Chapter Text
[Keldabe]
“I can’t believe you got banned from the Republic,” Jango told Obi-Wan, waving a roasted poultry wing.
“I did rather murder the Chancellor on live holo.” The body had been incinerated on the spot. The Senate had tried to order the Jedi to arrest him, only to discover that the Jedi weren’t answering their calls.
The Vod’e collectively cut contact with the Senate, while claiming the Venators in lieu of back pay. Many of them were still active under the flag of the Army of Light, helping with cleanup and relief missions around the galaxy.
Fox announced he was resigning from the Guard to become an Archivist. He also kissed Mace again.
The evacuation of Kamino had been completed ahead of schedule, so tonight, they were feasting.
A few tables away, Kal Skirata was introducing his sons to their delighted aunts and uncles. A mixed flock of Vod’e cadets and Jedi younglings rushed by, carrying a whole cake like a hunting prize. At the far end of the hall, someone was signing a Vod’e drinking song on the topic of crazy osik my Jedi did. The current verse was ‘he ran into a Mythosaur and pet it on the nose.’
Anakin had set the shed mythosaur tooth as a pendant, which Obi-Wan now wore on a beskar chain. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Why would you want to? That was epic.” Jango refilled both their cups. “An’ika, beer?”
“I’m not drinking,” Anakin answered, a smirk pulling at his lips.
“Huh? Since when?”
“Since you’re going to be a ba’buir , old man.”
Obi-Wan realised it a moment before Jango did. “You’re pregnant? Who’s the lucky man, Rex?”
“Yeah – he’s one of the ones singing over there. Padme’s over the moons, I had to remind her that we have a fully equipped crèche here.”
“She’s welcome to make a donation. May I?” At Anakin’s nod, Obi-Wan reached out in the Force, and sensed two sparks of life. “Twins? Ani, you truly do go all out with everything you do.”
“I learned from the best, Master.”
***
[???]
Two women, a human and a Dathomirian, sat in a cantina with drinks in hand. They were both dressed in spacer leathers and armed to the teeth, ensuring that no one bothered them. “How about that one?” said the Dathomirian, pointing at a passing Bothan.
“Eh, pass.”
“What? You have no taste, ‘Mari. I’d totally smash that.”
“Not all of us are furries, ‘Sajj.”
Asajj Ventress snickered. Master Yan had given her a lot, and one of the best things was a padawan-sister. Neither of them was suited to the Order, but as Wandering Jedi – this was the life. “Wanna go see our old man after this next job?”
“It’s a plan. Let’s keep an eye out for books of weird poetry.”
“And some of that brandy Lady Wren likes.”
“And make her fight us for it!” Komari finished. Asajj sat up straighter as a nondescript man approached their table.
“Evening, ladies. Can I buy you a drink?”
“Hey, Jon. I see you’re alive again.”
“Perks of Gallifreyan biology.” Jon Antilles grinned and sat down. “We’re needed on Corvis Minor. Are you in?”
***
[Cavern of the Living Waters]
The cavern was alive with the Force, and Maul struggled not to hunch his shoulders. The Force, he had learned, preferred its servants to stand straight and proud. Even if old habits were hard to shake in the face of such a wonder.
“It’s something else, isn’t it.” Quin said. The kiffar had given him much guidance on the new life he was to lead, and on the many things his false Master had kept from him. Maul stepped closer to the water teeming with glowing microbes.
“It’s a marvel … why?” Why bring him here, to a sacred place of the Mandalorians?
“You’ve made a lot of progress in your understanding of the Force, so it was about time. And, Maul? The Force made me do it.” He pushed Maul in.
The Force surrounded him and flowed through him; he was one with it. A sliver of terror remained, but the ecstasy was stronger. He let the Light sear away his fear. The Will of the Force had brought him to this moment, and he would take whatever it gave him.
When Maul surfaced, he was holding a singing kyber crystal.
***
[Years later | Manda’yaim]
Paz Viszla was determined to be a good ori’vod . He was technically Luke and Leia’s uncle, but that was silly when they were all still kids. But Paz was going to be Alor Viszla one day, and Pre’buir said that was like being the ori’vod for a whole clan. Now that Boba had his armor and was away most of the time, it was up to Paz to look after his vod’ika . That was why he was the first to notice the unfamiliar child peeking in the courtyard door.
“Su’cuy! What’s your name? Are you lost?”
The kid nodded. “My tribe came on pilgrimage. I’m Din”
Luke ran up beside him. “You wanna play with us?”
“Sure …” Din blinked at the object Luke pressed into his hand. “What’s this?”
“It’s a seedpod! So we’re playing podracing. Like – ” Luke swooped his own seedpod through the air, making engine noises.
“We should tell Shmi’buir first,” Paz reminded him.
“Oh yeah!” Luke towed Din towards the garden bench where Shmi was sitting with a datapad. “Babu look, we made a friend!”
Paz explained, “He came with some pilgrims and got lost, can you comm them?”
“Of course. Who are your parents, ad’ika?”
Din looked aside. “’M a foundling, none of the Tribe’s clans have room – ”
Paz couldn’t imagine not having any parents; he had three . Shmi said, “I understand. I’ll make sure whoever’s in charge knows you’re here.”
They returned to their game; Paz chased Luke and Leia while they raced their pods against each other, and Din earnestly mimicked their movements. “I’ve never seen a podrace before.”
“Really?” Leia giggled. “Buir does a lot of podraces. He’s won the Boonta Eve Classic three times!”
Din looked impressed.
A brown blur darted through the shrubbery and collided with Din’s legs. “Patuu!”
“Grogu?” asked Luke. “How’d you get out the crèche? Master Saa is gonna be so upset!”
The tiny jett’ika looked up innocently, still clinging to Din’s leg. Din just looked stunned. “It’s cute?”
Paz was still trying to figure out what to do when rescue arrived in the form of Alor Cody.
“Din’ika? Your tribe is meeting wth the Mand’Alor right now; he sent me to make sure you’re safe. I wasn’t expecting the green menace.”
“Patu?”
“You aren’t fooling anyone, Grogu.” Cody tapped a message on his comm. “You can let go of Din’ika now.”
Grogu lowered his ears stubbornly and dug his claws into Din’s trousers.
“What’s going on, sir?” asked Din.
“I’m hoping a Jedi will be able to explain.” Cody pinched his nose. “Maybe you can do a seated activity until then.”
“Flimsi-folding!” suggested Leia. “I’ll get flimsi.” Din had never done that either, so while the rest of them made flimsi tookas and starfighters ,Cody sat next to him and demonstrated the steps. They both had identical serious expressions; Paz caught Shmi’buir taking holos of them. Grogu just flapped a sheet of flimsi happily.
More footsteps at the door, and this time it was Obi’buir and one of the visitors. Cody stood up to salute. “General.”
“Goran,” Din greeted the other person. He took a step towards them, and Grogu seized his leg again.
“Oh, dear,” said Obi’buir. “What has you making such a fuss, youngling?” He crouched to look Grogu in the eyes, and they stared at each other for a long moment. “Well. Grogu is insistent that Din’ika belongs to his family.”
“I’m what?” said Din.
“Family is more than blood,” intoned the Armorer. “This is the Way.”
“ This is the Way ,” repeated everyone else – though Obi’buir was trying not to laugh. The Armorer continued,
“There is a problem, however. The jett’ika must remain in the jetti’yaim, the Tribe cannot teach him as he needs.”
This time Din shifted closer to Grogu.
“I have a suggestion,” said Cody. “I heard that Din’ika hasn’t been adopted into a clan yet?” Din nodded. “Then, I would like to offer to adopt you.”
“You will teach him the Way?” the Armorer challenged.
“I will raise him knowing of all the Ways of the Mando’ade. Which one he walks will be up to him.”
She nodded in satisfaction. “Din, whichever you choose, you are of the Tribe, and I will craft your armor when it is time.”
Din stared up at Cody. “You really want me?”
“Even if it’s sudden, I think we have a lot in common, Din’ika.”
“Patuu!” added Grogu.
“…All right.”
Cody grinned and picked Din right off the ground. “ Ni kyr’tayl gai sa’ad , Din Djarin.” He tapped their foreheads together.
“Do you have a big clan, Buir?” asked Din.
Cody laughed. “Oh, you have no idea.”
***
[ Much later | Tattooine ]
BubbleTea: Obi’buir I accidentally took over a planet HELP!
IHaveManyNames: We’re with you, Boba.
Ekkreth: Let’s make it rain.