Hello Hello! I'm back :D

I'm so sorry for the late update, I am currently in exam period so I am swamped with assessments and exams, so updates might be a bit wacky for the next three weeks. (There should be one chapter next week as I have a bit of free time, but I promise in November there will be more concise updates :)

Enjoy this rollercoaster of a chapter, as things are only going to get worsee from now on :D

"Cal Kestis…" Palpatine pondered, a scowl pulling down at the brief encounter with the young, unfamiliar Jedi.

A burst of irritation raced through him, grating his stifled emotions; yet his face remained impassive.

Never betraying his thoughts.

Anakin… Palpatine thought he had the chosen one under his grip, under his mask, his carefully crafted disguise as a friend.

So, why?

Why ?

Did Anakin never mention this Jedi?

Clutching the chaotic haze of the Dark side, Palpatine's resolve strengthened.

It didn't matter, he would use this to his advantage.

This Jedi would be the weight that would tip the scales.

Cal Kestis…you will eventually help destroy Anakin Skywalker.

"Bring him to me." Palpatine ordered, a twisted grin hidden within the shadows of the dimly lit room.

"Bring me this Cal Kestis. "

The clone shifted, a curt nod as he instantly left.

"Yes master."

And Palpatine continued to ponder, spinning the twisted threads of a plan.

How could he trap this… this Jedi into his spinning lies of deceit?

.

.

The hissing of the door echoed through the chambers and Cal glanced up, confused at the towering presence of a clone.

The Force was thick with danger, with an unmistakable threatening presence.

"If you're looking for Master Tapal, he's not here at the moment." The young apprentice called, tilting his head in confusion at the frigid rush of warning from the Force.

The clones were on their side, so why? Why was the Force so restless, so unsettled?

Swarming with danger…

"The chancellor wishes to see you." The gruff retort echoed within the cramped abode.

What…? The chancellor?

"The Chancellor?" The hesitant tone held strong within the young ginger's tone, his emerald eyes swarmed with unbridled uncertainty.

"I don't think…"

"I have my orders." The clone cut off, a hint of irritation gnawing at him at the child and with a sudden unpredictable movement, he gripped Cal's arm and yanked him to his feet.

The yelp of surprise reverberated as the young boy was shoved to his feet, blinking back the unsettling feeling with growing difficulty.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming." The young apprentice grumbled, suddenly grateful for the reassuring weight of his lightsaber.

.

.

.

"Who. Is . This ." Palpatine demanded, the deep threat barely hidden behind the waning patience of his composure.

His eyes bored into the feeble youngling, the child's unwavering stare never leaving the Chancellor's own sharp gaze.

"This is Cal Kestis, Chancellor."

Indeed the child looked like the Jedi he had met, the striking red hair, depths of the strength shining brightly within the young child.

But, this was not the Jedi.

"I wished to speak with the Jedi, not this child." The growl was tinged with impatience, it took every grip to clutch onto the snarling wrath of the Dark side and not plunge the clone to his death.

"This boy was the only recorded Cal Kestis in the records." The clone rushed out, desperate to defend his actions against his wrathful master.

"And yet this boy is not the one I want."

Cal could feel the sudden plummet in temperature, the growing, hard edge within the senator's voice.

He had to do something, he couldn't bear to see the clone become hurt because of a minor mistake.

"There's another." Cal blurted out, regretting the words as they slipped from his mouth instantly.

"And what exactly do you mean child?"

Cal fought back the trembling fear at the sudden frozen icy sensation as he was scrutinised.

The Chancellor was terrifying…

"There's another Jedi with the same name." His eyes averted, avoiding the greedy; stained gaze of the powerful man.

"He looks exactly like me."

"Interesting." Palpatine leaned backwards, pondering this information.

A Jedi with the same name, the same appearance, the same force signature…

The realisation crashed into him, the depths of the obscured shadows allowed a crazed maniacal grin, spreading in glee at the sheer realisation he was left with.

Oh this was going to be fun.

The Force would regret this meddling.

"Child, I apologise for scaring you." Palpatine's voice remained even; never allowing the shadowy darkness of the abyss; his sparks of a plan that would aflame a roaring fire that would destroy everything.

And it all started and ended with this child.

"And I have a silly request, how would you like to become my friend? "

Cal blinked, an unguarded surprise flickering at the absurdity of the question.

"Your friend? But chancellor, I'm not…"

"I can sense a strength within you, Cal Kestis. I want to help you."

Cal bit his lip, unable to consider the thought. There was no reason why he shouldn't accept and yet, there was a grating, nagging dread squeezing within his stomach.

Master always told him to never forsake his instincts.

"I thank you for your offer Chancellor, but I am afraid I will have to decline."

The Chancellor stiffened, an unreadable expression that the young boy could not place formed, stormy.

"So be it."

And before another word could be uttered, the door burst open and the strong presence of Jaro Tapal strode through the chamber, his eyes focused with a deep fiery protective instinct.

"Apprentice?"

Cal twisted around, shoulders slumping in relief at his master, the ghost of his smile reflected the pure relief.

" Master."

"Chancellor." Jaro Tapal's heavy footsteps halted in front of his apprentice, the stone-edge suspicion ringing clear with danger.

"Is there a reason why you were speaking to my apprentice without my presence?"

"Of course not, Master Jedi." Palpatine simply replied, the monotone answer allowing no threads of emotion to slip through his tight barriers.

"We were simply making conversation."

Master Tapal's gaze lingered; hardened with years of battles and yearning to protect his Padawan.

"Then we will take our leave."

"Remember my offer, youngling." Cal cast a single glance back at the older man, before he scrambled after his master.

The doors clicked shut, allowing the roaring flood of silence to echo louder than any words.

Everything would begin accordingly…

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.

.

"Padawan, are you alright?" Jaro Tapal crouched, unable to hide his overwhelming concern.

"What did he want?"

"I'm alright, I think he was looking for the other Cal." The young apprentice reassured, thankful he was no longer under the piercing gaze of the Chancellor.

Master Tapal stiffened, jaw clenched tightly. The Force was screeching in a worrying panic and yet, it was hazy; foggy.

The source of the danger was smothered in darkness, in the forever oblivion of the flaming fury of the Dark side.

There was something about him…

"But he wished to become friends." Cal admitted.

" Friends?" Jaro Tapal scrunched his eyebrows, unable to fathom the thought.

"Be careful, apprentice, something is happening..." He trailed off, shaking himself from the glimmering light of the Force.

"What is it?"

"I do not know." Jaro Tapal admitted, sighing. "But something is going to happen."

Casting his vision to glance at the worried look of his apprentice, he mentally berated himself; Jaro Tapal didn't mean to share so much with the child, shouldn't have done so when he was supposed to protect him.

"Aside from that, we have new orders. We are leaving for Bracca tonight."

"Bracca? Yes!" A grin outstretched upon Cal's face, the excitement unmeasured at his sparkling joy.

Jaro Tapal didn't have the heart to tell his apprentice that Bracca was a wasteland, that their negotiations they were sent to complete would result in boredom for the young boy.

"Come, we must get ready."

"Yes master!"

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.

.

Cal Kestis…

The Jedi had somehow gained the Light Side's favour; so much so, that he was granted another chance.

Pathetic. The Light side really thought it could deceive him?

The spinning's of his carefully constructed plan. Did the Light really think that one Jedi could stop it ?

The Light would regret this… He would destroy Cal Kestis and in turn, he would cause Anakin's downfall.

"Bring him to me." Palpatine ordered. "Bring me the Jedi . Cal Kestis ."

"At once, Chancellor." The clone inclined his head.

"And I want one of your men stationed for Bracca on Jaro Tapal's ship. Be prepared for my order."

"What order is that?"

A wicked grin pulled upwards, the sneer brimming with decayed with rot and the thirst for despair.

"To kill the youngling."

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.

.

Anakin scrubbed wearily at his face, his frozen breath swirling with mist as the night sky hummed with life.

He was exhausted. The nightmares continued, relentlessly; plaguing his nights with screams and pain.

"Anakin?" Cal called, stilling as he saw the desolate apprentice as he hunched over the railing.

"Anakin, are you ok?" The Jedi stepped into the cold, ignoring the tendrils of the cold as it smothered through his thin jacket.

The apprentice offered no answer, ignoring the concern from his friend; his conflicted gaze lingering on the booming night life below.

"I had a nightmare." He confessed, his raw emotion cracking. Wavering with a deep, unbridled force that the other couldn't seem to place.

"I…keep having these dreams of pain and suffering. "

He lifted his head and glanced at his friend, the drowning anguish within his unshed tears continued to overwhelm him.

The nightmare replayed, mocking, snarling.

"Everyone I care about is dying and I can't save them. They're in pain and I can't do anything to help. I won't let them come true."

The concern within the ginger's gaze was unmatched, his eyebrows pulled down as the deep frown.

Anakin's expression could scarcely be seen within the monochromatic hues of the darkness and perhaps, the violent surge of Anakin's suffocating feelings as they twisted through their force bond worried Cal beyond anything.

"Anakin, why are you so worried about them?"

The tension from the apprentice's shoulders deflated, a hopeless tone rising through the chaos as the winds hurled, whipping through the night.

"They're the same dreams I had about my mother. " His electric blue eyes slumped closed for a brief second, fighting the failing battle to shove the budding tears back.

"I won't lose anyone else Cal. I have to find a way."

Cal sighed, letting his hand rest on the trembling shoulder of his friend.

"Ani, I don't think…"

"I am not letting you, just die!" Anakin snapped, whipping his head to stare fiercely at Cal; the sharp rage receding instantly at the wide-eyed shock of the other.

"I won't… I almost lost my mother, I can't lose you or Obi-Wan." The soft muttering choked as he shoved it away from the unbudging lump in his throat.

In one movement, Cal brought Anakin into a warm embrace, hugging the distressed man tightly.

Heartbreaking sobs dispelled as the wind raged through the darkness.

"You're not going to lose anyone, Ani." Cal reassured, ignoring the cackling, whipping winds as it stole his every thought.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because…" He hesitated, testing his words carefully before he spoke.

Anakin was currently akin to a raw, electric wire; he would need to be extremely careful on how to help him.

"Because, I refuse to die."

Anakin pulled backwards, blinking in confusion as the Jedi's words dawned upon him. The bubbling laughter tore from his throat at the sheer absurdity of the statement.

"Cal…that's not how it works. You can't just refuse to die. "

"Why not?" His grin was audible within his voice as he failed to smother the snickering laughter.

"How many times have you nearly died now?" The exasperation within Anakin's voice was unmatched, pinching the bridge of his nose to fight off the sudden lurching of memories.

"Ah, but I haven't . So you see it makes perfect sense."

"That…makes absolutely no sense."

Cal leaned back, letting himself relax as the descending rage was snapped, forgotten from their bond.

"Well you see, I refuse to die and the fact that I have yet to die proves that I won't."

" Riiight." Anakin snorted, unable to hide the descending laughter that that proposed logic made no sense.

"So what about Obi-Wan?"

The Jedi shrugged, clenching and unclenching his stiff hands in the attempt to warm them up.

"As long as we're both there, I'm sure we can protect the old man. Surely there's no one that would dare face off against two and a half Jedi."

"Hey!"

Anakin startled, unable to wipe his playful offended tone away as Cal's ringing laughter never halted, even when the Padawan lightly shoved him backwards.

"I almost bested you in our duel."

" Almost. Young apprentice.. " Cal teased, chuckling to himself.

"Is not good enough."

"Really now?" Anakin's smirk widened, unable to hide the contagious laughter back.

The nightmare loosened its smothering grip over him.

"And who was the one that almost died? "

"I deserved that one." Cal shook his head, ginger ringlets bouncing. "But I'm serious Ani, I refuse to die."

Not until I stop this treacherous war, not until I save you.

"Fine, fine. I'll keep you to that promise."

The conversation was halted as the thudding footsteps halted behind the two friends, the clone straightening at the confused pair of eyes, his tone even.

"Chancellor Palpatine is requesting your presence."

"Alright then." Anakin twisted up, a grateful glance at Cal for calming him down.

"I'll talk to you later, Cal."

"No." The clone simply refused, helmet trained towards the anxious green eyes.

"He wishes to talk to Cal Kestis."

Cal could feel a shifting apprehension collapse upon him, he could scarcely breathe through the wavering anxiety as it manifested through his stuttering thoughts.

"Alright. I'll see you later, Ani."

And without another glance, he smoothed his expression into an emotionless façade, following the clone and trying to even out his caving thoughts.

.

.

.

"Ah. Jedi Knight, come in, please."

"Chancellor." Cal greeted, reinforcing his barriers as he gradually took the seat next to the dark lord; his hand inches away from his lightsaber.

"You asked for me?"

Danger. The Force was shrieking with suspense. Like the humming cacophony of a war seconds before the bloodshed .

The Force pleaded with him to be careful.

Cal couldn't successfully calm himself down, but he masked the thudding nausea as his pounding heart echoed within his ears.

"I wished to ask you, what are your thoughts on the clones?"

The clones?

Cal's tongue felt akin to lead as he shoved the answer from his lips; his eyes not once regarding the dark presence next to him.

"I believe they will bring a great victory for the senate." The Jedi's answer was polished, no hint of emotion escaping from his grasp.

"Interesting. I do hope so." Palaptine mused, his gaze focused on the torrential, suffering painting above him; not once straying from the glorious chaos.

"I do wish to see them in action. I am most intrigued at their inability to question their orders."

Cal's grip on the chair tightened, but he bit his inner lip, halting his tumbling emotions where they originated.

Keep calm. He reprimanded himself. Do not betray anything.

"They did well in the battle of Geonosis." The words were forced from his lips, flung from the cacophony beyond his calm façade.

"I am glad to hear that. Tell me Jedi, did you know that Jedi Master Tapal and his apprentice have left for Bracca."

Already? Cal's mind swarmed with confusion; he could feel the tinges of a headache pulling at the confusion.

Had he somehow changed the timeline? They weren't supposed to leave for at least a few months…

Instead of relaying any of this, Cal inclined his head, creating a fake thoughtful expression to morph upon his face.

"That is good, I have heard there is much needed work in Bracca."

Cal's alarm and panic swirled with a thick sense of dread.

Something was wrong.

A horrid nauseous, dread sinking its talons into his heart; clutching tightly and every innate thought collapsed at Palpatine's next words.

"In space, anything can happen. An engine failure, the oxygen seal leaking… even good soldiers disobeying orders. "

Cal's breath escaped him, his lungs seized at the deadly implication threatening within the Chancellor's tone.

Forest green eyes narrowed, jaw clenched in helplessness; reigning in his emotions in order to reply accordingly.

He was trying to get a rise out of him.

"That is true." Cal nodded, his lips thinning as he glanced at the desolate painting that hung; flooded with agony and screams.

"But it would be investigated if a well-known Master and apprentice suddenly died."

"Well, if it happened to be that a young boy...decided to investigate something dangerous . Something he shouldn't, then it would be terribly sad for his actions to be punished . To fade , his life forgotten, lost. Forever . "

For a minute, Cal forgot how to breathe, his hands trembling violently at the venom within the Sith's voice.

Palpatine knew . Somehow, the Chancellor knew…

Threatening to kill his younger self, who was cast into the depths of space; causing the crashing consequences that would result in his death.

Cal would cease to exist.

Cal focused on the painting, distracting himself from the tides of suffering as they fought to yank him under.

Breathe. He shakily reminded himself, forcing his sputtering breaths to even out.

"And so what would you have the young boy do instead? Stop his investigations?"

"Ah, no. Certainly not." Palaptine responded easily, a grim satisfaction ringing within himself at the shaken state of the Jedi.

It wasn't obvious, but the Jedi was worried.

Excellent.

"No, it is within a child's nature to be curious. I would remind the child that there are people watching him, that he should be careful who he considers a friend…Perhaps, the boy would allow himself to help in the very cause he is fighting against."

"Are we finished here, Chancellor?"

Palpatine's bored expression drifted to the glaring resistance of the steely green.

"Yes, I suppose we are."

Cal lifted himself from his chair, yearning to leave the Dark Lord's presence immediately.

"Remember my warning, Cal Kestis. Children should not meddle in other affairs, or they will face the consequences."

The door flung shut as the ginger shoved it closed and with a sudden start, he twisted away, scrambling through the hallways, unable to concentrate on anything.

The maze of hallways blurred through his limited vision, to the point where he fell as he collided with someone.

"Cal, be careful."

The ground came up to meet him, his blood roaring through his ears as he fought to breathe through the collapsing realisation that he was going to die.

"Cal?"

Snapping himself from his thoughts, he managed a smile, which formed more into a grimace at the concerned look of Obi-Wan.

"Are you…?"

"I'm fine, I just need some space." Cal interrupted, struggling to lift himself off the ground as vulturous, snarling words of Palpatine swarmed through his head.

He was going to die.

His knees buckled and he sagged onto the ground; his blurry vision noting the sheer concern on the Jedi-Master's face.

The older man's lips were moving and yet, he couldn't hear a word.

Obi-Wan must've realised this because within a single movement, he pulled the quivering man into an embrace.

Cal could feel the tears welling up, stinging his eyes as his heart clenched painfully within his chest and the crumbling wall tumbled down.

The hallways were empty, aside from the Master and Jedi; no one else was there to witness the heart-breaking moment as Cal succumbed to his emotions. Collapsing onto the frigid tiled floor as he clutched desperately at the warm comfort, the tears flowed freely from his eyes, blurring his vision as the anguish throttled him.

Gasped, wretched sobs hung in the air, tearing free from Cal's throat as he hunched over, Ginger hair obscuring the agony he felt as it swam within his vision.

The heart wrenching truth was that the Jedi thought himself as selfish, he should be able to deal with this himself and yet, here he was crying like a child on Obi-Wan.

"Cal, follow my voice." Obi-Wan instructed, ensuring his voice was soft and gentle.

"I'm…"

"No. You are not fine." Obi-Wan mustered, voice holding strong. "It's alright. Breathe."

Ragged breaths finally evened out, the dark threats of Palpatine leaving the younger Jedi exhausted.

"Thank you Obi-Wan." Cal croaked, wincing at the shakiness of his simple sentence.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

He knew the answer as soon as it left his lips, Cal shook his head ashamed. Hating that he had to continue to hide everything, especially when the other had done so much to help him.

"I can't ."

"Alright, but I'm taking you to the medical room, you need a checkup. Force knows, you're just as stubborn as Anakin."

"Ok." Cal replied numbly, mind whirring with spiralling thoughts, not having the strength to argue with the other.

.

.

He would never help Palpatine, never .

But if he even made one wrong move, then he would be destroyed; Palpatine had warned that he had spies watching his every move.

And he couldn't help Anakin or stop the massacre if he was dead .

Think! Think! Cal growled to himself, the depths of fear and frustration raining through into the Force.

It wasn't as if he could send Jaro Tapal a message, he didn't know who was trustworthy on the ship and Cal couldn't risk the possibility that Palpatine would find out a secret message.

He didn't know…he was so lost .

Cal yearned for his family.

He wished Cere was here to offer some wise advice, BD-1 to help cheer him up, joyful chirps to encourage him that he wasn't alone, Merrin with her straightforward, blunt jokes and Greez to cheer them all up through the darkened depths of hopelessness.

He wished he wasn't so alone .

He was going to die…

Permanently .

And he still didn't have a single idea, nor a single wisp of a plan on how to stop the clones.

"Sorry Ani." Cal mumbled to himself, shoulders drooping from the crushing weight of the world.

"It seems I won't be able to keep my promise anymore."

That wasn't the most horrifying resolution, the ground-shaking consequences that would emerge if his younger self was destroyed.

If his younger self died now, it would mean that everything Cal had painstakingly achieved beyond the war, was shattered.

Destroying the holocron, creating the path, saving Obi-Wan.

Everything he would have done would be faded, forgotten.

Non-existent.

And the effects of that could be catastrophic.

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"Here you go kid." The clone lifted the heavy bag, handing to the youngling, the excitement humming within the air at his unbridled joy.

"Thanks." Cal smiled sheepishly. "I've never been to Bracca before, I'm so excited."

"I'm sure it's going to be great." The clone responded, his eyes narrowed into slits underneath his helmet.

He had his orders…

And a good soldier always followed orders...

Muhaha, now we see the beginnings of Palpy's plan in motion :D

Thank you all so much for reading this fic!

See you again soon :)