7.

(Interlude – Carth)

As the pleasant afternoon sun beams down from the cloudless sky, Carth closes his eyes against the bright light. It's filtered enough through the overhead tree branches that it doesn't hurt, but this much sunshine is still jarring after the time he's spent within the confines of the Ebon Hawk. Despite being on Dantooine for over two weeks, he's only started venturing beyond the ship in the last few days. Possibly because that's when Vann stopped skulking around the workshop, levitating all the tools in the name of 'academic progress.'

And there's a whole can of sand worms that Carth is not going to dwell on right now.

Instead he leans against the rough bark of the tree, basking in the refreshing breeze and warm sunlight that Dantooine offers. His most recent years have been spent throughout the Outer Rim, primarily on some of the most inhospitable planets that the galaxy has to offer. This is the first planet he's been to in recent memory that has pleasant weather, and he's quickly beginning to enjoy it. The lush landscape reminds him a bit of Telos.

And that's another train of thought that he has no desire to follow.

Sighing, Carth opens his eyes and gazes out on the rolling field before him, the verdant plain shadowed by the rocky gray hills scattered across the countryside. He checks for movement, having been told by a half-dozen individuals to watch out for kath hounds while in the groves beyond the Jedi enclaves. Patting the blaster at each hip, he feels reassured that the creatures shouldn't pose a risk. In the past month he's faced down swoop gangs, Republic troopers, and orbital bombardment. He's fairly sure that a few overgrown mutts would be the least threatening thing on that list.

The warm sunshine makes it easy to let his mind wander, and he's lost somewhere around whether he should go back to the ship for food or make do with the ration bar currently jammed in his pocket. He's about to settle on the bar when two voices break the silence that otherwise fills the grove. Straining, he can barely identify the individuals as they gradually grow closer. One he recognizes as Bastila, her notably chipper tone a sharp contrast to the sterner male voice that joins her. It takes a lot longer for Carth to place the second speaker, but he thinks it's one of the Jedi Masters from the enclave. Vrook Lamar maybe? He's not entirely sure.

"…but how would that be possible?" the Padawan is asking as the pair slowly stride across the grove. Her lightsaber hilt is grasped in her hands, though the blade is powered down.

"Many Jedi disappeared during the Mandalorian Wars. They were marked as dead in the archives, though bodies were not recovered for every name recorded." The older Jedi sounds thoughtful, though slightly irritated all the same.

"Surely there's a way to check?" Voice rising in pitch, Bastila seems genuinely surprised at the implication of whatever the Master is saying.

Lamar merely sounds annoyed when he replies, "If we were in the temple at Courscant, perhaps I could verify my theory. But at this enclave, we have no access to the Order's main archives." He pauses, chiding, "Need I remind you, Padawan, that we are a refugee enclave and not a major temple?"

Bastila sounds appropriately chagrin when she responds, "Of course, Master. I apologize for my thoughtlessness."

"Hrmph." The pair of Jedi continues their slow stroll through the grove, momentarily lapsing into silence.

Sprawled beneath the boughs of an impressive tree, his back pressed against the wide trunk, Carth realizes that the Jedi probably can't see him from their angle. He knows that he should probably let them know that he's here, if they can't already sense him through the Force, but something keeps him from talking. Since Malak's systematic domination of the Republic, the pilot has been naturally suspicious of the Jedi Order. Even this refugee enclave, supposedly one of the last true bastions of light and freedom within the galaxy, feels like it's cloaked in half-truths hidden beneath serene smiles. This sounds like yet another example of the Jedi knowing something important, and keeping it to themselves. Typical.

"Master," voice apprehensive, Bastila's steps pause amidst the waving grasses. "I appreciate your confidence and feel honored that you have shared this information with me. But I must ask… why have you told me these suspicions?"

When Master Lamar speaks, his tone is more furtive than before. "The Revanchists, as you well know, were not traditional Jedi."

Carth can practically hear Bastila nodding in agreement. "Yes, of course. Jedi are traditionally diplomats and peacekeepers, but they were soldiers. They held ranks within the Republic military and…"

"Hush, Padawan. No need to repeat everything you've been told throughout your studies." Lamar sighs heavily, his voice suddenly sounding very old and tired. "There is more to the Revanchists than most know. Than the Jedi Order has made public."

And isn't that interesting? Holding as still as physically possible, Carth barely breathes while he continues to eavesdrop on the Jedi's conversation. He's suddenly very glad that he decided to stay hidden and listen since the topic of conversation has taken a turn for the clandestine. This is proof that the Masters know more than they admit publically, and that definitely has his attention.

"Master…"

"Stop interrupting, Padawan." Muttering under his breath about impatience versus serenity, Master Lamar finally clears his throat. "Revan always had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, something that we initially praised. It's rare to find a young student who enjoys spending time within the archives, lost in study. And so, when he began researching dark mysticism, we thought little of it."

Bastila gasps audibly, her voice a whisper as she speaks. "But surely you can't mean…"

"Oh, it's not as though he was memorizing Sith spells! We were naïve, not idiots." Resuming his grumbling, the old Master quickly adds, "Revan was studying theory and principle, things that he claimed would be useful in combating the dark forces throughout the galaxy. Combined with the rest of his skillset, it made sense." There's a touch of fondness in his tone now, though it's also laced with bitterness. "A scholar, a tactician, and a voice for the oppressed. In many ways, Revan was the ideal Jedi of his time."

"Forgive my ignorance Master, but if Revan was such a paragon of the Jedi Order, why the concern over the Revanchists? He was their leader, after all." Clearly expecting another rebuke for interrupting, Bastila's tone is hesitant.

However, Lamar is silent for several more moments, the only sound his makes his slow footsteps through the grove.

A cold sense of realization settles in Carth's gut, and he has to bite his cheek to keep from cursing out loud. If the Jedi are discussing Revan, then their conversation must somehow connect to Vann and his so-called visions. From everything that the former mercenary has described, the Jedi have been cryptically vague about the meaning of his dreams. The Masters repeatedly claim that they're still 'deciphering the potential ramifications.' However, they apparently know more than they're letting on.

"Yes," the Jedi Master finally states, "Revan was their leader. And that's where the problem lies. Hungry for knowledge, fascinated by dark mysticism, and impatient with the Order's leadership, he possessed many traits that we consider to be… dangerous in a commander. And he went on to pass many of his negative traits to those who followed him. To corrupt them with his own distorted habits and ideas."

"Malak?" Bastila breathes. "His fall…?"

Heaving another regretful sigh Lamar continues, "Revan freely shared much of what he learned about the dark side, and often encouraged his followers to be skeptical of the Jedi Council's leadership. Thus, it was no surprise when Malak and many of the other Revanchists showed signs of being lured to the dark."

"So, more Jedi than just Malak succumbed to the dark side?" Voice hushed, Bastila is hard to overhear as she speaks. "But surely this all occurred after Revan's death? Malak's attachment to Revan and the arrogance he displayed at taking over Revan's command were the catalysts…"

"Yes, yes, I know the official story!" Brushing off the Padawan's words, Master Lamar snorts. "But the truth is that a few members of the Jedi Council had circumstantial evidence to suggest that Malak's fall, and the fall of many other Revanchists, began long before Revan's death. Unfortunately, they chose to ignore this information until it was too late."

Clucking in disapproval, Bastila sounds understandably confused. "But why would members of the Council refuse to act on such information?"

The Jedi Master's tone is terse as he admits, "The same reason that it's become nearly impossible to discredit Malak today. No matter how much proof one has, the public will believe what it wants. And tarnishing the name of a war hero only angers the millions of individuals who have placed that hero on a pedestal. The Jedi were already unpopular due to their late entry into the Mandalorian Wars, and they needed public support." He sounds particularly defeated as he adds, "The Order cannot flourish if people do not send Force-sensitive children for training."

"And accusing the Revanchists, the heroes of the people, of falling to the dark side… and with only circumstantial proof… could have doomed the Order," Bastila finishes with a note of newfound understanding. "Of course Master, now I understand. But please, explain this to me… were the Revanchists corrupted by Revan directly? Or did they merely find an outlet for their own dark tendencies thanks to Revan's leadership?"

"Unfortunately, that question has no definitive answer. But I can tell you this much. Revan was undoubtedly a hero, but he was also flawed. His own practices and teachings speak to his personal faults. In fact, there is a bit of evidence to suggest…" Suddenly cutting himself off, Master Lamar huffs quietly. "No, no. This is not the time or the place for that."

Bastila seems to hold her breath, waiting for further explanation. When none comes, her tone is desperate as she begs, "Please Master, share your wisdom with me. If what you told me earlier is true, anything relating to Revan and the Revanchists could be important!"

There's another moment of tense silence before Master Lamar draws a shaky breath and whispers something to the Padawan. It's too hushed for Carth to overhear, even as he strains his ears to catch a few fleeting words. His heart pounds the entire time, a mixture of anger and anxiety roiling in his gut. Unfortunately, whatever passes between the two Jedi remains a secret. The information must be shocking, because it's followed by Bastila's sharp intake of breath and a softly muttered, "But that's not possible!"

"Nobody else was there that day, and thus no one can truly judge what is or is not possible." The Jedi Master's voice is stern. "While Malak is a liar, his words do have an echo of truth."

It's Bastila's turn to lapse into silence, her breathing audible even above the gentle breeze that rustles the tall grass of the grove. "Master," she finally asks, voice plaintive, "What do you expect me to do with this knowledge?"

"Be vigilant, Padawan. Let this be a lesson that the lure of the dark side is pervasive, even for those whom others believe are above reproach." Lamar's tone softens slightly as he adds, "Be mindful of your own actions, and those of your companions."

Manner gravely serious Bastila replies, "Yes, Master. I will remain mindful and vigilant."

"Good." Footfalls gradually retreating towards the enclave, the Master calls out. "I will leave you to meditate on what you have just learned. May the Force be with you, Bastila."

"Thank you, Master…" Sounding almost dazed, the Padawan is left alone in the grove with a pensive look on her face. Her brows are furrowed, and the knuckles gripping the hilt of her lightsaber are white with tension. She seems lost in her own thoughts, her shoulders slumping with the weight of whatever knowledge she's just gained. Only after Master Lamar has disappeared into the fields does she mutter a rather ineloquent, "Well, shit!"

Slowly creeping out from his hiding place behind the tree, Carth hopes that he can take advantage of Bastila's current distraction. If he can make it look like he's just strolling into the grove, and hide the fact that he was eavesdropping on an obviously private conversation, he might be able to get the Jedi to confess whatever information she just learned. The pilot is aware that he's not the best liar, at least not compared to individuals like Vann, but he assumes that he can manage to walk nonchalantly. Provided that he can swallow his own sense of personal outrage at the entire situation.

Carefully angling his body so that he appears to have come from the main path through the grove, Carth slowly ambles up to where Bastila is still standing in silent contemplation. The Jedi doesn't seem to notice his approach, her gaze lost somewhere in the grassy fields beyond. "Hey there," he calls out, wincing slightly when his voice is just a little too chipper.

"Oh, Carth!" Startling out of her private reverie, Bastila blinks as she offers the pilot a terse smile. "I apologize, I didn't notice you walking up."

"No problem. I was just, uh, out for some air. You know, a view beyond the ship's hull." Carth glances in the direction that Jedi Master departed in. "I just passed by Master Lamar… at least I think that's his name? Anyway, were the two of you… talking about anything?" Inwardly, he winces at his complete lack of subtlety and vows to leave the lying to someone else in the future.

Though she gives no outward signs of noticing the loaded question, Bastila's response it less-than-desirable. "Hmm? Oh, no. I didn't even know Master Lamar was out here. Many of the Jedi within the enclave come to this grove to meditate, and he must be one of them." She offers an airy shrug, "I thought that I would try it myself."

"So, you were just out here… alone?" Hackles immediately raising at the blatant lie, Carth feels his voice growing suspicious.

Laughing softly, Bastila gestures to her lightsaber. "I assure you, Carth. I can take care of myself. No need to worry about me wandering about on my own, despite the kath hounds in the area."

Swallowing his rising frustration, Carth hears the coldness in his own voice when he says, "Well, so long as you're safe." Pausing to gather his thoughts, he tries a different angle. "So, have, um, any of the Jedi Masters mentioned anything more to you about Vann's dreams? The ones about Revan?"

"They're not dreams, they're visions," Bastila corrects. "And no, I haven't heard anything else. Why, has Vann told you something new? I would hope that he'd come to me with any further visions of Revan, but I'm also aware that he's been hiding on the Ebon Hawk to get out of his meditation lessons with Master Dorak…"

"Yeah. He hides in the workshop." A thin smirk tugs on Carth's lips at the thought of the Initiate's petulant antics. "And no, he hasn't said anything new. I was just… concerned."

Smiling softly, Bastila offers the pilot a friendly pat on the shoulder. "While your concern is rather sweet, I can personally confirm that Force visions are in no way harmful. The only side effect is a bit of lost sleep, but that's nothing a strong cup of caf can't cure."

"Well, that's… good to know." Carth hopes that his voice sounds relieved, rather than increasingly distrustful. "But, if you do learn anything new, you'll tell me?"

"Of course!" Seeming to have shaken herself from her funk, Bastila's natural poise has returned. "I fully plan to share anything that I can."

And isn't that a telling statement? For a fleeting moment, Carth considers calling the Jedi out on her lies and demanding to know exactly what Lamar told her. But he's also aware that course of action is unlikely to yield any tangible results. If anything, Bastila will just spin a fresh set of excuses and make the pilot feel like he's the one acting out of turn. Torn between the two options, he bites his tongue so hard that he expects to taste blood. Honestly, he's beginning to suspect that Force-sensitivity just makes people better at obfuscating the truth.

Dantooine's sunshine and fresh air suddenly lose their appeal, the clear sky seeming to mock the foul mood that's brewing in Carth's mind. He curses himself for wanting to trust Bastila, and for thinking that she might actually be different from the other Jedi. That iota of faith is gone, replaced with the same suspicion that he's used as a shield since he deserted the Republic. It's a cold comfort, but at least it's better than placing his trust in someone who will ultimately betray him. Better to survive detached from those around him than to have his life shattered yet again.

"Well, that's that, then. I guess I'll be heading back to the…" Before Carth can finish excusing himself from the Jedi's presence a deafening boom rocks the area, causing the ground to shake and the air to quiver. The pilot instinctively ducks, keeping his head down as both hands reach for the blasters at his hips. Nearby, he hears the humming of dual lightsaber blades powering up.

"What was that?" Bastila has moved into a defensive position, her double bladed 'saber poised and ready to strike. "It sounded like an explosion!"

Gazing upwards in search of a Republic fleet orbiting the planet, Carth braces himself for the sight of yet another world destroyed by Malak's wrath. But the skies above Dantooine are as clear and bright as ever. His eyes shift their focus, scanning the horizon and surrounding grove for signs of an attack. But once again, there's no threat to be seen. "I think it was an explosion," he finally confirms. "Sounded close, too. But I don't see any signs of smoke…" His mind races, replaying the memory of the earth-shaking blast. Slowly, the details become clearer. "With tremors like that, maybe it was underground?"

Realization dawns in Bastila's pale eyes. "Perhaps… in a cave?"

"Yeah," Carth confirms. "Sounds about right."

"Such as the Dantooine crystal caves?" Voice rising an octave in worry, the Jedi frowns. She's already moving out of her defensive position and looks like she's ready to sprint across the grove.

Nodding in confusion Carth replies, "Crystal caves, sure. Any type of underground structure, really…"

"Like the crystal caves where Vann was just sent?" At that Bastila takes off running, her eyes trained on the nearby hills that border this area of the grove.

Without missing a beat Carth sprints after the Jedi while muttering, "You've got to be shitting me! Why is it that whenever there's shooting or an explosion, Vann is always involved?"

Saber humming by her side, Bastila only offers the cryptic response of, "Destiny, I suppose!"

Unwilling to think too hard about the Jedi's response, Carth keeps running. Destiny, he decides, is just a code word for 'troublemaker.'


A cave full of delicate, Force-attuned crystals is probably the worst place for Vann to use the frag grenade Canderous gave him back on Taris. At least the damn thing is effective.

"Careful, you fool!" Juhani's lightsaber carves a crimson arc around her as she turns to glare at the Initiate. "You'll damage the crystals."

"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Glaring right back, Vann jabs one of his vibroblades in the direction of the dozen or so kinrath that have been reduced to charred and smoking corpses. Several were blown apart by the explosion, their legs still twitching a few meters away from their bodies.

Growling, Juhani shifts to focus on the still-living arachnids. "That," she snaps over the hum of her lightsaber, "Is not the point!"

"The point is that we're not dead!" Slashing at a slightly-singed and now-enraged kinrath, Vann pauses to glance at the nearby crystal formations. "And the rocks are just fine, so stop worrying."

For at least the fourth time during this battle, Juhani shouts, "They are not rocks!"

Also for at least the fourth time, Vann snaps back, "Do I look like I care right now?" The edge of his blade sinks into the exoskeleton of the kinrath with a sickening crunch, severing its head from its abdomen. The creature continues to flail for several moments, legs twitching and kicking before curling up in death.

Using the wall of the cave for leverage, Vann kicks off the uneven surface and uses the Force to propel himself into a forward flip. The momentum is enough to carry him over another cluster of kinrath who have appeared from within their hive, this group thankfully smaller than the last. Landing solidly behind the creatures he utilizes the momentum to deliver an overhand blow from both vibroblades, managing to decapitate two of the arachnids in a single move. Not pausing to watch the things shudder their death throes, he dives back into the writhing mass of enraged arachnids. Using his off-blade to block a set of venomous mouthparts from digging into his arm, he swings his dominant blade around to knock back three of the creatures. The honed edge cuts into their chitinous exoskeletons, carving fresh wounds into the delicate flesh beneath. Clicking their displeasure, the kinraths' legs skittering as they renew their charge.

"How in the hells did you manage to steal a crystal from inside of an egg?" Vann growls at his companion.

Slicing apart two kinrath with three quick slashes, Juhani flips backward to drive her red blade into the abdomen of a third. "The hive was not awake at the time," she explains.

"Well, they're awake now!" Vertically cleaving the head of the nearest arachnid, Vann kicks the still-writhing body out of the way so that he can slash the legs off another. "And I think you pissed them off!"

"You cannot possibly blame this on me!" Taking a moment to huff in indignation, Juhani glares at the Initiate as she stabs her lightsaber through two kinrath simultaneously.

Reversing his grip on the vibroblade in his dominate hand, Vann drives the point into a creature attempting to attack him from the back. It chitters at him before he lops its head off with his second blade. "I can, and I will!"

Breathing hard, Juhani takes two graceful steps back to put some space between herself and what remains of the hive. "Kinrath," she describes, "Are attracted to warmth. It's possible that our battle…"

"For the fifth time, do I look like I care?" Muscles burning with exertion and mind feeling fatigued, Vann barely summons the energy to use the Force to propel him into a run. Utilizing the additional speed, he's able to strike down four of the arachnids as he rushes past. Stopping before a fifth he slashes at it, managing to carve off a piece of its abdomen. Unfortunately, it's not enough to kill the beast. Aggravated by the injury, the kinrath retaliates by lunging forward and snapping its mouthparts. Vann manages to dodge a full-on bite, but one of the fangs still pierces deep into his left side. "Kriffing hells!" he swears, the wound stinging fiercely as the venom enters his bloodstream.

Still attempting to keep a healthy distance between herself and the arachnids, Juhani turns to glance at her companion as he curses. "Did one manage to bite you again?"

"I'm fine!" Vann lies, even as he feels his veins begin to burn from the venom. The Jedi Council provided him with two packs of anti-venom before he left the enclave, and he was forced to inject one after the bite that started this entire mess. He's fairly sure that the first envenomation was worse, and he's reluctant to use the second pack unless he absolutely has to. From what he knows, kinrath venom isn't deadly to a creature his size. But that doesn't mean it won't ruin his already shitty day. The wound in his side is already dripping blood from the hemotoxic properties, and he can feel his left hand developing a slight tremor from the neurotoxins.

"Careful, Initiate!" Juhani cautions. "One bite can make you extremely ill."

Attempting to control the shaking of his off-hand Vann growls, "You don't say!"

Grimly facing down the last of the kinrath hive, Juhani moves her 'saber blade into a defensive position. Her chest is heaving from exertion, the acrobatic nature of her fighting style obviously taking its toll. As a pair of arachnids charges at her from both side, she adopts a simpler technique, parrying them aside with hard strikes rather than raining down swifter blows. The sheer power of the hits seems to stun the kinrath for a moment, which is just enough time for the Cathar to dive forward and decapitate both with a single whirling swing. Unfortunately, the grandiose motion destroys her guard, enabling a third kinrath to attack from her blind spot. Legs scrambling, it manages to plunge its fangs directly into Juhani's unprotected thigh.

Vann sees the bite happen just as he's slashing apart two arachnids of his own. He opens his mouth to shout a warning, but it's a fraction of a second too late. The Cathar howls in pain as the venom enters her system, and she whirls around to gut her assailant in one swift motion. But the damage is already done, a full dose of kinrath venom now coursing through her veins.

Running forward on shaky legs, Vann manages to drive the points of both vibroblades into the abdomen of what appears to be the last living kinrath in the cave. Viciously twisting both hilts, he carves a pair of gruesome holes into the creature. It clacks in pain for a moment, legs flailing as it struggles to get away. But the Initiate merely drives the blades deeper, watching as the kinrath's movements become more erratic before finally ceasing altogether. He waits several moments, body tense as he draws his blades from the arachnid corpse. When nothing else in the cave moves, he exhales a sigh of relief. After giving both weapons a perfunctory cleaning he quickly sheathes them, his left hand jerking violently with the effort. "You know Juhani, I still blame you for this."

There's no response from the Cathar.

Startled by the sudden silence that fills the cavern Vann's eyes dart around, searching the gloom for his newfound companion-in-arms. It takes a moment to find her where she's collapsed against one of the crystal formations, body spamming as blood pools around her thigh. Despite how unsteady his legs feel, the Initiate hurries to her side. "Juhani!" he shouts. "How many times were you bit?"

Eyes unfocused, the Cather's words slur as she replies, "Only one."

"You sure about that?" Vann watches her doubtfully, noting the way that her muscles seize uncontrollably. "I wasn't this bad after my first bite."

"Cathar biology… different from human biology," Juhani offers, visibly struggling to speak. "We are more… sensitive to venom."

There's a faint tremor to his right hand as Vann reaches into his jacket and retrieves the final anti-venom pack. He looks it over for any labels denoting what species it will work for but finds nothing. With a shrug, he moves to inject the yellowish liquid into the Cathar's good thigh.

"No!" Shaking her head as best she can, Juhani glares at the human. "You use it. You were… also bit."

"Yeah, but I already have a dose in me from earlier." Vann is almost positive that's not how anti-venom functions, but he doesn't voice this theory. "And I'm not going to die from my bite. You look like you will."

Breath becoming more labored, Juhani closes her eyes. "A… noble death. I accept it."

"What did I tell you about the damned melodrama?" Without another word Vann jabs the anti-venom into the woman, silently hoping that the mixture actually works on her species.

For a moment, there's no response. Then, almost miraculously, the uncontrolled seizing of Juhani's muscles gradually ceases. The blood flow from her bite wound also slows, and her breath appears to come easier. As she draws a deep lungful of air, her golden eyes begin to open. "You fool!" she whispers, realization mixing with anger on her feline countenance. "Why would you do that?"

"I told you before," Vann snorts, attempting to ignore the way his own lungs are beginning to feel tight, "I'm not going to kill you. Same goes for not letting you die when I'm literally holding the antidote."

Casting an accusatory glare at the Initiate, Juhani gradually moves into a more upright position. She retrieves her lightsaber from where it lies beside her on the ground, attaching it to her belt. "I attacked you, tried to kill you, and threatened your Master. And yet you spare me. You, who claims to have so much darkness within you." She scowls. "It makes no sense."

Slowly stumbling over to one of the other crystal formations, Vann shrugs. "Quatra tricked you, Juhani. And you don't deserve to die for that." He pretends to not notice how sloppy and uncoordinated the gesture is, instead focusing on the fact that he can finally complete the task that he was sent into the Force-forsaken cave for in the first place. Silently he vows to not leave this cave without a crystal.

"You said before that you do not think that my master intended me to survive this test." Eyes narrowing, the Cathar tracks her companion's increasingly erratic movements. "What makes you think this?"

Chuckling darkly Vann presses his hand against the crystal formation, attempting to see if it somehow resonates with him. From what he can tell, it's just a glowing blue rock. "Did you really think that you'd be able to sneak into the enclave? There are about twenty Jedi living and training there. Five of them are Masters."

Raising her chin defiantly Juhani sneers, "This test was not merely about brute strength. It was also a test of cunning. The dark side strengthens both the body and the mind!"

"Alright, so you manage to sneak onto the enclave unnoticed. And you get lucky enough to find Master Lestin alone, and not in a conference with the other Masters or some of his students. And you manage to beat him in one-on-one combat." Vann wheezes as he stumbles to the next crystal formation, this one green. "What then? You had to realize that you'd never make it off the enclave without being caught. Lightsaber battles tend to make a lot of noise."

"Do you doubt my skill?" Juhani snarls, teeth glinting sharp and white in the dim lighting. "Are you calling me incompetent?"

"Not incompletely, just naïve." The second formation also seems oddly mundane for being a Force-attuned rock. Vann isn't entirely sure what he's supposed to be looking for in a lightsaber crystal, but his instincts tell him that this isn't it. "Definitely naïve if you thought this idiotic plan would actually work just because you're 'one with the darkness' or whatever else you claim."

Anger practically vibrating through the Force, Juhani leaps to her feet. The movement is far from graceful and she stumbles into an awkward crouch, one hand braced against the cave floor. "I am not naïve! I have seen much in my life, and have experienced great pain and hardship. Though my trials I have become stronger than those coddled Jedi in your enclave!"

"Alright, so you're strong and knew what you were getting into." Voice strained, Vann half-walks and half-crawls towards a third, smaller crystal formation in the corner of the cave. "All that means is that you should be smart enough to recognize the truth," he insists, "Search your feelings, or whatever."

"Do not presume to know anything about me, Initiate!" Climbing to her feet, Juhani slowly stalks towards where the other Force user is limping across the cavern. "You may be a skilled warrior and strong with the Force, but you know nothing of who I am! Nothing of the pain and shame that I have experienced."

Shoulders twitching as he attempts to shrug, Vann gives up on any extraneous movement and focuses his physical strength into the difficult task of walking. "Admit it," he pants, chest uncomfortably tight. "You knew you weren't going back to Quatra after this. You knew you were coming here to die."

"And so what if I was?!" Voice echoing across the high ceiling of the cave, Juhani's eyes narrow as she stares accusingly at the Initiate. "So what if I knew that Quatra sent me here to die with honor?" Her steps waver, hands balled into fists at her side. "Though she gave up on me, at least she offered me an honorable death. Unlike the Jedi who merely turned me away when I did not meet their standards, leaving me to live with the shame of my failure!"

"So you came here to die?"

"I came here to die with the last shreds of dignity that I have left." Voice proud, Juhani squares her shoulders. However, all sense of hubris seems to deflate in an instant as she softly adds, "Or, that was my goal. Until I met you, Initiate. Until you saved me."

Both of Vann's arms are trembling uncontrollably, and his vision is beginning to blur when he finally reaches the crystal formation. "I guess I'm just that nice." His tone is more strained than he realizes, lacking its usual sarcastic bite. "So, now you have a second chance. Maybe you can learn something from this whole damned experience."

Despite the bitterness lingering in her voice, Juhani's expression soften. "And what is that?"

"Stop trying to be something you're not!" Pressing his shaking hands against what appears to be another blue crystal, Vann notes that it seems to pulse a bit under his touch. Or maybe that's just him shivering. "You couldn't make the Jedi happy, and you obviously pissed Quatra off if she sent you on a suicide mission. So just… stop. Maybe try making yourself happy for once?"

As she makes her way towards the fallen human, a look of concern crosses Juhani's feline features. "And how should I go about that, Initiate?"

"Hells if I know. I haven't been happy for a long time." The admission seems to come out of nowhere, and distantly Vann wonders if the venom coursing through his system has also loosened his tongue. "But I guess you should just… find your own path to follow? I don't know, I might be starting to hallucinate."

"Find my own path to follow?" Juhani pauses, Force signature pulsing thoughtfully around her. "And what if I believe that my path lies with you, Initiate?"

Hand trembling against the crystal, Vann tries to shake his head. It doesn't work. "That's a terrible idea," he mutters. "Find a different path."

A faint smile creases Juhani's lips. "Is it, though? You have shown me more kindness and displayed more thoughtfulness in a few hours than I have experienced in my entire life. You know darkness, and yet you walk the path of the light." Now standing beside the collapsed human she adds, "You have more wisdom than you realize. And as you have already stated, there are far worse individuals for me to follow."

As another spasm shudders through his body, Vann's fingers flex against the very edge of the crystal formation. The seizing of his muscles causes his hand to jerk uncontrollably, breaking off the very tip of the crystal. It digs into his palm, oddly warm and seeming to pulse in time with his own rapid heartbeat. If this doesn't count as some sort of Force providence, he doesn't know what does. "You really want to follow me?" he slurs out. "Just so you know, I'm nothing but trouble."

"Then I suppose we will find trouble together." Reaching down Juhani attempts to gather the shuddering human in her arms, though she struggles to hold him as another series of spasms wracks his body. Her gaze shifts to where blood has soaked through one side of his shirt, and a hint of worry enters her eyes. "I am sure that there will be trouble to spare when I return you to the enclave."

Noticing the Cathar's concern, Vann glances down at himself and sees the growing red stain adhering his shirt to his skin. "I'm bleeding on you," he mumbles with genuine surprise. "See, already trouble." He tries to force out a laugh but is stopped by another involuntary shudder.

Juhani's lithe figure takes a step forward only to stumble from a combination of the human's weight and her own partially-healed injuries. Silently, Vann thinks that there is no way either of them is getting back to the enclave without more help, and a sense of dread sinks in his gut. The sharp edges of the crystal he's still clutching dig into his palm, its steady pulsing managing to ground him against his own rising panic.

"…are you in here?"

For a moment, the Initiate thinks that he's hallucinating additional footsteps in the cave, along with the ghostly sound of echoing voices. However, Juhani's head also jerks to attention at the sounds. Straining his ears, he struggles to shout out, "Over here! In the… the crystal cavern?"

Two sets of footfalls rush through the cave, joined by a pair of familiar, albeit frantic, voices.

"Vann, I swear that if you got your ass killed by a bunch of kinrath I'm going to murder you…" Despite the humor in Carth's words, there's also a hint of genuine worry. Vann silently notes that the pilot is actually pissed at the thought of him dying, and files that fact away for later.

Bastila rushes into view, slender form illuminated by the yellow glow of her lightsaber. Her gaze sweeps the area, taking in the multitude of kinrath corpses, the charred rock created by the grenade, and the trail of blood that smears the cavern floor. "Vann!" she cries, finally spotting the man where he is slumped against Juhani.

"What the hells happened in here?" Carth is close on the Jedi's heels, his jaw visibly dropping as he also observes the carnage scattered around the room. "Are you even capable of doing anything without violence?"

Swallowing his relief Vann mutters, "…No?"

Swinging her 'saber into a defensive position, Bastila eyes the Cathar cautiously. "And who might you be?"

"I am Juhani. A… student of the Force," she offers, still supporting Vann with both arms.

Lightsaber not wavering a millimeter, Bastila's eyes narrow suspiciously. "A student of the dark side, perhaps." She nods to the Initiate, "I'm going to have to ask you to step away from my friend, and to keep your hands where I can see them." A cold spark of anger shoots through the Force bond.

Tensing, one of Juhani's hands twitches towards her own 'saber, but she manages to suppress the motion and retain her grip on the human. Her Force signature ripples with apprehension, though her expression remains resolute. "This Initiate saved my life," she replies, her words terse. "I am merely returning the favor."

Mind swimming against the venom coursing through his system, Vann is only distantly aware of the tension thrumming through the Force. His own connection is tenuous even for him, flickering in and out of focus in a haze of distorted awareness. The only thing tethering him to reality is the gently-pulsing crystal in his hand. He tries to lift his arm to study the object, but his limbs refuse to obey as his entire body collapses, legs buckling and head lolling to the side when his torso goes limp. The arms supporting his shoulders fail to maintain their grip, and suddenly he's tumbling towards the ground in an uncoordinated heap. As he lands the rough cavern floor scrapes against his skin, body jolted when he impacts the hard rock. He thinks he should feel pain but all sensations are distant, as though happening to someone else.

He's fairly sure that Bastila abandons all pretense of peace and serenity, and starts yelling. But it's hard to tell exactly what's happening as everything around him is rapidly engulfed in the black void of unconsciousness.


FLASH

A black stone door slowly swings open, revealing a dark hallway beyond. Revan's masked form strides through the revealed doorway, both lightsabers igniting as he walks further into the unknown. His movements are confident, if wary, his emotions otherwise unreadable thanks to his mask. A few paces back, Malak follows in his friend's wake as he ignites his own blue 'saber. The pair doesn't speak, seeming to both understand their shared goal without words. Eventually, their forms are swallowed up by the darkness.

FLASH

Revan and Malak are standing within a stone room, shoulder-to-shoulder as they stare at what appears to be some sort of ancient mechanical device. A moment later Revan bends down, his black robes fluttering around him as gloved hands reach for the mysterious object. When the Jedi's hand makes contact, the tall arms of the device shift downward and a glowing orb materializes in its center. It's hard to tell Revan's reaction, but a sense of excitement seems to radiate from his being.

FLASH

Dust and debris fill the air, Revan looking on impassively as a structure collapses in the distance. A detonator is clutched within his gloved hand, and a collection of unarmed mines lays at his feet. Malak is a meter or so behind his friend, also watching the destruction with grim determination. His lips move, though no sound comes out of his mouth, and then he turns away from the rubble that the explosion created. Revan, however, continues to watch, even as the dust settles and the air is still once more.


Everything aches as Vann gradually regains consciousness, the lingering images of his vision filling his mind. This is the first time that a dream about Revan hasn't ended in him wanting to scream, though that's probably because his body hurts too much for him to do anything but groan.

"Ugh, what happened?"

"Do you mean before or after you blew-up part of a sacred Jedi cave, battled an entire hive of kinrath, and almost died of envenomation because you gave the last of your damned anti-venom to a stranger who tried to kill you?" Carth's face slowly materializes in the early morning sunlight illuminating the makeshift Jedi medical bay. "Though I am impressed… I've never seen someone piss off the Jedi so thoroughly while completely unconscious."

"…Oh." The memories of Vann's adventure in the crystal caves gradually filter back, somewhat jumbled but entirely present. He tries to say more, but his mouth feels dry and gritty.

Sighing, Carth stands from the chair he's apparently been occupying. "I should go tell Bastila that you're awake. Though, fair warning, she's probably going to come in and yell at you."

Probing his connection to the Force, Vann traces the thread that connects his mind to the other Jedi's. There's a gentle thrumming of irritation in response, the bond opening just a bit wider as sensations of annoyance and relief flow through it. "She already knows," he croaks.

On cue Bastila bursts into the med bay, expression pinched with worry even as her eyes shine merrily. "Well, at least we know the anti-venom works quickly!" she announces. "And now that you're awake, you'll actually be able to hear me give you a piece of my mind. What were you thinking?!"

"I'm pretty sure the problem is that he wasn't thinking." Carth is glancing bemusedly between the two Force users, arms crossed over his chest.

Struggling into a sitting position, Vann notes that most of his aches seem to radiate from a single point on his left side. "There was thought involved in… at least half of what I did."

"That doesn't make you any less of an idiot." Carth scoffs in disapproval, but there's a fondness to his tone. The hint of levity doesn't last long, immediately vanishing when Bastila turns to look at him.

"Carth, could you please give us a moment?" The Jedi offers a weak smile. "There are a few things that I would like to discuss with Vann in private."

The request seems to jolt the pilot, and a faint flicker of disdain passes over his features. Any trace of affection leeches out of his voice, replaced by stony detachment. "Sure, no problem," he agrees, words void of almost all emotion. Without looking back, he strides from the room, closing the door behind him with a harsh shove.

Vann blinks at the now-closed door, brow furrowing in confusion. "Who pissed in his caf?"

"I think Carth is feeling a bit left out, and I suppose that's mostly my fault." Bastila sighs, sounding unconvinced as she adds, "But… it's safer for him if there are things he doesn't know. Especially if he plans on departing from our little group."

"I dunno if he's actually going to leave," Vann comments, still staring in the direction the pilot retreated in. "I think we might just be stuck with him at this point."

"Still, there are some things that must remain private among the Jedi here. We have ways of protecting our minds, should we fall into the hands of Malak's people. But should someone without mental shields accidentally divulge this information…" Lips pulling into a frown, Bastila quickly settles herself into the chair that Carth was previously using.

Swallowing thickly, Vann's throat clicks with dryness. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before. Now, what did you want to talk about?"

"Here, I thought you might be thirsty when you awoke. Master Dorak mentioned that it's a side effect of the anti-venom." Bastila thrusts an open canteen of water towards the Initiate, liquid sloshing over the edges. "And, well, I think you can already hazard a guess about what I wish to discuss."

Grabbing the canteen, Vann greedily gulps down half its contents before the Jedi is finished speaking. Wiping his lips across the back of his hand, he grumbles, "Well, I'm assuming that you want to talk about Juhani… who, by the way, I don't have an explanation for. Or is this about my mystical lightsaber rock?" His voice lowers, "…Or Revan's latest visit to my subconscious?"

"Okay, so there are a few things that we should discuss…"

"I don't know what to tell you about Juhani." Reaching down, Vann gently probes the tender spot in his side. There's a bandage covering his flesh, but he can feel the still-healing wound beneath. "I'm guessing that the Masters won't buy the excuse that the kitty followed me home?"

Sighing at the irreverent response, Bastila studies the man lying in the bed. "Unfortunately, the Jedi are as confused as you are. She's deeply enmeshed in the dark side of the Force, yet she's not truly fallen. Still, she is dangerous…"

Hastily interrupting his companion, Vann studies her skeptically as he asks. "They're, uh, not going to hurt her or anything, right?"

"The Jedi do not believe in harming or executing prisoners," the Padawan remarks primly. "For now, she's being confined to the enclave, with the Masters keeping a close watch on her. I hear that she's already requested to speak with Master Lestin, to discuss her future."

A cold chill runs down Vann's spine. "You… didn't leave her alone and armed with Master Lestin, did you?"

Scoffing, Bastila shakes her head. "Of course not! I confiscated her lightsaber almost immediately after you passed out. And we're not foolish enough to leave her alone with any Jedi in this enclave."

"Ah. Well. That's what I… figured." Vann pretends to nod in agreement. "Good work on getting that 'saber away from her, by the way."

As he speaks, the Initiate partially pulls back the covers so that he can examine the visible skin on his torso. The worst of the lightsaber burns he received during the duel seem to have healed or at least have blended with the numerous other blemishes he bears. Granted, nothing marring his body is as gruesome as the jagged scar that nearly bisects his abdomen. While he doesn't recall how he received the grisly injured, he knows it has something to do with the crash that took his memory. Which, to be honest, explains almost nothing whatsoever. Though the wound has healed to a pearly pink, it's still disconcerting to look at and tends to raise a lot of questions that he's unable to answer. Luckily, the mark is currently hidden beneath the swath of white bandages wrapped around his torso to stanch the hemorrhaging kinrath bite.

"Oh please, it's not as though I dueled her for it." Bastila reaches forward to swat the Initiate's hand away from the bandage that he's still probing. "She surrendered it when she realized that both Carth and I were armed and uninjured. Frankly, she was less concerned with her own safety and more worried about your sorry state."

Arching a brow, Vann smirks at the Jedi. "What, are you jealous?"

Barking out a soft, genuine laugh, Bastila rolls her eyes. "Hardly. I have much more important things to worry about than what a dark Force user thinks of you." She chuckles softly at the thought. "Frankly, Vann Chis, you believe yourself far more charming than you actually are."

Vann's eyes go wide in mock hurt. "I think you're just desensitized because of our Force-bond."

"I'm quite sure that's not the case." Shaking her head at this response, Bastila sobers a bit. "Though, speaking of lightsabers, this brings me to my next point of discussion."

Moving to place the canteen on the bedside table, Vann sighs. "Which would be...?"

Folding her hands in her lap, Bastila mutters, "The crystal that you found."

The memory of an object, warm and resonating with his own connection to the Force, resurfaces in Vann's mind. "The blue one?"

"It's… not blue." Bastila's voice is apprehensive, her eyes shifting to study a faint stain on the otherwise white sheets.

"I'm pretty sure that, even envenomated, I know my colors," Vann states, watching the Jedi curiously.

Glancing up, Bastila arches a brow. "Oh please. By the time we found you, I'd be surprised if you knew your own name."

"Alright, smarty," A faint note of confusion laces Vann's words, "What color was it?"

"Violet." Expression growing worried, Bastila repeats, "It was a violet crystal."

Vann stares in disbelief, "You're nitpicking over…"

"Violet crystals," Bastila interrupts, "While not inherently dark like red crystals, tend to resonate best with Force users who have some form of connection to or understanding of the dark side."

"Oh, for the love of…" Throwing up his hands in frustration, Vann winces when the action pulls at the wound in his side. "It's a kriffing rock, Bastila! It's a fancy, glowing rock!"

Meeting the Initiate's gaze with a look of fierce determination, the Jedi shakes her head. "It is not just a 'rock,' Vann! A lightsaber crystal resonates with the Force signature of its user. Thus, the best crystals are also a direct reflection of those who use them. And your crystal, aside from being of exceptional quality, also implies that there is innate darkness in you." She frowns, irritation suddenly replaced with concern, the emotion flooding the Force bond. "Can you please try and be serious for a moment and understand why this is so troubling?"

Letting the sensation of worry wash over him for a moment Vann finally mutters, "I know that you want to see the best in me. But have you ever considered that, maybe, I do have some darkness?" He sighs, slowly admitting, "The Masters aren't wrong when they say that I have some… un-Jedi-like qualities. I have attachments, fear… a lot of anger. Maybe my crystal just… reflects that."

A pensive expression crosses Bastila's countenance, and she nods slowly as her companion speaks. Though concern still lines her brow, the worst of her anxiety slowly fades from the mental link the pair shares. "Perhaps," she murmurs thoughtfully. "That… would be a reasonable explanation."

"Of course it's a reasonable explanation," Vann states, tone playfully mocking. "Just like me, my rock is 'glib and arrogant.'"

Pointedly ignoring the use of the term 'rock,' Bastila nods again. "Yes, yes. I suppose that is the most logical, and least troublesome, answer that we have." Pausing, she casts a critical look at the man beside her. "Though, you should still be concerned. You need to work on releasing your negative emotions into the Force. On letting go of your anger and finding peace. Perhaps if you didn't neglect your meditation…"

"I'll meditate on that suggestion."

"I will hold you to that," Bastila warns. "Also, you should know the crystal that you brought back it actually too large for a single lightsaber."

"Hey," Vann states with a suggestive smirk, "It's not the size, it's how you use…"

Bastila glares darkly, putting an end to that train of thought. "You have enough raw material for two crystals, which may be useful later."

"So, if I ever decide to construct a second 'saber, I don't have to go back into that damned cave?" Grinning, Vann reclines against his pillow. "Sounds like nothing but good news to me. And now that this is settled…"

"We should discuss your most recent vision." Bastila frowns softly, her voice gentle.

Grimacing, Vann attempts to quash the fresh burst of anxiety that he's sending through their bond. "…I was hoping that you'd forget about that."

"I can't forget about your visions," Wringing her hands in her lap, Bastila's tone is strained. "Especially not when you were experiencing the same three moments from Revan's life for the entire day that you were unconscious from the kinrath bite."

"…I had that dream more than once?" The thought sends a shudder through Vann.

Nodding, Bastila replies, "Yes. I believe it may be due to the fact that you couldn't awaken naturally. So, your mind kept replaying the same vision until you were recovered enough to wake up."

Vann gulps. "Sorry you had to keep seeing that."

"It's not a problem. Seeing that vision replayed enabled me to describe it to the Masters in great detail yesterday evening." A thoughtful smile flits across Bastila's lips. "And they recently came to a rather important realization."

"You say this like I'm not going to enjoy their realization." Jaw clenching, Vann seals himself for whatever new torment the Jedi Masters have devised while he's been asleep.

"Oh," Bastila confirms. "You're not going to like this one bit."


Author's Note

Thank you readers! Comments and (constructive) criticism are always welcome. I like to know what I'm doing well, and what needs more work.

A few notes:

1. This chapter features the first Interlude, a section of a chapter told from the POV of a character who's not Vann/Revan. There are a few planned, each featuring a different character.

2. I don't have any canonical proof that violet crystals have ties to the dark side. However, in the game almost all the violet lightsabers belong to dark Force users. (I believe one member of the Jedi strike team that captures Revan also has a violet crystal.) Obviously, Mace Windu has a violet lightsaber in the films, but the reason is literally "because that's what Samuel L. Jackson wanted." (Seriously! Look it up!)

3. I apologize that this chapter took so long to produce. Real Life got incredibly busy, and I had no time to write for about five days. The good news is that Chapter 08 is almost finished (07 and 08 were originally designed to be a single chapter that I eventually separated), so that will be up shortly.

4. For anyone expressing concern over potential relationships within this story, I can say this: romance is not a strong point for me as a writer. Any non-platonic relationship will be mostly subtextual, with the story proceeding as a predominantly gen action-adventure romp through space. You can probably squint and miss 95% of anything you don't like.

That being said, I doubt I will ever write Bastila X Revan since that relationship contains one of my personal peeves when it comes to tropes. Your opinion probably differs, and that's okay! People can have different opinions. That's what makes life interesting!