PEACE – A NEW CONCEPT

Clarisse Kaan jumped out of her bed, covered in a cold sweat. The vision she had been having for the past few weeks was more vivid than ever, and this time she could even feel fighting the black masked attackers. She took a few steps in her cabin, struggling to breathe, and went into the refresher. The cold water felt good on her face and she looked at the reflection in the small mirror. Hazel eyes looked right back at her, at the long and wavy black hair as she pulled it back and away from her face. She decided to take a shower, and after only a half an hour she stepped out of the cabin ready for whatever the day would bring.

She walked through the quiet ship, hearing her own footsteps on the floor. I miss my crew already, she thought, and headed for the command bridge. HK and C2 were there, waiting for the autopilot to disengage.

"How much longer until Rishi?" she asked the droids.

"We will exit hyperspace in two hours, Master Jedi." answered her HK with his metallic, equal voice.

"All right, I will have something to eat." she said and walked away towards the small kitchen.

She knew there was no real food on board so she went straight for the ration bar and a cup of caff. After the first bite, she looked at the bar and smiled. Theran was right, this thing does taste like cardboard, she thought and started to walk around. She went first into the small meeting room, and when she didn't see Zenith in his corner, another sad smile appeared on her face. This is so weird…Everyone is gone, except my two droids. Zenith had finally gone back to Balmora and took his rightful place in the government. Now, since there is peace, he is using all his knowledge to rebuild. Nadia was doing great at the temple with the kids, but by now she is probably already on her first diplomatic mission; she deserves it, she became a strong Jedi. At least Felix is with her…Just like he was always with me in those missions. I am glad that at least the two of them are still working together; especially after I had to refuse Felix…He was so sweet! But I never intended to make him fall in love with me; I could never be anything else but a Jedi. Clarisse threw away the wrapper left from her bar and with the caff in her hand, walked downstairs. She stopped in the doorway of the room where Theran usually was, another empty room. Theran, at least you are now recognized as one of the most brilliant minds of our galaxy! I wonder if Holliday got some upgrades! and she let out a chuckle, continuing her way towards Qyzen's room. Somehow his scent was still in there and Clarisse smiled, remembering how happy he was to go and join his clan in the next hunt. His Scorekeeper must be proud of him! Silently Clarisse went back upstairs and sat on one of the couches in the holoterminal room, looking around. I can't believe how many people have been on this ship at some point- the Esh-kha, the Voss, all those diplomats…Now it's just me and the droids. Peace…Such a new concept for everyone! For thousands of years all we knew was war; the war between Republic and Empire. Since the peace declaration, six months ago, there have been celebrations everywhere. I wonder what we will do with it. How is everyone going to make the most of this peace… She remembered the day when the public holonet exploded with the peace declaration. Governor Saresh, the general, the two Sith, grand Master Shan and the Imperial admiral, all grouped together and publicly declaring peace. That day, those images were imprinted in everyone's memory. Nobody will ever forget that day. The beeping coming from the command bridge interrupted her thoughts and she went to join the droids right away.

"Are we there already?" she asked .

"Yes, master. "

Clarisse looked ahead just in time to see the elongated lights stopping and the blue tiny planet was sitting right in front of them.

Only minutes later she opened the hatch and before exiting the ship turned around.

"You two stay with the ship."

She checked once more the hilt of her lightsaber hanging on the belt and went down the ramp, with her long light brown hooded coat waving behind. As soon as Clarisse walked on the wooden decks, she felt the surge in the force and looked up to the sky. It was gloomy and dark, like a storm was about to start. She walked around for a while and then took a speeder at the local's recommendation. If the storm was going to be as bad as it appeared, it was safer to go to the higher ground, where the villages were. The locals were a funny looking winged species, but warm, welcoming and accommodating. She liked them right away and their simple way of living reminded her of Tython. At least the voice I keep hearing is giving me a break! Now that I am here, where it kept telling to come, maybe will finally stop.

Just as the locals predicted, the storm broke and the strong winds pushed around big drops of rain. Clarisse took shelter in the small inn and, as soon as she entered her room, her holo start beeping.

"Master Shan!" Clarisse saluted the blue imager in front of her.

"Master Kaan, I see you already got on Rishi."

"Yes, and the storm just started as well. According to the locals, it might last until tomorrow…"

"Did you have any more visions?" the grand Master asked her.

"I did…But now I am here and I hope I will find answers."

"You are troubled…Meditate. The answers will come to you when the time is right."

"I will, Master! I am just confused…There is now peace, who are the ones I am fighting? And why? Who is behind the voice I keep hearing, that asked me to come here…"

"It might be a trap." said Master Shan after a few seconds of deep thought.

"Set by whom? Why? And most important, why me?" let Clarisse out the questions that had been torturing her mind for weeks.

"You are there, and hopefully you will find answers. The force is always gives us answers, we just have to know where to look."

"Yes, Master! I will meditate. I will contact you in a few days, or when I have something…" said Clarisse and bowed her head.

"May the force be with you!" concluded the grand Master their conversation.

"And with you!" echoed Clarisse and hit the holo, reducing it to silence.

She walked to the window and looked at the storm. It was raging. Meditation it is! she thought and sat down on her knees, taking her meditative stance. Before going into a deep trance, she felt darkness near. Sith…powerful one…I wonder if it has anything to do with all that is happening. Is this Sith here for me? It didn't show up in my vision! Must be just a coincidence! Her light aura start getting brighter and brighter, until she was surrounded by light and the serenity took over.

This is a waste of time! I could have been working on the terms of the peace treaty…Why did my parents sent me here? This backwater sorry planet is one of the worst places I have been to. There has been a storm every day; nothing ever happens here except contraband, slave traffic, and the never ending chatting of those Rishii winged people. Xander was pacing his room, angry. He stopped to look out the window and noticed the clouds gathering again. All of the sudden he felt something in the force. I wonder what a Jedi would do here…That is a Jedi signature, I can recognize it. It is powerful, but somehow light and warm…Hm…Maybe that is why I am here? Darn it! I hate this place.

"Thomas!" he called, and the door opened.

"Yes, My Lord!" said the man saluting him respectfully.

"We are leaving tomorrow. After breakfast, pack up and meet me at the ship. I will take another tour around here and then we are off!"

"As you wish, My Lord!" saluted Thomas again and left the room.

Left alone, Xander took a drink and sat in one of the comfortable chairs. He remembered his parents apparition from over two weeks ago. It was late at night, but he had been looking over some of the day's work he had accomplished, when suddenly a crimson cloud emerged in front of him and his parents materialized from it. It wasn't the first time his parents had visited him through the force. They both had died almost twenty years ago, in the Battle of Corellia. Xander was still holding the Jedi responsible for his parents deaths.

"Xander, you will go to Rishi as soon as you can," his father told him.

"Rishi? I have never heard of this place…Why?"

"Your destiny is there. You have to go there! You will have to make a decision in only a few seconds, but that decision will completely change your life and the whole galaxy," his mother explained to him.

"What decision? How can my one decision taken in a place I have never heard of change the galaxy?" insisted Xander, wanting more details.

"It is your destiny, Xander! Go and may the force serve you well!" said his father, and then both of his parents disappeared as fast as they'd appeared.

I have been here for five days…There is nothing! Xander took another sip from his drink just as the storm started. Big surprise! Another storm! he thought and got up from the chair taking a wide stance and crossing his arms over the wide chest. Bright red eyes glowed in the darkness that was covering everything. Without any warning a wave of calming, warm and peaceful force covered him. This is strange…The Jedi is strong with the force and it seems is a healer; a darn good one! I never knew that it feels like this…That night Xander went to sleep with his mind made up to leave this place the next day, but also feeling relaxed.

The next morning, right after breakfast, Xander got ready for his last day on the planet that he promised himself he would never visit again. He was still not sure what to expect, so he opted for his black leather suit. The double bladed saber hilt was already on his belt when he took the long, black hooded cape and threw it over his shoulders. Right before exiting the door, he looked back one more time. I have never been this glad to leave a place! And the door closed behind him. The speeder was waiting for him, and he didn't have to check to know that a bag with emergency supplies was on the back. Thomas knew to always make sure it was there. Xander started the speeder, and in only seconds disappeared on one of the trails leading up to the mountains.

The sun was bright and there were no clouds in the blue sky. Any sign of the storm that had raged all night was now gone. Clarisse got dressed and right away, she missed her new white clothes that she had been wearing for the past few months. Her old brown robes were a better choice for the time being. I don't know what to expect here…I might have to fight those masked men, white clothes would attract too much attention and that is the last thing I want! she tried to convince herself. Minutes later she was out the door and on the speeder going the opposite direction the last speeder went.

The lush vegetation was comforting, but at the same time, it created numerous hiding spots, perfect scenarios for an ambush, so she tuned in to the force to prevent surprises. Unlike the previous night, she could not feel the dark presence of the Sith she knew was there, so she thought again itmust have been just a coincidence and whomever it was gone already. Clarisse stopped the speeder on a ledge to admire the view; it was breath taking and she relaxed for a few minutes. The mountains were majestic, covered in all that lush green. The sound of water attracted her attention and looked at her right, the direction of the sound. The waterfall brought a smile on her face. For some reason she always had been attracted by water, and she remembered the jokes from her teenage years at the temple, the other padawans told her that she must have been born on Manaan. Too bad she never found out where she was born; she never met her parents. The oldest memory she had was at the Jedi temple on Tython, playing with other kids.

"You are almost there! Come to me! I have been waiting…" she was interrupted by the same voice that had been torturing her for weeks.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she asked out loud, looking around her.

"You will find out at the right time. Come to me and together we will be invincible!"

For the first time, Clarisse thought to provoke the voice and try to get more information that way.

"I will not move an inch until you tell me who you are and what you want from me!"

Silence filled the air and she could hear the birds singing in the late morning.

"Fine!" she said again and this time she sat down in the tall grass, continuing to admire the view.

Clarisse waited for almost a half an hour, but the voice seemed to have given up and she laid down in the grass, under the hot sun.

"I am Revan." she heard the voice again.

'And I am the Queen of the Universe!" answered Clarisse laughing. "Revan died over three hundred years ago!"

"I did not. The Emperor has imprisoned me…I need you to help me kill him!"

Clarisse sat up and shook her head.

"The emperor was killed years ago as well…You are a fraud!" she added and got up on her feet, ready to jump on the speeder and go back to the village.

"The Emperor's physical form has been slain, yes, but he is not dead! He is planning and awaiting…You and I can kill him for good! Come to me…Follow the path you have been destined to walk on!"

This time Clarisse did get on her speeder and continued her way. she was now intrigued. She wanted to see with her own eyes the man that was calling himself Revan. He was strong with the force, she could not deny that, but that was all she believed. After another few minutes of riding, she saw a group of men on the right side, and she continued to ride, her senses alert. Somehow, those men reminded her of the ones in her vision. All of the sudden, her speeder exploded and she was catapulted in the air, tumbling in the grass a few meters away. Quickly, she got to her feet, shielding herself, and her white and silver lightsaber hummed to life. From behind rocks and bushes, Clarisse saw the masked men surrounding her. Some had pointed rifles at her and she saw others igniting lightsabers. Hmm…Force users. They are not Sith. I can sense some darkness in them, but not the same thing…" she thought and for a couple of seconds, she let the force run through her to heal the scrapes and cuts from the explosion.

"Surrender and we will not harm you! We have orders to take you in alive!" spoke one of them that seemed to be the leader.

"You can try!" Clarisse answered and took her fighting stance, ready for whatever they were planning.

The very next second plasma bolts start flying through the air and some of the men advanced, trying to get close to her. She start casting an earthquake and that seemed to keep them at a distance for a while, but she knew that she can't do that forever. She needed a plan, and fast. Clarisse refreshed her shield and tried next to concentrate her casts on one person at the time, hoping to take them out individually, but soon she realized that her offensive attacks were not as strong. Darn it! I miss my crew… I should have taken HK with me… Clarisse was determined tokept her attackers at a distance, and as soon as any of them tried to get close to her, he would get blasted with rocks, but even that strategy wasn't going to last for too long. After a few more minutes, she started to lose hope that she would defeat her attackers, so she concentrated on keeping herself safe and untouchable, hoping to catch a moment to call for help. The moment presented soon, and she pulled out her holo, but noticed right away that it had been destroyed in the speeder explosion. She swore between her teeth, threw away the useless holo and got back to fighting with all she had. Suddenly she felt another ripple in the force and recognized the Sith signature from the previous night. There it comes…So this is what is been all along. The Empire sent a Sith after me! Clarisse concentrated all her efforts once again in keeping herself safe, and shortly she saw him. The Sith was riding a speeder in her direction, but he stopped a few meters behind her attackers. He isn't going to be that much of a coward to just sit there and watch…Is he? Her thought was interrupted by him getting off the speeder. Clarisse could have sworn that for a second she saw his blue eyes looking at her, but the very next second bright crimson eyes glowed from under the black hood.

This is a child! How can a child be so powerful? No…She is not…She is a grown woman…Well, in a way, she is really small! It is her that I felt last night…The healer. Is this why I am here? Is this that moment when I have to take the decision that will change the galaxy? Xander looked at the Jedi again, then at the attackers and made his decision instantly. With a surprising ease for someone his size, he somersaulted through the air and landed right beside Clarisse.

"Looks like you would need a hand here!" he said deflecting the plasma bolts with his bright red double bladed saber.

"You mean you are not here to kill me?" asked Clarisse, surprised. She looked up at him and noticed right away his lips curling in a superior smile.

"If I wanted you dead I would have killed you already!"

"You underestimate me, Sith!" answered Clarisse right away.

"I see…You are a healer!"

"You are a genius!"

This time Xander laughed and for a short split second lost his concentration. A plasma charge grazed his arm bringing him back to the reality of the situation. Clarisse shielded him right away and quickly healed his superficial wound. He looked at her and then at his already healed scratch and lift a brow in sign of surprise and admiration.

"I sensed you last night, I knew you are powerful, but I have never seen anything like this…Who are you? Why are those guys after you?"

"My name is Clarisse Kaan and I am a Jedi Master. But you won't believe me if I tell you why they are after me…" she hesitated.

"Try me!" his short and demanding tone let her know that he was used to give orders and she looked at him again.

"They have orders to take me in alive…To Revan…"

Her answer made him smile, but this time he deflected the plasma bolt that was headed to his shoulder.

"In case you didn't know, Revan is been dead for over three hundred years!"

"Not dead enough! He is been communicating with me through the force…Lured me here, in this trap."

Xander did not say another word for the next few seconds, but he did try to read her and there was no deception, she was telling him the truth.

"All right…Let's say I believe you…Why does he want you alive?" he insisted.

"Not sure… Something about defeating the Emperor…"

"I see… In that case I am going to take these guys out. Can you keep me alive?" he asked her again.

"Can you take them all out?" was Clarisse's turn to ask him.

"Who is underestimating who now?" he answered her with a question.

She nodded and shielded him, just in time to deflect one of the purple sabers that was thrown at Xander's head.

"Now it's personal!" he growled angrily and jumped through the air, slashing the attackers.

In only couple of minutes, all except the leader was dead, littering the green grass and the tiny delicate pink flowers. Xander got the last of them in a force choke and Clarisse saw his left hand clawing the air.

"Why are you after her?" he started his interrogation, wanting more answers to what just had happened.

"We have orders to take her in alive…" he hardly answered.

"Where?"

"To our Lord Revan! Even if you kill us, more will come! She is needed!" spoke the man.

"Needed for what?"

This time the man refused to answer and Xander lift him up in the air, tightening his force grip around his neck.

"What does he need her for?" he insisted and this time, he crushed his prisoner to the ground with one short move.

"She needs to be sacrificed in order to resurrect the Emperor! It is the only way that Revan can defeat him!"

With an incredible force and speed, Xander backhanded the weakened man, breaking his neck in an instant. His corpse joined the others in the grass.

"You killed him!" Clarisse yelled at him as she checked his pulse; there wasn't any.

"I am sorry…Did you wanted to have dinner with him?" he asked her with sarcasm.

"He told you what you wanted…You didn't need to kill him…" she still objected.

Xander came close to her and stopped only inches away from Clarisse. She was barely up to his chest, and she tilted her head back to look at him. Bright red eyes were staring down at her.

"Did you hear what he said?" he asked her.

"Yes, but…"

"We have to get you to safety!" he decided, and grabbed her arm with his left hand.

Clarisse freed herself from him and took a step back.

"Why are you helping me? What is your real motive? What do you want? And where do I know you from? I know I have seen you before somewhere…" she let out the avalanche of questions that had just appeared in her mind.

Xander stopped again and for the second time came in front of her, dominating her with his imposing stature.

"My name Xander Hellix and I am a member of the Dark Council. It happens that I like my life as is. If all this is true and Revan wants to sacrifice you, so the Emperor can be resurrected and then killed, my life will change. Revan is a fool if he thinks he can defeat him. The Emperor will devour all life in the galaxy…"

"That is impossible!" interrupted him Clarisse quickly.

"Do not underestimate the Emperor! He is capable of that! I can assure you! Until we find out more about all this and figure out what to do, we need to keep you safe, or at least stall Revan and his plan. Come!" he added, and again he grabbed her arm, pulling her towards his speeder.

"I will only need a ride to the spaceport. My droids are waiting for me with my ship."

"Clara…"

"It is Clarisse!" she interrupted him quickly.

"Clara suits you better." Insisted Xander, and a superior smile appeared again on his face.

"Why do you think you can change my name to whatever you might think suits me? You don't know anything about me!"

For a short couple of seconds she lost her control and let herself be angry with him.

"Is that anger that I sense?" he asked right away, lifting her face towards him and looking into the hazel eyes that now had a shade of green on the edges.

Instantly, they both felt the electricity running through them at the same time.

"Did you just use lighting on me?" she questioned him.

"No. I felt that too…"

"Must be some static in the air…" said Clarisse, pulling away from him and avoiding his red, scorching eyes.

Xander continued to stare at her a few more seconds and then he finally spoke:

"You are different from any Jedi I have ever met…You actually have some life in you!"

Clarisse ignored his words and asked him directly:

"Could you give me a ride to the spaceport? My ship and the droids are waiting for me…"

He looked at her with the same superiority from earlier and leaned against his speeder crossing his arms over his chest.

"And where would you go once you get on your ship?"

"Tython. The Jedi councill needs to know all of this!" she answered without any hesitation.

His laugh surprised her and this time she looked at him squinting her eyes.

"Typical Jedi…No imagination! You do realize that the first place they would look for you is Tython, Coruscant or the fleet, right?"

"They can come after me! I will be safe in any of those places…" she tried to convince him.

"No, you would not! Besides, Revan would get into your mind just as easily there. I will take you to safety!" he concluded and jumped on his speeder inviting her to follow his example.

"I am not going anywhere with you!" she said again without moving.

"And why is that?" he insisted this time turning around to face her.

"I don't trust you!"

Clarisse's answer came out cold, calculated and way too fast to fool Xander. He got off the speeder again and came close to her, lifting her face up for the second time in only a few minutes.

"I thought Jedi don't lie! You really are an exception!"

"I don't know what you are talking about…" She tried to buy some time and hoped she would come up with something.

"Yes you do! You are a lousy liar though, don't even bother! Now, why exactly you don't want to come with me?"

She kept quiet. As much as she was trying to find an answer, she could not come up with any solid reason, except that she had a bad feeling about everything was happening; she already knew he would dismiss that reason.

"Clara…" he insisted.

"I have told you, it's Clarisse!"

"I have just saved your life here; I think I deserve a break! And while we are at it, maybe an honest answer to my question."

Clarisse took a deep breath in and then spoke letting her head down.

"I need to call the council, and like I said, I do not trust you…I have a bad feeling about all this. I am pretty sure that sooner or later Revan will find me. What if he is right and it is my destiny?"

"Then we will deal with it when it happens! Until then, I think we should do everything to at least slow him down. Trust me, I can keep you safe from all this!"

"Trust you?" she asked again looking into his eyes this time. "You are a Sith; lying, deceiving backstabbing is what you do, your second nature!"

"Is that what they teach you at that Jedi School of yours?" he asked her somehow amused but at the same time hurt.

"Tell me that it is not the truth!" she provoked him.

Xander had already lost count on how many times she intrigued him in the very short time since they met. But one again he took a quick decision and lowered his hood. The same exact second his eyes turned from scorching red to a serene light blue, and right away he noticed her reaction.

"You are right, most Sith are like that; but not me. You can trust me."

Clarisse was speechless. She thought she saw those same eyes earlier, before he joined her in the fight, but now, seeing them again, she knew it wasn't just an illusion. It was something in his eyes that made her trust him.

"How did you do that? What is going on? Who are you really?" she started to ask him as soon as she found her voice again.

"I will tell you everything! We will probably be stuck together for a while, so we will have time! Now, let's go before more of those Revanites or whatever they call themselves show up."

This time she followed him on the speeder and after he pulled back up his black hood and his eyes turned to the usual bright red started the speeder and turned one more time to her.

"Hold on tight! I drive fast!" he added seeing the question in her eyes.

He started before she had a chance to ask anything or make any comment. Clarisse almost fell off the speeder when he started it and, without any hesitation, she wrapped her arm around his waist. He felt again the lighting running through him, while she felt his hard and massive body tense. But they both felt something else, at the exact same time; a ripple in the force.