No excuses. Just got nervous about stepping into such a big world and procrastinated. Maybe I'll do one or two more chapters, but I really have no idea where to take Jondu after this. I'm a pantser, I don't like planning stories, but maybe I should for this one. It might give me more motivation to write this.

Anyways, let me know if you have any ideas, and enjoy!
~Silverleone
I woke up with a start, gasping when I nearly fell out of the tree. I took a moment to calm my racing heart before grabbing the branch and swinging down. I landed with hardly a sound and stepped over to the small fire. Tress must have placed more fuel on it during the night. I shivered a little as a cold breeze cut through my clothing. I looked around, not seeing said Jedi.

"Master Tress?"

"Over here, Padawan." I looked to my left and saw her stepping out of the ship. She had suggested sleeping outside of the ship to conserve fuel and keep it dark. I had argued that no one was around to notice any lights, but she was adamant about sleeping outside.

It felt like she was testing me after my little episode yesterday. It was almost working too. I huffed before kicking dirt over the fire.

"So, you gave up on the great outdoors," I folded my arms. She shot me a look.

"I was using the refresher," She retorted. I rolled my eyes before stepping passed her, onto the ramp. I paused and looked over my shoulder.

Sitting under at the base of the tree I had slept in was a pile of freshly disturbed dirt. A single native flowering plant had already poked through the dirt.

I felt my heart grow heavy and my throat tightened, knowing this was my last good bye to Kalenta. Maybe later I could return and pay my respects in full. But until I was sure I was under the Clone army's radar, it wasn't safe.

'I'm sorry Kalenta. I'll come back if I can.'

"Whatever. Any idea where we're going next?" I asked, hearing her following me onto the ship.

"I'm surprised your Master allowed you to continue to speak that way to your elders."

"Well, considering I respect those who show me respect, I think I'm speaking just fine," I shot back. She could only shake her head in exasperation.

"Honestly, Padawan. It's a wonder how you survived with an attitude like that."

"With the skills to match it and sheer dumb luck," I said while raising my nose. My Master had taught me, drilled it into me, that respect was very important. But he also taught me that respect is a two way street. I could only handle someone stepping all over me for so long before that respect began to wear thin. And with Master Tress, it wore very thin, very quickly.

"Yes, well, that luck will run out some day," She said as she sat in the pilot seat.

"Not like I've got much left afterwards anyways." On a different note, I pulled out my money and sighed. "600 credits. That's, not going to last long."

"We'll need to find work somewhere."

"After we find new clothing. We stick out too much with these," I said, picking at my Jedi tunic.

"Maybe there is hope for you yet." I scowled, but didn't bother to respond. I set a course for a planet with a well known market and we took off.

««{{¤}}»»

"Alright, keep your head down and we'l-where are you going?"

"I'll be back in less than two standard hours. If I don't make it back by then, don't wait for me," I said as I flipped my hood up before promptly walking out. She tried to call me, but she hadn't bothered to remember my name and couldn't use my Jedi rank in public.

"I said wait!" I spun on a dime, nearly making her run into me.

"Don't. Follow me." I spun around again and stormed off. I felt her presence soon leave my sphere of influence as I got further away. I sighed, feeling relieved at finally being alone. I paused to take in my surroundings.

Stall after stall of shop owners screaming out deals in their native tongue and in Basic. I ignored all of it as I finally got my bearings and turned down the next street on my right. I ducked around fellow shoppers and made appropriate turns until I stopped at a building.

I stared at it for a minute before stepping up to the door. Knocking with the back of my knuckles, I waited.

*Clink snap* A hidden viewport slammed open.

"Vei k'ir vah ran'as?"

"Ch'ah offer vsabeci tur tocu'ren'mur informant," I muttered, my head bowed beneath my hood. The viewport slammed shut and there was a loud crash before the door was yanked open.

"Ah, Jondu. My o-." Before the Chiss could say anything else, I lunged forward, pinning him to the wall, elbow pressing into his sternum. He went to fight back, only to feel cold metal on the side of his neck.

"Ch'uz. Vah ch'uscah," I growled.

"Eh heh. I heard the Jedi were over, but I didn't think you'd go so rouge so quickly." We stared at each other, stormy blue verses piercing red. I stepped back and clipped my saber back to my belt.

"Sadly haven't gone full rouge yet. Though the clones might disagree," I said. He rubbed his neck a little before smiling. I returned it. "It's good to see you too, but sadly I'm not here for a friendly visit. Do you still have those spare parts?"

"Right to business, then. Yes, I do. But you must realize what it costs me to keep them here." He walked around the counter near the back of the shop and opened a hidden safe.

"First off, you owe me, and we both know it. Second," My smile dropped, "I, am in need of them."

"Well, whatever you need, I shall do my best to provide. Because you are right, I do owe you," He said with an honest smile. He pulled out a box and set it on the counter. I opened it and let out a breath of relief. The extra parts from building my saber were still there.

"I am hurt! You really didn't believe that I had kept these safe all this time!" He said in mockery.

"It's got nothing to do with you. Someone could have found them and then what? You'd be dead."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Yeah, and you and your Jedi friend die today!" I spun around, my hand going to my hip. A blaster sounded off and I let my knees collapse, falling forward into a roll. My green blade hissed to life and I lunged forward, slicing the blaster in one swipe and holding the tip of my blade to our assailant's throat. Their hands came up in a show of surrender.

"And who's the sleemo who thought it was a good idea to tangle with a Jedi?" I snarled. The human man smiled and tilted his head back a little.

"Eirg Teqven. Local Bounty Hunter who heard the heads of Jedi and their allies are bringing heavy credits in." His gaze flicked between us, "And I've got two heads right in front of me." The sound of a blaster's safety clicking off came from over my shoulder.

"And Bounty Hunters go for quite a lot as well." My Chiss friend stepped up next to me, though out of arm's reach of the third man. "Tell you what, you take your life and leave with it, or you can leave in a death stick case." He pointed the blaster at the hunter.

"Hmm. You drive a hard bargain, blue man." I scowled and pushed my blade just a bit closer. The heat made the Bounty Hunter pull back a little.

"Tell me why I shouldn't gut you like a Bantha and leave you to rot in an alley," I growled.

"Wow, big words for a Learner," He said, shooting a glance at my Padawan braid. I mentally cursed. I should have cut that off the moment we got away from the clones.

"Don't need to be a Master to kill you. Now, your choice, leave and keep your mouth shut, or die where no one will remember you."

"You drive a hard bargain, Jedi." He took a step backwards towards the door, "Though I will admit there are better Bounty Hunters than I who are looking out for a nice payment. Best keep your head low," He stepped into the doorframe, "If you want to survive!" He reached down to his belt and tossed a grenade at us, and leaped out of the doorway in the same instance.

I gasped and threw my hand forward, pushing the grenade out the door. A short yelp came back through the door as the grenade collided with the Hunters head, only to go off a second later. I threw my arm over my face as the building shook. I extinguished my saber before anyone could see it and tucked it under my cloak.

"Well. Shall we get back to business?" I asked my Chiss friend, who could only holster his blaster with a smile and a shake of his head.

"Of course." He walked over and closed the door, making sure to lock it. I eyed him as he walked around behind his counter.

"You got sloppy there," I noted.

"Yes I suppose I did." He spoke slowly, eyeing the door.

"Priz," I started, "Was that intentional?"

"Why would I do that? That Bounty Hunter was willing to kill both of us." I rolled my eyes as I stepped back around the counter and snagged the box. I sorted through it, looking at the different parts. I set a few aside as Priz stepped over, watching with his hands folded behind his back. I pulled out the black hilt and set it on the counter before going back to the box.

"That is not the one you normally use." I froze at the comment. My eyes drifted over to the hilt. My hands slowed to a stop before resting on the counter, as if to steady myself.

"…No. It's not." A few more seconds of silence passed before I shook my head and went back to the task.

"Is that why you are haunted by it?" My head snapped up and I stared at him. He blinked at the fear in my eyes. He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Jondu, who did this lightsaber belong to?" His whole body showed concern, his brow was furrowed and his eyes narrowed slightly.

I let out a sigh that made my shoulders slump. My hand shakily picked up the black hilt.

The emitter was wide and thick, doubling as a partial hand guard, with rectangles set in the flat edge of it. Three thick rings of metal were set just below it, separated by inset lines and dots. The switch portion was all thin lines, though the button and kill switch were left untouched by them.

The handle was slightly thicker than the switch, matching the rings near the top. It had two sides cut out partially, leaving a solid ring around the top and bottom while also having medium width lines that wrapped around to act as a grip. The pommel was two different thicknesses, with ovals cut in the sides all the way around.

"It was my friend's."

"I thought Jedi couldn't have friends," He commented softly, going for a gentle jab to try and lighten my mood by a hint. It only got a humorless smirk out of me though. I slowly turned the saber in my hands, looking over the details.

"She was so excited when she finally built it as the Jedi have for centuries, that I couldn't say anything, even jokingly, when I found the design a little bulky for someone her size." There was a small smile on my face, but it turned into a frown right after. "…I figured she'd grow into it." We were both silent for a while as I processed my thoughts.

"She was shot right as we were getting to the ship. I thought we were safe. I thought…Well, I'm hoping to attune to it and use it in her honor." Priz picked up one of the extra parts and looked it over.

"So you needed these parts, why? If you have two lightsabers…?"

"Something happened after we got on the ship. I needed the parts to fix it before it blows up in my face." I set the saber on the counter and closed my eyes, setting my hands in my lap. I dipped my head a little as I concentrated.

The saber lifted into the air and began to surgically pull apart. Piece by piece were set aside in the air until a final casing pulled away, revealing a single, glowing crystal. I froze as a light filled the air.

"What is it?" Priz asked quietly, not wanting to startle me. My brow furrowed more as the crystal lifted out of the saber and rotated above it. The individual saber pieces slowly settled on the counter before the crystal floated in front of me.

I tilted my head slightly and the crystal tipped upright in the same direction. It spun in one direction, only to pause and spin the other way. I opened my eyes and cupped my hands, settling the now purple crystal in them.

"How did it change…?" I muttered.

"Is that something they can do?"

"No, the only crystals that change are," I felt a rock sink in my stomach, "Are the ones the Sith force to bleed…"

"How do crystals bleed?" His question went unanswered for a minute. I held up the crystal between my thumb and finger, looking at it in the light. There was a crack that started near the top and ran about a quarter of an inch down the crystal. My mouth opened, but I didn't speak at first. My eyes glazed over.

"The Force user pushes their hatred, rage, and whatever else they can into the crystal. They bend them to their will and…nearly destroy them in some cases." The rock in my stomach grew heavier. The crystal clattered to the counter top as I leaped away from the seat. My arms wrapped around myself.

"Jondu?"

"I nearly fell…I nearly fell…" I kept repeating under my breath. Something landed on my shoulder and I lashed out with my fist. Priz landed on his back with a cough, making me gasp in horror. I took a step back as my breathing quickened.

"Priz! I-I'm sorry, you, you scared me! I-!" Sweat began to build on my forehead. Was the room always this small?

"No, no, you're okay," He approached with his hands up, "Let's get you sat down and take a minute, okay?" He led me to a different seat. He stepped away and came back with some water. I took it in my shaking hands, nodding my head, not trusting my voice.

He sat across from me and folded his fingers together, content with waiting until I calmed down.

It took a few minutes until I stopped shaking.

"Are you able to explain what that was all about?" Priz asked, tipping his head forward.

"…Force users are constantly tempted by the Dark side of the Force. There are those who give in, in moments of weakness. They can be…tainted, turned, by the Dark side. They…fall." I glanced over at the crystal that gleamed in what felt like a mocking manner. "I…in my grief over losing Kalenta, nearly fell."

"But did you?"

"No, but it was too close. I shouldn't have lashed out like I did. My feelings overwhelmed the Force around me. I nearly shattered the crystal in that moment." My eyes drifted to the cup in front of me.

"So, did you bleed that crystal?"

"No. At least, not fully." I lifted a hand up and called it over, holding it between us with the Force. "Bled crystals are supposed to be red, not purple."

"Could you have partially bled it? A mixture of blue and red?"

"I guess…?" I said, unsure of how to answer that.

"But you also said those who bleed their crystals use their anger. You weren't angry when you cracked this one, were you?" He said with a gesture to said floating object. I frowned, confused about where he was going.

"I was in more grief than anything."

"Then did you really bleed it?" That thought hadn't occurred to me. Apparently the thought was drawn on my face. "Well then you have little to worry about." He sat back as if the conversation was over. My eyes snapped to him.

"What? No, I nearly fell!"

"But you didn't," He stated.

"I got too close, I got careless!"

"Jondu, I may not know much about your Force, but one thing I do know is that you care about people." He looked at his hand before rubbing some dirt off his thumb. "Tell me, have you ever grieved someone before? Someone close to you?"

"No." So that's where he was going with this.

"So that was, on top of everything else that happened, an unfamiliar sensation. It makes sense that you nearly lost control."

"That doesn't make it right!" I insisted.

"No. But it means you aren't some mindless battle droid either."

"I can't just…"

"What? Learn from it? Mourn your friend and live your life?" My eyes lowered in shame. His hand rested on my shoulder once more. "Jondu, you're young. You still have many, many things to learn. Everyone has someone they will have to grieve over. Whether that is a fellow Jedi lost in battle, or someone who you had to kill yourself."

"I, can't move on. Not while this crystal will remind me of my failure."

"Then use that to forgive yourself."

"What?"

"You said you wanted to honor your deceased friend, correct?"

"Yeah?"

"Then you use her lightsaber to honor her. And, every time you ignite that blade, it will serve as an extension of her memory." I let the crystal settle in my hand.

"…I think I see what you mean."

"Good, now, I've always wanted to see a lightsaber being constructed. Come on." He grabbed me by the shoulder and hauled me over to the counter.

"Priz, I-!"

"Nope, no arguing about it. Now, do whatever you need to do rebuild that saber," He said while going around the counter and sitting down. I hesitantly looked between him, the crystal, and the saber parts. "Well? I've got a shop to run." He spun his hand in a show to get moving. I sighed.

'Kalenta…' I sat down and cupped my hands in my lap. I closed my eyes and breathed, feeling the Force flow through me and around me. I lifted the crystal off my palm and it floated about my hands. I moved it over to the counter and began lifting the different parts into the air. Slowly the saber was put back together with the new parts.

'I'm sorry I almost fell. I promise that I will use this in your honor. I will use this to help those in need.' I thought that I felt something shift in the Force, but it was gone before I could even focus on it. I felt the final piece click into place and sighed, letting the saber rest back on the counter. I opened my eyes as the Force settled around me.

"…That is a memory I will cherish as long as I can," Priz said, clasping his hands together calmly, "I may not be attuned to the Force, but the air feels…lighter." I nodded once before picking up the saber and standing in the middle of the room. I held it in both hands. Worry attempted to worm its way into my heart but I blocked it out.

"For her." A sharp buzzing snap pushed the now purple blade full length. My brow furrowed when the blade seemed to waver. I watched it warily for a minute, but it held its shaky form.

"Do they normally look like that?"

"No, that's why I hesitated. But it seems the crack in the crystal won't affect its use." I gave the saber a slow overhand twirl, getting a feel for the unfamiliar blade.

"I will still need to attune to it, but I get the feeling we're going to get along just fine." I gave a few more experimental swings, the crystal inside humming out of sync with my own Force signature.

I pulled my own saber off my belt with my right hand, the green blade snapping into existence.

Both blades hummed fiercely as the Force gently swirled around them, the crystals communicating in a way. It was barely noticeable, but the purple blade seemed to stabilize a little more. I felt its signature fall in sync with my own, and my other saber's.

"Well, that was fast." I shut off both sabers, clipping my first to my belt while observing the other.

"I noticed a change in the blade. Is it supposed to do that?"

"No. But it's not like I have the Jedi Archives to look through."

"That is unfortunate. Now, is there anything else you need?"

"Do you know of a good clothing shop?"

"Well, why didn't you ask sooner!"

"Banthapoodoo..."