Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

Bastila's Redemption

Chapter I: The Sentence

Bastila's childhood had not been happy. She had loved her father deeply and her mother shipped her off to the Jedi Conclave. She had never considered being a Jedi before then. At first she resented the Jedi and her mother. At first all she wanted was to go home and be with her father. Yet she went on. She spent years training in the ways of the Jedi. She came to accept it, but she never wanted it… until she met him.

Most members of the Jedi council were astounded when Bastila did not turn to the dark side at an early age. She was full of hate, sadness, and fear. Yet she didn't. She became a full blown Jedi Knight. Despite the fact that she knew her Battle Meditation was important to the war efforts she never held it over the council's head or blackmailed them for her services.

Despite the fact that Bastila used it for good and not personal rewards, her Battle Meditation was the main reason she was made head of the strike team sent to capture Revan. She succeeded and saved his life.

Revan was redeemed. The council retrained him in the art of the Jedi. Afterwards Bastila taught him how to be a powerful Jedi Guardian. In the process Bastila had fallen in love with him. She knew she couldn't love him. She knew it was forbidden and she knew the council would not allow it. Her childhood enemies of resentment and anger returned. If one truly knew the situation it was no surprise that Bastila turned to the dark side.

Malak took advantage of her uncontrolled emotions and forced her to use her anger. He used everything inside her against her and she turned to his side. Many men in the Republic fleet died due to her, but the Sith had been ultimately defeated because she turned against them. The love that had caused her so much anger and resentment ended up being the thing that saved her.

Revan's love for Bastila was what saved her soul. It didn't save her from the punishment of the council. She now stood in the council chamber on Coruscant surrounded by Jedi Masters. Master Vandar and Vrook had been invited to join the Grand Jedi Council for this sentencing, seeing as how Bastila was under their council's jurisdiction.

"Do you know why you're here?" A Jedi Master of the enclave, Master Vira asked. She was a tall woman who was an imposing figure. Her dark curly hair and mud brown eyes were really quite attractive. Most men were surprised that she was a Jedi at first glance. She was dressed in the regular blue Jedi robes. A lightsaber was attached to her belt and was now lying on her lap.

Bastila could tell quite clearly that this woman was going to make merry sport of her. It was all over her face that she didn't consider Bastila human and therefore could be treated without respect due to any regular human being.

"Yes," Bastila replied weakly. "I betrayed the order and joined Darth Malak."

"I'm sorry, please speak up," Vira said putting her hand to her ear.

Swallowing her pride, Bastila replied in a louder tone, "I betrayed the Jedi Order and joined Darth Malak."

"I see," Vira muttered with a nod.

"Why did you do such a thing? Why turn your back on your past and side with someone you've been fighting since the Mandalorian Wars?" Master Kie asked. Master Kie was a middle aged man who had long since gone bald. He was a relatively well built man, who had managed to develop a little flab in the last few years.

"We have been going over the statement you have given along with those of your allies. As it is they all say that you used your abilities to aid the Republic in the end," Master Dunkun said as he sorted through a few papers on the portable desk in front of his chair.

"There have been quite a few suggestions as to your fate," Aitris, chronicler of the Jedi explained. "We suggested exile, stripping your of the force, a sort of prison. After all you've done you should consider yourself lucky."

"We do not believe in luck," Bastila corrected the master. The moment she said it she wished she hadn't. It had come off more condescending than she had intended. As it was Aitris smiled at this remark.

"But I guess that only applies to Jedi, doesn't it."

"You mean?" Bastila asked horror stricken. That one sentence had told her everything. The council was going to exile her. She would be stripped of the force, her lightsaber, and her dignity. Besides if she were to be cast out of the order, Revan would go with her. She couldn't let him throw away the life they had worked so hard to build, all over this.

"I believe Aitris speaks out of turn," Master Vandar replied. "It has not been decided what your punishment will be."

"Then why have you called me here?" Bastila asked.

"We have decided that you are not beyond saving. We are sending you on a mission of vital importance," Master Vash replied. She was a younger woman, in her late twenties or so. Her brown hair was pulled back in a sort of messy ponytail. She was well build, but she had more of a knowledgeable air to her.

"What is the mission?" Bastila asked trying to keep the hopefulness out of her voice.

"We want you to find a Jedi Knight who left our order long ago," Master Duncun explained. "She left during the Mandalorian Wars to join Revan and Malak. We fear that she is still alive in uncharted space."

"The exile?" Bastila inquired.

"The same," Vrook said with a nod. "When she left, the force had left her. Now, it appears that she has reestablished some form of a connection to it. We feel the dark side's presence growing in the outer rim, but it is twisted. It is nothing like the dark side that Malak fell to. If you find her, bring her back to the council, here on Coruscant."

"The exile has been missing for several years. How am I supposed to begin to find her?" Bastila said completely in shock. The exile had been missing for over four years. No one had heard or seen from her since she was exiled from the council.

"We have heard reports that she is on the planet Eagois. It's an ocean based world, as I'm sure you know. You will depart there immediately, with Jedi Master Revan with you as an escort," Master Kie replied.

"Revan?" Bastila asked with a smile. The joy of knowing her companion didn't last long. "As an escort or someone to make sure I don't turn?"

"We will not lie to you, Bastila," Vrook replied. "We need someone who understands what you're going through to keep an eye on you. And if matters take a turn for the worst, deal with you."

"I won't turn back!" Bastila assured them. "Revan wouldn't let me, as I didn't let him."

"We'll see," Vira said with a crooked smile. Vira suspected something more than partnership between Revan and Bastila. Sending him was more than a safety precaution, it was a test of their loyalty to the council.

"Revan knows of this assignment and has volunteered the Ebon Hawk to be your vessel." Bastila nodded. "May the force be with you."

"And with you, Masters," she replied.

"You may return to your quarters for now," Master Vrook ordered. "You will leave as soon as the Ebon Hawk is prepared

"Yes, master." With one final bow Bastila turned and left. She should consider herself lucky, but she didn't. The exile wasn't any regular assignment. This was a Jedi the council had hardly any facts about. Once she left for the wars all information was rumors. Some said she turned into a powerful dark Jedi, who now would raid any ships that came to her planet. Others said that she killed herself in shame for Malachor V. What the truth was, nobody really knew.

Bastila went over all the facts she had known about the exile from before the war. She had been trained as a Jedi on Dantooine, by Master Vrook. She had chosen to become a Jedi Sentinel. Bastila had been there the day Malak recruited her and several other Jedi. The promise of glory and honor had been enough for her. She gladly followed Malak and Revan into war.

She would have to ask Revan if he remembered her and if he did, what was her real name. Bastila sighed as she continued to mull in her thoughts, barely taking in what she saw. She was in a hallway with windows for walls. She had a beautiful view of the city she was in. The city was always active. There were always people doing something. Ships and speeders were always flying back and forth among the giant buildings.

Bastila didn't really care about the scenery. She had to worry about finding the exile. The planet Eagois was a dangerous one. Despite the fact that the two continents on the planet were small, they were also quite dangerous. There were all sorts of land-sea hybrid animals on those two continents. That was precisely the reason that Eagois was an outer planet. Only the poor and desperate lived there. Most of them were killed off by the local animals.

During the Jedi Civil War, that had just ended, Darth Malak had attempted to take control of the planet and use the creatures for the Sith. Unfortunately the Sith could not control them and many soldiers were killed.

This was clearly one of the reasons that Bastila was being assigned to this planet. They wanted to test weather or not she would be willing to place herself in harm's way for them, or if she would run like a Sith. She wouldn't give Vira or Aitris that satisfaction. She would find the exile and bring her back to the council.

Bastila looked around. She had been so busy in her own thoughts that she had completely forgotten where she was going. She had passed her hallway several paces back. With a slight groan, Bastila turned around and went towards her quarters.

She punched in the code to her lock and entered her room. It was nothing special. It had only the necessities of life; bed, desk, bathroom, small fridge, etc. She sat down on her bed and waited. It seemed as if that were all she could do until the council had decided as to when she should leave.

Bastila sat at the foot of her bed in silence. She was depressed. The council would never trust her, the same way again. The legendary Jedi Knight, Bastila, slayer of Darth Revan, was now just another Jedi who fell to the lure of the Dark Side.

"Revan," she whispered as she thought of him. She could remember her battles with him quite clearly. The first had been when he was still the Dark Lord of the Sith. She had been sent to capture him alive if possible. There had been four other Jedi with her at the time. She and Revan were the only ones to survive. After their battle on that day they were linked by the force.

There next battle had been on the top level of the Rakatan Temple. He had the assistance of two other Jedi at the time. Jolee Bindo, and old man who had joined the team on Kashyykk and Juhani was a young Jedi Cathar who trained on Dantooine. Bastila had easily over powered the two of them, but Revan was different. He fought on with the cunning skill of a true Jedi, yet he never struck to kill her.

Bastila had fled that battle. She decided to finish it on the Star Forge. Their battle there had been a one on one war. Bastila had used all of the dark powers of the Star Forge to her advantage. Even with all of the powers of darkness that had coursed through her, she still lost. Revan's strength of both will and body had defeated her. She had begged him to kill her. She had come close to attacking him again, so he would be forced to do it. Then he told her something, something she would never forget. "I love you, Bastila."

Those words had hurt her so much. When she heard them, the lightsaber fell from her hand. She had loved him, yet she turned against him, attempted to take his life and he still loved her. In that moment she had wanted to die more than ever. She couldn't bear to see the pain she had caused him. She couldn't look into his eyes without feeling the stabbing guilt.

In that moment Bastila cried. Ever since she had been little, Bastila never shed a tear. But there on the Star Forge she lost control. She fell to her knees and sobbed. Revan had comforted her. He held her close and forgave her for all the horrible things she had done.

As Bastila reflected on these memories she wished that the dark side had no power over her. She wished that she and Revan could be together and not fear the council or the dark side.

She knew this was just stupid wishful thinking on her part. It was not possible and it was pointless to dream about. For now all she could do was follow orders and try to regain her status among the Jedi order.

"Bastila?"

Bastila looked up. She hadn't even heard her door open, for she was so isolated in her own mind. Revan stood in front of her. She smiled up at him. He was a handsome young man. She had to admire him for that. At the moment his blue eyes were filled with concern.

"The council has given us permission to leave," he explained sitting down next to her. "We should leave soon."

"I know. It's just… I'm not sure that the council wants me to succeed."

Revan smiled as he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. "Of course they do. Bastila, you're talking to the most powerful Sith Lord to ever live. They took me back. Besides, you're one of their best," he said comfortingly, although he wasn't exactly talented at comforting others.

"I know that I was valuable to them, but that doesn't mean they need me."

"That's how the Sith think, Bastila. We're talking about the Jedi council. They won't kill you or cast you out. Master Vandar already believes you proved yourself loyal to the Jedi."

"Oh, don't try to make me believe a lie. Vandar isn't the Jedi order. He's just one Master," she said with a slight groan in her tone.

"We can do this, sweetie. The Jedi are fair and I promise you, they won't lose you, without losing me."

Bastila looked back at him, about to protest, before Revan pulled her in close and whispered into her ear, "Life isn't worth living, without you by my side." Bastila smiled. Revan could bring her unexplainable comfort, even when it looked like the end of the world.

"Alright. Let's go. The Hawk's ready." Revan said standing up and pulling her up with him. "You can do this. It's one renegade Jedi."

Bastila grabbed her lightsaber and attached it to her belt. She grabbed all of her weapons and gear that she could possibly need for this mission. With a nod she and Revan decided to leave. The two of them walked down the hall, side by side, but not hand and hand.

The hangar wasn't too busy today. There were all sorts of different ships and single men fighters in the hanger. Most of them were unattended, but a few individual ships and personal carriers, such as the Ebon Hawk, were being worked on.

Revan and Bastila ran up the loading ramp and made their way to the control room. Revan began to punch in the hyperspace coordinates into the navicomputer.

"Next stop, Eagois," Revan muttered. The ship picked up and rushed out of the hangar.

A/N: Well, what did ya think? Not much to say for the first chapter. Just R&R. Also, one thing I do want public opinion on, what color should Revan's lightsaber be. It's going to be blue or green. Give me your vote.

I know this is probably a very greedy request, but I'm going to request it anyway. If you're going to put this story on alert or add it as a favorite, please review at least the first chapter. Thank you