A month had passed and they had arrived on Telos. Their ship's crew had been reduced by half. Mandalore rejoined the Mandalorians on Dxun and had taken HK-47 with him at Ariane's request. She knew he'd be happier with the battle loving Mandalorians instead of hanging around peace loving Jedi. GO-TO and Mira had returned to Nar Shadaa and Disciple to Dantooine. Now there only remained Bao-Dur, T3, Atton and Visas, who insisted she stay with Ariane until she left for the Outer Rim. Atton had rented an apartment and spent most of his time meditating. Ariane had yet to let him know what it was she wanted him to do, but as long as she didn't he knew he had more time with her. Meditating he felt connected fully with the Force. He felt her. In these moments the thought of her leaving didn't torment his mind. An hour passed in peaceful silence, but something began to cloud his mind. A small bit of sadness crept in and hung around the edge of his thoughts. Suddenly the door beeped signaling a visitor and interrupting his concentration. Atton's heart flip-flopped in his chest. He opened the door and she was there. He felt like he was sinking.
" Bao-Dur said you would be here." Ariane said.
" Uh, yeah, come on in. We've been working hard bringing in all the fuel shipments. I just needed a little break."
Her eyes traveled the room. "You've been meditating."
" Yeah," he replied softly.
She gave a small smile and sat on the floor in the spot he had just vacated.
" I've taught you all I can. All I know. I've even learned a few things from you. You are a full Jedi Knight. Master, if you wish to be." There was pride in her voice. " I want you to know, you are Jedi. You are who you are now, not who you were. I trust you more than anyone."
" Even Disciple?" he couldn't hide the note of jealousy.
' Come meditate with me' He heard her call to him through the Force. He sat across from her and as he closed his eyes he could hear her whisper 'There is no emotion.'
He sent his reply ' there is peace' As they continued with the Code he began to feel her presence fully through the Force. It felt like a warm current running through his veins as they continued on to distant people and places, searching and reaching through the Force. Voices grew more and more distant and soon the only sound he could hear was their own life forces pulsing. The warm current began to envelope him slowly and deeply and he felt himself slip into her mind, something he had never been able to do before. She was letting him in. She........ 'She knows' he thought ' she knows I love her.' That knowledge ran through the current flowing in and around his body. He felt her lace her fingers through his and her breath whispered across his lips.
" Atton, I need you....."
He waited and when she didn't continue he opened his eyes slowly. She was only inches from him and her other hand came up to caress his cheek. He could feel the current grow even stronger as it flowed through and around both of them, seemingly tying them closer and closer together.
' I need you' It was an echo in his mind. Something she had said..... something they had both said. Her face.... her lips were so very close. He pulled her to him, their lips met and the current consumed them wholly and they were caught up in the rush of it. Their clothing vanished in a flurry of movement. He found himself buried deep inside her without knowing exactly how, only that the connection went past that of their flesh and into their minds, into the Force. They spent the rest of the night exploring each other, loving each other, until finally satiated they fell into a deep sleep and Atton understood the meaning of serenity.
.........................................................................
In the early morning hours a lone droid was at work on the docks. T3-M4 was continuing with minor repairs. " Bee, beep dee doot?" the droid hear a noise behind him.
"It's time, T3. Bring up the coordinates, and there's something else I need you to do for me."
" Bee bee boo-ooo." came the reply.
.........................................................................
Atton slept peacefully for the first time in many years. He could feel himself waking and with conciousness he suddenly felt as if something were missing. A slow sadness crept into his mind. Someone was crying. Was it him? His eyes fluttered open and he reached out to pull her to him. Panic slammed him in the chest as he felt only emptiness. He grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around his waist, then ran from his apartment as fast as he could towards the docks. His mind screamed for Bao-Dur and Visas to meet him there. Atton felt as if his feet had turned to lead and time was slowing. Even with Jedi speed he couldn't run fast enough. Bao-Dur came into view.
"Where is she?" Atton gasped.
Taking only one confused second to survey Atton's attire he immediately turned to the dock's computers. "Docking Bay 2B"
Atton took off down the hall. He reached the airlock and could hear engines readying for takeoff. ' No! No, no, no, no, NO!' his mind cried to her. She didn't answer.
The second airlock opened just as Visas and Bao-Dur arrived. A loud blast blew everyone back momentarily but Atton scrambled to his feet and ran after the ship until he reached the force field. Sinking to his knees he watched the boosters kick in and carry the ship past the atmosphere.
Something brushed his shoulder. A robe.
" It was time" Visas stated quietly as he slipped into the clothing she had brought for him.
" Bee dee deet."
"She left T3." Bao- Dur said. "He has a message for us."
T3-M4 wheeled next to Atton and projected a holovid in front of him. It was her.
"My friends, we knew this day would come. T3-M4 has given me the co-ordinates to the Outer Rim. I will join Revan there and try to stop whatever is threatening the Republic. I have left the Ebon Hawk for you. Please continue to look after the key worlds and begin searching for any that can fight. We may need them soon if this growing threat can't be stopped from invading Republic space. Bao-Dur, please look after T3. He's a good and loyal droid and I know the two of you will work together well."
' I will do as you command, General.' Even through the Force his voice was soft.
"Visas, join Disciple on Dantooine. You are ready to teach others. Show your padawans the same love and devotion you have shown me."
' My life for yours, Master.'
" You will all still feel our bond through the Force and through that we will never truly be apart. I love you all. Until I return, may the Force be with you." With that her image faded.
Atton heard the airlock open and close, knew he was alone, but couldn't bring himself to move. Confusion held him rooted to the spot where he had fallen to his knees. His mind raced with so many questions. Why had she come to him, made love with him, when she knew she was going to leave before the morning? Why hadn't she told him? Why hadn't she left any message for him?
' There is no emotion' he heard clearly as if it were his own thought, but it was hers.
' There is peace' he sent back to her. He suddenly felt her smile as if his own lips were curving upwards and knew their night together had been a gift to him. They were connected deeper than their other companions and he would always feel her as if she were curled up inside of him, her living through him, and he living through her.
" Bo dee beet dooop." The droid came from behind a stack of plasteel cylinders.
" What?"
" Bo dee beet dooop." he repeated as another holovid appeared.
" Atton, you have been my trusted friend, companion, Padawan and lover. Ever since I found you in that holding cell on Peragus I knew you would be a Jedi, even if you couldn't see it in yourself. I am sorry I had to leave now. I couldn't bear to say goodbye. I hope that I found a way not to, a way we can be together even if we are galaxies apart. I hope I will always be here with you......... playing Pazaak." He smiled at the familiar words and closing his eyes he reached out to tell her through the Force. She had found a way. She always found a way.
