Adikk be Jetiise Keldab Aran'e
"Child of the Jedi Temple Guards"
Time is tracked by .month
CRC stands for Coruscant reckoning calendar. In this there will be 12 months consisting of 6 weeks with each week being 5 days long for a total of 30 days each month and 360 days in a year.
Some ages and timeline has been adjusted for story purposes. Originally Obi-Wan is around 25 when phantom menace takes place, in this he will be about 19.
Chapter One: Mandos
7927.24/25.5 CRC
Feemor stood still, the weight of the still new guard armor still felt heavy on his shoulders. Jaa stood next to him on the other side of the entrance. They were at entrance 53-7, a small entrance to the temple near the south eastern corner of the temple complex. This entrance was rarely used, mostly kept for the guard or a few masters and knights who needed to enter and exit the temple more discreetly. However,since it was still a visible entrance the guard still had to be posted. Jaa Nol, a middle aged Kiffar male with green qukuuf on his cheeks, was helping him with acclimating to the guard. In many ways he was grateful to his former grandmaster's strict nature, because it made it far easier to get used to standing upright for hours at a time. Jaa was still surprised that Feemornever complained about the work of a guard.
"Fee, I'm going to have you fill out tonight's report. Best way to get used to writing them up is to do it yourself." Jaa's voice came crackling through their HUD internal speaker. Feemore glanced over at the man without turning his head.
"Anything important about the reports?" he asked.
"Nah, there's an outline provided, just gotta follow it. Most of the time the reports are short, might just have to put, 'no incidents to report' or 'patrol was uneventful'."
"What if it isn't uneventful?" Feemor asked, a small measure of anxiety slipping into the force.
"Then report what you can. There will be a lot of 'this knight guard' followed by what actions were done or perceived. Don't include personal thoughts or feelings, just actions and reason for action if needed."
"Okay?"
"How about a try. If we were to intercept a padawan tonight, how would you write it in your report?"
"Ummm. This knight guard noticed the presence of another being. Upon inspection a padawan was seen attempting to sneak out of the temple past curfew hours. This knight guard approached and halted the padawan's attempt. Padawan is 'give name of padawan' and was returned to their master 'give master's name'."
"Good. catching padawans and younglings will probably be the most common action. When on guard at the main entrance there might be some more issues with outsiders but the most senior guard will be the one to report on any incidents there."
Feemor hummed and sent an understanding feeling to Jaa. He felt the equivalent of a hand patting his shoulder in the force from his new mentor. The man would have been a great master if he ever decided to take on a padawan, even though he claimed that children scared him.
He smiled to himself. He had seen it himself once, during his second week with the guard. Jaa was frozen still when a youngling plastered herself to his leg and stared at him all wide eyed. There was a ping on their inner HUD notification chat board, asking for someone to save him from the grabby hands of a youngling.
There were a few returning messages from other guards ribbing him for his attitude to little ones. But, luckily, Cin turned the corner of the hallway and rescued him. The little one was all pouts and big tears to be taken away from her new friend. Several minutes later a new message popped up on their chat board
Don't worry Nol, the scary little cuddle monster has been returned to the safe loving embrace of her creche master.
Jaa couldn't live it down event to now. A few of the guards actually started sharing holos they took of their patrols in the creches asking which one was the cuddlemonster, and how they could get so lucky to get a little one to snag onto them. Each time Jaa would groan over the intercom and Feemor would snicker.
A few hours into their quiet shift a notification popped up on his HUD with an alert chime.
Battle Master Cin Drallig to guard detail
7923.24.8 2233hr
Notice
Be on the lookout for incoming Mandalorians. They are to be brought into the temple swiftly and silently. Whichever guard first encounters them are to escort them to room 218 in the guard quarters, and maintain a guard position outside the room until escorting them to a meeting with the high council at 0830 hr. Send notice when escorting the Mandalorians.
"Well… this'll be interesting." Jaa commented after he read the notice.
"So what do we do?" Feemor asked.
"Did the dick ever just throw you into leadership?" Jaa asked. Feemor hummed in acknowledgement. The dick, as Jaa called him, would leave Feemor to flounder in the most stressful situations. His only saving grace was that his first dear master had taught him well.
"Wonderful. You're in charge, Fee. With the notification, what would you do?"
Feemor read the notification again, then looked at their entrance. He pulled out an unlit glow rod lit it, and set it at the entrance.
"Why?"
"They're looking for a way in, and they need to move quickly. The glow rod will catch their attention and show not only the door but also that there are guards present at this location."
"Good thinking. You'll want to note this in your report, even if we don't see anything. In the beginning of the report, the general information, there's a section for additional notes. You can search the notice threads and attach the notices."
"Thanks, Jaa."
"My pleasure kid."
"I'm hardly a kid anymore."
"No?" He could feel warm affection waft from Jaa, before a spike of mischief rose. "I mean with the way the troll treats you…"
Feemor winced. It was true. His lineage uncle… his former lineage uncle, Cin Drallig was… overbearing. Before he could even ask about joining the guard Cin all but kidnapped him and threw him into the guard rotation. It had all been quite jarring, but even if the others didn't know, Cin would always make sure to stop by Feemor's new room and make sure he was settling and not withdrawing.
"Cin is overbearing. He's just trying to make up for Qui."
"I don't think he wants you to leave your lineage."
"Qui repudiated me." Feemor snapped before falling quiet. The air suddenly felt heavy. He sighed "It doesn't matter what anyone else wants. I don't have a lineage, not anymore."
Jaa didn't say anything else, just stood quietly. A notification pingged on his HUD. In the silence and stillness of the night he quietly opened it.
C:How's things going Fee
F:Did Jaa contact you
C:No…
C: should he have?
F:No
C:Fee
F:It's nothing
C:Not if you had that reaction. I felt like I had to reach out even though you're on duty.
F:Jaa and I were chatting. Our your lineage was brought up.
C:Qui can go kriff himself
C:I don't give a kriff what my idiot nephew did. He doesn't get to make stupid decisions and force the rest of us to fall in line.
C:You are lineage.
C:If Qui refuses to acknowledge you, Yan at least still calls you his grandpadawan. To me you are still my lineage brother's grandpadawan.
F:I can't do this
C:Fee
F:Not right now, please.
F:I need to focus.
F:Something about Mandos?!
C:Fine
C:Don't fret too much. They'll be friendly.
F:Friendly mandos?
C:Yeah they're bringing a youngling. I'll tell you more when I can.
F:Special treatment?
C:Only for my lineage.
F:Cin…
C:You're stuck with me kiddo
F:Anyways…
F:What should I do if they come here I got Jaa
C:HA!
C:Record it.
Feemor closed the chat and went back to scanning the area. Things were tense, and quiet. He knew that Jaa was worried, but he truly did not want to deal with it right now.
Then the force moved and shifted. He stretched out with the force. Three muffled presences and a little light moving towards them.
"Jaa, movement."
"I sense it too. Mark time."
"2359 hours"
Feemore adjusted his view screen and noticed Mandalorians edging closer to the entrance. Two fully grown mandos, their beskar armor muffling them in the force. There was another fully armored mando with them, but they were smaller, looking more like a fresh padawan than an adult. One of the adults had some kind of cloth wrapped over his chest and shoulder, holding onto the little light, a toddler. The mandos' heads snapped in their direction and immediately started running. The mando with the youngling had red and black on his armor, was pressing the short mando with green red and yellow armor to move ahead of them. The other mando, with green and blue, seemed to be acting as security, scanning the surroundings as they moved.
"Shit, they've got a youngling." Jaa squeaked, followed by a string of intelligible noises and curses that made Feemor snort.
Feemor stepped to the side and palmed open the door. There was a muffled feeling of surprise in the force, but the mandos all slipped into the temple. Not even a second after they entered the youngling started wailing
"Oh force." Jaa squeaked.
"I got it, scaredy tooka." Fee chuckled and stepped into the temple behind the mandos. The mando with the youngling was cursing as he fought to get his helmet off. The small mando had started rubbing the youngling's back, a strange crackling noise coming from the vocoder of the helmet. Eventually the mando managed to rip his helmet off and press his forehead to the youngling's. It took a minute but the youngling eventually calmed down, his little hands grabbing at his exposed skin. The mando was broad, skin pale from years of wearing a suit of armor. His short black hair was disheveled, sticking out in all directions from his struggle to get the helmet off. But most of all his warm dark eyes were soft with affection and worry, the beginnings of wrinkles crinkled at the corners of his eyes. He looked to be close to his old master's age, gray hairs just starting to lighten his hair at his temples.
Feemor let them have their moment to calm, the small mando still rubbing the youngling's back, only pausing when the one without the helmet grabbed him by the neck and pressed their foreheads together. The man breathed deeply for a moment before scooping his helmet off the ground and pulling it back on his head. Once done their T-visor turned towards Feemor who dipped his head and turned, leading them down the hall.
He looked at the time, eight minutes into the new day.
He opened the notification board and sent out the message, making sure to copy Cin in on it
Escorting Mandalorians to their assigned room. Two adults, one adolescent estimated age 9-12, and one youngling, estimated age between 15 months to 30 months.
It was a quiet walk, one that would have him unnerved if he wasn't so used to quiet walks with other guards. He wasn't too surprised when they walked into the guard quarters that every member of the guard who was in the common spaces were wearing their full uniform. Heads turned as if in unison. 218 was simple to find, especially considering that Feemor's own room was 220. He opened the door for them and the small mando stopped in front of him.
"Booeer doesn't speak basic fluently." it was a young voice that came from the vocoder.
'Well that's good to know' he thought and tipped his head down in acknowledgement. The child's t-visor just stared at him for a moment before looking at the room.
"Is there any food we can give Beneekah?" he asked, pointing at the youngling. Feemor tipped his head in confirmation and the child went into the room. He waited a moment before pulling up a private chat.
F:La'men
C:…
F:La'men
C:WHAT?
F:I'm at the room with the mandos
C:WHO THE KRIFF CARES IM IN THE KITCHEN
F:The mandos got a youngling
C:AGAIN KITCHEN
F:The cute little mando baby needs food
C:…
F:?
C:… how cute?
F:Very, probably not even 2 yet.
C:How many mandos?
F:2 adults, one padawan age, and the youngling
C:Fine I'll be by in 5 minutes
F:Thanks La'men, love you
C:Kriff you
He snickered and waited. This would be an interesting shift. In the 5 minutes it took for La'men to bring food several of their compatriots would walk by, peering at the door in interest. He'd shoo them off quickly, but it didn't stop out the curiosity. No matter what the rest of the temple thought, everyone in the guard seemed to be serious gossip mongers. La'men came by exactly 5 minutes from their text with a tray of food. It was mostly easy to eat fruits, already sliced for easy eating. There were some crackers and meats as well and bottled milk and waters. He shoved the tray into Feemor's hands and walked away grumbling.
Feemor shook his head and knocked on the door. The child answered, and he was definitely a child, now without the beskar armor or helmet. He was young, dark curly hair brushing his ears and falling into his shining golden hued eyes. He took the tray from Feemor and disappeared back into the room.
The night was quiet. Feemor was bored. Deadly had sent the video of Jaa's little freak out to Cin, who had laughed. It was nearing 0330 hours when the force seemed to shift and grow heavy. He frowned, his head turning. It felt… familiar, but he couldn't place it. He felt it before, when he was a padawan…
A scream ripped through the air and he turned and burst into the room.
How stupid
He knew the feeling.
He had slept over at his grandmaster's once, when Qui was on a solo mission. Master Sifo had also stayed over that night, they were all curled in the living room watching a holo and fell asleep there. Master Sifo had a vision. The force was heavy, like syrup, just like it was now. He rushed to the screaming youngling, completely ignoring the blasters pointed at him, and pressed a hand to the youngling's head.
The poor thing was terrified of something, and his shields were splintered nearly entirely. He remembered what master Yan had taught him that night. How to stretch his shields to protect another, ease their pain. The little one latched onto him in the force almost immediately, pressing his presence against him seeking comfort, nearly pulling him into the vision. Instead Feemor coaxed the force, gently guiding the little one from the vision. Once the child was fully awake and freed from the vision he stepped back, letting the adult mando that had carried him to swoop in and scoop the little one up.
"What did you do to Beneekah?" the child demanded. The mando snapped at the child whose jaw clicked shut. Feemor bowed and stepped out of the room, noticing that the one other mando still wore a helmet.
Luckily the rest of the early morning was quiet and peaceful. Feemor had managed to slip into a light standing meditation, and when it was 0800 hours he knocked on the door again. This time all the mandos came out. Once more all of them wore their armor, and the youngling was in the fabric sling over the one. The cute little youngling, Beneekah was wide awake, looking around curiously and babbling happily. As they walked the child would ask a question in the language Feemor didn't know and the little one would chirp an answer. Besides the children the walk was silent. He kept to the guard halls and passages, best way to keep them unseen by the majority of the temple. Finally they arrived at the high council. The padawan on duty allerted the council and the doors opened. Cin was already standing in the center of the room waiting. The child stiffened, but the mando with the youngling pressed a hand to his shoulder and they all walked in.
His duty done, Feemor gave a heavy sigh and went to his room to fill out the report. Hopefully Cin would show him some mercy and check it for him later before he submitted it.
A chime next to his bed blared and woke him up from his nap with a groan. He turned over and grabbed the com. It took a moment of blinking to take in the light to read message
Battle Master Cin Drallig to Temple Guards
Date:7923.25.8 1233hr
Notice
I will be giving one Mandalorian adult, one mandalorian adolescent and one youngling around the common spaces of the temple. There will be an announcement tonight at 1830 hr before shift change. The Mandalorians will be given room 218 of the guard quarters as rooms to stay in when visiting the temple. Guards off duty do not need to maintain anonymity while in the guard common spaces. Further details will be given at 1830 hr.
Feemor groaned and opened up his private messaging.
F:Did you have to send the notice when you did
C:glad you're awake
F:If I were more awake I'd hunt you down and strangle you
C:Now now anger leads to the dark side
F:I'm going back to bed.
C:sleep tight
Feemore rolled out of bed later that day, pulling on casual robes. He made his way over to the gathering hall. Several of the guard were already there, a strange mix of uniformed and non-uniformed. He moved through the crowd to make his way to the front. He had managed to spot Cin off on the side with the mandos and slid over to them. The mandos were wearing casual clothing, similar to what they wore that night. Feemor assumed that the mando with the green and blue had left, since he recognized the man as the same one who had torn his helmet off, and the child was noticeable. The youngling was sitting on the floor, leaning against the mando's leg, almost sitting on his foot as he played some kind of block game with the other child who was sitting on the ground across from the youngling. He smiled down at them fondly. They were cute kids.
"Ah, Fee, good to see you awake."
"Thanks for the wake up." he deadpanned with a flat stare.
"Let me introduce you." He smiled, clasping a hand on Feemor's shoulder. "This is Feemor Sthal, a member of my line and the guard that stood with you last night. Feemor, this is Mand'alor Jaster Mereel, and his children, Jango Fett and Ben'ayan Mereel."
"Well met." The Mand'alor said, pressing a fist to his chest.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, formally."
"cooee?" the youngling chirped, looking up.
"Soocooee, Ben." Jango said, correcting the little one.
"Soocooee." Ben chirped, looking happy with a big smile.
"Kandohsee" Jaster smiled and leaned down to ruffle the toddler's hair.
"Alright let's get this over with. Fee, mind staying with the Mand'alor until I'm done?"
"Sure."
Cin moved towards the front of the room and within seconds the low murmur of the room fell silent.
"Alright, listen up! Things are going to be changing for a bit. The details aren't to be shared outside the guard. We have been given a protection detail. This little one is Ben'ayan, he'll be staying at the temple under the name Obi-Wan Kenobi. He'll be learning and staying with the rest of the initiates, but we are to ensure his well being."
Feemor's eyebrows knit together. The temple guard didn't take protection details for dignitaries, they focused on the security and wellbeing of the temple itself and those within it. It would also be a first for a dignitary to live in the temple. Feemor felt the eyes drift over towards where he stood, and he knew the curiosity was the same as his. What was so special about this case.
"In the meantime." Cin continued, "Off shift guards will be permitted to little Keldabe. With the endorsement of Mand'alor Mereel, Ben'ayan's father, and the goran of Coruscant, we will be allowed to learn from them and train in their fighting methods."
Surprise shot through the force. Mandalorians were renowned for their fighting prowess, and their insular culture. You couldn't learn from them without being one of them, and the section of little keldabe was practically forbidden for outsiders. He could feel Jaa poking at their bond like one would elbow a friend to speak up. He sighed and raised a hand
"Why does the youngling need protection?" Feemore spoke, not looking at the mandos next to him.
"There's been a number of attempts on his life already by a competing faction of Mandalorians. While that would normally be outside our purview, the youngling also has a weak tether due to his strong connection with the force."
There were a few understanding nods and sympathetic glances cast to the youngling, Feemor himself winced. He had seen it before, those that just faded away, caught adrift in the waves of the force, leaving their bodies behind to stop functioning and eventually dying. And, if last night was any indication, the poor youngling had visions to boot.
He glanced down at the little one and nodded.
One youngling shouldn't be too hard to keep safe.
They would keep him safe.
Pseudo Mandoa (because Feemor doesn't know the language, just the sounds)
Booeer is Buir (parent, in this case dad)
Beneekah is actually Ben'ika (little Ben)
Soocooee is Su'cuy (hi)
Kandohsee is Kandosii (Well done)
Ben'ayan- comes from two mandalorian words.
Beten : which means sigh
aay'han : bittersweet perfect moment of mourning and joy - *remembering and celebrating*