Kyle felt like he was ready to collapse when everything was said and done—and Jan saw it too.
"It's been a minute since I've seen you this worn out," Jan teased, her tone light but affectionate. "Last time was with Luke... and that was a hundred times worse, according to you."
Kyle let out a tired chuckle, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah..." he muttered, still catching his breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow before turning to their guide.
"Where can I go to get cleaned up? I stink like a rancor."
The young Jedi guide chuckled. "There's a dressing room down the hall with a refresher. Should have everything you need."
"Great," Kyle said, then paused, grimacing at his sweat-soaked shirt. "Uh... is there somewhere I can drop these off? And Jan..." he turned to her, "mind running back to our room to grab me some fresh clothes?"
The guide smiled. "The Temple's droids handle laundry. Drop your clothes in the collection bin near the refresher, and I'll escort Jan back to your quarters so she can grab you some clean clothes."
"Appreciate it," Kyle said, already trudging toward the dressing room.
The refresher's hot water was bliss. Kyle stood under the stream longer than he needed to, letting the heat relax his aching muscles. His ribs still throbbed from Bondara's Force push, but it was nothing he hadn't endured before.
That could've gone worse... Kyle thought, running a hand down his face.
When he finally stepped out, steam curling behind him, Kyle saw a fresh set of clothes neatly folded on a nearby bench. The precise way they were arranged—each shirt corner aligned perfectly, the sleeves tucked just so—was unmistakably Jan's touch.
Kyle smiled faintly. She always thinks of everything.
For a man who had spent so much of his life alone, that small reminder of Jan's presence brought a warmth he hadn't realized he needed.
Fifteen minutes later, Kyle emerged from the dressing room, clean, dressed, and feeling far more like himself.
He spotted Jan and their guide in conversation near the doorway. Jan stood relaxed, hands on her hips, smiling as she spoke. The guide—young, confident—seemed fully engaged in whatever she was saying.
Kyle smirked to himself. Of course Jan's making friends.
As he approached, Kyle realized something.
I never asked his name…
He grimaced. Kyle knew better than to forget simple courtesies—especially in a place where respect and protocol mattered as much as it did here. Jan would undoubtedly tease him for it later.
"I'm ready to go when you are," Kyle said casually.
Jan jumped slightly—she hadn't noticed him approach—but their guide kept his focus on her, seemingly unfazed.
"So now that your first trial's over," the young Jedi asked, "where would you like to go next?"
Kyle paused. Before answering, he extended a hand.
"First..." Kyle said, "I'd like to apologize for forgetting my manners. I'm Kyle Katarn—and you are?"
The young Jedi grinned and shook Kyle's hand.
"I'm Padawan Torm, under Jedi Knight Qu Rahn."
Kyle's hand froze mid-shake.
Qu Rahn.
The name hit him like a punch to the gut. For a moment, Kyle's mind spiraled back to a different time—a darker time.
Qu Rahn... the man who had fought alongside his father. The man who had given Kyle his first glimpse into what it meant to be a Jedi. The man who had died at the hands of Jerec.
Kyle swallowed hard, forcing himself back to the present.
"Qu Rahn…" he repeated quietly.
"You knew him?" Torm asked, his brow rising in curiosity.
Kyle hesitated. "Yeah," he said finally. "Yeah... I knew him."
He didn't elaborate, and Jan—ever perceptive—didn't press. She knew Kyle well enough to recognize when something hit close to home.
"Let's... let's just grab some food," Kyle said, voice steadying.
Padawan Torm nodded, unaware of the memories he'd stirred.
As they walked down the corridor, Jan moved closer to Kyle, giving his hand a brief squeeze.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
Kyle gave her a faint smile—one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I'll be fine," he said. "Let's just keep moving."
But even as they walked away, Kyle's thoughts lingered.
Qu Rahn's name had surfaced—a reminder that no matter how far Kyle had come, the past wasn't finished with him yet.
The trio arrived at the Temple cafeteria, stepping inside just as the lunch hour began. They found themselves near the front of the line, a small blessing after the morning's ordeal.
Within moments, more Jedi began filing in behind them.
Kyle noticed two figures enter—a tall, calm-looking Master with flowing hair, and a younger man walking closely behind him.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Kyle and Jan exchanged glances. The moment Kyle recognized them, he leaned closer to Jan.
"That's him," Kyle whispered. "Obi-Wan... Luke's told me about him."
Jan's face lit up. "We should introduce ourselves."
As if on cue, Obi-Wan tapped Qui-Gon on the arm, quietly asking if they could join Kyle and Jan. After a brief pause, Qui-Gon reluctantly agreed.
When Qui-Gon approached, his voice carried a calm warmth—formal, yet inviting.
"I am Qui-Gon Jinn," he said with a slight nod. His gaze shifted to the young man at his side. "And this is my apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
He paused briefly, his tone softening.
"Would it be alright if we joined you for lunch?"
Kyle smiled. "We'd be glad to have you."
Minutes later, as they began eating, a presence approached the table—one Kyle recognized immediately.
A familiar voice greeted them.
"Greetings, Torm. How's your duty as tour guide going?"
Kyle's heart skipped a beat. He knew that voice.
Qu Rahn.
Or rather... Qu Rahn's ghost—the man who had first appeared to him as a Force spirit during his battle with Jerec.
Torm turned, smiling. "The job's easy," he replied before adding curiously, "Did you happen to see Kyle's duel?"
Qu Rahn's gaze shifted to Kyle, studying him carefully.
"I did," Rahn said. His voice carried a quiet sense of approval. "Your bladework was impressive... but you still have much to learn."
Kyle met Rahn's gaze, unsure how to respond. The man had once been a voice of guidance in Kyle's most desperate hour—a reminder that Kyle could rise above the darkness. Seeing him now, here, alive and breathing, was a reminder that this time—he couldn't rely on ghosts.
Rahn turned his attention to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "And what did you two think?"
Qui-Gon, still quietly observant, studied Kyle for a moment longer before replying.
"He fights like a man with something to prove," Qui-Gon said at last.
"He fights like a survivor," Obi-Wan added quietly.
Kyle didn't know whether that was a compliment or not.
As the group neared the end of their meal, Kyle found himself growing comfortable with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Rahn. The conversations felt easy—especially with Rahn, who Kyle hoped to seek out again for guidance if the opportunity arose.
Before parting ways, Obi-Wan spoke up.
"Perhaps we could spar sometime," Obi-Wan suggested.
Qui-Gon looked ready to scold him for being too forward, but Kyle surprised them both.
"Sure," Kyle said without hesitation. "Name the time."
They agreed to meet after Kyle's next trial.
With that settled, Kyle turned to Torm. "Mind taking me back to the library?"
"Of course," Torm replied.
Rahn offered to join them, which Kyle happily accepted. The rest of the afternoon was spent deep in the Jedi archives, where Kyle and Jan eagerly explored the history of the galaxy they had once thought they knew.
For Kyle, it wasn't just about knowledge—it was about finding his place in this unfamiliar timeline. And perhaps, if the Force willed it, reconnecting with the part of his Jedi heritage he didn't fully understand.