Continuation Chapter 2 Edited Version
Sister
The sun had almost faded from view, but its golden rays still shone dimly, enough to illuminate the saddened face of the former Sith Lord that stood on the pinnacle of the temple tower. Revan stared at the ocean, unmoving, the pain in her eyes evident as her frown deepened.
"Life is like the ocean, beautiful yet unpredictable." She whispered.
Bastila studied Revan; her stoic pose and the emotions that she barely held back. Revan felt her probing, but said nothing of it. The slight caress with the Force from her bond mate was comforting enough in its own way.
"You still love him." Bastila stated. "No matter what you said to him back there."
Revan remained quiet. Bastila added. "You're doing this because you do, not because you don't."
The taller woman's gaze returned to Bastila. A small smile appeared on her lips. "Sometimes I wonder if I should despise you or the bond between us. You read me like a book."
Bastila chuckled. "I can't read you like a book. It's just … obvious, to me that is. Since your face is scrunched up like a kinrath pup's. "
Revan laughed. The first genuine laugh that anyone had probably haven't heard in a long time "Not funny. That was my line!" She smiled at the younger woman.
But her partner resumed a stern look, silently demanding for a confirmation.
And Revan gave in.
"Fine, fine. Don't need you hounding me for the rest of my life. But you swear, you must not tell him about it. That man has enough paranoia to fill any planet."
Bastila nodded.
Revan tapped her own forehead, searching for the right words without making herself look like a confused child, which she certainly felt like at the moment.
After a deep breath, she breathed out.
"I'm scared, Bastila."
Bastila's expression was of disbelief and appal. Revan had never shown fear in battle, nor have she openly admitted it.
"I don't want him to be hurt, just because of me.
"Your fall was only known amongst Jedi. Mine…need I say more? I've made enemies through out my whole life, it seems. And even more during my reign as Dark Lord. There are many who would want me dead, or suffer in any way possible. The Sith will never forgive a traitor. I will be hunted down until I'm dead."
Her companion listened in understanding silence.
"Honestly, I don't mind the hatred, or the danger I'm in. I deserved it, in any case. I'm not afraid for myself. I'm just afraid for Carth." She paused. "Think about it, Bas. The most painful way to hurt me would be to hurt Carth. He doesn't deserve any hostility just because of me. He's done no wrong." Revan looked at her friend. "He has so much to offer, but I have so little to give. Perhaps just warmth in his bed –"
"But-" Bastila attempted to cut in, but stalled when Revan raised her hand.
"Emotional damage is far worse than physical damage, Bas. Force forbid, but if anything happened to him, or any of you, I don't think I can handle it. Not now."
The shorter Jedi stood there in silence, contemplating the things she just said. Revan glanced at her bond mate for a moment, and continued. "I'll just tarnish his reputation anyways, perhaps breaking what's left of the relationship he has with his son. It'll do more good than bad to leave him, Bastila."
Bastila finally nodded, and rested her hand on Revan's shoulder. "If you think that is best for him. But in my opinion, you should ponder if it is best for you too, my friend. Do not think that we do not see your struggles."
A short chuckle came from the former lord. "I seriously need to buff up my force skills."
Damn you, Revan, for being a complete soft-hearted moron. Where is that legendary calmness and brilliance that people keep mentioning? Was it all just a fluke, like how you are now?
It felt better, to finally talk to someone about what she had decided upon. The sleepless nights she went through, trying not to let her thoughts wander back to the days when they were all at their happiest; or trying not to sense the anger and disappointment that was radiating from Carth's room enough to drive any Force sensitive crazy with all the emotions running about.
But she knew her problems were not the biggest at the moment. Looking at Bastila, she noted the telltale strands of white hair appearing near her friend's temples. The recent events had not been kind to her younger colleague. Malak's torture and her subsequent fall to the dark side had left its mark on her. Bastila had been having nightmares, projecting it in their bond without realising it. And Revan sought not to mention about it, respecting the younger Jedi's need for privacy.
The silence broke once again when Bastila asked, "What will you do once we return to Coruscant?"
Revan snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her for a moment before registering what she had said. "I don't know. Life's not going to be easier, that's for sure. It's the beginning of a whole new journey for me right now." She paused. "I've thought about…trying to regain some of my memories. But I doubt that it's a plausible idea. I do not know what might happen."
The former Sith noticed Bastila's left eye twitched a little at the mention of her past. She understood this from the time they've journeyed together that this was a sign that the woman was agitated or uncomfortable. It was so easy to read each other's movement nowadays, even without the aid of the bond between them.
"I…I suppose it is the same for me. If I had not been weak…So many have died…because of me."
"Shush, Bastila, shush. What's done was done." Guilt. How this emotion had managed to break down the stoic, proud Jedi she met on Taris baffles her. The seemingly unmovable Jedi princess, has finally been broken.
But to what extent?
Revan sighed as she patted Bastila's small shoulder. "What we can do now is to make amends for the things we did. It won't erase the past, but at least we have the future to look forward to, eh?"
Really, Revan? Do you truly believe that there will be a future for you? It may work for others, but never forget, you are the reason the galaxy is in its state right now.
Bastila nodded, tears in her eyes, but the glimmer of hope evident in them. Revan envied her for being able to still trust that there will be a life for her in the future; she wished she could do the same.
"I consider you as a sister, Bas. We've been through thick and thin together. It makes sense if we continue to fight for ourselves together now, and in the future."
The next thing that Bastila did could probably be said to be the most shocking thing she'd seen the smaller Jedi do in the time they knew each other. Bastila moved forward and held her in a tight embrace, one to which Revan had no idea how to respond to. In the end, she managed to come to her senses and returned the gesture.
"And I you, sister." Bastila muttered.
When the younger Jedi released her, Revan had a small smile on her face. There was understanding between them now. Perhaps the barrier that was once constructed between them was no longer. It was comforting in many ways to know that despite the revelation of things and the inability of hers to adapt to the situation, there was someone she could rely on.
Revan suddenly felt a presence she knew too well, and gave Bastila a wink, before facing the direction of the source of the presence.
"Shame on you, you old man. I never knew you liked to listen to girl talk."
A short snort and a low growl later, Jolee emerged from the doorway, looking disgruntled at being discovered. "Haven't anyone taught you about manners, lass? You should respect your elders!"
Revan laughed out loud. "Ha! Respect for the eavesdropper, you say?"
"Now you-"
"Don't need to get your knickers in a notch, old man. I was just joking."
Jolee huffed and crossed his arms on his chest, eyeing the two women critically. "The Council sent me to let you young ones know that they want to see you. Sent me as a message boy. Hmph. What will they have me do next? Take a shower?"
"It's time? I didn't expect them to want to see us so soon." Bastila was evidently nervous.
Revan rested her hand on Bastila's shoulder again and gave her a slight squeeze. "I thought they'd want to deal with this soon enough."
She walked through the corridors of the star ship with Bastila. The echoes from their boots hitting onto the floor were grating to her ears, but she pushed the feelings aside. There were lack of soldiers and Jedi on board, making the empty corridors seem foreboding.
They came to a metallic orange door and looked at it for a moment before glancing at each other for a moment. Bastila gripped Revan's hand in reassurance. "Now or never."
They cannot turn back.
"Now or never." Revan muttered, and stepped forward into the room once the door opened.
Revan walked straight to the middle of the hall and bowed. Bastila followed suit. There were surprisingly quite a number of Jedi Masters in there. Some who came to aid in the attack on the Star Forge, and some who came purposely for this meeting.
All eyes watched them, studied them. Revan sensed disdain from some of them, but paid no attention to it. After bowing, she spoke, "You asked for us, Masters?"
