Disclaimer- I do not own the rights to Star Wars Kotor 1 and 2 or their characters and likeness.
Ch 4
A cold chill ran down his spine as Andrew blinked his eyes open, looked around, and instantly realized that he was once again standing in the dark plane that recently had enveloped his nightmares. It was almost the same never-ending emptiness that he experienced previously, except this time in the distance he could see a grey structure of some kind. Unclipping the lightsaber attached to his belt, Andrew slowly moved towards it. As he got closer he discovered that the formation was a giant stone bridge. Andrew got right up close to the structure and as he put his hand on the side face of the bridge to feel the smoothness of its surface he started to think to himself. "This is strange. I've never seen this bridge in my dreams before, but yet somehow it seems familiar to me." Suddenly Andrew heard the static of a lightsaber being activated above him. He quickly jumped backwards prepared to fight, however, what he saw turned his heart to ice and froze him in place. On top of the bridge was the dark hooded figure that Andrew had now grown accustomed to seeing, but on the other side of him was his wife. They were in a heated duel between each other and Brianna was losing. All of her combat techniques and maneuvers were noticeably slower than normal, due to her enlarged stomach impairing her movement. She tried slashing and swinging at every opening she thought she had, but each strike was parried back at her with ease. Andrew clenched his fist around his lightsaber feeling a deep rage fill up inside of him. "He's just toying with her" he thought to himself. "I need to help her." However, just as Andrew was about to run forward his legs locked up. Just like last time he could not move and was forced to stand there and watch. Brianna fought to keep her guard up, but in the end it was to no avail. The figure deflected one of her blows to the side and took the opportunity to cut the top part of her lightsaber hilt off its frame. The young soon to be mother was now defenseless. Without missing a beat the dark figure grabbed her by the arm, pulled her in, and wrapped his own arm around her neck so she couldn't get away. Andrew's heart was no longer frozen with fear, but now beating wildly with anxiety. Within Brianna's eyes was a fear that Andrew had never witnessed before, he wanted so badly to come to her aid, but alas there was nothing he could do and he knew the inevitable was soon to come. The figure turned so both it and Brianna could face downwards to look at him, and then spoke out with a raspy tone almost mimicking the sound of a wandering spirit. "You brought this on yourself exile. Your arrogance will be your downfall, and in the end you'll only have yourself to blame."
"Who are you , what have I done to you to warrant such threats of wrath?"
"Ones that so readily dismiss their actions in the past, are sure to have a destructive future." "I find it humorous that a man with so much power, still does not have the strength to the save the ones he loves." The figure then arched his saber and jammed it right through Brianna's back.
"NOOOOOOO!" Andrew shot up in bed drenched in sweat and heavily panting.
Suddenly he felt cool sleek arms wrap around his neck and a calm whisper in his ear. "Shhhh, sweetheart it's ok...it's ok, it was just a dream. You're here now with me." Andrew pulled away and looked into the concerned eyes of the woman he loved so dearly. Brianna was alright. He quickly linked his arms around her once again and held her as close to him as could. He needed to feel her warmth make sure fully and completely that he was truly back in reality. Brianna didn't move much, she simply rubbed her hand on his back in a circular motion and continued to talk to him softly and sweetly to soothe him. "Do you want to tell me what happened this time in your dream, it might make you feel better." Andrew didn't respond, he gave a slight shutter which made Brianna break their embrace and look at him with even more concern. "Andrew what are you not telling me? Please sweetheart let me be here for you, remember you and me stand side by side against all obstacles."
"You died." Andrew shakily breathed. "You were fighting...fighting the dark figure, but he was too strong for you. He killed you right in front of my eyes."
Brianna's eyes widened and she placed both her hands on his cheeks so that he could focus on her. "Hey look at me. I'm fine, the baby is fine. No matter how bad your dreams seem, they can't harm us."
"I'm not so sure." There was a slight pause between them. "Bastila was right these are not dreams, they're visions. At first I thought this dark entity was simply toying with my mind, but now I see that it legitimately wants to see me suffer. It is threatening you, because it knows it will get to me."
"I'm sorry that your going through this. I wish there was a way that we could figure out this thing's identity, then we could deal with it properly and you wouldn't have to have this darkness looming over your head all the time."
Andrew sat quietly for a few moments thinking on this, and then his eyes widened in realization. "Maybe there is a way."
"What do you mean" Brianna asked slightly confused.
"Our force enlightenment power, that is the key. When I talked to Kreia earlier today, she said before I split my power in half the force and I were virtually one and the same. I believe if we use the full extent of that power we can hone in on where this dark figure is emulating from. Maybe if we're lucky we'll also find out what his, her, or its identity is.
"That sounds great, but how do you plan on doing that. You said it yourself this power has been split in half between the two of us."
A small chuckle escaped Andrew's lips as a small grin returned to his face. "Simple, we're going to put it back together again. Take my hand." Brianna hesitated at first, but then quickly complied. "Now I want you focus and put all of your energy and being into me, and I will do the same to you. Let us close our eyes and think only of sharing one another's power, put everything else out of mind and calm all our senses until the only thing we can hear or feel is the sound of each other's voice. Until at last we become one." Everything blurred around them as their two souls united and their minds traveled back into a not so decent memory.
A small room almost as big as the garage on the Ebon Hawk started to appear through the haze , and in the center of it was a younger short-haired version of Brianna pacing in front of a tall mirror wearing a flowing white dress. Mira was sitting in the corner of the room wearing a modestly covered yellow dress watching her friend go back and forth, and Bastila was in a similar looking yellow dress trying to calm Brianna down. "Can you please stop marching up and down the room, you're starting to make me nervous."
"I'm sorry I can't help it, whenever I stand still I start shaking uncontrollably and my knees get weak. I mean this is all happening so fast, a few months ago I never thought I'd leave the surface of Telos let alone get married to the love of my love on such a beautiful planet as Dantooine in the old Jedi enclave. We only got engaged two weeks ago, are we really ready? Should we not wait a little longer to allow our love for each other to grow."
"Do you believe love stops developing once two people are marked as husband and wife?" Visas had entered the room and she was wearing her usual burgundy shaded robes. She moved swiftly towards Brianna and stood right in front of her. "In the last month both of you have put yourselves in harm's way and nearly died for each other, and in each case one of you was there to save the other."
"Andrew has always cared about you Brianna" Mira spoke up. "You were the first one of us he decided to train in the ways of the force. I wouldn't be surprised if he did that just so he could get closer to you."
Bastila stepped forward in front of Brianna and said "I don't believe it's far-fetched to say that Andrew views me as a sister. So if you ask me, him taking you to Tatooine was his way of bringing a girl home to see the family."
Visas smirked at the other girls remarks, but she still did not feel like the point had gotten across yet. "It is quite evident that he loves you sister of the Echani, but if you are still having doubts about what you feel for him, than you should probably not get married at all."
At that last statement Brianna's nervousness turned into a scornful stare at Visas "Visas I may be suffering with cold feet, but don't you dare misinterpret that as me not loving him. You pretty much said it yourself, I would gladly die for that man if I had to, he is my life's purpose."
"Hmmm is that so, than what are you waiting for? Go on, marry him and prove that your feelings are true." Before Brianna could respond to Visas's statement the comm link on the young Miraluka's belt started to buzz and beep. She glanced at the screen for a moment and turned back to the other women in the room. "Sadly I must leave you all for the time being, our young bride's fiancé has summoned me."
"Well speak of the devil." Mira laughed through words. " That's alright, I think you did a good enough job breaking Brianna's pre-wedding jitters."
Visas gave a small simple grin. "I'm glad I could be of some service on this happy occasion." Brianna shot her a puzzled look. "Yes sister of the Echani, I am glad. All I want is to see the two of you happy together." Without saying another word Visas left the room.
"And I thought I was cryptic" Bastila commented with a twinge of sarcasm in her voice. "Come on Brianna let's finish getting you ready."
Mira had returned to her own seat and began fidgeting in her dress, while Bastila lead Brianna to a chair in the middle of the room and proceeded to apply some old makeup tricks she had learned as a young girl on her. Brianna found herself looking directly face to face with this Bastila. She had only recently met this woman, who used to be a Jedi, and yet here she was getting her prepared for her wedding. Then Brianna started to wonder about something about Bastila that she hadn't thought of before. "Bastila how did you feel when you married Revan?"
"Scared." Her answer was direct but not too blunt. "All I had known up to that point was the order. Like you, I had many doubts in my head. Am I really going through with this? What would the Jedi council think? Do I even love him that much? However, my mother was there with me, telling me all the same things we've said to you. She helped me realize that the only question I was asking that truly mattered was the latter, and there was no doubt in my mind how much I cared for that man."
"I don't think there was much doubt in anybody's mind, we just didn't expect you to run away with him." Bastila, Brianna, and Mira turned back to the doorway to see a sleek white-haired woman in an even whiter Jedi master robe.
"Atris what are you doing here?" Brianna exclaimed jumping from the chair in half anger half surprise.
"I see you've already abandoned the pleasantry of calling me mistress."
"After you nearly killed her I would be thankful the only thing she's doing to you is being informal. and frankly I'm not sure if I'm willing to be that civil." Mira then started to move aggressively towards Atris, however, Brianna quickly stepped in front of her. "Brianna move and let me kick her ass."
"I'm not going to allow fighting on a day like this. Besides I believe Andrew invited her."
"Thank you for defending me, but I don't..."
"I'm not sure you heard me. I said Andrew invited you, however, unlike my soon to be a husband I haven't quite forgiven you yet." Atris became silent at this, she knew her former servant was going to be a little dismissive of her, but she didn't expect her demeanor to be so cold. "For the last two weeks I've had nightmares from what you did to me. I still feel a warm sensation on my skin from your force lightning. Because of you I had to slay my own sisters." Brianna then lowered her head so that the tears that started streaming down her face wouldn't be so evident. Both Bastila and Mira got on either side of her and put a reassuring hand on each of her shoulders.
"I am sorry for what I have put you through, and I wish to make amends. If you will allow me, I'd like to give you away today. I understand that it may be hard for you to accept my apology, but I think that this would be a good first few steps in the right direction."
"How dare you." Brianna peered up at once again revealing the angry tears on her cheeks. "You were the closest thing I ever had to a mother, and you betrayed me. I defended you multiple times throughout my journey with Andrew, and then I later find out you were the one who put the bounty on his head. For months you made our lives a living hell, and now you're coming to me on my wedding day asking for forgiveness." Although taken aback Atris did not waver in her outward appearance, She remained calm as she continued to stand in the middle of the doorway staring at the young women in front of her. Especially the one that she could feel had an immense amount of built up rage against her. Atris didn't say anything to defend herself, because she knew everything Brianna had said was true. She simply stayed in place and waited for the next attack or insult. However Brianna did not raise her voice, she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and looked at Atris straight in the eye. "I appreciate you admitting your wrongs, and wanting to take the initiative to make things right. However, you've done too much damage for me to simply forgive and forget. You are going to have to earn my trust back, and that will take time."
Atris could not hold it in any and she finally responded. "You know what I didn't have to come here today. You seem to be misinterpreting something. I am not approaching you because I feel I owe you something or that I want to save our relationship. I'm doing all this, because I believe it to be the proper Jedi way to behave. You should be thankful that I haven't already criticized this entire event. Jedi do not get married and they do not fall in love, You can't be so ignorant to have not realized this. Although I'm sure your friend Bastila, has told you otherwise."
"Atris I do believe it is time for you to depart."
"So it is. Don't bother telling the exile I was here, I'm leaving the planet, and as far as he needs to know I never arrived." With that Atris walked out the door and didn't look back.
"You did well against her. She may appear to be acting like a Jedi on the outside, but after that last little outburst she gave, it is clearly evident that her soul is still stained with the dark side."
"I would have accepted her apology, but I honestly didn't sense it to be genuine. It felt more like a surface statement telling me to let it go. I wish things could be different, but she chose her path and regardless of what we say to her. She will ultimately have to pick herself back up."
Suddenly the three women's figures started to blur and the whole room began to fade away. In its place a new room appeared and this time in the middle of it was a younger, clean-shaven, Andrew standing in front of a similar looking tall mirror wearing a blue-tinted Jedi robe and tunic. He was visibly distraught, his hands were shaking and his knees felt weak. "The day has finally come. I didn't think it would feel this way. I'm enormously happy, but at the same I am just as equally anxious. Why are these negative emotions afflicting me, I've faced death on multiple occasions, and yet I was never as scared as I am now."
A slightly younger and less disheveled Atton came up behind him, put his hand on Andrew's shoulder, and said "It's because you're getting married, even I'm not that stupid."
"It's funny, I worked so hard to redeem myself and prove that I could be a Jedi again, and here I am about to throw all their ideals away for my own personal reasons."
"Hey give yourself a break. You just saved the entire galaxy, I think your entitled to one selfish request." Atton's cynical humor was not changing Andrew's demeanor, so he then decided to change tatics and be more serious. "Listen, do you love her?"
"With all my heart."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. The Jedi may have been right about a few things, but they are completely mistaken when it comes to love. You and Brianna are the perfect example of how love can make individuals stronger. So regardless if your knees are buckling and your palms are sweaty, I want you to go out to that altar today and get yourself a slice of happiness for once. Force knows you've suffered long enough."
Andrew couldn't help but smile at Atton's kind words. "Thanks Atton, you really are a good friend."
Atton chuckled at the remark and started rubbing the back of his neck. "That's nice of you to say and all but you should probably save the sweet talking for your bride to be."
"You summoned me?" Both men paused and turned to the doorway to see Visas standing there.
"Ahh yes, Visas come in I have a job for you." She entered the room with an air of curiosity about her. "After the wedding I want you to travel to Coruscant and visit the Jedi Temple there, I believe that will be the best place to start rebuilding the order."
"I see. Alright I'll depart as soon as I get the chance, but if you don't mind me asking. Why did you choose me for this mission? I'm no Jedi."
"That's where your wrong Visas. You saved our lives and the lives of thousands of others at the battle over Telos. You have proven to me and many others that you are no creation of the Sith. Which is why as of today I'm granting you the rank of Jedi Knight."
At that moment Atton jumped in between them and shot Andrew a confused look. "Wait hold on, doesn't she need to be a Padawan before becoming a knight?"
"Normally yes, however, she is one of those rare special exceptions to the rule. Considering she was a Sith Apprentice for a long period of time we will recognize that as being her prior training. Now Visas, if you would please kneel." Visas did as she was commanded, while Andrew pulled the lightsaber off his belt and ignited it. He lowered his blade and motioned to each of her shoulders saying "By the right of the new Jedi order, and the will of the force, I dub the Jedi, knight of the republic."
"Thank you so much. I will not disappoint you."
"I know you won't. Your first task when you get over there will be to put some of the items we have collected throughout our journey into an archive. The first step in rebuilding is to pick up the pieces that were left behind."
"I will see to it as soon as possible." She got up from her knees and started to walk to the door.
"Oh wait Visas there's one more thing." She stopped in place and turned back towards him. "Thank you for understanding and accepting me and Brianna's relationship. I know it was hard for you, but it means a lot that you were able to put it past you."
Unlike before she didn't grin but instead gave more of a pained smirk and said "As I told the Echani, all I want is for you two be happy." Then just as quick as she came she was gone.
"Hey bud it's time to go."
The two men left the room and walked down a narrow hallway. They soon arrived at the giant deacon doors, and Andrew could feel every nerve within him vibrating. He softly exhaled and said "I guess this is it." The both of them pushed open the doors and made their way into the room. The area inside was very open and many of the walls had gaping holes from the bombardment on the enclave, and the fields of Dantooine could clearly be see for miles; it also had an excellent view of the setting sun. There were only a few people inside, mostly consisting of the residents of Khounda who were curious when they heard a Jedi was getting married. As Atton and Andrew went down the aisle, on both sides of them stood a line of Mandalorians at attention. "Canderous sure knows how to make a guy feel important, I'll give him that."
At the altar was HK-47, T3-M4, and a very nervous looking Bao-Dur. "General, are you sure about this? I've never married anyone before."
"That may be true, but you being a Jedi is the closest thing we have to a religious figure. I would ask Atton but I don't think he would do it right."
"Hey!" Atton responded slightly annoyed.
"In any case why don't you two take your positions, I believe the bride is about to arrive." Just as soon as Bao-Dur said that the doors opened up again and Brianna with a white veil over her head started slowly strolling down the aisle. She was closely followed by Bastila and Mira, who were both holding bouquets of flowers. Andrew could feel his heart racing again, not out of anxiousness but in awe of how beautiful Brianna looked. When she finally reached the alter, she turned to Andrew and gave him the biggest smile. "Alright now that we are all here, we can get started. Due to me not having much knowledge about what needs to be said, this will most likely be brief. I believe we should start with the vows. If you would please, Brianna begin.
"Andrew Masi words cannot describe all you have dove ever since you entered my life. I was an isolated girl locked away from the galaxy, taught to both hate and fear it. That was until you came and rescued me away from my falsified shelter. You may not have realized this, but you were the first person in over ten years who even attempted to show me compassion. You saw me for who I truly was, even before I had, and you opened my eyes to brand new outlooks on life, on others, and most importantly myself. I don't have many possessions but what I can give you is the most valuable thing I own, my heart." At that moment Brianna raised her right hand to her chest , balled it into a fist like she was grabbing ahold of something, and then moved her hand over Andrew's chest where his heart would be. "From this day forward I want you to carry it wherever you go, because no matter where you are or what you're doing I want you to know that there is always a little piece of me with you. I love you in this moment and forever more."
There was a slight applause from the audience, and then everyone's attention turned to Andrew. "Now general it's your turn."
"Brianna Kae you are everything to me. I wish I could say that I would gladly die for you, but sadly I know that would only influence you to take your own life as well." Brianna was taken aback by what Andrew said. He simply grinned and mouthed the words "I heard everything", and then continued with his vow. "We were both outcasts and exiles to our respective groups, and yet in this crazy mixed up galaxy we were able to find each other. Whether it be the will of the force or just dumb luck, I'm glad that you came into my life. I want to wake up next to you every morning, see your beautiful face, and be proud to know that you were the one I fell in love with. As your husband I will care for you and keep you safe, and in return I hope you will do the same. You are my friend and now my lifelong partner, and I wish for us to always be at each other's side."
Once again there was applause, and Bao-Dur continued. "Do you Andrew Masi take Brianna Kae to be your wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you Brianna Kae take Andrew Masi to be your wedded husband."
"I do."
"Then by the power supposedly vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Andrew lifted the veil from Brianna's face and visible tears were seen streaming from her eyes. "What's wrong" he asked concerned.
Brianna smiled once again and looked deeply into his eyes. "I'm so happy" was all she could muster. Without saying another word Andrew leaned down and sealed everything with a kiss. As their lips touched the image of them started to fade and go black. Soon light was coming back and both Andrew and Brianna opened their eyes. They were back in their room on Manaan sitting on the bed. "That was our wedding, why did we see that" Brianna asked slightly dazed. Suddenly she was attacked with a passionate kiss on the lips as Andrew grabbed both sides of her face. "What was that for."
"That experience reminded me how much I love you."
Brianna couldn't help but smile at that statement, she leaned in, kissed him back, and said. "I love you to sweetheart, and I thought it was really cute how you got nervous right before."
"So you saw my point of view as well. That's interesting, because I likewise saw yours and how you saw Atris that day and didn't tell me."
"I'm sorry, I just thought she was a part of our lives that we didn't need to hold onto. Wait a minute does that mean you also saw me before when I was... Andrew please believe me I never doubted my feelings for you, and I would never want to ever leave your..."
Before Brianna could finish her sentence, Andrew had put a finger to her lips. "I believe we both had cold feet, but that doesn't matter because we still got married and we still love each other just as much as we did back then." Andrew pulled his hand away and his demeanor started to become more solemn. "However, I will agree that it was strange we were taken back to our wedding."
"Do you think we did it wrong?"
"No. I believe if we did it wrong we wouldn't have seen anything at all. There was something important about that day that has to do with the dark entity."
"Do you think Atris has anything to do with this?"
"I'm not sure, it certainly is a possibility. She did seen like she still had a dark influence inside her, but I'm not going to write her off just yet."
"What about Revan?" "He obviously wasn't there can we rule him out?"
"After this I don't believe he is the entity, but I can't help but feel like this involves him somehow."
"If that's the case than you shouldn't lead Bastila and Carth on anymore. Forget about waiting till after the baby, they need to know now. It will be easier that way, so they at least understand why we're wanting to delay our journey."
"Hey! We're delaying our journey because of this." Andrew suddenly put both of his hands on Brianna's stomach. "Our main concern is that this little bundle of joy's well-being. Now if you feel like it's completely necessary for me to tell them I will, but if they want to leave we can't stop them."
"Alright that's fine with me. As long as I have you, I'll be fine." The two of them laid back down into bed to return to sleep, however, Andrew stayed awake for a little while longer staring at the wall. Something about the visions and the trip back into his past troubled him, he just couldn't figure out what.
...End of Ch 4...
Author's Notes- So I need to be honest. I actually have been consistently been working on this chapter and more importantLu this story, however, because of personal reasons I will officially have to say that this story will probably have big gaps in between chapters. I don't want it to be this way but I don't want you guys getting your hopes up for monthly chapter updates when I can't necessarily deliver. Of course I will work hard to make it so, but Im just trying to be realistic. If you have any questions, comments, or critiques about the story; feel free to pm me or leave a review. Thank you all who read this. As always bear with me.
