Meet You at the Dark Side

Chapter 43 - The New Padawans

Author's Note: After soooo long, this story has finally come to a close. Enjoy the ending! Thank you all so much for reading, voting, and/or commenting on this fic! :D

~ Amina Gila

One Year Later

"Caleb!" Obi-Wan calls, turning to his newly taken padawan. "It's time to go!" Caleb Dume had initially been Depa's padawan, but since she was killed in Order 66, he needed a new master. After a lot of consideration, Obi-Wan had finally volunteered. He hadn't been intending to take a padawan this soon – maybe never – but things have changed and there's far more padawans than masters available. And he has to admit, Caleb has been an easier padawan to handle then Anakin. Although to be fair that can hardly be compared, since for some unfathomable reason, Caleb practically worships Obi-Wan and Anakin.

"He seems pretty trapped in that conversation," remarks Anakin with a smirk when the younger boy still doesn't seem to hear. Pretty much ever since they arrived not long ago on Ryloth, he's been talking to a ten-year-old green Twi'lek girl.

"So, I've noticed," Obi-Wan replies dryly, before turning his attention to their audience.

"Thank you for your efforts," says Cham Syndulla, the leader of the Twi'leks. Obi-Wan and Anakin, and their padawans arrived on Ryloth with a group of formerly enslaved Twi'leks who wanted to return to their home planet.

Now that Supreme Chancellor Padme Amidala has brought many situations with the New Republic under control, the Jedi were sent to start bringing an end to slavery throughout the galaxy. Both Anakin and Ahsoka were more than a little enthusiastic that they were finally able to do this.

"It's our duty," replies Obi-Wan.

"Caleb!" Ahsoka calls this time, heading over to her fellow padawan.

He jumps. "Yes?"

"Time to go."

He exchanges a few more words to the girl before finally, finally coming. Artoo rolls after, beeping a mournful goodbye after being interrupted mid-way in his animated conversation with a fellow astromech droid. An old-looking orange one that must belong to the girl.

The last thing Obi-Wan hears as the group reboard the shuttle is Cham Syndulla saying, "Hera, come!"

"You seemed awfully occupied," teases Anakin, but he's glad to see his padawan-brother making friends. After everything happened, Caleb was one of the ones affected the worst. He was just reaching padawan age.

"It was an interesting planet."

"More like an interesting girl," he smirks.

"Hey, maybe we should spar?" Ahsoka suggests to the other padawan. "I think you could do with some touching-up."

"Don't damage anything," Anakin warns when the two stand up and head to farther back in the hold room. White and blue are streaking outside, and it will be a few hours before they arrive on Coruscant. Now that the mission is complete, Anakin remembers what Padme had told him a few months prior, which he still isn't sure how to react to. He's going to be a father. Soon. Too soon. He's excited and nervous at once. He has no idea how to be a father.

"You seem nervous," Obi-Wan remarks with a knowing smirk.

Anakin scowls. "Just wait until you become a father." After the Order was reformed, him and Ahsoka finally managed to convince him to visit Satine on Mandalore. They're supposed to be getting married eventually, though Obi-Wan had been... a bit reluctant. He insisted it was just because the Order was reforming and he needed to focus on that, not having a family of his own, but Anakin is quite certain it's because he's afraid. Which is understandable. After a lifetime of having to hold back, it would be hard for anyone to suddenly get over the change.