Chapter One: Separate…but Together

I pushed myself away from the wall as I noticed that quite a few strangers were looking at me oddly. Right. I've got to find a way back to Lothal and the others. Question is how? Maybe… no that wouldn't work. I glanced to the left, to see a group of bucketheads walking towards me. Realizing that getting caught was most definitely not a good idea, I slipped into the crowded streets.

Glancing around the area that I was in, I was able to discern that I was in the wealthier district for this planet. In other words…my worn jumpsuit and what looked like a blaster by my side stuck out too much. I need to find the poorer districts, where criminals most likely hangout and little law control happened. Moving briskly, I looped over to where it looked like a family of tourists was hovering together. Bumping into the one with the datapad in his hand, I made him dropped it. Bending down, I carefully picked it up, holding it out to him. "Sorry about that. Didn't see you there."

"No problem sonny! Hope you have a nice day!" I considered gagging at the buttery niceness he was slathering up, but decided that would be rude. Besides that… a map of the planet is a nice deal when I have no idea where I am at.

Moving away from them, I pulled out the datapad that I just swiped from them. Turning it on, I wasn't surprised to find a map of the planet already pulled up. Scanning it, I grimaced upon realizing how this planet was set up. Apparently it had to be human made or something since, well, it was built in layers. The further down you went, the poorer the districts… the further up you went the richer the districts. By the looks of things, I was in the district right before the richest of the districts. No problem. I'll just go lay low for a bit while trying to be patient for my new family to rescue me.

Shoving the stolen datapad into my pocket, I ran to the nearest train station. At least I know how to not draw attention to myself…

~Surprise! Someone else's POV~

I groaned as I forced my eyes opened. I was lying on my back on what appeared to be a roof to a rather tall building. The problem is…last I checked I was in one of Lothal's many alleyways, trying my best not to pass out after taking a pretty big hit from some bucketheads. Pushing myself up into a sitting position, I glanced around trying to discern where exactly on Lothal I was.

I didn't need a mirror to know that all color just drained from my face as I recognized the planet I was on. Mandalore. How did I end up here!? My fingers twitched as I grabbed one of the many the blasters strapped to my side. Reaching my free hand up, I pressed a small button in the side of my helmet to activate my comm. "Guys? Are you there? I'm on Mandalore. Can you come pick me up? Guys?" Static filled my ear, even as a mechanical voice spoke up. "Sorry…the line you are using does not exist. Please try another one."

Doesn't exist? That…makes no sense what so ever. My new family would never change the line without telling me! My legs shook as I pushed myself up into a standing position. I've got to find a way back to Lothal.

"Put your hands in the air!" A commanding deep male voice barked behind me.

I raised my hands slowly, trying to recall the most recent trick Kanan had taught me. "Ok…ok… just quick question…are you wearing a jetpack?"

I turned around to look at the idiot. He was wearing the old Mandalore armor that was used during the Clone Wars to tell the ones that worked for the Duchess apart from Death Watch. His features were pinched in confusion, as was his two companions. "What kind of question is that?"

"Oh nothing… just giving you a flying lesson." I thrusted my hands forward, the Force surging out of me and throwing the three men across the roof.

Yelps escaped them as they tried, and comically failed at, to stop themselves from slamming into the tall smoke stack that was behind them. Dropping my hands to my side, I turned and bolted to the edge of the roof, gathering speed as I went. Gathering the Force to me, I leaped, pushing out with the Force to give me more lift. Slamming into the roof of the next building, I gasped as pain erupted from my side. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, I lifted a hand up, pressing it against my side where my armor was compromised.

My eyes watered as I stood back up, my beat up body screaming in protest at the movement. Something was going on here…I just don't know what yet. Limping, I headed to the roof access door on the opposite side of the roof. I probably should work on getting back down…

~Back to Ezra's POV! ~

Wow…this place was worst than Lothal after a storm! I thought quietly to myself as I skittered around a smelly puddle that I honestly had no desire to know what it was. Wrinkling my nose, I located a small, dark, quiet, alleyway to duck in for the night. Once I was in there, and out of sight, I began to pace rapidly, my mind moving a million miles an hour. This was way bad… I was on a planet that I've never been to before…and it was crawling with bucketheads! There's got to be something I ca…

"Help! Help!" A young, very frightened voice called out, panic flooding it.

I spun around, eyes narrowing dangerously. I really didn't like the sound of that… stepping out of my new hideout; I glanced around, trying to locate the cries for help. Only they were already gone and I couldn't hear anything. Concerned, experience told me that doesn't always mean that they no longer needed help…the reverse really, I opened up to the Force, trusting that it'll lead me to whoever it was.

Breaking at a sprint, I ran down the street as if I had a meeting that I was late to…

…..

I curled my fingers into a tight fist, before quickly relaxing. The Force had led me straight to a small boy about my age that was curled on his side as much larger thugs beat him up. The boy was sniffling loudly as he sobbed against the pain. And if there was one thing that I was great at before joining my new family…it was teaching bullies lessons.

"Hey! You there! Get away from him! Are you nuts?!" I yelled as I waved my arms wildly, running up to them, a look of pure panic on my face.

One of the thugs, a real ugly one by the looks of things, turned to face me. "What are ya talking about kid? The brat was sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

"Don't you see those dark purple spots on him?" I pointed to the large, painful looking, bruises that were covering the boy's face…and I suspected arms but he had long sleeves on so I couldn't tell.

"Yeah…what about them?" The thugs laughed, probably cause they knew that those were bruises that they gave the kid.

I waved crossed my fingers in hopes that I wouldn't have to use the Force on these thugs, as I answered his question. "Those spots are the third stage of Imaidiot Disease! It is extremely deadly and contagious! You really should leave the poor, dying boy alone."

"Imaidiot Disease!? That sounds horrible! I don't want it! Come on guys… there's got to be someone else that we can mess with." The thugs fled, horrified.

I turned to face the boy, holding my hand out for him to take. "You ok there?"

"I'm a idiot? Seriously?" The boy arched his eyebrows up at me as he raised his head to lock eyes with mine.

My heart nearly skipped a beat when a pair of familiar teal eyes, though dulled with pain from the beating, peered curiously into my own blue ones. "…Kanan…"

"Um…no its Caleb actually." Caleb stood up shakily, his brown robes that he was wearing swaying with the movement.

"Oh…you just look like someone I know. Sorry." I scratched the back of my head, taking a step back nervously. "You best get home though. I'm presuming that your parents have stuff on hand to deal with bruises and bloody lips." I gestured to his face, suddenly feeling extremely awkward. He didn't look too good but I couldn't risk being caught with him. Not with bucketheads on the loose.

"Actually I don't have parents per se…" Caleb gave me a funny look, gesturing to the boring looking robes he was wearing.

Oh…did this planet force all of their orphans to wear brown robes for some reason? "Oh…I'm sorry… Do you want to spend the night with me then? Just till we find an orphan friendly place for you stay at." I shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to make sure that bucketheads weren't headed this way.

"I'm not an orphan. I'm a Jedi." Caleb puffed up his chest as if that was the best thing to be at the moment. A frown suddenly crossed his features as he suddenly deflated. "Well…Jedi in training."

I glanced around frantically, while questioning his sanity. You did not go announcing that you're a Jedi in the middle of the Empire! I felt my blood go cold as I spotted several bucketheads heading straight for us. "We've got to go… Now!" I started to run, snagging his hand with mine.

A/N: Done! Any guesses on who the other person that is clearly from the present/future? Ok you know what I mean… here's a hint: this will be headcanon mixed with canon stuff here! And yes, it is a member of the Ghost Crew!

Sisters dearest, you are not allowed to guess…for obvious reasons. And yes, Ezra, and his fellow specter, don't know that they're in the past yet. Gotta love mysteries. And I just introduced Caleb Dume to his future Padawan! HA-HA! And Ezra made a few thugs look like real idiots. That pun did make sense…right? Cause they were falling for it in the first place? I figured that Caleb would know that he isn't sick and dying and would repeat in his head till he got it.

Review!

SkyTalon