A/N: I was so inspired by the adorable cute Revan/Bastila romance; I just had to write something!
CHAPTER 1
"There you are! What happened?" Carth took a step towards Revan as he stopped on the metal walkway.
Revan hesitated for a moment, and a disappointed look took his features. "Malak's...dead. It's over."
"That's wonderful news!" Bastila exclaimed. "Well, we can't celebrate just yet. My Battle meditation allowed the Republic fleet to get past the Sith defense. They are in bombardment range!"
"And that means if we don't get out of here, we'll join Malak while he fries in the explosion," Carth joked, gesturing towards the Ebon Hawk. The three ran to the ship. Carth and Bastila rushed to the bridge and started the ship, and Revan fell onto a couch.
Juhani looked over at the 25-year-old man in the off-white robes sitting on the makeshift 'couch'.
"Congratulations...Revan," She commented softly.
"Congratulations for murdering the only friend I ever had up until I was twenty," Revan sullenly said. "Congratulations for failing to see what he could do to Bastila."
"It was not your fault," Juhani assured him. "You did not know."
"Well, I didn't know that the Star Forge would corrupt me, right?" Revan snapped. "I should have known what he was capable of, how Bastila really was in danger. I thought she'd pull through."
"I, too, was shocked when she told us that she had an alliance to the Dark Lord." She tried to sympathize with Revan, but he needed some time alone. "I will leave you alone if need be." With the quiet footfalls of a feline, she walked out of the room.
Revan turned and lay down on the couch, lost in thought as he started at the durasteel ceiling. These thoughts were interrupted when Mission sauntered in eating a muffin from the synthesizer.
"What's up, Jed?" She was the only one besides Carth that called him by his alias.
He sighed and took a deep breath. "I'm just...just confused."
"Yeah, I would be too." She said. "Look, I know you aren't Revan. I said it before; you're my friend no matter what."
Revan let a small smile touch his lips. "Thanks, Mission." The intercom went on and Admiral Dodonna's voice rang through the room.
"Carth, you made it!" She said with a relieved sigh.
"Well, we couldn't start the victory party without you," He replied cheerfully. Revan felt the ship make a slight turn, but the artificial gravity corrected itself.
"I'm sending an honor guard to escort you in. You'll be getting a hero's welcome when you come home!"
Revan groaned. "Now they want to reward me for it?"
"You saved the galaxy! Of course they want you to!"
"They want to give me a medal that represents all of those who died in the war. Isn't it a bit ironic that I killed them all?" He said sarcastically, but Mission could tell he was infuriated.
"Revan killed all of those people. Jed Khan saved the galaxy. There's a difference." Mission retorted.
"Attention Ebon Hawk crew: This is Carth Onasi—" The recording was punctuated by a slight chuckle. "Ah, why bother? Prepare for landing. Jed, I better not catch you gloating at the ceremony!"
This just made Revan feel worse.
"Don't worry. I won't be," He muttered to himself. Mission turned her head and some growling could be heard from the doorway. Looking back at Revan, she gave him a 'be right back' gesture and left the room.
Revan got up from the couch, walking out of the rotunda and heading to the bridge. Carth and Bastila were operating the landing controls, and the island could be seen below them. The temple was like a toy model below them as they swiftly descended.
As they drew nearer, Revan noticed a blob of orange and black, and some specks on the temple walkway before it disappeared from view behind a cliff. The Ebon Hawk landed with grace and the engines turned off. Revan turned around and walked to the exits, meeting Canderous on the way.
"Hey, Canderous," Revan said casually as he walked past him and pressed the button for the ramp to lower.
"Hello, Revan," He replied, following the Male Jedi out of the ship. Bastila soon ran to catch up with him, and he threw her a glance and continued on.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, distress plain in her voice.
"It's just..." he began, "I need time to sort this out."
They went up a rather steep hill and once again saw the grand temple around a curve of rock. This time there was a swarm of Republic soldiers, Admiral Dodonna, and several Jedi including Master Vandar there.
As he walked up the stone ramp, the cheering in his ears was deafening. He felt the excitement from the Admiral wash over him in waves, and he also saw a glint of metal in her hand. As soon as she spoke, the Republic soldiers quieted.
"You have destroyed the Star Forge, saved the Republic, and broken the spirit of the Sith!" She announced. "For this, I shall present, you, Jed Khan, with a hero's cross: The Highest honor the Republic can bestow." Revan stood still as she pinned it to his robes. "From Coruscant to the farthest reaches of the outer rim, let you and your comrades be known as Saviors of the Galaxy!"
Master Vander stepped forth. "As Jedi, Defenders of the Galaxy and sworn protectors of the Republic," he waved his arms towards Revan. "We now have another tale to weave into the history of our eternal order," his voice lowered so that only Revan himself and those near him could hear, "The Redemption of Revan, the prodigal knight."
Vandar smiled. "...across the galaxy you will be known as saviors of the galaxy, the heroes of our age. But you must remain ever vigilant. Once again you may be called upon to defend against the tyranny of the darkside. For this is the destiny of the Jedi."
Several jets flew over Revan's head, but he did not look up to see them. I don't deserve this. Vandar himself gave him a deep bow, and Revan gave one back, reluctantly. The cheering resumed, louder than before. Revan walked in a haze to the bottom of the ramp where he met Admiral Dodonna, who extended her hand.
Revan shook her hand as she said, "I wish we could make a better awards ceremony, but I guess we have to wait until we get to Coruscant, eh?" he hadn't expected her to speak so casually.
"Thank...you," Revan mumbled in reply.
Vandar, who was now standing next to Admiral Dodonna, also spoke.
"We knew the dangers of you falling to the darkside; we are sorry we did not tell you of your true identity." Revan simply grunted and walked a few feet. Now Vandar was talking to Bastila. He did not hear the words. Dodonna reached inside her pocket and produced a small box and handed it to Carth.
When he opened it, Revan could not see the contents, but Carth's face lit up and he looked at Dodonna with shock. Revan then saw her salute to Carth, and he saluted back, closing the box.
Bastila walked up to Revan, even though he did not notice until she took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Hello," she whispered to him.
"I'm sorry about all of this. I just..." Bastila stumbled through her words, but Revan knew what she meant.
"I'm the one who should be sorry," he countered.
"We should get going," Carth said with slight urgency.
"I want to talk to the elders before we leave. Let them know," Revan said, looking South, towards their settlement.
They got there and several elders were standing outside their settlement. Their heads all turned to Revan and they began to move towards him as he stopped.
We saw the explosion. We cannot thank you enough...Revan, the councilor commented, clasping his hands together. Bastila stood calmly behind Revan, but she was smiling.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to not repeat my mistake, he replied. Well, I must be going.
Thank you again, Revan. And may the...Force, was it? Yes. May the Force be with you.
Revan was slightly surprised they knew the Jedi saying, but maybe before he had feigned being a Jedi and said it to them. He turned towards Bastila and glanced her way before walking back down the hill towards the Ebon Hawk
Everyone was waiting outside of the ship and when Revan and Bastila appeared, they ran in.
"Why should they treat me so nicely?" Revan muttered and he entered the ship, pulling the ramp up after Bastila got inside. She did not hear him, walking towards the bridge.
Revan followed, taking a look out the window. The sun was touching the horizon and reflecting off the water, spreading sparkles of light all around. There were some storm clouds to the west, and the sun turned them blood red.
As he was looking at this, he noticed they were in the air.
"I asked Dodonna if we could visit Telos," Carth announced. "You don't mind that, do you guys?"
"No" came as a chorus from all those in the bridge (which included Revan, Bastila, Carth, Juhani and Jolee).
"Then..." he began, "Telos, here we come."
