Chapter Forty-Three: The Monastery

The only word I could use to describe the structure I was currently climbing was 'monastery.' I wasn't sure if that's what it truly was, but the feeling was there. The grand halls and towering staircases. The solemn sense in the air.

And the power that dwelled there.

I scaled the last staircase to find myself in a long room. At one point, I might have called it a throne room. But I'd seen enough temples in the past months of traveling and learning that it was a greeting hall...as well as a meditation room.

The looming figure of an old man rested at the far end of the blue tinted room. He was kneeling on a raised pedestal, two statues of creatures I'd never seen on either side. His eyes were closed, but I felt his presence. He was incredibly strong with the Force. Almost...made out of it entirely.

I drew a pistol slowly, carefully moving down the long hall towards the figure. He didn't open his eyes, but I knew he felt me there. He let me get to the edge of his pedestal before his eyes opened, revealing bright blue eyes that almost seemed to be glowing.

"I did not call you here," he said. He wasn't incriminating, nor hostile. He was just making a statement in a gentle tone. But power resonated behind it, his voice sounding almost layered.

Slowly, I let my pistol drop to my side. I did not feel threatened by this man. "I'll assume you're the Father," I mused aloud. "Your daughter already told me that you didn't call me." After a beat of silence, I allowed myself to sit down across from the man, my legs folding together.

To my surprise, the Father gave me a small smile. His face was covered in wrinkles, a long grey beard falling down his chest. His garments were extravagant and expensive looking, but something told me he didn't purchase them.

"You are very young, considering the knowledge you have attained."

My eyebrows lifted. "What do you mean?"

"You hold an understanding of the Force many of your world no longer possess."

I watched the old man closely, feeling him out with both my eyes and the Force. Before answering, I let my senses stretch to the world itself, my gaze examining the pedestal he rested upon better.

"Your daughter," I thought aloud, glancing up at one of the statues, the stone a bright white. "She follows the Light, but within you, I sense both."

"As there is within yourself. Still, you have yet to call me a sith."

I glanced down at my hands as I holstered my weapon. "Things are not always so rigid. A friend taught me that."

"Another force wielder, I assume. Like myself."

I smiled to myself, thinking of the massive being I'd found on Atollon. His teaching methods had been...interesting. But they produced results all the same. "Yes. He was old. Ancient, even." I regarded the being before me again. "Though I feel you are even more so."

"Yes," the Father allowed, giving me a smile. "I am the balance between my daughter," he gestured to the white statue before turning to the one on his other side-an imposing figure of black stone. "And my son. My children and I can manipulate the Force like no other. We withdrew from the temporal world and live here as anchorites."

I looked away. "I wouldn't like that."

"It's a sanctuary. And a prison," the Father allowed. "I suspect your abilities in the Dark Side drew my son to you."

"Your son? Did he call me here?"

"He must have," the Father thought aloud as he stroked his beard. "His power is only growing as mine weakens. When I used my abilities to call out to the Chosen One, he must have reached out to you."

"Why me?"

"My son, as he is tempted more and more by the Dark, yearns to escape this world."

I tilted my head. "Why can't he? Why must he stay here? Why must any of you stay here?"

"Because the very Force of the universe flows through this place," the Father explained, rising slowly with incredible grace. "If balance is lost here, it is lost in your world as well. Should my son leave, he would wreak havoc on your world."

I found myself grateful that I thought to disable my ship before leaving it. "I still don't understand what that has to do with me. Wouldn't he need this Chosen One?"

"Yes," the Father agreed. "Though your connection to ancient Dark powers surely piqued his interest. Should he fail to coerce the Chosen One, he may resort to you."

I lifted my eyebrow. "He won't be getting anything from me."

"Do not underestimate my son. He is clever and incredibly powerful." The Father's eyes lifted to the doorway I had entered through. "The Chosen One is arriving with his friends. They will be here soon."

My breath hitched in my throat, my nerves setting ablaze again. "I would leave," I offered. "But my ship is missing."

The Father watched me a for a moment, thinking. I could feel him searching my thoughts. "No. While I did not call you here, your connection to the Chosen One and your views of the Force may help him realize his destiny."

"Why do you think Anakin is the Chosen One?" I asked, trying to deter the whole situation.

"You do not?" He seemed genuinely curious about my viewpoint, though I decided I was unlikely to change his mind.

"Someone tried to offer me a prophecy before. Tried to get me to fill a role I didn't want." I looked sideways, avoiding his intense gaze. "I don't think prophecies are real. They're stories that we do our best to abide by."

The Father hummed in mild amusement. "Perhaps. But it was foretold that the Chosen One would come here. That he would bring balance. He must take my place and control my children."

"Take your place? Anakin won't stay here. I know him well enough to say that."

"If he realizes his destiny, then he will." I knew that the Father would be disappointed when Anakin inevitably told him to go screw himself. The old man watched me for a moment before sighing. "Whether or not my son brought you here, the Force is what willed you to be here. All will take place as it should. The Chosen One will arrive by nightfall. Until then, please," He gestured to a doorway leading from the meditation room. "You are my guest."

"Your imbalance is terribly loud," the ancient creature said from where he sat amongst the coral-like landscape of Atollon. "You must be empty. There is only the Force."

I grunted as I sat before him, meditating as he instructed. "Except there isn't. There's other people. And my club. And my work. My ship. The war."

Bendu hummed, his voice reverberating on the quiet world. "Yes. But I do not speak of the imbalance in the universe. I speak of that which is within you."

I opened my eyes, sighing. "How can I balance myself when I have to consider all those things?"

"When you are fighting as a hunter, do you fear for your life?"

"Of course I-" I stopped myself, thinking. "No. I don't."

"Where does your focus lie then?"

'On…surviving. On keeping both myself and others alive."

Bendu hummed again. "You find a balance."

"That's still motivated by fear, though. Fear of failure. Even if death doesn't frighten me...losing others does."

"Perhaps," my friend allowed. "All creatures fear death, save those that are assured in the Force. This jedi that you learn from, for instance," he explained, referencing Qui-Gon, who I had told Bendu about. "Has experienced death, but found a new life through the Force."

"Not everyone can do that, though," I argued.

"No. Though we are all connected through the living Force, not all can wield it."

I breathed slowly. "So how do I really find a balance? Live in the Bendu as you do?"

The ancient being smiled at me, shifting in his massive form. "You have eyes and scanners, but cannot truly see."

I arched my brow. Having been on the planet for a few days, I'd learned that while Bendu was rather blunt, he had good intentions. "And what does that mean?"

"When you first arrived, did you scan the planet?"

"Of course I did."

"And what did you find?" Bendu leaned forward, his deep grey eyes alight with interest.

I shrugged. "It's not inhabited by any sentient beings, besides yourself, of course. There's plenty of fauna, both above and below ground."

Bendu hummed. "What of the creatures below ground?"

"I don't know." I was struggling to follow what he was talking about. "There were tunnels beneath the stones with massive creatures inside. I decided not to look into it."

"And why not?"

I leaned backwards, letting my spine relax. "In my experience, most creatures that live underground just try to kill me." I felt Bendu watching my mind as I thought of Geonosis and Vanqor.

"Tell me, did I appear on your scanners?"

I thought for a moment. "No. I only found you when you called to me."

"Because your imbalance woke me from my slumber. Don't you see? Your scanners did not see me. Even your eyes betrayed you when you first answered my call. Only through the Force did you truly see me."

He was right, of course. As he so often had been the past few days. When I had first heard his voice in my mind, I pursued it. Part of me was just curious. Another wanted to be sure I wasn't walking into another situation like I had with Darth Bane.

"So...are you saying that these creatures below ground are sentient like you?"

Bendu smiled. "No. But like me, they are not what they first seem to be. You must truly see them to be able to understand."

I watched him carefully as he pointed to a hole in the ground not far from us. "Go in." I sighed lowly, breathing out through my nose. I rose slowly, my fingers tapping restlessly on my blaster as I walked into the cave. "You will not need that," Bendu called after me.

I hummed, glancing at him over my shoulder. "Whenever someone says that, I usually end up needing it."

Bendu frowned at me, but allowed me to walk into the cave with my weapon anyways.

I shot upright not because the memories stopped flowing within my dreams, but because I felt a presence in the room. I rolled immediately, finding my pistol and training it on the dark corner of the room.

After being fed by the Father, he had led me to a simple bedroom with a tall window that looked out over his domain. The room was dark at the moment, save for the dim light streaming in past the rain.

A flash of lightning illuminated the room, revealing a familiar looking helmet and beskar armor. Every part of me screamed to pull the trigger. But I couldn't. The blue and silver armor were exact. Enough to make me believe that just maybe...it was possible.

"You're...you're dead," I whispered hoarsely, my hand shaking as I gripped the pistol.

"Nothing ever really dies, ad'ika." The voice, though modulated through the helmet, was identical to that of the man I once called father.

"J-Jango?" I breathed, my pistol falling to my side. The bounty hunter before me removed his helmet, revealing the scarred face of Jango Fett. His expression was sad, but his eyes were warm as he regarded me. "Buir?"

"Kida," he greeted with a small nod. "I have a secret to tell you."

When he spoke those words, something shifted in my gut. Something felt wrong, his speech almost echoing as the Father's had in the monastery. My hand curled a little tighter around my pistol, but I kept it at my side. "Then tell me."

"Everything you've done. Everything you've been through. Has brought you here. To this moment."

"And what moment is that?"

"Where you decide your role in the fate of the galaxy." I took a half step backwards as Jango tried to come closer.

"Who are you? Jango is dead."

"As is the jedi you spoke with before."

"That's different," I argued, squinting against another flash of lightning. "He was a Force wielder. Like whatever you are."

Jango hummed, watching me. "You once blamed yourself for my death."

"I don't anymore."

"Did you avenge me?"

I hesitated, watching his face. I knew it wasn't Jango, but seeing him. Hearing him ask that question...it almost broke me. I took a long breath. "There was nothing to avenge. Your actions and involvement in the war brought you to your death. Not me."

"Yes, this war," Jango mused. "Don't you want peace? A galaxy without war?"

"Of course."

"Then there is something you must do." I stared at him, my knuckles turning white around the grip of my gun. "The Chosen One is here, but he resists his role. You once did the same, did you not?"

"I am not the Sith'ari," I declared firmly. "And you are not Jango."

"No," the being allowed, pacing the room. As he moved, I saw the face of my mentor melt away to reveal pasty white skin with red eyes and a black robe. "But you could still tip the balance in my favor here."

I lifted my pistol, aiming it at his chest. "Who are you?"

The being glowered at me before hissing, "Your fate!" The room flashed with lightning, the man morphing into a horrible creature with wings. He looked like the statue I'd seen in the Father's sanctuary. I screamed, pulling my trigger. But by the time the bolt illuminated the room, the man was gone.

I rushed from the room, pistol still in hand, but he was nowhere to be found. Disturbed and no longer wishing for rest, I donned my gear and headed back through the halls where I knew the Father was still meditating. As I walked, I felt another presence. One I knew.

Anakin.

I was silent as I entered the meditation hall, my stomach lurching when I saw the young Jedi Knight. He had drawn his blue saber, holding it daringly close to the Father's nose. Yet, the Father had yet to react, his face placid in meditation.

"Cannot sleep?" the Father asked, never even opening his eyes. "To strike an unarmed man is hardly the Jedi way."

"You're a Sith Lord," Anakin returned, growling the words. I began to step into the room slowly, my hand relaxing away from my holstered pistol.

I knew the Father felt me, but he continued to address Anakin as if I wasn't there. "You have a very simple view of the universe. I am neither sith nor jedi.

The Father opened his eyes. "I am much more...and so are you."

"I see through your spells and visions, old man," Anakin declared "Tell me what is going on here!"

"Skywalker, enough," I called from the shadows, stepping forward as Anakin became more aggressive. The man turned my way only briefly, unsure what to believe. He seemed confused.

I had to admit, I looked different. The same scars still littered my face, but now it was framed by hair that reached my chin. Most of it was pulled back in a small ponytail, but some had fallen out during my restless sleep.

Before Anakin had a chance to respond to my presence, the Father reached up, curling his gnarled digits around Anakin's lightsaber. He stood, still holding the blade easily. "Some called us Force Wielders," he explained, pushing the top of the blade to disengage the weapon.

Anakin glanced at his lightsaber hilt in confusion before declaring, "The Jedi have never spoken of this."

The Father hummed as I stepped further into the light, Anakin glancing at me warily. "Few still know of our existence."

"In that room," Anakin said, pointing towards the dormitories I had emerged from as well. "My mother came to me. But it was not her. It was something else." He seemed angry, his emotions in turmoil.

I decided to enter the conversation again. "I had a visitor as well," I announced, crossing my arms to look at the Father. "I assume that was your son?"

The Father stroked his beard. "I suspect. We can take many forms. The shapes we embody are merely a reflection of the life force around us." He glanced at me. "You both carry great sadness in your hearts."

Anakin glanced at me briefly, but I refused to meet his gaze, instead watching the Father descend from his meditation platform. He launched into an explanation as he had given me earlier that day, describing their power and how they chose to live here, instead of living as part of the galaxy.

"As a sanctuary?" Anakin asked, calming down slowly.

The Father looked sad. "And a prison. You cannot imagine what pain it is to have such love for your children and realize that they could tear the very fabric of our universe."

"I don't...understand." I stepped forward to stand a bit closer to Anakin. Maybe it was the confusion in his words. But something within him called for comfort. I wasn't sure I could provide it, considering how long it had been since we talked. But Anakin and I had left on good terms. At least, I felt that way.

"It is only here that I can control them," the Father explained. "A family in balance, the light and the dark, day with night, destruction replaced by creation."

Anakin glanced at me, earning a shrug. "Then why reveal yourselves to us? And how did you get here?" The last question was for me.

"Your friend was drawn here, same as you. The Force has willed it to be so." The Father turned away for a moment, getting solemn. "There are some who would like to exploit our power. The Sith are but one. Too much dark or light would be the undoing of life as you understand it."

"The Bendu," I muttered, earning raised eyebrows from the room. Still, what the Father said made sense. My friend on Atollon had said similar things.

"When news reached me that the Chosen One had been found," the Father continued. "I needed to see for myself."

All eyes were on Anakin now. "The Chosen One is a myth."

The energy in the room shifted as the Father seemed almost amused. "Is it? I should very much like to know. Why don't we find out together? Pass one test, and I shall know the truth."

The Force rippled with a sense of foreboding. I hoped Anakin felt it too.

"Then," the Father explained, waving his hand to me. "You and your friends may leave."

I frowned, remembering the Father's wishes for Anakin to stay and take his place. While I appreciated the man's view of balance, I also knew what living in the gray meant. It meant that while things were often done for good, bad things could happen in order to maintain balance. Thus, the being before us may very well have sinister intentions.

While I felt no real threat from him, I felt anxiety for what was to come. The Force whispered in my ear, telling me to get Anakin and get out of there.

The Father turned without another word as Anakin silently conceded to participate in this test. He glanced at me as he moved to follow, his eyes expectant. I sighed lowly, falling into step with him as we followed the Father through the labyrinth of halls.

"You certainly took my words to heart," he commented out of the blue, earning a raised brow from me. "I told you to be careful," he clarified. "You haven't been seen by nearly any Republic informants."

"Nearly?" I asked, glancing sideways at him with a small smile. "Could have sworn I avoided all of them."

"Not all," Anakin said, returning the smile. "We heard about your doing some work on Nal Hutta, Cato Neimoidia, and even Naboo. Daring of you to go to Republic planets, by the way."

"I was on Coruscant, too," I commented. "I do have a club there."

"Yeah, but you were never seen in it," he grinned. "Clones still go there, you know."

I hummed. "So, are you going to try and get the bounty on me, then?"

"Bounty?" Anakin chuckled. "The Republic removed the bounty on your head a long time ago."

That nearly made me trip over my own feet. I looked over the jedi in blatant confusion. "Removed it? But Hondo…" Then again, I'd last seen Hondo back when I was training under Darth Bane. That had been months prior. I breathed slowly. "Who lifted it?"

"Well, Padme fought pretty hard for you in the Senate. But the Council proposed it."

My heart lifted, just a fraction. "I'm...glad to hear they don't want me dead."

"They never did. Obi-wan and I never would have let that happen."

I gave Anakin a genuine smile now. "Thank you. You look good. I like your new robes." I earned a chuckle from the jedi.

"Yeah, you too. You seem...different."

I shrugged. "I am different. I've learned a lot."

"Did you figure out what you had to? What was speaking to you?"

I hummed. "All in good time, Skywalker." Despite trusting the man I once called a friend, I didn't want to immediately jump out and disclose my dealings with a Sith Lord. Not after learning the bounty was lifted. I sobered slowly as the Father led us towards a huge door, the morning light beginning to pour through. "Anakin, I have to warn you. I don't understand what these beings are, but they want you to be the Chosen One."

"It's a myth," Anakin assured.

"Believe me," I sighed. "I'd be the first to tell you that prophecies can be wrong or misplaced...but the Force's will rings true. And everyone knows you're incredibly strong with the Force."

The jedi hummed to himself, determination rippling from him. "I just need to take this test and then we can all go."

"Maybe," I commented as we exited the sanctuary into what looked a bit like an arena. "But I sense something coming, Skywalker. Something dangerous."

He didn't have a chance to respond as the Father turned to look at us. "You must stay here," he said, pointing to me. He then turned and carefully floated down from the platform to enter the arena.

Anakin glanced at me at the edge, ready to follow. "Be careful," I called after him. He gave me a nod before leaping down after the Father.

I watched from above as they moved to the center, the floor decorated to portray balance between light and dark. I knew better than to follow. I'd just watched the Father grab a lightsaber without flinching. What could I do against his wishes?

"It is time you faced your guilt," he said to Anakin, his voice reverberating up to me. "And know the truth."

A screech drew our gazes skyward, showing two terrible creatures flying above us. One glowed with light, the other darker than the night sky. They were the statues that rested beside the Father's meditation platform.

The Son and Daughter. In the form of these...creatures.

And in their talons, were Obi-wan and Ahsoka. The children set themselves and their prey on the ground on opposite ends of the arena, each facing Anakin.

The Son let out a terrible screech, the hair raising on my arms. "Whatever it wants," I heard Ahsoka yell from the Son's grasp. "Don't do it, Master!"

"Let them go," Anakin demanded. "I will not play your games!"

The Father chuckled. "Oh, but I think you will. I have ordered my children to kill your friends. The question is…" The Father disappeared from the arena, making me jump as he appeared beside me again. "Which one will you choose to save? Your master? Or your apprentice?"

I moved up beside the Father, hand touching my pistol again. "This is insane," I declared, teeth grinding. "You said they could go free!"

The Father ignored me and I knew I stood no threat to him in that moment, weapons or not. "You must now release the guilt and free yourself by choosing!"

"No!" Anakin screamed.

"Their powers are too strong for us, Anakin," Obi-wan called. "Save Ahsoka!"

"Let them go!" Anakin demanded.

"Only you can make my children release them," the Father responded adamantly. I stepped forward to the Father, training my weapon on him.

"This is ridiculous. You will not murder these jedi." The Father waved his hand dismissively, my pistol flying from my grasp to clatter across the hall. With a growl, I moved to jump down into the arena, my fingers reaching back to draw the lightsaber. While wielding it felt wrong, the kyber screaming in my mind...I wasn't going to let them die for this sick test. I couldn't.

But just as my feet left the platform, I was thrown back onto it, my breath pushed from my chest. "Stay here," the Father demanded, his voice bellowing. I felt his power over me, keeping my in place, my pistol having flown from my grasp.

"Anakin!" I heard Obi-wan scream from below. "The planet is the Force. Use it!" Perhaps Kenobi believed his former padawan was the Chosen One, too.

It only took a moment for me to feel the power resonating through Skywalker. I felt him focus himself, his signature rippling through the planet's very core. When he spoke, his voice was layered, as the Father's had been.

"You will let them go!" he yelled, thrusting his hands outwards to send a shockwave through the ground. He lifted both children in the air, forcing them to drop their prey, before throwing them hard against the arena walls. Above us, the sky shifted rapidly between night and day, the wind howling. The designs on the arena floor began to glow, sparkling like the night sky.

The Father's grip loosened on me, but I was no longer trying to leap into the arena. If anything...it seemed like Anakin had things under control. As the creatures found their footing again, they returned quickly to stalking their prey.

Anakin would have none of that. "Down!" he screamed, dragging both of the children away from his friends. He pulled them before him, forcing them to the ground. "On your knees!" The arena shook with power, lightning flashing. The creatures melted away, revealing their humanoid forms, both panting and kneeling in defeat.

As Anakin calmed, the sky stopped shifting, returning to the early morning sun. The Father floated down the the arena, my own feet leading me after him in a moment. "Now you see who you truly are," the Father expressed as he approached Anakin. "Only the Chosen One could tame both my children."

Anakin was out of breath, everything about his demeanor showing how exhausted he was. "I've taken your test. Now fulfill your promise and let us go."

"Ah, but first, you must understand the truth," the Father argued, earning a frown from me. "Now, all of you, leave us."

My frown deepened, watching as Ahsoka leaned closer to her master. "Do not trust him."

Skywalker gave his padawan a look. "You think?"

"I said leave us," the Father repeated with more power. I gave the Force-wielder a once over before conceding to the command, following Ahsoka and Obi-wan from the arena. The Son and Daughter were right behind us.

We entered the next room in unsure silence, my gaze sliding over the horizon, watching the plants receive new life with the morning. I could feel eyes on me.

"I told you to leave," the Daughter said finally, her expression angry.

I glanced her way. "I tried, princess. But someone moved my ship." I growled my words at her, but she seemed nothing short of surprised. Her eyes cut to her brother, who was doing his best to stick to the shadows of the room. My own gaze moved over to the young Togruta. I could tell she wanted to say something, but was unsure. We hadn't seen each other since she'd saved me from Aurra.

She'd grown over the last year. Her montrals and head tails had grown longer, resembling more of what her species was so well known for. She'd changed her outfit-thank the Force, really. She looked good. More sure. Strong.

"I heard you took down Aurra," I said finally, my voice as light as I could make it. "Good job."

I wondered briefly if I was going to get a sassy remark from her. She was always good at those. Instead, after a brief moment of thinking, she met my gaze with her piercing blue eyes...and smiled.

"You would have loved how surprised she was to lose."

I chuckled lowly, crossing my arms. "You look good, Tano. I like your new look."

Her gaze trailed over me. Apart from some upgrades to my armor, nothing was really changed. Beskar-what I had of it, at least-didn't fade in quality much over time. Her eyes flitted over my face, taking in the scars that still decorated my skin. My hair, now grown to about my chin, was pulled back in a ponytail. Still, some had fallen loose to frame my face while I slept, so it was obvious how much it had grown.

"Thanks," she smiled. "I like yours, too."

Finally, Obi-wan felt the courage to jump in. "Kida," he greeted formally. "You're looking well." He had donned new robes as well, but looked otherwise the same. Tired, though.

"Nice to see you, Obi-wan." I sighed lowly. "I was pleased to hear from Anakin that the bounty from the Republic was lifted."

The jedi looked uncomfortable. "Please understand, Kida. I never wanted to endanger you. I was only concerned-"

"I know, my friend," I cut him off with a raised hand. "I understand you had your duties. And you had a right to be concerned. I was worried, myself."

"You seem…" he struggled to find the words. "At peace."

I chuckled, taking them both off-guard. "No one is truly at peace in this war but the dead, Obi-wan. But I've found my balance." I fixed him with a more serious look. "I've sorted my issues. I hope both you and the Council understand that I respect your Order, even if I don't follow it. I'm no threat to you."

Obi-wan watched me quietly for a moment before nodding. "I know. How did you get here?"

"Pulled here, same as you. They might have sensed my connection to Anakin and thought I might be useful." I could feel that I was wrong in that sense. The Son was watching me closely. He felt the conflict in Anakin as I did. He even felt my own conflict. The constant pull of the darkness that I fought each day. It was so easy, under Bane...to give in to power. To feel unstoppable.

Living in the grey...the Bendu...I had power, but also restraint. Sometimes...as my powers grew...restraint grew...harder.

"Why did they make Anakin take these tests?" Ahsoka asked aloud, glancing over at the Son and Daughter.

I dropped my voice lower. "The Father wants Anakin to stay. To take his place and maintain the balance." I looked to Obi-wan. "That is what the prophecy says, doesn't it?"

Obi-wan seemed surprised that I knew it, but brushed it off. "Yes, it says he will bring balance to the Force. But staying here…"

"He won't do it," Ahsoka clarified, glancing over as Anakin began to walk towards us with the Father. "Right?"

"No," I agreed. "But even if this is all over...this will stay with Anakin forever." I hoped he wouldn't feel guilty for leaving. This wasn't his burden to bear…right?

"Time to go," Skywalker said as he joined our group. I could feel his confusion. His unsurity. It made my chest ache for him.

Our group, including the Father, followed us back through the monastery, climbing to a landing platform. To all of our surprise, both of our ships were there, waiting patiently to leave this place.

"So...with the bounty lifted," Ahsoka started gently beside me. "Will we be seeing more of you?"

I hummed lowly, giving her a smile. "Maybe. We'll see. There's still some things I need to finish sorting out."

She gave me a grin and a nod before ascending the gangway after Obi-wan. I glanced at my ship, then back at the Father. There were some questions I still held. Maybe he could help me understand what Bendu was trying to teach me better than I did.

"Ready to get out of here?" Obi-wan asked Anakin, who was standing contemplatively at the bottom of the gangway.

Skywalker glanced at his friends before looking back at me. "What will you do?"

"I think I'll stay for a bit longer. There are some things I'd like to understand. Maybe the Father can help me." He gave me a nod, obviously still unsure about his choice to leave. I forced a smile onto my face. "I'll see you around, Skywalker."

He entered his ship, the jedi shuttle lifting away easily to begin their exit from this strange place.

"You have questions," the Father said, his voice sounding tired.

I looked over my shoulder at him, taking in his elderly form...and the dying life force within him. "Yes. I do."

MANDO'A

Ad'ika- little one

Buir- father