Double update incoming. I missed last week.

"Thank you, Alvar." Justin's gaze shimmered as he looked at Revan. "And you, Master Darious, was it?"

Darious bowed his head. He glanced at Revan. There had to be more than just wanting Darious as a guard. If it was just to guard, then he would have asked Meetra instead. She was far more versed in combat than Darious was. Either that or Revan was just wanting Darious because of their old friendship.

"You look a lot like Commander Darrell, you know that, right?" Reca asked as she fell in beside him.

A small breath escaped Darious.

Revan glanced at him. A knowing glint sparked in Revan's eyes. Thankfully, Revan didn't speak, only smiled.

"I'm aware," Darious stated.

"You are?" Reca frowned. "When did you become aware of it?"

"The day I arrived on Telos and was confused with him despite being in civilian clothing."

"Oh." Reca frowned. "Hey, Little Runner, do you get mistaken as not being a Jedi as well?"

"More times than Darious does," Revan stated in even tones.

Darious smiled to himself. The first time this had ever happened was when they'd been padawans. Their masters had gone on a mission together along with Alek's master. It had been a scouting mission along the rim worlds to ensure what influence the Great Sith War had was now gone from even the rim worlds.

"What's the smile about?" Reca asked.

"Just a thought over a time such a thing happed to Alvar."

"I do believe there was more than one time." Revan fell back from walking near his brother to beside Darious.

"I mean the first time."

Revan frowned.

Right, he wouldn't have memory over this moment in his life. It was part of the chunk he had yet to remember.

A shiver raced down Darious's spin. If the council had only known doing such a thing would injure the Order in the far future, would they have still done it?

Perhaps.

Revan was no longer a Jedi in their eyes by the point they had wiped his memory. Only a tool to use against the Sith. A weapon to end the war Revan had started and stop Malak dead. Redemption for either wasn't even fully on their minds. The mere fact they had wanted Revan and Bastila to be retrained showed how much they didn't trust either after the war. Especially given Revan had already received training twice from the Order. Once as youngling, then again when the Order sought to use him to stop Malak. Even rushed, they had feared, of all things, Revan would revert to the Dark side of the Force.

This hadn't happened.

Revan was as much a Jedi as he had been when they were younglings, padawans, and young knights. He didn't waver for the core ideals of the Order: upholding peace within the Republic and protecting it from threats, especially the Dark side.

Yet, why had Revan fully turned against them during the Civil War? There was no denying Revan's loyalty to the Republic in the here and now. Still, it was odd. Darious had seen the patterns in the war before Malak had taken control of the forces. There was a difference.

"So," Reca started, "do tell us about this first time Little Runner was seen as a civilian and not a Jedi."

"We were padawans at the time," Darious informed them.

Revan blinked.

"Three masters were chosen to go to the rim worlds and look for what little may have remained from the Great Sith War. Those masters were my own, Alek's, and Alvar's. We were tasked by them to look for a few clues without separating from one another. We were seen by passerby and no one wanted to give us information. Alvar moved a little from us and spoke with a few people. When he returned, he told us he had led. Alek asked how and you," – he looked at Revan – "just shrugged and said—"

"They thought I was an off-worlder and not a Jedi," Revan finished for Darious.

"Yes." Darious glanced at his oldest friend. Perhaps talking about it had helped Revan remember a little of his past.

Revan's features were straight, eyes clouded. It was a look Darious knew well. Revan was thinking, hard. Most likely over the memory Darious had been talking about or something related to it.

Justin opened the door into the apartment, drawing Darious's attention from Revan.

"You're back." A woman stood. Her hazel eyes glittered with a smile. The smile melted away as her eyes locked onto Darious. A frown pulled at her lips and furled her brow. "Are you pulling a prank by dressing as a Jedi?"

Ah, she thought he was Darrell. Darious raised his brow. Once more he was mistaken for the commander.

Alan pulled himself to his feet, using his cane for support. "He's not Darrell. This is one of council members, Master Darious, correct?"

Darious's skin crawled as he locked gazes with him. It was like peering back into Revan's eyes. There wasn't the familiar glitter or anything there outside of the first look of likeness. It just meant Revan took after Alan in a few ways, but not all.

Darious bowed his head.

"So, you returned after all," Revan's oldest niece stepped into the main room. Her eyes narrowed as she took in Darious. "I thought for sure you would take this time to make an excuse and not return for dinner."

Revan cocked an eyebrow at the girl. "Bastila and Vaner are still here," he pointed out.

"Why should that matter?" Rana's eyes narrowed. "You don't seem like the family sort."

Revan stiffened. His eyes narrowed.

Oh, well, this could be why Revan wasn't so keen on family talks. His niece was just rude.

"Rana," Sasha snapped at her adult daughter.

"Alvar." Darious placed his hand on Revan's shoulder.

A breath fled Revan lips. His shoulder eased.

"What?" Rana looked at her mother.

"Don't be rude. He's still your uncle." Sasha bowed her head to Revan.

"Your mother is correct. I left as well, which doesn't mean I don't care about any of my family." Justin looked Rana in the eye.

Rana dropped her gaze. "I didn't mean it like that, dad," she muttered.

Bastila had narrowed her eyes from where she had been sitting near to Alan. The younger master tracked Rana before her gaze shifted to Revan. Revan crossed the room over to her.

"Before we discuss the two who were arrested," Alan started as he returned his seat, "I have something I would like to ask you, Master Darious." He gestured to one of the free seats in the room. The scars marring his hand flashed in the light of the room.

Darious frowned. There was very little which could interest this man. Darious glanced at Revan.

Revan was looking at Alan as well. His features straight, betraying nothing to anyone there, including Darious and Bastila. It was clear he didn't know what Alan wanted to ask Darious either.

"What would you like to know?" Darious took a seat near to his old friend. He spread out his awareness. It seemed Vaner was safe in another room. No doubt Revan had done this as well which was why he wasn't worried about his son. Three others were with the child. They must have been Justin's other children.

"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to know how you joined the Jedi." Alan locked gazes with Darious.

All right. That was an odd request.

"I don't remember much on what happened. I was only three when they found me," Darious replied. "I know I was found here on Telos the same day as Alvar by Master Vandar Tokare.

"According to my record, he and another master rescued me from slavers who were here at the time. They assumed I had been born into slavery," Darious concluded. "Given Alvar and I were found the same day we ended up training together as younglings."

Alan closed his eyes and drew in a shuddering breath.

"Father." Justin half rose.

Alan waved his hand, dismissing Justin's concern. He opened his eyes. "This, it does explain a lot on what happened forty-years-ago."

"What do you mean?" Sasha frowned.

"Not many are aware of this but the Varnons' had three children," Alan informed them. "They've been regulars at the diner since it opened and would always bring their children with them especially given the twins were only a younger than Alvar."

"Twins?" Justin frowned. "They've never once mentioned having twins. Only Darrell and Rane."

Alan bowed his head. "The Great Sith War, despite lasting less than a year, had taxed the Republic, leaving many families hurting financially. It was a struggle to open and keep the diner afloat in the following years." A breath escaped him. "I could be wrong, but when the twins were two, one of them, the younger, Darious, went missing.

"I inquired to what had happened to him, but neither of them answered." Alan's hands tightened on his cane. "They never once filed for missing persons or attempted to search for their son."

Darious frowned.

"I believe they had gone to the black-market and sold him in order to stay afloat." His eyes darkened.

"It does explain why you were found with no records," Revan stated as he looked at Darious. "If you were sold into slavery, they would want to erase your background."

"True enough." Darious looked at Alan.

There was a chance this wasn't how it happened and the two weren't his parents. Yet, if they had twins and one of them was named Darious, it did explain why everyone kept getting him and Darrell mixed up. Including his own former padawan.

Three years after the Great Sith War, the Republic had still been recovering and taxes were higher than they had ever been. The Sith had made it to the heart of the Republic, Coruscant. There were images of the world being ravaged by the Sith and the Jedi mounting a resistance against them. Still, the amount of credits it would have taken to restore Coruscant alone would have been enough to cause many to struggle, especially on rim worlds.

"I can't imagine Kaden and Kayla doing that to one of their children." Justin shook his head. "Granted I was very young during this time and didn't understand anything that was going on." Justin frowned. "Still, to resort to selling your own child…" his gaze rested on Rana, pained.

Silence collapsed down on the room.

Darious leaned back in the seat. It didn't matter to why it had happened. What did matter was the fact he wouldn't change his life. Well, perhaps he would have tried harder to convince Revan to stick to his original ideals: to protect the whole of the Republic. To try and stop his best friend, a man who he considered akin to a brother from falling to the dark side. And try to reach out to Malak while he had been suffering from the memory of the torment he had received at the hands of the Mandalorians. Beyond this, there was little Darious regretted.

Sure, he wished there had been something he could have done to prevent the purge. Yet, such a matter was far beyond his reach. What hadn't been was helping his friends, his brothers, to just stop them from falling to the dark side in the first place.

"Perhaps we should see Kaden and Kayla," Justin broke the silence. "You could come forward as their missing son."

A warm smile lit Alan's feature. His eyes glittered.

"No," Darious stated. "It would only drag up memories they most likely want to forget ever happened."

The smile melted from Alan. His features darkened; eyes narrowed as if he were doubled over in extreme pain.

"Perhaps we can get to the truth still, but it could be considered a little cruel," Revan spoke in even tones.

"Revan," Bastila warned.

"Not cruel as in 'I'll torture them until they submit,' cruel," he joked. "Just away to see if Darious is a Varnon without yet another DNA test." He glanced at Darious. "Though the mere fact you and Darrell look identical should be enough of a giveaway already."

Another plan. Darious bowed his head. All right, so be it.

"What are you thinking, Alvar?" Darious straightened.

"We could ask Darrell if you could borrow and wear a spare uniform of his. Given you've yet to grow your hair out, you could style it the same. And I know you've been around enough soldiers during the wars to mimic their behavior."

"Hmm." Nope, this wasn't a good idea. It would only cause the two pain. A matter Darious would rather avoid.

"If they can't tell you're not Darrell, it could very well prove you are his twin brother," Revan continued.

"It would be for the best you mended whatever pain is left from your childhood with them," Bastila spoke for the first time on the matter. "I know speaking with my own mother helped me through a lot of emotions I had left over from when I was given to the Order. And the council did agree it would be for the best to try and keep parental bonds with their children."

They had a point. "Very well, but only if the commander agrees," Darious relented.

"Tomorrow afternoon is a family gathering between the Kanes and the Varnons given Rane married Mark Kane," Alan informed them. "They always hold it at my diner or did before the bombing of Telos. Kaden Varnon and Laila Kane reached out to me over this matter the other day."

"When they got the news their children were transferred back to Telos?" Justin asked.

Alan bowed his head.

"I'll speak with Darrell this evening to see if he's willing to aid in this matter," Alan continued.

Bastila smiled. "If it isn't too much, perhaps another of the Order can be there to help Darious."

Alan looked at Revan. "Alvar, perhaps you can help prepare the dishes with me. They wouldn't question your being there."

Rana leapt to her feet. "But I was supposed to help you with that." Her eyes grew wide.

"You can still help, Rana," Alan assured her.

"What do you think, old friend?" Darious looked at Revan.

"It would give a valid reason for another of the order to be there." Revan placed his hand on his chin. "It would also allow for the commander to still attend and be able to swap with you partway through or early on if he had been planning to be in attendance. While also keeping him hidden in the kitchen." Revan bowed his head to Alan. "With your permission, of course."

Alan bowed his head. "Agreed. Though it will be up to Darrell on if we're to go through with this plan."

"This is true." Revan smiled.

Sasha cleared her throat. "Not that this isn't interesting or important, but could we talk about the two who took the name 'Tarvon?'"

"I would like to hear about this as well," – Alan stood – "however, I do believe I should start dinner. Alvar, can you help me?"

Revan hesitated.

Rana stiffened. Her eyes blazed as she glared at Revan.

"I can, but only if Rana also helps."

Rana smiled. "Thank you." She leapt to her feet and moved to join Alan.

"We can discuss it over dinner," Alan informed them. He smiled at Darious. "You are welcome to join us."

"Thank you." Darious bowed to the older man. He listened as the three left the room.

His heart flickered. Did Darious really want to meet his family? A family which had been willing to give him up? There was a good reason behind it. Still, the morality of it was wrong. To just give a child to slavers in the vainest hope the family could pull out of poverty.

No.

Darious wouldn't judge them for their actions. Whatever had happened back then, didn't matter in the now. He was a Jedi. He would always be a Jedi. The order and Revan alike needed him to be such. To be one of the two masters who survived the purge. The only one out of the two who was willing to accept the fact they were the only two left at such a rank beforehand.

Revan would never state he was a Jedi Master. There was something weighing on Revan. Far more greatly than just the Order and everything new cropping up with his family.

It was Alek.

Darious closed his eyes. Pain sliced his heart.

Alek or rather Darth Malak was one with the Force. No matter how much either he or Revan wished it, there was no changing this fact. Besides, one should rejoice when a friend or family member joined with the Force.

The ache increased. His hand twitched towards his chest.

Malak never received a Jedi burial. His body never burned in ceremony as he had once spoke of as padawan. Saying he would be the sword which would protect the Republic against all evils. A belief he and Darious had both gotten from Revan.

Yet, how could they have not wanted to live as such an ideal?

The Jedi were meant to protect and serve the Republic in ways the military and senate could never hope to. They were the shield and blade, the ones who knew how to counter threats.

The ones to stand as an eternal light against the encroaching darkness. Against all threats which came to end the Republic no matter the form they were in.

A belief which Alek abandoned the second he fired on Revan. One Revan never had now Darious looked back on his oldest friend's moves during the Jedi Civil War. Revan would never give up on the Republic.

How much more could Revan take?

How much more could Darious?

In the end, the Order was nothing more than fragments, lost within the depths of the Republic. Particles who attempted to make their light even with the shadow which now encroached upon them.

(Author's note: I picked up a book to read again. It always gets me to wanting to write more. And, yep, even more family stuff…)