Star Wars fic: "Queen's Gambit" (18: Devil's Resting Place)

[bedlamsbard]

Queen's Gambit (184567 words) by bedlamsbard
Chapters: 19/?
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Dooku (Star Wars), Palpatine | Darth Sidious, Mace Windu, Yoda, Bail Organa
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Parallel Universes
Series: Part 2 of Ouroboros
Summary:

Civil war threatens the galaxy. Hundreds of star systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic and form a Confederacy of Independent Systems.

In the hopes of securing a quick peace, the Jedi Council has dispatched two Jedi to capture or kill the leaders of the separatist movement, Queen Amidala of Naboo and her lover, the former Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Into this period of conflict have come four refugees from another universe, fleeing a devastating massacre triggered by the death of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith lord Darth Sidious, at the hands of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker…

*

There was defiance in every line of Obi-Wan’s body, gaunter than ever after two weeks of captivity without access to the Force. He had his shoulders back and his chin tipped up, matching Windu glare for glare. If Quinlan had been able to sense him in the Force, he knew that Obi-Wan would be seething.

“I am not a Dark Jedi,” he said flatly. “For the hundredth or two hundredth time, Masters, I am not a Dark Jedi. I do not now nor have I ever used the Dark Side of the Force, nor would I if the opportunity was presented to me – which it has been, as you know.” He bit the words off, his fingers flexing in his binders. “You think that I’m a Dark Jedi, a Sith? Then take the collar off and read me. I couldn’t hide that from twelve masters even if I wanted to.”

Fourteen masters and one Knight, Quinlan corrected silently, raising his gaze to roll his eyes at the ceiling; Obi-Wan wasn’t counting his advocates. It wasn’t the first time Obi-Wan had said as much to the Council; it had come up at least twice a day since the trial had begun.

“You know we won’t agree to that, Captain Kenobi,” Saesee Tiin said.

Obi-Wan tilted his head slightly to one side like a curious raptor. “It’s a pity you won’t,” he said. “You might actually get an answer to the question you keep asking me. Of course, it’s not going to be the one you want.”

Next to Quinlan, T’ra Saa rested her forehead against her fingertips, wincing, and Tholme said gruffly, “Why did that boy have to get all of Qui-Gon’s bad habits?”