Their Hope
Sorry for the delay in posting, been crazy busy at home. Please enjoy the new chapter.
Chapter Ten
Allie awakens and smiles, seeing Rex still asleep and completely relaxed. Slipping quietly out of the bunk she checks the schedules for the training rooms and books out room two for a session with Domino, the Batch and Cap's squad, sending out a quick message to them to meet there in two hours.
Walking into the fresher she takes her time showering and getting dressed for the day, feeling no need to rush, before silently slipping out of her room without waking Rex, knowing he needs all the rest he can get.
Deciding to see if anyone wants to grab breakfast with her, she turns and heads toward the barracks. As she turns the corner she sees Wrecker, feeling a wave of sorrow through the Force emitting from him, she watches as he turns away from the door he was stood outside to face her, looking shocked to see her there. Raising her finger to her lips telling him to stay quiet as she slips by him to listen to the vode inside the room.
'What was Allie thinking? Bringing the Bad Batch here?'
'Yeah, just what we need, thought we'd got away from the freaks.'
'The big ones fun to wind up, might be strong but he sure isn't smart.'
'They should have been decommissioned.'
Allie can't hide her disgust at what she is hearing from inside the room.
s'It's alright Allie we are used to it,' Wrecker says quietly, the first time Allie has heard him talk in such a way.
'It is not alright,' Allie denies shaking her head and walking into the barracks, coughing to draw attention to herself.
'Allie, nice to see you,' Chopper smiles nodding at her in greeting.
'I'd love to be able to say the same thing, but I can't. I want you all dressed and in training room two in ten minutes,' Allie commands.
'We've just gotten off shift,' one of the vode in the room complains.
'Then you should think about what you are saying, quite loudly I might add, and who might hear you. Ten minutes men,' Allie growls.
'Allie…' Chopper tries.
'It's General,' she snaps back, before turning on her heel and storming out of the room, before calming down and smiling at Wrecker. 'Go grab the rest of the Batch and meet me in training room two, as fast as you can.' Allie breaths deeply, calming herself more, as she walks to the training room, entering she takes a few minutes to centre herself, letting some of her anger flow into the Force, before she messages Domino and Cap's squads to make their way to the training room as soon as they can.
'So what's going on Allie?' Hunter asks, as the Batch enter the room.
'I heard some of the vode talking about you behind your backs, so did Wrecker.'
'That's nothing new Allie,' Tech in forms her, all of them very used to hearing their brothers thoughts about them.
'Well it shouldn't be happening,' Allie says firmly, 'just go with me here. I've got your backs.'
As the vode from the barracks slowly trickle into the room, Chopper is the last to step inside however he has Rex beside him, making Allie look at him in confusion.
'These men should be asleep, not in a training room Allie,' Rex says casually.
'You have got to be kidding me. Really, Chopper, you called Rex. Captain, your comments are not needed nor your presence required here. I overheard them saying some, truly horrible things about squad ninety nine, that I feel the need to set right. You're dismissed Captain,' Allie states barely concealing the true level of her anger, Rex is taken aback by her tone, and the fact it is directed at him. 'You may leave or you can join Domino and Cap's squad in the gallery,' Allie points towards where the rest of her boys are filtering in. Rex nods hesitantly and decides to join the others in the gallery. 'Fall in,' Allie commands, watching as the men in front of her form their lines. 'You all know why you are here. The men stood beside me are your brothers. Brothers who you think, it's okay to make fun off, it's okay to degrade them, to wish them dead, just because they are different.'
'They shouldn't be here,' one of the vode calls out.
'Why?' Allie asks, not quite catching who had called out, but no one answers her. 'No one brave enough to answer me. Alright, let's say you are stuck on a battlefield and the only squad who are close enough to help you, save you, in time is squad ninety nine, why should I tell them risk their lives for you, when you wouldn't risk yours for them?'
'We wouldn't leave 'em,' Wrecker denies, shocking the vode in front of him. 'They are our brothers, we wouldn't leave them to die.'
'I know that sweetie, I know you wouldn't, but they would,' this causes the vode to shift uncomfortably. 'You think you are better than squad ninety nine.'
'We are,' Chopper interrupts.
'Really?' Allie raises her eyebrow at him. 'Hunter senses put yours to shame. Crosshair is a better shot, than any of you could hope to be. Wrecker is stronger than any of you. And Tech he's smarter, smarter than you and he's smarter than me, and I'm fine admitting that. I'm never going to be as strong, physically, as Wrecker discounting using the Force. I can't shoot a gun as accurately and consistently as Crosshair. And I can't track or read a situation or a person like Hunter can. He had a single conversation with me and I felt he knew more about me, then some people I've known for years. I don't think I'm better than them. I know I'm not but you still think you are. Alright let's play a game, go grab the training weapons,' Allie instructs, the Batch shrug and do as she asks without question but the others hesitate. 'I'm sorry, have you all gone deaf. Training weapons now soldiers,' Allie says firmly scowling. The vode scurry to do as she has asked. 'Ninety nine to the left, everyone else to the right,' she walks over to the control panel in the room. 'Okay a simple game, all of you verses ninety nine. The team with the last man standing wins. Go,' Allie activates a program to randomly set the obstacles up, causing everyone to dive for cover.
'What is she playing at?' Tech asks.
'Proving a point,' Crosshair answers. 'Proving that she choose us for a reason.'
'Then let's do her proud,' Wrecker says cracking his knuckles.
Allie moves to the side of the room, making sure to stay out of the way, and watches as the Batch works seamlessly together, picking off the others one by one, quickly and efficiently, until Chopper is the last one to fall. Allie shakes her head ending the programme, looking up at the gallery Rex is grimacing whilst Domino are smirking.
'That was pathetic. In under five minutes ninety nine had you completely subdued, and you didn't land one hit on them. You say you are better than they are. Does it make you feel good to say things about them? Does it make you feel bigger, better?'
'We're not the only ones,' a vode mumbles.
'Does that make it right? Because everyone else does it, does that make it right? You know something I've learnt, is that words cut deeper than any blade, and they leave scars that never fade or truly heal. You all thought it was funny to talk about them behind their backs but Wrecker heard you, and instead of going in and confronting you about it, defending himself and his batch mates, throwing punches because he could have decked you all, he choose to walk away,' at this at least they all look embarrassed. 'I am disappointed in you all. I am ashamed that you believe this is an acceptable way to behave, to act,' Allie sighs. 'You are all dismissed, go back to your barracks, think about what you have done, what I have said to you. All of you owe Squad ninety nine an apology. You don't need to say it now. You don't need to say it where I can hear it but you need to mean it. Out there your vode are the ones you need to rely upon. You have each other but if you turn on each other, who do you have then? Go,' Allie dismisses them turning to face the Batch finding them smiling at her, even Crosshair has a small smile.
'You know, no one has ever stuck up for us like that,' Hunter comments, Allie feels the guilt role off some of the vode, even some of the ones in the gallery.
'Well now you have me. Are you alright Wrecker?' Allie askes still feeling the hurt from him in the Force.
'Yeah,' Wrecker nods before walking forward and hugging Allie. 'Thank you vod'ika.'
'Anytime ori'vod, no one messes with my boys,' she opens her arms to the rest of the Batch, Tech shrugs and joins the hug straight away, Hunter smirks as he drags Crosshair into it with him.
Rex watches on from the gallery, realising that they failed the Batch, that they never did enough to protect or help them, the vode turned their backs on them, from the things that the longnecks did to them. 'Tell Allie I'll catch up with her later,' Rex tells Fives before leaving the gallery.
'I think that's the first time I've seen Allie pull rank on Rex,' Echo comments, having never seen Allie act that way towards the Captain before.
'Yeah,' Hevy sighs.
'Does this count as their first fight?' Cutup jokes, trying to dispel the tension in the room, earning a few chuckles from his brothers.
'Come on boys, we have some team building to do,' Allie calls up to the gallery. 'Anyone that has broken out of medical or was in medical earlier, you get to stay up there. I am not, dealing with Coric if you re…hurt something,' Allie laughs.
'You heard her men, let's go,' Cap commands.
Allie smiles once all of her boys are in the training room.
'You know, we really need a name for our extended squad,' Cutup muses.
'We'll think of something,' Droidbait says.
'Okay, we will be running drills. You've just seen that the Batch works like a well-oiled machine. Domino is the same, as I'm sure your squad is too Cap. Now we have to work well together, that's going to take time, time we don't really have unfortunately, so we're are going to practice as much as we can. We all have to trust each other. No one here is expendable to me, we go into a battle together, I want all of us to walk out the other side. I'm not foolish, I know that isn't always going to happen but we will train so we can try our damnedest to make it a reality. You won't find me behind you on the battlefield, I can provide much better cover from the front. Your lives aren't worth less than mine. Now who's ready to run some drills,' Allie grins seeing a range of reactions from eagerness to, do I really have to, and both cheers and groans can be heard.
Allie collapses next to Fives after four straight hours of drills.
'Think we work well enough together now?' Hevy asks leaning back against the wall.
'Getting there,' Allie smiles. 'I'm proud of you all. Now shower time, then food,' Allie grimaces feeling sweaty and smelling either herself or the vode.
'You want to go first vod'ika? There's showers over there but they are communal. We can wait a few minutes,' Echo offers.
'Thank you, but I have nothing to change into,' Allies smiles before getting to her feet.
'Wait Ma'am,' Cap says walking into the showers. 'They always keep plenty of spare blacks in here, might be a bit big but should do fine, until you can get to your quarters to change,' Cap hands Allie a set of blacks, boxers, pants and a long sleeved top.
'Thank you. I promise I won't be long,' Allie smiles before quickly walking into the showers, knowing none of them will try to peak.
'She is something else,' Cap states.
'She's the best,' Cutup smirks.
'And she's ours,' Droidbait grins.
Once everyone is showered and changed, they all head to the mess hall.
'I'll grab you something Allie, go sit down,' Fives ushers her to a table.
'I swear, I can get my own food,' Allie shakes her head, knowing this is a fight she won't win, so she smiles as she sits down.
The Batch are the first to get their food and sit away from where Allie is, narrowing her eyes at them she moves so she is sat next to them.
'You don't have to isolate yourselves here,' Allie says softly, knowing it can be hard to break deeply ingrained habits.
'Just habit vod'ika,' Hunter nods at her. Crosshair scowls as Domino and Cap's Squad start sitting at the table with them.
'Play nice Cross,' Allie giggles, seeing Crosshair's glare aimed at her now.
'Here Allie,' Fives says sliding a tray to her.
'You now I won't eat all this right?' Allie shakes her head at the mountain of food on her tray.
'I know, but we get to eat the rest,' Fives smirks, as Allie laughs and shakes her head. Taking her tray she moves so she is sat in the middle of her squad.
'So tell me about yourselves,' Allie says to Cap's Squad as she starts to nibble on her food, knowing the least about these members of the vode.
'What would you like to know?' one of the vode asks.
'Your names, the reason behind them, any stories about you, or your brothers, both here and that you've lost. Anything you want to tell me, I'll be happy to listen,' Allie smiles encouragingly.
'Ooooo, I have a good one,' one vode begins.
'No, no. You are not allowed to tell that one,' another brother tries to cover his mouth causing the table to laugh.
Rex walks into the mess hall and smiles hearing the laughter from his brothers. He looks around realising Domino, the Batch and Cap's Squad are the source. He sweeps the table before his eye are drawn to Allie, dressing in a set of blacks laughing along with brothers. Grabbing a tray he gets his food and makes his way to the table standing behind Allie.
'Room for one more?' he asks causing Allie to turn her head and smile at him.
'Always,' she answers scooting closer to Cap beside her, to make enough room for Rex, who sits down and presses his forehead to hers. 'Sorry for pulling rank on you earlier,' she whispers, though the table still hears her.
'I should have asked what was going on before believing Chopper. I'm sorry cyare,' Rex apologises back before kissing her quickly, causing some of the vode to wolf whistle.
'Oi, stop that, that's our sister,' Hevy grumbles, making Allie giggle and stick her tongue out at him.
'So what are we talking about?' Rex asks, turning his attention to his brothers.
'Funny stories,' Allie replies. Rex looks a little confused.
'Stories of our brothers, sir,' Cap adds. Rex smiles softly, Allie is truly good for the vode.
'Well I may have a few,' Rex grins.
'No you do not,' Del laughs appearing behind him. 'Nope, he has nothing to tell you,' Del shakes his head and covers Rex's mouth.
'Oh, I have got to hear this now,' Allie laughs motioning for Torrent to join them.
'I know this one,' Coric grins, as Del groans, giving up and just hiding his face behind his hands.
Allie smiles, her aliit are the best.
'Allie do you copy?' Anakin asks over her comm link.
'Here Anakin,' Allie replies still sat in the mess hall with the vode, though some have come and gone.
'Want to spar?' Anakin asks excitedly.
'Really Anakin, I thought it was something important,' Allie laughs. 'Give me twenty minutes.'
'Sounds good, see you soon,' Anakin says sounding far too happy.
'Right boys this has been so much fun but I've got to go. I will catch up with you later,' she smiles at her boys before kissing Rex and departing the room. Walking to her quarters she changes into a new set of robes before walking to the training rooms and finding Anakin. 'You know you have me at a disadvantage, I was training all morning with the boys,' Allie laughs but shrugs off her outer robes and draws her sabres.
'Needed a challenge,' Anakin smirks drawing his own blade.
Del walks into the observation area and stops, blinking at the blurs he sees in front of him, slipping his helmet on he begins to record and transmit the show to anyone on board who wants to watch.
Anakin growls in frustration as Allie keeps blocking his strikes easily. Taking power from the Force he pushes Allie back.
Allie uses the Force herself to push back against Anakin causing both to stop moving for the first time in twenty minutes. Breathing deeply Allie gives the Force her need for more power, asks for its help and manages to push Anakin back against the wall.
Anakin growls and once again takes more power from the Force but can't push her back.
'You won't win like that Anakin,' Allie says softly.
'Like what?' Anakin huffs. Allie slowly lets go of the force push and gives the power back to the Force.
'By taking from the Force,' Allie explains as Anakin pushes off of the wall.
'What do you mean?' Anakin asks confused.
'When you need more power from the Force you take it, and whatever you take, the Force will take back with interest. It's the reason Vaapur is dangerous, because you are constantly taking from the Force and being in battle it's normally done with negative emotions. You are taking from it, taking the power you need, while being angry or frustrated or greedy and the Force will take that power back Anakin, with the same negative emotions,' Allie tries to explain.
'Master Windu, does the same,' Anakin huffs.
'He does but you can do better,' Allie says seriously. 'You are led by your emotions Anakin, and that's not a bad thing, but taking from the Force could… will be a very dangerous path for you,' Allie tries again. 'Okay how about I show you, what I mean,' Anakin nods in agreement, always doing better with physical examples. 'Can any vode not on duty or otherwise busy, please head down to the hanger bay, only if you want to, I need some help,' Allie asks politely over a ship wide comm. 'You coming Del?' Allie asks smiling up at him.
'I have a feeling I'm going to regret this,' Del mutters but nods.
Allie laughs loudly at him before wrapping her arm through Anakin's and walking down to the hanger. She is surprised to see about two hundred of the vode stood around casually chatting.
'So what are we doing?' Ahsoka asks skipping over to the two of them.
'A lesson, apparently,' Anakin says.
'Yes a lesson. Okay, Anakin without taking any more power from the Force how many of the boys could you lift?' Allie asks.
'I have no idea,' Anakin shakes his head.
'Right, well go on, try,' Allie says and smiling reassuringly at the vode who are now shifting nervously. Hunter and Crosshair move in from the edge of the room to stand beside Allie.
'What are you doing?' Hunter inquires.
'Teaching,' Allie grins.
Anakin pushes out with the Force and twenty of the vode find themselves floating off the floor.
'Whoo,' one exclaims.
'That's it,' Anakin says before lowering them back to the ground. Allie nods, extending her own hands and does the same thing, only able to lift ten before she has to stop.
'So my master can lift twice as many as you, he's really strong with the Force,' Ahsoka says.
'Yes, strong and gifted but that isn't everything,' Allie says after lowering the vode back to the ground. Breathing slowly and deeply she gives the Force her need again, for more power, to lift more, so she knows she could if she needs to save them from something, wanting power not for herself but to help others.
'Master, what is she doing?' Ahsoka questions.
'I'm not entirely sure Snips,' Anakin answers. 'Allie…' but Anakin stops staring wide eyed as every vode present is suddenly floating held perfectly safely in Allie's force signature.
'Wow,' Ahsoka stare wide eyed also, at such a display of power.
'I couldn't do that,' Anakin says.
Allie carefully and gently puts the vode back down, once again giving the power back to the Force, thanking it.
'You are welcome young one,' the Force whispers back to her wrapping her safely in its power.
'That is what you can do, if instead of taking from the Force, you give to it,' Allie explains.
'Give to it? I don't understand,' Ahsoka looks very confused.
Allie smiles softly. 'When you reach into the Force and pull at its power, take it by force for whatever reason you need it for, the emotions you use to take from the Force also feed into the Force, more often than not, if you are trying to take the power the emotions are negative and the Force will take back what you have taken and more. It's why eventually you have to take more and more from it, so it takes more and more from you. They say you fall into the dark side, but the Force has no dark or light side, not truly, it is just the Force.'
'But we are taught that the Force has dark and light,' Ahsoka says.
'A flawed teaching. The Force is only dark, if the person using it, is using it in such a way. A gun shoots a child, which is evil the gun or the person wielding it? The Force is very much the same, eventually people realise to get more power they have to take more, often making them angry, until all they do is take and then they fall, because of all the negative emotions that get fed into the Force around them, are magnified again and again,' Allie tries her best to explain.
'That makes sense, but if you didn't take that power from the Force, what did you do?' Anakin asks.
'I gave to it, I gave it my need for more power, why I needed the power, my faith that the Force could help me and the Force in return gave me back its power to do what I needed, and then I gave it back the power it gave me, for keeping it would be the same as taking,' Allie explains. 'Right then it took me a little longer than normal but I can do that just as easily as breathing when I need to, without thinking. As easily as you take from the Force, I can give to it.'
'That's going to take some practice,' Anakin rubs the back of his head.
'There are some boxes over there, don't think the boys want to keep having us lift them,' Allie laughs. 'Thank you all, you can go back to whatever it was you were doing, before,' Allie smiles at them as they nod and begin to leave the hanger.
'What do you say Snips? Up for some training?' Anakin smiles seeing Ahsoka nod.
'Do you need me to stay?' Allie asks.
'No, I felt what you did. Like you said, just going to take practice,' Anakin smiles. 'Thank you,' Allie smiles reaching over, squeezing his hand.
'Anytime, though I sure Obi-Wan must have tried to explain this at some point,' Allie laughs.
'Probably,' Anakin laughs too.
Allie turns around, smiling when she sees Hunter, Crosshair and Del waiting for her.
'Why are you waiting for little ole me?' Allie asks wrapping Hunter in a one armed hug, which he happily returns.
'Nearly time for dinner, Coric would have our heads if we let you walk away without making sure you ate something,' Del explains.
'Lead the way gentlemen,' Allie smiles releasing Hunter, but slipping her arms through his and Crosshair's.
Mando'a translation
Vod'ika- little sister/brother
Ori'vod- big brother/sister
Cyare- beloved
Aliit- family