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English
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Part 86 of Star Wars - Rare Pairs (Mainly romance but also family and friendship)
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2024-01-01
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2025-01-19
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17/?
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A future to prevent

Chapter 4

Chapter Text

Master Windu looked at his wounded counterpart warily, pointing out without a word to the man who had just burst in that he was covered in bandages, discreetly staggering and had entered uninvited.

"Perhaps we should postpone this conversation until later, when you will be more... rested."

With an air of disdain and arrogance that had always made Dooku twitch, the man snorted inelegantly and straightened up, looking ready for a fight.

"What's the point? I have all my mental faculties, my physical state is only a detail."

"Not when you've had multiple head injuries and your mental state could have been altered, along with your perception of your environment, of time, the Force, or even your memory," Sifo-Dyas mumbled.

It was the same thing with his visions, he would rather have his arm cut off than have another blow to the head, everything was getting so confusing, the last time it had happened to him he had been convinced that Dooku had Fallen for several hours, his best friend had ended up shooting him up with a sedative to take him to hospital for treatment.

A sharp look from the injured man told him that he had been heard by someone other than Master Koth, Piell, Yaddle and Yoda, who were smiling or hiding their amusement at the tacit reprimand before Master Windu took control of the discussion.

"While we're on the subject, please identify yourself."

"Are you serious? I've never needed glasses at this age."

"Would you consent to a DNA test to prove it?"

"Of course I will, but if you have any doubts I'll be even quicker."

The man walked quietly over to Master Koth and leaned on top of him, half slumping over him before resting his left hand on the nearest armrest to keep standingon his two feet. Not even a word was exchanged between them as the Zabrak nodded towards the Temple Guards.

"Please leave us."

The white, cloaked figures backed away as one and as the door closed, he repeated:

"It's definitely him."

"I beg your pardon, but how do you know?" Master Gallia asked on behalf of all those who, like her, seemed confused.

Sifo-Dyas was not stupid, he knew that this man was Master Windu, but where was their proof to say so? The fact that Master Tiin seemed convinced was understandable, once again, telepathy, and that Master Windu also seemed to know could be called instinct, so so be it... but why did Master Rancisis also seem sure of himself?

"I'd have thought you'd have dispelled any doubts by now."

"You were already in the Bacta tank when I came to see you."

"What about my clothes?"

"Oh, of course, you probably mean your burnt clothes, filthy from the floors of the lower levels of Coruscant and soaked in blood? Are we talking about those clothes?"

The man grinned, shrugging.

"I see."

As he stood up, Sifo-Dyas caught a glimpse of his comrade's deep breaths and watched in amazement as he... smelt him?

"Master Koth, what the hell are you doing?" he gasped in disbelief.

"I smell him."

"He smells me."

"He smells him."

Master Koth let go immediately and looked away, blushing slightly as Master Windu Junior cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed, which to him meant he was mortified.

"Hmm, I see," Master Yaddle said softly with a knowing glance at her Thisspassian Padawan. "You can smell that they have the same odour."

"What do you want me to say about it," the serpentine old man breathed out with a laugh, "not everyone has particularly acute hearing, we have to balance."

The smell? If it was the smell... then he could not be an impostor. There were many things that could be imitated, and smell was obviously one of them, but no fake body odour could fool sensitive smells after clothes had been changed and the body was washed, and Master Windu had been thoroughly washed and disinfected before going into care.

"Is that enough approval for all of you? I'd obviously do the DNA test as well."

"It is. You can sit down to spare yourself, Master Billaba's seat is empty."

"Yes, about that, where is she?"

"She's on her way back from Axxila as we speak."

"Axxila? I see... was she helping to settle a dispute between two companies working in the field of armoured land vehicles?"

Sifo-Dyas's first thought was "how on the Force does he know that?" but then the tired, wounded face answered him. He knew because he had been there.

"That's right, can you tell us how many years you've gone back?" Master Mundi asked curiously, his questions and conclusions coming much more quickly than theirs.

"About twenty years, she's already been on a mission to Axxila but wasn't yet on the High Council at the time and for the next one, the... circumstances will be very different. If I may, I'd like your opinion: should I share with you most of what could be your future, or should I keep it secret?"

"I suppose it depends on the circumstances, is there anything worth raising?"

A red office where the bodies of Master Tiin, Knight Fisto and an unknown Zabrak lie dead on the floor. A desperate Jedi Falls, and with him, Sifo-Dyas feels it in his bones, the Republic.

He already knew what Master Windu's answer would be, he just was not prepared to hear it. It was a confirmation he wished he never had. He wished he had been wrong.

"Is the end of the Republic in a civil war that the Sith win serious enough for your?"

Oh Force, the Sith. That was all he needed.