Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 5

Tim fought to keep his expression calm when the other boy stepped into view. He was obviously underweight, his ragged clothes hanging off him, hair and eyes dull. Tim wanted to grab the ration bar in his belt pouch and shove it at him but that would just make him run.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," the boy finally offered his name, clutching his rifle close as he eyed them all. As some of the others murmured and stiffened, the boy went to move back and Tim stepped closer, hands out.

"It's okay," he promised before glancing back. "What is it?" he asked in Mando'a.

"His name means no-one, child of nothing," Myles answered, obviously upset.

"Oh…" he looked back at Obi-Wan. "Ah, do you know what your name means?" that was awkward, but Obi-Wan grimaced, nodding. Well, at least he didn't have to explain why they'd reacted.

"The Force called you here?" he asked hesitantly and then Tim felt the slight touch.

"Yes," Tim answered, and the Ka'ra rang slightly in reaction.

Obi-Wan swallowed, obviously having felt it too. He was obviously on edge, ready to run.

Tim reached for the pouch and slowly drew out the ration bar, holding it out towards him. "Here," he offered. "We brought supplies – food, medicine, blankets," he explained gently.

He took another careful step forward. Obi-Wan was tense but he remained in place. He stared at Tim's face and Tim felt the Ka'ra brush over him again, keeping his own presence calm and welcoming. Slowly, Obi-Wan reached for the ration bar, their fingers brushing as he took it, Obi-Wan tensing a bit in reaction but Tim kept still, letting him take the bar and back off.

"You're Mandalorians," Obi-Wan whispered, and Tim nodded.

"Ade are the future," Tim told him. "No real Mandalorian would hurt a child, Obi-Wan. You're safe here."

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Obi-Wan felt so lost even as the Force said he was safe, that Tim was telling the truth. He glanced at the ration bar in his hand, not recognising the writing on it. He carefully opened it and it smelt right so he took a tiny bite, not receiving any warning from the Force. He swallowed and then tensed as his stomach reacted. He wanted to eat the rest but he knew better, he had to go slowly.

The thought of someone bringing supplies…but who for? "Are you here to help the Melida or Daan?"

"We're here because of you Obi-Wan," the other helmetless Mandalorian answered. What had Tim called him…Jango? "Who are you with?"

Obi-Wan hesitated. To give the Young away…but if Tim meant what he said about Mandalorians not hurting kids then maybe they'd help them? "Neither of them," he answered. "We're the Young."

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Myles' hands balled into fists as he heard the ad's answer. He looked younger than Tim and Jango, maybe Silas' age. But it was hard to tell when he was filthy and dressed in ragged clothes. Plus, his growth could have been stunted, who knew. Seeing an ad so scared of them always hurt but it seemed Tim was a calming presence. This ad was also touched by the Ka'ra and was why they had come.

The Young…that name gave a pretty good idea as to who made up the faction. The idea of a war faction made up of ad made him feel sick and he knew the others felt the same. Sure, most of them were on the younger side but they were all passed their verd'goten, other than Tim. They'd brought Mij along as the main medic with Anyal as his backup. It was always handy to have a Wookie around if headed for a war zone after all. The threat of limb removal was a great motivator in getting di'kute to stand down.

And then they all listened in horror to a story of buir attacking and killing their own ade.

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Tim felt sick as he listened to Obi-Wan's story. But at least he'd relaxed a little while he talked, letting Tim get close enough to gently tend to an obvious wound on his wrist with a bandage. He could use a good sonic and then a trip into the ships' medbay before a week of sleep. Who knew what condition the other Young were in. Did they actually have enough for them? Could they evacuate them all or would they need more ships? Would the ad even want to leave? Surely, they could evacuate at least those under thirteen…how young

"Please Obi-Wan, let us help you," he murmured, seeing Obi-Wan startle as he realised how close Tim was. He kept his touch gentle as he finished with the wound.

"They won't stop. They took and tortured a Jedi Master, they don't want peace," his voice was trembling slightly.

"We're Mandose, ad. We can make them stop," Myles spoke up.

Obi-Wan looked between them all and Tim could feel the flicker of hope even as Obi-Wan tried not to give in to it. He held his hand out to Obi-Wan in offering and slowly, the other boy took it.

Tim smiled at him, leading him to the ship, the others moving out of the way so as not to crowd him. "Want a sonic?" he offered, seeing Obi-Wan's eyes light up so he led him to the bunkroom he shared with Jango, showing him the fresher. "I'll find something clean for you too."

"Thank you."

"Ba'gedet'ye," Tim responded, and Obi-Wan looked confused. "Basic, right. You're welcome."

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Obi-Wan looked around the small fresher, checking on everything, finding what looked like two peoples things. He slowly stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the sonic, letting it clean him. It felt like it took hours until finally his skin was clean. He was a lot paler than he remembered, scars littering his body. They all did their best to keep clean, knowing the risks of illness and infection, but it was hard even if the sewers they sheltered in hadn't been used as sewers in decades. Clean water was scarce and had to be used for the wounded and drinking first.

He'd never been a plump child but now…he could count his ribs, his collarbones too obvious… he shuddered as he took in his body. He was a mess. What would his crechemates think if they could see him now? Bant would throw a fit, she wanted to be a Healer. Quin would break Master Jinn's nose if able or prank him into insanity if he couldn't for leaving him despite Obi-Wan making the choice to stay and help. The others wouldn't be as vocal but they wouldn't be happy. But it wasn't Master Jinn's fault, he had taken him on despite all of Obi-Wan's faults.

He stiffened as there was a tap on the locked door.

"Obi-Wan? I've got clean clothes, it's a kute, we wear them under our armour but it's the smallest we've got. I'm going to leave it in front of the door and leave the room," Tim called.

"Okay," he forced himself to answer. He waited until he heard the hall door shut and then carefully opened the fresher door. Sure enough, the room was empty and there was folded cloth on the ground.

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Tim leant against the wall, waiting patiently for Obi-Wan. He understood very well what he was going through. He hadn't spent however long in a warzone before buir had found him, but he had been tortured and was nearly dead when he did. It made it hard to trust anyone, especially strangers. And who knew how many others like Obi-Wan there were on the planet.

But that was why Jango was contacting Jas'buir to send more people, baar'ur and mir'baar'ur among them. He was going to need more sessions with Katra when they got home after what they were likely going to be seeing. She had not been at all impressed when he spoke of his birth family. And she hadn't been happy with B either due to the way he'd treated Tim or the way he'd trained him. Tim had been surprised she wasn't impressed with Alfred either but then she'd talked it through with him and made Tim face the fact that Alfred was an adult and should not have stood by so often. Dick was given more of a pass due to his own troubled upbringing and youth, plus his guilt over Jason's death. And that made Tim really worried, if they thought he was dead too…would Dick be able to handle it?

And his friends…he hoped Superman got his head out of his ass when it came to Kon, that Bart was feeling more at home in their time, that Cassie wasn't feeling pressured by Diana and Donna's reputations… what did Ives and the others think? Had they been told anything?

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, reaching to the Ka'ra, letting it help his mind settle. He had an overdeveloped sense of guilt and responsibility, thanks to his parents according to Katra. It was too easy for him to spiral, especially when thinking of Earth.

He nearly flinched when another presence brushed his, more ordered than most…more trained? But if Obi-Wan had training…he'd mentioned a jetii…was he a jetii? Or a trainee? Tim relaxed, letting Obi-Wan in, the two of them slipping into a light meditation together. His mental shields felt…shredded and Tim did his best to help soothe the jagged edges, grateful that mental shielding had been his first lesson with several teachers on Earth and then the Goran who had been impressed considering those who had taught him before didn't use the Ka'ra.

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Obi-Wan found Tim leaning against the wall outside the bunkroom, eyes closed and relaxed, the Force moving about him in a familiar manner…meditation. He couldn't help reaching out and then went to pull back, shocked when Tim welcomed him, his shields lowering further, letting Obi-Wan in. A joint meditation…how long…he felt like crying as he gave himself to the Force. It wasn't the same as meditating with Master Jinn, Tim wasn't another Jedi let alone a Master, but it was more than he'd had in a year. His shields were incredible and Obi-Wan relaxed as Tim soothed over his own, patching them up, especially where the ripped and withered remains of his Padawan bond lingered.

When he finally came back up it was to find he'd collapsed against Tim who had an arm around his waist, easily holding him up. His armour wasn't exactly comfortable but Obi-Wan hadn't noticed while they meditated. He pulled back and Tim immediately let go, though he kept his arm there in case Obi-Wan stumbled, thankfully he didn't.

"Sorry," he murmured, feeling his face heat.

"You've been alone for a while, haven't you?" Tim asked, and Obi-Wan nodded. "The Jetii they took…was that your teacher?"

Obi-Wan tensed in alarm, it was one thing for them to realise he was Force sensitive, they seemed to accept Tim just fine…but knowing he was a Jedi? Even if he wasn't one anymore, would that matter?

"Obi-Wan, it's okay. I have no clue what being a jetii even is really, beside you having the Ka'ra too. I'm adopted, I'm not Mando by birth. My home…it's a long way away. As in we've been searching for a year and nothing," he explained.

Obi-Wan stared at him. Sure, their numbers had dropped a lot over the centuries, but to not know of the Jedi? But he could feel Tim's honesty. "Master Tahl was captured…Master Jinn and I were sent to rescue her. The Young helped us and he promised to help them, but she was badly hurt. He refused to stay and help and he said that…that if I stayed, I wouldn't be a jedi anymore. He took my lightsabre and cut my braid," he whispered, fingers going to where his little braid had hung.

"I'm sorry Obi-Wan," Tim murmured. "He never should have done that."

"It's my fault, I disobeyed, I drew my sabre on him."

"It doesn't matter what you did!" Tim growled. "He's the adult. And choosing one life over however many ade there are here…he's the one who did the wrong thing." Tim stopped and took a deep breath. "Come on, Mij wants to check you over."

"Mij?"

"He's the medic. He saved my life when they found me, he won't hurt you," Tim explained. "If he gives you a check-up then he'll have an idea of what the other ad will need."

Obi-Wan hesitated but his left shoulder still ached…and there was that pain in his side. He wanted to trust Tim, the Force said he could…so he nodded and Tim smiled.

"This way." Tim led him through the ship, walking slowly for him. "Mij," he called and an older human or near-human male turned to them. "This is Obi-Wan Kenobi, he's been on the planet about a year so he's probably the best off of the Young."

"Su cuy'gar, Obi-Wan. Please take a seat on the bed. Would you like Tim to leave?"

Obi-Wan shook his head so Tim moved to sit on a nearby stool, out of the way but in his line of sight. He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to try and stay calm with an Elder so close.

And the Mij began speaking softly, explaining everything he was doing, asking permission before touching him. "I'd like to put you in the bacta tank for at least a day. I'm worried about that rib, it's an old break and hasn't healed properly. If we don't fix it, it will re-break far too easily."

He glanced at the bacta tank warily. He knew it would help him feel better but it would leave him so vulnerable.

"I'll stay, no one will get near you except me and Mij," Tim promised, glancing at Mij who frowned at him but Tim indicated something and the medic nodded.

"Not until I talk to the others," Obi-Wan said. "They'll be worried about me, I need to go back and let them know you're not working for any of the Elders."

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Jaster grimaced as he ended the comm with Jango. When his eldest had called alone he'd thought his heart had stopped. So Jango had quickly explained that Tim was helping the person the Ka'ra had led him to. Obi-Wan Kenobi, that poor ad. But how had he ended up so far from Stewjoni? Jango had mentioned one of the groups had captured a Jetii…and this Obi-Wan was around the age of a hibir, what did they call them…Padawans? It would explain the Ka'ra calling Tim to him if his teacher had been killed. But surely the jetii would not abandon one of their ad? Unless they thought he was dead?

He sent out the call for more ships to go to Melida/Daan to help end the war and protect the Young.

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Jango smirked when Tim and Obi-Wan left the ship. "Well, there's actually a person under all that dirt," he teased, seeing Obi-Wan's face flush a bit but he seemed less wary which was good. Though he was keeping Tim between him and any of the adult Mando who obviously realised and kept their distance.

And then Mij came out with boxes of medical supplies and they got them settled onto two speeder bikes.

"Obi-Wan, this is Silas. He'll go with you and Tim to the Young to help hand out the supplies," Jango explained. He wanted to go too but it was best for one of them to remain with the men and ship. So, Silas was the best option since he was the youngest of them.

Silas had his buy'ce off, his hair flopping around, making him look younger. Jango signalled and Silas nodded, he would watch Tim's back and keep his comm close.

Tim got on the other speeder bike, Obi-Wan pressed against his back, a comm in his ear so he could direct them.

"They'll be fine," Myles assured him as the two speeder bikes vanished into the distance.

"Of course they will." They better be.

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Neild stood and rushed out into the corridor, blaster in hand. Had they been found? Or had Obi-Wan escaped?

"It's me!" Obi-Wan's familiar voice called out. "I'm not alone but they aren't a threat. They've got medical supplies and food."

Neild frowned. Obi-Wan had ordered the team back, had said the newcomers were Mandalorians. They were mercenaries, bounty hunters. He'd heard of them when he was little because there'd been talk of hiring some to help against the Melida. But Obi-Wan wouldn't lead enemies to them. He peered around the corner to see two armoured forms with their third general…helmetless faces revealed and…they were young. And with them, were crates of supplies. And Obi-Wan was dressed in some one-piece outfit in black, too big for him, his skin and hair clean. Could this be real?

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Cerasi watched as the two strangers handed out ration packs to the littlest ones and then little Tali crawled into the lap of the human boy, blue eyes widening in surprise but then he smiled softly, running his gloved fingers through her hair.

"You hard," Tali pouted, and the Mandalorian…Tim laughed.

"It's armour ad'ika," he explained gently, but then he removed a glove and offered his hand. "See? Flesh and blood just like you."

And she promptly gnawed on his fingers, making Cerasi tensed, but Tim didn't seem mad at all.

"There's no deceit," Obi-Wan murmured as he joined her. "When they found out about us…they were all so angry. And they offered help immediately. They came here because the Force brought Tim looking for me."

"Will you leave with them?" she asked, worried.

"I don't think they plan to leave till we're all safe. And I know evacuating us all has been considered."

Leave? She had never once considered leaving the planet, it was their home. And going with mercenaries? Surely that wouldn't be smart. Even if these ones were helping, that didn't mean the rest would.

She looked over where the other was, he was smiling widely as some of the kids played with his dark purple hair. She'd never seen anyone like him before, but Obi-Wan said he was Pantoran, that Mandalorians were very diverse and adopted kids. Tim was adopted.

And then both newcomers moved, throwing themselves over the kids around them as the ceiling shook, dust and some stones falling, Cerasi finding herself under Obi-Wan.

"Another bombing run," Obi-Wan said, loud enough for them to hear.

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"How often do they happen?" Tim asked in concern as he checked on the ade he'd covered.

"Depends, we hit one of the supply depots two nights ago so they're trying to chase us out of hiding," Cerasi explained.

"How do they drop bombs? We didn't see any ships," Silas spoke up as he checked on the ade he had protected.

"The Daan have a speeder that's been very modified. It's not fast but it can fly just high enough that their bombs can be felt down here," Obi-Wan explained.

And then their comms sprang to life, Jango calling for them in worry.

"We're fine ori'vod," Tim answered his calls. "Though if you want to take out the modified bomber speeder that would be good."

And of course, Jango was very happy to do so. The quicker backup arrived the better, then they could stop the war. Sure, they probably had enough verd'e to do it but it was safer to wait for backup. So far from what the Young had said, their weapons were pretty old and weaker than modern blasters. It would never penetrate beskar or even Tim's durasteel beskar'gam. But they did outnumber the Mandose by a lot and would likely band together against them like they seemed to against the Young. Jango wasn't willing to risk their people or the ade and Tim agreed that it was better to be safe then sorry.

TBC…

di'kute – idiots.

Mandose – Mandalorians

Ba'gedet'ye – your welcome

Hibir - student