Chapter 2

- ~ -
The Leviathan, flagship of Admiral Karath, Sith Fleet

"You monster!" Morgana screamed. Even though it was hologram Carth winced at the fury in her expression. He had been trying to explain his reasons for defection. But she had rejected each and every one and the conversation degenerated into a bitter argument.

Carth shook his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. He felt flushed and his head was pounding viciously. At least this was happening in Saul's office, away from the attention of the crew.

"Morgana, you never appreciated what I was willing to do to protect you and Dustil. Even when it was the local militia you weren't happy," Carth tried, doing his best to lower his tone. Still he could hear the anger in himself. "The stakes are a lot higher now. If this is what it takes to keep you both safe, then this is it."

"Safe? You said yourself the Sith were evil! How could we ever be safe with them?" Morgana exclaimed.

"I have Admiral Karath's word," Carth began to which Morgana barked a laugh and shook her head in disbelief.

"The word of a man who betrayed the Republic? How much is that worth?" She sneered then. Carth looked at her and realized, sadly, he barely recognized the woman who regarded him with such contempt. "For that fact, how much is your word worth? Everyone is talking about this. Do you know how people are looking at me and Dustil?"

"It will be okay Morgana. Once we get you off - "

"No! I'm not leaving Telos, I'm not joining you in this insanity. And you will leave Dustil out of it. I don't even think he needs to see you again, I don't want him growing up knowing his father is a traitor!"

"You don't mean that - "

"In fact as far as he's concerned his father is dead. A good man killed by Saul and the Sith. He'll be far better off without you," Morgana hissed. Carth went silent stunned at what she was suggesting. She'd found the deepest way to cut him and did it with triumph. He gasped for a breath, unaware he'd stopped breathing at all.

"Not my son Morgana, that's too far!" Carth said. Tears burned at his eyes. The reality of it was hitting him. He was stuck in the Outer Rim as the higher ups were planning to bomb the Republic fleet. Morgana could take Dustil anywhere and simply disappear. Even if she stayed on Telos he couldn't set foot on it without being arrested and tried for treason.

"Goodbye Carth. I'm sorry I ever met you," Morgana said in a voice suddenly thick with emotion. For a brief moment hope flared in Carth and he thought there might still be a chance to convince her. Before he could speak she terminated the connection. Her face flickered and faded from the air.

"No!" Carth shouted. Anger consumed him and he balled his fist and struck out, slamming a punch into the bulkhead behind him.

Some time later and Carth was standing beside Saul on the bridge of the Leviathan. He had earlier paid a visit to the medical bay where a droid tended to a broken knuckle. There was a bandage taped into place. The stringent smell of kolto lingered in Carth's nose.

"I'll say simply that I'm sorry Carth," Saul said. And the man was, Carth could tell the sincerity in his words. Saul was smart enough to say no more though. Carth's anger had not yet subsided. Clasping his hands at his back the admiral turned and stared into the expanse of space. "I've been informed you are to be transferred."

"Transferred?" That cut through his anger. Carth turned his full attention onto Saul who sighed and nodded. "By whose order?"

"Lord Revan," Saul told him.

"Why?"

The look Saul turned onto him was unsettling. It was cold and unfriendly, and Carth swallowed hard trying to look back.

"Do not question the orders of our lords. We serve at their pleasure, never forget that Carth. There is a shuttle waiting for you in the hanger bay. Do not make Lord Revan wait."

Without another word, or even farewell, Saul Karath turned and walked away. The bridge was a flurry of activity. Soldiers were hard at work at their posts, messages were carried back and forth, there was a din of background noise from the ships computers. It was hardly quiet but Carth heard only the rush of blood in his head. The idea of a transfer away from the only two things he knew, his mentor and the Leviathan, was sobering. But that it had been demanded by Darth Revan struck fear into his heart. He knew the Sith lord been looking at him when they'd met. That blasted mask might have kept it from anyone else but Carth had felt her staring. What had she seen in his thoughts Carth wondered. Had she seen his doubts, was this a test, or - Carth froze. Or was this a death sentence?

As Carth turned and walked from the bridge he reasoned this possibly wasn't a bad thing. If Morgana was going to leave, and keep Dustil from him, then his betrayal had been for nothing. He gathered what few belongings there was from his quarters and made for the hanger.

"Captain Onasi?"

At the hanger there was a female dark Jedi waiting outside a sleek ship of a design Carth had never seen. His eyes traveled over the smooth lines of the hull, barely acknowledging the woman approaching him.

"She's a lovely vessel isn't she?" the woman said glancing at the ship then back to Carth. There was a smile on her face. "Wait until you see inside Captain."

"Is Lord Revan - " Carth gestured to the ship, but couldn't finish the question.

The dark Jedi shook her head and Carth really noticed her for the first time. She had a wealth of chestnut hair, woven into a braid, though a few tendrils had escaped and framed her pale face. Bright blue eyes looked at him expectantly. He blushed slightly realizing he'd been staring at her.

"Are you that eager to meet her?" she asked lightly, one brow arching. Carth could only stammer. He didn't want to lie but that was not a question he was prepared to answer honestly to a dark Jedi.

"Uh, I didn't catch your name," Carth said, something of a mumble.

"Eva," she told him.

"Darth Eva?"

Laughing Eva shakes her head. "No, not Darth. Just - Eva. I'm something of a secretary to Lord Revan. I run little errands and the like."

"You carry a lightsaber," Carth pointed out. At her hip a small silver hilt flashed in the light and she laid a hand over it.

"I'm not strong enough to be fully trained as an apprentice. But I'm still useful in my way, and Lord Revan does not allow talent to go to waste," Eva said. He worried his comment had given offense but Eva gave no appearance of being insulted. "Come, you should get a tour of the ship. You'll be her primary pilot."

The ship was state of the art, and briefly Carth forgot about Morgana, Dustil, even the ominous transfer from the Leviathan. Eva called it a Phantom, so far ahead of its time there were but a few in existence. And she made it clear to Carth it was one of Revan's favorite toys.

"Why me?" he asked Eva as they completed the tour.

"You have a reputation as the best pilot, as I said, Lord Revan does not let talent go to waste," replied Eva leading him into the cockpit.

"So, I'm to be Darth Revan's personal chauffeur?" Carth asked, unable to stop the words. Or the bitterness of them. Instead of the anger he'd expected Eva tilted her head and gave him a steady look. Resolving himself Carth kept his eyes on hers. He may have crossed a line but he wasn't going to cower.

"I can't speak to Lord Revan's thoughts Captain Onasi. But I doubt she plans to relegate you to her chauffeur. You're a decorated war hero with an impressive dossier. There's a chance, if you're willing to take it, to become more. You're own fleet perhaps? Admirals rank? What do you want, Carth?"

The familiar way she used his name threw him, and he shifted his weight. His thoughts turned to Morgana briefly, but lingered on Dustil. All the while Eva stared silently at him.

"Come Captain, let us get underway. Lord Revan is expecting you."