The smart thing is to use /chrono at the end of the link of the tag, as it lines every post of that tag chronological, so for Dangerous Galaxy, it be this
Watching Cara step down the ramp to meet with Greef, Din blearily tilted his head to look around, taking in how little had changed since the last time he was there.
Sand and sun with the mid-morning heat making everyone lazy, that was all there was with a scattering of people that weren’t taking naps to avoid the worst of the sun.
He only half noticed Greef jerking to in surprise, could feel the beta’s eyes on him. Greef had after all known what Din was from the get go, he had been there when Din returned from a hunt, fresh from his presentation.
He had also been the one to give Din not only scent blockers but also suppressors.
Just long enough to keep Din stable, so he could get his own supply, gruffly stating that Din was one of his best hunters and he’d rather not have anything happen to him.
Concern hidden by his desire for value, not that Din back then had been able to see it, he had been too worried about Greef using the information somehow.
Now he knew that Greef Karga was a friend and in that moment, he had a need for friends.
His eyes landed on the statue of the IG-11, his heart jumping a bit.
Kuiil and it had been the first ones to sacrifice themselves for Grogu, the first ones who had died for him to protect him as far as Din knew.
But knowing how old Grogu was, there was a large chance that they had not been the first.
They were the first since Grogu became his ward.
The ward he had to give away, the foundling that had become…
His scent must have twisted, because suddenly Boba was there, pressing their arms together as he rumbled to him.
His maybe packmate.
Boba and Shand were going to Tatooine, they had only stopped in Nevarro to drop Cara off and resupply since this was a safer place than most to them.
Mostly thanks to Cara.
There wasn’t really much for him anymore, his covert was gone, his pack was scattered if they had survived, his ship was destroyed and even his kit was now in the hands of another because Din could not protect him from the remains of the Empire.
Going with Boba, leaving behind the memories of what was here on Nevarro despite knowing he had a place in Greef bounty hunter guild… well, it sounded like the better option.
Boba was angling to overthrow what was left of the hutt cartel on Tatooine, not that the hutts were that strong thanks to the Empire.
They hadn’t let the hutts keep a strong threshold on the galaxy.
Looking at it, it was almost like the Empire had been trying to wipe out most of the other species of the galaxy unless they had some kind of use, making humanity its core. Getting rid of those that were combative, like the mandalorians and lasats and then moving on to those it thought of as scum with no worth.
‘Not that I’ve ever meet a decent hutt in my life.’ Din mused tiredly, wondering if there were decent hutts in the galaxy.
Tatooine, with the tuskens, sounded like a far better option. Maybe he could visit White Bantha, the clan he had lived with for a while, Boba respected the tuskens as much as Din did and wouldn’t mind if Din wander- “Djarin!”
A loud, familiar voice called out, almost echoing between the buildings and Din’s heart leapt to his throat from the sheer shock of hearing it.
He looked around almost spastically, eyes wide behind his visor before his eyes landed on the all too recognizable blue armor.
Paz.
It was Paz, stepping out from between two white buildings, his gait rushed and his helmet locked on Din with such focus he could almost feel the intensity of the gaze behind the visor.
Alive, Paz was alive.
A sob unwittingly escaped Din at the sight, the sound garbled to static by the vocoder of his helmet as he stepped forward on shaking legs, feeling like a newborn colt.
Unnoticed by him, Boba, Shand, Cara and Greef had leveled their weapons at Paz, only to pause when Din called back. “Vizla!” Din called out, crashing into Paz large chest, feeling those thick arms coming up around him in a familiar embrace. “Paz, Paz he’s gone. He’s gone. I gave him away. Paz.” He sobbed out, his knees giving out from under him as he clung to the others cuirass.
Paz rumbled loudly, shifting his arms around Din to support him. “Din. Din you need to calm down. Udesii, udesii beroya.” The blue armored man finally just outright lifted him.
Another time, Din would have marveled at the display of strength, another time he would have flushed and maybe squirmed.
He wasn’t a light man after all, especially not in his armor.
But that was not now as he lifted his legs to wrap around the alpha’s waist, right now he was baring his soul to his alor and maybe someone who was more. Right now he needed Paz to be both comfort and judgment, even if the latter didn’t seem to be inclined to judge anything and Din didn’t seem to be able to explain himself well.
“My kit is gone.” Din admitted weakly what he hadn’t wanted to admit before.
That Grogu had become not only his foundling but his kit, his child in all but blood.
Blood of the covenant is stronger than water of the womb.
It was something he had heard his buir say once, holding Din tightly to his chest with his chin resting on Din’s curly head and now he understood what it had meant.
Paz stiffened, his arms going almost painfully tight around Din before he crooned, deep in his chest and so loudly it rattled Din’s helmet.
But it felt good to hear and Din pressed his audial to the others cuirass, breaking down into wordless but loud crying.
The kind of crying he had not allowed himself in Boba’s den but right now, in Paz arms…
He would let himself cry over Grogu, cry over the unfairness of the galaxy, cry over his own inability to keep his pup safe.
Cry for the covert.
And maybe, somewhere in those tears, he was crying for himself and everything he had lost as Paz held him together.
The room was quiet except for the flickering of the comm unit, every trooper unnaturally focused on the vod in the holo.
Cody had finally called Kamino, getting in contact with Alpha. “Look,” Alpha stared down at his hands, not looking at Cody or any of the other clones as he finally spoke. “You all know that Skywalker and I didn’t have the… best of relationship while we worked together.” He grumbled at a few snorts that echoed through the meeting room.
That was putting it mildly and everyone knew it.
There was a reason why Alpha had not gone with Anakin and Rex had become his second after all. As far as the other troopers were aware, Alpha only respected two Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Shaak Ti, the only two he had personally interacted with and gained respect with by being at their side.
After escorting Obi-Wan to the temple, leaving him in a shakily smiling Anakin’s care, Cody had returned, calling together the GAR clone command to forward their plans, bringing up his suggestions on how to take out a few of them and asking Fox for suggestion on how to take out the Chancellor as their seconds took charge in the meantime.
Cody could trust Waxer to keep order while he was busy airing his ideas on how to murder the Chancellor.
Depending on when they took him out, they’d have to either make it look natural or make painful, as many wanted to after hearing how Obi-Wan and Anakin had put their trust in the man, only to be gutted.
Cody had also taken the chance to call Kamino, getting in touch with Alpha, since he had put their plans in danger by shooting Burtoni.
He wanted answers, answers he knew he wouldn’t like but he still needed them, so he knew how to proceed.
Alpha ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking exhausted in the blue light of the holo. “…Did you all know he turned twenty that first year?” He rasped out, a few troopers stilling. “That was his first year as a twenty year old Jedi, first year he was unable to say no.” He stated quietly, as if pained by the information.
Rex let out a rush of air as several vode looked at each other with surprise.
Quite a few of them remembered how reckless and angry Anakin Skywalker the padawan had been.
There were still signs of that recklessness and anger of course but it wasn’t as obvious.
But…
It suddenly made sense.
“…During the Seperatist invasion of Kamino, the first one that is,” Alpha stated, voice slow and steady. “There were three Jedi on Kamino. Shaak Ti, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.” His voice tapered of a bit, dropping his head to stare at his hands.
In the holo, they could see him picking at the armoring on top of his hand, rubbing at the blue paint on the top. “…They stayed a while.” Rex stated in remembrance, swallowing thickly when Alpha nodded, eyes still trained on his own hands.
“Burtoni was here too, due to the invasion, she hadn’t been able to leave, I don’t remember why she was here though. All three Jedi were dodging the longnecks too, I remember them seemingly disappearing sometimes after the attack, as if they didn’t want to be found.” Alpha murmured with bitter regret in his voice.
A few winced.
No, considering the unhealthy interest the kamioan had in them, no wonder they tried to disappear when the Senator was also there.
No one said a word though, waiting on Alpha to find the words he needed to explain. “Didn’t think much of it at the time if I’m honest… and then Burtoni came looking for them, Lama Su and Ko Sai at her heels.” He gritted his teeth, the sound loud enough to be caught in the holocall, grinding slowly and painfully.
No one wanted to ask what had happened.
They could guess, based on conjecture.
The kaminoans had always been disturbingly interested in Jedi and Force sensitive, they knew that. Hell, there had even been a period where the scientists had tried to replicate Force sensitivity in some of the clones.
None of those batches had come out well.
Of course, they were unaware that there were already Force sensitive clones, it happened among them but hidden from the eyes of the demagolka as the interest was disturbing and the young clones had caught on fast that they did not want that attention.
“She took them away.” Rex stated with certainty and Alpha nodded slowly, finally looking up, his gaze both guilty and angry. It was the helpless sort of rage that every Jedi serving trooper had felt when the truth came out.
“She did and I didn’t see them for four days, not until it was time for them to leave. Skywalker wasn’t moving right at the time, he was so pale and angry. But more than that, he almost looked… scared,” Alpha stated quietly, as if all of Anakin’s behavior in the early war made so much more sense. “Kenobi was almost normal by comparison but… he kept favoring his left side and I don’t know if I’m remembering it wrong but I could have sworn his hair was shorter and he too was so pale his freckles stuck out.” He murmured, as if saying it too loudly was too much for him.
Cody wanted to drop his head in his hands.
Or slam it on the table.
Considering what they knew, he could make a few adequate guesses.
Burtoni had come looking for the Jedi with a scientist and the minister, both Jedi were over twenty years of age and therefore unable to reject any request from a senator that wouldn’t leave permanent marks.
The next time Alpha saw either Jedi, they were hurt, pale and upset.
The longnecks had taken samples, most likely a lot of blood and done test on the Jedi, most likely in a twisted attempt to try and clone them or recreate Force sensitivity in clones.
Maybe other things too depending on what they had done and Cody knew he would have slicers get into the data banks of Kamino to find out.
It was one thing when it was Jango Fett, he had willingly donated his samples to be clone, was paid for it.
Hell, even the clones had some agency over the donation of ther sample, minor but some.
The Jedi however couldn’t say no.
How many other Jedi had Burtoni ordered around when she was back on Kamino?
Shaak Ti was there, stationed permanently.
How many experiments had the regal looking togruta been exposed to, how much blood had been taken from her?
What of those Jedi that came to supervise or refuel?
How many had Burtoni harmed?
“…Continue with the cloaking devise to make it seem like Burtoni is alive, I know its awful, but vote like she would have,” He murmured into his hands, feeling more than seeing Alpha tense up. “We’re moving the plans forward, operation Smoked vermin will be done by the end of the month. Just keep the illusion going for a month.” Cody sighed tiredly.
“…As you say Vod’alor.” Alpha murmured quietly, the tapping of a fist against a chestplate filling the air as Cody sought refuge in the darkness of his own hands.
It’s part of the Lucasfilm canon, yes! It’s from the Scum and Villainy in-universe book (as in, it’s written from the perspective of the Divo family, that cop Tan Divo we saw in The Clone Wars) book, where Mace argued for leniency with Boba and the Judiciary branch was like “lol fuck no”:
[Star Wars: Scum and Villainy: Case Files on the Galaxy’s Most Notorious]
ANYWAY MACE WINDU DID NOT SEND BOBA TO ADULT JAIL, HE ARGUED FOR LENIENCY AND REHABILITATION INSTEAD, WE STAN MACE WINDU ON THIS BLOG
I’m worried about the next electricity bill bound to come in the next couple of weeks 😃 folks are getting charged like $9000 per megawatt. Fuck the Texas officials who got us into this mess
Some folks are getting $25,000-$100,000 bills just from having electricity some of the time this past week holy shit
This includes electric companies, water and gas companies, hotels/inns you had to stay at due to the weather and groceries selling necessities!!
And while we’re here, if youd like to see direct action for holding Ted Cruz responsible for his failure to serve his state, you can do it with a simple text!
TEXT: PJENDN to 50409 to send a prewritten letter to your representatives!
SWpromptsandask 