Duke has a short saber and a standard saber, both in green, since he is very much a will of the Force type person. He favors Soresu, focusing on defense and outlasting his opponent, though wielding a short saber with Soresu also gives him offensive opportunities not typical of the form.
Duke Thomas was born with Force superpowers. What his mother did not tell the Jedi when she gave him up was that he was descended from an Al Ghul cult member who had been genetically modified to be more powerful in the Force than he should be. Thus, Duke sees glimpses of the past and future, heals rapidly, and quite literally glows within the Force.
Despite his altered connection with the Force, Duke had a fairly normal childhood among the Jedi, gathering a close group of friends to explore the Temple with and being apprenticed to Knight Doug. During his early years as a padawan, Doug took him to Jedha to study Force superpowers; though they didn't find much useful information, Duke decided to adopt a style of robe inspired by the Jedha Jedi.
Though Duke was not a shadow's padawan, he admired the Jedi shadows, especially padawan shadows like Tim and Steph, and got into trouble more than once for leading his fellow junior padawans on secret missions outside the Temple. Once, they even got them in serious trouble with the Coruscanti police after they found and arrested a group of corrupt police officers who were allowing smugglers to run drugs on Coruscant's lower levels.
Then, while on a joint mission with Bruce Wayne (whom Duke spent most of the mission trying to learn from via osmosis), they encountered the Joker. Managing to separate Doug from Duke and Bruce, the Joker kidnapped him, leading Duke and Bruce on a long, desperate chase to find him.
After searching together for months, Bruce and Duke found Doug in a secret lab and discovered to their horror that the Joker had found a way to kill all of Doug's mididchlorians. This essentially killed his connection to the Force and drove Doug out of his mind.
They returned to the Temple with the broken Jedi, unsure if he would ever recover. The Council asked Duke to consider finding another master, and Bruce volunteered immediately. Eventually, Duke accepted and became Bruce's padawan, joining the ranks of the Bat Lineage.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 16/16
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Coruscant Guard Clone Troopers & Jedi Temple Guard Characters (Star Wars)
Characters: Original Clone Trooper Character(s) (Star Wars), Original Jedi Temple Guard Character, Mentions of named Star Wars characters but those are the side characters, CC-1010 | Fox, Cin Drallig, Kolloma Ree, Jedi Temple Guard Characters (Star Wars), Mace Windu, Quinlan Vos, Original Jedi Character(s) (Star Wars)
Additional Tags: Originally Posted on Tumblr, Stuck together through the Force, Accidental Force Bond (Star Wars), Accidentally touching PTSD and Survivor's Guilt, Coruscant Guards and Temple Guards are not like other Clones and Jedi, Angst, Action/Adventure, Canon-Typical Violence, slowly becoming obsessed with nameless identical clones seeking individualism, paired with fully individualized jedi trying to be faceless and anonymous temple guards, Oh and CT 87/3001 desperately wants a new name, Order 66 (Star Wars), Post-Order 66 (Star Wars), Platonic Relationships, Romantic Relationship, read it however you want, Clone Troopers and Jedi as Found Family (Star Wars), Clone Trooper & Jedi Relationships (Star Wars), turning into a Jedi vs Clone buddy comedy
Summary:
based on an idea from morosecloud on Tumblr.
The Coruscant Guard and the Jedi are sent to raid a Crime Syndicate. A Jedi Temple Guard leads their unit deep into the Underworld of Coruscant to some of the lowest reachable levels. The ensuing battle severely inuries a Coruscant Guard. The Jedi Temple Guard struggles to save the wounded while the unit chases the fleeing criminals. The Medics and Healers are too far away to help. The Jedi Temple Guard attempts the illegal practice of Force Healing to save the last surviving Clone of this battle. Neither understand the rammifications of such an act.
........
Chapter 16: Wind heals and makes several self discoveries and shares their secrets with O'won. Follows previous
tagging: anyone who wants to do this ‘cause I can’t remember who writes and who doesn’t right now
From Tyrenic’s currently untitled story:
Tyrenic shook his head. This is how she’d been as long as he’d known her. She’d profess logic and practicality above all else. But when it came to it, he’d seen her go into tests with her eyes deliberately closed to rely entirely on the Force. She was much the same as Leshlaa in that regard. Though his former crechemate, and one of his best friends in the order, tended to be much more open about her complete trust and belief in the Force and it’s messages.
Well, I wasn’t planning on writing any new stories for awhile but then this one just kind of happened. I love it a lot, I hope you enjoy it too!
Part 1: Emerging Shadows
I moved through the shadows, immersing myself in the energy around me. They were up ahead, on the command deck, as I expected. It was time for them to know the truth. To prepare them for their destiny. And to make sure it happens as it was meant to.
I shifted into the light a mere few yards from them, moving towards them with determination. They were surprised, of course. Seeing people appear out of thin air can be disconcerting even for the most balanced force users. It was why we rarely revealed ourselves in such a manner. But my mission; what I was sent here to do, was too important to move through traditional channels.
"Who are you?" The boy demanded, his hands instinctively moving towards his lightsaber. I looked him up and down, breathing in his energy. There was darkness in him, yes. There was also light. Good. The ratio was right, too much longer and there'd be no hope. I sized up the Togruta girl standing next to him. She had darkness in her too, but more of the light. It would seem the others had been correct. They are ready now.
"I am Jedi master Elenethea, and I have something to show you." I responded calmly. Neither of them relaxed, unsurprisingly.
"What are you? And why have we never heard of you?" He asked, still tense and battle ready. She too, had narrowed her eyes in suspicion, shifting to prepare for a duel.
"I am a Jedi shadow, and you haven't heard of me because our identities are kept secret. But had I wished to kill either of you, I would not have revealed myself before the first strike. Now stand down, and come with me." I responded. They exchanged a glance, little did they know I read them both well.
They both relaxed just slightly, but still remained cautious. "No offense, master, but we're on a mission here." The boy said. Yes, the one everyone claims is the chosen one. They don't know the truth. He is as volatile as they say, but that's because the Jedi council deem not to tell him the whole prophecy, or any of it for that matter. The girl, his padawan, she is more open; more balanced, brighter. Also volatile, but in a different way. He is volatile in the dark. She is volatile in the light. Separate, they are chaos. Together, balance.
"What I have to show you is far more important than your current mission. Victory here will not win the war. Come with me and I will show you what needs to be done." I claim. It's not a far out claim. The truth will win the war, just not the way everyone believes of victory.
Such was the way with war. It never changed. Everyone fighting for a side rather than the middle. But the middle in this case, doesn't mean compromising, it means an entirely different solution.
I took his hand in my left and hers in my right. First step, calm. Second step, power. Third step, shift. Fourth step, present. They looked around, clearly startled to no longer be on the ship, but rather planet-side. Even more miraculous, likely, not the planet they were orbiting. The gift to travel in such a way, was incredibly rare. I was the first to appear with such an ability in a thousand years. All part of the force's grander design.
Timing in matters such as this is absolutely necessary. The unfortunate part however, is that the mission I had to take them away from is also important. Which is why I must leave them and take it over.
"Did we actually travel or is this a shared vision of some kind?" The girl asked in wonder.
"We traveled." I replied. Ahead of us was the end of a valley with high cliff faces on three sides. One small cottage with a large garden and a few domesticated animals. It was remote and secure. They would have everything they needed until they were ready.
"How is that possible?" He asked. Also curious and oddly excited.
"A question for another time, perhaps." I responded, pulling on their hands I still held so they turned to look at me. "Has the council ever told you the prophecy of the chosen one?"
"No," The boy responded, his tone laced with anger and resentment. "It's a stupid title that means nothing." The Togruta girl glanced up at him and then back at me and shook her head.
"That is where you are wrong, Anakin Skywalker." I said. "The prophecy is in fact real. It is happening as we speak and that is why I had to bring you both here. Now listen carefully. In all living things, there exists both light and dark. Nothing and no one can have one without the other. Balance is when that creature learns to understand and embrace both sides of themselves. However, in the case of this prophecy, the only way the chosen 'one' can bring balance to the force is to first balance themselves. You, boy, are woefully unbalanced."
"So you're going to force a retreat on me to balance myself?" He said in irritation.
"Not at all." I answered. "You, are not the chosen one." I paused a moment to let my statement sink in. He looked at the girl with him in confusion.
"Are you saying Ahsoka is?" He asked surprised.
"No. You are not the chosen one, young Skywalker. But rather a chosen half. One person cannot bring balance to the force because one person does not contain enough of either side, and will never be completely in balance. The chosen one, is a misdirect. Only when you bind yourself to the other half will you both become the chosen one. For the universe to fully be in balance, the beings within it must work and move together in harmony. One person with that much power would hardly be the proper archetype."
"What exactly are you saying?" He asked, shifting nervously. I could feel his fear rising. I knew it would come to this.
"What I'm saying, Skywalker, is that you AND your padawan are the chosen halves. Alone, you both are volatile and unbalanced. Together, you are perfect harmony." I took each of their hands I was holding and placed them in each other's. Then I quickly set my hands on their heads. "Embrace and bind yourselves together so that the chosen one can be created." I released them and stepped back as they stared at each other. He took her other hand and they were lost in each other. I was forgotten and my work here was done.
Regretfully, it had come to this. Skywalker's obsession with the senator, had forced my hand. Had he been able to overcome that driving possessiveness and need, he would have recognized his other half much earlier on. And so much of the war could have been prevented. In essence, I'd been forced to steal parts of their identities and memories, in order to bring them together.
But from here on out, they would know nothing but each other, and when they were ready, they would set fire to the galaxy and restore balance to the force.
I slipped into the shadows, plucking their lightsabers from their belts and hiding them away while they were distracted and then I returned to the ship, leaving them behind. The fusion had begun.
"General?" The admiral called from the door to the command deck. I turned and headed his way. "The council wishes to speak with you."
"Thank you, Admiral Yularen." I replied stepping up to the holotable as masters Yoda, Kenobi, Windu and the chancellor himself awaited me.
"Where is Anakin and his padawan?" Obi wan asked.
"They have business elsewhere, I will be taking their place." I said calmly. Windu and Yoda exchanged glances, their distrust evident. They were the only two members of the council and the only two Jedi outside the shadows that knew the true prophecy. And they did not approve of what it meant. And they now knew, if I was present, that their efforts to keep it from happening had been overridden. If only they understood the damage they were causing by attempting to stop it. Yet instead, as per usual, they were convinced they knew better than the very people who had seen the prophecy.
"This mission is of vital importance," the chancellor exclaimed. His darkness seeping out. "Masters, you said yourself that Skywalker was the best hope we had of victory here. Without him, we have already lost." I heard the disdain in his voice, and tried not to smile. The other Jedi may be easily fooled by such an act, but I was not one of them. As a shadow, I move seamlessly between the light and the dark, I can read all types and know all of their tricks. The others and myself have allowed the chancellor to remain a secret, and now it mattered not, because soon the chosen one will destroy all he's been fighting for. "Who are you and how dare you take over this mission?" He demanded.
"With all due respect, your excellency," I bowed my head. "My name is of no importance to you. But the mission will be completed and the Republic will have their victory. I am more than capable of leading the expedition."
"Complete it, she will, chancellor." Yoda interrupted before he could say anything else. I knew his tone. He was angry at appearing ignorant of his own orders actions. But I could not feel sympathy for him. The traditional views of the Jedi would only get them killed in this changing galaxy. If they'd accepted that the people of the prophecy must be treated as exceptions to the rules, then perhaps the shadows would not have been forced to play their hands so early. Or at all, for that matter. "A master, she is. Highly capable."
"Thank you, master." I said nodding, and then I clicked off the holotable without another word. While the room was empty, I put a call through to the other shadows.
"Is it done?" They asked almost simultaneously.
"Yes, my friends. The fusion has begun." I replied.
"Very good." The first one said.
"It's unfortunate we have to take two weapons off the battlefield, but in time, it will not matter." Another one commented. Their presences were obscured through the transmission, but I'd grown up with them, so I knew who spoke what. Just like my own identity, however, theirs did not matter. Amongst ourselves, we identified only as numbers, since there were so few of us; barely twenty. The three I was talking to right now, were the self-appointed leaders. But of all of us, they were the most qualified. The rest accepted that without question. Un, or number one, was the one who saw the prophecy. Deux, number two, and Trois, number three, were with Un when the force gave her the prophetic vision. They have devoted their lives to studying the implications and minutia involved. Quatre, number four, died when the Sith heard of the prophecy and attempted to steal the written word. They only ever got half, though, which is why the chancellor's gamble on the boy was so laughable; it’s like arming a bomb you have no intention of throwing. I am Cinq, number five. My travel abilities gave me higher number than most because I could help prepare for the coming changes by moving quickly throughout the galaxy. It is also nearly impossible for me to be caught or imprisoned; granting me the special rank of messenger and delivery person.
I do not mind my position, of course, because I believe in it. My husband, yes husband, Six, is one of the most covert secrets the shadows have. He is destructive and fast, and often, when the two of us work together, the enemy never knows what hits them. I bring him in, he does his job, I take him out. But because of the nature of our secret order, we cannot reveal strikes like that too often without suspicions being cast on us. Un, Deux and Trois did not want my identity revealed for this mission, but we had little choice. Since the shadows keep to themselves in a hidden part of the temple on Coruscant, the risk to complete the prophecy was necessary. My real name would mean nothing to most anyways.
Six and I are like the boy and his padawan in a lot of ways. Together we are balanced, of one mind and spirit. The Jedi, or I should say, the main or traditional part of the Jedi order, frown on attachments and forbid their followers relationships. And that is where they fail. Relationships with your fellow compatriots and deep respect for them form stronger and more powerful soldiers. That's why the shadows succeed, where they fail. They use relationships and their benefits for good. It doesn't mean we don't mourn or feel the loss of those we lose. But we have found balance and understanding in each other and the force. And in so doing, we strengthen ourselves; since there is no room for doubts or fear. What lays between us is absolute trust.
And that is the very reason I was forced to steal the chosen ones' memories. Their deeply-set fear and shame surrounding attachments distract them from utilizing their strength as one unit. If the council had accepted that their attachment to each other was necessary for balance, there never would have been a risk their ratios would be thrown off. Therefore, the physical involvement of the shadows would have been unnecessary.
I said goodbye to my friends and closed the holocommunicator. The future was already in motion; the prophecy happening as we speak, it was pointless to waste precious time on what ifs.
The mission ahead of me of vital importance; it was the first of many strategic advances that the chancellor had been planning. He meant for a Republic victory here to distract from another more important move. Though hurrying along the fate of the Republic was not ideal, we had to goad him into his final move so that the chosen ones could fulfill their destiny and remake the galaxy. If they returned too early, it could compromise the entire future.
He expected Skywalker to be leading this assault, which meant this battle would turn in our favor easily. But by pulling Skywalker and his padawan off this mission, the chancellor has a choice to make; let it be a victory for the Republic without his hero crusader, or double the Separatist war effort and prolong it.
I had a feeling resistance will be higher than originally orchestrated, because our move angered him. But still, he needs the Republic to win here to gain more power. I could sense he was impatient to make the final move. This was supposed to be the beginning of the end of his years of patient planning. And we just stole his star player. To expect him to make a wrong move out of spite, however, was to underestimate his entire character. All we could do now was attempt to meet his patched situations. And force his hand in revealing his designs.
When he realizes that Skywalker has gone missing, he will be forced into initiating it without his kingpin. It will be chaos, and our only hope rests in the chosen one, returning to lead what's left into a new, grander vision of the future. A place where light and dark are not hoarded like possessable entities. Where we are returned to our balanced natures, and all those that sought control have been eradicated. It wasn't the future the Jedi believed in. And it certainly wasn't the future the Sith demanded. Both powers equal in their destruction of the balance. And both will pay for it.
I once felt as the traditional Jedi do. I once believed their code of darkness versus light. But as I grew and learned, moving through the shadows and across the galaxy; I listened and observed. Two sides to every story; everything was black or white. But something nagged at me, perhaps there was a third way. One that constructed something magnificent from the pieces and fragments of both sides.
And it was on Morroband, the ancient homeworld of the Sith, in their dark temple, faced with the darkest of darkness, that I found the light. That experience lit a fire in my soul, I will never forget it. I saw the universe in harmony, a balance between two opposite dangers. One side of me lived in the shadows, one side in the light. And as I looked down at who I'd become, I didn't see two separate halves, divided by a clear line; but rather a mixture of the two. A swirling of gray. When I returned to Coruscant, I told master Yoda of my experience. He dismissed it as the darkness finally corrupting me. He told me to meditate and cleanse myself with light.
I knew no better, so I did as he instructed. No matter how hard I tried, however, the taint never left me. The darkness had made itself at home inside my soul. I had failed as a Jedi. Or so I thought. It was that day of utter despair, that I met Six. He revealed himself to me and begged me to follow him, he had told me it was time for me to go home. I didn't understand at first, but I took his hand anyways. He led me down to a secret part of the temple that I had never even known existed. There I met other gray people like myself.
In the beginning, I thought these were the Jedi cast offs, but I quickly learned that no, the people of the enclave were more balanced and possessed more strength of will and spirit than most of the other force users I'd ever encountered. And they willingly taught me how to reach my full potential. And it was in that perfect balance, that gray area, that my travel talent emerged. Balance in myself was when I learned what I was truly capable of. And now I understood, what these other gray Jedi taught me, were things the traditional order never could. And like them, I now live to lead others to their same power.
Which is more difficult than you'd presume. People don't like their beliefs challenged. They shun those that see things differently. So we turned our attention to picking up lost souls; Jedi or Sith that have fallen from their devout paths and are ready to learn a third possibility. At least that was our primary objective until Un had the prophecy of the chosen one. All attention was now put towards preparing for the dystopian path ahead. Preparing to travel the difficult path, led by the chosen one, to emerge on the other side as guides for the survivors. What the Jedi saw as the end, and the Sith saw as destruction in their favor, was only the beginning of something bigger. The time of fire was upon us
A makashi fighter of remarkable precision and skill, she has a pale blue lightsaber with a purple tint, given her incredible levels of skill and self-control.
The daughter of David Cain, an assassin in the Al Ghul Force cult, Cassandra was raised as a weapon, trained to use her connection to the Force as a tool to allow her to kill more effectively. She spent years under her father's tutelage, honed into an unstoppable assassin.
And then she killed for the first time, and as she watched that first victim die, as she felt their life leave them in the Force, as the Force wailed over the death with a grief that shook her to her very bones, Cass realized that the Darksiders had lied to her. The Force was not her tool to use as she pleased, to hurt and kill at a whim. And she fled.
She was found by Master Barbara Gordan, a Jedi shadow who had risen rapidly through the ranks despite her young age. Barbara sensed the pain and fear and dedication in the young Force-sensitive and took Cass back to the Temple with her. She attempted to take Cass as her apprentice, briefly, but both of them could sense in the Force that they weren't bonded.
Eventually, Barbara was called away for another mission, and she didn't take Cass with her; instead, she advised the girl to go to her fellow shadow Bruce Wayne for more training and more help in learning how to serve the Force without the Darkside. She bonded to Bruce immediately in the Force and began to learn from him, accompanying him on missions and discovering her new connection to the Force as she went. Since Bruce already had a padawan, she remained officially Barbara's padawan, though most of her training was with Bruce.
Only a few years after coming to the Jedi, she went on a solo mission to infiltrate a dance company suspected of serving as a front for smugglers. When she returned from the mission, successful and having mastered a skill that seemed to complete her, she was knighted. The mission having opened her up to the Force as she'd been seeking and her entire childhood more than counting as her trials.
From there, she continued with the Bat lineage, serving as a shadow capable of taking on missions that should have been impossible.
