Chapter 8 - Bring him home

Mando'a translations:

Haar'chak = Damn it

Adiik = child

Buir = Parent (in this case Father)

Vod = brother

Manda'lor = king of Mandalore

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She was surprised by how light the armor was, how easily she could move while wearing it. Though she realized that she shouldn't have been considering how well known the beskar armor was, it was legendary for a reason. Despite the flexibility of the beskar she was still uncomfortable, the Jedi had no need for armor, they had the Force to act as their protection so this felt clunky and unnatural to her. Under normal circumstances she'd never even think to wear the protective coverings, but this was anything but normal circumstances.

Here she was a Senior Padawan who had recently been taken hostage now assisting her kidnapper - who happened to be a missing Padawan turned Mandalorian to infiltrate and bring down another band of Mandalorians. She realized her Master and the Council would have a lot to say about her current decision making process. Hell, the logical side of her brain had a lot to say about this current choice. But Siri couldn't shake the feeling that the Force was guiding her actions, that she was meant to stay close to Ben. She was confused by the sudden need to help him, she wasn't even sure the Force would allow her to turn her back on him now, something deep within her that connected her to the cosmic energy knew that her path was meant to walk beside him.

It made no sense to her whatsoever, but rarely did the Force make sense.

As they waited for Jango to lower the ramp she noticed that Ben had placed his hand on the small of her back, Siri felt her body flush and she suddenly prayed that her reasons for staying was because of the Force and not something more personal. She realized that she'd have to deal with those questions later and instead focus on the task at hand.

She shifted the rifle in her arms and used it to cover Ben and Jango's backs as she followed them down the ramp of the Firespray-31 and towards the cover of barren trees. Siri took in the landscape and the Living Force seemed to wail in the back of her skull. What once was a lush and thriving forest was now just a husk of it's previous self.

"I thought Concordia was an agricultural settlement…" Siri's voice was heard through the speaker inside Ben's helmet. "The Jedi AgriCorps once helped tend this land,"

"Before the end of the last civil war it was turned into a mining base," Ben answered, quickly grabbing her by the elbow. "Very little survived, but the new Duchess of Mandalore is trying to replant the forests."

"Horrible things have happened here," her breath was soft and seemed to tremble.

He sighed and pulled her towards another row of dead trees. "It's Mandalore, you might need to pace yourself on grieving over horrific past events. Otherwise we'll be here all day."

She nodded, using his voice as an anchor. "You're right, we must focus."

"Did I just teach a Jedi something?" Ben's voice seemed very pleased. "Well, I guess consider me a Jedi Master."

She smacked his chest plate. "One quasi lesson a Jedi Master does not make."

"I don't know, I seem to be pretty wise."

The sound of a voice clearing their throat was heard inside both their helmets, they turned simultaneously to face Jango Fett. "If you're both done playing grab-ass can we please get back to the mission? Jaster might already be dead."

With those sobering words Jango's two companions fell back into place, the trio then split up to begin searching the area for the abandoned Mandalorian leader. Siri called on the Force to help guide her steps, searching the surrounding area for lifeforms. She could sense several in the far distance, she assumed it was Death Watch's camp. She suddenly felt a faint presence near the entrance of one of the mines. She followed the dimming life presence until she came to a clearing, her stomach dropped when she saw a limp form lying on the scorched ground.

She slid down the hill and knelt next to the fallen figure, she recognized the armor from the day that Jaster had ordered her death. She then realized she wasn't sure what his reaction would be to her being the one to find him. She decided she'd deal with that if he was alive and shook off the concern. She felt for a pulse, it was very faint. Siri knew he didn't have much time left.

"Ben, Jango, I found him." She called into her helmet com. "He's about one and a half klicks west of our previous position"

She ignored the frantic replies in her ears and focused on the broken man before her. She could see blood seeping out from behind his chest plate, she went to remove the armor to try and stop the bleeding, but a weak hand stopped her.

"I can stop the bleeding, but I need to put pressure on the wound." She gently explained.

"We do not remove the beskar on the battlefield." His voice was rough from lack of use. "You would know that if you were a true Mandalorian."

She gently removed her helmet, her blonde hair framing her face. Jasper let out a disappointed laugh that turned into a wet and rattling cough.

"Of course he didn't kill you," Jasper groaned and turned his face away from her. "That boy was always soft."

"He has the heart of a Jedi." She felt the sudden need to defend him.

"So you have come to reclaim him then...Jedi." He spoke between raspy breaths, there was no anger in his voice.

"If that is the will of the Force,"

"Will of the Force…" Jaster huffed. "He deserves better than a clan who abandoned a thirteen year old to die without any memories."

"He also deserves better than living in exile, killing people just so he can feed his family. Simply because the clan who adopted him won't admit they're on the wrong side of history." She retorted.

The Mand'alor slowly turned his head back to look at the young woman. "So, what does he deserve then?"

"He deserves to find peace and happiness."

"He's a Jedi and a Mandalorian, those two things will always elude him." Jaster replied with a cough.

"Are all Mandalorians this cynical or is this a specialty of your clan?" She replied.

Jaster let out an amused laugh at her quip. "You are not what I expected, girl. I am glad he disobeyed me and let you live. He is going to need your strength in the days to come."

"This is the way," she nodded and lowered her head in humility.

"Hmmmm. The will of the Force." He replied with another chest rattling cough.

00000

Anakin Skywalker slowly opened the cargo container after he sensed the coast was clear. He had decided to follow Knight Chun once he learned that his new friend was sent by the Council to search for Padawan Tachi. Anakin wanted to help Bruck, and he wanted to be the one to bring back Siri, this way Qui-Gon would know he didn't make a mistake and he would begin his Jedi training.

He also wanted to protect Qui-Gon from the bounty hunter, he didn't like the idea that his future Jedi Master cared so much about someone who wasn't even worthy enough to be a Jedi. Bruck had told him how this Obi-Wan had aged out because he wasn't good enough and somehow tricked Qui-Gon into training him. Bruck also told him how he had nearly been killed by this former Jedi in the middle of a tournament with all the masters watching. This Obi-Wan Kenobi was dangerous, he had tried to kill Padme and now Anakin was worried what he'd try doing to Padawan Tachi, not to mention Qui-Gon.

He had to help them, he couldn't lose any of his new friends. And if he saved Padawan Tachi then maybe the Council would like him and he would be a hero. He smiled thinking about how proud his mother would be.

He climbed out of the crate when suddenly he felt a chill run down his back. He remembered Qui-Gon telling him that this was the Force giving him a warning of danger, he always thought it was just his nerves. It was then he heard the sound of footsteps coming towards the cargo hold. Anakin panicked and jumped back into the crate.

"This looks like a Republic cruiser," a muffled yet deep voice spoke and Anakin held his breath.

"Well, let's see what this Republic cruiser is carrying." Another voice rang out.

The young Jedi Padawan tried to bury himself beneath the packing materials, hoping whoever was outside wouldn't find him. He cursed his usual bad luck because of course as soon as the lid opened a man wearing a blue and silver helmet looked right at him.

"Hey," the man called out to his partner. "Since when does the Republic smuggle slaves?"

Anakin felt a flush of anger at the term. "I'm not a slave, I'm a person and my name is Anakin!"

"Oh-ho, a person are we?" The man reached down and roughly grabbed Anakin by the tunic, lifting him up. "And tell me little Anakin, just what are you doing hiding in a cargo hold?"

"It's none of your business," Anakin tried to make his voice sound calm yet firm. The way he had heard Qui-Gon speak to the Council. "I'm here on Jedi business, so unless you want trouble you will let me go."

The two masked figures exchanged glances. "A Jedi huh, well I'm sure the boss would love to meet a Jedi."

Anakin tried to pry himself from their grasps, but was no match for their strength as they dragged him out of the ship.

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Ben felt the beating of his heart behind his ears as they placed the limp and bleeding form on the medical cot. Jango had begun to remove the dented chest plate in order to survey Jaster's wounds more closely, but the former King of Mandalore motioned towards the outsider in the room.

"Get her out of here," Jango snarled which caused Ben to jump.

The younger Mandalorian turned towards the Jedi and rushed her out the door. "We can't remove his armor with an outsider present, I'm sorry…"

"I respect his wishes," Siri spoke in a voice that made it clear to both of them that she knew Jaster didn't have long to live. "Go. Be by his side. I'll stand guard."

Ben reluctantly nodded, he was still in shock and wasn't sure if he could handle watching the man he considered a father die. He suddenly reached out and grabbed her forearm and held it tightly, she could sense the fear and sorrow rolling off him in the Force.

"I'm not sure if this will help or not, but part of the Jedi code states that there is no death, only the Force." She squeezed his forearm in return. "We all return to the Force from whence we came and there is no more suffering."

He tilted his head, realizing how similar that ideal was to the Mandalorian belief of returning to the Manda. Not for the first time his conflicted mind reeled over the connections between the Mandos and the Jedi. He realized he'd have to ponder on it later. For now he offered her a small nod in appreciation.

"There is no death, only the Force." He repeated and then turned back towards his dying mentor.

Ben's breath hitched when he saw the amount of blood still soaking through the layers of gauze that Jango had administered. He quickly rushed to Jaster's other side, assisting Jango in putting pressure on the wound. Ben looked up at his brother and then down to the man who had raised them both, he had never seen Jaster look so frail and it unnerved him.

He was old enough to realize that no one was invincible, but Jaster had always seemed larger than life - even for a thought that he could one day not only be bested in battle, but be mortally wounded had never been a realistic scenario in Ben's head. And now he felt the grief begin to feel like a weight inside his chest as he looked at the far too pale skin, the blue tint beginning to creep up on lips and as he listened to the ragged breathing.

"Haar'chak!" Ben heard Jango curse as he changed another set of blood soaked bandages.

After several heart wrenching moments where both young men attempted to apply medical treatment they were stopped as Jaster used what strength he had to raise his hand to halt their actions.

"It's too late...too late, my sons," Jaster's voice rasped.

"No," Ben protested.

"Ben," A pair of weak brown eyes found his and he reached out for the younger man's hand. "Forgive me…"

"That's not important now," Ben shook his head frantically.

A soft smile appeared on the war vet's face as he reached up and took Ben's thin braid between his fingers. "I failed to live by the Resol'nare, we are honored-bound to help a foundling return to it's people...I couldn't…I refused…" He struggled to speak, his breathing became more labored.

"You knew I was a Jedi," Ben closed his eyes, he had already come to the conclusion but he needed to hear the confession from his father. "And you kept me anyway."

"I did,"

"Why?" His voice came out in almost a squeak.

"You were one of us." Jaster said, his voice trembling due to the effort. "You will always be one of us, my boy...my adiik."

Ben felt his emotions crashing against one another inside his skull, each attempting to dominate the other. But in this moment he couldn't bring himself to cause the man he still considered a father any further pain. He wasn't sure if he'd ever truly be able to understand or forgive Jaster for the deception, but that was his burden to bear, not the old warrior's.

"Nothing happens by accident, I was meant to be here." He softly replied, moving Jaster's hand from his braid. "Buir."

The older man nodded and turned his head with great effort towards Jango. "Give us a moment Ben,"

Jango exchanged glances with his fellow foundling and Ben could see his own grief mirrored in Jango's eyes. He squeezed Jaster's hand one more time before leaving the room, not wanting to leave, but conditioned to follow the command of the Mand'alor. He stood and placed his helmet back on and left the other Mandalorians alone.

He walked down the ramp of the ship and found Siri in full beskar guarding the ship. He suddenly felt as if the dam broke and a wave of sorrow crashed into him, knocking him off his feet. Siri turned just in time to see him fall to his knees, she slowly moved towards him, removing her helmet, unsure if he'd welcome her presence.

As if he were able to read her thoughts he reached a hand out for her. She gripped it tightly and sat down next to him on the ramp. His face was hidden behind his helmet, but she could sense the tears, she squeezed his hand in support.

"Is he?" She ventured to ask after a moment.

"Soon,"

"I'm sorry," she answered softly and sincerely. "I may only know him as the man who ordered my death, but it was obvious he did it out of concern for his people. He was a good man."

Ben sighed. "A good man who stole my life for his own benefit."

"Ben,"

"He knew I was a Jedi, he lied to me." Ben reached up and removed his helmet and threw it down the ramp.

"He found a child lost and alone with no memories and he raised that child as his own." She answered.

"Only because he wanted to use me for my powers, to get back at the Jedi!" Ben cried.

"You don't believe that."

Ben's breathing began to even out before he replied. "I know...I just feel so lost."

"You can never be truly lost if you have the Force." She reached out and placed a hand on his leg. "Nothing has really changed."

"Everything has changed, I can't stay here." Ben looked at her. "Jango might be able to move past this, but the rest of Mandalore will have my head for being a Jedi. And it's not like I can go back to your temple…"

She hesitated. "What if you could?"

"Sure. I bet the Jedi have a habit of reinstating untrained Force sensitive bounty hunters who kidnapped one of their own." He rolled his eyes.

"I couldn't even begin to guess what would happen should you return." She nodded. "But Jaster was not the only man who thought of you as a son, there is another who would do anything to help you."

Ben scoffed. "One Jedi in my corner, I'm not sure I like those odds."

"Not just one," she squeezed his knee. "I thought I had made that clear by now."

"Siri,"

"Kenobi," she replied, unable to help the small smile at his reaction.

"Kenobi...it feels right." He finally said after a moment of sitting with the name.

"Because it's who you are."

Ben leaned his forehead against hers, she pulled him closer and felt the surge between them within the Force. After a moment Ben shuttered and pulled away, though Siri couldn't sense it directly she knew it meant that Jasper had passed. She squeezed his hand again and offered him an apologetic look. The moment didn't last long before the rabid form of Jango Fett came barreling down the ramp, pushing them aside.

"Jango, vod!" Ben called after him.

"Get your things Ben, we're going hunting." Jango's voice was like ice.

Ben and Siri exchanged glances. "Jango, our mission was to bring home the Mand'alor, not get ourselves killed by going after Death Watch."

"I am the Mand'alor." Jango's voice now sounded small and unsure. "He named me his successor as his final act."

"Vod, you deserve it." Ben said sincerely. "But we have to be smart, we need to regroup. Jaster and the others who were lost need their proper ceremonies so they can be united with Manda."

"Vizsla would never suspect an ambush now." Jango replied.

"Because it's suicide."

Jango bent down to retrieve Ben's discarded helmet. He gently dusted off the visor and turned to look at the man he considered his brother. "You may have the heart of a Jedi…" he glanced at Siri who lifted her chin in defiance. "But Mandalore is in your blood."

"Jango, Manda'lor no good will come from vengeance." Ben pleaded.

Jango tossed the helmet at Ben's feet. "You're either with me, or you're my enemy."

Siri felt her blood run cold at the proclamation of an absolute, she had been taught that the dark side presided in absolutes. She didn't like the warnings she was now sensing through the Force. She turned her attention away from Jango and back towards Ben who was slowly picking up his helmet.

"This is the way." He mumbled, though it was clear his heart wasn't in it.

"This is the way." Jango echoed and turned towards the last known trajectory of their enemy encampment.

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"What do you mean you haven't seen him?" Qui-Gon Jinn did his best to keep his voice calm. "How can he have just disappeared?"

"I'm sorry Master Jinn, but Anakin never reported back after last meal." The holographic image of Shaak Ti solemnly replied. "We've been searching the entire temple and have not been able to locate him."

'No, no no no...not again.' Qui-Gon's thoughts began spiraling yet he maintained a mask of calm. "What about the lower levels, perhaps he snuck out to explore? Have we informed the Coruscant police?"

"Yes Master Jinn, every precaution has been taken." The female Togruta answered. "I am confident we will find him, but since you are his current guardian I needed to let you know."

"Thank you Knight Ti, please keep me apprised of any changes." Qui-Gon replied, allowing a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose once the hologram faded.

"Setting course for Coruscant." Adi's calm voice broke the uneasy silence.

"Adi, what about Siri?" Qui-Gon looked at his friend in concern. "We have a lead, we could be close."

"Siri is a senior Padawan on the cusp of knighthood." Adi Gallia answered. "Skywalker is a nine year old Force prodigy with zero training. It is obvious that we must find him first, don't be daft."

"I can't believe that I let it happen again Adi," Qui-Gon sat back in his seat as Adi adjusted the Navi computer. "I pushed aside a promising young boy because of my attachment to his predecessor. And then I lost him."

"Be mindful of your feelings Qui," Adi admonished. "Anakin is probably hiding in one of the gardens. No need to jump off the deep end yet."

Qui-Gon offered a smile though it never reached his eyes. Though he had only known the former slave for a short time he knew there would be no way he could hide his supernova presence in the Force from a Temple searching for him if he had still been there. No, it was clear to the Jedi Master that he'd lost another one.

But he promised to himself that this time he wouldn't be too late.

0000

TBC

Author's note: Apologies for the shorter chapter, I am struggling to find time to write these days so updates might be slower. But, I promise I will not abandon this story!

Thank you to all who have been reading, subscribing, bookmarking, leaving comments and kudos - you give me the inspiration to keep writing these crazy fics!