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wanderinginksplot · 9 months

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Refuge Chapter Five

Continued slowburn Delta Squad x fem!reader fic

You deliberate the choices the Jedi Council gave you... with a little help from Delta Squad

Word Count: 4,000 words.

Warnings: Homesickness and brotherly bickering.

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We have a fancy new fic image! Mostly because there are so few high-quality Delta Squad gifs. (Due to the original game's quality, NOT gif-makers, who are all incredible!) Enjoy!

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Deliberation

The Jedi Temple was amazing.

No one had told you whether you were allowed to wander the halls and explore the rooms, but - given that you had first been discovered by the Jedi while you did exactly that in the GAR’s hangar - the fact that they hadn’t explicitly said not to was more telling. At least, that was what you told yourself as you wandered around the Temple.

The space was expansive, and you found yourself wondering how it all managed to fit into crowded Coruscant, but that mystery was solved when you heard someone make a comment in passing about how the Temple extended slightly into the second level. That had sent you down a different path while you learned about the way Coruscant was set up. The Jedi in charge of the Temple’s archives - Master Jocasta Nu - had been thrilled with your quest for information, and had shown you how to retrieve the necessary files to read on one of the archive’s datapads.

That had been how you spent much of your first full day on Coruscant, but you had been learning the layout of the Temple the remainder of the time and all of your second day. You had been warned by several occupants that the labyrinthine Temple could be confusing and to be sure to ask someone if you became confused. Whether they were just looking for a way to keep an eye on you or a building simply wasn’t challenging after finding your way through dense forests most of your life, you didn’t find it as confusing as they had implied.

You had already known a few places, of course. The Jedi Council chamber was at the top of the temple, positioned so the Council could see out and across the surrounding city. You avoided that area, but made your way to the cafeteria at meal times. You knew about the clothing supply and the sewing room already and didn’t feel the need to spend more time there. Even ignoring the sections you were familiar with, the Temple had so much else to see.

You explored instruction rooms and training areas, spaces that seemed to help prepare for lightsaber use and ones that were meant to simulate battlefields. There were some rooms that were perfectly empty and ready for anything at all. The Temple held more gardens than you were truly capable of understanding, each one reflecting a different climate and the plants that would grow well there. There were kitchens and kennels, rooms filled with music and areas set aside to memorialize those who had come before.

You rushed through some areas, like the mock strategy centers and battleships, trying not to look like someone gathering information for the Separatists. Despite their warm welcome, you were sure some Jedi would be suspicious of you, and you couldn’t blame them.

And then there were places where you spent a little more time. A large creche filled with younglings kept you occupied for a while, playing with and helping care for the occupants and generally assisting the Jedi there. You found a huge space that seemed to be a farm filled with teenage Jedi and, by exploring it, you learned about the agricorps and what happened to the young Jedi who weren’t chosen to be someone’s padawan.

There was also a large garage-like space you wandered into that was filled with pieces of droids. Diagrams on the walls showed the best ways to dismantle different droids, and a few of every kind seemed set up for practice. Those droids were well-loved, a few even bearing paint and - on one B-1 - a nametag. Its name appeared to be Clank.

Not all of the rooms were for everyone, though. You had steered clear of a few areas meant for different species. There had been signs for underwater meditation rooms and a passing Jedi had welcomed you inside, but the idea of being around a large amount of water made you uncomfortable. You hadn’t even attempted to go inside the rooms that offered varying changes to the level of oxygen. Master Plo Koon had nodded as he slipped inside, presumably preparing to remove his oxygen-filtering mask for a short amount of time.

On that note, even for a Jedi Temple, you found a truly mind-boggling number of meditation rooms. In addition to the underwater meditation chamber, there were ones specializing in warmth, coolness, silence, noise, floating, and other criteria that made no sense to you.

Eventually, you ended up in a room that was doing its best to simulate a mountainous climate. There were trees everywhere. You half-expected them to feel false, especially when you sat under one, but it seemed real enough. You settled against the trunk and listened to the sound of a nearby stream. If the room was an illusion, it was a good one. When you closed your eyes, you could almost imagine that the birdsong was familiar and that you were home on Voubos, enjoying a late afternoon walk before you needed to return home.

Your eyes stayed closed and your breathing fell into a steady rhythm. In your mind, the landscape changed from the inside of an expansive room to the forests of Voubos. You had wandered out for a little exploring, maybe foraging for part of the lunch that you had sat down to eat. When you opened your eyes, you would be there. It was only a short walk back to your home with its familiar gardens and cheerful yellow door. Maybe you would read a book before you sorted out dinner. Or maybe you would do some knitting. Your mind felt tired, and the familiar motions of yarn and needles would soothe you.

You had told Barriss that you didn’t meditate and that was still true, but if meditation was anything similar to the half-trance you put yourself into, maybe it held some merit. The back of your mind stayed firmly in place, cognizant of your real surroundings and situation, but part of you was transported to Voubos, pretending the Separatist invasion had never happened. It was relaxing and your whirring mind felt like it could relax for the first time in far too long.

Eventually, though, someone entered the room and you opened your eyes. The young Jedi walking through the door looked politely curious rather than suspicious of you, but you still decided that it would be best if you left.

As you moved down to the main floors of the Temple, you heard an odd conversation ahead. You were almost tempted to call it an argument, but neither side sounded combative. Instead, the calm voice of a Jedi could be heard countering someone else who seemed to be extremely business-like.

The not-quite-confrontation wasn’t in your direct path and it certainly wasn’t any of your business. You weren’t a Jedi and couldn’t help the situation in any meaningful way. That being said, you were a naturally curious person and you had nothing else to occupy your time in the Temple.

Especially since, in the haze of your almost-meditation, you had come to terms with the idea that your exploration was really a way to avoid pondering the opportunities you had been offered.

You changed directions to walk toward the discussion. Surely it wouldn’t hurt anything if you walked through the area and tried to find out what was happening. In fact, your gossip-loving Voubosian roots demanded it.

With that decision made, you ducked slightly through a side hallway to catch a glimpse of the conversation. It was indeed a Jedi - not one of the Jedi on the Council, but one you had seen around the Temple. And she was speaking with-

“...Fixer?” you asked incredulously.

You had never seen any of the troopers caught off-guard, but Fixer turned to look at you so quickly that you were worried for his neck.

“What are you doing here?” you continued when he didn’t immediately say anything. The Jedi just watched silently.

“Trying to find you,” Fixer grumbled. “We were worried when we didn’t hear from you.”

“How would I contact you? I don’t have a comlink or your frequency.”

“Good point,” Fixer conceded reluctantly. “Come on, we need to go find the others.”

“But the-” As you spoke, you turned to look at the Jedi, ready to offer an explanation for Fixer’s presence in the Temple. However, she was gone, having tactfully faded away into another part of the Temple.

“Let’s go,” Fixer repeated, already walking away. He raised his wrist to his mouth. “Found her.”

“Rendezvous at Room 27-A,” his comlink crackled.

“You said the others are here?” you asked, walking faster in an attempt to keep up with Fixer. “Why?”

“Did you miss the part when I said we were worried about you?” Fixer said sharply. “We all decided to search the Temple. It’s faster when we split up. Especially since we had no way to contact you and no way of knowing which room was yours.”

That made sense and you followed Fixer’s broad shoulders the rest of the way in silence.

Room 27-A was on the main floor of the Temple, but set away from the entrance. It was one of the unoccupied rooms, seemingly set aside for meetings or maybe impromptu meditation sessions. By the time you and Fixer stepped inside, the rest of Delta Squad was already waiting for you.

“Finally!” Scorch said, grinning at you. “Didja miss us?”

“You look like you’re doing well,” Boss observed, ignoring Scorch entirely.

“Thought you might have died,” Sev added.

You smiled at the group, surprised at how pleased you were to see these commandos. “Thank you guys for coming here! Fixer said you were worried about me. Is everything okay?"

"You tell us," Boss said steadily, cutting through the disgruntled noises Sev and Scorch made toward their brother. "The Jedi made you an interesting offer. What do you think you'll decide?"

You let out a sigh. "I've been asking myself that for two days and I don't have an answer."

"Is there even a debate?" Sev demanded, voice harsh with derision.

"Uh…" you wavered, unsure whether that lack of debate was supposed to prove that the clear choice was going with them or staying with the Jedi. Delta Squad had been welcoming, but they were also insistent that you should stay away from any action.

Fixer rolled his eyes. "Leave her alone, Oh-Seven. She's just trying to think over all of her options before she makes a choice."

"Of course you would think that's a good idea," Scorch snipped sarcastically. "You'd triple-check your decision to take a piss if you had the chance."

Fixer gave a glare so burning that you, an innocent bystander, cringed from the heat. Thankfully, Boss interrupted before anyone could continue the argument.

"Men," he said, tone stern and commanding. "This conversation ends now."

Fixer closed his mouth and gave a tight nod. Sev nodded as well, the muscles in his jaw dancing. Scorch shook his head and complained, "You never let us have any fun, Boss."

Boss, ignoring the men entirely, focused on you. "Whatever decision you make, it'll impact your life. One way or the other, it has to be your choice, not anyone else's."

You tipped your head at him, willing to obey his order. You couldn't claim to know exactly how Boss had gotten his name, but that commanding presence had to have been part of it.

“Now,” Boss continued, “you wanna show us around this place?”

You gladly led Delta Squad around the Temple for a while until Scorch had dropped several obvious hints about being hungry, then you brought them to the cafeteria where Barriss had taken you on that first day.

“Did any of the Jedi say anything about why they offered to let you work with us?” Fixer asked. Boss sent him a dirty look but didn’t berate him for asking. Scorch and Sev watched with anticipation.

“I asked, actually,” you admitted. “They sensed a bond between us. Nothing permanent or serious, but they know that we’re friends. Friendly, I mean. Well-”

“Don’t go being all flowery on our account,” Scorch told you, pressing a hand to his chest like he had been deeply wounded by your self-correction. “Of course we’re friends. We’re not in the business of rescuing people we hate.”

“Except all the times we’re ordered to,” Sev added.

“And you weren’t ordered to rescue me?” you checked.

“No, but don’t let that go to your head,” Scorch warned, wiggling his fork at you.

You hesitated, unsure of how to take that, but Scorch laughed uproariously at his own statement and you couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Did the jetiise say why they offered to train you?” Boss asked, seeming willing to discuss your situation now that Fixer had brought it up.

You lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “They didn’t say much more than they said in the Council meeting. I’ve been through a trauma and they think I’ll need some training on controlling my Force connection so I don’t lash out in an unexpected way. And they’ll train me to work on stealth missions even if I don’t choose to be attached to your squad. Apparently, being able to sneak by most people is one of my natural Force abilities, so it wouldn’t take much training to learn that.”

“And then you would be a Jedi?” Fixer asked, frowning slightly.

“No, not at all,” you denied instantly with a chuckle. “I’m much too old for the right training. I’ll never be an actual Jedi. They would just teach me the basics of control and how to use my abilities to help me survive - whether that’s in a battle zone or in normal life - then I’ll be done. They said they would help place me somewhere I could help the Jedi Order if I want, or I can set out as a civilian. Or I can do something here that doesn’t require being a Jedi. An assistant in the kitchens or the archives, maybe.”

“And none of that stands out to you?” The oddly intense question came from Sev, who eyed you with something close to understanding.

“No, not really,” you admitted. “Let me ask you all a question, though: what do you think about the Jedi offering a civilian a place on your team? As far as I know, that isn’t typical and they didn’t consult you.”

One of the things that the Separatist propaganda had emphasized was that the Republic’s army was made up of clones. They had planted people on Voubos to speak about meeting clones and talk about how chilling it was to see the same face and mannerisms repeated so many times. That had been contradicted the first time you met Delta Squad. Yes, they looked similar, but they all acted so incredibly different that you couldn’t help but think of them as being individuals.

The look they shared at your question didn’t run counter to that observation. Instead, it just reminded you that these men had been working, training, and living together since birth. It looked more similar to a behavior you would expect to see from a group of close siblings than anything that smacked of them being clones.

It was only because you were watching so closely that you saw Scorch put on a carefree attitude. “Always nice to have someone to show off for.”

There was more he wasn’t saying, your gut told you that much, but you didn’t feel confident enough to call him on the lie. Instead, you just turned your attention to the others at the table.

“You’ve shown that you’re willing to help people,” Fixer said, a slight frown growing on his face. “Not sure how well that would translate to the battlefield, though.”

“If any civvie could keep up with us, it’s her,” Sev argued. You were so startled by the unexpected support that you didn’t even argue with the fact that he was speaking about you rather than directly to you.

“I’m more worried about how things would work,” Boss said, his gaze heavy on you. It was hard to meet those eyes, but you managed. “You’ve shown that you don’t follow orders well. If you came along as a civvie expert or some kind of Jedi apprentice, you’re still not a general. I’m in charge of this squad, and I would need to know that you can be trusted to do as you’re told.”

The urge to immediately defend yourself was strong, but you fought it back. Boss deserved more than a rote assurance. All of them did.

“I would like to tell you that I would follow orders without question or hesitation, but I won’t lie to you,” you started, keenly aware of the way they all exchanged another glance. “I’m not used to obeying anyone but myself. What I can tell you is that I’ll do my best to learn how. If there’s anything I can do to help you complete your missions, I’ll do it.”

The silence was thick and heavy, eventually broken by Fixer. “What could you do, though? You’re good with stealth, but you have no combat training, no weapons training. All due respect, but you would be a liability.”

“Maybe I would,” you admitted readily. “But I know how to move through an area quickly and silently. I know how to blend in and gather information. I know how to find trustworthy people. Those skills have to be helpful in some way, right?”

“Maybe,” Boss agreed slowly. “But if they’re not?”

“Then I’ll tell the Jedi I just want to stay here,” you offered. “If you don’t want me to come along, I won’t. Simple as that.”

“Why would you do that?” Scorch asked, leaning forward with an uncharacteristically intense expression on his handsome face. “Why would you leave an important decision about your future to four commandos you barely know?”

“You saved my life,” you told them with a shrug. “Seems like you should get some say in what I do with it. I owe you.”

“That makes no sense,” Sev argued. “You saved us first, gave us a place to stay. We’re square.”

“Huh, true.” You pretended to think about that for a moment, fighting back a grin as you shrugged. “Kark off, then.”

The group fell deathly silent, watching you with various levels of shock and dismay until a sharp laugh from Sev broke the crackling atmosphere. Scorch fell into laughter a moment later, Fixer grinned, and even Boss cracked a smile. You laughed along with them, much harder than the joke itself had merited, but the release of tension was a relief for everyone.

“I still think you need to make your own choices about your future,” Boss said eventually when things had settled down once more. “I don’t want any of us trying to influence you one way or another… but, if it were up to me, I’d be willing to have you onboard.”

Your eyebrows shot upward, your jaw wanting to drop with surprise, but Boss held up a hand. “It would be on a trial basis only. I need to make sure you know: one disobeyed order - a single one - and I’ll have you back here learning how to meditate with younglings before you can say, ‘sorry, Boss’.”

“Yes, sir,” you agreed with a salute.

Boss watched you with a frown. “We’d have to teach you how to do a proper salute, too.”

“Dibs,” Sev and Scorch claimed at the exact time.

“She hasn’t made a decision yet,” Fixer reminded them.

“And we’ll leave her to it,” Boss said sharply. “Are we finished here, men?”

“Yeah, but I think she should show us her room,” Scorch tossed out. “You know, in case we can’t reach her for another two days.”

“Not a bad idea,” Boss agreed, glancing at you. “We’ll walk you back to your room and then we’ll let you make up your mind on your own.”

The last few words were pointedly directed at the rest of Delta Squad, but you felt their weight connecting with your chest like they had been stones tossed your way. Boss had been right earlier. Whatever you decided, you would have to live with it. Either you stayed here to learn from the Jedi and took a position helping them out, leaving Delta Squad to fend for themselves in the field, or you went along with them. There was a very high likelihood you would die on a mission, especially since you were admittedly a liability unless you learned several important skills very quickly.

You stood up from the table a little too quickly, but no one commented on it. Instead, they asked questions about the Temple the entire way to your quarters, discussing each of your answers in-depth. It was a good excuse to keep your speech to a minimum, though you did your best to pay attention to their amusing comments.

In the end, Delta Squad left you alone at the door of your room. Boss reminded you to carefully think everything over, Fixer nodding behind him all the while. Sev just watched you and Scorch gave an exuberant wink. You waved as they walked away.

A moment later, a frantic tapping at your door brought you back. It was Scorch. You opened the door enough to step out, scanning the hallway behind him. The rest of Delta Squad was absent, and Scorch was alone.

“Scorch? Is everything-?”

“You should come with us,” he interrupted breathlessly, dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’ll be fun! And we’ll keep an eye out for you. Just think of all the places you’ll be able to see with us. I mean, most of them are war zones, but… But we’ll be there! And you like us. Just keep in mind that you’re getting all of this in the bargain-”

Scorch’s gesture to his own face was interrupted as Sev appeared behind him and smacked the back of his head. “Di’kut. Boss told us to leave her alone.”

“Yeah, so what are you doing here?” Scorch shot back.

“Bringing you back with the rest of us,” Sev explained exasperatedly. “There are only four of us. Did you really think Boss wasn’t gonna notice when you snuck off?”

“There was a chance,” Scorch told him sullenly.

Sev rolled his eyes. “Go while I repair your damage, vod.”

Scorch glanced back at you, giving you the most pleading look you had ever seen on a grown man. “Just think about what I said!”

“Go,” Sev barked.

When Scorch had reluctantly ambled down the hallway, you bit back a smile and told Sev, “You really don’t have to repair any damage. Everything is fine.”

“I know,” Sev replied easily. “I just came back to give you these.”

He passed you a bag holding something that clacked together lightly as he moved. You must have looked as confused as you felt, because Sev relented and offered an explanation. “They’re vambraces.”

“Oh, great!” you said cheerily, trying to disguise the fact that you were still confused. “Thank you!”

“That’s armor, civvie,” Sev sighed, tapping his forearms. “These pieces here. The left one has a comlink in it and the right one has a locator. In case we need to contact you or you get lost in this temple, respectively. They’re yours no matter what you decide, but… try not to lose ‘em.”

He turned and walked away before you could say anything else. You smiled at his back as you stepped back inside your room once more.

It was just as well that you hadn’t opened the bag when Sev was still there. He probably wouldn’t have appreciated your harsh gasp or the tears that had filled your eyes as you reverently fished the vambraces out and put them on.

They had been carefully painted the exact shade that your front door had been. The brightness of the yellow against your bare, impersonal room in the Jedi Temple made you feel centered for the first time since you had seen the smoldering remains of your home.

Just like that, the weight of decision-making disappeared from your shoulders. You were going with Delta Squad.

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Author's Note - Was this intended to be a full chapter? Absolutely not. But combining it with anything else was just a little chaotic, so this one stands as its own, rather slow chapter. On the plus side, that means the next chapter shouldn't take nearly as long to finish!

Thank you for reading! You can find other works on my masterlist or sign up for my taglist here. Have a great day!

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wanderinginksplot · 7 months

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Refuge Chapter Six

Continued slow-burn Delta Squad x fem!reader fic

Now that you've made your decision, the real work begins.

Word Count: 4,700

Warnings: Mild suspicions, explosions, mentions of theft and pickpocketing

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Training

“And certain you are of this choice?” Master Yoda asked you, his voice grave.

You hesitated, unwilling to lie. Were you certain? No, not entirely. But despite your lack of confidence, this was the right decision. You knew that much. Your gut - maybe the Force, maybe just instinct - was drawing you toward Delta Squad, and you knew better than to go against a feeling that strong.

“This is the correct choice,” you answered eventually, deciding on simple honesty.

Yoda's eyes - disproportionately large and disconcertingly insightful - were locked on you for a heart-pounding moment before he nodded slowly. "Agree with you, I do. As does the Council."

That took a moment to filter past the roaring in your ears, but the kind nods and gentle smiles from the Council behind the diminutive Jedi master helped you understand.

"Thank you," you said, fighting back a wince at the tremors you could hear in your own voice.

"It will not be a simple task," Master Unduli warned. "We will not send you into the field without any training."

"Training?" you repeated, frowning at the unexpected revelation.

"Yes, training." Master Windu's tone was firm. "At the very least, we will teach you to recognize when you're using the Force. Beyond that, you'll get training on how to infiltrate an area, basic combat abilities, weapons training, and as much information about Separatist battle plans and tactics as we can manage."

"And how long will that take?" you asked carefully, striving not to sound ungrateful.

“Likely a few weeks,” Master Unduli calculated. “Delta Squad will complete their next mission alone. You will not accompany them until the following mission.”

“A few weeks,” you mused. It was a shorter span of time than you had expected, but you still had some questions. “I’m sorry, Masters, but that seems like an extremely short amount of time. Am I going to be able to learn everything I need to know by then?”

“It will be a lot of work,” Master Windu warned, his brows lowered into a foreboding line. “You must be prepared for that.”

“The reason your training will not last longer is that we are not teaching you to be a Jedi,” Master Unduli explained. “You will learn some control exercises, but you only need to use them when your emotions begin to get the best of you. You will practice controlling your emotions and recognizing when you are beginning to lose that control. You will learn the basics of working in a combat situation, as well as the expectations of working with the GAR.”

You nodded, but Yoda spoke next. “Warn you, we must. Instructed, Delta Squad has been. If signs of betrayal they see, inform us they will. Watching, we will be.”

“I understand,” you agreed. “When do I start?”

“Today.”

“I’m sorry?” you said politely to Master Yoda. You had heard some of the younglings in the Temple talk about the tiny green Jedi, and all of it was done in tones of awe. He, apparently, was one of the most powerful Jedi to have ever lived… and he had lived for a great deal longer than it would seem. It paid to be polite, even if you were taken fully aback by the answer he had given you.

“One of the instructors, Master Vildon Haze, is going to begin training you in control techniques,” Master Unduli told you. “This afternoon, your instruction will be undertaken by an expert in the criminal underworld of the galaxy, Master Tera Sinube.”

“So, control over my feelings and learning about the criminal underworld,” you summarized. “Are those going to be the two main things I focus on?”

“Consider this your first lesson,” Master Windu said, not unkindly. “Trust that we know the correct path for you. Save your questions for the things that really matter.”

You bowed your head slightly, trying to decide whether that was something you were able to accept as a good idea. You had always overflowed with questions, doing your best to learn about everything and everyone around you - it was what had helped you survive the Separatists as long as you had. The idea of trying to change that facet of yourself was… uncomfortable.

No, not change, you amended internally. Just bite back. Push it down for a little while as you trained in the Jedi temple. They were not asking you to become a Jedi. As soon as you learned what you needed to know to function alongside Delta Squad, you would be on your own once more and could ask every question that came into your head.

With that in mind, you nodded. “Yes, Masters.”

—

"How do you think the jetii will go about training her?" Scorch asked in a rare quiet moment.

"That really what you're thinking about right now?" Fixer bit out, checking his blaster for damage.

Scorch shrugged. "What else should I be thinking about?"

Boss stared at him, inclining his head to indicate the current situation. "Finding a way out of this cave would be a good place to start."

"I have a way: a thermal detonator, some explosive tape, and a reckless disregard for life." With that, Scorch finished rigging the improvised blasting system and patted the rock wall beside it. He knew better than to risk patting the system itself. "There you go. Done in less than two minutes and I was able to think about the newest Delta at the same time. Try to act like you aren't impressed."

"I'm not impressed," Sev snapped. "You're the reason we're stuck here in the first place."

It was true, but Scorch didn't let that bother him. Anyone could have thrown a thermal detonator that had a forgotten piece of blasting tape stuck to it. It was just bad luck that the combined explosion had been strong enough to start a rock slide that trapped Delta Squad in a cave.

"Look on the bright side," Scorch suggested. "At least there aren't any enemies out there."

Sev scoffed, but Boss looked at the entrance of the cave, hidden behind a messy spill of rocks. He activated his HUD’s heat sensor with a twitch of his cheek and performed a brief search for living organisms outside. He gave a short nod.

"Scorch is right: if there are wets out there, they're either dead or dying."

"Just wait until this hits 'em," Scorch agreed, indicating his work on the perimeter of the slide. “Speaking of, take cover.”

Sev wordlessly led the retreat toward the back of the cavern. He had been front and center for most of Scorch’s exploits since… well, since Kamino. Boss and Fixer had been present for more than a few, but their pace was too slow. It told Scorch they didn’t understand what was about to happen, not really.

Ah, well. They’d find out soon enough. Scorch moved to the closest possible spot that could still be deemed safe, broadcasted a short countdown in the inter-HUD comm channel, and activated the detonator.

The resulting explosion was stunning, even to the person who had set the charges.

A blinding flash and a deafening roar did their best to destroy two of Scorch’s senses, but the wave broke against the muffling plastoid of his helmet. When the dust settled, there was an open space where the previously blocked entrance to the cave had been.

“Mission accomplished,” Scorch announced, rising from his protective crouch.

Fixer was cursing into the squad comm channel while Sev growled something foul in Mando’a. Boss strove for a milder tone. “Scorch, you think you might have overshot the parameters of the assignment?”

Scorch turned, arms open wide as he indicated the space around him and over his head. “You said you wanted it clear, Boss. I got it clear. Besides, didn’t the Sarge always teach us that commandos go above and beyond? Or… wait. That might have been the holos of propaganda they show to the natties. But at least we have a clear exit.”

Boss snorted at Scorch’s rambling. As he passed by, taking point as always, Scorch saw his helmet tip back as he admired the results of the demolition job. Or, at least, that’s what he should have been doing. There was room for all of them to leave the cave side-by-side (disregarding the rubble, of course), and the new opening was tall enough to pilot a LAATi through if they had brought one. Honestly, the cave probably wouldn’t last much longer with so much of its structure gone, but it was still standing now.

Scorch gave himself a pat on the back for that.

“I’m still waiting on an answer,” he reminded the others, trailing behind them. They had left the cave while Scorch admired his own work, leaving him to huck his slightly-lighter pack over his shoulder and hustle after them. “What do you think the jetii are doing to train her?”

“Hopefully some basic weapons drills,” Boss replied absently, checking for enemies before he led Delta around a corner.

“Like a jetii knows anything about any weapon other than a lightsaber,” Sev told him, voice sour. “What else do they do to train? They’re probably teaching her a bunch of mystical osik.”

“Watch your tone, oh-seven,” Fixer warned.

Boss’s voice was carefully bland when he responded, ignoring Fixer entirely. “Do you have a problem with me letting someone new join Delta Squad, Sev?”

“She’s not joining us, she’s tagging along,” Sev said.

“You’re the one who said she could keep up with us,” Fixer reminded him.

“Yeah, as a civilian,” Sev emphasized. “But she isn’t gonna be coming as a civvie. If she’s trained by the jetii, she’ll be considered part of the GAR.”

Boss was still wearing his helmet, but it was clear from his tone that he was frowning, unable to see the problem. “And..?”

“And, GAR personnel are all considered expendable,” Sev bit out. “She won’t be protected. She’ll have to come along on all of our missions. And we know what kind of missions we get sent on.”

“Kandosii'la ones?” Scorch suggested.

Sev’s frosty silence said that he didn’t agree with Scorch’s upbeat assessment. “Dangerous ones. Ones where a civvie might be able to wait in the ship or be kept out of the action, but a GAR staff member would be expected to pitch in and keep up. And no month of training is enough for her to do that, especially when that training is being done by the jetii.”

“We’ll just have to keep her safe,” Fixer decreed. “We decided she could be helpful, didn’t we? That hasn’t changed just because her status might.”

“It changes more than you think,” Sev bit out. “We barely got outta that back there. How do you think an untrained civvie would have done? They send us on the missions that can’t be done by standard troopers, and now they want someone with no augmentations to help. And how is she going to help us at all? She did well enough on her planet, but that place was a hundred years behind the rest of the galaxy. She’ll be out of her depth every day, especially with us. She doesn’t have any useful skills other than being ignored.”

Silence fell in the inter-HUD chat as the members of Delta Squad considered that point… though, of course, they disguised it as concentration on picking their way back through the complex network of caves that led back to where they had left the ship. Sev wasn’t known for making long and passionate speeches about anything. The fact that he was doing it now about a civilian who may or may not be considered half a Jedi was concerning.

They had nearly reached the ship by the time Boss spoke. “For whatever reason, the GAR and the jetii decided that she would work well with us. Civvie or not, skilled or not, she’s part of the squad now.”

The quiet was oppressive until Scorch decided to break it with his favorite weapon: a joke. “Don’t worry, Sev. Worst case, we’ll just send her back to the Triple Zero and forget she ever existed.”

Sev didn’t answer out loud, but the rest of Delta Squad saw the slight, doubtful shake of his head.

—

Your time at the Jedi Temple passed much the way you had assumed it would. As the members of the Council had told you, your training consisted mostly of time spent learning to control your emotions and to do basic surveillance.

Master Haze was normally assigned to work with the younglings of the Jedi Temple. The Iktotchi female was particularly skilled with children, but she was able to adapt her teaching style to one that you responded to quite well. You felt like you were improving rapidly on controlling your emotional response to everything that had happened. With her guidance, you had confronted your two major sources of emotional turmoil: your grief about the past and your fear about the future.

Master Sinube was an elderly male Jedi. You weren't familiar with his species and it felt rude to ask. In any case, he was often overlooked by others. Whether it was because of his age or his tendency to ramble, Master Sinube was constantly underestimated by those around him. Under his tutelage, you learned to see beyond sight, to listen instead of simply hear, and to don an unremarkable aura like a cloak.

Eventually, you added a third piece of training, done in the form of lessons with Jedi Master Quinlan Vos.

Master Vos was another expert in the criminal underworld. While Master Sinube specialized in the peoples of Coruscant, Master Vos had a more generalized skill set. More importantly, he was still actively going undercover and knew the intricacies of how the war had impacted crime.

Realistically, you were underprepared for war. You had gone from never having left your home to preparing for galaxy-wide travel, all in a very short span of time. If you had the choice, you would elect for more training, but - as the Masters reminded you - you would resume training between missions, every time you were on Coruscant. For now, you had gained an understanding of the way things worked. That didn’t feel like it would be enough, but the hope was that any gaps would be covered by your connection to the Force.

In any case, you were far beyond where you had been when you first arrived at the Jedi Temple. You had formed connections with the Jedi, learned to balance your emotions with your new-found abilities, and learned how to navigate through the underworld you would find on all too many planets through the galaxy. Did you feel ready? No. But the Jedi Masters constantly assured you that you were ready, and that would have to be good enough.

Finally, you were called into the Council’s chambers. There were several Masters missing. That wasn’t unusual - the demands of war took them all away from Coruscant, though some more often than others - but some of the faces you had relied on seeing were gone. A blue, flickering version of Master Unduli hovered just over her customary chair, but Master Windu wasn’t present even in hologram form. Still, you had gotten familiar with some of the other masters over your time at the Temple and weren’t completely lost in the group.

“You have made excellent progress over the past few weeks,” Master Fisto told you, a broad grin stretched across his face. “How do you feel?”

You straightened your shoulders, trying to project confidence as you matched Master Fisto’s smile. “I know I have a great deal left to learn, but I feel I’m much better off than when I first arrived. Thank you all for helping me.”

The typical Jedi bow felt odd and alien still, but you gave a deep nod to show your respect to the gathered Masters and were happy to see them respond in kind.

“We must have some proof of your abilities before we send you into the field,” Master Secura warned. “It would be irresponsible of us to order an untested civilian into danger without knowing that you can look after yourself.”

“I understand,” you agreed easily. “What do you want me to do?”

The other Masters glanced at Master Yoda. The diminutive being beamed at you. “A special mission, we have for you…”

—

Fixer bit back a sigh as he watched Scorch crane his head around, trying to look in every direction at once. Delta Squad had been on Coruscant before, but it had been a different quadrant and, apparently, Scorch thought this new one was just as interesting.

Not that it would have mattered if Delta had been assigned to that very neighborhood where they had been last time. Given the cramped space and the incredible population density, even that small area had probably changed dramatically in the time since Delta had left. There were only so many beings who could occupy the same space before homeostasis became impossible.

He couldn’t really blame Scorch for studying their surroundings so eagerly… but that didn’t stop him from being irritated. “Six-Two, you’ll hurt your neck if you keep doing that.”

Scorch’s only reply was a scoff, but he did dial it back, relying on the holocams embedded in his HUD to provide him with a 360° image of the crowded street they were walking down. The buildings towered overhead, narrowing the sky to a slight flash of light between the transports caught in a line of traffic. Even here, on the top level of Coruscant, seeing the sky was a luxury reserved only for those who could pay for it.

“I don’t know why the jetii had us run their errands,” Sev bit out, his low voice harsh over the crispness of their in-HUD comms. “Isn’t it enough we’re fighting their war?”

“Sev,” Boss warned. “Stow the attitude. It took us four minutes out of our way.”

“And you’re not even the one carrying the shuk’yc box,” Fixer added. He thought about tapping the small rectangle at his belt for emphasis, but he could feel Sev’s glare through both of their helmets and knew his brother had gotten the point.

“What are the medals for, anyway?” Scorch asked, apparently having gotten his fill of the streets of the Triple Zero. “Are we getting promoted?”

The snort could have come from anyone, but Fixer’s credits were on Sev.

“Pretty sure they’re jetii-specific,” Boss told him. “Counts out any of us verde.”

“Shame,” Scorch said carelessly. “I could use a new rank.”

“Why?” Fixer asked, unable to prevent himself from tossing out the barbed comment that had come to him. “You aren’t doing much with your current one.”

“Because I’m not being challenged,” Scorch complained.

“That isn’t true,” Sev joined in. “Just because you haven’t beaten a challenge doesn’t mean you haven’t gotten any.”

Fixer snickered as Scorch threw an elbow at the deep-voiced commando. “Har, har, Sev. If you want to see a real challenge-”

“Men,” Boss said sharply, cutting off whatever antics that may have started. “Pipe down and hurry up. We have a meeting with the jetii and I don’t want to be late.”

Delta Squad obliged, the men cutting their bickering short as they picked up the pace. Fortunately, their white armor and the intimidating shape of the commando visors helped them cut effortlessly through the crowd.

Or almost effortlessly.

Even as the thought crossed his mind - though it was couched in the uncomfortable realization that they were designed to protect these beings and most of them were more scared of Delta Squad than they would have been of Grievous himself - a short form collided with Fixer.

He glanced down in surprise, catching sight of wide eyes and a gasping mouth under a deep hood before the being gave a hoarse yelp, ducked its head, and scurried away.

“However much Procurement spent on the proximity sensors in your armor,” Scorch remarked, “I’m glad to know it wasn’t wasted on you, Fixer.”

Fixer rolled his eyes, grumbling at his loud-mouthed brother, and focused on their path through the city.

“Do you think she’s done training?” Boss asked, unprompted. There was a beat of silence between them, one that stretched only a millisecond too long before Boss added, “That’s why they’ve brought us back here. It has to be.”

“You don’t think they would send her to meet us somewhere?” Sev asked.

“No.”

Scorch, sounding uncharacteristically uncertain, said, “She’s only been with them a few weeks. Maybe they brought us here for something else?”

Fixer shook his head. “We’re not important enough to be invited to meet with the Jedi Council if it doesn’t have to do with her. Do you think we’ll be invited to see her graduation ceremony?”

“She’s not a shiny leaving Kamino for the first time,” Sev told him derisively. “They won’t give her a ceremony. They probably won’t even evaluate her skills.”

“How would they, with the skills they say she has?” Boss asked.

“I would start with a basic weapons skill test.” Scorch shook his head. “Gonna guess that would be asking too much from the Jedi. Do any of them have to take tests?”

“Sort of,” Fixer told him, watching from the corner of his eye as a group of younglings appeared and started begging for credits from the people walking just ahead of Boss. Well, half of them were begging, the other half were picking pockets. They were smart enough not to try either move on the troopers. “They pass a ‘Trial’, but there’s no telling what that is. Sometimes the Jedi create it, but it’s usually something that happens to them in the field. A challenge they overcame.”

There was a curious pause after that, but Fixer kept his eyes on the surprisingly skilled younglings. Eventually, Boss huffed out half a laugh. “Didn’t know you were an expert on the Jedi, Fixer.”

Fixer shrugged. “Pays to know about the people in charge of commanding the GAR.”

He, of course, didn’t offer up the information that he had only recently become interested in the Jedi, what was expected of them, and what they were and weren’t allowed to do. Very recently.

“We’re getting close on time,” Boss commented. Fixer’s HUD chronometer told him the same thing. “Double-time, men.”

At the commandos’ increased pace, they were at the Jedi Temple before any more conversation could be had. Fixer didn’t mind. Despite their best efforts, Delta was a little late to the meeting - not by more than a few minutes, but from Boss’s impatient huffs in the repulsorlift, it was too much.

Still, when they got to the Jedi Council’s chamber, their entrance didn’t interrupt anything. The Council members were sitting in peaceful silence other than a few scattered conversations between holofigures. You were nowhere to be found.

Boss snapped a crisp salute and the rest of Delta followed his lead. “Delta Squad, reporting. Apologies for our tardiness, sirs.”

“Worry not,” General Yoda assured him. “Started, we have not.”

“Yes, we could hardly begin the proceedings without you,” General Kenobi agreed, seemingly amused by some kind of private joke. Fixer couldn’t say what was funny, but at least the Jedi didn’t seem to be laughing at them.

“Where is she?” Scorch asked, and Fixer was relieved to see that his brother had asked it in their inter-HUD comm channel rather than aloud. “Shouldn’t she already be here?”

“Maybe she’s late, too?” Fixer suggested.

“Or she didn’t want to see Scorch’s di’kutla face again,” Sev opined.

“You two don’t want to see the punishment I cook up if you start bickering in front of the Jedi Council,” Boss warned, voice heavy with threat.

There was no more inter-HUD communication.

The quiet in the chamber was so intense that Fixer nearly jumped when the repulsorlift in the atrium warned of another arrival. He turned reflexively and was thankful for the cover of his helmet when he saw you hurrying into the room.

He expected you to look flustered, but your general appearance of disarray seemed to be due to excitement and… pleasure? You were wearing an odd assortment of clothing - an ill-fitting, bland-looking array of gray, brown, and dark green - though the bright yellow of your vambraces flashed through the gloom.

As you walked forward, Fixer’s training leapt to the front of his mind. There was armor in your clothing. Not much of it, but enough to reduce the risk of being hurt.

After you had been politely greeted by the Council, General Windu arched his brows. “And? Did you succeed?”

“I did!” you confirmed with a joyful smile, reaching toward one hip.

“Perhaps you should tell Delta Squad about your mission first?” General Secura encouraged.

“Of course,” you said, a slight hint of embarrassment dimming your happiness for only a moment. When you turned toward them, your brow creased oddly. “Why are you still wearing your helmets?”

The question hung heavy in the air for a moment before Boss broke the seal between his helmet and his body glove, pulling off his bucket and tucking it under one arm. The rest of the squad followed his example, and were rewarded with another beaming smile from you.

“I was given a single piece of information and sent to use it however I thought most appropriate,” you explained. Privately, Fixer thought that was a little vague, but you continued. “In this case, I was told that a group of soldiers was going to pick up some Jedi artifacts.”

General Koon leaned forward in his chair, templing his long fingers. “And what did you do with that information?”

“I tracked Delta Squad from the GAR dockyards and followed them until they picked up the artifacts. I was able to recover them from Fixer and then tailed them the rest of the way here. They never saw me.”

“Is that true?” General Windu asked Boss. “Did you or any of your men see her or otherwise suspect that something may have been wrong?”

“I had no idea,” Boss told him, a shade of respect in his tone. “Men?”

“Not a clue,” Scorch chimed easily.

Sev shook his head.

Fixer opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His stomach twisted unpleasantly. That small box - its weight nearly imperceptible - weighed heavy in the pouch at his hip. You hadn’t gotten the medallions from him, but could he make the Jedi somehow believe that you had? Maybe if he pretended he had put them in a different pouch…

At last, he realized that he probably wouldn’t be able to lie to an entire group of Jedi. He pulled the box from his belt.

“I… still have this, though,” he admitted, trying to apologize to you with his eyes alone. Another trooper would have understood the non-verbal communication in a moment, but natties only knew what they could hear out loud.

He held the box out to you, but you only watched him with amusement on your face. “Open it.”

Fixer pulled the box back, staring at it for a moment before he did as you said. The box opened easily, revealing an utter lack of contents.

General Windu cleared his throat. “Again. Did any of you see her or suspect something was wrong?”

Fixer shook his head slowly. “No. I- I never even felt someone touch the box.”

“Does that mean I passed?” you asked.

“Yes,” General Yoda said, inclining his wrinkled head. His expression grew solemn the next moment. “But warn you, we must: face many more challenges on the battlefield, you will. Hmm… difficult challenges indeed.”

“I understand, Master,” you said, offering a bow to the gathered Jedi. “Thank you all for the training and allowing me this opportunity. I look forward to using what I’ve already learned and learning more every time I return to Coruscant.”

General Yoda smiled kindly. General Windu looked to Boss. “Boss, you and Delta Squad are scheduled to leave Coruscant early tomorrow morning. You’ll be accompanying the Wolfpack on a relief mission. We’ll meet for a briefing at twenty-one thirty.”

Boss saluted. “Yes, sir!”

“C’mon,” Scorch urged, cutting his salute short to tug at your arm. “Drop off those medals and we’ll find a fun way to spend our time planetside.”

---

Author's Note - Not a huge fan of this chapter, honestly, but we needed to get it out of the way to set up for the next few! Thank you to those who have been reading and leaving kind comments and waiting so patiently. I appreciate you!

You can find other works on my masterlist or sign up for my taglist here.

#star wars #star wars fanfiction #reader insert #refuge #star wars the clone wars #star wars republic commando #star wars legends #delta squad #refuge fic #female reader insert #republic commando #delta squad x fem!reader #sergeant boss #boss #fixer #scorch #sev #ink's fics #more to come

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