Chapter Text
Jason felt raw, hollowed out as he slipped out of Windu’s recovery room. He hoped, for Tano’s sake, the two Jedi would listen, would take something away from Jason’s choppy explanation. He shuddered, as he made his way down the hall away from Windu and Kenobi. Jason let his feet guide him, steps sure even as his heart pounded with uncertainty.
Jason’s steps slowed as he heard the low but cheerful voices coming from the hall he happened to turn down. Jason paused outside the open door of another sterile, white recover room. This one packed with clones, Roy’s red hair the only thing breaking up the uniformity. Jason stepped closer, reassessed, as he noticed Captain Rex’s blond head turned towards him. The Captain nodded, face relaxed as he beckoned for Jason to come in. Jason silently eased his way in, catching Roy’s soft green eyes. His friend was planted between Boil and a clone Jason didn’t know sitting up in the medical bed.
“Fox,” the clone called out, head turning to face Jason, dark eyes shrewd, “or CC-1010.”
It clicked before Fox finished. He was the clone in the Judicial Chamber with them. The one Palpatine executed the order on. One of the only successful ones. Jason nodded and introduced himself, ignoring the knowing look in the man’s deep golden eyes. Boil waved him over and Jason took the excuse to move towards the soldier, ignoring the looks of the others in the room. Jason sat at the proffered chair, Roy next to him, a satisfied smile on his face.
“You look like shit,” Roy murmured as he leaned his shoulder into Jason’s.
Jason could barely look at his friend, hands still trembling where they rested on his thighs. Roy reached over, strong hand squeezing Jason’s shoulder. Jason kept his attention on the soldier in front of him, the tired but satisfied smile a balm on his nerves. Jason glanced up a moment later, catching Rex’s eyes. The Captain followed the line of Roy’s arm to where his hand was resting on Jason’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Rex’s voice cut through the low sounds of his brothers. Several pairs of dark eyes landed on Jason.
Jason jaw clenched, unsure what to say. He didn’t ask to be brought here, didn’t set out to help these men. Had Roy not touched some glowing orb, they wouldn’t even be here. Who knows what would have happened to Rex and his brothers then. Jason was enough of a realist to know it would not have ended well. Not with the way things were going when they arrived. Dread crept up his spine at the thought.
“Think nothing of it,” Jason said, “we just did what we could.”
“It was more than anyone was doing,” Fox spoke up, “more than the Senate was doing for their ‘good soldiers’, their fighting force.”
“A good soldier,” Jason spat, “like that’s all there is.”
“For them,” Fox’s eyes were steady, “yes.”
Jason’s gut churned, remembered the blank look that came over Fox’s face in the Judicial Chambers. He glanced at Roy; the red-head’s face grim. Jason could only imagine what kind of memories this was dragging up for his friend.
“Where’s Skywalker?” Jason turned to Rex.
“With Senator Amidala,” Rex didn’t hesitate, eyes flickering towards Jason.
Jason nodded his thanks, standing with a clap to Roy’s shoulder before heading out the door. Jason stalked out of the Halls of Healing. He didn’t know how to hail a cab, or whatever was used here to get from place to place, level to level, but he would figure it out.
Turned out it was more complicated than he thought, especially when he didn’t have any money or credits in this case. Jason paced the length of the platform outside the Jedi Temple, agitated. He’d been there for a while when a low sound came from behind him. Jason whipped around, fists raised as a leg slid back, body centered.
Master Plo Koon stood before him; claws clasped. Jason relaxed his stance, taking in the goggles and mask tilted in consideration. Koon stepped forward, stopping as he reached Jason. The sounds of Coruscant faded as Jason continued to hold eye contact. The hum of the aircraft, sirens, and general cacophony falling away. Koon nodded after a moment; hand raised as a shuttle came to a stop by the platform. Jason considered Koon as the Jedi handed over a few credits to the driver.
“Please, bring him some peace and comfort. Wisdom too, would not be amiss,” Koon turned towards Jason, bowing. Jason paused from where he was climbing into the shuttle. He looked back, eyes falling on Koon’s retreating form.
The ride was quick, Jason’s mind tracking the various alleys and buildings they passed. He climbed out as soon as the driver pulled up to a nondescript platform, well cared for and sturdy. Sirens sounded in the distance. Jason stopped short as a dark shadow crossed his path. Skywalker was in front of him, dark cloak billowing in the blow back from the shuttle.
Jason followed Skywalker silently through the opulent hallways, gilded lights dim creating a soft ambience and deep shadows.
“I wouldn’t mind going back to not being able to feel you in the Force,” Skywalker muttered as they entered what was clearly Amidala’s apartment.
The deep luxurious colors were a stark contrast to the feel of the Jedi Temple. Jason’s eyes trailed over the geometric patterns along the walls, outlined in gold. He glanced over at Skywalker, took in the man’s worn cloak and scuffed boots.
“Kenobi and the others don’t seem that bothered by it,” Jason shrugged, jacket creaking with the movement.
“I have a deeper connection to the Force than them,” Skywalker looked over at him, eyes sharp as his mouth turned down.
“Of course, you do,” Jason snorted.
He moved towards the floor to ceiling windows, footsteps muffled in the thick carpet. The sight of the city skyline was off-putting. Jason’s lip curled as his eyes searched for any sort of familiarity in the skyline.
“How’s Amidala?” Jason turned back to face Skywalker, then man barely having moved from the entrance of the room.
“She’s with the doctor,” Skywalker shuffled where he stood, teeth clenched, “didn’t want me to come with her.”
Jason couldn’t blame the Senator. Skywalker looked rough, unstable, like he would snap at any sort of stress. Jason moved back towards the center of the room, ignoring the plush couches in the center.
“I don’t understand why the Council is even letting me be here,” Skywalker raked a hand through his hair, “why I’m not locked up somewhere.”
“Have you done something illegal in the past few days?” Jason cocked his head as the man moved towards the windows Jason was just occupying.
Broad dark shoulders hunched, dark blond hair falling forward. A metal fist raised, and Skywalker knocked it against the window. The sound was abrupt and sharp in the large room.
“I’ve Fallen,” Skywalker spat, whirling around, sleepless eyes wide and manic. Golden.
“I killed the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic,” Skywalker continued, voice rising in panic, “the Council knows about me and Padmé, the baby. What else are they going to have to know?”
“Your complete disregard for the oaths you swore to uphold,” Jason drawled, “yeah, it’s all out in the open now, instead of everyone pretending they don’t know.”
Jason ignored Skywalker’s gaping incredulity, the vibrating furniture that surrounded him. His fingers tingled, the All-Blades buzzing beneath his skin. Jason took a breath, held it as he felt the blood pound in his ears. He locked eyes with Skywalker, the Je-Fallen Jedi’s fists clenched as he took a step away from Jason.
“I have done things,” Skywalker croaked, “things no good person should do.”
“Do you regret it?” Jason asked. Skywalker’s golden eyes flinched away, rage warping his features, “I’m going to take that as a no.”
“At least you got to kill the fucker who caused a galactic war as a power grab,” Jason said, “and whose been grooming you to essentially be his enslaved attack dog.”
“I thought he was my friend,” Skywalker took a couple of shaky steps forward, collapsing on the couch, “I though he was the only one who understood me. It was all a lie.”
“A little worse than a lie,” Jason mumbled as he moved to sit across from Skywalker.
“Look, Skywalker,” Jason took a breath, “Anakin, there’s no going back. There is a way for you to get what you want, it’s not all lost.”
Skywalker looked up; red rimmed eyes empty as they stared at Jason. Jason held the man’s eye contact, hands hanging down between his knees. His fingers brushed the soft material of the couch, nails scratching at the upholstery.
“Think about what you want,” Jason raised a hand as Skywalker opened his mouth, “and what you’re willing to compromise to get it.”
“I’ve already lost so much,” Skywalker growled.
“I think you’d be surprised,” Jason huffed and stood, “after all, like you said, you’re not imprisoned.”