Chapter 21 - Bonds

Having his lightsaber in hand, under the open sky, felt like sinking into a familiar, comforting bed after a long day. Edric tightened his grip around the hilt with one hand, the weight of the weapon steady and natural, as though it was an extension of his own arm. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his other hand, feeling the dampness trickle down his temple. His body burned with exertion, but it was a good burn, the kind that reminded him he was alive. Sparring with Edwin finally scratched the itch he'd been feeling since spending hours indoors, poring over plans and talking tactics.

Though he was mindful of Edwin's bruised ribs, his brother certainly wasn't pulling any punches. Literally. Every swing, every block, carried the same force and precision that had left Edric gasping for breath more than once. Yet, for some reason, Edric couldn't help but smile.

The gentle breeze carried the scent of grass and soil, cooling his sweat-soaked tunic, though it clung uncomfortably to his thick frame. The shiver that ran through him only heightened his focus. He twirled his yellow saber in his hand, its hum a steady song in the crisp air. Both brothers were catching their breath after their latest clash, standing a few meters apart in the tall grass that swayed around them like a silent audience.

"You learn quickly," Edwin said between deep breaths, his voice calm but edged with approval. His green saber lowered slightly, though Edric knew better than to think it meant his brother's guard was truly down.

Edric nodded, scratching at his forehead again. Edwin wasn't just testing him—he was teaching him, showing him moves and techniques Edric had never seen before. They were practical, efficient, and slightly unorthodox, weaving the traditional Jedi forms with innovative methods that took advantage of their environment and their raw physical strength. It wasn't the polished, acrobatic style Edric remembered from the Jedi Temple. It was something else entirely. Grittier. Less about precision and more about survival.

There were downsides, of course. Edwin's style traded speed for power, but it felt right in a way. Edric needed to adapt, to find his own way of fighting if he was going to stand any chance against Kael. His old master wouldn't fight fair, and if Edric was honest with himself, neither could he. He wasn't a Jedi anymore. There was no code to bind him, no council to judge him. Dirty moves weren't just an option—they might be his only path to survival. After all, not a single Jedi had worried about honor when the clones had turned on them during Order 66.

Edric widened his stance, his boots digging into the earth. He dropped into a low half-squat, grounding himself. Through the Force, he could feel the life beneath him. The resilience of the grass under his feet, the tiny burrowing movements of insects beneath the soil, the quiet hum of the world. He let himself sink into that connection for a heartbeat, inhaling deeply and allowing the Force to flow through him like a warm current.

Edric contracted the muscles in his legs and leapt into the air, his saber held high in a stabbing motion. The wind rushed past him, and he focused on his target, catching the faint flicker of surprise in Edwin's eyes as his brother raised his green saber to intercept the strike. The clash of plasma blades sent out a ripple in the Force, the vibration of the impact clearing the air around them in a visible sweep.

Edwin twisted his saber just enough to divert Edric's strike to the side, forcing the younger brother off balance. Before Edric could recover, Edwin surged forward and drilled a solid punch into his gut, sending him staggering backward. Edric grunted, the air forced from his lungs as he clutched his abdomen and dropped to one knee.

"Nice try," Edwin said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His saber remained ignited, held casually at his side. He wasn't taunting Edric, not exactly, but the confidence radiating from him was still a bit infuriating.

Edric coughed, trying to catch his breath as he straightened up. "You don't fight fair, do you?" he said, half a laugh slipping through his words.

"Fair is for the ones who lose," Edwin replied with a shrug. "Kael's not going to give you a moment to think, let alone recover. You've got to hit hard, adapt faster, and—" He gestured toward Edric's midsection. "—learn to protect your gut."

"Are you saying I'm fat?" Edric asked, feigning being hurt by the comment. They exchanged a short chuckle between them that made the slight numbness in his stomach turn into a more pleasant warmth. "This isn't over."

"Good," Edwin said, raising his saber. "Because we've still got a long way to go."

This time, Edric didn't charge blindly. He circled his brother, his boots crunching softly against the grass. He let the Force flow through him, calming his racing thoughts and sharpening his focus. Edwin might be more experienced, but Edric had his own advantages. He was faster, and his anger, though tempered, could still be a weapon if wielded carefully.

The brothers squared off again, the sunlight catching the glow of their sabers as they clashed once more. Above them, the sky stretched endlessly, bearing witness to the bond being forged in their battle.

Edric's movements were quicker this time, more calculated. His yellow blade weaved through the air like a darting bird, striking at precise angles and retreating just as fast. Edwin met each strike with measured strength, his green blade rising and falling like a hammer. They moved in a fluid dance, their blades humming and clashing, sending ripples of energy through the tall grass surrounding them.

Edric feinted to the left and spun low, his blade aiming for Edwin's legs, but his brother saw through the move and countered with a downward sweep, deflecting the strike at the last moment. Edwin used the momentum to push Edric back, forcing him to retreat a few steps.

"Better," Edwin said, his breathing steady despite the exertion. "But you're still hesitating. Don't think—act on your instincts. The Force will help."

Edric gritted his teeth. "Easier said than done when you've been doing this for years."

"Then stop trying to fight like a Jedi," Edwin shot back, stepping forward and forcing Edric to pivot.

"I'm not fighting like a Jedi," Edric protested, charging forward with a sweeping motion from top to bottom, forcing Edwin to block his powerful strike. The lightsabers clashed again, the smell of burnt ozone filling Edric's nostrils as he tried to push down on his own weapon, closer and closer to Edwin despite his defence. Edric felt the blood pumping in the bulging veins of his tense arms, beads of sweat dropping on the two sabers, vaporizing them the moment they got into contact.

Edwin headbutted him out of nowhere and for a brief moment, the world blurred and turned upside down before Edric's sight cleared up. He shook his head and wiped away the sweat once more. Time to get dirty, like he had to. A faint smirk appeared on his face as a plan formed in his mind.

He surged forward but this time he let his movements flow naturally, drawing on instinct rather than training. As their sabers clashed, he suddenly dropped and rolled, using his momentum to kick up a cloud of dirt and grass into Edwin's face. In the same motion, he swept his brother's legs out from under him.

Edwin managed to catch himself before falling completely, but his momentary surprise was enough. Edric's yellow blade stopped mere inches from his throat.

"Now who's not fighting fair?" Edwin asked, a hint of pride in his voice as he yielded.

Edric deactivated his saber, offering his brother a hand up. "I learned that in a fighting pit on Coruscant," he said with a grin. "Though I doubt Master Yoda would have approved of that one."

"Master Yoda never had to fight an Inquisitor," Edwin replied, accepting the help. He brushed dirt from his clothes, wincing slightly at his still-tender ribs. "That was good thinking. Remember that anything you learned from your former master is something he could use against you."

"That's what I'm counting on," Edric said quietly, his expression growing serious. "He knows all my old moves, but not who I am now."

Edwin clipped his lightsaber to his belt and rolled his shoulders. "Let's call it for now. Rono will be here soon enough, and we'll need our strength."

"Afraid I would beat you again?" Edric taunted.

Edwin raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "You realize I have some kriffed up ribs, right?"

Edric nodded, though his blood still hummed with adrenaline. His muscles ached pleasantly, reminding him of countless training sessions in the Jedi Temple. But this had been different—rawer, more honest. In a way, it reminded him of the fights he had on Coruscant, the way he enjoyed it and how fitting it all seemed despite his own lingering doubts about not being honorable. No pretense of serenity or perfect form now however, just two brothers preparing for battle.

As they walked back toward the house, Edric noticed movement in the Beast's cockpit. Max sat at the controls, running through what looked like pre-flight checks, his expression unusually serious. The sight gave Edric pause.

"Go on ahead," he told Edwin. "I need to check something with Max."

His brother gave him a knowing look before heading inside. They both knew time was growing short, and there were still conversations to be had before they left this place behind and walked into the unknown.

Edric found Max in the Beast's cockpit, running through pre-flight checks with a blank stare. The bounty hunter didn't look up as Edric dropped into the creaking co-pilot's seat, but a small smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Remember the first time you sat there?" Max asked, his hands moving across the controls. "The chair wasn't complaining back then."

"You are the second person today calling me fat," Edric groaned, though he let a twitch of his mouth slip his facade.

"Maybe it's a sign, chubby," Max quipped, his own grin slowly fading away.

"So what are you doing here?" Edric asked, his tone switching to more serious. Max usually wasn't the kind of person who would go off on his own to… well, think. That was more akin to Edric.

The bounty hunter smirked. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta keep this old rust bucket flying. Stars know you're not doing it."

"Excuse me, who saved us after Daiyu when the hyperdrive almost fried itself?" Edric protested, leaning forward.

Max waved a dismissive hand. "Sid saved us. You just flipped the switches he told you to. And I thought my memory was spongy."

Edric let out an exaggerated groan. "You're impossible."

"And don't you forget it," Max replied with a grin before his expression softened again. His tone shifted, becoming quieter, more serious. "But seriously, kid. You've come a long way since the first time you sat in that chair. I mean it."

Edric raised an eyebrow, leaning back again. "Are you getting sentimental on me now, old man?"

"Sentimental?" Max scoffed, though his smirk remained. "Please. I'm just saying I didn't think you'd survive this long. When I found you in the gutter, I figured you would get yourself killed before the week was out."

"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence," Edric replied dryly, though there was a hint of humor in his voice.

Max shrugged, leaning back in his own seat. "What can I say? You were a mess. Angry, lost, and way too quick to pick a fight you couldn't win. Honestly, you reminded me a little too much of myself back in the day."

Edric tilted his head, surprised by the admission. "Really?"

Max nodded, his eyes taking on that distant look again. "Yeah. Except, you know, less charming. And I didn't have a glowstick to swing around."

"Wow, you're just full of compliments today," Edric said, rolling his eyes.

Max chuckled, his mischievous expression fading as he glanced at Edric.

"If you really want me to be honest, at first, you were just a target like any other. I wasn't trying to save you or anything noble like that."

Edric raised an eyebrow, surprised at Max's candor. "What changed?"

Max tilted his head, his gaze turning inward for a moment. "At first? Nothing. You were just a tool, kid. A pet Jedi I figured I could use to take on the tougher jobs. Get in, get paid, and move on. Simple."

Edric's smile faded, his brow furrowing. He didn't interrupt, sensing there was more Max needed to say.

"But then…" Max hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then I started paying attention. To you. To how you kept getting back up, no matter how many times life knocked you down. Even when you were scared, doubting yourself, you still fought. Not for money. Not for glory. You fought because you believed—even in this messed-up galaxy—that what we were doing mattered. That putting worse people away, even as bounty hunters, was better than doing nothing."

Edric blinked, caught off guard by Max's words. They had some tough adventures together, and at first their relationship was more distant… trying to understand each other. Edric knew there was no going back after Order 66 and he relied on Max, perhaps more than the old man realized. But he had never really thought about what impact he had on Max.

"I've seen a lot, Edric," Max continued, his voice quieter now. "Growing up on Corellia… you learn fast how little people care about anything but credits and power. I did things I'm not proud of just to survive. When I became a spy, I thought maybe I could make a difference, do something good. But the galaxy doesn't work like that. By the time I found you, I had lost faith in people. I didn't believe in hope or second chances. And then… you."

"Me?" Edric asked, his voice almost a whisper. He wasn't sure how to process what Max was saying.

"Yeah, you." Max nodded, leaning forward slightly. "You reminded me that maybe there's something worth fighting for. I'm not a good person, kid. Never have been. But you… you made me want to be better. Watching you fight—not just with that lightsaber of yours, but with everything you've got—it reminded me that change isn't impossible. It's hard, messy, painful, but it's not impossible. You've got this crazy, stubborn refusal to give up, even when the odds are stacked against you. And that's what's going to get you through this. Not some Jedi code or fancy lightsaber tricks. Just you."

Edric leaned back in his chair, staring at Max as he processed what the bounty hunter just said. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond to something so raw, so honest. And it wasn't even something he realized. It was just… the only thing he knew how to live.

"Thanks, Max," he said finally, his voice low but filled with sincerity. "That… that means a lot."

Max waved a hand dismissively, though his face betrayed the gruff act he was trying to maintain. "Don't get all mushy on me, kid. Just… don't forget it, alright?"

Edric nodded, a small smile breaking through the tension. "Alright. But for the record, the chair's creaking because this ship is older than you are, not because of me."

Max snorted, shaking his head. "Keep telling yourself that, chubby."

They sat in silence for a little while, Max tapping on the control panel for his checks. Edric felt a strange calmness wash over him, the familiar routine making him nostalgic, reminiscing about the countless times he saw the stars stretching in the cockpit as they entered hyperspace for their next adventure, for their next bounty. He missed the simplicity of it, the stakes being bearable. Edric wondered if they could ever go back to that, but his heart whispered that it might have been too late.

"Let's say we get lucky and don't die. You ever think about what's next?" Max asked suddenly, as if reading Edric's mind. Maybe it was painted on his face, as the old man could read him just as well as a Force user.

"What do you mean?" Edric frowned.

Max gestured vaguely toward the viewport. "After all this. The holocron, Kael, the Empire... what happens when it's over? When there's no ancient artifact to chase or psychotic Inquisitor to fight off. What then?"

Edric sighed, the question throwing him for a loop. He had been so focused on the mission, on surviving each day, that he hadn't even considered what came after. "I... I don't know," he admitted, his voice quieter. "I haven't thought about it and I'm not sure if it ends with Kael. What about you?"

"If you want my advice—"

"Not if it costs me credits," Edric cut him off with a cheeky wink. Max rolled his eyes at the quip.

"Still terrible with the jokes. Anyway, once this is all over, I'm going to get the Beast some well deserved maintenance and eat up most of my savings in doing so. Maybe take a week off before going back on the grind. Might ask Sid if he wants to tag along too, the kid is quite useful."

"You want to replace me?" Edric pretended being hurt, but he could understand where Max was coming from.

Max tilted his head, studying him for a moment before a sly grin crept onto his face. "Bet that girl of yours is part of the reason you haven't thought about it."

Edric could feel his cheeks turning crimson. "What? It's not like that."

"Oh, come on," Max said, his grin widening. "You've been mooning over her since the day she came aboard. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Edric groaned, burying his head in his hands.

"I'm just messing with you," Max said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You know, I'm not sure your Force will let you come back bounty hunting after all this. The Empire is strong, but maybe there's a way to fight back. Rono could probably use you for more important things than taking down drunk smugglers."

Edric let out a dry laugh, though it lacked any real humor. His gaze dropped to the console in front of him, the blinking lights reflecting in his tired eyes. "I'm not sure if I've got enough left in me for all this fighting," he admitted.

Max leaned back in his seat, watching him carefully. "You've got more in you than you realize, kid," he said firmly. "But promise me something, alright? Don't let anyone else dictate your life for you. Not me, not your crazy brother, not the Force, not anyone. You hear me? It's your life. You're the one who has to live it."

Edric looked up, startled by the weight in Max's voice. Their eyes met, and in that moment, he saw something deeper in the bounty hunter's gaze that was rare. Genuine concern. It wasn't just advice Max was giving. It was a plea, and it hit Edric harder than he expected. The relationship he had with Max wasn't exactly sentimental, a fair distance still lingered between them besides the quips and jokes, but there were rare moments like this when he truly felt like a father. For years, Edric had drifted from one thing to the next, letting the galaxy and the will of the Force pull him along like a leaf in the wind. But was that really enough? Even if free will was an illusion, wasn't it still his responsibility to make his own choices? To take ownership of his life?

Max stood up slowly, his boots creaking on the floor, and placed a firm hand on Edric's shoulder, giving it a strong squeeze before turning to leave. "Just... be happy, Edric. You really deserve it. And maybe," he added with a sly grin, "you oughta think about what—or who—makes you happy. Just a thought."

Edric's cheeks flushed, turning back to the console to hide. Max's laughter echoed down the corridor as he disappeared, leaving Edric alone with his thoughts. He let out a long breath, staring out the viewport, seeing clouds waving through the sky of Dantooine.

The commlink on Edric's belt chirped, pulling him from his thoughts. Edwin's voice crackled through. "Edric, you should come downstairs to the study. There's… something you should see."

When Edric arrived back at the farmhouse, he found Edwin and Sid in the same room they descended into the caves earlier. Sid was clutching an old toolkit to his chest, his eyes wide with a mix of wonder and fear, darting between Edric and Edwin as now both brothers stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase. The toolkit looked ancient, with some of the items and their metal surfaces worn smooth by countless hands, yet they somehow gleamed with an inner light that had nothing to do with the room's illumination.

"What's going on?" Edric asked, though he could sense something in the Force already whispering the answer.

"Tell him what happened," Edwin said gently to Sid.

The boy swallowed hard. "I... I was just walking past the stairs on the ground floor to get some food, but something stopped me. Called to me? From in here. Like... like a song, but not exactly. I can't really explain it." His fingers tightened around the toolkit. "When I came in, it just flew right into my hands," Sid explained and took another moment to swallow. "By itself."

Edwin gestured to the object in the boy's hand, still clutching the small package like his life depended on it. "I believe those tools belonged to a great Jedi named Ram Jomaram. He lived hundreds of years ago. Known for his extraordinary connection to machines through the Force. Some said he could understand their inner workings just by touching them and he was proficient in using telekinesis to tinker with them."

Edric could see the fear in Sid's eyes, his pupils blown wide as though trying to drink in more light, more understanding. The boy's face betrayed his confusion, his unease—it was written in every twitch of his features. His breath hitched slightly, and Edric could feel it too, the strange ripples in the Force radiating around them like unseen waves. Sid didn't understand what was happening, and it terrified him.

With his gaze lingering on the boy, Edric pondered if the Kane home was a vergence, an anomaly where the Force converged in its rawest form. Perhaps that was why Sid was so in tune with the currents of the Force without even realizing it. It wasn't just talent, it was the environment nurturing what lay dormant inside him. Or at least, that was his best guess.

"Like you do," Edric finally added softly to his brother's words, watching Sid's face change, mouth dropping.

"What... what are you saying?" Sid asked, his voice stuttering between his words.

"We've noticed it for a while now," Edric continued, exchanging a glance with Edwin. "The way you interact with machines, how you just know things about them that should be impossible to know. It's not just skill or intuition, Sid. It's the Force."

"The Force?" Sid's voice trembled slightly. "But I thought..." He set the toolkit down carefully, as if afraid it might explode. There were so many things going through him and Edric could feel them all. Confusion, surprise, joy, fear, a mix that he himself experienced a number of times now. "Wait, isn't the Empire hunting people like that?"

The brothers shared a look of concern. "Yes," Edwin answered. "Which is why we need to help you understand what you're capable of. How to protect yourself."

"We can teach you," Edric offered, though he could see Edwin giving him a look. They didn't have the time of course, but when all is said and done, maybe they actually could help the boy. "Not to be a Jedi - those days are gone. But to understand this part of yourself. If you want to learn."

Sid looked between them, then back at the toolkit that had called to him. His fear seemed to ebb slightly, replaced by a familiar spark of curiosity. "Will it help me be a better mechanic?"

Edric couldn't help but smile. "Among other things."

"I always thought I was just good with machines," Sid said, his fingers tracing the worn edges of the toolkit. "But sometimes... sometimes I would know things I shouldn't. Like I could feel what was wrong with an engine before opening it up. Or…or how parts wanted to fit together."

"The Force works differently for everyone," Edwin explained. "Some feel it strongest in combat, others in healing. For you, it manifests through technology."

"Is that why everything feels... alive to me?" Sid asked. "Like each machine has its own heartbeat?"

Edric nodded. "That's exactly it. You're sensing their energy through the Force, probably like Ram Jomaram did. These tools..." He gestured to the kit. "They recognized that connection in you. It might be you could sense the echo from Ram."

Sid picked up a peculiar-looking wrench, studying it with newfound understanding. "So when I modified the Beast's shields earlier..."

"You weren't just using technical knowledge," Edric confirmed. "You were using the Force without realizing it."

A distant rumble interrupted them, the sound of multiple ships entering atmosphere. The three of them climbed the stairs quickly to get to the closest window, watching as a small fleet of mismatched vessels descended through Dantooine's clouds like a flock of metal birds - everything from modified freighters to old Clone Wars gunships.

"Looks like Rono's finally here," Edwin said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "We'll have to continue this discussion later, I'm afraid."

Sid clutched the toolkit closer. "Can I... can I keep these?"

"They chose you," Edric said with a smile. "I would say they're yours now."

As they headed outside to meet their reinforcements, Edric caught Sid mumbling to himself, already examining the tools with the same enthusiasm he showed for any new piece of tech. Some things, it seemed, didn't change - Force sensitive or not.