Chapter Sixteen

Ghostly Apparitions and Aspirants

Scout had true to her name observed Ben Kryze for the past several days. She couldn't find anything odd about him. Well at least nothing outside of her admitted large radar of oddness. Laseema said she could be persistent. But then again she'd know since it was her that convinced the Twi'lek to leave the Kryimorut and bring Arla along as well. It hadn't been easy but then again Scout was used to struggling for things in her life...Well Sev helped out too since he'd seen the horrific results of what the Empire had done. It was only then that she'd left with the four of them.

So why was Ventress so convinced that Kryze was Master Kenobi was a puzzle to her and one that she wanted to solve. Kryze on the other hand without the added drama of Ventress...was so much like her Order it physically hurt. She could've joined the Altisian Jedi but...She knew that it wouldn't have satisfy her. It was just hollow and meaningless since all they were doing was hiding and not helping out in any meaningful way. Therefore it was as far as she was concerned it was the will of the Force that Rex, Sev, Gregor and Wolffe had approached her on Kryimorut shortly after Order 66. Well it was combination of that, overhearing two people that she thought might have been decent casually discussing doing genocide against Coruscant, seeing the treatment of Jilka, and then finding out that Jaing...had skinned a Kaminoan. It didn't matter if she was dead when he'd done it. The fact he'd skinned a sentient being and wearing their hide as gloves...That sicken Scout to her core and had frightened Laseema so badly that she jumped at the chance to leave. Arla Fett and Jilka Zan Zentis weren't that hard to convince since they were holding both hostage more or less. It was then that Ahsoka came in and helped them all escape and stay safe. They'd become a Rebel cell on a back water planet and helped liberate it.

"Excuse me?" Kryze noticed that she'd been watching him do his kata. His style was truly hard to pin down considering he seemed to to be mixing up the styles..It would be almost deliberate if she was correct.

"Sorry," she said bowing instinctively. "I was just wondering what style you were using."

"Well for now Niman with a touch of Shii-Cho," Ben said. "Are you student of saber fighting?"

"I was," Scout said. "I was a Jedi in the old Order."

"Oh?"

"I was there when they fell," Scout said her voice becoming watery with sadness. "I saw the Temple burn."

"Oh, I'm so sorry my dear," Ben said in such a sincere manner that it made her want to cry. "I'm so sorry."

"No, no, don't be," Scout said waving off his apologies. "You weren't there and so it's not your fault."

"I still feel your grief and sorrow from here," Ben gently countered. "There's no shame in that."

"I-" she hesitated. Should she tell him? Why not? He seemed to genuinely care. "I just well miss the Order. Skywalker's Order is all fine and good but...It just doesn't feel right. It feels far too full of itself and more obsessed with power and heroics instead what the Order was about."

"So you believe that being a Jedi is isolating yourself on a mountain?"

"No," Scout shook her head. "Just focusing on the people instead of lifting up governments. Helping others and not being involved with a grand scheme. Focusing on what the Force wills and not what cool powers it gives you. I think that's my biggest issue with them, the amassing of powers. I mean do they even meditate on what the Force wants or is just when it's convenient to them? They treat the Force like it's a power source instead of a place of guidance. They're keepers of the peace these guys act like soldiers."

"One could argue that the old Order engaged in that as well."

"True," Scout agreed. "But the thing was it was a few and not the main focus from my experience until that blasted Clone Wars. And no I'm not counting the Army of Light because that was the Jedi...Lords," she spat out. "Besides that was in younger years and the thing is even when we were involved we weren't in positions of authority for the most part save for the Dark Times which we learned from...These guys are eager to run right back into it all over again."

"So the Clone Wars twisted the Order?"

"Yes," Scout said looking at him with new found appreciation. "You are really the only one that has listened to me...well aside Ahsoka, Ventress and Kortos."

"Indeed, so how does your relationship with those people work?"

"Well I'm the medic," Scout said puffing up slightly with un-Jedi ish pride. "Ventress is the bounty hunter along with Kortos and Ahsoka is our mechanic/pilot."

"So is that why she's a bit out of practice?"

"Yeah," Scout deflated sadly. "I'm not sure that she'd.."

"That what?" Ahsoka asked as she entered into the room. "That I'd do what?"

"Would like to renew the practice of dealing with a saber?" Ben said completing the questions as he held up his lightsaber as an example. "I'm sure that you'd be a natural at it."

"Ah...There's not enough for us all."

"Well you can use mine," Ben generously offered. "I can instruct from a distance."

"Not really," Scout interrupted pulling the artifact she'd found on Mandalore when she was fleeing with Sev and Laseema. "You can use this, I'm not sure that it works..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed Ben was giving her weapon a look of awe.

"Dha Kad," He muttered gingerly taking the blade hilt and looking at it. "That's the Darksaber of old."

"Darksaber?"

"Tarre Vizsla's blade. He was a Jedi Mandalorian and-"

"Wait," another voice called. From the shadows came Sev whose scarred face gave him a perpetual mean look. He was probably coming up here to practice no doubt since already the others had overtaken a storage for practice space. "You mean there was a Jetii Mando bal gar jorhaa'ir Mando'a?"

"Elek, ogir cuyir solus. Kaysh drala at Jetii a catnat daira Ke'gyce bal eoa Manda'lor o'r iwav ruyot." =Yes there was one. He trained to be a Jedi but soon left the Order and became the Manda'lor in ages past.= Ben answered in flawless Mando'a which all present fortunately understood. Sev's eyebrows shoot up and his grin became downright savage.

"Cuyir ibac bid? Pirusti... Ni liser va parer at haa'taylir jivaor bat ibac murglak b troan tion'tuur Ni rejorhaa'ir kaysh ibac." =Is that so? Well...I can't wait to see the look on that murglak's face when I tell him that.=

"Jii ibac Ni ganar sada ku'r at haa'taylir Diwva," =Now I'd pay money to see that Dad.= Korto snorted as he entered into the room. The young Kiffar/human hybrid strutted into the room. Sev ducked his head with old shame. Scout could understand why he couldn't forgive himself for the confrontation.

"Ah it seems I've not been introduced to you mister..."

"Korto," the man bowed to him. "The name is Korto Palsaang...My last name is from the village I was found in."

"That's interesting," Ben looked at his qukuuf tattoos on his face. "Would it be alright if I asked you a personal question? Or would I be impertinent?"

Impertinent? Who even said that anymore?

"Fine by me, ask away. I mean we are going to fighting alongside each other."

"Very well...your tattoo markings...Would I be correct in assuming that you are from the family of Vos?"

"Yeah but I was raised by him so since we didn't have a last name we took the village that met in as our own," he gestured to Sev who looked resolute but ashamed even though Korto had forgiven him ages ago. It seemed Sev would forever hold himself accountable for that accident.

"I don't know who my parents were but I was discovered by Diwva, when he accidentally killed my defender."

"In my exceedingly feeble defense she shoot me," Sev said with grief. "I didn't know about the kid until I investigated the body once I'd eliminated her. Then I took him because the Imps were heading his way with Vader in tow." He shivered. "And I wasn't going to leave him to that so I raised him with the help of Commander Tano, Ventress and Commander Scout, Ms. Palsaang, Fett and Zentris."

"So I had five Aunts and a Dad," Korto said with a soft grin. "It's a win for me. The raised me well."

"I see," Ben said looking at him speculatively. "Well then are you any good with a blade?"

"Yeah," he pulled his blade. "I built it myself and trained under Aunt Ventress. I assist her in bounties."

"May I?" Ben held out his hand. Korto easily handed it over with no fuss. Ben turned on the blade and gave an experiment swing to the green blade. Sev nodded to Scout as he turned and left the room realizing that this was going to a dueling session. Scout nodded to him and he walked out as quietly as he came in.

"Good balance," Ben commented as be did a basic kata one handed. "And it's power source looks secure and it's crystal..."

"Ilum crystal," Korto said. "We picked up some crystals during a job and they were among them. I grabbed on that..felt right to me."

"Wise choice, they do say that kyber chooses their wielder."

"Kyber," Ahsoka smiled at the word. "Now there's a word I've not heard in a while. Nowadays Jedi just use whatever crystals they have."

"That's...difficult to do where I've come from and been," Ben said as he turned off and handed him back his blade.

"Really?"

"Yes really."

"Huh. Hey katpe'e jir, duel me."

"No," Ventress said as entered into the room. "He's mine boy, respect that."

"Sure," Korto held up his hands as he backed away. "Catch you next time katpe'e jir."

"Ni jivaor ohlkana at ohgiya," =I look forward to the challenge= Ben said with a smile. "Whenever you're ready ma'am."

Ventress snarled with savage glee as she activated her sabers and charged into battle.

Ventress took the lead slashing in rapid secession making anyone who'd faced her back. But like the old days be merely stood his ground just deflecting her blows. Growling she pressed forward finally getting to lose some ground. Perhaps more odd was he didn't flow with the power of the Force. Now his was a river in the Force. Deep, strong but quiet and full of meaning.

She pushed with the Force and he countered with deflection that redirected the power back to her. She stumbled but held her ground. She slashed with one blade while angling the other for an overhead strike. He batted away one and dodged the other with a expert flip. Ventress could feel the thrill of battle running through her veins.

"Don't think you'll get out of this one Kenobi," she hissed with pleasure.

"What?"

Korto's question brought her back to focus with a screeching halt. She nearly stumbled but Kryze amazingly backed down. He instead backed the away giving a chance to recover before launching into an another strike. His movements while similar were different to the fighters that she'd encountered that used the Force. It seemed he was more relying on the guidance then the power...he was acting like a true Jedi. Like Kenobi. She shook her head and thrust out her blades.

"Okay are you alright?" Ben asked deactivating his lightsaber and walking up towards her. "I get the impression that I seem to be your weakness."

"You-you remind of someone I've fought," she hissed. "It's not that big deal."

"Clearly it is," Ben said thoughtful looking at all of them with penetrating gaze. "If..." he trailed off for a bit before continuing. "Perhaps I could help, if you all will please come with me."

Obi-Wan turned and lead the group down the hall. This was a big gamble he knew but if gave her and the others some amount of peace then it was worth this risk. Besides that it wasn't like he was going to announce this to everyone just people that he knew would understand.

"Big brother!" Calliope shouted running down the hall and crashing into him rather like Anakin used to do when he was younger...

"Hello there little one," Obi-Wan said bending down and picking her up. Well she wouldn't understand...or perhaps she would? Well he'd see.

"What this about?"

"It's something that I believe you need to know," Obi-Wan answered Ahsoka. "I-" he hesitated before mentally shrugging. "There's something you need to know."

"Such as?"

"Well my name isn't...Okay this is complicated to say that least. Oh my how to start on this?"

"Start with why you feel like Kenobi?"

"Ah well that's...that's the difficult part. I'm indeed Obi-Wan Kenobi but...I'm not from here."

"Nice explanation Master."

"Thank you Anakin," Obi-Wan muttered somewhat annoyed while Calliope giggled. "I greatly appreciate your wonderful help."

"MASTER?!" Ahsoka looked shocked as Anakin appeared from the seemingly nowhere. "Master, is that you!?"

"Hey Snips," Anakin smiled at her. Ahsoka didn't response but instead glomped him which he returned with great enthusiasm. "Nice to see you again."

"HOW?!" Ventress bellowed staring at with disbelief. "HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!"

"The Force," Anakin smirked at her which of course infuriated her even more.

"You son of a murglak I'm going to-"

"How do you do that and can anyone do that?" Scout asked interrupting Ventress's rant as she and Korto looked at him with awe.

"I learned it from...well him," he pointed Obi-Wan who honestly was a bit relieved that he'd help with the explanation. "The one from this world."

"Huh?"

"A little help Master?"

"Oh no you're doing such a wonderful job of explaining the situation that I await to see the continued looks of confusion at your magnificent exposition," Obi-Wan smiled at him. Anakin scowled. Ahsoka let out a tearful laugh. Ventress sputtered while the others stared in awe.

"That banter sounds exactly like my Master and his Master alright," she wiped her eyes and stared at him. "So honestly and no joke how does this work?"

"Anakin and I were protecting a scientist that was studying a alternative energy source. It turned out to be a convergence in the Force. Long story short I caught in the blast from the experiment and landed in Coruscant in your baffling reality," Obi-Wan said. "I'm not really sure that I can get home to the Republic."

"Republic?!" Ventress hissed looking both stunned and horrified. "Has the Confederacy come to be?"

"You mean the Separatist Systems?" Obi-Wan winced. "Yes and I know that in your world it leads to a war. Supposedly the Chancellor in mine is negotiating with them to prevent a war."

"Well if you're similar to mine then there...there will be a war," Ventress sighed. "Lord Sidious will ensure it."

"Sidious?" Obi-Wan stiffened. Something about the name made him feel as if a jolt of electricity had been shot through his veins. It sounded in the Force a sense of urgency and a warning.

"The Sith that begins the war. He is the Sith Master to the apprentice," Ventress explained. "I don't know that much about him just that Dooku served him."

"Wait Dooku?!" Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "Count Dooku of Serenno former Jedi Master is a Sith Lord?!"

"How'd...ah," Ventress shook her head with sadness. "That's right the Empire altered records of that era. Can't mention that "superstitious nonsense". She brutally made finger quotes for the last words. "Besides it wiped up the Jedi so of course they'd erase any mention of it considering it was run by a Sith Lord."

"I left before the whole Order was destroyed by their own soldiers so I can't tell you much of what happened after the war just during it from the beginning when I went to Christophsis," Ahsoka said sadly.

"Well I know from Diwva that those chakaars shot at their own officers due to a stupid mandate," Korto spat. "Diwva was lucky not to be asked because he would shot those acting on the order."

"Hey, not all of them. It was only the commandos while the ordinary rank and file had no choice with that...thing in place," Ahsoka said.

"Thing?"

"Something about a biological component to make sure they complied whether they liked it or not. Kix said it was a chip of some sort."

"And Rex and the others?"

"Rex was on Mandalore taking care of an issue there, Gregor contacted him once he figured what was going on," Ahsoka said. "Then he got to contact with Wolffe and they freed him from the GAR. They convinced him and good chunk of the Pack Commandos and freed the rest. As for Rex's unit well he...he only got Jesse to leave with him. We later rescued Kix from a sticky situation but The 501st as a whole was too far gone both due to the chip and the indoctrination of the officers."

"And the 212th?"

"Gregor rounded up some like Boil but not a lot. To be honest we were just a scattering of troops that came to Rex," Scout said.

"Diwva led some out of Kashyyyk after finding me."

"He then went to Mandalore were Rex was that's when he recruited me, Laseema who's a Rutian Twi'lek that was in the compound with me along with Arla Fett and Jilka Zan Zentis. I couldn't stay there. Too pompous, self righteous, speciesist and fine with the genocide to boot. Once Lameesa got wise she happily left with me. Jilka was being held hostage due to their allies pinning the blame on her and Arla wanted out. So we got out."

"I thought skinning a Kaminoan was the big tipping point?"

"They did what?!"

"Yeah," Scout nodded confirming it to Obi-Wan's horror. "One of them did it and I saw the gloves. I put two and two together after I kinda ran to Laseema who got her former husband to confirm it. She broke it off with him and ran with me. Her reasoning was kinda the same as mine about how she didn't want to be under the same roof as murderers and speciesist ones to boot. Also one guy threatened a Jedi Master saying that if he was daring to restart the Order then he'd shoot him himself. Arla was being held there with no treatment for her PTSD and being around them was constant trigger for her. Jilka like I said was framed so she happily left once she got an out that allowed safe passage."

"Diwva shot the creep that did the threatening as well as his Pappi on the way out," Korto said grimly. "He doesn't like hut'luuns and he was a pinnacle of that since he's fine with shooting at kids fleeing a battle."

"I heard tell that that guy called Master Kenobi a glory hound and the waster of the lives of his men," Ahsoka said. "Rex and Gregor said the entire 501st and 212th dog piled him and broke his jaw once they heard that. Got in trouble but according to them it was worth it. Fox didn't even like him. Said he was a blowhard pompous thug."

"While I appreciate the loyalty that really wasn't necessary," Obi-Wan said. "He sounds ill-informed and I'm guessing untrue if my counterpart is anything like me. It's quite clear that's he's clearly has a biased view and no amount of arguments will sway him from this view. And I'm guessing violence wouldn't change his mind either."

"If he truly thought that then he is fool," Ventress agreed. "Kenobi saved a clone from captivity and certain death when escaping from me as a prisoner of war. If he truly didn't care and was glory hound then why bother saving a captive clone when he could've concentrated on his own safety considering he was weakened and would've been dragged down by him? That man that made the statement is clearly asinine person."

"Master Kenobi was the ultimate Jedi," Scout said nodding her head. "Kind, generous and humble. Certainly not a "glory hound." I'd more ascribe that to Master Skywalker." She winced realizing that she'd accidentally insulted Anakin. "Ah no offense."

"None taken," Anakin waved off her apology. "I can see how some thought that although I wasn't a glory hound. I just unfortunately got more media attention which believe me I didn't ask for."

"Yeah I didn't get that either," Ahsoka shook her head. "Seriously Sky guy what was up with that?"

"I'll...I'll explain later."

"Well Diwva told me that the Jedi cared," Korto pipped in. "He said the Jedi encouraged the clones' individuality and give them freedoms that no one else did. It wasn't until later in the war when things got bad and that's when civvies joined into the military. So it was the civvies that were the fools and that was due to poor information. Not the Jedi. Sure there were outliers but they were really rare in comparison to the Order as a whole."

"But that still doesn't explain how you're a counterpart," Ventress interjected clearly wanting the conversation back on topic.

"Well evidentially the Convergence sent me here...for some reason," Obi-Wan shrugged. "How or why escapes me. However I am determined the make the best of my situation...Even if the universe is baffling to me," Obi-Wan sighed. "Seriously an Army of Light?"

"Don't ask," Ahsoka answered both she and Scout winced.

"The Rangers were no better," Scout grumbled.

"Rangers?"

"Oh you'll love this," Scout huffed. "It was, get this, a paramilitary organization that served the Jedi."

"Why!?"

"Supposedly because the founder wanted to help out the Jedi," Scout said.

"Surely making a peacekeeping or a mediating force would've been better suit to helping out peacekeepers not a...paramilitary force," Obi-Wan grunted out clenching his teeth. He was severely tempted on pepper his language with few strong epithets but Calliope's presence made him firmly held his tongue. What the spices was the Order on?!

"I know!" Scout shouted sounded as flustered as he felt. "I never understood that and never got why the Jedi didn't just say, "Well thanks but no thanks. We don't this!"."

"Wait..." Ventress stared at Scout. "You had a paramilitary group working for you?!"

"I know it's weird. And to be honest I don't get it either or why they weren't used during the Clone Wars," Anakin shrugged. "I mean it's not like they wouldn't have been you know...usefully during a war."

"Whoa," Korto held his hands. "Weird as that topic is I think we're getting off the subject kinda. So let's recap, you," he pointed to Obi-Wan. "Are from a parallel world and are stuck in ours now?"

"That's the long and the short of it yes," Obi-Wan admitted. "I'm again sorry I can't give out answers but there it is."

"There's a multiverse of alternative worlds," Anakin said. "Some are further along the time scale or are taking place as we speak or even further with each being a new possibility...It's really wizard to be honest."

"Far out," Korto agreed with smile. "So he's a version of Obes that got stuck here?"

"Obes?"

"Naw," Ahsoka shook her head. "He's not an Obes."

"Excuse me, I'm standing right here and I'd like to be referred to as Ben," Obi-Wan said. "This conversation isn't to be repeated to anyone, I mean it. I don't need people thinking I'm a clone or some such thing. I'm known as Ben Kryze, Guardian Jedi from Ahch-To."

"Ahch-To?"

"It's were the First Jedi came from in my reality," Obi-Wan explained to Ahsoka.

"Sounds like a sneeze," Korto commented with a cheeky grin that reminded Obi-Wan of Quinlan Vos of his world. "I like it. I don't suppose your taking disciples are you?"

"As a matter of fact," Obi-Wan rubbed that back of his neck embarrassed. "I seem to a have a following of well three."

"Only three?"

"Anakin."

"What?"

"Oh why do I even?...Never mind," Obi-Wan glared at the sniggering ghost. "I've got Calliope," he held her up gently. She'd been quite good and quiet throughout the conversation. Probably listening to us speaking. "Gil-Jae of the Otoh Gunga and...Yaotl of the Domain Qat."

"A Yuuzhan Vong?" Ventress's jaw dropped along with the others. "How?"

"It seems my midi-clorians caused an awakening in the Force," Obi-Wan said. "They were muted in the Force but now they're being revived with my blood as a catalyst...Anakin, stop giggling."

"I just think it's hilarious that you started a cult without trying Master," Anakin giggled. "Only you."

"Yes thank you Anakin," Obi-Wan sighed.

"So I've got to ask...Did you end up okay?" Ahsoka asked Anakin. "I mean I've always wondered..."

"I...I well I ended up fine. It was rough getting there but...I made it."

"Good," Ahsoka smiled at him. "I knew you could do it Sky guy."

"Thank you Ahsoka," Anakin bowed to her with a grateful smile. "I'll leave you guys be for now. Until next time..."

"There's going to a next time?" Ventress asked. "And how many others can do this? Can...Kenobi from here do it?"

"Yes and a few others can," Anakin said.

"Wonderful does this mean there going to a parade of ghosts?"

"Naw that's for Sparky and her issues with a certain someone."

"Who and the what?"

"Someone from another world she's got to deal with...and with people from her own realm...with me and several others watching of course because...reasons."

"Again, wonderfully vague and very unhelpful," Ventress quipped.

"You think I'm bad? Master can be just as bad. May the Force be with you all." With that farewell he disappeared back into the Force with Calliope waving to him. Obi-Wan looked at the others.

"As I've said before," he said seriously to further show his point. "This isn't to leave this room. I don't need this spread around."

"Hey, I'll tell Torrent guys," Ahsoka said. "They know the value of keeping a secret. Seriously it won't get out pass us."

"If you feel the need to tell then by all means, but I shall only consent that."

"What about the others? Those other people you mentioned?"

"No," he shook his head. "They're starting the path and don't this kind of distraction and I doubt they'd understand the significance of it. If or when the time comes I shall tell them but until then it stays among us and those you trust. Please?"

"Very well," Scout nodded her agreement.

"Although," she continued giving him a sly smile. "If you're looking for others to help in this new Order you seem be to making I wouldn't object to helping out. If you'll have me."

"Even if it means learning a completely new philosophy?" Obi-Wan asked before his mind caught to him. Was he really recruiting...Oh good galaxies.

"I shall do my best, as someone once said being a Jedi is about never giving up," Scout bowed deeply to him. "I will await your teachings Master."

"Fine by me," Ventress said. "And...I'll see where this Order goes before I jump fully on board."

"Works for me keeping the secret," Korto said with a shrug. "Diwva will keep on the low. And I'll join you too. Sounds like it's going to be interesting."

"And Rex and the others will get it...they're used to Jedi weirdness."

"Do I even want to know what your missions were like?" Obi-Wan said while secretly panicking that he'd gained not one but two new aspirants with a possible third. How was this his life now?

"Maybe I'll tell you about them sometime," Ahsoka smiled at him. "In the meantime, we've got some training to do and you promise some remedial lessons Master."

"So I did," Obi-Wan said with a smile realizing that he'd just gained a third one. "Let us begin young one."

"Yes Master."

Translations:

Mando'a:

katpe'e jir- old man

Diwva- Dad

chakaar- thief, scumbag

bal gar jorhaa'ir Mando'a- and you speak Mandalorian?