Archive of Our Own

Asha always was sensitive. When she was young she was teased as a cry baby and often had to clean her cheeks of tears. There wasn’t anything wrong with her crying, but it led to lots of well meaning talks and meditation time. Given she was living in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, this was a normal thing to do, so at least she didn’t feel singled out. As she got older and steadier in the Force, the tears spaced out to both her own and others' relief. Crying causes headaches after all and living with other younglings was a headache itself. More centered, Asha worked hard to become a worthy Padawan and to become a Knight, knowing her future was in the stars. When she is placed in the care of her Master, a Gotal with a sort of learn-by-doing training style named Vaax Krut, she is given everything she dreamed of.

Three weeks later, she hated it. 

Don’t get her wrong, traveling the stars and visiting the different planets she’d researched was wonderful. She enjoyed it so much she guessed in another life she’d have been a travel writer. But with the added feature of the Force Asha learned something important. The galaxy was full of people with different morals and energies. Energies that didn’t always mix well with herself. It took a few months for her to learn she was an Empath. The Force made all Force-sensitives empaths in a way but she was gifted with a higher level of understanding. So as her Master led her to meditate, rescue, and run across the galaxy, she was given a chance to really know how the galaxy thought of the Jedi. She talked to her master about it one night as they bandaged themselves after a treaty signing ended badly when one side realized who they were. Master Vaax just shrugged.

“The galaxy is full of fools who don’t know as much as they think they do,” he’d said as he finished his bandage wrap and headed out the door. “Don’t concern yourself with their feelings. They have nothing to do with yourself,”

Asha had gone to bed that night and spent most of the night with her concussion, self applied bacta cast on her knee, and mixed feelings. Somehow her masters’ words didn’t feel quite right to her.

It was a short padawanship thankfully, as Asha wasn’t one to complain or quit. She learned how to put up a shield strong enough to block others emotions enough to mask again. Then would release the buildup in the safety and privacy of her quarters when she had them or just enough space. When her master believed her ready she went through the trails and passed, never letting down her shields over her empath powers by unconscious habit. As she headed to her new quarters in the temple, her padawan braid in her hand, she didn’t know why she didn’t feel happier.

Later that night as she looked out her balcony as the moon hung in the sky, the stars hidden thanks to the light pollution, it hit her. Reaching her goal was her drive for years now. And now that she had reached her goal, she didn’t want to continue. It was like making it through high school, the goal being to pass with the best grades and reputation as possible, then after graduation looking to the future and deciding college was not for you. But that didn’t mean she knew what she wanted to do now. So as she slowly drank her spicy hot choco, she meditated with the Force. She asked for answers and just got the feeling of happy calm. So she went to sleep that night confused but content for the time being.

The next morning she was walking back from requesting time at the temple to think when she nearly was run over.

“Percy slow down!” a creche master yelled as they turned the corner. Asha’s eyes were wide as she held a small toddler in the air with the Force, having caught the tot right before they face planted. Percy just laughed and Asha smiled as she lifted the Duro child into her arms. The creche master slowed down as she approached and stopped just out of the range of Percy’s raspberry attack, wiggling their pointer finger. “Percy, you must have your bath; running only prolongs the inevitable.” That was answered with a louder raspberry. “ Imp , no bubble bath for you.”

Asha chuckled, bouncing the pouting tot. “Would you like some help?” 

“Normally I'd say no, but today the younglings have been very silly,” the other adult said with a pointed but teasing look to the now giggling tot. “ Especially Percy and Brad-ock, his best friend. I would normally have Master Re Ma helping but they’ve hurt their leg and are being treated.”

“Well I’m more than willing to help, I love kids.” Asha smiled and followed the creche master back to the kids. From the moment she stepped into the playroom for the younglings, the Force seemed to sing, it's melody like a birds’ song in the spring. The kids were running about, playing and trying to fly their toys with the Force. In the back was a Wookie rocking steadily back and forth on a rocking chair with a new arrival curled up in their fur. Asha hadn’t felt this at peace in years. 

The next morning she returned with a child safety lock on her lightsaber, was given a tunic with pockets galore on the inside and her braids up high under a sensible head scarf. Liyo Rirzurid, the cheche master she met in the hallway, smiled brightly as they bowed to each other.

“Welcome to the Creche.”

-.-

The Republic went to war and dragged the Jedi Order along by their scalps.

Asha was bombarded with so much anger, sorrow, betrayal and everything in between that, as she stood in the back of the room as Grand Master Yoda watched over his people deal with the news, she couldn’t pick out her own feelings on the matter. Her shields grew thicker brick by brick until they muffled the room and she was able to think and feel on her own. She looked inward and smirked ruefully. Turns out she really was mad, go figure. Not as betrayed though and she knew it was thanks to her padawanship experiences. The greater galaxy was full of those who didn’t see the Jedi as mortal people and with enough of them in the Senate...

As the Council explained, though they clearly knew more than what they were saying but it was probably more they didn’t want to spread incomplete info, Asha stayed silent. When the meeting was done several Jedi had left their lightsabers at the feet of the Council and left for good. Some of the remaining Jedi seemed to be thinking of doing the same, leaving with various blank or thinking looks. Asha left with the ending stranglers, not having a need to talk with the Council and wishing to give the angrier ones more stomping space. She went to her room, closing the door behind herself and walking to her favorite spot on her couch. She slumped onto it and leaned her forehead on the palm of a hand. Her shields dropped just enough to sense the rolling waves of the many Jedi within and she sighed. The headache wasn’t going away no matter what she did, it seemed.

“I should leave too. There is no way this is going to end well.” she said out loud, eyes closed. Elsewhere her small fan moved back and forth, supplying white noise to help her mind focus. “But the kids… I can’t leave them behind. never mind any new younglings that'd get dropped off.” 

Asha stood back up and paced the floor. Thoughts with pro’s and con’s swirled around her head, each wishing to be heard. But one spoke the loudest overall. She had a duty to the younglings in her care. She couldn’t leave when that meant no longer being in their lives, preparing the children for their futures, and being the rock they can turn too. The children are more important and will remain so to her. So she will stay with them until the Force leads her elsewhere. 

And yet the Force was churning with danger. Bad times were coming to the Jedi thanks to this war they’ve been forcefully drafted into and she wanted safety. But even if she took off with the kids under her care, that wouldn’t solve the problem.

“I’d sooner be branded a kidnapper or get swept up by criminals,” she sighed and looked up at the roof. “I haven’t left Coruscant in years . I’d likely end up breaking a speed limit somewhere and get everyone arrested.”

The Force seemed to chuckle at that and Asha rolled her eyes. “I sure hope you're gonna be more helpful than that, or this is gonna be a long war.”

The Force just chuckled again leading Asha to shake her head and leave for her shift in the creche. She will think some more about this at work. There has to be a way to protect the younglings in her care without leaving the new ones behind.

-.-

“Jackpot!” Asha whispered to herself, plugging in the data chip to the archives computer. She was looking at information about a Mid Rim planet, Damino, that might be the answer to her problems. Or at least the Force seemed to be pointing her in that direction. Damino was a sort of perfect balance world, that was close enough to the Core to be counted in the Republic but far out enough that the law enforcement was known to be somewhat ‘lenient’ from time to time. What was ironic was their clear threat to criminals that they’d handle affairs themselves, but they were more than willing to call for backup. What was interesting for the planet was the atmosphere was unbreathable for most air breathing species which included humans. She’d need a suit and thankfully a stop over will end with her buying one.

Asha had spent time with the kids the rest of that troubling day but the next she spent her lunchtime in the archives looking for answers online. There were too many things that could go wrong if she just left and she didn’t want to risk being removed from the kids on pains of being too ‘attached’. Which is silly, she understood the rule and how ‘attachment’ was just the word they used instead of ‘obsession’. To be honest she thought they should just call it what it is and save the trouble of correcting others. Anyway, she now had a lead, a clue to her puzzle and she didn’t want to wait. So after covering her search with other things, she left the archives. In under an hour she’d cashed in on 3 of her week vacation days she’d let pile up and was headed into space in two.

-.-

Damino was pretty for a planet covered in orange clouds. The people were friendly but no pushovers, which was partly thanks to their unique features. The Mino were humanoid shaped but had four arms and slightly stretched out heads. On top of their heads instead of hair their skin was somewhat clear but instead of showing their brains’ it glowed different colors for their moods. Given the colors were always honest, the Mino had taken to wearing hats and other head coverings around outsiders. The planet was a respectable tourist stop as they also had very good food and sports based off of flying across the clouds. So long as you called ahead they could have a room set up for breathers to, well, breathe.

Asha headed to the top third coffee shop as rated by Yap after parking her ship. The suit she wore was like a divers suit though the helmet was big enough to give her hair space. The good thing was it hid her identity somewhat, as she couldn't wear the recognizable Jedi tunics. The bad was she had nowhere to carry her lightsaber without it being super obvious, so she instead carried a pair of blasters. She probably wouldn't need to use them, the planet was very mellow overall. Anyway, she was going for 2 reasons. One, for the coffee, the reviews said the stuff was really good for the price. And 2, it was just out of the way enough that it was a casual goer's third choice. So she could sit and enjoy a snack and use the free wifi in peace.

The shop was two stories with the top floor for workers and students to use the wifi and the main floor was where the food and coffee was made. Once she reached the building she signed in for the 'nitrogen' time slot then waited with three others under a tent. It was only when she was under the tent did she notice the Mandalorian behind the other two, still in their armor and helmet. The armor was painted brown and light green.

Shoot, she thought but she kept her body loose, not wanting to tip off what could be a bounty hunter with a Jedi kill count. Thankfully a bell chimed right then and they were let into the cafe. 

Inside everyone split up and either bought something or headed directly to the top floor. Asha ordered a coffee with a green tea mix and headed up to the second floor after paying. Once everyone was on the top floor the door closed with a quiet hiss and a sign by the door flashes orange then changed from that to blue. Once the sign stopped flashing a voice cleared it's throat over the speakers in the walls.

“The air has now been changed to a nitrogen blend and is now safe to breathe. Your orders will be sent up shortly. If there are cancelations your reservations can be lengthened. As it is, the time limit is two spins, or one galactic hour. Have a nice day.”

Asha took a seat at a two person table and tapped the screen so her order would be sent to the right spot. Once done she pulled out her datapad and waited for it to connect to the dual wifi. As she waited she looked around the room, taking in the bookshelves filled with decorations of glass and metal, the suspended greenery in bubbles to protect the air inside, and the window that took up most of the nearby wall. It was tinted so the double suns light wouldn’t blind someone sitting next to the window and so people outside couldn’t spy. Done looking around she pulled the helmet off and placed it on her lap, leaning back in her chair. She chose the seat that faced the door and the rest, sitting basically in a corner. The table screen blinked then her drink appeared from a lift in the table under a cloche. She picked it up in one hand to drink and settled in.

Damino was special for many reasons but the main reason for her visit now was the well known secret of it having access to both the Republic and the Separatist holonet. Asha needed answers to how she could protect her charges if the Republic lost so she needed more than what the Republic would share online. As she sipped her coffee and felt the warm drink settle nicely, she flipped through search terms and options rapidly. She opened herself to the Force hoping it would give her a sign. A planet, a system, a general direction, anything. Instead she nearly fell off her chair as the Mandalorion sat themselves in the other seat. 

“You're very jumpy,” they said bluntly, the helmet making it hard for her to pick up if they were teasing her. They took off their helmet revealing a Bothen with light brown fur and purple eyes. “Yim Lorron, he/him.”

Asha resettled on her chair and cleared her throat into her fist, thankful she wasn’t one to blush. “Fi, she/her. May I ask what you need from me?”

“You seem to be searching for something. I might be able to help.” Yim offered. Asha set her face blank as she raised an eyebrow.

“How generous, although I don’t know how you’ve come to think that,”

“If you wish for privacy, use a vpn. The ‘net is easy to hack here. Plus you were mumbling.”

Asha winced. “I thought I stopped doing that,” she sighed, then looked the Mando in the eye. The Force didn’t seem to be saying one thing or another here so maybe it was worth the chance. She opened her shields a little and paid attention to the feelings in the room. “I am a caretaker for a number of children. I and the children live on a planet not far from here and while the war has thankfully not put them in harm's way, I have a bad feeling for the future. I am looking for safe places to take my charges if the war arrives. I have the permission of their families to move them to safety, I just want to find the right place.”

“That is a wise endeavor,” Yim hmm’d and pulled at his beard. “How many are you caring for?”

“I don’t know if I should answer that, being strangers and all,” Asha said with a shrug and tap of her finger to her finished coffee cup. She was thankful she drank it all before Yim had sat down, or she’d have had to politely ‘forget’ to finish her drink. 

“Also wise.” Yim nodded, unbothered. “If there comes a time you’d need to move the children, I might know of people who would take them and yourself in. So long as you don’t start or bring any trouble.”

The irony in that sentence is astonishing, Asha thought as she made sure to not to chew on her lip, a tell her master had called her on many times. This was a perfect offer. From her travels as a Padawan, Asha and her master had heard the Mandaloron people adored children. Except for Death Watch and the New Mandalorions were so similar the speciesism and racism was as blatant as the pull of gravity. She had even been told by her master when she was still young that if something happened to him and the Jedi were too far to help, her best chance to survive would be an armored Mandalorion with a kid.

“Even if the children themselves might cause the trouble?” she asked with a tilt of her head. To Yims’ credit he paused for just a moment before nodding. She sensed sincerity from the man with the curiosity that was being politely tempered. Asha asked the Force if this was a good idea and got the feeling of possible danger but also hope . So, this was a dangerous plan but what plan wasn’t? “In that case, I would like to talk to these people in question if it's possible.”

Yim grunted and handed Asha a small holocomm. “Call the first number on that. Preferably alone, you wouldn’t want the wrong types overhearing.” With that Yim stood and put his helmet back on. Asha stood as well, unintentionally mimicking him with her helmet. They both reached out and grasped each others’ arm, Yim surprised she knew to do it (which Asha sensed to her amusement), then grinned. 

-.-

It was later that night as she sat in her ship before heading for the hotel to sleep that Asha called the number. It was late when they finished. It took a week to finalize the details and promises alone that ended with an invite to dinner. Asha complied of course, stopping off at the temple on Jedha to borrow their kitchen the day before. The box of cookies is well received as well as her leaving her lightsaber in the ship as promised. She still carried weapons but they were hidden in her clothes and hair wrap. Thankfully the Mando’s thought that was pretty smart and things went on. By the time she returned to the temple of Coruscant, she felt lighter for the first time since the war started. The friendship between Asha and Clan Haere Noa lasted through the highs and lows of the Clone War. From the first year as the Jedi scrambled to become military generals, to the mess with Duchess Satine and Death Watch, the highs and lows of a war that spans planets, and even the steady decline in the Jedi Order...

-.-

“I ought to wring their necks,” Asha growled, fist tight around the small cup of ne’tra gal . This batch was from Yim’s brother and it was delightfully strong. Yilo gave her a pat on the back as Asha leaned her cheek on the creche break room table. “They're too young!”

“I know, but it's up to the Council and we need more Jedi at the front.” Yilo said again but repeating it didn’t make either of them feel better. 

“It shouldn’t be children at all , numbers be darned.”

“There's no kids near to hear us, you can cuss you know,”

“If I get started I will slip up and the kids will know every word and phrase I learned while a Padawan, Knight, and secret friend to Mando’s. I don’t want that, you don’t want that, and the Council kriffing doesn’t want that so don’t you tempt me .”

Yilo laughed. 

-.-

Silence where moments before there was life.

Emptiness where moments ago there was love.

Pain where there was trust.

Shots fired at friends, siblings, family, from the most unlikely of people.

Starlights blinking out forever, the sky a never ending void, suns turning the colors of blood.

“...what do we do?” ...the hum of a lightsaber, the screams of children, then the only sound of a man turned evil’s labored breathing.

Asha woke up screaming and had to be held upright by Yilo as she sobbed.

-.-

“The time is now. If we don’t move there is nothing but death and destruction for us all.”

Asha was standing strong in the break room for the creche masters, her eyes almost glowing with unshed tears. She was dressed in her day robes, her lightsaber placed at her hip, the holocom in her hand ready.

The others looked to the head of the creche masters, a very old woman most called ‘Mama Ina’ but her official name was Grand Creche Master Ina Nata. She was Kumumgah and only a few knew her true age. Mama Ina looked Asha in the eye and Asha opened herself to the Force, letting Mana Ina sense her feelings and what she remembered of the vision dream. Including the senses and emotions thanks to her empathic abilities.

Mama Ina hummed gravely. She lifted her glasses off her face letting her small eyes connect with everyone in the room. 

“We will protect our young. I believe in Asha's vision and we will heed the Forces’ warnings. For our duty is to the young, to their futures, and for us all.”

Asha wept again as everyone stood, crossing their arms in front of their chest in a salute, saluting as well. 

“May the Force be With Us.”

“May the Force be With Us All.”

-.-

Anakin nee Darth Vader stalked the temple, cutting down all who the clones blasters didn’t kill first. The Dark Side was thick in the air and he breathed it in like a suffocating man. This is what true power was. Nothing will keep him from saving Padme now, not the Council, not the cowardly Jedi who sat inside the walls instead of fighting in the war, nothing . All he had to do was to make sure they ended the Jedi here and across the galaxy now , before their stain could hurt more beings. The lies stop here.

Vader turned and entered the section of the temple for the youths. They would die here as well, Lord Palpatine declared them infected and utterly unsavable. Vader will do as his Master says and so he used the Force to open the thick doors meant to protect the young from invaders. 

There was no hiding from Darth Vader though; for no door could stop him nor walls of Jedi. Actually not a wall but three Jedi, lightsabers drawn and faces stern. In the front is Mama Ina, dressed in her fighting robes, her yellow lightsaber glowing brightly.

“Anakin Skywalker, I am very disappointed in you.” she says and the Force ripples with them. “You have so much potential and you do this. How dare you threaten children, how dare you walk in the blood of your brothers and sisters. Your bloodshed ends here.”

A deep part of Vader that is Anakin shivers but Vader buries that down under rage. How dare anyone speak to him like that, that of a misbehaving child throwing a tantrum? He, who is said to be the Chosen One?

“We shall see,” he snarls and lunges forward, lightsaber swinging. The battle is legendary. Years later the recording of the scene will spread and while many wouldn’t fully understand what happened, the skills shown would shock and awe. When Darth Vader cheats and calls on the brainwashed clones to fire the battle ends. Was it probably a good thing it happened before Mama Ina would have given him the Maul treatment but vertical this time? That is up to the person you ask. As for Vader, he wiped the fear off his face for his very near death and looked around himself. The duel had moved back through several rooms where the kids lived before becoming Padawans and there was quite a lot of damage. But other than the three slain creche masters, there wasn’t anybody else.

“Impossible,” he growled, snapping around to a clone. The Anakin part balked at using either a name or a number for the clone and slipped in as he instead just ordered “Search everywhere! They must have hidden them somewhere, find them all and kill them!”

Darth Vader dramatically stormed off for other areas of the temple, never realizing he didn’t (or couldn’t in that moment as the good part of him faded away) say ‘children’. Or the hidden bombs that were set to blow.

-.-

Ti Syprd followed the sounds of crying to the main hull of the Shriek-Wonder. The crying had quieted down some but there were still tears in the eyes of all the children in the space. There wasn’t a free arm except for two of the Jedi, one having punched the wall then crumpled into a ball and the other staring off into the middle distance, their robes floating even though there was no wind inside a spaceship. The children were in various states with the youngest and most exhausted from sobbing asleep while others were either still crying or trying to stop, cheeks rubbed sore. Ti sighed mutley under her helmet then looked to one of the unhelmeted Mandalorions from her clan. She signalled them and they tapped Asha on the shoulder. Asha’s face had been blank since the moment the kids started to cry and she seemed to be mentally out of it. With the tap Asha looked over to Yim, then to Ti and followed the pair out of the hull. They walked in silence to the cockpit, the pair of four year olds in their arms staying asleep the entire time thankfully.

Once there Ti took off her helmet and gestured to the empty chairs other than the captain's chair which had the driver in it of course. Asha gathered her robe and sat down, smoothing it out and shifting the kid on her lap. Yim sat across from her and growled slowly under his breath, uneasy.

“We will be landing on Damino to refuel then head to Wild Space.” Ti explained and Asha gave a sharp nod. She hadn’t said a word since everyone jumped in the ships and left Mandalorian space, the dread that started from Padawan Ahsoka Tanos’ trial building until she felt sick. Ti’s clan, Clan Haere Noa, had lived on the far side of the planet. Far away from the New Mandalorians and that mess with Maul, they were thankfully left alone. As the creche masters evacuated the younglings in secret over three weeks the kids were able to play and sleep in peace. That all changed that morning, when the more sensitive of them woke up feeling danger. Everyone jumped onto the ships and were already in space when the lives of Jedi ended all over the galaxy.

“...I know you all are going through great pain right now and even with what’s happened to my people, I know I can't comprehend half of it. But I need to know what your plan is now,” Ti said, her lip then curled in disgust. “The Republic has officially become an Empire with that prideful powermad Palpatine on the throne. Your people have been branded as traitors. You can’t return to the Core. The Outer Rim is your best bet for survival, but that won’t be enough.”

Asha swallowed and opened her mouth to speak, her voice coming out low and flat. “We will have to hide who we are. The Jedi Order is over. The children are in the worst danger as they can’t hide their lights well at their ages. We will need to keep moving, or split up for a better chance to not all die at once.”

“There are several planets you can hide in until things get better,” Yim grunted with a curl of his mouth. “Splitting up might be a short term answer. You’d have to cut contact with the groups and you’d not be able to help each other.”

“Can’t help each other if we’re all dead.” Asha deadpanned, her eyes falling on the kids. The tear tracks had dried on their faces. They’d need some wipes to clean them. “...There are enough of us surviving adults to be able to shield the kids until they know how to do it themselves. But that will take a lot of time and we will need to find jobs and housing from beings who won't look too close or sell us out in our sleep.”

Yim grunted again but this time he sounded thoughtful. He looked up at Ti from the corner of his eye. Then he spoke in low Mando'a, which Asha wished she knew more then maybe 10 words in all. Ti replied and the pair talked while Asha fought to not zone out again. It’d be rude after all. After about 8 minutes the Mandalorions bumped fists, which was very loud in the quiet cockpit. Asha jumped lightly and looked up as Ti locked eyes with her.

“What?” Asha asked, eyes still dim and face blank.

“There is a simple answer to your problems. We can offer you all a place in our Clan.” Ti said firmly. Asha froze, her mouth falling open in shock. “You all will be taken care of, the children will have guardians, and you can move about the galaxy instead of hiding in some hole. The Force isn’t something we have much experience with, but we know how to protect our own.”

“But! But if we join your Clan you’d all be in danger!” Asha yelped with the 

“We’re True Mandalorions. We’ve always been in danger, whether it’d be from the traitors to the Way or from people who think it is their business how we live. And we would never leave children to the stars. When we randevu with the rest of the Clan there will undoubtedly be several who will adopt several of the younglings on the spot.”

Asha opened her mouth to say no , that being adopted would lead to attachment and danger, that it isn’t how Jedi do things- but the Jedi Order is dead now, isn’t it? Their rules and teachings had no hold anymore that they don’t uphold themselves. And facing the facts, there were too many kids for five people to watch 24/7. Kids need attention and individual love and time and when they need more help they could call on a passing Jedi or ask an Elder to read stories or borrow a Padawan but now they are all dead .

Asha didn’t realize she wasn’t breathing until she blinked and Yim was taking the tot from her loose arms and Ti was holding her hands, one placed over her armored chest. Ti was a grounding force in a stormy sea as she breathed deeply and Asha followed, forcing her body to match the other. It was several minutes before she was calm enough to realize she’d had a panic attack, sending heat to her brown cheeks.

“If the idea of being a Mandalorian is that horrible then we can try something else,” Ti joked lightly, though Asha could tell Ti was being serious too.

Asha swallowed and shook her head. “It's not that. My whole life I have been a Jedi. I have followed its rules and our beliefs. But now everything is different and… we can’t be what we are. There's no place for us in this new reality.” Asha breathed out long and slow. “So we need to change as well.” she looked to Ti with grim determination. “I will speak with the others, but I want to say yes. If nothing else then because I trust you all and your my friends.”

“Alright, take all the time you need.”

-.-

The talks were heated and words and feelings were thrown like rocks. But in the end the Last Creche Masters of the Jedi Order agreed to become Mandalorians. And just like that their old selves disappeared into the stars.

Far away in Coruscant, after the bomb that destroys the creche entirely, Darth Vader realized the temple was truly empty of younglings, now without a trace and his fury shook the ground. It would be some time later, long after his duel with Obi-wan Kenobi and being turned more machine than man, before he would find out that the archives had been removed as well; as well as records from the Council and the registry of Force Sensitives. Also a series of bombs took out those rooms as well, though that was somewhat spiteful in reasoning. Palpatine was furious at that... but knew he’d find the children in due time. He had his Empire to rule now and this new flavor of the Dark Side to enjoy, so pained and thick. His future soldiers for his immortal rule will be gathered one way or the other. 

He’d been patient this long.

-.-

“PORKINS! GET OUT OF THAT SHIP!” 

“Uh oh, Isa is on the warpath,” Ash joked sitting up straight from their chair, watching as the curly haired Naboo mechanic marched to the smoking pilot. 

“Why do they let him fly?” HM-543 asked asked as Din-o worked on it's arm. The intelligence droid had half exploded during the last raid and needed to be put back together like a jigsaw puzzle. Thankfully it wasn't too bad and all that was left was fixing the left arm. Din-o, a Wookie, growled slowly and HM-543 laughed. “I guess stupid is useful,”

“ Isa, I didn't even get hit that much this time! ” Porkins whined as Isa moved under the ship and pried off a panel. Porkins jumped back when she threw the panel in his direction. There was a small hole in the side. 

“One hit is enough, you idiot.” Isa grunted and pulled out a jagged rock out, dropping it onto the floor and moving her googles down over her eyes. She hit her soldering tool on her palm and once it lit up got to work. “That piece of shrapnel got lodged in between the mechanics for the firing and targeting systems. If you or someone else took this ship out again and tried to use either one, the missiles would have set off inside the ship.”

“...oh.”

Ash and the other mechanics near enough to hear that chuckled then moved on to their own work. Except for the newbie, a Zabrak with a workers apron full of tech, who looked from the panel to the ship in confusion. 

“How did she know that? She was yelling at the pilot before he even landed fully,” the newbie, who wouldn’t say their birth name but went by the nickname Champ, asked the air. Ash threw their arm over Champs’ shoulder and just shook their head. 

“She just has a sixth sense for the ships, Champ, you get used to it. If it helps it mostly happens around Porkins and he always comes back with something busted.”

Champ frowned thoughtfully but nodded. It wasn’t their business after all and they had their own work to do. So Champ moved on to the weapons needing cleaning as Isa started loudly cursing in Mando’a.

“Di'kut pilots don't ganar te sense val rucuyir born ti…”

...Wasn’t she Naboon?

<(-.-)>

The face Zasa made had the twin Rodains freeze in their tracks. “What, what's wrong?” asked Meetz, his sister Greetz holding her breath.

“I don’t know but something in that shipment has real bad vibes.” Zasa answered and the twins near’ dropped the boxes they were unloading and rushed to the side. Zasa followed the twins to a small room, the Beslisk ducking under the low door. The three returned to the supply ship dressed head to toe in hazmat suits, face masks and a see-through screen for good measure. 

An hour later they waved down the nearest high rank running the loading docks and told him the cloth for repairs and bandages were clean, but the bacta in the medical shipments had evolved something new and very possibly dangerous. They gave some to the medical scientist to research while the rest was safely dumped. The loss of the expensive medical supplies was worth it to not have rebels die from an unknown virus strain getting into their wounds. Zasa made sure to let their riduur know so they can subtlety hint in the Alderaan royals’ ears a way to help.

<(-.-)>

“Many Bothens died to give us this information.” Mon Mothma said gravely to the gathered rebels. Two of them were missing, but it made perfect sense. After all, Agent Yim lost his brother. And if Yim was in one place his partner Justice was not far away. The pair of Mandalorians would learn what happened in the meeting later, another of Clan Haere Noa stood by the door after all. 

<(-.-)>

As he shot down an Imperial speeder, Kit elbowed his friend in the side. “Hey do you think a guy like me has a chance with a warrior like that?” 

N’ah, said friend, looked where Kit was nodding. “...The Mandalorian?”

“Yeah.”

“...the one punching droids or the one with the multi-barrel cannon?”

“Yeah.”

N’ah just looked at Kit like he was high. The look on his face didn’t help.

"...Sure, why not?"

<(-.-)>

“Hi there, kiddo.” the tall Mandalorion, helmet off and under their armpit, said to the crying kid. They were dirty and missing shoes and looked to have been crying for a while. They had burst out of the marshy trees and crashed into the adult the moment the shooting stopped. “Are you lost?”

Sniff. “No, I ran.”

The mando, who’s name was Phosa, nodded then tilted her head, macro braids moving with little clicking sounds from the beads. “I saw, you're very fast. Did you run out of your shoes?” the kid shook their head. “Were you running barefoot?” a nod. “Wow, that is impressive! I think a run like that deserves a prize.” Phosa carefully picked up the kid and headed for her ship, going away from the Empire-razed village. Her unit was combing the area, making sure they got every Stormtrooper in their attack.

They had been too late to save the villagers from the Empires’ wrath, brought down by trying to hide the force sensitive child in her arms. The last words the childs’ father said were pleas to protect his son, their riduur dead beside them. Phosa didn’t need to be asked, knowing she would have tracked down the kid to the ends of the galaxy. And as she cradled the tiny being, she had a suspicion this was not that last time she did.

-.-

As Luke and the other heroes stood on the stage as the rebels cheered for them, Justice smiled under her blue and green striped helmet. A chime sounded in her ear and she answered the comm with a subtle push of a button on her white gauntlet.

“Should we do it now?” an excited and light voice asked over the comms. Definitely Percy, with a giggling Brad-ock nearby by the sound of it. “The Death Star is gone, the Empire lost!”

“They lost a battle, but the Emperor is a stubborn piece of space trash.” a gruff voice answered. That’d be Match, who sounded done with the celebration already. “I doubt this was enough to end the Empire. More likely the Empire is gonna throw everything into wiping out the Rebellion for good now.”

“Match is right, the time is almost here but not yet.” Justice replied softly but she was heard, given the voices replied with either moans or laughs at the moans. She smirked under the helmet. “I know I say that a lot, but I really mean it this time.”

“That’s what you said last time…!”

-.-

The second Death Star was destroyed and Tash, a Togruta, could now rant as much as she wanted. She waved her red helmet, made for her head tails and montrials with some room to grow, around as she paced. 

“TELL ME WHERE, WHERE IN THE TRIPLE GODDESSES DID THEY HIDE NOT ONE!” She held up one finger from the hand missing the pinky. “BUT TWO MOON BALLS OF DEATH! HOW DID THEY EVEN FUND SOMETHING THAT SIZE?!” 

“Slave labor,” a dark skinned woman with vitiligo named Udoka said flatly, raising her pale eyebrow with three piercings. The Twilek and Lassak next to her nodded over their drinks at the table. 

“Gambling rings,” Ros Coe, the one armed Zabrak said from their spot on the crate for a seat. His mechanical arm was on his lap, giving the flesh and bone elbow a break.

“Weapons, ships, and blood money.” Ti finished holding up her fingers for each answer, having walked in to hear the tail end of the rant. Tash’s eyebrow twitched. She latched her helmet to her hip, clapped her hands together and loudly chanted numbers in Mando’a, which was a normal thing with her so the others felt comfortable chuckling.

“Don’t worry Tash. After this, and now that the Rebellion has officially won back the government from the Emperor, things will be different.” Tash’s brother Ty-non offered helpfully from the chair he stole when his sister stood up to rant. He was also holding her drink, which had one sip of something spicy before she went off. On his lap slept the team pet, a young krayt dragon named Sherm. “If nothing else, thanks to everything, the galaxy is the most explored it's ever been. Something of that size can’t be built again, unless the bosses act stupid.”

“Dude don’t jinx it!” the Lassk, Pa-lo hissed, flapping his hands to stave off the anxiety of the very idea. The Twi'lek, Austion, kindly gave Pa-lo his remaining victory cake.

“As it is, the galaxy will be going through a lot of changes.” Ti said sternly, getting everyone's attention. But for how grave her voice was, the smirk on her face shared a different story. “The Rebels have a good start, and with Mandalore’s behind them, we will make sure the future is better for everyone. But maybe we’ll need a little...extra creativity .”

The six person strike team, known for their teamwork and perfect mission record, The Flights of Fancy, smiled bright enough to light up a room.

-.-

Luke had joined the party again after seeing the spirit of the Jedi and his father. It was bitter sweet seeing him how he was before the suit. Luke really wished he could have known his father before he Fell, but the past is in the past. The future was full of possibilities now. With the Empire gone, he could restart the Jedi Order and bring the peacekeepers of the galaxy back. 

I wonder if Bens’ hut was left alone. ...Nah, definitely not. But maybe he buried some guides somewhere on Tatooine. He mused, arms crossed and leaning on a wall. Maybe I can look for other surviving members and ask them for tips. If Ben and Yoda lived so long, nevermind Ahsoka and Kanan and Ezra, there has to be others.

“Luke Skywalker!”

Luke jumped and blinked as lots of the Mandolarions who had helped the Rebellion flew down with their jetpacks or walked up the stairs. Soon Luke, Leia and Han were somewhat surrounded by a wall of armor and helmets. The sight of so many in one place normally was a bad thing, but there wasn’t a weapon out or dangerous intent to be sensed. If anything the Force seemed...happy? Confused but curious, Luke focused on the ones standing in front of him.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked slowly. Instead of answering, Ti Spyrd slammed a fist to her armored shoulder.

“Luke Skywalker, you and your team have done the galaxy a great service. The taint of the Emperor has been wiped out and now the healing can begin. But you will need allies and help.”

“I would be honored to have the help of Clan Haere Noa,” Luke said and Ti took her helmet off, giving Luke an amused smirk.

“Oh it’ll be a bit more than just the Haere Noa.”

All over several of the Mandalorions removed their helmets or in a few cases just lifted the helmet. Some kept them on and they moved back. Aliens, humans and near-humans were everywhere, each as unique as their armor colors. Although there was one common color; light green for peace. Luke shared a look with Leia who looked just as confused, though hidden better thanks to being a princess and all. Han, for once, seemed to decide silence was the right option so Luke turned back to the Mandos. One of them stepped forward, a human woman with long braids in a hair wrap and brown skin. She smiled at him and the Force seemed very happy. 

“My name is Asha Torree. I and 5 others here are the last Creche Masters of the Jedi Order. All around us are 48 of the children we were able to save from the Purge, hiding with Clan Haere Noa and being a part of their family. The rest are amongst the stars or a part of the Force. We have carried our records and readings, in hope of a safe future to pass on the knowledge. With the added fact we would have failed our duty if we left ways to track or find any Force sensitive child to the Empire. We have reduced, rescued, and protected many others, which is why there were so few Force Sensitives under Palpatine. We have helped the Rebellion from it's beginning until now.” 

“This is amazing!” Luke said with a wide smile in awe. 

“So all of you have the Force?” Leia guessed, looking at everyone who either smiled or waved or nodded. “That does explain some things.”

“ Yeah we did help things a little,” Jovana-Lee held up two fingers close together. On her hip sat a small child wearing light armor and hugging a stuffed tooka.

“How did you guys think all those civilians got out of the Death Star and Death Star Part 2?” 

“Or why your ships were so good even if they got to us from the trash heap?”

“Why the undercover agents almost always survive their covers being blown?”

“How many Vode are here even if the Empire thought they ‘phased them out’?”

“How the kriff we were so lucky to escape our bases’ when compromised?”

“And it was thanks to us your family was warned and as many Alderaanins that could escaped before the planet was destroyed.” Asha finished with a nod at the surprise and slight awe in the princesses face. “We couldn’t save the planet, but home isn’t a place,”

“It's the people.” Leia finished the saying with a grateful bow of her head. It had taken until after dealing with the first Death Star that she was reunited with her parents. Sadly about a half of the people stayed on the planet for various reasons, one being the disbelief of danger incoming from the Empire. That is a tragedy and she knew it was meant to be much worse. It did explain why her parents wouldn’t tell her who warned them. Clearly the hidden Jedi worked on a need to know basis. “My thanks will never be enough.”

“Eh, just doing what we can.” 

“So will you all help me restart the Order?” Luke asked, looking around. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled. “I admit I was going into it kind of blind.”

“Actually, thats a yes and no.” Asha said and one of the creche masters, Yilo, leaned on her shoulder. 

“If we restarted the Order to the way it was, none of us would be counted as Jedi. Times have changed and the old ways won’t work. Not in full. But we will help you create a new Order, one that's free and connected with the people we were sworn to help. Maybe this time Force sensitives won’t have to hide in fear or be spit on-”

“Or have their deaths greeted with applause.”

Luke personally thought that was a really good deal. Things might not be as easy or simple as in his fathers time, but that's ok. They can make it better and while the galaxy heals, the Jedi will be there to light up the shadows in the Dark. “I would be honored for your help, Lost Jedi, however form it’ll be.” he declared. Asha and he reached out, grasping arms in the Mandalorian way to seal the deal. Cheers went up all around them from the other Mandos and from hidden pockets, sleeves, boots and even out of one guys’ jetpack, appeared glowing items. Tools the mechanics used and always had on hand. Daggers and blasters that were shifted into a new shape. And from the one guys’ jetpack, what looked like an extra jet was a cylinder.

As one they pushed, slid, flicked, and each lit up. The colors were like a neon rainbow as the children of the order and their creshematers held up their lightsabers with pride.

“ Parjai!”

P.P

Luke stared down at his sleeping nephew. From his dreams Luke could hear screams of dying people, sense the blood being spilled and others blood boiled by lightsabers, nearly tasting the Dark Side of the Force. He needed to do something. Now. Luke slowly lifted his hand

Ben jolted awake, someone was standing over him-

Then hissed as the lights turned on.

“Sorry kiddo,” Luke said as he knelt down to be eye to eye with the kid. “I was worried about you and came to check on you.”

“I’m fine.” Ben said and Luke could faintly hear the exasperated sigh of several old ghosts. “Just some bad dreams.”

“I don’t know, I’ve had lots of bad dreams myself. Normally I find they appear for a reason.” Luke hinted, keeping his hands to himself as Ben didn’t always liked being touched while in a mood. “Do you want to talk about them? If not with me, you can talk to the mind healers or your aunt.”

Ben was terrible at hiding his feelings, they always showed up on his face. Right then he twisted from anger and worry. Luke watched this patiently, calmly breathing in and out. He filled the area with the Light side, and slowly the taint of the Dark was pushed away. 

“...Uncle Luke, I've been hearing someone...in my dreams…”

Elsewhere in the temple Luke and the Mandalorian Jedi built together, Asha breathed a sigh of relief. She would have gone to Ben herself, but she was a little busy with Finn, who woke up with a headache and was now dozing off in her arms. That careful reach of the Dark Side was beaten down by the others once they sensed it and with Luke talking with Ben, everything will be fine. No First Order, no child kidnappers and brainwashers, no stupid third death star . 

Asha paused then had to hold her laughs in to not shake Finn awake. When Tash hears about that vision, she’s gonna freak the ever loving Force out.

If the Flights’ weren’t off-world tracking down the ori'dush di'kut’s who were trying to traffic children, including Force Sensitive ones, she’d tell them right then. Oh well, it’ll just have to wait. It's not polite to interrupt a hunt after all.

-.-

Five days later Luke, Leia, Hans, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and a whole swarm of Mando’s, Jedi, and Mando’ Jettise , descended on the hiding place of Snoke and his followers. By the sixth, there was no one left to start the First Order. And with that, the galaxy breathed a sigh of relief.