Chapter Text
The weapons pointed at him didn't terrify him, Plo wasn't afraid of death, but... it wasn't just him. He could still feel dozens of presences in the Force behind him, and he knew that none of them could evacuate now that the Mandalorian ships surrounded them.
This was the end.
"Surrender," demanded the leader, who had done a fine job of taking the Temple without even trying to bomb them alive.
Plo was just glad that their artifacts and holocrons had been entrusted to Master Nu for preservation, otherwise the treasures of Jedi wisdom would have been lost forever.
"What will be our fate?"
"You will be taken prisoner and locked up until a negotiation with your leaders," replied the Mandalorian with the wolf emblem on his helmet. "If you do not fight, I promise you'll not be harmed."
Clearly, he seemed unaware that Plo 'was' a Leader of the Jedi Order.
Plo sighed and lowered his weapon.
"We surrender."
The Kel Dor pressed a Temple communication and connected, and soon his voice was audible through the building's well-hidden loudspeakers:
"This is Plo Koon, I have just accepted the defeat of the Temple on behalf of us all, please do not fight and head for the Temple entrance to find me. No harm will come to those who surrender, please remain calm. Everything will be fine, may the Force be with you."
"Your weapon," then demanded the only Mandalorian to have spoken so far.
Plo swallowed hard, his lightsaber was the only material thing he had left from when his Master Tyvokka was still alive. Nevertheless, despite the pain and sadness, Plo handed his lightsaber to the Mandalorian who respectfully took it and put it on his belt.
The weapons were pointed at the ground at the command of the leader and the soldiers barely shook as Plo's com rang out.
"Hmm... Master Koon?" asked a young voice, trembling with a fear that was hard to contain. "It's Padawan Yuster, Master Kolar's Padawan, I... It's just to know where you are, because there are two entrances to the Temple? And I found a little initiate... shall I bring him?"
"Yes, Padawan, take the boy with you and watch him. We're at the processional entrance."
"Good. I... Are they going to kill us, Master Koon?" the young human asked in a tone far too serious for his age. "Because if you think the answer is yes, I think I'll try to run away to save the child."
That should never be the concern of such a young Padawan...
"I'm sorry, Padawan Yuster, but I don't know what lies ahead until the Mandalorians negotiate with the Order's leaders," Plo admitted in front of his new guards. "Your courage is commendable, as is your sacrifice, but you wouldn't get far. You'll both be safer with all of us, please join us."
"All right, Master. Are you... Are you sure they won't shoot at us?"
"We won't shoot if we're not attacked," the Chief promised again.
Padawan Yuster hung up and Plo added a request for identification to get a clearer idea of how many Jedi were still present and, more importantly, their age and rank.
"This is Master Di," the Master Nikto replied immediately, "I'll be there shortly with Master Tachi who has a chest wound."
"Understood, Master Di."
"This is Tiplar, I am coming with my sister and Knight Hett."
"Thank you Master Tiplar."
"This is Drallig, I'm on my way with a Guard, the others have evacuated."
"Understood."
Plo saw the Mandalorians disperse and methodically pull out the handcuffs that he knew would block them from the Force. The electrical impulses would shock them, he already knew it would be painful for the children and winced in anticipation. He hoped they wouldn't put those handcuffs on the children, but he didn't hold out much hope. To the Mandalorians, enemy children were still enemies.
"This is Tera Sinube, I have with me five Initiates."
"Wonderful, thank you."
The presence of so many children horrified him, but at least they were being looked after by older, more experienced people.
The sound of light footsteps echoed through the corridors and the small figure of a human child emerged between the columns.
"Padawan Yuster," Plo greeted softly to calm the wary Mandalorians. "You may approach, just put down your lightsaber on the way so there's no misunderstanding."
The youth nodded and hurriedly dropped his weapon before joining him, a small, innocent green troll in his arms. The adorable baby reached out to him with a trill and giggled as Plo gently stroked a pointy ear with a fingertip. He then placed a reassuring hand on the Padawan's head and shoulder as he leaned against him, shaking.
"This is Master Baas. Knights Eerin and Vebb are not far behind me, their coms are still in the Healing Halls."
"Thank you, prepare to treat Master Tachi, chest wounds."
"Yes Master!" the two Mon Calamari exclaimed across the com.
"We're hurrying," the other Jedi finally announced.
"This is Agen Kolar, I can't find my Padawan where I left him, have you heard anything?"
"Master Agen!" the Padawan exclaimed. "I've been trying to contact you! I'm with Master Koon, I had found an Initiate and I didn't know what to do and he called us on the speakers and-"
"It's all right, Padawan," Plo reassured him, giving him a tight hug while trying to keep an eye on the Mandalorians, watching with a worried then tranquilized eye as Master Fisto and Baas arrived and put down their weapons to join them.
"Is he safe?" asked the Zabrak, looking concerned.
"Yes, everything's fine, they're not hurting us."
For now, of course.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," the Jedi Master promised, "but I'm at the other end of the Temple and I think someone's passed out, I'll get back to you."
"I'm at the Healing Halls. Oh, it's Knight Xanatos."
"What are you doing here?! I said the entrance to the Temple, don't take any detours!"
"Master Tholme hadn't woken up after his operation," the young Knight explained. "As I thought the Mandalorians might want to evacuate us all at the same time I preferred to go and look for him and I also found an Initiate, anyway, we'll be there soon but not so fast, Tholme isn't exactly in good shape, I just remind you that he lost an eye."
"This is Knight Muln with Knight Brand and Padawan Olin! We were at the hangar, I hope you hear us?"
"This is Koon, I heard you, Knight Muln. Knight Du Crion needs help at the Healing Halls to evacuate Master Tholme and an Initiate."
"Brand said he'd take care of it!"
"Very well, thank you."
"Du Crion, Knight Brand is coming to help you."
"All right, I'll wait for him... Oh, wait. I've also got Master Eekin coming to help me. He has no com since his last mission, he says it hasn't been replaced."
Plo remembered that incident.
"I remember, wait Brand, get some first-aid kits for Master Tachi and find us."
"Right Master Koon."
"The fainted guy was actually a Mandalorian, I dodged the group," Master Kolar announced with an annoyed grunt. "I'm on my way."
Within ten minutes, half of the Jedi who had responded were there. The Mandalorians felt a deep sense of unease as the Initiates came up behind Master Sinube, but all was calm, and Master Tachi was in acceptable condition despite her injuries. She would survive, and Plo did not know what their situation would be when she awoke.
Everything was peaceful and they were ready to leave when a figure fell from the sky and wielded a green lightsaber to stop it millimeters from the Mandalorian leader's throat.
"Give me one good reason to not kill you right now," Agen Kolar demanded, his eyes merciless and cold.
The air was filled with menace and Plo tried to place himself between the others and the threat. They were all unarmed.
"Master Kolar, please..."
Please don't get us all killed.
Please don't make them angry.
Please, calm down.
"Master Agen, we have to surrender, those are the orders."
The small voice probably had far more effect than Plo could have hoped for, for a Padawan was a chosen child... he was the Zabrak's chosen child, and he wanted to protect him more than he wanted revenge. Besides, Agen Kolar had his opinions, but he obeyed the Council, and Plo was the only Councilor currently present... the Zabrak deferred to his authority.
"Right. Understood."
The Zabrak turned off his lightsaber and dropped it before ignoring the Mandalorians to check on his Padawan and whisper quietly to Grogu.
"We are all here."
The Mandalorians held out the handcuffs and Plo had to lead by example, even if it was scary.
He took a deep breath, pushed away his fear and took a step forward.