Archive of Our Own ^beta

Quinlan cursed when he saw the date. 

He was in the past. He was far too old for this.

Sure, he was only sixty, but that was still too old to be dealing with trying to fix everything.

Quinlan got a drink before he made his plans. 

He was too old for this crap, but he was still a Jedi.

He would always try to do the right thing.

He just wouldn't reveal himself. He was good at working from the shadows, and being on the run from the Empire only made him better. 

He was used to being alone.

And most importantly, his younger self was a young padawan at this point in time. 

He did not need to deal with his older self being around. He didn't need those who found out comparing the two of them. He did not need the scrutiny. 

Quinlan got idents sorted out and he made his lists of what went wrong and set out to do some research. He had to make sure he had everything sorted out as best he could before he actually attempted to do anything about it. 

He was still far too old, but he could actually do something about this, so he would regardless of anything else.

.

Cody wasn't sure how this happened. He first realized he was in the past when he saw a startlingly young Prime grieving his father. 

He didn't have time to process because he quickly realized that Prime was young and stupid. So he quickly took charge and made sure Jango was going to be okay.

...naturally people questioned the resemblance.

Cody made a deadpan statement about cloning, and to his amusement, with Jango being younger they believed this meant Jango was a clone.

With Jango's birth family being dead, there was no disproving the theory either.

Cody let them all think that. It was better than trying to come up with a proper cover story. 

After a near disaster on Galidraan where he barely managed to keep everyone from firing on the Jedi and they peaceably managed to solve the miscommunication and realized that the Mandalorians had been set up, Cody finally told Jango the truth.

He nearly punched Jango when Jango asked him why he liked the Jedi so much. 

Cody did not have patience for the younger version of Prime, but he had decided that one way to make the galaxy a better place was to keep Jango from the bad place he had been in that made him a bad progenitor. 

It was only after Galidraan and the dust settled that he realized that his determination had led to the True Mandalorians still existing. 

He had majorly changed the past.

Oops.

Cody put all his focus into teaching Jango what he wanted to know, and trying to figure out what to do with the True Mandalorians.

Who now viewed him as Mand'alor not Jango. 

Cody did not really want to be in charge, but apparently someone had to be.

After some years passed, he made an agreement with the New Mandalorians to stop taking bounty hunting jobs, to stop fighting battles for others on request, and in general, stop being what the galaxy viewed them as. Which Cody thought was reasonable. 

In return, they were not banished, though they were expected to find reasonable outlets that maintained a legal and safety standard, and to deal with anyone who tried to start trouble (such as Death Watch).

That worked for Cody. 

(He saw a younger version of Obi-Wan at some point during the talks. He tried not to think too hard about how these changes affected Obi-Wan.)

With everything settled, Cody had a mundane life to lead as still somehow the person in charge of those who wanted to maintain certain warrior traditions. 

How had that become his life? 

No matter what, he could not convince people to take over the job, either. He was stuck with it.

.

Quinlan had been focused on researching the Sith and how they had remained hidden for so long, along with if it was just Sidious and his apprentice(s?) or if his master was still around.

Quinlan was pretty sure that the person who trained Sidious was still around, which would make exposing the Sith trickier.

In need of a break, he tuned into the news. He was pleased to hear the groundwork and tips he was dropping to the Jedi and certain politicians were helping. The galaxy was slowly becoming a better place.

Then he saw something about Mandalorians and did a double take. 

That was not what he remembered. 

There was no way anything he did had led to those changes. 

Quinlan investigated.

Death Watch had started causing trouble, and the True Mandalorians confronted them, a rare fight off planet for them. 

A statement Quinlan found online said that Death Watch was their responsibility. They were maintaining a warrior culture, but that did not mean they had to leave the planet to start fights and try to conquer the way Death Watch wanted.

Death Watch's actions were giving the Mandalorians who were working to undo the centuries of a certain type of image a bad name.

Which meant that they wanted to deal with it with as few casualties as possible.

Quinlan stuck to the shadows, watching the fight, listening to rumors. He almost burst out laughing when he heard rumors about Jango being a clone. 

He saw Jango; he was pouting about it. 

The fight ended.

Quinlan was thinking about everything he saw and heard when he heard a sharp "Who are you?" From behind him.

Quinlan turned, holding up his hands. "Just a curious observer."

"Uh-huh." His voice was doubtful as he studied Quinlan.

Quinlan stared at the Mand'alor, eyes tracing the scar around his eye, and the graying hair. 

"...Cody?" 

"That is my name, yes." 

Quinlan rolled his eyes. "I'd rather not use your designation number, Codes."

"...Quinlan?"

Quinlan grinned widely. "So you got dropped in the past as well. You're doing well for yourself. Love the rumor that Jango is a clone."

Cody snorted. "Saved me from having to come up with a story. Come on, I'll tell everyone you're an old friend and we fell out of contact."

Quinlan nodded. "And I saw the news and had to see with my own eyes."

"Precisely."

It took until they were returning to Mandalore for them to finally actually talk.

"So... what have you been doing?" Cody asked.

"Changing things from the shadows. Giving everyone tips and evidence I can, researching and trying to figure out when I can get Sidious."

"Do the Jedi know?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure the Council is aware there's a time traveler, but I've not told anyone. My younger self doesn't deserve the scrutiny that will bring him."

"...you've told me you aren't meant to be alone."

"I was alone for more than twenty years after the Empire rose. I can handle it."

Cody gave him a disbelieving look. "Right. You can handle being alone."

Quinlan shrugged. "I got used to it."

"You've changed."

"So have you."

"I would have expected you to hug me right now."

Quinlan did not have a response for that.

Cody sighed and hugged him.

He was not surprised when Quinlan leaned in and clung to him. 

"Thought so," he whispered. 

"Shut up," Quinlan mumbled. 

"How have you been avoiding injuries?"

"Very carefully. Before, I helped smuggle younglings to safety, so that got me plenty of cuddles to keep me going... since being in the past though..."

"It's a lot harder, isn't it?" Cody asked sympathetically.

Quinlan nodded.

"I'm sorry." Cody did not move. 

Neither said anything for a long time.

"So..." Quinlan said, sitting up but not letting go of Cody.

"So?"

"We're both in the past. Can we work together?"

"I would love to but we have an agreement with the New Mandalorians so I will need to step down and give up being Mandalorian. Which means finding a replacement for people that insist I am the best possible leader."

Quinlan snorted. "How lucky for you."

Cody groaned. "I tried before we made the agreement. I tried after. I try every year, but nothing."

"We'll come up with something."

"So... It's strange enough for me to see a younger Jango. Have you seen your younger self?"

"Yep, still bright and innocent. Obi isn't at this age though. He went through a lot young. I didn't really get that much bad through my padawan years. It is weird though. Time travel gets so confusing."

"Tell me about it. We're still years off of when I would have decanted," Cody grumbled. "And here I am, having changed the political landscape of Mandalore with no idea of what I'm doing."

"Apparently doing enough right that no one wants you to stop leading," Quinlan teased.

Cody groaned and dropped his head on Quinlan's shoulder. "It's so ridiculous. It's like they need me to babysit them."

Quinlan cackled. "Leading be like that sometimes. As long as they're not getting into too much trouble, I'm sure you're doing something right."

"I don't want to though," Cody complained. "I don't even want to be Mandalorian, but it was the only way to get Jango to stop being a little shit and start becoming a better rounded adult." 

Quinlan laughed. "So you parented him?"

"Unfortunately," Cody grumbled. "The best part is just that everyone believes him to be my clone, and he hates that. He knows the truth about me. I took pity on him after a while. He doesn't understand how I can stand Jedi but then that's not my problem."

"Was there a massacre on Galidraan?"

"No, that was what convinced everyone I had to be in charge," Cody responded. "Since backing down and letting the Jedi interrogate us meant things worked out."

"Well, good job there. You cut his motivation for revenge and a clone army with that."

"There was-oh. That explains a lot."

"He killed six Jedi, on his own. Obviously the Jedi involved did not treat him kindly after that. And now you've proved that him choosing to attack instead of standing down was definitely what caused the massacre." 

"He was so young then," Cody complained. "Mandalorians are crazy. Making an agreement with the New Mandalorians is changing things though, thank the Force."

Quinlan chuckled. "Sounds like you're doing a good job, Cody."

"We don't get news of the wider galaxy, at least nothing I can recognize. Is there anything big you've changed?"

"I found evidence of Sith tampering in the creche, and in files, so they fixed that and I got Obi off to a better start that way. He still keeps ending up on all the missions that go wrong, but there's better support instead of him sliding through the cracks."

"Really?"

Quinlan nodded. "There were a few issues, and a Sith magick thing on his file on top of his difficulty regulating his emotions."

"Dang. What about in general and for you?"

"For me? I slipped a note into the file that the Sith was keeping an eye on me- which is terrifying to think about now, I had drawn Sith attention when I was an initiate, but anyway I put the note that no one ever asked what I wanted, just told me what role I would be best at."

"I thought you liked being a shadow."

"I liked being useful, I liked knowing that I was keeping people safe. I liked being good at my job. I hated the isolation, the extended undercover missions. I especially hated it during the war, because the nice long leaves had been the only thing getting me through the job sometimes, and with the war... there was no time for a break." Quinlan sighed. "At least it helped me in adjusting to being on the run from the Empire... without that experience... I don't know that I would have survived. But I am glad I did. I just don't want my younger self to go through anything like I did."

"So you would have chosen a different career if someone had asked?"

"I think so. I know my younger self is taking classes I didn't when I grew up. I hadn't even realized that was an option. My skills were best for investigating, I had brushed the Dark side in the trauma of my parents' death and experiencing the echoes of my mom's death. I was perfect for the shadows. Since, like any job with the Jedi, it fulfilled my goals, I didn't question it. I wanted to be useful, I wanted to save people. I didn't need to be famous or well known for that."

"But it came at a price. Loneliness."

Quinlan nodded. "It's the one thing I knew for certain I'd go back and change. I loved training Aayla, and I surprised myself by enjoying the sorts of missions we had to take for her training as well. That's why I made sure to draw attention to people not asking my younger self what he wants to do. I want him to know there's a choice, since I didn't have that opportunity."

Cody nodded. "What other changes have you made?"

Quinlan hummed. "I pranked everyone to start them working on prank war strategies. You know, some of the strategies I used in war situations, some of the strategies I know Obi used and our friends... those came from years of prank wars."

Cody snorted. "I shouldn't be surprised by that."

Quinlan grinned. "I did leave messages for others on what would and wouldn't help them, so it didn't look like I was only focusing on one person. Pretty sure the Council suspects that their friendly helper is a time traveler but no one actually knows."

"That makes sense." Cody hesitated. "Any changes that impact the galaxy? Or the Order as a whole? I know the individual changes will go on to have big impacts, but are there others?"

Quinlan grinned. "Well, they know the Sith are still around thanks to the tampering, so they're being more cautious with initiates and padawans, and they're working on training everyone to be prepared for a Sith. This also means that they're eyeing certain things suspiciously. Why did that mission go wrong? Is the Sith involved? And so on. They're looking at the sheer number of missions that go wrong because someone involved gave incorrect information. They're looking at just who is giving the incorrect information and where communication is breaking down. They're realizing we need a different relationship with the Republic. It's easier to serve the galaxy by being with the Republic, but many Senators take advantage of it, and with the Council and others paying attention, I know they're taking note of just how many do so."

"Oh, I hadn't considered that... You're trying to save them from the position the war put them in."

"I don't know that it will save them, but they'll be prepared. Which means they can handle being backed into a corner better. I've dropped some notes to the better Senators, the ones that fought the Empire after, for ideas on what they should start working on now."

"Good... the more we can counter the Sith the better."

"Exactly. Changing up the clone army will hopefully have an impact."

Cody grimaced. "As long as they don't pick out someone else for that. Regardless... the brothers I knew... none of them are going to exist. Because of me."

Quinlan hugged him. "I'm sorry. That's... that's going to be hard."

"Do you understand how much that hurts?"

"I had a son, for a time. He was five when the Empire caught up with us. He'll never exist here because there's no reason for my younger self to meet up with his mother."

"...Oh. I'm sorry."

Quinlan smiled slightly. "I've been coming to terms with it. Changing the past means changing a lot for the future... means many will never get the chance to live at all. Doesn't quite feel like we're always doing the right thing, just trying to control for what we think is the best, which maybe it is... maybe it isn't."

"I think keeping the Order alive is an improvement. I think whatever is going on with Mandalore seems like an improvement. Jango is happy... I don't think I ever saw him happy on Kamino. The closest was with Boba."

Quinlan nodded. "You're right. We're just taking away a lot of opportunities for lessons and growth by protecting everyone."

"You said Obi-Wan still has missions go sideways. Sounds like you just ensured he had better tools for handling that."

"Well, you're not wrong." Quinlan smiled. "That is what I did. He's not going to be the Obi-Wan we knew as a result."

"Yeah, I figured when I saw him on Mandalore."

Quinlan chuckled. "So you saw his awful haircut?"

"It doesn't suit him at all. Why?"

"He likes to keep things traditional. He'll grow it out once he is knighted."

"Ah, of course. We're doing the right thing?" Cody asked Quinlan.

Quinlan nodded. "We are." 

Cody let out a breath. "I hope it works out."

"Me too."

"I hate time travel."

"Yeah, I'm getting way too old for this."

"No kidding," Cody grumbled. "We're both all gray." 

"And rocking it."

Cody snorted. "For the future..." he hesitated. "You're always welcome to visit. I don't care what anyone else says. It's nice to have someone who knows and understands around."

Quinlan beamed at him. "It really is. Be careful what you wish for though, I can be really annoying."

Cody shrugged. "You're not that annoying. You've never really annoyed me. I don't know what everyone was complaining about."

He was very surprised and confused by the relieved look on Quinlan's face. 

Quinlan hugged him tightly. "Thank you." 

"Uh... you're welcome?"

"I don't... I don't quite fit in with Jedi, that's one of the reasons I haven't revealed myself," Quinlan admitted. "I just... I fit in better as I grew older, and I'm sure I'd fit in now, but that just means everyone will be looking at my younger self and wonder why he is the way he is... and the truth is... chaos is a Kiffar thing. Worse, I've actually always been below average for Kiffar on that chaos scale, so I don't exactly fit in there, though my family adored me. When people just see me as annoying and don't care to get to know me... I'm used to it. But it still hurts."

Cody tightened his hug. "That's messed up," he mumbled. "I thought the Jedi were better than that."

"Still sentients. They're better than most groups, and don't allow violence, and they're generally proactive against bullying. That doesn't mean there aren't rumors and whispers, and you can't force people to be friends with people they don't like, regardless. And people not wanting to be friends because of innate characteristics that are not easily changed, that I didn't want to change... well. That hurt."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I've had years to come to terms with it..."

"That doesn't mean that it's not still affecting you."

Quinlan was quiet for a moment. "You're not wrong. I try to let go of feelings, but some hurts never fully go away. It's been a comfort, seeing my younger self flourishing in a way I hadn't the first time around. I hadn't realized just how much it had hurt me, and how much I was missing out."

"I'm sorry." Cody sighed.

"Here I am talking all about myself, what about you?" Quinaln tried to change the subject.

Cody gave him a look. "I'm well aware of how terrible my childhood was. There is a reason I wanted to prevent Jango from creating the clone army. There is a reason I'm not fond of Mandalore. I don't need to go over it. I've been over it, and I've put a lot of it to rest. I'm not going to be getting reminders by seeing myself or anyone else suffering the way I did. Or seeing them being raised better. I'm making sure they never exist at all. That I never exist. And yeah, that's hard, but that's not what you experienced. That's not the reminders you get every time you check in on how things are going with the Jedi."

Quinlan swallowed and closed his eyes. "I'm still trying to work through it but it's hard. Can we not talk about it more? Are you doing okay knowing that you're making sure that you never exist?"

"Alright. Yeah, I am. It wasn't a life. Not before the time travel. The years of war were the best years. I don't want anyone to know what that is like if I can help it. Not sure what to do about Kamino but... I don't want any clone army to appear, much less Jango's clones. We suffered enough. I'd be okay if it meant that I disappear, eventually."

"I doubt it," Quinlan said quietly. "I wouldn't be here otherwise. It will be hard these next few years, but we've already got the galaxy on a good track."

Cody stopped and really looked at Quinlan. "How much have you really relaxed, Quin? When was the last time you stopped and relaxed, when you stopped worrying?"

"...the war, I think, one of the rare times most of my friends were in one spot. I couldn't rest while on the run, not when I had my son, not while I was dealing with grief, not trying to keep other younglings form suffering. And not since we arrived in the past there is so much to worry about. So much to try to change."

Cody nodded. "You can rest with me, Quin. Don't push yourself too hard. Please."

Quinlan looked at him and nodded. "I'll rest... Not much I can do while on Mandalore anyway."

Cody smiled. "Alright."

.

Years flew by. Quinlan visited Cody as often as he could get away with.

They continued to work towards saving the galaxy, with Cody offering suggestions to Quinlan as much as he could. 

Quinlan communicated more openly with the Jedi Council but did not tell them his true identity. That, he wanted to keep to himself. They didn't need to know just who he was. Not yet, anyway.

It was enough that they trusted him.

It was enough that when he needed a break, Cody was waiting with open arms, and was a good place to slow down and forget the woes of the galaxy just for a bit.

They always had discussions. What was morally right, what was the best course of action. If they were steering people the way they wanted, was that manipulation, did that make them a bad person?

They never really found any answers, but talking their worries out helped them relax. 

Quinlan was getting older, but showed no signs of slowing down. Jedi aging slower than those of their species aside, the average Kiffar lifespan was one hundred years. When he first arrived in the past, he was still more than thirty years away from that. He would keep living for far more, at least until his age finally caught up with him.

Cody had realized he wasn't aging as fast, that the Force might have done something, or maybe the double aging had a limit. He wasn't sure. The result was that he looked to be about the same age as Quinlan, while still being in shape.

Quinlan had the Force to help him stay healthy and in shape, and Cody had whatever the Kaminoans had done to modify their genetics to make them good soldiers.

The Naboo incident with the Trade Federation occurred. 

Quinlan decided it was time for another visit.

"Hey Cody, any reason people were giving me looks?" Quinlan asked curiously as he leaned on Cody's desk. He hadn't even bothered knocking.

Cody finished signing off on a document. "Rumor has it that the reason you keep visiting so much is that we're in love."

"Oh. Huh." Quinlan tilted his head at Cody. "Why?"

"It's not normal for friends who don't consider each other family to go out of their way to spend time together so often. You're the only one who can pull me away from work. And I don't know exactly, but I guess they just believe that we complete each other or something. I don't keep up with all the romantic notions. If we're not dating, we must be in another type of relationship- no normal friends would be like this. Not with a wanderer who doesn't care for the Mandalorian lifestyle, not with a leader who..." Cody fell silent abruptly. 

Quinlan raised an eyebrow. He recognized the signs of embarrassment. 

Cody hurriedly put away everything. "Let's go get dinner." 

"A leader who what, Codes?" Quinlan asked, catching his wrist. "You know I won't make fun of you."

Cody groaned and looked down at his feet, mumbling, "a leader who watches his friend leave with longing, like he wants to go with."

Quinlan hugged him tightly. "Of course you want to come with, you don't like being a Mandalorian, much less one of their leaders."

Cody lifted his head to look at Quinlan. "...you're not serious?"

Quinlan blinked, still hugging Cody tightly. Their faces were just a couple inches apart. "You always tell me you wish to go with me. It's not your fault no one will take over. Doesn't have to mean we're dating." 

Cody gaped at him and then threw all caution in the wind to kiss him.

Quinlan stood, stunned for a moment before he was kissing back.

"You can be so stupid Quin," Cody mumbled. "I apparently look very in love when I'm watching you leave, that's not normal for friends."

"...Oh. So... is this going to be a thing now?" Quinlan asked, grinning, as he brought up hand to caress Cody's cheek.

Cody nodded shyly. "If you want... I never dated anyone before. I hadn't even known I wanted to before..."

Quinlan kissed him again. "I would love to be whatever you want. I don't really do romance, I don't understand romance. I'm happy with being friends, and I'm happy exploring a deeper relationship."

Cody smiled into the kiss. "Are you certain?"

"Very much so," Quinlan assured him, kissing him a third time. 

"I'm not sure I'd be any good with romance, anyway. I just... you mean the world to me Quin, especially after all these years."

Quinlan nodded, smiling softly. "You mean the world to me too, Codes. Now, I do think we should get food... I am a bit hungry."

"What does this change?" Cody asked quietly.

Quinlan shrugged. "Apparently kissing is a thing we'll do. It means we know we're not going after anyone else, it can mean more, if you want. But let's discuss it over food, okay?" His stomach grumbled loud enough for Cody to hear.

Cody chuckled. "Alright, food first, then."

Quinlan grinned and took his hand. "Let's go get the food."

"You do realize that after all the rumors of us dating, they're going to think we just decided we can be open about it rather than us having just started dating, right?"

"Does that truly matter?" Quinlan asked curiously. "We know the truth of the matter. The truth that we hadn't had anyone for years, found each other again, and were content to just be friends, until those rumors forced us to actually think about it."

"I... I guess they don't need to know the truth." Cody smiled at Quinlan.

"So, what will it take for you to stop being Mand'alor?"

Cody groaned. "Someone to be willing to face me in combat and actually win. I can't hold back, they'll know, and I always win."

"...there's no other way?"

"Not by tradition."

"Then start a new one."

Neither spoke again for a while, as they were among others as they picked up their food. 

Then they retreated to privacy.

"You had something in mind?" Cody asked Quinlan.

Quinlan nodded. "In the case where a Mand'alor wants to step down, after x amount of years in service, a tournament or competition of some sort to find the best replacement can be put into place."

Cody stared at him. "...why didn't I think of that! That would appease them. I've been doing this for over ten years now. I think ten years is more than enough time to want to retire. Maybe ten years and over a certain age? Someone retiring at thirty would be way different than me... like, I want to just retire and be done with work, someone retiring at thirty wouldn't be done with work necessarily."

"Right." Quinlan nodded. "I think maybe you should draft up a whole thing about how this would work before presenting it. Like, a bunch of different areas to test, but each Mand'alor sets a different set and order."

"Hmm... like if we test physical skills, mental skills, emotional skills, and diplomacy, we must pick two of each minimum, but there's probably going to be at least ten. It'll be based on what that Mand'alor considers to be the greatest asset to their years of service."

"Exactly." Quinlan nodded, grinning. "You could even work in a qualifying round of each? You set the baseline and require people to hit that minimum in each area before continuing on, assuming you have far too many interested."

Cody leaned on him. "You get the best ideas, Quin. It'll probably take another five years to get the structures in place, and to the point I can actually use it to retire... but we've waited long enough. I can wait another five years."

"Indeed," Quinlan agreed, smiling. "You're the best, you know that?"

"What makes you say that?" Cody asked.

"Well, the galaxy is taking notice. Some systems not in the Republic are intrigued by the dual leadership that you seem to have going, with you and Satine." 

"...Satine's really in charge. I just keep the meatheads in line." 

"Well, it's working, and people are taking notice. It's causing its own sort of change and doing more to change opinions of Mandalorians than Satine alone had done the first time around."

Cody raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"A violent culture going peace loving overnight? Not just peace loving, but pacifist? No one could quite believe it possible. I know there were many rumors for years, long before the war, whispering about how it was a facade and they would eventually turn on the galaxy once they were ready. It never happened, obviously, but everyone expected it to."

"Ah... so the violence still being present, but controlled with new outlets and new sports as we come up with them shows that we're making an effort to not get our violence all over the galaxy, instead of looking suspicious."

Quinlan grinned. "You got it. I wouldn't be surprised if Satine is having an easier time making connections in the galaxy this time around either."

Cody shook his head. "And all I wanted was to keep Jango from being stupid and try to start a whole revenge plot against Jedi."

Quinlan cackled. "I know! That's the funniest part."

Cody sighed. "You're ridiculous."

Quinlan cheered. "Yes! I haven't actually changed that much!"

Cody pulled him in for a kiss. "Five years, and then I can join you for shenanigans. Help me figure out how to make leadership qualities something to compete with."

"A debate would be a good one," Quinlan suggested. "As would speechmaking. Ohhh and maybe set up a fake scenario with people who can act a part to mediate. Could also do a like, team scenario with the competitors being the team captains to showcase how they lead that."

Cody smiled. "Good ideas." He started writing them down as Quinlan started suggesting even more ideas.

Quinlan was really the best of the two of them.

.

Quinlan resumed his usual travel schedule, keeping tabs as the fruits of his labor really started showing.

The Jedi Order was not as trapped by the Republic as they had been. 

He planted seeds of doubt with anonymous tips about the Chancellor's true humbleness- strange that he had hardly spoken up about his own planet's plight until Queen Amidala showed up. Convenient that she then called for a vote of no confidence on the one person in the whole Senate who had tried to help- by sending Jedi in. Even more convenient that it allowed Palpatine to become Chancellor when no one had ever considered him for office openly before.

Quinlan knew all the changes during the Naboo fiasco.

He had found and brought Anakin to the Temple when Anakin was just three. He had then found several other slave children who could use the Force and dropped them with the Jedi Temple, many he had not recognized. That meant that they likely had never had the chance he was giving them.

He was amused that his changes had ended up with Obi-Wan being the one to leave the ship on Tatooine rather than Qui-Gon, but then, Obi-Wan was a Knight rather than a padawan. He was more confident and had a slightly different skillset. 

All that was left was making sure they could make it off of Tatooine.

That meant that Quinlan had to make contact with his younger self to tell him to talk to Obi-Wan to find out what was going on and help them. 

He knew it would work out; even with the different path, his younger self still had a large amount of money stored away in varying currencies.

Quinlan was right, of course. Once that whole thing was over, with younger Quinlan helping on Naboo, Maul dying for real, and Qui-Gon not dying, that was when he visited Cody.

It had been the first time he had seen his changes play out in a major event, and he was pleased.

The Chancellor had no idea Anakin even existed; Anakin was safely in the Temple being raised like a normal Jedi initiate. 

The years following showed how well the changes had changed things.

Obi-Wan took on Anakin when he was eleven. They really were a good match, and this time, there was no trauma, there was no resentment, there was no grief.

Quinlan was just pleased to see that his changes were working.

Oh, sure, the Sith was working extra hard to get things back on track, but there were stronger foundations. It would be harder to shake everyone with the changes Quinlan had made.

Quinlan had even managed to get to Kamino and sabotaged the cloning work just to attempt to ensure that clones weren't happening, though he wouldn't dare go back just in case. No way of knowing for sure until the war started.

In another interesting twist, not all the systems that had joined the Separatists were making noises about leaving, while several that had been loyal to the Republic were considering it.

Quinlan helped Cody get the competition to take over as Mand'alor set up over comm with regular calls. 

Then when he was on one of his regular drop offs, Plo approached him.

Quinlan was a bit surprised; the Council hadn't tried to pin him down before. 

But he allowed it, and they talked. Quinlan answered a lot of questions, but refused to answer the question of just who he was. 

"I'm happy with the changes, but it's not time for you to know who I am. You will be watching my younger self closer, and I want him to be able to stand on his own for a bit longer. In five years, I think it will be time."

That answer was accepted, and they parted ways, with Quinlan agreeing to be in more consistent and present contact instead of the previous arrangement.

It was time for a change.

.

Cody watched the new Mand'alor take charge, leaning on Quinlan. "Finally," he breathed. "Finally free."

"Finally free to help me save the galaxy." Quinlan pulled him into a kiss.

Cody hummed happily.

"I'm ready to go when you are."

"Perfect."

Their first night on the ship, Cody cuddled with Quinlan and had to ask a burning question.

"Do you ever think we're doing this wrong?"

"Hmm?"

"We're making people's decisions for them. We're manipulating them towards the best decisions for the galaxy. We're taking away experiences that help them grow..."

"Oh... it's tricky. Because most of what we've been doing is just making sure information is available for people to make the choice, because a large part of problems comes about when people don't realize they have a choice."

Cody nodded. "But sometimes we've been spinning information and phrasing it based on how we know people will react."

"It's not comfortable," Quinlan admitted quietly. "But the galaxy is getting to be a better place, they are still making choices and know the choices available, and they are happy."

"True... and taking away experiences?"

"There's still trouble in the galaxy. They're just not getting as traumatized or forced to grow up too quickly as frequently, and they're more prepared."

"That makes sense. The galaxy is quite a bit different. I can't believe we made that much of a difference."

"Sometimes, all it takes is a little to drive big change."

Cody nodded. "Think we'll keep the Jedi from being eradicated?"

"Absolutely. I'm going to tell whichever Council member I'm talking to closer to the war about it. Numbers are actually higher than the first time around."

"Really?" 

"Yeah. The changes I've caused in the Order and even some in the Senate has made it easier for Jedi to survive, plus I'm pretty good at finding younglings who are Force sensitive... I think I'm up to a hundred I've found since ending up in the past that were never found originally, I'm fairly certain."

"Huh... I suppose that would help." Cody sighed. "But the fact that it just took us two, me focusing on Jango, you just dropping bits of information to get people to pay attention in the right spots to change this much... we were so close to a better outcome."

"Right up to the end." Quinlan sighed. "I found Mace before he died."

"...What? I thought he died arresting the Chancellor."

Quinlan shook his head. "He lost a hand to Anakin and was tossed out the window. He survived, but he didn't last more than a year or two after. If Anakin hadn't showed up, if Anakin hadn't sided with the Chancellor... Mace would have won. The Empire would never have risen. Yeah, there would have been a lot to undo, but the Empire would never have gotten a beginning and the order to kill all Jedi would never have gotten out. All because Anakin chose to be selfish at the worst possible moment."

Cody stared at Quinlan. "So right up to that moment there was still a chance?"

Quinlan nodded. "There's a reason I made sure to look for Anakin before he was too old."

"...yeah that was the right call. Hopefully that's good enough."

"I think it is. Just look at all we've done so far, and all we're set to do."

Cody hummed. "True. I think... I'm looking at you, and I'm enjoying that." He kissed Quinlan.

.

Cody found that working with Quinlan to combat the rot the Sith had spread through the galaxy to be rewarding. Far more rewarding than babysitting warriors who didn't know how not to jump into a fight.

They watched the galaxy come closer and closer to war, and as the time neared, held their breaths. Had their preparations worked?

Quinlan met up with the Council once more, amused to see Obi-Wan on the Council early. 

Obi-Wan stared at him throughout the interaction.

Finally, the question that was always asked came up. Just who was he?

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes.

Quinlan smirked. Of course his best friend would figure it out, even though Quinlan was pushing eighty, and his younger self was quite a bit different. 

So close to the war, Quinlan had decided it was time to disclose his identity.

His younger self had made a name for himself. People were watching him. The Council might even have him marked to be on the Council one day.

Quinlan revealed himself, answered some more questions about his past, including clarifying that he was not the same as his younger self, and some of the changes he made early on had changed his younger self's path, and he was perfectly happy with that.

Then he returned to Cody's side to watch the start of the war where they worried together about how things would go. 

The war started, and it turned out to just be a bunch of groups either fighting for their planet or hiring people to fight for them. 

No droids, Quinlan had managed to put a stop to the production at one point, but he hadn't realized that there would be no droid army.

Or maybe eliminating the clones from the war meant that the Sith had to even out the playing field by deciding against using droids.

Either way, Cody and Quinlan were both relieved to see things going better for the galaxy.

They still decided to do the Jedi thing and fight for those who needed to stand up for them.

When the war ended, and the Sith was gone... Quinlan and Cody retired in the Temple so Quinlan could teach.

They lived together happily for the rest of their lives, always getting into the weirdest of discussions.