Hello, everyone!

Before I get on with the fic,

HOLY CRAP THAT BAD BATCH EPISODE TECH IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE I KNEW SINCE THE MOMENT I SAW THAT SNIPPET OF THE SCENE FROM THAT ONE EXCLUSIVE TRAILER THAT IT WOULD BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES OF ALL TIME AND IT WAS TRUE.

Ahem.

But seriously I loved that scene. We've known that at least Dee Bradley Baker performs Tech as if he's on the spectrum for a long time, but to have them basically confirm it in this episode was so good. Tech's line 'I may process moments and thoughts differently, but it does not mean I feel any less than you,' is one of the most beautiful representations of autism I have seen in media and I felt so represented. (also the way he just jumped in after Omega with no hesitation) Ugh. I love him.

ANYWAY

JessMaylin: Thank you very much!

RubenAssassinRose: Yeah, I love that line too. I feel like every eye is on Bly and Rex and every clones is privately thinking 'we want to be uncles hurry it up.'

SWNerd4Life: Yeah, it was an early decision on my part that they would be related because I truly believe any good in the Kaminoan genome is something they want gone and is very rare. And no, we don't, and it makes me sad. Let me tell you, as someone who tries to be emotionally intelligent and aware, it's kind of hard to write these grieving situations. Because a part of me wants Tech and the rest to react in a healthy way. But I also want them to react in a realistic way. Which means Tech working himself to death. For now. Hmm yes Ezra's parents I wonder when that's going to happen. *Gasp* A review of Kenobi with legitimate complaints but still acknowledging that it had good? IMPOSSIBLE. (I'm sorry, I've been on reddit too much. they act like Kenobi personally slaughtered their family and refuse to acknowledge any good in it.) ALSO OMEGA WOULD BE A FANTASTIC AUNT. SHE WOULD LOVE IT. Thanks as always!

DonSani: It'll probably be a bit before you see this, but your comment made me so happy! I love it when I hear that my fic has an effect on people's lives. Also, Tech and Crosshair are super fun to write, which probably is why they're so fun to read.

4thWallBreak: Hey, good luck anyway! And you should have seen the original draft...the disrespect was SO MUCH WORSE.

Okay, let's get going!

Mando'a translations at the end!

ABSOLVED: CHAPTER 22

"So, what was Fixer like before?" Omega asked, as she changed another clone's dressing.

They were alone for once, or at least without Nala Se. But the dozens of clones in the ward were all quiet, under the effects of the inhibitor chip. Fixer stood by Scorch's bed, always watching Omega. He hadn't reported anything to Nala Se. Neither had the other injured clones.

"Mm?" Scorch looked up from playing with his bacta patch.

"Stop that!" Omega scolded. "You'll compromise the bacta!"

"Maybe that's a good thing." Scorch said. "I'm healing too fast! Once I'm on my feet again, they'll ship me out again."

He glared down at his thigh.

"If you were healing too slowly, Nala Se would just decommission you." Omega said flatly. "I've seen it happen."

"Man, she seems like a real bitch." Scorch said. "Oops, sorry. Cover your young ears."

Omega laughed at that.

"I'm older than you, remember?" She said.

"Still don't believe you." Scorch said. "How come Skirata never found you?"

"How come he never found the Bad Batch?" Omega shot back. "We were Nala Se's pet projects. She wasn't going to let him near us."

"Hm." Scorch said. He was already playing with his patch again. "What were you asking earlier?"

"What Fixer was like." Omega said. "Actually, what your whole squad's like."

"Fixer was an ass." Scorch said immediately. Fixer turned his head to Scorch, who grinned up at him. "Always telling me to 'quit the chatter' and 'read the mission briefing' and 'stop putting Geonosian eggs in my rations.'"

Fixer shook his head.

"Sev." He said.

"Yeah, you're right." Scorch said. "That last one was mostly at Sev. But you blamed me the first couple of times."

Scorch's smile faded a moment, before returning in full force.

"Anyway, Fixer always wanted to do stuff by the rules. So he's not so different now." He went on. "Actually, he's more affectionate now."

Fixer stared at Scorch, who happily kept talking.

"So there's me and Fix, and then there's Boss, our squad leader." Scorch said. "And he was a good one. Knew what to do and who needed to do it. Vau always said he was the most like the donor out of all of us."

"Who's Vau?" Omega asked.

"Our trainer!" Scorch said. "He was harsh, sure, but it turns out he cared. I think he's still on Kashyyyk, looking for-"

Scorch trailed off and an uncharacteristic melancholy fell over him.

"Fixer said you had to leave a brother behind." Omega said.

"Yeah." Scorch said. "They made us. I was gonna go back, I was gonna find him, and then kriffing General Yoda himself told us to leave and I just- had to obey orders."

Scorch had his hands clenched on his lap. Fixer put a hand on his shoulder.

"What was he like?" Omega asked.

"A psycho." Fixer said blandly.

Scorch laughed at that.

"There you are, Fix!" He said happily. "I knew you were in there somewhere! But yeah, Sev was kind of aggressive and had a complex about making Vau proud. But he was always good for a laugh, and he had our back. And he's our brother, you know?"

Omega thought of her own squad of brothers.

"Yeah." She said. "I know."

Scorch fell silent for a while as Omega continued her rounds.

"I'm going to have to go out again soon." Scorch said. "When I have to leave, can you take care of Fixer? Get his thing out if you can. I'll try to contact Vau. I get the feeling that if he knew-"

He stopped and shook his head.

"I'll do my best." Omega promised. "I think me and Fixer are going to be stuck together for a long time."

Her heart clenched as she spoke. With Scorch here and his bright disposition, things had been bearable. But once he was gone, Omega would be left here again with only Fixer and injured clones.

"Please Scorch, if you find my brothers-"

"I'll let them know you're here." Scorch said. "And I'll try not to shoot them."

Scorch had meant it as a joke, but Omega couldn't help but think of how if Scorch met the Bad Batch, they would be on opposite sides of the conflict.

Ahsoka was warm and safe. Her half conscious mind recognized the arms around her. She snuggled closer into those arms. A rare sense of contentment settled over her.

A harsh beep cut through her serenity.

Ahsoka opened a bleary eye and glared at the chrono screeching at her to get up. With a flick of her finger it shut off, but the damage was done. Ahsoka was awake, and even worse, she needed to be awake. She left for her mission with Aayla today.

Rex, amazingly, hadn't stirred. Ahsoka gently untangled herself from him and slipped from bed. She dressed quickly and then returned to the bedside. She kissed Rex softly on the cheek. His eye cracked open.

"I'll see you soon." Ahsoka said. "I love you."

Rex blinked his eyes open wide.

"Wait-" He said, the blanket sliding off of him as he sat up. "I'll see you off at the shuttle."

"In that?" Ahsoka asked with a smile.

Rex glanced down at his state of undress. A flush colored his cheeks.

"Give me a minute." He said.

In only a few minutes, Ahsoka was heading to the landing pad, Rex at her side.

"Have you got your emergency bacta spray?" Rex asked.

"Yes, love." Ahsoka said. "That's the third thing you've asked me about."

"Ahsoka!"

Ahsoka turned to see Caleb Dume hurrying to catch up, followed by Captain Grey.

"Ahsoka!" Caleb said again, breathless. "You're going on a mission, right?"

"Yes." Ahsoka said, though she wasn't quite sure how he knew. By his own choice, he wasn't involved in any of the missions or planning.

"I want to come along." Caleb said.

Ahsoka raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he'd shown any interest in any operation. His experience with Order 66 had been bad and Ahsoka didn't blame him for not wanting to be part of any more military missions. Perhaps it was because this was more about the Jedi?

Ahsoka opened herself to the Force and presented the idea of Caleb coming. The Force chimed with affirmation and even encouragement.

"All right." Ahsoka said. "Are you kitted up? Are we taking Grey?"

"Yes to both." Caleb said.

"Then let's go." Ahsoka said. "It's probably for the best. Three Jedi will be better than two to find the temple."

"Is that what we're doing?" Caleb asked.

Ahsoka frowned.

"Why did you think we were going?"

"I don't know." Caleb confessed. "All I know is that I need to come."

"We need to come." Grey said quietly.

Caleb glanced back at the captain.

"Yeah." He said. "We."

When they reached the shuttle, Bly and Aayla were speaking quietly while Kix and Axel leaned against the ship.

"We're all packed up." Axel announced. "We're just waiting on you, Commander."

"We need a few more supplies." Ahsoka said. "Commander Dume and Captain Grey will be joining us."

"I was unaware he'd been assigned to this mission." Aayla said.

"He wasn't." Ahsoka said.

"I feel like I need to be on this mission, Master Secura." Caleb put in.

Aayla raised an eyebrow

"If that is the Force's will, then of course you must come." She said.

Kix and Axel had already trotted off for more supplies. Ahsoka let Rex draw her to the side. He searched her face for a moment with the intensity that Ahsoka loved.

"Be careful and be safe." He finally said. "I love you."

"I love you." Ahsoka said. "I'll be in touch."

He smiled his beautiful half smile at her. He brought his hands up to cradle her face, tracing her white markings with his thumb. His lips were sweet to her as he gently kissed her.

Kix coughed.

Rex broke away quicker than Ahsoka would have liked. He still smiled at her, though it was a little sheepish.

"May the Force be with you." He said.

"And with you." Ahsoka replied.

She turned from him with effort. Kix was waiting for her right outside the shuttle's door. Bly and Aayla were still wrapped around each other. Ahsoka pointedly did not look at them as she caught up with Kix.

"You could have given us a moment." She said to Kix.

"Sorry sir, but I did." Kix said. "I'm not sure you'd leave on your own accord."

Ahsoka shook her head, but he was probably right. Axel passed by them with an annoyed look on his face. It was only a few minutes before he returned with Aayla, muttering something about 'stop looking at me like a kicked massiff puppy.'

Lothal wasn't far away, which was fine for Ahsoka. She was sick of long trips in these shuttles. They weren't built for long distance comfort, but they couldn't take the Venator everywhere.

She missed a part of that life. It was odd that she would miss war at all, but there had been something that was comforting about that time with Anakin, Obi Wan, and the men. There was an innocence to that life, ironically.

But now she could fight for only her men, focus on the true villain. Not to mention she had Rex and their relationship now.

Ahsoka wondered if she and Rex would have found their way into each other's arms if Order 66 hadn't happened. She felt a jolt of guilt as she considered the happiness she had won despite, or even because of the Order. She glanced at Caleb, who was perched on one of the seats, hands tightly clasped and nervousness vibrating off of him. Grey stood close to Caleb. Caleb occasionally turned and spoke to Grey. Ahsoka could hear his worried words even across the ship.

"What if there are chipped clones and they know I'm a Jedi?"

"What if you're hurt or killed?"

"What if they kill Master Secura or Ahsoka?"

Grey always replied in a steady tone.

"I'll protect you."

"We'll be careful not to be caught."

"Lothal doesn't have an Imperial presence yet."

Ahsoka marveled at the patient love Grey was showing his Jedi. She marveled at the love most clones showed their Jedi, and vice versa. Something beautiful had come of the Jedi leading the clones, something that neither Palpatine nor the Kaminoans had intended. Whether the love was that of a husband, brother, or son, the clones had shown their humanity through the depth of their devotion.

And Palpatine had wanted to sever those ties. He had succeeded in many cases.

Ahsoka took a deep breath and released the anger she felt into the Force. She had to do so regularly, otherwise she risked being overwhelmed by the feelings.

"We're approaching Lothal." Axel's voice cut through Ahsoka's thoughts.

Ahsoka went to the cockpit and looked out over the yellow-brown planet. She could already feel how the Force was stronger. It was stubborn here, and proud. Ahsoka quite liked the feeling she got from the planet.

Axel let Aayla do the talking with the ground control. It was better to avoid anyone recognizing the clones' voices.

Kix and Axel moved to the back of the ship to dress in their civvies. Grey stared after them.

"We're going in without our armor?" He asked.

"Yes." Ahsoka said. "There's no military presence here. You'd stick out like a shaved bantha."

Grey was uneasy as he joined his brothers in changing. Ahsoka realized they had never really briefed Caleb or his Commander.

"When we land, we're going to find a base of operations." Ahsoka said as Grey returned. "From there we'll have two teams. One will look for the temple outside the city. The other will gauge how safe this community would be as neighbors."

"Won't the temple lead us to it?" Caleb asked with a frown.

"No." Ahsoka said. "I have the feeling it wants us to earn it."

"What's our cover story?" Grey asked.

"We're prospectors. We're looking for mining opportunities." Ahsoka said.

Caleb and Grey nodded as Ahsoka felt the ship land.

"Let's move out." Ahsoka said.

A pale blue sky greeted them as they exited the shuttle. The landing pad was on the edge of Lothal's Capital City. The tall spires of the city were quite visible from where they were. Ahsoka had to admit it was a grander sight than she had expected from the Outer Rim planet.

"What is lodging like around here?" Ahsoka asked the Gotal who had stumped out to take their payment. The man looked at her like she'd just kicked his kid.

"Recommendations are extra." He bleated.

"I'll take our chances then." Ahsoka said.

She beckoned to the others and they plunged into the city.

Lothal was a true melting pot of species. Every stall seemed to be manned by a different kind of being and Ahsoka could name at least six languages being shouted as the merchants hawked their wares. Ahsoka still drew some stares. Togruta were never common.

"Excuse me." Aayla approached the first stall they came across. It smelled like a bakery. "Could you direct us to where we can find lodging?"

The Mythrol female smiled at them.

"Of course, dears." She said. "You'll find a collection of inns on the south side of the marketplace. It's a long walk, though. Can I interest you in some Jogan fruit tarts to snack on on the way?"

"Perhaps another-" Aayla began.

"We'll take six." Ahsoka said.

Aayla raised an eyebrow at Ahsoka. Ahsoka jerked her head to the clones behind them. Ahsoka didn't need to turn around to know that all three clones would be trying very hard not to stare at the woman's wares. If the smell was tempting to Ahsoka, which it was, it would be all the more tantalizing to the clones with their increased metabolism.

Ahsoka paid and started handing out the tarts.

"To celebrate getting here in one piece." She said.

Then she froze. Kix wasn't with them.

"Where's Kix?" She hissed.

"He's right-" Axel started, and then his eyes widened. "He was just here!"

"Oh, that other fellow?" The baker said. "He went that way."

She pointed towards a nearby alleyway. Ahsoka cursed under her breath.

"Stay here." She ordered before plunging into the crowds.

Ahsoka was a little overwhelmed by both the noise in the air and in the Force as she hurried along. There was a cocktail of emotions and minds here, ranging from joy to wretchedness. Ahsoka could occasionally spot the sources of the more negative emotions. The less fortunate peered at the stalls and crowds from the alleyways. Few ventured out to beg outright. Those who did were mostly ignored.

It made Ahsoka's heart twist. She'd seen the same and worse on Coruscant and other planets. The Jedi encouraged helping those in immediate need, but recognized that there were too many to be administered to personally. Many Jedi believed that the best way to help the destitute was to improve the world around them. Ahsoka agreed for the most part, but it didn't mean that it still didn't upset her to see suffering.

She nearly paused as something nudged her senses. There was a mind here, one connected to the Force. It was far less powerful than a Jedi, but it was enough to catch her notice.

She shook herself. She needed to find Kix. Finally she made it to the dingy alley that the woman had indicated.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." Kix was saying.

It took a moment for Ahsoka's vision to adjust, but she soon was able to make out Kix crouching in front of a scrawny Rodian child. The child saw Ahsoka and squeaked.

"Udessi, udessi." Kix soothed. "She's my friend. I just want to see your foot."

Ahsoka watched as Kix coaxed the child to extend a trembling leg. Kix took it gently, but the soft touch still made the child flinch.

"Oooh, looks like you've got quite the problem there." Kix said. "I bet it hurts."

The Rodian nodded. Ahsoka raised her eyebrows. 'Problem' was a tame word for the way the child's foot was dangling. How had Kix seen them?

"I can help it feel better." Kix said. "Just hold still."

Kix had the ankle wrapped with bacta before the child could protest.

"Keep off of it." Kix told the child. "Rest it and it will heal."

"Can't." The child peeped. "Gotta get food. Gotta be fast to get food."

Kix was quiet for a moment, before reaching into one of his pouches again. He withdrew three ration bars.

"These would last me a couple of days, but they'll keep you going longer." Kix said. "Now, find somewhere quiet and you'll be all right."

The little Rodian nodded.

"Thank you." They said so softly that Ahsoka nearly couldn't hear.

"It's no trouble." Kix said.

He stood, dusted off his trousers and turned to Ahsoka as the child scurried away.

"Sorry." He said. "I got a little distracted."

Ahsoka raised an eyebrow.

"A little." She agreed and beckoned him to follow her.

"You were never that nice with any of us." Ahsoka commented as they made their way back to the others.

"That kid didn't get themselves hurt by being overly heroic." Kix said. "Besides, Hapa gave me a few pointers. If the patient isn't a soldier, they'll often need help to calm down."

Kix was quiet for a moment. Ahsoka could feel his thoughts swirling around in his mind.

"I know we didn't have the greatest life," He finally said.

Ahsoka snorted. They were child soldiers, trained to die and sacrifice themselves for an ungrateful Republic.

"But at least we always had our bellies full." Kix finished. "I wish-"

"I know, Kix." Ahsoka said softly. "But that's not why we're here now. Stay focused."

Kix nodded. The others looked relieved as they returned. Axel handed Kix his pastry with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh." Kix said. "Thanks vod."

"You wanna explain where you jumped off too?" Axel asked.

"Nope." Kix said. "We should probably go find that lodging."

Axel rolled his eyes and Ahsoka began to lead the way again.

Kix stayed close to her side. Grey hovered closely to Caleb. They were uncomfortable in this 'civvie' situation. The clones didn't have much opportunity to be out and about in normal marketplaces. Only Axel seemed more at home; as an ARC, he would have been given undercover training and might have even gone on covert missions in similar places.

Ahsoka kept feeling the twinge of sensing another Force-sensitive. She kept glancing around her, trying to see any sign of the mysterious presence.

"Hello, ma'am!"

Ahsoka stopped short as a skinny Falleen woman stepped in front of her.

"Er- hello." Ahsoka said.

There was a strange, wide look in this woman's eyes. She beamed at Ahsoka as if they had known each other their whole lives.

"I couldn't help but notice your beautiful markings." The woman bubbled at Ahsoka. "May I touch them?"

She was already reaching out to touch Ahsoka's skin. Ahsoka drew back, alarmed. The woman managed a brush of her fingers across Ahsoka's cheek.

"Oh, wow! So smooth! It would be such a shame for those markings to be wrinkled!"

"What?" Ahsoka asked,

Her mind felt a little hazy. Falleen. She reminded herself. Pheromones.

"What you need is Lethy's Lothal Lotion!" The Falleen said. "Guaranteed to stop aging and wrinkles!"

"Excuse me, ma'am, but we-" Aayla started.

"It's every woman's dream lotion!" The woman cut Aayla off. "It moisturizes, prevents wrinkles, and restores the natural oils of your skin! It's worked wonders on me!"

Ahsoka wanted to point out that the natural oils in her skin were extremely different from the oils in a Falleen's, human's, or Twi'lek's skin. The woman just kept on talking, not allowing Ahsoka to get a word in. Ahsoka felt mesmerized as the woman began talking about running her own business, how they could do it too, and how if they just signed up with her, they could get-

A hand curled around Ahsoka's wrist. Ahsoka looked up to see a beaming human woman in a purple headpiece. As Ahsoka looked into her violet eyes, she felt as if a spell had lifted.

"There you are!" The human said. "We're going to be late if you don't hurry up! Excuse us, Nelropi."

She tugged on Ahsoka's wrist and Ahsoka was able to walk away from the now scowling Falleen. Aayla, Caleb, and the clones followed suit.

Once they were out of sight, the woman slowed down and turned to face them.

"I'm sorry for that." She said. "Ever since Lethy invented that stupid lotion, she's got half the women in the market trying to sell it to everyone. Nelropi is the worst of the bunch, because she uses her pheromones to trap people into listening."

Ahsoka blinked, the last of the pheromones leaving her system.

She began to laugh.

They were three Jedi and three elite soldiers and they had to be saved from a sales pitch. Their savior began to laugh too, and Aayla gave a chuckle.

"I'm Mira, by the way." The woman said through gasps.

"Thank you for your help, Mira." Ahsoka said. "We're new around here, and we didn't know the local dangers."

"They can be deadly." Mira said.

Ahsoka felt her good humor fade a little. Something was odd about this woman. Why had she come to their rescue?

"Now then." Ahsoka said with a pasted on smile. "We have to get ourselves some lodging so we can start our work. Thank you, Mira, for your help."

"Let me help you get to the inns." Mira said. "There are some other traps you'll want to avoid."

Ahsoka hesitated and shared a glance with Aayla. To her surprise, Caleb drew her eye and he nodded.

"Thank you." Ahsoka said. "Lead the way."

Mira grinned at them with a spark that contrasted her matronly outfit.

"Follow me, then." She said.

Mira's path through the market was winding. Ahsoka could sense the clones' frustration with the meandering route. They liked straightforward paths, or at least reasons for the detours.

"So," Mira said after a few minutes. "What brings you to Lothal?"

"We heard that there are valuable ores here." Ahsoka said with a shrug. "We thought we might get lucky."

Mira glanced back at Ahsoka and Ahsoka got the sense that the woman didn't believe her.

Kriff. Ahsoka thought. If they couldn't convince a random woman on the street of their task-

"Hm." Mira said. "No one has come to mine for years."

"Oh?" Ahsoka said. "Why not?"

Her companions were tensing behind her.

"The Pryce family has a monopoly on mining here." Mira said. "They don't let anyone compete with them."

Ahsoka stopped in her tracks.

"I think we can find the way to the inns by ourselves now." She said coolly.

Mira turned with an earnest expression.

"No, I'm sorry- I didn't mean for that to come out like that." She said. "I don't care why you're here, but you need to figure out a bit of a better cover story for people to believe you."

"Then what would you suggest?" Grey asked, a bite in his voice.

Mira bit her lip.

"I don't know." She confessed. "Listen, come with me to my house. We can probably pass you off as the family of my husband and their wives, or something. Then we can figure something out."

"Why would you be willing to do that?" Ahsoka asked in a low voice. "For all you know we're murderers and thieves on the run."

Mira's eyes flicked to Kix.

"Murderers and thieves don't help beggar children on a whim." She said and took a deep breath. "You're Jedi. You help like Jedi do."

Their entire group tensed. Grey and Axel already had their hands on their blasters.

"So are you." Ahsoka said.

She had pinpointed from where the odd Force signature had originated.

Mira shrank back.

"Not quite." She said. "We shouldn't discuss this here. Please, we should get to my house."

"We can trust her." Caleb spoke up. His eyes had that faraway look that told Ahsoka that the Force was communicating with him strongly. "We should go with her."

Ahsoka frowned. Part of her shied from the idea of trusting this random woman they met on the street, Force sensitivity or no. She felt a sudden touch at her elbow.

"Not every being in the galaxy wants to hurt us." Aayla reminded her.

Ahsoka took a deep breath and shrugged off her fear.

"Lead the way." She told Mira.

Mando'a:

Udessi: be still, calm down. I have somewhat changed this from the more harsh original meaning.

vod: brother

From the top!

A little time with Scorch, Omega, and Fixer. I like this scene. I can't wait to see Scorch later in Season 2. I wanted a moment to kind of explain Delta Squad for those less familiar. (I like saying that Boss is most like Jango because he's actually voiced by Tem in the game) Also, problem! Scorch now knows Omega and about her brothers! What if he's forced up against them like he is in the show?

Quick note. I know that the Bad Batch is showing that the chips don't have quite the power I show them having in this fic. I'm going to continue with my original idea because I've kind of gone hard with it. So in Guilty/Absolved at least, they're more powerful than in canon.

How naked Rex is in this scene is up for you to decide. And there's no way we're going to Lothal without Caleb/Kanan. THE BOY NEEDS TO MEET HIS SPACE SON.

On one hand, Bly and Rex's brothers are so happy for them that they're in relationships. On the other, it gets kind of annoying to have to split them up when it's time for missions. Kix is more gentle than Axel.

The Force may have made him come, but that doesn't mean Caleb isn't still *traumatized*! I just love the idea of Grey just patiently soothing his fears as they come up. THE CLONES AND JEDI DESERVED TO BE HAPPY. (except Ki Adi Mundi. I do not like him)

Ahsoka wonders if she and Rex would have gotten together if Order 66 didn't happen. Well...(looks at Fives Effect) it certainly made it harder...

I just needed Kix being put in a civilian situation and not being able to handle the hurt he sees. I really like the scene with him and the little kid.

SPACE MLMS. I dunno, the idea of these extremely powerful and skilled individuals getting stuck in a sales pitch made me laugh. Plus, Falleen are OP with their pheromones. Imagine getting attacked by those mall salesmen, which you already feel stuck by them talking to you, PLUS they can make you feel more attracted to the idea just by smelling. Awful.

Mira saves the day! I've based my characterization of her somewhat on my sister's idea of her, which she expands on in her own fic. (she wants to make it mostly canon compliant so she's waiting for BB season 2 to be over, but I will press her into writing again soon!)

The same sister had to bring the Pryce family monopoly on the mining operations to my attention, so that Ahsoka's mining excuse would never work, but I think I handled it well with Mira calling them out.

I know it's possible and likely for most Force-sensitive people to have non Force-sensitive parents, but I really liked the idea of exploring a child whose parents rejected the Jedi. We'll see more of that next chapter.

It's gonna be awkward in a few days when Caleb asks to keep Mira's child lol.

That should be all!

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a fantastic week!