Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the best sleep Kanan had had for a while. Which means something was probably amiss. Sure enough, when Kanan opened his eyes, he was in his old room. No, not his room on the Ghost, not the shabby floor on Gorse, heck this wasn’t even Kasmir’s ship. This was the kriffing Jedi temple on Coruscant!

Kanan practically fell out of bed trying to get up. Everything was exactly as he remembered it. In fact, some items that were present he had completely forgotten about until now. There was the nexu mask he’d made for the annual youngling class play, a couple of scattered photos of other padawans and clone commanders, and a few Jedi robes with tattered edges and food stains hung up on a rack.

He slowly crept and took the nearest cape of its hanger. It was way too small for him now, it might fit Ezra though. He remembered this cloak he'd worn it when he first showed Master Windu's his lightsaber. He’d tried to pull it out dramatically but it got stuck in the folds and broke in half. He remembered Master Windu’s alarmed expression when two halves of a lightsaber hit the ground with a loud clang. However, it had been a valuable learning experience. After all, not everybody could do a dramatic cape drop like Master Obi-Wan Keonbi.

“Caleb! Caleb! You’ll never believe what I-” The youngling’s sentence was cut short when he was face to face with a stranger instead of his friend.

Kanan recognized the boy almost immediately, red hair with a dozen or so freckles on his face; he was none other than a young Cal Kestis.

Cal stared. Kanan stared back. Cal continued staring. Kanan started wondering what Cal was going to do next. Should he say something before Cal came to his senses?

“Hi.”

Kanan couldn’t really say that he was surprised when Cal turned and ran towards the door.

“MASTER TAPAL!” His voice was several octaves higher than Kanan remembered. But that could’ve been a mixture of fear and a voice crack. (Cal was around eleven now? Could eleven year old boys get a voice crack?)

Cal had left the door wide open, and several Jedi masters, knights, temple guards, and padawans were peering in wondering what a strangely dressed man was doing in Padawan Dume’s bedroom.

Oh great, He thought to himself, instead of Ezra, Chopper, and Zeb I get Cal giving me a headache in the morning.

Kanan then sprinted out the door before anyone had the wise thought to react.

Chapter Text

“FIVES!” Rex yelled, causing the arc trooper to jump at least a meter in the air.

Fives quickly gathered his senses, “Yes Captain sir?”

“Where did you put my helmet?” Rex seethed.

The last time Fives had gotten hold of someone else's helmet he put at least 80 ounces of pink glitter and dumped it back onto the owner’s head. (The owner in question was Cody. Needless to say, immediately after Fives had to run the most intense marathon any clone had ever run.) Rex didn’t need a repeat of the glitter bomb incident.

Fives stared at Rex as if not quite processing his words.

“Sir, I didn’t take your helmet.” Fives said slowly, carefully choosing his words.

“Well who the kriff did?” Rex demanded. He was painfully aware that Fives wasn’t the only prankster in the 501st and he wasn’t going to let this go until he found out who took it. The rest of the battalion exchanged confused glances.

“Sir, with all due respect, I don’t think any us took anything.” Fives said.

"Are you sure it was stolen?" Dogma asked. "It's not possible that you just lost it?

"Did I lose- No it was stolen! I left at my barracks like I usually do, I feel asleep, woke up, and my helmet was gone! I searched everywhere and the only clue I have," Rex started wagging his finger dramatically, "is the open vent across the room."

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Sir," Kix said slowly as if explaining something to a tubie, "are you suggesting that while we were sleeping someone soundlessly stole your helmet then made his way across the room, opened the vent and crawled in without anybody noticing?"

Ezra Bridger smiled from his hiding place in the vents. Yes, that was exactly what happened.

When Ezra had randomly awoken in the middle of the night in storm trooper barracks it took everything he had to not scream right then and there. It had been too dark for him to see that they were actually clone troopers, (how he ended up in any soldiers barracks he did not know) but he could see Rex's helmet. Oh well, if he was in the Clone Wars then Rex would understand the joke in like twenty years.

Stolen helmet in hand, Ezra began to (not so soundlessly) crawl through the ventilation shaft before anybody got the idea to check the thief's escape route.

Chapter Text

Mace Windu was having a bad day.

He had just come back to the Jedi temple after a long time away. He'd hoped he would spend the day chatting with Depa and get to know Caleb more. And some solo meditation. He needed to catch up on that. And with a majority of the Disaster Lineage off-world for the day it seemed highly likely.

Instead he was chasing his Grand Padawan's alleged abductor through the temple at 10:39 AM.

The intruder had cleverly stolen a temple guard's mask to hide his face. Mace had no success in finding this man's true identity. One could assume he was a bounty hunter. But the Separatists had already tried that and they were too smart to pull the same trick twice. So who was he working for?

Not a hairstylist, Mace thought to himself. He was getting very frustrated on being on this side of the ponytail.

No one knew how the man mysteriously appeared in the Temple. Somehow, he managed to slip past the temple's security. Why he had gone to Caleb's room was anyone's guess. And where Caleb was. Hopefully, Caleb had fallen asleep in the archives or the mess again and he was peacefully sleeping completely obvious to the intruder in his room. What troubled everyone more is that nobody felt any disturbances.

Who made this temple so kriffing big? Every time had almost cornered the trespasser there seemed to be another hallway for him to slip into.

There was a long list of questions, but Mace decided to stick to what he knew. The man seemed to have a fairly good handle on the similarly decorated hallways, which means someone had supplied him the information or he knew his way around himself. He didn't move towards any areas a saboteur might target; the archives, dorms, or the security tower. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding these areas. Which means that he had done whatever he had come into the temple for and was making his escape. He knew that much, and he shared it when his Padawan, Depa, joined the chase.

"I couldn't find Caleb anywhere!" She told him. It wasn't surprising but Mace's tiny hope was crushed, "Is there anything else about our intruder that I should now?"

"His shields are impressive. I can't break through them." It slightly unnerved Mace how strong the man's shields were. It took years of training and many Jedi masters struggled with it. Yet he somehow pulled it off with ease.

Blaster shots rang as the man turned to shoot at them. Not to hurt them, Mace noted, but to scare them and veer them off.

"And he has a blaster!" Mace and Depa simultaneously pulled out their light sabers to deflect the bullets. Somehow, seeing the purple and blue blades made the man speed up all together. Mace didn't think it was possible for a civilian to be able to run this fast.

"He's been trained by somebody. But who? And why?" Mace asked to the void. The only one with those answers was actively trying to run from them.

So many kriffing hallways...

"I have an idea!" Depa said. Those words could cause different reactions depending on who they came from. From Master Obi-Wan it meant that he had an idea but not a plan yet. When his Padawan, Skywalker, said it, it meant that it was a risky plan that he fully intended to follow through on. But from Depa this was a reassurance.

Mace nodded and Depa turned down one of the corridors. The intruder seemed to notice and altered his escape route.

"Not today Motherkriffer!" Mace yelled. Probably not the most appropriate thing to say but the corridors were devoid of younglings so there was no harm done.

Startled by the sudden outburst, the man almost lost his balance but quickly regained it. This didn't bother Mace. The man automatically returned to his original route which meant that he was falling right into whatever Depa's trap was.

Suddenly, the man ran into a wall. Instead of being scared or thinking he was cornered the man simply pivoted and went to run towards the side corridor. But there Depa was, her light saber drawn blocking his only exit. So he turned to Mace, who also had his light saber drawn. Then he turned back towards the wall.

"Dank Ferrik!" He swore. If there were any younglings around they would've gained a colorful asset to their vocabulary.

"Who are you," Mace said, trying not to sound out of breath, "and what did you do to Caleb Dume?"

This made the man freeze. Like he was scared of that name. Was he scared of Caleb? Had Mace known this would make him stop he would've just yelled Caleb's name down the hallway.

"What?" He sounded confused and startled.

It was Depa's turn to point her light saber, "He asked who are you."

The man chuckled darkly. "That's a question everybody wants to know these days."

"What did you do to my padawan!" Depa snapped. Mace could tell she was trying to show restraint.

"Me, I didn't do anything. I just woke up here. However, if you would lower your light saber I might be willing to provide you with a few answers."

Depa seemed to consider it. Then she looked at Mace for guidance.

"Take off that mask and you have a deal."

"The light sabers first."

"At the same time."

The man made no further arguments. Mace took this as a sign that he'd agreed to the terms. Mace lowered his light saber. Depa was a little more hesitant, but with an encouraging look from her master she reluctantly lowered hers. The man didn't bolt immediately, which Mace took as a good sign. His hands slowly crept up towards his mask. Almost like he was unsure of what he was doing so his hand was making the decision instead.

Beneath the temple guard mask was a devilish smile and familiar teal eyes.

"Where do I begin?"

Chapter Text

Ezra had heard about Anakin Skywalker. Kanan, Rex, Ahsoka, and Hera that one time told him that he was brave, kind, loyal, and an amazing pilot. Now, seeing him standing next to the legend Obi-Wan Kenobi and a smaller Ahsoka Tano all Ezra could think was; That's the same guy?

First, Ezra had watched him trip over his own two feet and almost get run over by a droid. (It was a familiar R2 unit and a "friend" of Chopper). Then, he left his light saber on a table in the wide open. Where anybody could see it. He didn't even try to disguise it. Everyone could see he was a Jedi! He'd have a whole army of inquisitors on his back. Or maybe not. The inquisitors came with the Empire, right? But what about the Ventress lady he'd heard about? And the Separatists? Anakin looked nonchalant about the whole thing!

His head was buzzing with questions that he almost missed the argument that the three Jedi were having.

"Calm down both of you," Obi-Wan was saying, "There is no mystery thief running amok. If someone had infiltrated our defenses why wouldn't they go after the cannons or try to kill us in our sleep? Rex has probably just misplaced his belongings."

Ezra flinched. How often did people get killed in their sleep here? Ahsoka must've sensed his disgust, her head snapped towards where he was hiding in the vents. He froze, hopefully his shields were strong enough that she would just dismiss the disturbance. She squinted her eyes as if that would help her see through solid objects. She finally looked away and Ezra let out a breath of relief.

"Rex said that there was an open vent grate in his room. Maybe the thief is still there!" Ahsoka exclaimed.

Noooo, Ezra thought to himself, maybe the thief isn't still there. He tried to silently squirm his way out.

"Well by all means Snips, if you want to spend the day crawling in the vents on a wild goose chase go on ahead. I won't say I told you so if there's no one there." Anakin said to her. Ezra didn't blame him, if he wasn't the thief in question he wouldn't believe her either.

"But master!" She protested. Yeesh, was this what Kanan saw when he was talking to him?

Ezra shifted his leg and it lightly bumped on the edge. A soft thump resulted. It was quiet, so quiet that any ordinary person it might've been nothing at all. But a room with three trained force sensitives wasn't exactly what you could call normal. All at once their heads snapped to where Ezra was hiding. It was incredibly unnerving the way they always did that. He couldn't see anyone now, kriff! He doubted that Ahsoka was going to let him slip by a second time. Especially not if Anakin and Obi-Wan heard him too. Oh kriff.

Suddenly, he was falling. When he and the ground had made their contact he could see that the vent had been cut on both sides by light sabers. He saw Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka. And Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka saw him. Kriff.

He bolted towards the door, which closed before he could leave. Kriff. He turned around to face the three Jedi that he was trapped with. They would have questions. Kriff.

Ahsoka turned towards Obi-Wan, "I told you so."

Anakin looked towards Ezra, with his eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

Ezra had told the lie so many times that it practically became an automatic response: "Jabba the Hutt."

All the Jedi managed to keep their faces straight. Unlike the Imperials who'd get worked up in a fit. Usually when they got mad, he'd get a small advantage of them being confused. No such luck here.

"Well Jabba, you look a little young to be a bounty hunter. Or a hutt for that matter. Care to tell us how and what you're doing inside a Republic war base?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I got lost."

"Well Master," Anakin said, "what are we going to do with him?"

"There's an extra cell. I'm sure we have a pair of handcuffs somewhere."

"What? But I didn't do anything wrong!" Ezra protested.

Anakin gestured to the room. "Trespassing on government property!"

That was such a minor crime in Ezra's book (he'd been wanted for treason since he was seven for kriff's sake) that he'd forgotten that it was even a crime. Plus, if he was in a cell he couldn't find a way to get back to his time.

"Don't I get some kind of buffer because I'm a kid?" That wasn't how it worked with the Imperials but it might since he was in the Republic? He was scrambling for a distraction.

"Which begs the question, how did someone, much less someone my own age, break into a Republic war base?" Ahsoka asked. Everyone uncomfortably looked towards Ezra. Sure, ask the teenage boy how he did something very illegal and kinda impossible.

"I got lost." He repeated.

"He isn't to young for us to interrogate him, is he? Maybe get some real answers?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan seemed to mull it over. Ezra could almost see his thought process. Too young to be a bounty hunter. Separatist spy? Some third party? But he's a child. Where are his parents?

"Yes Anakin." Obi-Wan said to his dismay, "I do think that we can question him. You and Ahsoka can secure him in a cell while I go over what we can and can't do."

After a minute or two of waiting, a clone trooper with entirely white armor that eerily reminded Ezra of a stormtrooper's walked in with a pair of handcuffs. Anakin took the handcuffs and put them on Ezra.

"Oh, before you go," Anakin turned and picked up Rex's helmet that Ezra had forgotten about, "can you give this to the captain? I've heard that he's been looking for it."

The clone trooper nodded and took the helmet. Anakin placed his hands on Ezra's shoulders. His grip was too tight for Ezra to even try to squirm.

"Come on Snips!" He called, guiding Ezra out of the room.

Ezra should've been worried, but instead he was already picking the lock on the handcuffs.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka excitedly rocked on her heels. She'd uncovered a Separatist plot! And if that wasn't satisfaction enough she'd done it in front of Anakin. He said that it wasn't real, but it was! If the prisoner wasn't here she'd be dancing through the hallways. What a adrenaline rush!

Anakin kept a steady hand on the prisoners shoulder. To both guide and make sure he didn't escape. Not that the prisoner was attempting to shake him off. He kept a steady pace and a guarded expression. However, instead of looking down he looked straight up head. She was impressed, any kid who could break into a Republic facility and keep a straight face when captured certainly was no average kid. Which begged the question, who or what was he really?

He was obviously not a hutt. (He and Stinky had little resemblance). He appeared to be a human, however his eyes and hair were a shade of blue impossible for a human. He was probably a mix, not uncommon in the galaxy, perhaps his grandfather or great grandmother was an alien. Or maybe he dyed his hair. It was hard to tell with humans. But the two scars across his cheeks were obviously not biological. How did he get them? Bounty hunting? Lightsaber battle? Or did he anger a tooka cat when he was young? It wasn't a stretch for Ashoka to think animals didn't like him. His outfit led to other questions. He wore mostly orange and some shades of light brown. It was torn, some places sewn together with different color thread. Who wore that much orange anyway? It looked like he got it out of a dumpster.

"And here we are." Anakin said as he opened the cell door. Anakin pushed the prisoner in and followed. Ahsoka stayed outside. This was so she could learn how to interrogate, and so she could pick up bits and pieces that Anakin might have missed.

"So," Anakin began, "tell me about yourself."

The prisoner stared at Anakin. Anakin stared back.

"What?"

"Tell me about yourself."

The prisoner looked uncertain. No, he was confused. Anakin tended to have that affect on people, Ahsoka herself wasn't even sure how he'd survived this long. But whatever he was doing had worked so far.

"What am I supposed to tell you?"

"Y'know, stuff like your name,"

"Jabba the -"

"Your real name, your age, who your parents are, where you're from. Basic information really."

Now the prisoner looked uncertain, "You don't want to know what I'm doing inside a Republic base?"

"Oh I do want to know that too. But I would like to get to know you first. But if you do want to tell us what you are doing here, I'm sure no one will object." Anakin glanced back toward Ahsoka. She couldn't help but matching his smirk.

"What do you say kid, are you going to tell us?" Anakin waved his hand dramatically. The prisoner flinched, Anakin froze, the room seemed to be hold its breath. Ahsoka was confused, was there something she missed? They both seemed to be waiting as if they expected something to happen.

"Sorry, reflex." The prisoner mumbled. The air in the room remained sharp.

"How old did you say you were?" Anakin asked.

"Fifteen." Ahsoka looked at him for what felt like the first time. He actually looked fifteen now, like he wasn't before.

"And your parents?"

The prisoner, no, the kid, looked down toward the floor. "Dead. Haven't seen them since I was seven."

Ahsoka didn't remember her parents, most Jedi were lucky to have even a whisper of a memory of their life before the Order. But Anakin was yet again slightly different from everybody else. To her knowledge, he was born and raised with his mother on Tatooine until he was around nine, so it didn't come to much of a shock when Anakin whispered, "I know what that feels like. I'm sorry."

Anakin then stood up and left the room. He seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. His eyes were stormy, raging like a thunderstorm.

"That was," she struggled to find the right word, "eventful."

"Did you see the way he flinched?" Anakin asked. His voice was barely a whisper, his mouth barely moved. Ahsoka slowly nodded.

"He was expecting me to," His words stopped. It didn't take much for Ahsoka to piece them together.

"Is the Jedi's reputation really that bad?" She asked. She was well aware that the Jedi's popularity had plummeted ever since the war but she wasn't aware how bad it really was.

"Ahsoka, no one flinches like that unless they've been hurt before."

She stared at him. She wanted to laugh, but his expression was deadly serious. It couldn't be true. What kind of monster would use the Force to cause someone pain? And even more so, who would do that to a kid?

"He's roughly my age, that's too young-"

"No one is too young Ahsoka." He snapped, like he had lived through whatever happened to the boy. Maybe he had. No one is too young...

"General. Commander." A familiar voice said.

"Rex!" Ahsoka exclaimed, happy for the change of subject.

Even though he was hiding under his (newly found) helmet, Ahsoka could feel him grinning underneath. 

"I just wanted to thank you for finding my helmet." 

Anakin lightened up. The storm in his eyes softened. "Anytime Rex. Though it was Ahsoka who actually caught him." 

Ahsoka beamed. Now he was paying her compliments. Today was full of surprises.

CLANK 

A few feet ahead, a ventilation shaft broke. For the second time today, the (notably handcuff free) blue haired boy lay on the ground as result of the weak infrastructure.

The clone commander and Jedi looked at him. 

"Kriff you." He said to no one in particular, then took off. 

Yes, today was full of surprises.

Chapter Text

It was the quiet patter of footsteps that came first. Then, the ever so silent Padawans that followed. Finally, the noise of five to six clone troopers in full tactical gear came tearing down the hallway.

Obi Wan looked up in annoyance. What now? He considered checking, or even sticking his head outside the door, but decided against it. Whatever mess Anakin had gotten himself into he could probably clean up. It had been a solid two weeks of silence, (plus or minus some glitter) and he wasn't going to give that up now because of suspicious footsteps. Frowning, he returned to his book on child safety laws.

In the event that an adolescent is detained, one must follow necessary procedures to ensure the safety of the child. These measures include

On second thought, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to see what Anakin and Ahsoka were doing.

He found them a few corridors down, both whisper-yelling furiously. He caught phrases like "how did he escape?", "where did he go?", and the old classic "Obi Wan is going to kill us."

"Who am I killing again?" He asked, amused when they both jumped in surprise. They both turned to him with guilty expressions, however before they could answer the Commander approached him.

"General!" Cody called, "it appears the prisoner Jabba the Hutt has escaped!" 

"Well Commander," he said while dutifully ignoring some of the clones snickers, "is that so?"

"Yes sir, he was last seen escaping to the South East corridors. Albeit that was five minutes ago and he's probably escaped into the ventilation," Cody heaved a sigh, "again."

Obi Wan turned to face his padawans sternly, "We better go find him then, shouldn't we?"

"Sir yes sir!" Cody yelled for his men.

"Not you two." He said while grabbing Anakin and Ahsoka by the scruff of their robes. When the clones had left earshot he prepared to give them both the lecture of a lifetime.

"We don't know how he got out." Anakin blurted before he could begin.

Ahsoka turned to Anakin, "Yes we do, he went into the vents." Then she turned towards him. "Every time we get close he disappears! It's not fair, the Separatists never have escaped like this before!"

"You'll find many things in life that aren't fair Padawan, but right now we have a prisoner to catch. You say he disappears every time you get close, correct?"

"Yeah, we think he goes into the vents, or he has a map of the place and is using that." Anakin replied.

The barely audible klink came from above.

"Have you attempted to seal them?" Obi Wan asked, a small smile spreading across his face.

"There's too many. By the time we'll finish he'll have already done what he came here to do and leave!"

"And what was he sent here to do?" 

"We don't have any prisoners," Ahsoka said slowly, "so not a jailbreak."

"We aren't controlling any system of importance to the Separatists. That leaves out assault." Anakin said

"So that leaves surveillance!" Ahsoka replied.

"And how might he be going around doing that?" Obi Wan asked.

"Well, he's obviously not a spy. At least not a very good one." Ahsoka said. Obi Wan dutifully ignored the angry whispering from the vents. "So that means he's probably leaving bugs everywhere, which explains why he keeps going into the vents."

"Or," Obi Wan said, his eyes twinkling with amusement when Ahsoka and Anakin both looked at him in confusion, "he could be eavesdropping." With a flick of the force the vents came crashing down with their frequent guest in tow.

He recovered much quicker this time, but so did Anakin. He barely had taken a few steps when Anakin pulled him back.

"We meet again Jabba. Though I wish we could meet as friends for once." Obi Wan said as the boy struggled against Anakin's grip.

"Who says we have to keep meeting?" He asked, apparently struggling for a proper quip. 

"A good question indeed. However I'll have you know that I'm a general and this is a Republic base, so you can't really be so surprised." 

"Look, I don't know how I got in a Republic base, I just want off." The boy said, "I don't even know what system we're on!"

"How do you not? Don't you live here?"

"No! Where the kriff am I?"

"We're on Arreyel."

"Arreyel," the boy said, his brow furrowed, "Arreyel," he looked up towards Ahsoka, "You never told me anything about Arreyel!"

"Was I supposed to?" Ahsoka asked, "I didn't even know you until this morning!"

"That's not what I- nevermind." He took a breath to steady himself, "Look, I just want off this dustball. Any chance you could drop me off never Lothal?"

"We're not dropping you off anywhere!" Anakin said. He then turned to Obi Wan, "where are we supposed to put him where he won't escape?"

"We could try Coruscant." He suggested.

"Are you kidding, we're in the Outer Rim! Plus, they're not going to hold some kid." Anakin argued.

"Why does everyone keep calling me a kid?" 

"Because you're a kid." Ahsoka told him.

"We're the same age!"

"I'll go ask the Council. Perhaps they can come up with a solution." Obi Wan said.

"What Council?" The boy asked.

Though Obi Wan didn't need to tell him, he did so anyways. "Yes, the Jedi Council."

"There's a Jedi Council?! Why didn't anyone tell me?" The boy yelled into the universe.

"We thought you already knew. It's kinda common knowledge." Ahsoka said, side-eyeing the boy as if considering putting him into a straight jacket.

"Karabast." He whispered under his breath.

"Well, I'll go contact the Council. Try to keep our guest contained this time Anakin." And with that Obi Wan swept out of the room, ignoring the commotion behind, and wondering how he was supposed to explain this to Master Windu.

Chapter Text

It was a long ride to Coruscant. Contrary to his earlier belief, the Jedi council did want to bring the brat there. Specifically to the Jedi temple. Why, he had no clue. But hey, if the Council wanted another pain in their butts then who was he to refuse?

"For the last time! Keep the handcuffs on!"

"How do you keep getting out of these?" 

Anakin peered in the rearview mirror to see both Ahsoka and Rex attempting to retrieve the handcuffs that the prisoner had once again escaped from. The boy looked up, immediately making eye contact with him. Anakin quickly looked away. He was giving him that look again. Not the usual gush, or Jedi scum!, or even the what did you break? look that Obi Wan seemed to like. It was unsettling, to say the least. It was like he was staring into his soul, trying to find something. He was constantly sizing him up. He sighed. This boy was strange.

"Master this is the fifth pair of handcuffs." Ahsoka said, holding the evidence in front of her like it was a greasy banana peel.

"Not now Snips, I'm busy." Anakin told her.

Rex yelled in frustration in the background.

"Master this is the sixth pair of handcuffs." She repeated.

"I'm driving Snips!" He snapped.

"Where am I supposed to put these!" She snapped back.

"I don't know, make a pile somewhere."

"Okay then!" She stomped off. Most of their conversations were like this. It was fine.

His thoughts again wandered to the peculiar holocall that he'd overheard. He'd overheard Yoda's chuckle, if that's what you'd call it. 

"A padawan, Master Windu's friend has?"

"A padawan?" Obi Wan exclaimed.

Casting yet another wayward gaze, Anakin sized the kid up again. He didn't look like a Jedi, at least in the typical sense. At first glance, he was a regular kid. After two minutes being around him, he was a con artist. But a padawan? No way. He was too undisciplined, too wild. He seemed more likely to overthrow the government then join it. However, the Force told him a different story. He was guarded, more than he let on. His shields were impressive, but why would he need to hide? So many questions, none that he could answer. Or wanted to answer. Maybe this was a mystery someone else could solve for once.

---------------------

They slowly lowered onto the landing platform, the ship shaking a little as they made contact. The sun and hour or two away from making contact with the horizon. There on the Temple steps were three figures, two he recognized and one he didn't.

The first one was the famous (-ly annoying) Master Windu. He looked tired and grumpy, like Obi Wan without caf. Next to him was his Padawan, Depa Billaba. He didn't know much about her, only that she was a friend of Obi Wan's and was in a coma until somewhat recently. Her expression was unreadable, her face completely neutral. Then there was the third dude. He looked like any other redneck you might see at a bar. Scruffy looking and not someone would've expected to be on the steps of the Jedi temple. Anakin cast a glance back at the prisoner. Maybe they were related? The dude was the kids parent who'd come to ground him or something? They didn't look alike, but who was he to judge?

"We're here!" He called. He took a few steps forward before kicking something.

"Wha- Ahsoka!"

"What?" She asked smugly, "you said to make a pile."

"I didn't mean- you know what, nevermind. Just get the brat so we can leave. If Master Windu wants a kid who's broken six pair of handcuffs then I'm not going to stop him."

"Seven actually." He said, smiling as the current pair of handcuffs dropped to the floor.

Ahsoka patted Rex on the back, "I'm so sorry." She whispered as Rex's silent scream filled the room.

Anakin once again took the kid by his shoulders. "Out we go. Go annoy someone else for a change."

Very few people get to see the temple up close. Those who do were either trespassing, prisoners, or Jedi. Needless to say, the boy fell under at least one of those three things (the jury was still out about the last one) so he was one of the lucky few. Most Jedi didn't remember their first time seeing the temple, they were too young. Anakin was of course impressed by how big it was. But it'd been a long day and everything was bigger on Coruscant than on Tatooine, he'd been rendered speechless to it all. This boy didn't seem to have that problem.

"Holy force! This place is karking massive!"

He was glad that he wasn't responsible for this kid. Was this what Obi-Wan felt like? Force, that must be annoying. He made his way back to the ship, pausing in the doorway to overhear the conversation.

"Hey! Language!" Master Windu called.

"Control your padawan Caleb!" Depa said to the redneck.

The redneck shrugged. "He can probably swear better than I can."

Master Billaba whacked him in the back of his head.

"What'd you do that for?"

"Oh stop crying. You might be older but you're still as mature as you were when you were fourteen. I was trying to whack some sense into you."

The boy laughed. "I like you."

"You know what I like?" Master Windu asked, Anakin half wished he could give some kind of warning to the boy.

"Uh-what?"

"The law."

The boy frowned, "We're not going to get along well, are we?"

"No we are not." Master Windu assured him.

Anakin shook his head slightly as the doors to the ship closed behind him. The rumor mill was going to have a field day with this one. He could already see a new joke forming, Two Jedi masters, a redneck, and a teenage con artist walk into the Jedi temple....

Chapter Text

This morning had been a teetering seesaw threatening to crash on the end of disaster. Caleb’s alleged abductor had been Caleb himself, apparently time traveled into his room in the temple. Following the much too early morning chase, Caleb/Kanan had agreed to present himself in front of the Council where he had explained that the Republic had won the war and the Jedi had lost. He said that they had been massacred, and that he’d been lucky to survive the Purge. He said that for at least ten years he’d hidden himself away, changed his name to Kanan, and tried to cut himself off from the force. But recently he’d changed. He said that he had a crew and was rallying with others to fight the Republic turned Empire.

It was a lot to absorb, and it didn’t help that her padawan (Caleb? Kanan?) had omitted certain details that would’ve been very useful to know. Depa had the same questions that the other Council members had, who killed all the Jedi? Who rules the Empire? Are there other survivors?, but she also wondered what changed his heart. What did the Empire do that caused him to get in the fight again? Or did someone else convince him to join? Who could be so presavive?

Almost immediately following the Council meeting, Obi-Wan Kenobi had called a meeting with a rather puzzling prisoner. A fourteen-fifteen year old boy who kept escaping and causing headaches. Yoda’s speculation that he was a padawan seemed outlandish until Caleb/Kanan confirmed that he was in fact his padawan. Her padawan seemed rather unsurprised about his padawan’s behavior. 

“It’s what he’s trained to do.” He shrugged, “If he gets caught behind enemy lines, he’s supposed to escape and reveal as little information as possible.”

“But we’re not your enemies.” Master Windu said.

He shrugged again, “He doesn’t know that.”

Eventually, Master Kenobi managed to capture the padawan and bring him to Coruscant. Whether the padawan was aware that he was no longer a prisoner she did not know, but he seemed to bright up when he saw his Master.

Quick introductions were made, and she learned that her grandpadawan’s name was Ezra. He was quiet, strange considering his initial reaction. His eyes swept the Temple’s rooms with quiet fascination. It seemed that Master Windu would get his quiet afternoon after all.

“So, how was the flight here?” Caleb/Kanan asked.

Ezra shrugged, “It was okay. I’d like to see how he’d handle against a couple of TIE’s though.”

Caleb hummed in agreement, “Well, I’m sure that he’d handle it well. Not as good as Hera but he’d make it out alive.”

“What makes you think ‘Hera’ could stand better than Knight Skywalker? He’s one of the best pilots in the whole Temple.” The words flowed out of her before she could stop them. Caleb looked at her in amusement.

“Well, let’s just say Hera has only ever had one ship that she hasn’t crashed.” Kanan smirked, “And, I might be a little biased.”

Depa could feel a smirk coming across her own face, “I’m sure whomever’s flying has a higher score on the simulation than you did.”

Ezra snorted and Caleb rolled his eyes.

“First off,” he began, “my score wasn’t that bad. Secondly, those things are totally rigged!”

“Oh yes Caleb, they are rigged for those who didn’t do their homework and stayed up all night playing in the archives instead.”

Caleb rolled his eyes. “One time,” he muttered, “one time.”

“Twice actually.” 

Caleb held his hands up in surrender, “Fine. Two times. Are you happy now?”

Depa smiled smugly, “Quite.”

“So what am I supposed to call you?”

Depa and Kanan turned their heads to where Master Windu and Ezra had fallen behind.

“I mean, Kanan’s my Master and you taught my Master’s, Master but you didn’t teach me and I’m just wondering if there’s like an official term I’m supposed to use or-”

Depa smiled. It was humorous seeing someone struggle with something that she had known all her life. The word had been ingrained in her brain almost since the moment she got to the Temple for the first time.

“See, I would be Caleb’s Grandmaster, and since he’s teaching you that would make Depa your Grandmaster and me your Great-Grandmaster. Though, that’s a bit of a mouthful.” Master Windu told him with the most patience Depa has seen him show all day. 

Ezra nodded seriously, “So you’re like my Grandpa.”

Depa bit back her snort. Caleb/Kanan was not as fortunate. They both looked away in the most innocent way they could muster when Master Windu shot them both a glare.

“I guess in civilian terms, you could call me that. But we are not civilians, I am the Grandmaster of the Jedi order during a time of war and you are,”

“Currently on the run from the government,” Ezra interrupted.

“I was going to say fighting a fascist regime but if that’s how you want to describe it. The point is that we are not civilians so refrain from calling me ‘Grandpa’.”

“At least not so loud,” Kanan said to Ezra in a stage whisper, “He’s a bit touchy about his reputation.”

Ezra nodded, “So not Grandpa. Let’s see, Grandmaster, Grandpa, Grandmaster,” Ezra’s eyes lit up like he had an epiphany, “Grandma!”

“No!” Mace attempted to quiet Ezra down. The damage was already done however, several younglings that had been eavesdropping innocently passing through had overheard and burst into fits of giggles. Depa had been able to hold her own until she met a certain person’s teal eyes and dissolved into giggles of her own.

When was the last time she’d laughed like this? It felt good and so much overdue. She hadn’t even noticed the toll the war had paid on her happiness. Shooting a glance to her grandpadawan, Ezra looked awfully pleased with himself for someone who’d just ticked off a High Council member.

“Younglings. All of you.” Her Master mumbled.

“This is why Imperials hate you so much.” Kanan said after finishing wiping away the small tears that had formed in the corner of his eyes.

“Because you’re so much better.” Ezra said with his arms folded. There was a humorous amount of sass that radiated off of him. Kanan held his hands up in mock surrender.

“Yeah yeah, I learned from the best.” He said while ruffling Ezra’s hair.

“The best being me I presume?” Depa asked.

“Sure.” He winked at his padawan.

“Goodbye my quiet afternoon.” Mace sighed to himself.

Depa had been looking forward to a calm day herself. But now she wasn’t so certain that’s what she wanted anymore.

“So Ezra,” the boy turned at the sound of his name, “What mischief has my padawan gotten himself into?”

Kanan groaned, “Ezra no.”

Ezra grinned evilly, “Well, I’m not aware of any mischief but there is a certain twi’lek pilot he probably doesn’t want you two to know about.”

“Why have you betrayed me so?” Kanan complained.

“Please continue the betrayal. I want to learn more about my padawan’s love life.” Depa said.

“Her name is Hera Syndulla,” Ezra began, much to his Master’s protests, “One of the best pilots in the outer rim. Probably in the inner and core rim too. She’s stubborn as hell and fiercely protective. Pilot of the Ghost which may or may not have some illegal upgrades she added herself.”

“Syndulla? Like Cham Syndulla?” Mace asked. Ezra nodded.

“I met him once. Very brave, but also very stubborn.”

Kanan nodded wisely, “Like father like daughter.”

“We met him too. We needed his help trying to steal an Imperial vessel but he wanted to blow it up.” Ezra said.

“Did Kanan finally use those diplomacy skills I’ve been trying to teach him?” Depa asked.

“No, it was me actually. Long story short we kept the carrier but blew something else up. It was awesome.” Ezra smiled smugly. 

“While ‘awesome’ isn’t exactly the word I’d use, it was pretty cool if I don’t say so myself.” Kanan nodded.

“At least we know what his girlfriend’s like.” Mace muttered under his breath.

“Wha-Hey! She’s not my girlfriend!” Kanan protested.

“Whatever you say Caleb,” Depa smiled, “Whatever you say.”