Lambert's POV

Their arrival to Onderon was made in silence. There was little else to be said between him and Kavar. The older man seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Lukas had tried to sleep but all it did was send him back into the memories of Duxon.

Flashback

Madness. The explosions were all around him now, blinding, deafening, punctuated by ear-splitting screeches from the jungle that erupted with each detonation.

The jungle! Duxon! The wet, hot stench was everywhere, but they had reached it! The base camp was theirs! An explosion to his left; he could see it! High above the ground, suspended between two trees, the spikes of a bamboo cage.

The figure inside was moving. He was alive! Get to him, reach him! A cry came from his right. Breathing, coughing in the smoke, a man was limping toward the dense underbrush, a rifle in his hand.

It was him, the blond hair caught in the light, a foot broken from a parachute jump.

The bastard! A piece of filth who had trained with them, studied the maps with them, flown north with them … all the time springing a trap on them!

A traitor with a comlink who told the enemy exactly where to look in that impenetrable jungle that was Duxon. It was Vanetti! Nero Vanetti.

Traitor, garbage! Get him! Don't let him reach others! Kill him! Kill Nero Vanetti! He is your enemy! Fire! He did not fall!

The head that had been blown apart was still there. Coming toward him! What was happening? Madness. Duxon…

End of flashback

When he came back from his nightmares he made for his bag. Pulling off his regular clothes until he was in his underclothes. They consisted of a black sleeveless shirt and black shorts.

Pulling his armor from his pack he pulled it over his head. It was a prototype mostly untested by the military. It had been a gift from Revan after his fourth brush in with death. So far the armor had not failed him and he trusted it with his life. He knew that it wouldnt hinder his Force Powers. Light armor exoskeleton was fit snugly against his body.

Once the armor was fastened he pulled his regular clothes over them. Last part of his outfit he pulled on his fingerless gloves. On the wrist strap was a black winged hawk the crest lined with gold. Black Hawk crest. Only those who served with him knew the meaning. Out of everyone who knew XIII would understand the best.

The nightmares forced him to retreat back to the cockpit. Being close to the world where it all began would be difficult for him. Facing his fears was something that needed to be done. So soon? Probably not the best idea.

Kavar prepared the ship for landing as they came out of hyperspace. The planet before them steamed with life. Lukas flinched at the feeling within the Force. Kavar's presence ran over him the calming presence trying soothe him.

The man asked eyeing him, "Are you well? Lukas breathe it's okay. Focus on me."

Lukas took deep breaths falling into the Force, wincing as it screamed at him. He fell back on the man's presence allowing it to calm him. To remind him that he was not in the war.

In the Force he felt another presence one that was all to familiar. XIII Hunter a fellow Guardian, a Jedi Knight just taken his trials before the start of the war. Powerful in the Force and one of the best fighters.

The last time Lukas had seen the other was just before Malachor V. XIII was part of the secondary team that had been at Malachor V. Lukas had thought that the other had been part of the ships that were too close to the planet.

Kavar questioned looking like he wanted to spin around to face the younger, but couldn't due to being needed for landing, "Lukas what is it?"

Lukas shook his head not allowing himself to dwell on his friend's presence, "It seems I have more allies on this planet than just you."

Kavar looked like he wanted to ask about it. However there was a voice that came over the comms. They were giving directions on where to land.

Kavar took them in for the landing heading steadily not for regular landing site but for the royal landing site. How much well the Onderon royalty know Kavar? Lukas had met Vaklu a handful of times during his time on Duxon. Despite being the cousin to the Queen he served as a General in the resistance.

Lukas wondered if he would see Vaklu again. The man had earned his respect as a tactician and a soldier. Around the landing site were soldiers that could only be part of the Queen's guard. Down there Lukas could feel XIII's presence.

Kavar took them in for a landing. It was gentler than the last several he had been on. Including one that he had done himself to reach Coruscant to face the Council.

Once they landed he powered down the ship. Then Kavar stood brushing his hands down his robes. Briefly a hand touched his lightsaber clipped at his belt.

Kavar said after a moment, "I'll get my bag. Are you ready to face our welcoming party?"

Lukas gave a quick pat down of his clothes before nodding. Kavar eyed the gloves before he turned to head to his own rooms. The younger man went straight for the ramp. Only a few moments later Kavar joined him.

Kavar pressed a button lowering the ramp. Lukas was briefly blinded by the bright sunlight of the day. When his vision cleared he saw the royal guard. A man in Mandalorian armor was the first to catch Lukas's eye. On the armor was the crest of the Queen where there should have been a clan crest.

XIII was a tall human male, nearly six and a half feet tall with light muscle underneath the armor. Hanging from his belt was a familiar lightsaber. A scar was over the right side of his cheek. Lukas remembered the battle he received it in. It was the same battle Lukas received a large scar across his back. From a vibroblade.

Grey blue eyes met Lukas's own blue eyes recognition flaring within them. A crooked smile crossed the other's face. XIII bent his neck slightly in difference to Lukas. Despite being a higher rank XIII almost always looked to him for guidance.

Then his old friend looked at Kavar who Lukas stood just to the left of the man. Confusion was evident across his face. Then his head turned to the side of in curiosity. Lukas returned the signal with a shrug. Nonverbally they communicated that things were well but he didn't know much more than that.

Suddenly the guard took large steps backwards. Kavar led Lukas to stand in front the guards. The younger man stood half a step behind the master and just to the left. It was enough to show that he was not the other's equal but neither was he too far beneath him. The way a padawan would stand beside their master.

A woman in biege robes her hood lowered revealing brown hair on her head. Green eyes held a happiness that he was unused to seeing. They were solely focused on Kavar as she made her way over.

To her left right in step with her was a man he recognized easily. Commander Vaklu a resistance fighter that had served beside Lukas and XIII.

Vaklu's lined face broke out into a smile. Black hair was slicked back out of the man's grey eyes. He wore light battle armor with the royal crest on its shoulder. A vibroblade was strapped onto his side and a pair of blasters pistols strapped to his thighs.

Per Onderonian tradition Lukas bowed to the man. It was a small bow of respect that acknowledged his position above the younger man. Then he spun on his heel to face Queen Talia.

Once he faced the Queen he stepped forward. Then Lukas bowed low, much lower than to Vaklu. Unclasping the glove on his right hand, his dominant hand, and flipped the hand palm up. A sign of respect and loyalty towards the Queen herself.

For a moment he waited for her response, to his surprise she greeted formally, "Well met, Jedi. I see you know our traditions surprising given your youth," then to Kavar she greeted much warmer than to Lukas, "Master Kavar it has been a long time since the last time you visited. I hope you are well?"

Kavar bowed in a more traditional bow of the Jedi as he answered, "I am very well, Queen Talia. Pardon our intrusion onto the planet. I know you are still recover from the Mandalorian Wars."

The Queen replied her eyes showing her warmth, "Kavar you know better than that. Call me Talia. Who is your young friend?"

Kavar smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, "This is my padawan, Lukas Lambert."

Several soldiers stiffened in surprise and a few tried to get a better look at him. XIII stood stock still but there was a twitch of his lip. A clear sign of his amusement. Lukas wanted to flip him off as he would have done before.

Talia however was now watching him with a wary look. She questioned disbelief coloring her tone, "You're General Lambert of the Black Hawk battalion? Everyone thought you went to the Unknown Regions with Revan."

Kavar turned to his a flash of surprise in his blue eyes, "General?"

Lukas shrugged, "It was Revan's idea. He saw me a leader he could trust. So he gave me the position that I never wanted. Revan wanted me to go with him and Alek to the Unknown Regions but I refused. I made a promise. One I would not break."

By the end of his word he had bowed his head. This made his shaggy hair fall into his eyes. The hand on his shoulder squeezed in comfort.

Talia seemed to assess him before she said, "Any friend of Kavar's is a friend of mine. You are both welcome to stay as long as you like. Come you will be staying in the Palace."