#clone oc thud

[graveyard-stray]

Bedtime Story | Obi-Wan Kenobi x GN Reader

Synopsis: Obi-Wan tells the younglings the story of a courageous Jedi Knight who has saved him in battle quite a few times.

Includes: fluff!, battle, VERY small cameo from my own personal Star Wars OC, Sassy reader, Rex is a little shit but we love him, ONE use of Y/N, Clone Wars & ROTS era Obi-Wan, italics are flashback!

Not proofread

Word count: 2.4K

The door to the younglings common area closed with a thud as Obi-Wan entered the room, a soft smile on his lips as he brought the young Jedi back from their afternoon training session.

Obi-Wan wasn’t usually tasked with teaching the younglings but Yoda was a bit busy so he took up the responsibility without complaint. As they returned to the main area he was about ready to send them off to their quarters to turn in for the night. “Okay young ones, it’s time to head off to bed for the evening. I’ll see you all in the morning.” He said with a smile.

As he turned to leave the room he felt a small tug on the bottom of his robes. He tilted his head down to see one of the younger children tugging on the bottom softly in order to get his attention. “Master Kenobi…can you tell us a story?” Mumbled the small voice.

He chuckled a bit, “a story? About what exactly?” He asked, squinting down to get on the child’s level. “One of your awesome adventures!” Another kid chimed, this one on the older side.

Obi-Wan thought for a moment before it finally hit him, “oh I’ve got the perfect story for you all” he decides before moving to sit in a comfortable seat on the far end of the room. All the younglings quickly scurry to gather around him, sat all over the floor smiling and visibly excited for a tale.

“This is the story of one of the bravest Jedi knights I know. They have saved me more times than I’d like to admit!” He explains, leaning forward to further engage and interest the kids. “One of the bravest things they have done was at the very start of the war.” he starts. “We were in a fierce battle on the planet Felicia, a beautiful colorful planet that at this time was crawling with droids! And we were surrounded!” he began to tell the story to the beaming younglings

The battlefield is loud, Obi-Wan and You are surrounded by at least 100 B1 battle droids with seemingly no way out.

Obi-Wan backed up till he felt himself bump into you. His head turns but his body stays in a battle ready stance. “Seems like we are in a bit of a situation here.” Obi-Wan pointed out. You rolled your eyes at him, also in a ready stance. “Oh you don’t say!” Your tone is very clearly sarcastic and you lean against his back for support, your tired and struggling to catch your breathe.

“Sorry dear, just trying to lighten the mood.” he apologizes briefly. “So, you got any plans?” You roll your eyes again at this. “Do I have any plans? I thought you were the genius council member. Your lucky your pretty” you joked, agreeing that maybe a joke to calm you both wasn’t horrible in this situation, it always benefited you to stay calm.

He let out a low chuckle, “alright alright, we could always just charge and see what happens” he suggests. You shrug at this, “I mean we could but we are a bit outnumber” you point out. “Ya know we could-“ you started

You hear a voice that breaks you both from this side conversation and interrupts you, “why are you just standing there! Drop your weapons!” One of the droids yell. This turns Obi-Wans head sharply towards the source of the voice. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you it’s rude to interrupt people!” he said with a shocked tone before quickly charging towards the group of droids and attacking them.

You rub a hand over your face in defeat, “charge it is then.” You say to yourself before taking on the droids that you had been facing.

The two of you were doing a very decent job holding your own in this battle. Obi-Wan had always been very skilled with his lightsaber and general martial arts, his fighting always reminded you of a dance and this was something you admired about him. You on the other hand were also good with your saber but were a bit less elegant and focused more on the force. A talented force wielder you managed to rip plenty of droid heads off their bodies in quite a short amount of time.

Just as the two of you thought you were in the clear and safe from the droid attack, another wave hit. At Least two hundred more droids came at you from all angles and once again the two of you found yourselves surrounded.

“This is your last chance. Surrender or be exterminated.” one of the droids said, in their usual robotic tone. Obi-Wan turned to you, “I’m not sure we have another option.” He confessed. But you wouldn't give up so easily. You frantically looked around the area for anything that could possibly help you in this situation, and that’s when you spotted it. There was a ledge near by, it was high up but if the two of you could just make it up there you would be able to get away with ease.

You grabbed onto Obi-Wans arm. “Aww you know I don’t mind you holding on to me love, but there is no need to be frightened.” He attempted to comfort. “Dont flatter yourself Kenobi. I’m getting us out of this mess.” You said before tightening your grip on him and using the force to jump the both of you high into the air. Obi-Wan let out quite the yell at the surprised and you would feel bad if it wasn’t for the fact he screamed like a girl and it was quite funny.

As you managed to land on the ledge you both tumbled to the ground from the momentum and the fact that your not used to force jumping with another person. “God you know I hate flying.” He grumbled as he got himself off the ground. “Yeah, ya know a simple thanks for saving my life would’ve worked too.” You scolded. He chuckled and planted a kiss on your temple, “Yes yes, thank you for saving me.”

the two of you looked down at the swarm of droids below who were no frantically searching for you. “We should probably get going.” You figured. He nodded and hummed in agreeance.

Thankfully a rescue ship had already been dispatched and took little time finding the two of you stranded out on the planet. It landed nearby and you ran over just excited to get home and into your beds.

“Welcome back Master Kenobi and Commander [Y/N] .” Said Rex as the two of you boarded the ship. “Ah Captain Rex, never thought I’d be so happy to see your face!” You said with a grin as you took a seat in the common area of the ship. “When I heard the two of you were in some trouble I knew I had to come down and see the sight for myself!” He explained. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, “of course, truly insistent on our failure aren’t you.”

“Only when I’m bored” Rex responded with a chuckle. He leaned back in his seat as another one of the clones came in from the cockpit, “We are going to liftoff now sir. Are we heading back to Coruscant?” He asked Rex, who just nodded. “Alright, enjoy the flight” the soldier nodded before turning on his heel and heading back to the cockpit.

You all sat in silence for a moment before Obi-Wan asked, “How exactly did you hear about us being trouble anyway?” Rex smiled, “Anakin. Him and that girl he always hangs around were headed to come find you but I insisted they let me come instead. Told them they have much better things to do then clean up after their old masters!” He smiled. You nodded, “Ah of course, those two always can be found together. Well I guess I’m grateful for it in this instance since you saved our asses!”

Obi-Wan quirked a brow at this. “He saved our asses? Far from it, it was you who save us!” he said with almost shocked expression. “They saw we were surrounded and launched us into the air and onto that ledge you found us on. Without them we would’ve been toast!” He exclaimed.

“Oh I mean it wasn’t really that impressive I just got us out of the way is all.” You said humbly, propping your legs up on a footrest. Obi-Wan interjected, “and humble too, truly the finest Jedi you’ll ever find!” He praised. Rex laughed out loud and the two of you looked at his confused.

“God no wonder your padawans are so obsessed with each other, look at how the two of you act with one another! Like an old married couple!” He insisted. You both got a bit red in the face because, you basically were an old married couple. Of course you weren’t actually married but you might as well be. Rex didn’t know this, I mean how could he, but the fact he noticed something at all between the two of you definitely had you a bit anxious.

Obi-Wan shook his head, “No we are not, that’s ridiculous. I am simply thankful that they saved my life that’s all.” He insisted. “Anakin and Kaya are simply the way they are because they are both very strange creatures.” He elaborated. Rex laughed again, “well I can’t disagree with you there! Anyway, we should have a bit of time till we land so I suggest the two of you take some time to rest up, I trust you’ll have some meetings to attend to when we arrive home.” Rex advised. You agreed but Obi-Wan just sighed. His hatred for anything business related sometimes would out way his love of being a Jedi.

“And that, young children, is the end!” Obi-Wan announced as he leaned back in his chair. He was expecting to be met with claps or excitement but instead he was met with booing and complaints. “We want more!” “What happened to the Jedi knight?” “Who are they!?” were all yelled almost ontop of each other from the crowd of younglings. He was a bit taken aback by the reaction.

He threw up his hands defensively, “woah woah slow down one at a time kids!” He tried to calm the situation of the rowdy children. “Okay, said Jedi knight is fine! They are still a knight and went on to do a lot more good during the war and they still do good to this day. Nothing else to be said!” He answered definitely.

Another groan could be heard, “what was their name!” Asked one of the older kids. “None of your business.” Answered Obi-Wan. “But I wanna know! Please master Kenobi!” The child begged.

Obi-Wan just shook his head, “you must learn patience and to not dwell on such trivial things.” He insisted- which was really just his own clever way of avoiding the question. For some reason he felt like it would be obvious his feelings for you if he mentioned that it was you he spoke of, and he feared the kids mentioning his stories about you to you when they saw you. But much to his dismay….

“Ehem.” A voice cleared sounded as someone cleared their throat. All the children’s heads turned quickly to the source of the sound which came from the door to the room. Leaned against the doorway was the same Jedi Obi-Wan was oh so familiar with. “You telling stories about me in here Kenobi?” your voice echoed in the large room.

The children looked from you back to Obi-Wan and began giggling almost knowingly. He got flustered, “oh uh well the kids wanted to hear a story from my adventures so I figured…ya know we’ve been on a lot together so it was really inevitable and. How long have you been standing there..?” He asked.

You chuckled at his embarrassment, “pretty much the whole time. I appreciate the tales of my heroism though but you left out all the times you’ve saved me.” You noted. Obi-Wan turned back to the children, “see kids, as humble as ever!” Which caused the kids to laugh some more.

“Anyway it’s time for you all to be off to bed isnt it. Go on now! You’ve got training with master yoda bright and early tomorrow.” He said, crossing his arms and motioning with his head to the younglings private quarters.

They all groaned but shuffled away to their rooms, a few “good nights” could be heard from the exiting crowd. As the door to the private area slid shut, Obi-Wan felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face you and wrapped his arms around you, leaning his head on your shoulder. “Gosh those children truly drive me wild sometimes.” He comments and you nod in agreeance. “Yeah well don’t all children.” You added which made him laugh.

“Didn’t realize you liked me saving you so much Kenobi” You teased, leaving a peck on his cheek. He brings his head away from your shoulder to look at you and you can see his cheeks go a bit pink again, “what can I say, after saving so many others it’s nice to be the damsel in distress every now and again.” he defends. “Yeah well if you ever need saving. You know I’ll be there.” You promise, putting your hand in his hair as he rests his head against you once more.

“My knight in shining armor” he mumbled as you two stood there alone for a moment, relishing in the peaceful times like this you got to share oh so rarely. “Well I think it’s time we get off to bed aswell.” You added, noting how physically tired he seemed after the long day you knew he had.

He stood up fully, “yeah your probably right, like always.” he agreed as he took your hand in his. “I’m just glad we convinced them to let us share a room, or all these sleepovers would look very suspicious.” He laughed. “Oh yeah- definitely!” You agreed.

The two of you walked hand in hand, the hallways luckily being pretty empty at this hour, till you made it to your living quarters. You both changed into some comfier clothes and slipped under the covers, more than ready to get a good night’s sleep.

[skellymom]

"Vagabonds" Chapter 5 "Secrets"

Ongoing fanfic Hunter x Reader/Fem Reader/OC

Hunter meets a smuggler Nomaadi Star Woman with a powerful force sensitive teen who changes the trajectory of CF-99's lives...as they ALL try to escape from The Empire together.

To read Chapter 4:

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/730320896366149632/vagabonds-chapter-4?source=share

ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ 18+ ᴅɴɪ

Word Count: 1.6 K

Background: The cat is out of the bag! Hunter and Mad must divulge their secrets.

Warning: Crying, fear, Hunter fluff/angst.

(Credit: Cool moving star dividers by @4ngelic-wh1spers )

Recap: Hunter sensed something brewing with Mad, then smelled fear suddenly coming off her.  Then he picks up on Love’s fear and Sil’s body language.  THEY KNOW, he thinks and suddenly regrets not being more honest back at Cid’s.  He opens his mouth...” Mad...” 

Mad immediately reaches for her holstered blaster...   

"Secrets"

Hunter, with his quick reflexes reaches behind her back, grabs her wrist and holds it tightly so she cannot unholster her gun.  Mad’s left hand reaches out to grab Hunter’s right shoulder and angrily digs her nails into his skin.  He tries to ignore the physical and emotional pain but drops the caf.  It hits the floor, spilling dramatically. 

“CLONE!  Are you working for the Empire???” 

Tech instantly stops talking, shocked.  Wrecker immediately stands up and blurts, “WHATS GOIN’ ON!?”   

Sil looks at Omega “Meg, did they capture you?  Are you a slave???” 

Omega looks scared, shocked, confused all at the same time, “No...I left Kamino because they came back for me.  They are my brothers.” 

“Oh, for KRIFF SAKE!  She’s one too.”  Mad is beyond pissed.   

Wrecker tries to reach out and hug Mad.  It’s the only thing he knows to do when people are upset.  He’s stopped by an invisible force.  He can’t walk and is now levitating above the ‘Dames decking.�� Love is behind him with both hands out using their power, and levitating too, intense concentration on their face. 

Everyone sees this happening, and it occurs to both Hunter and Tech exactly why Mad and Love are so scared.  Love can control the Force, they both think the Batch will execute Order 66 killing them, and probably Sil too.   

“I promise we won’t harm any of you.”  Hunter extends his left hand out to try cup Mad’s cheek.  She flinches away.  His hand stops, palm open, beseeching her forgiveness. 

“Hunter’s telling the truth.  We refused to kill the Jedi and left Kamino as soon as the Empire took over.  We are running from them too.”  Omega pleaded. 

“I concur.  We are not a danger.”  Tech chimes in, finger raised. 

Wrecker, resigned to not being able to do anything but float, “Yeah...what they said.” 

Mad stands there thinking this over.  “Why weren’t you honest with me?” 

“I’m sorry.  Thought you would walk out on me last night.  I should have been open with you.” lowering his voice, “You never told me you had a Jedi on board.” 

“Love’s NOT a Jedi.  I refused to let them be indoctrinated into that order.  If I had, we would all be dead now.”  She’s still angry, but now Hunter sees tears forming in her eyes.  She’s holding back a lot of strong emotions. 

“Tech!  When are you getting over here with my caf!!!”  Everyone flinches as Echo screeches over Tech’s comm. 

Tech sighs, “Echo, your timing is impeccable.  May I leave and take Echo his caf?  He will become intolerable without it.  We still need to locate the part for your shield generator.”  Clearly, Tech had his priorities, and killing the ‘Dames crew was not on the list.  Mad was still unable to speak. 

Wrecker's feet hit the decking with a thud as Love released him.  “Awww, we won’t hurt ya.  Promise.” 

Love’s voice whispers in Mad’s head, “Mom, they mean it.  They won’t hurt us.  I can feel it.” 

She’s still on alert but trying to calm down.  

Hunter senses something between Mad and Love.  Just not sure what.  Tech is watching the exchange with interest, trying to piece things together. 

Mad slowly calms down and releases her grip on the blaster and Hunter’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.  Thank you, Tech...and Wrecker...for everything.  I’ll be ok.  It’s been hard to trust anyone for a long time.”   

“Understandable.  We have had to be vigilant as well.  I will contact Hunter when we obtain the replacement part.  We can plan on meeting up and repairing the Beldame then.”  Tech nods and makes his way down the gangplank. 

Hunter releases his grip on Mad’s wrist.  She throws her arms around him in embrace.  Hunter puts his arms around Mad and buries his head in the crook of her neck.  He can hear her sniffle softly.   

Tech paused before leaving, “Hunter, PLEASE keep your comm on in case I need to contact you?” 

“Yes Tech,” Hunter growled still buried in Mads neck. 

“Very good,” Tech turns and makes his way to the Marauder. 

Mad feels someone embrace her leg.  She looks down to see Omega.  Omega looks up and smiles reassuringly.  Mad reaches out and tousles Omega’s hair.  Sil follows suit and hugs Mad from behind.  Love floats in and rubs lazy circles on Hunter’s and Mad’s back.  Wrecker is left standing there, confused, unsure what to do. 

“It’s ok to hug us now, Wrecker” Mad says.  He breaks out in a huge smile and embraces everyone.  Love stops doing lazy circles on Mad’s back and starts them on top of Wrecker’s head.  He sighs. 

They stay like this for some time trying to relieve the stress.  Omega was the first to break the silence. 

“You know we’re all standing in a puddle of caf, right?” 

Mad looks down and sees the spilled caf.  “I’m SO SORRY!” 

“No problem, I’ve got this.” Hunter hands her several napkins and it reminds them both of last night when Mad choked on the Spotchka.  They grin at each other, she takes the napkin, and dabs her tears away.  

Hunter grabs a towel off a nearby bunk and helps clean up.  Omega, Love, and Wrecker immediately start picking up the trash strewn about the ship.  Sil runs to the pantry to grab refuse bags. 

“We must be SO careful.  I think you know things have been getting...complicated lately.” 

“We understand your distrust of clones.  Our brother Crosshair decided to stay with The Empire.  Which is now actively looking for us and Omega.  Luckily, he doesn’t know we’re here. “ 

“Just how many siblings DO you have?”  He can see the relief on Mad’s face.  He’s back to being the man she can trust.  

He chuckles “Technically, the whole clone army is related.  But 4 brothers and 1 sister I am very close to.  You have yet to meet Echo.” 

“I’ll have time tonight after picking up some cargo for a job this afternoon.  Would you and the rest of your siblings like to have dinner together with us on the Beldame?” 

“Uh...yeah, we’ll all be there!” 

“Looking forward to it.” 

“I should go and check in at the Marauder.” 

“See you later then.   I’ll comm you when I get back from my job” Mad planted a big kiss on Hunter’s lips and he returned it. 

Hunter crouches down to Omega. 

“You ok?  What just happened was probably scary” 

“I was worried in the moment, but OK now.  Looks like we aren’t the only family that needs to be careful.  Can I stay for a while with Love and Sil?  

Hunter glances up at Mad. 

“She’s VERY welcome to stay.  We’ll feed her and she can use our refresher.” 

Sil, Love, and Wrecker jump up and down happily at the news. 

“First, though, you all need to clean up this place and take Tiggy for a walk.” 

Groans from Love and Sil.  Omega salutes Mad, “Yes, Ma’am!” 

The kids set out cleaning up their messes. 

“C’mon Wrecker, let's go” Hunter nods to his brother. 

“WHAT?  OHHHH, I wanna stay too!”  He sulks. 

“Let Omega stay with her friends, Mad’s got things to do.  We need to get back to the Marauder.” 

“Ahhh, poo.”  Wrecker picks up Lula and brings his caf with him, “I had a good time everyone.  See ya later.” 

Everyone waves goodbye.  Hunter and Wrecker walk down the gangplank.   

When they are out of earshot, Wrecker roughly pats Hunter on the back, “Muahaha, you got a girlfriend!”  He’s grinning like crazy. 

“I guess you could say that.” 

“You like her ALOT, yeah?” 

“She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met.” 

“She’s pretty and spicy.  I Like her kids, too.” 

“Technically one of them is her nephew.” 

“Eh, it’s all the same to them.  Like Omega is our sister and kinda like our daughter.” 

“Guess so.”  Hunter is glib.  So much has happened since last night.  He doesn’t get close quickly with people outside of his clone family.  It feels strange, but...right.  Mad, Sil, and Love seem like good people.  He can see himself being in their company for a long time.  This is new for him.  

Wrecker broke the silence and started singing, “Hunter and Mad, sittin’ in a tree.  K...I...S...S...I...N...G...” 

“HUSH, you!” 

Wrecker laughed and bonked Hunter on the head with Lula. 

 Tiggy is still not accounted for.  Mad turned and headed up towards the front of the ship looking for the pup.  She reaches her seat in the cockpit to find Tiggy curled up INSIDE the cushion.  Stuffing and bits of leather littered the cockpit.  The pup's head is the only thing poking out of the upholstery and she's snoring soundly.   

Mad sighs in mild frustration.  It HAD to be HER chair that was destroyed.  The pilot’s chair.  Considering Tig could have done more damage not being supervised last night, she can’t be TOO upset.  Luckily Tech was looking after the pup this morning.  Mad was going to have to have a very serious discussion with Love about owning a pet. 

If what the butcher back on Coruscant said was true, Tiggy was a hybrid between two Force sensitive breeds of canine: Vornskr hunting dog and wild Loth Wolf.  Seems her tail was docked to remove the venomous barb at the end and blunt any aggression.  Mad was concerned about any residual Vornskr aggression against Force users, but hoped the lofty Loth Wolf would dilute this.  Either Tiggy was going to be a great pet or a total disaster.  Mad was going to have to consult with Tech later to see if he had any knowledge or advice on the matter.  

She tiptoed toward the refresher to clean up and get ready for the next job...

PLEASE like, comment, and/or REBLOG!

To read Chapter 6

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/733835736590303232/vagabonds-chapter-6?source=share

[marierg]

A Simple Wish

Pairing: Comander Cody x Rowan Atwater OC (written as a reader insert)

Rating: Everybody! (for this chapter at least)

(regular world AU/ zapped into reality AU/ fix-it AU?)

Warnings: holiday depressie, loneliness, language, Hurt/comfort/fluff/comedy...

Honestly though this may get a little more interesting and reflective later so... we'll see.

A/N: So I noticed that some of the peeps (actually a lot of us) are in the bleak midwinter rut and one in particular inspired this little story. @spicyclones79s I hope this is a good start

Masterlist Next

Another year and another Christmas spent on your own. With everything being so expensive you couldn't afford to fly home. Not that your Command would give you more than a few days leave anyway, such was military life. Well only a few months left till you hit your ETS and then you'd be outta here. If they wouldn't let you fly combat anymore and the Doc could give you a medical discharge without it interfering with a Civilian flying job then all the better.

To top all of it off this week you'd been trying to kick a cold but damned if it wasn't turning into a sinus infection. Still it was Christmas Eve, tradition demanded that you make some cookies and prepare for Santa to drop off presents. Silly as it was you still wanted to have a Christmas like when you were a kid. So you made a hot toddy (extra strong), set out the cookies and lay down on the couch.

Glancing out the window you caught sight of a shooting star. Maybe there was still something of the bright eyed kid you had once been underneath all the cynicism and pain. Perhaps it was simply that every human looked to the stars in wonder and hope. Closing your eyes and snuggled under the thick fleece blanket you made a wish, "Hey Santa, if you're out there, don't suppose you could send me a friend? Maybe someone brave and smart and patient..."

Glancing at your entertainment center, eye catching on your DVD set of the Clone Wars you smirked. Chuckling at the thought you went for broke, why not. "If Marshal Commander Cody isn't busy for the next oh... forty years that'd be awesome!"

With a little drunken giggle you lay back and drifted off to sleep.

It was just past one in the morning when a solid thud and some creative cursing summoned your mind back to semi consciousness. You thought it might be some of the dude bros from across the hall coming home after too much holiday cheer at the bar. So you rolled over and went back to sleep.

"Can anyone hear me? Hello? Rex..."

Oh this was Kriffing great. Cody couldn't believe this. One minute he's about to be shot while escaping the Empire, the next he's standing in some strange domicile. Glancing around Cody noted the lower use of technology and the darkness outside the windows. He was definitely not where he had been just a few moments ago.

It was a small apartment of some form, second floor above a small town street. Cody also noticed the woman who was asleep on the couch. It was far too dark to take in all her features, but pretty none the less. Easing his way through the space (was that a tree of some form?) and closer to the window he further confirmed that he was not where he should be. Vehicles rolling on wheels, no discernable space port, "Where in Sith hells am I?"

Hearing a distinctly deep, male voice you peeked your eyes open again. Holy shit there was someone in your apartment! Fueled by liquid courage and pure pissed off rage you took the throw pillow and began to bash the stranger. "TAKE THAT YOU CREEP!"

"What the-," Cody wasn't sure if he was being beaten by the small hellion or if this was their way of saying hello. Grabbing the soft cushion out of their hands he took his helmet off with the other. "Whoa.. Hold on... I can explain!"

"Alexa lights on!" The room illuminated immediately. You're not sure what hit the floor first the pillow from his hand or your jaw. "You're... You're..."

Cody had to move quickly to catch the poor little thing as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Great, just great. Placing her back on the padded lounger he elevated her feet and checked her pulse, "Poor girl, must have scared her... hey you still with me?"

Blinking open your eyes you looked up into kind brown ones full of concern. Oh yeah you had had way too much to drink or you were dreaming... except the pounding headache only confirmed that neither of those could be true. The man pulled his gloves off and brushed the hair back from your face, hallucinations weren't solid and they couldn't manipulate your body. Nor do they chuckle when you reach up and touch their face. That scar is so distinctive that there was no question. Squinting at the man you took a deep breath, "Commander Cody?"

"Yes! Do I know you?" Cody lit up at the fact that this Nat born seemed to recognize him.

Watching the man closely you placed the flat of your hand on his cheek, shaking as it was. You couldn't believe it, he was actually here. How? How could he be here?!

"I need to get back, but I don't know where I am?" Cody could see that you were still coming around. He could only hope that you could help him. "Ma'am I need to get back to my brothers they're in trouble."

"You're in North Dakota... Earth." You saw the confusion on his face, you sat up biting your lip. This was the kind of thing that happened in books and TV, not real life. Yet here stood none other than one of the hero's of the grand army of the republic. Giving yourself a good pinch just to confirm that this was real you saw as the man smirked.

"I promise I mean you no harm," Cody wasn't quite sure why he found your reaction so funny but it felt good to laugh. Holding your gaze he tried again, "Is there a spaceport nearby?"

Blowing out a breath you looked at the façade of calm the Commander held to. You'd had that same look many a time in the past and as then you settled on being blunt with the situation. "I'm afraid you're a long way from home Commander."

Cody felt his gut drop, though he tried to remember what General Kenobi would say about the Force working in mysterious ways. The question remained though, "And how do you know me?"

"It's complicated... and I don't think you're going to believe me." Grimacing you sigh, "I don't even think I believe it."

Carefully taking the woman's hand in his own Cody gave it a reassuring squeeze, "Try me."

The next few hours were spent talking, arguing, and confirming the few known facts as the two were able to put together. Cody was not in his own galaxy or time. That after viewing a small clip of a holo film series showing him and his brothers, you explained that he was considered a fictional character. You had been kind enough to take him to the roof to confirm there was not a single recognizable constellation in the sky even. This was a far more primitive world than his own as well, the mechanical devices looked like they were put together by a group of cadets. No, Cody was not where he was supposed to be, nor could either of you explain how he came to be here. He seriously doubted it was because of a wish on a star.

You had been terrified as Cody revealed to you what had been happening right before landing in your living room. That one revelation made you grateful to whatever power had sent him, glad beyond measure that it saved him. Then you were heartbroken seeing the hopeless, lonely look on his face as it started to set in that there was no way to send him home. As you came back to the couch you handed him a cup of tea, "I'm really sorry Commander, truly."

"It's not your fault Rowan, I just wish I knew how they are? If they're safe?" He couldn't yet sip the tea, if he drank it then that meant accepting that this was real, that he was really and truly stuck in this place.

Sitting opposite him you took a deep breath, "I can tell you what I know, at least how the story has been told here. Rex and Wolffe survive and fight against the Empire, Gregor too. Boba is the Daimyo of Tattoine."

"And the others? Wooley, Boil, Fox?"

"I can't say for certain, I'm sorry. But I will tell you that Rex saw the fall of the Empire for sure. He even fought on Endor with the rebel forces there in the beginning of the end. You can be really proud of him," reaching across to pat his hand you felt horrible. This was all your fault!

Cody took hold of your comforting touch, it wasn't often clones were treated kindly by natborns. He felt the momentary stiffness but then the relaxation as he just held on to you. Cautious little thing, but you hadn't crumpled under the impossible situation and instead were being an anchor for him. Cody smiled at your compliment to his brothers, "I'm always proud of my Vod'e."

"I'm sorry... for everything." For all he endured, all that he faced now it wasn't fair. The clones had done nothing wrong and still they had been used. A great many of your fellows felt the same.

Cody chuffed and smirked, "I sincerely doubt that you're at fault."

The two of you sat for a minute not sure what the next step should be. Being of a practical mind and also a tired body you took a deep breath and tried to make the next right choice. "Well in the mean time you're staying here. Why don't you get comfortable and I'll get some blankets. We can work on it more in the morning."

Cody chuffed out a breath, "Is that an order?"

"You got a better offer?" You sassed back.

That did get a laugh out of Cody, "Aye Ma'am."

After he had gotten settled on your, sofa he thought you called it, Cody watched again as you paused in the doorway glancing back at him. There was something serene about you, a kindness that was like a balm to the ills of the world. It was unique and beautiful to him.

"Good night Commander."

"You can call me by my name Rowan." Cody did chuckle at the flush rising in your cheeks, "Only my troopers call me by my rank."

"Oh, of course... I mean duh..." Oh well done, such an intelligent response Ro. Squinting and blinking your eyes open in embarrassment you turned, "Goodnight Cody, sleep well."

Cody rather liked seeing you all flustered, it was karking adorable. Mischief taking his better judgement he rolled pulling the blankets up, "Goodnight mesh'la."

"Oh my...night!" You quickly closed the door. Oh Ro what have you gotten yourself into now? settling under your own blankets you closed your eyes. and somewhere between the waking and the dreams you thanked the stars. One soldier safe for another night.

As he rolled and started to drift the commander was set to the side leaving simply the man. Cody may not know where he was or how to get home, but he felt safe here with you. Strange situation aside, for the first time in a very long time Cody relaxed enough to fall into an exhausted, deep sleep. No nightmares of battle droids, no screams, just the quiet of the night.

Tags:

@spicyclones79s @the-rain-on-kamino @arctrooper69

[zenrobbins0021]

Across the Galaxy: Chapter 7

Hunter x OC 18+ (warnings given before certain chapters)

“Oh god.” I forced my eyelids open at the feeling of the sunrise shining down on me. I was upside down in my bed, blankets tangled between my legs and I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I shivered as the breeze from the open window caressed my bare shoulders, trying to orient myself. I stumbled into the bathroom, turning on the shower and waiting for the water to get warm while I peeked in the mirror. My hair was all over the place, faint circles under my eyes and I winced inwardly. Once in the shower, I scrubbed all over my body and washed my hair, closing my eyes at the warm stream of water trickling down my head and back. 

Feeling clean and fresh, I finally got myself together and left home, heading towards Lower Pabu where the docks were already busy with the early morning fishermen hauling in their first catches of the day. The familiar shadow of the Marauder on one of the lower landing bays crossed my path and I saw Wrecker loading cargo into the cargo hold. As soon as he saw me, his face broke out into a huge smile and he dropped his box with a thud, rushing for me head on. 

“Morning!” He laughed, “Glad to see you woke up on the other side!” “Not so loud, Wrecker, please.” I winced but couldn’t help but return his smile, his cheerful demeanor was so contagious. “Where is everyone?” “Tech and Phee are somewhere around the market getting rations for the trip. Echo and Omega are still on Upper Pabu and Hunter should be around here somewhere.” 

I patted Wrecker on the shoulder as I walked past him up the gangplank of the Marauder, ducking my head slightly and letting my eyes adjust to the dimmer lights of the ship. A familiar figure stood in the cockpit, reaching high for supplies on an upper shelf, the action pulling muscles taut underneath the armor. A slight change in Hunter’s body language and I knew he had heard me enter, turning around and focusing his dark eyes on me as I made my way to the cockpit. 

“Sleep well?” Hunter questioned, lips tilted in amusement as he looked down at me. 

“Thanks to whoever brought me back home in one piece, yes.” I searched his face as something deep with feeling crossed over his expression but he said nothing. “Thank you for bringing me home and for, well…everything that happened after that.” 

“You remember?”

I nodded, thinking about how Hunter had gently ushered me back into bed after I had begged him to stay on Pabu. Thinking about how his lips felt pressed against my forehead and how warm his hands had felt gripping my arms. 

“You were right to reject me, you know.” I added, “Not the most romantic circumstances.” “You do understand that I said no out of respect for you.” Hunter asked, his eyes searching mine, “Not because I didn’t want to kiss you.”

I felt warmth spread from my cheeks to my stomach and suddenly his gaze was too intense. I dropped my eyes, blinking at his boots and watching as they stepped closer to me and I felt his thumb and index finger gently tipping my chin up.  

“Yes, I know.” I said softly, feeling suddenly paralyzed at the proximity between us. 

“You told me something last night.” Hunter’s voice was low, so deep that I could feel the vibrations from his chest, “You said you were falling in love with me.” 

I caught my breath, remembering but no feelings of regret or embarrassment came with the memory. If anything, I was glad I had finally put it out there in the open, the feelings and the quick glances, the long walks on the beach, the occasional hand in the small of my back helping me up stairs, and the heart-stopping passion behind the dark brown eyes. I could only nod in affirmation. 

“I’m a…complicated man, Iona.” Hunter continued, raising his right hand to cup my cheek gently as I relaxed into his touch. “I have a squad, my brothers. I have Omega to think about. Bounty hunters, clones, not to mention the Empire have it out for us.” “I know.” “We’re still tied to Cid paying off debts and running from one corner of the galaxy to the other just trying to make ends meet.” “I know.” “Everywhere we go, the smoke of war and ruin follow us.” “I know that too.” “Then why?” He is so close to me now, his head bowed slightly with the bridge of his nose almost touching mine. My back is pushed against the wall of the cockpit but I’m filled with warmth as Hunter cradles me with his body, so close to touching but not quite. “Why do you love me?”

I placed my hands on either side of his hips, noting the way the clone’s chest rose and fell with the motion. With a gentle tug, I pulled him closer to me, our eyes never breaking eye contact. 

“Because you are the most kind, generous, protective man I have ever met.” I paused, watching as Hunter’s eyes softened at my words, silent as I continued, “I used to wake up cold and empty inside, wondering if I was going to make it to the next day. I had no one. I was no one. And now I wake up wondering when I will get to see you next and when we’ll be able to talk to each other again. I see you in the city square and I don’t know if I remember how to breathe. One touch of your hand in mine and everything I know about the world flies out of my head.” 

Hunter lowers his mouth onto mine before the last word leaves my lips, his kiss consuming my entire body and being. At first it is gentle, as if he is pouring all the unspoken words his heart had whispered into this one action. Then it turns even more heated and desperate, making me reach blindly for his shoulders for something stable to hold on to as I keep up with his lips, kissing him back hard. His throat vibrates with the low moan that rumbles out of his chest, tilting my chin up and deepening our kiss. When his lips finally leave mine, I open my eyes to see that his eyes are dark, pupils blown wide in desire as he looks down at me. 

“I’ve been dreaming about kissing you for weeks.” Hunter murmurs, his thumb running across my bottom lip, “I never imagined it would be like this.” 

“Can you-“ I’m breathless and he waits patiently for me to catch my breath, “I need you to kiss me again.”

Hunter’s lips tilt and he chuckles, the kiss he gives me is slow and exploratory as he takes his time familiarizing his lips with mine. His hands reach up to cup my face, cradling my head gently but firmly holding it in place as he deepens the kiss. I let my hands drop from his shoulders, running down his chest and settling on his hips as I let Hunter take control. Over and over again, he kisses me with each one stronger and more passionate than the last. When Hunter finally pulls away, all I can do is look up at him with bright eyes, reveling in our closeness. 

“Iona-“ Hunter pauses, turning his head as the sound of footsteps pattering makes him take a step back slightly, angling his body to see who is coming up the gangplank. 

“Well, if it isn’t Dark and Broody getting dark and dirty.” The familiar, rich voice of Phee echoed in the Marauder. She crossed her arms over her chest, a wide grin spreading over her face. “About time you two starry-eyed lovers stopped gawking at each other and did something about it.” 

“Hey Phee,” I stepped back, lowering my hands from Hunter’s neck and resting them on his chest plate, “Where’s Omega?” 

“Helping Tech load up the back cargo hold with supplies. Don’t worry, the little lady won’t catch you two snooking.” The pirate winked hard, causing a light shade of pink to flush under Hunter’s tan skin. We waited until Phee ducked back outside before our eyes met again. 

“So.” 

“So.” I repeated, smiling softly at the clone. His eyes had a gleam of affection as he looked down at me. 

“We’d better get moving before my brothers get curious and start looking for us.” Hunter replied, not budging an inch. 

“That’s a good idea.” I agreed, staying exactly where I was standing, my left leg between his, with hands reaching up to hold his cheeks. 

Hunter chuckled, dipping his head down to plant another slow, warm kiss to my lips. I closed my eyes and let his scent, his warmth fill my senses and I kissed him back. Nobody came looking for us.

[ashes-2-ashes57cba]

The Clone Wars: A Distant Echo

Part 2 of the Clone Wars Bad Batch arc with my OC: Specter! this has been edited *adla'vod: roughly translates to "twin", directly translates to "same brother/sister"

Specter felt surprised and almost betrayed when Crosshair let General Anakin Skywalker inspect his beloved rifle. Usually, he would get fussy if even she touched it. He wouldn’t even let her put her stuff next to his. 

The Bad Batch, Captain Rex, and the Jedi were on board the Batch’s ship—the Marauder—on their way to Skako Minor, following the live signal “Echo” supposedly sent out. Rex watched as Wrecker lifted a gonk droid with one hand and ate with the other. Crosshair observed as the General looked at his gun, and Hunter monitored any planetside activity at the console while Tech flew them to their destination. The female clone sat back, resting and mentally preparing herself for their next mission. 

“So, how many missions has your team been on, Sergeant?” Anakin asked Hunter.

“Honestly, sir, I’ve lost count. All the action sort of blurs together,” he admitted with a shrug.

“I know you work with Cody sometimes, but who exactly do you guys report to?” Rex asked. Hunter hummed in thought.

“Good question. Can’t say I’ve got an answer.”

“Yeah, I’d feel really bad for the one who would have to try and make sense of our reports,” Specter piped up. Wrecker laughed in agreement. “Oh, adla’vod?” The sniper turned to his twin as Anakin handed him his rifle back. “Your taste in music is weird and the songs you suggested are weird, and I love it. I’m adding them to the playlist.”

“I told you,” he said with a smirk. 

“So you’re the first female clone. How does that affect your… dynamic?” Skywalker asked, turning his attention to Specter. She raised an eyebrow.

“If you’re implying what I think you are, don’t worry about it. I’ve heard enough of the whispers. I’ve saved these boys more times than they’d like to admit, so I’m not just a pretty face.”

“What?” Anakin blushed, “N-no, like— gosh how do I say it without sounding crass?” Specter surprised him by laughing. 

“I’m teasing, General, I know what you mean. They’re my brothers and best friends. They respect me and know when to give me my space when I need it. In return, I don’t break their knees. Isn’t that right boys?” she asked aloud to her team.

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied; some enthusiastically, some with disdain. 

“However they don’t always pick up after themselves. Take Tech, for example,” she said loudly, hoping to get his attention.

“What now?” he sighed.

“Just because my bunk was empty and clean, does not mean you get to use it for storage for your projects.”

“You weren’t using it.”

“Because your stuff was on it!” Rex and Anakin snickered at their argument while Crosshair and Hunter rolled their eyes. A thud and the sound of alarms ended their argument.

“We are approaching Skako Minor,” Tech reported. “It looks to be a difficult landing.” The Marauder broke through the thunderous clouds, turbulence rocked the ship. Wrecker went to help Tech man the controls while the others strapped themselves in. 

Once they landed and everything settled, the rest of the team gathered in the cockpit.

“Rex, what do we know about this place?” Anakin asked his captain.

“On this part of Skako, there’s a race of locals, the Poletecs. All we know is that they’re very primitive.”

“‘Primitive’ is being kind. My intel says the Poletecs worship flying reptiles,” Tech chimed in. A thud and screech were heard outside the ship, almost in reply to the Batcher’s remark. A shadow of a creature scurried over the viewport.

“Oh! What the heck was that?” Wrecker exclaimed as the ship rocked and jolted.

“It’s one of those reptiles,” Tech simply answered.

“I want that thing off my ship,” Hunter growled, putting on his helmet. The Batchers followed his lead and prepared to go outside to investigate. 

“Hold on! Hold on! Don’t just run out there,” Rex warned. 

The Bad Batch ignored him, running out to the blowing winds. A creature was on top of the ship, its rider a mere silhouette against the dim golden light peeking through the dust and clouds.

“Hey! Get off of there!” Wrecker yelled, pointing his blaster at them. Anakin ignited his saber but held his arm out to the brute.

“Hey, calm down. We need to talk to them,” he said.

“Why?” Hunter gowled. The Bad Batch wasn’t used to handling confrontations with diplomacy.

“The General’s right,” Rex supported. Two more flying creatures screeched and approached fast, intently flying toward the group. 

“Heads up!” Specter yelled, crouching low. Anakin pushed Rex out of the way as one of them reached out with its claws to grab at the captain. The two flew by, but the one atop the ship jumped down and grabbed Anakin before flying away with the rest of its group. The Jedi’s lightsaber fell from his belt, Rex grabbed it before firing a few potshots at the reptile, hoping to have some sort of effect. Tech looked through his visor, tracking him.

“I have a thermal reading. Point-two-five east, elevation 175,” he reported. 

“Relax,” Crosshair said, readying his rifle and using Tech’s shoulder as a mount, “I’ll handle this.” He fired a grappling line, latching onto the leg of the reptile holding Anakin.

“What are you doing?” Rex asked as Crosshair handed Hunter the base of the line. 

“Going for a ride,” Hunter said, clipping the line to his belt before being yanked away. “Keep the boys out of trouble, Spec.” Specter crossed her arms, and yelled after him.

“Like they listen to me anyway, but sure thing.” 

The group watched as Hunter and the General disappeared into the thick clouds. Silence surrounded the group until Wrecker turned to Specter and asked-

“Should we follow them?”

“Not yet,” she replied. “We can’t be sure of any more of those reptiles hiding among the clouds. Best to trust Hunter to assess the situation before we rush in.” Her fist tightened with anxiety by her side; Hunter often trusted her judgment enough for her to lead the group when he couldn’t, but this time the life of a Jedi General was on the line.

“Tech, I’m with the General. Hone in on my signal,” Hunter’s voice eventually came through the comm. Specter relaxed her shoulders before turning to the others.

“Alright, now we can regroup. Everyone back to the Marauder,” she said, taking charge and gesturing back to the ship, following the others inside just as Tech launched the shuttle and flew to Hunter’s signal. 

They eventually touched down a ways back from the edge of a ridge leading down into the Poletec’s village. Hunter was kneeling down, out of sight, observing the scene. 

“That creature still has a hold of the General,” he reported to Rex, who went to take position beside him. Rex flipped down the antennae on his helmet, looking through the scope to assess Skywalker, Specter mirrored him, tracking each of the villagers.

“We’re going in,” he said, standing up, “but remember what the General said. ‘No casualties, disarm only’.” The reminder was emphasized towards the Batch with a few pointed glances. Wrecker shook his head and slumped in dejection. 

“We’re on it, Captain,” Hunter stood up before giving orders. “Wrecker, Crosshair, rockslide!” The two went to push the large boulder nearby down the ridge and into the village. As it rolled, Wrecker shadowed behind it, using it as cover, while Crosshair stayed behind to take a sniper position. The rest of the team followed suit, shooting to disarm the natives as they scrambled away. Crosshair shot an electric probe at the leg of the creature holding Anakin; it flew off from the shock, allowing the Jedi to roll out of the way of the boulder. Hunter pointed his pistol at the leader of the Poletecs; it spoke its language at him, waving his arms about. “Tech, translate what he said?” 

“He says he does not want our war on his planet. That is why he took our leader,” he relayed, reading the translation off his visor.

“We didn’t bring the war here,” Anakin said, “it was Wat Tambor and the Separatists.” Tech went to translate, doing his best to mimic the Poltec dialect. The chieftain looked between him and Skywalker.

“Tell him we apologize for what’s happened,” Rex stepped forward. “But tell him the enemy is holding one of our men prisoner in Purkoll. As soon as we rescue him, we’ll leave this planet, for good.” Tech nodded, turning to the chieftain and relaying the information. 

Specter couldn’t help but giggle; Rex noticed her shaking shoulders and nudged her side. 

“Hey, what’s so funny?”

“He just sounds so robotic. He’s not even attempting to follow through with the accent,” she explained. 

“Could you do any better?” Rex asked. She scoffed.

“Give me a day and I could even learn the local dialect, Captain. If it helps put things in perspective, I learned Galactic Sign Language in a week.” 

“Wow, Specter, is there anything you can’t do?” Rex wondered.

“Yeah. She can’t reach the high shelves,” Crosshair sneered. His twin stomped on his foot. 

The Poltec leader and Tech continued to speak back and forth in what looked like apologies and negotiations. 

“The chief says he’ll provide us with scouts and lead us to Tambor’s city. From there, we’re on our own,” he reported to Anakin. 

“Any help is better than no help.”

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

The two scouts led the team to a rocky outlook with a clear view of the city, or at least the spires hanging down from the clouds. One pointed towards the city and said something in his language; Tech thanked them before they went to return to their village. 

“Hope nobody’s scared of heights,” Anakin said with a smirk. Crosshair, Hunter, and Specter turned to look at Wrecker, who perked up at the attention.

“Well, I’m not scared of nothing!” he assured, unconvincingly. He glanced down the cliff rock, however, noting the height. “I just… when I’m up real high, I got a problem with gravity,” the brute admitted.

“Speaking of problems,” Tech spoke up, “I am no longer picking up Echo’s signal.”

“I don’t understand,” Rex said, surprised, “you said it was coming from this city.”

“I can only speculate, but it is possible there’s a latency issue with the frequency caused by all these atmospheric disturbances,” Tech said, holding up his datapad.

“Or… maybe they sent the signal to lure us into a trap,” Hunter speculated. “And maybe your friend’s actually dead. Well I can’t be the only one thinking of that.”

“But if a clone can come back from the dead, then nothing could stop me from being completely unhinged,” Specter fantasized.

“Look, every mission could be a trap. This one is no different,” Rex argued against Hunter. “I’m telling you that signal is being sent by Echo himself! He’s alive!”

“I think you’re letting your personal feelings get in the way because you left him for dead at the Citadel,” Crosshair sneered, turning his back on the captain. Specter tilted her head back in exasperation. 

“I had no choice. You hear me?” Rex said, his tone dark and on the verge of anger.

“Oh, I don’t blame you. I would’ve left him for dead too. Besides, he’s just another reg.” 

Specter didn’t blame Rex, nor did she try to stop him when he punched Crosshair to the ground. 

“Hey!” Wrecker grabbed the captain by the back of his armor. “Why don’t you pick on someone not your size?” The brute threw him off, but Rex turned right back around and marched up to him.

“You’ll be a whole lot smaller when I’m through with you,” he growled.

“That’s enough!” Anakin ordered, pushing the two men apart. “Sergeant, take your men and scout the area for a tower entrance. I want to talk to my Captain alone.” Hunter motioned for the Bad Batch to follow him, Specter helped Crosshair stand up before smacking the back of his helmet, scolding her twin for his insensitive comment.

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The wind howled, blowing golden dust. Specter shifted her stance again, trying to ignore the itch of sand up in her armor. The Batch did their best to peer through the sand and guard the entrance of one of the towers leading up to the city while Tech worked on the door panel. Hunter sensed someone coming, holding up his gun in defense. But it was Skywalker and Rex running to meet them.

“We’re in business, General. Tech regained Echo’s signal,” Hunter reported, shouting over the wind and walking him towards the entrance. “It’s coming from this tower. How’s it going, Tech?” The clone had his datapad hooked up to a console, quietly working through algorithms and firewalls to get past the door. After pushing a few buttons, he was able to gain access.

“Sorry it took so long,” he replied with a shrug. 

“Hey, twins, check it out,” Hunter nodded inside. 

“Ah yes, the noble sacrifices,” Specter slumped before holding up her blaster and following Crosshair, sweeping the inner room for any traps or cameras. They found nothing and turned back to the door. 

“Yeah, it’s a lift,” Crosshair deadpanned.

“How magical,” Specter feigned wonder.

“Well, we already knew that,” Rex said, unamused, walking inside with the others. Wrecker nervously looked up at the tower, most of it disappeared behind heavy clouds. 

“Wait, wait, wait. A lift? How far up are we going?” he growled.

“Don’t worry, Wrecker. I’ll hold your hand,” Hunter teased. 

“Hey! Cut it out, Sarge,” Wrecker said, bumping past Hunter’s shoulder, “Just give me some droids to crush.”

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

“Remember, this is a stealth mission,” the General said as the lift neared the top, “no blasting, no blowing things up. Nobody knows we’re here.”

“Pff, don’t count on it,” Specter muttered, collapsing her blaster’s stalk and preparing her pistol. The door opened to a group of droids who abandoned their tasks, turned to the intruders, and readied their weapons. Wrecker dashed out, crashing into the ones closest, throwing one at another group near the back and swinging another at a few near the opening. They fell with robotic screams.

“I told you!” Specter said before running out to the fight with her squadmates. Anakin could only shake his head with a smirk. She fired alongside Tech, covering the corridor that led inside the facility. A pair of droids snuck up behind them, separating her and Tech. Specter let them corner her against some crates; once they were right where she wanted, she jumped up and pushed off against the crates—over the droids’ line of fire—knocking them down with a split kick. A shot flew past her shoulder, striking a lone droid attempting to charge at her; Specter looked up to find Crosshair fired the shot, she returned the favor by blasting a droid approaching behind him.

 Wrecker charged at the remaining droids, firing relentlessly and cheering from the adrenaline once they were victorious. Everyone simply looked at him.

“Uh… sorry. I just got excited.” Specter came around and patted his shoulder while Tech checked his scanner.

“I’ve still got a lock on Echo’s signal.” 

“All right, men.” Hunter readied his blaster and led the way to the corridor. “Let’s hunt some droids.”

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

Droids on patrol marched through the hall, though they didn’t detect the door opening and Hunter peeking out. He motioned Specter forward and nodded; they stepped out, he shot the droids entering the area while she destroyed the ones that passed, clearing the way for Skywalker to step into the hallway. 

“Where exactly is Echo’s signal coming from?” he asked Tech. The clone adjusted his goggles as he looked at his datapad.

“Strange. I just lost the signal.”

“What? How can that be?” Rex asked, removing his helmet. “There’s no ‘atmospheric disturbances’ up here.”

“Well, I have a new theory. I’m surprised I did not consider it earlier,” Tech shook his head. “The signal is only traceable during data transmissions. So until Echo dispenses more intel, I cannot pick up the signal.”

“Okay, we’re splitting up. Search every door,” the General began to order, “If someone finds Echo, contact the others. We go in together, just in case there’s trouble.” Specter and Crosshair split with the General while the others went down the other way. She found nothing in the doors she checked, only storage containers and maintenance supplies. 

Specter had a very hard time believing a clone like Echo could have survived the attack on the citadel, but she knew if it was one of her squadmates, she would be just as adamant to rescue them as Rex was. But like Tech, she was logical enough to know that the chances of Echo actually being alive were low. But not zero. 

A commotion caught her attention: muffled blaster fire and a lightsaber. The clone ran towards Anakin, configuring her blaster into a sniper rifle; she got there just in time, shooting down the droids before they could attack again. The Jedi stood up, calmly walking towards her.

“Thanks for the backup.”

“No problem, General,” she said, giving a two-fingered salute.

“Hey, where did you get that weapon? I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it,” he asked as they walked down the hall.

“I doubt you would’ve. Tech and Crosshair designed and built it after I saved them on a mission from Corellia… and took care of them when they caught Corellian fever,” she snickered.

“You didn’t have to mention that,” Crosshair hissed, coming up beside them.

“Too late, Cross,” she teased, patting the side of his helmet. He swatted her hand away. “But I was the one who helped engineer the reconfiguring mechanism.”

“Clever,” the Jedi complimented. 

“Don’t let it get to her head,” Crosshair warned.

“Hey, how about when you— did you guys hear something?” Specter stopped herself, suddenly perking up. The others heard it too; sounds of droids and blasters being fired. 

“Sounds like trouble. Let’s move,” the General ordered.

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

It seemed the three had arrived just in time to even the odds against the droids attacking the rest of the team. Anakin used the Force to push a group out of his way, swinging his lightsaber to cut them and deflect their shots. Hunter took the opportunity to go on the offensive, Wrecker, Tech, and Rex joined in. The Sergeant held up a droid by the neck, ready to punch its head off, but Crosshair came in and shot it off for him. A whistle sounded, Specter came running in, taking a position by Wrecker.

“Hey, swing me around,” she said.

“Like on Mon Cala?” he asked, shooting a few droids.

“What? No, like on Ryloth.” They hooked their arms around each other and he spun, swinging Specter around to shoot and kick at the rest of the droids near them. The Jedi stabbed the last one. “Mon Cala… you didn’t swing me, you threw me. Underwater,” Specter mumbled. More blaster fire filled the hallway, even more droids were coming. The team took defensive positions in the side of the room. 

“Tech, open that door for Rex!” Anakin ordered over the noise. 

“Yes, sir!” Tech nodded and ran to take care of the door.

“I hope you find what you’re looking for, Captain,” Hunter said, turning to acknowledge him. “Specter, you’re with them.” Rex and Specter ran to meet Tech who was able to get the door open and enter the room. It was filled with dimly lit panels and other controls. 

“I don’t like the look of this,” Specter heard Rex say— her back was turned, keeping an eye on the door and their other surroundings. 

“I’m definitely picking up a life-form in there,” Tech said, his scanner beeping in rapid succession. He investigated the controls, “It seems to be a stasis chamber. I think I can get it open.” Specter looked over her shoulder, Tech worked at the control panel and got the chamber open. 

The door hissed open and a form fell forward, only caught by the wires attached to—him. It was a body. Malnourished, disfigured, but a clone’s body nonetheless. Specter stifled a gasp at the sight. 

“Echo,” Rex breathed. “Tech, we’ve got to get him out of here. Figure out how to…  unplug him from… from this mess.” Rex frantically undid the line around his torso, laying the body down onto the floor, cables were still attached to Echo’s head. “What have they done to you?” Specter abandoned watching the door and turned to go help Rex, who had taken off his helmet.

“We… we have to get to the shuttle to escape the Citadel,” the soldier muttered. His eyes were open but unseeing, skin sickly and pale, body emaciated and drawn. Both his legs and his right arm were replaced by cybernetic parts.

“He’s stable, but blood sugar is low,” Specter reported, removing her helmet and taking out a small flashlight. She shined it in his eyes, they were dilated and unfocused. “He’s in there but barely. Hallucinating. Oxygen in his brain must be low too, his heartbeat is irregular.” She felt his pulse on his wrist and by his neck.

“No! I’ll go first,” Echo continued in his hallucination, reaching out. Rex gently shook him.

“Echo,” he pleaded. “Echo, it’s Rex. I’m here.” The pale clone calmed down, his eyes came into focus.

“Rex? You, you came back for me,” he breathed, reaching to touch Rex.

“Yes. Yes, I did,” Rex assured. 

“What? What happened? Where am I?” Echo looked around.

“Yeah, he’s coming around alright. It’s okay, soldier. You’re safe now,” she assured.

“Just sit tight, Echo,” Rex said, “You’re going home.”

[caninehorror]

Safeshiptember ;

day 3: desperately pining/relaxing

prompts from williameaston and rheatargoed-selfships !!

warnings: somewhat short fight scene/light violence

pairing: macaque and kier (oc)

wc: 1.3k

summary: macaque and kier train together, just like old times.

In Kier's backyard, there was a large patch of dirt that was surrounded by walls of flower bushes and trees, and that was where Kier spent their days training, that is if they had any free time at all.

And now of course, Macaque was practically begging on his knees to train with Kier, just for once.

"C'mon, It'll be just like old times. You used to kick my ass almost every single match, remember?" Macaque said softly as he brushed his tail against Kier's back slyly, his breath hot against their neck as he stood behind them.

Kier grumbled, dropping the half eaten sandwich on the plate. They turned to face Macaque's pleading eyes.

"Fine. But just this once." Kier emphasized, in a stern voice.

Macaque gleamed, grabbing their hand and dragging them off the dining table chair. Macaque scattered to the back porch, despite Kier's protests to slow down.

Once they both stepped onto the patio, Macaque took a breath of the cold autumn air, the red and orange fallen leaves twirled around their feet. Kier's golden retriever, Naga, was fast asleep on the porch— enjoying the cold weather just as much as Kier and Macaque.

Macaque let go of Kier's hand, lingering for a split second before stepping onto the dirt. Kier follows.

They stand on opposite sides of each other, both in a fighting stance. There was a purple glint in Macaque's eyes, as he gave a subtle smirk. “Just so you know, I’m not gonna go soft on you.”

Kier stifled a laugh. “You know I like a good challenge.”

Kier grounded themselves as they took a breath in. They balled up their fist, hardening their gaze.

“Ready?” said Macaque.

Kier nodded, snarling.

And with that, they both barreled towards each other. Macaque was the first one to land a punch right in the gut, knocking back Kier. They waved their arms to regain balance, head swung back and legs tensing up. Kier let out a pained wince.

Quickly recovering, They regained their posture. Kier ran towards Macaque as he hovered above the ground, seamlessly taunting them.

They jumped up, turning their body in a full circle as they went in for a kick. The wind swung with their raised leg.

This time, a gust of fire seemingly comes out of thin air in front of the two of them, like a wall. Macaque reacted quickly, shielding his face as he fell back onto the solid dirt surface, feet making a harsh ‘thump’ sound.

Smoke filled the air as the fire died out in mid air, Kier hits the ground with a thud.

“Fire, huh? Last time we fought like this, you could barely make a puff of smoke!” Macaque mused with a grin as he multiplied himself into two, his shadow clones, running towards Kier.

“Well, there’s more where that came from.” quipped Kier, with a slightly strained voice as they landed a punch on Macaque, another wave of fire barreling towards him.

As Macaque dodged, he switched to his shadow form and practically melted to the ground, blended in with the darkness.

Kier used their strength to push one of the long stems from a nearby rose bush. Kier made the stem latch around one of the shadow clones. The other shadow clone tried to pounce on them, Kier swiftly jumped back. They were glistening with sweat, breath starting to grow heavy.

As soon as the stem tied up the first clone, it vanished. Kier sighed in relief, Plant and earth magic was much harder than fire magic, Kier learned that a long time ago.

Now Kier had to worry about the other clone and Macaque himself. The clone was sprinting towards them. Kier tried to keep an eye on the ground as they scratched the shadow with their sharp claws. It too went away like a wisp of air.

The silence that followed afterwards was almost suffocating. There was nothing but the gentle blow of the wind. Kier glanced around, knowing that he was somewhere beneath those shadows.

That was soon interrupted when a firm hand latched onto their shoulder.

“Over here..” Macaque whispered softly just over their shoulder, that same purple glint from before radiating in his eyes. Before Kier could even turn around, Macaque pounced right on them. They both rolled over on the ground, wrapped in each other like a hive of bundled up honeybees.

When they finally stopped barrelling over each other, Macaque was right on top of Kier, pinning them down. The sun peeked through the stormy clouds just as Kier opened their eyes, they whirred and gently groaned as they felt a twinge of pain all over their body.

Macaque only looked at them with wide eyes, panting, sweat dripping off his face.

Kier’s mouth went slightly agape as Macaque’s eyes glistened in the light. His golden eyes almost complimented the fiery star in the sky. His raven tufts of fur and hair had a blue-ish tint, glowing just like the moon’s light.

Kier didn’t struggle against Macaque’s grasp. He was an aggressive flame that could ravage forests with an easy sweep, and Kier would happily burn in those flames if they could feel that warmth.

There was a gentleness in his gaze, Kier could feel their face become warm flesh as they breathed in his scent.

Macaque could only think of how Kier’s brown eyes were like pools of golden honey, and how badly he wanted to run his fingers through their hair while staring into those eyes. He knew it would feel like clouds, or cotton candy.

And Macaque had an urge, a need— to kiss them until their knees buckled and their mind clouded up, he wanted to make them forget about everything.

God, they just looked so kissable.

Kier gulped, before speaking after a long silence. “Alright, alright, I surrender.”

Macaque sighed, pushing away any previous thoughts. He dropped right on top of Kier, resting on them like they were the most comfortable bed in the world. Macaque closed his eyes. Kier sort of layed there, a bit stunned.

But slowly, Kier raised their hands up to latch onto Macaque. Before Kier can rest their hands on him, he tensed up. They wondered if that was a sign to back off, but Macaque slowly relaxed as Kier gently placed their hands on him. One on his back, and one in his soft hair.

Kier scratched and ran their fingers through Macaque’s hair as he was cradled in Kier’s neck. Their eyes were locked on the sky as they counted each breath Macaque took in their mind. He let out quiet and gentle purrs.

Macaque slowly opened his eyes. He wanted to say something, something that Kier would remember. Those words he desperately needed to say trailed in his breath.

“Kier?” Macaque spoke up.

“Hm.” Kier hummed, looking down at the man in their arms.

“I..” He trailed off, recollecting what he wanted to say.

“I missed this. I missed you.” Macaque said under his breath.

Kier sucked in a breath, eyes widened slightly. Macaque felt the tension in the air, and he wished he could take back every word, every action leading up to this point.

That is, until Kier gently smiled. Kier wrapped their arms around him tighter, and Macaque took them in an embrace, just as they had done.

“I missed you too, Macaque. I missed you so much.”

There was a whole weight lifted off of his shoulders, and everything was light again.

Naga woke up from his slumber, quickly sprouting up and going to sit beside the two. Naga flopped beside them, as Kier reached to pet the dog’s fur. Macaque quietly chuckled.

“Let’s stay here for a while, then we can go in for some tea.” Kier whispered against him as they buried their nose in his hair, softly breathing.

Macaque smiled.

“I’d like that.”

💌 author's notes:

uhh idk if this fits w the prompt BUT in my defensive i was just rlly in the mood to write a fight scene! also this is my first writing piece ive posted on here, lmk what you guys think!

[clonemedickix]

OC General Lara Lin (Telperion Laurelin), Commander of the Dragon Company, Guardian of the Balance and Guide of Souls

Dragon Company 1st Officer: Lt Primer

Dragon Company Sergeants: Boost and Deuce

Dragon Company Chief Medical Officer: Volte

Things about Lara: An immortal goddess, created to guard the Balance between the Light and the Dark. The source of the Force, living and cosmic. Created by Eru Iluvatar as a safeguard and ultimate weapon against enemies such as Morgoth the Deceiver, his lieutenant Sauron, and any in that vein. A visitor to the Star Wars galaxy, there to offer her assistance in their war.

Personality: feisty, generally happy if not slightly jaded. A little crass at times, spends most of her time off duty in the American South and so speaks with a drawl mixed from Northeast Louisiana/Southeast Texas (think if Duck Dynasty mated with east Texas). Known to occasionally let fly with curse words. Not above a little pranking, especially against people that annoy her. Loyal, capable of deeply loving, a strong, agile and experienced warrior. Does not handle the loss of loved ones well; swore off personal relationships for this reason. A complete sucker for a clone in uniform.

Rating: EXPLICIT

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence / Adult Themes and Relationships / UNDER 18 DNI

Category: F/M

Fandoms: Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Cartoon)Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media TypesThe Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. TolkienGame of Thrones (TV)Star Wars - All Media Types

Relationship: CT-7567 | Rex/Original Female Character(s)

Characters: CT-7567 | Rex | CT-21-0408 | CT-1409 | Echo | CT-27-5555 | ARC-5555 | Fives | Hunter (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) | Tech (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) | Wrecker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) | Crosshair (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) | CC-2224 | Cody | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Mace Windu | Clone Troopers (Star Wars) | CT-5597 | JesseCT-6116 | Kix | Clone Trooper Hardcase (Star Wars) | Cut Lawquane | Suu Lawquane | Yoda (Star Wars) | Plo Koon | CC-3636 | Wolffe | Sheev Palpatine | Darth Sidious | Padmé Amidala | Ahsoka Tano

Excerpt:

The sound of lightsaber on steel rang through the room as Lara and Skywalker fought in the ring. Rex saw Ahsoka Tano standing by Cody, watching the sparring match; Lara’s lieutenant, Primer, was also there watching in silence, almost as if coaching her movements. Lara needed no coaching, but he knew Primer’s heart was in the right place; he of course wanted his general to win. Rex stepped up quietly to stand next to Cody’s other side. The door behind opened once more and General Kenobi walked in, his face full of curiosity. Kenobi walked up to watch with the other spectators, on Primer’s right side, cheering very quietly as Lara blocked a blow from Anakin he’d aimed at her back; she’d reached back with her great sword to protect her rear and then spun quickly away from him, bringing her short sword around to take her own swipe at him. The two danced around the fighting ring, graceful and sure in their skills; everyone could tell they were enjoying their battle. Anakin used many Force assisted leaps and flips to stay out of her range, while Lara used her quickness and reach to close on him frequently. She knew more tricks than he did, and she spun beneath his saber, her mail shirt’s small skirt flaring in the air. She took a couple quick steps, dropped to her knees and slid beneath Anakin, flaring backwards and bringing her two swords up together as a single instrument to block, then she hopped back up to her feet and spun, leaping and swinging one powerfully aimed boot around to kick Anakin square in his chest. It knocked the wind right out of him and he collapsed to the mat with a thud. Obi Wan laughed out loud; he always loved to see his old padawan bested in a match. Ahsoka groaned; she had thought he had a chance this time, but towards the end of the fight she’d seen Lara’s concentration increase, realizing that as usual she’d only been dedicating about half of her skill to the game.

Lara took a breath; the fight had been hard enough that she was slightly winded, and felt it had been a very good contest this time. She put her great sword back in its sheath over her shoulder and reached her hand down to Anakin to help him up. He groaned in a little laugh, took her hand and let her pull him to his feet. “I’m going to have your boot print on my chest for a week, Lara.” He rubbed it carefully; she’d kicked him about as hard as an angry mule.

Lara smiled at him and replied very quietly, so only he heard her, “Be sure to tell Padme it’s from me.” She winked at him with an even bigger smile as he laughed at that rejoinder. They turned to move over to their spectators, and Lara glanced towards Rex, seeing him watching her quietly. She paused only for the tiniest fraction of an instant, seeing his face, then she moved over to Primer and Cody.

“That was a great move, General. I’ll have to see if I can copy it next time we fight.” Primer took her hand in a warm move of greeting.

Kenobi smiled at her and nodded. “I think we could all learn a thing or two from your fighting styles. That was a good match to watch. Good to see you back, as well, General Lin.” He gave her something of a wistful smile, and tipped his head in a way she knew was mean to convey condolences for her loss.

“Thank you, Obi Wan. I wish the circumstances were a little happier, but it’s good to be back.”

“Yes well, since you ARE here, I’m sure we can find some way to put your skills to use. Anakin, we are needed at the Temple. Ahsoka, you too.” He looked to his fellow Jedi, about like a mother hen herding her chicks toward the coop. Anakin gave Lara a little fist bump as he walked off with Obi Wan; she knew she’d see them in the next few days and they would update her on any needs or deployment plans. Kenobi walked a few paces away and then stopped, turning back to Lara. “Oh Lara, I meant to ask you - General Windu received a strange crate of supplies the other day on deployment from the quartermaster; it seems a large satchel of rubber phalluses in assorted sizes and colors arrived to him, with a note that said ‘Eat me.’ You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

A huge whoop of laughter escaped Anakin before he could stop it; he covered it by suddenly faking a coughing fit into his sleeve and looking away. Ahsoka asked him, “What’s a ‘phallus’?” Obi Wan’s eyes cut over to Ahsoka and Anakin quickly, his brows scrunching together in what he hoped was a signal to get her moving. Anakin put a hand around Ahsoka’s shoulders and steered her toward the door, still choking on his laughter and tears running down his face.

Primer and Cody both heard the short conversation and their eyebrows about touched the ceilings; they looked at Lara’s face and saw her head suddenly come up, a tiny smirk lit the corner of her mouth and then her countenance went carefully blank, an expression of consternation and shock in her eyes. “I can’t IMAGINE who would do such a thing, Obi Wan! How the neighbors will talk! I do declare!” She drawled the words out, doing her best to keep her appearance one of innocent, amazed outrage and surprise. Kenobi stared at her flatly, waiting for her to finish her little play. “For heaven’s sake….? Bless his heart?…. No? Not working for you?” She finally gave him a little smile while showing her teeth in an exaggerated grimace and cocking her head a little to look from under her lashes.

”You’re a terrible moral example, Telperion Laurelin.” Lara gave him a very false but endearing look of contrition, and Obi Wan turned to leave. He called back over his shoulder, “Next time, don’t sign the requisition ‘Hugs and kisses, Obi Wan’, please.” Lara pursed her lips together as hard as she could to hold in the laughter that wanted to escape, until the door closed behind him. Then she sputtered out in giggles, made even worse when she looked over at her lieutenant and Kenobi’s clone commander. They were both still staring at her like they didn’t know what to do with her. The laughter in her eyes made it hard for them to hold it against her, plus… it was pretty funny. The two men shared a look and then shook their heads at her incorrigible actions.

[fives-girlfriend]

A/N: New here? Start at First Impressions, part 1!

Lockdown, part 2

Perhaps Asha isn't as much of an outsider with Clone Force 99 as she thinks she is.

Read Part 1

Characters: TBB, OC (Asha Kurr)

Warnings: Minor descriptions of injuries, some mild dissociation, general anxiety. Not much in terms of bad.

Word count: 2,404

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

Asha could hardly recall the rendezvous. Everything was an adrenaline-addled blur; she remembered Echo's voice over comms, informing them that they were in position. She remembered hearing the thudding of footsteps and nearly jerking out her blaster on instinct until she saw Tech and Crosshair coming up the rise. She hardly remembered when Hunter and Wrecker arrived a minute later, smelling of smoke and burnt fuel. The six of them made a mad dash for the ship, and from then, Asha could finally let the ringing in her ears fade. Her entire body was on autopilot as they left planetside; she sat down in one of the crash seats, and from within the cockpit, she could hear Hunter and Echo reconvening while Tech got them all into hyperspace.

"I couldn't get much before the lockdown hit," Echo stated, "nothing that we don't already know. But I think I might've been able to pull a base of operations, a larger outpost than the one we just hit. When I'm able, I'll upload the information to the Commander."

"It's better than nothing," Hunter sighed. "We got what we came for, that's what matters. How's your…?"

"...short," Echo replied with a hollow chuckle. "Emergency removal. It was either this, or take the outlet with us. We didn't have the time to cut through the wall. She can replace it soon enough, there should be spare parts in storage."

Everything fell silent after that, at least to Asha's perspective. She was already putting away her new gear, now smudged with dust and dirt and soot. She felt like she was floating, each motion nearly robotic as she stashed away her gear and ambled her way to find Echo. She still had to help him - check on him, see how he was doing. But before she could even think to reach him, a warm, calloused hand rested on her shoulder, partially yanking her from her daze.

Hunter looked down at her, and Asha could see in his eyes the moment their gazes met just how concerned he was. For a moment, she was puzzled - but it slowly dawned on her as she fully took in where it was that they were. They were in hyperspace now, and had been for at least several minutes. They had left the surface some time ago. She had hardly realized it - it had felt more like seconds. She was suddenly very acutely aware of how hard her heart was pounding, and she actually tried to will it to slow. And as if it were even possible, her crimson face flushed an even darker red in embarrassment and shame, tinting her white facial markings a rosy pink.

"...Asha, relax." Hunter's voice was low and even as he spoke, and Asha took a shaking breath. "It's done. You can breathe now. Echo told me what happened."

That somehow only served to worsen Asha's anxious tension, having been so lost in her own head that she hadn't even heard the conversation barely a room away. What did he tell him? That she nearly fell? That she panicked? That she had mutilated him, that she could hardly think the entire time?

Hunter sighed. He could hear the way her heart thudded even faster, and he moved to stand in front of her, both hands now resting on her shoulders. "You did good. You were caught in a situation neither of you were prepared for, and you adapted. The first field mission is never easy. As far as those go… you did exactly what you were supposed to."

Asha's breath caught, then slowly left her in a quiet exhale. She could see just the scarcest nod from Hunter - breathe. Just breathe. She did good. She did what she was supposed to. She…

"...I… have to go help Echo," Asha muttered, straightening herself up and rolling her shoulder. The knot in the muscle was painfully tense, and no doubt that her shirt was just barely covering a harsh bruise from pulling it so sharply… Hunter gave her a bit of a look, to which Asha could only sigh. "I'll take care of it once Echo and I are done, okay? I'll live. It's just a pulled muscle."

"Just… let us know if we can help," Hunter said softly, giving her a small pat on her uninjured shoulder before dipping away back into the ship proper. Asha smiled for a moment, gentle and fond, before carefully making her way down into storage to find a replacement scomp, no doubt buried under the errant piles of scrap she and Tech had both jointly accumulated.

—

"Echo?" Asha called out as she stepped into the cockpit, a few things in her arms - a replacement scomp, her toolkit, a small twist-jar of bacta gel for bruising. "Got a sec?"

Echo was currently occupying the copilot seat, and when he swiveled around to look at her, he took in all she was holding and actually smiled. "There you are. Come on, let's get to it - I just wanna get this over with, if… that's alright with you."

"Perfectly fine," Asha said softly as she set down everything she had and knelt down in front of him, picking up the scomp and lining it up with its port. "Want me to walk you through it again?"

"...not this time," Echo responded, a bit quieter. "If- if you wouldn't mind. I kind of just want it to be done with."

"Fine by me." Asha didn't argue, and instead set straight to work. "I've done this fix a million times before, okay? I'm gonna deactivate the pros-"

Echo shot her a look, and she quickly shut her mouth. Force of habit, she realized. Wordlessly, Asha deactivated his prosthetic arm, and set to work on reattaching the scomp to its port. It was a silent procedure, at least. Everyone seemed rather tired out from the mission, and decompression was sorely needed. The fix, all in all, took maybe five minutes. The second she was done, Asha reactivated his arm, and sat back on her haunches with a smile. "And there we go. Move your elbow for me?"

Echo did so, going through the motions as he tested out the maneuverability of his arm once again.

"Good. Wanna just, plug into the outlet real quick so we can make sure it works? I've no doubt in my work, of course, it's just a routine diagnostic and-"

"And now you're sounding like Tech," Echo replied with a small smirk, earning a gaping look from Asha that quickly melted into a laugh the second she noticed that the aforementioned pilot had turned to look at them, an incredulous look on his face. Asha was right, though - her work was flawless. When plugged in, his arm was as good as new.

Satisfied, Asha opted to take the now-unoccupied copilot seat, and work on applying the bacta gel she had brought along to her pulled shoulder. However, upon moving to shift her arm out of its sleeve, she hissed in pain and had to stop. Her range of movement was now severely stunted thanks to that strained muscle, and even just getting it out of her shirt to try and heal it was proving problematic. Frustrated and embarrassed, Asha started to stand so she could go somewhere private to try and work it out, but she was stopped when a surprisingly gentle hand settled on her uninjured shoulder.

"Let me help," Echo said softly, as he stepped behind Asha. "Here, lean forward a bit. What do you need?"

His forwardness genuinely shocked her, all things considered. In her mind, she was still more or less just a nuisance to this squad - a very stubborn nuisance, one that was determined to do what she was assigned to do, and make friends while doing it. She felt that her presence was an inconvenience to them at best. But when Echo asked that gentle question - what do you need? - a slight flush came to Asha's face as she glanced over her shoulder.

"...I-I just wanna get my arm out of my sleeve so I can- so I can get this gel on my shoulder. I pulled it when you caught me from falling off the roof back there, heh…" she muttered, rather embarrassed by her vulnerability. A certain look crossed Echo's face, and he lightly shook his head while he moved to start helping her carefully shift her arm out of the confines of her top, a little bit at a time.

"You're never going to stop helping me before taking care of yourself, aren't you? This is the second time already, Asha," he chided her, but nothing in his tone even hinted at the idea of anger. Asha let out an airy chuckle, not looking back at him but instead keeping her gaze forward at the endless expanse of hyperspace outside.

"It's my job to help you, Echo. Simple as that."

"Is that the only reason you're so adamant, then? Just because it's your job?" he asked, adding on a small "Here, hold this for me." as he passed the small jar of gel to Asha for her to hold. Practiced fingers smeared the cool blue substance onto the harsh bruise that was forming on her strained muscle, and her form sagged in relief as the ache began to ease.

"...started out that way," Asha mumbled. "Rex sent me here. He and I worked together before, and I don't take his orders lightly. I was… determined to do right by him. Then I actually started getting to know you guys, and…"

She trailed off as Echo finished applying the medicine, and she went to close the jar again, already starting to feel better thanks to his help. "I realized really quickly that this wasn't just another deployment. I… I hadn't worked with another battalion since I left the 501st, so I was… I-I was keeping things stiff and rigid. I wanted to keep a distance."

"You are remarkably bad at that," Tech suddenly spoke up from the pilot's seat, making Asha jump - she had genuinely forgotten he was there. When he saw the scandalized look on her face, he tilted his head slightly as if confused by her reaction. "I'm only speaking based on my observations. You've shown from the moment you set foot into our barracks that you have a remarkable tendency to get attached to people quickly. Keeping your distance was never an option for you, I figured that much was obvious."

Asha was dumbfounded, and she heard a quick exhale behind her that she knew was a split-second attempt at hiding a laugh. She rolled her eyes and moved to stand up, looking all sorts of playfully annoyed. "You guys are the worst. So what if I wanna actually be your friend now, huh? Would that really be so bad?"

Echo sighed, and he looked over to Asha with a gentle smile. She'd shown him by now what it is she was capable of - how she treated them. This wasn't just another assignment to her, despite how much she cited it as such. "No, Asha… that wouldn't be bad at all."

—

The gunner loft was Asha's sanctuary. Whenever she wanted space, or just a place to be comfortable, this was the spot to do it. That sanctuary wasn't going to last for much longer at the moment though, not as Asha peeked up from her datapad at the first hint of movement out of the corner of her eye. And there Crosshair stood in front of the ladder leading up, his perpetual scowl somehow deepened, body tense, an air of such utter vitriol emanating from him that it made Asha's heart pick up. He didn't even wait for her to speak, cutting her off the moment she opened her mouth.

"I don't know what it is you're playing at, or how you've got everyone fooled," he spat, "but you're going to have to try harder than that."

"Wh- what-?" Asha quickly tried to retort, but Crosshair was as quick on the draw as ever.

"Don't play dumb, mechanic," he continued. "Humor me. Your record showed that you went months without any contact whatsoever from the army. You left your old assignment - not dismissed, left - and went radio silent. What happened between you and the 501st, hm? If you're so adamant about being friendly, why don't you go ahead and tell us what you're hiding-"

“Crosshair!” Hunter’s voice cut the air like a knife, silencing his brother as he quickly stepped forward to put himself between the two. Asha looked genuinely startled, and Crosshair somehow looked even more bitter than before. “That’s enough. What’s gotten into you?”

Crosshair didn’t grace Hunter with a response. Instead, he backed down – not without shooting a glare to both Asha and his brother, before stalking off to head below deck. Hunter didn’t flinch, and Asha let out a low, anxiety-riddled sigh. Hunter was, at this point, entirely used to her heart pounding in fear and worry, and he turned to face her with a calm, but remorseful expression. “...I’m sorry, Asha. He’s… never been one to trust outsiders. He’ll come around eventually.”

“Yeah, I… I’m used to being the odd one out, heh,” Asha replied with a hollow chuckle, setting down her datapad. “Believe me, I’ve gotten way worse than some weird accusations thrown around at me. I… I’ll cope with it.”

“...well, if it means anything to you,” Hunter began, a small smirk drawing up on his lips, “we’re all the odd ones out in this squad. So to me, it seems like you fit right in.”

At that, Asha actually laughed – and Hunter could count it as a win that he got her to smile. With the tension dissipated, eventually Asha was once again left alone – and a certain sort of quiet descended over her as she watched hyperspace swirl by from outside the gunner loft. She was free to let her mind wander, and it kept wandering back to Crosshair’s accusation.

She never wanted to leave the 501st, not really. She traced shapeless patterns on the back of her hand as she stared out the window, and leaned her head back as her eyes eventually slipped closed, lost in thought. At least she still had their memories, she thought.

A few silent tears slipped down her cheeks.

At least she still had their memories together.

[annwayne]

The Red Logs: Return to the Temple Ch. 17

Chapter 17: Another Life

Last Chapter <- -> Next Chapter

Fem!OC X Crosshair

Word Count: 2297

Fic Summary:

There are benefits to owning a clone bar. Underworld lords don’t threaten you to pay for protection. Clones are great company. And the drinks taste great. However, there are also risks to owning a clone bar. Like, for example, becoming the fuck buddy of a special clone task force member so your life gets threatened when a Separatist puts out a bounty for your capture in order to use you as blackmail. Also your sleep schedule gets wrecked. But Anya Tougt is a little more capable than an average bar owner.

Ao3 Link Here

Warnings apply to whole fic:

Canon typical violence, descriptions of panic attacks, alcohol, swearing, 18+ themes (eventual smut), trauma, religious trauma parallels, mild gore

Authors Note:

What is pacing? We don't know about pacing. Sorry lol.

24 BBY. Tomorrow Kenobi, Anakin, and Master Tali and I are going to visit Mandalore on a diplomatic mission. With tensions in the senate rising, Chancellor Palpatine wants to know where Mandalore stands if a civil war breaks out. When I asked Yoda why send all four of us he mentioned there were forces upset with the change of Manalorian customs.

Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the Jedi Temple dressed in civilian clothes. All signs that I was a Jedi stuffed into a bag on the brink of bursting. Everything packed away, except my saber which I tucked into the cloth belt that hugged my waist. It too, hidden from view.

The strap of my duffle dug into my shoulder as I rushed to the taxi platform. My bag thudded at my feet as I waved for a free taxi. I glanced at the chronos posted on the various screens and advertisements floating around the city-planet. It was well into the bar’s rush hour now.

Getting changed only took me five minutes. Getting everything put away, that took much longer than I hoped. No doubt Crosshair was there, waiting, possibly asking Jayas about me. I shook my head at the thought. Jayas was too lousy a liar and Crosshair was too damn perceptive. My nerves buzzed as the taxi driver took my address.

Fifteen terrifying minutes passed and I remembered why I rarely used the cab system on Coruscant. But finally, finally, I was home.

I practically ran out of the speeder, tossing a handful of credits as I went. It must have been more than enough, because I didn’t hear any complaints from the driver. Quickly, I ran down the alley to the backdoor and pulled out my keys. The door opened with a soft click. No one was in the immediate hallway. I leaned back against the cool metal door and let out a sigh.

“You’ll fucking pay for that!”

Irritation pulled my brows together and tugged my lips down.

“You’re swaying like a two legged droideka, you couldn’t hurt a tooka!”

A sigh left my lips as I pushed myself off the metal door. I tossed my duffle over by the door that led to my loft and marched to the bar.

“Good thing you’re not a tooka!”

Two clones stood by the bar, both surrounded by others interested in a fight or watching one. They were regulars I recognized, Jint and Catcher, friends, the last I saw them. Just before the pair could throw their fists, I jumped onto the bar counter and whistled. After the sharp noise caught the attention of anyone within a block radius, I dropped down and stepped between the clones.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing in my bar?!”

Instead of an answer, I got a welcome.

“Miss Anya?”

“Anya’s back!”

The crowd of clones turned into a swarm, as regulars and drunks swept up in the craze surrounded me. Questions went unanswered as too many voices tried talking to me. Somehow I ended up on Catcher’s shoulders. He paraded me through the bar as the clones all chanted my name. They were exceptionally drunk tonight. From my throne I spotted black and red armor leaning in a dark corner.

“Ok, okay, you’ve had your fun.” Jint helped me down from Catcher’s shoulders. They laughed together, reminiscing on won battles, whatever they were arguing about before now completely forgotten. Without someone to parade above the heads of clones in the bar, the chanting died down and the crowd of clones around me dispersed. Or rather, they were drunk enough to not notice when I left.

“That was some homecoming.” Crosshair’s voice greeted me before I saw his face, the dark lighting obscuring his expression.

“You weren’t here last time. That was a homecoming.” I smirked, though it didn’t stay for long.

“Another rare booze run?”

I leaned against the wall beside him, my arm brushing against his armor. “No, actually.”

In the corner of my eye I caught his head turning to face me. “How informative.”

“Answered your question, didn’t it?” Normally I’d be smiling at this part, this game of tooka and mouse we so often played.

He turned fully, resting his side against the wall and crossing a foot behind the other. “You’re making me ask?” A hint of a grin laced his words. “What sort of business was this last trip of yours, Miss Anya.”

At his use of my title I snickered and shook my head. “That just sounds weird coming from you.”

“Well, Miss Anya, I believe there’s only one thing that’ll get me to stop saying it now.”

I shook my head, then turned to face the clone. “You’re the worst, you know?”

“Would you have me any other way?”

“Alright alright,” I opened my mouth, but found only air. Maybe I should have said it was a beer run. “Well, it was,” The only word that came to mind fell from my lips like sand. “Family.”

His eyes widened, then narrowed. “I didn’t know you had family.”

“Yeah, there’s a reason for that.” I mumbled, looking past his eyes at the wall beside them. If Obi-Wan ever found out I called him family, he’d never let me live it down. But in a way, it was true. “Anyway, I’m exhausted and come back to a bar fight?”

Crosshair wore an inquisitive expression, though on him it looked more like a glare than someone in deep thought. He answered absentmindedly “Yeah.. Something about Lyn getting arrested.”

“What?” Surprise jolted me up.

My sudden movement caught Crosshair’s attention long enough to drop that not-scowl. “You didn’t know?” Now confusion colored his features.

There was no helmet to hide my expressions now. “I need to go talk to Jayas.” I turned towards the bar, took a step, then turned back. “Come up in twenty, I wanna clean up a bit.”

That confused expression didn’t budge, but Crosshair nodded. He leaned back against the wall again, and pulled out a toothpick. There wasn’t time to get lost watching his lips, so I turned quickly and scanned the floor. Jayas wasn’t anywhere to be seen, same as when I first came out onto the bar. Instead, Fathal and a single weequay worked the bar. The Weequay mostly filled taps and passed any mixed drink orders to his co-worker. So, Jayas managed to hire someone?

“I’m sorry, ma’am, you can’t come back here.” The weequay was chest deep in orders, and still noticed as I stepped behind the bar. “This is an employees only area.”

“Well-” I glanced past the weekquay, catching Fathal’s eye.

His starry eyes narrowed, and the rodian called out. “Yer ears work’n Qwon? That there’s Miss Anya.”

The weequay, Qwon, looked between the rodian and I, mouth open slightly.

“Your boss.” I mustered a smile, then stepped past Qwon to Fathal. “Jayas in the office?” The rodian gave me a nod. “Thanks, Fathal.” He hummed a response as I stepped through the swinging doors to the back. A knock later, I heard a gruff voice answer.

“Sorry, Fathal. Jeya’s running late and these tax forms are taking longer than-” Jayas lost his words as he looked up and saw me step into the office. “Anya!” He jumped out of his seat, causing the desk to skirt forward from the sudden movement.

“Jayas.” I grinned. Relief flooded my chest at the sight of him. His eyes were a little more sunk then normal, and a line I hadn’t seen before creased his forehead. “It’s so good to see you.”

He fumbled past the traps of files and furniture till he held me in a hug almost as tight as the ones Wrecker gave. “Kid, you had me scared shitless.”

“Yep, I do that. Need to breathe, Jayas.” I gasped and he chuckled, only loosening his grip slightly.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. Maker, not knowing for all this time has been hell.” Jayas leaned back to meet my eye. “Promise me you’ll never get a bounty on you again.”

That earned a breath of a laugh from me. “It’s not like I get much say about that.”

Jayas scoffed at my answer and then finally he let me go from his hug. He stepped back and gave me a look over. “Have you gained weight?”

“Wow.” I laughed, twisting my eyebrows up. “Didn’t think I needed to be the one to tell you commenting on someone’s weight is rude.”

“No, I meant,” He rubbed his chin. “Hugging you, it feels different. Like, your arms and shoulders have more to them.”

“I was gone awhile.” I shrugged. If Jayas noticed the results of my training, then Crosshair was likely to as well. So what, I worked out while helping family? That didn’t make any sense.

“Yes, of course. Speaking of, you look exhausted.”

“Well, you’re not one to talk.”

Jayas rubbed the back of his head and avoided my eyes. “Yeah, things have been interesting around here. No time to relax.”

“Lyn.” Her name still hurt my tongue.

He glanced my way before speaking again. “Yeah, you heard? She got arrested for treason. Clones came and hauled her away a little more than a week ago.” Jayas fidgeted with a bolt on his cybernetic arm as he talked.

“Clones?” Not the police? Jayas nodded his head, his eyes sharing the same question. My gaze fell to the floor as I weighed the information. I couldn’t risk messaging him tonight, but Tech had to know something about this.

“Any chance it was related to your absence?” Jaya’s question brought my eyes back up.

My lower lip slipped between my teeth before I answered. “More than a chance.”

Jayas dropped his gaze again. We stood uncomfortably in the office, sounds of music and laughter pouring in from the bar. Eventually, I felt a metal hand grip my shoulder.

“We’ll sort that out later. For now, don’t worry about the bar. Relax and get back into the rhythm of things.” Jayas gave me a soft smile, similar to the ones I’d seen him give his kids.

“But-”

He shook his head, interrupting my argument before I could even give it. “You’re exhausted. I don’t think I’ve seen circles that dark under your eyes since I first met you. So get some sleep and enjoy some time with that clone you fancy.” He winked, earning a grin from me. “The bar will be waiting, and then I can catch you up to speed on everything and you can tell me what being locked up in some safe house for nearly a month was like.”

“..Yeah.” My grin slowly fell, but by then Jayas had turned to open the door of the office. “What about Stinky? I still need to pick him up.”

Jayas stood on the doorway and bat the air at my question. “Oh, he’s fine waiting a night. I can bring him by in the morning.”

Relief, instantly followed by guilt, filled my sigh. Stinky was a tough Tooka, but this was a long time apart. A good person would fight their exhaustion and pick up their animal companion. “That would be wonderful, thank you.” I gave Jayas a weak smile.

He nodded, once and I exited the office, letting him move out of the door frame so it could close. I picked up my duffle, stifling a groan as my tired muscles cried against me. Before exiting to the stairs of my loft, I turned and called Jayas.

“Hey, Jayas?”

“Yeah kid?” He stopped at the double doors leading to the bar.

“Thanks.”

He stood there, holding the door with one silver hand and one dark one, and looked me over with eyes I had seen few times before. Once being the first time he met me. “Anytime, Miss Anya.” Then he stepped back into the bar.

Something turned over in my gut at those eyes, but I could worry about it later. Now I wanted to shower. Every step up the stairs felt like a trek, but eventually, I made it to my front door.

Inside, it was quiet. Of course, Stinky wasn’t here to greet me, but it was almost like I could feel my absence in the loft. The place felt so still. Somehow, it felt like it would always be this way. But this was my home, and that wasn’t so.

Crossing into my bedroom seemingly gave me a boost of energy. Suddenly the weight on my eyes had lifted and my shoulders weren’t hunched over. Of course, I needed to hurry. Crosshair would be up in approximately 15 minutes, and I needed to stash all evidence of being ‘Annie the Padawan’ somewhere his curious reticle wouldn’t find.

The normal stuff was easy, toothbrush, hairbrush, underwear. That could be put away like regular. But blacks, my Jedi robes, lightsaber, and armor needed more thought. The box under my bed could hold the clothes, but it wasn’t big enough for the armor. Now that the duffle bag was mostly empty, the armor actually fit rather well. I zipped up the bag and slid it under my bed. Looked normal enough.

That just left my lightsaber. Sure, it could fit in the duffle or the force-locked box like before, but that felt wrong. I needed it close to me. Easy access. What was I thinking? This was a weapon I thought I’d never touch again, and yet here I was wanting to keep it close. As I scanned my bedroom my eyes landed on the nightstand by my pillow. I couldn’t? Could I?

Authors end chapter notes:

Did you expect Tali to be arrested when Anya got home? Where do you think the lightsaber will be hidden?

Dividers by Djarrex   

Tag list: @midnight-sun-0

[lonewolflupe]

aLoF ch16 | Burial Of The Conscious Mind

First of all, I am SO sorry for being a week late with this chapter - I just couldn't find the time to finish the last gaps. There's a lot going on in this chapter, and I needed it all to fit together (I hope I managed that). Whilst writing this chapter, it all turned a bit darker and angstier than I anticipated (I accidentally created some sort of sick lovechild between Rampart and Hemlock, I am so sorry in advance I didn't plan this it just happened as I was writing this chapter I apologise and I hate him I want to punch him I am so sorry). Please read the end note as well! And again, I am SO sorry for this chapter!!

Summary: whilst searching for clues, an encounter continues to change Lupe's life for the worse Rating: Mature/Explicit (NSFW) Tags: canon-typical violence, sexual insinuations (but no actual sexual interactions), swearing (usage of slang; kriff/kriffing = fuck/fucking, kark/karky = shit/shitty), drinking/intoxication by booze, torture (interrogation/needles/electric shocks), angst (anxiety/hurt/dark thoughts/trauma/guilt), clone abuse Words: 10.687 Characters: Lupe (OC), Jabba the Hutt, Bossk (cameo), Vice Admiral Trent (OC), CT-6830 Silk (OC), unidentified Scrapper Guild members, unidentified clone troopers; mentions of: ARC-5555 Fives, CT-7567 Captain Rex, Lone Wolf Squad (OCs) aLoF masterlist | AO3 ch15 < | ↓ | > ???

19 BBY, Outer Rim | Arkanis Sector | Tatooine

(About a month after chapter 15)

The partially lit palace room on the unforgiven desert planet was filled with lively music and exotic dancers when Lupe entered it. Her boots made a heavy, thudding sound with every step. The armour on her legs was tucked away behind a bundle of rags, whilst the pieces on her arms were painted to make her look more like some kind of mercenary. She had hated to desecrate her clone armour like this, but she didn't have a choice. What she hated even more was definitely the helmet she was wearing.

She positioned herself opposite to the hoversled that carried the crime lord known as Jabba the Hutt. She made sure to stay clear from the hatch on the floor; it was obvious to everyone it was a hatch, right? She lifted a bloody bag and took out its contents. She tossed the severed head towards the crime lord, leaving a trace of blood as it hit the floor, rolling towards the hoversled and finally coming to a stop.

The room fell silent. She remained at her spot in silence, putting one hand on her hip whilst she awaited the Hutt’s reaction. And when it came, it sent a tremor through the room, as his booming laugh was low and deep. The colourful array of attendees carefully joined in the laughter. They fell silent when Jabba started talking in Huttese, the protocol droid at his side stepping forward and ready to translate.

“The great Jabba is most pleased with this outcome. He asks you to reconsider a more permanent position in his service,” the droid told Lupe, and she couldn't help but huff. “Oh, I will reconsider,” she lied, but with enough confidence so they seemingly believed her; never in the remains of the galaxy was she going to join this slimy poodoo. “But first, I'm here for my payment.”

It wasn't credits Lupe required; she was after intel. And she needed to be careful whom to ask. Since it was now considered sensitive Imperial information, she couldn't be too careful poking around, turning over stones that were meant to stay untouched. But she had to find Rex, figure out what had happened. And in her need to find him, she found herself at a new low, pretending to be some bounty hunter to please this low-life of a gangster. She at least hoped Fives would have found amusement in this.

The bounty she had collected was some slippery sleemo that had evaded every bounty hunter so far - until she had come along. But with her Jedi senses - although she was being more careful than ever to use them out in the open - it hadn't taken her too long to sniff him out. And when she did.. Well, it hadn't been pretty. She had no intention in killing him, although she could imagine his faith as Jabba’s prisoner was probably worse than death. But when she had found him, he had made a run for it. And let's say his skills weren't really on a Jedi level; whilst attempting to jump to another rooftop, he hadn’t been able to reach the other side. He fell down and had broken his neck, killing him instantly. And since he was so unfortunately deceased, Lupe thought it would be in her best interest to make a good show out of this.

“The mighty Jabba asks if you changed your mind and want the credits instead,” the protocol droid continued. Lupe crossed her arms before addressing them. “I haven't. I came for the intel and I'm not leaving without it,” she said, the voice regulator in her helmet making it sound low and raspy. A silence before Jabba and his translator continued. “Suit yourself. The great Jabba merely wants you to know it is dangerous to meddle with the Empire's affairs.” She huffed again, wondering if that really was what ‘the great Jabba’ was saying. But she didn't regret learning Mando'a over Huttese one bit.

“I wouldn't be here, meddling with the great Jabba’s affairs, if I couldn't handle some Imperials,” she shot at them, resulting in another booming laugh. Jabba slightly leaned forward - she thought he did anyway, but there was so much Hutt she couldn't be sure of any of his bodily movements - and, to her horror, licked his lips with his greasy tongue before continuing the conversation. Kriffing gross. “The great Jabba would grant you more than the intel if you decided to stay,” the protocol droid translated, its voice emotionless and lost on Jabba's insinuations.

“Just. The intel. Your Excellency,” she said through gritted teeth, scolding herself for stroking his obnoxious ego. But she didn't have another choice; she needed the intel. He bellowed another laugh through the room, before finally giving in. He must have been in a good mood during that rotation. The protocol droid translated the Huttese dialogue: “There is a junkyard planet in the Mid Rim, called Bracca. You might find what you need there.”

Might? All this effort for a kriffing hunch? She could have just treated some old mechanic to a drink and they would have told her. Lupe was fuming inside, but she couldn't let her emotions get the better of her; Jabba was in a good mood, but that could change with the snap of a finger, were she to say - or do - anything she might regret. She didn't want to give him a reason to make any rash decisions. So with the utmost effort, she thanked them for their time, and made it for the exit. She wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible, ready to wipe the image of Jabba's tongue - and everything else - from her memories.

A huge Trandoshan blocked her way out, and lost in thoughts, she almost bumped into him. Annoyed yet cautious, Lupe let her gaze slide upwards, where she found a pair of orange eyes piercing through her visor. “Careful, sssweetheart,” the man hissed, “The Ssscrapper Guild opperatesss on Bracca. They report to the Empire.” Lupe frowned her brows below her helmet, not sure why he would aid her like this. Was this considered courtesy among bounty hunters? A moment of silence before she regained herself. “Thanks, Bossk. Next drink’s on me,” she thanked him, whilst flipping a credit towards him. He moved aside to catch it, and that was Lupe's cue to move past him, rushing to get away from this dreadful place.

---

Mid Rim | Bracca System | Bracca

It was dark when Lupe landed her shuttle on the surface of the planet. The emerging fog made it hard to find a safe spot, and she wished it had been Claw in the pilot's seat. She had always trusted him with his piloting skills, never worried about any of his landings. She managed her own landing with a heavy thud, sending a sharp nerve-wracking sting through her guts. She shut up the beeping alarms by turning off the freighter's power, and let out a deep sigh before she leaned back in the chair.

She reached for a bottle at her side, and finished whatever booze was still present in it. When it was empty, she tossed it behind her, the glass shattering when it hit the durasteel floor. She looked around the cockpit for more, but couldn't spot any. Kriff, that was probably the last one. Another good reason to get her thrusters off the seat and continue with whatever she was doing here.

When the boarding walk lowered, she was welcomed by the fog. It was a wry reminder of how little she knew about the Empire and their reasoning, about what had happened to the Jedi Order and what was going on throughout the galaxy right now; it was all shrouded in fog. Of course she had picked up some intel along the road, but it was still a big mystery to her. The only thing she knew for sure right now was that she couldn't let anyone know she was a Jedi.

A sigh before she wrapped the cloth around her and walked into the fog, ready to find whatever was waiting for her - that being the intel she was looking for, or more disappointments she was getting used to. She climbed some nearby debris, trying to get a better view of her surroundings. She needed to reach for higher grounds.

After some more climbing, Lupe found her spot. It was hard to recognise the wreckages of the ships she passed, but now that she had reached higher ground and let her gaze slide over the horizon, her breath caught in the back of her throat. In the distance, a dark structure against the slowly illuminating morning sky, there was the eerie sighting of a Venator-class Star Destroyer. It awoke feelings inside her she didn't know any ship could bring her; fondness over the memories of a bygone time, hurt over what had happened. It was bittersweet.

She pulled herself together and took a datapad from her belt. She was adapting, and started to remember carrying necessary gear around. The boys would be proud, although she knew Twist never minded providing her with whatever she needed. A half-smile appeared on her face as she accessed the scanner function of the device.

This wasn't going to be an easy job. The Galactic Empire had only just emerged from the looming shadows it was preying from. Lupe wasn't sure if any of the Republic wreckages even had the intel she was searching for at their disposal. But since she had nothing to lose, she was going to try anyway. If she could find a more recent ship, something with direct ties to the current Empire, that might give her what she was looking for. And so she started her search.

---

It took her several rotations, and she had only been able to cover an insignificantly small part of the junkyard. She had to be careful not to get spotted by the occasional scrappers, as she was trying to hide her presence from any passersby. She was running short on ration bars, and she needed something containing alcohol. Badly.

“Maker, look where you've gotten me,” she grunted out loud, aiming her frustrations at Fives before she took a bite of her last ration bar. There was no water left in her canteen, and she sure didn't feel like drinking from any of the nasty puddles out there. Today was her last chance; after this rotation, she really needed to move on. But she didn't have any other leads. She had to find something here.

Whilst sitting on some rubble, her gaze kept sliding back towards the Venator, which she had nearly reached by now. She sighed before putting away the remainder of the ration bar; she needed to save some for later, since she still had quite some ground to cover. She got herself back on her feet, and whilst keeping a sharp eye out for any scrappers, she started her ascend. Reluctant to use any Force-jumps, afraid anyone laying eyes on her might make the connection, she was sorely relying on her body's strength as she climbed the debris.

When she finally reached the plateau, she swallowed when the massive cruiser overshadowed her. She felt so small, standing in the shadow of the Republic's remnants. Pain and longing filled her chest. But she had to keep moving, she couldn’t dwell on things that would never be again; she had to pull herself together. And so she did.

With a newfound confidence, she found her way through the belly of the beast, all the way up towards the bridge. Good thing she knew the interior of a Venator, although she had never seen one so far gone, as if she had found herself inside a decaying creature. Her thoughts running back and forth, she tried to keep an eye out on her surroundings. She wasn't expecting any sentient species here, but she was currently more wary of any non-sentient ones. She didn't want to end up some creature's meal.

When she finally reached the bridge, she advanced slowly, memories taking a hold of her mind. It was almost as if she could see Master Plo and Commander Wolffe standing in front of her, gazing through the transparisteel viewport into the vastness of space. Waiting for her to join them, to move forward into their next mission. Her heart seemed to be shattering all over again. Where were they?

She tossed herself back into reality with an annoyed grunt. “Thanks, Fives. Happy memories,” she shot out sarcastically, before heading towards the bridge’s central computer. She needed enough power to access it, but wasn't in need to get the engines up; it wasn't as if this cruiser was still able to get airborne anyway. Luckily, Twist had taught her a trick to power up a computer without the need of boosting the whole ship. She just wished he was here to do the job; he was so much better at it than her, and he was so much more patient.

She worked quickly to boost the power she needed to get the central computer running. Of course it took her longer than Twist would have needed. “Shut it, Fang,” she scolded out loud, because she swore she could hear some witty remark about her technological inabilities. “I don't need to be good at it, since we have Twist,” she continued under her breath, working on some wiring, not really paying attention to the words coming from her own mouth.

And thank the Maker, it still had some power left. The computer's internal programming whirred up and the familiar sounds of the ship's controls made her heart ache from bittersweet memories, from moments long gone. She bit her lip to focus on the physical pain it caused, instead of the psychological hurt from the memories. She connected her datapad to a socket and patched into the system. “Alright Fives, show me what you've got.”

The amount of files she found on what was referred to as the ‘Great Jedi Purge’ made her nauseous. There wasn't time to read them all, to transfer them all to her datapad, since she didn't know how long she had before the power would shut off again. She knew she couldn’t get the computer up and running forever. But she made time to transfer Master Plo’s file. The fact that there was a file on him made her stomach turn, but she had to go on with her mission.

She moved on to her initial objective: finding Rex. She quickly punched his designation number, CT-7567, onto her screen and read the file whilst it was transferring towards her datapad. Battle of Yerbana, she was aware of that one. Siege of Mandalore? What had he gotten himself into; Mandalore hadn't even been under Republic or Separatist occupation? What was he doing there? The capture of- What? The capture of Maul? Returning him to Coruscant on a Venator-class cruiser named the Tribunal?

Her eyes widened when she continued to the next part. She read about how the Tribunal had crashed on some faraway moon, and her heart seemed to briefly stop beating when she read his status: ‘Killed in action’. She sank to her knees, feelings of dread and devastation taking a grip on her. A darkness grew inside her, slowly spreading through her body from her stomach to her chest and to her head. When it reached her mind, a bone-chilling cry left her lungs and filled the decaying bridge. Even if there was a chance there was still someone out there, at this moment she felt like everyone was gone. She was all alone, swallowed by the much dreaded black hole.

“Fives! You told me he'd live!” she shouted, ramming her fist into a wall as she spoke the words. Tears ran down her cheeks. After all the effort she had done to come here, after all the hopes she had put into it. And now, it was all shattered. Shattered into pieces, pulverised into dust and blown away by the wind.

He'll live.

Fives’ voice echoed through her mind again, remembering his words from their earlier ‘conversation' back at Oba Diah. “‘He'll live’ my shebs*!” she shot out in frustration, groaning through gritted teeth as her mind darkened. “You got me all the way out here for this? The kriff, Fives!” She hit the wall again, her knuckles bruised by now, before she put her hands on her head, her long, silver hair messily dangling from between her fingers. Everything was getting so dark before her eyes.

*shebs = ass

It's bigger than any of us, than anything I could have imagined.

“So you’ve said! But I don’t know what it means. Fives, what am I looking for?”

Name's Fives. Fives. It's Fives.

“And you’re not just a number, I know! I-” She interrupted herself when it finally dawned on her. “Wait, you want me to find you?” She waited for his reply, but the only thing she heard was his name echoing through her mind. It took her a while to regain herself, to pull herself from the darkness. And when she did, she memorised how it had been Fives who had always brought her back from the darkness, whenever she needed a light to shine the way back towards the surface. Fives. She pulled herself together and started punching ‘CT-27-5555’ onto her datapad’s screen.

She skimmed through the files. Domino Squad, the defence of Rishi Station, the attack on Kamino, promotion to ARC trooper, the battle of Lola Sayu and the escape from the Citadel, the Umbara Campaign, among others. They all sounded familiar, since Fives had told her all about the battles he had fought and the missions he had been on. But wait.. The battle of Ringo Vinda caught her eyes. It had been his last battle, and although he did not die there, there must be something that tied it together. A picture of a brain scan filled up the screen. Tup, Jedi Master Tiplar, another brain scan. And suddenly, a holorecording of a Kaminoan.

“An independent investigation confirmed that the Clone Trooper CT-5555 experienced a malfunction with his inhibitor chip. Both the Senate committee and the Jedi Council have accepted these findings. However, a grievance report was filed by CT-7567.”

A malfunction with his inhibitor- What? “Fives, what is she talking about? What happened to you, my cyare?” she whispered, as she searched for Rex’s grievance report the Kaminoan was talking about. She found it, but it was sealed; she had to enter a pass code for clearance. An ominous feeling made her ponder over her next step. As a Jedi Knight, she might have had access to such a sealed file as part of the Republic. But since the Republic was no more, she didn’t know what would happen if she accessed it. Maybe her access request would just be denied, or maybe it would trigger something. Maybe she would draw unwanted attention towards her by performing this action. But she had come so far; she had to pull through. Reluctantly, she punched in her four digit pass code. It worked. A rush of grief when Rex appeared in a holorecording.

“I already know this report is gonna fall on deaf ears, but I owe it to Fives to record what I saw. I’m not sure I believe it myself, but there’s a possibility that the inhibitor chips the Kaminoans put inside of us have a purpose that we don’t yet fully understand.”

Lupe sat in silence, taking in Rex’s words. She heard him continue about a sinister plot against the Jedi, about the inhibitor chips being able to make the clones do whatever someone wanted, and about the Chancellor being in on it - at least, that was what Fives had told him, according to Rex. He concluded the grievance report about Fives not being himself, but Lupe’s mind was already wandering off. She remembered the conversation she had shared with Fives after Umbara, about something the traitorous Krell had said before his execution.

“He spoke about a new power rising and how a new order would rise when.. When the Jedi have lost the war and the Republic has been ripped apart from the inside.”

A stabbing pain in her chest when it all fell into place. The new rising power Krell had been talking about, how the Republic would be ripped apart from the inside. Fives’ findings about the inhibitor chips, how they could make the clones do anything - even kill the Jedi. How all this had been orchestrated a long, long time before the end of the war. And Fives had figured it out, but no one had heeded his warning. And she hadn’t been there to listen to him, to help him, to protect him. The tears started flowing when the guilt took over. “Oh Fives, my dear Fives, I am so, so sorry..,” she whispered through the sobbing.

Oh mesh'la..

---

All sense of time was lost on her. Only when the computer’s power finally failed and all the lights were shut off, she noticed how dark it had gotten. It must have been somewhere during the night; she had wasted precious time. Lupe disconnected her datapad from the central computer’s socket; she had been able to transfer Fives’ files from it, along with her own file, taken from the ‘Great Jedi Purge’ dossier. She was both curious and terrified about what she would find in there.

When she finally made it outside the Venator cruiser, she was welcomed by the fog again. For once, she was glad she was wearing some sort of cloak, wrapping the cloth around her tightly before she started her descent, setting course for her shuttle. She was aware of the fact that it would take her a while to reach it.

She was not aware of the fact her access request had indeed triggered an Imperial alarm. She was not aware how precious the time had been she had wasted, as the Empire had tasked the Scrapper Guild to seize her, so she could be retained by Imperial troops. And since her mind was wandering from everything she had learned from Fives, she wasn't focussing on what mattered most at that moment; the danger lurking in the darkness.

When the first rays of light started to appear above the heaps of debris, Lupe started to get light headed. She was out of water, leaving her mouth dry, but she still had part of her last ration bar left. She sat down and took small bites to finish it, as if taking longer to devour the bar would prolong her feeling of fullness.

But she was never able to finish the ration bar. A shiver down her spine made her look up, her muscles tensing instantly. The ominous silence surrounding her got interrupted by a faint buzzing sound. When she realised it was a repulsorlift, it was too late; a Scrapper Guild patrol was staring right at her. Kark. She blamed herself for not noticing their presence earlier, but ever since Fives’ death and the clones turning on the Jedi, she had felt out of touch with the Force. As if she had lost the connection to everything that was dear to her. But there was no time to grieve that lost bond.

She was up and off before the remainder of her ration bar hit the ground. Still light headed, she suddenly had a hard time orientating, and navigating through the debris proved rather difficult. “Get your kark together,” she urgently shot at herself through gritted teeth, whilst clumsily manoeuvring through the heaps of junk in an attempt to shake off her pursuers. The Scrapper Guild patrol was right on her tail, and she was more than eager to lose them.

Readying her already overworking lungs to shout out an order to Ragnar, making sure he would lead the men forward so she could defend their rear, she realised once again she was alone. And not for the first time, this realisation distracted her from her objective - which was currently fleeing for her life. Her mind shaken, she made a badly calculated step and found herself stumbling against some debris. The air was knocked out of her lungs, and she had difficulties stabilising herself. Her knees were trembling and her legs started to give way. Meanwhile, the buzzing sound of the repulsorlift kept coming closer.

Run for it!

Fives’ voice snapped her out of her desperate state; he had her back. With a sharp nod, as if replying to him, she focussed on her surroundings. It was only then she noticed a nearby path she could use as a shortcut. Between the heaps of debris, a small tunnel-like passage was left open; big enough for her to slide through, but too small for the repulsorlift to follow her directly. It wouldn't take the danger away, but it might give her the opportunity to gain a slight advantage.

With renewed energy, Lupe leapt towards the opening, and with a smooth movement, she slid straight through. Judging by the sound of the repulsorlift right behind her, she knew she had just been in time. Without wasting any more time, she made it to the other side of the junk heap and continued her way towards her shuttle. She knew as soon as she reached it, she would be safe; the Scrapper Guild's craft wasn't able to follow her into Bracca’s space.

As she finally neared her ship, the sun was already high up. The adrenaline kept her going, making her able to ignore the light headedness and the way her body was starting to protest. She was nearly there.. But the sudden pressure on her chest and grasp around her throat started to slow her down.

Wait for my signal. Signal.. Signal..

Fives had spoken those words before; she remembered them from Oba Diah, when he helped her on her trail to search for Rex; which all seemed in vain now. But she couldn't afford the luxury to linger on it. Not right now. As Fives’ mentions of the word ‘signal’ kept echoing through her mind, as the pressured feeling on her chest and throat kept tightening, she noticed how a modified attack shuttle emerged from Bracca's sky towards the surface.

“Kriff, that can't be good. I think I overstayed my welcome, Fives,” she managed in a panting whisper, the tension on her throat making it uncomfortable to speak the words any louder. And as Fives’ words still echoed through her mind, she finally reached her shuttle, quickly readying it for her eager departure. She waited until the latest arrival to the junkyard was completely out of sight before taking off, the identities of the Omicron-class shuttle’s passengers totally lost on her.

---

Mid Rim | Bracca System | Space

As soon as she found herself in space again, Bracca still eerily behind her, she found the opportunity to breathe, the pressure and tension slowly washing away. She found another ration bar laying around, and with a little more food in her belly, she felt better instantly. The darkness in her mind lifted and she was able to think clearer again, ready to start planning her next step. But she had no idea what that step should be. Her hopes had been on Rex, but now that she knew he was dead, she didn't know whom to turn to. It was as if she was back in the exact same mess before she got the brilliant plan of searching for Rex.

She let her shuttle fly in realspace, making sure to leave Bracca behind, but not knowing what her next destination would be. To her delight, whilst rummaging through the back of the ship, she came across several leftovers of alcohol. That would make a great mix; she was going to need it, since she planned on reading the files she had managed to transfer from the Venator’s computer. She sat herself down in the pilot's seat with the alcohol and her datapad.

Reluctantly, she opened Master Plo's file. She read through it, starting with obvious intel she was already fully aware of. But at last she reached the dreaded part that stated his status; which was ‘deceased’. She had known deep down, as soon as she had heard the voices crying out loud, and again when she had first heard the news about the Jedi's so-called betrayal, back at Oba Diah. But now, seeing the word connected to his name, it felt so final. A sharp pain in her chest as her heart ached. “I'm sorry for letting you down, Master,” she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her fingertips briefly touched his picture, which accompanied his file.

A gulp of booze before she continued reading. She needed to know if Wolffe had been present, if it had been the Wolfpack that was accountable for their General's death. But to her faint relief, it hadn't been. According to the file's intel, Master Plo had commanded the 442nd Siege Battalion at Cato Neimoidia, along with Commander Verd. She wanted to be angry with him, blaming someone for Master Plo's demise. But she quickly realised none of the clones were really responsible, since it had been that inhibitor chip making them comply, executing every order without questioning.

What was it again, what had Ragnar said to her? “Order 66”. A shiver ran down her spine when she recollected her memories from that catastrophic day. If she had known back then what she had known now, was there something she could have done to prevent this, to stop the Lone Wolves from turning against her? “Oh Ragnar..,” she whispered, before shakingly opening her own file.

It wasn't as extensive as Master Plo's; which was obvious, since he had been around way longer than her. But it was mostly her status that caught her eyes: ‘deceased’. What? Her brows frowned in confusion whilst she read on. According to this intel, she was killed in action back on.. Back on Gelida Nix.

Her heart skipped a beat. The boys were absolutely smart enough to be aware they hadn't killed her. Did this mean Ragnar had filed her as deceased into his report on purpose? To keep her out of the Empire's grasp? Did that mean they were still able to think and decide for themselves? If so, she had to find them somehow, to get them out of this mess. Protect them like they were supposed to protect each other, as a squad, as a family. But where to start..

When she looked down at the collection of bottles scattered around her, she noticed they were all empty by now. Her head was pounding, and an annoyingly high tone suddenly caught her attention. She hadn't heard it before, and she sure had spent quite some rotations on this bucket of bolts, this karky excuse of a ship. She got up to her feet and staggered over to the source of the sound.

Her heart dropped. There was a kriffing homing beacon attached to the cargo hold’s hatch. Without dwelling any further on it, she jolted forward, igniting her lightsaber and melting it on the spot. “Kriffing di’kut, gotta be more careful,” she scolded herself, before returning to the freighter's cockpit to power up the navicomputer, ready to punch in some random coordinates for a hyperspace jump. She didn't know where to go, but she had to get moving. Anywhere but here.

But it was too late; when she entered the cockpit, stumbling over an empty bottle that was laying on the floor, she noticed how a Venator-class Star Destroyer had emerged from hyperspace and was now hovering ominously above her. She remembered Bossk's warning all too well; how the Scrapper Guild now reported to the Empire. She should have been more careful.

She collapsed into the pilot's seat, turned off the autopilot and took over the controls. She pushed some buttons, making the freighter turn around to move away from the cruiser. But when she punched the engine, nothing happened. When her shuttle was slowly pulled backwards, she realised; she was already caught in their tractor beam.

“Kriff..”

---

Space | Onboard Venator-class cruiser

Lightsaber within reach, Lupe emerged from the docking station. She was welcomed by several clone troopers, pointing their blasters towards her. Kriff. She definitely didn't want to hurt them. “So what are my charges? Did I exceed the speed limit? It sure as hell is rush hour out there,” she shot at them, forcing a smirk on her face as she gestured to the emptiness of space behind her.

“Stand down, Jedi traitor,” one of the clones barked at her. She narrowed her eyes when she looked at him. “What are you gonna do, shoot me? Yeah, already been there.” Since they had already figured out she was a Jedi, there wasn't really any need to hide her identity anymore. She took the lightsaber's hilt from her belt, positioned it in front of her and slowly ignited it. She didn't want to hurt these clones, but she wasn't going down without a fight either. At least she could wreak some kind of havoc aboard the cruiser.

But as soon as the blue glow of her saber lit her face, a cramped feeling took her in its grasp again. Her chest felt like it was slowly being crushed and her throat was tightening. The air was pushed out of her lungs. Not again; what was happening?

Wait for my signal.

Fives’ voice echoed through her mind again. What signal? She tried stepping forward, but the uncomfortable grasp worsened as his words repeated in her head on and on, making it pound. She took a step back, and she felt better instantly.

Wait for my signal.

With a sigh, she sheathed her lightsaber and let her head hang in defeat. The cramped feeling was gone in an instant, but anxiety took over when she wondered what would happen next. Two of the clone troopers ran forward, quickly removing the lightsaber from her hand, before they put her hands into stuncuffs behind her back. “You've been brainwashed, boys. Get that inhibitor chip out of your heads. I'm telling you! You're better off without it! You can think for yourselves!” she started yelling at them, despair starting to rise in her voice, squirming in their grasp as they took her away.

She was forced onto her knees after being roughly pushed into a cell. The clones positioned themselves around her, aiming their blasters at her. “You're gonna execute me just like that? You clones are better than this,” she shot at them, wriggling her hands to get them free, but the restraints wouldn't budge.

“Oh, you're wrong there, sadly,” an arrogant voice replied from the corridor, moments before an Imperial officer rounded the corner and entered the cell. “I was surprised to see you didn't just slaughter them on the spot, given what they did to your precious Order.” Lupe looked up at him, her teeth gritted and an angry frown on her face. With his hands casually on his back, the officer looked down on her with a smug smile on his face and one eyebrow slightly raised. His blonde hair, parting at the side of his scalp, was neatly combed sideways. His face was smoothly shaven; too smooth. He had a very dislikable appearance, and it sent a shiver down Lupe’s spine.

“Where are my manners? I am Vice Admiral Trent. And you must be..,” he started, casting a nonchalant look at his datapad, before continuing: “Lupe of Lothal?” She noticed a flicker of contempt in his voice. “What of it?” she bit back at him, almost snapping her teeth at him. He chuckled, and it was the most annoying sound she had ever heard. “So feral,” he noted, before walking towards the trooper holding her lightsaber. “I thought you Jedi were more civilised.”

“Take it, it's kriffing useless anyway,” she shot at Trent right after he took the saber, turning it around in his hands, intriguingly examining it. He shot her a quick glance before igniting it, almost surprised that it did work. The trooper at his side took a cautious step backwards. “Works perfectly fine to me,” he said whilst sheathing it again, returning it to the trooper for safekeeping. “Yeah, well, it's useless if I can't use it whenever I need it,” she replied with a huff, still trying to free her hands.

Trent kneeled in front of her, levelling with her. There was something in his eyes that unsettled her. Something dark and sinister.. He was enjoying this. “You have no idea how long I've wanted to work with a Jedi. And you're the perfect specimen.” His haunting words left her silent, no witty remark coming to mind. What was he talking about?

He got back to his feet, turned towards the troopers and snapped his finger. “Take off her armour,” he barked at them. Two troopers jolted forward to carry out the order. She let them; there wasn't much she could do anyway. And besides, it wasn't their fault; it was their kriffing inhibitor chips. But as soon as one touched Fives’ pauldrons, she janked sideways and bit him in the fingers. The trooper howled in pain as he staggered backwards. “You keep your hands from that,” she shot at him, her eyes fiery and fierce when she spoke the words.

With an unamused expression on his cold face, Trent snapped his fingers again and the troopers heaved Lupe back on her feet. They held a tight grasp on her arms to keep her in place, whilst the officer walked towards her. With a sudden movement, he hit his fist into her stomach, making her roll over when she took the blow. She groaned, now hanging from the troopers’ grasp. “Finally getting your own hands dirty, eh? You etyc* piece of kark,” she grunted through gritted teeth. The clones exchanged quick looks as soon as they heard the Mando'a.

*etyc = filthy

Trent took her face in his gloved hands, squashing her cheeks between his fingers as he forced her gaze towards his. “Let's see how much temperament you have left once I'm done with you,” he said to her, an alarming grin appearing on his face before he let go of hers and turned around to walk away. Lupe groaned whilst shaking her head, trying to shake off the feeling of his touch on her skin. “Untie me and we'll fight this out right here, right now,” she growled at him, making him halt. “You're clearly drunk,” he replied, an amused tone to his voice. “You should be thankful; at least now you stand a chance,” she bit back at him, tugging her arm in an attempt to free herself from the trooper's grasp.

Trent turned around, and the urge arose to punch that smug face of his. “I thought the Jedi were prohibited from consuming alcohol,” he continued, ignoring her snarky remark. Lupe scoffed. “‘Not recommended’ is the phrasing you’re looking for,” she said whilst rolling her eyes, before looking straight at him and continuing: “And there’s not really any Jedi left to keep me from consuming it, if you hadn’t noticed.” Another of his annoying chuckles. “Oh I have. I have noticed,” he replied with a smug voice, and the fact that he found amusement in it made her dislike him even more.

She growled before she tried lunging forward, to tear his face off with her teeth if she needed to, since her hands were still bound behind her back. It took both troopers great effort to restrain her. It only resulted in Trent chuckling again. “You show spirit, I’ll give you that. Maybe we can recondition you, grant you a higher purpose within the Empire. Lord Vader would be pleased,” he grinned at her. Lupe, still struggling with the troopers, shot him a toxic look. “I’d rather stay here and let you torture me to death than join you Imperial scum.”

Trent huffed, and before he left the cell, he granted her one more look. “Ironic choice of words. That was exactly what I was planning to do.”

---

Mid Rim | Truum Sector | Inferneous

When she woke up, she had no idea how much time had passed. After Trent's leave, she had been stunned and thrown on the hard, cold bench at the back of the cell, from which she awoke now. Her body felt stiff from the uncomfortable position she had been laying in, her mouth and throat dry. She moved her lips and tongue around to regain some feeling in her face whilst she heaved herself upright. Her hands were still bound behind her back, and Fives’ pauldrons - along with the rest of her armour  - were gone.

“Kriffing hell,” she whispered, positioning her shoulders against the wall and taking in her surroundings. She pondered over what had happened and what her options were, but she quickly realised she had none. She had to sit this one out, even when she didn't like it one bit.

After a moment of silence and solitude, she started to focus on Fives again. “Well, thanks for your lack of signal. Look what you've gotten me into now,” she said with a huff, shaking her head as she let it hang. “I wish you could've just sent me to Naboo or whatever,” she continued in a whisper, a painful feeling of longing filling her chest again.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-

“No no, don't be sorry. You know me; I would have gotten myself into trouble anyway,” she snickered softly. “I just.. I wish you were here with me. Could use your help getting out of this mess.”

I thought you might.

“Yeah, you're being real helpful over there. I at least hope you and Echo are having a laugh out of this.” Silence. “What, no witty response?” Nothing. A deep sigh as a tear formed in her eye. “Just.. Just tell Echo I said ‘hi’.”

Wait for my signal.

She was taken slightly by surprise when the cell's door whooshed open. To her complete horror, Trent was standing in the doorway. “Who are you talking to?” he asked in a demanding yet curious way. Lupe let her lips curl into a smirk before she replied. “Your mother. She told me you're such a disappointment to her.” Trent pressed his lips into a thin. “Charming,” he muttered, before nodding into the corridor.

Two troopers emerged from around the corner, walking into the cell towards her. They harshly grabbed her arms before pulling her to her feet. “Woah, didn't know you liked it rough,” she smirked at them, resulting in some head shakes. “Where did all the tender clones go?” she continued, as they dragged her towards Trent, still positioned in the cell's doorway. They dragged her up the steps of the stairs, and when she was in front of the Vice Admiral, he leaned forward. “Let's see how long you can keep up that wit,” he grinned at her.

The Venator-class cruiser was docked on top of an Imperial base. As soon as they entered the facility, an ominous feeling crept up inside her. This was not like any military facility she had ever been to; no data centre or technical depot. No, this was something else, and she didn't like it one bit. “Welcome to my medical facility. I call it ‘Operandus Base’,” Trent informed her with that infuriatingly smug voice of his. “Not sure I want to know what that means,” Lupe expressed her thoughts out loud, her gaze sliding left and right at every room they passed, taking in her new surroundings like a shriek-hawk. “I'd gladly elaborate, but I know you'll find out soon enough,” he chuckled. “How considerate,” she said under her breath.

She was nudged into a small, empty room. Her armour was already taken from her earlier, onboard the cruiser, and her heart ached for the loss of Fives’ pauldrons. She was shaken from the moment when Trent flatly ordered the two troopers to take off her clothing. They struggled to keep her in check when they worked around her binders. She felt vulnerable, standing in front of them in nothing more than her breast wrap, and she almost felt fortunate when she was allowed to keep wearing it. She was then dressed in a knee long, mint-coloured prisoner's gown before her hands were bound behind her back again.

“Is this meant for prisoners or for patients?” she asked somewhat rhetorically, glancing over the dreadful gown she was now wearing. “Why not both?” Trent chuckled, before gesturing to the troopers. “Get her into interrogation room five,” he ordered them, and they started to drag her around again. “Not five,” she whispered under her breath, nothing more than an inaudible mumble to the troopers at her sides.

Inside the room, she was roughly put onto a horizontally rotated interrogation chair. The troopers worked quickly to fasten the straps around her body, making sure she couldn't move. She didn't blame them for anything they were doing; she knew they were following orders, trying to be compliant, good soldiers. She felt for them; a sharp pain in her chest being proof of it. When the last strap was tightened, Trent ordered one of the troopers to stay inside the room, the other was to position himself outside. A red laser barrier was activated and shut her off from the outside, resulting in a cramped feeling inside her chest.

Trent shoved a stool to the side of the torture table and sat down, a datapad in his hands. “Let's start with some simple questions,” he grinned at her, whilst accessing a file on his device. “Is your name Lupe?” She shot him an annoyed look from the corner of her eyes; she wasn't able to move her head to face him directly. “I have no recollection of my name giving. You should just ask the one who named me.” Trent's lips slid into a thin line again; she instantly knew he wasn't amused. “A simple yes or no would suffice, in this case.” Lupe tried to shrug as she replied: “I guess.” A moment of silence before Trent's gaze slid from her towards his screen. “I'll write that down as a ‘yes’.”

“Where were you born?” he continued, with renewed effort. “Let’s say I came from a tube. So let's try Kamino,” she huffed; she was ready to play this game as long as necessary. Trent let out a deep sigh before he continued in a low, menacing voice. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” he shot at her, leaning closer. Lupe forced a smirk on her face. “Yeah, you remember our first meeting? When you called me ‘Lupe of Lothal’? So take a guess, shebspalon*.”

*shebs = rear (ass) / palon = hole

Lupe could swear she heard the clone trooper in the back of the room snicker. Trent, although the meaning of the Mando'a lost on him, seemed less amused. He closed his eyes and rubbed his eyelids before continuing. “Would you consider yourself a Jedi?” Lupe raised an eyebrow, letting her gaze wander the ceiling above her as she pondered over her next words. “I would consider myself a lot of things, but I'm not sure Jedi is still on that list,” she replied casually. “Let me rephrase. Was there any point in your life where you were part of the Jedi Order?” he asked with a sigh, clearly annoyed. “I guess. But I bet there have been several points in my life where the Council wished I wasn't,” she said with a smirk. “And why would that be,” Trent slowly replied under his breath, before moving on to the next question.

“Are you still in contact with any of your old accomplices?” Lupe frowned, somewhat confused. “‘Accomplices’? You really have to overthink your interrogation strategies, focus on your phrasing. You see, if you mean the Jedi, then it's a definite ‘no’. If you mean partner in crime, then yeah, I talk to him on a daily basis.” Trent put his datapad away and leaned towards her again. “I'm glad you're enjoying this, but the fact that you're not really in a position to mess around seems to elude you,” he shot at her, and she could see the frustration in his eyes, now that he was close. Time to rile him up even further.

“Oh, I'm fully aware. But gotta keep things fun. And if it comes to my position; I do prefer a different one. It's where I wrap my legs around his-” Trent's hand shot up, making a shushing gesture. “I'm going to stop you right there,” he interrupted her. He abruptly jumped to his feet, readjusting his pants and sliding a hand through his blonde hair to put a loose lock back into place, before he leaned close to her again. She could feel his breath on her skin this time. “I gave you a choice, but you've chosen the hard way.” She started to grin from ear to ear; this man really had to overthink his phrasing. “I was just going to add that to the description of my favourite position,” she chuckled. Trent muttered something under his breath before he stormed out of the room.

“Yeah, that was fun,” Lupe grinned, before she noticed the clone trooper was still positioned in the room. She tried turning her head towards him, but the strap around her forehead wouldn't budge. “You alright there, trooper? Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable there,” she shot at him, her demeanour shifting immediately, her apology genuine. He didn't reply. “What’s your name? What battalion did you serve? Under whose command?” she asked him out of curiosity. Another moment of silence. “So you're not allowed to talk to the prisoners, right?” From the corners of her eyes, she noticed he started shifting on his feet.

“You should get that inhibitor chip out of your head. Being rid of it makes you think more clearly. Making decisions for yourself again,” she shot at him, wriggling her limbs, but it was no use. She shifted her focus back on him when she finally heard him speak. “What are you talking about?” He sounded harsh and bitter; nothing she was used to, coming from a clone.

“I'm talking about the duse* they deliberately put inside your head. It's what they use to control you, to make you follow orders blindly. It's how they turned all of you against the Jedi,” she elaborated, hoping it would make him start thinking for himself again. “We turned against the Jedi because you committed treason against the Republic!” he shot at her, almost in a spiteful way. Lupe huffed before replying: “All of us? And what exactly did we do? Do you have any recollection of that?” There was another moment of silence.

*duse = rubbish, waste (lit. unclean things)

“Thought so. Trooper, you're not a droid. You're not another number. You should be able to think for yourself, make your own decisions. Get that kriffing chip out of your head,” she shot at him, hoping he would heed her warning.

Before he could reply - if he was even going to -, Trent re-entered the room. He halted in front of the trooper, granting him a quick glance. “Is there a problem, trooper?” The clone stood at attention before replying: “N-no, sir. Everything's under control.” Heh, they were still bad liars. Lupe wriggled her head against the strap, vigorously trying to look at the trooper. “Not another number!” she shot at him, resulting in a confused look on Trent's face.

He quickly regained himself, walking towards Lupe's side again. “You might not have thought this through, but two can play this game,” he ominously told her. “Well, three, actually,” he continued, before stepping aside and revealing the interrogator droid that was hovering inside the room. Kark, this was going to hurt.

---

“I asked you a question. Where are your accomplices hiding out?” Trent asked her, still remaining calm. There was no need to hurry; he had all the time in the galaxy. Lupe grunted and gritted her teeth when another needle entered her skin, injecting a yellow liquid into her veins. She whimpered when she felt how it entered her bloodstream, how it painfully flowed through her body, making every spot it reached ache and itch. She wanted to scratch those spots, scratch away her skin, scratch away the flesh underneath to make it stop. But she couldn't; she was still tightly strapped down, the bare skin of her arms and legs against the cold surface of the torture chair. She vigorously started wriggling her whole body, trying to get loose. But the straps wouldn't budge. They never did.

“Kriff you, Trent!” she roared at last, saliva spraying from her mouth with the intensity of every word spoken. Trent just stood there, a smirk on his smug face, waiting until the liquid had worn off before he would continue with his next toy. She shuddered and tried catching her breath, for she knew she was going to need it to survive Trent's next atrocity. “Y-You think I'm gonna.. I'm gonna yield to some p-pain?” she stammered, sweat dripping from her feverish temples.

“I was hoping you'd say that. No, I have something else in my mind,” he started, interrupting his train of thought to manage one of his nasty chuckles, before continuing: “Oh, I stand corrected. In your mind.” He turned himself towards the droid, giving the order in a low, practical voice. “Administer the anxiety serum.” He turned around to face Lupe again, leaning close to see every twitch in her face. “But let's double the dose,” he aimed at the droid.

Her eyes widened in fear, and that was exactly what Trent wanted to see; he was even enjoying it. The sick kriff. She flinched when the needle entered the skin of her neck, and she could see Trent stare intensely at her as the liquid entered her body. Only when the droid moved away, Trent did as well. He rubbed his hands together whilst addressing her. “You see, fear is a stronger weapon than pain. And since you've probably had your fair share of it during the war, I'm sure this serum will prove quite effective on you.” Lupe gritted her teeth, her chest heaving heavily from the pure hatred she felt for this man.

“There is just one disadvantage for me. It takes a while to work at its fullest intent, you see. So I'll leave you to it for now.” He reached for her thigh and gave it a quick squeeze. “But don't worry, I'll be back.” It sent a shiver down her spine. With those words, he turned around and left the room. Lupe wanted to swear at him, to hit him with every impurity she could think of, but words eluded her. Instead, she let out another furious roar; it ended in an agonising cry, before it died down into soft sobs. “Fives, where are you? I'm still waiting for your kriffing signal,” she finally managed, her voice full of pain and hurt, taking a deep breath in an effort to regain herself.

“Who's.. Who's Fives?” She had totally forgotten about the clone trooper in the room. He had silently stood by during the torture, ordered to stay in the room. He had turned around, unable to watch whatever Trent was doing. The Jedi might be traitors in the eyes of the clones, but he had found absolutely no pleasure in any of this.

Lupe took a few breaths, this time doing no effort to try and turn her gaze towards him. Her head was pounding, and every movement of her eyes worsened it. Every movement in general, actually. “Fives is.. Fives is my shereshoy,” she finally managed, although weak. She was surprised to see the trooper looming over her, as he had finally decided to walk over to her. “Where did you learn Mando'a?” he shot at her, but this time, there was no harshness or bitterness to his voice.

Lupe tried to chuckle, but it only resulted in coughing. The trooper doubted for a moment, but finally decided to loosen the strap around her forehead. He gently guided her head up until she was done coughing, before he aided her in drinking some water from a canteen he was carrying. Water had never tasted so good before, and after some more, she rested her weary head back on the headrest. “Vor'e*,” she managed, accompanied with a very faint smile. “I started learning it during the war. To.. To show my respect to the troops. To let ‘em know I.. I cared. Grew close with ‘em,” she elaborated, stammering through her words, not sure if she made any sense.

*Vor’e = Thanks

A moment of silence before the trooper continued. “And is this Fives a clone as well?” He cautiously took off his helmet, revealing his face to her. The face she had looked up to so many times before, but still, they were all slightly different. She searched for the differences in this one. “Yeah, he was. Thank you for reminding me of him,” she whispered, a tear forming in her eye, her lips creating the faintest of smiles. If her hands had been free, she would have gently touched his right temple.

The trooper felt her pain, understood her loss, and let his head hang for a moment. “I'm sorry,” he whispered distantly. “No need. None of this is your fault. Any of the clones’,” she whispered, as the tear rolled down her cheek. He evaded her gaze. “Tell me, trooper. What's your name?” Although she had asked this before, the question took him by surprise. He looked back into her eyes. “It's, er- It's CT-6830, Silk, sir-” he said, immediately trying to correct the way he had addressed her, but he had already spoken the word. Lupe managed a faint smirk on her face. “Smooth,” she shot at him, and he couldn't help but laugh. She instantly felt better; how she missed to hear their laughs, to see their faces, to be in their presence.

But something started to gnaw inside her. A nauseating feeling in her mind made her thoughts and her memories warp. Distortion crept up into her vision. She blinked, hoping it would go away, but it worsened. She started to panic, her heartbeat rising, her chest heaving from heavy breathing. She started to gasp for air. “What’s- What’s happening?” she managed, looking at Silk, her eyes wide and full of anguish.

“It.. it must be the serum. I-I’m sorry,” he said to her, stepping back slowly, his helmet under his arm. He swallowed; he felt helpless as he watched the substance doing its job, Lupe laying struggling in the chair. Now that the strap around her forehead was detached, her head darted around alarmingly; it was spinning as it filled with flashing images. She couldn’t tell apart memories from fears anymore, as it all blended together in her dazed mind. “Master, I-I- No! Wolffe, please no..,” she started rambling.

At that very moment, Trent re-entered the room. His hands on his back and a satisfied smile on his smug face, he calmly walked over towards the interrogation chair. “Thank you, trooper, for showing your purpose,” he said to the trooper. “No!” Silk shot out in disbelief, but was quieted by one stern look from Trent. He continued his stride until he reached Lupe, where he contently watched how her shaking body and troubled mind were being affected by the serum. “Perfect,” he whispered. He leaned forward and took her cheeks between his fingers, roughly guiding her panicking gaze towards him.

“You think I didn't read up on your file? Read all about your fondness for these clones? Let’s make you fear what you love most,” he grinned at her, before gesturing towards Silk to move over. The clone shook his head reluctantly, not wanting to take any part in this twisted game. Trent granted him another stern look. “You know what happens to clones who do not execute orders, so be a good little soldier and come over here,” he shot at him, a toxic tone to his voice. Silk swallowed as he slowly started walking towards them.

When Silk was close, Trent grabbed him by the back of his neck and forced him forward, close to Lupe, almost pushing his face against hers. Silk could see the despair in her eyes, but there was nothing he could do. Nothing that wouldn’t result in any of his brothers getting hurt. “Just a heads up, clone; do not touch the chair,” Trent warned Silk, before he activated the torture chair’s internal electrifying system. The chair’s metal casing conducted an array of electric shocks, and Lupe started to quiver vigorously as soon as it reached her body.

Trent only granted her a short moment to catch her breath when he deactivated the electrical current. As she laid panting, gasping for air, her body still shivering as it tried to recover, he moved his mouth next to her ear. “That will teach you defying me, Jedi,” he whispered, spitting out the last word as if he was talking about vermin. When he withdrew his face, she could see the most sadistic smile on his smug face. If she would survive this ordeal, she was sure she would never be able to wipe that from her memory.

Just like that, the electrical current was reactivated, the shocks reaching deep inside her body as she laid trembling and shaking. Trent made sure Silk’s face was close to hers, so from this day forward, she would associate the clones’ faces with fear and pain. Those who she loved the most.

And slowly, it started working. Even whenever Trent had the electrical current deactivated, she laid shuddering from fear whenever she looked upon Silk’s face. Whenever the image of a clone’s face flashed before her. Even Fives’.

…

Epilogue

Trent was far from done with her. A Jedi was a rare catch these days, and he was fully using the opportunity to discover one’s limits, to push one’s boundaries. To experiment on one, finding out how - or if - her Force-connection would alter his known results on certain questionable experiments. And since Lupe was a traitor to the Republic, an enemy and threat to the current Empire, he was free to continue his experiments under military and political acts.

No one was going to stop him.

Lupe laid wearily on a hover-stretcher, her body broken and her mind numb, as she hovered through the base’s corridors. She didn’t look up anymore from the gut wrenching cries and agonising shouting coming from these parts of the facility; she had become one of them, just another number, and there was nothing she could do about it. There was no way forward from here. And with every passing rotation, any hope to get a signal from Fives died down. She rather not think about it anymore; she rather not think about him. She could feel the electricity shooting through her body, filling her with fear whenever she did. So she tried not to. It seemed easier to just forget.

When she opened her eyes again, she was blinded by a bright light. For a moment, she thought - she hoped - the Cosmic Force was welcoming her, but she knew the opposite was true when Trent’s voice slowly started to make sense to her. “.. and we don’t want this scum to reproduce after we repurpose her. Make sure of it.” She twitched her eyebrows in defiance, but didn’t have the strength to show any more resistance. “And don’t hurry with the procedure; we have all the time in the galaxy.”

No one was going to save her.

I AM SO SORRY please believe me some parts of this chapter were so damn hard to write 😭 I promise things will get a bit better after this chapter, but first, I'll take a break from posting new aLoF chapters to figure out how exactly I want to continue (and to take a breather after these angsty chapters). I'll keep working on the aLoF ficlets in the meantime! Thanks for sticking around <3

[annwayne]

Ooh very fun! Yes let’s give some of our older work some love too :3

Mix of SFW and NSFW (explicit) under cut. SFW posted first, then all nsfw posted.

The Red Logs: Return to the Temple

“Jesus, fuck, Crosshair can you not give me a heart attack after I just woke up?” In the mirror’s reflection I caught a small smirk from him. I turned around and threw the hand towel I used to dry my face at the slender clone.

How the Batch Reacts to Omega Dating

He’s wary, honestly all of them are wary, but they also know Omega, knows what they have all taught her. Hunter trusts her. At most, he’s worried about an imperial trap. So he does his due diligence to see if there’s anyway this other kid is connected to the Empire. Usually, everything checks out. He waits up until Omega gets home.

TBB Walks In on You.. Asleep

Hunter would strip down immediately and slide in right next to you. (He’s a naked sleeper and I’ll take no criticism) He won’t bother getting food, brushing his teeth or hair- he just sees how comfy you are and wants nothing more than to join in.

Human Fashion With Teyla and Todd

Cozy Sun Spot

AnnWayne's Cute and Spicy Star Wars Art Collection NSFW (cropped bc Tumblr 🤪)

Demons and Witches: OC Version NSFW

(There is also a reader version here)

Thudding music muffled as the door behind Anya clicked closed. Her boots thudded against gray concrete, occasionally splashing into shallow puddles. She took a deep breath of somewhat-fresh city air, noting the odd mixture of petrichor and petrol gas. Even with the limited light illuminating the alleyway Anya was able to make out a tall figure leaning against the brick of their building a few feet down. As she walked closer the silhouette of a toothpick flicked between the man’s lips.

Heightened Senses and Natural Perfumes: OC Version NSFW

(There is also a reader version here)

Steam slipped through the cracks of the refresher door as Hunter stood with his back against the hot shower. Droplets rained down his hunched back as he pumped his hard member. Water mixed with precum as he rolled a thumb over his puckered head. With each twist of his wrist Hunter held back grunts that would otherwise expose him. The others may not have enhanced senses, but these walls were thin.

Beauty and Espionage NSFW

Violin strings guided a sea of dancing couples through delicate steps on marble floors. Gold light bathed luxurious senators and gorgeous socialites gossiping below. Wines flowed freely as servants tended to the elite’s every need. This was Naboo, a planet famous for their rich art and philosophers. Consequently, Senator Amidala was famous for encouraging mingling between Republic and Separatist alike. This made the Festival of Light a breeding ground for the biggest game in the galaxy: espionage.

TBB Walks in on You NSFW

I'm a bit of a sucker for a size difference, so Wrecker holding you in his lap- ooh we'll get there. He may be a bit of a goof at times, but he's clearly attentive. So as he approaches the door I think he'll notice something is different.

NPT: @wolveria @nimata-beroya @bagheerita @chaniis-atlantis @all-mighty-yaoiyuri

Creator Self-Promotion

Rules: post the first lines of your last 10 fics you posted. If you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics.

"But K, I don't write but I still create can I still play?"

Post your last 10 pieces and give us a play by play. What was the inspiration? Any fun facts you can share with us?

Anyway let's get on with it

1. Fishing for Compliments - Merman!Crosshair x F!Reader

A sigh passed the young woman’s lips as the sun began to disappear beneath the waves. The waves rocked her quaint vessel as if it were a mother soothing her child. Her meal as well as a plate of identical food remained untouched as she kept her gaze to the depths. Every ripple of its surface a reminder of the mounting minutes that her company kept her waiting.

2. Drop Me a Line - Wrecker x F!Reader

The young woman stifled a yawn as she continued to work the mass of dough to her standards to be plopped into pans to bake. She continued working the dough sparing glances to the chrono on the wall as the sky outside began to lighten with the sunrise. Her pulse spiked when the chrono was checked again. She abandoned the lump of dough as she snatched up a pastry box. The bell chiming as the door opened and closed.

3. Budding Romance - Rex x F!Reader

“And you’re sure you’ll have them there.”

“A bit of faith would be nice, Anakin.”

4. Skin in the Game - Wrecker x OC (Rina) (18+ Please view responsibly)

Wrecker was on the hunt. Thankfully the Marauder held only a few spaces to hide away as he searched the ship. His target tucked away by the sensors. Vibroblade twirling between his fingers while his idle gaze stared at the screen. The demolitions expert took a breath, hoping to find answers.

5. Hair Support - Tup x Reader

The days of the Clone Wars tended to drag on in between assignments. Thankfully, the Republic saw it fit to dispatch your research team with a clone legion escort to ensure the lush jungle planet would not eat you and your colleagues alive. It was in the sweltering heat of the afternoon that one of your study binges was interrupted. You shook your head knowing who dared tread into your tent.

6. Interrogations - Echo x F!Reader (18+ Please view responsibly)

The former arc trooper sighed. Another fruitless attempt at slipping free of his bonds. The chair he was bound to chilled any amount of exposed skin. The room kept dark to prevent him from gathering his bearings. He bided his time, waiting for the tell-tale clicking of his keeper. It was a whisper at first but grew louder as the automatic doors parted.

7. Personal Tastes - Hunter x F!Reader

Strands of meat sizzled and spat as she flipped the tangled mass. Her work distracting from the pair of eyes watching you from the doorway. Her culinary tasks from the staccato chops of a knife to peppers to the accented clink of a mortar and pestle offered a calming tune.

8. Just This Once, Everyone Lives - Rex x Reader

Your bottom lip remained captured between your teeth as the speeder came to a stop. The building looming over the city streets twinkled in the night. A beacon for personnel to gather while dressed to the nines. A hand curled around yours, smoothing over your knuckles.

9. Keep Away - UniversityAU Wrecker x Reader

You filed out with your fellow undergrads as your last class for the afternoon let out. the professor's voice offering mention of the end of the first sprint. You traversed amongst the student body's current before veering off to a corridor. The current loosening its grasp the closer you ventured toward the sanctuary of paper and ink.

10. Nothing Fight - Crosshair x F!Reader

It could be easy to say Clone Force 99 had a culture separate from the sea of clones. Clone medics would be reassigned in the blink of an eye and nat born medics often assigned whoever pissed off the higher ups. This led to your current long term assignment. Having a medic on board being the main reason one of your patients was released to his squad early pending observations.

NPT - @photogirl894 @rain-on-kamino @tecker @techs-stitches @littlemissmanga @annwayne @fakegingerrights @merkitty49 @moodymisty @starrylothcat

Wanna promote your work here too? Do it!

[nimsajlove]

Found you (II/?)

This is really hard to come up with and I don’t know why! You know, I love Dogma. But I think I don’t love writing him...

Ao3    Brothers-AU     Part I

   *~*

For a long time they just sat there, Dogma trembled every now and then and finally, Ahsoka slipped off her robe and wrapped it around his shoulders. The men checked on them a few times, but held themselves in the background. Dogma didn't seem to notice. „Kamino?“, he finally asked quietly, his voice small and lost. „Has nothing to say about any clone anymore.“, Ahsoka assured him and he nodded against her shoulder. „Krell?“, he asked after a few minutes of silence. Damn it, for Dogma this had only happened recently, while Ahsoka had long buried Krell deep in her memories. „Wasn't a Jedi anymore, you are okay.“, she muttered and Dogma nodded again, he seemed to collect his thoughts. „Tup?“, the question was even quieter than the last two, it almost ripped Ahsoka's heart out. „No, I'm sorry Dogma.“, she replied softly and felt Dogma just dully nod again. He looked numb. They wouldn't get anywhere like that... „How about we go and look for your bunk?“, suggested Ahsoka softly and Dogma winced violently, she hastily put her scarred hand on the back of his head and let his face rest on her shoulder again. „It's okay, I'll stay right here.“, she quickly rowed back and waited.

Her back became stiff from sitting for a long time, her neck ached and there was a hint of a headache that began high in her Montrals. The last few days had been... long. She wasn't really tired, just empty. Drained. Curling up on the floor in her study with the others sounded very tempting. „I'm sorry.“, Dogma suddenly mumbled quietly and as if by reflex Ahsoka ran her fingers over his short hair. „You don't have to feel sorry for anything. I'm sorry that we didn't get you earlier.“, she replied quietly and when the clone started to get up she released him from her embrace and moved away slightly, giving him room to straighten himself. His eyes were red and slightly puffy. But he seemed calmer. „You were looking for me?“, he asked softly and rubbed his arms under her robe, shivering. Ahsoka nodded hastily, she had a lot to make up for! „Of course. I'm sorry that I couldn't be a better sister to you before.“, she apologized again and Dogma winced, but this time he managed a small smile. „I would be fine, if we could become friends. Sir.“, he muttered and it conjured a real smile on Ahsoka's face. This time she would do it right! And she would not lose this friend, because the war was over. Carefully she offered him her hand. „Friends?“, she took up his suggestion and when he clasped her fingers his hands were cold, but his grip was gentle. „Friends.“

Her comlink blinked at her demanding and Dogma watched her throw the thing a restless look. „I'm holding you back, am I?“, he muttered and Ahsoka shot him a sharp look. „Say that never again. I'll take as much time for my men, as each one needs.“ Taking a deep breath, she paused. „But I would really like to take a look at the others. Would it be okay if I call Kix?“, she asked and although Dogma's shoulders tensed, he nodded curtly. She didn't want to stress him any more than necessary, but her brothers would certainly do their best to care for Dogma. She notified Kix. „Grab Thud and check on Dogma a little bit, okay? I'll go out and assign each men a medic.“, she murmured, Thud would certainly get along wonderfully with Dogma. The young clone was quiet and reserved. And he would take Dogma with him to Hug, who was perfectly gentle. „Good, now that we have the capacity. Give me a few seconds.“, Kix answered tinny and cut the connection.

Ahsoka slowly turned to Dogma, he watched her. His eyes shone tiredly, but he no longer flinched with every move she made. „I called Thud too, he will help you find a bunk. Is that okay, or should I call someone else?“ Dogma shrugged. „You are the general.“, he muttered and Ahsoka sighed, she shook her head. This would be some hard work. „And you have the right to say no.“, she countered and this time he actually smiled gratefully. „I know. Thanks sir.“ Footsteps sounded and Kix entered, carefully followed by Thud. Neither of them wore helmets. Ahsoka rose. „If you need anything, let me know.", she informed everyone and with a gentle smile she disappeared out into the corridor.

Dogma wasn't sure what to do with the situation. Tup, his batchmate, was gone. The world he had returned to seemed to be different from the one he had left. And Comm- General Tano was so much older! And calmer. And looking at Kix now was like looking into a different face than back then. The Medic had lost the hard pull on his mouth, instead fine lines had dug themselves around his eyes. They made him look tired and sad. It was all strange, but the hair was even stranger! Kix had ALWAYS found time to maintain his hairstyle. Why did he stop doing that? And he wasn't wearing blue, his armor was now adorned in bronze. „Dogma.“, the medic suddenly greeted and his soft voice tore Dogma from his thoughts. Had Kix always sounded so calm? He didn't know, had only spent time with him on the battlefield. „Sir...“, Dogma answered uncertainly and watched as Kix put down his backpack and came a little closer. „May I?“, he asked, Dogma couldn't remember the medics ever asking for his permission! He shrugged his shoulders a little and Kix sat down next to him on the uncomfortable cot, who had covered it with blankets?

Kix pulled his backpack towards him and opened it, rummaging around a little. When he looked up they both paused. No, these couldn't be tears. Medics didn't cry, Dogma was 100% sure of that. Right? And yet Kix's eyes shimmered suspiciously... „Kriff.“, Dogma muttered and hastily pressed his lips together again. Strictly speaking, Kix was ranked far above him. He had no right to speak so freely in front of him, that was wrong. But it had also been wrong to practically cling to his new general. Kix laughed dryly, ah. There was the trooper Dogma knew. „I'm so sorry.“, the medic sighed and rubbed his face with one hand before he called up the most important vitals of his patient with a small scanner. Dogma eyed him critically, he had never heard these words from Kix. Or even just thought that he would ever apologize for something...

Dogma did not find the capacity to do anything with this excuse. So he was silent and observed, before he had never taken the time for something like that. Just watch his brothers without a list of rules in the back of his mind. It was more interesting than had Dogma expected. Kix moved slowly but purposefully. Whenever he noted something on his datapad, he relaxed his jaw a little and every time he touched Dogma, he gritted his teeth. Dogma's gaze wandered aimlessly upwards, what was he actually doing here? Back then, just a few hours ago, so THEN... he had left the shuttle and accepted his death. And now he was sitting here!? „I think we got you back with no permanent damage... Maybe a little malnourished.“, Kix grumbled and Dogma nodded without really listening. „I'll see that he gets something nice.“, the other clone announced quietly, but Dogma winced violently nontheless. General Tano had brought two men here, but he had completely forgotten about the other clone next to Kix. „Dogma, this is Thud. Is it okay if he shows you your bunk?“, Kix asked carefully and Dogma took a few deep breaths, okay. Maybe a new face was good? He eyed Thud briefly, fine bronze stripes ran across his breastplate. The color of General Tano? Then he studied Thud's face and Dogma was surprised at how young he looked. Without the fine lines of worry and the shadows under his eyes, he looked years younger than Kix. His eyes seemed kind.

Dogma nodded and Kix seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, Thud smiled. When he reached out his hand to Dogma, he took it and let himself be carefully pulled to his feet. The world turned around him for a moment, then he caught himself and followed Thud out into the hallway. The cell block seemed unchanged, that was something at least. However, there was a lot more going on in the corridor than he expected. A few steps further he could see General Tano, she was standing close together with a soldier who Dogma did not know. But his ARC equipment and the blue handprint on a bronze background made it impossible, to oversee him. Ahsoka gave Dogma an encouraging look and the ARC next to her eyed him curiously, before he smiled encouragingly too. Dogma stared at her briefly and hesitated before nodding uncertainly in response. How else would you react when someone smiled at you like that? Except Tup, nobody had done that in a while. When Tano just kept watching him, Dogma turned and followed Thud.

On the way to the quarters, Dogma rarely let his gaze wander, most of the time he concentrated on Thud's back. That was easier, than to meet the eyes that followed him. So the hand came out of nowhere on his shoulder, he looked up frantically. Thud stopped and watched Appo take off his helmet with one hand and he grinned like a complete idiot.

Dogma just stood there, hands hanging uselessly, staring at Appo. He had never exchanged more than a few words with the other clone. What should he do now? „It's good to have you back.“, Appo smiled, squeezed his shoulder and then disappeared again with great strides. He turned the next corner. Appo was happy to see him again? Dogma blinked once, then twice. Had the others lost their minds? Nobody had ever been happy to see him again! Confused, he gave Thud a look, the younger clone smirked and then motioned for Dogma to follow him on. „Come on, Commander Rex has chosen a nice spot for you.“, he said in his soft voice and Dogma almost tripped over his own feet. The commander? Rex? Okay ... that was ... good. He remembered Rex as very headstrong but faithful. The rank of commander suited him, kind of.

He had just finished thinking when Thud stopped and opened the door to one of the quarters. Dogma looked up and met several smiling faces. He recognized one of them. „Welcome home.“, Burnes smiled and the corners of Dogma's mouth twitched up into a small smile, even as he lowered his eyes. Home huh? Even with Tup, it had been hard to feel at home anywhere. But when Thud grabbed his wrist and carefully pulled him into the room, he thought he could at least give this a chance.

[mandos-mind-trick]

Instinct - Part 3

Summary: Omegas were rare. Some even thought them extinct. So when Boba contacts Din saying he has a gift Din can’t refuse, the last thing he expects to find is an omega in need of an alpha. Din has to make the hard decision, but what else was he really doing anyways? But naturally, there’s more to this omega than meets the eye.

Pairing: Din Djarin x female!reader

Warnings: Mentions of abuse, torture, and trafficking; ABO dynamics, nightmares, rehashing some traumatic past events, some New Mandalorian bashing as well, probably fucking up the timeline but idc. 

A/N: Here’s the next part. May post part 4 today as well, we’ll see. 

< Previous | Next > | MASTERLIST | OC Version

He’s dreaming again. A dream that constantly plagued him of late. He’s on the light cruiser, he can see them just ahead. He’s running but he can’t move fast enough. He can hear the cries, loud in his ears. He’s reaching, reaching but he’s not fast enough. He can’t make it on time. He’s too late. The lifeless body falls, just out of reach of him. That little face, those big eyes. 

No, it’s not him this time. The lifeless eyes staring up at him are smaller, lighter. It’s not the kid in his arms. It’s you. 

Din is woken from his nightmare as something nudges him. He reaches out, wrapping his hand around the foot passing over him, yanking it forward to make the person lose their balance. They hit the floor with a thud, the vibroblade in his hand quick to press against their neck as he hovers over them. 

“Wait!” 

He pauses at the sound of your voice. 

“It’s me. It’s Y/N.” 

He stares down at your terrified face for a moment, wakefulness slamming into him and he realizes what he’s done. He moves his hand, drawing back from you. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” You sit up, pulling your legs to your stomach to make yourself as small as possible. “I was just trying to go to Fennec.” 

“Why?” He asks, wincing at the harsh tone. 

“I need comfort.” There’s a subtle whine to your voice, your omega coming through. You’re shaking, he can see it in the moonlight. “I had a nightmare.” 

“Why go to her?” The true meaning of his question is obvious, and you don't miss it, even in your fearful state. 

“I trust her.” Your words bite at him a bit. “Why would I ask you when...when you don’t even want me?” He can hear the tears in your voice. He knows you’re referring to earlier that day. You’re quiet for a moment, breaths shaky. “Is it me?” 

The question is so quiet he almost doesn’t hear it. “What?” 

“Is it me? Is there something wrong with me? Do you-do you want to reject me?” 

The question nearly chokes him. He feels like he’s been stabbed in the chest, the knife turning and turning in his skin. He’d heard stories of alphas rejecting their omegas. It was painful, horribly painful, and both alpha and omega carried that pain until they died. They usually didn’t live long afterwards. Without their other half, knowing what they could have had...it was often too much to bear. 

“No.” The word is breathy, his chest constricting as he looks at your teary face. “No. I’m not-” He shifts onto his knees, taking a breath. You flinch, eyes darting to the vibroblade still in his hand. He drops it to the side, letting it hit the blanket with a quiet thud. “I’m not going to reject you. It’s not...It’s nothing you’ve done.” He sighs, the breath crackling through his helmet. “I’m...It’s me. I’m...complicated. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.” 

“You think I do? I never got to learn this part. My home...Mandalore, it was all taken from me. By the civil wars, and then the Empire.” He tilts his head at you, his mind trying to process what you’re saying. “They never told you why omegas were so rare before? Why there were so few of us left?” 

“No.” 

You huff quietly, shaking for another reason now. He can scent the anger in the air, your brow furrowed. “Those progressives who pushed their new ways, the ones who didn’t wear the armor, the ones who claimed to lead Mandalore during the Clone Wars and after. They stopped awakening their alphas. They thought it archaic and barbaric, animalistic even, being controlled by some inner animal, forced to mate with someone who didn’t know better, someone whose entire life was built around serving someone else.” You sniffle, wiping the tears from your face. “They knew they couldn’t leave the omegas. If we’re not suppressed, we die without proper care. So they massacred them. Entire clans of omegas were wiped out simply because they didn’t want to have to deal with us.” 

It’s quiet for a moment, Din watching your face. Your head is lowered, eyes trained on a spot on the floor. 

“It’s what started the wars. Deep down, hidden on the surface. They wouldn’t admit to it, so they blamed it on something else. My father escaped one of the massacres. He watched his entire clan be slaughtered before help arrived. That’s when he met my mother.” A sad smile tugs at your lips. “She took him to the omega temple. One of the few places the progressives couldn’t reach. And they never would. The Empire would take care of that for them.” 

“I’m sorry.” He says, watching your face as it finally lifts. There’s a hardness in her eyes, a wall having risen. He can see it. A wall built out of necessity. “Your father was the omega?” 

You let out a quiet sound. “Yeah. There’s female Mandalorians, aren’t there?” 

You had a point. 

It’s quiet between you for a few moments, the air between you still churning with something unspoken. 

“I could be the last omega left.” You say, finally breaking the silence. 

Your words twist the knife deeper into his chest. You were right. The others that had escaped had disappeared. There was no way of knowing if there were any others still alive. He liked to think there were. That one of the other clans had one safely hidden away. That maybe one had been born since that day. Plenty of Mandalorian children had been born since. But two alphas couldn’t make an omega. Even the chances of an omega being born between an alpha and omega was small. 

But you were right. He was holding himself back selfishly. He had been so afraid of the truth, he hadn’t stopped to think of how you were feeling. What you would want. He couldn’t deny you. Soon your heat would start and he wouldn’t be able to control himself. He would take you whether either of you wanted it or not. He knows it’s a hard transition, leaving the nurturers behind. Even harder in your case, your parents death and then now facing the prospect of leaving the two that had saved your life and then had taken on that role for you even if they couldn’t understand it on a deeper level. 

And now he was here. An alpha being put in your path. A chance for you to live your life as you were meant to, and he was keeping you from that out of his own fear. It wasn’t fair to either of you. 

Your scent is strong. Fear, sadness, and anger swirling together in a thick fog. It’s a bitter scent, burning his nose and making his stomach churn. It was a warning. Don’t come closer. A warning to keep alphas away from volatile omegas. He pushes his discomfort aside, pushing past the barrier of warning as he crawls closer to you. He pauses right in front of you, reaching out to cup your face. 

He didn’t know when he took his gloves off. Your skin is wet from your tears, his thumbs brushing the dampness from your cheeks. Your eyes flutter closed, a shaky breath leaving you as his warm skin meets yours. His own alpha begins to settle, relaxing as he holds your face. Neither of you move, content to just sit there and breathe for a moment. 

Underneath the fear and the anger is the sweetness of your natural scent. What he had smelled in the throne room, the first time he saw you. He breathes it in again, getting a whiff of your pure scent, not muddled by anything else. There’s a soft floral undertone to it, mixed in with a gentle tang of citrus. It reminds him of a fruit he’d tried a long time ago. It’s intoxicating, his alpha rumbling in pleasure. 

He slides one of his hands to the back of your neck, cradling your head. It was something only to be done in times of crisis, he had been taught. When an omega was distressing, volatile, or unpredictable, a scruff from an alpha, or a nurturer, could calm the omega almost instantly. Of course, one had to get close enough to do so. 

It was a powerful move, one that could easily be abused in the wrong hands. It was the easiest way to get an omega to submit. An out of control alpha could force themselves on an omega with a simple move. It had happened before. His clan considered those who did so a disgrace. Alpha or not, scruffing an omega to control them was sick. 

He knows you won’t calm completely. There was too much between you, too many unknowns, too much unsaid. Too many emotions. You would feed off him, even if you weren’t bonded. So instead, he does it to relax you. To calm that raging fire inside you. He didn’t want your omega to get defensive. He wouldn’t fight back, but you would hurt herself if you tried. 

You let out a quiet sound as his hand closes around the back of your neck, your head falling back until it’s entirely held up by his hand. Your body relaxes, the tension leaving your shoulders. Your lips part as you let out a long breath, eyes fluttering. Relief, it almost feels like. He didn’t have to hold it for long, he didn’t want to. Just enough to get you to relax. 

Your hand shoots out before he can move, gripping his bicep. “Don’t let go.” You breathe, inhaling shaky. 

This was new to him. He had always heard omegas hated being scruffed. It left them feeling vulnerable, uneasy. An alpha had to be prepared to support an omega after. But an omega asking to have it done, for him to keep his hand there. This was new to him. But if it was what you needed, he couldn’t deny you. 

He holds your neck just a hair tighter, using his other hand to move you against his chest. He lays back in his pile of pillows and blankets, cradling you to his chest. He knows his beskar has to be uncomfortable for you, digging into your skin, but you offer no protest, completely limp and relaxed against him. He keeps you there, holding you as you slowly drift off to sleep again. 

He wakes as something nudges his side rather harshly. He grabs the ankle on the foot that’s kicking him, the other foot quickly jumping back to avoid getting taken out by him. 

“Knock me over again and I’ll give you a dent in that helmet to match Boba’s.” 

He shifts his head to look up at you. He’s holding your ankle, your bare foot having been what was hitting him. 

“Get up.” You say, moving your foot back as he releases it. 

You bend down, grabbing his hands, pulling him up into a seated position with surprising strength. You’re still pulling on him, trying to get him standing. 

“Okay, okay.” He says, pushing himself up to stand. “I’m up.” 

You brush past him, grabbing the blankets and pillows off the floor. He scans the room, finding it in complete disarray. He watches you as you start to meticulously place the blankets and pillows he’d been using on the bed. 

“It’s not right. None of it is right.” You say, fluffing the pillows. 

Your preheat must have been starting. He must have triggered it last night. You’re attempting to nest, attempting to rearrange the room to make it more comfortable. You push him towards the bed, attempting to shove him down onto it but he’s not budging. You take a couple steps back before ramming him with your shoulder, or at least try to. He stops you before you can hit him and hurt yourself, your eyes narrowing as they look up at him. 

“Stop.” He says, letting you go. “You’re going to hurt yourself. Just tell me what you need.” 

“You, bed.” You jab a finger into his breastplate before pointing it at the bed. He sits on the edge of the bed, watching you. “Stay.” 

You watch him for a moment, making sure he’s not going anywhere before turning, starting to rearrange your things. He watches you rearrange what you can, almost breaking his promise to stay when a droid opens the door to deliver food. You look ready to attack for a moment before you take the plates. You sit with her back to him so he can eat, not turning around until he tells you. 

You clean, wiping the sand and dust from every surface. You rearrange the bits of his things that he had brought into the room, putting them where you wants. He tries to keep track, but you’re moving so much he knows he’ll have to dig to find some of them later. 

You finish rearranging the rest of the room before crawling onto the bed. You move the blankets and pillows a few times, nudging him with your hip to get him to stand as you smooths out the blanket he had been sitting on. You crawl back towards the head of the bed before flopping down on your stomach, laying still. 

He watches you, watching the slow rise and fall of your back for a few minutes before he realizes you’re asleep. He pulls one of the blankets over you, not that you would really need it in the heat, but it made him feel better. He watches you for another minute before he’s leaving, heading down to the throne room. 

“You’re up late.” Boba says, greeting him. 

“She’s in preheat.” He says. “She’s building her nest.” 

“How long?” 

“Could be a couple days. Could be a week. It’s hard to say. The suppressants will have thrown off her cycle. She’s...aggressive.” 

“Can’t blame her.” Boba says. “Kid’s been through it.”

“We won’t be able to leave the room when she goes into heat. I’ll stock the room with food and water before it starts.” 

“I’ll have a droid stationed outside the door if you need anything.” 

“That’s a good idea. I will be...equally as aggressive over her. Droids probably won’t cause any sort of reaction.” 

“And after?” Boba looks at him. 

What was he going to do after her heat had passed? That was the question. He had spent time lying awake thinking of the answer.  

“I don’t know.”

Taglist: 

@donttamethebeasts​, @unicorntrooper​

[dearcytheris]

untitled ↠ little lovelies

⤷ part of the {upcoming untitled clip x reader} ‘verse

summary: finally away from the confines of kamino’s medbay, you and commander clip escape to the rainy balcony of the city for a moment to yourselves.

wordcount: 0.7k

warnings: none!

notes: commander clip is my clone oc! doc is a medic stationed on kamino. non-specific reader-insert, gender-neutral

navigation | m.list

MAKER, YOU HADN’T FELT this freedom in a long time; too long, in fact. Running through the stark-white corridors of the facility, Clip’s hand tightly woven around yours, pulling you along with him towards the doors.

You love it.

You love it.

You love it.

There’s beads of water splattering across your face, their velocity enough to sting your skin as the wind whips the rain under the roof that covers the platform. The noise is deafening, with the storm raging in the sky and heavy droplets splashing against the aggressive waves below.

You don’t know how long you spend standing there with your eyes closed, just feeling.

When you open them, peeking over at Clip to your right, his eyes are shut too, his head leaned back as he feels, just as you were.

Basking in this all-too-fleeting moment of freedom.

You gently tug on his hand—still clasped within your own—and pull him farther out, the rain heavier and hitting you harder the closer you get to the edge.

Clip glances out at the water one more time before he drags you in closer, your chest flush with his, not an inch of space left between you.

His lips quirk up in a small smile—you notice that happening more and more—before he leans in, resting his forehead against yours.

He whispers something so softly you can’t quite make it out amongst the white noise of the rain pounding against the waves, but it almost sounds like your name.

Your name.

Not doc.

It’s… strangely sweet, from the cold-hearted commander.

You blink at him, opening your mouth to speak; to ask if he really did say your name, but he places a finger over your lips, shaking his head with a grin that slowly spreads across his cheeks.

Clip moves his hand to wrap both arms around your waist, lifting you enough so you’re settled against his chest as he leans back, your knees squeezing the sides of his hips. Your arms reach to encircle around his neck, one hand resting on the back of his head as your fingers tighten in his curls.

He just looks up at you, his hands splayed across your back, with his deep brown eyes drenched in hesitancy as he glances down at your lips before meeting your gaze again.

You roll your eyes before leaning down, your hands cupping his cheeks as your lips crash against his in a blazing kiss.

It’s a long time coming.

You feel his lips curl into a smile beneath yours, his cheeks creasing under your hands. Clip slowly turns, his hands gripping at the fabric of your shirt tightly, as though you’ll disappear if he lets go.

You can’t blame him. You don’t want to let him go either.

Clip’s turns have become quicker and suddenly you’re spinning. It’s so cliche and cheesy, you feel like you’re in a holofilm, but this is so, so much better, so much more rewarding. Because you have him.

Finally. You have him; really and truly, if even just for this brief moment on the deck, quickly getting soaked by the rain. He is yours, and you are his.

The rain is coming heavier now; both your clothes are drenched, but you couldn’t care less.

Clip is slow as he pulls away, his dark eyes glossed and shiny. He sets you down gently, your feet hitting the platform floor with a soft thud.

You don’t move.

Neither does he.

You both know what comes next, and you hope—foolishly so—that if you stay here, with him in the rain, wrapped around each other so tightly it’s almost painful, that the inevitable won’t come. That he’ll stay here, with you, in this prison, on this planet, so distant from where he needs to be.

An alarm sounds off from inside the facility, notifying the staff that medical assistance is required for the incoming ship.

You spare a glance at Clip. He's already looking at you, a moment of melancholy on his face before he steels his expression with a quirk of his lips. “Better get back there, Doc,” he says, cavalier and causal.

It doesn't fool you.

He knows.

Back to work.

[seriowan]

betrayal (crosshair x medic!fem!oc)

summary: the war was over. they won. the galaxy should have exhaled the breath that it was holding - so why was the air tense with grief? why were there no cries for celebration? why was there something off about crosshair since he returned from kaller? pairing: medic!fem!oc x crosshair tags: angst, language, imperial!crosshair, character injury, blood, established relationship, barely touches the surface of a hunter/oc/crosshair love conflict (NOT a throuple) (i recently rewatched the vampire diaries so you know i HAD to throw some drama in there) word count: 6.9k (i have no self control) an: this idea came to me after thinking about how tup, wrecker, and rex described their experience of being controlled by the chip. that being said, this is my take on season 1, episode 1 with a medic!fem oc :) enjoy and like always, pls remember to show some love!

seriowan's masterlist !

•·················•

Every clone in Tipoca city knew not to bother Kia when Clone Force 99 was deployed without her. It wasn't by choice; if that was the case then the boys would always have the medic on the Marauder, but frankly, there were other divisions that needed her. A rent-a-doc, if you will, moved from regiment to regiment whenever her extensive medical knowledge was required by the Jedi council.

Clone Force 99 was her first-ever clone squad and since then, leaves on Kamino were spent in their barracks. And after appealing to the only one who could support her dry sarcasm and snappy attitude, coming home wasn't so hard anymore.

Today was the only exception.

Kia's leg was practically vibrating underneath the table. She held her head in her hands, eyes shut as she absentmindedly chewed on her bottom lip.

The words of her latest order rung in her ears.

Your contract with the Jedi has been terminated, effective immediately. You are to remain on Kamino until Admiral Tarken finds use for your services.

Tarkin. That fucking bastard. Oh how badly she wanted to just wrap her fingers around his throat and shake his head until his brain popped.

She never even met the guy, but her nightly conversations with Echo had told her enough to incite a deep, ungodly hatred. He wasn't even aware that Tarkin was in Tipoca City and Kia wasn't sure how much longer she could wait to tell him.

Her leg bounced harder. Questions bubbled in her mind, overflowing like a plugged sink. Anxiety brewed in her gut. Panic kept her heart thudding against her ribcage, blood rushing in her ears.

Why did the Jedi terminate their contract? Why were all clones being called back to Kamino? They cleared her station in the medical lab without a single explanation, removing every file on every patient that she'd ever helped; every battalion that she aided; every report that she filed.

What the hell was going on?

The door hissed and slid open. Voices echoed into the room as the pale white lights above her head flickered on. The sudden light made her eyes sting.

"-well the smell's still- wait, Kia? What are you-"

Echo's breath rushed past his lips when the girl collided with his chest. Her arms wrapped around his torso, squeezing him tightly.

"Thank gods you're back," she breathed, moving on to quickly hug the others as they shuffled into their barracks. When she got to Crosshair, she cupped his cheek and pressed a brief, quick kiss to his lips, unaware that he hadn't made an effort to return it.

"I was so worried." She exhaled a breath and took a seat at the tables. The others began situating themselves, listening intently as she spoke. "Shock troopers came into my lab this morning and cleaned everything off of my desk. Records, reports; they took all of it and told me that my contract with the Jedi Council is terminated. I didn't hear anything about that and everyone started acting strange so I assumed the worst-"

She opened her mouth to continue but paused when noticing the tense expressions exchanged between them. Her stomach dropped, a breath of air trapped in her throat.

Her tongue felt heavy. Saliva became sand in her throat.

"You're not telling me something," she whispered softly.

They didn't speak. Hunter exhaled a deep, tired breath. For the first time since they returned, she noticed the troubled look in his eyes that kept flickering over her shoulder. She didn't think much about it until she realized that he was actually glaring at Crosshair.

Crosshair who, since returning, hadn't said or even held her gaze for more than a few seconds.

"Kia..."

Did he always sound so tired? She wondered when he last drank water.

"The regs were ordered to execute all the Jedi. Chancellor Palpatine ordered it, claiming treason..."

Now she really wondered if he'd been drinking water. Was he delusional? They must have all been victims of a drug or a hallucinogen, maybe they were dehydrated...

Hunter's mouth was moving but his voice was distant, muted by the sharp ringing in her ears as she stood off of the table and crossed her arms over her chest. Trembling fingers pressed against her temples.

"And did you?"

Hunter paused, drawing his brows together in confusion. "Did we what?"

"Execute the Jedi and the Padawan. Did you? You said they did this because of some chips so what happened with you all?"

They went quiet but Kia didn't miss the way Echo and Tech both looked at the man behind her. Hunter placed his elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his hands as he shook his head.

"No," he mumbled gently. "We didn't kill the Jedi or the Padawan. Our mutations make the chip defective."

Little by little, it was all painfully becoming clear. The missing Jedi Master. Cold shoulders from the clones that she once considered her friends. Terminated contracts. Tarkin's arrival. The concealed corpse carried past her on a stretcher.

Tarkin's arrival.

A hand settled on her shoulder, heavy and seemingly forced. It wasn't comforting - not warm or inviting like usual - but it did its job of bringing her back to reality, away from the tornado of thoughts in her head.

Crosshair wasn't the best comforter but he was the only one who could catch her breakdowns before they happened. A hand on her shoulder or the gentle nudge of her elbow was usually enough to bring her back but heavier moments like this one usually meant a kiss on the forehead or the soft drag of his thumbpad across her bitten bottom lip.

Instead, he didn't do more than touch her shoulder before glancing up at the sound of the door sliding open.

The weight of Crosshair's hand disappeared but Kia's attention remained on his eyes for a few fleeting seconds.

Why did he seem so numb?

Thudding footsteps drew her gaze to the door. A shock trooper walked in, stopping only when he noticed Kia.

"Kia Heelo?"

The only change in Crosshair's behavior was the irritated grunt from his chest. He took a step closer to her, his large hand palming her lower back. Their height difference left him towering over her; a silent guardian that glared at the trooper.

Addressing Kia put the others on edge. Hunter tucked the vibroblade that he fiddled with back into the sheath on his forearm, his feet thudding against the ground as he stood. Narrowed eyes and suppressed scowls sat on each of their faces, especially Wrecker who protectively crossed his arms over his chest and snapped, "What'd you want with her?"

"Doctor Heelo is being summoned to the Prime Minister." The trooper glanced down to the datapad in his hand, unfazed by Wrecker's attitude. "Admiral Tarkin requested it."

The air went thin. Uncertain eyes flickered over to Echo as his pallid skin went even gaunter, amber eyes widening just enough to show a mix of fear and anger.

"No," he stated firmly, shaking his head. "Absolutely not. She's not going there alone."

"This isn't up for debate," the shock trooper cooly continued. "There is a mandatory assembly at 0500 for the rest of you."

Just like that, he walked back out. His presence left an uncomfortable silence in its wake, one that made Kia's ears ring. She pressed her fingertips against her eyes, sagging her shoulders with a heavy, tired sigh.

"I suggest you go now," Tech said gently, hesitating before he added, "I imagine Tarkin doesn't take lightly to tardiness."

Echo took a step forward to approach her but stopped. Hesitation lingered in his eyes, jaw clenching as he bit down whatever consolations were about to leave his lips.

No matter what he had to say, Tarkin was still Tarkin. Unemotional, apathetic, and severely unpredictable. This was a battle that she'd have to go into empty-handed.

Kia flashed him a brief, assuring smile that extended to the others and their worried expressions.

"I'll be okay," she muttered. Whether she was trying to assure them or herself, she wasn't sure. She just pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled a breath. "I'll be fine."

Hunter nodded, a rougher touch to his voice as he mumbled, "Crosshair will walk you out."

Kia's head shot up, brows furrowing.

Now this was odd. Hunter knew that Crosshair was never one to be put in the spotlight, nor someone who willingly took orders outside of a battle setting. He hardly, if ever, put himself between Kia and Crosshair's relationship, much less order something that Crosshair would have done inherently.

The tension returned as Crosshair grasped her wrist and began making his way toward the door. She waved goodbye to the others, softly promising them that she'd meet them after the assembly.

Crosshair pulled her into the hallway, the door hissing shut behind them. The odd silence in the empty hallway was out of place, unnatural in comparison to the loud chatter that was ever-present.

Crosshair's knuckle touched her chin, tilting up her head so she could look up at his face. The muscle in his jaw clenched as he nibbled on the tip of his toothpick.

Hesitant, soft fingertips gently touched the freshly-shaved stubble on his jawline. The muscle slackened, lips relaxing as he shut his eyes and accepted her palm. Out of habit, Kia took the toothpick from his lips and flicked it onto the ground. Crosshair didn't bother replacing it.

Frowning, she ran her thumb across his hollow cheekbone. The pad of her thumb caressed a healed scar.

In a whispered voice, she hummed, "Did something happen on Kaller?"

There was more underneath the subtle glimpses that each of Crosshair's brothers gave him. They seemed... nervous. Cautious. It was just a touch of added awareness but enough for her to catch. Being a doctor, she was precariously attentive to every detail.

Crosshair didn't appear swayed by the question. No concern, hesitance, or turmoil in that numbed expression. He straightened his back, hazy eyes flickering over her face as he pulled away from her hand. Indignation set his mouth in a hard line.

Her stomach rolled. Nauseating pain came rushing back into her gut, drawing a sick and pale color across her face. Hurt flickered in her eyes. She drew her hand to her chest, fingers instinctively clasping around the crystal necklace that he gave her a few months ago. Bottom lip wedged between her teeth, she took a dazed step back.

"N-Nevermind, Cross." She turned her back and began walking down the hall. Hurried footsteps bounced off of the walls around them, the only sound accompanying Crosshair's tense exhale.

Casting a glance over her shoulder, Kia smiled softly. It didn't reach her eyes.

"I'll see you after the assembly."

•·················•

Tarkin took his time doing things. Whether it was a simple stroll or a glance, everything was calculated. Every action, specifically chosen to provide the response he desired. When he wanted an emotional response to ruin Kia's composure, he would ask a question that would flame the hostility in her eyes. When he wanted to see her fear, her uncertainty, he pin her down with a glare and dissected every slight movement.

Thankfully, the assembly had put a brief pause in their conversation. She joined the Admiral and Kamino's Prime Minister in the balcony above the assembly hall. Nala Se was accompanied by her chief scientists and a small girl.

Kia hardly had the chance to catch a glimpse of the blonde-haired little girl before Admiral Tarkin began to speak over the echoing sound of Sheev Palpatine's voice.

She pretended not to notice the girl's side-eye or the way she tilted her head to listen into the conversation.

"I understand that you were in a previous contract with the Republic."

Kia's clasped hands loosened. The sweat in her palms became uncomfortable. She sucked in a breath and cleared her throat.

"My contract was stipulated through the Republic but the Jedi Council was in charge of deployments and processing."

"...The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated!"

Her throat tightened.

The look in Admiral Tarkin's eyes was enough to let her know that he didn't care about her previous contact. He didn't care about her abilities or the service that she provided the Republic.

He wanted to know about her loyalty to the Jedi, to the enemy.

"Tell me, Miss Heelo-"

"It's Doctor Heelo, sir."

Tarkin's brows rose and Kia immediately wired her jaw shut. Panic coursed through her like a bucket of cold water dumped on her head. He didn't smile, nor pout or frown at the obvious step outside of standard protocol. To her relief, simply waved her off and continued.

"Vice Admiral Rampart is currently enlisting willing soldiers from across the galaxy to fight for our newly born Empire. Given your medical knowledge and familiarity with combat, I've transmitted an application in your stead. While the threat of droids is no longer on the horizon, the Empire will work to preserve its integrity throughout the galaxy..."

The blonde girl's eyes widened. She snapped her head in their direction, now furiously glaring at the back of Tarkin's perfectly-ironed suit.

Kia's attention darted past Tarkin's shoulder. The blonde was chewing on her lip, nervous fingers fiddling. She met Kia's stare, shaking her head subtly as if to say, Don't do it. Don't trust him.

Kia was a stranger to her; they had nothing to do with one another prior to the assembly. And yet, here she was, pleading with her eyes as if to prevent Kia from making a terrible decision.

Waves of cheers rolled from the ocean of clones. They raised their hands, their blasters, pledging allegiance to the Empire in the form of a battle cry.

And there, hidden like five black spots on white fur, was Clone Force 99. To her relief, they were not cheering or celebrating. Their feet were planted firmly on the ground, heads turning in concern and confusion at the strange behavior around them.

Two pairs of eyes gazed at her.

Hunter's worry wasn't new but the conflict in his brewing gaze, in the tightness of his furrowed brows, in the clench of his angry jaw; that certainly was. He glowered at Tarkin with anger, glossed his eyes over the little blonde in confusion, but when it got to Kia...

She looked away, her heart leaping into her throat. Nervousness? Fear of being caught? She wasn't sure.

Tarkin continued talking but she didn't hear him. She didn't even hear the cheering clones. The deafening world around her was reduced to the faintest whisper when a pair of honey-gold eyes settled on her own.

If the skies before a thunderstorm were a person; if the brewing smell of rain and the gusting winds had a face, eyes, nose, and lips; if the crackling lightning and waves of rumbling thunder could speak and breathe, it would all be Crosshair.

She didn't need to be right next to him to know that his fingertips were twitching. The toothpick in his mouth was probably gnawed down to splinters, snapped in half by the pressure of his clenched jaw.

Calmly standing with his arms crossed over his chest, Crosshair's eyes were all but tranquil. He looked ready to lunge. A cornered animal whose territory had been invaded by something he couldn't control. Powerless, unable to stride across the assembly floor and save her from the inspecting gaze of the Admiral, he was left simmering in his own rage.

And yet, above the anger in his stoic face, the numbness from earlier was still there. He wasn't confused about the chorus of cheers; he wasn't swayed by the Chancellor's demand for a Jedi purge. In fact, he looked at Hunter with irritation when the Chancellor mandated the manhunt, but Hunter was too busy staring at Kia to notice.

"Admiral Tarkin," Kia spoke, forcing herself to turn her head towards the aged man. He paused, squared shoulders tightening just enough to show his displeasure.

"I appreciate that you have considered my position within your Empire-" She didn't miss the way his eyes narrowed. Her palms became sweaty once more. Swallowing, she willed herself to continue. "-but with my contract terminated, my services are no longer needed. I joined the war to end it and per my observations, we've won."

Tarkin was not pleased. His body language was far too composed. His hands, too still as he clasped them behind his back. His eyes, too calm as he looked down at her boots.

She followed his gaze, eyes widening with alarm.

A thin white splinter stuck onto the black laces of her boots. To anyone else, it would have just been a normal sliver of wood but to Tarkin and Kia, it was a footprint - a little peek behind the curtain that hid the real Kia.

On a planet of water and metal, wood was a rarity. It was requested so infrequently that in a sea of men, Admiral Tarkin's eyes found the only one with a toothpick sitting in the corner of his mouth.

Kia struggled to swallow down her panic even as Tarkin looked between her and the scowl on Crosshair's face. Amusement relaxed the wrinkles in his forehead. His shoulders sagged, the ghost of a smile lingering as he spoke with condescension dripping off of his tongue.

"Miss Heelo, I advise you to reconsider my offer, given you have four standard rotations before Vice-Admiral Rampart arrives on Kamino." Then, as if an afterthought, he looked back at Crosshair. His fingertips rubbed together, forehead creasing in thought.

"I do not see value in being redundant so I will be frank. If you need certain incentives to remain employed by our gracious Empire, then I will present them to you. I trust you will use your intelligence to make the decision, rather than your personal responsibilities."

Incentives, he said as he glimpsed at the Bad Batch, lingering on Crosshair with that smug, knowing look.

By now, the soldiers in the assembly hall were marching out in fashionable order. Nala Se and her scientists began walking out of the Prime Minister's private box, the blonde following closely behind.

Kia met her worried copper eyes and, as discreetly as she could, tried to send a wordless message. Whether the blonde understood or not, Kia wasn't sure. She left before Kia could see any acknowledgment. The silence between Tarkin, Lama Su, and two shock troopers was thick as Kia looked down to the sliver of wood on her boot.

Tarkin's voice echoed in her head.

Incentives.

He threatened them. Her friends. Her family.

Crosshair could hold his own. She witnessed CF99 make their way out of the stickiest situations; what was a corrupt admiral if not another thorn in their side?

Nonetheless, Tarkin threatened to hurt what was hers and that was enough for her angry expression to become severe, unyielding to the sound of troopers approaching her with clinking cuffs in their hands.

Raising her chin, Kia straightened her back.

"I don't need to reconsider your offer, Tarkin. My decision is final."

He tsked.

"The wrong decision, I'm afraid."

The cuffs around her wrists were cold as they clicked and locked in place. The troopers on either side of her shoulders gripped her elbows, keeping her firmly in place even though she hadn't made an effort to leave or fight back.

"Take this deserter to the brig," he ordered calmly, turning to gaze into the now-empty assembly hall. "She will be tried and convicted for desertion and illegal fornication with Kaminoan property."

Kia's jaw ached from clenching. Her eyes felt hot and blurred with angry tears that stayed in her eyes, refusing to fall down her cheeks. Agitation clung to her in a sheen layer of anxious sweat. Her fingertips trembled, not out of fear or panic, but from the earth-shattering rage of being unable to dig her nails into Tarkin's skull.

"Biting the hand that feeds you is an easy way to be labeled a traitor, Miss Heelo."

Kia froze in place, eye twitching as she stared at the wall.

It was often said among the clones that Kia Heelo had the tongue of a viper and the temper of an adolescent Rancor. She never truly believed them; they always found ways to get under her skin for the sake of seeing her angry. Calling her a viper or a Rancor was sugar atop the cake of insults and wisecracks tossed her way.

But now, Kia finally believed them.

Exhaling a breath, she yanked her elbows out of the shock troopers' grasp and turned her body towards Tarkin.

"Oh for fucks sake. It's Doctor, you intolerant shit."

•·················•

Kia stared at the metal panels below her feet. Her leg bounced, a habit she picked up from spending too much time with Tech and Wrecker.

Pain throbbed in her temples for hours. She tried massaging it with her fingertips to no avail. Requesting a drink of water earned a dismissive scoff and nothing more.

She was thirsty, infuriated, and in serious need of a paper bag to anxiously throw up into.

"Hey! Let me go!"

The headache pulsed with the sudden movement but wincing through it, Kia pushed herself off of the bench and walked up to the ray shield.

The little blonde girl from the assembly was ushered into the brig by two shock troopers. She thrashed in their grip, unaware that Kia was watching until she cried out, "Hey! Leave her alone!"

The girl's eyes widened, brows hiking up as she turned her head and gasped. "Doctor Heelo!"

At least she was more respectful than the pigheaded Admiral.

To Kia's relief, they opened the ray shield and tossed the blonde into her cell. The second the ray shield was up, Kia kneeled and held her arms out as the girl collided into her chest. Small arms wrapped around Kia's neck, her face nestled in the warmth of Kia's neck.

She was a kid and she was alone, making it painfully easy for Kia to feel a responsibility for her safety. Her arms tightened around the girl's shoulders.

"I knew the Admiral was dangerous since he came out of his ship." Her small body shivered and she pressed tighter into the warmth of Kia's robes. "H-He doesn't like the clones. None of them. He sent Clone Force 99 on a test to Onderon-"

Kia's brows furrowed at the mention of her home planet. The rebellion on Onderon had introduced her to the Republic and in a few short months, she graduated Coruscant's medical college and volunteered in the Republic fleet.

As far as she remembered, there were no Separatists on Onderon. No threats to gun down.

Why were they sent there?

Kia realized she zoned out when she felt the girl's hand gently cup her cheek. While her expression was still grim, her eyes had the faintest glow of hope.

Her voice shook as she said, "I think they'll be okay."

A small smile curled the corners of Kia's lips. This girl was strong, resilient, and hopeful in the face of danger. She vaguely reminded Kia of herself during the Onderon rebellion; a young soul who hadn't known enough loss to feel its effect on her determination.

"What's your name?"

Changing the subject made the blonde's shoulders rise and a smile graze her lips. She and Kia sat down on the bench, side-by-side in order to speak quietly without the shock troopers listening.

"Omega." She beamed. "I know who you are. You're Doctor Kia Heelo."

Kia cocked an impressed brow. "You seem to know a lot, little one. That could get you in trouble."

Omega shrugged and flashed an unsure smile.

"Nala Se says I'm 'critically acute' to my surroundings."

Kia didn't expect to find herself laughing amid her current situation, but the laugh that bubbled past her lips did wonders to her headache. It rid her temples of the throbbing pain and managed to ease some of the tension in her tightly coiled muscles.

"I have a feeling we're going to get along great," Kia said with a lopsided grin.

The doors hissed open. Kia's smile turned into a scowl at the thought of having to see Tarkin, but the look rapidly disappeared when the Bad Batch shuffled into the room, stripped of their armor and weapons. The shock troopers didn't lower their blasters until the squad was shoved into their cell and the ray shield was turned back on.

Kia and Omega remained quiet in their corner, unnoticed until Tech turned his head. His brows rose at the sight of them together.

He pushed up his goggles, smiling softly. "Well, I think luck is finally on our side for once."

Hunter and Crosshair turned at the same time. And while Kia was hoping for a reaction from Crosshair, the most she got was a dismissive look. Crossed his arms, his attention turned to the ray shield.

Hunter pushed past Wrecker, Echo, and Tech, crouching to a knee in front of the two girls. He placed a hand on Omega's knee, offering them a half-smile.

"I see you two met. Omega warned us about your conversation with Tarkin. Somehow, I figured you'd end up in here."

"You figured?" Kia arched a brow, lips twitching. "Did you just assume I was going to make a decision that would put me in the brig?"

His smile became lopsided, pupils flaring when he met her gaze. A breathy chuckle blew past his lips as he shook his head, lowering it enough to hide the flush in his cheeks.

"How touching."

Kia's smile fell. Her expression hardened as she met Crosshair's infuriated gaze. Resting her hand on Hunter's shoulder, she rose from the bench, her fiery eyes cutting through Tech and Wrecker like a laser.

They parted and shifted off to the side, watching attentively as Kia's accumulated anger began to break past her walls of composure.

"You..." She clenched her jaw, grinding her teeth. Eyes boring into him, pupils wide with a rush of adrenaline and fury, she inched forward.

"What the hell is going on with you?" Venom dripped off of her tongue but the hurt was clearly there, interwoven with the conflicting look of anger and confusion in her eyes.

For the first time since returning from Kaller, Crosshair tilted his head down at the woman in front of him and spoke properly, clearly, enunciating his words with enough spite to send a chill down her spine.

"Nothing that could possibly concern you."

Kia raised her chin, eyes narrowing. Her fists balled at her side and for a brief moment, it was as if they were reliving the first time Kia and Crosshair ever met; only this time, the frustration between them wasn't playful - it was lethal.

They were chest to chest now, glowering at one another with bleeding rage and unspoken emotions. Kia's fists were clenched so hard, the skin around her knuckles drained of color.

Her lower lip trembled, voice shaking as she fought against the lump in her throat. "What happened to you on Kaller? Is this karking chip the reason why you're acting like- like-"

"-a soldier?" Crosshair jerked a finger into her chest, forcing her to take a step back. Eyes blazing, he sneered. "You forget that you're a soldier too. You've followed orders that would make the kid think twice about that pretty little face of yours."

She swatted his hand away, nostrils flaring.

"You're acting like an asshole." Angry teeth bared as she added heatedly, "And you and I both know that I regret many past decisions - decisions that were ordered from me."

He smirked, inclined his head towards Hunter, and huffed a dry chuckle.

"You two have got something in common then, aside from going soft. Do you bond over your unloyalty as well?"

"Stow it, Crosshair," Echo interrupted firmly, shoving a palm against Crosshair's chest.

"Don't you see that we're locked up in here because of him?" An accusing finger pointed at Hunter, the other hand tightly squeezed into a fist. "He had us disobey orders."

Sadness flashed across Kia's face. She gestured between the two of them.

"We were a disobeyed order; did you ever think about that? Tarkin wants to charge me for desertion and fornicating with Kaminoan property. Do you see how he sees you? As disposable property? You're not even a human to him; just a dog that needs to follow commands."

Crosshair looked away. Muscles twitching in his jaw, he raised his chin and squared his shoulders. He broke his composure to pivot, lips parting in a scowl as he unnaturally snapped.

"Good soldiers follow orders!" Wild eyes panned from Kia's face to his brothers, settling on Hunter with pure malice.

Kia stepped forward, intending to put herself between the two, when Crosshair's hand shot out and he gripped her arm, roughly pulling her off to the side. Her face fell, color draining from her skin. Shock lingered in her wide eyes.

Hunter's brows snapped together, his irritation quickly becoming a calm rage. Tech placed an assuring hand on Kia's shoulder, mirroring the glare on Echo and Wrecker's faces as they all stared at Crosshair with enough conviction to set him on fire.

Shoulders wilting, Kia rubbed her temples and clenched her eyes. The anger was quickly fleeing, replaced with a hollow loss that carved out her stomach and left her chest aching.

"You're becoming a liability to this squad," Crosshair angrily spat, ignoring their deadly stares. "First the Padawan, then Gerrera. Every decision you've made since Kaller was wrong now look at where we are!"

"Is that what this is about?!" Kia spun around on her heel, furiously yelling behind Wrecker's back. "Because you didn't kill a child?"

Narrowing his eyes, Crosshair opened his mouth to speak when a voice cut him off.

"CT-9904, you're coming with us."

The ray shield disappeared. Blaster-rifle in hand, the shock trooper took a single step towards the silver-haired clone before Kia and Hunter stepped in his path, cutting him off.

"We stay together," Hunter insisted, shaking his head at the trooper. Kia nodded, sparing a glance over her shoulder when she heard Crosshair suck in a surprised breath.

The hard expression on her face did little to hide the wordless message in her eyes.

Conflict aside, she still cared enough to stand up for his safety. If he was moved by this, he didn't show it.

Kia turned, wide-eyed with surprise when the shock trooper slammed the buttstock of his blaster into Hunter's ribs. He crumpled down to a knee and let out a loose gasp of pain, palming his side.

"Hey-!" Kia put her hand on Hunter's shoulder, the other held out to put some distance between her and the shock trooper. Apparently, beating Hunter wasn't enough for the trooper who then drew his hand back and struck Kia's cheek hard enough to knock her to the ground.

Stinging pain throbbed in Kia's cheek. The harsh contact of leather against sensitive skin earned a welting handprint on her cheek, red and painful to the slightest touch.

Footsteps padded out of the cell. Kia watched from the floor, eyes bleeding with a worry that Crosshair avoided acknowledging. As he complacently walked away from his brothers, he coldly ignored Kia's trembling voice as she cried out his name.

"Crosshair!"

He didn't turn. He didn't even flinch. Without a glance over his shoulder, Crosshair walked out and the ray shield turned back on, leaving Kia on the ground with dried tears on her cheeks.

Hunter kneeled beside her, gentle fingers touching her jaw as he tilted her head. The pale light did little to hide the welting mark. He puffed out his cheeks as he exhaled and

Hastily wiping her tears off of her face, she glanced from each of the batchers to little Omega whose eyes sparkled with concern at the sight of Kia's red cheek.

"Doesn't hurt," Kia assured lightheartedly. She patted Omega's head and glanced over her shoulder, eying the control console in the center of the brig.

"We need to get out of here. Fast."

•·················•

Plastoid armor was colder than Kamino's standard-issue robes. It was heavier on the shoulders. Less warm; less comfortable. And the sharp, metallic smell of plastoid was sharp, even after years of service.

Kia couldn't seem to put the helmet on. Even with the memories scratched, dented, and burned onto the plastoid, a single glance and she was reminded of a life that she'd never have again. A life that was once good, safe, and secure. A life where she was happy, where she saved lives and got to return to Kamino to her lover.

All of it, stolen right out of her hands the moment the war ended.

Tarkin. Tarkin.

Stinging pain shot through her hands. Blurry-eyed, she blinked and set the helmet down on the crate, glancing at her broken nails.

Brief warmth blossomed in her chest when a hand rested on her shoulder. Her hope was brief, deflating just enough for her shoulders to sag when she realized that it was Hunter, not Crosshair.

Kia's disappointment must have been evident for his hand dropped, fingertips rubbing together as he glanced at her helmet. She pretended not to see the fleeting discomfort in his eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Yes. No. I'm fine. I'm terrified.

There were so many things to say yet Kia could only manage a weak shrug.

"I will be when we're off of Kamino." She glanced over her shoulder at the bay doors. "We need to hurry and find Crosshair before they notice that we've escaped."

"I don't think we need to go far," Omega nervously spoke up.

The hangar doors slid open. Plastoid armor clanked as a battalion of troopers stormed in, their blasters aimed and ready. And there, standing behind them all with a toothpick in the corner of his mouth and a new helmet tucked underneath his arm, was Crosshair.

Kia's throat tightened, her breath caught in her throat. Lips parting, she blinked once, twice, three times - hoping, no, begging that this was a dream. A cruel, horrid dream.

His eyes were cold. Blank. Everything that once made her chest warm, her stomach twist and turns with knots of love - all of it was gone. In its place was a void. A husk with a matted gaze and a scowl of disgust on his lips, even as his eyes met her own.

She once remembered his eyes dampening after a night spent ruffling the sheets in her private barracks. As he grazed his fingertips up and down her bare spine, he stared at the ceiling with the ghost of tears in his eyes and a faint smile on the edge of his lips. He chewed absentmindedly on his toothpick, unaware that Kia was watching from the crook of his arm.

This was the side of Crosshair that his brothers would never know - the side of him that yearned to be desired, to be given something to lust for. It was passionate, all-consuming, overwhelming when he would realize - when he would understand - that he had someone who loved him.

Longing stares sent across the room; anger-fueled glares aimed at those who stood too close or smiled a bit too much; lopsided smirks when he'd return from long deployments... Love manifested itself differently with Crosshair but it was always there, lost somewhere within the hurricane of suppressed emotions.

There was no hurricane in his eyes. Not anymore. In place of all uncontrolled emotions was a blank canvas, a simple look of offense. No bitterness, unchecked rage, or fierce possessiveness. No loitering smirk on his lips when he saw the shock strewn across Kia's face.

Not even a glimpse of concern when he watched her slowly walk out from behind the crate.

Voices from behind the crates whispered out her name, demanding for her to hide, to get out of Crosshair's line of sight. Hunter's fingers brisked over her own but she pulled her fingers from his touch and stepped out into the open.

His name trickled from her lips, spoken as if she was asking him why?

"Crosshair."

He blinked, cocking his head to the side. His eyes met hers before darting behind her head and narrowing. A smirk curled the edge of his lip, bare of all humor.

"Best stand down, Doctor. Make it easier on yourself and the others."

Kia took a step forward, only stopping at the sound of clacking blasters. She sucked in a breath but kept her gaze locked on Crosshairs.

"Please," she commented softly, hurt hanging onto each word. "Crosshair, you don't want to do this-"

He didn't wait for her to finish before raising Firepuncher and aiming it at her.

Hunter's voice boomed from behind as he yelled out, "Have you lost your mind! You're aiming your blaster at Kia!"

"You should have killed that Padawan," Crosshair muttered. "And you should have never become a distraction. Did you plan on getting what you wanted from me and moving on to Hunter when you were satisfied? Or were the others already next in line?"

The tears in Kia's eyes came quickly and spilled down her cheeks before she could blink them away. Speechless, lips parted without a word on her tongue, she could only straighten her back and dig her nails into her gloved palm as she swallowed the thick lump in her throat.

"Then shoot me."

"KIA!"

"Doctor Heelo, no!"

Crosshair's brows rose, though it wasn't out of impression or surprise. He was pleased, smirking at her response as if it was just what he wanted to hear.

Yet his finger didn't pull the trigger. The toothpick snapped between his teeth, fracturing from the clench of his jaw. Sheen sweat glistened on his forehead, eyes narrowed and locked onto her.

The trigger wasn't being pulled. Maybe there might have been a chance. Maybe somewhere, deep under the cold stare and the soulless smile on his lips, Crosshair was still in there. Maybe she could get to him-

Red sparks flashed. Something slammed into her. The shoulder, perhaps, or was it her pauldron? She couldn't focus on where it hurt. Everything did. Teeth-gritting, white-hot pain seared into her nerves. Acid flowing in her blood. Muffled voices called out her name. Someone was begging her to stay awake but it was too distant to latch onto before she felt as if she was falling.

Whether it was forward or backward, she wasn't sure. Her legs felt weightless as they crumpled underneath her.

But there were arms around her. One underneath her legs and the other holding her torso to a plastoid-covered chest. She smelled something familiar - sizzling plastoid and the sharp, metallic stench of iron.

She was a Doctor. She knew what it was. It didn't take a genius to know what melted plastoid and blood smelled like.

"Kia!"

Echo? She tried prying her eyes open. Though it felt like she could feel her eyelashes tickling her cheeks, everything was still dark. She couldn't see anything, much less hear through the muffled hum in her ears.

"Wrecker and Kia are in vital need of medical assistance-"

"Then give them that assistance, Tech!"

"I'm trying-"

"Hunter! She's losing a lot of blood!"

"Omega, get away-"

"Kia-"

"Stay awake..."

"We're losing her!"

"Leave me! Help Kia-"

"Stay awake..."

She first noticed the pain. It burned throughout her whole torso; hot metal dripping down her spine and sternum, sizzling electricity in each fiery nerve. It blinded her as she tried forcing her eyes open; suffocating her when she tried to breathe through her nose.

Her eyes opened slowly. Pain flourished through every nerve in her torso, stemming from the pulsing heat in her shoulder.

The cot above her head was familiar. The chorus of faint and loud snoring was familiar. The smell of blood and cauterized flesh was just as familiar. But the hollowness in her chest was new. Physical pain came and went but the emptiness in her gut, the dread that she felt weighing down her shoulders... That felt damn near permanent.

Kia didn't need to turn her head to know that the others were sleeping around her. Had it been hours since they left Kamino? The smell of smoke from their blasters still clung to their armor, as fresh as the blood on the endless towels and gauze pads that littered the floor.

Something heavy weighed on her shin. She wanted to raise her head but the agonizing stabs of pain through her body flooded her eyes with a new wave of tears, leaving her jaw aching from how hard she clenched her teeth.

She slowly rolled her head over to the side, tilting it just enough to see the familiar mop of unruly hair and the peek of a red bandana. He was sleeping with his head in his arms, hunching his back over the side of the cot - undoubtedly an uncomfortable position to be sleeping in.

Hunter's fingertips touched her leg, a small but physical connection to make sure her heartbeat didn't change drastically or her temperature didn't drop too low. He was grounding himself with her pulse, using it to keep himself sleeping amid the overstimulation of the day's events.

Kia's head lolled back, exhaustion causing her vision to blur. Lacking the strength to swallow them down, the tears continued to flood her eyes, dripping from the corners and trickling into her bloodied hairline.

Shutting her eyes, Kia fell back into the pain-induced sleep, dreaming of the blank look in Crosshair's eyes as he shot her. The lack of remorse chilled her; the lack of reaction when she called his name made her want to scream and rip out her own hair, but he hesitated.

Her Crosshair was in there somewhere and somehow, Kia was going to find a way to bring him back.

[djarrex]

From Where We Stand

Post-Stasis!Kix x f!OC

Hi there! As some of you know, I've been stuck in the midst of a too-long writing rut. I've been wanting to write this series for a LONG time, and have pretty much the entire first chapter saved in my drafts - had to scroll pretty far to find it since I started it like 6 months ago. ANYWAYS. Once I'm ready to post the first chapter I will create a series ML, complete with this banner and a series summary. Honestly, I'm posting this as motivation for me to actually go through with this. (y'all can hold me accountable lmao).

As for my Post-Order 66 Rex series, I'm going to put that on a little hiatus for a while until I can figure out what I wanna do with this Post-Stasis!Kix series. I will still answer asks regarding Rex Gayiyla & Fam, and if something hits me, I'll work on some things for that. I still have a lot planned for the Gayiyla family, don't you worry! :')

So.

My OC, Ahri, is a member of the Crimson Corsair's pirate crew. They find our poor, beloved Kix frozen in a cryo pod within an old, grounded Separatist ship, and they decide to make the Clone Wars-era soldier a part of their merry crew. I'm planning on making this a slow burn series with some action, angst, clone feels, and other things tbd. I'll have a better series summary when it comes time to post the first chapter.

With that being said, here's a little snippet from the intro scene in first chapter that will be titled "Fool's Gold". (ty to Ro for that big brain <3. Titles/banner/details are subject to change).

Rated: M for language, but the series as a whole will be rated back and forth between M and E as it goes on.

“Hey, come listen to this,” the triangular-headed Arcona still sitting by his lonesome at the bar calls over his shoulder to the rest of his crew. Ahri drops her legs from the table to the ground, her boots hitting the stone floor with a thud as she signals a round-up at the two playing sabacc. Only when all members of the crew have made their way to the bar does Reeg continue.

SERIES MASTERLIST

<<<>>>

“This ol’ thing just picked up a transmission, dating back fifty years.”

The Gabdorin first-mate opens his wide mouth first. “Well? What’s it sayin’, Reeg?”

“It’s being relayed from something that goes by ‘B1-CC14′? It’s a distress signal coming from a cruiser called the Obrexta III.”

The old man wiping the counter with an extremely dirty rag halts and meanders over to where the group’s gathered at the bar, leaning in close after scanning each of their very different faces. The feisty red Twi’lek member glared at him, about to ask him what his problem is, but he interjects with a gummy grin.

“I’ve heard that name before... that cruiser.” All eyes turn to the old bartender as he rubs his skinny, wrinkly fingers against his thumb, signaling the need of some sort of payment for the following information he has to offer. With a roll of her eyes, Ahri tosses a few credits across the counter, reassuringly placing her hand on Sidon’s cloaked shoulder as they all lean in close when the old man starts to open his mouth.

“Heard it crashed here way back at the end of the Clone Wars... somethin’ about containin’ the lost treasure of one of the political heads of the time. Dooku, I think’s the name.”

Treasure.

That’s the one word a group of pirates needs to hear.

A few pairs of eyes light up upon hearing the magic word, but the more cautions among them simply raise their brows - incredulous. Quiggold shakes his cloaked and rounded head ever so slightly as a sign to take caution - the captain nodding in agreement at his first-mate.

“How many have you told of this cruiser and treasure?” Quiggold inquires at the hunched-back bartender, stepping closer and leaning over the counter.

The old man is quick to reply with a sly smile, “If they’re willin’ to pay for the information, it’s theirs.”

“Captain.” Ahri pulls the crew’s leader to the side before whispering so only he can hear, “We can’t be the only ones to know about this wreckage. It’s been what, five decades since it crashed here on Ponemah? I’m sure hundreds upon hundreds have tried to find the treasure, so who knows if it’s even still there?" She pauses - her eyes flickering to the few pairs of prying eyes coming from the other end of the cantina. "There’s those giant sand worms out there, too, not to mention the difficult terrain. I think it’s too risky, Sid.” Ahri peers over to her other crewmates who seem to be preoccupied with yapping with the bartender, save for Pen, who's now strutting over to the two of them.

“Captain, I think we should go for it. Bartender just said there’s kyber crystals on board, and maybe even a lightsaber. The cruiser belonged to a sith lord, sir. You know how much we can get on the black market for those crystals?”

Ahri not-so-discretely scoffs and shakes her head, narrowing her eyes at the overly-eager Ishi Tib.

“The wreckage has been there since the end of the Clone Wars, Pen. Who’s to say the crystals haven’t already been scooped up?” Her eyes land on the captain once again, “Sid...it’s your call. I know we can handle anything that comes our way... I just think the journey itself is far too dangerous for the slim chance that there’s actually something worth while within that dated wreckage.”

It’s silent between the three for a long moment; it’s difficult for anyone else to read Sidon’s expression since it is always hidden underneath the mask, but Ahri knows him well enough now to know almost exactly what he’s thinking. Captain Sidon Ithano is a man of very few words; he relies heavily on his crewmates to translate his thoughts and anticipate his desires, but will speak if absolutely needed. Ahri can read Sidon like an ancient text scribbled on some flimsi, more so than the rest of the crew, but probably ties with their first-mate.

With a disappointed sigh, she shakes her head, already knowing his answer. Sidon finally nods, and Pen claps his hands excitedly - the rest of the crew cheering under their breaths once they catch sight of the exuberant Ishi Tib making his way back to them.

“Fine,” she mumbles, heading back over to the others behind the captain. Kicking the ground and tossing the old man behind the bar another couple of credits, she sighs again. “Alright, barkeep. Where’s this wreckage?”

“Southern Region. S’all I know.”

This time, Ahri laughs. “Let me guess, in the middle of the fucking Sea of Sand, right?” The bartender tugs his thin lips into a creepy smile, nodding with an amused huff. The defeated redhead turns back to her crewmates, speaking to the captain in particular. “Can’t even get there flying the Martinet. We’ll need a sail barge to get there.”

The Sea of Sand - quite appropriately named - is plagued by lightning storms, magma geysers, and 15-meter waves of caustic sand that act as Ponemah’s sea. Even the crew’s ship, the Meson Martinet, a heavily modified CSS-1 Corellian Star Shuttle, is no match for that terrain.

And the crew knows this.

Sidon nods before turning his attention back towards the old man who had resumed wiping the bar, clearly satisfied with the amount of credits he’d acquired just from entertaining a group of desperate pirates.

“A sail barge.”

The deeply modulated voice coming from the captain always makes Ahri shudder - but not from fear.

<<<>>>

tagging some pals who may be interested?

@rowansparrow @thefact0rygirl @damerondala @ashotofspotchka @rebelpitstop

anyone else?