A/N: Let me assure you, the writing in this story improves as it goes along. I started FtR as a practice story to remember how to write fiction. Parts 1-6 were written together in one weekend. When finished, the rest of the story will have taken over 10 months...make that 5 years (?) to complete. I'm told that each chapter is better than the last. So please, bear with me through the first, tentative chapters of For the Republic. Eventually, I plan to overhaul the first half, but not quite yet. This story is simultaneously posted at KotORfanmedia and deviantART, too. Thanks for reading. vj
Additional A/N after completion: I do intend to write a sequel, but I'm not sure when it will be available. Please follow this story if you'd like me to send you a PM when the sequel is posted! (If you follow me as an author, you'll get notifs for my Naruto stories, so unless you're in that fandom, following the story would be better. I'll also try to get around to cleaning up the early chapters here, too. Thanks so much for sticking by me all this time and for reading. Thank you, thank you!
For the Republic: Part 1
by vernajast
Pre-Mandalorian War; Dantooine Jedi Academy
A whirling sensor ball dove around four young Jedi knights in the center of the duel ring. Each was wielding a low power lightsaber to ensure no accidents would occur. They spun, jabbed, jumped, and lunged with uncanny precision, made more impressive by their use of blindfolds. A crowd of padawans and younglings cheered and gasped as the demonstrators made various maneuvers in unison. Serena Revan made a final highly technical demonstration before the group bowed and took their leave. Zana removed her blindfold and gave her best friend a "thumbs-up" signal. "Excellent work, as usual, Serena! I felt utterly synchronized."
Serena assumed a neutral expression and asked, "Are you trying to pump up my pride, Zana? What would Master Kavar say about that?" Zana blushed crimson and hastened her step. Master Kavar was Zana's current and final master, this being her final year as a padawan. He was special to Zana, and Serena liked to tease her friend about it.
"Master Kavar would say you were an excellent group leader today and-"
"-and then maybe he'd ask you to stay and learn some new forms?" Serena broke into giggles and Zana huffed at her childishness.
"Really, Serena! I..." She sighed heavily. "You win today, now can we just drop it?"
"Damn. Fine. I really had you going, didn't I? We can practice later, if you want." Zana nodded. Serena had taken it upon herself to improve her friend's emotion-blocking skills. A master of the blank face, she'd seen Zana blush or grow sullen on too many occasions to count. Zana's emotions betrayed her regularly, and this was an area where Serena could help. Of course, unlike the masters who taught that a Jedi should be able to resist such things completely, Serena only hid the thoughts and feelings from those around her. She erected barriers in her mind, compartmentalizing it until only she could truly know what she felt. Serena didn't want to give up all of her humanity, such that it was. Zana had started her own construction, but the opposite sex was still a trigger for her and it was an area in which diligence would be required. At random intervals, Serena baited Zana to test her reaction. Improvement was slow, at best. "Hey, let's grab a meal before heading back to the dormitory."
The girls neared the academy cafe and came to a stop outside the door as they heard raucous laughter erupt inside. Clearly, the guys had already arrived. Tren Dorn's voice carried outside the cafe and down the corridor, "You couldn't beat her, man; not a chance! And Zana's just as good. I mean, Serena's got the moves, but Zana's got speed and grace...You wouldn't be in the duel ring for more than a minute; and only that because neither would want to humiliate you too terribly." A few of those gathered made noise to agree and another voice said something inaudible. "Well, yeah, there is that-"
"What is there, Tren?" No one had noticed the girls had just slipped into the room and they were now standing on either side of Tren's chair.
"Oh, hey, great job at the demonstration, ladies. It felt perfect. I thought I lost it for a minute, but way to hold it together, Serena. Even if it's not full battle meditation, your technique is amazing." Serena flashed a smile at Tren, and then let her face return to its nondescript default as she gazed at the group of boys. Like her, they were Jedi Knights, young and fresh-faced, ready to do good for the galaxy, and in-training for their official positions. Tren was going to be assigned the ambassadorship to Alderaan if all went as planned, Vedric had distinct reflexes that qualified him to lead the Republic's elite pilot squad, Samosh was training to join the Republic mediators representing the smaller planets and systems in negotiations. Well, and then there was Zana, a year younger, a padawan verging on knighthood, an amazing empath.
"Tren, what were you guys talking about?" Zana asked with an arched brow.
"Uh, well...Galen - over there - was saying he could probably beat you and Serena in a duel, you know, 'cause you're girls and all..." He looked a little nervous. "And, uh, I was just defending you guys. I mean, you heard me, right?" Tren didn't need these two angry with him, or it would mean extra practice in the duel ring with the team.
Serena fixed her stony gaze on a bald boy in the corner, someone she'd never met before, "Galen, is it?"
"Yes, Galen Malak. You're Serena Revan, right?" His voice was cold, distant. He, too, was very good at masking his emotions and he was blocking her from sensing any of his motivations. "If you're as good as Tren claims, perhaps I was mistaken."
Tren grinned. "Humph, better! She could and would beat you blindfolded, man. Leave her alone, for your own good, and your pride's sake."
"Zana, what does Master Vandar say about pride?"
"It's the path to the dark side, Serena."
The girls grinned at the dumbfounded table of Jedi and took advantage of the moment to find places to sit. Zana, predictably, scooted into the space between Tren and Samosh. Serena was sure that, somewhere under the table, she was holding Tren's hand. Rolling her eyes, Serena decided to make the most of the situation and positioned herself on the bench across from Galen Malak. She took a moment to study the boy, who was doing all he could not to make eye contact with her. His smooth, bald head was marked with tattooing of some kind, likely tribal markings he received as an infant, and his toned face was set off by large features and a prominent chin. He wasn't unattractive, by any means, and perhaps in a different situation Serena would have taken the time to properly admire his height and muscle. Currently, she was assessing him to see if he could, in fact, beat her in a lightsaber duel. She was pleased to note that, while he would have the advantage of his longer reach and stride, his overall size would hinder him against her slight form. What Serena lacked in size, she made up for in maneuverability and strategy. Tren was right, she could take him blindfolded.
Shaking her contemplative mood, Serena surveyed the table, "Anybody wanna buy a couple of very tired Jedi girls a drink?" A few of the boys jumped up and went to the bar to get rounds for everyone. Zana stayed by Tren, and they were talking in hushed whispers too far away for Serena to hear. She joined a few conversations, mostly lively banter and political grousing. After a few drinks, Serena withdrew from conversation and focused on Galen again.
"Galen, you know I would beat you in a match, right?" He mumbled something inaudible. She reached over the table, put two fingers under his chin, and raised his head to face her. After a few seconds, she announced, "I suppose we need a proper introduction."
"I told you my name." He was still looking at her, though she was no longer forcing him.
"Ah, but it is I lacking a proper introduction!" She smirked warmly at him, not breaking eye contact. "I am Serena Revan; Knight Consular, occasional emissary to Corellia, and duel champion of Dantooine Jedi Academy. I am particularly fond of that last one, by the way." She paused, waiting to see his reaction, but when he didn't react at all, she went on, "In any case, it's very nice to meet you, Knight Malak." She flashed him another smile, and then stood to give him a great bow including hand flourishes. By the time she took her seat, he had finally broken into a grin.
"Serena would be the only person who could make you smile. I've never seen a challenge that chick can't overcome. Here, Serena, have another on me." Tren passed her another Dantoo soda and they quickly fell into a discussion comparing the lifestyle of peasants on Alderaan and Corellia. No one noticed that Galen Malak had never let his gaze fall from the Jedi across the table from him; no one, that is, except Zana who, of all people at the academy, understood how Galen felt. The Jedi council forbade Jedi from forming romantic relationships, any real relationships really, with others. Such relationships often brought pain, jealousy, and passion which could easily gain control and all could lead to fear and hatred, a clear path to the dark side. But Zana couldn't help herself. Making friends and gaining admirers had always just happened for her and, more often than not, the situation was too deep by the time she realized there was a problem. And she saw a familiar look in Galen's eyes: he had instantly fallen for her friend. There was nothing for him to do about it, and Zana felt a pang of guilt as she squeezed Tren's hand.
Tren abruptly ended the conversation with Serena and got to his feet, releasing Zana's hand. "Um, okay, time for me to get outta here. Got training, you know..." He trailed off and backed away from the table. Zana stood, as well, insisting that she must get back to the dormitory and rest or she wouldn't be worth a bantha's tail tomorrow. They left hastily, heading in opposite directions, though Serena knew Zana would simply be meeting Tren somewhere a bit more private. They weren't a serious couple, as if that sort of thing could even exist under the noses of the Jedi masters at the academy. They were just friends, of a sort, and as long as they both understood that, Serena didn't feel the need to interfere.
Of course, this left her with the brooding Malak who, apparently, never smiled. While Serena had achieved the pazaak face of a Jedi master through hours of practice and meditation, he seemed to have been born that way. She looked over at him, and he was watching her in the strangest way. "Um, hey, Galen? I could use a little more practice this afternoon, care to spar with me? Hand-to-hand or lightsaber, your choice..."
Again, he smiled and Serena was taken in by his smile and all it entailed. She had leaned over the table to speak to him and-by her proximity-she sensed the varied emotions washing over him. Relief, admiration, doubt, anxiety, love. Love? She wasn't sure that was quite right. It was something else, something between love and lust-need.
Fear gripped Serena's heart as she felt it, too: a need, a desire for him that she had never felt for anything or anyone. Before she could lean into him for a kiss, she faltered and stood, head high, applying her stony gaze, trying desperately to banish the heaviness of such feelings. Galen stood as well. "Lightsaber."
The two wordlessly hiked to the training room and their lightsaber practice lasted until neither was able to hold their weapon any longer. They parted as friends and returned to their chambers, separately. Each opting for a long, cold visit to the refresher.
Galen watched as the demonstrators lunged and parried, following a sensor ball with nothing but the Force to guide them. He knew a few of them, particularly Tren Dorn, who lived in the same dormitory wing. The leader of the group was a girl, just tall enough that the top of her head would reach his shoulder. She was small and toned, her skin was slightly tan, and her black hair whirled around her as she fought. The deliberate, calculating way in which she maneuvered astounded him, but he was sure she lacked the strength to defend herself against a real opponent.
Having lost interest, he left the duel ring and headed for the cafe. He was sitting alone, nursing a Dantoo soda, when the first of the exhibitionists arrived. It was Tren and some of his friends. Noticing Galen alone at a huge table - the only table that wasn't full - they abruptly changed course and surrounded him. Tren sat down and the others followed suit. "Hey, man, what're you doing all alone? I mean, I'm sure you'd like some company." Tren gestured to his friends. "No worries, they're all good guys and they're buyin'!"
"Hi." A dour reply, at best.
He'd endured their jibes and raucous conversation, rather glad to be included despite himself. And, overall, things were looking up for Galen, until they arrived. The girls from the lightsaber demonstration team arrived in the cafe just in time to hear Tren razz him about his claim that he could probably take Serena or Zana in a fight because they were so frail. The girls took it all rather well, Tren smoothed it over, and suddenly Galen found himself sitting straight across from the girl with the tan skin and black hair. Fighting every urge to look at her, to admit to himself that he had misjudged her. She joked with Tren and traded laughing insults with some of the others. But then she did something completely unexpected: she spoke to him. No longer joking or loud, a simple statement, "Galen, you know I would beat you in a match, right?" At that moment, he knew it was true. And more than that, he knew he wanted her to beat him. He wanted her to prove him wrong. He wanted her to sweat in the duel ring. He wanted her to learn him through battle. He wanted her to know him, fully. He wanted her...
She never took her eyes off of him as she tried to make him smile. Galen fought the urge, trying to keep himself in check as a proper Jedi Knight is required. But, finally, his face cracked into a smile and when she smiled back, it warmed his cheeks. He hoped she didn't notice, and apparently she didn't because Tren passed her another drink and they began discussing the politics of their assigned planets. Galen couldn't take his eyes off of her, though, and as Tren, Zana, and the others left the cafe, she turned to face him.
As she leaned closer to him, standing to do so, the scent of her sweat did strange things to his mind. She was speaking, of this he was certain, but he couldn't really focus on what she was saying. He heard "hand-to-hand or lightsaber" and figured out she was asking him to practice with her. She was so close to him that he was sure she could detect his thoughts, but she wasn't backing away from him. Quite the opposite: she too was beginning to breathe a little harder and the longer he held her gaze, the closer she moved. They were close, so close, when she suddenly stood up and backed away. For a moment, she had looked…happy, then confused, and now she wore her Jedi-trained scowl again. Galen couldn't believe he'd lost control so easily. It was her, something about Serena. He cut through the haze of his need to utter a single word, "Lightsaber."