WotH Chpt 26

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 26 ==
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===Balanced on the Spear===
"I requested your help so that you could help me peacefully resolve this, Ben" Duchess Satine glared at Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Not so that we would have to fight it out."
 
"I would have loved to find a peaceful resolution to this," the man smiled and sat down across from the current ruler of Mandalore. "But unfortunately, my padawan here saw fit to offend some of the more… violent of your people."
 
"You of all people should know that we are balanced on the tip of a spear," Satine sighed. "But all the same, it is good to see you again. I merely wish that the circumstances were more favorable." 
 
Anakin simply glanced between the two adults before slipping out of the room, using the Force to direct inquiring minds away from him as he left the small palace. 
 
Sneaking past the guards, Anakin grinned as he felt the Force nudge him in a specific direction, toward the poorer districts of the city. 
 
"What'll you have?" a droid asked as Anakin took a seat at the bar. 
 
"Just some Jawa juice," Anakin set down a credit chit and began to listen to the conversations around him. 
 
"Anyway, I'm taking the kids and wife and leaving," a man shared with some of his buddies. "I'm a farmer, and I'm tired of the pacifists telling me that I can't defend my own livelihood and property."
 
"You sure you can afford that?" one of his friends asked. "I know things have been tight since the last harvest."
 
"We're selling the land," the man shrugged. "And I've still got my armor, if I need to I can get back into the game to make some extra creds."
 
"Don't do that," another friend shakes his head. "I've been thinking about leaving too. The rest of the family on Concordia have about had it with the Death Watch too," he sighs. "Let me talk to my wife about it and get back to you. We might be able to pool some resources and get a light freighter for all of us."
 
Right as things started getting interesting, Anakin's comlink began to buzz. 
 
"Yes, master?" Anakin asked after he left the cantina. 
 
"Anakin, where are you?" Obi-Wan asked. 
 
"Doing some investigations into the local politics, Master," Anakin snarked. 
 
"Fine," Kenobi sighed and knuckled his head as he felt a small headache appear. "Come back to the palace, we have more information on the local issues and where Duchess Kryze needs us."
 
"I'm on my way," Skywalker put his hood up and vanished into the shadows as he made his way back.
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===Confronting Mandalorians===
"You showed up with a ship and enough fighters to threaten this world, and now you're rendered speechless?" I raised an eyebrow at Bo-Katan. "We're not Mandalorians, and we don't even want to be associated with your group of brigands."
 
"Brigands!" a Nite Owl snarled and stepped forward, her hand on her blaster. "We are not criminal scum!" 
 
"The Death Watch certainly acts they are," My eyes never left Kryze's as Dooku's hand rested on his lightsaber and Mathis shouldered his rifle. "You Mandalorians have had your moments of worth, but you are a warrior culture with all that it entails. Me and mine, we're soldiers. If you want to fight another warrior culture, go out into the Unknown Regions, I'm certain that you'll be able to find some there. But should you try to attack those who are under our care, then you'll find that soldiers are quite capable of violence on a level not seen in this galaxy for nearly a thousand years."
 
"I wish to challenge you," Bo-Katan finally said after considering my words. "You claim to not be Mandalorian, yet you speak as if you were from one of the old clans," She smirks. "Should you win, then I will bring my Nite Owls under your banner for a time. But should you lose, then I will claim some of your war droids and bring them back with me to Mandalore. And you will personally train my people in their use and maintenance."
 
"I refuse," I shook my head. "I have no need of your forces and you would simply be a burden that needs to be retrained anyway. Now, unless you have something else to do, leave Serenno and go back to your system," I stood up and walked away from the table, my back turned to her. "I have enough on my plate without adding bloodthirsty Clan Marauders to it." 
 
"Bo-Katan Kryze," Count Dooku's voice echoed in the small room. "You are not welcome in Serenno again unless you have forgone your association with the terrorist group known as the Death Watch. Should you dare to breach this, I will have the Marksman exterminate your group with bonuses for every helmet that they bring to me."
 
"You can try to stop us, old man." one of the Nite Owls accompanying Kryze scoffs. 
 
"Do not test me," Dooku holds said Mandalorian with the Force. "I have little patience for arrogant fools, and the last time I faced a group of Mandalorians, I eradicated them. Now leave, and do not return."
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===Journey lead by the Force===
 
"I'm pretty sure that spelunking involves ropes, and less spider-like monsters," Hober grunted as he dropped down from a ledge and onto one of said monsters, the green blood spraying on the cave walls. 
 
"You would think so," Feemor sighed. "But it seems that you and I are alone in our feelings about this experience."
 
"Your kid does seem to be enjoying this more than you do." Hober chuckled. 
 
"She loves exotic creatures and studies them," Feemor shrugged. "This is her dream come true."
 
"I just want to know what we're doing here," Hober said as he stepped further into the cave and saw a lack of insect eggs and webs. 
 
"Because the Force has willed it," Yaddle finally said as she settled down into a meditative stance, a series of crystals in the walls glowing in response to her call in the force. "If it were just about a new lightsaber, then I would not have pursued this. But there is something further in this cave system that is waiting for us."
 
After a few moments, a blue crystal detached itself from the wall and floated over to Yaddle's outstretched hand. 
 
"It seems that war approaches," Yaddle sighed as she tucked the blue fragment away. "We must press on."
 
Yaddle stood and began walking deeper into the caves, followed closely by Hober. 
 
"What we seek lies up there," Yaddle pointed at a small opening in a side cave. "I will need your assistance to get there."
 
"Alright," Hober swung the Jedi Master up onto his shoulder before using his Jump Jets to propel himself into the next cave. "This work?"
 
"Yes, now prepare yourself. There is always a test of some kind if I am correct about what it is that lies ahead."
 
"I'm ready," Hober shouldered his rifle. "Just say the word."
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Chapter 26