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Chapter 5: Republic, Republic
The sun climbed slowly over the 500 Republica district of Coruscant and the Senate as well as the Jedi Temple awoke to the day following yet another attempt on Senator Amidala's life. Being young and beautiful had its perks and media attention had shifted completely to Padme Amidala Naberrie. Walking through the streets of Coruscant with a full entourage of Senatorial police, personal Security personnel and an escort of three Jedi, Padme felt anything but secure. The thought of so much attention being focused upon her and not the issues that mattered outraged the Senator but she kept her thoughts to herself, waiting until she reached the Senate hall. Palpatine would listen to her, as he always had and he would do the best that he could, Padme and the Republic had faith in the former Nubian Senator.
With a bored expression on his face, Revan stood clad in simply black robes and a black cloak. The only difference between his appearance and that of Obi-Wan and Anakin aside from the color of his robes was the length of which his tunic hung, past his knees. Spacing out for a moment, Revan's mind kept turning to the previous night's events as something pestered him. Obi-Wan had filled him in, and apologized in excess for barging in the Senator's apartment. Revan had simply thought nothing of it, with a subdued smirk Revan knew he wouldn't trust himself either. His thoughts coming to an abrupt halt, Revan felt a stirring in the Force. Obi-Wan had gone to research the toxic dart used to kill the assassin and from Obi-Wan's description of the assassin's assassin.
"Now that just sounds ridiculous..."
Revan cleared his mind of cluttering thoughts. Having too much to think about was causing him to mix his metaphors when he spoke and frankly being in a Senatorial meeting was not doing his patience any good.
"It had to have been a Mandalorian but from which side? The Death Watch as well as the True Mandalorians are both on the verge of extinction..."
Then again, the Mandalorians always seemed to be on the verge of extinction. Rolling his eyes, Revan decided his people could last another four thousand years even if they all died out. He was certain the Taung, the species the Mandalorians were founded by were long dead and was not in the least bit surprised that humans had picked up where their predecessors left off. He himself was human and it did not surprise him that they carried on the fine, bloody tradition of what it is to be a perfect warrior. Casting a sideways glance at Anakin as the boy practically tripped over himself to stand beside the Senator of Naboo, Revan sighed; glad he was never so lovesick. While it may have seemed all well and good in Anakin's mind, perhaps even flattering to the Senator, Revan could only see a bumbling fool.
"Speaking of bumbling fools..."
With a growl, Revan stopped abruptly, rounding on said bumbling fool and jabbing a finger harshly into Jar Jar Bink's chest.
"If you bloody step on my cloak again I will throw you over the walkway."
Looking at first confused, then slightly apologetic, Jar Jar grinned meekly, his body shaking in fear. He didn't know much about the man before him, just that he was rude, impulsive and violent.
"Sa- Me'sa sorry."
Frowning at the Gungan, Revan merely nodded stiffly, turning and moving slightly ahead of the Gungan. Pulling the edges of his cloak around himself, Revan decided having it trail in the wind behind him would likely get it covered in Gungan slobber as well, with how often the aquatic Nubain had his mouth open in a slack-jawed look of a simpleton.
"You're being too hard on the fellow. He has a good heart..."
Gnawing on the apology on his tongue, Revan flinched as again his cloak was stepped on by the trailing Gungan. Maybe he wasn't being too hard on the clumsy Gungan. The Senate building loomed in the distance and Revan finally turned his eyes to the third Jedi escorting Senator Amidala. A female Rutian Twi'lek who, despite being older reminded Revan vaguely of Mission, at least until she opened her mouth. Revan could scarcely get Mission's whiney voice out of his mind when he pictured the Twi'lek Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. Sighing, Revan decided he shouldn't make comparisons between people he knew in his time and people he was meeting in this time.
"At this rate I'll bloody kill Obi-Wan for reminding me of Taya."
Revan's humor all but left him in that moment. Humor was what kept him going at times, as was evident in HK-47's programming but Revan simply could not reconcile the thought of Taya Kenobi falling so far. How could his presence stop all that unless he was to kill her. Not to say killing the Exiled former General of the Republic was not a thought Revan did not entertain, nor dragging the death out over a period of weeks but Revan had let his rage over learning of Bastila's demise control his thoughts then. Needless to say several Jedi found it very difficult to sleep with all that dark energy being expended as Revan relentlessly trained his body in the Jedi's training rooms. Still feeling sore from his brutal workout, Revan allowed the dull ache in his body to pull his thoughts from unwelcome subjects.
"I don't suppose you know how long this is going to take? I mean honestly just go in there and say, I kiss your ass you kiss mine, have a nice bloody day you two faced schutta."
Revan grumbled to his technically fellow Jedi. Aayla Secure rose a brow, fixing her hazel eyes on Revan's dark brown.
"You know I didn't get much sleep last night because of you so I honestly don't feel like answering."
Aayla's voice was clipped and to the point and Revan smirked. Being evil was so rewarding, especially how easily the distractions came up. Revan had enough time to review his actions the night before. He would kill off four years, increasing his strength and skill as best he could and he would destroy Taya Kenobi the moment he saw her on Korriban. That would be bloody that and then he would give the True Sith something to be truly terrified of.
"I don't suppose there's any way we can get out of this..?"
Revan asked hopefully, loathing the bureaucracy around him. Easily sensing the thoughts of the Senators around him, Revan knew few, very few had any virtuous interests at heart. Most were looking to line their accounts with credits and Revan had very little room in his heart as it was.
"None."
Aayla replied with a small smirk. Revan caught the smirk in the corner of his eye and sighed. Obviously this was some Jedi form of revenge against him, being personally hand-picked by the Council. Knowing there were worse places to be, mainly the Undercity of Taris, Revan decided to play along, learn by observing the Senate. He highly doubted anything had changed.
"Ah, Senator Amidala, I am so grateful you are safe..."
Chancellor Palpatine had intercepted them on their way to the Senate hall and Revan silently prayed that the Chancellor would lead them a different route.
"Chancellor..."
Padme replied with a tilt of her head. Narrowing her eyes, Padme had a fairly good idea of what Palpatine was going to ask and a stubborn expression began working its way to her face. Seeing the look, Palpatine sighed dramatically, looking as if the weight of the galaxy were upon his shoulders.
"If you would join me in my office. Your escort is welcome as well."
Revan felt a distinct feeling of admiration for the Chancellor. He was getting him the Hell away from the Senate hall which was the last place he wanted to be. Revan had what many Jedi would refer to as a state of withdrawal following a Force-vision. Revan decided to call it a Force-hangover since the pounding in his head felt like he had gone on an all night Tarisian ale binge. A quiet, or relatively quiet meeting between the Senator of Naboo and the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic was a large step away from thousands of Senators screaming at one another. Revan entered the office, glancing briefly at the red-robed Senatorial guards before he took a seat offered to him, making himself comfortable as Palpatine and Padme had a silent staring contest, challenging each other's will.
"Due to the threat against your life I am issuing an executive order that you be taken into the care of the Jedi Order to safeguard your life. A liaison may act in your stead but I want you safe, Milady. I simply cannot allow you to risk your life any further in this matter and the debate is over."
Revan's eyes had widened slightly. Palpatine had all but ordered Senator Amidala and it would be amusing to see the stubborn woman's response. Padme's lips thinned into a straight line and her eyes took on a vicious gleam.
"I will not hide, Chancellor. It is the goal of these assassins to silence my voice in the Senate and I will not-"
Palpatine cut the young Senator off and Revan smirked at the man. He was either suicidal or brave. Padme's eyes glittered dangerously but the Senator stopped as the Chancellor raised his hand.
"There is no debate here, Padme. Your safety is my primary concern."
Looking more like a mourning grandfather trying to comfort his granddaughter than a Supreme Chancellor and a vicious politician, Palpatine fixed Padme with his bright blue eyes, imploring her to see reason. She needed to be silenced, either by death or absence and he knew she would pick someone she trusted, likely that bumbling Gungan to represent her in the Senate. Smiling inwardly, Palpatine knew the Gungan would be easy to manipulate, those with big hearts usually were. Hearing the Chancellor use her first name, Padme sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping.
"If I have no other choice..."
Aayla Secura chose that moment to speak up.
"Given the nature of the attempts on your life, the Jedi Council has decided to pursue an investigation. As I have heard Master Kenobi will head the operation with the help of Knight Revan. Padawan Skywalker will be sent to accompany you."
Revan felt slightly offended at being left out but furrowed his brow. Padme and Anakin alone, that would end well. Glancing at the looks the Senator and the Jedi Padawan exchanged, his hopeful and confident and hers wary and measuring, Revan decided to keep his big Mandalorian nose out of it. Whatever the two did would be nothing worse than he or Bastila had done. A smirk worked its way on Revan's face as he thought of their last night together before he felt as if he were choking on the reality of his Force-vision and his face grew troubled.
"Is something wrong, Knight Revan?"
Aayla asked, having sensed a shift in the man's demeanor. Anakin had turned his attention from staring at Padme to look towards Revan with some worry. Revan met both Jedi's gazes and shook his head.
"Just something I was remembering."
Revan muttered, his eyes turning to Palpatine's. Anakin had looked like he didn't believe him and Revan didn't blame the boy, he almost though he would begin crying right there but refused to let his body give in. His energy was reaching its peak and the air around him was charged with Force-energy. Revan knew one wrong statement, one word could set off a chain reaction that he would not be willing to stop. A voice whispered in his mind to kill them, kill them all and leave to his own time, ignore the troubles he was in but then he remembered Bastila, her eyes burning like azure fire when the sky reflected on their gray depths and he thought of her soft touch, one he knew could be strong as well.
"Excuse me."
Revan stood and left, in a swirl of black robes. Narrowing her eyes, Aayla nodded to Chancellor Palpatine and followed Revan, knowing Anakin would have to stay and begin working out some details on hiding the headstrong Senator. Palpatine leaned back in his seat, his eyes following Revan with interest. The man was obviously dealing with a personal issue and was in an emotional state. Palpatine wanted to say it made the other man weak, but he could not deny the energy that seemed almost tangible within his office. Revan was dangerous and perhaps he needed to worry, perhaps he needed to view Revan as a possible threat to his plans.
"As I was saying, you are to be taken into the care of the Jedi. I do not wish to hear of where you will go, for I fear your assassins have eyes and ears everywhere."
Padme looked slightly surprised at Palpatine's thoughtfulness and genuinely smiled at the man. The Republic had fared well under Palpatine's care thus far and there was no reason to believe Chancellor Palpatine was not what he appeared to be, an aging man who thought of the important issues and ruled the Senate with charisma and fairness. The Separatist threat could not be avoided and Padme felt she could trust Palpatine. What possible ulterior motives could the man have? He was in the position of the most powerful man in the free galaxy. Picking up on Padme's thoughts, Palpatine allowed himself a small smirk.
"You are more correct that you know, my dear..."
Aayla Secura found Revan leaning against a pillar in the exterior of the Senate hall, his brown eyes fixed in the distance as he frowned thoughtfully. Her position was simple, observe Revan as well as his reactions and determine if the man was a threat to the Order, or merely a nuisance. While he was powerful and touched upon the darker aspects of the Force, looking on the man's troubled expression erased any thought of a threat from Aayla's mind and the Twi'lek Jedi Knight leaned against a pillar opposite of Revan, crossing her arms patiently and staring at the man.
"Something you want to talk about?"
The Twi'lek asked calmly, her expression open to let Revan know she was not making light of his feelings. Revan gave a half sigh, half laugh and shook his head.
"Not really, but I should."
Nodding, the Twi'lek waited patiently. She had been chosen for this assignment for her skill and strength in the Force. She could look at a situation logically and was considered one of the strongest and most skilled Knights in the Order. That didn't mean Aayla was heartless though and the Twi'lek waited patiently, unmoving as she stared into Revan's eyes. Something in Revan's eyes brought a stirring of fear into Aayla but she channeled it from her thoughts and focused on his eyes.
"I left behind a woman that I loved... I fear I may never see her again and- and I fear I may lose my way without her."
Raising a brow in surprise, Aayla avoided the obvious question most Jedi would ask and looking further into the issue.
"What was she like?"
Revan gave his half-laugh again and smiled, the look brightening his dark demeanor greatly. Momentarily, Aayla noticed how truly handsome Revan was when he smiled before she buried the errant thoughts and focused.
"She was like fire and ice. A warrior and a teacher. She had enough patience to deal with me and enough strength to stand against my stubborn pride and tell me when she thought I was wrong. She- she was beautiful in every way and- and without her I feel nothing but anger and sadness."
A shaky breath was taken in and Revan looked skyward, his eyes narrowing at the curve of the Senate Rotunda above his head.
"Her eyes were the color of the sky before a storm and her temper was the storm."
Revan smirked at the memories of their arguments, heated and pointless but oh so fun.
"I could spend eternity in her eyes..."
Revan stopped talking, pushing himself off the column and turning back to the Senate hall. Confused, but saying nothing, Aayla followed and mulled over the brief glimpse of the man Revan revealed. The look in Revan's eyes was primal, animalistic and Aayla felt a growing sense of dread. The animal in Revan was being backed into a corner and while she felt no fear of the man that Revan was, the other part of him, the darkness was there, waiting for its chance to be unleashed.
"We have a duty to Senator Amidala. Until she is safely away from Coruscant it is our duty to protect her and I can't allow my personal feelings to get in the way."
Aayla's brow rose in surprise and she gave Revan a thoughtful and respectful look. The man's demeanor had shifted with incredible clarity and he focused on his mission.
"That, my friend is a wise decision."
Revan's steps slowed slightly but he did not stop, frowning at the Twi'lek's words. Somewhere in his pathetic display of human emotions he had gained the woman's respect, or perhaps it was her trust. Saying nothing, Revan and Aayla continued onward, both entering the Chancellor's office with no expressions on their faces.
"We're just finishing up."
Palpatine stated, standing and fixing Revan with a penetrating stare. Revan returned the stare before he gave up and turned his eyes to the Chancellor, frowning. Something seemed off for a moment but as soon as it was there it was gone. Assuming it had something to do with his abrupt departure as well as the last time the Chancellor had seen him, Revan let the thought go, concentrating on the issues at hand.
"I apologize but I must take my leave. The Senate is expecting me."
Palpatine gave a slight bow, no more than a tilt of his head and a slight tilt forward from his waist and was gone, his red-robed guards following behind him. Revan glanced at Anakin and Padme speaking quietly to one another and for once had some respect for the boy. Aside from the obvious concern, Anakin was all business, knowing how important it was to protect the Senator and Revan met Anakin's blue eyes when the boy looked up at him and nodded respectfully. Anakin returned the nod, smirking slightly when he realized that his Master as well as Revan would be searching for information on Padme's assassin. They would make a formidable pair indeed.
"If we are finished here I will accompany you to your apartment and then I must take my leave. Master Kenobi as well as Masters Windu and Yoda will meet you there to see you off."
Glancing at Aayla, Padme nodded, slightly annoyed at having to hide but knowing it was the only logical course of action.
"Very well, I appreciate your help, Knight Secura."
Aayla bowed to the Senator, her lips smiling lightly as she looked to Anakin with a raised brow. He seemed to be jumping with energy and the Twi'lek wrote it off as excitement for going on his first solo mission. Anakin was strong and skilled, fully able to protect the Senator against all but the most dire of threats. Glancing at Revan the Twi'lek met Revan's gaze and nodded as they all agreed silently to leave. Escorting the Senator to her apartment and then returning to the Temple, Aayla entered the High Council chambers and bowed to the twelve Jedi Masters as well as the one Jedi Knight aside from herself present.
"Revan's emotions are powerful, he mourns the loss of a loved one but his control is superb. He has channeled his focus and will not be a danger to himself or the mission."
Obi-Wan nodded slowly, turning his attention from his fellow Knight to the Councillors. His opinion of Revan had grown steadily after the previous evening and the Council had thought it prudent to send another Jedi Knight to observe Revan's behavior. Obviously Aayla shared his opinion of Revan and the Council agreed that Revan would be most useful in the field, away from his thoughts he would be able to focus his attention on the time he was in and not the distant past.
The day had been long and boring in Revan's opinion. Padme and Anakin were off to her homeworld of Naboo, safely disguised as Refugees.
"Though you wouldn't know it with that woman's bloody taste in clothing..."
Revan sighed to himself. Royalty always had a hard time blending in to the impoverished and frankly the Jedi archives were useless. Unraveling the mystery of the mysterious- A frown of frustration marred Revan's face and the former Dark Lord cast a sour glare towards Jocasta Nu as she again stated that if an item didn't exist in the archives it did not exist. The arrogance of the woman was causing him to wish he had slipped a little when he was holding his lightsaber to her throat and Revan glanced at Obi-Wan seeing the slightly shell-shocked expression on the older Jedi's face. Obviously Obi-Wan was at a loss for words, but he sure wasn't.
"Really? Would you mind looking up the form of torture I used to break the Jedi Master Jorak Uln? It drove him quite mad and I was just curious as to the picture the omnipotent Jedi Archives painted."
A faint flush appeared on Jocasta's cheeks and the Jedi Librarian gave Revan a stern look.
"That you are allowed in here is evidence enough of the Jedi's forgiveness. I will not have you slander our-"
Revan cut the old Jedi off.
"You slander the Jedi yourself with your arrogance and close-mindedness. I managed to sneak into the archives, who is to say someone else hasn't and that the person could not remove the data? Who is to say it wasn't conveniently lost as have been almost all records of my time?"
Jocasta opened her mouth to retort, stopping and fixing Revan with a slightly surprised look. It had been thousands of years since the Jedi Temple had fallen to the Sith but his statement did hold a good, logical point.
"I suppose you could be right but I would consult with Master Yoda before making any conclusions. He is the wisest and oldest of our ranks and perhaps he would know..."
Raising a brow in disappointment at not having more of a fight from the Librarian, Revan gave a subdued nod. He could let it drop if the Jedi was willing to. He had a feeling he would be spending a lot of time in the archives studying about his time.
"Well, unless some unforseen catastrophe engulfs the galaxy."
Rolling his eyes at that, Revan decided to follow Obi-Wan to find Master Yoda instead of provoking Jocasta Nu any further. She made a formidable foe in a staring contest but Revan didn't feel like wasting any more time glaring at the stodgy Jedi. Walking through the halls, Revan nodded to Aayla as he passed her and the Twi'lek returned the nod before turning back to the Jedi she was speaking to and continuing her conversation. Spotting Obi-Wan heading for a room to the side of the foyer of the Temple, Revan moved quickly to catch up. For how much shorter Obi-Wan was than Revan, Revan noted the man walked pretty fast, as if he were used to keeping up with people with longer strides.
"Younglings, younglings. Visitors we have."
Revan smiled slightly at all of the Jedi children crowded together in the room. They were so young he was surprised they used training sabers and not foam-coated sticks but then again, they were all extraordinarily gifted from what Revan could tell and he leaned against the wall beside the doorway, nodding to Yoda and crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the children staring at Obi-Wan. Obviously something about the older human impressed the younglings and Revan thought back on his knowledge of recent galactic history, searching for some reason the children would appear so fascinated with Obi-Wan and not himself. Then again he was a stranger to them and it was highly unlikely any of the children could sense his aura consciously.
"Hello Master Obi-Wan!"
The children all greeted, all glancing uncertainly at Revan. Obi-Wan smiled slightly, nodding to the children.
"Hello..."
Obi-Wan caught the looks of awe the children were giving him and flushed slightly. None of the children were older than six but all of them knew of the notorious Sith-killer. The last Jedi to have killed a Sith in a duel and the first to have killed a Sith in a thousand years. The flush on Obi-Wan's face left quickly as he felt sick, recalling that a Jedi Master, his Jedi Master was killed in that fight.
"I am sorry to disturb you, Master."
Yoda did not look bothered in the least as he responded.
"What help can I be, Obi-Wan. Hmmm?"
Obi-Wan told Yoda of his and Revan's dilemma, slightly surprised at the Jedi Master's casual response. Yoda looked to the children, a slightly smirk on the ancient Master's face as he spoke.
"Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing... how embarrassing."
Revan snorted on a restrained laugh, clearing his throat and standing up as he approached the two Jedi Masters as Yoda ordered one of the younglings to dim the lighting in the room. Several of the Younglings giggled and Revan was surprised the children weren't chastised as the Jedi of his time had been. Obi-Wan began explaining to Yoda the mystery of the missing world of Kamino, pointing to a blank spt in the map-reader that illuminated the darkened room. Yoda surprised Revan by instead of answering the question's obvious answer, asking one of the children. Revan's respect of the tiny green Jedi Master rose dramatically as he saw what it was. Mandalorians would have done something similar, preparing the children for their harsh future, making them think for themselves and Revan knew he had underestimated the Jedi of this strange time.
Moving slowly through the hangars of the Jedi Temple, Revan let out a low whistle at the agile looking Jedi fighters. They sure beat the Republic Navy surplus the Jedi of his time used. Enviously eyeing the delta-wing design, Revan smirked.
"We get to fly these?"
Obi-Wan chuckled, nodding. Once he relaxed Revan was actually a fairly pleasant fellow.
"Of course. We'll have to make a stop in orbit to get the hyperdrive rings but in a few minutes we'll be on our way to this Kamino."
Revan nodded absently, seating himself into the cockpit of a black and white colored Jedi fighter. Checking the readouts Revan noticed the hyperdrive rings were both an advantage and a disadvantage. The rings housed the Jedi fighter's hyperdrive engines and by dividing the power, allowed the fighters a much larger power source to maneuvering engines and weapons. The disadvantage of course was having the hyperdrive ring lost or destroyed but seeing the perks in maneuvering speed and weapons power, Revan wished silently he'd had a few of these during the Mandalorian wars.
"Alright, Revan. We've been cleared so follow my lead."
Revan acknowledged, briefly glancing at the black and gold domed R-5 droid beside him before following Obi-Wan's red and white marked fighter from the Jedi Temple.
"Maybe the Jedi of this time aren't so ill equipped as I thought..."
Recalling all of the armor and shielding he had used as a Jedi, Revan felt a small amount of respect for the Jedi from his future. They wore nothing but their robes and while it took away a lot of their defensive capabilities, Revan had seen firsthand that while Anakin Skywalker's saber style had been slightly flawed, that it had a more defensive element than the styles of his time. Sighing, Revan sat back in his fighter's seat and followed Obi-Wan's course.
"It seems like everything is the same... yet slightly different."