Nia’s Pack Prequel
Nia’s head was full of worries: What if Master Plo didn't end up liking her? What if she messed up and let someone die? The light grey halls blinded her, especially paired with the bright overhead lights as she walked to Master Plo Koon’s office. The tile floor was filled with dust and dirty footprints, the footprints looked like the boots the clones wore. She had always liked the clones in the Jedi Academy, and when she had learned about them she instantly felt bad for them. They had no choice but to follow orders, with no hope for a life of their own, having been made to solely fight. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts as she kept walking as her shoes made a soft patter against the hard tiles. She was nervous, more nervous than she expected to be, as she recited the directions in her head to where they said Master Plo Koon’s office was. “Sharp left...” she whispered to herself as she quickly turned left, eyes glued to the floor. Before she knew it she had ran into someone, she then suddenly landed on the floor, the rough tiling bruising her tail bone, shock over taking her as she looked up expecting to see a wall but instead there was a 6ft tall man in a white suit with crimson accents. His confused expression slowly transforming to worry as he held his hand out to her. She quickly accepted it and pulled herself up with the help of the stranger.
“Woah, you’re a clone right!?” She excitedly asked, “Yes- Who are you? Younglings aren't allowed over here.” He replied as she beamed, “I’m not a youngling- I’m Master Plo Koon's new Padawan!” “He wasn’t in the market for a Padawan last I checked, so who are you?”
“Nia Erwood- I am Master Plo Koon’s new Padawan learner so if you excuse me I need to get to his office.” “If you’re going anywhere it’s definitely not alone.” The man turned around, opening the door to what must be Master Plo Koon’s office. As the metal door clanged open she was greeted with light brown walls and beige carpeting that cover the room, her eyes quickly scanned the office taking in the small couch, birch desk and tiny little photos of him and what appeared to be the Wolf Pack, a famed troop of Clones named after their leader: Wolffe. Her eyes quickly snapped to the tall Kel Dor man behind the desk, looking up from papers that were displayed on his desk.
“You’re Nia right?” Nia nodded, gently pushing past the man who was still standing in the doorway. “You know her, Plo?” the man spoke from behind nia as she approached Master Plo Koon “Yes, Wolffe she’s my new padawan learner, and-” “You didn't tell the Pack about this...”
“I know and I am sorry, it was not something I had planned before going to the meeting. Regardless, Nia this is Wolffe, the commander of the Wolf Pack” She nodded slightly and waved at him “Hi Wolffe-” The Clone smiled, “Hi there. Now, Plo I’m going to take some of the Pack out training today.” Plo Koon nodded in agreement as Wolffe turned around, softly shutting the door behind him. “So, Nia, I am Plo.” She laughed slightly, “I know who you are, Master Plo Koon.” He tsked softly, “No need to call me Master, Nia, please just Plo. It will work fine for now.” “A-are you sure? That's extremely informal.” She tilted her head slightly looking into the older man's eyes, or rather his eye covers, while nervously shifting in place. “Yes I am quite sure” He stood quickly pushing his chair away as he walked around the desk quickly reaching out to open the door.
“Follow me, youngling.”
He quickly walked out the door walking down the long hall Nia had just come from. “Where are we going?” He turned into where the barracks for the Wolf Pack were located. “To meet the Wolf Pack young one. You simply cannot be my Padawan and not know them.” She smiled slightly trying to push the rising anxiety away: What if they didn't like her? Would plo give her back to the Jedi Academy? Her thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of laughter cascading from the door. She quickly saw the one named Wolffe standing in the middle of the group laughing along with them.
Plo clapped his hands together, quickly grabbing their attention. “Alright kids, meet Nia. She is going to be training under me. And be nice.” He warned softly as though he knew they would but just felt like it needed to be stated. They all waved and exchanged hellos with her. Quickly her anxiety faded, the Wolf Pack made her feel welcomed like it was okay that she was joining what seemed to be their little family.
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Nias' body felt like it was on fire. That last mission was nearly impossible, thankfully they hadn’t lost any men. They had come close, there were a few men that would definitely be staying in the med bay for a few days at least. She let out a deep sigh she didn't even know she was holding in as she tossed her lightsaber onto the bedside table next to her bed, making a soft thud when it hit the stack of books she had. She slowly sat down rubbing her head hoping to get any relief from the migraine that had plagued her since she had gotten on the ship home maybe i'll have stitch look at me when hes done with the clones she thought while slowly getting up to wipe the blood off her face.Nia grounded as soon as she saw her face in the mirror it was bad much worse than she thought. A large cut made itself known as her cheek throbbed in pain. She sighed softly as tears welled up in her eyes she looked down letting the tears roll down her cheeks. It was her fault the wolf pack had almost died it was a bad call on her behalf she thought they would be safer- she was instantly ripped out of her thoughts as she heard a knock on the door quickly wiping her tears she looked into the mirror to see wolffe leaning against her metal door frame.
“ad’ika?”
A soft “hm?” came from Nias throat as she wet a towel and started dabbing at the bloodstains across her face; a soft smile would have broke out across her face if it wasn't for the throbbing seeming to come from every, the sound of the nickname wolffe had picked out for her always brought a smile to her face- but today wasn't like any other day they had experienced with her there,
“Give me that”
Wolffe quickly walked over grabbing the towel from her hand as he took over gently wiping the blood from Nia's stained face. She sighed softly into the touch. Being a padawan was harder than she had expected, Plo made her work for everything and the wolf pack just questioned why she was there most days.
“Its unbelievable”
“What is Wolffe?” her head tilted slightly at his sudden exclamation her eyes quickly snapping back to focus on his face.
“That the jedi council is sending kids to do their dirty work now”
She shook her head slightly letting out a soft chuckle.
“I’m not a kid- and it's not like i'm doing their dirty work, im training to become a jedi master there’s a difference”
Now it was wolffe's turn to shake his head and chuckle;
“Isn't that kind of the same thing?”
Nia bit the inside of her cheek while shrugging.
“I don't see it that way..i’ve always wanted to be a jedi master…”
“Why” the question was sudden and just blurted out like he hadn't truly thought about the question before it asked like it was just instinct for him. She smiled softly
“I wanted to build my own family, I had heard stories about jedis coming here and finding their own family. I just wanted any family it isn't hard to beat my family; they were sepertist supporters and outcasted me for having faith in the republic I grew up basically alone just me and the few animals that were bold enough to come close-”
Nia had looked at wolffe's face at some point he had soften his features, he looked sympathetic it was an expression that nia had never really etched on the tough commanders features. She shook her head slightly to reset her thoughts;
“But yeah thats kinda why- I know sob story jedi how predictable”
Wolffe shook his head
“You found your family, ad’ika”
She smiled fondly at him before wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug her head resting in the crook of his neck trying her best not to get blood on his shirt, at first he stood there shocked he had never really been hugged before let alone by a jedi after a few seconds just standing there he had finally gotten the hint and wrapped his arms around her back pulling her tighter to his chest he let out a soft sigh.
“Thank you Wolffe” she whispered before pulling away- he nodded almost to say anytime she wiped the tears that had started welling up in her eyes away as wolffe went back to wiping her face almost as if the hug had never happened;
“You know you might need stitches for this gash” He nodded to the mark on Nias cheek Nia not missing a beat quickly smiled ignoring the throbbing
“I need stitches from stitches-” she let out a soft chuckle as wolffe shook his head
“That is a horrible joke” she smiled before moving to grab pain killers from her desk drawer and popping a few;
“Mhm that's the point buddy”
Wolffe walked over shoving her playfully as he smiled at her moving over to grab her a pair of clean pjs with little dogs covering them he snickered at the design before tossing them to nia.
“Get changed then come get me ill stay with you until stitches can come patch you up.” She nodded slightly waiting for him to leave so she could move as quick as possible to hop in the shower wiping all the blood dirt and sweat off of her skin making her finally feel truly clean again. She pulled on her pjs then opened the door seeing wolffe already waiting there for her in his blacks he nodded to her wet silver hair draping over her shoulder. “I see you showered-” she nodded happily as she sat down on the corner of her bed wolffe opting to pull up a chair to sit across from her.
“I called stitches he said when he's done with all the clones he will come down here”
“Tell him no rush please ! I don't want to take attention away from the injured clones.”
Wolffe shook his head; “You remind me of Plo”
Nia softly smiled he had no idea how much of a compliment that was to her she went to open her mouth to say thank you but the physical toll of everything she had done today hit her like a brick exhaustion taking over her mind fast as she slowly lulled off to sleep with wolffe sitting there confused on what to do now.