Chapter Text
Jedi Knight and Defense Corp Agent Caleb Dume was yanked out of blissful sleep by a mild case of electrocution to the thigh.
“Chopper!” The blazes cursed droid cackled as it zoomed out of his room.
“Caleb you alright?” The most beautiful voice in the galaxy asked a moment before Hera Syndulla daughter of Cham Syndulla the Senator from Ryloth and a Defense Corp Pilot poked her head in.
In any other circumstances Caleb would be a blustery mess with her so close, he was man enough to admit it no matter what Cal said, but between Chopper and his anxiety the way she looked at him was the least of his worries. “Fine. Your cantankerous droid leaves a lot to be desired.”
“I keep telling him to play nice.” Hera sighed leaning against the door to his room, “But it's Chop.”
“Get back here you monstrous rust bucket!” A roar and crash came from below as Lirasani swear words filled the air.
“If he keeps it up I definitely won't be the one ripping his limb from limb.” Caleb chuckled as Chopper zoomed past again this time with Honor Guard and one time Captain of the Royal Guard current Defense Corp Agent and Lasan Collitian Liaison Zeb Orrelious on his tail.
“Case and point.”
Hera laughed and Caleb got lost in the sound for a moment, “Well he didn't leave a burn mark this time so I think he's improving.”
Caleb glanced down athis though to find she was right there wasn't a black scare there this time. “Huh. Guess he's warming up.”
Hera snorted again and Caleb forgot all about the pain in his leg, “I doubt it. He wouldn't stop shocking Ezra for months when we worked together.”
She crossed the room and sat next to him, “Are you nervous about today?”
And there was the crux of the matter wasn't it? Today was the fifth anniversary of Sheev Palpatine's abrupt death by the Zillo Beast. Today was the day he reunited with the wandering shadow knight that had changed his life as a child.
But five years was a long time and a lot had changed. Cause Knight Ezra Bridger wasn't just Knight Bridger anymore, he was the Specter the near Mythical figure that had started his legend by mowing down all of Genosis’ droid factories and inspiring the people to revolt against the Separatists. It had been a major reason that Senator Amidala had gotten the Separatist to the table for peace talks.
During that time the Spector had then bounced out to Kamino and proceeded to enable the clone revolt against the Kaminoins but also find, neutralize and reveal a conspiracy about inhibitor chips in the clone's brains that had truly concerning implications if they hadn't been rendered inert. After that he'd vanished into Wild Space again and Caleb and grandmaster Mace had been sure that was the last anyone would hear of him. But then two months later he'd come back, possibly injured with the way to Lasan's originworld.
He'd then spent some time on Lirisan healing and making friends. And by the time he left, with Hondo Ohnaka of all people, he'd even convinced them to send a representative to the Senate to encourage trade. After that he bounced around running with Hondo's crew for a while, mainly stealing secret Separatist funds and putting it back toward the hurting planets that had been broken by the war.
Somewhere in that he'd found the Sith Zabrak Master Kenobi had cut in half and recruited him to go after the criminal cartels. At some point they picked up Ventress and the Zarabak's brother and had taken on the Hutts.
In the middle of that Specter had drifted from his criminal activities to the Ryloth where he'd picked up Hera as a pilot and they then headed to Mandalore where he'd convinced the Countess Wren to split from the Death Watch unite with House Kryze somehow convince their pacifist leader to fight and had claimed the darksaber from the Death Watch leader.
After that he'd convinced the Senator of Onderon Saw Gereara to propose a defense coalition with the purpose of fighting slavery in the galaxy. The newly freed GAR members had flocked to it as Lirisan, Mandalore and many other outer rim plants both in and out of the Republic pledged their support.
Ezra had split up from Hera then with insurictus to finish her education on Coruscant and join the Defense Corp where she'd met Caleb. In recent times Ezra had been bouncing around the outer rim between Hondo's pirate rings and the ex sith's crime Syndicate sending Intel no one looked too closely as back to the Defense Corp.
He'd changed the galaxy more in five years than Caleb could hope to in his whole life. And here he was about to meet him again.
“I guess. I was just a kid back then.”
“Just because we're young doesn't mean we can't change the galaxy.” Hera chided gently, “I can tell you for sure Ezra is completely oblivious of his fame. He's not this famous fighter he's just a guy. At least he was two years ago.”
“I know that.” Caleb nodded, “He was like that before it's just odd thinking of seeing him again.” Hera had spent a few months with his as his pilot, Zeb had spent time with him on Lirisan blazes even Chopper had seen the orange and green clad Specter in the last five years. But not Caleb. Is he avoiding me?
An alarm rang from across the ship and Hera smiled, squeezing his shoulder and getting to her feet, “Well, get used to it, we're here.”
Caleb swallowed hard and closed the door before swiftly changing into his civvie clothes and pulled his hair into a short ponytail. All these years he'd modeled himself after Knight Bridger and today he finally came face to face with his childhood hero. He ducked out of his room and headed up to the cockpit in time to see Hera pull them into Lothal's atmo.
“Looking snazzy.” Zeb grinned at him.
“Shut up.” Caleb ran a hand through his hair.
“You look fine, love.” Hera smiled at him over her shoulder, “Landing now.”
Caleb swallowed the nerves in his stomach down as Hera brought her beloved Ghost down softly in the landing bay. Force he was really doing this.
“So what's the plan chief?” Zeb asked, leaning back in his chair as Hera shut down the ship.
“I don't know.” Caleb admitted, “I think I'll start at the Temple.”
“Meet back here tonight?” Hera offered.
“Unless Zeb finds something better to do, yeah.” Caleb grinned as Zeb gaffed in response.
“Alright, get out of here, both of you, I wanna run diagnostics on the Ghost systems.” Hera grinned, shoving them both out of the cockpit, “And tell Ezra I said hi.”
“Tell him I said hi.” Zeb singsonged annoyingly.
“Shut up.” Caleb stifled a grin and punched him in the shoulder, “See you later.”
“See ya!” Zeb called out behind him as Caleb jumped the balcony into the cargo bay and strolled down the ramp and out into the fresh air.
Lothal was a small Outer Rim planet with rich natural resources and a deep history to the Order. Ezra had been right, there was an ancient Jedi Temple here. After the war Master Kenobi and Grandmaster Mace had put much work in separating the Order from the Republic. The Defense Corp had been one part, a coalition run mainly by non republic worlds. Spreading out into other long forgotten Temples was another.
Tython, Jedah, even one on Yavin 4 and Lothal had all been brought back up and running as the Order spread out once more across the galaxy. They had been able to reach more people and in turn the planet's flourished.
Stepping out into Lothal's capital Caleb could immediately see the affects, people in Jedi robes milled about in the crowds, the city square had a Jedi crest hewn in stone. Everyone was happy and smiling and joyful. It felt strangely like coming home.
Caleb listened to the Force and just basked in the brightness of it all for a while. He knew he should be looking for Knight Bridger but he just wanted to take it all in.
As a Defense Corp Agent he felt a lot of darkness, suffering and helping relieve that. It was important work and he liked it, he felt alive every time he got to chase a culprit down and happy every time they freed more slaves. But it was heavy.
Hera helped, so did Zeb and their dispatcher Kallus off Chandrila but it was still a lot. Here there was none of that. No darkness, no heaviness, just light.
“Caleb Dume, well I'll be darned.” Caleb whipped around at the vaguely familiar voice to find ex-Temple Guard Isos grinning at him.
“Isos!” Caleb grinned, giving him a small bow before getting tugged into a hug.
“I wondered if you'd ever make it out here.” Isos teased clapping him on the shoulder.
“Yeah Defense Corp keeps me busy.” Caleb shrugged, “So I heard you left the Guard.”
“Yeah, well.” Isos nodded with a small smile, “I believe that to be a Guard you need to be dedicated to protecting, vigilant for the darkness, not struggling with it like I was. So I joined the community service group here on Lothal when the Temple opened. Focused on serving others, helping the planet. It's helped.”
“I'm glad.” Caleb nodded, “There's a place for everyone somewhere I'm glad you found yours.”
“Yeah.” Isos nodded before clapping him on his shoulder again, “So, what brings you out here?”
“Bridger actually.” Caleb admitted as they began to talk the market dodging children as they went.
“The Specter himself?” Isos chuckled, “Yeah he comes around now and then. More often than the other Temples at least.”
“He said it was his home planet.” Caleb nodded.
Isos stopped abruptly, “You know, that explains a lot.”
“Like what?” Cable came to a stop facing Isos.
“First time Bridger came three years ago he found the Mythical Loth Wolves from the ancient Lothal Jedi stories within two days of being on planet. Showed us a Gate between the Unifying and Living Force under the Temple that hasn't been activated since maybe before the Russian Reformation. And that's just naming a few things.” Isos listed.
“Wow. I had no clue.” Caleb murmured.
“We always knew he was powerful.” Isos pointed out, “It's just more of him being him.”
“Yeah. Guess so.” Caleb chukled, “You seen him lately?”
“Nah. But if he's here you'll find him. He always had a soft spot for you.” Isos grinned and bumped his shoulder, “I gotta go help fixing someone's roof. I'll see you around.”
“See ya.” Caleb said but Isos was already gone into the crowd. You'll find him.
Caleb closed his eyes and opened his senses, reaching out into the Force reaching for Ezra. His presence almost eagerly reached back.
Caleb opened his eyes and fought a grin as he weaved his way through the city toward the outskirts and into the neighborhoods. The presence grew strong as he wandered the quiet streets full of homes and wondered which one Ezra was in.
A group of toddlers scrambled past him all giggling and Caleb smiled. A tiny hand grabbed his pant leg and he looked down to find a tiny blue hair bulb eyes boy looking up at him with wide eyes.
What?
Caleb knelt and reached out gently in the Force and sure enough Ezra Bridger's presence reached back wild and unknowable and tiny. The boy giggled and reached for him, clearly Ezra Bridger and yet clearly not.
“What are you?” Caleb whispered, picking the child up.
“Looking for prospective padawans already?” a warm familiar voice asked from behind him. Knight Bridger, the man who had ended wars and tamed monsters smiled back, “Hey Caleb.”
“You're here.” Caleb couldn't help but blurt staring at the man and then back down at the child in his arms.
Knight Bridger smiled, his face aged and now sporting a full beard as he pushed off the wall and came over, “I said I would be.”
Caleb reached out and felt the boy in his arms, Ezra's bright blinding presence and then he felt Knight Bridger's presence also unraveling itself from the world around them bright also but different, a darker shade a shaper purpose.
“Oh there you are, you little lothwolf!” A bright cheery voice pulled Caleb from his thoughts as a woman with a light purple hair turban came around the corner and the boy in Caleb's arms reached for her with a toothy grin.
“Not to worry Mrs. Bridger he was in good hands.” Knight Bridger smiled as Caleb handed the boy- Ezra Bridger if the situation was to be believed, over.
“Specter! How many times must I tell you to call me Mira?” The woman smiled.
“At least once more.” Knight Bridger grinned, “How is he doing in his classes?”
“Precocious as always our Ezra. How are you?” Mira Bridger Caleb put together bounced her son on her hip.
“I am well.” Knight Bridger nodded, “This is Knight Caleb Dume he's visiting.”
“Dume?” Mira blinked, giving Caleb a look he couldn't hope to understand, “It's lovely to meet you. I'd stay and chat but I've got to get this one for his nap.”
The toddler frowned but didn't protest when his mother went to leave, just watched over her shoulder with eyes that were too intelligent until she turned the corner and was gone.
“How?” Caleb breathed.
“There's a lot I didn't tell you Caleb.” Knight Bridger said softly, “A lot I chose not to on purpose. Ezra Bridger was born (date) on Lothal to Ephriam and Mira Bridger. They named him after Ephraim's father Ezran Bridger. His midichlorian tests came back astonishingly high. That became very evident when he seemed to be able to summon the ancient lothwolves at will. He's taking day classes during day care at the Lothal Temple with the new integration program that was launched. He's doing well and has a deep connection with his home planet. The hope is that he will find a master similarly connected if he doesn't go into the Agri corp.”
“But you're Ezra Bridger.” Caleb said hating how it came out as a question as they walked together out of the town and into the Golden fields of grass around the town.
“Yes.” Knight Bridger nodded, allowing a white loth cat with startling blue eyes to climb its way up to his shoulders and burrow in purring all the while, “But so is he.”
“I don't understand.” Caleb shook his head as Knight Bridger kept walking, turning towards the mountains in the distance and leaving the town behind, “How can he be you and you be him?”
“The more we think we know about the Force the less we actually do.” Knight Bridger said like he was quoting someone turning to face him, “I don't know how, I don't know why. I just know that I was born into a fight with an oppressive galactic empire on the day it was born a target because I was Force sensitive. But I survived it. And when I was 18 I stranded myself far into the unknown regions to win a fight against them. I lost this.” Knight Bridger closed his eyes and tilted his head back and the grass bellowed in waves as in response, “I was trying to come home. But instead of coming home I came here five and a half years ago. Decades in the past. So I acted. I don't know how I don't know what or why. But I know I'm more than just me.” Knight Bridger opened his eyes and met Caleb's gaze freezing him in place, “And so are you.”
A whoosh of wind and the presence of something behind him prompted him to turn around slowly. A giant white wolf with sky colored eyes loomed over him.
Logic said Caleb should be scared or at least concerned but it wasn't any of that, it was like seeing an old friend again like finding a childhood toy or recalling a favorite memory.
“Dume.” The Loth Wolf rumbled nosing his head.
“Caleb meet Dume.” Knight Bridger came to stand next to him, “Guardian of the Lothal Nexus Gate.”
“Woah.” Caleb breathed, reaching out to rest on the Lothwolf's nose. “He's amazing.”
“He's part of you.” Knight Dume said, coming to stand next to Dume, “You're from Lothal, I checked your records. I couldn't find your family, but your name, it's an ancient line from here. Your connection to this planet, to him, it's something I thought you needed to see.”
Caleb inhaled slowly and met Dume's gaze, like galaxies and unknown universes in his eyes. Do you know me?
Dume rumbled and it reverberated warmly in Caleb's chest. He closed his eyes resting his head on Dume's chest and just breathed with the planet listening to the grass whisper.
Ezra Bridger was this bigger than life Knight next to him and the bright brilliant boy being held by his mother. The galaxy was at peace and yet in one time it was under oppression. Caleb was a new knight finding his way and also deeply connected to an ancient power. So many facts that shouldn't work yet did. A story they made that shouldn't exist yet did.
The more we think we know the less we actually do.
“We're gonna be back here a lot, aren't we?” Caleb asked, stepping away from Dume.
Knight Bridger looked mildly surprised, “You're coming with me?”
“More like you're coming with me.” Caleb grinned, “Don't think I didn't notice the fact you sent me my Defense Corp team one member at a time. Besides, I have to come back to check on my-will-be-padawan, right?”
Ezra Bridger smiled slowly, “Right. So tell me,” he held out his hand an open invitation for answers, “You ready to rewrite your destiny?”
Caleb grinned and grabbed the offered hand and Remembered.