Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 13
Obi-Wan frowned, and then yanked Tim down, the room shaking. That was far too close for comfort.
Tim got to his feet, studying the images.
"Here," Kal said, and they both nodded.
They had to cut them off there and fast or they would breach the city with ground troops. The outer defences were working hard to keep the ships and soldiers with jetpacks from reaching the city but some were beginning to slip through.
They kept directing the defence of the city and then the Force screamed.
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Jason closed his eyes, ignoring the way his hand was shaking. "Hey Alfie, sorry I missed our last book club meeting," he managed to keep his voice steady somehow.
"How…is it really…"
He'd never heard Alfred stutter like that. "It's me, Alfred. I'm alive and in Gotham. You can ask Dick, we…talked."
"Master Jason," Alfred whispered.
"I missed you Alfred," he admitted.
"I have missed you as well, dear boy. When will you come home?"
"I…I can't," he whispered, closing his eyes, fighting back the green rage. "Still got stuff to do."
"Very well," Alfred sounded older, sad. "You will stay in contact though."
"As long as you want," he agreed. Surely, he'd change his mind as the body count rose.
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Tim slipped through the shadows, bō in hand but not extended, Obi-Wan a silent presence at his back. They were hunting Kyr'tsad, Tim specifically wanted the traitor that had given them the location of the command centre. Mij had still been pulling bodies from the rubble when they had taken off with a traat'aliit. Taking out the centre had left them half blind, unable to put everything together to see the bigger picture. They had to trust their people to know their roles in the defence of the city.
Since they were using stealth, blasters and lightsabres would be too obvious. He'd given Obi-Wan his beskad since he'd begun training with one. Tim was pretty sure buir was hoping that Obi-Wan would swear the Resol'nare one day. Tim was a Mando first, then a Force user while Obi-Wan was a Jetii first. But there was not really anything in the oath that would go against his oaths to his Order, except perhaps answering the Mand'alors call. That could cause conflict if the Mando'ade came into conflict with either the Jetii or the Republic.
He moved suddenly, bō extending to slam into an armoured torso, hearing the wearers breath explode out of them at the impact. He spun, weapon coming around to take them behind the knees and then he slammed it down on their buy'ce…and they weren't wearing beskar so it crumbled under the force from his beskar weapon. He didn't like killing but this was war and they would not hesitate to kill him or all those within the city. This wasn't Earth or Gotham; he couldn't live by the rules of his birthplace.
He felt another death and glanced over to see Obi-Wan had the beskad buried in another Kyr'tsad members chest. Obi-Wan pulled it free, staring at the blood on the blade as it dripped off. Tim reached out and grabbed his shoulder, well his armour, brushing his presence with his own, bringing him out of shock. They may have met in a war, but he got the feeling Obi-Wan wasn't used to this kind of violence. Not the up-close kind of killing in literal street warfare, he was used to blasters and lightsabres which meant very little blood. Obi-Wan sucked in a deep breath and nodded, so they continued on.
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Jaster checked his beskar'gam for the fifth time, unable to truly rest. He knew Jango was still up too, both of them were too worried about Tim. He had never dreamed the city would be attacked or else he wouldn't have left the boys there. They had fallen right into Vizsla's trap and now he could lose his youngest son because of that.
Plo Koon had told them that he could sense Obi-Wan was alive, but that was all at such a distance, and even that was difficult to do. But if Obi-Wan lived then the odds were, so did Tim, the boys had become quite attached to each other. It made sense, they were students together, had bonded on the battlefield where many Mando made familiar bonds…and other kinds of bonds. Would they become more than friends one day? He thought it was a possibility from what he'd seen. Did Tim realise the way he sometimes watched Obi-Wan?
He would love to see his ade happily married, to be a ba'buir, but he would never push either of them to it. So far, he got the feeling that Jango wasn't really interested in such things but Tim was so different to his ori'vod in so many ways. But that was good, they were their own people and came from very different backgrounds. He'd realised quickly that Tim had come from some kind of upper class and Tim had told him that his birth family had been old money but not any kind of aristocracy or anything, and his first adopted family was from even older money. Which meant he had the kind of society training that Jaster and Jango lacked, not that it was really needed among the Haat Mando'ade but when dealing with the Republic? Tim would make an excellent diplomat if they could work on a better relationship with some of the members of the Republic, if not the Republic itself.
But that would be years in the future, they had to win the war at home first.
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Kon leant back on the couch, the movie playing quietly but he wasn't really paying attention, Cassie curled into his left and Bart lying with his head in his lap. He just let himself drift, enjoying the quiet togetherness. He wished they'd had more time like this with Rob…Tim. No, he wasn't thinking like that, he wasn't dead.
There was still no body, nothing. Hal and the other Lanterns had searched when they could, even Kori had called in some favours to have others searching for him. If Tim was on Earth, then he'd hear him but there was nothing. But there were ways to block their hearing, so he could be somewhere, captive. He needed them and they had failed to find him.
And then an alert blared through the tower, so much for time off. They were up and in their uniforms in seconds, Cassie giving orders as everyone gathered.
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Obi-Wan had thought he was used to war but this…this was different. Closer fighting than the Young had been able to do since they'd all been so little and underweight. They had relied on blasters, slingshots…anything they could use from a distance. He'd been one of the few who could get in close but he'd still never stabbed someone with a solid blade before. It was so different than fighting with a sabre but he understood why Tim didn't want him drawing it, it would identify them immediately and while not incredible loud, it did make noise and give off light.
Tim's stealth…was incredible. If he couldn't track him with the Force he would have lost him many times as they moved through the streets. And he could only track Tim because he was letting him, Master Koon had shown them how to hide their Force presence and Tim had picked it up so quickly and become so good at it that even Master Koon struggled to find him. Obi-Wan was getting better at it but he wasn't at Tim's level, not yet. But that as fine, they both had different strengths.
And then Tim paused, head tilted as if listening, tapping a finger to where his ear was under his helmet. Comms were back online? That was good, they could coordinate much easier. He checked his wrist and sure enough, the little light was back. He popped the unit out and slid it into his ear since he didn't have a helmet. It beeped twice and he nodded to show he could hear.
"We're heading up to the roof and then east. Stay close," Tim told him, not having to speak softly since he'd turned the exterior speakers on his helmet off.
Obi-Wan followed him to the roof and then they were moving fast, the Force aiding them. Tm seemed very at home moving from roof to roof, but it didn't seem to be something the Mando trained? They were either on the ground or in the air, so something he had learnt on his homeworld? He did not often speak of his life before Jaster had adopted him. They came to a larger gap, too large for even a Force enhance jump, and Tim wrapped an arm around him, Obi-Wan holding on, as Tim fired a cord from his kom'rk before they were airborne, swinging across the gap. Tim nailed the landing easily while Obi-Wan had to use the Force.
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Kal looked up as two figures dropped down to the street, relaxing at the sight of the two seemingly uninjured. There was blood on the beskad at Obi-Wan's hip, proving the two had been fighting since they had been separated, but there was no scoring on their armour or clothing from blaster fire at least. "Any injuries?" he asked just to be sure.
Tim shook his head even as the baar'ur gave them a quick check over, no one was taking risks with either boy considering their positions. What would the Jetii do if harm came to Obi-Wan in their war?
"How does it look?" the Ad'Alor asked, even as he removed his buy'ce, revealing inky black hair that had been pulled back and then flattened by the buy'ce. It was why Kal kept his hair short, much easier to manage.
"We're holding," Kal answered, bringing up a map to show him the sections they had fully secured and those they were fighting to hold. The one thing about attacking a Mando city, you had to assume everyone within could and would fight to defend their home.
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Plo sat before the window, staring out at hyperspace. The distance made it difficult, but he was certain his Padawan was alive. But that was all he could sense and he lacked such a bond with Tim. But surely if he had been killed then Obi-Wan's grief would make it through their bond. He knew the Council would not approve of his allowing their bond to deepen, but the Force had pulled them together for a reason.
They would need to return to Coruscant soon though, there were examinations that Obi-Wan would need to undertake in order to officially become a Senior Padawan. He had the skill and his classwork was up to date so Plo had no doubts that he would pass. Perhaps some members of House Mereel would like to come with them, unofficially of course.
He took deep breaths, closing his eyes to meditate, he could not be distracted when they were likely to be landing in a warzone.
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Bruce frowned as he studied everything, it was strange but in the last week…the Red Hood seemed to have mellowed somewhat. It was too soon to say for sure, but people he would have killed before had been left alive, though wounded. What had caused the change? There were far too many questions where the man was concerned.
Then there was Dick, something seemed to really be on his mind. He would assume it was Jason's approaching birthday except he didn't appear sad. Tim had been fourteen when he vanished, he'd be fifteen now, if he was still alive. It was hard to keep hoping after so long with no sign. He didn't know how Dick did it, even Alfred still hoped, Tim's room kept fresh and ready for his return.
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Tim dodged, blaster coming up and firing before he'd fully aimed, catching the other in the gap of their beskar'gam under the arm. They cried out and collapsed since it penetrated their chest…likely the heart since they appeared human. Sure enough, he felt their life vanish. Pitched battles were not his preference, he was still Bat enough to prefer striking from the shadows.
The sound of Obi-Wan's lightsabre at his back was comforting. They moved together as easily as he ever had with B or Kon. It felt…right. And then he was shocked to hear another lightsabre, but it sounded different to Obi-Wan's or even his own… The Dha Kad'au which meant that…was Vizsla. He took a breath, remembering his visions on Jedha.
"Ibi'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur," he murmured. If they could take down Tor Vizsla…they could end the war.
Obi-Wan moved to stand beside him, blade raised in defence, and Tim's beskad in his other hand. Jar'Kai? Tim holstered his blaster, hesitating, bō or sabres?
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As soon as they hit sen'tra range, Jaster leapt from the ship, the others following him. He was surprised when Plo Koon leapt as well, the Jetii was falling but far too slowly to be normal. Sections of the city were burning, the air lit by blaster fire. Then his buy'ce comms connected to the local channel and he heard familiar voices calling out orders.
He heard his ad and tracked his signal, heading for one of the open marketplaces. And then the channel went nuts…Vizsla! Tim wasn't ready for that kind of fight; he wasn't even wearing beskar!
,
Jango swore as he realised what was happening but he had his orders and they were taking him far from his vod'ika. If Vizsla took another vod from him… Obi-Wan was with Tim'ika, they would fight back-to-back. He'd seen them train, it was spooky how in tune with each other they were. They could beat him and they both had sabres too. They would be fine…or he'd kill them himself.
And then he was in the thick of a fight, dodging incoming fire from other Mando. At least it was easy to pick out Kyr'tsad members, they all painted their beskar'gam the same. It lowered the risk of friendly fire a lot in the heat of battle.
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Plo heard the familiar sound of lightsabres clashing and put on a burst of speed, worried for the children. Vizsla lacked jedi training, true, but he'd had possession of that blade long enough to have trained himself to use it. Beskad could last against sabers so training against others wouldn't be a problem. Against a Padawan and someone new to the weapons? But Tim was used to his staff and that was beskar…
He rounded the corner and stared just like everyone else present. Tim flipped over Vizsla's head even as Obi-Wan lunged under him, keeping Vizsla focused on blocking his sabre. His sabre scored a burn in Vizsla's armour, the man just moving in time to keep Tim from hitting the more vulnerable seam where helmet and armour met. The two boys moved fluidly together, covering when needed, keeping Vizsla on the back foot. He was hesitant to intervene and risk breaking their concentration at the wrong moment. For now, it might be safer to wait and observe.
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Jaster stared at the sight of his ad and Ob'ika as they danced around Tor. Their much larger opponent was very obviously enraged, unable to land a hit on either boy. He'd seen them train but this…this really was a dance. It usually took decades for two vode to work together so seamlessly, it had to be the Ka'ra.
He saw it almost in slow motion, Tor over extended and Tim's blade came down, right into the gap, severing his hand, the now deactivated sabre jumping to Tim's free hand as his ad spun, the blade reactivating, coming to rest crossed with Tim's own at Vizsla's throat.
The word seemed too still, the Mando shocked into silence. Obi-Wan had spun to guard Tim's back, his shoulders heaving slightly, showing how long the fighting had lasted given a Jetii's stamina.
"Surrender," Tim's voice rang out, clear and firm.
But Jaster knew Tor, he would never… "Look out!" he screamed, seeing the small blade aiming for a gap in Tim's armour, but Obi-Wan was already there…leaving Tor handless. The man snarled and both boys stiffened.
"Bomb!" Obi-Wan yelled in warning.
Tim moved, blades slicing right through Tor's neck, his head rolling away and then his ad was…oh! Tor had rigged his armour.
And several of his men moved to ensure he didn't try to get closer, even as Ba'jurir Koon did, helping the boys.
"Clear," Tim called after a minute.
Jaster let the relief wash over him and then he swallowed. Tim had won the Dha Kad'au and killed Tor Vizsla…well, it definitely legitimised him as an heir. He knew Tim didn't want to lead though, a team yes, but not their entire people.
He pushed forward to reach his son, pulling him into his arms, letting their helmets meet in a gentle mirshmure'cya.
"Buir," Tim murmured, sagging against him.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, relieved when Tim shook his head.
"Buir…did Tim just kill Tor or is some di'kut messing with the feeds?" Jango asked.
"He did. It was transmitted?"
"General frequency, everyone on the planet saw that."
"Oh," Tim whispered.
"You okay vod?" there was concern clear in Jango's voice.
"Tired, it's been a very long few days," Tim assured them.
"We're on clean up, defence teams stand down and get some sleep," Jaster ordered. They may have been stressed on the flight back but they were better rested than those who had spent the last days fighting to hold the city.
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Batman stared down the Red Hood, batarang in hand, waiting for a sign of what the man wanted.
"B! Stand down!" Nightwing yelled and then his son was landing on roughly on the roof, rushing, getting between them. What was he thinking?
TBC.
Ibi'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur - Today is a good day for someone else to die - Mando saying (because they're not daft...)
mirshmure'cya - Keldabe kiss - slang for headbutt (lit. brain-kiss)