Chapter 2:
7927.19.8 CRC
If there was one thing the guard was good at, it was putting off the calm unfeeling aura. There was a reason no one really knew the guards weren't just statues or some kind of droid. But at the moment it was really hard to not send out the panic they were all feeling into the force. Their cute Ben'ika had been with them for 3 months and the little one had already become a mascot. Ben'ika's holos were posted on their chat boards, mostly by those on duty by the creche. Which was why they were panicking silently. There were always eyes on Ben. Always. So when no one could spot the little redhead a notice went out to the guards nearby. An hour later, a notice went out to all the guard, on duty or otherwise.
Several of the guard who were off duty and in Keldab'ika (as they were told to call it) were searching the neighborhood discreetly, the last thing they needed was for one of the mandos to tell Mereel they lost his son. Every guard was on high alert in the temple, searching for a single youngling. Cin was just about ready to tear his hair out.
He pulled out his com and sent out a message to the guard
Cin: Alright, sound off. Anyone find our youngling?
It didn't even take a second for responses to start coming through.
The guard quarters were clear, as were the kitchens, both the temple refractory and the one the guards used. No one in the lower levels noticed any signs of a youngling or anyone else (as it should be). Those posted at entrances hadn't seen hide nor hair of their little mascot. Room of 1000 fountains were clear, luckily, because they weren't sure if Ben knew how to swim or not (Cin added a note to ask Jaster). There was no sign of him in the hangar. To their relief they hadn't seen him in the healing halls either. No one had spotted him in the salles.
If they couldn't find the child in another hour he'd have to alert the high council… and Jaster. A new message came through that had him cursing his luck.
Tar'la: So…
Tar'la: The Mandalor and Ad'alor are here, they want to see Ben.
Cin: Keep them distracted as long as possible. If we can't find him in the next half hour we'll have to inform them.
Feemor: No need.
Feemor: Found him…
Cin: Thank the force!
Feemor: I could use a hand
Lon: Why?
Feemor: My feet are currently being used as a mattress
Feemor: I'm scared to move him
Cin looked at his notes and saw that Feemor was stationed in the archives. He turned heel and went to the guard quarters to grab Ben's family. It was fortuitous that Feemor was in the archives, Jaster had been hounding him to get access almost since the boy was brought to them.
Jaster and Jango were near the entrance to the guard quarters in casual clothes and a poncho draped over their shoulders. Jango had a string of beads clipped into his hair to act as a padawan braid. It was what they had agreed would be their cover. Jaster would act as a watchman in the mandalorian sector, and Jango would be his padawan. They were the 'finders' of little 'Obi-Wan' and would often visit the child whenever they could. They were currently debating which of them would be Obi-wan's master when the time came.
At the moment though, Jango was very good at putting on the surly teenager, glowering and grumpy as they followed Cin to the archives. Jaster had one arm over his elder son's shoulder speaking to him in mando'a with a smile. The boy was huffing and rolling his eyes.
"Good to see you. He's in the archives at the moment, so I'll bring you to him."
"Archives?" Jaster brightened and Jango let out a loud groan. They walked and chatted while Cin felt his com blowing up.
"You seem… Cyare?" Jaster ventured eyebrow raised as he pointed at his com. The man was learning basic with fervor, though he was still struggling with some phrases and words. Jango choked slightly his face darkening as he gaped at his father.
"Cyare? Buir, Popular. Popular. Cyare, ew." Jango moaned covering his face. Cin glanced between them with amusement. He wasn't quite sure what the other word meant but obviously being called Cyare was not something jango liked hearing
"Gar serim. Popular. You seem popular."
"Ah, the temple guard have a chat board. You son had a bit of an adventure today and they are…" He looked down at his com with a roll of his eyes. It was a string of demands to see holos of the little one. Feemor appeared to be ignoring them, waiting patiently for Cin to arrive and help him.
"The guard are currently trying to get the one with him to send holos. Your son is very popular with them."
"Is he? That is good to hear. I always thought he was very copikla, hearing others think the same… makes me happy." Jaster said grinning. The com pinged again with a notice he had been tagged a message. He looked at his com and snorted.
Worron: CIN MAKE HIM SEND US A HOLO OF OUR YOUNGLING
Cin: Worron, you lost him to begin with
Cin: So No
Then his com pinged a private message from Feemor. It was a holo shot from his mask, looking down at Little Ben curled up on his feet, one arm wrapped around his ankle and his little teeth latched onto the thick leather of his boots, fast asleep. He smiled and sent a message back
C:Don't send this to anyone else.
F: Never
C: I'm on my way to free your boot from sharp little teeth, just hang tight.
F: Take your time, it's quiet here today
F: Dragon is protecting her hoard today
Cin snorted again and showed the holo to the mandos with him. If Jocasta was in the archives today he had little doubt that Feemor was probably bored out of his mind. Most of the time a guard wasn't needed in the archive, more of a deterrent for any extreme behavior, Jocasta was the real guard. She'd send a daily list of individuals currently banned from her archive, not that any of them were truly going to test the dragon. The mandos were cooing over how cute Ben was. He was 2 levels down from the archive but now he could relax a bit. He breathed deeply, releasing his anxiety into the force and centering himself. He still needed to ask if Ben knew how to swim. Then his com pinged a private message again.
He frowned and pulled it out.
F: HELP
C: What is it?
F: He knows I'm here!
Cin cursed and started to move with a bit more urgency.
"I need to rescue the aran with Ben," He told Jaster just before he started to break into a jog.
He had kidnapped Feemor two weeks after Qui repudiated him, and threw him into the guard in an effort to keep him in their lineage. Since then he had been playing interference, without Fee knowing. He gave Fee posts that would keep him away from places where Qui would wander to. Moving patrols, positions in areas off limits or unknown to the majority of the temple. The only reason Feemor got the archive today was because Jocasta had placed Qui on the banned list just the day before because he was 'desecrating her sacred space with his attitude'. He pulled up the guard notice board and sent out a new message on priority.
Cin: Nearest guard to the archives, head there immediately to take over post there.
Jaa: What's happening?
Cin: Lineage issue
Worron: Kriff.
A minute later he was sliding into the archives with all haste just as a yelp was heard echoing in the quiet. A few yards away was Feemor, in full guard uniform, holding onto Ben who was latched onto Qui-Gon's arm by the teeth. He could hear the muffled growling from where he stood and tried not to snort a laugh. Jocasta was standing off to the side, hands on her hips glaring.
"There you are!" He called loudly, silently apologizing to Jocasta. "And you found our missing initiate. Hello there little one, have you been getting into trouble?"
"This initiate attacked me." Qui-Gon said as he tried to free his arm.
"Careful now, if you want free you're going to have to wait for him to let go if you still want that arm." Cin warned as he approached. He stopped just next to Qui and leaned down, booping the youngling on the nose. Big eyes flicked up to him before looking back to and growling at the offending arm. Jaster stood back, watching silently, allowing Cin to handle the situation. Cin sighed and leaned down fully so that he was level with the little one's face.
"I'm sure this master doesn't taste good, why don't you release him?" he coaxed and the little one growled in return.
Two weeks into little Ben's stay with them the guard learned an important fact that Jaster had forgotten to mention. His mother was part Stewjoni.
Naturally there had been signs… signs they had over looked. They didn't quite notice how his eyes had turned from a clear blue to a stormy gray, or even a foggy purple. They had noticed when the little one started biting, and biting hard. Their own records were incomplete on the isolated stewjoni people, so they had reached out to the boy's father who grimaced. Unfortunately for them, or perhaps fortunately, one of the ways to get the boy to release his catch was by displays of dominance. They had yet to find a good way to get the little biter to release his catches without having to bribe him with something else. Most of the Jedi were unwilling to growl and snap at a youngling. Jaster, however, wasn't above it.
The Mand'alor stepped forward and into the line of sight. Qui hissed as it seemed like Ben bit down harder. Cin stepped back, letting Jaster get closer. The man stepped up right next to Qui and leaned down. His lips pulled back to bear his teeth and he growled low in his chest. Ben tried to growl back, but once Jaster repeated it the babe's eyes went watery and his jaw slack as he let out a wail. Jaster moved in, scooping the youngling from Feemor's arms. Cin grabbed Qui's arm looking at it before shaking his head. Ben's little razor baby teeth broke clear through the skin and left deep impressions.
"Best get it checked at the healers. He's too young for venom, but there still could be bacteria and he got you good."
"What kind of feral creature has the temple allowed in?" He sneered.
"The little one's part stewjoni, he's no more feral than any togruta youngling."
"He bit me."
"I suggest you keep your hands to yourself in the future." As if to prove a point Ben growled at Qui before nuzzling into his father, who looked down at Ben with a mix of disappointment and tired acceptance.
"Eparavur takisit." The man ordered. "Jii"
Ben leaned in Jaster's arms to lean closer to Qui, who moved out of biting range. Jaster shifted and before Qui could react dumped the youngling into his arms. Small arms wrapped around his neck and tiny hands tangled into his long hair.
"Sowwy I bite you." Ben said as he hugged the stunned master. Then, just as quickly, Jaster took the youngling back and rubbed his back to soothe him.
"You scared him." Jango said, staring hard at Qui.
"I never-"
"He was comfortable with the guard, and you approached with aggression. You need to be gentle around younglings. Of course he bit you, I would have too"
Cin sighed in relief just as Jaa stepped in. He made a hand motion instructing Feemor to switch shifts and turned to Qui-Gon
"Come along nephew, lets get you to the healers." He ordered, a hand on Qui's shoulder and forcefully moved him from the archive, leaving Jaster with the children. Things would be fine… Maybe
Mando'a
Cyare: beloved, loved, popular
Buir: parent/ dad/mom
Gar serim: *Yes, youíre right.* *That's it.*
Copikla: charming, cute (babies and animals - never women unless you want your head ripped off)
elek: yes
eparavur takisit: apologize
Jii: now