Prologue

Kashyyyk.

Bastila threaded carefully over layers of leaves, roots and mold. Their presences had stirred up the creatures of the forest. Tachs squeaked and ran off in different directions, but the shy creatures were careful not to stray too far into the darkness, where the predators waited for anyone foolhardy enough to challenge their presence.

The air was damp, almost stale. There was no wind, no sunlight, just dense darkness and a constant feeling of being observed by hungry fangs and sharp claws.

Revan, who was leading the way, stopped and turned towards his two companions. Canderous smelled in the air, his lip curling.

"I sense them too," Revan murmured and ignited his lightsaber.

The battle was intense, but swift. Canderous heavy blaster, drumming in the background as Bastila and Revan, side by side slashed their lightsabers against the oncoming predators.

"Another enemy dead…" the Mandalorian murmured, supporting his enormous gun on his shoulder. "We better move on, chief."

The scarred warrior was talking to Revan, of course. Though Bastila was in charge of their mission, she knew no one among the Ebon Hawk's crew considered her to be their leader. She wiped perspiration from her forehead. The humidity stuck on everything down here.

"Come on, Bast," Revan called. He and Canderous had already started walking. "Don't fall behind."

Bastila took a deep breath and slowly began following them. She wondered if Revan even had the faintest idea of where his leadership talents sprung from. However much Bastila wanted – needed – to think of him as Arden Kane, former soldier in the Republic army, she couldn't. They had been traveling together for only month, still Arden's powers had grown immensely. She was surprised by how very little suspicion he had shown – unlike their reputable pilot.

"Bastila!" Revan called again, impatiently. "We have to move."

She ran a few meters and fell in behind Revan and Canderous. As they walked, the Mandalorian slowed his step for a moment so that he walked side by side with her. She instantly knew what was coming, judging from the unmistakable, sardonically amused expression on the warrior's face.

"So, Bastila, humor me…" he began lowly. "I heard a rumor that the Vulkars captured you without much of a struggle. It must be embarrassing to be bested by a handful of street thugs."

She replied a little too hastily for her words to carry weight, "There were extenuating circumstances. And I can assure you it took far more than a handful of Vulkars to subdue me." Bastila quickened her step to keep up with Revan, hoping that the Mandalorian had had his fun with her and would leave it at that.

Revan swiveled around, looking at Canderous. "Okay, let's not get into this," he said in a failing attempt to steer away any confrontation between the two.

Canderous shrugged, adjusting his blaster to a more comfortable position. "Whatever you say. All I know is that if we had more Jedi like Bastila fighting against us in the Mandalorian Wars, my side might not have lost."

Bastila quickly bit off, "Bold talk from a broken-down mercenary who was serving at Davik's heel. I'd call you his pet kath hound, but they have enough loyalty not to turn on their masters." She cocked her head and took half a step in Revan's direction, urging

them to move on.

Behind her, Canderous chuckled. "Insults?" He lowered his voice. "Maybe if your Master had trained your lightsaber to be as quick as your tongue you could have escaped those Vulkars, you spoiled little Jedi princess!"

The words echoed in her mind. Bastila exhaled slowly, forcing away the angered comments that surfaced in her mind. She turned slowly and met Canderous icy gaze. He had no manner of respect to offer her. This… brute respected nothing but brainless brutality, something she would never willingly submit to. She flared, "I was not spoiled! I was given the same training as everyone else in the Order! You are nothing but a..." she silently berated herself. "No. I must not do this. There is no emotion; there is peace."

Canderous snorted, "That's the problem with you Jedi. Always chanting about peace and control, never up for a good fight." Canderous watched her expectantly, smiling superciliously. "Well, except for Revan, I guess," he amended

Fun's over, she thought to herself. "Enough, Mandalorian. I won't rise to your bait any more. The game is over. Let us continue on with what we were doing." Bastila realized that the civility she had put in her voice was turned to ridicule by her previous outburst, but cared not. She had more important things to worry about.

But as the expedition continued, she found herself thinking more and more on Canderous' words. However superficial and dumb his comments were, something about what he said had stuck itself in her mind. And just like an itching insect's bite one can't resist scratching, Bastila kept thinking.

Spoiled little Jedi princess. Perhaps Canderous was right. But had she really been spoiled? Definitely not. Favored? Maybe. Either way, passed events had always placed her in the center of attention.