Chapter I: Heart of the New Republic

Somewhere among the spires of Chandrila, Capital of the New Republic

It has been two years.

Two years since the galaxy was delivered from the icy grip of the insidious Emperor. Two years since the rebellion - once nothing more than splintered cells and renegade gunslingers - grew into this awe-inspiring force of justice that proved to the galaxy that the Empire, despite all of their cruelty and oppression, wasn't invincible. Two years since Grand Master Skywalker defeated the dark lord of the Sith and started to rebuild the Jedi Order, a task that was nowhere as easy as initially believed.

And although it only has been two years, it still felt like an eternity.

''Master Kestis, sorry for the delay but ... there are a lot of people here and the Chancellor wants to greet everyone personally and - ''

''It's alright, don't worry about me'' Cal chuckled before he lifted his gloved hands in a calming manner ''I was never really one for crowds anyways.''

It was the truth. Another echo of Bracca and the times that followed no doubt, the paranoia that seemingly seemed to have etched itself into his mind whether he liked it or not. Still, Cal did what he did best - making the most of it. And if that meant following Luke Skywalker himself right into the heart of the political elite of the New Republic, so be it. It'd be alright, he hoped.

Force, he really hoped that.

Cal guided a warm smile at the young and visibly nervous woman. Given that she proudly displayed a Republic uniform, he deduced that she was one of the soldiers on guard duty. Cal didn't need the Force to understand that the woman was nervous though, her shaking hands and stuttering voice were indication enough of that.

''Also, you were the first to welcome me here and for that, I'll be eternally thankful. The mere thought of me standing in some corner and looking at some way too expensive drink was one that ... well, really didn't do my mood any favors.''

''I - oh, of course. The Republic is always happy to help, Master Jedi!''

And just like that, the woman smiled from one ear to the next as she left him to deal with another arrival. And although he was more than happy to have helped, it left him in the uncomfortable position he wanted to avoid in the first place: standing alone in some corner.

''You can do this Cal, just smile'' he whispered to himself as he directed his eyesight through the ballroom.

He has been to Chandrila before, if only for Jedi business. Still, he has never seen such a luxurious building in any memories that he could think of. A clean and sharp marble floor on which the countless bright lights above were reflected with ease, surrounded by gigantic columns that made him feel like some sort of glorified ant and not to mention all the people dressed in the most expensive garbs Credits could buy.

Somehow, this reminded him of how Greez described some of the more shady casinos he has been too. Minus the backstabbing and criminal deals, of course. But then, who knew with those people here?

''Crowds aren't really your thing, huh?''

Trying his best not to show his shock - and failing miserably at it - Cal turned around and bowed before the green-skinned Twi'lek.

''At least not those sorts. Force, I'm still afraid that I'll say something wrong and accidentally start a war or something.''

The woman chuckled at that, making her white striped lekku move with the rise and fall of her chest.

''Don't worry. The worst thing that can happen is - '' she sighed profoundly at that ''actually, your first idea was probably right on the spot.''

They shared a quick yet spirited laugh. At that, Cal took a closer glimpse at the woman. Unlike most of the others here, the Twi'lek seemed to be fine with a more modest approach to her clothing, claiming a simple yet neat looking brown jumpsuit her own. In her hand, she carried a thin wineglass with her, though it seemed as if she hasn't yet taken a sip.

''Let me guess: You have one because you don't want to stand out?'' Cal said softly as he pointed at her drink.

''You can say that again'' she nodded along quickly.

''The scandal'' Cal winked kindheartedly at her ''what will they say, huh?''

''Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't even be listening. I'm really just here because the Chancellor wanted me to.''

Cal coughed promptly at that.

''Sorry, I'm bad at this - as you've probably guessed. The name is Cal. Cal Kestis. And you are ... ''

''Hera. Hera Syndulla.''

He arched his eyebrows at that name. He couldn't quite place it but he has heard of her. It was on the tip of his tongue, even if his mind couldn't come up with anything. Luckily for him, it seemed as if Hera took pity on him as she spotted his visible confusion.

''The pilot. Phoenix Squadron, Atollon ... '' she snickered ere she continued '' and don't worry, that's not my ego talking. But a lot of the bureaucrats here have heard about me at some point in their lives. Now, they have a face to connect those stories with. Saves me the trouble of unneeded conversation and for that, I'm more than thankful.''

Of course. How couldn't he see that sooner? Hera Syndulla was a well-known hero of the Galatic Civil War and an even more prestigious pilot. Quietly, he couldn't help but to imagine Greez standing here instead of him. Though he wouldn't understand even half of what the two of them would say, Cal knew that they'd have fun at least.

''Yes! Right, sorry. I - we've heard of you. Who didn't?''

''Hopefully a lot of people'' another chuckle before she tilted her head ''alright, I'm curious. You don't really give me the politician vibe ... not that there is anything wrong with that, of course!''

Hera added quickly before she composed herself once more.

''Believe me, I take that as a compliment. No, I'm with Grand Master Skywalker, part of the Jedi entourage.''

As if time was frozen around him, Hera didn't move an inch, almost as if she was hunted by a specter of a past hellbent on some sort of twisted revenge. Cal wasn't an expert when it came to Twi'lek physiology, but if his eyes didn't deceive him, Hera's face seemed to become paler in some way. Maybe it was just the lightning, Cal added quietly.

''A ... Jedi. Oh. I see.''

Cal tried not to twist his lips under Hera's off-putting tone. Though hailed by many as heroes, some still blame the Jedi for the rise of the Empire and thus the reason for Palpatine's terrible reign. It was ridiculous, of course, but the dread of the Empire was a notion that wouldn't be banished in one night, especially not when the Empire's more than potent propaganda machine still had its claws in many facets of daily life. Even now, there were countless misguided souls in the vastness of the galaxy that actually believed the Empire's innumerable lies, reigning from the most mundane of things up to the most outrageous of deceptions.

Did she too blame the Jedi for the Empire's rise? Some of the veterans seemed to think so from what Cal had gathered. He couldn't blame them: they probably lost too many people for them not to blame someone. Could he really be surprised by her Hera's reaction? Was there more to this than he thought?

''Yeah'' acknowledged Cal awkwardly.

''I thought that the Jedi didn't wish to involve themselves with politics?''

Her tone didn't seem as accusatory as Cal initially thought it'd be. Trying to remain as neutral as possible, he merely smiled and lowered his head once.

''We don't, Master Skywalker has been quite clear on this. That doesn't change the fact that there'll always be people trying to hurt each other. And those crimes will happen in Republic space. We might not follow the Senate around as our kind did in the Clone Wars, but we can't just act without any legal authority. It's a difficult line to dance around, I admit, but anyone that knows Master Skywalker knows that there is nothing to worry about.''

It was the truth. The days of the Clone Wars - and everything that spawned from that devilish conflict - were over. An entire generation of Padawans, raised under the guiding hands of the Jedi, has been lost to betrayal and apathy: it was without a doubt the bleakest moment in Jedi history. Luke was right, they could never return to how things were. And yet, they also just couldn't do as they please in Republic Space for obvious reasons. He didn't envy Skywalker. Though officially neutral, Cal knew that someone out there would always try to use the Jedi for their own gain. And as he looked around, Cal wouldn't be surprised if one of those persons was in the same room with him right now.

''The Republic thought that there was nothing to worry about either, once'' stated Hera before she shrugged.

''Not this Republic. Not this Jedi Order.''

She didn't say anything to that for some time. Eventually, she only groaned and glanced at Cal in an apologetic way.

''I realized that I sound more standoffish than I thought. Sorry about that. It's just ... the Civil War - I lost people. A lot of us did. I didn't ... ''

''I understand. Believe me. There's really no need to apologize.''

No side wished to say anything after that, both of them seemed to be lost in the memories of their past. Cal knew exactly how Hera felt. This war was long, too long for anyone to come out of it without any scars. From what he knew about Hera, she has been active since day one. Back when the rebellion was nothing but a displaced collection of rebel cells, each and every single one of them not knowing anything about the others, Hera's people were one of the first to stand up to the Empire in any efficient fashion. Cal could respect that with ease. He didn't even want to imagine the immeasurable strength she had to call her own to be one of the first to take a stand. Cal was a Jedi trained by one of the Order's best - and even he hid for a long time, hoping to evade the Empire amongst the dirt and rubble of Bracca.

''You seem relatively young, Cal. Were you a part of the Order during the Clone Wars?''

He had to admit that that question took him back slightly, if only because his thoughts still lingered on those lost.

''I ... I was, actually. I trained under Jedi Master Jaro Tapal. A powerful warrior and a wise scholar. He ... - ''

Cal shook his head. He shouldn't be talking about this. Of course it wasn't a secret that the Jedi were betrayed. And truthfully, Cal would love nothing more than to wish that he could claim that he worked through the horrors of Order 66. But Cal simply wasn't perfect.

He doubted that much good would come from this line of thought and yet, something about Hera Syndulla seemed to be different. It was a quaint echo in the Force, an almost silent gush of wind that seemed to brush over his skin for only a fragment of a second. Cal could feel that this topic was closer to her than it was to most, even if he didn't know why.

''A Padawan, I assume? I'm so sorry, Cal. I know that this had to be difficult for you.''

''It was. But ... everything is as the Force wills it.''

There it was again. Something inside Hera Syndulla seemed to steer, something that he could feel through the Force even if it seemed elusive. Cal knew that he shouldn't inquire into people's private affairs and yet he just couldn't help himself in this case.

''I'm sorry but it almost sounds like you know a thing or two about the Force.''

He could've said that better, Cal winced internally. Still, it seemed as if his words had the intended effect as Hera seemed to tense up momentarily before unleashing a long-drawn sigh.

''I do. In more ways than one. During the Galatic Civil War, I ... well, I traveled with a Jedi. A Jedi and his apprentice. We - all of us were close. A family.''

Cal swallowed at that. Even without the Force, he could clearly understand that Hera was obviously uncomfortable with their current topic. Cursing himself in every language he knew, Cal raised his hands in an apologetic way before he quickly quipped up:

''I'm sorry, I didn't wish to pry. Really.''

''It's not that,'' Hera whispered as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and guided her eyesight towards the floor ''but you know the Empire, Cal. You know what happened to Jedi if they revealed themselves.''

''I do.''

His mind wandered to the Jedi holocron the crew of Mantis stole from the Empire before the start of the Civil War. How foolish he had been back then. To think that he and Cere really thought that they could defeat the almost endless war machine that was the Empire with an army of young Jedi. They would've died in the end, that much was certain. If it wouldn't have been for the visions of the Force Cal had to endure on Bogano - and Merrin's more than needed wisdom - he would've been responsible for the death of so many innocents. Even now, he had to shudder at the possibility. The mere thought of the Inquisitorius arriving, killing them before his eyes as he'd be twisted into some sort of -

'' -al? Cal? Are you alright?''

Cal gasped. Choking like crazy, Cal's hands wandered to the back of his head where he started to fake a quick smile.

''Sorry, lost in thought.''

All out of sudden, Hera's hand wandered to his shoulder before she came a step closer. Lowering her head slightly, her eyes were locked with his as she watched him with untold understanding. This wasn't the action of a comrade trying to cheer their friend up. This wasn't the act of a commanding officer aspiring to raise troop morale. This was the look of a woman who had suffered so much and was sharing her pain with someone that understood how she felt. And for that, Cal was undescribable grateful.

''I'm sorry, Cal. For everything that has happened.''

At that, Cal's fake smile was replaced with a real one, even if it was visibly weaker than his predecessor.

''Thank you, Hera. It's weird, isn't it? The galaxy around us keeps moving on and yet we never truly let go, do we?''

''We don't so that they've got a chance at a new beginning,'' Hera said calmly as she pointed towards the other guests.

There he was, a member of the Jedi Order, sulking in the shadows with a war hero. What an odd pair they had to be, Cal thought grimly. Two hurt soldiers coming to terms with the things they had to endure. Hera was right, it was their lot to carry. And yet a soldier's lot was never an easy one.

Still, Cal was swift to calm himself. He was still a Jedi and he knew where such dark thoughts could lead someone if they dwelled on them for too long. True, the times were the Jedi would bottle up their emotions were gone. Not a day would go by where Luke wouldn't talk to the rest of the Order about their feelings, counseling the others not to repeat the mistakes of the past and telling them that there was nothing wrong with working through their emotions in a healthful manner. It might have been a paradox to some of the other Purge survivors, but Cal was an outspoken supporter. Force knew he needed it.

Sadly, Cal wasn't Luke Skywalker. It wasn't as easy for him as it was for the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. But he'd get there, eventually. He owed the fallen that much.

''Tell you what, I'm here with some of my crew. Want to join me? Somethings tells me that it would be good for both of us to talk to people who understand what we're feeling.''

Cal actually grinned at that. Even now, there were hundreds of questions he had for the famous rebel pilot. Not to mention that getting out of sight for some time was an added bonus.''

''I'd love that, actually.''

AN: Hello-oh beautiful people of the galaxy!

This is just something I wanted to write for quite some time now. There's something really humbling when two characters from two different, yet equally canon mediums come together to talk about their shared universe. Let's see where this side project takes us! From my perspective, I wanted the title of this chapter to reflect both the geographical location and Cal's/Hera's role. A Jedi and a veteran are without a doubt the Republic's soul, at least in my opinion. Not that it matters, given that eventually Snoke will just blow everything up anways but you know.

Also, this isn't part of my main fic Our Fallen Sister. The adventures of Cal, Cere, Merrin, Greez, and Trilla will continue as always. If you've got time, check it out!

And if you want to be extra amazing, go follow my Tumblr! It would help a lot and the link is on my profile :3