#91st generation
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Kuga: Eizan, if you don't shut up I'm going to throw myself out of the car.
*click*
Kuga: DID YOU JUST TURN THE FUCKING CHILDRENS' LOCK ON?!
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Happy 77th Bluegrass Birthday
#blabbing Haddock#thatbanjobusiness#that banjo business#General Banjo Business#also happy 91st birthday yesterday Mr. Bobby Osborne#I didn't post for that but I should've
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Clone wars hc
Been lurking on tumblr for a bit (while) and decided to throw my own clone wars hc cause the hyperfixation be hyper fixated (sorry for any spelling errors).
Kit Fisto and Obi-Wan are bffs - They both lose their robes and seem to flirt with anything that walks. meaning they have get togethers and give each other flirting advice.
Jocasta Nu and Admrial Yularen are BAMF, and are severly underrated. you don't get away with hurting someone they care about unpunished.
Rex's first thought of ashoka was "that's a child" followed by "that's a child on a battle field" and then "that's a child on a battle field with no clothes, what the kark".
One of the shinies from Monnk's battalion definitely asked Fisto (while high on pain meds) if he lactates and monnk and fisto lost their shit and couldn't stop laughing for 5 min straight.
Kix (and other medics by default) have tranq/hypo guns for any vode or jedi that try to leave med bay when on bed rest.
Fox and Amidala gossip and constantly talks shit about Palpatine
Kit Fisto Smile Supremacy, this man win's best smile, it never fails to cheer someone up.
Rex definitely twirls his guns before putting them in his holsters when he's done using them
Bly is obviously in love with Aayla, and he tries to hide it (and fails miserably) but he's so respectful about loving her and swooning, that Quinlan couldn't even give him a shovel talk.
the clones were absolutely baffled when they met the jedi's
Wolffe and Fox are twins, they might be at each others throats 90% of the time, but if you talk shit about the one of them, the other won't hesitate to beat your ass.
Monnk says the most off handed shit in a dead pan tone (ex. Monnk: well I'm not gonna live, laugh, love this. Fisto, laughing his ass off: I-I'm Sorry? Monnk: I'm just saying this is gonna be a bitch)
Plo Koon is Plo Buir, He's at least adopted the Wolf Pack and Ashoka
the 501st and Ashoka are siblings
Grey adopted Caleb Dume
The Iron Battalion/13th battalion took one look at Cal and immediately adopted him
Ponds isn't dead (cause fuck canon), he found Boba before his schemes could go off and made him a deal, He helps Boba plan the assassination attempts on Windu (he trust his general won't die, but he gave him more headaches) so there's no casualties, but slowly the attempts stop and now Boba just lives in the 91st venator's vents.
The first time Cody picked up Obi-Wan's lightsaber he thought it was so cool, and now he just wants to glue the damn thing into his hand
Hound spoils Grizzer, he absolutely adores the massif
Jesse make sure Kix is actually taking care of himself, and make sure he's not over working (and when necessary, he uses a hypo to make sure Kix sleeps, cause Kix will hold that over his head and pay him back for it)
Fox and Thorn are opposites but they are really close
The corrie guard has a list of all the good and bad senators
The most forms that Monnk and Cody (and occasionally Ponds) fill out are forms for more robes
Cody's name is Kote (but goes by Cody cause so many nat borns mispronounce it) and Obi-Wan randomly asked if that was his name, and Cody was just utterly shocked
After Umbara, Fox say a very traumatized trooper (it's Dogma) who is facing shitty consequences for doing the right thing and adopts him into the guard
After Kix woke up from his stasis and found artoo's (again, fuck canon) he would stay up on nights he couldn't sleep and watch videos of him and his vode from artoo's memory bank
Clones using their Jedi's lightsaber - Cody using Kenobi's lightsaber after he loses it for the millionth time, Rex using it to back ventress away from ashoka, Fox finding quinlan's in a dumpster (with quinlan in said dumpster)
Hound let's grizzer purposely tackle people when he can easily apprehend them because it's funny or because whoever he's chasing pissed him off and he's petty
Yoda is the ultimate menace (like srs palpitine hates his ass, but yoda -and everyone else- hates him even more)
Yoda still keeps in touch with Rys, Jek, and Thire (mainly Thire) after the treaty or smth
The Corrie found Quinlan Vos in a dumpster and now he won't stop bugging them (expecially Fox)
Fox is a walking encyclopedia of every republic laws, you do one minor thing wrong and he can quote every law you broke, word to word
A trooper (let's call him Sharks) from Fisto and Monnk's battalion can just get a group of sharks to gather around, at every planet, every time, without fail
Plo's disappointed dad sigh can make a separatist army fold into defeat
Kenobi absolutely loathes caf, he hates it with a passion
Each high ranking clone officer has to deal with something of their jedi - Cody has to deal with Kenobi flirting with seperatist and losing his lightsaber, Rex has to deal with his general constantly crashing ships, his batshit crazy plans and his general continuously using the force to throw him, Monnk has to deal with his general randomly "shedding" clothes, and all the clones have to deal with their generals and commanders not wearing armor (Except for Jaro Tapal, HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO WEARS ARMOR)
Corrie Guard can sleep standing up, very useful when guarding in the pods during senate meetings
The nice Senators (mainly Chuichi, Amidala, and Organa) and Vos very often get things for the Coruscant Guards, and whenever the guard see's the gifts they are baffled and bamboozled
Rex called dibs on Domino squad after the moon mission
Echo and Fives without hesitation took Tup and Dogma under their wing
Fives, Hardcase and Jesse started a prank war in the 501st that accidently evolved into a GAR wide prank war (with Coruscant being neutral ground, cause the guard doesn't need to deal with that shit, doesn't mean they don't help out)
Fox holds ALL the blackmail, and has multiple informants in every battalion, plus he has the power to withhold caf shipments
Fox also regularly reads his batchmates mission reports to mae sure their ok
The Corrie guard accidently adopted a stray tooka and a loth cat, now they're the guards emotional support animals
Rex keeps complaining about his brothers flirting with their jedi's that he didn't even realized that he third wheeled between Anakin and Padme that he joined their relationship
every mothers or fathers day without fail, shaak ti and plo koon always gets presents and gifts from their children (troopers and cadets.... and ashoka)
Coric is Kix's Ori'vod, he didn't admit it at first but Kix grew on him and well medics stay togeth
Coric purposely avoided being CMO of the 501st because they are hellions, Kix wanted to strangle him after he realized what being CMO of the 501st meant
Rex was on the 212th with Cody when Anakin was still a padawan
Rex hates evals, natural blonde plus Kamino is a recipe for hell. Also he was shocked at Skywalker being nonchalant about his hair, Anakin just though it made him cooler
That's all I have for now, if you see any you've seen before my bad, I honestly just typed the first that came to mind and kinda spiraled from there. I'm just now starting to interact with tumblr, so I might upload more and maybe even some art if I can stay focused long enough.
#i dont know how to tag#star wars#clone wars#hc#coruscant guard#corrie guard#commander cody#commander wolffe#commander fox#captain rex#arc trooper fives#clone trooper dogma#dogma#obi wan kenobi#commander monnk#kit fisto#plo koon#commander thorn#commander thire#grizzer#arc trooper echo#padme amidala#anakin skywalker#clone medic kix#clone trooper jesse#master yoda#yoda#captain grey#caleb dume#cal kestis
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Love Everlasting
Summary: You've lived a thousand lifetimes, and lived a thousand loves, with the same man. And now you want to find him again, in the middle of a galaxy at war.
Pairing: ARC Trooper Echo x F!Reader
Word Count: 1989
Warnings: Tooth rotting fluff, reader and Echo have died multiple times, but they always find each other again
Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @the-bad-batch-baroness @kiss-anon
A/N: I wanted to write tooth rotting fluff, and so this was born. Echo will be happy and healthy, even if I have to write it myself.
Sometimes, when you close your eyes, you’re able to run through all of the first times you met him like it’s a movie.
From the very first time, when he was just a boy and you were just a girl, and it didn’t matter that you came from different worlds, and it didn’t matter that he was royalty and you were the daughter of a slave. And nothing mattered except that there was love and it was real and it was yours.
To the most recent time, when he was a Jedi and you were a Sith, and yet you still managed to find each other, and you still managed to find love, though you stood on separate sides of the battlefield.
Thousands of lifetimes.
Thousands of loves.
And it’s always the same. It’s always him. It’s always you. And you’re always happy, for a time.
But it never lasts.
The first life ended in pain and blood, with his screams ringing in your ears and a promise that he would find you again.
And he did. Over and over and over-
Sometimes he doesn’t recognize you. Sometimes he does. It doesn’t matter, because you always recognize him.
You’re fortunate, in this life. You weren’t born a jedi, nor a sith. You were born on Coruscant, and you were born to a middle class family, with parents who loved you and wanted your happiness.
You haven’t always been so lucky.
You started looking for him when you were a child, before you really understood that your dreams were memories of past lives. You searched and you searched, though you didn’t understand who you were searching for.
And at times you ached that you would never see him.
And at times you feared that this was it. This was the lifetime that you wouldn’t be together.
And then the war started. And as you watch the news with your parents, and as you learn about the clones, you know that that’s where he is. So you drop your life, your career, and everything that’s ever made you happy in this life, and you enlist.
It’s not the first time you’ve been a soldier. It won’t be the last time, you’re sure. It’s not even the first time you’ve enlisted to try and find him. In fact, by your reckoning, this is the twelfth time you’ve enlisted in the military to try and find him.
Well, unless you count the time with the pirates, which you do not.
You start out with a posting at Triple Zero. And it takes you less than 6 months to determine that he’s not on Coruscant. So you start needling your Commanding Officer, and you end up with a transfer to the 91st.
And then the 104th. And the 212th.
And finally the 501st.
You stand before Captain Rex and General Skywalker, your hands folded neatly behind you, as the blonde clone reads over your profile, “You’ve been bounced from several battalions, Sergeant.” Rex says slowly, as he handed the datapad over to General Skywalker, “There are dozens of commendations for your actions in battle, and your military strategy-”
“Yes sir, there are.”
“What Rex is wondering, and what I’m wondering,” General Skywalker says smoothly, “Is why none of those other Battalions worked out.”
You nod once, luckily you have an answer for this, “Conflict of personalities, General.” You say promptly, “Commanders Fox, Neyo, Wolffe, and Cody are fine men and I was lucky to have to have the chance to work with all of them, but our personalities don't mesh well.”
“The 501st often works closely with the 212th.” Rex points out.
“I am willing and able to work alongside Commander Cody, sir. It was his decision to transfer me to the 501st.” You say calmly, “If I’m not a good fit, you can always transfer me on.”
General Skywalker hums thoughtfully, “Honestly, based on some of Obi-Wan’s comments here, I’m surprised he signed off on your transfer at all.” He admits, “He’s all but singing your praises.”
“Thank you sir.”
He smiles at you, and offers you his hand, “Anakin Skywalker, welcome to the Resolute, Sergeant.”
You grin and take his hand, “Thank you, General Skywalker. I hope to serve well.”
“I’m sure you will. I have no concerns.” The General replies, “There’s an empty room for you to use. I’m sure you understand that we don’t have many female soldiers serving.”
“I had noticed that my enlistment was something of an oddity when I was stationed at Triple Zero,” You reply.
“Less an oddity and more an anomaly,” General Skywalker jokes. There’s a knock on the door, and all three of you turn towards it as it slides open, “Ah, Echo. Is something wrong?”
“The Engineers report that there’s something wrong with one of the gunships,” ARC Trooper Echo reports from the doorway, his gaze is locked on Captain Rex, and then General Skywalker, and you don’t think he’s even noticed you.
Which is a shame, because you recognized him as soon as he entered the room. The last time you saw him was when you were standing back to back against an army of rancid Sith Alchemy creations. He fell before you did, in the last life, but you suppose it’s only fair, since in the one before that one, you died first.
He looks good, you decide. The armor suits him (it always does, even in that first life when his armor was chainmail and his weapon was a steel sword). And he looks healthy and, maybe not happy, but he looks well. It’s enough for you, even if he doesn’t recognize you.
You tune back into the conversation when General Skywalker claps you on the shoulder, “Echo, this is our new Sergeant,” He says cheerfully.
Echo turns his gaze to you, and he stops. For a moment his breath catches, but he soon catches himself, and you smile. You know that reaction. It’s the same reaction he always has when he sees you again for the first time. That’s something that’s never changed.
It’s something that several lifetimes as a jedi, and several more as sith, haven’t been able to take from him.
He nods at you, and you pretend to not notice the way his fingers flex, as though he’s fighting the urge to slide his hands into your hair. “Welcome to the Resolute, ma’am.” He says, very politely, and you smile at him in return. Your smile widens slightly when you notice him flicker his gaze to the side. He hasn’t changed at all.
Still the same sweet man you fell in love with all those lifetimes ago.
General Skywalker’s gaze is darting from you to Echo and back again, and he has a wide grin crossing his face. Captain Rex, however, looks less impressed. “I have a great idea,” The General says cheerfully, “While me and Rex check out the gunship, why don’t you, Echo, show our new Sergeant where her bunk is?”
“General-” Captain Rex says immediately.
“I can do that, General.” Echo interrupts, his gaze snapping back to you, “It would be my pleasure.”
“Great!” General Skywalker firmly guides Rex out of the room, “Have fun! Maybe give her a tour!”
You stare at his back, bemused, “Is the Resolute any different than the Negotiator?” You ask Echo, as he steps into the room and allows the door to shut.
“Not in the slightest.” He replies, as he moves closer and closer to you, until he’s standing in your personal space, and a soft smile crosses his face, “Hi.” He whispers as he reaches out and presses his hand against your cheek.
“Hi,” You whisper back, your heart pounding in your chest in sheer excitement that he’s here. He’s here and it’s been so long-
“You’re as beautiful as the last time I saw you,” Echo murmurs, as he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, “As beautiful as the first time I saw you, all those lifetimes ago.”
You smile at him broadly, “You look good,” You reply, “Healthy…happy.”
“Happier now.” His voice is little more than a sigh, “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“You enlisted, didn’t you?” Echo asks.
“It’s not the first time I enlisted to find you.” You bring your hands up to caress his jaw, “It won’t be the last time, I’m sure.” You have to stand on your toes to hover your lips over his.
“Maybe next time I’ll enlist to find you,” He teases, “I think it’ll be my turn.” He closes the distance between your lips, and further words are unnecessary.
He kisses you like he’s always kissed you. Like it’s a secret. Like it’s a promise. I’ll find you. I’ll always find you. I’ll always love you. Wait for me. Wait for me. Wait for me.
When you kiss him, you zip back in time, to that little girl who fell in love with a prince. To the prince who fell in love below his station. To a love that transcends life and death.
He breaks the kiss slowly, as though the very idea of parting from you for even a moment breaks his heart, and he presses his forehead against yours. “My heart.” Echo whispers, “My only. Does your heart still belong to me?”
“Always.” You whisper back, “Forever. Was that ever in question?”
“No. Never. But I do like hearing it.” Echo replies. He kisses you again. And again. And again. “I could spend the rest of this life in your arms, and I would die a happy man.”
“You could spend the entirety of every life in my arms, and you would never complain.” You correct with a small grin.
“This is true,” There’s a glimmer of adoration in his gaze, “Stars, I have missed you. Your voice, your scent, the feel of your skin against mine-”
He kisses you again, and he slides one hand into your hair, angling your head back to deepen the kiss.
He doesn’t want to stop, that much is obvious to you. He never does, right when he manages to find you again, but this time you don’t have a choice but to stop him.
“Echo,” You murmur his name and he shudders and presses firmer against you, “You need to show me to my room. We can continue this later.”
“Want to continue it now,” He mumbles sullenly, and you know, if you let him, he’ll convince you to his way of thinking, so you smile and press your finger against his lips.
“We’ve waited this long, what’s a little longer.”
He pouts at you and you laugh softly, running your finger lightly across his lower lip. “Babe-,” It’s a whine and a plea wrapped into one, and you grin at him.
“I know you can be patient.” You chide gently, “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Echo’s breath catches in his throat, and he stares at you, “Right. Right, okay.” He takes a deep breath, and then another one, “Tour, and then show you your room. I can do that.”
You grin at him, and pull your hand away from him, and take a step back.
For a moment he looks a little lost, as though the idea of not being able to touch you is beyond him for a moment, but he visibly composes himself and your smile broadens.
Quickly, so quickly that you almost miss it, Echo kisses you one more time, and then he’s heading towards the door. “Keep up, Sarge. It’s a big ship.”
You roll your eyes and grab your helmet off the table, “Large and exactly the same as the Negotiator.”
“Yeah, but this is the Resolute, so it’s better.” Echo grins at you as he opens the door, “And everyone knows it.” He winks at you, “After all, we have you.”
You tilt your head back and laugh. Gods above, how you’ve missed him.
#star wars#tcw#arc trooper echo x reader#echo x reader#tbb echo x reader#star wars fanfiction#x reader fanfiction#answered asks
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“You lost this”
Summary: Trying to kick the habit of losing your lightsaber it somehow always ends up at the hip of the commander of the corrie guard. I mean that’s better then getting in trouble
Paring: Commander Fox x GN Padawan Reader (PLATONIC)
Warning: none!
Word count: 1386
Notes: once again this man deserves some good fluffy moments, also this one kinda mimics the other Fox fox I have I just realized but whatever. If you have any suggestions feel free to shoot them my way!
Kriff how could this happen again.
Your master was sure going to kill you this time. Ponds walked beside you now as you ran a hand through your hair.
"I've heard plenty of story's of Master Kenobi losing his lightsaber, how bad could it be, you'll find it." He tried to give some comfort.
"1," You held a finger up " I would love to hear that story, 2 you don't know how important it is. Master Windu has told me many times that I shouldn’t loose it because your lightsaber is your life."
Ponds stared at you for a moment before shrugging his shoulder. "Sorry mate, but if you lost it here one of the corries might have picked it up."
It was your turn to stare now. "Really think they'll have it?"
"It's better then turning up empty handed to the general."
Ponds gave you a small nod before turning to part down his own hall of the huge temple. "Ill let Master Windu know you'll be studying with Ahsoka then sir."
You opened your mouth to question him for a second but Ponds flashed you a cocky smile before turning away from you.
You scoffed to yourself for a moment being ever so grateful for the commander of the 91st.
Corries, corries right you could easily go ask the Coruscant Guard to see if they had seen it. But why was it so hard.
Would any of them tell your master, or worst. They already have.
A sweat stared to form a little at the top of your brow. Where could you have left it? The hanger, the temple. It could be anywhere on Coruscant by now.
Great great great. If you didn't find it first it would be just your luck your master would find it before you.
You stood now on the steps of the Jedi temple. You had to go quick if you were to be back before anyone noticed your gone. Ponds excuses could only save you for so long.
In the back of your mind you felt a slight humming sound, the force around you flourished as you acted on this feeling.
You took a few steps with your eyes still closed, the force was now guiding you to the senate building? Mmm your best guess is Commander Fox might have it.
As you walked you recounted the very few encounters that you had with the clone commander. All were pleasant and nothing to make you sweat, but you still did either way.
The building laid out in front of you, the feeling was growing strong now. You could hear the hum of your kyber crystal as if it was in your own hand.
Taking a few steps you scanned the area quickly, trying to keep a low profile in a place you didn’t know all that well.
Fox was an allusive man when he wanted to be but the familiar feeling you craved coming from your saber was much stronger.
You spotted him from a distance away, he was chatting with another brother in red you weren’t sure you knew who though. From here there was no sign of your saber.
You cleared your throat as you made your way over. “Hey commander Fox?”
His eyes and body snapped to attend as did the other person with him. Fox’s shoulders seemed to relax ever so slightly when he saw it was just you but all the same he asked “Is there a problem commander?”
“Oh no I was just looking for something” You casually put your hands behind your back, the hum now grew to a quite background noise as it normally did and you instantly felt a lot better.
Fox head turned forward questioning slightly until his hand flew to his hip, and sure enough there it was clipped to his belt. “I’m assuming it’s this then? You came just in time sir I was just about to contact Master Windu.”
He could definitely see the worry on your face at the last comment as he handed back the weapon you cherished so deeply.
You gave fox a thankful nod then added “You know it wouldn’t be terrible to say if this happens again not to tell my master right away.”
The man standing next to him looked a little puzzled at this small exchange of words but you decided to ignore it.
“I’ll see what I can do about that sir.” He nodded
“Thank you Fox. I owe you.” You turned and quickly made your way back to the temple before Windu decided he really wanted to know where you are.
Fox stood for a moment accompanied by Hound who seemed just as confused as he.
“So that must be the Y/N you told me about.” Hound nodded at Fox. “They definitely live up to what you said.”
Fox gave a slight nod in return, Hound was definitely right about that.
The second time you lost your lightsaber you were already making your way after departing with ponds, to the senate building once again.
Fox stood more by the entrance now, as soon as he caught sight he swiftly made his way over.
In one simple moment he unclipped the saber from its resting place on his belt and held his hand out.
“You keep this up and you’ll tie with General Kenobi for the most amount of times lost.” He joked a little.
You shot an eye brow up as the cool metal made its way into your own hands. “Wow does everyone know that story?” You asked with a smile on your own. “You’ll have to fill me in next time I see you.”
“Hopefully not under this circumstance sir.”
With another small smile you made your way from the senate building. Fox would have to get use to that. But he did enjoy the visits.
The third time it was already like a reflex. Fox saw you come in and scan the building for a moment trying to recognize the armor of the Corrie Guard commander.
When you spotted him this time he already had the weapon in his hand- the weight felt uneven and deadly in his hands.
Fox held it out to you for a moment as you finished your approach grabbing the weapon and stop right in front of him. “Missing something Commander?”
You laughed for a moment, eyes sparkling.
You could just walk out, Fox found himself thinking about one time. You could make a snide comment or two and aggressively grab your lightsaber out of his hands. He wouldn’t be surprised many did. But as always you stoped have a kind smile and a small bow of gratitude then ask him how his rounds were or if he needed anything.
This time you asked if he was almost done with this shift. “No, I have a few more since I took over for Thire, he wasn’t really feeling himself.” Fox shut his mouth quickly after his last words, venomous words floated around his head saying he shouldn’t have shared and you didn’t really care.
But the compassionate look told him all he needed to know. “Well tell Thire I Hope he’s feeling better in no time.” You stated. “And since your going to be on a little while I was thinking about heading to a near by caf machine.”
Fox stuck his hand out waving you off. “No need for the trouble commander I’m fine really.”
The worry in his voice hurt you for a moment. “Nonsense besides I was planning on getting one for myself. Really it would be no hassle.”
Knowing your stubbornness he gave up the fight quickly, nodding his head in a response.
He watched you exit for a second, the bright glittering saber now hung where it rightfully belonged.
In a way Fox hoped that you would loose it again, not to get yourself in trouble but it’s refreshing to have someone to listen to what you had to say. Someone in the same boat as him but not in the same seat so to say.
But one things for sure, he would never get use to the weight that thing carried when it was on his waist. He’s seen them work before and those weren’t as pleasant as he’d like to remember.
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Taglist: @arctrooper69 @thereforepizza
#star wars clone wars#clone wars#the clone boys#star wars#the clone wars#my writing#toska-writes#commander fox x reader#commander fox#corrie guard#coruscant guard#reader insert
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What are you working on right now?
“You all right?” Neyo asks, faintly wary as he watches Ponds out of the corner of his eye. “You seem.” He stops, clearly fighting with descriptions for a moment before he settles on, “Distracted.”
Ponds has twelve detailed plans for murdering another commander, and twenty-seven that still need the kinks worked out. He’s been working at them all night. “I'm fine,” is what he says, though, because outright saying I want to murder Wolffe to defend the general’s honor will probably get him a sideways look. “Didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all.”
Neyo raises a brow. “Even though the general is back?” he asks. “He’s safe with the 91st now.” Pauses, and then says, with an edge to the words, “And not married now.”
Before Ponds can answer, a door down the hall ahead of them hisses open. The right door, and Ponds’s heart jumps. He finds he’s smiling without even meaning to, and even Neyo's usual scowl has lightened into something like relief as he steps forward—
It’s not Mace who exits Mace's bedroom, though. It’s Wolffe, still settling his kama around his hips, vambraces and gauntlets in hand, helmet under one arm. His hair is too short to be messy, but Ponds is absolutely convinced it looks ruffled, like he was just recently asleep and hasn’t fixed it yet.
The hiss of Neyo's indrawn breath is roughly the same as the warning growl of a particularly angry krayt dragon, and a hand clamps shut around Ponds’s vambrace, so tight Ponds can feel it through the plastoid.
And then, worse, so much worse but also better, Mace steps into the doorway, clad in a loose white sleeping shirt with a wide collar. It dips bellow his sharp collarbones, shows part of his chest, makes his lean and dangerous figure into something captivating, breathtaking. That’s the best part. Mace could never be anything else.
But Mace is in sleeping clothes and Wolffe is just putting his armor on, and they were both in Mace's bedroom after working late together. Ponds is going to throw something. Something sharp, preferably right at Wolffe’s head.
“Thank you, Wolffe,” Mace says, and Wolffe snorts, steps in. He crowds Mace up against the doorframe, right where anyone could see. Right where Ponds and Neyo can see. Doesn’t go in for a kiss, but tugs Mace's head down, one traitorous hand curled around the back of Mace's neck like he has no kriffing idea that Ponds is about to cut it off and feed it to him.
#kat answers#raise it up#this is neyomaceponds#technically#wolffe would be their poor victim if he weren't actively provoking all of this
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Okay this came to me sitting at dinner with my in laws and I need to know
Cerra and Neyo 👀
When I tell you I laughed so hard I choked on my water and nearly drowned
All right @wizardofrozz, let's do this: Cerra x Neyooooooo!!!! Smut below; MDNI as always.
It started when the 91st was running a joint operation with the 501st. Cerra ran into Neyo while she was temporarily at the forward operating base coordinating supply runs. She didn't know who he was at first; they had an anonymous hookup after encountering each other in the mess hall. When she found out she'd been kriffing a marshal commander, she nearly had a panic attack.
Neyo was the one who wanted more. Worried about getting a reputation for sleeping her way up the ranks, Cerra kept their relationship on the DL until Neyo accused her of being ashamed of him.
WAC-47 repeatedly tried to get into Neyo's office one day while the commander was enthusiastically eating Cerra out. Neyo shot at him through the door. He then refused to allow maintenance to clean the carbon scoring off the door; he said it was a good reminder for everyone else to leave him the kriff alone.
Neyo once joined a holocall with General Mundi while balls deep in Cerra. He had his holocam angled strategically, and Cerra did her best to keep quiet, but Mundi definitely knew.
Cerra once bet Neyo that he couldn't pilot a BARC speeder while she rode him. She lost. But did she really?
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Words of love
Day 5 prompts: Love
For: @silmarillionepistolary
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Eönwë, Maglor, Írimë
Theme : A series of letters from one character to another - Eönwë to Ingwion | Maglor to Indilien (OC) | Írimë to Amarië
Themes: Soft | Fluff
Warnings: None
Wordcount: 778 words
Summary: Eönwë writes to Ingwion after the latter sends him a letter on life in Valimar | Maglor writes to Indilien, thanking her for agreeing to him corresponding with her | Írimë writes to Amarië, thanking her for her gifts
A/n: OC name meaning
Indilien, wife of Maglor - Indil (Lily) | ien (suf. feminine ending; feminine patronymic).
This is also available on AO3
Letter 1 – Eönwë to Ingwion:
10th day of Y.T. 1231.—
Beloved,
It pleases me to hear that your training with Lord Tulkas goes well and that he sees to your lessons himself. He is a most steadfast and hardy friend, and I am certain that you will not want for comfort while you reside within his halls. Valimar is a most beautiful city, and to be invited to see all that lies behind its walls of white and gold is a rare honor. Prove yourself worthy of this honor, as I am sure you will, and you will discover much of what that fair city has to offer.
My love, your letter moved me deeply. To read of your deep longing for me, to know I am foremost in your thoughts! I confess that I read it once, and then I read it twice, and then I read it a third time. I treasured every word and committed each and every one of them to heart. I pray you will not think me weak when I admit I feel your absence most keenly. The great halls do not ring with the sound of your sweet laughter, and our chambers feel strangely cold and empty without you in them. The time of flowering and ripening of all things is upon us, and yet I find that Ilmarin is shrouded in the dark and dismal winter of death your leaving has left it in. Forgive me. The pain of our separation is nigh unbearable. I do all that I can to make myself content with the knowledge that when I call on you, this pain will pass. Alas! If only time flowed according to our own wishes! If only there was a way to make that appointed hour of our reunion arrive faster! There is none. Nevertheless, we will see each other again. This is all that truly matters in the end. With this, I will put an end to my letter. Write to me as often as you can, my love, and always keep me in your thoughts.
Written by the hand of he who longs for you,
Eönwë
Letter 2 - Maglor to Indilien (OC)
30th day of Y.T. 1284.—
Noble lady,
Allow me to begin by offering my sincerest and most humble gratitude for your granting of my wish to write to you, and I pray that I will not make you weary with my letters. I was told you were most astonished by my appeal and that you consider my request an honor. Pray allow me to correct you on this, my lady, for the one who is honored, is myself. Never have I heard another sing so sweetly or seen anyone more beautiful! There is no word to give justice to how you have captivated me, my lady, and I pray that you will allow me to speak of how you have held me enthralled the next time we meet. Such words will be poor fare, to be sure, but they will, no doubt, speak of the sincerity of my feelings and the depths they contain. I will write no more for a lack of time, but I beseech you to write to me if I have not offended you in any way with my declaration.
Your most faithful servant,
Lord Makalaurë Kanafinwë
Letter 3 - Írimë to Amarië
91st day of Y.T. 1362.—
Beloved,
Thanks and thanks and thanks again, my dearest, for your gifts. And thanks once more, for your tender words. They are more precious to me than any gift, though I will treasure the works of your hands greatly. Mother helped me find a place for all of them, and we both agreed that the marble carving of the great eagles who dwell in the crags of Ilmarin is the most breathtaking. So magnificent! So lifelike! I would have considered the turning of stone into something so fine nigh impossible had the great sculptor herself, Nerdanel, not proven me wrong on more than one occasion on that score. You are gifted as she, and I consider myself the most fortunate of elves to have one such as you by my side.
I am truly overwhelmed by your expression of love for me. No words could describe the sincerity of my gratitude, my dearest, but please accept these words, humble as they may be, as a token of my thanks. It heartens me to no end to know that I am so loved. And pray accept this gift—a bracelet that I have recently crafted—if it pleases you. With this, I shall bring an end to my letter.
Your beloved,
Írimë
tags @cilil @asianbutnotjapanese
#silmarillionepistolary#epistolary#eönwë#ingwion#eönwë x ingwion#maglor#tolkien OC#maglor x indilien#Írimë#amarië#Írimë x Amarië#the silm#the silmarillion#the silm fanfiction
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Rindou: I am convinced Isshiki-kun and Kuga-kun share a brain cell.
Tsukasa: And it's not in use very often, it seems.
#Shokugeki no Soma#SNS#food wars#91st generation#Kobayashi Rindou#tsukasa eishi#isshiki satoshi#terunori kuga#incorrect quotes
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Tivaevae | Chapter Seven: Stitch In The Ditch
Still struggling to emotionally recover from Master Obi-Wan's deception, Ahsoka discovers in the aftermath that twelve-year-old Boba Fett has been locked up among adults in the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. After convincing Chancellor Palpatine to grant him a pardon, she manages to secure his release on the condition that she serve as his legal guardian. Now, with the help of Master Plo and the Wolfpack, she vows to help him track down what family he has left.
| AO3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Fandom: Star Wars
Characters: Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, Plo Koon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Kanan Jarrus, Sheev Palpatine | Darth Sidious, CT-27-5555 | ARC-5555 | Fives, CC-1119 | Appo, Dexter Jettster, FLO | WA-7 (Star Wars), Shaak Ti, ARC Commander Blitz (Star Wars), CT-6922 | Dogma, Original Clone Trooper Character(s) (Star Wars), CC-3636 | Wolffe, Clone Trooper Sinker (Star Wars), Clone Trooper Comet (Star Wars), CC-2224 | Cody, CT-5597 | Jesse, CT-4860 | Boost, Aurra Sing, Tobias Beckett, Null-11 | Ordo Skirata, Kal Skirata, Original Mandalorian Characters (Star Wars), Original Droid Characters (Star Wars), Original Jedi Character(s) (Star Wars)
Total Word Count: 123,000
Chapter Word Count: 11,878
Chapter Summary: Ahsoka, Boba, and the Wolfpack explore the catacombs of Geonosis in search of Jango's armor.
Not long after the Republic had re-secured Geonosis, a permanent outpost had been established on the surface to hopefully keep it in Republic hands. Ahsoka had no idea what had happened to the native Geonosian population since they seemed to have mostly disappeared, with only a few sightings floating through intel every now and again. The general consensus was that whoever was left had fled into their endless catacombs, leaving the surface occupied by clone troopers who constantly surveilled the dustball for Seppie activity.
Their landing site at the base was not far from the arena where Jango Fett had lost his life and was still under heavy construction. It housed the ARF troopers that made up Sandsnake Squadron, a division of the 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps. There were six of the Sandsnakes wearing armor painted a dusty-red camo pattern waiting to greet them on the landing pad. The one wearing deep violet kama and a stripe of the same color up his arm stepped forward as Ahsoka's group departed The Babasta. He had painted fangs on the side plating of his helmet.
"Atten-tion!" bellowed the commander, his lilac aura flush with silver authority-respect. All six clones saluted them.
"Koh-to-yah, Commander Pelter," Plo greeted him and returned his salute. "At ease. It is good to finally meet you."
"Thank you, Sir," Pelter said warmly, relaxing. His men behind him did the same. "Follow me, if you would."
"But of course."
As they walked, Ahsoka fished two sets of nose plugs out of her belt pocket and handed one to Boba. The micromesh allowed her to still mostly keep her sense of smell, but if she had to choose a planet to never to smell again Geonosis would be it. It was dusty, musty, and had an uncurrent of sulfur and rotting meat. It was truly just a gross planet, one that she had no fondness for after being both shot down and buried alive on. "Put these on."
"I'm not wearing that shit," Boba said flatly, staring at the nose plugs.
"Yes you are," Ahsoka said primly, inserting her own set. "Unless you want brain worms."
"Unless I want what?" Boba stared at her, his aura gone lime with disbelief-suspicion.
"Brain worms. Mind-controlling brain worms." Ahsoka gave him a narrow grin. "Welcome to Geonosis."
Boba's eyes darted in between her and the nose plugs in his hand, then he hastily shoved them in. "Not my first time on fucking Geonosis," he mumbled bitterly.
Ahsoka winced at her gaffe. "I know." She patted him on the back sympathetically. "Hopefully it'll be the last for both of us."
They followed Commander Pelter into the sprawling, half-finished base and down a labyrinth of halls with exposed wiring and metal beams until they reached the commhub. A holotable topped with a slowly-rotating, glowing map of tunnels was waiting. "We've had our scouts down in the tunnels with drone mappers since we heard you were on your way, Sir," Pelter began. "We've cleared all chambers down to sector nine, as you can see here–" he pointed to a small offshoot at the base of the hive-shaped rock formation, " –and we've mapped out a grid of an additional nineteen sectors with ground-penetrating radar, though we can't speak to what's in them. The rock interferes with most of our equipment. It's almost impossible to get an accurate read without actually going down there."
"Excellent work, Commander." Plo turned to Ahsoka. "Where do you propose we begin our search, Padawan?"
Ahsoka examined the map, specifically a small, unexplored section in the southeast sector directly below level nine. It was wide open and led to a labyrinth of tunnels, but every time she looked away she found her gaze pulled back to it. She made her decision. "We'll start here," she said, pointing to sector nine. "It's been cleared, so it should be safe enough for now."
"And then?" Plo tilted his head.
"Then, Master, we should meditate. If you act as a focus for our session then I can cast out my aura much further than on my own. Hopefully I'll be able to sense if the armor is nearby and we'll at least have a general idea of where to look."
"I have no objections," Plo replied. "Commander Wolffe, do you have any suggestions?"
"We should bring Arseven. He can keep us on track with the map." Wolffe patted the astromech on the head. "Just don't get left behind, ul'ika."
Arseven honked in nervous agreement.
"Then go ahead and finish any preparations you need to for our task," Plo said. "And Commander Pelter, if you can spare a LAAT/i, we are more than capable of flying ourselves down. There is no need to distract you from your duties."
Pelter nodded. "We'll get one staged for you, Sir. I'll load it with a comm booster. These rocks… they really block everything."
Ahsoka remembered that unfortunate fact all too well. "Here, Boba, put this on." She snapped her cuirass over his chest before he could protest.
"Uh, 'kay." Boba craned his head around to look at his back. "This isn't bad. Where'd you learn how to work plastoid, Tano?"
"I didn't, Rex made it for me," she replied.
Boba smirked and his aura went brassy gold humor-exasperation.
"What?" Ahsoka asked, frowning.
"Nothing." Boba snickered, then mumbled something that sounded like oblivioussayswhat.
"Wh–" She narrowed her eyes and smacked him lightly on the back of the head.
"Boost, I assume you are handling munitions as per usual?" Plo asked him.
"Yes, Sir," Boost replied.
"Excellent. Do not forget a blaster for Boba upon your return from the armory."
The Wolfpack, Ahsoka, and Boba all stared at Plo, their auras gone bright white with surprise. Ahsoka mentally tucked away the argument she'd been practicing in her head for the better part of an hour that advocated for arming Boba and bounced on her heels, trying not to smirk.
"Sir, are you sure?" Wolffe asked quietly, glancing at Boba.
"I see no reason not to. These tunnels could prove dangerous, and Boba is a skilled shot."
"We don't know what's down there, Sir," Wolffe continued, tearing his eyes from Boba. "Shouldn't he stay at the base?"
"I don't think so, no."
Plo smiled warmly at the boy and Ahsoka's heart did a happy somersault. Boba's aura was a pale, sunshine yellow with surprise-gratitude-flattery.
"If you say so, Sir," Wolffe mumbled, turning away with beige unease-anxiety clouding his aura.
"Klef, make sure they all get a liquid nitrogen canister," Pelter ordered one of the Sandsnakes, then turned to Ahsoka and tapped on a small spray can mounted on his wrist. "Just in case you run into any of those little slimeballs," he said.
"Good thinking," Ahsoka agreed, shuddering inwardly. The thought of those worms anywhere near her brain ever again just… ew. At least she knew better than to murder a clone for falling victim to it, unlike Barriss.
Barris was such a hypocrite. All she ever did anymore – well, at least before Umbara, Ahsoka hadn't spoken to the bitch since their fight – was whine about the abhorrent violence of the war, but when her life was on the line she didn't even hesitate. Poor Trap didn't deserve to die because she was a stupid, reactionary cu–
"Ahsoka," Plo said, interrupting her racing thoughts. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Master," Ahsoka said, smiling wanly. "Just… unpleasant memories of this place."
"Hey, it'll be fine," Boba reassured her. "I'll watch your back. Just don't wander off."
Ahsoka saw the way Plo's aura went gold with humor and she patted Boba on the back, stifling her own grin.
Ahsoka kept a hand on Boba's shoulder so he didn't get tossed off the side of the LAAT/i as Comet set it down. His aura was practically vibrating with pale gold excitement-anxiety and he hadn't taken his hand off of his borrowed deece since he'd strapped it on.
"Come, come." Plo hopped off of the side of the gunship and ignited his lightsaber. The chamber was fairly bright, as the chamber was open to the bright orange sky, but the corners were dark. He stood over a wide hole in the southwestern section, roughly three meters wide and pitch-black. "Sector eight can be reached through this tunnel," he informed them. "I shall go first to ensure that the chamber has not been retaken by any Geonosians, then we can continue on to sector nine."
"Sir, let me," Wolffe immediately offered, but Plo held up a serene hand.
"I insist," he said mildly, then before Wolffe could protest any further, he jumped into the hole and disappeared.
"I hate it when he does that," Wolffe growled.
Arseven beeped to concur.
"He do that often?" Mangle asked, peering down the hole with his lights on.
"He always goes first," Boost grumbled. "He likes to worry us. I think he thinks it's funny."
"It is funny," Ahsoka smirked. "He's a Jedi Master, but you'd all tuck him into a box with packing peanuts and a fragile sticker on it if you could."
Wolffe had his bucket on, but she could tell he was glaring at her by how chartreuse his aura was. "Rex might think the suicidal tendencies of the Jedi are cute but we don't, Ahs'ika."
"We're not suicidal!" Ahsoka laughed. "We're just confident in our abilities. It's a shame that the 104th doesn't have the same faith in Master Plo as the 501st has in Master Skywalker and I."
"Oi!" Comet protested, lime with offense. "Nobody said that!"
Sinker snickered. "Very funny, Commander. What you don't realize is that poor Rex has just given up on trying to rein you two in. You and Skywalker give him a heart attack every day."
"Clear!" Plo's booming voice echoed up from the tunnel.
"I'm sending Boba down first!" Ahsoka called down. "Catch him!"
"Catch?" Boba asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" Ahsoka said maybe a little too gleefully before lifting him with the Force over the tunnel. "Ready?"
"Um–" Boba said frantically.
"Down you go!"
His yelping echoed all the way down until it terminated with a shriek. It reminded her of when she and Anakin had thrown Rex off of that wall and she couldn't help but smile wickedly.
"Did you die?" she called down.
"Can you fucking warn me next time?" Boba squawked.
"I did! Coming down!" She jumped down the tunnel and slid down the smooth stone walls for a good ten seconds, then landed in a crouch at the base of a massive chamber. Green xenon lights had been affixed to the stone walls and there were stalagmites – or were they stalactites? She could never remember the difference – jutting from both the roof and floor. She gave the seething red Boba, who was still being held by a golden Master Plo, a fond pat on the head.
"See!" she said brightly. "Nothing to worry about."
"If you ever do that again, I'll shoot you in the kneecap," Boba snapped as Plo put him down.
"Yeah, yeah," Ahsoka smirked at him.
The Wolfpack slid down one at a time after her, followed by a screeching Arseven who was firing his jets wildly.
"Easy, buddy, easy," Ahsoka said soothingly, patting him on the head.
The droid whimpered and tilted forward for more pets.
"Aw, what's wrong, Arseven?" she asked.
"𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚖," Arseven beeped miserably.
"Don't worry, buddy, they're organic worms, that's what your liquid nitrogen is for. You're safe."
"Just keep your ports closed, my little friend." Plo patted him fondly as he passed. "Poor Arseven dislikes enclosed spaces. They make him nervous. He much prefers the open air. I couldn't ask for a better copilot."
Arseven happily bounced on his servos at the compliment.
"Come now," Plo continued. "Sector nine is just ahead."
Ahsoka kept her mouth open as she walked behind Plo and clicked softly in the back of her throat, trying to get a better idea of the dark tunnel they walked through in her head.
"What are you doing?" Boba asked, green with curiosity. His big amber eyes were nearly swallowed up by his pupils in the darkness.
"I hear better with my mouth open," Ahsoka replied.
"What?" Boba looked confused.
Ahsoka pointed to her montrals. "No holes," she smiled. "If I open my mouth I can hear almost twice as well. And if I click I can get a mental picture of what's in front of us."
"Fucking hawkbat," Boba muttered, shaking his head.
"Here we are," Plo announced as the tunnel opened into a new chamber, taller than the first. More xenon lights had been screwed into the rock walls, colored eerie green that bleached the red rock into gray. Plo took a seat in the lotus position on a large, flat rock in the center and gestured for Ahsoka to join him.
Ahsoka sank down opposite to him. "Boba, I'm going to be concentrating for the foreseeable future," she announced. "Watch my back."
Boba gave her a nod. He'd drawn his deece and held it down, but ready. His aura was nervous and dirty beige with anxiety-unease.
"It's going to be okay," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Just don't wander off."
Boba rolled his eyes and moved closer to Wolffe.
"Shall we begin?" Plo rumbled.
"Yes, Master." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me."
"I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me," Plo joined her. "I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me."
Ahsoka continued to whisper the words as she let her consciousness relax and expand. First her orange aura, normally held tight and protected against her body, slowly flowed out like soft fog and blended with Plo's warm copper to make a shining russet. Their breathing synced together and she became more aware and less at the same time, focusing on the minutiae of their environment rather than the macro. Plo held her steady while she spread their aura thin; she heard the tiny beetles scrambling over the walls dislodging dust, flies buzzing around the lights, spiderwebs creaking and clicking as their architects tapped across them to wrap their trapped prey in silk, the soft slap of Wolffe's kama against his plastoid thighplates–
She took a frustrated breath. She needed to go out, but it felt like she couldn't even leave the room.
"Focus, Padawan," Plo murmured. He took her hands and squeezed. "Let go of your frustrations and stop searching. Let the Force guide your path. I will keep you from becoming lost."
She tried again. Their aura stretched further, searching, brushing, touching the walls of the tunnels near her. She took it all in softly, listening and feeling for anything that didn't belong. There was a sudden ripple on the very edge of their aura, a tug like a shy child trying to get an elder's attention by grabbing their sleeve.
It retreated once she noticed it, and she followed it down a dark tunnel in a northern direction. There was a quiet song that she couldn't quite hear emanating from this tunnel, almost like a bell that chimed and pulsed at the same time, as soft and resonant as a memory. She flowed after it over the rocks and dirt like smoke, on and on and on as the song became louder and–
Nothing. Whatever was tugging on their aura was gone like a fish on a broken line and the song quickly died away. Ahsoka huffed, frustrated, and pulled back once more. She opened her eyes and frowned. "I thought I had something, but–"
"I saw." Plo squeezed her hands. "Do you think the armor would call out in such a way?"
"What do you mean, Master?" Ahsoka asked. She gently detangled their auras and leaned back on her elbows.
"We are looking for the armor. It is not looking for us." Plo looked troubled; his aura was turquoise and was as flat and still as a pond. "I do not think that we are alone down here."
Ahsoka's eyes widened and dread clenched in her belly like a fist. "Boba?" she called, looking around.
"Right here." Boba peeked his head out from behind Wolffe. "Me'vaar ti gar?"
"Naas. Just checking in." She turned nervous eyes to Plo. "What do you think, Master?"
Plo thought silently for a moment. "Whatever is down here is not likely to be friendly," he finally said. "We should continue with caution. I do not like the idea of such an unknown entity so close to the ARF base."
"Agreed," she said, and got to her feet. "The question is, do we follow it or not?"
"Right before our connection was broken, I heard a melody," said Plo. "Did you also hear it?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Did you recognize it?" she asked.
"Possibly. I have never heard the song myself, but I have read tales in the Jedi Archives about the resonance of certain materials in the Force, only audible to those who know how to listen. Beskar is said to have an exceptionally clear tone, like a bell."
"You think the armor was singing?" Ahsoka asked a little skeptically.
"There is only one way to find out." Plo gestured to Boba. "Stay close, son. I want all of you to stay vigilant. Ahsoka and I sensed a presence in these tunnels, one that wants us to follow it. We proceed with utmost caution from here on out."
Arseven honked in a way that sounded very much like uh oh.
"Ahsoka, I must ask you something," Plo said softly as they proceeded single-file down the northern tunnel.
"What is it, Master?" she asked.
"Are you doing alright?" Plo asked, his aura a gentle teal with protection-concern-affection.
"Master?"
"Your presence feels heavy in the Force. It has not felt so heavy since…" Plo hesitated, then glanced back at her. "Since Xior-Cal."
Ahsoka didn't answer. She wasn't sure how to. There was no ceremony from her culture to help her move on this time. For a few insane moments she fantasized about knocking one of Obi-Wan's teeth out and feeding it to Hinata.
"I'm okay," she said after she realized she'd been silent for at least ten awkward seconds. "I am. I'm alright."
"When we meditated on the journey here, you had trouble fully surrendering yourself to the Force. More difficulty than I've ever seen you have, even as a child."
"I know," she admitted. "I'm not centered like I should be, Master. I'm working on it."
"Strong emotions cloud our connection to the Force. That is why it is so important to release them, Padawan." Plo's aura went dark and rich with affection-comfort. "Whatever I can do to help you move past this, please tell me. Not just for the sake of our mission, but for your own wellbeing. You are a beacon of light in a galaxy that becomes darker with every moment this war continues. It breaks my heart to see you so dim."
Plo was right, she needed to get it together. She was mentally spinning, having trouble concentrating and unfocused. They didn't have time for her to be so off-balance. Boba didn't have time.
"Arseven, the map, if you would," Plo rumbled.
Arseven beeped pitifully and projected what he had; according to the ground-penetrating radar that the Sandsnakes had used there was another large, open chamber at the end of the tunnel.
"Ahsoka, wait here with the others," Plo instructed. "Wait for my call."
"Yes, Master," Ahsoka replied, and she watched Plo dip around the edge of the tunnel.
"And now we wait," Wolffe grumbled, his aura gone a deep teal with protection-annoyance-affection. He leaned against the side of the tunnel and checked his chrono. "He's got five minutes."
"Before you swoop in and save him?" Ahsoka asked, trying not to laugh.
"Before I send your mouthy shebs in after him," Wolffe grumbled.
Ahdoka leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, smirking. "I bet y–" she began, but stopped once she noticed Boba. He was frowning and playing with the strap on his holster; his aura was green with curiosity but ringed with yellow embarrassment again. "What's the matter?" she asked, concerned.
"Nothing," he mumbled. A ribbon of smokey dishonesty circled around him.
"Boba, what's the matter?" Ahsoka dropped to one knee. "What happened, what did we say?"
Boba glanced up. "I don't want to piss you off," he said, still fidgeting. His eyes flicked over to Wolffe and his aura went darker yellow.
Ahsoka put a hand on his shoulder. "You won't, I promise. Now what is it?"
"What was Xior-Cal?" he asked hesitantly. Ahsoka realized he was afraid that she would react the way Wolffe had when he had asked about his scar.
"You don't have to answer that, Commander," Wolffe said immediately, putting a protective hand on her shoulder. "Listen, kid–"
"I'm fine." Ahsoka patted Wolffe's hand and gave him a grateful look. "It's okay, Wolffe."
"You don't need to be thinking about all of that right now," Wolffe growled. His visor turned to Boba and his aura was almost opaque teal with protection-resentment. Not towards Boba, no, towards even the memory of Clan Sylen.
Ahsoka had been horribly injured at the end of her fight with Dol and his family, too injured to stay for the aftermath. Plo had arrived on his Venator a few hours after she'd left. Wolffe had overseen the evacuation of Clan Sylen's slaves, he'd been in Dol's breeding pits. He knew exactly what fate Ahsoka had escaped.
"Then let me tell him so we don't have to linger on the subject," Ahsoka said gently, then turned back to Boba. "A horrible man – an exiled Mandalorian, actually – he kidnapped Jesse and I and took us to a planet he'd taken over called Xior-Cal. He wanted to marry me and then use me to claim the Darksaber for him so he could overthrow Satine Kryze."
"Is that who you were talking about before with Nala Se?" Boba asked. The yellow bled into red anger.
"Yeah." She smiled at him and stood. "There's more to the story, but that's the gist."
"That's why he's so protective of you," Boba said, his aura tinged mint with realization-understanding. "Jesse, I mean."
"One reason, yeah," Ahsoka laughed softly.
"Clear!" Plo declared ahead of them. "Be careful, watch your step when walking. The chamber floor is cracked down the center."
Ahsoka led the squad out, keeping a careful eye on their path. She clicked in the back of her throat as they walked; there were no lights in this chamber and it felt oppressively dark outside of the small circle of light her lightsaber emitted, but she got the impression that the chamber was vaguely egg-shaped without any stalagmites. She was unwillingly reminded of the chamber she and Jesse had hidden in from Dol and his vassals underneath the moonless Xior-Cal's chandanam grove. "Stay close," she ordered Boba, joining Plo on a flat rock in the center. There was a wide hairline crack down the middle of it that they stood on either side of.
"Yeah." Boba swallowed hard and glanced around.
"Hey, kid. C'mere." Boost fished something out of one of his pouches and handed it to Boba. "Snap it on the bottom of the barrel. There's a magnetic lock."
Boba carefully applied whatever it was Boost had handed him and a flashlight flicked on once the magnet had clicked.
"This was the chamber where we lost our lead," Plo said quietly. He took her hands and they sank to their knees together. "We will begin again, but be careful, Padawan."
"Yes, Master," Ahsoka murmured. "I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me." She whispered the words in tandem with Plo as she once again melded their auras and reached out in a russet fog. Above them was a quietly tittering nest of bat-like creatures that squeaked and shivered amongst themselves. Ahsoka could feel their apprehension, their anxiety; they wanted them to leave and posed no danger. She continued on and tasted the gritty, musty dirt in her mouth, felt the rough texture of the newly-dug walls, heard a clear, pulsing bell that vibrated her teeth–
"Newly dug," Plo murmured. "This chamber is freshly made."
"Yes," she whispered back. "Do you hear it? The bell."
"I do. It is much louder than before."
"Do you think we're close?" she asked.
"I cannot say for certain."
Ahsoka felt sweat drip down the side of her face. The humidity of the chamber was beginning to rise, oddly, but what was causing it? "Master, do you feel–"
s ʜ ᴏ ᴡ ᴍ ᴇ
A foreign voice hissed the words in her mind at the same time the rocks cracked overhead, scaring the life out of her. It shook the walls and loosened a torrent of pebbles. Something grabbed a hold of her aura; not the shy tug of a curious child like before, but a chitinous hand that closed like a spike trap.
s ʜ ᴏ ᴡ ᴍ ᴇ ᴍ ᴏ ʀ ᴇ
"Master Plo–" she whimpered. Her lekku stung as they began to rapidly swell, reflexively trying to scare away whatever had a hold of her.
"Ahsoka, stay with me!" Plo's voice boomed both out loud and in her mind. "Focus on me, Padawan!"
Ahsoka tried but she felt her aura detangling from his and she couldn't stop it–
The floor gave way without warning and Boba rolled, too shocked to even scream. He landed with a grunt and rolled about ten feet, tangled up in the limbs of his twitching ori'vod and almost crushed by the squealing weight of Arseven.
"Ahsoka!" Plo shouted. "Boba, are you–"
"INCOMING!" Wolffe roared, then all Boba heard was blaster fire, the humming of a lightsaber, and the clicking screams of Geonosian drones. "WE'RE SURROUNDED!"
The chamber above shook. Dust and a shower of rocks fell down where Boba and Ahsoka had landed. "Tano," Boba said quietly, hoping the blaster fire above would be loud enough to cover his voice. If whatever was attacking the Wolfpack realized they were alone they'd be dead in seconds. "Wake up, Tano. Come on." He shook Ahsoka but she was completely out, and if her lekku weren't twitching like snakes Boba would have thought that she was dead. He dragged her around the edge of the rock they'd rolled down and pressed himself against it. He swept dust and pebbles off of her lips before she choked on them.
Arseven began to rapidly meep, panicked at being separated from Plo. "Quiet!" Boba hissed at the flailing astromech. "Get over here!"
Arseven meeped pitifully one more time then fell silent and rolled out of sight of the upper chamber.
"Fall back, fall back!" Wolffe yelled.
"Men, to the tunnel!" Boba heard Plo boom above him. "Boba, ke'haaranovor!"
Boba closed his eyes and tried not to hyperventilate. He hadn't heard the noise of a Geonosian army since… since…
It didn't matter. He had to keep it together.
Blaster fire started to become muffled as the troopers presumably entered the tunnel. Boba held his breath until he couldn't hear clicking anymore. He had thankfully kept a hand on his blaster, and he used the flashlight to examine where the hell they were once he was fairly certain that all of the bugs had been drawn away. It looked like the floor had just opened and they'd fallen into a much older chamber below. It smelled even worse than the first and he saw why immediately; there were dozens of bodies in the room, all wearing white plastoid armor. They'd been there a while, probably since the very first deployment. There was nothing but bones and leathery sinew left of them. Boba nervously adjusted his nose plugs and looked at Arseven. "Show me the map."
Boba examined Arseven's projection; the chamber they were in was thankfully on what the Sandsnakes had found with their ground penetrating radar and they were close to the eastern side of the hive. "That tunnel to our right," he whispered. "It leads right up against the side of the canyon. Think we can cut our way out with the laser sword?"
Arseven quietly honked.
"Alright, follow me." Boba holstered his deece. He crouched beside his twitching Togruta guardian and hoisted her tall, skinny body onto his back. "Fat fucking head," he grunted as he struggled to his feet, slipping and sliding on the debris. Her legs were so long that they dragged on the ground. He spared a glance upward at the last echoes of retreating blaster fire then turned and struggled on towards the tunnel.
Arseven beeped at him, hesitating.
"We can't get up there," Boba hissed. "Plo said to hide and we can't just sit out in the open like this, we need to keep her safe until she snaps out of it. Come on, I need your light."
Arseven sadly beeped and illuminated the tunnel ahead.
"Keep an eye on our backs, would you?" Boba whispered as they made their way through the pitch black. He could still hear insectoid clicks and distant blaster fire echoing through the stone. If they were jumped, he'd have to toss Ahsoka off his back and draw as quickly as possible. Hopefully her tails would cushion her big head in the fall.
Fuck, this was stupid. They never should have come here. The only reason they were crawling through a shabla bug nest at all was because he had cried about his dad and Ahsoka didn't know when to stop trying to help. Now she was probably going to die – well, fuck, they were probably both going to die, who was he kidding – and it was all his fault. Typical. He had managed to find the one person in the galaxy who wanted to help him, actually help him without wanting anything in return, and he was the one who was going to get her killed.
Tiarek was going to be furious. About her, at least. Boba still wasn't sure what his brother thought about him; he cared, clearly, but Boba wasn't sure if it was just his sense of honor or if he maybe felt the memories that the kaminii demagolkase had stolen from him, locked deep in his mind.
Arseven honked frantically and spun his spotlight behind them. Boba tossed Ahsoka to the ground and aimed his blaster in the direction of the light.
Something tiny, reptilian, and vaguely rat-shaped scurried across the floor of the tunnel.
Boba lowered his blaster and glared at Arseven. "I meant for Geonosians," he snapped at the astromech.
Arseven cooed apologetically and if Boba didn't know better he would have said that the droid was embarrassed.
"She's probably already got a concussion, you know," Boba grunted at the droid as he hauled Ahsoka onto his back again. "She – ugh – she doesn't need – come on, you leggy bitch – any more head trauma." He finally got her up and turned just in time to see a hissing Geonosian drone at the end of the tunnel raise its spear.
Boba tried to draw but he wasn't fast enough. The spear hit him square in the chestplate and sent him flying backwards. He landed hard on Ahsoka and heard a sick crunching noise.
Arseven screeched and sprayed liquid nitrogen in the drone's face. It reared back, screaming and clawing at its eyes. Boba aimed from the ground and plugged it three times in the face, then it fell dead to the ground with a noise like a tea kettle.
"Fuck," Boba panted, lowering his smoking blaster. "Fucking fuck!" He yanked the spear out of the plastoid and tossed it, trying not to barf. If he hadn't had her cuirass on, they would have both been skewered like a pair of fucking runis. "Thank you, Tiarek," he mumbled, then realized he was still sitting on Tiarek's Jedi.
"Oh shit, let me get off– I'm sorry! Sorry, sorry, shit–" Boba holstered his blaster and then rolled Ahsoka onto her back. Her left arm flopped in a way that made him want to puke. "Did I–" Boba gasped. "It's broken. I broke her fucking arm. Shit, shit, shit!" He stood up and placed frantic hands on his head. "Shit, Ahsoka, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
Arseven let out a series of panicked beeps and started to bounce.
"Okay, okay, um–" Boba spun and looked at Arseven. "You gotta carry her. I have to keep my blaster out."
Arseven honked indignantly and waved his spotlight at him. Boba didn't speak binary but the implication was clear.
"I've got a flashlight too, now hold on." Dad had made sure Boba knew the basics of bonesetting, though he'd probably never expected him to use the lesson on a Jedi. He unclipped Ahsoka's leather belt, careful to not bump the buttons on the lightsabers clipped to it, then untied the sash it covered. Something clattered to the ground once he'd freed the cloth from behind her back and bounced a few feet away.
Boba and Arseven leaned in to look. On the tunnel floor was some sort of tooth, wide and flat and off-white; clearly a molar but way too big to be Human. Boba gingerly picked it up and examined it. "The fuck?" he muttered. He tucked it into his pocket for safekeeping and started searching for something to serve as a splint. He decided her gauntlet would have to do, and after he unstrapped it from her wrist he saw that there was a hilt sticking out of the end.
"Woah." Boba unsheathed the big vibroblade that was almost as long as her arm. He glanced down at her. "Didn't know you were allowed to use these," he mumbled to himself. "Good thing, though. Makes this easier." He carefully sliced the sleeve of her robe up to her shoulder and then made a second pass to get at her undertunic, going even slower the second time so as not to nick her.
When he got above her elbow he almost choked. The skin there was mottled black and her whole upper arm was swollen twice the size it should be. "This… this isn't new," he muttered. "What the hell, Tano? This why you've been favoring it?" He kept cutting until her arm was completely exposed and gently probed her bicep with his fingers to see just how bad the break was. "At least it's not through the skin," he mumbled, gently rotating her elbow. It didn't move right. It had broken clean in half.
She gasped in pain but didn't wake up.
"Sorry," Boba said again, then made a face. "And sorry for this." He gingerly strapped the gauntlet over her skinny bicep after maneuvering the bone as best he could back to its original position, praying to whoever was listening that he wasn't ripping up her arteries because he didn't know what the hell what Togs had in there, then tightened it down.
Ahsoka cried out and tears flowed down her cheeks, but she still didn't wake up.
"Sorry," Boba said miserably for what felt like the millionth time. "Okay, we have to move." He used her sash to tie her splinted arm to her chest, then stood and hooked his arms under her armpits and dragged her over to Arseven. "Don't drop her," he ordered the droid as he draped her awkwardly over his dome. Her lekku flopped towards the ground and tickled her nose. He slung her leather belt over his shoulder, nervously adjusting the lightsabers, then motioned at the droid to follow.
Arseven made an affronted honk at the indignity of it all and wheeled after Boba down the tunnel.
Ahsoka came to in a fog. She was in some sort of medbay, though she didn't recognize it, but the smell of antiseptic and old blood was unmistakable. She blinked bleary eyes around the room and tried to sit up.
"Easy, mo nighean," a familiar voice beside her said soothingly.
She turned her head slowly and squinted at him. "Bobi?" she mumbled through numb lips.
"Hello, my dear." Obi-Wan leaned forward and gently dabbed sweat off her face with a damp cloth. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm…" she looked around the room. "Where are we?"
"Back at the base." He leaned back and smiled at her. "When I received word that you had been ambushed, I mustered the 212th and rushed here as quickly as I could."
"How…" She stretched her jaw with a wince. "How many casualties?"
"None." Obi-Wan smiled. "Not a single one, Ahsoka."
"Thank the Force," she sighed, and let her heavy head rest on the pillow again.
"They found Jango's armor. They're going through the files in the war room now." Obi-Wan picked a piece of ice out of a cup and ran it over her lips. "They think that there might be a lead on the Sith Lord in there. It's promising. You may have just ended this war."
"Really?" she breathed, unable to believe it. "That's… that's…"
"And there was all of the information on the Cuy'val Dar that you could have asked for. Boba's going through the list now with Master Plo."
Ahsoka could have cried with joy. "Who would've thought?" she whispered. "It was here the whole time. We could have ended the war before ever leaving Geonosis if we had just looked."
"If only." She could hear the smile in his voice. "I am so, so proud of you, Ahsoka." His bare hand grasped hers. "And I owe you an apology."
Ahsoka suddenly remembered that she was mad at him.
His thumb gently stroked hers. "What I did to you and Anakin was unconscionable. I made a terrible, terrible mistake. I understand why you're so angry, and you have every right to be. I can only hope to earn your forgiveness."
Ahsoka closed her eyes. She must have been given painkillers; they made her connection to the Force foggier than a Trandoshan dawn and she couldn't see even a wisp of his aura. "Thank you for saying that, Master," she said quietly.
"...she snaps out of it. Come on, I need your light."
Ahsoka tilted her head, confused.
"Whoever is out there can wait," Obi-Wan said harshly, glancing at the door before looking at her again with a soft smile. She saw the dimple under his beard deepen. "You can't run away from me, now. I intend to make the most of this time."
Ahsoka fiddled with her IV awkwardly.
"I haven't done a very good job of protecting you, have I?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, taking her hand again.
Ahsoka frowned. "What do you mean?"
Obi-Wan looked at her sadly. "I know what Anakin did to you, Ahsoka."
"You–" her eyes went wide and panic clawed at her throat. "No, I… I don't know what Cody told you, but–"
"You don't have to protect him anymore, dear." Obi-Wan moved to sit on the side of her bed. "He is a grown man and a Knight besides. He is supposed to protect you, not the other way around."
"That's not true," she whispered.
"I assure you, he's quite grown." Obi-Wan's eyes crinkled in a soft smile. "You've been taking care of him for too long, Ahsoka. It's time he grew up and finally faced some consequences for his lack of control."
"Please don't remove me," she begged. "He didn't mean it. It was his mech hand, it got stuck, it… he didn't mean to actually hurt me."
Obi-Wan sighed. "He did. We both know he did. That's what he does. He hurts people and then he convinces them that they were to blame for it, because he is incapable of taking responsibility for his own mistakes."
All at once the air was sucked out of her chest and she arched her back away from the bed. A lightning bolt of white-hot agony shot up her arm and she struggled for the breath to scream.
"Muscle spasms," Obi-Wan said sympathetically. "Your arm was broken again in the battle. Anakin did a terrible job of healing it. I assume his emotions were too heightened to do it properly."
"Shit, Ahsoka, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
"I'm so, so sorry," Obi-Wan continued, overlapping the voice she heard outside of the room. "I wish that you felt you could come to me. You did nothing to deserve this."
Ahsoka bit down the desperate urge to defend Anakin. "I know that he struggles with his anger, Master, but he was just so lost," she panted. "It was an accident."
"It's all my fault," he said regretfully. "It was my supposed death that put him in such a state. I thought he could handle it, but evidently not." He looked away. "You were supposed to be my Padawan, remember. I should have fought harder for you. You deserve to have a Master who won't hurt you."
Ahsoka took a shuddering breath. "But–"
"But nothing, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan's eyes were heavy with guilt. "You deserve love. Safety. Someone that will teach you without changing who you are at your core. Not an overgrown child who will break your arm during a temper tantrum."
"He hasn't changed me," she said weakly. "He makes me better. Stronger. He's made sure I could survive anything."
"At what cost?" Obi-Wan kissed her hand. "You are changing, my dear, like it or not. I've known you since you were three years old. I've watched you grow into a strong, wonderful, kind Jedi, but now I fear that his darkness is infecting you." He met her eyes. "You felt it, didn't you? After my funeral, when he hurt you. You broke yourself open gleaning all of that darkness away from him, and after everything you did he repaid you with violence. That's what he always does. He takes, and takes, and takes, until finally there's nothing left to give and then he turns on you and blames you for failing him."
Ahsoka felt her lip quiver.
"Oh, mo nighean, come here." Obi-Wan pulled her up into a hug and wrapped his arms around her just like he had when she was a little girl. She buried her face in his neck with a choked sob. She had missed him so much. She didn't want to be angry at him. She felt it poisoning her memories of them together, turning them bitter and rancid.
"I don't want you to worry about Anakin anymore," he whispered against her montral, softly petting the root of her rear lek. "If you truly feel that you two should not be separated, I will–"
"I do!" Ahsoka said immediately.
Obi-Wan huffed a quiet laugh. "Then I will not separate you. But there will be a change. He will never, ever hurt you again." He pulled back and she saw his eyes had hardened. "He will regret it if he does."
" ...show the first trooper you see, they'll find Pelter and muster out here. I hope. We've got two fucking Jedi trapped down here, after all."
Ahsoka looked at the door, confused. "Boba?" she called.
"He's with Plo, dear, remember?" Obi-Wan stroked her face gently and smiled. "You have nothing to worry about."
"But what was–"
"It's nothing, Ahsoka, nothing." Obi-Wan eased his way into the bed beside her and wrapped her protectively in his arms. "You're safe here with me. Just rest."
She closed her eyes and snuggled closer against him.
"There's my little tick," he chuckled quietly. "Do you remember when I'd call you that as a youngling? You were always clinging to me back then. Qui-Gon thought it was hilarious."
"Yes." She smiled into his robes.
"I remember the first time you came face-to-face with akul lilies," he said softly. "You screamed so loud that I thought you were being murdered. I had to come and save you, and then you wouldn't let me put you down for hours."
They both laughed and Ahsoka felt her stripes go warm.
"I treasure those memories," Obi-Wan admitted. He scratched between her montrals and she began to purr. "I always regretted allowing the Council to convince me that I doted on you too much. I abandoned you back then too, didn't I?"
Ahsoka was shocked to hear him say something she'd only ever thought in her weakest moments. "It's alright," she murmured. "You're here now. That's what matters."
"But still. We lost so much time." The room was warm and so was Obi-Wan. She was getting drowsy. "I always thought of you as the daughter I'd never have. I love you so much, Ahsoka."
"I love you too, Bobi," she murmured, nuzzling into his neck. His beard tickled her forehead.
"You're not my fucking dad! My dad is dead! I watched him fucking die, now go away!"
Ahsoka jerked at the voice. "Was that Boba?" she asked, frowning at the door.
"No, dear, he's with Plo," he reminded her patiently. "Just rest. Stay here with me."
She put her face back in his neck and breathed in the warm, comforting smell of incense and cologne and warm skin. "Can I still see Boba after he picks a new guardian?" she asked quietly.
"Of course, dear. I see no reason not to. You've been a calming influence on him."
She laughed, remembering the way he'd insulted Obi-Wan in the hangar. "I'm sorry he made fun of your–"
The words died before they could leave her lips. His razor rash. He had shaved his head and beard to impersonate Rako Hardeen.
She froze.
"I don't know what the fuck you are, but you're not him!"
Ahsoka looked up at the man with a full head of luxurious auburn hair who held her in his arms.
Obi-Wan blinked rapidly and disappeared, and when the sound of a blaster bolt deflecting off of beskar rang through the room like a bell the room went with him.
Boba touched the stone wall of the tunnel. "Here. It's here, right? Bring up the map again."
Arseven projected his map of the tunnels and Boba nodded, identifying their ninety-degree bend. "Yeah. This is it. Alright, let's just hope that the wall isn't thicker than what her lightsaber can cut." Boba carefully detached the bigger one from its clip on Ahsoka's belt, triple-checked it was facing the right way, then thumbed the button. The vivid green beam shot out and he nearly dropped it out of nerves.
At least it wasn't purple.
Boba swallowed hard and carefully started cutting into the wall. There was resistance like he was trying to push something hollow underwater, but otherwise it sank right to the hilt. He stopped a few times when the rock got too hot for his fingers, but after a minute he had carved a careful square into the wall.
He turned off the blade and shoved the piece of rock forward as hard as he could. The bright orange light of the canyon poured into the pitch black and nearly blinded him.
"Boba!"
Boba dropped the saber and spun with his blaster drawn, shaking and spotty-eyed from his small glimpse of the sun. "Wolffe?" he forced out. There was no answer. "Did you hear that?" he whispered to Arseven.
The astromech beeped and shook its spotlight back and forth in a clear no.
Boba swallowed hard and picked the saber back up. Maybe they were looking for them in another tunnel and couldn't hear him respond. He didn't dare yell any louder than he had so he continued to cut carefully into the wall, kicking the chunks out into the canyon. He finally carved a rough rectangle big enough for Arseven to fit through.
He sprayed the rock floor with his liquid nitrogen canister so he didn't burn his hands and then peered over the edge. His heart sank. There was no way he was making it down a thousand-foot drop to the bottom of the canyon without a jetpack, and Arseven's boosters weren't strong enough to support the weight of the three of them combined. If they tried to go one at a time, the unconscious Ahsoka would almost definitely fall off of the droid's dome. He turned and motioned at Arseven. "C'mere, turn your holocam on."
Arseven beeped curiously but obeyed.
"This is Boba Fett. I'm with the Jedi Ahsoka Tano. She's been injured really badly and we've been separated from Plo Koon and the Wolfpack. We need reinforcements right away. There's a whole fucking army down here of Geonosians. Follow the coordinates on Plo's Arseven unit. Dad told me that the Geonosians who live underground are scared of sunlight so we should be okay for a little while, but I don't know if that will hold them back for long."
"Where are you, son?"
Boba spun and aimed down the dark tunnel. He didn't see anything, but he had definitely heard something. It had to be Wolffe looking for him. "You have to hurry," he forced himself to continue, turning back to the holocam. "Bring everyone. I mean fucking everyone, I'm serious about the army. And call for reinforcements on your way." He glanced down the tunnel again. "Boba out."
Boba clicked off Arseven's holocam and motioned his head at the canyon. "Go on and fly to the base as fast as you can. You show the first trooper you see, they'll find Pelter and muster out here." Boba grimaced. "I hope. We've got two fucking Jedi trapped down here, after all."
Arseven honked reluctantly. He stopped at the edge of the opening, flashed his light at Boba twice, then jetted off.
Boba sank down on his haunches and buried his face in his hands. He suddenly felt very, very alone. He'd protect Ahsoka as long as he could, but… but…
"Fuck," he choked out, trying not to cry. He didn't want to have to protect her. He didn't even know if he wanted to find Dad's armor anymore because he'd probably still be in it and that would be the new last touch of his father. Not the brief kov'nyn he'd given Boba right before he had put on his helmet and started fighting, but the touch of dead leather and rotten bones.
He wondered if they had gotten the helmet. He'd dropped it running to escape the arena, would the bugs have known to keep it together? Was it even still together? What if they'd melted it down and sold it to pay for battledroids?
He didn't know. He was afraid to know. The clicking in the walls was getting louder and he really didn't want to fucking be here anymore.
He sat with his back to the daylit canyon and pulled Ahsoka's head into his lap, trying to keep both of them in the light. He pulled her belt off of his shoulder and hooked the lightsaber back on it. "I'm sorry, ori'vod," he whispered. His vision went blurry with tears. She twitched like a dreaming massiff in his lap. "We never should've come here. I'm sorry."
"Bo'ika, can you hear me?"
Boba froze. The voice came from the end of the pitch black tunnel where the sunlight didn't reach. It wasn't real. It couldn't be real.
"Come to me, Boba. It's alright now. Daddy's here."
"Dad?" Boba whispered, trembling. It wasn't possible. He'd... he'd seen Windu…
"Leave the jetii and come to me, son." There was a glint of silver just beyond where the sunlight stopped. "You don't need that thing. Let's get out of here together."
"You're dead," Boba whimpered. He scooted back and carefully lowered Ahsoka's head to the ground. "I saw you die. You're…"
"You'd choose the jetii over your own father?" the voice hissed.
"N-no, I…"
"Boba, come here now!" the voice bellowed. It sounded just like him but it couldn't be him, it couldn't.
"Fuck off!" Boba shouted, drawing his deece. He kept it aimed at the shine as he struggled to his feet. "You're not my fucking dad! My dad is dead! I watched him fucking die, now go away!"
"Am I not enough for you?" the voice snapped venomously. "You left me to die, and now you're helping the jetiise!"
"No," Boba sobbed. His hands shook with fear and adrenaline. "No, I didn't… I never would have…"
"Then why won't you come to me now?" Dad whispered, suddenly gentle again. "K'olar, Bo'ika. Come to me. We can be together again."
"No," Boba forced through his tears. "No, you're not him. You're not."
"What are you afraid of, Boba?" He saw the outline of the kar'ta beskar on his father's cuirass. "I would never hurt you, son. I love you."
Boba shook his head. "No. No, you're not real."
"Don't you want to be with me? Mama is here too. So is Cassus."
Boba almost collapsed. "They're dead!" he sobbed. "They're dead too, because, because you…"
"You never saw their bodies," the voice said silkily. "I had to tell you they were dead, Bo'ika, so they could be safe. I would never hurt them."
Boba's sweaty hands shook so badly that he could barely keep a grip on the deece. "But you did," he whispered. "You killed them, and you tried to kill Tiarek."
"But not you. Never you, Boba." A beskar greave crossed the threshold of sunlight. "Let's go home, son." Hissing and clicking echoed in the tunnel behind him.
Boba screwed his eyes shut. "We don't have a home anymore," he whispered. "You're not my dad. I don't know what the fuck you are, but you're not him!"
"Boba, come to me!" the thing that wasn't his father screamed at him.
Boba pulled the trigger and heard the bolt deflect off of the beskar like a bell. His eyes shot open as a primal growl erupted behind him that made every hair on his body stand up, and the dark tunnel flooded with emerald green light. A Geonosian wearing his father's beskar'gam and a headpiece made of Human finger bones and insect wings recoiled with a scream, immediately echoed by the dozens of drones holding spears behind it.
Ahsoka darted forward and closed the distance between them before Boba could even blink. She took the leader's head off its shoulders with one powerful swing and then sliced her way through the swarm of screeching, clicking bugs it had stood at the head of.
Boba tried to still his shaking hands and started firing at the packed swarm. He managed to pick off six before Ahsoka cut her way to the back and disappeared around a bend. His eyes darted between her shadow and the… the thing that had stolen his father's armor. It had tied feathers to the jetpack thrusters and his customized WESTAR-34 hung around its neck like a trophy.
He wanted to step forward and rip it off but his feet felt like they'd been cemented to the tunnel floor. How had it known? About Mama and Cassus, how had it known?
He heard a final, distant hiss like steam escaping a pot and then Ahsoka reappeared around the bend, sweating and breathing hard from exertion. She put her saber back on her belt, stepped over the thing's corpse, and pushed his blaster down before pulling him into a one-armed hug that squeezed the breath from his lungs.
"Are you okay?" she asked in a cracking voice.
Boba closed his eyes and burrowed into her sweaty neck, trying not to cry. " 'Lek. Ahsoka, a'ni buir, ni buir ru'jorhaa'i, n-n-nayc, kih'bas ru'johaa'i ti ner jorad be'buir–"
"Shh, I'm here," Ahsoka murmured. Her chest rumbled weakly. "It's alright, Boba, I'm here. Just breathe."
"How did it know?" he whimpered. "How did it know those things a-about my dad?"
"I don't know what it was, but it was Force sensitive. It trapped me in a vision when I was searching for the armor's aura." She glanced behind them. "Looks like the search is over."
"Yeah," Boba whispered.
"Okay, we–" Ahsoka winced and stepped back. Her eyes went round as they focused on the hole in his borrowed cuirass. "Cac, Boba, what happened?"
"A drone threw a spear at me," Boba said with a sniffle.
Her jaw dropped to her chest. "A spear?" she squawked. "Okay, start from the beginning."
Boba wiped his nose. "Um, the floor just… it just opened up. Then we – me, you, and Arseven – fell down into the chamber below, but Plo and Wolffe and all the rest were still up above."
Ahsoka looked at her arm and bit her lip. "Yeah, that would have done it," she sighed.
"Yeah," Boba squeaked, choosing not to confess that he'd broken it by falling on her. "But you were totally out of it. They got attacked up above and Plo yelled at us to hide, but then we got jumped in the tunnel – that's when I got speared – but I took it down. I got us here and cut the wall so Arseven could go get reinforcements."
"That was good thinking," Ahsoka said, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait, why didn't you go with him?"
"You'd prefer it if I left you to be bug food?" Boba snapped defensively. "Ungrateful, much?"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "I would prefer that you were safe at the base, but you're right. I definitely would have been bug food." She smiled, and even though she was clearly in a lot of pain, it was genuine. She touched foreheads with him. "Vor entye, vod'ika."
Boba felt his cheeks go pink. "Yeah, well, Tiarek would have killed me if I had left you," he mumbled.
It may have just been the way her lekku had swelled up, but it looked like her stripes got darker. Her head tilted and she let her jaw fall open, clicking softly in the back of her throat for a few seconds before drawing her lightsaber and spinning with it ignited. "Stay behind me," she said quietly.
Boba aimed over her left shoulder. "What is it?"
"Footsteps," she mumbled. "Coming around the bend. In three, two, one–"
Boba pulled the trigger right before Ahsoka gasped for him to hold his fire, but Plo easily deflected the bolt with his blue lightsaber. "Sorry!" he squeaked.
"Master," Ahsoka sighed in visible relief, deactivating her blade.
"Little 'Soka." Plo swept her up in a careful hug, mindful of her splinted arm. He reached around her and yanked Boba into his other arm. "Mii-in khu-khud. I'm so thankful to have found you both safe."
"Ahs'ika!" Wolffe jogged down the tunnel and put a hand on his shoulder. "Kid, where the hell have you two been? We've been up and down these tunnels–"
"Mangle, your skills are required," Plo interrupted. "Sit, Padawan. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"My back is killing me," she admitted, sinking down with his help. "I think I hurt it in the fall."
Boba bit his tongue.
"We are safe for now, I believe. We ran into a swarm not far from here. Some were already injured."
"Yeah, that was probably the swarm running from us," Ahsoka laughed humorlessly.
Mangle took a knee beside her and examined her swelling arm. "I'll give you something for the pain, Commander, but I'd rather not do any more damage to it by trying to rewrap it here. It's already secure, I'll just do more damage."
Ahsoka didn't look happy about it. "Alright," she said, wincing at the touch of his hands. "Sh– Fr– Heck, that really stings."
"Just say fuck," Boba sighed, fighting not to smile at her primness.
Ahsoka shook her head and pointedly looked away from Plo.
"Want me to say it for you?" he asked sympathetically.
"Boba, no," she choked, caught between laughter and tears. "But, uh, the adrenaline is wearing off and this is really starting to hurt."
"Not for long," Mangle said with a snicker, then jammed a hypospray into her left shoulder.
"Where is Arseven?" Plo asked, his brows furrowed. "Did he not fall with you?"
"I sent him back to the base for backup," Boba said.
"We'll need more troopers than what is at the base to safely clear out this hive," Plo said grimly.
"The hell is this thing?" Comet asked, kicking the Geonosian.
The Kel Dor's eyes found the beskar'gam. "A shaman, I believe. I felt its attempt to prey upon our minds, but because it had chosen Ahsoka to focus on I was able to shield us from its intrusion." He turned to Boba. "Are you alright?" he asked gently.
Boba nodded. He'd been trying not to look at it, but now he couldn't seem to look away. The Geonosian shaman had cut his dad's undersuit away and had reattached it to what he really, really fucking hoped wasn't Human leather. The crown had fallen off of its head and lay in pieces, the Human finger bones that made up the bulk of it had scattered everywhere. It had his dad's helmet clipped to its belt and had filled it with little green eggs.
Sinker sprayed the inside of the helmet with his entire can of liquid nitrogen before kicking it over and smashing the individual eggs under his boot. Boost knelt down and picked it up, then looked over at Boba. "This belongs to you, kid," he said quietly, holding out the helmet.
Boba stepped forward and took it with trembling hands. He turned it and stared down at the visor, just like he had that day.
He was glad in a way that his father's body was gone, even though it meant he'd never get a proper burial. He wouldn't have cared about that anyway. This was what was important. This is what held his soul, not his body, and Boba could go on remembering the last touch of his dad being with living flesh and not rot.
"You good, ad'ika?" Wolffe asked him quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Boba nodded, though it felt like a lie.
"Go sit with Ahsoka. We'll strip it." Wolffe gently steered him back towards his ori'vod and gave him a pat on the back.
Boba took the steps forward without really feeling them and sank down beside Ahsoka and Plo in the light. The elder Jedi put a clawed hand on his shoulder.
"Armor or no, your father will always be with you," Plo said gently. "He has joined the Force, and the Force flows through all living things."
"He's not a living thing," Boba said, staring down at the helmet. He traced the dent.
"But you are." Plo rubbed his arm soothingly. "Every cell in your body is alive with him. He cannot leave you, Boba. That is the nature of the Force."
Ahsoka's jaw dropped open and she tilted her head. "I hear…" she mumbled, nodding a bit from the painkiller. "I hear wings."
"Wolffe?" Plo asked immediately, turning to the trooper.
"We got it all, General." Wolffe finished loading the last piece of beskar into Mangle's ruck.
Plo quickly got to his feet and ignited his lightsaber. He cut a hole triple the size of the one Boba had sweated over in less than a second then shoved out the rock with his powers. The tunnel flooded with sunlight. "Let us waste no more time in this wretched dark," he said. "Boba, I thank you for protecting Ahsoka in her hour of need. I would ask that you continue to do so for a little while longer."
Boba put his helmet on and accepted the WESTAR from Wolffe with a grim nod.
"Wolffe, remind me of the range of the JT-12 jetpack," Plo said, peering up the canyon wall.
"Just over twenty meters per second of fuel at full blast," he replied, joining the Jedi at the edge.
"And that is for the weight of a single man, correct?"
"Yes, General," Wolffe said grimly. "With the fuel we've got left, I'm not sure we could make it up the whole–"
"Pelter to Wolffe, do you copy?" Wolffe's commlink crackled. "I repeat, Pelter to Wolffe, do you copy?"
"Wolffe, copy, over." the trooper barked immediately.
Boba felt dust from the tunnel ceiling fall onto his helmet. There was a subsonic rumbling getting closer.
"We are en route with fucking everyone, as requested. ETA five minutes, over."
"Copy that. We've got a swarm on the way. We'll hold out as long as possible. Over and out." Wolffe looked at Boba. "Guess Arseven made it back, though I don't think that's the wording he would have used."
Boba shrugged and checked the shots on his WESTAR. It wasn't made for extended firefights like the DC-17 was and only held twenty shots to the Blastech model's fifty, but it could be fired twice as fast with three times the power. Dad had left him eight shots. He switched it to his left hand and drew the deece. He'd use them both until he ran dry.
"Think we can last another five minutes?" Boost asked casually, readying his carbine.
"Let us hope so," Plo replied. "Stay in the light, men."
Wolffe, Sinker, Boost, stood three to a man while Mangle and Comet took a knee directly in front of them, forming a firing line that would decimate anything that crawled from the pitch black tunnel. Boba took a knee beside Comet and in front of Ahsoka and aimed his blasters into the darkness, waiting for insectoid eyeshine. He could feel the hum of Plo's lightsaber in his teeth.
"Five seconds," Ahsoka said wearily, doing her best to stay awake despite the drugs. Boba had just opened his mouth to ask Mangle if he had accidentally given the overgrown tooka a trooper-size dose when a swarm of Geonosians piled around the corner like an avalanche of roaches, shoving and clicking and hissing and coming right for them.
The Wolfpack mowed them down with a firestorm of bolts. Boba gritted his teeth and picked his shots, taking down two with a single bolt before plugging a fat one in the front at the knee. It went down and blocked the tunnel, trapping them and making them easy pickings for the others.
Ahsoka snatched the deece from Comet's thigh holster and popped off three shots at the end of the tunnel illuminated by sunlight. "Movement," she slurred. "They're staying out of the… the light, but they're there."
"Reloading!" Wolffe called, dropping to a knee. Boba killed four more bugs before the WESTAR went empty, then he tucked it into his belt and kept firing with the deece. Plo slid on his knees to the opposite bend of the sunlit tunnel and took on the swarm invading from that side, gracefully spinning like an ice-blue tornado of light.
The noise the Geonosians made as they died was fucking haunting; something between a hissing aklay, scratched porcelain and a teakettle on a rolling boil. "Reloading!" he barked when he had two shots left, then put them into a bug's face and replaced his tibanna canister in under a second. There were so many bodies on their side of the tunnel that he didn't know how the bugs were managing to get over them.
He spotted a line of worms rapidly inching towards them on the ground. He sprayed a wide line of liquid nitrogen and watched as they instantly shriveled up and shattered. He raised his weapon to fire again and had cut down two more drones when he felt the floor begin to rumble.
The LAAT/i descending into the canyon outside brought a gust of wind with it that was strong enough to jiggle Ahsoka's montrals.
"Copaani gaan?" Pelter called at them over the thrusters. Beside him, Arseven squealed happily and bounced back and forth on his servos.
"Move out!" Wolffe bellowed, slowly backing up to the hole while still firing.
Boba killed three more before he holstered his deece, slung Ahsoka's unbroken arm around his neck, then jumped them both over the narrow gap to the LAAT/i.
The troopers followed one by one and then finally Plo, covered head-to-toe in Geonosian hemolymph, made a running leap for the gunship. Once he landed the LAAT/i immediately started its ascent. Boba awkwardly stumbled over to a seat and put Tano in one. He took the one next to her before he fell from the turbulence, then pulled his helmet off.
"You're early," Wolffe said warmly, pulling Pelter into a one-armed hug.
"You have our thanks, Commander," Plo nodded. He accepted a sanicloth from one of the ARFs with a medic's sigil on his shoulder and scrubbed at his gooey face.
"You did amazing," Ahsoka said, smiling loopily at Boba.
Boba looked down at the helmet. The sweat on his scalp was tacky and clammy, even in the hot Geonosian air. "Thanks," he said quietly, more to the helmet than to her.
Arseven wheeled over to him, beeping enthusiastically, then tilted forward for a head pat.
"Good job, buddy," Boba snickered, giving him a good rub.
Arseven cooed happily and bumped his knees.
Ahaoka put an orange hand on the top of his helmet. "Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum." she said softly. "Jango Fett."
Kaisa Skirata. Cassus Fett. "Jango Fett," he echoed quietly, then rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes.
Notes:
MANDO'A TRANSLATIONS
Ul'ika: little donkey (Wolffe likes Plo's robot dog and only Plo's robot dog)
Me'vaar ti gar: what's new with you/what's up?
Naas: nothing
Ke'haaranovor: go hide
Osik: shit
To'bevikse: mando nunchaku (lit 'chain sticks')
'Lek: Yes
a'ni buir, ni buir ru'jorhaa'ir, n-n-nayc, kih'bas ru'johaa'i ti ner jorad be'buir: But my dad, my dad said, no, the bug said with my dad's voice–
Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum: I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal. (Mando remembrance of the dead)
MAOR-GRASTA TRANSLATIONS
Mo nighean: my girl
Cac: shit
KEL DOR TRANSLATIONS
Koh-to-yah: hello/goodbye (Wind guide you)
Mii-in khu-khud: My kids (not blood relation, Kel Dor would just say offspring [it's informal to them], just children in general)
OTHER NOTES
Yes I know Boba boobytrapped the helmet as a bomb for Mace. I also know that he somehow fuckin has it later, complete with the dent. But fr, from a meta standpoint Boba would never turn the only part of his dad that he had left into a bomb. There's no explanation on how he got the helmet back so once again I do what I want
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ahsoka goes ekekekek and that's her "echolocation" ability. because god knows I will spend hours too much time making up logical backflips for George Lucas' unique alien designs why the FUCK does a carnivore have two stomachs George 😃👍
Hard drugs blocking the Force (or at least making a person too fucked up to focus) is a Legends canon thing. Cade Skywalker smokes space crack so the ghost of Luke can't yell at him lol
Taglist: @starwarsficnetwork, @soliloquy-of-nemo
Dividers: @saradika-graphics
#clone wars#fanfiction#commander cody#star wars#star wars fanfic#tivaevae#lamaenthel#ahsoka tano#boba fett#captain rex#plo koon#commander wolffe#arc trooper fives#arc trooper jesse#obi wan kenobi#anakin skywalker#tcw#clone troopers#starwarsficnetwork#star wars tcw#mandalorian#jedi#my writing#dngg
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A drawing that I did for the ShokugekiWeek2024 event over on Twitter
The prompts that inspired this one were “Generation / Memories”, so I went ahead and gave myself everything that I want…which is: 91st Generation graduation picture 🌸
#shokugeki no soma#lea is doing art#Satoshi Isshiki#Isshiki Satoshi#Nene Kinokuni#Kinokuni Nene#Etsuya Eizan#Eizan Etsuya#Terunori Kuga#Kuga Terunori
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flickr
Side shot U.S. Soldiers from Task Force 2-7 Infantry, 1HBCT, 3rd ID demonstrated the firepower of the Abrams tanks on April 30th 2015. Several dignitaries, including Ambassador Levine and Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces Lieutenant General Riho Terras, were on hand as three tanks took to the central training ground. General Terras described the live-fire demonstration as an "historic event." The unit is here as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Col Chalfont, battalion commander the 2-7, said it's about serving side-by-side with our allies, training with our allies, and deterring potential aggression." The 2-7 and 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment are currently training with Estonian Defense Forces at Tapa as part of Atlantic Resolve.
(via Side shot | U.S. Soldiers from Task Force 2-7 Infantry, 1HBC… | Flickr)
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Round 2 *ding ding ding*
Fives and "Try and get some sleep. I'll stay right here– I won't let anything happen to you, I swear."
Please and thank you, my love 💚💚💚
@the-bad-batch-baroness
Safe and Sound
Summary: When you are doing a favor for your father you stumble across a clone who's been drugged and is being hunted for a crime he didn't commit.
Pairing: ARC Trooper Fives x Reader (future)
Word Count: 2185
Warnings: None
Tagging: @trixie2023
A/N: This is a sort of prologue towards the last Fives x Reader fic I wrote.
Divider by Saradika
“This is the place, Checkmate?” You ask as you regard the warehouses thoughtfully.
“Yes ma’am,” Checkmate, a clone formerly from the 91st, replies as he folds his arms over his chest, his sharp gaze flickering around the area, “By all accounts, the warehouses are up for auction within the next tenday.”
You hum thoughtfully, “And what’s your assessment?”
Checkmate is quiet for a moment as he looks around without leaving your side. His gaze lingers on a group of spice addicts for a moment, and he purses his lips, “It won’t be easy to keep the building secure, if you plan to use it for storage.”
“Hm…I agree.” You reply lightly, “What if we demolish the building and build something else.”
“Such as?”
“My brother is always looking for places to set up new clinics.” You reply with a light smile.
A small smile crosses Checkmate’s face, “He is an amazing man.”
“Careful Captain, you’re in danger of swooning.” You tease gently, and then you laugh when he bumps your shoulder with his own, “In any event, I didn’t see any clinics anywhere in the area.”
“Probably because there isn’t one.” Checkmate replies, “You know what businessmen are like.”
You shoot him an amused look.
“Businessmen who aren’t associated with Gryffin Industries.” Checkmate clarifies with a roll of his eyes, “Everyone knows that the people who run Gryffin are about as close to saints as mortals can be.”
You laugh again, “You think far, far too highly of my family.”
Checkmate glances at you out of the corner of his eye, “Your family takes vod’e who are no longer able to do their duty, like myself, and gives us jobs, medical attention, and a place to live. That puts you pretty damn close to sainthood to me and my vod’e.”
“It’s hardly-”
“Both of my legs were blown off, and you gave me prosthetics that helped me walk again. Pretty sure that makes you the Patron Saint of Lost Causes.” Checkmate interrupts with a grin.
“You’re awful.”
“Hm, maybe if you would pick a bodyguard, then I wouldn’t tease you so much.”
“Yes, you would.”
“Yes. I would. You’re baby sister coded.”
You pout at him, and then focus your attention back on the warehouse, “Putting a clinic here would help us win some goodwill with the lower levels,” You say lightly, “Plus we can hire a bunch of people, and piss off some very rich assholes at the same time-”
“What, exactly, did the rich and powerful do to your family to make you all so bitter against them?” Checkmate asks as he watches you buy the warehouse…and then another three just for good measure.
“People like that use their influence to hurt innocent people. And it’s disgusting.” You reply, “And…there. Gryffin Industries now owns about three blocks down here.”
“What are you going to do with three blocks worth of warehouses?”
“A hospital, maybe? And a park, with a playground.”
“I’ll just add another check in your ‘destined for Sainthood’ book.” Checkmate teases, and then he tenses, and a scowl crosses his face. “Incoming.”
You turn slightly, and see an irate man stalking over towards you.
“You,” He barks at you, and you arch a single brow, “You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Actually,” You reply pleasantly, “I own everything in a three block radius. Which means you are trespassing.”
“That’s-” He stops when you lift the badge marking you as one of the owners of Gryffin Industries, and his scowl deepens, “I am a General in the GAR-”
“Unless there are Separatists in my warehouses, I suggest you see yourself off my property. Before I call someone to do it for you.” You say pleasantly.
“Someone tried to assassinate the Chancellor!”
“Which is a problem for the Guard, not the army.”
The General scowls and spins on his heels, “Fine. Then I’ll call the guard and they can search for him.”
“Do make sure they have a warrant, General.” You say to his back, and you hide your smile when he flinches. He shoots you a baleful look, and then stalks away, and you turn your head towards Checkmate, “Since when does the Army search for supposed criminals?”
“Since never.” He replies, “The warehouses are ours?”
“Yep.”
“Then let’s see what we just purchased.”
The first warehouse is empty, save for dust and some empty crates. The same for the second warehouse.
But in the third warehouse the pair of you stumble on one of the clones sitting on the floor leaning against a crate. He’s gray and sweaty, and his hands are shaking. “He looks like he’s in the middle of spice withdrawals.” You murmur as you crouch next to him.
The clone, who had a 5 tattooed on his forehead, turns to look at you and seems to look through you rather than seeing you, and you frown and press your hand against his forehead.
“That’s not spice withdrawal,” Checkmate replies, “He’s been drugged. Look at his pupils.”
You frown thoughtfully, “We have spare armor in the speeder, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll go grab it and bring the speeder around.” He turns and hurries away, it won’t take him more than a few minutes to bring the speeder around.
You set your hand on the ill soldier’s shoulder, “It’s okay.” You whisper soothingly, “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Whatever he was drugged with seems to have stolen his ability to speak, as he doesn’t say anything. But he does whine low in his throat, and he slumps over against you, his head landing on your chest.
“It’s going to be okay.” You whisper soothingly as you stroke the top of his head, “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Checkmate returns only a moment later, and with his help you get the ill clone in a set of Gryffin Industries armor, which is much more streamlined that Clone armor, and is painted with dark teal and white accents.
And then Checkmate carries him out to the speeder and you slide yourself into the backseat next to him. You call the family lawyer as soon as the speeder leaves the warehouse district, and when you hear the glee in her voice, you almost feel bad for the people who cross her.
Almost.
It takes two days for the drugs to leave the clone’s system, and another day after that before he’s actually able to walk and talk properly.
And so, here you are, four days after you found him in the warehouse, sitting at a roundtable meeting with the rest of your family, with the clone, Fives he introduced himself as, standing at the end of the table.
Your father’s smile in kind as he regards Fives, “Alright, young man. Take your time and say what you need to say.”
Fives takes a deep breath, and his hands settle behind his back as he stands at attention. And then he starts to talk.
He starts slowly, and then, when he realizes that everyone is listening and no one is interrupting him, he gains momentum.
He talks, non-stop, for an hour, and when he stops talking the room is completely silent. You lean back in your chair and rub the spot between your eyebrows.
Your father swears loudly, and you understand the sentiment.
“I know you probably don’t believe me, but-” Fives says, sounding almost panicked.
“No, no. Lad, that’s not the problem.” Your grandfather says in his crisp accent, “The problem is that we do believe you.” He closes his eyes for a moment and then turns his attention to the table, “So, what do we do?”
“We can’t run at Palpatine directly,” Your cousin, the head of security, says from where he's sitting across from you, “He’s too powerful.”
“It’s also too risky,” You brother adds, “With the knowledge of what these chips are for…” He shakes his head.
“You’ve been removing them, right?” Your father asks.
“Of course.” He sounds offended, “Of course, I thought they were more like the Hutt explosive slave chips rather than free-will overwriting slave chips, so of course I’ve been removing them.”
“It’ll be easy enough to send the information to the battalion medics,” You say thoughtfully.
“How would they keep the surgeries a secret?” Your twin asks with a frown.
“They’d have to go slow.” Your brother murmurs, “No more than one or two at a time, and whenever someone is injured, or ill, they take the opportunity to remove the chip. I can reach out to the battalion medics.”
“And what about Palpatine?” Your grandfather asks.
“We can’t touch him until the men are no longer under his thumb.” Your cousin reminds, “For now, we need to pretend he’s no longer a threat.”
“I’ll think on that. For that matter, we’re going to need to make sure that not everyone knows everything. I’ll handle it.” Your father says, and then he pauses, “And what about Fives. He can’t return to the 501st, he has a price on his head.”
“I’ll take him.” You reply after a moment of thought, “You’ve all been hounding me about not having a bodyguard for ages now anyway.”
“Does that work for you, Fives?” Your father asks.
“Uh..yes sir.”
“Excellent.” He looks at his datapad, “Okay, I think that’s enough for now. Get him settled,” Your father says to you, “And make sure he gets proper armor.”
“I will.” You stand and walk over to Fives, “You can follow me.” He nods and turns to trail after you as you walk over to a hidden elevator and you press a button to activate it, “Until you get a proper helmet, we’ll be using the hidden passages and elevators.” You explain.
“That makes sense,” He replies, sounding deeply, deeply exhausted.
You smile at him soothingly as you step into the elevator, and you press one of the buttons. The elevator goes down seven levels, and then the door dings open and you lead him through a richly decorated hall, and you stop in front of a door, “This is my room.” And then you walk a single door down, “This is yours.”
You push the door open, and reveal a proper studio apartment. “This is all mine?”
“Yes. At the moment, nothing is stocked because I haven’t had a bodyguard since I was a child.” You explain, “I’ll make sure food is delivered, and you can use the datapad to order anything you might need.” You motion at the datapad on the counter, “Food, clothes, and hygiene items are included as part of your paycheck. Anything you want for fun, movies, books, games, you have to buy yourself. But that’s what the paycheck is for.”
“That seems really generous.”
You shrug, “We can afford it. Armor and weapons will be supplied. My twin will get you set up with armor as soon as you’re feeling up to it. We have a paint room with the appropriate colors all in stock.”
“Alright.”
“The bedding is clean, so you’ll be able to sleep in here tonight, or whenever you want to sleep.” You motion towards the closet, “The laundry shoot is in there, generally laundry is returned the day after you put it in the shoot.”
“What’s that door?” Five asks, as he motions to a door on the opposite wall.
“Oh. Right.” You walk over to the door, and press the button to open it, “This door connects my room with yours. It can’t be locked on either side. You have to be able to get to me quickly as my bodyguard, but I also need to be able to get to you quickly for the same reason. The door can be left open, or shut, depending on our preferences.”
“Alright. Can we keep it open? I’m not used to sleeping alone.”
“Of course.” You press another button, and the door locks in the open position, “Any other questions?”
“No-” His sentence is broken by a yawn, “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” You gently guide him towards the bed, “You should get some sleep.”
Fives hesitates, “I don’t know if I can. I keep thinking that someone is going to swoop in and kill me-”
You very gently sit him down on his bed, “Fives, try and get some sleep. I'll stay right here– I won't let anything happen to you, I swear.”
He hesitates for a moment longer, and then lays down on the soft bed. Fives tosses and turns for a bit, but after you grab his datapad and sit on the side of his bed, he settles a little bit.
He’s still not sleeping restfully, but he shifts and he slings his arms around you, clinging to you like you’re a stuffed animal, and he presses his face against your back, and you heave out a silent sigh of relief when his breathing becomes deep and even.
With Fives asleep, you decide to take the time to go through and place his food order. As well as ordering some clothes and the necessary hygiene things that he might need.
Everything’s going to be alright. You won’t stand for anything else.
#star wars#tcw#arc trooper fives x reader#fives x reader#star wars fanfiction#x reader fanfiction#answered asks
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On June 13th 1831 James Clerk Maxwell was born in Edinburgh.
James Clerk Maxwell was no ordinary child, considering what he achieved! He attended school in the city and was nicknamed ‘daftie’ by his classmates, due to his home-made clothing and rustic accent. Despite the teasing, he excelled at the school, producing a scientific paper at the age of just 14, he later studied at the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge.
He graduated with a degree in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge and soon after started his career as a Professor of Physics in Marischal College, Aberdeen. He then switched to King’s College, London and then at Cambridge as the first ever Professor of Experimental Physics.
Ask physicists to rank their heroes, and Maxwell is in the top three, standing a shade below Newton and Einstein. But when it comes to being celebrated by the public, somehow Maxwell got left behind. Einstein’s image is well known and Newton’s pilgrims regularly flock to his tomb at Westminster. But few of us would recognise Maxwell’s face.
His theories on the composition of the rings of Saturn was so far ahead of it’s time that they were only confirmed to be correct in the 1980s when the Voyager space expeditions allowed closer examination of Saturn. He also predicted the existence of radio waves. Maxwell gave us the first colour photograph in a collaboration with Thomas Sutton, and of course being a Scot he knew the best thing to capture different colours would be a piece of tartan!
It has been said that Maxwell was one of the most likeable men in the annals of science. How can you not like a man who sends a heartfelt letter of condolence on the death of a friend’s dog? A man who patiently nursed his dying father, and later his wife, and who regularly gave up his time to volunteer at the new “Working Men’s Colleges” for tradesmen? It seems that everyone who knew him thought of him as kind and generous, albeit a little eccentric. He was “one of the best men who ever lived”, according to his childhood friend and biographer, Lewis Campbell.
It seems a sin that a man held in such high esteem in the scientific world hardly gets a mention in our history books, even in death he is very understated, his grave is a simple affair in Parton Kirk, Galloway, granted, there is now a statue of Maxwell Clerk in George Street but it is relatively new affair, and I wonder how many actually know about him as they pass him on the way in and out of St Andrews Square. Maxwell was ranked 91st on the BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, a figure way too low for a man who inspired people like Albert Einstein, another poll put him in a more favourable light, when a survey of the 100 most prominent physicists saw Maxwell voted the third greatest physicist of all time, behind only Newton and Einstein. Einstein himself described Maxwell’s work as the “most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton.” Einstein kept a photograph of Maxwell on his study wall, alongside pictures of Michael Faraday and Newton.
Most men of science are portrayed as dour serious folk, that is certainly not the case with James Clerk Maxwell, he has been described as funny, flippant and charming.
As a great lover of Scottish poetry, Maxwell memorised poems and wrote his own. The best known is Rigid Body Sings, closely based on Comin’ Thro the Rye by Robert Burns, which he apparently used to sing while accompanying himself on a guitar. It has the opening lines:
Gin a body meet a body
Flyin’ through the air.
Gin a body hit a body,
Will it fly? And where?
A collection of his poems was published by his friend Lewis Campbell in 1882. I’ll leave you to go find the full verse for that and give you my fave by the great man.
Song Of The Edinburgh Academician
If ony here has got an ear,
He’d better tak’ a haud o’ me,
Or I’ll begin, wi’ roarin’ din,
To cheer our old Academy.
Dear old Academy,
Queer old Academy,
A merry lot we were, I wot,
When at the old Academy.
There’s some may think me crouse wi’ drink,
And some may think it mad o’ me,
But ither some will gladly come
And cheer our old Academy.
Some set their hopes on Kings and Popes,
But, o’ the sons of Adam, he
Was first, without the smallest doubt,
That built the first Academy.
Let Pedants seek for scraps of Greek,
Their lingo to Macadamize;
Gie me the sense, without pretence,
That comes o’ Scots Academies.
Let scholars all, both grit and small,
Of Learning mourn the sad demise;
That’s as they think, but we will drink
Good luck to Scots Academies.
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Hardcase your beloved?? Nono, Hardcase our beloved. >:3
Our beloved?? Or Obi-Wan's? >:3c
“No,” Obi-Wan says, almost gently. “There were no survivors. You couldn’t have been.” His gaze flickers away, towards the darkness at the rear of the temple, and then slides back to Hardcase, thoughtful. “Take your helmet off for me, Hardcase. Let’s see if you're as pretty as you think you are.”
Of all the things he could have said, that’s about the last Hardcase was expecting. He hesitates, but only for a second before he slowly reaches up, keeping his motions obvious. “I think it was you assuming I'm pretty, technically,” he jokes, and lets his helmet fall to the ground. It seems like a good idea to keep his hands free right now.
“Calling my certainty an assumption? I think I should be offended.” Obi-Wan smiles, reaching out above the humming red blade, and two fingers slide under Hardcase’s chin, tip his head up with a feather-light touch. “A handsome ARC indeed. Tell me, Hardcase, how many of Torrent are with the 104th?”
Something about the weight of his gaze makes Hardcase feel a little hot right down to his core, too aware of every inch of his body. “Just me. Got broken up after—well. After. I think Kix is with the 91st now, and last I heard Tup and Dogma got assigned to General Kolar.”
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Kar Vastor: Our entire ghôsh was slaughtered by Balawai and I survived for a year in the jungle by myself with no supplies. I'm now entirely nonverbal due to the trauma and communicate only with the Force and echolalia of my akk dogs' vocalizations, and we're the last two surviving members of our clan.
Mace Windu, pulling out adoption papers for the entire 91st Recon: Actually I have 162,001 children, including Depa who you've obviously already met.
Kar: You what.
Mace: Obviously they're all adopted. Anyways, once we beat the asses of the colonizers genociding our people, including the General who forced me to make a deal with him, do you want PTSD therapy back at the Temple? Our mind healers are trained and equipped to deal with survivors of this scale of atrocity and they won't blink at the way you communicate.
Kar: What.
Mace: Of course, if you want speech therapy to be able to talk out loud again, you'll have support, but it's not expected or required. You have options. The mind healers can even come here. All your men have options, too. And while we're at it, Masters Drallig and Nu would definitely want to meet them all and talk with you about their training and tactics and the specific sociocultural context in their creation and way of life.
Kar: .....
Mace: What?
Depa, to Kar: He's just like this, I don't know what to tell you.
(note: a corps is canonically under 40k men but the canon GAR structure makes no sense to me so I came up with my own and 162k it is)
#/incoherent noises/#star wars#star wars the clone wars#mace windu#kar vastor#depa billaba#shatterpoint novel#korunnai#akk guard#ghosh windu#jedi adopting clones
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