Chapter Text
Warnings: Eventually m/m between mc and Kavar.
Kavar's POV
The entire council had been summoned unexpectedly. Most of their meetings were prearranged. The last time they had been called together unexpectedly was to decide if they would go to war with Mandalore. That was two years ago and now they were called back for a similar reason.
One of their number that had gone off to war had returned. Lukas Lambert was a young apprentice of sixteen standard years. Kavar had been interested in taking the younger as a padawan.
He had gone to ask the younger to be his padawan only to find out he had left for the war. Kavar honestly thought he would not see him again. War after all killed many on both sides.
To find out the young padawan was still alive sent shock through him. Due to their code Kavar couldnt show his shock. When he was alone he would allow himself to feel the emotions.
Being one of the first to arrive meant he was able to watch the others come in. Zez-Kai Ell gave him a nod in acknowledgment. They would exchange words later after this meeting.
Vrook was sitting across from him. Kavar could sense the man's annoyance. What really caught his attention was Atris who held a lot of anger in her. That was odd and something that needed to be meditated on later.
Once everyone was sitting Vrook began, "If you have not heard or felt it yet, one of the padawans who left has returned. Lukas Lambert is currently staying under guard in one of the apartments."
Many of the masters reached out through the force. Kavar felt the padawan arrive as he was an unnatural blank in the force. He had been able to feel it easier than the others as he spent a lot of time with the boy. .
Atris said horror lacing his tone, "Its as if he is cut off from the Force."
Zez-Kai Ell rubbed at his chin as he mumbled, "No not quite. I can still sense pain coming off of him. Though that is about all I can sense. Likely since neither Atris nor myself were very close to him. Kavar what can you sense from Lambert? You were closer to the boy than anyone else."
Sighing at their looks of interest he reached out through the force to the boy. As Zez-Kai Ell said there was a lot of pain coming off from the boy. He could sense it far better than the others.
When Kavar's presence brushed against Lambert's there was a harsh flinch. It drew away from Kavar's briefly. For a moment the young master allowed the distance. Then he allowed his presence to brush against the other's again. This time Lambert's presence didnt flinch away.
Instead it reached out to his presence and Kavar flinched physically. There was so much pain and fear in the boy. He sent calming thoughts through his presence. The boy's presence became calmer and less pain. Then it became a mere speck in the presence of the world as the boy fell asleep.
Kavar opened his eyes as he said, "There is a lot of pain in that padawan. I've never felt such pain in anyone that lived more than a few hours."
Atris growled, "We should exile, Lambert. He will bring nothing but trouble if he is allowed to stay."
Zez-Kai Ell argued, "If we allow him to be exiled then we will never understand him. As it stands now he is our best source of information."
Vrook said with a contemplative look, "I see the value of both sides. There are a lot of unanswered questions about why so many went to war. Or how many that left are still alive. However that kind of pain should not be taken lightly. There is a chance he could affect the younglings."
Kavar could see Vrook's point in this. If he had not felt what he did through the Force he would agree with Atris. Lambert had the potential to return to them or be destroyed by what he had seem.
Their code didnt allow for attachments most of the time. There had been a few exceptions to the rules a handful of times in history. For his part Kavar felt an attachment to the only one he wanted to take as a padawan. It was what made his decision for him.
Kavar said resolutely, "I'll take him. Before Lambert left for the war I had intended to take him as my padawan. I have a friend on Onderon who would welcome us with open arms. The moon would be a good place away from people and younglings. It may bring him the peace that will allow him to calm and be able to answer our questions. I believe as it stands now we will not get the answers we seek out of him."
Atris questioned barely withholding a sneer, "You would allow him to get away unpunished? He went against every rule we had in place!"
Zez-Kai Ell replied heatedly, "It is easy to cast blame. It is perhaps time the Order accepted responsibility for their teachings, and their arrogance, and come to recognize that perhaps we are flawed. Or are you trying to say that you are unflawed and have not gone against the Code at least once?"
Silence filled the air between the council members before he continued, "Not once have I heard one of the Council claim responsibility for Revan, for Exar Kun, for Ulic, for Malak… or for Lambert. Yet… he is the only one who came back from the wars to face our judgment. And rather than attempting to understand why he did what he did. We seek to punish him instead. This is our one chance to see where we had gone wrong, and if we listen to Atris then we will be casting it aside."
"I am willing to take the chance on, young Lambert," Kavsr cut through calmly.
Vrook said after some contemplation, "Then we will put it to a vote. Those in favor of Lambert studying under Master Kavar until he can answer our questions?"
The vast majority of the council voted in favor of the idea. He barely withheld a sign of relief.
"Those against?"
Only two masters were against the plan. A majority was his. This time at least. Kavar knew he had made an enemy of Atris this day. She would be watching every move he made like a hawk.
Kavar stood brushing off his robes and said, "I will go talk to young Lambert. If he decides against my help we can agree that he will be exiled."
Vrook said with a wave, "Agreed. Should he agree you both should leave immediately."
Kavar bowed before leaving the room but not before sharing a look with Zez-Kai Ell. The older master would see him off before he left.
Lambert's POV
Gasping for breath he shot up from the bed he was laying on. This wasnt his tent on the battlefield. Where was he?
He tried to reach out through the Force only to jump and fall out of the bed as it screamed at him. Immediately he closed himself off to the Force once more. No he could not listen to that again. The screams of the Force from what happened to Malachor V.
Terror filled him until he recognized the city outside the window. Coruscant... he was on Coruscant. That meant he had in fact made it back from the war. It wasnt just another fevered dream.
Right he swore he would return here if he lived through the war. Swore that he would face the judgement of the Masters who he betrayed. Unlike the others he would not stay away. Lukas would face the punishment for his actions.
That was why Lukas had not argued when the Sentinels when they requested his lightsaber and other weapons. Everything was handed over without issue and he allowed them to show him to the watched apartments.
Lukas ran a hand through his shaggy dirty blond hair. If he lived through the punishment then he would need to get a hair cut. He never did like having long hair.
A knock on the door caught his attention. Warily Lukas picked himself up off the floor and opened the door. There with a tray of his favorite foods was Kavar. The Master did not look as stern as Lukas expected. In fact he looked quite relaxed.
Lukas remembered that a calm presence had sent him into a peaceful slumber earlier. Could it have been Kavar? Out of everyone in the Temple this Master was most likely to help him.
"Are you going to invite me in, Lukas?" questioned Kavar in amusement.
Lukas had to pick his jaw up off the floor. This wasnt the reception he was expecting at all. The lighter blue eyes shone with amusement as Lukas moved out of the door.
He said bowing his head, "Of course, Master Kavar."
Kavar laughed lightly, "You never followed nicieites before, Lukas. Drop the Master at least when we are alone."
Lukas bent his head as he replied, "Of course Kavar. What brings you here?"
Kavar pushed the tray of food into his hands. He said, "The Master Sentinels said you have been refusing to eat for one," Lukas took it with a sigh, "For another the council has come to a decision on what to do with you."
Already? He put the tray of food down on the bed. His stomach rolled at the thought of what they decided for his punishment.
Kavar reprimanded lightly, "You're projecting."
Lukas ducked his head unable to stop his reaction. He wasnt used to stopping his thoughts. Only the other Jedi on the battlefield could hear their thoughts. So as a whole the army stopped trying to control their thoughts.
Kavar ordered pointed looking at the tray, "Eat. I will explain once you're finished."
Sighing Lukas did as he was bid and ate the food he was given. It made his stomach roll but he was well practiced in eating with nausea. Halfway through the tray he had to push it away from him.
Kavar said trying and failing to catch Lukas's gaze, "The Council have come to an agreement on what to do with you. It was myself and Master Zez-Kai Ell that brought up the idea. To understand why so many went with Revan we must understand what drove you. As you are the only one who has returned you are the best source of information."
"I'm to be interrogated?"
That wouldn't surprise him. Though he doubted Kavar would be the one to do the interrogation. If anything he would be the one to try and get Lukas to talk willingly first.
Kavar denied loudly his presence in the Force brightened in surprise, "No," it made Lukas flinch at the harshness of his word. He continued softer this time, "No. You have two options."
That was unusual. Most of the time they would they would exile the offending member. It was what he had come back expecting to receive. Or to be imprisoned.
Kavar continued, "Your first option is Exile as I'm sure you were expecting. You would spend the rest of your life in the Outer Rim doing whatever you choose. Of course you will have give up your lightsaber."
Lukas stared at the man. That was what he expected. So what was the other option?
Kavar smiled at the curiosity lighting up his eyes, "The second option would be to bond with me as a padawan. You still have a presence within the Force even if you are hiding from it. I will help you heal away from the others. We will head to Onderon where a friend will take us in. I will be taking your lightsaber until I believe you have healed enough to keep it again."
There was no option here. Not really.
"I'll go with you, Kavar."