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writing-is-thorapy · 2 years

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Deadcember Day 5: Five Stages of Grief

This one is dedicated to my amazing friend and Girlboss Supreme, @stolen-pen-name23! Her writing is wonderful and her characterization of our favorite Disaster Trio is always on point, so please go check out her work!!! I know I'm cutting it close, but happy birthday, Katie, and I hope you enjoy!! ❤️

Denial

Ahsoka and Rex have been traveling together for about 3 months, never staying in one place for too long, taking odd jobs to support themselves, and avoiding the Empire at all costs.

They never talk about what they left behind.

They’re huddled around a campfire. Sometimes it feels like they’re back in the Cl—back Before, back when everything was normal, or as normal as one could get during a galactic civil war. Other times, the deaths hang heavily between them, stealing the words from their mouths.

Today is a heavy day.

Ahsoka stares into the fire while Rex examines his helmet by the flickering light, his eyes haunted. The wind blows through the trees, howling in despair.

She feels more restless than ever, as if she’s about to burst. In such cases, she would usually meditate, but… she hasn’t done so ever since Order 66, too afraid of what she might find—or not find.

But a small voice insider her needs to know, needs to see for herself.

So Ahsoka closes her eyes, breathes deep, and leaps, falling, falling, falling…

There’s nothing.

It’s just… black.

She searches desperately for a sign, a small twinkle or spark.

She’s alone.

The abyss presses down, closing in on all sides, and she reaches for Anakin and Obi-Wan and Master Plo and Master Yoda and Master Secura but none of them answer, none of them take her outstretched hand. Her pleas remain unanswered as the dark continues to spread snd grabs her, stealing her breath and her light and dragging her down and down and down and—

“—soka!”

Ahsoka gasps, frantically looking around.

The fire is out. Rex has his hands on her shoulders, and she can just make out the worried look on his face.

The suffocating dark is gone.

It’s just her. Just her and Rex.

She looks at Rex.

“They’re all gone,” she chokes out as her eyes burn. “They’re all gone, Rex.”

She collapses into him and he holds her close.

Just her and Rex, alone in the dark.

Anger

Darth Vader is angry—well, angrier than usual.

The Rebels were being difficult, and far more elusive than usual. And what’s more, they had Jedi on their side, Jedi that escaped his grasp for far too long.

What’s more, his Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan is alive.

He thought her dead after their bond snapped, had thought her to be an unfortunate victim of Order 66. After discovering her lightsaber buried in the ice and snow, surrounded by helmets bearing her mark and the remains of a Venator, he was sure of it.

But then he had sensed her during the space battle, had brushed her familiar presence.

Ahsoka, like everyone else, betrayed him. She left him, just like Obi-Wan and Padmé and the rest of the Jedi.

She will not leave him again, Vader decides. She will not have the chance.

Bargaining

The last time she saw Anakin—Darth Vader, now, her brain reminds her—she had been rushing off to Mandalore he was going to Coruscant. His hair had been longer and he looked stressed and tired but he had been happy. The war had been coming to a close, and they would’ve been together again.

And then everything fell apart.

Ahsoka would do anything to go back, to make him promise her to stay, to hug him and tell him she loved him.

There are many things she would redo, given the chance. But such matters are far beyond her control.

Vader speaks, his voice harsh, deep, and resonant.

“We need not be adversaries,” he declares. “The Emperor will show you mercy, if you tell me where the remaining Jedi can be found.”

This can’t be Anakin, Ahsoka decides. Anakin would know she would never give up so easily. Anakin would never commit such heinous crimes.

But then she’s standing across from him—his familiar scar more evident than ever against his unfamiliar ashen complexion, his familiar eyes glowing an unfamiliar yellow—and can’t deny it any longer.

Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader.

How could a man so full of love become so hateful, so cruel? But she knows the answer to that, she recognizes. She’s seen the extremes he will go to protect those that he loves, remembers the warnings from Mortis.

She remains, even as the temple walls begin to close, even as Ezra shouts for her—Ahsoka is nothing if not a product of her Master’s teachings, attachments and all.

The last time she left him, something went terribly wrong, something that led to the creation of the—the monster that stands before her.

“I won’t leave you,” she insists. “Not this time.”

Anakin Vader stares, the sound of his respirator filling the space between them.

His eye narrows. “Then you will die,” he declares, the condemnation punctuated by the sound of his lightsaber, which paints his face like blood.

The temple wall shuts with resounding finality, blocking out Ezra’s cries.

He bears down on her with his lightsaber, strike after strike of brute strength and skill, his relentless single-mindedness unrecognizable.

He really is trying to kill her, Ahsoka realizes with an unwelcome spike of fear.

He slashes at her, scoring a shallow cut on her left arm. She bites back a groan as the pain brings her to her knees.

“Remember when you promised that you would never let anyone hurt me? Remember, Anakin?”

He stops. His lightsaber lowers, just a bit.

There’s silence.

“Anakin Skywalker died long ago.” He snarls, bringing his weapon up once more.

Darth Vader strikes without hesitation.

Depression

Sometimes, Darth Vader wishes he could cry, wishes he could scream his pain and fury for the entire galaxy to hear, wishes he could bring the Emperor to his knees.

But he knows his place, knows his title as Second-in-Command is nothing more than a thinly-veiled farce, knows he is little more than a dog on a leash that pretends he is in control.

His hands are drenched with blood, forever marred and stained, his crimes unforgivable.

All of his friends, his family—his mother, Padmé, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Rex, the Jedi, his troops—they all left him, nearly all of them dead because of him.

He yearns for a family, a home—both things he knows he doesn’t deserve. Families are for men, not monsters. He cannot wallow, cannot be weak. His anger fuels him, fuels his power and resolve. He focuses on that.

Darth Vader does not have regrets—but Anakin Skywalker has plenty.

Acceptance

The war is over.

Well, mostly over. There’s still a lot of clean-up to do, and they still need to establish a new government and rid the galaxy of any remaining imperials and—

Ahsoka stops. Takes a deep breath. Enjoys the new sense of serenity within the Force, the sense of Balance.

All around her, rebels and ewoks alike celebrate the Emperor’s defeat, the destruction of the second Death Star, and…

And the death of Darth Vader.

A small part of her is relieved, sure, but for the most part…

She removes herself from her tumultuous emotions, setting them aside to be dealt with later.

As she strides through the celebrations, searching for Rex, she notices a pillar of smoke deeper within the forest, far removed from the festivities. The Force nudges her towards it, and she obeys.

It does not take long for Ahsoka to reach her destination. As she steps closer to the small clearing, her Force signature heavily shielded and steps light, she notices a short, blond human dressed in black stands before… what looks to be a pyre. He is young, but strong with the Force.

“What are you doing out here?” She asks, stepping out into the open behind him. The individuals jolts, whipping around to face her, a hand on the lightsaber that is clipped to his belt. She holds up her arms, showing that she means no harm.

The man sighs, his hand falling away from his belt.

“Sorry, you scared me,” he says bashfully. He tilts his head, considering. “I could ask the same of you.”

“I saw the smoke and came to investigate.”

“Why? No one else has, even though I’m sure others have seen it.”

Ahsoka hesitates, unwilling to readily reveal her Force sensitivity to a stranger. “Let’s just call it… intuition.”

“Are you… a Jedi?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I don’t know. A feeling, I guess, In the Force.”

“I… used to be.” He must sense her pure intentions, for he accepts her answer with a nod.

“Well, you can join me, if you want.”

She nods, stepping forward and standing next to him. In the flickering light, she thinks he almost looks like—

No. It’s simply because he’s on her mind.

She rips herself away from the memories and focuses instead on the boy beside her. He shines brightly in the Force, almost as bright as—

Stop.

She forces herself to talk, to take her mind off of… him.

“I’m Ahsoka, by the way. Ahsoka Tano.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ahsoka. I’m Luke Skywalker.”

…Well, she muses, I guess my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.

She shakes herself out of her shock.

“Was… do you know Anakin Skywalker?”

Luke smiles sadly. “He was my father. Did… did you know him?”

She stares at the flames as they flicker and dance. “A long time ago, yes.”

“Do you know what happened to him?”

She looks at him, alarmed. His expression is not curious; it is sad, resigned.

“Yes.”

“That’s him,” Luke gestures to the pyre. “He… he saved me. When the Emperor was… about to kill me, it was Anakin Skywalker that saved my life, not Darth Vader. He came back, in the end.”

Force, Anakin. She smiles, shaking her head. “I was always told that once you succumbed to the Dark Side, it’s impossible to come back. But if anyone could do the impossible, it’s him.” Her eyes burn.

“Thank you, Luke. For telling me.”

He inclines his head. “Of course. It seems like he meant a lot to you. I can… give you a minute. I should probably find Han and Leia, anyway.”

“Thank you.” Luke takes one last, lingering look at the pyre and begins to walk away.

“Oh, Ahsoka!” He calls. She turns towards him. “Could you maybe tell me about him? Later?”

She stares at him, at this boy who shines like the sun, who looks so much like Anakin and yet is the embodiment of the Light, of good.

“I would be honored.”

Luke smiles brightly and disappears into the forest.

Ahsoka turns back towards the pyre and exhales, her grief spiraling into the air, mingling with the smoke and the flames and dissipating into the starry sky above.

#deadcember2021 #my writing #day 5 #star wars #ahsoka tano #anakin skywalker #darth vader #luke skywalker makes a lil' cameo #I continue to post these out of order #Sorry #some dialogue taken from rebels and tcw #this turned out longer than I thought it would #I've always wanted to write Ahsoka and Luke meeting and now I finally have!!!

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squidsponge · 3 years

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Dear Filoni, I'd like to request at least one cathartic moment, can you give me that?

I'm genuinely a bit heartbroken about the depiction of Rex and his interactions with the Bad Batch - specifically the lack thereof with Echo.

Unlike the rest of the Bad Batch, both Rex and Echo grew up with their brothers and batchmates, fought and died beside them, and it took a deep toll on them. They cared deeply to and were fiercely loyal to each other.

Echo was Fives were inseparable and Fives was killed by a brother - because he discovered the secret that could have spared their hundreds of thousands of their brothers from a fate worse than death, trapped in their bodies in absolute horror while committing atrocities they would otherwise never commit, being reduced to numbers instead of individuals and being forced to watch until their deaths.

Was it too much to ask for them to have had a 30 second scene with Rex and Echo privately discussing what happened to Fives and non-verbally shown how this has effected them?

This is my ultimately my problem with The Bad Batch. Echo simply walking past his mind controlled brothers on Kamino like it was an average Tuesday, seeing them in unpainted armor while on the run, having grown up as a 'reg' with thousands of brothers, when he knew that he and his brothers WERE all individuals and something horrific has been done to them.

This episode solidified for me that Echo being included in The Bad Batch show was a significant mistake. They've eliminated his past, his opportunities for moments of growth, internal struggle, leaving the writers with little to work with. This is why people find him to be underutilized and hardly more than a living, breathing sassy astromech.

The rest of the original Bad Batch were insular from the beginning and looked down on Echo's brothers, making it make sense that in a show centered around them, they are unaffected.

One of TCW's greatest strengths was the clones loyalty and love for each other - notable examples:

Their horror at being tricked maliciously into killing their brothers on Umbara

Them viewing Slick's betrayal as inconceivable - not because he betrayed the republic, but because he betrayed his brothers

Torrent Company being unable to execute Fives and Jesse under orders

The 332nd battalion, including Jesse not batting an eye at crashing the venator, killing them all abruptly broke Rex's heart

Rex dragging a team of clones and a jedi to Skako Minor, at the risk of his reputation on the chance that Echo was still alive

The coruscant guard - ordered to kill Fives, being devastated by his death, in spite of likely being unacquainted

The shows could not be more dissimilar and at this point, I think cameos from major TCW does their characters a major disservice.

#salty af #fives deserved better #tbb spoilers #tbb #tbb critical #echo deserved better #rex deserved better #the bad batch #clone wars #captain rex #arc trooper echo #rex is better than no rex at all #star wars #spoilers #ahsoka is still with rex #and you can't tell me otherwise

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eyayah-oya · 3 years

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Do Not Touch My Vod’e

Cloneship Week - Dragons - @cloneshipweek

Kix/Coric (background Cody/Rex, Fives/Echo, Waxer/Boil)

Rating: T

Warnings: some violence but no one really gets hurt, Krell, Umbara

Ao3 link

More ideas for world-building on Ao3. SEND ME ASKS ABOUT THIS AU! I MIGHT CONTINUE THIS ONE!

There were Mandalorian legends that spoke of the terrible power dragons possessed. They were the protectors of Mandalore, long ago, blessed by the Manda and the Ka’ra to bring peace to their people. The gift was passed down from Mand’alor to Mand’alor through the millennia until the people of Mandalore began to die out. The dragons were hunted down and killed, deemed to dangerous to be kept alive by politicians driven by their greed and fear. Legends told of the beskar mines on Concordia, Concord Dawn, and Mandalore were the remnants of the hearts of the dragons as a final way to protect the people they loved. The beskar was valuable, and the significance of the metal was destroyed along with the culture of Mandalore, save for a very few who still strived to adhere to The Way.

Jango Fett was one of the last Mand’alore to guide and protect The Way of the Mandalore. The Last Dragon, the Jedi Killer, the Forgotten Mand’alor. His people fell, and Jango himself disappeared.

Nearly twenty years later, Jango was found, and so was his legacy. The Jedi had no idea what they were placed in command of when they met the clones of Jango Fett. The Manda and the Ka’ra gave Mandalore a final chance. A chance to survive and to thrive once again. Millions of clones possessed the same gift that had been given to the Mand’alore of the past. Their blood was red, but their hearts were lined with beskar, graced with courage, and filled with love for their brothers and their Jedi.

Thousands of clones were killed as the war progressed, dying for people that refused to care for their lives, and often beside the Jedi that recognized the beauty of their souls. They died and painted whole planets with their blood, protected only by a pale mimicry of true beskar armor or their own scales.

The clones, referred to as Vod’e by each other and their precious Jedi Generals (though not every General cared about their troops), rarely shifted from their smaller, more vulnerable forms into their dragon bodies. The Kaminoans hadn’t realized what they had created, as no vod ever shifted in front of them, but Jango saw. And he trained the Alphas, who then taught their little brothers about their heritage and their sacred duty. But since so few people knew the true nature of the clones, the Venators were not built to suit their needs. Battlefields were dangerous, with injured brothers and very squishable Jedi underfoot.

Kix, however, was ready to turn into a dragon. The anger in his heart resonated in the hearts of his brothers and in the fabric of the universe itself. Kix could feel the despair, pain, and heartache in the air surrounding his brothers, accompanied by the bitter taste of their fury. They had all been betrayed, and the one who sought to harm them could not be allowed to roam free.

“Waxer, send out two of your scouts along with two of my men to send a message to General Kenobi. Use whatever means necessary to communicate with him as soon as possible, including flying,” Rex instructed. “Dogma, Shiver, you go with them and report to the General. Do not leave any of Krell’s actions out. The General needs to know it all. Understood troopers?”

“Sir, yes sir!” Dogma and Shiver saluted before shifting and taking off into the dark Umbaran sky. The four dragons flew away at top speed, obviously taking Rex’s words to heart.

“Captain, what about the rest of us?” Tup asked.

Rex bared his teeth. “We’re going to relieve that demagolka of duty and leave him for the Jedi.” There were several loud protests, many brothers itching to tear Krell apart for his crimes, but Kix understood why Rex had ordered them to capture but not kill the traitor. “I refuse to let another brother be harmed because of Krell’s actions and that’s what will happen if we kill him. There are far too many nat-borns who despise and fear us, that they will use any reason they have to hurt us or kill us. I will not allow that to happen.”

Kix straightened his spine, absorbing the Captain’s determination and anger as his own, and he noticed many others doing the same.

“We’re with you, Rex,” Waxer said, coming to stand at Rex’s right shoulder. Kix took his place on his Captain’s left, as he was the highest-ranking officer in the contingent of 501st soldiers that had been sent to stop Umbarans wearing clone armor. The only reason Krell’s plan failed was the inherent knowledge within nearly all clones of the whereabouts of their brothers. They’d all sensed the 212th before they’d ever spotted the distinct white and gold armor. The Manda and Ka’ra saved them with the gift they had all been given.

Rex’s eyes flash gold in the dim Umbaran light, lit with a fire inside that would consume worlds if allowed to be unleashed. A rippling, tearing growl began low in his chest and the call was taken up by every other vod with them. All around the three leaders of the two platoons, brothers tightened their grips on their blasters and released savage snarls and ferocious roars. The anger, hate, and determination, all fueled by the powerful love for their fallen brothers filled the space around them, so thick, Kix could barely breathe through the emotions battering against his defenses.

The Vod’e were going hunting.

Kix let loose his own feral grin, the dragon deep inside of him slamming against his mental shields, anxious to be free of the chains that kept him locked tightly inside. Never before had Kix felt the overwhelming desire to utterly destroy a single being nor a single planet before. Everything about Umbara set his every nerve on edge the longer he remained on the planet. Not even Geonosis, both times he had been deployed to that planet, jarred his mind this much. Kix needed to let his dragon out of his cage and release him on the world.

“You can back out of this at any time until we confront Krell,” Rex cautioned the vod’e. “You will not face any repercussions if you choose to stay out of his arrest. I do have to warn you, however, you might have to face heavy and severe consequences from the Senate and the GAR if you do choose to help. We are going to relieve a Jedi and a General from his posting, which counts as high treason within the Republic.”

Not a single vod stepped back. Not a single one of them wavered in their determination, though there were many spikes of fear. They all knew what would happen if they were sent back to Kamino. But their courage didn’t waver despite the fear coursing through their veins. Kix had never been so proud of his brothers than in that moment.

“Any further questions?” Rex asked after a minute of silence.

“I have something to say.” Kix stepped forward. “Your forms, as they are now, will not hold up against lightsabers. If this turns into a fight, which I believe it will, shift immediately. It will take a lot more for Krell to kill you or even chop off a limb if you are dragons and we will have the advantage of size, our claws, tails, and fire. Use them.”

“Excellent advice, Kix,” Waxer grinned and saluted him. “Stay alive, boys! The General and the Commander will be coming, and we’ve got to be there to greet them when they arrive.”

Rex looked around the vod’e one more time and nodded. He put his helmet on and stepped forward, a fist raised in the air. “OYA VOD’E!” he cried.

“OYA!”

As the vod’e entered the airbase, Kix felt the cold numbness he’d felt around Krell from the beginning spread over his mind once again. Appo and Coric shared a hushed conversation with Rex, Waxer, and Kix, who quickly briefed them on the situation and their plans. Kix watched as his own fury was echoed on his riduur’s face, infuriated at the way their brothers had been treated. As medics, they took their oaths very seriously, and this campaign had worn on both Kix and Coric the longer it had progressed.

“Let me get this straight,” Appo said. “We’ve been sent on suicidal marches with the worst battle tactics I’ve ever seen, you were threatened with Krell’s lightsaber and so was Fives, two of our brothers were nearly executed for saving the entire campaign while a third is currently trapped in space with no way to communicate with us, and Krell attempted to have Nabat and Torrent kill each other?”

“Yes, Appo,” Rex said, voice tight with carefully controlled anger. “That’s a good summary.”

Coric snarled viciously, his eyes shining golden and a warm orange glow building in his chest. “Can we roast him alive?” he growled. Kix automatically reached out to Coric in his mind and soothed the flickering fire until it was less likely to consume him.

“No, but we are going to arrest him. You don’t have to join us,” Rex explained.

“Like kark we’re not going to be right beside you when you confront that hu’tuun! We’re with you, sir. All the way,” Appo declared, his fire blue and solid and a steady rock for Rex to lean against. Coric’s only answer was to pull his helmet back on and ready his blaster.

“Good. Inform your men of what happened while I go free Jesse and Fives from the brig. Anyone who wants to help is welcome. Anyone who doesn’t should stay in the barracks so they don’t get caught in the crossfire in case this turns bad,” Rex instructed. His gaze softened slightly. “I’m glad you’re both with me on this,” he said softly.

It hit Kix, then, exactly how much their Captain had been dealing with on this campaign, largely on his own. Neither Kix nor Fives had helped much, constantly challenging his orders and especially with Fives getting into trouble with Krell multiple times. Rex had stood alone against the battering ram of Krell, the only defense between the demagolka and his little brothers. Kix swore to take care of the Captain once they were free of the stains of Umbara and flying far away from this hell planet.

Rex, Appo, and Waxer split off to discuss a few strategies and how they wanted to set up the men that decided to help them relieve Krell of his duty. Kix, however, immediately found himself pressed up against Coric’s hard armor, their helmets banging together harder than they usually did.

“How are you?” Coric said as soft as his vocoder would allow.

“Alive,” Kix answered. “Everything else will have to wait until after we stop Krell.”

Coric sighed heavily. “I know, but I wish it didn’t. You could have died so many times in the last two days, and I wasn’t even there to help. I couldn’t save you and I couldn’t save any of our vod’ikase!”

Kix closed his eyes and allowed Coric’s despair to wash over him, joining his own as they tucked it close to their hearts to deal with later. No medic, no vod ever wanted to be kept on the sidelines of a battle, especially when their vod’e were calling for help. Kix knew if their places had been exchanged, he would have had a hard time not going to help his little brothers, regardless of what Krell had ordered.

“Ni su’cuyi, gar kyr’adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum,” Kix murmured and tapped his helmet against Coric’s.

“Nu kyr’adyc, shi taab’echaaj’la,” Coric finished. “We will remember their lives and their deaths. None shall be forgotten.”

“If Krell attacks, don’t take any chances,” Kix ordered. He didn’t fear for himself, but he feared for his vod’e and especially his riduur. He couldn’t lose Coric, not so soon after everything that had already happened. “Shift. Tell the others to shift. Don’t let him get close to you and don’t let him hurt you.” “Only if you do the same.” Coric shook his head. “You’re going up there with Rex and probably Fives and Jesse, aren’t you?”

It was a question that didn’t really need an answer. Kix needed to see that cha’kaar brought to justice. Coric would watch the vod’ikase on the ground while Kix kept an eye on those in the tower.

“I’ll come back to you. Haat, ijaa, haa’it,” Kix swore. Manda forgive him if this was the one promise he wouldn’t be able to keep.

“You better,” Coric said. He gripped Kix’s shoulders as best as he could through the armor. “K’oyacyi, ner kar’ta.”

“K’oyacyi, ner runi.”

Coric gave him one last tap of the helmet before he turned to follow Appo to brief the rest of the 501st on the situation. Rex appeared at Kix’s elbow, eyes soft and warm, despite the exhaustion nearly dousing his flame. Only his anger was keeping the Captain on his feet at the moment.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

Kix nodded. “Let’s go free our brothers and arrest that hu’tuun!”

“Oya,” Rex responded with a grin. “Tup, Waxer, with me.”

Fives and Jesse were rightfully angry, the heart of their raging infernos readily visible on their chests through their blacks. The soft, grey-blue of Fives’s fire (Kix still wasn’t used to seeing the accompanying navy of Echo’s flame) burned brighter than he’d seen since that fateful mission to the Citadel. Jesse was more subdued, but the dusky red pulsed to the rhythm of his heart and the determination of Waxer and Rex. They practically demanded to be there when Rex confronted Krell.

As expected, the arrest did not go as planned. Some of the vod’e attempted to get closer to try to stun the fallen Jedi before he could pull out his lightsabers, but they were easily pushed to the edges of the tower room. That was when Krell pulled out his lightsabers and ignited all four blades.

“You cannot defeat a Jedi. I will not be undermined by any animal grown in a lab. You’re nothing and you have no power!” Krell roared. He whirled the lightsabers around threateningly, preventing any vod from getting too close and deflecting their stun shots.

“Don’t get close!” Kix shouted at some of the troopers who had tried to sneak up on the Jedi. They leapt back in time to avoid getting cut in half, but it had been too close. “Rex! We need Plan B!”

“Fives, Waxer, Kix, on me! The rest of you, get out, however you can!” Rex ordered. Immediately, the younger vod’e left, guided by Jesse, though his reluctance cut through the room like a vibroblade. However, Rex was entrusting the safety of their vod’ikase to Jesse, and the recently promoted Lieutenant would not let their Alor’ad down. Jesse would keep them safe and alert Appo and Coric of the situation.

Kix breathed a bit easier when there weren’t as many vod’e around to get killed by Krell. But it also made those who had stayed easier targets. Krell’s mocking laugh cut deep into Kix’s chest, attempting to douse the fire in his heart.

“What can four clones do against me? I have the Force, and you are nothing!” Krell scoffed indignantly.

Without needing any hand signals, the four vod’e spread out, blocking all paths Krell might try to take.

“General Krell, do you confess to committing treason against the Republic and sabotaging your own troops and the success of the war?” Rex demanded.

“Of course, Captain.” The way Krell said Rex’s rank slid against his nerves like thick, black, oily sludge. “Count Dooku has promised to show me the pathway to immense power. The Jedi have been blinded for too long, and my eyes have been opened for me. The Dark side is not evil, but liberating from the constrictions the Jedi have enforced for millennia.”

“Then you are under arrest, General Krell. For the last time, comply with the order!”

Krell snarled and threw Rex against the wall with a wave of his hand. Hard. Kix swallowed down bile at the audible crunch he’d heard.

“I do not take orders from clones,” Krell snarled.

Waxer stepped forward and took the lead. He seamlessly shifted into his long, lithe form, orange scales clashing against the blue-green glow of Krell’s sabers. The frills around his shoulders fluttered angrily, flashing red and orange and black, instead of the usual pink or purple. With a thunderous roar, he called to Fives and Kix, both of whom were quick to respond.

Reaching deep within himself, past the connection to his brothers and the world around him, Kix cupped his fire in the palms of his hands and let it flicker and build until it engulfed his entire body. Unlike the other vod’e who were left in the tower, Kix’s fire burned white, hot with his anger and ferocious determination to love and save as many of his brothers as he could. His fire was the pure essence of his soul, nurtured from the time he was in the gestation tube and coaxed to life when he’d been decanted. And now, it reenergized him. The dragon roared approval, as Kix opened his mouth to echo Waxer’s call.

With white scales, usually shimmering a light silver, Kix stretched his paws and extended his claws. Coric had once described his dragon form as a scaled nexu, with the powerful legs, long, thin tail, and pointed ears atop his head. He didn’t have any hair like some Vod’e, but instead had jagged ridges around the crown of his head that could be folded back when he wasn’t actively in battle. Kix’s eyes always shifted from their usual light honey color to a disturbing pure white. There were no pupils, no irises, just unsettling white.

Kix crouched down to the ground, all four legs tightly coiled and ready to launch himself at the disgusting Jedi. Now that his senses had been extended beyond the near-human capabilities, he could smell the rot coming from the Jedi that he assumed was the Dark side. It was thick and pungent with overwhelming hate. The crystals within Krell’s lightsabers screamed with an awful, wailing agony that jangled every nerve Kix had in his body. He’d once heard General Kenobi explain how the Sith got their red lightsabers, and now, he understood what he’d meant by “bleeding” the crystals.

Across from Kix, Fives stood in his majestic glory. He was one of the biggest dragons Kix had ever seen in a standard CT. The only Vod’e who were larger were the CCs and the Alphas. His snout snorted out a stream of blue plasma, singeing the floor by his large, clawed paws. The beautiful wings, last seen on Rishi, were folded against his body, tucked close to keep out of the way of those awful lightsabers. With blue eyes that “held the galaxy” as Echo used to say, fixated on Krell, watching his every twitch of muscle.

Waxer roared and spat a pillar of burning-red liquid fire towards the dar’jetti, keeping his focus away from the downed Captain. Krell let out a loud cry and desperately flung the fire away from him and towards Fives. Unfortunately for Krell, the fire simply dripped off of Fives’s fireproof scales and onto the floor where it immediately began to melt the durasteel.

[You will stand down, Krell! It’s over!] Waxer growled. His voice reverberated through every mind in the room, a rushing warmth for the Vod’e and a low, grating gravel in Krell’s.

“You cannot beat me!” Krell cried desperately. He ran towards Kix, the smallest of the shifted dragons in the room, and swung both lightsabers at his head.

Without hesitation, Kix leaned back on his hind paws and grabbed the lightsaber blades, a bone-shattering scream of fury raging through his chest and out his open mouth. Neither saber so much as singed his paws, and Kix stretched his lips wide over his sharp fangs in a snarl.

Kix wrinkled his nose as the dar’jetti’s foul stench filled his nostrils. He could feel how cold and achingly empty Krell was more poignantly than ever before, and for a moment, Kix nearly impaled him on his own sabers. Instead, he just jerked them from Krell’s hands and crushed the handles until they were completely unusable. The kyber crystals’ screams gentled down to soft whimpers now that they wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone else and Kix nodded in satisfaction.

Fives swept out an enormous paw and batted Krell into the wall. In a fit of desperation, Krell attempted to push Fives away from him using the Force, but absolutely nothing happened. None of them so much as twitched, even though Kix could practically see the Force being forced to Krell’s will. As soon as the power reached Fives, it parted around him, leaving him completely untouched.

“What is happening?!” Krell screamed in rage. He tried to fight against Fives’s hold on him, but it was useless against the bulky weight of the dragon.

[Get Rex,] Fives ordered, jerking his head towards the softly groaning Captain.

Kix immediately pounced across the room, avoiding the hole Waxer’s fire had melted into the ground. He nudged the Captain’s leg, reaching out to the Manda to feel if Rex had any significant injuries. He’d heard a crack, so he knew something was wrong, but not what had broken.

“I’m fine, Kix,” Rex grumbled. “Cracked my pauldron. He knocked me unconscious, but other than that, I’m uninjured.”

Kix huffed. [I’ll believe that when I can get you into a real medbay. Fives subdued Krell and we managed without any fatalities or injuries. Waxer’s fire melted the floor, though, so don’t fall down the hole.]

“Noted,” Rex said as he pushed himself to his feet. Kix pressed against him to support him on the way up, watching carefully for any sign of dizziness or disorientation. But he truly was fine.

“You will pay for this, clone!” Krell shouted. “I should have executed you myself!”

[Sir, you might want to shift. Krell is still dangerous,] Kix suggested once he was sure Rex could keep himself steady.

“I’ve got some binders. Do we have any force-suppressing ones?”

[I do,] Waxer answered. [With how many times General Kenobi has fought Ventress or Dooku, we started carrying them in case we could capture them. One of my men gave me their’s so we’d have enough to secure Krell properly.] Stepping away from the growling and struggling dar’jetti, Waxer shifted back to his more vulnerable form and pulled out two sets of force-suppressing cuffs. He handed them to Rex and then readied his blaster. “He probably won’t be able to do anything with Fives holding him down like that, but I’ll cover you just in case, sir. Figured you’d want the honors since he’s hurt your men the most.”

Rex nodded gratefully at the Lieutenant and snapped the binders over Krell’s wrists. Only then did Fives step away, huffing a hot breath over the Jedi in disgust. He turned and nudged Rex with his snout, a little harder than he probably meant, to check on him.

“I’m alright, Fives,” Rex grumbled and patted the dragon on the nose. “Let’s just get Krell down to the brig and let the rest of the men know what happened. My bucket was recording the whole thing, so I got his confession for the GAR and the Council to review as evidence of Krell’s betrayal.”

[Smart thinking, Cap,] Fives said. [Come on, I’ll give you a lift down. I haven’t been able to stretch my wings in ages.]

While Rex and Fives were focused on each other, Waxer shifted back to his dragon form and opened his mouth to blow a stream of his fire at the viewport. They watched it melt immediately and drip down towards the ground. [Kix and I are smaller. We can take the lift down and put Krell in the brig,] Waxer offered.

Kix nodded and only stopped to pick up the smashed lightsabers. Maybe the Jedi would be able to help the crystals heal. They didn’t deserve to be hurt like that, and there was no better place for them to get better than the Jedi Temple. Together, he and Waxer wrangled Krell into the brig until finally he was secured.

[I’ll guard him for now. Have Rex set up a rotation to come relieve me. I need to check on some of my men.]

[Yes, sir,] Kix said with a nod of his head. They all had plenty to do in the hours to come and little time to rest, regardless of how much they all needed it.

Kix wasn’t paying attention when General Kenobi arrived on the airbase with the rest of the 212th, nearly fourteen hours later. He did notice when a cute kitten-like dragon pounced on Waxer’s back and woke the Lieutenant up from his nap.

[Wooley?] Waxer groaned. [What’re you doin’ here?]

[We’re your support!] Wooley chirped. [Though it looks like you’ve got everything handled here.] He curled up against Waxer’s side, nuzzling along the underside of his jaw. It was ridiculously cute, and Kix wished he could take a holo for Waxer.

“The General’s talking to Captain Rex and the Commander,” Boil reported as he arrived at a much more sedate pace than the little dragon Waxer was now curled around in a tight hug. Or what counted for a hug as dragons. “Ona and Rye told us what happened when you met up in the jungle.”

Waxer huffed out a snorting laugh, nearly blowing out a stream of fire as he did so. [I’m fine, you worry-wart. We had a tiny skirmish with the Umbarans, but they quickly decided to give up when they saw the base was being held by a hoard of dragons. We’re all okay. You can sit down and rest for a bit. Or better yet, shift and come cuddle Wooley and I.]

Wooley chirped a cheerful agreement from where he was nearly completely buried by Waxer’s long tail.

With only a put-upon glare as a protest, Boil shifted into his dragon form, about the same size as Waxer’s but a bit stockier in build, better for ramming into things than slithering through tiny spaces. His burnt orange scales complimented Waxer’s own bright orange. Once shifted, he shook himself over once, folded up his wings, and curled up at Waxer’s back. Immediately, the frills along Waxer’s shoulders turned lovely shades of pink and purple, accenting his warm, violet eyes.

Kix observed the three of them for a moment before deciding that the cluster of three was better left alone for now. Instead, he went in search of his own riduur. Coric had left his side sometime while Kix was asleep, and was probably either in the makeshift medbay—big enough for both medics to fit into as dragons—or combing the battlefields for any more survivors.

It didn’t take long to find him, and surprisingly, he was reporting to Commander Cody and General Kenobi. The Commander hadn’t shifted, but from the way the medium-ish sized dragon was draped across his back, it wouldn’t be long until he joined the rest of his men in their natural form. Rex huffed poutily at Cody’s hair, large brown eyes pleading for attention. Cody hummed soothingly for his riduur, and Rex settled down, careful to keep his sharp claws away from anything that could get ruined or would injure someone. General Kenobi looked like he desperately wanted to ask questions, but refrained for the time being.

Kix had always believed that Coric was the most beautiful dragon he’d ever seen. He was black with bioluminescent blue outlining his scales. Though every dragon was different, Coric was the only one Kix had ever met with wings like his. The wings were large and cupped, much like those pleasure gliders that civilians would use to fly without a speeder. Coric, once he was in the air, rarely had to touch down to earth to rest. He could fly for days if he needed to, much like the man himself. But it was the electric blue of his eyes that always drew Kix in. Shards of beskar silver glinted within their depths, almost hypnotizing anyone who happened to look too deeply. Kix could gaze into them for hours and just drift alongside his riduur’s presence in the Manda.

[From what Fives and Jesse reported, Hardcase was still alive directly after the explosion. He shifted right before the explosion and must have curled into a hibernation ball,] Coric reported.

“A hibernation ball?” General Kenobi asked.

Commander Cody nodded. “As dragons, we’re able to curl ourselves into a ball with our head and most vulnerable parts inside and the rest of our bodies covered in an impenetrable armor. When in hibernation, a vod doesn’t need to breathe as much as we do in a fight or as humans. And we can go a lot longer without food or water. As long as someone can get to him soon, he’ll recover just fine.”

[Tup found what was jamming our communicators. Krell had rigged it up to block all calls within a zone of thirty clicks from the airbase. That’s why Nabat couldn’t contact you earlier. He removed the jammer, and we contacted Commander Tano in orbit to send someone to retrieve Hardcase,] Rex said, refusing to budge from his spot against the Commander’s back.

Kix stepped in before any of them could continue. [Pardon me, General, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to borrow these three for the next few hours.]

Commander Cody raised an eyebrow while the General ran a hand across his mouth. “And why, pray tell, do you need to borrow these three?” General Kenobi asked.

[Because Rex hasn’t slept in nearly three days and is suffering from battel fatigue currently. Commander Cody is the best qualified to help the Captain. And I need my riduur. We’ve been through hell the past few days, General, and we all need a break.]

That sobered them all up, though Rex threw a betrayed look at Kix. But if the Captain chose to neglect his own health, then Kix was more than happy to tattle on him to the Commander. Especially as that had the added effect of coercing the Commander into taking care of himself. There was nothing Kix could do about the General’s poor health habits, as he left that squarely in Helix’s jurisdiction.

“I apologize, Kix, Cody, Rex, Coric. I should have considered your health. I need to report all of this to the Council anyway,” General Kenobi said with an apologetic bow. “I believe the call should last several hours, so feel free to take your time to check up on your men and each other.”

[Thank you, General,] Kix said and then watched as the General left them to go inside the tower to make his call. Kix turned to the other Vod’e. [I’m going to go round up a few dozen shinies, Tup, Dogma, Fives, and Jesse and we’re going to all huddle together for a few hours. No excuses, no exceptions. Manda knows we need it after everything we’ve been through on this planet.]

Rex deflated at that. [I am worried about Dogma and Jesse. They were really shaken up when I last talked to them.]

Kix gave a single nod, as though that was the outcome he’d always expected. It was the one he hoped for, but when he got into one of his moods, Rex refused to give into any suggestions regarding his continued health. And then he darted off, Coric by his side, as they went off in search of their vod’ikase. A giant pile of dragons was exactly what they all needed.

His riduur by his side was all Kix needed.

Credit for the use of Nabat Platoon to @cacodaemonia Please go check out her Reconstruction Corps AU here!

#clone/clone #kix/coric #fives/echo #cody/rex #waxer/boil #clone trooper kix #captain rex #clone trooper waxer #arc trooper fives #pong krell #umbara fix it #hardcase lives #waxer lives #cloneshipweek2021 #day 4 | dragons #cloneshipping

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siennahrobek · 3 years

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Working with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s grand padawan was…different. He had heard a lot about Skywalker and Kenobi as a team through many forms – propaganda, gossip, billboards, reports, victories, losses, campaigns. They were a popular topic. They seemed to pull off some of the most insane mission parameters and come out alive from fighting varying horrifying villains and Separatists, darksiders and Sith.

Feemor quickly figured out Ahsoka was quite a bit like Anakin Skywalker. Which sounded awful, now, knowing what he had done and what he had become, but he had meant it in a better way. At least, nothing that extreme. She was fast paced and protective with a strong sense of justice and a decent moral compass. She didn’t seem to understand some of the intricacies of governments, politics and the war effort, she cared about the people. She seemed to go back and forth between cynicism and belief in people. It was an interesting combination.

He wondered if Obi-Wan could help her smooth out some of those more high-strung tendencies.

Then again, Feemor didn’t really know Obi-Wan very well either.

Feemor and Ahsoka spent most of the evacuation helping groups of people and shuttling themselves back and forth with supplies. A few recovering 501st and a of couple Coruscant Guard had joined them on one of the trips. They had lost Rex quickly into the evacuation, before even their first trip back to Ahsoka’s ship. Luckily Feemor had spotted what had happened with him and had to quickly explain to a near panicking Ahsoka that he had simply helped a padawan carry a trooper to the medical bay for surgery when she noticed his absence. He was probably still there.

***

“Are you going to take a shuttle to Obi-Wan’s venator?” Feemor asked quietly. It was their first trip back to the 332nd venator, their shuttle piled full of supplies, clothes and other resources. A few soldiers came along with them, although huddled in the back with one another. Some of them were a little too scared to be hanging around Jedi at this point. It wouldn’t be long before everyone was packed onto the ships of Obi-Wan’s forces, ready to flee away from their brainwashed friends and the Sith wanting them dead for no other reason than existing.

“I want to,” Ahsoka replied after a hesitation. She didn’t look at him. She was piloting, Feemor had gotten the impression she wouldn’t have led him pilot, even if he had tried. “I want to see him. I want him to tell me everything is going to be okay. I have so many questions. I want him to have the answers,” she paused and glanced down. “I know he won’t.”

Feemor didn’t reply, just kept his eyes on her, soft and understanding. What did one say to that?

Ahsoka just looked up into the stars once again, determined driven into her expression. “But I should stay with the 332nd. They have been burned enough by the jedi.”

He wasn’t sure what that meant exactly, as it seemed that the 332nd, although betrayed by Skywalker by brainwashing their brothers, had been, at the very least, kept away from that horrible end. Skywalker was only one jedi. What other jedi could they have been burned by?

“Will you?” her voice was quiet and a bit sudden after the stretched silence.

“Maybe,” Feemor shrugged. “Even if I don’t the first time, it isn’t a long trip to Kamino. I need to talk to him, at some point, but I don’t think there will be a good time any moment soon,” he admitted.

The young togruta glanced at him. “You haven’t taken the moment in, what? Thirty years? You never know when you will lose the chance forever. Do it quickly, Master. Before it is too late and one of you is gone.”

***

Rex jogged up to them and silently helped pack up their shuttle. He hadn’t said a word until Feemor had tried to strike up a conversation on the ride over to the 332ndship but Rex kept his answers to a bare minimum, mostly one-word answers. His hands were nearly shaking.

“I saw General Kenobi,” Rex barely muttered out while in the cockpit with Ahsoka and Feemor. The latter figured he was probably talking with her. “He seemed mostly uninjured. It was a little hard to tell because his robes were so dirty. He was wearing his old armor.”

It was the most Feemor had heard Rex speak at that point.

“Is that so. What did you talk about?” Ahsoka’s voice was almost disconnected, like she was talking through a machine. She didn’t sound interested even though Feemor was fairly certain she was.

She didn’t meet his eyes but that didn’t stop the captain from staring at her. He chose his words carefully. “Feelings, mostly.”

“Did you talk about… you know…”

Rex paused and looked away. “Some. You should probably talk about it with him yourself. I think it would do both of you some good.”

Feemor suspected they could make one more trip after this before the evacuation was complete. The end of the conversation was clear.

***

They had done several trips back and forth but this last one, was alone with only supplies in their cargo bay. They had brought up a few clones but not many, most had wanted to stay with the rest of the 501st, many of which still recovering from short surgeries.

He didn’t know how the conversation came up, but he knew why. Ahsoka cared a lot about the clones, especially those under her command. It hurt her, he imagined, watching the ones she worked personally with be brainwashed by her former master. Perhaps it was that reason that she latched onto them instead of the betrayal of her old master. Feemor had his only issues with his teacher, but they paled in comparison to hers. His master just threw him away and got himself killed by a Sith. Hers became one.

She talked, rather ranted, about the unfairness of what was happening with her friends. With Commander Appo and all of the other 501st members that she cared so much about. She talked about the blindness and cowardice of the jedi, just leaving and abandoning them to the fate of a droid, to be used by the Empire for whatever means.

Feemor tried to gently remind her that the jedi were trying to save the helpless and their children. That the jedi do not currently have the numbers or the resources or a plan to rescue them all at this time.

“The jedi will come back for them,” he promised at the end, quiet and gentle. He knew it to be true, the Jedi would come back for the clones, for anyone who needed them. It was a part of their identity, to help those who couldn’t help themselves. But it was even more poignant for the clones, he knew. The Jedi would itch to help them, unwilling to leave their friends to such a fate.

“They didn’t for me.”

Her voice was strained and angry but so quiet, Feemor nearly doesn’t hear her. He understands abandonment. His own master had repudiated for something that not only wasn’t Feemor’s fault, but also something he never had any control over. It never had anything to do with him specifically, it was Xanatos who had ruined it all. And Qui-Gon’s love for Xanatos had just torn the older master apart even more.

He did not remind her that the Jedi did ask her to return.

She was just upset and mixing her feelings, much like any teenager who had been wronged, would.

“They’re just trying to survive, Ahsoka,” Feemor replied, instead. “We cannot help the clones if we are all dead.”

Ahsoka had stopped talking and stared out at the venators they passed, peacefully and ignorantly sweeping the planet, orbiting in a protective barrier, waiting for an attack that would probably never come. Her gaze had settled on one, just a little out of the way, further than the others out in the open space before she turned the controls, sharply curving them towards the ship, instead of away from it.

“Ahsoka, what are you doing?” Feemor asked warily.

The teenager didn’t answer. Instead, she turned the ship even tighter and then straightened out towards the unfamiliar venator.

“Ahsoka!” he yelped. “That is not the ship we want!”

She continued to hold her silence and no matter what Feemor says or does, she continues to fly their shuttle right toward the docking area of the larger venator. She even used the Force to push him nearly out of the chair when he tried to stop her.

“You are going to get us killed,” he hissed. “I’m sure plenty, if not all, of the Coruscant Guards have had their chips activated!”

Swallowing hand, she slowed down, now far too close to turn back now, clicking in comm codes and landing on the outskirts of the bay with a heavy thunk. The Jedi master stared at her, eyes wide.

“We need to get out of here,” he tried again but the togruta female just stood, stone faced and determined. “The rest of the Jedi are going to be leaving soon and we need to be with the 332nd so we can keep up with them.”

“We are going to take this ship,” Ahsoka announced, her tone giving no room for debate. She stood up and grabbed her sabers, marching away. Feemor sighed, running his hands along his face. This was going to be something else.

The clones, so engrossed in their chip activation, had not even noticed the unscheduled landing of an unfamiliar shuttle.

It didn’t stop Feemor from hesitating when they snuck off the ship. As they snuck down the ramp, out of sight, he glanced around. A partially crashed into the wall was a Jedi Delta-7 Interceptor, complete with a dead jedi inside, the bubble that usually encased them in the cockpit broken apart in shards. Neither of them recognized her but she was easily identified as a jedi, even from a distance. She had been shot several times; her chest riddled with blaster shots. Her gorget armor piece had helped her survive, at least until she had got to her ship, but she hadn’t gotten any farther. The engine had been shot out. Feemor hoped she died on impact; he didn’t know if her killers would have had granted her a quick death from bleeding out.

Ahsoka snarled. Feemor looked and felt sick.

A couple of the nonclone natborn officers were laughing on the balcony. The hum and although dulling light were easily distinguishable and identifiable as a lightsaber, whirling and flying through the air. They had taken her lightsaber. They had taken it and were playing with it like it was some kind of toy.

“It’s not even that they don’t care,” Ahsoka choked out, nearly in tears. “They are happy,they are glad, we are being killed off.”

Feemor noticed her use of the term we. It continued.

“We are being killed and they are celebrating…they love that we are dying, leaving our bodies to rot without care, where we are cut down. Distracting us, our ways, playing with part of our souls like children while they murder our children.”

She just cried silently.

“Come on, Ahsoka. Let’s find a place to hide and make a plan.”

***

The two of them snuck through the halls, barely keeping out of sight of the clones. With nothing in their minds, it was easy to keep their attention away. They didn’t want to see anyone – they didn’t see anyone so using a brief signal in the Force to look away was easy to the both of them.

They hid in a few closets, taking down several key troopers throughout some of the ship during their way to the bridge, stripping them of weapons and communications and giving them heavy sleep suggestions. They would be out for hours at the very least. They had talked about a plan, to take the bridge and use the natborn officers to take over the ship. Lock them all in the bridge, including Feemor and Ahsoka, which would keep the clones out but still safe. The plan hadn’t gotten much further than that.

Nearing the bridge, Feemor had pulled Ahsoka into a supply closet as several officers had passed by. To their infinite luck, the officers had stopped nearby to speak to one another, forcing the two jedi to stay in the closet until they were done with their conversation and passed out of sight.

“Master Obi-Wan will like you,” Ahsoka declared, confidently. Her voice was hushed and subdued, but it did nothing to take away from the sentiment.

“You think so?” A welcome topic for Feemor, to be sure.

“I dragged you into something random and unexpected and dangerous. You tried to talk me out of it but then, eventually, just went with it and helped me,” Ahsoka explained. “Just trust me on this one.”

***

“I kind of prefer them this way,” one of the officers noted, watching as lines of clone troopers marched, perfect and silent, down the hall. “They don’t talk, pretending to be men. They just do what they are told.”

“Without complaint,” another snickered, giving one of the clones a shove. The man sprawled to the ground, helmet smashing into the floor. He just got up and kept walking again. No one had even flinched.

Both of the officers laughed.

Ahsoka nearly burst out from their hiding place around the corner, but Feemor held her back. They were close but they couldn’t give away their position yet. It would surely get them killed.

He pulled her away, towards the bridge. They were so close.

As they got nearer, Feemor and Ahsoka dipped into an empty room to prepare. “Three guards, all clones,” Feemor reported, taking a glance in the direction. He pulled back as Ahsoka’s lightsaber snapped in her hands, unignited.

“I’m faster,” Ahsoka noted. It was true of course, if only because she was so much younger than him, but he was rather amused at her assumption of his lack of speed. He wasn’t lacking, as he had noted to himself, the only thing she had on him in terms of that was youth. “You handle the guards with sleep suggestions, and I’ll start clearing a path in the bridge.”

Feemor actually found it a tad entertaining and a bit insulting as well that she had to clarify the sleep suggestion part, as if she thought he was going to purposefully murder a couple of brainwashed clones. “We need some of them alive, Ahsoka,” he shot back.

She turned to stare at him momentarily. “Yeah. Yeah. I know.”

Taking the bridge wasn’t difficult. They didn’t see it coming and were completely unprepared for an assault by two jedi. Ahsoka had taken out the communications officer first – all of the bridge had been quickly replaced with natborns, unsurprisingly – and had nearly taken off his limbs. In the end, it hadn’t mattered. He was dead.

A few of the officers did end up dead, mostly due to Feemor and Ahsoka reflecting blaster bolts back at them. The rest had surrendered fairly quickly. Upon ordering communications throughout the ship to be blocked, Ahsoka worked on the technology part of the controls of the ship, while Feemor cuffed and herded their hostages away from said controls.

“Alright,” Feemor smiled, something wicked and cold. “This is how things are going to go. We are the leaders on the ship now. You will stay here for the duration of your stay. You will not communicate with anyone – not that you could anyways – and if you somehow do, upon someone figuring out what has happened because of it, bad things will happen. You will not let any of the clones on the bridge or tell them that we are here. Do you understand the rules?”

Everyone was rather hesitant, shooting him horrible looks but they nodded.

“Fantastic. Then, we can move along,” he turned and walked towards Ahsoka, keeping a blatant eye on their prisoners.

“Ah, Ahsoka?” he questioned. “This was great and all but now we have at least hundreds of brainwashed clones aboard. What are we going to be doing with them?”

Ahsoka just shrugged. “For now, nothing.”

Ahsoka walked towards the holotable in the middle of the bridge, Feemor trailing behind her uncertainly. She clicked in a comm code and Feemor shifted uncomfortably on the other side of the table. He couldn’t believe they had taken the ship. Keeping it, that was going to be another story. He had no idea what she had in mind; what she was going to do with this entire ship full of brainwashed clones. It wasn’t like the two of them could just take them down or something.

Jesse and Echo, if Feemor remembered correctly, popped up on the table in the blue holoform. “Commander!” Echo greeted, easily. “We were expecting you back hours ago! Is everything okay?”

“Just fine, Echo,” Ahsoka nodded, seriously. “Any word on General Kenobi’s ships and the other Jedi around?”

“Leaving quite soon sir,” Jesse responded this time. “The last couple of ships have left the planet. They will be leaving for Kamino promptly. Rex said he is going to stay with the… with the rest of the 501st, Appo isn’t doing so well.”

“We actually suggested it,” Echo butted in. The look on their faces were pained and mournful. Jesse struggled to speak again but once he started, his voice got stronger.

“What about you, where are you?”

“When are you coming?”

Ahsoka paused and took a deep breath. Feemor watched, carefully. “You go on to Kamino without us, boys,” she started.

The other two began to protest, rather vehemently. “Never sir!”

“You really think we would leave without you?”

Ahsoka nearly let out a laugh but settled for a smirk. “Don’t worry. I will meet you on our next destination. Master Feemor and I…. well, we found ourselves another ride.

#we are burning stars #we are burning stars au #order 66 #order 66 au #fix it of sorts #pro jedi fic #pro jedi #pro clone #ahsoka tano #captain rex #feemor #obi-wan kenobi #obi wan kenobi #lets save some more clones shall we?#stupid sith #sith are evil #okay just murderous horrible people #I'm bitter sorry?

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elveny · 3 years

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Day 11 - Preaching to the Choir

Thancred x Aisling, Lahabrea x Aisling | M-rated | Read on AO3

“Remember what?”

The question came from Thancred, but Lahabrea ignored him, his eyes fixed on Aisling. She barely noted how Thancred stood from the bed and pulled her with him, positioning himself so he could get between her and Lahabrea, futile as it was.

“I have called you that name since before we were bonded, and you have always loved it,” Lahabrea told Ash.

“W-what?” Ash stammered. Something about his words rang true, a long-forgotten feeling tugging at her heart.

Lahabrea came towards them, slowly, predatory, but when he extended a hand towards her, there was nothing threatening about him.

“[Sweetness], for millennia I have worked for the restoration of this star, for a chance to see you again, and yet I have never found you,” he said, every word and lilt of his voice wrapping itself around her heart.

Ash swallowed, trying to harden herself again - after all, she had managed to ignore him for days on end now - but it was near futile with the unspeakable emotions rising through her.

“Chance should dictate that I would stumble upon you at least once in that time, but as the centuries stretched into millennia, I was all but certain that She had consumed you whole. That there was not even a crumb of your soul left.”

“Liar,” Thancred growled, teeth gritted, but even he sounded unsure.

Lahabrea chuckled, but it was without humor as his eyes flicked to the man who had all but pushed himself between them.

“Believe me, I wish it were so. ‘Twould be less painful than to lose the one person you swore to save, to lose and never find again.” He looked back to Ash, his voice softening. “Not once, in all this time have I looked upon your precious face and held you. Until now.”

Ash thought she might scream at the different feelings tearing at her. She believed him, but she didn’t want to - why, why would she believe him after everything? After he had labored against them, had orchestrated the death of friends, and worked towards the very destruction of everything and everyone they tried to protect. She knew that to be true, and yet something told her that there was no lie in his words either. And a treacherous part of her just wanted to take the hand he offered. It was maddening.

“Why?” she eventually managed to say.

Lahabrea’s hand sank down, a frown appearing on his face. “Why what?” he asked.

Taking heart, Ash took a step forward towards him, Thancred a soothing presence next to her. “Why, if you treasure me so much, would you put me through so much suffering?” She could have sounded pitiful, but there was a demand behind her words that made her voice stronger than she anticipated. “Why lie to me, why do all… this?!”

“I told you before, he wants to punish you,” Thancred murmured. “As much as he says he treasures you, he hates you too.”

“Why?!” Ash repeated, nearly yelling as she glared at Lahabrea.

“BECAUSE YOU BETRAYED ME!” the Ascian exploded all of a sudden, flames burning in his eyes even while the shadows seemed to solidify around them and his whole being seemed to grow before their very eyes. His voice took on a layered depth that seemed to resonate around them as he spoke with a millennia-old rage, seething with contempt. “When I labored to save our star, you let yourself be turned by Venat! While talking about restoring balance, you tore away my foundation and led us all into damnation!”

Fear threatened to choke her as she felt frozen in place, shaking her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she brought forth. If only his words had more meaning than the plucking of a string somewhere in the depth of her soul that remained unheard, as much as she strained to understand it.

“And that, little shard, is the unforgivable crime I shall always endeavor to avenge,” Lahabrea hissed. “You broken piece of what used to be the most brilliant soul on this star shall remain at my side until you remember every detail of your treachery!”

He swept forward to grab her by the arms that she had raised in defense, pushing Thancred aside with ease. He seemed impossibly tall and powerful, shadowy flames licking over her arms where he held her. Ash gasped, staring into his face that was distorted with rage, his golden eyes glowing, and something unnamable deep inside her stirred at the sight of him.

“[While death and nightmares threatened to consume us, we were striving to save us all,]” Lahabrea growled in a language as ancient and layered as time itself, “[and you forgot! But you shall remember!]”

“I don’t,” Ash stammered, caught in his fiery gaze, “I don’t remember…”

“[You were my muse, my hold, my counsel as I tried and failed and tried and failed!]”

At the corner of her consciousness, she noticed Thancred struggling to get to her, but she couldn’t even try to get away from Lahabrea, his words and eyes holding her captive like in a trance.

“I don’t remember,” she repeated, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“[Always at my side when I wasn’t with the Convocation, you were there every step of the way, arguing and soothing, creating and helping, finding the truth with unerring certainty.]”

The shadows around them seemed to respond to his words, coiling around her like tentacles, but Ash was beyond fear. “I don’t remember, I don’t…”

“[You were at my side except when it mattered. When I finally found a solution, when I needed you the most, you turned away! A treachery so deep it must have left a stain upon your soul, so remember!”]

“I don’t remember,” she mouthed, tears rising inside her at an unmentionable emotion that seemed to blossom from a forgotten place in her soul. Desperately, she shook her head, but Lahabrea’s clawed hands tightened around her arms as he grew to fill all of her perception. “I don’t…”

“[One of the brightest minds I ever encountered, but when it came to it, you let yourself be swayed from me, falling for the honeyed, fallible arguments that would break us all apart!”]

“It’s not… I don’t…,” Ash murmured, barely knowing what she was saying as Lahabrea’s rage threatened to consume her, his words falling into her like blows battering against her soul without pause, without mercy.

“[Venat lured you in, deceiving and cunning, turning you from the true course, from me! She convinced you to-]”

“YOU’RE WRONG!”

The words broke from her like water breaking a dam and sweeping all reason and logic away, pure emotion speaking through her, and before her, Lahabrea wavered and fell silent at the spark flaming into sudden light inside her. “She didn’t have to convince me for I already knew she was right! Balance had to be restored, balance that you had undone! When she came to argue, I was long since agreeing with her, and…”

Her voice trailed off all she had known so intimately just a moment ago drifted back into the darkness of all things forgotten.

Lahabrea stared at her, his flames and shadows drawing back, and there was a desperate hope in the single name he spoke. “Themis?”

For a moment, the tension in the room seemed to swell to near unbearable intensity, but Ash found herself unable to answer. Yes, she wanted to say, wanted to keep the hope in him alive, but whatever inside her soul had reacted to Lahabrea before was gone, and her heart near broke as she saw his face fall.

“No,” he murmured, closing his eyes for a second and taking a breath. “You are but a shade.”

He let go of her, and his eyes once more looked at her with contempt and condescension, his voice swelling to a threat as he said, “But once I have fulfilled my duty, you will pay for-”

“SHUT UP!”

Thancred’s sudden yell let both Lahabrea and Aisling pause in surprise. Ash blinked as if waking from a dream as she realized that, for a moment, she had forgotten he was still there.

“Shut up, you swivin’ bastard, and get over yourself!” Thancred pushed himself between the other two, both hands balled to fists as he faced the Ascian, his voice heavy with fury. “Whatever she did, it was literal ages ago and in another lifetime, so stop raging about something she can’t even remember! Meanwhile, you can’t even decide if you want to love her or punish her!”

The disbelief and fury that had played on Lahabrea’s face at Thancred’s words made way for a smug smile as Thancred stopped speaking.

“Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?” he purred as he focused on Thancred. “Methinks that indecision is a core problem of yourself, am I right?”

Ash’s heart stopped for a painful beat as she looked at Thancred. “What?” she asked.

Thancred gave her a pained look, thrown by Lahabrea’s words, but instead of answering her, he turned back to the Ascian. “But this is not about me, is it!” he threw at the other man. “I am but a tool for you to punish her. And I am sick of it! Why have you not gotten rid of me, done as you threatened and obliterated my soul to use my body as you will?”

The shadows around Lahabrea grew denser again as he focused on Thancred, taking a predatory step towards him. “Maybe I will,” he growled, “if only to get rid of these tiresome interjections.”

“You won’t,” Ash suddenly said, and the certainty of her words surprised even herself. But she knew with everything she was that they were the truth. Lahabrea wouldn’t kill Thancred. It was as if a picture she had stared at for so long that it had become meaningless suddenly took form again.

“And why is that, [sweetness]?”

Ash’s eyes were wide as she looked from Lahabrea to Thancred and back. “Because it’s not me you actually want. I am but the link. You want Thancred.”

#ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite 2021 #Thancred x WoL #lahabrea x wol #elveny writes #ffxiv fanfiction

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crazyclonefan · 4 years

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A chance to say goodbye

I wrote this right after tcw 7 finale and completely forgot to post it. Oops.

Very angsty.

Summary: It took Kix a long time to get used to the idea that nothing he once knew existed anymore. He meets Ahsoka and she takes him to the snowy planet where Jesse died.

It took Kix a long time to get used to the idea that nothing he once knew existed anymore. That the Republic being replaced by the Empire. His brothers fought and died for three long years for nothing. They all became toys in the hands of the cruel Emperor. That the war ended with the destruction of the Jedi Order. That while he was sleeping, the Empire fell under the onslaught of the rebels and in its place the New Republic was born. And that fifty years have passed since the separatists kidnapped him.

Fifty years ... Kix felt completely devastated when he learned of this. Waking up from stasis, he hoped it wasn't too late to prevent a catastrophe. That he could prove to General Skywalker that Fives was right and that the Chancellor was really up to something terrible. But ... He was late. Hopelessly late. There was no more Republic to warn, and no more brothers he desperately wanted to save. The realization that he was the last clone tore his heart apart.

It hurt Kix to think of his brothers. But it was especially hard from the unknown. How did Jesse die? Did he obey Order 66 and become a stormtrooper, or did he die long before that? What happened to Rex? Did he decide to remove the chip, or did he obey the order and kill General Skywalker? What happened to Echo and the Bad Batch? A lot of questions were spinning in his head, but he had no answer to any of them. But the most painful thing was to realize that he could not say goodbye to any of them.

He was grateful to the pirates of the Crimson Corsair, even if they helped him out of selfish motives. The destruction of the old bases of the separatists helped him to feel like a soldier of the Grand Army of the Republic again. A republic that will no longer appreciate his efforts. But when was it different? But that was the only goal that helped him move on.

What will happen when the last base is destroyed? Kix didn't want to think about it. Kix tried not to think about the future at all. Fifty years ago, life was much simpler and clearer. He was a soldier who took care of the health of his brothers and the general. He fought for peace and saved lives. Did he think about the future then? Of course yes. But in those dreams of the future, there were always brothers by his side, and he did not feel so painfully lonely. The future now seemed like something cold and hopeless.

***

Another planet where pirates wanted to sell their loot. Another cantina where Kix wanted to get drunk so as not to think about anything. And as always, he only felt worse.

"Kix?"

Kix froze at the familiar voice. He turned around and faced the surprised blue eyes. If their owner hadn't touched his shoulder, Kix wouldn't have believed it was true. He hadn't expected to see Ahsoka Tano alive.

Fifty years ago, Ahsoka Tano was a child. She was cocky, smiling and brave. He trusted her with his back more than he could count. Kix remembered her this way and mourned her death along with General Skywalker.

The woman in front of him didn't look like that child. Her face was adorned with wrinkles, her montrals and lekku were much longer than before, and her eyes were full of sadness and surprise. If not for the familiar pattern on her face, he might not recognize her.

"Commander Tano?"

“It's so unusual to hear that title again,” a smile touched her lips. "Since Rex died, no one else has called me that. It happened two and a half years ago."

Something inside him broke. He was late again. If he had been found much earlier, he would have had the opportunity to spend time with the captain ... If only he could have prevented the disaster ...

He spoke and spoke, not paying attention to the flowing tears and the fact that people had already begun to look back at them. He didn't care about anyone but Ahsoka. It was as if he was still somewhere deep down hoping that the information that he learned could save at least someone. Maybe it was so. He didn't know how she survived Order 66, but he certainly didn't want her to believe that his brothers betrayed her of their own accord.

He could have saved everyone if he had been more careful in his investigation. He should have shared this information with Rex much earlier. He had to ... The only thing he could do now is to save at least the memory of them.

Ahsoka also had tears in her eyes as she hugged him tightly.

“I never blamed any of them. None of them wanted this, none of this was their conscious choice. The Emperor did everything so that none of us could stop it. By the time it started, nothing could be fixed. So please don't blame yourself. "

It was weak consolation, but Kix felt a little better. Perhaps at that moment, she used the Force to soothe his pain. Perhaps the reason was that she understood him much better than the pirates of the Crimson Corsair, who never knew his brothers. Ahsoka knew them all. Or perhaps he felt better from the realization that this information, even after fifty years, reached the ears of the Jedi.

When Ahsoka finally released him, Kix finally braced himself to ask the question that had tormented him for a long time.

"Did Rex tell you how ... how Jesse died?"

Ahsoka nodded, her eyes downcast.

"Follow me, I'll tell you along the way. It's a long story and I don't want anyone else to listen to us."

***

She spoke only when the ship went into hyperspace. Kix could see how hard it was for her to think about it, but it was what both of them needed. What he personally needed. All this time, while he was tormented by the unknown, Kix imagined all sorts of options for what could happen to Jesse and the others. But he did not suspect that what actually happened would be much worse.

She talked about the siege of Mandalore and what happened on the Republic cruiser when Darth Sidious ordered her to be executed. How Rex gave her a clue, how she removed his chip, and how Jesse fought them despite the ship falling apart.

It was unbearable to know that Jesse was a victim of the chip. Jesse would never point a blaster at Rex, whom he respected with all his heart. Kix remembered exactly how Tap had behaved when his chip crashed. And he was horrified by the very thought that Jesse was trapped in his own head, repeating just one phrase that controlled him like some droid. Good soldiers always follow orders. Even if this order was to kill your own brother ...

Jesse was a good soldier and a great friend. He had a great sense of humor and always gave good advice. He was a man! A human, not a meat droid. And he deserved the best. All his brothers deserved a better fate than what the emperor condemned them to.

Kix could feel his head spinning and his heart breaking in pain. It could have been different if only he had not been so weak then. If only he hadn't drawn Count Dooku's attention to himself ...

The old, shattered Venator lay on the planet's surface as a memorial to the fallen Republic and its loyal soldiers.

Time took its toll. Snow wrapped his brothers in a thick white blanket, allowing only a few of their helmets to look out. They looked at him indifferently with the darkness of their visors, forgotten and alone, like the entire era of the Jedi. Like the Republic they once fought for.

Ahsoka touched his shoulder and quietly returned to the ship, leaving him alone with his pain. Kix was grateful to her for that.

Having dug up the snow a little, he saw what he was looking for. He lifted Jesse's helmet and ran his fingers over the nearly faded Republic symbol at its base. Jesse did his best to make this symbol visible once he became an ARC-trooper.

Kix could not help remembering how Jesse had been bragging to all the brothers for a whole week about his new armor and the fact that he was now an ARC-trooper. It was very funny for the first couple of days, and then Kix would just roll his eyes when Jesse started talking about it again. He was so proud to be promoted to lieutenant and become an ARC-trooper!

He was one of the most loyal soldiers of the Republic and took pride in his service. This is what this symbol was supposed to represent.

Kix couldn't hold back his tears when he saw the burns and abrasions that the helmet received, probably after the ship fell. He didn’t want to think about what his friend was experiencing and what Jesse was thinking in his last minutes, and whether he could think about anything other than a damn order in general. Was he afraid of death at this moment? Did he die quickly, without feeling anything, or did he suffer before he died?

Jesse always did what he thought was right. This is why he agreed with Fives' plan on Umbara, which is why he did so many good things. He shouldn't have died like this, a limp puppet in the hands of the emperor, wanting to kill his own brother and Commander Tano.

Kix pressed his forehead against Jesse's helmet, finally being able to say goodbye to his best friend properly. With a friend whom he actually doomed to a terrible death. If only he could tell about the conspiracy before he was captured ... If only he was not so weak and captured by the droids ... If ... Jesse and Rex would not have to go through all of this. Their brothers would not have to die in vain. And Rex would not have been plagued by guilt all his life, burying all the brothers he ever loved.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered, hoping desperately that Jesse would hear him on the other side. "Forgive me, brother."

The last time they saw each other, Jesse was filled with hope for the future. They both dreamed of getting drunk in '79, once the war was over. How they will stick together and will definitely find something to do in a new peaceful life. Kicks wondered what Jesse was thinking when he suddenly disappeared without giving any reason.

"Sleep well, Jesse... I'll see you on the other side."

Kix forced himself to leave Jesse's helmet in the snow where his body rested. He did not find the strength to separate them. This place has been a monument to the Grand Army of the Republic for these long fifty years and should remain so in the future. Someday he, too, will be under this snow next to his brothers.

***

The way back to Felucia went in silence. Kix felt devastated. He was grateful to Ahsoka for not trying to convince him again that everything that happened was not his fault. Whatever she said, he could never forgive himself after what he saw today.

"What do you intend to do next?" She asked when the ship finally landed in port.

“I don’t know,” Kix replied honestly, wiping his eyes. “Back to the Crimson Corsair's team.

He must finish what he started. There were still two bases that he needed to destroy. In memory of Jesse and all those brothers who stayed on that snowy moon. In honor of all the clones that died decades ago. What will happen next? Who knows. He'll think about it later.

“If you are sure of this, then I have no right to stop you.” Ahsoka smiled at him. “But if you ever get tired of being a pirate, let me know. I know people who will welcome a skilled soldier. "

"I'll think about it," Kix found the strength to smile. - "But I have to finish what I started."

Ahsoka nodded in understanding and rubbed her chin thoughtfully, looking somewhere behind Kix. Merry sparks lit up in her eyes.

"Do you mind if I join you? Destroying Separatist bases sounds like an interesting idea."

“How can I refuse you, Commander?” Kix's smile was sincere this time. “Only one condition. Don't throw me with the Force like you used to do with Captain Rex. "

Ahsoka laughed.

"I will try to resist the temptation."

He saw before him the old Ahsoka Tano now. For some reason, his soul became a little calmer. For the first time in these long months, he could finally think about his future, and it no longer seemed so lonely.

He knew he could not forgive himself or bring his brothers back. But he can still do something for them. He will live honoring their memory for as long as he can. Until one day meet them again.

#My fic #tcw fanfic #the clones wars #tcw #kix #clone trooper kix #Ahsoka Tano #ARC trooper Jesse #angst and glass

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ryder-s-block · 4 years

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Jaig Eyes (Ch 47)

Jaig Eyes (47/?)

Summary:

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

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

Chapter Forty-Seven: Gone For a Moment

Obi-wan and I were probably about halfway up the pit wall when Ahsoka spiralled down to us on a speeder She hummed, glancing down below. “Nice job,” she teased lightly.

“What took you so long?” Kenobi offered back immediately jumping onto the speeder behind the padawan. I too, turned and leapt to the back. It certainly wasn’t a good fit with three people. I was more so perched on the back than sitting. But hey, I prefered anything that wasn’t climbing up the rest of the wall.

“Here,” Ahsoka said, handing back an ignition gauge to Obi-wan. “I did as you said. The shuttle’s going nowhere without that.” I smirked a bit. Great minds think alike.

“Good. That gives us some time to rescue Anakin.”

“We should head to the monastery,” I commented from behind them as Ahsoka guided us out of the pit. The air was fresh and cool, soothing the sting of my burned hand and tired lungs. “The Father will be there.”

As Ahsoka steered us towards the monastery, she glanced back at me. “What happened? Why did Anakin join the Son?”

“He showed Anakin the future,” I yelled back over the wind. “That place was enough to tempt you just by being there.”

“I felt it,” she commented. “And I wasn’t even all the way in it. What was that place?”

“The Father had called it the Well of the Dark Side,” Obi-wan answered. “We need to hurry.”

The monastery loomed before us, Ahsoka moving to take us up to the landing platform. “Wait,” I cried, pointing down towards the arena Anakin had been tested in. “Look over there!” In the center of the arena, laid beside the kneeling Father, was Anakin.

Ahsoka turned immediately, guiding us down. “Master!” she cried, stopped the speeder and climbing off. Anakin looked...normal. The shadows that had been on his face in the Well were gone, replaced by confusion.

“Are you alright?” Obi-wan asked gently.

“I think so,” Skywalker responded, finding his feet. “But we must stop the Son once and for all.” I raised my brow, a bit confused. Was Anakin just suddenly better? What about the jedi being the reason for war?

“We have little time and you’ll only get one chance.” The Father rose elegantly. “You know what you must do.”

“How quaint.” The Son floated down from above, his voice booming with power. “My own personal send-off.” He landed gently between Anakin and the Father, unbothered by our ready stances.

The Father regarded his son sadly. “I ask you one last time. Do not leave, my son.”

“You have no power to keep me, old man,” the Son smirked. “You must understand by now this planet is not my destiny!”

“What you will do will destroy all that is good,” the Father protested adamantly. “I beg you, restrain yourself and stay!”

“I cannot.”

“And then, it shall be,” the Father spoke, backing up slowly. “I love you, my son.”

“Do you?” he asked teasingly as Anakin ignited his lightsaber. Anakin attacked, but was easily blocked by the Son. The Dark Sider grabbed Skywalker by the neck and throwing him backwards. He pulled the lightsabers from Ahsoka and Obi-wan’s grasps before sending all three of us flying backwards.

“What?” I heard the Son chuckle lowly as I sat up tiredly. “You’re going to kill me now?”

“I held hope that you could resist the Dark Side.” Looking towards them, I saw the Father was now holding the blade that had killed the Daughter. “But I see now, there is no going back.”

I watched in horror as the Father turned the blade on himself, plunging it into his own chest.

“Father,” the Son breathed. “No!” He raced up to his father as he collapsed. “What have you done? It did not have to be this way!”

“Yes, my child,” the Father panted as he was helped to the ground. “It did. You and I are tied together, and your strength runs through me. This way, I take your power.”

A small gasp of breath came from the Son, making my brow arch in surprise. “Please,” he whispered. “Don’t die.” As we all found our feet again, I watched as Anakin approached the Son from behind.

“I always knew there was good in you.” The Father wrapped his son in a hug, glancing up at Anakin.

Skywalker struck from behind, stabbing the Son through the chest with his lightsaber. “And so you have betrayed me, Father,” the Son gasped in the old man’s embrace before falling lifelessly to the floor.

“It is done,” Anakin said softly as he kneeled before the Father.

“And now I die,” the Father responded hoarsely. “My heart broken, but knowing the role you will play.”

“And what is that?”

“You are the Chosen One,” the man panted. “You have brought balance to this world. Stay on this path, and you will do it again for the galaxy. But beware…” his voice began to peter out as he fell backwards in death. “Your heart.”

The Father disappeared, evaporating like he had never been there. The feeling of the entire planet shifted and the monastery began to crumble. We all turned to see the glowing crystal crashing downwards on the top of the spire. It shattered into thousands of pieces before erupting in a bright purple spark. It billowed for a moment before letting off an explosion.

The light was blinding, making me squint against it. Would the entire place be destroyed before we could get back to the Jedi’s shuttle? It was our only way off this rock, considering my ship had been destroyed...by my own doing.

I closed my eyes as the wind rippled past us, turning away from the light.

And then I felt a familiar seat under my legs. Snapping my eyes open, I was shocked to find myself alone in the cockpit of my ship. I looked down, seeing that my weapons were all returned to me, as if I’d never lost any of them. Whirling, I made my way from the cockpit and into my quarters, seeing the holo-image of my family flickering in the corner.

A sigh of relief slipped past my lips. It was all a dream. I reached out, touching the edge of the holo-projector fondly, only to flinch when my fingers made contact. My hand...it was still burned and bleeding.

Whatever had just happened...had been real.

“Miss? Miss?” I jumped at Apex’s voice, walking into the hallway. “We were disconnected for a moment.”

“A moment?” I questioned, glancing down at my hand again. “I was gone for…”

“Miss? Are you alright?”

I cleared my throat. “Fine.”

“There is an incoming transmission from the Republic vessel.”

“The Republic--” I froze, recalling who else had been with me in that strange world. Hurrying back to the cockpit, I accepted the transmission, seeing an admiral I recognized. They couldn’t see me yet.

“This is Admiral Yularen of the Republic Starship, Venator. You are an undocumented vessel. Please transmit identification codes.”

I smirked at the formal man’s image, looking over the familiar attire of the Republic’s military. “I’m in Wild Space,” I muttered, knowing he couldn’t hear me until I opened a channel. “I don’t report to you here.”

I sat in my seat, resetting the system to fire up the engines. As much as my experience with the jedi had been good, especially since I found out I wasn’t a wanted woman anymore, I still didn’t really feel ready for another run-in with the military.

Especially because I knew Yularen was assigned with Anakin.

And that meant Rex was aboard, too. And the rest of the 501st that I knew.

I wasn’t ready for that at all. I knew I had to go on a journey of healing to learn to...see. But I had already taken steps that day. Large steps. Any more felt like a bit too much.

“Undocumented vessel,” came Yularen’s call again. “Disengage your engines and lower your shields. We are going to engage our tractor beam.”

“Not likely,” I muttered, already typing in a set of coordinates to jump to quickly. I glanced up through the viewport for a moment, seeing another small vessel below the Star Destroyer. The Jedi Shuttle.

My hand had been on the hyperdrive lever. I should have just pushed it and ended the whole thing. But I hesitated at the sight of the ship, relief flooding over me. Whatever weird thing had let me leave Mortis had let them survive too.

My mind shifted to what Anakin had said. “I will do such terrible things.” He had sounded so broken. Yet, so sure. It sent a shiver down my back, knowing that I was the only one alive who heard him say that. That questioned what he had meant. Who worried that it may still come to pass.

“Ah, Miss Fett,” I heard Yularen’s accented voice greet through the comms again. I turned my head abruptly at him knowing my name. “General Skywalker informed me of your presence,” he answered my unvoiced question. “He requests you come aboard for a briefing and to refuel.”

Every nerve was on fire as I panicked. I wanted to run. A past me would have run. But something held me back. I knew I was supposed to agree. This was the way to rekindle my connections with the Republic...and maybe start healing. Then maybe my crystal would heal, too.

My hand moved from the lightspeed lever to the comms, opening the channel both ways. I quirked a smile to the man as he finally saw my hologram. “Admiral,” I greeted. “Nice to see you. Is--” I stopped myself as I found that I was about to try and duck the situation again.

Bendu would have clicked his tongue at me.

“Whatever I can do to help. Please inform Skywalker that I’ve accepted his request.” The comms cut out as the Admiral gave me a curt nod. He didn’t really smile, but I’d come to learn that he usually didn’t.

It wasn’t surprising. He was so rigid and by the book. And he got paired with the wildest Jedi the Order had to give.

“Miss,” Apex cut in as I shifted the shuttle forward gently, heading for the landing bay. “If I may ask, why are you agreeing to go aboard? Your hyperspace engine was ready.”

“I know,” I breathed back. “But I am no longer afraid of what the Republic thinks of me. Or the clones. Or the Jedi,” I declared, both the the AI and myself. “It’s time I faced the things I’ve been running from.”

My automated friend was silent for a moment as he processed my words. “You have been changing an awfully lot of late, Miss, if I may say.”

I hummed lowly. “I know.” Trying to lighten the mood, I smiled, “Why? Getting bored with me?”

There was a moment of quiet in which my heart nearly dropped. Sure, his programing had a loyalty implant towards myself, but he was an AI, after all. Could he have developed past that and actually determined me boring?

“Never.” Was the only response to the conversation I got before I guided the ship into the landing bay. He picked right back up as if he’d never mentioned my change. “The ship is prepped for landing.”

I set the shuttle down easily, already seeing the astromechs and clones approaching to start refueling. With a hard swallow, I stood to exit the ship. “Keep an eye on those mechs,” I warned the AI as the gangway descended. “I don’t want them messing with my ship.”

“Of course, Miss,” I heard him respond as I walked onto the Republic Star Destroyer.

“Kida Fett,” one of the clones greeted, standing tall. A shiny. “The Generals are waiting for you on the bridge. I will escort you--”

“I know the way,” I said with as much surety as I could muster. In reality, I was nearly trembling with nerves. I saw some clones with 501st blue painted on their armor. They were relaxing in the hangar, playing a game of get’shuk. They were all laughing. Brothers. My heart longed to go play with them like I had before...when my hair was a short as theirs.

I kept my head down, glancing sideways at the shiny again. “I prefer to avoid the attraction of an escort,” I explained gently before walking on with confidence. I tried to appear confident, at least.

I remembered the ship well. Considering they were all laid out the same, I’d been on more than enough to navigate this one. Despite not having an escort, I still drew stares. And this time, I was more in-tune with the Force.

I felt their feelings towards me. Some scoffed at my ‘desertion.’ Some were curious. Some recalled the stories they’d heard about me. Some were surprised I was the legend they’d heard about. The ones that were the hardest to sense where from those that recognized me. They were more confused on how they felt than I was.

Then I heard a voice, that even though it came from genetically identical throats, still managed to be recognizable. “Kida?” I turned slowly, seeing the tattooed face of Jesse, followed closely by Hardcase.

I offered them a small smile, both genuine and apologetic. “Hi guys,” I said gently, trying to ease any tension. Nevertheless, I could feel it building in the hallway around us as more eyes turned to see what would happen.

Yet, none of that tension seemed to be coming from the three approaching clones. I was nearly bowled over as Jesse practically tackled me in a hug, followed closely by Hardcase’s burly arms.

“Woah!” I cried out in shock, doing my best not to stand rigid from fright. “What’s all this about?”

“It’s great to see ya, kid,” Kix smiled at me from behind his brothers. “You had us worried there for a bit.”

I quirked my eyebrow as the brothers finally detached themselves from me and gave me some breathing room. “Had you worried?” I wondered for a moment if the destruction of Mortis had caused changes in the galaxy. Had I never left in their minds? “What do you mean?”

“The Republic hadn’t gotten any word on you for over a month,” Hardcase explained adamantly. “We thought you’d gotten yourself killed.”

I glanced between them all in silent shock as it dawned on me. They had been asking after me. They got the intel from spies the Republic used when they would spot me. They weren’t angry at me for leaving at all. They were just glad to see me. Tears sprung to my eyes at the realization, making me glance away and blink awkwardly.

“Aw, Kida,” Jesse teased gently. “We wouldn’t have told ya if we knew you’d get all emotional on us.”

I let out a wet sounding laugh as he came forward and gave me another hug. I returned this one happily, wrapping my arms around his armor. With a sniffle and a small wipe at my nose, I glanced between the three men.

“I’m sorry I had to leave. I wish I didn’t have to.” I wasn’t sure how to apologize. Was there a right way to?

“Aw, we know, kid,” Kix assured me, clapping me gently on the shoulder. “We’re just glad you’re alright.” The tension in the room dissipated as the other clones saw how we were acting. They moved on, walking as if they’d never seen anything. “Kida, what the hell is this?”

My attention was drawn back to the clone who was holding my wrist, examining my injured hand. I flinched, not because it hurt--even though it did--but because I knew that tone. I was about to get the scolding of a lifetime for not treating it already. “In my defense--” I started, but was cut off.

“No, no,” Kix commanded, turning to grab out his on-the-go medical supplies. “You don’t get an excuse. You were just sitting in your ship! How did you manage to go this between then and now?”

I chuckled lowly, not wanting to try to explain, since I wasn’t even sure if I understood myself. “I have to get to the bridge, Kix. I can’t be late.”

“Then we do on the go,” Hardcase suggested, punching my shoulder pauldron lightly, right over the painted kyr’bes. I rolled my eyes, but allowed the clones to escort me to the bridge while Kix bandaged my hand. I wasn’t really worried about drawing attention now. I had friends with me.

“So, what took you off the map for the first time, Kida?” Jesse asked beside me with a smirk. “Found yourself some young rogue?”

I laughed shortly. “Kriff, no. I was...looking into something.”

“Looking into something?” Hardcase repeated. “For months? Nah, it must have been a boy. Or a girl. Whichever you prefer,” he waved his hand dismissively, making me chuckle.

“Or she got lost,” Kix added in shortly from where he was concentrating on my hand. I winced, pulling away slightly, earning a click of his tongue. “If you’d treated it when it happened, I wouldn’t be picking rocks out of it. And is this--is this shrapnel?”

I winced again, but didn’t answer, following the other conversation instead. “I wasn’t lost. I was just staying off the grid for a bit while the Republic had a price out for me.”

“I knew that wouldn’t last,” Jesse assured, rolling his eyes. “I’m surprised, really,” he commented, glancing back at me. “I never pegged you for someone who could stay in one place for so long.”

I hummed. “Well you’re right. But it was out of necessity. I was there because I needed to figure some things out.”

The brothers all glanced at each other in quiet curiosity, but didn’t ask. “Well did you figure them out?” Kix finally asked gently.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I quipped back, making them all smirk at me again. We reached the bridge, the doors opening before us to reveal a room crowded with familiar faces. “Ouch,” I squeaked as Kix gave me a shot in the arm between my pauldron and arm brace.

“Feel better?” I nodded at him. He waved the canister in front of my face. “Stim canisters. You have a belt. Please start carrying them.”

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, giving a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

“Glad you could join us,” Kenobi greeted as I slowly entered the room filled with gazes. The jedi and Admiral Yularen stood in the room, with even more jedi watching on as holograms. In the corner, rather removed from the crowd, stood Captain Rex. His helmet was on, but I could feel his gaze on me. “Thank you, gentlemen,” Obi-wan said to my companions, dismissing them from the room.

They left an I immediately felt outnumbered again. While the three present jedi had been friendly on Mortis, I still didn’t get any sort of warm greeting like I had from the clones. I cleared my throat quietly, folding my hands behind my back.

“Thank you for letting me refuel here.”

“Of course,” Windu responded from the holoprojector, as if it was his decision to let me do it. “We owe it to someone who has helped members of our Order.” He gestured to Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi-wan. I assumed they had told him at least a little about Mortis.

Or maybe he was trying to make up for helping place a bounty on my head.

I hummed slightly, doing my best to still feel relaxed. “I was told you wanted a briefing? I’d like to clarify that it’s about what just happened...not everything else.”

“While we are certainly curious about your adventures,” Kenobi voiced, touching his chin. “We only require your recounting of these recent events.”

I nodded my head slowly, aware of the hair that was still slipping from my ponytail. “Alright.”

“If you would be so kind, this is a Jedi matter,” Obi-wan voiced to the room. Yularen pivoted immediately, gesturing for the communications officers to follow him from the war room. I stood awkwardly as Rex passed me, glancing at his chest plate rather than his visor.

It was cowardly, but I was barely holding it together as it was.

“Your story, tell us,” Master Yoda said to the room as the doors sealed off. I settled myself in for a long recounting of a terribly confusing adventure.

#fanfiction #fanfic #captain rex #rex x oc #rexxoc #captain rex x oc #rex #star wars #star wars the clone wars #oc star wars #star wars oc #clones #Clone Wars #The Clone Wars #Clone Troopers #jango #jango fett #Daughter of Jango fic

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irandrura · 5 years

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Around 13 hours in, at the Garif Village:

There are still elements of the plot that make much more sense in hindsight. Ashe’s visions of Rasler were unclear on the first playthrough; but now I know that the Occuria are sending them to try to manipulate Ashe into destroying Archades with nethicite, in order to stop Cid and Venat from using their nethicite research to overthrow them, I can see where the visions are leading. In other words, the visious have moved from being vaguely sad and ominous to being interpretable as moves in a game of power politics. The Occuria are the closest FFXII has to visible or active ‘gods’, and even they are concerned with relatively straightforward matters of political power and ambition.

(I do mean to write a post about religion or divinity in this game, since I remember finding that an odd topic, but I think it might have to wait until Bur-Omisace.)

However, what stands out to me most strongly at this point is the game’s emphasis on motivation.

Put simply, none of the heroes seem to be very clear on why they’re doing any of this.

Well, for half of them, at least. Fran, Basch, and Penelo all have motives that boil down to “follow and help the person I am loyal to”. They’re there because of another character. But the people they follow – Balthier, Ashe, and Vaan – all have quite ambiguous motives that they themselves don’t even seem to understand. The game has gone to some effort to establish plausible reasons for each character to be on this quest, but then it keeps coming back and problematising them.

Based on Vaan’s prior words and actions, there are a range of reasons he could be here. He could be just seeking adventure. He could be trying to become a sky pirate: either by obtaining enough wealth from this adventure to buy his own ship, or by tagging along and learning from Balthier. He could be acting as a Dalmascan patriot, either seeking revenge on Archades or liberation from Dalmasca. In that light he could be tagging along with Ashe’s resistance, or following Basch out of a desire to avenge Reks. Any one of those reasons, in a different game, could be enough for his character arc. Here, though, Vaan seems to often change his mind. When Balthier asks him why he’s here in Rabanastre, Vaan is lost for words; and in Jahara, the best Vaan can come up with is “I need answers, and I think I can figure them out if I keep following you.”

In some ways I quite like this, and even find it more psychologically credible than heroes of other games. Vaan’s only seventeen: he’s still figuring out who he is. If I remember myself at that age, I didn’t know who I was going to be or what I wanted. I was exploring a lot of different possibilities, and following the paths that seemed interesting, in the hope that my purpose might become clearer over time. The same is true for Vaan.

Balthier, on the other hand, is more enigmatic. Noticeably I haven’t seen any ‘personal’ scenes with him thus far. He puts up a glib, confident front, and unlike Vaan or Ashe, hasn’t shown much of his deeper self to the player. This makes him more of a cipher. The surface interpretation of Balthier – and the one that Ashe expresses to Vossler in Raithwall’s tomb – is that he’s just after money. However, for a supposedly mercenary character, Balthier doesn’t seem to care that much about it. He was lured into the tomb expedition with the promise of Raithwall’s treasure, but when he discovers that treasure is just a summon, he offers nothing more than a snarky quip. He doesn’t seem at all irritated to be denied the treasure he was promised. As we go on we see Balthier going to pretty extreme lengths to help out, even though the payment seems far too meagre. He demands Ashe’s ring as payment for going to Jahara, but would a single ring be worth very much? He says he’ll return it if he finds “something more valuable”, but he doesn’t appear to have any idea of what that might be. The impression one gets is that he only asks for the ring in order to test Ashe’s commitment to her beliefs – but why would a mercenary care about that? And finally in Jahara, when Basch rightfully calls him on his motives, Balthier changes his story again and claims he’s just in it to see where the story goes.

Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, I can speculate that at least part of his reason for being here is daddy issues. Even so, the idea that helping Ashe’s quest would lead to Cid or any resolution of his family issues is pretty far-fetched: this is a very circuitous route to Draklor. Beyond that, Balthier’s been running from his father, so why he’d want to change directions now is even more unclear. It’s hard to resist the conclusion that, like Vaan, Balthier doesn’t really know why he’s here at all. He’s an older man so it’s less likely to be youthful confusion. Is he driven to stay by some fascination that he himself doesn’t understand?

I am vaguely aware of a reading of FFXII that sees romantic subtext between Balthier and Ashe, which might give him a further reason to stay. All I can say here is that so far I can see no subtext like that. In a different story I can imagine the ring scene coming off like that, but so far Balthier has shown pretty much zero interest in Ashe as a person, and similarly zero sign that he even considers her attractive, so I tend to stick with the mercenary interpretation. I might have more thoughts on shipping later in the game, but right now I see nothing that isn’t just blatant eisegesis.

That leaves Ashe. She is, I would argue, the closest thing FFXII has to a ‘hero’ or ‘protagonist’, and on one level her motive is very obvious. Ashe wants to drive out the Empire and re-establish a free and independent Dalmasca with herself as queen. The thing is, though, that’s very easy to state – and very difficult to work out in practice. So far Ashe is very good at making dramatic resolutions and projecting confidence, but they often don’t seem very well thought out, and she finds herself needing to change her mind. The most dramatic instance would be Ashe’s declaration that the Dawn Shard will be her sword against the Empire – and retreating when Vaan points out that she has no idea how to use it, or even how it works.

It’s also striking, of course, that Ashe made that bold promise to use what is to all intents and purposes a magical nuclear bomb against Archades, and then a few scenes later, in the Garif village, she’s willing to listen to Larsa and go with his proposal to establish a negotiated Archadian withdrawal. And this also soon after she felt so betrayed by Vossler’s attempt to negotiate an Archadian withdrawal and independent Dalmasca! What’s going on in Ashe’s head? Does she hate the Empire or not? Back in Bhujerba she was pleading with Ondore to support an open resistance movement, and now she seems to accept Larsa’s claim that they need to stop Ondore launching a revolt.

It’s hard to resist the conclusion that while Ashe wants to be queen of a free Dalmasca, she has no earthly clue how to achieve that. She’s being buffeted around by the winds of fate, grasping at the first thing in front of her that seems like it might help. I think it shows that Ashe has been raised to be a princess, to project confidence and duty in public, but underneath that she’s still a young woman who’s in way over her head. She knows she’s surrounded by cunning and patient older men who’d love to use her as a figurehead to boot. Ashe is skeptical of those demands from outside, but she still follows a path laid out for her by others – Vossler, Ondore, Larsa, and ultimately the Rasler vision and the Occuria – because she hasn’t yet figured out what her own path should be.

So ultimately, what’s striking me most about FFXII right now is that I’m following a party of characters none of whom seem to clearly understand what they’re questing for or why.

It’s cleverer and more subversive than I remember. The quest motif is everywhere in fantasy, but in the traditional, Tolkien-inspired form, it’s usually very clear what the goal is and how it will be achieved. The Lord of the Rings outlines the quest of the Ring halfway through the first volume and the heroes never substantially deviate from it. The challenge is to accomplish the quest. Most follow-up fantasy has a similar clarity to it, especially in video games. In the original Final Fantasy you want to light the orbs and defeat the fiends. In Dragon Age you want to stop the Blight. In every Star Wars game ever, you want to defeat the Empire and/or dark Sith lord. In The Legend of Zelda you want to defeat Ganon. In Chrono Trigger you want to stop Lavos. In The Elder Scrolls you want to stop Dagoth Ur/Mehrunes Dagon/Alduin. There’s a clear goal (defeat the bad guy) and a clear process for accomplishing it (defeat the lesser monsters, unite the various factions, collect all the magic tokens, etc.).

In FFXII, the challenge is to figure out what the hell your quest should be

It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?

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macmazatlan · 3 years

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Venator Star Destroyer 114 call sign “Colossus” Ship Log 352

[The following is an account given to commander Pride relaying critical information followed by a meeting between the Legion commanders]

Harbinger report: ”Recently my legionaries scouting out the mountain range directly south of this location. According to linkage communications we’ve encountered a number of warborn in the area. Imagery was taken and will be forwarded to your personal terminal. The warborn are in two groups and some are not identifiable from our current memory databases. The legionaries were ordered to withdraw as to not induce a conflict as per our agreement. We will leave this information with you.”

[shortly after Harbinger gave his report, commander Pride called an emergency meeting]

The first commander to enter the room was Mason, followed quickly by Era and then Titus. Pride began the meeting, “Guardian Harbinger recently brought this to my attention. A couple of his legionnaires identified warborn in the southern mountains. Some of which we may recognize.”

After a moment of analysis commander Era stated, “In the first image, there is a light pulse tank along with Engineer Adams and Infantryman Cornelius. Engineer Adams was a leader of my mechanized shock unit during the battle of Barkaren. He is an adamant trooper with ample experience in vehicular warfare and would be an excellent addition to your unit Mason. Infantryman Cornelius also originates from my legion and is an experienced trooper who is an excellent candidate for a captain promotion. The other troops in the image belong to a specialist corps that I don’t recognize.”

Titus replied, “The other three individuals in the image belong to warborn commando specialist corps. Specially commando unit 73, members include Ferrus, Snap and Quad. Quad is the commando in blackened phase I commando armor equipped with a laser repeater carbine. Snap wears blue tinted phase I commando armor, he uses a modified heavy ion rifle. Ferrus wears untinted phase I commando armor and uses a handheld ion cannon. These warborn are experts in spec ops operations and Ferrus is their captain. This unique commando unit is unlike others in that they worked within warborn command structure.”

Once Titus finished his reply Mason added, “That tank is a RLV-2, capable of long stretch reconnaissance and fire support operations.”

Era took this opportunity to speak, “I’ve sent our two jet troopers to their last known location with a preset message to recruit them into the legion. With no solid command chain we can assume they will be willing incorporated within the legion.”

[Legionaries image 1]

Pride replied after Era finished his statement, “This is the second image provided by the sentient legionnaires. I can recognize only captain Frey from the 43rd Ironborne Legion. He wears blue tinted phase VIII armor with a custom insignia and wields two laser carbines. I don’t know any others within this group.”

Era replied, “I recognize the only commander present. His name is commander Kenai, born of the second generation commanders wearing orange tinted phase VIII armor wielding two laser pistols. His is the hardy commander of the 47th Warden Legion. He would make a fine addition to this council and his experience would be handy to have.”

Titus continued, “I recognize two individuals in this image. First of which is captain Reed from the 89th Helldivers Legion along with one of his infantrymen. Captain Reed wears customized phase VII armor wielding laser pistols. He is one of the few captains from the second generation along with commander Kenai who is still known to be alive. At least prior to the singularity event.” Titus finished his statement while looking at commander Era.

Mason took an opportunity to interject, “I… I think I know who the other individuals are within the image. Prior to leaving for citadel 34D, on the staging world of Oigio I witnessed a combat shuttle with markings of unknown designations. The crew of this shuttle wore modified commando armor, but I wasn’t able to identify them directly. This seems to be a black ops commando unit.”

Era replied, “Mason your statement makes sense, I would not be surprised if that is in fact the case. Black ops units answered only to the high council of the federation. I’m not sure if they will being willing to follow our orders much less join us. Especially considering our pact with the Sentients of Primus Dawn.”

Pride interjected, “Well, with this added manpower and a suitable combat vehicle we can-”

Mason interrupted, “No! I know where this is going and we can’t do this! We’ve just fixed coms back up and we are midway through additional repairs. We couldn’t have done any of this without the sentients. Haven’t each of you seen at the pact we made is beneficial to keep?”

Pride replied, “I see your reasoning, but it is something that needs to be considered. We have an experimental cruiser that the sentients could access and steal technology meant to spur their downfall. Not only that, what makes you think that our potential reinforcements will respect this pact?”

Titus added, “Pride raises a good point. The black ops commando unit is not subject to our authority and they are an extremely deadly fighting force. Should our pact alienate them then we risk more than a mere skirmish between warborn. My assessment is that even if its only the black ops team that revolts, they can decimate the last of our legions.”

Mason argued, “That’s a possibility, but not inevitability. Some of the men belong to commander Era’s legion-”

Pride interrupted, “Only two of those men! The rest are either commandos or officers of other legions that do not share the values that both you and Era have towards the sentients!”

The atmosphere in the room tensed as Pride’s retort at Mason resulted in silence. The silence was eventually broken by Era who stated in a neutral voice, “Do you care to elaborate that statement Pride?”

Pride responded, “It has been weeks since we made that pact with the sentients. If either of you have been watching our… ‘allies’ then you would know that the guardian known as Apocalypse has been making working to make a breach in one of our sealed entrances!”

Mason uncharacteristically retorted, “Do you even know the reason for why he is making the breach? Did it ever occur to you that I asked him to breach one of our sealed doors to scavenge for needed parts in our repair efforts?!”

Titus countered, “Those doors were sealed for a reason Mason! We all agreed that it is better to seal access points since we don’t have the manpower to cover them. We even took into account salvaging benefits during our first meeting as a legion! The costs here outweigh the benefits!”

At this point the three arguing commanders were on their feet within the room. Pride and Titus allayed on one side of the meeting table with Mason on the other. All three were ignorant of the fourth commander, who silently tapped a sequence into his command tool and proceeded to stand. The other three having run out of breath took this moment to regain their composure.

Era began, “Mason has good intentions. I have reason to believe that he accounted for the extra manpower of the sentients in helping us defend the ship even with more access points. However-”

Pride replied, “That doesn’t excuse him for rash decisions without the agreement of the other commanders!”

Titus added, “I concur with Pride, this is something that could have been a severe security risk to the legion. Pride and I have-”

Era interrupted, “Be silent. Both of you decided to take things into your own hands, is that not right?”

Shocked Pride and Titus did not reply while Era continued, “I know that both of you have been preparing an Ion bomb within the manufacturing bay secretly. If you have been observant then you should have picked up that your men don’t agree with your actions. The materials need to create such a weapon are also well known to sentients as when I went to inform guardians they had known about the construction for some time.”

At this point both Pride and Titus sat back down in their seats, their helmets masking their faces but their body language was informative to the observant eye of Era as he continued, “Do you realize that the second you both began the construction of the bomb, the sentients began making a fail safe plan to seize this ship? One of the legionnaires while on a scouting mission informed this curiosity to one of your men, this one warborn had the courage to find, verify and inform me of the bomb’s construction since he couldn’t go against his unit commander. You should know that the sentients took note of this action, hence why they waited for me to come see them prior taking action.”

Mason followed, “They were preparing to attack us?”

Era replied, “Yes. They would have killed every single warborn on this vessel for our associated treachery with two commanders of the Legacy Legion. I’ve been fighting the sentients for years but I’ve never known one to betray it’s word or promise. There is a reason why so many federation planets surrendered peacefully without fighting the sentients of Primus Dawn.”

Moments of silence followed Era’s statement with realization dawning on each respective commander with differing thoughts running in their minds.

Era sat back down and tapped another sequence within his command tool, after which the doors of the room opened with four sentient legionaries walking in with two warborn from the Darkmoon, Lion and Shock units. The legionaries leveling arms at commanders Pride and Titus who in shock stood up and began to draw their weapons.

Titus yelled to his troopers, “Steel, Saren open fire on those legionaries!” However instead of leaving their laser carbines at the legionaries, they hesitantly turned their weapons on their commander and looked to Era for confirmation of an unsaid order to which Era nodded. Steel the most veteran trooper from the Darkmoon combat unit then said, “Commander Titus, I’m afraid you need to come with us to your quarters for detainment.”

Pride realizing what is happening looked to his own men and said, “What are you doing? The sentients of Primus Dawn are the enemy!” Pride drew one of his pistols only to have it blasted out of his hand by a precise shot from a legionnaire mass driver. The two troopers Quilan and Varen the Lion unit proceeded to restrain their commander.

Two legionaries then moved behind commander Mason and stood at attention. After both Titus and Pride were disarmed Era stated, “I expected this from Pride, but you Titus… to have you agree with Pride’s point of view is disappointing. Had I not taken action today then your actions would have violated the pact with made with the sentients of Primus Dawn. You may have actually succeeded in destroying the lesser sentients, but what would you do to the Guardians? They are to powerful to be killed with a Ion bomb. I take no pleasure in stripping you both of command until Mason and I regain the trust of the sentients. Steel, Quilan please take your former commanders to their quarters and detain them. Varen and Saren inform your respective units they are now under my command.”

The troopers complied and began escorting their commanders out of the room. Pride was still struggling and Titus resigned himself to his current condition. The remaining two legionaries left the room to stand guard with the loyal warborn, leaving only Era, his men, and Mason with his two legionaries.

A minute passed with the last two commanders remaining at the table until Mason broke the silence, “I thought we were just going to talk them down Era! This wasn’t a part of the plan…”

Era replied solemnly, “I know Mason. I didn’t want this to happen either. I made a deal with Harbinger and Omen that when we confronted those two and we took action then they wouldn’t involve themselves.”

Mason taking a moment to understand responded, “I know. But this doesn’t make it any easier. How did you convince them to place these legionaries under my command?”

Era shrugged while one of the legionaries responded, “Designated organic commander Mason, each legionnaire unit requested a shift in central command due to your efforts in strengthening relations.”

Era tacked on, “There you have it. Most of the warborn are loyal, or at least not willing to alienate an agreement we’ve made. It is clear that commanders Pride and Titus worked alone in this, which attributes to why the construction of the device took so long.”

Mason agreed and asked, “But what about them?”

Mason gestured to the images of the lost warborn, “How are we going to present our current situation? How will we convince them to abide by the pact and accept the leadership of newly formed 1st Legacy Legion? It isn’t beneficial that two of the founding members are imprisoned under the orders of two other founders.”

Era took a moment before replying, “The orders I dispatched out to our Jet troopers is to have the two groups rendezvous 5 miles due south of the Colossus. From there they will make their way towards the main hanger entrance of the colossus. Once they arrive we will greet them as a united front.”

Mason gestured, “Define greet them, like as a unified Legion with all four commanders or just us two?”

Era, “It is simple. Both of us, two of the four guardians of Primus Dawn, and Captain Aurelius will greet them. We need to present a united front to properly represent the Legacy Legion as it stands for. Because not only are we warborn a legacy but the sentients and the coalition of order forces legacies that need to stand united in this unknown time.”

Mason replied, “You always had a way with words Era… However, what if they refuse to join us?”

Era responded, “Then we will give them an option to withdraw, but if they decide to attack us then we will respond in kind. We must begin the preparations at once, I will begin preparing the warborn while you brief the sentients.”

Mason stated, “Very well, I will do what I can.”

The meeting was adjourned, two of the legion commanders under arrest while the remainder attempt to pick up the pieces.

Venator Star Destroyer 114 call sign “Colossus” Ship Log 352

[The Legionaries image 2]

Venator Star Destroyer 114 call sign “Colossus” Ship Log 352

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antepenultimatefantasy · 7 years

Text

FFXII Zodiac Age Playthrough Part 12

The Tower of Furries

-With Reddas in tow, it seemed like a good time to take on extra-strong side monsters.

-If you haven't noticed, I'm somewhat of a completionist (sorry these last updates are taking so long. So many sidequests!!)

-The first of these is the Esper Chaos, who is found in Nabudus. To get to him the team has to fight two other bosses first: Humbaba Mistant and Fury.

-Humbaba Mistant is a giant scary monster with a huge sword and Fury is...a cute little bunny.

-Not joking.

-But like think of the bunny from Monty Python and that's more what it's like.

-Chaos itself is a wind Esper, and is pretty nasty, like everything else in this place.

-The team also ventures deep into the great crystal of Giruvegan, which is impossible to navigate, to find an Esper named Ultima.

-The baddest bitch of them all.

-She's a fallen angel and is basically awesome. She led the rebellion against the gods that resulted in all of the game's obtainable Espers being banished from the heavens.

-After all of that (and some hunts), the team finally ventures to The Ridorana Cataract, a solitary island with a huge beautiful tower.

-It's on the edge of the world, surrounded on one side with water and on the other, waterfalls flowing into an infinite void.

-So...is Ivalice a flat Earth situation?

-Checkmate, Neil Degrasse Tyson.

-They arrive and Ashe is still equivocating on what she is going to do.

-Reddas says that if she chooses the blow-everything-up route, then it'll really suck for her.

-Before they set out, Balthier tells Vaan that if anything happens to him, Vaan gets the airship.

-Aww.

-At the foot of the Pharos entrance, the team has to square off against a zombie dragon.

-It's pretty gross.

-Luckily, after defeating it, its ashes just blow away.

-Next to the door, there is an engraving written by Raithwell. Ashe is shocked.

-Fran reminds her that the Occuria gave him a blade to cut the nethicite, so he must have left this engraving for her knowing that it would have to happen again.

-It's very cryptic and says that there are a lot of illusions, but that she should cut the true path.

-I guess that means by just walking up to the door? Because that's all she has to do to open it.

-Inside is a great open tower room with an upward waterfall. A sign indicates that the monsters here carry black orbs, which the team has to collect to dispel seals on doors and ascend.

-After opening the first door, the team is teleported to a darker version of the Sandsea, yet the map still says they're in the Pharos.

-In this inter-dimensional desert is a very angry turtle named Pandaemonium.

-What did you expect with a name like that?

-After defeating it, it runs into a wall and dies.

-Aw, that was kinda sad.

-The illusion fades away back into the Pharos and the magic binding the waystone at the entrance is broken.

-Taking the waystone teleports the team up to the tenth floor. No awkward elevator music for team Dyanst-Queen!

-On this level, the team has to defeat green-flame head statues to open up paths while avoiding red-flames.

-Higher up, they enter another illusion room, this one similar to the Ozmone Plain.

-This one has an angry fish named Slyt.

-Who named these guardians?

-Again, after defeating it, the illusion fades and the team proceeds to the second ascent on the 60th floor!

-Calves for dayz with all of these stairs.

-In the second ascent, the team must choose to relinquish attacking, magic, items, or a map to proceed.

-Items? I don't know her.

-In the illusion room near the end of the second ascent, the team encounters an angry muscle tiger person named Fenrir.

-Furry boss.

-The illusion is reminiscent of Mt. Bur-Omisace.

-After defeating him, the team gets their items back, and proceeds to the third ascent.

-Which is a color-coded teleporting puzzle.

-When they complete it and take the elevator up two levels, they get stopped by a muscly lion dude with crazy arm things.

-Furry boss v 2.0

-OMG he has a move called Roxxor. Emo furry confirmed.

-Turns out he's an Esper named Hashmal.

-Continuing on after the battle, Fran says that they're getting close.

-Penelo wonders if Ashe will choose to take revenge on the empire, and says she understands if she does. They've all lost important people.

-She says that sometimes she can see her loved ones so clearly.

-Reddas says that they are illusions that everyone experiences and wonders if Ashe will cut the true path, like the entrance to the Pharos indicated.

-The team makes it to the 100th floor and comes across the sun cryst.

-Ashe, holding both legendary swords, talks about how Raithwall last used one to make the shards. Vaan says that she's going to use it to destroy them.

-Obviously Vaan didn't get the memo that this was a monologue.

-She raises the treaty blade, and mist violently gathers at the top of the tower.

-PBT appears, and everyone can see him.

-Ashe says that she cannot exact the revenge that he asks.

-Gabranth appears and goads Ashe by telling her that he killed the king.

-Before he can attack, Reddas intervenes and recounts how he was a judge and destroyed Nabudis, then swore of his judgeship. He says no one can escape their past.

-Gabranth beats Reddas aside and Vaan takes up his sword to attack next, but he and Ashe share a long moment of mutual understanding that revenge won't heal the dead.

-Ashe turns to PBT and says that he's not the real PBT and slashes through the ghost.

-PBT speaks with an Occurian voice saying that she's their saint, and she slashes again saying that she won't be used.

-Reclaim your time!

-She says that Dalmasca never needed the dusk shard before and they don't need it now and that she will destroy the stone.

-Gabranth insists that the dead need to be avenged, but Vaan says that there's no point because they're dead.

-Gabranth then says that she can't defend her kingdom, and Basch says that he'll defend them all.

-Gabranth is very displeased at the mere existence of his twin and a boss fight begins.

-After the team defeats Gabranth (so satisfying), Cid appears and says that Gabranth is released from his service for betraying Larsa.

-Gabranth tries to attack Cid, but is thrown back by Venat.

-Cid says a whole lot really quickly about how Ashe is putting fate back in the hands of man by defying the Ocurria, which is good, but she shouldn't destroy the stone because it's so full of mist.

-Then he says that he will use the mist to summon Bahamut and to become like a god himself and fights the party.

-Halfway through the fight, Cid summons an Esper named Famfrit.

-Rude.

-After the battle, Venat appears to block Balthier from Cid. Cid tells him to let Balthier through and that he enjoyed their last six years together.

-Venat disappears, and Balthier asks a dissolving Cid if it was all worth it.

-He says that Balthier should run away as pirates do, then he dies.

-Penelo notices that Fran has collapsed from the mist, and she says that they have to run away and leave her.

-Fran.

-Did you really think everyone would just by like "kbyee"?

-Like, come on.

-Meanwhile Ashe and Vaan attempt to detory the Sun-Cryst, but the mist is blowing too hard.

-Reddas takes the sword and attacks it, blowing it all up in the process.

-There's a great cut scene where the bright light of its destruction can be seen by everyone the team has ever met from Eruyt Village, to Jahara, to Bur-Omisace, to Balfonheim.

-At the end, the team (minus Reddas) is in the Strahl outside the Pharos looking on.

-So we don't get to see Balthier huffing Fran down almost 100 flights of stairs?

-Anyway, some pretty major characters are now gone, and not much is left standing between the team and the final showdown.

-That's it for this section!

Quotes

Ashe: "Should I choose revenge, what then? Reddas: "Then your woe shall be your own."

Balthier: "I am the leading man. I need to do something heroic."

Penelo: "It's hard losing someone you care about." Vaan: "Something we've all got in common."

Vaan: "But you're going to use the sword to destory the Sun-Cryst. Aren't you, Ashe." Ashe: "Don't interrupt me, Vaan."

Ashe: "Rasler. My Prince. Our time was short. Yet I know this: You were not the kind to take base revenge!"

Gabranth: "The dead demand justice!" Vaan: "You're wrong. What would change?"

Fran: "Hadn't you best be off? That's what a sky pirate does. You fly. Don't you?" Balthier: "I suppose you'd better hang on then.

#ffxii the zodiac age #final fantasy #playthrough #vaan #ashe #penelo #balthier #fran #basch #PBT

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redrobinhoods · 3 years

Text

Age of Heroes | Chapter 7, 66

AO3 Link | 3140 words (approx) | Prologue, Chapter 6, Chapter 8

Chapter Summary: 66

CW: Character Death

“Loyalty means everything to the clones.” – Anakin Skywalker

“He wiped his hyperspace travel and fuel records.”

Wolffe growled and raised his comm. “Any update on the Separatist leaders?”

“No, sir. We think they may have fled the planet.” One of his men responded.

“Keep looking.” Wolffe huffed, resisting the urge to kick the burnt remains of General Grievous over the edge of the platform.

“Patience, Wolffe. I am sure that a solution will present itself.” Plo Koon stepped out of the cockpit of the fighter and sat on the wing next to Wolffe. “Even if we fail in our efforts now, you did very well in destroying Grievous.”

Wolffe took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself. “Thank you, General Plo. It’s been an honor to serve with you, sir.”

“The honor has been mine, Commander.”

A beep from a comm interrupted them. Wolffe reached into the hidden compartment on his belt and pulled out the holocomm that he had never used before, though he knew its purpose. “It’s the Chancellor.”

“Then you had best take it.” General Plo patted Wolffe on the shoulder. Wolffe nodded and walked across the platform to take the call. The Chancellor appeared in his hand, at least, it should’ve been the Chancellor. He didn’t recognize the hooded man before him, but he did know his voice, and he did know his command.

“It is time. Execute Order 66.”

Wolffe felt strangely empty. “Yes, my Lord.” The hologram of the Chancellor faded away and he put the holocomm back into the compartment. Clone Protocol 66. He hadn’t thought about the contingency protocols in years. He was surprised that he remembered them. Then again, they’d been engrained in him through his training.

“Are you alright, son?” His general, the supposed traitor. Wolffe was suddenly aware of the blaster he had taken into his hands.

“Stay back!” If Plo was out of reach, he wasn’t an aggressor. If he wasn’t an aggressor, Wolffe didn’t have to kill him. But those had been his orders, and good soldiers follow orders. Wolffe was a good soldier, he followed orders.

And yet, he could feel something else stirring. The feeling of dread that had been trickling down his spine reached a downpour. If General Plo was a traitor, he would’ve felt it. He knew his brothers were dying. He couldn’t have explained how, but he knew that across the galaxy clones were being killed by the Jedi. His hand began to tremble. But not his Jedi. They weren’t being killed by his Jedi, and they had fired first. This was all a misunderstanding. Any moment now a counterorder would be given and they could grieve. But the order didn’t come. He was muttering something under his breath, a phrase that had been encoded in him for as long as he could remember, that was so familiar to him that he didn’t register his chant.

“Wolffe. Let me help you.” General Plo took a step in his direction, Wolffe scrambled backwards to keep the distance between them as he raised the blaster.

“Stay away from me.” Maybe if he backed up then Wolffe could lower his blaster. He needed to lower his blaster. He needed to lower his blaster after he had fired it and obeyed orders like a good soldier. General Plo was lying to him, he would kill him too. But General Plo wasn’t lying and Wolffe could feel waves of concern coming off the man. He wanted to help; the Chancellor was wrong. Wolffe couldn’t breathe.

“Wolffe.” He took another step closer, too close. His hands were at his side, his lightsaber could spring into his hand at any moment and he could kill Wolffe. He was going to kill him. The Chancellor was right, he wanted to kill him; the Jedi were traitors.

Wolffe had orders, and he was a good soldier. He followed his orders.

He barely registered the slight pressure he put on the trigger, the kickback of the blaster in his hand, or the tears falling from his eyes. The only thing he could see was the look of betrayal on his former general’s face as he died.

---

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood side-by-side with Commander Cody, looking over Mandalore from the bridge of their Venator, watching the return of the last of their forces from the surface. A clone carrying a datapad approached from behind.

“General Kenobi, Commander Cody, the latest briefing has come in.”

“Thank you, Wooley. We’ll take it in the command center.” Cody turned to Obi-Wan. “Want to have a look?”

Obi-Wan smiled. “I’m sure it’s more good news, but alright.” He followed his commander to the briefing room, closing the door behind them. In the sound of the door, he missed the chime of a holocomm. “From what I understand, Master Plo has managed to retake Utapau completely. However, Separatist leadership is nowhere to be found on the planet. They must have fled when the Wolfpack showed up. Maybe this briefing will have more on information on-, Cody, are you listening?”

Cody stood still, holding his helmet in one hand and the holocomm in the other. He slowly returned the holocomm to his belt as he let his helmet fall to the floor.

“Cody?” Obi-Wan stepped forward. Cody’s eyes were glassy and unfocused, his pupils dilated so much as to nearly hide the golden of his irises. “Cody, CC-2224, can you hear me?” Cody blinked slowly, as if it was an effort, then raised his blaster from its holster.

The first shot missed. The second would have hit its target had Obi-Wan’s lightsaber not sprung into his hands. “Cody!”

“Good soldiers follow orders; good soldiers follow orders.” Cody was muttering under his breath as he advanced upon Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan ducked under another blaster shot and raked his lightsaber across the door controls, sealing them in.

“Cody, you are a good soldier. Fight it!” Obi-Wan blocked the next two shots but was unable to block Cody’s lunge. Cody’s fingers wrapped around Obi-Wan’s throat and pushed him into the wall. Obi-Wan reached into the Force and flung Cody across the small room. Cody’s head made contact with the metal wall, and he fell limp to the floor.

Obi-Wan advanced slowly towards the clone, stopping and stepping back when Cody rolled over onto his side. Where his head had been was a smear of blood.

“Kill me.”

Obi-Wan walked over to his commander with caution. Though Cody’s blaster lay halfway across the room behind Obi-Wan the man was still exceptionally skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Obi-Wan knelt by Cody’s side, tensed for an attack that never came.

“Obi-Wan.” The sound of his name brought his focus to Cody’s face. His pupils were no longer dilated, and his eyes focused on Obi-Wan’s face. “Please kill me. I can’t-,“ his body jerked in on itself, “-soldiers follow-” as he let out a pained gasp, “-I can’t stop it.”

Obi-Wan gathered his injured commander in his arms and pressed Cody’s forehead into the crook of his neck, his hand resting on the nape as he tapped into Cody’s presence in the Force. The commander’s energy was weak and pained. And fading. Obi-Wan came to a decision. He found Cody’s heartbeat with his sword-hand and shakily pressed the hilt of his lightsaber against the drumming.

“Please, Obi-Wan.” A pained mutter into Obi-Wan’s shoulder. He felt Cody grasp the lightsaber hilt below his hand, holding it steady. In the Force, Cody’s energy began to flicker, disappearing into nothingness.

“I’m sorry, Cody.” Obi-Wan ran his fingers through Cody’s hair for a few moments before his hand stilled, holding the commander’s face against his robes, and he pressed down on the activator of his lightsaber. Cody jerked once in his grasp, letting out a muffled cry, then was still.

---

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

Anakin looked horrible. He refused to look Rex in the eye, focusing instead on the right cheek. For many beings this would have been an imperceptible slight, but for a solider it was horrific. What orders could come from a general who was unable to look his men in the eye as he gave them a command? He waited until the door to the barracks briefing room closed before he spoke.

“I did, Commander Rex. I need you to prepare the men.”

“Sir, what’s going on?”

Anakin set a hand on Rex’s shoulder and was finally able to make eye contact with his right-hand man. “You’ve been promoted, Rex, to lead the march on the Jedi Temple.” Rex’s mouth opened and closed as he tried to find the words to form a response. He was getting a headache. Surely, he had misinterpreted what General Skywalker had said? “The Jedi have betrayed the Republic, Rex. I watched Master Windu attempt to assassinate the Chancellor myself. We must subdue them before they make another attempt to overthrow the Republic.”

“Yes, sir.” It was all he could say. Rex trusted Anakin. The man had never lied to him, had entrusted him with protecting the secret of his marriage. Rex was prepared to give his life for his general, or for Padme, or for Ahsoka. It was what he was meant to do, but it was also the ultimate way for him to thank Anakin for his honesty, hell, for his friendship. But the Jedi, traitors of the Republic?

“Find me when the 501st is ready.” Anakin squeezed Rex’s shoulder, then let his hand fall as he left the briefing room.

Rex couldn’t find it in himself to reach for his comm. His hands hung limply at his sides as he thought about what he would have to do. What his men would have to do. He reached back for the ache in the back of his skull and ran his hands along his close-shorn hair as he tried to pinpoint the location of the lingering pain. Then an agony exploded in his chest. Rex grasped at his breastplate as he fell to his knees, feeling as though his heart was on fire in his chest. Then as quickly as it started, the pain stopped.

Tears splashed down onto his armor, which remained white and uncharred. ‘Cody.’ His lips moved to form his brother’s name, but no sound came out. They had just talked, he had just been alive, but the only difference between Cody dead and Cody alive was the burn of blasterfire on his breast.

No.

A lightsaber.

This time, he had no issue raising the comm to his lips.

---

Obi-Wan set the body down gently, trying not to look at the two wet patches on his shoulder, or the blood on his hand, or notice the tears that leaked down his own cheeks. He failed on all counts, and the pain of Cody’s loss was added to the myriad of pain he was feeling through the force. He could feel Jedi being slain all across the galaxy, betrayed by the men who had served them for the past three years. He could feel the clones now too. A million voices in the Force. A wave of panic then silence in each battalion as they received the command. There was nothing he could do to help them. Obi-Wan lay Cody’s hand over his ruined chest and pushed his hair away from his face for the last time. With the wound covered, he could have been sleeping. But the dark hole in the force around the body said otherwise.

“Commander!” There was a banging on the doors. Obi-Wan looked around desperately for an escape. He found one in the ventilation system above the command table. A tight fit, but he had no other choice. No sooner had he closed the grate behind him when the doors fell inward and clone troopers advanced into the room, blasters drawn. Not daring to move for fear of making noise, Obi-Wan watched as one knelt by Cody’s body. Wooley set a hand on Cody’s chest, the other reaching for the exposed skin of Cody’s throat.

After a few moments Wooley rose and shook his head. “He’s dead, Captain.”

Another yellow-painted clone walked over and knelt by the body. He removed Cody’s hand from his heart and examined the burn.

“The Jedi killed him.” He stood up again. “Jettison the escape pods and send as many men as we can spare to guard the hanger. The Jedi must pay for his treason.”

Obi-Wan waited until the clones had left the room before shimmying further into the air ducts. He went as far as the maintenance halls before he dropped down from the shaft. The maintenance halls were empty, but he was careful to keep his footsteps light so as to not alert the clone troopers below of his presence. They were out for blood now, not simply following orders but looking to avenge the death of a brother they had all looked up to. Obi-Wan could feel their sadness and anger radiating through the Force.

When he found himself above a deserted hallway he brought out his comm. “Arfour, I need you to start up my fighter.” He stopped to listen to the string of beeps that came as a response. “If the clones ask, tell them that you have been ordered to destroy it.”

If there was a response he would never know. He shut the comm off when he heard the sound of blast doors opening beneath him. After the clones had passed, he continued through the maintenance halls until he found himself standing on the edge of the hanger. A platoon of men awaited him, standing before the doors with their hands resting on the handles of their blasters. If he moved quietly, he could perhaps slip by unnoticed. His ship was only two bays down, he could hear the hum of the engines. Using the Force, he opened the grate covering the entrance to the hall, and slipped out into the shadows of the hanger bay. He replaced the cover just as softly, and moved quickly towards his fighter, keeping to the shadows and using the Force to boost his speed and muffle his footsteps. He was climbing into the cockpit when one of the troopers turned back in a stretch.

“The Jedi!” The platoon turned, raising their blasters as Obi-Wan flung himself into the cockpit. He began to take off before the canopy had fully shut, raising the shields as soon as it sealed around him. He managed to not catch any of the blaster fire himself but heard the unmistakable squeal of an astromech as R4-P17 was hit. As soon as the shields were raised he launched his fighter into the sky, the force of the engines flinging several clones across the hanger floor.

R4 had already opened the hanger doors in preparation for the supposed destruction of the fighter and Obi-Wan set his course back towards Mandalore. Several ARC-170 fighters and some Y-wings that had accompanied the Venator turned to follow him. Obi-Wan grimaced as the fighters opened fire. Some shots collided with his starfighter but were held off by the shields. For now. He needed somewhere to go. Obi-Wan found himself punching in the coordinates for Coruscant out of habit. He would have time to think on the journey and perhaps change his destination. But if he stayed over Mandalore, he would be shot down by the men he had once commanded. Once the jump had been calculated he swerved back towards the Venator, passing through the line of fighters that pursued him, aiming for his hyperspace ring. One of the ARC-170s swerved off to pursue him, no doubt realizing his intention. But they were too far behind. Obi-Wan always kept a hyperspace loop active in case he was needed somewhere away from his fleet, and he was thankful for that preparation now. The loop locked around his fighter. With the pull of a lever, Obi-Wan left Mandalore and the 212th behind.

---

Ahsoka knew something was wrong. She sat in Rex’s bunk with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. When she had returned from the showers Rex had been gone. So, she’d waited. The words she had heard rattled around inside her head. Anakin was in such pain. She didn’t know what to do. Rex always knew what to do. Then another wave of pain hit her. Rex. He needed her. Sensing a presence at the door she stood up.

The door slid open, but instead of Rex she found Anakin standing before her. With a soft cry she flung herself into her master’s arms and he wrapped his arms around her as she let out a loud sob. Anakin ran his hand down her back headtail and held her until her breathing evened out.

“Ahsoka, something terrible has happened. The Republic has been betrayed.”

“Betrayed? By who?” Surely not-

“The Jedi Council.”

Ahsoka wanted to push Anakin away. She wanted to scream. And yet, she believed him. The Council had been so willing to throw her out without hearing her side of the story, even Master Yoda had admitted how the Dark Side of the Force was clouding their judgement. It was not impossible that they had fallen to its manipulations. Besides, Anakin had never lied to her. He had always had her back, unconditionally, and had trusted her with so many of his secrets. She couldn’t believe that he’d turn on her now.

“I want you to go to Padme and protect her for me. I would go myself, or send Rex, but we’re needed elsewhere. I need you to keep her safe. I’ll explain everything when it’s over.”

And how could she say no to that? She pulled away from his arms and nodded. “Yes, Master.”

Anakin escorted her out of the barracks to a waiting speeder. They didn’t pass anyone on their way out and she wondered where the clones were. Surely they were rallying to protect the Senate or the Chancellor.

“Take my speeder, I’ll find you when this is over.”

She nodded again, slipping behind the controls. Before she took off from the platform she looked back. There was Anakin, robes billowing in the wind. Behind him she saw Rex step out of the door to the barracks. She couldn’t read his helmeted expression and for a moment she felt guilty about leaving him behind, but Anakin would be there for him, as he always had been. Right now, Padme needed her.

Anakin watched the speeder shoot off into the Coruscant sky. Once it was out of sight, he brought out a holocomm.

“My Lord, my apprentice is out of our way.”

“Well done, Lord Vader.” Responded the hologram of Darth Sidious. “Are your men ready?”

Anakin gestured for Rex to join them and he approached. At Anakin’s side he stopped and saluted Sidious. “The 501st is ready, sir.”

Sidious nodded. “Commander, it is time to execute Order 66.”

#author note with spoilers at the end of the tags #plo koon #commander wolffe #obi-wan kenobi #commander cody #captain rex #anakin skywalker #ahsoka tano #my fics #age of heroes fic #just want to drop my favorite foreshadowing line #from chapter 6 #“If [Obi-Wan] couldn’t save Cody the least he could do would be to hold him as he died.”#and i forgot to add this tag earlier:#character death

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