Chapter XXII
When the crew returned to the ruined shop, Bao was surprised to find that it was deserted; both Kali'sto and Orra Jen had vanished.
"Where is he?" Niner asked.
"He can't be far," Riko noted, "He has friends in every starport. Maybe he's visiting someone here."
"Perhaps this is another test," Bao speculated, "Let's look around for clues…"
"Greetings!" Kali'sto said cheerfully. Bao turned to see him walking towards the shop, his free hand resting on his shoulder bag.
"Orra Jen had to check on the ship," the old wanderer explained, "There's a merchant here who had just returned from Vorzyd. I haven't had Irrk spice in thirty years, I couldn't resist."
"You like that stuff?" Val asked.
"Clearly you've never tried it on nuna eggs," Kali'sto noted, "How was your trip?"
"Well," Riko began, "I found some parts for my saber…"
Bao maintained a calm silence as Riko recounted the last hour and a half. After his student finished, he finally spoke.
"We are ready, Kali'sto," he declared.
Kali'sto's smile faded. A second later, he said, "Let us begin."
"I'll go check on the Nomad," Val declared, "Droid, you want to come with me?"
Niner turned to Riko, "Can I do anything to help?"
Riko silently wondered if he should go with them. Hours had passed, Jade had likely woken up by now.
"Tell Jade to meet us back here," Riko requested, "Okay?"
Val nodded. Riko moved to his knees to look Niner in his photoreceptors.
"I don't think you can do much here, Niner," Riko said, "But I have an important mission for you."
"Yes?" Niner asked eagerly, his photoreceptors lighting up.
"Check on Jade," Riko instructed, "Really make sure she's okay. Let her know that I'm sorry, and that I want to talk to her when she wants to talk to me. Got it?"
"Yep," Niner replied. Riko hugged the little droid, saying, "I'll see you soon, little brother."
As Val and Niner departed, Riko moved to his feet to meet his master and father. He couldn't help but notice Kali'sto smiling.
"What is it, Dad?" Riko asked.
"You always struggled to make friends," Kali'sto commented, "I'm happy you have such a big heart."
"Thanks," Riko replied, "I just want to make sure Jade's okay."
"Do you want to check on her yourself?" Kali'sto asked, "We could postpone this lesson…"
"We're still being tracked," Bao advised, "I don't know how much longer we'll be able to stay here before the Shadows find us. We should take advantage of this opportunity while we have it."
"Okay," Riko replied, trying to focus his attention on the lesson.
Maybe it's for the best, he told himself. Perhaps Jade would be more receptive to someone else.
The thought only slightly alleviated his feelings of guilt.
"Does the ability known as 'Psychometry' factor into our lesson?" Bao asked.
"Yes," Kali'sto responded, "I think there is no better way to explain what I know of Tau's journey than to show you directly."
"How did you learn this?" Riko asked, "And how are you going to teach us?"
"Who taught you?" Bao added.
"I had no teacher," Kali'sto explained, "It took me many years to learn on my own, but I eventually found my way."
His demeanor became more concerned as he added, "I must warn you: this will be an intense experience for the both of you."
"We can handle it, Dad," Riko assured him.
"I am ready to begin," Bao replied.
Knowing that the last hour had been some form of preparation, Bao took a deep breath and relaxed himself in the same manner he always did before a sparring session with Tau. He and Riko were once again students, ready for instruction.
"Reach out," Kali'sto instructed, "Feel the Force around you."
Following his instructions, Bao closed his eyes and reached out. Every time he used the Force, he felt as if he was descending into a flowing stream. Beside him, he sensed Riko wading in, a faint hint of his former hesitence emerging.
However, Kali'sto's presence had a soothing effect on the young padawan, easing the journey for him.
"It all begins with life," Kali'sto explained, "Life creates the Force, and it in turn forms the threads of the universe."
Around the trio, Bao sensed the inhabitants of the station going about their business. He closed his eyes and saw ripples and eddies in an ocean of energy, a lively, vibrant dance with innumerable participants.
"The Force is shaped by everything we do," Kali'sto continued, "Every laugh, every word, every handshake, every kiss, every time you see someone order a drink, or read a manual. Every action, reaction, everything we do is a ripple in the currents of the Force. These ripples survive as echoes.
However," he explained, "The Force is filled with sounds and noises. Life is busy, and these echoes are lost in a sea of white noise.
Imagine yourself as a cave," he finished, "In a cave, the sounds are fewer, and even the smallest nudge can echo off the walls. It is much easier to hear these echoes."
In the physical world, Bao placed his hand on one of the abandoned shelves, stilling himself and clearing his mind. He ignored the world around him, focusing only on himself and the shelf, keeping his mind clear as he listened for its echoes…
He felt a hand brush up against the shelf, grabbing a small container of Irrk spice. That hand belonged to a young, weary man. Tau Skywalker.
He was a pilgrim: he had traveled the galaxy, seeking a vision, a revelation, the answers to a question he had held all his life.
Eventually, reality interrupted his quest. His ship – his father's old transport, the Mynock – needed to be refueled. And Tau himself had run out of rations, having not eaten in almost a day.
Suddenly, Tau felt something. A disturbance in the Force. His hand brushed up against his lightsaber, concealed in the folds of his cloak.
It was late, 1932 in Galactic Standard Time. The only other beings in the store were Tau, the shopkeeper, and a tall old man in a jacket with a staff.
Tau looked towards the old man as he stood at the counter. He was friendly, but seemed...alert. Something in the store had offset him slightly.
When the wanderer finished paying, he left out the door. Tau noted a slight limp, the old man was using his staff to support his gait.
"Excuse me?" Tau asked, hurrying after the old man. Ignoring the shopkeeper's protests that he hadn't paid for the items he had taken, the young Jedi followed after the old man as he walked through dilapidated shopping centers and walkways. Eventually, the old man disappeared in the station's throng.
Yet, Tau didn't relent. He stayed in the promenade for hours, asking about the old man. Several of the shopkeepers and merchants were well acquainted with the wanderer, describing him as a friendly old man and revealing his name to be Kali'sto.
It was an hour past midnight, as Tau was on the refueling deck, planning to spend the night on his ship, that he found the old man again.
He followed Kali'sto to a small, grimy cantina that reeked of decomposing oil and stale alcohol. Moving through the shady denizens, Tau found his quarry at a table drinking a glass of water. Ordering the same drink himself, he nervously approached the table.
"May I join you?" Tau asked.
His expression slightly stern, Kali'sto spoke in a warm, creaky voice, "Very well."
Barely containing his excitement, Tau sat down next to him.
"You are persistent, Tau Skywalker," Kali'sto noted.
"You know my name?" Tau asked.
"Yes, I know who you are," Kali'sto replied, "Even out here, your family name is a very familiar one."
"Yes," Tau's expression shifted, his excitement giving way to reveal that he bore a heavy weight, "But, who are you?"
"I'm a traveler," Kali'sto replied, "I have wandered the galaxy for many years."
"Clearly you must have acquired great wisdom out here," Tau replied, "I almost wouldn't have recognized you for who you were."
"And what do you think I am?"
"A Jedi Master, of course," Tau smiled, "I've been looking for someone like you."
Kali'sto's expression grew stern for a moment before he said, "If you'll excuse me Tau, I must leave."
"Wait!" Tau declared, panicking, "I'm sorry. Please don't leave."
He sounded almost desperate. Kali'sto returned to his seat.
"Why are you out here, Tau Skywalker?" Kali'sto asked, "It's always a great occasion to the Jedi when a Skywalker is born. I follow the holonet, I know about your training under Shado Vao. So what are you doing alone, out here? Has Master K'Kruhk sent you here? Am I interrupting an important mission?" He raised his eyebrow.
"No," Tau replied, "I'm here on my own. I've been traveling."
"Clearly you have been away for some time," Kali'sto noted, "What is your story?"
Tau sighed, clearly reluctant to answer.
"How about I tell you my story if you tell me yours?" Tau proposed, "I won't tell the Jedi about you, if that's what you're concerned about."
A moment of silence ensued as Kali'sto appeared to contemplate Tau's proposal, apparently hesitant to agree.
"No thank you," Kali'sto apologized, "I do not wish to reveal my secrets to a stranger."
Tau curled his hand into a fist before calming himself.
"Please, Tau," Kali'sto asked, "What's wrong? Why are you out here?"
Tau's head slumped, supported by his arms as he looked into the ice-filled water in his glass.
"My father is dead," Tau explained, "He died a year ago, just after I became a Knight. He was on Rhen Var, on a mission to track down some smugglers. Only his lightsaber and clothes were recovered, we never found his body, it's like it just…vanished."
Initially, Kali'sto said nothing in response. Then, he placed a hand on Tau's shoulder.
"I never knew my parents," Kali'sto replied, "But I lost the love of my life, many years ago. The pain never fully goes away, but it becomes easier to bear with time."
"Thank you," Tau replied, before adding, "Dad always told me that I would have an important destiny, that I inherited a great responsibility. He told me that one day, I might even lead the Order, like my ancestors did. Master K'Kruhk always said the same thing to me when I was a Padawan, as did Master Vao.
I've always wondered what that meant," he added, "What my destiny is. What I'm supposed to do. I thought, maybe, if I studied the Force, traveled the galaxy, maybe I'd understand. I embarked on a journey all by myself. I went to Tython, Yavin Four, Ossus, Illum, Dagobah, Ziost, even Korriban and Dromund Kaas.
But," he finished, "I found nothing. I'm still lost."
Tau said nothing more. Kali'sto silently took in Tau's words.
"Come with me," Kali'sto requested.
"Yes," Tau replied eagerly, before he asked, "Where are we going?"
"The corner shop," Kali'sto explained, "You have to pay Jaren for those groceries…"
The vision faded, Bao and Riko returning to the present. Bao noticed that a tear was dripping down his scaled face.
"What happened?" Riko asked, "Why did it stop?"
"I'm not sure," Kali'sto replied, "Once you've connected with an echo from the past, you should be able to stay focused on its energy." Bao sensed no dishonesty from the old wanderer as he ruminated, "Maybe it is because this is your first attempt. It took a great deal of trial and error to refine the technique for myself."
"That makes sense," Riko agreed.
"You'll need another object to find the echo again. Try my staff," Kali'sto suggested, holding it outward, "I always carry it with me."
"Give us a moment," Bao requested. He was overwhelmed, he needed to compose himself.
"Are you okay, Bao?" Riko asked.
"I am alright, Padawan," Bao replied, "It's…"
"What is it?" Riko asked.
"He never told me that," Bao explained, "I had no idea that was how Tau felt about himself."
Throughout his life, one distinct moment defined Tau Skywalker in Bao's eye: the day they had first met.
Holonet reporters had labeled the event as the Strike on N'uaris Avenue, where a cell of local terrorists called the Red Cowl had attacked a major highway in the city where Bao had grown up. Though his memory of the event was chaotic, he distinctly remembered the fear and terror he had felt after the explosives had detonated, sending his family's speeder flying...with Bao – the only remaining hatchling – as the only survivor. He remembered running, going against his natural instincts as a predator. The fear and the panic all around him was too overwhelming. The fear when one of the terrorists caught him, grabbing his collar and hoisting him into the air. Biting his assailant's arm and fleeing. The terrorist chased him, only for him to suddenly fly back through the air. Bao curled behind an overturned speeder bike, waiting for it all to end.
Then the Jedi Knight had come. His green lightsaber had ignited, startling the terrorists and filling the civilians with hope. Filled with fear, the members of the Cowl fired, the Jedi heroically batting their bolts aside as he defended the civilians, defeating the murderers one by one.
The people around had cheered. The young Bao lowered his arms, surprised to see the triumphant hero ignore the crowd and walk towards him.
He lowered himself to his knees to look the young Bao in the eye. It couldn't have been more than a year or two after Tau's encounter with Kali'sto, the only difference between the confused pilgrim on Malor Kel and the Jedi Knight that walked towards him then was an air of confidence and assurance. This man was the hero the Jedi Order had told him he would become.
"Are you alright?" the Jedi Knight had asked.
Bao had nodded.
"Where are your parents?"
The young Trandoshan's silence told his rescuer everything.
"I'm Tau," he introduced himself, "What's your name?"
"Bao," he had said, "Bao Sklar-Pierce."
Tau had smiled and extended his hand, "Come, Bao. I think I can help you."
That heroic image that Bao had always seen in his former friend seemed so...different now. In some twisted way, the Order's expectations for him had come true. He wished he could warn the naive young man he had just seen what was coming.
"I'm ready to continue," Bao declared, "If my padawan is."
Tau had spent three days on Malor Kel, eager to learn more about his new acquaintance.
A routine of sorts had formed. Every day, he found Kali'sto at that same corner shop. They spent the day doing...various things. Kali'sto toured Tau through the station, introducing him to many of the denizens. Interestingly, Kali'sto asked Tau to keep his identity as a Jedi a secret, simply introducing him as a young archeologist who had just visited many ancient temples across the galaxy. When Tau had asked why, Kali'sto simply said,
"The people here aren't trusting of Jedi."
"Why?" Tau asked.
"I'll show you," Kali'sto responded.
Many of the shopkeepers were friendly and well-intentioned, but when Tau mentioned that some of the temples he visited had belonged to the Jedi, some of them had grown sour. In one case, with a Rodian cartographer named Emeri, Tau asked,
"What's your problem with Jedi?"
Emeri had dismissed him, asking him to leave her alone. Tau had further questions, but Kali'sto advised that they follow her wish. As they departed, Kali'sto explained,
"Her mother was on Coruscant during the fall of Krayt's Empire. She was caught in the middle of a duel between a Jedi and a Sith."
"What's her problem with the Jedi, then?" Tau asked, "The Sith killed her mother."
"What's the difference?" Emeri shouted behind them.
Tau tried to keep himself calm, resisting the urge to shout back at her. Keeping his words bottled up, he decided that it wasn't worth the argument. He and Kali'sto walked away.
Eventually, they walked back to the massive hangar. As Tau was about to return to the Mynock, Kali'sto asked the young man to join him on his ship.
They made their way to a small, compact shuttle that almost looked like some kind of butterfly, with collapsed wings and a pair of forward sensor rods that resembled antennae. It was surprisingly familiar.
"This is my ship," Kali'sto explained, "I've been flying this particular vessel for almost six decades. It was a gift from my former husband Dal. He let me keep it after we separated. It's a shame that I may have to retire it soon."
"It's elegant," Tau noted, "Clearly, you have better taste than my father. What's it called?"
Kali'sto chuckled, "Dal let me name it. I called it the Candlelight. I keep some memorabilia inside, from my youth."
"Was I right?" Tau asked, changing the subject, "Were you a Jedi, once?"
Kali'sto's smile faded.
"Once," Kali'sto replied, "A long time ago. Let me show you."
Kali'sto boarded his ship, beckoning Tau to follow. Childhood memories entered Tau's mind, warnings he had been given by his father – a former pirate – not to trust friendly strangers. As he entered the shuttle, he instinctively lowered his hand to his lightsaber, as a precaution.
It was a small, but cozy ship. A large, spherical lamp activated, bathing the interior in a warm light.
"I find starflights uncomfortable," Kali'sto explained, "A biological quirk of my species. This starlamp is soothing for me."
He led Tau to a chest in the corner of the tiny crew compartment. Presuming Kali'sto wanted him to open it, Tau did so.
Inside lay a small number of items: a datapad, an old blaster covered in dust, and…
"Why do you carry old stormtrooper armor in here?" Tau asked.
"A shame that so many people can't make that distinction," Kali'sto sighed as Tau took the helmet out and examined it. Its visor was closer to that of a Mandalorian, resembling a T. It was covered in faded orange-red markings.
"A clone helmet?" Tau asked, "You fought in the Clone Wars?"
"Those were among the defining years of my life," Kali'sto explained, "I was one of many padawans who rapidly became knights after Geonosis."
The old man sighed. Unpleasant memories were clearly being brought to the forefront.
"Is that why you left the Order?" Tau asked, "The war?"
"In a way," Kali'sto replied, retrieving the datapad and handing it to his acquaintance. Tau scrolled through its contents, revealing logs and mission reports before he uncovered a holoimage of a group of soldiers clad in what looked like early stormtrooper armor. They weren't standing at attention, however, instead relaxing and sitting down around something out of focus – perhaps a campfire. Surprisingly, while many of them shared the same face, there were beings from other species, such as a Wookiee, a Mon Calamari with an electrostaff, and a young human woman in Mandalorian armor. They were all laughing and enjoying themselves.
Tau couldn't help but notice that one clone was sitting next to a young, thin man clad in Jedi robes draped over red-orange-painted clone armor. He deduced that this must have been a younger Kali'sto.
"The war taught me much about myself," Kali'sto explained, "And much about the Jedi."
"What do you mean?" Tau asked.
"It's getting late, Tau," Kali'sto suggested, "I'd be happy to meet with you again tomorrow."
"Are you certain?" Tau asked, suppressing a yawn.
"Yes," Kali'sto replied, "Clearly, you're exhausted."
"Please tell me more," Tau requested.
"Another time, perhaps," Kali'sto replied.
"Please," Tau replied, "I want to know."
"Tau," Kali'sto continued, "What do you know about the Jedi of that time?"
"Master K'Kruhk was my first mentor," Tau replied, "He told me some stories from that era."
"Such as?" Kali'sto asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Well," Tau began, "I know that the Jedi didn't allow families, and that they recruited from infants."
He paused for a moment before saying, "I know he told me more, it's on the tip of my tongue. I just can't recall it."
"I was one of those infants," Kali'sto replied, "Growing up, Yoda and the Jedi Masters of the Temple were my parents…"
"Wait," Tau interrupted, "I remember the rest. He told me that in the war, the Jedi lost touch with the Force. They stopped being peacekeepers and became soldiers. Because of this, they lost their connection to the light, which is why the Sith won."
Kali'sto grew silent as Tau finished. He seemed to contemplate the young man's words, perhaps reminiscing.
He eventually said, "I think that it started with attachments. By denying themselves family and love, they neglected an important element of themselves. It's easier to make decisions about people you never see. Seeing the consequences of those decisions for yourself is much more difficult."
"What do you mean?" Tau asked.
"When the clones were presented to us," Kali'sto recalled, "We almost unanimously agreed to lead them. We never took note of the fact that we were accepting command of an army of people raised from birth to become soldiers and nothing else. We were assigned command of a slave army, and we took them without protest...for the Republic."
"You did what you thought you had to," Tau tried to assure him, "The Republic had no army, you had no means to defend yourself."
"We could have conceded," Kali'sto remarked, "Accepted the Separatists as a legitimate nation…"
"No," Tau interrupted, "Darth Sidious controlled both sides from the start. There was no way you could have won."
"You speak of their leaders, not their people," Kali'sto argued, "Tau, the truth is, the people of the Separatists held no desire to destroy the Republic. They seceded because of its corruption, they sought to be free of it, but throughout the war, their goal was never to destroy it.
To them, we were the aggressors," regret and disgust rippled through his voice, "Neither the Republic nor the Jedi recognized the Separatists as a legitimate government, and tried to force them back."
"What could you have done?" Tau asked, "The Sith controlled everything. There was no way to win."
A moment of silence ensued as Kali'sto mused over his answer. When he finally spoke, it was quiet, mournful.
"We should have looked in the mirror. We could have denounced the war, refused to fight, stood up for the innocents trampled in our squabble. We should have reached out to negotiate peace, looked to the Force for guidance. But we didn't.
Palpatine orchestrated the war," he finished, "But the tools he needed were forged by us with our indifference."
Kali'sto looked down at the holopad in his hand, staring at the holographic soldiers as a green tear welled up in his eye.
Tau walked towards the tall old man. Reaching up, he gently placed his hand on the wanderer's shoulder.
"The war taught us much about ourselves," Tau remarked, "My ancestors made certain that it would never happen again."
"I suspect they would be disappointed, then," Kali'sto replied softly.
For almost a minute, no words were spoken. Then Tau broke the silence.
"You don't think we've changed?" Tau asked.
"The Jedi have learned from many of their faults," Kali'sto admitted, "But I worry that they've started to repeat many of their old mistakes."
"That's ridiculous," Tau replied, "We're not entangled in politics anymore, we're more interactive with the galaxy than ever. We're peacekeepers again…"
"You still have an Empress," Kali'sto noted, "She governs one-third of the known galaxy. Her position is inherited, she was raised from birth for it, and does not require the consent of her people. You do not see a problem with this?"
"Are you comparing Marasiah Fel to Palpatine?" Tau asked, "She's nothing like him. She's a just ruler to her people."
"She could abolish the monarchy," Kali'sto proposed, "Why hasn't she?
Or," he added, "Perhaps the Jedi could ask her to do so. Perhaps even demand it. Has Master K'Kruhk made any such effort?"
"It's imperial tradition," Tau insisted, "Who are we to interfere?"
"Isn't that exactly what a Jedi is supposed to do?" Kali'sto asked, "Stand up to tyrants and dictators? Or do they simply do so when it is a threat to them? Master K'Kruhk helps to govern the known galaxy now. I thought the Jedi didn't rule over others."
"Are you ignoring all the good Master K'Kruhk has done for the galaxy?" Tau asked.
"Are you ignoring the fact that Empress Fel has her own army of Jedi?" Kali'sto noted, "These…Imperial Knights?"
"The Imperial Knights serve the Force and the Empire, not the Empress!" Tau declared, "New apprentices swear an oath to kill the Empress if she ever falls to the dark side!"
"The dark side," Kali'sto repeated, disgusted, "When I was a padawan, the Jedi used that term all the time to separate themselves from the Sith. But the war forced us to do terrible things, all in the name of the Republic. What separated the light from the dark then?
It is inevitable," Kali'sto declared as Tau seethed, "The Jedi paint themselves as champions of justice, but in time, they will always ignore what is right in the name of peace. It is only a matter of time before another war comes and destroys the Jedi again…"
"NO!" Tau yelled, his scream startling the old wanderer into silence. Without saying a word, the young man stormed out of Kali'sto's chamber of memorabilia.
He returned to the Mynock, finding both solace and loneliness in its massive cargo bay. He felt exhausted, and thus returned to his quarters.
However, sleep and peace of mind evaded him, and he found himself in the cockpit, looking across the hangar at Kali'sto's shuttle. He spent the next few hours meditating and musing, his eyes constantly on Kali'sto's ship, which surprisingly remained parked.
Eventually, Tau returned. Calmer and more relaxed, he approached the wanderer, who was silent, but willing to talk.
"I'm sorry I snapped," Tau apologized.
"It's no trouble," Kali'sto assured him.
"May I come in?" Tau asked.
Kali'sto nodded. When the two of them sat down, Tau went straight to the point.
"I've been thinking this over," he began, "And the truth is, you're right. We're going to lose our way again unless someone does something.
I can do something," he continued, "I'm a Skywalker. The Jedi place all their faith in me. With your help, I can show them what'll happen. I can stop them from losing their way."
Kali'sto silently took in the young man's passionate words, contemplating how he should respond.
"What can I do to help you?" he asked.
"Teach me," Tau requested, "Teach me everything you've learned…"
The vision ended, Riko found himself back in the present. Panting, he felt paralyzed, shocked and horrified to look upon Kali'sto, his mind scrambling to make sense of what he had just seen.
Beside him, Bao was similarly rooted to the spot, but instead of looking at Kali'sto, he lowered his head to the floor.
"I understand now," Bao said softly, "I understand where it all started."
"I don't know the rest of his story," Kali'sto lamented, "I don't know what Tau saw or what changed him, or where his new ideology came from. But whatever happened to him, it made him become everything I was afraid of."
Riko had no idea what to say. He had so many questions, his mind felt like it was overloaded. He felt just like he did back on Ambria, hearing his mother's message…
"Riko," Kali'sto asked, "Are you alright, son?"
Riko couldn't offer any response.
"Everything you said about the Jedi," Bao inquired, "Do you still believe that?"
"Tau gave me hope again," Kali'sto said softly, "But he only affirmed what I said.
His voice grew cold as he declared, "This who you are, and who you always will be."
No, Riko thought. It was impossible, there was no way Kali'sto would have done what he had done if…
This didn't add up. It didn't make any sense.
"Then why are you here?" Bao asked.
"Bao, please," Kali'sto requested.
"Why are you here?" Bao asked again, a faint snarl sneaking its way into his demeanor as he approached the old wanderer…
"Please, not in front of Riko," Kali'sto begged.
"Why are you here?" Bao shouted, moving to his full height, a head shorter than the old man…
"I am here for my son!" Kali'sto answered. He glared directly into the Trandoshan's eyes as he declared, "I have come to save him…from you."
Riko felt cold, a numbness spreading through his insides as Kali'sto's words sank in. With those words, everything was flipped upside down.
Kali'sto turned towards Riko. He looked horrified, whether it was at his own outburst, his son's emotional state, or both, Riko couldn't say.
"Riko," Kali'sto whispered, "Can we please speak alone?"
The numbness started to give way a little, a slight hint of heat entering Riko as he said, "No. We're going to talk here, with Bao."
"Padawan…" Bao began.
"Please, Dad," Riko requested. Without waiting for Kali'sto's response, he grabbed his mother's lightsaber and held the hilt outward, "Why did you give me this?"
"Your mother wanted me to," Kali'sto explained, "I couldn't deny her wish."
"Why did you send me away to the Jedi?" Riko asked.
"Tau was my good friend," Kali'sto explained, "I thought he would protect you. I was wrong."
Memories of that fateful day echoed in Riko's mind. Stay safe, Kali'sto had instructed the young Riko, three years ago, Keep out of danger.
In the present, Riko was silent. This path he had dedicated himself to, this calling, everything he had built towards for the past few years, everything he had done since he had left his old home behind...it all fell away as he finally accepted the truth.
Kali'sto didn't want him to be a Jedi.
"Riko," Kali'sto consoled him, "I don't want you to face what I had to. No one should experience that kind of horror."
Riko began to hyperventilate, unable to believe what was happening.
"We're going into hiding, Riko," Kali'sto explained, "We can live our lives in peace, you, me, Niner. Jade can come with us too, if she wants. We can leave this all behind, we could have our old life back."
"I...I need to go," Riko stood up and began to run out of the shop, ignoring his father and mentor's respective attempts to call him back. He wasn't sure whether he needed to cry, meditate, or do anything else.