revivalproject | A homecoming of sorts

Entry tags:

A homecoming of sorts

WHO: Ezra, Luke, and anyone else around
WHERE: Temba Jedi Temple
WHAT: Ezra bringing Luke to the temple complex/mingle with residents and visitors
WHEN: Soon after Luke's arrival
WARNINGS: Discussion of canon levels of violence, maybe? Others added as needed

"We're pretty sure this used to be a museum," Ezra rambles as he leads Luke to the complex of bulidings Obi-wan had chosen to designate as the Jedi temple. "We packed up all the artifacts. And we're still working on actually making it, you know, nice. Obi-wan and I live here."

He pauses, debating his phrasing, but lands on going with how he'd describe the other Temple residents to anyone else.

"So does Padme and her twins, who are Force sensitive. Cal - he was a padawan at the end of the Clone Wars - has been here in Temba by far the longest, and he's pretty settled in his workshop, but he comes by to train and visit. Grogu's developmentally pretty young, so while Master Kenobi's taken him as a padawan - in front of the Council when we were on Coruscant and everything - he lives with his adoptive father."

***
Open Mingle

It felt good, bringing Luke here, but also really, really weird. They should be age mates, but they aren't, and besides, Ezra's gotten used to sharing living space with the infant version of Luke and Leia.

Still, he's glad that this version of Luke, who had talked about being alone, has a chance to meet more Jedi. To spend more time with some of his family, both of the Jedi variety and not. He's curious they'll all have to say to each other, but he resolves not to hover and eavesdrop.

Although as the afternoon goes on, he does try to make sure there's tea and snacks on hand.

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It's probably very obvious that Luke doesn't know what that is or where that is or who they are.

"... that happen a lot here?"

“Every now and then,” Obi-Wan says as they walk.

“I can only assume it’s the Agrii who enjoy leaving us gifts from time to time. The last one they left me is in her stall at the moment.”

"... uuh?" In her stall?

Obi-Wan chuckles and glances back at Luke.

“That’s right. I hope you at least know what a Varactyl is.”

"They're... native to Utapau?" He thinks he's heard of them at least. He's never had cause to go to Utapau.

“That’s right. Though there are some subspecies that were introduced to other worlds long ago, such as Pijal and Kashykk.”

Obi-Wan is very fond of the animals.

"You'll have to introduce us. Animals have always liked me, I don't know why. I guess because I like them."

It's amazing what you don't know when you're raised on a moisture farm with no concept of what 'Jedi' is.

“Of course. I’m sure she would be happy to meet you as well. She’s a good girl, that Boga.”

There’s no lack of fondness in his voice as he says that. Those his attention is returned ahead of him as they come up to the tall but narrow building. A small tree with shimmering golden leaves having been planted in front of its entrance. One that Luke would feel was strong in the Force.

Luke veers towards it, hand reaching out. "Is this from the great tree at the heart of the Temple?" He had recovered the two surviving shards from the Empire, but they were young, very young and yet to take on the golden colours of the healthy plants.

“Yes, that’s right,” Obi-Wan says, a bit surprised that Luke knew what it was.

“This is a fresh cutting from that tree. We brought it back from our Agrii sanctioned trip to Coruscant.”

It looked like a twig at this point, which it essentially was, but it was thriving. Thanks to the spot they placed it in and the care it was receiving.

Luke strokes the leaves softly, listening to the familiar song. "Back home, I found out the Emperor had kept a fragment of the tree alive, in a lab. I went in with a rebellion pilot, Shara Bey, Green squadron."

He looks back at Obi-Wan. "I found two. Two living, healthy fragments."

The thought that the great tree was destroyed save for a few pieces to be put in a lab was a very sad one. It was always distressing to hear how bits of Jedi culture were systematically destroyed. All in an attempt to wipe them off the face of the galaxy. So much history just gone so quickly.

That story though rings a few bells.

"Do you know Poe Dameron? He told me something similar. That his parents acquired a piece of the tree and he grew up with it. In fact it was his idea to bring this back. I agreed on the condition that it would be planted here, though he's welcome to come visit it any time."

Obi-Wan paused as he thought about that.

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen him here since we planted it. I wonder why that is."

Luke thinks. "Dameron. Kes Dameron was with one of the strike forces. He was married to Shara Bey who- Oh. Yes. I gave Shara one of the trees to plant on Yavin. They had a toddler, but I don't think I ever met the baby. I told her she shouldn't feel guilty about stepping down from active service. We fought to give people freedom to live their lives."

“Well that toddler is all grown up and here it seems. You should seek him out. I’m certain Poe would love to meet you.”

Obi-Wan then proceeded to move away from the tree, carrying the crystals with him as he moved through the door of the tall building. Stepping onto the platform and setting them on a table at its center. Several cushions placed around the table on the large pedestal. Clearly this was a place of meditation.

"... why?" He considers how that sounds. "I mean, I don't really get why he'd love to meet me."

Seems weird. By Poe's time, he imagines a lot of people will have forgotten him, like they did the heroes of the Clone Wars.

"Ezra showed me around a bit yesterday."

“Because he knows your sister,” Obi-Wan says easily. Looking over at Luke with raised brows, wondering why he would be so hesitant to meet someone from their galaxy.

“Oh did he? He’s a good boy, that one.” There’s definitely a note of fondness and pride in Obi-Wan’s voice. Ezra has become very special to him here.

Not so much hesitant as just not really seeing what interest he would be. "Oh. Huh." He shifts slightly. "I'm still getting used to thinking of her as that."

It would take time. Being here, with the babies, was forcing him to confront it faster.

"I like him. A lot. Couple of dubious decisions in there, but most teens do dumb shit. Just most aren't also training in the Force at the time."

“That’s understandable,” Obi-Wan says. Moving to seat himself once he’s pleased with the position of the crystals. The temple was really starting to come together. It almost felt like home. He motioned for Luke to sit as well.

“He does have a lot to learn,” Obi-Wan admits. “And I was surprised as well. Pleasantly so. Did he tell you that I’ve continued his training?”

While the space feels peaceful, it's just not familiar to Luke. He sits after a moment, folding his legs up and resting his hands on his knees. "He did. I get the feeling he was vetting me when he met me, make sure I was allowed near his master."

Obi-Wan laughed lightly when he heard that. It sounded like Ezra, all right. "I see. Well, I trust you met his approval then." It didn't surprise him that Ezra would be a bit protective. He had seen Obi-Wan during some vulnerable moments, and they were effectively brothers.

"I know its all a lot to take in, but I'm hoping you will join us here at the temple. And be a part of all of this."

He had been working very hard to make a home and learning space for the Jedi here, as well as a place of peace for everyone in Temba. This particular space was his favorite.

"He relaxed when he realised that I was the secret you were protecting on Tatooine." He very much tries not to think about the terms Ezra had used, because Luke doesn't like he really did end the Sith reign. Anakin did. Luke just encouraged him to be that better person again.

"We should be the same age. But I'm four years older. That's weird. For some reason, I find it weirder than you being all young."

"All of this is strange," Obi-Wan agrees. Which brought up another thought entirely.

"And... there is another you here. As an infant, actually." He isn't sure if Ezra would have told Luke about that. It would be a bit awkward, and is awkward now. "Born while we were on Coruscant."

"I know. I met Padme at the beach." He hasn't met the babies yet, but he can sense them. He can sense Leia, even now. "He's asleep, she's fussing because she's hungry but comfortable where she is." His gaze comes back from where it went. "Turns out that without my version of Leia here, I'm really, really aware of the baby one."

Well that's a relief. He's glad that Luke already knows about them and is taking it well. He's not sure how he would take it if he met another version of himself. But he's not going to think about that possibility. Instead he just nods in approval at what Luke feels, able to sense it himself.

"It's your bond with her. You would have had it before birth. There's quite a network of Force bonds that have developed between all of us here, and you have already fit into it."

He's not taking it well, he's just not taking it badly. He's not sure what to make of it.

"I realised. When I got here, there was this terrible emptiness for a moment then it settled and I didn't realise what had happened. I don't really know much about Force bonds, but I knew Leia and I were connected. I've used that connection before."

And Vader had made a connection to him. He was sure of it. During Bespin, when he'd been open and broken and vulnerable, and he'd used it to speak to him several times after.

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