Disclaimer: not mine

Time skip of 2yrs

Chapter 5

Silas sat staring at the records, heartbroken. This…this was why he had felt so strange. His ad, he had an ad. Someone had taken them, had made him forget they ever existed. But they had miscalculated because the records on Mandalore were all but impossible for an outsider to access and so the records were there. And the evidence that had brought him back to Mandalore had been missed on his ship, the pictures drawn on flimsy by a childish hand that he had kept stored with his most important documents in a hidden safe.

There was no medical reason for his memory loss, no sign of injury or disease, nothing. If he'd been drugged then they were long out of his system. Those who knew his ad had begun approaching him as word spread, sharing their stories and knowledge of the small boy, of his Riku. Staring at the images of him didn't even bring a feeling of familiarity. His ad was just six years old, an ex-slave, and now he'd been taken. But by who? He hadn't registered being on a job, there was nothing to give him a hint to what happened. But everyone knew now, they would all be looking for whoever had dared to take Riku.

Whoever had him, they had worked Silas over good. He'd been lucky to survive and he knew it. Which meant the abductor may think they'd gotten away clean, if they assumed Silas was dead then they would presume that Riku would be believed dead too and therefore no one would be looking for him. They would learn why no one messed with the Mando'ade.

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He smirked as he stared out at the bustling city, he had done it. Despite the actions of that pathetic girl, he was now Chancellor. His plans were once again going according to what he had foreseen. He had a new Apprentice, though it had taken more to persuade the man to his side than he had expected. Perhaps because he had reached out to the one they now called Sith-killer. Obi-Wan Kenobi, he would need dealing with eventually but for now let him teach young Skywalker.

It was beneficial to not have to train an Apprentice from the start, though there were many frustrating aspects of Jedi training to overcome. But he could use his new position and being from Naboo to gain access to the boy who had helped save his planet, begin planting the seeds.

Tyrannus had found Fett and contacted Kamino, behind schedule but nothing that couldn't be adapted to. Yes, everything was proceeding according to plan. Timetables were never exact after all.

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Sora walked quickly through the halls, wanting to spend some time in the Archives for his assignment. He'd settled into his Initiate clan eventually, though he didn't really have any close friends, but it didn't bother him…much. He was the weird boy, too pretty to be a boy according to some of the other boys, the boy with weird dreams and stories that couldn't be true…the boy who took to sabre forms like breathing. Everyone loved using their training lightsabre's but they were Jedi, fighting was meant to be a last resort. So, his being so good at it so young got a lot of whispers about barbarian Hapans. Which was silly, he knew nothing of his birth culture beyond what was available in the Archives.

Well…that wasn't strictly true but how did he know if what he thought he remembered was true and what was just dreams of having a family? He'd been two when the ship carrying him crashed, so some of it could be real. The feel of rich, soft, fabrics, gentle laughing voices… a cold voice and harsh, raised, voices, a veiled figure… Ereneda. He'd managed to keep his language studies for his native language and knew that meant the Queen Mother… the possibilities that indicated and the fact that one of the very few confirmed pieces of news from the Consortium was the death of the Queen's daughter and son-in-law around the same time as he'd been found in the crashed ship. The current Queen Mother's anti-Jedi attitude was the most extreme in centuries…had his parents died trying to get him out of the Consortium for his own safety?

He missed the tall stern man who used to watch him sometimes from a distance. He was pretty sure he'd even carried him once. Sora knew his name had started with a D but he'd been pretty small at the time and hadn't been paying a lot of attention.

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Yan stared at the small child curled up asleep on the bunk. He should have killed the Mandalorian but the child's screams for his Buir, his father, had gotten to him. And so, he had allowed the man to live, drugs and the Force ensuring he no longer remembered having a child or the months in Dooku's 'care' while being tortured for information on one Jango Fett.

He would never have the Padawan he had considered taking on, but this child could be his Apprentice. Sidious might have an anti-non-human agenda, but he had no such ideals. He had taken all data from the man's ship on the child, knew he had once been destined for the Temple only to end up in slavery and then a Mandalorian in training. Such a childhood could be a good basis for a Sith. The child was young enough that he should be easily swayed and re-educated. For now, he would be raised and trained in secret thanks to the ridiculous Rule of Two. He had no plans to be the 'Apprentice' for long, he was far too old, he had been a Master after all.

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Padme smiled as the people cheered at the news of her re-election. Even the Chancellor had made the journey home for the occasion. She hadn't been sure about running for re-election but in the end had been encouraged to do so. She had led their people through the short war and occupation, hopefully this term would allow her to lead them to further prosperity.

She smiled at the sight of brown robes near the Chancellor. Not the Jedi she would have wished to see, but it was still thoughtful of the Order to send members to the ceremony considering their role in freeing Naboo. She hoped she would get the chance to speak with them and ask about Obi-Wan and Anakin. Padme remembered them both in her prayers, she knew Obi-Wan had been knighted and had taken Anakin as his student but had heard nothing else in the years since. Obi-Wan had told her it was unlikely they would ever meet again, that unless they were involved in another big event, she'd never even hear of them but surely if she asked those who had come, they could tell her something?

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"Watch your footing," Obi-Wan called, and Anakin paused, shifting his stance a little. "Good," he praised.

Anakin worked through the various stances slowly with the training sabre. He had taken to fighting as well as he had to all the practical aspects of training. Academically, he wasn't quite up to his age mates but he was getting there. Obi-Wan was doing his best to not repeat Qui-Gon's mistakes with his own training. And it had taken a lot of talking from his friends over the years to convince him that they were mistakes. He was proud of how far Anakin had come since his arrival at the Temple.

"What do you think of mid-meal at Dex's?" he suggested, hiding a smile as blue eyes lit up.

"Really?" he bounced slightly, and Obi-Wan nodded. "Wizard!"

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Yoda watched the class of initiates closely as they all balanced carefully on their hands, rocks rising into the air around them, some steadier than others. Good, very good…ah, he quickly caught the child before they could take a nasty tumble, setting the youngling gently onto his feet. The boy flushed slightly, embarrassed, bright blue eyes staring at the ground. He was the smallest of the human or near-human younglings and yet the same age as them, perhaps he was late in hitting his growth. Or perhaps he would be like another youngling Yoda had once watched, though that one had been a redhead.

This…this was the one Yan had been watching. He'd been sneaky but Yoda had been his Master. If he had not left the Order, would this boy have been his next Padawan? His skill with the training sabres was well known among the instructors, perhaps Yan could be coaxed back should the boy show any aptitude towards Makashi when older. Hmm…the child was seven, only six years till he aged out, not long enough for young Skywalker to be Knighted and enable Obi-Wan to take on another Padawan. A pity, he could be a good addition to the lineage.

No one could be good at everything and it appeared telekinesis was his weakness.

"Come now, again you will do."

"Yes Master." The boy took a deep breath and got back up onto his hands, taking a few moments to steady himself before a single rock rose shakily into the air.

Young Sora had great potential…and a lot of skills that needed work. Once again, he caught the child.

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Riku carefully made his bed, Master Dooku was very strict about keeping his room clean. The room was bigger than the bunk room he'd shared with Buir or even his own bedroom on Manda'yaim but it felt…colder. The whole palace felt cold and he didn't like it, even after almost a year living there. He…he missed Buir, he wanted to go home.

He shoved his boots on and checked his clothes before leaving the room for the dining hall where Master Dooku was already seated. He bowed and then took his own seat to find a bowl of steaming grains waiting for him.

"Good morning, Master Dooku," Riku spoke softly but clearly. The man did not accept anything else.

"Good morning young Riku."

They ate in silence and then Riku followed him to the large room they went to every morning. Master Dooku would watch him as he went over his physical training exercises, giving him advice and making sure he didn't do something dangerous. When that was done, he showered, and then had to do his studies. They were different to what he was used to and in basic which he struggled with.

He was surprised when Master Dooku interrupted his studies, the man's face serious and he felt…angry?

"Riku, I have received news of your Buir."

He straightened more, eager, but also wary, why was he angry?

"I am sorry young one, but he has been killed."

Riku froze, no…not Buir, no…he shook his head in denial, heart racing.

A hand gripped his shoulder, feeling heavy. "He fought bravely, Riku, but the Jedi cut him down."

Jedi? No…Buir wouldn't fight Jedi…he didn't…

"Sleep now child, sleep and rest."

Riku felt himself slumping, so tired and scared. He wanted…

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Dooku caught the boy as he fell asleep, unable to fight the suggestion. He'd been given time to adjust to living on Serenno with the belief it was temporary but now it was time to truly begin training him. His father would never come for him so there was no reason to let Riku keep the hope that he would. And believing the Jedi killed him would help focus his anger and grief. He could just use the Force to make him believe his father was dead or had abandoned him, but there was always the chance another Force user would notice and undo it. Better to leave his mind as it was and simply arrange for events to influence him. A body that was a close enough match to the man had been procured and killed in such a way to ensure the boy could not tell the difference. He would see his father's body and have a pyre to mourn at. A true memory to help fuel his anger at the Jedi.

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Anakin stepped out of the ship and immediately felt frozen to the core. He wrapped his arms around himself, curling inward to try and conserve body heat even with all the layers he was wearing. He wanted to get back on the ship but…he really wanted his own lightsabre and for that he needed a kyber crystal. And then a taller body was blocking the worst of the wind, an arm over his shoulders. He looked up to find Obi-Wan staring at him in concern, so he managed to smile slightly. Obi-Wan smiled back and then reached out to tug his scarf up over his mouth.

"It'll be warmer inside, quickly now."

Anakin nodded, letting him lead him to the caves. It was too cold to talk or anything. Walking in snow and ice was very different to sand or the halls of the Temple. Without Obi-Wan to help him it would have taken him a lot longer to get into the strange ice caves.

"This is as far as I go Anakin. Let the Force guide you and you will find your crystal, be careful."

"I will," he promised. He took a deep breath and began to walk deeper into the caves, still cold, but at least it was warmer than outside.

There were so many tunnels, twists and turns, it would be so easy to get lost. It was scary, he knew how to navigate the desert and this was nothing like that. But he had to do it. He closed his eyes and focused on reaching for the Force, to let it guide him. He felt a pull and began to walk, images flickering in and out of the corner of his eyes.

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Obi-Wan settled into meditation, monitoring Anakin's progress as best he could from the entrance. He was worried about his Padawan, he was not used to such cold even three years after leaving Tatooine. They had had few missions yet and so few chances to expose Anakin to different climates. He'd done what he could while in the Temple but it was never the same. And who knew what the Force would show Anakin within the caves. Some initiates never recovered, some left the Order, others simply failed to retrieve their crystal…and a very few never made their way out of the caves again. The majority emerged successful but he couldn't help worrying, forcing himself to give that fear to the Force. Anakin may be older than others braving the caves of Ilum for the first time, but he had far less training than they did.

He had sent a message to his Grandmaster, informing him of Anakin undertaking the Gathering. He may have left the Order but he still commed from time to time, keeping in touch as he promised when they met after returning to the Temple from Naboo. And now living away from the Temple, he often had useful advice on dealing with someone not raised in the Creche. Depending on how long it took Anakin to find his Crystal, and if the Council didn't call them back immediately, perhaps they could visit on their way back.

In meditation, the time passed quickly, and then he sensed Anakin's presence drawing near. He opened his eyes and moved to stand, wincing slightly as his muscles protested from the prolonged inactivity. And then Anakin appeared, face red with cold and eyes bright, hand clenched tight around something. He held his hand out and Obi-Wan smiled at the sight of the crystal.

"Well done. Let's get back to the ship and warm up."

"Yes please!"

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Jango stared at the Kaminoans, they were a strange species, but he sat still and let them do their work. He was being paid very well for it after all and the fact that it would give him his revenge against the Jedi was a nice bonus as well. The idea of being cloned was a little more abnormal than normal but worth it if the plan worked. An army wearing his face and all to bring down those who destroyed his people. They were just clones, they were being made to be obedient and age fast, they weren't real people. So why should he care that thousands would die for his revenge?

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Riku panted, dropping to one knee as he tried to get his breath back, to raise the practice blade, but he couldn't. He had to do better! Master Dooku was letting him stay, was training him to be the best warrior he could be to avenge his Buir! Buir had told him about Galidraan and what the Jedi did there but he had never been really mad at them cause he said it'd been a trap for both groups. But the Jedi had killed Buir! Master Dooku couldn't train him to be a Mando but he could teach him to be a Sith, the other enemy of the Jedi and often ally of the Mando'ade. He missed Manda'yaim but one day he would return home, once he had avenged Buir.

"Again," Master Dooku called, and Riku forced himself to his feet, glad his hair had been shorn so short since it meant it didn't get in the way with how soaked it was.

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Sora grinned at Kali as they worked together to clear the entrance. They were all excited and nervous to be undertaking the Gathering under Master Fisto's watchful eye. He was different to the Master's usually around their group, he was very cheerful and Sora liked that. Finally, they entered the Temple and gathered together to listen to Master Fisto's advice and lecture on kyber crystals.

Sora headed off into the tunnels as quickly as he could, not wanting to be stuck if the waterfall froze before he made it back. It was so cold and quiet; he couldn't hear the others anymore. He could see some crystals scattered about but none of them called to him so he kept going, being careful not to fall, especially when over water or very long falls. Some of them seemed bottomless and that was scary, but he trusted the Force and his own balance.

He followed the Force, squeezing through a gap in the ice and then into a large cavern, looking around before stumbling back as a figure in black appeared. The figure watched him silently, fully hidden by their black coat and boots, the hood up over their face. The only thing breaking up the black was the silver of metal here and there. Something…something about it seemed familiar. The figure held their hand out and Sora backed away. No!

And then the figure was gone. A vision? He shook his head and reached out again, spotting a ledge on the other wall, taking a running leap to make it up there, finding another tunnel through the ice.

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Kit watched as one by one the Initiates returned until only one remained in the caves. He had honestly thought young Sora would be among the first to return given how gifted his was with the lightsabre. It was hard to sense those within the cave with the vergence but the boy was still alive, that much he was sure of. He would give him a little more time, then take the others back to the ship before returning to search for him.

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Sora staggered towards the crystal embedded in the wall, clothes soaked and teeth chattering. This was it! He could feel the crystal calling to him. Cold fingers wrapped around it and the world vanished.

He blinked and looked around in awe, he was standing on water with nothing but endless blue sky as far as he could see. Another vision? No…that didn't feel right, he'd…he'd been there before…hadn't he?

"Sora!" a voice called his name, and he spun around but there was no one there. That voice, he knew it, didn't he?

"Go back Sora," another voice whispered.

Sora blinked and found himself at the beginning of the tunnels, still soaked and shivering. He staggered into the entrance and found Master Fisto alone. The Nautolan Master looked relieved for a second before becoming alarmed and rushing to him, removing his own cloak to wrap around Sora.

"I did it," he whispered before everything went black.

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Kit looked down at the child in his arms, seeing one hand still curled in a fist despite the boy being unconscious. He could feel the warmth of a kyber crystal and smiled. Yes, he had done it. He rushed back to the ship, Sora needed to be dried off and get warm before he suffered hypothermia. Every Initiate had returned successful, a wonderful Gathering.

TBC…

So it's now about 28BBY and Sora is a few months off of 9yrs old during the last scenes and he was 7 at the beginning of the chapter. I wanted to put in Riku's abduction by Dooku but it just wasn't working hence the time skip from last chap to this one.

According to the timeline I found the Clone Wars begin in 22BBY so six years till then.

Guessing everyone who's played KH3 knows where Sora was when he touched his crystal? As to the two voices, you can guess, I might tell you if you get it right.