The Weaving Force: Chapter 68 (Patreon)

Chapter 68:

Taylor:

Our morning was… banal.

Honestly, after the last few days and the flurry of activity surrounding us, it was blessedly banal.

I was the first one to wake up, I usually was. Given that the instant consciousness even flirted with me, I was aware of everything in a half a block radius, so I didn’t mind.

I got up, took a shower, changed and started making breakfast. Simple omelet with veggies and bits of ham, or at least the galactic equivalent to all those ingredients.

Vicky woke up halfway through the process, mumbling a quick good morning before shambling towards the bathroom to brush her teeth and shower. I busied myself making tea, leaving the omelets on the hot pan so they wouldn’t get cold, and timed when I put the cheese over it so it’d just start to melt by the time she was stepping out of the shower.

She smiled when she saw me, much happier and alert now that she had a full shower and the first of her morning routines done.  I smiled back. She gave me a quick kiss before she slid on over to make herself some coffee. She wasn’t a tea person, and I wasn’t a coffee person, but we hadn’t killed each other yet.

“Anything fun happening around the Temple?” Vicky asked as we sat down to eat.

“Fun isn’t the word I’d use,” I answered. “But yes, things are happening. The Council is meeting with me and some of the other Crechemasters today to discuss possible solutions for the influx of Padawans, the shortage of available Knights and Masters, and possibly lowering the strict recruitment thresholds.”

Vicky frowned in thought. “They’re suddenly realizing that ten thousand Jedi is a really small number when you can lose nearly five percent of your most senior and elite force in a single battle that goes sideways?”

I nodded, taking a bite out of my breakfast. “They’re not saying it, but you can tell that’s what they’re thinking.”

She nodded, understanding.

I paused, perking up, which Vicky noticed.

She blinked, the cup of coffee halfway to her lips. “Something up?”

I took a big bite out of my omelet. “Looks like I gotta make more breakfast.”

She blinked in curious confusion before watching me walk back towards the kitchen and put more food to the skillet…

A lot more food.

I wasn’t normally so… domestic. A lingering part of me kept remembering days with dad, that plodding day by day withering of self and existence where I just made breakfast, went to school, and made dinner to fill an empty space, but today I found it… almost bringing a smile to my face, a strange little joy.

There was a knock on the door.

Vicky got up from the table, having already put two and two together that we were expecting guests, so she wasn’t surprised.

She opened the door. “Ani, hi!”

The newly minted Knight smiled, as happy to see Vicky as Vicky was to see him.

I was happy to see him too. After all, he wasn’t behind the drive stick of a speeder.

“Vicky-Oh.” His greeting was cut off as she hugged him.

“What brings you to our neck of the woods this morning?” She asked, ushering him inside.

I felt the spike of Anakin’s nervousness, and he distracted himself from it by turning to me. “Hi, Taylor,” Anakin said to my back.

I raised up the spatula, waving over my shoulder. “Cheese or no cheese?” I asked.

I didn’t need an empath power to sense confusion. “Huh?”

“She’s making you breakfast,” Vicky explained brightly, escorting him to the couch and manhandling him into it with a firm shove. “Cheese or no cheese on your omelet?

“What’s an omelet?” He asked.

“Cheese.” Vicky declared for him.

I nodded. Two pieces of cheese flopping down over the nearly done breakfast item.

Anakin was very confused.

“So,” Vicky reiterated as she sat down. “What brings you here Sky-boy?”

He looked somewhat annoyed at the nickname before I sensed that nervousness return.

“So…” he hesitated, fidgeting in his seat. “I’ve heard some… rumors.”

“Bout what?” Vicky’s question was genuine, but I already had an idea what exactly Anakin had heard and what had apparently brought him here.

“Are you two…” Again, he hesitated. “...together?”

There was a brief moment of silence, and I felt Vicky turn to look at my back, as if asking me what we were going to answer.

Anakin seemed to take the brief silence as something a bit more damning. “Sorry. Sorry. This was stupid, I should go-”

“Yes, we are.” I answered simply, turning with a plateful of omelet and fork in hand.

I made my way across the room and placed it into his stunned hands, the fork slipping into his near slack fingers.

Standing in front of him while he was still clearly stunned I tilted my head. “Why do you ask?” I was genuinely curious. Most Jedi had been actively avoiding the subject.

Anakin’s mouth opened and closed for a few seconds before he looked away.

“Your food’s getting cold.” Vicky helpfully chirped before taking another gulp of her coffee.

Anakin robotically took a bite, chewing mechanically.

I turned away and began to make more food.

“How did you…” Anakin squirmed in his seat. “Aren’t you worried about what the Masters will say? That you’ll be expelled from the Order?”

The question was to both of us, but he was looking at Vicky. Probably because my back was turned to him, my attention on the skillet.

Vicky hummed, her finger scratching at a spot on her cheek. “It would suck,” she admitted, and that was true enough, and I felt almost a nudge from her in the Force, like her elbowing me a little in the ribs to join in with my input. “We’ve made a lot of friends here and we’d rather not lose them.”

“But-” I decided to join in. “If it ever comes down to that choice, Anakin, then we’d simply make the choice of what’s more important to us. The Order… or each other.”

Vicky nodded. “The possibility of not having both is something we were aware of when we decided to explore this.”

“Just like that?” He asked. “And what’s stopping them from… well… pushing you?”

“I’d like to think it’s because they like us and see that the rule is stupid.” Vicky chirped… unhelpfully.

“More realistically-” I answered with a mild glance her way. She answered with a beaming smile. “It’s because right now, we’re moving into a war and Vicky and I are some of the heaviest hitters on the board.”

“They shouldn’t allow that to stop them.” Anakin mumbled.

“You’ll learn that codes and dogma often take a back seat to realistic pragmatism when there’s a knife at your throat.” I surmised succinctly.

“Look, Annie,” Vicky scooted her chair closer to him. “There someone you like? Someone you’re feeling conflicted about?”

Anakin stiffened. “N-no. Nothing like that, no. I was just curious.”

“Uh-huh.” Vicky smiled, then quick as lightning, frowned. “Goddamnit…” She turned towards me with an angry, scowly pout. “I told you I’m gonna miss my ‘wink-wink-nudge-nudge’!!! I can’t do it anymore. Now it’s just a weird ’blink-blink’.”

I almost laughed, but settled into a smile before marching over and giving her a kiss along the edge of her missing eye. “There, there. You’ll find an appropriate substitute soon.”

“Maybe I can get the new cyber eye to have a blink function.” She mumbled.

I shook my head and gave her another quick kiss.

There was another knock at the door.

“Eat.” I poked Anakin’s knee. “It's getting cold.”

The dumbstruck Knight began to eat.

I opened the door.

“Hi, Miss Taylor!”

“Hello, Karl-ooph!”

My voice was cut off by two bundles plowing into me, in the form of a tiny, red headed Twi’lek into my leg, and a hug-bug to my chest.

I’d left Angelica with the crechelings for the last few days. Her light side aura was a soothing balm that eased the younglings’… nightmares.

She helped. And she was happy to.

“Hello, Miss Taylor.” Iskt said, much more respectfully.

I stepped back, ushering the kids inside. “Sit, food will be done soon.”

“Food?” Iskt asked, surprised. I’d add more ham to his omelet. Trandoshans were more carnivorous than omnivorous.

“Hi, kids!” Vicky waved happily, taking hugs from both children. “What did you dooooo?” She asked impishly, as though the two had come running back here to duck the repercussions of their mischief.

Which, all things considered, was fair.

“Nothin.” Karla shrugged before plopping down on her seat besides Ani, Angelica in her arms. “Just came to visit.”

Not untrue, but not the whole truth either, I knew.

Even so, two omelets were placed in front of them.

They didn’t know what omelets were either.

They ate them anyway.

I started making tea.

Lots of tea.

“You kids sleep okay?” Vicky asked gently.

“Mh-hmm.” Karla nodded, answering through a mouthful of egg, cheese and ham.

Iskt was far more quiet.

Again, there was a knock on the door.

This time Vicky was surprised, noting suddenly the many cups of tea on the countertop that I hadn’t served yet. “Did the whole Temple decide they suddenly liked eggs and ham?” She asked, confused, as she stood up and made her way towards the door.

She opened it.

“Commander Dallon. Ma’am.” Trooper 85 snapped a sharp salute, his five brothers behind him doing the same.

Vicky smiled, though it was more a bemused quirk to her lips as she stepped aside to let them in.

The six brothers that made up… well… my squad wandered in, bemused as I handed each of them a pre-prepared cup of tea.

“I think they’d prefer something stronger.” Vicky jibed.

“I’m not letting you corrupt them with your heathen ways.” I answered primly, a smile pulling at my lip before I controlled it as I took a sip of my own tea and sat down on my seat once again, at long last.

“No more guests?” Vicky guessed.

I shook my head. “Don’t jinx it.”

Our living room/dining room/kitchen area was now well and truly crowded, but I strangely enjoyed the unusual sight of it. I looked towards 85 with an expectant look as I leaned back in my seat, one leg crossed over the other.

“You’ve decided on your names.” I declared.

85 smirked. “Can’t hide anything from you, eh, ma’am?” He nodded. “We have.”

“You’re our commander.” Another of the brothers, Trooper 44 if I was pegging him right, continued. “So, we thought we’d take names that meant something to you.”

“The important thing I think is that they mean something to you,” I said. “But thank you for the consideration.”

“Likewise, ma’am.” 85 nodded. “I’ll go first then.” He cleared his throat, snapping another salute. “Trooper Guelzo, squad commander.”

The next trooper snapped another salute. “Trooper Pratchett, squad medic, ma’am.”

“Trooper Orwell, demolitions”

“Asimov, comms and slicing, ma’am.”

“Weber, squad spotter and sniper.”

“Cid, ma’am. Assault specialist.”

Authors. They’d named themselves after authors in my library.

Well, authors and one character from an epic poem.

I was touched.

Vicky smiled. “That’s awesome, you guys!” She said before standing up, clearing her throat and bowing. “Pleasure to meet you, troopers Guelzo, Pratchett, Orwell, Asimov, Cid and Weber.”

The clones had a mixture of reactions: smiling, averted eyes, bashful laughs.

Still, mostly positive.

Even so, the rest of the day was still waiting for us.

“Guelzo.” I addressed… my squad commander.

“Ma’am.” He seemed to straighten a bit more than usual at the sound of his name.

I nodded. “Master Drallig is actually looking for you.”

“The Jedi Battlemaster?” He questioned.

I nodded. “Yes. He’s trying to organize a refresher course for blaster deflection for the Knights and senior Padawans. The squad would be ideal to help him in that. 5v1 will be good for them. Don’t hold back at all.” I demanded.

“We’ll be glad to, ma'am,” he answered. Then he realized what I said. “5v1?”

“Not everyone is going,” I said, before turning to Vicky. “Vicky.”

“Hmm?”

“The Greens have sent to the Temple the Mandalorians that fell in the battle… along with their armor.” I said. “Mostly for investigative purposes. Still… armor.”

She raised an eyebrow, not quite following my logic.

“Maybe we can go down there and get some,” I gestured towards the troopers. “For them. Or, hell,” I amended, gesturing towards her eye. “Even for us. We’re not invincible, either.”

The six troopers shifted in surprise and Vicky’s eyes widened.

“Huh, not a bad idea. That armor could resist damn near everything, and there’s more than a few pieces down there to make a couple of full suits.”

“Beskar?” I heard Cid whisper in awe towards Pratchett. “For us?”

“The dead Mandos aren’t using it, and what are the Death Watch gonna do? Sue us?” I shrugged, then looked at Vicky. “You’re the one the Greens love right now. If you ask, maybe getting some of it will go smoothly.”

She nodded, considering. “I can try, at least. Worst they can do is say no.”

“Orwell.” Guelzo nodded. “Go with her.”

The demolition expert nodded. “Aye, sir.”

I took a deep breath, standing up.”Alright, everyone, as fun as this has been, we're all busy today, so let's move.”

“Miss Vicky.” Iskt spoke. “Can… can I talk to you?” He asked suddenly.

Vicky was clearly surprised and turned to look at me. I offered her a nod, this was a conversation for her and her alone.

“Ummm… sure, kid.” She said with a smile, raising her hand and beckoning him closer. “Come on, let's walk and talk.”

I gathered up everyone’s plates and cups, starting to wash them. Vicky ushered everyone out the door, and snuck in one last kiss at the corner of my lips before she headed out, and we began our day.

…Somewhere, in the privacy of my mind… I realized I liked this morning.

I hoped there’d be more like it.

(X)(X)(X)

Vicky:

A few minutes and several hallways later:

“Huh?” The question spilled out of her unabated, her one good eye blinking in dumbstruck stupefaction, staring at the boy who’d soon be getting taller than her by the virtue of his species.

Iskt stared back at her. She’d call the look determined, if he didn’t seem about as nervous as she was dumbstruck.

She’d had a feeling that he’d wanted this conversation to be private, so she asked Karla to lead Guelzo and the other four brothers towards Master Drallig’s training halls.

She was glad she had. It wouldn’t do for her cool image to look like a slapped-silly fish. It might never recover.

Iskt gave her a bow, and didn't that make her feel all kinds of awkward and uncomfortable.

But before he could repeat himself, Orwell spoke up. “He asked you to take him on as a Padawan, ma’am.” He explained… helpfully.

“Why!?” She blurted out.

“Seems he wants to be a Jedi Knight one day, ma’am.” Orwell cut in again.

She tossed the drily sarcastic clone an annoyed look. She couldn’t read his expression beyond the visage of his helmet, but either there was a cheeky smirk there, or he and Militia’s husband, Aras, shared a very similar sense of humor.

He just shrugged.

Some of the other kids that had been on Corellia were being eyed for apprenticeship. Taylor knew Master Allie was eying both Zaisk and Zai, for instance, and even master Poof had started inquiring about Tenhu from Taylor directly.

Iskt winced, and Vicky realized just how that question must’ve sounded on the receiving end.

“I know I’m not your first choice, Miss Vicky, but-”

“No, no,” she hastily moved to correct him, groaning as she rubbed at her forehead. “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean why would I take you, kid, I mean why are you asking me.” She gestured to herself. “I figured if you’d ask anyone, it’d be Taylor.”

Then, a thought came to her and she got a mildly offended look. “Or did you already ask Tay and I'm the backup mom?”

She blanched.

The fuck did I just say!?

…

Somehow, she blamed Taylor for these motherly feelings and actions.

Taylor was a terrible influence!

Iskt gave her a strange look and Orwell turned his head ever so slightly to look at her. She could feel his eyes staring, and now he was definitely smirking under that helmet.

Thankfully, either Iskt didn’t get the significance of the slip or he wanted to spare her from the embarrassment by politely moving on.

“I haven’t asked Miss Taylor,” the Trandoshan boy said, his reptilian eyes seemingly shining in the dim light. “Miss Taylor can watch over us… Teach us. She can make it so that we never see the bad things. I don’t think I can do that. But you,” he met her eyes again. “I want to be like you. I want to protect people like you do. To be as strong as you are.”

“Kid,” she sighed. “That’s not how it-”

“Were you ever the eldest in your creche?” Iskt asked. “Did you ever feel responsible for them?”

Vicky had never been part of a creche, but her mind immediately turned towards its undeniable parallel.

Amy.

And maybe she had been in that situation before, felt that responsibility.

As… conflicted as she felt at the mention of Amy these days, she understood.

She sighed. “Kid. What happened wasn’t your fault, and if, god forbid, something would have happened to the others, that wouldn’t have been your fault either.”

He stared her dead in the eye as he responded. “That wouldn’t have helped save us.”

Vicky sucked down a breath, ready to answer when she stopped herself, sighing again as she rubbed at her forehead. “Let me think about it, ok?”

Trandoshans didn’t smile like humans, but she could tell her answer made his expression almost glow regardless.

(X)(X)(X)

Taylor:

“I understand the necessity-”

“But we’re still hesitating.” I shot back. I was calm. Honestly, more calm than I thought I would be.

Maybe because I wanted this decision to be the right one. Not just the one that I preferred.

After all, I’d been wrong before.

Master Tiin shot me an irritated glare at my quip. “As I was saying-” he pressed, “I understand the necessity, but recall that we’re moving actively onto a war footing, Councilors,” he said. “Soon, we will be moving onto active battlefields and war zones. Do we truly wish to claim Padawans now and drag them into such duties? Regardless of the… numerical constraints the Order is facing in regards to available Masters and Knights, we would simply be putting them in danger. Not senior Padawans, but those that are young, and need full tutelage and support to learn properly.”

“Then the solution is simple,” I said. “Remove the one Master per apprentice rule. Let other Knights and non-frontline Masters double up. We have hundreds of… well, orphaned Padawans, many senior Knights and Masters dead; even more of you are going off into war as Master Tiin pointed out. So get rid of the rule.”

“I notice that you preach for this but you yourself have yet to take on a Padawan yourself.” Master Rancisis pointed out. “Crechemaster I am willing to admit your idea holds merit but it feels rather bold faced to demand we eliminate a centuries old tradition when one can rightfully claim you have no leg to stand on while doing so.”

He was right.

There were many things I could have said; that I didn’t want to pick favorites, which was true. That the Council would have thrown a fucking fit, which was also true. That I hadn’t had the chance or’d been too busy.

All of these things were true.

Instead what I said was-

“Get rid of the limitation and I’ll take two.”

I will forever be grateful to my ability to keep a stone faced facade seeing as how I was mentally blanching.

The fuck did I just say?

…

Somehow, I blamed Vicky for my impetuousness.

Vicky was a terrible influence!

“This isn't a contest.” Master Plo chastised. “It's a discussion. And we must all strive to do what’s needed for our younglings and Padawans.” He paused “I move that we meditate on this matter. And return to it tomorrow with fresh minds.

“I agree.” Master Piell nodded. “I would now like to discuss something we should all be capable of agreeing on.” He said, his beady eye glaring around the room. “The fortification of the temple.”

Many of the masters shifted uncomfortably. But I was in agreement with the smaller Jedi Master.

“The Temple is a place of peace.” Adi Gallia protested.

“So was the Green temple on Corellia.” Piell shot back. “That didn’t help when an army was bearing down on them.”

“You believe the separatists will attack here? Master Poof asked. “Coruscant itself?”

“Why not?” I cut in. I wasn’t on the Council, I’d only come here to speak for the kids, but if they were gonna talk about this while I was in the room- why not give my opinion.

They all seemed to know booting me out the door wouldn’t really change a damn thing as far as how much I knew about the meeting.

Poof opened his mouth to answer when Ki-Adi-Mundi interjected. “Is because their subsequent escape was far less possible here than in Corellia. Far too many core defense fleets could have arrived and surrounded them; if that situation were to change for whatever reason, then yes- Coruscant is as exposed as Corellia if not more so given our lack of a personal defensive fleet. There is nothing that would theoretically stop them from marching on our temple as they did the Green Temple and Coronet city.”

“The infrastructure for such defenses is already in place.” Master Tinn groused, frowning in obvious consideration. “It would not take much to mount defensive platforms and more extensive fortifications-”

“Let's not discuss this as though the answer is a given if you please.” Master Koth’s voice was tense, even through holo I could see him gripping the armrests of his chair. “I concur with Master Gallia. The Temple is a place of peace. Not an armored fortress!”

“Better a fortress than a smoking ruin.” Piell bit out.

Some in the chamber looked like they were ready to start shouting in protest. But then  Master Yaddle’s voice echoed through the room, stopping them.

“Give in to fear we must not.” Yaddle said. “But remain willfully blind to truth, we must not do either.” She hummed. “Increase our defenses, we should. But not in our weapons.”

“What do you mean master Yaddle?” Billaba asked.

It seems Master Plo was quick on the uptake, either that or they’d discussed it already. “Primary and backup shield generators can be installed to withstand orbital bombardment. Exit tunnels can be constructed to escape. Halls redesigned and altered to provide a more defensible layout. Internal ray shields and defensive emplacements. Barricades, Blast doors.”

“Those would just delay.” I said. “ They won’t drive off.”

Master Yaddle was the one who answered me. “Lose ourselves, we must not. We will not.” She insisted. “Proof you are. That Jedi can survive an attack from without. Mind we must, that we do not fall to the enemy within ourselves.”

I liked Yaddle, I really did. She was a second teacher to me really. But in this moment it took genuine effort to not roll my eyes at the platitudes.

“I can live with this compromi-”

He stopped.

We all did.

A tremor in the force.

Seconds later I saw the Council thrones blaring off alerts, yellow holo signs blooming over their armrests as they opened the emergency calls.

A young Knight was on the other end of the holo, his markings indicating he was part of the Temple’s communication detail.

“Masters!” He called. We’ve received a transmission, emergency codes demanding access to the private hangar bays.”

“What codes!” Plo-Koon demanded, rising to his feet- a desperate, sudden burning hope swelling in his chest.

“Master Yoda and Master Windu’s!”

—

I could have sworn my own bugs had spread the word through the temple with how fast people found out. The Council had barely rushed out of their doors before the halls were filling with desperate knights and Masters, everyone moving to confirm that Master Yoda and Windu were indeed alive on the approaching ship.

I kept a hold of my composure, But that was mostly because I didn’t need to be anywhere near the hangar to confirm anything- even so, I followed Master Plo closely and made it there with the rest of the council members.

Vicky herself just flew over everyone’s heads.

The ship wasn’t the Vista.

It was also… well… a pile of junk.

A blocky, rectangular *box* that seemed to be more rust than metal.

But it flew.

And it parked itself on the Jedi’s hangar bay floor like a ten pound brick.

For all the Jedi professed non attachment the Hangar and the hallways beyond it were choking with Jedi bodies, all trying to catch a glimpse of the venerable master.

So it was no surprise that when the ramp bay doors hissed, cracking open and beginning to descend, I could feel a ripple of emotion through the force. Nervousness, dread, hope, fear.

They weren’t calm… and I couldn’t fault them for it.

Strangely… it was like mom. The car accident.

If there was any doubt that she was alive and might have come back… I’d have been waiting with baited breath too.

The ramp finally touched down, the door at the top of it sliding open.

A little green man waddled out.

It was no exaggeration to say the room burst.

It was an outpouring of emotion, I saw several of the younger Padawans fall to their knees in tears, some of the knights and Masters holding onto their composure but even they breathed with obvious relief and swallowed down through tight throats. Vicky sobbed where she hovered above, joy and relief emanating outward from her in waves.

Master Windu followed after him. I was glad they were alive, but I sent my insects forward as subtly as I could to search behind them.

Then I breathed easier.

Dennis moved out after them and Rugess behind him.

They were ok. They were all ok.

When my own eyes looked at them more closely, my relief was tempered by coiling concern around my chest.

They each looked worn, tired. But Dennis had the worst of it. Sunken cheeks and hollowed eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept or eaten properly in days.

What the hell had happened?

A fifth person stepped out, descending the ramp, following nervously behind Yoda, Windu, Dennis and Rugess, looking very much like they wanted to simply turn and run away.

“Master Yoda. Master Windu.” Plo-Koon  bowed deeply. “We are grateful beyond words that you have returned.

It was Windu that nodded. “We’re pleased to return… but it was a close thing.”

Master-Plo stiffened. “The Sith?” He asked.

Yoda nodded. “More dangerous than we ever dared to believe he is. Our survival… unlikely it was. Owe much to our rescuer, we do.” He gestured to the woman descending the ramp behind them, still looking like a cat with its hackles raised, ready to run away at the drop of a hat.

“What is your name my lady?” Master Mundi asked. “We are most grateful indeed to you.”

The woman grimaced.

“Ventress.” She answered. “Asajj Ventress.”

(X)(X)(X)For those of you who know. You know.

*IT'S HAPPENING* :D

There's one chapter left for this arc friends. We will find out what exactly happened to Denis, Yoda and Co, along with a look at long last towards our Villains and the last few bits to be wrapped up before -"Begun, the Clone Wars, Have" I'm not sure if I can deliver it by christmas but we'll see if its possible to give everyone a merry christmas :)