#ch: Not To Me (Plo Koon) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

padme-parker · 4 years ago

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Collide / Anakin Skywalker x Reader (Chapter 5)

[a Star Wars x Avengers crossover]

Summary: Anakin realizes that he is falling for you, hard. He doesn’t want to hurt Padme, so instead, he distances himself from you.

Warnings: a couple of curse words, mentions of cheating, my writing

WC: 2.3k

A/N: Initially this was supposed to be ch 4.5 cause I started writing this when I was halfway thru with the original ch 5. but shit happens so here we are. p.s. I pulled this out of my ass so sorry if its bad.

read chapter 4 here

“took a minute, but I figured it out. The problem with me is you.” - Problem With You by Sabrina Claudio

You practically bolted out of the ship once Anakin landed it, not wanting to face the consequences of your actions. It was stupid really, pining after someone you couldn’t have. I shouldn’t have reciprocated his kiss. The thought of it alone was selfish, stealing away the husband and soon-to-be father from Padme. Your task was to save the universe, by any means necessary. Well, Fury did suggest that I get close to him. But he also said to not do anything to drastically change their timeline. But it just doesn’t make sense. How was I supposed to befriend him without changing the timeline? For all I know, my arrival here has already severely altered their timeline.

You went to your room while Obi wan and Yoda went to a meeting, Anakin was nowhere to be found. You sat yourself on the edge of your bed, hands roughly combing through your hair. All you wanted for Anakin was from him to be happy. Of course, you could accept the fact that maybe it wouldn’t have anything to do with you, if only that were true. In the short time you’ve been on Coruscant, you’ve noticed something change in him. But you didn’t know him, the real him. The only version of him that you knew was the one that existed on screen; The one who loved his wife so much, that he turned his back on the ones he loved the most to save her. Only to ultimately lead her to her demise.

The Anakin you were getting to know was different, in a good way, yet he was still so complicated. After training, you would eat together, whether it was in the cantina or at Dex’s, it was always the two of you. Some nights, he would come to your room to talk. And you let him. You let him rant about how unfair the council was, the pressure of being the chosen one- whatever he had to say, you listened to him. He did his best to express his emotions to you, but still got overwhelmed by them. At times, neither of you knew what to do. So you both sat in a comfortable silence, the mere presence of each other was enough for the both of you. Sometimes the two of you sat outside of the temple, watching the sunset as the nightlife emerged. Other times you would sit outside in the garden, meditating together. You’ve gotten to see the side of Anakin that no one really knew. Well besides Obi wan, Ahsoka, and Padme. You have yet to meet Padme., only hearing whispers of her from the other Jedi.

While you did train under Obi wan and Anakin, you rarely got to see Ahsoka. After coming to Coruscant, she became Plo Koon’s temporary padawan so that Anakin didn’t have to train the two of you at the same time. Although it wasn’t the same as completely leaving the Jedi Order, you could tell how much it affected Anakin. As you sat on your bed you couldn’t help the question that came to your mind. When it comes down to it, will I be the reason he falls?

Anakin is already in the room when you show up for training. There are no remarks or comebacks made as the two of you prep, just pure silence. Silence, was something that you hated. It was different from the sunset-watching silence you always shared. This was tense, heavy, and just straight up unbearable. Your movements were awkward as you took out your lightsaber and got into a fighting stance.

“So who talks first? You talk first? I talk first?” You said, breaking the silence, not realizing you had just quoted Poe.

Anakin glares at you before responding, “There’s nothing to talk about.” He ignites his lightsaber and stalks towards you.

“Oh come on, don’t pretend like yesterday didn’t happen.” You replied, gripping your lightsaber in both hands as you ignited it.

“I’d rather not think about it. Now be quiet and focus.” He said, swinging his saber only for you to block his attack. You complied and trained with him in silence, save for the occasional grunt that you let out.

As the minutes passed, you grew more tired as Anakin’s actions became assertive. He began swinging his saber more aggressively, the pace so fast you almost couldn’t keep up. He was going to back you into the corner if he didn’t stop.

“Anakin, stop!” You pleaded. Your words seemed to have no effect on him as he continued, his eyebrows scrunching together as he knocked your saber out of your hand. He raises his lightsaber, ready to strike you down. With no weapon in hand and no way out, you use the force to push him back.

“WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?” You screamed at him once he was a good feet away from you.

Anakin wanted to tell you the truth. That loving you was his problem. That with each passing day, the feelings he had felt so many years for Padme, had nearly diminished. With your arrival, it felt like he had been reborn. He began to see life in a new light, maybe even cherished it more. And deep down, he knew that you were always meant to be his, and he was always meant to be yours. At night he would lie awake thinking of you, of what your lives could’ve been like together. Oh, how he would curse and scream at the stars for this twisted fate. But Anakin knew that he couldn’t be with you, no matter how much he wanted you.

He hated himself for being unfaithful to Padme, and in return he directed his internalized anger towards you, the source of his problems.

“You. Are. My. Problem.” He said, accusingly pointing his finger at you whilst stepping closer with each word he said.

“ME? I’m your problem?”

“Yes, you!.” He replied, pausing while trying to think of something to say. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it isn’t going to work. You’re trying to stray me away from my path. I will not indulge in your activities. I am loyal to the Jedi Order and my duties.” Anakin felt bad, he truly did. He didn’t want to lead you on, but it seemed like it was already too late.

“You're the one who kissed me!” How ironic, he’s only loyal to the Jedi, but apparently not to his wife.

“Because you seduced me!” He countered.

“I did no such thing.” You replied. “It wasn’t my fault that you saw me swinging my saber and got turned on. That’s on you Anakin. Also, if you have so many problems with training me, why don’t you ask the Council to swap you out for someone else?”

He opens his mouth, as if he’s going to reply, but it quickly shuts.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” You pick up your saber and exit the training room.

Now alone, he lays on the floor, with his limbs sprawled out while mindlessly staring at the ceiling. He knows that he’s just ruined every chance, no matter how small or big, of being with you in the future. Anakin could only beg the makers that one day, some very distant day, or possibly in another life, that the two of you would’ve been together.

You waste no time calling Fury when you return to your room. The device takes a while trying to connect with FRIDAY back on Earth, but she alerts Fury, along with Tony and Peter, that they had an incoming call from you.

Three faces pop up onto the hologram, Peter was basically screaming at you. You quickly greeted him back before telling them what just happened, or well the shortened version of what happened.

“I fucked up.”

“What do you mean fucked up?” Tony asks.

“Okay, so Fury, you know how like you told me to get close to Anakin-- but not really that close. Just close enough so that he could y’know, slaughter his fellow Jedi and the younglings but not me. And then he would eventually become big bad Daddy- oops hehe, sorry I meant Darth. Darth Vader. And kill all of these people with his extremely cool but extremely dangerous weapon. But not close enough that it would alter their timeline. Which doesn’t really make sense if you think about it. Like how do I get close to him without getting close to him, y’know? Also how am I supposed to know where Thanos-'' Your rambling gets cut off by Fury.

“Get to the point.” He says.

“Right…. so…. like I said, I did something and I fucked up. He basically wants nothing to do with me now.” You replied.

“I don’t care. Do whatever you need to do to get back on his good side. Use one of those mind tricks you learned if you need to.”

“Those won’t work on him.” You sighed, your body hunched over as you tried to think of possible solutions.

“Then do what you need to, or else I’ll be forced to take you off the mission. I don’t want to repeat myself again” Fury hands the device to Tony, “I’ll give you some time to speak with her. But I expect a plan the next time you call.” He says before leaving the room.

“So, how’s life over there treating you, Star?” Tony asks. “What happened between you and.. what do you call him? Flyguy? No, umm-”

“Listen, I don’t really want to talk about it. But besides that, it’s been okay. Not really different from back home. I wake up, eat, train, eat, explore, eat again, then go to sleep. Basically the same routine. The food here is alright, nothing compared to what I was eating back at home. But I’m grateful that they're giving me food and shelter.” The rest of your night was filled with chatter and laughter, the previous events from the grueling day slowly drifting away from your mind.

It’s been two weeks since Anakin had confronted you, and almost nothing had changed. Well except for those couple of days where you thought he had taken up on your suggestion, only for him to show up for a day of training then leave again. The first day he was gone, you thought nothing of it. Only that he might’ve needed some space. But another day passed and there was still no contact from him. Of course you could’ve taken this issue up to the Jedi Council, but what were they going to do? Offer to switch out Anakin for a Jedi Master? No, you wouldn't allow that to happen. Instead you tried to reach out to him using the bond you two shared, only to find yourself blocked off from the connection.

Without Anakin by your side, it felt as though you became vulnerable to your emotions and the dark side. More specifically, you could feel someone lingering in your head. It certainly wasn’t Anakin. This person, the force around them was dark. They commanded respect, power, and fear. The day they intruded your head was the very day you began having nightmares.

Your body was sprawled on the ground, as if someone had pushed you back. The ground is hardened, it makes you let out a groan. Propping yourself up on your elbows, you noticed the two figures in the distance. You could only see them below their collarbones, their faces were blurred.

One of them wore a dark robe while the other was wearing ordinary civilian clothing. It seemed like the two of them were arguing, particularly, they were arguing about you.

“You will not take her from me!” The man in the robe declared.

“She was never yours.” The other man calmly replied, his hands held up showing he did not want to fight, hoping the robed man would comply. He doesn’t, instead he stretches out his hand, using the force to bring the man into his grasp. He turns around the civilian, so that they are both facing you, and forces him to his knees.

“If I can’t have her, then you can’t either.” It was like time began to slow as he said those words. You could hear yourself sharply intake air as the man takes out his saber. All life around you goes to a standstill as you see a red light illuminate your surroundings, a blade protruding from the man's lower stomach. The sound of your own blood pumping is loud, but not as loud as the gasps emitting from the wounded man.

“KAZ!” You screamed, calling out for the man. It was then you realized that this person wasn’t you. You certainly didn’t know anyone with that name. Or perhaps this was someone you had yet to meet.

The robed figure retracts his saber, Kaz’s body falling in front of him. If you acted quickly, you could retrieve his body and save him.

“You see, Kaz. My intention from the beginning was to kill you. However, I think I’d like to watch you suffer instead.” That voice, it sounded so familiar, yet you couldn’t place your finger on who it was.

“What do you mean?” Kaz uttered weakly.

The man gave no response, only a glance towards Kaz before he began making his way towards you.

“No, stay away from her!” He pleaded.

The glow of his red saber became more clear then closer he got to you. The last thing you see is his saber coming your way before everything fades to black.

That night, you woke up drenched in sweat and panting as if you had just ran a marathon. If there was one thing that you understood, it was the fact that the force didn’t want you here. Your destiny was supposed to be fulfilled on Earth. Only time could tell you the consequences for trying to interfere. But you didn’t care, you were going to do whatever you could to save your friends.

Read chapter 6 here

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tags are open :P

#Anakin #Anakin Skywalker #anakin skywalker x reader #anakin skywalker x you #anakin skywalker fanfiction #anakin skywalker fanfic #Anakin Skywalker x Padme Amidala #star wars #sw #star wars fanfiction #peter parker #tony stark #Nick Fury #Avengers #spiderman #MCU #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #star wars x avengers

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devondeal · 4 years ago

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Shadow of the Past

Ch. 1

What if Plo Koon hadn't made it in time to to save baby Ahsoka from the slaver? What if the slaver was an agent of Palpatine to collect force sensitive children for the nefarious purpose of being raised in the first inquisitor cult to prepare for the future imperial regime?

Barriss and Ahsoka are together post Order 66 working for the rebellion until something rips through the fabric of time preventing Plo Koon from ever bringing Ahsoka to the Jedi.

Barriss finds herself in a universe almost identical to her own post Order 66 but she has lost Ahsoka.

Everyone she talks to says they dont know who Ahsoka is and it's driving her mad. And for some reason, they have no memory of Barriss's bombing on the temple. Instead she is an early rebellion leader. And to top it all off, the rebellion isn't fighting. How can they when there's already a war?

Bail Organa, surprised at her lapse of memory informed Barriss that Maul was the leader of Mandalore and was fighting the Empire. In a Sith war, there's little the rebellion can do except help the survivors and distribute food and supplies to those on both sides suffering shortages from the war. Nothing makes sense. All Barriss wants to do is find Ahsoka and get out of this nightmare.

She searches for Ahsoka with little luck since her name isnt registered anywhere but little does she know, Ahsoka is tracking her for a very different reason...

Barriss lands on a moon when her latest lead dries up. She had found a Tano but it wasn't Ahsoka. Frustrated she hoped meditation would center herself.

In the darkness of the cave Barriss is meditating in, she senses a strange presence. Both familar and a stranger. She opens her eyes and sees the silhouette of Ahsoka

Barriss: Ahsoka?

Ahsoka: Who's Ahsoka? Another Jedi friend? Or perhaps just a rebel collaborater?

It sounds exactly like her but with a slow sinister drawl Ahsoka has never used. Barriss had a bad feeling about this but she stayed hopeful.

Barriss: Don't you recognize me?

Ahsoka: Recognize you? I've studied you. Your tactics, your lightsaber style, your force healing... your rebel activities. You've been my little project for a number years but I've never been able to find you... until now.

A double bladed red lightsaber ignites lighting Ahsoka's face confirming that it is indeed her. But her eyes were yellow.

Barriss: No. No this isn't real. It can't be.

Ahsoka was disappointed that her target appeared to have lost her mind. Barriss Offee, the famed rebel Jedi knight was to be her kill and she wanted it to be a noble kill. Ah well, guess she could always omit that part out of the report.

Ahsoka: Better defend yourself Jedi. I don't like killing helpless bugs. Takes away the sport.

Barriss: Ahsoka, I don't understand what's happening but I promised myself I would never lift my blade against you again.

Ahsoka: Again? You really have lost your mind! I must say I'm disappointed. Here I was, expecting the duel of a lifetime.

Barriss: Ahsoka...

Ahsoka: That is NOT my name! I am 4th sister. If you won't defend yourself, prepare to die Barriss Offee.

Ahsoka's attack is sloppy. Barriss easily evades her. The Ahsoka she knows would never have been so disorganized with an attack so straightforward. Ahsoka became so frustrated with the evasions that she turned on the spinning mode of the uniform inquisitor saber. Barriss would have rolled her eyes if her heart wasn't breaking.

How could this happen? Ahsoka had just proposed to her the night before. The next morning Ahsoka wasn't there. And now that she finds her, it's this... person she doesnt even know. Badly trained too. Almost like someone was afraid of her potential.

Barriss disarms Ahsoka with a simple force push destroying the saber against the cave wall.

Barriss: It seems inquisitors are the same no matter what insane reality I'm in.

Despite bad inquisitor training, Ahsoka's instincts were still sharp and Barriss didn't predict that Ahsoka would use the force to grab her own blue saber. Barriss jumped backward in time but got a lightly grazed on her side which would leave lightsaber burns on her skin. For a moment, Ahsoka, fierce with the heat of battle and a blue lightsaber looked so much more like herself... if she werent trying to kill her that is.

She had an idea though it pained her.

Barriss: Ahsoka, please. You know me, deep down, I have to believe that. And I know you. Whatever this nightmare is, we can fix this together.

Ahsoka: Stop calling me that!!!

Again Barriss evades her attack but this time, she has a syringe in her hand with enough seditive to knock her out for a good few hours. She only hoped this version of Ahsoka didnt have her fear of needles.

She yelped, then slashed the lightsaber carelessly and dropped like a rock.

Barriss began to shake. She knocked out Ahsoka. Even if she avoided using her lightsaber, it still felt horrible. She fell to knees and let whatever emotions needed to be let out. She couldn't let this Ahsoka see her like this. If she's going to get through to her, it would have to be through logic. In this place, Ahsoka had no idea who she was so emotions wouldn't work. She carried Ahsoka to her ship trying to ignore how thin she was. She needed to get them back to their own reality somehow.

#barrissoka #barrisoka #barriss offee #ahsoka tano

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ccinagalaxyfaraway · 5 years ago

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turning left on ch 18 [ guide ]--sha/plo do the best they can but wolffe is absolute rubbish at dancing

Ahh, Wolffe, Wolffe dearest of the two left feet, he tries his best but this is not the kind of dance he was made for. Sha definitely takes after her uncle; she’s quietly amused but merciful at heart and grants him his freedom from this complete and utter bullshit after the first dance and before the Minister comes looking for the other more feminine Jedi responsible for peace on her planet, and Wolffe retreats to his corner and his Pack.

Like every good second, Sinker is always up for a ribbing, but reins it in for intel on the new General. There’s only so much Wolffe can provide; he was a little preoccupied with not tying himself in knots while waltzing. He makes a mental note to find and destroy every copy of the footage that he knows exists of him running over the Secretary of the Interior and threatens to offer them up as the next tributes, which does very little to help his situation since Comet has a little (a lot) crush on Sha Koon and jumps at the chance now that he knows she doesn’t bite. Comet is much better at the waltz and goes on to try his luck at swing.

Plo comes to find him at the table later in the night, having exhausted his mandatory diplomatic interactions. He feels like strain from all the noise and bright lights, and Wolffe herds him away from the hall to the quiet dark outside where they stand watching the stars, two moons overhead, shoulders not quite touching but close enough he can almost feel it.

“Never understood what all the fuss is about dancing,” Wolffe grumbles. He’s not bitter about it, at all. Plo sees through him, as always.

“Ah, we each have our arenas,” he says. “Yours is - mmm. Perhaps in a more direct style.” He laces their fingers together and pulls, drawing them chest to chest.

“Plo -”

“The metaphor is less involved in this one, my dear,” says Plo, arranging them and then stepping back, forcing Wolffe to match him to avoid losing balance - slow, slow, fast-fast, slow, over and over like their Shii-Cho drills. This is familiar territory. A give and a take, like pressing forward on the advance. He can almost ignore the distracting press of Plo’s arm over his, and the way his face is so close and -

He misses a step and begins to fall, and he can’t decide whether to resign himself to meeting the dirt or grasping at Plo and possibly tripping him too, but Plo shifts and anchors, inserts a leg between Wolffe’s, and then Wolffe’s got almost all his weight resting hips to chest against Plo with one leg bent over Plo’s thigh, and damn he knew Plo was strong but it shouldn’t be possible for him to hold both of them up at that angle. And then his mind promptly goes elsewhere, like the possibility of doing the same to Plo, pushing him to the edge of his balance among other edges …

“I’ll concede the point,” he says roughly. “But only if you teach me to do that.”

#plo koon #commander wolffe #fic #turn left #are they actually tangoing? probably not #but i'm not about to search wookiepedia for the gffa equivalent #keep 'em coming #Anonymous

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ryder-s-block · 5 years ago

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Jaig Eyes (Ch 48)

Jaig Eyes (48/?)

Summary:

Kida, a former slave who now thrives as a bounty hunter, finds herself sucked into the war she advised Jango Fett against. Now that she’s involved, she has to finally mourn the loss of Jango, seeing his face in the clones that man the GAR. What happens when she allows herself to get attached to one, not for his resemblance to her former mentor, but for his heart?

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Chapter Forty-Eight: Get’shuk

“Something I don’t understand,” Plo Koon voiced, “Is how neither Anakin nor Ahsoka could resist the influence of the Son, but you could.” He turned to look at me at the end.

I shrugged. “Obi-wan did too,” I tried.

Anakin shook his head, struggling to remember. “No, you were there. Before...I don’t remember.”

“Curious, the Force is,” Yoda reasoned, brushing the topic aside for the moment. I fidgeted before them as the old master shared a look with his friend.

“Skywalker,” Windu spoke. “Have you any more to report?”

Anakin, still looking lost in his struggle to recover his memory, shook himself. “No, Master.”

“You are dismissed,” Windu responded, watching as Anakin and Ahsoka left. “Not you,” he called as I turned as well. I stopped, sucking in a deep, calming breath. I could do this.

The others left the room, leaving me alone with Obi-wan and the Council. “Yes?” I asked, trying to appear relaxed.

“What was it that made Skywalker join with the Son?” Windu asked, his tone dangerous. For a moment, I hesitated. If I told them that we were shown the future, would they be even more cautious around Skywalker than they already were? I swallowed, glancing at Obi-wan. He hadn’t reported that, despite knowing.

“We were in the Well of the Dark Side. The Son gave us...visions of something horrible. Of his own creation, I’m sure.” I wasn’t so sure. But I believed in Anakin. Believed that he was a good person.

“And how could you have resisted and Skywalker did not?” Kit Fisto asked, rubbing his chin.

I glanced down at my hands briefly. “I’ve had to resist the Dark Side before,” I allowed. “And I continue to do it. Besides, I had help.”

“Help?” Obi-wan asked. “I thought you said you looked away.”

“You couldn’t just not look,” I reasoned. “But in my memories...Jango came to me. He helped me look away. It’s his memory that has always grounded me when I face the darkness.”

The Jedi were quiet for a moment, all watching me.

Finally, Yoda spoke. “Strong, you have become,” he hummed. “Wrong, we were, to fear you.” There seemed to be some surprise at his words from the Council. Obi-wan, however, just looked proud.

“Master Yoda is right,” Shaak Ti said in her accented voice, giving me a nod. “We should have trusted you.”

To all of our surprise, I let out a laugh. “No, I appreciate your apology, but I think your worries pushed me to be this way. If I wasn’t forced to go sort everything out, I don’t know if I ever would have.”

I earned some smiles there. “Earned our trust, you have,” Yoda spoke with a solemn nod.

“I appreciate that,” I allowed, crossing my arms.

“Please, Kida,” Obi-wan said as the Council signed off. “Stay. you can get some food in the dining hall and make repairs to your ship. Or, if you’d like...you’re welcome to stay as you had before. The offer from the Republic still stands.”

I gave him a genuine smile as we left the war room together. “Thank you, Obi-wan, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet.”

“I understand,” he returned. “Of course, feel free to still make repairs and rest before you go. Our ship will be jumping towards the Inner Rim soon, if you’d like.”

“Yeah, I’ll stay for the jump.” The jedi gave me a smile before leaving me in the hallway alone.

I received even more glances as I made my way back through the ship, but I did my best to block them out. My ship was still fueling when I got back to it, greeted by Apex reassuring me that the astromechs hadn’t touched it.

We immediately began to run diagnostics, revealing that I had to charge the back up vents, dump the engine backlog, and reboot the converter. I sighed, getting to work in silence. I wasn’t far into my work when I felt the ship shift under my feet, letting me know we’d jumped into hyperspace.

And it wasn’t long after that that I felt a presence approach quietly from behind. I was perched atop my shuttle, working at one of the vents to try and flush debris. Looking up, I saw familiar armor, Jaig eyes staring at me in royal blue.

I swallowed thickly as he looked around for me, scooting closer to the edge. “I’m up here,” I said gently, seeing him jump and look up. I didn’t say anything else, just offering a small smile as I finished working on the vent.

Rex stayed in silence as I worked, fidgeting below. Finally, when I deemed that the vent was properly cleaned, I slid to the edge of the shuttle and swung down to land deftly on the ground. The clone looked my way for a moment with his hands behind his back. He was rigid. Like he was when we first met.

I sighed. “Rex, I--”

“I’m glad to see you’re alright,” he cut me off with a soft tone, his voice automated through his helmet.

“Same to you.” I paused, glancing down at the panel I had started mindlessly working on. “Rex...I’m sorry.”

“You had to leave,” he allowed, giving me a small shrug from the gangway.

I looked away. “No. I meant for asking you to come with me. It was...unfair.” He seemed surprised at my words, his proper stance faltering. “I see that now. I know this is where your duty lies.”

Rex let out a breath, the sound weird coming through his modulator. He took off his helmet to let me look into his golden eyes, and stepped up the gangway into the hold of my ship where I worked. “Please believe me when I say that I wish it laid with you. But…”

“I understand, Rex,” I said gently from where I crouched. “I really do. I’m just sorry for putting you in that position. And for being so angry when you answered it right.”

The captain tilted his head at me. “You’ve changed.”

I hummed, “Yes, people have been telling me that a lot lately.”

“I like your new design,” he commented, obviously a little uncomfortable. He gestured to my armor, now painted in crimson. “Any meaning to it or…”

“Of course,” I chuckled. “When is there not to Mandalorian armor?” I turned a little in my crouch to let him see it.

“Is it for defiance or honoring a parent?” he asked, raising his brow. I heard his unvoiced question, though. Was it for Sith?

“Both, I guess. Obviously for Jango, since he more or less saved me when I was at my lowest. And defiance because...despite resisting the darkness, I’m not fully ignoring my heritage. I know what I’ve descended from. And the knowledge has helped me grow. I won’t just throw it away.”

Rex hummed at me, giving a nod.

“It’s your design still, though,” I added, looking away.

“I noticed.”

It fell silent as I worked on the panel again. I wasn’t sure how I had planned for this all to go. Or how I even wanted it to go. After all this time, I was sure my emotions would have calmed, especially considering the journey I’d been on.

“It’s been a year,” Rex voiced softly, stepping a bit closer, but looking away. “I thought seeing you...would be easier.”

I stopped short, my hand stilling over the panel. “Easier?”

He breathed for a moment. “I know you’re not staying. I thought knowing that would make seeing you easier.” He fidgeted. “Do you ever wish that you’d stayed?”

“No. I needed to go to figure things out.”

“And have you figured them out?”

I smiled gently. “Almost.”

“Will you come back when you do?”

I turned to look at him, finally standing. “I...don’t know.” What would I do? My list of to-do’s ended with fixing my kyber crystal. It completed the journey I’d started on a year before. Would I return to the war effort? It seemed the Jedi were fine with my doing that.

But was I?

Was that my path?

Rex looked down-trodden, nearly jumping out of his skin when his wrist comm beeped. He was being called to the bridge. He sighed, glancing at it and fiddling with his helmet. “Even with your changes, Kida,” he said gently. “What I said back then...before you left...it’s still true.” He put his helmet back on and strode away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I knew what he meant.

“Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum.”

I could still hear the words clearly, despite him having said them a year prior. And he still meant them, apparently. My heart ached, knowing I had to leave. I breathed out slowly, watching him recede.

I’d fix things one day, I decided in that moment. But for now, I knew that I had to get to a forger. One with a very special skill set. And who wouldn’t ask questions.

“Miss,” Apex interrupted my thought process as my fingers touched the lightsaber still concealed in my pouch. The kyber hummed under my touch, seeming hopeful, rather than in pain. “Diagnostics are nearly finished. We will be ready to launch within the hour.”

“There’s no rush,” I resigned, knowing the Star Destroyer was still in hyperspace. “Do you have this covered?” I asked, glancing over to see some familiarly painted armor in the hangar.

“Of course.”

“Good.” I stashed my weapons away, especially the lightsaber, before making my way over to the clones I recognized in 501st blue.

Jesse’s face lit up as I arrived, ducking around the crates that littered the hangar. “Kida!” he cried, throwing his arm around my shoulder. “Care to join in?” He gestured to the group that was standing there, holding a ball. Get’shuk.

I chuckled. “I haven’t played in a long time,” I allowed.

“And you won’t be playing today,” Kix said with a stern look to his brother. “Doctor’s orders.”

I scowled, but rolled my eyes with a laugh. “Yes, sir.”

He put his arm around me, dragging me over to the crates to sit with him. Hardcase was there, removing the top half of his armor. “Blacks versus blues,” he explained to my questioning look. He gave me a smile before handing me a cup and jogging into the playing field they’d created with spare crates.

Sitting comfortably beside Kix, I took a long, slow sip of the clear liquid. I coughed slightly. “Is this tihaar?” I asked.

Kix shrugged. “As close as we could get it.” I couldn’t fight the smile on my face as I took another drink. “So...are you sticking around? I saw the captain talking to you.”

I hummed slightly into my cup. “No. I still have some things to do on my own.”

“After?”

I glanced at him, quirking my brow. “You guys really want me to come back, don’t you?”

Hardcase stopped on the playing pitch, ball in hand. “Well, you’re fun. We like having you watching our backs.” Speaking of, the man got tackled from behind. Hard.

“Focus, Hardcase,” one of his teammates chided, slapping him upside the head as the tattooed clone got up. Beside me, two clones chuckled. They looked younger. Sounded younger, even.

“Those are some of our newer recruits,” Kix said softly when he saw me looking. I took a sip of my drink again, already feeling the warm haze of alcohol. “Dogma, Tup. This is Kida.”

The two seemed more than pleased to be introduced, both turning in their seats immediately. “You’re Kida Fett,” one said. He had long hair that he had pulled up into a top knot and a teardrop tattoo on his cheek.

“You know criminals usually sport that tattoo,” I responded immediately. He glanced away shyly, not sure what to say. “And you,” I quipped, leaning casually. “What’s that supposed to be?” I was referring to the other’s ‘v’ shaped tattoo over his eye and nose.

The second looked insulted, but Jesse only laughed from the pitch. “Now, don’t feel special, boys. She does that to all of us.” The clone caught the ball as he talked, running along the pitch and dodging the other team.

The one with the teardrop chuckled gently. “I’m Tup.” His voice was a bit higher. Definitely younger than the clones I was familiar with. It hurt my heart to know how young he really probably was. Biologically? Probably in his 20s. Physically? He’d been alive for half that time.

“Nice to meet you,” I managed, forcing a genuine smile to my face. “So you must be Dogma, then,” I said to the other.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said formally, straightening his back.

I quirked my brow. “By the books, is he?” I muttered to Kix, making him laugh.

“Eh, he’s a good kid. Loyal soldier.”

I hummed at his comment. Loyal was a good thing. To an extent. I sensed an ominous presence about the particular clone. I wasn’t sure what it was, but there was something foreboding. I shook it off as I continued to watch the game in silence, sipping my drink.

“I had heard a rumor you came crawling back.” The voice made me jump, nearly spilling liquor on myself. Whirling, I saw a familiar bearded man leaning casually against a crate.

My face broke out in an immediate smile. “Fives?” Hopping off my crate easily, I approached him slowly, taking in his new getup. He grinned, letting me circle him. “Wow, ARC looks good on you,” I teased, taking in the new pauldron and kama.

“Oh, it looks better on me,” a second voice assured, making me turn to see Echo. Fives punched me in the shoulder gently, right over the kyr’bes. “Nice to see you, kid.”

I rolled my eyes, surprising myself when I dragged them both into a hug. “I’m so glad you guys are alright.”

“More than alright,” Fives bragged as we stepped away. “We’re ARC Troopers now.”

I smiled. “When did you guys graduate?”

“Not too long ago,” Echo explained. “So you didn’t miss too much.”

“Relax, boys,” Kix called from where he still sat on the crates. “She’s not staying.”

“What?” Fives asked, making some of the other clones roll their eyes.

“We just went through this,” Hardcase complained before being decked by the other team again.

I shrugged at the two brothers. “I can’t yet.”

“You say that like you will eventually,” Echo commented, walking with me back to my seat.

“Well,” I looked away. “Maybe.”

“Of course she will,” Fives joked, nudging me over to sit beside me and steal my drink. “She knows she can’t stay away from me.”

“That’s what it is,” I teased back. The group laughed, dissolving into playful banter as the game continued.

At some point, we all became rather intoxicated, the group divided between players, drunk clones singing terribly, and those of us who sat and told war stories and jokes, constantly refilling our drinks.

Amongst it all, though, I felt when he arrived to the scene. His golden eyes watched me from the other side of the hangar where he stood with Skywalker. He took in me enjoying the company of his brothers and felt warm inside.

He was practically projecting, his emotions were so easy to read. I worried that Skywalker would notice, but then again, I was sure he already had. He wasn’t stupid.

But neither was he cruel. He broke the rules for love. Why would he stand in the way of his captain?

I shook myself. Was it love? Maybe it was. Even after all this time, seeing him made my heart soar. Through it all, even when Darth Bane was turning my own thoughts against me, I always thought about Rex. What would things have been like if I weren’t who I was? Or if he wasn’t a clone?

Of course, such speculations would only cause harm. Things were as they were. There was no changing that.

Glancing across the hangar to where I knew I’d find him, I met his gaze. After a moment of merely looking, I offered him a smile. It was small, but real. The corner of his lips quirked slightly at the sight before he nodded slightly and turned back to his general.

As I felt the Star Destroyer lurch out of hyperspace, cuing my time to leave, I came to a decision. Spending the time with the clones. With the jedi. With Rex, even from across the room. I loved it. Sure, it was war. It was loss. It was horrible.

But I never felt more at home than when I was with them.

As I said my goodbyes and made my way to my ship, Apex already readying the engines, I decided that after I fixed my kyber crystal, my next goal was rejoining the war. I would live for balance. And I’d live for the people I cared about.

If joining the war was how to keep them safe, then so be it.

-----------------------

MANDO’A

Get’shuk -- A team game similar to rugby

#fanfiction #fanfic #star wars #star wars the clone wars #oc star wars #star wars oc #jango #jango fett #Daughter of Jango fic #jedi #obi-wan #Anakin Skywalker #ahsoka tano #captain rex #rex x oc #captain rex x oc #rexxoc #rex

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artyblogs · 7 years ago

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Launch Date ch 3 Wrecked

Star Wars the Clone Wars, Ahsoka/Riyo

Launch Date summary: In which Ahsoka mistakes Riyo for an office secretary, Riyo is sometimes too gay to function, and R7-A7 is determined to be a trollish kark.

First Chapter : Previous Chapter : Next Chapter

Chapter Summary: Ahsoka: You can't catch me, Gay Thoughts! Riyo *is caught by the Gay Thoughts*

The last time Riyo was in a hospital voluntarily, her mother was alive. She hasn’t thought of hospitals the same since, and avoids them so much that Magnus must drag her into one when something is wrong with her health. So when she steps through the front doors of the First Republic Hospital, it’s with sinking trepidation. The hospital smells like stale Bacta and anesthetic, and it’s incredibly busy. Medical personnel and droids help transfer patients between floors and rooms. Others distribute medicine. Because the hospital is so packed, the patients recovering from the Blue Shadow Virus are split up between rooms. Half of Ahsoka’s room is curtained off, obscuring her roommate, but every now and then, an electronic sentence plays from behind it: “I am in pain.”

Whenever that happens, a medical droid comes into the room carrying a syringe of morphine and an IV bag of Bacta. It disappears behind the curtain, and comes out a couple minutes later with an empty syringe and an empty Bacta pouch. Titon, who keeps watch from just inside the doorway, can’t stop staring at the curtain. Riyo drops her bag on the floor and sinks into the visitor’s chair beside Ahsoka’s bed.

Ahsoka’s still asleep. Her usual orange skin is streaked with sickly, bluish-black veins and there’s an IV needle stuck in her arm. The IV line leads up to a Bacta bag that hangs from a rack off to the side.

Riyo’s heart drops into her stomach at the sight. Ahsoka’s hand is feverishly warm, and Riyo traces the thin bones in her fingers with her thumb and finds that her palm is roughened with calluses. Riyo leans back in her chair and closes her eyes. She concentrates on the steady beeps of the vitals sensor and tries not to think about worst case scenarios.

Ahsoka squeezes back. It’s a weak squeeze, but it’s there. Riyo opens her eyes and sees that Ahsoka’s awake.

“Riyo,” Ahsoka whispers. She gives her a small smile and Riyo can’t help but smile back.

“They said you were well enough to get visitors,” Riyo says. “So I got you something.”

Riyo pulls a tupperware out from her bag while Ahsoka clumsily fiddles with the controls of the bed so that she can sit up. Riyo pauses.

“Can you eat solid food?” she asks. Ahsoka shrugs. She still looks exhausted.

“They’ve been feeding me some kind of protein mush in a tube. That’s kind of solid, right?”

“Good enough. I cooked you some Bantha and gravy.”

“Oh Force! Thank you.” Ahsoka reaches out and takes a fork that Riyo holds out for her, only to fumble and drop it onto the bed. She tries to pick it up again, but drops it into her lap. The two girls stare at it.

“Protein mush from a tube,” Riyo repeats.

“Yeah.”

“A tube that doesn’t require much grip strength.”

“Yeah,” Ahsoka says. “Or finger articulation. Or movement in general. I still can’t lift my hands above my head.”

Riyo gives Ahsoka an apologetic look, then takes up the fork. “Say ‘ah.’”

“No way!” The stripes on Ahsoka’s montrals and lekku darken into a deep blue and she covers her face in her hands. “Riyo, don’t make me do that!”

Riyo giggles. “Do you want to eat real food or not?”

“I do! But…” Ahsoka peeks at Riyo through a gap in her fingers. Then she glances past Riyo at Titon.

“Oh,” Riyo says. “Titon?”

“Huh?” Titon’s transfixed by the curtain.

CLICK. “I am in pain,” comes from behind the curtain again.

“Titon,” Riyo says, more firmly this time.

“Oh! Yes, Senator?”

“Can you keep watch from out in the hallway?”

“Of course,” Titon mutters. Just like that, he’s gone, as if he can’t leave the room fast enough.

Riyo turns back to Ahsoka. “Are you going to open up, or will I have to make speeder noises?”

Ahsoka groans.

“Ahsoka! I’m only teasing.” Riyo’s voice softens. “Let me take care of you.”

“…Okay.” Ahsoka lowers her hands. “But only because I don’t want the food to get cold.”

“Ah.” Riyo stabs a piece of meat and holds it out for Ahsoka.

“Ah,” Ahsoka says. The meat is gone with a flash of pointy teeth. Riyo slowly lowers the fork.

“May I ask you something? At the risk of sounding incredibly ignorant?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Are Togruta teeth really venomous?”

Ahsoka quirks an eyebrow marking up and stares. To her credit, however, Riyo powers through her discomfort to stare back.

“You don’t have to answer that,” Riyo finally says, but Ahsoka shakes her head.

“I just didn’t expect it, that’s all.” Ahsoka wipes her mouth on a napkin. “No, we’re not venomous. Don’t tell anyone though. It comes in handy when people think that we are. My turn. Ah.”

“Your turn?” Riyo gives Ahsoka another piece of meat. “What do you mean?”

“Hmm. You asked me something, now I get to ask you something.”

“That’s fair.”

“What do your tattoos mean? The ones on your arm and hands?”

Riyo’s mouth drops in surprise. “That is a good question.”

“I saw them a couple months ago, but I never asked about them. Ah.”

“It’s a full sleeve. A lot of Pantorans have tattoos, but we cover them up when we want to appear professional. Facial tattoos are like clan markers, but the ones on our arms, they’re family history.” Riyo sets the tupperware aside, then unclasps the sleeves of her jacket. She shrugs it off.

Ahsoka realizes that she’s staring, and turns away for a moment. When she looks back, Riyo’s undoing her shirt sleeves, and for a thrilling moment, Ahsoka thinks that she’s going to take off her shirt too and wonders what the hell is wrong with herself. But Riyo, unaware of Ahsoka’s predicament, doesn’t take off her shirt; she only rolls her sleeves up and points to a design on the outside of her left forearm.

“These two, for example, represent mountains and grain. My ancestors on my mother’s side were farmers, they helped create the ancient steppe farms in the mountains. It goes all the way up,” here Riyo traces the design up over her sleeve to her shoulder, “to the moon, because the Moon Goddess created everything.”

“What about your father?” Ahsoka asks. “Is he in there too?”

Riyo brings her forearms together. Compared to her left arm, the right is a smooth, even blue. “Pantorans usually have two sleeves: left for their mother, right for their father. But there’s no way I’m putting any mark from that man on my body.”

“What about the ones on your hands?” Ahsoka asks. Riyo places her hands on the bed between them so that they can both see. Both hands have the same design.

“These are personalized. They represent my career, who I am as a person. A Pantoran tattooist can tell you exactly who that person is from one glance of their tattoos, because they tell their story.”

“Ah.” Ahsoka imagines what the rest of Riyo’s tattoos look like and wonders where they could be on her body. Just as quickly as the images pop into her mind, Ahsoka banishes them.

CLICK. “I am in pain,” comes from behind the curtain.

There is a wide courtyard on the roof of the Jedi Temple and in the courtyard is an ancient tree planted in one end, which seems to preside over the entire space as if a benevolent god. The majority of the courtyard is divided up into smaller areas by long planters and benches, making it a perfect place for Jedi of all ages to spar with each other. Ahsoka and Plo Koon bring up two cushions and a Holochess board and play a couple games in the fading sunlight. A few younglings gather around.

“There, Padawan Tano.” A six year-old wriggles her way onto Ahsoka’s lap and points at a particular space. “Move there.”

“I like your mask, Master Koon.”

“Is your headband made of teeth?”

They’re cute. Honest. But Plo gives Ahsoka a helpless look that makes her giggle. Give Plo one afternoon with one youngling, and he’ll be fine, but it’s been years since he’s taken charge of a creche, or even taught a youngling class.

“Younglings,” Ahsoka says once she’s gotten herself under control, “have you heard the story of the Ancient Tree?”

“The Tree?” The younglings grow still to listen to her talk.

“It’s a wise thing that has seen many things across the eons: the creation of systems, ancient battles between Jedi and Sith, and more. They say that if you meditate under it, it will tell you what it’s seen.”

“What?”

“Cool!”

The younglings run off towards the other end of the courtyard. Ahsoka giggles again then turns back to Plo, who hums with appreciation.

“You’re welcome, Master Koon.”

The ground shakes under them, throwing them from their seats. The Holochess board tips over and crashes onto its side. Ahsoka and Plo share a look of concern.

“What was that?” Ahsoka picks herself off the ground and runs to the side of the courtyard, where other Jedi gather.

“It’s coming from the Senate District!” an older youngling points to the horizon, where thick plumes of black smoke rise into the air.

“It must be that Zillo Beast they brought in today,” a knight says. “Remember? It was all over HNN.”

Ahsoka gasps. Anakin is in the Senate District, keeping Padmé company while she works late hours. Ahsoka tries calling his comlink, but doesn’t get an answer. She tries again. Nothing.

Ahsoka huffs, but doesn’t give up. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and drops into a kneeling position. In her mind, she grabs one end of the Force Bond she shares with Anakin and traces it across the city until she receives feelings that aren’t hers. There are traces of stress, but also an overwhelming sense of calm. Amusement, strong and intentional, shoots back into her through the bond.

Don’t worry Snips, Anakin seems to think at her. I got this.

He also flashes images of Padmé and the Chancellor, confirming their safety.

Ahsoka sighs and drops the bond, content. This peace lasts only for a moment before she’s gripped with panic again.

“Riyo!” Ahsoka fumbles with her comlink again to call her. It doesn’t even go through and she ends the call, disgusted. Everyone must be trying to com everyone else at the same time, jamming the comlink towers.

“‘Soka?” Plo touches Ahsoka’s shoulder. “We must have faith. Mace and Anakin will handle the situation.”

“Of course, but it’s not them that I’m worried about,” Ahsoka says. Senators who are a part of the same camp tend to keep to the same schedule, so if Padmé is working late tonight, then so is Riyo. And yeah, Magnus and Titon are capable guards, but Ahsoka guesses that they probably didn’t think that they’d have to protect Riyo from a Zillo Beast. Ahsoka sinks herself into meditation once again.

There are billions of people on Coruscant and billions of non-sentient creatures. All of them sing out through the Force. Ahsoka concentrates on the lilt of Riyo’s voice, the way her eyebrows crinkle with complex thought, and rifles through the Force as quickly as she can, looking, looking, looking for Riyo.

Ahsoka finds her alive in one of the Senate bunkers. Before she can slump in relief, however, she brushes up against her, which—really—is something only an unpracticed youngling would do. Ahsoka’s world explodes in phantom sensations.

The floor trembles underneath her with every step the Zillo Beast takes. Plaster dust rains down on her head from the ceiling. The Zillo Beast’s roars vibrate right through her chest.

Ahsoka realizes that Riyo would like very much to be…not there, thank you very much. But then Ahsoka feels a warm, solid presence sitting beside her.

Captain Sterno, she realizes, and he’s a bastion of calm compared to RIyo. If he’s not worried about the Zillo Beast, then that’s enough. Satisfied, Ahsoka pulls away. She doesn’t ask herself why she found Riyo so quickly.

Riyo drags her hands down her face and takes a deep breath. Calm. Peace. Senators aren’t supposed to lose their tempers. She’s been trying to beef up her security, but the Pantoran Assembly won’t increase the budget for another guard, so she must sign up for Senatorial guards. The problem is that because of the Zillo Beast, every other senator has also requested extra guards. Security has no more guards to assign, so they put her name down on a waiting list.

A waiting list is not going to keep her safe. She’s messaged Security multiple times, but every reply has been the same: we’re working on it. So while they work on that, Riyo’s been working from her home office on Pantora, where it’s safer. Even though she must bus her own coffee mugs, she considers it a good enough trade off, because whenever she needs to attend a hologram meeting, she puts on one of her suit jackets, and when the meeting is over, she gets to take it off and lounge in pajama bottoms and a tank top.

The hologram comlink on her desk chimes, and Riyo answers it. It’s Magnus, in a frayed henley shirt. Traces of his full chest tattoo peek out over the collar of his shirt.

“Senator Chuchi,” he says.

“Yes, Captain?”

“We’ll just have to make do with what we have.”

Riyo grimaces. Magnus’s brows knit together.

“Your safety is my job, not yours. Please let me handle it.”

“Captain…”

“No, Senator. You cannot continue to play hooky from the Senate. People depend on you. Trust me to keep you safe. I will be enough.”

Riyo nods, and Magnus gives her something that might be called a smile before he ends the call. She wonders if she can request a Jedi detail like how Padmé has been doing lately. She always seems to get Anakin Skywalker as her assigned guard, and what are the odds of that? She chuckles.

BEEP BEEP. The hologram comlink chimes again and Riyo answers it. It’s Ahsoka.

“Hey you,” Ahsoka says.

“Hello yourself,” Riyo says. “Congratulations on your victory in Geonosis.”

“Hah! Yeah, that was actually kinda fun. Whoops!” Ahsoka’s image wavers for a second. Someone else giggles offscreen.

“Ahsoka, get down from there, you’ll hurt yourself!”

“Aww, come on! Jedi aren’t clumsy.”

“Sober Jedi aren’t clumsy,” Riyo says. “Go home, Ahsoka, you’re drunk. Who’s with you?”

“Come here. Come here!” Ahsoka beckons to the mystery girl, then reaches out and pulls her close so that the hologram comlink will pick them both up.

“This is Senator Riyo Chuchi. Introduce yourself” Ahsoka says. The mystery girl, a Mirialan around Riyo’s age, giggles as she stumbles against Ahsoka and gives Riyo a shy curtsy.

“Hello, Senator,” the girl says. “I’m…uhm…padawan learner Barriss Offee at your service.”

“Force, you’re too polite,” Ahsoka says.

“Hello, Master Jedi.” Riyo gives her a warm smile. “And please, call me Riyo. A friend of Ahsoka’s is a friend of mine.”

“Thank you, Riyo,” Barriss says. “Please feel free to call me ‘Barriss' as well.”

“How many shots are you giving her, Ahsoka?”

“We just had a thank-Force-we’re-alive drink,” Ahsoka says. “Just one.”

“Lies.”

“Okay, fine uh…more than one.” Ahsoka rolls her eyes, then her smirk softens into a bittersweet smile. “When are you coming back? I miss you.”

Something jumps in Riyo’s chest. Why did she leave Coruscant in the first place?

“Soon,” she says. She wonders how quickly she can cross half the galaxy.

Ahsoka has her lightsaber at Sib Canay’s throat when the corridor, already littered with dismembered droids, quickly fills up with Neimoidian guards who are ready to fight. There’s too many of them, and the corridor is too contained for Ahsoka’s fighting style. She deactivates her lightsaber with a disappointed click of her tongue.

Riyo comes out of the prison cell into the corridor behind her, followed by Chairman Papanoida’s daughter, Chi Eekway. Another Trade Federation official sweeps into the corridor behind the guards.

“Thank you, Ahsoka,” Riyo whispers as she pushes past her to meet the official head on. “Leave the rest to me.”

She proceeds to give the official the most vicious dressing down that Ahsoka’s ever heard.

Later, aboard the Jedi Shuttle, Chi Eekway excuses herself to comlink her father, leaving Ahsoka and Riyo to themselves in the cockpit.

“Can I see your shoe?” Ahsoka asks.

“What?” Riyo asks.

“Let me see your shoe.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve never seen anyone put their foot that far up a guy’s butt.”

“Ahsoka!” Riyo bursts into laughter and Ahsoka’s heart does acrobatics in her chest. “I did, didn’t I?”

“I didn’t know you could do that!”

“Well, you were quite impressive yourself.”

“Really?” Ahsoka grins. They’re cut off when Chi Eekway emerges from the cockpit of the ship.

“My father wants to invite you both to dinner,” she says.

Chairman Papanoida, before he was Chairman, was an entertainment baron, and he got his start writing several plays that were received with great praise and acclaim. His earliest works are easily adapted by smaller troupes, and thus are widely studied by Pantoran academies. When the Papanoida family, Riyo, and Ahsoka sit down for dinner that evening, the topic inevitably turns to these plays.

“Do they show them here on Coruscant too, Master Jedi?” Papanoida asks halfway into the meal.

“They do, Chairman,” Ahsoka says, surprised at how much she’s enjoying herself. She’s eating some kind of sour reindeer soup and she gets to sit next to Riyo during a meal for once, instead of across from her.

“My favorite one—I forget the title—but it’s about two pairs of twins who get mixed up with each other,” Ahsoka says.

“I’m quite fond of that one,” Papanoida says. “I rarely get time to finish anything these days; I’m in the market for a collaborator. What do you say, Senator? Are you open to trying your hand at fiction?”

Riyo’s ears turn indigo. “Chairman, please. I’m more suited to treatises.”

“You do yourself a great disservice! Your essays are full of passion.”

Ion, Papanoida’s son, nods in agreement. “How else could you move the people to action so often? And your letters to your cousin were exquisite.”

Riyo gives a forced smile. “Thank you.”

Ahsoka tries to distract them. “What’s your favorite play, Chairman? Out of all the plays you’ve written? There must be one.”

“That’s a difficult question, Master Jedi!” Papanoida gives a gruff chuckle, but launches into a spiel about his work nonetheless. While he talks, Riyo gives Ahsoka a grateful smile.

One day, Riyo gets a message on her black data pad from Senator Bail Organa. It’s about a meeting between all the opponents of the Enhanced Privacy Invasion Bill that’s to take place in one of the atriums of the Senate Office Building late that morning. Riyo releases her aides and her guards for an early lunch before walking into the atrium, but then Cad Bane swaggers into the room and fires his blaster into the air, and his posse surrounds them. He shoots Senator Philo in the back and a pit of fear opens in Riyo’s gut. After an emotional rollercoaster during which Anakin reveals his presence in the building, is captured, but then frees all the hostages by cutting the floor out from under them, Riyo dusts herself off and limps out of the atrium.

The entire building is still on lockdown, so no one else can come in, and Riyo doesn’t meet anyone else on her way to her office. When she gets to her office, she sinks into her chair and rifles through her desk drawers for the back-up comlink that Magnus set up for her just in case.

It’s full of missed calls and messages. Riyo calls Magnus, and he picks up right away.

“Senator Chuchi!” Magnus bellows. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Captain,” Riyo says. She tells him about Anakin’s daring rescue as she collects her belongings and leaves the office. There’s no way she wants to stay here for the rest of the day.

“I should have been there.”

“This was not your fault. Perhaps if I had a blaster, I might have been able to do something.”

“I’ll have the derringer ready for you tomorrow.”

The call ends. Riyo slips the comlink into her pocket and opens a door. She almost runs into someone on the other side.

“Riyo!” Ahsoka gives her a hug. “You’re okay!”

“Ahsoka!” Riyo drops her bag on the floor to hug her back. “How did you get in here?”

“The building’s no longer on lock down,” Ahsoka picks up Riyo’s bag and hands it back to her. “So here I am! Where you off to now?”

“Honestly, I’m ready to get drunk,” Riyo says. Ahsoka whoops and takes her arm. “Gods, Senator Philo is dead, and I just had lunch with him last week.”

Ahsoka gives her an apologetic look. “We’ll pour one out for him.” She looks down. “You’re limping.”

“Yes, I landed funny when your master dropped us fifteen feet without warning.” Riyo pauses, then says, “don’t tell Magnus.”

“Okay, but he’s gonna notice anyway.”

“Don’t say that! Senator Amidala and your master are very close.”

Ahsoka snorts at the clumsy change of subject. “They are.”

Riyo hesitates, unsure of how to say the next bit. “I think I heard something that I wasn’t supposed to hear.”

“What?”

“Padmé had your master’s lightsaber. She said afterwards that she found it, but no. I don’t think that’s what happened.”

Ahsoka squints at her. “But a Jedi’s lightsaber is their life! Why would Padmé have it? Why would Anakin give it to her?”

“Why indeed.” Riyo and Ahsoka board a shuttle and hold onto the dangling handles as it takes off. “It’s none of my business. Forget I said anything.”

“Too late,” Ahsoka murmurs, lost in thought. “It’s not just you, I’ve noticed things about them too.”

“Whatever you find out, you don’t have to tell me,” Riyo says. “That way I can have deniability.”

Riyo gazes out of the shuttle window and loses herself in the vivid colors of the sky. Ten minutes ago, she had the business end of a blaster stuck in her face. Now, she watches sunlight glint off of the glass and metal of Coruscant’s skyscrapers. The streams of speeders cross in an intricate net over the city. Even the steady throb of pain and blood in her sprained ankle reminds her: she’s alive.

She’s alive.

On the holoscreen, the music swells to a forte as one of the characters, a female Togruta, presents her lover with a knife.

“Will you marry me?”

But her lover backs away.

“I can’t! I’m sorry!” The music swells again in minor key as the lover runs off, leaving the Togruta by herself, heartbroken. Ahsoka shrieks with schadenfreude delight and pulls a blanket over her face to hide her smile. “Toothless! She’s gonna go Akul hunting now, watch.”

“‘Toothless?’” Riyo asks. “What does that mean?”

She and Ahsoka are sitting on the couch in Riyo’s apartment, watching a hologram show about an ancient warrior princess and a poet who travel around an ancient planet. Ahsoka’s wrapped in a blanket like she’s a burrito and Riyo’s lounging in sleep shorts and t-shirt.

“Ah hmm,” Ahsoka hesitates as she tries to find the right words to explain. “To Togruta, two things matter: your physical prowess and the head. The elders believe that energies from the universe flow into us through the montrals, and down into the head and into the lekku.”

“Is that why it’s taboo to touch a Togruta’s montrals and lekku?” Riyo asks.

“Yeah! It’s pretty intimate stuff. Anyways, that’s also the reason why we have Akul tooth headdresses instead of Akul tooth belts, or Akul tooth bracelets; powerful items should be worn on the most powerful parts of the body. Since we go to hell and back for our headdresses, the only time we’d ever permanently take them off is to make a knife.”

Riyo gasps. “You make the knives out of the Akul teeth? From your own headdresses?”

“Yup.”

Riyo’s silent for a couple moments. “So when the knife was rejected….”

“You can’t unmake a knife, so now she’s ’toothless,’ poor thing.”

The two of them return their attention to the holoscreen, which shows the hapless Togruta crying silent tears as she makes a spear. When it cuts to commercial, Ahsoka undoes Riyo’s world with only four words: “I met a boy.”

Riyo says nothing, believing herself to have misheard.

“Last week,” Ahsoka continues, “when I went with Padmé to visit the Separatists.”

“Is that so?” Riyo gets a bad feeling in her gut, but ignores it for now. “Who is he?”

Ahsoka giggles, actually giggles, and Riyo pastes a smile on her face and tries to ignore how her heart plummets into her stomach.

“Lux Bonteri. His mom’s a senator for the Separatists and yeah, I know we’re supposed to be fighting them, but Lux is pretty cool.”

“Does that mean he’s handsome?”

“You could describe him that way.”

“Fantastic.” That’s all Riyo manages to say. Isn’t she supposed to be happy for her friend? Ahsoka, unaware of Riyo’s turmoil, presses on.

“I mean, I know Jedi aren’t supposed to have attachments, so there’s no way it’s ever gonna fly, but I can still admire him from afar, right?” Ahsoka glances at Riyo and does a double take. “Are you okay?”

Riyo shakes her head. “I think I ate something bad earlier.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s something else.” Ahsoka squints and scoots closer to get a better look at her. The edge of the blanket slips from her montrals and pools around her shoulders.

“You are not using the Force on me.” Riyo’s pulse spikes in warning in her ears. “Ahsoka, please. Not now.”

“Yeah fine, but it’s not like I can just turn it off. I already know it’s something big. Let me help!”

Riyo might not know what’s going on with herself, but she knows that whatever it is will make her implode, and that can’t happen in front of Ahsoka.

“I don’t think it’s something you can swing a lightsaber at,” Riyo says.

“Not with that attitude, it isn’t.”

“I suppose not.” Riyo gives Ahsoka an apologetic smile. “It’s still not one of those problems.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Perhaps not now. It’ll keep, Ahsoka.”

“I guess,” Ahsoka says, still not convinced. The both of them watch the rest of the hologram show, but are no longer interested in it. Ahsoka leaves soon after that, after one last lingering hug and also only after Riyo has promised to call her if there’s anything she can do to help. After sending Ahsoka off, Riyo stands in one spot for a long moment, trying to keep herself together. She calls Magnus on the hologram comlink.

When it rings, Riyo panics and checks the time, thinking that she’s called him late at night, but it’s still early in the evening. Magnus picks up.

“Senator Chuchi?” he asks. “Did you need something?”

Unable to keep her composure any longer, Riyo lets her shoulders slump and grits her teeth. “Captain. Help.”

After confirming that no, Riyo isn’t in immediate physical danger, and that yes, she does need help, Magnus swings by to pick her up in a speeder. She pulls on a hooded jacket and a pair of soft boots before heading out the door to meet him.

“Senator,” Magnus says when Riyo slides into the passenger seat.

“Captain,” Riyo tries to say. Her voice catches in her throat. Magnus’s eyebrows knit together in concern.

“What’s wrong?”

Riyo sinks down in her seat and hugs herself. “Please don’t laugh. It sounds stupid.”

“I don’t believe you’re capable of stupid, Senator.”

There’s a moment of silence that’s filled with the whoosh of the wind against their ears and the hum of the other speeders around them. Riyo sighs and tells him what’s happened. While she talks, Magnus keeps flying. Riyo doesn’t ask where they’re headed, and Magnus doesn’t tell her. When she’s done, the silence comes back around them.

“I forget how old you are sometimes, Senator,” he says.

“Magnus,” Riyo gives him a pleading look. “I don’t need help from a bodyguard right now.”

“Riyo then,” he says, as if testing the name. It comes out with a sort of tenderness that she’s never heard from him before. “Are you worried that Padawan Tano will stop being your friend over this boy?”

“No.” The answer tumbles out of Riyo’s mouth before she can stop it, but the more she thinks about it, the more she realizes that it’s true. “She’s a Jedi, and therefore married to her work. A boy’s not going to change that, she said so herself.”

“I see,” Magnus says. “And you have yet to succumb to Titon’s charm.”

The bridge of Riyo’s nose wrinkles in disgust and Magnus gives her a rare smile.

“I don’t see what Titon has to do with any of this,” Riyo says.

“Indeed. Do you want to hear my diagnosis?”

“Please.”

“It sounds like you’re jealous.”

“How can I be jealous of Ahsoka?”

It must be one of those nights, because Magnus chuckles and says, “not jealous of Padawan Tano, but of the boy she’s in love with.”

“But that would mean….” The gears in Riyo’s head grind to a halt. In the past, when she’s reached this point, her mind would quickly shift into reverse, keeping her away from that line of thought. This time, however, her mind powers through it, and every barrier that she has subconsciously put up between herself and Ahsoka comes crashing down. Suddenly, Ahsoka isn’t just Ahsoka-the-really-good-friend-who’s-kickass-with-a-lightsaber, but Ahsoka, whose eyes light up when she hears a good joke, whose sharp teeth fit in her warm smile, and who stands close, but not close enough.

Riyo’s mind shifts into overdrive. All these little details that she’s noticed about Ahsoka before, but have dismissed, come back with a vengeance. The way her muscles shift in her back, the curve of her lekku as they drape over her shoulders, all of it endearing and beautiful and just beyond her reach. Riyo sinks deeper in her seat and buries her face in her hands. She groans.

“Riyo?” Magnus asks. Riyo drops her hands and sighs.

“I can’t believe I…I have feelings for Ahsoka. And she…. “ Riyo’s wonder sours into mortification. “I’ve become that one woman in Papanoida’s play. The one who falls in love with her best friend. A walking cliché.”

“The Trickster God does seem to be funning with you,” Magnus says. “What will you do?”

“I could tell Ahsoka, but she can’t return my feelings because she’s a Jedi, so that’s a guaranteed rejection.”

“She could return your affections.”

“That doesn’t mean she would act on them. She would still say ‘no’ either way. If I tell her anyway, I risk the destruction of our friendship.”

“You should give your friendship more credit than that, Riyo.”

“What am I going to say? ‘Hi, I like you, so please disregard Jedi teachings so that we can go see a holomovie together?’ Relationships like the one I might want with Ahsoka are forbidden to Jedi. How can I ask her to give up the only lifestyle that she’s ever known just for me?” Riyo’s chest tightens painfully and she turns away.

“No, we’re friends, so we’ll stay friends. I’ll just have to carry on as if nothing’s changed between us. Ahsoka doesn’t owe me anything, and I won’t ask something from her that she can’t give.”

Riyo stews in her misery for a few long moments before Magnus glances at her with pity and some sympathy.

“Shall we get ice cream?”

“Yes, please.”

In the Jedi temple, while she meditates, Ahsoka feels a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s wondrous and terrible at the same time. She’s doesn’t know what it is, and after letting it wash over her for a moment, she resolves to let it be. Whatever it is, it isn’t hurting anyone.

Ahsoka forgets about it the next day.

Note Bene: Christ, Riyo. If you’re so determined to be a martyr, then you can just sulk on that cross. Let the pining begin. Are you having fun? I’m having so much fun. We’ve reached high levels of gay in this chapter. Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think about it.

If you wanna read this story on AO3 or Fanfiction.net, you can also do that too, my guys.

#star wars the clone wars #fanfiction #riyosoka #Ahsoka Tano #riyo chuchi #artillery writes #Launch Date

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nieithryn · 7 years ago

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❛ Are you gonna get rid of me because I made you mad? ❜ Little Bultar to Plo just after he takes her on as an apprentice after Micah's death??

Even under his mask, the Kel Dor’s shock was apparent. Black eyes widened perceptibly, and his jaw worked a moment with a quiet hissing noise of distress. The poor child had already lost her Master…had her confidence left with him? He had never expected this, and perhaps that was more his own fault than hers…how would she know that here she was safe from all?

Carefully he knelt in front of her bed, gentle hands taking her face to let the young girl look at him properly. She was little more than a child…too young for the trauma of loss…too young to think herself disposable. It broke his heart, and part of him dearly wished to pull her close to his chest and protect her from such detestable thoughts as those.

“My dear child…there is nothing you could ever do that would cause me to get rid of you. Not a thing. Alright, Little One? I may become frustrated at times, but I will never ‘get rid’ of you…never. You are always safe with me, Bultar…”

Hidden behind his goggles, he felt the prickling of tears at his eyes, and drew her close to him gently. Anything to hush such unquiet thoughts, to soothe them into nonexistence for the sake of the girl before him. She’d been through so much…too much. He would protect her as best he could…and while self-doubt was an old friend of his own, he would do anything to remove such fears from her heart.

#(Read: Plo Koon adores his padawans so much and would kill for them)#(Honestly he loves Bultar so much she is getting hugs and worried churring dad noises)#(Plo and his daughters man he wants to protect them all)#kuatiisms #ch: You're Not Expendable To Me (Plo Koon)

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devondeal · 4 years ago

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Shadow of the Past

Note: Shoutout to @jedimasterbailey who inspired me with our awesome conversations causing this idea to flourish in the first place! Her input has been incredibly valuable when figuring out the details and other key elements and this fic wouldn't be the same without it.

Ch. 3

The light shone brightly until it dimmed down to a hazy dreamlike tone. They were in a valley surrounded by colorful forest and the sun was warm. There was a village of Togruta nearby.

Ahsoka and Barriss realized that the temple was showing them the planet Shili. That ugly chill Ahsoka felt before entering the doorway came back. This place was very familiar and she didn't like it one bit. Barriss noticed her discomfort.

Barriss: You know this place?

Ahsoka: I think so.

They suddenly appeared inside one of the buildings where there were several Togruta and a Zygerrian woman standing across from each other. There was also a Togruta toddler hiding behind a Togruta woman. No one seemed to notice Barriss and Ahsoka's presence.

Togruta woman: I'm sorry, she's not usually this shy.

Zygerrian woman: I am a foreigner. This is to be expected. She is only a child after all.

Elder Togruta: We are honored by your presence of course.

But as he said this, he gave the toddler and her mother a stern look.

The Togruta woman kneels down to the toddlers level: Come on Ahsoka. Say hello to the Jedi.

The toddler clung harder to her mother keeping her head down in embarrassment and fear. She somehow knew this was no Jedi even though she didn't even understand what a Jedi was. When her mother attempted to pick her up to allow the "Jedi" to properly examine her, she struggled and ran out of the room. The elders groaned in disappointment and apologized profusely.

Ahsoka's jaw dropped. She had no idea how to process what she was looking at, but she didn't just recognize it, she felt it in her bones. Barriss immediately knew what they were looking at. Ahsoka had told her this story before.

Suddenly they were inside a much home-ier location where toddler Ahsoka was crying quietly and her mother gently held her.

Mother: Sweetie, what's wrong?

Toddler Ahsoka: Don't like her.

Mother: Why not?

Little Ahsoka didn't know how to answer.

Toddler Ahsoka: She's bad.

Mother: She's been nothing but kind to us. What makes you think she's bad? Did she do something bad?

The mother was genuinely concerned if something unseen had happened.

Toddler Ahsoka shook her head. The mother sighed in relief.

Mother: Well then, nothing’s wrong.

Toddler Ahsoka looked down and made a sad and frustrated expression that Barriss recognized too well.

The image changed again to the outdoors where the Zygerrian's ship was right outside the village. The toddler Ahsoka was screaming and crying in her mother's arms.

The elders were shaking their heads clearly frustrated at the child's reluctance.

Elder Togruta: Forgive us, Master Jedi. We don't understand why she's behaving this way.

Zygerrian: She is strong with the force. Through training, she will master her emotions. I see much potential in her. You should be proud.

Ahsoka's mother's eyes began to well up and she tried to calm her child

Mother: Shh... shh.. it's ok. You're going to become a Jedi. Like her. You'll be with your own kind, with people who understand what you are, who can help you with your special powers. The other children won't exclude you or make fun of you. You'll be one of them.

The child quieted for a moment.

Ahsoka's mother: I love you and I will never forget you.

She kissed her forehead and the child began to wail again as she was handed to the Zygerrian. Her mother was crying silently trying to be brave for her daughter. As the Zygerrian walked into her ship the child was looking over her shoulder, screaming for someone, her mother or anyone, to take her back. Her arms reached out for someone, anyone to rescue her. But no one came and the door of the ship closed silencing the child's screams and suddenly the planet was gone and Barriss and Ahsoka were surrounded by darkness.

Barriss had been expecting Plo Koon to show up at any moment, but he never did. Now she partially understood why this reality - well at least Ahsoka, was the way she was. Palpatine must have been planning the inquisitor program years in advance. They probably were hidden, much like the clone army was before Kenobi discovered them conveniently in time for the separatist conflict.

She remembered the report of the force sensitive younglings Ahsoka and Anakin had rescued from Darth Sidious in the Clone Wars.

To think that without Plo Koon, Ahsoka would have fell victim... has fallen victim to his grotesque plans... it was just too much. Tears streamed down Barriss's face. Ahsoka wasn't crying but her face was frozen with terror and she was shivering. Barriss pulled herself together and tried to reach out to comfort Ahsoka but she jolted away from her touch.

Barriss realized that while this was just a visual memory for her, for Ahsoka this was so much more. She must have relived everything, from smells to physical touches, to the exact pace of her own past breaths. The dread she must have felt when her loved ones didn't believe her and gave her away to someone she knew they shouldn't trust... The helplessness.

Barriss: Ahso- ... I mean... I'm so sorry. I didn't realize the temple would...

Ahsoka looked at her with an expression that reminded Barriss too much of how she looked at the trial when she confessed to bombing the temple. But her yellow eyes glinted with anger. Suddenly Ahsoka's expression shifted to confusion and she looked down. Barriss followed her gaze down to see that her shackles had disappeared.

Immediately Ahsoka force pushed Barriss away and ran further into the darkness.

Barriss: No! Wait!

But her surroundings began to change before she could chase after Ahsoka. She recognized this place to be their home before this insanity happened. And for some reason she was lying down in bed with the morning sun shining in.

Much like how she had woken up to find Ahsoka gone and that reality had shifted to somehow becoming impossibly worse. She got out of bed and saw she was in pajamas instead of her previous attire. Had this all been some awful dream? She didn't know what to think anymore.

She went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and Ahsoka's voice spoke softly in her right ear, "Gotcha" causing Barriss to jolt so hard, she dropped the glass and it shattered on the floor.

Ahsoka: Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you.

Barriss turned around and saw Ahsoka and immediately noticed her eyes were blue. She also noticed Ahsoka was in pajamas too. She couldn't help staring.

Ahsoka: Hey. You ok?

Barriss: I... um...

She looked down at the shattered glass.

Ahsoka: Don't worry about that. I'll clean it up. My fault anyway. I promise I'll never sneak up on you again, ok?

Ahsoka cupped her cheek. Her hand was warm.

Barriss: Ok...

Ahsoka kissed her forehead and Barriss went back to bed claiming she needed to lie down for a moment.

Was this real? She thought to herself. The more she thought about it, the more those awful events were beginning to fade away like a dream does after one awakes.

Ahsoka came back from cleaning up the glass. As usual, she jumped in bed rather than just sitting and lying down.

Barriss: You know I don't like when you do that. It shakes the whole bed.

Ahsoka: Can I help it if Alderaanian beds are so jumpable?

Barriss laughs and cries at the same time. She missed this.

Barriss: That's not a word.

Ahsoka: (concerned) Barriss?

Barriss: I think I had a bad dream. And it seemed so real...

Ahsoka: I know that feeling... Can I?

Barriss: Please.

Ahsoka cuddled up to Barriss, holding her as they faced each other, their noses almost touching.

Ahsoka: We're gonna get through this, we always do.

For a moment, it was quiet and Barriss felt peaceful. But then she remembered the sound of a child screaming. She opened her eyes and sat up suddenly alarming Ahsoka.

Ahsoka: Another dream?

Barriss: This isn't real. I have to get back.

Ahsoka: What? What do you mean?

Barriss: I'm still in the Jedi temple. It's testing me.

Ahsoka: Ok now I have no idea what you're talking about.

Barriss looked back at Ahsoka who was leaning on a pillow. She looked exactly how she was before the reality shift. Which means... She glanced at the bedside tables on each side and both had an engagement ring. The temple really thought of everything.

Barriss: I don't belong here. Not yet. I have to go and fix things.

Ahsoka's face fell.

Ahsoka: Haven't you spent enough time fixing things? Why can't you let it go for once and be with me?

Barriss: You know I can't.

Ahsoka: (sighs) That conscience of yours....

Barriss gently cupped Ahsoka's face and neck with her hands

Barriss: I love you, and I'm coming back. But I can't let the universe destroy itself.

The vision of Ahsoka started to cry softly.

Ahsoka: When this is real again, I'll be here.

Barriss began to wonder if there was some reality trapped in the illusion. They kissed each other, not a goodbye, but something for Barriss to hold onto during this ordeal. Barriss noticed that she was no longer in pajamas and back in her previous attire.

She stood and walked to the door of their house as Ahsoka watched her leave. Barriss took one look back, noticing the darkness start to consume her home. She locked eyes with Ahsoka, then turned and closed the door before she could see her home and her soon to be wife disappear. She was now back in the main temple room where that bright door had showed up in front of them in what felt like hours ago.

Barriss shut her eyes tightly, processing what just happened. The temple had tested her to make sure she was ready for the challenge ahead, then given her a gift. A memory to keep in her heart when things got too difficult.

Ahsoka: You took long enough.

Barriss: How long…?

Ahsoka: I tried getting that door open. I used my strength, the force, leverage, that thing won’t budge. I had no choice but to wait for you.

She said this with a snarl.

Barriss: About that vision…

Ahsoka: I don’t care about the vision, I just want to get out of this tomb! You’d be dead if I wasn’t afraid of being trapped in here alone.

Barriss could have retorted with a comment about how that was unlikely given her inferior fighting style, but she didn’t want to provoke. The vision was affecting her, no matter how much she denied it.

Barriss: Did the temple show you anything else or try to test you at all?

Ahsoka: No, I’ve been sitting here alone waiting for you for ages.

Barriss couldn’t tell if she was telling the truth or not until she noticed Ahsoka’s knuckles were bloody. Something did happen, but she felt it wasn’t the right time to ask.

Barriss: Strange, the door should have opened now that I'm back. Perhaps the temple wants us to use the force together to open it.

Ahsoka: You’re a Jedi and I use the darkside. How is that going to work?

Barriss: I guess we’ll learn by trying.

They used the force together, willing the door to open. A few seconds passed by and it wouldn’t budge. Suddenly the temple began to vibrate and the door opened with an ugly scratching sound, stone against stone.

Once it was open, they finally walked outside the temple.

Barriss: I’m surprised that worked.

Suddenly the temple began to sink into the ground with such a shocking ferocity, as if it had gotten sick from regurgitating it’s maligned force users.

Barriss used this opportunity with Ahsoka distracted from the spectacle to cuff her again.

Ahsoka: Hey!

Barriss: What? You had a lot of these in your ship and I figured that you would give me enough trouble.

Ahsoka: So you kept a pair in your pocket?!

Barriss: Two pairs actually…

Ahsoka stared at her incredulously.

Barriss: Well it pays to be prepared.

Ahsoka: Or you could just kill me and rid yourself of a problem.

Barriss: Would you stop with the death talk, it’s really disconcerting!

Ahsoka: What’s “disconcerting” is how you Jedi won’t even kill your own exterminators! You’re all about the greater good until you have to do the dirty work!

Barriss: You sound as if this has happened to you before.

Ahsoka: You don’t know me, so stop acting like you do. Just take me to your ship and do to me whatever you have planned… I’m getting tired of this.

Barriss frowned. She definitely wasn’t telling her something. No matter; that would come later. Right now she had to find somewhere safe to stay and try to decipher what the temple was trying to tell her. Temple visions were known to not always be direct, so there was definitely something useful in the visions she had seen… including possibly whatever Ahsoka might have seen and wasn’t telling her.

She would somehow have to get her to reveal it while continuing to challenge her beliefs about the Empire. She hoped she could turn her, but this Ahsoka had been through horrors different from her own Ahsoka. That vision of her as a child without Plo Koon to save her was heartbreaking. She’d have to remember she wasn’t the same person, otherwise she would never be able to persuade Ahsoka of her potential for good. And it was imperative she did. She couldn’t do this alone.

#barrissoka #barrisoka #ahsoka tano #barriss offee

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nieithryn · 8 years ago

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Mini tag dump, don’t mind me.

#ch: You're Not Expendable To Me (Plo Koon)#v: Wise Council #v: Leader Of The Pack #v: Through Fire Cleansed #Einne tag #v: Wolfpup #v: Snark Is A Language #v: A Painful Truth #ch: We Fight For Civilization (Mace Windu)#v: Passion Overwhelms #v: We Are Peacekeepers #v: It's A Hard Road #tag dump

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ryder-s-block · 5 years ago

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Jaig Eyes (Ch 36)

Jaig Eyes (36/?)

Summary: Kida, a former slave who now thrives as a bounty hunter, finds herself sucked into the war she advised Jango Fett against. Now that she's involved, she has to finally mourn the loss of Jango, seeing his face in the clones that man the GAR. What happens when she allows herself to get attached to one, not for his resemblance to her former mentor, but for his heart?

Always can read on Fanfic.

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Chapter Thirty-Six: Ret’urcye mhi

I knew immediately that I wasn’t really in the room I was seeing. There was a haziness to it, blurring the edges of my vision as if I was squinting hard. The room reminded me of the control center on the Republic frigates, with a holographic console in the center. However, instead of rows upon rows of computers and military personnel, the room expanded into a type of amphitheater. Benches encircled the room, rising up to various levels until they ended at doors on all sides. All of which were closed and locked, it seemed.

I was standing a few rows up, looking down at a group of creatures clad in jedi robes. I recognized the clean-shaven head of Windu immediately, watching his brow crease as he spoke quietly with a little green jedi--Yoda.

Others stood around that I recognized only slightly from either brief encounters, discussions with Anakin and Obi-wan, or from reports I read as a bounty hunter. There was a Twi’lek with magnificent blue skin, her expression passive as she eyed the holoprojector as if she were waiting for it to engage. There was also a female Tholothian, who stood beside a Nautolan I didn’t know. Still, the smile he gave his companion jarred my memory. I’d seen his likeness painted on a Republic attack shuttle, along with the Auberesh words, “Service with a smile.” Fisto. Even bounty hunters knew about him.

The holoprojector hummed to life, revealed more jedi, all standing rather rigid. Some I recognized, such as Plo Koon and Shaak Ti. Others, I didn’t. In the end, there were a total of eleven jedi, both physically present and holographically beamed in.

I’d never seen so many jedi in one place before. It actually unnerved me.

My nerves only got worse when a final hologram appeared, revealing Obi-wan, Anakin standing behind him silently. Anakin’s face was drawn in worry, as if he was lost in deep thought.

“Obi-wan,” Windu started, drawing the attention of all jedi present. “You called an emergency meeting. What happened with Dooku?” My heart stopped at his words. It was a Jedi Council meeting. Something told me, from Windu’s words, that the meeting was about me.

Obi-wan fidgeted slightly, glancing back to exchange a sad look with Anakin before speaking to the Council. “He escaped, as he has in the past. But my report is not of how we lost him, but how we survived him.”

Yoda hummed lowly, leaning on his cane. “Moved, the Force has. Felt it, we did.”

“Yes, Master Yoda,” Obi-wan said respectfully. “Anakin and I had been captured, as well as all of our men. Kida kept everyone from being executed, ourselves included.”

“How was she not captured with the rest of the army?” Shaak Ti’s hologram asked, her accented voice soft, but strong.

“Her ship had been shot down amidst our battle, Master,” Anakin jumped into the conversation, seeming almost eager. “She survived the crash and managed to find us on Vandor.”

Windu stood silently, rubbing his jaw. “Kida’s involvement in your rescue is related to this shift in the Force, isn’t it?”

“She saved our lives,” Anakin started, practically desperate to speak. “She just needs guidance.”

It registered that Skywalker was trying his best to protect me.

“Yes, Master,” Obi-wan cut in, giving Anakin a look. “I had known she was Force sensitive, and that she had a powerful Force signature. But I could never have foreseen…” His words trailed off, as if he was hesitating to say anything further.

“What has she done?” Windu asked, his voice harsh. I crinkled my nose at him, almost wanting to go over and hit him. I wasn’t really in the room, of course, so I could have at least pretended.

But something whispered in my mind that the Force was enabling me to see this for a reason. And that if the Force was doing it, the jedi could possibly sense me. So I wasn’t going to be Force-slapping any jedi masters at that moment.

“Awakened, her abilities have.” Yoda wasn’t responding to Windu. Nor was he asking a question. He said it like he was merely musing the concept. Like he had been meditating, rather than listening to the report. He opened his wrinkled eyes slowly, gazing sadly to Obi-wan. “Dangerous, she has become. Powerful.”

The entire Council turned to watch Obi-wan respond. Only Anakin looked away, his face a conflict of emotions.

“She stood up to Dooku,” Kenobi said slowly. “She displayed abilities even I don’t have.” His face was almost wistful as he continued. “She’d always been connected to the Force--we’ve all felt that. But there was a moment in that room, when she chose to reveal herself, that the Force seemed to flow through her endlessly.”

“I’d never felt anything like it,” Anakin spoke quietly. “It didn’t feel like when a jedi uses the Force, or when a Sith does. It was entirely...different.”

“Untamed,” Obi-wan offered.

“Dangerous,” Windu countered, crossing his arms. “Far too dangerous to have leading troops in this war.”

“Master, she saved our lives. And it wasn’t the first time she’s put herself at risk for the Republic.” Anakin’s words were kind, but the other jedi didn’t seem as hopeful as him.

“Her actions may be good now, Skywalker,” Shaak Ti reasoned gently, quieting the younger jedi. “But someone so powerful with no teaching in the ways of the Force could be tempted easily.”

“Obi-wan was giving her lessons,” Anakin responded, making my eyebrows raise. I wondered briefly if Skywalker had known before or if that information was just him being filled in after my reveal. “He could continue to teach her.”

“She’s too old,” Plo Koon finally spoke, his voice metallic through his mouth piece. To my surprise, the Council seemed to be bickering as I watched. I’d always imagined their meetings to be quaint and tight lipped. And maybe they usually were.

I had a talent for rubbing people the wrong way, it seemed.

“Masters,” Obi-wan said loudly, bringing the discussions to a standstill. “She’s already felt the draw to the Dark Side,” he confessed, his expression sad. “And caved to it.”

My chest got tight as the room remained silent, the Force rippling with their shared concern. The first to make a sound was Yoda, his head shaking as he hummed sadly.

“Too late, we so often are. Clouded, our vision is.” His words weren’t exactly what I expected.

“She’s had a hard life,” Anakin added in gently. “A slave. Tortured for years. She’s lost everything. Watched her only parent die. All she’s known is war.”

“As have you, young Skywalker,” a Cerean with a white beard said softly. “Yet here you stand.”

Maybe it was because my unconscious body was near Skywalker, or maybe it was because he was so intensely strong with the Force that I felt his emotions shift. They twisted and swelled with frustration.

“I’ve had training. I have the Jedi Order. She’s had nothing!”

“Made it difficult to see, this war has. Hidden from us, many children are.” I assumed Yoda was referring to the Force-sensitive kids the jedi would take from their homeworlds to come and live in the temple.

“Even you, Skywalker,” the Twi’lek said, her voice pleasantly accented. “We would have not have found had Obi-wan and Qiu Gon not had to land there.” I wondered if that was due to the darkness of the times or that Tatooine was an outer rim planet. You didn’t hear about a whole lot of kids coming in from the Outer Rim to be a jedi.

“The past cannot be changed,” Windu spoke in his baritone voice. “We must decide what to do now.”

The room was quiet for a moment until Anakin spoke on my behalf. “She’s not a bad person. She hasn’t fallen yet. She was desperate to save us. That one moment shouldn’t be the only deciding factor in her fate.”

“Anakin is right,” Obi-wan joined his former padawan. “Kida has proven herself again and again. One mistake should not doom her.”

“These are dangerous waters we are wading into,” Fisto voiced. “She is too old to become a jedi. But her apparent abilities are too strong to be left untamed. Especially in the Republic army.”

“They’ve never been a problem before,” Anakin interrupted.

“Admittedly,” Plo Koon agreed with a nod of his head. “Her inclination towards the Force may even have saved your life, Master Windu.”

Windu hummed lowly, touching his knuckle to his chin. “Admiral Killian has only ever spoken highly of the girl,” he allowed. “And we cannot deny the good she has done for the Republic and its assets.”

“Perhaps,” the Tholothian leapt in. “But then we must not deny the bad. She is a bounty hunter, after all.”

“Not all bounty hunters are inherently criminals,” Shaak Ti voiced. “Nor should we resort to any possible criminal past to punish her, as we were more than happy to work with her under that pretense before.” The Torgruta sighed, tucking her hands into her pooling sleeves. “We must remember that we have bounty hunters within our GAR even here in the training facilities. If we turn on one for her past as a bounty hunter, we could lose them as well.”

“Indeed, not to mention that the bounty hunters on Kamino knew Kida well,” Obi-wan added thoughtfully. “Many bounty hunters respect Kida for both her abilities and her connection to Jango Fett.”

“Not just bounty hunters,” Plo Koon said. “But she’s done jobs for many crime syndicates, as well.”

“And you think they or a bounty hunter would leap to her defense?” the Cerean asked skeptically.

“Likely not,” Fisto responded. “But as per your previous reports, she has a close connection with the Hutt Clan. Is that bond close enough that it would jeopardize our ability to travel through Hutt space?” He was addressing Obi-wan now.

“I don’t know,” the jedi admitted. “But I know that what connection she did have, it was with Jabba himself. He would be the one to determine if our safe travel remained.”

“This issue is no longer if she was a bounty hunter,” the Twi’lek interrupted. “We are now discussing the threats of what loyalties she holds, should we act against her at all.”

Obi-wan hummed while he stroked his beard. “Yes, Kida has quite a reputation, not just in the underworld, but even in the Republic now.”

“The men look up to her,” Anakin added softly. “And I know there are quite a few senators who consider her a friend.”

“Difficult, this decision is,” Yoda allowed. “Inside the web of our war, she is tied.”

“Obi-wan,” Windu said curtly, commanding attention. “Is she or is she not to be considered a threat?”

My friend was quiet for a long moment before breathing slowly. “She is genuinely a good person. She cares for others. That’s why she even agreed to join this war. She is skilled. Concise. Practiced.” His words tapered off as he looked around. “The last time we discussed this girl’s fate, I gave my word that she wouldn’t be a threat. That her biology did not make her dangerous.”

I sat heavily on one of the benches, knowing he was about to say “but.”

“But,” there it was. “The way it felt when she used the Force was unlike anything. At first, it was just unruly, but unbelievably powerful. And then Dooku began talking. He got inside her head and the entire room shifted. It was like the Dark Side blossomed from inside her. It overpowered everything in the room. She could have defeated Dooku on her own, had she not stopped herself.”

“She stopped herself?” Shaak Ti asked for clarification.

“Yes. She stopped and the darkness faded when she saw me. It seems,” Obi-wan sighed sadly. “That our opinion has quite an effect on her.”

“That was what Dooku used against her,” Anakin jumped in, his voice dark. “He used her fear of what the Council would think. Of what you’d do to her because she used her abilities.”

“Dangerous, fear is. A path to the Dark Side, fear is.” Yoda hummed in thought as the conversations about my fate resumed.

“We cannot have her in our military. If she turned, she could bring us all down,” the Cerean voiced.

“Decommission her then,” Fisto offered. “She can return to her life of bounty hunting none the wiser.”

“She knew what happened in that room, Master,” Obi-wan argued gently. “It’s...changed her. I’ve never felt her afraid like that before.”

“We cannot leave her to wander with these new abilities,” an Iktotchi male said from the holograms. “It would leave her open to fall to the Dark Side’s temptations. Especially with Dooku now knowing her power.”

“Prison?” the Twi’lek asked, glancing around the room. “She would be contained. Easily monitored. Her adoptive brother is there, as well. It may even be good for the both of them.”

Anakin shook his head, chuckling darkly. “She can be trusted. She doesn’t need to be put in a prison.”

“Nor do I know if that would stop our worries,” Windu allowed. “Should her powers swell like they did against Dooku, she could massacre the prison. Or stage a break out.”

“You all sound like you want to kill her!” Anakin yelled, looking around at the placid faces. His own expression fell. “Is that what you’re planning to do?”

“It is something we must consider,” Shaak Ti said gently. “As a last resort, should she complete her fall. Destroying the Sith is the duty of the jedi.”

The Council was quiet as they faced that possibility. It comforted me that they at least didn’t seem like they wanted to straight up murder me. Of course, that didn’t take away from the sting of the fact that they were considering murdering me anyways.

“Obi-wan,” Yoda’s voice cut through the tension, drawing my gaze back to his small stature. “Holding something back, you are.”

Anakin and Obi-wan both fidgeted uncomfortably, the younger of the two looking away entirely. His face was warped with distress. Sadness. Anger.

“Yes, Master Yoda,” Obi-wan allowed finally, heaving a slow breath. “When the darkness within her rose to its peak, Kida spoke words I’m sure she was never told before, since she knows little of the jedi and the sith.”

He was hesitating to speak. Even I wondered for a brief moment what he meant until I recalled the horrible voice in my head. And the words it had fed into my mind.

“What did she say?” Windu asked cautiously.

Obi-wan glanced around the room, his blue eyes wide with distress. “It wasn’t the whole thing, but I’m sure it’s what it was.” That didn’t answer any questions. The room seemed to feel the same as me, leaning a bit closer to entice the words from Kenobi’s mouth. He let out another slow breath. “The Dark Side took over, even if it was only for a few moments, when she recited the final lines of the Code of the Sith.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I bolted upright, my body complaining from the sharp movement. My right shoulder in particular twinged, reminding me of the lightsaber wound I’d received there. A part of me wanted to roll my eyes. Yet another scar to add to the long list.

And then I was jolted back to reality when I felt Anakin’s frustrated presence aboard the same ship as me. Near his signature was Obi-wan’s, which admittedly, didn’t seem to be much more content than his counterpart.

I hadn’t been able to hear what decision they’d made. Maybe they hadn’t even made one yet. The hairs on my arms stood up as I thought about the last thing Obi-wan had said. I’d recited the Sith Code. The voice in my head...it was sith. Despite that, I was still confused. The voice in my head had saved me. Had saved my friends.

And now the jedi were possibly plotting my murder.

My fear made me hyper aware of the room. A monitor beeped beside me, electrodes slipping under the red fatigues I was dressed in. My armor and weapons, battered as they were, lay piled in the corner. The wide viewport beside my bed showed that we were nestled in a small fleet of Republic ships, the stars looking dim against the bright lights of the cruisers.

I swallowed thickly before swinging my legs over the side of the hospital bed, my body complaining. I turned off the monitor quickly. My energy was sapped, but I was being driven by fear for my own safety.

Despite not wanting to listen to Dooku, I couldn’t help but hear his words in my mind as I gathered my things in my arms.

“You’re afraid. Afraid of what the Council will do with you.”

I swallowed again, pulling the pillowcase loose and throwing my things inside, leaving out my wrist gauntlet. Tugging on my boots, I slung the crisp white pillowcase I’d fashioned into a bag over my shoulder. I’d blend in more in the red fatigues, despite my obvious uniqueness from the clones.

My wrist gauntlet still worked, thank Ka’ra. I tapped it to life, Apex lighting up since I was back in a signal range, aboard a frigate.

“I’m glad to see you’re alright, miss,” Apex said immediately.

But I had no time for pleasantries. “Exit strategy. Now. And keep it quiet.”

“Of course.” Thankfully, despite the AI’s inclination towards sassy disobedience, his systems were smart enough to know when not to talk back and just do what he’s told. The screen on my wrist gauntlet flickered with his calculations as I exited my room silently.

The halls were filled with wandering clones, some in their red fatigues, but most in their armor.

“Afraid of what your friends will think,” I heard Dooku’s voice say again. His words urged me forward, my eyes on the floor as I passed through the halls.

With no official exit strategy, I didn’t realize where my feet were taking me until I found myself entering the corridor filled with officers’ quarters. The tickle in the back of my mind told me that Rex was inside his room, trying to sleep. He was restless, though, tossing his body sideways in an attempt to get comfortable.

His rest had likely been an order from Skywalker, considering the clone captain had been electrocuted multiple times that day.

Was it the same day?

I realized I didn’t actually know if it was.

I swallowed thickly, hearing my wrist gauntlet beep. It drew my eye, the screen showing the way through a diagram of the frigate. It led to the escape pods.

“I’m not taking a pod,” I hissed. I almost wished Windu was aboard, but I knew from my vision that he was back in the temple on Coruscant. I would’ve enjoyed stealing his starfighter again.

And considering he seemed to be gently advocating for my death, I wouldn’t have returned it this time.

“I’ve dispatched Pinky with your shuttle. She should be there by the time you escape. After you’ve concluded whatever you plan on doing once you get your ass moving.” Ah. The cheek was back.

“Shut up,” I grumbled, turning down his volume.

As he quieted towards a total mute, I heard him say, “A thank you would be nice.” I didn’t give him one, sensing Rex stirring again inside his room. I wondered if he’d heard me outside. It didn’t matter. I steeled myself and stepped forward, rapping my knuckles against the cold metal door.

His head shot up immediately, trained to be tense. To be suspicious. To be a target in war. His movements were slow behind the door. Practiced and silent. There was a pistol in his hand as he pressed the button that opened the door.

“It amazes me that you can be paranoid even on your own ship,” I said as the door hissed open.

Rex didn’t respond, merely staring at me in shock. A million questions swam in his gaze, but he couldn’t seem to get any of them out. I rolled my eyes--a faked ease that I was using to cover the terrified trembling in my knees--and pushed past him into his room.

The quarters were small, with a single bed with starched clean sheets, a table for his armor, which was piled neatly upon it, and a night stand where his other pistol laid. A door at the back corner led to what I assumed was the fresher.

“Kida,” he said finally, his voice gruff. “You’re up.”

“How long was I out?”

My curt response seemed to take him off guard. “Not...not as long as we thought you would be. Not even a full day. You were barely responsive at all when we first got you aboard.”

I nodded slowly. “You carried me. Thank you.”

“You saved my life first.” His voice was gentle, but I knew he was itching to understand.

I sat on the edge of his bed--an action which only heightened his nerves--and regarded the man slowly. He was in his blacks, but he didn’t seem comfortable at all. He fidgeted in front of me, standing as straight as he would when addressing a superior. His trigger finger tapped endlessly at the side of his pistol.

“You have questions.” His golden gaze, which had been fixated on the wall, cut to me sharply. He didn’t have to speak, since I could practically hear his growled ‘duh.’ I sighed slowly. “You already knew I could use the Force.”

“You said you couldn’t use it like the jedi.” He was suddenly defensive. Suspicious. For some reason, his reaction hurt me more than the jedi likely planning my death.

“I wasn’t lying, Rex.”

“Then what would you call what you did on Vandor?”

“I’d call it saving your life,” I bit, my own frustration flaring. Still, I felt that darkness lurking at the edge of my mind. I silenced my rising anger, afraid of what would be waiting for me down that path. “I didn’t… I’ve never done anything like that before. I didn’t even know I could.”

Maybe it was the brokenness of my voice or the surprising water that was rising in my eyes that made Rex’s anger melt away. Slowly, he moved to sit beside me, the bed shifting under me as his weight joined mine.

“That was...incredible,” he offered, still in shock.

“It was terrifying,” I countered, glancing sideways at him. “And it’s ruined everything.”

His golden eyes narrowed in thought at my words. “What do you mean? We’re all alive because of you.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice it, Rex. I can feel your fear. You’re trying to hide it from me, but I can feel it.”

The captain grumbled lowly. “Using the Force isn’t fair.”

“I’m not a jedi,” I argued. “I’m a bounty hunter. We don’t play fair. Now stop avoiding the subject.”

He was quiet for a moment before answering. “I’ve always enjoyed watching you fight. I’ve described it to you before that it’s almost like you’re dancing. But in that chamber on Vandor...something changed.”

“Because I used the Force?”

“No.” Rex shook his head. “There was a moment when your face just...turned. You weren’t desperate to save us. You weren’t even trying to save yourself. You were just...angry. Your goal had shifted from saving...to destroying.”

“I know,” I breathed. “It scares me too.”

He breathed slowly. “Have you talked to General Skywalker? Maybe he could--”

“I have to leave, Rex.” It hurt me to cut him off. It hurt me to say those words. The look of shock on his face faded to sadness and betrayal.

“Wha-- why?”

“The Jedi Council didn’t trust me before all of this. They certainly won’t trust me now. Even now, they’re trying to figure out how to either control me, or kill me.”

“Kida,” Rex sighed. “General Kenobi would never allow--”

“Kenobi is the one who’s been reporting on me to the Council. I’m sorry, Rex but it’s true.” I paused, glancing down at my hands. “One of their options is to kill me.”

“They wouldn’t do that.”

“I saw it, Rex. I saw them talking.”

“How…” his words tapered off. “The Force?” he asked, to which I nodded. “I won’t let them. No one is going to hurt you.”

“You know you couldn’t stop them if you tried, Rex,” I said gently. “I need to go. You know this. I need to figure out what this thing that’s calling me is. Learn how to control…” I looked at my hands again. “This.”

He swallowed slowly, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. “You don’t have to run away from this, Cyare.”

“I’m trying not to die.”

“We can face this.”

“Stop it, Rex.” He stopped, watching my face carefully at my stern voice. “They will never let me be free. I have to figure this out on my own. Without the jedi’s influence. Without the Republic.”

“Without me,” he completed dejectedly. I’d never heard him speak in such a way before.

“I didn’t say that.” Rex looked up in shock, meeting my stormy gaze. I wondered if it was the fear that was giving me such courage in a subject I barely knew. “Come with me,” I whispered, leaning over to grab his wrist gently.

I let him sit in silence, thinking over my words. They were big. And it would be tough for him. His arm turned over slowly, his long fingers curling around my wrist in turn. A small, hopeful smile came to my face.

“No.”

My smile melted, my hand drawing away. His fingers caught mine, though, keeping me from pulling away entirely.

“Look at me,” he said softly, tilting his head to try and meet my eyes again. “Please, cyare, look at me.” I finally did, seeing pain, but also genuinity on his face. “I can’t go. You know that. My duty is here.”

“It could be with me,” I surprised myself with my words. They were practically breathed out from between my lips, carried with a surprising amount of sorrow.

His forehead wrinkled in pain. “It can’t be. You know that. I can’t desert.”

I looked at my lap again, finally successfully pulling my hand from his grasp. “Right. It was stupid to ask.” I stood, stooping to scoop up my pillowcase bag again.

“Cyare,” he sighed, moving to stand with me. “Kida,” he tried again, failing to make me turn still. His hand grasped my upper arm firmly, turning me to face him by force. “This isn’t easy for me.”

“You could have fooled me, Rex.” I tried to pull away, but Rex’s grip was impressively tight.

“Kida you don’t understand. I don’t call you cyare lightly. I don’t take my feelings for you lightly.”

They were words I’d wanted to hear for a long time. Since we’d been marooned at Cut’s farmhouse. But in that moment, they were almost sour. I’d have preferred he yelled. Preferred he was afraid, even.

I wished that he wanted me to go. That he never wanted to see me again.

This affection, but refusal to go...it hurt too much.

“I have to go, Rex,” I said softly, my voice more broken sounded than I wanted it to be.

“Kida,” he whispered, drawing closer. His lips were by my ear, his breath tickling the wisps of hairs there. “Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum.”

My eyes closed, tears leaking out when I hadn’t given them permission to do so. I’d never heard those words before. They were beautiful, even in the harsh dialect of Mando’a. But while they were amazing and enveloped me in a warmth, they also stung like daggers. In a burst of emotion, I turned in his grasp, my free hand coming up to grab the front of his black shirt. I pulled his tall frame down, lifting my head to press my lips against his.

He seemed shocked for only a short beat before his other hand came up to rest on my cheek, the first still wrapped around my upper arm. His lips were softer than I would have imagined them to be, considering he was a soldier. Then again, they were fed all of the nutrients they needed to stay as physically inclined as possible. I guess that led to health all around.

The kiss was messy at first as the intelligent man quickly learned the new experience. It didn’t take him long to take over, the hand on my arm releasing to curl around my waist. It was inexperienced. Messy. Frantic. Emotional.

And wonderful.

It practically hurt my lips to pull away. My fist, still clenched in the front of his shirt, released slowly to push his chest backwards. Our breathing was a bit shorter as we stood in silence, quiet tears still sliding down my face.

One of his rough thumbs lifted to wipe them from my cheek. I caught his hand, pushing it away as well.

I sniffed slowly. “Maybe you do,” I finally whispered in response to his words. “But it’s not enough for you to come with me.”

The hurt that radiated off of him stung like a whip across my shoulders. I drew away from him, his door opening at the press of my hand. He followed like he was in a daze, stopping only when he reached the threshold of his room.

“Kida,” he breathed. I could tell he was desperate for words, but there were none for him to speak.

“Goodbye, Rex,” I whispered. “Ret’urcye mhi.”

The captain was silent, staring sadly at me as the door hissed closed between us. I angrily held back a sob that threatened to come up my throat before glancing at my wrist gauntlet.

I followed the path Apex had planned for me diligently, my eyes glued to the floor, fingers curled tight around the pillowcase. The escape pods were unguarded, as would make sense since my departure from the medical wing had yet to be noticed.

I opened one, setting my bag inside.

“Kida.” I turned at the familiar voice, a part of me wishing it belonged to Rex. I knew it didn’t, though.

“Please don’t try to stop me, Anakin,” I responded gently, seeing the jedi standing outside the escape pod.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer his question. “Did the Council decide what they wanted to do with me?”

Anakin’s eyes widened for only a moment before he pieced it together. “They’re...still undetermined.”

“I’m not sticking around to wait for them to decide how to kill me.”

“They won’t-” he started, but his words faltered. Even he doubted if they would keep me alive. He breathed through his nose. “It’s wrong of them not to trust you. You saved our lives.”

“Maybe,” I allowed. “But they’re right in that there’s a darkness speaking to me. I need to figure out what it is. I need to learn to control this.”

“The jedi can--”

“Not from the jedi, Anakin. You know I wouldn’t do well with your...rules.”

“Well, neither do I,” he argued. “But with us, you can still do good. Like you wanted to.” Over his shoulder, a clone in 501st armor appeared, his blond hair buzzed short. Rex. He seemed like he’d been running to catch up, but stopped suddenly when he saw Anakin.

It seemed duty would win out again.

“I can’t stay, Anakin,” I said softly, looking away from Rex’s desperate gaze to meet the jedi’s again.

His blue eyes were conflicted, but I could tell the conflict didn’t lie with me. “I know,” he said finally. “Please…be careful.”

I smiled sadly in the doorway, my hand lifting to press the door key that would seal me in and launch me from the port. “You too.” With that, the doors hissed closed and the thrusters engaged, sending me away from the frigate and the GAR, towards where I knew Pinky would be waiting to pick me up.

In the tiny viewport, I saw Rex’s face, his face drawn harshly with sorrow, shrinking as I put more distance between us.

-----------------------------

MANDO’A

Ka’ra-- stars (ancient mandalorian myth--ruling council of fallen kings)

Cyare-- beloved

Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum--I love you

Ret’urcye mhi-- Maybe we’ll meet again (Goodbye)

11 notes · View notes

ryder-s-block · 5 years ago

Text

Jaig Eyes (Ch 29)

Jaig Eyes (29/?)

Can always read here.

------------------------------------------------

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Children of Jango

I was silent through the vacant halls, Hondo having evacuated his men to leave room for whatever nonsense was likely to ensue from Aurra’s plans. As I neared the bar, I heard Boba’s voice.

“I wanted Windu,” he said, likely having seen Plo Koon enter. “What are you doing here?”

“We can do this the difficult way, or the simple way,” the jedi responded, his voice deep and steady. “The choice is yours.”

“Bossk,” Aurra said, likely into her comms. “Can you hear me?” She paused a moment while he responded in her ear. “Execute the hostages if I give the word.”

I rounded the corner in the darkness, unseen from their circle of light. Boba stood behind the jedi, his pistol shaking in confusion and anger. Aurra sat across from the jedi, smirking.

Plo Koon didn’t seem bothered. “Unwise. You have already lost and you don’t even know it.”

“I am prepared to kill you, the hostages, even your little bounty hunter pet, Kida. Whatever it takes to get what Boba wants.”

“Sounds more like what you want.” I had to say, it was my first time really seeing Plo Koon, and I rather liked him already.

I flinched when I heard the sound of a lightsaber igniting. The room glowed green as Ahsoka leaped from the darkness behind Aurra, slicing her antenna and holding her around the neck. Boba reacted, holding his weapon against Plo Koon’s head.

“Don’t,” Ahsoka warned.

“Let her go,” Boba warned back. He sounded a bit like his father there, even if Aurra wasn’t worth it.

“No chance.”

“She won’t do it, Boba,” Aurra gloated. “She’s not like you.”

“She’s right,” Ahsoka allowed. “I’m not a murderer.”

“I’m not a murderer! But I want justice!”

Plo Koon replied darkly, “We are justice.”

“Enough,” I called, stepping into the light, my pistol at my side. “Boba, it’s time to put your blaster down.”

“No!” he cried. “I need Windu! He’s not here!”

“What are you going to do, Boba?” I asked, my voice soft. “Kill every jedi that comes your way until it happens to be him?” The boy hesitated, his gaze shifting between Aurra and I nervously. “Boba,” I tried again. “She doesn’t really care about you. She’s using you for her own benefit!” Boba looked offended, but I could see some realization in his eyes, too. “Put the blaster down, Boba. We can figure this out. Together. You and I.”

Just as Boba looked like he was about to lower the gun, Aurra spoke again. “Don’t listen to them.” Her voice was stern. Cold.

“No one will be harmed if you come quietly,” Plo Koon insisted.

Boba hesitated, watching Aurra shake her head at him. “I can’t let you die.” The desperation in his voice hurt me. He cared for her. Depended on her. It was how he should be acting towards me...not Aurra Sing.

“You won’t have to.” I watched Boba’s reaction to the bounty hunter’s words. She winked at him, a small, hopeful smile coming to his face.

“Boba, don’t--” I started, but it was too late.

“Aurra!” he screamed, firing his blaster at Ahsoka. The Togruta blocked it with her saber, but was quickly thrown backwards by Aurra. Plo flipped the table to block the bolts shooting from Aurra’s boot before throwing Boba back with the force.

I shot at Aurra as she drew her pistols, knocking one from her grasp before having to leap out of the way of her fire. Ahsoka blocked as best as she could with her saber until Plo came rushing in, slicing Aurra’s second pistol with his lightsaber.

“It’s over,” he growled, leveling the blue blade at her. “Surrender!”

“Aurra, now!” Boba yelled from the ground, sliding a disk across the ground.

“Bomb,” Ahsoka said, the two jedi leaping away as the disk began to beep. Aurra leapt over it as it exploded, looking back at us on the ground.

“Boba, hurry,” she yelled, rushing towards the door.

My brother, to my dismay, went to follow her, but Plo Koon dragged him back with the force.

“Aurra, help,” he called after her, stuck under the Kel Dor’s massive hands. “Help me!”

She turned at the doorway, evaluating the room. I stared at her darkly, pistol in hand, mentally daring her to come back and try to rescue Boba. But I knew she wouldn’t.

“Don’t leave me!” Boba cried as the bounty hunter ran out the door. “No!”

I knelt, cupping my aching side again as Ahsoka followed Aurra, Plo Koon turning the despaired boy to look at him. “The hostages,” I heard the jedi say. “Where are they?” The boy didn’t respond. “Boba, if you do not tell us where those men are, they are going to die! Innocent men!”

Boba said nothing, apart from a small, sad, “She left me.”

I panted, standing straight again, both of them looking at me. “Kida,” Koon started, his hands still on Boba’s shoulders. “You’re not looking well.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, my eyes sad.

“Talk some sense into him,” he insisted, but I shook my head.

I looked away, out the door both Aurra and Ahsoka had fled through. “He won’t listen to me,” I said lowly, feeling the pangs of guilt and turmoil coming off my brother. “Bring him to Hondo. He knew Jango well. Maybe Boba will listen to him.”

Plo Koon guided Boba over to me as we started out the door. “You need a medic,” the jedi commented, Boba looking guiltily at me. Still, his mind was reeling with Aurra’s betrayal.

“I’m fine,” I insisted. “For now, I need to help save the hostages. I’ve got some payback to deal, too.”

“Revenge is not a good course of action,” Koon advised as we walked down the hall.

“That’s a jedi mindset,” I responded, giving the Kel Dor a look. “Good thing I’m not a jedi.”

We walked out of the hideout, finding Hondo and his men lounging beneath a tent. They were clearly set on being mere spectators of the game at hand. Frankly, a part of me respected that immensely.

“He will not reveal the location of the hostages,” Plo Koon explained to the pirate, pushing Boba forward. “I thought you might talk some sense into him.”

Hondo glanced at me briefly before looking down at my brother. “Tell the jedi what he wants to know, Boba,” he said gently.

“Why should I help anybody?” Boba burst out. “I’ve got no one!”

My heart clenched as I looked away, Plo Koon glancing at me from the surge of pain. “I think you and I both know that isn’t true,” Hondo said, surprising me with his kindness. He stepped closer to my brother, glancing at me. “But it is the honorable thing to do. It’s what your father would have wanted.”

I fought back the burning behind my eyes as Boba’s mind reeled. He looked down at his feet, Hondo’s hand on his shoulder. He sighed. “One five seven nine,” he whispered brokenly.

“What?” Plo Koon asked, leaning closer.

“They’re coordinates,” I breathed, turning immediately. “Hondo, I’m taking a speeder,” I called behind me as I raced to one, the engine roaring to life beneath me.

The pirate didn’t protest, but I heard a low murmur of, “Are those my guns, too?”

“Wait,” Plo Koon yelled after me. “Ahsoka can handle it! You’re injured!”

“I’ll meet her there,” I insisted, looking at Boba again. “Keep my brother safe!”

Florrum has a desolate landscape, more rocky than Tatooine, but certainly no more interesting. It didn’t take long, turning through the rolling stone crevices, to see the back of Slave I. As I maneuvered around the ship, I saw Bossk standing before the two hostages, rifle in hand. He turned to look at me upon hearing the speeder’s engine. I fired with my pistol, but he rolled out of the way.

Leaping from my speeder, that went careening away, I rolled painfully back to my feet, my pistol clattering from my grasp. The Trandoshan tried to fire at me, but I lunged, throwing my shoulder into him harshly. We grappled for the gun, both his biology and my injury helping him get the high ground easily.

As my legs were about to buckle beneath me, the sound of blaster shots filled the air, red bolts streaking past us. Bossk and I broke apart, diving out of the way of fire. Looking up, I saw Ahsoka jump from her speeder, lightsaber igniting in the air to slice through the hostages’ bindings.

Admiral Killian grabbed Bossk’s rifle, aiming at the bounty hunter. “Don’t move,” he threatened as I found my feet. He glanced at me, giving me a small grin. “You arrived just on time. He was going to execute us.”

I waved dismissively, my injuries making it harder to breathe.

“Are you-” Ahsoka started before stopped at the sound of another speeder. We all turned in fright to see Aurra’s speeder leaping over the rocks, the engine roaring. Aurra jumped from her speeder as it crashed into Ahsoka’s all of us flying backwards as they exploded.

I saw stars for a moment, looking up through the dust to see the bounty hunter board my father’s ship. My face contorted into a snarl. I dragged myself to my feet, kicking away Bossk, who was trying to gain some upper hand by grabbing me.

“We’ve got him,” the admiral insisted, leveling the rifle at the bounty hunter again. “Help the Commander stop Sing!”

I nodded at the two men, pulling the rifle I stole from Hondo off of my back. Ahsoka had jumped onto Slave I’s wing as Aurra lifted from the ground. Aurra pulled the joystick sideways, sending the jedi padawan tumbling down the wing. I heard the Togruta cry out, barely catching the edge and dangling in the air.

“Ahsoka!” I yelled, aiming my rifled at my father’s ship. I’d become who I was today around that ship. I was saved from slavery on that ship. I’d gone on missions with my family on that ship. And I flew away from Geonosis’ battle on that ship, my brother cradling the helmet of our dead father.

My jaw clenched as I pulled the trigger, knowing every weakness and strength of the fighter I’d spent so much time on. I hit my mark, making one of the engines sputter slightly. It allowed Ahsoka to find her footing again and slice through the wing with her lightsaber. Slave I careened sideways, Ahsoka winding up on the massive viewport. She cracked the window with her lightsaber before having to backpedal, blocking Aurra’s shots.

I aimed again, taking advantage of the cracking glass and firing my rifle to completely take it out. The viewport shattered as Ahsoka leapt from it, landing deftly beside us on the ground. I continued firing, trying to both hit Aurra and take out the navigation systems that would allow her escape.

I couldn’t be sure if I hit her, Slave I spiralling out of control. I could feel Aurra’s desperation. Anger. Fear. I lowered my rifle as I watched the ship, with Aurra aboard, soar over the horizon and crash in an explosion of smoke and fire.

I let out a slow breath, too worn out to even try to feel if she survived. All I knew was that we’d won. As well as we could have, at least. I put the butt of the rifle into the ground, leaning on it heavily as I stood to look at the group around me.

Ahsoka was already talking to Plo Koon, arranging a pickup at our location. The admiral and navigation officer were standing around Bossk, who’s claws were up on his head.

He hissed at me lowly, “Boba won’t forgive you for bringing down Aurra.”

I hummed, my free hand coming up to hold my injured side. “There’s a lot he won’t forgive me for,” I allowed, looking away.

“Master Plo is on his way,” Ahsoka announced walking over to me. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, but allowed myself to sit heavily, seeing as the admiral had effectively subdued Bossk. Speaking of…

“Hurting, Kida?” the Trandoshan hissed at me.

I scooped up a piece of debris next to me, lobbing it at the bounty hunter, nailing him in the head. “No thanks to you, osi’kovid.” I tried to have my tone be harsh, but it just sounded tired.

I should’ve been happy, with Aurra dead. Or assumed dead. Knowing her, she would probably find some way to slip by and survive. I suppose I was concerned about Boba. The Republic would likely imprison him.

It made sense...he did tty to murder a jedi. Multiple jedi, actually. Destroyed an entire jedi cruiser, killed clones, took members of the GAR hostage…

He had quite the repertoire at such a young age. I wondered if Jango would be proud or not. In the both of us.

I glanced up as the jedi shuttle appeared over us, the engines roaring as it lowered to land where Slave I had once rested. I knew one thing for certain...my father would be pissed about my helping destroy his ship.

“Come on,” Ahsoka said gently, offering me her hand. For a moment, I thought about rejecting her. It was that deep-rooted pride that insisted I do things alone. That I was strong.

But then my side ached deeply again, telling me that something was certainly wrong, and I took her hand gratefully. She pulled me to my feet gently, careful not to touch any of my wounds. As the gangway descended, the padawan helped me aboard, followed closely by Admiral Killian and his officer, both aiming guns at Bossk.

Bossk was put in the brig, but to my surprise, Plo Koon had allowed Boba to sit in the passenger area. Ahsoka escorted me to the small med bay, the robotic doctor immediately droning on about my injuries that I was already completely aware of.

As the droid treated my wounds, I stared up at the ceiling, letting my thoughts drift through the ship. Ahsoka had joined Plo Koon in the cockpit as they navigated us back into the air, heading towards Coruscant. The admiral and officer were sharing the passenger area with Boba, but remained far from him. The boy in question was silent, his mind dark and brewing with uncertainty.

The medical droid finished up, laying new bacta patches over my wounds. He tried to give me an IV drip, but I brushed him off, insisting I’d hydrate on my own. In reality, I wanted to see Boba. Maybe he’d talk to me again...after all this.

I elected not to try and put all my armor back on, choosing to don a simple medical shirt I’d found in the med bay. It was too big for me, but I welcomed the loose fit, considering most of my body was rather battered at the moment.

Aware that my pants were still stained with blood from my side, I stepped out of the med bay and crossed the small distance into the passenger area. All three sets of eyes immediately lifted to see my tired face, but only one looked away quickly in shame and sadness.

“Kida,” Killian called, a small smile on his face. “How do you feel?”

I returned the gesture, stepping past my brother and towards the members of the GAR. “Like I was kidnapped and stabbed. I’m glad to see you’re both alright.” I saw the clone’s eyes drop to the cup of hot liquid cradled in his hands. “I’m sorry about Ponds,” I said gently, touching the officer’s shoulder.

He nodded at me. “Thank you. He was a good man.”

“He was,” Killian agreed, lifting to hand me a cup of the liquid. He then brought his cup to join mine in the air. “To good men we couldn’t save.”

“Nu kyr’adyc, shi taab’echaaj’la.” Both Boba and the clone perked at my Mandalorian tribute to the dead. The clone nodded, muttering the same phrase under his breath. I took a drink of the liquid, coughing when my tongue met the hot sting of spiced rum. That was warmed, apparently.

Killian chuckled at me. “You didn’t think we were drinking caf, did you?”

“No,” I shook my head, clearing my throat. “And I’m glad that you didn’t disappoint.”

“Would you like to sit with us?” he asked, his tone more sober. Sad.

I was about to accept, but hesitated. Finally, I shook my head. “Thank you, Admiral. But I think I’ve been avoiding talking to my brother for far too long, don’t you?”

To my surprise, the old man smiled. “I agree.” He reached over, fetching another cup and filled it with the hot liquor before offering it to me.

“Thank you,” I whispered, taking the offering graciously before turning with a deep, settling breath. Boba was sitting near a viewport, his gaze settled on the stars that zipped by while we were in hyperspeed. “Thirsty?” I asked gently as I approached.

The boy flinched just slightly, but finally turned, his eyes downcast. “No.”

I sighed, sitting next to him and forcing the cup into his hand. “I insist. Drink.” I watched Boba’s jaw shift, torn between thanking me and cussing me out for thinking he needed help. Finally, he took it and drew a long swig before coughing.

“This is alcohol!”

I chuckled, leaning backwards and taking another sip. “What? You think Dad never drank some good spiced rum after a job?”

I felt the sadness ripple off of him over my comment. His thumbs brushed over the rim of the cup, thinking. “Aurra never let me--”

“I know,” I cut him off, remembering Aurra telling Boba that he couldn’t have a drink at Hondo’s bar. “No one can tell you what you can and cannot do, Boba,” I started slowly. “We’re adults now, Boba. Whether or not we like it or were ready. It’s just how it is.”

My brother was quiet, understanding what I said. Both of us were thrust into being on our own far too early. Forced to handle ourselves. To handle the pains of life without someone to help us. I was lucky and was gifted Jango for a long enough period that I began to find myself...discover what I could be.

Boba didn’t really get all of that, but he had a father through his childhood. Someone who loved him. I didn’t always have that.

Boba took a long drink of the rum, not letting himself cough. I watched him closely, seeing his brown eyes still avoiding mine.

Finally, I spoke. “I’m sorry, Boba.” The words came out as a whisper--broken and sad.

My brother swallowed his rum, shaking his head. “I sent you away.”

“And I never should have let you do that.”

“Didn’t you just say that no one can tell us what we can and can’t do?”

My eyebrows lifted at his small joke, a smile drawing up the corners of my lips. “Perhaps,” I admitted. “But I don’t count. I’m your sister. I should have taken care of you.”

The boy stared into his drink, thinking. He was so much like his father, thinking a mile a minute. Wise. Clever. But hotheaded. Passionate.

“A sister isn’t a mother, Kida,” he said slowly. Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes glossing. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. That I never came back for you. That I turned to Aurra instead. I was just…I was so…”

“Angry?” I offered, receiving a nod in return. “We can only hold anger for so long, Boba. After a while, it festers inside us. It turns us into things we never want to be.”

“You sound like a jedi,” he growled, his defensiveness coming back.

Still, I only lifted my eyebrow, chuckling. “I sound like a sane person,” I insisted. “Think about it. Look at what happened here.” I gestured to the room, aware that both the admiral and officer were listening. “Nothing good came of this plot for revenge.”

“I didn’t want anyone to die,” he admitted.

“Except Windu.”

He nodded, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. “Except Windu.”

I dared to touch my fingers to his forearm, leaning to look at his face closer. “I’m sorry you felt so alone, Boba. I’m sorry Aurra made you feel that way. That I made you feel that way.”

“You didn’t,” he said, surprising me. “I always knew you were here. I was just angry. I blamed you, even though it wasn’t your fault. And then what you said at Hondo’s hideout...I realized I was wrong. I always was.”

“What you’ve done here, Boba,” I started slowly. “It was wrong.”

“You’re saying Dad wouldn’t have hunted a jedi,” he lamented.

I surprised him with a chuckle. “No, Dad would have killed the jedi on the first try.” Boba laughed sadly, meeting my gaze. “I’m saying that the way you did this was wrong. Revenge isn’t a good motivation for most things.”

“I’ve heard of things you’ve done in revenge, though.”

I smirked. “Well, two things. One. I was teaching a lesson in return for a wrong done against me, not getting revenge. Two. I’m an experienced bounty hunter. Unlike yourself.”

He harumphed at me, crossing his arms. But it only made me laugh more.

“Boba,” I insisted, nudging him. “You’re still young. I was still a slave at your age. That’s nowhere close to the hunter I’ve become now.” I turned him to face me, my hand on his shoulder. “It will come in time. But you must be patient. And,” I learned, shrugging. “Learn from someone who isn’t Aurra Sing.”

He chuckled, but sobered quickly. I tilted my head to meet his eye.

“Boba? Are you--”

He almost frightened me by lunging forward, his arms wrapping around me. My drink sloshed onto the jedi shuttle’s floor, but I didn’t really care. I immediately returned the embrace, tears springing to my eyes. I felt them flow freely--something I wasn’t really used to--as I tucked my face into his hair. His face was pushed into my collar bone, his muscles trembling with grief he had never properly dealt with.

I breathed him in. He smelled a lot like Jango. Metal, sweat, and a hint of the spiced soap Jango always had stocked in his lavatory. I smiled, feeling the moisture on my cheeks slip into my smile lines.

“Am I going to go to prison?” His voice was small. It matched a child better than the voice I’d heard him use in anger during this trip.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But if so, I’ll do what I can to keep you out of trouble. And to get you out quickly.”

“We could run away. Right now.”

I pulled back, still holding the boy, but far enough that I could look at his scared face. “I can’t do that, Boba. You know that.” I felt his anger, but he was tired of fighting with me. He had so little left. I touched his chin gently, forcing him to look at me again. “I think we can both agree that we’ve grown apart these past few years. But you are my aliit, no matter what. I’ll always be here for you. But we are very different people than what we once were.”

He nodded, understanding. “I’m sorry I let you be treated so badly.”

I smiled gently. “I’ve had worse. Stop apologizing now. You’ve been forgiven, by me, at least.”

“I can never forgive Windu,” he said lowly, with anger.

“Maybe not,” I allowed. “We all have things we hold on to. Things that will always haunt us.” I sighed. “I’m not asking you to forgive him, Boba. I’m asking you not to try and kill him, because that’s a good way to get yourself hurt.”

“Point and case,” he mumbled, gesturing to himself.

I hummed in agreement, smiling gently. As we sat, my rum forgotten on the floor, I felt Boba lean into me slowly. There was still anger inside him, but I understood that. What was good was that I no longer felt his lust for blood. For death. He was just sad. And tired.

I leaned back into my brother, letting him know that it was okay. That I was there for him. I knew he’d go to prison. I made a mental note to talk to Padme in an attempt to lessen his sentence, at least.

“Thank you, vod,” he whispered gently against my shoulder, his eyes closing. I smiled, not responding, my gaze set on the ceiling as my tears threatened to pour again.

“When you get out,” I said gently. “We should meet up. I’d love to give you some pointers on hunting...if you want to hear them.”

I felt him smile against my shoulder. “That sounds nice.”

I let it fall silent between us, knowing the exhaustion the young boy felt in his bones. It didn’t take long for him to fall into a deep sleep, allowing me to gently move him off me and lay him on his side. I found a blanket in a storage compartment, laying it over his small frame easily.

Across the room, the navigation officer slept as well. Killian, however, was awake, smiling at me gently. There was a deep sadness in his face, but also a knowing respect. I gave him a small nod before cleaning up my cup and exiting out the back door.

I made my way down to the brig, Bossk sitting behind the ray shield grumpily. “How nice of you to visit,” he hissed.

“We respected each other once, right?” I asked, throwing him off guard.

“You’re good at what you do,” he allowed. “Despite your choices lately.”

I hummed with some humor. “You had even more respect for my father.” He only nodded once. “Then do you care for Boba?”

“You want me to protect him.” Bossk wasn’t asking.

“You’re both going to prison.” I cut right to the chase. “He’s just a boy. And I can’t be in there to watch over him. Keep him safe for me. He doesn’t always want me around, and that’s normal...between siblings, and all. But he likes you. Respects you.”

He rolled his tongue, letting out the slow sounds of Dosh, most of which was hard for me to understand.

“Please, Bossk,” I insisted. “I’ll even pay you.”

Finally, he shook his head, almost waving it dismissively. “I don’t need your credits,” he growled, quieting for a moment to meet my gaze. “I’ll watch over the boy. For him, for you, and especially for Jango. I swear it.”

I let out a breath slowly, nodding. “We’ll be landing soon. Thank you, Bossk.” I turned to leave, feeling the shuttle exit hyperspace, but I paused at the door. “But know this,” I said, looking back at the bounty hunter. “You made a vow here.” I gestured to the cell. “If you break that vow, know that I’ll guarantee you’ll regret the day you decided to even speak to me. Are we clear?”

The Trandoshan took a moment in silence, watching my firm gaze and clenched fists. “Crystal.”

I said nothing else as I left the room, making my way back the the passenger area as I felt the shuttle shift beneath my feet. We were in Coruscant's atmosphere. As I entered the passenger area, I saw Plo Koon enter opposite me, waking the navigation’s officer. Boba was rising on his own, looking to me groggily.

“You must put these on,” General Koon said slowly, holding out a pair of binders. I looked away, unable to watch helplessly as my brother was handcuffed.

The ship landed, the bright sun slipping in as the gangway descended. I looked out it, seeing we had landed at the prison. I breathed slowly, stepping back as Plo Koon guided my brother down the ramp. I followed, seeing a band of Fox’s boys as well as Anakin and Windu waiting for us.

The clones, their armor decorated in the deep red of the Coruscanti Guard, surrounded our group on all sides, marching alongside us. We came to a stop, Boba staring at the ground beside me as Windu approached.

The jedi knelt, looking my brother in the eyes. “I see now, I’ve done terrible things,” Boba allowed. “But you started it when you murdered my father!” I pressed my lips into a line. He and I had made progress between us on the shuttle. Perhaps that didn’t translate to here. “I’ll never forgive you.”

I almost hummed aloud at that. Maybe that was my fault. I had told him he didn’t have to forgive the jedi. Just not try to murder him.

“Well,” Windu said, standing. “You’re going to have to.” I found myself frowning at him. That was a lot to ask of an eleven year-old boy. It sounded like the terrible things the jedi insisted were normal, to me. “Take him away.”

Koon touched Boba’s shoulder, pushing him forwards towards the prison. I felt my brother’s panic.

“Boba!” I called after him, unable to run to his side under the jedi’s gaze. “Aliit,” I repeated from on the shuttle. “Remember that.”

He stopped, rushing past the guards and Bossk to run into my chest, his head pushed up under my chin. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my nose into his hair. I took a long, deep breath, knowing it would be a while until I saw him again. And knowing that it may be the last time I smell Jango’s spiced soap.

“Come on,” one of Fox’s men started, but was stopped by Plo Koon’s hand. The Kel Dor watched patiently while I pulled away from Boba, looking him in the face.

“Kot, vod. Kot,” I said softly. He nodded at me, his face scared. Finally, he breathed deeply, matching my own calming breath, before his face settled into one of bravery. I gave him a smile before letting him walk on his own accord back to his place towards the prison. Bossk looked over his shoulder at me, giving me a small nod.

My fears settled slightly knowing that a bounty hunter as strong and well-known as Bossk was watching over my family.

I watched silently, Ahsoka stopping next to me, as we watched my brother enter the prison, surrounded by guards. I closed my eyes, not wanting to watch the doors close behind him.

-------------------------------------------------

MANDO’A

Osi’kovid-- shit head

Nu kyr’adyc, shi taab’echaaj’la-- not gone, merely marching away (tribute to dead comrade)

Aliit-- family

Vod-- sister/brother

Kot, vod. Kot-- Strength, brother. Strength.

#Clone Wars #The Clone Wars #Clone Troopers #clones #star wars the clone wars #star wars #oc star wars #star wars oc #rex #captain rex x oc #captain rex #boba fett #Aurra Sing #hondo ohnaka #hondo #Slave I #jango fett #fanfiction #fanfic

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