Disclaimer- -sigh- alas, I have no beard, therefore, I do not own Star Wars. Pity, really. I'd love to be rich.

Notes- Weee This is a post-KOTOR II FanFic, following a Light Side Female Exile by the name of Alyia. Enjoy o Oh, and the romantic interest is Atton D bless his cotton socks. We'll be meeting Revan later on in the FanFic, as well as the threat that is endangering the galaxy O! Again…

Prologue – Going Nowhere

I hate the way that you've taken back
Everything you've given to me
And the way that you'd always say
It's nothing to do with me
Different versions of many men
Come before you came
All their questions was similar
The answers just the same
"Going Nowhere" lyrics c to Oasis

The Ebon Hawk, the cockpit

All was silent aboard the torn, battered shell of the infamous Ebon Hawk as it drifted quietly through the dark vacuum of space. The modified light freighter was clearly failing; the dual turbo lasers had been torn from its hull, wire mesh had been revealed beneath the recently gashed cover of the left wing and the port engine was failing, spluttering in protest as its life winked out. As it did so, the ship gave a sickening lurch and dropped a little further down into the blackness of space, moving slowly forwards with all the speed of a snail… Behind it, a planets core burned violently against the darkness of space before it imploded outwards, the plant collapsing on itself, sending meteor-sized chunks of earth and ship debris spinning out into its surroundings until they were lost from sight.

Malachor V had, at last, been laid to rest.

The Ebon Hawk slowly, gradually, painfully curved to the left, backtracking its progress towards the Core systems, whining in protest at the effort. The ship itself was too far away to be affected by the powerful wave that was the aftermath of Malachor V's destruction, which was just as well, as the smugglers vessel would no doubt suffer the technical equivalent of an apoplexy after all it had just endured.

It was said to be a haunted vessel- it had a curse upon it, or so whispers in dark bars said, one that no-one knew how to lift. Any crew that took over it was destined to be involved in some dangerous situation or another, often ones that affected the fate of the galaxy, and this crew was no different… Five of the crew were currently sleeping, two were recharging their tired batteries and the eighth… well, the eighth member of this particular crew could not sleep. He sat in the cockpit, gently easing the exhausted ship through the star-filled blackness that stretched as far as the eye could see, his weary gaze fixed on some unknown point in the distance, his mind a turmoil of thoughts. For once, even Pazaak could not penetrate Atton Rand's mind.

Ever since they'd dragged the Exile back on board, barely escaping the planet after the Mass Shadow Generator had been activated, she'd been sleeping rough, moaning and screaming as she tossed about in her unseen nightmares. Visas and Mira had tried to calm her down, but she'd actually Force thrown Mira halfway across the room when the girl got too near, even whilst she was still unconscious. Eventually, they two Jedi had decided to try and sleep themselves, considering how exhausted they were, intending to meditate on the problem once they were refreshed and Alyia was a little better. Mical, Bao-Dur and Canderous Ordo were almost asleep on their feet, and Bao-Dur in particular was feeling the loss of his little remote rather strongly, so Atton had suggested they all go to bed, despite Mical's weak protests that he hadn't had chance to heal Alyia yet. T3-M4 and HK-47 had almost self deactivated as they roved around the ship, beeping loosely and incoherently in one case, speaking almost politely in the other, until the others had persuaded them the Exile was out of danger and they could recharge themselves.

So here he was, all alone in the pilots seat, barely able to keep his eyes open but refusing to shut them, afraid of what he might see if he did. His pale hands were operating on automatic, guiding the injured ship along the familiar tracks of space, cursing whatever had destroyed their engine. Without the port engine working correctly, a jump into hyper space could take them anywhere. It was too dangerous to risk it, especially if an end result might be them twirling in the empty voids of Wild Space, with a half-destroyed vessel that may well just collapse from the shock. He needed T3 or Bao-Dur awake and operational, but even they wouldn't be able to do anything if they were almost asleep on their feet –or wheels- so he'd have to continue fighting the loosing battle until one or the other revived.

The ships guidance system was locked in on Telos; he couldn't shift them, even if he wanted to. Attons reasoning was that the navicomp must have taken a hit that jammed it during the crash landing on Malachor V, and didn't even want to think of any other reasons. He was far too tired. He could feel the Force, faint and distracted, as it always was when he grew sleepy. It got harder and harder to reach for… He was unable to suppress a yawn, the sound oddly loud in the silence of the cockpit, leaning back in the pilot's seat and almost jumping out of skin when a voice spoke, right behind him.

"You should get some sleep." It was the soft, almost cat-like purr of a voice that belonged to none other than Visas Marr. She was stood directly behind the pilot's seat, her concealed sockets focused on Atton's back. He spun around, pulling an irritable face,

"Will you stop doing that!" he hissed irritably, rubbing a bound hand over his face to rid himself of the small fright she had given him, "The old witch used to do that."

Visas' head tilted slightly- "I am sorry, Atton. That was not my intention. But I could sense your distress from the dormitory."

Atton looked at her suspiciously, and turned back to looking out the window, "Stay out of my head." He muttered darkly, leaning forwards and adjusting some levers, in the hope that the Miraluka would leave him alone if he looked busy. When she sat down in the co-pilot's seat, however, he knew he was wrong, and that he was in for some sort of interrogation. Again.

"Atton," her voice remained emotionless, gentle, a calming force to his pent up frustration. It only served to aggravate him more, "I was not in your head. Your distress is present in the Force that fills this ship. You are disturbing it." Her voice was slightly accusing here- she had, after all, been trying to sleep. Having your open, relaxed mind suddenly filled with waves of irritation didn't help towards making happy comrades. "Even your aura is on edge.""Stay out of my aura." He stated simply, shooting her a dark look.

She just looked across at him –or, well, so it seemed- benignly, not showing a hint of reaction. After a long silence, in which Atton shifted uncomfortably a few times, she said; "What is troubling you, Atton?"

Atton sighed and leaned back in the seat again, half shutting his eyes- she wasn't going to leave him alone until he said something was she? But why should he have to open up to someone who rarely spoke to anyone other than Alyia? Why should he tell her about the fears that had been mounting ever since they'd crashed into Malachor V? He felt sleep beckoning to him, but knew as soon as he slipped into the grasp of slumber, he'd be submerged in a world of nightmares that he wasn't in the mood to face. "Nothing." He replied, simply.

For a moment, he thought she was going to press the conversation, but she instead gave the smallest of nods and turned to look out at the vast expanse of space in front of them, falling silent. They sat like that for a long while, listening to the hum of the remaining engine as it doggedly kept the Ebon Hawk aloft and moving. Atton got the feeling that even though he hadn't said anything, Visas knew exactly what was bothering him… Damn Jedi's.

"You should still get some sleep." She repeated, after the long minutes had ticked by.

He didn't even look at her, blinking away the tiredness as he watched the tiny specks of stars and uninhabitable planets drifting by, "I can't sleep. This hunk of junk will probably give up if no-one stays awake with it. Or, knowing our luck, we'll end up floating in Wild Space."

He didn't want to face the dreams again. He didn't want to unwilling open a relaxed mind to the Force and to see the memories that weren't his, or to feel that empty, hollow, dead feeling of responsibility and guilt once again. After the nightmare that he had endured waiting for Alyia to return from the Trayus Academy, terrified that she might not return at all, he was reluctant to sleep lest he wake up and find it was all a dream, that Alyia was gone and nothing could heal the hole in his heart.

Visas quietly got up and, without another word or sound, her booted feet eerily making no noise as she left him and his waking nightmares alone in the silence of the cockpit.

The Ebon Hawk, female dormitories

"Perhaps you were expecting some surprise, for me to reveal a secret that had eluded you, something that would change your perspective of events, shatter you to your core. There is no great revelation, no great secret. There is only you."

A figure sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, utterly silent apart for the sound of her soft breathing. She was dressed in traditional, humble Jedi Knight Robes; a white tunic, shirt and breeches underlay, bound about by a thick dark brown belt. Over the top was a thick chocolate robe that spilled out behind her, pooling out across the metal floor in creases and waves. The figure's head was bowed, the bangs of her dark hair falling forwards into her closed eyes, her arms resting across her knees, index finger and thumb pressed together at the end…

"… no great secret… There is only you."

There was the slightest of stirs in her complexion; her attractive, pale face, so serene and calm, in a state of peace, twitched slightly, her brow furrowing momentarily, as though she was trying to solve a complex problem. Her fingers, though it was barely noticeable, started to shake slightly. Her breathing grew heavier, almost ragged, as though she was struggling with some inner demon.

"… There is only you…"

Her eyes snapped open. Kreia – Darth Traya – whoever the hell she was – had been wrong. Those four words had shattered something inside of her far more than any great revelation ever could have. For three days, ever since she'd woken after killing Darth Traya, she'd been sat on the floor of the girls' dormitories, not eating, not sleeping, and not speaking. She'd been aware of people talking to her, of Visas and Mira occasionally moving past her to get to their beds or to the bathroom. Sometimes, they'd sat in front of her and meditated silently, but when she made no movement and no sign of stirring, they'd exchanged worried looks and left her to it. But now, at least… Now she understood what Kreia had been doing to her, and why the Sith Lord had betrayed her in the end, though the idea was difficult to digest.

"…only you."

Her mind, which had been a screaming mass of worries and thoughts for the past three days, was now crystal clear and peaceful once more. She knew, with a determined sort of clarity, exactly what she had to do; Revan understood that the galaxy was under threat from something that was much more advanced that Malak or the Star Forge, just as Alyia knew Kreia had merely been a stepping stone in a long, winding path of danger. And, just like Revan, Alyia knew she must help free the galaxy of this threat or die trying.

On the edge of her conscience, she could feel the bonds linking her to the other sentient beings of the ship, chaining their minds to her own, however faintly, so that she could feel their presence and their moods… Her companions were her weaknesses, just as Revan's had been. That much, at least, she agreed with… Having served under the ex-Dark Lord back in the war, Alyia knew why so many followed Revan into battle, understanding the bonds that the Dark Jedi managed to build between herself and relative strangers. They were the same bonds that Alyia fed off, drinking the power from her companions, like some sort parasite, or leech of the Force, in a way that would eventually destroy them. For that reason alone, Alyia knew none of them except the droids could accompany her search for Revan and the dangerous threat in the Unknown Regions.

She slowly unfolded her legs, wincing as the cramped muscles groaned and protested- sitting in the same position for seventy two hours straight could do that to you. She painstakingly rolled the knots of tension out of her legs, massaging the skin, before she carefully pushed herself to her feet. She felt sick and weak from hunger and dehydration, with dark rings around her eyes from lack of sleep as she took in the state of the dormitory; her bed was made and had clearly not been slept in since she'd first began her meditating. Visas' bed was neat, yet clearly slept in, and Mira's covers were sprawled across the floor, her pillows stacked high against the headboard and an empty glass of Caffa breeding its own supply of penicillin on the floor besides her bunk… A small smile crept slowly onto the Exile's face; she would miss them, certainly. She would miss Visas' calming, gentle need for guidance, she would miss Mira's roughness, hiding the insecurity within. She would miss coaxing the underestimated Bao-Dur to embrace his powers, and she would miss Mical's unquestionably devotion.

But most of all, she would miss Atton. She would miss his cocky, immature manner, his flirtatious quips and the brash way in which he told people exactly what he thought of them. She would miss the way she could soothe his insecurities, and she would miss the way her heart would skip a few beats when he flashed her his cheeky little smile… She would miss the way he'd stuck with her from the very beginning, the way he'd been her faithful companion as long as T3 had, the way he'd never doubted her orders, not for a moment… And most of all, she'd miss who she was when she was with him. She could only truly be herself with him; she felt she almost owed it to him, after the way he'd eventually told her about his shameful past…

"He has nothing to offer one such as you – and even a fool such as Atton is not so ignorant of that fact."Was it Alyia's vivid imagination, or had that voice appeared as a whisper in her head without her thinking of it? No… Impossible. She must have just called Kreia's words back to her in thinking about Atton. No other reason… A small smile slowly crawled onto her lips, straining against her sore, chapped lips,

"But you were wrong, Kreia…" she whispered aloud, the words barely audible even in the quiet of the ship, "You were so wrong… You always were." She remembered Darth Sion's words, way back when they first met him on the Harbinger; No longer do your whispers crawl within my skull… So she wasn't the only one. Kreia would leave her alone, in time. She just had to work through it all… As though to comfort herself, her hands reached down to touch the hilt of her double bladed light saber, feeling the power throb just beneath her fingers. A silver blade… A true Jedi's weapon… A true Jedi. It was strange, how things worked out.

The Ebon Hawk, Projection Room

Her footsteps took her down the familiar paths of the Ebon Hawk, listening to the echoes of life that had once filled the ship. She could hear the voices of what seemed like the majority of the crew coming from the projection room, and made her way there, slowly undoing and re-braiding the strands of hair by her right ear as she walked, wondering how she was going to break the news to them all…

"We're about an hour away from Telos. Admiral Onasi already knows we're on our way; he's sending a welcoming comitee to greet us in the docks." This was was the brisk voice of Mira, currently leaning against the projection platform and staring thoughtfully at the binary script running beneath her. She was dressed in the padawan robes Alyia had invested in for her back on Iziz, her two lightsaber hilts hanging on either side of her hips. She looked older, more mature, than the bounty hunter Alyia had first picked up on Nar Shaadar, and her eyes betrayed the idea that she'd seen more than her years should demand.

"Whats the betting we all end up in the cells again?" this was Atton's contribution to the conversation- the rhetorical question carried his usual sarcastic manner. With a small skip of her heart, Alyia saw him leaning against the wall nearest her, his hair falling forwards into his eyes, dressed in his usual, ribbed jacket and breeches. Alyia hung back, staying within the shadows of the corridor just to watch him for a moment, keeping out of sight of the others.

"I don't think the Admiral wishes to throw us into the cells." Mical's puzzled voice clearly betrayed his lack of ability to think outside the box, or to understand a sense of humour if it bit him in the arse. He was standing besides Mira, his hand resting on T3-M4's head, who was beeping in protest. From her vantage point in the corridor, Alyia could see Atton roll his eyes,

"Of course not." He scowled, frowning at the Disciple, "He'll be all prepared to welcome our brave leader home after she's saved the galaxy. Of course, I didn't see /him/ volunteering to come with us to fight Darth Nihilus, or Sion, or that crazy old witch. No. He stayed tucked up all safe and cosy in Telos, which I might add we also saved for him, and waited for us to either screw it all up, or to come back victorious. Either way, its not like he helped."

"The Admiral was deeply involved with Revan's victory over Malak and the Star Forge, Atton. Some say he even loved Revan, and she loved him. It was under Revan's orders that Carth stayed behind on Telos; she told him to 'keep the galaxy safe'." There was a pause, and a few whistles from the indignant T3. The voice continued, "Besides, he's already helped saved the galaxy once; this time was just the General's turn. And his work involving the restoration project on Telos soon got the planet back up onto it's feet." This calm voice belonged to Bao-Dur. He stood slightly behind HK-47, holding a hydrospanner and stained across his face and clothes with engine oil and burn marks.

"Yeah, but wheres this mighty Revan now?" Atton countered, sounding thoroughly irritated that someone had pointed out the flaw in his theory, "I don't see her here! She just ran away when things got bad, didn't she? It's pathetic. Any half-way decent Jedi would have stayed behind to make sure that the galaxy didn't get into any more trouble. But you can't trust a Jedi."

Alyia's breath caught in her throat at Atton's words, and the peaceful serenity that had overtaken her tired mind threatened to break… Darth Sion's words, so crackling and warped, drifted back to her through a sea of memories… The Lord Revan had the chance to rule over an empire, to heal this broken galaxy and make it strong, instead she chose to surrender it to weakness, and she ran away. So is that what they would think of her? If she took what Darth Traya had said to heart, and followed Revan into the Unknown Regions in search of this unseen threat, even Atton would believe she'd be running away? Well, she'd be abandoning them, true, leaving them to get on with their lives, but there was nothing the matter anymore! The galaxy had been saved! She'd defeated three Sith Lords to get them where they were, and there would be little to threaten them if she just went away for a little while…

The nasty, suspicious little voice that sounded surreptitiously like Sion in the back of her mind chuckled to itself, coldly, and whispered; That's probably what Revan thought, too.

"Atton, you say you cannot trust a Jedi… But is that not exactly what you're training to be?" this was Bao-Dur again- as Alyia shifted slightly in the corridor, she could see the Zabrak properly in the lighting of the projection room. He couldn't wear jedi robes, like they could, but he had half-styled himself on them. He was wearing a dark blue Jedi-style tunic, with the sleeve ripped off over his biotic arm, tied about the waist by a thick belt, though Alyia could see he hadn't been able to part with his black work pants and boots… "And is that not exactly what the General is? Are you saying you do not trust her?"

Atton shifted uncomfortably, aware of everyones eyes in the room fixed on him, "Well, no, that's not what I'm saying… I mean, it's Alyia. She's saved my hide more than once on this journey… But she's not about to run off on us!" he defended, missing the point of Bao-Dur's argument completely. Alyia, listening intently, shut her eyes sadly… Oh, Atton…

Visas, the only sentient there who had not yet spoken, finally broke the awkward silence that had followed Atton's words. She was stood besides Mandalore, her head bowed as though in prayer, "I'm not too sure about that, Atton."

All eyes turned to the Miraluka. She did not seem perturbed, and lifted her head up slowly, staring at the wall straight ahead, and refusing to direct her sight towards any of them, "You must have all known that this could not be the end of it for the Exile…" she purred softly, "She has so much more to do, so many more things to save us from. To have three Sith Lords alive and ruling in the galaxy was surely a sign of things to come… It can only get worse for us. Revan knew this- which is why, against all reasoning, she left to the Unknown Regions… I often felt my… old master think of such things." Her exotic tones took on a strange factor, as though she was speaking from far away, "Revan formed links, much like the Master Alyia, to the companions who followed her on her quest. I learnt that… Kreia… told Revan of the weaknesses her companions would be if she were to go on a search for an unknown threat in the Unknown Regions, or the danger they would be in. I am unsure exactly what she said, but Revan believed her, and I understand the reasoning behind her belief. I also understand that Kreia would have explained the same thing to my Master… she will be leaving us, all too soon."

No-body spoke for a long time, listening to the steady hum of the newly repaired engines as the ship drifted closer to Telos… Alyia could hear her own breathing, all too loud in a corridor that seemed, suddenly, far too small for her… It was Atton who spoke first, with an uneasy, sceptical laugh, "Hah! Not Alyia. Revan was clearly touched in the head- Alyia isn't. She won't leave us, not after all this. She'll at least ask us to go with her- you can count on it! It'll be just another big adventure full of getting shot at, locked in cells, being betrayed and destroying planets. Pure Pazaak. Besides, its not like Revan had anything to stay for. The Admiral may be a dab hand with a blaster, but he looks a little like the whiny type, you get my drift?"

Visas' voice had lost some of its neutrality; she couldn't fathom how Atton could be so small minded about this. "Revan had plenty to stay for, Atton. Maybe even more than Alyia does." There was a meaningful glance exchanged between Bao-Dur and Mira, but neither said anything. Visas did not seem to notice; "but that didn't stop her leaving. I fear that, now she knows of this unseen threat, my Master will not stay for us. Any of us." Visas' shrouded face turned to Atton pointedly, but he was staring stubbornly at the floor. Alyia started to wonder whether her companions knew something she didn't.

"Alyia isn't Revan! She won't leave us! Did you all drink too much Jama Juice before this meeting or something?" Atton was clutching at straws, and the silence of the others proved that they knew it. "She just won't leave us!" Alyia could feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes and quickly brushed them away; a Jedi showed no emotion. Not even now.

Mandalore's brisk, operatic voice join in the argument argument, "Visas is right, Atton. Alyia will leave us, and soon. I travelled with Revan in her quest for the Star Forge, and there are definate similarities between the two of them. They fought together in the War, and in a way, they've never stopped fighting. Now that Alyia had percieved this new threat, nothing will stand in her way of helping rid the galaxy of it. It's the sort of person she is. Hell, all Jedi seem to act like that." He seemed to notice Atton's inner struggle, even though the pilot was just glaring angrily at the floor between his feet, for he added, "But she will come back to us."

"Just like Revan came back?" Mira asked coldly; to be honest, she actually sided with Visas' point of view, but Atton looked so forlorn as he leant against the wall, the colour draining from his face, and she'd never gotten along well with Mandalore. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "Look, we all know Alyia. She'll go, whether we like it or not. Nothing can stand in that girls way."

"I still don't believe that Alyia will abandon us." Atton muttered, not looking up at anyone, "We're all shes got!" And shes all I've got… he thought, sullenly, though that particular mental note remained tucked away inside, "She's not going to leave us. She just won't." he sounded so sure that he was even starting to convince Alyia she wouldn't be going, though she knew for definate she was, and judging from all this, the sooner she did so, the better…

"Well, why don't we just ask the Master?" came the soft whisper of Visas' voice; Alyia almost jumped out of her skin, recalling that the Force Sight could see through inanimate objects. Atton gave a small, mirthless snort,

"Because, my little Miraluka princess-" he quickly avoided the metallic footlocker that had managed to levitate itself threateningly by his head, "-alright, alright- because, Visas-" the footlocker lowered itself, "-she's still stuck in that Jedi trance of hers."

"Actually, my Master is awake, and has been for the duration of this conversation." Visas responded gently, matter-of-factly. As all eyes darted about the room, Alyia stepped out from the corridor, cursing that damned Sight under her breath- even more so at Visas' next words; "Master? We wish to know whether or not you will be leaving us soon."

Alyia was aware of every set of eyes in the room fixed on her; even T3 and HK, who hadn't much followed the trivial matters of the sentients and Mandalore, but who know something was going down, turned to look at her, T3 sliding forwards on his little wheels towards her, so that Mical, striving to look nonchalant, almost toppled over. She was aware of Visas' Force Sight fixed on her, and Mandalore's helmet was turned in her general direction… Most of all, though, she was aware of Atton's hazel eyes besides her, staring at her in complete disbelief, as she cleared her throat, avoiding everyones gaze, and began to retell them the story of what had occurred in Trayus Academy, "Well… you see, after we landed on Malachor V…"

Telos IV, Residential 082 East, Apartment C3

This place brought back a lot of memories. Really, this was where it had all started. Peragus had merely been the prologue compared to the sudden chapters of the story she was thrown into upon arriving on this planet. And still her tale was being written, the looped writing sprawling across the tattered page of her life, narrating on borrowed time; so this was the epilogue… The grand Finale.

Or maybe it was even Book Two…

Alyia had been welcomed like a hero… Well, they all had, to be honest; but the Exile, who had drawn to her a group of Force Sensitives in a time when everyone believed the Jedi had all but died out, was revered to be somewhat of a saint. Many on Telos knew of the Exile's part in the defeat of Darth Nihilus, the destruction of The Ravager and the salvation of the planet, if not about Darth Traya or Sion. She had stepped off the Ebon Hawk to a roaring crowd, the screams turning voices hoarse, banners fluttering in the atmosphere, all eyes fixed on her and her companions. It had been… overwhelming.

As for the after party; well, she hoped that, sometime in the future, the book of her life would let her look back and remember exactly what had happened that night. Up until now, it was going to great pains not to let her recall… She was sat cross legged by the foot of her bed, as she had so long ago, clutching the Cross of Glory that was hanging about her neck. The cold metal pressing against her skin was a reminder of all that she had done since she'd last been in here… It was also a reminder of how much she had to do before she could ever return again.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, staring out the window at the star strewn surroundings of Telos, listening to the buzz of city life and the occasional zip of a speeder as it flashed on past, that she didn't hear the door slide open. Even if she had, she would have paid it little attention; people had been coming to her for the past two days, seeking blessings and advice for the most trivial things. Still- they were very generous blessing-seekers, and she wasn't in the right sort of predicament to turn down credits where she could get them legitimately. The cost of damages to fix on the Ebon Hawk alone were more than she could possibly raise herself- it's a pity her fame didn't stretch to free repairs… And she had new supplies to collect, if she was serious about this mission- T3 and HK would need a clean up, as well, and she could do with some new robes…

"Revan waited a year before she left." An accusing voice broke through her thoughts- a small smile touched Alyia's lips. For the two days they'd been here, Alyia had seen little of her crew- even less of Atton, who seemed to have been avoiding her ever since she'd explained that she was leaving. The most she'd seen of him was at the awarding ceremony, where they'd had no chance to talk, and a tiny glimpse of him talking to Carth at the after party, as far as she could remember… She turned to look up at him, stood besides her door, and slowly pushed herself to her feet.

"Revan had things to sort out." She commented, moving over to her bed and neatly adjusting her robes, which were hanging over the foot board of her bed, then looked across at him pointedly, "I've got nothing to stay for. The sooner I leave, the better." She quirked an eyebrow at him…

Atton looked like she'd slapped him, "Nothing to stay for? What about all of us, who've travelled with you, and supported you, through this whole adventure? And what about our training? Whose going to teach us the ways of the Jedi once you leave? You said yourself that Atris has fled, the Masters are dead and you're leaving…"

"I will be back." She stated, softly, though she wasn't too sure about this- the threat outside the known regions might ensure she never returns… Atton took a few steps nearer to her,

"When?" he asked, his voice still accusing, to a degree where she found she couldn't hold his gaze. She dropped her eyes to the floor silently…

"Atton, listen to me. Theres no point in me staying. What can I do if I do stay? Settle down? Raise a family?" she pulled a face, though she didn't miss the expression that flickered over Atton's face. Having seen it, she wished she had missed it, but ploughed on regardless, "I can't just sit here, knowing that millions more could die as a result of me doing nothing?"

"Let Revan handle it! She's more than capable!" Atton scowled, taking another step nearer, until Alyia could clearly see the worry written in his eyes,

"She's been gone for four years, Atton. She might have found out what it is already. She might not be able to handle it. Either way, I need to go. I need to know!" She knew that if he asked her to stay there for him, she'd be going nowhere. The idea frightened her, though she'd never admit it, and she dropped her eyes to the floor instead of looking at him- as a result, she didn't see him draw closer until she spotted his jacket out of the corner of her eye, stood barely a foot away from her.

"At least let us come with you." He asked, softly… She shook her head, vehmently;

"I've already asked so much of you guys. I'm not about to place any more of you in danger. I don't want to be responsible for the death of any of you."

"Let me come with you." His voice was so gentle, so lulling, almost hypnotising… She wrapped her fingers into the corner of her tattered white tunic, avoiding looking at him- or at least she was doing, until she felt his hand press on her shoulder, making her skin tingle. "Please." Her insides burnt furiously, and she struggled to keep her Jedi complexion- this was going too far… She glanced up, and shrugged his hand off her shoulder,

"Atton, no. I must do this alone. I'm taking T3, HK and Canderous-" she held up her hand when Atton opened his mouth to protest, continuing before he could get a word in, "-because he is the only one of you who is not connected to me in some way. He will not be in anywhere near as much danger as you would be if you came with me."

"I can handle myself, Alyia! All this nonsense about having nothing to stay for… It's a pile of bantha fodder! You know as well as I do there are plenty of reasons for you to stay." His hands stayed by his side this time; he seemed to understand that, at least…

Alyia knew, of course, what she could stay for. She just didn't want to admit it to him, and she refused to let him know she knew what he was talking about, "Hah! Revan had a lot to stay for, didn't she? And still she didn't. She understood the importance of her duty… Atton, I have a duty. Just like her."

Atton's hands cupped either side of her face, tilting her up to look at him directly, "You. Are. Not. Revan. You are Alyia." There was a long pause- Alyia almost lost herself in the gentle mocha pools of his eyes, and it was only because it would be undignified that her knees didn't buckle. Atton leaned his head down towards her- not close enough to be touching, but close enough for Alyia to be able to feel his warm breath fanning against her face, "Revan didn't have me."

For a moment, just for a moment, Alyia seriously considered meeting those lips that whispered such flirtatious taunts, such unfunny and ridiculous comments… But she also seriously considered the consequences- going down that road would be disobedient to her training, not to mention she would fall into the trap Atton was laying out for her. They both knew, that if things went that way, she'd never want to leave again… She pulled her face free of his hands, stepping away from him, her eyes turning to look out the window, studying his reflection in the glass, "I have a duty." She repeated, quietly.

Atton said nothing, and Alyia didn't turn around again until she heard his footsteps grow fainter, heard the slide of the Apartment door, and the click as it shut behind him. Alone in her room, faced with the endless possibilites of what was going to happen to her life from that point on, Alyia closed her eyes, and gave the smallest of whimpers.

In the book of her life, the looped writing paused, and started on a new chapter.

To Be Continued- I know that this really isn't very interesting o It's just a prologue, to set the scene of what's going on before Alyia runs off to find Revan and save the universe again I promise the next shall be more interesting o Cross my heart!
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