Peace out,

This chapter is set solely on Tatooine and corresponds with the hunt for the Krayt Dragon pearl and the end of Calo Nord.

Most of it is set between, what we see in the game.

Not more to say except:

Spoken words are indicated by ""

Most of the time thoughts are indicated by "" and written in cursive; except for the original scenes, there thoughts are written in cursive and bold, while the original dialogue is written in cursive.

Disclaimer: My feet smell strange and I definitely do not own Star Wars, KOTOR or any of its characters, all I own are my ideas in this story and I probably stole them from all over the place.

X

!Updated! Added a few more sentences to some parts and improved (hopefully) the editing!


X

You are my life, Bastila

X

Chapter 2

X

Tatooine, Krayt dragon's lair

X

"Derek, Derek. Where are you? Answer me."

She turned around to Juhani and Canderous.

"I don't see him anywhere; the explosion must have sent him flying."

She realized this probably meant that he was really hurt and felt her heart tightening in her chest.

X

"Are you sure? My Helmets visor was malfunctioning after the flash of the grenades, but he's not that stupid that he wouldn't get away from an exploding mine."

Canderous voice sounded unaffected, almost indifferent.

Juhani's vibrant, feline voice answered before Bastila regained her composure enough to do it herself.

"The dragon hit one of the mines that for whatever reason, didn't explode. Sending it flying back to us. Derek used the force to push Bastila and me away, then the mine exploded."

She growled in repressed anger.

"I don't know if he had time to get clear as well."

Looking at the other female Jedi, the Cathar girl asked. "Can't you sense him, through your bond?"

Bastila felt a tight band of fear tightening inside her, her heart felt like it was almost bursting from the pressure.

"No!" She cried quietly, sounding desperate even to herself. "I can sense he is still alive, but he must be unconscious, because I can not feel much else."

X

X

After almost half an hour of searching in the searing heat, they found his lightsaber and both Juhani and Bastila, could feel a weak manipulation of the force.

As it turned out, Derek was using the force to keep a small airtunnel open. where he was buried under a dune close by. Thankfully the bond was able to lead her to his exact location, now that he was at least partially awake and nearby.

X

Frantically Bastila's hands shovelled away at the sand. Moments later Juhani started digging beside her.

Canderous was standing apart from, keeping an eye on Komad Fortuna and their surroundings. In his armour, he seemed unfazed, neither by the heat, nor the calamity, their companion was in.

X

When the two Jeids finally reached Derek's upper body, buried under almost a meter of sand, he'd already lost consciousness again. Bastila grabbed his torso under both arms and pulled with all her strength, yet to no avail.

Only when she boosted her strength with the force, she was more successful and able to slowly pull him out of the sandy avalanche.

He was so still, lying before her, a big bruise covering half his face and a shard buried into his right thigh.

He was pale under the twin sunned tan, except for the dark bruise. His handsome features contorted under the strain.

For one moment she feared they already were too late. Then she could see the slight movement of his chest, under the light armour.

Carefully she checked for further wounds, but found none except two pretty banged up rips.

Gently her fingers traced the shape of the bruise in his face, before her hand almost involuntarily ran through his short, dark hair.

X

Juhani crouched down beside her and reached out to touch Derek's face as well, her face full of worried care and… something more.

The young Cathar Jedi looked at Derek with an expression of longing, an emotion Bastila easily recognized, having seen it on her face sometimes, when she saw her reflection in a mirror or water, catching herself thinking of the former Sith-Lord.

Without a conscious decision she slapped Juhani's hand away.

The young Cathar stared at her, looking hurt and angry.

Instantly Bastila regretted her harsh action.

"S-sorry Juhani. I just… I-I n-need to do this alone. Please.

He… I… we are…" Words failed her; she was unable to express the muddle of emotions in her heart. "Please." Was all she finally said.

X

The catlike Jedi, searched her face, then slowly nodded.

"Okay." She conceded. "But don't think he belongs to you. You are not the only one who cares for him." She hissed.

"D-don't be ridiculous, I don't think he belongs to me. It's nothing like that. I-I'm just more suited to healing than you, that's all. No-nothing more."

Juhani laughed a sound that seemed to turn into a purr in the end.

"You tell yourself that, Bastila. I harbour no such illusions; I know what I'm beginning to feel for Derek."

She laughed again. "I think the open approach will help me."

Wiping her hand on her robes she got to her feet gracefully and walked back to Canderous, a satisfied cat-like grin on her face.

For a moment, Bastila wanted nothing more than beat that grin off her face, then she breathed deeply and let go of her anger.

This was not her usual self, why was it so hard for her to stay unattached in his presence?

She looked down at the man who stirred all these emotions in her. Just like at the time when they repaired his mind and woke the Derek Belarion persona, his handsome features looked relaxed and calm.

"Why?" How could it be so easy for a former Sith to find inner peace and so hard for her?

X

Sighing, she took him in her arms again and pulling him up, so that his back was propped up on her body, she set on the task of healing his wounds.

She wasn't the best healer, but still she gathered her will and slowly send a force probe through his body, healing the damage in his body as best as she could. In the end she gave him a slight push through their force connection, hoping to wake him up.

It took some time until his eyelids started to flutter, then he jerked upright and spit out about a handful of sand and started coughing violently.

After he'd got his breath back he let his head sink against her again, and she cradled him, like before without even realizing it.

X

"Hi there, beautiful." he said weakly, but already with his usual mischievous smile on his face. "We have to stop meeting like this. People will talk."

"You moron! Must you always joke about everything?" she almost cried.

"I was so worried, because at first I couldn't find you, I thought you might be seriously hurt."

Rueful, he answered.

"Sorry, Princess. Believe me, it felt quite serious. But I'm sorry you were worried for me."

"I wasn't worried about you, but I don't know wether I can have the visions without you. That's what I'm worrying about."

He turned his head so that he could see her face. His eyes caught hers with a piercing gaze.

"Was that all you cared about?" His voice a mere whisper, but full of emotions.

His eyes seemed to bore right through her, she was unable to look away, as his gaze sliced a burning path straight to her heart

It began to beat furiously and a warm feeling spread through her body. Why should she fight this, when it felt this good?

Was she supposed to lie to him all the time? The truth was she couldn't imagine living without him any more.

X

"N-no, I… I thought I might lose you, that you could die before I found you. I was afraid; you would not look at me like this ever again…"

Her eyes filled with tears, no matter how much she fought them.

"D-Derek, I am afraid… I would not be able to go on without you. l… I need you at my side. And that frightens me even more.

His left hand moved to her face, catching her tears and wiping them away, before he caught her cheek. His eyes still looked at her, as if nothing else existed.

"I'll always be there Bas.' Nothing could keep me from you. I'd rather die than abandon you."

X

"No! Do not die! Never die! I will not allow you to."

She panicked at just the thought of losing him and cursed her weakness at the same time.

His hand started caressing her cheek.

"I'm not planning on it. I promise I won't leave you."

He reassured her.

She knew that it was in no ones power to keep a promise like that, nevertheless she felt safer with it.

"He is Darth Revan. Without his injuries and the work of the council, he'd still be a murderous monster. How can I feel so strong for him?

Stronger than our teachings would ever allow?"

X

"Give us a kiss, Princess?"

He asked in a bad imitation of a ruffian, interrupting her train of thought.

For a moment she was tempted very much to do so, wanted to know, if the kiss would be like how she fantasized about it.

She bent her head forward to his face, until her lips were just centimetres away from his.

Then duty won over want, and she merely grazed his brow with her lips.

"How about I will just continue to hold you for some time?"

He relaxed again against her, sinking into her warm embrace, and the feeling of her body against his back and her head rested on his shoulder, cheek against cheek.

"That's fine as well, Bas. But that doesn't mean I give up. I know you can't resist my winning personality forever." He smirked.

"You are unbelievable Derek."

She said, making sure to sound angry enough, even if her heart skipped a beat when she thought about his words.

Just where had her vaunted discipline gone to?

X

X

Half an hour later, Derek was back on his feet and working with some micro tools on his armour, trying to at least patch it up enough, that it would act as protection again.

The Twi-lek hunter Komad Fortuna had already left, after gifting Derek with one Krayt Dragon pearl.

Bastila watched the former "Sith Lord turned Jedi again" from a few paces away. He was concentrating on his work and made quick progress.

Yet at the same time he was having a casual conversation about the qualities of different types of mines with Canderous, already making jokes, about how some of them made Jedi fly. During the pauses in the conversation, he'd commed Carth and T3-M4 and checked if everything was okay at the Ebon Hawk.

She'd even heard him ask Mission, how Bastila's mother was holding up, obviously he'd given the young Twi'lek the task of keeping track of her.

X

Bastila felt a hint of anger at this; he was putting his nose into her personal problems again. She sighed resigned. He did mean well, even if she didn't ask for it.

It was just so hard for her to understand.

She couldn't help but treat others with reservation and so people experienced her as cold and uncaring.

All her teachings didn't help with this problem.

Yet Derek was a former Sith Lord and his charm still seemed to win everybody over.

People, herself included, opened up to him and told him about their worries and fears.

Not just his friends and companions on the Ebon Hawk, but complete strangers as well. Even her mother had turned to him for help.

And he promised to do it, even when Bastila couldn't bring herself to do it.

Just like he helped everybody, if it didn't involve any evil deeds.

People seemed to feel they could trust him, that he was somebody who would get out of his way to help them.

X

His conversation with Canderous ending, he was talking with Juhani now. The young Cathar Jedi hanging on his every word, watching him intently with her sparkling yellow eyes.

Bastila concentrated on her sense of hearing and listened to their conversation.

He was explaining the way he focussed on his positive emotions, to stop his anger from overtaking his reason and the Jedi Codex.

Yet besides the talking, Bastila could hear another sound, a low purr, emitted by the catlike Jedi.

The sound was almost hypnotic, awakening affection for the young Cathar Woman.

The reserved Jedi couldn't suppress the sharp sting of jealousy that ran through her.

True, Juhani had already faltered once, but she had no problem with the fact that she was feeling more than was appropriate for Derek-

X

Bastila forced herself to calm down, she tried to analyze her emotions for the forer Sith again.

She was worried, about him and for him. Worried that his old self might reawaken and the funny, gentle and caring person she learned to… respect might disappear.

Worried he might be hurt, by his much too bold actions.

Worried about the way she reacted to his gentle taunting and to the much more dangerous signs of his attraction to her.

And she was wondering about him as well.

Wondering if he was like Revan, before his fall and might be following the same dark temptations, that turned Revan from a promising, skilled Jedi Guardian to a ruthless Sith-Lord.

Wondering how strong his connection to the force, already almost frighteningly strong, would become.

But most of all she wondered, why he had been able to break through her carefully built shell of duty and dedication to the Codex so easily.

How he was able to sense the part of her that she'd suppressed so long, she almost believed it didn't exist.

How his smile and his warmth reached to the inner core of her being.

How he was able to see through all her masks.

X

At first she'd blamed it all on the involuntary connection she shared with him, since Revan's defeat. There might be some truth to that, but there was more.

They both seemed to complete each other, to become something more together than they were alone.

Was it really so wrong, that part of her wanted to be even closer to him? For a long time she'd denied her feelings, but it wasn't possible anymore.

She loved him, had probably already started to during his training in the Academy.

He'd proven time and again, that he had practically nothing in common with his former self. In all their adventures, even on Taris before he'd rescued her, then on Dantooine, Kashyyk and now Tatooine.

He was funny, brave, intelligent and compassionate. And Oh boy! was he goodlooking.

He was already so strong in the force that he surpassed all but the most experienced and powerful Jedi and his skill in wielding that strength improved in leaps and bounds.

And one look from his dark green eyes, one of these looks that reached deep inside her, made it clear that he felt the same love for her, she felt for him.

Obviously he wanted to act on his feelings and didn't see anything wrong with it.

Only her teachings and her willpower stopped her from giving in to his and hers, if she was honest, desire.

X

All this, fighting against her own wishes, the constant temptation she felt.

The immorality of what had been done to him.

Her own guilt about her part in it and the need to further lie to him.

All of it worked on her, grinding at her moral foundations.

If the Jedis chose ways like this, to reach their goals, if a feeling as pure and sweet and right as their feelings for each other, was wrong as far as the Jedi were concerned.

Then maybe the way of the Jedi was wrong.

She shirked back from this line of thought, frightened about the darkness in it.

X

X

Bastila was glad for the facemask she was wearing, not only did it enhance her sight and more, without having to resort to the force, but it had offered at least some protection against the unbelievable stench in the dragon's lair.

As if the dragon itself hadn't smelled bad enough, his waste products smelled a lot worse.

Still, they had found what they were after and Bastila felt… happy about it.

Even if she was undecided about giving it to her mother or keeping the holocron for herself.

X

Derek chose this moment to interrupt her thoughts, as if he wanted to make it easier for her.

He was on an emotional high again, like always when they'd found another map, another clue to their target.

"E chutta! What an interesting odour. I actually miss the underground of Taris; neither the Rakghoul, nor the Gamorrean's smelled as bad as this.

I wonder what Krayt Dragons eat to produce a smell that's so offensive."

Canderous laughed his hard laugh.

"They eat fools like you Jedis."

Derek gave him his lopsided grin.

"Well, then I'm almost sorry, we robbed the dragon his last chance for a meal.

Almost, because at least there was no really fresh… ehm… product to add to the rest."

X

He seemed to ponder something for a moment.

"I command that everyone has to take a shower, as soon as we are back, and don't stop before all traces of this stink are gone.

As commander of this ragtag band, I of course, get to go first…"

And looking at her with an exaggerated lewd look on his face.

Bastila, want to share the shower with me, to save time?"

"Certainly not."

His face fell into an equally exaggerated expression of defeat.

"You sure, Princess? It would have been so cosy."

Then his face lighted up again and he turned to Juhani.

"How about you, Juhani? Want to take Bastila's place?"

The young Cathar blushed furiously, so strong that even humans could recognize it. Before she could answer, Bastila interfered.

"No one is going to shower together. It's really not appropriate for a Jedi to be so frivolous or to fool around like this."

Derek's shoulders dropped and he let his head sink.

"Spoilsport."

Then, grinning at her once again.

"Jealousy your name is Bastila the Jedi Prodigy."

She huffed in embarrassement and aversion and hurried to walk a few steps ahead of him.

X

X

They were leaving the cave now, stepping from the musky shadows of the cave and into the glistening light of Tatooine's Twin Suns.

Their relaxed banter was interrupted, by an unexpected sight. A few gliders were positioned a short distance from the mouth of the cave.

Still sitting in them was a group of well-armed and dangerous looking ´Rodians and Trandoshan lead by someone familiar.

A well known and well hated voice called out to them.

X

"Í have to give you credit, you've led me on quite a chase. But nobody get's away from Calo Nord in the end.

You got lucky on Taris; the Sith attack saved you from a quick and gruesome death. But I promise you, the Sith won't get in my way this time."

Calo Nord. Somehow he survived the hell on Taris and even found a gang to menace them again.

Letting his twin lightsabers slip into his hands, Derek replied calmly.

"And I thought it were the Krayt Dragon droppings, that were stinking up the whole place."

He laughed, then became serious. His voice still calm, but with hidden steel in it.

"You think I got lucky last time? Okay, let's try it again."

Nord commanded his goons.

"Let's go boys! Showtime!"

X

As usual Derek instantly charged forward, his two green blades springing into existence. In long leaps he raced across the ground between his group and Nord's bounty hunters.

Nord had brought eight aliens with him, yet since they all fired as fast as their blasters allowed, most of them using two weapons at once, they still let loose an awesome hail of energy bolts.

But each leap changed Derek's position randomly and the bolts that came near were blocked or reflected, with a quick and efficient grace that made it look easy.

Canderous ran to the left in a crouched posture, firing an impressive barrage of shots out of his repeating blaster.

Bastila and Juhani, despite their differences, moved in an almost scary consonance. Juhani's single blue blade and Bastila's double bladed yellow lightsaber deflected all the shots missing Derek that got close to the two female Jedis. While they both ran at a quick pace behind their fellow Jedi.

X

He had already covered most of the distance between him and the bounty hunters. The last 10-12 metres he crossed in one great jump.

Still in the air, his lightsabers swung inwards and down. Cutting off both arms of one of the trandoshans in one swoop.

Derek somersaulted to the right, extending his leg to let it smash down on the head of a rodian.

At the same time Canderous dropped the first of his targets, hitting him multiple times on limps and body.

Slowly advancing toward the male Jedi, Nord's quick shooting stopped his enemy in his tracks. Derek had to concentrate on deflecting his bolts instead of advancing towards his opponent.

X

Meanwhile Juhani and Bastila reached the battle. The Cathar Jedi crossed blades with two of the Trandoshans who'd chosen to stick their blaster pistols back into their holsters and instead wielded two heavy Vibroswords.

Bastila send two bounty hunters flying with a force push and dived forward into a roll, coming up in front of Derek.

She covered him from Nord's bolts with her own lightsaber, leaving him free to attack the famous bounty hunter.

The dark haired JedI Guardian leapt straight up, over Bastila and her twin blades, somersaulting forward at the apex of his jump perhaps five to six meters in the air.

He turned his green blades in his hands so that they now extended downward from his fists, while he was flying in a sharp arc above Nord's head.

The bounty hunter raised his blaster pistols to follow Derek's movement, always missing by just a few centimetres.

This provided Bastila the opportunity to close the gab between them.

X

Derek landed directly behind Nord, dropping to a crouch, instantly ramming his arms backwards and up. His lightsabers stabbed through both of the bounty hunter's knees from the back.

Nord dropped to his wounded knees and could only watch in horror, as the right blade of Bastila's lightsaber sliced through his neck, severing head from body.

And just like this the fight was over. Juhani had downed both her opponents and Canderous had killed the last enemy standing.

Taking slow, deep breaths, Derek tried to come down from the un-Jedi-like rush of the fight. He deactivated his lightsabers and clipped them back on his belt.

Looking up, he saw Bastila, watching him, a strange expression on her face. When she noticed he'd seen her, she smiled and held out her hand to help him on his feet.

X

"Thanks Bas." He said, not letting go of her hand.

"I wouldn't know for what you could thank me? Helping you stand up?"

"Of course not, although I appreciate that as well. No, for shielding me from Nord's attacks.

From this short distance, he'd pretty much pinned me down.

And your finishing blow came in handy as well."

"There is no need to thank me, Derek. I only did my duty to a fellow JedI."

Sobered, he let go of her hand, replying in a bitter voice.

"Yeah, duty! You're all about duty. Ain't you? Duty and the codex. The codex and duty. Fine!"

X

X

They both were interrupted when they heard new blaster shots.

Turning around, they saw Canderous shoot the rodian, who had been hit by Derek's boot, twice in the head.

Perfectly placid he walked over to the armless trandoshan and shot him as well, for good measure.

X

An Instant later Derek was at the warrior's side, taking the blaster from his hand and throwing it away.

"What in tarnation are you doing? Are you crazy?"

Canderous' hand shot forward, gripping Derek's throat.

"Are you crazy?" He asked, dangerously calm. "You don't touch me or my weapons."

Juhani ran over to them, lightsaber ignited, ready to attack the mercenary, but was stopped by Derek's hand signalling her to halt.

Bastila followed slower, noticing in horror, that Canderous had already killed the two bounty hunters, she'd knocked out earlier.

"Let go!"

Derek's voice was as cold as the void between the stars.

X

"Not before you understand…"

X

"Let. Me. Go! I said."

X

Canderous' loosened his grip.

"Fine."

X

Derek's green eyes seemed to have lost all of their warmth.

Bastila shuddered inwardly at the cold glare he emitted.

"Explain to me what you were doing? Because it sure looked like you were killing helpless men here."

Canderous was unimpressed.

"Every living enemy is a threat. I just made sure we didn't have to worry about them any more."
Derek seemed dangerously calm, but Bastila noticed a slight tremor in his right arm. Probably unnoticeable by anybody without the higher perception of a Jedi.

"Look, Canderous. When you became part of our crew, you knew that I… that Bastila and I were leading this mission. No matter what I think, about what you did. And I think it's terrible. I understand your reasoning. From a cold-blooded, merciless and inhuman point of view. But you have to understand this. I will never, never allow you to kill helpless enemies again. You accept this or you leave instantly."

Canderous stared at him for quite some time, showing no emotion behind his helmet.

"Fine. Fine. It's your show. I'll do it like you want it, for now. Just don't ever touch me again, without permission."

Derek answered nothing; he just kept his cold eyes trained on the other man.

Then he extended his hand and Canderous' blaster pistol flew into his hand. Holding it at the barrel, he offered it to the soldier.

Canderous' took it, nodded and put it back in his holster.

The big man turned away and began to search the dead men's equipment.

"I'm already finished anyway!"

The Mandalorian snorted derisively.

Derek looked at his back, not moving. Not dignifying the mercenary's remark.

The cold anger was alreadygone from his face, replaced by… guilt?

X

Turning his eyes from the warrior, he looked at the dead around him.

When his eyes met hers, Bastila saw it clearly. He was feeling guilty.

He stood there, motionless, rigid, forlorn.

Part of her wanted nothing more than to go to him and ease his pain, but once more she recited the codex to herself and overcame the silly notion.

Obviously someone else thought different about it, because Juhani was approaching Derek carefully.

Placing her hand on his shoulders in a calming gesture, she asked sympathetically.

"Are you okay?"

He shook his head.

"No, not really. I know what kind of man Canderous is. He has his own kind of honour, but he is both merciless and ruthless.

Even though they were our enemies, I should have protected them.

If I hadn't been concentrating on myself that much, I could… could have…I-I…"

He stopped, a painful, long sigh escaping his lips.

Hesitatingly Juhani's hand reached out to him and caressed his face.

The dark haired Jedi eyed her curiously, but didn't shy away.

Encouraged by this, the Cathar stepped closer and pulled his head on her shoulder, embracing him gently.

Soon he relaxed his tense body a bit and hugged her back.

The Cathar felt shivers running down her back at his touch. She began to purr instinctively and let her head rest against his.

After one or two minutes he gently broke her embrace.

Smiling warmly at her, he simply said.

"Thank you."

She blushed, so strong once more that it was even visible through her fur and turned her face away from him.

"Y-you are welcome."

X

"Would it be possible for you two, to concentrate on getting back to the Ebon Hawk? We have what we came here for and personally I would rather leave this planet as soon as possible."

Bastila's face was as arrogant as ever and her voice cool and unattached, none of the envy she felt, was recognizable.

"We can go back to Mos Eisley to meet your mother, but we still have some tasks to do before we leave Tatooine."

Quietly the three Jedis followed the Mandalorian, who was already hotwiring one of the bounty hunter vehicles.

X


X

A.N. This chapter was slightly shorter, the next two will be longer again.

As always. The crappy editing isn't my fault, it's what the site turns my scripts into. I do my best to keep the stories still readable. Alone this chapter took ages to be fixed.

Please be so kind and review. I welcome every review, especially the negative ones. How am I suppossed to get better when no on tells me what I'm doing wrong?

Even flames are okay, I might lecture you on international trade agreements afterward, but I'll accept your flaming...