#sorry I just have emotions regarding the Sith Inquisitor

[revan-escence]

Is that not what happened

[madmiriam]

My Mando (Din Djarin) /oc's backstory idea (includes alot of rexsoka shipping)

Warning!! : I can't spell for toffee and Tumblr deleted all of my proofreaders edits. Obviously she doesn't want to do it all over again so I've had to make do.

(a clan of three by madmiriam (Me)

We all love the mandalorian, Din Djarin is so sexy as single dad and we all love him for it. But this makes it hard to write and engageing original character to go with this perfect specimen of a man, one that we can really connect with. Well I have a salutation, to connect with a character it helps if that character is also connected to a character/characters that you already know and love. So I give you my original character Jaig.

Look:

Like the picture above, originally I wasn't going to have Din and Grogu in it at first but I have a habit of making life difficult for myself, so your welcome.

Personality:

As an adult, she's calm and patient and has a sarcastic sense of humour.

As a child, she has a bubbly personality, a contagious smile, and an insatiable curiosity.

Strengths:

she finds it difficult to truly hate anyone, no matter what they've done, she proffers to look at the reasons behind the actions of others before jumping in for revenge, that's not to say she doesn't get angry at people, but her anger is not fuelled by hate. She has been fully trained in the use of weaponry, such as guns, granaids and other such, and has had a small amount of training with a lightsaber when she was younger. But afters a experiencing a tragedy at the age of 9 she hasn't touched one since, she proffers the us of DC hand guns. She is also a fairly good pilot and mechanic.

Weaknesses:

back when she was a child she had a hard time using the force when when overwhelmed. If the thoughts and feelings of others got to much, she would become force blind. When she grows older, (for certain reasons you will find out later on in. This story) she completely cuts herself off from the force. Unless her emotions get to much go handle, then the force would almost explodes out of her. She also doesn't do well when she's alown. Having grown up in various large family atmospheres. If she is not around people she cares about and loves, she will become closed off a dipressed.

Back story: (now bear with me, this storyline is set before she meets Din, its just an introduction to this character)

Jaig (due to her small Jaig eye like markings, and her father's personal connection to the simble) is the daughter of ex jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano and her mate/husband Captain Rex. She looks mostly human like her father, with the same amber eyes and his family's dark hair. But with the same facial structure of her mother, and a slightly darker and olive tinged skin tone. She also has distinct white making that were almost identical to her mother's. Except instead of diamond shapes on her forehead, she has jaig eye like markings. She was born 6 years after the clone wars ended, while her parents were on the run from the empire. Rex and Ahsoka had found it impossible to part from one another after the events of order 66, and after travelled from place to place avoiding the empire for a long time. Their feelings for one another grow, and they eventually married through the use of mandalorian marriage vows.

They built a home in the stars, and after a few years, to their great surprise and happiness they conserved and had Jaig. Things were finally looking up with the birth of their new found hope for the future.

(Their new found hope for the future/baby Jaig by madmiriam (me)

But it was not to last. It was hard enough to hide themselves, a clone and a ex jedi from the empire. But now adding a force sensative baby to the mix as well, it made it damn near impossible for them all to stay together. Which; after a terrifying encounter with one of the Empires Inquisitors, forced them to make the difficult decision to part ways. Rex would head off insearch for a new home and hopefully find and de-chip as many brothers as he could. While ahsoka would keep traveling around the stars with Jaig. Avoiding the empire and its ruthless inquisitors, whilst trying to help Jaig build up her Shields. They both agreed to keep in touch and once Jaig's Shields were up and safely secure,(which for the average youngling would take 5 years or so) they would rejoin each other and dicided what to do next. But a year after their separation Rex's comms and messeges had stopped all together, and by the time Jaig had reached the age of five and had built up some suitable shields around her mind, neither she or her mother had herd from her father in over 4 years. Her mother was adament he was still alive, but as she grew older Jaig had a hard time believing her. For if he was alive why hadn't he come to find them? Why was he not answering her mothers messages that she still sent on a regular basis?

By the time she was 6 her mother was approached by Bail Organa, in regards to starting a rebellion, and that is what they spent the next 4 years working towards, staying in the shadows gradually building up a resistance to eventually overthrow the empire.

She and her mother met the ghost crew when she was 9 (the same age Anakin had been when he was found by qui gon) and after an uncomfortably close encounter with a mysterious Sith lord called Darth Vader, Jaig's mother disided it was time to bring her father into the fold, and sent Jaig of with the ghost crew to find Rex.

When meeting her father she had opted to wear a scarf to cover her face markings and, chose to withhold her name, and who she was until she found out more about the man who was her father. She was apprehensive about him. As she had no memorie of her dad, for she was only a baby when he left. The only thing she did have, was this warm comforting feeling that she felt whenever her mother spoke of him. A feeling of being held to a large ferm chest in two equally large and ferm muscular arms. Wrapped in a soft wool blanket. Her mother told her that this was the force making an imprint on one of the more emotional moments of her like. But all the same, she proffered to be cautious.

After spending some time with Rex and his bothers. She found her self really enjoying there company. Aspecially her father's. Who dispite having no idea who she was, had already shown that he had a clear paternal instinct. Particularly when teaching her and Ezra how to fish for "Big Bongo". However Kanan who clearly didn't trust Rex or his brothers had spent most of his time hovering around ether her or Ezra protectively, eventually telling them about his exspirence with order 66, an event her mother never talked about.

After seeing the heartbreak on her father's eyes at the memories he and Kanan spoke of. She desided it was time to tell him who she was. But that decision was cut short however when she overheard Rex telling Ezra that he wasn't going to come back with them. Even though he now knew her mother was alive (1 year after separating when the message's stopped he thought both his wife and child to be dead) Jaig ran of in tears when hearing this. She climbing down the ladder of the the AT-TE and walked ferther in front of the walking monstrosity. Away from everyone else. She had finally gotten used to the idea of her father coming back with them. Had become exited by it even. But now, the fact that he was refusing to come with them. Back to his home, his wife, to her. It hurt and overwhelmed her, more than she could say.

She didn't however see what happened after. When Sebine came out and acused Rex of selling them out, of contacting the empire and never answering Ahsoka's messages; at which point he finds out about how Wolfe had withheld all the messages from Ahsoka for 8 years. Thinking he was protecting his brothers from a potentially vengeful jedi. Rex was furious at Wolfe for hiding his own wife's messages to him, and coursing him to miss so much of his only child's life.

Rex: "we have a daughter Wolfe!!! My Jaig, my baby girl doesn't even know who I am because of you!!!"

Wolfe:(was shocked and full of regret when hearing this) "I.. I.. Didn't know... Rex I'm sorry, I didnt know"

Ezra:(recordnises the name) "wait Jaig? you meen our Jaig, Jaigs your daughter?"

Rex: "wait what?"

At this point they hear a shrill scream coming from down in front of the AT-TE. It was Jaig, she was being attact by the prob droid that had been sent by the empire.

The clones immediately go into action. Rex is handed a rifle and gets ready to shoot the prob as it backs his daughter into the ground. His ames and shoots true, killing the droid with one foul shot and then quickly dashes down to retrieve his daughter from under the sparking remains of the droid.

Jaig is in hysterics at this point. Having been taken by surprise by the droid along with the emotional turmoil of potentially losing her father all over again. She then resigned herself to just sit there and cry over how foolish she was for even seeing the attack coming. But now she was being held in the familiar strong arms of her father as he held his only child for the first time in over 8 years.

Rex: "I'm here sh shh, I'm here Ik'aad senaar (baby bird, a nickname he gave her as an infant) daddy's here, daddy's got you"

He says carefully stocking her familiar dark brown hair (that was now flowing free as her scarf had fallen loosely around her shoulders, revealing her beautiful face to her father who's eyes were now brimming with unshed tears) to calm her down as he picking her up and takes her back to the AT-TE. Where the others are waiting with bated breaths. Wolfe was holding a blanket out to wrap his shacking niece into and Gregor quickly dashing off to get her a hot chocolate hoping to make her feel better.

Jaig: "I was angry. Upset. You said you weren't coming home and, then everyone felt so angry and scared all at once. It was to much. (sighs) I have a hard time controling the force when I get overwhelmed like that. I couldn't even sence the prob. I'm. I'm sorry"

She exsplans after she sits down and has a few sips of the hot chocolate that had been placed in her hands. Accompanied a number of comforting back rubs from both her father and her uncles.

Wolfe apologies to her. Explains that he's the reason her father had been out of her life for so long. That he was just trying to protect his brothers but ended up hurting his other family because of it. And tells her he understands if she hates him.

Jaig: "your Wolfe aren't you? Uncle Wolfe? Mum (she has a slight clone like accent that they haven't noticed before) told me about you, said you worked with Grandpa Plo"

Wolfe: 😳"Grandpa Plo? 😂 Boy he would have loved to have herd you say that"

He said, both of them smile at each other, Jaig having forgiven her uncle for his laps in judgment.

All seemed well again until the empire calls them back to get the clones to hand over the rebels. The clones now fueled by the new found need to keep their new family out of harms way, tells the empire where they can stick it, and quickly try to usher the ghost crew along with Jaig into the phantom so they can escape While they all get ready to fight.

Jaig: "but I just found you, mum told me to bring you home, I can't leave you behind, da.. Please don't go"

She says clutching at his shirt as he huged her tight before holding her out to face him,

Rex:"no one's abandoning anyone. Jaig look at me (tilting her head to look. Into her eyes, eyes that matched her father's) we're soldiers Ik'aad senaar, this is what we were born to do, but this time we have something to fight for.. Its going to be OK, (presses his forehead against hers) I love you my Jaig eyes, I've loved you from the I first held you. Ha you were so tiny. I didn't want to let you go back then and I don't want to do it again now, but like last time it's something I have to do, to keep you safe, my Ik'aad senaar, (kissed her forhead lovingly) tell your mother I'm sorry I couldn't make it home, and... And I love her ok."

He says before sending her back into the phantom, closing the door behind her before she can stop him.

Things then pan out like it does in the show, the phantom goes back to help the clones take down the walkers and Rex then decides he's not gonna spend any more of time away from Ahsoka and Jaig and choses to return with them and join the rebellion.

The reauion between Rex and Ahsoka continues the same, but insted of just a hug Ahsoka goes in for the kiss (how it should have always been in my opinion).

(this art work was done by @nottonyharrison (please note: this image was used with the permission of the artist,) please go check them out, as you can see their art work is stunning)

They spend most of there time with the ghost crew, Ahsoka makes the Ghost her base to return to after missions, and Rex teaching combat and war strategies to both Ezra and Jaig, but mostly to Ezra, Jaig was; in his opinion still to young to get to deep into the oncoming war.

Rex:"let her be a kid for a little longer at least".

Jaig and Ezra had eventually become good friends, Jaig looking up to him as something of an older brother, following him every where he went like a little shadow. At first Ezra was annoyed, and try to get away from her at every turn. But after a while he found he quite like having someone look up to him for a change. As before her, he had been dubed the baby of the group with the most to learn. But now he had Jaig hanging on his evey word like it was gold. He found he enjoyed the new found responsibility.

Unfortunately with her shadowing Ezra so much. This meant she got into all kinds of trouble with him. Trouble that mostly involved them running down the corridor with an angry Zeb chasing after them. Zeb really didn't seem to like Jaig very much. Said it was like having two Ezras, and one was quite enough. However other trouble also included a short but terrible trip to malachor, where after being told she can't come along she choses to stow herself away on the phantom in the small rashon hold built into the floor, shielding her mind from her mother as they flow through space.

Ahsoka: (on a call to Rex) "well I definitely out rank you😉... 😟How Jaig doing?"

Rex: "welp she's not happy, she gone and hidden herself in one of thoughs little critter caves again, I'm making her favorite tonight so I know she'll show up by dinner time, but all the same😔..."

Ahsoka: "hay don't take it to heart Rex, you and I both know this is how she deals with being left behind for anything, she finds a small place to hide and sulk it out, just be ready with a plate of nuna and a hug and she bounces right back😄🙁 when she comes out tell her I love her, and I'll be home soon"

Rex: "I will🙂😟... May the force be with you" they hang up.

It's Ezra who ends up finding her, just after they land. Pointing her out to a stressed out Kanan and a very cross Ahsoka,

Ezra: "ummm guys, I think we have a stowaway",

Jaig: "before you get mad..... consider being proud of me, I stayed still for hours in there AND I shielded my mind the whole time, so you non of you even knew I was there"

Ahsoka: "DON'T push it young lady😠what were you thinking!! Your fathers gonna be worried sick!!!! 😤😔 welp since there's no turning back now, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get you back home and thoroughly grounded for a year"

The rest again plays out the same, they find Maul, Maul blinds Kanan, they get the sith holocromb but lose Ahsoka in the fight with Vader, though after seeing Jaig who looks so much like the little snippy girl from his old life, the Anakin in Vader hasitates to kill ahsoka and her child, and insted trys to convince the unwavering togruta to join him with her daughter.

Vader:"the galaxy shall never be safe for her Ahsoka, join me and I can protect her from the emperor. Join me and we can over throw him... Together"

Ahsoka: "how can I trust anything you say. If you were truly Anakin then how can you protect my daughter when you can't even protect yourself"

Jaig: "MUM!!!! MUUUMMMM!!!"

Ahsoka looks at her daughter running to her as the walls of the sith temple come down,

Ahsoka :"I'm sorry Jaig"

She say quietly as she force pushes he child into Ezra outside the temple as it fall around her and Vader out of the site of her family.

When all is quiet and Vader emerges from the rubble, after failing to find his former apprentice, the Anakin in him vows that he will not fail her child, he will do everything in his power to insure his master never find her, even if he has to hide her away himself to do it.

When Kanan, Ezra and Jaig return to base, Rex is in hysterics asking around.

Rex:"have you seen Jaig? Has anyone seen my baby?, its been over two days.. I can't find her..!!."

Jaig:"DADDY!!! 😭"

Rex turns to see her running out of a newly landed phantom in tears. Now knowing exactly where she'd been he quickly runs to her and scoops her up in his arm clucking her close to his chest in relief that she was home.

Rex:"you.. Are going to be the death of me, hey sh shshsh hey, hey what's the tears? what happen? where's your..? ."

(a father's comfort, ruff drawing by madmiriam (me)

He couldn't finish the sentence as he looked around and sure two other people emerging from a now empty ship, neither one of them was his wife. Ezra looked him in the eyes and with out saying a word, he knew. He knew Ahsoka, his Ahsoka was gone. He closed his eyes, sheding one silent tear as he held his girl tighter, and slowly carried her away, away from the crowd, but not away from the heartache.

After the loss of her mother, Jaig's once bubblie personality had diminishes somewhat. She refuses to leave the side of eather her father or the members of the ghost crew. She goes on a few missions with them and liston to every word her father says about ways of fighting, fighting to protect herself and the people she loves. Before heading to a mission on geonosis he gives he one of his old DCs. (its twin had been lost in battle during the clone wars and he had gotten a replacement pear, but he had always kept his first well maintained in case he ever needed it)

Rex: "I know it's no lightsaber, but if will keep you and the others safe when used properly"

Jaig: "I don't want a lightsaber any more, 😔sabers get you killed"

Rex: " not all of them Ik'aad senaar" he sighs kissing her forehead "not all of them".

But even this would not last. When it came time for the empire to attack chopper base. Vader sends his own secret troops of undercover purge troopers to find and retrieve Jaig, and to also fake her death so both the empire and the rebels would not come looking for her. This of corse left Rex in his lowest point yet. After watching the ship he had put his daughter on to be evacuated blow up before it even left the ground. He found it hard to not simply drop all his defences and just calming walk into the flames after her. If it hadn't been for Zeb he probably would have. These kind of thoughts invaded his mind so frequently after that day, it was hard to remember when they didn't. He had lost both his wife and now his child. His hope and his reason for fighting were gone, and he wanted to go after them. But he couldn't. Not while there were still people to fight out there, the people who took everything for him and was still grabbing for more. People who his wife started this whole rebellion to fight against. No, he would keep fighting, as long as there is still even one imperial still left alive he would live and fight, until every last one of then were wiped out of existence. (that's gonna take a while)

Meanwhile Vader and Jaig finally meet properly face to mask. Jaig is having a hard time counselling her fear. But Vader was also having difficulty concealing his pain. Pain that had lingered since the moment he had emerged from that crumbled down sith temple, with no sign in the force or otherwise of his once padawan,. The last family he thought he had, that had not betrayed him, who had(once she had seen his face underneath his freshly cracked mask) said she wouldn't leave him, not again. But she had left him, not by her own design he knew, but she had left him all the same. And she had also left a child behind, a child like the one Padme would have given him if it weren't for both the sith and the jedi.

The jedi, who had forced his hand in turning to the dark side, by telling him he should just let Padme die for the good of the galaxy. The jedi who had abandoned his padawan, his little sister, his first child (if he could go so far as to say) in her time of need, and then exsept her to come back all smiles, acting as though her whole ordel was just a trial to prove herself to them. When it was them who should be providing themselves to her.

And the sith,. The sith who had manipulated him from day one to become what he is now, the sith who had taken every thing he had, his wife, his child, his brother/father figer, his little sister/daughter and his friends. The clones. His home all gone for the sake of his masters new empire😡. Yes he new this had been his master's plan all along, the war the clones, the inhibitor chips. All to gane more and more power for himself and to distroy the jedi in his wake. Dragging Anakin down into the darkness with him, and he would do the same thing to Jaig given the chance. Vader could feel the raw power of the force rolling of her, the energy mix with her fear would be a prime canderdate for Sidious's manipulation, should he ever discover her existence.

No!!! That would not happen, neither the sith or the jedi would have her, he would not alow it.

Jaig:"I know who you are.. I know what you did... You tryed to turn my mother before killing her, but you wouldn't turn me, you hear me, I.. Will.. Not... Turn"

She says her voice shacking with her body in fear.

Vader:"no... You will not..."

Jaig: "then why am I here? I haven't done anything to make you hate me.... At least... I don't think I have"

Vader:"I do not hate you Jaig, like your mother, much to my masters great..... disappointment... I could never hate you"

It was true. He couldn't hate her. Couldn't bring himself to hate her. But he couldn't love her either. He had no more love left in him to give. But he could protector for the sake of someone he had loved.

Jaig: confused "then.. Then please let me go, I won't tell anyone if that's what your worried about, I just want to go home, I want my dad, please I just want my daddy😰"

Vader: "you father's fate is.... Regrettable. However it is a necessary evil, it is emperative that he believes you to be dead"

Jaig: "why what did he do to you? what did any of my parents ever do to you?!"

Vader: "as shocking as it may sound, these actions are not done out of hate. You will know this soon enough but for now, I must focus on getting you as far away and as hidden as possible" he then calls in a trouper with red and black armor.

Vader: "CC-2224 I trust your men are ready"

Cody: "ready and awaiting orders.. Sir"

Cody says through gritted teeth not bearing to even look at his once general's masked face.

Vader:"good, I trust the surgery was a success for all of them?"

Cody: "yes.. Sir.. Though we are all having adjustment issues due to recent ... and.... less recent events"

Vader: "thoughs... issues.... had better not interfere with the performance of your mission commander, you and your men have been chosen for one reason and one reason only, and it is for your loyalty to her safety. I can feel your hatred for me commander Cody (Cody inhails sharply at the sound of his name) but I also know enough about you and your brother's to know that they will not let this anger get in the way. I trust you all know the consequences that await you should you fail"

He ignites his blood red saber to put more emphasis on his point.

Cody:"yes sir"

Vader:"very well, now take her and go, and protect her with your life, I shall make my own way back to base as some as I can, her training with began immediately after my return, so be sure to proper her, but until then you already know what to do".

Cody noded before walking over to Jaig, then bent down and gently but fermly lifts her out of her seat, and quickly carry her out of the cell, down the hall and, through the, docking Station towards a unmarked referbished gunship.

Jaig: "where are we going? "

She said with a soft whimper. She was relieved to be away from Vader but still felt apprehensive with the idea of being taken away yet again in the arms of this.. Purge trooper, at lest she thinks it's a purge trooper, she had never seen one before so she could only guess.

Cody: "sh sh it's gonna be OK little one, I'm taking you some were safe, but we have to hurry now"

Jaig:"why?"

Cody: "no one on this ship other than Vader knows we're here and we have to keep it that way kid"

Jaig:"why would you need to hide from your own men"

Cody:"cuz you never know whos watching, I'll explain more when we get off this ship and into hyperspace"

Once they were on board the gun ship, that had been modified to acomidate long period space travel. The modifications included everything from comfortable seating to a working hyperdrive. Cody set her down in one of the seats and strapped her fermly in before heading to the cockpit, leaving her now surrounded by four more purge troopers (hardcase, fives, dogma and waxer, who I'm gonna say lived, cuz I have attachment issues, boil is in the cockpit piloting the ship) who are all looking at her intensely through their helmets. (hardcase and fives are in borrowed discises, after Fives finds out about the chips he and hardcase desert the army and decide to strike out on their own to try and find out more about the chips and their perpose, unfortunately they were too late to do anything about it before oder 66 happened. They have been on the run ever since, until Vader aproches them, informing them that he has been keeping tabs on them, and had been insuring the empire believes them both to be dead, and tells them of the mission, they agree to help because it's Rex and ahsoka's daughter they'll be protecting, but only under the condition the they only report to a de-chipped Cody and all other clones included in the mission must also be de-chipped as well. Vader had agreed to this as he was going to have their chips all removed anyway, to prevent any itchy trigger fingers being near his new force sensative)

Once they're in hyperspace Cody returns to the main area of the gun ship, where the other clones are crowed around a frightened looking Jaig

Waxer: "is this her? Wow she looks so much like her mum"

Fives: "she has our eyes though, our wonderfully handsome eyes"

hardcase: "and out hair, Ha!! I knew Rex's hair wasn't naturally blonde😂"

Dogma:" technically Hardcase, her hair being brown isn't proof that his is to, she could have just gotten the hereditary Jango gen of dark hair"

Fives:"aww suck the fun out of it why don't you"

Cody: "guys back up, give her some space, your freaking her out, and take off your buckets, I don't think they're helping"

When their buckets were removed Jaig was shocked to see five versions of her father's face looking down at her, all old and a little worse for where's, but all very much clone. She recordnises three of them from her father's holopad.

Jaig: "Fives?"

Fives:😃 "yeah! Yeah kid, that's me your☝️ Uncle Fives (he kneals down taking her hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze, before turning to Cody) she recordnised me first that must kill you😁"

Cody: 😠 "only cus you have a, dirty great 5 on your forehead You Di'kut"

He said before knealing down in front of her

Cody:"hey kid, sorry I couldn't introduce myself earlier, I'm your.."

Jaig:"Uncle Cody"

Cody:😁 "yeah kid (to Fives) SEE!! over there are your uncles Dogma, Waxer, Hardcase and back there in the cockpit is your uncle Boil, I know your probably not used to this many of us, but there's more we're we came from where we're going, though they live un a different fasilaty to ours, but every single one of them would be whiling to keep you safe if they knew. So you don't have to worry, we're not gonna let anything happen to you"

Jaig "but Vader.."

Cody: (places both hand at the side of her head and looks her dead in the eyes) "isn't going to TUCH you, not if we have anything to say about its, he may be our sponser, and he will be coming round every so often to check on you and train you. But you'll have several hundred or so uncles on the planet ready and waiting with fully loaded blasters should he ever try to hurt you, us 6 especially as we're the only clones there that know about you yet and we're gonna be living under the same roof, as you and one of us will always be close by to help you. OK kid, it's all gonna be ok (he says hugging her) your safe now"

Jaig: "but I don't want to be trained by Vader, I said I wouldn't turn and I meant it"

Cody: "it's alright, its alright. The one thing Vader has assured us of, is it he will not be training you in the dark side. And judging by the amount of effort he's putting into keeping you hidden, I'm inclined to believe him. He told us that you must block your self off from the force, what ever that means. Which is what he's going to show you how to do. Apparently it's the only way to keep the emperor off your scent. But like I said, one of us is always gonna be there should he try anything"

Fives:"yeah we'll look out for you kid, I know you miss your dad, and we're pretty poor substitutes, but we're here for you all the same"

Hardcase:"and we're not leaving anytime soon"

Dogma: "well not if we can help it"

Jaig "but where are we going?"

Cody: smile "to the closest thing we clones have to a home... Kamino"

Kamino had changed over the years, once the emperor had ordered to stop to any more clones creation. The cloning fasilaties had been abandoned by the kaminoans, along with all the rest of the untrained cadets who were all shipped of to the mustafa system to be trained and bred as the empires elite force of purge troopers.

The cloning facilities were left to the old now retired clones, to live out their days away from civilisation, many now wolowing in sadness and regret for their actions under the influence of their now un activated inhibitor chips.

The place Jaig and her other uncles were heading, was just a few hundred miles of from the main cloning compound. It had been kitted out with everything they might need, weaponry, shields, a food station, bedrooms, a bunkhouse, a training ground, and a shooting range. The only beings abord were now the clones, Jaig, the cook and the maintenance crew, well I say crew, it consisted of one male Ugnaught named Kuiil and three droid assistants whom he had reprogrammed to help with any and all clean up and maintenance duties.

Jaig would continue to live out there with her uncles for the next 5 years. They would go on to train her with any and all things clone, weaponry, though she had learnt a lot of that from her father's teachings, and the language and teachings of the mandalorian. The boys were insistent that she learn all of what little they knew of their heritage, as they were all descended from Jango, who was of mandolor. Any clone would tell you how proud the clones were of this heritage, and now they had someone to pass it all down to. They even taught Jaig the mandalorian wars songs that they had all learnt as cadets, and the Clone Haka, that had been performed by many clone troops over the years, before battle,. Much to the confusion and quite frankly terror of the B1 battle droids who witnessed them.

Fives: "ha your mum was pritty good at this to"

Jaig: now 12" my mum knew the Haka? "

She said, trying to picture her calm and serene togrutan mother, chanting, stomping and banging her chest along side millions of clones Warriors, all while making different faces and throatle sounds at the droids on the other side of the battlefield.

Hardcase: "oh yeah!! She was a natural, always shouting the chant in her loudest voice and making her scariest war face, like this 🤪😜🤪"

Fives: "and that my dear Jaig, was when your father fell in love🥰"

Vader came over as often as he could spare, when he was sure he couldn't be directed be his master or that anyone following him. Teaching Jaig how to disconnect herself from the force, telling her that if she continues to use it, the consequences would be severe.

Vader:"if the employer was ever to discover you exsisens, he would hunt you down in an instant, and kill anyone who trys to hide you from him. This is why you must never use the force again, and you must never leave. If anyone outside this fasilaty were to learn of your existence, you would be in mortal danger, as would everyone you care about"

Jaig: "but why couldn't my dad come? You could have had both our deaths faked and brought him here with me"

Vader: sighed "he is to mixed up with the rebel alliance, and besides, it was his reaction that sold your death to the universe. A trick I learned from my old master...the hard way"

He said bitterly.

Jaig knew she should hate him, he had taken her from her home, her friends and family. He had taken her mother, and it was because of his foolish decision to trust, a maniac, power hungy, sith Lord, that her family were forced to live in the shadows, and her mother, and father were force into separation when she was just an infant. She didn't like him by any means, she frequently tryed to avoid his at any turn. But she still couldn't feel hatred for him.

Cody: "na that your mother in you, she was never one to hold much of a grudge ether. She got angry at people don't get me wrong but she never hated them. She cryed over the potential execution of a woman who had Framed her for Murder once. And had taken the time to give all her deceased troops, who had tryed to gun her down a funeral. Even though she and your father where now on the run from the empire"

Over the years living there, she became closer with her uncles, or at least most of them. She argued with Boil on an almost daily basis, but they had their moments, she told him and Waxer how she met Numa, who was still fighting for the freedom of her home. She had a difficult time connecting with Dogma. He was very distance from her and didn't talk much. However she did like listening to him read. Dogma who had been a stiff by the book solder his entire life, and had been through so much, found he secretly quite enjoyed the company of his niece. But she spent most of her training with Fives and Hardcase. Both clones always new how to make her smile and told her many stories of her parents during the war, stories not even her parents had told her, (though they never much liked talking about the war), and she had given them a new lease of life, and new perpose. She was probably closest with Cody, he had know her father since they were both cadets, and was determined to teach her everything he knew, but he also showed his softer side with her. There were many a time he would be seen walking down the corridor carrying the young girl who was really getting a bit to big to be held, in his arms fast asleep from a long day.

She had also become quite good friends with Kuiil the maintenance manger, she learnt that he was paying off his debt to the empire through prolonged servitude, he had been in many battles he didn't believe in, until Vader; after seeing his reprogramming skills had, offered him a place on this secret compound. Kuiil had also taken quite a shine to Jaig, she was kind, and eager to learn the inner workings of the machines he fixed.

But yet again, even this would not last. After the destruction of the First Death Star, Lord Sidious had been furious with Vader, he tortured and demoted him. But through his touture he discovered the existence of the child Vader had taken such lengths to keep hidden from him. And through this new information, he devised a plan.

To brake his apprentices even ferther, he would force him to chose, chose between the life of his padawans child, who he had swarn to protect, and the life of his son, that he did not yet know about. But unfortunately for the emperor, he did not bargain for the tactical brilliance of the Clones.

When the empire, came to take the now 15 year old girl, they had already divested their own escape plan. They sent Jaig along with Kuill over to the kaminoan cloning facilities, turned clone retirement home, before the empire even entered the atmosphere. There she was frozen in to carbonite and fastened to the inside of the newly alcoved underbelly of a small one-seater Y wing (to insure the if the empire should come across them she would be well hidden and undetected, Kuiils cover story being that he was delivering supplies to the clones) there Kuiil would then fly far away from any siverlized planet. While, the clones continued to fight and defend the compound as though she was still there, and then proceed to escape themselves, using an old subship left over from the battle of Kamino. But not before bowing the place sky high, making it seem like the empires had fired at the fewl tanks corsing the whole building to be destroyed along with anyone who was inside.

This was not the out come Sidious had wished for, however with the now almost certain death of his ward, Vader plunged ever ferther into the void of darkness and hate. So the desired effect Sideous was planning for was reached anyway.

After being unfrozen from carbonite, Jaig and Kuiil parted ways. She chose to for her father, but it became fruitless. Chopper base had long since been evacuated and the rebel alliance was always one step ahead of her in their attempts to avoid the empire. For 2 years she searched for them, and fought the Empire where she could, until she finally stopped, delving into the belief that what ever family she knew was now gone, she rejoined Kuiil on a deserted planet called Arvala-7, while the galaxy celebrated the fall of the empire. Where for the next 5 years they would both try to live out their lives in peace, working the land and carrying for blurgs, until a mandolorian arrives on their planet, looking for a little green bounty, which starts of a whole new adventure for our now Adult Jaig.

OK guys let me know how I did, and if you would like to see Jaig's adventures with Din Djarin and little green bean Grogu. Let me know. I'm not much of a writer,. But I always got so irratated when reading Din Djarin/oc fics where to make her interesting, they give the oc force powers, with either no build up to it, or she's a run away jedi, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of season 2 were they're trying to find the jedi, so I thought I'd write my own. I wanted to have a character that has both a clear connection to both the mandalorian culture and the force, without making her a mary su. She has a connection to the force. But she can't use it, or control it. Therefore she can't train Grogu to use it. Which would mean they'd have to find the jedi, to help him learn to control his powers. Plus I don't want to just giving her everything with no preplanned reason. So here is my preplanned reason. I know these short scenes and conversations don't really delve much into her personality but that's were you come in. Tell me what you think of her, and what you think she's like as an adult. I wrote a few things like her kind nature and her sarcastic humour. But I could do with some ideas on what you would like to see. Let me know, and...

May the 4th be with you,😉

[anakinisvaderisanakin]

Son of Sith - Dark Luke AU Oneshot

Luke huffed as all the air was forced out of his lungs; a graceful but rough heel kick aiming a perfect jab right into his mid torso. Augmented by the Force, it sent him flying until he ended up tumbling across the sleek auburn stone floors of the training hall. He skidded to a clumsy halt; bare forearms rubbed raw and sore from the neatly polished finish. He gasped for breath; instinctively reaching for the red saber that ought to be strapped to his belt while he pulled himself up to his knees.

Only to find it wasn't there; and no amount of blind fumbling would reveal the weapon he was so desperately searching for. Had he dropped it? Before he had a chance to relocate the missing saber; another sharp kick to the side of his waist had him rolling over onto his back, wincing and grunting in pain.

"You disappoint me, Skyguy. Me and your father," said his adversary; her mocking tone sharp as glass.

“Don’t call me that,” Luke scoffed in a choked voice, narrowing his blue eyes at the taunt - he’d never been fond of that particular nickname.

He blinked; head spinning as he attempted to see straight. Vision blurred by sweat and exhaustion; clumps of matted sandy blonde hair falling into his field of view. He had known he'd be training intensely to perfect his powers with the Dark Side; he'd just never known that his teacher would be so ruthless. When Father had found him, he’d assumed he would be the one to train him. He’d been sorely wrong.

Instead, the Master that now stood over him was a female Togruta. Her muscular arms folded over her chest; her stern face clearly displeased and disappointed by the easy defeat. Her red dual blades turned off and clipped to her sides. Her magnificent montrals sticking out like a twin pair of horns making a crude crown atop her head; the lekku twitching faintly where they rested over her tense shoulders.

Her sickly yellow ember eyes glowing in the dim light of the vast cavern of the space surrounding them. Half of the rooms of Father’s castle lay underground; carved into the natural cave system of Mustafar's constantly reshaped lavascape. It didn't help that the heat - and stench - of molten rock was constantly perforating the atmosphere.

“Know your place,” she reprimanded; in the same sharp tone as previously - but with a venomous bite to it.

Luke flinched.

"I'm sorry. I can do better," he finally gulped when he caught his breath enough to find his voice; struggling to sit up straight as he wiped a thin trail of blood off the corner of his lips.

His entire abdomen was pulsing with a sore, mellow pain. He pressed one palm against the spot he'd been hit initially; rubbing in slow circles to soothe. Watched as Master rolled her eyes dramatically. She’d always found his sensitivity to physical injury pathetic.

"You better deliver on that promise, Skyguy. You keep whining about how you wish to train with your father. If you can't even best me, how do you expect to stand a chance against his prowess?" she said - it stung to hear it, but her words were true.

"I'll train harder. I can do it," Luke pressed; tone slightly high pitched with disappointment and defeat.

Rare was the time Father had any time for him. Of course, being the Emperor's right hand would see to making him a busy man. But still. Luke lowered his gaze in shame; watching out of the corner of his eye as Master called on the Force and his saber came flying through the air like a pet to its owner. He should have been the one to pull that move. It was an intentional deprecation.

"You need to focus. No amount of hard training can keep your head on straight if you don't learn to focus properly."

“I will, just give me some time.”

“You’ve had all the time in the world, and you’re still stuck in the same spot. You need to start drawing upon your emotions, you keep holding back. It serves you no good, except for getting you killed faster.”

Master carelessly tossed Luke’s saber in the air a couple of times, as a cruel taunt. She appeared to be contemplating, before stopping to give him a predatory smirk.

"You are aware your father is supposed to regard your progress, aren't you?" she said; and Luke watched as she turned her head towards the hydraulic doorway. “As a matter of fact, he disclosed to me that today would be the ideal opportunity.”

Luke felt his heart sink; he'd been too distracted by the combat to even notice the familiar icy presence creeping nearer. Yet now, as the automatic doors whooshed open; he shuddered. Skin prickling; the hairs at the back of his neck standing on end.

Master was strong with the Dark Side; but it was nothing compared to Father. As he strode through the doorway; bending slightly to accommodate his height while entering, the sinister icy tendrils of the Dark were already discernible from his aura. Like invisible tentacles, prodding and cutting through their surroundings like freezing, razor sharp needles. Piercing anything that stood in their way. Luke fought back the urge to wrap his bare arms around himself; to shield himself from the frigid cold.

Still, Father walked right up to them. Back straight and confident, helmeted head held high with pride. Shoulders broad, cape black as tar trailing behind his large form. The skull-esque face plate harsh and emotionless as always; the tinted lenses reminiscent of a bug's eyes. Void, null of expression. Luke staggered as he pulled himself up onto his feet; grimacing at the sharp burn in his side and his ribs.

"Father," he said; bowing his head out equal amounts of awe and courtesy.

Master stepped aside; silently mirroring the small bow of acknowledgement. She stood still as a statue; a coy, amused sneer playing at the corner of her lips. Sharpened white teeth peering out.

"My son. I was assured that you were to be making progress in your training. Still, I find you bereft of your weapon and pitifully defeated."

Luke winced; shoulders coming up as he took in Father's disapproval. It always hurt; always made him feel like a failure. He could feel it through their bond; the anger and displeasure seeping from Father’s overpowering Force signature. Stabbing into his psyche, as if intent on drawing as much humiliation out of his son as possible.

It was working.

"Forgive me, father. I’ve disappointed you," Luke mumbled in a sheepish voice; folding his hands over his hips, legs wobbling just a tad beneath his weight.

"Indeed. You wish to be my apprentice, but you have a long way yet to go. The Grand Inquisitor is correct in her judgment. If you cannot best her skills, you have not yet honed the power necessary to excel as my pupil. You need to continue your current training, and master it before you can request for me to take time out of my schedule on your behalf."

Father was right.

Still, Luke scowled. He'd thought he was doing well in predicting Master's movements, up until the last moment. He was getting faster, and he was getting better at blocking her assault. He was getting better at reading her body language, her saber technique. But he was sloppy, and easily disoriented.

"I sense that you are displeased with my verdict. Do you wish to speak up and voice your opinion?"

Father's booming baritone voice - amplified through the vocoder - seemed to bounce off the walls like a sinister echo; like a thousand demonic whispers. Master quirked an eyebrow at him, her curious gaze shifting between father and son a couple of times. Luke regretted thinking it, but he couldn't back down now. Father expected him to speak up, or else he would not have addressed it.

"I... I am getting better. Master tells me I need to focus, but I am faster, and I have learnt to better foresee her actions. I have evolved, and I’m sure I can live up to your expectations.” He paused. “I am not a failure."

"You are not. But you are not yet a success, either. Son, you need to know your place and you will not receive my praise until you have mastered your training."

“But I can be a success! Just let me--”

“Patience,” Father cut him off mid sentence, tone demanding; almost threatening. “Know your place. However, I find there is value in your persistence. That is to be encouraged.”

Luke bit back a retort; and if Father could sense it, he didn't pry or scold. Instead, he turned his masked head slightly towards Master; pointing one finger at her. Confusion coloured the boy’s expression; and he regarded with inquisitiveness the wry look in Master’s golden eyes.

"Grand Inquisitor.”

“Yes, Lord Vader.”

“I shall be most pleased to see you resume your schedule. I will be watching intently."

Father stepped back, striding swiftly over to the corner of the training hall. His breathing apparatus an ominous reminder of his presence, even while mostly out of sight in the heavy shadows.

It was only then that Luke realized Father intended to watch him fight. He felt a flush colour his cheeks; the fear and insecurity of failing in front of him mortifying. Still, as Master tossed him his saber and he caught it mid air; he tried to brace himself. Placed his feet wide apart, for a steady stance. Watched Master switch on her blades; twirling them a couple of times as an intimidation tactic.

Then, she charged.

Luke parried and blocked the first crimson saber, before spinning out of the way for the second. He crouched; the smell of singed blonde hair as one blade cut through the air mere inches above his head pricking his nostrils. The sound of Father's respirator loud in his ears; stifling every other noise. He couldn't hear the squeak of their boots sliding against the floors. Couldn't hear the steady hum and crackle of their weapons. Couldn't hear his own heavy breathing, or the hurried hammering of his own pulse as his heart pounded frantically against his rib-cage.

In the split of a second, Master was on him again. She was always light on her feet. Lithe, agile, quick and cunning. Luke knew Father had trained her to be clever, to take advantage of her adversaries' weaknesses - and their strengths. He had seen her battle and defeat Force wielders three times her size; out of sheer strategy and power of will. Narrowing his eyes; Luke ducked to the side to avoid another swing; blocking the second saber aimed his way by drawing upon the Force to shove Master back.

She responded by making a graceful twirl; landing on her toes before flying back at him. Bouncing; as if she weighed nothing, defying gravity. He blocked her; stumbling a couple of steps backwards but holding his ground.

Suddenly, the anger was welled up inside. Red hot, burning like a crackling flame - blazing like a firestorm. He knew Master wished to humiliate him before Father, wished to prove both Father and herself right. It fueled his rage; and he channeled it the way he was supposed to. Let it flow through his limbs; into his core. Surging through his veins with each heartbeat. He felt brighter; clear headed. Sharp minded. His sight amplified; focused. As Master came back around, spinning through the air; he blocked both her sabers with his.

This time, Luke didn’t falter.

Master aimed her heel at his already sore side, digging it in; but he hardly felt it. It was as if his body wasn't his own, but a vessel. As if he was standing outside himself. Instead; his only reaction was a frustrated grunt and a staggering step backwards before he grabbed her ankle tight with his free hand. His mechanical hand - the one Father had sliced off without remorse, to teach him the value of loss and preservation. Using the Force as his aid, Luke used his hold on her to toss her back. A shock wave shooting through him; the power of the Force overwhelming and exciting as it rolled off of him.

She hit the floor on her side, shoulder first; but quickly turned the tumble into a graceful somersault, landing on her feet. Yet, the white markings of her brows were raised in surprise; she seemed almost stunned by sudden display of dexterity. It was the first time Luke had managed to stay standing; and to strike back.

Still, as the high of the moment wore off; Luke flinched at the mulling ache in his side returning full throttle. He expected Master to attack once more, now that he’d let his guard down and was vulnerable again; expected her to knock him off his feet and officially defeat him in front of Father.

Instead, she stood down. Turning her sabers off, and clipping them to her belt again. She stood up straight; glancing in Father's direction and giving him a curt nod. Her golden eyes gleaming.

"Impressive."

Father's voice was too loud where it spoke up from the shadows. Luke raised his head; wiped his sweaty forehead with his shirt as Father took a couple of long steps towards them. Now he had his arms folded. The reflection of the far off glow of lava streams outside the palace walls illuminating his mask in an eerie, insidious fashion. It almost appeared to be grinning; a grim, chilling trickery of the light.

"Perhaps, there is still hope for you, my son. You must learn to draw more frequently upon the Dark Side, if you wish to face me as an adversary and tutor. This is but your first step, but it holds formidable promise."

Father paused, as if he was contemplating something. He tilted his domed head barely notably to the side; and Luke felt the weight of the older man’s gaze upon him. Heavy, like a burden, or a sodden weight. Almost too hard to bear. The needles of the Dark Side piercing through his flesh; his very bones.

“However, I believe there are things that your master cannot adequately teach you. Perhaps, it is time I teach you to tap further into your anger. Meditation shall be your guide. The potential is there, now you need hone your natural talent into perfection. I shall take it upon myself to instruct your further advance.”

Luke's eyes widened; and he had to fight back the urge to gape, hope blossoming within his chest. This was the closest thing to a true compliment his Father had offered, his eyes darting off to Master's face and her expression hinted at thinly veiled proud. Pride in the face of her own accomplishments no doubt; but it reaffirmed Luke’s assumptions.

Luke knew Master only ever wished to please Father, much the same as he himself did. He knew they had long been master and apprentice, even before they both found strength with the Dark Side. Had peered into the records when on his own; had studied their profiles from the days of the Jedi Order - something he would never reveal to them.

Still, they shared a strong bond, not commonly found in Sith and their pupils. Luke envied the favour Master had with Father, wished to one day overthrow her and take her place by his side. Even though another part of him wanted to feel guilt for merely thinking the thought. But it was expected, Father had explained long ago. It was the custom; there were to be but two Sith. Which was why the Emperor must not know of his training; or their scheme. Still, for now, Luke was humbled to be schooled by Father's most esteemed Inquisitor. It was enough.

"Thank you, Father," he finally managed to stutter out, turning his own saber off so as not to awkwardly stand there with his weapon still in hand.

"Indeed. Now, I wish for the both of you to join me, for I have received valuable information regarding the Rebellion. Grand Admiral Thrawn is already in the midst of engaging their hopeless ground forces, and I would like to send you both to his aid - and mine. But we shall discuss this further in his company."

Luke swallowed hard; a nervousness settling like a lump at the base of his throat. It would be his first actual task off world. His first mission, alongside Master of course, but Father had never before requested he fight alongside the troops.

"Come."

"As you wish, milord," said Master; head held low in submission as she followed behind while Father had already begun to make his way towards the single exit-way; only beckoning them with one gloved finger.

Luke nodded silently; scurrying rather unceremoniously behind them to catch up once his feet decided to cooperate. Still, as he walked at a quick pace through the corridors of pristine black durasteel and auburn rock formations; he felt proud. He must have been making progress, for Father to think him skilled enough to join the ground forces on the battlefield. It was the break he'd been waiting for, for the last year and a half.

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

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24223513

Link to Ao3 version above, reposted from my original account.

Artwork by @thebixo​ inpsired by the fic below:

[manjehaal]

Avenging Her

Read on AO3. 

Nora grasped the hilt of her saber, backing her steps, lifting the amethyst blade to shield her face. The hum of the weapon could not quiet her skipping heartbeat. It was like a fist wrapped around her lungs, as a rush of cold air hit her exposed arms.

Khione, as they called her, stood above the tie-fighter, hovering over the Sith temple like a phantom, with silvery eyes lit like a candle in the shadows. The tie lowered, and Khione landed without noise, igniting her saber as she met eyes with the girl. "Put the weapon down, child."

“I’m not afraid of you," Nora said, angling her saber into a threatening stance, held still despite the shakiness of her knees.

The woman possessed a wicked smirk as if to mock the girl's attempt at bravery. “Then you will die braver than most," she said, slashing at Nora's blade, pushing back with a force that the young padawan couldn't compete with. She feared, if Khione pushed any harder on her weapon, her arms might collapse into themselves. She stumbled back at another strike, finding the hilt slashed away from her fingers just as soon as the woman's scarlet blade sliced through it, leaving it in pieces on the floor of the temple.

"Perhaps I was wrong," Khione said, narrowing her icy eyes at the child and bringing her saber to hover above Nora's head, about to strike.

But coming from the lit end of the opposite entrance, standing wide-eyed with fury, was a man. A man that Khione had thought would be long dead, buried in the grounds of the fallen Jedi, a ghost taken by one of Vader's inquisitors. A man that she hadn't set her eyes on since she bore the name of someone else.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he said, voice steady, causing Khione to startle into frozenness, letting her blade hover over the head of the trembling padawan. He was looking at her with untamed fury, like he carried the weight of all the fallen, coming to seek their vengeance.

And at his anger, Khione was struck frozen under his gaze.

~.~

Caitlin assessed the damaged skin, running a cool finger over the edge of his palm. A stray brush of Zolomon's saber did little damage to his hand but left a blistery ache that caused him to flinch at the healer's cold touch.

"How did this happen?" she asked, pressing a bacta-patch over his skin.

"I had a vision," he said simply, taking a deep breath, bringing his injured hand to his lap, wincing at the way his fingers shifted. "And I acted too quickly to prevent it."

"And did you prevent it?"

"This time."

It was a common cause of injury, a Jedi's foresight. Many Jedi, especially the young, would run headfirst into battle at the time of their first vision. But with time, it became easier to navigate such power, and they began to control their compulsions. Based on the stories of this particular young Jedi, she had assumed he would be younger, by the number of times he had been referred to by the other Jedi healers. The Clairvoyant, they called him, with a roll of their eyes.

“So you’re a padawan learner?” she asked, sliding a few more patches of bacta in a bag for him to take on his way.

He rolled his eyes, with laughter rolling off his tongue. “Actually, I was knighted a few years back."

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that-”

He shook his head, silencing her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m older than I look."

And he was older than she had expected, but his youthfully wide eyes and smile had confused her. That, and the youthful rashness that had landed him under her care in the first place. But when she looked closer, seeing the darkness under his eyes and the weariness of his gaze, she understood. It was a strength that kept him bright-eyed, despite the weight of his clairvoyance probably keeping him awake for most hours of the night. From what she had heard, he was somewhat of a protege, consulting the Jedi fairly often for a force user of his level.

Catching her gaze, he gave her a cheeky grin. "But it will do me good when I reach Yoda’s age, yeah?”

She smiled, reaching for his hand. He relaxed, letting his hand rest under hers, taking in the strength of her power, cooling the space where the red burn shimmered.

“So how does one become a Jedi healer?” he asked, inspecting his hand.

She smirks. “How does one become a Jedi clairvoyant?”

“Most Jedi are clairvoyant.”

“Not like you. You're different. Word gets around."

He smirks, taking the bag she held out to him. "I would tell you my secret, but you'd regret asking. Sleep is a luxury most want to hold onto."

~.~

The way she looked at him, stunned by the light of his face and his narrowed eyes, it may be believed that she wanted to be by his side. She was frozen in her tracks, keeping her blue eyes focused on the figure standing in the light. And though bodies may manipulate, they both knew deep inside that they were staring at an old friend. She leaned in, feeling the raw familiarity of Cisco, just the same as he had always been. And he reached to her, his Jedi Healer Caitlin Snow, now a ghost of an old friend. They felt the shift of certainty. She was sure, but he was slow to let himself believe it.  

“It was foretold that you would be here, Clairvoyant. Our long-awaited reunion has come at last.”

"I told you foresight was dangerous," he said, voice thick with emotion. And then he breathed shakily, letting his hand fall onto the hilt on his belt. “I’m glad I gave you something to look forward to.”

She closed her blade that was still hovering over young Nora, taking a step toward Cisco. “We don’t need to be enemies, Cisco. The Emperor will show you compassion if you supply the locations of the living Jedi.”

With a piercing gaze, his eyes were on fire with fuming hatred. “There are no Jedi left. You and your fellow inquisitors have seen to that.”

She smirked, feeling his conflict just as heavily as she used to in their youth. Then, knowing Cisco's weakness like the back of her hand, she turned back to Nora. “Perhaps this child will confess what you will not.”

She turned to face him, not missing the look of betrayal in his soulful eyes, flickering at her flippant regard for his padawan's life.

He shook his head repeatedly, putting his hands up in some sort of defense, denial screaming in his eyes.

“I was starting to believe I knew who you were, behind those cold eyes. But it's impossible. My friend could never be as vile and bitter as you.”

“Caitlin was weak," Khione said with bitterness on her lips. "So I destroyed her.”

He made a pained expression, tightening his lips, before huffing out a breath, letting his eyes grow cold with anger.  “Then I will avenge her death.”

With rebuking eyes, hinting a smirk, she wagged her finger in front of him. "Revenge is not the Jedi way.”

And then, finally letting his hand find the hilt of his saber, he removed it, letting an ivory blade pierce the dim temple.

“I’m no Jedi.”

~.~

"What is it?" she asked, her attention drawn to his heavy eyes, like a storm of thoughts pulling him away from the roof he was sitting on.

He was different than she had expected. Though unique in their own right, Jedi had a certain level of predictability they had to maintain. This meant honoring the Jedi's ancient code, severing off attachments and keeping their eyes on the will of the force and maintaining the balance. It meant valuing peace over passion and considering death a great victory. They said possession was birthed from greed. They weren't to seek out violence. They were keepers of the peace, not soldiers.

Cisco cared very little for the code, making it no secret that he considered the strictness an impossible feat. He would argue that passion, with restraint, could be good. That the enjoyment of life or possession was not a fault. Sometimes war was necessary and denying love was just as deadly as hatred. He said that perhaps the balance the Jedi valued so dearly was misinterpreted. That the code was one of the extremes while the darkness was the other, and not maintaining a balance of both could lead to a loss on both ends.

He was free in that way. He didn't fear to tell her what he truly thought of these things.

Today though, he had a weight in his eyes that she couldn't pull with her lighthearted comments. When he smiled at her, it didn't meet his eyes. But he would tightly grin, keeping his eyes trained on the senate building just a bit off.

"Tell me what's wrong," she said, letting her legs dangle over the side of the roof.

"A feeling," was all he said, flicking his eyes away from the building and back to his friend. "A disturbance."

"A disturbance?" she asked, biting her lip. "That must be really bad. Not the usual bad vibe as you normally put it?"

"A disturbance," he confirmed, grimly wrapping his cloak tighter around his body to shield him from a gust of wind.

"Something coming for the Jedi?"

"Not for. Within, I think."

He looked much like a child, wrapped up in his large brown cloak and tied tight with his knees brought close to his chest.

His views on the Jedi were becoming more hostile as time passed. She wondered if it was just intuition or if his visions brought this about. Caitlin didn't doubt the Jedi's benevolence, but she wondered if maybe she should. If maybe his words held truth, being that he had an insight that she never could obtain. Being a healer, she had very few visions of the future. It had been many years since she could recall anything of the sort. But Cisco was entranced in them. If Cisco saw something, she knew to believe it.

"Your views on the Jedi have changed."

He sighed, brushing his hand over his tied-back hair. “Sometimes I think they’re taking advantage of my power. Like it's all to win their war and if I am damned because of it they wouldn’t care.”

"War has a price,” she said, understanding. "They see you as a valuable asset. Do you really think their intentions are that vile?"

“No, not vile. And you see, I’m not afraid to make the sacrifice, I’m just afraid they won’t give me a choice. Sometimes the visions are a lot and well, it..hurts.”

This came as no surprise. Many times she had seen him doubled over, clenching his teeth, gasping at the touch of an object, trembling as he sat, terrified. The injury only furthered his pain.

“They shouldn’t expect you to hold the entire weight of the galaxy on your shoulders.”

“But they know I’m willing to do it.”

They sit in silence for a bit and then he speaks up.

“What about you? You’ve been distant.”

She narrowed her eyes away from him, afraid at the thought of being found out. “It’s nothing. Not something I should let get to me.”

Cisco laughed, giving her a knowing expression. “Ronnie Raymond.”

“What?” she asked in shock. “How did you know?”

“You’re not very discrete, Cait. I've seen the way you look at him.”

She leaned her head back on the wall, closing her eyes. “I need to let him go.”

“Why?”

“Why?” she echoed as if to mock him. “Because it's my duty to honor the code. I can’t be in love. It isn’t my right.”

“It’s everyone’s right,” he said softly. “They can’t just control things like that.”

“It's for the best.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Have you ever thought the Jedi might be wrong?”

“Wrong or not, I could be expelled.”

“Love might be worth it.”

She paused, looking at Cisco with an incredulous gaze, marveling at the stark comparison between him and the other Jedi. He said things as he saw them. The other Jedi were more careful, not wanting to be seen as disrespectful to the old ways.

“Have you ever been in love, Cisco?” she asked, wondering where these strong opinions were born.  

He looked up at her, his cheeks warming as if a secret flashed through his avoidant eyes. “Not yet.”

“But you’d do it? Leave the order for love?”

He didn't give her time to wonder. “Without question.”

She laughed, shaking her head at her friend, being classic Cisco Ramon. “You really are one of a kind.”

~.~

Cisco stood there with his blade extended forward, his feet planted firmly into the ground as he waited for his opponent to move.  

She followed his lead, with a flash of scarlet bursting in front of her face, reflecting on the glaze of her eyes.

The knot in his chest resulted in a fit of rage, with hatred clutching at his eyes, aiming at the monster that had infected Caitlin's warm heart. His fist clutched the sword, and he was moving forward, charging toward the demon, with every intent to destroy. He slammed his blade against her own, fighting with quick and furious strokes. After many violent swipes, Frost fell into a bow, holding her sabers up as Cisco attacked from above.

They circled each other, slamming the colors against each other, with red on white, fighting to get the upper hand in strength. And Caitlin, never being one for violence, now was relentless to take down Cisco, knowing he was her only remnant to the past.

~.~

She was sagging forward once she caught up with him, resting her forehead on his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat through his poncho. She couldn't dare to look up and see the decision in his eyes, confirming the fear that had been swimming in her thoughts since the bombing. He placed a thumb on her cheek, lifting her gaze to meet his, and her stomach twisted at the sight. It was Cisco, her Cisco, but he wasn't changing his mind.

"I know how much Ahsoka meant to you," she said.

"It's not about Ahsoka. It's about the Jedi. The Jedi, Caitlin. They betrayed her and I have to leave before I'm next."

She couldn't breathe. What had happened to Tano was awful. The accusations. The stripping of her title. The manhunt. Cisco had gotten close to her and Skywalker over the past year, coming back and telling Caitlin of the stories of their heroics. He said that they were what the Jedi should be. So the betrayal, that came so quickly with just a little bit of incriminating evidence, had shattered Cisco's perception of the Jedi. He would never be able to move on and Caitlin knew that.

But she was his best friend. She was the one he told his secrets too. One day had turned to years for them. Years that Caitlin would never give up. So it hurt in ways that she couldn't even explain to herself. She couldn't accept that he was turning his back on the Jedi Order. That he was turning his back on her.

“I’m going to miss you,” he said, hugging Caitlin tightly on the steps of the temple.

She didn’t say anything but she couldn’t stop the tear from sliding down her face. “Are you sure you have to go?”

He smiled, placing a hand on her arm. “I wish I didn’t, but I can’t live like this. Maybe nobody should.”

She just looked back at him, looking lost.

“You should come with me,” he said, resting his hand over her arm. “Then you could be free too. Be with Ronnie. Start a family as you’ve always wanted.”

It was as if she didn't have a say. Her voice was automatic. “I have a duty, Cisco.”

He looked disappointed but he nodded. He knew her after all.

“I know, Cait."

Then he swallowed, looking at the Temple with resolve in his expression. But then, a trace of fear lit his eyes and he reached into her heart with his gaze. He would reach out again. He had to.

"Please be careful. There is darkness in the order. I’ve sensed it for some time. They will fall."

"They can't. They won't," she said quickly, denying the sincerity in his eyes.

"I’d hate to see you fall with them.”

She couldn't worry. She couldn't believe a massive institution like the Jedi order could ever fall. So she ignored his words, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Will I see you again?”

He turned after a gentle nudge, with a light, hopeful smile. And then, facing the other direction, he looked back, nodding. “I have no doubt.”

And he was gone, being taken by the Jedi path and the dimming sunset.

~.~

They circled each other, eyes locked as their sabers met, passing silent messages through the sea of slashing light.

Cisco's steady eyes betrayed his failing heart, like shattered glass poking at his confidence, leaving him winded at the blur of Caitlin's hidden brown eyes. He should have said it, long ago, long before the Jedi got to her, and then Vader. Long before they replaced her hands meant to heal. Back before the light of day left her eyes and the setting suns took him off. He should have told her the truth, as he walked away, telling the real reason to her face. The real reason he wanted her to come with him.

I love you, his eyes whisper, though his hands were still moving. If he put down his blade, he knew despite his disbelief in Caitlin's distorted eyes, that she would kill him. Without hesitation. He knew, from his time on his own, just how powerful the darkness could be. And just how dangerous it was to let it thrive.

I never loved you, came a glimmer of narrowed eyes, as she pushed her saber, leading him to the walkway on the outer edge of the Sith temple.

At the turn, she paused, and for a moment he dared to hope that she might hesitate, standing there like a ghost with her icy hair and silky dark cloak. If not for the hum of the weapon in front of her eyes, she almost looked the same, in the way her lips curled and her body was postured. But as he dared to defuse his blade, taking a step back, her eyes flickered to silver, with gold bleeding through.

Suddenly, her eyes didn't recognize him anymore, and she did what she had to do. She looked at him and she saw a target. And she was strong, predicting most of his movements, countering them with quick precision.

Shocked by the edge of the path, he misses his step, tumbling downward with a simple strike, seeing nothing but her wide eyes watching him plummet into the darkness below.

~.~

He had always assumed she had been killed, much like the other Jedi had during Order 66. He had even hoped for it at times, knowing that there were fates far worse than death. If not the fate he possessed, in a constant state of running and hiding, then the worse was to be in the Empire's pocket. He had never in all his worst nightmares imagined that Caitlin would be one of them.

After reconnecting with Tano, he had found a place in the Rebel Alliance, going by the code name 'The Seer' for some time. He had served as a voice in broadcast, just an anon with drops of what was to come. Some came from his own foresight, and some came from intel gathered by other rebel cells. Talk over radio had pushed him to follow stories of a Death Star, an old Sith cult, and most interestingly, a mysterious woman that late-night tips called Killer Frost.

After a few years, he found himself in contact with a daring journalist by the name of Iris, later connecting with her husband Bartholomew. They came to him by the direction of Tano, with their young daughter, Nora Dawn, who was a Force-sensitive. She needed training. That was what finally drew Cisco out of hiding, willing to finally reveal himself as one of the last remaining Jedi. Whether that meant facing an entire fleet in the cockpit of an X-wing or revealing his ancient weapon to fight back against one of Vader's inquisitors.

He hadn't even considered that Cait, the healer who kept him company, could ever be one of them. Not until a particular mission alongside the West-Allen trio.

This one tie-fighter had been pursuing them relentlessly, predicting their every movement, keeping up despite the risky turns Cisco had taken. It was if this person could sense his movements before he would take them. As if they had some foresight of their own.  

He couldn't deny that he felt something. He had spent a good part of his life constantly surrounded by other Force-sensitives so he could pick up on such things easily.  

“The force is strong with them,” he says to himself, reaching out to feel their presence. He should have been more cautious, he supposed, reaching out to distinguish just how strong the user was. He hadn't been prepared for the onslaught of vague nostalgia or the eeriness of the cold presence. He hadn't expected to be submerged in ice-cold shivers. But despite the blaring pain, it felt familiar, as if he had felt this particular presence before. As if he had even known it with his whole heart. He couldn't keep up with his racing thoughts but his eyes went wide with recognition.

Just as the thought finally crossed his mind, like a cold hand clasping around his breathless throat, the words came pouring into his mind with her familiar lips.

“The clairvoyant lives.”

The strength of her power and the grip of her voice on his soul made him dizzy, as a gasp of incredulous denial bursts from his mouth. The wave of darkness clutched him, and he lost his grip on the ship's controls, slamming forward and passing out.  

~.~

Cisco came to a few minutes after Khione tossed him back, squinting at the bright lights of the imploding temple. If Nora had listened, she would be removing the Holocron as they speak, as an attempt to make the foundations collapse on Khione as well as remove the power from their power-hungry enemy.

But with Khione in her vicinity, he feared what the corrupted woman could do to his overly ambitious young apprentice.

He had to keep moving, he told himself, stretching his aching legs and moving to climb the temple walls, with his vision focused on the wellbeing of Nora, and not his aching grief at the thought of Cait.

Maybe she was gone. Maybe he had to accept it.

            '

           *          .

                  *       '

             *                *

It was like an invisible hand was pulling on her, keeping her from exiting the temple. Much like the gentle, telekinetic pull of Cisco pulling her to safety, or even the generous push of the Force as she reached out to jump a long distance. But this, this was hardly gentle or generous. It was like she was trying to pull the skin from Nora's back, forcing her to slide backward, like a moth to a flame.

She closed her eyes, holding the Holocron tight in her grip as Khione pulled her closer, about to slice her through with her fiery saber. She almost accepted it, that the ship hovering in her line of view, the one brought to her rescue by her father, was just too far away from reach. That her master wasn't coming back. That Khione had gotten to him already.

But then, just as she let the monster pull her into that brush of death, a shriek came echoing through the walls of the temple, and a bright blade of silver struck through the back of Khione's cloak, leaving a string of fabric across the temple floor.

"Run," he said, pushing the ghost back as he came soaring over her, with fury slicing through them. He placed a pulsing hand on Nora's shoulder. "Run," he said again when she didn't move, with a growl in his throat. "Find Tano."

Nora stepped toward the exit, moving as he commanded, quickening her pace as Khione pulled herself from the glassy floor.

Struck by Cisco's determined eyes, she felt her body move toward the ship, like an invisible angel pulling her by the fabric of her clothes, lifting her to the safety of THE FLASH. The temple was falling in on itself, and Cisco had managed to throw her back, swiftly sliding her through just before the doors fell through with it.

Cisco had never looked like he did then. Not with such hatred. Not with such rage. Not even with even grief. He had been the one to warn her of the dangers of such emotions in the line of battle. How easy it could be for the darkness to take hold of emotions such as those.

She just stared, not aware of her father, Bartholemew, moving her to the confines of the ship, or the fiery debris that was hitting her face. Her concern was for her master, consumed by his own grief and pursued by the phantom behind the wall.

                                               * '*

    *   *

                 *

              *

                    *

"Wake up!" he pleaded, turning again to face Khione, trying to push aside the voice of Nora crying for his name on the other side of the wall. He walked toward her, now just a puddle of black robes and white hair blocking her face, trembling at his steps.

They said nothing, both listening to Nora, pleading for him to follow, repeating his name in a loop.  

He couldn't help it. He looked to the door, sending a silent message to his padawan, telling her that things would work out. That the force would be with her. That Tano would be there to show her the way.

The voice stopped then, and he assumed Barry must have forced her into the ship, causing a great relief inside of Cisco. But then, as he took in the sound of silence, he heard his name again, but this time, coming through the layered voices of Khione, but unmistakably, within it all, he heard the voice of Caitlin Snow.

“Cisco?”

~.~

His brain had felt as if it was in a knot, with denial pounding at each wave of fear. The possibility that Caitlin Snow, the girl with the softest brown eyes, could somehow be on the side of the Empire, felt like a lie even when he spoke it. She just wasn't capable. She was always too kind. Too kind to hurt anyone. And even at a time of war, when keepers of the peace were asked to be soldiers, Caitlin hung back, using her power to tend to the wounded rather than fighting at the frontlines.

All of it. The entire concept. The entire thought. The possibility that Caitlin Snow had somehow become evil was a possibility that he just could not accept.

But yet, he had felt her. Or at least, something like her. Something familiar. Something similar.

He had argued with himself, saying that it had been a test. That it was something replicated with the intention of making him confused in this way. That somehow, a mastermind had constructed it. That they had stolen the soul of Caitlin Snow and projected it somehow.

But it was foolish.

Deep down, he knew what he felt. He just couldn't admit that it was the truth.

Despite his denial, he wasn't able to rest until he found the truth. So he went to Nora, leading her to a Jedi Temple revealed to him by one of Ahsoka's Holocron, promising Nora a lesson in the depths of the ancient structure. They entered as a pair, using the Force to access the door, and then waited together, until Nora heard a voice that Cisco could not.

It was then that Cisco had to wait in the shadows, opening himself to the possibility of the cold truth. Shedding his figurative armor. Letting himself feel for the first time since the dark thought crossed his mind.

And for quite some time, nothing happened. It was just him, the walls around him, and the cool rock against his bare feet. He could feel his own breath as he sat there, rupturing like a volcanic element deep within his ribcage. It was a fire he hadn't tasted since the heart of the Clone Wars, and it felt like rage and hunger and hatred and death. But it was all that he was for a few moments, as the fight between the light and the darkness circled like a duel inside of him.

He puffed out some air, unclenching his teeth, with his vision on the light.

He had to let it go.

It was the only way the Force would give him an answer.

And then, as he slowly released his fear, breathing out the hatred, and clinging to the light of compassion, he leaned in, and The Force was with him.

The silence moved away.

He waited.

And then, a voice. "Cisco?" it asked in a ghostly soft tone, coming from behind him, like a gentle balm against his aching chest. He searched the area, trying to locate her, wondering if it had even been a voice at all or if he might have misheard it.

But then, again. "Cisco?" it asked, stronger, and he couldn't deny it. It was her. It was Jedi Healer Caitlin Snow. His best friend. His loyal companion. His hidden soulmate, that he had hidden from even himself. Her, whispering like a lover in his ear, tearing away at his fear.

"Cait," he whispered softly, eyes arching upward with burning recognition, as his eyes blur over at his pounding heart.

The softness fluttered and a broken murmur replaced it, and she asked, “Why did you leave?”

He can feel her eyes behind him, burning holes through the fabric of his tunic, hovering over him with accusation. Shattered, her voice asked a question. “Where were you when I needed you?”

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't answer. But his mouth was open, speaking to the phantom voice. “I made a choice, Cait. I couldn’t stay.”

“You were selfish," it broke through, pounding on his eardrum, now a mirage of distorted voices. Voices that belonged to Caitlin, but came from everywhere in the room.

“No Caitlin," he said quickly, feeling his throat go dry at her declaration. "No," he said, pushing hard at the word, demanding that the bodiless voice understand him. As if this wasn't a vision. As if this was the true Caitlin Snow looking him dead in the eyes.

“No Cisco!" her voice came violently, piercing the room. "You abandoned me! You failed me!”

His eyes were heavy, threatening tears. But he clenches his fist, keeping his trembling form from bursting at the seams.

She is right, he thought, pushing two fists into the floor, carrying the weight of his guilt.

“Do you know?” she asked, her voice changing to haunt him, with an echoey tone that talked over Caitlin's whisper. “Do you know what I have become?” the echo asks, with a malevolent triumph at the lift of her voice.

And then a cold wind, like a breath of the dead, covered his skin. Leaving him gasping and trembling. “No,” he says repeatedly, unable to comprehend or believe.

NO. NO. NO. NO.

NO.

Nooo.

No.

And then a roaring scream came from his throat as a tear finally slid down his cheek.

He turned to the voice, flinging his lightsaber toward its direction only to find darkness.  Just an empty walkway and a set of stairs. Just looking at him. Just mocking his aching body.  

And despite it all. Despite what he had just felt. Despite what he had just heard. Despite it all.

He tells himself that it can't be true.

~.~

Over and over, his answer was given to him.

Caitlin Snow was one of the same as Khione. Killer Frost, the legend passed on in the late night transmissions, was Caitlin Snow. Caitlin was Khione. Khione was Frost. Frost was..Caitlin. His dearest friend was an inquisitor. An inquisitor who he loved.

He knew this, deep down. He always had since the moment he felt her presence taunt him. But now, in the Sith temple, with his back to Frost, he finally heard her voice. Through the mouth of a monster. Her. Caitlin. Calling, asking him, his name, wondering just as he wondered about her if she was really looking at her friend in her memory.

"Cisco?" she asked, the voice suddenly clear as her own, not shredded by the overtone of Khione. Just her, with her own eyes, and her own heart, seeing, for the first time in so long.

Cisco spun to face her, his eyes large and hopeful, finally unable to deny the face that he is looking at. And as he saw her, peering back at him through her icy eyes, transformed by the white of her hair and the paleness of her face, he couldn't do it. He couldn't be angry. He couldn't hold onto the fury. And it passed, melting away as he stepped closer.

“Caitlin.”

“Cisco,” she said again, softer.

“Caitlin,” he forced, with realization in his voice, and tears swelling in his eyes.

She was still gripping her weapon with clenched fingers, white with rage, but she was frozen. Her eyes did not leave him as she moved closer.

"I won't leave you," he said, extending a hand, reattaching his saber to his belt with the other. "Not this time. Never again."

She looked at him closely, her eyes betraying the frown of her lips. And as he watched her, moving forward with a gentle step, her eyes beginning to soften. And for a moment, but only a moment, her eyes were flooded with brown, as if Caitlin had been enough to turn off Khione.

But just as quickly as her eyes bled to brown, they slipped back into an icy glow and her face transformed. It looked as if it caused her pain, but she said the words anyway, switching her blade on and aiming it toward him.

“Then you will die.”

~.~

Time had once been simple. But not so simple that he hadn't fallen in love with her.

What had it been? Maybe he couldn't define it. Maybe he shouldn't be able to. Maybe he just did.

Or maybe it had been the two of them, existing beside one another.

Or maybe it had been more than that.

Maybe it was simple.

It had been Cisco meeting Caitlin in the center of the healers, being taunting by the others with their knowing gazes.

And it had been Caitlin pulling him to the roof, looking into his eyes for a sign of light despite everything.

And it had been Cisco, making up stories while Caitlin stared wistfully at a stary canvas.

And it had been Caitlin, kissing his cheek after he came back angry and torn.

But on one night, it had been Caitlin, pulling at the cotton of his cloak, wrapping her fingers around his shaky hands. She had leaned in, looking deep into his eyes with warm reflection. "I have something for you," she said.

"You know how the Jedi feel about possessions," he countered, with a smirk peeking out of his distress.

"Yes, but I also know how you feel about the Jedi and their code."

He laughed, eyes sparkling at her words. "So what is it?"

"Close your eyes," she said softly, cheering at his compliance.

"Okay."

"Open your hand."

He reached forward, feeling the warmth of her touch as she pressed a cool object into his palm. He brushed the object, feeling its edges, clutching it to feel the shape of the rock.

"A kyber crystal?" he asked, eyes fluttering open to look at her.

She smiled, pointing down to his palm. "In its purest form. Perfectly clear."

He peered down, examining it closely.

"Not corrupted. Not tarnished. Neither made of darkness nor light. Just pure. Just The Force."

He lifted it, letting the sun reflect it, creating a wave of colorful light across the glistening sky.

"Like you," she said, closing his hand around it and pushing his fist to his own chest. "Just like you."

~.~

"Kill me if you must," he said, eyes burning through hers. "But I won't fight you, Caitlin."

"That's a mistake," she said, laughing at him. "Caitlin is dead."

He just shook his head, bringing himself to stand mere inches from the tip of her lightsaber, lingering there with certain eyes. He would never accept the lie from her mouth. "Not to me. Never to me."

About to protest, the ground crumbled beneath her feet, causing her to spiral backward behind a stream of falling rock.

"Your faith is misguided, my friend," she sneered, coughing as more of the foundation fell around them. "You need to let me go."

He just shook his head, tearing his saber from his waist and tossing it to the side. "Don't ask me to do that."

"Let me go, Cisco," she said again, stepping forward through the rubble, her eyes growing more intense.

He knew deep inside that this was the end.

And as he met her eyes, he could see Caitlin, trying to save him from the monster that was standing before him. Caitlin, reaching out to him as the floor folded in on itself. And in his backtrack of footsteps, he missed the falling ceiling, and the outstretched hand as the darkness clouded his eyes.

She hated him.

She had to.

It was her duty as an ally to Vader.

Killing Cisco was simple, wasn't it?

Despite the goal given to her by her master and the cold rage in her stomach, she found herself panic at the danger above her enemy. It caused her to stumble, with confusion aching in her mind, as something told her that she was forgetting something. Something immensely important. Her fury subsided as she glanced at him, and her blood ran cold, with the realization that Cisco may truly die at her hand.

And the startling fear brought her forward.

She dropped her weapon into the melting rock and reached forward, taming the fall of the upper levels, moving her hands to seal the cracks. She accessed the ancient power of Khione and birthed rage, bursting forth with shimmery icicles to frame them both. She had landed over him, spooning him in her silky cloak and covering him with her exposed arms.

She couldn't feel the rocks striking her as she focused on the frozen dome she was building over them. She couldn't feel anything at all. She just knew what her body was trained to do since the moment she met Cisco Ramon. And that was, without question, to save him from harm. To cure him. To heal his injury.

She forgot what she was supposed to be doing.

Keeping her arms wrapped over him like protective armor, she held him tight as the temple collapsed above, sinking into his warmth.

And she closed her eyes, attempting to pull her mind away from the sense that she was home.

When everything finally stopped, she pulled away from him, catching her wrist on the chain around his neck, losing her breath at the shock. She held it, the pure kyber crystal, in the palm of her hand. She felt the edge of it with her thumb, attempting to swallow back the way it had felt in his hand, warm and calloused on that temple roof. And for a moment as she stared at him blankly, a feeling swelled deep in her chest, and she remembered him.

All of him.

His heart. His mind. His love.

And she dared to look his way, gasping at the twitching of his lips.

She dropped the chain, letting the crystal fall to his chest.

His eyes fluttered open and he looked up at her. "Cait, is that you?"

She was still close to him, just hovering over him without movement. At his kind gaze, her eyes bled warm for a moment and she pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then she lifted his hand, just as she had long ago, pressing her fingers to the broken skin in an attempt to heal him.  

He smiled, gazing up at her, locking his eyes to hers.

"Please," she said, begging him with her eyes. "Please don't chase me. Please don't force me. Don't make me kill you."

He swallowed, eyes stinging from tears.

"Please, let me go, sweet Cisco."

He couldn't nod. He couldn't ever promise something like that.

She rose at his reluctant stare, turning to leave him. Knowing her hands were not Caitlin's anymore. Knowing her heart was frozen for too long to love him. They had killed Caitlin Snow during the fall. Cisco had been right to warn her, but she didn't listen to him. So this was her penance. This was the price she had to pay. This was the thing she had to lose.

And she had to leave him alone. Hate him to save him. Hate him enough to not chase him. Because if she loved him, she would go after him. And if she went after him, she knew she may kill him.

It was mercy.

But still, she whispered, trembling as Khione took her form, "Please, strong darkness, allow me to let him go."

[riajade01]

☼ OC’s First time meeting a Jedi

This was solidly influenced by @sonneillonv’s metas from today. Jedi tries to be gracious. Mara is creeped out beyond all reason.

Wellthis is anticlimactic.

For all the overseers and Council members railed against theJedi, Mara had never seen one before. Kneeling in a meditation form on thefloor of his cell, muttering the Jedi code to himself, Quorian Dorjis looked asthough a particularly robust breath would knock him prone. When he spoke, hissentences meandered, curling in on themselves in tautologies, eyes and voice flatand listless, his sense smooth and blank.

It was nearly unthinkable that he was of the same cloth as thebeings who had hunted her people nearly to extinction. Had a pack of thesewretched creatures come for even a single Sith they’d have been dispatchedquickly.

Then again, she doubted anyone would be at their best afterspending time with Urinth and her inquisitors, to say nothing of the drugsstill present in his system. It stood to reason, all things considered, thatthe Jedi would prove unequal to Sith cruelty. The poor man never stood achance.

By the time she returned from the tombs with his weapon andcomlink, Mara almost pitied him, a weakling captured and turned into aninstrument to be used against his own people. Any Sith in his position wouldprefer death.

She keyed off the cell’s force field and handed the itemsover. Dorjis’s hands shook as he took his belongings back from her.

“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t know whyyou’re doing this, but thank you.”

Mara met his gaze. Coherence and focus had returned in thetime it took her to get to the tombs and back. The Jedi’s flat, unnervingserenity of voice and face remained, however, thrown into sharp relief by thespark of life that had returned to him. His sense was still as tranquil as hisface. Touching it felt like walking a once-verdant forest suddenly stripped ofmovement and sound. An unnatural stillness.

Mara shuddered and stepped back to reactivate the forcefield.

“You don’t have to understand, Jedi,” she saidshortly.

Just get this done, getback to Urinth and hope her plan, whatever it is, works.

Dorjis looked down at his lightsaber, then back at her.

“You seem like a good person. It’s too bad the Sithtook you in and not the Jedi.”

Mara froze in shock, bile rising in her throat. She knew it was not athreat; indeed the Jedi was probably, in his deluded way, paying her acompliment. But the thought of being on a planet populated almost exclusivelyby people whose minds felt like Dorjis’s, of being pressured to purge herselfof all life to match….

“I’m happier for having been raised and loved by myparents and family, Jedi,” she snarled. 

Dorjis’s eyes widened slightly at the word “love”, but he settled quickly and regarded her with that unnerving gaze for several heartbeats. Maraglared back, feeling him gently push against her mental shielding in an attempt to read her. What would he possibly know about being Sith that wasn’t Jedilies?

“You fear losing them,” he said finally, his voice sad. “Are all Sith truly so defined by their emotions? I’m so sorry; Jedi teachings could have freed you from this madness.“

And lack of fear sent you on a foolhardy mission to Korriban and straight into this cell. Your order betrays itself.

“Bold words coming from a man in a cell,” she sneeredinstead. “How it will burn knowing a Sith freed you.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but Mara turned on her heel toleave the room.

“Goodbye, Jedi.”