Archive of Our Own ^beta

'Hello there.'

'Ben.'

'What? Just Ben? No Ben'ika? No cyar'ika? What have I done now?'

'I find it fascinating that you assume blame pre-emptively.'

'Better safe than sorry.'

'Mmh, well for once you've done nothing wrong besides being inaccessible.'

'Ah, I was with Armourer Cho, you know how he is about interruptions.' 

'You might want to check your comm then.'

'Mmh, let me see. Ooh right. Calls from you and Jaster? And Jango? Huh, he even left a message.'

'Don't bother watching it, we're leaving, I'll fill you in on the way.'

'Leaving? But Korkie needs to be fitted—'

'It'll have to wait.'

'Where are the ade?'

'Prepping the ship. We're off to Mandalore.'

'What? Now? Satine, wait! What is going on?'

'Jango came here when he couldn't find you. He's already on his way to Sundari. We're holding talks apparently, with Bo and Jaster... And Jedi.'

'Ah. My old expertise, coming handy. I see. But talks about what?'

'It looks like Jango was approached by someone for a disturbingly unusual job.'

'That sounds like the average Jango job. The man flies with Cad kriffing Bane, you'll have to be more specific.'

'A very hands off job that he accepted to get all the details on...'

'Alright that's starting to sound ominous.'

'Mmhmm. Turns out his employer wants him cloned.'

'Huh. Just once? I— I mean, Jango's a handsome lad but...'

'Millions of times.'

'Millions?! I'm sorry, I'm not sure I quite follow the logic here.'

'Apparently his would-be employer is setting out to create an army, in secret, with alien geneticists from a planet I never heard of. He just came from there.'

'Oh Force, don't tell me he's already given them samples?'

'He has. He contacted Jaster, who reached out to the Jedi through his old crush.'

'Jocasta Nu?'

'Yes her. Frightful woman.'

'Hang on. Why reach out to the Jedi Order? I'd like to think I've smoothed things out over the years, and Jaster still talks to Master Nu, but... Why? Just who is behind this army?'

'What do you think, cyar'ika?'

'It can't be. The Order would never do such a thing. An army of clones? What for? The Republic is at peace. They haven't even bothered us in decades.'

'That's what we're all going to try and figure out. Jaster wants us listening in, and probably more from you. Ayla and Korkie think it's a family meeting and that they get to spend the day with their cousin in the city.'

'Deception even within our aliit?'

'Do you want to explain what you don't know about the meeting you haven't had yet?'

'Ouch, Sat'ika, please, my ego can only take so many punches, and Armourer Cho had an early start on me today.'

'I’m just saying.'

'And I hear you. Alright, I suppose there's nothing to do now but plot a course for Mandalore.'

'Mmh. And brace ourselves for what's coming.'

'Yes. I have a bad feeling about this.'

'No, Ben'ika, no more jetii soothsaying. We'll all stand together in this, so we will be fine.'

'Yes ma-am. No more bad feelings—ouch! Sat'ika! You're prickly as a nexu today!'

'I swear, sometimes I don't know why I married you.'

'I thought it was for my incredible charm and my jetii soothsaying? I am so confused now!'

'No accounting for taste, I suppose. Come on, let's not make the Duchess and Mand'alor wait.'