Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Mandalorian Wars
Chapter 22

It was late by the time they left with Justin and the others. Avner hadn't much liked having to answer questions after what happened with the mandalorian, but Justin had managed to smooth everything over and repairs were being seen to. Uncle had left sometime during the day after the attack.

Avner followed Justin from the elevator while Meetra spoke with Reca over the security. After the attack Reca had closed to Avner but seemed to have accepted Meetra now without further question. At least she was speaking with one of them. Tonight she was on duty up here while Zeel commanded those below to make certain no one got in to Justin or his family.

"DAD!" a shout came from another room. The next moment two girls raced into the hall. The smaller of the two raced behind Justin, forcing him to stop. "Daddy," she cried. "Rana won't leave me alone."

"Not true! I was trying to get her to eat dinner with grandpa and Nalin!" the older girl shouted.

"It was icky stuff. Grandpa wanted me to eat icky stuff," the smaller girl complained, she put out her lower lip in a pout as she looked up at Justin.

"Come on, Azra," Reca started as she knelt down before the girl, "everything Uncle cooks is wonderful. Even the vegetables."

"Aunty Reca!" the younger girl, Azra, shouted and hugged Reca. "I'm so happy you're here tonight. Tell them it's not good, please?" she begged Reca.

"You're supposed to eat it!" Rana shout.

"That's enough, both of you!" Sasha glared at her daughters.

"But mom!" both protested.

Two more people had appeared in the main hall. Uncle stood with his hand on the shoulder of a little boy. The boy's eyes were wide as he stared down the hall at Avner and Meetra. "Jedi?" he breathed the question.

This made both of the girls glance at Avner and Meetra. The younger one let out a small noise and ducked around Reca now so that she was hidden from Avner. He frowned. Never before had Avner thought of himself as being scary. Granted Avner had never had to deal with the younglings in the Order, more because the masters feared he might start them on the path to the Dark side.

The boy moved away from Uncle by several paces then looked away from Avner and Meetra to Justin. "Are they staying?" he asked in a soft voice.

"For a time," Justin told the boy, whom Avner was assuming was Justin's son and must have been Nalin.

Nalin's eyes grew wide and raced up to Avner. He stared up at Avner as if he had never seen a Jedi before in his life. Though he might not have seen a Jedi before.

"Hello," Avner said with a smile as knelt down before the boy, "what's your name?"

If it was possible the boy's eyes grew even wider, they would have. "Nalin," he squeaked a little, "Master Jedi, my name's Nalin!"

"It's nice to meet you, Nalin." Avner straightened and looked at Azra.

The little girl had enough courage to peek around Reca's leg before she made another small noise and returned to hiding. She didn't move even when the others turned towards the main living space.

"There is enough food for everyone," Uncle was saying, but Avner kept his attention on the little girl and Reca. "The kids wanted to start eating when you got home, they've not actually started yet," he was telling Justin. Their voices faded and soon Avner was alone in the hall with Reca and Azra.

"Reca," Avner started as he looked from the girl to the woman he had once called his sister, "I—"

"Come on, Azra," – Reca ignored Avner as she scooped Azra into her arms – "I promise the scary Jedi won't harm you while I'm around." As she moved away with the little girl, Reca shot a nasty look over her shoulder at Avner.

Avner watched as she left him alone in the hall. For a moment he just stared after her, expression calm despite the feeling in him. There is no emotion, the opening of the Jedi code did little to ease the raw rejection of his sister. What had happened between them to make her hate him so? He couldn't remember much from the day the Jedi came other than being overwhelmed.

After several long moments, Avner started towards the main room. He stopped and moved to one side so that Nalin wouldn't run headlong into Avner. The boy blinked and turned.

"S-sorry," he stammered. "Come, eat dinner with us." He took Avner's hand and pulled him into the main room before he continued on to the large dining space.

When they arrived, Nalin pointed Avner to one of the seats before he clambered back into the one beside Uncle. Avner hesitated before he moved to the last seat in the room. It was beside Meetra and, sadly, Reca who was seated at the other head of the table across from Justin.

She eyed him as he took the seat. Avner did his best to ignore the glare she was giving him. The only reason this felt worse than ones he'd received in the past but he suspected that was only because of who she was in his past.

The dinner started with an awkward silence. Avner refrained from glancing at those in the room as he bent to the food. The silence persisted. No one seemed willing to break the silence right then.

Justin cleared his throat. The sound pierced the silence and made Avner look at the older man. "What are you trying to find on Cathar?" Justin asked.

It was more to break the silence and Avner knew it. Still the question wasn't one that he wanted to answer, mainly because he didn't have a straight answer to that question. The simplest one would have to do if he answered at all. "The answer to what happened there ten years ago," Avner stated. "It feels as if it has something to do with the Mandalorians."

"Feels?" Reca laughed. "You're dragging around other Jedi, because of a feeling?"

Avner looked at her. "I'm not dragging them anywhere. Where they go is their choice."

"None of us join because we're made to," Meetra chose then to speak. "I know I didn't." She glanced at Avner. "I joined because I believed in what Master is trying to do."

"Then this feeling," Justin started, "is it like the visions so many trust Jedi to have?"

At this, Avner laughed. "Force, no. Visions are easily misinterpreted even more so with those who seek them out. It takes many to find the meaning behind one Jedi's vision. The feeling I spoke of, is just I know there is a connection between Cathar's silence and this war. There is too much blood between the mandalorians and the cathar for their sudden decrease in population to not have something to do with the silence of their homeworld."

Reca snorted at this. "It still sounds like you're wasting the time of your fellow Jedi when you could be acting in the war."

At this Avner narrowed his eyes. He didn't reply to her words, knowing that if he could get away with implementing the plan he already had in place to go behind the council to enter the war, he would have done it. But in doing so, it would cause a rift to splinter the order and further divide them. Even if Avner had given up on the council supporting his actions, he didn't believe that breaking the Order in two was the answer either.

"If we acted in the way you suggest, Commander," Avner started in slow even tones, "it would cause another schism in the Order. The fallout at the end of the war for those Jedi who follow the Revanchists would be great, between outright being banished or heavily reprimanded by the High Council."

"So you don't intend to act after all." Her lips curled in a sneer. "All your promises and actions are meaningless. You're just like every other Jedi. A coward."

Meetra stiffened. He could also feel her trying to reign in her emotions. Avner's only reaction was to smile softly at Reca. He had played more than his fair share of politics to know when someone was just blowing air and trying to get a reaction from him.

"My dear commander," he spoke in smooth tones which had persuaded many politicians to see reason in the past, "that is far from what I said."

"It sure sounded like it," Reca stated, but her tone had lessened a little as if she had noticed the subtle change in Avner's voice and demeanor.

"What I am meaning, is that without the correct circumstance, entering the war in any fashion, even one supported by the council, could be taken the wrong way by the council and thus split the Order. It is wiser to wait and look for a way to create such circumstances than to rush blindly in without seeing all your actions can cause."

Reca seemed caught off guard by his change in tone. But her shock only lasted a few minutes before her eyes flashed a little and she glared at Avner.

If this dragged out much longer he suspected it could turn to a physical fight rather than one of words. And that was the last possible outcome he wanted to happen between him and Reca.

"Thank you for the food," Avner said as he looked towards Justin, Sasha, and Uncle. "I will join the lieutenant's guard detail." With those words, Avner stood. He left his barely touched food and headed towards the elevator. Only once the lift doors had shut did he let out a low breath.

He knew the main reason this was hard was because who she was in his past. Reca and Meca had been closer to him than any blood. In fact the only one who was now closer would have to be Alek.

The lift stopped and Avner stepped out to see that Zeel was looking towards the lift. The lieutenant was frowning. "I thought you were helping keep watch above."

"Meetra is more than capable of doing so. I can be of more assistance down here." It was true enough. Away from Reca's anger it was easier to think and spread out his awareness.

Zeel's frown deepened, but he didn't try to ask more.

Instead of stopping to chat, Avner moved off to make a round of the place. When he returned most of the guard was still in the same position they had been.

Avner moved back and leaned against a wall away from the guards. The looks some of the guard had cast him told him he wasn't really welcome here. But he couldn't honestly blame them either. After all they knew was their senator had invited the Revanchist Leader to aid them in protecting him.

Several hours passed in silence before Avner sensed someone approaching him. He didn't turn to them but he knew it had to be the lieutenant.

"Justin told me what happened over dinner," the lieutenant started. "Little Runner, you're leaving was confusing for the younger members of the family and was extremely hard on Reca especially."

Avner turned to Zeel. "Her hatred is deeper than just that matter, Lieutenant," Avner stated.

At this Zeel laughed a little. "Perhaps part of it is because you're acting so distant. We're your family, Little Runner, even if we've not seen one another in nearly thirty years."

A small breath escaped Avner. "I've not thought on the years here since I was youngling," he confessed. "It's not that I forgot you guys, it's just—"

Zeel laughed. "I'm not complaining, Little." The lieutenant leaned against the wall beside Avner. "I think all of us knew that you would be doing well with the Jedi in our own way. And we had each accepted the fact we would never see you again. Then, yesterday, you just appearing out of nowhere again, not only a Jedi, but the leader of the Revanchists, was a shock."

"To be honest I wasn't expecting to see any of you while here."

"All but Uncle."

Avner smiled. "For one his diner was the only one we could afford and for another I hadn't said goodbye to him before I left."

"Hey, I understand. If I had left without being able to say goodbye to Uncle I think I would have gone crazy."

Avner cocked an eyebrow at this. Perhaps a part of him had been going crazy at not having been able to say goodbye to Uncle. But most of that time was still a blur despite the memories which had been slowly returning to him while they were here.

x – Twenty-eight years ago – x

It was warm here. Almost too warm. It felt as if Little Runner had fallen asleep deep within a dream where all was warm and comforting. It wasn't right. It was all wrong. His mind felt sluggish with the warmth. He couldn't remember what had happened before now or anything like that.

Then slowly, images came to him of the time he'd spent with Uncle. How excited he had been to get home and tell the others all he had learned about the Jedi. Then falling and the cold wrapping around him.

Was he gone then? Dead? Was this what it felt like to die? Questions rushed through him in a mixed array of dread and fear. He didn't want to die. He wanted to help his family and dying wasn't the way to do it.

Something wet trickled down his forehead.

Little Runner cracked open his eyes to a dark ceiling. A blurred figure was moving over him, back currently turned. He blinked. The person moved again. A smiling face came into focus over Little Runner. But it wasn't the smile which made Little Runner stare at this strange man. It was his eyes.

A nasty scar covered one of his eyes and formed around a piece of glowing metal. His other eye was normal and a warm brown. "Looks like you're a little fighter," the man's voice was light and warm.

Little Runner blinked. His eyes traveled over the rest of the man's face. His hair was dark, almost blending into the room. "Who… you?" Little Runner tried to ask but the words slurred a little. It was hard to talk. His eyes were still heavy and it was a fight to keep them open.

"Hush, little one," the man told him. "You're safe for now."

Little Runner blinked. Hush? Safe? He blinked again and turned his head. It throbbed with pain at the movement but Little Runner was too curious to care about the pain. He wanted to see where he was and know who this stranger was who'd helped a street kid like him.

No adults helped street kids outside of Uncle and the woman Justin saw who worked at the orphanage. So why was he helping Little Runner now? It didn't make sense.

"Why?" he muttered through a heavy tongue.

"Hush," the man repeated and placed a cool cloth on Little Runner's forehead. "And stay still. You're running a fever," the man told him. Then sighed. "Not that you'll know what that is at your age."

Fever. The word sent a jolt of fear through Little Runner like nothing else had. Justin had told him stories about kids who got fevers and were rushed to the orphanage or Uncle for help. None of those kids had made it.

"I going to die?" Little Runner forced out the words again. Somehow the fear wasn't making his voice shake. He didn't want to die, but he also didn't want to show this man he was scared of a fever either.

At this the man chuckled. "Force, no." His good eye shown a little with laughter. "Where did you hear something like that?"

"Force?" Little Runner felt the unfamiliar word roll off his heavy tongue before he could stop himself.

The man blinked at him, all humor gone. "Get some sleep," he told Little Runner. "I'll explain more to you when you wake again."

Little Runner didn't have the strength to argue with the man. The strange energy he'd felt twice before was pulling at him, lulling him to sleep. The power, it was of the Jedi. This was Little Runner's last thought before he drifted to a dreamless sleep.

A soft sound woke Little Runner with a start. He blinked back the fog of sleep. Instead of the darkness, a soft blue light greeted. He blinked again and glanced around. The light faded as did the odd warmth that had come from it.

Little Runner blinked again. He felt much better and strong enough he could sit up. He pushed himself up and glanced around the room.

"You really are a little fighter," laughed the man.

Little Runner looked towards him. The man settled himself into the chair which had been placed by the long, soft cloud Little Runner had been sleeping on. He assumed this was what a bed was, but he'd never seen one before now only read about it.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Little Runner asked then flushed as he realized he'd just done what Sasha had taught him not to do. "S-sorry," he mumbled. "Thank you for helping me, Ser."

The man smiled at Little Runner. "You're quite welcome," he bowed his head, dark hair falling from its pony tail around his narrow face. "To answer your questions, I'm Knight Marcus of the Jedi Order and these are the rooms I was given for my stay here on Telos."

A Jedi? Little Runner felt as if his eyes might pop out of his head and jaw would fall off as he stared at the man. At the Jedi. "Really?" he breathed. "You're really a Jedi? One of the defenders of the Republic?" Little Runner tucked his legs under him as he stared at the Jedi. A Jedi who had helped him of all people. "I've read a lot about Jedi and the wars and how you all defend the Republic. And—"

"Whoa," – Marcus held up his hands – "slow down. You read? But you can't be older than three." There was now confusion in the Jedi. Little Runner could feel it in him as he could feel the fear in the twins.

"Uncle taught me to read with my sisters," he told the Jedi, puffing out his chest a little. "I wanna learn all I can about the world so I can help my family," he couldn't stop himself for saying this. He flushed and bowed his head. A Jedi wouldn't care about such things like that. "Sorry," he muttered.

The Jedi smiled warmly at Little Runner. "We should get you back to your family then," he told Little Runner. "I'm certain your parents are worried about you." The way he said this was a little curious to Little Runner.

"Yeah…" he muttered this as well. "Can we just go to Uncle's diner?" he asked. "Uncle can see me the rest of way home," he told the Jedi.

There were more questions he wanted to ask the Jedi but bit them back. A Jedi wouldn't have more time for a street kid like Little Runner.

"All right." Marcus stood and held out his hand to Little Runner.

Little Runner blinked at the offered hand. Then he took it. But released the Jedi's hand quickly.

It took a lot for Little Runner not to ask the Jedi questions as they traveled to Uncle's diner in a speeder. The silence was broken by the Jedi. "I would like to speak with your parents if that's possible," he told Little Runner.

"They're not on Telos," Little Runner replied. It wasn't a lie. In fact it was the fullest truth. He didn't know where his parents were or if he even had any.

"So you're staying with your uncle until they get back?"

My uncle? The thought was weird. "Yeah." Little Runner felt a twinge of guilt as he said this. This time it had been a lie. But, for some reason, he didn't want to tell the Jedi he was a street kid. A part of him was scared the Jedi would make Little leave his family and force Meca and Reca to live with adults when they were so very scared of them. He didn't want to see his sisters hurt.

"Is this the place?" Marcus asked as they stopped near to Uncle's diner.

"Yeah!" Little Runner leapt out of the speeder and raced around for the side door. But before he could go more than two or three steps the Jedi stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm seeing you all the way in, little one."

Little Runner couldn't argue, but he'd also never been in through the front door before. He swallowed his nervous and walked behind the Jedi. Marcus led him into the diner. There were a few people eating who glanced towards them.

All of them were staring. But they weren't staring at Little Runner. Rather their eyes were locked on the Jedi.

"Welcome," a droid greeted the Jedi. "May I see you to a seat, Master Jedi?"

"I would like to speak with the owner," he told the droid.

"One moment please, he's in the back." The droid's metal feet clicked against the warn floor. It vanished into the back room before reappearing a moment later with Uncle.

Little Runner shifted and stared down at his toes.

"Are you the owner?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, I'm Alan Tarvon, Master Jedi. What can I do for you?" Uncle bowed his head to the Jedi.

"I found your nephew a few days ago," Marcus said and gestured to Little Runner.

"My nephew?" Uncle asked before he noticed Little Runner. "Little!" he exclaimed and knelt down before Little Runner. "Thank you, Master Jedi. We were worried when he didn't come back."

"It wasn't a problem," Marcus said with a smile. "He's a tough little fighter." He smiled down at Little Runner and Uncle.

Uncle straightened. "I'll see him the rest of the way home. Thank you again, Master Jedi. I wish I had some way to repay you."

"Nothing is needed," Marcus said as he held up one hand. "Only, when his parents get back, have them contact the Order. I would like to speak with them."

"On?" Uncle asked.

Little Runner moved a little behind Uncle. Not certain what else to do and not liking the tone which seemed to have settled between them. He only hoped that Uncle wouldn't state that Little Runner had lied about having parents.

"That is a matter to discuss with the boy's parents." With those words, Marcus bowed his head to Uncle. "Have a nice day." With those words the Jedi left the diner.

For several long moments Little Runner watched him go beside Uncle.

"Come on, Little," Uncle placed his hand on Little Runner's shoulder. "The others have been worried sick about you."

"You're not mad at me?" Little Runner asked as he followed Uncle toward the back room.

"I'm a little upset you lied to both me and that Jedi," Uncle stated. He looked down at Little Runner. "You should have told him you are an orphan, Little Runner."

"Why?"

Uncle sighed. "He could have given you a far better life than this."

"But I like the life I have and my family," Little Runner stated, not understanding what Uncle was telling him.

Before Uncle could reply a shout sounded, "Little Runner!"

Little Runner was swept up into a tight embrace by Reca.

"I should never have said 'no.' I should have come with you," Reca wept a little, holding him all the tighter.

A small gasp escaped Little Runner. It felt as if his lungs were being squeezed dry of air.

"Reca, you're struggling him," Sasha's soft voice sounded behind Reca.

"Oh," – Reca released Little Runner, her blue checks stained purple with a blush – "sorry, Little."

"I'm happy to see you too." He smiled at them. "Can we go home now?" he asked. "I promise I'll never do something like that again."

"You'd better not," Sasha wagged her finger at him before pulling him into a short embrace. "But we can go home now. The others will be happy to see you." She turned to Uncle. "Thank you, Uncle, for everything."

"It wasn't my doing. Little, if you ever see that Jedi again, be certain to thank him."

"I will," Little Runner promised. But for some reason he didn't want to see that Jedi again.

x – Twenty-eight years ago – x

"Try to speak with Reca," Zeel told Avner. "I'm certain she won't stay angry forever."

"Perhaps," Avner stated. He turned his gaze on the dark sky. It would be dawn soon enough.

"Besides, I know Sasha wanted time to speak with you," Zeel continued. "Heck, I had wanted time to speak with you as well." Zeel clapped Avner on the shoulder. "No matter what happens, it is good to see you again, brother."

The two of them fell silent as they waited for the dawn. Avner was lost in thought, but most of it wasn't over his family. Rather his mind had shifted back to the mandalorians and their plans for the galaxy. It wouldn't be long now until Taris was attacked. Force, Avner wouldn't have put it passed them to have already attack and thus declared open war on the Republic. The problem still rested with the Jedi Council.

After a time, Avner straightened. "I'll speak with her," he told Zeel.

"Good." Zeel smiled. "Let's head up."

The two of them entered the lift together. However when they exited on the floor which housed the senator and his family, Meetra was waiting for them.

"Master," she started and smiled, her blue eyes alight.

"Was everything quiet?" he asked her in way of greeting.

"For all but the cries a baby," Meetra replied with a small shrug. "I didn't sense any danger outside all night or in."

"Good." Baby?

Zeel chuckled. "That would be little Hanna, their newest child."

"I got to meet her last night," she said, her tones were even now and she turned to Avner. "I'll head down to stand guard with the security below," she told Avner, changing the subject. "One of us should be down there just in case." She walked passed Avner and Zeel into the lift.

Avner followed Zeel into the main room to see that Justin was already up and sitting with his son and the second youngest girl. By the sounds coming from the kitchen, Avner knew that Uncle had to be in there… either that or it was Sasha. He had to admit he didn't know them anymore.

"I just heard it was all quiet up here last night," Zeel stated to Reca who was glaring at Avner. "But I would like to hear it from you."

"All quiet, Ser!" she told him as she straightened.

"That's good."

Avner walked over to the corner and knelt down. He closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. The Force flowed through him and he immersed himself completely in its flow. If he so wanted he could have peered into the future right then, forcing a vision of events that might come to pass, but he didn't. Rather he moved the Force through him to rejuvenate his energy and his body.

The only other times he'd used meditation in place of sleep were during long guard stents like this one or when there hadn't been time left for him to sleep. He would be the first to admit that meditation had somewhat replaced sleep over the past few months on Cathar. There had been so much to see to and organize.

His breathing and heartrate slowed until it matched the ebb and flow of the Force through him. There were masters who had perfected meditation to the point they could enter the state for months if not years and survive. It was only done in extreme cases however. Most of the time when the Jedi was trapped or captured.

"Is he dead, daddy?" a small voice asked as Avner moved himself out of the deep meditation.

He opened his eyes to see little Nalin kneeling before Avner with his sister.

"You're not dead!" The boy exclaimed while the little girl squeaked and raced over to Reca.

Justin laughed. "Of course he wasn't dead, Nalin."

"What were you doing then?" Nalin stared up at Avner.

"Meditating," Avner replied with a small smile at the boy.

"Wow," the boy's eyes glowed, then he frowned and asked, "What's meda-meti-matitating?"

Avner forced back a laugh and instead smiled. "A form of relaxing," was the only way he could think of how to explain it to the boy.

The boy blinked and tilted his head to one side. There was a curiosity in the boy that reminded Avner of himself when he had been younger. The boy didn't ask anything else though and instead stood and raced over to his sister.

"Let's play!"

Avner stood, keeping one eye on the children as they raced away, laughing. The sight of Reca moving towards him made Avner turn his attention from the children.

"Morning, Commander," he said with a bow if his head.

Reca scowled. "Can you stop that?" she demanded.

Avner cocked an eyebrow in silent question.

"Stop being formal when your fellow Jedi isn't here," she growled.

"Perhaps, if you stop being so angry," he stated.

This only made her scowl deepen. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. "You're not the Little Runner I remember," the words were meant to be harsh, but Avner found them rather amusing instead.

"Of course I'm not." He smiled at her. "After all nearly thirty years have passed. It's unlikely someone wouldn't change after so long. You're also not the Reca I remember."

Instead of giving a snide remark or something that might be taken as insulting, she blinked. Then she did what Avner had least expected. She laughed. "I suppose you're right. Both of us have changed. For one, you're taller than I am now."

Avner frowned, but didn't otherwise react to her sudden change in the way she was treating. It was odd; yet, he suspected that Justin, Sasha, or Uncle had something to do with her sudden change of heart towards him.

"I'm sorry about everything I said the past couple of days," Reca continued. "Can we start over, Little?" She held out her hand to him.

A moment passed where Avner did nothing. It was odd for this to happen. Most of the time when people had their mind made up about him it took a lot more than this to make up for it. Yet, he could still sense her unease and a small flicker of anger towards deep beneath the surface. This meant she hadn't changed her mind about him. All this was, was a façade for Justin, Sasha, and Zeel who were watching the two of them closely.

No matter the intentions behind it, Avner did want the chance to mind matters between him and his sister. At least try to mend them before he left.

Avner took her head. "We can."

(Author's Note: It's been a long time since I touched this story. But there is just something about Revan and his story that cheers me up after a really bad day and I mean a really bad day.

I think the way to get me to write this is if I follow the old cannon up until the point I hate it then make it into an alt reality. That should get me writing this story more. Not that many people read it, but hey, oh well…

Also for anyone who might ask (big might), yes, the Marcus in the flashback is the same Marcus Avner spoke with several chapters ago. He is a recurring character in this story/ series.)