The morning air on Devaron was crisp, the canopy overhead just barely letting sunlight through. Luke Skywalker led Kata through the familiar circuit trail, one he knew all too well. His boots crunched softly over the well-worn path as they walked in silence, Kata glancing around nervously. She had only run something like this two times in her training thus far.

For Luke, this trail was more than a training ground—it was a place of memories. A few years back, when he had just begun to understand what it meant to be a Jedi, Spectre Seven, the former Imperial Inquisitor known as the Seventh Sister, had used this exact trail to train him. She had pushed him, made him better. And now, he found himself in her role, training another.

Luke glanced down at Kata, her brow furrowed in concentration as she took in the surroundings. She wasn't quite sure what to expect. On Koboh, her life had been sedentary, standing or sitting for long stretches, not this constant movement. Kata was sharp, no doubt about that. But her cardio and agility… well, that would need work.

Luke stopped at the base of the trail, gesturing ahead. "Today, this is where we begin, Kata."

She looked ahead, eyes wide at the terrain. Fallen tree trunks, uneven dirt paths, logs overhead—everything Luke remembered was still here.

"In due time, you will do Force speed for straight paths," Luke explained, pointing down the stretch, "When the path curves, you'll have to leap or slide, depending on what's in front of you."

Kata shifted uneasily, rubbing the back of her neck. "How many laps this time?"

"As many as you can manage," Luke said with a slight grin. "Like before, we're testing your stamina."

Kata groaned softly but nodded. "Right."

Luke stood back, arms crossed, watching as Kata prepared herself. "And remember—expect the unexpected."

She looked at him curiously. "Unexpected?"

"Let's just say," Luke smirked, "You're not the only one who trained here."

Without further explanation, Luke motioned for her to begin. Kata took off, her form stumbling at first, but gradually finding her pace. She leaped over a fallen tree, struggling to gain momentum but managing to keep moving. The logs required her to slide underneath, the first of which she misjudged, nearly face-planting into the dirt.

Luke watched from a hill above the trail, memories flashing back of his own early runs—how Spectre Seven had placed obstacles, always changing the course so he would never get comfortable. He had learned to anticipate.

Kata wasn't there yet. Not yet. But with time, she would be.

A soft rustling in the branches above caught his attention. Luke turned his head, his senses alert.

"Master?" he asked aloud, feeling a familiar presence.

The figure dropped from the trees with the grace of a predator, landing softly beside him. She wore a light gray tunic. The former Seventh Sister, now called Spectre Seven or Yalara Rusis—crossed her arms, smirking down at Luke.

"You came out of nowhere," Luke said, unable to hide his smile. "I suppose that's to be expected."

Spectre grinned. "I see your tactics were learned from the best… my apprentice."

Luke rolled his eyes, but the grin remained. "I won't deny you're the most agile of anyone I trained under. Some of it must've rubbed off on me."

She raised an eyebrow, her grin growing wider. "I'm flattered, Skywalker."

Luke nodded, his expression becoming a touch more serious. "Where's Ezra?"

"He and Sabine are back at your place. Taking care of Ygnacio."

Luke chuckled softly. "The little guy's still not used to being away from Chandrila."

"He'll be a nomad like the rest of us in due time," Spectre said, her voice softening.

Luke nodded thoughtfully, then felt a sudden pang in his chest. His eyes flicked back to the trail. "Oh, I forgot about the last-minute obstacle."

His gaze darted to a curved tree leaning precariously over the trail. One wouldn't see it coming until they were right on top of it, especially since the pathway curved around it. He extended his hand, feeling the familiar pull of the Force. The tree groaned as it bent forward, collapsing across the trail with a heavy thud.

A moment later, he heard the sound of footsteps—quick and rhythmic. Kata was running the circuit again, her pace slightly faster now, her movements more confident. But then, she came to the tree. For a split second, he saw her eyes widen in surprise, but she didn't hesitate.

With a burst of energy, she leaped into the air, her body twisting in a high somersault over the fallen tree. Her landing was clean, almost graceful, and she finished the circuit with a sharp breath, stopping to catch her breath at the end.

Luke raised his eyebrows, impressed. "Good job, Kata."

Kata smiled, wiping the sweat from her brow. She bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Master."

Spectre Seven stepped forward, arms still crossed, her grin ever-present. "I'm not sure if Luke's told you, but this method… it was mine. Back when I first trained him. I hope it's of some help to you."

Kata looked between them, a glint of pride in her eyes. "It is. Thank you, Masters. Both of you."

Luke glanced up at the sky, the sun now hanging high overhead. "Alright, I think that's enough for today. Time for lunch."

Kata's brow furrowed in confusion. "We're already done?"

"We'll take a half day," Luke said, his tone casual. "Eventually, we'll add Force speed to the circuit. But for now, you need to focus on your body's limits."

Kata nodded, though she still seemed unsure. "Understood, Master."

As they walked back toward the village, passing through the trees and the familiar winding path, Luke glanced up at one of the nearby homes. His gaze lingered on a window where a figure stood, half-hidden behind the glass. Farnay.

She was watching him, her expression soft but distant. The memories they had shared on Devaron had been peaceful, but with Luke's focus on training students like Kata, he had spent less and less time with her. They hadn't spoken about it directly, but both of them understood what it meant. Luke was pursuing his purpose, fulfilling his destiny. And Farnay… Farnay knew that was what he needed to do.

Still, the silence between them had grown heavier with time. She turned away from the window as Luke passed, disappearing back into the house.

Luke's thoughts lingered on her for a moment longer before he refocused on the path ahead. He would need to have a conversation with her soon. But not today. Not yet.

As they approached Luke's small home, Spectre Seven stepped ahead, wanting to check up on her son.

Luke and Kata entered the house, the small space filled with a calm quiet. Ygnacio, was fast asleep in the corner, curled up with a blanket. Sabine's armor was scattered across the floor, half-repaired from the latest adventure.

Luke looked back at Kata, who was still catching her breath from the run. "Get some snacks. We'll relax before dinner."

Kata smiled, relieved. "Sounds good."

Ezra was the first to greet them, holding a small device in his hand. He wore a grin that could only mean he had something to reveal.

"Hey, Luke, you'll never guess what I found," Ezra said, waving the device.

Luke's brow furrowed. "What is it?"

Ezra chuckled, tossing the device to Luke. "I ran a test using one of your old midichlorian kits. Checked Ygnacio's count."

Luke caught the device and glanced down at the display, blinking as the numbers flashed. His eyes widened slightly.

"Fourteen thousand?" Luke muttered, looking back at Ezra with raised eyebrows.

Spectre Seven leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Fourteen thousand? That's more than me."

Kata, who had been taking off her boots by the door, glanced up in surprise. That's more than me too, she thought, recalling her own test from weeks ago. Her midichlorian count was just over 10,200—a respectable number, but nowhere near Ygnacio's. She pushed the thought aside, trying not to dwell on it.

Ezra beamed. "Yeah, I know. Crazy, right?"

Luke shook his head in amazement, handing the device back. "That's more than I expected."

Sabine, who had been busy setting the table for dinner, chimed in from the kitchen. "Let's just hope the kid can live up to those numbers," she said with a teasing smirk.

Kata followed Spectre Seven into the kitchen, where they began helping Sabine with the final touches on dinner. Spectre Seven moved with practiced ease, chopping vegetables and stirring sauces with a precision that came from years of self-discipline. She occasionally glanced over at Kata, watching as the younger girl followed her lead.

"You've got a good eye for this," Spectre Seven remarked, nodding toward Kata as they worked together to prepare the Mygeeto burritos and Protato Namba patties.

Kata smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her. "I used to make patties all the time back on Koboh. Greez had them at the tavern, and they were always my favorite."

Spectre Seven gave a small, approving nod. "Good taste."

The two continued in comfortable silence, with Kata listening intently to Spectre Seven's suggestions for the seasoning. Despite her stoic nature, the former Inquisitor had taken a liking to Kata. She could see the girl's eagerness to learn, but also recognized that she understood the importance of patience. Kata was learning quickly, but she wasn't rushing the process. Spectre Seven respected that.

By the time dinner was ready, everyone gathered around the table. The conversation started light—talking about their training and their recent missions—but soon turned toward more pressing matters.

Ezra leaned back in his chair, looking at Luke. "So, I've been hearing rumors. Apparently, Thrawn's gained access to a hyperspace transport ring. It's massive, and it can travel to another galaxy entirely."

Luke nodded. "I've heard the same. And that he was instructed to look for force users who are stranded over there."

Sabine asked, her tone cautious, "Oh. What will happen to them once Thrawn rescues them?"

Luke took a moment before responding. "It's not entirely clear. But from what I've gathered, Thrawn may approach them—perhaps offer an alliance. He'll likely tell of us, our existence."

Ezra frowned. "Wait... do you know who they are?"

"I only know the name of one," Luke said. "A former Jedi Knight who survived the Purge. Apparently, he has a couple of apprentices."

Spectre Seven's eyes narrowed as she sifted through her memories, her mind going back to her days as a Padawan. "What's his name?"

"Baylan Skoll."

Spectre Seven frowned, the name only vaguely familiar. She had never encountered Baylan directly, but it didn't surprise her that someone with such little notoriety had managed to survive the Empire's rise and fall. Perhaps staying under the radar had been his key to survival.

"Well," Spectre Seven said quietly, "he must have been very good at staying out of sight."

The conversation carried on through dinner, the group falling into easy banter until Kata brought up a new topic.

"What if…" Kata started, looking at Luke, "…for a while, we don't find the students we're looking for? The ones with higher midichlorian counts, I mean."

Luke looked at her thoughtfully. "What are you asking, specifically?"

Kata hesitated. "I mean, what if people with lower counts—say, below 6,000—want to learn? Are we going to deny them because of their lack of potential?"

Luke exchanged a glance with Sabine, who raised an eyebrow knowingly. She could sense that Luke already had an answer prepared.

"Well, Kata," Luke began, his tone gentle, "I trained Sabine in our ways of combat, and in the Force. Her midichlorian count is lower than yours, but that didn't stop her from keeping up with me in sparring."

"In fact, she was better than most considering her Mandalorian heritage. I suppose there are exceptions."

Kata looked over at Sabine, who gave a modest shrug. "I wasn't too keen on being trained by Luke at first," Sabine admitted. "But he gave me the chance to learn because I needed to free my people. And I learned. In the end, what matters is the student's willingness."

A brief moment of silence followed before Sabine continued. "But at the same time... it's important to sense someone's true intentions. If someone's learning the Force to dominate others or climb up in status, they'll only bring harm. We need to be careful."

Luke looked at Sabine, a bit surprised at her insight. She had a point. If someone was drawn to the Jedi out of a desire for power or status, that could lead to another collapse. But he also knew emotions weren't always the enemy. Some attachments, when handled properly, could be healthy.

"Thanks, Sabine," Luke said, giving her a grateful nod.

"No worries," she replied with a small smile.

XX

The next day found Spectre Seven and Ezra in a secluded clearing, a wide, open area surrounded by towering trees. They sparred with light, fluid motions—lightsabers clashing in a dance of skill and precision. Spectre Seven was as agile as ever, her movements almost feline as she twisted and dodged, landing soft blows on Ezra, who was struggling to keep up.

"Come on," Spectre taunted, deflecting another strike. "Getting slow already?"

Ezra grinned, but moments later found himself on the ground, Spectre standing over him, victorious. Still catching his breath, Ezra teased, "No way you can beat me once you carry our second kid. No more sparring then."

Spectre narrowed her eyes but smirked. "Don't tempt me, Bridger."

Ezra chuckled as he dusted himself off, pushing himself back up. "Well, we're not getting any younger."

Spectre sighed but nodded, acknowledging the truth of his words. "Time's more on your side than mine, but... yeah, you're right."

She helped him up, offering a small grin as she did. "Ready for another round?"

Ezra smirked. "Always."

XX

Later that afternoon, back at Luke's house, Sabine and Luke were engaged in a sparring session of their own, using the compact backyard space. It wasn't as wide or open as the clearing Ezra and Seven were in, but it worked well enough for the two warriors to move through their drills.

Seven and Ezra returned, watching from the porch, smiles on their faces as they admired the dedication both Luke and Sabine still had for their craft. Meanwhile, inside the house, Kata was already preparing dinner, slicing vegetables and mixing ingredients.

As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the trees, Spectre remarked to Kata, "We spend our time mostly on Chandrila these days. But Devaron… it's a nice place to visit."

Ezra nodded in agreement. "Once Luke's ready, we'll show you around. There's more to see out there than you might think."

Kata smiled, excitement bubbling up inside her. She had a feeling her journey was just beginning. And with teachers like Luke, Sabine, Ezra, and Spectre Seven, she knew she was in good hands.