Tales of Pabu: Part 5--Rebellion (Ten Years Later)

by swjedilover

The life of the Clones on Pabu change with a decision by Omega.

Tales of Pabu

Part Five: Ten Years Later

Rebellion

1.

Jewel walked up the winding road, from her house on the beach below, all the way to the top of the mountain, to find Omega. Her Aunt had promised to go swimming with her today, and she'd failed to show up this afternoon.

Jewel knew exactly where Omega was and was going to tell her exactly how she felt about being forgotten.

Uncle Wrecker passed her several times in his old, battered speeder, asking her if she was sure she didn't want a ride.

"No, thank you, Uncle," she replied. "I'm getting my exercise."

"Exercise? That's boring!"

"So is indolence, Uncle," she replied, knowing full well Wrecker wouldn't know the word.

"You and your big words," he said, waving as he drove away.

Omega could run up the entire mountain without losing a breath. Jewel knew it would be a while before she reached that level, but she wanted to stay in shape. And one thing she wanted was to be like Omega in all things.

Omega was strong, brave, and smart. Jewel was already smart, thanks to her Daddy. He'd been teaching her everything he knew since she was born, practically; she'd held a datapad in her hand since her hands were big enough, and she could fix almost anything mechanical. She was still learning how to fly a ship, even though she'd memorized all the specs on the old Maurader, her mother's ship, and the Precision. She had a feeling her Daddy was reluctant to put her at the controls, but she was working on wearing him down on that. She could usually sway him into almost anything. Her Mom—well, not so much. Sometimes she believed her mother was overly strict to make up for her Daddy's leniency.

Anyway, she was working on being strong, but brave? She didn't know. She'd grown up on Pabu, a place that didn't offer any tests for bravery or skill, besides swimming, perhaps, and she could do that better than a fish. What Pabu offered was an easy, pleasant life. She was grateful for that, but she longed to find out what she was made of. Her Daddy and Uncles had been soldiers in the Clone Wars, and they'd trained Omega to be a soldier, too. They'd seen battles and had nearly died countless times.

But her Mom didn't want her to be raised as a soldier. When Uncle Gump had offered to teach her how to shoot, Phee Genoa had been adamant.

"No weapons, Toothpick," she'd warned him. All of them, really. "My baby girl is not going to be a soldier." Jewel knew her Mom kept a blaster tucked away in a closet, for the occasional treasure-hunting trips they'd gone on. Those trips had been fun, and hardly dangerous, though to hear her mother's stories, it wasn't always so.

Jewel herself didn't know what her future held, or what she might want to be. She was only twelve, but she was surrounded by excellence—Uncle Senn even had the Force!—and she wanted to keep up.

She finally made it to the top of the mountain and crossed the landing pad to a tall building next to the Arkium. This was Pabu's communications tower, and she knew she'd find Omega there, tinkering with an old communications server she'd found in a junkyard on one of her excursions with Uncle Wrecker off-planet. What she hoped to accomplish with such a relic, Jewel had no idea.

She found Omega kneeling on the floor next to it, a box about the size of her bedside table at home. Her Aunt had goggles on and used a spanner on one of the components of the unit, and sparks flew.

"Any progress?" she asked.

Omega looked up, startled. "Oh, Jewel. I didn't see you there." She pushed the goggles up onto her head and wiped the sweat from her face. "Maybe. I've got it working. What I want to do is hook it up to our own comm unit to increase the frequency range."

Jewel came closer, inspecting the unit. "Why?"

"We're so far out, it's hard to get clear signals from anywhere outside our part of the Outer Rim. I'm hoping this unit can boost our ability to receive them."

"I understand that, but what are you hoping to receive?"

Omega tossed her long braid over her shoulder. "Don't you want to know what's going on in the galaxy?"

"The Empire only puts out propaganda. What's the point of receiving lies?"

Omega smirked. "The Empire isn't the only one sending out messages." She moved the unit closer to their own comm unit, and plugged in some wires and turned some dials.

"I think you need to—" Jewel began, pointing to a wire that needed adjusting.

"I know how to do it, Jewel," Omega said testily. "Your father taught me, too, you know."

Jewel stayed silent as Omega fiddled with the wires, working through her resentment. "I guess I'll just go swimming by myself, then," she said finally, turning to leave.

She thought she heard a muttered "Kriff" behind her. "Jewel, I'm so sorry," Omega called, getting up and coming over to her. "I forgot about our swimming. I got distracted and…."

She looked truly upset at having forgotten. "It's okay," Jewel said, and hugged her.

Omega squeezed her. "It's not okay. And I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm just…."

"Obsessed?"

Her Aunt smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Daddy says you'll not have much luck getting that thing to work."

"Well, I guess I'm just going to have to prove your Daddy wrong." She ran a hand down Jewel's hair. "Can we go swimming later? I just want to see if I can link them up."

"Okay." She wasn't sure what Omega was up to, what she sought in the frequencies of the galaxy, but clearly it was important to her. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

Omega winked at her. "Me, too, baby girl."

2.

Senn was at the table drinking a cup of wine when Crosshair came home. He gauged it was a bit too early for the grog, but he needed something to steady the shake of his hands.

Cross tossed a pile of credits onto the table with a grin. "Told you I was getting better at Sabacc." Winning the game had put him in a good mood, and he cupped Senn's face and kissed him.

He must have sensed the tension within him because he asked, "What's wrong?"

Senn shook his head and tried to smile. "Nothing."

"The hell it's nothing," Cross said. He took the chair opposite, leaning back and crossing his arms. "Spill it."

He rubbed his temple and sighed. "It was just a bad day, Cross. I don't really want to talk about it."

And he didn't. He couldn't get the images out of his head. The blood, the violence, the brutality. Worse, the feelings associated with the images were overwhelming: terror, unfathomable grief, rage. Since he'd gotten stronger in the Force over the years, he could not only sense other people's emotions; but they became a part of him. As if he was there, at the center of their tragedies, suffering along with them.

Cross narrowed his eyes. "You went to see those new arrivals today, didn't you?"

Senn didn't answer, only gulped down the rest of his wine. They were a family of Mikkians who had lost their youngest child in their escape from the Empire.

Cross stared at him pointedly. "You have to stop, Senn. It's too much."

"What else am I supposed to do?" he snapped. "They need help." Ever since Marissa's suicide, he vowed he'd try to help as many as he could, to prevent someone from destroying themselves in their despair. He'd been doing it for years, taking on other people's pain, and he was beginning to suspect it was taking a toll on his own well-being.

"You've helped enough," Cross insisted.

"Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You come and go as you please, and when you are here, you spend all day gambling, taking money from people when you don't need it." His voice rose as he spoke. He was so angry; he could feel it burning his insides.

"You know I always put it in Pabu's coffers." Crosshair's gaze became sharp, and he leaned forward. "What is this? You're not yourself."

"What do you know about it?" Cross thought he knew him, everyone did, but they didn't, they didn't know what he went through….

"Not much," Crosshair admitted, slowly getting up from the chair. "But I do know the Jedi had to be very careful with the power they wielded. If not, it could lead down a dark road."

Senn put his head in his hands, his mind a riot of confusion. What was happening to him?

He felt Cross's hand on his shoulder. "Senn—"

"Don't touch me!" He lifted his hand as if to swat him away. Instead, he looked up to see Cross flying through the room to slam into the opposite wall.

"No," he gasped, as if waking up from a bad dream. He hurried over to him and knelt. "Cross, I'm so sorry—"

Crosshair held up a hand, as if to ward him off. There'd been a flash of anger in his eyes, and then something else: fear. Senn's heart shriveled with what he'd done.

"Oh gods," he croaked. Tears sprung to his eyes, his throat constricting. "I need help," he whispered. But there was no help. The Jedi were gone.

Crosshair's expression softened, and he caught Senn up in his arms. "Then we'll find it, love," he said in his ear. "Somehow."

3.

They were all on Shep's patio when Omega showed up and made her announcement.

Shep himself, sadly, had passed away a few years before of an illness that could not be cured by Dr. Xo. But Hunter, the new Mayor of Pabu, still held the evening dinners on his predecessor's patio, in his honor.

Shep's daughter, Lyana, was there with her husband, Derik, and their one-year-old son, Paulo.

"Have you seen Omega?" Hunter asked Lyana. He hadn't seen her all day, which was unusual. No matter what she was up to, she always made a point of seeing him at least once during the day.

"I think she was fiddling with that old communications device," Lyana answered, shifting Paulo from one arm to another, trying to get him to eat some dinner.

"I told her that old thing wasn't worth fixing, but she wouldn't listen," Tech said. Phee poured him some more wine, and he smiled his thanks at her. His wife still looked at him as if they'd fallen in love yesterday, despite bands of gray sprouting at the sides of his hair. There were streaks of gray in Hunter's own hair; hell, they were all going gray. Crosshair, who had always had silver hair when he wasn't bald, was even whiter now, and Wrecker's beard was marbled with white.

"I know what she's doing," Wrecker exclaimed, feeding his Twi'lek wife, Poppy, a piece of fruit. "She thinks she'll find secret channels through that thing. Rebel channels."

Hunter winced at that word. Lately, Omega had talked of nothing but the rumors of a Rebellion against the Empire growing in the galaxy. Rumors that made Hunter very, very nervous.

They'd been lucky on Pabu. The Empire hadn't reached them here; not yet, at least. But Omega, always itching to do something, had fastened onto the idea of a crusade against the Empire that had hurt them so much, a long time ago. Hunter, for the sake of his people, was willing to let it go and move on. They'd survived and thrived. Why go looking for trouble?

"I told her what you said, Daddy," Jewel said to Tech. She sat next to her father, as she always did. She'd practically throw fists for that coveted spot. "That she wasn't likely to get it working, but she seemed to take that as a challenge. She said she was going to prove you wrong."

Tech and Phee's twelve-year old daughter had a knack for mechanical repair, just like her father. Smart as a laser-whip, too. But she had Phee's uneven temper, and sassiness, as well, with a resulting nickname utilized by Crosshair.

"It's junk," Crosshair said from across the patio before Tech could answer. He lounged in a chair, chewing on one of his infernal toothpicks, his feet up on a small table nearby. "You should have thrown it into the ocean, Sass."

"She'd never let me do that, Uncle," Jewel replied. "Besides, I want to see what she can do with it."

"Maybe we should just let Omega work through her fascination with this," Senn offered. He leaned against the balustrade next to Crosshair. He wasn't often far from him when Crosshair was on Pabu. They had a relationship that seemed to work for them: when Crosshair was home, they were together; often inseparable. When he wasn't on Pabu, they held no demands on each other, no commitments. Although Hunter didn't think they'd ever been with anyone else that he could see. "It probably won't work, as you've guessed," Senn continued, "and maybe the obsession will fade away."

Hunter noticed that Senn looked weary today and hadn't eaten much. He often entertained Paulo by spinning a toy with the Force, to the child's giggling delight; but he didn't do that today.

"Have you ever known Omega to give up anything that mattered to her?" Tech asked.

No one spoke because they all knew the answer.

"It's just rumors, anyway," Hunter said, though he tended to believe them. "She won't find anything."

"Wrong," a voice said from the entrance to the patio. Omega hurried over to the table with a small personal recording device in her hand. "I found something!"

She'd grown taller, and her blonde hair, down to her waist now, was in its usual long braid. Hunter knew that many young men on Pabu found her attractive—perhaps not like the delicate beauty of Jewel, but she was undoubtedly lovely- although she didn't seem particularly interested in them. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or dismayed by this. Maybe if she found someone special, she might stay, let go of this idea of fighting the Empire…

She held out the recording device. "I'm always recording whatever I find on the old comm device, just in case. And today I found this." She placed it on the table and pushed a button. A young voice projected out onto the patio:

"We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families, and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse…unless we stand up and fight back. It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest—as one."

When the recording was done, there was silence, except for Paulo cooing to his father.

Crosshair broke the silence. "So a kid in Lothal has hope. So what?" He took his feet from the table and crossed his arms.

"Didn't you hear what he just said?" Omega cried.

"Hope doesn't win wars," Crosshair stated, pointing at her with his toothpick.

"But it brings people together. Right now, there are so many Rebel cells out there, working alone, fighting the Empire. Imagine if they all came together and banded their forces! They could have a chance!"

"What chance?" Crosshair continued. "You can't fight the Empire. You work around them, you avoid them, you put as much space between you and them as possible. That's it."

"You're wrong," she accused him, picking up the recording device. "You may all have given up, but I haven't."

"No one's given up anything, Omega," Hunter said, "Except our old lives. Look around you. We've built a life here. Families. Friends. Peace. I don't think it's too much to ask, given what we've gone through."

"We fought our war, Omega," Tech said. "We gave up being soldiers, when that was all we'd ever known. We learned there was more to life than fighting." Phee watched her husband carefully.

"If you're lucky enough to find it," Omega countered. "We've been lucky here on Pabu. But most of the galaxy has not been lucky. People suffer every day. Most of the residents here on Pabu have fled the cruelties of the Empire. How can we sit back and let their atrocities continue?"

Senn turned away, to look out over the balustrade, over the sea.

"We, more than some, have cause to know the evil of the Empire," Hunter reminded her. "It's not something we can easily forget." He glanced at Tech, who looked down for a moment, but then back up at Omega. It had been years since his ordeal on Tantiss, yet he still carried the emotional scars. He called it his "shadow," and it had taken time, Senn's help, his family, and the bright sun of Pabu to banish that shadow deep within him.

Hunter sighed. "We're aging clones, Omega. What can we do?"

"So much, Hunter! With your experience, you can help lead. You all have talents that the Rebellion could use."

"I do kind of miss blowing things up," Wrecker commented.

"Wrecker!" Poppy said, looking alarmed.

He rubbed his bald head. "Well, I do."

"See? Don't you miss making a difference in the galaxy?" Omega pleaded.

"We are making a difference," Tech said. "Here. The people on Pabu need peace and stability. We give them that." Phee, whose face had gone pale at Omega's words, exhaled. She took Tech's hand and squeezed. Then, in a quieter tone he said, "We give ourselves that."

"And what about Echo?" she said. It was a vibro-knife in their hearts, and she knew it. She threw her arm out toward the heavens. "Our brother died out there, fighting them. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Echo knew the risks," Hunter said. "He died fighting for what he believed in, and we respect that. But he respected our decision, as well. He wouldn't want us to go charging against the Empire for revenge. That's not what it should be about."

"It's not! It's about doing the right thing!" She looked over to Crosshair and Senn. "What if the Empire comes here? What if they find out we have a Force-sensitive here on Pabu? They'll send one of those awful Inquisitors here to kill Senn."

Senn turned around and gazed at Omega. Crosshair pounded the table in front of him with a fist. "I'll kill them!"

"You can try. You're good, Crosshair, but no one defeats an Inquisitor. They're dark Jedi. No one escapes. They take the Force-sensitive children to make more of them, and they kill the adults. Is that the kind of galaxy you want to live in?"

Crosshair looked as if he would explode with rage at any moment. Senn, instead of looking fearful, only looked thoughtful. He hadn't said a word during the entire conversation.

"If the Empire comes here, we'll defend Pabu with our lives," Hunter said. "We'll defend our people, our children, our loved ones. But we won't look for a fight. I'm sorry, Omega."

She paced in frustration, stopping near the balustrade and looking out to the sea. She took a deep breath and straightened. She turned to them all and said, "Fine. You fought your war, I get that. But this one's mine. And I'm going to fight it."

"And how do you propose to do that?" Hunter asked.

"Obviously there's a Rebel cell on Lothal. So that's where I'm going." She shrugged. "It's a place to start, at least."

"No," Hunter said, shaking his head, a deep panic beginning to rise in him. "I can't let you do that."

She crossed her arms in defiance. "It's not your decision, Hunter. I'm not a child anymore, not for a long time. It's my choice." She walked away, and they all watched her go helplessly.

"Omega," Hunter called, but she ignored him.

"Well, that didn't go well," Crosshair quipped.

"What do we do?" Wrecker asked. "We just gonna let her go?"

"There's not much else we can do," Tech said. "She's an adult. We can't make this decision for her."

"Daddy, I want to join the Rebellion!" Jewel said, excitement sparkling in her eyes.

"Absolutely not," Phee said, looking at her daughter severely.

"Daddy!" Jewel whined, looking to her father for support.

"You're too young, Jewel," Tech informed her.

"But when I'm old enough I can?"

"No!" Phee exclaimed.

"But Omega can go," she cried. "Why can't I when I'm old enough?"

"Because I said so," Phee answered sternly.

"Phee, we can't tell her what she can or can't do when she's an adult," Tech reasoned.

"Says who?" Phee retorted.

"But Mom—"

"End of discussion," Phee said, and Jewel pouted.

"At any rate, it's likely the conflict may be over by the time you're old enough, Jewel," Tech said, trying to comfort her.

"I doubt it," Crosshair said.

"Shut up, Toothpick," Phee said.

"Well, if Omega's going, then I guess I gotta go, too," Wrecker said.

"Wrecker!" Poppy said again, her pretty eyes round with outrage. "What about me?"

"You can come, too, Poppy."

"I don't want to go join the Rebellion! This is my home. You're my husband. What about that?"

Wrecker rubbed his bald head in obvious conflict. "Omega's my sister. And I've always looked out for her. If she insists on going, then I don't really have a choice."

"Yes, you do," his wife said between clenched teeth. She stood and pushed him savagely off the bench he was sitting on. It was only because he wasn't expecting it that the slim Twi'lek was able to move him at all. He fell back onto the tiles with a grunt, and Poppy turned and stormed off the patio.

Paulo, watching everyone argue with big fearful eyes, burst into tears.

Hunter put his head in his hands.

"Well, here we are," Crosshair drawled. "One big happy family."

4.

Crosshair and Senn walked back to their shared rooms in silence, both deep in thought. Crosshair seethed more than anything. What was the girl thinking? It couldn't be just about boredom. She accompanied him on many of his jobs, even some bounty-hunting ones, though they didn't tell Hunter that. And she'd gone with Phee and Tech on their occasional treasure-hunting adventures.

No, the girl really thought it was the right thing to do. And was he surprised? Not really. Omega had always had a strong sense of idealism. But to go charging off into the unknown to fight the Imperials…that was foolishness. He, of all of them, knew the might of the Empire. Their cold ruthlessness. It was a losing battle. And she, like Echo, would probably die fighting it.

His heart twisted at the thought. Is that what they trained her for? For her to throw herself against the steel wall of the Empire? To be crushed under their unrelenting boot? He slammed the door shut with his anger, his despair.

Wordlessly, Senn went to the cabinet and took out a bottle. He poured each of them a cup of SirsKeegan grog and handed one to Crosshair. He gulped it down, relishing the fire, then held it out to Senn to refill.

Senn sipped more slowly and watched him. Finally, he said, "I know you're upset. But think about it from Omega's point of view."

"What's to think about? She's a clone. It's in her nature to want to fight." He sat down on their couch and put his head in his hands, similar to what Hunter had done on the patio.

"I don't think it's just that. The Empire…it has to be stopped, Cross."

He snorted. "Good luck with that." He looked up suddenly. "You think she's right for wanting to go."

Senn took another sip of the drink. "I think she's right for being concerned for the future. I think…she's right for not turning a blind eye."

"We're not blind, Senn. We see all too well what they're up against. And it's futile."

"Nothing is futile if you have the courage to face it. To try. Like that boy on Lothal said."

"It's got nothing to do with courage. Omega is brave to a fault. Anyone is, to dare to stand up to the Empire. But they'll still die."

"Many will. That's why there needs to be more."

Anger flared up in Crosshair. "Look, I know you've seen the carnage they bring in other people's minds. I get it—"

"You forget, Cross. They killed my parents, too. Destroyed my city, my home. I've swallowed my anger for years, and I'm tired of it." He slammed his cup down onto the sideboard.

"You're…you're thinking of going with her. Aren't you?" His voice swirled upward in disbelief.

Senn looked up. His eyes, those blue eyes he loved so much, pleaded with him, but were nevertheless clear. "I can't stand by anymore and do nothing, Cross. And besides," he said, "If there are Inquisitors hunting any surviving Jedi, that means there are Jedi out there to be hunted. Maybe…maybe I can find one, and they can help me."

"And then these bastards will be hunting you," he pointed out.

"They may find me anyway," Senn said quietly. "People come and go from this island all the time. What if word gets out that there's a Force-sensitive person here? I haven't exactly been hiding it."

"I'll protect you," he said hotly. "I'll die before they hurt you."

Senn put his hands on Crosshair's shoulders. "I know you would. But I can't just sit back and do nothing. It's not right, Cross. What's the point of this life if we don't stand up for what's right?"

"Staying alive." He put his forehead against Senn's. "I need you to stay alive, Senn. Please."

"But I'm afraid, Cross. Like you said, there's a dark road before me. Omega said the Inquisitors are dark Jedi. What if I end up like that? Or hurt someone? I could have killed you today." Comprehension dawned in his eyes. "I finally understand, truly understand, Tech's shadow. To be afraid of what's inside of me."

Crosshair pulled away and stared at him. And didn't he understand that as well?

"Look, you don't have to go," Senn said. "But—"

Crosshair pulled him in and kissed him, long and hard. When they pulled apart, Senn asked, "Does that mean…?"

Crosshair raised a finger. "I'm not in it for the cause, just so you know. I still think it's foolish." He brushed a thumb across Senn's cheek. "I'm in it for you. You're not going anywhere without me."

5.

Tech pulled the blanket up to Jewel's chin, although it was a warm night. She was almost too old to be tucked in like this, but it was a habit he wasn't ready to let go of. It seemed just a short while ago he'd held her in the sea and taught her to swim, her little legs kicking furiously. Only a short while ago that he'd overseen her take apart her first computer bank and put it back together without his help.

There were no bacta tanks on Pabu. After Jewel's birth, it had taken Phee many weeks to heal and recover, and he had been left to take care of an infant. It had terrified him. At the time, he would have preferred to face the most dangerous and harrowing mission during the war rather than be responsible for a helpless baby. But in those few weeks, he found in himself a love more profound than he ever thought possible. And a pretty good knack for changing diapers.

"Goodnight, my darling," he said, and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want Omega to go," his daughter said, and then bit her lip against the tears that welled in her eyes.

He brushed her hair back. "I don't, either. But we must respect her choice."

"But I'll miss her," she said, wiping a tear away. "That's why I want to go with her. She's my Aunty, and I love her."

"I know. We all do. But she feels called to do this. And so we must let her go."

She swallowed, wrestling with her emotions. "Do you think someday I'll be as brave as she is? As brave as you and my uncles were in the Clone Wars?"

Now it was his turn to master the swell of emotion that rose up in him. After a moment, he said, "Of course. And when your calling presents itself, you will accept it and pursue it with the bravery I know is within you."

She smiled, happy with his answer. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too, my Jewel." He kissed her forehead and left the room, closing the door behind him.

In their bedroom, Phee was curled up on the bed with her back to him. Over the years, he'd learned to read his wife's moods; it had taken some time. It had taken even longer to learn how to deal with them: very carefully.

He turned the lights down, got undressed, and eased into bed next to her. Ordinarily, he'd sit up in bed with his datapad while she slept, as he didn't require as much sleep. But not tonight. He supported himself on an elbow and watched her unsleeping form.

After a while, she said, "Stop staring at me."

"I know you're upset about Omega leaving. We all are." He paused, reaching out to touch her hair. "But there's something else bothering you."

Silence. Then: "I'm afraid."

"Phee. You can't possibly think that I want to go with her." Once, perhaps. Before Phee and Jewel. Before Tantiss. But not now, though he understood Omega's motivations.

She made a frustrated sound and turned to him. "No. I know that. But…everything's changing."

There it was again, that ubiquitous monster: change. He sometimes thought people feared change more than actual monsters. At least those beasts could be slayed.

"Everything" covered a lot of ground, however. "Can you be more specific, my love?"

She sighed. "Not just Omega leaving, though I worry, of course. But Jewel's growing up, too, and fast, and you and your brothers are..." She trailed off.

"Getting old?" he finished for her, raising a brow. "I'm not dead yet, Phee."

"I know," she insisted. "I'm just realizing that—sooner rather than later—I won't have any of you anymore."

His younger self would have pointed out that he'd warned her of this before they got married. He knew better now.

"You will always have Jewel," he said instead. "No matter what she chooses in life, she will always be our daughter. And so a part of me will always be with you."

He could tell she was swallowing away tears. "Will you hold me?"

"Of course."

She scooted over and nestled into his arms. They stayed that way for a while, listening to the sea murmur outside their window. He thought perhaps she'd fallen asleep, but eventually her hand slipped down between his legs.

Ah. Yes, he could comfort her that way. It had been quite some time since they'd made love, for one reason or another—three weeks, two days, and fifteen hours, not that he was counting—and it was satisfying when she pulled him on top of her.

They moved in a quiet fervor, so as not to wake Jewel. Phee's pleasure, when it came, was silent but strong; she clutched him with a long exhale. Only then did he let his own pleasure release—that chaotic oblivion where the Shadow could not follow. That darkness had been banished to a far corner of his being, but was still ever-present, watching him; only in the act of love—brief, intense, all-consuming—did it disappear completely, as if it couldn't abide or witness such joy.

As they lay beside each other, their sweat drying in the warm breeze wafting through the window, he looked over at her.

"Not bad for an old man."

She chuckled softly. "No. Not bad at all."

He moved closer and cupped her cheek with a hand. "Let's allow the future to take care of itself. It will do so whether we like it or not, anyway. In the meantime, we have tonight. And then tomorrow, and then the next day. Let's grasp what happiness we can."

She ran a hand through his whitening hair. "I always knew you were smart. But when did you get so wise?"

He made a show of thinking deeply. "I think it began when I met a certain pirate."

She smiled. "Must have been quite a pirate."

"She was. And is. And always will be." He kissed her, and they let the soft Pabu night enfold them in its warm embrace.

6.

In Wrecker and Poppy's residence, the night was not so peaceful.

They argued, Poppy cried, she threw a dish at him. It crashed to the floor and shattered, and she sat near its shards and wept, picking up the pieces. She cut her finger on a sharp edge; it bled and she sucked on it, looking up at him with wet eyes.

It excited him, and he picked her up and threw her on their bed. That excited her, and they spent some time making up. Then they argued again, and made up again, back and forth in this way for most of the night. By morning, they were both exhausted and gave in to the other's arguments.

"If you don't want me to go, Pops, I won't," Wrecker said wearily.

"I know what it means to you, Wreck," she answered, worn out. "Go. You won't be happy if you stay here while Omega is gone."

He pouted. "But I won't be happy without you, either."

"I won't make you choose between us. So, I guess…I'm going with you."

"Really, Pops?" He picked her up and swirled her around happily.

"Put me down," she grumbled. He did, easing her down with a gentleness that belied his massive form.

"I'll keep you safe, Poppy, I promise."

"You better." She pulled on his beard. "Besides, it'll be fun seeing you blow stuff up."

"Hah! It will be fun. Yeah!"

She smiled, and they collapsed into bed, this time to sleep off their weariness. Poppy smiled, but her heart was scared. They were going into war, after all. But if anyone could keep her safe, it was her enhanced clone husband who loved explosives and ammo.

At least, that's what she told herself.

7.

Hunter sat at his table at home and poured himself some more wine. He usually didn't let himself over-indulge, but tonight was different.

Omega was leaving. And not just on a treasure-hunting trip with Phee or helping Crosshair with one of his bounties (they thought he didn't know about that, but he did—and decided to let it go. Between the two of them, Hunter felt a little sorry for their marks).

No. This was a war. This was the Empire. She was leaving, and there was a very good possibility she may never come back. Soldiers accepted that fact. And didn't they train her to be a soldier?

Yes, so she could survive in a dangerous galaxy. Not to go running off to fight an Empire that, in Hunter's opinion, couldn't be defeated. Was his pessimistic view a sign that he was getting old?

Well, he was getting old, no doubt about that. His joints ached more than usual, and his eyesight wasn't what it used to be. But he didn't think it was the cause of his pessimism. Even during the Clone Wars, he didn't have an opinion one way or another on who would win. He simply did his job, followed through with the missions, and tried to keep his squad safe. Let the politicians decide who wins.

But no one had won the war except Palpatine, and the galaxy was darker for it.

As a clone soldier, he'd followed orders. Well, sort of. But now, as a private citizen—albeit one who was hiding from the Empire—he had a choice. As did Omega, and the rest of his family. It was what he'd been telling them for years now: they had agency in their lives now. They had choices.

And if he disapproved of those choices? He knew the answer. If he put limits on those choices, it was no choice at all.

He rubbed his temples. All he'd ever wanted was to keep his family safe. And he'd done that. And not just his squad, but the people of Pabu. It wasn't exactly what he'd trained for, but he was proud of what they continued to build here after Shep's untimely death. He'd worked so hard to give Omega a normal childhood. And she'd struggled against it almost every step of the way. She left Pabu every chance she got.

He supposed it was inevitable that this would happen. Omega, from the very beginning, had always championed doing what was right.

The truth was he loved her, and he couldn't imagine not being where she was.

And that's why he finally pushed himself away from the table and went to the closet space in his bedroom and pulled out the box that had been in there, untouched, for more than ten years.

He lifted the lid and looked at the face plate that stared back at him silently.

"Hello, stranger," he said.

8.

Crosshair and Senn went to Tech and Phee's place the next day to say goodbye.

And because they knew they may not come back, they brought some grog with them to lighten the mood.

Phee squeezed her eyes shut and gasped after she swallowed. "This is the swill the two of you have been hoarding all this time?" she said in a rasp.

Senn smiled through his own fire-laced grimace. "It's limited edition. We don't share unless it's a special occasion."

"I suppose we're honored," Tech said in a strangled voice.

Jewel sniffed at the bottle. "It has no scent. And it looks like water. May I try some?"

"No!" they all said at once.

Jewel crossed her arms and scowled.

"Sass," Crosshair said, putting down his cup. "Come outside for a minute. I want to share something with you."

He caught a glimpse of Phee looking at him suspiciously as he and Jewel got up to go to the door.

"He just wants to say goodbye in private," he heard Senn say quietly, to placate Phee. "You know how Cross is."

"Yes, I do know," Phee said in an equally suspicious voice. But no one followed them out. Senn was working his charm.

"What is it, Uncle Gump?" She'd been calling him that all her young life; he didn't mind. He was grumpy. But she didn't seem to mind that.

He took something out of his pocket and held it out to her.

"A recording device?" she asked, taking it.

"Turn it on."

When she pressed a button, a small holo of Crosshair appeared, with an array of weapons at his feet. With toothpick in mouth, he held up a small blaster and began his lecture.

"This is a DC-17 hand blaster, similar to what your father used in the Clone Wars. He, like some others, used two at a time. It's compact but powerful, has a lower recoil and high rate of fire, has a stun setting and can accommodate a cable launcher …."

Holo-Crosshair went on, presenting each weapon and their specifications. "It goes on to show you how to use each weapon," real Crosshair explained, "All their uses, idiosyncrasies, and some tips and tricks." He pressed the pause button and looked down at her. "I want you to memorize this, Sass. I know your mother doesn't want you to use them, and I've respected that. But I'm not giving you a gun. I'm giving you knowledge."

She looked up at him, beaming. "Thank you, Uncle!"

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Someday you'll be old enough to decide for yourself. And…I worry that the Empire may find this place. If they do, I want you to be ready."

"I will be," Jewel said excitedly. "I promise, Uncle, I'll memorize everything."

"Good. But," he said, raising a finger, "It's our little secret, all right? Tech would understand, but your mother….let's just say I'm glad I won't be here if she ever found out."

"She'd skin you alive, I think," Jewel said matter-of-factly.

"Probably. Make sure you hide it well."

She slipped it into her pocket. "I'm going to miss you, Uncle. Even after I've memorized it, I'll watch it just to see you." Her smile faded, and her lovely eyes became misty. "You'll come back, won't you? You and Uncle Senn?"

He never believed in hiding the truth from children just to make them feel better. But it was hard to say the words to this one. "I don't know, Sass. This is a very dangerous mission. Uncle Senn wants to go for, well, reasons, and I have to protect him. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Because you love him." A tear rolled down her cheek, and then another.

He thumbed them away. "Yes, I do. But he's not the only one."

She threw her arms around him, and he held her, stroking her hair, as she wept.

The door suddenly opened and Phee stood there. "What are you two up-?" She stopped short when she saw them.

Crosshair raised an eyebrow. "Can't an Uncle say goodbye to his niece?"

Phee looked abashed. "Oh. Of course."

Jewel looked over to her mother, her eyes red. She held out an arm, as if to include her in the hug going on.

"Umm…" She shot Crosshair a dubious look.

He rolled his eyes, and held his own arm out, inviting her in. "For the kid."

She smirked and moved into their circle. "You know, Toothpick, I'm actually going to miss you. Who am I going to pick on?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find someone." He looked down at Jewel and winked. She smiled back.

9.

Phee left them to check on Crosshair and Jewel. Tech had his suspicions, but he held his tongue. Crosshair had Jewel's best interests at heart, and the bond between his daughter and his brother touched him deeply. Phee's disapproval would just have to hold.

He and Senn sat sipping the grog. Neither of them wanted to address the rathtar in the room. Finally, Tech said, "I don't think I have to tell you how dear you've become to our family, Senn."

"It goes both ways, Tech. After losing my family, it's been the honor of my life to become a part of yours."

"Is that why you're going? Because of what the Empire did to your family?"

Senn looked down at his cup. "Partly. But there's another reason."

Tech scrutinized him. He'd gotten much better at reading people over the years, and he could guess what might be troubling Senn. "Taking on other people's trauma for so long cannot fail to have an effect on one's well-being. Frankly, I don't know how you've done it this long."

Senn flashed him a wan smile. "As I've gotten stronger in the Force, it's magnified the effects. I'm….angry and agitated. I need guidance."

Tech's eyebrows went up. "You seek a Jedi?"

"If possible. Survivors must be out there if they're being hunted."

"We know of a few," Tech said thoughtfully. "A Padawan that Hunter let escape right after Order 66, but there's no telling where he might have ended up. We know of a Wookie Jedi on Kashyyyk, but the Empire essentially has that world locked down. It would be extremely dangerous to seek him out there. If he's there at all."

Senn nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. At any rate, I need to try." He frowned. "My own shadow is growing within me, Tech. I'm afraid."

"If there's one thing you've taught me, Senn, it's that fearing the shadow makes it stronger. Don't feed into it."

Senn blew out a breath. "I suppose I need to start practicing what I preach." He glanced at Tech. "Are you worried about my being gone?"

Tech shook his head. "No. The Shadow will always be there. But he knows his place." He sighed. "I will, however, miss you, my friend."

"And I, you."

They sipped the grog in silence for a bit. "This is quite hideous, you know," Tech said.

Senn laughed. "Yep. Does the job, though."

"That it does." Tech put his hand to his head, which was beginning to swim.

The door opened, and Crosshair, Jewel, and Phee came in, followed by Wrecker and Poppy.

"Now it's a party!" Wrecker said, grabbing his own cup and filling it with grog.

"Let me guess," Tech said. "You and Poppy are going, as well."

"Yup! Those Imps have got something coming to them!"

"Indeed." In a way, Tech was glad. Omega would need all the help she could get. But he was losing another brother to the Rebellion. Hunter had already informed him of his decision, which didn't surprise him, either. All of his brothers, and his sister, heading into danger. Part of him smarted at not being there with them. But he, too, knew his place. Looking at Jewel, who was currently in a bear hug and lifted off her feet by Wrecker, and Phee, who sat down beside him and took his hand, he knew.

He belonged here.

10.

Omega checked her gear again to make sure she had everything: crossbow, blaster, vibro-knife, enough credits to get through the next few months, at least. A holo of herself and her brothers, made nearly ten years ago. A more recent one of herself, with Lyana, Paulo and Jewel. Her family. Her life.

And she was leaving them all behind.

She reminded herself again why she was leaving them. To try to help make a better galaxy, especially for Jewel and Paulo to grow up in. Better than the one she had. She hoped.

She shook her head, banishing any doubts. This was her path, no matter where it led. Everything she'd ever learned, ever endured, had brought her to this moment.

She looked around the rooms that had been hers for many years now, since she moved out of Hunter's place. She'd given away anything she didn't need, and the rooms were nearly empty now. A wave of sadness passed through her. These rooms had been a large part of her history: tears and laughter, a few lovers, men and women both; even, ironically, Kip, before he'd left last year to study on Alderaan. She'd cared for them, but not enough to keep her from leaving. The sadness passed. She'd lived on a ship before; she'd do it again. She closed the door with no regrets.

She slowly made her way up the mountain toward the landing pad and was stopped several times by residents who knew her to say goodbye. She'd told no one of her plans except her family, but word spread fast on Pabu. Some expressed fear for her, while others thanked her for joining the fight.

She was supposed to meet her family on the landing pad to say goodbye. She saw them as she approached the Marauder. Tech said she could take it, though it had seen better days. It was still a good little ship, though, in her opinion. And close to her heart.

There they were: Tech and Phee and Jewel, standing with Lyana, Paulo and Derik; and off to the side, near Crosshair's ship, was Crosshair himself with Senn, along with Wrecker and Poppy. She didn't see Hunter. Was he so angry about her leaving that he wouldn't come to see her off? Her heart clenched at the thought.

And something seemed off about Crosshair and Wrecker: they stood with gear at their feet, and they watched her approach expectantly.

"What's going on?" she asked them.

"We're reporting for duty, Captain," someone said behind her.

She whirled. Hunter stood there, in his old armor, his helmet under his arm. He saluted her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, afraid they were making fun of her.

"We're coming with you. Of course we are, Omega."

She looked around her. Crosshair and Wrecker both saluted her, as well.

"What's gotten into you all?"

"We're showing respect to our commanding officer," Hunter told her.

"Huh?"

"Omega, we've taught you everything we know. Except one thing. It's time for you to learn how to lead. This is your mission, Captain."

She stood there speechless for a moment, then threw her arms around him. It wasn't very professional, but she didn't care. "Thank you, Hunter," she said.

"We'll take the Precision," Crosshair said, coming up to them. "It will hold all of us."

She hugged him, too, and he didn't seem to mind so much. "All right, then. If we're going to do this, let's get going," he said, disentangling himself from her.

"Hah, it'll be like old times!" Wrecker cried, picking her up and swinging her.

She laughed. "Put me down, Wrecker." But a kind of child-like joy was beginning to spark in her belly. She'd been prepared to go alone, into the galaxy in search of a war. Now, it looked like she didn't have to.

Hunter was embracing Jewel, then Phee.

"Look after them, Bandana," Phee said, wiping a tear away. He nodded, then turned to Tech.

"I'm leaving Pabu in your capable hands, Tech," he said.

"You needn't worry," Tech replied. "We'll keep things well in hand."

"I know."

The brothers looked at each other for a long moment, and then embraced tightly. They disengaged, and Hunter turned and walked quickly to the ship.

Omega hugged everyone, trying not to cry.

"Will I ever see you again?" Lyana asked, sniffling.

"Of course you will," Omega said, holding out her pinky. They linked them, as they did when they were children, making unbreakable promises.

When she turned to Tech, he said, "I'm proud of you, Omega."

She fell into his arms. "I love you, brother," she said.

"And I love you, little sister." When they parted, he said, "You better get going. Your squad is waiting for you."

She nodded, took one last look at everyone she loved, and turned to walk toward the Precision, her gear on her back.

On board the ship, as they left the atmosphere of Pabu behind and jumped into hyperspace, she watched the stars elongate and the cosmos turn to a vortex of mottled blue and white. A sense of wonder and excitement overtook her, as it did that day, so long ago, when the Bad Batch had first taken her from Kamino.

A new adventure was beginning.