Magnet for Trouble

by Virodeil

Instead of vanishing into oblivion, Jango's clones find themselves on the fields belonging to the Fett family after death, fresh as new. Now, what is a pair of farmers to do with the homeless, clueless millions of individuals bearing unnervingly close similarities to their children popping up all over their property? And what if the number increases even more with other people?

45. Reconcilliations, Part 1

Magnet for Trouble
By Rey

Chapter summary: Apologising is hard. Reconciling is sometimes harder. And it's just the beginning.

45. Reconciliations, Part 1

The garden is sacred for Clan Vet – now Vhett, or even Fett as Ruusaan often uses. So Jaster waits outside with Kote and the… honour guard… while Armourer Arla – a Fett and now Kote realises is little Arla's namesake – goes inside the garden proper, supposedly to talk to Ruusaan if the latter is currently awake and willing to talk.

CC-1010 sleeps on while Kote settles themself, sitting cross-legged against a nearby tree, now that they are no longer expecting a guest. Jaster can't take up the spot right beside them, though, for a couple of children have immediately – and determinedly – plopped themselves down there. The littlest one and CC-4477, in fact, with the latter apparently "sacrificing" themself to sit right by Jaster.

It bewilders and disappoints and hurts Jaster, Kote can clearly see, but they can do nothing about this. Not right now, and certainly not before they have asked for and gained permission from the children to talk about… all this… with Jaster.

Still, it makes for an awkward, tense, dense silence. Which stretches for a long while. Broken only by far-off voices of the other children. Wafting along with the occasional breeze that smells of dust and sprouting weeds – not crops, even though it is planting time now, not when children need the space to live. But what about the farm? What about the crops needed to feed them all? Not to mention Mando'ad'e at large that the family have been trading with regularly!

Kote has their face buried in CC-1010's curls, now, subconsciously seeking comfort from the nearest source. And the child has their own little hands round Kote's neck, unconsciously making sure that Kote is not going anywhere. It is yet another piece of evidence of their blood ties, which only drives pain even deeper into Kote's hearts.

And then, softly, tentatively, far-less-certainly than before, Jaster reiterates while staring far off to the distance, to the centre of the farm that neither of the two can see from here, "how can I help, Ko?"

Kote slowly, gingerly peels away CC-1010's arms from round their neck, straightens up, and lets loose a long, soft sigh.

Jaster is trying to make amends without saying an apology. Jaster is not apologising. That nosy lout must be feeling that they are in the right. Again. And they wonder why people love breaking their nose so much….

And they forgot one thing: They do not even have stable livelihood, right now. Kote is not even sure that they are allowed on Concord Dawn, after the Journeyman Protectors booted them off. It is not a done thing, for any disgraced Protector. And, considering both points, how will they be able to help Kote, then?

Before Kote can formulate much of how they will tell Jaster all that, however, the other rushes to add in a tone guiltier and even more stubborn than before, "Oh! I forgot. Your parent is waiting for you on the outskirts of the farm. They wish to talk with you for at least a little while. Give them at least that much, please?"

Now Kote really wishes to break that crooked nose again.