#alpha arc jaster

[jacensolodjo]

Jaster: How you hate to be wrong. Alpha 17: I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation.

[jacensolodjo]

Jaster: *has been speaking for at least 10 solid minutes* Anyways, I just wanted to say ‘I love you’ and goodnight.

... *60 seconds later, with them both supposedly asleep now*

Alpha 17: Thank the manda, I thought you’d never kriffing shut up. 

Alpha 17, Alternate Ending: about time you shut up. ...Iloveyoutoo. Now go to sleep!

[jacensolodjo]

First of all, thank you again to the recent anon message that gave me the push to finally write this down to be able to put Jaster into the mix, not just Sheres, as I wasn’t really sure if I should or if it was best left unsaid for the time being. The Alphas are my domain and will be forever more but sometimes I worry about going a tad too far and whatnot with weaving my OCs into ‘canon’ story. (Seriously I wish I could express how much it means when people show an interest in my OC stuff or even just stuff in general. I know it is starting to sound silly but gosh. I like knowing I'm not just using my blog as a notebook lol mi blog es su blog, please pick up a fun goodie bag on your way home)

I apologize for the chunky-ass paragraphs and the rambling.

So, a quick recap for people who either don’t have a lot of knowledge about the comics or just Legends stuff in general:

In ‘Legends’, the story of Grievous, clones, Asajj, and others is entirely different from the story we now have. In the original story, Grievous and Asajj fought against clone troopers (and Jedi of course) on a planet far different from the planets they were on in the new canon. The former grievously (haaaaaaaaa) wounds Alpha 17. Asajj is also injured in the fight (not by Grievous tho which yes I have to make that clear because they have fought each other before lol) and considered to be nothing more than a corpse. And someone had the bright fucking idea to put the two of them in a shuttle back to Republic space (even if you really do believe she’s dead why the FUCK would you put someone who literally tortured another someone in the SAME TRANSPORT with said tortured someone. Since 17 is not dead and may or may not have been unconscious so waking up to Asajj would not be a fun thing). The very last thing we see where A17 is concerned is... Asajj taking control of the shuttle by killing off the pilot and so forth. This puts an already possibly paralyzed Alpha 17 in some dire straits. This is unfortunately the last we hear about 17 and so he is presumed dead, killed by his literal torturer so many months after their initial meeting. 

Now that we have that out of the way.

In my slightly happier fun time idea for 17 regarding this, I decided anyone with even half a brain cell would realize putting him on the same shuttle as Asajj Ventress is the worst idea in the history of the galaxy, dead or NOT. MAYBE if he wasn’t fucking paralyzed now (but would still be really gross to do w/ his history where Asajj is concerned). I change nothing else about this end of the war for him (because it IS the end of the war for him). The only other thing I decided was that his injury needed to be elaborated on, to be narrowed down to WHAT exactly did Grievous’s saber hit? And so I decided, L4/L5 spinal severance which means he cannot walk. He’s alive. But he can’t walk.

This is where I have to really decide where to bring Jaster into the mix, since I already decided it takes a few months post O66 for Sheres and 17 to buddy up. Jaster has the personal touch going for him, but Sheres has the medical. Next to that, I have managed to get myself firmly planted into the ground when it comes to having Jaster and 17 as an ‘item’ and no you can't change my mind.

Jaster during O66 is kinda in a maelstrom just like everyone else just with different conflicting thoughts since his orders actually have nothing to do with the Jedi. He is trying to figure out which orders to follow, which ones to not. Next to trying to figure out how to keep his young charges safe. But the fight with Grievous isn’t during O66 (since Obi-Wan is involved). So where is Jaster when 17 is getting his spine severed? In the interest of ‘might as well go all the way’, I feel like he may have picked up on the chatter about Asajj and Grievous and whatnot and managed to meet 17′s shuttle halfway to Coruscant. He was likely on a ship with a group of young clones who were freshly graduated, simply so it makes sense for him to be able to slip away to find 17. If he had been with actual cadets, he would have been conflicted about leaving them for 17. “You could have saved yourselves” is one of the important lines that 17 has when the cadets try to thank him during the Defense of Kamino. But Jaster was explicitly told by Jango that the cadets were his number one priority. And they are for 17, as well. Just in a different way. Jaster cares because they’re young vode. 17 cares because they are alive for one purpose: to fight for the Republic. But Jaster then knows that 17 would bite his head off for leaving the cadets during the death throes of the Republic/Clone War. One of the few things the Alphas all agree on is that Jango’s orders are paramount (even IF 17 is a hypocrite because he scolds the Nulls for listening only to Kal for the most part but that is... way more to unpack that we don’t have time for lmao needless to say he’s an asshole about it and there’s little defense for it). 

So, through sheer coincidence one could be forgiven for blaming the Force for, Jaster is in the right place at the right time. He is once again saving 17's shebs, a fact that 17 will never be okay with. (like just in a general ‘no i was gonna be JUST FINE’ but he is actually thankful and when all the planets align just right he even says thanks.)

Since all clones have basic first aid (as does pretty much any soldier for obvious reasons), Jaster is at least able to stabilize 17 and keep him fed and hydrated and in as little pain as possible. Because unfortunately through my own first hand experience, I know spinal damage doesn’t mean no pain. 

This is actually a lot better for 17 than the idea of him kinda drifting, falling through the cracks, before and after O66. In the original ‘rewrite’ of this part of the war, 17 essentially barely survives until Sheres finds him. But having Jaster there, even if he still has to keep doing his job until O66, means a lot for 17. His heart doesn’t grow like the Grinch, it’s more of a House situation where he softens. Still ‘a little rude for a clone’. But not a complete 180* of his personality. I mean he was already kinda softening anyways. He was learning, he wasn’t ignorant of what happens to his siblings like Tavo. He cares. In his way. 

[jacensolodjo]

Since I refuse to have my clone OCs and clone OC adjacent (such as Alpha 17) to go the stereotype route of being mercenaries or bounty hunters once the war ends, I’m currently trying to figure out what Alpha 17 would do. I know I already decided Jaster is basically a con artist but like, in a Robin Hood type way where he cons the rich idiots of the galaxy instead and uses the money to care for his young charge but idk if 17 would help in that endeavor?

I’m kinda tempted to have him ‘ghost write’ military manuals and stuff. The only problem is those manuals would likely be used by the Empire and I don’t see Alpha “they grow up loyal to the Republic or they don’t grow up at all” Seventeen as wanting to support the Empire in any way whatsoever. Obviously many clones do (it’s hinted that Cody is one of them who trains the stormies and then I think Wolffe might have as well in order to have the contacts he did with the Empire). But 17... or any Alpha? I can’t see it. Yeah the Republic treated them like shit but the Empire is absolutely not better. and because the Alphas don’t follow Order 66 (and have no chip if we wanna go that route) they would have to become Imps of their own free will and desire.

Althan supports the Empire only a little while, becoming an Imp Commando. He has a chip but I’m thinking I might say it was inert and so he was never ‘activated’ for O66. I haven’t decided yet and i dunno if maybe that is just a little too convenient/unbelievable? I mean he could have had it removed but who would know to do that for him?? So many clones didn’t learn this. Why would a cadet? Out of thousands of cadets?

Either way, maybe A17 could be like a ‘security consultant’ or something. But only for planets/organizations/companies that aren’t Imperial. So like he could be a security consultant for Lando for example but he wouldn’t take an assignment from Corellia or any company that is based around Corellia.

[jacensolodjo]

Some more random adventures of Alpha 17 and Den Buir Jaster. Definitely more than hints of cloneshipping but nothing more than some gentle touches.

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The silence was almost worse than the sounds of battle. Jaster only heard his own breathing within his helmet, and not a single vod around him. But he knew he was in the middle of a group of them. As he was trying to remember how many cadets had come along on the trip to tour some of the active duty ships, he suddenly heard a raspy demand for roll call.

"Jaster here," Jaster gasped out, his throat burning from exhaustion of yelling orders. Rubble was seemingly kicked aside before he felt a strong hand grabbing his wrist and forearm. He pushed up with his free hand the best he could and soon found himself on his feet. He gasped and wheezed softly, holding his side with his free hand. Before he could say anything, the other clone was removing his helmet. He noticed then that Seventeen was also barefaced.

"Jaster, sitrep?" Seventeen asked, looking the man over the best he could.

"I'm fine. Just... just sore," Jaster mumbled before their foreheads tapped together and Seventeen cradled the back of Jaster's head in a gloved palm. It was a shockingly rare move for a man who was often loathe to admit he cared about anyone.

"Part of your cuirass is missing," Seventeen mumbled, his hand tracing the space where plasteel used to be. Jaster laughed weakly.

"But my chest is still in one piece, ner vod." He didn't try pulling away, enjoying feeling Seventeen's hand where it rarely went. Seventeen traced his hand up from the hole along the other man's throat before joining his other hand in holding Jaster's head. He huffed a little laugh before tapping their heads together again.

"The vod'ikase?" Jaster asked, fighting a smile at the gentleness with which Seventeen was touching him.

"Bruised and bloody but alive and whole," Seventeen reported after casting a glance around at the younger clones who were trying to get their bearings again.

Seventeen had cautioned against the whole thing and he was right. For the moment however he wasn't being a sore winner about it.

The larger clone released Jaster (who tried not to be too disappointed) and set about helping their other vode back to their feet. They had been visiting a base close to the Outer Rim after their tour of a battleship. Jaster had figured it was safe, Seventeen had insisted on accompanying them just in case Jaster was wrong.

It wasn’t often an Alpha was wrong, and Jaster supposed if he had been a regular white job then Seventeen would have yelled himself into a coronary. As it was, Seventeen was not taunting Jaster about their near-miss. It was easy to believe that Seventeen didn’t care about anyone, perhaps not even himself besides being the absolute picture of a perfect Alpha. And Jaster knew better than to try to mold the man to be something he wasn’t. But the lack of griping meant he did care, in his way. 

Jaster applied bacta to various cuts and scrapes on his young charges while Seventeen watched over them all like a mother loth-wolf. Though he would probably frown at the comparison and demand why not a krayt dragon or something. 

“Do we know exactly what happened?” Jaster asked quietly once everyone had been accounted for and herded back towards the shuttles. One had been destroyed beyond use in the blast so the others had to pick up the slack. It wouldn’t be the first time they would be so close together. 

“Missile strike. But it apparently didn’t soften us up enough for the enemy to follow it. I’m sure if they had known they had mostly only blown up some cadets they would have attacked. ...And regretted it,” Seventeen said, a rare compliment when it came to their younger vode. 

Jaster quickly grabbed the back of a cadet’s cuirass without really turning his head as the young clone tripped on some wiring in the slightly damaged larty. The boy gasped out a thanks before rushing to join the rest of his squad, clearly embarrassed about tripping especially in front of the two Alphas.

“Should’ve let him fall,” Seventeen muttered. Jaster didn’t rise to the bait, knowing it was Seventeen trying to pretend he hadn’t been soft on his fellow Alpha earlier. Instead he chuckled and slapped the back of Seventeen’s shoulder then picked his way through the throng of cadets. Seventeen stared after him in surprise before finally replacing his helmet and following after the other man as the larties lifted off to take them back to Kamino.

[jacensolodjo]

Idk why i wrote this but at least I wrote something. 17 is in lieutenant’s armor most of the time we see him but he does wear red armor later which means captain. So he’s a captain in the time this takes place. Not to mention, color coding armor kinda fell to the wayside in TCW and the Revenge of the Sith (with many in rather colorful armor such as green camouflage while not all being sergeants or like the purple flashes that Windu’s troops had when purple has no ranking). Jaster is a sergeant for most of the war before eventually getting a promotion to Lieutenant. But trainers are often sergeants unless doing advanced training like Seventeen does. 

Warning(s): some hint of cloneshipping I guess?? Depending on how you view certain things at the end. lol

----------------------------------------------------

"Sergeant Jaster, explain to me why exactly you seem to think this cadet..."

"Tanner, sir."

"Hmph. Explain to me why Cadet Tanner is qualified to train as an ARC much less take the entrance exam."

"Sev, you know quite well how long I have been doing this--" Alpha 17 narrowed his eyes at the extreme shortening of his designation. "--and you also know I have rarely sent you trainees who have then washed out. What, exactly, bothers you about Cadet Tanner?"

Jaster followed 17's eyes as the larger clone looked over at the vidscreen displaying Tanner's dossier complete with picture. Tanner had a large, dark burn scar that covered most of his face. It was why he had been given the name that would probably be viewed as cruel by a non-clone.

Jaster knew exactly what bothered 17. The origin of the scar made him hesitant about the young cadet's skill. He had received it after a mishap running a training course that simulated a lava field, with still active streams of lava. The lava wasn't real lava, but rather liquified durasteel, and thus almost as hot. It was frankly a miracle the boy had survived at all.

"He survived," Jaster finally said simply even though the other Alpha had not said anything.

Jaster turned from the screen back to looking at his batch mate. Their eyes locked. Seventeen curled his upper lip slightly in a sneer.

"He is defective. He survived by causing his entire platoon to stop in the middle of a battle to help him."

Jaster's eyes widened before scowling, fists clenching at his side.

"You know we don't leave a vod behind to suffer!" Jaster said, raising his voice slightly.

Seventeen stared impassively before bringing a hand up to jab a finger into Jaster's chest. Jaster swatted the hand away, glaring.

"Your empathy is touching, but we do not rescue a squadmate at the expense of the mission, either!"

Eyes flashing, Jaster suddenly hit the slightly taller Alpha with an uppercut then pushed him at the wall behind him. Alpha 17 caught himself easily then scoffed, rubbing his jaw. Jaster slammed his palm against the other clone's collar bone, pinning him against the wall. Seventeen glared but did nothing else.

"You're the biggest shabuir this side of the outer rim, Captain," Jaster rasped, practically vibrating with anger.

"I could ding you for insubordination, Sergeant Jaster," Seventeen said, entirely too calm. The pair let the threat hang in the air for a few moments. Jaster yanked his hand back before spinning on his heel in preparation to leave.

"Does he really have what it takes or do you simply feel sorry for him?" Seventeen suddenly asked. Jaster stiffened before turning back around, brow slightly raised in a way that later generations of clones just never seemed capable of reproducing.

"I wouldn't ruin my record because of emotions. You know that," Jaster said, voice a conversational volume with an icy tinge. They were words Seventeen had said a year or so ago to Jaster about their relationship and exactly where they stood regarding it.

Seventeen was speechless about how his own words had been thrown back at him. He stared with his mouth open slightly for a second or two before snapping it shut and shaking his surprise.

"You better be right about this kid. I'm not doing him or you any favors."

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Captain Alpha Seventeen.” He tried to keep the sneer out of his voice but ultimately failed. 

Seventeen didn’t react this time, instead he simply walked away.

[jacensolodjo]

One of the Alphas during the defense of Kamino is shown as having his left shoulder essentially blown off his body by a laser blast. This is when they are also protecting the cadets.

I'm mean and want to think that unfortunate Alpha is Den Buir Jaster. He survives, barely. If the shot had been any further to the right (he is facing away from the shooter) it would have severed his axillary artery. At least he gets a cool prosthetic arm grafted to what is left of his shoulder out of it. (Think Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop.)

The Alpha standing back to back with him is not as fortunate it seems since it looks like he got the "Vegeta killed by Frieza on Namek" treatment. Just mirrored. Or at the very least his subclavian vein or superior vena cava got severed instead. The angle they're drawn from makes it slightly unclear.

[jacensolodjo]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars Legends: Republic Commando Series - Karen Traviss Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Alpha 17/Jaster, Alpha 17/Original Clone Trooper Character(s) Characters: Alpha 17, Jaster, Jaster the Alpha ARC, Alpha ARC Jaster, Alpha-17 (Star Wars) Additional Tags: Clonecest, cloneshipping

Summary: Jaster finds himself missing 17, who almost seems to have a connection to the Force in knowing when Jaster is thinking about him. They meet up for some fun in the bunk. Notably, they both experiment with their roles in the bunk. Let's just say they find out they're both switches when the mood strikes.