Chapter 41.5

Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector

It felt like nary a handful of hours before dawn was climbing over the rooftops again, and streets already busy with the morning life of the markets. Scout was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she strode through the Onderonian palace’s stone corridors, with Ahsoka hurrying to keep up beside her. It was the first official day of the summit, and both sides were hoping to set off on the right foot with the prisoner exchange; the most public and publicised event on the itinerary. Millions of Onderonians would be watching, and trillions of galactic citizens.

That meant if there was any saboteur aiming to make a statement, this day would be the perfect time to do so.

At the foot of the mountain, both the Senate Guard and Onderonian Royal Army were out in force on the grounds of Yolahn Square, with the latter commandeering the innermost ring of buildings encircling the central avenue. The Square was shaped like a cross, inclined slightly upslope towards the mountain. The opposite avenue lances straight through the city, defining the Merchant’s Quarter and leading straight to the gatehouse, while the perpendicular avenues disappeared into the tangle of skyramps and rooftops.

It was from those perpendicular avenues which the Republic and Separatist prisoners-of-war would come in from, before meeting in the Square. Letting the Force guide her, Ahsoka led them both to the Masters, who were patrolling the grounds–even though Scout thought it was a bit useless, considering the sheer amount of soldiers already present.

“Scout, Ahsoka,” Master Plo greeted, “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than on dragonback,” Ahsoka grumbled, and Scout nodded her mirrored sentiments, “My body’s still sore all over.”

“You know, when I was younger I dreamed that one day I could ride dragons too,” Master Skywalker quirked a smile, “Though I hadn’t quite imagined dragons would look like this.”

“I remember that,” Master Kenobi grinned through his beard, “Turns out you were looking in the wrong place all along.”

“What do you mean by that?” Scout asked.

“There’s an old tale on Tatooine, that there were dragons who lived in our suns,” Anakin Skywalker’s smile grew sombre for reasons unknown, “Maybe we should have been looking at our moons instead.”

Master Kenobi sighed lightly, folding his arms into his sleeves as he squinted up at the lonely moon in the sky fading into the blue as the sky brightened.

“Where’s Barriss?” Ahsoka suddenly piped up, looking around, “I could’ve sworn she came back with us…”

“She did, Ahsoka, you weren’t dreaming,” Master Plo said kindly, “I told her it wasn’t necessary for her to attend. What she needs now is rest.”

“An entire year spent as a Separatist prisoner,” Ahsoka mumbled, “I can’t imagine what it must be like.”

“She was Bonteri’s prisoner,” Master Kenobi mused out loud as they walked, “Ahsoka, what did you think of him?”

“Bonteri?” the Togruta echoed, “I mean– he said a lot of… am I really allowed to say this?”

“I have already informed Obi-Wan and Anakin of our conversations,” Master Plo advised, “What your Master wants to know is your observation of Bonteri’s character.”

Ahsoka scrunched up her face in thought, her unmatured lekku bouncing stiffly in the morning breeze. Scout decided she ought to lift some of the burden, at least until her friend could organise her thoughts.

“He seems normal,” was Scout’s answer, “A normal person who follows rules. From what I heard about the Battle of Columex, I wasn’t sure what I expected. But I didn’t think Bonteri is the kind of person able to… you know.”

Master Kenobi nodded sagely, “Normal people can do extreme things, when they believe it is their duty. As Jedi, we must seek justice where possible, but also be prudent as we do so. Is a lawful man evil?”

Scout shook her head, feeling as if she had been transported back into one of her hated Temple lectures, “No, Master.”

“But what if the laws he adheres to are evil?”

“That means the laws are evil, not the man,” Ahsoka protested.

“Would you feel the same way if you were at the Battle of Columex?” Master Kenobi’s gaze was distant, “If you were watching Separatist battleships bear down on you, filled with spacers seeking your death because you are a Jedi?”

“That’s because Dooku is evil, and he made the rules the Separatists follow!”

“Evil… is a terrible word,” Master Plo grieved an old friend, “I prefer misguided, by the dark side. I hope he is misguided by the dark side.”

Scout looked up at the old Jedi, “Count Dooku was your friend, Master?”

Plo Koon turned around, “Dooku was stern, and perhaps not the easiest to talk to. But he was respected by the entire Order, and a friend to all of us. I still regret the mistakes we made, but hopefully with this peace we can start fixing them.”

“Masters,” a soft, yet clear voice rang out.

Master Plo looked past Scout’s shoulder, “Barriss. You should be resting. I have already called for a shuttle to bring you back to the Temple, and have informed Master Luminara of your return.”

Master Luminara Unduli’s lost Padawan. Scout knew Master Luminara lost a Padawan far outside the Republic’s borders, apparently for a secret mission that was critical to the war. It was hard not to know, considering Master and Padawan left, and only Master returned. Considering how long it’s been since, it’s a miracle–the will of the Force–that Barriss survived all that time. Scout doubted she was the only one wondering how. Rain Bonteri, at least, clearly knew she was a Jedi.

“Thank you, Master, but I have done nothing but rest,” Barriss’ cobalt eyes were bright, and disturbingly awake, “I cannot leave until I have seen Columex through.”

“You were at Columex?” Ahsoka… didn’t quite shout, but still exclaimed in the same eagerness she would when searching for war stories.

Barriss dipped her head.

“Hold on a moment,” Master Skywalker stepped forward, “On which side were you fighting for?”

Huh…? Wasn’t she a prisoner–

“I was onboard the Separatist destroyer Messenger, and frigate Unicorn before that, Master Skywalker,” the Mirialan Padawan curtsied the best she could in the robes lended to her, “I am blessed to see you again in good health.”

“I knew I recognised you from somewhere,” Master Skywalker scowled, “You were at Atraken, weren’t you? The Unicorn was the ship that warned us about the refugees. You warned us about the refugees.”

Anakin Skywalker stared down at the lost Padawan, a complicated expression adorning his face. As abruptly as he accused her, Master Skywalker rubbed his face tiredly, and relented.

“The Force works in mysterious ways,” he murmured, “And it’s not my place to ask, Padawan; that’ll be the Council’s. But I’d think they'd have your reasons, not blame.”

“You would be right, Anakin,” Master Kenobi crossed his arms, “Clearly, it is by the Force that you met us on Onderon, Barriss. There will be nothing to fear; anything less than a hearing would be a grave mistake.”

“That is relieving to hear, Master Kenobi,” Barriss’ eyes darted, “But I have been tasked to bring you back to the Square. The crowds have gathered, and the exchange has already begun.”

“Begun–” Ahsoka paused, and like a cat she was suddenly scrutinising the ground.

The next moment, Scout knew why. The ground is trembling. The citywide thoroughfares of Iziz were wide and spacious, but as the mass of miserable humanity marched towards them, packed in by shuttered storefronts glaring tenement facades, Scout could only think they may as well be alleyways.

“The handover’s begun,” Master Plo observed.

“Its happening like this?” Scout was aghast. She knew it was for the galaxy to see, but to parade all of them under the spotlight, each man and woman knowing they personified the Republic’s greatest defeat… it must be humiliating.

The air had changed, somehow, become heavier. It trickled down her throat and slithered through her robes and clung to her skin like sweat as a solid, unyielding presence. It was not until she could make out their expressions glowering at the world from under patches of unkempt, verminous hair, did Scout finally put a face to the largest battle the galaxy has seen for a thousand years.

This was the Battle of Columex. Hundreds of thousands of Republic prisoners, memories of hard vacuum lingering behind their eyes, uncountable in number. They came in orderly files, first the officers, some looked beaten and dragged, while others marched with heads still held high. There were Duros, Twi’leks, Rodians, Zabraks, and another hundred Loyalist races that served the faded uniforms they wore. Then were the cloned troopers; an army with a single face, all wearing the same black body gloves.

There was no way to know what rank each were, but Master Skywalker scanned the faces of each one as they passed anyway.

“There’s a point where hope becomes desperation, Anakin,” Master Kenobi breathed in, lifting his shoulder as he did.

Master Skywalker broke off his trance, “I know, Obi-Wan. But when does one turn into the other? If Master Yoda didn’t tell Master Luminara to hope, where would she be now?”

“Master Luminara thought I was dead?” Barriss asked quietly.

“She didn’t, Padawan,” Master Kenobi shot his former apprentice a look, “She never stopped believing in you.”

“But she never did look for me.”

A frown glanced off Master Kenobi’s face, “I'm sure she did, Barriss.”

Barriss didn’t look fully convinced, but neither did she argue.

“Our presence must be missed at the Square,” Master Plo wasn’t an inch moved by the exchange, “Let us return and witness the formal exchange.”

“That’s…” Ahsoka swallowed back the word ‘boring,’ “Aren’t we supposed to keep an eye out for terrorists?”

Scout nodded vigorously in agreement. Standing there with the politicians looking pretty was boring, not to mention a little unnerving as thousands of prisoners were being paraded around for dare she say it; nothing more than extra sensationalism for the HoloNet to slurp up.

“I will return to the Square,” Master Plo corrected himself, tinged with amusement, “Will you join me, Barriss?”

The Mirialan shook her head, “I wish to speak with Master Skywalker, with your permission.”

Master Kenobi raised an eyebrow, “Is that so? In that case, you can stay here with Anakin and Tallisibeth. Ahsoka and I will patrol the Republic side of the exchange.”

“And I will watch over the ceremony,” Master Plo finished.

Anakin didn’t wait around for their departure, but immediately began eyeing the nearby rooftops as if to find a good vantage point over the streets.

“I can’t follow you up there, Master,” Scout felt compelled to point out.

“No, you cannot,” her Master agreed as they continued walking, “So we’ll stay down here. Was there something you wanted to tell me, Barriss?”

The Jedi in question was looking at her curiously, Scout realised, but tore her attention away when she noticed, “I wanted to thank you, for believing me at Atraken. You saved a lot of lives.”

“You saved a lot of lives,” Anakin Skywalker corrected, “I should be thanking you; you saved me from being a criminal. It must not have been easy, surviving the Separatists ranks, keeping your faith, and returning to us. If it was up to me, Barriss, you’re due for a Knighthood.”

“You praise me too greatly, Master Skywalker.”

“I am,” he agreed, “I wouldn’t know how the Council administers Knighthoods. There used to be trials, but my Knighthood was the first based on battlefield accolades. With the war going on, the Council has been granting Knighthoods left and right, so I wouldn’t put it behind them to give you one as well.”

“Why did you– I mean, how did you end up joining the Separatists?” Scout couldn’t help but address the bantha in the room.

“Another Jedi helped me,” Barriss answered distantly, “They told me Dooku either have me handed to him, or killed. The only way to survive was to give my lightsaber as proof of the death, and join the starfleet where I could be protected.”

“Another Jedi? There are more?”

“A lot more,” the answer was clipped.

“Don’t press, Scout,” Anakin advised, “I’m sure you wouldn’t like someone else pressing you for answers you don’t want to give. I wouldn’t either.”

“Yes, Master.”

Scout scanned the facades, searching for anything out of the ordinary. If Master Skywalker had his way, they would definitely be up on the tiles overlooking the whole city; but with Scout’s Force potential as pitiful as it was, they would have to knock on one of the doors to get access, and she wasn’t sure if the the residents would be very receptive to that. They had already stolen their city for a whole day, and she wasn’t about to ask them for their house too.

As they moved past a dimly lit alleyway, however, micro-vision shot through her mind’s eye–in an alleyway, an armoured arm trapping me in a deathly chokehold, lightsaber slipping from by grip. Scout barely had a second to process the revelation before her body sprang into action, catching the unknown assailant’s arm as it reached to grab her. Wrenching them forward, she wedged her shoulder in their armpit and spun them around, before slamming them into the brick wall with an arm crushing down on their windpipe.

Didn’t actually think we would be attacked–was the only thing that ran through head before the snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber shocked her back into reality. Master Skywalker pointed his sabre right at between the eyes of their attacker–a tanned woman with slanted eyes and dirty brown hair–to which Scout could only thank the graces she was short enough to not have her scalp shredded off in the process.

“Who are you!?” Master Skywalker demanded.

Staring down the pillar of blue fire, the woman slowly raised both of her hands.

“Wait, don’t hurt Dono!” another woman scampered out of the alley, arms held in front of her, “It was my fault! I didn’t actually know if you would hear us out…!”

Dono shifted, and Scout pressed harder on her throat. The Onderonian audibly choked, spittle flying from her lips as she rasped for air.

“Master?” as she turned for confirmation, Scout realised that Barriss was still watching the prisoner marching, barely noticing that they had been attacked.

“Let her go, Tallisibeth,” Master Skywalker measuredly shifting his lightsaber from one woman to the other.

“So there are terrorists out here,” Scout remarked as she pushed herself off the wall, letting Dono go, “For all of, well everyone’s, cautioning, I nearly thought we were about to go through the whole day without any interruptions.”

“We aren’t terrorists! I’m Steela, and this is Dono,” Steela raised her arms higher, “We just wanted to talk to you… away from prying eyes, if possible. You were not easy to find, and this was our best chance.”

“You are in a restricted area, and attacked a Jedi,” Master Skywalker said wryly, prodding the terrorists back into the alley, “If you aren’t terrorists, you aren’t doing a very good job of not being terrorists.”

“I– You are stronger than you look,” Dono gasped, backing away.

“I’ve heard that before,” Scout replied, unclipping her own sabre.

“Wait! At least just hear us out.”

“I’ll hear out why I should drag your sorry asses to the Onderonian army,” Master Skywalker agreed with mock cheer.

“Because they’ll kill us!” Steela shouted, her curled locks springing in panic.

“I think you’re overreacting a little, there,” Anakin replied mildly, “And if you aren’t… well maybe you should have been smarter than this.”

“We need your help,” Steela begged, “The Jedi are our last hope.”

“We’re just here to prevent people like you from making a mess,” Scout said maybe a little harshly, “Why didn’t you bring whatever you have to the city council, or something?”

“No– we want the Separatists off our planet!” Dono cried, “It’s not just us; it’s everybody in Iziz! The droids just came here one day, took our city, and started thrashing our streets! You’re Jedi, right, aren’t you supposed to help us get rid of them?”

“I didn’t see any droids,” Master Skywalker raised an eyebrow.

“They’ll come back the moment you’re gone,” Steela insisted.

“And what do you want us to do?” Anakin chuckled in disbelief, “Overthrow a reigning government while we’re trying to hammer out an armistice in their house? Go home! Forget about it! We saw the city while we were here, everybody’s living life like normal. You should do that, too. The war will end, and the droids will leave for good.”

“They won’t,” Dono shot back, “We’re Onderonians– we always try to tough it out. The Separatists are stepping all over us; they overthrow our rightful king and replace him with a puppet, then they take our city and expect us to bend over for them. But you don’t see that, because we’re too prideful to let you see that. But the Separatists are crushing us. Slowly enough that none of us notice it, until we do and by then it’ll be too late. So please, help us.”

Scout glanced nervously at her Master. What if they were telling the truth? Onderon never told them about any rebellion going on–but if they had their planet wouldn’t have been considered the site of the armistice, and the monarchy likely wanted to avoid that. Scout could see it now; bringing all the droids out of the city to present a nice, neutral front for the summit, and when the Republic left, the droids will come back with renewed force.

“And what do you want us to do?” Master Skywalker repeated, lightsaber buzzing brightly in the gloom of the alley.

“We don’t need you to fight our war,” Steela pleaded, “But anything will be helpful. Modern weapons and training, mostly; you don’t need to fight our war, but you can still help us fight ours.

Huh? These guys don’t have any training? Then how did they even sneak past all the guards– Scout desperately dug through her memory again, begging the Force to show her that vision. She saw herself pinned, a bronze-armoured armoured arm crushing her–wait, armoured?

“Uh… Master?” Scout piped up, “This area is patrolled by the Onderonian army, right?”

“And the Senate Guard patrols the side with the Separatist prisoners, yeah,” mild confusion coloured his voice, though he didn’t take his eyes off the two rebels, “What of it?”

“How did these two even get into the restricted area?”

“Because we grew up in this city,” Dono narrowed her eyes, “We know every street around here.”

Scout pursed her lips, “Even better than the Onderonian army?”

Master Skywalker froze– “Ah, kriff. Barriss, see anything out there?”

“Yes, Master,” Barriss answered flatly, “There is a soldier looking at us from across the street.”

“For how long?”

“Since the beginning, I think,” she answered, “It’s hard to tell if it's us or the prisoners that they are looking at.”

Master Skywalker adopted a look of ‘and you didn’t think to tell us this earlier?’ as he snapped his lightsaber shut, “You two should scram before I change my mind.”

“What!?” Dono hissed, “But–”

Steela grabbed her shoulder, shaking her head, “Let’s go, Dono. Saw was right. Thank you for hearing us out, Master Jedi.”

Master and Padawan watched as the two rebels retreated back into the alley at a frantic pace, footsteps scampering against the cobblestones. Shadows lurked above them, the eaves closing in the like the jaws of a sarlacc, just waiting for the right moment to strike. There was movement in the darkness.

Scout shouted– “Watch out! Above you!”

Steela’s head snapped up in surprise, but it was already too late. Before they could reach the safety of the street on the other side, the air above them erupted with the metallic clangour of armoured boots. With a silent roar, soldiers fell from above, lights leaking from shuttered windows glinting off their pauldrons. In a single, swift movement, two soldiers had the rebels pinned against the ground, roughly pressing their skulls against the stone.

Anakin and Scout ignited their lightsabers out of pure instinct, holding them forward to provide a light source. The third soldier stood up, clapped the dust off her hands, and moved towards them, “I am Lieutenant Slen of the Royal Army. We extend our gratitude for your aid in apprehending these terrorists, Master Jedi.”

“Really?” Master Skywalker asked sarcastically, “I don’t think we did much of anything.

“You stalled them long enough for me to get my men into position,” Slen gestured towards the two soldiers forcing Steela and Dono to their feet, “You helped us do our jobs.”

‘And you should do your job too’ was left unspoken. If they wanted to, Slen could definitely force a diplomatic incident by claiming the Jedi were communicating with potential terrorists in secret, but Scout realised that wasn’t their intention. The whole ‘stalling’ thing was a peace offer; a straight story they could use when they inevitably had to report the encounter.

“You were testing us,” she accused, “You wanted to see what would happen if they got to us.”

Scout tilted her head to the rebels when she said ‘they.’

“Allow us to handle it from here, Master Jedi,” Lieutenant Slen said smoothly, “If you have any more encounters with these terrorists, please notify us immediately.”

Master Skywalker was clearly thinking of a clever retort, but ultimately decided to leave the matter lie–they were already lucky Lieutenant Slen didn’t intend to escalate. Just as he made to stow away his lightsaber, however;

“W-Wait!” Dono begged, “Please help us! They’ll kill us!”

“They will?” Anakin lifted his saber again, “You will?”

“The punishment for treason against the monarchy is death,” Steela said bitterly, “Isn’t it, buckethead?”

“Public execution,” Slen confirmed, “You can have your revolution in the Halls of the Spirits, rebels.”

“Isn’t that too harsh?” Scout asked nervously, “It’s not like they’ve done anything yet, right?”

“That is none of your concern, Jedi.”

Scout glanced up at her Master for guidance. Our jobs here are to help the local security keep the peace, but as Jedi, shouldn’t we preserve life? Did these people really deserve to die? Evil laws–was this what Master Kenobi meant by evil laws? The Jedi had a responsibility to enforce the law, but didn’t they also have a moral responsibility to stop evil where it exists?

“Madam,” one of the soldiers spoke up, “We should go.”

Slen eyes their lightsabers cautiously, “Will you try to stop us, Jedi?”

“Please,” Dono whispered.

All eyes were on Master Skywalker. Scout could barely notice Barriss turning around, clearly wondering what was happening behind her.

“You know…” Master Skywalker sighed, “Before I was a Jedi, I was a slave on Tatooine. My Master and his Master freed me when I was child, after which I joined the Order.”

“Where are you going with this?” Slen demanded.

Scout listened, enraptured. She had no idea that the Chosen One was once a slave. Her Master never did talk about his past, though she couldn’t blame him for leaving those memories behind him. Which was why she had to wonder why he brought it up now.

“But they didn’t free my mother, or the hundreds, thousands of other slaves in Mos Espa,” he continued, “I didn’t think anything of it back then; I was just happy to leave. But as I was taught how to be a Jedi, I had to ask my Master; why didn’t he free all the slaves on Tatooine? Why allow such evil to exist? The Hutts, the Zygerrians, they all practise slavery and other evils, but the Jedi have never intervened.”

With a low hum, Master Skywalker’s lightsaber was deactivated before it disappeared underneath his robes, “The answer is because we cannot fall into the trap of thinking we know better just because we are Jedi. We cannot impose our will on an entire culture on the basis of our virtues. If every Jedi in the galaxy could act according to what they think is right, and act against what they think is evil, then we would have a hundred more Count Dookus than we do now.”

“But don’t you still want to help them?” Scout asked, “The slaves, these people? I don’t want to see them die!”

“I’ve long learnt that desires have very little to do with being Jedi,” Master Skywalker met Dono’s crestfallen face with regret, “Obi-Wan once told me that being Jedi isn’t just about power, or lightsabers, or skill with the Force. It is about connection, of being part of something larger than us. We have an oathbound responsibility to that connection, and that means we can’t always do what we want. Instead, try to do good where you can, and when you can.”

“I’m sorry,” her Master turned his back on them, “But we can’t help you now.”

Scout could hear Lieutenant Slen breath out sharply as they left, before ordering her men to take the rebels to the Palace cells. Barriss observed them as they entered the sunlight once more, taking in the now desolate streets. A man’s amplified voice echoed down the thoroughfare as they officiated the ceremony, largely indecipherable at this distance.

“Do you believe what Master Kenobi said is true, Master Skywalker?” Barriss asked quietly as she took her place beside them, “Or do you think it is just an excuse for being unable to do something?”

Anakin Skywalker was silent for a long, pregnant moment.

“Out of everyone who could answer that,” he finally said, “I most of all have no right to say whether it is either way.”