Chapter 5: The River
The Harper family arrived at the river an hour after sun rise, the boys and John had finished setting up camp, Maggie was collecting wood for the fire to start breakfast. Chad and Riley where sitting at the end of the dock dangling their feet in the cool water. Riley turned around and looked at his father with a devious grin, his father nodded in approval, but before Riley could act on pushing his brother in the river, Chad had already made his move, pushing Riley in, and standing on the dock.
"I know you all to well little brother, that trick has never worked, why do you still try," Chad asked with the same devious grin his brother had before.
"One day I'll get you, you just wait and see" Riley snapped.
Chad hadn't noticed his father get up and walk towards him, all of a sudden he was lifted and tossed in to the river as well, Chad came back up with shock across his face, and he never saw it coming, as Riley burst out into laughter.
The boys continued playing, jumping off the dock attempting to do flips and cannon balls, trying to see who could make the bigger splash, teasing and taunting the other. John and Maggie just watched and laughed when one would get frustrated and drag the other under and have a underwater wrestling match, both coming up gasping for breath, neither parent was worried about them drowning they would both break to come up for air and start the process all over again.
After an hour or so Maggie called the boys out of the water breakfast was ready, she had prepared poached eggs with a side of potato wedges lightly seasoned with her special herbs and spices the boys loved. After breakfast John and the boys where fishing to see who could catch and release the most fish, not noticing the two figures watching them from the plateau. Maggie had noticed Chad look up several times to the plateau, and stare at it, with peculiar look on his face. She couldn't get it out of her head.
"Chad why do you keep looking up at the ladies view" Maggie asked in somewhat of a concerned tone.
"I'm not sure mother. It's strange I feel like its calling to me" Chad replied in mysterious tone.
"As do I mother" Riley speaking up now he wasn't sure of what it was but never thought twice about it till his mother asked Chad about it.
"I know what it is the boys want to run the ridge, to see if they can beat their old man to the top," John said in a champion like voice.
"Your on dad I'm gonna beat you this time" Chad said dropping his fishing pole in a dead sprint towards the plateau. Riley and John followed suit trying to keep up with Chad. Chad had been coming up to the river twice a week secretly, running up and down the path to the Ladies view till his legs gave out from exhaustion it paid off. Chad was now about four hundred meters up the mountain with Riley close on his heals about twenty meters behind, with their father falling back more and more as the grade of the mountain increased. Chad had looked back to see his brother hot on his tail and his father loosing speed.
"Come on dad is that all you got" Chad yelled.
Revan and Deval hadn't noticed the three take off up the mountain, when they looked again all they could she was the mother picking up the fishing poles and putting them back in their cases.
"That's strange where did they go?" Deval asked
"I don't know, maybe they went up around the bend of the river" Revan replied.
It was about a thousand meters to the top, Chad was well past three quarters of the way up, as well as Riley, their father had stopped to catch his breath, and he was out of shape. He said to himself "it's amazing those boys are still going," he was in awe at how fast Chad had taken off up the path, but more surprised that Riley was equally as fast only behind cause of Chad's slight head start.
Suddenly Revan felt a ripple in the force turning over to see Chad breathing heavy and staring at him intently with much confusion on his face. Just as Chad was about to speak Riley rounded the last corner and came to a sliding stop.
"What the" was all that came out of Riley's mouth
"Stay back Riley," Chad told his brother "Who in the hell are you" Chad asked in a demanding voice. "Were you watching us?" Chad said glancing down towards the campsite before Revan or Deval could reply.
"What cat got your tongue stranger" Riley hissed.
"I am sorry son" Revan replied but before Revan could finish Chad cut him off.
"I am not your son mister, I'll ask again who are you and why where you watching us" Chad snapped with more anger in his vice now.
"I am Revan and this is my friend Deval."
"Boys back away from them" John said moving in front of them. But Chad and Riley moved up next to their father taking up opposite flanks
"Who are you and why are you spying on my family, I'll only ask you once, and it better be a darn good reason" John said in an deep angry tone that sent shivers down Revan and Devals spine. As they could tell his adrenalin was pumping making the large man twice as strong, as to this possible threat to his family.
Revan introduced himself and Deval and started to explain what their intentions where, Revan paused and let out a long sigh. "You'll never believe me"
"Try me mister" is all that John said.
Revan stated he was a Jedi Knight as well as Deval and another member of his group was a master, that they have traveled from another universe to seek the help of two boys with immense power in the force, and how the force from their universe was unbalanced. John stared at the two men in strange clothes; he couldn't believe what he was hearing, and where they serious or just plan crazy he thought to himself.
After a moment John let out a small sigh. "You expect me to believe that"
John turned around and looked at his two boys, "well boys what do you think"
"Give them a chance to explain dad I feel they are telling the truth" both boys gave similar responses.
"I still don't believe you. How could you be from another universe? You not making any sense." John said.
"If you would, I can show you proof we are not from this universe. We have ship that we came in, you have my word as a Jedi I will not harm you or your family members." Revan said extending his arm to shake Johns' hand.
John reach forward and grabbed Revan's hand and squeezed firmly "I don't know what a 'Jedi' is, I will go with you my boys will not come with us is that understood."
"Yes sir it is. Follow me please." Revan said turning on his heel towards the Hawk.
"Boys go back to the camp I wont be long." John said looking over his shoulders.
"Dad you're not going alone. We are going with you." Chad said firmly crossing his arms in defiance.
John stopped and turned around. "Chad do as I say; go back to camp." John said placing his hands on his hips."
"No father if you make us go back to camp we'll just stop out of sight and then circle around to the clearing, it the only place around here they could have landed."
John let out a sigh it was pointless for him to keep this up, Chad was right it was the only place a ship could land, plus Chad and Riley's knowledge of this area was only second to his own.
"Fine you can come with me but Riley I want to you go to your mother, if anything happens get yourself and her to the constable's office. Do you understand me?"
Riley didn't put up a fight he knew how important this was to his father and would not disobey. "Yes father I do, please be careful dad."
John walked over to his youngest son and gave him a big hug and whispered into his ear. "Thank you son, I am so proud of you, now go take care of your mother we will be back soon." John broke the embrace and smiled at his youngest son. Then turned and headed to where Revan and Deval were waiting.
Not much was talked about on the trail to where the Hawk was, as they entered the clearing John and Chad both stopped and stare intently at the ship before them it was amazing Revan hadn't lied to them. Both looked on for several minutes, Revan gave them the time they needed to let this all soak in. Soon Revan interrupted their memorized state and leads them to the camp site and offer them some chairs as he called the crew out. He introduce the crew first Bastilla as his life partner, Deval again as his most trusted general and friend, Canderous as the same, and the droids, which Chad took an interest to HK-47. After several hours the sun was about an hour and half from setting John got up and spoke.
"Well Revan I can see you are a trust worthy Man and a Man of your word, But Chad and I must be getting back to camp my wife must be worried to death about us." John said.
"I understand John I am glad that you came here and gave us a chance to explain our selves more."
"Well I'm till not sure on this whole 'Chosen thing you spoke of earlier but I guess we will see what you are talking about tomorrow." John replied.
"Yes I will see you tomorrow, may the force be with you." Revan said shaking Johns hand.
"Umm. Yeah, have a good one." Is all John could say.
With the pleasantries over with Chad and John made there way back to camp. As the two entered camp Maggie's rose from her chair and sighed
"You had me worried to death John, Riley wouldn't tell me a thing he just climbed a tree and said he had to be a look out."
"I am sorry dear I will explain everything that went on." John said taking Maggie's hand in his. They walked to the edge of the river. And John told her of the newcomers on the mountain.
After about twenty minutes of John explaining Maggie finally spoke up. "Did you hit you head?" Maggie asked feeling around Johns head for bumps or soft spots.
"No I didn't, I'm serious they will come here tomorrow." John said taking Maggie's hands in his bringing them up to his lip to kiss them. "Come it time for dinner and then bed."
Maggie and John stood and made the way back to camp; when they got there Chad was sharing the same tale as John had just told her.
"You're joshing me right?" Riley asked.
"No I'm not it was amazing they are coming here tomorrow."
"Cool, I can't wait." Riley said.
"Cant wait for what?" John asked.
"For tomorrow when…What was there names again Chad?" Riley said looking at Chad.
"Revan, Deval and Bastilla." Chad replied.
"Yeah right for them to come tomorrow.
Maggie giggled at your son he was so enthused to meet these strangers; it was odd he was always the first to shy away from strangers before. But she would see in the morning if he had become less shy.
The family sat around the camp fire and began dinner, soon their bellies were full and they made their way to the tents.
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Morning broke the same as it always did in the mountains, the sun ever so slowly lighting the valley, it was about eight in the morning it was still chilly outside and Chad and Riley were reluctant to get out, but even the cold couldn't keep their stomach's at bay the smell of breakfast their mother was making was driving their stomach's crazy. Finally not fighting it anymore the boys started to get dressed in side their sleeping bags and soon made their way to the fire.
"Ah there are my angels, how did you slept?" Maggie asked.
"Chad and Riley replied in a tired unison "good."
"Good, I hope you to are hungry, I made flap jacks, eggs and a side of bacon. Oh I almost forgot your father brought the Honey-suckle jam with him."
"Nice I love that stuff." Riley said becoming more awake.
Soon John had returned to camp, he had left early to go get Revan and his team, they had a new addition, Canderous was invited by John to come join at first Canderous denied the offer, but caved in after it was obvious that John wasn't going to take no for answer.
Maggie looked up from her cooking and saw the group enter camp and spoke "Who are our guests John"?
John let out a sigh "These are the people I was telling you about last night, they want to take the boys and save their galaxy."
Maggie let out a small laugh, "ok John I was being serious"
"So am I my Love. Maggie's face went pale when John said he was being serious, she slowly sat back in her seat looking intently at the new comers.
"No they can not take the boys John, you agreed to this" she snapped.
"No I did not agree to this, not yet"
"Not yet" she snapped.
Ma'am, let us explain, after we have explained, I will leave the choice to you and your family I will not take your boys, from you unwillingly"
Maggie let out a slur of cuss words "You are crazy if you think I'm going to even think about this."
"Maggie, this is beyond us. Just listen and keep an open mind. From what Revan told and showed me yesterday it's the truth and they need help."
"Fine John only because it is you asking."
Revan told the history of the Jedi from how they are selfless and only care about others, and where the Sith are selfish and only seek power, how the way of the Sith is death and destruction, how the Jedi have been fighting a loosing battle, yes they had driven back the Sith many times he explained, but the Sith are relentless, and will stop at nothing to wipe out all Jedi and there culture.
Chad interrupted "if the Sith seek to end your existence, do you wish to wipe them out as they do you?"
"Every time we encounter a Sith or Dark Jedi we attempt to bring them back to the light" Revan replied. "We try but more often than not we fail our brothers or sisters, and that failure is why we are seeking you two" Revan began the prophecy of the Chosen One and how he was to bring an end to the Sith and restore balance to the force.
"So the Chosen One is to destroy the Sith" Riley asked
No the Chosen One will not destroy the Sith he will bring our brothers and sisters home when that is done the force will balance out. The path of the chosen one is hard he will have to do battle with some but he has the ability to guide their spirit back to the light.
Revan explained how not all will come back to the light as long as they live but that is not where the chosen one's path ends he must bring all of them back even the one from twenty five millennia ago. The Harpers looked at him in awe. Chad interrupted
"So this war between the Jedi and Sith has lasted twenty five thousand years? How do you expect us to restore your galaxy, we know nothing of your culture, it will take far too long to learn"
"That is not true Chad, we can teach how to open yourself to the force, it is there in you and your brother, and you only need the tools to unlock it."
John stood "Show me this force and I mean all of it, even the dark side"
Revan sighed, "you do not want to see the dark side John"
"Show me now or leave" John demanded.
Revan sighed again but complied with John's request. Revan moved away from the group a bit, he began with little things picking up rocks moving them slowly, then more rapid. He let the rocks down and walked over to a dying plant and brought the life back to it as its yellow wilted leaves returned to a lush beautiful green, and then killed the plant taking all of its life force, reducing the plant to a dark brown signifying its death. Revan stopped his display, and told of how this was just a small sample of what the force is, and prepared the others, of the horror they where about to see.
Revan lifted his hand in the direction of a small deer as it drank from the river and sent a bolt of lightning to the animal, not enough to kill it but just enough for the animal to collapse. After the short burst of lightening he lifted the deer through the force bringing the animal over the river to his side he knelt next to the animal and began to heal the damage he had caused. The animal stood trotting off into the woods.
Revan turned to see the shock of what he had just done on everyone's faces even Deval's, how the anger flowed off of the too boys at what they had just witnessed, but it slowly faded when they meet the gaze of Revan's eyes and they could see he was still shedding tears. The boys stood and looked at each other, walking slowly over to Revan, both of them taking one of his hands.
"Was it necessary to show us that" Chad said looking deep into Revan's eyes.
"It was, I did not want to harm anyone or thing again, but you and your brother needed to see the effects of the dark side." Revan knew that by showing the dark side to the boys was dangerous, if they both fell to the dark side all would be lost forever they would never return to the light.
"I think I have shared enough with you for now I will return to my ship for the night and will return in the morning." Revan said weakly. Revan just walked off the use of the dark side just to prove a point bothered him to new extremes.
The family settled in for the night, the walk back to the hawk was cold; all Revan could think about was how the boys would either be their saviors or their worst fears.
Chad drifted off to sleep after his father and mother, but Riley was tossing and turning in his sleep, he was dreaming, visions had started in his head of a dark figure about his height, and build, confronting his brother. As they clashed he saw the clad figure parry one of his brothers attacks and impaled his brother, the figure stood over the body and let out a blood curtailing laugh as his laughter died down he removed his hood to revile his face, it was him, pale skin, yellow sticky eyes, and then spoke these words "I tried to tell you brother don't underestimate my powers, you were such a fool." Riley awoke sitting up fast, the quick movement awoke Chad from his peaceful sleep.
"What is it Riley, what's wrong?" Chad asked.
Riley described his dream to his brother, of this dark figure who had slain his brother in battle, and the words spoken by the dark man, but leaving out the "brother" part, he mentioned the part of the figure pulling back the hood, he didn't tell his brother it was his face he saw, as he described the look on the dark figures face, the color of his pale oily skin, to the yellow sticky eyes. Chad was taken back by the vivid nightmare his brother had. Chad leaned over and embraced his brother.
"I was just a dream brother, go back to sleep." Chad said lying back down.
"No this was different, it didn't feel like a dream it felt real like I was there." Riley said.
"How can you tell?"
'I don't know, do you think we should ask Revan about it?" Riley asked staring deeply into Chad's eyes'.
"I think we should, you're pretty shaken about this dream. Come get dressed we will go now mom and dad will never know."
Riley did as his brother asked putting his clothes, and exiting their tent making sure their parents had not been awaken. They crept slowly to the path leading up to ladies view. They followed the path down the backside of the plateau, to the clearing, where Revan had told them his ship was. As the boys approached the Hawk they saw a man clad in silver armor, kneeling next to the fire heating his caffa. As the boys approached the armor clad figure.
"Excuse me mister is Revan here" Chad spoke in a mild tone,
"What the?" how did you get past the perimeter defenses?" Canderous asked dumbfounded.
"They mask themselves old man" Revan spoke as he walked down the ramp of the hawk.
Revan had sensed the turmoil in Riley after his dream. Riley was shaking from his dream still fresh in his mind. Revan motioned to the boy to join him on the hawk so they could speak, Revan could tell this was not good, the boy was resonating fear threw the force.
"Go on Riley tell Revan what you told me" Chad said placing a hand on his shoulder for reassurance.
The boys sat down in the main hold of the Hawk, Riley began with a sigh
Riley told Revan every aspect of the dream as he did to Chad. Except whom the figure was in his dream.
Revan stood and placed his hand on his chin, pacing back and forth.
"The time is now we must leave; I feared these visions would come but not his soon. Chad riley you both must trust me will return, but we must leave now, your training must start now, it can not wait any longer." Revan said as he pulled out his comlink.
"What are you crazy we have to tell our parents they have not given their permission! You said you wouldn't take us unwillingly." Chad almost yelled.
"Chad, it is ok I want to go, for an odd reason I have this feeling that I need, no I have to go with Revan now with or without you. I can't explain it brother I just know. Riley tried to explain.
"Riley that is the force telling you which is the right way to go; it will never reach out to you while you are asleep, only the dark side does that. Your visions are of the dark side and what will become if you don't allow me to teach you." Revan tried to explain so the boys could understand.
"I think I understand now. Chad said. But I am not leaving my brother I will go with you but let me leave some kind of letter explaining ourselves to my mother and father; they deserve that much from us." Chad finished.
"Yes you are right." Revan said grabbing a data pad off of the table in the main hold. "Here use this you both can record a holo message for them." Revan said walking to the cockpit.
After a few moments Chad and Riley pressed the button to the data pad and began their message.
"Canderous join me in the cockpit." Revan said into his com link.
"Roger". A few moments passed by Canderous appeared in the main hold Revan walked over to Canderous, leaned over to his ear and spoke softly,
"The time is now". Canderous nodded and moved to the cockpit. Canderous sat in the pilot's seat and flipped the switches to bring the ramp and the Hawk's engines online.
Revan repapered in the hold the boys had just finished their message.
"How will they get this message Revan" Riley asked.
"I will attach it to a hover droid and send it to your parents and then we are gone." Revan said heading back to the garage to retrieve the hover droid. Revan lowered the loading ramp and programmed the Harpers campsite into the droid, and set him on his way. Removing his com link from his belt and speaking into it. "Ok let's go."
John woke to the roar of the engines; he scrambled out of his tent just in time to see the dual lights of the twin craft fade in to the atmosphere. John rushed over to his son's tent ripping the zipper back to reveal two empty sleeping bags.
"That SOB, he lied to me" John screamed at the top of his lungs. Maggie awoke to the yelling of her husband, throwing her covers back, and approaching her husband.
"Who lied to you" Maggie asked.
"Revan he has taken our boys" as John spoke those words she slumped to the ground sobbing
"no it cant be they are here they didn't go." as her words slowly became more and more unrecognizable with her sobs drowning them out, John bent down embracing his love try to console her, but he knew it was in vain to say any words, it would had made the situation worse, their boys are gone. Nothing they could do would bring them back.
Suddenly John could here a humming or a buzzing noise he couldn't tell which it was. A weird looking orb was floating to him as it got closer he could see it was carrying something. It stopped about 5 feet away and dropped the data pad and shut down falling to the ground. John walked over and looked at the droid for a moment then picked up the data pad to read the message header. 'To Mom and Dad forgive us.'
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As the Ebon Hawk approached the black hole that would take them back, Chad entered the cockpit.
"Take us back now," Chad snapped at Canderous
Canderous just ignored the boy till he felt his whole body come under extreme pressure, Chad had not realized he was using the force to crush Canderous, Canderous let out a small yelp before he slumped over from the lack of air in his lungs, Riley heard the yelp and made his way to the cockpit as he entered he saw his brother standing over the man in silver armor.
"What are you doing?" Riley snapped in a loud voice that carried back to the main hold.
Revan ran to the cockpit to see Canderous slumped over the controls and Chad staring intently at Canderous, thinking quick Revan sent Chad into a force induced sleep trace, as the boy began to slump Revan caught the boy in his arms.
"Chad what's wrong, what did you do to him?" Riley snapped glaring at Revan, but before Revan could reply he felt his throat become tight it was hard to breath. Revan tried to break the hold from the smaller boy but with no avail the boy was feeding off the fear of loosing his brother their connection was too great even for Revan to break. Revan collapsed to one knee trying to break Riley's hold on his throat, then it was gone and Riley lay in the arms of Canderous.
"That was too close my friend; we need to watch them closer"
"Indeed" Revan replied his voice horse from Riley's force choke.
Revan and Canderous made their way to the medical bay and laid the boys down, Revan rubbing his throat,
"What's wrong Rev"?
"I couldn't break his hold on me"
"You're joking right"
"No I am not, their bond it doubles their already impressive power. We must tread lightly with these boys."
"Why did Chad attack me?" Canderous asked Revan.
"I'm not sure but after them have rested for awhile we will ask them." Revan said headed back to the Cockpit with Canderous
Revan realized from now on they had to tell the boys everything hiding the smallest thing would be a disaster to everyone the boys would destroy the galaxy to save the other, the will of the boys was astonishing to Revan, he could feel their bond it was like a massive conduit that bolstered their power to a level Revan never thought possible.
After a couple of hours Riley began to stir.
Revan sensing this got up from his seat and tapped Canderous on his shoulder and motioned for him to follow, as Revan entered the medical bay Riley groaned from the pain in the back of his head.
"Owh who hit me" Riley asked glaring at Canderous
"I did you where killing my friend boy, and that I could not allow" Canderous replied coldly
"What are you talking about?" Riley asked.
Revan cleared his throat still sore from Riley's force choke. He explained to Riley that he had used the force to squeeze his throat to the point where he couldn't breathe, and how it was just a thought, and this is how you use the force, even if you do not realize that you are doing such. Revan went on to explain in time he will learn to control his impulses, and to refine his force techniques.
"For right now rest here with your brother he will awaken shortly when he does contact me on this com link. Revan said as he handed the link to Riley. "Press this button.
Riley sat next to his brother waiting for him to awaken, going over and over in his mind to what Revan had said to him. "How could I do that, is it possible" Riley thought to himself. Just then Riley looked over to a small data pad on the table next to his brother and with a thought the pad flew to his hand. Riley shocked at what had just transpired dropping the pad, the thud Chad started to stir. Chad rose slowly and stretched and yawned,
"Ah wow that was the best sleep I had in…" Chad stopped speaking noticing Riley staring at the floor. "Riley what is it?" Chad jumped off the medical bed and moved closer to his brother and gave him a tap on his shoulder.
"Are you ok little brother?"
"Oh um I think so" Riley responded.
"Are you sure you seemed out of it" Chad asked.
"I am fine, are you ok?"
"Yes why do you ask?"
"You don't know why you where sleeping do you?"
"No are you sure your ok, your creeping me out." Chad said taking a step back from his brother.
"Revan put you in a sleep trace that is why you where sleeping" Riley raised the com link and beeped Revan.
Soon Revan entered the med bay, looking at the two boys in deep conversation, about what had happened in the past couple of hours. How Chad was doing something to Canderous and how he had forced choked Revan.
"Chad how do you feel" Revan asked in a sincere tone.
"I am fine can you explain what happened in the cockpit?"
"I will"
Revan began to tell Chad how his thoughts controlled the force, and how his fear of what was going on had finally triggered them to act, but never had Revan seen anyone with no training use force crush as Chad did to Canderous, he told Chad when he used the technique he created micro fractures in Canderous' sternum.
"Is he ok" Riley asked.
Revan continued his explanation that if Chad was able to finish Canderous would be dead. Revan tried to detail how force crush encompasses the whole body or just a specific spot how Chad had done. That he could refine it more. By only targeting the limbs, or head and down to a finger. Revan also told Chad that the bond shared between him and his brother was unparallel even to his and Bastilla's.
"Who is Bastilla?"
"I am Bastilla, I am Revan's life partner" Bastilla said taking a seat in the med bay. Bastilla had been sick everyday since she and Revan enjoyed the view from the plateau. Revan had been terrified that this new planet had some sort of virus that her body could not defeat or even the force, but this was not the case she was with child, twin boys. Revan looked at Bas and smiled, rising from his seat and embracing his love.
"You should not be up my love you need rest" Revan said.
"I am fine Revan, I don't have a virus from this world it is well…"
"She's pregnant isn't she Revan?" Riley said looking up at the two dumbfounded Jedi.
"And how do you know that" Bastilla asked with confusion on her face and in her words.
"I do not know" Riley replied. "I just know."
"It is the Force Riley, you can also sense, other force sensatives, but it is strange that you can. Maybe its being around us that it has triggered you in some way." Revan said contemplating what he had just said.
"But how Rev?" Bastilla asked. "He hasn't been trained yet."
Revan brought Bas backup to speed, on recent events how Chad almost crushed Canderous' sternum, how Riley almost crushed his throat, Bastilla couldn't stop looking at the boys especially Riley, she thought how could this untrained boy posses so much power that not even Revan could break.
"That is not all they unlocked Revan"
"What do you mean by that Bas?"
"They have the gift of battle meditation as I do"
"What is that?" Riley and Chad said at the same time.
Bastilla moved a stool over and sat next to the boys and began to tell them of battle meditation. How you can inspire the will, dreams, and hopes of others as well as crush them, to break them down, till all hope is gone. Bas also told of how rare this form of the force is. Riley and Chad looked at each other in disbelief.
"What other rare force powers do we have?" Chad asked looking to Bastilla.
Revan stood and raised his hand,
"Their will be time for more training and answers first we must get back to our universe and stop the Sith."
"Is anyone" Chad replied.
Revan did not respond to Chad's last comment he moved out of the med bay and up to the cockpit, he knew the boy was right you can never be fully prepared for anything. As he entered Canderous was resetting the Hawk for the jump.
"Are we ready old man"?
"Here we go."