Apologies that this short-arc isn't clone-centric! I wanted to take a quick break to give some light to the Jedi and politicians!
But the next one-shot will be featuring clones again! :)
Peace-talk pt2 (Interlude)
Vengeance drives people apart, forgiveness brings them together
It didn't take long for the Talz to repair their village, especially with the help of their Jedi visitors. Most of their injured ones were treated as well. And Chuchi and Papanoida got a conclusion from the Pantoran assembly.
"The assembly has given us one more chance to talk Thaj Sen down," Papanoida said to Aliyah and Ahsoka. "If we fail again, the Talz will be labelled as our enemies, and by extension, the Republic's enemies. War will come to this World."
"Then we can't fail again," Ahsoka replied matter-of-factly.
"No, we can't," Chuchi agreed. "But how can we get Thaj to listen to us? He's already refused to meet civilly and has attempted to usurp his father."
"If we go after him, he'll certainly retaliate and lose all faith in us and his remaining people," Papanoida added.
Aliyah hesitantly revealed an idea she's been concocting since Thaj's escape. "I think we should let Thaj come to us. If he decides to attack, then so be it. We have the numbers and the strength, he only had the element of surprise."
Beside her, Twel Mes grunted in agreement. The droid translated for all to hear, "He says, 'Thaj is likely blinded by confidence from his near-successful uprising. He'll definitely come back and attack again.'"
Aliyah thanked Twel Mes for his support. "This is the only way for us to see Thaj again."
"So your plan is to wait until he attacks us?" Ahsoka repeated for clarification. "And meet him on the battlefield, and hopefully…talk to him? Am I summarizing it right?"
Aliyah nodded.
"Do you really think he'll listen better while fighting?"
"If we're taking him on together, I do," Aliyah said in all honesty.
Ahsoka responded to that with a grateful smile. That gave confidence to Chuchi and Papanoida. They agreed to the plan.
"We should inform the rest of the Talz about this," Chuchi gestured to the gathered warriors of Thi-Sen behind them.
All of them looked ready to defend their village, their Chieftain, and their peace. Even if it's from one of their own.
The Talz spent the time waiting until Thaj's attack to prepare. They moved most of their most injured people to a safe-zone, away from the village, including Thi-Sen. And they fixed up their munitions as well as fortify the place up a little.
Little by little, they strengthened themselves and felt ready to take on Thaj and his loyalists.
Eventually, more word was received from the spies.
"They say, that Thaj is planning on coming to attack today," the droid relayed the spies' information to Aliyah.
She thanked the Talz spies for their help. "I shall tell the Chieftain about this. You should go and prepare for battle."
"I'll help them with the final preparations," Ahsoka told Aliyah before going off with the spies.
"I will too," Papanoida joined the Togruta Jedi Padawan.
After saying a quick farewell, Aliyah and the droid made her way to the safe-zone where the injured and unfit to fight were resting. She met up with Chuchi, who was already inside Thi-Sen's tent.
"Master Jedi, you're here to speak with the Chieftain as well?" Chuchi turned to Aliyah when she just entered.
"Yes," Aliyah walked over to Thi-Sen and Chuchi. "And please, no need to call me that. I'm no Master."
Chuchi looked a little flustered. "What? Oh, my apologies. I just assumed since Padawan Tano is currently under your watch, you must be a Master."
"Haha, no. I'd probably need another 30 years or more before getting that rank. Anyways, I came to tell the Chieftain something."
"Of course," Chuchi stood up so Aliyah could be closer to the Talz Chieftain.
Thi-Sen's expression changed from calm to concern. He spoke and the droid translated. "He says, 'is there news of my son?'"
Aliyah nodded. "Your son and his followers are coming to attack sometime today. He's going to try and takeover as Chieftain again."
Thi-Sen let out a sorrowful grumble. "He's very hurt by this news," the droid explained. "He wishes to join you in the fighting."
"No!" Chuchi exclaimed. "No, Chieftain, you're too precious to lose in battle. We almost lost you once already."
Aliyah fervently agreed. "It's better for you to rest here. We can handle it. They don't have the numbers to defeat us."
After a long pause of silence, Thi-Sen reluctantly agreed to remain here. But he had more to say. "He says, 'please, try to not kill Thaj or his loyalists. Disarm them, stun them, but only kill them if you have no other choice. Except for Thaj. I want you to bring him to me, alive, after the battle. Please, for my sake.'"
Chuchi and Aliyah looked at each other. They both felt how much Thi-Sen loved his son, despite everything he did. For his sake, they'll do their best to bring Thaj back alive.
Back at the village, Ahsoka and Papanoida finished the Talz with the final preparations. Everyone's armed and ready for battle. That's when Aliyah and Chuchi returned with news from Thi-Sen.
"The Chieftain does not want Thaj or any of his loyalists to be harmed," Aliyah revealed to everyone.
They all murmured in concern. Ahsoka was extremely unsure about this. "We can't protect everyone in this conflict, you know that."
"We came here for a peace-talk. This conflict shouldn't have happened in the first place."
"I know. But it did, and now we have to handle it."
"And we will." Aliyah put a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, gripping her tightly. "We'll deal with Thaj and his loyalists when they come here. We'll target them, three of our warriors to every one of theirs, and disarm or subdue them without killing."
"Unless absolutely necessary," Ahsoka threw in.
"Unless absolutely necessary," Aliyah nodded in confirmation. "For all except Thaj. You and I will bring him back to the Chieftain. Alive."
Ahsoka decided to place confidence in this task. "Alright. Let's bring the fallen son back to his father."
Out in the snowy plains between the abandoned Republic listening post and the Talz village, was Thaj's loyalists. They waited patiently for their leader to finish paying his respects.
Thaj revisiting the battleground where Chi Cho led the attack against his people, specifically the place where his brother fell. There, he readjusted the spear shaft that held Chur Mec's cloak.
He stood there in silence. Thinking about what he's done. And what he's about to do.
One of his loyalists eventually came up to him to tell him its about time they go. Thaj agreed. He's gone too far to turn back now.
The Talz lookouts alerted everyone below upon seeing Thaj's loyalists approaching. The warriors, Jedi, and Pantoran representatives prepared for battle. Aliyah said some final reminders.
"Don't 1v1 on a loyalist, you won't be able to disarm them without hurting yourself. Senator, Chairman, you two stay with Twel Mes, he'll keep you safe. And Ahsoka—"
"—I'll be with you. We'll subdue Thaj together," she finished for Aliyah.
Then that's it. They're all prepared and ready.
Thaj and his loyalists soon arrived within firing range. One of the Talz warriors let out a great cry before leading them into battle. Thaj's loyalists charged towards them.
The fighting began.
Spears were thrown while riding on the backs of their narglatches. Shields were held up in defense. And eventually, the two opposing sides met in the middle and engaged in close-range combat.
Just like Aliyah said, the warriors loyal to Thi-Sen outnumbered Thaj's loyalists. It was almost three Talz on their side for every one of the loyalists. However, where the loyalists lacked in numbers, they made up for in brute force.
Several times, either Aliyah or Ahsoka had to intervene because a loyalist came close to killing one of their warriors. But luckily, no one was actually killed or mortally wounded yet.
"We can't keep this up forever," Ahsoka said after saving another warrior from a near-death stab.
Aliyah looked around the snowy battlefield. Trying to find Thaj. "Where's Thaj?"
As soon as she asked that. She felt something fast coming at her. Ahsoka managed to pull her out of the way. "Look out!" She cried.
Thaj's spear flew past them. And he emerged from the snow underneath, where he was abiding his time until the right moment to come out. Ahsoka was glad they got some prototype translator vocoders and masks just this morning from the Pantoran assembly.
Protocol droids aren't easy transporting around in a battle.
Thaj immediately proceeded to fight the two Jedi. With more vigour and ferocity this time. But the Jedi were just as determined to talk him down as he was to overcome them.
"Thaj, enough of this!" Aliyah cried, her words being automatically translated into Talzzi via the vocoder.
As expected, Thaj ignored her and continued to attack. He was just as fast and brutal as he was last time. But last time, he was against just one opponent. Now it's two.
Ahsoka redirects his spear away before he could try to throw it. "We're giving you chances here, Thaj! Please don't throw them away!"
But Thaj didn't listen. This time, he responded back. "'I'm giving you chances too. A chance to fight me fairly right here and now. This is the only way for you to protect my father's people.'"
He ended that sentence by swiftly hurling some snow at the two Jedi. Distracting them just enough for him to throw his spear again. Aliyah managed to roll out of the way and pull in a nearby shield with the Force.
Thaj attacked Aliyah vigorously with his spear. And she countered just as much with the shield, even managing to break the shaft in half. But that's when Thaj rushed forward and pushed her against the shield, knocking her into the snow.
Before things could escalate further, Ahsoka jumped into Thaj's back, pulling him away from Aliyah. Thaj struggled to get her off while she attempted to make him submit.
But suddenly, both fell over and plummeted into a hidden crevasse. Aliyah rushed after them.
"Ahsoka!" She shouted.
Down in the crevasse, Ahsoka and Thaj finally stopped tumbling and hit the bottom. The crevasse wasn't very deep luckily.
Though disoriented and tired, Thaj still got up to continue the fight. Ahsoka didn't land as hard he did in the fall, so she had a slightly higher advantage. She decided to use this to talk some more.
"Thaj, think about what you're doing," she said in between dodges and Force-pushes. "If you takeover your people by force, they'll never follow you. Your plan for revenge will only cause more harm."
"'Your Republic already caused us harm by bringing the war to my home! I will not sit around and pretend that our peace and sovereignty will actually last. Because by the time we're invaded by the CIS or Republic for reasons, it'll be too late! I'm fighting back now!'"
The fight between the two got more brutal. Ahsoka had to pick up a broken spear shaft—that fallen down with them—to use against Thaj. Eventually, she was able to get a few words in again.
"You really think this is what your father would want? Or even your brother—"
"'Don't speak of him!'" Thaj suddenly delivered a crushing blow onto Ahsoka's spear. Breaking it and sending her flying back.
Ahsoka quickly recuperated and prepared to defend against Thaj's next attack. But before he could move, he was Force-pushed against the wall and pinned there.
Aliyah had entered the crevasse. She held Thaj immobile and walked towards him. "Stop. Stop, please."
Thaj struggled against the Jedi's hold to no avail. "'Let me go first.'"
"Not until you end this unnecessary violence."
"'Why?'"
"So your brother, and all those who had fallen for your people, can rest."
Thaj tensed, but not as jerky as he was before. "'My brother's dead. Those people are dead. How do you rest dead people?'"
"By taking care of the living. Especially their loved ones," Aliyah loosened her Force-grip. "Your father, for one."
"'My father has forgotten all about Chur Mec…'"
"Your father loves him. He loves him, that's why he's so fervent in keeping the peace. So no more of his people would die, including you. He loves you, so very much. That's why he told us to bring you in alive, without harm, even though you made an attempt on his life."
Now Thaj calmed down more. "'He really said that…'" He whispered to himself. "'He…'"
"...forgives you," Ahsoka stood up from the snow. "Now will you go see him and hear that for yourself?"
An epiphany burst from the depths of Thaj's mind. All hostile thoughts and intentions flooded out of him. Aliyah released her grip, and he dropped to his knees. Deep in regret.
"'Let me call off my loyalists. And…take me to my father.'"
After Thaj and the two Jedi climbed out of the crevasse, he announced to all his loyalists to stop fighting. He went up to Twel Mes, Chuchi, and Papanoida and asked them to cease all hostilities.
They did. And both sides dropped their weapons.
All the loyalists were taken away for safety while Thaj was taken to see his father. Some members of the Talz High Council came to escort him.
They checked Thaj for weapons before letting him inside Thi-Sen's tent. Thi-Sen sat up upon seeing his son enter with the Jedi and Pantoran representatives.
"'You came back,'" he sounded relieved.
Thaj went to his father's side. "'Yes, I have. I'm…I'm sorry for everything…for what I did to you.'"
"'These wounds will heal,'" Thi-Sen gestured to the part where Thaj cut him. "'Unlike the wounds that would be left if you truly turned against me. I'm happy that you're here now. I forgive you, my son.'"
"'I've done horrible things. All in the name of avenging Chur Mec and those who fell to Chairman Cho's attack,'" Thaj sounded deeply remorseful. "'I miss him. I miss him so much.'"
Thi-Sen put a hand on Thaj's shoulder. "'So do I. Not a day goes by without me regretting the battle that took place. But it won't do anything to bring him back. All I can do now is to protect those who are still here. Especially you.'" Thi-Sen came closer. "'Instead of mourning in the past, can we mourn in the present? Together?'"
"'Yes…'" Thaj threw his arms around Thi-Sen in a gentle embrace. "'...father.'"
Behind them, Aliyah was glad of this turn of events. Ahsoka felt the same.
Thaj finally let go of his father and turned around, looking at the Pantorans. "'Perhaps now, we can talk about the continuation of peace between our people.'"
Chuchi stepped forward and nodded. "Yes, that'd be wonderful."
The peace-talk continued back at the Talz village. This time, Thaj was more willing to listen. He was open to continuing the current relationship his people had with the Pantorans. And will work with them to make it last when he's chieftain.
Papanoida promised to defend the Talz if the Republic ever attempted to overwrite their declaration of sovereignty. "We will not let them try to take away your independence."
"'I appreciate that greatly,'" Thaj thanked. "'But what if they attempt to do so anyway?'"
"Then we'll get help from our friends and allies," Chuchi looked at Ahsoka knowingly. "It's not uncommon for worlds to take matters in their own hands if the Senate can't make a decision or makes an unfair one."
The Talz High Council agreed to that. And Thi-Sen stood up to give some final words, "'I can't thank you enough, Senator, Chairman. Because of your actions, my people were able to live without disturbance after the war came to our home. Thank you.'" Thi-Sen turned to Aliyah and Ahsoka. "'And you as well, Jedi. For not harming Thaj and bringing him back to me. I had my doubts about the Jedi due to their participation in this war, but you truly lived up to what I expected from defenders of the peace.'"
The meeting concluded soon after. Everything ended on a good note. The Talz returned to their lives. And Thaj's loyalists were pardoned and given a second chance.
Chuchi and Papanoida walked Aliyah and Ahsoka to the area where the Republic ship was coming to pick them up.
"It's been great working with you two," Papanoida thanked.
"It's been great helping you out," Aliyah replied. "Perhaps we'll see each other again in the future."
"For celebratory reasons, of course," Chuchi added.
"I'll make reservations," Ahsoka chimed in.
The Republic ship entered the atmosphere and the four said their farewells to each other.
The ride back to Coruscant was uneventful and before long, the two Jedi were stepping out into the Temple's hangar. Ahsoka was in the midst of talking with Aliyah.
"It was a nice experience, going to Orto Plutonia with you," she confessed.
"Funny. I was about to say the same, kiddo," Aliyah revealed.
"Really? So I guess you're finally open to choosing a Padawan?" Plo suddenly came up behind them.
"Master!" Ahsoka greeted.
Plo greeted her back before turning to Aliyah, expecting an answer for his question. She shook her head. "No."
"No?" Plo was taken back.
"Because I don't Jedi are allowed to take another's Padawan," Aliyah pulled Ahsoka next to her. "Besides, even if it is. I doubt Skywalker would let her go easily. She's really one of a kind."
"She is indeed," Plo concurred.
"If there are more younglings like Ahsoka, I'm not worried about the future of the Order."
Ahsoka gently released herself from Aliyah, grateful for the compliments. "I'm flattered. But you should really be thanking Anakin. He's mostly responsible for who I am."
"The Master paves the ground, but the Padawan crosses it by themself," Aliyah stated. "That's how I'll go about it with my own student. Someday."
Peace-talk: End
A/N. And that's done! Please forgive me, I know this wasn't clone-centric, but don't worry. I have a lot of future chapters that are centred around them.
As always, please review if you have ideas or just want to drive away my writer's block!
If you have feedback, please pm me or email me (Gmail account with username 'fanficwriteronthelake') since it'd make replying to you A LOT easier.
Wish me luck, my midterms are coming up (as well as several assignment deadlines). :P
See you all next time! :)
- MiraLake