Always (Crosshair x Jedi Reader)

Part 22

If there was on thing (Y/N) hated, it was waiting around. Even more so when she knew she could be doing something. Crosshair had volunteered to return to the empire, if only to find the locations of the clones that still remained, even if they were quickly being phased out. Yet he also hinted he would be doing something far more dangerous, sending sensitive information on future plans the empire had. He'd explained his reasoning for volunteering to (Y/N), attempting to reassure both her and himself it was the right thing to do, especially if any of them stood a chance with the civil war, she'd mentioned was fast approaching. Yet at the same time Crosshair could sense she wasn't telling him something, although he didn't push her, he could tell it was something that was bothering her.

"He'll return to you again, that I'm sure of" spoke Maul, the day Crosshair had left. Maul had insisted she stay behind, out of the reach of his former master and protected as any princess should be. Yet the former Sith Lord, knew getting her to agree to such a plan would be far easier said than done. (Y/N) was a warrior, she always had been. Never had she sat by and done nothing, when she could be doing something. It wasn't her way. "I know what bothers you, just as I know why you haven't told any one else. Rest assure my daughter, I will do all in my power to prevent it coming true" almost whispered Maul, thrust revealing his own dreams of the future. Yet the future events he'd seen were something he didn't wish for, if anything it was the fruition of his deepest fear. A future he knew he'd truly be lost if it come to pass.

"He can sense where I am, they'll come eventually. I'm one of the last reminders there is" replied (Y/N), recalling when she had first noticed the reminders of whom Vader once was, were disappearing. Obi-Wan had gone in to exile, taking with him a secret, Yoda too had disappeared, the republic was long gone, a part of the past the empire was trying to erase from history. The Jedi Order a forbidden past, with a death penalty attached to it. Those whom survived the purge were slowly being hunted down by black clad force wielders, neither Jedi nor Sith, but something else. All of them fallen Jedi. All that really remained of Vader's past now, was the senate, something he'd been so willing to protect, Padme's memorial on Naboo and (Y/N) herself, his former best friend. Yet deep down (Y/N) began to question if Vader was the apart of the reason the Emperor let her live. Or if the Emperor had always planned for it, like he had always planned for Anakin to become his apprentice.

"My former master made you the Princess of his Empire for a reason. You're far more powerful than most ....." started Maul before being cut off by (Y/N), whom had simply put up a hand, as if saying there was a reason and she already knew it. She had figured it out on Kamino before being moved to Naboo.

"He couldn't justify killing me due to being a war hero. Either way I'm a symbol of hope for those who will rebel against the empire. I was kept alive to ensure the clones did as they were told. That's why the tried to take Cross away. Not to mention Vader lost his wife, I doubt he would have been so willing to help had, he lost me too" spoke (Y/N) showing she was no fool when it come to the Emperor's motives. He had no choice in the matter, when it come to her life. Yet she knew she was on borrowed time, hence why she was determined not to waste what time she did have left. Why she didn't hesitate to say I love you to Crosshair, why she'd been so determined to ensure the foundations of the rebellion had been laid, even why she had been so happy to see Crimson Dawn become something more than a small smugglers ring. Yet there was still one thing she wanted to do. Reunite Clone Force 99, her small experimental unit that become her family. She dared not hope for more than that, although she did think of Omega and training the young clone, if only so the young girl stood a better chance at survival when the inquisitors eventually went after her.

"The experimental unit, have you located them yet?" asked Maul, all to willing to help the woman he'd called his daughter. He knew she was determined to see certain things through to the end. Clone Force 99 was one of them. "What do you have planned for the girl?" asked the father figure, watching as she turned back to the ruins of the Night Sister temple, as if she remembered growing up there. Learning of the force and watching as the witches trained and taught each other. "Merrin, will be fine, the brothers will protect her" assured Maul, knowing the Night Brother clans would do as they always had, serve the Night Sisters, protect and care for her. Yet even he couldn't deny her pain, the child had lost everyone and everything she knew. Something he was sure (Y/N) had also sensed at some point, even more so when she had spoken to the younger girl, assuring her she wasn't alone.

"They're on Ord Mantell, trying to adjust to life as bounty hunters and on the run from the empire. As for Omega, train her if I can, at least give her a fighting chance, she deserved a chance to live" whispered (Y/N), her attention turning to the red cloudless skies above. As if sensing something coming or something was wrong. Yet she never spoke a word before returning to the ruined temple. Maul on the other hand set his focus on the skies above, he too sensing a disturbance, almost as if his former master had realized (Y/N) was no longer imprisoned on Naboo.

"I'll train the girl if my child can not" whispered Maul, as if not wishing for anyone to hear his words, or see he cared for anyone, even when most of the galaxy had since realized his love and care for his only child. Yet he had seen the passion (Y/N) had for Omega, thrust he was determined if (Y/N) couldn't train her, then he would. Thrust ensure she could become something more than the scared yet brave child she was at the moment. Only now did Maul wonder if the young clone was aware of others outside of Hunter, Echo, Tech and Wrecker, trying their hardest to protect her. He wondered if the four clones were aware of others trying to help them, even against the odds and the empire. Or if they believed they were the likely the rest of the surviving Jedi, alone and in far too deep to turn back.