Last time: The trio were defeated, but Older Viran performed the ultimate sacrifice.

Now: The Trio have to find their way home.

Chapter 4- Returning Home?

The three Jedi stared, looking out at the magnificent desolation outside the portal that Dracul and Viran had disappeared through. Neither could be seen on the other side, but it was apparent that whatever world lay beyond was a lifeless place, exposed to the emptiness of space, and not even Dracul would survive there. The planet that orbited, far in the distance, that was evidently habitable, was far enough away that neither could possibly reach it in time.

"Should we destroy the portal?" Oppie asked, quietly, wanting to make doubly sure.

"We should," Viran said with a nod as he held his arm that was still dislocated from his shoulder. "It's what he would want."

Sasha nodded as she wiped the tears from her face as she leaned heavily on her right leg as she was having a hard time putting weight on her left.

Oppie ignited his main saber and stepped forward. Not sure if it would work. But the saber cut through the framework like glass. As he sliced through it shattered, the image of the world beyond disappearing. And the shards simply faded out of existence, leaving only a slight shelf where the framework had stood.

"It's over," Viran said as a smirk came to his face. "He's gone. We won."

"And it's thanks to Viran," Sasha said, her head bowing. "May he be one with the Force now."

After an extended silence, Oppie spoke up. "So how do we get back home?" He pondered, a chill in his voice.

Sasha looked up at Oppie as she adjusted her weight. "Viran told me that we are to head back the way we came for like forty paces. Then it is supposed to the third portal on the left," she told them.

Oppie looked around, at the layers of catwalks and portals above and below them and in every direction. And noticing a distinct lack of reference points to orient himself in this confusing void. "Do you remember where you were when he said that?" He asked quietly. "I'm turned around in here."

"Umm," Sasha looked back up and frowned. "It was maybe two or three up from here, but I'm not one hundred percent sure. Sorry," she said as looked back at him as she rubbed at her temples again.

"It's fine." Oppie said with a smile as he started walking. "I should be the one that knows this place." He looked up, and saw an odd figure flying above them. "What is that?" He asked.

Sasha and Viran followed his gaze.

"I'm not sure," Viran said as he narrowed his eyes at it.

"It looks like an owl of some kind," Sasha mused as she stared at it.

"It's flying around that one portal, think it's a sign?" He asked as they continued, heading for a ramp that led upward.

"I think so," Sasha said as she limped along, wincing with every other step. "What little Force I can feel is telling me to follow it."

Viran shrugged and instantly regretted it. "Well what other options do we have? Let's follow the owl," he said after a groan.

They walked in silence, in shock from the moment, the defeat of Dracul, everything that was finally over. When they arrived in front of the gate, they looked through it. Overhead the owl continued making lazy circles. Beyond the portal was a scene that seemed all too familiar; the landing field of Artemis, a lazy snow storm blanketing everything in white softness. Beyond that, they could just make out the form of the Shadow Runner and Kitsu's ship.

"There was a snow storm blowing in." Oppie observed. Then he glanced at the chrono on his wrist. "And we've been here about two hours… on their side it should have been enough time for them to get home. A couple of days." He said with a grimace for the lost time.

"And what the hell is this?" Viran asked as he knelt down before the portal. He stood up holding a small pebble in his hand. "A rock?"

Oppie and Sasha both stared at it in confusion. And suddenly Oppie burst out laughing, taking the pebble from Viran's hand. The other two looked at him like he was mad. "When I was practicing the folding technique, I tried it with a pebble first, and it just disappeared." He threw the pebble up in the air and caught it again. "This pebble."

"No way!" Viran gasped.

"That's incredible, Oppie," Sasha said with a smile. "Then this truly must be the right one to go home."

"Yeah, I'm definitely taking it as a sign." Oppie said, looking up at the owl. "We ready?" He said, looking at the other two. "Kyr will be surprised we didn't need a ride from him."

Sasha and Viran shared a chuckle before nodding.

"Yeah, let's go home," Viran said, grabbing Sasha's hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

"Lead the way," Sasha said with a nod toward Oppie.

And so he did, the three of them stepping through the portal out into the landing field that was accumulating snow. Overhead the owl continued to circle, and then left. If the Jedi had continued on, past this portal, the next one they saw would have allowed them to see the cavern that had left only scant hours ago. Kyr standing there giving one last glimpse at where the portal had stood, leaving a comlink there in case the Jedi needed it when they returned, before he turned to hurry out the cave where Cien was being carefully taken out on a stretcher as quickly as possible.

The snow was a couple of centimeters thick. Their injuries protested as they walked, and they were not dressed for the inclimate cold. But they were elated. They had defeated Dracul, they had gotten back home. And most importantly, they were still alive, having faced down that monster.

As they approached the Shadow Runner, there were three sleek fighters parked in front of it. They looked like Z-95 Headhunters, but refined. Viran noticed that it looked like their wings split open, and there were blaster cannons that were mounted at the tips. It probably resembled an X shape when it was fully open. All three looked, but Viran stared in wonder at the beautiful fighters. There was a circular emblem emblazoned on them. Something that looked like a blue stylized bird, surrounded by stars.

"What in the galaxy are these…" Viran said with awe in his voice.

"He'd probably be in town drinking?" Oppie suggested.

"Let's just get inside." Sasha said, already shivering violently in the snowy cold.

They trudged through the town, through the snow. For some reason the outpost had a less downtrodden tone to it, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it. The people on the streets walked with a bit more confidence. And there were flags with the bird and stars emblem hanging here and there. They looked at each other in confusion. This was different from the Artemis they knew. The flags alone, not a symbol they recognized, nor something the Empire would tolerate on any world. What could this mean? They kept to the shadows, their distinctly Jedi attire making them targets for any Imperials that might be about.

They finally made it to the alelodge. Still elated, but cautious. And very, very cold. They came in, stamping snow off their boots. The crowd was out in force tonight, the lodge filled with boisterous patrons and the three Jedi felt distinctly uncomfortable as they drew too much attention. But it couldn't be helped.

Off in the far corner, at Kyr's familiar table, Kyr was there, with his back to the door as usual. He shared the table with Kitsu and Illara, and three pilots in orange flight suits. Their white helmets sat on the table next to them, and they looked like they were talking animatedly and laughing about some joke.

Kitsu looked up and did a double take when she saw the new entries at the door. Then she just stared at them, like she was seeing ghosts. Illara looked up and stared at them as well. Catching her reaction, Kyr's helmet rotated to look at them. All three Mandalorians stoodin evident shock, their chairs shoved back or falling over completely. The pilots they were drinking with at the table looked between the three in confusion, then looked over at the Jedi, standing very uncomfortably at the door as the entire cantina went dead silent, and everyone stared at them.

The three Jedi looked around at the crowd, and Oppie's hand instinctively moved to the sabers at his belt, not sure at all what they had walked into. Kyr strode through the lodge towards them between the crowd, Kitsu and Illara on his heels. He scooped his buy'ce off, revealing a face that was a little older, a little more weathered than they remembered as he closed the distance.

The three Jedi stared in shock.

"How long…" Sasha started to ask, but she was interrupted by Kyr scooping the three of them into a hug that almost suffocated them.

"Six years." Kyr said with a hoarse voice.

The End

The Trio and Kyr will return in Book 4.

Thanks so much for reading! Please review! And see you guys soon!