Back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the various teams went their separate ways to debrief, each having achieved mixed results from their missions.
In the Council chambers, most of the Jedi Masters were discussing what had transpired during their respective operations. They were relieved that the kidnapped children had been rescued safely and that the stolen holocron had been returned to the vault.
However...
"I don't like that Bane managed to escape," Anakin pointed out, his frustration evident.
"With him still on the loose, it's going to be much more difficult when we encounter him again," Plo Koon observed.
"I am more concerned that two of our former colleagues, whom we believed dead, have now joined Dooku's faction," Mace Windu said grimly.
"Yes," Aayla said with visible worry, "Tor Skorr and Caedan were both highly skilled. Now, in the midst of this war, we have additional adversaries to contend with."
"What about the two children we brought back?" Ahsoka asked. "What should we do with them?"
"Where are they currently?" Windu inquired.
"The Avengers are looking after them," Anakin replied.
"Are you certain this is wise?" Windu said, his eyes narrowing with concern.
"I believe we should leave them in the Avengers' care for now."
Of all the Council members who might have spoken up, no one had expected Obi-Wan to make such a statement.
"Master?" Anakin was clearly taken aback.
"Kenobi," Windu said sharply. "Explain yourself."
Obi-Wan leaned back in his seat, exhaling wearily. Anakin took a closer look at his former master, noticing the strain on his face.
"The Avengers have recently discovered certain aspects of our Order that I believe could potentially damage our alliance," Obi-Wan said carefully, his gaze moving across the assembled Council. "If we were to take these children from them and place them under our care, we risk alienating our new allies in a way that could prove catastrophic."
"Certain you are, Kenobi?" Yoda asked, studying him intently.
"I am absolutely certain, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said firmly. "In the short time we have known them, the Avengers have done tremendous service for our cause. We must demonstrate that we value our friendship with them, and allowing them to care for these children temporarily is the best way to prove our trust."
"Hmm. Wise words, these are," Yoda said thoughtfully. "Vigilant, we must remain."
In another section of the Jedi Temple, the Avengers had reunited with Captain America and Falcon, who were just completing their own mission alongside Obi-Wan and other Jedi Master.
"Sounds like we've all been pretty busy these past few days," Sam said, adjusting the bandage on his arm. "And you must be Matt Murdock."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wilson," Matt replied with a polite nod.
Matt was no longer wearing his Daredevil costume, instead appearing in civilian clothes that were surprisingly well-coordinated for someone who couldn't see them. Though really, it was hard to tell if a blind man's fashion sense was intentional or just lucky.
"So where exactly did you find him?" Steve asked.
"On a distant planet called Jedha," Natasha answered while gently playing with the little Force-sensitive baby girl they had rescued earlier.
"There, I encountered and befriended a pair of wandering guardians," Matt explained.
"Guardians? What kind of guardians?" Peter asked curiously.
"They call themselves the Guardians of the Whills. Something like that, anyway."
"Where are they now?"
"Chirrut is somewhere in the temple, most likely meditating," Matt said, his enhanced hearing picking up his new friend's heartbeat elsewhere in the massive structure. "Baze is probably playing sabacc with the clone troopers right about now."
"Sounds like they're fitting in well."
"Though I'm not sure they'll be staying here for long," Matt observed.
"What makes you think that?" Steve asked.
"They follow the Force itself, not the Jedi way specifically," Matt explained. "They have this philosophy that they'll end up wherever they're needed most. Chirrut leads the way, and Baze just follows along."
"So what's this little angel's name?" Natasha cooed, looking down at the Force-sensitive infant who was playfully grabbing at her red hair.
"According to the information the Jedi recovered from her kidnappers, her name is Mara Jade," Pietro replied.
"Mara Jade, huh?" Natasha murmured softly, gently stroking the baby's copper-colored hair. The infant gurgled with delight, making Natasha smile warmly.
"And what about that other baby? The Yoda one?"
"Wait, there's a baby Yoda?" Hope asked in confusion.
"Yeah, he's adorable," Peter said with a grin. "Currently napping in the next room."
"Do we know the child's name?"
"From what we've been told, the kid's records were completely wiped," Natasha said. "No birth certificate, no family records, no planet of origin."
"How about we call him Wrinkles?" Scott suggested with a mischievous grin.
"Scott, this is a baby Yoda, not Grandpa Yoda," Rhodes said with a laugh.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a soft cooing sound coming from the doorway.
All nine Avengers turned their heads toward the entrance to see the little green child stumbling into the room, pausing to look up at all of them with wide, curious eyes.
"Aww, he's so precious," Hope couldn't help herself. She walked over to the baby and gently helped him up from where he'd been crawling on the floor.
"Oh, look at those eyes," Scott said fondly. "They're just like Cassie's were when she was that age."
Steve moved to stand beside Hope and raised his hand to wave at the baby. The little one immediately reached out to grab Steve's finger with his tiny three-digit hand.
The infant seemed delighted by all these new people paying attention to him, cooing happily as he looked around at their faces.
"We'll have to ask Master Yoda and Master Yaddle about their species later," Peter noted, observing the child's features. "So we can at least get some basic information, like dietary needs and, uh, how old this little guy actually is."
"They didn't even tell us how old he is?" Sam asked.
"Well... I think he's around 20 years old," Peter said casually.
"Twenty?!" several Avengers exclaimed in unison.
"What the hell? Twenty?!" Rhodes sputtered.
"I guess because he's a different species, he ages at a completely different rate," Peter explained. "Hey, Cap, didn't you say Thor was almost fifteen hundred years old?"
"That's what he told us," Natasha confirmed, smiling as Mara reached up toward her face.
"So we went on a rescue mission to save a bunch of kids and ended up adopting two of them?" Rhodes said, looking between the two infants. "Since when did we become a daycare center?"
No one had an immediate answer. Instead, they simply enjoyed the moment together, taking turns sharing stories about what had happened during their respective missions.
"Alright, Avengers," Cap announced after a while, "I think it's time we all got some well-deserved rest."
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