The Child
Cody wasn't sure what was up with this ad but the staring was slightly unnerving. He was unsure whether it was due to his white plastoid armour or whether this was just a normal thing for this ad . His question was however answered when the ad’ika let out a sound that sounded suspiciously like his own name “Coooo” he bagan to make his way over to the kid again but before he knew he was back on his shebs again, having been thrown back by a white light that was emanating from the holocron the kid was still teething on.
“ Oh, I wasn’t quite expecting that” the voice had spoken in Mando’a, it was a shock for Cody to hear his own language but he pushed it down, compartmentalising the thoughts to focus on the holographic form hovering over the ad . The figure wore Mandalorian armour and had a jetti’kad attached to their belt. The colours on the figures beskar’gam were impossible to make out through the blue holographic filter but the design of the armour was old, several thousands of years old by his reckoning. “ Might I enquire as to your name verd? ” the Mandalorian said again “ If you are uncomfortable with sharing it without my own then I am called Tarre, Clan Vizsla, House Vizsla” Cody thought for a moment before inching closer.
“ Marshal Commander Kote of the 212th Battalion of the Grand Army of the Republic” The Mando’a just seemed to roll off his tongue like water, it felt good to speak his home tongue no matter how far he was away from his home.
“ It’s a pleasure to meet you Commander Kote. Might I inquire as to where I am? Last I knew I was one with the Manda and I’m fairly sure that I was not tethered to a holocron ” Tarre seemed perplexed, at least that’s what he gained from the confused helmet tilt.
“ I’m not sure… I fled to the Unknown Regions after… ” Cody stopped, the words not forming in any language “ I mean… ” no matter what he tried he just couldn't get the words out. He couldn’t explain to this ancient Jetti Mando’ade that he had become nothing more than a meat droid… not before he had managed to get a handle on those impulses and fled in the only craft he could find, his old General’s Jedi Starfighter.
“ You don’t have to force yourself verd’ika ” Cody glanced up at the endearment, it made him warm inside, like when they used to have vod piles… “ If we are in the Unknown Regions then that is all I need to know for the moment ” Cody took a moment to glance at the child who was watching the two adults with a pout on their face. Reaching across, telegraphing his movements Cody went to pick up the child and settled them in his lap before turning back to Tarre “ A local ikaad? ” they asked. Cody nodded gently pulling the holocron out of the ad’s fingers before replacing it with his own finger for the kid to play with. He placed the holocron opposite him. Tarre took this as an invitation to sit opposite the trooper on the forest floor. “ I’m going to assume that you know as much as me as to why I am here… although this ikaad is very strong in the force. That could be why. ” Tarre continued to mumble and eventually Cody tuned out as their thoughts became more jumbled, instead turning to the kid in his lap.
“ Su cuy’gar ad’ika ” Cody whispered to the child, they seemed to brighten up as they got attention a hand coming out of their blankets to touch Cody’s helmet.
At that moment two things happened, Cody became aware that the name of the ad in his arms was Harry James Potter, and that this child hated that name, although not the people who had given it strangely. There was also a lot of information coming to him, a language, events of a past-future and a strange power known as magic.
Harry knew this person was then one Death sent for him, he didn’t understand their words but he could learn… Reaching out of his warm blankets, one that reminded him of his father’s cloak, he placed his hand on the white and orange helmet the person was wearing. He connected with them, using legilimency seemingly learned from nowhere he gently crossed into the person’s mind. Cody’s mind. The name coming to him as he searched through their consciousness. The language from before also became clearer, Mando’a, Arubesh, their armour, the war...
“ Suuuu coooo gaaa, K-oh-t” The child said, carefully attempting to pronounce the words.
“Harry…” Cody said, glancing down at the verd’ika turned ikaad . The ad however seemed to take offence to the use of their name “Nooooo, No-ot Ha-rr-ey” the child protested, this time in the local language, English, his brain offered.
“ I see… ” Tarre whispered, Cody glanced back up front the ad to the ancient Mand’alor , he tilted his head to one side in confusion, did they see that too? “ Time travel huh? And a Master of Death to boot… ” Tarre rose slightly to their knees before leaning over the ad “ I think you need a new name… ” they said, glancing back up at Cody. “ More than that, I think that this ad’ika needs a buir. ” Tarre looked directly into the verd’ika’s visor “ Give them a name, they are your foundling now Kote, they need a new start too. ”
Those words seemed to resonate with Cody, he looked back down at the child, Evaar’la, he thought, new beginnings… “Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad, Evaar’la ” he said looking directly into the child’s eyes. Using one hand he pulled off his helmet. “I know your name as my child, Evaar’la”