knew how Jaster was saved years ago by a Jedi to put the pieces together. Their Mandalorian identities and their true names were a badly kept secret within those close to Jaster and Jango.

They were also the same people who stood beside them if questioned and would come to their aid if needed. They welcomed the rescued Jedi and stray Force users he and Feemor ‘came across’ in their travels and let their once-hated enemy stay in their city to rest, recover, and live.

Obi-Wan suspected their end goal was to entice them into becoming Mandalorians, based on many a conversation he witnessed between Jaster’s armorer and the former Jedi. He had a feeling that, in the end, both groups would be changed because of their current partnership. They would be stronger for it.

Now was not the time for wool-gathering. Obi-Wan opened his senses to see if he could identify the opening among the crevices. It took several minutes before he got a glimpse of something. He focused on it.

“Someone’s coming. Focus there.” He pointed to the area he felt them in.

They quietly watched from their blind. Two slaves emerged from behind a large rock formation with a hover-cart full of discarded items. They shuffled out and along a path between the piles of trash. They deposited their loads and returned the way they came.

“If Jabba was smart, he would have a secured door and a monitor system set up,” Reyi said. “How smart do you think he is?”

“I’m hoping not very in this case,” Obi-Wan said. “Let’s go see.”

~~X~~

They found an opening the slaves had used and cautiously approached it.

“No guards,” Obi-Wan said.

“I’m not detecting any tech signals,” Reyi said.

“Maybe further in.”

Reyi tilted her head indicating maybe.

“Jabba wouldn’t leave a path into his home without surveillance, guard patrols, traps… something.”

“Only one way to find out,” Reyi said. She pulled her blaster from the holster and entered.

Obi-Wan followed. He reached out, seeking lifeforms in the Force. There were a few small animals like lizards nearby, but nothing that would raise an alarm to those living above them.

They had entered a cave based on the wall’s texture. In contrast, the ground under their feet was smooth across and an even width pointing to man-made. It was not the narrow path worn smooth from feet crossing over it thousands of times.

Reyi signaled ‘clear’ and to move forward.

Obi-Wan switched on his helmet light as they went deeper along the path because there were no lights on. The narrow entrance broadened out. They walked a fair bit in. There were a few tunnels that opened onto the path, but they did not show signs of use.

They cautiously approached a turn in the path to be greeted by a cavern and a drop as the path ended with a metal platform. Reyi pointed across the dark chasm.

“There’s blinking lights over there.”

Obi-Wan looked where she was pointing and did see the small indicator lights. “Retractable bridge?” he guessed.

She examined the platform and the wall. “Yes, but the controls must only be on the other side or activated by a remote.”

Reyi released a pebble over the edge and listened. “Not a fall easily walked away from.”

Obi-Wan wished they had a more powerful light than what they brought with them. Their helmet lights were made to illuminate the area around you and not twenty feet away.

“Jetpack over to activate it?” Obi-Wan pondered. “If we had jetpacks with us.” Wishing for a jetpack seemed to be a frequent wish over the years.

She squatted down and ran a hand over the edge. “Hold my legs.”

“What?”

She was on her belly inching forward to look under the platform. Obi-Wan grabbed her legs to act as a counterbalance before she got too far out. Her light made shadows dance on the wall with her movement.

“Explosives. So they can blow it up if accessed by unsanctioned beings.”

She rolled over and sat up. He offered a hand and helped her to her feet.

“I don’t know if forcing the bridge to deploy would set it off or if it’s triggered manually.” She looked back at the blinking lights. “If it was me, any attempt to override the controls would set it off. I’d control it from inside and not have controls where they could be accessed.”

“Wait for someone to come out?”

Reyi shook her head. “They would be watching it then.”

Obi-Wan was frustrated. They were at a dead end.

A vision of walking through the caves of Ilum enveloped him. He picked up his crystal. It was the crystal in his saber. He turned. A different path called to him as the way out.

He blinked as he returned to the here and now. He thought about the Ilum cave system. Paths crossed and ran in circles… and there was more than one way to get where you were going.

“Do you think one of the other tunnels would get us there?”

She cocked her head, indicating contemplation. “Possibly. We can check it out.”

They headed back along the path to the first tunnel. It did not take them long to reach the point it was too narrow to get through. They tried the next one.

“Why store clothing here?” Obi-Wan asked.

Reyi picked up and examined a few of the items. “Maybe it’s the slaves storing it here and not Jabba.”

“Maybe. Next one.”

~~X~~

The fourth one led them deep into the mesa. They had to help each other over sections and scale up vertical faces when the path continued several feet above their heads. The path moved upwards, which was promising.

After an hour, they walked into a room. It was formed from the rock and had long rectangular cubby holes carved out of the rock. Obi-Wan walked up to one and looked at it. There was a scrap of fabric in it, but whatever it had held before was gone.

“A resting place for the dead,” Reyi said.

Now that she mentioned it, it did remind him of images he had seen in his classes on various death traditions throughout the galaxy. “There are none here. What happened to them?”

“Jabba, probably. He was not the first to live here.”

They looked around the room a bit more and found a stairway leading up.

“It’s dusty,” Obi-Wan observed and left a clear line by dragging his foot across the step.

“Which means they probably don’t come down here often.”

“That’s what I was thinking.” He looked back at the room. “Could we gather the strike forces here before the assault?”

“We could get maybe twenty people in here.”

“We don’t know where the stairs lead.”

“Only one way to find out. Shall we?”

They cautiously headed up the stairway, stopping every few steps to listen and check for sensors that would give them away. There was nothing. It was as if the section was forgotten. Maybe it had been.

The stairway led into a room that was being used for storage. Behind the items, the walls still held traces of painted murals that adorned them.

“This does not feel like a storage room,” Obi-Wan said.

Reyi ran a gloved finger over a section of the wall. “It wasn’t intended to be. This is where they prepared the dead before taking them down, I bet.”

Obi-Wan found it sad that someone’s – probably sacred – traditions were callously disregarded and trampled over.

“Bet the stairway’s existence was forgotten once this crap was shoved in here.” He ran a finger over one of the boxes to come away with a small pile of dust on the end of it. “Not items frequently used.”

Reyi snorted. “Makes it a good infiltration point, depending on where we are in the fortress.”

~~X~~

“What did you find?” Jango asked on their return.

“We found a way in. It takes an hour of walking and climbing underground,” Reyi said.

Obi-Wan tapped his vanbrace and activated the holoprojector. A map of the explored area hovered over the table. A few more taps and the path was highlighted.

“We couldn’t get in the way they brought things out,” Obi-Wan said. “But we found a passage into what had once been the resting place of the dead.”

Jango’s face scrunched up. “I don’t like the idea of disturbing the dead.”

Reyi waved a hand. “They’ve already been disturbed. Nothing was left there. Figure Jabba had it cleaned out when he took over.”

“Reasonable conclusion,” Jaster said.

Obi-Wan continued explaining. “There is a stairway into a storage room on the northwest side of the fortress. Not much else is kept on that level.”

“I repurposed a mousedroid to get a better idea of the layout,” Reyi added. It was her turn to produce a map.

Jango leaned forward to get a better look at the multi-level plans. “This is better than I hoped.”

~~X~~

Feemor, wearing his armor Obi-Wan brought to him, checked the time. He and the local slaves were waiting for the signal. They had finished deactivating or removing the slave chips from the last of them. The weapons Obi-Wan snuck to him had been handed out. They were ready and eager to claim their freedom and the city from those who thought they owned them.

There was an explosion.

“That’s our signal!” Feemor said and led them out of their gathering place and into the city.

~~X~~

Obi-Wan led the strike teams through the cave system under Jabba’s fortress and up into what had once been the ritual chamber. They all had their orders and target areas. He made sure all was clear before allowing the first group of five into the hall.

They were headed to secure the slave quarters in the hope of reducing possible hostages and unnecessary deaths.

The next two groups soon followed, heading down a different hall. They were headed for the Kyr’tsad barracks with grenade launchers. They planned to take them out with prejudice.

Jango stepped up beside Obi-Wan. “Ready?”

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. “As I will ever be.”

“Head out.”

~~X~~

The takeover was quick and efficient. The fortified doors to the throne room were an expected roadblock. Obi-Wan poked at the mechanisms with the Force, getting a feel if he could trigger it to open.

Their forces were gathered at their locations once other areas were secured.

“Any sightings of Vizsla?” Jango asked through the com to his commanders.

A series of negative responses were returned.

Reyi had gone to the security room to hack what systems she could. She chimed in, “He’s in with Jabba.”

“You sure?” Jango asked. “Do you have eyes on him?”

“No. All camera feeds were cut when the room went into lockdown, but I do have a recording of him running into it once the alert was sounded.”

“Cowered,” was murmured by more than one of their number.

“Can you override the lockdown from where you are?” Jango asked.

“Sorry – no can do. Only accessible from inside.”

Jango looked to Obi-Wan. “Can you do something, or do we have to blow a hole in the wall?”

Obi-Wan felt the locking mechanism move under his Force touch.

“I can open it.”

“On my mark,” Jango said. He looked at the gathered Mandos. “We will not have the element of surprise going through this door. I expect the blaster fire will be heavy and fast. Energy shields front and center.”

They moved into positions. Once Jango had them arranged to his satisfaction, he nodded to Obi-Wan.

A twist of the Force had the door sliding open. The Mandos rushed in under the expected barrage. There were several members of Kyr’tsad in the room firing on them.

They had greater numbers and flowed through the door and into the room, taking out the opposition. They were well-trained, well-armed, and very motivated Mandalorians. They were eager to put an end to the demagolka.

Obi-Wan watched Tros’ back as he aimed at Jabba. He shot two Kyr’tsad before they got close. Tros shot the poisoned dart, the best way to deal with Jabba permanently according to him. Obi-Wan followed the dart’s path with the Force.

It flew true. He gave it a little extra push to make sure it penetrated the thick Hutt hide. Jabba did not flinch at the contact. He continued barking out orders.

They both turned their attention to the nearest enemy but kept an eye on Jabba. They were the only ones to notice when Jabba succumbed to the poison. Everyone else was too wrapped up in fighting to realize Jabba went quiet. The large slug slumped onto his dais with a gasp.

They joined with two other Haat Mando’ade as they shot at a group of Kyr’tsad taking cover behind the bar. That was when someone realized Jabba was dead. He threw down his blaster and surrendered to the nearest Mandalorian.

Several of Jabba’s non-Kyr’tsad minions followed his example and were quickly taken into custody. It was only Vizsla’s followers who continued to fight, moving to form a tight group around their leader.

The Haat Mando’ade blocked all exits from the room. Jabba was dead. His guards were dead or captured. Jango stepped up onto the dais and kicked Jabba’s hookah across the room, causing a loud clanging noise as it tumbled across the floor. It got the attention of most of the fighters.

“This ends here and now,” Jango declared, pointing at Tor Vizsla as they faced off in the middle of Jabba’s throne room, and the blaster fire paused.

The large, scarred man snarled. “Mereel’s brat. Should have killed you back on Concord Dawn.”

“Glad I could leave such a lasting impression,” Jango said and stepped down to floor level.

Obi-Wan remembered Jango telling them about the civil war that resulted in his family being killed. He escaped to the fields because his mother shot the Death Watch member holding a gun to his head. At the end when Jaster’s forces confronted Vizsla’s, Jango placed a bomb on the tank Vizsla was hiding in.

They had assumed Tor Vizsla was dead despite not finding a body. Understandable, but an assumption that had come back to haunt them.

“Surrender,” Jango ordered. “You don’t have any handy tanks to hide in this time.”

“I’ve been promised Mereel’s downfall,” Tor said.

Obi-Wan heard the truth in the statement. The question was who made that promise because if it was Jabba, Vizsla would not have mentioned it. That meant that another player was supporting Death Watch from the shadows.

Another player fell in line with what the Shadows have discovered over the past two decades of following whispers and money trails.

“They don’t appear to be holding up their end very well.” He tipped his head in Jabba’s direction.

“So you believe.”

Jango tightened his hold on his blaster. Myles placed a gloved hand on Jango’s arm. He suspected there was an exchange over coms about not, rising to the threat and to focus on the current battle.

It was something many have reminded Jango over the years. His temper and rash actions got him into trouble often when he was younger. It still did if the correct buttons were pushed. Threatening Jaster was one of them.

Jango brushed Myle’s hand off but did not pull his blaster.

“Tor Vizsla of Clan Vizsla, I, Jango Fett of Clan Mereel, challenge you before the gathered Mandelorians to one-on-one combat for the right to lead our people.”

The room became quiet at his words. If Tor refused, he would be turning his back on the traditions he espoused to uphold, the traditions he gained a portion of his followers on.

They all waited for his answer.

“I will wipe the floor with you,” Tor growled.

Tor moved out from the wall of Death Watch members to face Jango.

Both sides moved back so the two challengers had space.

They faced off.

Tor grabbed what Obi-Wan expected to be another blaster but was instead a lightsaber hilt – but not one he had seen before. In the Force, it did not feel like any lightsaber he had encountered before.

A black blade wooshed out when ignited. Murmurs of “The Darksaber” rounded the room. There were clear capitals on both words. It had significant cultural meaning then, but it was one he was not aware of.

Tor charged forward, swinging the saber for Jango’s head. Jango’s armor was beskar, so he was not in immediate danger of losing a limb. He also was no stranger to fighting against an opponent with a lightsaber. He sparred frequently with him and Feemor. This was probably one of the reasons why.

Jango blocked the swing with his vambrace and slashed out with his dagger. He managed to nick Tor’s kute, but he rolled out of the way. Tor used an overhead strike. Jango blocked again, but he was driven down under the power behind the swing.

Tor kicked the dagger out of Jango’s hand. Jango dropped and rolled, causing Tor to stumble forward. Jango rolled to his feet and readied to counter another attack with his hands.

Jango was an excellent hand-to-hand fighter. If he could get inside the range of the saber, he had a good chance of bashing Tor’s head in. Tor seemed to realize that now as well. He kept his distance from Jango and harried him with slashing attacks that forced Jango to block yet held him at a distance.

They circled within the ring of their men, looking more like a dance than a fight.

Obi-Wan felt a prodding by the Force. He unsheathed his vibro-sword and slid it across the floor with a small use of the Force to stop at Jango’s foot.

Jango dipped and grabbed the handle. He swung it up and locked the two blades together. They pushed against each other, trying to unbalance the other.

Obi-Wan knew his sword would hold up against a lightsaber for a good bit. They tested the materials’ effectiveness and strength when crafting it until they found the right mix to produce a durable blade that was effective in deflecting blaster bolts and would block lightsabers.

His vibro-sword would become damaged under continuous contact with a lightsaber, but it would take a while to reach that point. It was the best weapon any of them had on hand, other than another lightsaber, for Jango to fight Tor with.

Tor kicked out at Jango, forcing him to stumble back onto the ground. He slashed at Jango’s stomach in a move that would have gutted him. Jango kicked Tor’s knee and used the vibro-sword to strike at Tor’s hand. Blood was drawn, but an incapacitating injury was not inflicted.

Tor grabbed the hilt with both hands and drove the saber downward, trying to skewer Jango. Jango chose not to block but to attack. He thrust the sword between Tor’s armor plates and upward – probably getting Tor’s heart.

Jango grunted as the Darksaber contacted his side. That did not stop him. He pulled the sword out in a swift jerk.

The Darksaber shut off. It clattered to the floor. Tor crumpled to the ground. Jango picked up the hilt before cautiously checking if Tor was alive.

Obi-Wan knew before Jango announced it. He felt when Tor’s life went out.

“He’s dead.” Jango held the saber hilt into the air in victory.

“Oya manda!” was shouted by Jango’s men.

The chants of “Mand’alor” and “Mand’alor Fett” started scattered and low before growing in intensity until most were addressing him with the title.

Obi-Wan did not know what it meant. Were they turning their back on Jaster? That did not fit with what he knew of the Mandalorians and Jango.

Jango called for quiet. “Today we have confronted our enemy and come out victorious. We have reclaimed a historical treasure of our people. We have freed the enslaved.”

More shouts of “Oya Manda!” and “Mand’alor” came in response.

“We are not yet done. Prisoners and holdings must be secured and oppressed beings reassured before we take our rest. Tomorrow we feast!”

The defeated Kyr’tsad members were escorted away by a group of Haat Mando’ade. Others headed out to secure the building and seek out any hidden opposition. The room soon emptied, leaving Obi-Wan, Jango, and Myles.

“Congratulations,” Myles said, clapping Jango’s arm in a warrior’s hold. “Jaster’s been wanting you to take on the position. Now you have earned it in a very Mandalorian way.”

Jango released Myles’ grasp and looked at the hilt in his hand. “None of us realized he had it. We assumed it was lost like so many other items.”

“How does it make him Mand’alor?” Obi-Wan asked. His curiosity was too great now that they were not in a life-and-death situation.

Myles was the one to answer. “The Darksaber was made by Terre Vizsla.”

“The Mandalorian Jedi,” Obi-Wan muttered.

“The saber used to be in the Jedi archives,” Myles said. “Clan Vizsla took it in the Old Republic days. They saw it as belonging to Clan Vizsla even though Terre wanted it sent back to the temple when he died.”

Obi-Wan was split on who had the better claim on the item. Lightsabers did not belong to only the Jedi despite that being the belief. Other Force traditions have used them or something similar over the years. With Terre Vizsla being both a Mandalorian and a Jedi, he belonged to two cultures. Both held a claim to him. If he wanted his saber returned to the temple, then he felt part of both, even if he left to become Mand’alor.

“At some point, a Clan Vizsla member claimed having and welding it was proof of them being worthy to be the Mand’alor like Terre Vizsla before them,” Myles continued to explain.

“That’s a logical fallacy,” Obi-Wan pointed out.

“Yes, sometimes beings are only looking for a good-sounding justification to do or throw their support behind something,” Reyi said, having joined them at some point during the fighting.

Myles nodded. “That’s basically what happened. The idea of becoming Mand’alor by winning the Darksaber in combat wove its way into Mandalorian culture.”

“Some segments more than others,” Jango said. “It’s a romantic fairytale.”

“What better way for warriors to pick a leader than by combat,” Obi-Wan said.

“They’ve made it to be the will of the Manda if you win it in combat,” Jango bemoaned. “A sign of the ancestor’s blessing.”

Obi-Wan poked at the hilt with the Force and received pleased contentment from it. “They may not be wrong… entirely.”

“What?” Jango hissed.

“It does have a kyber crystal inside. Kyber does have a connection to the Force or Manda…” Obi-Wan shrugged, figuring they were smart enough to follow his line of thinking.

He could not see Myles’ or Jango’s faces, but he could feel their resigned horror at his statement.

“How dare you?” hissed Jango.

Obi-Wan held his open palms out, denying his culpability. He only opened the can of worms. He did not know what to do with them. He would leave that to the others.

Myles shifted his position, telling those who knew him he was receiving a communication over his com. He grabbed Jango’s arm.

“The medic wants you in their office ASAP for an assessment before you get involved in the clean-up efforts,” Myles said.

“I’m going to check on Thal and the slave uprising,” Obi-Wan said.

“Take at least two Haat Mando’ade with you,” Myles ordered.

~~X~~

Anakin ran out and wrapped himself around Feemor’s armored leg in a hug. He gave off joy and happiness as he looked up at Feemor with wide, excited eyes of a youngling.

“You survived and came back!”

Obi-Wan sent a curious surge across the bond. Anakin’s attention moved to his padawan.

“Has he seen you in your armor?” Obi-Wan asked.

“No,” Feemor answered.

“He’s like us,” Anakin said. He arched his head back to look up at Obi-Wan without releasing his hold on Feemor’s leg. “He feels warm and safe, too.”

“Yes, he is like us,” Feemor said. “He is my ward and student.” He used the Huttes’ words for the relationship for Anakin’s benefit. His standard was spotty but good for a five-year-old.

A passing group of Haat Mando’ade noticed the youth. “Found another kid to adopt, Thal?” one of them asked.

“He’s got a parent,” Feemor responded.

The Mandos chuckled. One muttered something about adopting them both into his clan. They let it go as they moved on.

Anakin, the curious child, asked, “What did they say?”

“They were teasing him… in a friendly way,” Obi-Wan added when Anakin looked like he would take offense. “Nothing bad or hurtful.”

Anakin’s pursed lips and narrowed eyes slowly relaxed.

“I guess that’s ok,” Anakin resignedly said.

“They meant no harm,” Feemor assured. He picked Anakin up. “Where’s your mother?”

Anakin pointed to the building he came from. “She’s helping. I was bored.”

Feemor scooped Anakin up and set off in that direction. “I’m sure she is missing you.”

Anakin shook his head. “She knows I know how to be safe.”

He was confident in his skills, and they both could feel it in the Force. He had probably been relying on his Force gifts to avoid detection for most of his life.

Obi-Wan was amused and let him know it as he followed behind.

They found Anakin’s mother helping organize the newly freed slaves. She nodded to Feemor when they entered but continued what she was doing.

~~X~~

Feemor accompanied Jango at his request when he contacted Jaster with an update.

“Good to see you returned to us,” Jaster said when he set eyes on Feemor.

“Good to be back. I don’t regret the distasteful experience because it led to freeing the slaves of Mos Eisley – thanks to you.”

“It won’t last without oversight,” Jango said. He ran a hand through his dark curls. “I’ve talked it over with the local ex-slave leaders. They all agree it is not sustainable if we pull out.” He looked at Jaster’s projection. “They will fight… but they can easily be put back into the previous situation without support. We can’t leave until a solution is found and things are stabilized.”

Jaster’s smile was proud. “I knew that when you asked about supporting a slave revolt.”

“To complicate things, I won the Darksaber in a duel with Vizsla.” He held the hilt up to be seen and sounded so put-upon.

Jaster laughed. “Congratulations. Not an outcome I foresaw but a welcome one.”

“But you’re the Mando’alor, not me,” Jango objected.

“We can discuss it when you get back,” Jaster said. “What are you planning for Tatooine?”

“We can’t justify a provisional Mandalorian government so far from Mandalore. Feemor suggested it be presented more as a mercenary company taking control vs us taking action.”

Jaster nodded. “Feemor, your thoughts.”

“Everyone is aware that there was a confrontation between two groups of Mandalorians, if not why. We could spin it so that it was a feud between two clans or mercenary groups because the group here attacked and/or destroyed the other’s home…”

“Which is true,” Jaster said.

Feemor inclined his head. “And will add verisimilitude to the situation. They finally caught up to them and exacted their retribution. In the process, they supported a slave revolt and took out those supporting their sworn enemy.”

“The Hutts,” Jango added.

“The clan, group, or guild claimed the Death Watch and their ally’s holdings in recompense, therefore justifying their continued presence on Tatooine.”

Jaster hummed thoughtfully. “It gives Mandalore a degree of separation from the actions, With Death Watch already being there under the approval of the ‘legal’ governors… those taking over can claim it justifies their presence… even if some in the Senate will disagree.”

“It’s no different than the Hutts’ control of the planet,” Feemor said. “They are not Republic citizens yet hold positions of power on the planet.”

“True…,” Jaster said. “I see where you are going with this… it’s probably our best course to avoid appearing like we are going out and conquering planets. Who are you putting in charge, Jango?”

“Reyi Crawlek and her clan have agreed to take it on. She has plans.”

“She has good ideas on creating a more sustainable economy for the planet,” Feemor said. “And she is familiar with the working relationship between my people and Mandalore.”

“Provides them another safe bolt hole on the other side of the galaxy when needed,” Jaster said. He nodded in agreement. “I have a feeling it will be needed.” He looked tired.

“Something happened?” Feemor asked.

Jaster waved his hand. “Nothing unusual or time-sensitive. But, Bamek wants to talk to you when you return.”

That told Feemor it was Shadow related and probably dealing with their investigation into who was out to get the Mandalorians and the Jedi.

“I’ll seek him out on our return,” Feemor said.

“Do you need any other resources to set things up there?” Jaster asked Jango.

“At the moment, no, but that could change once we get established.”

“Keep me posted. Good job!”

Jango gave his farewells and ended the connection.

“I’ll tell Reyi we can proceed with the plan.”

~~X~~

Anakin pressed his face against the window as they approached Mandalore and practically vibrated with the excitement of being on a new planet. His mother smiled indulgently at him before returning to her study module.

Shmi Skywalker was a benevolent force to be confronted with. Obi-Wan had come to appreciate her during their journey home. She was smart and cunning in a way slaves had to be if they wanted to survive. Only now that she was free, she was allowing others to see that part of her.

“That’s where we are going,” Anakin said.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan answered.

Anakin got a look of focus on his face and then brightened. “There are others like us there.”

It was further proof of Anakin’s strong connection to the Force for him to know that at this distance. It was outside of Obi-Wan’s experience.

“There are,” Obi-Wan softly confirmed.

“I can’t wait to meet them.

He had wondered if Anakin should go to the temple on Coruscant. Feemor had talked with Shmi and presented her with the options. She chose to come here and let Anakin find his path among the Force users here rather than be separated from her son – now that they were both free.

That choice was understandable. She wanted to hold on to her son when she did not have to fear an owner separating them and selling one or the other away.

The Force was at peace with Shmi’s decision. That felt like a warning sign to Obi-Wan. Such a bright light in the Force not going to the Jedi temple to be trained seemed wrong based on Obi-Wan’s early experiences. That could be his bias coming through despite spending years learning about other Force traditions as Feemor’s padawan.

He knew what the Shadows were tracking. He knew of the growing number of knights, masters, and padawans the Shadows had saved and brought to Mandalore and who were now presumed dead by Coruscant and the temple because of bad intel.

Excuses were made and fingers pointed to pass the blame. Nothing was done to identify and verify the intel for a mission before sending Jedi out. It felt like someone was poking at their weak points. Slowly taking them out when it would not be obvious and believable. It felt like the beginning of a war of attrition.

Obi-Wan had not missed the darkness rising in the core since their first return to Coruscant after becoming Feemor’s padawan. He knew the darkness was setting roots on Coruscant and spreading its control there. He hated to return there now and was also disgusted with how quickly it became normal and became just part of the background during their time there.

It was not a good place to be. It was not a good place to live. Who knows how the darkness was deceiving them when they did not realize it was there?

Anakin would be better off living on Mandalore than in the darkening Coruscant.

~~X~~

It was good to be back on Mandalore. Feemor did think of it as home as much if not more than the temple. He had spent more time with Mandalorians than he had with Jedis in the temple by now. He had been shaped by his time with them as much as they had by him and his.

He looked out over the well-tended fields surrounding the sprawling building that the ‘retired’ Jedi worked out of. He turned when he felt their approach.

“Feemor!” Anakin exclaimed and ran to him. He attached himself to his leg.

Obi-Wan and Shmi approached at a calmer pace. Both had a sparkle of mirth in their eyes. Feemor managed to pry Anakin off his leg and picked him up.

“There are some people I want to introduce you to,” Feemor said and tweaked Anakin’s nose, making him giggle.

They walked to the courtyard outside their ‘Jedi temple’ equivalent. Several older masters sat in the shade of a tree, talking and watching over a group of children playing games. Anakin’s attention was drawn to the laughing and running kids. His hands held tighter to Feemor’s shirt even as he leaned out to be a bit closer to the action.

Shmi matched his pace and ran a hand through Anakin’s hair. The action seemed to calm and reassure him. He smiled at his mother.

“Let me introduce you, then you may go play if your mother says you may,” Feemor said.

Anakin turned wide pleading eyes on her.

“Introductions first,” she said.

Feemor stopped before the group of elders of both Mandalorians and Jedi.

“Bringing another youngling to us, Feemor.”

“I’m blessed to meet so many new people on my travels. Master Loum and Goran Lef, this is Shmi Skywalker and her son Anakin. They are seeking new opportunities and a new life with us. This is Master Loum – he’s a retired Jedi. This is Goran Lef. She makes the armor the Mandalorians wear.”

“Really!” Anakin said. “How do you do that? Can I learn?”

Her laugh was mellow and warm.

“Maybe, when you are older, I can show you. If the Manda agrees, you may learn. There is still time yet for you to find your path among the stars.”

They had caught the attention of the other children. They homed in on them. He set Anakin down on the ground.

Goran Lef made introductions, and then they were off running around the courtyard once more. Anakin was enfolded into their group and games.

Feemor drew Shmi forward to sit with the group.

“They represent the people who can help Anakin learn about his abilities and guide him along the path he feels called to.”

Once the ice was broken, Shmi had many questions for the two spiritual leaders.

Feemor excused himself and left her in their hands. Obi-Wan left with him.

“We did good,” Obi-Wan said, bumping his shoulder against Feemor’s.

The older man smiled. “We did.”

~The End~

 

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