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Chapter Text

   A faint chill ran up Cal’s spine as he stared out the cockpit window at the town’s snow covered scrapyard; the flickering sparks from the cutters visible even at this distance. He supposed it could have been his body responding to the memory of molten metal raining down on him on Bracca, but it was more likely the planet’s damp chill that seemed to seep its way into the air-tight vessel. Despite the ship’s temperature setting holding steady and BD’s insistence that nothing was malfunctioning, ever since they’d landed on Ferrix the ship had felt noticeably colder. And emptier. But it had felt that way for a while now.

   Cal looked down at the empty mug in his hands and slid out of the pilot’s chair to head toward the caf machine in the kitchen. Or, what used to be the kitchen. Over the last year or so it had become more of a makeshift workspace for Gabs and all her slicing gear. As he placed the mug onto the tray and waited for it to refill he looked over the once utilized dining table and to the gathering lounge below. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he allowed himself to imagine Greez standing in the doorway complaining about his new crew’s clutter. He really had tried to keep it tidy like the old Latero would have wanted. But, things changed. Even for the Stinger Mantis .

   Beeeep boop boop, called BD-1 from his position at the coms station. Cal took a careful sip of the hot liquid and hurried down the two steps back toward the holoprojector. “Patch him through, Bee-Dee.” The little exploration droid tapped at the control panel with his foot and hurried over to climb up Cal’s leg and hang from his shoulder as the wavy blue image of the Partisan leader took form. 

   “Kestis.”

   “Saw.”

   “You alone?”

   “I am.”

   “Good. I have a mission for you and your crew, if you’re interested.”

   A spark of adrenaline ran through his veins as Cal leaned onto the projector. “Yeah, of course. What’s our target?”

   The old fighter grinned. “Come find me. I’ll explain everything then.”

   Fuwamp woop , BD mused softly as the transmission ended. “Yeah,” Cal sighed. “Not exactly the message I was hoping for. But it must be something big if he’s not willing to share it over transmission. Let’s call in the others and get off this rock. We’ve sat around long enough.”

~*~*~*~

   Cal leaned as far over as he could and pushed up the hyperdrive leaver, causing the Mantis to lurch out of hyperspace and slow into a coast above Wrea. “So, what do you think it is?” Gabs asked, tilting the comms chair to watch as they flew through the cloud cover and over the sea towards one of the larger islands.

   “Hopefully not another supply run,” Bravo stated as he checked their radar. “Looks clear.”

   Cal eased the yacht into a wide downward turn before slowly lowering it gently onto the open patch of grass that stretched between the sea cliffs and the caves Saw and his guerrilla fighters were using as a base. BD-1 kicked at the cluster of switches Cal couldn’t reach and together they put the Mantis on standby right as Saw’s personal Tognathian bodyguard appeared out of the entrance. 

   One by one, Cal and his crew filed out of the warm dry ship into the heavy rain to follow their armed escort. And the moment they were under the protective rock, BD shook himself with an indignant trill. Cal smiled as he pushed back his hood and wiped at the growing stubble along his jaw. “Could’ve stayed under the poncho, bud,” Cal mused. But before BD could reply the Tognath stepped aside to reveal Gerrera looking over a holo map and nodding in agreement with another human. Catching them out of the corner of his eye, Saw motioned them forward and to look at the image. After a moment’s study, Cal lifted a questioning brow. “Coruscant?” 

   Saw grinned his half crazed grin. “Bode here tells me the esteemed senator from Utapau is moving up in the world and has been granted access to a list of all the star destroyers and supply transports traveling in his sector.”

   Cal glanced over to the tall dark haired man next to Saw, then back again. “And you want us to steal it from him?”

   “Him and the data.”

   “Woah. Hold up,” Bravo said, holding up his hands. “Kidnap a Senator? You serious?” Cal watched as the two Klatooinian twins, Liz and Koob, shifted uncomfortably as they glanced at each other then down at Gabs and Bravo.

   “We’re good,” Gabs said with a shrug. “But I don’t know if we’re that good.”

   Saw frowned at them before returning his gaze to Cal. “And what about you, jedi? Are you good enough?” Cal let out a quiet sigh as he looked back at the transparent image of the planet he’d once thought of as home; the lightsaber at his hip suddenly feeling heavy. 

   “A Jedi?” the man, Bode, murmured as he studied Cal. “Wait. I’ve seen you. Well, I’ve seen your wanted poster. Cal Kestis, right? So you’re the real deal?”

   Cal looked the man over and gave a slight nod. “And you are?”

   “Ah,” the man smiled, sticking out his hand. “Bode Akuna. Mercenary. And no fan of the Empire, let me tell ‘ya.” Cal glanced at the man’s gloved hand before clasping it in a shake. “You know, it would be risky. But you being a wanted criminal could come in handy. Might make it easier to get close to the senator.”

   “Oh yeah? How so?”

   “Well, as I understand it, Senator Sejan has an interest in collecting rare items. And Jedi are about as rare as they come these days. Assuming he’d be willing to meet you, it might just give us an opening to nab him and the information the Partisans need.”

   “That sounds pretty risky,” Bravo said, looking from Bode to Cal. “And a big if .”

   “Fighting back against the Empire always has its risks,” Saw reminded. “The question is, is it worth it? My fighters could do a lot of damage to the Empire with this kind of information.”

   BD’s rotary motors hummed as he shifted on Cal’s shoulder. After a moment, Cal nodded and stood to his full height as he looked to his team. “Saw’s right. We’ve been hoping for an opportunity like this, so there’s no reason to back out now. I’m in.” Lizz garbled what sounded like an agreement, which was quickly echoed by Koob. 

   “Alright then,” Bode smiled. “Go team.”

   “Team?” Gabs questioned. “You’re joining us?”

   Bode shrugged. “Don’t see why not. It’s my intel. And, unless you can come up with a better idea, my plan.”

   “So let’s hear it,” Bravo prompted.

   Cal crossed his arms, readying himself for whatever danger he was about to put his crew through, but noticed Saw stepping away from the group and quickly excused himself to hurry after him. 

   “Saw. Wait. This Bode guy. Think we can trust him?”

   Saw turned to stare at him with a war weary look - one of disappointment or irritation Cal couldn’t quite guess. “A stupid question. Of course not.”

   “Then-”

   “Every person here,” he whispered, looking around with an accusing eye and point of his finger, “has every reason to turn us in. Every. Single. One of them. But they know they’re risking their own skin if they were to report us. Even you.”

   “Me?”

   “I don’t trust you either, jedi. But you get things done. Things that need doing. For the Cause. So, I share some of what I know. Akuna has passed my tests, but that does not mean I trust him. And the moment you start trusting someone and let your guard down is the moment they shoot you in the back. Remember that.” Cal gave him a skeptical look but Saw waved him off. “If you survive long enough to be in this fight like I have it’ll be only because you learned to trust no one. Not friends. Not loved ones. Only yourself.”

   Cal winced. “Then what’s the point if-”

   “The point? The point is to win the war! Burn the Empire to the ground!”

   “And then what?”

   Saw stilled as he thought on the question, then gave him a faint smile. “What was it the Jedi used to say? Focus on the now? I choose to focus on winning. However I can.” Cal stood and watched as the old man trudged further into the cave. “Let us know when you are ready to leave. I’ll have Jyn work up some clearance codes you can use.”

Chapter Text

   Cal flexed his fingers as he shifted against the mag cuffs binding his wrists behind him and continued to stare at the rubber flooring of the LAAT transport and the boots of his captors. Despite the rush of wind blowing in and around him from the open bay doors and the warm glow of the setting sun glistening off the endless mirrored skyline, he found himself unable to meditate. It had been half a lifetime ago since he’d seen the city and felt its energies through the Force. But now it was as though a fog of darkness had seeped its way into every nook and crevice, suffocating the Light.

   He risked a glance at the faceless masks of the Coruscant Security Force members who’d managed to apprehend him, and at the case that housed his lightsaber in the captain’s hand. But as the transport banked gently towards one of the lower entry ports a wave of darkness pushed against him through the Force, and he jumped to his feet as the source revealed itself to be none other than the Jedi Temple; his former home now adorned in Imperial banners. Cal felt himself rock back on his heel as grief washed over him, so much so that he almost didn’t hear one of the unmasked alien officers growl a low warning. Slowly Cal turned away from the sickening sight and resigned himself back to kneeling, right as they began to lower down into the bowels of the planet.

   Numbers continued to pass them by until the ship slowed to hover in front of entry port two thousand and forty-six. The sunlight from above had long disappeared, but somehow this level seemed darker than space itself. As they flew between the metal factories and shanty homes tacked on to them, flashing billboards, and store fronts, Cal took in a deep breath to center himself. They were landing now and he needed to be prepared for whatever came next. 

   The three humanoid Security officers stepped onto the platform and Cal felt himself quickly jerked to his feet and dragged after them. “Show him,” the captain ordered. The two Klatooinian officers shoved him forward so that the two checkpoint officers on duty could get a look.

   “A Jedi,” the trooper’s modulated voice exclaimed. “And you brought him in alive?”

   “The senator is expecting us,” the CSF captain insisted.

   The trooper nodded his helmet and stepped aside. “You’re clear to move along. Wouldn’t want to keep the senator waiting.” When Cal refused to follow the captain’s lead of his own volition one of the Klatooinian officers slammed his fist into his gut, causing him to double over and groan through the pain. “Yeah,” the trooper cheered. “Wish you died with the rest of your kind, traitor!” Cutting the trooper a glare, Cal straightened himself and shook off the officer’s grip, and began to walk up the metal stairway.

   “So, where’s the handoff?” 

   “Docks. This kind of deal is best done in the shadows.”

   “Sure. But what’s to stop the senator from taking our prisoner and chucking us into a skylane?”

   “He needs to keep this quiet.”

   “That’s right.”

   “Side-stepping inquisitors? One-upping Vader? The guy’s playing a dangerous game.”

   “So are we.”

   Cal looked around at the flashing neon and flyby traffic as they reached the top of the stair, only to be greeted by a blockade of Stormtroopers and Probe Droids. “Streets are closed,” the lead trooper informed them.

   “We’re taking a detour,” the captain stated. The trooper nodded and pointed for them to take the street on the left. As they continued their walk, a large speaker blasted, “ These streets are now closed! By order of Senator Sejan!”

   “Like rats in a maze,” stated the feminine sounding CSF officer. “I don’t like it.”

   “Stick with the plan. We’ll be fine.”

   “As long as I get paid.”

   Cal took note as they turned another corner that took them past a noodle shop. In its front stood two Stormtroopers crowding an older human male. “I didn’t do anything,” the man insisted. Cal slowed his step but was swiftly shoved in the back to keep moving.

   “This shop is closed. Move along!”

   “I have rights, you know!”

   “Leave on your own or we take you in!”

   “You can’t treat me like this! I’m a-” The shop owner’s words were cut off with a loud -oof. 

   Cal clinched his teeth and breathed deeply again as they turned away from the shop and into a steam filled back alley. “Level twenty forty-six has seen better days,” stated one of the officers.

   “War’s expensive. Someone’s gotta pay for it,” replied the captain.

   “Hard enough to make ends meet in this galaxy.”

   As they turned out of the alleyway they were greeted to a wide terrance view with a large billboard playing a message from the Pau’an senator. His pale face enlarged so as to overwhelm anyone listening to his lies. “Yet how can we thrive when terrorists threaten your homes?”

   “Not if you listen to the propaganda,” Cal mumbled as he passed by the image of the senator’s razor sharp teeth.

   “Pipe down, prisoner,” the CSF captain warned.

   “Can’t believe I’m about to meet a senator,” the female officer voiced. 

   “These days he rarely shows his face in public.”

   “Good thing he’s making an exception for us.”

   “Yeah. We’ve got something that’ll bring him favor with the Emperor.”

   Cal huffed at the thought and looked to another floating billboard. “As we expand there will be new opportunities for loyal citizens.”

   As they came to the end of a bridge another Probe Droid hovered in their path, its singular red eye scanning them. “Goola droi. Yatuka!” Growled the bruiser to Cal’s right. 

   “Yeah, I see it,” grumbled the female officer. “They already scanned that at the checkpoint.”

   “Easy, officer,” the captain warned as he held up the case for the droid to scan. “The senator is just making sure everything's on the level.” Satisfied with its findings, the Probe Droid floated out of their way and they watched as a covered lift began to come down the building’s incline. “See? And we’re off.”

   Cal looked up as another LAAT flew overhead and shined its spotlight on him. “Attention ,” came another announcement. “Level twenty fourty-six is now under curfew, by order of Senator Sejan. Clear the streets and shelter in place until further notice. Security patrols will detain and incarcerate anyone who does not comply.” Cal gave a small shake of his head at just how extreme the senator was being just to hide this little meeting of his. Real lives were at stake. And he hoped this would soon be over and worth the risk. 

   Once the lift came to a stop and they filed in front of it, the CSF captain waved for Cal to be brought forward, and in an instant the long arm of a Security Droid lunged out of the opening doors and grabbed onto Cal’s bandolier to pull him inside. “The rest of you will stay here,” its robotic voice commanded. Cal schooled his look of momentary shock and looked back at the officers. 

   “That wasn’t the deal,” the captain said flatly.

   “Deals change,” the droid stated.

   “Not this one. I come along or we walk.”

   The droid’s bright circular eyes shifted ever so slightly. “Only you. The others must wait.” 

   Without issue, the CSF captain stepped onto the platform as the rest of the officers stepped back and relaxed their stances as the lift doors quickly closed. There was a brief moment of silence as Cal glanced around until his gaze met the skull like visage of the accompanying Stormtrooper, who grumbled, “Terrorist.”

   Cal smirked up at the droid. “You gonna let him call you that?” In an instant a metal fist forcefully pounded into his gut, causing him to gasp and flare up the pain he was now beginning to feel in his shoulders. He hadn’t been expecting this much rough handling. 

   “That’s enough,” the CSF captain ordered.

   “So, where’d you find him,” the Stormtrooper asked casually, as though Cal wasn’t standing right there fighting for his life not to cough up his organs.

   “Night market. He was trying to buy a crate of electro-proton bombs from a Chagrian arms dealer.”

   “How’d you make the arrest?”

   The captain shrugged his armored shoulders. “Jedi have to sleep, same as us.”

   The trooper chuckled, then stepped out of their way as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened onto a parking platform. “When the senator gets a hold of you, you’ll wish you were dead.”

   “Always nice to meet a fan,” Cal stated as he stumbled forward trying to keep up with the Security Droid’s long strides. But he was genuinely struggling.

   “This way, jedi,” the droid instructed, right before running him straight into a support pillar. Cal lost his footing and was now being completely drug by the droid as black dots danced in his vision. 

   “Easy, tin bin,” the captain calmly warned.

   “Mind your own business,” it calmly stated back.

   “This is my business,” the captain countered. “The prisoner needs to be in mint condition.”

   “The senator requested I bring the prisoner to him ‘alive’. He is breathing, isn’t he?” 

   Cal wasn’t so sure about that. And it didn’t help that he was now being forcefully dropped onto his knees before being let go. “Ow,” he growled, glancing up at the droid before looking over to see the Pau’an senator smirk at him in amusement. 

   “Is the district secure?”

   “Yes, Senator,” the droid confirmed.

   “It better be. Vader’s dogs are always sniffing about. A Jedi is a rare quarry these days,” he mused before glancing over at the CSF captain. “What else have you brought me?” Cal watched as the captain stepped forward and unlocked the case. The senator paused for a brief moment in awe before hurriedly grabbing the saber hilt and studying it with fascination. “See that he is paid,” he said with a dismissive wave, not even bothering to further acknowledge the security officer. 

   “It’s been a pleasure, Senator. Hope this isn’t the last time we get to do business together,” stated the captain as he turned to follow the Security Droid back to the lift. As the dorid’s clanking steps grew more distant, Cal refocused his attention on the senator as he slowly began to stalk around him, content in his position of power while continuing to study the weapon. 

   “The renegade Jedi, Cal Kestis. You have made quite a name for yourself. Sabotaging weapons depots, disrupting supply lines. Flaunting this,” he hissed, holding up the saber. “For everyone to see. The failed coup on Norsid. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

   Cal rolled his eyes up to look at the man as he came to a stop in front of him. “What do you want, Senator? A confession? You already know I’ve been working with Saw Garrera.”

   The senator smiled. “Before I deliver you to the Emperor, you will lead me to the remaining Jedi.”

   Cal let his eyes fall. “I can’t,” he stated, letting a little of the painful truth seep into his voice. “It’s just me.”

   Sejan humphed as he stepped to the side to lean down at his eye level. “No use resisting. I’ll find out one way or another. Sometimes all it takes is a speech,” he stated cheerfully. “But, in there” he said, pointing to his luxury yacht at the edge of the platform. “I have other tools at my disposal. Or.” He rose and quickly ignited the saber’s blue blade and held it next to Cal’s throat. “Maybe I’ll just use this! Your master’s lightsaber. Jarl Tapal.” Cal swallowed as the energy blade hummed next to his skin, then was slowly moved away as the senator studied its glow. “A traitor, like you. And to think one day our children will ask, what is this thing? This relic of a corrupt institution, destroyed by its own arrogance.”

   A quick flash of movement on the front of the ship caught Cal’s attention, and he watched as BD quickly planted a circular device onto its deck. Biting back a smirk, Cal confidently rose to his feet. “Arrogance is a trap a lot of us fall into, Senator.”

   Sejan frowned and again thrust the lightsaber toward his face. “I’m sure the Emperor won’t mind me delivering you in pieces.” In an instant the saber’s threatening beam of blue energy vanished, causing the senator to pull it back in confusion. “What?”

   “Did you really think you could capture me? You’ve got classified military intel stored on your yacht.” When the senator turned his back to look at his ship, Cal felt BD jump onto his back and cut through the mag cuffs. With a shake, he rubbed at his wrists as Sejan turned to look back at him with worry and his rear guard raised their weapons. “And you just brought it right to me. Thanks, Bee-Dee.”

   “You’ll burn for this,” snarled the senator before turning to retreat to his ship. “Stop the Jedi!”

   Cal thrust out his hand and called the saber back to him just in time to deflect the oncoming blaster bolts and widened his stance for the fight. He’d been looking forward to this. With a shove through the Force he sent the trooper to his right flying backward off the platform, and brought down the saber’s blade across the charging trooper to his left. The ship shifted away from the platform, and as Cal thought to run after it, several more troopers appeared at its edge and leapt down in front of him. He spun his saber and readied for another round as the senator’s voice ordered he be taken alive.

   “Come and get me,” Cal taunted as he cut down the first trooper stupid enough to attack, and then another, and then next. “That all you got, Senator? Come on out and we’ll talk!”

   “Kill the assassin,” the senator’s voice now echoed over a speaker as two Riot Troopers charged. Cal raised his blade and directed the electro-baton down and around to stun the trooper’s comrade, then kicked him back to finish off the second with a thrust. As the trooper stumbled, Cal ran at him and leapt up to drive the energy blade right through the trooper’s armored chest. Two more jumped down to take their place, and Cal parried and sliced through their attacks without so much as breaking a sweat. “Reinforcements! Now!”

   Cal stepped back to give himself some distance from the three troopers now landing around him, and blocked the first oncoming attack. But grappling for control left his right side open to attack, and the nearest trooper jabbed his baton into his side. Cal growled in frustration and pushed back the trooper he was engaged with, and brought his blade up in a sweeping ark to cut down the offending trooper, then sliced through the third, then spun back around to finish off the first. He whipped his gaze back to the yacht and watched as it lifted away from the platform and turned to retreat. Cal deactivated his lightsaber and attached it back onto its right place at his side. “Not so fast, Senator. Hit it, Bee-Dee.” The droid trilled his excitement and focused on the ship. A large bubble of electric static bloomed around the vessel then bust, sending a disabling wave of static all over the ship. Cal grinned as the ship swayed. “Now he comes to us.” But as the yacht began to sag it also began to slide backwards. Cal’s grin slid from his face. “Uh, it’s coming in a little hot. Whoa! Really hot! Hold on!”

   He turned to run as fast as he could toward the supportive pillars, but the ship crashed into the platform, sending him and BD sliding backwards. Cal scrambled to find purchase and took the risk to leap up and onto one of the ship’s wing panels. But it bumped against one of the platform’s metal support rails and Cal grabbed onto it as it swung him away from the ship. BD wooped in worry as he leaned to look over Cal’s shoulder at the vast endless space below. “Don’t worry,” Call assured him, shifting his grip so as not to fall. “These things happen. We just…need to get to that yacht. That was a close one, buddy.” The droid booped his apologies as Cal began to carefully shuffle them towards a nearby grating. “It’s not your fault. We’ll catch up with it.”

Chapter Text

   With a loud reverberating clang, Cal slammed into the torn grating and latched on for dear life as his boots scrambled for solid placement. Letting out an anxious breath, he began to climb up until the only way across was by hanging from a bent metal beam. As he moved carefully one hand over the other, he tried his best to eavesdrop on the troopers above and below frantically discussing what had happened to the senator and where the ‘prisoner’ might have gone. Cal paused and winced as his shoulders began to cramp. “Look! There he is!” Red blaster bolts whizzed around him, and he quickly moved when he sensed an opening through the Force, until one of the blasts hit a weak point in the beam. With a loud metallic groan, the beam snapped and sent both of them plummeting through a rusted metal rooftop below. Despite falling into the building itself, the sheet paneling managed to soften his landing as he stumbled forward, sending hive rats scattering in a panic. Cal blew out a stunned breath and looked back to see if BD was still with him. The droid beeped his reassurance, and together then began looking around for an exit. The main entryway appeared locked, with no access panel BD could interface with. “You don’t have anything for it, do you?” When BD beeped a negative, he moved across the room to a warped section of wall with a small rusted crack in it. Pulling his hands back, he forcefully shoved and watched as the side of the building burst open. “Come on. We’ve got to get to that yacht before those troopers do.”

   Bebeep!

   As carefully as he could, Cal hurried over cobbled roofs, climbed along connective grating, and carefully balanced and lept from one exposed pipe to the next, shoving any trooper that dared to stand near a ledge into the bottomless abyss. Flinging himself onto an actual walkway, he paused to take a breather and let his aching muscles rest. “Hold on, Bee-Dee.” The droid leapt from his shoulder and scuttled to and fro, scanning the nearby walls and doors. With an excited trill he hopped in front of another sheet of grating that led upwards. Cal huffed an amused sigh and headed over to his droid friend and began to climb once more. 

   “Who are we looking for?”

   “The suspect is male. Last seen on dock twenty-seven,” explained the trooper standing at the end of the grating. 

   Hanging on with one hand, Cal used his other to jerk the Stormtrooper off the ledge and used the Force to push himself up and over the second, uncoupling his lightsaber mid flip to swipe the trooper’s torso in half. “I see you,” shouted another, now racing toward him from a graffitied alley. Cal raised his left hand and pulled the trooper toward him, impaling them with his blade. Another trooper rounded the corner and fired, but the saber reflected back the energy bolt and the Stormtrooper toppled onto a pile of offensive smelling trash. Right where you belong, Cal thought as he passed by and jogged down the alley. 

   Squeezing between some piping, Cal shifted out onto another open balcony. Luckily for him, this one gave him a better view of the city and just where exactly the still disabled yacht had landed. But the bad news was that it was on the other side of the skylane. Thiwoop beep beep , BD chirped. Cal smiled as he moved to shift onto another precariously placed pipe that would carry him over toward another open area that appeared to wrap around toward the yacht. “That’s the spirit, Bee-Dee. We’ll get it.”

   “You wanna get a bite after our shift?”

   “Sure. I could go for a Turbo Dog.”

   “I heard they make those out of skra-”

   The trooper yelped as he was knocked to the ground as stabbed through with a blue beam of energy. His companion turned, gun raised, but was forcefully pushed into a wall then tossed over the edge by an invisible force. Cal stood and brushed back the stray strands of hair out of his face, and proceeded to shuffle through the slim space between the buildings.

   “Lotta crime on the streets these days,” grumbled the modulated voice of a trooper.

   Cal felt BD press close against his head and tap his shoulder. “I see ‘em,” he whispered, carefully shuffling himself past the last pipe and ungracefully stepping into the room full of troopers. The group shuffled in surprise as they readied their batons and aimed their blasters, but Cal grabbed hold of his lightsaber in a quick draw and ignited both ends with a twirl of his hands. The Riot Troopers shuffled out of the way of the reflected blasts to let their counterparts take the hits, and jabbed forwards in a pincer movement. Cal whipped the connected sabers around him, granting him the space to fall back, then flung the saber outward and guided it through the Force as it spun in a wide arc. The troopers raised their batons in an attempt to block the attack but were either cut down or knocked to the side. For those who were still in the fight, Cal grabbed hold of the hilt again and swung one end of the blade into each of his prone opponents.

   With the room cleared he retracted the blades and hurried out through a back entrance that led him outside, and this time faced by a heavy artillery laden trooper. Again his lightsaber hummed to life and spun so as to redirect the oncoming barrage of blasts. But after a second of intense fire the trooper’s overheated gun whined to a halt. Cal grabbed hold of the energy around his attacker and pulled, causing the trooper to fall onto the steeply slanted roof and slide off. Without a second thought he directed his attention to the pillar of grating that was running up and along the adjacent building and gave a running jump onto it.

   “Getting closer. Hanging in there, Bee-Dee?”

   Whoop!

   “Good. Don’t look down.”

   Reaching the end of the grating, Cal reached up to pull himself over the ledge but pulled back his hand at the last second as the Force sent an urgent warning through him. A split second later a blaster bolt sizzled the very ledge his hand had reached for. Cal looked up to see a Stormtrooper step up to the end of the ledge and chuckle. “Got you, traitor.” Cal stared at him for a moment then glanced over to the familiar CSF officer who’d just walked up alongside the trooper. Feeling confident to have another member of the law on his side, the Stormtroooper aimed his rifle at Cal but jerked as the flash and screech of a fired pistol sounded behind him. The trooper’s arms fell loose as their body pitched forward and fell over the ledge behind Cal and down the shaft. Cal questioningly looked back up at the CSF officer and watched with relief as they took off their helmet and chucked it to the side. Bode looked down at him with a grin and extended him his hand.

  “What took you so long?”

   Cal grasped his hand and climbed to his feet. “Oh, you know. Hanging out. Taking in the sights. Been a while since I was on Coruscant.” Bode chuckled then looked down from where Cal had come and whistled. “Thanks, Bode,” Cal said, giving him a grateful pat on the back before looking beyond the neon sign that towered next to them.

   “Part of the job, Kestis. When I saw the dock collapse I thought this heist might be over real quick. Here. This way.”

  Cal smiled as he followed the mercenary down the service stairway and over the various rooftops. “Why make it easier for ‘em?”

   “Ha!”

   “Where’s the crew?”

   “Heading to the yacht. We’ll meet ‘em there. Oh, and Bravo said no comms.”

   “No comms it is. Bravo knows best. The twins must be starving by now.”

   Bode shook his head. “Hungry Klatooinian. We don’t want that.”

   “Remind me to tell you about the Carida job sometime.”

   As Bode came to a stop at the corner of an overlook, he pointed out over the bustling city to an area right across from them. “Looks like that factory stopped the yacht. I’d call that a win.”

   Cal hummed. “No gunships. Crew must be making mischief.”

   Bode looked over at him and gave him an easy smile. “Then let's not keep them waiting.”

   Turning to appraise their options, BD again hopped off and ran towards a remote access panel and inserted his scomp link, causing a cable to shoot out over a construction zone below. But half way the grapple dinged into a large supply crate dangling from a crane and blocking its connection to the other side. “Well, that didn’t work,” Cal sighed. Then he glanced over at Bode and at the jetpack attached to him. “Think you can knock down that crate?”

   Bode shrugged. “Worth a shot.” Igniting the pack’s thrusters, he flew into the air and angled himself so that he could blast at the cable tethers. With two bolts the cable broke loose and went crashing down. Cal hoped it didn’t land on anyone’s vehicle or home. “All set!” Bode yelled from across the way.

   BD-1 activated the connecting cable again and this time it found purchase. The little droid then hopped onto the line and fastened his feet around the metal. Cal grabbed on to his small but sturdy torso framing and felt himself rushed over the gap to safely land on the other side.  

   “That jetpack’s handy,” Cal stated as BD jumped back onto his vest.

   “Remind me to tell ‘ya how I got it sometime.” And as if to show off, Bode shot himself back into the air and landed onto another rooftop. Not to be shown up, Cal broke into a run and lept onto one of the billboards and used the Force to balance himself as he ran across its face. Bode nodded as though impressed. “Who taught you to move like that?”

   “My master. Every time I fell, he got me back on my feet.”

   “Sounds like a good teacher to me. …Hey. Stormtrooper patrol up ahead.”

   “Looking for us.”

   “Better us than the yacht, yeah?”

   Cal again looked out over the city to orient himself, then looked for a way through the construction. Bode jetted himself up and over a large wall of ferrocrete, and Cal quickly jumped, flipped off the wall, and again used the Force to help boost him up and over. 

   “Impressive,” Bode called down to him.

   “Who needs a jetpack.”

   “Ha!”

   “Can you cut down that cable though?” 

   “On it, Kestis.”

   Cal watched and waited as the man cut loose a tether cable and positioned it for him to climb. And once he was up they were off jogging again till they reached a platform crawling with troopers. 

   “Buckethead patrol. No going around them.”

   “Then we go through them,” Cal stated with determination.

   Bode glanced at him with an amused expression and shook his head as he pulled free his pistol. “I’m ready when you are, Kestis.”

   Cal unclipped his lightsaber and leapt onto the smooth surface of the roof below and slid down it to launch himself in the air and use the momentum to land on the unsuspecting trooper with a killing blow. 

   “Looking for us?” Bode asked before opening fire as he flew overhead. 

   Between the two of them the patrol stood little chance, and was down in a matter of seconds. But as the clang of a metal lift came to a halt, another wave of troopers appeared and charged. And again it took them no time at all to cut them down.

   “Okay,” Bode stated, looking over the carnage. “You can fight.”

   “Yeah,” Cal breathed. “You too.” 

   BD squeaked in a questioning tone.

   “I don’t speak Binary, but, I hear ya, Bee-Dee. Team effort.”

   As they reached the end of the work site they came to a halt. “And of course the bridge is under construction” Bode grumbled. “Lotta half-finished sites, with the war and all.”

   Cal again studied their surroundings. “Let’s try over that way,” he said, pointing to the other side of a nearby billboard.

   “Quite reading my mind, jedi,” Bode joked playfully as he flew towards it and shoved, swinging the sign to the side so as to allow Cal to run across it. 

   On the other side they found themselves on another wide roof tucked between yet another zone under construction. “This place is a ghost town,” Cal observed. 

   “Coruscant has changed a lot over the years. These days, just being outside’s asking for trouble. …Hm, speaking of trouble, take a look over here.”

   Cal came up alongside him and looked down a the large cluster of Stormtroopers gathered. “We should avoid that patrol,” he suggested, glancing up at the pipeline that ran overhead from out of the store next to them. He stepped up to the door and felt the lock through the Force. With a twist of his wrist, the door unlocked and hissed open. The two of them hurried through and up the steps to the second floor, where they ran right into a Probe Droid. The droid garbled in surprise as Cal raised his lightsaber to strike and Bode fired his pistol. “Ugh. I hate Probe Droids.”

   “Same here.”

   BD chirped in a low tone that matched Cal’s growing frustration. He couldn’t find a way to access the pipe he’d seen, so he resigned himself to swinging from the anesthetic beams that protruded from the apartments next to the shop onto a different platform that the same pipe was connected to.

   “You coming?” Bode teased as he casually flew up and over the multiple patrols below. Cal shot him a glare as he centered himself and began to carefully balance his way across the pipe. Yet he noticed the flaw in his plan the moment he came upon the break in the piping. He bit back a silent curse and squatted to make the jump to the otherside. But the shift in weight caused the pipe to snap, and Cal found himself once again falling, only this time into the heart of a crowd of armed troopers. 

   “Kestis! Hold on! I’m coming,” Bode shouted. But Cal didn’t have time to wait. Landing on his feet, he ignited both ends of the saber and began a defensive attack, spinning and arching the blades so as to deflect and redirect. As Bode let loose his pistol fire, Cal took his chance and closed his eyes to take in the energy around him and absorb it into his movements, granting him an increased speed that seemed to make everything around him seconds slower; a technique that Cere had helped him to master. With his momentary enhancement he sliced and cleaved through their enemies like fruit. 

   “That all of them?” Bode asked.

   Cal exhaled as he let go of the Force, but another voice shouted, “Hostiles! Somebody get a shot on them!” 

   Bode shot back into the air and fired once more while Cal ran headlong toward them, spinning into a dive that had him rolling to his feet and springing up with his blades twirling up then down again. As the nearest pair of troopers fell another rushed him while his arms were down and punched him forcefully across the face. Cal stumbled back, stunned, and tried to quickly recover. But luckily Bode had dropped down on the trooper and returned the favor, blasting him as he wobbled. “I got him,” shouted another trooper lugging a heavy repeater blaster and activating its shielding. Cal dashed in front of Bode and spun his blades, sending the shots scattering in every direction but theirs. As soon as the weapon’s barrel flared red the machine died, and Cal took the chance to stun the trooper with a shove of the Force before thrusting his saber through the man. 

   “Attacking!” Bode called out as he flew overhead and fired at the incoming Probe Droid. Sensing its demise, the droid wobbled toward them as sparks began to fly from its paneling. Bode angled his thrusters to move, but the jetpack wasn’t getting him out of range fast enough. Cal quickly focused onto the droid and pushed outward, sending the exploding droid into a wall and away from the mercenary. Bode landed next to him and huffed. “That was a close one. Thanks.”

   “Don’t mention it,” Cal replied, reattaching the saber now that the area was clear. Bereep beep, BD called out, pointing his toe at another loose grated panel that jutted out at an odd angle from above. “Think Bee-Dee wants you to knock that down.”

   Bode let out a winded laugh. “Now I’m taking orders from a droid?” Yet he flew up and kicked down the scrap of metal while Cal Force pulled toward him a nearby crate and shifted it just so that it sat under the now easier to reach grate.

   “You see the Emperor turned the Jedi Temple into his palace?” Cal asked as they continued making their way toward the factory. 

   “Yeah,” Bode sighed. “That’s what the Empire does best. Take something you love and make it something you can’t stand the sight of anymore.”

   “Mmm. So, how long you been working with Saw Garrera?”

   “Not long. A few jobs here and there.”

   “I could tell you impressed him. That isn’t easy.”

   “Eh,” Bode shrugged as he flew over another gap and Cal springboarded off another billboard. “I’m good at what I do and I don’t ask the wrong questions. That combination tends to open doors.” 

   Rounding a corner they were met yet again with another construction site. Cal placed his hands on his hips as he stopped to catch his breath and tried to think through their next steps. “Well, we might be able to use that crane to get across the bridge,” he suggested. 

   Bode tilted his head in consideration. “Nice. Using the Empire’s tools against ‘em.”

   Zzzzip zoot zoot , BD added. Cal glanced back at the little droid and rubbed at his head plate, then proceeded to stick to the darker shadows while he worked his way down the scaffolding. Bode launched himself into the air and flew toward the otherside while he squeezed between two stacks of beams, and felt himself suddenly yanked out the rest of the way. BD squealed in terror as the emotionless faceplate of Sejan’s Security Droid looked at them before chucking them backward. BD leapt off of Cal as his back slammed into the grated level below and Cal groaned as he tried to roll his aching back to the side so he could stand. BD-1 beeped with worry and rushed over to nudge him to go faster, and Cal looked over to see the larger droid drop itself down to face him; the metal grating sagging ever so slightly from the heavy impact. Cal stared at the spot then quickly back at the droid as he scrambled to his feet. BD climbed Cal’s leg and once again perched himself onto his back as Cal ignited just the one end of his saber and held himself in a neutral stance.

   The Security Droid activated its electro-baton and stomped forward, but stumbled on its next step as Bode’s gunfire pelted against its head. “Been looking forward to this, tin bin!”

   “You will regret that,” it stated flatly. But frustratingly it kept its attention solely on Cal. Giving his partner the chance to attack, Cal continued to dodge and parry the droid’s attacks, getting in a hit whenever the droid’s wide telegraphed attacks were completed and it was vulnerable. “Trauma inflicted. Scanners…failing…” The hulking droid’s movements stuttered, and Cal went for the kill, slicing through its shoulder motors and through its head stem. The droid’s glowing eyes flickered then went out completely as the rest of its frame fell over with a loud clang. 

   “Man. That guy really didn’t like you.”

   “Don’t think he was a fan of you either. Now, let’s look around. See any way up?” As the two of them shuffled around for an exit, BD hopped down and began scanning and scratching his foot at a corner full of leftover tools. Cal looked over at his little friend and kneeled next to him. “Find something, buddy?”

   “What’s he got?”

   Cal sifted through the junk and found the metal hooked bolt and its attached tether BD was tapping towards. “Ascension cable. Workers use ‘em for construction now.” Cal looked over at the crane and began forming an idea.

   “Can you repair it?”

   “Uh,” Cal mumbled, assessing the trashed item. “Cable’s a bit frayed. Not in bad shape. Should be a quick patch job. Give me a sec?” 

   As Cal withdrew his mini cutter from his belt pouch and began welding, Bode pulled over a nearby bin and sat. “So, I heard you fought the Empire on Kashyyyk.”

   “Yeah.”

   “Hijacked a Walker and broke open an Imperial prison camp single-handed.”

   Bee bee bee boop boop, BD replied, twitching his audio antennas. Cal glanced at the droid and smiled warmly. “That one was Bee-Dee.” Bee boo bee bee!  

   Bode rose from his seat and moved to stand beside them. “…Just the two of you.”

   Cal’s hand momentarily stilled as he pushed away the memory. “And some old friends.” Pulling away the cutter, he placed it back in his pack and gave the mercenary a questioning look. “What about you, new guy? You in this for the credits?”

   “Well, credits never hurt. But, uh..” Bode blinked uncomfortably then pulled out a small holo disk and switched it on. “I have a daughter,” he stated as the image of a young girl with hair as dark as her fathers appeared. “Kata. I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like. But at least I can provide for her.”

   Cal swallowed and studied Bode’s saddened expression. “Must be hard being away from her.”

   “Mmm.”

   “Is her mother-”

   “No,” he answered quickly, shutting off the holodisk and pocketing it. “She’s gone. The Empire took her from us.”

   Cal blinked away, understanding the feeling but also not. He’d had his Order and way of life taken from him. Watched his master die. But a family… He’d considered Greez, Cere, and Merrin to be his family at one point. But that hadn’t lasted either. And he’d never allowed himself the chance to consider loving someone enough to start his own. It wasn’t the Jedi way. “I’m sorry,” he offered quietly. “They’ve taken a lot of people.”

   “More every day,” Bode nodded, looking away to blink back the tears in his eyes. “So, uh, you ever use one of those?” He asked, nodding to the now repaired ascension cable.

   Cal shrugged and weighted it in his hand before attaching it to his belt. “I’ll figure it out. I was a scrapper on Barca.”

   “You’ve been through a lot for someone so young.”

   Cal frowned and stepped toward the end of the platform. “Just trying to survive.”

   “Aren’t we all,” Bode agreed.

   Firing the ascension cable and letting it pull him through the various levels of scaffolding and using the momentum to run and jump from the abandoned crates, he parcored his way toward the stairway that led up to the factory air vents. 

   “Hope the crew’s doing alright. If Gabs gets bored she might slice into Imperial commas for fun,” he laughed as he took a second to breathe.

   “She that good?” Bode asked as he hovered by.

   “Too good. Syndicate-trained. But got on the wrong side of her employers. And Bravo, he used to fly for the Republic.”

   “Ex-military. That explains a lot. How’d you start working with Koob and Lizz?”

   Cal chuckled and leapt up to climb around a water tower.“Cantina on Nordic. Bounty hunter got the drop on me.” He shook his head at the memory and dropped down onto the next flat roof. “Twins threw him down a mine shaft. Friends ever since.”

   “Solid crew, Kestis. Hope I’m pulling my weight.”

   He shrugged then ran for the next billboard and sped across it. “You got us to the senator.”

   Bode shot him a smug grin. “Sounds like he wants to double my cut. That right, Bee-Dee?”

   Beboop boop.

   “Cal!” 

   Cal paused and looked around to find Bravo waving at him from the level below. “Hey, Bravo!” With a flip, he landed next to him and followed after his crew member. “No job ever goes according to plan, does it?”

   “And what fun would that be? How’s the new guy doing?”

   “Bit of a talker, but good in a fight.”

   “Ha! I’ll take it,” Bode yelled as he flew in to join them.

   Bravo pointed to where the ship sat tangled up ahead. “Gabs sliced the yacht. Senator can’t call for help. But he’s locked in pretty tight.”

   “You try knocking?” Bode asked. Bravo glanced back at him, unamused, and led them up the final stairwell that finally revealed the ship and the rest of the crew. 

   “Any sign of Cal?” Gabs asked aloud as she worked away at a control panel.

   “PATEESA!” Lizz and Koob both exclaimed upon seeing him, hurrying over to embrace him in an uncomfortably tight hug. Cal felt BD-1 shift so as not to get crushed, and he gritted his teeth as all his former injuries flared a painful reminder.  

   Gabs turned and grinned as she approached. “I just bet the twins that the Senator had you in there stuffed and mounted.” With a pat on their shoulders she slapped a palm full of credits into Lizz’s hand. 

   “Hey, I want a cut of that,” Cal said, but Gabs wrapped her arm around his shoulder and ushered him towards the panel, asking, “Hey, if you die, I get the Mantis, right?”

   Cal politely removed her arm and shook his head. “Sorry, Gabs. Not mine to give.” BD beeped at her disapprovingly. 

   “Hmm.”

   “So,” Bode stated, staring up at the yacht. “What’s the plan?”

   Bravo placed down in front of them a schematics holo. “That yacht’s a Siena’s Ramsidian.”

   “The Senator has the military intel on his personal terminal, here,” Cal explained, pointing to the internal main area of the ship.

   “Problem is cabin’s secured with blast doors. Even the twins can’t pry those bad boys open.”

   “So how we getting in?” Bode pressed.

   “You fellas get the yacht down, Jedtpack. Then I’ll work my slicer magic,” Gabs boasted. BD hopped off Cal’s shouldered and beeped excitedly. “With my lovely assistant.”

   Bee boo!

   Bravo nodded. “Then I’ll grab our transport. Be back before you know it.” 

   Cal leaned down to let BD hop back on and looked to each of his team with hardened determination. “Let’s do this.”

Chapter Text

   “Alright. Twins, get Cal across that gap,” Gabs ordered as she resumed her position at the terminal.

   “What should I do?” Bode asked as Cal followed after Koob and Lizz.

   “You’ve got a jetpack. Use it!”

   “Got it.”

   As Bravo disappeared back into the shadows and Bode took to the sky, Cal watched as the Klatooinians slammed themselves into the metal drawbridge and pushed it into its downward position, giving him enough of a runway to send himself across it and onto a fuel tank then zip across the gap and onto the mesh grating that served as a servicing platform to the fuel pipes with his newly acquired ascension cable.

   “Keep your eyes sharp. Bravo says you’re still on notice,” Gabs warned over comms. “How you holding up?”

   Cal glanced down at the bottomless space full of speeders and buses traveling the skylanes below his boots as he continued to carefully shuffle himself and BD across a beam that could get him close to the other side. “Just…appreciating the view. What am I looking for?”

   “Two beams, wrapped around the yacht. Gonna take a lotta torque. I’m talking Jedi torque.”

   With a swing of his legs Cal flung himself to the other beam and continued onto the next platform. It was something he’d done countless times, but the split second of anxiety he felt before letting go still tightened his chest. Trust in the Force , he reminded himself, remembering his master’s words. “Yeah. I think I can handle that.”

   “Hey, Cal,” Bode called as he flew toward him, jerking a thumb back at the tangle of torn piping. “I tried to move those beams, but-”

   “Yeah, Gabs gave me the heads up.”

   “Alright.”

   Letting himself drop down to the nearest ledge of the service tower, Cal took a second to assess the situation before he leapt onto the next fuel tank. In front of him was one of the torn pipes that had snagged onto the back of the ship, only now it was spitting out a steady blast of fire. Surprised the ship didn’t explode , he thought as he pulled its energy through the Force toward him, then forcefully shoved it back, sending the flaming pipe outward and dislodging it from the ship’s rear. “First beam’s down, Gabs. Can you tell the twins to pull down the yacht?”

   “On it! Koob. Lizz. Your turn.”

   “Da wanga. Rundee!”

   “Tagwa tanga.”

   As the twins began pulling on a tethering cable they’d attached, Cal spotted some of the tower’s grating that had gotten lodged on the ship’s hull and jumped up to cling and swing his way across. But he paused as he realized the twins were now pulling him closer towards a sparking fuel exhaust. “Hold on. There’s a factory vent that’ll cook you medium rare.” Cal shifted his weight so as to give his arm muscles a split second of relief, then continued on toward a fueling platform once Gabs managed to shut it off. “All clear. Long way to drop. Be careful.”

   “I’m always careful,” he said before letting go and using the Force to flip himself forward, mid air, onto the platform.

   Gabs pointedly coughed through the comm link. “Carina? Saved your ass. You owe me a ship!”

   Cal smirked as he aimed his ascension cable and held tight as he lurched toward the next tower where Bode was now standing. “For the record, I loosened it up for you,” he stated, pointing to where the nose of the ship was caught on a pipe that was bent in every direction. Cal rolled his eyes and shoved away the tangled mess of metal and leapt onto the yacht as it began to float freely towards where Gabs and the twins could board; Bravo now once again at their sides. 

   Once he’d scrambled onto the deck, BD-1 ran up to the hidden droid access port and inserted his scomp link to begin the hack as Gabs popped open the shield panel. “And now, time for me and my lovely assistant to show you how it’s done!”

   With a clanged hiss the entry door retracted open and they all quickly filed inside, Bode and Bravo with weapons drawn for any chance of another fight. Seeing the coast was clear, Cal and Bode hurried down the spiral stairs to where the main room was located. As Bode checked the door, three stone statues on display in the hall caught Cal’s eye; each a carving of the Zeffo. That’s…ironic.

   “Stay back! I’m warning you!” Came the senator’s muffled threats from behind the door. “I’ve got an entire squad in here!”

   Bode offered Cal an unimpressed look as he leaned against the door, guns at the ready. “It’s probably just him in there.”

   Cal didn’t care one way or another. He was ready to get this over with, and instantly shoved open the sealed door, revealing Senator Sejan to be the only occupant inside. Bode rushed the senator and slid across the desk to grab a hold of him. “I knew we had unfinished business. Give us your terminal passcode.”

   “Impossible. They’ll execute me.”

   Cal glanced at all the lavish black and red decor and lit display of skulls behind the senator’s desk, then stared into the Pau’an’s black eyes and slowly waved his hand, carefully pushing into the man’s mind through the Force. “You will give me access to your terminal.”

   Sejan’s thin naturally scarred lips trembled as he tried to fight off the intrusion. “I…can’t…”

   “Unlock it and you’ll be rewarded,” Cal coaxed with another hand wave, pressing the suggestion a little further.

   The senator relaxed his stance and nodded. “I’ll be rewarded. I will unlock the terminal.”

   Realizing the trick had worked, Bode let go of the man and watched as he entered the passcode. “If he moves, blast him,” Cal instructed. 

   “Oh, my pleasure,” Bode smiled, grabbing hold of the senator and moving him out of the way.

   “Alright, Bee-Dee. Let’s see what we’ve got.” Leaning down to let the little droid plug into the system for the download, Cal pressed on the datapad and opened the file to display. In an instant the holomap of the sector appeared, and Cal’s heart sank as he took in all the red dots indicating the Empire’s fleets. “…They’re everywhere.” Everything we did. Everything we risked and lost…

   “Not the breakthrough we were hoping for?” Bode said quietly, taking in Cal’s silence and clenching fists.

   “Years of fighting… But nothing we’ve done has slowed them down.”

   “What did you expect?” The senator asked. “You lost! The Republic is dead.”

   “It was killed by politicians just like you!” Cal spat angrily.

   “Do you think I wanted Utapau to join the Empire? The compromises I made created a future for my people.”

   “Oh, I’ve been to Utapau, Senator,” Bode interrupted. “They spit your name out like a curse.”

   “At least they are alive! Why fight when you can’t win? Surrender tastes bitter at first, Cal. But sweetens with time. …Free me. And we’ll cut a deal.”

   Cal swallowed the thick lump in his throat and glared at the image as he pulled free his saber and turned to slowly walk up to the senator, holding the hilt for him to see. “No, Senator. Someday, when your children see this, they’ll know the Jedi never stopped fighting for them.”

   Sejan looked from the lightsaber to him. “How disappointingly naive.”

   “Hey!” Gabs called from the doorway. “The twins are getting that ravenous look. Let’s wrap it up before we have another Carida incident on our hands, yeah?”

   Bode glanced from her to Cal and tightened his grip on the senator. “What about him?” 

   Cal reattached the saber back onto his belt. “He’s coming with us.”

   “Okay, let’s take their food to go.”

   With a shove, Bode directed the senator toward the door as Cal looked back at the map and forcefully turned it off before offering BD his shoulder to rejoin him and the crew. Bewoobo? BD asked him worriedly. But Cal ignored him and tried his best to focus on the next part of the mission.

   “Lucky you , Senator. You’ve got a date with Saw Gerera,” Bode teased.

   “He’ll kill me!”

   “Oh, I don’t know about that. Depends on whether you cooperate. That’s a skill senators prize, right? Cooperation?”

   “Get what we need?” Bravo asked upon seeing Cal.

   “Yeah. …Wonder what Saw has for us next.”

   Bravo grinned with a shake of his head. “First we gotta get this intel topside.”

   “Kulkah!” 

   “I know we’re in a hurry, but is there time for a quick tour of Sejan’s terminal? I could see if the senator’s got anything else we can use.”

   Cal shot Gabs a disapproving glance. “And by ‘we’ you mean dirt you can sell to make some credits?”

   “Pff! You can fight the good fight and still get yours along the way, Cal. That’s war.”

   “Maybe next time.”

   “Fine. But lunch is on you. And the twins are starving!”

   “PATESSA!” Koob and Lizz yelled. 

   “So, we got a plan for the Senator?” Bode asked, slinging his head to hurry things along.

   “Still thinking it through,” Cal said, looking back out the yacht’s windows.

   “Well, we could always ask Koob and Lizz to see whether the senator can fly?” 

   The Senator anxiously looked around at his captors, then focused his hatred at Cal. “You’ll pay for this, Kestis! Let me go, or your friends will suffer. They’ll find you sooner or later, jedi!” Cal tightened his jaw and hit the door lock to lead his team out. 

   “I’ve changed my mind,” Gabs mused after him. “We should always target the Empire.”

   “Yeah,” Bravo grinned. “Feels good to make a difference.”

   “What? No! They’re loaded. Filthy rich. Makes the Hutts look clean by comparison. I bet this Senator has more credits stashed up his-”

   A wave of warning through the Force brushed against Cal’s mind, right as a missile appeared out of nowhere and exploded the front of the yacht, sending them all flying backward. As Cal rolled to his feet and checked on Gabs, the spotlight of three LAATs flooded his sight. 

   “What took you so long?” Sejan shouted, getting up and stomping toward the ships. “While you’ve been chasing shadows, I have been-” But his complaints were cut short as a red Inquisitors blade planted itself between his chest and back and levitated in place; his body lifting slightly off the ship and floating toward the lightsaber’s owner. The Ninth Sister.

   “You have been caught harboring a traitor,” she yelled, gripping him by the shoulder to remove her saber. Then, tossing their target to the side, the hulking Dowutin focused her attention and the rest of them as she stalked forward. “Kestis! …Open fire!”

   Cal stood momentarily frozen in fear as his former opponent shouted his name. Impossible. She died on kashyyyk. How is she even still alive? But it was the blast of gunfire that pulled him back into the moment. “Get to cover!” He yelled, grabbing Bravo and rushing him toward the yacht's interior before diving behind cover. 

   “Dank Farrik!” Gabs cursed. “An Inquisitor?”

   Cal blinked as he tried to slow his heart rate, but watched in panic as Lizz and Koob rushed their attacker. Before he could call after them a gunship swung to the side and fired upon Gabs’ location. Cal rushed from his spot and began deflecting the gunfire; each blast pushing him backward from the impact. From behind him blaster fire began hitting the LAATs windshield, and he glanced over to see Bravo and Bode giving him cover while Koobs’ dead body flew through the air and into the yacht’s windshield. “Look out!” Gabs yelled, and Cal felt her grab onto him from behind and push him down. Cal crouched down with her and pressed himself back against their cover right as the LAAT Brode and Bravo had been targeting caught fire and spun away. Cal took his opportunity and peeked out to see where the Ninth Sister had gone, but another gunship swung past to get a shot at him.

   “Hey, Gabs, thanks for the-” He shouted as he ducked back down to grab her arm. But paused when he noticed the still smoking wound right in the center of her chest armor and the vacant look in her eyes. In disbelief he reached out and checked her pulse, but found none. No. No no no. Cal pulled his hand away and allowed his grief to wash over him. Yet as he rose to his feet he slowly let it feed the rage that burned deep within him, and fixed his sights on the Ninth Sister who now stood over Lizz’s lifeless body. His thumb forcefully pushed up the activation plate and brought the deadly blue beam of energy to bear. Enough of this. I’ll make sure you don’t come back this time.

   “Cal! We gotta go!” Bode yelled from behind him. But Cal ignored him as he stalked forward with purpose. “Cal! Come back! Cal, where you going?”

   A twinge of warning somewhere in his mind tugged at him, causing his step to falter. But as the Inquisitor grinned at him he shoved the feeling aside and broke out into a charge.

   “Get back here, Cal!” Bravo yelled. But an explosion from one of the gunships hurtling toward them interrupted Cal’s focus and sent him vearing toward the edge of the ship, and its subsequent explosive impact sent him flying off and down toward an open air vent that dumped him and BD into a pile of wet mush. 

   Cal struggled to stand and slung foul smelling meat off his hands, then glanced up at the quickly approaching wall of rotating red lasers ment to cook the very pile he was in. “You gotta be kidding me,” he yelled as he turned to run back up the conveyor belt. “Bee-Dee?” BD-1 beeped that he was still there and pointed out an opening on the wall. Cal grabbed hold of the ascension cable and pointed its hook at the lip of the overlook and held on.

   Once he’d pulled them to momentary safety, Cal shuffled himself up against the wall and blinked back his tears and overwhelming sense of rage and guilt as he caught his breath. BD scuttled between his legs and beeped questioningly while nudging his hand. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m…” He let out a long sigh as he sniffed. “Gabs… The twins…” BD let out a sad noise as he lowered his head and shifted down his audio antennas. Cal nodded and wiped off what little bit of meat was stuck on his boots then got to his feet and let BD clamber back onto his shoulder. “We’ll mourn later. Gotta keep moving. Get back to the Mantis . They’re hunting us and we gotta stay one step ahead.”

Chapter Text

   Leaving behind the suffocating heat of one section of the meat factory and working his way through the chilled labyrinth of automation, Cal did his best to stay in the shadows as the spotlights from the patrolling LAATs outside flashed from the occasional window. He had come upon two Probe Droids casually monitoring the work floor, but had managed to make quick work of them. 

   Jogging into an empty corridor, he skidded to a halt as he came upon a glowing green energy shield. “Blocked,” Cal grumbled as he backtracked and turned into what seemed to be a large storage room. BD beeped to ask about the door on the other side, but as they hurried toward it the glass pane above shattered as a Purge Trooper fell through to block their path. 

   “Jedi! I will bring the Ninth Sister your head!”

   Cal uncoupled just the one end of his saber with a twist and brought it forward, stepping to the side to give the trooper the first move. The two circled for a second before the Purge Trooper closed the gap with a spinning swing of their electro-staff and used its momentum to jab at him. Cal blocked the strike downward with his blade just long enough to push on the trooper’s helmet, sending them stumbling black for a brief moment and giving him an opening to twist and thrust forward, burning a cauterized hole into the trooper's left shoulder. The helmet’s modulated voice growled in pain, and Cal dive-rolled to the side as the trooper swung the staff in a wide swing and slammed it down next to his leg as he leapt up. Cal Force pulled the trooper forward, again causing them to stumble, then twisted midair to bring his saber down and across the Purge Trooper’s exposed shoulder, cutting through their armor and upper torso. The trooper’s pained yell went silent as their body fell to the side and Cal landed on his feet. “Not today,” he stated as BD had ran to the side access panel and hacked open the door. Using the glow of his blue blade, together they entered into the darkened hallway beyond and carefully pressed onward.

   Through the twists and turns, Cal followed the sounds of troopers talking until he came to a small crawl space. Turning off his lightsaber and letting BD move onto his shoulder, Cal shifted himself through the tight space. “Be ready,” he whispered to his little droid. But before emerging from his hiding place, Cal focused his attention through the Force and pressed upon the mind of one of the Patrol officers. I am your ally. Protect me.

   “I will protect you,” the Patrol officer stated aloud.

   The other trooper looked to their counterpart and yelled as they were struck in the head. “Stop! What are you-”

   “I don’t know!” The officer said as he dealt a final blow and stared at the trooper’s body. “I- I feel strange.”

   From the shadows, Cal thrust out his hand and pulled the officer toward him as he stepped out of the wall and impaled him with a quick activation of the energy blade. Beoop, BD asked. Cal frowned as he let the officer fall. “Doubt Cere expected me to use it like that.” Beep. “Well, there’s troopers everywhere. We’ve gotta be careful, Bee-Dee.” The droid’s antennas twitched with uncertainty, and a small tug of guilt threaded its way through him. But he ignored the feeling as he moved out of the boiler room and back into the main area of the factory and found it now crawling with Stormtroopers. He swallowed as he considered his options on how to get across to the entry door on the other side, and decided to go stealthily. Cal aimed the ascension cable at one of the moving clamps that were transporting the frozen slabs of meat throughout the various areas of the factory and hung on, timing his jumps from one frozen chunk of meat to the next to avoid the cutter beams and patrols below. Once he was close enough he dropped down with both ends of his lightsaber ablaze and spun it around him to clear the group of enemies while buying BD-1 time to slice their way into the exit. 

   “Hurry up, buddy,” he called as he jerked the energy blade from side to side to deflect the oncoming shots of a Probe Droid. Wo-bee-ba-weeb , BD beeped back as the door hissed open. Angling the last bolt, Cal watched as it impacted the Probe Droid and caused it to explode. “Great job, bud. Come on,” he called as he quickly ran through the door. “I am done with this place.”

   Flipping himself up a wall, Cal stopped for a breather and realized he’d possibly found his way out of the factory. The shifting air from the skylanes of traffic wafted into the small hanger he’d found himself in and brought with it a small sense of relief. But the feeling quickly dissipated as he stepped out to find another patrol of troopers and two LAATs parked onto the freight dock down below; the one way he needed out. 

   With an exhausted sigh he grabbed his lightsaber hilt and cautiously made his way down the stairs and crept from one cargo crate to the next to get close. When he came to the end of the supply crates he crouched and took a second to think through his next move but was caught off guard by a Probe Droid who floated beside him. Before he could react the droid twisted its glaring red eye onto him and screeched out a warning. Blaster fire instantly began pelting his cover, and Cal ignited his saber. “They want me? They’ve got me,” he snarled as he stepped out into the chaos and began deflecting and redirecting their bolts in a blur of blue. But as his aim began to falter the damaged Ramsidian yacht flew down low and slid onto the landing pad, effectively wiping out the rest of his enemies. “They’re alive!” He called out with relief as Bode shot up and out of the cockpit. 

   “Cal!”

   “Good to see you!”

   “Need a ride?”

   Yet as they stepped toward the ship more LAATs flew to encircle them. “Spoke too soon,” Bode joked as he drew both pistols.

   “I’ll take the Inquisitor. Keep that other gunship off my back!”

   “On it!”

   Bode rocketed into the air and fired while Cal pulled himself up onto the nose of the yacht and ran for the nearest gunship that was now firing heavily on the mercenary’s position. Without a thought Cal aimed his cable at the ship and slammed onto the windshield, surprising its pilot. Thinking fast, Cal grabbed onto the steering controls with the Force and tilted the ship. The pilot panicked and pulled free his firearm and blasted a hole through the window, barely missing Cal as he shifted out of the way. The pilot shot again, and this time caused Cal to lose his grip and fall as he jerked the controls. The ship nosedived and crashed onto the docking platform as Cal fell and rolled across its tarmac. 

   Groaning through the pain, Cal clutched his stomach and slowly shifted to his feet; BD-1 running up beeping about their luck of not being crushed and offering him a restorative stimulant injection. He gratefully took the green vile and jabbed its small syringe into his arm, wincing at first but then letting out a sigh of relief as the healing fluid quickly coursed through him. “Thanks, buddy.”

   Once he felt well enough to stand, Cal let BD clamber back onto his back and stared at the burning wreckage of the Ninth Sister’s gunship. But as he shifted to turn away he flinched at the sound of metal being ripped apart and watched in disbelief as a panel shot out from the flames and the Ninth Sister jumped up and out to face him. 

   “Kestis!” She screamed, spinning her double-sided red lightsaber. Cal barely had time to ignite and raise his saber before she was on him with her heavy attacks; slamming and spinning each blade down with incredible force that kept him on the retreating defensive. With a yell the Inquisitor pushed him back flying head over feet with the Force and paced as she gave herself a moment to breathe and him a chance to scramble back to his feet. “Impressive. But you’re hurtin’ bad inside, Kestis. I can sense it. All the guilt you’re feeling for those fools you led to their deaths. Makes you so, so predictable.”

   Cal fought back a snarl and tightened his grip as he started towards her, opening up his stance to lure her into an attack. But he felt the Force tighten around him and rush him towards her spinning blades. Cal pulsed his fingers and managed to buffer her pull with a push of his own, just enough so that the oncoming blade was nudged to the side and the Force’s grip on him slipped, allowing him to swing his blade across the midsection of her armor. And again she pushed him back. “Nice try,” she called, flinging her saber out toward him. Cal raised his blade and parried the blow then tried to pull her forward, but she pushed back against him and barely moved. “Stand and fight!” 

   Cal dodged out of the way as she spun her blades high and tried again to slam them down on top of him, but he spun to the side and around her back with a slash and parried her reversal attack from the back end of her blade. The Ninth Sister roared in anger and slung her robotic sword arm toward him from the side at an alarming speed. But Cal braced himself and kept their swords locked in a draw, then shoved with both blade and the Force to give himself just enough of a reprieve that he could uncouple his saber into two distinct hilts to duel wield.

   “What’s this?” she snarled before leaning in for another attack. Cal raised both sabers and redirected her blade down then quickly slid up his left blade to strike her in the chest again. A pulse through the Force knocked into him, and he stumbled back and raised his blades to glance away her saber as she raised it and turned to disengage. 

   “Masana!” He shouted as she clutched her wounds. The Ninth Sister stilled at the name and slowly turned to face him. Feeling emboldened, Cal shut off both sabers but held his ground. “You were a Jedi Knight before you betrayed our order. …Your name was Masana Tide.” At the mention of her former name the Inquisitor snarled and began to shake with rage, swinging her lightsaber wildly in aggressive display. But Cal was unfazed, and instead chose to pity her in her final moments. “It’s time to set you free.” 

   With a bellowing roar the former jedi ran at him with her saber raised, but Cal patiently waited till she opened her stance and struck, swinging both blades through the Dowutin’s neck in one fluid motion and held its finished stance until he heard her body fall. Disengaging the blades, Cal slowly stood at ease and looked over the fallen Jedi; relief and disappointment settling over him. The outcome had been unavoidable. But he couldn’t help but feel sorry that it had come to this. Be-boop? BD asked him softly, his round lenses twisting slightly to analyze his expression. “Yeah,” Cal mumbled. “I’m okay.” Silently he turned and headed toward where the gunship had crashed and found his way toward the other side that led down toward the hanger.

   “Bode. Bravo. Are you there?” Cal tried over comms. When no reply came BD beeped in disappointment. “We need to get to the Mantis . If the others made it out, they’ll meet us at the hanger. If not…” Boop. Cal nodded as their lift came to a stop, and they hurried down the tunnel and out onto the windswept edge of the factory’s supporting pillars. BD-1 ran towards another cable connector and skomped in to send it shooting into a nearby billboard that just so happened to be featuring his wanted poster. Cal let a momentary smile pull at the edge of his mouth as he hopped onto his droid and let him wiz him across so that he could fling himself onto the board and run his way across towards the landing platform. They’ll really need to update my image after this. They’re still using my old Bracca ID.  

   Zipping across the various cabling to Hanger Twenty Forty-Six C, Cal flung himself onto the hanger balcony and hurried down its corridor till they came upon two helmetless CSF officers crouched down in front of the bay windows. One instantly whirled around, guns raised, but paused as Cal raised up his hands and grinned. “You guys are alive!”

   “Thanks to this crazy son of a Gundark,” Bode chuckled as he lowered his weapons and nodded towards Bravo who slowly stood with a wince and a hand on his side.

   “You’re hurt.”

   “I’ll manage,” he panted. “What happened to the Inquisitor?”

   “Dead,” Cal replied flatly. “But…Gabs. …And the twins… I- I should have…”

   Bravo shook his head and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “They knew what they signed up for. But we need to get topside and transmit that intel to Saw Gerrera. That’s how we honor the fallen.”

   Cal tightened his jaw as he tried to fight back the tears that were starting to blur his vision. “You’re right. …Yeah. Bee-Dee, call the ships.” Beep! As BD went still, Cal stood next to Bode and looked out the window to see just how many Patrol Troopers were between them and their escape.

   “Damn. Not the valet service I was hoping for,” Bode commented.

   “Bravo. You got overwatch?”

   “On it.”

   “Alright,” Cal nodded. “I’ll draw their fire. You hit them when they aren’t looking.”

   “Let’s get some payback,” Bode growled. “See you in the mix, scrapper.” 

   Willing the lift locks to open and riding down to the main level, Cal burst onto the platform right as Bravo confirmed his position and Bode his, and took down the first trooper in his path. Gunfire from both of his crew and his enemies zipped back and forth, but Cal stayed focused on those who were within his line of sight, using the Force to anticipate their aim and enhance his speed. 

   “We’re clear,” Bode shouted as Cal ran towards the next batch, twirling both ends of his saber to clear them out with speed and ease. One trooper tossed toward him a detonator but Cal pushed it back and raced past as the group went flying from their own explosion. 

   With snipers falling out of their gunship perches thanks to Bravo’s sharpshooting and those on the sidelines tumbling due to Bodes quickdraws, Cal was left to face yet another Purge Trooper and clashed hard against him with a saber in each hand. Shifting and spinning while parrying blow after blow, Cal watched as Bode flew into the fray with force and kicked the trooper to the ground, then dropped an electric charge that momentarily seized up their opponent. Cal leapt into the air to avoid the temporary shock and fell onto the trooper with his blade faced down to impale him once the charge had ceased. 

   “That all of them?” Cal asked, stepping back to look over the scattering of armored bodies.

   “For them moment,” Bravo confirmed as he trotted over. Woow-woow! BD cheered.  

   “Look it there. Z Ninty-Fives?” Bode asked, nodding towards two fighter ships that were parked two spaces over from the Mantis . “Nice.”

   Bravo cracked a grin and stepped backward towards the ships. “That one’s all yours, Bode. Had a hunch this might be a hot exit. See you both in the air!”

   As they watched him head off, Bode turned to Cal and said, “Listen, this has been a great first date and all, but I still haven’t gotten paid.” Without a word, Cal pulled free a small disk from his back pocket and slapped it into his open palm. “Locator beacon?”

   “Got the other on the Mantis ,” Cal answered by way of explanation. “When things cool off, come and find me. We’ll settle up.”

   Bode stared at him with a searching look, then slowly nodded. “Yeah. Sure. I can trust you.”

   “You saw the intel. A lot more work to be done.”

   Bode huffed as he pocketed the beacon. “Looks like I made the cut, huh Bee-Dee?”

   Be-woo-woo-be!

   With a laugh the mercenary turned and headed for his ship but paused when Cal yelled, “Bode? May the Force be with you.”

   Slowly Bode looked back at him and stared for the briefest moment before continuing on. “You’re a great fighter, Cal. Now let’s see how well you fly.”

   Cal took his cue and hurried up the Mantis ’s ramp and beelined it straight for the cockpit, sliding into the pilot’s seat as BD-1 jumped from his shoulder onto the Co-pilot's chair to flick the necessary switches while he did the same on his side. The yacht’s rear engine spun to life as it warmed up and loudly flared as he activated the landing gear to retract. “How we lookin’, Bee-Dee?” Be-bee-beep-be-beep. “Oh,” he frowned. “Well, whatever it is, it’ll have to wait until we get someplace safe.” BD-1 turned back to the monitor and tucked his body closer to the seat as the ship carefully floated forward before accelerating quickly into the air.

   As the Mantis flew into a surface tunnel, two Z Ninty-Fives flew past to take point. “No traffic. Looks like this portal’s under maintenance,” Bode called over comms.

   “As soon as we breach the surface, jump to lightspeed,” Bravo instructed.

“Gotta take the risk,” Cal agreed. “We’ve overstayed our welcome.”

   Bee-beeee! BD warned. Cal glanced at the radar monitor and shifted on the thruster lever. “Looks like we’ve got company!” Green laser bolts from three TIE Fighters bounced off the Mantis’s rear shield and exploded off to the side. 

   “On my mark, hit the brakes. We’ll drop behind ‘em.”

   “Copy that, Bravo,” Bode called back as he pressed the necessary buttons to prepare the fighter for such a maneuver.

   Cal watched as the breaking fins rose up on the fighter’s wings and both the ships zipped back behind him. On the radar, both fighters moved behind the TIEs and took their shots, blasting them clear off the board. “Nice work, everyone.”

   “Hope that’s the last of them,” Bravo replied. “Not a fan of long goodbyes.” 

   Yet as soon as they flew past yet another level portal, six brand new TIEs appeared. “More coming!” Bode warned. “I’ll peel off. Draw a few away.”

   Cal swallowed his anxiety as he weaved the ship’s long fin to keep it both steady and away from blaster fire. “Thanks, Bode. Good luck.”

   “You too, Cal. See you soon.”

   BD beeped that three TIEs now only followed. But their aim was getting too close for comfort as they now also had to dodge tunnel connectors. Cal looked over to see Bravo’s ship swerve out of the way and down another section.

   “I can’t shake ‘em!” His alarmed voice came over the comms.

   “Hold on,” Cal called as he reached up to flip a switch overhead and tugged on the steering yoke, sending the ship’s fin to the side so he could ram the TIE and force it into the tunnel wall. One explosion was quickly followed by two more, and the radar was again clear.

   “That’s one way to do it,” Bravo laughed nervously.

   “Learned that move from you,” Cal smiled, flipping the fin upright. “…There’s our exit. We’re almost there!”

   But over the comms, Bravo’s sensors began blaring. “More coming in from the surface!”

   Again Cal glanced at the radar. “And on our tail. We’re trapped!”

   Bravo’s fighter swayed as he pushed on the thrusters to maneuver his way into the oncoming laser fire. “Shields down!” Bravo warned as sections of his Z Ninty-Five peeled back in a trail of flames. “We’re almost- GAH!” 

   Cal reflexively closed his eyes as the ship in front of him exploded and broke into pieces, some even impacting the Mantis and setting her warning sensors on alert. “BRAVO!” Cal screamed as the ship pushed through the debris and out into the open surface air of Coruscant. BD-1 beeped for him to initiate lightspeed and reflexively Cal pulled down the leaver and stared in shock as the Mantis’s cockpit was pulled into a swirling tube of blue-white light.

Chapter Text

   Cal stared numbly at the rushing swirl of hyperspace, still in shock over what had just happened. Gabs… She’d died protecting him. Koob and Lizz, to buy them time. And Bravo… And for what? His entire crew. Gone. All for a map that just proved their efforts over the last year had made little to no difference. 

  Slowly he pulled away his shaking hands and glanced at the still flashing warning lights. Flicking them off he tried to mentally pull himself together. He still had to finish the mission. “We took some hits back there. You mind running diagnostics while I transmit the intel?” He asked, looking over to BD. The droid nodded and popped out a small data shard from his torso then hopped down to scuttle toward the holotable. Cal grabbed the data and shifted from the pilot’s seat to the comms desk and inserted the shard. His stomach churned as he waited for it to load and encrypt, and once it beeped that the transmission was complete, let out a heavy sigh and squeezed his eyes closed. “Sent.” 

   He had hoped for some sense of relief, but all he felt was the weight of loss yet again. Once more the Empire had taken from him. And a part of him felt ashamed for growing close to yet another group. When was he going to learn? Jedi didn’t form attachments. 

   “Let’s hope this information can do some good,” he said aloud in hopes of comforting himself. He looked up at the image of them all Gabs had insisted they take and pulled it down to look at. A picture of them all standing together smiling like some happy family. “We did it,” he whispered.

   “Hey, Bee-Dee. Hey! Are you making a holo-movie?” Greez’s voice snapped. “Hey! Aahhh. What- Make sure I look good, right?”

   Cal looked over at the holo table and found BD standing at its controls and tilting his head as he watched a saved recording. He placed the picture down and stood to watch the video alongside his droid; the memory of another family his quest to defeat the Empire had cost him. At least, as far as he knew, they were still alive. 

   “Get my best side, alright? Hahahahaha! Grrr,” the Latero playfully growled as he walked past the lounge. “Boots off my table, kid,” he scolded Cal. He’d moved his boots from the table right as Cere stepped into view carrying a book. An actual book, made from paper and hide. A rare find even without it once belonging to the ancient Jedi. Cere had risked a lot to obtain it. But he’d rarely ever seen her so excited. 

   “Well, it’s as we hoped,” she said, taking a seat next to him. “This book is a copy from the Jedi archive.” 

   “That’s great, Cere,” his image said, taking the book from her. Cal’s heart tugged at the painful memory. He had been genuinely happy for her. “I just wish we could have stopped the Empire from getting the rest.”

  “Patience. This war won’t be won soon. Or by us alone.”

   The recording ended and transitioned into one of Merrin stoically standing where he now stood, staring at the image of her home planet. And his heart ached even more. “The galaxy is vast, droid. …And I have seen only a little of what it has to offer. But one day…I will return to Dathomir. And whisper what I have learned to my sleeping sisters.”

   “ Whoop ?”

   She turned her brown eyes to BD and gave him that closed off stare he somehow still missed. “You are not invited.”

   “ Beep .”

   Cal blinked away as the video again transitioned into one of all four of them sitting at the table eating. For Merrin’s sake, he hoped she had found her way home. Even if the memory of her choice to do so still stung. 

   “You know it’s not often I break out an old family recipe like this,” Greez boasted as he continued to dump salt onto his food. “…Well? What do you think?” A sad smile tugged at Cal’s lips as he watched himself and Merrin, seated side-by-side - her picking at it with an unimpressed expression and him eating without a care - while Cere sipped her drink to avoid answering. “Merrin?”

   “…It’s good. Could use some more salt.” Cal smiled at the same time his image did.

   “Too much salt is bad for you,” Greez warned.

   “It’s wonderful, Greez,” Cere insisted.

   “I’d actually pay credits for this,” he’d said with wholehearted honesty. It was good.

   A wide grin spread across Greez’s mouth. “Oh yeah? Well, I might start chargin’ ya, Cal! Ha ha! …Hey. Does anybody else smell something burning? Oh!” He’d yelped as he jumped from his seat to save his baked dessert. 

   BD’s camera zoomed in as Cal leaned close to whisper in Merrin’s ear, causing her to smile as she quickly handed him her bowl of food. Then the image froze and shifted into a schematic of the Mantis that flashed all the damaged areas the ship’s diagnostic had found and highlighted one area in particular near the rear. 

   Boo-woo-boo-woo, BD informed him. Cal flopped his arms in exasperation as he sighed. “Gyro’s failing. We need that. Ugh. Any ports nearby that won’t turn us in for a reward?” BD paused to think then shook his head with a sad beep. “Heh. Yeah,” he grumbled, placing his hands on his hips to try and think of something. But as he began to pace he paused and looked back at the image. “…Pull up the Koboh system.” BD tapped at the controls and the holo-image of the ship shifted into one of the rugged Outer Rim planet. “So, that’s where he settled down. Out in the middle of nowhere. …Could be a good place to lay low. If anyone knows how to fix up the Mantis , it’s Greez Dritus.” BD’s antennas perked upward. “Think we can make it?” Boop-boop! Cal nodded, now feeling more comfortable with an immediate goal to focus on. “We should tidy up before we visit Greez. You know how he is about mess.”

   He turned to look over the living space and again was hit by how empty the ship was. Slowly he leaned down to grab an empty crate and began to sweep all of Gabs’ tools off the table and the pouches of empty food the twins had left scattered around the kitchen. Bravo had at least had the courtesy to always clean up after himself. And he supposed he was lucky they hadn’t really personalized the two sleeping quarters he’d offered them. Gabs had gotten tired of him referring to her chosen room as Merrin’s, and had stopped using it altogether. He still didn’t understand why it had bothered her so. It wasn’t like she had to sleep on a cot knowing full well what Merrin and her ex-Imperial lover had done on it. Having to experience through the Force the visceral emotional imprint they’d left behind. It hadn’t been intentional on their part it seemed. But dank farrik, it had been beyond frustrating for him.

   Cal forcefully dropped the crate onto his workbench and pointedly chose not to look at his cot as he walked past and back out into the kitchen and over to where Greez’s terrarium had once been. Now it was just cluttered with random items such as Cere’s former Master’s toolbox he’d claimed after their visit to Bogano and Greez’s salt shaker. 

   Still have no clue where the pepper shaker went. He’ll be mad about that.

   And then there was the supposed lucky feather from the Shyyyo bird he’d encountered on Kashyyyk. His headphones that he hadn’t used since his time on Bracca that his friend Praf had given him. 

   Praf.  

   And of course the broken pieces of the Jedi Holocron that had once contained the names of all known Force sensitives in the galaxy - and the reason behind the Mantis crew coming together in the first place. He picked up one of its broken edges and felt its weight between his fingers as the memory of Merrin asking him if it was wise to expose so many to the dangers he and Cere faced whispered through his mind. In the end he’d taken her advice and considered it wasn’t, and instead destroyed it.

    “…Every day I wonder if I made the right call.”

   ~*~

   The Mantis ’s Nav-computer alarm sounded as he stood at the workbench clearing away BD-1’s spare parts, and quickly he snatched his lightsaber and jogged back toward the other end of the ship to hop into the pilot’s chair with BD at his heels to hop into the co-pilot seat.

   Exiting hyperspace, the ship slowed to a drift as a large dusty looking brown planet ballooned into view. “So far so good,” Cal said, checking the ship’s readouts. Yet as he glanced around through the windows his brows furrowed at the site of a large swirl of brown and pink space dust that surrounded what looked to be some sort of massive purple nebula pulsing energy outwards. “What is that?” Whooop, BD replied, jumping onto the consol’s dash and zooming in his optical lens.

    For a few minutes the ship coasted without issue. But as they moved closer to the nebula’s proximity the ship’s scanners began to flicker, then were followed by the alarms. “Let’s land,” Cal said, grabbing hold of the steering handle and throwing the engines into full speed. 

   As they entered Koboh’s atmosphere more warnings flashed around the cockpit. “Systems are failing all over. You got anything?” Cal anxiously asked his droid. BD-1 turned to look at him right as they felt the sublight engines cut out and the yacht tilt straight into a nosedive. Cal pressed himself back into his seat while holding the controls with his right hand and hurriedly flicked the switches to his left. “Restarting sublight engines!”  

   With a kick the engines flared back to life just in time to sweep them up from the face of the rocky canyon bed and forward with jarring uncertainty. “We’re not going to make it to the hanger! Gotta put her down!” Cal yelled as he fought to control the ship’s fin gyro and bring it into an upward position so he could raise the yacht’s nose to use its bulk to slow their speed. Activating the landing gear, he felt the ship bounce as it smashed and skid across the mesa; rocks and dust clouding the cockpit windows. “Hold on, Bee-Dee!” BD-1 crouched down and held onto the dash as best he could with his foot clamps, and watched as the ship’s nose came to a precarious halt off the edge of the cliff. Beep-be-beep-be? Beep? Cal breathed heavily as he absorbed the fact they hadn’t died yet and looked to his droid.  “You okay, bud? That was a close one. Ugh. Greez is not going to be happy about this. Let’s check the diagnostics real quick.” 

   Quickly exiting the cockpit, Cal tapped at the holotable and stared at the image of the gyro system now flashing bright red. “Completely fried,” he sighed, rubbing at his hair and neck. “We won’t be flying again without repairs.” Angrily he tapped at the controls and brought up a rough proximity map. “Okay. This is us,” he pointed. “So, this must be the outpost. …I guess we finally get to see Greez’s cantina.” Woo-woo! BD whistled. Cal sighed and walked across the table to let his little droid onto his back. “Come on.”

   With a reluctant pause, Cal pressed onto the open ramp control and shielded his eyes from the bright afternoon light that reflected off the tan rocks and thin green thistles, and controlled his fall as he jumped from the ramp onto the gravelly gorge below. Fresh, unpolluted air brushed against his arms and face and teased at his hair as the sounds of distant animals echoed peacefully in the distance. “It’s so calm,” he said as he clambered up a rock and leapt over a small gap. “Bravo would have liked this.” BD chirped softly as Cal continued up a small path that opened up onto an overlook of the rocky, tree dotted, cloud-covered valley beyond. “Okay. So, Greez is on the other side of all this?” Bee-boo! “Do you mind giving me a better look?” 

   BD shuffled over his shoulder and craned his neck to let Cal hold onto his compact head to look through the digitized image on the back of his hardened plastoid visor. Zooming in his lenses, BD showed him the carved path that might potentially lead to where they were heading, and the large, long-necked creature that seemed to be grazing the area.

    “That is one big beast.” Beep whoop. “But, we have our target. Let’s reach it.” Peep beep!

Chapter Text

   At the edge of the path, Cal found an old construction lift directly built into the rock’s ledge. With caution he stepped onto the platform and triggered its still functional sensor to carry him to ground level. 

   “Woah,” he breathed as he took in the sight of a crashed Trade Federation ship core; its round form an oddity among all the jutting rock formations around it. “Check it out, Bee-Dee. Last time I saw a Lucrehulk was Bracca. …A long time ago.” Prauf. What would you say now? 

   When the lift came to a stop, Cal stepped off and studied the old ship for a moment longer. Just the sight of one used to make him anxious as a padawan. Then, on Bracca, they just meant he had months of hard rigging work ahead of him. Boo-whoop, BD asked, nudging him gently. Cal glanced at his little droid and rubbed the top of his visor. “Yeah, I’m good. Come on. Mantis won’t repair itself,” he said, turning to survey the layout before him. “Just hope Greez has the parts we need.”

   After studying the texture and sturdiness of the layered rocks around him, Cal took a running jump and leapt onto the rock face to propel him to the other side of the ravine where a cave opening seemed to be his only path forward. As he neared the entrance an echo of familiar high-pitched automated voices heralded a clanking approach. 

   “Secure the ship. Those are the orders.”

   “Roger. Roger.”

   “Wait. Halt! Trespasser!” A B1 Battle Droid called out, pointing to Cal and BD as they ran out of the cave.

   Reflexively Cal threw out his hand and pulled the droid to him to slice off its head while deflecting the second’s shot back at it, burning a hole in its chest framing and sending it toppling onto the ground. Cal blinked in surprise as he looked over their repainted bodies. “Battle droids? Never expected to run into these again. Let alone active ones.” Boop. “Looks like we’ve got more than wildlife to worry about, buddy. Keep an eye out.” Beep beep.

   With caution they entered the cave and followed what looked to be both droid and boot prints, until they came upon a wider section that had work lamps up and running along the edges of the path. On a raised section of rock a humanoid figure in a mask stood issuing orders to two Battle Droids below. “For the Bedlam Raiders,” the droids cheered.

   Cal shifted to move in for a closer look but his boot slipped in the damp earth and made a loud squelch. The masked individual looked up and pulled from their back a large claw-like device that sparked electric current at its ends. “Kill him!” The human voice commanded. Cal ignited his saber and sent back the well aimed shots from the droids then focused on the electro-claw that was now inches from him. He jumped and flipped up and over his attacker and spun in the mud to block the weapon. “Bah!” The mask growled as they yanked the strange weapon higher up toward his head. Cal jerked back and pushed outward with the Force, and unintentionally sent the fighter onto and over a thin metal bar that seemed to have been placed to keep individuals from falling into the deep fissure to either side of the path. 

   “…Guess that’s one way,” he said quietly, easing his stance. “These don’t look like any Separatists I remember. ‘Bedlam Raiders’. …What has Greez gotten himself into?” Bee-woo-whoop, BD replied as he leaned over to scan the droids. With a frown, Cal clambered up the raised rock and held up his lightsaber to illuminate the pitch black tunnel ahead. 

   Echoing sqweeks sounded off the walls as he carefully stepped forward, stopping only briefly to look at what appeared to be a human skeleton propped against the wall. Cal swallowed and tightened his grip as he pressed onward till he found a thin sliver of light through a crack in the rock. Deactivating the lightsaber, he shuffled his leg and hip into the slim space and shoved and pulled himself out of the darkness and into the light. And again he was taken aback by the view of the land. Flying creatures both big and small glided on the air currents that churned over the carved canyons below. And the large, long necked creature he’d seen earlier was now close enough to see without BD’s scope. “Just look at that thing. Greez sure picked an interesting place to live.” Whoop.

   As he checked his footing, he carefully stepped away from the narrow cliff edge and shuffled along the rock wall, pausing only long enough to let some of the flying creatures flee their nests before pressing on till the ledge came to a stop. Cal glanced down at the cloud covered emptiness below then up at the long moss covered vines snaking up the mountainside and over what looked to be another opening in the cliff face. 

   Opening himself up to the Force, he flung himself onto the vines and held on for dear life as he slowly pulled himself up and over toward his exit. Yet the moment he went to grab the ledge, clanking footsteps came to a halt right above him.

   “Take a look at that view! Is that a giant crater? Wow. I got it so easy. Guard the cliff. Crush the locals. …Look at that- Jedi!” It exclaimed as Cal flung himself upward into the air and on top of the Battle Droid; its vocal modulator shifting from a high pitch to a low one as its damaged power cell died out.

   “Forgot how much they talk,” he grumbled, getting to his feet and leaping across a beam to reach yet another vine-covered rock. Aiming his ascension cable, he swung them onto the vine and again carefully climbed to its top. On the other side he watched as a missile from a bulky B2 Battle Droid went spiraling through the air up toward a large agitated creature on an elevated cliff above. But instead of hitting the beast the missile exploded into the rock face and caused a section of it to collapse and crush a slow to react B1 standing below. 

   One of the raiders standing off to the side sighed in exasperation. “Another day, another droid crushed. Or maimed. Or lost. Eh, rather them than me. Poor Clanker. Or you for that matter. You’re worth more.”

   “Affirmative,” the B2 Battle Droid vocalized as it pulled back its wrist rockets close to its chest. “Target fauna escaped.”

   “You noticed, huh? Well, better it runs away than runs us through.”

   “Orders. Subdue the best. Conquer the area.”

   “I know the orders, tin head! …We’ll get back on its trail soon enough. Report your crushed comrade here first, though.”

   “Affirmative.”

   Cal unclipped the saber from his belt and held it tight in his hand as the raider began walking away and the Battle Droid turned to face away from the rock wall. With focused concentration he pushed off the rock and sailed through the air till his foot made contact with the wall, then raced in a downward turn to direct his fall onto the droid, sending his blue blade through the B2’s bulky back and out its chest, then pulling it up and out as it fell to the ground, slicing through the droid’s head. The raider turned and grabbed for their weapon, but Cal pushed them back through the Force and dive rolled the distance to come up spinning both ends of the lightsaber to cut through the raider’s chest armor and arm. The electro-claw, with arm still attached, clattered to the ground as the raider dropped to their knees and face planted next to it.  Retracting the blades, Cal looked over the Bedlam Raider’s weapon, then over at the B2’s remains. “Think it’s safe to say these droids have new masters.” BD-1 hopped down his leg and scanned their remains. “Come on, bud. Still have a ways to go.”

   Clambering up and over yet another cliff, they came to what looked to be some sort of tar pit, contained only by a hastily thrown together dam and the rocks themselves. BD beeped questioningly at the black goop as Cal pressed his foot down on a broken pipe that jutted out towards the center. In the tar itself floated what looked to be some sort of boat or dock. 

   Maybe, if I jump onto it by way of this...

   Carefully he balanced himself onto the rusted pipe and proceeded to walk near its edge, but his foot went straight through a corroded section and was sent falling right into the awful smelling black muck. “Agh! Karabast!” He tried lifting his leg forward but felt his other leg slip deeper in. “Uh, we’re sinking! Gotta move!” He threw out his hand toward the floating platform and nudged it close enough for him to grab onto and quickly pulled himself free. BD whistled in panic and jumped off his back to look him over and scan his legs and boots.  “I’m good, bud. …That’s a lot of tar. Be careful.” Beboo. Cal scraped his boot against the corner of the platform and looked around the edges of the pit for any way out. Beep beep! BD called, tapping his foot clamp and leaning his visored head toward two rounded objects also stuck in the tar. “What are those?” 

   Getting to his feet, Cal connected to the Force around one of the objects and lifted it up and out of the tar. A small part of it popped up and made a loud pitched whine while its body began to shake. “Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good!” Cal said as he shoved it backward. The strange device, or droid - Cal wasn’t sure, exploded upon making contact with one of the metal walls and instantly caused a gush of fresh tar to pour into the enclosed space. BD-1 raced back up his leg and latched onto his vest as their platform was raised high enough to where Cal could safely fling himself onto the dam’s ledge. 

   On the other side stood a distressed looking Pit Droid beeping and clicking as it paced the ground looking at its half sunken boat. “Stuck ship?” He asked as he carefully walked around the tar pool and toward the clearly carved out path. “Tell me about it.”

   Beep-ba-ba-beep-brrr!

   Cal shook his head. “Sorry. Wish we could help.” BD sounded an apology of his own as they moved past and left the small droid staring with its one button eye at its ruined ship. 

   Passing through what could at best be described as a scrap metal archway, Cal again stepped into the blinding evening light and shielded his eyes to look at the land below. Further down the path there appeared to be another tar dam and two old lifts to either side of the mountain. And across from the dam stood the giant, shell-backed creature, pulling up a tree by its top and chewing it with indifference. 

   As he jogged down the path, Cal slowed to a stop and kneeled down next to a human who had been propped against one of the lampposts; their skin cold and limbs stiff. Cal clenched his jaw as he looked over the man’s casual mining garb and at the burnt hole in their chest, then glared at the boot and droid prints that lead away and toward the direction he was heading. 

   These Raiders are nothing but killers.

   Once they’d reached the dam, Cal climbed onto its edge and stared down at the sedate pool of tar. Two platforms floated near its center, but its level still appeared too low to help him get across. BD jumped from his back and scuttled over to where the left side of the dam wall stood, completely covered in dried tar and vines with a small stream of black oozing out into the pool through a crack. Dwoop-boop! He suggested after completing his scan. Cal nodded. “These old dams aren’t held together by much. …Wonder if there’s another one of those-” 

   But before he could finish his thought, a man backed up to the dam’s ledge with his arms raised. “Please, let me go,” he pleaded as a Raider and a Battle Droid came into view. “We won’t prospect in the gorge again!”

   “Do it,” the raider ordered. 

   “No!” Cal yelled as the droid shot the prospector and sent his body flying back into the tar. The droid shifted and fired in his direction, but Cal flared his saber to life and sent the shot right into the Raider’s armor. The Bedlam Raider growled through his mask as Cal sent the next bolt back at the droid, sending it into the tar along with its victim, then pulled free his ascension cable and launched himself onto the ledge and swung out with his lightsaber. The raider shuffled back and swung out with his clawed weapon, catching Cal by the arm and yanking him to the ground. Cal growled in pain as the electric current snaked its way over his flesh and kicked out with his leg to send a wave through the Force to knock the raider off their feet. The claw popped open, and Cal rolled to his side and flung out his saber to guid it spinning through the Force into his opponent. The raider fell in two as Cal’s saber returned to his hand, and BD ran to his side offering him a Stim canister. “Thanks, buddy,” he huffed as he pressed the needle through his aching bicep. “Just what I needed.”

   “Uh, sir?” The voice of another B1 Battle Droid echoed down the little side trail. Cal got to his feet and flexed his hand and arm to make sure he was still good to fight, and let BD clamber back on before following the sound. As peaked over the small slope he watched as a B1 droid came walking out of an old mine with one of the explosive balls rolling after it. “It seems to be closing on-” The ball exploded right as it came upon the droid, and sent its parts flying down the gorge and across the entrance platform. 

   “Droid down!” Yelled a second B1. 

   A raider stepped into view and kicked at the metal debris. “A roller mine? This damn place! Gah! If I ever find out who made these things… Alright. Guard the area. There could be more of them.”

   “Uh, sir?” Stated the droid as both it and Cal watched another minding droid roll straight toward the raider. “Sir!” Cal looked away as this time bits of Raider went flying in the explosion. “…Oh. So…I guess this means I’m in command now,” the Battle Droid stated cheerfully. Cal shook his head and leapt down in front of the droid and activated his lightsaber. “Oh no! And I just got promoted!” It cried right before having its own parts added to the mess. 

   BD leaned over to scan the remains but Cal held his hand over the droid's visual receptors. “Don’t. Just… Maybe we can find one of those roller mines and use it like we did at the other dam. Preferably without getting blown up in the process.” Be-wee-beep.  

   Entering the darkened mine and keeping an ear out for any beeping, several steps in he came upon a faint artificial light source that lit the path just enough for him to see a Commando Droid standing guard. An old sense of dread crept into his chest as he drew his lightsaber at the ready. Whatever move he made, he had to make it fast. Drawing on the Force, he sped toward the droid and spun with both ends blazing. But even with the aid of the Force, the droid quickly reacted, slashing out with its deadly oversized vibrioblade and lurching out of reach until he came to a stop. A warning tugged at Cal’s mind and he pivoted to the side as the humming blade lunged toward where he’d just stood. Cal twisted apart the two ends of his saber and looped his arm around the droid to pin it in place just long enough to swipe his free saber through its chest and neck stem. “A Commando Droid. I didn’t miss these.”

   Letting the droid fall he noticed a small glistening chunk of rock and plucked it free from the floor for inspection in the dim light. “Wonder what this is.” BD scanned the object and beeped his findings. “Priorite? Huh. Pretty. Who knows,” he said, tucking the rock into his pouch. “Might be worth something.” 

   As he followed the blue glow of his saber, Cal came to the end of the winding underground tunnel and a small hatch in the floor. Seeing no other option out, he twisted open the door and jumped through into yet another darkened space. BD flicked on his own beam of light and aided Cal through the dark until they came upon a rounded metal platform in the mud and a muddled up wall. BD beeped excitedly and leapt off Cal’s shoulder to scuttle over and clamber up a metal controller that happened to have a droid port. “Hey. What have you found? Let me guess. You wanna press it, right?” BD bopped his visor up and down rapidly and twisted the command lock. The center of the metal plate slid open and lifted up one of the mine droids. “Oh no,” Cal mumbled as he pushed back the ticking bomb rolling toward him. The instant the mine droid hit the wall it exploded and sent the wall crumbling down to reveal the space just outside of the dam. “That’s one way out,” he laughed. But his relief was quickly cut off by the ticking of yet another mine emerging from the hole. “Bee-Dee!” He yelled as he ran out of the whole and toward the dam. But the rolling droid was fast. Cal skidded to a halt and pulled it toward him, then flung it  into the tar covered ramp that fell over the small dugout he’d been forced to jump over previously. “Okay,” he breathed, “Maybe next time lets- And here comes another one.” Running up the ramp, he veered toward the cracked wall and again threw the mine. On impact the small hole blew back and opened up to let the tar on the other side flow into the other one. Cal anxiously watched as the pool began to raise the platforms, and quickly jumped onto it as he heard more ticking closing in from behind. Barely landing on the platform, he turned to see the roller mine slow to a stop and sit in place. With a grin, Cal then looked to the next platform and to the vine covered rock ridge beyond it and hurried across.

   Once clambering up he came to a stop to look up at the gigantic, long- necked beast that towered above them; it tilling back its head to let out a loud call before stretching back down to nibble on the tree not but a few feet from them.

   “Woah,” Cal breathed in amazement. BD quickly hopped down and hurried over to where the animal ate, and clambered into the assaulted tree to scan the beast. “Bee-Dee!” The creature pulled free several limbs as it munched, and Cal watched in fear as his little droid popped out his head and looked down at the increasing distance from the ground. “Bee-Dee One, are you okay?” BD fell from the tree and tumbled visor over feet through the air. Cal ran to catch him, but the little droid activated his leg thrusters and gently buffered his fall till he landed safely on the ground, beeping and whistling excitedly as he ran towards Cal. “Didn’t I tell you to be more careful about who you scan?” He scolded, kneeling down to face the droid. BD beep and apology and scuttled back up Cal’s offered arm. “Come one. …Should’ve left you in that rathtar nest.” Be-boop be-boo.

   At the end of the ledge the found another construction lift and rode it down with trepidation. They could already hear B1 and B2 Battle Droids arguing with each other below. Cal activated his saber and was instantly greeted by another roller mine. More out of surprise than anything, Cal sent the mine droid sailing through the air into the two arguing Battle Droids and watched as they both exploded. But then another roller droid appeared in the other’s place, and Cal took off running down the carved out alley to his left and ran right into a pit full of Battle Droids, a Commando Droid, and cargo crates. 

   “Oh, come on!” He yelled as he activated the other end of his saber and cut through two B1’s while dodging out of the way of the oncoming rocket from the B2. The roller mine came around the corner and began beeping quickly. Cal grabbed the droid through the Force and flung it at the B2 while blocking the oncoming attack of the Commando. When an opening presented itself, he flipped up and onto one of the larger crates and was greeted by some hissing, fanged worm. “Really?” He again flipped off the crate right as the worm spread its wings and sickle-like arms and lunged, right onto the Commando droid who was clambering onto the crate. 

   “Don’t worry!” Called another B1. “I’ve got him!” The droid flung a grenade at his feet and he quickly motioned it to the side to explode on the defeated worm and damaged Commando. “Oops,” the B1 said right before he was sliced apart. 

   Cal spun in the muddy pit and looked around at all the chaos he’d somehow managed to live through. “That was intense, bud. Now. Let’s find our way out of this mess. We’ve got to be close to the cantina by now.” 

   Looking around he noticed a pulley crane above him and leapt up to cut the wire, then positioned one of the crates for him to clamber up just enough to reach the rope and climb his way to the tunnel above. As he grabbed onto the lip of rock, two large blinking eyes stared at him. Cal paused as he too blinked in surprise to find the one of Bogano’s fuzzy, friendly, hopping, burrowing natives. “Boglings? They’re a long way from home.” The Bogling twitched its long, thick tail and leapt up to hop down the tunnel, as if leading him. At the end was a tall narrow shaft that seemed to lead up and out. While the one Bogling began to burrow into the tunnel floor, three more Boglings caught sight of him and bounced their way up the shaft. Cal looked up after them and grinned. “Think I can do that, Bee-Dee?” BD booped that it was worth a try, and Cal leapt onto the side and used the Force to give him a boost to kick off the metal siding and slowly shift his way upward. 

   Leaping out of the shaft, the three Boglings chittered to one another upon his appearance, and hopped further up the trail as Cal stopped to rest. Once he’d caught his breath, he followed after them and came out onto an amazing overlook. Beyond was a vast valley cradled by massive sculpted plateaus and smaller mesas that seemed to glow in the warm light of the setting sun; the open sky above made all the more beautiful by the purple, pink, and orange hued clouds framed by the sun’s rays, and complimented by the strange nebula he’d past beyond the planet. Dotting the semi-arid landscape were weather-worn buildings not much farther down the dry dusty path that wound from his position to the town beyond. And while winged beasts took to the skies, large balls of thistle rolled along with the light breeze that flowed out from the canyon behind him. Two-legged creatures with small arms and long necks in an assortment of colors casually roamed in small herds. And ever so faintly he could see what looked to be the glint of water running alongside the small settlement and in collected pools dotted across the plane.

   Cal whistled in appreciation as he came to a stop at the ledge. “Not a bad change of scenery. Greez’s place should be around here somewhere.” BD-1 made his own whistling sound, and Cal nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Look at that.”

   “Quite the view, ain’t it?”

   Cal stiffed, irritated that he’d been caught off guard, and casually lowered his right hand to hang near his lightsaber as he glanced over to see a dark haired woman in dust covered clothing with a backpack studying him. It also didn’t escape his notice that she carried an axe at the ready over her shoulder. 

   The woman gave him a friendly enough smile and a wide distance as she moved closer. “That your ship came down in Dredger Gorge?”

   “Yeah, we had some, uh…technical problems.”

   “Probably met the Bedlam Raiders then.”

   “Attacked us as soon as we landed.”

   The woman smiled as she looked down with a nod and took a step closer. “Huh. Glad you’re okay. What y’all doin’ around these parts?”

   “Lookin’ up an old friend. Greez Dritus?”

   “Greez?” The woman laughed. “Well shoot, I know him! I run the stables in town. My name’s Mosey,” she said in a much friendlier tone, even sticking out her hand for him to shake. 

   Cal eased his stance and moved to shake her hand. “I’m Cal. This is Bee-Dee One.” Bawee boop!

   Mosey laughed as BD stepped up to introduce himself. “Well aren’t you a cute little droid!

   “It’s good to see a friendly face,” Cal admitted with a small smile.

   “Likewise. …Well, path seems clear from here,” she stated, pointing down the path he’d taken note of moments before. “Shouldn’t get into any trouble. Unless you go lookin’ for it.” She gave him a knowing look and turned back down the path, but paused and called, “Oh, and uh, say hey to Doma Dendra when you get in town. She, uh, doesn’t take kindly to strangers.”

   Cal huffed a laugh as he nodded. “We understand. Thanks for the advice, Mosey.”

   “You bet!”

   BD-1 let out a soft beep and looked up at Cal expectantly. “Come on, bud,” he said, offering his arm to let the droid back onto his shoulder. “We’re almost there.” Whoop!

Chapter Text

   Kicking up a puff of dust with his boot as he came to a halt, Cal stood and looked over the metal entryway gate that led into the small town; a bleached animal skull hanging at its center with the name Rambler’s Reach Outpost painted above it. There were no sounds of commerce or labor. Just the subtle whisper of the wind and the distant call of creatures. Unimpressed, he threaded his thumbs over his belt and shuffled onward, glancing from building to building for any sign of direction or trouble. 

   “Well, Bee-Dee, we made it.” Beoop. “It’ll be good to see Greez again. …Been a long time. Maybe he knows where the others ended up.” He let out a bitter huff as he rolled his eyes at the memory of that fateful day. “Cere. Stuck in the past. And Merrin…wandering.” He kicked at a small rock in his path and watched it sail into a dried out shrub. “Ancient history.” BD let out a small, quiet beep as he pulled his torso closer against Cal’s vest; a form of a hug he supposed. His frown deepened, and he refocused his attention onto the seemingly abandoned buildings and the Outpost’s empty streets. 

   Passing two oddly shaped, boarded up buildings, he spotted a human male standing next to a male Trodatome; a tall, armless, yellow skinned alien Cal had only seen one other time. Odder still, this one wore an eyepatch. The two paused their conversation and watched as he approached, then leaned in next to each other and loudly whispered. “Who’s the stranger?”

   “Don’t know. Doesn’t look like a Bedlam Raider.”

   When Cal paused to pointedly stare at them, the Trodatome shifted his one good eye up and around and replied, “Quick. Act useless.”

   “Easy,” Cal called to them. “We’re not looking to cause any trouble. Mind telling me where the cantina is?”

   “Right over there, newcomer,” it said, shifting its body toward a wide, multi-tiered building with a rounded porch that wrapped all the way around. Above the entrance read the sign, Saloon, in Aurebesh. 

   “Thanks,” he said as he headed towards it.

   Stepping onto the porch and nearing the door, Cal reflexively stepped to the side and watched as a yelling green gangly alien came flying head first out of the saloon and landed in the dirt. A man, dressed in the same garb as the rest of the Bedlam Raiders Cal had met, stepped out onto the porch and toward the pleading alien; its long eye stalks shifting its small black eyes from side to side as it tried to scramble backward. And behind him followed two B1 Battle Droids wearing the same red accented paint as all the others. Cal shifted so as to stay out of sight, but watched to see how things played out.

   “No! No. No. No. No. No. No…”

   “Think you can pull a fast one on us?” The raider asked as he pointed his clawed weapon at the frog-like alien and turned on its electric current. Cal stepped off the porch and scowled. 

   “Wait! It was all just a misunderstanding!”

   Without hesitation the Raider thrusted his weapon onto the alien’s torso and shocked it. “Hey,” Cal called, letting his right hand fall to his side as he approached. “Let him go.” But at the sound of deep, heavy footfalls behind him, Cal turned and watched as a fully armored, purple skinned Gen’Dai stepped out of the saloon. 

   “That,” it said, stooping down to get past the door, then standing to its full height. “We cannot do. This…thing,” it said, gesturing toward the alien. “Sold us a priceless relic. The key we have been searching for!” It held up what looked to be some ancient communicator for Cal to see, then crushed it with its metal gauntlet. “Except, of course…IT’S FAKE!”

   “I thought it was the real deal, Rayvis,” the green alien swore, shifting onto its thin knees to beg. “Honest!”

   “Oh. I believe you. But mistakes like these can not be tolerated!” As if to drive home the threat, the Raider shifted the electrified claw closer so that it sparked next to the alien’s wide, flat face. “Let this be a reminder of what happens when you cross the Bedlam Raiders! …Kill him.”

   “Oh no! No!”

   The Raider pulled back his weapon to strike and Cal quickly threw his hand forward to send the two droids smashing into the building behind them and causing the raider to stumble to the side, buying the spendally green alien enough time to get to its feet and awkwardly hop away. 

   “Enough,” Cal warned, igniting his lightsaber yet keeping it at his side. 

   “A Jedi,” grinned the razor-toothed Gen’Dai, Rayvis, as he studied Cal. “Remind our friend here why his kind are supposed to be dead.”

   Cal glanced over at the raider who was now beginning to circle him and twisted free the smaller end of the saber while assuming the necessary stance. Firing his jetpack, the raider bolted toward him, taking him by surprise, and instantly clamped the claw around his torso. Cal growled through gritted teeth and threw himself down on the ground and kicked the raider’s shins with additional force, causing him to loosen his grip on the claw’s controls and set Cal loose so he could again Force push the raider back to give him enough space to get to his feet. 

   Cal swung upward with one saber, then the next. But the raider managed to parry and redirect both attacks. He stepped back again, and this time shuffled to the side for an angled attack, managing to maneuver the claw out of his opponent’s grip and get in a deadly cut. The raider stumbled but was still on his feet. And before he could throw any more surprises at him, Cal floated both pieces of the saber for a split second as he focused on their projection, then pushed them forward, ending the fight then and there. 

   “Impressive” Rayvis said with what sounded like surprise mixed with a hint of respect. 

   Cal leveled one of the sabers at him and warned, “Next time you want to pick a fight with someone, you have to go through us.” Wooow , BD chirped with a sharp nod. 

   Rayvis held out his arms as he burst into laughter. “Ah, what a delight to see one of your kind in action. After all these years. …Noble Jedi Knight, if you stay your hand, I shall withdraw in peace.” 

   Cal held the alien’s gaze but deactivated both sabers. And watched as the Gen’Dai began to walk away. 

   “Be seeing you,” Rayvis called over his shoulder with a hint of warning. 

   With a hard swallow, Cal looked down and reattached the pieces of his saber and clipped it back onto his belt. But was quickly interrupted by the strange frog alien he’d saved leaping toward, yelling, “This is him, Doma! This is the one who stood up to the Bedlam Raiders!” Before Cal could respond, the alien was grabbing ahold of his hand and excitedly shaking it between its clammy palms and pulling him forward.

   “Alright, that’s enough, Turgle. Turgle! Get over here!” Snapped an older-looking female Waluna. 

   “Yes‘um,” Turgle replied, letting him go and hurrying back to the wide, four-legged alien with long head tendrils that were braided with beaded ribbon and a decorative, flat metal hat atop her wide, flat-nosed face. 

   “You’re Doma?” Cal asked.

   “Why, yes I am,” she nodded. “You got a name, Jedi?”

   “…I’m Cal. This is Bee-Dee One.” Beep boop! “We’d, uh, appreciate if you kept this quiet,” he said, glancing back the way Rayvis had gone. 

   “Mmhmm,” Doma hummed, looking pointedly at Turgle. “Well out here on the frontier, only way we survive is by sticking together.”

   “That’s right!” Turgle agreed, causing Doma to roll her eyes.

   “You didn’t have to step in just now, but you did.”

   “Yes, you did!”

   “Turgle?” 

   “Eh?”

   “Shut it. We’ll keep your secret safe, Cal. I’m sure we can both benefit from it.”

   Cal gave her an uncertain look then nodded, turning back towards the saloon. “…Thanks.”

Chapter Text

   As the cantina’s doors slid aside to grant him entry, Cal stepped onto the well-worn floorboards and stared down the empty hallway. Instead of patrons, the clay plaster walls were lined with dangling wires and old postings, and dugouts full of dust-covered nic-naks. The two orange sofas sat empty as well, looking just as worn out as the rest of the town.

   “If you need a hand, we’re an oasis in the sand. And if you’re dying of thirst, well, our drinks they ain’t the worst. And if you’re running from a blaster, better run a little faster. Run to Pyloon’s Saloon. And we hope we see ya soon,” sung a modulated voice just beyond the interior door.

   Cal smirked at the odd little tune and came to a stop at the locked door. After a split second of nothing happening, a TT-8L Gatekeeper Droid popped its blinking bionic eye out from a hole in the wall and looked him over. Cal gave it a questioning raise of his brow, and it quickly retracted back into the hole, right as the light above the door shifted from red to green and the panels slid apart to reveal a space that pretty much matched its entryway and exterior. 

   Cables snaked across the dirty plate flooring and disappeared past ajar doors. Tables sat either empty or upside down, and from where he was standing the nearest booth was occupied by boxes. Only two patrons sat quietly nursing their drinks, and neither bothered to even look at him. Wiping down the wide bar was an M-6NK Bartending Droid with four limbs and one blue bionic eye in the middle of its off-centered swiveling head; a sloshing container of liquid taking up the space where its head would have otherwise been. 

   The droid looked up at them and raised its two upper arms in welcome while its two lower limbs gave him a thumbs up. “Ah, a potential customer! What’ll it be?”

   “Nothing. Thanks.”

   “Oh. Well, that’s a mistake,” it grumbled, dropping down its limbs in disappointment.

   Cal frowned and approached the bar’s one stool on offer. “I’m looking for an old friend. Four arms. Hairy. Big mouth.”

   “Ow,” came a familiar voice from the back of the kitchen.

   The droid swiveled its head in the direction of the noise then looked back at him and asked, “Vertically challenged?” Cal gave him a knowing nod. The droid turned its head again and yelled, “You can come out now, old boy. The coast is clear.”

   From the back appeared the old Latero, now sporting long braided hair and grumbling as he waddled to the front. “I’ll tell ya, Monk. The Bedlam Raiders are gonna be the end of this town! We got no hope! Zero! Zilch! Nothing!” BD-1 excitedly leapt from Cal’s shoulder and scurried across the bar toward him. “How you doing, Bee-Dee,” Greez said without even noticing who he’d greeted. When BD-1 beeped back, Cal watched as Greez froze and turned to look at the droid, realization dawning on his wide face. “Wait a minute…” Then he turned toward Cal and huffed a small breath of disbelief. “Cal! Cal Kestis, get over here you son of a bogling! Ha ha! Oh, it’s been a while. I missed you kid!”

   Cal tried to keep a straight face, but Greez’s excitement was too infectious, and he couldn’t help but smile back as he knelt down to accept his friend’s four limbed hug. “Hey.”

   “Lemme look at’cha,” Greez said, letting go and stepping back enough to look him over. “…You look terrible.”

   “Yeah,” Cal sighed with a shake of his head as he got to his feet. “It’s good to see you too, Greez.”

   “Hey,” Greez called, pointing to BD-1. “Are you taking care of him?” Boop-boop, BD answered with a bop of his torso and a tilt of his head. “Are you taking care of the Mantis ?” Greez questioned as he turned back to Cal. 

   “Well, uh, we ran into some trouble on our last job,” he admitted.

   “What sort of trouble?”

   “The Imperial kind.”

   Greez rolled his small brown eyes and dismissively waved all of his hands. “Oh yeah, I should’a guessed. They’ve been creepin’ around Koboh too lately.”

   “Gyro’s burnt out on the Mantis . We’ll need your help to get moving again.”

   “Yeah, sure, whatever you need. C’mon, grab some seat! Listen, Monk, get my friend something special to drink,” Greez order as he moved over toward an old pilots chair at the end of the bar. 

   “Refreshments!” The droid cheered as it deftly began swinging about its limbs.  “One Slippery Monk coming right up!”

   “Welcome to Pyloon’s Saloon!” Greez grinned as he pulled a small lever on his armrest that sent the chair elevating into the air. “The finest dive this side of Zeltros.”

   “Yeah,” Cal said, glancing at the mess around them and swiping his fingers across the bar top. “Your description, uh, didn’t do it justice.”

   “Here’s Sand-In-Your-Eye,” Monk stated, sliding him a decorative metal cup full of drink.

   “Monk and I picked it up from the previous owner through a…well,a…”

   “He caught a fatal case of blaster poisoning, courtesy of the Bedlam Raiders,” Monk explained.

   “We’ve been introduced,” Cal said dryly as he looked into the cup before focusing his attention on his old friend. “You okay, Greez?”

   “Oh yeah, sure. As long as I don’t have anything they need,” he chuckled. “…Hey, what happened to the Mantis ?”

   Cal looked away and took a long sip of the drink. “We were on Coruscant, gathering intel for Saw Gerrera. Things…got bad. Only two of us made it out.” He glanced over but didn’t meet Greez’s eyes, and instead kept his focus on the bar. “…Everything I’m doing feels pointless. …The Empire’s only growing stronger. Things, uh, haven’t been the same since the team split up.”

   “Yeah. Hey, we had some great times, didn’t we, huh? Me. You. The space witch. Cere. Have you talked to her lately?”

   Cal twisted on the stool. He had really hoped to avoid this part. It hurt to think about, and he didn’t feel like being judged. “Merrin’s always on the move, exploring new places. Making new friends.”

   “I was talking about Cere,” Greez said with a gentle smile.

   He hung his head with a slight nod before looking over at his friend. “No. …It’s been a while. …You?”

   “Well, her credits helped us get this place off the ground, but she hasn’t visited yet. She’s very busy with this new ‘project’.” Cal rolled his eyes and took a long gulp of the halfway decent beverage. “Hey, Cal. Why don’t you relax a little before we fix the Mantis ? The galaxy can wait a couple hours.”

   Cal shook his head as he swallowed and set the cup back on the bar. “We should probably get moving as soon as we finished up-”

   “I got a spare room down in the basement made up especially for you,” Greez insisted. “You should check it out.”

   He let out a deep sigh and stared at the hopeful expression on his friend’s face. It had been several miserable hours since he’d actually allowed himself to rest. And to say he didn’t need the break was a lie. His mind was tired, his body physically sore from all the fighting, and his heart still ached with grief. “Alright. …Thanks, Greez,” he mumbled as BD hopped onto his shoulder and he stepped away from the stool. “Where is the-”

   “The room? Oh, kid, you’re going to love it. Just take a right after the bar, through the kitchen, and down the stairs. Can’t miss it. And you can thank me by getting some shut eye! You really do look terrible. And if you need the refresher it's down the steps behind me.”

   Without saying more, Cal headed toward the refresher and stared, unimpressed at the space. Only one of the four stalls seemed functional. And once he flushed, he dodged out of the way of what appeared to be another shard of Priorite flying up from the plumbing and out onto the floor. “Uh… I don’t even want to know how that got in there.” Boo-woo-boop? “Nope. I’m gonna leave it right where it is,” he said as he stuck his hands under the faucet. At least this works. 

   As he shook the excess water from his fingers he looked at his reflection and stared at the dark circles that were forming under his eyes, making them look more blue gray than green. His already pale freckled skin looked even more drained of color. And bits of dirt from his fight with the Raider were still in his hair, causing the red-orange strands to appear dull. Greez wasn’t kidding. I really do look terrible. He turned on the water again and this time splashed it onto his face and drug his wet fingers through his hair. But his reflection still showed the tired, haunted man he felt he was turning into. 

   Looking away, he walked out of the refresher and back out into the saloon proper and headed toward the way he’d seen Greez enter. At the other end of the bar sat a human woman in blue overalls, what appeared to be a Nautolan female sleeping in the last booth next to the empty stage, and a Mirialan male seated next to the kitchen door. 

   “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”  The Mirialan asked while still staring at his drink. 

   Cal paused and looked over at the purple tattooed humanoid. “Is there a problem?”

   “I could've sworn I heard you stirring up a raider-sized problem just outside.”

   “I didn’t start that fight.”

   “Well, it certainly seems you finished it.”

   Cal bit back his reply and instead just continued through the doors where stacks of pillows, wood, stools, and cookware were being stored. On the other side of the wall stood two Gonk droids resting on their chargers. Across from him stood the kitchen, and next to it, another door. “Basement must be through here.”

   Stepping down the cluttered carved clay tunnel, Cal came to another door that hissed open to reveal a room full of random crates and canisters filled with packaged food and spare parts.  “Koboh’s pretty far from the nearest trade route. Looks like Greez makes do with salvage.” BD beeped in agreement.  

   But the room beyond was something more of Greez’s style. The circular space was filled with warm lighting and plants of various styles and colors that added some much needed life to the place, along with a large round rug that made everything feel softer somehow.  “Greez always had a green thumb. You know he talks to his plants?” Beboop? “Yeah,” he smiled, turning to study what appeared to be a carved out oval workstation filled with various tools and parts. BD hopped onto the bench top and began looking over the available tools as Cal turned to study the room again. Well, while the saloon could use some work, down here seems pretty cozy. And in his current state, the two bunk beds looked especially inviting. 

   Cal walked over, pressed on the bed roll to test its comfort, then unclipped his belt and set it on the floor at arms reach. Then he removed his vest and boots and felt himself sink into the plush mattress and surprisingly supportive pillows. BD-1 hopped off the workbench and scurried towards him but clambered up and onto the top bunk. Cal smiled at the droid then closed his eyes and tried to let go of his worries as his body reluctantly relaxed into the idea of actually having a safe space to sleep.

~*~

   An uncomfortable sense of awareness tugged at Cal’s consciousness, and he opened one eye then jerked to full alertness as Greez’s close-looming face took up his view. 

   “Still talking in your sleep, huh?” 

   “Guess some things never change,” he mumbled.

   “Weirdo.”

   “Hairball.” Greez chuckled and shifted to sit at the end of the bed as Cal moved his feet to make room. “Thanks for letting me crash here.”

   “Course! Why do you think I’ve kept your stuff around all these years?” He asked, waving a hand at a large chest off to the side. “I was hoping you’d stop by and maybe take a break.”

   Cal sighed as he rubbed his hands over his face then stood to put back on his boots, belt, and vest. “We both know what happens when I stay in one place too long. You said there’s a spare gyro around here somewhere?”

   “We’ve got plenty of time to fix the Mantis . You are what I wanna talk about,” Greez said softly, patting the space on the bed Cal had just vacated. 

   “I’m fine,” Cal swore, stretching out his arms and rolling his neck. “The sooner we get moving the better.”

   “And then what? You’re gonna go find some trouble with Saw Gerrera?”

   “Maybe. Yeah. One of us has to keep fighting.”

   “That’s funny,” Greez frowned. “That’s the exact same thing you said the day we all split up.”

   “Yeah! Because I-” Cal clamped his mouth shut to stop himself from saying all the things he’d wanted to say over the years. Greez stared at him for a moment then looked down at the floor, and it only made him feel worse. “…Alright, look,” he sighed, moving to sit back down. “I know you all had your reasons for leaving. But walking away isn’t an option for me. …I have to hold the line.”

   “And where’s that gotten ya, Cal? Look, I wish things were different. But you keep losing people, and you yourself said that the Empire’s growing stronger every day! Now maybe it’s time for you to be something more than a lightsaber. Think about yourself. Settle down. Find a home!”

   “What home, Greez? There is no home! Home was the Order. It was my teacher. It was everyone I lost. …What does their sacrifice mean if I go and I just…give up and stick my head in the sand?”

   “I know you were dealt a bad hand, but you gotta take it from me. Somebody who had to learn the hard way,” he said, holding up his one cybernetic arm that he’d lost trying to save both him and Cere. “You gotta know when to walk away from a rigged game! Otherwise you are gonna end up losing something you can never replace.”

   Cal pressed his lips together as he stared at the floor, refusing to look at his friend or continue the argument. It wasn’t that Greez might be wrong, it was that he could be. But that didn’t matter. It was as Saw had said. Taking down the Empire was what mattered. 

   Greez looked away and over at BD, who was slowly climbing down the bunk ladder to look at them, then waved his hands dismissively and stood. “Alright. I wanna show you something.” Cal looked over and watched as the Latero pressed a keycode into the panel next to his closet that caused the racks to shift out of view. “This is a smuggler’s tunnel. It came with the cantina. Now, go ahead and look. I keep a lot of spare parts down there. I’m sure you’ll be able to find whatever you need to get the Mantis up and running.”

   Cal stood and stared into the dark tunnel, then at his friend. “Thanks. I appreciate all this.”

   “Cal, can I tell you one thing? …It’s really good seeing you again.”

   “Yeah, you too,” he mumbled, swallowing against the tightening emotion he felt building in his throat as he stepped toward the darkness. “And, Greez? …I’ll think about what you said.”

   “…Hey, uh, watch your step down there. Be careful. I definitely have a pest problem,” he stated uncomfortably, doing his best not to come off as too emotional before walking away to head back upstairs.

   Cal watched him leave for a moment then returned his focus on the tunnel and his task at hand - repairing the Mantis .

Chapter Text

   In the faint light of the sparsely spaced lamps along the smuggler’s tunnel, BD-1 flicked his flashlight from one box of spare parts to the next, while Cal used the blue glow of his lightsaber to do the same. “Any luck?” Boop. Cal frowned as he looked down the leftward bend in the tunnel. A faint digging sound had been following them as they’d ventured deeper, and was now growing closer. He held out the saber and watched as the dirt floor shifted to reveal the furry head of a wide-eyed creature as it popped out from the floor and bounded off with a squeak. “Boglings? Are these what spooked Greez?” 

   Seeing no other way to go, Cal followed the animal through a narrow break in the wall that led out into a small cavern. The Bogling hopped to the edge of the tunnel floor and bounced off the wall onto a taller platform on the other side. Three four-legged creatures with wide jaws and stubby legs ran out of the shadows down below and snapped at the wall as the Bogling crossed, then began to fight with one another over their failed attempt at a meal. Cal glanced back the way they’d come then scanned the cavern for a possible exit. As far as he could tell, the rest of the tunnel had continued around the pit and to what looked to be an opening on the other side. But sections of the floor had given way, and if he was to continue his search he’d have to take the risk of leaping across. “We’ll have to be careful around here, bud. Nobody’s used these tunnels for a long time now.” Booboop. “Just hold on tight, okay?”

   Cal ran for the wall and pushed himself on to it at an angle so as to descend in a downward arc. The three creatures paused their arguing to lunge at him. But as they hit the wall, Cal was already landing where the Bogling had been and leaping onto and off the next sliver of what was left of the pathway, and reaching the rest of the tunnel right as the three creatures turned to give chase. Cal grinned at the sudden rush of adrenaline, and sent a shove through the Force to open up the pile of rocks blocking his path.

   As the plume of dust dissipated, they found themselves in an even larger cavern with beams of light filtering down from above illuminating the space. But its beauty was offset by the piles of random ship parts stashed in its shadowed corners. BD-1 hopped from his shoulder and began to scan the various items while Cal shook his head at the cluttered mess. “More scraps, huh? Leave it to Greez to take another person’s junk and…add more junk. Here, let’s check down there,” he said, pointing to a lower platform with what appeared to have larger items. “How did Greez even get some of this stuff down here? Beep-boo-beep?

   With an extended jump, they managed to make it safely across the crumbling gap and onto what appeared to be the last of the salvage. BD-1 again scuttled off his back, but this time ran directly toward a large circular metal object with wire ports along its caged frame, and a gyro core at its center. Beep-beep-boop! “Is that it?” Cal asked, kneeling down to inspect it for any defects. He twisted open its power core and removed it so as to attach it to his belt. As he did so BD scuttled over to another piece of scrap and playfully kicked at it. “Come on Bee-Dee. Let’s-” but he paused as a low rumble sounded beneath their feet. In the blink of an eye, BD vanished through the floor, and Cal dove after him, trying to grab the droid with the Force. But his weight only added to the rock’s instability, and Cal yelled in panic as he too was swallowed by the darkness below. 

    ~*~

   “Gah!” Cal groaned as he bounced off the edges of rock and eventually the hard gravely surface of the cave floor. Pain radiated from his bruised back and scraped up arms and knee. “Ugh. Bee-Dee?” Boop-beep-boo! Cal rolled onto his back and blinked up at the bright spot of sunlight far above. “Never look when you can leap, eh?” Whoop whoop. Carefully he rolled back onto his side and rolled his shoulder and elbow, then got to his feet as his overly curious droid climbed back onto his vest. “The sooner we get back to Greez the sooner we can-” But as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, tall decorative shapes began to take form and loom over the space, and Cal stared in awe. “…We should check this out.”

   Carefully climbing over the broken pillars and using the Force to aid him in his ascent, while doing his best not to get cut on the jutting crystal rock formations, Cal took his time to study the familiar swirly patterns of black sand and arching lines of gold on the intact flooring and pillars. “Almost reminds me of the Jedi training grounds. But feels…different. Older. …What is this place?” 

   Finding a gap in the cave wall and a faint purple glow beyond it, he squeezed through the space and came out into an elaborate chamber with a still active power orb coupler. “Power’s still running down here. Let’s see if we can hit the lights.” He looked along the walls and found among the cyclical motifs a shimmering orb embedded among the design. Reaching out through the Force, he called it to him and lowered it into position on the harness. As the orb glowed brighter, columns of blinding white light flashed to life along one of the walls, and highlighted the space in contrasted shadow. A bridge of some strange magnetic ashy liquid bubbled out from a strip of metal at the end of the floor to form what looked to be a bridge between his platform and the one across the fissured crack. “Not bad,” Cal mumbled, eyeing the strange bridge with suspicion. “Think we could walk on that?” Cautiously he stepped onto it and felt his boot sink into the substance. But it was as if it instantly hardened around his foot to keep it from falling through. With a nervous swallow, he hurried across and moved toward the strange circular fallen object at the center of the platform, and what appeared to be some sort of droid tangled and trapped under its weight. BD-1 leapt down and hurried toward it to scan. “Careful, Bee-Dee,” Cal warned as he slowly kneeled down to look at the silvery humanoid droid. 

   Never seen a droid like this before. Some kind of new or older model maybe. Feeling it was worth the risk, Cal glanced over at BD then carefully reached out his hand and closed his eyes to see if he could feel an imprinted echo. And as soon as his fingertips touched its cold metal the force of the memory pulled him under into the vision.

      The droid’s leg motors clicked as it stepped toward the dark skinned woman in white and gold trimmed robes. “I came as soon as I could, Master Khri.” 

      The woman turned to face him and apologized. “I’m sorry it has come to this.”

      “Will it be a complete memory purge?” The droid asked.

      “No. Only what the Council demanded.”

      “Then at least I shall remember you. I am ready.”

      Khri offered a small smile and stepped close to initiate the process. A slight moment of pressure, then nothing, pressed on Cal’s mind. “What is your name, droid,” Khri asked.

      “I am ZN-A Four, of course. How may I serve the Order?”

      “Zee…” Khri stated with affection as she turned to point to the strange nebula that floated beyond Koboh. “Tell me how to navigate the Koboh Abyss.”

      “I have no information on that in my memory banks. …Master Khri, you are aware the Republic has issued a full-scale evacuation order?”

      “I am. That is why I have a very important task for you, Zee.” 

      The Jedi Master removed from her robe a device that looked strangely similar to what Rayvis had shown him, and handed it to the droid. “A tuner? Oh what a fine model!”

      A loud booming explosion sounded in the distance, and both the droid and Master Khri turned to watch as an explosive blast erupted from Koboh’s moon; sending chunks of its surface spinning through space.

      “Use that to open the Forest Array,” Khri quickly urged. “Travel underground. Stop for no one. That is an order, Zee!”

      “Am I not coming with you?”

      “No. The key to Tanalorr is in that array. If you do not hurry I fear it will be lost forever. …May the Force be with you.”

      ZN-A4 watched as the woman turned to leave, then looked down at the tuner as she headed in the opposite direction toward a golden circular door.

   As the echo faded and the grip the Force had on his mind loosened, Cal's consciousness swam back to the surface, leaving him inhaling deeply as he opened his eyes and pulled away his hand. BD beeped questioningly as he blinked to process all that he’d seen. “…I think this droid has been here for hundreds of years.” Maybe… If I can access its memory… Cal grabbed hold of its protective neck plating and yanked. When it didn’t budge he pressed on the chest panel below and tried to pry a space between the two. But as he applied more force the droid jerked back to life and looked at him with glowing slit “eyes”.

   “Good day,” it greeted politely in a feminine voice. “Or, is it night?” Cal stumbled back and reached for his saber hilt but paused as the droid rotated its dome shaped head to look at them. And firmly clutched in its hand was the tuner he’d seen in the echo. The light illuminating ZN-A4’s eyes flickered as her voice modulator glitched and her body frame jerked. “Something’s very wrong,” she said in a forlorn tone. 

   Cal eased his stance and took a wary step forward. “Is your name Zee?”

   “Yes, it is. How did you-” she asked, shifting to move. But her arm jerked backward as the cable she was tangled in held her in place. “Oh no! I’m trapped. I’ve been trapped for… How long has it been?”

   “Uh… I’m Cal. This is Bee-Dee.” Bee-boop! “We’re gonna help you.”

   “Pleasure to meet you both. Some help would be most appreciated.”

   Cal gave her a small nod as he looked up at the broken object pinning her and followed the cabling. Behind him stood another orb coupler, and Cal quickly reached out to pull the first orb over and place it into the new one. 

   “By the Order,” Zee exclaimed. “You are a Jedi! …Or, are my photoreceptors completely shot?”

   “Not completely, Zee,” Cal grinned. “I’m a Jedi, alright.”

   “But…you’re not even wearing the proper robes!”

   At that he laughed. “I’m more of a poncho guy.” Boop boop boop, BD chuckled. 

   Again the strange liquid metal bridge took form and led Cal to the platform near the lighting. “Yes! Use the orbs to activate the bridges. The crane’s controls should just be on the other side…I think? After so many idle years, who really knows!”

   Pulling a lever toward him, Cal attached it to a nearby gear and watched as a side panel opened to reveal another power orb. “This droid’s got more than a screw loose,” he mumbled to BD as he picked up the orb.

   “What was that?” Zee questioned from the other side.

   “I, uh, said ‘Hold tight Zee’. I’ll have you free soon.”

   “Take your time. I’ve only been pinned here for…a while. Hmm. I don’t have your name in my databanks. When did you pass the trials?”

   Cal placed the orb onto the third coupler, then pulled the first orb into the fourth, forming a third bridge that led him toward the other side of the room. “Never took them. I was knighted in the field.”

   “And what was the reason for this flagrant breach of protocol?”

   Cal huffed and shook his head as he leapt up and hopped his way up a broken section of the wall and clambered onto the platform above that seemed to control the broken metal beam pinning Zee in place. “It’s a long story,” he called down while reaching out and pulling the wiring connector to him and reattaching it. As he did so, the large metal beams  rose off the floor and back up onto the ceiling.

   “Trials or not, you’ve done it!” Cheered Zee. “Come here. I want to thank you face to face.” Cal flipped down back onto the central floor and hurried over to help lift the rock that still pinned Zee’s leg, then helped her stand. “Thank you, Cal. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ve been delayed long enough. Oh my-” she sighed as her damaged leg motors clacked and her hip stabilizer shifted questionably to compensate. “Not now. Hold it together!” She yanked her leg forward and banged on her hip.

   “Uh, mind if I take a look?” Cal offered, pointing to her leg.

   Zee turned to look at him then down at her leg that BD was now scanning. “Hmm. Well… I must admit…I am in need of repair-” she stated while stumbling backward and onto a rock. 

   Cal kneeled down and pulled out his multi-tool from his pack and got to welding the broken tendon pistons back into place. “…So, Zee… What’s Tanalorr?”

   “A planet. Hidden within the Koboh Abyss. Hmm… It’s home to a Jedi Temple.”

   Beep-boop-beep? BD asked with excitement.

   “A bastion of the Order’s light on the galactic frontier! …At least that’s what my master hoped Tanalorr might become.”

   Cal’s mind raced with questions at what that could mean. But he focused on the more immediate task at hand and replaced his tool while gently placing Zee’s leg back down for her to try and stand. “There. Now we just need to figure a way out of this place.”

   “I can help with that!” Zee stated cheerfully as she stood. “It’s this- Or, was it that- No… Oh! Yes, it is this way,” she laughed as she swung her torso towards a decorative golden square embedded in the wall across from them. “Follow me. I see we are in a meditation chamber. Master Khri designed these to train Jedi. I remember this, but I don’t recall what it does, however. Master Khri had a brilliant mind. Do you know her, Cal?”

   “Can’t say I do.”

   “No matter. But I think she would have liked you! I am very fortunate you came along when you did.”

   “Yeah. You could’ve been down here forever.” He watched as she held up the tuner next to the wall and the circular spiral patterns shifted open like an iris, revealing a hidden lift inside. As they stepped onto the platform, Cal couldn’t help but ask, “Zee, that planet you mentioned… What’s it like?”

   “Tanalorr? What a wondrous place!”

   “How do I get there?”

   “Navigate the Koboh Abyss.”

   Cal frowned at the daunting prospect of getting the Mantis through it. “That must be the knowledge your master purged from your memory banks.”

   “Well, she must have had her reasons.”

   As the lift slowed to a stop, the circular irises of the cube they found themselves in shifted open to reveal the blinding bright light of Koboh’s surface; and more specifically, right across from Pyloon’s. Two Jawas fighting over salvage paused to stare at them, then quickly dropped the item and ran as Cal emerged back into the light. Zee stepped out after him but came to a halt as she realized just where exactly she was, and just how much the once empty space had changed. 

   “None of this was built the last time I stood here. …And the sky was full of meteors. …Oh, I have been asleep for a very long time, haven’t I, Cal?”

   He gave her an apologetic look. “Yes. But, don’t worry. You’re not alone. I’ll help you get back on your feet.”

   “…You might not be wearing the proper attire, but…now I am certain you are a Jedi,” she stated softly. 

   Cal gave her a smile and nodded her toward the cantina. “Come on.”

   “Right behind you. …Such strange buildings. Oh my, what is that?” She asked as she clunked along behind him into the saloon. 

   When the interior door opened for them, Cal was taken aback at the sight of Bode leaning against the bar questioning Greez. “I’m not a Bedlam Raider spy,” Bode spat. “I’m a friend of Cal Kestis!”

   “Kale Whatsits? Look, I told ya buddy, you’re in the wrong Cantina! I don’t know anybody named Cal Kestis,” Greez insisted. 

   “Hey Greez!” Cal called out, grinning.

   Greez turned to look at him and shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, that Cal Kestis.” 

   Cal unclipped the gyro core and playfully tossed it into his arms. “Found the gyro.” Then he and Bode clasped arms in greeting, genuinely grateful to see someone else on the team had made it out alive. “You made it!”

   “Good to see ya, Cal.”

   “Greez Dritus, this is Bode Akuna. He was on Coruscant. Wouldn’t have made it out alive without his help.”

   Greez flashed Bode an awkward smile and nodded. “Oh, alright. Hi. Nice to meet you. Unfortunately I don’t think I have another bed available, so-” He turned toward the door but bumped right into Zee’s framing. “Wait a minute. Another one? Cal, you have a very bad habit of picking up strays!”

   “I am ZN-A Four. Humble servant to the Jedi Order,” she announced with a curtsied bow. 

   “Oh,” Bode mumbled, making a face as he sat down his drink. “I take it you haven’t broken the news yet.”

   “She was trapped underground,” Cal explained.

   “Uh huh. I’ve never seen this design before. This droid almost looks like an antique.”

   “Did you find anything down there worth credits?” Greez asked, looking Zee over.

   “Credits? Pah!” Zee exclaimed indignantly. Then she turned to Cal and took on a more pleading tone. “Cal, you have saved me, but I must ask more of you still.” She held out to the tuner. “Master Santari ordered me to open the Forest Array, but…given my condition, I cannot fulfill that duty. Please. If I fail my mission, the key to Tanalorr may be lost forever!”

   “Wait a minute,” Greez interjected. “Did you just say ‘Tanalorr’?”

   “You’ve heard of it?” Cal asked.

   Greez nodded. “Yeah, it’s an old prospectors’ legend about a lost world filled with treasure!”

   “Hmm, maybe this droid proves it’s more than a myth,” Bode said with a shrug. 

   Cal took the tuner and looked it over. “Could be worth checking out.”

   “Yeah, but first I gotta fix the Mantis ,” Greez reminded. “Before the Raiders snatch it.”

   “I’ll escort you out there,” Bode offered. “Watch your back while you make the repairs.”

   “Hmm,” Greez hummed, sizing him up. “Is he as tough as he looks?”

   “Next to Cere, he’s the best marksman I’ve ever met,” Cal admitted.

   “Okay then. We’ll go take care of the Mantis .”

   “I’ll go see what’s in the forest.”

   “Thank you, Cal,” Zee called after him as he headed toward the exit. “As soon as I am in full operating order, I will join you at the Forest Array! Onward!”

   They all watched in confusion and slight amusement as the old droid clanked and wobbled forward with determination. But her gyros swayed as the motors began to grind. “Whoa there, heritage,” Monk called out, swinging into view on his railing. “While they’re all sallying forth, why don’t you ease up on the thrusters? Come along. I can get you tuned up, shined up, and, uh, caught up on the state of the galaxy.”

   “Oh sweetie. I could use an oil bath now that you mention it.”

   Cal gave them both an amused look and shook his head. “Cal, I’m gonna lock up the saloon so the Raiders don’t trash it. Use the back door, would ya?” Greez called from the stairs. 

   “Sure, no problem.”

   “And the rest of you,” Greez called to the other patrons. “Shop’s closed. You can come back once I’ve got my ship.”

   As Cal headed toward the back, Turgle hopped from his stool and lurched in front of him. “You brought that droid in? Saved her too, huh?”

   “Just helped her get back on her feet,” Cal told him with a shrug, shifting ever so slightly to get around the strange frog.

   “And he asks for nothing in return!”

   “Well, she did let me hang on to her tuner key.”

   “Oooh! A tinker k- What?! You found a real one?!”

   “That’s right.”

   “Do you think I could maybe, eh-”

   “No, you can’t borrow it, Turgle.”

   “Aww,” the frog said, slumping both his slim shoulders and his eye stalks.

   “Listen, friend - what’s your name?” Asked the purple skinned Mirialan from the night before.

   “It’s Cal.”

   “Moran. Charmed. You seem a decent sort, Cal. Look, maybe you’re just the latest fool to get tangled up with the Bedlam Raiders, or maybe you’re the real deal. But this place will bleed you dry. Understand?” He questioned as he stepped away from the bar to follow after Turgle. “Get out while you can.”

   “Noted,” Cal muttered as he continued on his way down toward the basement and out its lower entrance.

   A Jedi temple on a hidden world? There could still be a whole sect of Jedi out there somewhere that could help us turn the tide of this war. I’ve got to find this place. This…Tanalorr.

Chapter Text

   Emerging from the dugout rear entrance of the cantina, Cal was greeted by the sight of the town’s singular landing platform and a dusty path leading out past the surrounding layers of rock. Yet in the distance he could see what looked to be a towered gate of polished white metal, glowing like a beacon of light down on those living amongst the dirty and muted colored buildings of Rambler’s Reach.

   “That must be the gate Zee told us about,” Cal stated eagerly as he began their trek up towards it. “Who would have thought we’d stumble upon some lost piece of ancient Jedi history way out here.” Boo-woo-whoop! “Just imagine if Cere were here, how excited she’d be. …Guess that’s what happens when you choose to stay in one place.” You miss out on finding ways to bring the Order back, instead of just  remembering them.

   Pushing aside old memories, he took in a chest full of fresh air and focused on the present, and how the dry landscape was now beginning to shift into lush greenery. The river that he’d spotted gently flowing alongside the town seemed to be fed by a modest sized waterfall that spilled over the ledge of a tree covered plateau; the mist causing plant life to cling to its edges and pools of brightly colored mineral rich water collecting atop the rocks. 

   Climbing onto one such shallow pool, he found the bridge that connected to the other side of the river, and to the gate, rusted through and hanging uselessly down into the creek bed. With a sigh of disappointment he looked around and decided to cross the hard way - by running, jumping, and climbing. 

   Once he’d made it, Cal flung his arm up and over the edge of the ledge and hoisted himself onto the platform with a grunt of exertion. But as he got to his feet and dusted himself off he caught movement not far from him, and he quickly moved toward one of the larger thistle bushes and watched as two Bedlam Raiders paced next to the body of an unmoving Stormtrooper. Well, at least these Raiders are good for something , he mused as he uncoupled his lightsaber and twisted apart the two hilts. 

   “Do you think Rayvis found what he’s looking for?”

   “If not, he will soon.”

   “I wonder if-” 

   The Bedlam Raider flinched as the lightsaber’s blue blade spun out from underneath his brethren’s helmet with a sizzled hiss then spun backward into Cal’s hand as he charged. The Raider grabbed for his weapon just in time to shoved him back with the force of their clash, then jab out with the clawed end open; electricity flaring to life at its tips. Cal spun to the side and parried away the weapon with one blade and struck out with the other, ending the fight. As the guard fell, Cal replaced his weapon and pulled the tuner out of his back pocket and stepped up to the door. Unsure of what to do or expect, he aimed the oblong metal device at the circular locking mechanism at the door’s center and watched as the top of the tuner shifted open and sparked to life. The locks on the gate shifted, and the doors slid back with surprising ease to reveal the jungle it’d kept at bay.

   “It works! Come on, Bee-Dee. The Array should be around here somewhere. Only way forward is to cut through.”

   Cutting through overgrown vines and trekking up the path’s subtle incline, they came to a deep gap carved out by the waterfall that rushed down into the swirling mists below. Through the spray, small hovering drones with red eyes turned to look at them and quickly flew out of the canyon and deeper into the forest.

   “Did you see that, Bee-Dee? We’re not alone out here.” Bee-whoop, BD-1 replied as he jumped down and ran over to what appeared to be a zipline launch point, and across the gap its connecting end. But between the space jutted a large chunk of rock that blocked their way over. Bzz-zeep-beep? Cal smiled at his friend and nodded. “Good plan. Give me a sec?” He took a running leap at the waterfall and rolled onto the floor of a hollowed out section of the mountain behind it, then cut through one of its worn support pillars, taking the gamble that it would fall and create a pathway for him to reach the protruding rock instead of causing a cave in. But with a small nudge through the Force, it fell forward and became the bridge he needed. Running across it, he shoved at the rock and sent parts of it shoving back into the mountain and others crumbling off to crash into the rushing waters below. “Good to go, Bee-Dee! Try it.”

   BD-1 activated the machine and sent the cable forcefully shooting across the space and connecting with the other end. BD jumped onto the still vibrating wire and wheeled himself toward Cal as he jumped up onto his torso and rode toward the other side. “Thanks, bud. Nice work,” Cal said, offering his fist for BD to bump with his foot pedal. “Somebody must have put this line here recently. We’ll have to be careful. …So, what do you think this Array is, buddy?” He asked as he stepped through a small stream to shuffle through a gap in the rocks.  Beeeeboop. “Santari Khri said it held the key to Tanalorr. Zee seems to think so, too.” As he pulled free from the space an Imperial patrol ship sped through the canyon passed them. “Empire,” he snarled. Of course. “I don’t think they saw us. But we should keep moving.” Beep! Beep! BD said, tapping his shoulder and pointing toward the overlook to their right. Cal stepped closer and looked over the strange forest and at the white tower that pierced through the misty fog. “Looks like we’re getting close. Come on.” 

   As Cal used his ascension cable to climb up the vine covered rocks, distant blaster fire sounded from above. Reluctantly, he continued his climb to the top and found Stormtroopers battling it out with a patrol of Battle Droids. “Raiders don’t like the Imps any more than we do,” he stated as he took a moment to watch. Two of the troopers flew backward as a thrown grenade detonated, and a third blasted back at the tossing offender; sending the squealing droid over the edge of the cliff. The lead trooper rushed with his riot shield raised and bashed into the droids. Cal leapt into the fray and flipped over the trooper to then land with his lightsaber ignited and swung it behind him, hitting the officer in the back before he could raise his shield. Then he thrust his hand out toward the disabled droid and flung it into the last Stormtrooper, sending them both over the edge.

   With the area cleared, Cal searched for a way forward but found his only real option was through a cave that also happened to have the voices of Stormtroops echoing out from it. With an irritated frown he grabbed onto the thick vines that snaked their way inside and tried to sneak past. 

   “Not crazy about this assignment. Too many unknowns,” the pacing trooper voiced as he looked further down into the tunnel.

   “That’s what the Empire is all about. Taming the galaxy. Bringing it to order,” stated another that kicked aside a dead feathered creature.

   “Yeah, yeah. Join the Empire, they said. See the galaxy, they said. Shoulda stayed back on the farm. …The fauna around here sure is riled up,” griped a third as he poked at a pile of sticks.

   “Good. When they’re bothered they’re easier to kill.”

   “Eh, I feel like they’re doing more of the killing out here.”

   Cal paused and let himself dangle above the three troopers below. He could, and probably should, just keep crossing the cave. But the trooper’s blatant disregard for the wildlife was infuriating. “Let’s get the drop on ‘em,” he whispered to BD before letting go of the vines and quickly summoning into his hands his ignited sabers. 

   Landing with a killing blow to the first trooper, the remaining two stumbled back and fired. Cal swung both blades to deflect the shots, then launched himself into a spinning jump to swing down his blades onto the nearest enemy, then reached out and pulled the third trooper toward him for a clean strike. After a second of silence, sounds of the forest again began to filter and echo back into the cave and Cal eased his stance and looked over the strange dead bird and its crushed clutch of eggs. “These things have probably raised their young here for generations. Then the Empire came and tore through, destroying anything in their way. Seems to be the same story on every planet.” With a disgusted shake of his head, Cal continued further into the cave on foot until it opened back up onto a small overlook. Angered roaring mixed with the sound of yells and blasts echoed out of a second cave entrance that also shared the open space. And as Cal walked out to gather his bearings, he caught sight of two troopers running for their lives from a large, orange skinned, armor-crested creature with a large beak and tusks. “Hold on,” he yelled to BD as he ran straight for the cliff’s edge and reached out to the rock face across from them through the Force and pulled free a ledge of loose rock to flip onto.

    A sudden scream sounded from behind him, then a terrified yell, and Cal turned to see the last trooper get thrown against the rock. The creature stomped the ground angrily then turned to look at him and ground its nose into the mud and flung it toward him. Cal pulled free another sheet of loose rock and used it to leap across the ravine and out of harm's way before leaping onto another web of overgrown vines and roots.“That was close, huh, Bee-Dee?” Whooow! “Yeah. Even before she was damaged, there’s no way Zee could have made this journey.” Beoop beep boop. “True. Of course, back in Khri’s day, there was no Empire to contend with,” he pointed out as he flung himself off of a massive root and onto solid, higher ground where a cluster of Boglings blinked at him with curiosity. “What I wouldn’t give to see that galaxy.” Taking a moment to wipe away the tiny bugs sticking to the sweat on his neck and forehead, he bent down and reached out to pet one of the Boglings that had dared to come closer. Cal smiled as it closed its large eyes and started to coo, reminding him of how the one that had lived on the Mantis for a short time had done the same. “You ever miss our old Bogling friend, buddy?” Beep beep. “Yeah. Me too.”

   Standing back to his full height and watching the animal bound back to its colony, a startled gasp caught his attention. A few feet from him stood a green female Twi’lek next to a small campfire with her hands raised as if not to scare him. “Easy! Easy,” she said anxiously. “I’m not looking for trouble!”

   “Don’t worry. Me neither,” Cal assured, raising his own hands as he glanced around at the limited assortment of camping gear around her site.

   “Oh,” she sighed, her posture instantly relaxing. “Mother of moons, that’s a relief. I’m useless in a fight. I came to see that incredible High Republic structure. But I didn’t expect having to fight off beasts with my field journal,” she half joked. “Sorry. Rambling. Bad habit. I’m Toa, by the way,” she greeted with a slight bow of acknowledgement.

   “Nice to meet you, Toa. I’m Cal. This is Bee-Dee One. Listen, the Empire is not going to be happy when they find you out here. Why don’t you head back to the Reach. I have a friend who runs the local cantina there. It’s a safer place than this place for the moment.”

   Toa’s youthful features winced. “Pyloon’s? Eh, I was afraid you’d say that. …But, I might take you up on that. After all this, I could use a drink.”

   “Say, did you happen to get a good look at that structure?”

   “Mmm, only enough to see there’s no way I’m getting inside. But, we’re lucky. It looks intact! If I’m right, it’s been out here for centuries! Are you heading there too?”

   “Yeah.”

   “Then you might have better luck than I did. It’s right up ahead, through that tunnel. Can’t miss it. If you happen to get in and back, let me know what you find, yeah?”

   “Sure. Thanks for the help.”

   “Thanks for the warning.”

        ~*~

   “Are you kidding me?” Greez shouted the instant they were within viewing distance of the Mantis . “He calls that a landing? Look at this! He’s practically got it hanging halfway into the gorge! I’ll be lucky if all it needs is a gyro core replacement.”

   “Well, we were getting shot at by several TIE Fighters. I’d say you’re pretty lucky to even have an intact ship at all,” Bode stated matter-of-factly.

   “Oh, yeah, well… Say, Jetpack, mind givin’ me a boost?” Greez asked, jerking his thumb up toward the still extended ramp of the ship. Bode bit back a laugh and let the Latero hang on to him. The thrusters struggled to get them off the ground at first, but with a boost, he managed to get them safely onto the ramp. Carefully, Greez teetered forward and entered through the automatic door and Bode gently landed right behind him, taking the opportunity to scan the much lovingly talked about ship. “Well at least the inside still looks intact,” Greez grumbled as he looked over the cockpit then shuffled back toward the rear. “…And the kitchen’s empty. Has he even been eating? I’m gonna have to restock this too. And look at this-”

   Bode shook his head as the Latero continued to complain while disappearing down the back hall, and paused at the sight of the shattered Jedi holocron. Slowly he reached out and examined one of its pieces. Dangerous thing to have just laying around in the open. … W onder what secret knowledge you held. So. Kid keeps his cards close, unless he trusts you. Then he’s an open book. Bode shook his head again and put the piece back where it had been, then casually walked past the kitchen and locked rooms until he found a cot, a workbench, and crates of tools and parts. Below the floor grating stood Greez working away at replacing the damaged part. 

   “How’s it coming?”

   “Fine. The coast still clear?”

   “Seems to be. We got lucky. …So, Greez, how long have you known Cal?” He asked as he peeked into one of the crates.

   “Oh, a long while now. Me and the kid, we go way back. Me. Cere. The space witch.”

   “Space Witch? Now that sounds like an interesting story.”

   “Aw, you should’a seen the two of them. Crazy kids. Did Cal never tell you about us?”

   “Mmm, no. Can’t say he did. He’s not much of a talker.”

   “Eh, well…” Greez paused and pushed up his goggles so as to look up at him through the grate holes. “Kid’s been through a lot. You need to be careful with him, Bode. If you get in trouble then Cal’ll get in trouble, understand? He’s always feeling like it’s his job to protect everybody, and will do whatever it takes. Dumb, stupid, Jedi jerk.”

   Bode gave him a warm and understanding smile. “I hear ya, Greez. Don’t worry.” The old Latero stared at him a moment then nodded and pulled back down his goggles to continue his work. Bode let his smile slowly fade as he refocused his attention back onto the crate, and on the salvaged lightsaber pieces hidden among the droid parts.

Chapter Text

   Beyond Toa’s camp the forest gradually began opening up into the array’s valley, with the main path Cal had been following branching into two separate trails - both of which showing multiple signs of recent use. As he reached what had to be an ancient archway supposedly built by the Jedi, Cal paused to assess which path to take. But as he did so, two troopers came running down the upper trail blasting away at one of the small red eyed droids they’d seen upon first entering the forest. The droid flitted along the rocks, and after so many missed shots, parts of the mountainside broke apart and slid down to crush the hapless Stormtroopers and effectively block the trail.

   “You catch what they were shooting at? A spy droid. Someone else has eyes out here. Maybe the Raiders?” Beep boop. “My question is, what does the Empire want with a backwater planet like Koboh?” Beep-beep-boo? Cal shrugged then headed down the lower trail till the path came to an end at a wide pit with large prints embedded in the patches of mud. BD-1 shifted his position and tapped Cal’s shoulder to look ahead of them and at the sleeping, mud-slinging orange beast they’d escaped earlier. Because the creature was sleeping on its side and surrounded by thin standing pillars of rock, cutting through them and crushing the beast presented as an option. But that wasn’t a guaranteed victory. And if he could help it, Cal preferred to avoid the confrontation all together. He studied the rock formations along the walls and made up his mind to utilize his trick from earlier. 

   Carefully stepping into the space and trying his best to not make a sound, he focused his mind around the loose sections of rock and forcefully pulled them into the form of a slanted bridge. The move worked, but the sound of rocks suddenly shifting startled the beast, causing it to roar and flail to right itself. Cal burst into a run and leapt onto the tangle of torn vines that were still attached and quickly scrambled on top of the rock. The beast rolled back onto its feet and charged at one of the pillars, causing it to crack and explode into several large and small pieces that rained down on both of them. Cal ran to the end of the and reached out to pull another bridge of rock toward him, buying him just enough extra few steps to then jump onto the wall and run across before flinging himself onto the lip of turf at the top. Cal scrambled for purchase and pulled himself onto solid ground right as the beast bashed itself into the rock wall below.  BD whistled and beeped as Cal let out a puff of anxious air and quickly moved further down the path to get as far away from it as possible. 

   Yet as the beast’s roars began to fade Cal skidded to a stop at the sight of a Stormtrooper’s motionless body lying in the middle of the turn and covered in what looked to be some strange shifting black dust that reminded him of a swarm of insects. The dust didn’t seem alerted by his presents, but Cal didn’t feel like testing his luck and pressed himself against the rock wall to slowly shift further down the path, putting as much space between him and the strange substance as he could. “Don’t know what that stuff is but…it definitely doesn’t look safe,” he whispered to BD as he moved. But his moment of relief faded as he came to the path’s ledge and found the space below teeming with the same strange dust. Out of curiosity he picked up a small rock and chucked it into the swarm. The black substance quickly clustered together to overtake the rock, then spread apart once again to await anything else that fell in. “Yeah, definitely want to stay out of that. See anything that might help us across, bud?” BD hopped down and scurried to look across the field then at the thick roots dangling above them. Bewoop boop beep-beep! Cal looked up and followed the droid’s sight path over to another ledge that sat next to a strange metal box with broken beams extending from it. “Yeah, that should work,” he grinned as his friend reattached himself onto his vest. 

   Clearing the hazardous area, Cal hurried up the slope then paused to look over the ancient buildings and its courtyard. “So, this is the work of Santa Khri. If the rest of Zee’s story is true, the key to Tanalorr should be around here somewhere.” Probably in that tower, he thought as he eagerly jumped onto the metal platform below. Just need to find a way across without getting in this dust. “ Hmm. Power’s out. This place must have been abandoned. And forgotten.” Looking at the two circular buildings on each side and finding them both overgrown by some crystalline flora, he caught sight of a metal beam off to the side and shoved it over so he could jump to a nearby connecting platform. But as he placed his footing, Cal glanced down at the shifting swarm of dust and swallowed before making the jump across. “But, I guess Zee didn’t forget. All these years later and she never gave up on her mission.” Beoop. “We can’t let her down.”

   Focusing on his balance and grip along broken beams and rusted metal grating, Cal continued to hop and shuffle his way closer to the array’s tower. But as he reached the top of one of the outer buildings he found himself staring at a massive bird cawing angrily between pecks at the crystalline vines that caged its foot. “I think that creature is trapped. I don’t know if I’ll be able to cut it free, much less reach it. But we should try. There’s some grating that runs just along the edge below it, see? Let’s pass under it for now and then see what we can do.” Beoop!

   Cal refocused on carefully maneuvering downward from the roof to the metal work below that he could use to cross. Yet as he leapt onto the grating, the whole structure shook with every stomp the bird made, flinging pieces of crystal over the edge into the swarms of dust below. Cal’s arm muscles strained under the tension to keep his grip, and he tried to focus just on his breathing as he continued to carry them across, but the bird was paying no attention to his plight and it slammed its massive wedged beak into the vines causing the grating to rattle violently enough that Cal’s hand slipped.

   BD-1 trilled in panic as Cal gasped and fell straight onto the ground. Pain instantly shot through his hip and shoulder, but this mind had no time to focus on his possible injuries. The black dust was instantly on him, sticking to his face and trying to wriggle its way into his mouth and down his throat while simultaneously entering his nose and blurring his vision. Despite having the air knocked from his lungs, Cal’s only thought was to get up and get out, and held his breath while keeping his eyes shut. BD shrilly called out which way for him to head towards, and once Cal felt the metal grating against his hand he used the Force to aid his jump back onto the platform and hastily brushed the dust from his face, “Oh, that hurt,” he coughed. “Be glad you can’t breathe, bud.” BD-1 beeped worriedly and shuffled anxiously as he scanned Cal over. “Yeah, I think I’m okay. Let’s try and find another path.”

   Tenderly making his way to the otherside of the building, Cal paused to stare at the several disemboweled land fowl scattered across the platform. “Something around here has a big appetite. …And I get the feeling it’s not that trapped bird.” As if to prove his point, the bird let out a loud panicked screech that was quickly followed by the sound of metal breaking apart under some great weight. Cal ignited his lightsaber right as a towering shaggy-furred bipedal with two horns that curved out from its face landed a few feet from him; bloody spit flying from its mouth as it roared. Cal swore under his breath and called on the Force to enhance his speed and give him the edge to dodge the Wampa-looking creature’s fisted slam. The ferrocrete where he’d just stood cracked under the impact, and Cal took the advantage to swing both ends of his saber into the beast’s exposed side, getting in three strikes before its arm swung out and sent him flying backward across the building’s corridor. Cal winced as he forced himself to his feet and stepped back as the beast reared both its arms and lunged forward to grapple him. But Cal leapt over its grasp just in time to springboard off its arms and into the air to thrust down the saber’s blade through its spine, letting the force of it carry him back down as its body fell. “Stim, please?” BD-1 slid open the side panel of his visor and ejected one of the healing vials into Cal’s awaiting hand before climbing down to scan the creature. Boo-whoop! “Mogu, huh?” Cal breathed as he closed his eyes and felt the stimulant kick in. “I hope we don’t run into another.” Woowp. “But…seems we still have a way to go,” he sighed as he looked up from where the deadly creature had come from. The roof of the building across from him was now slanted at a downward angle, which presented a new possible path up and over the blocked gate just ahead. Dusting off his attire and offering for BD to rejoin him, Cal walked onward and began his climb up onto the roof then down into its interior where another orb amplifier stood affixed to the floor. 

   “I’ve never seen tech like this before,” he said aloud as he looked over the old machinery surrounding it. “And I scraped some serious machines on Bracca. …But we’ve seen this tech before.” Spotting the energy orb on a disk within the wall, he pulled it toward him and placed it into the amplifying harness. Instead of a strange bridge taking shape like in Zee’s chamber, a blazing beam of purple energy burst forth from the harness’s focal point and began burning away the crystalline vines that had blocked the gate, and even burnt through the vines blocking the other building’s gate across the main platform. “…Just not on this scale,” he mumbled in surprise as BD beeped in amazement. 

   Walking out of the building and down to the other end, Cal found that while the energy beam didn’t seem to do any damage to the building itself, the strange hazardous dust that had been trapped inside seemed held at bay in the space closest to the beam. Veewoo! BD observed. Cal nodded and ran as close to the beam as he dared, clambering onto the large, long-dead generator at the room’s center to look for a way up. Above him protruded several rods he used to flip his way out of the room and onto the building’s solar tile racks. 

   Once he’d escaped and jumped back down onto the forest’s floor Cal looked over vast dead spaces teeming with the black dust between him and the main array tower. “Well, no way we’re crossing that while still breathing. We’ll have to find another way around.” As he looked for any other possible options, a Stormtrooper patrolling the edge of one of the inner courtyard’s buildings paused at the sight of him and threw their rotary blaster cannon straight at him. Run the Force urged in his mind - and Cal did exactly that, bolting as fast as he could back into the thick forest as the blast bolts chopped up the dirt and moss behind his heels.

Chapter Text

   BD-1 hopped onto the fern covered cliff and beeped his encouragement as Cal crawled up and over its edge to safety. “The Empire really has stirred up the fauna around here, huh,” he huffed as he looked up at the sky for a split second before getting back on his feet. “That Bilemaw was no joke.” Bee-woo-woo-beep. Cal nodded and took the moment of reprieve to look out over the forest and wipe his damp hair from his eyes. From this vantage point he could see the array but couldn’t help but feel frustrated at just how much they’d seemingly backtracked. And while he didn’t know how long the days lasted on Koboh, it seemed as if half of his had already been spent. “There’s gotta be a better way to get to that tower.” 

   …. Beep bee-bee beep! 

   Right as Cal looked over to see what BD was talking about, a wide-eyed, whiskered, leather-winged mammal shifted around in its nest to spread its wings and gargle threateningly at the little droid scanning it. Oh no… “Careful, Bee-Dee!” He called as he ran over. The creature looked at him and shook its wings, and Cal stopped in his tracks, his hand inching toward his saber’s hilt. But as he watched the creature lean down to study his droid, words Cere had once spoken to him crept through his memory. 

      “You didn’t think. You perceived a threat and reacted. Cal, you can’t fight your way out of some situations.”

   “This isn’t the time to fight,” he whispered to himself as he shifted his hand away from his saber and out toward the creature; wading into the ripples of fear that emanated through the Force from the creature’s mind. 

   We mean you no harm. We’re just trying to reach the array. Can you help us? 

   The Relter suddenly grew quiet and tilted its head to the side as it studied him. Then it folded in its wings and leaned down to sniff at BD - who was practically vibrating with excitement and dared to give it a little bump on its flat muzzle as a form of affection. A small smile tugged at Cal’s mouth as he realized Cere’s advice had paid off, and he slowly walked over to his droid who was now dancing happily over his new friendship. “I’m glad it worked out, bud. But you really do need to be more careful. I don’t want to lose you too.” Beep boop. Cal reached down to pat his droid, and looked to the Relter as it watched BD climb onto his back with its large brown eyes. It shifted to look out over the valley toward the array then warbled at them and lifted up into the air, fluttering around them. 

   “Uh…” Boop Bee-whoop! Cal gave his droid an uncertain look but reached out his hands to grasp the Relter’s legs and felt himself instantly latched onto and pulled right off the cliff and through the air, gliding past waterfalls and above the trees. “Yeah! Now this is more my speed!” Cal cheered as the Relter banked on the wind and turned them toward the Array’s inner courtyard.

   Gliding past the first ring of black dust, the Relter screeched and pulled up right as it saw a Patrol Trooper come into view at the center of the inner right next to an active energy orb. Cal felt its talons free his hands, and as soon as he was over the inner ring of dust he too let go and rolled onto the central metal hub and pushed the trooper back into the shifting dust cloud that was held at bay by the strange purple beam. The white armored trooper was instantly swarmed upon by the black dust, and was only visible again, seconds later, once their screams had been silenced. Cal tried not to think of how he’d almost shared the same fate and instead went about trying to study the circular platform he was standing on and the lever that seemed to somehow operate it all. 

   Beoop? “…Only one way to find out,” Cal answered as he pushed the lever forward. The platform hummed as it spun towards the entrance, and the moment the beam of purple energy blasted into the crystalline vines it set them ablaze in a pink fire. “Well, that would have been helpful to have before,” Cal yelled over the noise as he spun the platform again, this time turning it towards the otherside where he’d first tried to cross. The beam again burned through the crystal, and Cal watched as the strange fire snaked its way over the interconnecting vines and up to where the large trapped bird still sat; its desperate caw echoing over the space. But without even harming the bird, the vines burned away and fell into the mix of dust below. “Looks like that did the trick,” he said proudly as the animal eagerly took to the air. Then he hurriedly ran alongside the beam, past the swirling black dust, and jumped onto the grating that led toward the tower. “Wonder how long they were stuck in this stuff? Seems like this weird matter around here can take on various forms.” Bewoop. “Let’s just hope that tower at the top of the Array has some answers.” 

                    ~*~

   Finally , Cal thought as he pulled the power orb out from its centralized harness and floated it over the cluster of slain troopers to fit into the next coupler that activated the tower’s liquified metal bridge. As he crossed, several of the small droids he’d seen earlier flew past. “There’s those spy droids again. Looks like we’re not the only ones interested in the Array.” BD beeped questioningly as they entered the shadowed interior and stepped onto its still active lift. Cal shrugged as he turned to look out over the mountainous views they’d wound their way through, and at the cluster of buildings he hadn’t noticed sitting atop them. “Well, we’ve searched all over, buddy. And this is our last stop. If the key to Tanalorr is real, it has to be here. And if not…then maybe Zee does have a screw loose.” Boop, BD replied as the lift came to a stop inside a dimly lit interior filled with empty workstations to either side. Cal glanced around at the space as he headed toward the door at the top of the stair that bore the mark of an old Jedi emblem. “This must be where Santari Khri intended to send Zee,” he mused aloud, passing beyond the door and looking down into a sealed off room that appeared to be covered in the strange crystalline substance. “The key to Tanalorr. Sealed away for centuries now.” Beep beoop! BD called as he hopped down and hurried toward a droid interface kiosk. 

   After a second a loud hum sounded deep within the station, and the lights on the consoles flickered to life as the locked door to their left slid open. “That did it! Sounds like the Array is powering up. Come on, buddy,” he grinned, holding out his arm for BD to rejoin him. “Time for some answers.” 

   Cal hurried down the stairs but dialed back his excitement as he stepped into the empty chamber. At the center of the room was a large sealed cylinder, and seeing no exterior way to open it, he pulled out the tuner and waited. Again the device’s top shifted open, and a split second later the cylinder hissed loudly - sending swirls of chilled air rolling out over the floor as its panels separated to reveal what appeared to be a large bacta tank hidden within. Not what I was expecting, he thought as he tucked the tuner back into his pocket and moved toward the tank. Yet as the frost began fading from the glass, Cal gaped in surprise at the sight of a pale, one-armed humanoid male floating gently within the healing liquid. There’s someone still in there? After all these years? But…how? Cal looked over the glass then down to his hand. Preparing himself for a possible vision, he slowly placed his hand against the freezing glass and felt the world around him instantly fade away in a flash of white, then replaced by muted colors and gray tinted images of a world he’d never seen.  

                    ~*~

         “Welcome to Tanalorr,” Dagan grinned as he held out his arms to all of the planet’s scenery; the gray rocks only making the purples and pinks of the flora stand out against the shimmering blue pools of water.  

         “It’s beautiful,” Santari breathed as she looked around them. “But…remind me not to let you name the next world we discover.”

         “Give it time,” he chuckled, looking back to enjoy her subdued look of curiosity. “You didn’t like me much at first either.”

         “Jury’s still out,” she quipped with a wry smile before directing her attention onto one of the trees and reverently kneeling to gently caress its rich colored leaves. “It’s hard to believe this paradise was hiding on just the other side of the Abyss.”

         Dagan didn’t bother to mask the smile that formed as he watched her. He’d always admired her curiosity. It was what made her interesting. She wasn’t content to just sit around and read about centuries past. She was ever in the present, working to better the galaxy they lived in and pave the way for those to come. And it was why they were here. It was why he’d risked his life to reach Tanalorr and prove her theory of a safe haven they could use on the untamed frontier. “Come on. I want to show you something,” he prompted, holding out his hand and hoping against hope she’d take it. 

         “Renowned Jedi Knight Dagan Gera offers to be my escort on an uncharted world? How could I refuse?” 

         He let his hand fall to his side as she huffed a humorless laugh. She’d chosen the low blow of reminding him of their difference in rank. But it mattered little. “Without your guidance, I’d never have made it here in one piece,” he complimented as she stood to face him. 

         “Oh! Careful now,” she teased, stepping into his space to give him a scolding look before passing. “Or someone might think you’ve learned humility.”

   He was dreaming again. Dreaming of her. Dreaming of Tanalorr. But he had not dreamed of anything in so long. Why now?

         “The Force is strong here.”

         Dagan nodded in agreement as they looked out over the valley below and at the gulls gliding on the breeze above the craggy mountain before them. “It’s just as I told you. We’ll build the temple here,” he explained, pointing to the large cave across the way. He could already see the statues standing in contemplation at its entrance.

         “Yes,” she smiled. “My thoughts exactly.” 

   Dagan stirred as one dream bled into another.

         “Oh, it’s simply wonderful,” she exclaimed as he walked her up to the newly constructed temple doorway.

         “Yes, it’s perfect!” He knew he shouldn’t feel such immense pride, but he wasn’t about to let rules diminish his sense of accomplishment. He’d put so much into preparing this world for the Order. “…I’ve seen the galaxy, Santari, and there are many worlds that the light of the Jedi does not reach. …I’m going to petition the High Council to train initiates here.”

         “On Tanalorr? But it can be so challenging to access. What if something were to go wrong?”

         “Our temple will be a bastion for the Order! Here, at the galactic frontier!” Santari looked at him skeptically. But he didn’t fault her for it. 

         “The Abyss blocks comm signals,” she reminded with a shake of her head. “We’ll have to invite a member of the Jedi Council to visit in person.”

         Dagan felt his excitement dampen. It had taken a lot of convincing to get the Council to approve the temple’s construction so far from the Republic. And he feared getting official permission to train students would be even more difficult and time consuming. “Hmm.”

   Fluttering his eyes open, Dagan blinked as cold liquid stung and blurred light flooded his consciousness. Was the blur beyond his dream or part of it?

         “They’ve been in there for hours!” He growled as he paced back toward the reflection pool. 

         Santari smirked as she continued to swing her legs from the fountain’s edge. “Council members are not known for their hasty judgments. Especially Master Rancisis!”

         “My duel with the Gen’Dai didn’t take this long!”

         “You won in the end,” she reminded him. “Be patient.”

         He paused as he glared into the distance.“Not one of my strong suits.”

         “Well if you’re going to teach younglings, you had better learn.” He glanced over at her, deepening his scowl. He knew she had a point, but wasn’t yet in the mood to admit it. With a sigh she rose to her feet and stood before him. He didn’t bother to meet her eyes, but the edge of frustration he felt growing stilled as she hesitantly placed her hand upon his chest - one of the rare gestures of intimacy she’d show him. “…I have faith in you. So does the Council. …Trust them to do the right thing.” 

         Dagan swallowed as he slowly drug his eyes over to meet hers, and allowed himself to find comfort in their rich warmth. If he could only tell her how much her belief in him meant. Was allowed to show her how much she meant to him. Daring to risk her rebuke, he raised his hand to cradle hers, and watched as a warm smile tugged at her lips. But before he could fully grasp her an overwhelming darkness through the Force chilled him to the bone, and he quickly turned toward the sky as it darken.

         “…What’s wrong?”

         From the black storm clouds appeared several sets of red lights, one appearing right after another; ships jolting into being from hyperspace. And he knew these well. “Warn the others. We’re under attack.”

Santari hesitated only for a moment, then turned to head inside. Dagan stalked toward the edge of the stairs as he ignited his lightsaber. The Nihil. They would not take Tanalorr from him. Not so long as he still drew breath. But as he raised his foot to go out and meet his enemy he paused, sensing a presence that hadn’t been there; that had never been a part of his dream before.  He looked over at the red headed young man staring at him and frowned. “…You’re not here. You’re not supposed to be here.” The young man looked at him in surprise, and Dagan reached out to touch him, needing to know if he was part of the dream. He’d been trapped for so long. He was tired of reliving it. Of experiencing the loss over and over again. And the painful reminder of the Jedi’s cowardice and Khri’s betrayal. “…Release me,” he pleaded. “Please.”

   Through the haze of liquid, Dagan watched as the man in his dream pulled away his hand from his prison and walked to the other side. A loud muffled gurgling filled his ears, and he looked up to see his watery tomb begin to drain. Through the glass the man continued to watch him as gravity began pulling on his body once more, and his flesh shivered from the air’s sudden embrace.

   As the last of the liquid drained away, the glass tube retracted into the floor, and Dagan fell to his knees as the oxygen cable snapped from the breathing apparatus and forced his weakened lungs to function on their own. He scratched his nails against the metal floor as he struggled to breathe, wheezing as he tried to gather his strength and barings. And after several painful breaths he lifted his one remaining arm and tore away the mask, gasping down the fresh air and painfully expanding his lungs. “Who are you,” he demanded, his own voice unfamiliar sounding to his own ears. If he’d been in Bacta, why did he feel so weak? Why did his connection to the Force feel so dull? “I saw you!”

   “…I’m Cal,” the young man stated. “Cal Kestis. And you must be Dagan Gera.”

   “Yes. I am.” As his vision came into focus he caught sight of the familiar weapon hanging at the man’s side, and a cooled bitterness deep inside him began to boil once more. “You are a Jedi?”

   “Yes. …But things have changed since you’ve been gone. …A Sith Lord corrupted the Republic. Turned it into an Empire. …They destroyed the Order. And they’re hunting down those of us who are left.”

   Dagan stared at the young Jedi and felt his words wash over him like a warm breeze. The Order…is gone. Cal’s words were heavy with loss, but all Dagan could feel was relief. He was finally free. The dream, the nightmare, was over. And he could begin again.

   “But,” Cal continued, “You’re here now. We can fight them. Together.” Dagan looked to his saber that Cal now offered him, and the burden of memory pressed upon his mind. He had already fought. And killed. And he was being asked to do so again, in the name of the Jedi. 

   Summoning what little strength his body had left, he unsteadily shifted onto his feet and relished in the pain his muscles felt upon their use. With a sigh of relief and satisfaction he reached for his saber and took it, igniting its blade and basking in its yellow light. “Yes. I am back.” And free to do as I please. “…The Order is gone. I must return to Tanalorr.”

   “What happened there,” Cal asked him as he deactivated the saber and slowly walked toward the tank controls. “How’d you end up here?”

   “We were invaded. I held them at bay as long as I could, but-” So many dead. By the Nihil. By my hand. By their actions to abandon and deny me. “There were too many,” he explained, setting down the saber and rejoining with the Force to hover it in place as he mentally disassembled his kyber crystal’s housing chamber to pull free the living stone. “The battle was horrific. But still we weren’t beaten. Not yet. Not until the Jedi Council gave the order to abandon Tanalorr and then refused to counterattack.”

   “They gave up on it?”

   “Yes,” he snarled, letting his anger and resentment flow through him and into the kyber. “It was my discovery! My home! And they just expected me to throw it away!” The crystal cried out in his mind as it too felt his pain; its bright yellow glow morphing into an orange red. 

   “Dagan, wait,” Cal’s voice warned. But he was done taking orders from the Jedi.

   “I refused to obey and was betrayed by the one I trusted most!”

   “No! Stop!” Cal yelled, yanking his shoulder back. But the pulse of pain his kyber felt as it completed its transformation sent the young Jedi tumbling backward and igniting his blue saber as he rose to his feet. “What have you done?”

   What I needed to do , he thought to himself as he stared the Jedi down while telekinetically piecing back together his saber and igniting its threatening red glow. What I need to do. 

                    ~*~

   Cal stared in disbelief as he brought his lightsaber forward into a defensive stance. He’d discovered an ancient Jedi and they’d instantly turned to the dark side? From across the room Dagan’s piercing ice-blue eyes glared at him as he paced, assessing him for any sign of weakness. “You’re wasting my time!” Dagan shouted suddenly as he flung his saber hilt. Cal deflected the blade as it ignited mid swing and watched as it spun back into its owner’s singular hand, then raised his blade to block once more as the former Jedi lunged forward in the blink of an eye and rammed into him with his shoulder. He stumbled back but kept his focus on Dagan’s blade as he tried to swing it down upon him. “I can sense your fear,” he hissed with an amused grin as he shoved Cal’s blade back to disengage. 

   “I don’t want to fight you!”

   “Pff. Coward. Pathetic.”

   Cal gritted his teeth as he strained to stand his ground against Dagan’s forceful strikes again and again, the red blade streaking from side to side in a blur. Then he leapt back and parried Dagan’s forward thrust as the blade shot forward toward his torso. But all Dagan did was grin up at him and flick the edge of his blade up and swirl his saber around to let him slide in close and lock their sabers into a standstill. 

   “That wretched Order will rue the day they betrayed me and forsook Tanalorr!” He declared before nudging Cal back with an invisible shove then leaping into the air to bring his blade down with force. Cal quickly sung his saber up and redirected Dagan’s attack. But he didn’t expect the Jedi to slam his head into his face. “I will not be imprisoned again! You dare stand against me?” 

   Cal blinked back the pain as he tried to keep his focus on Dagan’s erratic movements, and found himself being pulled into a locked position with both their sparking blades inching ever closer to his face. Not again , his mind screamed as flashbacks to his close encounter with the Fifth Brother flooded his body with another rush of adrenaline. “STOP!” With a shove aided by the Force, he thrust their sabers back at Dagan and spun to throw out his hand with a force that sent the man tumbling back across the floor. “I am not your enemy! …We’re all that’s left! What happened to you?”

   Dagan glanced over at him as he rolled to his knees, and flung his soaked hair back from his face as he stood. Then, with a flick of his shoulder, Cal felt himself flung backwards against the wall. As he winced in pain, one of the tower window panels shattered completely, and two spy droids flew inside to swirl around Dagan. The familiar hum of a Republic gunship grew louder as he came into view. And in its troop bay stood the Gen’Dai, Rayvis, and a small escort of Bedlam Raiders. “Ah, Rayvis!” Dagan grinned, turning his back on Cal. “I should’ve known you would honor your oath.” With a smug laugh, Dagan looked back at him as Cal scrambled to his feet. But as he ran toward him the fallen Jedi leapt with a force only a Force wielder could perform, and landed onto the gunship with grace.

   “Wait!” Cal yelled as he skidded to a halt near the window’s railing. But the ship banked and flew away with haste. Cal felt his shoulders slump as a sense of defeat washed over him. “The key to Tanalorr… Could she have ment Dagan?” Appearing out from one of the darkened corners of the room, BD-1 hurried over to him and beeped comfortingly. Cal looked down at his little friend and shook his head. “How could she entrust Tanalorr to someone like him?” Beoop-boop.

   Leaning against the rail, Cal closed his eyes and tried to focus on what to do next. But as his hand touched the bar a small echo in the Force whispered through his mind. “ Tanalorr was supposed to bring us closer ,” Santari’s voice lamented. “But all it did was divide our Order. The Council may have given up on you, but I know who you truly are, Dagan. Even if you yourself have forgotten…” 

   Cal opened his eyes and looked at his hand, recalling how Master Khri had placed her hand upon him and looked at him with absolute trust. “…She had such faith in him. At least she never had to see him fall to the dark side.” BD stepped into his view and tilted his head visor. “How am I going to explain this to Zee?” Boop bee-beoop. With a quiet sigh, Cal looked out over the forest and toward the barren stretch of the land where the Reach stood out like a scare in the distance. “Come on, bud. We best had back with the news. …And who knows. Maybe Dagan wasn’t the key. Maybe there’s another way to reach Tanalorr.”

Chapter Text

   “Alright, let’s see how she does. Take a seat, Jetpack,” Greez ordered as he climbed into the pilot’s seat and began flipping the switches that initiated the pre-flight checks. As the lights lit green and the hum of the engine spinning to life grew louder from the ship’s rear, he settled himself back into the Potolli-weave fabric and smiled. Despite all the close calls his makeshift family had had in the past, it still felt good to be at the helm once more. With a wiggle of his fingers he grabbed onto the steering wheel and simultaneously eased the throttle forward, and watched through the floor-to-ceiling windows as the Stinger Mantis carefully rose from its precarious perch and eased forward over the deep gorge below.

   “So far so good,” Bode commented.

   Greez glanced at the gyro’s green indicator light and flipped its switch. “Now to see if she’s still got it.” 

   “Woah!” Bode chuckled in surprise as the ship burst forward and flew over the stretch of land that had taken them hours on foot. “Yeah, I’d say she does.”

   “Oh, that’s nothing,” Greez grinned, shifting the throttle up another two notches and pulling at the wheel to swing the ship around one of the buttes and curve tightly into a canyon. Through the controls he felt the ship’s fin smoothly roll to counterbalance their quick turns, then shift upright as he pulled up on the controls to avoid the oncoming arch. “Haha! Just like the good old days.”

                     ~*~

   “Everyone! Don’t panic!” Turgle shouted as he burst through the saloon’s doors. 

   “Oh, here we go,” Monk mumbled to Zee, rolling his singular blue eye. 

   “What is it now, Turgle?” Mosey asked. 

   “Doma isn’t certain what it is, but I can guarantee you, I had nothing to do with it!”

   “To do with what?”

   “The giant laser beam blasting into the sky! All of a sudden it just appeared out of the forest, and is aimed right at the moon! Come on! Come on! I’ll show you!” 

   Those gathered quietly looked at one another before Mosey sighed and stepped away from her table. “Alright. Let’s see this ‘laser beam’ of yours.”

   “It’s not mine, honest!”

   “Oh, of that I've no doubt.”

   Zee shifted to watch as the others slowly abandoned their drinks and shuffled after the pair in hushed whispers. “Why don’t you take a look for yourself now that you’re in working order,” Monk suggested.

   “Well if it’s coming from the forest, perhaps Cal was able to find the key and unlock the Array?”

   “Maybe. He does seem the capable sort.”

   “Indeed. After all, he is a Jedi.” After a tick of thought, Zee tilted her head to mimic a nod and rotated her freshly lubricated pelvic axle to follow after the others.

   Outside the saloon a small crowd had gathered to voice their concerns and speculations, pointing to Koboh’s damaged moon and at the purple beam of energy blazing across the sky towards it.  

   “Well I’ll be a Nekko’s aunt.”

   “See! I told you!”

   “What do you think it is, Doma?”

   The alien whom Monk had said was the authority figure of the town frowned. “Hmm. Nothing good, probably. But, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

   “See? I told ya we should have left this planet,” grumbled a human male among them.

   “And gone where, ya old tumbleweed?”

   “Tumble anywhere but here. Then again, you blend in with the scenery. Dry and dusty.”

   “Matches us both! Haha!”

   Zee stepped away from their chatter and let the code of happiness race through her circuits. “He did it, Master Khri. Your task has finally been completed. I do hope you can forgive the delay.” 

                       ~*~

   “Woah, easy friend,” Cal said as he watched the Stinger Mantis zoom past and out of the canyon toward the outpost. The wild bird-like Nekko he’d managed to tame on his escape from the forest shifted anxiously on its two large legs, and twisted its long neck to look back at him. “It’s okay,” he reassured, petting its head and letting his sense of calm flow through their bond to settle its mind. “You’re doing great. Now we just need to follow them to the outpost.” The feathered and scaled beast looked back to where the ship had gone and picked back up its pace, carrying him out of the shadowed, sulfur pooled canyon and into the grassy, sun-drenched open plains of the Reach. 

   Herds of wild Nekko perked up as they passed over the gentle mounds, and a few joined to run alongside them as they neared the river, steering them clear of the strange rolling balls of tangled weeds tumbling along the road’s edge. “Check this out, Bee-Dee! How cool is this?” Cal laughed as he held on as best he could. Beep bee-bee beep!

   Once Rambler’s Reach came into view, Cal’s Nekko cawed to its kin and continued as they slowed to a stop to graze, and leapt into the river to cross to the other side.

   “Gah!” Yelled a muffled voice. Cal patted the Nekko to slow and loop back around, and found a Sakavian in a diving suit standing on the edge of a small hovercraft that was now soaked. “Salted blisters! What an almighty racket! Now I’ve lost me quarry.” The beady-eyed, tiny orange alien shifted to look at him and asked, “Have ye bells fer feet? What’s yer name, lad? If I’m to hold a grudge, best tae know the name.”

   Cal gave the alien an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. I’m Cal. And this is Bee-Dee One.”

   “Hmm. Ma bantam ol’ mum dubbed me Skoova Stev. Skoova the fisher am I.”

   “Nice to meet you. And, sorry about scaring your fish. And getting your boat wet.”

   “Eh,” Skoova sighed with a shrug. “Suppose it comes with the job.”

   Cal nodded, unsure of what exactly to say but still feeling guilty. “Say, uh… There’s a fish tank down at Pyloon’s Saloon that could use some attention. And some fish. You wouldn’t-”

   “P- Pyloon’s Saloon?” Skoova sputtered, his whiskered mustache visibly bristling through his clear helmet. “That lubber-infested waterin’ hole?”

   “Alright,” Cal said apologetically. “Alright. Forget I asked.”

   “Pyloon’s…pah! …Ah, fine. Twist ma’ arm. I’ll do it.”

   “Wait. Really?”

   “If yer gonna go about displayin’ these majestic specimens ya gotta have a proper tank. And Skoova Stev knows his way around a tank.”

   Cal blinked in surprise. “Great. Then I guess I’ll see you around.”  

   With a small salute he bid the fisherman farewell and nudged the Nekko back onto the bank and toward the stable located next to the cantina, where Mosey stood outside offering her corralled Nekkos some feed.

   “Well look at you,” she called with a laugh. “Riding like a natural born local. That’s a fine specimen you got there.”

   “Thanks. Found her in the forest. Helped me find my way back here.”

   “Then she’s probably thirsty,” Mosey nodded as she reached out a gloved hand and offered a small piece of food to the animal. The Nekko leaned forward to sniff the offering, and began to follow after her toward the front of the barn. “That’s it. That’s a good girl.” Cal shifted and slid off its back as the beast followed Mosey inside to one of the open stalls and began lapping at the bucket of water available. “So…you said you came from the forest? I take it you’re the one responsible for the light show?”

   “You mean the Array? Um… Say, you don’t happen to know where Zee went, do you?  

   “That old droid you found? Last I saw she was heading up to the landing pad to assist Greez.”

   “Great. Thanks, Mosey.” Beboo-boo beep? BD asked as they turned and jogged toward the Mantis . “Don’t worry, buddy. The Nekko is in good hands.”

                        ~*~

   “Zee! Looking good as new,” Cal grinned as he approached her. 

   “Indeed! That mechanical mixologist is a miracle worker. But, I must know. Did you locate the key to Tanalorr?

   Cal felt his enthusiasm fade as he tried to think of a way to explain everything. “Uh…it’s complicated,” he settled on. “But, we’ll find it.”

   Zee’s slender silver alloy fingers reached out to gently take his hand and hold it. “Monk told me what transpired while I was asleep. To think the Jedi Order is no more… That must have been dreadful for you.” Cal stared into her glowing slit eyes and swallowed. “We have both been through so much. But we must persevere, Cal. After all, what else is there to do?”

   “…That’s right,” he whispered as a warm presser built behind his eyes. But before either of them could say more the ship’s ramp hissed open and extended. “We’ve got room for one more,” he stated, moving towards the ramp and away from the edge of emotions he wasn’t yet ready to address.

   “I shall remain here. But if you need my council, I will be at the saloon.” With a nod he stepped onto the ramp, but paused as she called after him, “I am very fortunate to have met you, Cal Kestis.” 

   You sure about that? His mind questioned. Instead of replying, he gave her a small parting wave and walked through the door to find both Bode and Greez relaxing in the lounge. “I found something out there,” he stated, getting straight to the matter.

   “Oh yeah? Wha’day’a got? Another holocron?” Greez asked.

   “A Jedi. From the time of the High Republic. Somehow preserved in bacta. Dagan Gera. I freed him.”

   “What happened?” Bode asked, slowly rising from his perch on the stair. 

   “He attacked me. Escaped with the Bedlam Raiders. He’s who they’ve been looking for. Says the Jedi betrayed him…and turned to the dark side.”

   “Are you okay kid?” Greez asked gently. 

   He wasn’t, actually. But there was no time to dwell on such feelings. “Tanalorr. It’s real, Greez. It’s hidden somewhere in the Abyss.”

   “Oh that’s impossible,” his old friend declared with a dismissive wave of his limbs as Bode sat next to him. “The Abyss eats any ship that gets too close!”

   “The Republic found a way through, hundreds of years ago. That’s why they built that array in the forest.”

   “Let me get this straight,” Bode said, holding out his hands to slow the conversation down. “There’s a hidden world that nobody has been able to reach for centuries. If you figured out how to cross the Abyss, you could just…disappear.”

   “Completely,” Cal agreed. “No Bedlam Raiders. No bounty hunters.”

   “No Galactic Empire,” Bode added, causing them all to go silent for a moment as they imagined such a thing.

   “I’m just spitballin’ here, but that does sound like a place that someone could call home,” Greez said with a hint of rare optimism in his voice. 

   Cal glanced at BD who also looked at him with a hopeful tilt of his head. “Yeah. …Yeah, it could be a home.”

   After another few seconds of silence, Greez slid off the sofa and slapped at Bode’s boot that he’d dared to prop against the table. “Get your feet down!”

   “Gah!”

   “Alright. I’m going back to the cantina.”

   BD’s audio antennas shifted downward as he watched their friend leave, and Cal once again felt the weight of their diverted paths. Moments like just the one they’d had, in the past, would have led the Mantis crew to form a plan and act upon it. Wasn’t Tanalorr worth looking into, for the both of them? If he was going to find the key and get across the Abyss he needed a crew he could trust. 

   “You know, Greez, we could use a real pilot.”

   His friend turned to look at him with uncertainty and shrugged. “I don’t know. …You’re doing okay on your own. I mean, you could clean the potolli-weave every now and again.”

   “We don’t know the Mantis like you do. Nobody does.”

   Greez looked back at his captain’s chair with a second of longing and sighed. “Ah Cal, I’m- I’m sorry. My best days are behind me. I can’t even hold my cards steady.”

   “I know things are different from how they used to be,” Cal admitted as he rose to stand next to his friend. “But, well, I’m not sure I could do this without you.”

   “…Is that really how you feel?” Greez asked, clearly taken aback by the thought of being wanted again. 

   “It is,” Ca nodded. And he meant it.

   “Well, I mean, I guess I could have Monk keep his eye on the saloon.”

   “Greezy money!” Cal grinned, eliciting a laugh and cheer from his old friend. As Bode moved to stand beside them, smiling at the heartwarming moment, Cal looked over and asked, “You in? I mean, there’s not gonna be much in the way of credits-”

   “Cal, this is better than any score,” he assured, patting him on the back. “Imagine. No more looking over your shoulder. A safe place for us. For the ones we love.”

   Cal gave him an appreciative smile as he did think about it. But the next question was how to find out where to look. And there was only one person he knew that might have the answer. “If anyone knows about a lost Jedi world, it’s Cere.”

   “Jedah!” Greez exclaimed with a laugh. “It’s about time you paid that lady a visit!”

   Boop boop!

   “Alright. I’m gonna make us some food before we go.”

   “Well don’t you think we should jump to lightspeed first?” Cal asked. 

   “No. Food,” Greez insisted. “Plus I have to go over some things with Monk before we leave. And rush hour should be starting anytime now.”

   “Is there really a rush hour?” Bode inquired. 

   “Yeah, of course! Of course that doesn’t mean we get a crowd or anything. But it’s still a rush for me! Plus, I need to restock the Mantis with food that hasn’t gone stale. I also happened to notice that the spices are all filled to the brim. Did ya never cook a meal for yourself in these last few years?”

   Cal raised his arms and flopped them against his side as Bode fought back a smile. “I cooked once or twice.”

   “Did ya? I mean, not a single grain of salt has been used! You don’t hate salt, do ya? ‘Cause I won’t stand for a salt-hating crew member, that’s for sure!”

    “Greez,” he sighed with a smile. “I’m really glad to have you back. 

    “Yeah, yeah,” he waved as he waddled out of the ship. 

    “The Mantis missed you too!”

   “I’ll bet it did with the way you fly! Really did a number on it, kid.”

Chapter Text

   “Okay, Monk, maybe this wasn’t clear the first time. You may be in charge while I’m gone, but there are rules.”

   “Not to worry, boss. After all, I was programmed to follow rules.”

   “Yeah, well, last time I left on a lunch break you moved my favorite cleaning rag. Do you know how hard it is to find a good cleaning rag?”

   “Loud and clear. I will leave the rag on the floor just where you left it. Anything else?”

   “On the flo- Um…whatever. Just keep the place running until I come back.”

   “Sounds good. Enjoy your trip, boss!” 

   Cal shook his head as he watched the exchange and glanced over at Bode as he strode up to the bar beside him. “Ship’s packed. We ready to go? In my experience it’s best if you follow a lead while it’s still fresh.”

   “Yeah, okay. Don’t rush me,” Greez grumbled. “See ya, Monk.”

   “Take care, Cal,” Zee called after him with a wave. “And may the Force be with you.”

   “…And with you,” he answered back with a small smile.

   “How’s it feel to have a droid from your Order still around?” Bode asked once they were outside. 

   “A little odd. But, also nice, in a way. Like I’m not the only one left, you know?”

   “Hmm. …So who’s this Cere we’re going to see?”

   “A mentor of mine. Rescued me from the Empire on Bracca and dragged me halfway across the galaxy.”

   “Sounds like you two went through a lot together.”

   “Yeah,” he said quietly. “We did. …Been a long time since I’ve seen her.”  

   “ Jedha, here we come,” Greez announced as he hopped into his seat and began flipping the overhead switches. “Cal, if you don’t mind entering our destination.” 

   “You know, I’ve never been to Jedha,” Bode stated as he cozied up on the spare seat behind the pilot’s chair. “We headed to the city?”

   “Nah. Last I heard, Cere was holed up in the desert with some weird hermits called Anchorites. Ha! I just wish she’d pick a more lively cult.”

   Cal shook his head as he fed the Nav computer the coordinates and waited until it calculated their quickest route. “All set, Greez.”

   The sound of the sublight engines coming online began to hum throughout the ship, and with a subtle wobble the Mantis lifted up into the air as the ramp doors sealed themselves vacuum-tight and the landing gear folded into place within the ship’s body frame. With a push on the throttle, the landscape of Koboh flew past and grew more distant as Greez arched her upwards and through the atmosphere. Cal stared at the Array’s beam as they passed, and looked beyond it toward the strange and mesmerizing abyss. 

   Tanalorr’s in there somewhere. I just need to find the key and beat Dagan to it.  But as Greez engaged the Stinger Mantis ’s hyperdrive, the abyss was lost in a streak of white light that stretched over the ship and was engulfed by the blinding blue swirl of the chosen hyperspace lane.  “…I think I’ll head to the back for a bit,” he stated, sliding out of the co-pilot’s seat. “Clear my head.”

   “Yeah, okay,” Greez answered, giving him a slight look of worry. “I was just thinking I’d start whipping up some curried Hurrah fish for lunch.”

   “That’s a Latero dish, right?” Bode asked, seemingly unbothered by Cal’s sudden desire to disappear. 

   “Yeah. You ever been there?” Greez asked with surprise.

   “No. But I love the cuisine. Anytime I see a Latero dish on the menu, I’m a happy man.”

   “Finally! A crew member of taste and culture,” Greez declared, elbowing Cal as he passed by. “Tell ya what. Once we get to Jedha, I’ll make ya Great-Grandma Pyloon’s Latero Surprise!”

   “Looking forward to it,” Bode laughed.

   Cal was glad to see the two of them getting along so well. He was going to need a functional crew to see their mission through. But he also needed to be in the right headspace to lead. And right now, he wasn’t. He had done his best to avoid seeing Cere these last few years, and now the Force seemed determined to cross their paths once more. 

   Master Tapal would expect me to set aside my feelings, no matter the circumstance. It’s what a Jedi’s supposed to do.

    Stepping into the small, rear workspace he called his own, Cal knelt in the corner he used for his meditations and closed his eyes as BD-1 hopped down to leave him in peace, and let the hum of the engine behind him fill his ears as he tried to clear his mind and brush aside his worries while letting go the painful hurt he’d allowed himself to hold on to for so long. 

                    ~*~

      Cal frowned as he tried to tune out the destination alarm and sink back into his meditative state, but between it going off and one of the doors nearby opening and closing, it was a lost cause. “Beep bee-boop beep! Beep bee-boop beep! BD-1 hurriedly exclaimed as his little feet came tapping across the floor to tug at his arm. 

      With a sigh he opened his eyes and looked over at the droid. “Slow down, bud. What’s happening?” BD’s antennae dropped as his smaller ocular iris shifted wide. But his attention was caught by the shift of red and black cloth, and found Merrin watching them from her doorway; her expression somehow even more melancholy than it had been the last few days. “Hey. …Is something going on?” 

      Her dark stained lips parted as if she was about to speak, but then quickly pressed together as she looked away and strode out of the hall. BD looked between the two of them then took off after her, beeping worriedly. A cold thread of worry quickly spread in his chest, and he hurried to his feet after her. 

      “Merrin? What’s wrong? What’s- What’s all this?” He asked, slowing to a stop the minute he saw the few small crates containing her and Cere’s belongings. 

      Merrin refused to look at him as Cere stepped away from the holotable and gave him that look she used when trying to explain something he didn’t yet understand. And the tightening in his chest worsened. “Cal, we decided. …It’s time.”

      He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked again at their belongings. “So, that’s it then? Both of you?”

      “No. All of us.”

      He winced slightly as he looked past them both toward the cockpit doorway where he knew Greez was listening. “…All of you. You’re all just…leaving. After everything we’ve been through.”

      “Cal-”

      “We’re a family, Cere! Haven’t we lost enough? Families are supposed to stick together!”

      Cere looked down as she nodded. “I know. But that’s not what this is about and you know it.” Cal clenched his teeth to hold in his growing panic and frustration. And it only made him angrier to see just how calm she was being. “We are a family, Cal. But as individuals we’ve come to a point in the road where our paths must diverge in order for us to grow beyond what we are now.”

      “But there’s nothing wrong with the way things are now!”

      “No, Cal,” Merrin spoke up, finally turning to face him. “You are choosing not to see the cracks. But that does not mean they are not there. Greez is tired. Cere is tired. And I- I need to know who I am, apart from this ship and its crew. I’ve been hiding and fighting for so long that all I know is vengeance. …I need to know if there is more to me than that.” 

      “There is,” he whispered, striding toward her to take both her tattooed hands and cradle them in his. Hands that had once tried to kill him but had also tended his wounds and saved his life. “Merrin, I’ve seen it. You are one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.”

      A sad smile pulled at the corner of her mouth as her brown eyes shifted over his face and lingered at his mouth. “But I need to be the one to see it, Cal Kestis. And this is the only way.” Her slim fingers squeezed his, then slid out of his grasp as she stepped aside to move past him; leaving him to stand there, struggling to breath, as the view of the spaceport they were flying toward grew ever closer.

                    ~*~

   “Uh… Cal?”

   Cal opened his eyes and stared at the wall as he felt the memory fade away. He had been trying to forget how he’d felt in that moment, but the pain was still too real; dulled by time but not forgotten. 

   “Cal?” He turned to see Bode standing in the hallway, right where Merrin had stood just moments ago in his mind. “Sorry to bother you. But we’ve got an incoming transmission from Jedha. Greez told me to come get you.”

   “Thanks,” he said softly, shifting his stiffened muscles to stand and follow him toward the cockpit. 

   “That’s Cere,” Greez called back. “I sent word that we’d be visiting. Lemme put it up on the holoprojector.”

   Cal stood and watched as the blue image of someone in long robes and a stylized mask that hid all their features appeared and crossed their arms in a bow. “Cal Kestis. It is an honor.”

   “Uh, yeah. Hi,” he mumbled awkwardly as he returned the bow. “Is Cere there?”

   “We eagerly await your arrival. However, a dust storm is sweeping over our location. It is too dangerous for your ship to land.” 

   “Then how will I get to you?”

   “Master Junda has arranged for an escort who will guide you to us.”

   “Wait, she’s sending someone else?” He asked incredulously.

   “I will transmit the rendezvous coordinates to your pilot.”

   “Okay, I got it!” Greez yelled over his shoulder.

   “Disembark with caution,” the Anchorite warned. “Imperial patrols have been seen in the high desert.”

   “Thanks for the warning,” he grumbled as he cut off the transmission and headed toward the cockpit. An escort. Couldn’t even be bothered to greet us herself. “…Well,” he asked, glancing back at Bode and Greez while sliding back into the co-pilot’s seat. 

   “They give me the creeps,” Greez stated with a shiver. “I wonder what kind of weirdo she’s gonna send to meet you.”

   “And the Empire’s there too,” Bode sighed as he held on to their headrests as the ship slowed back into real space and the moon of Jedha ballooned into view. 

   “Not the welcome I was hoping for,” Cal sighed, letting his disappointment leach into his voice.

Chapter Text

   Flying over the endless desert vistas, Greez narrowed in on the location Cere had sent, but circled back around to the area just outside of it where the land was more rock than sand and ruins. “Sorry, kid. With the dust storm brewing, this is as close as I could get.”

   “It’s okay,” Cal said as he looked out the window at the swirls of dust and sand. He had noticed the storm during their planetary approach, and it had looked like a big one. He stepped out of the cockpit and pulled from one of the hidden storage compartments an old leather pilot’s jacket he’d acquired and a pair of goggles. And the moment he’d shrugged on the coat, BD leapt onto his back and clamped his feet around the straps. “Sit tight, you two. I’ll find Cere’s contact.”

   “Be careful out there,” Bode said as he pressed on the door controls and lowered the ramp. “No pointless heroics, yeah?”

   Cal smiled and looked back into the cockpit. “Greez, have you been telling stories about me?”

   “Look, I got plenty of things to talk about besides you, kid.”

   Bode grinned at the both of them then gave Cal a small pat on the shoulder as he passed. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep Greez safe and sound.”

   “Greez Dritus don’t need no babysitter!”

   “Sounds like someone needs a nap.”

   “Watch it, you! But seriously, Cal. Watch your back, alright?”

   “You too,” he called as he stepped out into the gritty wind and pulled the goggles up over his eyes. “Ready, Bee-Dee?”

   Bewoop beep!

   He ran toward the shale covered hill in front of him, but quickly found himself sliding back with little control after only a few steps. He paused to look over the rocks and spotted patterns of formations along the edges and began to climb, leaping from one exposed ledge to the next until he finally made it up and over. And he was instantly rewarded with the view of what looked to have once been an ancient city, now lost to the sands and time. 

   “Wow. Jedha. Not bad.” From his back, BD leaned his visor forward and mimicked a whistle. “Yeah. Let’s check it out. Cere’s contact is supposed to be in there somewhere.”

   As he carefully began his descent and tried his best not to slide uncontrollably down the hill, he spotted what appeared to be Stortroopers running across the sand just a few yards away, yelling in terror. And quickly gaining on them was a large spray of sand.

   “GET OFF THE SAND!”

   “WHAT IS THAT THING?”

   “WHO CARES? RUN FOR YOUR LIFE UNLESS YOU WANNA DIE ON THIS ROCK!”

   Right as they were about to reach what appeared to be a metal doorway surrounded by stone, something black peaked up from beneath the sand and swirled around them, sending a spray of sand up into the air as it sucked them below and silenced their screams. Cal watched, his mouth falling open then quickly shutting as dust blew onto his lips, and stopped dead in his tracks, glancing around him to see if he’d be next. “Let’s stay off the sand, buddy. Don’t want to end up a snack.”

   Beep! Beep beep!  

   Being extra mindful of where he stepped, Cal hopped and climbed his way over toward the rocky hill’s edge nearest a line of broken stone that looked as though it could serve as a bridge over the sand. All he had to do was run toward it, climb onto it, then run the short distance across and make it to the door past the small strip of sand before the creature got him. 

   Taking a deep breath and trusting in the Force, he burst into a run as fast as the sand allowed and bolted straight toward the fallen pillar. As his boots frantically sunk and kicked through the sand, the hidden creature shifted and began hurrying toward him. Cal yelled as he used the Force to gain additional speed, and with an invisible push, leapt into the air and onto the stone, right as the creature slid past. Its spray of sand circled around to the otherside of the pillar and vanished. Cal let out a huff of air over their close call and quickly hurried toward the end. Seeing no external mechanism to open the gate, he went with his gut and pushed out with the Force, sending the metal fixture swinging end-over-end on its hinges.

   Timing its swing, Cal leaped as far as the Force could push him and landed just shy of the stone doorway. The spray of sand appeared again and zeroed in on his position. “Hold on, Bee-Dee!” He yelled, sliding both of them under the end of the gate as it swung down to close. The creature made a strange muffled sound as it swerved away, and sent a wave of sand to rain over them. Cal shielded his face as best he could and brushed the grit from his hair and growing stubble. “That was close. Let’s hope we don’t run into any more of whatever that was.” Bewoop-boop! BD nodded. But they weren’t out of danger yet. Through the dust cloud he noticed the familiar green shade of blaster fire and watched as the shape of a large beast swung out its arm and tossed aside the screaming trooper.

   “Kill the Sutaban!” 

   “Watch out!” 

   A sudden plume of fire burst out toward the beast and caused it to rear up on its hind legs. Cal yanked down the dust covered goggles and made the split-second decision to avoid the whole confrontation by running up the flight of stone steps to his right and found himself suddenly stepping off and into the air. In a moment of instinct he pushed away from the rock ledge with the Force and aimed his ascension cable toward the crumbling wall on the other side, and watched as the hook spiraled outward and clanked against the stones. For a fraction of a second he felt himself begin to freefall, then felt his arm jerked almost out of its socket as the cable began to pull him back up. With a forward flip, he disengaged the hook and landed onto the platform. But the instant his weight impacted the flooring beneath his feet gave way and sent him sliding uncontrollably down a debris-riddled mound of sand and onto a pile of shell gravel below. 

   “Ugh! Yep. That hurt.”  Fweeb-buriiip! BD yelled at him.  Cal looked over and spotted the spray of sand heading for him yet again, and quickly scrambled to his feet and aimed the cable to pull them onto the one singular intact pillar that stood alone among the surrounding sand. Below him a large plated creature with six legs, two pincers, and a long barbed tail shook itself free of the sand and made an irritated hiss as it began to ram itself into the pillar’s base.     

    “This guy does not give up,” Cal said aloud as he held on for dear life and looked for a quick exit. “…Gotta respect that.” Boop? Noticing another raised section of the old city that seemed to have recently been used as a camp, he shifted and clambered up the pillar so as to fling himself toward the ledge. 

   Cal groaned in discomfort as his chest slammed into the rock, but focused on the singular task of climbing over the ledge. And the moment he did so, a cluster of bug-like creatures popped out from the dirt and scuttled toward him; their round mouths filled with sharpened teeth squelching fluid out onto the ground. Cal shuffled to his feet and spun, pulling free his saber and activating both ends to twirl around him and slice through the threatening creatures before they even had a chance. As the bifurcated halves of the last bug flung to either side, Cal stood twirled the saber behind his back and waited for his next attacker. But for the moment there appeared to be none.

   Reluctantly he retracted the sabers blades and moved to inspect the long abandoned camp and the few pieces of gear left behind. Among the shattered clay pots and ripped cloth, he spotted what appeared to be a mostly intact scroll wrapped in twine and picked it up to examine. Boowoop boop? Cal shrugged his shoulder and tucked the find onto one of the straps on his belt. “Who knows. Maybe someone at Cere’s base would know what to make of this.” Beep bewoop.

   Finding nothing more of interest, Cal hopped up onto the adjacent wall and lifted himself onto what appeared to have once been a walkway featuring panels of stained glass. He would have found them beautiful, but the sight of a Stormtrooper and Flametrooper obstructing his path forward ruined any chance at appreciation. 

   “Attack him,” Cal ordered as he pushed his command through the Force and manipulated the trooper’s mind.

   “Must…attack,” the trooper stated, turning to face his comrade and firing his blaster twice. As the flametrooper fell, Cal ran at the dazed Stormtrooper and swung his blade through him. 

   “Imps,” he spat as he stepped over their corpses. But at the end of the walkway he watched through a hole in the wall a cluster of troopers examine a lone landspeeder parked just down below. “Bee-Dee, can I get a second set of eyes?” BD-1 clambered over his shoulder and positioned himself so Cal could get a binocular view.

   “No sign of the pilot,” one trooper stated as he searched it for any sign of id. “Should we call it in?”

   The commander stepped away and scanned the space around them. “Keep a lookout. They’ll be back for the speeder sooner or later. And detain anyone in the area.”

   “Yes, sir.”

   “We’ve gotta find the escort before the Empire does,” he whispered as he leaned away and let BD climb back onto his jacket and latch on tight. “Let’s check over there,” he pointed, creeping out onto an old metal beam that connected to the walkway that led toward the amphitheater-like space behind the speeder. 

   As he shifted through the shadowed space and climbed onto the exposed metal mesh underneath the rocky exterior, two white armored hands grabbed him from behind and pulled him free from the wall. Cal grabbed onto the Jet Trooper’s hands and forcefully pried them loose enough to give his shoulder room to jerk upwards into the trooper’s helmet, then rolled in his grasp to pull free his arm and throw multiple punches before kicking off the man’s chest and thrusting his lightsaber into his gut, sending the trooper flying into the amphitheater and crashing onto the floor. 

   “Here we go,” Cal warned BD as he flipped onto the ground and slid down the broken shale into the theater. 

   “There he is! Don’t be intimidated!” Called one of the four Stormtoopers standing above him on the upper level. Cal flicked his lightsaber to block the oncoming fire, then ignited the other end to more effectively block and redirect their shots, taking them out one by one with their own bolts. But before he could catch his breath, four more troopers, this time wearing jet packs, flew up and over and opened fire. Cal twisted the hilt of his saber and brought both ends blazing before him, rotating them to deflect their shots then flinging one through the air to strike the trooper’s pack while he raised the other and deflected back a bolt. The remaining two Jet Troopers thrusted their packs to carry them backward, and tossed armed grenades onto the ground around him. Cal leapt into the air and back flipped toward the nearest trooper and pushed him back with the Force - sending them both in the opposite directions; the trooper into the wall and him up and over the two consecutive explosions. 

   Landing on his feet while debris rained down around him, he swung one of his blades to cover his back, and spun around to sling his other saber and cut the trooper in half.  Above, the sound of shuffling armor grew louder, and he spun to see four more Stormtroopers appear, one of which carried a rotary blaster and shield. With just enough time to take in a breath as he twisted the two hilts back together, he flicked both ends of the saber wildly as he tried to focus on blocking all their shots. A bead of sweat slid down his temple, and he gritted his teeth as one shot tore through his sleeve, just barely grazing his skin with a warm sizzle.

   Through the swirl of blue light a familiar green mist took form above his enemies, then disappeared and reappeared as one of the troopers fell. Cal risked taking a glance at the new contender and felt a burst of hope in his chest as Merrin pulled free a green ichor dagger from the trooper’s helmet and morphed it into a spear to swing up from behind the next trooper’s legs and slam it into their chest armor with a loud crack, then bring it up again as it shifted back into a dagger and sent it into the third trooper’s chest. The trooper with the rotary blaster shifted their stance and aimed at her instead. But before Cal could react to defend her, she vanished in a burst of green mist and reappeared above them. When the trooper stepped back to swing the heavy gun upward, Merrin vanished again and reappeared mid-air on top of them, knocking the blaster from their hand and morphing her dagger back into a spear to skewer the trooper before leaping off and pushing them off the ledge and down below with an invisible force. 

   As the trooper’s body fell onto the floor, Cal stepped toward it and looked up at her with an amused expression. “You been watching me?”

   She returned his look with a subtle smirk of her own, and teleported herself down to stand before him. “Like old times,” she shrugged. “Surprised to see me?”

   Yes. “I thought they’d send someone a bit more, uh, unfamiliar.”

   Her dark brow rose slightly as she looked him over. “I would not be so quick to judge, Cal Kestis. Much has changed since we last saw each other.”

   Cal gave himself a second to take in her shorter silver hair and more fitted attire. But she was still just as breathtaking as he’d remembered her to be. “Yeah. I can see that.”

   A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth for just a moment before it was replaced by her usual stoic expression. “Come. My speeder is this way,” she stated, waving her hand toward the exit.

   “Your landspeeder? Stormtroopers found it.”

   “Then we will take care of them,” she answered nonchalantly.

    But from behind them came the sound of a door being blasted open, and they both spun back around, weapons drawn, and watched as more Stormtroopers flooded into the space. “Looks like they found us too. You ready?”

   “Just try to keep up, Jedi,” she quipped before teleporting behind the group to swing her spear into the back of their bucketheads. Cal grinned and dashed into the fray, and found himself falling once again back into step with his Nightsister; her ghostly ichor wrapping around to hold their enemies while he struck them down, and him pushing them into her blade, all while covering each other’s backs. “Like old times,” she said again as the last trooper fell.

   Cal flashed her a smile, but dodged in front of her to block the sensed blaster bolt that flew out from the doorway. Merrin vanished, and he reached up and pulled the trooper who’d dared to fire and thrust his blade through them. Merrin then reappeared across the field and threw her dagger into the neck of one of the troopers aiming for him, then teleported back to his side and thrust her spear as he parried an electro-baton. The Stormtrooper cried out as green mist flowed over and into his armor, and Cal swung down his saber to end his suffering. 

   “Cal!” Merrin called to him, right as a Flametrooper stepped into view. Cal threw out his hand and pulled toward them the riot shield and levitated it in front to block the oncoming flames. At his side, Merrin mumbled one of her incantations and formed a barrier at their rear, giving him the chance to forcefully send the shield slamming into the trooper and stunning them long enough for them both to attack. 

   As they looked to one another, a loud crack sounded behind the wall next to them, and as Merrin teleported away and he shuffled back from the exploding wall, two Security Droids stepped out and charged. “Let’s take them down together,” he called out.

   “I’m with you, Jedi,” she answered back, reappearing on the droid’s back and jabbing her dagger into its circuits, then disappearing again as it swung its unreasonably long arms back to grab her, giving Cal the opening he needed to dive forward and spin both sides of his lightsaber into the droid’s legs and chest before dodging the second droid’s grasp. “Now, Cal!”

   He shifted his footing and raised one end defensively, and watched a Merrin teleported close to the droid that was now beginning to malfunction and tethered it in place with ropes of her magick. Cal twisted apart his blades and flung them outward to swipe through the droid’s neural column. But was suddenly snatched off his feet by the remaining droid and slammed into the stone floor. 

   “Gah! Ahhh!” 

   “Please refrain from resisting your termination.”

   Cal peaked open one eye to see if he could summon his lightsaber, but cried out again as the droid’s palm pressed even harder - until it didn’t. Merrin’s angered snarl echoed in the open space as metal against metal screeched for a split second, then was followed by the droid’s declaration of a pending system failure. Cal rolled over and watched as green mist rolled out from within the droid’s chest plating and Merrin sitting atop it snarling. 

   The lights behind the droid’s eyes flickered then went out completely. And as it toppled hard onto the floor, Merrin and her spear vanished then reappeared at his side. “Nice one,” he stated through a sharp flash of pain. “Buddy?” BD-1 hurried toward him and popped open his Stim container to launch it into his open hand, and studded him as he quickly jabbed the needle into his shoulder and sighed. As Merrin’s doubled image merged back into one, he stared up at her as she looked down at him. 

   “If you’re done laying around…”

   “Ah. Still funny as ever.”

   She glanced around at the dead bodies that surrounded them and again shrugged. “That seems to be the last of them. But we should hurry, Cal. A storm is coming.”

   “Right,” he sighed, rolling stiffly onto his elbow and then onto his feet. “Better get going before more Imps arrive.”

   “We’ll need to get to the upper level,” she explained, nodding toward the highest platform that seemed to lead back out. “See anything we can use?”

   As both ends of his lightsaber flew back into his hand and he reattached them, he tapped at his ascension gun and said, “I found an ascension cable that can probably work.”

   She looked at it as he pulled it from his belt and nodded. “Seems you’ve learned some new tricks,” she stated as she shifted the green mist that materialized within the palm of her hands and sent it splashing into the top of the platform’s edge and morphed it into a hook that matched the one on the end of his cable. 

   “Yeah,” he breathed in amazement. “Looks like you have too.”

   “Mmm,” she hummed, vanishing from his side and reappearing at the top of the platform. 

   Cal shot her a look and gingerly walked toward the space closest to the ledge and aimed. BD-1 quickly jumped onto his leg and scrambled up onto his shoulder as they were pulled up onto the platform and stood alongside Merrin; the green ichor hook vanishing from existence as if consumed by green fire behind them. “So, I thought you were off traveling the galaxy? What are you doing on Jedha?”

   “Jedha is part of the galaxy, Cal,” she pointed out flatly as she led the way.

   From his shoulder BD beeped in what sounded like laughter, and he shot him a stern frown. “Good to know.”

   “I visit Cere from time to time. When I heard the Mantis was arriving, I offered to guide you.”

   “Did they tell you I was the one you were meeting?”

   “Of course. …I thought it would be nice to see you again. That, and to make sure you weren’t in need of saving. Seems you still are.”

   Cal paused and watched as she continued forward. “Yeah. Guess I am,” he whispered to himself.

Chapter Text

   Merrin had assumed seeing Cal again would bring her a sense of joy. But the sense of relief that accompanied it took her a bit by surprise. She had hoped their reunion would have been under better circumstances, but it was oddly fitting that they’d meet once more in battle. Still, there was so much she wanted to ask him - wanted to say. But now was not the time. Imperial vermin were bad enough, but the oncoming storm was what worried her the most.

   “We should circle around and ambush them from above,” she whispered to him as she paused long enough to see just how many Stormtroopers still encircled her favorite speeder.

   “I like the sound of that.”

   I’m sure you do , she thought as she turned to lead him up the elevated sections of the walkway to give them a closer vantage point. “We need to take them down before more arrive.”

   Cal shifted up against the wall, peaked down at their enemies, then looked over at her with a smirk. “Just like that time on Nar Shaddaa.”

   “Precisely. I’ll follow your lead.”

   “Hmph. That’s a first,” he stated as he stepped up to the ledge and dropped down. Merrin rolled her eyes as she listened to the hum of his ignited lightsaber turn into a crackled hiss as it impacted plastoid armor, and pulled free her dagger as she willed herself to vanish from her position and reappear down below. 

   In the blink of an eye her view went from the sandstone walls to the back of a Stormtrooper who’s blaster was aimed at Cal, and she quickly thrust her blade into the man’s exposed undersuite, causing his shot to explode into a section of rock just a little above Cal’s head. While she yanked the Stormtrooper back to finish the job, Cal flourished his saber and forced out his hand to send the last rocket-toting trooper over the nearby ledge.  “I have missed fighting by your side,” she mused as she relished the Stormtrooper’s fading scream going silent. But the second she realized her speeder had been set on fire, she too grew quiet. Bastards. Always ruining everything. 

   “…You okay?” Cal asked as moved to stand at her side.

   “Of course. …Unlike my speeder. Even if the storm subsided, Cere is too far to reach on foot.”

   “Hmm… Unless…”

   She turned and noticed him watching one of the large, strange local animals known as a Spamel slowly walk down a steep incline on its strangely thin, stilt-like legs. “What are you thinking?” 

   “That we might be able to hitch a ride,” he stated with a hint of a smile.

   She gave him a questioning raise of her brow, and he instantly returned it. “Alright. Follow me. But we’ll have to find you a way across. You haven’t learned to fly yet, have you?”

   “Afraid not. But, see that beam over there?” He asked, pointing out a decorative ledge that stood out from the rest of the broken stone wall. 

   Knowing what he was about to ask, Merrin drew on her magick to materialize a hook he could latch onto and phased herself from their location to the platform beyond, and watched as he sailed through the air via his cable and flipped himself onto the stone walls to run across; as if such a thing was perfectly normal for any human to do.  “You haven’t lost your edge. Bee-Dee seems a step slow though.” The droid lifted its head and beeped at her in an insulted tone as Cal landed. She still had no clue what he was saying, but she’d learned over their time together what his sounds usually conveyed. “Learn to take a joke, droid,” she stated as she teleported again to the next location and directed them downward through one of the gaps in the wall. 

   As Cal squeezed himself into the tight space, she teleported to the other end and peeked down at him through the rock, causing him to subtly jump with fright. “Not stuck are you?” She teased. He shot her one of his unamused looks and pressed himself against the rock to allow his droid to shift free first, then himself. Merrin vanished again, and reappeared at the tunnel entrance, but cursed when she found it damaged beyond use. “Ugh! Sith’s spit! The way is blocked.”

   “Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” Cal assured her, pulling back his arms and giving the damaged metal an invisible shove. But instead of the door panels twisting inward and giving them access, the whole section of wall crumbled down in front of them, further blocking the entrance and nearly crushing them in the process. “Watch out!” 

   “Are you trying to kill me?”

   “Sorry, I thought-”

   “It’s alright, Cal,” she sighed. “Stand back. I will fix this.” Focusing on the fire within, she stoked the flames with her thoughts and coaxed them out of her being to physically manifest into her palms. Then whispered the incantation her sisters had shared and threaded the sparks of her ichor around and through the rock, and willed them to reform their former shape.  

   “What are you doing?”

   “Restoring the pattern you threw into chaos.”

   “Incredible,” he breathed in what sounded to be amazement. But the moment the task was complete, Merrin felt her inner fire shift from a blaze to a simmer, as if the oxygen around her had momentarily vanished then returned just before her fire died. It was a spell she had mostly mastered but still found taxing. “That looked exhausting. Need a break?” 

   She felt his hand reach over and support her back as she leaned forward to catch her breath, but she shook her head and continued inside. “The storm is coming. I will rest when we arrive at Cere’s base.”

   “Where did you learn that?”

   “Dathomir.”

   “You went home?”

   “Yes. My sisters are gone, but their wisdom remains.”

   “…I’m glad you were able to go back, like you’d wanted.”

   Merrin paused to see if the look in his eyes matched the sincerity in his voice, and she was pleased to find they did. He had known of her desire to return, but had never seemed to understand why. But even if he still didn’t, it meant enough to know he was happy for her. She gave him a small smile then vanished in a show of green flame and reappeared up on the level above him. “This way, Jedi.”

   As Cal ran and climbed his way up to meet her, Merrin looked out over the ruins to the land just beyond them where several spamels stood drinking from a rare pool of collected water under the shade of arched stone. 

   “Looks like they stopped at an oasis,” Cal said as he appeared. “Getting closer.”

   “Hmm. Should be able to reach them through there,” she said, pointing out their upcoming path. But as they neared the back section of the old hall, two Imperial transports flew past in the same direction they were heading, and below them stood Stormtroopers surveying the land beyond. Merrin gritted her teeth and forcefully pulled free her dagger, then glanced back at Cal before teleporting herself down for a surprise attack. Cal’s lightsaber hummed to life behind her, and the two of them made quick work of the small unit.

   “Good work, Jedi. You’ll need to climb your way through there. I’ll take out our enemies along the way. Just try not to fall.”

                    ~*~

   “I- I can’t get a clear shot!” The Stormtrooper yelled right before she phased closer and thrust her spear into his chest. His companion fumbled for the grenade at his side, but seconds later he too was being knocked to the ground and having the air expelled from his lungs. As the third fired his blaster, Merrin forced herself to vanish, then reappeared behind him and ran her dagger across his throat. As the trooper’s body fell, a small grunt sounded from the edge of the walkway’s broken wall, and after a tense second, Cal’s pale hand and ginger hair appeared. 

   “You always loved to climb,” she stated, holding out her hand for him to grasp.

   “Comes in handy,” he grinned up at her.

   “If that was a joke, I hope you fall.”

   “Eh, well… Those troopers sounded scared of you,” he said as he got to his feet and looked at the bodies.

   “I know,” she smiled with pride. “They have taken to calling me the ‘desert ghost’.”

   “Desert ghost, huh?”

   “Haunting Imperials has become a hobby of mine,” she shrugged, disappearing again and leaving a trail of her green mist for him to follow. 

   “…It must’ve taken lifetimes to build this place,” he stated in a  forlorn tone as he jumped down after her and sent his ascension cable racing through the air to pull him onto the grating that would carry him toward her. “Now the people who built it are gone.”

   Merrin reformed herself back into being and watched as he swung himself and BD across the deadly drop below. The Nightbrothers on Dathomir were known for their raw strength, but she doubted that even they could have traversed such precarious terrain for as long as Cal had, and still had the energy to fight. His stamina was commendable. And alluring.

   “I came across the remnants of many civilizations during my travels. All things decay, Cal Kestis.”

   “Not everything,” he said, dropping down in front of her. 

   A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she considered his words. “I missed your optimism. It is rare in the galaxy these days.”

   “Yeah… It’s hard to hold on to some times,” he said more softly. 

   Merrin watched as the shadow she had noticed beginning to grow over him in years past dulled the hopeful spark in his eyes, and her heart broke to see him succumbing to the doubts she knew he fought to ignore. Not knowing what to say, she turned and led him up the metal frame work, and back outside onto the grating that had been left wrapped around one of the larger exterior statues.

   “Know who this was?” He asked as they passed.

   “I don’t. But Cere might. Bee-Dee, does he look like Cal?”

   “ Beeep.”

   “I noticed similar statues elsewhere while I was trying to reach you. They look like Jedi.”

   Merrin paused to look at the bearded, hooded man holding what appeared to be the hilt of a lightsaber and shrugged. “Cere says Jedah was once home to many who revered your kind. Perhaps they were.”

   “My kind,” he mumbled, looking away and continuing after her. 

   Merrin instantly regretted her choice of words, but let the silence between them linger as she focused on navigating her way back to the surface. And the moment they emerged they were met with a clear view of the sandstorm making its way across the rugged landscape, swallowing up everything in its path. 

   “Looks like the storm’s getting closer.”  

   Merrin swallowed as she glanced around trying to place their location. “We will shelter in Cere’s base. It is hidden from the Empire in the high desert. But we must hurry. These storms move faster than they appear to.”

   “Well, there looks to be a cave over there. Maybe it leads the way out?”

   Merrin gave him a skeptical look but teleported after him as he lept against the rock wall and used his lightsaber to slow his descent into the cave. But as she reappeared by his side, she was met with the sight of several dead Stormtroopers scattered about among an array of older carcasses, and Cal’s look of regret. “A Skriton lair,” she explained, pulling free her dagger and morphing it into her spear. 

   “But where’s the skriton?” Cal asked, drawing his lightsaber.

   A low rumble vibrated under their feet, and they watched as the small lump of sand grew into a mound that lunged toward them. “Jump!” She yelled before phasing out of the way. Cal leapt into the air and just barely managed to flip himself up and over the skriton’s massive claw as it breached, and swung his sword across it, severing the claw’s tip. As it landed fully exposed, Merrin sent herself flickering across the pit and swung her spear across its two sensitive antenna-like feelers, causing it to screech in anguish and send its double barbed tail down toward her. But she had already moved on as its barbs struck the sand, reappearing behind it mid air to drag her spear’s edge down the softer side of its arched tail. Its damaged claw clacked as it hissed, and from the corner of her eye she caught two beams of blue light spinning through the air to cut clean through the beast’s leg.

   Seeing an opportunity as it arched back to try and reposition its uneven weight, Merrin morphed her spear back into its smaller form and drew on her magic to bind the beast in place. “Cal! I will hold it!” 

   He paused only long enough to give her magick the time it needed to shift into green ropes, then dashed toward the Skriton with both blades blazing and cut through its chitin exterior, dodging its barbed tail as it thrashed against her ichor. His blades finally cut through, and slid into its meat and innards, releasing a fowl burning smell into the small space. 

   Cal pulled free his blades and ran back toward her side as she let go of her spell, and watched as the deadly beast fell onto the sand and curled in on itself before going still. “Ugh,” he winced at the stench. “That’s the thing Bee-Dee and I ran into on the way here. Glad to be rid of it. Good work.”

   “You too. Cere would be disappointed if I left you to die in the desert.” 

   “ Boo-whoop? ”

   “And you as well, droid.”

   Cal looked to his robotic companion and lovingly rubbed at its head, then pointed toward an opening just shy of where he could reach. “A little help?”

   “Must I?” She asked, already forming him something to latch onto. 

   When they both were out of the lair, they ran back out into the bright light and found themselves just on the edge of the oasis. “The spamels,” Cal exclaimed as he confidently strode toward the nearest one. 

   “You really think you can tame one?” She asked, eyeing the strange animal. 

   “Worth a shot.”

   “I wonder what they eat. What do you eat, beast?” She asked as it turned its relatively small, flat head down toward them. 

   Beside her, Cal reached out his open hand and held it in place as he closed his eyes, and after a brief moment, the spamel let out a low call and began folding up its long thin legs as it lowered its thick neck to allow him to climb on with better ease. Merrin blinked in surprise as BD-1 hopped from Cal’s shoulder and settled on the thin tuft of hair that ran along the animal’s neck, and Cal positioned himself sideways on its shoulder.

   “There we go buddy,” Cal cooed as he gently patted the beast’s neck. “Want a hand?” He asked, offering her his as the spamel began to shift.

   “Thank you,” she replied in a sweet tone, reaching out to take his hand. Yet before their fingers could touch she vanished and reappeared behind him. “But I think I can manage.” 

   Cal shook his head at her flippant display, but couldn’t hide his smile as he patted the beast once more and clucked for it to move. The spamel tilted forward as it raised its back legs, then sent them falling backward as it drug its front legs out from underneath itself. “Woah,” Cal called in response as he instinctively flung his arm back to hold onto her and she reached for him. Once the spamel had righted itself, he glanced back at her in surprise and pulled away his hand, and parted his lips for what she guessed was to be an apology. But before he could say anything a look of stunned surprise swept over his face as he felt her slide her hands from his hips to his stomach, and wrap her arms around him. 

   “Let’s ride,” she whispered into his ear. The faint dots on his cheeks he’d once explained as freckles instantly darkened as his pale skin flushed and the edge of his mouth pulled into a grin. But he chose to say nothing and instead looked onward as the spamel began carrying them out of the ruins.  

   “…Is the base far?”

   “Not with our new friend. And now we have time to catch up.”

   “No kidding. It’s been years. You must’ve seen the entire galaxy.”

   “Mmm, almost.”

   “How was it?”

   Merrin smiled as she rested her head against his back. “Amazing. The sinking city of Kuratow. The Persaya cliffs. …This galaxy suffers, but there is still beauty.”

   “Any run-ins with the Empire?”

   Her smile faded as her mind recalled the tragedies she’d had to witness but wished she could forget. “Yes. These are dark times. …I helped those I could.” 

   His hand gently settled over hers, then pulled away. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

   “You as well. Wherever I went, you were never far from my thoughts.”

   “ Wooo, ” BD whistled softly. 

   As the spamel stepped out of the ruin and over a precarious looking bridge, they were met with an even closer view of the sandstorm; enough so that they could now feel its churning breath. 

   “Never seen a storm look like that.”

   Merrin shifted so as to get a better view, and tightened her grip around him. “It’s hard to tell how long one will last.”

   “Then let’s not wait to find out,” he stated, nudging the spamel to pick up its pace.

   “My thoughts exactly. …But I’ve been meaning to ask… You’ve avoided Cere for years. Why visit her now?”

   “I need her help. We’re looking for something connected to the Order.” 

   “Interesting,” she stated. I should have guessed , she thought. “…Are you still upset with us for leaving?” And there it was. The question she’d been wondering for years.

   “…I didn't see it coming, Merrin. All of us, going our separate ways.” From his lap, BD let out a sad noise.

   “I understand, Cal,” she said gently. “But we had our reasons.” And as the spamel carried them into a tunnel, she waited in the silent dark for his reply. But none came. And Merrin wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than having to explain. “Spamel friend, can you go any faster?” 

   “Move,” Cal commanded, and the animal lurched forward as it picked up its pace, and emerged from the tunnel right on the edge of the storm. 

   “We need to hurry!” She yelled over the growing roar of the wind. “Faster!”

   “The spamel’s scared. It’s fighting me!” 

   Merrin felt the beast’s large lungs expand and heave against her legs as it tried its best to outrun the haze of orange dirt, but its steps became suddenly erratic as it reared up onto its hind legs and let out a terrified moan. And in the middle of the sudden chaos, she felt Cal ripped from her grasp and herself tossed through the swirling wind and debris to land hard seconds later onto the ground.

   Grit blew into her nose and through her hair, and Merrin hurried to her feet and pulled her hood over her head, and cupped her hands over her eyes to try and look around. “Cal! Cal! …Cal!” When she heard no response she trudged her way toward a large boulder and hunkered next to it to try and get some cover from the wind, then held out her hands to bring to life a blazing flame of green fire.

   Follow the light, Cal. Let it guide you to me. 

   “Merrin!” Cal’s voice called through the roaring wind. “Merrin! Can you hear me?”

   “Cal! This way!” 

   His shadowed form turned and stumbled toward her, and she held up her flame with one hand as she tried to shield her eyes. “Merrin! We’re coming! …You’re alright?”

   “For now,” she yelled to him as they brushed against each other. Turning her back toward the wind, she squinted out into the orange haze in front of them and sent her flame of ichor out into the space in front of them, and felt the memories of the old stones whisper to her their shape, and she willed her magick to shift them back in place. “Quickly! We must keep moving,” she urged, pushing him and BD forward onto the temporarily reconstructed bridge. “Hurry, Cal!” 

   But a shadow shifted over their limited view and broke her spell as a pillar collapsed onto the bridge, sending them both onto the swirling sand below. At the sound of his muffled cry of fear, Merrin teleported herself after him and reformed at this side. “Are you alright?”

   “Fine,” he yelled, scrambling to his feet. “You?” 

   “Yes. We have to find shelter!”

   “Where’d the spamel run off to?”

   “It doesn’t matter now! …This way!”

   “Requesting immediate extraction,” the modulated voice of a Stormtrooper yelled nearby as they continued forward. “What are my coordinates? I can’t even see my hand! Repeat! You’re breaking up!”

   Merrin lifted her flame toward the voice and barely caught the sight of what looked to be white armor - and the sudden flash of a blaster. Before she could react, a blue beam of energy shot out in front of her and sent the blast back at the blurry form. 

   “Hey, look! Shelter!” Called out another voice. “Whoever built this must’ve known the pattern of the storms. Impressive.”

   “It’s got scratch marks. Look. Might be from a Skriton.”

   “A what?”

   “A sand crab!”

   “A what?”

   “Hostiles!”

    Deciding to take the risk, she headed toward the cluster of voices and lowered her hand as they stepped into the large dugout that managed to hold at bay the worst of the rushing wind around them. And through the orange haze she was able to make out at least seven Imps rushing toward their position. Cal ran past her, both ends of his lightsaber spinning to deflect the oncoming shots, and Merrin teleported herself into the fray and reappeared right in time to slam her spear against the throats of two Patrol Troopers running toward him - sending them flipping back onto the ground stunned. With two quick jabs into each of their chests from her morphed dagger, she teleported to the otherside of the field where Cal found himself being knocked back by a riot shield, and sent a ball of ichor flame into the trooper’s back, lighting him on fire and giving Cal enough time to recover his footing and put an end to the man’s muffled cries. 

   “Thanks,” he yelled. “That it?”

   As if to answer him, a loud thud sounded at the entrance at the dugout, and out of the haze stomped into view an AT-ST. Merrin sheathed her dagger and conjured twin flames, and launched them toward the towering machine in an effort to distract the driver as Cal ran under it to lash at its legs. Noticing only her, its twin blaster cannons shifted in her direction and fired. Merrin vanished from the spot, and flitted from one location to the next until a sizzled blast sounded near where Cal had been. Unable to spot him, she teleported herself onto the rock wall and shielded her eyes so as to better see if he’d survived. But the AT-ST swayed unsteadily and sent sparks raining to the ground from its knee joints and gyro system, blocking her view. 

   “Cal?” A loud clang sounded from the vehicle’s hatch, and relief washed over her the instant she spotted him atop the AT-ST, lifting out the driver and tossing him into the wind. Now that it was missing its driver and its stabilizers were failing, the vehicle stumbled toward the wall and Merrin waved for him to jump and follow her as she teleported down into the hidden tunnel below. The instant she reappeared, Cal was already rolling onto his feet and watching BD-1 float himself downward with his little leg boosters onto his shoulder. Merrin quickly looked him over, then waved for them to follow after her into the tunnel, and blinked in surprise as the familiar sound of the spamel echoed off the stone walls the deeper they went.

   “Do you hear that?” 

   “It can’t be.”

   “The spamel must’ve found shelter,” she stated, looking into the faint darkness of the cave they now found themselves in. “I think it’s this way.”

   “The spamel saved us!”

   Merrin rolled her eyes. “So we can forgive it for leaving us to die then?”

   “Agreed,” he stated, jogging up toward the frightened creature and using what she assumed to be some Jedi trick to calm it. 

   As she waited, she took advantage of her natural night vision to look about the cave for any sign of unwanted guests, and found a spot they could use for a makeshift camp. “We will stay here for the night,” she announced. “By morning the storm should have cleared.” 

   “As good a plan as any,” Cal stated. “I noticed bits of old wood and dried shrubbery we could use to build a fire as we came in.”

   “We will need them. Jedha is cold, Cal Kestis. But her nights are even colder.”

                    ~*~

   “Okay,” Cal sighed as he put on the last strip of wood he’d found onto the pile. “Should be set for the night.”

   Merrin gave him a warm smile and flicked her wrist to set it alight, then patted the space next to her. “Sit. Tell me what adventures you and Bee-Dee have had since we last saw each other.”

   “Alright,” he said, crossing his legs and joining her in the dirt. “Same as always. Fighting the Empire. Helping out where we can. Not staying in one place too long.” He reached out his hands and held them close to the fire, and glanced over at BD as he softly beeped. Merrin watched as his face shifted, and after a moment, he pulled back his hands and looked at her. “And, um… I think we might have found something special. A place where the Empire can’t find us. But, it would mean leaving the fight. And…the fight is all I know.”

   Merrin studied the uncertainty that lingered in his eyes. She understood what he ment, and understood what such a feeling could cost. “Cal…look into the fire.” When he did so, she held out her hand and took control of its flames, manipulating them so as to prove her point. “It will warm you. Keep you company on dark, lonesome nights, yes? But left unchecked, it will consume everything in its path…until there is only ash. …But, on a cold night like tonight,” she continued, daring to scoot herself closer. “A warm fire is perfect. …And the company’s not so bad either,” she teased, nudging him with her shoulder and getting from him the smile she had hoped for. 

   “…I missed you, Merrin.”

   “And I you,” she smiled back. “But… I had to leave, Cal, in order to see the galaxy on my own terms.” As his smile faltered she looked back to the fire and felt the weight of their separation settle over them both, and wrapped her arms around her legs to give herself some measure of comfort. 

   “What’d you find?” He asked quietly.

   “…Myself. Reflected in all the places and people I encountered. …Dathomir will always be my home, but it does not need to define me.” At his silence, she glanced over and found him watching her - a sad smile lifting the corner of his lips as he did so.

   “…I never understood why you left. But, sitting here now, it… It’s clear you made the right choice.”

   The weight of guilt she’d carried with her crumbled at his words, and the sincerity in his voice washed over her like a balm. She had made the right choice. But to hear him say it meant more to her than she could say. So instead of even trying, she leaned against him and relished the feeling as he wrapped his arm around her and rested his head against hers. 

   It was just as he had said long ago, when she had worried she’d scared him away and gone too far with her power and anger. They would always be okay. And while she hadn’t believed him then, even though she had wanted to, she did now. They would be okay. Always.

                    ~*~

      “Merrin, right?” She looked up from the fire at the elder Kiffarin and took his offered bowl of food. “I appreciate your help earlier, holding back the Imperials while we got the others to safety. You’re a Nightsister, aren’t you?”

      Merrin studied his rough, tan skin, long tangled dark hair, and yellow stripe that stretched over the bridge of his nose. “Yes.”

      A warm smile spread across his face as he looked into the fire and nodded. “I knew a Nightsister once. An assassin turned bounty hunter.”

      Merrin paused mid chew and swallowed. “Several of my clan were trained in such arts. This Nightsister you speak of, what was her name?”

      The man’s lips pressed together as his eyes softened. “Most knew her as Ventress. But I had the privilege of knowing her as Asajj.”

      Merrin set her bowl down in her lap as she tried to recall the name. “The Lost Sister. I never met her, as I was but a young child at the time, but I remember my mother and sisters speak of her return - of her baptism in the waters.” She swallowed again the forming lump in her throat, and lost herself in the memory of what occurred after the feast as she stared into the flames; the echoing sounds of clanking metal and screams. “…You said you knew her? How?”

      “I…once worked as an informant. A Jedi friend of mine was given the task to work with her in assassinating the Separatists leader, Count Dooku.”

      The fire within Merrin’s soul flared with intensity at the name, and she gripped the edge of the bowl hard. “I have heard this name. He was the one who ordered the slaughter of our people. Did she succeed? Did she avenge us?”

      The man’s dark eyes flickered in the light as a look of great pain came over him. “…No. She and the Jedi…grew close, and…during one of their attempts at killing the count, he was taken and turned to the dark side.”

      Merrin looked down at her food and nodded. “He killed her?”

      “No. Believe it or not, she somehow managed to rescue him. But…he foolishly convinced the Jedi Council to let them try one final time. And she insisted on staying by his side. In the end…she sacrificed herself to save him, and in so doing, brought him back to the light.”

      As they sat in silence her thoughts drifted to Cal. “This Jedi friend of yours… Do you know where I might find him?”

      The man looked over at her with wary curiosity. “Why do you ask?”

      “Because I too have a Jedi who is dear to me. And it would mean a lot to him if he knew others of his kind were out there.”

      A small smile pulled at the man’s lips as he huffed. “How ‘bout that. What are the odds... No, I don’t know where he is. After he returned Asajj’s body back to her home world, I never heard from him again. As far as I know, he died in the purge.”

      Merrin looked away and considered the possibility. “Perhaps. Or perhaps he survived.”

      “Like your jedi?” He smiled. 

     “Yes. He and I, we are survivors.”

      The man nodded, then leaned toward her to draw a symbol in the dirt. “The Hidden Path. If your Jedi friend is to find any survivors like him, he’ll find them there.”

      Merrin stared at the image and committed it to her memory. “The Hidden Path… I will. Thank you. …You said my sister’s body was returned to Dathomir. Have you met any others of my kind?”

      “No, I’m sorry to say.”  

      She nodded, disappointed by his answer but not surprised, and swore she would return to her home, seek out her lost sister, and hear her tale of the Jedi she’d given her life for.

                    ~*~

   Lost in the memory of that fateful moment, and the whispered wisdom Asajj had freely shared, Merrin blinked her eyes back into focus and looked over at Cal as he flinched in his sleep. His whole body jerked as his soft face winced, but still he slept. BD turned to look at him and lowered his antennae. “He still has nightmares,” she stated. The droid tilted its head, and beside them Cal flinched again; a small whimper escaping him. Merrin shifted and laid as close to him as the fire allowed, and reached out to place her hand over his - threading her thumb into his tightened fist. Instantly the tension in his face faded and his shoulders relaxed, and his grip loosened as his fingers gently curled around hers.

   They had held hands before, usually when either of them could tell the other needed reassurance. But something about this moment felt different to her. They weren’t the same people they had been years ago. And while her affection for him had only grown, she wasn’t sure he felt the same. But even if he did, he would always be a Jedi. And that meant she could never tell him how she truly felt. She would never have what Asajj and Quinlan had shared. And she needed to make peace with that.

Chapter Text

   As the sensations of cold, hunger, and discomfort surfaced to his consciousness, Cal awoke to find himself alone next to a dying fire. Wincing at the stiff pain in his shoulder, he carefully got to his feet and followed the trail of boot and droid prints that led him to find BD scanning Merrin as she sat on a rock, loosely holding her dagger as she stared off in the distance. “…You missed a spot.” BD stepped back as though startled and ended his scan. Cal wasn’t sure what was going on, but his droid friend only scanned things he was curious or unsure about. 

   Something must be wrong. “Morning.”

   Merrin gave him a quick glance and deftly sheathed her blade as she stood. “The weather has cleared,” she stated matter-of-factly. He was glad to hear it. But he was more curious as to what was going on, and as BD climbed on to his back he moved to stand at her side and ask. But when he opened his mouth she gave him a curt smile and said, “Let’s go.” Cal clamped his mouth shut and sighed through his nose, frowning as he followed her down the tunnel and back out into the brightly lit desert.

   “Well, we survived our first storm together.”

   “Yes, we did.”

   “I’m glad we got to see each other again. How long are you staying on Jedah?” 

   “I don’t know. But I am excited to see Greez. How is he these days?”

   “Not bad. He opened up a cantina. Pyloon’s Saloon.”

   “He named it after his great grandmother?”

   “Nothing’s more important to Greez than family.”

   “Hmm,” Merrin hummed as they crested over the steep incline. “Where here.”

   Recessed into the rock stood a large metal door with a central lock. Cal reached out his hand to unlock it, but before he could, it automatically began to lift on its own, revealing a shadowed figure on the other side. As the light filtered in, Cal felt BD lean over his shoulder and beep questioningly before leaping off and running toward them. “Beep beep? Beeeeeep! Bee-wooop-booob-weehooo!” Cal blinked in surprise as BD-1’s former owner leaned down to pet the spinning and dancing adventure droid.

   “Hello my friend,” the old Jedi Master laughed. “It’s so very good to see you again.”

   “Master Cordova,” Cal breathed as the man who’s recordings had led him all across the galaxy stood and approached him. “It’s an honor. I- I never thought I’d meet you in person.”

   “The honor is mine, Cal,” he stated, placing a comforting hand upon Cal’s shoulder. “Cere has told me everything. You have demonstrated great bravery and wisdom in the face of overwhelming adversity. You chose well,” he said, glancing at BD-1 and chuckling at his beeped response. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” 

   As the two shared a chuckle of understanding, Merrin moved to stand beside them, her closed off expression now one of worry. “The Empire has claimed the ruins. You’ll have to find another rendezvous point.”

   “Unfortunate. But at least the storm covered your tracks. Come. Come, let me escort you inside.”

   Cal allowed the Jedi Master to lead him toward a lift at the back of the carved interior space, and glanced at the two masked Ancorites who began sealing the door once more. “Master Cordova, did you find the Zeffo?”

   “Only faint traces of their passage, leading deep into the Unkown Regions.”

   “Sorry to hear that.” Boowoob.

   “As it goes. Ultimately, that failure inspired me to seek out other Jedi survivors. That search led me back to my old apprentice. But, how have you been faring, Cal?”

   “Beep-boo-boop.”

   “That doesn’t sound good,” Merrin stated. 

   Cal swallowed as he chose his response. “I’ve had a few scrapes. But I’m still breathing.”

   “And I’m glad for it,” Cordova said as their lift came to a stop and he led them into what appeared to be a singular hanger. “I heard some news about a Jedi terrorist on Coruscant not long ago.”

   “You were on Coruscant?” Merrin asked, looking back at him with mild curiosity. 

   “Boop?” 

   Cal gave her a small shrug, but the sight of the Mantis lowering into the small space redirected both their attention, and he was glad to see the ship had also weathered the storm.  

   “Well, the Mantis looks like it’s seen better days,” Merrin stated dryly. 

   “You should see the other guys,” Cal said, throwing a subtle smile her way. She shot him her unamused stare, but he’d see it enough times to know she found it at least a little amusing. As the ship’s fin cleared the opening, the shield doors instantly began to close. “This base is well-hidden.”

   “Yes, well the Empire’s presence has grown these past few years,” Cordova nodded as he led them toward another lift. “They are much too strong to fight directly. But we do what we can. It is critical, of course, that our work remain secret.”

   “What work, exactly?” Cal asked.

   “Mmm, better to ask Cere yourself,” he stated as the lift came to the ground level of the hanger. “You’ll find her just beyond that door across the way. Meanwhile, Merrin and I will greet our new arrivals. So, Merrin, how was the desert?”

   “Cold, stormy, and too many Imperials.”

   “Hmm, not my preferred weather forecast. But more common by the day. Where did you weather the storm?”

   “A cave past the old market. Our spamel friend showed us the way.”

   “You’ve a habit for making new friends wherever you go.”

   “A survival instinct, perhaps,” Merrin replied thoughtfully. Cal turned to glance back at her, and found her looking at him with a small smile.

   “I intercepted some Imperial communications. Your reputation is growing,” Cordova chuckled. 

   “Was there fear in their voices?”

   “Quite a bit, yes.”

   “Good.”

   Cal smiled as he shook his head, and continued toward the anti-chamber door, dragging along a puzzle orb embedded in the rock wall with the Force into place next to the door, where it loudly unlocked and began to raise. “Just keep trying,” Cere’s echoed voice said as he entered. “It’s not like Brother Armias to break contact.” Cal swallowed as he tried to push aside the emotions hearing her again dredged up, but he was instantly taken aback by the sight of two familiar towering stacks of glowing blue light to either side of the centralized workstations; his mouth falling agape as he looked in awe. “Cal Kestis,” Cere called, bringing his attention back to his former mentor and friend - now donned in simplistic robes, tattoos, and without hair. She moved toward him with arms held out in collective greeting. “Welcome to Jedha. I knew the storm wouldn’t deter you.”

   He glanced her over, then looked back to the nearest wall. “You’re rebuilding the Temple Archives.”

   “Well, we’re trying. As long as this knowledge remains, the legacy of the Jedi survives.”

   Cal wouldn’t help but smile at the awe and confidence in her voice. “It’s incredible.”

   “Mm.”

   “But something tells me there’s more to this than just holobooks.”

   Cere continued to look over the collection, but after a second turned to look at him. “Yes. We’re part of a network known as the Hidden Path. We provide safe passage and new identities to who have been persecuted by the Empire.”

   “Hunted by the Empire… Like, Jedi survivors?”

   Cere’s gaze slid back toward the empty section of the archive wall. “Very few of us remain. But, yes. And Force sensitives and those who help them.”

   Cal blinked as he found himself at a sudden loss for words. This whole time I thought I was alone… “Why didn’t you tell me?”

   “Pff. You never asked,” she stated with a hint of bitterness as she returned her attention back to the workstation. “Besides, I hear you’ve been busy making yourself the Empire’s most wanted.”

   Cal flopped his hands at his side, irritated by her tone. “I wanted to prove to the galaxy that the Empire isn’t invulnerable. That you can resist. That you have to fight if things are to get any better. But…then they just listen to the propaganda and they pretend they’re free anyways.”

   Cere paused and glanced at him before huffing at such news. “Well, she sighed, “you chose a hard path.”

   “Yeah, and it hasn’t made a difference,” he grumbled, moving to stand beside her. 

   “Well, while the Empire’s trained its eyes on you, we’ve been able to build the network. Find allies. And save lives.”

   Cal let her words sink in, and tried to extract some sense of comfort from them - reassurance that he hadn’t been wasting his life. He picked up the holobook next to her and stared at it, feeling its weight in his hand. He’d only been a small boy the last time he’d held one. Before the Purge. Before the Empire. Before the war. He’d thought Cere’s desire to find and catalog the past was pointless. But seeing all that she’d accomplished… “When you left…I thought you’d just given up. …I was wrong,” he admitted past the tightening in his throat.

   Cere looked him in the eye and turned to face him. “Cal, you were just a child when they sent you off to war. You know there was a time when - I remember that - the Jedi were more than just weapons. …But, we both have our roles to play in this struggle.”

   “But that’s why I’m here. Cere,…“

   “HEY, would you get a load of this?” Greez yelled as he entered. “Cere, you can’t say it ain’t short of personality, ha! But, kinda creepy though.”

   “Well it’s got to see you too, Greez,” Cere laughed. “Well hello, Bee-Dee!” She greeted as the droid hopped onto their friends shoulder.

   “Oh, uh, okay okay okay, heh,” Greez grumbled, waving BD-1 off him.

   “So, how was your time in the desert,” she asked, addressing Merrin as she approached. 

   “The storm covered our tracks, but the Empire destroyed one of your speeders.”

   “It’s a small price to pay for everybody’s safe arrival. And who’s this?” Cere asked, looking toward the remaining individual at the back of the group.

   “This is Bode Akuna,” Cal announced, stepping over to introduce his newest crew member. “He’s a friend.”

   “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Bode said, hurrying to shake Cere’s hand.

   “Grrr, this hunk of trouble! Heheh! Hey! We’re all together!” Greez grinned, looking at the three of them. 

   “Yes,” Cere smiled. “Now. What brings you to Jedha?”

   At Merrin’s glance, Cal explained. “We’re searching for a lost planet. Tanalorr. You ever heard of it?”

   “It’s on the other side of a deadly nebula called the Koboh Abyss,” Bode clarified. 

   “Well, our archives are far from complete, but I’m sure Master Cordova’s up to the task,” she said, nodding toward her old Master who stood eagerly to the side. 

   “With pleasure,” he nodded, turning toward one of the holotables. 

   “The trouble is, we’re not the only ones looking for this place,” Bode explained, hurrying after him. 

   Merrin caught Cal’s eye as she too followed after them. “I knew this was sounding too easy.”

   “Guy’s name is Dagan Gera. He was a Jedi, but now leads a group of raiders on the Outer Rim. There’s an old temple there,” Cal explained, looking at Cere. “He plans to reclaim it.”

   “A Jedi temple out of the reach of the Empire,” Cere said, realization dawning on her face. “That could mean that there’s  information there that we don’t have in the archives!”

   “I believe I have something,” Cordova announced. Bewoobeeoop? “Oh, you’re too kind, Bee-Dee. I’ll start with the bad new.”

   “Oh boy,” Greez grumbled. “This guy knows his audience.”

   “I found no information related to crossing the Koboh Abyss. However I found two mentions of this Dagan Gera. He had a retreat on Koboh, and records show him frequently visiting a laboratory on its moon.”

   Cal leaned on the holotable and studied the hovering image of both the planet and its broken moon. “Okay. We’ll check it out.”

   “If you find anything, bring it to me. I’m happy to assist further.”

   “Thank you. Both of you.”

   “You’re welcome, Cal,” Cere said warmly. “I hope you find what you’re searching for.”

   “May the Force be with you.”

   “And with you.”

   As both Cere and Cordova turned to redirect their attention to the awaiting Anchorites, Cal looked to both Greez and Bode. “Guess we got our next destination.” 

   “I will walk with you to the Mantis,” Merrin stated, walking behind him and toward the door. 

   She sounded happy, in her own way, but he knew her enough to know the closed off look she wore. “You’re not joining us?”

   “I cannot.”

   Cal tried to ignore the sense of disappointment he felt. But he supposed he should have expected it. 

                    ~*~

   I can’t believe this , Bode thought as he looked over the rows of holobooks. Not sure if I should be amazed by these people's dedication to bring back a dead order or by how brazenly stupid their efforts are. …One heck of a jackpot you’ve stumbled upon, Akuna. And Cere Junda no less. The legend who escaped Vader, not once, but twice. Never would have imagined her to be so…  Yeah, definitely not one to underestimate, then. And all thanks to Kestis.

   Bode watched as Greez bid the former Jedi Master a warm farewell then turned and chuckled at the sight of Cal following after the strange and unsettling young woman. “Look at ‘em,” Greez chuckled with a shake of his head. “It’s good to see those two kids back together again.”

   “I take it she’s the ‘Space Witch’ you mentioned?”

   “Yeah, but don’t let her catch you calling her that. She might put a curse on ya and melt your face off or somethin’.”

   “Really?” Bode asked as he watched Cal follow her like some loyal Voorpak.

   “Oh yeah. I’ve seen her get mad enough to raise the dead a few times.”

   “Uh huh,” Bode mumbled as he picked up his pace after them. “Hey, Cal, hold up,” he yelled. When they stopped to face him he paused just long enough to carefully remove his blaster from its holster and hold it out in offering. “I’ve had this since I started freelancing. It’s gotten me out of some bad situations, and I figured it might do the same for you.” Cal stared at his offered gift, and reluctantly took it for inspection. From the corner of his eye, Bode noticed Merrin raise an eyebrow at the exchange, and he turned to look at her. “Merrin, right? Well, I could get another one if you think you might wanna-“

   Her dark brown eyes bore into his as her black lips tugged ever so slightly up at the corner as she yanked free and spun a dagger for him to see. “No need…Bode.”

   “Yeah,” he laughed uncomfortably. “You’re- You’re good. Okay.” Then he turned his attention back toward Cal and found him holding out the weapon in mock aim, then pulled it back to study once more.

   “My master always frowned upon using blasters.”

   “You once said it wasn’t the weapon that makes you a Jedi,” Merrin reminded him. Bode frowned as he watched Cal take her words into consideration with a warm look.

   “It’s us against the galaxy, Cal,” Bode reminded him. “We’ve got to use every advantage we can find against the Empire.” 

   Cal pressed his lips together, then nodded as he tucked the weapon into the empty holster that had hung from his belt’s leg strap. “Thanks, Bode.”

   Bode beamed at his friend, and waved him toward a pile of old Stormtrooper armor. “Now, let’s show you how to use it. Arms loose, knees at the ready.”

   “Real troopers won’t be standing still,” Merrin stated dryly. 

   “Well, gotta start somewhere,” Bode answered with a shrug. “Just relax, Cal. And focus on pulling the trigger.” As the young Jedi looked from Merrin to him, Bode watched as he turned to face the skull-like visage of the mask and pulled free the blaster and fired dead on in the blink of an eye. “Not bad! You really gave it to that dummy. But let’s see if that was just a lucky shot.” Again Cal started himself in a neutral position, but this time ignited his lightsaber and raised it in a blocking stance while holding the blaster underneath and fired at chest level, burning a hold right through the plastoid armor. “Alright,” Bode grinned, looking over at Merrin. “I feel safer already.” 

   “Cal does not like stormtroopers,” she stated, sounding as though unimpressed. Yet the moment Cal turned to seek her approval, her chilly expression thawed as she looked him over. “Not bad, Jedi.” 

   Uh huh. Greez wasn’t kidding. They got it bad. Or, at least Cal does. “So, how long have you been working for Cere?” He asked her as Cal tried out another stance. 

   Again she fixed him with her icy cold stare. “I do not ‘work’ for Cere.”

   “Right,” Bode nodded, turning away to end that line of questioning. “My mistake. Well, I think you’ve got it, Cal.”

   “Well done,” Merrin said as she moved to stand at his side and inspect the now sizzling armor riddled with holes. 

   Bode watched as Cal holstered both his weapons, then stared at Merrin with a look of longing Bode knew all too well, and chose to avert his gaze as he eavesdropped. 

   “It was good seeing you again, Merrin.”

   “You too, Cal. Good luck. Perhaps I will still be here when you return.”

   “Hope so.” 

   “ Beboop-boop.”  

   “And I can’t believe Master Cordova is really here. All that time…following in his footsteps…”

   “I have enjoyed getting to know him. I’ve never met a Jedi with a better sense of humor.”

   “You’ve only met me and Cere.”

   “That’s right.”

   “Bezeeepbeep!”

   Yeesh. Sure no how to pick ‘em, Cal. “So, where we headed first?” Bode asked as Cal passed him. “Back to Koboh, or its moon?”

   “Let’s hit the moon laboratory first.”

   “Alright. Maybe we can find something there to help us cross the Abyss.”

   “What’a’ya standing around for?” Greez yelled. “And what’s with all the blaster noises? Are we going or what?”

   Bode huffed a laugh and followed after the cranky Latero. “You know, this is a smart operation Cere’s put together.”

   “Why do you say that?” Cal asked as he brought up the rear and activated the doors to seal shut. 

   He shrugged as he took his seat behind Greez’s and nodded toward the cockpit windows. “All this rock. Natural shielding against sensors.”

   “Yeah, and if anyone makes it past all that, the Anchorites have plenty of holobooks to throw at them,” Cal joked. 

   Bode chuckled as his crewmate swiveled into his co-pilot’s seat. “Yeah. …You can see how Cere’s managed to evade the Empire for so long. She makes her own luck. …Keeping so much of her power held back to achieve a larger goal.”

   Cal nodded. “There’s definitely more to her than meets the eye.”

   “Mm, I’d say you two have that in common.”

   From the back the engine hummed to life, and outside the hangar filled with blinding natural light as the roof doors began to peel back. “En route to the Shattered Moon,” Greez declared, flicking a couple more switches then lifting them up into the air. “You know, maybe those Anchorites aren’t so bad after all.”

   “Didn’t you call ‘em weirdos?” Bode asked.

   “That was before Cere told me they’re helping those poor refugees hide from the Empire.”

   “That right?”

   “Yeah! Working with a group called the Hidden Path. Real hush-hush stuff, so keep it in the family.”

   Bode grinned. “Understood. …Seems like you’ve got a nice crew. Er, former crew. You know what I mean.”

   “Do I?” Greez asked as he launched them into hyperspace. “So, Cordova thinks we’ll find out how to cross the Abyss by tracking down Dagan’s old haunts?”

   “That’s right,” Cal said.

   “You know anything about this laboratory on the moon, Greez?” Bode asked, pulling free his blaster to clean and give his hands something to focus on.

   “What am I, a tour guide? I’m a busy Latero. No time to visit broken moons. First Jedha, now this! Oh, believe me - moons are nothing but trouble.”

   “Jedha’s a moon? Had no idea.” Seems you learn something new every day.

Chapter Text

   Slowing into realspace, Cal gaped at the up-close view of Koboh’s rocky gray moon and all its shattered pieces floating in concert within its orbit; recalling the memory of its demise from Zee’s point-of-view. 

   “Gah!” Greez yelled as the ship shook violently. Cal looked over to find his friend's prosthetic hand pull back into place the wrong lever and push the proper gear forward. “Sorry,” Greez grumbled, clearly embarrassed. 

   “You good?”

   “Yeah, just a smidge rusty. You?”

   Cal frowned as he looked back out the window to the floating chunks of rock they were maneuvering through. “A little restless, but…we’ll be fine,” he stated, trying to reassure them both. He glanced back at Greez and found him huffing with a shake of his head. 

   “Well listen to you. Mister optimistic.”

   “Hmph.”

   “Hey, you wanna do me a favor? Cut it out. You’re giving me a stomachache.”

   “Sure that’s not just your cooking?” 

   “What was that?” Bode asked as he hurried into the cockpit. “We hit something?”

   Cal glanced back at him and pointed toward the window. “We’re almost there.”

   “Hm. You know I asked some of the locals back on Koboh about this moon. They seem to think it’s haunted.”

   Greez audibly swallowed. But as they passed over the base’s location and prepared to land, Cal wasn’t so sure. He didn’t see any visible activity, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any.

   If Dagan had any connection to this moon then I wouldn’t be surprised if we find some Raiders here. Or maybe even Dagan himself. “Only one way to find out,” he said as he let BD hop onto his shoulder. 

   Bode frowned as he passed, and followed him out and onto the ramp. “At least the atmospheric dome still seems to be intact and functional. Couldn’t they have at least put this laboratory in a sunnier place?” Bode asked jokingly as he stared out into the dark, rock-filled void of space that loomed out and around them.

   Cal squinted at the dim slivers of light from Koboh’s distant star and chuckled. “No kidding. But, if we find something here that’ll help us navigate the Abyss, so be it.”

   “Hmm. The way Greez tells it, the Abyss is a ship graveyard. And,” he sighed, looking around at the buildings and the strange beam of energy hitting its large receiver dish. “Now we’re on a lunar graveyard.”

   “Lotta graveyards.”

   “A lotta graveyards. But, don’t worry. I’m on watch here. And so far I’ve spotted one nervous Latero.”

   Cal grinned as he glanced back at the ship. “Yeah. Thanks, Bode. Hopefully we can make this quick.”

   “Good luck, Jedi.”

   With a small salute, Cal headed down the landing deck toward the cargo lift and tried his best to ignore the small sense of unease that threaded itself through his mind as he looked out over the large lunar station. “Cordova said there were records of Dagan visiting a lab on this moon. …This has Khri written all over it.”

   Boop!

   As the lift came to a stop, Cal stepped toward the bridge that led inside, but braced himself as the bridge trembled and gave way, and peeked over its edge as the structure smashed against the pocked rocks below and the sparks from the torn cabling rained down. 

   Boo-whoop!

   “Okay, so, not that way,” he said as he backed up and looked for another crossing. Running alongside their platform stood out a large yellow pipe that seemed to connect to an intake system that, further down, vented out bursts of heat. Beyond it and down a different section of the laboratory glowed what appeared to be melted ore. “Check that out, bud. This looks like some type of forge. Didn’t expect to see this place operational after all this time. Let’s stay alert, okay, buddy?”

   Bezoop.

   Launching himself across the empty space and onto the pipe with the help of his cable, Cal balanced himself over to the intake’s grating and climbed, taking care to avoid the sudden bursts of scorching heat, then dropped onto the entry platform. With a roll of his shoulders and neck, he held his hand at the ready next to the hilt of his saber and headed inside as the base doors slid open to reveal a darkened corridor lit only by the orange glow of the automated work being performed elsewhere. 

   As they slowly made their way further in, a humanoid figure with glowing bar for eyes shuffled into their view and turned toward them. “Sectors Five through Nine, inoperable,” stated the old droid. “Sectors One through Four, operational. Facility Status, activated. Array status, deactivated.”

   “Deactivated?” Cal mumbled to himself. He glanced at BD as his friend leaned over to scan the old maintenance droid, but stepped away as it swiftly turned back down the corridor it had come from and repeated the status update. “How is the array deactivated? Is there a second one?”

   Boo-boop?

    “Maybe. Let’s check in here,” he said, nodding toward another corridor that led to what appeared to be some form of a work room. Among the dated workstations stood dust covered cots and random nic-naks left abandoned. In one corner sat an overturned chair, and Cal kneeled next to it and removed his glove to see if he could sense an imprinted memory. Reality dimmed as the base’s noises faded into the background and two distinct voices echoed through the Force. 

      “What’s the reading?”

      “Not holding. We’ll need to reinforce the chamber again.”

   Cal blinked as the voices receded, and pulled away his hand with a frown as he replaced his glove. BD beeped questioningly, but he only shrugged and headed back out to continue their search down the main corridor. But as they passed into the second darkened section filled with vented steam, a flash of metal lunged out and pinned Cal’s arms to his sides as jolts of pain caused him to cry out. 

   “You’re all dead!” Yelled the masked Rader as he flung them through the heated steam and into the wall. Cal gritted his teeth as he flexed his fingers and sent himself forcefully forward, putting his attacker on the back foot, then dropped to the floor and kicked his leg out into the Raider’s shin. “Kifff! That all you got?”

   Bee-beep beep! BD suggested as he leapt from Cal’s shoulder and out of harm’s way. Twisting the main end of his saber free with his right hand, Cal ignited it and waved it toward the laughing Raider, but was unable to fully reach him. 

   “Nice try, scum,” The mask snarled as the Raider fired up his jetpack and forced Cal backward across the floor to where rows of molten beams were being transported up a rotating track. “Let’s see how this feels!”

   In panic, Cal pushed back with the Force as much as his limited movement allowed, while his left hand snatched free Bode’s blaster and held down the trigger to build up its charge. The bolt sparked against the Raider’s mask and sent chunks of it flying while the claw clanked onto the floor. And as the Raider spun and cursed in pain, Cal lunged forward and sent his blue blade right through the man’s midsection. 

   As the Raider hit the floor, Cal looked to his droid then to Bode’s gifted blaster and swallowed as an odd weight settled over him. “They were waiting for us.” 

   Beoowh-boop? 

   Cal nodded as BD returned to his perch on his back. “Yeah, I’m okay. You?” 

   Boop.  

   “That’s good. We gotta keep going though. I’m willing to bet they’re looking for the same thing we are. We have to find it before they do.”

   Keeping both weapons in hand, Cal continued through the heated portion of the corridor, but paused the moment he stepped into a large open room full of occupied droid charging stations. BD let out a low beep of worry as he looked at each motionless Battle Droid, and scrunched himself tight against Cal’s back. “Bad feeling?” Cal whispered as he felt the tingling pulse of the Force push against his mind. “Yeah me too.”

   As he stepped closer toward the center bay the sizzled hum of a clawed weapon powered up, and Cal quickly aimed his blaster to the side and pulled the trigger as a masked Raider swung out from behind a tight corner. At the sound, the B1 Battle Droid right in front of him swung its bowed head into the upright position and shouted, “Intruder,” right before Cal cut through its neck stem. Around him a chorus of motorized clicks and affirmatives echoed as every droid present stepped out of their bays and brandished axes. And from the other end, two more Raiders came running in with their grapple poles ready. 

   Cal swung out at the nearest droid then fired off another shot at one of the Raiders, then opened himself fully to the Force and felt as if time itself slowed as he reached out to feel the space around him and physically pulled. Every droid walking toward him tumbled forward, and Cal quickly summoned the second half of his saber to attach and ignite as he holstered his blaster and willed the hilt to spin around him, cutting cleanly through any droid that attempted to stand. Then he grabbed the hilt mid flip and engaged the end of the Raider’s pole and directed it away and around, giving him the opening to swing down his other end to cut through their armor. 

   The pulse in his mind pushed again, and Cal dove forward as the claw of the second Raider snapped around thin air. Rolling onto his feet, Cal swung around and wretched the pole forward, carrying with it its operator, and thrust forward one end of his lightsaber into his enemy then pulled up, slicing clean through the Raider’s shoulder. “They really don’t want us looking around, do they?” He asked BD as his small friend raised his visor to see if they were in the clear. 

   Be-ooh-wooh! 

   With a tired huff, Cal deactivated both ends of his saber but held onto it as he moved to the other end of the room and out onto an outdoor corridor. Standing on the exterior balcony stood one of the old maintenance droids. “Hey! Can you tell me where the laboratory is?” Cal yelled as he approached.

   The rusted droid turned toward him and stiffly attempted to shake its head. “The laboratory is off-limits. The laboratory is inaccessible.”

   Cal sighed through his nose and glanced back down the corridor to where a large door of vented steam blocked his path. “Well, best you find somewhere to hide, alright?”

   “I don’t have access,” the droid stated as it tried to shake its head once more, its modulated voice sounding more terrified. “I tried to tell them. Please, leave me be.”

   BD chirped sadly as Cal stepped back to give the droid some space. “Okay. Good luck. …These Raiders really did a number on these droids, huh, Bee-Dee?”  

   Boop.

   Seeing no other way around, Cal headed back down the corridor and stopped in front of the blocked doorway. On the other side of the thick plooms of thick blasting steam, a thin silhouette took form, and as Cal stepped back an IG-100 MagnaGuard stepped forward, twirling its activated electro-staff. Cal sucked in a breath as he ignited his blade in response and dodged its lunged attack. 

   “A Jedi. Recalibrating offense approach,” the droid stated as it quickly shifted back and repositioned its stance before lunging again. Cal raised his saber and redirected the blow as he stepped to the side, and allowed the Force to guide his steps as he shifted away from the staff’s other end. The MagnaGuard relentlessly rotated its staff while stomping forward, managing to steer Cal into the nearest corner. The second the droid pulled back to go in for a downward strike from above, Cal quickly knelt and rolled forward, deactivating his blade, then reactivated it and spun around to fire off two shots from his blaster. The bolts sizzled into the droid’s chest armor with little effect. 

   Holstering the gun, he shifted to the side as the droid jumped and thrust down his staff, and swung his saber aggressively against the guard’s torso and limbs before spinning out of the way of the staffs crackling end and flung out one final time at the droid’s neck. 

   “Functional error,” it announced as its circular red eyes flashed. Then its head tumbled from its torso and clunked to the floor. But to Cal’s surprise, its arms thrust out the staff and sent him sailing back through the air and sliding across the floor with a pained yell. Cal felt BD tumble off of him, but he could only focus on the pain in his chest and back, and on the headless droid now stomping toward him. 

   Pulling free the blaster once more, he fired off three more rapid shots into its torso, then brought up his saber to block the staff’s attack while he built up the next bolt, then fired, sending the droid's body backwards with a gaping hole exposing the sparking wires within. The headless bodyguard droid’s legs stumbled as its hands twitched, then finally collapsed.

   Cal let his head fall back against the floor and sighed as he deactivated his lightsaber and draped it over his eyes. The familiar taps of BD’s feet stopped next to his ear, and Cal shifted his arm so as to look at his little droid. “Never thought I’d have to fight a MagnaGuard.”  

   Wooooaoow! We-woop.  

   “No kidding. Ugh,” he groaned, rubbing at his chest as he sat up. 

   Boop-boop? His droid asked, popping open his Stim canister. 

   Cal smiled at his friend and rubbed at his visor affectionately. “No, I think I’ll be okay, bud. Thanks.”

   As he gave himself a moment to catch his breath, the vents choked and sputtered, then cut completely, leaving the space clear for him to pass. Not wanting to loose the opportunity, Cal quickly got to his feet and ran for the door. Seconds after both he and BD passed through, the sparks shot out from the vents and were quickly followed by another forceful spray of steam. On the other side of the room he was met with more pipes and grating, and letting out a tired sigh, he aimed his ascension cable and continued onward.

                   ~*~

   Greez blew out another nervous breath that this time vibrated his lips as he tapped his metallic finger on the table with a little more force. I always hated this part. The waiting. The worrying. He glanced at his silver mechanical limb and grimaced. The going wrong. “Ugh,” he groaned, shoving himself out of the seat and turning to pull a snack from the kitchen cabinet. As he threw away the packaging his ear perked at what sounded like someone’s muffled shout. Pausing with the bar of food halfway to his mouth, Greez slowly walked toward the back and tiptoed up to the guest quarters door where he could hear Bode let out a mirthless laugh then grow quiet. 

“…You know these things take time. When I can drop by for a visit, I will. Just…do what you have to to keep her happy, alright?”

   Sensing an end to the conversation, Greez shoved the bar into his mouth and quickly hurried back into the kitchen. After a few seconds of anxious chewing, Bode strode out from the back. “Oh, hey, Bode, I uh, was just about to get myself a drink,” he mumbled with a still full mouth. “Want anything?”

   Bode waved him off as he stomped down the two steps, then huffed a frustrated sigh as he came to a stop in the lounge. “Actually, yeah. I’ll take a drink. Got anything strong?”

   Greez grinned and instantly felt a crumb fall from his mouth. “Oop. Sorry,” he swallowed. “Yeah, ‘course I do! Hey, if you like this, you should give one of Monk’s concoctions a try. Oh boy, does it have a kick!” Bode gave him a small smile as he trudged back up the steps and took the glass with a nod. “Say, um, everything okay in there? I mean…it sounded like, um-”

   Bode stilled mid sip and looked at him, causing Greez to feel even more guilty about eavesdropping. With a hard swallow, he lowered the glass and held his gaze. “I was on a call, yeah. Why? What’d you hear?”

   “Oh, I didn’t hear much of anything, really. Was just in the kitchen when I heard what sounded like yelling. Scared me half to death,” he laughed. “Thought it was ghosts or something. You never know about that kind of stuff! But then I heard you laughin’ and I figured everything was fine. I was just imagining things.” He waved as if to dismiss the whole incident. “I always get a little jumpy when Cal’s out getting into who knows what. Especially without any back up.”

   Bode’s blank expression softened into a smile again as he nodded. “I guess an ‘ol pilot like you has seen some things, huh? I was talking to the folks who are taking care of my daughter while I’m away. She, uh, misses her dad and is giving them a bit of grief about when I might come home.”

   “Ah, jeez,” Greez nodded as he climbed back onto his chair. “Kids. Must be tough for someone in your line of work. It’s why I never settled down, you know?”

   “Oh yeah?”

   “Yeah. I mean, look at me. I’m a keeper for sure. And I bet I’d have made a great father. But, freedom’s a hard thing to give up.”

   “Well, some days are certainly harder than others,” Bode nodded as he took a seat at the table. “But, I do it for her. Everything I do is for her.”

   Greez gave him an understanding smile. “Eh, you do what you have to for family. Even things you don’t want to.”

   Bode sat quietly and studied him for a moment, then raised his glass in a toast. “Ain’t that the truth.”

                    ~*~

   “Make sure the way is sealed,” ordered the Raider below. “Nobody gets through. Not even that Jedi scum.”

   “Target is a coward,” stated the B2 Battle Droid at his side.

   “That’s right. We should send word. Let them know we spotted him.” 

   Cal glanced back at BD as he crouched next to the wall. “Sounds like they’re defending something important up ahead.” His droid nodded silently, and Cal got to his feet and leapt onto the wall and ran to the other side above them without them even the wiser. 

   At the end of the hallway he found a dead end with a busted window. Below him stood an outdoor platform connected to a broken walkway that, from his angle, appeared to lead upwards to the upper level. And on the platform stood two battle droids on guard. Leaping down and pushing out with a forceful shove that sent both droids flying over the edge, Cal then jumped onto the attached portions of the walkway and hopped his way upward; taking special care to not land on any of the exposed live wires while also deflecting the blaster bolts from the Battle droids that stood on the platform above. 

   Once at the top and his enemies cleared, he found himself faced with a torn away wall and what appeared to be a floating loader droid making its way up what once used to be a maintenance shaft. Aiming his cable, he pulled himself through the air and grabbed onto the disgruntled droid, and held on for dear life as it chaotically flew him over another section of the forge. 

   “Uh, up, please?” He yelled as he looked down. The droid beeped angrily and struggled to float upward toward a narrow tube of venting panels. “No no no!” Cal yelled as he used the Force to push himself upward and onto the nearest panel as the one next to the droid sparked and hissed steam. On instinct Cal pushed himself upward from panel to panel, trying to keep his momentum from sliding back into oblivion or suffer a horrible burn and then fall to his eventual death. 

   He exerted the extra effort to push off the last panel and felt his shoulder tense as his hand grasped the upper platform’s ledge, and with grunted effort, pulled himself up. 

   “Close it! Close it!” A Raider yelled as he got to his feet. Cal looked over and watched as two Bedlam Raiders ran inside and two Battle Droids ran toward him, and the large bay door between them lowered. Trying to ignore his exhaustion, he ignited his lightsaber and pulled both droids toward him, then swung his blade through both, and ran for the door - slamming against it as it sealed tight.

   “Damn it! They really don’t want us getting in there.” Taking a second to catch his breath, Cal sighed in frustration and looked around for another option. “Too heavy-duty. Don’t think I can move it. Ugh. …I’ll take that Stim now, bud.” BD climbed over his shoulder and offered him the vial, and as he waited for the few seconds it took to take effect, he spotted what looked to be a very precarious path toward the base’s fabrication station, and a delivery port at its top dome. “Hang on, Bee-Dee. I think I see another way inside. But we’ll have to get creative.”

   Booweep.

   Hurrying down the nearby exterior stairway, Cal tapped into the Force and pushed, then pulled, on the large plank of hinged metal that hung between his platform and the damaged arm-like structure across from him. Using the plank as a swing, he jumped onto it as it swung in his direction, then leapt off its other end and sent his ascension cable spiraling and locking onto the arm’s grating, and pulled himself across to grab hold. Mindfully he clambered up till he reached the top of the arm, then with one foot in front of the other, walked across to its center when several feet out dangled two free hanging cables - each spaced just far enough apart that it could carry him across the rest of the way.

   Trusting in the Force, and flung himself into a free fall, then pulled the cable toward him and twisted his momentum to swing him forward, then let go. With the second cable he repeated the maneuver, and only let go once he was able to safely land on the dome’s small landing platform. 

   Beboop, BD sadly chirped once he saw three of the station’s maintenance droids lifeless upon the ground.

   “Poor droids. Left alone here for centuries… Until the Raiders came.”

   Booop.

   Cal shook his head as he looked toward the door, and cautiously entered the space as it hissed open to reveal a brightly light and empty circular space. Beneath the glass flooring spun two rotating pieces attached to the dome’s supportive column, and two other sealed doors to either side. Picking a door, Cal stepped up to the one on his right and waved his hand over it. “Hmm. Can’t get through,” he stated aloud. 

   BD leapt from his back and hurried toward the next, but was quickly distracted by an old looking metal cylindrical device that sat on a nearby table. Cal followed after his curious droid and picked up the gold and silver item for inspection. He wasn’t sure what it was he was looking at, but something about it was whispering to him through the Force. Something important. 

      “I’ll go. I’m the best pilot for this mission and you know it.”

      “Every ship we’ve sent into the Abyss has vanished without a trace . We’ll go together. I cannot let you take this risk alone.”

      “This is your invention. No one else understands it. You’re the only one who can guide me back.”

      “Alright. I’ll record the passage and make sure you return to us.”

   Cal sucked in a breath as the echoed imprint fluttered from his mind and returned him to the present; the familiar voices still lingering in his ears. “Khri and Dagan… Cordova will want to see this.” 

   As he began securing the item to his scrapper’s belt, the sealed door hissed open and in walked another Bedlam Raider; this one brandishing what looked to be a new design of lightsaber with small beams of yellow emitting from the two vents build into the side of its emitter, with the core blade’s beam somehow extended. “I was promised something interesting. And here you are!” The Raider taunted before activating a cloaking device. 

   Cal stepped back and instantly drew his hilt into his hand and twisted them apart, activating both separate ends at once and holding them in a defensive crossed stance. After a tense few seconds a detonator flew across the room toward him and chirped its increasingly imminent warning. Cal flung out his hand and sent the bomb flying back at his attacker, causing the raider’s cloaking device to fail and give him the opening he needed to fling his other saber at him. The raider stumbled back and swung wildly to knock aside his blade, then gripped the hilt with both hands and charged, throwing out a wide swing at Cal as flipped to the side and summoned to him the other half of his saber. Twisting quickly, Cal brought up both blades and blocked the yellow saber’s forceful attack, and pushed off to put some distance between them. The raider shifted back as well, and flung another grenade. 

   Stupid mistake , Cal thought to himself as he sent the explosive back for a second time and leapt through the smoke to strike with both blades from above. The raider raised his blade and held his ground, then forced him back and pulled his arm back for an arched swing. Cal stumbled back but brought his blades around to guard his sides and twirled right as the yellow blade stung down and crackled against the floor. Cal stopped his momentum and redirected his energy through his arms and into the kyber itself, and twisted both blades outward - one after the other - and cut through the raider before he could recover from the heavy attack.

   The Bedlam warrior fell to the side, and upon hitting the floor, the lightsaber deactivated. Cal stared at his opponent's body for a moment then directed his attention to the strange saber hilt and knelt down to inspect it. “Custom emitter,” he explained to BD as he held it up for him to look at. “…Maybe we can salvage it?” BD’s visor bobbed as Cal stood to his feet and carried the strange lightsaber back to the table where he’d found the High Republic device, and removed his own lightsaber. Using the Force to manipulate each piece, he levitated apart both emitters and placed the vented one right above his own energy channel and stabilizing ring, and twisted it into place while he plucked his old emitter from the air and tucked it into one of his pockets. 

   As the raider’s blade settled onto the table, Cal let go of it with his mind and physically reached out to take hold of his own hilt, and felt both fragments of his kyber crystal chime through the Force in anticipation. Holding it tightly with both hands, he activated the switch and felt the kyber’s strong pulse of energy burst through the main beam, then stabilize as its additional power was rerouted through its crossguard-like vents.  

   Wow. This feels…different. Heavier. “Wanna try it out?” He asked his companion as he held the elongated blade out to the side just as his opponent had done. BD beeped excitedly as they both settled into the odd stance, then headed through the newly unlocked door and toward the Mantis .

Chapter Text

   “Hey, Jetpack, something’s coming up on radar. Moving fast,” Greez yelled over his shoulder. As Bode opened the door, he slid from the co-pilot’s seat to climb into his, just in case things got ugly quick. But the anxious flutter in his stomach eased as Cal’s voice sounded from the entryway and the door sealed shut behind him. 

   “Find anything?”

   “Yeah, I think so.”

   “What is it?”

   “Don’t know. But whatever it is, it was important to Dagan.”

   “How do you know?”

   “Call it a feeling.” 

   Greez felt the Jedi’s hand pat his shoulder as he took his seat next to him - his little signal to take off quickly - and grinned as he powered up the engines. “Next stop, Koboh’s finest watering hole!”

   “…What do you think?” Cal asked as he took back whatever it was from Bode.

   “Can’t make heads or tails of it. Maybe we’ll put some pieces together after we check out Dagan’s retreat on Koboh.”

   Greez snorted, and glanced at the item in question. “People go to Koboh after things fall apart. Not to put things back together.”

   “What about you, Greez?” Cal asked, looking over at him.

   “If you’re implying that I came to Koboh a broken Latero, you are way off, mister. I just needed a break from you all.” From the corner of his eye he caught Cal swivel his chair forward and silently watch as he flew them out of the floating cluster of debris back into empty space and toward Koboh.

   Ah, jeez. I probably shouldn’t have said it like that. Now he’s probably gonna sulk the whole way. Cere was always better at this stuff than me.

                    ~*~

   Come to Koboh when things fall apart, huh… Cal mused as Rambler’s Reach came into view. He thought back to the Mantis , crashed and broken, and to how he’d felt when he’d first arrived. … We got put back together. “…Master Cordova’s research showed an abandoned settlement past the east side of the valley,” Cal stated as he leaned in his chair to try and get a glimpse of the area before Greez swung the ship around to land. “BD-1 and I should-”

   “Nah’a!” Greez interrupted as he flicked the switches next to him to lower the landing gear. “Not before you’ve had breakfast, you’re not.”

   “Greez,” Cal sighed. 

   “We made it back just in time! Monk should already have something prepared, and you eat like an animal anyways. Shouldn’t take you that long. Look, all I’m askin’, as your friend, is that you make sure you don’t starve. Who knows how long you’ll be out there.”

   Cal let his shoulders slump as looked from Bode’s shrug to BD’s expectant wiggle. “Fine,” he sighed with a small smile. “But we really do need to get a move on.”

   “Read you loud and clear,” Greez nodded as he hopped from his seat and hurried down the ramp. 

   Bode chuckled at the two of them, then walked alongside him as they made their way toward the saloon. “Care to come with?” Cal offered. He glanced at his crewmate and watched as he squinted up at the bright morning sun then frowned. 

   “Mmm, I doubt I’d be of much use traversing Jedi ruins. That’s more of your thing. Besides, I thought I might check out the local shop and see what they have on offer.” He patted the empty holster under his arm.

   “Do you want-” Cal began, pulling his gifted blaster from his thigh.

   “No, no, no. You keep that. I mean it. It’s yours now. I just want to make sure I’m firing on all cylinders, you know?”

   Cal smiled warmly as he slid the gun back in place. “It ended up coming in handy back at the lab.”

   “Oh yeah?”

   “Yeah. Quite a few times actually. …Thanks, Bode.” 

   “No worries, brother,” Bode replied as he patted him on the back. 

   Cal smiled at the familial title as his friend turned to head toward Doma’s shop, and took in the odd sense of comfort the thought gave him as he passed through the saloon’s entryway. As far as he knew, he’d never had a brother. And while he’d clearly had parents at some point, he couldn’t remember them. It had always just been him and the Order. Until the Purge. Until Cere and Greez. And Merrin.  Merrin had once told him she thought of Cere as one of her elder sisters, but to him she would always be his mentor - not quite replacing his former master, but close. Maybe Bode is like that for me. An older brother or something. …It’s nice.

    “Welcome back,” Monk greeted as he slid along his rail from the kitchen to the bar. “You all seem to be in a particularly good mood. I take it the trip was a success?”

   Cal sat on the stool next to Greez’s chair and felt his stomach growl at the sight of the food-filled plate the service droid sat in front of him. “I guess you could say that. We weren’t able to find a direct way to Tanalorr, but I think we might have found something that can. At least, that’s the hope,” he answered with a full mouth. “This is really good.”

   “I’m glad to hear it. Boss said to make sure you eat every bite.” Cal rolled his eyes, but continued to chew as quickly as he could before taking the next bite. “So how’d you and Greez meet anyways?”

   He shrugged as he swallowed. “I was working on Bracca as a scrapper. Greez gave me a lift when I needed it most.”

   “Hmm,” Monk hummed as he filled a cup and pushed it toward him. “The way he tells the story, seems you gave him a lift, too.” Cal paused mid chew, and felt the corner of his lip pull into a smile. “He never said the words exactly, but when I wanted to turn that back room of yours into storage, he threatened to replace me with a gonk droid. …People show their affection in strange ways, don’t they?”

   Cal swallowed his bite and paused as he looked over his plate, then at the small saloon. “Yeah. I guess they do. …Say, uh, how was Pyloon’s while we were gone? Did a guy by the name of Skoova Stev come by?”

   Monk’s head swiveled back to look at the tank. “The fisherman with the impressive facial…hair? Quills? He did indeed. Said you’d sent him. Had quite the list of choice words for the tank’s sorry state. Dove right in and got to work, then said he’d be back with more worthy specimens.”

   “Whatever helps the business grow, I guess.”

   “I also caught wind that a traveling troubadour and a DJ droid from the Core Worlds was in the area.”

   Cal choked on his drink. “Not what I expected you to say. Any idea why they’re here?”

   “Zygg, one of our regulars, said they hiked out onto the valley plateau to sample the ‘sounds of the wild’”.

   “The sounds of the wild can come from creatures that kill you.”

   “Can’t drop those beats if you’re dead,” Monk agreed. 

   “Which way?”

   “East of here. Below the old barn, but before you get to the broken valley.”

   “East, huh?” Cal said, glancing at BD as the droid perked his antenna and beeped questioningly. “Yeah, I’ll see if I can find them and convince them to head your way. This place could do with some music.”

   “My thoughts exactly. And, if we’re to pay off Stev’s bill, we need to think of ways to bring in more paying customers.” Cal grinned as he placed what he assumed was a fair price for the food on the counter, but was stopped by Monk’s claw-like hand. “On the house, per the boss. And, consider it repayment for helping the place out.”

   Cal gave the droid a nod as he put the credit chips back into his pocket, then let BD jump onto his back. “Zee in?”

   “Upstairs. Some of the prospectors have been bringing in old data disks and she’s taken to salvaging them.” 

   “Thanks. Good seein’ ya, Monk.”

   “You too, Cal.”

   Heading up the newly accessible stairs and onto the second level, Cal found Zee standing at one of the decorative tables next to the fish tank. “Oh, Cal!” Zee exclaimed upon seeing him. “It’s delightful to see you fully intact.”

   “Heh. Holding up okay?”

   “Fine, thanks. It’s not the first time this frontier has been terrorized by marauders, you know. But once more, the noble Jedi Knights rise to the occasion!”

   Cal winched at her less than subtle declaration and looked around the empty space. “Appreciate the thought, Zee. But we should watch the whole ‘noble knight’ stuff.”

   Zee raised her hand to where her mouth would otherwise be. “Yes, of course. My apologies. Thinking in such a way is taking some getting used to.”

   “Yeah… I know what you mean.” 

   “Were you able to find out more about Tanalorr?”

   Cal unclipped the strange cylinder from his belt and handed it to her. “Found this at a lab on Koboh’s moon. And now I’m on my way to the valley east of here to look for an old Jedi retreat.” He watched as she turned the device in her hands; her slant backlit eyes staring with perceived intensity. “…You know what it is?”

   Zee’s polished dome tilted ever so slightly. “I- I don’t think so. But it does feel rather familiar. Master Khri would often visit the lunar laboratory. She was studying the potential uses of Koboh matter, if I recall.”

   Cal frowned as he took back the device. “Do you know anything about the Retreat?”

   “Only that it was used to train Jedi. Master Khri spent most of her time focusing on her studies rather than training younglings. But she did design several of the training temples. Her hope had been to prepare those stationed here for the journey to Tanalorr.”

   “Well, there's only one way to find out.”

   “Indeed. Force guid you, Cal.”

                    ~*~

   “Monk, did you reorganize my entire spice rack?” Greez yelled from the kitchen. “I don’t exactly know what’s changed…but I don’t hate it.”

   “He’s with a customer. I’m heading out,” Cal called to him as he headed toward the back door.

   “Good luck out there, kid. And try not to be gone all day, yeah? You need a good night’s rest.”

   “Eh, I’ll get a good night’s rest on our way back to Jedha.” Greez waved him off with all four of his limbs. “Say, have you learned anything about the High Republic residences here on Koboh?”

   “Oh, well when I first got here I did a little exploring of my own. I went into a place, and then I heard creepy voices, and I got outta there in a hurry!”

   Zeebebeep , BD teased. “I’ll let you know if I hear any voices, Greez.” 

   “Wise-guys. Now get outta here. I’ve got customers to feed.”

   Cal shook his head as he laughed all the way down the stairs and out the back door through Greez’s living quarters, and paused as he came out to face another sunny day on the backwater planet. It was weird just how comfortable he was beginning to feel here, and a part of him was wary of that fact. 

   Shaking his sudden musings from his mind, he headed toward Mosey’s stable and found his Nekko friend from the forest now grazing in the pen and gave a quick whistle, causing the creature to look up and head toward him. “Hey there, friend. Mind taking me out into the valley?” The bird-like mount exhaled into his hair with a nudge, then turned toward the barn. Cal helped himself inside and carefully clambered onto the beast’s plaited back, and clucked for it to head out. 

   From his shoulder BD whistled in wonder as they rode out of the town and down the road into the untamed terrain; their feathered friend occasionally calling out to the roaming herds moving from the plains to the shallow river, and steering clear of the more dangerous looking beasts that patrolled in the distance near the pools and caves. Cal had to admit that, despite Koboh’s dangers, it was one of the most beautiful planets he’d ever visited. 

                    ~*~

   As they came out from under one of the stone arches the echoed sound of a RAT-ATAT-TAT-A-TAT-TAT caused the Nekko to pause with an anxious whine. Cal reached out and smoothed its feathers along its neck. “Easy. Easy.”

   TISS-TICK-TISS-TAT-TAT-DOAM-TAT-TISS-TICK-TISS! UHH-TZ BOOM-BAP! UHH-TZ BOOM-BAP!

   Boop bezoop? BD asked as he analyzed the sound. Cal nodded, and urged the Nekko to lead onward toward the sound. 

   Past the small falls, and not far from a flock of aggressive looking land birds, Cal spotted what looked to be a human standing next to a custom designed droid that bopped its round body while broadcasting the mashup of sounds off the rusted and abandoned mining machinery embedded in the rock.

   “Hey there!” They called out with a friendly wave. “You here for the soundscape, too?”

   “Hey back,” Cal replied as he brought his mount to a stop next to them. “I heard there was someone collecting samples up here.”

   “That’s right man. Dee-dee’s been all over these glider calls.”

   Cal glanced up at the winged creatures he’d seen flying in and out of the canyons, and toward the cobbled together battlement of sheet metal and droid parts near where he still had to go. “Yeah, it sounds great. But it might be a little dangerous to be out here alone. Not all the wildlife out here is friendly. But, y’know, down in the outpost, Pyloon’s Saloon is starving for some live entertainment.”

   “Hmm. Might not be a bad call. Dee-dee swore one of those beasts gave him some side-eye.”

   UHN’TZ, UHN’TZ, BUH-BAP! The droid sounded, waving its long arms. 

   “Yeah, we’re in. I’m Ashe Javi, by the way.”

   “Cal. And this is Bee-Dee One. Do you need me to escort you back to the outpost or-”

   “Nah, man,” Ashe waved. “I know where it is. Dee-dee and I will head there now. I think we’ve got enough material to work with. Catch you there?”

   “Can’t wait,” Cal said with a wave, steering the Nekko back toward the riverbed and deeper into the valley’s gorge. 

                     ~*~

   Following the shallow river between the rising walls of rock, Cal brought his mount to a halt at the sight of the open pit ahead; the low echoed rumble of the river turning into falls signaling just how deep this part of the gorge was. Beyond the ring of rock stood rusted barriers at its edge. And beyond that loomed the top of the Lucerhulk.

   Cal dismounted and carefully neared the edge, taking note of the apparently abandoned camp setup next to the cliff. “We should be getting pretty close. But I don’t see anything like a settlement, though.” Leaning over the ledge, he took note of the trail of mounted lights and followed it to where there was a carved out tunnel just across the gap. “That must be our way in. Not seeing any way to access it though.” BD shifted behind him and beeped for him to look at the nearby Relter. “Worth a shot,” he said as he headed back toward the Nekko and patted its shoulder. “You can head back if you want. You won’t be able to follow where I’m going.” The beast let out a low squawk and turned to head back the way they’d come as Cal turned his attention to the Relter and reached out through the Force to connect with its mind. The curious creature shifted to look at him, then flapped its wings to rise into the air. “Hang on, Bee-Dee,” Cal shouted as the Relter latched onto his arm bracers and pulled him over the falls. 

   Squinting against the wind and looking down at the abandoned mining equipment left in the cave, Cal gasped in surprise as the Relter arched upward toward the cave’s exit and flew through a thick cloud of heated spray and water vapor. In front of them on the other side sat the same bird he’d freed at the Array, and BD squealed as the Relter carried them past while the massive bird took flight in surprise.  “Yeah, let’s keep our distance this time,” Cal said anxiously as he tightened his grip. But despite their close call with the bird, Cal’s anxiety only spiked as the Relter carried him toward an open fissure full of steaming vents and slow moving lava, and pulled him through the nearest plume of heated air to lift them higher through the arched tunnel and out into an open area filled with broken segments of land scattered about like lost islands - and upon them, the gleaming ruins of temples past. 

   Beeoop!

   “This place is in ruins,” he yelled to his companion as he winced from the discomfort of them passing over another steam vent. But right as the Relter banked toward one of the larger sections of land, something metallic slammed into his side and wrapped around him, effectively ripping him from the creature’s grasp. Cal wrestled to free himself, and twisted so as to pull on his armored captor’s helmet, causing the bounty hunter to grunted as they tried to keep their jetpack from sending them smashing into the rock wall, and rolled mid air to drop Cal on the ground.  As Cal and BD hit the dirt, he looked up to see the armed hunter slowly lower himself and approach. “Haxian Brood tracked us down,” he snarled as BD reattached himself to his bandolier and he rose to his feet - his lightsaber blazing to life in his hand and deflecting the hunter’s rapid fire shots. 

   “You’re pretty quick,” the hunter called, firing his thrusters to carry him up into the air and holding out his wrist. Cal shuffled his footing and ran towards the rock wall as missiles came hissing after him and exploding at his heels. Leaping onto the wall and flipping through the air, he pulled free his blaster and fired off a shot before landing and firing again. The hunter’s right thruster choked as black smoke came billowing out, and caused him to stumble back onto solid ground. Cal rolled to the side as the hunter fired back, and holstered his gun while blocking the shots, then pushed out with his hand to try and force the bounty hunter over the edge. But the man’s final thruster fought hard to keep him steady, and taking the moment of uncertainty, the hunter threw at him several explosive disks. As the detonators beeped, Cal quickly deactivated his saber as he latched it to his belt and pulled the Brood member toward him with one hand while pushing back the explosives with the other. Aided by the remaining thruster, the hunter sailed right into his own attack and was taken out in a bang of smoke, sparks, and flying parts. 

   Cal blinked away from the gruesome sight but was quickly back on guard as the sound of clapping came from above him. Sitting perched on one of the ledges above sat the Nautolan with the broad-rimmed hat he’d seen napping in one of the booths at Pyloon’s. “Oh, nicely done!” She cheered before pushing herself over the ledge and letting the hidden rockets in her boots slow her descent. “Name’s Caij Vanda. This mudscuffer,” she explained, stepping on a chunk of the hunter’s still intact armor, “picked up your trail outside the outpost.”

   “…Cal. …Looks like you’ve been watching us,” he stated coldly, keeping his hand next to his saber hilt. 

   Caij scoffed playfully. “Oh, we’ve all been watching, Cal. Not every newcomer introduces themselves by taking down one of Rayvis’ boys. Which, by the way, nice touch.” She said, giving him two thumbs up. “Love a big entrance!”

   “Thanks,” Cal replied with a roll of his eyes. “So, what do you want?”

   “What I want, Cal… is to reward you for every one of these that you take down.” She turned and ticked at the armor, and plucked from it a still intact bounty puck that she then threw at him to catch. “You’re not the only one who came to Koboh for a little peace and quiet. Take those off bounty hunters and I’ll trade you something nice.”

   Cal looked from her to the ID puck and flicked it on, displaying the hunter’s status. “Korji Lim. So he was Haxion Brood. Then there’s bound to be more on the way,” he stated, glancing at BD.

   “Exactly!” Caij pointed at him. “Lucky for you, I’ve got eyes and ears about. Drop by the saloon, and I’ll help you get a jump on those hunters.”

   “…Alright. I’ll think it over.” Caij flashed him her row of sharpened teeth and swayed her hips as she spun on her heel and stepped forward, activating her rocket boots and leaping from rock to rock with ease. “So, you didn’t think to help me out back there?” He yelled after her. 

   “For free? I don’t think so!”

   Cal sighed as he resigned himself to climbing up the cliff the hard way. “Everybody’s got rockets except me. Come on, buddy. We still have to find Dagan’s retreat.”

                     ~*~

   After climbing the cliff face, battling the angered Bramilk at its top, and precariously crossing from one broken pathway to the next, Cal scrambled to a stop on the small strip of land that had managed to stay attached to part of the temple that was still embedded in the rock. “See that up there? This must be the place Cordova was talking about,” Cal breathed as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked over the pillar of rock next to him and climbed his way up to get a better view, and as he did so, an HMP droid gunship flew overhead and landed within the ruined settlement. 

   Bee-zee-whoop!  

   “Yeah. We’re not the only ones looking for something here. Think it could be Dagan?”

   Bee-boop.

   Cal frowned and looked over at the coupler harness that sat built into the rock’s ledge. “A coupler. A power source should be nearby. But for what purpose…” He looked out to the other islands of land that stood in the sea of lava below and spotted three large vents at the center, each one covered by Koboh matter. Cal looked to the coupler and lined his site up to where it aimed, then glanced around at the Relter that fluttered to and from the nests around them. “I think I have an idea as to how to get across. But first we’ll need to find that power source. And I bet we can find it in there,” he said, nodding toward the open crack inside the temple’s wall. 

      “ Welcome, Jedi ,” echoed Santari’s voice as he stepped into the darkened expansive space.

   “Is that Khri?” Cal asked aloud. But a sudden twinge through the Force pushed against his mind, and Cal grabbed for his saber as an athletic form raced through the dim light and lept - its shimmering vibroblade falling quickly down toward him. He channeled his sudden burst of adrenaline into both shards of his crystal, and as he raised the hilt with both hands, the kyber sent out the extended blade just in time to block the attack and vent out the additional energy from his new emitter to keep the BX Droid’s blade from sliding down over his hands.

   The droid’s slim frame arched as it pushed away from him, and raised its side firearm. Cal shifted the weighted blade and sent the blast back at the droid, causing its arm to completely detach from the impact. Cal blinked in surprise at just how much more powerful the reflected bolt had become, but quickly used the droid’s moment of disorientation to his advantage and threw out his hand to pull the droid toward him while using his other arm to swing the blade in a upward arch and cleave the droid in two. 

      “ Here, you will learn to harness Koboh matter in order to prepare yourself to traverse the Abyss. But in success will you also find an ever-greater connection to the Force.”

   Cal stared at the broken droid while he listened to Khri’s words, and ran his hand over the hilt of his sword, calming the Kyber as he deactivated the power cell. A greater connection to the Force, he repeated as the vents folded closed against the emitter once the blade was no more. Reattaching the hilt back onto his belt, Cal then looked over the decorative pane of glass that partitioned off one section of the temple from the other, and studied the central fan-like structure in front of the small space that he could use to pass through to the other side.

   Behind the glass sat a power orb clutched by an active coupler that was emitting the same strange purple beam of energy like that of the Array. And next to it sat a large puzzle cube, not unlike the ones he’d trained with at the temple on Coruscant. “Okay. Well, she said something about Koboh matter,” he mumbled, looking from the crack in the wall covered in crystalline vines to the gap in the glass that was also covered in the stuff. 

   Reaching his hand out he pulled the cube off the upper platform and down to his level, and pushed it toward the upper gap. Looking back at the fan he then gave it a small invisible shove and was pleased when the sound of gears began to clank and the purple energy beam began to slide across the glass toward the Koboh matter. Just as it had at the Array, the vines caught alight and burned away. Cal then pulled the orb from the coupler and sent it up and over the gap, then raced toward the other side and took control of it once more, hovering it along with him and back outside to be placed onto the coupler on the ledge.

   Just as he’d hoped, the orb activated the coupler array and shot from it the energy beam he needed. Using the Force to aid his control, he adjusted the coupler’s trajectory and shifted the beam so that it aimed at the farthest vent, and grinned as the pink flame sizzled away the vines - causing a giant burst of heated air to belch toward the sky. Then he scrambled down and carefully came upon the nearest Relter to try and convince it to carry him across via the newly unlocked updraft. 

                    ~*~

    “Hey! An enemy!” A B1 Battle Droid on guard announced as Cal let go of the Relter’s legs and fell on top of the droid with a downward strike.

   “No no noooo! Cried a second as he sent it flying back over the cliff. He then turned toward the third and watched as it looked down at its messily ax then back at him.  “You’re going to kill me next, aren’t you?”

   Cal held his lightsaber at the ready and cocked his eyebrow. “Only if I have to.”

   “Eh. For the Bedlam Raiders!” It shouted as it ran at him with its ax raised. 

   With little effort, Cal sent the droid tumbling back and over the edge down into the fissure. “Well,” he sighed as he walked past the second deactivated power coupler and into another section of the temple’s chambers. “We tried.” 

   Bwooop.

   “I’m not going down there,” stated another B1 droid within.

   “But you have to! We have orders!”

   “From who? Rayvis? Or that other guy?”

   “Intruder! Initiate combat!”

   Cal thumbed the saber’s activation switch and flicked the bolts back at the droids as he casually walked along the darkened hall. So Dagan and Rayvis are looking for something here. Wonder if we’re looking for the same thing. But his next step caused the floor to give way, breaking him of his thoughts, and with a quick flip, he landed on his feet on the lower level of the room.

      “ Welcome, Jedi. In each world the Republic reaches out to, there are new opportunities to share and learn. And this planet has much to teach us.”

   “What did you learn, Santari…” Cal asked aloud as he brushed the disturbed dust from his shoulders and arms, and looked about the room. Sitting in a charging harness situated above him sat a deactivated power orb. Across from it stood a wall covered in thick vines of Koboh matter. And in front of him sat a pile of loose rock with a faint glow coming from between the cracks. Out of curiosity, he pulled at the stack and watched as the rocks crumbled to the floor and revealed behind it an active charging harness. Cal turned and pulled free the orb and guided it into the harness. As the orb bagan to recharge, a recessed section of the wall next to it shifted and slid upward, revealing a secret passage. “Wonder what secrets this place is hiding,” he asked BD as he leapt into the passage and dashed through the veil of water that spilled down, landing him in a puddle on the floor in the neighboring room. 

      “We believe Koboh matter originates from deep within the Abyss,” Khri’s voice explained via triggered recording. “This strange substance is enigmatic but not beyond our ability to study and manipulate. Like all things, once understood, it can be channeled and thus controlled.”

   Shaking off his boots, Cal looked around at the crystalline matter covering the walls of the room and found all of it tracing back to a large tank in the corner. “Mmm, looks like some sort of container or…grinder?” He dug around in the tank’s forward tray and sifted through the small chunks of oily black rock, and pulled free what looked to be like a small, portable, automated grinder. “What do you think, Bee-Dee?” Cal asked, holding it up for his droid to scan. “Wanna give it a try?” BD hopped from his shoulder and stood still as he pulled out his multi-tool and began to weld the device to one of the access panels atop his visor. “There. Give it a try.”

   BD-1 hopped onto the floor and looked up at the beam of purple energy hitting the wall above them, then activated his newly repurposed panel and began grinding the stick of Koboh matter - crunching it up and spitting it out onto the wall in a more liquified state. Beoo-boo-zeep! He cheered as his newly formed line of crystalline matter caught fire and quickly burned its way toward the ancient cluster, revealing a way for them to head back through the hidden passage. 

   “Neat trick, buddy,” Cal laughed as he kneeled and offered his droid a high-five. BD hid away the grinder back under his visor panel and placed his foot against Cal’s hand, then quickly scurried up his shoulder. With a little boost from the Force, Cal leapt back up into the passage and hurried through the falls to land back into the original chamber. “Alright. I think I know our way out of here. When I put the orb back into its coupler I need you to spray more of that stuff from the beam over to those vines over there. Then I can send the cable hook up to that ledge.”

   Beep beep! BD nodded, popping open the grinder and executing the plan.

   “Good job, bud. Now, see that patch over there? Burn that away too. We’ll need the wall to cross over.”

      “Working together, the Republic and the Jedi Order can understand the mysteries of the galaxy. The Force guides our path,” Santari’s voice echoed around him as he rappelled through the air and ran across the wall toward the exit, and turned to pull the freshly charged power orb up toward him. 

   “Sounds like the Order I remember,” Cal mused as they stepped back out into the light and placed the orb onto the outdoor coupler and aimed it and the next matter-covered vent. “Everything Khri built here was destroyed by a catastrophe she couldn’t foresee. …Sometimes it just feels like history is repeating itself.”

   Boop.

   Calling over the Relter that had carried him from before, Cal allowed it carry him back toward the cluster of vents and ride the updraft to reach the next ledge of exposed temple walls. As it pulled upward to let him land, two Bedlam Raiders came racing out toward him with both of their clawed poles sparking in anticipation. Feeling the animal let go of him, he pushed back against the ground and flipped through the air, buying himself enough time to ignite his lightsaber and use both his own force and that of the blade’s to slam down onto the ground, sending out a shockwave that knocked both Raiders off their feet. As they struggled in their heavy armor to stand, Cal then shifted to his feet and widened his stance as he pulled the blue blade out of the singed ground, swung it up over his head, then flung the blade directly toward the Raiders - the elongated blade spinning end over end, burning through flesh and armor with ease before returning to his awaiting hand. 

   With his apparent enemies out of the way, he continued toward the isolated room and peered through the slim doorway. Again he felt the brush of warning from the Force, and Cal glanced down at the puddle of water that had formed upon the floor from the overhanging waterfall’s spray and caught the glint of reflected light from behind the entryway. Assuming a third Raider was awaiting him on the other side, Cal raised his saber above his head and shifted through the space, gritting his teeth as the Raider’s electrified claw latched onto his waist. But his arms were free, and he brought the heavy saber down with a powerful swing.  

   Cal paused to carefully breath in some air and groan through the pain in his stinging ribs as the claw loosened and fell with the raider.  “I’m okay,” he reassured his droid as BD beeped softly. “Probably should have worn something with padding though. Should have known we’d end up in a couple fights.”

   Beezoop beep-beep.

   “Heh, yeah, a lot better than these guys. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

   Deactivating his saber, he took note of the empty coupler to his left that was aimed at an etched glass mirror, and a chunk of missing wall that was mostly covered over by Koboh matter. To his right he found a puzzle cube stuck in a busted out section of the wall, and ahead of him a tall open doorway that led to another room where the power orb sat in its harness. “Uh huh,” Cal mumbled as he pulled on the cube and caused it to come tumbling down on top of the Raider’s body. With another forceful pull, he yanked it toward him and positioned it so that it sat firmly under the door. 

   Boop?

   “Watch,” he answered as he stepped back and pulled the orb into his awaiting palm. Dust rained down around them as the stone door slid down and slammed hard against the metal cube, leaving a large enough gap for the both of them to exit the room and place the orb into the coupler, instantly activating the energy beam. “Bee-Dee, try shooting some of the matter onto the glass.”

   BD-1 hopped onto the floor and began firing the black liquid, but beeped in alarmed disappointment as the matter slid off the glass before it could solidify. Cal frowned, then turned to look back at the cube and pulled through the Force with both hands. With a screech, the cube was dragged out from under the door’s weight, and with a thud the cube came loose as the door closed. Cal then pushed the cube in front of the mirror, causing the energy beam to reflect harmlessly off it. 

   “Okay, buddy. Now give it a try.”

   Again BD sprayed the black shiny liquid, and beeped with delight as it quickly began to crystallize against the puzzle cube and caught fire. BD hopped toward the covered wall and danced as the pink flames quickly burned through his zig-zagging trail and consumed the vines blocking the wider opening. 

       “Welcome, Jedi. Enemies of peace threaten the galactic frontier and our Republic. Once we cross the Abyss, Tanalorr could be a bastion to repel that threat. A beacon for hope and justice across the Outer Rim.”

   Cal reflected on Khri’s recorded words and the conviction she’d said them with. “Tanalorr was more than a mission to her,” he said as uncoupled the power orb and levitated it toward the exterior coupler. “It was a dream of a better future.”

   Bwoop.

   With the steam final vent cleared, Cal again took to the sky thanks to his winged friend and glided up and over to the grand looking building of the retreat itself. Several other nesting Relter screeched and took flight as he came gliding in, and Cal felt his arms let go the moment his feet touched ground. Taking a moment to see just how far he’d come, he looked out over the fissured valley and let out a low whistle. Then he turned to face the elegant High Republic structure decked out in fine golden metalworks and rich blue tented accents, and headed inside.

   Weeds had sprouted and grown freely up through the tile work of the inner training courtyard, but the beauty of the intended patterns were still visible. And had he been given a moment, Cal would have loved to study them. But across the yard stood yet another armored Bedlam Raider sporting a lightsaber hilt.

   “I’m still not sure what Dagan expects me to find. But I’m sure a Jedi will do,” the raider’s modulated voice threatened as Cal pulled free his saber hilt and twisted it apart, shifting his feet comfortably into Fifth Form starting position. 

   He watched and waited as the raider ignited both ends of the hilt, and held his ground as the man shot out his own tethered cable and pulled himself in close, holding the double-bladed saber like a spear and jabbing one end out toward him. Cal timed his jump, and flipped up and over both the raider and his blue blades, and struck out - landing a cut through his enemy’s metal shoulder piece and splitting the cloth beneath it before his opponent had time to react and spin his blades around toward him. Cal danced back and deflected each end that came flailing at him, then flipped back to disengage as his the raider attempted to land a blow.

   “Gah! I shall not fail!” The raider snarled, flinging out his wrist and launching his cable at him. Cal dodged to the side, but wasn’t quick enough and hissed in pain as his shoulder stung from the metal’s impact. “That’s for Rayvis!”

   Cal forced himself to focus and pushed aside the stinging ache from his mind to fully open himself to the Force, even going so far as to close his eyes. The Raider chuckled as Cal levitated both hilts in front of him blindly, and quickened his heavy footfalls against the tile. But in his state, Cal could sense through the Living Force just where exactly his opponent was and where his energy was directed, and was able to drop down and ignite both sabers as he twisted them outward, dealing a scissored-strike from below. 

   At the sound of his opponent's fall, Cal recalled both hilts back into his hands and opened his eyes, and strode toward the main building’s entrance. “Clearly we’re on the right track if Dagan is searching this place. Mind opening the door, Bee-Dee?” Beep beep! BD replied as he ran toward the droid interface and hacked it open.

   While the exterior of the building had appeared mostly intact, the interior was another story. The entire right side of the wall along the hallway was completely ripped away, giving them a clear view of just how much the land, and the Jedi settlement, had been devastated by the Lucerhulk’s landing. Metal framework that hadn’t fallen into the exposed lava below jutted out into the air. And other wings of the retreat sat tilted on the upper cliffs with sections caved in. And what looked to be a cubed lift like the one he and Zee had rode stood smashed against the cliff’s face, rusting away from the spray of the falls that fell off the cliff above it at an odd angle. 

   From his shoulder, BD let out a low, sad sound, and Cal looked over at his friend and rubbed at his visitor, then turned and headed down the other end of the hallway that led him into what appeared to be an office. Despite an overturned chair and some long-dead books scattered across the floor, most of the shelves filled with sculpted pottery and books still stood their ground. But it was the familiar cylindrical object that sat on the desk across from him that drew his attention. And even through the Force he could feel its pull.

   “There’s another one,” Cal said aloud as he braced himself for a potential echoed memory. “This one’s broken, too.” 

       “He’s coming! Destroy it, now!” Urged the robed Jedi that stormed into the room; fear and urgency written on his face . Cal watched as the other Jedi quickly placed the object on the table and cut through it with his lightsaber, just as Dagan burst into the room.

      “No!” He roared, sending his saber across the room to impale the offending jedi.

      The robed jedi gaped at his dead breatheran and kneeled at his side, but began to stand and grasp at his neck as Dagan reached out to choke him to death. “Wait,” the man croaked as Dagan lifted him off his feet. But he was sent flying back into the metal shelf and fell lifeless on the floor.  

      Dagan strode purposefully past them both and snatched up the cylinder for inspection, and Cal watched as the man’s furious determination briefly drained from his pale face. “…Santari,” Dagan hissed, slamming the device back onto the table.

   Cal’s eyes fluttered open as his vision and hearing came back into focus and the Force eased its grasp upon his mind. BD stood next to his hand, watching him intently with a tilt of his head. “Hey… This,” he mumbled, picking up the matching cylinder, “is another of Santari’s devices. Dagan was here. And killed Jedi for destroying it.” At that, BD’s antenna shifted downward as his ocular iris widened. Cal nodded in understanding. “But, I think this can give us our answer.”

   Beep beep?

   “We need to bring both devices back to Master Cordova.”

   Beoop!

   Cal smiled at his friend, then looked over at the inscribed titles on the shelves as BD ran to unlock the next door. Spotting a familiar tome, he pulled it out for inspection. While he wasn’t surprised to find its screen empty, he still felt some sliver of disappointment. “I think Master Topal had this one. …Given to him by Master Yaddle.” 

   Bezee-beep! BD cheered as the door shifted open. 

   “Good job, bud. Now let’s head back to Pyloon’s. That window there looks like it leads outside.”

   Giving BD the chance to climb back on, Cal aimed his cable and used it to pull him up onto the roof of the training courtyard, and clambered up onto its tower. At the top he found a Relter sitting in its nest, gargling at him in surprise. “Easy. I’m not going to harm you.” As his mind trick settled the creature he looked back out over the messa and spotted what looked to be the open planes of the Reach. “Say, friend. Think you can carry us over to that cliff over there?” He asked the wide-eyed mammal. The Relter twitched its whiskers as it studied him for a moment, then hopped out of its nest and latched onto his shirt. “Woah, wait,” Cal yelled as he was dragged off the tower. But he quickly grabbed on to the creature’s legs and anxiously glanced around as he was carried across the fissure toward the carved out tunnel draped in fluttering cloth and rusted support beams. The Relter screeched as it unceremoniously dropped him onto the ground, and quickly flapped its wings to gain altitude and head back toward its nest. “Thanks for the lift,” Cal yelled sarcastically as he rolled to his feet and dusted himself off. “Hopefully this will be a shortcut.”

                    ~*~

   Cautiously walking through the carved out cave, Cal felt a small wave of relief wash over him as he found his way back outside. Even though his section of rock came to an end, locked away behind a rusted cage sat a powered orb and coupler, just blasting out a beam of energy against the rock left in front of it. Cal raised his brow at the odd find, but watched as BD leapt from his back and began spraying Koboh matter from the rock over to the wall next to them. 

   “Hey, good call, Bee-Dee,” Cal told him as he watched the pink fire burn away the vines and reveal a flattened section of stone that he could use to cross from his ledge over toward the sulfur pools on the other side of the gorge where three Nekko stood milling about and nibbling at the glowing bugs that flitted around the spars plants. Once cleared, he ran across and lept to safety, and headed toward the nearest Nekko. But before he could reach out to the animal a faint cry for help sounded from somewhere nearby. 

   “Hello? Is someone out there? We could use a little help!”

   “We require rescuing!”

   Cal looked up at the nearby cliff face, and at the exposed massive skeleton jutting out from it. The yellow and red stained rock formations that formed out of and around the steaming and bubbling sulfur pools made it hard for him to maneuver toward the two distinct voices, but as he neared one of the upper shelves of rock he heard a loud roar that was quickly followed by a terrified yelp. Cal reached out to try and grasp the slim, damp limestone, but just couldn’t get his footing. He looked around again and whistled at the dark feathered Nekko that seemed unbothered by his presence or of those in clear need.  “Hey! Mind giving me some help?” The Nekko raised itself up to its full height and walked over toward him, sniffing his outstretched hand. Cal then quickly hoisted himself onto its back and yelled, “Jump!” As the Nekko lept upward with its powerful back legs, Cal used its momentum and the Force to launch himself up just enough to land on the upper platform. 

   Across a small gap, Cal spotted two alien creatures standing at the far edge of a boulder as one of the shaggy, horned Mogu he’d fought in the forest angrily thrashed about trying to reach them. “Just hold on!” He shouted as he leapt precariously across the gap and pulled free his weapons.

   “We’re saved!” Cheered the smaller of the two aliens. 

   Cal ran at the beast and flipped upward so as to bring his saber down across the Mogu’s hand, cutting it clean off, then rolled forward and fired charged blasts into its chest. The beast roared and flung its remaining hand toward him, trying to knock him off the ledge and into the bottomless gorge below, but Cal leapt over its hand and fired again at its wrist. The Mogu swung its arm upward and brought its fist down hard onto the spot where Cal had stood, but he dashed under its arm and cut a deep gash up along its side and down its hip, then fired the blaster at its face. With a pained groan the Mogu stumbled after him, but fell flat on its face.

   “There’s our hero!” Exclaimed the small, six limbed, blue-skinned alien dressed in overalls and goggles. “We are in your debt.”

   “What are you doing out here?” Cal asked as he helped the creature down from the boulder. 

   “We were out looking for the biggest, strongest beasts to fight each other, winner take all!”

   Bezooip?

   “Within our holotactics game table, of course.”

   “Holotactics, huh?”

   “That’s right! And you have just helped us gather beastly data for our game! …Just as soon as we find a place to set up shop, of course.”

   “Uh huh,” Cal mumbled as he helped the alien’s very tall and thin companion down. “Well, my friend might be interested. He runs Pyloon’s Saloon.”

   “Ah, yes,” the tall, yellow alien with, oddly enough, no visible mouth stated calmly. “The cantina in Rambler’s Reach.”

   “That dump?” The blue alien exclaimed. “I didn’t realize it was open. Hmm. Tell you what. We’re more than happy to bring holotactics to Pyloon’s. Could liven up the place! Let us make haste, Tulli Mu!”

   “All things in their own time, Bhima.”

   Cal raised a questioning brow at the odd pair, then glanced back at the Mogu. “Well, I’m actually on my way there now. If you want, I can escort you back to the outpost.”

   “We would be most appreciative,” Tulli Mu stated with a graceful tilt of her thin, branching eyestalks.

Chapter Text

   Stepping out of Koboh’s dry heat and into the cool air of Pyloon’s, Cal let out a small sigh of relief as he ran his fingers through his damp hair and led the pair of aliens down the entry hallway to the main door. As soon as it parted open a wave of thumping music washed over them. Cal blinked in surprise as he stepped down the stair and looked over the now busling cantina. 

   “Cal!” Greez called over from his chair. He gestured wildly at the crowd of both familiar and new faces as they watched DD-EC perform across the room on the corner stage; colors shifting and flashing to the mood of the music. “Get a load of this! Pyloon’s has never been busier!”

   Cal returned his friend’s grin. “Wow! This is great, Greez!”

   “I know! I- Wait. Cal, who have you brought back with you this time?”

   “This is Bhima and Tulli Mu. They’re looking for a place to set up a Holotactics table. Thought maybe that empty room upstairs might make a good spot.”

   “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Tulli Mu greeted with a bow. 

   “Say, this place ain’t half bad! Look at all these potential players!” Bhima shouted from the floor, rubbing his small hands together. 

   “Half bad?” Greez bristled, lowering his set so as to stand. “I’ll have you know Pyloon’s Saloon is the best cantina this side of the Outer Rim! And a respectable one at that! …Holotactics, huh? Hmm, follow me,” he grumbled, waving them to follow him up the stairs. “Yeah, I’ve got a spare room you could use. But, I’d have to charge you a renter’s fee.”

   Cal hung back from the group as they headed into the room to discuss business and instead headed over to Zee’s little table where she stood chatting with Toa and another woman. 

   “Oh, hey!” Toa grinned, waving him over. “Remember me? In the woods?”

   “Yeah, I remember. Toa, right? Glad you made it.” 

   “And this is Zygg,” Zee stated, waving her hand to the tan skinned human woman dressed in overalls. “She’s been bringing me the data disks I’ve been decoding and sharing with Toa.”

   “Hey,” Zygg said in a tired tone as she toasted him with her drink. 

   “Hey back. Well, sounds like you're settling in well around her, Zee.”

   “Indeed. Everyone has been so nice. And Toa here is quite the student.”

   The Twi’lek woman beamed. “It’s been fascinating picking her brain, as it were. Though, I can’t wait to get back out into the field and find more of these High Republic temples.”

   Boop bee-boop bee , BD stated. 

   Cal nodded. “We just came back from the broken valley and there were several there.”

   “Really?”

   “Ehh,” Zygg winced at Toa. “That’s a pretty dangerous area to be exploring.”

   “I’d say,” Cal agreed. “Lava, Raiders, and the temples weren’t exactly easy to access. Best if you steer clear for now.”

   As Toa slumped her shoulders, Zee asked, “But at least you returned in one piece. Tell me, did you find what you needed?”

   “I think so. I hope so.” Cal glanced back across the space to see if Greez was finished closing a deal, but instead spotted Skoova Stev swimming around the curve of the fish tank. Cal gave him a quick wave then turned back to Zee. “Hopefully we’ll be departing for Jedha again soon.” 

   “Well, if there is anything else I can help with, do let me know.” 

   Cal offered her a warm smile and a departing wave to the two women next to her. “Thanks, Zee.” As he turned to walk toward the balcony, BD-1 hopped from his shoulder onto the tank’s arm rail and began to watch the various fish swim clockwise around the center stack of coral. An easy smile tugged at his mouth, and for the first time in a long time he allowed his mind to freely wander and take in the sights and sounds around him as the familiar driving drum beats and low throat vocals were quickly accompanied by the screech, twang, and strum of instrumentation. “No way,” Cal whispered aloud as he looked down at the stage and at DD as it waved its long arms and adjusted the soundboard dials to make the lights strobe along with the boosted bass. “Bee-Dee,” he called, waving for the droid to follow him as he headed back down the stairs. 

   Coming out on the other side of the bar, Cal headed toward Ashe as they stood off to the side of the stage, bopping their head along to the music. “Cal,” they yelled with a grin. “You didn’t tell me how much of a dive this place is! The stage was a mess. The refreshers barely work. The folks are rough. We love it here!”

   “Really?”

   “Yeah! This crowd is starved for some entertainment! Just look at ‘em!”

   Cal glanced around again and took in how different the place seemed since that first day he’d walked in. “Look’s it. So you guys play The Agasar?”

   “Yeah, man. Of course. Let’s see,” Ashe yelled again as she leaned in close and scrolled through the list on her wrist datapad. “We got their classic, ‘Eseerin Vasahina’, and two of their newer ones, ‘Hohochu’ and ‘Erin Siinaa’.”

   “Great! They’re my favorite.”

   “Yeah? Hey, Dee-Dee!” The DJ droid’s facial screen twisted over to Ashe as they waved their hand in a circular motion in the air. “Keep’em in the mix!” DD banged its clawed hand against its head and continued to bop up and down as if dancing.

   “Thanks.”

   “Don’t mention it. And if you got any more requests, let me know!”

   Cal gave them a salut then began to threaded himself and BD through the crowd, giving Mosey and Turgle a nod in greeting as he passed and headed toward the booth Bode was occupying. “How about this?” He asked by way of greeting as he slid into the space next to his crewmate. 

   Bode looked up from cleaning his new pistol and gave a nod of approval. “A definite improvement, I’d say. Who was that you brought in earlier?” 

   “Holotactics team looking to set up shop.”

   “Nice. So, fine anything?”

   Cal nodded as he pulled free the second cylinder from his belt. “Dagan is definitely looking for these things, so it has to have something to do with getting us to Tanalorr.”

   “Well let’s hope so.” 

   “I have confidence in Cordova,” Cal said as he leaned back against the cushions and watched Monk chat with the patrons at the bar.

   “…You seem different here, Cal.”

   Cal looked back over and found his friend staring at him with a curious expression. “…How so?”

   Bode shrugged as he bit back a smile. “You’re more relaxed for sure.”

   Cal looked away as he thought about it. “I guess. Greez did a good job with this place. …Feels like a home.”

   “Hmm. Greez… Not sure I’ll ever meet another Latero like him.”

   Beboop? BD asked with worry. 

   “That was supposed to be a compliment,” Bode assured. “So, I meant to ask, did you choose that paint job for the Stinger Mantis or was that Greez?”

   Cal burst out laughing. “It’s a little flashy for my taste.”

   “Hey, when you’re the galaxy’s most wanted you might as well go out in style.”

   He huffed as he scratched at the scar along his jaw where his stubble refused to grow. “The Mantis has gotten us out of more scrapes than I can count. She could do with more regular maintenance, but I couldn’t ask for a better ship.”

   “Then she lives up to her name,” Bode nodded. “If I were you, I’d ride that thing until the thrusters fell off.”

   Cal smiled as BD settled himself on the sofa next to him and looked back out over the crowd. “That’s the plan.”

Chapter Text

   Turning his face from side to side in the small mirror, Cal focused back onto his own green eyes and blew out a small puff of air. His reflection vibrated as the ship came out of hyperspace, and he quickly smoothed down his red thermal shirt before stepping out of the refresher and shrugging on his vest and tightening his fingerless gloves. Stay focused. We’re here to find our way to Tanalorr, he reminded himself as he headed toward the cockpit.

   “Think Cordova can make some sense out of that tech Cal found?”

   “You kidding? That guy is as sharp as they come. Boy, I can’t wait to see Cere again. I owe her big time. She fronted me the credits for Pyloon’s.”

   “What do you owe her, Greez?”

   “Two thousand credits, give or take. Maybe I’ll make Granny Pyloon’s famous casserole and she’ll forget all about it.”

   “For two thousand credits, that better be one hell of a casserole. Ah, Cal,” Bode said as he walked in, but he paused as he looked him over then huffed a quiet laugh before turning his attention onto his boot. 

   “What?”

   “There you are. Grab some seat,” Greez ordered as he broke through Jedha’s atmosphere, then he looked over at him and fought off a smile. 

   “What? Is something-”

   “Nothing. You look good, kid. Smart choice, wearing layers. Lateros ain’t built for the cold, you know. Unfortunately it’s hard to find a stylish coat in my size and with four sleeves.”

   Cal cracked an uncertain smile, but ran his fingers through his hair once more as the ship’s fin rotated upward as they hovered long enough for the hanger doors to pull apart and grant them entry into the hidden Anchorite base. 

   Once landed, they filed out of the cockpit one by one and headed towards the door, save for Greez who hung back. “Not coming?” Cal asked with a raise of his brow. 

   “Nah, I’ll catch up. I’m gonna stay on the Mantis , check diagnostics.”

   “Well, if you need repairs, I’m sure the Anchorites would be happy to help.”

   “Ooh, no thanks. I don’t want those weirdos rooting through my ship.” At that, Bode let out a laugh and headed on down the ramp. “I mean, even now I can feel those Anchorites watchin’ me from behind their masks,” Greez said, looking around the ship as if anyone else was secretly on board. 

   Cal rolled his eyes and followed after Bode. “He’s probably just worried Cere will want her credits back,” Bode joked as they headed toward the archive together. 

   “No kidding. That’s a lot of credits.”

   Pushing the puzzle ball from one vault door to the next, Cal led the way into the bustling Jedi archive and quickly yanked his vest straight as he walked toward both Jedi masters and their resident Nightsister. But as he neared his brow furrowed at their worried tones.

   “I agree,” Cere stated as she looked at Merrin, who continued to study a holomap. “But how can we be sure it’s safe?”

   “We cannot.”

   “The network’s resources are stretched thin, and some local leaders are unwilling to accept the risks.”

   “How can we convince them? Many fear that accepting refugees will put a target on their back.”

   As Cere looked away with a sigh she caught sight of them and offered a curt smile. “Cal, you’re back. Did you find anything?”

   “Think so,” Cal replied, holding up the two cylinders for her to see.

   “Good. Cordova will be glad to hear it.”

   Cal swallowed as he looked between the two women who were now once again focused on the holomap, and felt Bode’s hand pat his back as he passed by to stand alongside Master Cordova at his work table. Without a word Cal followed after him and sat both items of interest down next to him, and watched as the old master picked them up for study. 

   “…A strange device. …This one seems to be a duplicate. Both have been damaged by…a lightsaber.”

   Cal found both Cordova and Bode pause to look at him. “Wasn’t me,” he insisted. “This time.”

   “Perish the thought, hmm?” Cordova teased.

   Berbeep .

   Cal smiled at his droid friend for the backup and looked back over the device in question - the one he’d witnessed Dagan kill over. “You think you can fix it?”

   “I don’t know. But I will certainly try.”

   At the sound of thin clanking metal, the three of them looked up and watched as one of the masked Anchorites hurried into the room toward Cere. “Master Junda. The Empire is nearing Pilgrim Sanctuary.”

   “Is it a strike force?”

   “No, an excavation team.”

   “Good. Then they don’t know about the safe house.”

   Cal stepped away from the work table and walked toward them, catching Merrin’s eye as she stoically stood next to Cere and listened to the obvious ill news. “Yet,” she added.

   “Safe house?” Cal asked them.

   “Hidden in the ruins,” Cere explained. “Have we begun evacuations?”

   The Anchorite nodded, causing the dangling metal plates on their mask to sway. “They’re already underway. But, Brother Armias isn’t responding.” 

   “Armias has the communication codes,” Merrin said with a look of worry. 

   Cordova moved to stand among them and nodded. “If they capture him it could put the entire Hidden Path at risk.”

   “I know the ruins,” Merrin declared. “I will go.”

   “I’m coming with you,” Cal said as she moved past him. “Bode?”

   Bode looked from him to Cere and Cordova. “You know what, I think I should stay here. Make myself useful.”

   “I could use a research assistant,” Master Cordova stated quickly, waving for Bode to join him back at the table. 

   When Cal looked back to Cere she stepped toward him with the same look of urgency she used to wear when they were about to do something either really dangerous or really stupid. “Bring back Armias,” she stressed. 

   “You got it,” he promised, turning to follow after Merrin.

   “And no heroics!” 

   Merrin turned to look at him and fought back a smile before glancing back at Cere. “With this one? No promises.”

   “I think she was talking to you.”

   “Unlikely.”

   “Is the safe house far?” He asked as he followed her toward the back of the archive and into what appeared to be a central hub with living quarters and a shop and lift. 

   “No. But we will need a spamel to get there. They gather near the base. Perhaps you can convince another one to give us a lift?”

   “Worth a try,” he said as she vanished in a swirl of green fire and reappeared on the lift platform, waiting for him to catch up before sending them both upward. “So what was this place before?”

   “An old Anchorite monastery. Impressive, isn’t it?”

   “Yeah.”

   “Pilgram Sanctuary is an ancient temple. Cere and Master Cordova chose it as the Hidden Path’s safe house. We knew one day the Empire would come. Just not so soon.”

   Cal gave her a small nod in understanding, and hurried after her once the lift came to a stop, racing through various rooms sectioned off with routes that seemed to head in multiple directions. As they turned left, and then right, he caught sight of the large locked door they were running towards and unlocked it with the Force so as not to slow their pace. Exiting the dim caverns, Cal blinked against the sudden flood of blinding reflective light but still kept running till Merrin slowed to a halt and pointed northeast. 

   “Pilgrim’s Crossing is on the other side of the desert. But we must be careful. Imperial patrols are becoming more frequent, and we cannot let them trace us back to the base.”

   Cal raised his hand to shield his eyes and looked out over the arid land. In the hazy distance he could make out what looked to be temple-like structures carved into the rock, but just barely. He turned his focus back to the space around them and headed towards the two spamels that were standing idly by. “Hey there spamel friend,” he called to the nearest one, reaching out his hand as its small head turned towards them. “Mind giving us a ride?” As the creature bent its front leg to let him clamber on, the other spamel watched with indifference as it chewed a mouth full of thistle. “Alright. Let’s hope this one doesn’t abandon us.” As the animal turned to leave, Cal felt Merrin’s body suddenly lean against him, and glanced down to watch her tattooed hands wrap across his torso to secure herself to him.

   “Don’t hold a grudge, Cal,” she scolded gently. “It’s not you.”

   “No?” He breathed, looking back out toward their destination and feeling his cheeks warm against the cold breeze.

   “No. …Is Greez not with you?” 

   “He is. He was just finishing checking on a few things on the Mantis. …He won’t say it, but I know he’s missed you.” 

   She hummed softly. “I missed him too. But if you tell him that, I will retaliate.” And as if to prove her point, Cal felt her finger poke into his rib, causing him to flinch and laugh. 

   “Fair enough. This desert seems to go on forever.”

   “Yes. It continues to surprise me.”

   “How so?”

   “Its history is old. Yet even now there are people who still find things of value amongst its unforgiving sands. Pilgrims of many faiths choose to face its dangers in hopes of finding whatever it is they seek.”

   Cal nodded as he glanced at the fallen stone and clay structures they were beginning to pass. “And what about you? You found anything out here?” He tried to glance back at her, but her face was hidden from view now that she was resting it against his back.

   “…I’m not sure yet. …Bee Dee, how is the desert treating you?”

   Cal took note of her swift change in topic, but looked down at his droid and smiled as BD beeped happily in his lap. “He says he likes it out here.”

   “Interesting. I would have thought a droid would hate sand.”

   “He lives for the adventure, don’t you, bud?”

   Bireep!

   A loud blast not far from them caused the spamel to groan and slow its pace, and Cal quickly patted at its neck to sooth its nerves. “Woah, easy.” BD hopped onto his arm and zoomed his ocular lens.

   Boowoop-beep.

   “Empire,” Cal translated, squinting through the swirl of dust to make out the shape on an AT-ST.  

   “Let’s try to avoid unnecessary attention. It’s not far now. The highlands are just up ahead.”

   He tapped the spamel’s side with his heel and urged it back into a gallop. “Won’t be easy when the desert’s littered with Imps.”

   “Then we will deal with them together.”

                     ~*~

   “Enemies ahead,” Merrin warned as she portaled herself onto the broken rocky ledge they needed to cross. 

   Cal looked over toward the cluster of troopers and their one security droid battling a cluster of the spider-like creatures he’d ran into in the ruins upon his first visit, and brought the spamel to a halt. “Thanks, friend. Now go find someplace safe.” The animal stomped at the ground as he leapt onto the ledge, and quickly turned to leave the chaos behind with a loud whine. Cal uncoupled his saber and ignited it as he ran straight into the fray, picking up the fanged bulbous creatures with an invisible hand and tossing them toward the Stormtroopers. As they instinctively raised their arms to block the attack, Merrin appeared before them in a blaze of green fire and lashed out at them with their spear and impelling both man and beast before vanishing again. 

   Cal dodged the security droids oncoming attack and pushed back the Patrol Trooper, causing them to flail back just long enough to give him the opening he needed to thrust his saber into their chest and pull them around to take the brunt of the droid’s next attack. “Target error,” the droid clarified as the trooper's body let out a sickening crack and toppled onto the ground. Cal shuffled back to gain some distance, and watched as Merrin blinked back into existence and threw ropes of green ichor around the droid.

   “Quickly, Cal!” 

   Twisting his heel in the dirt while summoning the other end of his saber from his belt, Cal twisted both ends together and felt the two shards of kyber pulse through the Force as he ran towards the droid, the blade extending in length as the cross guard emitters clicked into place to vent the additional energy away from his hand. Putting all his weight into the swing, he pushed off the ground and pulled the blade up through the droid’s torso with a spin, leaving a clean burnt line through the metal and plastoid armor.

   The ichor ropes swirled into wisps of smoke as the two halves of the droid slid apart, and Merrin raised her brow as she approached him. “You’ve acquired a new lightsaber.”

   He smiled as he spun the blade for show, then ran his hand over the hilt to deactivate it. “Same one. Just different parts for new tricks.”

   Merrin bit back a smile as she nodded her approval. “Effective. But, come. You will need to climb these cliffs,” she explained, waving him toward the mountain behind them. Cal clipped the hilt back at his side and pulled free his ascension cable as Merrin again vanished, and used it to pull himself onto the pocketed stone and begin his climb.

   “So, how’d you get involved with the Hidden Path?” 

   A flash of green magick flickered in his peripheral. “I came across someone in need during my travels and helped them hide from the Empire. That eventually led me to the Path.”

   Cal glanced up and grabbed onto her outstretched hand and hoisted himself the rest of the way onto solid ground, letting out breath as he looked out over the arid flats.  “Sometimes…I wonder if destroying the holocron had any impact.” At her silence he glanced over and found her offering him a sad smile.

   “We protected the children on that list. But there are others.

   “And the Empire’s still hunting them down,” he nodded as he headed up the incline.

   “Just so. We must protect those we can.”

   “Sounds like you’ve had better luck at that than I have.”

   “Do not doubt your efforts, Cal Kestis.” 

   Cal frowned at her words but said nothing, and instead followed as she headed inside the rounded temple at the top. “These are just like the ones at Cere’s base,” he stated as he looked over the chamber’s interior walls and at the puzzle orbs that sat embedded in the wall across from the large metal door. But a chuck of the wall had dislodged along one of the runs, and with a shove of the Force, he pushed it back in place so as to let the orb slide along with ease. 

   “Yes. They are ancient security mechanisms. A remnant of those who came before. When the Empire arrived, the Anchorites began to use these.”

   He shoved at the second orb, then watched as the door began to lift. “Old tech is less conspicuous.”

   “Exactly,” Merrin stated as she blinked out of sight then reappeared on the other side. “Shall we continue?”

   Cal forcefully yanked the chunk of wall back out and used it to leap across. “Lead the way.”

   As they stepped out and began down the worn path, the roar of TIE fighters echoed off the rocks as three swiftly flew overhead and toward the carved pillars and grand looking temple entrance in the mountain across from their location. “The Empire. They’re headed towards Pilgrim’s Sanctuary!”

   “The safe house is in there?”

   “Yes. The temple is abandoned and well-fortified, but-”

   “Perfect place to hide from the Empire.”

   “So we thought.”

   Cal swallowed as she looked at him with uncertainty. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’ll find Brother Armias.”

   She gave him a curt nod, then hurried down the path. “I hope so. We will take the back route. It is the fastest way.”

Chapter Text

   “What was that about a faster route?” Cal asked as they skid to a halt at the sight of another skritton resting with the cavern they had to cross.

   “Faster does not mean safer, Cal. If anything, there is usually more danger. But at least there’s two of us. One for each of its claws.” 

   As a smirk tugged the corner of his mouth, he pulled free his saber hilt. “You attack from-”

   “Above, while you attack from below,” Merrin finished, vanishing from his side in a sudden blaze of green flame. 

   “I was going to say ‘the side’. But sure, we can go with the old routine,” Cal said as he leapt on even ground with the deadly creature and rolled his neck and shoulders. On his back, BD-1 peeked over his shoulder and watched as the skritton sensed his movement and shifted its large claw. Its multiple eyes blinked as it opened its wide, fang-filled mouth to hiss at him, then scurried forward on its six legs; its barbed tail pulling back for a potential strike.  

   Cal twisted apart his hilt and ignited both blades, but stood his ground as he felt the Force shift around them. As the skritton swung its large claw out to the side to give its tail room to strike, a sudden pressure brushed against his mind then faded - right as a slip of green ichor shot into being and pierced through the tail in a flash. Cal rolled to the side and flung both sabers towards the screeching beast as Merrin’s spear lodged itself and the deadly barbs into the dirt next to him. Cal hurried toward its smaller claw and summoned back both hilts, causing each blade to cleanly cut through its unarmored limb. 

   The skritton ripped free its bleeding tail from the ground and reared back as it swung its large armored claw to attack. But a sudden barrage of green fire exploded against its few remaining eyes, and its claw was quickly redirected to cover its face. Cal ran as fast as he could forward and used the opening now left by the missing claw to get in close to its unprotected abdomen and cut cleanly across. As he ran, ichor ropes wrapped around the skritton’s spear-like legs and held them up to keep him from being impaled, and bought him the few seconds he needed to escape being crushed. 

   “Nicely done,” Merrin stated the moment she reappeared to run alongside him.

   “Nice aim,” he huffed back as he leapt onto the rock ledge and pulled himself out of the pit. He paused just long enough to look back at the angered and stumbling creature, then hurried across the rock face to make it over the gap of rock Merrin was now teleporting across. 

   On the other side the path wound itself back out onto the windy mountainside, and twisted upward toward what looked to have once been a settlement. But as a loud echoed roar began to grow, they stopped long enough to hide among the rocks and watch two more TIE Fighters race past overhead.

   “Empire’s closing in,” Merrin stated as she rose to her feet. Let’s split up. I will slow their progress while you continue on. We can regroup near the temple.”

   “Hey, Merrin,” he yelled after her. But in a warped wave of green fire, she vanished. “…Watch yourself out there.”

   “I’ll be doing the watching, Cal,” her voice called back from somewhere above him. 

   Cal looked up and around him as he chuckled, then stepped back onto the path and began looking around the weather-worn settlement. “Guess it’s just you and me again, bud.”

   Beeboop! BD-1 beeped as he hopped down to hurry over toward several broken clay pots and vases that sat scattered around the exterior buildings. 

   Cal smiled at his droid then walked up toward the only building to have an actual door and waved his hand over it. “Locked,” he stated, reaching out even further to wipe away the dust covering its faded lettering. “Welcome travelers. Heh. Kinda hard to imagine now.”

   As he stepped away and headed towards the last of the broken buildings, BD hurried after him and climbed up his pants leg to cling to his vest as he entered a darkened, circular, decorative building. Beoop-beep , BD pointed out. Cal clambered onto the raised circular platform at the room’s center and looked up at the opening in the wall. What appeared to be some decorative grating hung against the cob wall, and dangling just above it was a metal connector cable that seemed attached to a glass door just ahead of him.

   Guess it couldn’t hurt , he thought as he held out his hand and pulled the connector piece to him. As it sailed through to air and into his hand, the glass door rose up, revealing a large box hidden behind it. “Do me a favor and see if there’s an exit behind that?” BD-1 excitedly jumped down and raced toward the crate and disappeared. “Anything?” Seconds passed without response, and Cal shifted the connector’s weight onto his other shoulder. “Bee-Dee?” After another moment of silence, his little droid appeared from behind the crate dragging something with one foot clamp and hopping toward him on the other. “You hurt? What is that?”

   Bee-whoop boo-beep!

   “Oh, nice find, bud. Was there a way out?”

   Boop.

   Cal let go of the connector cable and quickly pulled the crate forward through the Force before the door slid closed, then hopped down to take the sand covered lightsaber hilt his droid had procured. “This must be ancient. Hmm, no echo. Still, it’s an amazing find. But we need to hurry. Come on. We can use the crate to climb through that hole in the wall.” As BD leapt back onto his back, Cal pulled the crate to line up with the grating and jumped up to climb through the darkened hole above. A slight chill crawled over him once inside, and as BD switched on his headlamp, they were instantly greeted by a wall full of stacked skulls.  Cal ignited one end of his saber and looked down at the cluster of various bones that littered the floor. “Careful not to touch anything in here. Don’t want to wake the dead.”

   Boooooo , BD trilled quietly as they carefully made their way through the chilled darkness and down a subtle slope. Cal paused once the floor leveled out as several singular reflective eyes turned toward him in the saber’s blue glow, and he watched as the small crab-like creatures he fought before opened their small, fanged mouthed and scuttled towards him. Cal activated the blade at the other end of the hilt and began thrusting both ends out towards his attackers. 

   “How many of these things are there?” He asked as he fought off yet another wave appearing out of the dark. In a split second decision, he pulled on the rock within the wall. As dusty light filtered into the sacred space, those not crushed by the tumbling rock shifted back into the dark with a chittered hiss. But as he began to climb over the debris, he caught sight of a few attempting to follow after him.

   Cal stumbled out onto a broken platform that had been part of the old settlement he’d just left, and quickly flung himself onto an old pole that jutted out from the wall, then flipped onto the wall and used the Force to guide his momentum in a downward run, then leap through the air and land onto one of the entry gate pillars he’d previously passed under. “Woah. Stuck the landing,” he laughed anxiously as he tried to hold his balance on the narrow, ancient stone. Behind him he could hear the angry hiss of the creatures from the tomb, but he kept his focus forward and he carefully placed one foot in front of the other until he was able to leap onto the ledge of the building he’d been unable to enter before. 

   Trusting in the Force to not let him fall, Cal shifted himself along the ledge till he reached the caved-in roof, then pushed himself through and landed on the interior spiral stairway that led up and out onto the very top of the mesa. Cal shielded his face and braced his footing as he stepped forward through the strong gust of wind. “Hold on, Bee-Dee. …Does this remind you of Zeffo too?” Cal felt his droid’s foot clamps tighten their hold on his vest as he beeped an affirmative. “…The wind’s too strong. I won’t be able to safely jump across,” he shouted over the noise. He shifted his gloved hands and looked towards what else was on his side of the windy gap and noticed a small carved out path he could use to climb downward into a protective crevice. 

   Taking in a deep breath once he was in the protective space, Cal shifted himself toward the other opening and noticed a large metal beam embedded in the rock on the other side of the gap. Out of curiosity he reached through the Force and pulled it forward, and felt invisible locking mechanisms click into place as the beam fully extended, completely cutting the gale-force winds down to a light breeze and creating a loud metallic hum that only added to the eerie howl of the wind corridor below. 

   “Ever heard anything like that before? It’s almost like music,” Cal realized as he hurried back through the crevice and out onto the mesa where he was now able to make the jump. Once on the other side he jogged over to what appeared to have once been an exterior wall and crouched down, giving himself a second to collect in thoughts and recenter his focus. But as he closed his eyes a shutter through the Force flowed through him. His brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the feeling, but the nearby crackle of a Stormtooper’s comlink caused him to quickly rise to his feet and reach for his lightsaber.

   “What was the ETA on that shuttle?!”

   “They didn’t say! But it should have been here by now!”

   “What is that loud racket?” 

   “Not sure! Guess I should go check it- ahhhhhhh!” 

   Cal stood with his hand outstretched and watched as the troopers he’d pushed from the ledge flew sideways in the forceful wind, then felt BD fall from his back as he was forcefully jerked backwards and gut punched so hard it sent him skidding across the ground. “Gah!” He groaned as he fought back a wave of nausea and quickly kicked himself backwards as a Security Droid stomped out from behind the wall he’d carelessly ran past. 

   “That was ill advised,” the droid stated as it loomed over him and brought down its fist for a heavy slam. But Cal rolled to one side to slice off its arm, then rolled to the other side and cut clean through its leg, and forced himself onto his hands and knees so as to thrust the blade up and through the droid’s power cell within its back panel. Sparks shot around the kyber’s energy beam, and the droid’s body jerked before going still. 

   Cal deactivated the saber and slumped to the side to clutch at his stomach. “Bee-Dee?” A small sense of relief threaded through him as the little red and white droid peeked out from behind the cluster of clay bricks and hurried toward him, beeping his concern and offering him a Stim canister. “You hear what that trooper said,” he asked, wincing through both the ache in his gut and pinch of the stim’s needle. “They were waiting on a shuttle. That means more are on the way.”

   Boop.

   Cal let the vial fall to the ground and gingerly shifted himself so as to rest back against the wall. “What kind of pilgrims came through here anyway? Imagine trying to cross these gales and cliffs just to find a safe place. Guess you can’t put a price on sanctuary. Merrin said this was the back route, right?” He shook his head and looked back behind the wall and the rush of wind and questionable metal grating he was going to have to cross. “Hope Cere’s got another way for these refugees. They’ve been through enough. …And I hope Merrin’s alright.”

                    ~*~

   Re-emerging into being, Merrin crouched among the shadowed ruins and watched as a gathered group of Imperial troopers lazily marched onto their shuttle. As the last of the group turned to head inside she clutched the totem attached to her pack and whispered one of her sister’s spells, and felt herself slip back into the slim void between the physical and spirit worlds, and willed herself forward into the bay.

                    ~*~

   “I just don’t see why they sent us out here,” Trooper T27391 continued once the ship lifted into the air. “The city is where the action’s at.”

   “Pff. Are you kidding? I’d rather stand around in the middle of nowhere breathin’ in the fresh air. Better than having crazies yell at you about the ‘cosmic powers of the universe’ or some such nonsense.”

   “You’ve had to deal with the Guardians too?”

   “Yup.”

   “I arrested four just last week.”

   “Twelve.”

   “Twelve?”

   “Found them harboring shards of kyber crystals in a warehouse.”

   “Wow. See? That’s what I’m saying! So why send so many of us out here to some old ruins?”

   “Because supposedly there’s a deposit of the stuff around here.”

   “That’s not it. We’re investigating a rumor of a safe house full of Jedi.”

   “Jedi? Can’t be.”

   “Real or not, fugitives of the Empire have been asking for safe passage to these ruins, and we’re going to find out why. Right as soon as we pick up the rest of the unit.”

   “Hey…you guys smell that? Smells like-”

   “Gas!” Trooper J5492 coughed as a green haze began to rise up from the floor. 

   “Keep your masks on! Hold your breath,” the commander ordered. But K0194 tore off his mask and clutched at his throat - his eyes bulging as blackened veins raised up under his skin, and the commander gasped, sucking down a mouthful of the bitter ashen taste.

                    ~*~

   “What is going on?” Demanded the shuttle’s co-pilot as the door slid open. “What’s-”

   The Imperial gasped as Merrin thrust her dagger into his gut, and his blue eyes drug up to meet hers only but for a moment before rolling back up into his skull and falling to the side, sliding off her dagger as she yanked it up and thrust it into the coughing pilot. Alarms sounded throughout both the cabin and holding bay over the men’s continued coughs and panicked cries, and Merrin held on to the dash controls as the bottom of the shuttle scraped against rock. Through the windshield she watched as the shuttle nosedived toward a section of the path, and she focused her gaze onto a spot just outside of the landing zone. The ichor life energy of Dathomir ignited within her veins, and burned her away into nothing - then reformed her a second later upon the ground a safe distance away.

   Merrin placed her hands on her hips as she tilted her head to the side and observed her handiwork. “A bit sloppy,” she commented, looking over the once pristine ship’s crumpled wing panels and shattered windshield, and at the few remaining Imperials that had managed to survive crawl out onto the ground as they gasped for air. But a sudden explosion from within belched a rolling ball of fire into the sky and sent fiery debris raining down on those attempting to escape. “But, effective.” 

                    ~*~

   “Hear that? It’s the ghost,” once of the troopers below voiced anxiously.

   “Calm down. That’s just the wind,” the trooper in charge scolded.

   “I don’t know which is worse. These winds or the-”

   “I swear, if I hear ‘desert ghost’ one more time…”

   “Winds don’t sound like explosions!”

   Cal shifted himself to the very edge of the grating panel then lunged back onto the rocky path above the cluster of troopers in the small dugout below. “You hear that, bud,” he whispered with a grin. “Sounds like Merrin’s been causing trouble.” BD silently nodded and pointed out his foot toward the growing black cloud of smoke. With a nod he silently hurried down the curved path and leapt onto the lower section that widened into a more open strip of land, and paused at the sight of the burning command shuttle. “Yeah,” he breathed in slight awe. “Definitely Merrin’s work.” A strange sense of pride bloomed in his chest as walked past and took in just how much damage his Nightsister had caused. “She’s a force of nature, isn’t she?”

   Bzoop-boop?

   Cal stood at the edge of the lower wing panel and aimed his ascension cable to latch on to the upper wing, and ran up and over the flames to land onto the path’s upper level. “Those stormtroopers weren’t ready for these conditions. And it doesn’t hurt to have a ‘desert ghost’ on our side. Maybe the wind’s turning in our favor for once.”

   Bewoo!

   With a renewed sense of confidence, Cal jogged onward up the path and into the building ahead, and jumped his way toward the opening on the other side, coming out onto another canyon overlook and an entrance marked as the Crypt of Uhrma. Pulling free his lightsaber and feeling its weight in his grasp, Cal carefully entered the tomb, hoping he wouldn’t have to run into anymore of the crab-like bugs. But instead of chittering he could hear the modulated voices of troopers wondering about their missing comrades. 

   “Go check on the new unit. It’s not responding to comms. The Empire is putting a lot of faith in us to take down this Jedi.”

   “Who, me?” He asked as he spun out from the shadows and struck both troopers. BD jumped down and scurried over toward one of the exits and scanned the lettering on the wall. “‘Rest. Reflection. Direction. Onwards, traveler.’ Oh, that’s encouraging. Guess we head this way.”

   Bwoop.

   Yet as they followed along the corridor and came out into what once must have been a grand hall, Cal paused long enough to flick on his saber’s activation switch right as two troopers and their newer, deadlier looking droid looked toward him and activated their weapons. “Looks like the Empire has a new toy! You will protect me,” he insisted, waving his free hand toward both troopers and pressing his request into their thoughts.

   “Protect…him,” one of the troopers stated with uncertainty as he backed up and opened fire on the droid.

   “Trooper malfunction,” the droid stated, turning towards the offending trooper even as bolts impacted against its frame.

   “Wait! Hold on! I didn’t mean to-”

   Cal fired off another charged shot from his pistol as the droid sent the trooper sailing through the air into a stone pillar with its spinning baton, then swiveled around to attack the second trooper. The bolt sizzled into the droid’s armor, but still it continued its pursuit. 

   “It wasn’t me, you malfunctioning hunk of junk! It was the je-”

   “Dee-Tee fully functional,” the droid’s deep electronic voice declared as it snatched the trooper and slammed its weapon down on the man’s helmet. Then it turned its menacing glowing red eyes toward him and rotated to its full height. “Target will be eliminated.”

   Cal shuffled to the side to keep his distance and flung his saber. The sentry droid batted his weapon away with the electrified baton, but stumbled back as another charged bolt slammed into its plating. Cal grabbed for control of his spinning saber and willed the energy blade back around to cut through the droid’s unarmored legs before returning to his hand. The top heavy droid tumbled forward, stating aloud its damage assessment, but Cal blinked in surprise and shuffled back even more as the relentless droid jabbed the baton onto the dirt floor and began to drag itself toward him. 

   “This guy doesn’t know when to quit,” he sighed before dashing to the side to cut off its hand as it reached for him. The droid’s faceplate smashed onto the ground, and Cal took the opportunity to drive his lightsaber through its welded processor. As the electro baton’s power deactivated and tilted to the side, BD-1 jumped down and welded open one section of the droid’s damaged back panel, and scomped into its internal port. “That one doesn’t play nice, huh Bee-Dee? What is it?”

   Berrberrp boop.

   “DT Sentry Droid? Right. How does the Empire keep coming up with these things?”

   Zibreeeboop-zoobeep berrp-berrp.

   “Oh, nice. Should come in handy if we’re ever unlucky enough to run into one again. Now come on. We need to get moving,” Cal stated as he reattached his saber and studied the stacked pillars and scaffolding above.

Chapter Text

   Trudging up the windy mesa path, Cal cupped his hands over his eyes and looked out over the temple. “Looks like we’re getting closer, bud. But this next bit looks a little tricky. Ready?” BD whistled an affirmative, and Cal leaped onto the loose shale gravel and slid down the side of the mountain, trying to keep his balance so as to time his jump onto the rock spire to the side of them. 

   Sensing his chance, he used the built momentum of the energy through the Force and pushed himself into the air and let his boot hit the spire first, then redirected the coiled energy of his impact to propel him forward as he raced along the rock face and leapt onto another pillar that carried him back onto an intact section of the path. But as he sailed through the air a slight second of panic ran through him as he realized he was just shy of making the landing. Cal flung his hand to his hip and grasped the ascension cable, but a forceful gust of wind pushed them just far back enough upward that Cal managed to flip himself onto the ledge. Breeeee! Beebeep-zweee! BD cheered as Cal hurried inside the protective space of the carved out tunnel. 

   Cal let out an anxious laugh as his Master’s words rang true once again in his ears. “You want to do that again?”

   Bezeebeep!

   “Heh. Look here,” he pointed toward a damaged BX battle droid.  “Merrin’s still watching out for us, buddy. Risky stunts will have to wait.”

   Boop.

   Nearing the end of the tunnel, Cal crept towards the edge and watched as four troopers stood pacing around on the path below, and one patrolling farther ahead.

   “Where’s our shuttle? We gotta clear out before excavation reaches that temple.”

   “They’re dispatching another.”

   “I wanna have a front row seat when they try out the big gun.”

   Cal glanced back at BD and felt a sense of dread bloom in his chest as the droid lowered his antennae and widened his ocular lense. Why are they excavating the temple? Just to find refugees? Carefully he kneeled at the edge of the ledge and pushed out his hand toward the nearest trooper, carefully threading his consciousness onto that of the trooper’s. “You will clear this area of hostiles.”

   The flametrooper clutched the side of his helmet then raised the flamethrower’s nozzle as he started toward his unit commander. “I will… clear the area…” 

   Cal broke into a run the second the screams started, and leapt off the ledge to strike a killing blow onto the startled trooper below, then blocked the oncoming bolt from the trooper up ahead. As the flametrooper ended his attack and turned his attention from the burnt bodies of his allies onto him, Cal pushed back in the humming metal beam that had been keeping the wind at bay, and felt himself slide backward and away from the flame trooper’s ploom of fire that he then was engulfed in as the wind pushed the trooper through the flames. Cal twisted forward just in time to watch himself pushed off the ledge of the path and into the rock face across from him. Using the force of the wind at his back to hold him against the rock, he climbed upward and toward another cave entrance where the sound of windchimes urged him on.

   Once inside, Cal paused to catch his breath and smooth back down his hair as BD hopped off his back with an inquisitive chirp. “Definitely not doing that again. Hey, Bee-Dee…” As his droid scanned the walls, Cal looked up at the dozens of gently swaying decorative chimes, bells, canters of incense, and what looked to be sarcophagi, then quickly pushed away from the wall and swallowed at the sight of more wrapped bodies and skulls stuffed into the walls and scattered about the floor among the many pots and vases. “Careful, bud. I’m not looking for a repeat of earlier.” 

   Boo-zee-boop.

   Cal watched his footing as he moved next to his droid and read aloud the inscription carved into the rock above a row of ceremonial bells. “ ‘Seek not the path. Return to stillness, traveler, and the way reveals itself’. Easy to say when you're already resting in peace. …Well as much as I’m sure Merrin would love this place, I’m pretty sure she didn’t stop to check it out. Come on, buddy, we need to keep moving.”

                     ~*~

   Taking care not to get blown off the edge of the rock, Cal slowly shifted them across the mountain’s rock face and up toward another small sheltered opening, and huffed in surprise at the sight of several leafy green plants running over every inch of the small space as he hoisted them up onto solid ground. Pausing to study the copper tubing that ran along the walls, Cal stepped as close as he dared and stuck out his tongue to try and get a taste of the precious water as it misted out over the lush leaves.

   “Come now, you can make it,” stated a cheerful feminine voice. Cal quickly stepped back as he wiped at his mouth and blinked in surprise to find a tall, bulky, hairless alien donned in a long thick sweater and goggles standing behind a desk covered in potted fern-like plants. “You’re almost to the end of your journey. Though, I didn’t expect to see any pilgrims today.”

   “No, I’m not- …Name’s Cal. And this is Bee-Dee One.”

   “Pili! A pleasure to meet you.”

   “What are you doing here?”

   “Tending to what I can,” Pili said matter of factly. “But, very little grows here, as you can see.”

   “I don’t think I’ve seen any plants growing except near a watering hole.”

   The alien nodded with her entire upper torso. “Yes. Life struggles in this place. I’d been feeling rather aimless, so like the pilgrims, I came to find a new direction. When I came across these struggling seeds, I had to tend to them.”

   “I’m amazed anything grows out here. You’re a botanist?”

   “I am!”

   “Then you should check out the Koboh system sometime. Everything grows there. Trees, flowers, shrubs.”

   “Sounds lovely. Perhaps I will.”

   “Would be safer than staying here. The Empire is swarming this place, and I think they’re planning on excavating the temple. Might want to head out while you still can.”

   “That does sound wise. Thank you, Cal. I shall start gathering my seedlings at once.”

   He gave her a nod and looked out toward the bridge he’d spend all this time trying to reach. “I’d help you out of here, but…”

   “Do not worry. I know several passages through these mountains. I shall be fine.”

   “Great. And if you do make it to Koboh, head to Rambler’s Reach. Tell the bartender of Pyloon’s Saloon I sent you. He’ll get you set up.”

   “That’s very kind. Are you leaving as well?”

   Cal pointed toward the bridge. “I’m actually heading there. Trying to help some others escape.”

   “Then allow me to help you,” Pili said, stepping out from behind her desk and toward a large connecting cable. Activating it, a zipline shot out across the empty gap and latched on to its twin across the way. 

   “This’ll save me a lot of time. Thanks, Pili.”

   “You are most welcome, Cal. Until we meet again.”

   BD hopped from his shoulder and clamped his foot petals onto the cable, and beeped that he was ready. Cal gave Pili a farewell wave and held onto his droid as the two of them went racing toward the otherside. “Botanist in the desert. She must have been really lost or desperate to find her way,” Cal stated as they landed. “I hope she makes it out and finds what she’s looking for.”

   Beboop.

                    ~*~

   Passing under the carved out support pillar for the bridge and into its enclosed domed entry, Cal took a second to rub out the bits of dust and sand from his hair and face, and paused for a breather. Within the shadows across from him a spark of green flame flared into being then then died out as Merrin appeared and quickly looked out the carved window. “I did what I could, but there is still an Imperial unit up ahead. Thought I should warn you.” Without a word she pulled free a small canteen and offered it to him, and he gratefully took it - wincing as the grit on his tongue washed down his throat but still glad for the reprieve. “We should be able to take them, but they have some sort of new droid with them.” 

   Cal wiped at his mouth and watched as the DT sentry droid and two jet troopers paced just outside, then handed her back her canteen. “If we can distract the droid long enough, Bee-Dee has a trick to slow it down. Has the Empire found a way into the temple yet?”

   “No. But I have heard Imps talking of a new excavation machine.”

   “Same. We best move then. I’ll follow you.”

   Merrin pointed them towards the dome’s exit then reappeared outside to send her dagger flying through the air toward the first trooper. Cal instantly ignited one end of his saber and ran after her, sending his blade spinning toward the droid as BD hopped from his back. Quickly drawing his blaster, Cal then fired at the second jet trooper who was now in the air and trying to get a shot at Merrin. “Insurgents,” the droid announced as its severed arm and electro baton fell onto the ground. Cal fired another bolt into the trooper’s jetpack, then twisted around to grab ahold of his returning saber to block the oncoming fire. A ball of Merrin’s flaming ichor blasted against the trooper’s armor, and as the man fell they both turned their attention to the DT droid and dashed to either side as its remaining weaponized rifle arm opened fire. 

   “Bee-Dee,” Cal yelled as he rolled onto his knees and quickly raised his saber to deflect the barrage of bolts. His little droid fired his thrusters and clamped onto the sentry droid’s back plating, and fired up his hidden laser cutter to access the hidden comp-link. 

   “Prohibited droid maintenance,” the droid called out as it tried to swing its arm behind it. BD ducked down his visor but beeped his relief as Merrin’s ichor ropes threaded around the sentry droid, effectively holding it still as he bypassed its securities and powered it down. 

   “Great job, buddy,” Cal stated as he rose to his feet and fist bumped his little droid as he clambered back onto his back. “Now, to get past all this. Merrin, think you can-”

   “Of course,” she stated, already waving her hands to thread her magick over and around the pile of rubble blocking their way across the bridge and reconfigure it just as it had once been.

   “You’re the best. And that’s still impressive.”

   She looked back at him with an arched brow. “You have not seen the true extent of my powers, Cal Kestis.”

   “…Not sure if I should be scared or curious.” Her black lips pulled into a rare smile, and once again he found himself hit by the same sense of eager hopefulness he used to feel back when they’d all still been together and he’d managed to make her smile.

   “You can be both. …Will you be able to make it across?” Merrin asked as she came to a stop in the first broken gap in the bridge. 

   Cal shifted so as to let the wind forcefully push against his back. “Not without some help.”

   “Then it is good this path was designed to guide the winds. Try pulling that beam over there. Perhaps it can help you.”

   Turning to face the wind, Cal reached through the Force and pulled on the large humming metal beam on the other side of the bridge, and listened as the wind grew even louder as it was focused into a more narrow path. Next to them a large hole shifted open in one of the rock pillars and let out a low gutteral hum as the forced air blew inside. “Hear that?”

   “The ruins are singing.”

   “It’s coming from that chamber.”

   “Then you must find a way in.” 

   Cal looked at her questioningly, then looked back over just how much farther he had to go along the bridge, and at the extended gaps he knew he would be unable to cross. He glanced at BD who raised his antenna questioningly, then shifted closer to the edge and tapped into the flow of the Force - feeling it shift and ebb as if drawing him. “Now or never,” he breathed, taking a leap of faith off the bridge and feeling the impact of the wind rush him forwards and through the opening just to then smash him against the stone wall. “Gah! Yep, that hurt.” 

   Zee-boop?

   “Nope. I’m good. Just took me by surprise,” Cal groaned as he rubbed at his shoulder. As he did so he headed into the next room and shifted himself through the slim space of a broken off chuck of the ceiling and made his way down the spiral stairs. But as he traveled deeper in, his connection to the Force only seemed to intensify, heightening his senses and awareness of the shifts in powerful energy ahead. “…This place is strong in the Force.”

   Zibeep?

   “Yeah…”

   At the bottom of the stairs he stepped out a darkened chamber that seemed to stretch far above where he’d entered. And a broken section of rock on the other side let in just enough light to allow him to observe the upward structures he could potentially use to climb, as well as the same metal beams he’d utilized along his journey on the path embedded at different heights along the walls. Assuming they too needed to be pulled free, Cal began making his way upward and listened to the growing hummed growl of the wind as it picked up speed with each beam he pulled forth. From out of the darkness above, a large decorative cylinder began to lower down into the center of the chamber, and forced the swirling wind to funnel around it, creating almost a storm within the chamber itself. 

   Cal winced at just how loud all the combined noise had become, and launched himself off the grating he’d been clinging to to smack against the central cylinder, using his lightsaber to burn through the rock so as to control his descent onto the lower centralized platform below. Once he stumbled back onto solid ground, Cal paused as he looked at the swirling vortex of wind and charged lightning now snaking over the space he’d just traversed. How am I supposed to get through this storm? He spun around and found a large metal doorway right across from his platform and pulled it open. The heavy doors bashed widely against the walls till one tore free from its hinges and was blown behind him and further down past where he could not see. Cal gaped at the wind's power and the energy it created in the Force, and felt his panic tighten his chest. 

   Be-zuu-zubeep? BD asked with worry.

   Cal swallowed as he carefully stepped toward the edge of the platform and felt the wind widely rush through his hair. “I guess…I have to try. Maybe…this is a test? I don’t…” He shook his head then squeezed closed his watering eyes and forced himself to leap, and cried out as the wind swept him away like a speck of dust.

Chapter Text

      As he hurried back aboard the Mantis and quickly activated the holotable, Cere emerged from the cockpit with an easy smile. “Welcome back.”

      “Hey,” he mumbled, staying focused on the forming brutalist structure. 

      “…The Imperial labor camp on Mazah?”

      “The garrison’s half empty,” he explained, pointing out a possible entry point. “We can strike before reinforcements arrive.”

      “Sounds promising. But Merrin and Greez haven’t made it back to the ship yet.”

      “Well, as soon as they do, I’ll scout ahead and they can rest on the Mantis.”

      “You know they’ll never allow themselves to rest if you’re in danger.” He paused and took in her pointed expression, and tightened his jaw as he forcefully exhaled through his nose. “You never give up. And that’s what inspires all of us. But you have to remember that where you lead, they will follow.”

      “Look, I know I’ve been pushing recently, but ever since what happened to Greez-”

      “What happened to Greez is not your fault. But ever since then you’ve been reckless.”

      He looked away and up at the bulkhead. He wasn’t being reckless. He was being proactive and keeping his team safe. And if he hadn’t been knocked unconscious during his fight with the Fifth Brother, Greez would still have his arm. “…I keep worrying about something bad happening to one of you,” he admitted after taking a second to press down the wave of emotion welling up inside him.

      “It’s good to acknowledge your fear,” Cere nodded. “But don’t let it determine your path. Focus on the moment. Choose your direction and act with certainty. And trust that, whatever the odds, you’ll pull through.” As her footsteps echoed against the floor he looked back over at her. “Trust yourself,” she insisted.

      He studied her face as he replayed her words in his former master’s voice, then repeated the Lasat’s last dying words. “Trust the Force.”

      Cere’s eyes crinkled as she gave him a knowing nod. “Exactly.”

   Cal let out a pained cough and winced as he blinked open his eyes and took in the blurred image of BD-1’s legs. “Ugh. What-” He glanced around as he carefully sat upright and found he’d somehow landed in a semi-open tunnel just outside the loud wind chamber that still rumbled at the other end of the tunnel he’d somehow been blown into. “How long was I out?”

   Burzeep

   He frowned and slowly got to his feet. “We need to hurry and get back to Merrin.” As BD clambered back onto his back, Cal looked down both ends of the tunnel then headed toward the sunlit end that came to a sudden drop. It appeared that at one point the tunnel where he stood had been connected to the tunnel on the other side of the large gap, but knowing that didn’t get him across. “Any way back in from the otherside?” BD shook his visored head. Cal’s frown deepened, and he looked toward the other end for any blemish in the rock his ascension cable could latch onto. But the stone was still smooth despite the separation. 

    Choose your direction and act with certainty. And trust that, whatever the odds, you’ll pull through. Cal stared at the other end of the gap as Cere’s words lingered in his memory. Trust yourself. …Trust the Force. “No holding back now,” he mumbled, taking a few steps back from the ledge as he kept his focus on the other side. “Focus on the moment…and push through!”

   Running as fast as he could push himself, he leapt into the air and felt the energy of the wind and planet itself weave through the Force, and imagined himself being pulled forward, then in a split second felt himself dip and instinctually flipped himself forward, and felt hard rock hit the edge of his boots as he stumbled forward onto solid ground. “Ha! Ha ha! We made it, buddy!”

   Breee-zwoo-beep!

   “Yeah,” he laughed. “I can’t believe that actually worked! Okay…we’re still gonna have to take that storm inside head on,” he stated as he headed through the tunnel and came to a rattling metal door. Reaching through the Force, he lifted loose its barricade and winced as the howling wind forced aside the door with a bang. “Hang on, Bee-Dee!” Again he jumped into the swirling storm. But instead of giving in to his fear, he let in the living energy around him and channeled it to push him through onto the center platform. A wide grin spread across his face as he caught his balance and looked towards his awaiting exit and where Merrin’s familiar outline stood silently shouting at him. Cere always knew where to guide me. Even if I didn’t know my next step, he mused as he ran into the wind again and pushed through. 

   “There you are,” Merrin said as she reached out to help him keep his footing. “Cal, what happened?” 

   He took in her mildly worried expression and grinned. “See for yourself,” he called back as he took off in a run past her and dashed across the nearby gap. Once he landed he turned back to look at her and watched as she vanished in a swirl of green, then reappeared next to him with a subtle look of amusement. 

   “Not bad. Maybe you can keep up with me now,” she teased as she vanished and appeared for a split second on the rock above him, then again on the ledge across from him.

   Giddy relief and adrenaline were cursing through him, but they didn’t have time for games and needed to finish the mission. “Let’s find out,” he replied as he refocused his energy onto crossing the next gap and climbing onto the ledge after her. “What is the Empire up to?”

   “They’re now at the temple entrance, waiting for something.”

   “So we’ve still got time.”

   “I hope so. Think you can make this jump?” She asked as they came to a massive drop in the canyon. 

   Cal swallowed but kept his focus. People were counting on him. He tapped into the energies around him once more and dashed into thin air, then flipped himself onto the nearest stone pillar and raced across its face till gravity began to take hold, then pushed off and dashed forward again with the Force’s aid and landed on the other side as Merrin materialized next to him in the blink of an eye. 

   “Impressive. We’re almost-” Merrin’s words were drowned out by the sound of crumbling rock and grinding metal, and they both reached out to hold one another’s arm as the ground vibrated violently underneath their feet. After a second, a large spray of sand and rock shot into the air just a few feet ahead, and Cal’s jaw dropped as the massive pyramidal wedge-shaped body of a Trident-class assault craft burst up from the ground into the air on its four tentacle-like durasteel-armored legs while its center drill spun and flung debris. 

   “That can’t be good!”

   Merrin’s hand gripped tightly around his wrist as she looked at him with widened eyes. “It will tear the temple apart!”

   “And Brother Armias is still in there,” he breathed as he looked back at the former Separatist war machine now stomping its way up and over the bridge onto the mountain itself the temple was carved from. 

   “I’m going to split up. See if I can distract it long enough to buy you some time,” she shouted over the noise.

   Cal nodded and let go of her arm. “Be careful. I’ll see you inside.” His gut tightened as he watched her vanish in a swirl of green ichor, but redirected his focus onto finally crossing the bridge and saving those inside. 

                    ~*~

   Bode furrowed his brow and blinked in confusion as he watched the old Jedi master carefully fuse together two ends of what looked to be a micro data plate. He hadn’t exactly been keeping track of time, but he knew his back was beginning to ache and his stomach was growling, and he shifted his weight to lean against the table once more. Eno Cordova however seemed completely unbothered with leaning over the broken pieces of the compasses for hours; his attention completely focused on the task at hand. 

   “Making progress?” Cere asked as she placed a tray of what he assumed was food on the table. Bode jerked to his feet and scrambled to think of something to say while mentally cursing himself for not even realizing she’d been nearby. “Uh…maybe?” He shook his head and let out a frustrated chuckle. “I can barely keep up with this guy. The man’s a machine.”

   Cere gave her former master a knowing yet affectionate glance and scooted the tray towards him. “A machine in desperate need of maintenance,” Cordova joked as he finally put down his tools and stretched out his back. “Thank you, Cere.”

   Brode opened his mouth to ask where he might find a bite to eat, but Cere quickly fixed her brown eyes on him and gestured towards the hanger door. “As for you, Greez has prepared something he swore you would like.”

   He gave her a taken aback expression followed by an easy smile. “Great. Can’t wait. Is he, uh…” he trailed off, pointing towards Eno. But the old man waved him off.

   “Master Cordova has a bad habit of eating while working,” Cere explained as he followed her towards the Stinger Mantis . “Even as his Padawan I found myself having to remind him to eat, lest he’d forget entirely.”

   “Wow. Sounds like the two of you had an interesting partnership. Or, whatever you Jedi call it.”

   Cere nodded as she invisibly rolled along the locking orb to seal the archive closed as she walked. “It was…unique, for sure. I found it frustrating at the time, but I’m grateful for the trust and freedom he gave me. Nowadays I’m just happy to see him well and as inquisitive as ever.” 

   A slight twinge of jealousy threaded through his thoughts, but Bode quickly pushed them aside. “So, you joining us for lunch? Or whatever kind of meal you have at this time of day? It’s kind of hard to keep track of time down here.”

   “Yes,” she chuckled. “The Anchorites are gracious to share their food stores with us. But if I’m being honest, it’s all quite bland compared to Greez’s cooking.”

   “He does like his spices.”

   “He certainly does. And I intend to enjoy every bite.”

   “Any word from Cal?”

   “No. But I wasn’t expecting any. Outside communications are a risk we cannot afford to take at this time. …Either the two of them will succeed or they won’t.” 

   Bode gave the jedi a sideways glance. “Seems a little cold. I figured you’d be worried about them.” 

   Cere came to a stop at the foot of the Mantis ’s ramp and turned to look him dead in the eyes, her expression uncertain at first then resolved. Clearly there was a lot she was keeping to herself, and he could relate. “I do worry for them. But there is nothing more that I can do at this moment. I can only trust their judgment and keep the hope that the Force will guide them safely back to us. Besides, they have each other. And I’ve seen what they’re capable of when they work as a team. They’ll be fine.”

   Bode watched in silence as she gathered her robes and walked up the ramp with grace and purpose, and reflected on the odd sense of once again being a young boy left to contemplate some lecture. With a loud sigh and a shake of his head, he hoofed it back up the ramp and put back on his smile as Greez excitedly explained to Cere what he had made them. 

                      ~*~

   Nudging aside the dead patrol trooper’s foot, Cal twisted sideways and slid himself into the slim crevice of the caved-in temple entrance, and quickly slide himself out onto the other side where he was greeted by more rubble and a large stone slab with the phrase ‘ Sanctuary, to all who seek it’ inscribed upon it. “Sounds too good to be true,” Cal commended as BD-1 scanned the image and he climbed over the debris to access the hole in the wall behind the slab. Dust and small pebbles rained down around him as a loud thump rumbled through the mountain itself, and Cal paused to make sure he wasn’t about to get stuck in another cave in, then quickly hurried into the open room beyond that seemed to be lit by firelight. “That didn’t sound good.”

   Beeoop.

   “This place won’t hold long.” As the rumbling subsided, Cal looked down at the well lit space below him and gave himself a second to take in the temple’s beautifully decorated main chamber before focusing in on the stormtroopers and sentry droids scattered about patrolling the various levels. “Looks like the sanctuary has some new caretakers. That sentry droid could be trouble. Bee-Dee, mind giving me a look?” BD-1 shuffled down his arm and went still as the back of his visor formed a zoomed in image. Cal scanned the area and assessed which path might get him closest to the far side without raising suspicion, then patted the droid on the head to let him know he was done and ready to move.

   Cal crept toward one of the metal beams that curved around one of the long ornamental hanging lamps and carefully walked across it before flinging himself onto the wall and shoving his ignited saber into the stone to slow his descent down onto the second level of the room. “Grab everything you can find,” called out a troop commander from somewhere below. “We need a clean sweep before the drill guts this place.”

   “This is the third temple we’ve raided! What’s so interesting about Jedha anyways,” asked another. 

   “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

   Cal shook his head in disgust and launched himself forward to run along the wall above them both and softly landed on the other side.

   “What was that?” 

   “What was what?”

   “Uh…nothing. Hey, did you hear someone wiped out the squad on overlook patrol? Think it’s her?”

   “Put that ghost story to bed, soldier. The witches are dead and gone, just like the Jedi.”

   Cal rolled his eyes and leapt onto the ledge above him where a stormtrooper stood with his back turned towards him. Carefully and quietly he pulled himself up and crept toward the trooper, and slowly uncoupled half of his saber’s hilt and thrusted forward the on again - off again beam of blue energy, and eased the wounded trooper onto the ground while curls of smoke still swirled from the burned hole in the man’s armored chest. 

   Another loud rumbling thud sound from somewhere outside, and as all the lit braziers within the sanctuary swung from side to side on their heavy chains and more dust and loose rock rained down, Cal raced over the carved walkway and sliced through another patrolling trooper, then leapt onto the stone wall and sent himself dashing across the wide gap of the first floor and landed in a forward diving roll, then twisted back to forcefully push the stunned stormtrooper he’d passed who had yet to activate his rotary gun. The trooper let out a frightened scream then went silent as his gun clanked loudly against the tiled floor.

   “Trooper down! Someone’s here,” a patrol trooper called out. “Fan out!” The sentry droid’s heavy footfalls paused, then resumed again, and Cal caught sight of its angry looking visage. 

   “Target spotted. Target will be eliminated.”

   Cal twisted together both ends of his saber and ignited its extended blade as he leapt off of the lower platform and channeled the energy of his forceful landing into a ripple through the Force that knocked the clustered troopers off their feet. Then quickly twisted free both hilts and ran towards the row of pone troopers as his blade flickered out then reignited from each end. The stunned men’s cries barely registered in his ears as he focused solely on ending them quickly, and only registered the familiar crackled hiss of the energy beam melting flesh, fabric, and plastic.

   From his back, BD-1 trilled a warning, but Cal felt the sentry droid’s hammer knock into him and send him flying backward before he’d actually realized what had happened. A heavy ache caused his gut to clench. And as he hit the tile not far from the dead heavy trooper, he felt one half of his lightsaber fall free from his grasp. Cal let out a pained groan and shuffled himself up onto his elbow, and summoned back his saber with his free hand while he swung out his blade with the other to cut through the droid’s foot. The sentry droid tilted forward and brought its hammer down to catch itself, and Cal took its moment of weakness to roll onto his back and fling his reacquired lightsaber into its neural processor. The droid’s one undamaged eye flickered from red to black, then went out completely, and Cal let out a frustrated groan as he painfully got back onto his feet and recalled his deactivated saber. He looked out over the sanctuary's broken bridge that had once led over the cavernous gap in the cave’s center and toward the main focal statue and decorative reflection pool on the other side, then looked up and followed the line of curved metal beams that seemed to be holding in place parts of the cavern walls. Guess it’s back to climbing.

                    ~*~

   As Cal shifted himself from the metal beam onto the decorative grating, the whole mountain rattled violently, causing him to hold on for dear life so as not to fall off and into the pitch black cavern below. A loud muffled metallic whine grew louder and louder, drowning out the rumble of loosening rocks, and with a thunderous explosion Cal and BD watched as the back wall of the sanctuary exploded inward, toppling over the holy statue and reveal through the thick dust cloud and filtered light the Trident’s drilling blades. BD-1 squealed in panic and Cal forced himself to quickly shuffle toward the opening in the rock.

   Crawling through the space, Cal came face to face with one of the giant metal tentacles of the Trident - now stuck in place due to its angle and the large boulder resting against its clawed end. Cal watched for a moment as it shifted forward and back, trying to pry itself loose, then timed a low jump under it as it lifted upward to reach the otherside where another opening in the wall showed the upper level he was trying to reach. 

   Once through, Cal paused just long enough to watch the Trident’s spinning drill slow to a stop and jerk, then zeroed in on the group of troopers at the end of the pool cheering over the machine’s destructive entrance. Slashing and deflecting each bolt that came toward him, Cal made his way down and around the sloshing pool as the Trident continued its attempts to pry itself free. As the last trooper fell he paused to see if there was a way he could attempt to board the assault vessel. But as one leg came free, the drill blades began spinning up again. 

   “That’s not going to work,” he shouted aloud over the noise as he desperately looked around for some sign of where to go. “Got any ideas, Bee-Dee?”

   Ziiberperp bowoop!

   Cal looked back at the pool and caught sight of the opening his droid had pointed out. Really? Swim through an underwater cave system while the mountain falls apart around us? Great idea . Above the Trident shifted again, and without any other ideas, Cal pulled free his rebreather from his back pocket and fitted it in his mouth, then dived into the pool.

   The chill of the water took him by surprise, but he remained calm and focused on the breathing technique required for the rebreather. After a second he dove further down and was surprised to find several underwater lights left wedged within the rock walls of the underwater cave, creating an illuminated path for him to follow. 

   He wasn’t sure how many minutes he’d been under, but as he came up into an actual pocket of air, he found one of the Trident’s tentacles still stuck above him. Cal pulled himself out of the water and wiped the water from his eyes and inhaled the stale air, then shifted back to the next pool of water and dived back in to continue along the lit path. 

   At the end of the second cave, a cluster of the lights were left to point upwards, and above him he could see the shifting beams of natural light. Cal kicked his legs to quickly ascend, and yanked out the rebreather as he gasped for fresh air the moment he breached the surface. “Agh! Beats swimming through a sewer, but…” He treaded toward the rock wall and aimed his ascension cable at its edge, and rolled over the brick lining and onto the dirt floor of the chamber. “All good, bud?” he asked as he wiped the water from his face and jostled it from his hair. The cool Jedha air sent a chill across his damp neck, and he quickly removed his water-logged vest and gloves. The rest however he’d just have to tolerate. He knew his lightsaber could still function, but he aimed and fired his blaster at one of the nearby rocks and was relieved to see it still worked. BD chirped and clicked his rotors and opened his various hidden compartments, then confirmed he was still fully functional. “Good. And considering there’s a giant locked door in front of us, I get the feeling we’re in the right place. What do you think?”

   Bezeep.

   Cal nodded and took a moment to study the heavy duty blast shield doors and pulley locking levers located above them. It was an odd puzzle design, but not the strangest he’d ever seen. Pushing both doors inward on their track, he quickly pulled toward him one of the levers and locked it in place, then quickly drew toward him the next just in time to let the door slide into place, then dropped lock down to hold it there. The two ends met in the middle, and Cal watched as some hidden pressure plate was activated and sent the door pressing inward then lowering into the floor. 

   “Okay, getting closer,” he huffed with relief as his wet boots squelched against the ground. But even though the walls were covered in the bones and wrappings of the dead, Cal noticed this catacomb had fresh tracks left upon the floor. Semi-damp boot and footprints left in the dirt amongst kicked and crushed bone. “See this? Looks like there was a scramble to evacuate.” As BD clambered down to scan the scene, another loud rumble sounded through the mountain, causing the bones around them to clatter and rattle. Cal quickly hurried forward after the prints, and came out into a circular room with a sealed off door and a caved in exit. The muddy prints ended as he stepped into the flooded central section of the floor, but felt the Force tug him towards the metal valve at the center of the room. 

      Placing his bare hand upon it, he felt reality waver and drain of color as terrified voices breathed in his ears. “Quickly, everyone! This way!”

      “Hurry!”

      “Are you coming with us?”

      “I must remain here a little longer. Go now. There is no time. I will seal the passage behind you. …May the Force be with you all…”

   Cal blinked as the voice faded and the space around him again filled with color and noise, and his eyes refocused on the sealed door across from him. That had to have been Brother Armias. He might still be here.

   With a determined stride, Cal headed toward the door and unlocked it through the Force, then quickly jerked to the side to avoid the oncoming blaster bolt ment for him and pulled the offending weapon out of the stunned Anchorite’s hand. “Easy now,” he said, raising his hands and slowly entering the room. “Cere Junda sent me.”

   “Master Junda? You used the Force. You’re Cal Kestis!”

   Cal gave him a nod as he handed him back his pistol, then braced himself as the room shook. “It’s time to go. The Empire’s closing in.”

   “Yes,” Armias’s mask nodded as his spotted blue hands flitted over the console in front of him. “Which is why this must make it back to Master Junda.” Cal watched as he removed a small hard-shelled data disk from the console and reached out to place it in his hand. “These contact codes cannot fall into the hands of the Empire,” Brother Armias stressed. Cal looked from the disk to the meshed facial covering of the mask and gave a firm nod as he took the device from the humanoid and placed it into his pocket. “Now let me just-”

   A loud familiar whine sounded from above, and Cal glanced up at the rock sealing before turning just in time to watch Brother Armias disappear under the weight of a metal tentacle. “Look ou- No! AGH,” Cal shouted as the tentacle pulled free and sent the ceiling caving in around him. He dropped to one knee - the weight of the ceiling pressing down upon him as he felt his power in the Force weaken as his fear and anguish over yet another loss began to take hold. But after a split second the weight began to ease, and he looked up to find wisps of green magick shifting over and between the rocks themselves. 

   As the rocks floated up enough to allow him to stand, he turned and found Merrin standing in the exit’s entryway. Then he twisted back around to see if there was any sign left of Brother Armias, but found none.

                       ~*~

   Merrin growled out her frustration as she raced down the side tunnel and felt its walls rumble as she slipped in and out of existence. Cal had to be close. She’d seen the carnage he’d wrought within the sanctuary and assumed he had to be at or near the safe house. And she hoped Brother Armias was still there too. Yet the instant she turned the corner and let out a breath of relief she watched as one of the machine’s metal legs pierced through the ceiling to crush Armias before their very eyes. Cal instinctually threw up his hands to hold off the falling rocks, but he was losing the battle. 

   Igniting the fire within her veins yet again, Merrin weaved her magick over the boulders that threatened to kill her Jedi and lifted them up, allowing him to once again stand. Cal, soaking wet and eyes blown wide, looked back at her then back to where the Anchorite once stood. 

   “Cal, he’s gone,” she called to him. She shifted her footing and glanced up at the rocks as he slowly turned toward her. “Take this,” she prompted, quickly pulling free her charm from her bag and handing it to him. Then she nodded toward the exit and quickly refocused on the rocks. “Go through quickly. It will protect you.” She winced under the slipping weight and shifted her hands to bolster the spell. “It will help you to pass through the barriers. …Go! I can’t hold this forever! Go!”

   “I couldn’t save him,” he mumbled numbly as he passed. 

   Merrin’s heart grieved along with him, but now was not the time to mourn. Once she felt the tug of her totem’s magick shield Cal from the barrier, Merrin stepped back toward the exit and willed herself to slip into the magical void and reappeared in the tunnel just behind Cal. “He died protecting the Path. It is our duty to make sure his death meant something.”

   Cal looked over at her as he continued to run. “Yeah. Let’s get the codes to Cere.”

   “You have them? Good.”

   As they ran back out into the light, another one of the destructive machine’s accursed legs shifted above them and seemed to try and keep them within its head’s sights. Suddenly the rock above them began raining down as laser bolts from the metal creature pelted towards their direction. “We’ve got this thing's attention,” Cal yelled as he leapt onto the mountain’s side. Merrin phased back into the void and sped across the space to reform on the other side, right as Cal was flipping his way onto its edge. 

   She would never admit it, but Merrin’s heart was racing faster than she would have liked. And she was torn between the fear of an indigent death by blaster bolt from a stupid looking ship in the desert on the side of a mountain, and the fear of Cal falling to his death as he not only dodged blaster fire but also leapt and dashed and flipped from one rock to the next as they tried to make their way back up to the top of the temple. How he had not passed out from exhaustion was a mystery to her. Even her sisters would have had to stop and drink a Potion of Rejuvenation. 

   As they both landed on another outcropping that ran alongside the temple’s exterior wall, Cal shouted, “I see a way back in!”

   Merrin glanced over to where he pointed and spotted the opening in the sanctuary where the machine had first penetrated. “Then let's hurry.” She vanished again, and dashed through the world’s veil, reappearing and disappearing at will as she worked her way across the space and towards the opening. Upon reaching it, she turned and watched as Cal slid down the hillside and straight toward the machine’s spilling blades as it pressed into the rock to crush him. “Cal! Watch out!” Yet her breath caught in her throat as he managed to somehow maneuver his descent to swerve just enough away from the deadly blades and get tossed up into the air just far enough to land in front of her. 

   “Made it,” he huffed with a wild grin as he ran up and onto the fallen stature. BD beeped from his back and cranked his neck to look back at the machine. 

   Crazed, foolish Jedi. “We should not take Pilgrim’s Path to Cere’s base.”

   “There’s another route. But there’s a lot of patrols.”

   “Sepulcher Pass? We can manage,” she stated as he sent a trooper flying off the ledge and away from where she could activate a zipline for him to cross the cavern. As he and BD sped across, she reappeared on the other side and slung her spear across the helmet of an awaiting patrol trooper, and shot out a ball of flaming ichor at the next fool who’d chosen to challenge her. Spinning the spear with a flick of her wrist, she thrust its tip into her first victim then morphed it back into her dagger and threw it into the mask of another trooper. As he fell, Cal raced past and engaged the next - his blue blade glowing brightly as he swung it up and around in one fluid motion. Then together they phased through the green energy shield blocking their exit and continued to take out their enemies as they made their way through the tunnel in a whirl of blue and green.

                       ~*~

   “Is that all of them?”

   “Seems so.”

   “Shame.”

   Cal looked over at her and shook his head. “Thanks for the charm, by the way.”

   Merrin sheathed her dagger and glanced over at him as he slid his gun back into the holster that her charm now clung to, and bit back a smile as she shrugged. “You needed it more than me.” 

   “Heh. Yeah, you’re probably right.” 

   “I know I am.”

   He shot her a smile then looked at the latest wave of troopers they’d taken down before moving onward. “The Empire had no idea what they were about to find.”

   “Good. They must never learn that the Path was here,” she stated before stepping through the void and reappearing on the other side of the thin space Cal had to force himself through to exit the tunnel. Despite all the many times she’d seen him pull off such a feat, she still found it amusing. Even more so now that his clothes were still damp and he was covered in a layer of dirt all while his orange-red hair was beginning to curl slightly. If they weren’t once again running for their lives or trying to keep hidden the location of innocents she might have taken the opportunity to point out his sorry state and relish the pink blush that tinted his cheeks from time to time. Instead though she chose to continue leading the way, but paused as the ground around them shook, then took off in a run and back out into the evening light as the shadow of the drilling machine loomed over them. 

   Rock and dust rained down upon them as one of the machine’s legs slammed into the rock above them. Merrin turned back around just in time to skid to a halt at the edge of the cliff. “A dead end!”

   “Do we make a stand?”

   She glanced back at Cal and BD-1, and at the metal leg as it leaned closer towards them. Then she turned back and looked out over the bridge’s legs and the valley they stood up from miles and miles and miles below. She would be able to make it, but not them. Her heart was now pounding in her ears, overtaking the loud grinding sound of metal that drew ever closer. I refuse to leave their side. But we can’t die like this. Not yet. I never… The charm, she thought, as an idea took shape in her mind. Her hand instantly grabbed for the larger vial in her satchel, and she yanked the rubber stopper free with her teeth. Risky. But it has to work.

   Holding out the vial, she watched as the green ichor within spilled onto the open air like a paint to canvas and formed the round magical doorway that they would need. Once the circle was complete the portal swirled open and began to suck in the air around them. “Do you trust me?” she asked.

   “Of course,” he replied. But as they both turned to face each other Cal’s look of worry turned to one of uncertainty. “What are you up to?”

   Merrin swallowed as walked toward him, taking in every inch of his face as she did so. “No time to explain,” she stated as she grasped his raised hand and held it between both of hers, causing him to pause and truly look at her. “Do you trust me?” 

   Her heart skipped a beat as his mouth hung open but silent, yet his green eyes bore into hers, knowing full well what such a question meant to her. “…Yes.” Seeing no reason to hold back any longer, as they were probably both going to die anyways, she kept his hand close against her chest as she reached out to grasp onto his shirt and kissed him. His lips were dry and tasted subtly of dust, but she didn’t care. She’d imagined this moment so many times that all she felt was joy and relief at finally showing him how she truly felt, and was elated to feel his mouth move against hers, albeit with uncertain finesse. When she pulled away and opened her eyes to look at him she found him staring down at her in surprise as his freckled cheeks blushed. “…Was that for luck?” he breathed in a dazed tone.

   Merrin gave him a small smile as she pulled away. “No. …For me.” She turned and could feel her own cheeks warm, but headed for the portal as the weight of the drill shook their ledge. When she turned back around she found Cal still standing where she had left him. But as BD urgently tapped at his shoulder he finally snapped out of his daze right as the squid like machine peaked over the mountainside. “Jump through, Cal! Now!”

                    ~*~

   Cal’s mind was both blank and a jumbled mess, but this clearly wasn’t the time for questions. As Merrin stood ahead urging him to jump through her swirling portal of Nightsister magick, he looked back at the Trident then dashed forward and chose to believe that they’d make it. And instantly he felt himself and BD pulled through a whirling portal of energy that left him feeling as though he were flying on the back of a racer. Until he wasn’t and found himself dropped onto the side of a sheet of metal that he quickly had to race across and jump onto the next to keep momentum. 

   Ahead of him he caught Merrin reappearing then disappearing again into another portal, and he flung himself in after her right as the Trident’s leg slammed into the sheet metal.  “I can’t believe this!”

   “Believe it!”

   Cal crowed in excitement as he was once again flung out of the portal and dropped onto another sheet of metal, the dashed back out into the open air and was pulled through the twisting green tube as it turned up and away from the Trident’s drill. Then they both appeared out of the portal - Merrin ahead of him gliding through the air like a bird with a trail of what looked like green ribbon rippling out behind her hands, then diving into a newly formed portal that he quickly fell into. 

   Her magick trail pulled him around one of the bridge pillars and dropped him onto a sloped piece of metal. But as she reappeared ahead, a fiery explosion erupted from the side of the wind tunnel he’d traverse earlier. And as a gray TIE Fighter flew past, he missed the portal opening and quickly launched his ascension cable onto the overhead cabling, and rode it down toward the rock wall its bolt was attached to.

   As he leapt from the cable and flipped himself onto the wall and ran across it, he caught another flash of green up ahead. But right as he was about to make the jump, another of the Trident’s tentacles slammed into the wall, breaking apart the surface he needed in order to cross. As it pulled away, Cal used its presents to Force push himself over and onto the next side of rock and continued his run.  “Close call!” Merrin called somewhere through the dust cloud. And just through the haze he made out a new swirl of green.

   “No kidding! This thing’s gotta have a weakness!”

   He flipped himself into her portal and flew upward toward the dented end of the Trident’s tentacle that had almost crushed him where the portal quickly ended, and again Cal sent out his ascension cable to pull himself onto the moving leg. Without fear of falling, he ran up along its side towards one of its joints and ignited his saber as he leapt into the air and sliced through the leg - freefalling along with it until Merrin’s portal appeared below him to catch and whisk him away to relative safety. 

   “Nice one, Cal!”

   “Don’t thank me yet!” He shouted and he flew out of the portal and once again raced across the mountainside, flipping to dodge the TIE Fighter’s blasts and the Trident’s slamming attacks. 

   “Having fun?” Merrin asked as she flitted into existence while he landed on the ground below and instantly slid downward as fiery sparks and loosened rock rained down around him from above. 

   “What? You’re not?” He shouted as the mountain slide spit him out into the open air. The Trident’s drill blade spun rapidly as it repositioned itself. But Cal only paid attention to how his Nightsister appeared before him in a free dive and opened another portal for them both to pass into and be flown away up toward a metal shaft that Cal found himself landing against and having to hop his way up as the TIE Fighter swooped around to fire at him. The flow of energy through the Force and the subtle warnings it gave him were almost overwhelming, but he pushed through as Merrin reappeared above him and began to jump from side to side along with him. 

   “We can’t keep this up!”

   “I have an idea! But I need an opening!”

   Merrin again vanished, and Cal flung himself forward as two new portals opened up and carried him forward after the repositioning Trident and deposited him atop the nearest bute. 

   “It’s now or never,” she said as she reappeared at his side and readied herself for their showdown against the giant machine. 

   “Then we stand together,” he promised, pulling free his lightsaber as she weaved her magick into flaming orbs. The Trident’s tentacles clambered up like spider legs until it hoisted its body at face level, then pulled back one leg and sent it lunging toward them. Cal tightened his grip, but watched as Merrin’s flaming attack exploded into the metal joint and cut the end clean off in a shower of scrap. The Force again filled him with a sense of urgency, and quickly he held out his hand to hold the ship in place as he reattached his saber. 

   “Now?”

   “Now,” he shouted through gritted teeth as he used all his might to hold it in place while Merrin reforged the damaged arm and forced it past the drill blades and into the actual ship itself; both of them giving it everything they had. The assault craft shook and screeched horribly as their combined attack tore through its framing, and the both stumbled back as the ship exploded and slid lifelessly down over the edge and into the canyon below. 

   The two of them stood breathing heavily from over excursion, but Cal felt Merrin limply elbow his arm and nod her head towards the edge. “One last jump. It’s a big one.”

   He let out a tired laugh and hurried after her as she leapt off the ledge and into another portal. “Right behind you.”

Chapter Text

   Merrin pushed through her exhaustion just long enough to reopen one final portal, and raced through it till she re-emerged into the cave that led them back out to where they had first separated along the Path. The second Cal’s boots hit the floor she let the spell fade and leaned against the wall for support. “How did you do that,” he gasped. She took in a deep breath and forced herself to press onward. 

   “A ritual I found when I returned to Dathomir. It is…taxing.”

   His hand gently gripped her arm as he quickened his pace to look at her, his brow furrowed with worry. “You okay? If you need to rest-”

   “I am fine. We need to keep moving.”

   “Right,” he nodded, letting go of her. “We still have to get the codes to Cere.”

   “Yes. And without drawing the Empire’s attention along the way.”

   As they rounded the edge of the path that would take them back to the Skritton lair, BD-1 beeped towards what appeared to be a newly installed zipline and leapt down to activate it. “Empire sure did get this up fast,” Cal commented as the tether shot out toward its other end far out across the highland canyon. 

   “Destroy it once you’re across,” Merrin instructed. Then she pushed herself again through the magical void to cross the gap, then returned to the living world as she reappeared and looked out over the arid flats they still had to cross. Despite needing to stay alert, Merrin closed her eyes and tried to hold on to the waning intensity of her magick as she listened to her Jedi render the line useless with a sizzling crackle from his lightsaber. At the sound of her name she flung open her eyes and found Cal studying her again. “Ready?”

   “…Yeah. I’ll try and get us a ride on that spamel over there. Might give you a chance to rest.”

   “I told you, I’m fine,” she insisted.

   “You look paler than normal.”

   Zibeep.

   Merrin opened her mouth to chide them both but decided to let it go, and instead watched as he headed toward the desert creature to persuade it to carry them back to safety. Once he’d climbed onto its back she willed herself to reappear behind him and held on tight. Behind them she could still see the column of black smoke rising from the destroyed drilling machine and the glinting reflection of the moon’s dying light off the TIEs that swarmed around it. She knew their victory was a small temporary one, but she chose to be grateful for it all the same, and focused on the empty sands ahead of them, the silent ruins around them, and the unspoken words between them. 

                    ~*~

   Cal clenched his teeth so as to keep them from chattering as the cold desert wind blew against his drying clothes and exposed skin. He was grateful that Merrin was unintentionally keeping his back warm, but every time he tried to focus on the feeling he just became more hyper aware of how it felt to have her holding him. And, sure, her arms were wrapped around him the same as they had been the last two times they’d rode on the back of a spamel. But that was before she’d kissed him.

   She said it was for her. That mean she’s been wanting to? Since when? Since meeting up again or…before that? He tried replaying the moment in his mind - the feeling of adrenaline replaced by uncertainty then surprise. I mean, we’ve hugged a few times. Held hands on occasion. But those were just… Or at least I thought… His mind flitted to the memory of them facing off against the Fifth Brother and how in the heat of battle she’d kissed his hands while pleading that he trust her and they work together. He hadn’t thought much of it at the time. But now? ‘Do you trust me?’ Karabast, I’m an idiot. He let out a heavy sigh through his nose as his mind drifted back onto how she’d looked as she’d pulled away - dark lips parted, brown eyes catching the light, and that faint subtle green tint to her chalk-white cheeks he’d only seen her have a time or two when the ex-Imperial, Chellwinark Frethylrin, had briefly been aboard the Mantis. Cal squeezed his eyes closed then looked up at the thin clouds and darkening sky. Just like in their echo. Dank farrik.

   “You alright?”

   Cal felt his muscles tense as he scrambled to bring himself back to the present and push away the experienced memories that weren’t his to have. “Uh…yeah. Fine. Just tired.”

   “It shouldn’t be too much farther. Once Cere has the codes I’m sure you’ll have time to rest.”

   He winced at the thought of having to lay on his cot once more and shook his head. “Not if Master Cordova was able to repair one of the compasses.” From behind him Merrin let out a quiet hum but said nothing else, and again he was left to his racing and conflicted thoughts. I just need to stay focused. Right now, all that matters is reaching Tanalorr and stopping Dagan. Everything else…will have to wait. 

                    ~*~

    Reaching the layered mesa that one of the Anchorite tunnels exited out onto, Cal brought the spamel to a halt and slid down from its shoulders. “You go on ahead,” Merrin said as she flashed from the animal’s back to the space next to him. “Get the codes to Cere. I’ll check the perimeter and make sure we weren’t seen or followed. You remember the way?”

   “I remember. Be careful,” he said as he stared at the space she vanished from, then combed his numb fingers through his hair. “Come on, bud. Bet you could use a charge too, huh?” BD let out a soft chirp as he headed up the hill and unlocked the massive door. 

   While the base hadn’t exactly been loud during his last pass through, he still found it slightly unsettling just how quiet the place had become. Where the occasional masked Anchorite had been milling about or discussing something with another member, now the passages were empty and silent. But as he entered the Archive he was both relieved to see his friends still waiting for him and unnerved by his unshakable sense of failure. He hadn’t been able to make sure all the survivors had safely made it away from the safe house. And he hadn’t been able to bring back Brother Armias. 

   Pulling free the data disk, he headed towards his former mentor and held it out to her once he rounded the workstation and caught her eye. “The codes. …We couldn’t save Armias. But he gave his life for this. I’m sorry.”

   Cere gently took the disk and gave him a look of understanding. “I know you did your best, Cal. His was not the first life lost in our struggle. And it will not be the last.” Cal looked away as a small part of him recoiled from her seeming indifference. “…You’re upset.”

   “Aren’t you? We were so close, Cere. If I’d just reacted faster…”

   “Of course I am,” she assured him, stepping closer to catch his attention. “But Brother Armias served the cause faithfully. And that service lives on through our determination to keep moving forward.”

   Cal studied the calm expression on her face and the disappointment in her voice. She was as his master would have wanted him to be - remorseful but impartial. It still didn’t sit well with him, but he nodded his understanding. “What happens to the safe house now?”

   Cere sighed as she looked over the disk’s hard casing. “It’ll be a long time before we can risk sending anyone to collect what remains.” From the corner of their vision, green ichor swirled into being, and from it appeared Merrin. “The Empire?” Cere asked as she approached. 

   “They did not track us.”

   “Hey. Scrapper,” Bode whispered. Cal turned and smiled as he clasped his friend’s hand and leaned in to accept the man’s offered hug. “Glad you made it back in one piece.”

   “Yeah, me too.” Then he looked toward Cordova and followed Bode back to the workbench. “Master Cordova? You find a way across the Abyss?”

   “No. But you may have, Cal. Bode and I were able to find some interesting data in the archives.”

   “Let’s show him what we dug up,” Bode said quickly as he hurried toward the central holotable and fired it up.

   “Centuries ago,” Cordova began, “the Republic established the colony on Koboh to study a stellar anomaly known as the Abyss. Santari Khri led the research team.”

   Bode tapped at the controls and brought up a documented image of Khri working with other robed Jedi and droids. “That’s Zee with ‘em,” Cal pointed out.

   “Early attempts to navigate the Abyss ended in disaster. The Republic was on the verge of abandoning the project.”

   “And then guess who volunteers to fly in alone and discovers a planet on the other side,” Bode chimed in, changing the image again.

   “Dagan,” Cal snarled as the fallen Jedi and his alien ally appeared. 

   “Using the data from his voyage, Khri invented the Abyss compass to guide others safely to Tanalorr,” Cordova continued.

   Bode nodded as he stood to his full height and crossed his arms. “The Republic established a settlement, the Jedi built a temple… Just like you said, Cal.”

   “Well, regrettably a time of peace and prosperity was disrupted when Outer Rim marauders invaded.”

   “Yeah, I saw them too. But how’d they get across the Abyss?”

   “They must have stolen a compass,” Bode concluded. “But don’t worry. We won’t be so careless.”

   Cordova nodded as if in agreement then continued. “Overwhelmed, the Republic abandoned Tanalorr. And the Jedi Council ordered Khri to destroy the compasses.”

   “Dagan Gera refused and rebelled against the Order.”

   As Cal stared at the image, Merrin moved to stand by his side and study it along with him. “That is a Gen’Dai. They do not often ally with other species.”

   “Then Rayvis has been working with Dagan for a lot longer than we thought.”

   Cal looked over to Bode then paced toward the workbench to gather up the broken compass. “Then the Order sent Jedi to secure the compassess and Dagan murdered them over it.”

   “Jedi killing other Jedi…” Cere breathed. 

   “Yet Santari said that Dagan was the key to Tanalorr,” he replied with a shake of his head. “I don’t-”

   “Maybe he is, young Jedi,” Cordova interjected, switching the holo image to that of the compass and its components. “Despite my efforts, those compasses you brought me were beyond my repair. However, records indicate that three were unaccounted for.”

   Cal instantly looked over to find Bode looking at him, and he quickly hurried back to their side. “So you’re saying one might still be out there?”

   “Yes.” 

   He leaned against the holotable as an invisible weight lifted slightly from his chest. “Hmm. I’d ask you to stay and help us, but…I recognize that look,” Cere voiced. 

   Cal looked over to find her giving him an amused smile, then glanced at the others questioningly. “What look?”

   “Hope. That planet is a haven for those who stand against the Empire.”

   He nodded slowly, trying to picture it. “So…you’re coming with us?” Like old times?

   “No,” she said gently, causing his growing excitement to falter. “This place needs me. The Hidden Path needs me.” 

   Figures. Yet as BD shifted on his back and beeped questioningly toward his old companion, Cal turned and asked, “Cordova?”

   Eno smiled kindly at them both as he clasped his hands in front of him, but shook his head. “I’m sorry, my friend. But for now my place is on Jedha with Cere.” As BD let out a soft sad tone, Cal couldn’t help but feel the same. “But, let me prepare a data stick so you’ll have access to our research wherever your journey takes you.”

   “Sure,” Cal mumbled as BD-1 hopped down after him to receive the data. “Thanks.”

   “Time for us to make our move, brother,” Bode grinned as he patted him on the shoulder in passing. “I’ll let Greez know to fire up the engines.”

   Cal watched him walk toward the hanger door till his line of sight matched up with Merrin’s, and felt his shoulders slump as she approached him slowly. “Let me guess. You’re staying too.”

   The corner of her mouth tugged upward as she looked down at his hand and placed hers just shy of touching his. “When we first met, I thought that what we shared was…unique. Survivors. Fighting together against the Empire who took our families.”

   When she finally looked at him he offered her a small smile. “Yeah. You helped me realize I wasn’t alone.”

   “As did you,” she nodded. “But there is a galaxy full of people who have suffered as we have. And…it’s as Cere said. Perhaps you have found a sanctuary for them.”

   “Hmph. Perhaps,” he sighed as he flicked his finger against the side of the busted compass. “If we can get to it.”

   “…I will join you,” she stated suddenly, causing him to look at her with genuine surprise. 

   “Really?”

   She bit back a smile as she looked away and shrugged. “Why not. It’s been far too long since I’ve made Greez’s hair stand on end. Just give me a few moments to grab my things.”

   “Okay. Yeah,” he breathed as he pushed away from the table; his heart suddenly beating faster than it had been seconds ago. “See you back on the Mantis, Nightsister.” Grinning from ear to ear as she turned away, he whistled for BD to hop back onto his shoulder then hurried toward the hanger. I can’t believe it. She’s actually coming back. Oh man, is Greez gonna be so excited.

                    ~*~

   “There you are!” Greez huffed the moment he stepped onto the ship. “ Mantis is tuned to perfection and ready to go. So, uh, where we going? Bode didn’t actually say.”

   “Back to Koboh. Turns out we need a special compass to navigate the Abyss.”

   “Gah! Jeez, kid, you’re tracking stuff all over my floors! Whaddya do out there? Roll around in the dirt like some animal?”

   Cal paused mid step on the upper rise and looked down at his dirt covered pants and boots, and at the chunks of clumped sand trailing after him. “Oh. Sorry. I was actually on my way to the-”

   “Yeah, sure, sure. Whatever you say, kid. Just make sure you clean up after yourself in there, while I’m left to deal with this.”

   “I can clean it up-”

   “Nah, I’ve got it,” Greez grumbled as he waved him off with two arms and pulled out a broom from one of the panels with the other two. “So, a compass? That’s it?”

   “Yeah,” he said as he let BD hop from his shoulder onto the sofa then continued toward the refresher. “Oh. And Merrin’s coming along.”

   “Wait, what?! Merrin’s joining us? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have cleaned up the place! Oh, this is just perfect. Now it’s too late to clean the rest of the Mantis . I hope she doesn't notice.”

   “I’m sure it’s fine,” he yelled down the hall before coming to a halt in front of his cot. “Yep. Totally fine. Nothing weird or awkward at all,” he sighed as he pulled out a new set of clothes from the crate underneath it and tried not to think about his new predicament as he headed into the ‘fresher. 

   As the lights flicked on and the door slid closed with a hiss and click, Cal again stared at his reflection just as he had before they’d landed and groaned at the sight. “Real attractive, Kestis. Boglings doesn’t even look this bad after burrowing. Pff. And Zee expected me to be wearing dress robes.”

                   ~*~

   Bode tapped his thumb against the comms station dash and stared at the short, cryptic message from Saw Gerrera. Unsurprisingly it said very little about their last job. But it was the offer of a new one that truly bothered him. He didn’t need Cal finding out and getting distracted. Not when they were so close to discovering a way to reach Tanalorr. And it’d be a shame to see him get killed over something so pointless as a suicide mission. …Kid deserves better than that. 

   He leaned back in the chair and glanced out to where Greez stood cleaning the galley and Merrin lounged on the sofa with her legs tucked underneath her as she silently read on her tablet. Bode still didn’t get what his friend saw in her, but he didn’t need Force powers to see the connection the two shared. Crew mate , he mentally corrected himself. Kestis is just a crew mate. No need to go forming attachments. …Still…

   Cal’s small little exploration droid perked up his audio antennas  and hopped from the table in front of Merrin to scuttle up the steps. Without a second thought, Bode leaned back over to the screen and permanently deleted the message, then stood and casually strolled into the lounge to take a seat at the far end of the sofa so as to prop up his feet; right a freshly dressed Cal walked into the room. “What’s that smell?” He asked in an offended tone as BD beeped happily. 

   “Smell? What smell,” Greez asked in a panic. “You could eat off this ship! But don’t. I’m tryin’a keep it clean.”

    Bode caught Merrin’s eye as she glanced from him, to Cal, then back to her book; a corner of her black lips curling into an amused smile as she casually said, “I smell it too.”

   “Are you kidding me? …Must be Cal,” Greez said, seemingly catching on. “Always tracking things in and showing up with weird droids.”

   “Hey,” Cal whined as he stepped into the lounge and rounded the table to sit beside Merrin. Bode watched with interest as the two instantly gravitated towards one another; her tilting into him as he leaned back and threw his arm over the back of her seat while he propped the edge of his cleaned boot on the table. Now isn’t that something. Not once has he looked so at ease. Seems her coming along was a good thing after all.

   “And those outfits of his,” Greez continued with a laugh. “I’m not sure he even cleans them! Ugh. The ponchos alone!”

   Cal gave the old alien an indigent look as Merrin looked away from her tablet and slowly drug her eyes up over the weaved poncho covering his torso, and held his gaze the moment he noticed. “We should burn them,” she stated flatly. 

   Bode raised his hand to cover his mouth as his brows shot up. Oh, Cal… You poor bastard.

   “You know, you’re right,” Greez agreed. “We should.” Without even breaking eye contact, Merrin raised one of her hands and flicked her wrist, instantly conjuring a small green flame atop her fingertips.

   “WOW!” Bode laughed uneasily. “This escalated quickly. I was only joking.” 

   “I wasn’t,” Merrin whispered as she flicked her wrist again to put out the fire before looking back down at her book. Cal visibly swallowed but still seemed content to be by her side, as if being threatened with witch’s fire wasn’t at all a thing to be worried about.

   “Yeah, we’re just messin’ with ya, kid,” Greez agreed as he carefully walked down the steps with an arm full of cleaning supplies. “But you do tend to show up with a lot of strays. And get ‘yer boots off my table!” Instantly Bode and Cal pulled their feet away as Greez swatted an arm at both their boots and began scrubbing it with a polish. 

   “I was not a stray,” Merrin clarified with a glare as she swiped her finger across the screen. “You are thinking of Bee-Dee.”

   Beezeebeep-beep! Boop?  

   Cal smiled fondly at the little droid as it hopped onto the seat next to him, and petted its head plate as it wiggled ever so slightly on its two legs. “You kinda were, buddy. Cere meant for me to find you, I think. But that doesn’t make you any less special. And it was Merrin’s idea to join the crew.”

   “Oh, I remember,” Greez huffed. “Still, she came walking in after meeting you. That counts in my book. Same goes for Jetpack here. Strolling in, getting all uppity with me looking for you.” 

   Bode gave him a look of hurt, which the Latero quickly waved off. “And here I thought we were friends.”

   “Hmph. Friends don’t keep putting their boots on other people’s tables when they’ve been told not to.”

   “What’s for dinner, Greez?” Merrin interrupted.

   The Latero’s four hands flopped against his sides. “Oh, now you ask me? After I’ve cleaned everything?”

   “I can cook if you want,” Cal offered.

   “Nah’ah. I’ve seen what your ‘meals’ consist of, and I’d like more than just a nutrient bar, thank you very much.”

   “Do not worry, Greez,” Merrin said sweetly as she rose from the sofa. “I’ll fix you something to eat. I’ll just need to borrow your spatula.”

   “Not my spatula!” Greez yelped as he hurried up the steps. “You keep your witchy paws off my lucky spatula! …Fine. I’ll make dinner. But do me a favor and get out of here. You both look like you might pass out on your plates. Go grab some shut eye and I’ll wake you when the food’s ready. 

   “You sure?” Cal asked, looking utterly exhausted but also slightly guilty. 

   “Of course I’m sure. Now get some shut-eye. …Forgot what it was like livin’ with the two of you,” he grumbled. 

   Bode watched as Cal whispered in Merrin’s ear, causing her to flash him a smug smile, before both got up and headed behind him and down the hall. Giving them a second, he too rose to his feet and stepped up into the dining space. “Need any assistance?”

   “Oh, I’m good, Bode. I appreciate it. You go on and call your kid, or whatever it is you do. I’ll be fine.”

   A sharp twinge of guilt tugged at his heart as he looked down at the floor, then nodded as he did his best to ignore it. “Yeah… I’ll, uh, tell Kata you send your regards. …Good night, Greez.” 

   Not hanging around for a reply, Bode hurried down the hall till he came to a stop in front of his and Greez’s shared bunk room and glanced over at Cal who lay in his cot staring at the bulkhead. “Best get some rest, Scrapper. We both need to be rested and ready for the fight soon.”

   Cal rolled his head toward him then back up at the bulkhead. “Yeah. It’s just…hard to sleep sometimes.”

   “Hmm. I don’t imagine a cot is the most comfortable place to sleep. …Maybe Merrin would be willing to share the extra bunk in her room with you?”

   “Uh… I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

   Bode schooled his expression as he nodded. “Well, the two of you still seem pretty close. I bet she wouldn’t mind.”

   “Maybe…”

   “Mm. You might want to leave the poncho behind though.” At that Cal turned back to face him, and it took everything Bode had not to laugh. “Just in case. Night, Kestis.”

Chapter Text

      “Everybody ready?” he’d asked as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt.

      “Ready,” Bravo replied, patting his backup bolt canisters. 

      “Okay, I’ve got this,” Gabs said anxiously as she shook her hands and stepped onto the sofa. “I’ve got this! I’ve got this! I’ve got this! I’ve got this!”

      “Gabs,” he yelled over her shouts. He pointedly glanced down at the worn and sagging Potolli-weave upholstered cushion and winced. “All for the pep-talk, but maybe with less jumping?”

      “Oh,” she said, looking down at her boots and gently stepping onto the floor. “Well, hey, after this score you can just replace it, right?”

      “I’m not doing this for the credits. And it’s not mine to replace.”

      “Wait. We’re getting paid for this, right? Right? Cal?”

   Beep beep.

   Cal’s eyes refocused as BD-1 stepped into his view, and sat upright as Merrin moved to sit beside him at the table. “Hey.”

   She gave him a subtle smile and glanced at the mug of caf in his hand. “Couldn’t sleep?”

   “Eh. Got a lot on my mind.”

   “Mmm.”

   He looked down at the steaming dark liquid and settled into the silence between them, enjoying the forgotten feeling of having someone know him well enough to not pry. “…I’d offer you some,” he said, tilting his cup toward her, “but I assume you’re still not a fan?”

   “I am not.”

   He smiled as he took a sip. “You glade to be back?”

   Merrin leaned back to drape her arm over the back of her chair and glanced out over the lounge and up at the flickering blue light of hyperspace through the windows. “Yes. It is nice to be traveling again. …Greez is a little shaky in the cockpit.”

   After another sip, he shrugged. “He’ll get the hang of it. It’s been a while.” 

   “I hope so. I do not fear death, but I would prefer not to die on the Mantis . It’s nothing personal.” 

   “Heh, well… I’ve had a few close calls. I can think of worse ways to die.”

   “Such as?”

   He peaked over his cup at her arched, questioning brow and quickly gulped down the remaining contents. “Well, being mauled to death by a pack of dead Nightsisters comes to mind.”

   “You survived,” she said in an easy, teasing tone.

   “Drowning.”

   “Yes, you and Cere both would have probably died that day.”

   Cal leaned back in his chair and stared at her, allowing himself to take her in. Unlike him, her smooth round face seemed to have barely aged. And with her once long dark silver hair now shorn short and feathered, it only added to the air of ease and confidence she now carried. In a way he was, admittedly, envious. But more so he was just glad. Glad that she had clearly found what she was looking for, and grateful that he’d survived long enough to see it. “Yeah…”

   After another moment of silence she looked away and leaned onto the table. “Just so you know, I never stopped fighting the Empire either. It was one of my travel hobbies.”

   A small chuckle bubbled up from his chest. “A travel hobby?”

   “‘Desert Ghost’ is but one of many names I acquired.”

   “Wow. I think I only managed to get ‘Jedi Terrorist’.”

   She shook her head as she smiled, then let it fade. “It’s staggering, the amount of people who are oblivious to the war we’re fighting.” 

   “Well,” he sighed as he leaned back onto the table. “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

   “For now, perhaps. But what this galaxy needs is a true revolution.”

   “You gonna lead it?” He grinned.

   “Wouldn’t you like that,” she replied as her dark brown eyes held his. 

   A sudden wave of warmth crawled over his skin. And without even meaning to, his gaze dropped to her lips. Next to him he could hear BD’s ocular lens zoom in as the droid let out a low coo, and his grin faded as he furrowed his brow. Long ago lectures on the dangers of such temptations echoed in the back of his mind, but they were faint in comparison to the growing urge to ignore them. 

   Maybe just one more kiss, for me this time. Would she mind it if I did? He felt himself tilt closer, then quickly forced his gaze onto the table. “Um. So, about what happened on the mesa…,” he breathed as he tried to gain control over his sudden desires. But when he looked back up at her she was pulling away. Wait. Kriff-

   “The Empire will think twice before sending another Trident to Jedha,” Merrin stated calmly. 

   “Uh, I was actually, um-”

   “Ugh,” Greez groaned as both he and Bode walked out of the hallway. “I did not sleep well last night.” Cal looked over at them then quickly back at Merrin - who was now fully focused on their conversation - and felt the growing warmth that had been threatening to smother him get instantly replaced by crushing disappointment.

   “It’s because we’ve been going for so long,” Bode mumbled as he turned into the kitchen and pulled a mug from the cabinet to stick under the caf machine. “I could sleep for days. But, I’d settle for just seeing Kata again soon.”

   “Kata is your wife?” Merrin asked with what sounded like genuine curiosity. 

   Bode let out an awkward chuckle. “No. Daughter.”

   Merrin hummed as if pleased. “There are children in the Hidden Path. Perhaps she will make some friends.”

   “Mmm, maybe,” he said as he removed the steaming mug. “She mostly keeps to herself, to be honest. Cal, you okay?”

   Cal blinked and forced himself to sit straighter. “Yeah. Just…remembering how I was shy when I was her age.” 

   “Heheh,” Greez chuckled. “And now look at you.”

   Yeah. Still just as hopeless, he thought as his shoulders slumped right as the hyperspace alarm chimed their arrival. Yet the moment both Bode and Greez headed for the cockpit, Merrin stood and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. “I know what it was you were trying to ask, Cal. …My sisters taught me that to discuss a spell is to unravel it. So, let us let this one lie for now. Alright?”

   He felt his jaw tighten as he tried to think of what to say, but sighed through his nose as he gave her a quick nod. “Fair enough.” Seeming pleased with his reply, she turned down the steps and headed to join the others in the cockpit as the ship slowed out of hyperspace, and with a shove he stood and headed down the hallway, then closed his eyes once he reached the workbench and let the sound of the sublight engines drown out his loudest thoughts. 

   Boo-whoop boop, BD asked as he hopped onto the table.

   Cal looked over at his droid and shook his head as he holstered his blaster and attached his lightsaber. “I don’t know, bud. I don’t know what I was thinking. But I do know the Order wouldn’t have approved.”

   Whoop-ziboop beep?

   “Yeah, well, being a Jedi means a lot of things. And sometimes it requires you to give up on things you might want for yourself.”

   Booop zeeep?

   “It’s not about what’s fair,” he explained somewhat bitterly. “It’s about what’s necessary in order to not fall to the dark side.”

   Wooo.

   “This is your captain speaking,” Greez announced over the internal comm. “Inviting you to grab some seat so we can land.”

   And find the compass . “Come on, Bee-Dee. We still have a job to complete.”

                    ~*~

   “That is the Abyss?” Merrin asked as she stood behind Cal’s chair to gaze out the window at the imposing triangular swirl of purple and brown space dust. “And Tanalorr is beyond it?”

   “Yep,” Bode replied. “Seen anything like it?”

   “No. It’s beautiful.”

   “Oh, yeah,” Greez snarked as he banked the ship toward the darkened side of the planet. “In a terrifying way. I’m sure it’ll look real pretty once we’re close enough to get torn to bits and scattered all over the place.”

   “That’s why we need the compass, so that doesn’t happen,” Cal reminded them. 

   “If you say so.”

   Merrin turned and took Cere’s former seat at the communications station and leaned over so as to still take in the views as the Mantis broke Koboh’s atmosphere and flew over its darkened varying terrain. In the encroaching distance she could make out what looked to be a small settlement in a rocky valley, and carefully Greez swung the ship’s long, narrow body around to touch down upon the raised landing platform next to one lone retrofitted starfighter. 

   “Welcome to Koboh,” Cal said as he swiveled his chair to look at her.

   She returned his warm smile then nodded toward the two figures heading toward them. “I wasn’t expecting a welcoming party.”

   “What?” Greez asked as he wound down the engines and flipped the nameless switches around him. 

   Cal swung his seat back around and peaked through BD’s visor. “Looks like Turgle and Mosey.”

   “Turgle? That can’t mean anything good.”

   “Probably not,” Cal huffed as BD-1 leapt onto his arm and they hurried out of the cockpit. Merrin glanced over to Bode as he quickly holstered his blaster, and together they moved to stand at Cal’s side as he lowered the ramp. 

   Leaping across the platform toward them came a long gangly frog-like creature, waving its arms and yelling, “Cal! Cal, so glad you’re back! You missed all the action! It was horrible!”

   “Did something happen?” Cal asked the human woman with the axe draped across her shoulders.

   “The Raiders paid us another visit. Took a shine to that droid you found.”

   “Zee.”

   “They took her Cal! Carried her right out. She’s been droid-napped!”

   “My saloon better be okay, Turgle!” Greez shouted as he shoved his way between both her and Cal to point an accusing finger at the frog before heading towards the exit ramp. “I think you brought this down on us!” 

   “I’m innocent, Mister Greez!” Turgle shouted as he hopped after him. “Promise!”

   “Dagan sent them,” Cal explained. “He’s after Tanalorr.”

   “There must be something more to Zee than we realized,” Bode frowned. “Something scrambled up in her memory banks.”

   “We have to rescue her. Once he gets what he wants he’ll scrap her for sure.”

   “It won’t be easy to get her back,” the woman warned. “The Raider base is in the swamp. They gutted that old Lucrehulk battleship from the Clone Wars.”

   “We’ve seen it,” Cal said, crossing his arms. “Means they’ve got a lot of firepower.”

   “As do we,” Merrin reminded them. Cal looked at her without comment, but next to him Bode nodded.

   “She’s right. Now’s our time to move.”

   “I like where this is going,” the woman grinned.

   “They already have what they came for. They’re back at their fortress, feeling safe, complacent.”

   “They’ll never see it coming,” Cal agreed. 

   “Maybe not. But if you’re wrong, then they’ll be looking for payback.”

   “Not to worry,” Merrin assured her. “I will stay here and look after Greez and the others.”

   “You sure?” Cal asked in that same uncertain tone he used to use when he was worried about her getting hurt during a fight. 

   She tilted her head and gave him her unamused stare. “I think you two can manage. Just don’t let him swim without supervision,” she warned Bode. As she turned to follow after Greez she caught both Bode’s look of confusion and Cal’s amused smile, then glanced over at the axe wielding woman following her. 

   “Lemme know if you need any help,” the woman offered.

   Merrin let out an amused huff and glanced down at her weapon. “Nice axe!”

   “Name’s Mosey.”

   “Merrin.”

   “You have any experience fightin’ raiders?”

   “No. But I doubt these Raiders have any experience fighting a Nightsister either. If they return, we will make them regret it.”

   Mosey gave her an easy smile. “I like your confidence. I reckon we’re gonna get along just fine.”

   “I think so.”

                    ~*~

   “Alright,” Bode said, nudging his arm to draw his attention. “I’m gonna scout ahead. Meet you there?”

   “Sure,” Cal replied as he started after Merrin.

   Zipp woo-beep? BD asked as he tucked himself close against his back.

   “Nah, he has a jetpack, remember? Besides, we could reconnaissance. Even on Bracca, breaking down Lucrehulks came with additional risks.

   Woop.

   Despite his unease, Cal was glad to see no obvious signs of bloodshed outside of the cantina, and for the most part Pyloon’s seemed to have been spared. Inside, a few of the town's citizens sat huddled at the end of the bar talking amongst themselves and to Mosey and Merrin, while Turgle came bounding excitedly toward him.

   “Heard you and Bode are gonna take the fight to the Raiders!”

   “Word travels fast around here,” he said, eying the crowd for any sign of Greez. 

   “A daring assault on the Raider fortress,” Turgle exclaimed, waving his hand through the air. “By the mighty warrior and his gun-slinging sidekick, to save their droid companion! Yes!”

   Warwamp? BD questioned as he popped his visor up over his shoulder. 

   Turgle nodded his wide flat head. “Yes, sir. Zee is lucky to have a friend like you.”

   “Uh, thanks, Turgle,” he mumbled as he made his way over to where Monk was beckoning. “I’ll let you know if it's just as exciting as you make it sound. …Hey, Monk. You okay?”

   “Oh, I’m fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with this sort of thing. But word is you’re planning to rescue my new favorite droid?”

   “That’s the plan. Just gotta figure out how to get there and find her.”

   “Well, if you make your way back to the old settlement in the broken valley you’ll find a large energy barrier. A few of the denizens from before put it there in hopes of keeping out any battle-crazed droids.”

   “I take it that didn’t work?”

   “For a while it did. But eventually the Raiders found other means. If you can get past that barrier though, that should take you right out to the crash site in the swamp.”

   “Great. Thanks.”

   “No problem. Just be sure to grab Zee and skedaddle before the whole hive comes swarming down on you, hmm? 

   “I’ll do my best.”

   “Oh, and one more thing. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but one of my patrons set off to the swamp and no one’s seen her since.”

   Cal’s stomach sank at the thought of one more missing person. “You don’t think she went after Zee, do you?”

   “Quite likely.”

   “I’ll check it out,” he sighed as he pulled away from the bar. 

   “That’ll put us all at ease, Cal,” Monk nodded as one of his arms pulled out a rag from below and rubbed at the bar top. “Zygg’s one of the good ones.”

    Cal glanced back over at the small crowd and tried to avoid making direct eye contact as he headed towards Merrin’s side. “Where’s Greez?”

   “He went through there,” she said with a nod towards the back door. “After talking with that bartending droid he seemed rather upset. I figured he wanted a moment alone.”

   “Yeah,” he frowned. “This place means a lot to him… Thanks for keeping an eye out while we go after Zee.”

   “Of course. Be careful, Cal.”

   You too , he wanted to say. But he knew she would be. She always was. So instead he offered her a reassuring smile then headed through the door and down into the basement where, on the bottom bunk and surrounded by his beloved plants, the old Latero sat massaging the bald space between his ears. “What’s wrong, Greez?”

   He glanced up at him and let out an audible sigh. “Just thinkin’ about the Bedlam Raiders. …Pyloon’s was meant to be a home away from home. But these Raiders…they’re ruining everything. Everyone’s afraid, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

   Slowly Cal walked toward him and kneeled so as to look his friend in the eye. “At least people have a place to lie low.”

   “Eh, I suppose you have a point.”

   “Besides, if the Raiders come around again, I’ve got our back. We all do.”

   Greez’s small ears flattened slightly as his wide mouth turned upward. “Thanks, kid. I appreciate that. You gettin’ ready to head out?”

   “Yeah. Bode’s already gone ahead and Monk gave me directions. And Merrin’s gonna stay to make sure the town stays safe.”

   “Yeah, okay,” Greez nodded before letting out a small huff of a laugh. “As long as she doesn’t go raising any dead. Might be bad for business.”

   “Probably,” he grinned. “But it might scare away the raiders for good.”

   “And any paying customers. Hey,” he said quickly, sliding off the mattress and waddling over to a giant metal chest that sat next to the exterior door. “I don’t know if it’ll help, but I saved your old gear.” From a bowl next to it he produced a key and unlocked it, then pushed it open so Cal could look inside.

   “My rigging gear?”

   Greez sheepishly grinned up at him. “I found ‘em among some things you’d left behind, and thought you might want them back one day.”

   A little creepy , Cal mused as he tried not to make a face and instead pulled out his old scrapper pants and held them against himself. “They might still fit.” He glanced back into the chest and pulled out his Guild-issued padded chest harness, and a heavy weight settled in his chest as he clutched it. But he pushed aside the old emotions seeing it drudged up and instead looked down at his friend to offer him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Greez. I’m sure it’ll come in handy.”

   Obviously proud of himself, Greez gave him a small pat on the arm and headed towards the stairs. “Go get ‘em, kid.”

Chapter Text

   Landing hard on his feet as the Relter dropped him between the energy barrier and the picked over carcass of the Bilemal he’d faced during his previous visit, Cal rolled himself forward and felt Merrin’s charm pulse through the Force as wisps of green flowed over him as he passed through the electrified wall. A grin spread across his face as he glanced back at the wall then down at the charm, and rose to his feet to shuffle through the rocky passageway. “Neat little trick huh, buddy?”

   Boop!

   “Would have been nice to have a few years ago…” he trailed off as he emerged back out into the open air and its sudden stench of tar and damp decay. Ahead of him, rising out of the muck and stone pillars sat the Lucrehulk, damaged in places and rusting in others, but still operational. “Well, there it is,” he sighed. Never expected to be doing this again, willingly. 

   “Gotcha marked. I’m coming in,” Bode called over his comm. After a beat, Cal looked up to see his friend lower himself down with graceful ease. “You made it.”

   “Anyone spot you?”

   “Me? Not a chance,” he huffed as he kneeled down and pulled free a pair of monoculars. “Now, let’s see what we’re dealing with. Haven’t seen any sign of our droid.”

   Cal held out his arm and looked through BD’s visor once the droid settled and zoomed in. “I see some kind of service gantry.”

   “Could be a way in.”

   He moved BD’s view along the ship’s edges, then scrolled back and had him pull back out just as two Vulture Droids flew towards the exposed section of the ship. “It’s the best option I can see.”

   “Okay. See a way to cross?”

   “…Only way to the Lucrehulk is through this swamp.”

   “For you maybe.” Cal pulled away from his droid and gave his friend an unamused look. “Want a ride, Bee-Dee?”

   Berrp-berp.

   “Alright,” Bode chuckled as he stood and fired back up his jetpack. “When you’re ready, make a move on that gantry. I’ll be watching.”

   “Copy that,” Cal confirmed as Bode gave him a small wave then jumped backwards off the cliff’s edge before firing his jet to carry him up and across the swamp. “That’s one way not to get mud on your boots, huh?”

   Weep-woo!

   “Now we just need to rescue Zee.”

   Following the broken old metal scaffolding downward, Cal cautiously made his way toward a resting Relter and held out his hand to plant his request in its mind. The creature’s large eyes glanced back to look at him as it quickly leapt into the air, then grabbed ahold of his outstretched hands. While Cal was grateful not to be flying over pools of lava, he was still not keen on the idea of potentially landing in the foul smelling muck below. “Hard to believe anything could live in this swamp.” Behind him, BD chirped in agreement, and tucked himself closer as the Relter pulled them through a steaming air vent that carried them back upward and through one of the arched pillars. “Guess our friend here makes it work.” The Relter gargled, then tilted them slightly to the right towards a warm light breaking through the fog. “See that building over there, buddy?” He asked as the shape of a metal hut began to take shape. “Guess someone does live here. Or did, once.”

   Gliding over the rocky platform, the Relter dropped Cal just outside the hut, and as it flew off, both of them quickly hurried for cover as two shadows stretched outward from inside. 

   “Tell me - and I mean no disrespect,” a feminine voice asked. “But is it even possible to find a new datapad on a planet like this?”

   “Well, not new. But I bet I could find ‘ya one that works.”

   Cal glanced at BD as his antennas perked up at the familiar voice, and chose to move toward the entrance. 

   “Ha! That’s very kind of you,” stated a fashionably dressed Silvasu Fi. “That said, I’m afraid this one has sentimental value. That datapad contains all my designs and reference databank. Without it, I’ll be starting all over from scratch! Even more than I already am!

   Next to the alien stood Zygg still dressed in her well-worn overalls and dark hair in a knotted mess.“Cal? What are you doing out here?”

   “Could ask you the same question, Zygg,” he replied with a wave as he stepped into the light.

   “I came out here to look for Zee.”

   “Yeah, me too.”

   Next to them the Silvasu Fi loudly cleared her throat. “And I am Wini Eres. Cal, was it? We’ve only just met, but if you are able, I could use some assistance.

   He gave the horned alien a questioning raise of his brow. “What do you need?”

   Wini shifted her hips as she let out a sigh and rubbed at the space where a nose would have otherwise been on a human. “I was told that there’s a bird in the swamp that sports resplendent plumage. But when I tried to get a closer look at one it snatched my datapad and flew away!”

   Cal glanced at Zygg before looking back at Wini. “Where did it go?”

   “They’ve got a nest at the top of a spire nearby,” Zygg explained as she stepped toward the hut’s entrance and pointed to a tall spire at the end of their rocky platform. “I’d go, but Wini here says I gotta stay by her side.”

   “Yes! That spire over there! It’s so close, yet so far.”

   Cal frowned as he looked for any easy way to access it. “Hmm, I’m not sure I can move that rock down there. If I could, I’d probably be able to reach the top. Tell you what. I’ll see what I can do, but after I find Zee. In the meantime, why don’t the two of you head back to Pyloon’s. If I manage to find your datapad I’ll bring it back with me.”

   “Oh,” Wini sighed with relief. “You shine like the stars. Haha! That’s a Coruscant saying for ‘thank you, Cal’. After all this, I could use a drink!”

   “I hear ‘ya,” Zygg smiled awkwardly. “Monk makes ‘em strong.”

   “Oh? I wasn’t aware this was a monastic planet.”

   “A what?” Cal huffed at the odd pair then stepped back the way he’d come. “Hey, Cal, good luck finding Zee.”

   “Thanks. Know any way to reach the ship from here?”

   “Down below us is an old zipline once used to hall crates of scrap. As far as I know it still works. Just watch yourself around the tar. It’ll suck you under if you’re not careful.”

   Bzewww , BD-1 hummed with uncertainty as Cal flung himself off the rock’s ledge then back flipped mid air onto the narrow stone space below. After a second of stablinging his balance, Cal carefully shuffled along the narrow space and clambered across the metal divider to reach the otherside where a rusted out bucket sat in pieces upon the floor and the intact zipline still stood fully functional. BD-1 hopped onto the line then spun up his gears to pull Cal across and towards the metal tower. But as he raced towards the end he let out a beep of warning. 

   Cal looked up at where the end of the line was tethered to the dead tree heading rapidly towards them, then glanced at the exposed grating on the tower’s side. “We’ll both just make a jump for it, alright? …Now,” he shouted as he let go of BD’s torso and used the energy around him to dash himself forward just far enough that his hands could grasp the metal slats and his boots could wedge in to support him. Behind him he could hear the faint little hiss of his droid’s leg boosters maneuvering him back over, and after a second BD’s weight settled back onto his harness straps. “You ever been in a ship this big before, buddy?” BD shifted as Cal continued to crab-climb his way over and upward till they got a good view of what had once been a large hanger bay and the supply gantry.

   Be-wooo.

   “Been a long time for me. Not looking forward to it. But Zee’s in there. And we’re not leaving without her.”

   Beep beep, BD agreed as Cal pushed himself off the tower’s peak and sent his ascension cable outward to clamp onto another nearby line. Holding on with one hand while his momentum carried him down toward the rock closest to the gantry, with his free hand twisted loose his saber and readied his attack.

   “Do you hear that?”

   “Hear what? Perhaps your audio sensors are malfunctioning.”

   “No, I definitely heard something. A zizzzzzz sound.”

   “A zizzzzz sound? What kind of sooouuunnd-” the B1’s damaged voice emitter ground out as Cal’s blue energy beam sliced through it.

   “A jedi? Engage the enemy,” cried another. 

   The moment Cal’s boots hit the ground he swung up his saber - scorching through the rock as he did so - and blocked the oncoming blaster bolts from the remaining B1 and B2 Battle Droids. 

   “Look out,” called one of the B1’s as it threw a thermal detonator toward him. Cal caught it mid air with the Force and redirected it toward the B2 as it charged up its wrist rockets. “Look out!” Cal leapt forward and cut through the remaining two droids who’d foolishly clumped together, and jumped onto the next hunk of rock poking out of the swamp as bits of burnt B2 droid parts clunked against stone and plunked into the surrounding tar. 

   Leaping again onto a fallen sheet of the ship’s exterior, Cal hurried toward the ominously decorated entrance and slowed to a walk as Bode touched down next to the speared torsos and heads of deactivated battle droids. 

   “Interesting choice of decor,” he quipped. “Ready to liberate one slightly eccentric High Republic droid?”

   “Yeah. You?”

   “Well, I’m here aren’t I? Make it through the swamp okay? I almost lost a boot.”

   “Nothing we couldn’t handle. And you should see the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk. Now that’s a swamp.”

   “Yeah, not on my bucket list,” Bode said with a look of disgust as he withdrew both blasters. “So, I go high, you go low?”

   Cal flashed him a smirk and squeezed through the broken entryway as Bode flew up and over. “Let’s do this.” 

   “What the- Intruder!” The nearest B1 yelled as it went sailing through the air and into Cal’s grasp before he sliced it in half. Several more B1’s and B2’s turned to face him, and Cal pulled his second hilt into his hand as he blocked the closest incoming bolt. As Bode’s jetpack fired overhead and his own blaster fire blending in with the noise, Cal closed his eyes as he spun and twisted both sabers - the Force guiding each of his steps as the familiar sounds of his childhood came rushing back into his ears as the droids clanked against the floor and blaster fire screeched past him or bounced off his blades of energy. 

   Sensing the brush of warning against his mind, Cal leapt into the air right as Bode called out to him and flipped over the two small rockets from the remaining B2, and landed with both blades outwards. Opening his eyes he looked at the cleaved bipedal droid as its melting metal exterior toppled over, and slowly stood as a sense of accomplishment and pride settled over him. I’m not that scared padawan anymore, Master. Not anymore.  

   “More incoming,” Bode yelled as he flew up the ramp and began firing upon two BX’s and a Raider.

   “Toss a stun,” Cal yelled as he raced towards them. Bode paused just long enough to pull free one of his shock grenades, then pulled its pin with his teeth. As their enemies backed away, Cal skid to a halt and pulled hard on the energy flowing around them. And as they tumbled forward, Bode’s grenade bounced onto the floor and instantly covered both man and droid in a web of electro-static. The BX’s eyes flickered as their limbs jerked and the Raider grunted in discomfort, but it was over in a matter of seconds as two lightsabers hissed and cracked through them in a smooth, quick line. 

   “So much for a warm welcome,” Bode joked with a shake of his head. “Guess knocking wouldn’t have been an option.”

   Cal glanced up at him and looked over the broken hanger. “We’ll find our own way. …Think you can break that cuplink?”

   Bode turned and grinned as he boosted himself towards the dock crane at the center and its dangling cargo crate. “Let’s find out,” he shouted as he aimed his blaster. After only two shots the cable snapped with a reverberating twang, and Cal jumped down and dashed himself across the slow moving wave of gushing tar to land and run quickly across the quickly sinking crate. 

   On the other side of the platform, two B1 scouts stepped into view and activated their axes. As Cal flipped onto the platform he dashed midair and spun both his sabers through each, then blocked the oncoming fire from another two appearing out from behind a cargo crate. Bode’s jetpack pushed him to the side as he shifted his weight to miss a bolt, then fired back in quick succession. Cal left the last remaining droids to his friend and instead focused on the two raiders charging towards him. Guarding his side with one saber and his back with the other, he pivoted his hip inward and waited till he felt his enemy’s intention ripple through the Force, then twisted outward with coiled force as he flung one saber then the next and cut clean through both attackers. 

   “Look at you showing off,” Bode teased as Cal’s sabers boomeranged back into his hands. 

   Cal bit back a grin as he twisted together both hilts and reattached them at his side, then readied his ascension cable for another climb. “Am not,” he huffed as he thudded against the grated hanger wall and began his climb across.

   “Uh-huh. So… Merrin…”

   Cal clenched tight the metal rail as his boot slipped, then refocused on his next move. “What about her?” 

   “Just…surprised she decided to come after all. Something must have happened to change her mind.”

   “Yeah, she thinks Tanalorr could really help the Path.”

   “Alright. But, uh, you do seem happier now that she’s around.”

   Bizzu! Bizzu! BD agreed.

   “Okay, let’s focus,” he stated as he pulled himself up onto the ship’s outer wall structure. “Zee needs us.” He did his best to ignore his friend’s amused chuckle, and shot out his cable again to swing across the entryway gap and onto the next wall of exposed scaffolding. 

   “You know, I broke into a freighter on Denab once.”

   “Yeah,” he grunted as he flung himself onto another section. “Any tips?”

   Bode floated casually alongside him and pondered at his chin. “No. It was nothing like a Lucrehulk. Not sure why I even mentioned it…”

   “Well, can you clear away that live wire ahead?”

   “Absolutely.”

   Cal paused long enough to flex his hand as he hung in place while Bode fired away at the loose, sparking cable, then continued upward till he reached the next platform. Bursting into a run, he leapt onto the nearest damaged exterior panel and raced across it. Ahead of them stood one B1 and two B2’s, all arguing about who the better model was. As Cal flipped and dashed his way onto the platform, Bode rounded the large pair and drew their fire as he landed in a forward diving roll, then yanked the smaller droid out of his way with force and flipped onto the upper level to engage and destroy the two remaining droids. 

   “Were those droids arguing?” Bode asked as he stared as their smoking remains. 

   “It happens more than you’d think,” Cal replied with a shake of his head before hurrying down the adjacent hall. 

   “Yeesh. No wonder they lost. I’ll make sure the coast is clear.” 

   Cal glanced at his friend as he sped ahead and hung a right, and continued to run after him till he ran out of flooring, then leapt back into the hair before his ascension cable caught hold of the grated ceiling above and pulled him upward. Cal felt BD shift his weight closer to his shoulders as he swung his torso forward, and tried to focus on timing his grasps till he was close enough to let himself drop onto the floor of the next level. 

   “Looks clear,” Bode said as he touched down in front of him. “Miss me, Bee-Dee?” BD-1 leaned back over his shoulder and wobbled his head as he let out a low, uninterested tone. “Is that a no?”

   Cal ignored their banter and instead headed over toward the larger hallway door and tried to sense its locking mechanism through the Force, but pulled away and frowned after a moment’s effort. “Would’ve been too easy.”

   “Eh, it’s always worth a shot. Door number two?” 

   Leading the way, Cal headed for the smaller door across from them and tensed as it instantly pulled apart to let them enter. He was grateful to find it empty, save for a few random droid parts laying about, but on the other side of the next door he could hear voices. Cal glanced back at Bode as he uncoupled his saber, then moved to the side of the door as it slid open. Instantly Bode was firing both blasters at the two commando droids at the back of the room, which left Cal to face off against the raider that was activating his electro-claw. On instinct he ducked down and swung his saber upward to block the stray bolt heading towards him, then threw out his hand to push back one of the droids, giving Bode some relief as he punched the next streamlined droid across the face. The masked raider took his chance and lunged toward him, but Cal was already anticipating the strike and leaned to the side as his saber arm swung down to press the claw downward long enough for him to then quickly slide it back up the pole and into the man’s arms and torso. The raider let out a quick scream before falling, and Cal leapt back, saber held defensively to make sure there were no more surprises. A high pitched screech sounded at his rear, and he pivoted on his heel to see Bode lower his gun as the final droid fell. 

   Bode glanced over at him then down at the literal disarmed man and let out a bitter huff. “That’s what they get for messing with us.”

   “Yeah,” Cal mumbled as he deactivated his saber and stepped past the corpse.

   “So, keep going up, yeah? Somehow?” Cal studied the hanger’s overhead beam and reared back his arms to give it a forceful shove through the Force, pulling loose a metal grate he then aimed his cable at and zipped towards. “Never doubted you,” Bode commented as he fired up his jetpack and flew past. “Keep going. I’ll scout around, make sure there are no surprises.” 

   “Be careful,” Cal called after him as he pulled himself up and dashed onto the wall panels to cross the open hanger below to access the next area of scaffolding. “Scaling a beaten-up warship, just like the old days.” Yet as he moved up and shifted himself into the next hanger, he paused long enough to watch two Vulture Droids quickly take to the air and race out into the night. “Now where are they going,” he whispered as he flung himself onto a swinging cargo pad that hung above the space. Below him sat two ship levels worth of rows upon rows of starfighter-styled Mark 1 Vulture droids, Armored Assault Tanks, massive Multi-Troop Transports, and Heavy Missile Platform droid gunships. Cal felt his jaw drop. “They could conquer a whole planet with all this.” From behind him, BD let out a low, worried whistle. “Yeah. We’ve got to put a stop to all this. But the mission comes first.” 

   Glancing around he caught sight of what had once been a metal support beam and flung himself towards it, then scrambled his way around so as to drop down on the Bedlam Raider standing below.

   “Stay alert. We have reports of hostiles in the area.”

   “We’re under attack? Here?”

   “Ready for battle.”

   “Just keep this area locked down. Whatever Rayvis is up to, it’s drawn some unwanted attention. Any other day, stealin’ from those slow-minded prospectors wouldn’t mean a thing. But now-” The raider gargled as he felt forward under Cal’s sudden weight, and in an instant he yanked free his saber from the man’s back and spun the blade behind him to deflect the oncoming bolt, then flung it forward into the B2 standing directly in front of him, then clutched the panicking B1 in an invisible hold and swung him forward to take the hit as his lightsaber returned. “Great. Now the whole ship knows we’re here,” he grumbled as both droids clattered onto the rusting floor. “Wonder if that means they’ve found Bode?”

                    ~*~

   “Halt, intruderrrrr-” the droid slurred as it fell backwards from the bolt’s impact. 

   “Ah,” Bode sighed with glee as he sauntered over towards the damaged droid and kicked loose its head. “Haven’t felt this good in years! I kinda almost miss it. Almost. But, I should probably find Cal. Hope he’s alright. Kid’s got a bad habit of getting in over his head.” As he fired up his jetpack and raced down the next hall he paused just long enough to laugh at his realized mistake. “Huh, well look what you’ve done, you dumb bastard. You fell for it. Worrying for him again.” He sighed with a shake of his head and lowered himself onto his feet so as to manually mess with the door’s control panel while mentally cursing himself for both giving a damn and over how he couldn’t allow himself to. “Stay focused. This is for Kata. She always comes first. No matter what.”

   He jabbed the control button again, this time more forcefully, and scowled. After another second of nothing happening, he withdrew his blaster and fired at the panel, causing it to override and open up. “There. …Ah, damn,” he grumbled as he grabbed free his other blaster and boosted the jet engine forward while opening fire on the MagnaGuard turning to face him. At the last second, he shifted and threw a kick against the side of the droid’s head before twisting mid-air to drop another shock grenade. The MagnaGuard’s electro-staff crackled to life as it spun, but froze in place as zigzagging strips of electricity snaked its way up and out from the grenade canister. 

   Across the room the sealed door suddenly pulled apart, and a small wave of relief soothed Bode’s conscience as Cal and BD-1 appeared on the other side surrounded by dead raiders and broken droids. “Cal, give me a hand!” In a flash, Cal raised his gifted blaster and charged up a shot that hit the droid square in the chest and knocked loose a piece of its plating. Bode fired off shot after shot as Cal dashed forward in a blur and thrusted his lightsaber forward into the exposed wiring, then flourished upwards to leave a burning gash. 

   Nice , Bode thought as he lowered himself back down and Cal eased his stance as the burbling droid’s power drained away. “Good to see you in one piece. That witch of yours might kill me if I showed back up without you.” A small smile tugged at the corner of Cal’s mouth as he returned both his weapons to his side and started down the curved hallway. 

   “I don’t know if she’d kill you… 

   Bizziboop, BD-1 chirped, causing Cal to actually grin. 

   “Yeah, she’d probably just hex you.”

   “Somehow that sounds even worse. Still, scary as she may be, you and Greez both seem happy she rejoined the crew.”

   “Yeah. I’m glad she wants to help us find Tanalorr.”

   Bode let out a huff as he rolled his eyes. “That might have been what she told you, but you do realize she didn’t just join to find Tanalorr, right? I mean, I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other.”

   Cal glanced at him with a pensive look in his eye then refocused on the upcoming turn ahead. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

   Whoop whoop-boop? BD asked with an upright jerk and tilt of his head, which Boded needed no translation for. It was obvious Cal had, but was too stuck in the past and chained down by old rules to do anything about it. And he was surprised to find he felt sorry for him. 

   “Whatever you say, Cal. Whatever you say.”

                    ~*~

   What’s with the questions about Merrin? Is it that obvious? And why would he care? It’s not like I can do anything about it. He knows what I am, what that means. We need to be focusing on finding Zee. Yet he was all too aware of the small metal totem that had been tapping against the back of his thigh as he ran. He hadn’t necessarily found it distracting before, more of a comfort. But it was distracting him now, and he almost didn’t notice Bode slow to a stop till a ripple of warning through the Force brushed against the back of his mind. 

   “Wait. You hear that,” Bode asked as he withdrew his blasters from their holsters. 

   Cal listened carefully as the familiar sound of heavy metal rolling across flooring grew louder, and quickly twisted apart and activated both hilts. “Destroyer Droids! Perfect.”

   The second they reached the doorway, both droids came to a halt and unfurled themselves as their three-pronged stabilizing legs folded out and its curved head rolled back to reveal its red beady sensor eyes and foldable twin blaster cannon arms. Two small side panel pieces flared outward from their hips, and a thin blue energy shield boomed around each of them like a bubble. Bode boosted himself to the side of the door with a curse as both droids opened fire and Cal stepped forward, swinging both blades in a swirl of blue light - energy bolts pinging haphazardly in every direction and leaving scorch marks sizzling in the metal. After a few tense seconds of uninterrupted fire, the droid’s cannons paused to cool and their shielding dropped. Bode thrusted back into the hall and fired in quick succession a barrage of bolts into the roller on the right, while Cal reached out with two of his fingers to manipulate the energy built up around the one on his left and pull it towards him. The droid’s three legs sparked across the floor as it skid, but was quickly cut in two once within reach. Behind him the hum of the second droid’s shields reactivating caused him to spin around and again deflect its shots. And the moment its shields went down again Bode was there to finish it off. 

   “Ugh, definitely don’t miss these things. Thanks for the assist.”

   Cal gave him a small nod. “First time I fought droideka was with my master during the Clone Wars. I froze. He had to take them out.”

   “Yet look at you now,” Bode offered. “Bet he’d be proud.”

   Cal looked down at his former master’s modified emitter on his main hilt and bit back a smile. “I hope so.” Across from him Bode offered him a warm smile and waved him toward the locked door at the other end, and as they neared BD-1 hopped onto the controls and sliced in. “Work your magic, buddy.” BD’s scomp-link clicked and twisted as he phifered through the code, then pulled free and boosted himself back onto Cal’s harness as the door pulled open. “Excellent job.”

   “Okay,” Bode whispered as they both filed past the stack of junk and took in the view of the hanger bay windows. “Let’s see what we got here.”

   “A turbo lift,” Cal pointed out across from them. 

   “Yeah…and is that who I think it is inside?”

   “Let me look. Bee-Dee?” BD-1 hopped onto his arm and stood still as he zoomed in on the cluster of robotic legs standing at attention on the lift’s platform. And among them stood Zee’s signature delicate chrome metal work. “Yeah, it’s Zee!”

   “Where does it go?”

   BD zoomed out and moved up along the lift’s skeletal frame. “The control tower.”

   “Then that’s our target. But, I see a problem. Down there.”

   BD shifted back down and zoomed in on the squad of various droids guarding the lift’s entrance. “Droids?”

   “We’ve seen worse,” Bode said dismissively. “But check out those AATs. …I’ve got a plan.” 

   Cal pulled away from BD-1 and looked back out over the rose of tanks he’d seen earlier. “What are you thinking?”

   “I figure I make some noise, draw them away, you slip by…then regroup at the turbolift. What’a ya think?”

   He sighed through his nose as he worked it over in his mind. “It’s risky.”

   “Pff. We passed risky a while back.”

   True. And it might solve future issues with those tanks… “Okay.”

   “Great. Good luck.”

   “You too.”

                    ~*~

   Merrin flipped her dagger over her wrist again and watched as another pair of droid ships rose into the air and followed along the same flight path as the last pair. Below, the door to the roof top garden hissed open then closed. “How’s it- …Where’d she go?” Mosey’s voice questioned.

   “Up here.”

   “…Oh,” she laughed as she took a step back to see her more clearly. “Not a bad spot.”

   “It has proven sufficient. I take it the perimeter is clear?”

   “So far,” she replied with a frown and a subtle shake of her head. “It’s weird though. It’s not unusual to spot a patrol of Raiders roaming around just outside their fortified camp near the old mine, but I didn’t spot a single one tonight.”

   “They abandoned it?”

   “No, there were still sentries from what I could see. But I get the feeling there’s less of them inside.”

   Merrin flipped her dagger again as she tried to figure out the bigger picture. “They’re regrouping.”

   “What, like for another raid?”

   “I don’t think so. Their starfighters have all been heading towards your moon. And the larger transports have been heading that way,” she explained, pointing over her shoulder.

   “Up Mountain Pass? The only thing up there is abandoned mines and boarded up shacks.”

   “And the Empire,” Merrin added as she looked down at her. “I did some scouting of my own, and whatever is up there seems to be of interest to both our enemies.”

   Mosey’s frown deepened as she placed her hands on her hips and her shoulders went ridged from the weight of the news. “That would explain the recent Imperial patrol sightings. Figures they’d come around sooner or later.”

   Merrin sheathed her dagger and forced herself to disappear then reappear next to her in a burst of green smoke and ash. And to Mosey’s credit, she didn’t even flinch when she did so.“They usually do,” she said as gently as she could, though she knew her bedside manner usually came off harsher than she intended.

   “Suppose we should all start making backup plans then, huh? In case they decide to come for us next?”

   “That would be wise, yes.”

   “Yeah,” she sighed. “Oh, Zygg showed back up. Said she ran into Cal in the swamp. Think he’s found that old droid?”

   Merrin shifted on her heel so as to look up at the Separatist ship’s control tower that peaked out over the valley’s ridge line. “I do not know. But if they haven’t yet, they will.”

   “Let’s hope so.”

   “I know so. If Cal had died by now I think I would know.”

   “Oh yeah? Is that cause of your magick or somethin’?”

   Merrin felt the corner of her mouth curl into a small smile. “Perhaps. A friend of ours once said he and I share a strong connection through the Force. I believe her.”

   Mosey hummed softly as if in thought. “You know, before all this, I didn’t really believe in any of that sort of stuff. But after meeting the two of you, I believe it. Greez is lucky to have you both.” 

   Merrin gave her an appreciative smile. As silly as it seemed, as she didn’t really care one way or another, it was still nice to have someone new look at her without fear or mistrust. “And we are lucky to have him. Despite his constant complaining and poor taste in food.”

                    ~*~

   With one hand holding his blaster at the ready and the other prepped to activate his saber’s switch, Cal let out the breath he’d been holding as the small lift eased down onto the platform just below the central turbo lift. Stepping out into the empty space and checking his corners, he hurried over towards the broken section of bridge yet dropped to one knee as a large blue-tinged bubble of static bloomed over top the hanger bay where the AATs sat. The bubble burst, and a low rumble rattled his eardrums and chest as the hairs on his arms stood-on-end. 

   Woooooh! BD triled as he mimicked a shiver. 

   “He knows how to make an entrance.” 

   Ahead the group of droids on guard turned and marched toward the disruption and Cal took the opening to dash over the gap and run down the catwalk that led him toward the back of the lift’s column. But as he rounded the corner a turret-droid popped down from its insert in the ceiling and twisted its turbo lasers directly at him. Cal dove forward and rolled behind the lift’s backup generator, then turned and fired on instinct at the Bedlam Raider that threw himself out of hiding. Instantly the raider stumbled back as his mask sizzled from the hits, and Cal took the Force’s urging and made a run for it, swinging his saber upward to block the turret’s incessant shots as he ran down another catwalk and jumped off its sudden end.

   Twisting himself mid-air then flipping forward, he reached out to the platform on the other side of the energy barrier and pulled. The heated warmth of Merrin’s magick envelop him as he passed through, then faded as he rolled head-over-feet to a standstill right next to six folded down B1 Battle Droids. With a groan Cal rolled on his hip to get to his feet, then froze as two of the droids powered back on and began to shift into their upright position. 

   “Roger. Roger.”

   “Roger. Roger.”

   “Nope!” Cal huffed as he switched on his main saber hilt and swung outward to cut the droid to his right, then ignited the second hilt and criss-crossed them as he pushed upward off the floor, cutting down the next three. The remaining two shifted back so as to aim their blasters, but they too were quickly struck down with a flourish.    

   “Hey,” Bode’s voice called out. Cal looked up through the slat windows in front of him and blinked in surprise as Bode flew past. “Keep moving!”

   “Right,” he huffed as he turned to run out of the room. Yet the walkway attached to the only exit was also guarded by two turret-droids. “Are all these really necessary?” Spinning both sabers and twirling when the Force dictated, he dashed onto the outer walkway that overlooked the cargo transport rails and groaned the instant one of the crates passed by and revealed another turret-droid on the other side. Using the Force to boost his speed, Cal raced after the cargo crate and leapt on to run alongside it so as to protect his feet till he managed to leap off and hide behind a metal divider. 

   Giving himself a second to slow his breathing, he looked across from him and swallowed at the sight of what looked to be a human corpse. Cautiously he moved forward and kneeled down to check for a pulse, but a faint echo in the Force played out in his ears the instant his fingers touched cold flesh; Rayvus’s vile chuckle as the man begged for his life and was suddenly silenced by blaster fire. Cal stood and gave the man a respectful distance, then glanced up at the upper platform he must have fallen from and jumped. 

   Hoisting himself up and stepping out from behind the divided cargo area, Cal paused as his jaw went slack. In the background stood the massive, damaged but still functional main reactor, and in the center of the foreground stood a heavily armored Bedlam Raider wielding an unnecessarily large electro-hammer. “Target spotted,” chuckled the gruff voice behind the mask. Unsure of what to expect, Cal again unclipped his lightsaber but drew his blaster and charged up a bolt as the Raider charged at him. The moment the man swung back his hammer, Cal let go of the trigger and flipped backward, landing just barely out of the electrical radius of the hammer’s two-part attack. His attacker growled as his chest plate sizzled from the impact, but as he pulled back his hammer and turned to ready for another attack, Cal quickly shuffled further back and continued to fire till the cautionary pulser in the grip vibrated. 

   Shit! How is this guy still standing? Cal thought as he dashed himself to the side to dodge the raider’s jetpack assisted aerial ground pound. The force of the hammer’s impact rattled the platform they stood on, and Cal felt his footing wobble. Yet sensing an opening via the Force, Cal pushed back against the energy surrounding them and dashed forward, causing everything around him to move at half speed, and ignited both ends of his lightsaber and spun, striking upward and down and across. Then everything went black for a second as biting pain shot through his chest and limbs and the air was knocked out of him. Cal blinked as he gasped, and watched as BD-1 floated himself next to him and pushed against his abdomen urgently as he chirped with worry. He clenched his hand and felt some relief in the fact his deactivated saber was still in his hand, and gritted through the pain as he forced himself to his feet. Across from him the raider huffed loudly as he limped forward, clearly wounded but still up and dragging his hammer at his side. 

   “Making new friends?” Bode joked as he swooped in overhead and fired both his blaster pistols. Cal let out a nervous laugh as he quickly withdrew his blaster and ejected the empty gas canister then plucked from his belt a fresh one and jammed it back into the grip. As the raider attempted to get a hit at Bode, Cal held down the trigger to let the magnetic pressure build till it trembled, then released. The charged bolt pierced through both the damaged armor and cauterized flesh and tore through to the other side. A split second later the hulking raider finally dropped his hammer and toppled over.

   Cal let out a breath and looked over at his friend. “Good to see you.”

   “Likewise. …Does anyone need a hammer that size?”

   “Doesn’t need it anymore.”

   Bode grinned as he nodded. “Guess not. You good? Took quite a hit.”

   “I’ve had worse. I couldn’t find a way to the turbolift.”

   “Well, let’s look for one together.”

   Cal glanced over at the large door off to their left that he hadn’t had the chance to notice earlier and pointed over toward the flashing interface. “Buddy… Give us a hand?” BD whistled his readiness to help and curried over with surprising speed toward the scomp interface and sliced in. Then after a few clicks the door opened to reveal another room of traveling cargo crates.

   “Hey, over there,” Bode said as he fired up his jetpack and flew over to what looked to be a small console station and a gated doorway. “I have an idea.” Cal waited until he felt BD-1’s foot clamps attach to his harness then made a run across the narrow walkway and leapt onto the moving cargo crate, then pushed off and flipped onto the control platform. Bode lowered himself down in front of the gate and squatted. “Could you wire it up?” 

   Cal walked over to the console and tapped at the screen for it to open. On the center of the gate a round yellow light flicked on, but remained otherwise inactive save for a small jerk upwards. “Okay, now what?” Bode flexed his gloved fingers and pushed them up under the small gap, then grunted as he pulled and boosted up his jetpack. A low metallic creak gave way to a loud slam as Bode shot upwards with the door, then ducked under it and turned to give Cal a smug look. “Not bad. …What are these buildings?” He asked as he paused to look out over what appeared to be some form of encampment set up on a loading platform across from them.

   “The technical term is ‘yurts’. Living quarters,” Bode explained, pointing out the rounded metal roofs and cloth covered doorways with warm light filtering through. “Saw them on Mareg IX. You never seen so many yurts.”

   “Living quarters?” How long have these Raiders been living here? “Seems we’re in deep now.”

   “Oh yeah. Just keep sharp. Who knows how many are hiding down here.”

Chapter Text

   “ZN-A4,” Dagan announced curtly as he stepped into the observation room. “Been a long time.”

   Mag-cuffed in place, Santari’s research droid tilted her head in his direction then jerked upright. “Dagan Gera? You’re still alive?”

   “Didn’t your new Jedi friend tell you? Yes, I am indeed still alive, no thanks to your Master, who felt the need to leave me locked away in a tank bacta for centuries.”

   Her unblinking yellow slit eyes tilted downwards, then raised back up in a snap. “You’re what Master Khri tasked me to find. The ‘key to Tanalorr’. Oh, Master Khri, why?”

   “A key…” he huffed as he began to pace. “How like Santari to see nothing more than one’s use. And she couldn’t even be bothered to fetch me herself.”

   “She couldn't. She-”

   “Couldn’t face me after her betrayal?” he snarled as he turned his missing limb toward her. “But it matters not. She is gone and I am here. And you will tell me where she hid the last compass.”

   The droid’s slender limbs raddled uselessly against the restraints. “What compass? Shortly after we left the observatory, Master Khri wiped my memory banks, just as the Order demanded.”

   “You’re lying.”

   “I’m not! Cal told me as much. Besides, even if I could remember, I’d have led him there already and left you to waste away in the forest!

   In a flash of anger, Dagan pulled free his saber and held the blade to the droid’s tarnished neck, illuminating her in its threatening glow. “The compass. Did she leave it in the observatory?”

   “I don’t know! But even if she did, I no longer have her tuner, so there’s no way you can get in to find out!”

   The blade trembled in his hand as he fought his urge to behead her, but quickly deactivated it as he stepped back to reassess her words. “You gave it to the Jedi. That’s how he freed me from my prison.”

   “And he’s halfway across the galaxy repairing two items he found. With any luck, he’s already reached Tanalorr.”

   A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he turned to look out into the hall where his faithful friend awaited. “Rayvis, find our unwelcome guest and relieve him of his tuner. Then bring it to me.”

   “Cal is here?”

   Dagan turned and stared at the distorted reflection of the Order’s symbol on his gray and golden robes in the droid’s plating. “Those compasses were beyond salvaging, so of course he would come looking for you. And how fortunate for me that he has.”

   “Why, you-” the droid shouted as she again struggled against her restraints. “You no good- How dare you continue to wear those robes! Master Khri would be appalled at your behavior. And consorting with hooligans no less! I never understood what she saw in you.”

   “Enough!” He yelled, clenching his hand so that her armor creaked under the pressure of his will. “That…is…enough.” With an unsteady breath he let his hand loosen and stepped back. “I suppose I could destroy you… But seeing how Santari has already tampered with some of your memories, perhaps I’ll just finish the job and have you forget her completely.”

                    ~*~

   “All this talk about Jedi. When are we gonna actually fight one?”

   “Whatever quirks are going on in your wires, droid, they make for some interesting delusions of grandeur.”

   “Delusions of grandeur? I don’t even know the meaning of the words!”

   Cal glanced over at Bode and nodded towards the pair and grinned as his friend rolled his widened eyes. While they had managed to sneak into their makeshift barracks, the battle droid had talked nonstop. But it had at least kept the Raider distracted. Checking their corners again, Bode silently motioned out his next move and Cal gave him a quick node before leaping onto the roof of the nearest yurt. 

   “What was that?”

   “Hey! Looking for me?” Bode called out as he boosted himself out from the shadows.

   “A Jedi!” The B1 shouted excitedly before flying backward with a sizzling burn mark on its forehead.

   “Finally,” cheered the raider as he powered up his clawed staff and ignored his fallen counterpart. Bode fired off a shot at him then pivoted to fire at whoever was now attacking from within the yurt, right as Cal sailed through the air and landed a killing blow on the charging raider. 

   “Switching targets,” a Commando droid announced. Cal pulled free his lightsaber and brought it up just in time to block the droid’s vibrosword and shoved through the Force. As the droid skidded back it reattached the sword onto its back and pulled forward its E-5 blaster rifle and fired. Cal flicked his blade at multiple angles and sent each bolt back, then yanked the droid hard towards him. Despite losing its control, the BX still continued to fire till Cal was close enough to cut through its limbs and torso. Beside him blaster fire continued to streak past and impact the yurts and floor, and Cal turned to see Bode now engaged with another raider and a B2 slowly trying to pinpoint its target. Again he reached out with the Force and pulled, and the top heavy B2 toppled onto its side and accidentally shot the raider in the leg. Instantly the raider dropped her weapon with a yell, and Brode pressed his advantage and thrusted forward to send his fist right across the raider’s mask. Cal spun his saber and cut through the droid, then looked over to find his friend walking away from the downed raider while shaking off a bloody fist. 

   “Need a Stim?”

   “Nah,” Bode replied with a smug look. “I’m just getting started. Who’s next?” Cal deactivated his saber but kept it in hand as the two of them moved toward the corner exit and looked down at the level across the open air shaft. From where they stood Cal could count five raiders, and one Destroyer droid, but knew there had to be more. “We can take ‘em,” Bode nodded. 

   Cal frowned and glanced back at his droid as BD clambered onto his shoulder and zoomed in for a closer look. “Got a plan, bud?”

   Biizoop werrberrp boo-wiip.

   He looked back out at the droid tucked in the far corner and then at the two raiders dueling each other near the landing’s edge. “Alright. We’ll try it.”

   “What are we trying?” Bode asked. 

   Without explaining, Cal closed his eyes and reached out his hand to shift through the threads of the Living Force for the minds of those below.

   “Those tin cans you like so much burn very nice, especially when they meet a lightsaber.”

   “But the code is about strength, power, freedom!”

   “Spare me. It’s about survivin’. That’s enough!”

   Carefully singling out the two more distinct voices, he planted his own urgent request. They’re hiding the Jedi. They are your enemy. Cal opened his eyes as he pulled back his hand and watched as the two dueling each other paused and shuffled in place, then turned to look at the third rader and followed him into the hut. At the sound of a fight breaking out, Cal stood and quickly leapt onto the wall and ran across then dashed through the air to land and roll toward the droid. 

   “What’s the plan?” Bode yelled after him. 

   “Blow the yurt. BD and I got the droids,” he shouted over the grunts and yells and blaster fire as he ignited both ends of his saber and deflected the Destroyer droid’s shots. As Bode flew out of sight, BD-1 jumped down and scurried toward the droid, then boosted forward the moment its shielding dropped and latched onto its exposed central core and welded through to its port to slice in. The Destroyer droid attempted to fold in on itself but teetered on its three legs as its eyes flickered from BD’s override. “You good buddy?”

   Ziiibeep zip!

   The Destroyer droid paused as BD leapt down, then folded up and rolled toward the oncoming B1’s and B2’s running towards them, then unfurled and opened fire. “Nice,” Cal said as he high-fived his droid then turned to focus his attention on Bode who was still inside the yurt. Hurrying in after him, Cal flung his lightsaber at the back of the Commando droid trying its best to cut down his friend and guided it back for a second strike. 

   As the droid fell, Bode let out a low whistle. “Close. One of those mind-tricked friends of yours didn’t stay fooled for long. Then this thing got the drop on me.” 

   “It’s alright. BD-1 took care of the rest of them.”

   “Well, aren't you full of surprises.”

   Bezzu bezzu!

   “There’s a tether attached to the platform across the way. Mind cutting it loose for me?”

   “Consider it done,” Bode said with a nod as he flew out of the yurt. Glancing back to make sure the destroyer droid wasn’t going after them, Cal hurried toward the downed rope and climbed up. “Looks like we’ve got more trouble,” Bode warned as he clambered to his feet. 

   Cal looked out toward the end of the platform and let his shoulders sag as another hammer-welding raider walked out onto the loader’s upper rise and two massive stationary multi-troop transports hissed open their round hatches and beeped as their droid deployment rack extended outward, dangling two rows each of B1s, B2s, and BXs. Without a word Cal unhooked the second half of this lightsaber and activated it with a twirl, then ran straight for the MTT to his right and leapt up with a spin to cut clean through the legs of the first two rows of droids. To his left he could hear Bode’s pistols firing away then pausing, then firing again. By the time the rack completed its extension and dropped its combatants, all of the B1s were damaged beyond repair, and fell to the floor lifeless. Damaged but still functional, the B2s dropped next and instantly raised their arms to fire. Cal shuffled to the side to give himself some distance and twisted his sabers so as to try and reflect back each pair of bolts that came toward him. 

   “Cal,” Bode called as he dropped a shock grenade. Cal paused just long enough to dash himself over to his side and threw both sabers towards the two seizing droids, then spun as he caught them and threw them back at the remaining two as he flipped out of their firing range. As they fell, Bode began firing at the two BX droids to their left that dropped to the ground, and once Cal’s sabers returned he lashed out with a flurry of rapid strikes that managed to overwhelm one and damage the other. With a flick of his shoulder, Cal pushed the Commando back against the MTTs front and thrust his main saber forward to pin it in place, then pulled back and twisted both hilts back together and urged his kyber crystals to focus all their energy into the main emitter. As Bode took out the last BX, the Bedlam Raider above leapt down and heaved up their hammer. Bode instantly boosted his thrusters to push himself out of reach, yet as the raider turned to face Cal, his lightsaber cut out then blazed back to life with renewed intensity as it flared upward and out of the fold down side vents. 

   Cal clenched the rubber hilt as he positioned his weapon out to the side and waited. He knew it was a risk to slow his attack, but if he could take him out quickly with harder hits, it would be over sooner rather than later. “Ha! I will not yield to you,” the raider shouted as he stomped toward him. From the side, Bode’s blaster bolts pinged and sizzled against the man’s armor, but it was as if the raider didn’t even notice as he kept his focus solely on Cal until he shifted to swing down his hammer. Cal pushed outward against the energy around them and willed it to a slow, then raised up his saber and forced it down - feeling the weight of the blade as it burnt through armor and flesh. Bode’s bolts impacted so slowly that the pressurized energy bloomed and burst like water, and the momentum of the hammer slowly sped up as the Force effect waned. Cal shifted his footing and swung his elbow upward to twisting the blade so that it could block the hammer’s impact, and in the second that time resumed its pace, Cal’s muscles tensed under the force of the impact. The raider roared in pain and stumbled to the side as both the shots and the cleaving strike registered with his nervesystem, and Cal took his chance and drug his blade back up in a powerful swing that had him spinning around as the raider’s second arm detached. 

   With a forceful exhale, Cal loosened his grip and deactivated the saber, and watched as Bode landed next to him to stare in surprise. “Well that was…something. How’d you change up your lightsaber like that?” He held out his hilt and let the light reflect off the folded metal vents attached to the base of his master’s cylindrical emitter. “You found quillon attachments?”

   Cal blinked in surprise. “Is that what they’re called?”

   “Yeah. Notice some of the High Republic Jedi had ‘em on theirs while I was helping Cordova with his research.”

   Makes since I guess… “I pulled it off one of Rayvus’s hunters.”

   “Hmm, must’ve belonged to one of Dagan’s victims then. Come on,” Bode said with a jerk of his head toward the locked door. “We need to keep moving. Zee may not have much time left.”

   “Right,” Cal nodded, clipping the hilt back at his side and hurrying to the nearby control to power up the door while Bode pushed it up. Wonder just how many Jedi Dagan killed…  

   “So, how do you think those other compasses went missing?”

   “Well, if I had to guess, my credits are on Santari Khri.”

   “No kidding. If she sent Zee to that bacta tank maybe there’s more to this story.”

   Cal thought back to the emotions he’d sensed in Dagan’s echo - the longing and desire for her approval and affection. He wasn’t sure what had transpired between the two, but he’d sensed the pain in the man’s voice when he’d spoken of her. “Yeah, probably,” he murmured as he tried not to compare his own conflicted emotions and instead focus on powering up the next gate ahead of them.

   “…So we rescue Zee, get out of here, find Tanalorr, and then…what?” Bode asked after a few moments.

   Cal glanced over at his friend and shrugged. “I’m just taking it day by day.”

   “Mmm. …Maybe figure something out with Merrin?”

   Cal winced. I…can’t. “She’s got her path, I’ve got mine.”

   “Yeah, I’ve heard Jedi avoid attachment. But…”

   Cal paused and gave his friend a hard look. “That’s right.”

   Whatever Bode had planned to say he chose kept to himself, and instead looked at him with something akin to pity. “…Just don’t forget who you really are.”

   “What’s that supposed to mean?”

   “It means trust your heart. Things are only getting worse out there. Life is precious. And so is happiness.”

   “…I wish it were that simple.”

   “It is that simple. If you see a future with Merrin, embrace it.”

   “You don’t understand,” Cal stressed as he stepped toward him. “I can’t just-” But before he could finish his words an energy barrier activated between them. Cal placed his hand against the barrier then looked at his friend with worry as a warning rippled through the Force. “Bode…” Bode glanced behind him and drew both pistols as he crouched behind one of the crates left laying about. A split second later the gate lifted open as two B1 Battle Droids marched into view and turned heel to face him with rifles raised. “Hey, clankers,” Cal yelled as he took a step back from the barrier. “Over here. A little further… Perfect.” Without warning Bode fired at the first droid’s head, yanked it out of the way, and fired at the second, then turned to check his back and corners before glancing back at Cal with a grin. 

   “Thanks. I’ll look for another way around. You find that droid. And stay alive.”

   Cal watched his friend disappear out of sight as a sense of unease creeped over him. He wasn’t sure what the Force was trying to tell him, but it wasn’t anything good. And his moment of vulnerability seconds earlier only left him feeling even more unbalanced. Just hold it together. Zee’s counting on you.  

   At the sound of a loud hiss he and BD looked to the side of the room and watched as a sectioned catwalk suddenly powered on and slid together as a previously locked door suddenly pulled apart. BD-1 let out an uncertain chirp, but jumped from the console back onto his harness and turned on his headlamp as Cal cautiously stepped across and into the lightless room. “This isn’t particularly inviting,” he commented as they passed what appeared to be several service pipes and crates of dusty maintenance supplies. “I don’t think anyone’s been back here in a while, buddy.”

   Woooop.

   At the sound of a metallic growl, Cal drew forth his saber and turned, but only found more pipelines bolted in rows against the wall. Deactivating the saber but keeping it in hand, he carefully shuffled himself through the narrow space and caught sight of an open exit ahead with three small droids hovering in place. “Hey,” he said as he pulled himself free, “Those are the same droids from the Forest Array.” The three spy droids let out a surprised beep and quickly floated backward and down another service tunnel, and Cal gave chase - running after them and jumping onto the lower service platform. But just before he passed through the door the Force tugged at his subconscious and caused him to pause just as the door slammed shut in his face. “Okay. Not that way, then.” He turned and looked back up at the door he’d jumped from and found it closed. Then, below him, the door to the next service level pulled open, and the uneasy feeling in his chest grew. Something, or someone, is drawing us in. But what other choice do I have? 

   Trusting in the Force, Cal leapt down and flipped onto the lower platform, then pressed forward into the abandoned lower tunnel as the door slid closed behind him. BD-1 flicked back on his headlamp and shined it along the wall. Ziwoo-beep?

   “All I know is that Dagan’s going to destroy Zee to get what he wants. He’s obsessed.”

   Boo-beep.

   “I know,” he sighed as he squeezed himself into another maintenance alcove. “We shouldn’t have left her at the outpost. But we’re going to get her back.”

   Zzi-woo! Zzz-woo!

   Cal smiled at his little droid’s persistence but quickly let it fade as red lights along the floor vents flicked on and a low menacing chuckle echoed throughout the narrow, claustrophobic space. Cal paused to slow his breathing then cried out in pain as a massive gauntlet gripped onto his shoulder and pulled him out between two large tubes to dangle him up off the ground and in front of Rayvis’s grinning face. “Jedi!” Wincing through the pain, Cal ignited his saber and forced the blade right through the Gen’Dai’s chest armor, but stared in horror as it did absolutely nothing and instead caused Rayvis to laugh as he clutched onto the saber and ripped it from his grasp. “You’re a bold one.”

   “Gah!” Cal yelled as his back and ribs flared with pain from being slammed into a pipe and pinned in place while Rayvis tore through his pockets. Cal tried to wiggle free but stilled as the alien removed Zee’s tuner and placed it under his armor. “What do you want with that,” he asked through gritted teeth.

   “That… That’s Dagan’s orders. And this,” he smiled, exposing all of his sharpened teeth as he pulled back his fist. “Is for me.”

   In a panic, Cal glanced down to where his saber had been tossed and threw out his hand to summon it to him just in time to cut through Rayvis’s wrist. Instantly the pressure around his waist vanished and he dropped to the floor, but stumbled back and fell through another hole and onto the metal grating below, causing him to cry out again as his muscles spammed. Through panted breathes he looked up and watched as Rayvis calmly picked up his severed limb and regrew new tentacles from his stump and wriggled them back into his metal gauntlet, then flexed his fingers before grabbing his mace-like weapon and leapt down to face him. Cal pressed on his saber’s activation switch and hurried to his feet, but the split second Rayvis moved toward him a large metal crate came crashing between them and wedged itself into the wall. Cal looked up in surprise and watched as BD-1 came floating down from above the swinging wires and floated down onto his shoulders as he whistled out his close call. 

   “Nice one, Bee-Dee.” Yet as he let out a sigh of relief his body tensed again as the grating beneath his feet screeched and sagged then gave way. Cal leapt onto the ventilation wall and jabbed his lightsaber into the metal to slow his descent down the tube, then tumbled onto his knees once he fell into another room entirely. “Ugh. You okay?”

   Beeep! His droid trilled in terror. Cal looked up and watched as two turret-droids lowered from the ceiling and folded out their weapons to fire. He lifted up his saber and blocked three of the bolts but felt a fourth burn through his sleeve. Cal spun with the impact and fell onto the floor as he hissed in pain and pushed himself up against the room’s central cylinder for cover. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the burning sensations in his back, ribs, and arm, but was overwhelmed by the constant barrage of energy bolts sizzling through the air and impacting the walls and flooring around him. ‘They’re onto us’ , his own voice whispered in his mind. Cal furrowed his brow as the Force shifted within him as a long forgotten memory replayed in his mind’s eye. 

      Lightsaber at the ready, Cal ran to Cere’s side as she waited for the ship’s door to open, then turned and slid across the floor to slice through his pursuing Purge Trooper. “We have to get out of here, now!”

      The locked door chimed open behind him, and he turned to watch as a whole squad of Stormtroopers on the other side stared in confusion then opened fire. As he deflected their shots, Cere reached out with the Force and pulled hard at the hall’s constructed seams, and brought the whole section crashing down. Cal paused and looked at her in surprise. “That was clever.”

      “Sometimes the solution to a problem lies in how it’s framed. Always consider the situation from multiple angles.”

   Cal took in a breath as the memory faded and the Force’s grip on his senses eased. “-lies in how it's framed,” he murmured. BD beeped at him questioningly as he crouched down between his legs, and Cal gave him a reassuring pat as he rolled himself to the side and focused on the shifting energy around the turret to his right and grabbed ahold of it with his mind, then pulled downward as hard as he could. A loud metal screech followed by shooting sparks silenced one half of the barrage, and Cal rolled himself to the other side and did the same to the remaining droid. A draining sense of relief washed over him as he felt the energy give way and the sound of laser fire cease. “Always giving me a new perspective, eh Cere?” he huffed as he rolled back in place and glanced at the mild burn on his arm. “Could I get a Stim, bud?” BD-1 quickly ejected from his visor compartment one of his green vials and patiently watched as Cal injected himself with the healing fluid.

   Boop?

   “Yeah, I’ll be okay, buddy. Thanks. We need to get the tuner back though. It gives them access to everything Khri locked down.” 

   Beoop beep?

   Cal flexed his arm and stood - the sting of sore muscles already fading - then headed out of the room and up the flight of stairs that took him to the underside of the gantry’s hanger. “Maintenance paths should get us topside. …I think.”

   Triiip?

   “Only one way to find out,” he shrugged, giving his droid the chance to clamp back on to his harness before focusing his attention onto and around the platform below stuck in the tar. Manipulating it with the Force, he raised it up to level height with the catwalk across from him and dashed forward, then flipped onto the walkway as the platform began to slowly sink back into the tar. 

                    ~*~

   Looking back over the hanger, Cal raised his comm to his mouth and whispered, “Bode? Bode, are you there?” BD lowered his antennas as once again nothing but static came through. “Still must be out of range,” he mumbled. “Or they’re jamming our comms.” He held out his arm and let his droid clamber back on, then jumped back onto the lower platform just below the main turbo lift. Across the catwalk at the bottom of the smaller lift’s base stood a single Destroyer droid on standby. Wanting to keep things quiet, Cal reached out through the Force and pulled down the lower lift, causing the droid to curl back up into its circular shape and roll out of the way. Then he quickly focused on the energy around the droid and pushed, giving it just enough of a nudge to send it rolling off the catwalk completely and down into the bowels of the ship. 

   Once the lift came to a halt, Cal quickly ran across the open section of the hanger and activated its motion sensor, then anxiously rode up to the main platform and hurriedly looked for a way inside. “See a door or anything?” BD-1 hopped down and scurried to the other side then beeped questioningly. Cal jogged over and looked up at the air exhaust and frowned. “Maybe,” he mumbled as he readied his ascension cable.

   Giving his droid a second to hop back on, together they rode the cable up and climbed onto the grating, then wedged themselves into the narrow space between the piping. Following its curve inward, Cal’s foot dropped onto the actual car of the lift itself, but before he could look for a way in a wave of warning brushed against him through the Force, and quickly he crouched and motioned for BD to keep quiet.

   “Santari, your work is unparalleled,” Dagan stated as he stepped into the car and was followed by Rayvis and a masked Raider. “But sending a droid instead of facing me yourself? Such cowardice.” 

   “A small price to pay for her sparing your life,” Rayvis stated as the turbo lift door hissed closed. Cal glanced over at the lifts’ side walls as the magnets locked in place, and bit his tongue to keep from yelping in surprise as the car was quickly whisked upward. 

   “Tell me,” Dagan asked casually. “Did the Jedi’s death satisfy you?”

   “He escaped.”

   “All those years of incarceration dull your edge.”

   “Sharp enough to see the Jedi might be your equal.”

   “Say it again and I’ll cut out your tongue.”

   “It’ll grow back.”

   “Hmph.”

   “…Dagan, listen. The Jedi is a threat.”

   “Not now that we have this,” Dagan stated as he held up Santari’s tuner.

   “I already duplicated the device’s frequencies. We can now access any site she’s sealed.”

   “Well done, Rayvis,” Dagan praised as the lift came to a stop. “You,” he barked at the Raider. “Activate the Forest Array.” Above, Cal squeezed his eyes closed and tried to let the sudden wave of nausea pass as the speeding sensation faded, and watched as the Raider stepped out of the car. Then Dagan turned to look at Rayvis and headed out the other side of the car. “Go to the Shattered Moon. I know where Santari hid the last compass.”

   “Dagan,” Rayvis called after him, kneeling as if in fealty. “…After you have it, I will consider my oath to you fulfilled.”

   From what Cal could see, Dagan seemed genuinely taken aback. “What then, old friend?”

   “The galaxy has changed,” Rayvis sighed. “There are many wars, but little honor to be won from them.”

   “Once we are on Tanalorr, perhaps we can dream up a new war, you and I.”

   “Perhaps,” he nodded before rising to his feet to tower over the fallen jedi. “Before I go, do you want me to scrap the droid?

   “No. Santari must have purged the droid’s memory bank. It has no knowledge of the compass. I will tear it down to the bolts and reprogram it to serve me as it once served her,” Dagan snarled as he strode away.

   Cal watched as Rayvis’s fists clenched then his shoulders sag as he turned to stalk out of the lift in the direction his raider had gone. Cal glanced at BD then looked around at the shaft the car had stopped at. To his right were two grates that seemed to lead to an upward platform, and to his left was a rigid panel that connected to a maintenance walkway. Making the leap, Cal pulled the panel downward for him to land on and ran across till he could leap onto the walkway and slide through the various piping, then made his way toward the access vent in the floor and dropped down into the control tower’s main corridor.

   Finally. “Bode, do you copy? If you can hear me, I’ve reached the Forward Control Tower. It sounds like Zee’s still alive, but…” He sighed as he lowered his comm and cut off the buzz of static as looked down the eerily empty corridor. “Dagan could be anywhere. And Bode, for that matter. But we can’t make Zee wait any longer. We have to get her out of here. Ready, Bee-Dee?”

   Beep!

   Cal gave his droid friend an appreciative nod and strode with purpose towards the main observation room. “If you’re ready, I’m ready.”

   Upon finding the entrance sealed, Cal took hold of both durasteel door panels through the Force and forced them apart, revealing Zee held captive within the darkened interior. “Zee!” He called as he hurried over and began fiddling with the mag-cuffs. “Alright, Zee. Let’s get you out of here.”

   “Do hurry, Cal! He’s going to reprogram me!” 

   Cal pulled hard and felt the magnets give way as one of her wrists dropped free, then focused on the other till a voice called out matter-of-factly from behind, “That droid is mine.” Cal paused and slowly pulled his hands away so as to turn and face Dagan, and felt BD leap off of his shoulder. 

   “I suppose I’ll rescue myself,” Zee snarked. 

   “So, you survived Rayvis. How?”

   “The usual,” Cal stated, pulling free his singular saber hilt and spinning it in his hand for show. Dagan stared at it, then shifted his hand to hover just above his own. “You murdered your fellow Jedi.”

   “I struck down those who stood against me. Leave us or share their fate.”

   “Even if you believe the council betrayed you, they were still your family.”

   “How arrogant. That you would presume to know what drives me.”

   “What I can see is your obsession with Tanalorr has blinded you. Whatever happened, you can’t change the past. …Trust me on that one.”

   “Perhaps you’re right,” Dagan admitted, letting his gaze fall to the floor and he stepped past them. “The past is a chain. …I must sever it completely,” he growled as he spun and clashed his ignited saber against Cal’s own. Cal clenched his teeth and forced Dagan’s lightsaber back and away from Zee, and again blocked his blow before drawing him away and parrying his next two attacks before elbowing him with the Force and knocking him back just enough for Cal to gain the offensive. Yet each swing he made Dagan blocked, till he slid his blade and twirled to the side to send him tumbling back across the floor with an invisible shove. “The tuner is mine!” Dagan yelled as he held it up for him to see before wielding his lightsaber telekinetically and slamming it down onto his blade. “This droid is mine! Tanalorr is mine!”

   Cal glared at him from underneath the purple hue of their clashing blades, and forced back his saber as he threw out his hand and pulled the tuner toward him. As the two of them struggled to claim it through the Force, Zee - still cuffed by her one hand - lunged forward and shouted, “Master Khri should have left you in that tank to rot!” At that very moment Cal felt Dagan’s concentration slip, and the tuner flew directly into his grasp, right as BD clicked open Zee’s last restraint. “Freedom!” Zee cheered. Yet before either of them could do anything, Dagan thrusted out his palm and sent all three of them flying backward out the glass window and into a tangle of cabling. 

   Flailing to right himself and put the tuner safely back into his zippered pocket, Cal then angled his lightsaber and cut himself loose to swing down onto the singular landing pad below. As he tumbled to his feet and turned he watched as Dagan leapt through the window and landed gracefully before him to ignite both ends of his double-sided lightsaber. Above, Zee dangled helplessly upside down while BD managed to thrust himself down and onto his back harness. “Hang on, Zee,” he called as he ignited his own saber once more.

   “That was the plan,” Zee sighed as she swayed haphazardly while holding the cable wrapped around her leg.

   With barely any warning, Dagan bent down and raced toward him in a blur, then struck outward with his saber that Cal reflexively blocked to the side and shuffled away from. Forgot how fast this guy is, he thought as Dagan leapt up into a spin and slammed down the other end of his saber. Cal rotated it to the side and away, giving him an opening to strike. But as he swung outward, all his energy blade caught was the tip of Dagan’s robe. 

   “How dare you,” he roared as he telekinetically twisted apart his saber and flung it with an invisible arm. Cal deflected its strike then dodged to the side and protected his shoulder as Dagan struck out with his remaining arm, and pulled his own second hilt into his hand to block both blades as they clashed into his own. Locked in the stalemate, Dagan stepped back and willed both ends to reconnect as he paced. “Tanalorr is mine and I will strike down anyone who stands in my way.”

   “Yeah? Well I’m still standing?” Cal taunted as he flung his saber out toward him. With a flick of his saber Dagan blocked the attack then leapt into the air, and Cal flipped back and dashed to the side as Dagan landed -  his blade burning the very spot he’d just stood a split second earlier. Dagan then shifted and dashed toward him again, but Cal was ready and blocked the oncoming end of his saber with his own right as his other hilt came back around to his hand to block the other end of Dagan’s lightsaber. Cal shoved forward and swung, lashing out in a zigzagging pattern then elbowed Dagan’s remaining arm and sent him flying. As he slid back, Dagan threw his saber with such a force that Cal dove to the side as he deflected the weapon and pushed himself up off the floor, just in time to watch Dagan swivel onto his feet and pull a chunk of the ceiling’s plating down. Cal let go his second hilt and levitated it back to his belt as he held up his hand to keep the panel from crushing him. But another warning flashed in his mind, and Cal looked back over and raised his still active lightsaber to block Dagan’s forcefull throw once more. Cal gritted his teeth as he tried to split both his focus and strength without slipping, but let his sword arm lower as Dagan suddenly called off the attack. 

   A familiar presence in the Force drew near, and Cal watched with relief as a blaster bolt whizzed towards and was deflected by Dagan’s saber. “Hey bacta breath,” Bode greeted as he flew down to join the fight, firing off another round of shots. Cal refocused his strength in maneuvering the panel, and threw it over the side of the landing pad as Bode thrusted himself next to his side to dodge Dagan’s attack. “So, this is the guy you told me about?”

   “Yeah,” Cal sighed. “He’s as friendly as ever.”

   “You’ve delayed me long enough,” Dagan snarled as he threw out his hand and pulled hard. Despite the warning given to him by the Force, Cal felt the landing pad tremble and shift as another section of the ceiling fell and crashed into the platform, and in an instant he found himself tumbling toward the edge with no way of stopping himself from sliding to his death. 

   “Go, Bee-Dee,” he shouted. BD-1 boosted off from his back with a trill of panic. But before he could think of anything else, two arms wrapped around him and pulled him up and onto the stabilized section of the landing pad. 

   “You’re not getting away that easy,” Bode laughed as he sat him down and patted him on the back.

   Cal huffed out a nervous laugh at the realization that, had it not been for Bode’s quick thinking, he might now be dead, and clasped his brother’s arm before standing on his own. “Thanks.”

   “Two warriors at the height of their power, bound in brotherhood!” Zee exclaimed as she swung out her arms while still hanging upside down from the cabling. “This is the stuff of legends!”

   “Zee,” Cal breathed in relief as BD-1 beeped happily as he landed back onto his shoulder. 

   “I got her,” Bode said, stepping away to boost himself back in the air. “Meet you up there.”

   Cal watched his brother-in-arms for a moment then looked away and gave his droid a comforting head scratch. “That was a close one,” he mumbled as his heart pounded away in his chest. “I couldn’t stop Dagan but…at least we got Zee and the tuner back.”

   Beoop.

   With a nod, Cal trudged up the slanted edge of the platform and fired his ascension cable at the torn catwalk that had once been attached and flipped onto it to follow after the others. “Come on, Zee. Let’s keep moving,” Bode said as he sat her down.

   “Perhaps that’s wise. Dagan Gera is positively mad! He kept going on and on about some compass.”

   “Your master created them to navigate the Abyss.”

   “This is the first I’m hearing about it!”

   “She purged that knowledge from your memory.”

   “That would explain it. Well, Dagan is certain that she left a compass for him to find.”

   “Let’s hope so,” Bode said as he glanced back at both of them before checking the hall to make sure it was empty. 

   “Dagan sent Rayvis to check out another array on the moon. Maybe we’ll find it there.”

   “Back to the moon? Great,” Bode frowned, waving them to follow. 

   “Oh, Master Khri. Why did you send me to free that traitor?”

   “People are complicated. Maybe she thought the Order got it wrong,” he said with a shrug.

   Cal frowned at the thought, then felt his stomach clench and his chest tighten as they came to a stop in front of the escape pods. “If only we could ask her…” Zee mused. “Please, let us just leave this dreadful place!” Cal swallowed as he stepped up the control console and activated the launching sequence.

   “Safest way out of here,” Bode stated as the lights flicked on and the doors pulled apart.

   “Sure of that?” Cal asked anxiously. 

   “No.”

   Cal let out an uneasy breath and stared at the familiar interior. Even on Bracca he’d always talked someone else into clearing out the escape pods, just so he’d never have to look at one again. I don’t know. Fighting my way back out of here isn’t sounding so bad…

   “You look nervous,” Zee stated aloud. “I’m going with him!” 

   Bode waved his hand forward and stepped back to let her pass. “Hop aboard, Zee. See you at the outpost.”

   “Yup. …I’m coming,” he replied as he clenched his fists and forced himself to cross the threshold after his little droid. It’ll be fine. I can do this. That was ten years ago. And Bee-Dee’s with me this time. Yet as his droid happily hopped onto the right side of the seating, Cal swallowed down the excess saliva building up in the back of his throat and sat next to him. It’s gonna be fine. The timer on the dash began flashing and beeped, and as the pod’s hatch sealed shut Cal quickly fumbled to latch his safety buckle. “I hate these things.”

   Boop? BD asked with a head tilt. 

   Cal glanced over at him but squeezed his eyes shut as the small shuttle lurched forward and shook. His body tensed as his skin drained of heat, and his heart pounded in his ears. Then everything rattled again, and the alarm started to blare as the pod pitched forward. “I knew it,” he yelled as gasped for air. Letting go the edge of the seat, he curled forward as his arms folded in front of his face and his fists pressed into his forehead. He didn’t want to see his dead master’s body slide across the floor. Didn’t want to see the shards of glass fly towards him the moment they crashed. Didn’t want to feel the blinding intensity of his head hitting the console - not again. Not again. Not again. Not again. 

   A loud screech then gooey-sounding thud sounded through the thin metal walls, and Cal felt everything lurch to a standstill. Over his ragged breathing, thudding heartbeat, and pounding headache there was no sound of shattering glass or sparking wires, nor screeching alarms or his own small voice screaming in fear and pain. All there was was a stillness and a small, light pressure gently touching his leg. Slowly, Cal allowed himself to open his eyes and lower his arms, and looked over to find BD-1 carefully touching him to see if he was okay. 

   He took a deep breath and tried to center himself as he nodded he was okay, and slowly unbuckled himself and stood. Once BD was perched on his back and his legs felt steady enough, Cal slammed his fist against the airlock and stared back out into Koboh’s swamp and the Lucrehulk stuck in it. “Remind me to never do that again,” he groaned. “And we didn’t get very far.”

   Beoop.

   Cal breathed in the stench but held on to it before exhaling away his unease and nausea, and watched as another droid transport flew off in the direction of the shattered moon. “Dagan must’ve sent Rayvis to get the compass. Maybe the Forest Array powers something on the moon.”

   Whoop boop-boop?

   “Eh, it’s a guess. But if Rayvis is on his way there, that’s where we need to be too.” He looked around their crash site and noticed the familiar arch of rock the Relter had carried them through before dropping them off at the hut, and spotted the now severed cable he and BD had used to reach the tower laying atop the escape pot. Making sure his foot didn’t sink into the tar, Cal made his way over to a section of grating he could access and climbed back up to where the empty hut stood. “Zygg and Wini are gone… Hopefully Bode and Zee made it too.” 

   Boop.

   He looked up at the spire Zygg had pointed out to him and headed toward the edge to stare down at the rock that he’d assumed he’d been unable to lift. “Maybe…” he mumbled as he took a hold of it through the Force and pushed upward. Like removing a thorn, the large stone rose out from the muck, and Cal dashed his way onto it and quickly scrambled to its top before flipping onto the spire in question. “Ugh,” he groaned as his now tar-covered boots and hands hit the feather-and-twig covered nest. And there, in the center, sat a cracked and busted data pad. Cal winced as he picked up its larger pieces and placed them into his scrapping satchel. “Wini won’t be happy about this. But, at least we can say we found it.” Then he turned and again lifted up the sinking pillar to drop across and then onto another, more stationary rock. A sliver of pink was now rising over the horizon, and Cal felt the exhaustion of the night’s events hit him like a wave. But he didn’t have time to be tired. He still had to make his way back to Pyloon’s. And every second was more time his enemies had in finding the compass. So he set his sight on the old, rusting mining lift that towered out of the side of the mountain just ahead of them and trudged forward.

Chapter Text

   Finally , Cal thought as they passed under the town’s signage. Ever since he’d stopped on his way back to town to help lift the Pit Droid’s barge out of the tar pit, he and BD-1 had been subject to the droid’s long tale of woes and repetitive chirps of gratitude their entire trip through the gorge. He was glad he could help, but DUM-series droids weren’t known for their mentally stimulating conversations, and now he knew why. “Welp,” he sighed with faux disappointment. “This is my stop.”

   Chii-chichi churr-churr?

   “Yeah, we’re gonna have to part ways now.”

   Churr churr chii cheep.

   “You too. And stay clear of the Jaws, alright?”

   Cheep! Cheep! Its voice emitter chirped as it waved its clamp-like hand and teetered off. 

   Beoop boop beep? BD asked as he tilted his visor. 

   Cal shook his head as he stepped onto the saloon’s porch, then paused as he raised his dusty, tar-covered boot over the doorway’s threshold. “Think Greez would get mad if I walked in with these on?” BD’s hololens flickered red as he leaned over to scan his boots, ruined pants, singed shirt, and stained palms, then nodded with a beep. “Wonder if Doma’s got any clothes for sale.” He looked over at the building where he’d first met the Waluma and headed across what could be considered the town’s square and stepped into Doma’s dimly lit shop. 

   “Welcome!” She greeted as he entered the main parlor. “Take a look and you’ll find the finest components and sundries this side of the Outer Rim. Now that’s a Doma guarantee.”

   Cal cracked a smile as he glanced back at his droid. “Here that, buddy? A guarantee.”

   Boop!

   “That’s right,” Doma said with a firm nod, causing the metal tassels on her hat to jingle softly. “A shop built on trust and quality. And I aim to keep it that way. And, uh, I’m gonna assume you’re looking for some new clothes?”

   “How’d you guess,” Cal answered flatly.

   “Cause I know looking like that would get you chased out of the saloon with a broom,” she chuckled as she pointed him towards a shelf of stacked fabrics. “I take it you went after that old droid you found?”

   “Zee? Yeah. Unfortunately I had to go through the swamp to get her.”

   “Mmm… How ‘bout this one?” She asked, holding up a long sleeved undershirt. “It’d go really pretty with that hair of yours. Or, if you want something cooler… Sometimes folks come in asking for no sleeves.”

   “Uh, sure,” he shrugged. “Both seem fine. I’m not really picky. …So did Bode and Zee make it back?”

   “Heck if I know. I’ve got a shop to run. But I do know most of my customers have been heading over to Pyloon’s. I don’t see what all the fuss is about with that droid. It’s like that’s all people want to talk about.”

   “Well, a droid that old is pretty exciting,” Cal stated as he watched her pile on a pair of pants and boots onto the counter.

   “Well I’m old,” she huffed as she reached up to pull down a bandolier and let it drop onto the rest of the pile. “And no one wants to talk about me! See, stuff that’s new is exciting, sure. But what really counts is consistency. Reliability. Like Greez’s ship. I was glad to hear the Mantis was up and running again.”

   Cal nodded and wondered silently at just how many credits his swim through the swamp was gonna cost him. “Yeah, hard to imagine life without her.”

   “Oh, that thing is as sturdy as a bantha.”

   “I’m not sure Greez would like his ship compared to a bantha.”

   Doma shifted her two front legs back onto the floor and sat aside her stool. “Do I look like I care much of what he thinks of me?”

   “No,” Cal smiled. “No, you don’t.”

   “That’s right. Now, the shirts, pants, boots, and this belt nonsense… That’ll be fourteen Priorite shards.”

   Cal blinked at the blue alien and watched as she blinked back. “Priorite? You don’t take credits?”

   “Nope. Just Priorite. Makes things easier.”

   Cal frowned, then glanced back at BD as he beeped excitedly and skittered down his back to tug as one of his pockets. “Oh yeah. You mean this?” He asked, pulling out the strange shiny rock he’d found during his first trek through the gorge. Doma’s small eyes widened as she took the rock from him and held it up to her lamp to inspect its shine. After a nod of approval she pulled out from underneath her counter a hammer and slammed it onto the rock with an amused hum, then began counting out the small broken chunks. 

   “That’ll do it. Lucky find. Say, can that droid of yours override a security lock?”

   “Uh, yeah?” Cal replied, giving her a questionable raise of his brow as BD nodded over his shoulder.

   Doma dumped the broken shards of Priorite into a small chest then pointed toward a side door. “If he can unlock it, I’ll let you have any one item in there of your choosing. I lost my entry card and can’t seem to find it.” Cal gave his droid a why not glance and watched as BD-1 scurried down and hopped up onto the scomp lock. After a few turns the door hissed and slid open. “Oh my goodness. I appreciate y’all. You go on ahead and pick somethin’ out.”

   Boop! BD cheered.

   Cal grinned at his friend and waved him inside. “You pick something, buddy. You deserve it.” BD hopped on his two legs then raced over toward the largest canister in the back and tapped at the button that unsealed a small blue-green vial of Stim Serum. “Woah, good find, bud. You sure that’s what you want?”

   Bizzu bizzu!

   “A fine choice,” Doma nodded as they headed back towards the counter and she tied his new belongings in simple linen. Cal grabbed the sack with one arm and pushed the Stim refill into BD’s opened compartment, yet as he turned to leave Doma called, “Cal? I meant to ask…”

   “Yeah?”

   Her wide mouth frowned as she leaned on her counter. “What’s up with that woman who showed up with ya?”

   “Merrin? She’s…a good friend. What about her?”

   “Mmm-hmm, nothing. Nothing…”

   Cal arched his brow as he turned back to fully face her; a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as the large alien shifted uneasily. “Are you afraid of her?”

   “Me? Oh no, no…no. It’s just…I’ve never seen anyone like her before.”

   “Ah. That’s ‘cause Merrin’s a Nightsister.”

   “A night what? Wait, what is that?”

   He bit back a grin and stepped close enough to lean against the counter, then glanced over his shoulder before whispering, “She’s from Dathomir. And she can perform magick,” he added, wiggling his fingers towards her while trying his best not to laugh as she shifted back with a worried look.

   “Now you’re just yankin’ my Waluma ears.”

   “I’m not. She can also wake the dead.” Doma’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped. “But,” he added casually, “Don’t worry. You have nothing to be afraid of. …Usually.”

   “Cal! Well all I know is if the dead start walking around here, you’re gonna get an earful!”

   At that he laughed and pulled away from the counter as he gave  her a parting wave. “Later, Doma.”

                    ~*~

   Combing back the damp strands of his hair, Cal waited for the saloon’s entrance door to slide open then looked over the surprisingly full crowd till he spotted both his friends in their usual corner near the stairs. 

   “Well, you know when you first walked in here, I was getting ready to throw you out,” Greez laughed. 

   “Funny, I remember asking myself, am I gonna be the guy who gives this Latero his second prosthetic arm?”

   “Oh yeah, you go ahead and try. But seriously, you’ve done good by us. Watching out for the kid. It’s like you’re…”

   A wide grin spread across Bode’s face as he leaned across the empty stool between them. “Are those tears in your eyes, Greez?”

   “No, no, they’re not tears! What, are you kidding me? No, it’s probably smoke or something,” Greez coughed. “Is someone smoking in here? No smoking!”

   “Hey, Cal,” Monk greeted as he walked up. “Good to see you!”

   “Hey,” Bode cheered as he slid from his seat and gave him a hug. “Here he is. My favorite scrapper.”

   Cal laughed as he slid out of his grasp and took the empty seat. “You know any others?”

   Bode thudded his metal mug against the bar and reclaimed his stool with an exaggerated nod. “I do not. But together we’ve taken on a few bucketheads.”

   “Don’t forget the KX droids.”

   “Ah, man… How are we still alive?”

   “How about a bit of refreshment for bringing Zee back safe and sound?” Monk asked as his torso spun to grab a cup. “On the house, of course.”

   “I’m good, thanks,” Cal said with a shake of his hand. “Just water will do. But why don’t you send a drink Bode’s way? I wouldn’t have been able to save her without his help.”

   Monk’s singular blue eye shifted to Bode’s grinning face, who rattled his mug against the wood, then shifted back to him as his lower limb stretched out to fill the cup with a clear liquid. “Alright. But I still owe you one. Heritage coming back safe is the talk of the saloon. Something charming about that old gal, wouldn’t you say?”

   “Yeah, yeah, “ Greez waved dismissively. “Monk, why don’t you get the boy something to eat.”

   “Sure thing, boss.”

   Cal laughed as the droid slid on his rail back into the kitchen. “Greez, really I-”

   “You need to keep up your strength!”

   He leaned back so as to let his friend see his torso. “Do I look like I’m wasting away?” 

   “Well, no. I mean you look fine. Listen, just let me fuss, would ya?”

   “I appreciate you, Greez, but I’m fine.”

   “One Koboh Sunrise,” Monk announced as he sat a massive plate of food in front of him.”

   “Eh?” Greez ginned, nodding toward the food. Cal rolled his eyes but took hold of the spork and dug in, and was instantly grateful for it. “That’s what I thought,” Greez said smugly. “ So, while we were all waiting around for you, Bode here told me everything. Both pistols blazing, a real crack shot straight outta the holovids!” 

   Cal glanced over and choked down his bite as Greez aimed his finger guns throughout the room, then looked over at Bode. “Did you tell this story or did Turgle?”

   Bode flinched mid gulp then sat down his mug and laughed. “Easy, Captain. I was just tryn’a debrief.”

   “Debrief,” Greez teased. “Ooh, you hear that? This guy’s a pro! How come we never debrief, Cal?”

   “I tried,” he mumbled. “So you enjoying the spotlight, Bode?”

   “Mmm, like an Imperial cavity search. But, I’ve got to admit, it’s great to see everyone excited.”

   “Yeah,” Greez sighed. “Though you know what this place needs?”

   “A working refresher?” Cal offered.

   “Discipline! Those mouth-breathing Raiders just walked in here and made off with Zee! I go off-planet for one second and the whole place has gone soft! They’ve just gotta get it through their heads that I can’t be their fearless leader all the time!”

   Boop?

   Cal shook his head as he swallowed another bite. “People have to learn to defend themselves, Greez. You can’t fight their battles for them.”

   “Maybe… Still, someone really should teach those Raiders a lesson.”

   “What about you, ‘ol boy?” Monk asked as he swung back around.

   “Me? I would, but…I’m busy, okay?”

   “You don’t look busy.”

   “I’m thinking.”

   “About what?”

   “About living longer.” At that, both Bode and Cal laughed.

   “Maybe we could negotiate with them over a couple of drinks?”

   “Eh, I don’t think they’re the reasonable sort.”

   “But what if those drinks were poisoned?” Monk said with a nod of his finger.

   Greez shifted in his seat. “Hey, now we’re talking!”

   “Or, I know an arm guy,” Bode offered. “If you ever wanna get that arm modded.”

   “You got an arm guy?”

   “Oh yeah.”

   Cal gave him a confused look and watched as Greez held out and studied his metallic prosthetic. “What kind of arm are you thinking?”

   “Hand cannon,” Bode answered with a straight face. 

   “What?” Cal asked as he choked on his water. 

   “Pass,” Greez grumbled.

   “Grapple arm?” 

   “You kidding me?”

   Bode sighed and stared up at the balcony of the second level. “Maybe…a spatula then?”

   “Ooh, a spatula? Oh, now we’re talking!”

   “But in all seriousness, we really took the fight to those Raiders. How you feeling, Cal?”

   Cal nodded as he chewed. “Excited.”

   “ ‘Excited’,” Bode mocked, elbowing him gently in the arm. “I didn’t know you all were allowed to enjoy that kind of thing.”

   “Yeah, yeah.”

   “I’m excited too. I can nearly taste the free air of Tanalorr.”

   “Almost there.” 

   “We just need to stay focused, and we’ll finally be able to build something for ourselves - something to last.”

   “Yeah,” Greez sighed as they watched Monk swap out Bode’s mug for a new one, then swivel over to take Greez’s empty glass. 

   “You know, all this High Republic business has got me thinking,” Bode stated before taking a fresh sip drink. “All those years ago, people had the exact same worries we did. Fear of the future. The need to protect one’s family…”

   “Times change. People don’t,” Cal shrugged.

   “Ain’t that the truth. Wonder what I would’ve been if I’d lived during the High Republic. …Cal, you ever wonder what your life might’ve been like if you weren’t a Jedi?”

   He let out a long puff of air as he stared at the fish in the noticeably cleaner tank behind the rows of bottles. “It’s so hard to imagine.”

   “I think about how I got here. What I’d want to try again. A life away from fighting. Uhh…farmer, maybe.” 

   Cal instantly burst into a laugh. “Seriously?”

   “What? Might be nice.”

   “Hard to imagine you as a farmer.”

   “Why? It’s a peaceful life. Plenty of space for Kata to play.”

   “Well when we get to Tanalorr, you can farm all you want. And Greez can cook for everybody.”

   “My own franchise…” Greez nodded.

   Bode raised his mug in a toste and took a drink. “A farmer… Can’t wait.” 

   “Well, I hate to ruin your good moods,” Cal stated as he pushed away his empty plate. “But I’m gonna need a ride back to the moon.”

   Greez groaned as he spun his chair. “The moon? Really?”

   “Dagan sent Rayvis there to look for the compass.”

   “Ugh. Well, as long as that Bespin Fizz has got me going, I’m not going anywhere. And if you find anything weird or creepy up there, I don’t wanna hear about it. You understand me?”

   “I hear ya.”

   “Not a word! …Ever notice that it’s never Amusement Park Moon or All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Moon? No! It’s Creepy Cursed Shadow Moon!”

   “I don’t know,” Bode mumbled. “That kinda sounds like fun.”

   “Make yourself some tea when we get there,” Cal offered, “That always helps you relax.” 

   “No amount of tea in the galaxy is gonna make me wanna spend one more minute on that moon.”

   “Then you can make me some.”

   “You hate tea.”

   “Yeah, but Merrin doesn’t.”

   Greez grumbled as he straightened his facial braids. “Fine. I need to stock the Mantis with skazz steaks for her anyway. Hey, speaking of Merrin, you may want to let her know you’re okay. When Bode showed up without you, oh boy…” 

   Beside him Bode choked on his drink and sat the mug down as he grabbed his shoulder and shook it. “Please do. You’re a braver man than I am, Cal.”

   “What’d she do?”

   “It sounds crazy but, I swear, one second I heard multiple voices in my head whispering all creepy and threatening like, and then the next, nothing.”

   “Ah,” Cal said with a smile. “Where’s she at?”

   “Upstairs with Zee, I think.”

   “Greez, did Zygg ever show up?”

   “Her and some new girl came in a few hours ago. She might still be upstairs. As is that fish guy you hired. I tell ya, Cal, I was not happy about that bill. But, I gotta admit, the tank is looking pretty good.”

   “Yeah, looks nice.”

   “Well, gentlemen,” Bode sighed as he stepped off his stool. “The ‘fresher calls. And if you need me, I’m gonna be on the ship sleeping off these drinks.”

   Cal looked out over the late morning crowd and at DD-EC as the droid stood on the stage and shifted the knobs on the soundboard as a slower song started. “Alright, I’m gonna head on up.”

   “Sure, kid. I’m gonna help Monk clean up and then we can head out. Oh, and that plant lady you here has been living on my roof apparently! But, boy did she do a great job of making it look nice up there. You should check it out.”

   “Pili?”

   “Yeah, Pili. That was her name. She seems to know more about plants than I do!”

   Cal smiled as he spun off the stool and headed up the stairs. Sounds like everything’s coming together. Who knew this place would turn out to be so…nice. 

   Upstairs the sound of the music dulled slightly as it blended with the chatter of patrons and the electronic roars and alien cheers coming from the Holotactics room. At the center gleamed the now crystal clear tank and exotic fish within, and through it he could make out Zygg and Wini sitting at a table on the other side. But as he headed toward them a thick accent called out, “A’hoy, lad! Cast yer eyes over this beauteous tank!”

   Cal looked up as BD beeped in surprise and watched the suited Sakavian slip himself out of the tank’s small lid hatch and clambered down its side ladder. “Hey, Skoova. Glad you came around to it. Tank looks great.”

   “My thanks, lad. It did nae make a fetching first impression. And, I’ve a mind take give it a third scrubbin’. Cleanin’ the filter, ye’d think someone tried to cram a mollusk through a sieve.”

   Uzzummmmm , BD beeped as if stunned, and Cal was inclined to agree. The mental image wasn’t pretty. 

   “Augh! Can’t unhear that.”

   “Aye. T’was a wee bit pale myself after the fact. But, she’s a beut’ now. I just finished throwin’ in a Blue-Finned Crayfish, and am on my way into the forests to look for a Big Mouth Faa.”

   Cal nodded along despite not having a clue as to what he was referring to. “Sounds good. I appreciate you fixing it up.”

   “And I thank ‘ye for the challenge.”

   “Just be careful in the forest. It wasn’t exactly safe when I went in.”

   “Pah! Skoova Stev laughs in the face of danger.”

   Woo!

   Cal grinned at his droid then turned and rounded the tank as Wini spotted him and waved him over. “Good to see you both made it back,” he greeted. “How’s Pyloon’s treating you?”

   “It’s adorably derelict,” Wini said as she waved her hand out over the old wooden beams, time-worn cloth banners, and mismatched wall decor. “And entirely unique! If this cantina were on Coruscant, you could quadruple the prices and still have lines out the door.”

   “Yeah, probably.” And have every law office and crime boss bribing you for a cut. Greez definitely doesn’t need that kind of trouble. “So, um, about your datapad…” He pulled from his pocket the small chipped data shard he’d been able to salvage and handed it over. “This was really the only thing that wasn’t busted. The screen had completely shattered.”

   Despite her alien facial features not having a way to express her disappointment, Wini’s shoulders sagged. “I was afraid that would be the case. But, I suppose this is better than nothing. Thanks again for your help, Cal.”

   “Don’t mention it,” he replied as he watched Zygg lay a comforting hand on Wini’s. 

   “Don’t worry, Wini. I put in an order with Doma. She’s working on it.”

   “Thank you, dear. And seeing as it brought us together, I’d say the loss was worth it.”

   A small blush darkened Zygg’s cheeks as she looked away, and huffed in amusement as she nodded across the room. “And it seems we weren’t the only ones to find romance on Koboh.”

   Cal glanced over at the table next to them where Mosey sat lecturing Turgle. “What, Turgle and Mosey? Something tells me she’d rather hunt him than date him.”

   “Come now, Cal,” Wini giggled. “That delightfully dark maven at the other end has been casting wayward glances at you ever since you arrived.”

   He stepped back and instantly spotted the pale, silver-haired, tattooed woman dressed in red and black that stood leaning over the balcony to watch the stage below. “Merrin?” He asked anxiously as he rubbed at the pricking feeling now crawling up his neck. “What was the look?” 

   Wini’s solid black eyes narrowed as she hummed. “She’s a hard one to read. You, however, couldn’t be more obvious. …So, what are you waiting for?”

   Cal watched as Merrin shifted her hips then stood back from the railing and glanced over at him. “Good question,” he breathed. “Got a lot going on right now.” 

   “Okay, but, don’t get so caught up that you miss the small things,” Zygg offered. “Cause those are the things you’ll remember.”

   “Yeah,” he mumbled as she held his gaze till she passed behind the tank. “Would, um… I just…” he said as he headed after her. Behind him he could hear their laughter, and he barely registered Turgle’s wave as he passed, but he honestly didn’t care. Where is she heading , he wondered as she came back into view between the coral towers. Outside?

   “Cal,” Zee’s voice cheered as he accidentally bumped his arm into her table. 

   “Sor- Oh, Zee. Hey, how are you feeling?”

   The droid waved her arms as her domed head shifted to look herself over. “Much improved, now that I am far from that ghastly ship and Bode refasten my cabling.”

   “Yeah, he replied as he glanced over and watched Merrin head up towards the roof. “It’s seen better days, that’s for sure.”

   “The same could be said for the entire galaxy, could it not? But it is heartening to see that some bright spots yet remain.”

   “That’s why we keep fighting.”

   “Indeed. I must say, I see vestiges of the Order - my Order - in you and your companions. It is most heartening.”

   At that he focused his attention back onto her and smiled. “Sometimes you know just what to say, Zee. Thanks.”

   “Of course, I think my recent brush with the Raiders also altered my perspective.” 

   “Oh yeah? How so?”

   “My assumption was that they were unprincipled thieves and brutes. But they aren’t lacking in principle or dedication. They have a code. A rotten code, but a code all the same.”

   “Hmm, maybe that’s what makes them so dangerous.”

   “Perhaps. But even in my day there were those who wrapped their selfish ambitions in the cloak of higher purpose. Cough, cough, Dagan Gera.”

   Cal nodded his agreement and took a step towards the stairs. “Well, don’t worry. We’re getting ready to head out after him and hopefully beat him to the remaining compass. Maybe you should come with us this time.”

   Zee turned her head toward those around them and gave her dome a subtle shake. “I’m no longer of value to them. They already got what they wanted from the tuner. No, Cal, I think I shall stay here with the good people of Koboh. I suppose you could say…this place has become my home.”

   “Yeah,” he smiled. “I get what you mean. Glad to have you back, Zee.”

                    ~*~

   Blinking against the full morning sun, Cal lowered his hand and gaped at all the various sprouting and budding plants, and looked up at the small strung lights running from the round roof to the small water tower across from him. Among the freshly tilled soil and garden beds stood Pili, still wearing her thick sweater, goggles, and rubbery boots. 

   “Pili, wow,” he chuckled. “This… This looks amazing!”

   “Cal, hello again,” she greeted with a slow nod before waving her large hand out toward all the various colored plantlife. “I’m glad you think so. So far Koboh has been a welcoming home, but this rooftop’s energy drew me towards it, and I just couldn’t leave. It has so much potential.”

   “You feel a connection to the garden?”

   “Yes. We will help each other grow, I think.” Cal looked down at BD-1 as he hopped from his leg and scanned a small green, hairy-looking plant with delicate blue flowers. “That is a Bluebell Squish,” Pili explained. “I managed to find some growing near the waterfall and brought it here. Even in an arid area like the Reach, they are able to endure by storing what liquid it can find in their root sac, which,” she laughed as she gently poked at its jiggly lower half, “is where the ‘squish’ comes from.”

   Be-woo.

   I wonder if she’s sensitive to the Force. The light’s energy is strong here. “I’m glad you found somewhere you can continue your hobby. Looks like you’re off to a great start.”

   “As am I. Those vines over there just sprouted overnight! But there is so much more to discover. If you happen to find any new seeds and want to plant them, I will happily tell you about them.”  

   Woo-whoop? BD asked excitedly as he perked his head up from behind a blue-green, thorn-covered cactus ball.

   “We’ll keep an eye out,” he nodded. “Say, Pili, did you happen to see a human-looking woman come through here?”

   Pili’s large finger tapped at where her mouth had to be hidden under her sweater. “No. But I did see something green float by, up there,” she answered, pointing up to the tall turbine tower covered in dried out vines. “Whatever it was, it seemed to scare off the flying creature nesting up there.”

   Cal leaned back to stare up at the tower’s roof and the rusted, lazily turning weathervane at its top, then whistled for BD-1 to hop back onto his bandolier as he grabbed ahold of the dried out thickly woven vines and tested his footing before beginning his climb. A slow breeze brushed over him as he passed the grated slats and the large rotating blades within as he continued upward to the very top that stood around the same height as the Mantis ’s fin. “Woah,” he breathed as he clambered to his feet and looked out over the view.

   “You return in one piece.”

   A grin stretched across his face as he took in the way the rocks sat layered upon one another and how the gathered pools of water gleamed green while darkened caves stood out like black divites among gray stone and tan dirt. And among it all, a sprinkling of greenery and time-worn metal dotted the sparse valley. Ahead in the far distance he could make out the old abandoned settlement carved into the rock itself that he’d passed on his way out of the forest. To his left stood the Forest Gate, with the tip of the Array’s tower peaking above the tree line as its now activated array pierced the clouds. And to his right loomed the Lucrehulk he’d just escaped from - now slightly less menacing in the light of day and at such a distance. Cal turned and looked back at the fog-covered mountain behind them and up at the mysterious aerial station that hovered among the clouds, then moved to sit at Merrin’s side. “You sound surprised.”

   The corner of her mouth curled as she glanced over at him. “You do have a knack for getting into trouble.”

   “Yeah, but Bode has a knack for keeping me on the right side of blaster fire.”

   “A useful quality in a friend,” she nodded. “Guess I won’t curse him after all.”

   He huffed as he nudged his shoulder against hers. “He’s a good guy, Merrin. …He saved my life back there. And…I don’t think Zee or I would have made it out without him.” The hint of playfulness that had softened her features faded as she stared at him; the true weight of his words settling between them both as a sense of guilt crept into his chest. You’d be sitting here alone. …Even though I once promised you’d never have to again.

   “Then he has my gratitude,” she said quietly. 

   Unsure of what exactly it was he was wanting to say, he instead nodded in agreement and cleared his throat. “I’m glad to see you and the town are okay. How, uh, do you like Pyloon’s?”

   Her brown eyes slid away from him as she tilted her head. “It is like an oasis,” she stated flatly. “A dirty oasis.” 

   Boop?

   “Tell Greez I said that and you will regret it, droid.”

   Booop.  

   Cal offered his droid a reassuring smile but continued to watch from the corner of his eye as the breeze shifted through her feathered hair. “This planet though… Its energy is different, but I can’t help but feel reminded of Dathomir. The decay of the swamp. The harshness of the sulfur springs. The darkness that seeps from the caverns below. I even spotted a rancor exploring outside its den last night.”

   “Wait, a rancor? Here?”

   She leaned across him and pointed out beyond the town, not far from where he’d just come. “I was surprised, same as you. Such beasts are common on Dathomir, and could even be tamed on occasion. It was a comforting sight.”

   As she leaned back he couldn’t help but smile at her. “I’m glad. I’ll admit, this place is beginning to grow on me.”

   She studied him for a moment then hummed. “You do seem more at ease.”