Chapter Text
Jango knew he was damn good at controlling his temper, but this time, the long-necks had gone too far. He’d never agreed with their practice of culling, but try as he might, he just couldn’t get them to stop. He could only ever save some of the clones by promising their defects were minor and that he would even personally train some of them. He stared at Taun We now, arms crossed over his chest.
“And why do you think this entire batch needs to be culled?” He growled.
“They are defective in several ways.” Taun We replied in the usual infuriatingly slow speech all Kaminoans used. “All of them have displaced unusual abilities, such as breaking objects and levitating them. They are dangerous.”
Jango’s eye twitched. He knew what that meant - he’d dealt with too many force sensitives for him not to immediately know. Mandalore lost enough of its children to the damn force, and he couldn’t really say that Taun We was wrong, in this specific case. Some kids would get this blank look on their faces, and they never came, eventually dying in their sleep. Others would injure or even kill others with accidental displays of power. Force sensitivity was most definitely dangerous, he knew that. He also knew the Jedi could control the power, but there were no Jedi around.
“They do the same thing Jetii do. They could be useful!” He snapped. Taun We shook her head slightly, swaying her neck. “CT 3381 was decanted blind.” She replied. “And Ct 3382 cannot hear out of one ear.”
Jango grit his teeth. He’d known some damn good warriors who were one or the other, but in an army such as the one the Kaminoans were building, he knew those disabilities would not be acceptable. They’d quickly get either themselves or others killed in a war. That didn’t make it any easier a pill to swallow, though.
He didn’t even need to ask what defect made CT 3383 and CT 3384 unfit for the army. It wasn’t their fault, but rather his own, and he felt his throat tighten. Like most Mando'ade, his DNA was only half human, if even that. Their habit of adopting people, from any species, meant a lot of cross-breeding. He may have looked mostly human, aside from some small quirks, but he was most definitely not.
And, of course, some of his clones would have to reflect that. The different DNA continuously showing itself in unexpected ways was constantly driving the Kaminoans mad. Different eye and hair colour was a common sight, much more so after he’d argued that it had no effect on the clone's capabilities and therefore they should not be culled - a fight he hated that he had to have.
These ones, though, were different. He looked at CT 3383. He was still just a baby, decanted barely a few hours ago. A tiny little newborn, with delicately webbed hands and feet as well as small, twitching lekku and green tinged skin. The Nautolan DNA making itself known meant nothing but the boy couldn’t fit into regular trooper armour. Jango’s hands tightened into fists as he held back the urge to wring the stupid Kaminoan's necks.
CT 3384 was part Rodian. His skin was smoother than that of the usual Rodian, but he also wouldn't be able to fit a regular helmet. His skin was just a shade lighter than his own, with pale green patterns on what little of his face Jango could see. Although it was strange to think it of his own clones, the kids really were beautiful.
He tore his eyes away from them, and looked at the last one. CT 3385 was crying loudly, face scrunched up and flushed red, but no one did anything to help him. The Kaminoans present continued to work, completely ignoring the wailing child. Jango couldn’t really see anything wrong with him, aside from shrieking his lungs out. “And this one?” He asked. “He looks like all the others.”
“The rest of his batch is defective. While he has shown nothing as of yet, he will likely show some sort of defect as he grows. Rather than waste time and resources, we will simply cull him now.” Taun We answered.
“Are you fucking serious? You’re going to kill him just because of the rest of the batch?” Jango nearly shouted. Taun We narrowed her eyes at him, natural frown deepening into a scowl. “I will not waste time and resources on a defective unit.” She said, the Kaminoan version of a growl.
Jango bit his tongue so hard he tasted blood, swallowing his anger. “You can’t do that.” He hissed. Taun We narrowed her eyes further. “I do not have time for this. I will be back at 0600 to oversee the culling procedures.” She basically snapped, and then left. The other Kaminoan scientists paid them no mind, continuing their work.
Jango was left glaring at the ground, standing frozen for a moment. CT 3385's wails broke him out of his thoughts. Sighing, he weaved through the cribs to lift the tiny child and rock him gently, soothing him until he stopped crying and fell asleep.
Settling him back in his crib, Jango’s chest tightened. They would not be culled come morning, he wouldn't let them. He didn’t have a lot of time to work something out, but he’d just have to utilise what little time he had well. He turned on his heel and left without a word, mind already racing. Kids were everything to the Mando'ade, and he’d already lost far too many. Setting his jaw, he reached his room and got to work.
,.,.,
It was about 0300 when he snuck back into the nursery and found the batch, sleeping peacefully in their cribs. The ship was ready, with little beds for the kids to sleep in safely. He’d reprogrammed a nurse-droid and left it on the ship with specific orders, it was waiting for him to bring the children. He snuck them on board one by one, little bundles of cloth tucked into the crook of his arm. He knew how time sensitive this was, but he was too afraid to carry more than one at a time lest he drop a child. He settled each one in its crib, and set the course on the ship for the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, leaving a flimsi letter in one of the cribs. It was all he could leave; all the information he could give on the children scribbled in charcoal.
“Okay.” He breathed, luckily the children were still asleep. “ND-99, repeat your orders?”
“I am to care for the children until arrival in the Jedi Temple of Coruscant, and release them in the care of the Jedi Council. If the ship is compromised and the delivery cannot be made, I am to practice a lethal injection on the children.”
Jango nodded. He really didn’t like that bit, but he knew how risky this was. If it failed, he wouldn't let them die of starvation or cold - he’d rather they had a quick, merciful death. It was all he could do, praying to whichever god would listen to let them live. He looked over them one last time, committing them to memory.
“Ret’urcye mhi, adike.” He whispered. He knew it would be a while before he would find out what became of them, if he ever did. He left the ship and watched it take off, waiting until he saw it enter hyperspace before he headed back to his room to await the consequences of what he just did.
He just hoped he’d see them again someday.
,.,.,.,.,
Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi was used to being woken up at dawn, whether it be directly by his Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, or by some sort of trouble caused by him. Even though he was nineteen, soon to be twenty now, his Padawan always had far too much energy and not enough to busy him, and it ended up getting him in trouble far too much.
This time, though, it wasn’t either of those things. Obi Wan woke rather easily, to knocking on the door of the apartment in the Jedi Temple he and Anakin shared.
Stumbling out of his bed, yawning, Obi Wan entered the main room to spot Anakin also leaving his bed. “Master? What's going on?” He asked tiredly. Obi Wan shrugged and opened the door. On the other side stood Jedi Master Kit Fisto, arm raised to knock again. He was practically vibrating, the force around him bright with confusion and excitement.
“Master Fisto?” Anakin poked his head over Obi Wan's shoulder. Kit grinned widely in greeting. “Come. Come on!” He grabbed Obi Wan's arm and pulled him out of the apartment. “What-” Obi Wan was cut off when Kit yanked him forward.
“Master Fisto, where are we going?” Anakin called as he darted after them, fully awake now. “Kit?” Obi Wan raised his eyebrow as Kit refused to answer. On the way, they found Jedi Master Plo Koon with Jedi Master Saesee Tiin heading in the same direction.
“Hey, Masters!” Anakin waved wildly. Saesee waved back, smiling. Plo skidded to halt right outside Jedi Master Mace Windu's door, knocking loudly. Just as they rounded the corner, Obi Wan spotted Mace opening his door, expression miffed and robes rumpled.
By the time they reached the Council meeting room, most of the Council members were present, as well as some of their apprentices. Padawans Depa Billiba and Nogata gathered in the corner of the room with Anakin, talking quietly.
“Okay, can we know what's going on now?” Obi Wan snapped grumpily, frowning out at the still dark sky. Mace glared at Plo, scowling deeper than usual. "Yes, that's what I would like to know." He muttered.
“Okay, so, everybody listen!” Kit called, clapping his hands. Jedi Master Yoda settled down in his seat, and Ki Adi Mundi and most of the others did as well. Mace sat with one leg folded underneath himself, and Obi Wan and Kit sat on the ground like the Padawans did.
“I know it’s early, and most of you were sleeping, but something weird happened and we need to talk about it!” Kit started. “Did we have to talk about it now?” Jedi Master Eeth Koth muttered, arms and legs both crossed as he leaned back in his seat.
“Yes. Okay, so, we get a lot of children sent our way, right? Lots of people send their kids here to be trained.” Kit glances around. The Padawans, settled in the back corner, continue to talk quietly, but they listen as well.
“I swear to the everloving force, if you called us here because you found another baby cute, I’m going to-” Kit cut Jedi Master Agen Kolar off, shaking his head. “No, no. Well, they are cute, but that's not why you’re here.” He said.
“‘They’? So it is a couple of children?” Mace looked just about ready to throttle him and go back to sleep. Just then, the door opened and Jedi Master Shaak Ti entered, panting heavily. “Shaak?” Eeth asked, sitting up straight. “I’m fine!” She gasped. “Have you told them?”
Kit shook his head again, lekku brushing against the floor as he pulled his knees up. “I’m about to, give me a second!”
Shaak rolled her eyes and took a seat. Obi Wan caught a piece of flimsi in her hand and narrowed his eyes. “What's that?” He asked, and she sighed. “We got a group of children delivered to the Temple.”
“A group?” Anakin echoed, speaking up for the first time. “We usually get only one or two at a time, right?”
Obi Wan nodded. “Well, yes.” He answered. “Not this time.” Kit cut in. “We just got five of them at once! All from the same place!”
“The same place?” Mace blinked, losing the scowl for a moment as his face twisted in confusion. “That's odd.” Kit nodded wildly. “And nobody came with them, there's just this note, too!” He gestured to Shaak, who waved the piece of flimsi.
“What's it say?” Eeth leaned closer to her, eyes wide in curiosity. “Well.. so, firstly, it was sent by a Mandalorian.” She told them. Immediately, murmurs started up. Obi Wan shifted closer to Kit. “Is that true?” He whispered.
“Yes, I read it!” Kit responded. “A Mandalorian? Why would they send us children?” Obi Wan wondered out loud. “They say these five are all force sensitive.” Shaak continued loudly to interrupt the whispers. “But one of them is fully blind, and the other can’t hear out of one ear.” She continued.
A small wave of sorrow washed through the room, mostly Kit, Plo, and Anakin in the back listening silently. “It says that the only way whoever sent this could save the children from certain death was to send them away, and they had nowhere else to send them.” Shaak glanced at Yoda, who sat silent, and then at Plo, who nodded encouragingly.
“They also.. mentioned Galidraan.” She continued. “They said that if we felt any regret or guilt at all, we should do this one thing for them and keep the children safe.”
Obi Wan's eyes widened, and he exchanged a shocked glance with Saesee. “A True Mandalorian survivor?” He asked hesitantly. “I thought they were wiped out.” Ki Adi Mundi added, head tilted. “Is it signed?” Saesee spoke up. Shaak shook her head. “No. We don’t know who sent it or where they came from.” She said. “We only know they're Mandalorian because of the mention of Galidraan, and because they spoke some Mando'a that we translated with the holo-net.”
Kit scrunched up his face, tipped over slightly to murmur quietly, “They said some very unkind things.”
Obi Wan released a small breath. “If they really are a True Mandalorian survivor, I wouldn't blame them.” He answered. “If what the note says is true, whoever sent it could be in danger.” Plo said, glancing around the room. “We should try to find out where it was sent from.”
“How are we supposed to do that? We can’t exactly trace flimsi, and the nurse droid that came with it had it’s memory and everything wiped.” Shaak pointed out, sighing. “Whoever sent them really doesn't want to be found.”
They were all silent for a few minutes, Eeth pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged and sinking into a light meditation as they brainstormed.
“Why don’t we get Quinlan?” Kit eventually asked. “Is he in the Temple right now?” Obi Wan furrowed his brows. “No, but he should be back in like a week or so.” Eeth was the one who answered, shrugging. “I just saw him a few days ago and he said this mission would be relatively short.” He told them.
“Well, someone send him a comm. For now, why don’t we run a DNA test on the children? How old are they?” Mace said. “They're no older than a day or two.” Kit answered. “Wait, newborns? All of them?” Agen asked. Shaak nodded. “They're all the same age.” She said.
“That's.. even more odd. Did the note say anything about that?” Agen crossed his arms, deep in thought. “No, not really. I just wish I knew who sent it. I mean, Mandalorians hate us, and a True Mandalorian would likely kill us all given the chance. Why would they send their children here of all places? Even if they are force-sensitive.” Shaak said.
“They did say ‘certain death’. They were probably desperate and didn’t know where else to send them.” Kit pointed out. Plo sighed deeply. “I’m afraid for whoever sent them. Why didn’t they come with the children? What if there are more?” He wondered.
“Once Quinlan is back, I’ll take him the letter and see what he can find out.” Obi Wan offered, and Shaak stood up to hand him the flimsi. “I’ll go and ask Vokara to run some DNA tests and see if we can find anything out.” Plo added.
The rest of them stood. “I’ll come with you, I want to see them.” Eeth said. “Well, I’m going back to sleep. It’s still too early.” Agen muttered. He gave a small farewell and left for his room.
“Will you come down to see them?” Kit asked as he stood. Obi Wan stroked his beard with one hand as he walked with Kit. “I would like to, but I think I’m going to check with Vos first. I just wonder why a Mandalorian would send their children here..”
Kit shrugged. “Perhaps they have nowhere else to go. They didn’t give us their location, the children's names, nothing. If what Shaak and Plo are saying is true, and they really are a True Mandalorian survivor.. well, they probably don’t have anyone else to go to because they're the last of their kind.” As he spoke, the force grew heavy with guilt and grief around him.
“Well, we'll find out soon.” Obi Wan bumped his shoulder against Kit’s and offered him a small smile. “Come, Anakin!” He called, heading out behind Eeth. Anakin was quick to bid his friends goodbye and walk alongside Obi Wan.
He was quiet until they were a good ways from the meeting room. “Master, what’s Galidraan?” He asked. Obi Wan closed his eyes for a moment, but he knew it was coming. “Let’s get back and I’ll answer all your questions.” He told his Padawan.
Anakin frowned, but seemed to understand the importance of it and was silent the rest of the way back. Meanwhile, Obi Wan resigned himself to a morning of answering questions about one of the Jedi Order's worst mistakes yet.