The Shadow Chaser dropped out of hyperspace around Dathomir. Kiara piloted the ship toward the uninhabited continent where she knew the temple was at. From experience, she maintained the cloak as she flew the ship as close to the temple as possible. Once the landing procedures were completed, she prepared to leave the cockpit to head toward the common area where the men were waiting. When she stood and turned, however, she saw where she had a transmission coming in on frequency zero. She pressed a button quickly to call for Kallus.

"Alex, we have a transmission coming in."

Kiara then went ahead and pulled up the transmission where she saw an image of the long-lost member of the Ghost crew. He was looking at her through subspace and was clearly surprised to see her.

"It's you! How did you get here?"

"The same way you did. The purrgil." Kiara smiled at the younger man as she sensed that Alex was joining her in the cockpit. "We've been looking for you ever since you disappeared. But at least now, we know why we couldn't find you anywhere."

Ezra saw Kallus come into view and had to ask, "Wait, did everyone come?"

"Unfortunately, no. The purrgil only pulled the Shadow Chaser here, not the Ghost," Kallus shook his head. "And I'm afraid you've missed quite a lot."

Ezra looked down as he spoke, "I can only imagine. So, how long have I been missing? You know, there?"

"Close to two years," Kallus told him and watched as the young Jedi took in the information. "And you? How long have you been here? Is Thrawn here?"

"Less than a year. When the purrgil dropped out of hyperspace in the middle of nowhere I was able to get to an escape pod and got away from the Star Destroyer. When my pod was away, the purrgil crushed the remaining ships. And my pod was the only one that they allowed to survive and reach Lothal. So, no. Thrawn isn't here. He's dead just like the rest of the Imperials who were onboard. My pod was then brought back to Lothal."

"We'll fly there to get you as soon as we can. When we get there, I'll fill you in on everything. Both regarding what has happened in our time and what is being changed in this one."

"Changed?" Ezra cocked his head but held any further questions. "When can I expect you?"

Kiara spoke up this time. "We are about three day's travel from you. I'll send Alex to get you while I remain here."

"I'm not sure that splitting up is a good idea," Kallus stated as he looked over at her.

"I'll spend at least a week in the temple, and you won't have anything to do but stay here on the ship with Rex anyway. Instead, you can use that time to get Ezra. And there is no place safer from the Sith than inside the temple. There are multiple layers of security to prevent someone like them from getting inside."

"Rex?" Ezra smiled at the mention of the old clone.

Kallus snickered because he knew that the young man wasn't going to believe that they'd already located the current version of the man. "Alright. Expect me in about three days. Where on the planet will you be?"

"I've been staying near Capital City. Just a little to the north. A small town about a hundred kilometers away from it."

"Alright. I don't recall a spaceport in that area so I'll land as close to the town as I can." Kallus didn't like the idea of leaving Kiara and Skywalker on the planet without a ride, but he also didn't care for staying on the ship with nothing to do but to wait around, either.

"I'll be waiting. In the meantime, I have a few things to take care of. Especially if I'll be leaving Lothal." With that, Ezra ended the transmission.

"Looks like you've got a mission for while Skywalker and I are in the temple." Kiara turned to head toward the common room where she'd left the other men. She paused at her cabin on the way to grab her knapsack that she'd packed for her time in the temple. She'd intended to spend more time there both before and after going into the Infinity Gate that led to the Gateway of Knowledge of the Kwa. The Jedi had agreed so they were prepared with the supplies needed for an extended stay, already.

"I still don't like the idea of you being on this planet without a way to get off if you need it."

"I know but finding Ezra and being able to bring him back is a great opportunity. I don't know what will happen with us or if we'll be able to go back to our time, but we can at least all be together." Kiara and Alexsandr made it to the common room, and they were greeted by the other men waiting for them.

Anakin waited for the woman and gave a look as he asked, "Everything alright?"

Kiara nodded. "Someone that we've been looking for was brought to this time. The young Jedi that we told you about. He was able to reach out to us. Now we know where he is at. While we are studying at the temple and interacting with the spirits of the Kwa, Alex will be taking the Shadow Chaser to Lothal to retrieve him."

Anakin turned to Rex and said, "Then it looks like you are going to Lothal." When the man looked as if he planned to object, he added, "That way we'll be able to tell the council that our friends here had an escort at all times."

Rex heaved a sigh but nodded. He didn't like leaving his general on this planet without him, but he couldn't refuse the order, even when it was given as more of a suggestion. "Alright, Sir. But I suggest that we don't take off until we know that the two of you are actually in the temple."

Skywalker nodded. "Agreed. Tac can use the ship's systems to monitor our progress and we'll have our comm devices on."

Kiara waited by the loading ramp and added, "It will take just under an hour from here to get to the temple. I landed closer than I did the last time. Keep the cloak on just to make sure until after you leave the system. And good luck with finding Ezra."

"Be careful," Kallus said as he watched the loading ramp lower with her on it. Skywalker nodded as Kiara winked her affirmative. Once they were both out of the ship the ramp was raised once more and the two men remaining on the ship headed toward the cockpit where they would watch the progress of the other two on the computer scans.

Kiara took the lead as she led Skywalker toward the ancient temple. Things looked similar to what she remembered from her time, but twenty years did create some difference in the way the brush looked as they made their trek. One thing that was handy, however, was that she didn't have to use her vibro-blade to cut through the vegetation since the Jedi had his lightsaber that could cut through it all with ease. It made the trek to the temple faster because of it as well.

"As we get closer, we'll need to be careful. The temple is guarded by wuffa worms. They are massive worm-like creatures that have large teeth."

Anakin exchanged a look with Kiara as she warned him. "How close to the temple will we come across them?"

"Could be at any time. Blasters don't really affect them much, though."

"Well luckily, I don't go anywhere without my lightsaber. So-" He was interrupted by a rumble from beneath the ground. It undulated like a wave in the ocean before a huge creature burst through the ground and loomed over him and Kiara. He raised his lightsaber prepared to strike it when another wuffa worm came up from behind them. "I see what you mean, now."

Kiara left the first one for the Jedi as she focused on the second and used the force to pick it up and sent it flying back toward the trees. She didn't want to kill both of the guardians since they would help to prevent other people from following them into the temple if anyone tried. After all, without a ship to leave on for the next week, having the worms to guard the entrance would be helpful.

"Don't kill them. We need their protection in case the inhabitants of this planet or the Sith sense our presence here."

Anakin gave her an incredulous look but nodded anyway. Yes, they could be helpful later on. Especially since they knew about them, but others may not. "Fine, I'll try. But I won't make any promises."

He lifted the worm with the force much like Kiara had but he held it in place until it stopped moving. He only withheld its air long enough to cause it to pass out.

"Let's get to the temple before they wake up." Anakin nodded as he put his lightsaber back onto his belt.

"It's just through here. Only about another quarter of an hour. I brought us this way since the door to the temple is on this side of it. So, we won't have to go around the entire thing looking for it."

The two made the last bit of the trek in comfortable silence while dispatching three more wuffa worms before they reached the temple. Kiara headed to the area where she knew that the doorway was hidden. When she came across the vine-laden door she motioned for the Jedi to start hacking the vines away and once that was done, she put a hand to the stone and tried to find the way to open the door. When she felt a stone wiggle ever so slightly under her hand she pressed it with more force, triggering the door to move in response.

Anakin used his lightsaber as a torch in the darkened entrance. "Alright, now what?" Behind him he saw the door closing them inside.

"This way." Kiara stepped in front of the Jedi and took in the sight of the interior of the temple by the blue light that the saber was giving off. The pair walked for several moments before a familiar voice could be heard by Kiara.

"Welcome. It has been a long time since anyone has come to seek our wisdom. Tell us, what is it that you seek?" The disembodied voice sounded as if it was all around them. After a pause, the voice added, "One of you seems familiar. However, this is not your time. You were not to find us yet."

"I know. I have somehow found my way to the past. But I came to seek more of your wisdom as well as I have brought a friend. He wishes to learn from you about how to bring balance to his life and his view of the force."

A cool breeze made its way around the pair and Kiara gave a reassuring smile to Anakin to let him know that it was to be expected. He nodded and tried not to go on high alert.

"You have been hurt greatly over the years, my child. The Jedi have expected much from you. You are the Chosen One but not in the way that they expect. But your pain keeps you from your destiny."

Anakin's brow went up in surprise. "What do you know of it?"

"Your hurt is never far from your thoughts. Your loss. Your fear of more loss. It causes you to be unbalanced. But knowledge can help bring you peace. Bring you balance. The Sith have sought you out and have been manipulating you for years. Causing you to feel betrayal. He has sparked fear in you. Haunted your dreams."

Anakin thought of his nightmares, his visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. "How do you know that the dreams are from the Sith? How did you even know about them in the first place?"

"Here, in this temple, much can be seen. And you have a dark shadow that follows you. Trying to encompass you. Without finding your balance, the Sith will gain you as an ally."

He looked around in the empty temple and shouted in anger. "I'll never join the Sith."

Kiara stepped back since she felt as if she was intruding on this conversation between the Jedi and Kwa.

"You would never while not influenced by the Sith. You are kind and loving of those who are close to you, to a fault. But the Sith are quick to expose and use a weakness."

Anakin let out a breath. He thought back to his dreams after his encounter with the Mortis gods. He saw images that he wanted to forget. For a while he had but they slowly returned to him in bits and pieces. He saw that with the son's influence he became someone that he wouldn't have wanted.

"So how can I become stronger so that the Sith can't expose such weakness?" Anakin looked downward and was lost in thought before he heard the response to his query.

"You are too unbalanced for the Infinity Gate to enter into the Gateway of Knowledge. But if you are willing, we will help you. But you must trust us."

Kiara saw the man to her side glance toward her and gave him a nod. "This is what you came here for. The spirits are willing to help you commune with the Wills of the Force."

Anakin let out a shaky breath. Sometimes getting what you were searching for can be intimidating. "Alright. What do I need to do?"

The disembodied voice softly answered, "Take the corridor directly in front of you. There, you will be able to heal. Because without healing, you will not be able to find the balance that you seek. The peace."

"And while I'm here? Where will I be allowed to go?" Kiara asked since she didn't see the corridor that she'd taken before to be tested before being allowed to head toward the Infinity Gate which led to the Gateway of Knowledge.

There was a pause while another light breeze surrounded her. "You have grown much since your last visit to our sanctum. You will be tested for your intentions then you will be allowed to continue your lessons." As the voice of the spirits spoke a corridor to the right was revealed that she hadn't seen earlier when the spirits had been speaking to Anakin.

Kiara took out her light from her pack and looked down the corridor before she turned to Anakin. "Trust them. And I'll meet you back here in a week; when you are ready."

If someone asked, he didn't know if he'd be able to explain why he trusted both this stranger whom he'd only known for just over a week as well as this ghostly voice of the long-dead Kwa. But his heart felt more at peace in this temple than he had felt since he was a small boy. He gave the woman a smile as he nodded before turning toward the corridor that the voice had indicated. The two then went their separate ways and put their fates in the hands of the temple guardians.

Palpatine sat in meditation and briefly felt another disturbance in the force. It only lasted for less than an hour, but he'd felt it. Whatever had caused it couldn't be good for his plans regarding eliminating the Jedi. He'd sensed different disturbances over the years. One last year he'd still yet to be able to narrow down what had happened. Still, it had been so far out in the Outer Rim, and it had never moved closer that he had determined that it wasn't of any great threat. Even if his assassins and acolytes had yet to locate the source of that disturbance.

As the time drew closer to implementing his plan regarding the destruction of the Jedi Order, he knew he needed to tighten his hold on Skywalker. He would play a significant role in his plot. He stood and called for his guards as well as his transport. He had sent word that he planned to visit the Jedi temple today.

He walked with regal grace toward where his Red Guards were waiting for him at the entrance of his office. They flanked him and went with him along with a few of his advisors as he made his way to the landing pad at the temple. There he spotted several Jedi who were there to greet him. Among them, Mace Windu, who took the lead when addressing him.

"Chancellor, to what do we owe this honor?" Mace gave a reverent bow while eyeing Obi-wan. This was the Sith that they'd been searching for since the Clone Wars began. He couldn't believe that he'd been so close this entire time, but they'd never noticed it.

Palpatine gave a sickeningly pleasant smile as he greeted the Jedi. He confidently walked past the Jedi who had gathered there to greet him.

"I am here for a favor. I'd like to borrow Master Skywalker."