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tranakin-skywalker · 5 months

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The padawans found out about it first, as padawans are wont to do. Getting into trouble without realizing the full extent of it, stumbling right into something so much larger than they could understand. In any other scenario it would have been fodder for their masters to tease their apprentices over and -later- rib one another with. But not with something like this.

Jedi, as a whole, didn’t tend to concern themselves with things such as the holonet. When there was a crisis somewhere out in the galaxy, they were typically brought into the know before even the news outlets were told, their response being what led the rest of the Republic forward.

There were of course those who would tune in to certain channels to watch their favorite soap operas, or catch up on the goings on in the parts of the galaxy outside of the Jedi’s jurisdiction, but it was really the younger generation who had any sort of presence on the ‘net.

So really, it shouldn’t have come as any surprise when a crowd of junior padawans and older initiates had gone running in search of Master Nu during their recreational time in the archives (or the several dozen senior padawans with their own personal access to the holonet who’d screamed across their quarters for their masters to come and see).

It did not take long for the news to reach the Council members, who immediately called an impromptu session to watch and review. There were many angry holocalls sent out inquiring why the Jedi hadn’t been informed of this development sooner, mostly by Adi Gallia. There were also many headaches developed, also by Adi Gallia who both dealt and received.

Mace Windu also had one such headache, brought on by watching the recording for the fifth time- or was it the sixth now?

The image was grainy, implying poor equipment, but the shot held remarkably steady throughout which spoke to some level of familiarity with filming. The grandiose excess of a Hutt residence decorated the space, covering over hard packed adobe walls and tiled floors covered in a thin layer of sand. It was apparent that this was no Nal Hutta, but the exile planet of Tatooine. This was the domain of Jabba Desilijic Tiure and- to a lesser extent- Gardulla Besadii the Elder.

Or it used to be.

The holo paned slowly over the large interior of the palace, lingering on the forms of a number of sentients, many of them scantily dressed, some of them no more than children, all of them with heavy collars around their necks. Some looked healthy, deceptively so, but there are others- thin with protruding bones, or open gaping wounds leaking out bodily fluids, and those missing whole limbs. The first few minutes were nothing but the camera moving through the inside of the palace, taking in the misery and the horror, from up in the audience hall all the way down to slave quarters deep below the palace.

There were other figures too- those dressed in dark desert weave and wearing a wide collection of masks over their faces. Some of them had what looked suspiciously like lightsaber hilts hanging from their belts.

They worked to remove the chains from the slaves while a voice spoke over the recording in Huttese. Mace wasn’t much familiar with the language, only understood a handful of words spoken. They were still working on getting the poor audio translated, but from what they were able to gather it was a rallying cry for other enslaved worlds to fight back.

The holo lingered a long moment on an opened metal collar, dried blood and bits of flesh stuck to the inside where it had rubbed skin raw. Then it cut suddenly, the screen black for a fraction of a second before suddenly illuminated with the blinding light of two suns.

The new perspective showed a town center of some sort, huge crowds of people gathered in streets and on the roofs of buildings, the camera panning down to capture the thousands of faces looking up toward the platform.

A slave auction block, they found out later.

The camera turned from the crowd to instead film the group standing atop the platform. There were more figures in black and brown, but unlike when they were within the palace, these had brightly colored cloth thrown over the rest of their attire, ponchos and scarves and wraps. Mace assumed there was some sort of cultural significance to it, but he didn’t know enough about the planet’s people to know for certain.

These, too, wore metal masks.

Beneath the desert suns it was easier to make out that most were fashioned into abstract animal faces, with fangs and horns and sweeping pieces that might have been feathers. All of them carried metal cylinders at their hips.

In the middle of the platform, surrounded by more masked guards with lit sabers in hand- colors a wash of oranges and yellows and greens and even one that looked pink- was Jabba the Hutt. Large gashes and lesions covered the expanse of his body, a heavy chain wrapped several times around his neck. It didn’t seem to be connected to anything- seemingly more of a humiliation rather than something to keep the Hutt confined.

The lightsabers pointed at him likely did well enough a job of that.

Standing between Jabba and the crowd was a lone figure in all black. If they were sweltering in the heat, they gave no indication of it, their long layers and heavy helmet seemingly inconsequential. It was a tall figure, humanoid and seemingly male in stature- though that was hard to tell beneath the dark clothing that seemed almost a parody of Jedi robes. The helmet they wore was dog-like, or at least that of a canine skull, with jaws that looked less like jaws and more like a muzzle. There was something altogether disquieting about the figure.

Tilting its head like a curious predator, the figure turned to look the camera lens dead on. It didn’t feel like someone looking into a camera, but like something looking straight through and into the view beyond.

Each time Mace had watched the recording, that single look managed to make hair prickle up on the back of his neck. An animal response.

The figure in black spoke in Basic, addressing the holo’s audience and not the crowd actually present. The voice that came out was distorted through a vocoder into something that was more hard and mechanical than organic, it was still distinctly male, and distinctly authoritative. The rest of the video would prove that this was likely the leader of the whole affair, but even in the opening minutes, it was easy to tell here stood the catalyst for all that would crumble down after.

“You say that slavery is illegal in your Republic,” the voice growled from behind the melted teeth of the dog’s jaw. “And you say that Tatooine is part of your Republic. Then what is this we stand on? What is it that the Hutt empire has made its fortunes off of? What your own halls hide and Senators pedal behind closed doors. Look at what you have turned your blind eyes away from.”

With a gloved hand, he reached to his belt and unclipped a black and gray hilt. “We will not let you look away.” He then turned to the crowd and raised the saber hilt high over his head, calling out something in a language that sounded nothing like Huttese. The crowd thundered back in unison.

The saber lit with a wash of red as violent as a wildfire.

Lowering his arm slowly, the man turned to finally face Jabba, his blade hungry and crackling at his side. He spoke again- softer this time- but still loud enough for the gathered populace to hear. Huttese again, Mace was pretty certain, something about punishment- or maybe it was justice.

For a split second on Jabba’s face there was a look of pure unfiltered terror- the sudden fear in falling with the knowledge that the ground was coming and coming up fast.

Then that hungry blade slid easily into thick Hutt skin that couldn’t be cut by any other means, sinking into the hilt, fat bubbling and cooking with the heat of it.

Jabba made a noise that Mace never, ever wanted to hear again.

The man dragged the blade down- slowly- guts spilling out from where the Hutt was being unzipped like a field-dressed carcass, still wriggling. Jabba moved a lot less than someone being methodically disemboweled should, but that might have something to do with the dog-skulled man’s left hand being raised up like an open claw. Like he was pinning the crime lord in place with sheer will or- more concerningly- with the Force.

That obsidian black mask seemed to give a jackal grin as the red blade was pulled from the Hutt’s body and Jabba Desilijic Tiure was unceremoniously dropped to slowly die on the same platform where thousands of people had been bought and sold.

Stepping away from the smoking body, the Sith- for what else could this monster be but a Sith?- flicked his blade to the side as if trying to rid it of gore. A useless endeavor for a plasma blade, but there was something almost poignant about the move.

He stood facing the screaming, cheering crowd, but his head was tilted sideways just slight enough to look back at the camera from the inky black socket of the dog’s eye.

“You’ve spent long enough ignoring us. I suggest you start paying attention now.”

The feed cut to black.

#my writing #fic: groundwater #fic excerpt #ignore any spelling mistakes it's 2:30 am and i have not edited any of this

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ao3feed-supercorp · 2 years

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A Heart for a Heart

by LesbihonestGuys

Tight fists open briefly only to close again around a fistful of blonde hair as Lena closes the distance between her and the taller hero. Kara sputters at the proximity, but thinks Lena may just need a hug; she’s left with wide, confused eyes when she feels harsh but incredibly soft lips against her own.

Everything stops. There’s nothing but silence in Lena’s head as her brows pinch together, not knowing what she expected from this. Fireworks, temporary relief, maybe Kara’s hands on her waist, Kara pulling her in, Kara pushing her away. But Kara’s hands hover in the air like they’re up in surrender, eyes remaining open in shock, lips remaining unmoving but so soft and torturously sweet.

When Lena pulls away, gasping at her mistake with her shaking hand over her mouth, Kara remains frozen in place. This time Kara’s the one panicking with a pounding in her head, ringing in her ears, and mouth gaping. Lena's out the door before Kara can even blink.

━━━━━━━━━▲━━━━━━━━━

The friends to enemies to enemies with benefits to enemies again to friends again and to lovers trope that is way overdone.

Words: 26500, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F

Characters: Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, Kara Zor-El, Alex Danvers, Kelly Olsen (Supergirl TV 2015), James "Jimmy" Olsen, Nia Nal, Querl Dox, J'onn J'onzz | Hank Henshaw

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Kara Danvers & Lena Luthor

Additional Tags: Porn With Plot, Porn with Feelings, Angst with a Happy Ending, Super angsty, Enemies With Benefits, Friends With Benefits, Angry Sex, Secret Identity, Lena Luthor Finds Out Kara Danvers is Supergirl, Jealousy, They Both Make Mistakes But It's Okay In The End

from AO3 works tagged 'Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor' https://ift.tt/0L7kvFD via IFTTT https://ift.tt/0L7kvFD

#supercorp #Kara x Lena #Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor #karlena

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booklindworm · 2 years

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Amatakka word list, part 9

ome - lantern, guiding light, lighthouse [conjecture re: omi]

omi - name derived from ome-si, light the way, meaning “She Who Lights the Way.” [Ben Naasade 17.36.4]

opaku - spare parts, from Jawaese opakwa (not gendered) [BLW]

orpali - orpali dragon, a reptilian native to Nal Hutta considered a delicacy by the Hutts (n) [SWtOR //translation by BLW]

orrin - bird of prey, from orn (Ryl) (n) [BLW]

padu - absolve, show mercy, redeem, forgive (not gendered) [BLW]

palaku - dune lizard, reptiloid creature hunted or kept as food by the Tusken (from the Ryl word palakwi for lizard) (n) [SW Galaxies //translation by BLW]

pampaq - jewel, jewelry (from Ryl) (not gendered) [BLW]

parin - 1 thinker, dreamer, philosopher (n) [BLW]

parin - 2 personal name [Children of the Desert]

paspa - waterfowl, duck (n) [BLW]

patilu - rope, cord, string (not gendered) [BLW]

patu - canal, border (not gendered) [BLW]

penu - disguise, mask (not gendered) [fialleril, july 31, 2016]

peri - human-presenting; a near-human, human, or human-based hybrid (n) [BLW]

perka - man, male adult human (m) [BLW]

pika - sweet fruit grown in oases on Tatooine; they look like small, blue aubergines (not gendered) [SW Galaxies //translation by BLW]

pikot - pikot root (a Tatooine word) (not gendered) [fialleril, January 02, 2017]

pokki - pokki aka pocky grubs were a type of plant; its seeds were smashed open (not gendered) [KotOR //translation by BLW]

polta - type of legume that could be cooked into a gruel, also called polta beans (not gendered) [TPM]

potta - podracer vehicle (from Huttese) (not gendered) [BLW]

pu - but (not gendered) [probably fialleril, not sure]

puk - plant grown on Tatooine (not gendered) [SW Galaxies]

puntan - poonten grass, used for bedding (not gendered) [Complete Locations //translation by BLW]

qahnu - worm (n) [BLW]

qalu - roast, burn (not gendered) [BLW]

qelin - talk, tell a story (not gendered) [BLW]

qelinnu - story (not gendered) [BLW]

qish, qishhu - melon, cucumber, or gourd (not gendered) [BLW]

rahlika - sandsea (a Tatooine word) (not gendered) [BLW]

rah-sese - sandfly, a species of fly commonly found in the cracked eaves of pourstone buildings and occasionally on moisture vaporators; their grubs could be eaten when cooked (n) [BLW]

rahshi - sandy, like sand (not gendered) [BLW]

rahshum - sandsnake (n) [BLW]

rahshu, rah - sand (not gendered) [BLW]

ralthin - stew, grup, cooked food (not gendered) [fialleril, January 02, 2017]

ranak - rancor (n) [Return of the Jedi //translation by BLW]

ranta - territory, space, state (not gendered) [BLW]

rap - mouth, tongue, words, the way someone speaks (not gendered) [BLW]

rappali - 1 little mouth (not gendered) [fialleril, July 22, 2018]

rappali - 2 a kind of bird that feeds on insects (kirik flies) by scooping them from the air with their enormous gaping maws (n) (a Tatooine word) [fialleril, July 22, 2018]

rappali - 3 person known for gossiping or trading in secrets “Don’t pay too much attention to Seek. He’s always catching kirik flies.” (n) (a Tatooine word) [fialleril, July 22, 2018]

rappal - mouth (not gendered) [conjecture re: rappali]

rasca - name of a member of the Darklighter family on Tatooine, Rasca Yanome, a cousin of Biggs' (f) [ANH novelization]

rashparris - sand raiders, dune biters, mixed groups of outlaws terrorizing settlers and sand people equally (n) [Naasade DS 20 Mirage //translation by BLW]

ratapa - knife, from Jawaese (not gendered) [BLW]

rattika - protector (m) [conjecture re: amarattu]

rattike - protector (o) [conjecture re: amarattu]

rattiku - protector (f) [conjecture re: amarattu]

ratti, rattiki - protector (n) [conjecture re: amarattu]

rattu - protection, help (not gendered) [conjecture re: amarattu]

ravvor - raivor, non-sentient, predatory reptiloid creature native to Tatooine, valued for their hide [WotC "The Raivor" //translation by BLW]

relkin - guide (not gendered), often specifically used to mean a guide on the freedom trail [fialleril, may 20, 2016]

rethka - strider, walker (m) [conjecture re: ekreth, kereth, terakreth]

rethke - strider, walker (o) [conjecture re: ekreth, kereth, terakreth]

rethku - strider, walker (f) [conjecture re: ekreth, kereth, terakreth]

reth - strider, walker, one who walks with purpose (n) [conjecture re: ekreth, kereth, terakreth]

riiv - ship, from Jawaese reve (not gendered) [BLW]

rillika - Dunesea (from Jawa-ese Sea - Lika, and Dune - Rillo) (a Tatooine word) (not gendered) [BLW]

rillo - dune (from Jawa-ese Dune - Rillo) (a Tatooine word) (not gendered) [BLW]

rinnu - rebirth, renewal, from Ryl rynne (not gendered) [BLW]

riya-chelik - freedom trail (not gendered) [fialleril, May 20, 2016]

riya - trail, path (not gendered) [conjecture re: riya-chelik]

ronto - ronto, large, quadruped saurian herbivores commonly used as beasts of burden (n) [ANH]

rubakk - rust, from Jawaese rubac (not gendered) [BLW]

rukka - spinner, spider (n) [BLW]

Ru - Nal Hutta has Ru, the boy who lived and drowned and lived again (m) [Ben Naasade: Fallout]

runan - Rylothean outcast (e.g. Bib Fortuna) (n) [BLW]

rutu - abort, stop, end (not gendered) [BLW]

rykritt - rycrit, bovine creature with a nasty temper raised by twi'leks as a food source (n) [BLW]

rylotakka - Ryl, language of the (frequently enslaved) twi'leks from the planet Ryloth (not gendered) [BLW]

rymalla - farewell (from the abbreviated version of ryma gesu tak allesh (Ryl)) (not gendered) [BLW]

sahru - broom (not gendered) [BLW]

samgedim - desert gin, lit. bad alcohol, a kind of moonshine common on Tatooine, and cheaper than water or fresh milk (not gendered) [Naasade DS 20 Mirage //translation by BLW]

sapa - dye, soak, marinade (not gendered) [BLW]

sapu - soak, drench (not gendered) [BLW]

sasaila - smoke moth, an insect from Nal Hutta [Lords of Nal Hutta //translation by BLW]

sasi - moth, any type of moth (n) [BLW]

seek - 1 peace, peaceful (not gendered) [BLW]

seek - 2 personal name [Children of the Desert]

orn, palakwi and pampy as Ryl words are from the Star Wars Roleplaying Game Galactic Campaign Guide.

rinnu is derived from Ryl rynne, a religious term for rebirth or renewal; rynne, runan, and ryma gesu tak are adapted from Zach Lee's Project Twilex.

#amatakka #conlang #wordlist #star wars #my headcanons #Double Agent Vader #Ben Naasade Saga

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leo-gold-hotchner · 2 years

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Room Service

It’s been sometime I’ve wrote fanfic fanfic lol... or that’s how I think.

Aaron Hotchner X Reader

It should be a holiday for you and your teammates, but hell no. The crimi-fucking-nals did not leave the BAU alone. You sighed as you finished a glass of red wine you ordered from room service. You normally don't use the room service but screw that. It was a new year, and having wine while bathing felt so good. You have a right to feel relaxed for a bit, not thinking about the case or UNSUB. You soaked yourself in the lukewarm water for a minute before exited the bathtub. Your body shivered as the cold air touched your skin. As you showered, suddenly, an image of Hotch appeared in your head.

Why?

For a brief moment, just briefly, you thought about touching yourself. The warm water felt like hot steam, tingling your senses.

No. Can’t. Shouldn’t.

‘Haveta look on the case.’

You shook your head and turned the cold water. The steam quickly dissipated, leaving your body cold as ice.

You picked the ice bucket and a wine glass from the bathroom floor. The towel was large, but it wasn’t large enough to wrap around your body. It was late so that no one would be in the floor aisle. Without a deep thought, you tucked the towel vertically under your chin so the towel could hide your front. Hopefully.

With such a light thought, you opened the door and checked the aisle with your head picking out. No one. Good.

First, you put out the ice bucket. Mission accomplished. And the wine glass and the round black tray. As you hurried, the glass fell and saw leftover wine was smearing on the aisle carpet. You cursed inwardly and tried to move the wine into the tray with your bare feet. But life didn’t go well as it was planned. As far as you stretch your toes, it felt like cramping all over your feet. You growled in frustration, ventured out from your room, and stood the glass straight up. And that moment, the door shut closed. Your eyes widened, and you tried to open the door.

No. No. No!

This can’t be happening! You thought desperately. An FBI agent was naked -well front covered but as good as naked- in a hotel aisle. You were going to be all over the internet. No! Not that!

You thought about knocking on your friends’ doors. Maybe JJ or Reid. The two people won’t make fun of you. But then, JJ was with Emily, and Reid shared his room with Morgan. When you thought you were so happy to win a room for yourself, this was the consequence.

You were nearly panicked. You desperately wished this was a dream, and suddenly the door would open.

Alas, no. You placed your forehead on the door as you gave up opening the tightly locked door.

You have to go down to the lounge this. A piece of cotton barely covering your front. Maybe Dave? He can also be mischievous, but he won’t make fun of something like this. Right?

“L/N?” A stunning voice came from your left, and your body stiffened.

You didn’t look up, but you knew he was coming closer. You heard a low sharp intake and finally looked up at him. Hotch quickly diverted his eyes and turned his face to the side. But you saw him glancing at your body.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

You had to say something but couldn’t. Your voice stuck at your throat, only gaping your mouth like a goldfish.

“What’re you doing?” Your boss cleared his throat, his eyes closed.

“I locked myself out,” you said in a scarcely audible voice.

He finally looked at you and looked over your behind, probably looking at the ice bucket and the glass wine.

“Come.” He unlocked his room and invited you over quickly.

------Hotch-------

“Room service?” Hotch asked in a low voice as you sat down on his bed, hiding your body behind the towel.

“Yes, sir,” you replied weakly.

“Now you’re in my room. Does it mean you’re my room service, F/N?”

As soon as he finished, your face was inflamed with heat. Before you could reply or see his face, something covered your face.

You put down the thing and found it was Hotch’s shirt.

“Wear that. I don’t think the staff will be happy to see you at that state in their hotel.” You heard his snort.

Well, wearing Hotch’s shirt. You hid your smile behind the shirt as Hotch sighed.

“Um, how bout pants?” You mumbled and gulped as Hotch raised his brow.

“I’ll go and ask them,” he crossed his arms over his chest. “You stay here, don’t lock yourself out again.”

“Yes, sir.” You gave him a thankful smile.

------Hotch-------

Smelling your boss’ scent from his shirt, you rolled on his bed for a bit. You quickly raised to your feet as soon as you heard the door opening. Hotch squinted his eyes a little, but you ignored him.

“Your door’s open, L/N.”

Your face lightened, and you thanked him. “I’ll wash it and return to you, Hotch.”

He only nodded under the dim light. You opened the door to exit.

“F/N,” he called you. Hearing your name rolling on his tongue sent you a jolt of electricity. “If you want to smell my shirt, I can borrow you another one later.”

From his voice, you knew he wasn’t joking. You felt him standing behind you. You could literally feel his breathing next to your ear. You feared if he could hear your heart racing.

“Goodnight, F/N,” he whispered lowly.

“Goodnight, Aaron,” your voice trembled in ecstasy and exited his room.

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #Criminal Minds #criminal minds fanfic

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previousloversandmuses · 3 years

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Slow Burn - Prologue

Part I | masterlist

A/N: This is a “must read” precursor to the whole series. Please read it to know what the origin story is.

Pairing: Y/N x Obi Wan Kenobi

Words: 2048

Warnings: None. Brief mentions of violence. Low self esteem.

I am always one to experience emotions at a heightened frequency. Dangerous for a Jedi in training I know, but the council never took it as a sign of caution, just a minor set back. Happiness is bright, and beaming, even painful. My cheeks hurt for days after, smile lines sculpting my skin too early in life. Anger is powerful, my skin becoming vicious, and hot. Ripping through me like a silver bullet, and tearing my already unrelenting gut apart. I am loud, I am violent, and most of all, passionate. I would later become grateful of this curse, turning it into a blessing. Sadness is so deep. Tears crash like an ocean, and my heart would ache in my chest. The physical symptoms of my despair become overwhelming, and make me sick.

A fresh eighteen myself, my graduation is only a year or so away. Compared to other padawans, ones that don’t deal with the same struggles as myself, have already been graced with knighthood. They make their masters proud, and have already completed more missions at sixteen than I think I ever will in my entire career.

I had the choice to become independent, to take my morals by the throat, and shove them deep down inside me, never to be seen again- but it really just isn’t that easy. See, I’m taking this time for meditation, or even a “behavioral therapy” of sorts. I have meetings with other council members, more powerful, and more prominent than my own master, who is often off tending to matters elsewhere. A mighty general he is, but they see me as someone who would cause more of a distraction, so I stay here at the temple left to my own devices. Sometimes I think it may be because I’m a woman, and other times I just take a good look in the mirror and recall the outburst that has stained my face only minutes before.

Today was like any other; wake up, meditate, exercise, study, combat training, study, try and find time to eat something, and study. I walked down the main hallway with Master Yoda. He spoke to me about how he once struggled with his emotions as well, but with enough meditation, learned how to keep them at bay. Looking down at him and his vacant expression, I was surprised he had ever even felt an emotion a day in his life. That was until seconds later…

Stopping in my tracks, my hand flew over my heart. I recalled feeling out of breath, like my heart had physically stopped beating in my chest, or at least was trying to catch up with the rest of my body. I was shaky, yet somehow managed to take a knee. Something was off, that feeling in my chest grew and grew until I was faced with the blackest black I had ever felt. The darkest emotion to ever run through my body, as cold as ice, and heart stopping. It was deep, I felt it within the darkest abyss in my soul. It wrapped around my insides and nestled itself a home deep within the most shielded corners of my subconscious. That’s when Master Yoda felt it too. His hand flying over his heart, and steadying himself on my own shoulder. His face morphed into a snarl, gasping at the sudden pain that now infected his unwavering calm aura.

...

After a painstakingly slow recovery, I sat on the edge of my bed. My quarters were neat and tidy. My bed, usually made up in the morning, because I have always been one for a routine. My walls weren’t bare, in fact they were almost completely covered in photographs I have taken from my travels as a Padawan. I'd go to the library, and butcher borrowed books, clipping photos of different words, and alien fauna. But today, those bright colors capable of producing fantasies for hours and hours, seemed black and white.

I had been staring at the floor for sometime, desperate in trying to heal the ache in my chest. It felt as if I had a cold, like the burn after a deep cough. I felt so tight, so tense, an actual living embodiment of rigor mortis. Yet, at the same time, I hardly felt all there. It was as if my existence was floating all around me, and my shell was sitting vacant on an uncomfortable mattress. The knock on my door was enough for me to engulf myself again.

“Y/N, are you decent?” The voice asks.

“Yes,” I reply, rolling my shoulders back.

“The council has requested an audience. Please report downstairs within the next few minutes.”

I nod my head, as if whoever was behind the door could see me.

“An audience,” I think. “Let’s add another year to that training plan, shall we?”

...

Walking downstairs to the council room, I can’t help but feel that all eyes are on me. They cut through me like a hot knife, slicing me thin. I feel so vulnerable. Like everyone around me can feel what I feel, and if I’m being honest, they probably do. A good Jedi who is in tune with the force, and especially in tune with others, can sense an intense emotion from a mile away. I’m sure at this moment I pretty much equate to an open book. No reason to try and hide it, force knows I struggle with concealing even an inkling of agitation.

Seeing the council room in sight, I take a deep breath. This is it. I’m done for. This reaction was way too over the top. I’ve scared people, I’ve scared Master Yoda. Might as well just turn in my saber now and call it a day.

I walk into the door. Only a few masters sit scattered around. Master Yoda of course perched dead center, Master Windu waiting patiently to his right. But my master was nowhere in sight. You’d think if they were going to terminate me, that maybe my own mentor would be among them? Shaking his head, sending me glares that one could only compare to fucking daggers. He was tough on me for sure, maybe he was too ashamed of what I’d done to even bear to see me in this moment.

“Coming here so quickly you did,” Starts Master Yoda. “Grateful we all are.”

I smile and bow my head.

“Y/N,” Master Windu starts. “We’re here to discuss the events that happened earlier.”

Oh god here it comes. This is it. I’m totally done for. I can’t even keep myself calm now. My face, getting hotter and more red by the second, is going to be the biggest tell. At least let me go out with some dignity.

“Your reaction, what you felt at least, was not just brought on out of the blue. Master Yoda had the same experience, as did all of us on the council, and most Jedi and padawans in the temple.”

“I don’t understand.” I say.

“At around 1 Coruscant time, an enemy bomb was detonated on Nal Hutta.”

Then it hit me. My heart sinking, I began to shake my head.

“Unfortunately, Unit 505, and Master Cato were all killed on impact.”

My ears ring. Slowly, I move over to a chair, bracing myself.

“That’s,” I start, trying to find the words to say. “He would’ve felt it, all of them would, I don’t understand.”

“We have a feeling it was planted by a Sith. That’s the only way it would’ve clouded any judgement.”

I slump into it, my vision going black, my head spinning.

Master Cato has been with me since I was a very little girl. Although rough, tough, and brutally honest, he has done nothing but be a father to me time and time again. Everything I do is a reflection of him. He had been so busy at war, fighting day in and day out, I caught myself missing the commands, and demands I once so passionately despised. I took our whole relationship for granted, and now, is this the price I have to pay? The last time we spoke he told me how disappointed he was in my outburst in my Alien Fauna lab. I was being stubborn, I was bratty, and rolled my eyes. We had argued that entire call. He didn’t even attempt to say goodbye. Now, for an eternity, I will have to face the catastrophic guilt of my actions. Live with the fact that I never, ever told him how much I appreciated him. And even, how much I loved him so. The closest thing to family in my life, gone, in the snap of a finger.

Both Master Yoda and Master Windu continued to talk but it all felt like empty words. I couldn’t hear them anyway.

“Although this situation isn't ideal, we and the rest of the council applaud you for being able to feel something most of us haven’t been able to experience yet.” Claimed Master Windu.

I don’t listen. I stand up again.

“What am I going to do? I don’t feel comfortable with being knighted yet. I had- we were working on so many things I-,” I stumbled on my words.

“You’ll get placed with a new master.”

“There are no new masters. And even if I had been trained a certain way, I don’t know how to learn otherwise.”

There is silence.

“The force works in mysterious ways. Meant to happen, I feel.”

I scoff. “Meant to happen,” what an evil thing to say.

I begin to walk off, stopping of course, only to get in the last word.

“Not only have you told me that my master has been killed, but you lack any empathy. There is no emotion in your eyes. Nothing.”

“We mourn your master y/n, just as much as you do. You know what we stand for. You know our view on attachments.”

“He's like-,” I choke. “He was like my father.”

I can’t even begin to explain the pain I feel. Disgust in myself, I should’ve been better. I could’ve been better. The last few years of our relationship I’ve just been behaving poorly and rebelling, and then getting angry at him when he made me face the consequences. Like I wasn’t aware of the job I was made to do. I should’ve been nicer, I could’ve been nicer. It’s all going in a circle, all the things I should’ve done just morphed into things I couldn’t do. Maybe I was too emotional. Maybe my tears that fell leading up to this moment was all part of the plan, the final kicker to show that I wasn’t apathetic enough for this job. My empathy, my burning passion will always be my biggest flaw. This hole that gapes inside of me will never be filled, and now it grows bigger. It’s like a disease. Am I enough? Will I ever be enough?

“Put you with Master Kenobi, we will.” States Master Yoda.

Master Windu is quick in turning his head. He glares at him.

“Master Yoda, General Kenobi has just finished his training with Anakin. It is far too early to give him a new Padawan, if at all.”

Yoda nods, almost giggling.

“Yet so freshly knighted, a Padawan Anakin already has. Obi Wan will have no problem with taking on a student. Graduates soon, she will.”

“But General Kenobi and I have two completely different methods of combat, let alone ideals.” I scoff.

“All Jedi have the same ideals.” Adds Windu.

“He is a Jedi guardian, I am a Jedi sentinel-“

“Train with General Kenobi you will. Not long ago he also lost his master too soon.”

Master Yoda nods to me. He stands up and walks over to the large windows behind him. Looking out over Coruscant, he takes a deep sigh of relief.

“Master Windu,” says Yoda. “Get in contact with the 212th battalion.”

I watch on as my fate now rests in a stranger's hands.

#obi wan kenobi #obi wan kenobi smut #obi wan kenobi x you #obi wan kenobi x reader #obi wan fic #anakin skywalker #anakin x obi wan #ahsoka tano #star wars #star wars smut

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finn-ray-nal-beads · 3 years

Note

BABY! CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 FOLLOWERS!

I HAVE A SMUTTY ASK (OBVIOUSLY) FOR MY GOBLIN HUSBAND PHILLIP (SHOCKING I KNOW)

IM THINKING PUBLIC TEASING, FOLLOWED BY SOME SEMI-PUBLIC SHENANIGANS BEFORE BEING RAILED BACK HOME IF YOU COULD BE SO KIND! THANK YOU MY ANGEL💖

@historyandfandoms50 I LITERALLY DON’T EVEN MIND IN THE SLIGHTEST AND I COULD HAVE GUESSED YOU WANTED A PHILLIP FIC.... I WONDER WHY?????

I AM SO EXCITED TO WRITE THIS FOR YOU BABE I JUST LOVE YOUR SLUTTY ASS!🤤

“P-Phil,” you whispered panicked as you crossed your legs under the dinner table, the warm vibration of the little bullet causing the ripples to spread through your lower half.

He smirked, flipping the volume up slowly on his phone as he let out a cough to stifle your hand gripping his thigh under the crowded restaurant.

“What’s goin’ on babe?” he pandered to your scrunched face, the waves beginning to build more and more as you let out low breaths from your nostrils, “something wrong with the food?” his lips pouting as he sipped on his wine, his phone safely in his farthest pocket as he pat the spot.

“Y-you k-know exactly w-what,” straining your voice just enough to catch the attention of Paul across the table.

“Y/N?” he set his fork down, watching as you slowly scooted around yin your chair, the speed picking up on your clit as you took a huge swig of water, “everything okay?” his eyebrow raising as he watched your embarrassed and aroused face smile at him.

You slammed a hand on the table, a laugh escaping Phillip as he dialed the notch to the highest degree, hearing your gasps while you pushed your thighs closed as tight as possible.

Your disheveled behavior signaling most of the people surrounding your group to look over at you as you held a shaky thumbs up.

“J-just f-f-f-i-i o-oh f-fuck!” the pleasure sweeping over you in a huge tsunami while your doting boyfriend kept his chuckling up, clearing his throat while his cock twitched in his slacks.

Your cries now signaling most of the restaurant to glance at you, flipping your hair back as you smoothed your dress over yourself, the overstimulation causing you to wince openly.

“I-I’m s-sorry,” you whispered, taking another sip of water, “this chicken is j-just s-so good,” cooing as you took a hesitant bite, smiling as you chewed and completely mortified at what had just occurred.

“Is it honey?” he cooed in your ear, kissing the side of your cheek as he smirked, exhaling a breath on your lobe as his aftershave wafted in your nose.

“I think I may wanna have what you’re having,” Wendy piped up, signaling the waiter to grab her the same dish as you took another bite of the chicken, sipping on some wine while you sat in your own spend the remainder of the dinner.

His hand brushed the inside of your thigh, teasing your wetness again as he nestled his face in your neck. Kissing your pulse as his family droned on about the week they had.

“I wanna take you home so fuckin’ bad right now baby doll,” his deep baritone vibrating to your core while you let out a pained moan that only he could hear.

“Then what are you waiting for?” moving your face to meet his while a hand snaked to tickle his goatee, “you already are in for a whippin’ anyway,” smirking as you pecked a kiss on his waiting lips.

“Oh is that so?” his eyebrows raised, “wasn’t it you who suggested that we should spice things up tonight, darling?” his pandering insufferable as you popped your tongue on the roof of your mouth.

“Not admitting to shit, huh?” he giggled, swirling his wine again to stare you down, your eyes becoming slits as you shook your head in shame.

“You’re so hot when you’re mad,” his toothy smile peeking through the glass as he took a sip, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, making you salivate at the sight. Your lips curled in your teeth as you tried to hold back sucking a hickey over it in front of the family.

“What are you lookin’ at angel?” he cooed, placing the cup on the cloth again to rub his hands on your thighs, your faces coming within inches of each other again making you revel in his signature scent. His buttons straining in his dress shirt as he reached his frame to you, enveloping you in the deepest of kisses, shoving his tongue with yours.

“Okay,” brushing his very prominent erection in agreement, “I think you need to go home honey,” gripping his girth as he hitched a breath from the touch.

He coughed again slightly, pushing his seat back and saluting his family as he grabbed your hand to escort you in front of him to leave the restaurant, bidding everyone goodbyes and air kisses while you sauntered your curves out of the doors.

The drive back was excruciating, the bullet whizzing on your clit again as he couldn’t help himself with his new torture toy. Every stop light he changed the mode on it, beckoning a moan from your lips while he adjusted in his seat.

His erection was so hard by the time you pulled in to the driveway he practically forgot to switch the car off to carry your ass inside.

Bursting through in a fit of teeth, tongue, hands, and flailing appendages, he slammed the door with his large foot, taking the stairs to the bedroom with you bridal style two by two with you latched to his lower lip.

He threw you on the bed, wiping the crimson from his mouth as he ripped his shirt off in one tug, your dress falling off of you in the blink of his eye as he took in your laced body.

“Good God,” he hissed, lowering himself over you on the plush comforter, a fit of hair sprawled in a halo around your gorgeous face as he sucked in a breath, “how did I get the hottest wife in the whole world?” his lips kissing your jawline as you found his locks in your fingers.

“You’re a smooth talker you naughty boy,” whispering with a chuckle as you pulled his throbbing cock to meet your entrance, “now fuck me like you mean it,” clawing his back as he lowered himself to touch your forehead with his.

“Yes ma’am,” smirking as his gaze met his head, tapping on the top of the key before he inched himself in your sopping hole, “I think I gotta warm you up that way more often,” feeling your tightness choke his girth as he settled himself deep within you.

“Shut your gorgeous mouth and fuck me babe,” you strained, his grin meeting you again as he set a punishing pace over you, the headboard banging the wall with every push he made.

“Mmmm.. such a dirty little mouth my pretty wife has,” grunting at the feeling of your nails digging into his meaty shoulders, his tits straining with every moan he made over you.

Melting into each other as the wails continued, and the pacing sped up. His tip touching your G-spot as he changed his angle slightly, making you choke on the air in a cry.

“There we fuckin’ go,” he mused, pushing even further and faster as you cried under him, the sensation sending waves upon waves of fire through your spine as your release rose to new heights.

“Fuckin’ cum all over my cock angel,” he growled, the sweat dripping from his short locks onto your glistening skin, digging into his biceps as you stared into his blackened eyes.

“You’re so pretty when you cum for me baby doll,” he cooed, the damn breaking as a feral wail left your lungs, the pleasure sending you into overdrive as he reveled in your second climax of the night.

It lasted longer than you could count, the ringing in your ears clouding the sounds in the room as you felt his warmth coat your insides in the most delicious way.

The fog lifting when his movements slowed down, hearing his heavy pants as his seed spilled in its rightful place.

“J-Jesus,” he huffed, removing to see the thick mixture spill from your gaping cunt as it begged to be plugged again.

“That,” slapping the top of your thigh before crashing next to you on the bed in a thud, both your sweaty bodies spent in the best way as you listened to him continue, “was the best investment... Ever,” grabbing a handful of tit in a giggle.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself honey,” rolling your eyes again with a smirk.

“I know you enjoyed yourself too, babe,” kissing your cheek, “and so did the entire restaurant,” in a huge fit of cackles as he dodged playful slaps from you and rightfully so.

______________

I TOOK SOME INSPO FROM THE MOVIE THE UGLY TRUTH ON THIS ONE... I HOPE YOU LOVED THE TAKE I MADE ON IT HONEY!

🖤,

ray-nal-beads

taglist: @maybe-your-left, @safarigirlsp, @clydesfavoritegirl, @emeraldsiren20, @thepalaceofmelanie, @obsessedwiththemadness, @hopeamarsu, @caillea, @historyandfandoms50, @mariesackler, @millenialcatlady, @thepriceofstars, @roanniom, @kathorax, @driversmutbucket

LMK if ya wanted to be added to the list! All of the love!

#phillip altman #phillip altman x female reader #phillip altman x reader #phillip x reader #phillip x you #this is where i leave you #500 follower celebration #phillip altman request #phillip altman smut

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jessiebanethedragon · 4 years

Text

Scuttle (4/?)

Big thanks to all those reading this!!!! hope you enjoy part four ❤️

also warning of talk about Hutt reproduction for comedic purposes (sorry...)

You wake to the sound of a very angry sniper. And even though his default setting is angry, he seems more perturbed than usual. Muffled voices can be heard from outside the small bunk area that you’ve already made your personal space. Wet, destroyed clothes sit on the floor in the corner and you’re wrapped only in Crosshairs blanket, save for your undergarments. You swing your legs over and plant them on the cold metal floor. As you reach the door, the voices become clearer.

“Absolutely not.” - That's Crosshair for sure, only he would be so blunt.

“I wasn't asking for your permission Crosshair, only your opinion.” The other voice is more of a long sigh at this point. The exhaustion and caring sound to it tells you it’s Hunter. For clones they are all remarkably different, you think to yourself.

“Yeah and my opinion is ‘no’.” Crosshair snaps.

“The seppies will come after her whether you like it or not.” He counters.

“Which is why we can’t take her into bounty hunter territory!” You freeze as you realize they mean you. Panic settles in when you come to terms with the idea of being ditched on some degenerate planet with non resources whatsoever. You retreat back into the bunk, pulling the blanket closer to your frame.

“Just get her up.” Hunter finishes and you hear him walk back down the halfway of the ship. Crosshair grumbles something about not being in charge of you before the door slides open. He’s shocked to see you sitting up and awake, and his eyes rest on the pile of clothes on the floor before meeting yours. His blanket looks far better on you than it has in all his years of owning it.

“Food’s up.” He says before turning to leave. Less time spent interacting with you the better. Means less time for him to stare at the one exposed shoulder that the blanket has fallen off of and less time to wonder if you’d ever spare someone like him a second glance.

“Where are you dumping me?” He hears a small voice ask. And all the warmth leaves his body.

“We aren't…” He starts, not turning around. Because if he doesn’t turn around he can claim ignorance if you're crying or not.

“I heard you and Hunter and i’m not stupid.” You interrupt him, voice void of any emotion.

“Then you'd know i'm not going to let him do that.” He snaps, almost angry at you for thinking he’d leave you on your own.

“I’m deadweight, aren't I?” It's a question you know the answer to but have to ask anyways. You want to scream at the republic, for using your intel and then throwing you away. Taking advantage of your selflessness and empathy, just like they take advantage of the clones caring and giving nature at every opportunity.

“You’re not deadweight.” Crosshair states, leaving no room for argument, “You just need to be somewhere off the grid for a while.” He hears you stand, and slowly he turns his head, his blanket bunched awkwardly around your frame. His jaw clenches as his heart pulls at strings he swore weren't there.

“Crosshair…” You start, but don’t continue, words escape you, the right ones don’t exist in that moment. Or at least you can't bring yourself to use the ones you want to. So instead, you opt to blankly stare at the metal floor. He will leave eventually, turn and head out the door. You’re not his problem, your brain explains this as the floor becomes more and more interesting. Except he doesn't go. And the very tips of his fingers meet your chin, gently pulling your head to meet his glance.

God his eyes are stunning, you think, before cursing your brain for being in the totally wrong place at the wrong time. But his eyes might be the prettiest you’ve ever seen. Light brown with hints of ashy tones.

“I won't leave you on your own.” He tells you, but what you want to hear is that he will stay with you. You're already inexplicably attached to the sniper, it's unbearable.

“Thank you.” You whisper to him breathless just from being this close to him.

“Now come on, or Wrecker will have eaten everything before you even get out there.” Crosshair cocks his head towards the door, pulling away from you.

The members of the hold greet you excitedly, Wrecker seems to have really taken to calling you little bird as well as patting your head affectionately. And you find yourself sat wedge in between him and Tech while they both talk your ear off. Hunter is smiling and eating in contentment of his little family and Crosshair is starring, you fit so nicely in this scene. Wrecker piling more and more food on your plate while you laugh at Techs retelling of one of their ridiculous missions.

“Tell er’ about Nal Hutta!” Wrecker says with an evil smile.

“Don’t you dare.” Crosshair snaps at his vod, who's already laughing his blacks off.

“It wasn't that bad Cross.” Hunter admits grabbing some empty dishes and patting his shoulder as he walks by.

“Yes it was!” Wrecker says between wheezes. And you notice the faint flush in his cheeks.

“Okay one of you needs to spill the details.” You demand looking from Tech to Wrecker.

“Well, as you probably know Nal Hutta is run by the infamous Hut cartel…” Tech launches off, waving his hands about as he talks. (you've picked this up as one of his biggest habits.)

“Tech…” Crosshair groans with his face in one of his hands before giving in and leaning back. Preparing for the worst.

“I can't tell you all the details, classified and all, but the important part is that Cross was working recon and cover, like usual. So he's up this step mountain that's basically all dirt and sand. Looking for this Hut fellow right, and before we can warn him Wrecker throws this thermal detonator and the whole side of the mountain collapses.” Tech tells you excitedly. And your worried eyes look across the table. Crosshair had moved so he could lean back with his arms behind his head looking just a tad embarrassed.

“He would've been fine, if he hadn't gone rolling right through the window of the house he was collecting intel on.” Wrecker was killing himself laughing by this point.

“And then the… the” He tried to get out between gasps of air before waving it off and letting Tech continue.

“And well, sorry Cross, there's no easy way to say this.” Tech laughed a little himself. “He rolled right in on a Hutt reproducing session.” Your eyes went as wide as they could, and a hand covered your gaping and giggling mouth.

“Wait, so Crosshair burst in on two Hutts doing it?” You gasped, trying to stifle your growing laughter.

“Gets worse.” The man in question grit out, looking at the mess of comrades before him.

“How does that get worse?” You exclaimed, leaning into Wrecker with his contagious laughter. Tech turned to you, smiling wider than ever.

“Hutts reproduce asexually.” He stated, “scientists don't know too much about it but from the condition we found this one in.” he pointed to a grumpy Crosshair. “It gets real messy.” You closed your mouth into a thin line, blinking as you tried not to laugh.

“Oh…” Giggle “no, Crosshair…” More giggles. “That must’ve been awful.” You tried to emphasize you really did, but the look on the snipers face had you laughing all over again.

“He was covered head to toe in green Hutt goo!” Wrecker boomed.

“Well it’s nice to know yet another finds my torment hilarious.” Crosshair grumbled as he stood up to escape the laughing hyenas before him.

“No!” you objected, “I promise I am not finding this the least bit funny.” You told him, trying to keep a straight face. Receiving a sarcastic ‘um hum’ reply.

“I mean it, you could have been seriously injured.” You countered, thinking you had successfully hidden your smile beneath your hand.

“I can see you smiling.” He said, raising an eyebrow at you.

“You could've drowned in Hutt goo…” You quietly said with another round of giggles.

“Ahhh yes CT-7733 of Clone Force 99 killed in action on Nal hutta, death caused by drowning in Hutt goo.” Tech snickered from beside you.

“He will be dearly missed, and as an apology the Hutt has named the child in his honour.” You added taking note of Crosshairs millionth eye roll of that morning alone.

“Okay that's enough of that now.” He said. “Wren, you want clothes or are you spending the rest of your life in my blanket?” He teases, watching you blush a tad.

“I don't take life advice from a man covered in goo.” You shoot back with the biggest smirk on your face.

“No clothes for you then.” he smiled as your protests began.

“Okay, okay, calm down, don’t get your goo in a tuffle.” You say maneuvering yourself from with the blanket and over Wrecker who's still chuckling to himself.

Down back in your makeshift room, Crosshair shows you where the extra clothes are kept, which means you’ll be swimming in extra sets of blacks all meant for clones that are bigger than yourself. But you think your pants may survive given a good enough wash, so for now you roll the waistband and the legs until you look somewhat presentable. Greeting Crosshair on the other side of the door.

“See,” He says, “told ya’ it would fit.” Before he turns from you and starts to walk back down the hall.

“Wait Crosshair!” You call jogging over to him, a look of fau-concentration on your face as you reach up to where his short hair meets his right ear. Carefully running your fingers through it. He knows his heart has either stopped beating or hammering so fast he can’t feel it.

“There, all good now.” you declare patting his cheek a few times. Hoping he inquires as to why you just had your hand in his hair. He opens and closes his mouth a few times before deciding on:

“What was that for?” and if there was an inter-galactic clone flirting competition, Crosshair just lost. You grin up at him, pure evil in your eyes.

“Oh no reason,”You say walking past. “Just a little leftover Hutt goo.”

tags: @mangoberry43 @imalovernotahater @professionaltrashcompactor @vesperstalksclones @haloangel391

and: Thinking the next chapter might be longer but be out of order in relevance to these chapters... thoughts? questions? comments? etc???

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imagine-loki · 4 years

Text

Pride and Prejudice

TITLE: Pride and Prejudice CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 52 AUTHOR: wolfpawn

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths. RATING: Mature NOTES/WARNINGS: Forced Marriage, not all fun and games. My first real step back into the Loki scene in over a year.

We are at 52 chapters and 100,000 words today. I never envisioned this getting so big, I really didn't and I have plans yet for it, so we have time to go. The amount of comments I have received this week have really fed my inspiration to get my ass in gear and write. Thank you for them. The more I get, the more I love to write.

Tags - @skulliebythesea @asimovethroughthisworld @blackcherry26-blog @we-shadowhunter2901

Loki felt overwhelmed. He could not recall ever seeing so many beings in one area in his life, much less in his home. Looking around, he felt as though he was being watched by too many, even though none were currently able to see him from his high vantage point. He did not know what to do. He swallowed at the thought of it all.

“For one so ready to be king, you look more like the infant I found in the temple when I arrived here, many many years ago.”

Loki turned to look at Odin.

“Why are you fearful now? You are ready for this.” The ageing king walked over to him, looking at the gathering masses below.

“You seem so certain.”

“My boy, I am always watching Thor, to see when he will be ready. He surpasses you in age by close to six hundred years, yet I know truly that the role of king is still a long time from being bestowed upon him, yet you, one so young, you will carry it so well in comparison. You were born for this, but of course, any grandson of Njall the Resourceful would be.”

Loki frowned. “Who?”

Odin shook his head and tutted. “You never were taught of him, but of course, how could you, with your mother not able to tell you. Your grandfather, your Vanir one, was a decorated warrior in Vanaheim. A powerful man, not only of body but more deadly still, of mind. He saw so much more than himself. He was always able to think of a manner to deal with a situation, no matter how dire. A great mind to stand beside. He fought alongside my father Bor in the great war with the Dark Elves, he was young then, about your age. But even by then, his great mind shone through.”

Loki did not know what to say. He had never heard such before. His father never mentioned his maternal family to him. He wondered what Laufey knew of Nal’s family, as he never shied from speaking of her. He recalled his father reference time and again that Nal met him in mind more so even than his other mates. That her knowledge of the realms and different cultures made him enjoy their conversations no end. “Thank you, I never knew that.”

“More’s the pity. I will have what we have on his achievements brought to Jotunheim at the earliest convenience. You should know of your heritage, as I have little doubt you will want my grandson to know of his.”

It did not take much intellect to see how Odin viewed their news of a child. He clearly looked forward to it, though with the manner in which Asgard dealt with childbirth and child-rearing, he wondered how the Allfather’s opinions were so drastically different to that of his realm.

“You speak so highly of me now, what changed?” In truth, Loki was fearful of the answer he would receive, but he felt he needed to know.

“I stated since I gave my assessment of you, that you would be a great king. I always stated that. My opinion on such is not altered in any manner.”

“But…”

“With regards to Ella, I am still not entirely certain if you are as honourable. If it is the child or her that has you so attentive to her now, I cannot tell. Her fulfilling some of that agreement…”

“I never wanted that,” Loki interrupted.

“It is. When Ella was sick, you asked me to list her attributes, I could barely list any, now I can list for days. She is incredible, so strong and able.”

“She gets that from her mother.”

“I fought alongside Thor, my father fought you and was honest about the event. You fought on, even with a gaping wound in your head where your eye used to be from one of his spike balls. It seems to be something of a familial trait.” Speaking of the warring between his own father and his mate’s father made Loki feel awkward. Beside him, Odin stood, the golden patch on his face a permanent feature from the battle with Laufey.

Odin chuckled slightly. “Being royal forces us all to be something stronger. We do not have the ability to decide we do not wish for our roles any longer. Our duties do not simply vanish, and in some cases, there is even more pressure because those that would replace us if we were to step down would be dangerous for our realms. You and I both have that issue.”

“I…”

“Your brother, the elder one. He is a good fighter, I have seen through my ravens but a leader outside of war...Norns, Thor would be a better fit for your realm than he. The younger...who knows, he is too young to tell. I think him a good confidente, not a leader though.”

“I was not aware you spoke often to them.” Loki was startled by the accuracy of Odin’s assessments of Býleistr and Helbindi.

“I have not, but I watched the war intently, from afar and heard their talking, I saw all that needed to be seen and what I saw tells me everything I ever thought of you as a leader, as a king, was right. I may have been terribly wrong of your species, but I was incredibly right with you, thank the Norns for so much.” Odin smirked. He looked down at the crowds continuing to arrive below. “So, what scares one as capable as you so much that you fear even entertaining your guests?”

“It is not fear, not like that.” Loki toyed with a piece of ice in front of him. “More a concern. It feels too quick.”

“It is incredibly swift, there is no denying,” Odin concurred. “But we have to be realistic. Laufey is no longer in the health to lead. The realm requires someone they can depend on to bring them into a new era of prosperity. With the little fellow due soon, perhaps the sooner the better. I cannot imagine the idea of being coronated as king when Ella is due to retire from court in preparation for the birth is highly recommended. So too would I not recommend waiting until just after the child is born. Beforehand, with time to settle somewhat is the smartest choice.”

“If you had to do such, would you?” Loki pondered, not realising he said such aloud.

“Were Thor as ready as you and were he to have a wife that was bearing, yes, I would,” Odin admitted. “Laufey, as all old kings do, and as one myself, I can confirm this entirely, we worry for the future, for after we leave the realms. Laufey wants Jotunheim to grow, more than ever and to do that, he knows it needs to be secure, under you. He will last longer in the security of that than he would worrying in that throne. It is ageing him no end.”

Loki nodded slightly. Hearing Odin, the Allfather, give his analysis on it from an angle that Loki could not comprehend told Loki a lot.

“I am trying to find my daughter. By any chance, do you know where she could be?” Odin inquired.

“Most likely with my brothers’ mates trying to organise everything,” Loki responded. “They tend to flitter from one area to another to do so. I cannot say for sure where they are. Your best bet is seeing if you can get a message relayed to her about meeting you at a specific time or place or trying to find the most worried-looking individuals as she tends to be what is scaring them so greatly.”

“She has her mother’s ability to organise.”

“She is a very capable woman.”

Odin scoffed. “So I have been informed.” Loki looked warily at him. “I have been told of matters in which some who had issue with her since she became your wife, including your own brother.”

“How?”

“Arden informed me. He and I spoke this afternoon during which he told me of everything regarding her,” Odin informed him.

“There have been some that have seen issue but we informed you of such earlier,” Loki stated diplomatically.

“Including one of your brothers?”

“No, that was a different matter in no way pertaining to her being Aesir, he merely questioned her abilities.”

“Bigger fool him,” Odin chuckled to which, Loki nodded in agreement. “I best go in search of my daughter. I have a matter to discuss with her. Thank you for your recommendation as to how to find her.”

Loki nodded slightly. “Glad to be of assistance. She is glad to have you all here. I suspect she misses Asgard on occasion and your family.”

“Yet she remained here.” Odin contemplated something for a moment. “Though I must ask, when I was about to bring her home, you were somewhat elated at her preparing to leave, then she went back and spoke with you, then was seemingly disappointed while she began to leave. At first, you did not join her, then you rush to do so. I always wondered what happened there.”

Loki was apprehensive to answer such a question. “I was not at my most admirable. Whilst I did not do anything in any manner with another, I did love another, or I should say, I thought I did and Ella found out, through my uncaring. She had informed me before going toward you that she knew and apologised for everything. I felt anger and guilt with myself for that. She left me with an ultimatum, that were I to agree to remain together, then we would be on equal ground.”

“You took a moment to think to consider such terms?” Odin eyed the youth apprehensively.

“I needed to accept something I never wanted to do. I know it looks bad but I will admit, taking that moment and everything that occurred as a result, I never looked back.”

“And the one you considered your love?”

“My brother, the older one?”Odin nodded. “She is one of his mates now.”

Odin frowned. “That must have been very difficult for you to accept.”

Loki found the old Aesir’s empathy startling, he had not thought Odin would be so considerate. “I do not regret it.”

“Good. I would not appreciate my daughter in a position where her husband would be love another and not her. I could not imagine how such a thing would affect someone, especially with children involved. I had half a mind to still bring her home, even after she felt so adamantly about staying. There is no fear greater than thinking you’re leaving your daughter to suffer a long and drawn-out death.”

“Then why let her stay?”

Odin scoffed. “I see you have yet to try and stop my daughter from doing something. You will never dissuade her. But also, it sends out a good message to Jotunheim.”

Loki’s brow furrowed. “What message?”

“That my daughter was willing to fight my order to be here.”

“Doesn’t that makes you sound weak?” Loki asked.

“It makes my daughter, your wife, seem strong. It showed Jotunheim she was willing to do anything she needed to, for them.”

Loki’s eyes widened. “You sacrificed standing, to show her to be strong?”

“She is my daughter, she needed to have more standing here,” Odin smirked. “I returned to Asgard, we all know my standing there, she required hers here.”

Loki realised at that moment what Odin was willing to do for his daughter, including at sacrifice to his own reputation.

#Loki #other #submission #Submitted fic #Pride and Prejudice #chapter 52 #wolfpawn

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wolfpawn · 4 years

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Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 52

Story Summary - Based on an idea I had that I submitted to Imagine Loki. Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths.

Chapter Summary - Loki feels the pressure as he watches beings arrive to Jotunheim for the coronation. He feels a tad overwhelmed but someone talks to him of his concerns, someone he did not expect. While also instilling new knowledge on him.

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Tags - @peppermint-j @damalseer @perpetual-fangirl @tinchentitri @inspired-snowflace @raphaelaisabella @alexakeyloveloki @caffiend-queen @devilbat @nonsensicalobsessions @skulliebythesea @majoringinlife @salempoe @lotus-eyedindiangoddess @rookienumber98 @ivytoh @agarwaeneth @rosierossette @arch-venus25 @nessamaurice @winterisakiller @black-ninja-blade

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NOTES - We are at 52 chapters and 100,000 words today. I never envisioned this getting so big, I really didn't and I have plans yet for it, so we have time to go. The amount of comments I have received this week have really fed my inspiration to get my ass in gear and write. Thank you for them. The more I get, the more I love to write.

“For one so ready to be king, you look more like the infant I found in the temple when I arrived here, many many years ago.”

Loki turned to look at Odin.

“Why are you fearful now? You are ready for this.” The ageing king walked over to him, looking at the gathering masses below. “You seem so certain.” “My boy, I am always watching Thor, to see when he will be ready. He surpasses you in age by close to six hundred years, yet I know truly that the role of king is still a long time from being bestowed upon him, yet you, one so young, you will carry it so well in comparison. You were born for this, but of course, any grandson of Njall the Resourceful would be.”

Loki frowned. “Who?” Odin shook his head and tutted. “You never were taught of him, but of course, how could you, with your mother not able to tell you. Your grandfather, your Vanir one, was a decorated warrior in Vanaheim. A powerful man, not only of body but more deadly still, of mind. He saw so much more than himself. He was always able to think of a manner to deal with a situation, no matter how dire. A great mind to stand beside. He fought alongside my father Bor in the great war with the Dark Elves, he was young then, about your age. But even by then, his great mind shone through.”

“You speak so highly of me now, what changed?” In truth, Loki was fearful of the answer he would receive, but he felt he needed to know.

“I stated since I gave my assessment of you, that you would be a great king. I always stated that. My opinion on such is not altered in any manner.” “But…” “With regards to Ella, I am still not entirely certain if you are as honourable. If it is the child or her that has you so attentive to her now, I cannot tell. Her fulfilling some of that agreement…” “I never wanted that,” Loki interrupted.

“That was clear from the beginning. The look on your face at the mere thought was indicative of such,” Odin scoffed. “But it is clear, by the manner you stand beside her, the way you interact, it is far different between you both now.” “It is. When Ella was sick, you asked me to list her attributes, I could barely list any, now I can list for days. She is incredible, so strong and able.”

“She gets that from her mother.”

“I…” “Your brother, the elder one. He is a good fighter, I have seen through my ravens but a leader outside of war...Norns, Thor would be a better fit for your realm than he. The younger...who knows, he is too young to tell. I think him a good confidente, not a leader though.” “I was not aware you spoke often to them.” Loki was startled by the accuracy of Odin’s assessments of Býleistr and Helbindi.

“It is not fear, not like that.” Loki toyed with a piece of ice in front of him. “More a concern. It feels too quick.”

“If you had to do such, would you?” Loki pondered, not realising he said such aloud.

Loki nodded slightly. Hearing Odin, the Allfather, give his analysis on it from an angle that Loki could not comprehend told Loki a lot.

“I am trying to find my daughter. By any chance, do you know where she could be?” Odin inquired.

“She is a very capable woman.”

Odin scoffed. “So I have been informed.” Loki looked warily at him. “I have been told of matters in which some who had issue with her since she became your wife, including your own brother.”

“How?” “Arden informed me. He and I spoke this afternoon during which he told me of everything regarding her,” Odin informed him.

“There have been some that have seen issue but we informed you of such earlier,” Loki stated diplomatically.

“Including one of your brothers?” “No, that was a different matter in no way pertaining to her being Aesir, he merely questioned her abilities.”

Loki nodded slightly. “Glad to be of assistance. She is glad to have you all here. I suspect she misses Asgard on occasion and your family.”

“I needed to accept something I never wanted to do. I know it looks bad but I will admit, taking that moment and everything that occurred as a result, I never looked back.” “And the one you considered your love?” “My brother, the older one?”Odin nodded. “She is one of his mates now.”

Odin frowned. “That must have been very difficult for you to accept.” Loki found the old Aesir’s empathy startling, he had not thought Odin would be so considerate. “I do not regret it.” “Good. I would not appreciate my daughter in a position where her husband would be love another and not her. I could not imagine how such a thing would affect someone, especially with children involved. I had half a mind to still bring her home, even after she felt so adamantly about staying. There is no fear greater than thinking you’re leaving your daughter to suffer a long and drawn-out death.”

“Then why let her stay?”

Odin scoffed. “I see you have yet to try and stop my daughter from doing something. You will never dissuade her. But also, it sends out a good message to Jotunheim.” Loki’s brow furrowed. “What message?” “That my daughter was willing to fight my order to be here.” “Doesn’t that makes you sound weak?” Loki asked.

“It makes my daughter, your wife, seem strong. It showed Jotunheim she was willing to do anything she needed to, for them.”

Loki’s eyes widened. “You sacrificed standing, to show her to be strong?” “She is my daughter, she needed to have more standing here,” Odin smirked. “I returned to

Asgard, we all know my standing there, she required hers here.”

Loki realised at that moment what Odin was willing to do for his daughter, including at sacrifice to his own reputation.

#Loki fic #wolfpawn #pride and prejudice #Chapter 52

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ryder-s-block · 5 years

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Jaig Eyes (Ch 34)

Jaig Eyes (34/?)

Always can read here.

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Chapter Thirty-Four: Captives of Vandor

I’d been exposed to true cold only a few times in my life. Corellia had a mild temperature, despite its chilly nights. Tattoine was a damned desert and Nal Hutta was the same temperature but humid. Zygerria and Kadavo were both warm. Even Concordia or Kamino weren’t too bad. They could get chilly, but there was nothing like the cold I felt in that moment.

I wished I could say I’d forgotten what the surface of Vandor had felt like, but it would be a lie. When you grew up in mild climates, the cold moments really stuck out to you.

My breath steamed in the air, swirling like a dancing image until it hit the ice-crusting viewport above me. I shifted, my body aching. A touch to my forehead produced blood that was already sticky from the cold.

“Apex,” I muttered, tapping my wrist comm groggily. There was no connection. “Anakin,” I tried, opening the channel to Republic signals. “Obi-wan? Rex? Anyone?” No answer.

With a groan, I leaned down for the emergency release hatch, the mechanism complaining as much as my muscles. With a light shove, the icy window fell away, leaving me exposed to the brutal wind.

“Wonderful,” I muttered, dragging myself from the cockpit. I was in a valley, peaks of snow on all sides. My fighter was almost completely submerged in snow, the drag track behind me showing a fresh dusting. I hadn’t been out too long, considering how heavily it was snowing.

With another aching touch to my bleeding hairline, I jumped off the wing and into the snow. It crunched below me as I tried to dig out a wing in order to try and get the communications up again. I pried open the exposed panelling, trying to keep snow from getting inside and shorting it out.

As I worked, I heard a light beeping. “What the hell?” I whispered to myself, looking up. Up on the mountainside, floating around the rocks, was a probe droid. “Osi’kyr!”

I ditched the starfighter, racing through the snow as well as I could manage, considering each step sunk me up to my midcalf. I spied a small cave, ducking into it just as the probe droid lowered to my level. The droid floated around my ship, beeping continuously in the droid code. But what was it transmitting to?

It was definitely looking for me, thoroughly examining the wreckage before turning in a circle to scan the whole area. I ducked behind a snow-covered rock, hearing it beep. It whirred quietly, the noise drawing closer.

With a light curse under my breath, considering the droid likely had a thermal scanner, I hurried further into the cave, drawing my pistol. It’s beeps echoed at the mouth of the cave, its eye lighting red as it scanned. I slid my pistol over the rising side of a stalagmite, aiming at its center eye. When its scanner turned to me, I fired.

Sure, the Separatists would know I was alive, and my last location, but they wouldn’t know for sure what took out the droid, since I didn’t let it see me.

I approached sizzling mechanism, turning it over to open it up. I found what I was looking for, connecting my wrist gauntlet to it. Sure, it was more annoying without Apex to do it for me, but it wasn’t impossible. A few logarithms and bypassed security codes brought me the information I wanted.

Unfortunately, the droids didn’t function like a normal battle droid. They didn’t function on coordinates. They functioned based on reconnaissance and information retrieval. Thus, they worked on a ping that functioned through their constant whirring and beeps.

Therefore, I’d have to follow a beeping beacon, rather than know any legitimate coordinates. I put the program into my wrist comm before stepping hastily from the droid. On its destruction, other droids, both probe and battle, would converge on the location of its last data transfer. I had to move.

Wishing I had something more than my simple light armor, I took off in the snow again, careful to walk along stronger patches of ice, to not leave as obvious of footprints. It didn’t take long for the bitter wind to nip at my bones, my arms encircling my chest, my teeth clenched.

Thankfully, it was likely that wherever the probe droid had come from was close by, considering how fast it had arrived. Then again, I didn’t actually know how long I was out for.

“My gears don’t like how cold it is,” I heard a battle droid drone, immediately ducking behind the closest rock formation. I slowed my breathing, diminishing the amount of puffing vapor I released from my mouth.

“Not to mention our communications are barely functioning with the coming storm. It’s hard to follow the coordinates to the downed droid,” another responded. My eyes lifted, seeing the sky darkening in the distance, rolling in with the gusting wind. Wonderful.

I listened to the squadron of droids crunch through the snow, passing where I was hiding. I could have taken them out, considering it was a scouting squad and they would have been caught off guard. But I was more interested in staying hidden for now.

There was a darkness in the Force. It was foreboding. Telling me that something had gone terribly wrong.

When I was sure the droids had passed, I scurried from my hiding spot, mentalling willing the chill to stay off my skin. The up-side of droids looking for me? I now had a clear trail back to wherever they were coming from. Which meant a ship.

And it meant that it wasn’t far, since the droids were responding so quickly to the probe’s destruction. I followed their heavy footsteps carefully, bridging over the top of a peak.

“By Ka’ra,” I muttered, seeing the facility built into the stone mountain base below. I ducked back behind the rock as a shuttle dipped over the peak to enter a towering hangar. There was my entry point...if I could get to it without being shot.

I was lucky, though. Visibility was low in the valley, considering the rising snowfall and wind. In addition, the sun was setting, the glow coming through the thick clouds lessening with each passing moment. Yet, as it got darker, it got colder.

I had to get inside fast, or I would die out here.

If the droids were smart, they would be watching the area with thermal scanners. But...were the battle droids ever really that smart?

Determining that death by blaster was better than freezing to death, I took off down the slope. I was careful to duck behind cover as often as possible, but even my ability to see the facility below was minimal as the snow whipped past me faster.

My body trembling, I came to a cliff, peering down at the open hangar. My arms encircled my shaking torso, willing it to stay warm. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure if that was something someone could do with the Force. It certainly didn’t seem like it, considering that my fingers were so numb, I started to doubt they existed.

I took a determined step towards the side of the cliff, since I’d have to climb down, when I heard a faint cracking. My muscles tensed, the Force tickling at the back of my mind. Run, it whispered.

I didn’t, instead turning with a shocked curiosity to the slope behind me. Avalanche. It took only moments for the snow to sweep me off my feet and throw me from the cliff. I would have screamed if the breath hadn’t been knocked from my chest. I’d never been in an avalanche before...I’d only heard stories.

But my body started moving to save me, even if it took some time for my mind to catch up. The snow moved and rolled almost like water, my legs and arms kicking as if I were trying to stay afloat. It kept my head up enough that I could suck in a much needed breath of air. I tumbled as the avalanche slowed, my shoulder hitting rock, a horrible pop sounding.

And then suddenly it stopped. Snow covered everything, pressing on me from all directions as it settled. I took in a slow, deliberate breath before it all hardened, earning myself some room for my chest to breathe.

I should have panicked, considering I wasn’t even sure which way was up, but I kept still and quiet. My lips pushed some saliva forward, my eyes closing while I waited. The spit rolled down the right side of my lips and fell into the snow. I was on my side then. I knew which way was up.

“What was that?” I heard a battle droid ask somewhere above me. My hands stilled as I moved to scoop away snow.

“Just an avalanche,” another responded. “Squadron Delta got taken out yesterday.”

“But what if it was that bounty hunter the probe reported about?”

My muscles coiled, flexing beneath my skin in apprehension. The second droid let out a shrill sound that I think was its laugh.

“Then she’s dead. Don’t worry. There’s a squad looking for her right now.”

They chattered a bit more, but I stopped listening to focus on not suffocating instead. With the slightest of movements, I made myself a pocket of air so I could breathe. I didn’t know how far down I was, since the droid’s voices had been rather muffled.

Still, I knew they had left when the chatter faded away, leaving me to figure out how the hell I was going to not die today. I shifted in the slight area that I could, wiggling my arms against the pressure of the snow. Breathing slowly, I thought back to Obi-wan’s teachings. To Qui-Gon’s comment about me being a fast learner.

I stretched my fingers as best I could, willing the snow to move. It didn’t move this time. My air was low, my desperation rising. I wasn’t going to die on this stupid planet. I wasn’t going to die without seeing Boba get out of prison. Without making sure Obi-wan and Anakin were okay. Without seeing Fives and Echo become ARC troopers. Without hearing Rex call me that stupid nickname again that I hated, but also made my stomach flip each time he said it.

My fear made my arms shift, my fingers clenching. Was the snow moving or was that me trembling?

With a grunt of frustration and fear, I tried to push my arms forward. To my surprise, they moved. The snow pulled off of me like an explosion, shooting skyward. I was left lying in a gaping hole of snow, everything freezing, but my mind buzzing with the power that had surged through me.

“Did you see that?” a droid’s voice spoke. That prodded me to break my daze and clamber out of the hole. My shoulder burned my armor having dented and cut into the skin. Still, it wasn’t dislocated, which would have made this whole escape plan a lot harder. I hurried over the snow and climbed up the rock ledges that surrounded the facility.

Ducking behind piles of stones, crates, and keeping my back to the rising metal wall, I found my way to the edge of the hangar. Droids bustled about inside, others looking at the place I’d come from.

I wondered what reasoning they’d put behind the hole I’d left. I still hadn’t fully figured it out myself, after all. I flinched back, obscuring myself at the sound of engines. Droid shuttles landed in the hangar, my breath catching as the bay doors opened to reveal a troop of clones, Rex among them.

“Take them to the lineup,” a droid ordered. “Count Dooku already has the jedi, and doesn’t need the clones.”

“Lineup for what?” one of the others asked. Stupid droids. I lifted my brow at myself. More like stupid programmer, actually.

“Execution.”

That got my attention, my head tilting to look past where I was hiding, seeing the droids nudge the clones forwards with their weapons. I had to stop it. Not to mention that I had to save Obi-wan and Anakin, considering Dooku apparently had them.

Knowing Dooku was inside...and considering he’d somehow sensed me during my Force vision, I was careful with my emotions. I closed my eyes, clearing my mind as I built a wall around myself.

He would probably still sense me, since Windu had sensed me so long ago--before I even had any type of control over my abilities-- but hopefully when he did, it would already be too late.

Opening my eyes again, I scanned the room. I only had my two pistols. None of the clones were armed, obviously. So I couldn’t save them here. Not in a crowded hangar.

I slipped inside with a determined huff of breath, reveling in the way the wind was blocked in here. The droids weren’t looking for an intruder, since they thought I was still somewhere out at my crash zone, so it was easy enough to sneak in. My gaze settled on a grate a few feet above me. Bounty-hunter’s best friend.

Climbing up a few crates, I somehow avoided suspicion as I slipped into the vents, pulling it closed behind me. I watched through the slotted metal as the battle droids escorted the clones, along with Rex, out of the hangar. I had no idea where they were going, and since I was trying to keep myself somewhat disconnected from the Force to avoid detection, I couldn’t follow my senses.

I moved through a few intersections of vent, spying a computer system below me. Pulling the gating away quietly, I ducked my head down to see that the hall was clear. Of course, who knew how long that would stay.

Landing softly, I sent a silent thank you to the universe for the probe droid having found me. I used its algorithm to log into the system, considering it would need access to offload data. Maneuvering through the system, I searched for reports of clones.

Nothing.

With a small sigh, I looked for mentions of execution.

“There you are,” I whispered to myself, seeing the destination on a map. Before leaving the computer, I looked for where the jedi were. A separate room. It looked like a torture chamber.

Great.

“Reports say that the probe droid was destroyed,” a droid’s voice sounded from around the corner. I closed down the computer quickly, climbing back into the vent. As the droids passed below me, I set the grate back in place silently.

“That means that bounty hunter is still out there.”

“I guess so. But what would she do?” I lifted my brow as they gloated, half tempted to jump down and destroy them. “She couldn’t take us all.”

It was right of course. Which is why I let them pass before continuing on my way to rescue the clones. The longer the droids and Dooku didn’t know I was here, the better.

Even when I disconnected myself from the Force to stay hidden, it wasn’t hard to notice the tension and fear in the room as I crawled through the ventilation shaft. I peered through the meshed grates, seeing clones set in lines. They were on their knees, hands held up on their heads as battle droids trained guns on them.

“Face the wall,” a droid ordered to the group that contained Rex. It looked they’d arrived only just before me. A desperate looking clone glanced between his captain and the droids, his caramel skin shining with sweat. Rex shook his head slightly, encouraging his younger to not do whatever he was thinking.

The clone didn’t listen, turning quickly and backhanding the nearest battle droid. I wanted to cry out from where I was, struggling to remove the grate and jump in. But then I’d just tell the droids where I was and then no one would be saved.

The other battle droids turned and immediately fired, executing the rogue clone. He fell in a heap, the look of desperate fear permanently plastered on his still face.

“Adenn beskar’ad!” Rex yelled, his expression pulled in distress. He moved to fight, but stopped helplessly when the guns were turned on him. He yelled a bit more, maybe to keep up the morale of his men. But I wondered if it was more because he didn’t know what else to do.

Still, I used his commotion to finally give up on being quiet and kick out the grate. I leapt down after it immediately, hiding behind the steaming mechanisms at the far end of the room.

“What was that?” one battle droid asked, turning away from the clone he was guarding. I hid in the shadows, watching through the piping.

Rex’s face held the smallest blossom of hope beneath the deep resignation in his eyes. I remembered always hearing the clones mutter about their duty to the Republic often including death, if need be. Every clone in that room, while terrified, was resigned to their fate. Their concerns laid with their mission and with their generals. Not with their own lives, even if their very biology told them to fight until their last breaths. They would if they could...but they couldn’t.

Right?

The battle droids brushed the clatter of the grate off as the mechanism’s whirring, turning back to their execution lines. One prodded Rex’s back harshly with the muzzle of the gun, pushing the captain towards the wall with his brothers. The look of hope melted from his face.

My heart ached. I was terribly attached to him--something I had yet to figure out. He was a clone, yet so unique. It was like my very soul was drawn to him, even on some of our earliest meetings.

I refused to say to myself that I loved him. Cared for him. That was better. Anything was better than love.

Love was distracting. Dangerous.

It got you hurt.

My gaze lifted as I pushed down my emotions into the deepest pockets of my soul that I could find. Above the center of the room, dangling from a thick chains, was a massive crate. How convenient.

I drew my pistol, settling my wrist over the warm pipes to steady my shot. The chains that held the heavy crate converged above it in a metal contraption with a ring above it. I aimed for that, slowing my breathing and waiting for Rex to finally give in and move to the wall. The stubborn captain refused for some time, but under the threat of both his and his soldiers’ lives, he gave in, standing at the wall.

From my angle at his side, I could see the hard look on his face as his golden eyes bore into the wall. He was angry. But sad. So sad. Something...the Force, maybe...told me that the sadness wasn’t for him.

Maybe it was for his brothers. Or for the jedi he’d failed to protect.

Or maybe...just maybe, it was for me. After all, he thought I died in that crash.

I took a slow breath before squeezing the trigger. The blaster shot was impossibly loud in the quiet room, but nothing was louder than the crack of metal above the droids. They all turned, firing their blasters at me, but I ducked behind the machines and crawled in the darkness, trying to avoid being shot.

The chain creaked angrily from the damage before the links broke entirely, sending the crate crashing to the ground, crushing a large number of the droids.

Then all haran broke loose.

As I leaned out from my hiding spot, drawing my second pistol and firing from both hands at the remaining droids, the clones leapt in. They were quick to defend themselves with the droids distracted. Some went at the droids with fists, while others dove after the weapons the defeated droids had dropped.

The mechanisms beside me hissed under the blaster fire, grinding to a halt. Somewhere in the facility, something was bound to stop working.

As smug as that made me, it also told me that more droids were likely to arrive soon.

A super battle droid approached me as I dove out of the way of its fire. I lifted one arm in my crouch, taking it out with three shots to the chest. The fighting was over. Droids laid in piles, some of them still sparking from what protruded from beneath the crate I’d dropped on them. I emerged slowly, holstering my pistols and raising my hands as some of the clones reacted on impulse, turning their weapons on me.

“Stand down,” I heard Cody say from somewhere in the room. My eyes found him. He looked pretty beaten up, his scar accented by soot and bruises. He held his side slightly as he forced himself to stand tall, giving me a nod.

He turned away to help a few of the injured clones while another familiar face approached. Rex had some cuts and bruises on his face, but otherwise, he seemed fine, more or less. His face was shifting quickly through various emotions. I saw surprise. Relief. Happiness. Yet he seemed like he was fighting tears.

My brows furrowed as he slowed before me, his hands twitching at his sides. “Su cuy’gar,” he said, his voice almost breathless.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you saying you doubted me, Captain?”

Finally, the man grinned, his expression lifting in humored relief. “Never,” he whispered, aware of those around us.

I opened my mouth to respond, likely with something snarky. Or maybe I’d have said something endearing. I felt warm, just looking at him.

And then I got far too warm. Hot. Boiling. Like my skin was aflame. I buckled, hearing screams in my mind.

“Kida!” Rex’s voice was warbled through the visions that blurred my vision. His hands came to my shoulders immediately as I took short, quick breaths. I chased the visions away, but I knew full well now that Dooku was aware of my presence.

“I’m alright,” I breathed, straightening slowly as Cody and the rest of the men approached. “We have to get everyone out of here.”

“I agree,” Cody announced, doing his best to not show the slight limp in his step. “But the Generals have been captured as well.”

“I know.” The group glanced at me with surprise. “I heard what the droids said in the hangar,” I explained, glancing at Rex.

“You were there?” the captain asked softly, his brows knitting in thought. “And you came for us first?”

I regarded the man for a moment, watching all of their faces. They respected me for my choice, but I could feel their inner conflicts. Had I followed duty, I should have gone after the generals first.

Well...duty be damned.

“No one is getting left behind today,” I said finally, my tone firm. “I know where Obi-wan and Anakin are. I intend to get them next.”

“I’m going with you,” Rex announced, Cody stepping up beside him with a nod.

“Me as well.” The commander turned to his men, ordering them to collect what weapons they could. “Getting out of here won’t be easy,” he said, looking back at me.

“No,” I admitted. “But reinforcements were already called prior to your capture. They should be here soon, if they’re not fighting the fleet above us already.”

“We need to send out a message,” Rex surmised, tapping his bruised chin.

“Waxer. Boil.” Two men in 212th yellow stepped forward. I recognized them both, giving them each a smile. They returned it gratefully. “Lead the men to the control center. Take it and hold it. Get a message to the Republic that we’re down here.”

“Yes sir,” they responded immediately.

“I’m going to get some men to take with us for the Generals,” Cody said, stepping away.

“Quickly,” I added as he moved. “Reinforcements will be here soon.”

Rex waited until we were alone again to ask his question. “How did you get here?” I glanced at the clone, looking him up and down, assessing his minimal injuries.

“I walked.”

“From…”

“The starfighter that hit a mountain,” I completed with a smirk. “A probe droid nearly got me, but without it, I never would have found the base.”

He was quiet for a moment before chuckling. “Thank Ka’ra for near-death experiences, then.”

I smirked. “They teach you a lot.” My smile melted as I regarded the clone before me, my heart tugging. Something in the Force told me to tell him how I felt. Almost as if I wouldn’t get another chance like this. I chose not to believe it. It was my anxiety speaking. The fear that stirred beneath my calm demeanor. I was about to face Dooku.

Of course I was scared.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I allowed in a small voice.

“I am because of you, Cyare.” He said the nickname with a small smile now. As if he knew it would make me fight off a blush, but also react with sass. He was trying to make me more comfortable...ease my anxiety...while also trying to rile me up. He was a walking contradiction, this man.

I rolled my eyes. “Again,” I whispered, careful to not let the other clones hear. “You don’t have any gett’se.”

He chuckled, low in his throat as I walked past him, leading the way to the door. Cody was waiting there, ready to deploy the men. Those who had survived--which was most of them, thankfully--had gathered up weapons from the fallen droids. Many of them were battered, but all of their revealed faces, their helmets having been taken, were painted with determination.

“Time to go,” I announced, my hands resting on my holstered pistols. The doors hissed open, revealing a troop of droids.

“Ah!” one cried, jumping back in surprise. “Blast them!”

The squadron was defeated in a matter of seconds, considering the hellfire we rained on them. The clones were a force to be reckoned with. They had an impeccable sense of duty, sure. But when things were made personal...clones fought with such fervor, I could have sworn they were the old warriors of Mandalore that Jango used to tell stories about.

As we made our way down the halls, the alarms started to sound. I supposed our little decision not to be executed had been made known.

“We need to split up,” I announced as the sound of droidekas approaching echoed down the halls.

“Where are the generals?” Cody asked, ducking past some blaster fire to move beside me.

“This way,” I called, running into a side hall, remembering the map I’d seen earlier.

“Remember,” Cody called as one squadron and Rex followed me. “Hold the control center. Get through to the Republic!”

“Yes sir!”

Cody joined us as we hurried through the metal corridors, the sound of gunfire echoing after us as the other clones took up the fight. I followed my mental map, but my suspicions only rose as we hit very little resistance on our way.

Any droids we came across seemed almost shocked to see us, making easy targets. We barely even ever had to take cover from returned fire.

“Does this seem too easy to anyone else?” a clone I didn’t know asked. I glanced at him before looking to see Rex and Cody share a look. They thought so too. And so did I.

The Force tickled at the back of my mind as we approached the door to the chamber I knew held Anakin and Obi-wan. And Dooku…

It was almost like they were waiting for us. For you, the Force whispered. Was it the Force? Or was it the voice I’d heard in my dreams and meditation that sent chills down my spine?

I took a steadying breath beside the small band of clones while Cody worked to open the door. My fingers twitched around my pistols, methodically fiddling with the trigger. Rex’s golden eyes glanced over me, a twinge of worry rippling from him in the Force. I did my best to block him out as the door hissed open.

The room inside was cavernous, metal pillars arching over our heads to the ceiling that came to a peak. Anakin floated in the center of the room, suspended in binders around his wrists and ankles. He looked worn, but a fire burned in his eyes. Anger rippled off of him.

I could feel his conflict. The Jedi training told him to not give into anger. Still, what he had seen had caused him to want to murder Dooku where he stood.

And where he stood...was above a crumpled Obi-wan. What looked like steam was drifting off of the downed jedi, his bearded face exhausted and twisted in pain. He was barely conscious, but I knew in that moment that Dooku was biding his time well. He knew how to keep the jedi awake.

“Hands up,” Rex announced, leading the group into the room. I descended the stairs into the cavern with them, pistols drawn and aimed at the sith lord.

Dooku didn’t even flinch, lifting his head with an expression that only conveyed mild annoyance. Still, his eyes flashed at the sight of our little band, weapons trained on him.

“I said,” Rex said again, his voice hard. “Hands up.”

“Very well,” Dooku allowed, lifting his hands. But he only lifted them to the height of his chest before thrusting them outwards.

I didn’t even get the chance to scream for them to move before the electricity hit me in the chest. We all stumbled backwards, but the agony ended in seconds as Dooku relaxed his fingers, before clenching them again at Obi-wan. The jedi let out a terrible cry as more electricity poured over his body. I flinched, the Force letting me taste the slightest bit of his pain in my mind.

It was what I’d felt before…

Pain that burned deeper than anything I’d ever felt. Torture that wasn’t just of the body, but somehow, seared the mind, too.

There was a slightly metallic taste in my mouth as I staggered to my feet. As if I’d just taken a firm bite out of an ozone layer of a planet. I shook myself slightly as the clones rose again, our weapons raising.

“Enough, Dooku,” I called, finding my voice. To my surprise, it shook. That didn’t happen a lot…

Dooku ceased in his torture of Obi-wan, who had lost consciousness. Anakin struggled in his restraints, looking positively murderous...an expression Dooku shared at the moment as he turned to me.

“Give up,” I tried again, succeeding in keeping the tremor from my voice. “You’ve lost.” To my dismay, the dark lord chuckled at me. I’d never been in his presence before, but I’d heard of his darkness. Now, in that moment, I felt the power of the dark side billow around him. It was terrifying. Strong.

But something whispered from it. It called to me. Begged me to come closer. It whispered secrets. Answers to questions I never knew I had.

Dooku watched me, his acid-yellow eyes intense. Finally, he moved, walking towards us with confidence. “Enough of this,” he growled.

We aimed our blasters, but no one had the chance to get off a shot.

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

MANDO’A

Osi’kyr-- oh shit!

Ka’ra-- stars, ancient Mandalorian myth, ruling council of fallen kings

Adenn beskar’ad-- merciless droid

Haran-- hell

Su cuy’gar -- hello; lit. “you’re still alive”

Cyare-- beloved

Gett’se -- balls

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

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I’m sorry about how long this took me to update. I struggled a lot with writing this chapter for some reason, and life has been getting in the way a lot.

Still, I hope you enjoy. More to come soon (some is already written, so it shouldn’t take as long this time)!

As always, likes, reposts, reviews, shares, are all welcome!

-Ryder

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