#Maybe he has back up jedi who were willing to turn if Anakin didn't

[sunlightandsuffering]

Padawan Mikasa subtly sending girls flying when they get too close to her Master Eren. She does it at stuff like crowded bars so noone can tell who even did it. But she's so smug when she sends a girl flying into a table of drinks because they were acting too flirty around her master. Eren ofc always knows it's her doing it, at first he didn't know why and thought she just had some violent habits.

But once she got older and Eren realised it was jealously fueling her actions, he'd manhandle her out of the area and find somewhere he can fuck the brattiness out of her until she's dazed and obedient. Maybe use the force to bounce her on his dick faster 🤭

omg okay anon i actually love this so much! imma write it! I saw it earlier before i went back to sleep and I was like damn this is cute!! TBH does starwars count for halloween?? Like should I do a bunch of star wars drabbles for halloween?? would that be cute?? But im imagining when obi wan and anakin are in the club in attack of the clones, looking for Padme's attempted assassin, that's the vibes.

They turn heads, wherever they go in the galaxy they turn heads, and why wouldn't they? Mikasa is beautiful, stunning, one of the most attractive women he's ever seen, and she's in the prime of their youth.

He's not surprised when people look at them, it's just unfortunate that they are also Jedi and well, sometimes stealth is required.

He turns back to his padawan before he enters the club, giving her a stern look, "Would you be willing to perhaps wait outside?" She gives him a wan look that tells him everything he needs to know, and the answer is a firm resounding no. Eren sighs, reaching over to yank at the hood on her head, fingers brushing over the soft apples of her cheeks in the process, tucking raven locks behind her ears. He looks at her face for a moment, heather grey eyes, cheeks flushed the softest shade of blush and full pink lips. She's stunned for a moment, looking up at him so earnestly and with so much affection it's hard not to kiss her.

She is temptation itself so without further delay he yanks her hood rather brutally over her head.

"Eren!" She protests and he grumbles to himself, "Pain in the ass padawan." "Hey!" "Keep the hood on Mikasa or we're gonna have words, you're too distracting."

He paces towards the club entrance, nodding at the bouncers, and just as he's about to step over the threshold he stops, and he hears a little 'oof' just as Mikasa bumps into him, her hands darting out to clutch his waist to steady herself, breasts pressed up against his back. He's quick to turn in her grip, unhooking her arms because the force knows he doesn't have the willpower to withstand her touching him for that long.

He looks at her sternly, his hand reaching out to snatch her lightsaber from her belt and Mikasa pouts at him, "And hide this will you, nothing says Jedi more than a lightsaber Mikasa, oh and don't lose it, that'll be the next thing." "Yes Master," she murmurs, her cheeks colouring pink as she takes the instrument back, eyes darting away at her earlier blunder of losing said lightsaber, but she can't resist a sassy little quip, "But I only learn my habits from you." Brat.

Eren huffs, but says nothing on the matter, but she just might be correct, he's lost his lightsaber more times than he'd care to admit.

He ignores her quip, stepping into the club, his own lightsaber tucked away and immediately he can feel Mikasa at his back, as close as she can get, always pushing her luck. The universe had laughed when she'd been chosen as his padawan, sweet divine intervention, payback for him being a hellion of an apprentice himself. Except Eren thinks Mikasa is much worse, because his master had never had to deal with sexual temptation, he only has so much self control and Mikasa tempts it at every turn.

"We're looking for information," Eren murmurs gruffly as they approach the bar, Mikasas taking his arm in her own, cuddling up to his bicep, an act she'll later claim is simply to keep up the ruse. Mikasa leans into him, waving down the bartender, the perky mounds of her breasts pressing up against his arm, and he knows without looking that she's allowed her robes to slip, just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. And of course, she's not wearing the requisite undergarments, no she's a young padawan learner, likes to flagrantly flout the rules, thinks the jedi robes she's been issued are a bit too stuffy. And she knows he'd never admonish her about it, had heard tales of his own adventures before she'd even met him, had known how rebellious he'd been, so who is he to tell her what to do. God, had his rebellious phases been a mistake.

Especially when Mikasa leans over to take her drink and pay the bartender and the beige robes she's wearing slips more, revealing a delicate collarbone and just the hint of her shoulder, stretched taut around her left breast now, the beige edge of her robe just barely concealing dusky pink, just a hint. Fuck.

Everything he can't see he can feel though, pressed tightly against his side as she orders a drink to make the ruse seem believable, make them blend in.

She takes a sip of her drink, her robe slipping just a little more and Eren can't function, reaching over with his other arm to yank the robe back up into place irritably.

"We should split up," he tells her gruffly, pulling his arm from her grasp, he can't be in this scenario with her for much longer, she takes advantage and he's too weak to say no sometimes, lets things go on for much longer than they should. "I guess," she sighs, "but I'd feel much comfortable with you master." God that name, that fucking title, it does things to him, dirty things that are making his dick stand hard at attention, and he's thankful for the dark tunic he's wearing, covering up his arousal. It's so wrong, so, so very wrong, but the way she says it, the absolute adoration and devotion in those gray eyes, how he knows she'd look exactly the fucking same on her knees, his cock in her mouth, would probably whisper it, 'Master', pretty and breathless as she sucked him off, as he fucked her into the bed.

No!

Bad Eren!

"Master?" Mikasa questions again, the title lingering on her lips curiously, her hand reaching up to touch his arm, and he resists the urge to yank his arm away. "We're splitting up Miki." She pouts, and Eren feels bad for a moment, it's not her fault really, she's just so damn tempting. He reaches up, tucking a stray lock of hair thats fallen back behind her ear, making sure her hood is secured tightly. A silent ask of forgiveness for her percieved slight. He can't resist the intimate gesture, his finger trailing along her cheek affectionately, and Mikasa leans into him, her eyes fluttering shut.

Force she's so beautiful, so ripe, prime for the taking, it's a wonder he hasn't had her yet, especially with how obviously she'd be into it. In the last year of her apprenticeship she's changed. Where she used to be the perfect padawan, loyal and obedient, almost to a fault, now she was a brat. Like adulthood had changed her.

Freshly eighteen, she'd woken up on her birthday a different girl, the undergarments of her Jedi uniform gone, her new lightsaber, an alarming red almost pink colour that he'd chastised her for. But she'd pouted asking what was so wrong with the colour pink?

It wasn't red!

And tempting him beyond belief, it was like it was her mission in life to fuck with him now.

She'd always driven him nuts of course, just in different ways, it was irritating to have an apprentice that was so much better than him at things. What was he supposed to teach her if she was already good at everything?

She was almost a better sword master than him, and her attunement to the force was amazing, maybe better than his too, it had maddened him those first few months that she could so easily do things he had struggled with for years. And then, during a mission there'd been a close call and he'd realized that Mikasa wasn't perfect, she had things to learn just like everyone else, they were just different things. And now, he'd like to think he'd taught her pretty well, because what Mikasa had to learn wasn't battle techniques or how to use the force, it was how to think outside the rules of the Jedi temple, how sometimes not everything was cut and dry and made sense so easily. So of course, who better to teach her than the most rebellious Eren Yeager who even within the Jedi order was frowned upon for constantly breaking the rules.

People had been outraged, but here they are, with more successful missions than anyone else. "Eren," Mikasa whispers, pulling him out of his haze, her voice breathy, eyes still shut tight as she basks in his touch and he immediately rips his hand away. A frown mars her delicate features, silver eyes peering up at him with displeasure at the removal of his touch. "We're splitting up," he repeats, no remorse this time, physically removing himself from the situation with a step back. "See what you can find out." "Yes Master," she tells them, but this time there's a distinct note of sarcasm to her tone, and she marches off with a huff. Eren groans as he leans back into the bar, the force knows he doesn't deserve this. Well, maybe he does. A little. "Aye, she looks like a right pain in the ass," the bartender speaks from behind and Eren nods in agreement, "She is, can I get a beer?" The bartender chuckles, "She's pretty though." "That she also is," Eren agrees, dropping a few credits onto the bar top for his drink, "Now do you mind if I ask you a few questions about a patron of yours?"

An hour later Eren has gotten some information on their target, but not enough to be satisfied. And Mikasa, well he hasn't seen much of her since she left the bar, just brief moments out of the corner of his eye, her robe falling too low again, chatting up a bar patron a little too flirtatiously, tormenting him in any way she can find.

But he refuses to acknowledge it, can't give her the upper hand, he is the master here, he has to exhibit confidence, self control.

He's becoming a little suspicious about why all the women he talks too suddenly decide to get up and leave halfway through their conversations. If he didn't know any better he'd say someone was using the force to make them leave, but of course Mikasa would never do that. Right? But his suspicions are growing, especially when the third woman in a row suddenly up and leaves their conversation with barely a word.

And then he sees her, she's at the bar, talking to some guy but her gaze is focused on the woman he's with, her fingers moving marginally and of course, with Mikasa's command over the force, it doesn't surprise him when the pretty blonde girl he'd been talking to suddenly sets down her drink. "Sorry I have to go." And then she's gone and Eren doesn't even bother to be subtle as he figures her out, turning his his seat to glare at her. Their eyes lock and she knows she's been caught. Jealous brat, but he can't deny it pleases him just a little, even more so when she obeys his unspoken demand, leaving her conversation entirely to walk over to him. Her drink is clutched tightly in her hand as she awaits her punishment, her head dropped dutifully, "I'm sorry Master." Eren is feeling chaotic today, a little bit of his old rebellious spark fuelling his next actions. Instead of lecturing her about her use of the force he gives her a taste of her own medicine, grabbing her by the waist and bringing her to his lap, tucking her into his body. She makes the sweetest little noise of surprise as she's abruptly forced to straddle him, her face tucked into his neck and Eren chuckles darkly. "Isn't this what you wanted Miki? To pretend to be mine for a night." She squeaks, as he grabs her thighs, settling her how he likes, playing at being the couple that everyone envies, the most beautiful people in the bar that everyone wants to be or wants to fuck, but they have each other. He tucks her close against him, letting her have just a hint of what she does to him, his turn to flagrantly break the rules as he grinds her against his dick, lets her feel the full length her teasing has caused all night.

Because for all Mikasa's talk and bratty behaviour lately, she's still only eighteen, young and inexperienced, she talks a big talk but she can't follow through, too sweet, too shy.

"Master," she whimpers, her head buried in his neck, her hair covered by her robe, "I-I'm sorry." "Don't apologize Mikasa," his hands rove over her curves, cupping the plush of her ass under her robes, "You displayed excellent control over the force, even if you were being kind of a brat while you did it. Did you find out any information." She nods into his neck, her lips tracing along his clavicle and he shivers, "I did." "Good girl." He knows if he could see her face she'd be preening, it's a wonder what praise does to his young padawan, the way her eyes sparkle, and even now she relaxes into his hold, a soft sigh overtaking her. "I'm sorry though Master, I just I couldn't stand it, watching you with them when it should be me." There it is. Eren hums, massaging the plush of her ass gently, resisting the urge to dip down towards the warmth of her heat where he knows she's probably soaked. One hand slips up to her chin, forcing her gaze up to his, he tells her the truth,"You couldn't handle it."

"Master please," she looks up so earnestly, "If you'll let me, I'd like to try."

He says nothing for a moment and Mikasa moves against him, grinding the soft warmth of her cunt down against him where he lays hard and wanting in his robes, "Please Master, please?" He groans, shaking his head, "Pain in my ass." She bats her eyelashes, and Eren lets out a long suffering sigh, "Yeah, go get the ship." AN ATTEMPT AT JEDI EREMIKA !

#jedi eremika #jedi em au #i can't remember which tag i chose now lol #and they are both here #lys's drabbles

[amadwinter]

for the fic writer ask: 4, 8, 12, 14, 18, 30

for this ask game

thanks lils ❤ this is a long one so it's all going under a cut but I'm grateful for all the questions! Now bear with my while I blather a little

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

The best part about having so many unwritten ideas is I can just easily choose a different one when asked this question multiple times!

Omega Anakin’s mom is sick, and the treatment is too expensive. The only chance he has is selling himself to a rich alpha. But not for a night: for the rest of his life as a wife. Unfortunately, the alpha dies before they can marry, but his son Obi-Wan is willing to take over the contract.

This was a twitter thread originally, but I really like this idea. Basically, Anakin agrees to marry rich alpha doctor Qui-Gon who up and dies the day before they're supposed to go down to the courthouse and get married. But luckily his son Obi-Wan, also a rich alpha doctor, is willing to help him.

Except Obi-Wan has no interest in marriage of any kind, so Anakin has to strong-arm him into it. And then he strong-arms Obi-Wan into consummating that marriage (and by strong-arming, I mean, he pouts a little and Obi-Wan throws his hands up in defeat).

I seriously considered sitting down at writing this one at the end of last year, but it didn't happen. And now I have too many WIPs going that I would feel too guilty about starting another.

But when those are finished..... >:D

8. if you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for…

Well, I have very solid ideas for sequels to you'll never know, dear, better run, boy, the night is so long, and love(?) in an elevator... and once i finish the thrill of the fall ohoho

12. a trope you’re really into right now

Creature fics. Please. I need more Anakin as a dragon. Obi-Wan as a fairy. Just more werewolves. Please, I beg of the fandom. And merpeople! Always the mers. I have some works drafted, but as anyone can plainly see, I have more ideas than I do time or common sense

14. where do you get your inspiration?

18. if you keep them, share a deleted sentence or paragraph from a published fic

I cut out a lot from too old for childish comforts. It was supposed to be a case fic, and then I cut out all the plot. Go figure.

Here's a little bit from my cut outline (unedited, so a bit of a mess, I apologize):

The study group meets while there’s a parent-teacher night at the school.

{Something something Obi-Wan has been given literature about “encouraging your child’s interests” and spoke with other parents at the school about their autistic children and realized “oh that’s what’s up”.}

Goes to the study group and gets work done, meets with people. Two invite him after to do something not quite legal shenanigans (like trespassing), and Anakin thinks he needs to get back to Obi-Wan, but no he’s not a child. He’s a jedi, and he needs to complete the mission. They do, Anakin has fun (maybe running away from cops), they tell him that he’s alright, and Anakin goes back with a wide grin on his face, but Obi-Wan is sitting at the dining room table looking sick with worry. Anakin tries to brush him off by saying that he told him he was going to the study group, and Obi-Wan says that he also said he would be back before dinner. Anakin shrugs and asks if it’s really a big deal. They were just going to have leftovers anyway. Obi-Wan says that when they’re investigating missing teenagers, then yes, his teenage padawan going missing and not contacting him is a justified cause for concern. Anakin shrugs and says that he can handle himself. “That’s not the issue.” “Then what is?” “A lack of communication.” Obi-Wan says, and Anakin gears himself up for a fight, but Obi-Wan raises a hand to stop him. “Which is a pattern for the both of us. I have treated you just like my master did me, just like any master would their padawan. And you in turn have taken every opportunity to prove that you are very much unlike I was. You are not an ordinary padawan, Anakin. I have done my utmost not to show favoritism, but I think we are beyond that now.” “What are you saying?” “That I regret keeping things from you needlessly, and I will try to be more open about things I deem unimportant, because you are a very curious person. I don’t wish to punish that curiosity, so long as it is within reason.” Anakin can’t believe what he’s hearing. He starts imagining what this will mean, just how Obi-Wan will open up to him. What glimpses he’ll allow Anakin to see of himself, of his mind and his body. “However, in turn, I ask that you try to keep me abreast of your plans.” Anakin eyes flick down briefly to Obi-Wan’s chest, and he nods. It’s easy enough to agree to, if it means he gets to see more of Obi-Wan.

30. share a fic you’re especially proud of

All of them? No? Okay, I guess I'm going to cheat and choose 3:

the thrill of the fall ~ my first posted Obikin fic. It was originally intended to be the first in a... chain so to speak that I dubbed "The Yeetverse", and though I haven't even finished this fic, I absolutely hope I will get around to all of the others I have planned.

An Unorthodox Courtship ~ my first finished Obikin fic, and actually the first omegaverse fic I've ever written

love's a hand-me-down brew - my first completed multi-chapter fic that I didn't entirely pre-write, and currently the longest fic I have ever written. It was written in an entirely different way from how I usually write things (minimal editing), and it changed a lot from the original idea in terms of tone, but I'm extremely proud of how I managed to tie things in from the start (sometimes unintentionally), and some of the subtleties.

#q&a #ask game #man can i talk when i want to

[oifaaa]

hi i'm very sorry if you've gotten asked this before but in your rebels au, where padmé's still alive, is mace dead?

Yeah mace is unfortunately still dead in the rebels au

#Ask #Anon #So like I was thinking about this at some point #Palatine had to have back up plans if his whole plan with Anakin didn't work #Like he couldn't of had all his empire plans hinging on one emotionally unstable 23 years old turning evil #I mean he probably did bc star wars but let's say he had some brain cells #So in the rebels au the whole idea is that Padme is able to convince Anakin to take a break and run away with her just for a short while #Bc the jedi want him to spy on palps but he doesn't want to but he also doesn't want to upset the jedi #So him and Padme are just like fuck it let's go away for a week I'm sure everything will still be shit when we get back #Palps realises that anakins disappeared and that the jedi are super sus of him and the wars about to end #So he activates his back up plan #And idk explodes the whole temple or smth #Maybe he has back up jedi who were willing to turn if Anakin didn't #Ether way every jedi who was in the temple is dead and that includes mace unfortunately #Rip

[peridotbelle]

Book of Boba Fett Episode 6 Spoilers!!!

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This was great. I loved the episode. I didn't think we would get to see the visit to Grogu until a flashback in S3, so YES. And Ahsoka!!! *Kermit flail* That was totally unexpected, and seeing her and Luke together, "You're just like your father"... Ijustcan'tevendreamscometruehappysobbing. 😭🥰

But! In the matter of Grogu and Mando... I still don't particularly care for the way the new canon presents Luke's Jedi philosophy. I feel like he should be more willing to deviate from the Old Ways, to look at the flaws of the Order and try and find a better way forward. (Given TLJ, I guess the fact that he doesn't could be the whole point, but anyway...)

On the one hand, given his lack of formal training, all he really has is this great mythologized view of what the Jedi were based on legends and what artifacts/texts he was able to gather, so it's understandable that he would try to cling to that, that he would feel very deeply the responsibility to keep those traditions alive as he tries to rebuild the Jedi Order singlehandedly. Cool, I get that.

But at the same time, I feel like that same lack of knowledge would also empower him with a little more flexibility because there's no one around anymore to tell him how it was done (except Ahsoka, more on that below...) I don't think any Force ghosts he might be able to commune with would be saying "yes, make all the same mistakes we did!"... though of course he does end up doing just that, and we see his bitter disillusionment in TLJ, the lesson learned too late. Something more like the old EU, where he made the Order his own, where he had a wife and family, for crying out loud!

And it's that subject of attachment, as discussed in this episode, that really seems off to me for Luke. I really want a scene between Luke and Ahsoka where they're discussing this/Grogu, where Ahsoka is giving him the same warning she did Mando in S2, about how attachments can lead even the best Jedi down the dark path, and I want Luke to look at her and say, with all that beautiful RotJ earnest belief, "Maybe. But they can also bring them back. They can save us."

Because THAT'S what he should be believing at this point, right? He's seen his faith in his father justified, seen Anakin's love for his son restore him to himself. Even as Luke learns (hopefully) the full story of Anakin's fall (from either Anakin and Obi-Wan's Force ghosts or Ahsoka or all three (Wow, wouldn't that be AMAZING TO SEE?!! gimmegimme)) that knowledge should still be tempered by his own experience. (And there's actually some current canon justification for this in Bloodlines where Leia thinks about how Luke has this peace about Vader that she never can b/c he saw him redeemed/saw him become Anakin again.)

Luke should say "From what you've told me, it was my father's fear that turned him to the dark side, his fear of loss, of losing love... not the love itself. How can we say all attachment is wrong when I saw it save the entire galaxy?"

And then he and Ahsoka can have this whole debate that ends in her getting some healing, some peace about it. (I JUST NEED HER TO KNOW THAT ANAKIN WAS OK IN THE END, OK?!😭 AND I ALSO NEED LUKE TO KNOW WHO HIS FATHER REALLY WAS!!! THESE TWO (AND LEIA) REALLY NEED TO TALK!) Bc I understand Ahsoka's ptsd regarding Anakin, and it makes sense why she thinks the way she does about this specific topic. (Although, as someone who walked away from the Order bc of its flaws, I would also think Ahsoka would be the first person who would warn Luke away from following too closely in their footsteps.) But I don't think Luke should agree with her on this, so all this to say that I don't like the fact that he makes Grogu choose between Mando and the Jedi at the end of this episode. >:/

#it's a ramble #sorry #I just have a lot of feelings ok? #book of boba fett #book of boba spoilers #book of boba fett episode 6 #the stranger who came in from the desert #luke skywalker #grogu #groguthechild #the child #ahsoka tano #Jedi Order #the mandalorian #star wars #anakin skywalker #clone wars

[mominousrex]

The Jola Moon (A Rexsoka FanFic) - Chapter 2: HIDDEN

Summary: Ahsoka and Rex have somehow safely landed on Spendor. They each deal with the fallout from Order 66 in their own way before hiking to the Skywalkers' hidden lodge. Rex still has one more secret to keep from Ahsoka...his brother, Cut.

Quick notes: Thanks to @m2d2-mm8 and

@imnewintown00 for being my betas on this one.

This one got emotional.

@lilrexsoka @saint-tries @catsarefurrypeople @m2d2-mm8

Audience: General SFW, Grief, Trauma, Awkward tension (It's Rex And Ahsoka, people)

(Later chapters 18+ NSFW)

Start from the beginning here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Rex stood looking out at the hangar's opening where the cliff formation above had started its natural roof that camouflaged the entrance. He was looking out from a place that he had stood before but under very different circumstances. He was nervous those other times too. At least then he knew exactly why he was nervous. His worries then were consumed with getting in trouble as a ranking officer and what kind of punishment would wait for him. He was convinced by Anakin's assurances that anyone in the GAR could be mind-tricked by him (not likely), and the Jedi council? He'd deal with them (likely). He remembered what Skywalker had said, "Worry when we get caught, not if we get caught, Rex ol' pal."

They never did get caught. The dreaded when never came.

And yet, right now he still couldn't avoid feeling punished. He was alive. He wasn't exactly mad about it. But once again, as with so many other times, Rex was assigned the worst mission for a soldier: be the survivor who is left to remember all of those who were lost.

This time though he was no longer Captain Rex, that's for sure. There was nothing to move on to. Nothing to focus on instead of the grief. He would have to figure out how to just be...Rex. He wasn't lost. He knew exactly where he was in the galaxy. He couldn't believe he was here again. Now though he didn't know where exactly "not Captain" Rex could go or who he could trust beyond Ahsoka. He wasn't sure which of his surviving brothers would be willing to take pity on just "Rex."

Oh damn...Cut! He needed to contact Cut as soon as he could.

Another secret. Rex didn't want to get Ahsoka involved in that whole mess of why he never turned Cut in. Or stayed in touch with him to check on him and his family occasionally. That was a clone thing.

Right now, the less they knew about each other's existence the better. He could figure out what to do later after some rest. Rex now felt the pressure of these small secrets that he had hidden in contained compartments in his life. It felt like they were now colliding with each other. Worry about when, not if. That seemed to work for the great Jedi General Skywalker and even for the deserter clone, Cut Laquane.

He would tell Ahsoka later.

First, he needed to deal with what he was going to find out from contacting Cut. If a clone doesn't interact with a Jedi, could they still be affected? The more he thought about it, the more he realized Cut could be in a lot more danger than he was before. He needed to get the comm up and going, and hopefully, the damn Cloak scrambler still works and will cooperate. He took a deep breath to assure himself this was the right thing to do. He prepared himself mentally; it was time to hide the truth from a Jedi...again.

A lie is never lonely, that's for sure.

He looked back at Ahsoka who was now at the maintenance shelves by the general's old set up. He called back, "You should get some fresh air and rest. There's a spot right by that tree out there. Let me finish up here in the hangar, then we'll get going," he suggested. She didn't respond and now he needed to see what she was doing.

"Don't look so good, kid," as he approached to see what the hell she was doing now.

"You think I'm a kid, Rex?"

He laughs, "No. It's just an old habit…sir"

She didn't even catch the joke. Or maybe it wasn't funny right now.

Ahsoka was rummaging through the general's tool bench and shelving unit, "I thought there would be a full pneumatics kit here. Rex?"

Rex could tell Ahsoka was not herself. She was usually the one on the Resolute organizing the tool benches, for fun. Just to pass the time. She always had an odd idea of fun.

"Didn't you say there was a full kit? I need the bits for R7's…um…," she sighed, "for his…you know..."

Rex walked over and opened the drawer she had just closed, "His panels. You need the point zero five micro attachment for all of R7's interior panels," he easily found the clear case marked, ".05," that was right there with all the other (once organized) bits and attachments in the drawer

Ahsoka was so tired she didn't even react. Rex went to hand the case to her. She reached for it and he quickly pulled it away. She shot him with an exhausted grump face. Rex knew he was in better shape than her and he was miserably exhausted right now.

"You need to rest before we start the hike. It's short but steep. And though I'm sure, Ahsoka, you could backflip your way up there, but it doesn't mean you should right now.

"I just want to make sure we have everything to fix R7," she had manic energy about her, which wasn't like her at all. She seemed fixated on staying in the hangar, the opposite of what Rex needed right now.

Rex needed to put his foot down. The benefits of working with unconventional Jedi force wielders like Ahsoka and Skywalker were sometimes outweighed by their inability to understand that everyone, even Jedis, has limits. That was something he never learned on Kamino. He learned that on battlefields with Skywalker and he had to learn that sometimes, even if his words would go ignored, he still had to voice them. Maybe he learned that from Obi-Wan.

"Ahsoka? Are you nuts? Where and when exactly do you think you can start running around the galaxy picking up spare parts for this "formerly yours" GAR-issued droid? Are you trying to get killed?"

He's right. She hadn't thought of that.

"They'd track you down, hunt you, and —"

"Rex, I know how to erase R7's memory and keep him untraceable."

"You're right. You do, but only with Republic systems from a year ago?"

"Rex let me do this. Please let me try. I don't have anything of my own from back then! And I had to just leave him. R7 was mine!" She put her hands on the lifeless droid. Ahsoka started to well up, her lip quivering to a final barely audible exasperation, "He was mine…," she collapsed in front of the charred and blaster-ridden droid carcass. She inhaled her tears, refusing to let Rex see her cry until she just fell over to hide her face and sobs. Her back lekku tail was the palest blue he had ever seen. She was drained.

Rex's voice shifted to a softer tone to meet her at this moment, "Okay, Ahsoka. It's...it's okay," Rex had no idea what to do here. He crouched down and eventually just sat next to her crisscrossed. Since Ahsoka was in a child's (post temper tantrum) pose, legs tucked under, her knees to her chest, forehead resting in her arms, crying into the floor, he couldn't exactly hug her.

Rubbing her back would be weird since he'd never done that to anyone ever. He had seen Ahsoka and Padme comfort others with that gesture a few times maybe. He was trying to figure out what to do, which hand to use, should he rub her shoulders or just the shoulder blades? Her lower back which was closest to him was definitely not right and so his right hand was just sort of hanging out in an awkward hover, waiting for his command when at last he heard her calm herself down and begin to sit up. He ended up comforting his own left shoulder plate. Thankfully, Ahsoka saw none of that.

She sat up on her bent knees and took a cleansing breath as she wiped her tears which had somehow managed to leave clean streaks when it wiped the grime off her face in splotches. Her markings were bright white again in places. "I'm sorry," she confessed to him. Rex shook his head and told her don't mention it with his face. "Thank you for letting me just cry like that, even though it was awkward," she said as she effortlessly picked up his left hand into both of hers and held it, while giving a comforting squeeze, like nothing. Like absolutely nothing. Rex was so uncomfortable being comforted by his friend right now that he made sure to look at a stain on the floor that caught his eye as he spoke, "Of course, it's no problem."

Ahsoka looked at him and knew. Something is off with Rex. Something deep within Rex is…hiding, "Rex, are you okay?" Now incredibly aware of her tear-soaked hands holding his one hand, he once again did not know what to do here. He gently took it back to rub the spot where he knocked his head on the holodeck table and felt the bump's absence. At least that healed.

"No, honestly. Neither of us is okay, right now, Ahsoka. This is why I want to get the fighter settled and check a few things so we can get going already. But I am worried about you. I'm not shocked you cried. I've just never seen you that upset before. I don't like seeing you like that."

Ahsoka was mostly aware of his primary feelings now. She had scared him a little, "I'm sorry, Rex"

"You don't have to apologize. You must be exhausted from everything, and you pulled off an amazing flight up there," they both lazily laughed with acknowledgment, "but if I'm too tired to even think about it, you must be on the edge of sanity. Please go outside, get some fresh air, and rest. Please."

Ahsoka relented with a nod. She could use the time to rest or meditate. She had let her feelings get the best of her and Rex was the closest person nearby who received the brunt of her breaking point. She was also concerned about him, but she did need to rest. The constant disturbances in the Force had yet to find their own way of relenting.

She sensed the worst was not over.

By now, Rex had stood up and was offering his calloused, helpful hand down to help her up.

She looked up at him and was so grateful to have Rex there with her. She did not have to hide her old life as a Jedi padawan like she unsuccessfully tried with Trace and Rafa, Nor did she worry Rex would judge her for not acting as a Jedi padawan should. She hadn't seen him in over a year, but she felt that she could just be herself around him. This new realization made Rex even more unique to her.

His words from the comm echoed in her mind, "There you go, love." She couldn't shake the way it felt to hear him say that.

She wasn't even sure what the feeling was, but it had gotten them here safe and together.

He was right; she needed some air and some quiet.

When Ahsoka took Rex's hand, he gently pulled her up and she took a deep breath before pulling her chin up, lifting her tired bluest-blue eyes to look up at him.

He looked directly at her with his not quite standard issued eyes, a look of earned relief was on his face. She had never noticed the flecks of bright gold and orange that crowned the iris of his dark amber eyes. Maybe it was the hazy mix of darkness and natural light in the hangar or the light pink of exhaustion that crept into the whites of his eyes.

Rex was politely looking at her putting herself mentally back together. He was just stuck regarding how much he admired her strength. Even after she falls apart, she gets right back up, looks you in the eyes, and keeps going.

He was incredibly relieved that she finally listened to him. It was a small victory for him, but he'd gladly take it as a major one right now.

Before he could enjoy the victory though, an in-coming embrace from her blindsided him. Ahsoka went to wrap her arms around him but stopped awkwardly at his chest plate as she pressed her face against it. Her montrals now just directly at his eye-line. Since his arms were stuck at his sides not knowing what to do, hers sort of stopped at his underarms happily attempting to squeeze. Not quite a full embrace, just more an attempt to show appreciation. With his armor on, he could not feel her at all, just the pressing of his armor closer to his chest. His arm plates, shoulder pauldron, and gauntlets were so bulky he was afraid if he tried to hug back, it wouldn't exactly be as nice for her to feel against her bare arms. Before he could say or do anything to reciprocate, she gave a small double tap on his chest plate, "Thanks, Rexter" she said as she gently pulled back her embrace.

Rexter. He hadn't heard that nickname in a long time. Quietly he thought to himself, no problem, kid. Then the next four words just fell out of his mouth, "Anything for you, Ahsoka," and she responded with a humbled, crooked smile. He watched her walk backward and then turn away from this zone of proximity that had allowed them to be as close as friends can be for the moment.

He wasn't sure why, but he felt like he had somehow said something wrong. He wasn't about to start worrying about whatever he said because she was heading outside to rest. He could keep busy with the fighter's odds and ends until she fell asleep and finally he could try to reach Cut.

As she stepped out to exit the hangar, Ahsoka was greeted by the beauty of the misty forest that was wild and overgrown. The air was incredibly clean and sweet. She could sense the invisible tiny worlds of unseen organisms that thrived on the foliage. There were no visible animals yet to be seen. Rex hadn't mentioned anything, so she figured she would be safe. She looked back and noticed he was just a short distance behind her, "You making sure that I am in fact going to rest?" she turned back to keep walking, not even waiting for his answer.

"Should I?", he called out from the hangar's entrance.

"Nope. I've found my spot in the shade over there where you said, Rex. I'll be resting."

"Okay, I'll try to hurry, but you know how I get with making sure everything is checked and done right"

"Take your time", he heard her voice trail off in the distance.

Rex did plan to take as long as he could without seeming suspicious in hopes she would fall asleep. He could wake up in the morning and come back to the hangar if he wanted to do a proper eval and small repairs. More sneaking around, he was starting to really hate this.

He turned and walked back towards their fighter and the hangar's work area. For a two-person fighter, the Y-wings always took up a lot of space. On this BLT-B model, the engines took up the most space wherever they were. The pair of massive engines were always separated to keep their respective places of power but eventually came together to meet at the fuselage for its signature Y shape. It was a bulky fighter that most clones always said had too much weight and didn't give the rush of other smaller starfighters. But everyone knew they could take the hits, keep going to finish the mission, and usually get their boys home. Wherever home was.

Rex looked at the damaged exterior that had taken its rightful place as part of this fighter's journey. The scars it earned today proved that this fighter, once classified as busted and imperfect, had been blessed and reborn by the landing it just experienced.

"Quite a ride you took there? Well done."

He slid his hand along the smooth undamaged blue and white panels just before he moved to closely examine the dented and crumbled areas. He ventured his upper body so that it was slightly crouched as his two arms stayed up against the side of the fighter. Then he angled his head to check deep under the fuselage. He dropped one arm to check the newest gash in its frame, which was undoubtedly caused by the same collision that threw him in the turret hatch.

"We'll fix you up. But some scars we'll keep, huh? We all have them." He gave the fighter a pat or two on the flat nose that sat beneath two inoperational ion cannons.

Rex head over to climb up the ladder to the pilot's cockpit to start running diagnostics. He figured a good deception is best executed with some truth. Might as well get some readings for them to work with when they start repairing it. They certainly had time to pass. Hopefully, there was some good news from the fighter's eval, but with the way things had been unfolding in the last few days, bad news was probably all he was going to get.

In the cockpit, he spotted Ahsoka's cloak. Realizing she could come back to get it at any moment, he didn't want to risk her coming in when he was talking to Cut on the comm. Grabbing the cloak and throwing it over his shoulder, a brisk familiar breath of fragrance wafted into his senses. The combination of Jedi's heavy woolen fabric and Ahsoka's signature feminine scent stirred some memories for him that made him pause.

Only because he recognized her distinct smoky, sweet scent of blaster fire and floral musk that used to trail the walkways of The Resolute, did he realize he had missed this scent filling his senses. He gave another sniff to make the memories of those days with her, Skywalker, and his closest brothers from the Torrent company all return again. Was it so bad that these memories brought a smile to his face? He shook it off with a shake of his head as he headed out and back down the step ladder.

He made his way out to the spot where Ahsoka said she would be, and he found her asleep on a soft bed of moss that had taken over a boulder underneath a massive ancient willow tree.

She could always fall asleep anywhere. Jedis can stay awake for longer than regular beings, but Togrutan Jedis are especially sensitive to being in cycle with whatever planets' rotation they were on. It was possible to stay awake for days, but her body would register a morose mood that could haunt her feelings. Ahsoka had to train herself to fall asleep whenever she needed to by using a form of meditation and self-hypnosis. She had told him all about that on a long flight after they first met and fought together, after Teth.

At that time, Rex was critically struggling with sleep. Kamino was going to get involved and possibly call him back for an evaluation. Slick's traitorous betrayal during Christophisis had pushed him towards paranoia and he started double-checking on all the clones in the 501st to be sure that type of insurrection never happened in his legion. Cody seemed less affected by the whole experience with Slick. For Rex, the whole ordeal had truly unsettled him.

He remembered her tiny frame casually sitting on the flight bridge, plopped onto one of the officers' chairs like she owned the place. But she sort of did. She taught him and the other officers the breathing exercises and how she quieted her mind. Rex was so desperate for a full sleep cycle, he was willing to listen to anyone, even the snippy little padawan. Looking at her now, more grown-up and sleeping off the nightmare they had just been through… he was shocked about how little he knew back then. He tucked her cloak around her like a blanket.

If Slick could see him now.

When got back in the hangar, Rex sat at the tool bench. He took his helmet and removed a section of padding within his helmet's inner crown.

Skywalker's scrambler device was always on his mind, literally. The small rectangular-shaped disc was about the length of Rex's thumb. It was hidden within a plastisoid box to protect the wiring and tiny conductor units. A switch on the side and a small flat dial allowed the signal of the nearest holocom to broadcast but with a constant change of location coordinates that mimicked generic interference from power supply loss or atmospheric disruption. Of the three Cloaks Skywalker had engineered, Rex had one always hidden right there under the helmet padding.

The hangar's holocom was an old model that Skywalker and Rex got from a junk dealer. The general had fixed hundreds back on Tatooine and knew how to give this one a second life. It could serve the purpose of making contact when needed but the imaging operations never worked right. But for a comm system on Splendor, it was better to not see or be seen, so it was the perfect fit for what they needed back then. Well, what Skywalker needed anyway.

With the comm up and running, Rex was suddenly flooded with how many of his other officer brothers he wanted to call,

Cody, Appo, Wolfe, Fox, Gage, Howzer, Bly, the other half of the 501st that was with the general…Rex started to feel sick to his stomach…Cody…fuck.

He can't contact them. Not now. Maybe not ever again. Would the Batchers be affected? Maker! He needed to get this done before he ended up crying on the floor like Ahsoka. Fuck that. Get your head together, soldier.

When at first there was no response, he entered the comm code again.

"Come in, Contact 1122113E10-S2, this is 11991188E12-S43, Come in."

He waited a few minutes.

"Come in, Contact 1122113E10-S2, this is 11991188E12-S43, Come in."

He waited for a few more.

Nothing. One more try.

"Come in, Contact 1122113E10-S2, this is 11991188E12-S43, Come in."

Blast. This was—

Suu was the one speaking but Rex knew Cut was feeding her what to say. "Dis is 1122113E10-S2, how ya doing, brothah?"

Rex practically fell off the seat and right back into it with joy.

"Haha! Laquane! Brother!"' Rex realized he sounded so happy but was about to give Cut and Suu devastating news, "Uh this isn't a casual call. You got a secure channel?"

A moment passes.

In her thick sultry accent, Suu is Cut's mouthpiece until they can get over to the secure channel, "Sure. Go ovah to deh rrrollout from deh…uh…deh creshant sequence, you know dis one, yers?"

"Wow the crescent sequence, Laquane? That takes me back. No gen1 clone can forget that one."

"Yers…from—," she is bickering with Cut in the background, "ugh…dem old days practicing ourrh dahnce mooves in deh rain,"

Suu sounds a little annoyed to be doing this charade at the moment. Cut grunting in the background sounds like he is struggling to hold back their kids, Jek and Shaeeah from attacking the family comm as they squeal from terrifying delight, "Uncles! Unnnnnnncccccclessssssss! PLEASE, DADDY!”

Their shouting brings a huge welcome smile to Rex's face and he feels himself choking up a little bit with joy. He's not even related to these kids, but it's so good to hear them now.

"Copy that. Switching now, over and out," Rex flicks the comm channel switch and lets the excitement of hearing that the Laquanes sound just like the family they do every time he called to check-in.

Rex looks at the comm without missing a beat he enters the code that he and all other clones recruits had to memorize and then manipulate for the "Crescent Sequence." It was a mock mission that was so difficult most recruits never even made it to the final stage of establishing their emergency signal while under distress. Gen 1 clones had it the worst, the training was altered later when it was deemed too difficult and adjustments were made to ensure that recruits could get to the final phase and attempt to complete the mission.

Now on the secure channel, Rex felt more comfortable but still wasn't sure how much he could say. At least it didn't sound like Cut had been affected, but Cut wasn't around any Jedis at all.

Rex figured he couldn't take Ahsoka with him there. If they could even get to Salucami. He wasn't even sure if he could be safe around Cut himself.

"Come in Golden Boy, this is the Bastard. Hahaha, brother! To what do we owe such a surprise?" Cut's familiar voice was a comfort to Rex right now. Unfortunately, he didn't have time for comfort and catching up.

"Well, it's not good, brother. There's been ah…how do I explain this?"

"Explain what? You alright?"

"No. I mean, I'm fine. But, Cut, listen to me: the clone army has all been ordered to kill the Jedi for treason."

"What? Did you say…kill? Kill the Jedi?"

"Look, I have to be brief and don't have all the intel, it's complicated. So please try to follow."

"Alright…I'm listening."

"All of us clones had behavior implants, inhibitor chips when we were newly made, months old. They can control every clone in the GAR."

"Who?"

"We think it's a Sith Lord and I'm not sure but, the war is over, but something worse is beginning Cut. I understand what Fives was saying now.”

"Rex? Did you hit your head or something? Are you drunk? Sergeant Hunter does this sometimes when he gets wasted and his abilities are all out of whack."

"Really?"

Rex now could hear Jek and Shaeeah screaming again in the background as Suu is barking at them to calm down. The commotion sounds hectic through the comm, it's probably even louder on Cut's end.

"Cut, I'm not drunk. I've never been more clear-headed in my life. I just wanted to let you know and make sure you weren't affected."

"Me?"

"Yes, you, brother. You have this thing in you too. You haven't been feeling weird today or yesterday?"

"Nothing different for me. I didn't even get upset when Jek spilled his juice all over the table this morning," Cut's voice is now yelling off the comm, "Alright that's it, you heard your mother, wash up time. Let Daddy finish up with Uncle Rex," then he returned to the comm, "Sorry about that, they get feral at bedtime."

"It's okay. Cut, you need to get this thing removed."

"Uh… we can't exactly do that out here. Besides how it even gets taken out. You got yours taken out, how?"

Rex was quiet. I can't tell him about Ahsoka yet.

"I had help. But before mine was taken out they gave the order. I felt its effects...it was awful, Cut. It was like living in a waking nightmare where I couldn't help what I was doing and I almost killed someone very close to me."

"Your general?"

"No, unfortunately, I don't know what's happened to him. I'm assuming he's gone too."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, brother. You two were close. Was it the…uh...what was her name? The one who left. Did she help you?"

Shit. That's brothers for you...

Rex had confided in Cut a few times about Ahsoka's whole ordeal with the council and her leaving the order. Maybe he was a little drunk one of those nights. The whole 501st was drunk for a week after she left. They also racked up more droid kills than any other battalion.

Rex didn't want to lie again, so he just avoided the question.

"Look, it's an organic chip. So it can't be easily detected. After we get our droid fixed I can send you the medical report from when mine was taken out.

"We?"

"Huh?"

"You said 'we just then."

"Nah I'm alone. Found a hideout spot for a few days."

"Oh okay, then. I guess I misheard."

Rex was certainly not alone right now. He happened to look up towards the hangar's entrance where Ahsoka's silhouette appeared and was barely taking her steps in. She was moving closer though. Rex needed to wrap this up quickly.

"Look if any of our brothers asks about me, tell them you saw me there, that I came to visit and left."

"Alright. I'd ask where you are but I don't want to know, I guess. Some brothers might be like you though.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, we may not be the only deserters out there, Rex"

"I'm not a deserter," retorted Rex.”

Cut laughs for a moment, "Okay then."

"That's not what this is about."

"If what you are telling me is true then there are some serious changes happening. You know you're always welcome here, but I understand not wanting to be found."

Rex is practically whispering now, "I know you do, look I got to—,"

"Rex, listen. You need to be careful…it's going to get lonely. You'll make it through. I just wish you weren't alone right now brother."

"Right...I have—,"

"Rex? What are you doing?" Ahsoka called out from the other side of the hangar as she walked towards the work area, "Who are you talking to?"

This was exactly what Rex did not want to happen,

"Huh?"

Cut was chuckling, "Well! My wish came true huh, brother?"

"It's nothing like that, Cut. Stop it"

"Sounds like you need to go, I know that tone in a woman's voice. You're in trouble. Just be honest with them. They love that."

"Cut, will you shut up. Honestly. We're just friends. Just make sure you take care of that thing."

Yeah yeah, cut my head open. Right. Hey…you'll be alright, brother. You've got freedom now, enjoy it."

Rex is now down to a whisper, "I gotta go."

Cut is still teasing him, "I bet you do."

"Shut up. I'll contact you in a few days"

"Love you, brother."

"You too."

Ahsoka is now standing there and can see Rex at the comm, with her montrals she probably has been hearing the whole last minute. This is mortifying.

"Who was that?"

"Oh...um, nobody. A smuggler friend of Hondo's, I was trying to get some info about our next possible move." Rex could tell his lie was terrible and seemed to give up halfway through.

Ahsoka was aghast. She took in a deep sigh hoping to remove the severe look of disappointment on her face and knew it did not. Instead, she decided to simply turn around and walk out of the hangar. She couldn't even look at him. She could not handle any more surprises from Rex today. If they were friends at all he would be following her outside.

He was, "Ahsoka…wait!"

She was going to find out what had woken her up from the nap. The same nap he kept insisting she take. So foolish, Ahsoka. When will I learn? What am I doing here?

She was out of the hangar now back in the beauty of the forest that had distracted her. This moon. She was stuck on this moon.

"Please wait, let me explain—," Rex had run out of the hangar but kept his distance from her. There was a world between them that measured barely the length of a speeder bike.

"You asked me, Rex, if I trusted you?!"

"Yes, and you said that you did."

She stood there looking intently at him, disappointed that he was lying to her.

Was this worth questioning her safety here…with him?

For a moment she wondered if she could be wrong. He was hiding something, again. Before today, she would have devotedly trusted anything Rex said. She wanted to be that way again. But that was the old Ahsoka, wide-eyed and hell-bent on always helping others and making a difference. She had learned quite abruptly what can happen when the world around you decides to not see you as you see yourself.

Clearly, Rex could keep a secret, but she wasn't going to let him keep another one from her today. She was going to lose control of her feelings again if she wasn't careful. She rose above her petty fears and sensitivity to meet him in the middle. Rex was better than this. She knew that he was.

"I don't know why you won't tell me who you were talking to, but I hoped you would trust me, Rex. The way I trust you and always have. I think after EVERYTHING that has happened to us, and I mean all of it, I think that I deserve the truth from you."

She made sure not to blink as her eyes stared her expectations into his.

If he was supposed to be intimidated by this, Rex wasn't even close.

He squinted his eyes a bit at the sunlight shining behind her and cocked his head in a way that made him look like he was getting ready to fight back. Then he said the unexpected, "You do. You absolutely deserve better."

She was expecting a fight. He just gave in. Was this some kind of deflection strategy? Because it was working. She was softening up again, but he still needed to tell her the truth. "C'mon, Rex. We can't be keeping secrets from each other. Not here, not anymore. I mean it."

She looked around for some path that headed to the lodge, "I understand why you had to keep this one," she gestured vaguely in some direction because she still had no idea where they were going, but please no more. I just can't handle any more big surprises that—"

"His name is Cut, Cut Laqwane," Rex interrupted when he got the nerve, "Sorry, I didn't mean to"

Ahsoka was glad he did, "No, it's okay." She didn't have any more of her usual fight left in her and wanted to give him the space to get it out. She sensed his feelings shifting like the wind that was blowing the draping branches of leaves that framed the background of where he stood.

Rex continued even though she could sense his nervousness, "He's a deserter that fought in Geonosis, the first. He's part of my generation, Ahsoka. He truly is one of the only direct brothers I can talk to. He was left for dead after the battle, by himself, but he lived. He just got up and made a life for himself however he could."

"Hmmm…okay? And the woman I heard at one point? The noise woke me up. That noise...when she was speaking. It sounded like they were in danger or someone was getting, I don't know, tortured?"

Rex started laughing. "Well, they might be. I've heard natural-born children can be real nightmares. And those two get into their fair bit of trouble." Ahsoka wasn't sure she heard that right, Rex read her face's shocked expression.

"Those were his kids, Ahsoka."

"He has...children?" Ahsoka never thought about the clones having children, "Can you, I mean not you, well, can any of you—"

"No. I can't. We can't. We're all…sterilized. That would be a genetic mess!" Rex chuckled at the thought, "They're his wife's kids. But Cut's the only father they've known, and he's a great one. I mean, he makes it look so easy, that I know it must be difficult."

Ahsoka's face was still frozen in shock.

“Their real father died shortly after the littlest one was born. Suu, his wife, means everything to him, everything. The kids came with her. And for Cut, that was that. He is a great father…and brother."

Hearing Rex speak like this about one of his brothers was new. Rex always praised his fellow clones when it was due, but to be talking about this Cut person as a family man revealed a side of him she hadn't known existed. Maybe the secret wasn't Cut's existence, but that Rex actually admired him.

"Anyway, Ahsoka...I contacted Cut to make sure he knew about Order 66, the chips, and find out if he was affected. Suu isn't a fan of the war, the Republic, or all that, so for them, it could've been dangerous if his chip activated. Especially with the kids and everything."

Rex was pretending to adjust his gauntlets, but there was nothing to adjust. She stayed quiet to let him continue, or struggle to continue, rather. This wasn't easy for Rex to discuss. She certainly knew Rex well enough to know that.

She had asked him to be truthful and now he was giving her that. It was her reactions to his secrets (now truths) that were her responsibility. Their friendship was built on years of trusting each other with their lives in seemingly insurmountable odds again and again.

"Well, was he affected?"

"It doesn't seem like it. Even before this, Cut rejected a clone soldier's loyalty to the Republic. Completely. He's just been a simple farmer on Salucami. He's the only brother I have left, but I didn't want you to know that I chose not to arrest him."

"Why would you not want me to know?"

"Because he's a deserter. It's my hang-up about honor, you know. He broke his code to the Republic."

"So did I, Rex." She was walking a very thin beam between making a point and being just plain argumentative.

"Ahsoka, obviously your situation was very different."

And so was his. Now a deserter himself, Rex was starting to understand how simple it was to think in terms of absolutes. But it was very complicated having to live in them.

Ahsoka continued to press,

"Well, I wouldn't call him a deserter, Rex. He's a loving husband and is raising two children that aren't his? Sounds like a brave and dedicated hero to me."

"When you put it that way—-"

"I do. Don't call him a "deserter" anymore. He's a rescuer."

That word hit Rex in the gut. Once the snippy young padawan, now older, she just had a jaded wit. But she was right. Cut certainly was a rescuer. She probably had more respect for Cut than Rex did, she knew what it was like.

"Takes one to know one, huh, Tano?" Rex smirked, hoping she heard it as a compliment.

"You could say that," She smirked back at him and squinted her eyes.

That was kind of him. The look on his face was almost sweet. He didn't ever falter or get angry in this whole conversation. He still managed to tease her like the soldiers always did, but Rex would always include a compliment to show her respect back then.

"Come on, Tano. Let me get my stuff and we'll start heading out. We'll get to work down here tomorrow, sound good?

"No more secrets, Rex."

"Is that an order, Commander?"

She almost rolled her eyes out of her head, "Ugh! Will you cut it out with that?

His sarcastic teasing was the worst and she had missed it so much, he kept it up, "What? I can't understand why that would bother you?"

She was now laughing, not squabbling with Rex anymore. They had survived getting upset with each other. And she didn't feel so foolish anymore. Now she was just cranky that her nap was interrupted.

If they could finally just get where they need to go...

She suddenly felt her shoulders ache from the effort to not fall on the floor and collapse into pain. Ahsoka felt this next disturbance with a panicked pain different from the others. Her hands went to her head. The feeling was wild, angry, conflicted.

"C-C-C-Caleb?" She didn't feel the snap of him go, instead, she could feel his energy crumbling, crying out in pain. It was as though he was running through a tunnel with no light at the end.

And then he just stopped running.

A complete standstill.

His Force signature intertwined with his fear and grief was a haze. He was just stuck there, alone in some permanent shelter of weary confusion. She gave a sense of hope that he would find his way out…eventually.

"Ahsoka? Who's Caleb?"

"A padawan, like I was. I barely knew him. His master is gone, but he's alive. He's… he's… I…his emotions are too clouded with fear and panic," she was torn, "I can't help him. I— I—"

Rex intervened this time. He could see that Ahsoka was pushing herself too hard, "Alright, let's get going up to the lodge. If you need me to carry you, I can."

"No, it's fine. I'm sorry, by the way, about earlier."

"Forget it, you were right. I'm glad I told you. I actually hate keeping secrets. Look, I really can carry you, if you are too tired. It's a decent climb up through the ruins."

"The ruins?" Ahsoka's sense of the Force was so clouded and fogged she hadn't even noticed. The ancient Jola star system, that is what Rex had said. She was wasting time arguing in the present with her only surviving friend when she could have been making herself useful to sense the wonder and energy of their refuge. She looked up and saw the islands drifting amongst the clouds. She looked down and saw the ground she was standing on. She then looked up at Rex. They were safe.

For now, they were safe.

"I can walk on my own, Rex, but thanks for offering,"

She began to crunch the rocks and dirt with her trudging armored boots. Rex walked the path on her left next to her for a bit until it narrowed at a turn. Then he took the lead and she followed. The pathway was barely noticeable at first glance, but once you saw it, its definition looked as though it had been there the whole time. The air was crisp and mildly humid. A natural perfume from the forest mist was lingering in the slight, soft touch of the wind against her shoulders. The wound on her right arm was throbbing, and she noticed a little too late that her hand had already decided to start nagging at the make-shift bandage rags Rex had put on at the crash site.

"Leave it, Tano." Rex didn't even have to look back. He knew that wincing sound when she scratched at her bandages. She had always hated being injured.

"How's your shoulder, Rex?"

"Bruised. But my pauldron is done for. What can I say? I just can't be killed." Rex looked back at her and snickered morosely as the dense forest revealed the tops of what had possibly been a temple or palace. Now it was barely four meters of weathered stone being strangled by vines and moss and other invisible life. Its majesty was grounded forever in the hidden earth of this moon.

"What was the name of this moon again, Rex?" He stopped and let her catch up to him. Their final ascent was before them, "Splendor," he made sure to look at her when he said it.

Adrenaline and desperation had fueled the difficult experience of their escape. At least Rex and Ahsoka were trained for situations like that. They had been trained their whole lives for that kind of risk and danger.

But looking up at the path, Rex and Ahsoka both knew without saying a word that their last stop, the lodge, was something neither of them was truly prepared for.

NEXT CHAPTER...

CHAPTER 3: 8-1-0-8

btw…ALL UPDATED chapters are pinned to my tumblr

or click here to read on AO3

#thejolamoon #rexsoka #tcw rexsoka4ever #really long post #long reads #captain rex #ahsoka tano #this one got me #a call to Cut #tBB Cut #tcwrebelstbbinonechapter…check!

[leiasbluelightsaber]

One thing I never understood was how LF tried to explain Luke's new temperament. They said they didn't want to make him just another mentor like Obi-Wan and Yoda so they decided he'd be the complete opposite and a result the character was surly. Why couldn't they have just let him be, oh I don't know... maybe LUKE SKYWALKER? Luke never acted like those two yet was still an amiable dignified character that stayed true to the light side of the force. 1/2

If anything, Luke lost his wisdom in old age and degressed from his most mature self. The same Luke from ROTJ would have been a 'mentor' unlike any we've seen in cinema and proved that you can still hold the active mantle of Jedi Master while offering guidance to the newcomers. They also could have brought something new to the 'student - mentor' relationship by having Rey be Luke's daughter and the wariness Luke would have teaching her due to the sensitivity of his own child entering war.

Oh, but if it happened like that, it would actually make sense and therefore the film would be predictable. Why do that when you can subvert expectations™?

No, really, you’re obviously right. Before TLJ, I never thought something like this would happen to Luke Skywalker, because I thought TPTB had respect for the character and what he represented to the fans. I mean, they even claimed that this whole trilogy started with the question “Who is Luke Skywalker?” Well, I guess they forgot to mention that they had no idea.

We all know Luke already proved he’s not like Yoda and Obi-Wan in the OT, and that it was pretty much the point of his character arc. He’s already subverted exectations by saving his father instead of killing him and bringing down the Empire in the process. The next logical step for him is to find new Force-sensitive people and teach them what he (Luke) has learned, not what his old masters had taught him. To create an improved version of the Jedi order that learns from the mistakes of the old one. But in TLJ Luke claims the old order as his own, as well as it’s mistakes. Remeber how his argument for why Jedi should die out is Vader? (No, not Anakin or father, apparently ROTJ is meaningless). And it is ridiculous, because... If you have already come to the conclusion that the Jedi’s rigid teachings had a hand in turning Anakin to the dark side, but at the same time the core Jedi values allowed you to save him and turn him back to the light...you already know what to avoid when teaching your students! Kylo Ren’s desire for more power has nothing to do with that, there will always be people like that, but at the same time, there will be people willing to do anything to protect others, that’s like how life works, right? The real Luke would know that.

And another thing - In TLJ, he speaks about his Jedi in such vague and general terms, like he has no connection to them. What? Luke Skywalker cares about people! He would have cared about his students’ deaths, more than he would care about Jedi hubris or whatever. He would have remembered their names, he would have wanted them to be remembered as well. In my opinion, the students he lost would be on his mind more than Kylo or Vader. And I think instead of being afraid Rey would turn out like Kylo, he would be afraid she would end up like the students Kylo murdered. And if the KoR were his students too, he would have cared about them too. (And wouldn’t that make for a more interesting story, huh).

Of course, I always expected for Luke to be somehow involved in Kylo’s fall. But in a way that would actually make sense, you know? Maybe he was mourning (the death of his daughter) or distracted (by searching for his daughter) and didn’t notice Kylo’s turn or wasn’t around as much and left less experienced teacher in charge... Anything would have been more interesting than “I read my nephew’s mind in his sleep and found out he was already evil so I ignited my lightsaber, but he woke up and destroyed my temple, then dressed up as Darth Revan, got a new lightsaber and massacred the rest of my students who...somehow didn’t have time to escape in the meantime. And now the Jedi are dead.”

So yeah. We could have had Luke fighting against his former students and trying to bring them back to the light. We could have had Luke who had thought his daughter was dead and now that she’s back he makes mistakes because he cannot lose her again. We could have had old and weary master Luke with the death of his beloved studens haunting him while he’s still determined to somehow bring peace to the galaxy, even if he might not restore the Jedi. We could have had Luke who was so sorry for failing his sister that he tried to find the answers to the Light and Dark side teachings in the most ancient temple in the galaxy. Instead, all we got was a grumpy old man on a rock in the middle of nowhere, milking sea cows and being mean to everybody around him. But no one expected that, so that makes it a cinematic masterpiece, right?

#anti tlj #tlj critical #sw negativity #luke skywalker #text post #star wars #Anonymous #it speaks

[delicatefury]

Re: evil author day; they all sound amazing, but I'd love to see something from the Hello Again verse if only because I crave the moment Padawan Obi is bowled over by a certain crecheling declaring how happy he is to have found him and he is never ever letting him go because he needs all the hugs ever... he'd feel a lot better if he didn't know Anakin was dead serious and he's about to be stuck with a tiny, vicious shadow hell-bent on defending his honour :)

So here’s part II of Anakin and Obi-Wan’s reunion. I don’t have much of other people’s reactions, but you get Anakin and Obi-Wan, and they’re the ones who really matter, aren’t they?

Let me just start by saying that this takes place at least a week or two after part I. In the meantime, Anakin has made it clear that Qui-Gon is not his Important Person, but at least the pool’s been narrowed down to “Male Humans” from “Every Jedi in the temple”. Qui-Gon has joined the search attempts, because of course he’s sure from the start that Anakin’s “The Chosen One”. But he’s kept his involvement from Obi-Wan. Given the padawan’s difficulties the last few years, in a rare show of insight, Qui-Gon is worried that Obi-Wan may interpret frequent visits to the creche as Qui-gon looking for a his next padawan (ironic, huh?).

Obi-Wan shifts the stacks of datapads in his arms. “So tell me, Quin, what’s the real reason you dragged me up to the creche with you? Surely this errand didn’t require two senior padawans.”

The Kiffar grins over his shoulder at the shorter boy. “Obi-obi-obi, you’ve been away a whole year. Do I really need an excuse to want to spend time with you?” he says and flutters his eyelashes.

The sardonic eyebrow is all Obi-Wan will allow himself, but he finds himself smiling anyways. Quinlan Vos is one of his few friends who has only known Obi-Wan after. He never looks at Obi-Wan and sees the brilliant swordsman who lost his nerve, or the budding diplomat who lost his confidence, or the Jedi who second guesses everything, even the wisdom of the Force itself. There’s no disappointment, no pity, just a friend.

When pressed about it one night, after the whole waterfall incident (and maybe Obi-Wan attached himself a little tighter to the Kiffar padawan because of that, because it was a vision-memory-dream-delusion that was too specific, too personal to be coincidental) Quinlan had laughed and waved his uncommonly bare hand towards Obi-Wan. “Who cares what you were. You are the crazy barve who jumped after me. Forget what everyone else thinks. You’re still brilliant. You just need to get out of your own damn way.”

It’s that easy acceptance that leads Obi-Wan to seek the Kiffar’s presence whenever they’re both in the Temple. But Quinlan is still Quinlan, and should never be allowed to get away with thinking he’s outsmarted Obi-Wan.

“Yes, you do. Especially when you conspire to get me to help with your punishments.”

“This isn’t a punishment,” Quin sniffs. “I volunteered to take these old toys from the senior initiates to the creche.”

“You volunteered? What in the Force did I all miss when I was on Mandalore that Quinlan Vos is willing to subject himself to crechelings?”

“You miss a lot of things when you’re distracted with thoughts of a certain idealistic queen.” Quin walks backwards, leaning around the boxes in his arms to make obscene kissing faces at his friend.

“Duchess,” Obi-Wan automatically corrects, flushing as he realizes he’s been caught in Quinlan’s trap. “And walk like a normal person, you’re going to trip over a youngling,” he adds as he pushes past the kiffar to the padawan manning the entrance desk of the draigon and hawkbat clans’ creches.

“Oh, c’mon Obi. It’s just a little teasing!” Quin grins, knowing he’s already forgiven. “Okay, you’re right, I do have an ulterior motive.” He sets his boxes down and begins the sign-in process. “You, my friend, have yet to meet the adorable little Twi’lek that Master Tholme and I picked up while you were gone. Aayla has been looking forward to meeting you, you know.”

“Ah, the infamous Aayla Secura,” Obi-Wan muses, his arms still full of the datapads. It would be too much work to re-stack them for such a short relief. “I should have known she’d be the reason.”

“You already know,” Quinlan accuses. “You’ve got that look on your face.”

“What look?” It’s the first he’s hearing of it.

“The one you got when you received the ‘short’ Mandalore mission. Or when Bant wanted to tell you she’d been accepted into the healer’s program. Or when ‘Nara showed off what her tattoos were gonna be. That look.”

“I don’t have a look.” Had he really been broadcasting so badly whenever he was caught wondering at the line between delusion and foreknowledge?

“You already know I want her as my first padawan!”

“I… well, I didn’t know. It just felt right.”

Quinlan grumbles but begins to pick up his boxes again. The doors to the creches open up as one of the age groups starts heading out to classes. Obi-Wan feels a prick of interest on the back of his neck. It’s familiar, but… no. Not possible.

“Whatever, you spoiled the surprise, but yeah. Aayla’s the best and she’s made a new friend with one of the crechelings-“ Obi-Wan tunes Quinlan out. He just knows that the other can go on about the little Twi’lek for hours without end if he lets him. The prick on the neck is back, and even more pressing. It almost feels like.

“It can’t be…” he whispers.

“-and the other day she… Obi?”

Slowly, so slowly, Obi-Wan turns towards the door to the creche, barely propped open. A young face, barely more than a toddler, is staring him down, blue eyes furrowed and hopeful and scared.

“…Anakin?” he barely hopes but…

Blue eyes widen, a smile blooms, and the half-hidden face is soon joined by blond hair, by tanned skin, by small arms and legs, and the boy is running running running-

“Obi-Wan!” the childish voice shouts and a split second too late Obi-Wan realizes what’s about to happen.

“Wait! Anakin! No! I’m-“ he shoves the datapads in Quinlan’s general direction, clearing his arms barely in time to catch the Force-enhanced leap Anakin makes.

“Hey, Obi! What’s the big-“

The boy knocks him off balance, his back collides with Quin’s elbow, the Kiffar overcorrects. In the span of milliseconds, the chain reaction has knocked all three of them to the ground in a spectacular crash accompanied by the clatter of a dozen dropped datapads and spill of a knocked over box of stuffed banthas.

Crechemasters and younglings alike come running at the noise. Quinlan is groaning beneath him. Someone is mentioning comming a Master or two. Obi-Wan can’t really bring himself to care.

“- and Master Yoda said if I trust the Force then of course you’d find me or I’d find you and Master Mace, he’s really a lot nicer than I thought he’d be, said that if th’Force brought me here t’help you then of course we were gonna be together and I almost gave up because I’ve been lookin’ for months and that’s forever and you weren’t here, then I worried you wouldn’t know me, but I listen’d to Master Yoda and he was right, you came, you came, you came!”

In his arms Anakin Skywalker is talking a mile a minute. In the Force the bond glows bright and strong, dancing with happiness and contentment, eager to establish itself now that it’s complete.

“Obi-Wan? Why are you crying? I’m sorry. I jus’ wanted t’make you happy.”

Oh. Those are tears, aren’t they? Obi-Wan sniffles, and loosens an arm long enough to wipe them away. “I promise, I’m not sad, Ani. I’m so very, very glad to see you.” He encloses his arms around the child, Force he’s small, once more, buries his face in blond hair, and pulls him in tight.

Anakin’s real.

#Hello Again #Star Wars #Time travel au #Obi-Wan Kenobi #Anakin Skywalker #Quinlan Vos