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This honestly makes me sad. 😞

The sequels aren't exactly my cup of tea, but I'm not going to put someone down because they like something different than I do.

In the end, whether you're a fan of the originals, the prequels, the sequels, the animated shows, the comics, the books, legends, canon...

We are all in this fandom because it's STAR WARS.

It has inspired us and struck a chord in our hearts and pulled us into this amazing world of spaceships and lightsabers, jedi and sith, rebels and empires, rouges and outlaws, strange creatures and fantastic aliens.

Please know that there are people in this fandom that aren't toxic.

Even though I'm not much for the sequels, I'm actually writing an alternate ending for "The Rise of Skywalker" because a friend talked about how she wished it ended differently, and it inspired me to write a different ending for her.

So, from one Star Wars fan to another, stay strong out there! There are nice people in this fandom.

Have an awesome day, and may the force be with you!

Sincerely,

Nocturnal-Nexu 🌌🐱

Tested

Summary: Hunter and Rex go on a mission for intel and come across some unlikely acquaintances.

Word Count: 4349

“Are you sure you’re doing that right?” Rex asked,

“You know this is kind of my thing, right?” Hunter said exasperatedly. He was crouched, close to the ground, rolling dirt over his fingers. His helmet, or the replacement helmet he had been given by Echo, sat next to him on the ground. An unfamiliar face staring up at him.

Hunter understood where Rex was coming from. They had been at this for more rotations than he could count. He couldn’t even remember the name of the small, jungle like moon they found themselves on, but they seemed to be going in circles, and it wasn’t because of Hunter’s tracking skills. The muscles in his calves were screaming. Sweat dripped down his back and bandana was soaked through.

“Did you ever think that maybe this Jedi doesn’t want to be found and that’s why we’re having such a hard time.”

“I did.” He said smugly, clapping Hunter on the shoulder, “that’s why I brought the best,”

Hunter signed and got closer to the ground. They were close, he could sense it.

Suddenly he stood up, “Rex, move!” he shouted, shoving the captain out of the way just as the glowing blade of an emerald lightsaber fell to the ground where he had been moments before.

Hunter fell back onto the attack stance, blaster pulled and aiming in front of him. The stranger wore a black cloak, only his chin visible underneath.

“Well, well, well,” he said in a relaxed kind of way, “Captain Rex. I heard you were dead”

“Likewise, Master Vos,” Rex said cooly.

Both men relaxed their stance. Quinlan Vos lowered his hood, a cocky smile on his lips. His black hair hung past his shoulders, the yellow markings on his face seemed to glow in the green light of the lightsaber.

The hum on Vos’ laser sword still hung in the air. Hunter hadn’t lowered his weapon but had loosened his grip. He knew of Vos by reputation. But these were difficult times and given his last experience with a force user, he had no intention of letting his guard down.

“And who’s this?” Vos nodded at Hunter, “your tracker, I’m assuming?”

“That’s right, this is Hunter,”

Vos shut off his lightsaber with a snap hiss and stepped forward. He reached his hand out to shake Hunter’s, “not many people can track me. I’m impressed.” Hunter nodded but didn’t respond to the outstretched hand. He still wasn’t sure if they were safe yet or not.

“I don’t need to worry about you both trying to blast me, do I?” Vos asked with an amused expression, as if he’d like to see them try.

“We’re not working for the Empire.” Rex said simply, and that seemed to assuage any fears in Vos.

“So, what can I do for you, Captain” he asked, hooking his lightsaber to his belt and turning his back on them, walking through the thicket of trees, bushes and twigs crunching with every step.  

Rex looked at Hunter, shrugged and followed.

“We rescued a number of force sensitive children from the Empire. Are working to find their families, have found some but we think they’re being watched. We can’t return the kids to have them taken again. A friend suggested we try and find you. That you had a network that might be able to help.”

“A friend?” Vos asked, eyebrow raised.

“Fulcrum,” Rex responded quietly.

Hunter was only half listening to the conversation. There was something lingering at the edge of his senses that he couldn’t place. He could hear something in the tops of the trees. It was moving methodically, not like an animal. His eyes searched the dense canopy. The rustling was following them.

“We’ve got company” Hunter said quietly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Vos said with a shrug.

Hunter looked at Rex who just nodded and continued to follow the Jedi deeper into the forest. Hunter rested his hand on his blaster, held his virboknife and continued to trek.

It was some time before they reached a small cave like structure in a small clearing. A circular opening looked like it had been cut directly into the rock, Hunter assumed with the lightsaber hanging from Vos’ waist. He hated to think how long that had taken.

Rex settled on a large tree stump that lay horizontally on the ground. He sighed as he took off his helmet, wiping the sweat from his face. Hunter wasn’t ready to sit. He was still unsettled. Whatever was following them was still lingering at the edge of his senses. It was oddly familiar.  

Vos disappeared into the cave and came back without his cape and carrying a tray with a grey liquid in a bottle. “Figured we could all use a drink” he said.

There were four cups. Hunter raised his eyebrow at Rex. He had taken the cup he was handed but Hunter noticed he hadn’t taken a sip yet. The captain knew something was off too.

Hunter slowly turned around on the spot, looking out into the deep forest, through the trees. A gentle scent wafted over the clearing, flowers, ash and…death?

Hunter spun around; blaster raised to the tree line. He knew that scent.

“Have you come for round two?” a tall and slim figure emerged, the grey markings tracing down the side of her mouth, giving her a permanent scowl. He hair was longer now, chin length and cut in a slant as sharp as the side of a blade.

“Ventress?” Rex said, blaster up, eyes darting from Hunter and Vos.

“How’s Omega?,” Ventress asked, casually walking through the clearing and taking the seat next to Vos. Any closer and she would have been sitting on his lap.

Hunter didn’t answer, lower his weapon, or blink. He had turned on his heel to follow her as she walked.

“Another one of your acquaintances, my dear?” Vos asked her sweetly, pouring her a cup of the cloudy liquid. “Is there anyone you don’t know?”

“What can I say, I get around,” she replied with a smirk. She crossed her left leg over her right and knocked back the drink in one go.

Hunter was still scowling and wondering what Rex had gotten him into. He didn’t know Rex’s contact and who had put him on the path to Vos and Ventress, but he couldn’t help but wish he were back on Pabu with his squad. He, Crosshair, and Wrecker had been no match for Ventress the last time. He and Rex wouldn’t stand a chance against both her and Vos.

“Easy fellas,” Vos said, standing with his hands up as though approaching a wild animal. “She is no longer a Sith.”

“Something I believe I shared with you on your island,” Ventress added to Hunter.

“We didn’t get a great impression of which side you were on,”

“You’re still beathing, aren’t you?” Ventress replied, tucking her silver hair behind her ear.

Hunter hesitated but lowered his blaster. He watched out of the corner of his eye and Rex followed suit. They weren’t going to get anywhere with open hostility. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner the kids could get back to their families, and the sooner he could get back to his.

Rex cleared his throat, seemingly trying to get things back on track. “We’re looking for help relocating…”

“Force sensitive children. Yes, I heard” Ventress said. She looked at Hunter with a smile on her lips, “are you collecting them?”

Hunter scowled but didn’t respond. She was trying to get under his skin. It was working.

“Have the children been tested? Have their abilities been confirmed?”

“They were being kept at a secret facility run by an Imperial scientist working directly for the emperor. They wouldn’t have kept them if they weren’t” Hunter replied, bristling a little. He didn’t want the kids to have to go through anything else, especially Ventress’ ‘tests’.

“A secret facility?” Ventress looked at Vos who simply nodded. He seemed more than happy for her to take the lead. “And how did you hear about it?”

Hunter didn’t respond, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Ah… Omega. She was taken I’m assuming?”

Hunter felt a tightness in his check and a catch in his throat but kept his face blank. He didn’t want to think about the time she was taken from him. The many times she was taken. He fought the immediate need to check in with his squad on Pabu, making sure she was still there.

She was safe, she was fine. He repeated it again and again in his head until it took hold.

“So, what happened to the facility” Vos interjected

Hunter shrugged, “partially destroyed,”

“And the scientist?” Ventress asked.

A cloud fell over Hunter’s eyes. “He died.” He said calmly.

***

Hunter sat by the fire. Watching the embers spark and float into the deep forest night. He and Rex hadn’t had time to return to their base before nightfall. The woods weren’t safe to navigate in the dark, although Hunter had been prepared to take the risk.

Vos and Ventress did plan to help them. Rex’s contact had been right about that. Their small network was growing exponentially but it would still take time to locate a safe space for Jax and Sammi.  The kids had been in contact with their families, something Hunter was pleased about, but it hadn’t been safe enough to reunite them yet. He knew how painful that must be for their parents. They were willing to help Rex and Echo locate the families of Eva and Behrn, if possible.

Hunter heard the crack of a tree branch behind him, but didn’t stir. Rex sat down on the log opposite him and smiled.

“Need an extra set of eyes out here?” he asked

“Hm, not really,” Hunter replied, his eyes not leaving the fire, “but you’re welcome to stay.”

“I appreciate you doing this, Hunter. I know this is not where you want to be,”

“Happy to help, Rex. You know that.”

“I do,” Rex said, scratching at the stubble on his chin, “I hate to think the chaos your squad is getting into,” Rex chuckled.

Hunter smiled. He had been trying not to think about it. “I’m sure Crosshair’s keeping them in line,” he said. Rex, raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe not Cross. Omega then. If she’s following the rules herself that is.”

He knew she wouldn’t be. That kid had never heard an order and followed it.  He smiled at the thought of Omega’s big brown eyes and floppy blonde hair.

“This work you and Echo are doing. When’s it going to be enough, Rex? You can’t do this forever. There’s only so much time before your luck will run out. Trust me,”

“We’re in it for the long run,” Rex said with a confident smile and Hunter couldn’t help but think back to their first missions together, his unwavering belief and trust that he was on the right track. He admired his friend but feared for him too. If Rex was an optimist, then Hunter was a realist. This was a fight that was not easily won.

For so much of their lives, their decisions, had been made for them. Hunter didn’t know how any clone could want anything other than peace after the madness and misery of war.  

“You think we can trust them?” Hunter asked, nodding to the cave where Ventress and Vos had retreated to.

Rex looked pensive for a moment, like a memory flashed behind his eyes. “Not all Jedi are trustworthy, I’ll give you that. I trust Vos, I have no evidence not to but… Ventress…she’s something different. From the story of your encounter with her and some other things I’ve heard, I like to believe she’s changed…”

“We can’t trust these kids to just anyone.” Hunter said, adamantly. “We can’t let the empire get hold of them again. Who knows what they’d do to them this time.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Rex said firmly. “How are they doing on the Island, anyway?”

Hunter smiled, a wide, serene smile that he didn’t think he was capable of anywhere but Pabu. “Good. Adapting. Omega meditates with them most days. The oldest go to school. They’re being looked after by two neighboring families so we can keep an eye on them. Baryn is walking now although things tend to start flying when he loses his temper. There’s the occasional Jedi stuff with the others too but we have been able to keep it quiet. Contained.”

Rex smiled. “Fatherhood suits you,”

Hunter felt his cheeks get hot and brushed the comment off, “Well, someone’s got to look after them.”

“You did that for Omega too, you know. Do you ever think where she’d be if you hadn’t taken her with you?”

Hunter shook his head, but he had thought about it. She wouldn’t have been chased by bounty hunters, shot at, kidnapped and otherwise threatened. But she could have died on Kamino, or been sent to Tantis earlier.  It didn’t really matter, Hunter thought. She was meant to come with them. She was their family before they even knew it. She chose him before he had an opportunity to choose her. It was a choice he would make every single time.

“Why don’t you get some rest, Rex.” He said finally. “I’ll keep watch. We’ll switch in a few.”

Rex nodded and stepped closer to the treeline, put on his helmet and sat against a tree.

The creatures of this moon were making a strange trilling noise in the trees. The air smelled like wet dirt. The scent had been stuck in his nose for days. He longed for the sweet, salty air of Pabu and the dry heat instead of this wet, cloying environment.

Hunter pulled out his knife and started twirling it between his fingers. There was a time, as a cadet that his fingers would be covered in bandages, as he tried tricks with the blade. These days it was an extension of his hand. It was intuitive, a mindless activity.

It wasn’t long before Hunter sensed her behind him. Her footsteps wouldn’t have been detectable to anyone else, that’s the nature of the Jedi or Sith or whatever she was these days. But Hunter knew, he heard as soon as she stood up in the cave.

She stepped lightly over the log and sat down next to him, a little too close for comfort. Once again, she was trying to make him uncomfortable, and once again he hated that she was succeeding. Her angular face turned towards him. “How is Omega?”, she asked, her drawling voice quieter than usual.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, “curiosity got the best of you?” he asked, turning towards her and managing to put a little space between them at the same time.

“I suppose you could call it that,” she replied, running her long fingers through her chin length hair.

“Well, she hasn’t made anything levitate or explode like some of the other force sensitives I’ve met. Does than satisfy you?”

Ventress looked into the fire, deep in thought. Hunter frowned, watching as the orange flames danced in front of her face, making her eyes look like they were glowing.

“She is…unusual…”

“She’s unique,” Hunter corrected.

Ventress turned to him, eyes narrowed her eyes. “She’s not force sensitive. Why was the empire after her?”

“Why do you care?”

“Call it professional curiosity,” she said sarcastically.

“I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to. I don’t know.” Hunter said, lying. He knew Jedi should be able to sense when they were being deceived, he’d seen it in action during the war, but Ventress didn’t press, and he was thankful for it.

They sat in silence for a while. Listening to the strange calls of the creatures in the trees. Hearing the rustling of larger animals in the woods.

Ventress seemed to be comfortable with the silence, but Hunter found it intrusive, much like her presence. He didn’t know why she was here or what she wanted.

“You smell like death,” he said, into the night.

“I bet you’re really popular with the ladies,” she retorted.

Hunter rolled his eyes. It had been bothering him since she had appeared. He had been too fraught when they last met to notice but it was so obvious now.  There was something in the back of his senses, he couldn’t describe it, or see it, but it was there.

“Is it true you can see things through the force?”

Her eyes narrowed, “yes,”

“Like people?”

“All living things are connected through the force. But yes, I can see them, in my mind’s eye”

“Even dead people?” Hunter asked slowly, looking down at the knife he had been casually twirling his hands as he did so.

Ventress sat up straighter and shifted in her seat. This clearly wasn’t where she thought the conversation was going to go when she came out here.

“Yes… occasionally force sensitives can see, hear and even talk to the dead.” She paused; lips pursed as though holding in a question that didn’t want to be contained. “Why are you asking these things?”

Hunter ran his hand through his hair, “it doesn’t matter,” he said, suddenly feeling foolish. He wasn’t ready to talk about this. Why would he bring it up with this woman of all people? He hadn’t even brought this up to his family. Was that why he had been so interested in leaving Pabu? Was the stress of keeping this secret from them easier at a distance?

Ventress was staring at him intently, unwilling to let her question go. “Should I have tested you instead of Omega?”

Hunter scoffed, “I’m no Jedi,” he said, amusement in his voice.

Ventress narrowed her eyes at him again. “Stand up,” she barked, snatching the blade out of his hands. “Over there,” she gestured a few meters away. Normally, a former Sith assassin stealing his knife would set off alarm bells, but Hunter didn’t feel threatened. Without thinking he followed her directions.

“Close your eyes,” she said in the same tone, “I’m going to throw your knife. Try and catch it”

“I am not force sensitive,” he said exacerbated, “The Kaminoan’s enhanced my senses.”

“And what do you think force sensitivity is?” she asked, dryly. “Now close your eyes,”

Hunter huffed. He thought of the look on Crosshair’s face when he told him he willingly let Ventress throw a knife at him, smiled to himself and closed his eyes.

He felt his senses start to tingle, as though they were reaching out to try and find the knife. He heard Ventress pull the blade back to her ear.  As she released the knife it made a schwing sound though the air. He heard it as if came closer, second by second until his hand shot out, involuntarily, and the hilt fell into his palm.

Ventress crossed her arms looking smug, but Hunter just shook his head.

“I’ve been catching knives and everything else by brothers could throw at me since I was a cadet. This doesn’t mean anything,”

“It means I should test you further”

“Ventress,” it was the first time he had used her name, in the same tone he would use Crosshair’s or Phee’s, and it took him aback. He cleared his throat and started again, “I was just asking because…”

“You can sense dead people.”

“Just the one, my brother. But yes,”

“Well, technically two. You sensed me as well, remember? There were three people in this galaxy who knew I died. There is no way you would have known, unless you sensed it. You have no way of knowing how the Kaminoans enhanced your particular skills. They had access to Jedi. Perhaps you were supposed to be force sensitive.”

“But I’m not.”

“That remains to be seen. I can’t sense your brother in the force right now. Perhaps he’s not around but I can sense you. You look different in the force than your friend,” she nodded to Rex, sleeping slumped against a tree. How he was sleeping through this conversation Hunter didn’t know. “All clones are unique in the force, but even Omega didn’t look like this. Perhaps you find these force sensitive children, protect them, because you can sense them through the force.”

“Does it matter? It just matters that they’re safe,” He replied. He had thousands of thoughts jumping through his mind. He was suddenly overwhelmingly tired. He wished Rex would wake up and Ventress would leave.

Ventress shrugged, “it doesn’t matter to me, beyond mild curiosity. But the force works in mysterious ways, and it sent you here for a reason, perhaps it was to discover this information.”

Her words hung in the air. Hunter didn’t know how to respond. Had no way to respond. He was different by design; they all were, but could it be possible? Did he want it to be possible? He needed to talk to Tech, ask him what he thought. But that was easier said than done. The silence hung there.

He hastily changed the subject. “This path you’ve created. How safe is it?”

“As safe as anything now days.” She replied cooly. She paused and looked intently at his face, as though trying to read his mind.

“So, not safe at all,” he said, more to himself than her.

“Your children will be protected by Quinlan and myself. It doesn’t get much safer than that,”

“They’re not my children,” he insisted. Although they might as well be.

“You could help, you know. Your skills would be useful.  I could continue to test you. Perhaps between the Quinlan and I, we could give you some answers.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow. “I’m retired,”

“And I’m dead, yet here we are. Think of all those children and survivors who need help, just like Omega. You could do a lot of good.”

“I’ve got my own family to look after.”

“Then why are you here?” she asked pointedly.

Hunter paused. The light of fire was dimming now, the embers fading from bright red and orange to cool yellow amid the tangle of twigs and leaves. He had thought of little else but returning to Pabu during his time with Rex, usually in the quiet moments. But when on the island he struggled to find purpose. When you have been going night and day since you were born, slowing down was a strange sensation. But the longer he was away, the more he thought it was something he could learn to be satisfied with.

“Hmm.” Ventress cooed “well, if Island life ever gets too dull, I’m sure you can track us down,”

She stood up and sauntered back to the cave. Hunter sat bemused for a moment, staring out into the darkness of the forest. He really needed to get back home.

***

Hunter was at the ramp before the ship had even landed. The heat of Pabu hit him as soon as the ramp started to lower. The sweet, ubiquitous scent of blossom from the weeping maya tree, cooking smells from the market and salty air of the surrounding sea signaled that he was finally home.

Omega ran at him as soon as he hit the stone top of Pabu. He kneeled to hug her and then stood so her short legs dangled. She giggled and hugged his neck tighter, burying her cheek into chest. She had grown since he had left. Her hair was longer down her back, her bangs stretched to fit tightly into the braid.

“Huntah, we missed you,” she said with a beaming smile.

His brothers, Crosshair and Wrecker both came forward. Wrecker giving him his usual, spine crushing hug and Crosshair, a slap on the shoulder.

“Managed to stay alive then?” Crosshair said with a smirk.

“Yeah, despite Ventress’ best efforts,” Omega, Crosshair and Wrecker exchanged confused looked and exploded with questions at once.

“We can talk about it when we get home,” Hunter said with a smile.

They walked back to their little house. After some time in the refresher, Hunter, clean for what felt like the first time since he left, joined his family at the table on the patio.

Wrecker had created a feast. The table heaved under plates of fish, cooked meat from the market, fruits and vegetables and a sweet dessert that Omega had decorated with flowers.

“So, was the mission a success?” Wrecker asked as Hunter took the seat opposite.

“Yeah, you could say that. We found the target. Two for the price of one it turns out. They’re going to help the kids find their families find a safe place…”

“And where does Ventress fit in,” Crosshair asked cooly “I knew I should have gone with you,”

“She and Vos are an item. They may have been together before we met her last,”

“And why are you alive despite her best efforts?” Crosshair continued.

Hunter knew his brother wouldn’t let that comment go. He paused and took a sip of his wine. The liquid was sweet with a bitter, rich aftertaste. “ I let her throw my knife at me while my eyes were closed,”

“YOU DID WHAT?” Crosshair, Wrecker and Omega all shouted in unison. Batcher started underneath the table at the noise, shook head so her collar tinkled and laid back down on the warm stone patio.

Hunter chuckled and gazed out over Pabu’s harbor. He felt a familiar prickling at the edge of his senses and closed his eyes to see Tech in his mind’s eye.

He smiled at his fallen brother.  He supposed now as was good a time as any. He nodded to the empty chair they always kept for him at the family table, and sensed Tech slide into it. There was a slight scraping noise on the stone, but he was the only one to notice. Omega, Crosshair and Wrecker looked at him quizzically.

Hunter sighed, put down his glass and faced his family. “I have a lot to tell you.”

Goodbye

Summary: Hunter has recently learned that he can sense Tech’s ghost and has shared that information with his family. Omega comes to terms with Tech’s death with the help of her brother.

Notes: This story follows canon and deals with Tech’s death. If you’re not comfortable reading about that I would give this story a miss. This also follows along with some of the other stories I’ve written. You can read them here: Hope; Sunrise; Sunset and Tested

Word Count: 1431

****************************************************

Omega sat on her bed, holding her fallen brother’s goggles. She hadn’t done this in a while. She had been content to let them sit on her nightstand, silently watching over her. A thick layer of dust had collected on the edges of the broken glass. The light, formally glowing red, was now dark.

If she squinted, they would sometimes look whole, and she should imagine the chocolate-colored eyes behind them looking back at her. But not today.

Hunter had told them about his mission with Rex and newest encounter with Ventress. And that he had sensed Tech or Tech’s ghost or whatever it was.

Initially she had been thrilled. It was like getting him back again. Hunter had even pointed out that he was at the table, sitting with them, laughing with them. But in the dark, in the quiet, Omega realized that he wasn’t back. He wasn’t here. Not in the way she wanted.

There had always been a small part of her that had hoped. Hoped that he had found something to catch himself on, fallen into water, been saved by some miracle and now the reality of it crashed over her. He was gone. He had fallen to his death for them, and he would never show up on an idle afternoon, scratched, maimed, but alive.

A tear fell onto the goggles as this realization hit her like a fresh wave of grief.

She heard a creak outside her door and didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“Are you okay,” Hunter asked softly, crossing to the bed and sitting next to her. His palms were in his lap, not wanting to intrude too directly onto her grief, but still close enough if she needed him.

Omega had always found Hunter’s lack of touch frustrating. She knew he loved her, knew he wanted to hug her, comfort her, but he wasn’t capable in the way that Wrecker was.

She sniffed in reply and dissolved, sobbing over her most prized possession, the last remnant of her long-lost brother.

“I’m sorry, kid,” Hunter whispered, putting his arm around her. He squeezed her close to him, resting his chin on the top of her head and holding her. She sank into his arm, drinking in the safety and warmth. She would have been surprised by his sudden affection was she not wholly consumed with sorrow.

They stayed like that for a while in silence, except for Omega’s shuddered breaths. She felt where the tears had fallen on her cheeks, as though they were permanently etched in her skin like her brother’s tattoo. The sun was streaming into her golden room. When she finally sat up, she wiped her eyes and exhaled deeply. She looked down at the goggles, ran her finger over the shattered lens, and gently placed them on the nightstand once more.

“I thought he might come back. Hoped,” she mumbled.

Hunter nodded but didn’t say anything.

“Where are Wrecker and Crosshair?” she asked, suddenly realizing how quiet the house was.

Hunter sighed, “Wrecker went fishing to clear his head. Crosshair is painting at the crest. Said he’d be back later. It’s difficult information to…”

Hunter paused and chuckled “of course,” he said to no one. He stood up from the bed and sat on the floor facing her.

“He’s here, if you want to talk,” he said with a smile at the space he had vacated next to Omega.

“I can’t sense him the way…”

“I’ll translate,” Hunter leaned forward, took her hand and placed it on the spot next to her on the bed. “he’s here,” he said gently, sitting back down.

“I don’t feel him,” she said, staring at the nothingness next to her.

“I know,” Hunter said sadly. “He asked how you are… oh sorry. Yeah, okay Tech.” Hunter looked at her, amused. “He said I need to translate verbatim,”

Omega giggled and sat up straighter. She noticed Hunter close his eyes and lowered his head as though not to intrude into a private conversation.

“How are you, Omega,” Hunter said, his voice punctuated in Tech’s familiar rhythm.

“I’m okay…Tech,” she said, feeling silly but also lighter than she had in a while.

“I’m very…proud of how you have grown up. You are an excellent pilot,”

Omega’s eyes swam with tears, “thank you.” she looked down at her hands and across to Tech’s goggles, “I’m sorry we couldn’t save you, Tech,” she said, feeling a weight dop into her chest. She looked at Hunter whose face had crumpled.

Omega had never seen Hunter cry, although Wrecker had assured her that he did, had, many times after she was taken; When he thought no one else was around. She was aware in that moment how young her brothers were and how much they had endured in their short lives.

“I would make the same decision again and again if it meant you were safe,” Hunter as Tech said.

“Did it…hurt?” she asked, finally voicing her greatest fear.

“I didn’t feel anything, Omega. I was not and am not in pain. I am lucky that I am somehow able to watch you live your lives in peace,”

Hunter looked up at the space next to Omega and smiled.

“Are you always here?” Omega asked hopefully.

“Not always. I seem to pop in every now and then. It’s not something I control. It would be fascinating to do further research. However, in my current state that doesn’t seem possible,”

Omega giggled; Tech was always trying to discover more.  “Where are you when you’re not with us?” she asked and Hunter looked at her, surprised, as though it had never occurred to him to ask that question before.

“I seem to go to a strange, void space. It is black with white, glowing arches like some kind of ancient star map. I’m always alone but can hear other voices. It is quite an odd but not unpleasant sensation. Regardless, I much prefer to be on Pabu with you and…”

“Phee?” Omega supplied.

“Why…ah…yes…I do pop in on her from time to time,”

“Does she know?” Omega asked, directing the question at Hunter. He shook his head but kept his eyes closed and head down.

“Perhaps you can help Hunter with that particular conversation,” Hunter as Tech said.

“I’d be happy to,” Omega said.

The light was streaming through her window now, a beam of sparkling dust illuminated the space next to her and for a second, she could imagine Tech in his armor, looking down at her with a smile on his lips.

“I love you, Tech,” she said to the nothingness.

“And I you,” Hunter responded in Tech’s familiar tone.

There was a pause before Hunter raised his head and blinked open his eyes, focusing on the spot. Omega knew Tech was gone. She could see it on his face.

“Did that help?” he asked, concern in his voice.

She smiled and launched herself at him, hugging him around the neck. “Yes. Thank you.” She said, tears dripping onto his shoulder.

“I was just the translator,” he said softly. He picked himself up and wiped his hands over his face and through his hair absentmindedly.

“Should we go and see Phee?” Omega asked excitedly. She felt so light, happier than she had since she heard the news, she wanted to spread it as far as possible.

“I dunno, Kid,” Hunter said solemnly. “I’m not sure I can break anyone else’s heart right now. Maybe we wait until Crosshair and Wrecker get used to the idea.”

Omega nodded in understanding and took his hand. “you’re not breaking hearts, Hunter. You’re giving hope.” She said with a smile.

“It doesn’t feel like that,” he said quietly. He squeezed her hand twice and let go, crossing the common room to the kitchen beyond.

Omega looked back at the spot where Tech had been. At least, where she thought he had been. His goggles sat in a pool on sunlight, the broken glass which looked grey and devoid of life before glowed yellow and she gasped.

She knew she would carry the loss of him with her forever. It was burnt into her skin like a brand. But knowing he was watching, that he was proud, and that he loved her as much as she loved him, she realized that it was enough. The grief would never fully leave her, but it took up less space, knowing she could speak to him again.

“Goodbye, Tech,” she whispered into the room as she followed Hunter to the kitchen beyond.

Reading over debates and flame wars on this site about the Jedi, Sith or literally anything about Star Wars made me realize how truly futile it is to have true debates on canon. You just can't.

All of the retcons, continuity errors, levels of canon and the differences between Legends and Disney canon just make everyone's arguments valid in their own selected universes. You can't really expect other people to simply drop their universes that they grew up with, bought merchandise and became attached (ironic) to in terms of characters. Having a discussion about worldbuilding or characterization is practically impossible.

It's like arguing on Luke's characterization, only one person in the discussion is using the Star Wars universe and the other is using the Percy Jackson universe as their basis. There's no connection; you're all right in your own universes. And it all just goes round and round and round forever.

Hot Take: The people who say that Anakin is "female-coded" and the people who say that Obi-Wan is "Asian-coded" are both wrong. They are both white men; end of story.

Don't get me wrong; I enjoy both characters for their flaws and strengths, and I get invested in their stories, but they are not women or Asian. They are both white male characters created by a white man for a predominantly white audience.

Coding is such a stupid concept, and I want to stab myself in the eye with a fork every time I see anyone claim this. It's harmful, and takes attention and importance away from actual characters of color and their stories. It's basically riffing on stereotypes of races and then transposing those ideals on white people or aliens. And it's meant to be respectful or cool somehow?

It's simply incredibly insulting.

Are Jedi ripped off from Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam as well as Christianity? Yes.

Is Anakin Skywalker a masculine character with less traditional personality traits? Yes.

Are either of them "Asian" or "female"? NO.

I'm going to be a heretic and say that the Jedi's problem wasn't that they were involved the Senate, it was that they weren't involved enough in the Senate. The Jedi should have moved out to the Unknown Regions if they didn't want to deal with the responsibilities of the Republic. They should have involved in politics by voting for leaders, running for election and utilizing their representation to push for their interests and agenda.

"but they didn't want to be involved-" look here people, you do not choose to get involved in politics. Politics involves everyone; you have a choice to play or not play. There is no option to opt out. By not playing, you forfeit the game to your opponents, and you lose before you begin.

That's how Palpatine wins. He sets the game, and the Jedi forfeit; they were doomed to lose from the start.

palpatine is just an embodiment of modern government.

wholesome Jedi headcanon time!

I think that the Jedi would be good with, encouraging unconventional habits. You like baking desserts with weird spices from Ryloth? Well, here's a cookbook with even more interesting recipes and their history. Also, did you know that Master so-and-so used to be good at baking these too?

You like reading random romance novels from this one Mid Rim world? Jocasta's going to specifically procure volumes, and pressure editors to write more.

You like using a traditional weapon from your homeworld instead of a lightsaber? We'll give you a copy of techniques and teach you how to incorporate the two fighting styles.

I don't see much of it in canon (because god forbid a children's show set in space have main characters who have interests other than combat), but I want it to be true.

Tumblr's algorithm is fucking hilarious. Three times in a row I was recommended to follow antianakin's blog. You are making it hard for me to avoid things i don't want to see and to curate my fandom experience, Tumblr.

This is in no way an endorsement of Palpatine, but the premise of his crimes is so weird to me.

Like, the most evil guy in existence's crimes are:

Using the power of his negative emotions to practice a cult religion

Puppeteering a war between two factions in the galaxy to install a takeover

Committing genocide

Installing himself as a monarch/dictator (they call him an Emperor, and he rules an empire; wouldn't he be a monarch?)

Assorted war crimes (i can't remember them all)

None of these things, except the first one, are things that literally any government on this planet hasn't done.

The US government? Puppeteered plenty of wars.

The US government? Has committed genocide.

The US government? Has committed plenty of war crimes in other wars with state approval.

The US may not have become an empire, but there are plenty of regimes in other countries and throughout history where rulers seize power and declare themselves rulers: Napoleon, Caesar, even more recently like the Kims of North Korea.

It's just so tragic. Modern government is the bad guy in the Star Wars prequels; the embodiment of modern government is literally cartoon evil. Isn't that lovely?

palpatine is just an embodiment of modern government.

i always wonder, why exactly does anakin hide his relationship with padme if the jedi are allowed to love?

like, if the jedi ban toxic relationships, that's okay. but, anakin and padme genuinely don't believe that their relationship has issues. we know about the insane things those two have done for one another, but no one else does. the council, obi-wan, no one knows. you think those idiots are flying their asses to tatooine and talking to owen and beru? anakin and padme just believe that they're in love. what's stopping them from having a relationship in the open? they'd still be lying about the severity of it, but what's stopping them from just being like, 'oh yeah, we're sleeping together and occasionally go out.' anakin could just simply swear that he isn't attached to a toxic degree, and the council just won't put him on missions with padme to prevent conflict of interest. i get that romantic relationships do often descend into attachment, but numerous jedi had affairs and relationships with one another during the clone wars. this clearly was not new.

like, the only way this would make sense is if everyone was sneaking around the council's back, and no one was allowed to have any relationships. i get the desire to absolve the jedi of this stuff, but not being able to love is a huge plot point in the series. nothing in the series implies that they can, and obi-wan's platonic, familial feelings for anakin are a huge source of shame for him (he's literally embarrassed to admit it to mace windu and yoda in the ROTS novel), but a lot of people i follow show that they can. removing this plot thread ruins a lot of justification and just makes the jedi order and obi-wan seem like horrible teachers for not explaining their rules properly to their student.

i think the Jedi-Positive and Jedi-Critical stances can be summed up on whether you value authorial intent or authorial execution.

Most of the Jedi-Positive people I follow quote George Lucas and director commentaries to prove their points, as well as utilize analyses from others at LucasFilm that have to keep the general status quo. It's all based on what Lucas was trying to portray, while ignoring the product in execution.

The Jedi-Critical stance tends to look at the prequel execution, and they question the obvious uncomfortable moments that have real-life parallels to atrocities. They tend to be more Legends fans, whose writers actually delved into the terrifying implications. It's all on criticizing execution while disregarding intent.

Like, take the argument about Jedi children. A Jedi-Positive person would argue that all the children are all given up with consent from their parents; this is what I am sure Lucas was intending to portray. A Jedi-Critical person will look at this and go "wait. how much 'consent' was in this encounter? the government can legally take these kids and have a representative show up to a farmer's house and tell the farmer they can technically say no? that is some bullshit." And there is real-life evidence for this. It's more on the execution.

Or the argument about love. Jedi-Positive people turn to Lucas's interview to show that they really meant it in the Buddhist sense, and if you value intent that works. Jedi-Critical people would argue that the marketing states that the Jedi cannot love, and nothing in the movies states that the Jedi meant non-toxic love when they eschew attachments.

They're both valid positions, but I think a lot of fandom brutality comes from not understanding either view, or demeaning one view in favor of another. It's perfectly acceptable to value one over the other.

You know, I see all these people who aren't Buddhists who claim that Buddhist doctrine and Buddhist teachings were portrayed really well in Star Wars, and I'm like... uhhh....

I'm just saying, as a Hindu, the man who created fucking Temple of Doom being treated as a source of Asian religions doesn't exactly sit well with me.

anti-anakin people say that anakin got off really easy in the narrative by becoming a Force Ghost and should've stood trial or something, but i honestly cannot think of a worse punishment for a dude who wants to die and be free of his pain and suffering than to sit in eternity with people he wasn't particularly fond of and full knowledge of every horrible thing he did so he can watch his family burn to fix the mistakes he made in his lifetime.

i think people are sleeping on the potential for starwarsatheist!Padme and jedi!Anakin. Like, Anakin is part of a major religious order that has full belief in the power of a mystic cosmic force that powers their telekinetic abilities and lets them see the future.

Do you know how many people would call bullshit on this?

like, give me padme and anakin arguing about whether the force actually exists, or whether there is a 'god-given' prophecy of bringing balance(i personally subscribe to the discovery of midichlorians being a scientific explanation that most scientists in the universe credit for jedi powers. any self-respecting scientist in the GFFA can and would fist fight a jedi philosopher)

padme just being all, 'this is my beautiful husband. he's a bit of a religious nut, but i love him so so much.'

and anakin would be all, 'this is the love of my life, the angel of the galaxy, and if she thinks that the force isn't real, she's valid and i'll fight all your fuckers that disagree.'

the jedi council are indian aunties. no i will not elaborate.

I like the Jedi, but I don't know why "A powerful military organization that actively supports the government while not being a part of the government should have criticized the corrupt policies of their state and raised objections to enslaving and buying human beings" is such a negative take that it warrants being put in the jedi critical tag.

thinking too deeply about the scene where palpatine just goes, 'well, if you want to save your wife from dying, you have to go murder a bunch of kids. it's okay, i know this has nothing to do with prenatal care, but trust me on this one.' like, i know it's just shorthand for 'he's evil now', but what purpose does this serve? what is the reason for murdering children? is it just for palpatine's shits and giggles? does he want to check to see if anakin is really that desperate? why tamper with useful apprentices that could be used as an army, and could eventually serve as viable replacements for anakin lest something happen?

like, lucas went with child murder, and didn't do anything interesting with it. like, at least do something useful with the dead children, like, use their souls to keep luke and leia alive and that's why they make it through childbirth. make anakin drag them up to the top of the jedi temple to show dissenters to the new empire, this is how we deal with traitors. use the dead souls to purge the light of the temple and shroud it in darkness. do something creative!

or, at least, let the dead babies haunt people. every strike vader lands, he can hear a child's cry at the end of it. they sob loudly, and he rips his eardrums from his mangled ear to dull the pain. they whisper in luke's ear as a child, avenge us, and luke wonders if he's gone insane. everytime padme cries out in her birthing, she can hear fifty echoes of babies and children crying with her. and when she turns her head to her daughter and son, the voices that so fervently cried out for help were silenced in eerie quiet, and then she knows.

i don't know where i was going with this. anyway, uh, utilize the child murder properly!