Kyle awoke to find Jan still asleep, her arm draped lazily across his chest. He smiled faintly at the sight—there was something comforting about her presence, a reminder that no matter how chaotic things became, she was still here.
Carefully, he shifted out from under her arm and made his way to the refresher. The previous day, one of the Jedi had informed him that his trials would begin today—a test that would determine his place within this unfamiliar Order.
Kyle had faced plenty of challenges before—fighting Imperials, Dark Jedi, even Sith pretenders like Jerec and Desann. But this was different.
This wasn't about surviving.
This was about proving himself.
He knew the Jedi would be watching for weaknesses—not just in his skills, but in his mindset, his intentions. The way Mace Windu had studied him yesterday made it clear: the Council wasn't just evaluating his abilities—they were measuring his soul.
For the first time in a long while, Kyle felt... uneasy.
When Kyle stepped out of the refresher, Jan was awake, still wrapped in the blankets but sitting upright at the data console. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as her fingers danced across the controls.
"What are you looking at?" Kyle asked.
Jan didn't look away from the screen. "Trying to get a feel for where we are in time."
Kyle moved closer, watching as she scrolled through official records, political archives, and galactic news feeds.
"And?" Kyle pressed.
Jan exhaled, still focused on the screen. "Well... for starters, the Clone Wars haven't happened yet. And Palpatine?" She shook her head. "No mention of him at all. Instead, the Chancellor is some guy named Valorum."
Kyle stared at the screen, absorbing the information.
Chancellor Valorum?
No Clone Wars.
No Emperor Palpatine—yet.
Kyle felt a cold tension knotting in his chest. They were closer to the beginning of the end than he'd expected. Palpatine was out there, lurking in the shadows, plotting. And if they were this early in the timeline...
...Then Anakin Skywalker might be around and most likely is a newborn or small child anything was possible at this point in Kyles mind, Luke had at some point told his students about his father and his fall to the dark side and becoming Darth Vader, and depending where they were in the timeline there might be a chance to influence the younger Skywalker if he was in the Jedi Temple.
Kyle rubbed the back of his neck. He had suspected they'd landed somewhere in the timeline. Still, not exactly where, but since he knew it was some time before the Clone Wars and there was no mention of Palpatine yet, there was a realm of multitude possibilities that could be but Kyle wasn't ready to step into that fully just yet.
"What are you thinking?" Jan asked, sensing his unease.
Kyle shook his head. "Nothing yet. I need more to go on."
It wasn't entirely true, but there was no point in worrying Jan just yet. The web of the future was already tangled enough—if Kyle acted too soon, he could make things worse.
A little while later, both Kyle and Jan were ready for the day. Kyle adjusted his belt and checked his lightsaber, feeling its familiar weight at his side.
He caught Jan watching him out of the corner of his eye.
"What?" he asked.
"You always do that before a fight," she said with a small grin.
Kyle chuckled. "Maybe. Old habits."
"Just don't get cocky."
"Me?" Kyle smirked. "Never."
They both laughed—easing the tension that had been hanging over the morning.
---
The Plan
As they waited for their assigned guide to arrive, Kyle and Jan made loose plans for the day.
"So after your first trial," Jan began, "we should check out the library. I'm curious to see what kind of dirt I can dig up on their history."
Kyle grinned. "Knew you'd say that."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"Nah," Kyle said. "I figured once I'm done getting grilled by Bondara, I'll need a quiet place to clear my head anyway."
Jan leaned closer. "And if you get yourself tossed out of the Order, at least we'll know which back door to slip out of."
Kyle barked a laugh. "Glad to know you've got a plan."
"Always."
The Arrival
Their conversation was cut short by the sound of a soft chime—a notification from the door.
Kyle stood, adjusting his belt again—a reflex more than anything.
"Looks like our guide's finally here."
Jan stretched her arms overhead, sighing. "Let's hope they're friendlier than Windu."
Kyle snorted. "I wouldn't count on it."
As the door slid open, the two exchanged one last look—an unspoken promise.
Whatever came next, they'd face it together.
The Morning's Guide
Kyle stepped to the door and opened it, finding a stoic-faced Jedi waiting for him—a male human in temple robes. The man's gaze flicked past Kyle, his brow lifting slightly as he noticed Jan still inside the room.
The Jedi's expression tightened. His surprise was brief, but Kyle caught it—just a flicker of disapproval before the Jedi regained his composure.
Kyle knew what that meant. The Jedi Order of this era had strict views on attachments, and the idea of a Jedi spending the night with someone—especially someone close—didn't sit well with their rules.
The man clasped his hands behind his back. "I trust you're both ready to begin the day's itinerary?"
"Yeah," Kyle said, and Jan chimed in with an identical, "Yes."
The Jedi paused, clearly suppressing his thoughts before gesturing for them to follow.
"Then let's go."
Breakfast in the Temple
The walk to the Temple cafeteria was quiet, which suited Kyle just fine. Despite the Jedi's calm demeanor, the air still felt charged—as if everything about them was under a microscope.
When they finally arrived, Kyle and Jan followed their guide's lead, stepping into the cafeteria's food line.
Kyle had expected rations—simple, bland meals designed for fuel and efficiency. But what greeted him instead was an impressive array of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins—food that seemed fresher and far more diverse than he'd anticipated.
"Okay, this is... unexpected," Jan muttered, grabbing a plate and adding items she recognized.
"Pleasantly surprised?" Kyle smirked.
"I was prepared for flavorless protein packs and spiced water," she said, filling her plate with a mix of roasted meat and steamed greens. "This almost feels... normal."
Kyle chuckled and followed her lead, keeping his choices simple.
Their guide led them to a quiet corner table. As they sat down, Jan leaned toward Kyle and muttered under her breath, "We're quite the spectacle, aren't we?"
Kyle glanced around. More than a few Jedi—padawans and knights alike—kept sneaking curious glances their way.
"Guess we are," Kyle said with a small smile, then turned his focus to his meal.
The Library
After breakfast, their guide informed Kyle that they would visit the Temple Library before heading to the training area.
"We'll give your food some time to settle," the guide said. "Better to face your trials on a calm stomach."
Kyle appreciated the break—even if he knew it wouldn't stop the nerves creeping in.
When they arrived, both Kyle and Jan stopped in their tracks.
The Temple Library was massive—a sprawling archive that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. Towering shelves reached to the ceiling, and rows of glowing data terminals blinked steadily beneath holoprojectors displaying star charts, galactic histories, and Jedi philosophy.
"Wow…" Jan breathed.
"Bigger than Luke's collection, huh?" Kyle muttered.
Jan shot him a look. "A little."
Their guide demonstrated how the archive systems worked, explaining how to search for various records.
Jan's eyes gleamed with ideas. Kyle could already see the gears turning in her head—she'd be back here the first chance she got.
The Road to the Trial
Fifteen minutes later, their library tour concluded, and the guide led them down a wide corridor toward the training area.
The walk felt like it stretched forever. The air felt heavier with each step, time dragging in that strange way it always did before a confrontation.
Kyle wasn't afraid—but he was uneasy.
Don't overthink it, he reminded himself. This is just another spar. Show them what Luke's taught you. Don't make it more complicated than that.
But the doubts crept in anyway. This wasn't just a spar—it was a test. The Jedi of this era didn't know Luke's ways, and Kyle wasn't sure how they'd respond to his style.
When they reached the entrance to the training area, the guide gestured to a door off to the side.
"Kyle, this way," he said. "Your opponent awaits inside. Jan, you can observe from the gallery above."
Kyle turned to Jan, and she gave his arm a squeeze.
"You'll be fine," she said. "Don't get cocky."
Kyle smirked. "Me? Never."
The First Trial
The training mat was simple—a wide, open space bordered by raised walkways where observers could watch.
Kyle's gaze landed on the figure waiting for him—a male Twi'lek, clad in traditional Jedi robes, his lekku draped neatly over his shoulders. His posture was relaxed yet grounded, and even before Kyle stepped forward, he could feel the power radiating from him—calm, focused, but undeniably strong.
"Greetings," the Twi'lek said, his voice warm yet firm. "I am Jedi Master Anoon Bondara, and I will be testing your lightsaber skills."
Kyle blinked. A Master?
He hadn't expected that. He assumed they'd send a knight or maybe a senior padawan. The fact that they'd assigned a Master told him everything he needed to know—they weren't taking chances.
"Please let me know when you're ready," Bondara added, resting a hand on his unlit saber.
Kyle unclipped his lightsaber, rolling it once in his palm to center himself. He exhaled slowly.
"I'm ready when you are, Master Bondara."
The Jedi smiled faintly—then launched a sudden attack without warning.
Kyle's blade ignited with a snap-hiss just in time to block the blow, the impact sending a sharp jolt up his arm.
Bondara twisted his blade, angling for Kyle's shoulder. Kyle barely sidestepped, countering with a swift diagonal strike that Bondara turned aside with ease.
The Jedi's speed was shocking—fluid and precise, faster than Kyle had expected.
Kyle grinned. "Alright then..."
Their duel had begun.