3rd Person

Life was short, despite the galaxy being home to several species with incredible lifespans.

Master Yoda's species was extremely enduring, capable of living almost a millenia.

Pau'ans could live for up to seven centuries.

Additionally, force-sensitive individuals in harmony with themselves reached ages unachievable to normal individuals.

Yet the vast majority of species, including humans, usually lived for no more than a meager hundred years.

Even then, only about fifty of those years lended themselves to developing skills, acquiring knowledge, and honing physicality.

To top it off, cultivating all three at once proved to be quite the challenge.

Fifty years to train, or perhaps fifty to study.

No... twenty five to train, and twenty five to study.

Or perhaps twenty to train, twenty to study, and ten to enjoy?

Truly, there was never enough time.

Burst

Blank.

A perfect description of Kamino. Floating on the surface of a planetary ocean, Tipoca City was a prime example of that.

Any semblance of a vibrant culture had long since been washed away by the Great Flood, an ancient, apocalyptic event that plunged the planet underwater.

The Kaminoans of today were pale, prideful, and private... their elongated necks placing them above the petty problems of others.

Except, of course... when they had something to gain. Something to sell... specifically, the singular product that had skyrocketed them to their significant reputation and wealth.

Clones.

I never wanted to come back.

"Tap."

"Tap."

"Tap."

As I marched through the blank, white halls, the countless reflective surfaces stripped me of my sense of self. ...Throwing my regularity in my face.

The transparent windows forced legions and legions of clear pods into my vision, every pod indexed in a tower of large, rotating rings...

The pods... contained hundreds of thousands of me.

"Tap."

"Tap."

"Tap."

As I marched through the smooth corridors, my ear caught the faint echo of my brothers doing the same.

When I passed the next window, I saw them... stomping in flawless formation, their movements synchronized.

"Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."

Their faces obscured by smooth, blank white helmets. Their eyes dampened with darkened visors as hard as their hearts.

A perfect, obedient army.

"Tap."

"Tap."

"Tap."

Inevitably, I passed one of the punishment chambers.

These regions of the facility housed cruel, cramped containers of bacta with enough oxygen to sustain life, but not enough to sustain consciousness. Rife for spawning nightmares... and hallucinations.

For disobedient clones.

'Bad batcher...' 'Defective clone...' 'Failure...'

These labels were a clone's worst fear.

Fitting for the bland, lifeless Kaminoans to threaten us with uniqueness.

But it worked... on most of us at least, me included.

"Auhggh..."

I sighed faintly, tainting the stale air with my warm breath.

Whether by my nature, or by all the relentless conditioning... I couldn't help being a soldier.

Not Slip, though.

Slip was always different, always talking my ear off about some political dispute on another world. Usually injecting his opinion on the issue as he weighed the scales of right and wrong.

A truly smart clone, smarter than I was capable of understanding. So smart that it bordered on unusual.

An accident, maybe? Sometimes I thought about that possibility.

I wondered whether while altering Slip's genetic code, the cloners had accidentally missed a few strands of intellect.

"Defective..." I muttered to myself, chuckling at the absurdity of it. "That wouldn't be so bad."

Memories of my adventures with Slip haunted me through the hallways, until I arrived at my destination... the very reason I'd been called back.

The training room. A high tech battle simulator with a variety of robotic enemies, terrain, and scenarios.

The facility was mostly utilized to test clone cadets and judge them to be battle ready, but on rare days... veterans took to the white floor, braving the highest level of difficulty together.

Today was such a day.

"There he is." a clone's voice hummed in my ear, breaching my helmet.

Although the voice was undeniably one of my brothers, the speaker sounded far more... relaxed than any clone I'd ever heard.

I quickly connected the voice to a clone with rugged, long hair, and half his face smeared with black paint.

He was hunkering in the corner of the white room, along with three other clones of varying builds... no, more than that, they were the most unique clones I'd ever seen.

First... a tall, lanky clone with a hawkish gaze and a toothpick pressed between his lips.

Second, a lean, boyish clone with a pair of scientific goggles and a datapad.

Finally, standing out the most... a massive, imposing clone with a glassy eye... and an infantile grin that completely ruined his frightening appearance.

"Sorry I'm late, boys." I remarked, tugging the helmet off my head.

As soon as I removed the mask, the mood shifted.

"Hunter, you didn't mention we were working with a reg." the lanky one whispered snidely, clearly intending to conceal the comment from me.

"Reg?" I repeated, earning looks from all four of them. "What the hell's a reg?"

Hunter paused cautiously, observing how tense his team had suddenly become.

"Crosshair means... you're a regular clone." Hunter winced, attempting to alleviate the tension. "Try to tolerate him, he's a bit blunt."

I met eyes with Crosshair, and his jaw tightened around the toothpick.

"Reg, eh?" I squinted, the tension nearly ripping the room apart at the seams.

After several more moments, my face fell, and I sat down against the white, blank wall.

Reg.

"No, that sounds about right." I muttered to myself.

The four exchanged odd looks, as if they'd never experienced a reaction like mine.

Crosshair raised an eyebrow, glancing away as I looked up at him again.

"Like I said, try to tolerate him." Hunter repeated, extending a hand to me. "Come on, we've got an exercise to win. And what was your name?"

"Burst." I state formally, accepting his invitation to return to my feet. "So you're Hunter, and that prick with the toothpick's Crosshair, so who're they...? The science kid and the big lug."

"I'm Wrecker!" the big man boomed happily.

"I go by Tech." the science guy nodded shortly after.

"Together, we're clone force ninety nine..." Hunter proclaimed proudly. "But we usually go by... 'The Bad Batch.'"

Adi

Dusk flooded the High Council Chamber, bathing it in darkness blacker than the frozen magma fields of Sullust.

"Mmmmmmmm..."

The automatic doors whirred open, teasing the room with a small dose of light before closing again.

"Tap."

"Tap."

"Tap."

Unsteady footsteps resonated throughout the chamber... excited, yet hesitant.

"Pssheww!" "Pshhew!" "Psssheeeww!" "Pssssshhew!" "Psssshew!" "Psheewww!" "Psssshhew!" "Pssshew!" "Psheew!" "Pssssheew!" "Pssshewwww!" "Pssshew!"

My blue lightsaber manifested in a burst of light, accompanied by the simultaneous ignition of eleven other blades of plasma.

The visitor, a young Jedi padawan, entered a ring of hooded council members. His confidence grew with each step as he approached Master Yoda on his elevated perch.

The padawan in question was human, likely in his early twenties, with curly black hair and naive dimples pressed into his cheekbones.

Tafmir Mulbana.

Passing his green blade over young Mulbana's shoulder, Master Yoda initiated the ritual.

"By the right of the council..."

Satisfaction spread over the young man's face as he heard the legendary words.

Satisfaction in his achievement.

A once great achievement, now...

No, perhaps it was never great. Perhaps it was merely a rank that meant nothing.

No.

'No...!'

Surely not.

If only for Chronicles of a Jedi Master...

So many chapters of my life were inscribed in those pages.

"By the will of the force..."

Regardless...

Jedi Master Jesbaro Vassal had died in a bombardment a week prior. This boy was nothing more than his replacement.

My healing wounds yet ached with pain, but they were unseen by the boy... invisible emblems of suffering concealed within my flowing brown robes.

"Dub thee, I do... Jedi."

Mulbana was a burgeoning talent. An adept, analytical mind indeed... but he was still an inexperienced youth. There was little chance that he fully grasped the horrors awaiting him.

This was no ascension to knighthood, it was a promotion to 'General.'

"Knight of the Republic."

"Sshhhhk!"

Plucked from its silky branch, Mulbana's padawan braid soared into the air before settling on the polished floor.

Smoldering...

Innocence singed before fully reaching maturity.

Overcome with unwanted emotion, I drifted into recollection without warning.

Flashback

"Young Gallia..." Master Windu murmured, peering down at me with an empty expression. "You show promise... enough promise to be my pupil one day."

Relief rushed through my body, temporarily easing my desperation.

The momentary comfort of acknowledgement was a powerful essence. One not everyone was fortunate enough to receive...

Master Windu finalized the interaction with a curt nod, before rejoining Master Dooku at the front of the chamber.

Behind me, Obi-Wan stood apart from the rest of the younglings... hidden in his cove of gloom at the back of the chamber.

"Tap."

"Tap."

"Tap."

A pair of brown boots clacked past me, carrying the most ruffled brown robe I'd ever seen.

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

"Young one... what's your name?" Master Jinn inquired, stooping down to meet Obi-Wan's crestfallen gaze.

"Obi-Wan..." he muttered faintly.

"You wear the scowl of a Felucian Rancor, Obi-wan." Master Jinn smiled lightly... enough to alleviate tension, but not enough to discourage seriousness. "That's why the other masters don't approach you."

"What, are they scared of me?" Obi-Wan accused, his brow furrowing.

"They're scared of your future." the master surmised, frowning. "Of what that grimace could become."

"And you're not?" my friend asked, now curious.

"No." Master Jinn stated firmly, chuckling. "Only a fool would cling to an undecided future."

Sinking into deeper thoughts, Master Qui-Gon stroked his beard.

"Obi-Wan... have you ever heard the prophecy of the chosen one?"

"Of course I have, Master, but what's that got to do with anything?" Obi-Wan grunted. "I know it's not me."

"Oh, I don't think so either." the Jedi chortled, clearing his throat. "But that aside, why are you so sure? The other younglings... I'm sure they dream of it, don't they...? Of being the one to bring balance."

"You just said you don't think it's me." Obi-Wan stated, perplexed and discouraged.

"And I don't think it's any of them, either." Master Jinn whispered, barely audible to me. "Still, children should dream."

Obi-Wan's gaze fell, fresh shame sprouting on his brow.

"It doesn't have to be about being the chosen one." Master Jinn persisted, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It doesn't even have to be about being a Jedi... but it still could be."

"I'm no good with a lightsaber... or the force, either."

"Ah, but remember... those are yet undecided, and if not those, then hone your wisdom." Master Jinn insisted, bowing faintly with a serene expression. "A Jedi doesn't have to be a great warrior... just an individual bound to the force, and devoted to the galaxy. Whatever your focus, commit yourself to it."

"That's what I've been doing." Obi-Wan resisted weakly.

"There have been, and there will be... many others like you. Lost ones in need of guidance..." the Jedi Master prevailed. "Perhaps one day, you can guide such an individual through their struggles."

"Sure, as if." Obi-Wan snorted, though a faint hope sparkled in his eye. "I'll be with the Service Corps by then."

"If so, then there's no shame in that. Still..."

Master Qui-Gon suddenly stood up, turning around like a man in a hurry.

"Dream more, Obi-Wan..." he encouraged, flipping his brown, disheveled cloak over his shoulder. "And in a few years, when you're ready... come and find me."

End Flashback

Such... an important memory. A formative remembrance that had guided me through the majority of my life, and yet I had neglected to remember that background conversation.

Perhaps in my ignorant youth, I had been so preoccupied with Master Jinn's declaration that none of us was the chosen one.

Which meant, in his eyes... I was not the chosen one, a thought that crushed me. And so it evaded inscription into my journals.

Only now did I understand the bigger picture, the wisdom I had been blind to. And perhaps now... I finally understood why.

...

Why I chose him.

...

I blinked in bewilderment, and fell back into the present... just as Tafmir Mulbana made his exit as a newly-knighted, fully-fledged Jedi.

Soon the council members were filing out, each hurrying to return to their military matters.

I too stepped toward the exit, but suddenly felt a rough hand seize my shoulder.

"Adi, I need to speak with you." Master Windu stated, compelling me to turn around. "...How are your injuries?"

"The worst has passed me." I replied simply, facing my old master with feigned confidence.

"Then perhaps you're ready to take on another assignment." he suggested, his brow furrowing. "Unless this war is now below you."

Evidently, my decision to disregard his counsel had sullied our trust.

"Master, if I may..." I interjected, mustering my most amicable tone. "I believe Darth Maul yet lives, along with his brother."

"I agree." he concurred, frowning. "But the chancellor dislikes the dividing of our attention from the war. You know this. You will not pursue this matter any further."

"I..." I stuttered. "I am afraid I must protest that order, Master."

"Afraid?" my old master accused, his tone stone cold. "I shouldn't be surprised."

"nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn."

I bowed my head, shivering as I pictured the purple plasma above my head... ready to strike.

"My apologies." I murmured. "But I simply cannot dismiss the Sith brothers as unworthy of our time."

"Let me reiterate... I agree, and I understand your concern." Master Windu concurred once more, a frigid glare still burned into his gaze. "It means a great deal to Master Kenobi, and I'll admit that although I disapprove of his fixation on Maul... I'm content that even now, he keeps the Sith Lord in his sights. We can all be at peace knowing that."

"Then why-" I prevailed.

"Adi, you have no stake in this." he denied, cutting me off. "I already advised you to stay - remain focused on your duties - and look what happened."

...

"Understood, Master." I muttered weakly, peering up into his eyes once more, defeated.

"I've decided to task you with a diplomatic matter." Master Windu revealed. "Many of the details are already decided; I've already spoken with Lieutenant Burst about his involvement. Oh... and bring your apprentice if you wish."

At the word 'diplomatic,' my mood lightened. Anything but more fighting.

"Yes, Zevon will accompany me." I determined quickly. "The diplomacy is required... where, exactly?"

"The Tholothian colony on the mid-rim planet Nugoll." my old master informed, throwing my thoughts into a starfighter's death spiral. "It should sound familiar."

Zevon

"JJJJJMMMMMMMMMMM!" "JRREEEERRRRRRRRRR!" "VVVVVVVVUUUUUUUUUNN!"

A speeder shrieked to my left, nearly clipping the rear of an air taxi as it weaved through hordes of traffic.

Beside Coruscant's busiest skylane, my master and I stared each other down, standing atop opposite ends of a rusted, rundown terrace.

"When are you going to tell me about this mystery mission?" I hollered.

"When I decide to tell you." she sighed back, disinterested in discussing it.

"Fine. Anyways, so ... you wanted a change of scenery?" I called over to her. "For what... some fresh air?"

"Indeed... and to better sort out my thoughts." Master Gallia confirmed, appearing on edge. "The temple is undoubtedly my home... and yet something of a prison as well."

"I feel the same." I agreed, my metal-gloved fingers creeping toward my lightsaber. "...You wanted to show me something, yeah? Have you really recovered enough for that?"

"Ha!"

She laughed sarcastically, the oceans in her eyes turning dead calm as she focused.

"Save me your pity, Padawan... aside from defending yourself, you need only do one thing: observe."

"Pssshhhhew!" "nnnnnnnNNNNNNN!"

I blinked, and her lightsaber was arcing toward me, whirling at several revolutions per second.

"Pssshhhheww!"

"Kssshhh!"

I blocked blue with indigo... an avalanche of sparks cascading from the clash.

Though I repelled the attack, I maintained a defensive posture... sensing that her first strike was far from over.

Sure enough, when Master Gallia withdrew her saber from the fray, she neglected to fully retrieve it... still manipulating it independent of her body.

"nnnnnnnnnn..."

Humming in midair, the blade of plasma steadied itself, zeroing in on my armored chest...

"nnnnnnnNNNnnnnNNNNNNNNNNN!"

Before flashing forward once more.

"Ksshh!"

I shielded my body from the piercing thrust, but the blade swiftly returned for a slash... more rapidly this time...

"Kssshhh!"

Next, another stab, and another slash afterward... a relentless barrage...

Lightsaber Form VI, Niman: Densely Woven Astral Lattice

"Ksshhh!" "Kssshhhh!" "Kssshhh!" "Kssshh!" "Kssshhh!" "Ksshh!" "Kssshh!"

As my master's azure blade swarmed my body like a flock of buzz droids, I loosened my stance, cloaking myself in a web of quick, flexible parries.

"nnnnnnnnNNNNN!"

"A crafty use of Niman. Versatility is its one strength." Master Gallia praised, her blade sizzling through the air as she yanked it back into her grip. "I don't recall you being such a quick learner."

"Maybe I've improved on that front, or maybe you've become the unobservant one." I mocked, crouching down on the rusted terrace.

Lightsaber Form IV, Ataru: Jetstream

"Tap... Tap. Tap! Tap! Tap!"

I rushed her, and she readied herself... bolstering her defenses with a hardened stance that reeked of form V.

"KSSSshhhhhh!"

My blitz forced her on the backfoot, her eyelashes fluttering with mild astonishment.

"Ksssshhhh!" "Kssshhhhh!" "Kssshhhhh!"

Two alternating crescent slashes and an upswing later, she backflipped onto a cooling unit fixed to the side of a wall.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

I dashed up the side of the wall, my grip on the indigo blade tightening...

As I prepared to unleash my rage.

Lightsaber Form VII, Vaapad: Harmonic Imbalance

"KSSSSShhhhh!" "KSSSSssshhhh!" "KSSSsshshhhH!"

It was a controlled release, my discipline forming a basin to 'contain the latent pressure of fury...'

Just as Master Windu's writings described.

"KSSSSssshhhh!" "KSSSsshshhhH!"

The potent strikes drove Master Gallia back further, her irises swelling as she identified my technique.

"So you can execute it... already..." she faltered, mouth agape. "Remarkable."

Closing in on her position, and sighting victory past her hesitation...

Lightsaber Form I, Shii Cho: Epicenter

I poured all of my abdominals into one crushing, seismic swing.

"nnnnnnnNNNNNNNN!"

Yet my master's reflexes proved to be as sharp as a Kaminoan saberdart...

"Hmph."

One blink, and she vanished... soaring behind me with wind in her cloak, her face bearing a smirk of approval.

Each of us promptly assumed defensive stances, injecting a break into the melee.

"So how am I doing?" I asked, pausing as our lightsabers illuminated the rundown wall. "And do you mind telling me what I'm supposed to be observing?"

"For the first question... I haven't decided yet." Master Gallia frowned. "And for the second... simply carry on."

"If you say so."

"Tap... Tap. Tap!"

I rushed her, and she braced herself again, this time itching to dodge.

Yet, after she sidestepped, backing against the wall atop the cooling unit...

My attack never arrived.

A feint.

I pivoted, leaping against the wall and ricocheting into a spin.

Lightsaber Form V, Djem So: Backlash

"nnnnnNNNNNNNN!"

Master Gallia ducked the slash, surpassing my expectations, and suddenly we were in close quarters... too close for lightsabers.

"Bam!"

A fist to my chestplate.

"Fwip!"

I battered her hand away, but she quickly latched onto the momentum I'd gifted her, swiveling her torso.

"Thwack!"

The consequent spinning kick would've knocked me unconscious, had I not deflected it with my wrist.

"You seein this?" an excited voice yelled from afar.

As Master Gallia continued our hand to hand exchange, we picked up on a small audience we'd attracted... observing the battle from another terrace.

"I never seen Jedi doin' that out in the open."

"I got... five hundred credits on the one with the tentacles."

"I'll put four hundred on the shorter one."

"Bam!" "Crack!"

"Your form V has improved remarkably fast." Master Gallia praised, still peppering me with light blows. "I suppose Skywalker is simply that good. ...And have you continued training Ataru with Master Ti?"

"Crack!"

"You taught me Djem So as well, Master." I snorted, sending her reeling as I blocked her chop with my metal gauntlet. "And yes, occasionally. I've also trained Ataru with Master Yoda after our whill training sessions."

"Vmmmmm!"

Eventually... Master Gallia forced me back with a heavy force push, after which she constructed tendrils of dust and sediment from the rundown roof, sending them hurtling toward me.

Lightsaber Form IV, Ataru: Slipstream

Lightsaber Form III, Soresu: Skyscraper

Utilizing two defensive techniques, I weaved and cut through the debris, making my way back to her position...

"Ksssshhhhhhhh!"

Lightsaber Form II, Makashi: Severance

And initiating another clash.

"Kssshhhh!" "Kssshhhh!" "Ksssshhhh!" "Ksssssshhhh!"

The struggle intensified, and slowly we started walking in the same direction.

Gradually, the walk became a run... a death march toward one edge of the terrace.

Lightsaber Form VII, Vaapad: Limit of the Living

"Kssssssshhhhh!" "Ksssssshhhhhh!"

"Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!"

"Kssshhh!" "Ksshh!" "Kssshhh!"

"Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!"

"Kssh!" "Kssh!"

"Tap! Tap!"

Our clashes accelerated alongside our footfalls, each of us careening toward the abyss.

"Tell me this is part of the plan, Master!" I urged, the hairs on my back stiffening.

"Do you plan every step you take, Padawan?" she scoffed, unfazed by the approaching doom. "Why plan what is routine?"

True to her words, when we leapt into the void, instinct assumed control.

I pushed onto her boots, catapulting her across the chasm before she dragged me along with the force.

The ballista maneuver... a trick we'd practiced hundreds of times during daily runs.

"Thump!" "Thump!"

We landed simultaneously, rolling through the impact together.

I immediately leapt to my feet, prepared for another exchange of plasma, but Master Gallia raised her palm to say otherwise.

"That concludes the exercise." she stated firmly, smiling. "Congratulations on your improvements."

"Zevon... hopefully you realize, that as of now..." Master Gallia murmured proudly, gazing up at the murky, starry sky as she caught her breath. "You have learned all seven forms."

"I guess so... guess I didn't really think about that too much." I muttered, smiling at her proud display. "Getting sentimental now, are we?"

"I'm saying that there is little for me to teach you now, other than manners, I suppose." she chuckled lightly. "But in the way of fighting, not much. As for what I wanted you to observe... truthfully, you need to improve the synergy between your forms."

"As in, switching between them? I thought I did that fine..." I defended, crossing my arms. "Can you explain, please?"

"It's not that you should avoid sequencing your forms..." she lectured further. "You merely need to implement smoother transitions. And your overall technique is still sloppy, but surely you already know that."

"Of course I know that. It's not an easy thing to change, surely you know that." I rolled my eyes, annoyed but intrigued. "But what's that about sequencing?"

"Some forms and techniques complement one another, some clash." she blinked. "As long as you sequence them properly, and in the correct order... you will find quite a few fearsome combinations...

"Like, I don't know..." I trailed off suspensefully. "Forms V and VII...?"

"Indeed... an excellent example." she murmured, feigning ignorance.

"Almost like... if you would just accept yourself... without embracing darkness, you would be that much stronger." I persisted, raising an eyebrow. "Why did you stop studying form VII, Master?"

She winced, glaring at me suddenly.

"Because the line between accept and embrace is different for everyone!" she snapped, sighing. "It is too risky, especially for me."

"Ah, well, can't be helped." I shrugged, hoping that I at least planted a seed of doubt into her doubts.

"Regardless, your training is something to celebrate, but surely you understand that this is merely the beginning." she continued. "Now that you have a basic grasp of each discipline, rising to the mastery of even one form will require a lifetime of study."

"It's a shame..." I sighed, crossing my arms. "That I don't have seven lifetimes."

"Your training extends beyond just lightsaber skills, or have you forgotten?" she smirked sadly. "No... I believe I bear the blame for that."

"That you do." I snorted, tightening my grip around my hilt. "Focus... focus... it's what I learned from you, Master... and I won't stop focusing until I finally get where I want to be."

"Ah, I see..." Master Gallia trailed off, shaking her head slightly. "Regardless, I must be off now, Burst invited me to chat. ...We shall reconvene at the temple later to discuss the mission."

"Off to more relaxing, huh? Seems like that's a trend for you lately." I snorted, adjusting my metal gauntlets. "Well, guess I'll go squeeze in a workout."

"Do not mistake my reflection for relaxation." she sighed, mildly peeved.

Adi

Lug's Mugs, Burst's pick.

About as dingy an establishment as you could find on the surface of Coruscant.

It was common for clones to occupy some of the more casual dive bars in their spare time, and yet this was somehow one I had not heard of.

I entered, displaying my identification to a rusted security droid, and quickly spotted Burst sitting at the bar.

Interestingly, despite its seedy nature, the bar maintained a certain luster. Everything was shiny.

The counter bore a mirror-like sheen, and the mugs stacked behind it glistened in the dim lighting. And yet... it retained a grimy atmosphere.

As I started greeting the Lieutenant, waving at him, I unexpectedly recognized the robed man sitting on the stool to his right.

Anakin Skywalker.

"Ah, Skywalker." I stated out of habit, realizing my blunder too late.

"Mhm... Master Gallia." the Jedi nodded curtly, severing eye contact soon after.

"Hrmph... I seem to recall a military policy forbidding day drinking." I grumbled, occupying the stool to Burst's left.

"Lighten up, General!" the clone guffawed, motioning for the bartender to bring me a silver mug. "One drink never hurt anyone..."

"As long as they do not lead to death sticks the day after, then perhaps." I conceded, smiling lightly.

Burst raised an eyebrow, sipping his mug before averting my eyes.

"Dunno what you're talking about."

"Then would you happen to remember taking my apprentice to a lower level casino? Illegally, I might add." I remarked casually, turning my gaze on Skywalker. "You know your padawan was there too, yes?"

"I allow Ahsoka to make her own decisions... for the most part." the Jedi replied simply, still refusing to meet my gaze.

"I suppose you two are simply different from me in that regard." I chuckled, sipping my drink. "While I have certainly taken more risks as of late, I am not a gambler."

"Sure. Well, sorry to cut and run... but I'm off." Skywalker announced abruptly, rising from his stool. "I have to meet with someone."

"You're in high demand, eh?" Burst chuckled, taking a large sip. "Both you and General Kenobi, I bet...? They say there's no better duo."

"Actually, it's the chancellor... he wants me to accompany him to a late lunch." Skywalker clarified, boasting slightly as he straightened his robes.

"The chancellor?!" Burst sputtered, choking for a second. "Tell him... tell him I said hi!"

"Sure thing. And thanks for the invite, Burst." Skywalker grinned, his smile relaxing as he turned to me. "Farewell, Master."

Skywalker made his exit, and Burst and I remained... now the establishment's only patrons.

Rustic Twi'lek folk music boomed through low quality speakers.

We made small talk for a while, attempting to avoid the obvious topic, yet it was impossible to ignore forever.

"Lieutenant... no, Burst... much like you, I've grown tired of fighting..." I started. "Or have at least begun to question it. Earlier, it was easy to justify as an unfortunate necessity. Yet now... I find that my once clear conviction is clouded. What am I to do about that?"

"That's a good question, General." he rumbled, clicking his tongue. "I... don't know. For me, I guess I wouldn't want to continue even if I did believe in the cause."

"Yet here you stay, even after being gifted my sanction." I scoffed. "Oh, what am I to do... procure a one-way ticket to Corellia?"

"You make it sound so easy. Hehehe..." the soldier laughed, growing more despondent with each successive chuckle.

"No, it is anything but easy. Obviously." I stated, sharing his sentiment. "Even more so for you, of course. My apologies, that was callous of me."

Burst shrugged, staring into his mug as he swirled his drink around.

"Well, I wouldn't tell the kid about this..." he muttered, begrudgingly entering the depths of his soul. "...Why I came back. ...I did miss everyone, but that's not why."

I composed myself, preparing to listen as he lifted a secret from within.

"I came back, because I didn't know what to do." he finally croaked, defeated. "Because nobody told me what to do, you see."

The clone then took several large swigs of drink, gulping down the necessary courage to continue.

"The Kaminoans are cruel, General." he murmured, wincing as his drink clinked against the counter. "I can dream of a peaceful life, I can picture it in my head... but when I set my mug down, all I hear is the march of clankers."

"I... that is to say..." I sputtered, overwhelmed by the sentence.

"Why can I imagine something better? For what purpose did they leave my... beliefs, my desires...?" Burst continued, ranting. "If they wanted me so obedient, and violent... then I wish they'd just taken it all. Better than being tortured by the scraps."

"Forgive me, but of everything holding you back; the modifications, the compulsions... it doesn't sound like anything will change even if or when we achieve victory." I posed, attempting to maintain a sympathetic tone. "So then I ask... what exactly lies beyond the war?"

"I dunno..." Burst swallowed, still clinging to whatever hope he'd scrounged together. "I guess I'm just hoping that a switch will flip in my head... and I won't have to worry about it anymore."

I briefly opened my mouth... but within my own vault, I found no no advice, nor any words of comfort...

As quiet settled between us, we bowed our heads, each of us contemplating our respective plights.

The bar counter glistened, the metal betraying perfect reflections of our uncertainty.

We stared down at our mirrored selves, silent... entranced, until...

"Beep! Beep!"

I received a message.

Zevon

My workout went even smoother than the day prior. Lately, it was a constant, upward trend. As my results climbed even higher, so did my spirits.

...And when I left through the main entrance, I encountered the same beggar as always.

"Oh, you." Luca grunted, ruffling his dark hair.

"I've got nothing on me." I chuckled, striding past the bum.

"You are a Jedi, aren't you?"

Just as my boot lifted for another step, I froze, the shock shackling me to the grimy ground.

Slowly, I turned around... reluctantly meeting his eyes.

"You are..." Luca confirmed, his face smothered with sullied awe. "So why don't you... help?"

An uneasiness seeped throughout my chest.

"I'm sorry..." I stated shamefully, patting down my pockets. "...But I really don't have anything to give you."

"Well, I guess you're still just a kid." he observed, grinning with a half set of teeth. "They don't give you an allowance, eh? 'Specially not nowadays."

"We're not supposed to... dwell on the material." I explained, apologetic, but curious. "...They... they all told me you lied about having a sister. Is that true?"

"I mean, it's true... I don't have one." Luca groaned sheepishly, clearly at odds with himself. "Well, dammit... whatever. Yeah, truth is... I'm the one who's sick."

"You are?" I repeated.

Reluctantly, he lifted his baggy shirt, revealing a grisly sight beneath...

A patch of diseased skin was stuck to the back of his torso... with hundreds of rotten, crunchy scales crawling up his back. Like a rust of the skin.

"Gross, huh?" the man muttered, covering it up again. "Nobody wants to see that. Folks would just look away even more than they already do."

"You thought if it was just you... you wouldn't get any sympathy." I stated, my heart sinking as I grasped his logic.

"Yep." he nodded. "I'm sorry, kid. I need the money, and I don't have much longer to get it."

Luca sighed, crossing his legs and motioning me to move along.

"It's getting late." persisted, now intent on learning more about him. "Do you have a... place to go back to?"

"Yup, don't you worry about me, lad." Luca huffed, maintaining a tough front.

"Then let me walk with you." I requested, scratching the back of my head. "I might not have money to give, but maybe I can help in some other way. ...And I know others who might be able to help, too."

The man froze for a moment, uncertain whether to trust my offer... but eventually, he stood up eagerly, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Off we go, then... Mister Jedi."

I followed Luca down through the lower levels, typing out a message to my master along the way.

'MASTER... CHANGE OF PLANS, CAN YOU MEET ME IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR? I'LL SEND YOU COORDINATES.'

"Back in the day, I had a job in the Works. Manufacturing and assembly of starships." Luca reminisced sadly, eyeing an abandoned factory. "And then all the manufacturers left for cheaper labor... funny though, it's not like they paid much in the first place."

'Cheaper labor... like Irisella... or what HK-74 was talking about.' I thought darkly to myself. "So you've been around, huh?"

"I'm not that old!" Luca grumbled, though still bearing a smile as he stroked his ragged beard. "Though I do look it. The self-care routine ain't too good these days."

The guilt welling up within my stomach overflowed once I entered the crumbling ruins of a textile factory that Luca lived in.

He lived there with two other families... being the uncle to a married couple with five children.

The decaying, rusted shell of a building was hardly the place to raise kids, especially not without proper access to supplies.

People starving a kilometer below the great Jedi Temple.

Minimalism worked for us, the Jedi. We needed nothing more than food, water, and basic clothes. ...But not everyone had even that.

If we lived so humbly... why pledge service to those who lived in excess?

Maybe it wasn't that simple...?

Regardless, it seemed that way to me... in the moment.

The billions and billions and billions of republic credits spent on our fleet said everything I needed to know.

Eventually, Master Gallia ventured down into the underworld to meet me, bringing Burst with her... along with Master Sinube who happened to tag along because he 'knew the way.'

Each of the masters provided the families with proper access to Coruscant's public transportation. Additionally, Master Sinube explained to them how to utilize public programs that helped families with children.

Luca's issue was a different story. Master Gallia promised to remain in contact with him, but his status as an adult barred him from the same benefits.

Regardless, we four told them many stories of our adventures, several of which the children begged us to repeat endlessly.

Eventually, Master Gallia pulled Burst and I off to the side.

"While we're all in one place, I should relay the plan for our assignment to you both." she mentioned, her attention shifting to Burst. "Lieutenant, were you given the details on Kamino?"

"Only that I'll be on your security detail, alongside The Bad Batch." Burst explained, as clueless as me. "Clone Force Ninety Nine, that is. Oh... and add on a contracted bounty hunter or two, that's right."

"So not many. In any case, our first destination is Nugoll." my master recited plainly, swiveling her head toward me. "What do you know of it?"

"Never heard of it... way too many planets to keep track of." I admitted, somewhat embarrassed at my ignorance.

"I thought you were a student of the archives..." Master Gallia murmured, raising an eyebrow.

"Starcharts never really did it for me." I shrugged. "What does that matter? Keep going."

"Well, in your defense... Nugoll is rather unremarkable." she sighed, collecting herself. "A mid rim planet with standard features. There are valuable ores beneath the surface... attract mining companies and such, but the planet never had any unique trade to speak of."

"Then what is there to speak of?" I questioned, accustomed to her mysterious preludes. "I assume we're not being deployed to kick rocks around."

"A colony of Tholothians currently resides there." Master Gallia revealed softly, naming her species.

My eyes widened instantly.

"It's not, no..." I sputtered, shocked. "No, it's... it's definitely not that. Why would you ever be assigned to-"

"Why indeed." my master agreed, troubled. "A test?"

"I might need a protocol droid to translate this chatter." Burst groaned, firmly out of the loop. "General, care to let me in on the damn secret?"

"My birth family resides there." Master Gallia stated further, expanding Burst's eyes with realization.

"Ah..." Burst remarked. "I'm assuming they didn't ask you to pay them a visit."

"No." Master Gallia confirmed, doubt shedding from her scalp as she shook her head. "Completely unannounced."

"Could it be because the council wants the mission to mean more to you?" Burst proposed, theorizing.

"Not in this universe." I declared, absolutely sure. "That would fly in the face of all their views... no offense, Master."

"Mine included. It's easy to care about people you know, those close to you..." she concurred, turning in a void of doubt. "The mark of a truly selfless individual... is one who gives themselves to those they cannot see, light-years away."

Adi

With the minor briefing out of the way, Zevon ran off with Burst to see if any of the clones at the barracks had extra savings to pitch in.

Left with Master Sinube, expert of the underworld that he was, we wandered for a bit to pass time.

"I'd hoped to visit a favorite shop of mine." Master Sinube commented, staring at an abandoned corner of the street. "An antique shop with an impressive collection of old texts. I purchased many of their items to add to the archives."

"Including 'Legend?'" I surmised, knowing that it was the elder who acquired the work.

"Precisely." the old master remarked hoarsely, saddened at the shop's disappearance. "Though, it appears that I'm too late."

We stood in silence for a long while.

"Master Sinube, we have had our disagreements, have we not?" I remembered. "...I was never very receptive of your philosophy, especially in my younger years..."

"Certainly, I even recall that one time, it was after a particularly long lecture..." Master Sinube chortled, agreeing. "In your frustration, you floated my favorite book to the top of the archives..."

"I wish I did not recall that... ah well." I muttered, shaking my head in embarrassment. "That aside, I always agreed with you on one thing... the value of patience."

"Yes, yes... the value of moving slowly... is that one can always clearly see the way ahead." the old timer recited proudly. "I teach it to all of my younglings."

"Of course." I concurred, despite the heavy doubt that weighed on me, pressing my brow into a frown. "...But what if you cannot afford to?"

"Hm? Might you illuminate this elder?" the aged master requested, leaning on his cane.

"This war is a perfect example. Every decision the council made was merely a reaction to our foe." I stated, peering up at the ancient foundations blocking the sky. "The clone army for example, emerging at such a convenient time and under such odd circumstances. Yet the Separatist threat forced our hand."

"And without many capable commanders among the Grand Army, the council begrudgingly deployed their own Jedi Knights." Master Sinube added on. "A policy I protested. You believe patience would have been ineffective?"

"Not would have been, it was ineffective." I proclaimed, fidgeting with my lightsaber. "I am still unsure about fighting, but I believe more vigilance might have stopped the threat earlier. Patience is undoubtedly valuable, but at times sluggish and ineffective. Why must we only know patience and not efficiency as well?"

"Intriguing. Might things have gone differently if your efficiency was prioritized?" Master Sinube considered. "Only the force knows."

"Regardless, our foe... this Sidious, perhaps. Each time, this mysterious enemy makes the first move. Thus, they control the game." I deduced further, thinking logically. "I suppose we lost the moment we conceded to their rules."

"That, Adi..." Master Sinube boomed, impressed. "Was the wisest thing I've ever heard you say."

"I wish I did not agree with you." I lamented, staring down at abandoned bookshelves. "I fear I have lived a life of lies and vacant pride."

'Fear...'

My master's criticisms echoed within me, and I shuddered.

With that, Master Sinube and I journeyed back to the temple, where I finally rejoined my padawan...

Funnily enough, he had already run into Padawan Tano, which meant an inevitable reunion with a certain chosen one...

Zevon

"We have some business on Cato Neimoidia." Anakin proclaimed, bearing the trace of a snicker.

"Top secret!" Ahsoka smirked, quickly souring as she picked up on Anakin's allusion. "Wha- hey...! You're really never going to tell me that story, are you?"

"Ask Obi-wan." Anakin shrugged, grinning as his head turned my way. "About the 'business on Cato Neimoidia,' you should get the story too, Zevon."

"Don't bother, I already asked Master Kenobi ages ago..." Ahsoka shot my way, rolling her eyes. "He's just as tight lipped."

"Your master is very fond of hiding things, hm?" Master Gallia addressed Ahsoka, raising an eyebrow. "Though he may not be very good at it. For instance, lending holocrons of form VII to a padawan behind their master's back..."

Ahsoka made no effort to hold back her snicker.

"I'll have to apologize for that, Master Gallia..." Anakin remarked sheepishly, though still holding his ground. "I bet Obi-wan let it slip, yeah? I figured he was onto me."

"Your intuition is sharp, at least." Master Gallia smirked.

Master Gallia and Anakin moved onto other topics while Ahsoka and I chatted on our own for a bit.

"So, how are you feeling about your mission?" Ahsoka pried, her orange skin crinkling as she smiled.

"It's not exactly my area of expertise." I laughed, moving my arm to scratch the back of my head. "Ow!"

"Pfffft."

Ahsoka snorted as I inadvertently smacked myself in the dome with my metal-gloved hand.

"Well, hopefully that little trip to Jedha gave you something to chew on." she continued, holding back laughter. "Diplomacy is tough... trust me."

"Let me guess, Mandalore?" I smirked, citing the famous planet. "Or one of your trips with Padme?"

Ahsoka nodded, but I noticed she'd become distant all of a sudden.

"Have you... spoken to Barriss since then?" she piped up.

"No... but I haven't really gotten the chance." I admitted cautiously. "What, did she still seem mad?"

"I haven't seen her either." Ahsoka shrugged, shaking her head. "Let's... talk it over when we get back."

"Sounds like a plan." I concurred, bearing a weary smile.

Barriss

The Temple Hangar.

A space for the storage of various spacecraft utilized by the Jedi.

As for flying, it was never a notable hobby of mine. Still, I'd walked the vast hangar ever since I was youngling.

In fact, I distinctly remembered a time where the occasional Jedi starfighter was an anomaly among a sea of diplomatic shuttles.

But now...

Numerous gunships, attack shuttles, and a few light land vehicles...

Temple workers tinkering with their various wartime projects...

And the rancid, foul odor of blaster gas.

As we entered, Master Allie and I approached Jedi Master Kit Fisto while he supervised several temple workers.

We'd finally caught a chance to speak to a council member about our brief inspection.

"Master Fisto, may we speak on the Jedha matter now?" Master Allie pried, stealing Master Fisto's attention.

His green, aquatic head tentacles dangled freely with the same casual calmness he exuded.

"In my personal opinion, there's not much to say." Master Fisto responded simply, nodding her way. "Or do, for that matter."

"The sect leaders have grown weary of our army in their city." Master Allie relayed, fighting for Chirrut and Hela. "Is that not worth some sort of action?"

"...I still believe we should proceed with caution." the sitting council member declared skeptically. "The former leaders proved to be in league with Dooku, yes...? I sense a great danger within those caves... it's not so simple a matter."

"So there will be no change?" Master Allie inquired, her disappointment veiled. "To our occupation?"

"Not for the time being." Master Fisto clarified, grinning humorously. "Watch things play out a little longer, and a more obvious path forward might just show itself."

"Unfortunate, but I understand your suspicion." Master Allie sighed.

As usual, she gave up too easily.

"Master Fisto!" a worker suddenly called over from a gunship. "Stars above... I finally got this puppy to work!"

"Oh? Marvelous." Master Fisto called back, politely waving to us as he shifted his attention. "Excuse me."

As Master Fisto conversed with the temple worker, Master Allie and I observed from afar, idling in our thwarted efforts.

"Higher capacity than ever..."

"Modified the chamber to operate at higher pressures..."

"Contains more blaster gas..."

"Improved efficiency..."

The worker eagerly explained every technical detail of his modified turret to Master Fisto, his singular, huge eye blinking repeatedly with excitement.

A skinny, stiff Abyssin... with a wide, dim-witted grin that consumed his sense of self.

He kneeled as he tinkered, leering at Master Fisto as he spoke... as if praying to an idol.

My fist shivered with rage, ire spilling from my knuckles and rippling throughout the hangar.

For a brief moment, I didn't care about concealing any of it.

Immediately sensing a disturbance, Master Allie's head jolted to the side.

"Padawan...!" she remarked, frightened. "Is something wrong?"

"No, Master Allie." I denied calmly, the hate vanishing. "Everything's as it's supposed to be."

Only the trace of my wrath remained, barely discernible.

A formless black splatter staining the polished floor...

Zevon

A few weeks passed, my master fully recovering from her injuries during that period. Unfortunately, the passing of time did nothing to ease her mind. I fared similarly.

During that period, Master Gallia had her personal starfighter moved to the Absolute in preparation for the assignment. Of course, when I asked where in the temple she stored it, she commented that it was 'safe from my clumsy, destructive hands,' and that she'd 'moved it to a secure location.'

Unbeknownst to her, I was already aware of the private hangar privy to the council members.

Regardless, while still unable to fully process the task at hand, I hurried to the shipyard with my master.

If I was feeling whiplash, Master Gallia must have been on the receiving end of starved, frenzied Reek's headlong charge.

She hid it the best she could, but I still sensed the conflict within her. ...The hopeful curiosity in finding the truth, along with the terror.

"RRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMM..."

The Absolute beckoned us aboard - enveloping us in its bulky shadow - its sublight engines groaning with a weariness as it landed.

I couldn't help but snort at the Venator, despite my familiarity with it.

The Venator cruiser had certainly been through a gauntlet over the past couple years.

Jedha... Vurdon Ka...

Despite its countless brushes with death, the colossal cruiser always managed to avert destruction.

Unfortunately, throughout its many repairs, and my nonstop requests...

They'd failed to install a gym every time.

'What a shame.'

Well, there was always calisthenics.

"So Nugoll first." I recalled, turning to my master. "And then where?"

"We may very well stay there for the majority of our assignment. Albeit..." Master Gallia relayed, slightly on edge. "There remains the possibility that we venture to Serenno."

"Dooku." I replied immediately, grasping the seriousness. "That's... not my preferred turn of events."

"So into the belly of the beast, eh?" Burst suddenly interjected, appearing beside us. "A rare opportunity."

"I hope you mean a diplomatic opportunity, Burst." I reminded him. "This mission is the perfect time to ease up on the trigger."

"Well, well... look who's giving orders." Burst laughed distantly, sent far away from the conversation by my comment. "Let's be honest, kid. I'm no diplomat, and neither are you... I guess we're leaving it all to the general."

He and I then turned to Master Gallia, expecting her to confirm his presumption, yet her response was minimal.

She only nodded wordlessly, disoriented by the storm of her still swirling thoughts.

...

Soon we were boarding the Absolute.

Simply another mission, but this time...

With the three of us together from the beginning again.