Chapter 3 Regrets and Vows

Jesse ran to the cockpit and entered to meet with ensuing chaos. Shrinking back at the sight of Obi-Wan and Anakin, he watched Grievous throw an electrified staff at the window, shattering it. Everything not held down was sucked into the vacuum of space, Grievous included.

"No you don't." Jesse muttered, snapping a breathing apparatus into place and leaping out the window after him, completely undetected by those inside.

Pushing a button on the metal bands around his wrist made spikes some out of them and his shoes as well as activating a powerful magnet and glass adhesive, allowing him to climb virtually any surface. He followed Grievous to the airlock near the escape pods.

So that's what you're up to. Jesse mentally noted and quickly climbed into a pod as Grievous launched one after another until all but one were gone. Then he boarded the last one and launched it.

Jesse watched him go and began to set course to follow, but something made him pause and look towards Coruscant.

Good grief, it's been three years.

Still, he couldn't leave without a proper goodbye. Not this time. Sighing, he turned his pod to the glowing planet behind him.

Back at the Temple, Kimmy flopped onto her couch not bothering to turn on the light as the events of the day overtook her, leaving her mentally, physically, and emotionally drained.

Without warning a light flicked on. Kimmy bolted upright.

"Jesse!" she jumped up. "What…"

"Shh." Jesse put a finger to his lips.

Kimmy crossed her arms. "Why?"

"Because. I'm not here to visit."

"Then why? And how did you get in?"

"After leaving the Jedi I devoted a great deal of energy and time to the art of lock picking and computer hacking." Jesse said.

"So why are you here?"

"I came to say goodbye."

"Well at least you had the guts to do it in person this time." Kimmy hated herself for saying it, but this was all getting to be too much.

"Kimmy, this isn't easy." Jesse pleaded.

Kimmy wrapped her arms around him, wishing she could stay with him forever. Or that he would stay. "I know." She whispered.

Jesse pulled away. "And I wanted to return this to you." He held out his lightsaber.

Kimmy shook her head. "You keep it."

"I gave up the right to carry it a long time ago."

"Maybe. But you're still using the Force, aren't you? Otherwise I would have sensed you when I came in."

Jesse hesitated. She had a point. He clipped it back to his belt.

"Jesse, why don't you stay a while?" she didn't want him to leave again, especially with Grievous' threats hanging over his head.

"You know I can't."

"No, I don't. At least see Master Windu." She persisted.

"Kimmy, I can't."

"Why not?"

Jesse looked away for a minute before meeting her deep blue eyes. "I guess I understand him better now." He said softly.

"Who?"

"Sifo Dias. He said he'd gone to far to come back. I have too."

"But Jesse…"

"I have something for you." Jesse held out a cylinder. "Seeing as how you won't take mine back, I have a replacement. I wouldn't want you to be off balance now that one side's lighter than the other."

Kimmy didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of Shaak Ti's lightsaber. She fingered it almost sacredly.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." He kissed her gently on the forehead and exited through the window.

Kimmy closed her eyes and ran her hands over the cool metal with bittersweet memories, both of the one who had borne it and the one who had given it to her.

Jesse knew where Grievous had been heading- back to the separist council on Utapua. So that's where he was headed. He felt the cool metal of the lightsaber once more. It gave him access to an inner strength he had long forgotten about, one that he could find good use for if he was ever to annihilate Grievous.

Leaning back in his seat once he was in hyperspace, Jesse closed his eyes and remembered. It was something he generally avoided doing since it usually led to counting all his regrets. Now however, after seeing Kimmy the memories came back in a flood, but he could only think of one regret- he wished he had kissed her just once. Now he would probably never get the chance.

Aww, how sweet. You guys are lucky, two chapters in one day. Review, review, review!