HOOWEE! This is gonna be a doozey! 3k+ words is longer than my average chapters nowadays. I'm honestly not surprised this took so long to get posted. IRL things suck. On the plus side, I got a soldering iron, and finally broke it out today to assemble part of my lightsaber. So that was an adventure.

Even after a shower I swear I can still smell it on me. XD

Let me know of any crazy adventures Jondu could get up to. Remember, he's not infalible, and probably doesn't even have Obi-wan's level of Force potential. He's an average Joe-Jedi, so saying "go fight the Emporer" is asking for a death sentence. XD

Enjoy!

A male Twi'lek stood in the doorway. His charcoal skin seemed clean, as did his Jedi robes, though his right sleeve was removed. I gasped and almost didn't catch myself on the chair as my knees nearly gave out.

His right arm was metal.

He looked down at it, following my gaze. "It has taken some adjusting. And while it is not the same, it is better than nothing." His orange eyes lifted to meet mine again.

He left.

He ran towards the Temple.

He died.

My blade snapped on, putting a barrier between us.

"Who are you." He didn't react aside from his eyes tracing my form.

"I am who I am."

"No," I insisted with a sharp but short gesture of my arm, "No. MyMaster died that night." The shaking in my voice and hands was obvious.

"I assure you, I did not."

"Who are you?!" He continued looking me over with eyes that held a bit of sadness. I spun around, pointing my blade at Melaal. "What sick joke is this?!" She stayed seated.

"It is not a joke, Jondu. Your Master survived."

"That's not possible! He died that night! Just like Master Plo Koon! Just like Kalenta!" There was a sharp breath behind me.

"Kalenta died…?" I turned on the stranger with a roar.

"Don't you dare speak her name!" Another lightsaber blade came up, blocking mine. It wasn't blue like his. It was yellow.

Imposter.

I seethed as I twisted my blade around, only for this stranger to block it. I switched to Makashi and released a dozen strikes within a matter of moments. Each one was blocked with ease. I snarled in rage. First, this man tried to impersonate my Master. Then he has the audacity to not only have the wrong lightsaber, but also the wrong stance?!

Flurries of blows were met with a solid shield of technique, though he was still losing ground. He backed out the door and down the hall. I charged passed him, only to push off the opposite wall and throw myself at him, knocking his blade to the side. My shoulder landed solidly in his ribcage, sending us both to the ground. I rolled away, smacking at him with my blade. He ducked under it. We shot to our feet, our blades held at the ready. His lips were pressed into a thin line. His brow was low. I ignored the pity in the eyes that matched my Master's.

"How dare you think you can impersonate a dead Jedi. Who do you think you are?" I hissed through clenched teeth. His headtails fell slack.

"…You must have been through so much since that night."

"Don't! Don't speak like you know me! I should have known this was a trap!" He was silent for a moment.

"If I am not who I say I am, then why do I remember the time you nearly got killed by that group of Gundarks?" I faltered for a moment before reaffirming my grip on my saber.

"It was in those reports she found." His eyes searched mine.

"Then how about when we spoke for two full days after the mission where you first took a life." My heart sunk.

That had stayed between us. Not even Kalenta had known.

"No. No." I squeezed my eyes shut, unwilling to see him. "He's dead. I saw him run off to the Temple."

"I didn't make it all the way back. A clone squad stopped me and nearly killed me. I got hurt, but I was able to escape." He took a step closer. "Can't you sense my presence?" Pain and anger of an old wound reopened like torn cloth.

"With what?! The bond was snapped like it was nothing!"

"And I regret that."

"I was left with another Padawan to fend for ourselves! When I needed my Master the most, he left me!"

"…" My lungs filled with a white hot fire. I finally let out the words I had wanted to say for years.

"You left me to die!" I jerked back at my own shout. My legs fully gave out and I hit the floor, my saber rolling to stop at his feet. He bent down to pick it up. Looking it over, he frowned. His eyes slid up to me. His face showed his heart breaking before my eyes.

"Oh my Padawan. What have I done to you?"

"You died," I whispered, even as tears began to fill my eyes.

"No, no, I'm alive. I'm here. I'm right here." He knelt in front of me, placing his living arm on my shoulder.

"You left me to die." His arms pulled me in, just like he had when I was an Apprentice. Just like my- "Master…?" My throat closed up.

"I am here, Padawan. I am right here." My chest squeezed as a bond, once thought to be broken, opened with a blinding light. I gasped as his familiar Force signature filtered in and wrapped around my own in an embrace only us Force users could perform.

It was him.

The signature was a perfect match. No one could replicate the feelings of care he had for me. No one could understand our Master-Apprentice bond so fully.

My long dead Master was alive.

The house was silent, listening to the sounds of a grief long pushed away. Of a festering wound finally cut open to breathe.

««{{¤}}»»

It took hours for me to recover. I had to be dehydrated from the amount of tears I had finally let out. Master Sebaal had been nothing but a solid shoulder the entire time.

Our bond was damaged by his actions the night of Order 66. Imagine taking a data cable, and instead of cutting it with a plasma cutter, you hacked it in two with a metal blade. It was crude, barely hanging on. As we sat there, he slowly wove bits and pieces back together.

After not being around another Force sensitive being for so long, I flinched if he moved too much or without warning. Every time I did, he would back off, his influence lingering on the edge of my senses until I settled. It would take a long time before our bond was healthy. It worried me that after everything, it would never be at full strength again. The scars would be there.

Master wordlessly assured me it was okay, that we would work through it together.

I had to believe him.

I didn't know what else to believe.

Eventually, I sat up on my own and pressed my sleeves into my eyes. I took a few breaths before I glanced over at him. He had his eyes closed, but his head tilted in my direction.

"So…what now?" I croaked. After a minute, he opened his eyes.

"Now?" His voice was low, but soft. "Now it is up to you." I pulled my knees up to my chest, hugging them.

"…I don't even know. The Order is gone."

"You have started a new life, have you not?" I gasped at the question.

"I forgot!" I threw myself to my feet, yanking my communicator out of my pocket and checking it. Wincing, I saw the messages were beginning to pile up from my mother. I shot her a quick response that I was safe, but it would be a bit before I got home.

"Who was that?" Master Sebaal asked. I froze.

"Oh. Right. Um…" The Code came flooding back to me and I rubbed the hack of my head. "That…would be my…motheeer?" I dragged the word out, cringing. He raised a brow. My hesitant smile turning sour.

"You managed to find her?"

"Both of my parents, actually. I've been living with them since." Lying wouldn't do me any service here. He folded his arms and sat back a little.

"I'm impressed you managed to find them. Are they well?" My answer came to me slowly, working through the shock at his attitude.

"Yes. My father has actually been training me. A sort of stand in Master, if you will."

"He knows how to use a lightsaber?!" Sebaal's shock, however, was not concealed at all. I shook my head.

"A regular sword. Which, honestly, makes me miss saber training. Less bruises…" He threw his head back and laughed when I rubbed my knuckles absently.

"Maybe we can start your training up again. That is," He turned sober, "If you will allow me to." The questioning tone was subtle enough I nearly missed it. My brain stalled as I tried to comprehend the statement.

"Y…you want, me as your Padawan again?"

"In my eyes, you never stopped being my Apprentice. I am just sorry we were separated for so long." He placed his real hand on my shoulder. My head bowed.

"But I've broken the Code. I've made attachments to my parents. I can't possibly let them go now."

"I think there are some things that can be overlooked. Honestly, I never much liked how we were forbidden from knowing our parents."

"R…really?" I was shocked. Sure he had moments where he bent the Code, but he had never spoken openly about not liking it.

"Really," He nodded.

"How would that even work though?"

"I won't encroach on your parents' personal space. Maleel was kind enough to house me after we made contact. We can find a secluded place to train, but other than that, I will keep my distance." I tipped my head a little.

"Why is that?" He sighed, his eyes falling to his metal prosthetic.

"The Empire is still hunting us. We need to be discreet about what we are. I am sure you do not need that reminder though."

"Yeah…learned that well enough at Vlemoth Port…" I muttered. He didn't prompt me on that, and moved on.

"Here is a private commlink, keep in touch, and we can find ways to meet and train." He held out the comm, which I slipped into my pocket while nodding. I then turned to the other person in the building. Maleel had come out not long after I had stopped crying, but she had kept all comments to herself.

"I am…" She held up a hand, stopping me.

"No reason for apologies, you had every reason to mistrust me. I am only glad you two actually know each other." She bade us farewell and we were let out of the room. We stopped in the entrance hall, both of us feeling the weight of reality settling in.

"It's…been so long. I'm not even sure what to say," My voice shook a little.

"Believe it or not, I feel the same way. I had hoped you survived, but that hope was all I had until Maleel approached me. She said she had info on two other Jedi, and she wanted to create a safe haven for them."

"Even with the Empire looming over us?"

"If anything, that only gave her more of an incentive. A Jedi protected her family turning the height of the Clone Wars. When she heard what happened, she vowed to help in any way she could."

"She made it sound like it was just a pastime." I held my chin.

"It would seem so, until you get to know her. She believes the Jedi were never traitors."

"Well, that makes a small handful in a galaxy's worth of people."

"Your parents?" He guessed. I nodded.

"I tried to hide who I was at first. Once I got confirmation that their son had been taken into the Order, well, that didn't last long. I told them who I was and I'm…still here." I gestured to myself.

"I think most parents of Jedi would have open arms," He pondered.

"We could always try to find yours…?" He shook his head.

"Oh no, that is not necessary. I have years under my belt that you do not. That larger amount of time separated from them would only make things awkward. It is best to let things lie where they fall." I watched his gaze for a minute before nodding.

"As you wish, Master." We stood in silence for a while.

"You better get back to your parents. I may have raised you, but I can already tell you are much closer to them." I flushed red.

"I-! I don't know about that, I mean…"

"Jondu. I am not offended. Relax. Breathe." I did so.

"Sorry, Master." He held my shoulder in a comforting grip.

"Remember, apologize for nothing when nothing has been done." I closed my eyes and took a breath, those old words forming in my mind with new life. "Now go on, I'd rather not face the wrath of your mother." He pushed me towards the door with a playful tone. I chuckled.

"Yeah, that's probably not a good idea."

"Send me a message whenever you are ready to begin training."

"I will. Good luck, my Master, and may the Force be with you." The farewell felt odd on my tongue.

"And with you." We bowed to each other before I stepped out the door. As it closed behind me, the speeder from before pulled around. I hopped in and the driver took me back home. Picking up on the atmosphere, he kept quiet, which I was grateful for. I stepped inside after tossing him a small credit tip.

"Jondu? How did it go?" I looked up to see my parents eating a meal. My mother's brow furrowed. She stood up and walked over. "Sweetie, you look pale, what's wrong?" My father stood next to her.

"Did something happen with Maleel?" He asked. I began to shake. My breathing picked up. I felt hot under the collar.

"…I…My…" My past was catching up with me. The memories I had tried to forget flashed through my mind. I swayed on my feet as my hand pressed against my head.

"Whoa, okay, let's sit down." My father all but carried me to the sitting area. My robes were rumpled as I sat down. My fingers ran through my hair, mussing it up.

"Jondu, look at me," My father prompted. My eyes tracked up to him. "What happened?" The effort it took to even open my mouth was astronomical. If I put the same amount of willpower into the Force, I could have done anything.

"My Master's alive."

««{{¤}}»»

My parents sat there as they took in those three words. My mother's hands came up and covered her mouth. My father sat back in his seat, his eyes falling to the floor, his brow pinching slightly.

"This is the Jedi Master who raised you, yes?" I nodded at my father.

"Yes." He nodded back.

"…But what does this mean?" My mother asked, "It's not like you can go back to the Jedi Temple…right?" I shook my head.

"For all I know, it was burned to the ground. No, it's not safe to go back." Somberness filled the room.

"Will you go with him?" My father asked after a solid silence.

"It is too dangerous. The Empire still has a bounty out for anyone that is Force sensitive. Two people, one older than the other, traveling the galaxy? It would draw too much attention." I sat up a little. "No, I will stay here. It is possible for him to continue my training, we would just need to be discrete about it."

"You're not going with him?" My mother sounded half worried, half relieved. I shook my head.

"I was worried he wouldn't be okay with it. We're not suppose to form attachments as Jedi."

"You mean you've…" She was always hesitant to ask.

"I've come to care for you. Both of you." Her hand covered her mouth once more. Father's hand rested on her shoulder as her eyes glistened. Confused at the reaction, my brow bent down a little. Father caught the change.

"Something we both worried about is that you couldn't accept us as your parents fully. We know you were raised as a Jedi first. That has been ingrained into you." I didn't know how to respond. It was true. But…

"We didn't want it to feel like we wanted you to forget all of that. We didn't want to force you to be our son." My expression dropped into one of horror.

"…What?" I shook my head. "No, no. Not once have I ever felt force to be your son!" I explained quickly, nearly stumbling over my words. "Has there been awkward moments, yes. So awkward I've asked to step away to recover. But not once has it felt like you've wanted me to forget my past!" I rubbed my face, coming to a realization.

"Is that why you insisted on training with me?" I asked Father. He nodded.

"You told us how you trained every day. I didn't want to take that away from you." My heart sunk when I looked at my mother.

"…Is that why you avoided me for that entire week?" She ducked her head in shame. I got up and stepped in front of her, kneeling down. "…Mother. Look at me. Please." She raised her eyes. "It is I, who is at fault. Yes, I was raised elsewhere. Yes, I had a different structure than you do. But for the love of the Force, I wouldn't trade a single day I've had since I found you." Her tears began to fall.

"I felt like I was ripping you out of your own life. I didn't think I had any right to do that." I rubbed her shoulder, which surprised all three of us. I wasn't one to initiate contact that often between the two of us.

"My old life was ripped apart long before I appeared at your doorstep. You have been nothing but-the…" I gathered myself after my voice caught in my throat. "You have been the best thing to ever happen to me." She wrapped her arms around me, holding me close. She kept apologizing for misunderstanding, for pushing me away like she had. I simply let her get it out. After a while of silence, I spoke again.

"If I had wanted to stay with my old life, I wouldn't have come looking for you. My master might be alive, and I'm honestly conflicted on how to feel about that, but you don't have to worry about me running off world. I am here the stay."

It was just a matter of adjusting to the strangest situation I'd ever been in…

This was going to be a headache.