Disclaimer: still own none of them
Sequel Part 2
Harry gently examined Riku, he would need to send them out again soon and he wanted Riku better protected. It had been too close with that Seal after all, but Riku had been possessed before, had fallen to Darkness even if he had been pushed along that road by others, and that had left its mark on him. Every life Riku lived, Darkness targeted him and sometimes it was successful so long as he and Sora were kept apart. Their Soul bond would save him ever time, but Harry would prefer him not to be tortured like that.
"I'm okay Harry," Riku always promised that when he returned home, but that didn't stop him from worrying.
Harry loved Riku as much as he loved Sora and he couldn't help fearing the Darkness would take him one day, blacken his Soul until Oblivion was the only answer. He may be Death, but even he had his limitations.
They were coming up on the five hundredth anniversary of Riku's joining them and Harry was working to arrange something very special for them both, but it was taking a lot of work, he hoped it was done in time.
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Sora shrieked as he went under, coming up spluttering before launching a counterattack, grinning when Harry laughed but went over backwards, Riku lunging in as well. The two of them took him on and then Sora yelped when Riku yanked him under by his ankle. Traitor!
They were at the beach, just having fun. Well, it looked, smelt, even sounded, and felt like a real beach. The Nexus could provide anything they wanted after all.
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Riku kissed Sora, holding on tight, and Sora's grip was just as clingy. Tomorrow, they would enter a new world and be parted for who knew how long. Harry was busy preparing to send them into the mortal realm, the last few nights had been spent all together and now tonight was just them. "I love you," he whispered, making Sora smile.
"Love you too," Sora answered, laying back on the bed. "We'll find each other, we always do," he promised.
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Harry watched as Sora and Riku fell into a deep sleep before their souls began to fade away, synchronising with the waiting foetuses' in the dimension they were being sent to. Should he have warned them how different they would be there? No, there was no point when they wouldn't remember anything there. If they were upset when they came home then he'd make sure to tell them about such changes before sending them next time it was relevant.
Worlds and about eight months apart, two baby boys were born to very different families.
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Sora glanced at the girl opposite him, he knew her name, Ahsoka Tano, but that was about it. They had been in different Youngling clans at the Temple due to the difference in their ages. And now they were sharing a transport to their new assigned masters. It wasn't how he'd imagined becoming a Padawan, he had hoped a Master would choose him, but it hadn't happened. without the war…he'd likely be on his way to the AgriCorps or another of the service corps among the Order. He knew he was an oddity within the Order, though not as much as Skywalker.
He'd been five when they took him in and there'd been a near diplomatic mess over it too. After all, the Jedi had nearly wiped out every male of his people long ago and so allowing him to join the Order had caused trouble. But since he'd been found on a downed ship outside of the Hapes Consortium they hadn't even realised he was Hapan at first, until he'd recovered enough to speak and a protocol droid recognised the language. He didn't know what had been involved in his being allowed to remain outside the Cluster and he doubted he'd ever be told, but he knew he could never go back. He wouldn't want to anyway, he barely remembered his life there and he was male, he had a better life now than he ever would have had there. As a Jedi, he could serve the people of the Galaxy rather than being used for breeding or labour.
Though, the memories he had…a gentle voice, laughter, soft fabrics, a smiling woman, and kind man…and a woman who always remained veiled and spoke harshly to all of them…the word Ereneda. He'd managed to keep his language studies for his native language and knew that meant the Queen Mother….the possibilities that indicated and the fact that one of the very few confirmed pieces of news from the Consortium was the death of the Queen's daughter and son-in-law around the same time as he'd been found in the crashed ship. The current Queen Mother's anti-Jedi attitude was the most extreme in centuries…had his parents died trying to get him out of the Consortium for his own safety?
He was glad that his eyesight had been helped when he was little, otherwise the low light of the shuttle would have him practically blind. The cybernetics weren't visible but they allowed him almost normal human level night vision so he could see those within the shuttle as easily as they could see him.
He felt a flash of worry from his fellow Padawan as the shuttle shook, reaching out to steady the shorter form. "Alright?" he asked, and she nodded.
"We're almost there sirs!" a clone called, and Sora nodded.
Soon, the ship was settling down, the ramp lowering, and he took a breath, stepping forward with her to face their new Masters.
"A Youngling?" Master Kenobi was staring at Ahsoka and not him thankfully, so he was a little late hitting a growth spurt.
"And who are you…two supposed to be?" Knight Skywalker looked between them.
Sora bowed to them both, Ahsoka following. "My name is Sora, Masters," he introduced politely. He had no family name; the Order had never given him one and no family from Hapes had ever claimed him. He was hardly the only member with only one name so it rarely bothered him.
"I'm Ahsoka, Master Yoda sent us. I was told to tell both of you that you must get back to the Jedi Temple immediately. There's an emergency," she explained quickly.
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Obi-Wan stared at the two before them, he had asked for a Padawan and assumed the boy was to be his due to being the elder but why send a Youngling as well?
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but we're in a bit of an emergency right here," Anakin snapped at her, and Obi-Wan bit back a sigh, patience would always be his short falling it seemed.
"Yes, our communications have been a bit unreliable but we've been calling for help."
"Master Yoda hadn't heard from you so he sent us to deliver the message," Sora spoke up.
"Oh, great. They don't even know we're in trouble," Anakin groaned.
"Maybe you can relay a signal through the cruiser that just dropped us off?" Ahsoka suggested.
A very good idea and they soon had a message relayed through to the Temple.
"Master Kenobi, glad Sora and Ahsoka found you, I am."
"Master Yoda, we are trapped here, and vastly outnumbered. We are in no position to go anywhere or do anything. Our support ships have all been destroyed," Obi-Wan explained.
"Send reinforcements to you, we will." And then the image vanished.
"Master Yoda? Master Yoda?"
"We've lost the transmission, sir. We have to leave orbit immediately. More enemy ships have just arrived. We'll get back to you as soon as we can."
"Well, I guess we'll have to hold out a little longer," Anakin sighed.
Obi-Wan nodded, turning to the two who had been very patient considering the circumstances. He found Sora to be looking around, taking everything in, grey eyes serious as he observed. Ahsoka appeared more unsettled, bouncing on her heels slightly. "My apologies, young ones. It's time for a proper introduction."
The two exchanged a look and Sora waved her forward with a small smile.
"I'm the new Padawan learner. I'm Ahsoka Tano."
Well…that was a surprise. "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, your new Master," he quickly covered his surprise.
"I'm at your service, Master Kenobi…but I'm afraid I've actually been assigned to Master Skywalker."
"What? No, no, no. There must be some mistake. He's the one who wanted the Padawan," Anakin swiftly denied, shaking his head.
"No, Master Yoda was very specific, I'm assigned to Anakin Skywalker, and he is to supervise my Jedi training."
"Then?" Obi-Wan looked at Sora who bowed to him.
"I have been assigned as your Padawan, Master Kenobi."
"Sora…?"
"I have no family name Master, Master Yoda said I can choose one if I find one that fits."
It wasn't unheard of, but not usually among the human members of the Order. Then again, looking human didn't necessarily mean he actually was baseline human.
"This doesn't make any sense," Anakin looked to him for answers.
"We'll have to sort this out later. It won't be long before those droids figure out a way around our cannons," Obi-Wan pointed out. Maybe…having a Padawan would be good for Anakin, even if he was rather young to take one on. Then again, nothing about their lives was normal thanks to the blasted war.
"I'll check on Rex in the lookout post," Anakin nodded and went to walk away.
"You'd better take her with you," Obi-Wan called after him, before motioning for Sora to follow him.
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"They're right behind us, sir!" A clone yelled as he vaulted the barrier, and Sora grabbed him to steady him, seeing the red smeared on the white armour, feeling a little sick. "They wiped out most of my unit. We had to pull out of there."
"The shield has almost reached the heavy cannons," Master Kenobi mused, and Sora really hoped he had a plan.
"We're not gonna be able to stop them, sir."
"Move your troops back to the heavy cannons. Do everything you can to protect them. I'll delay the droids. Sora, you will go with the troops, understood?"
"But..."
"That is an order, Captain!" he commanded and then turned to Sora, expression softer. "Understood?"
"Yes Master," Sora nodded, moving to help the wounded as they pulled back.
"You're alright kid," the one he was helping murmured as they moved as quickly as possible. "Just stick with us."
"Yes," Sora glanced at his armour for a rank mark, "trooper."
"Name's Sketch," was the answer as Sora helped him sit back behind the canons. "Don't worry about the General, sir. He can look after himself."
"Right," Sora nodded, fingering his lightsaber. There was so much noise, so many emotions, deaths…it was nothing like the Temple!
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Harry gently collected the blonds' soul, he didn't need to show him anything, he didn't remember the man he had once called husband. That had been the cost of Sora's actions so long ago. The clone was the first of the group to pass, having made it to sixty, far older than any of his 'brothers' who had died in the name of the Empire. Despite not remembering, there was a sadness that had clung to him since Sora's death. He sent him on the Afterlife where he could finally be fully happy again.
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"I'm hit! I can't shake them!"
"Just relax, Odd Ball. I'm right behind you," Obi-Wan assured him as he took out the droid fighters. He may hate flying but sometimes it was necessary. He was just glad that for now at least, his Padawan was safely aboard the cruiser. He wanted to see his flying skills for himself before allowing him to fly in combat.
"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry I panicked."
"That's all right, Odd Ball, it happens to everybody," he assured him, checking his monitors, and then looking out the cockpit. "It looks like there's some kind of battle on the east side of the palace."
"I see it, sir."
"And if there's a battle, Anakin's probably in the middle of it. We'll start looking for him there. All ships, follow me."
"Master, a ship is leaving the planet, it looks like a smuggler ship…and it's being pursued," Sora's voice came over the comm.
"Try and hail it, Anakin may have taken whatever he could find."
"Yes Master."
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"Doing well, your new Padawan is?" Yoda asked as they observed the two Padawans sparing.
"He seems to be settling in and the troops have taken him under their wing," Obi-Wan answered. "I'm not sure about assigning Ahsoka to Anakin, they're….too similar in some ways." Although they had done well in rescuing Jabba's son.
"Steady him, the girl can. Confidence, trust in himself, young Sora needs. Teach him that you can."
"He's familiar," Obi-Wan admitted, and Yoda nodded.
"Found close to Hapan Consortium, the child was. Diplomatic trouble his testing caused."
"Ah," Obi-Wan nodded.
He remembered that, hearing of it at least after returning with his Master from a mission. The child hadn't spoken a word of Galactic Basic but had been taken in by the authorities before someone had finally realised he was from Hapes. They had managed to contact the Consortium but as soon as they'd heard the boy was actually Force sensitive it had become apparent his life would be in danger should he be returned. He wondered if Sora knew that or if he had been told things had simply been worked out. To hold such a grudge against the Order for so long…
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Dooku watched the boy run through his lessons, he was doing well enough. The young Mirialan was proving to be a good student, his connection to the Force strong and he had the typical agility of his species. He was younger than Ventress and without any exposure to Jedi teachings so Dooku had high hopes for young Riku.
The boy glanced up, having sensed his presence, purple eyes curious, but then he pushed his black hair back with one green hand, refocusing on his work. Sidious did not know of his younger apprentice and never would. No, the elder Sith would be dead and he would be the true Master before the boy was revealed. He had yet to even earn a Sith title yet, still using the name he'd had when Dooku had found him; Riku. An odd name for a Mirialan and he lacked the distinctive tattoos as well, those would come in time since he would stand out too much if he lacked them.
Both Skywalker and Kenobi had taken on Padawans…perhaps the boy could be of use there?
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Sora darted behind a crate, green lightsaber flying to deflect incoming fire. "Cody!" he yelled.
"We're pinned down sir."
Sora grimaced, looking around. The hanger was brightly lit, making it harder to hide, but meaning he could see perfectly which was always nice. He spotted the cargo net and took a deep breath, reaching for the Force before letting his lightsaber fly, the blade slicing through the cables, sending the crates crashing down on a group of droids.
"Nice shot!" Wooley called over the comm, and Sora grinned.
The clones leapt from their cover and Sora was right beside them, blocking and deflecting fire from them.
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Riku collapsed on his cot, body aching, limbs shaking. He curled into a ball, forcing his breathing to slow. Training today had been bad, the worst it'd been in a long time. Master Dooku gave him everything, had saved him, and Riku had to do better. If not for Master, he'd be dead on the streets and he knew it, he owed him everything. So why…why did part of him long to be out there among the stars?
He forced himself to sit up, going to the fresher to clean up, running a comb through tangled black hair, studying himself in the mirror. What had made his Master save him? He wasn't anything special to look at and he knew his Master preferred working with other humans. He might match a humans body type but that was it, his skin and eye colour made his heritage obvious.
What would he be like, to be with others like himself?
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He wanted nothing more than to comfort Riku, but he couldn't. This was not the life Riku was meant to be living, he was meant to have been taken by the Temple, to grow up beside Sora. Instead his family had died before Riku had been tested, the boy taken by criminals to be sold only to end up on the streets. Still, as Dooku's Apprentice there was still a chance he and Sora would meet and it wouldn't be the first time they had been separated by conflict only for their union to help end it. Riku was not lost to the Dark Side of the Force and even if he was, so long as he met Sora then he would find his way back.
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Cody watched as some of his men worked with their new Commander, well he wasn't really new anymore, not after four months. He was still pretty shiny but he was just a kid, Jedi or not. He was quiet but he seemed to soak up anything and everything they could teach him which was good. he'd heard the talk from other battalions about their Commander and Generals, ones who didn't listen despite the clones having been trained for war from the start. No, Commander Sora would grow up into a fine Commander and the General seemed pleased with his Jedi training too.
He'd had to spread word though after overhearing whispers in the barracks about the Commander, he was underaged and he would not allow that kind of talk about the kid. Yes, he was highly attractive for a human male but so were most Hapans. if the kid chose to ignore rank and share a berth with someone, then that was his business, but only once he was of age. If he caught anyone trying to pressure Commander Sora into something like that…
It was strange only using the one name for their Commander but he knew a lot of the men found it made the kid more like one of them. A few did wonder why he lacked a second name and Cody had looked up Hapan naming traditions to double check, he should have one. But no one had been bold enough to ask the Commander directly. Then again, the records stated they hated the Jedi, had his family disowned him maybe over being Force sensitive? Poor kid. Well, he had the Vod now as his family on top of the Order.
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"Good Sora, very good," Obi-Wan praised his Padawan as another crate joined the five circling the teen, if a little shakily. Telekinesis did not come easily to the young Hapan and five six was a new record.
Sora was a very different Padawan to Anakin, studious and a good listener, far more patient. But he had a mischievous side, though well hidden, and he had bonded well with the men. He was almost as good a pilot as Anakin which might be good or bad depending on the situation. It made Obi-Wan wonder why the boy hadn't been traditionally chosen years ago, he was hardly the mess Obi-Wan had been as a teen. Sora's strengths seemed to lie in the more subtle aspects of the Force; reading emotions, even getting glimpses of events from objects, the mind trick, and those kinds of skills. It was why Obi-Wan made sure to work him on things like Telekinesis and using the Force to augment his own physical abilities. Honestly, he thought Sora would have been a good math with Anakin, their strengths covering he others' weaknesses, but Sora may not have pushed Anakin where Ahsoka did.
"Master?"
"Yes Padawan?" Obi-Wan focused on Sora as the crates settled onto the ground in a mostly controlled manner.
Sora shifted slightly, hesitating, and Obi-Wan began growing concerned. "Do you ever…have strange dreams?"
"Strange how Sora?" he asked, drawing the boy over to where the bench was to sit.
"Images…voices…but I don't recognise anything and nothing's really clear enough to make out properly. Or if it is, it isn't once I'm awake."
"Hmm," he stroked his beard, thinking. After Anakin, he would not dismiss anything odd even in a dream. Thankfully, Sora's dreams did not seem like visions, they would be clearer if they were. "I will have to madidate on this Padawan. Even dream visions tend to be understandable. For now, don't worry, but let me know if they change. I will see what I can find."
"Yes Master, thank you."
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Riku bit his lip, refusing to scream as the needles plunged into his flesh. He was a failure…weak… he screamed, back arching against metal as electrical current streamed through his body, writhing in agony. All there was, was the pain, no thought, nothing.
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The young again King stood before him, Harry taking in the features the half-brothers shared. Eos would be in good hands with young Sora on the throne, but the Chosen King had finally passed at eighty-seven. Noctis stared at his hands, obviously shocked to be back in his early twenties. His wife had passed almost fifteen years before, her body weakened by waking the Astrals. Theirs had not been a love match but one of friendship and for their people. He did wonder how they had chosen their sons' name, a subconscious nudge perhaps despite no longer remembering his brother?
"Where am I?"
"Welcome to the Nexus, King Noctis." Should he tell him how he survived the Prophecy?
"It's you…you're the one that stopped me dying," Noctis stared at him with wide eyes, and Harry nodded.
"I am Death. Bahamut's prophecy was…not something I agreed with." Let him think Harry had chosen to interfere for no fee rather than know his own brother had chosen to pay the price in his place. "You are very missed young King, it's time for you to be with them." He sent him on before anything else could be said.
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Sora snapped awake, panting for air, the Force screaming around him and then the door to his room opened, his Master appearing.
"Padawan?" the man knelt beside his bunk, reaching for him, and Sora barely kept from flinching back. "Easy young one, you're safe," he soothed, and Sora stared at him with wide eyes before throwing himself at him, clinging tight.
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Obi-Wan was shocked when Sora clung to him but carefully wrapped his arms around the teen in return, relieved as the Force began to calm. He had been shocked out of sleep by the Force and Sora's pain and terror. He'd honestly believed the boy was being attacked and had rushed to his quarters, probably shocking a few crew members as he rushed past them.
"It's alright Sora," he whispered, gently using the Force to calm the boy. He felt Sora's breathing slowly even out, his body no longer trembling. "More dreams?" he asked when Sora shifted back.
His Padawan nodded. "There was a boy…I couldn't see him but, Master…he was being tortured. So much pain and fear," Sora swallowed and Obi-Wan got up to get him a glass of water.
"Was there anything that could identify him, the location, even when?" he pressed as gently as he could. If Sora was having visions of a child being tortured then surely there would be something they could act on, why else give them to him?
Sora closed his eyes and Obi-Wan waited patiently, but eventually he opened his eyes and shook his head. "No Master, nothing. I think someone else was there, watching, a voice but I couldn't make it out…over the screaming. I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for Sora. We're due back at the Temple in a few days, I'd like to see who is available to work with you on this. Unfortunately, visions and Force dreams are beyond my ability. Anakin has them but I'd like an older Master to see what they can do for you."
Sora nodded, looking exhausted.
"Would you like me to help you sleep?" he offered, Anakin had always refused such help unless wounded, but Sora nodded, lying back down. Obi-Wan gently brushed his fingers over Sora's forehead, letting the Force flow between them, and soon Sora was deep asleep, hopefully dream free.
Obi-Wan stayed a while longer at his side before leaving only to find Waxer outside.
"General?"
"Everything's alright Waxer."
"We heard screaming Sir. Is…is the Commander…"
"He will be alright, but he will be in Temple once we reach Coruscant. I know the men were planning some group training exercises with him."
"Yes sir."
"And Waxer," he called.
"General?"
"Your concern is welcome." He went back to his quarters to get some sleep; his reports could wait.
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He had plans for Dooku's soul before it was sent on. How dare he harm his Hand in that way! Poor Riku, he'd stood no chance of resisting the man he called Master. He'd been raised to Fall and now once purple eyes were Sith yellow. In time, Riku would learn to hide the turmoil and regain the beautiful purple eyes he had in this life, at least most of the time, but still the yellow was not comforting. It was strange how in so many dimensions, yellow or red eyes meant the same thing.
And thanks to their Soul bond, Sora was now having dreams of the torture Riku had endured to finalise his Fall. He wished he could influence that Force to give Sora an idea on Riku's location but the Force was mostly connected to life, not death, even if some who died there could linger as 'ghosts' within it for a time. Like a certain dead Jedi was doing, though no one could hear or see him just yet.
Both boys looked so different to normal, but it didn't bother him. what was the physical shell compared to the soul? Riku would likely find being an 'alien' fascinating when he returned home. It was interesting how their very different upbringings had influenced their personalities though, Sora had never been so different before, the Jedi Code supressing much of the Sora he knew and loved. Oh it was still there, but so tightly controlled. And Riku was now far worse than he'd been even during Sora's first journey with the Keyblade. He was glad they would forget these lives.
He frowned as he saw a man was bitten almost in half while sitting on a toilet, cowering in terror after having abandoned two children. Lawyers. What idiot thought making dinosaurs was a good idea anyway? Someone with way more money than sense obviously.
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Riku knelt before his Master, awaiting orders. Finally, he was to be given an assignment. His Master had been gone more and more often and for longer thanks to the war. He knew of the other Apprentice, Ventress, but that didn't worry him. She was nothing but an assassin, useful for the moment only.
"I have a mission for you my Apprentice. Succeed and you shall truly be one of the Sith," Master Tyranus told him.
"Thank you Master," he kept his eyes on the floor.
"It shall be a test, but one that should be within your skill range. If it is not…"
Riku understood the unspoken words; succeed or die.
"Two Jedi have taken new Padawans. These Jedi are a continuing thorn in my side but now they have a weakness. Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Knight Anakin Skywalker will be dealt with. Your mission is to get close to the Padawan's, use them, and when the time comes, kill them."
"Yes Master."
"Skywalker's Padawan is already friends with one of your people so be careful. You will need to be given the correct tattoos before leaving,"
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Sora slumped down against some rubble but managed a smile for the small girl who approached, clinging to an adults hand. She was cute, he could see why Waxer and Boil had taken to her. She shuffled closer and then Sora laughed as she hugged him. "Goodbye Numa," he offered in stilted Twi'leki, he'd only begun learning from his Master a few weeks ago.
She smiled brightly at him. "Goodbye Sora. Thank you!" she ran back to her uncle and the two left.
He was glad they'd found some living family for her, even though he thought Waxer and Boil wanted to keep her. He drank some water and downed a ration bar before tiredly getting up for the march to the capital, they had a planet to free after all. He hoped Ahsoka was doing alright as part of the ongoing space skirmishes. He knew she'd taken heavy losses earlier and that it was affecting her. He was glad he wasn't often needed in a fighter, not that he didn't love flying, he did, but he didn't like flying in combat, surrounded by pain and death.
He stumbled, for a second his vision shifted and he was somewhere else, a boy with silver hair and cyan eyes smiling softly at him.
"Sir!"
A hand on his elbow jolted him back and Sora blinked at Boil in confusion.
"Commander, are you injured?"
"No, I'm fine."
Who was that?
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Riku stared at his reflection, taking in the new tattoos, standing out stark black against his skin. It felt strange to see, stranger than the first time he'd seen himself with Sith yellow eyes, proof that he was finally proving his worth to his Master. He left the fresher to go to his desk, bringing up the files he'd been given on Padawan's Tano and Sora, no other name given. It would be easier getting close with one of them not being human, he wouldn't need to be so worried about anti-alien sentiment.
He found his eyes always shifting to the picture of Sora, he….he was beautiful. Then again, according to his studies, that was one of the things Hapans were known for. It wasn't just that though, there was just something about those grey eyes, even in image form. Riku shook it off, he had a job to do, one that would not be easy. He would not be able to hide his Force abilities, he would have to act untrained with them though, someone the Order missed. But how to keep close?
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Ahsoka laughed as she tackled Sora, taking him down, her boys cheering in the background, the sound of other armoured bodies colliding. She liked it when they were all together, it felt right. And the games were a great bonding method, but it also taught the boys to have fun. Everyone needed fun, soldiers and Jedi alike. Sora grinned at her and then her back hit the mat, knocking the wind from her. Ahsoka laughed but conceded, she could never dislodge him once he had her pinned.
"Better luck next time," he tugged her beads playfully and she swatted at his hand.
"No fair, you're older," she mock pouted. "And bigger."
"And you're more flexible," he shot back.
"Come on you two, play nice," Skyguy called, smirking.
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Sora ran through the market, able to feel his Master a few streets over, Ahsoka and Master Skywalker spread out as they chased down a Seppie spy. He had Republic intel and had to be stopped before he could get it to their forces. He leaped over a table and then he slammed into a body, the two of them tumbling to the ground. They rolled and then Sora was blinking up into wide purple eyes.
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Riku stared down into wide grey eyes, taking seconds to realise exactly who was lying beneath him. The Force had obviously arranged their meeting which was nice, it made things easier for him. He hadn't even known they were in the system. And he really should move, get off him, but he couldn't, couldn't look away, and Sora seemed to have the same issue, staring up at him silently.
"Commander!"
And then Riku was being hauled off the Jedi, his arms yanked behind his back painfully. He didn't struggle even as binders were locked around his wrists.
"Stand down!" a firm voice ordered and oh, that was what he sounded like. It was a nice voice, and Riku had to fight the urge to shake his head, what was wrong with him? This was the enemy and he was acting like…he didn't know what.
"Sir?"
"Stand down and let him go," Sora ordered as another clone helped him up, pushing the distinctive Padawan braid behind his ear. "I ran into him; he didn't do anything wrong."
Riku could feel everyone staring at him, knew what they were seeing due to how he was dressed. How would Republic troops treat a street rat? The clothes and dirt brought back memories he wanted to forget so badly, but it was a good cover. He felt the binders release and moved his arms slowly, rubbing his wrists.
"I'm so sorry, are you hurt?" Sora asked him and strangely, he seemed to mean it. Were Jedi really so weak?
"I'm sorry sir," he lowered his gaze. "It was my fault." He cringed down slightly, letting his fear and expectation of violence leak into the Force.
"It's alright, no one's going to hurt you," a gloved hand touched his arm, and Riku looked up to meet soft eyes. His wrist beeped and he raised it to his mouth, speaking softly and then listening. "Understood Master Skywalker." He lowered his hand and looked at the troopers. "Pack up, we got him."
"Sir yes sir!"
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Sora was relieved his mistake hadn't let the spy escape. He glanced at the boy he'd run into, a Mirialan he thought was around his age. But from his clothing and condition…he'd felt the fear and expectation of violence and felt sick. Actually, he'd felt it a little too clearly. Hesitantly, he reached out with the Force, brushing the other boy's mind, feeling him startle. 'Hello,' he sent very carefully, watching his eyes go almost too wide.
"What…how…"
'Master,' Sora sent to his own Master, feeling the older man shift his attention his way, the bond opening further, allowing Sora to send his impressions on Riku. He got back the feeling of too old and he knew that, but the world would likely soon fall to the Separatists and if Dooku found Riku…he felt the okay to bring Riku aboard, that they'd work something out.
"Sorry," Sora murmured, "didn't mean to scare you. How about you come up to the ship with me as an apology for getting you into this mess? A good meal, place to clean up, and we can talk."
"Why would you want to talk to me?" the question was wary and so was the sense of him in the Force but there was something else…a yearning…he was so alone.
"Why wouldn't I? Besides…you heard me, you're like me. What's your name?"
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Well, that was easy, too easy. Surely just realising he was Force sensitive wasn't enough to get an invite onto their ship? And was that really the best he could do to convince a scared street kid to walk onto a Republic ship? Well, it made his mission easier.
"Riku," he made sure to keep his core shields strong but to allow Sora to sense his wariness and longing for companionship. "Are….are you arresting me?"
"No," Sora shook his head and then offered his hand. "I want to help you; you don't have to live on the streets anymore."
Before he even realised what he was doing, he'd taken Sora's hand. He checked himself but no, there'd been no compulsion or any kind of Force influence. What was wrong with him?
"It's okay, no one will hurt you," Sora gently tugged his hand, and Riku let himself be led through the marketplace towards the Republic shuttles.
"Sir?" a clone asked as they arrived, and Riku could sense its confusion at his presence.
"Riku's with me, Master Obi-Wan knows."
"Very well sir."
"Here we go," Sora stepped up into the transport, showing Riku where to hold onto a strap for take-off.
Riku fought the urge to tense as the other three jedi arrived, he wasn't worried about either Padawan seeing past his shields, but the Master and Knight might.
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Anakin spotted the boy standing nervously with Sora, immediately detecting signs he remembered from his childhood on Tatooine. Poor kid, and Obi-Wan said Sora had detected he was Force Sensitive. Kid was lucky no slavers or worse had realised that. The Council hadn't wanted him trained, no way would they accept the boy, but they definitely couldn't just leave him on a world likely to soon be overrun. If someone like Dooku or Ventress got their hands on him… If they couldn't work something out, Padme would surely agree to let the boy live on Naboo with a foster family. He'd be safe enough there and they could keep a discrete eye on him.
Seeing Sora holding his hand was strange, the teen always struck Anakin as rather reserved, though compassionate. It had taken time for him to open up around them and the boys. Unless the hand holding was to simply offer comfort? The poor kid had to be feeling very overwhelmed by them all, especially if he'd been on his own for a while.
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Obi-Wan kept his distance as the medics looked the boy over, running various tests to ensure he was healthy. He'd also asked for a Midi-chlorian count, just to be sure. He was surprised by the results, an identical level to Sora and his Padawan was above average. How had the boy been missed? Then again, he was Mirialan, and not all of them who were Force sensitive were given to the Order. His entire people were known for their spirituality and strong connection with the world around them, many of them having at least some level of Force sensitivity. The other results though…his life had not been an easy one at all.
The Council would never agree to his training, not when he was around Sora's age. But there were other options – one of the service corps could work and all his needs would be seen to. If not, Obi-Wan had enough favours owing on various worlds to find someone who would take the boy in, not that he liked using such things. Bail would likely offer without needing a favour, Padme too. The question was, could the boy adapt to a stable life? Well, he'd have some time on the ship to begin that adapting and Obi-Wan would test what Force abilities he'd been using subconsciously, perhaps teach him some basic meditation and the like. He needed to be able to control his emotions and power after all. They had another mission before they could return to Coruscant to hand the teen over.
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Riku carefully sat up once it felt like Sora was in a deep sleep. He slipped down from the bunk, staring down at his sleeping face. He looked…innocent, beautiful. Riku carefully placed his fingers on Sora's temples, reaching out with the Force for his sleeping mind. Master had ensured he had very thorough training in planting suggestions deep into the mind, and Riku was very careful not to disturb the bond with Sora's Master as he worked. The suggestion was simple, to trust Riku.
He…he wanted to keep Sora, not kill him. He would take Sora with him and ask his Master for permission. One Padawan could not be a threat, especially if kept docile. Riku was still learning the more powerful mental abilities but eventually he would be able to dominate another's mind and will, he could ensure Sora would never want to leave his side all without making him turn to the Dark Side. No, Sora would be kept innocent and loving, devoted to him. He stroked Sora's cheek and the teen sighed in his sleep.
He pulled his hand back as Sora shifted, eyes opening slowly, looking drowsy due to the day probably as well as the mental suggestion. "Riku?" he sat up slowly. "Are you okay?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Riku murmured, immediately falling back into character.
"It's alright, this must all be so different for you," Sora took his hand, and Riku fought back a shiver.
Whenever they touched, it was like the Force became more powerful or something. If it actually did….then Sora would be the key to his eventual freedom from his Master. He owed his Master for saving him from the life Sora thought he was still living but he also hated him for what he'd done to him, for using him. But Sora…Sora didn't seem to want anything from him, not that Riku could sense but there was something…oh. Sora's cheeks were slightly flushed, pupils dilated but he was Hapan and it was rather dark so he could simply be barely able to see. Or it could be a sign of physical attraction without Riku needing to do anything. There had been nothing in his file on if he found aliens attractive or not, he was training to be a Jedi after all. Not that all Jedi were celibate but many were.
Would it be too soon to try and capitalise on that? "I…" he looked down. "I want to stay with you Sora, I feel safe with you," he looked up at him to see Sora's eyes had widened.
"Riku…I…I wish you could," he admitted. "But this is a warship and you're a civilian, you wouldn't be safe here. I promise, wherever you go, I'll make sure it's safe, that you'll have a good life."
"And I'll never see you again, will I?"
"After the war," Sora whispered, leaning in. "I'll come to you."
"Promise?" Riku leant in as well, hearing Sora breathing quicker.
"Promise." Sora's eyes fell shut, lips parting slightly, and Riku lifted a hand to rest gently on the back of his neck, drawing him in. They were just about to kiss when alarms sounded, Sora jerking back, eyes wide, and Riku let him go, immediately acting scared. "It's okay," Sora immediately told him. "That's the scramble alert for fighter pilots. Just stay here, if anything happens then a trooper will come and get you." Sora was up and grabbing his robes.
"Be careful," Riku told him and found he meant it, even as Sora flashed him a smile.
"As I can be." And with that he was gone.
Riku sat on Sora's bunk, what was he doing?
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Sora dropped from the cockpit of his fighter, happy the fight was over and they'd turned the Seppie ambush back on them. He felt…off balance, flustered, all because of Riku. The sooner he was off the ship the better for both of them, he couldn't afford to be distracted. He was glad the alarm had gone when it had, kissing him would have been a mistake. After the war was done and they were both a bit older, with Riku having the chance to know a normal life, then maybe…not that they could have anything permanent. He was a jedi, he could not have attachments, which made Riku dangerous.
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Harry was shocked by just what Riku was considering. To make Sora want to stay with him, take away his free will…Riku had never given into such things before but now? If only those alarms hadn't gone off, they'd have kissed, solidifying their bond, and beginning the process of pulling Riku out of the Dark. If Riku did that to Sora before they could kiss…Sora would forgive him once they were home, of that he was sure. They never held the things that happened in their lives against each other when home, at least until they forgot all about it. They'd tried to kill each other a few times, used the other for intel, some nasty stuff, but it had never gone as far as mind control.
He sighed as he felt the last of the King's men pass, Ignis Scientia. He went to collect him and send him on the afterlife, watching for a moment as King Sora grieved alongside his own Advisor, Aulea Scientia.
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It was time to act, once they left orbit they would be on the way to Coruscant and his Master had insisted he never go there. Sora had put some distance between them since the near-kiss, stupid Jedi training, but the suggestion to trust him was still in his mind, growing stronger the longer it remained undetected. When Sora wasn't busy with his duties, he'd been teaching him, things Riku knew but with his cover shouldn't. Even his Master had spent time with him, showing him how to meditate. It was strange…very different to learning from his own Master. He'd prefer to give things a few more days but he couldn't wait any longer. He silently got up and packed the things he'd been given along with some of Sora's things and then moved to his bunk.
He ran his fingers through short dark blond hair, a soothing gesture, even as he wove the Force around him carefully. "Sora, wake up," he called softly, shaking his shoulder, and Sora slowly stirred.
"Riku?"
"You need to get up, we have to go."
"Go?" Sora asked in confusion, rubbing a hand across his face.
"Yes Sora, it's time to leave. You trust me, don't you?" he asked, reaching up to stroke his cheek.
He could see the suggestion working on Sora, reinforced before he woke him. "Of course I trust you," Sora agreed vaguely.
Any Force user could throw off a simply mind trick but an implanted suggestion was a lot harder, especially done when they were vulnerable… such as sleeping deeply because they believed themselves safe. Riku knew powerful Sith could plant suggestions and even compulsions in a Jedi who was actively resisting but he was nowhere near that, yet. History suggested they could do even more, like completely control other's minds, rewrite their thoughts but surely that was just a myth?
"Like I trust you," he smiled, and Sora smiled back. "You don't want to disturb your Master; he's had a very busy day. Can you block the bond without him sensing it?"
Sora frowned, "block him? I…"
"We want to surprise him Sora, like a birthday party. It's nothing bad, you don't want to spoil the surprise, do you?"
The frown smoothed out. "No," Sora agreed, closing his eyes. Riku touched his temple lightly to sense more easily what he was doing, feeling as he shielded the bond.
"Very good Sora," he praised, making Sora smile. "Just keep trusting me and everything will be fine."
Soon Sora was dressed and they left the room, heading for the hanger. It didn't take too much to have Sora sneaking them around security measures and Riku handled mind tricking anyone they came across. There was a small freighter in the hanger for when they needed to slip into systems without announcing the Republics presence and they boarded it. Sora disabled the security locks, remotely opening the hanger bay doors, and Riku powered it up, leaving the hanger. Once clear Riku quickly set a course and made the jump to light speed. It was a short trip and then he set a new course, he repeated the process several times to ensure they couldn't be traced.
Sora watched him, flickers of confusion occasionally crossing his face, obviously knowing something wrong was happening but unable to fight the trust he was being made to feel for Riku. "Where are we going?" he eventually asked.
"Home," Riku promised, taking his hand, and drawing him to his feet.
"Home?" he asked in confusion, letting Riku lead him from the cockpit. "The Temple?"
"No Sora, my home," he answered, opening the door to the small captain's quarters. "You're tired, things will make more sense once you've had more sleep." He pushed him to sit on the bunk, removing his boots for him.
"I…I'm so confused," Sora told him, leaning towards him.
Riku cupped his cheek, his other hand moving to run through his hair. "You're tired Sora, you need to sleep," he let the Force flow with the words, saw Sora's eyes losing focus, eyelids fluttering as his head became a heavy weight against his hand. With one suggestion already so heavily influencing him, it was much easier to make him accept another.
"Ri…ku…" he sighed, eyes closed, body slumping bonelessly into Riku's arms.
Riku carefully balanced him as he slipped Sora's robes off, settling him on the bunk, and covering him with a blanket. "That's it Sora, sleep until I wake you," he whispered. He picked the robes up in disgust. "You won't need these again." No, he'd make sure Sora dressed in something more appropriate, something soft and pretty.
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Sora slept deep and dreamlessly, the Force keeping him under at Riku's command. The suggestion to trust Riku continuing to weave ever deeper into his mind. He didn't feel Obi-Wan reach for him, his shields blocking his Master from finding them as the ship headed deeper into Separatist territory.
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Anakin studied all the data a panicked Obi-Wan had sent even as they rushed to rendezvous with the Negotiator. Somehow, Sora and Riku had left the ship during the night, taken the freighter, and vanished. He'd only known the teen for eight months…but that didn't sound at all like him. Obi-Wan had admitted the bond was blocked from Sora's end and with the ever-growing distance he was unable to overcome the block and reach his Padawan.
Why had they been so stupid? It couldn't be a coincidence they had vanished just before the ship could leave for Coruscant. They should have done more to make sure Riku really was who he appeared to be. Was he working for the Sith? Had he overpowered Sora and threatened the crew to make him cooperate? Or worse? Sora was good but if he hadn't been on guard, could Riku have used some kind of mind trick on him? They were rushing to change any codes Sora knew, Sith torture could break a fully trained Knight, a Padawan would stand no chance.
Ahsoka was a tense ball of worry beside him and he couldn't make himself tell her to calm down and trust the Force. How many had they lost to the war already? Was Sora to become just another casualty?
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Dooku was curious when he received the message from his youngest apprentice, saying he was returning already. So he was waiting when the ship landed, one he didn't recognise. It powered down and a few minutes later Riku emerged, a limp form in his arms. It took Dooku a few seconds to realise it was Obi-Wan's Padawan and he was breathing. A check with the Force showed him to be under a Force suggestion to sleep, very interesting.
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Riku watched Sora sleep for a while, just basking in the relief that his Master had agreed to allow him to live. He could keep Sora so long as he continued to do well, should he fail at a mission…no, he would not fail. He stroked Sora's hair, even as he gently nudged him with the Force. "It's time to wake up Sora," he called softly and within seconds Sora was stirring.
Sora smiled sleepily at him and Riku smiled back. He stretched and then blinked, sitting up to look around. "Where are we?"
"Home," Riku told him. "My Master wants to meet you."
Sora frowned slightly, but then nodded. "Okay."
He couldn't resist any longer, leaning in to press his lips to Sora's, hearing the soft noise of surprise the blond made…but he was kissing back, utterly biddable when Riku held him close to deepen the kiss. If anything would help Sora break free of his suggestion, it would be meeting his Master, public leader of the Separatists. He wanted Sora to accept a new life on Serenno, with him, without needing any coercion, but he had to be realistic. Sora had been raised in the Jedi Temple, indoctrinated to believe in their stupid Code. He would want to go back to his Master and the war and Riku couldn't allow that, it was too dangerous for him. He pulled back and smiled at the dazed look on Sora's face, had he ever been kissed before?
"Riku, I…we can't," Sora shook his head.
"We can," Riku told him gently but firmly.
"We can?" he frowned in confusion, the suggestions power waring with the rules he had grown up with.
"I promise, we can," he whispered, reinforcing the suggestion.
"Okay," Sora breathed.
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Dooku watched as his apprentice led the Padawan into the room, the boy watching him with an expression of utter trust. He had done well in laying that suggestion then, but would it last? He would be a good practice model for the more powerful mental arts, it didn't matter if his mind was destroyed since his apprentice wanted his body. Until then, they would see what the boy knew.
"Welcome to Serenno young Sora," he called as they approached.
Sora's eyes finally moved from Riku, the boy looking at him in confusion. He froze as recognition sank in, eyes going wide. "Count Dooku." He pulled at Riku's hand. "We have to run."
"It's alright Sora," he apprentice soothed, the Force moving between them powerfully.
"No," he shook his head, pulling at Riku.
"Shh, trust me Sora."
Dooku smirked as Sora stopped struggling, expression going vague, giving in to the implanted suggestion.
"I trust you," he murmured.
"Very well done my Apprentice."
"Thank you Master."
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"You should get some rest sir."
Obi-Wan set the report aside to look up at Cody. "I have work to do."
"General…we're all worried about Sora but you'll do him no good if you're too exhausted to fight for him when we find him."
"You sound so sure he's still alive," he couldn't help whispering.
"I asked General Koon, even with the bond blocked, you would know if he died. Have you felt that?" Cody pushed.
"No," he admitted softly. And that may be worse for his Padawan. It had been over a month since the two had vanished; if he was in the hands of the Sith…surely the blocks would have fallen if he was being tortured. And if…if he Fell? Could he bring him in or even kill him?
"As soon as we have a location, the men are ready," Cody promised. "And we're not the only ones, the 501st is ready as well."
Obi-Wan nodded, pleased by how close the men had come to Sora over the months since Christophsis. But that also meant it would cause them pain if the worst should happen and he'd seen how the men reacted to losing a Jedi they saw as theirs.
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Sora wrapped his arms around Riku, eagerly meeting every kiss, every touch. He lived in a fog, unable to think clearly, but it didn't matter. Riku looked after him, he trusted Riku. He didn't realise he'd spilled every bit of Republican intel he'd known to the Sith, sharing personal information on his Master and others, that two battles had been lost because of what he'd given them.
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Harry hated seeing what they were doing to Sora, but at least Riku was treating him kindly, other than manipulating his mind. This was not at all what he had hoped for in sending them, but their Soul bond was growing stronger every day, drawing Riku back to the Light. He'd hesitated several times, thankfully without Dooku noticing, with actions he wouldn't have thought twice about before meeting Sora. If Dooku threatened Sora, that would be the true test.
He blinked and grimaced as he saw machines forcing humans onto spikes that activated, killing them, converting their bodies. Soon a small group of soldiers landed on the colony world, forced to fight and kill the Husks the colonists had become. That dimension was heading towards another destruction…but had enough people in place to handle it, hopefully.
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Riku led the complacent Sora through the Palace to where he could sense his Master waiting for them. Sora never argued or hesitated anymore, his own will was gradually fading away as Riku learnt more and more. His mental defences were long gone, leaving his mind wide open to the smallest Force manipulation. Sora hadn't even blinked when his Padawan braid had been severed after a month and a half.
Riku hated when his Master sent him on missions, knowing that if he failed, it would be Sora who was used to punish him. He didn't trust his Master with him either, although as far as he knew nothing had happened. Riku had given his Master the leverage over him by bringing Sora with him, but the other option had been to kill him and he couldn't do it.
He glanced at Sora who smiled at him happily. It made him wish…but that was impossible, this was the only way Sora would ever be with him. "Let's go see what Master wants," he told him.
"Yes Riku."
He led Sora into the room and fought not to blanch as he saw the familiar chair. What? "Master," he bowed, and Sora copied.
"Sora, go to the chair," his Master commanded, and Sora obeyed the Force command, the restraints locking into place.
No…not Sora. Riku knew it was that torture that had broken him fully to his Master. Why use it on Sora? He hadn't used the Force since arriving on the planet, he wasn't training to be a Sith.
"Today's exercise is simple. You will remove everything from his mind, restoring the Padawan. Let the boy experience the pain of your betrayal and then you will either take complete control of his mind…or he will experience the chair. Do you understand?"
Riku felt his heart racing, he wasn't ready! Not for that level of Force use, his Master was talking about completely dominating Sora's mind and will. If it worked, Sora would be no more than a puppet and if he failed, his Master would activate the chair and torture Sora into turning. This wasn't what he'd wanted. "Yes Master," he said instead of everything he wanted to say.
He walked up to Sora, staring into trusting grey eyes, placing his hands on his temples. "Close your eyes and go to sleep Sora," he didn't want to see the realisation set in. Sora's eyes closed immediately, head slumping down, his body relaxed despite the restraints. Riku carefully reached out to undo all of the suggestions and manipulations, leaving the first for last.
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Everything felt…foggy…like after bacta. Had he been hurt? There'd been a mission…the Negotiator…debrief…quarters…Riku. Riku! He'd…he'd mind tricked him?! That…that wasn't possible, not for someone untrained. More memories flooded back and he felt sick. No…
"There's no point pretending to still be asleep young Padawan," Count Dooku's voice was familiar even though he'd never met the man…till Riku had brought him right to him.
That meant Riku was part of the Separatists and could use the Force…Sith, he'd invited a Sith onto his Master's ship, had let him into his head. He remembered kissing Riku, wanting to be at his side all the time, wanting to please him. That wasn't him!
Sora took a deep breath and opened his eyes, seeing the Count and Riku behind his shoulder, face blank and eyes Sith yellow. "Count Dooku," Sora forced from a dry throat.
"Padawan Sora," the man smirked. "I hope you find your accommodations comfortable."
That was when Sora realised he was restrained in some kind of device, looking down he could see needles and other things he didn't want to know about. An interrogation chair…and he couldn't feel the Force so he was trapped.
"What do you want with me?" he demanded. They'd already gotten everything he knew that could be useful, he'd been utterly devoted to Riku, trusted him with everything, so why bring him out of it?
"You've been serving as a test subject for my Apprentice, a much better use for you than the original plan to simply kill you I must admit. Consider this the final test of what he has been learning. Either he completely dominates your mind and will, or we use the chair. I assure you; you would prefer the first option unless you enjoy pain."
Sora glared at him, not much of a choice. Torture until he died or turned, or give up his very self to be even less than he had been for the last however long. He glanced at Riku again, feeling the sting of betrayal. He'd tried to help him; had thought maybe he could have a friend…but it hadn't been real. "I trusted you," he whispered, and for a second he could have sworn he saw a flash of…regret?
"Rather foolish, to trust a Sith," Dooku chuckled. "Get on with it Riku."
"Yes Master," Riku walked towards him, and Sora strained against the restraints.
"Don't do this Riku, please."
Riku rested his hands on either side of his head and all Sora could do was stare at him in despair. 'I'm sorry, I have no choice,' Riku's voice whispered through his mind.
'You do,' Sora thought back at him, the contact enabling him to even without being able to access the Force himself. 'Let me go, come with me, I won't turn you in to the Temple,' Sora promised.
He knew what the Council would do to Riku and despite everything he'd done to him…he couldn't turn him in for interrogation and then execution. Riku had treated him well really, he…well he could have done a lot more than kissing him but he hadn't. And it hit him why, there was a Force bond between them, still forming, but present. Was that why Riku had never hurt him? He had no shields but he also couldn't reach out to anyone, couldn't tell his Master what was happening, that he was sorry. There was only one thing he could do that might work, even without being able to properly access the Force and he began doing it, hoping it would be enough.
'Forgive me,' Riku sent, and Sora felt the Force gathering in his mind, trying not to hyperventilate, to focus on his effort to save himself.
'Kiss me, one time as myself,' he pleaded, let him have that, if what he was trying failed.
Riku's eyes widened, the yellow fading to reveal natural purple, and then he leant in, kissing him softly, Sora responding, wanting to know what it felt like. It felt…right, like coming home.
"Riku," Dooku's voice held clear warning.
Sora felt the gathered energy pouring into his mind, it felt…nice, safe and warm, everything slowly going hazy.
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Riku watched as alert, scared, grey eyes slowly began unfocusing. Sora's breathing had calmed, his head held up only by Riku's hands. He was being as gentle as he could, not wanting to cause pain, even as he slowly smothered everything that made Sora who he was. Sora's lips parted on a sigh that might have been an attempt to speak, his body going lax in the restraints. He could hear Sora's scattered thoughts slowing, a confused expression flickering over his face.
"Sympathy for the enemy apprentice?"
"No Master, ensuring a thorough job," he forced his voice to remain normal, hoping his Master wouldn't detect the lie even as more and more of Sora faded away under his growing power.
"You think you can lie to me?" his Master's voice was cold, and Riku turned, stopping what he was doing.
"No Master."
"Hmmph. This boy has become a weakness to you and that will not do. It is time to remove that weakness. Step aside."
Riku automatically obeyed, he had to obey his Master. He watched as Dooku drew his lightsaber and then he lunged forward, red blade igniting. There was no thought, no hesitation, as Riku moved and then there was only pain.
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Harry snarled in rage as Riku's eyes widened in terrified pain, the lightsaber passing right through his body. It was pulled free and Riku began collapsing even as Sora began to stir. Harry had cheated, helping Sora with his plan, and now it was paying off. Even when on opposite sides, even when they killed each other, Sora and Riku had never attempted to do what Riku had been doing to Sora and so there were no protections on them against it. If anything, it would have been easier for Riku because of their soul bond. He would need to see about fixing that.
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Dull grey eyes stared at the scene, unable to comprehend the sight of Dooku with his lightsaber through Riku's chest, right where a human or Hapans' heart would be. He didn't even recognise the two anymore, barely a scattered thought or two left in his head. He didn't move, he simply remained slumped in the restraints, all willpower gone.
And then Riku screamed in pain and newly constructed blocks shattered. Sora gasped in a breath, eyes focusing, intelligence and willpower returning at least in part. He shook his head, struggling to focus, to remember.
He…he was Sora. He stared at the collapsing figure even as it turned, grey meeting purple and then the other waved his hand as he fell. The restraints clicked open and Sora stumbled down, falling to his knees beside…Riku! He knew him. Riku stared at him, lips parting, blood flecking them as he tried to speak.
"No!" he screamed, throwing his hand out and Riku's lightsaber leapt to him, igniting instantly as he lunged at a shocked Dooku. The blade was balanced differently to his own but it didn't matter as he slid right between Dooku's legs, lifting the blade up as he did, grimacing as he impaled the Sith. He continued to slide thankfully, avoiding the collapsing body.
Sora staggered to his feet, pressing a hand to his head, but then he stumbled over to Riku, dropping to his knees beside him. He carefully pressed a hand to the wound and Riku gasped weakly.
"Ssss."
"Shh," he soothed, fighting to focus enough to lend Riku his strength. He couldn't die, not now. He wasn't a Healer but…the bond. Sora focused on it, pushing power through it, but it wasn't deep enough. "Stay with me," he pleaded, seeing Riku struggle to keep his eyes open.
He leant in, kissing him, ignoring the taste of blood, feeling Riku weakly respond, weaving the Force between them. He felt Riku stabilise some and pulled him into his arms, standing with him. "Riku, medbay?"
Riku blinked and then Sora felt a nudge, letting Riku guide him. Riku passed out just as the door opened and Sora was relieved to see a bacta tank and med droid…could he trust it? Who could he trust? He…he'd helped in the Temple medical centre…he carefully stripped Riku, trying not to look at the wound. The tank weas ready to go, so Sora carefully settled the breathing gear and then got Riku into the it. He stood, watching him float, feeling lost. He…he had to do…something?
Now that he'd done what he could for Riku, thoughts were slipping through his hold, the urge to do anything fading, but he fought it, digging his nails into his palm, the pain helping centre him. He struggled to remember what had happened, Riku…he'd said sorry, been so gentle, everything fading away…he'd…he'd been taking his mind and will…hadn't wanted to do it. Right, Sora had done the only thing he could think of in defence, locking his own mind away as deep as he could. It'd worked…not fully, but enough to function. His gaze went back to the tank where Riku floated, reaching for him, his sense of him dim even with the newly deepened bond between them. He…he was bonded to a Sith, not a Sith? Sith weren't gentle, Riku was. He remembered that, what he'd done should have been agonising as he was destroyed and yet it had been painless, peaceful, as he faded away. Riku had given him that last kindness and Sora knew Riku would have been gentle with him even once he was nothing more than his puppet.
He pressed a hand to the tank, wanting to touch him, but he couldn't. The monitors were beeping steadily, the tank was keeping him stable even as it worked to heal him. if he was human…Riku would be dead. It was a struggle to remember but…Mirialan had their hearts slightly lower and to the right of a human. Not pierced, just nicked, lightsabers cauterised. Sora pressed his hands over his eyes, not wanting to remember seeing the blade emerge from Riku's back, even if he hadn't been aware of what he was seeing then.
There was…he had to…he leant against the tank, he took a deep breath, without Riku's emotions and thoughts there, it was harder to think and move. That wasn't good. He stepped back, looking around again, Riku would be in that thing for days at least, he had to do something…his eyes fell on a comm station. Call, he should call. He stared at it, trying to remember the code until he entered numbers.
"General Kenobi," a voice eventually answered.
"Master?"
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Obi-Wan stood on the bridge, leaning over the display as Anakin pointed to the forces they had been sent to deal with. He was surprised when his comm beeped but stepped back to answer, not recognising the callers' code. "General Kenobi."
"Master?" a shaky voice asked, and Obi-Wan froze, sensing Anakin and Ahsoka focusing fully on him. It couldn't be…could it?
"Sora?" he gentled the brusque tone he'd used to answer.
"Master. Help…can't…" there was a sound of frustration from the speaker. It sounded like Sora but something was very wrong.
"Take a deep breath Padawan," he urged, motioning to Anakin who moved to track the call. What had been done to Sora for him to sound so confused and scared?
"Hurts," Sora whimpered, and Obi-Wan closed his eyes.
"It's alright Sora, just stay with me. Can you tell me where you are?" it would likely be a trap, but if there was a chance to save his Padawan, he would just have to spring it.
"Where…I…" he took a shuddering breath. "Have to focus…think," it was mumbled, Sora talking to himself?
Obi-Wan looked up as Anakin nudged their old bond for attention, returning from where he'd been working to track the signal, expression tight.
"Serenno," Anakin whispered, and Obi-Wan's heart sank. That meant Dooku, his Padawan had been in his hands for months, it had to be a trap.
"Castle? The man, he hurt him… had to stop it," Sora was basically rambling.
"Who was hurt, Sora?" Obi-Wan asked gently, could Dooku hear them? Was he revelling in Obi-Wan's pain at hearing his normally well-spoken Padawan so broken sounding?
"Riku…hurt bad. In tank now, man…Dooku?...dead."
Obi-Wan froze, Dooku dead? It had to be a trap. What had they done to Sora to get him to make the call? Would they go only to find Sora…Sora standing with Dooku? Had he Fallen and was playing them? Or had he been tortured until his mind broke and that was why he sounded the way he did? If that was the case, a good mind healer might be able to help him. Riku…they'd known the boy had to be involved somehow, an agent of the Counts'? Then how had he been so badly injured? It sounded like Sora was saying Dooku had hurt Riku and then one of the boys had killed him.
"Are you hurt Sora?"
"Head…hard to think…do anything…need Riku. Please Master, help Riku."
"Hush Sora, it's alright," he soothed. A head injury? Or something far worse? "We're coming, understand? We're coming to get you."
"Yes Master," Sora sounded relieved. "Not mad?"
"No Sora, I'm not mad at you. I've missed you Padawan," he didn't care if someone was listening, he had to comfort his Padawan.
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Sora huddled in the corner; the room lit only by the light of the bacta tank. He stared at the body floating within, unable to bring himself to look away. He didn't know how much time had passed, didn't even care. His thoughts were sluggish, eyes dull.
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Harry wished he could have done more to help Sora, but his hands were tied. He grimaced as his attention was drawn from his loves towards a world of living gods who towered over their human worshippers, watching as brother killed brother and then maimed the dead brother's son, taking his eyes. To think that worlds' fate rested on the shoulders of a young mortal thief.
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Cody followed his general as they moved into the castle residence of Count Dooku. It was eerie, the men on edge, and he didn't blame them. Even they could feel the wrongness there, but it wasn't just that. It was quiet…too quiet. They would find their Padawan-Commander and then get out, get back to Republic space. He glanced to his side where Kix was, the medic with them since they were heading for where Sora hopefully was. The General was having trouble tracking him, their bond apparently still blocked. They'd managed to slice into the castle's systems, finding a floorplan and there was a medbay. With Sora saying Riku was hurt, that's where they hoped to find the two.
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Anakin stared at the body before him in shock. It was true? He'd thought it part of a trap but…there he was, Count Dooku very dead. Looked like a lightsaber had been, yeah, ouch. It would have been quick enough from what he could tell, very odd angle though. It was an upward thrust as if…the attacker had been sliding along the ground. He'd seen Sora pull that move on droids before, did that mean he had been the one to kill the Duke?
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Obi-Wan entered the medbay cautiously, able to sense two presences, both muted. The clones behind him spread out as they moved in. The only light was an active bacta tank, the monitors beeping steadily, and a naked green body floating within. He recognised Riku around the breathing equipment, seeing the scars that littered his body but right where a human heart would be…that was a lightsaber wound. Hurt bad indeed.
The second presence was in the corner, concealed by the limited light, but he could make out slow and steady breathing, asleep? He took a few steps towards the presence, feeling a spike in its awareness, a flash of fear, and he stopped where he was. He motioned towards Cody, and someone moved up, activating the headlamps attached to their helmet, Obi-Wan not looking to see who exactly it was as the light revealed a huddled form.
Obi-Wan moved into a crouch. "Sora?" he called gently. "Padawan, can you hear me?" the boy flinched, curling in on himself more.
Gone were the familiar robes, instead he seemed to be wearing a very plain black jumpsuit, though of obviously high-quality material. He carefully reached for him, worried by what he would find, and Sora raised his head in reaction, his eyes dull. He gently nudged at the blocked bond and Sora blinked. The next second there was a body clinging to him, Obi-Wan falling out of his crouch, arms moving around the shaking body, holding Sora to his chest.
"It's alright, I'm here," he murmured, stroking a hand over lengthening dark blond hair, realising the Padawan braid was gone. "You're safe now Padawan." His comm chirped and Sora cringed, whimpering. Obi-Wan carefully shifted to be sitting properly, holding Sora to him with one hand to let him answer. "Anakin?"
"We found the Count, he's dead. Lightsaber impaled him from underneath," was the explanation.
"I have Sora, we're in the medbay. Riku is in a bacta tank, also suffering from being impaled, through the chest. Sora appears unharmed." Physically at least.
"Understood, we'll finish sweeping the building."
"Very well, be careful."
"Always am," Anakin teased before signing off.
Obi-Wan turned his attention back to his Padawan, seeing his awareness drifting to the tank. He stroked his hair again, feeling Sora press into his touch a little. There was definitely something wrong with him, his eyes were…dull and he hadn't spoken. "Sora? Can you understand me?" he asked, drawing his attention back.
"Mmmaster?" Sora was struggling, staring at him, almost without recognition and that hurt. What had been done to him?
"I'm here. Can you bring down the blocks on our bond?" he asked gently, with the bond back properly he'd be able to get a better idea of what was happening to the boy.
Sora frowned. "Bond? Riku bond…nice…" his eyes went back to the tank.
Obi-Wan looked up as someone crouched nearby, Kix.
"Sir, the readings from the tank are good, he's healing. I'd like to run some scans over the Commander."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Sora, this is Kix, he wants to see if you're hurt," he explained carefully but Sora didn't react.
Obi-Wan looked at Kix and nodded, they needed to know what was happening with Sora, if it was a brain injury then that would be very difficult, perhaps impossible, to fix. The teen didn't react as the scan ran over him, body relaxing against Obi-Wan, dull eyes locked on Riku. Had...had Riku done this to him? Or had he tried to save him and that was what was causing the focus on him?
"Sir, the scan is clear. He's starting to show signs of dehydration and hunger, I'd say he's been in that corner a while," Kix told him. "No signs of head trauma."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, cradling the teen close. He pulled out his canteen and opened it, pressing it to Sora's lips, noting they appeared dry. "Please drink Sora," he urged, and Sora's lips parted slowly, allowing him to carefully tip water in, thankful he swallowed automatically. "Can he be moved?" he motioned to the tank.
"I can keep him stable for the return to the ship but he'll need further submersion, from the data, his heart took some damage. Considering the injury if he was human he'd be dead," Kix answered.
"Then let's go, the sooner were back behind our own lines the better," Obi-Wan stood, holding Sora carefully, something the boy would have complained about normally, saying he was too old and could walk, now there was nothing.
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Anakin looked from the boy floating in the bacta tank to where Sora sat staring blankly. No physical cause to his condition could be found and the medics had run every test they could. There were stories about Sith controlling minds…surely those weren't real? He'd been…jealous of Sora at first, the boy taking his place in Obi-Wan's life but he'd come to see him as a kid brother, had helped to teach him as much as Obi-Wan helped with Ahsoka. Seeing him like this, hearing him over the comm, it was wrong and it hurt.
Obi-Wan couldn't unblock their bond alone without risking damage to it, that was why Anakin was there. Hopefully, with the Padawan bond back properly, Obi-Wan would be able to begin helping Sora, though he'd likely still have to spend time with the Healers. They'd had Artoo send a highly encrypted message back to the Temple saying they needed one ready when they arrived but had left out who for and that Dooku was dead.
His eyes went to the tank again where Riku, if that was really his name, floated. They needed to know what had happened and he would be their best bet, if he was awake. Who had stabbed him, Dooku or Sora? If Dooku then why? With Sora he'd assume self-defence except he'd then dumped Riku in the tank to save him. Was Riku, Dooku's Apprentice? Had Dooku broken the Sith rules to train two at once? A replacement for Ventress if she failed him again?
"Riku," Sora mumbled, blinking.
"Sora, can you hear me? It's Master Skywalker," he called carefully, sometimes Sora was aware of them and others he wasn't.
Thankfully, Sora looked at him, appearing dazed and confused. But then there was a flicker of recognition and Sora actually smiled at him.
Anakin sat on the bed beside him, surprised when Sora leant into his side, but he lifted his arm and carefully wrapped it around his shoulders. "Hey little brother," he'd never dared to call Sora that before but now he didn't care who disapproved, Sora needed them.
""Soka?" Sora asked.
"She's with Rex, going over some things," like all the intel they'd managed to snag before leaving Serenno right ahead of a Seppie fleet. "Everyone's safe," he promised.
"Riku?"
"Riku's safe in the bacta tank," he offered, he couldn't promise anything more than that, not without knowing more. "Sora, I want to try and help you," he brushed his flesh fingers over Sora's temple and the boy froze, fear flickering between them. Yeah, he'd definitely suffered some kind of mind assault to react like that. He gently tipped Sora's head up, meeting his eyes. "I would never hurt you Sora. You are my Master's Padawan, my brother. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Sora's eyes were wide, but there seemed a lot more awareness in them than normal. He licked his lips, scrunching his face a little. "Skyguy. Soka's Skyguy….trust." Sora got out, and Anakin smiled at him.
He knew the two Padawan's were friends, and was happy for it, and now he was glad Sora knew he trusted Ahsoka enough to trust Anakin through her. He helped Sora settle with his back against the pillows and turned to face him after removing his boots, crossing his legs. ever so gently he brushed his fingers across Sora's face, letting him chose when to start. Sora closed his eyes and Anakin reached for him with the Force, carefully feeling for the Master/Padawan bond even as he let Obi-Wan know he was starting, the older man dropping into mediation, ready to help. They were still days out form Coruscant where they would need to sneak both boys into the Temple, it would be better if Sora had even a little improvement before then so that there could be some kind of report to the Council, but he would not risk Sora's health to do so, at the slightest sign of something going wrong, they'd both pull back.
He found the bond and found the very impressive block which…seemed to have been placed by Sora? There were no signs he'd been tortured and tried to spare Obi-Wan his pain…there! Whispers of another presence in Sora's mind, had he been made to put the block up? The Force signature was unfamiliar but all over Sora's mind, woven into his own Force signature now…another bond! And it led to…Riku. Riku had done this to Sora, it made him mad, but then Sora whimpered and he forced himself to let go of the emotion, Sora settling as he did. He didn't know how to disentangle them, or remove the influence, but he could gently coax Sora into helping him dismantling the block. Sora was hesitant, flighty, but slowly, the block came down, and Anakin felt Obi-Wan gently brush the Padawan's awareness.
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Sora blinked up at the ceiling, he knew it, he did. There was a hand holding his and he turned his head to see his Master, asleep on a chair. He felt…clearer, like before Riku had passed out, but he knew he wasn't awake. "Master?" he croaked, mouth dry, and his Master jerked, sitting up.
"Sora, how do you feel?"
He slowly pushed himself up, his Master hovering, physically and…there in the bond. He hesitantly reached back in it, feeling his relief. "Better? I'm not… I can't…" he shook his head.
'Slowly Padawan.'
'Hard to think, to do,' he sent back, relieved it was easier.
'Can you tell me what happened?' his Master asked, and Sora couldn't help flinching back. "Shh Sora," he whispered verbally. "You aren't in any trouble."
It was his fault! All his fault!
'Hush Padawan, it's alright, rest now.'
No! he didn't…
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Obi-Wan caught Sora as he slumped, asleep. He hadn't wanted to do that but he'd been panicking too much to reason with. He didn't know if he'd meant to broadcast anything, but the guilt…the idea something was all his fault…and two weeks after Sora vanished they'd suffered two heavy defeats. No, Sora would never give information away willingly, but the Sith had methods he'd likely had no defence against. His poor Padawan. He only hoped the Healers could help otherwise he knew the Council would want him to break the bond, leave Sora Temple bound and locked away by the Healers and he couldn't do it. Sora needed him. He'd made so many mistakes with Anakin, he wouldn't do that with Sora.
He looked up as the door opened, knew Anakin had caught at least some of what had happened. His first Padawan walked over and gripped his shoulder, sending agreement, they would stand by Sora.
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Yoda watched the clandestine group enter the Temple by one of the hidden entrances. With them was a medical pod, three Jedi and…no…four strong presences in the Force. Master Kenobi stepped from within the group, a shorter figure huddled into him, clinging, a hood thrown over their face to hide their identity. The presence was muddled, almost two merged into one, muted but Yoda felt hope for the first time in months.
He had chosen Sora to be Obi-Wan's new Padawan. He had enjoyed teaching the boy, encouraging the occasional harmless mischief, coaxed him with his sabre skills. When they had reported him missing and no sign of foul play, it had hurt. Why had they not reported they had found him?
He moved towards the group, gimmer stick taping gently on the ground, watching as he flinched deeper into Obi-Wan's side but…yes, it was Sora. "Relief to see you it is young Padawan."
Slowly the boy lifted his head, staring at him and to Yoda's shock…there was no sign of recognition. Grey eyes looked up to his Master, pleading, and Obi-Wan rubbed his back gently.
"It's alright Sora, you know Master Yoda," Obi-Wan was murmuring to the confused and…yes, scared, teen.
It hurt, to realise the boy was scared of him, none of the younglings had ever feared him. "Safe you are, home once more," he told the child. "To the Healers, taking him?"
"Yes Master."
Yoda followed at a distance, frowning when it was not the physical Healers Obi-Wan led Sora to, but the those for the mind. The medical capsule went to the first kind and he wondered who was within the sealed unit, their signature barely perceivable, but yes, they were Force Sensitive.
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"You have captured a Sith?" Mace asked, looking between Obi-Wan and Skywalker. "With Count Dooku dead, this could be the turning point of the war."
"Excuse me Master," Obi-Wan spoke up. "But we did not capture Riku and we do not know for sure that he is a Sith."
"Explain you will."
"The first we knew was when Sora commed me. We knew immediately that something was wrong, his speech was disjointed, almost childish, and he seemed uncertain of everything. He told us that "The man, he hurt him… had to stop it". Anakin traced the call to Serenno and we left immediately, expecting a trap but we could not leave Sora in the hands of the Sith. When we arrived, Anakin's team found Count Dooku dead in a room that also held an interrogation chair with the restraints appearing to have been opened with the Force. He was killed by a lightsaber being thrust up into his body, a move Sora has used against droids and explaining what he meant by "had to stop it". Which left the "him" who was hurt as Riku. Both boys were in the medbay, Riku within a bacta tank, he had also been impaled but through the chest and in a place that would have been immediately fatal if he was human. Sora was huddled in a corner, dressed in unfamiliar clothing and basically unresponsive," Obi-Wan paused to let them all digest that.
"We have found evidence of some kind of Force bond between the two and Sora is very focused on Riku. With Anakin's help, our own bond has been unblocked and Sora's mind has been clearer since then. He does show signs of memory loss and will simply sit and do nothing a lot of the time. It is my hope that the Healers can help him with his memory so that we will learn what happened, he is most emphatic that Riku saved him however."
"From the looks of the room where we found Dooku and the impressions left in the Force, it was the Count who injured Riku but Riku who freed Sora from the chair, and Sora who killed Dooku. Thankfully, there's no evidence the chair was actually used on Sora," Skywalker explained.
The whole thing was very disturbing. Why take Sora if not for torture and an attempt to turn him?
"More information, needed is."
"Agreed," Mace had to admit. "When will the boy wake?"
"The Healers said they can remove him from the bacta tomorrow but he will need to be kept sedated for another two days."
"Very well, once he can be questioned we will do so. We will also see what the mind Healers can learn from Sora, without breaking confidences," Mace decided. He knew there were things they would not speak of, no matter what, for a Healer their patient came first and he respected that but sometimes it could be frustrating.
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Dooku had failed him! How could he have died without anyone knowing until those blasted Jedi announced it? A covert operation indeed. That left him with Grievous as the public face, he could bring Ventress in but she'd be no better. No, wait…the boy. Dooku's 'secret' Apprentice. He was attractive for his species, young and malleable, untried perhaps but the public would react better to him than the others. He just needed to find him. He could salvage this mess.
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There was no pain, strange, there should be…or was this death? He reached for the Force but there was nothing and he began to panic.
"Calm down," a firm, yet familiar voice told him, and Riku's eyes snapped open to see Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
How? Where? Sora! He looked around wildly but there was no sign of him, just what he assumed was security.
"You've been given an experimental drug designed to inhibit Force use; I assume from your reaction that it's working."
"Sora?" he asked shakily. "Is he alright?"
"He's here," Kenobi answered, and Riku slumped back. "Physically he is healthy, but mentally," Kenobi paused taking a deep breath. "Your Force signature is all over what's been done to him."
Riku looked down at the blankets. Every instinct he had said he couldn't trust the man before him, Jedi were the enemy, but…he was Sora's Master. "I was meant to kill him and Tano," he admitted softly. "I…I couldn't do it, so I laid a powerful suggestion in his mind when he was sleeping, to trust me, it's why he left with me." He didn't need to have the Force to know the Master would not like what he was saying.
"Master agreed to allow him to live…if he served as a training aide. As long as I could keep him under control then he was left alone. I kept him feeling happy and at peace, I thought it'd be enough, but it wasn't, not for him. Even after Sora told him everything he knew."
"Sora's guilt," the Master murmured.
"I know the intel was passed on," Riku admitted. "It wasn't his fault!" he looked up at the Jedi, they couldn't blame Sora. "He couldn't fight, not with me in his head."
"What more did Dooku want?"
Riku took a deep breath, looking down again. "For me to completely dominate Sora's mind and will, to destroy him and leave only a mindless puppet. Either I did it, or he would…he would use the chair," he couldn't help the flinch, the memories of his own time in it.
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Obi-Wan felt sick listening to what had been done to his Padawan. Interesting that the Sith would defend Sora, not that he needed it, no Jedi would blame Sora for anything he said while under their influence. Hearing what Dooku had wanted though…why? Truly a test of his Apprentice or something else? "We found Dooku's body, what happened?" he pressed.
It was…difficult. Without access to the Force the boy had no shields, his emotions all over the place…guilt, self-loathing, hatred for Dooku…his emotions whenever Sora came up though, they weren't what he would expect from a Sith or someone trained by them.
He watched the boy frown, sensing the turmoil as he struggled to remember. It was obvious when he did, a hand flying to his chest only for him to wince. "I…I was taking too long, but I didn't want to hurt Sora, he asked and I lied. He…he said Sora'd become a weakness that needed to be removed, ordered me to stand aside. I had no choice; I have to obey my Master."
The way he said that had a shiver going up Obi-Wan's spine. Perhaps there was something more to the bond between a Sith and their Apprentice? If Riku had to obey…that was something for the Council Masters and Healers to determine.
"He drew his sabre…moved for Sora and…I couldn't…I had to…"
"You took the blow," Obi-Wan finished for him, and Riku's head jerked in a nod, reaching up to find freshly cut hair, obviously used to feeling it move with him since it had hung to his shoulders before. It had been so matted they'd had no choice but to cut it rather short. His green skin was pale, the black of his tattoos standing out starkly, purple eyes wide as he trembled.
Obi-Wan turned, sensing a commotion, and then the door slid open and a white blur rushed into the room, launching at the bed. He blinked, watching as his Padawan clung to the one who had almost destroyed his mind. Riku's eyes were wide as he stared down at the head of dark blond hair buried against his chest but then he slowly lifted his arms to hold Sora.
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He…he couldn't believe it. Sora was clinging tightly to him, almost too tightly, sobs racking his body, and Riku couldn't help holding him in return. How? He…he remembered, seeing Sora go slowly blank, his eyes dull, the feel of his mind and will giving way. But he was up and moving, unless Riku had somehow summoned him? No, he wouldn't be crying. "Ss…Sora?"
"Riku, Riku," Sora sobbed, and then he lifted his head, kissing him, and all Riku could do was kiss back, eyes falling shut as he felt the Force…could feel Sora.
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Obi-Wan's eyebrows went up as his Padawan kissed Riku. Well…that was…how were they breathing? And Sora…was under his influence. "Enough," he reached out to pull Sora away but his Padawan just clung tighter.
"I'm not doing this," Riku denied. "Shh, Sora, it's okay." He ran his hand up and down Sora's back. "You're you, how? I know what I saw and felt…I tried…" he lowered his head, nose in Sora's hair, breathing deeply.
He felt genuine, but why would Sora cling to the one who had almost destroyed him? "And the bond?"
"Bond?" Riku glanced up at him, confused.
"Had to save you, had to make it deeper," Sora mumbled, seeming to try and press even closer. The white of their medical tunics blended together they were so close. He didn't like seeing Sora in it, but the Healers wouldn't release him as he was. They let him visit daily, Anakin and Ahsoka too, but it wasn't the same. At least he was always mostly alert now when they visited, but this was the best he'd seen him.
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Riku, Riku was alive and awake! He felt it when he woke up, had gotten away from the Healers, had to see him. They'd tried to stop him but he'd run and now they were both safe, together. He nuzzled at Riku's throat, feeling him shudder slightly, it felt good.
"Sora, stop," Riku told him and he looked up at him in confusion. They were bonded now; didn't he want him? "That's it, what's you and what's me?" he asked.
Sora didn't understand, what did that matter? The Force itself bound them together, two bodies, one soul. Just like it always should be, like he'd seen, Riku always looked different but it was him.
"Sora, I'm sorry, I… this is all my fault."
Sora shook his head, but Riku just smiled sadly.
"How do I fix this?" Riku was looking at his Master.
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They had watched the whole thing, all shocked by Sora's behaviour towards the other teen. Obi-Wan had been the one to question the boy but others had been present, assessing him. Everything they had sensed said he was being genuine, that he truly cared about Sora and felt deep remorse for his part in his condition. Was it enough to trust him to try to repair the damage done? The Healers agreed that without his help, Sora may never fully recover.
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He watched as they debated what to do, despite their agreeing Riku was genuine. The Soul bond would remain, they couldn't affect it, if anything Riku helping Sora would strengthen it further. His gift for them was done, he would give it to them once they returned home. Dooku's death had shifted many things, some for the better and some for the worse. He wished he could simply tell them what they needed to know, but they couldn't hear him. he hadn't dared speak with Riku's soul when he had hovered on the brink of death, not after how it had affected Sora that time. He was pleased that Riku was recovering from the Dark Side, had the Jedi even realised that? So much for not being able to come back from it.
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Anakin didn't like it, but he still stood still as Riku gently touched Sora's temples, the Force surging around them. Sora's eyes fell shut, his body relaxed, breathing deeply as Riku worked on him. Could he undo what he'd done?
They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity and then Riku removed his hands, moving away from Sora who remained as he was for a minute more before his eyes opened. He shook his head at Riku who tensed and Anakin was ready to intervene if necessary. "You're an idiot Riku," was not what anyone expected Sora to say but…he sounded normal.
"What?"
"You nearly got yourself killed protecting me and you never hurt me so no, I don't hate you. Besides, you can undo it all, but I'm the one that deepened the bond and that no one can touch," Sora stood easily, walking to Riku, and offering his hand.
Anakin saw the look of shock and wonder on Riku's face before he hesitantly took Sora's hand, letting the slightly taller teen pull him to his feet. And then his eyes widened as Sora kissed Riku.
"And that was all me," Sora said when they parted.
He'd seen the kiss in the medbay, that would be ignored due to Sora's mental state at the time, but now? He saw the attending Healers looking away, ignoring it. Maybe they were letting it go due to his just fully getting his mind and own will back?
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Riku fought the urge to shake as he stood before the Jedi Council, awaiting his fate. He doubted helping Sora would spare him but it had been the right thing to do, no matter what they did to him. He heard the doors open behind him but once again unable to feel the Force, he couldn't tell who it was, till fingers tangled with his. He turned his head to find Sora smiling at him gently…and not in Jedi robes. "Sora…no," he whispered, knowing that Sora was standing with him.
"Not your decision to make," Sora answered just as softly, not looking to where his own Master now sat.
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Obi-Wan closed his eyes as Sora took Riku's hand. It was Sora's choice and he would defend his right to make it, he would not abandon his Padawan…even if he chose to no longer hold that position. He had already planned to vote in Riku's favour anyway. The boy may have been raised to be a Sith but there was nothing of that in his behaviour or emotions now.
"Padawan Sora, you were not summoned to this session," Mace warned.
"We are bonded by the Force, his fate will be mine," Sora stated firmly, meeting Mace's eyes with no fear, and Obi-Wan was proud of him.
"Don't throw your future away because of me," Riku pleaded softly.
Sora turned to him, wrapping his arms around him, and Riku leant into him, trembling.
"The bond between you taken into account has been, severed by the Council it will be," Yoda announced, and Obi-Wan stiffened.
They wanted to forcefully severe the bond! No one had told him that when he had agreed to take the seat. He knew the damage that could do, Sora had only gotten his full mentally faculties back last week, how could they be willing to risk… he looked at his Padawan, seeing the betrayal there, reaching over the bond to him, denying knowledge of that decision, seeing Sora's relief at that.
"Why was I not informed of this Master Yoda?" he asked.
"Too involved you are."
"I see," he closed his eyes, reaching for Anakin, unable to believe what he was doing and yet…it was the right thing, he could feel it in the Force so why couldn't they? He stood from his chair and walked over to Sora and Riku, smiling softly at both boys, before turning to face the Council, his position in front of the two very clear. He heard the shaky gasp from Riku at his blatant statement of protection and then the doors opened and Anakin walked in with Ahsoka, moving to stand with them.
"Masters…" Sora whispered.
"As you said Sora, it is our choice and the Force tells me it is the right one. I will not allow the Council to ravage your mind in such a way. Being a Jedi is meant to mean something more than doing what is expedient." He met the eyes of the Council one by one, his disdain clear.
Yoda was clearly taken aback by his words and actions. "Defy the Council for the Sith you are?"
"No, I defy the Council for my Padawan and his bonded, their bond is the Will of the Force. And I do not believe Riku to be a Sith, raised and pushed to be one yes, but not by his own choice." He had heard the boy in the throes of a nightmare and it made him loath his own grandmaster so much more, to torture a child to get them to fall…it was sickening. "I have touched Riku's mind while he has been cut off from the Force, yes, he has been scared but that is natural with everything that has happened. There is no rage or hate."
He could feel Riku staring at him, his disbelief that Obi-Wan would speak in his defence.
"Riku defied his Master to save Sora's life, twice," Anakin spoke up. "He feels no darker in the Force than most in this room."
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Sora held tightly to Riku's hand, shocked that his Master had moved to stand with them and then Master Skywalker and Ahsoka had joined them! He knew what he was doing, that it could mean his death, but if they killed Riku he knew he would die anyway. Better to die together. He…he loved Riku, in a way he knew he shouldn't, but…he didn't really think he was a Jedi, not anymore. It was like his eyes had been opened and he could see just how much damage the Code was doing to them, the war as well. He had to follow the Force and it said he was doing the right thing, that being in love with Riku wasn't a bad thing.
He watched Masters Yoda and Mace, knowing their opinions would mean the most. He could feel sympathy from some, Masters Billaba, Fisto, and Allie, but others were very firm in their decision to treat Riku as a Sith. How could they not see the truth? Could the Dark Side really be clouding things so much for the Council?
Why weren't the even considering rehabilitation? It had been done in the past; Sora had studied everything he could find since his mind had become clear. Was it because of the war? Okay, so several times the rehabilitation had eventually failed, but Riku didn't want to be a Sith which was a very different starting attitude to them. He took a deep breath and spoke up, pointing all of that out to the Council, only to receive pitying looks, tightening his hold on Riku's hand. Riku couldn't sense anything alone but touching somehow let him get around the drugs blocking his Force connection, using Sora's instead. which meant Riku knew how they felt.
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Anakin brushed Rex's mind; the clones were ready with their exit if it was necessary. He hated asking the men for help, but they all liked Sora had when they found out that executing Riku could drag the kid with him…well many already thought most of the Council members were idiots outside of battle, so going against them to save both boys was something they agreed with. The Twilight was waiting and ready to get out of the system and Padme had granted them all citizenship of Naboo with the Queen's blessing. Apparently she was just as appalled as their men.
Blasting out the windows was to be his job, allowing the troop transport to come in and pick them up. Ahsoka was equipped with several smoke bombs, basic tech which is how they'd snuck them past the scanners, but they would do the trick to help block sightlines while they made for the transport. He'd wanted to be a Jedi all his life, but what they were doing was wrong. He'd talked with Sora since his…restoration, and he agreed with him, the Council had become truly blind.
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"Master Kenobi and Padawan Sora have a point," Kit spoke up. The idea of executing a child did not sit well with him at all and nothing he'd seen said Riku was irredeemable, quite the opposite in fact, so why were some so insistent.
He had never wanted a Council seat and he'd compromised his own morals several times since taking it, but this was too far. He could tell Skywalker had a plan to save the boys, but it would leave a massive division in the Order that they couldn't afford.
Kit had used Sora's title because as far as he was concerned, he was still a Padawan. His braid had been severed by captors, and there was no rule stating they had to wear robes while still on medical leave, technically. He knew the teen was making a statement by wearing normal clothing and it would have been nice if it had been enough.
He also was not behind the idea of the Council severing the bond between the two, not with the damage such an action could cause. Yes, it would ensure Sora's survival but at what cost? And Sora had a point, full Sith had been offered rehabilitation in the past, Riku was nowhere near that, in fact…he didn't think the boy was a Sith at all. Dark, perhaps, but not truly a Sith, and yet in Sora's memories his eyes had been yellow at times. Somehow, Sora's presence in his life, even under his influence, had been enough to begin the rehabilitation process.
"I agree with Sora that rehabilitation is a far better option," he stated.
"Agreed," Stass spoke up before anyone else could, Depa quickly following her.
Saesee Tiin was silent but from the way he was staring at Riku, Kit assumed he was checking him telepathically. Three, well four, out of twelve votes wasn't enough but that was assuming they would count Obi-Wan's when he had left his seat to stand with the children, that could be seen as a resignation. They needed to at least lock the votes to keep them both alive. He could smell Riku's fear, Sora was nervous but resolute and also…it appeared the Order may lose Sora anyway unless they agreed to alter the Code, then again they would likely one day lose Skywalker for the same reason.
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Ahsoka listened to the Council's decision after hours of silent debate, her heart sinking. She had hoped when three Masters had outright agreed with Sora's suggestion but it looked like they were going with plan B. Skyguy shoved his hands back, a massive wave from the Force slamming into the windows, and she hurled the smoke bombs, setting them off, before grabbing Sora's hand. "This way!" She yanked him back, Sora's grip on him bringing Riku with them.
The troop transport rose to hover right outside the now shattered window and she leapt across the small gap. Sora landed, holding on to Riku. Their Masters appeared a second later and the ship sealed, speeding away from the Temple. They'd done it…what would the Council do now?
"Riku," Sora whispered, and she glanced over to see them curled together against the wall, Riku shaking. She shifted to be in front of them, blocking everyone's view.
When she'd realised Riku had taken Sora somehow, she'd been so angry, Sora had become one of her closest friends with how often they worked together. She'd also been worried sick for Sora in the hands of the Separatists and likely Dooku or his mysterious Master. When Sora had commed Master Kenobi it had been such a relief to know he was still alive but seeing him like that had hurt. She'd thought when Riku had undone it all, that things would go back to normal, she hadn't considered how stupid the Council could be. And now they were all on the run.
"Padme?" Skyguy spoke into his comm. "We had to do it."
She didn't hear the Senators' response as the ship landed. They piled out and onto the Twilight where she led Sora and Riku to the second cabin. "Get some rest," she told them.
"Ahsoka…why?" Sora looked so bewildered.
She stepped in and hugged him. "The Council is wrong. Riku's not a Sith and he's not a threat. Did you think we'd actually let them do any of that? We just got you back."
"Thanks." He stepped back, taking Riku's hand.
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They lay on the bed together in the room they'd been given in the sprawling house hidden in the lake district. Sora ran his fingers through Riku's hair, soothing him. Riku was blaming himself for everything and Sora understood why, he just didn't agree. He was glad no one had said anything about them sharing a room, not like he was a Jedi anymore.
Riku shifted, looking up at him in wonder, and Sora smiled at him.
"Good morning," he whispered, leaning down to kiss him softly, just because he could now. Riku kissed back and Sora broke the kiss long enough to lie down beside him before going back to kissing. He heard Riku moan softly, pressing closer to him, so he wrapped his arms around him, hands hesitantly moving under Riku's sleep shirt, able to feel his scars but they didn't bother him at all.
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Obi-Wan felt lost, the Order had always been his life and now…thankfully no arrest warrants had been issued, but they'd heard from Admiral Yularen once, they were no longer listed as part of the Order. What were they to do now? he supposed they could volunteer for the Army but then what? Sora and Ahsoka needed to continue their training, Riku too if he wished. Would the remaining Sith come for Riku?
Thankfully, Anakin had liberated Riku's lightsaber on his way to the Council Room while Ahsoka had retrieved Sora's along with their bags from their quarters on her way. Although Riku would need a new crystal at least eventually and without access to Illum that would be difficult.
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Riku slumped back on the couch, letting Sora draw him closer, feeling him press a kiss to his head. Nothing had ever felt as right or as easy as being with Sora did. But for telling them everything he knew of Dooku's plans and the mans' mysterious master, Riku had sat a shirt distance from him, just wanting to get through it. He hadn't been asked any of that by the Council, though there'd been that one master who had gone into his head, maybe he'd taken the information?
Master Ke…Obi-Wan had offered to continue his training alongside Sora if he wished but he wasn't sure he could be trusted to learn more. He'd already caused so much damage.
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Obi-Wan was completely unsurprised when Anakin swept the arriving Senator up into his arms, making her laugh. He had always known, he'd just kept quiet about it, wanting Anakin to have some peace. And now…they weren't part of the Order anymore.
"I brought the information you asked for," she told them once firmly back on the ground.
"Thank you my Lady," Obi-Wan smiled at her.
"How are they?" Padme asked in concern.
"Doing much better," he assured her, motioning to the lake.
She looked and smiled at the sight of the three teens playing in the water.
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"This….this can't be right," Anakin denied, shaking his head. He felt his old Master move to his side, taking in the records.
"Oh Anakin," he squeezed his shoulder.
"He's my friend," he whispered, bewildered.
He didn't see the look of horror and fear on Obi-Wan's face as he realised just how much danger Anakin had been placed in over the years by being allowed near the man. "It will be alright Ani," he promised. "Sleep, just sleep my Padawan."
Anakin slumped, unable to fight the suggestion with how off balance he was.
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Shaak Ti looked over the information she'd been sent, horrified. No longer part of the Order, Obi-Wan and Anakin had the clones who had aided them given full medical work ups on Naboo and what they had discovered…she had much to do.
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Yoda studied the message, overwhelmed by grief. Obi-Wan, Sora, and Ahsoka had been forced to into the roles of mind healers for Skywalker, stripping his mind of multiple Dark compulsions, had found a trap within the Clones…and all begun from information the boy gave them freely when asked. He should have been asked those questions within the Temple…why had they not? Did the Sith Lord really cloud things that severely? They had used his information to track back to the source and had discovered Sidious' identity. The Chancellor…dangerous it would be but stopped he must be.
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Finally! He had begun to despair that their presence would truly alter that dimensions fate, a very rare failure. But now the needed information was being passed around. He had honestly though they would both be home thanks to the Council, but he was impressed by Kenobi and Skywalker standing up for what was right.
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Riku dropped, rolling to avoid the blow, coming back to his feet swiftly, moving in perfect sync with Sora who was using his bond with Obi-Wan to allow all three pairs to move together. His new lightsaber was very different but thankfully he'd had some practice with it, the dark green blade moving fluidly. They had to be able to move together because Sidious was like nothing any of them had ever faced. He had already killed three Masters when they had arrived, the survivors forced to stay back and watch.
Sidious had recognised him and he'd felt a strange pressure in his head, but deeply immersed in his bond with Sora, whatever it had been had slid of their combined shields.
He flipped over Ahsoka as she lunged in low with her two sabers, cutting into the Sith's leg even as Riku's came down on his shoulder. He staggered, having to pass his red blade to his other hand, giving Anakin the needed opening, his blade severing the man's head. And then they were all sent flying back as dark energy erupted from the corpse.
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As the Senate cheered, Sora turned to Riku and kissed him. "We did it!" he cheered, and Riku laughed, shaking his head, hiding his blush behind his hair.
The war was over, they'd been given medals which was weird, but they also had the freedom to live their lives however they wanted while reforms were being pressed on the Order over how their circumstances had been handled. Anakin and Padme's twins had also helped with that decision from the Senate.
He wasn't sure what he wanted to do yet, but he knew he didn't want to return to the Order. Master Windu may have perished in the attempt to arrest the Chancellor, but Yoda was still there, as were several others who had voted against them. They had citizenship on Naboo, even bank accounts thanks to the occasional work they'd done for the planets' security forces, and they had a ship. They could go anywhere they wanted.
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Riku wrapped his arm around Sora's waist as they watched the sun set over the lake country. No matter how much they travelled they always returned to the house that had sheltered them. It had been so long since the war ended, sure there would always be issues, but there'd been no large-scale fights. They were far too old for such things now. He knew his bonded still grieved for his old Master, Riku did too, but at least it had been a peaceful passing. He pressed a kiss to hair that was more grey than blond now, and Sora turned to smile at him. It had been nice when he got that last growth spurt, putting them at almost the same height, it made things like kissing even better.
"Come on old man, no getting lost in the past," Sora teased. "Grandkids will be here soon."
Riku mock groaned, they had way too much energy. None of their children or grandchildren had been given to the Temple, even with the reforms, the same with the Skywalker and Tano clans. He'd never imagined having children but thanks to the long necks they'd had one son and one daughter, created by mixing their genes. They had fixed the clones accelerated healing after some rather pointed demands from Master Ti so they were still around thankfully, who knew what Ahsoka would have done if Rex had aged that rapidly. Kamino still operated but with a lot of oversight on what was allowed, technically their kids weren't on the list of things they were legally able to do, but they had been 'born' before the law came in.
So much had changed since Dooku had ordered him to kill Sora and Ahsoka, but for the better. If he'd never met Sora…he'd still be a Sith, lost to the Darkness, more likely he'd be dead rather than approaching his eighty second birthday. His hair was almost pure white now, the green of his skin and black tattoos fading with age, but he was healthy and happy. What more could he ask for.
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He felt confused, disorientated. Where….who….who was he.
"It's alright beloved," a voice murmured in his ear, an arm wrapping around his waist and Sora gasped.
He spun in Harry's hold, throwing his arms around him, kissing him, and Harry kissed back. "We did good?" he asked, and Harry grinned.
"Better than I'd hoped," he promised. "I've missed you both so much."
"Riku?"
"Hanging on," Harry admitted, and the image formed of Riku cradling Sora's body in his arms, not ready to let go yet. "Must admit, he's hot with green skin."
Sora laughed. "He's beautiful, no matter what he looks like."
"You both are," Harry kissed him "I'm just glad he was interrupted all those years ago before he could finish dominating your mind. Things would have gone very differently."
"I don't think he could have finished, even without Dooku trying to kill me, not with our bond re-established," Sora admitted. "Been giving the Council a piece of your mind as the pass through over wanting to kill him and severe the bond?"
"Definitely."
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Riku kissed Harry, hands running over his sides, tickling more than caressing, and Harry laughed. It was so good to be home again, they'd been gone for a long time this time. Remembering being non-human was a little strange, but the memories had already begun to fade.
Sora laughed and tackled him, Riku rolling under him, Harry joining in. Eventually they settled on a couch together, Harry in the middle.
"So, do you want your present?" Harry asked.
"Present?" Riku asked in confusion.
"It's a bit belated due to how long you were in the last life, but it's to celebrate five hundred years since your first death Riku."
"Present please!" Sora chirped, and Harry chuckled.
"Yes please," Riku agreed.
They listened as Harry explained what he had spoken with the other powers like himself to arrange. They…they would be able to remember? They could visit the afterlife? He didn't know what to say. He remembered the two souls they'd met, Kairi and Naruto…they could remember them, see them, see everyone they had lost. Did he want that?
The End?
So I could end it there. The SW part got way out of hand and far longer than originally planned which means the final life I was going to do plus them using their present isn't here. Do you want me to write it or not?
Worlds Harry was glimpsing – Jurassic Park, Mass Effect, and Gods of Egypt.
