"So let me get this straight. When you were younger, you and this Duchess traveled together during the Mandalorian Civil War?"
"The Mandalorian Civil War, yes."
"And during that time, you both fell in love?"
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council, sighed heavily, expressing precisely how invested he was in this conversation.
"Don't forget you obviously lost her after giving her the second scar."
Kenobi simply gave his former Padawan a suspicious look before glancing away from Anakin, who was barely controlling his laughter.
"I'm genuinely beginning to regret telling you about my youth," Kenobi said with evident regret.
"Hey, come on, Obi-Wan," Hope said cheerfully, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Despite the circumstances, you should be grateful Satine still likes you. We know she'll always be happy seeing you."
"Didn't she kiss you on Coruscant, or is Padmé lying to me?" Scott questioned, making Anakin nearly choke with laughter.
"Wait, what?!" Anakin's eyes gleamed with manic delight. "I didn't know that!"
Obi-Wan now stared at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes, silently wishing the Force would end this torture. Or better yet, just let him die and spare himself the embarrassment.
He didn't need the Force to tell him this wouldn't end anytime soon.
"It wasn't difficult figuring out you two have history, Obi-Wan," Hope soothed.
"Anakin mentioned the 'beard' hiding your handsome face," Scott continued with a grin.
Behind them stood Commander Cody and Captain Rex, both desperately trying not to laugh.
They were professional soldiers through and through, but seeing the usually composed General Kenobi in such a state? Words couldn't adequately describe the entertainment value.
Normally, they maintained laser focus on their mission, which in this case was deployment to Mandalore.
But with the war escalating, Ultron appearing, and who knew what coming next, perhaps some levity and mischief was needed amid all this madness.
"So on Earth, this is what we call star-crossed lovers, or in this case, the most realistic representation," Hope said with a theatrical sigh. "Oh, Scott!"
She fell dramatically into his arms. Scott caught her easily.
Hope lifted her legs and placed the back of her hand against her forehead in exaggerated fashion.
"What shall become of these two souls who should never have been parted?" she asked operatically. Scott set her down while gazing at the ceiling identically.
"I don't know, my dear Hope, but what I do know is love will prevail. Perhaps Obi-Wan should shave so when Satine kisses him again, it won't be so scratchy."
Obi-Wan felt his sanity slipping away.
Anakin grinned and nudged Rex, who couldn't contain himself any longer and burst out laughing.
Cody couldn't help releasing a few chuckles as they continued mercilessly teasing the serious Jedi Knight who was genuinely reconsidering this trip to Mandalore.
"How do you think he should greet her?" Scott mused. "Flowers? Candy?"
"No, too cliché and lacking surprise," Hope said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Poetry? That usually helps."
"I haven't done anything like that since we've been together."
"Probably because you never bothered."
"Should I start?"
Hope's expression was all the answer he needed.
"This was to help with a mission long ago, right?" Hope continued before anyone could interrupt. "So this time, you're going to be the man Satine leans on when she needs you. This isn't about the Jedi Code or Mandalorian culture, Kenobi. This is about standing tall and being there for your woman."
"She's not my woman," Obi-Wan muttered, his brow twitching.
"That's not the right attitude," Hope scolded.
Kenobi was a man of immense patience and endurance. This was even reflected in the lightsaber form he practiced.
But these two were determined to break him.
They continued their relentless chatter while the Jedi tried his absolute best remaining unaffected by their commentary.
"I'm not one to say I hate something or someone," Obi-Wan stated carefully.
Anakin patted his shoulder heartily. "And you don't, because 'hate leads to the dark side,' remember?"
"I'm certain this will disappoint the Duchess of Mandalore," Rex spoke up. "Your Grace, General."
"Don't worry, Rex," Cody assured him. "If there's anyone least likely to fall to the dark side in the name of love, it's our General Kenobi."
"Rex, Cody, why?"
While this group enjoyed their fun at a Jedi's expense, another group of Force users and Avengers were having a considerably less lighthearted discussion.
"So Mandalore was bombed by the Republic?" T'Challa asked with a disapproving frown.
"One of our greatest mistakes," Luminara Unduli said without hesitation.
"From what I understand," Matt dragged his hand across the braille translation of the events they were discussing, "I've read this before, but I wanted ensuring I didn't miss anything. The Republic believed that with the Mandalorian people's resurgence, they feared if these warriors organized and united under one banner, war would once again sweep across the galaxy."
"Yes," Barriss replied softly.
"But the Republic attacked without any concrete evidence?" Peter asked with obvious anger at the action.
"The Mandalorians once brought the galaxy to its knees during the Mandalorian Wars," Ahsoka said.
"Over four thousand years ago," T'Challa chided. "You cannot genuinely believe the sins of ancestors should condemn their descendants today."
"It was a lapse in judgment. A grievous one," Luminara admitted. "In retrospect, it only created more volatile conflict, death, and division."
"The people of this world reject the occupation Captain Rogers and Colonel Rhodes mentioned," T'Challa reminded her.
The group fell into momentary silence, uncomfortable and heavy.
Matt cleared his throat. "Let's review our mission's purpose, shall we?"
Peter nodded agreement, leaning against the wall.
"FRIDAY and Karen will establish their defensive network around Mandalore so Ultron won't have any entry point," Peter said, tapping the spider emblem on his chest.
"Investigate the Republic occupation's status," Barriss continued.
"Attend the upcoming Mandalorian faction summit Satine has carefully arranged," Luminara added.
"Investigate any additional issues that arise while we're present," Ahsoka finished, then looked troubled. "I'm still uncertain why the Duchess invited other Mandalorian factions to Mandalore. The Protectors haven't made assassination attempts on her that I know of. But Death Watch? Haven't they tried killing her multiple times? Why invite them?"
"Desperate times," T'Challa said, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "She's reaching out to everyone, attempting to create a united front protecting their people."
"But is it wise trusting extremists like Death Watch?" Barriss asked, clearly uncertain about such action. "Satine's taking an enormous gamble with this invitation."
"That may be true, but at minimum, if some agreement is reached, the known Mandalorian factions could present a united front for their people," Matt pointed out firmly. "It might even eliminate the need for Republic occupation."
"That will be decided by the Senate," Luminara reminded him. "Though it may well occur. Mandalore and its systems remain officially neutral. As the war escalates, the Republic will prefer focusing our forces in areas allied with us."
"Leaving Mandalore defenseless doesn't sound promising," Ahsoka muttered.
"If this Mandalorian summit proceeds well, the planet won't be left defenseless," Matt said, his hand still trailing across the braille. "All Satine needs is convincing the Protectors and Death Watch to cooperate, or at least reach an agreement of protective solidarity until the war's storm passes."
"I don't believe these independent factions will obey the Duchess," Barriss said uncertainly.
"At minimum, they should attempt compromise," T'Challa argued. "This concerns survival. The entire galaxy's at stake. If they demonstrate solidarity despite current circumstances, it could provide the message and example the rest of the galaxy needs during these trying times."
"We can only hope for optimal outcomes."
"Fingers crossed," Peter said, raising one hand with index and middle fingers interlaced, then tapping the metal wall where he sat.
"Why are you knocking on that?" Ahsoka asked.
Peter shrugged. "We usually knock on wood for luck, but we don't have any, so metal works."
Barriss and Ahsoka simply stared at their friend in confusion while Matt hummed and offered a slight smirk.
"Attention, everyone," the clone pilot announced over comms. "We're now exiting hyperspace over Mandalore. All personnel heading planetside, report to the hangar bay for departure preparations."
"That, I believe, is our cue," T'Challa said, his Panther Habit forming around his body except for his head, while others around him nodded.
Avengers, Jedi, and clone troopers from three different corps soon gathered in the Negotiator's hangar bay, the vessel leading this mission.
Everyone boarded LAAT gunships as the small fleet exited hyperspace near Mandalore.
The gunships launched from the hangar, passing several Venator-class Star Destroyers comprising the planet's occupation fleet, then descended through atmosphere.
A distinguished group soon arrived at one of Mandalore's capital city's numerous landing platforms.
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