Disclaimer: not mine

KH2 - Never beaten Roxas on the first go before! Usually takes about 5 tries.

Thanks to those who offered suggestions for their lightsabres. I've decided for Tim but still unsure for Obi-Wan if you want to comment

Chapter 10

Mace read the massive message again, rubbing his temples as the various shatterpoints echoed in the Force. Several had been affecting him for the last year or so, and now he had some answers to why. Mandalore had become more stable, the Mand'alor had been set up for death but spared by finding a new son…a son who was Temple levels Force sensitive. Said son then began being called to Melida/Daan after a year which led to a squad being sent to investigate only to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. Apparently Plo had a report that would be following on his circumstances and he had the sinking feeling the Council had messed up somehow. The Mandalorians had been hired by a group called the Young to end the generations long war and then Plo had 'engine troubles' while close by and so had landed only to be met by both of Jaster Mereel's sons with Obi-Wan in a bacta tank. And now…Obi-Wan was Plo's Padawan and Plo had gained permission for a place on Mandalore itself!

Plo planned to train not just Obi-Wan, but Mereel's youngest son. But he was careful to point out the boy would not be his Padawan but a student. And he could read between the lines, Plo was looking for an alliance with Mandalore for the Order, a way out from the ever-tightening noose the Senate had around their neck. Every year, they had to fight for their budget but if they could gain a powerful ally, they would have more power to negotiate.

A lot of the Council was not going to be happy with Plo's actions, especially when he had acted without consultation, but Mace would back him. Things were moving on Mandalore and the Force seemed to favour them. Plo seemed to think the Force had literally interceded by placing the youngest son right in Mereel's path. The Force did not tend to act in such ways though. He would like to meet the boy one day, he was curious.

He went to the archives, looking for Obi-Wan's sabre to have it returned to him…only to come up empty. He knew Qui-Gon had it with him when he returned, shown as evidence of the boy leaving the Order. So, what had happened to it? Had Qui-Gon kept it? That wasn't exactly against the rules but it wasn't encouraged. There weren't many rules around Padawans who left the Order because it was incredibly rare. Usually, they either went to a Corps before becoming a Padawan or because they aged out or they left as a Knight or Master. The fact that Obi-Wan, who had been so set on Knighthood had supposedly left for a girl, should have raised more questions. But the Senate had refused to risk any more lives to the war-torn planet and so they had been unable to investigate his circumstances. Hence the lie about engine trouble, of course, he would have really had some sort of issue, to keep the Order out of trouble if there was an investigation but Mace had no doubt Plo had caused it.

He would need to speak with many of the others about going ons in the Temple, Plo had hinted at things being overlooked or not questioned enough. And he would have to ask Qui-Gon about the lightsabre though…after a year parted from his Crystal and in a warzone perhaps it would be best for Obi-Wan to go on search for a new one. And the Mand'alor's son would likely need one too, which ruled out Ilum. The boy was not a Jedi after all, and no one would agree to his being allowed on that world. Jedha perhaps?

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Surprisingly, it didn't take all that long to get settled on Mandalore, they had Kel Dor among their numbers so fitting out a place for him was easy. There were enough similarities to the Jedi that he felt rather at home fairly quickly, though he had fewer meditation partners there was always someone ready and willing to spar with him. And he had a very eager to please Padawan…too eager. The boy's self-worth and self-esteem were all but gone which he did not like at all, yes, a Jedi should be selfless but not to the extent Obi-Wan. Thankfully he had backup in working on that, young Tim was very happy to help, as was his whole family.

Training Tim was different, he had very different life experiences to those raised in the Temple after all. His skill with a bō and beskad made sabre training easier and also harder in different ways. But both boys needed their own sabres, which meant going to find their own kybers. Thankfully, there were worlds other than Ilum they could go to. Mace had suggested Jedha and Plo agreed it was likely the best option. Tim would be sixteen soon, would be ready undergo his Verd'goten and swear the Resol'nare. He should have his own lightsabre before then.

And Obi-Wan's training was suffering for not having his own sabre as well. He had spoken a lot with Jaster about the Resol'nare and there wasn't really anything in it that would interfere with Obi-Wan's oaths to the Order. And Obi-Wan attended classes with the other ade, learning the way of the Mandose. If he wanted to swear the Resol'nare, Plo would have no problem with it, it had been done before after all.

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Tim followed Ba'jurir Koon from the ship and into the heat of Jedha, looking around the Holy City curiously, Obi-Wan beside him. Obi-Wan walked to his left as was proper for a Padawan. His braid had grown out over the last months, hair intertwining with the ribbons, a few more beads decorating it. Tim didn't mind not following that tradition, it looked weird to him, too easy a handhold in a close in fight if out of armour.

Obi-Wan brushed against him and Tim returned the mental touch, the two of them excited but nervous. Obi-Wan had done this before but Tim hadn't. having a crystal chose him was something so outside of his experience. A lot of his training with Ba'jurir Koon was. And then he saw the Temple, his eyes widening as he took it in, seeing the guardians at the doors.

"Will they be okay with my armour?" he asked softly.

"Of course, it is part of your creed, your religion," Obi-Wan answered.

He still wore durasteel pieces, these ones now fitted properly to him. Bes'mabur, tadun'bur, and kom'rk which were the same style as Tim's so they didn't impact his acrobatics. Ba'jurir Koon had shown files from the Jetii Temple of the armour they had worn centuries ago to help the Goran with designing Tim's final set. And Tim knew some was being designed with Obi-Wan in mind as well, everyone hoping he would be the first Jetii Mando since Tarre Vizsla.

Sure enough, the Guardians did nothing as Tim passed them, finding it cooler within the Temple, though his Kute was designed to help regulate his body temperature so the heat hadn't been too bad. And they could use the Ka'ra to do the same thing, that had been good to learn. Ba'jurir Koon spoke with some people and then they were led to a chamber where they disarmed but sure enough were allowed to keep their armour. They were then sent through separate doors…they would search alone.

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Obi-Wan knelt, falling into meditation easily. He knew better than to rush into the search, needing to be centred first. He had warned Tim of that as well. While rate, initiates sometimes died in the caves of Ilum, he didn't know if there was the same risk here and he didn't want Tim to get hurt or worse. Once ready, he stood and began to walk, the tunnel descending beneath the Temple.

It was cool, the shadows dancing across the walls, the Force whispering strangely.

"You were my brother…I loved you!" A voice echoed and Obi-Wan felt a shiver of something. He didn't recognise the voice…the future?

He turned to where the voice had come from, following it.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes."

Sith? It was a vision, not the definite future…but still, Sith?

"If you define yourself by the power to take life, the desire to dominate, to possess...then you have nothing." This time a vision went along with the whisper, a dark night and a figure sitting before a fire, face concealed by their hood but a white beard visible.

"You're like a father to me," a different voice whispered, younger. And he got the sense of a quick smile, the smell of the oil used for droids.

"I have a bad feeling about this Master," the first voice again but younger…was that him?

"Train the boy," that voice he knew, his old Master, but weak. He staggered to a stop as he saw a vision of a round room…Qui-Gon lying on the ground and a Padawan kneeling tearfully over him, their braid long and marked with so many achievement beads and bands…that was him? He heard himself agree and the Galaxy grew darker.

He entered a cavernous area, hearing the sound of thousands…millions…of marching boots. Blaster fire…droids…lightsabres…

"Oya!" a Mando cry. Armoured fists clanging on chest plates… "Mand'alor!"

"Ibi'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur." Was that Jango?

Images flickered all around him - waves of droids, dogfights over Coruscant…soldiers in white…Jaster with the Dha Kad'au…Tim dressed strangely being kicked out a window and plummeting to his death… two figures entwined on a bed…

And then he shook his head, the visions fading, his hand against the wall and something small coming away in it. He opened his fist and smiled at the sight of the kyber resting there.

They way out was easy, the Force calm around him again.

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Plo sat in the room, waiting for his Padawan and student, meditating. Areas with kyber were good for seeking visions in since the Force flowed freely and strong. He had no doubts that they would succeed. And he was very curious about the crystals that would choose them and the kinds of lightsabres they would be guided to build.

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Qui-Gon knelt in the garden, seeking peace in order to meditate. Mace had not been gentle in his chastisement. A jedi master, especially a Council member, yelling at someone was rare, thankfully they had been alone. He had forced Qui-Gon to read the medical report that Plo Koon had sent back regarding Obi-Wan Kenobi's condition.

It had been shocking to say the least. Finding out he had spent a year fighting a losing war…it was meant to be basically over when he brought Tahl home to save her life. Obi-Wan had been malnourished, basically starving with injuries that had failed to heal properly. And he had left him there without even his pack let alone his lightsabre.

He was being forced into mandatory mind healing; every report submitted while Obi-Wan's Master under review. Mace had taken Obi-Wan's lightsabre as well. Obi-Wan had a new Master now, Plo Koon. He wasn't sure he would be a good choice for the headstrong, angry boy. But he had no say in his life now.

Had he done the wrong thing?

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Tim walked through the tunnels, ever deeper under the Temple, but he wasn't scared, it was familiar, nostalgic. He missed the Cave. Pity there were no…bats, he could hear bats. He kept walking and came out into the Batcave but that wasn't possible. It hurt to see it; he could even smell it…but he knew it wasn't real. He'd never had a vision but it must be one. The future? Or the past? Or a path no longer possible at all?

Batman sat at the computer except…no, it was Dick in the Batsuit. He did it sometimes, when B needed to be seen at the same time or when he was off world. And then another figure approached in civilian dress…it was weird to see himself, different. About the same age probably?

"You said we'd be okay!" his hands were clenched into fists. "My entire life has burnt down! Again!"

It faded away and Tim took a deep breath before walking on. He felt sick as an image of a battlefield assaulted his senses, unable to help crying out as he saw a familiar figure, lying far too limp, his shirt almost torn from his battered body, the S-shield ripped. Kon.

He had to keep going, he'd been warned he would be tested. And when he rounded the corner, he found a planet he didn't remember, watching as his buir was gunned down in an ambush. Was that what would have happened if he hadn't been found there?

Another corner and a fight, himself in armour though missing his buy'ce, beskar bō in hand, fighting against someone wielding a red lightsabre. A Zabrak? He didn't recognise them at all. He grimaced as the fight ended with both of them dead. There was nothing to indicate where they were or what was happening so there was no real warning in the vision.

He pushed aside the whispers of his own childish voice when he had been left alone, speaking to fill the silence, begging his parents to come home. He closed his eyes as years of loneliness seemed to crash into him…but he wasn't alone anymore. He had a family, friends who were with him and others he missed dearly. So, he kept pushing onwards.

He saw two figures entangled in bed, fighting down a blush as he took in the muscular back before the body shifted to another familiar figure…okay then. The Ka'ra was interested in his potential love life…why?

Then it went dark and Tim stood still, concerned about walking into something. Booted footsteps sounded in the darkness, a figure emerging. Combat gear, leather jacket, and a blood red helmet.

"Hey Replacement," the voice was cold, mocking, and a gun rested in one hand, Tim's bloody old bō in the other. Replacement? He faded away but the darkness remained.

"Tt," this one sounded younger and he was surprised to see a boy in familiar colours, a sword in hand. "Usurper. You are not wanted or needed. I am the blood son, the rightful Robin."

Tim ducked on instinct, a birdarangs flying through the space his head had been. When he straightened, he was alone again, the darkness gone.

Blood son…Bruce had a kid?

"Detective," a voice purred and Tim shuddered at the sight of Ra's al Ghul, looking down at…Tim, naked to the waist and covered in blood. The air glowed green…Lazarus green, Tim's middle wrapped in bloody bandages. And then it changed, Tim ripping through ninja, his eyes glowing green.

Tim felt sick at the idea of being put in the Pit. Oh…Replacement, was it possible? Jason?

He kept walking, squeezing into a narrow gap, feeling something calling to him. Set into the rock above his head was a crystal and he knew it was his. He reached for it and it fell into his hand, making him smile. He turned and then froze as he stared at himself, the Dha Kad'au in hand and his eyes a sickly yellow. Tim stood his ground even as the figure lunged, the blade fading as it reached him, the image dispelling.

He got out of the alcove and went to leave but there was another tug, even deeper. So, he turned and kept going, the visions changing. War…endless, bloody war. Droids, men in uniform white armour…Verde, their armour dented…. would it never end?

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Plo was relieved when Tim stumbled out of the tunnels hours after Obi-Wan who he had sent to rest. Clutched in hand were two crystals. He caught Tim as he collapsed, carrying the boy to the room they had been given so that he could recover. It was obvious both boys had been through an ordeal. Just what had the Force chosen to show them?

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Bruce frowned as he studied the evidence from a murder scene in Crime Alley. Whispers were going around, of a gunman who wore a red helmet and called himself the Red Hood…one of the Joker's earliest monikers. Who could it be? Was it a coincidence it had been a year since Tim vanished?

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Jaster smiled as his son and the two jetii emerged from the ship, glad they all seemed well. Plo had assured him that the journey should be safe, death was very, very rare. But since it wasn't impossible, he had worried. He would have gone with them, or sent Jango at least, but the fighting had picked up. That had been part of why he had agreed to them going, the more weapons the boys had to defend themselves with, the better. But they were home now. No sign of lightsabre hilts though?

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"So, where's the shiny new jetii'kad?" Jango looked his vod over, and Tim rolled his eyes.

"We still have to make them; we went for the kyber crystals Jango. We're going to make them in the forge so the Goran can observe and for the raw materials."

"Can we watch?" he was curious.

Tim shrugged. "You'll have to ask Ba'jurir Koon, but jetii'kad seem to jetii like beskar'gam is to us. Would you want them to watch it being forged?" Tim asked, and Jango shuddered, shaking his head. Point made.

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Yoda stared out at the city, pondering the events of the last almost two years. Had he been mistaken in the will of the Force? Had Qui-Gon not been meant to be Obi-Wan's Master? A child leaving the Order once a Padawan was beyond rare…why had he not questioned it more. Dear Obi-Wan had almost been lost to them through war. And now…he would not return. Plo sent regular updates on his training and the boy had sent messages to his friends, assuring them of his wellbeing.

Life on Manda'yaim seemed to be good for the bright child that Yoda had been so fond of. He had sent the teaching materials personally. And if Plo should take on more students beyond even the Ad'alor be Mandalore, well that was his decision. Sooner or later though, the Senate would find out about their correspondence with Mandalore. Interesting, their reactions would be.

TBC…

bes'mabur - shoulder armour

tadun'bur - shin and calf armour

kom'rk – gauntlet

Ibi'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur. - Today is a good day for someone else to die

jetii'kad - lightsaber (lit. Jedi Sword)

Obi-Wan's visions were mostly the future or possible future of this universe, he saw one from DC, where Ra's kicks RR out the window.

Tim is mainly seeing his past and future in the DC universe, testing his resolve to continue living his life where he is.