Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Mandalorian Wars
Chapter 19
Avner glanced around the crowded area. People were hurrying too and from shuttles on business or to meet relatives. There were soldiers being greeted by family they'd left behind and people who were more interested in just getting to where they were going than anything else around them.
"How are we going to find anyone in all of this?" Meetra asked from beside Avner. "It feels almost as bad as Coruscant."
He chuckled a little at this. "I would take finding someone here over finding them on Coruscant any day." He started forward. The people jostled him and Meetra a little as they passed, but most were trying not to given the fact they were Jedi.
The capitol of Telos was massive in and of itself especially given that this world wasn't as populated as core worlds were. Even still, Avner felt more at peace in this city than he ever remembered feeling in any other. There was a peace that the Enclave on Dantooine had given, but this was deeper than even that.
He'd not been to Telos since he was five. The masters had moved him off-world given problems with Atris when they'd both been younglings. Most of his childhood had been spent on Dantooine until he'd been taken as Master Arren Kae's Padawan learner at the age of twelve. In all the years he'd traveled and served the Order he'd never even thought about returning to Telos. Now, here he was standing in his home city on a planet that he'd not thought on in years.
"Is it common for the streets to be this crowded here?" Meetra asked as the two of them walked side by side. "I thought you said the population was less than Coruscant."
Avner looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "It is, but you should know the capitol is going to be crowded no matter what planet you're on."
"Dantooine isn't," she pointed out.
This was true, but Dantooine also wasn't known for anything but its peaceful plains and farms. He resisted pointing that out to Meetra and instead smiled at her. "No matter how crowded it is, we're here to help someone and no other reason." He turned his attention back on the crowded streets. Though, he did admit the planet was more crowded than he remembered it being. But he'd not been in the capitol for twenty-seven years, a lot could change in that time.
The two of them started off through the streets. As they walked, Avner explained how they were going to track down this woman. The capitol had too many farms surrounding for them to just go from to the next trying to figure out which one was Sera's. Instead he was going to go to the records first and see if they could find anything there. As Jedi they had a high chance to be granted access to the records. As Jedi of the Revanchists that chance went down a great deal. That was why Avner told Meetra to keep quiet about it.
"The senator should be out any moment now."
Avner stopped at the sound of the excited voice. The senator? He knew that senators did tend to return home after a time on Coruscant in order to gain more public support, but he'd not thought about if the Telos senator might be here now. Depending on how popular he was it might explain how crowded the streets were right then.
"Master," Meetra paused and glanced back at him.
"That explains it," Avner muttered. He sighed and started forward once more.
"Explains what?" Meetra asked, frowning.
"The senator appears to be returning," Avner told her. "It seems he is quite popular for this many people to be out here to greet him." The last Avner had heard Senator Tarvon was the senator of Telos. He had to admit he had never looked more into the man other than he was human and had been in office for just over a year. It didn't look like the man would be voted out of office anytime soon either.
"Really?" Meetra glanced around as if she expected to see the senator there and then. "I've not looked into who was senator of Telos. Politics has never been my strong point," she confessed.
"Senator Tarvon," Avner stated, "that's his surname at least."
Meetra didn't reply this, she just nodded. Her gaze was back the way they'd come. Avner turned and followed her gaze as cheers erupted. The resulting noise reverberated through the air until it became near deafening to listen to.
Through a small gape in the crowd, Avner could just make out a security team escorting two humans through the crowd. The one closest to Avner was female and she wore fine clothing. He assumed this to either be one of the senator's advisors or his wife. From this distance Avner could only just make out her dark brown hair done in the latest fashions of Coruscant. Or what he had to assume was the latest fashion.
The man next to her appeared to be holding her hand. His clothing marked him as being Senator Tarvon. He had short, neat, sandy colored hair. The senator paused and turned to the crowd. He lifted his hand and beamed out across the scores of people.
As Avner looked the man in the eye, images flashed over Avner's vision. He saw mandalorians moving on the senator and his wife. Sera was there as well. The images faded. It had all happened so fast that Avner was still looking towards the senator and the senator in Avner's general direction.
Avner turned away from the senator. "Let's go," he spoke just over the noise of the crowd so Meetra could hear him.
The two of them slipped off through the crowd. As they moved away, Avner couldn't resist the urge to glance back at the senator. There was a part of him that swore the senator reminded him of Justin. Avner shoved this thought from his mind. No matter what had become of Justin in the last twenty-seven years it wasn't a matter Avner needed to concern himself with. Right then the priority had to be the war and discovering what Mandalore wanted with a farmer.
The Capitol Building was well guarded when Avner and Meetra arrived. This didn't surprise Avner seeing as the senator would most likely be making his way here now.
"Halt there," one of the security officers said to Avner and Meetra as they approached.
Avner stopped and he felt Meetra do the same.
"What business do you have here?" asked the officer. The officer was a twi'lek woman. Her head-tails or lekku came out from her helmet showing her skin was a dark blue.
"We're Jedi," Avner stated, "it is business related to the Order." It was a lie, but most of the time once someone realized they were Jedi it never went questioned to why they were there and what their business was. Perhaps it had to do with the superstitions most people had of Jedi and perhaps not.
The officer hesitated before she nodded and gestured to two of her fellow guards. "You two, escort the Jedi to the records."
"Yes, Commander Reca," they spoke in unison and saluted her. "This way," one of them gestured for Avner and Meetra to follow them.
"My thanks," Avner bowed his head to her before following after the other two security officers. He didn't look back at the commander despite he knew her name from somewhere. Avner pushed this aside. Like with the thoughts on Justin, he needed to focus on the reason he and Meetra were here and not on his past.
Most of the day was spent in the records. For the most part the security let them work, only coming in every couple of hours to check on them and see if they needed help with anything.
The records Avner and Meetra found on Sera showed little about the woman Avner didn't already know. There wasn't even a location of her farm in this. She had more than likely taken herself off the listings. Someone who liked to be alone from what Avner could tell about her from the lack of information.
"There's nothing here," Meetra sighed and collapsed in one of the few chairs in the room. "How long are we going to continue sifting through this information?"
A small breath escaped Avner and replaced the last file he'd taken. "I suppose there's nothing more we can learn from the records," he admitted.
"Great, can we get something to eat before we head off to whatever we're going to do next to find this Sera?" Meetra asked as she straightened.
"We have enough for a cheap diner if we want to be able to afford the fuel back to Cathar," he told her. "If we're here longer than today," – which they would be – "we're going to be eating military rations for the most part."
Meetra made a face but nodded her understanding. "All right." She stood. "Let's get something to eat today then."
Avner surpassed to the urge to laugh at this. "I think there might still a cheap diner near to here." He led the way out of records. The security didn't escort them out, for which Avner was grateful.
It was dark when they exited the building, showing just how late they had been working. Meetra sighed. "It looks like dinner then." She gave Avner a sideways smile.
Avner chuckled. "So it would appear."
He led the way through the streets towards the diner he had in mind. It had been one the old group had stolen from as children, well not really stolen from. The owner used to give them food. A lot of the old group had called him "Uncle" for this. But even with the food they had gotten from him it hadn't been enough, thus they had stolen the rest they needed from other places, but never from Uncle. That had been the standing rule of the group. Whoever just gave them the food and supplies they needed never got stolen from.
The diner was about a fifteen minute walk from the Capitol Building. Most people were heading for other restaurants up and down the street they were on but the diner was still there and still just as Avner remembered it being. They checked the prices before entering the diner just to make certain he and Meetra could afford the food with what little Avner had on him and whatever Meetra had. Both of them didn't have a lot of credits between them. It did turn out that if pressed they could get more food later with what Meetra had, but Avner told her to hold onto that just in case.
"Welcome," a droid greeted them as they entered. It paused before asking, "Jedi?"
"Yes," Avner replied.
It nodded and led the two of them to one of the booths in the small diner. As expected, fewer than half of the booths were occupied. They were given a booth two down from the door away from the others who were dining there. Before too long they ordered food from the droid and were served.
Only once they had their food did Meetra speak again, "What's the new plan since the records didn't turn anything up? Look around blindly for leads?"
"No," Avner stated. He was still uncertain if he had seen a vision when the senator had appeared or not. "If we start poking around blindly it will draw unwanted attention on us and the fact mandalorians are here."
"I've not seen any mandalorians around. At least not in that crowd when we arrived or on our way here."
"It's unlikely we'll see them until they're ready to strike the civilian," Avner stated. "They're most likely hiding among the population to draw less attention to themselves."
"Like us?"
"Not exactly but close enough."
The door into the diner opened. Avner looked up to see two twi'leks enter. They looked like identical twins. Both hade dark blue skin. If not for the different style in clothing they would have been mirror images of one another. One was dressed in the uniform of an off duty security officer while the other wore finer clothes, pointing to a more political field of work. Both were out of place here.
Avner was about to turn back to his food when movement from the kitchen caught his eye. An elderly man exited the kitchen and moved out from behind the counter. "Meca, Reca!" he greeted the twi'leks like they were his children, drawing them both into a tight hug. "It's been far too long."
"Hello, Uncle, it's good to see you," the one dressed in the finer clothes greeted the elderly human. She must have been Meca since Reca had been the name of the security officer who had spoken to Avner and Meetra earlier. Also the fact they had just called this human "uncle" as if it were his name…
Avner averted his gaze, returning to his food. It didn't matter. None of this had to do with why he and Meetra were here. The past was the past. Jedi were forbidden from seeing their family after joining the Order.
"Come, come, we should talk." Uncle ordered the droid to get the usual from the kitchen. The sound of them coming Avenr's way was all too apparent. It wasn't until he heard one of them stop that Avner looked away from his food.
The officer had stopped before their table. "Aren't you two the Jedi from earlier?" she asked.
"Aren't you the officer from earlier?" Avner retorted in light, joking tones.
"Master," Meetra hissed at him, looking shocked at his response.
"Apologies," he bowed his head to Reca. "Yes, we were at the Capitol Building recorders most of today. And I thank you for letting us in when the senator had only just returned to Telos."
Meca had and Uncle had also paused. "Reca," Meca called, "we really shouldn't bother other costumers.
"I sorry if that was rude of me, Master Jedi," Reca started, "I was just shocked to see Jedi dining here. It's not that well known of a place."
"It is, however, in the right price range for Jedi," Avner pointed out. "I hope you enjoy your meal, commander." He bowed his head to her before turning his attention back to Meetra and the rest of his dinner.
Reca moved after Uncle and Meca. "What did they want with the records?" Avner heard Meca ask as the three of them took the booth one down from Avner and Meetra. If the diner hadn't been this empty he wouldn't have been able to hear them at all.
"I don't know. They didn't say. From what some of the security, who were helping them, reported, they're looking for a civilian. But that was all they got out of it. The Jedi weren't really asking for a lot of help with the records."
"What do they want with a civilian?" Meca asked.
"Don't know."
"It's for the best," Uncle stated. "Jedi aren't the type to try and figure out. They're different from you, me, and everyone else in the galaxy."
"Little Runner became a Jedi," Meca pointed out. "I doubt he's changed from the person we knew."
"So," – Meetra drew Avner's attention away from those behind them – "I take it we're sleeping in the shuttle?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied before he finished up the last of the food. "And please, no trying to take off my head again," he teased her.
Meetra bristled before she laughed. "Don't worry, Master."
Avner paid the droid. "My complements to the chef," he bowed his head to the droid before he and Meetra left the diner.
x – Twenty-nine years ago – x
Little Runner curled up under his thin blanket, shivering. It had been weeks since he had joined the group. They were more like his family now than ever before. He'd seen what other families were like when out with Justin and Sasha.
"Little Runner."
He opened his eyes to Sasha kneeling over him. "Yeah?" he mumbled through his sleepiness.
"Justin and Zeel just returned from a run. We've two newcomers to the group."
Little Runner yawned and sat up. It took a moment for her words to sink in. "Newcomers? People staying in the family?" he asked.
"Yup," Sasha replied with a smile at his excitement.
The moment she confirmed this Little Runner bolted from his sleeping place and out into the main part of the rundown building which made up their home. He nearly crashed into one of the older kids.
"Watch it, Little," the kid snapped at him.
"Sorry," Little Runner mumbled before he weaved his way through the groups to where Justin stood with Zeel and two others Little Runner didn't recognize. They looked strange, not like Zeel's race of zabrak or the humans like Little Runner who made up most of the family. They had pretty, dark blue skin. And short head-tails. Both of them looked like the other. Their eyes were a beautiful shade of purple.
Little Runner stopped a little ways from them. He wasn't certain if he should greet them or not.
"Little, come here!" Zeel called him over.
Little Runner moved over to them. "Hi," he greeted the two girls with a smile.
A small laugh came from Justin. "This is Little Runner," he told the girls, "he might be small but he's the fastest one in our family. Little Runner, this is Meca and Reca, they're sisters."
"By blood?" Little Runner blinked and looked at them in awe. "It's nice to meet you," he remembered the words Sasha had taught him when meeting someone new. He bowed his head to them.
"Little Runner, why don't you show them around and help find blankets for them," Justin suggested.
"Right! This way." Little Runner raced forward and took one of their hands in each of his. Without waiting he pulled them after him.
The girls followed after him more because they didn't have a choice.
"Over here are free places and blankets," he told them when he released their hands.
"You seem really young to be here," stated one of the girls, her eyes locked on Little Runner.
Little Runner blinked up at her. "I'm not!" he defended himself. "I pull as much weight as anyone." He puffed out his chest and stood up as tall as he could but he still fell short of their heights. If only everyone here wasn't so much older than he was. Though, these two couldn't have been older than six.
The girl laughed. "You're funny."
Little Runner glared at her. "Am not!" he retorted. "I'm Little Runner!"
This only seemed to make her laugh harder. She collapsed on the ground, eyes watering.
"What?" Little Runner demanded, now very confused. Was it been something he said?
"Reca and I know your name's Little Runner," the other twin told him with a soft smile. "She was saying you act funny."
"O-oh," Little Runner felt as his entire face turned with his mistake. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Reca was still rolling on the ground. Her laughter was strained now but still coming.
Meca placed her hand on Little Runner's shoulder. Her smile reminded Little Runner of Sasha's. There was the same warmth in the way she smiled that was there with Sasha, but she was a lot younger than Sasha was.
"Little Runner!" Justin raced over to them just as Reca got back up, her laughing under control.
"I like you, Little!" She placed her hand on his head.
Justin laughed. "He's hard to dislike." He smiled at them. "Are you three up for a run?" he asked.
"Yeah!" Little Runner brightened at once. He loved going on runs though he'd only been on two since joining and both times he had been the look out since they thought he couldn't be quiet enough to enter the places without alerting someone.
"What's a run?" Meca asked.
"It's just what we call getting food," Justin told her. "Today we're not stealing though."
Little Runner was confused by this. Wasn't that the only way they could get food? "What you mean?" he asked, blinking up at Justin.
"There's a place where we can just ask for food," Justin explained. "And I think it's about time you met Uncle. You two as well," he told Meca and Reca. "Zeel will be coming as well. We'll need him to carry back the food."
That was a lot of people to take on a run. "So he just gives food?" Little Runner asked confused.
"Enough for a day or so," Justin replied. "Which is why we need so many to carry it back here."
"Can Little Runner carry enough?" Meca asked.
"I can!" Little Runner nodded, grinning.
"Now that we have that settled, let's head out." Justin headed towards the entrance. Little Runner raced after him. "Zeel!" Justin called to the other boy when they neared the entrance. "You ready to head out again?"
"You know it!" Zeel grinned. "Coming along, Little?"
"Yup!" Little beamed up at Zeel.
"Good, you'll get to meet Uncle then."
The five of them headed out one at a time through the entrance. Once Little Runner was out in the open he raced forward.
"Hold up, Little," Justin called to him. "You don't know where we're going."
Little Runner skidded to a stop. He fell in with the older kids, but a part of him was screaming to race around and look at all the new things around him. One of the twins stepped up next to him and took his hand in hers.
"We should stick together," it was Reca. Despite her brave words and determined expression Little Runner could feel her fear. She was nervous, afraid of the adults around them. But there was something more in her fear, something deep, dark, and hidden. Buried down to where only she knew it and hidden away.
"You don't need to fear," he piped up. "The adults ignore us." It was true none of the adults who they passed on the street so much as glanced down at them. The only times they went noticed was if they were caught when stealing on a run.
Reca looked down at Little Runner, her cheeks puffed out. "I'm not scared of anything!"
"Don't worry," – Little Runner put his finger over his lips – "I promise I won't tell."
"There's nothing to tell," Reca huffed then sighed. "Look, Little, let's just get the food, okay?"
"'Kay!" He nodded, but didn't release her hand. She was still afraid. He could hold her hand at the very least if it made her feel less afraid. He could feel the same fear in Meca and took the other twin's hand in his. "We're a family," he told them as they walked. "A family under Justin and Sasha."
This seemed to ease some of their fear. Little Runner smiled up at them. He was glad their fear had been lessened. That his words had helped.
Justin and Zeel led them further from home than ever before. They were near the very heart of the city when Justin stopped in an alleyway by a door. He knocked several times in what felt to a pattern: knock, pause, knock, knock, pause, knock, knock, knock, pause; knock.
Several moments passed before the door was opened by an adult. Little Runner felt as if he had to strain his neck back to see into the man's face. His brown hair was grizzled and spiked from a day's work. He was unshaven, but had kind, blue eyes and an even kinder smile as he noticed Justin.
"Justin!" the man greeted Justin in a warm voice. "I was wondering when you'd be by." His eyes traveled to Zeel. "Always good to see you again, Zeel."
"Hello, Uncle," Zeel said with a big smile.
"Uncle, we've several newcomers to the family we wanted you to meet," Justin told the man.
Meca let out a small nose. Without releasing Little Runner's hand she made to hide him which had to appear silly since she was so much bigger than he was.
Uncle frowned as he looked at Little Runner. "Justin, isn't this one a little young."
"Am not!" Little Runner glared up at Uncle not much liking the way the man frowned at him. "I'm Little Runner and I'm not young!"
Uncle smiled at him then. "I can see your point." He turned to the twins.
"This is Meca and Reca," Justin told him.
"A pleasure and I won't harm either of you." He looked at Justin. "Why don't all of you come in and help me get the bags ready."
"Thank you, Uncle." Justin bowed his head. Justin and Zeel followed followed Uncle into the building.
Little Runner pulled Reca and Meca towards the door. He nearly tripped when she didn't move. "He doesn't mean harm," Little Runner told her. "Come."
Reca and Meca both hesitated a moment longer before they followed him into the building. Little Runner stopped and stared at the room. It was packed with food! He knew not all of it was theirs' but there was just so much of it.
"Little Runner and Reca can gather some of the food from over there," Uncle told them when they entered.
"Okay!" Little Runner released Meca's hand and moved to where Uncle had pointed. There was already an empty bag there and some food in boxes.
"Just take what the bag can hold from the boxes, you two," Uncle instructed.
That was a lot of food. Little Runner stared at it. The boxes even towered over them. There was way more than could ever fit into the bag.
"Come on, Reca!" Little Runner started to shift through the food and fill the bag.
The boxes over them swayed a little as Reca joined him. Little Runner looked up at them. The metal crates didn't seem to be stacked right. He frowned but decided it wasn't going to be any harm and continued to fill the bag.
Uncle walked over to them. "How's it going?" he asked as he knelt down to join them.
Reca hesitated before she bowed her head to him. "Almost done," she whispered.
Just then Little Runner felt more than saw the boxes sway again. He looked up just in time to see them start to come crashing down. Uncle was the first to react by moving to cover them but Little Runner was faster. The same energy he had felt only once before followed through him. He lifted his hands and released the energy. The boxes stopped just over Uncle's head.
Little Runner gasped at the unexpected pull the energy was taking to control and use. "M-move," he gasped to them. "It's heavy!"
Uncle didn't hesitate. He scooped up Reca and the bag and crawled out from under the small area Little Runner was holding up. Once they were clear, Little Runner backed up inch by inch. The moment he was clear he placed the boxes on the ground and collapsed, breathing hard.
"Little Runner!" Justin raced over him. "Are you all right?" The older boy knelt down before Little Runner.
"Sorry," Little Runner whispered.
"For what?"
"Does it mean I can't stay?" he whispered, not about to look at Justin. His eyes burned with the sorrow and fear of losing this family.
"What are you talking about, Little Runner?" Justin asked. He placed his hand on Little Runner's shoulder.
"It scared her, she called it evil. The power, it's evil, it'll cause problems. I can't stay?"
"Of course you can stay. With or without that power, you're still a member of our family, Little Runner."
"Besides," Uncle was now next to Little Runner as well, "Reca and I would both be injured if not for you." He ruffled Little Runner's hair. Little Runner felt warmth fill him at the action. "You're more that welcome here whenever you want, Little Runner. To help out or just be here. Some of your family comes down from time to time."
Little Runner brightened at once. "R-really, it okay?"
"It's more than okay." Uncle gave him a warm smile. "And whenever you come down I'll be certain to give you food to take back for the others."
"All right!" Little Runner felt warm inside. They didn't mind the power. Did that mean he could really be here? Be a part of their family for good?
"You come down with me tomorrow to help out," Justin told him.
"'Kay." Little Runner helped them gather the bags before he left with his family. He glanced back at Uncle and grinned.
x – Present Day – x
Avner stopped just outside the diner. "Head back to the shuttle. I need to take care of something before heading back."
Meetra hesitated before she nodded. "All right, Master." She left him standing near the diner.
There was no reason to leave this area. Instead Avner just waited near the diner. Most of the people who passed by didn't look towards him and those few who left the diner didn't notice he was standing near the entrance leaning against the wall.
Avner looked up at the night sky. The night was cool and pleasant. No stars could be seen in the city. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. For the first time he knew he was home. In the same instant he knew he no longer belonged here. His place was with the rest of the Revanchists. That was why he wanted to speak with Uncle one last time. He knew this would be the last time he ever set foot on Telos. At least it felt as if it would be. If it wasn't, he was uncertain if he would ever get another chance to speak with Uncle again.
As the night wore on, Avner watched as people passed the diner. Most took no notice of it as they passed while others paused to debate to eat there or not. Very few did and continued on. Those few who did were the ones who didn't pause and debate about it. Most likely they knew how good the food was here.
By the time the twins exited the diner the street was almost empty. They had most likely spoke with Uncle long into the night for who he was to the family. He watched them vanish into the night.
Not long after the twins left the diner's lights were turned off. A few moments later Uncle exited the diner and locked the doors. The older man had a tired smile on his face as he turned to leave.
Avner took a deep breath before he straightened. "It's been a long time, Uncle."
The man jumped and wiped around. "You scared me half to death," he whispered. He frowned as the fear drained to be replaced by confusion. "Do you really think that's my name since Meca and Reca called me 'uncle?' Only they and a few others do, Master Jedi."
Avner laughed. "I did say 'it's been a long time,' didn't I?" He smiled at Uncle. "I believe the last time you saw me I was four and tripped into the wall."
Several long moments passed before Uncle's eyes grew wide. "It can't be," he breathed in shock. "Little Runner?"
"One in the same." Avner bowed at the waist to Uncle.
Before either could speak, Avner sensed someone racing towards them. The next moment Reca appeared. "I'm sorry, Uncle," – she stopped beside Uncle – "Meca forgot something in the diner."
Avner took a pace back. Perhaps it had been foolish of him to assume something like this wouldn't happen. He could sense Meca also running towards them. She appeared a moment later and stopped. Unlike her sister she was breathing hard.
It took her several long moments before she could speak, "I left a data-pad here. I'm deeply sorry, Uncle."
Avner stepped back again. His movement didn't go unnoticed this time. Reca pulled out her blaster and pointed it at him. Avner dodged the bolt which was fired.
"I wasn't aware Jedi were that unwelcome," he stated in light, joking tones. "If I offended you earlier, Commander, I apologize. But I didn't think that would warrant being shot at." All through this kept his voice in tones which implied he was joking.
Reca lowered her blaster. She scowled at him. "What do you want with Uncle and where's your padawan?"
"Padawan?" Avner was confused by this. "You mean Meetra?" He laughed at this. "Oh, force no, she's not my padawan. She calls me 'master' to avoid confusion in crowds if she called me 'hey, you' instead."
For a moment Reca just stared at him before she demanded, "Then why is she traveling with you?"
"The answer to that question is far more interesting that you may think," his voice was no longer joking, but serious. He bowed to them. "I was only telling your friend here his cooking was good. Good night, Commander, ma'am," he nodded to Reca then Meca before he started off towards the shuttle.
"Wait," Uncle called after him.
Avner paused and turned back to him. He didn't speak.
"Why reveal yourself now? Why not earlier?" Uncle asked.
Meca and Reca exchanged confused looks.
"Perhaps this time I wished to say the goodbye I couldn't before," Avner stated as he looked away from them and at the sky once more. "It might be childish, but you were the only one who I didn't say farewell to back then." Avner started off once more.
"It doesn't have to be a goodbye," Uncle stated, making Avner stop once more. "Whenever you're on Telos, you can eat here for free."
"What?" Reca growled at this. "He's not one of us, Uncle."
The words made Avner close his eyes as if they had been a physical blow. A reminder that he really wasn't one of the family anymore. He took a deep breath. "A kind offer, but I must decline."
This time he didn't move. His hand balled into a fist. He wanted to tell Reca she was wrong, but couldn't. The council had enough reasons to exile Avner as it was. No matter his personal choice to leave the Order, he couldn't risk them being dragged into the problems which surrounded him now.
There is no emotion; there is peace. He unclenched his fist. "The commander is right," he stated, "I've been on Telos in a long time and I doubt I'll return again once my mission here is complete." Still he didn't turn to them. "Goodbye." It took a lot to not say 'uncle.'
This time Uncle didn't call to him as Avner started off. No one did. Avner walked into the night back towards the shuttle.
(Author's Note: Young force sensitives can still use the force to varying degrees. Revan I have being able to use on this scale only when someone is in danger otherwise it's only smaller scale like increasing his speed (the last flashback) or sensing other people's feelings and emotions.)