Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 11

Obi-Wan sat with his legs crossed on the floor of the Forge. Master Koon and the Goran were standing nearby, observing. He had made his first lightsabre on the ship back from Ilum with all the other Initiates so having an audience didn't bother him. All of the parts came from the storeroom, items the Force had drawn him to. The Goran would charge them the cost of those he used since there would likely be pieces left over. Tim was sitting nearby, Obi-Wan has asked him to stay, he thought it would be good for him to see what he would be doing next. He rubbed his new kyber between his fingers, hearing it's song…different to his old crystal, almost more…wild. But he'd been through a lot since he'd gone on the Gathering, he wasn't the same person. He hadn't known slavery or war as an Initiate after all.

Obi-Wan set the crystal down and closed his eyes, dropping into meditation, the pieces rising up into the air around him as he used the Force to manipulate them. While he had an idea for the design, the crystal and the Force might want something very different. He had no idea of time as he remained in meditation but finally it was time to set the Kyber into the hilt very carefully before closing it up.

He opened his eyes as the weight of the hilt landed in his hands, looking down at his new lightsabre. It looked different to his old one, made to fit his growing hands better. But there were also rings of beskar set into the hilt, encircling it, making it hardier. The rings were silvery but the rest was a burnished bronze with black wrappings where he would grip the hilt.

Obi-Wan stood up and held it in front of him, taking a deep breath before activating it for the first time. The blade was dark blue, much darker than his previous blade and it seemed to be made more for one handed wielding than two which was interesting. He wavered on his feet, exhausted, and de-activated the weapon, Tim slipping under his shoulder a second later, supporting him over to his Master.

"Well done, Padawan," Master Koon praised.

"Thank you, Master," he murmured. How long had he been working for to be so exhausted?

Tim helped him to a seat and pressed a ration bar and cup of water on him, which helped him feel better. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern and Obi-Wan smiled.

"Just tired. It's a deep meditation and mentally taxing," he explained.

"Right. Guess I'm up next."

"There is no right or wrong way," he murmured. "Trust the Force."

Tim nodded, squeezing his hand, before walking to where Obi-Wan had sat earlier. He had a lot more pieces laid out in front of him, but he had two crystals. Obi-Wan wondered if he'd have a double-bladed lightsabre since he was used to using a staff but Master Koon said that wasn't an indicator, after all, Tim was also comfortable with his beskad and even a blaster now.

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Plo was pleased with his Padawan's progress. This lightsabre was the work of a senior Padawan, not a junior but he had seen trials that many Knights did not, so was it that surprising? He did wonder how much influence living among the Mando'ade had on the crystal given how dark a blue it was. It was not the black of the only Mandalorian lightsabre, but it was a much darker blue than Obi-Wan's previous blade. And the song of the crystal was wilder, but almost rhythmic…like marching boots.

What surprises would young Tim deliver?

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Tim sat down, a crystal in each hand. They seemed so small for something so important, still clear looking. He had been meditating with them since he had woken on Jedha, forging a deeper connection with them, but he wouldn't see their colour till he ignited his blade for the first time. He was very curious as to why he had two though. There were ingots of beskar and cortosisamong the supplies which had him curious, would his sabre have rings through it like Obi-Wan's?

He took a deep breath, glancing up at Koon and the Goran and then closed his eyes, settling into meditation. He'd been practicing object manipulation in the lead up to the trip to Jedha so he'd be ready for this, and it came easily to him unlike many other Force abilities. Ka'ra…Force…it didn't matter what the name was, it was all the same thing. He'd always been good with technology and he loved all of the different things his new home had that Earth didn't. Buir was very happy to let him tinker with whatever he wanted; he had his own workroom now.

He reached out with the Ka'ra, feeling all of the pieces, letting it guide him.

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Plo watched as the objects began to lift into the air, spinning about the boy. He had never seen Tim reach such a deep mediation before, but it was good to see him doing so now. His gift with technology would likely help in the construction. It was not surprising to see the beskar and cortosis rising into the air, a very interesting mix.

Obi-Wan's lightsabre was different to his original from what Plo could remember seeing in the salles. He'd almost think he was meant to dual wield but he had only gained one crystal, so it was a puzzle.

But Tim had two crystals and from what was lifting to join together…hmmm.

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Tim struggled to hold the meditation, exhausted despite being buoyed by the Ka'ra. He remained focused on the kyber crystals and the pieces, the basic blueprint for a functional lightsabre in mind. It was a relief when he guided them in, sealing the hilt and then he felt a weight land in each hand. His eyes snapped open and he stared in shock, two?!

He stared at the twin hilts in his hands, noticing the pommels were very different to Obi-Wan's, as if…he studied them carefully then brought them together, twisting them and they clicked together, forming one longer hilt. He released them back into two and stood up, seeing the excitement in Obi-Wan's eyes. Tim took a deep breath and activated both of them, staring in shock at the blades, their song suddenly strong…the sound of thousands marching together, whispers of Oya…

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Plo was not shocked by the twin hilts, not with two crystals. The colours however… he had never seen such kyber before. He knew black was possible due to the Darksaber but Tim's were not solely black, no, streaks of a shade of yellow that was basically gold crackled around the black. Dual wielded sabres did occasionally combine into one so that wasn't new, but it wasn't common, most Jedi preferred either to fully dual wield or to use only a single sabre. He would need to adjust his teaching methods when it came to Tim's training.

Now that they had their own lightsabres, he could begin working with them to determine which form would suit them best. Obi-Wan had a good grounding in Shii-Cho and had begun training in Ataru under Jinn but that didn't mean either of them was the form he was best suited to. Tim had his training with a staff and beskad, some of which could translate to the sabre and Plo had been teaching him Shii-Cho since that was the best form for beginners to get used to using a lightsabre with. Both boys were acrobatic enough for Ataru so he might continue the work Jinn had begun with it for now.

Obi-Wan moved to help Tim over to a seat, ensuring he ate and drank just as Tim had done for him. The natural bond between the two had become stronger since Melidaan and he did nothing to discourage it, not when the Force itself had created it across star systems.

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Bruce stared at the duffle full of heads, horrified. Bruce's hope was destroyed now, no matter what, he would never have done something like this so it couldn't be him. But the timing had been so symbolic, as was the name… there hadn't been a clear picture of the Red Hood which had let him cling to the desperate hope and he knew Dick had too. But now there was an image of the Red Hood, plus the heads…it wasn't him…it wasn't Tim.

It would have made sense in a way if it had been him but this man was too tall and well-built for it to ever be him, Tim's body simply hadn't been the type to be able to bulk up like that. The guns hadn't been proof either way, Bruce knew that Tim could shoot and didn't have the issues he did with guns, even Dick didn't since he'd carried one as a cop. A traumatised and tortured Tim coming back, he could understand him moving to a lethal weapon, to a more brutal method, but not this far.

It hurt but was also a relief, his youngest hadn't gone so far. He was still out there somewhere, waiting for them. But it still left the question, who could the Red Hood be? They obviously hated Joker but so many people did, it didn't exactly narrow the suspects down.

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Mace sank back in his seat, wishing he could make Plo face the Senate instead but no, the other Master was happily on Mandalore with his Padawan and student. They might as well call the boy a Padawan given the fact he now had a lightsabre, well two of them. Plo had not sent much information on the boy which was understandable given he was one of Mereel's heirs and the system was not entirely safe. Plus, who knew what the Senate would do if they found out.

He didn't like the mentions of increasing violence that Plo had made, none of them did. Plo may have stepped back from the Council to take Obi-Wan as his Padawan but he was still one of them and a Jedi. And Obi-Wan would be in even more danger as a Padawan and apparently, he was close to Mereel and his family. Given the historical animosity between their peoples, they would be very tempting targets.

"We should recall Master Koon and Padawan Kenobi," Ki-Adi-Mundi stated.

"No," Yoda shook his head. "Where need to be, they are. Will of the Force, it is." He looked concerned as well, but he would not recall them if he believed the Force wanted them on Mandalore.

They could send no backup; the Senate had made sure of that.

"Perhaps we could station a Shadow pair in a system nearby but within Republic space," Yan Dooku suggested.

The man carried some guilt over the treatment of Obi-Wan, the boy had been his Grandpadawan and yet they had never met. But it was an idea with merit.

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Jaster looked over the possible missions to take, he wanted Jango to get some more experience before permanently assigning him several traatikase. Tim wouldn't be going with him though; it was time for him to undergo his verd'goten. Had it really been two years since they had found him near death? He would be sixteen soon, Jango already was, and Obi-Wan had just turned fifteen. They weren't truly children anymore; they were growing up far too fast.

"There's a mission on Galidraan, the Governor wants to hire us to put down an insurrection," he offered his eldest.

"No!" Two voices called out in unison, and Jaster looked over at where Tim and Obi-Wan were sitting.

Tim appeared confused by his outburst but Obi-Wan was simply worried.

"Hmm…" Plo closed his eyes. "The Force is being particularly forceful on this one Mand'alor."

"A trap…it feels like a trap," Tim murmured, frowning. "Like… Vizsla."

Jaster's expression tightened. Vizsla, if he could defeat him then the war would be all but over. Which meant a force much greater than the Governor was requestion would need to be sent to the planet.

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Sidious glowered at the latest report. Things had been going very nicely in the Mandalore system, until somehow that idealistic fool Mereel had somehow avoided the trap on Korda Six. Since then, Mandalore had become impossible to direct. He needed either Vizsla or those imbecilic pacifists in control of the sector, them he could use, but not Mereel. That man was proving far too lucky and too smart for such a barbaric people. The Mandalorians were meant to serve the Sith but that man would not and so had to be removed, his forces scattered and killed. Rumour had it the man had at least one heir, but it shouldn't be too hard to arrange for them to die as well if they would not submit to the Sith.

This trap should cripple Mereel's faction as well as bring down greater scrutiny on the Jedi.

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Jaster was taking Jango with him but he was leaving Tim behind in the care of Kal and Mij. Tim'ika and Ob'ika were not entirely happy at being left behind but they weren't sure what they would be facing and Plo agreed with him that they should be kept safe. Taking both of his heirs was not smart, Melidaan had been different. He would not take both his ade into a Kyr'tsad trap. He was taking a good part of their fighting force to face Vizsla and his men.

When they returned, Tim would be leaving for his verd'goten. He wondered what he would choose, a bounty hunt maybe? There were a variety of options since not all Mando'ade chose to be fighters. Jango had chosen a bounty hunt for his. And he wondered, would Obi-Wan undertake a verd'goten?

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Yan frowned as he read over the mission briefing, this…this did not make any sense. Something was very wrong. He sent a message to Master Koon but he would not be able to receive the answer until they exited hyperspace again. He did not like bringing Komari on the mission, she was too eager for battle. The Council had sent a fighting squad rather than one focused on investigation and all because of the Senate. But there was nothing he could do until he received word from Plo and they arrived at Galidraan.

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He watched the comings and goings of the city, annoyed he couldn't get to the clown yet. But the whispers…Robin hadn't been seen in a year, not in Gotham or with his team. Of course, Batman hadn't commented but Nightwing was tense. And the disappearance coincided with a Joker breakout…one from which it took the Joker months to recover first in hospital and then Arkham's infirmary once he'd been brought back in. As if someone had taken their rage out on him.

Had the Joker clipped another Robin's wings?

He wasn't sure how he felt about that. There was anger that the Joker had been allowed to live long enough to do so. Some glee that the Replacement got what he deserved but…did anyone deserve what that monster would do to them. Did he really want the kid dead or just out of the suit?

He had the bats attention thanks to the duffle bag of heads but it was strange, the man had seemed almost…disappointed? Weird. Had he worked out his id and was upset his so-called son had fallen so far from his teachings? Poor Batman.

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Plo stared at the message from Yan Dooku, so that was the trap. He immediately took it to Jaster so that they could decide what to do. It would be best to confront the Governor with official Jedi backup. He was not an official presence and could not represent the Order under the circumstances. They would have to wait for the Jedi transport to arrive but at least his presence would ensure there was no battle between them. No, they could focus on the Governor and Kyr'tsad.

This seemed an odd planet to choose to confront the Haat Mando'ade, so why had Vizsla chosen it? Or had he been working with the Governor on something and then decided he should lay a trap? And who was the target, Jaster or his children?

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Yan was relieved to find a message from Plo but shocked to learn he was on the planet, awaiting their arrival.

Their ship landed and he disembarked to find Master Koon waiting, dressed in his usual robes, an armoured form at his side. They exchanged bows of greeting.

"Master Yan Dooku, this is Mand'alor Jaster Mereel," he introduced them.

Yan felt a spike of shock, if they had done as the Senate ordered…it would have been a disaster. And when they entered the Mandalorian camp he realised it would have been one for their team. He had twenty Jedi but he doubted it would have been enough, not with their armour and historical training to fight Jedi.

"It seems the Senate was misinformed," he murmured, and Plo nodded gravely.

TBC…

Traatikase - platoons