Hello! After a long hiatus in which I have seriously examined my reasons for writing, I started Reunions. In previous stories, I had my main character indifferent, uncaring and sort of detached. I realize now that while certain characters can be portrayed this way, the universe of Star Wars is not where such things happen. Everything that has happened or will happen in Star Wars is a product of emotion. I guess it was because of my tenuous mentality at that time. I felt so unmoved by the world in general so I made my characters in my own image.

I hope this has changed. I rewrote this one chapter so many times, this must be the fifth or sixth incarnation, because I wanted to put as much of my feelings into it as possible. I hope this will provide entertainment and interest for my readers and perhaps, it will make them think about issues which I may discuss. What these are, I leave to your interpretation.

Disclaimer: As always, Star Wars and all related products are the intellectual property of George Lucas and LucasFilm. KotOR and KotOR II are reserved by Bioware and Obsidian in conjunction with LucasArts. However the name of the Exile (Taryn Lanar) is mine. Any other disclaimers or claims will be made in future. I now leave it to you to read and review this story. Criticism appreciated, especially the constructive kind.

Prologue – Fugit Hora (1)

The Exile was leaving. Taryn Lanar was leaving. She was leaving. And no one was going to try and stop her. Not Admiral Onasi, of the Republic Fleet; not Visas Marr, former Sith; not Mira, former bounty hunter; not Mandalore, the stoic; no one.

She was going alone, taking only two droids who had once upon a time been the possessions of her objective. She wasn't even taking the ship that most of her recent travels had taken place on.

Goodbyes had to be said. Paths had to be followed. The past had to be laid to rest.

'Farewell Admiral, I hope the galaxy remains reasonably peaceful.' she said, with the deference to his rank evident, the shallowness of the comment inherent.

'Are you sure you won't stay, just for a few days? My wife and son will be returning from wherever they are soon, I'm sure they would love to meet you,' And maybe persuade you to take someone along with you... he thought.

'I'm sorry, Carth,' her tone was warmer, 'I have to go, something tells me an important event is going to happen soon, and I have to be there for it. Otherwise...' she let the word hang. 'Take care of the Hawk, Admiral. She's still Revan's ship.'
'You got it.'

He stepped back, still looking dapper in his dress uniform. Taryn took a moment to scan the crowd. There were Republic troops from the newly arrived fleet, clustered behind their Admiral. Over to the left, Onderonian military along with Zherron's militiamen from Dantooine. And on the right, a company of Mandalorians, she spotted Mandalore's silvery armour near the front, but he was conversing avidly with Kelborn about something or other. She was about to turn and board her ship when she spotted a shock of white hair near the back of the throng.

Making her way around the edges, she came to a halt four feet from the other. Yes, it was her, Atris. Staring at her feet, she looked up towards Taryn's face, the high cheekbones and full lips, and those eyes, the epitome of depth and hidden emotion, emotion that she had exposed to only three people. Atris was one of them. 'Um, hello, Taryn. I just came to see you off, and to say thank you, and to ask for your forgiveness.' She had cut her hair, the pure white strands fell to the nape of her neck, and she had a gauntness around the eyes, that told of the horrors of the Dark Side.

'Hello, master. I... did not expect to see you again so soon. I thought you would need more time, you know, for healing.'

'You still call me master?' she chuckled, 'I had to come and see you go. You saved me, after all I did. After the torture that the Council and I put you through.' she looked close to tears.

'I put myself through it. It was my fault. I should have seen the signs. But we were all caught up in Revan's wake. She held all of us in her sway. She was, is brilliant. I will find her, and hopefully together we can stop the onslaught that is to come. You are forgiven, Atris.' The older woman shuddered at the sound of her name.

'By the way, how are your handmaidens? I know they are still alive, and I called in the emergency as soon as the Ravager detonated.'

'They will be fine. They hold you in awe, you know. You defeated all of them at once. One of them especially wanted to come and see you. But I don't think they will forgive me so easily. N-not like y-you...' she broke down. Taryn embraced her, sharing all her sorrow and pain, drawing it from her. The woman was creating a noticable eddy in the Force. Hopefully she would be okay in time.

'Atris, you and I both know how easy the fall can be. But you are redeemed. Can't you hear the Force telling you that? The Jedi Order needs to be rebuilt. Some of those I've trained will be its foundations, but you can be a part of it too, if you want.'

'No, I don't think so, it would be exposing myself to temptation once more. I need time. You had time, and now look at you, I can't believe you could ever be tainted. I can't believe I ever thought that of you. Dammit! How can you forgive me so easily!'

A soft voice cut into their conversation, 'That's what I'd like to know as well.' Taryn started. Searching for the source of the voice, she spotted a figure in a heavy and unrevealing robe nearby. The figure lowered the hood of the robe. 'Brianna! You are alright, then?'

'Yes. I am. In body at least. I want to know how you find it so easy to forgive. She almost killed my sisters and me! I don't hate her, but I can't forgive what she did.' there was anguish in her words. Atris looked like she was near tears again.

'You have to let it go. Let the past go. No matter what someone has done, you must believe that he can be saved. That is the way of the Jedi. And you are one now. No one can say anything about it. Your parents would be proud.'

'Now that answers a lot of questions I didn't ask. Hey, you're okay, that's good.' That last was to Brianna. The Mandalorian-born bounty hunter clasped hands with the ex-Handmaiden, palm to forearm, then turned back to Taryn.

'Shouldn't you be going already? I mean, not to sound pushy or anything, but... y'know, you've said goodbye, like, a hundred times and you're still here.' The redhead grinned.

A small smile touched Taryn's lips. 'I was just saying goodbye to some special people.'

'Do I count?'

'Of course. What would I do without you?'

'Well, you wouldn't have gotten drugged on Nar Shadaa, you wouldn't have been followed by a seven-foot carpet trying to kill us, Visquis probably would've killed you when you were trying to get out of the labyrinth... Eh, have I forgotten anything?'

'I'm not sorry I got drugged by you. Otherwise, we wouldn't know each other. It doesn't matter what you did. Our experiences bring us together.' She gestured at Atris and Brianna, 'All of us.'

'I'll miss you.'

'So will I. And I'll always be here if you're ready for that talk.'

'Maybe I'll take you up on that when you come back. And that stuff about having a mother, I never knew her. I wouldn't mind having a sister though.'

Taryn gathered the three of them into her arms, knowing this would be the last time she touched them for a while. Then she released her grip, waved a final goodbye, and turned to her ship where it lay glinting in the sun.

She climbed into the silver ship and took off, leaving the massive station behind. Telos shrank as they sped away from it, and into hyperspace. So it was happening again. She was leaving for the farthest reaches of the galaxy. But it was different. She had the Force. And she was leaving friends behind. And she was looking for one.

(1) Fugit Hora - Latin - The hour flees.

Yes, I know, gender crossover. The Handmaiden is only available to male characters etcetera. However I found her so much more useful than the whiny scholar-soldier. And she's hotter too. (My opinion as a teenage guy.) I just can't stand Mical's voice. Sorry to Disciple fans. Also sorry in advance because he will not be in any part of this story no matter what the circumstances.