Chapter 1

Prologue

Cal Kestis screamed. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Cere Junda charged at the Sith Lord before them, her red lightsaber swishing through the air for a vertical slash. Somehow, there was a cruel irony in the fact that his favorite trick with the force involved freezing time, and yet he seemed to be the one subjugated to it this time around.

He couldn't do a thing as his only jedi companion charged towards an impossible enemy. And Cal could tell. The sith lord gave off a completely different feeling than any inquisitor. Trilla and the Ninth Sister were powerful for sure, but they were fighters; combatants who harnessed the dark side to amplify their own powers and abilities. The man standing in front of Cal was a completely different beast. Unlike the two inquisitors, Cal sensed an overwhelming amount of control to contrast master and apprentice.

Somehow, it amplified his terror by a hundred. He had been a jedi long enough to know that with the force, control meant power, and power meant danger. And this man? Cal was willing to bet his life on the fact that that man was the most dangerous force user he had ever encountered.

And then, the man's lightsaber ignited. Crimson red, like the color of blood. Somehow, the contrast was more obvious than ever.

With a single arm raised, the man altered the force around the room to his direction. He pulled Cere to his direction. Cal's eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen. But despite everything, he was way too late to stop the man's overwhelming power, and he knew it.

As Cal screamed and started to rise to his feet, the sith lord pulled in Cere Junda and put a lightsaber through her chest.

Cal stopped. Her presence in the force... It's gone...

Somehow, that emptiness, that feeling of being alone was greater than any feeling he had right now, whether it be rage, fear, or sadness. His only jedi companion, the only person who knew how he felt was gone, just like that. In the single stroke of a lightsaber.

Cal inhaled, and exhaled. The sith lord merely stood, as if... as if he's taunting me. The lord of darkness didn't make a single move, but his presence alone stood as a complete insult to everything that Cal had worked for. The only hope that I have lies next to him as a corpse.

Cal's control broke.

Every hole in his heart and mind filled with nothing but rage as he charged the sith, using the force to amplify his movements. His azure lightsaber flew through the air as Cal sprinted towards what he knew was going to be his death. It defied all sound logic and peace, but it was the only thing he wanted to do. No, it's the only thing I know how to do.

Cal brought down his lightsaber. Azure met crimson as the two blades connected, sparks flying from the exchange. Cal grunted in effort, pushing down as hard as he possibly could at the dark lord. But no matter how hard he pushed, the blade wouldn't budge. The tall figure of the sith seemed to mock him once more.

Then, the jedi felt a boot kicking against his stomach, and before he could register what was happening, he was flying backwards- straight into a metal wall. Cal grunted in pain as his backside connected with a hard plate of steel, most likely damaging a bone or two. Somehow, it calmed the rage inside of him, if only by a little bit.

I'm approaching this the wrong way.

It was obvious now that he was simply physically incapable of harming the sith. He just couldn't do it. Dark side powers aside, the man was simply way too strong in the arms. The only way that he would even leave a dent in the sith would be to be more resourceful. Use his environment to his advantage.

This time with a much more controlled stance, Cal stepped towards the man, wary of the atmosphere of the force. He's obviously toying with me right now, and I need to use that to my advantage. Swinging, he brought his lightsaber down once more, and engaged in saberlock. Once again, sparks started to fly through the air as the two glowing blades met each other with full force.

Except this time, Cal disengaged. Sidestepping, he felt the sith's blood red lightsaber barely miss his face as he quickly pivoted his body to the side, preparing to thrust to his opponent's left. However, the blade was easily intercepted by the sith's own lightsaber.

Cal withdrew and stepped back. Calm down. Fear is what's gonna get you killed.

And then suddenly, he felt a strong grip on his neck that lifted him upwards. Oh no. The sith's gloved hand was raised upwards, curling into a fist as he choked the breath out of Cal. Cal clawed for his neck, for any semblance of breath, but it was futile. Resistance was meaningless against this sith lord.

Maybe not in raw force, but maybe I can outwit him.

Cal desperately looked from side to side, searching for something- anything to help him. And then, he finally noticed it. Up in the ceiling! There was a giant tube that threatened to fall down, but held on just enouch. Struggling for breath, Cal reached out to the force once more, and pulled.

Instantly, the structure separated itself, flew towards the sith lord, and-

-was promptly intercepted. But, it was just enough to alter the sith's focus. Cal felt the grip around his neck loosen, and instantly made a run for his survival, running towards the nearest elevator.

RUN!

RUN!

RUN!

Suddenly, the ground he stood on started to tear apart, as the force caused the room to start quaking. Cal widened his eyes at the display of power. Exactly how strong can one person be? This is just unfair at this point... Cal grunted as he enhanced his body with the force, quickly weaving around the torn apart bits of the floor. Now this is something I can do.

Cal jumped one last time before shutting the elevator closed and slumping down on the floor. His legs were refusing to work prperly. I... I need to get out of here. I'm not safe until I'm an entire galaxy away from that man. The force presence that he had exerted was unlike anything Cal had ever witnessed.

And then, the ground began to shake once more.

Cal's eyes flew open in shock. What? No way... He couldn't have-

The floor shook again.

-Holy freaking kriff he actually did it. Cal's breathing started to panic once more as he carefully propped himself back up into a standing position, the ground quivering beneath his feet. Soon, the entire structure would collapse and he would presumably fall towards his inevitable death under the sea. So he's smart as well, great.

It was an anticlimactic ending. After all we've been through, it can't just end like this.

No, he refused. That would not be happening.

With a surge of willpower, Cal activated his lightsaber and stabbed it through the ceiling. Maybe if I can make a hole fast enough and escape, I'll be able to make it out with nothing but a few broken bones. With all of his strength, he started to push the lightsaber in a circle, just big enough for a human to fit through.

Halfway there... Almost done...

TANG!

Cal's eyes widened in shock, the lightsaber briefly pausing. No, no way.

Oh, yes way.

With the hole almost finished, the elevator came crashing down towards the bottom of the collapsing citadel, burying Cal Kestis under miles and miles worth of debris. Cal screamed. No! No! NO! After everything... After everything I can't just fail here...

But the elevator never stopped.

Before Cal Kestis saw nothing but black, all he saw was the possibility of hope, and the screeching sound of the elevator that drowned it out.

"*&!&*# *$^ *#* "

"*&!&*# *$^ *#* *# *$^ *#* &!&*# "

"&!&*# -ey."

"Hey!"

Cal's eyes snapped open.

"Huh?"

There was a man standing in front of him. Cal's vision was blurry, but he clearly recognized teal eyes, and brown hair. The man's face was also slightly lanky. He... He looks... Concerned? Sad? Angry? Cal cursed his vision, shutting his eyes hard and reopening them. Ah, that's much better.

"Heya there kid. We thought we'd lost you." said the man. "We got notice that one of the imperial inquisitor fortresses collapsed. Luckily for you, the place was underwater, and we were hanging out in a nearby system, so you were still stable when we got to you. There was a ton of stuff above you kid, you frankly shouldn't have survived that."

Cal instantly narrowed his eyes, his guard increasing. "How do you know about that place?" he said, scowling. As far as he was concerned, an inquisitor training ground was not something as easy to find as public information. It was highly classified, and Cal had only made it because Cere had known the location by memory.

"I have my ways."

Cal growled. "There's no way that anyone would have found out about that place unless they're a high ranking imperial. So tell me again- who the kriff are you? Because I'm not in the mood for tricks, and-" Cal's hand instinctively went towards his waist, only to find a familiar weight missing. My lightsaber.

The man held it up. "You looking for this? It's an interesting design, gotta say. Dual bladed, with split hilts as well? I would even call it ingenious." the man said as he leaned in towards Cal, his expression morphing into a glare. "But you're in no position to make demands, kid. You're gonna be answering questions, and I'm going to be confirming whether you're a threat or not. So either you walk back alive and with your weapon, or..." he raised the weapon in a threatening position. "You know the other option. So spit it out, kid."

Cal glared, finally giving in. "Fine. I'm a rebel spy that was on a mission. I was supposed to go there, plant a few bombs and get out, but something got in the way, and sabotaged the entire thing. Although considering the state that it is right now, I'd call it a success."

The man paused, before smirking. "You're lying."

Cal narrowed his eyes. "And how can you tell this exactly?"

The man's smirk grew. "Because- you aren't shielding your mind nearly as well as you should be."

Cal's eyes widened. N- No way...

"Well, at least some things are cleared up now." the man said, grinning. "Not nearly skilled enough in the force, no dark side aura, blue lightsaber... You definitely aren't an inquisitor, which leads me to my second conclusion." he paused. "I thought I was the only jedi left, you know."

The man tossed Cal his lightsaber back, and the younger jedi caught it, his shock still dwindling.

"Name's Kanan Jarrus, a pleasure to meet you."

Notes

So, this is a plot bunny I've had for a while, and it's going to run in tandem with my two other stories! :)

I've always liked Cal as a character despite people calling him boring. I find that his plot beats, while rare and 'generic' are extremely well executed, and he's extremely well planned out in terms of a character arc, giving him a lot of room to grow as a person.

So, connect him to everything. xD

Ages will be changed a bit for things to make sense, but other than that, please enjoy! :)

Leave a review!