34

happy mother's day batchers! enjoy an early chapter ❤️ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saedii didn't know it was possible to be so happy.

In the weeks that followed, she was very often seen with a smile on her face as she wandered the halls of Teth, face glowing with emotion. It felt as though she'd recovered nearly everything she'd lost. That a slice of normalcy had been resurrected from the ashes of her past.

Her mornings were devoted to the Jedi. To dueling and meditating and going through forms with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka. With so much time now to learn, it felt as though she was excelling quickly. Or maybe it was just that she was so excited to be able to come practice every morning.

Lunch and afternoons were often spent with the Batch. Tech was helping Rex install updates on the cruiser, which had been parked in the valley below. From what Saedii had heard, Rex was planning to use it to free other prisons, which had become his priority. Hunter and the rest were assisting Cody as he tried to find a place for the three thousand or so freed brothers in their small hide away.

Evenings Saedii devoted to Wolffe and the 104th. They stayed up far too late, swapping old stories and regaling new ones from their time apart.

Every moment of her day was spent with the people she loved most. Even with the threat of the Empire hanging over them, even knowing they were all still in danger – it didn't matter.

For now, everything was perfect.

And it was only getting better.

At the end of her morning training session, Anakin gave a very ominous sigh and stated, "I think you're ready."

They'd spent the past few hours dueling – switching from two-on-one to one-on-one. Anakin had been her last duel of the day and the both of them were sweaty. Though Saedii was certainly more so.

Ahsoka turned and walked towards the trees while Obi-Wan smiled. "I believe you're right."

"Ready for what?" Saedii asked uncertainly. Usually, this was their time to mediate before Saedii ran off for lunch with the Batch.

A small metal box was in Ahsoka's hands as she returned. It was rather plain looking – a matte grey with no identifiable markings. But the way she held it hinted at something special inside.

"The three of us have been talking," Anakin began, resting nonchalant hands on his hips. "And we feel that you have fulfilled the requirements of a Padawan learner."

She brightened. "It's time for my trials?"

Obi-Wan gave a little smile. "No, little one. We are appointing you a Knight."

A Jedi Knight?

But she couldn't. Every Jedi served as a Padawan for years, then underwent their trials. They couldn't just be promoted.

Saedii hadn't even served three full years as a Padawan, and she had failed spectacularly at it. Both her Master and her whole squad had been killed on her watch. She'd lost her arm. Had very nearly starved to death on her own. She didn't deserve to be a Knight.

"But I can't be a Knight without the trials," Saedii argued.

"The trials were different for each Jedi. We believe that every moment you have survived since Order 66 has served as yours," Obi-Wan said.

Saedii frowned.

"You have accomplished things that many Masters wouldn't have," Ahsoka continued. "You survived on your own. Fought Inquisitors. Lost an arm and retrained with a new prosthetic. And then led a small force of soldiers to liberate others."

"Not to mention you've helped grow a rebellion," Obi-Wan said.

"I didn't do any of that on my own. The only reason I defeated Pong Krell and the others was because I had help," Saedii said.

She didn't know why she was arguing. This was the moment she'd wanted her whole life. The thing she'd hoped for since she was a youngling.

Now that it was here, she didn't feel ready. Or worthy.

"You saved Clone Force 99 on your own," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Held Krell by yourself," Anakin added.

"Then your friend. Twice," Ahsoka finished.

Saedii held her hands up. "I wouldn't count any of those a victory. I very nearly died and got my squad killed."

Obi-Wan very patiently inclined his head. "I was awarded the title of Master for killing Darth Maul, but I was only able to kill him after he'd slain my master. Our victory in the face of tragedy is what measures success."

"You didn't actually kill Maul, in case you forgot." Ahsoka shot him a pointed look.

Anakin snorted. "Neither did you, Snips."

But Obi-Wan was speculative. "Right. Well, at the time, we believed he was dead. He was cut in half."

"Not very well, apparently," Ahsoka grumbled.

"Even if we count this as my trial," Saedii interrupted before the two could go on. "I would need the full approval of the Jedi Council to get my rank. There is no Council anymore. Not a real one, anyway."

"I feel pretty real. What about you, Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked impudently.

Saedii looked to Ahsoka. "They can't do that, can they? Just self-appoint themselves?"

Ahsoka shrugged. "They made me a Knight when we reconnected after Order 66. And promoted me to the council, so we're not all self-apointed."

"A council of three? That's not really a council."

"Sure it is. We do all kinds of important council duties, like appointing me the title of Master," Anakin said, rather proudly.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes in a way that said Oh here we go.

"You appointed yourself that title," Obi-Wan reminded him in a long-suffering kind of tone.

"And you didn't have enough votes to outvote me."

Obi-Wan gave a very weary sigh. Ahsoka pinched the bridge of her nose.

As amusing as it was to watch these three legends of the Order bicker like children, Saedii still didn't know how she felt about all this. Most Knights were older. Stronger. She still felt so young. So inexperienced.

There was no way she was ready. How could they just toss her into the proverbial fire like this?

As if he sensed her trepidation, Obi-Wan rested a gentle hand along Saedii's shoulder. The look he gave her was one of someone who had stood in her place before. Of one whose shoulders had taken on the burden they were passing to her.

Very kindly, he said, "No Jedi ever feels ready. In some ways, perhaps we never are. But it is only through challenge and strife that we become the best versions of ourselves."

"You have mastered all of your forms," Anakin continued in the same tone. "You have faced dangers that no other Jedi has faced before and persevered through unspeakable tragedy. If that's not the mark of a true Jedi knight, then I don't know what is."

"Every journey is different." Ahsoka gave a half-smile at this, as if she understood this sentiment more than most. "Sometimes the path we take is not the one we expect."

Was she really ready? Could she really accept this now, of all times? In the midst of a war?

"The choice is ultimately yours. If you decide that you're not ready, then we can wait," Obi-Wan added quietly.

Her choice. To stay a Padawan or become a Knight.

Saedii thought of everything she'd been forced to live through since the fall of the Jedi Order and the Republic. Thought of the battles she'd fought. The choices she'd been forced to make. The challenges she'd overcome. It was, without a doubt, the hardest thing she'd ever done – surviving in a world that didn't want her. Nothing would ever be as difficult as choosing to live in spite of the Empire that hunted her down.

She nodded. She had her choice.

"I'm ready."

"We thought you might say that." Looking quite smug, Anakin nodded to Ahsoka, who held out the box to Saedii.

"What is this?" Hesitantly, Saedii reached out a hand. The box was cold under her fingertips.

Obi-Wan crossed his arms. "Usually, a Padawan celebrates their transition to Knighthood by cutting off their braid, but you no longer have yours."

Unconsciously, Saedii reached to the back of her neck, where she found the much-shorter strip of hair that used to mark her Padawan braid. She'd cut it to keep herself safe after Order 66, but she regretted now tossing her braid into the trash. If she'd known she had a chance at a future as a Knight, she would have kept it.

"So we improvised."

Ahsoka opened the box.

Inside, two white vambraces laid in a bed of black gel. Etched into the metal part along the forearm were ancient grey Jedi symbols for warrior and truth. And in a matching shade, on the back of the hand guards, were wolves.

Saedii's breath stopped.

These were Plo's.

"It was always customary for a Padawan to keep their braid as a symbol of the past they leave behind. Some, like Ahsoka, chose to gift it to their Master in thanks," Obi-Wan said. He gingerly touched a pendant on his belt. "In turn, their Master gives them a gift to thank them for their diligent service, and welcome them to the Order as an equal."

Ahsoka gave a sad smile. "Plo would have wanted to give you something."

"He spoke of you often. He was very proud."

Saedii's fingers ghosted over the vambraces. The sight of them was so familiar. How many times had she seen Plo pull these off after a long day? How many times had Saedii tightened them for him in the midst of battle?

They were his most prized possession. He'd had them engraved with a silver wolf in honor of his troopers. His wolfpack.

Now they were hers.

"Wolffe found them in Plo's room on your cruiser," Anakin said as Saedii pulled one from the gel. She held it up to her arm. A perfect fit. "Padme is good with alterations. She fixed them up for you."

Sure enough, as Saedii slipped one onto her bare arm, it was like it had been made for her. Plo had been far taller, arms longer. But these vambraces were just her size. Even the metal had been cut down so it ended just below her elbow, giving her freedom to move.

She took in a long breath. This was...nothing like she'd imagined. When she'd dreamed of becoming a Knight, Plo had always been at her side. And Kalth, getting his title beside her. They would have stood at the Temple before the entirety of the Council and accepted their new roles. The war had taken both of them from her.

But she had others to celebrate with. Others that, now more than anything, she wanted to go show her new vambraces.

"Congratulations, young one." Obi-Wan watched proudly as Saedii secured both vambraces on her forearms. He smiled broadly. "You're a Jedi Knight."

"Thank you, Masters." Saedii gave a respectful bow to each of them. The excitement that she'd yet to feel was quickly bubbling up in her gut. She felt as heat rushed to her face and glowed from her raethrii marks.

Anakin smiled at the sight. Ahsoka laughed.

"Go on. We know you want to go tell your team," Obi-Wan urged.

She did. All she could think about was telling Hunter and Wolffe and the others. They were going to be so excited.

Saedii went straight to the cafeteria. She was beaming by the time she got there, face aglow. Her eyes eagerly swept through the room, looking for the Batch.

They weren't there yet, but Wolffe was, sitting beside Cody and Warthog. Saedii ran for him, calling his name.

The three looked up at her voice. Wolffe's eyes warmed as he caught sight of the vambraces and he held an arm out as she launched herself at him, wrapping him in a hug.

"Congratulations," he said in her ear. As she leaned back, his good eye crinkled with pride. "Rex told me they were going to promote you this morning. I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks, Wolffe."

Cody's lips were tilted up – not quite a smile but close enough. He gave a quick salute. "I guess we'll have to get used to calling you General now, huh?"

That warmth in her face burned hotter.

Warthog slung an arm over her shoulder and crowed, "The new General of the 104th! Way to go, General Synn!"

"You don't have to call me General. Technically, I haven't been promoted by the army," Saedii said, though she was laughing as she did. General Synn definitely had a nice ring to it.

"Rex can fix that for you," Wolffe promised.

Saedii shook her head. She couldn't stop smiling. "I can't believe I'm a Knight. It doesn't feel real."

"You've earned it. All the shit you've lived through. You're more than qualified."

Cody nodded. "General Kenobi didn't make this decision lightly. He and Generals Skywalker and Tano gave this a lot of thought."

"I never thought I'd get the chance when the Order fell."

"Don't worry, General. There's more than enough fight coming our way," Wolffe said in earnest. "You'll have plenty of chance to prove yourself as a Knight."

Across the cafeteria, Crosshair loped through the door, looking surly as usual. At the sight of him, Saedii's already radiant smile brightened and she jumped from her seat.

"Cross!"

He looked up. His eyes were wary at the sight of her so happy, face glowing, but he stopped walking at least. Waiting for her to catch up.

Breathless, Saedii announced, "I was promoted to Jedi Knight!"

Crosshair didn't smile. In fact, if anything, his expression seemed to grow even more brusque. "You can't be promoted. The Jedi Order is gone."

"Master Kenobi and the Council gave me the title!"

"So? They're not a real Council."

The warmth in Saedii's face went cold. Her smile dropped. "They said –"

"It doesn't matter what they said," Crosshair snapped. "None of it matters. The Order is gone. You'll always be a Padawan."

"I...thought you'd be happy for me."

"For what? This changes nothing."

Saedii's mouth opened and closed as she tried to think of something to say. But her mind was blank. She hadn't expected him to be so ill-tempered. She'd thought he'd be excited.

At her silence, Crosshair's surly expression slowly melted. He let out a low breath, like he had something to say.

But nothing came out. Instead, Crosshair suddenly looked over Saedii's shoulder, glaring. When Saedii turned to look, she found Wolffe standing a few feet away. Arms crossed.

"Everything alright over here?" Wolffe's voice was hard as iron. He was glowering at Crosshair.

"Fine." Crosshair's expression went cold. His eyes slid almost unwillingly back to Saedii and he muttered, "Congratulations, General."

The way he said it was almost an insult. Not quite a mockery, but definitely not respectful either. It hurt to hear him say it like that.

"Thanks." Saedii rubbed at her vambraces.

Crosshair's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of them. Abruptly, he turned and left. Saedii watched him go, wondering why he'd been so angry. So disappointed, almost.

"I thought you said that bunch was like your family?" Wolffe demanded.

"They are."

"Doesn't seem like it."

Saedii tucked a stray piece of lavender hair behind an ear. "Cross is...tricky. He's probably just got something on his mind. He'll apologize later. He always does."

Wolffe didn't look convinced. Thankfully, though, he seemed to drop it and held out a hand instead, gesturing her back towards the table. "Come on back over. We'll give you a proper celebration."

A celebration sounded nice. At least someone was happy for her.