Chapter Text
It was evening in the city of Theed. The Naboo and many off-worlders bustled around the shops looking for last-minute necessities. Others continued to sight-see. There was one particular building that was of interest. It sat on the far side of the city; on the edge of a lake. It was a beloved icon to the Naboo. It was the tomb of the Grand Duchess of the Republic, Ainyam Durn. One year ago today the galaxy had said goodbye to their beloved Duchess, and here she had been laid to rest on her home planet.
* * *
“I think the coast is clear,” Ainyam whispered to Senator Bail Organa. He nodded, and they quickly crossed the street and entered the tomb. Once inside the foyer, they removed their hoods and masks.
Bail gestured in front of them, “Through these doors, Milady.”
Ainyam took a deep breath. The two had secretly traveled to Naboo from Alderaan on this personal mission. This was her first time visiting her tomb. When she had finally awoken from her deep meditation almost a year ago, she was on Alderaan with Bail and Leia, the tomb already built upon Bail’s suggestion to the Naboo. She wasn’t sure what to expect past those doors.
Ainyam walked in while Bail stayed behind in the foyer. In the middle of the room sat a sarcophagus carved in her likeness. Ainyam looked down at her own face, sleeping in death. It was rather unnerving if she was being honest with herself. She reached out and laid a hand on top. Within the sarcophagus lay her lightsaber. Bail had told her that they placed it within the coffin for posterity. A wise decision, she thought. She could feel the pull, beckoning her to hold it once more. But Ainyam fought against it.
Looking up Ainyam saw a shrine sitting beyond the sarcophagus. On this shrine sat nine helmets, two rows of four with one helmet sitting at the very top. Ainyam felt her heart quicken as she approached the shrine. These were the helmets of her clone troopers of Clone Force 71. Underneath each helmet was an inscription with their names. Ainyam placed a hand on Jamie’s helmet. Her mind flashed to the moment she turned her lightsaber on him. The look of hurt and shock had haunted her dreams. Jamie hadn’t heard the order yet. Ainyam let her hand drop and walked slowly, touching each helmet.
She paused at one particular helmet.
“Oh Fives...”
She had promised to bury him on Naboo. Now here he will always be by her side.
Finally she came to Axel’s helmet which sat above the rest. She lifted it from its place and held it in front of her, pressed her forehead against his helmet, and closed her eyes.
Axel. Her sergeant. Her protector and best friend. She first met him on Geonosis after the clones had rescued her and the other Jedi from the execution arena. He had accompanied her to the hangar where Count Dooku had been battling Obi-Wan and Anakin. They had fought many battles together in the Clone Wars only for him to become her almost-executioner.
Ainyam could feel her hands shake as she gripped Axel’s helmet. She opened her eyes and stared at it between her shaking fingers, picturing Axel’s handsome face beneath it.
“I hope,” she said, tears streaming down her face, “that when we meet again, you will have forgiven me for being so blind and for not protecting you, as you protected me…”
Ainyam paused and glanced at the rest of the helmets.
“...and that you realize how much I love you all.”
She placed Axel’s helmet in its place carefully. She allowed her gaze to linger for a few moments, but then she knew she had to leave.
Ainyam gasped when she looked up. She saw her squad standing before her. They were all smiling, laughing even, just as she remembered them. Fives even winked at her. Ainyam couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Axel approached her, reaching out with his hand to touch her face. She could actually feel his hand.
“There is nothing to forgive, Milady Duchess,” he said, smiling. Slowly they all faded away, smiling and waving at her until Axel was all that was left.
Axel stepped back and continued to smile until he was gone.
“Axel!”
Ainyam reached for him and fell to her knees. There was no reply from Axel, but she felt Bail at her side.
“Milady, are you alright?” His voice was confused and worried.
Ainyam knew that Bail hadn’t seen them--her men. She continued to stare at the spot where Axel stood, sobs racking her body.
“The Force has shown me grace once again, Bail. Even when I don’t deserve it!” Ainyam fell forward onto her arms. All the emotions and pain the last several years had brought her finally erupted to the surface in the form of gut-wrenching sobs and hot tears.
“Why won’t you let me die?” she shouted, her voice echoing off the stone walls around them.
“Not yet over your journey is, Duchess,” a voice said. Ainyam’s head snapped up. In front of her stood Master Yoda.
“Master?” Ainyam breathed.
“To die with the Republic your destiny was not, Ainyam,” Master Yoda continued. “A new hope to the galaxy you have brought. A guiding light you will be.”
“I have nothing left, Master,” Ainyam pushed herself up and sat back on her knees. “I no longer have a place in this galaxy. I’m not worthy of a place in this galaxy…”
Master Yoda grunted in disagreement.
Suddenly, Ainyam’s lightsaber was in front of her. Its unique rose-gold hilt couldn’t have belonged to any other Jedi. It symbolized her noble heritage, and heritage was something no other Jedi could claim. The gold embossments were reflective of the flowers native to Naboo, and the hilt itself was curved to fit the grip of her dominant hand.
She stared at it, unsure of what to do.
“Take it,” Master Yoda urged. “Who you are, remember you will.”
Ainyam reached out and grasped the lightsaber. Closing her eyes, she could feel the Force flowing through her, reaching into every corner of her being, driving out the darkness that had infiltrated her soul. Memories of training in the Temple and fighting in the Clone Wars flooded her mind. The kyber crystal called to her like it did so many years ago on Ilum.
Ainyam answered that call by igniting her lightsaber.
For the first time in years, she felt alive. The Duchess was dead, but Ainyam was not. She stood, allowing the Force to guide her every movement. She could feel her shield strengthening as the Force continued to flow through her.
Ainyam opened her eyes, feeling a sense of renewal and purpose.
“With you always we will be, young one,” Master Yoda responded as he began to fade. “With you the Force shall be. Always.”
* * *
The room was quiet except for the gentle hum of Ainyam’s lightsaber. She deactivated the blade before turning back to the shrine. Ainyam looked at her squad one last time.
“I will never forget you,” she said. “You will always be a part of me. We will meet again someday.”
She turned back to Bail and nodded. His eyes were tracking the weapon in her hands, not quite believing that he’d seen her pull it from thin air.
“Let’s go home,” she said.