Hey RUHLSAR000 Here! I apologize for the delay. But this thing is roughly 40 pages long and the license on my word processor expire a third of the way through it. Though, you may have wanted me to wait longer. You've seen the chapter title. That's not a joke. Consider this you MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH WARNING. And you know I hate putting those there. Ruins the surprises. But here the real question is who lives, who dies, who tells your story? I am sorry. I needed some humor.
Anyway, I loved the Last Jedi. I know that some people are claiming the new movies are rehashes, but really Star Wars, especially at the trilogy level,s has always had that cyclical nature to it. I think it comes from the Jedi's origin in Buddist warrior monks from Japan (No, I am not kidding these guys where awesome). The cyclical nature of life is a big concept in Buddhism. Though I have to ask, is anyone else thinking Ben was being less than honest with Rey about her parents. I mean he was saying throughout the movie they were no one before his and Rey's confrontation, it serves a little to close to his own motives and why did he get two visions and Rey only get one? Any let me know your thoughts. I considered rewriting it to meld better with the Last Jedi, but then it would have taken longer and this one said goodbye to canon speculation when Maul died. Good news though, only one chapter left.
Asha races through the open-air corridors, flipping over Mara Jade as she rounds the corner. Mara sighs, "I don't want to know."
Asha doesn't even pause, humming "Late. Late. Very late" under her breath. She leaps over the baster, dropping into the main courtyard. "Lat-" She skids to a stop.
About fifteen younglings and kids between the ages of 5 and 9 have tackled her Uncle. "Okay," Ezra says, trying to get their attention. A five-year-old jumps on his kidney, eliciting a groan.
"Alright kids, Master Bridger has a council meeting soon." Asha claps, earning a bunch of groans. But they do climb off her uncle. Asha can't help but chuckle when she hears her uncle groan, too. "Would you prefer I let them tap dance on your kidneys?" She arches an eyebrow.
"They were just having fun." Ezra shakes his head, reaching for his carved and colorful cane, a gift from Sabine. He struggles up. Asha takes his shoulder to help him. "I'm fine. I can do it." It could have come off as mean but Ezra never lets his fondness for his niece leave his voice.
"I know, but you don't have to do it alone, you grumpy old man." Asha smiles.
"But if I always let you help me, then I won't be able to when you're out saving the galaxy." Ezra smiles, with nothing but affection.
"I guess that's true." Asha shakes her head stepping back, ready to help should he need it.
Ezra straightens up. "Shouldn't you be packing?"
Asha shakes her head, confused. "The summit was delayed a few days due to several solar flares surrounding the system, making it dangerous too pass unless your name is 'Hera Jarrus'. You know that."
"That wasn't the packing I was referring to," Ezra smirks. "Though that was a lucky break. You actually get to spend time with your family on your birthday instead of spending it buried under last-minute paperwork and negotiations.
"By the way, Isolda is having her own migraine to deal with. Apparently, First Order sympathizers caused a riot in one of the provincial capitals. She sends her regrets and insists that she will show up a few days after the summit to personally give her gift and wish you a happy belated birthday."
"She doesn't have to," Asha says, feeling guilty about causing her aunt more stress.
"She wants to." Ezra smiles.
"And I'm sure that seeing her lover has nothing to do with it." Asha teases him, after checking to make sure no one is around.
Ezra's head shoots up sensing for anyone nearby. He sighs in relief when he senses no one. "That is just a perk." He shakes his head amused. "But we really shouldn't speak of this where anyone can overhear."
"Would cause quite a scandal. Especially since the media seems to be under the impression that their King and Queen are head over heels in love. Have no clue where they got that-" Asha says, cutting herself off as she senses someone coming.
About three seconds later, a munchkin tries to take out her legs. Luke's daughter, Sotiria, looks up at her. "Hey, Ria, how have you been?"
"Daddy's leaving today," Ria says, huffing.
"And you aren't spending time with him, because?" Asha raises an eyebrow.
"He won't leave without saying goodbye to me," Ria says.
Asha sighs as she kneels down, knowing exactly where Ria is coming from, having been there herself. "Sotiria, your father does important work for the galaxy. He is going to negotiate a treaty between the Alfios peoples in the Danthomi system. The political strife there is causing a lot of little girls never to see their daddies again. It's our duty as Jedi to help those who can't help themselves." Asha explains in a soothing voice.
"I know. But… I miss him. He's a Jedi and is the greatest Daddy in the galaxy but I wish he could spend more time with me." Ria says.
"Spending time with his family is part of a parent's duty. But that's not the only part. Another is to protect their family. The First Order may try and use the strife to gain more power, and the more power they gain, they will be more likely to be able to take younglings. He is trying to make sure that you aren't one of them. It's why your aunt and uncle worked so hard to try and take down the First Order."
"What if he doesn't come back? Like Ben didn't." Ria admits her real fear.
Asha hugs her, "He will. Your father will always come back for you. And it's alright to admit you miss Ben. I do, too. If you ever need to talk about it, I'm right here."
"Thanks, Ash." Ria smiles.
"Now, I think there is someone who wants a hug," Asha says releasing Ria and looking over at Master Skywalker.
"Daddy." Ria rushes over and hugs him.
"Ria," Master Skywalker scoops her up into his arms. After a moment, he says. "Asha's right. I will always come back for you."
Ria nods but still looks worried. Master Skywalker bites his lip trying to think of some way to calm his daughter. He sets her down, unclips his lightsaber and locks it in practice mode. "I am going into peace talks, bring a weapon might cause both sides to not trust me. Think you can hang on to this until I come back." He hands over the lightsaber.
Ria's eyebrows, shoot up, as do Asha's. "Yeah, I can do that Daddy."
"I'd also like to remind you, this isn't a toy. I expect you to handle it with what you have learned from lightsaber class."
"Of course," Ria says. And Asha, while glad he is giving warning, wants to roll her eyes. The first thing they teach is safe handling and no kid in the order thinks of it as a toy. They scare the living kark out anyone who even thinks otherwise.
"Come on, your mother wanted to spend some time together before I leave," Luke says, picking up his daughter. Luke smiles. "See you, two later." He nods to Asha and Ezra. "Thanks for mediating my classes' exams, Master Bridger. May the Force be with both of you"
"No problem. May the Force be with you." Ezra nods.
As they walk away, Asha watches them, "I can't say he hasn't changed since Ben left, and I can't say it is not for the better. Still, I wish he didn't have to carry that weight."
"We all carry our pasts on our shoulders, some burdens are just a little heavier." Ezra nods.
"Still, it was my fault. I failed him as a friend." Asha sighs.
"And as you pointed out, he failed him as an uncle. I failed him as a mentor. We all failed him." Ezra nods. "Now, I have to go to a review session for those taking the trails tomorrow. Like it will help at this point."
"Need any help?" Asha offers.
"Much appreciated but I believe you have other duties to attended to," Ezra smirks.
Asha pales. "Oh, Karabast!"
Asha sprints out of the courtyard and through the halls, sliding to a stop in the main entryway. It's an elegant room with pillars reminiscent of the old temple on Coruscant, and a large flower mosaic in the center that symbolized the searching and giving of knowledge in Valenci. No doubt because Isolda's father had paid for it as a 'thank you' for training his daughter. Ezra wanted it to the old Ashla symbol but Master Skywalker protested having a symbol of the dark side in the entryway of the Jedi temple. Ezra still got the last laugh though as he made sure the surrounding floor was a checkerboard pattern.
"I think you left skid marks." A fourteen-year-old sitting on one of the benches surrounding room says getting up. Her waist-length auburn hair is tied back in a braid, the base of which is covered with a cage-like wire headpiece, as usual. Her almost white robes are significantly lighter than anyone else in the temple, causing her to be fairly easy to spot among Jedi.
"Sorry, Padawan. Ria was having an issue with her dad leaving." Asha says, huffing as she catches her breath. "But I am here now."
"Right," Aki smiles. "Now, I was thinking since delegations from Garel and Tanto will be there we may need to remind the host planet, of their… issues."
"Probably, but we should probably be less blunt." Asha smiles, as she gently ushers her padawan towards the Jedi offices.
"Of course, maybe say something along the lines of 'as peacekeepers, we'd like to see the seating chart to double check that no unnecessary conflicts arise. Only frame it as a flattering request." Aki begins to spin her hands around themselves, a tell that she is getting wound up. "Oh! And the Letheirians' religion bars the consumption of meat. While they do not mind others from partaking in meat, it is probably a good idea to remind the caterers hired for the event."
Asha puts her hand on Aki's shoulders, "Breath. You made this list two weeks ago. I already sent off the requests to look over the seating charts, which arrived yesterday after training. And the caterers sent a confirmation as well as a sample menu for approval, to us as well as the hosts."
"But what about-"
"The hotels have been alerted to Delegate Delvins' species allergy to feathers." Asha cuts her off.
"And-" Aki continue.
"As well as Senator Geen's insistence on bottled rose water," Asha says. "We've already planned every glaring issue and done what we can for it. All we can do now is to review the deluge of files for anything we might have missed, which we haven't. And relax. You're taking this way too personally."
"Sorry, Master," Aki says, with a sigh. "I just want this to go smoothly." Asha fights off a snort. They're Jedi, nothing ever goes smoothly. "This is only our second mission... And we already have issues getting people to take us seriously."
"That's their issue. Ours is to make sure no one dies." Asha smiles, starting back for her office.
Aki smiles following her, "I don't recall the rose water."
"Oh, right. That was me." Asha shakes her head. "Apparently, we're both a little paranoid about this." Aki laughs, skipping down the hallway. Asha shakes his head before following after her eager to please padawan.
They settle into Asha's small office at the desk that takes up a majority of the room. Asha was honestly flabbergasted when Luke presented it to her last year after she took Aki as a padawan. But apparently, he does have more foresight than her, as it gave them space to hold their theory lessons and space for Asha to separate her thesis work from her home life, as well as prep for mission or aid in the prep of others' missions. The fact that it is near the Archives has also proven exceedingly useful.
Sitting there, Asha is struck with amazement. "Master?" Aki asks, looking up from her datapad.
"It nothing Aki. Just amazed at how fast time flies." Asha says, "Last year we were prepping for our first mission. I can't believe it's been a year since it became publicly known I was a Jedi."
"I can't believe it's been a year and a half since you took me as a padawan." Aki smiles. "I was terrible. Whatever did you see in me?" Aki jokes.
But Asha doesn't, looking up at the ceiling, "A pure drive to do the right thing and help people. A desire to use what you've been given for others. While your theory work and saber technique left a lot to be desired, any knight would have been a fool not to see what you can become." Asha puts her datapad down. "You are amazing. Always. And had I not kriffed up your year's padawan trials, you would have been taken on by a Knight far more competent than I."
"I don't want any other master!" Aki says, quickly. "Sure, I train with the other knights, but you are my master."
Asha smiles, "The Force is mysterious and it is great. But that didn't stop me from doubting myself constantly especially when I was having to decide if I was ready to take on a padawan."
"And what made you decide you were?" Aki smirks.
"I never said I did." Asha smiles. No, she wasn't ready, isn't ready. But she knows now that if you feel ready then that's a sign you aren't. Then almost randomly, Asha asks, "Do you remember when I quizzed you on mock trial questions?"
"Do you mean when you were quizzing me as practice or when you gave me the trials pretending it was practice?" Aki asks, remembering the time with mirth. Though, getting called into Master Skywalker's office a week into the second term of the year had been terrifying.
Asha gives a half chuckle of amusement. "I had asked, 'What would you do if you found out your teacher had fallen to the Dark Side in the past?'. Your response was, 'Then they'd be a better teacher because no one can learn from one who has never faltered. It's how we get up that defines us.' It was that point I realized I would do everything within my power to help you become a Jedi. Even if I couldn't convince the masters to allow me to train you, I'd have helped any way I could. Apparently, it was that determination that they were looking for. I still don't know what the kriff I am doing, but you have always accepted what I can teach. Thank you."
"Master, you are much too hard on yourself." Aki smiles, shaking her head.
"Probably." Asha smiles, shaking her head. Then she kickbacks her chair, "Come on. We aren't going to accomplish any more than causing ourselves to panic. How about some stress relieving sparring?"
Aki bites out a laugh. "Of course, Master."
"Let's see, Uncle Ezra has probably dragged his review lesson out into a courtyard again to discuss the Force's ties to nature because it's a lovely day and he can't stay inside to save his hide..." Asha mumbles, walking towards the classrooms. "So, his classroom is probably free."
They arrive quickly after checking out two practice sabers from the armory.
"You really should build your own lightsaber, Master," Aki notes, clearly wondering why she has yet too, as she stretches out.
"Oh, so just because I don't carry a lightsaber, I'm not a Jedi?" Asha smirks, stretching her hamstrings.
"You know that isn't what I was saying," Aki says, switching from her left to right leg.
"Good. Because what makes a Jedi, a Jedi is their connection and use of the Force, specifically the Ashla. A lightsaber is the tool of a Force-user to carry out the will of the Force. A heavily personalized tool, but a tool none the less. I am doing just fine without it." Asha says, not harshly but clear that she is done talking about it.
"Is that why you and Master Bridger are working on a weaponless form?" Aki asks, without missing a beat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Asha says, trying to keep the smirk off her face. It is supposed to be a secret after all. Asha gets up, pushing the desks to the wall with the Force. "Shall we begin?" Asha shifts into a defensive position.
Aki attacks. Before her swing is halfway through, Asha's flicked off her saber, slides under the blade grabs the hilt and twists it while delivering a pulled punch to the gut. She pulls the saber from Aki's grasp as she sweeps out her feet. Before Aki hits the ground, Asha has Aki's blade to Aki's neck. "Form VIII?" Aki says, clearly startled at how fast she went down.
Asha makes not comment. Form VIII does not exist... yet. "Again." She pulls Aki up and hands her back the practice saber.
They return to start position. Asha takes a deep breath, calming the overwhelming desire to move, to do something productive. Aki is your padawan, Asha chides herself. There is nothing more productive than training her.
Aki stabs. Asha moves over two inches, deactivating her blade, letting the blade move past her as she grabs Aki's wrist and twists Aki's arm behind Aki, causing her to drop the practice blade. Asha holds the blade to her neck. "Are you actually going to use your blade today?" Aki asks.
"Are you actually going to be able to handle it?" Asha smirks.
"We'll see," Aki says, as a pen hits Asha between the eyes. Aki uses the distraction to break free of Asha's hold, pull her practice saber to her hand and drops into a sweep. Asha jumps, activating her blade, catching Aki's swing. Blades clash and dances, Asha easily matching Aki's swings and hopefully easing up enough for it to be tough but not impossible on Aki. That's always a challenge but Asha would like to think she's mostly succeeds. Aki falls flat on her back. "You're harder today."
Asha's sighs, pulling her up. Well, she mostly succeeds. They return to start the start position.
Aki pause, still holding up her blade, but not in a defensive way. "Master..." She asks in a confused voice. "Are you alright? You seem jumpy..."
Asha lowers her practice blade, "It's nothi... You're right. I... Just... I've been feeling like something is about to happen for the past two days. Like the Force is trying to tell me something."
"Have you medi-" Aki starts before cutting herself off. "Right stupid question."
"There are no stupid questions. When we are stressed, we do tend to miss the obvious. I've been meditating constantly since it started." Asha sighs, turning off her lightsaber and leaning against a desk.
"Have you discussed this with Master Jarrus or Master Bridger?" Aki asks, turning her own off.
"About what? It's not even conscious most of the time, just the jittering inability to sit still." Asha sighs.
"You should still tell them," Aki says.
"Karabast, I'm supposed to the Master," Asha mumbles under her breath, then stands. "This is probably the two hours of sleep talking, but why don't you take the afternoon off and go play with your little sister. I am going to need to track down my dad."
"Oh, thank you," Aki says. "Um... I made you this, for your birthday." Aki pulls out a small drawstring from her pocket.
"Aki, you didn't need to get me anything." Asha smiles at her padawan.
"I wanted to." Aki smiles, shoving it into Asha's hand. "It's not much." Asha opens it and pulls out a woven bracelet made of the five primary lightsaber colors, with red, blue, green, purple, and yellow making up the base and purple woven into words, their saying. You are amazing, always. "It's a wish bracelet. Although, Jedi shouldn't have overwhelming desires. I thought it could remind you of how amazing you are until you don't need it to." Aki rambles.
"It's beautiful." Asha cuts her off. "Would you tie it on for me?"
Aki beams up at her friend and master. "Sure." Aki takes it and ties it around her left wrist. "Now, you've got to promise you won't take it off until you don't need it anymore." Aki points her finger like she's the one teaching.
It has the desired result. Asha laughs. "Of course, Master." Asha bows, sarcasm dripping off her every word and movement. "Now, get. I have a headache to deal with."
Aki rolls her eyes. "Hopefully, your father can help."
"I think you're confusing what the headache is," Asha smirks. Aki laughs as she heads to the door. "Wait!" Asha calls out before she can stop herself, fear lacing her voice as nausea almost overcomes her.
"Huh?" Aki turns back to her.
"Master?" Aki asks, both confused and concerned.
"I..." Asha looks down at her new bracelet. "I just got the strangest feeling. That I'm never going to see you again."
Aki shakes her head. "Don't be silly. I'll see you tomorrow." Asha bits her lip, giving Aki pause. "I'll be careful. May the Force be with you." Aki reassures.
"May the Force be with you," Asha says, more like a prayer than a goodbye. Asha cloaks her fear behind her shields so that her padawan isn't alarmed. It's probably nothing. But as the door closes behind Aki, Asha can't help but feel for a split-second, their bond fade into shadow as if it was never there. Asha sinks to the floor, barely in control of her legs. It was only for an instant. It wasn't real. She repeats to herself as a chant, willing it to be true.
But the will of the Force is stronger than her own, and Asha can't shake off the feeling she may have just felt a hint of what is to come. Asha focuses on her padawan, using the Force-sight both her Father and Uncle taught her. She watches as Aki walks down the temple steps and into the village. She watches as Aki walks through the village, pausing to chat with a few people. Mr. Tomson, the baker. Ms. Cel, the butcher. Probably buying dinner. It is her turn to cook, right?
Something shakes her shoulder. She ignores it focusing on her padawan. "Asha!" She ignores it. The shaking becomes worse. "Asha!" Two voices mix together. Aki arrives at her home. Asha doesn't want to stop watching over her padawan, but she recognizes the voices who are near panic now.
Asha blinks back to her normal vision to see her dad and uncle staring at her filled with panic. "Hey...y" Asha's voice cracks, before burying herself in her father's arms. He hugs her tight rubbing her back in circles.
"What happened?" Ezra asks, gently.
"The Force. It's trying to... It was only just a buzz for two days. Nothing to really get too worried about. Then, it felt like... What is it saying?!" Asha asks, curling tighter into Kanan.
"Asha, breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth." Ezra demonstrates. "In through your nose, out through your mouth." Asha mirrors Ezra, reaching out through to the Force and letting go of her more panicked emotions. After a few breaths, she is better. Not enough to let go of her father, but better. "You good?"
Asha shakes her head. "My bond with Aki. For a moment, it was just gone." Both men stiffen.
"Gone?" Ezra looks at her. "Like gone? It never existed?"
Asha shakes her head, "No, I could still feel my end but it, it wasn't snapped, but there was nothing on the other side. I'm sorry I can't really explain it."
Ezra moves his none existent gaze above her. "Kanan?"
"I don't have any ideas." Kanan admits, "I doubt Skywalker would, too. Besides he's gone."
"We can hit the archives tomorrow," Ezra says.
"Why not now? I really doubt that you two will have time tomorrow, anyway. With Master Skywalker gone, even if neither of you aren't looking for new padawans, you will not have time with the trials," Asha asks, finally fighting off the dread. It may be childish, but her family is here. And there is nothing that they can't deal with.
"Because your mother wants us home for an early dinner," Kanan says.
It takes a moment for her to remember. "Oh, right. Birthday dinner." Asha nods, still wondering if she shouldn't go immediately to the archive. Surely, her mom would understand...
"Come on, Little one. It's late. Panicking tonight is not as effective as a clean head tomorrow." Ezra cuts off her thought. She sighs, knowing he is probably right. It's not like she has a lot to go off of anyway. She'll try meditating later tonight again and then go to the archive tomorrow with a clear head.
With one last calming breath, she gets up. "Right. I can ask Aki to help me search, instead if it would be easier for you guys. I'd rather not worry her, but this involves her just as much as me." With a plan set, she feels better. Not great, not after that harrowing experience but better. "Come on. Mom's waiting." Her father hovers close beside her, worry radiating off him. "I'm fine, Dad. Really."
"Pardon me for finding that hard to believe," Kanan says with his usual level of sarcasm. "But you're right. Hera's probably wondering where we are."
Unsurprisingly, the three of them walk in silence, not really up for talking. Asha is still wound up like a music box about to break. And that is winding Ezra and Kanan up.
Asha takes a calming breath, as she opens the door. "Hey, Birthday Girl!" Sabine gets up from the couch followed by Zeb.
"What are you, guys doing here?" Asha breaks into a huge smile, hugging them both tight. "I thought your trip this year was canceled because the summit was delayed."
"Are you kidding?" Sabine laughs, pulling back a little.
"That just made us show up early." Zeb picks her up like she is still five.
"And celebrate on your actual birthday," Sabine adds.
Asha just hugs them again. "Thank you."
Sabine shares a look with Zeb. "Rough day?" She asks.
Asha's strained laugh is all the confirmation she needs. "It was fine until about ten minutes ago."
"What happened?" Zeb asks.
"We can talk about it during dinner. Right now, wash up." Hera says pulling a roast out of the oven.
They didn't talk about it during dinner. Asha willfully sidestepped it by commenting on the miracle of her Mom not burning the food. Hera huffs but she can't of argue. While not a bad cook, Hera, after getting distracted by work enough to set off the temple fire alarms, three times, has ensured her cooking will be the subject of jokes for years to come. But for once she's not upset by it. She's not blind to her daughter's stress and if it eases it a little then, well, she's not going to stop it.
Dinner goes smoothly and by the time a holo is taken of Asha blowing out eighteen candles out is snapped, Asha is back to her old self.
"Okay, present time." Hera smiles.
"And confession time, it's really one gift that we all got parts of," Sabine says, as Asha notes the six small brightly wrapped boxes.
"Oh, now I'm curious." Asha laughs, picking one up.
It's Chopper's present. The droid in question chortles. "No one cares, Chopper," Zeb grumbles before getting zapped.
"No fighting on my birthday, please," Asha says undoing the loud orange wrapping paper. It's a power cell. A good sturdy one that can be recharged if need be. She knows this one especially. It's the one that Chopper always keeps on him in case of emergency. One that had saved everyone's skin more than a few times.
"Thank you, Chopper." Asha pats his head, truly touch. She honestly can't remember Chopper not having it on him and that made it all the more special. "Okay, so clearly I am going to be building something." She says, picking up the next gift.
It looked like it had been professionally wrapped in pretty silver paper. She glances at the tag. "Looks like Zeb finally just hired a gift wrapper." She teases.
Zeb chuckles. "What can I say? Fur, big fingers and tap don't mix." Gently, she unwraps it. Then looks up confused. It's a small motor like device, with a cavern in the center for something. "Heh," Zeb gives a weak chuckle. "I admit it doesn't go directly with the others. But I wasn't having any luck and someone suggested I go with my gut. It's an electric pump for a bow-riffle."
"You guys want me to make a bow riffle?" Asha jokes, after all, it is a critical component of a bow-riffle.
"I figured you'd get some use out of it somehow even if it isn't apart of the plan," Zeb says. "I wasn't using it anyway."
It clicks in Asha's mine. "This is part of your- I can't possibly accept this." Asha tries to hand it back. "It's far too precious."
Zeb closes her hand around it. "It's not doing anyone any good collecting dust on my wall. And there is no worthier a warrior to pass it on to." Zeb smiles. "Besides, there is something far more precious to me that if it helps protect while she's out saving the galaxy... Well, that's more than worth it."
Asha understands, and nods, because she really can't think of anything to say. Gently, she places it back in the box and sets it down on the coffee table.
Zeb smiles, "A kyper crystal is put in it to focus the charge. I figured you'd want your own for that."
"So that's what was focusing the energy?" Ezra asks genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, Jedi are the only Force knowing being who uses them. Remember the lasats have strong ties to the Force, too." Zeb huffs. Asha chuckles looking over the gifts.
A small jewelry box catches her eye. She knows what's inside. The Force isn't exactly being subtle. And it is also from Master Skywalker... So, that's also the last one she is opening.
So, Sabine's gift is next. "Love the wrapping paper," Asha says as she carefully removes the Starbird emblazed paper. As she opens the box, she freezes.
Ezra squeezes her shoulder before she can protest. "You're ready, Asha. It may not feel it, but you are."
"Besides, with you going on more and more missions now that you're of the age of majority... We'd feel better if you had one." Her father adds. Asha mutely, removes the gift from the box, a lightsaber casing. It's surprisingly lightweight just big enough for her to grip both her hands with a little room between and to wrap her pinky around the end like she did to get more power into her swings. It's etched in a way that if it is turned in just the right way a Starbird comes out of a base of fire where the grips will end.
"It's gorgeous, Aunt Sabine," Asha says, her mind already racing through the parts she has unwillingly grabbed over the past two years. The Force seems to hum in satisfaction. And Asha realizes it should. She had even planned for Zeb's addition to her lightsaber without knowing it, the Force guiding her. Alright, Asha says in her mind. It's time. "What's it made of?" She asks, trying to gather a further spec of her lightsaber's properties.
"Beskar." Sabine answers without hesitating.
Asha's tattooed eyebrows shoot up. "I thought beskar was all but impossible to come by outside Mandalorian armor stores."
"It is," Sabine says. "I may have repurposed a piece of my old armor." Sabine cuts Asha off before she starts. "Yes, beskar stays in the family. But you are family. And a Jedi's lightsaber is their armor. This armor got me through a lot when I served in the Rebellion. I'll sleep better knowing your armor isn't going to fail."
Asha nods, looking at the three remaining gifts. One was Skywalker's which she still doesn't want to open. The other two... "Grips and cycling field energizer."
A jolt of surprise radiates off her parents. Hera looks at her. "How did you know?"
Asha gives a week shrug, "They're the only parts I need now, with the parts I've been picking up. That and the crystal, well, crystals."
Hera shakes her head, "Well, at least we picked right. And this explains why Ezra didn't want to join in. Not enough parts."
"Call it a feeling." Ezra smiles.
"Sure, it was." Sabine leans over and ruffles his hair.
"Is there some sentimentality behind yours, too?" Asha smirks at her parents. They smile and shrug. "I swear I was joking."
"A grip made from the yoke of the Ghost." Hera smiles. "They never failed me. And they won't fail you." Hera leans over and kisses her daughter.
"Cycling field energizer from my lightsaber. They just don't make them like they used to in the Old Republic." Kanan smiles.
Asha gets up and hugs them. "Thank you. Thank you, everyone."
"Hey, you haven't gotten all your gifts, yet," Ezra smirks.
"That's right. You mentioned already having a plan when we were planning?" Sabine says.
"Oh, it's something good," Kanan smirks.
"The term you're looking for, dear, is soul-suckingly adorable," Hera adds with an eye roll.
"Well, now I'm curious." Asha deadpans. "Not like I need my soul for anything."
Ezra chuckles, patting her head, "Close your eyes. It's not something I felt comfortable wrapping."
Asha does as she is told. After a second she hears a door open and then a few seconds later she hears it close. She holds out her hands expecting a box or something. Instead, she feels tiny paws on her lap. Her eyes flutter open, to see a grey loth-kit with a big red bow. "I love you." She says, immediately scratching under her chin.
"Soul-sucking, indeed." Zeb laughs, "A lightsaber and a loth-kit. I'd say this is a good birthday."
Chopper beeps something not meant for polite company. Asha's eyebrows shoot up.
"Relax Chopper, you're not being replaced and it's a girl. She can't lick what she doesn't have." Ezra pats his head. Chopper whacks his hand away beeping disgruntledly. "He'll get over it," Ezra reassures, as Asha looks after her droid uncle.
And he does come back an hour later. And not long after that, Hera sends them all to bed, citing the Jedi are busy tomorrow. Asha huff, but does as her mother says. She won't have to soon as she is moving out after she gets back from her mission.
However, sleep doesn't come to Asha, instead, she just tosses and tosses before she gives up. Flinging her covers off she gets up and goes to her desk. Now that she has her office, it's become more of a storage place than a workplace. Still, in the low light of her room, she can make out old homework problems and sketches that had bled through the paper, old datacards and a neatly wrapped box next to her lightsaber parts that wasn't there when she went to sleep. It's from Uncle Ezra, that she is certain of. "How does he do that?" Asha shakes her head, gently opening it. It's the kyber crystal she recovered from Malachor, when she became a knight, under it a folded up not. She carefully fishes out the note.
The crystal has started calling you. And it's not the only one. I couldn't help but notice you didn't open Master Skywalker's gift, and it's fairly obvious what it is. It's okay to miss what we had and its okay to acknowledge our failures, Little One, but not at the expense of the true gift of the present.
Asha sighs opening Master Skywalker's gift. Ben's blue kyber crystal stares back at her. Asha closes her eyes and listens to the Force as it sings these two crystals are hers now. Slowly, she sinks deeper into the Force. She is the Light. She is the Dark. She is the Force.
The soft click of metal coming together echoes.
She is the Light. She is the Dark.
Clink. Clink.
She is the Light.
Clink.
She is the Dark.
Clink. Vroom. Click.
She is the Force.
She comes to as she hears her parents alarm. Something drops into her lap, narrowly missing the little grey kitten that snuck on to her lap sometime in the night. Something? Who is she trying to fool? Asha knows well enough it's her lightsaber.
Glancing down, Asha can't help but think it is perfect as she sees her little kit sniffing it. Gingerly, Asha picks, wondering if the Force influenced her relatives' choices. It even has a small slit perfect for concealing a holo datacard, which she takes advantage of by slipping in the one containing copies of all her favorite family photos. Something is up and she is not losing those.
But as she does, she notices that there's only one switch but she knows for a fact that it has two modes, zap and blade. She also knows that that switch is for zap. So, how does she ignite the blade?
There's a knock on the door, startling Asha out of her examination. "Asha, do you want breakfast? Your father's going to have to leave soon." Hera calls out.
Asha blinks, "Sure, Mom. Be right out…" She flings on her robes and, after a moment, clips her lightsaber to her waist. It's going to take some time to get used to the weight and the swinging of each step. With a yawn, she walks out. Sabine and Zeb are already eating. Her father turns to her, waiting for his food. "Hey, Sweetheart." He arches an eyebrow. "You know I wasn't expecting you to immediately build your lightsaber. Ezra worked on his first one for weeks."
"My first one what?" Ezra yawns entering the apartment. He has bags under his eyes and hair is unusually messy in his ponytail.
"Lightsaber," Kanan says.
Zeb laughs, "What'd you do kid? Lose to a wookie?"
"I had him on the ropes," Ezra rolls is bantha milk eyes, limping over to the counter and swiping Kanan's mug of kaff and the next plate of chocolate chip pancakes.
"Hey!" Kanan says.
"You remember me telling you yesterday about the Force being testy recently. Well, the Force kicked into high gear and was yelling at me all night without saying a kriffing thing. You want me to be helpful at the trials? Let me have this." Ezra gulps down the kaff.
"You too? Why didn't you say anything?" Asha says pulling up a chair. "Last night, the Force all but demanded I make my lightsaber."
"You think we should cancel the trials? Or postpone them?" Kanan asks.
"No there's not enough to go on." Ezra shakes his head, biting into the pancakes. "I've been asking around. Asha's the only one whose noticed anything. You really think Master Skywalker would have left if that wasn't the case."
Asha nods, "And I know I have no say in this, but I'd rather not cause another set of trials to be canceled. I'm still getting dirty looks on occasion. Additionally, canceling them this late would likely cause unnecessary panic. After all, it's probably nothing."
Kanan nods at the assessment as Hera slide food in front of him. "Fair point. Still... How about I request all Jedi and security be put on alert?"
"That's fair." Ezra nods in agreement.
"I forgot how annoying this Force stuff was," Zeb grumbles as Hera sets down a plate of food in front of Asha. "How do you stand it, Hera?"
"Well, if it bugs you so much you could always head back to the Senate," Hera smirks.
"No, I'm good," Zeb says too quickly. "It's filled with a bunch of appeasement idiots. They're trying to cut funding to the Resistance again. They're already on a shoestring budget. And with the First Order's recent movements that's the last thing they need."
"What are they up too?" Asha asks, biting into her pancakes.
"There are star destroyers amassing on the edge of neutral space." Zeb sighs. "General Organa's in a tizzy about it."
"That can't be good. I'll see if I can do anything about supplies when I get back to the office." Sabine takes a bite of her pancakes. "Ezra, you touch my kaff and you lose a finger." Ezra moves his hand away from the kaff.
Asha chuckles, but all to soon breakfast is over. Asha gets up and grabs her datapad. "We going to see you at the trials today?" Sabine asks. "Maybe you'll find another padawan? Or go enjoy the games stalls set up in town?" Asha pauses, remembering that as she is now the age of majority all the limits she, her father, her uncle, and Master Skywalker worked out no longer apply. Yes, she'll be taking on more missions but she now can also take on additional padawans. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. Did she feel ready to take on another? No, but the same can be said for both becoming a Jedi and becoming Aki's master. So, the better question was does anyone stick out to her this year?
No. Asha was sure no one does. "Nah, Aki's a handful. Besides, I have something I need to do today. I'll be stuck in the Archive for most of the day."
"It can't wait?" Zeb asks.
Asha pauses. Her aunt and uncle couldn't come out here a lot and while they called each other every other day it still isn't the same. But... "No, it can't. I had a weird... something yesterday. I need to figure it out." Asha pauses, "But I'll try and take a break later and come find you guys."
"Sounds good." Sabine nods, hugging her niece. Asha gives each of her family members a tight hug and fills her loth-kit's food bowl before heading to the Archives, sending a comm to Aki telling her to meet her there.
The two of them spend the entire morning researching bonds for something. Finally, around 13:00, when the first round of sparring starts, Asha sighs, shutting down her current datapad. "Alright, that's it. The Force is not leading us to anything and we are not finding anything the regular way."
"But Master!" Aki protests, worry echoing in her voice.
"A break, Aki. We may be looking too closely at the stained glass." Asha lectures as scuffs from outside begin with muffled voices. "Time away will help-" There's a loud bang. Almost like an explosion. "What is going on out there?" Asha gets up and marches over to the door swing it open.
"Did your aunt do something?" Aki asks.
One of her father's padawans runs passed before being impaled on a red blade. The person holding it-
Dark cloak. First Order symbol. Knight of Ren.
Asha blocks and slashes. The Knight of Ren collapse in two. Asha hears gasping and it takes a moment for her to realize it's coming from her. She acted on instinct. Her lightsaber blade is out. It's a shade of violet usually reserved for sunsets. The switch is within the hilt only accessible by the Force. She turns it off.
She killed. Firstlight, she's killed- "Master..." Aki's voice breaks her out of her stupper.
"Aki, gather everyone in the Archive." Asha orders, trying to figure out what to do next. Sense tells her to stay put fortify the Archive and wait for the older masters and knights. But there is no way that guy was alone. They may not be safe until they get out of the temple... No, that's too dang-
"By the Force..." Aki says rushing to the hallway window.
"Aki." Asha starts walking over to her. Whatever she is about to say is lost as she looks up into the sky, Two stardestroyers. A third one shows up. "Aki, we have to gather everyone in the Archive," Asha turns her student back to the Archive. "We have to get them to the hangers."
"What?!" Aki says, startled.
"It's an invasion. We have to evacuate." Asha says, with certainty. She pushes them into the Archive locking the door behind them. "Watch the door," Asha says, hopping over the main desk. As she searches for the Archive comm system, she grabs her comm and calls her father. "Master Jarrus, Knight Jarrus here. There are Stardestroyers above with more showing up as we speak." She finds the intercom mike. Blaster fire is coming from her father's side. "Permission to begin evacuation procedures." She connects it to the temple comm.
"Granted." Kanan all but shouts. "Love you."
Asha chocks back a sob, "Love you, too." She pockets her comm, not allow herself to dwell on the conversation. She speaks clearly into the mike. "Attention." Her voice echoes through the Archive and from the hall. "The First Order is attacking. Evacuation orders have been sent out by Master Jarrus. Please, follow evacuation protocols Gamma-Delta." She turns it back to just the Archive comm, "Please, come to the front of the Archive." About a dozen kids show up within two minutes, ranging in age from sixteen to seven, most of them probably studying for finals or independent studies or looking for a quick read. With a quick check in the Force, Asha knows there is no one else. She had honestly been hoping there was another Jedi in the Archive. No such luck.
Most were probably watching... Hopefully, the courtyard wasn't a slaughter.
"Asha..." Ria says, clutching her father's lightsaber. She looks terrified. Even the older ones look scared.
Asha takes a deep breath. She'll make do. She has to. "Don't worry. We'll get through this. Evacuation protocol Gamma-Delta also extends to the village, so your families will be safe. Let's focus on the here and now and getting ourselves to safety." Asha bends down. "Ria, can I borrow that?" Asha indicates to her father's lightsaber. Ria gives a hesitant nod, handing it over.
Asha passes it to Aki, after taking it off practice mode. "Take up the rear. Make sure no one gets left behind."
"Yes, Master." Aki steels herself, clearly just as terrified as everyone else. But she is a padawan, the only padawan here.
After Asha check the hall with the Force, they move. Not quite running, but certainly in a hurry. Their path isn't straight, either. Asha has to divert them many times to avoid Knights of Ren and squads of stormtroopers.
But one Knight catches them in the Force, followed by two more. They are getting closer. "Aki! Switch!" Asha says, moving to the back so when the knight caught up, she'd be confronting them. Aki obeys without question.
As the round the corner of apartments section, Asha doesn't have time to call out. She reaches out and pulls the group back with the Force as she covers Ria. The hall explodes as tie fighter blasts rip through it. Asha forces herself to recover first. Glancing around she confirms that everyone is okay, startled but okay.
Extending her sense, she looks back. Extending her sense was unnecessary though because three Knights of Ren are standing five yards away.
"Aki," Asha says, not allowing her voice to shake as she ignites her blade. Aki ignites Luke's blade behind her. "Take them and run."
"What?" Aki starts. "No."
"They need you to get them to safety. And I do, too." Asha says. "Aki, run!" Asha shoves Aki and Ria over the crevice left by the blast. She feels Aki resolve. And she can't help but feel pride as Aki call to the others to Force jump over.
Asha slips her Force sense over her normal vision. She needs all the help she can get to hold the three Knights of Ren off. They're well trained, Asha can tell from their stances but she doesn't know how well and that places her at a disadvantage. The three of them ignites their lightsabers. The slender one, which if she has to guess was probably female but it is impossible to tell due to all of them wearing masks, carried a lightwhip. Asha rakes her brain for information she has long since shoved into the backs of the useless files of her brain. They are hard to defend against but impossible to master. That resulted in them being rare. The other two, thank the First Light, are using regular lightsabers. That she can handle well enough to buy the others some time.
Asha dodges a strike from the first lightsaber guy. Her gut instinct is to keep them in a line so that she won't have to deal with simultaneous attacks. But she's not the only target here. She's a roadblock.
She one-handed cartwheels out of the sweeping arc of the lightwhip, it's exceptional reach causing her to move farther away than she normally liked to be. Not good. Maybe-
Asha doesn't have time to think as a lightsaber comes down on her head. She catches it with her lightsaber, knocking it to the side, before turning, catching the other lightsaber, kicking off the guy in his stomach and springing with a twist within two feet of Ms. Lightwhip. Asha outward blocks a punch, while throwing her own hammer fist at her jaw. Asha reactivates her blade, as Ms. Lightwhip staggers back half a step.
Ms. Lightwhip blocks Asha's strike with her hilt, nearly causing Asha's blade to fly from her hand. Asha's eyebrows shoot up as her Force sense blares to her right. Asha rolls away from Lightsaber 1, only to catch Lightsaber 2's saber, pinning her in a kneeling position, lightsaber inching closer to her neck.
"And this started out so interesting." Ms. Lightwhip says, turning to Lightsaber 1, "We have this one. She shouldn't give us anymore difficulty." Lightsaber 1 nods walking towards the crevice.
No! Asha thinks, kicking her leg out, letting herself and the blades fall as she directs it. She back rolls to stand just out of range of Lightsaber 2, giving her a clear shot of Lightsaber 1, and before they can react, she launches her lit blade.
It spins towards its target, cutting through it with ease.
"Throwing away your weapon? Rather reckless, wouldn't you say?" Ms. Lightwhip says, thoroughly amused.
Asha ducks Lightsaber 2's strike, grabbing his wrist, twisting it slightly and slamming an elbow strike into the back of his arm. His hisses as it snaps like a twig. Asha throws him away. "You win by destroying us all, I win if some survive." Asha dodges the lightwhip. "Mine's easier." The surprise it held is long gone. The tip is deadly fast but it comms an attack like kriff.
Her Force vision flashes behind her. She sidesteps Lightsaber 2's strike with his non-dominant hand. She ducks the whip strike, but Lightsaber 2 clips her leg, causing her to fall as she dodges. Lightsaber 2 grabs her right arm and her Lekku. Luckily, it's the partially paralyzed one so she's not screaming bloody murder.
Ms. Lightwhip approaches, caring Asha's lightsaber. Asha struggles but his grip on her arm is good. Maybe she could… Ms. Lightwhip points Asha's lightsaber at her chest. "This is the end. Can't say it's been amusing, Young Padawan."
"Jedi." Asha snaps, trying to buy time.
"My mistake. Young Jedi, was that your padawan you sent ahead? She'll be joining you soon."
"No, she won't," Asha says, smirking. At least, Aki will-
Asha gasps as pain echoes through her heart and her mind is sent reeling. Without meaning to a single word escapes her mouth. "No…"
Asha barely registers Ms. Lightwhips laughter, "Well, I guess your padawan won't be joining you. You'll be joining her. We win, Young Jedi." She flicks the switch. Purple and blue sparks shoot out the end far enough away from Asha not to harm her. Asha doesn't think, she acts.
Lashing out with the Force, she jerks the lightsaber up and ignites it. As her captor falls, dead, Asha rips free. She lunges forward, grabbing her lightsaber. Following the upward arc she already started, she forces the lightsaber from Ms. Lightwhip's hand and into her head.
Asha is running before she hits the floor. The crevice doesn't affect her speed as she flings herself over it. She doesn't bother sneaking, too focused on her goal. When she runs into a squad of eight Stormtroopers, she deflects the blasts back at them, downing four, flips over them while cutting through the blasters of three more and flicks the last blaster's fire back as she runs.
She follows her shredding bond. She skids to a halt outside a side hanger. Asha bites down the bile as she looks over the scene.
Not even the younglings are going to be spared in this slaughter.
Asha spots Aki the same moment she realizes something else, Ria's missing. She rushes to Aki, collapsing next to her. "Aki…" She pulls her into her arms, careful not to cause her more pain. A lightsaber wound to the gut is a horrible way to go.
Blood drips from her mouth as she coughs out, "I think… you… left skid… marks…"
"I'm here now… You're going to be fine." Asha says, but they both know it's a lie as Asha fights back the burning in her eyes.
"Listen…" She says her strength fading fast. "Ria's… gone… Ben…" Her voice fades as her eyes become unfocused and the last thread of their bond snaps.
If Asha could have, she'd scream. She would have stayed clutching her padawan till a knight, Jedi or Ren, ripped her out of her arms. This was her student, the one person she was supposed to teach and protect. She would have wallowed. "Jedi way" be damned.
But her home is a battlefield. With a shaky breath, she lies Aki down and closes her eyes. By tomorrow she'll be free to mourn or will have joined her padawan.
Standing up, she is faced with a choice. Hold the hanger, something necessary for the evacuation but will be nearly impossible to do for long without back up and judging by the number of life forms radiating with the Ashla within the vicinity of the of the Temple and town that is growing increasingly unlikely. Search for survivors, something that may be close to suicidal at this point. Finally, to kark out in the nearest ship. Which she physically she can do, she's the daughter of Hera Jarrus after all. But mentally, she can't be able to abandon this place like that. Again, she's the daughter of Hera Jarrus.
What she wants to do is to find her family especially after… that… She wants and needs a hug, but...
She suddenly wishes she had more experience because maybe then she could have an answer to this question with no right answer, only bad ones.
Then something snaps in her mind and she runs. What snapped was something that has been there for so long she wasn't even aware it was there until it snapped, a Force bond that has been there longer than she has been Asha. "No…" She whispers breathlessly as she runs faster, tears streaming down her face. Her vision blurs but she doesn't need it and if it blocks her view of the slaughter that took place in the courtyard, well, Asha's seen too much today as it is.
The only thing that gets through the panicked haze is the snapping. One more goes, followed by another. The second to last of is ripping apart and she pushes herself faster. She doesn't stop in the entry hall.
Without thinking, she flings her lightsaber at the knight of Ren whose lightsaber is raised high in the air. Her aim is sound as it cuts through his arm. She kicks off his back causing him to fall. Her lightsaber flicks back into her hand. She slams it down into his neck, a painless death.
She turns, knowing what she'll see, but not at all prepared.
Aunt Sabine lies there, the front part of her armor has been ripped away allowing a lightsaber to pierce her heart. She fell with basters in hand, a true Mandalorian, and slaughter civilians to her back, a true protector.
Next to her is Uncle Zeb, without his bow riffle he didn't stand a chance, but his bloody knuckles say he wouldn't let that stop him from protecting others, forever the honor guard…
A cough breaks her from her horror. "Dad," She says, kneeling down and hugging her father. There's a lightsaber wound to his gut… Just like Aki. "We need to find a medical kit!"
"Asha…" He says, weakly. "You know…" He coughs. "You know there isn't time or ability…"
"No…" Asha begs. "Please, don't leave me."
"Change what you can, accept what you can't and be wise enough to tell the difference." Kanan chides lightly and full of love.
"I'm really getting sick of what I can't change." She says, tears falling down harder now no matter how hard she fights them off.
"Good…" Kanan smirks through his pain. He reaches over and takes Hera's lifeless hand, after removing the blaster from it. Her mother fought like the rebel she has always been. The dozen dead Stormtroopers and half dozen knights of Ren attest to that, but that is no consolation to the girl who is all of a sudden losing everything she has ever known. "We love you, Asha. Always will…" His eyes close.
"Dad!" Asha shakes him, gently. "Daddy! Please, come back! Daddy!" As his last breath leaves his body, their bond snaps and something in Asha shatters.
She's not a Jedi Knight. She's not an adult. She's not a million things she has tried to be and has grown into. She's just a little girl who wants her parents.
She knows she needs to move, but as the minutes tick by she can't make herself leave them.
Until she hears a lightsaber ignite. She turns around. A knight of Ren stands in the entryway, on the opposite side of the mosaic, a red crossguard lightsaber in his hand. "Asha Jarrus?" His voice is deep and masked, but maybe another life, a peaceful life, she could have recognized it and called it "friend".
"Why…" She says, standing up, her voice scratchy from crying.
"You're not supposed to be here. Did they wise up about you being a bratty schutta and remove you from the Sector 18 Peace summit?" The knight of Ren asks.
If she wasn't hurting so much, she'd wonder how he knew that. Right now, though, she doesn't care, "We were peaceful. We kept the peace in the New Republic. We left you alone." She screams the mostly true statement, anger filling her.
She accepts it is there, releasing some into the Force, allowing the Light and the Dark to flood her.
She is the Light. She is the Dark. She is the Force.
Her mouth moves on its own, sounding old and young and resonating with truth. "Why have you betrayed us? Why have you betrayed your friends?" And it hits her in the back of her mind. This is the man who had given the First Order the location of the Temple.
The "How" doesn't cross her mind especially as her eyes narrow on the lightsaber hanging from his waist, Master Skywalker's lightsaber. He was part of the group that attacked Aki. Probably the one that killed her… "Monster!" Her voice breaks as she launches herself at him, almost losing her deeper form of battle meditation. He blocks her attacks, matching them, evenly. Asha leaps back, breaking the attack off.
Slowly, the two begin circling each other, staring at each other in cold calculation. Asha pulls up her Force vision, heightened by her battle meditation. She has gathered all the information she needs. He favors strong swings and aggressive attacks, but knows how to block and can use it to set up counters as he had tried to do in that flurry. If she had been any worse with a lightsaber, she'd be in ribbons. However, she does have the best lightsaber technique of her generation and grew up sparring someone with a style similar to this guy's preference.
It's thirty seconds before either moves. It's a flurry of attacks so fast Asha doesn't have time to think, just move. Asha kicks. He steps out of the way, sending a counter to her head. Asha blocks, grabs his arm and tries to twist the arm, trying to get him to release the saber while swiping out his feet. He flips over, dislodging her hand and throwing a punch to the gut. Asha doesn't even pause swiping her blade at his neck. He blocks. Asha drops down nailing her hilt into his gut shocking him.
It gives her a split second to kick his head, knocking him over. His lightsaber and helmet fly off. She swings to finish this.
He looks up at her. She freezes midstrike. Her jaw drops, followed by her lightsaber. "B…Ben…" Her voice echoing her uncertainty.
Ben's scared look turns to a glare. He summons his blade and-
Asha's face is engulfed in pain with a flash of red. Asha staggers to the ground with a scream. And then she sees nothing. She can't see anything.
"That's only the beginning of what you deserve after what you did to Master Bridger." Ben's voice growls.
Now, Asha has never once claimed to be smart, but even she knows she's inventing a new kind of stupid when she snarls back, "And what do you get for destroying his life work, his family and all he holds dear, Bennyboo." She laces the "Bennyboo" with as much venom as she can.
"You schutta!" He shouts. Asha braces herself to meet her family and padawan. She can't fight him. Not like this…
She hears the sound of lightsabers clashing. "Stay away from my niece!" Her uncle's voice growls with more fury than she's ever heard. He's alive… She feels like crying.
After a moment, she hears a lightsaber disengage. "Go, take her and run." Ben's voice says with a finality.
She feels familiar arms pick her up, sliding her lightsaber into her hands. She clings to her uncle and feels him start to run. She slips on her Force vision, for an instant. Ben's Force signature is confused, sad, angry and looks like a star-cluster forming with all the raging emotions. She lets the Force vision go. She's had too much hurt today to take on others' pain.
Finally, she hears a familiar set of binary swears. "Chopper, start takeoff procedures." And then he asks about Hera and the others. "I'm sorry, Chop. We're all that's left." He says. The floor echoes like they are on a ship and then she is set down on a bench. "Stay here while we get out of here, okay?" Her uncle orders. Asha nods, feeling the ship take off. After a moment, she hears her uncle, again. "Trust me?" Asha nods. "Numbing medication." She feels something cold on her eyes. The pain begins to numb. "I'll be back to give first aid when we're in hyperspace."
The next ten minutes are disconcerting as she can feel a space battle occurring, but has no idea what's going on or how to process it.
Asha feels numb, and it's not just the medication on her eyes. Her padawan is gone. Her father is gone. Her mother, gone. Her aunt, gone. Her uncle, gone. Her friends, her mentors, her classmates, her annoying "rival". Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Everything is gone. Her very way of life is gone. And nothing will ever bring it. It's the end.
She can't see. She could open herself up to the Force, again, use the Force sight her Father taught her. But it hurts too much. It hurts knowing she wouldn't see them, like when she opens her Force sight on her only mission and could see them across the galaxy. It hurts to use something so intimately close to her father. It hurts knowing she would probably never be able to fly like her mother. It hurts that she'd never see her aunt's artwork again. It hurts that she'd never be able to smell that awful smell that clung to her uncle. It hurts that she'd never spar with Aki. It hurt-
Two hands wrap around her hands. It's then that she realizes they have settled down and the only vibrations are from hyperspace. The hands are large calloused and so familiar that even if she were surrounded by hundreds of people and didn't know he was here, she'd still be able to recognize blindfolded. Or rather just blind... "I guess we know what happened to my old kyper crystal…" He chuckles weakly. Asha doesn't return it. "Don't do this to yourself, Asha. It only makes the pain worse," Ezra sighs. "We've got to move forward, now. They... They wouldn't want us to wallow in hurt and anger and darkness."
"So... what happens now?" Asha barely recognizes the voice coming out of her mouth as her own. It is so small and it cracks.
She hears her uncle sigh before she hears the beep of a comlink opening. "Hey, Chop. When you finish up there, can you come down here to help me with the medkit?" A short beep of affirmation follows. Asha feels her uncle shift and she doesn't need the Force to know he is just as lost as she is. "First, we head to Krownest. We need to get you medical attention. After that... I don't know"
"Why not Valenci? I know Aunt Isolda would help..." Asha's voice trails off. Krownest was Aunt Sabine's homeworld. Going there would probably mean that Ezra wanted to get help from the Wrens. It makes sense. While Asha had only met the leaders of the clan a few times, she knows her uncle has kept up a good relationship, maybe even friendship, with the current head, Tristan Wren. They would also probably be obligated to help due to Aunt Sabine considered them family. But... It hurt. And Asha can't imagine Aunt Isolda wouldn't help them. Ezra would even get to see her, something small, but nice after everything. She needs something nice right now.
"I'm sure she would. But I doubt there'd be any way for her to keep it out of the media. And right now, with the First Order destroying anything related to the Jedi, we need to avoid that." Ezra says, his voice sad. "Krownest is isolated, in spite of Sabine's position as Mandalore. We can hide there, at least for a little while."
It dawns on Asha and before she can put on a filter it topples out, "You're not going to contact her. Ever…"
She can feel the tension in his arms. "I won't say ever. Because the Force always takes that as a challenge, but for her safety... It's not looking likely..."
Asha wants to cry. She really does. For her family and friends that are dead. For the padawan, she failed. For her uncle who has had every happiness ripped away from him. But she can't muster the energy. "Will it ever get better?"
She hears her uncle sigh, "I miss my parents every single day."
Asha sighs as well, "It's over, isn't it? The Jedi? Their way of life?"
Her uncle doesn't answer right away, "Maybe. Maybe it's over. Maybe it's just changing again. I can't say-"
A loud crash interrupts her uncle. Asha's head shoots towards the sound. "Chopper?" A warble responds followed by the feeling of little paws on her lap.
"Well, I shouldn't be surprised. Loth-cats have always had a strong connection to the Force. She probably knew something was up before the rest of us." There is a small bit of amusement in his voice. Confused she opens herself up to the Force a little. Her loth-kit. Asha pulls her closer and hugs her as she purrs into her chest. Something nice, huh?
Several systems away, though, the temple still smolders. Luke walks over the charred remains of the temple. He keeps himself open to the Force, to find anyone, but there is no one.
How had they found them? Why his students? Why hadn't the Force warned them? Questions without answers swarmed through his head.
Then, a spark. Luke races towards the light, the life, jumping over piles of brick and beam. Not even the town had been spared. After the few seconds of eternity it took to reach the spark, he skids to a stop.
It's not a survivor.
Queen Isolda stares over the debree. An old orange blanket that Luke is pretty sure was in Ezra's living room is wrapped around her shoulders. She is holding a red lantern that he knows has lived on Ezra's counter for years. She stands alone in front of a surprisingly intact security monitor.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Luke asks.
"You think I couldn't feel what was happening just as well as you." Isolda raises an eyebrow, but that only heightens how weary she looks. "I've already sent word to my people to send in emergency crews to search for survivors and aid in identify..." She takes a staggered breath as if this is physically hurting her as much as it is Luke, something Luke finds hard to believe.
"That's not what I meant. It's dangerous for someone of your stature to be here." Luke says.
"I may rule Valenci, but this was my home. I didn't care about the danger; besides I can take care of myself. Or did you forget about last year's kidnapping crisis." Isolda's eyes narrow, not missing Luke's insinuation.
"No, Your Majesty," Luke sighs. Isolda sighs as well, trying to remain patient. Even a newborn could sense how tumbled Luke's emotions currently are. "I merely and worried about what type of unrest the galaxy may face if you were harmed. It is good to see you, in spite of the circumstances."
Isolda sighs, looking in the direction of the former entryway. "I'm afraid unrest is unavoidable at this point." For a moment she sounds lost, "Sabi- Mandalor Wren and Senator Orrelios were both here during the assault." Isolda fights of the sting in her eyes. "They- I located their bodies alongside Kanan and Hera."
Luke sucks in a breath before turning to the security console.
"Don't," Isolda warns. "You shouldn't look at things unless you're ready to face the worst possible outcome."
Luke ignores her. Bile rises in his through as he watches the assault on his life's work, his home, his friends. It flips to a feed of the entryway. And her sees Asha, little Asha, the little imp that terrorized the temple and became an amazing Jedi, falls to her knees in front of her parents, all but broken. He watches her fight the knight of Ren, knocking off his helmet- "Ben..." Luke can't manage more than a whisper but it is louder than anything he is conscious of. To his horror, Ben strikes at her face, his best friend's face, and she falls. The entryway feed cuts as Luke falls to his knees. "I did this. This is my fault."
"No, it's not," Isolda says, kneeling beside him. "We walk our own path and ours alone. Ben made his choice."
"If I had better supported him... And now, he's even killed the person he loved most." Luke clutches at the rubble.
"Asha's not dead. She wasn't among those in the entryway." Isolda says.
"She came back from the Dark Side. There'd be no body left, for her or Br- Ezra." Luke says.
"I'd have felt it if they'd passed," Isolda says, reaching out for Ezra. There is no response but that doesn't mean anything. He could be cutting himself off right now to hide.
"Over everything?" Luke sighs.
"Fine, then his and Asha's ghost would have visited me already." Isolda huffs, trying not to snap. She's just tired.
Luke shakes his head, before getting up and walking away.
Isolda sighs, looking down at the lantern. She clicks it on with a sigh. "Come back soon, love. I fear we may need the Jedi more than ever soon." She whispers to the sky.
Wow. I can't believe I got all that into one chapter.
For some reason, I don't feel right shouting "Thank you time" right now. I wonder why?
I am having some technical difficulties with the dates of favoriting and following right now so if I miss you, I apologize. Thank you MickeyTRN and jpeck2000 for favoriting.
Thank you, Amelia dragneel15, for reviewing. Kylo Ren's lightsaber, that's where the sith crystal went. I totally didn't realize how bloody poetic it is that both Asha and Ben wield kyper crystals that belong to their master.
Thank you, Jedi Jelsa777, for reviewing. How'd you feel about this chapter? Honestly, I knew from the beginning that this was what the second to last chapter was going to be. But now, I love these characters and I hope I did them justice. I think I knew from the beginning I would be able to show all their deathes. I like them too much. This was still a hard chapter to write.
Thank you, The Delta 42, for review. I'm sure at this point Asha's not adverse to the idea. I feel like I should defend him by saying he just had his entire support network ripped away but yeah, he was an idiot.
Thank you, Midnight Luna, for reviewing. I finally get to answer your question. And besides the overwhelming amount of time I put into these characters, I have a set of guideline for OCs, that while I will never say can't be broken, when broken I have yet to see a case where they are good. These are:
1) Does this character add anything to the story that can't be achieved by a character in canon? If yes, proceed. If no, give it to the canon character.
2) Does this character stand up on there own as 3D characters? When it comes to OCs you cannot write them like canon characters because readers already have connections to canon characters. You have to prove to the reader your OC deserves to be there.
3) Is either of the answers above yes because of contrived reason? If yes, then they either need to be reworked or cut.
4) This is the most important one. Do they harm the plot? If yes, they will need at best reworking if not cutting out entirely?
You'd be surprised how many OCs will fail at least one of these and the work suffurs for it. Isolda is actually the closest I have ever come to publishing a character not meeting these guidelines, with her answers to one and two being yes, but we're not focusing on her so the reader will only see snippits of her over all story of being child locked up by her father in a tower because of her Force powers to a strong indepent Queen who is willing to make sacrifices to protect those in need. Or that she showed Ezra a life that he could have if he stopped trying to punish himself. And look how well her reception went. It was probably the worst reception I have recieved for an OC.
As for your last review in My Boy, My Ezra, I don't think it is absolutely necissary for Ezra and Kanan to die by the end of Rebels. Yoda's line comes in RotJ, that is 4 to 5 years after ANH, and Rebels is ending before Rogue One. That's a lot of time for a lot of stories and it seems to be pretty foolish to cut off these guys stories after they've really only been in one form of media in the EU. On top of that, we all know Yoda isn't above lying/bend the truth when that is proved necissary, as he proved with the Darth Vader/Anakin thing and again in the Last Jedi when he burned down the ancient Jedi library. And when he told Luke that, Luke was about to face his father with a real danger of falling or revieling the other Jedi. I'd be more than willing to bend the truth in that instance just so that I don't put all my eggs in one basket. So hopefully you have some piece of mind. I just hope the babies don't start hating on it, if that is indeed what occurs.
Thank you, Cassturn93, for reviewing. This probably took you the entire day as well. I hope it was worth the wait. And Ezra was very happy for those two years between chapter 6 and 7. And yes last time's 3 parter counts as one chapter.