Stars, Hide Your Fires – 2 – Scarlet_Gryphon

Jaro had given up on getting Cal to sleep in his own bed that night. The two of them had ended up in Jaro’s much larger bed, with Cal ending up starfished out and across him as he slept. Jaro hardly minded, too absorbed in soaking in his Padawan’s beloved presence to be bothered too much about an errant elbow digging into his ribs. When the familiar bell-like chime heralding the start of the day echoed through the halls, Jaro roused himself from the doze he’d fallen into. He’d almost forgotten how bad Cal’s bedhead was in the morning, especially when he still had the longer haircut most human Initiates preferred.

“Cal. Time to get up,” he said, carefully shifting Cal off his torso and onto the mattress. Cal stirred, cracking open one eye to give Jaro a bleary look.

“Mmph. Time is it?”

“The morning bell just rang,” Jaro said, getting up from the bed and stretching his arms over his head. “We need to get breakfast and morning routines taken care of, and then we have several errands we need to run today.”

“Errands?”

Cal sat up, running a hand through his hair and making a further mess of it. Jaro shot him an amused look.

“Yes, Padawan. On that list is getting your hair trimmed. We’ll also be meeting up with Master Yaddle today at some point. I’ll need to message her to see what her schedule is like. I know she’s been planning on doing a meal with the current members of our lineage, especially after she heard I would be taking a Padawan.”

“What else?”

Cal shuffled his way off the bed, yelping when one of the blankets twisted around his ankle and tried to drag him down. He hopped on one foot as he fought to catch his balance, grabbing at the blanket in an attempt to disentangle himself.

“Do you need help?”

“I’m fine!” Cal insisted. He eventually managed to free himself, tossing the blanket back on the bed. “Your blankets are dangerous, Master.”

“Hm. Should we add more balance training to your schedule?” Jaro teased. “That blanket nearly took you down.”

“Like I said, your blankets are dangerous.” Cal rubbed at the back of his neck. “Uh… Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not treating me like a baby just because I had a nightmare. And for letting me sleep in your bed.”

“You’re my Padawan,” Jaro told him. “You’re still young, even for a human, but I’m not going to disrespect you by assuming my feelings are worth more than yours just because of that. As long as you treat me with respect, I’ll do the same for you.”

Cal flashed him a bright smile.

“Thanks, Master. So, besides blankets attacking me, what else is on the schedule?”

“Let’s see… haircut, meeting with Master Yaddle… Ah, yes. I know you have some things from the creche, but I’d like to get you set up with more personalized supplies,” Jaro said as he gathered his outfit for the day. “Go get freshened up and changed for the day. I’ll message Master Yaddle during breakfast.”

“Alright!”

Cal hurried out of the room, leaving Jaro behind. Jaro shook his head in amusement. It was good to see that Cal was still a bundle of energy even with the muted memories of the past future. He got ready for the day, making quick use of the ‘fresher while Cal was still in his room before starting on making a breakfast of a hot savory porridge with shredded roast bantha meat atop it. It wasn’t anything particularly fancy, but it had plenty of everything both of them would need to have more than enough energy for the day ahead.

Jaro made sure to have several spicy sauces available on the table, only belatedly remembering he’d only introduced Cal to them a few months into their partnership in the first timeline.

“You can add any or none of these to your food if you like, but I will warn you that they’re more flavorful than most sauces found in the creche,” he advised as he put a measure of one of the hotter sauces into his own food. “My lineage-sister introduced me to them. They’re a staple of Tatooine food culture. The dark green one is the mildest, while the bright orange one is the spiciest.”

Cal examined them curiously. “They smell… familiar.” He cocked his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever had them before, but I’m willing to try.”

“Start small,” Jaro advised. “Go with the green one first and then you can work your way up if you want.”

Cal nodded, adding a little of the green sauce to his porridge. He mixed it in and then tried it, a surprised noise leaving him at the taste.

“That’s good! What’s it made from?”

“I’m not sure of all the spices, but the main ingredient is a tavrin pepper grown in the canyons of Tatooine by the Jawas who live there. The pepper grows best in shaded areas and under overhangs. Each of the sauces have tavrin peppers as a base, but what changes is the amount used and the time of year the peppers are harvested.”

“Wow. That’s really complicated for a sauce,” Cal said between bites. Jaro hummed, testing his food before adding a little more sauce to his porridge to get it to his preferred level of spice.

“Jawas are more complex than most people think,” he said. “Corax is a prime example of that.”

“Corax… Wait, you mean Master Corax? She’s your lineage-sister?”

“You’ve heard of her?”

“One of my crechemates was talking about her and how talented she was with a short saber,” Cal explained. “They saw one of her duels against Master Drallig in one of the exhibition matches a few months ago.”

“She’s also talented with the Niman form. She likes using the environment to her advantage.” Jaro shook his head. “I’ve been a climbing frame or jump-off point for her more than once in a fight. Then again, she learned that from Master Yaddle.”

Cal giggled. Jaro reveled in the sound of his easy laughter, knowing full well that in the prior timeline, the war had stolen that ease away. He privately vowed to do whatever he could to keep Cal laughing for as long as possible, even with the hard fight ahead.

When breakfast was over and all the dishes had been cleaned up, Jaro checked the messages on his commlink, making an approving noise when he saw that Yaddle had responded to him. He hadn’t used the code the Lady had set up, preferring to wait until he was in person to do so. She had time to see them later that afternoon, leaving them plenty of time to get their errands done before they had to meet up.

“First things first,” Jaro said as they left their quarters, “we’ll get your hair taken care of. What color tie would you want for the end of your Padawan braid?”

Cal looked up at him in surprise. “I get to choose?”

“Of course. It’s your braid. I’ll add decorations to it as time goes on, like beads and such depending on the situation, but this first decoration is your choice alone.”

Cal frowned in contemplation, his pace slowing while he walked. Jaro slowed his pace accordingly, not wanting to leave him behind.

“Hm… What’s your lightsaber color, Master?”

“Oh? Blue, though you don’t have to choose that simply because you’re my Padawan.”

“I like blue,” Cal insisted, “and it’d be a nice way to tie me to you. What was your braid tie colored?”

“Dark red,” Jaro said with a wry smile, “because it was the closest match to Master Yaddle’s hair, as well as good at standing out against my own hair color.”

Cal grinned up at him.

“I guess I’m just following in the tradition you set, then.”

Jaro reached out and ruffled Cal’s hair, being careful not to press down too hard.

“Master Yaddle always said I’d get a Padawan just like me. I suppose she was right.”

Cal laughed brightly, the sound garnering attention from their fellow Jedi in the hall. Some smiled to themselves, the feeling of Cal’s delight radiating out into the Force around him. The haircut didn’t take too long, Jaro securing the end of Cal’s short Padawan braid with the requested blue tie once it was over. The braid would grow longer over time, but for now the end just barely tapped against the middle of his cheek.

With that errand done, they made their way to the storerooms and the quartermaster’s office there to get Cal his much needed supplies. While they weren’t scheduled to go out into the field any time soon, Jaro was intent on making sure his Padawan would have anything he may need. He was talking with the quartermaster when Cal came over to them.

“Uh, Master?”

“One moment, Padawan.”

Jaro set down the datapad he’d been looking over, placing it on a nearby counter before focusing on Cal. His Padawan was holding what looked to be a pile of fabric with a hopeful expression.

“What do you have there? Another blanket?”

“Not exactly.”

Cal shook the fabric out, revealing not a blanket or a cloak, but rather something Jaro hadn’t expected.

“A poncho? You don’t like your cloak?”

“I… No, I do, but I was thinking maybe it’d be nice to have something to use as a backup in case something happens to my cloak or I can’t use it?”

Jaro considered that, idly wondering if the desire for a poncho was a remnant of the prior timeline, as he hadn’t mentioned it the first time around.

“It doesn’t hurt to have a backup,” he agreed. “Very well, though we’ll have to find a poncho in your size. That one looks a little too big for you.”

Cal looked down at the poncho, looking like he’d only just realized he’d chosen one that would’ve fit him as an adult rather than his current age and size.

“We have ones that should fit you on the bottom shelf in that section, Padawan Kestis,” the quartermaster said, one of his four hands gesturing toward the correct area. “We have them in several colors. There aren’t many who choose them, so the supply is quite broad. If you want to take one in your current size and then one in the next size up, that will likely cover your next growing period.”

“A good thought. Thank you, Master Dorayn,” Jaro said as Cal went to put back the overlarge poncho and fetch two that were more appropriate sizes. “If you would add them to the requisition manifest?”

“Of course.”

Master Dorayn put the information into his console, noting the colors and sizes of the ponchos Cal brought back with him. The colors were appropriately suited for a Jedi, only vaguely resembling some of the ones Cal had worn as an adult. Master Dorayn packed everything up, leaving out a commlink and a set of food capsules. Jaro scooped the items up, handing the food capsules to Cal and then pairing the new commlink with his own.

“Take care of this,” he said, giving Cal the commlink once he was done. “We’ll be adding other contact codes to it soon, but for now it’s just paired with mine. Put that and the food capsules on your belt. They should be permanent additions to your daily equipment, just like your lightsaber.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cal took a moment to decide where he wanted things to go, hanging the commlink near his left hip while his lightsaber rested at his right within easy reach. The food capsules were neatly clipped to his belt near the commlink. Jaro hoped Cal never had to use them for their intended purpose, but it was better to have emergency rations than not.

“I’ll have your requisitions delivered to your quarters,” Master Dorayn promised. “Gathering everything up may take a few hours, however.”

“We’re in no rush. Thank you.”

Jaro led Cal out of the storeroom, contemplating where to go next. It was too early to get lunch, and their meeting with Master Yaddle was later in the afternoon. He hummed idly as he thought, a habit of his he’d never been able to break no matter how hard he’d tried. Traditionally, the first few days after a Master-Padawan bond was made were meant for the new pair to get to know one another better, with daily lessons delayed at the Master’s discretion. The war had changed that, much like it had changed many other traditions, with many new pairs being thrown directly into service with barely a day or less to get acquainted.

Jaro was glad that he and Cal hadn’t had to experience that in either timeline, thankful that they had and would have the opportunity to settle into their bond over a longer period of time.

“Is everything okay, Master?” Cal asked.

Jaro roused himself from his thoughts, finding that his wandering feet had led him unthinkingly to one of the quieter meditation gardens. It was styled after a landscape on Naboo, a fountain in one corner providing a pleasant burble in the background. He hadn’t meant to go there, but now that they had arrived, it couldn’t hurt to stay for a little while.

“Everything is fine,” Jaro said, “but thank you for the concern, Padawan.”

He went over to a storage chest near the entrance to the garden, fetching two cushions from it after punching in a code to unlock it. He set them down on the ground near the center of the garden, gesturing for Cal to join him there.

“We have some time before lunch,” he said, taking a seat on one of the cushions. “We should use it to meditate and settle ourselves and our bond now that we’ve gotten our errands out of the way.”

Cal sat on the other cushion, shifting around a little to get comfortable. Jaro smiled to himself, waiting until Cal had settled down fully before holding out a hand. Cal looked down at it, confused.

“Master?”

“Physical contact will help us get in sync faster,” Jaro explained. “We’ll likely only need it for the first two weeks or so.”

“Oh, okay.”

Cal rested his hand on Jaro’s palm, his fingers curling loosely against the warm skin there. Jaro closed his eyes, trusting Cal would do the same. He reached out to his Padawan through the Force, following the path their bond had created. He waited patiently for Cal to reach back, and was gratified to see that there was barely any hesitation in the response he got. The Force bloomed sweetly around them, helping to smooth out the small spots of uncertainty and roughness in the bond. Jaro knew that it would take some time to reach the depth of bond they’d had before, but he didn’t mind.

Jaro drew his Force presence back when the midday bell chimed. He let out a soft breath and then focused on Cal. His Padawan had a faintly dazed expression on his face, blinking a few times rapidly before coming back to himself.

“Feeling alright?” Jaro asked. Cal considered the question before grimacing.

“I think my legs are asleep.”

Jaro chuckled. “That’s alright. That still happens to me occasionally if I’m sitting in one place for too long,” he admitted. “Stretch them out slowly and wiggle your toes. We’ll only move when you feel ready.”

Cal did as suggested, stretching out his legs and flexing his feet to get the feeling back to where it should be. He got to his feet when he was ready, bending down to pick up his cushion. He dusted it off with a few brisk pats as Jaro stood and retrieved his own cushion.

“I wonder what they’ll be serving in the dining hall,” Cal mused while Jaro returned the cushions to their container.

“I didn’t look at the set menu yet,” Jaro said, “but they usually have a wide selection in the main dining hall. There are the secondary halls, of course, but their menus are usually more specialized.”

“Specialized how?”

“Mainly for those who need particular kinds of foods or particular environments. We have quite a few insectivores among our ranks at the moment, for example.”

“Insect- You mean bugs?”

“Quite a few insects are high in protein,” Jaro told him, more than a little amused at the faint expression of disgust on Cal’s face. He was pretty sure that his Padawan had had to eat things far worse than cleanly raised protein-rich insects during his time on Bracca. It was endearing to see him act like the ten year old he currently was and not the consummate survivor he’d once been.

“If it helps, they’re not usually alive when they’re being eaten.”

“Usually?!”

Jaro couldn’t help but laugh at the affronted tone Cal had taken. They continued on their way to the main dining hall, Cal peppering him with more questions about what sort of food was served in the secondary dining halls. The barrage slowed down when they reached the main dining hall, joining the steady trickle of people coming in to get food. Food was available throughout the day and night to account for the different schedules of the Temple’s inhabitants, but the primary meals were at set times to account for Coruscant’s day-night cycle.

Jaro led the way over to a free table once he and Cal had gotten their food, taking a seat on one side of the table while Cal sat across from him. They’d barely settled into their meals when they gained several unexpected companions. Corax slid into the free seat next to Cal, while Salissa sat next to Jaro.

“Master Corax,” Jaro said flatly, shooting Corax a pointed look. Corax just grinned at him, looking entirely unrepentant.

“Master Tapal. I hope you don’t mind if my Padawan and I join you and yours for lunch.”

“It’s a little late for complaints, I suppose, now that you’re seated.”

“True.” Corax meticulously set out her utensils, arranging them neatly in a row next to her tray. “Besides, I had to meet your new Padawan. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you. Cal, this is Master Corax, my lineage-sister,” Jaro explained. “Corax, this is Cal Kestis. He enjoyed the tavrin pepper sauce with breakfast this morning.”

“Oh?” Corax gave Cal a curious look. “Which one did you try?”

“Just the mildest one,” Cal said. “I liked it, though! It was delicious.”

“If you ever want a custom blend of your own, let me know. I made your Master the blends he has, but they’re to his tastes. He tends to prefer hotter things than most people.”

“You made them? That’s really cool!”

“Thank you. Ah, to finish introductions- this is Salissa, my Padawan. How old are you, Cal?”

“Ten and a half Standard Years,” Cal replied.

“I’m eleven,” Salissa said. “I’ve been Master Corax’s Padawan for about three months.”

“It feels weird not being an Initiate any more,” Cal mused.

“It really does,” Salissa agreed, and then grinned. “But at least we have our own rooms now. We don’t have to share with anyone else.”

“Huh. I guess you’re right,” Cal said, brightening up. “That is nice.”

“Wait until you have to share a ship cabin with someone on a mission,” Corax said. “Alright, enough chatter you two. Growing Padawans need to eat.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Alright, Master Corax.”

Jaro started in on his own food, exchanging glances with Corax. He could see the determination for a better future reflected in her faintly glowing eyes, mirroring his own feelings.

~~~

The time between the end of lunch and the start of the meeting with Master Yaddle passed companionably in Corax and Salissa’s company in their quarters. Jaro couldn’t help but grin when Cal enthused over UT-N1, Corax’s personal gonk droid. Corax had modded UT-N1 over the years, the droid ending up with far more features than a standard model and a properly Jedi-like paint job in fawn browns and pale whites with dark blue trim. He could move faster than a standard gonk, for example, and Jaro had seen Corax use him more than once over the years as a seat or platform depending on her needs, either moving or stationary. Jaro hadn’t realized Cal had learned fluent droidspeak so early on, but he was happily chatting with UT-N1 without hesitation.

He did consider that the talent was a remnant of Cal’s future memories, and if true, Jaro was glad that he had retained it. It would certainly make things far easier for him going forward. Cal reluctantly pulled himself away from UT-N1, leaving him behind while he and the others headed to Yaddle’s quarters for the meeting. She had requested that Corax and Salissa come along as well, something the two of them were more than happy to do.

An odd feeling of nervousness settled in the pit of Jaro’s stomach the closer they got to Yaddle’s quarters. Even with the Lady’s assurances that the three adults would retain their memories in time for everyone to survive and hopefully thrive, he was unable to push away the fear that he’d lose his Master far too early once again. She died during an off-world mission, though what her cause of death had been, he’d never had the chance to learn. Cal had only met her a few times before that fateful day, and Jaro had always wished that the two of them had been able to get to know one another more.

With this turn back in time, perhaps they’d finally have that chance.

When they arrived, Corax activated the door chime to let Yaddle know they had arrived. She answered the door not long after, welcoming them into her spacious quarters.

“Master Yaddle,” Corax said with a smile. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you,” Yaddle replied, stepping back to let them in. After some small talk, she led her guests over to a seating area, gesturing for Cal and Salissa to get comfortable.

“Jaro, Corax. Come help me with the tea,” she requested. Curious, Jaro and Corax followed her to the small kitchenette area. Once there, Yaddle set about making tea, picking through the various flavors in her cupboards as the water heated.

Jaro let out a soft breath before speaking, keeping his voice low enough so that only the three off them could hear him.

“Master Yaddle… The stars are chained.”

Yaddle paused in the middle of selecting a vacuum-sealed container of tea, her claws clicking against the metal.

“That they are,” she said, taking the container out of the cupboard, “and chains must be broken.”

She set the tea on the counter and turned to look at them, her expression serious.

“We have much to talk about, but we should do that when your Padawans are not here. For now, we should focus on welcoming them to the lineage. That, and I want to find out what their favorite teas are.”

Corax laughed. “I don’t know, Master. You may not have enough teas for them to figure that out.”

“I highly doubt that. We’ll start with a more fruity blend, I think,” Yaddle mused, her expression clearing up. “One that won’t see them vibrating in place.”

“If they do that, we can put them through a light obstacle course,” Jaro suggested, only half-joking. “Get that energy out.”

“Ah, I see, this is all my fault,” Yaddle said. “Perhaps you two should set an example for them and run an obstacle course yourselves. Show them how well you work together.”

“Maybe in a little while. So, which teacup set do you want to use?” Corax asked.

“Hm. The one with the blue Jedha windflowers,” Yaddle decided. Jaro fetched the indicated set, bringing it over to the seating area. He put it on the low round table at the area, setting a cup at each spot.

“Oh, that’s pretty,” Salissa said, looking at the cup before her curiously. “I haven’t seen this one before.”

“Master Yaddle likes to collect tea sets during her travels,” Jaro explained as Corax came over with a selection of small snacks arranged neatly on a platter. “She once took nearly an hour comparing tea sets at a shop when I was… Hm. Fifteen, I think? Thankfully we had finished the mission we been assigned, but I still remember how long it took.”

“I think you may have been more worried about knocking into any of the shelves at that point,” Yaddle countered. “I distinctly remember you trying to do your best statue impression during that time. Then again, you were already taller than most other beings by then.”

She brought the teapot that matched the cups over, using the Force to float it gently across the room before setting it on a trivet on the table. It was a subtle masterclass in how to finely manipulate the Force, one that Yaddle didn’t bother to bring attention to. She’d always been like that, teaching through example and expecting her students to follow her lead.

While the tea steeped, Yaddle turned her attention to the two Padawans.

“Salissa. Cal. First and foremost, be welcome in our lineage. It’s an honor to have two such bright stars join us. I look forward to seeing just how you illuminate and enrich the lives you touch and the galaxy as a whole.”

“I… Thank you, Grand-Master,” Salissa said, looking rather flustered at the expectations Yaddle had just laid out. “I’ll do my best to live up to your words.”

“No.”

Salissa stared at her in confusion. “Pardon? But you just-”

“You do not need to live up to my words. All you need to do is live your life in a way that, when the time comes and you rejoin the Force, you feel like you’ve done your best with what you had. Perfection is neither wanted, desired, nor possible. You are living beings capable of many things, both good and bad. What you do with that capability is up to you and you alone.”

Yaddle folded her hands in her lap, a contemplative look on her face.

“Tell me, the two of you: what makes someone a Jedi?”

Cal frowned contemplatively, his fingers curling against his palms. “Um… Growing up in the Temple?”

“Not using the Dark Side of the Force?” Salissa suggested.

“Both true, to a point, but neither of those answers are quite right,” Yaddle said. “Being a Jedi is more than just learning our ways or avoiding the Dark. It’s something you have to work at every day of your life. Our connection with the Force is vast and wondrous, true, but it’s not something to take lightly either. People worry about Falling to the Dark. No one ever talks about what happens when you Fall to the Light. Light can burn and blind just as easily as it can warm and illuminate.”

“Isn’t the Light Side of the Force good, though?” Salissa asked.

“I think,” Cal began, biting at his bottom lip momentarily until Jaro gently nudged him, “that it can be good, but Crechemaster Ri’rrok always says that too much of a good thing could be bad. Like a medicine can be a poison if you give someone more than what they should have.”

“Exactly,” Corax chimed in. “The Jedi work in the Light, yes, but we have to be careful to not let it blind us, as Master Yaddle said. We cannot become complacent in anything we do. Complacency only breeds stagnation. That’s why our lineage has worked for a long time to make sure that we remain aware of what is going on in the galaxy as much as we can. There are some things that cannot be openly done in the Light, after all.”

“Like what, Master Corax?”

“Hm. We’ve gotten onto rather heavy topics for tea and snacks,” Corax said as Yaddle began to pour the tea, “but there are things out there that are still unfortunately prevalent in places. Things that must be burned out at the root to eradicate. You’ll soon find out that the galaxy is a far wider and darker place than what you know now. We’re not telling you this to scare you, merely to prepare you for the fact that being a Jedi is more than meditation, lightsabers, and using the Force. It’s making a choice every day to try and do better than the previous day, and continuing to press forward even when you’ve failed.”

“That sounds hard,” Salissa said.

“It can be, and often is,” Yaddle replied, “but it’s also worth it. Take it from someone who has been doing that for what sometimes feels like far too long. Being a Jedi has been simultaneously one of the most rewarding and punishing things in the universe, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now, enough of this talk. Try your tea and eat your snacks. We’ll have enough time for philosophy later.”

The rest of their time together was spent chatting about far lighter subjects and enjoying the tea and snacks. By the time Jaro and Cal returned to their quarters later that evening, both of them were ready to just sit and not do much. Jaro sank down onto a couch, closing his eyes as he tipped his head back. He cracked one eye open when he felt Cal sit next to him, the cushions dipping under the added weight. Cal leaned against him, looking about as tired as Jaro felt.

“That was a lot,” Cal said. Jaro hummed in agreement.

“The first few days always are, or so I’m told,” he said. He didn’t remember the first day after the Padawan selection being so frantic, but then again, he hadn’t had the knowledge of an impending war looming over him at that time.

“We’ve done quite a lot today,” he continued on. “We’ll have to unpack the supplies Master Dorayn sent at some point.”

“Can we do that tomorrow, Master?” Cal requested, a pleading note to his voice. “I kinda just want to stay here and not move.”

“Not even to get dinner?”

“I think Grand-Master Yaddle took care of that.”

“Hm. Spiced cookies and fruit tea are hardly dinner, but we can rest for a little while before we contemplate actual cooking,” Jaro promised. “As for the unpacking, tomorrow would be a good time. We don’t have any appointments that I’m aware of. I would like to review your educational records soon as well so we can tailor our one-on-one training. I noticed you were fluent in droidspeak earlier when you were talking with UT-N1.”

“Droidspeak’s easy,” Cal mumbled as he all but melted into Jaro’s side. “Gotta watch out for the tonal languages. Those ones are tricky. One sound can mean so many different things.”

“Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to know some of the more common ones just in case,” Jaro said. He let Cal rest for some time, enjoying the simple physical contact as well. He’d have to bring up Cal’s psychometry at some point, knowing that if he did help his Padawan start down the path of a Shadow, that skill could be both extremely helpful and extremely damaging depending on the situation. Shadows saw the darker side of the galaxy far more often than most other Jedi, and with that frequency came more contact with objects that held on to that darkness.

Jaro knew of several Jedi in the Order who could help Cal with honing and controlling his psychometry, but he wasn’t going to suggest it to his Padawan until he had done further research into who might be the best option to go to for help. Perhaps Quinlan Vos, though given how often he was away from the Temple, it could be better to find someone else.

Jaro roused himself and Cal from the couch when it was dinner time. Neither of them felt up to leaving their quarters to go to the main dining hall nor did they feel like cooking, so Jaro ordered two meals from the food synthesizer. He usually preferred to cook meals when he had the time, but it had been a long enough day that the food synthesizer was his preferred option.

Dinner was a quiet affair, passing by with few words spoken between the two of them. Jaro bid Cal goodnight after taking care of his nightly routine in the ‘fresher, gladly changing into his sleep clothes once he was in his room. He scrubbed at his face with a hand, his thoughts going a mile a minute. Some of his fears had been assuaged with the knowledge that both Yaddle and Corax had returned alongside him, but far too many still remained.

Jaro lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He trusted in the Lady and her plans, but it was more difficult to see an end to a war that had only stopped when almost the entirety of the Jedi Order had been wiped out. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing on the Force. A gentle wave of calm and reassurance washed over him as he recognized his feelings and let them flow into the Force. He smiled to himself, feeling the Lady’s unmistakable presence brush past him.

The future was just as unknown as it had been once before. While worrying wasn’t entirely bad, focusing on his fears would do just about as much good as trying to keep ice from melting on Mustafar. He just had to keep his focus on the present and his faith in those he trusted. Only then would he be able to play his part in the fight to keep the galaxy from falling into the wrong hands once more. He wanted nothing more than to see Cal stand before him at his knighting ceremony as a grown man. That, Jaro thought as he began to drift off to sleep, was a future worth fighting for.