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Chapter Text

“...the more pressing question right now is who will continue Ahsoka’s training?” Master Obi-Wan interrupted the Council’s discussion finally, and she shifted, looking up from where she’d stared dejectedly at her boots.
The sudden and unexpected arrival of a disguised and heartbroken Senator Amidala - disguised so she could arrive at the Temple without notice, and heartbroken over the reason for her secretive visit - had brought the Council together in a hurry a few days before, and what she confessed had upended events too fast to really sink in yet.

The fact that her Master was married paled in comparison to his slaughter on Tatooine before the war even started.
There had been a thorough examination of Skyguy’s mind by Master Healer Che, disguised as a routine procedure - the members of the Council currently on planet had been there too, ostensibly for the same exam - that had revealed a deep, fouling darkness barely kept down for now, but slowly poisoning everything it touched.

Things had happened very quickly after that. Her Master was being held securely in the Temple, being evaluated and, hopefully, treated, once he realized he needed healing.
So far, he’d been too angry.
His accusing look when he realized Ahsoka wouldn’t help him escape had burned, more so the realisation he didn’t really care that he was expecting her to become a traitor to the Order so he could find his now no-longer-secret wife.

And now here she was.
Being discussed.
Master Plo looked at her, radiating comfort and a reassurance that all would be well, but Ahsoka had trouble seeing how things could ever be well again. She’d been there when Master Obi-Wan had broken the news to Rex, and his confusion had hurt to see, because she knew she must have looked the same way when she had first learned of this.
It wasn’t fair.
It wasn’t fair that this happened to them, it wasn’t fair that this painted the entire 501st in a suspicious light, and it wasn’t fair that her Master’s darkness would forever be seen as a taint on Ahsoka herself now.

“Not you, it will be.” Master Yoda’s voice broke her out of her depressive pondering, and she saw Master Obi-Wan frown heavily.
“I already know her, she trusts me, I dare to say-” he darted a glance towards her and she nodded immediately. He smiled at her and went on “-and I would be proud to teach her.”
But Master Yoda shook his head.
“Not for you, she is. Not a reflection on you, or her, this is. But-”
He got interrupted as the doors to the Council chamber flew open.

“I will teach her.” A deep voice rang out behind her, and Ahsoka closed her eyes as reflexive relief coursed through her.
Someone stepped up behind her, laying a red and black skinned hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the newcomer and smiled tremblingly.
Maul looked terrible. He was dishevelled, looked as if he hadn’t slept for a month, and she saw some cobwebs still clinging to his robes where he hadn’t bothered to clean himself up before storming in here.
He must have come straight from one of his excavations.
“Masters.” Maul went on, bowing the precise inches to make it count as an actual bow and not just a dip of the head.
“Excuse my unannounced arrival.”
Master Plo was smiling at him, and his Force presence was warm and bright with happiness at seeing his most elusive adopted son.
“Knight Opress.” Master Mundi’s holo admonished. “This is most-”
“In matters of fate, and the Force, propriety matters little, Master.” Maul interrupted, showing more of said impropriety.
“But as I said, further discussion on this topic is unnecessary. I will be her Master.” He smirked and swung the knock-out argument like a club.
“It’s the will of the Force.”

Master Fisto’s hologram snorted into his fist. Master Koth’s hid his smile behind a hand.
Master Windu looked very, very tired.
“Koh-to-yah, my son.” Master Plo said into the stunned silence, and Maul bowed his head to him, honestly respectful this time.
“Koh-to-yah, father.” Maul replied, his face impassive, but his Force presence fond.
“Explain yourself.” Master Windu said, accepting a mug of kaff from a gloved hand appearing to his left and taking a long swallow.
“What is there to explain? It’s not a revolutionary concept. I know for a fact you’ve had at least one Padawan, Master, she’s sitting right there.”
Master Billaba’s hologram waved cheerily.
Master Windu just kept staring at Maul.
“Fine.” he sighed, aggravatedly.
“I felt the severing of her training bond to Skywalker even deep in meditation, and the Force rang with certainty. I am supposed to be her Master. Master Kenobi would do an adequate job, I have no doubt, but this is not the Force’s will.”
Master Obi-Wan mouthed the word ‘adequate’ to himself with a grin.
“You have never taken a Padawan before.” Master Poof said ponderously.
“I was never meant to teach one before, Master.” Maul replied evenly.

“Correct, you are. Sing, the Force does around you both. Her Master, you are supposed to be.”
Maul smirked, and his hand tightened on her shoulder. It took all she had not to reach up and grasp it, too relieved for words.
“If you take her on as your Padawan, you will also be taking command of the 501st battalion.”
Master Windu said after another long swallow of what was probably kaff. The same gloved hand appeared in his holo again and handed him two pills, which he threw back with another swallow from the mug.
Maul narrowed his eyes. He had escaped being officially made a General until now, Ahsoka knew, mainly by spending all of his time on archeological digs and expeditions into ancient abandoned temples, and only returning to Coruscant when he absolutely had to. She had heard rumours that he had snuck out in the middle of the night several times to escape exactly this outcome.
The thought had guilt churn in her belly, that the bond with her would also chain him to something he absolutely did not want. His hand on her shoulder flexed again, and his reassurance flowed into her.
“...fine.” he agreed, and Master Gallia laughed softly.
“If we knew it would be this easy to get you to agree…”
“I agree for Ahsoka’s sake.” Maul interjected. “And for the men in that battalion. They have fought together many times, have survived together many times. Taking her from them as well would be beyond cruel.”

And for the first time in days, Ahsoka could stand up straight and proud.

–

“So, do you know anything about the new General?” Jesse asked Rex as they waited in the hangar, anxiety badly hidden in all of them.
“A Zabrak, named Maul Opress.”
“Maul Opress? Was Stabby Evilface already taken?” Fives asked behind them with a snort.
Rex sighed tiredly. “Echo?”
There was a low oof sound as a plastoid covered elbow jabbed into Fives’ side.
“Thank you, Echo.”
“Anytime, sir.”

“So we don’t know anything useful about him? Has he led a battalion before?”
Rex shook his head. “Apparently not.”
“...kark.”
Tell me about it, Rex thought. The one single good bit in this was that they’d keep Commander Tano, and hopefully she would be able to lead the General subtly into not kriffing up spectacularly.
The ship entered the hangar through the forceshield at that point, touching down gently. They all straightened to attention as the ramp lowered and the Commander bounced out, smiling and chattering a mile a minute, her head tilted back to look into the ship. It was good to see her acting like herself again, and he knew the sentiment echoed through the entire battalion. There was the sound of uncountable, quiet sighs of relief.
Then their new General stepped out behind her, and Rex’s mouth dropped open behind his bucket.
He looks like he stepped right out of a training manual on how to spot a Sith, Rex thought to himself disbelievingly. Does he have to wear black on top of all of…that? The first time we coordinate with another battalion, my new General is going to get shot by some vod thinking he’s bagging himself a Sith-kill.
Their new General approached them slowly, his face impassive. It was disconcerting after having been around General Skywalker, who wore his emotions on his sleeve, for so long. The marks - or maybe tattoos? - made him look, if not angry, then at least displeased with the galaxy in general, and Rex hoped that wasn’t the case. For Ahsoka’s sake at the very least, if not theirs.
Though her behaviour towards the General had been too cheerful for that to truly be the case.
And it’s not General Skywalker anymore, Rex reminded himself bitterly.

“Rex!” Ahsoka greeted him as soon as she was in hearing range, waving. Rex nodded back, smiling privately, as both Jedi drew near and came to a stop in front of the assembled battalion.
Their General’s eyes roamed over them all.
“Oh Force.” he said quietly, probably not expecting Rex to hear him.
Had he already found them lacking?
Ahsoka jammed her bony little elbow in the General’s unprotected side. He didn’t even wince.
“Captain Rex, I introduce you to General Maul Opress, Jedi Knight and scholar.” Ahsoka said with a faux formal voice, bowing deeply. Her face didn’t give anything away, but her lekku twitched in glee.
“I’m already regretting this, Padawan.” The General said, and Rex had not expected that voice to come out of that mouth. It was low and smooth and surprisingly nice to listen to. And dry as three month old ration bars.
“Koh-to-yah, Captain Rex.” General Opress said then, bowing to him. “May the Force be with you. I am honored to fight beside you.” He actually sounded like he meant it, too. Rex was getting whiplash from all the conflicting impressions.
“General. We’re ready for inspection.” Rex responded, keeping his voice even and saluted, coming to attention, the 501st copying his movement in a wave of motion.
“Yes, we will have none of that, absolutely not. At ease.” General Opress said, looking vaguely horrified.
Ahsoka snorted into her hand.
General Opress rested a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. Her face was so openly fond and admiring that Rex just knew they must have known each other for years before this.
“Ahsoka has told me a lot about you. And I mean a lot. Her last textcomm was ten pages long.” General Opress said dryly, and Ahsoka bared her teeth at him in a playful snarl that the General returned with his own low growl that sounded just as teasing, somehow.
“I feel like I know you much better than I probably have a right to, so forgive me if I overstep boundaries in the coming days as I acclimatise. You have my permission,” he made a face at the word “to tell me so, and I will correct my behaviour.”

He paused for a moment and waited for the acknowledgement. Rex nodded at him, too stunned to speak.
“Now, first of all…you are the de-facto Commander of this battalion. Is that correct?”
“Yes, General.”
“But you are a Captain, not a Commander.”
“Yes, General.”
“But you do all the things a Commander does.”
“And more!” Ahsoka piped up beside Opress, her hands on her hips.
“As she said.” Opress nodded.
“...yes, General?”
General Opress nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Ahsoka.
“So, how do I make him a Commander? I can do that, right? I haven’t had time to read all the regulations yet.”
“Yes, you can promote him!” Ahsoka exclaimed, almost vibrating with excitement.
Rex felt like he’d been fired out of a mortar and dropped onto very hard rock.
“Sir, that is not-” he broke off when Jesse slammed a subtle fist into his backplate to shut him up, and the internal comms exploded in shushing noises from every trooper in hearing range.
“Captain?” General Opress looked at him, then made a face. “I better not get used to calling you that. I have read a veritable mountain of reports. You have more than earned it.”
He turned towards Ahsoka.
“Alright, then, we should get that underway before anything else. I assume there is…flimsiwork for that.” He said, saying the word flimsiwork like it was something dirty to not step on so you do not ruin your boots. At least that was familiar.

Two hours later, Rex’s comm pinged with a notification and he stared down at the just filed promotion.
Rex wanted to think he couldn’t be bought. But this, coupled with the way the General had been with Ahsoka…
Maybe this wasn’t going to suck completely.

–

The first time Wolffe met one of his General’s real sons was after Khorm. He woke up in the Jedi’s medbay on Coruscant, and had to immediately close his eyes again as he was assaulted with much more visual input than usual.
Because he had a prosthetic eye.
Because General Plo had apparently raised hell to keep him, and somehow managed to talk the GAR into agreeing.
“Yes, it might be better to keep them closed for now, Commander, until you wake up fully. I have an eyepatch for after, so you can get used to it slowly. We’ll switch it from side to side, so you get used to the cybernetic one first. How are you feeling?”
Wolffe made a low sound. Blinking over the prosthetic felt…strange. There was the rustling of cloth, much more than there should be, and it allowed him to track the movement as a hand gently deposited an eyepatch in his own hand, which he put in with a sigh of relief, opening his eyes again.
He turned his head slowly.
A Zabrak, he was pretty sure, but not an Iridonian like General Koth. Yellow skin, sharp brown markings - maybe tattoos? - and golden eyes crinkled in a smile. He wore the robes Wolffe had seen on the Jedi’s medics before, and two lightsabers at his belt.
“You are a stubborn one, Commander. Do you know how much medication and Force sedation I had to drop down on you to keep you in restful sleep?” He looked amused, not annoyed.
“I should have known, though. Father told me you were strong-willed.”
“Father?” Wolffe croaked, and the Jedi immediately turned, grabbing a pitcher of water and a glass, filling it halfway before handing it over to him.
“There’s a straw if you- I guess not.” He broke off before finishing the sentence at Wolffe’s scowl.
He didn’t seem intimidated though, just still gently amused.
“And yes, father. Your General? Plo Koon. He adopted me and my brothers. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you and your brothers, though under better circumstances, I must admit.”
General Plo had sons? General Plo had adopted an unknown number of people? …Okay, that part actually wasn’t surprising. But why had he never mentioned them?
“Father’s gonna be very disappointed, you know. But he should have known I’d assign myself to your care if any of his battalion landed in here, especially you.”
“Why would the General be disappointed?”
“He had this big thing planned, for your next leave on Coruscant. Introducing all of us and so on.”
His smile turned suddenly predatory. “But this is even better! We can get to know each other in private, little brother. I’ve been looking forward to this for years.” He refilled Wolffe’s glass. His eyes had a definite manic glint to them now.
“We’re going to have so much fun.” It sounded like a threat.
Wolffe had a bad feeling about this.

–

The next day, after midmeal, their new General asked for a meeting. Rex, who wasn’t actually hungover because he had been honestly too shocked still to drink, replied immediately, gathered up his bucket, and went to the General’s office.
He pushed the chime, and the door opened quickly, General Opress standing there in just a single layer of clothing, almost naked for a Jedi. He was also cradling a weird-looking lump of stone like it was a tubie.
The stone had what appeared to be a face.
The face was moving.
Rex blinked.
General Opress looked down, then smiled. “Oh, yes, this is a - you can’t actually pronounce the name right with just one set of vocal chords - worry stone idol. It was one of my first finds after I became a Knight. I’ve been carting it around with me ever since.”
He lifted it up like a proud parent right into Rex’s face.
“You’re supposed to tell it all your woes, and it’ll cheer you up, because, no matter how terrible your life is, it can’t be as bad as this.”
“Does it work?” Rex asked after a long moment of digesting that.
General Opress nodded, waving Rex into his office. “Surprisingly well, actually. Sometimes, when you tell it something that’s bad but not really a woe, it makes this amazing are you kidding me face at you, makes me laugh every time.” He pauses for a moment. “Not that I delight in the suffering of others, of course.” he added then, the words sounding like a well-worn garment.
Rex started to have the niggling suspicion that his new General was even weirder than his former one.

His General cemented the thought in his mind by throwing the stone idol…thing to the side without a care, where it stopped in midair before it could smash into the wall and lowered slowly onto his desk instead.
“Now, for more important things. I’m sorry if there’s supposed to be a process for this, I am working my way through the regulations. I’d like to know how this is going to work. What am I supposed to do and what are you supposed to do, Commander. And I don’t mean what you have been doing anyway. I want to know what, precisely, your duties should be, not what they currently are. I’m not one for shirking my work, even if I’d rather be digging into a grave right now.” he thought for a moment.
“No matter what Ahsoka says about me.” he added then.
“You have known the Commander for a long time, then, General?” Rex dared to ask, trying to not let the absolutely glee at being addressed as Commander show on his face.
“To my eternal sorrow, yes.” General Opress said so fondly Rex couldn’t bite back the smile.
“My father was the one who found her and brought her to the Temple.”
Rex frowned.
“Commander Tano once told me General Koon was the one who brought her there.” General Opress nodded.
“General Koon is your father?” and then Rex’s brain decided to check out completely for a moment and his mouth said “You don’t look like-”
“A Kel Dor? Was it the lack of dying in oxygen that tipped you off?” General Opress smirked and Rex relaxed minutely, even as his brain was still beating up his mouth for saying such an idiotic sentence in front of, and to, his new General.
“If you’ve spent more than five minutes in my father’s presence, you can not be surprised he’d adopt. He snatched all three of us up.”
“You have two brothers, sir?”
“You may offer me your condolences once you meet them, which you will, whether or not you or I, for that matter, like it. Savage and Feral. Both are Knights as well.” Contrary to his words, there was obvious pride in his tone of voice.
Maul, Savage and Feral Opress, Rex thought to himself. I’m sensing a theme. But it wasn’t too unusual for batches to pick a theme for their names, so maybe it was the same for some natborns.
“Are you the eldest, sir?” General Opress’ face darkened.
“No, Savage is five years older than me, Feral three years younger.”
Middle Cadet in the batch, Rex nodded. That actually explained a lot.

An hour later, Rex watched his General and Ahsoka step up on the mats in the training room, as vod’e around him clamoured for a good spot to watch.
General Opress had told him he’d like at the very least the officers to be present, so they could get a feel of how he’d move in battle.
Rex sighed a bit. He already knew how a Jedi moved, he’d seen his former General, Ahsoka, and General Kenobi fight countless times.
“Huh, that’s a long one.” Jesse said next to him, and Hardcase snorted.
“That’s what they said!” he grinned, earning himself a slap on the back of the head from Kix, even as Tup next to him giggled. Dogma, as usual, just wore his faint look of disapproval, though it seemed noticeably fonder than any other brother ever got from him.
Jesse was right, though; the hilt of the sabre was much longer than ones he’d seen before. Rex wondered what that meant. Was it compensating for something?
Ahsoka was smirking, drawing her own blades.
“I’m going to beat you this time!”
“You say that every time and it has not happened yet.” General Opress replied calmly, and they activated their sabres at almost the same time.

…and then General Opress activated a second blade.
On the same ‘sabre.
The room went quiet as the two yellow blades hummed, watching their General twirl it around a few times expertly.
“Fuck, that’s hot.” Someone muttered behind Rex.

Unfortunately, it really was.
Especially when their General started using it.
Rex understood now why his General wanted this first demonstration - his movements in fight were very different from what he was used to from any Jedi he’d seen before, and it was actually distracting. It was obvious he used another style of fighting, one he hadn’t seen used before. It was aggressive and unpredictable.
It was also very clear that their General was holding back against Ahsoka, and even seemed to misstep several times to give her openings to exploit.
Still, in the end the General won, but Ahsoka was beaming, breathing hard, looking up at him with a proud grin that he returned. It made him look younger, somehow, and didn’t so much soften him than smoothing out the jagged edges.

Rex felt the relief course through his brothers.

–

They arrived at the 212th’s current location a day later, to meet up for a joint mission, their first with their new General. Apparently, General Opress had been friends with General Kenobi since they were cadets, and this was obviously meant as a way to ease their General into battle.

“Kenobi.
“Maul.”
“I see the Force has not seen fit to answer my calls and you are still the enduring thorn in my side.”
“Likewise, dearest. I do so enjoy seeing your contemptuous frown from up close and in person, it’s simply not the same over holo.”
His General snarled, and for a second Rex was sure he’d see the first Jedi brawl of his life, but then both Jedi smiled and stepped close, embracing each other tightly.
“I’m glad it’s you who will teach her. Though I am not sure if I should express my condolences towards you, Ahsoka, for the grandmaster you’ve been linked to. Best of luck.”
“Master Jocasta told me she looks forward to meeting my Padawan, and she remembers her fondly.” Maul said haughtily. “I do not know why you persist in slandering her. She is a patient and wise Jedi.”
“She once made me polish every desk in the archives. Twice.”
“You left crumbs.”
“From the cookie you gave me!”
“I didn’t leave crumbs.” Maul sniffed breezily, but his lips were twitching.
They stared at each other for a moment longer, then both grinned.
“It really is good to have you at our side. How are Savage and Feral?”
“As always they bring me nothing but misery.”
“Have you still not forgiven them? Jedi do not hold grudges.”
“I still find glitter in the corners of my room.”
“Well, you did insinuate both of them had to wear horn prosthetics because they couldn’t grow their own.”
“They started it.”

They both seemed to remember other people existed at the same time, and General Kenobi turned half towards Cody, who had stood next and slightly behind him, looking inscrutable.
Inscrutable to anyone but Rex, that was. His ori’vod was wearing his bucket, but Rex was sure he hadn’t looked away from General Opress once. He might not even have blinked.
“Let me introduce you to Marshal Commander Cody, dear. He is my brilliant and fearless second in command.”
Cody seemed to need a minute to even realize he was being addressed, then he took his bucket off, saluting. Rex threw a side glance at his General and then hastily schooled his expression at the slow, lingering once over General Opress gave Cody before bowing - keeping eye contact.
“Commander Cody, I have heard much about you. Thank you for keeping this one alive.”
“Sir. General. It’s an honor.”
General Opress tilted his head with a slight smile curling his lips, and Rex saw Cody flush.

Oh no.

the end
(maybe. maybe not.)

Chapter Text

The first thing Savage’s Master ever said to him was “You’re frankly much better at being inconspicuous than you have any right to be.”
The second thing was “Force you’re like a sentient space heater.”

At twelve years old he was already a few inches taller than the dark-green skinned Rodian Jedi standing suddenly next to him in his favorite spot to observe the Rancor clan during naptime, his gaze fixed on Feral, and he startled slightly, then hurriedly bowed.
“Master, I did not notice you, forgive me.”
“Yes, well, that was by design, Initiate. I’m pretty good at not being noticed, comes with the job.You however should absolutely not be that good at not being noticed.”
Savage shifted uneasily, trying to make himself smaller. Was the Master displeased he was lurking?
“It comes easy to you, doesn’t it? Blending into the background, being there but not. Not even hiding just…being overlooked.”
“I’m not…trying to hide, Master.”
The Master looked him in the eyes for a long moment, as if flipping through the mental folder of Savage’s innermost thoughts, and then grinned broadly.
“Well, who am I to ignore the Force when it kicks me in the shin? I am Jedi Shadow Dhii Haz, Initiate. You wouldn’t happen to be looking for a Master, would you?”

–

Master Healer Che liked to say she was harassed into taking on Feral as a Padawan, but he knew she didn’t mean it.
It had been so obvious they were meant to share the training bond. If it took waiting in front of whatever door she was currently behind until she had to emerge, who was a mere Initiate to deny the Will Of The Force?
It only took a week before she agreed to teach him about healing, about how to help those who can not help themselves, and about the Force.

Oh, and the Jedi Code.

“I cannot believe you stalked her until she gave in.” Maul said tiredly afterwards, and Feral snarled in offence. “I didn’t stalk her! I merely stayed close so she could feel how the Force pushed us together! She agreed with me too! …in the end.”
“I cannot believe you stalked her until she gave in.” Maul repeated with more emphasis, and Savage snorted, his holo flickering a bit.
“Congratulations, brother, on being made a Padawan. I am very proud of you. Does Father know?”
“He’s been in a Council session all afternoon, so I don’t think so. But he’ll get the message I sent him the moment that’s finished, so it’s only a question of-”
“My son!”
“- when he finds us.” Feral finished, and both he and Maul turned to look at Plo standing in the entrance of the suite Maul shared with Madame Nu. He was positively beaming with joy.
Feral stood, dusting off his robes but couldn’t hide his grin, and their father crossed the room in three long strides and gathered him in a hug that had Feral purr in bliss.
“Koh-to-yah, Father.” he said muffled into Plo’s robes, as Maul exchanged a private smile with Savage.

–

“I would like to offer you the position of Padawan, Initiate Opress, and I will lay out precisely what this would entail.”
Maul always knew never leaving crumbs behind and reshelving everything correctly would be worth it some day.
He had, of course, done research - read through multitudes of accounts detailing Padawan training over the centuries, both from the Padawans’ and their Masters’ perspective.
Since the Jedi weren’t a monolith, the course of a Padwan’s training was largely influenced by who their Master was, and what their relationship with the Force was. He knew from what Savage could tell him and Feral, that Master Haz, for example, thought experience was the best teacher, and was very present in his training, but allowed Savage to explore multiple paths in all aspects of his education. Apparently they were currently hunting down an illusive Master who excelled at Soresu but seemed to be almost allergic to staying at the Temple on Coruscant. After he had studied all the forms, including his Master’s preferred Niman, he had expressed most interest in Soresu, coupling it with the practical, unflashy moves of Niman. A smart choice because for one, in his chosen path as a Shadow it was very likely Savage would often meet with blasters of different kinds in battle, and also because Soresu was the form of Resilience - and Maul was convinced there was no one in the Galaxy who could match Savage in that.

So he was aware he wouldn’t find a detailed guide on the matter, which was frustrating - but once Madame Nu said those words, he knew she was the right decision.
“Madame Nu.” he began slowly, and saw her focusing entirely on him, “I greatly appreciate your offer of Padawanship, and I do not need to hear any more. I am honored to accept your offer of the Padawan training bond.” Her stern features softened slightly in a smile, but in the Force she was like returning home after a day in the cold, warm and nurturing.
“I would, however, also greatly appreciate an overview of what is to come.”
Her smile widened.
“I knew you’d say that.” she answered with a tilt of her head. “I have brought a datapad.”
Maul felt a twinge through the Force, distant and faint - the last snapping of a what might have been that had already thinned to gossamer through circumstance and choice and knew he had made the right decision.

–

“Sooooooooo…” Rex stretched the sound until the door had closed behind them, leaving them in privacy.
Their Generals - and the Commander - had excused themselves to an early lunch to reacquaint, and Cody had dragged him away to do the same and, Rex was sure, interrogate him about his new General.
“So?” Cody asked simply, removing his bucket and rolling his shoulders a bit.He was obviously trying to play it cool, calm and collected.
Rex shattered that calm facade with only four words.
“He’s pretty hot, right?”

Cody stumbled over perfectly even floor.

Rex, who had decided to fall, at least for now, on the hilarious side on the scale of is it horrible or hilarious that my big brother wants to jump my General’s bones like they’re a sexy trampoline, threw his bucket onto Cody’s bunk so the smirk would come across better.
“That’s my new General.”
“Yes, I am aware, Rex. I have done research on him after finding out he was assigned to you.”
“Was it one-handed research?”
Cody threw his bucket at him. Rex caught it and tossed it next to his own.
“That is inappropriate.” Cody hissed, which meant that yes, it absolutely had been.
“Yeah, I’m sure you want him to appropriate your ins.” Rex cackled because if he had to suffer, so did Cody.
“That doesn’t even make sense you little shit-”

–

The first time Obi-Wan met Maul was shortly after Master Koon brought his adopted sons to the Temple and ignored all attempts of the Council to scold him for adopting in the first place.
“Have you ever noticed how shit and Sith are the same word only with the letters arranged differently?” Quinlan was asking him, hanging upside down from the wall mounted bars he had climbed, and Obi-Wan had sighed. “Oh you mean like how all words work?” He retorted from his own hanging position, wrapped in several sturdy silk scarves hanging from the ceiling.
This was during their activity hours, which were mainly meant for letting them tire themselves out.
“Well, yeah, but - Yoda’s balls!”
That was an exclamation Quinlan was currently trying desperately to make a thing around the Temple, and Obi-Wan hated himself a bit for actually thinking it from time to time, though he’d never said it out loud. Yet.
“Stop that -”
“ObiObiObiObiObiLOOK!” Quin flapped his hands at him urgently, and then made a frustrated noise, using the Force to give Obi-Wan a push and have him swing around.
He wanted to ask what had grabbed Quinlan’s attention now, but the words died in his throat.
A Zabrak, he thought, but he’d never seen a Zabrak look like this before. The tan and grey initiate robes did little to dull the blood red skin with its vibrant black markings. They made the boy look angry, even though he was more a beacon of nerves and curiosity in the Force, and Obi-Wan felt drawn to him immediately. He scrambled out of his scarves and hurried over, along with a few other initiates. Behind him was a squawk and then a dull thud - and seconds later Quin was at his side.
“Initiates,” Master Ideac greeted them as they approached, nodding to several other curiously approaching children also drawing near.
His aura was, as it always was, like lying on a bed of soft moss, cool and comfortable.
“This is Maul Opress, he has arrived at the Temple only two days ago and will join Kybuck Clan as an Initiate. Please make him feel welcome, and answer any questions he might have.”
He smiled down at Maul, the beads on his soft mask making a gentle clinging sound at the motion, and guided Maul forward a bit, then excused himself.
They formed a half circle around the new arrival, who was mustering them in turn as if he was checking off a mental list, then he zeroed in on Obi-Wan. It felt a bit like a spotlight suddenly snapping on.
“I can ask questions?”
Obi-Wan nodded with a smile, trying his best to push a feeling of welcome across, and Quinlan grinned next to him, nodding as well.
“How many?”
“How many what? Initiates in the clan?” Quinlanclarified, scrunching his face up a bit in question and Maul shook his head.
“How many questions can I ask?”
Obi-Wan and Quinlan exchanged a look, then Quin shrugged. Obi-Wan turned back to Maul.
“There’s no limit. You can ask as many questions as you like.”
Maul’s eyes lit up suddenly, and he gave a slightly squeaky purr of excitement, then took a step closer to them. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but compare the motion to a loth-cat about to pounce on its prey.
“No limit?” the Zabrak boy asked, smiling widely and slightly feral.

Obi-Wan had a bad feeling about this.

–

“Do you think he has even noticed we’re here?” Jesse asked as they watched their General stare - as he had for the last thirty minutes - at the outer wall of the ancient temple they had discovered during their campaign here.
After finding it, Rex had been witness to a very long discussion between the Commander and the General that the priority was Seppies first, then dusty old temples.

The Commander had won their argument, and Rex had to see his General honest to the Force pout - and then spring into action.
They finished a two-week campaign in five days, and Rex was actually impressed the General had taken the time to check in on the men and make sure everyone was squared away before he had raced off on a speeder right back to the ancient structure.

Rex found Commander Tano, and she huffed before he even got a word out.
“He ran, huh? Ugh, fine, I guess we’ll have to fetch him. Scramble a squad, Rex. Bring lots of stunners - the last time something like this happened he disappeared in the bowels of the ruin for three months. We might have to knock him out and drag him back onto the Resolute.”

They had arrived at the ruin to find their General standing completely still in front of the most intact outer wall, studying the murals on there as if he was burning them into his mind.
“Sir?” - “Master?” Rex and the Commander spoke at the same time.

No response.

They spent ten more minutes awkwardly watching their General not move, then Dogma of all vod’e stepped forward with a determined set to his shoulders.
Rex braced himself for a thorough lecture on proper time management - directed at him, of course; Dogma would never criticize a General - and was utterly baffled when Dogma walked right past him

Stepped up next to their General

Shoved some tiny loose piece of mural about an inch up

And the wall they had been all staring at for almost half an hour collapsed backwards with a Thump that seemed way too quiet for all that stone moving.

There was utter silence as a cloud of dust settled, then Tup let out a little “Yay!”.

General Opress turned only his head in Dogma’s direction, his face unreadable. Rex stepped forward immediately, ready to draw attention from his vod’ika, ready to assume any and all blame as Echo and Fives stepped up in a smooth manoeuvre to drag Dogma behind them and out of sight at the slightest chance their General was pissed -
and Dogma, in the typical, utterly death-defying stupidity all vod’ike seemed to have these days, said. “It was out of place.”

–

The second time Wolffe met one of his General’s first sons - he had been forbidden from calling them his real ones by ori’vod Feral under fear of never sleeping peacefully again - was during a S&R mission General Plo was weirdly unconcerned about, considering it was a mission to rescue one of said first sons.

“Do not worry, Commander. Savage has been known to do this, I am a little bit baffled they even send us, to be honest. He is fine. Ah well, at least we can provide a more comfortable pick up, and I can see my son.” He brightened. “And you two can meet! This is most fortunate, actually.”

Wolffe pictured ori’vod Feral, but older, and he wasn’t sure he looked forward to the experience.

As General Plo had predicted, they were little more than a transport.
When they descended on Knight Opress’ last known location, the heavily fortified building was already in flames, and as they landed and fanned out to secure the perimeter, a wall to the left collapsed and a gaggle of children burst forth.
Following them was…
Wolffe hastily amended his mental image of an older Feral.

A Zabrak, yes, but a giant one. Yellow with stark black markings instead of ori’vod Feral’s softer brown, and absolutely covered in cadets, like an Alpha during free time. He even had a tubie in a sling on his chest, his head tilted down as his lips moved, murmuring to the tubie..
General Plo sighed in rapturous fondness as the cadets of various species came to a sudden stop at the sight of them, shrinking back to Knight Opress’ side, and he looked up, seemingly just noticing them.
“Oh, koh-to-yah, Father. I didn’t know you were coming.” He smiled gently at the surrounding children.
“This is my father, everyone, Jedi Master Plo Koon, and he has brought all these men to help us!”

The cadets were less enthused, shuffling behind Knight Opress and peering out from there suspiciously, and the Zabrak just laughed, striding forward.
“I promise they will all be very nice.”
He inclined his head respectfully at Wolffe, then bent down to rest his forehead gently against General Plo’s. They stood like that for a moment, literally radiating love and comfort, and the cadets flocked around them. Wolffe couldn’t blame them at all; he himself had made several shuffling steps closer to the two Generals, and their perimeter suddenly got noticeably smaller.

When they finally broke their Jedi-version of a Keldabe kiss, Plo waved him even closer, badly hiding his excitement.
“My son. This is my son.”
Knight Opress snorted.
“You are lucky Maul did not hear that, he would never let you live this down.”
General Plo huffed a little, already bending down and picking one of the smaller cadets up when they leaned heavily against his leg.
“Wolffe, this is my eldest, Savage. He is an accomplished and righteous Knight of the Order. Savage, this is Commander Wolffe, who has fought by my side in dozens of battles and has always been steadfast and loyal.”
“Yes, I heard.” Knight Opress grinned, showing sharp teeth as he looked to Wolffe.

“Feral told me all about you.”

Oh no.

–

Cody almost enucleated himself with his spork as the sonorous, smooth voice rang out behind him, and General Opress appeared at his side, carrying a tray of the high protein rations and a mug.
“Good morning, Commander, may I sit with you?”

Cody’s mind flashed back to the holo Rex had sent him yesterday, just before he went to bed, of General Opress’ spar with Commander Tano, and he swallowed, nodding hurriedly.
“Of course, General. It’s an honour.”
General Opress’ lips quirked minutely. “Apparently, I am very honourable.” he sat down, those golden eyes pinning Cody to his seat.
Cody blinked in confusion.
“You said the same thing yesterday.” General Opress explained, then took a slow sip from his mug. He purred lowly and the sound travelled down from Cody’s ears to the tips of his toes in a shiver.
“Commander Rex has helped me familiarise myself with the administrative duties related to this position, and I have read a lot of mission reports as a result. They do actually make for good bedtime reading, when the GAA gets too bloodthirsty.” General Opress inclined his head after taking another sip.

“So I can honestly say, Commander, the honour is mine. Obi-Wan speaks highly of you as well.”
Cody concentrated on not snapping his fork in his hand.
“The General is too kind.” he told his mealtray, and General Opress hummed again.
“He has that unfortunate attitude, but he also doesn’t give praise where it isn’t due. Take the compliment, Commander, please.”

Take it, Cody…

The intrusive thought was all it took for Cody to finally snap, breaking his fork and jerking to his feet.
“ExcusemesirIneedtogoandpolishtheshinies.” he ground out, picking up his tray and fleeing the mess still clutching it in a white-knuckled grip.

Maul blinked after the Commander’s abrupt exit, then his gaze flickered down to the broken fork.
“Interesting…”

tbc/the end/who knows