I'M BAAAACCCCCKKKKK! I am sorry that it has taken this long for another chapter to be released! But, at least it hasn't been exactly three years :D Anyways! I have two more completed chapters to release for you! Chapter 7 is, well, this one. And Chapter 8 will be released on Wednesday 24th August! Chapter Nine will be released once I have finished it, I don't think it's too far from completion...

Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter! Again, I apologise for the... lengthy... wait. Remember! Read and review please! Reviews make me happy :D


Chapter 7: There is a Jedi in us all

"Argh!" Drakerla and Bastila cried. They were both tied to a board in an unknown location. Darth Malak stood over them, laughing as he forced them to endure the pain of Force Lightning. Malak moved over to Bastila. "You are strong child. But I will break you." He said.
"I'll never fall to the dark side!" She exclaimed, Malak then inflicted more Force Lightning on her, with Drakerla pleading for him to stop.
"Leave her alone!" He cried, Malak suddenly stopped his assault and swiftly started to inflict the same onto Drakerla. He yelled in agony.
"You, child, are strong as well. However, I know all about you, and the darkness inside. It will only be a matter of time before you join me... willingly."

Drakerla woke up with a start. He couldn't believe what he had just dreamt about. But was it a dream? What if it was a vision of the future?

He sat up in his bed thinking about whether he should tell Bastila about any of this. After minutes of deliberation (to himself) he decided against it, as he would probably have had to explain it to the Jedi Council later. Something he didn't want to do. Drakerla's door opened and Bastila walked through, she gave him a look of concern as he was drenched in sweat and he looked exhausted, presumably from the vision. "Drakerla, are you alright? You don't look too well." She asked, the concern clear in her voice.
"I'm fine Bastila. Honestly."
"Clearly, you're not. Considering you're soaked with sweat and you look like you've just seen the end of the world."
"I said I'm fine!" He exclaimed, Bastila looked a little shocked, as she sensed the darkness within him was coming to the surface, and he was completely unaware of it.
"OK." She said as she sat down next to Drakerla on the bed. "There's just one thing I want to ask you. It's about this darkness that you keep getting. You told me it first happened in the Undercity after Jaden was kidnapped, what was it like?" She asked, Drakerla thought for a minute.
"It's weird, really. It's like... I just see this darkness come over me. And once that's happened, there's nothing that I can see or do. It's almost as if my body is controlling itself." He explained, Bastila's face donned a look of concern again, and she asked him,
"Would it be OK if I used the Force to look into your mind? To see if I can find this darkness and what's causing it?"
"OK, sure."
"OK then. Just relax, it will make this easier for you and for me." Bastila said as she started to use the Force to delve into the depths of Drakerla's mind. She dove into the heart of his mind. Where she found it. The darkness. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. She could feel the Force within this darkness, but it felt like the Dark Side. Yet, stronger than what Revan or Malak had ever had the Dark Side of the Force. Suddenly, Bastila felt herself being dragged in by the darkness inside Drakerla's mind, so she quickly broke the connection that she had formed.

She sat there, panting with exhaustion. "Bastila, are you okay?" Drakerla asked,
"Yes, I'm fine. I will need to speak to the Jedi Council about this once we arrive on Dantooine." Bastila left the room and Drakerla lied back down on the bed, wondering whether she saw remnants of the vision he had awoken from moments before her arrival.

The Ebon Hawk emerged from hyperspace and through the windows there shone the glorious planet of Dantooine. Drakerla left his room and headed for the cockpit, where Carth and Bastila were piloting the ship. Everyone else filtered into the cockpit not long afterwards. "Dantooine... it seems like a lifetime since I last set foot on her surface, though in truth it has only been a few months. We should be safe from Malak here... for now, at least." She said.
"Safe? You saw what his fleet did to Taris: there wasn't a building over two stories high left standing! They... they turned the planet into big pile of rubble." Carth exclaimed,
"Even the Sith would think twice before attacking Dantooine. There are many Jedi here, including several of the most powerful Masters of the Order. There is great strength within this place." Bastila stated.
"Well Drakerla, what do you think?" Carth asked, putting Drakerla on the spot.
"I... I... I don't know... I agree with Bastila, she knows more about the Sith than we do that's for sure." He said,
"I think Carth has a point. We should keep moving." Jaden interjected.
"We can't just keep running; Malak will find us eventually. We need to regroup; we need a plan. We can get supplies here and recuperate. The Academy is a place of mental and spiritual healing; something we could all use after what we've been through." Drakerla looked down on the floor, reminding himself of the conversation between himself and Bastila earlier.
"Maybe you're right. It isn't easy to witness the annihilation of an entire planet. I know Mission must be taking it pretty hard." Bastila searched through the Ebon Hawk for Mission using the Force, her search came to an end when she found Mission in her room, crying.
"She will find a way to come to terms with her grief. She is stronger than she appears. We just need to give her time. Now I must go speak with the Council. I need their advice on... recent developments. After I have met with them I will meet you outside the ship." Bastila then went to leave the cockpit, before stopping and quietly telling Drakerla, "I know this darkness is worrying you, I can sense your regret and your fear that it will turn you against us. But we will get it sorted. I promise." She then made her way from the Ebon Hawk to the Council Chambers in the Enclave.

"Well, no use doing nothing whilst we're waiting for her to come back." Drakerla said, "Carth, do you know where Jaden is?"
"He's in his room, I think." Carth replied, Drakerla thanked him and made his way to Jaden's room. Where Jaden was practising his vibrosword technique. "Want to spar with me? I'm starting to get bored, practising on my own all the time!" Jaden asked, Drakerla shook his head. "Why not? What's wrong?"
"It's this... darkness that I keep getting. I don't want it to happen when I'm sparring with you in case I injure you, or worse. Bastila asked me some questions about it and she told she's gonna talk to the Jedi Council about it. But I don't know what to do... I mean, she's told me that we'll get it sorted but... I'm just worried that I'll end up killing one of you guys and I wouldn't be able to live myself if I did that!"
"Well, if Bastila said she'll get it sorted then she will. She's a Jedi, she knows what she's doing. Come on, we should go outside and wait for her." Jaden and Drakerla left the Ebon Hawk to wait for Bastila to emerge from her meeting.

Ten minutes later, Bastila came back from the meeting with the Council. Her facial expression gave nothing away. Carth had joined Drakerla and Jaden outside. "I have spoken briefly with the Council; they request an audience with you both. We should go at once."
"An audience with the Jedi Council? That's pretty unusual for someone who isn't even a Jedi. What's this about, Bastila?"
"I'm sorry, Carth, but I cannot tell you. All I ask is that you trust in the Force and the wisdom of the Council."
"Well, I don't like being left out of the loop, but I'm not looking to get you in any trouble with the Jedi Masters. We'll do things your way for a while." He said, looking slightly defeated.
"Come, they are expecting us. I will lead you to the Council Chambers." Bastila, Drakerla and Jaden left for the Council Chambers, leaving Carth in charge of Mission, Zaalbar and Canderous, something that wasn't too appealing to him.

Drakerla and Jaden entered the Council Chambers, and made their way to the Jedi Masters. "Ah, so you are the ones who rescued Bastila. It is appropriate you are here. We have been discussing your rather special case. I am Zhar, a member of the Jedi Council." Said a pink Twi'lek, standing to the far right of the line of Masters. Zhar motioned to each of the Masters in turn. "With me are Master Vrook," He said, motioning to the person standing next to him. "Master Vandar," Motioning to the person in the middle. Vandar was the smallest of the Masters, his species name is unknown. (Vandar is the same species as Yoda, so for the sake of this. We'll call it the Yoda species.) "And of course, the Chronicler of our Academy, Master Dorak." Motioning to the person on the far left of the line of Masters. "Padawan Bastila I am sure you are already familiar with." Drakerla opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again, fearing that he would say something he would regret.
"So you've drawn us into your little trap, Bastila. What now?" Jaden asked, Drakerla was slightly shocked at what Jaden had just said.
"This is no trap. The Council just wants to talk to you both. There is much that needs to be discussed." Jaden turned to face the Masters.
"What do you want from us?" He asked,
"Bastila tells us that you are both strong in the Force. We are considering you for Jedi training."
"Strong in the Force? Us?" Drakerla asked,
"Yes, I am sure of it. Without the Force, I doubt that the events that took place on Taris would have happened." Bastila explained,
"Master Zhar and Padawan Bastila speak out of turn, perhaps. We need indisputable proof of your strong affinity to the Force before we would even consider accepting you for training." Master Vrook said,
"Proof? Surely the entire Council can feel the strength of the Force within them... and I have already related to you the events that took place on Taris..." Bastila said,
"Perhaps it was simple luck." Master Vrook argued, Jaden scoffed, already disliking this Jedi Master.
"We both know there is no luck. There is only the Force. We all feel the power in Bastila's companions, though it is wild and untamed. Now that this power has begun to manifest itself, can we safely ignore it?" Zhar asked, Vrook sighed and said,
"The Jedi training is long and difficult, even when working with a young and open mind. Teaching a child is hard. How much harder will it be for an adult to learn the ways of the Jedi?"
"I am ready to accept the training... and my age has nothing to do with it!" Drakerla said, Jaden agreed with his friend.
"Such pride! Such arrogance! Ach. These two are already on the path to the dark side!" Vrook exclaimed,
"As are many who are not given proper training, Master Vrook. Only through our guidance can we hope to lead those who have strayed back to the path of the light." Vandar said,
"Traditionally the Jedi do not accept adults for training, though there are rare exceptions in the history of our Order. But you two are a special case." Dorak explained,
"I agree with Master Dorak. Many of our own pupils are leaving the Jedi order to follow the Sith teachings, we need recruits to stand against Malak! With Revan dead..." Vander concluded,
"Are you certain Revan is truly dead? What if we undertake to train these two and the Dark Lord should return?" Vrook interrupted,
"We should discuss this matter more fully in private. Bastila, you and your companions must go. This is a matter for the Council alone." Vandar said, Bastila bowed.
"As you wish Master Vandar. We shall return to the Ebon Hawk and leave you to your deliberations." The three went back to the Ebon Hawk, where they went to bed and got some rest.

Revan was pacing up and down in an ancient ruin, wondering what to do next. Malak, jaw intact, wandered into the same room as Revan. "The dark side is strong in this place - I can feel its power!" Revan said nothing, and walked to a door. As he was about to open it, Malak intervened. "Is this wise? The ancient Jedi sealed this archway. If we pass beyond this door, we can never go back. The Order will surely banish us." Revan ignored his apprentice and opened the door, continuing through. As the door finished opening, Malak spoke again. "Are the secrets of the Star Forge so valuable? Can its power truly be worth the risk?" Revan ignored him again as he walked towards a free-standing structure supported by three legs. Extending from the base of the structure were three "arms". As Revan came closer the arms unfolded and locked into place. A holographic image of the galaxy was then displayed.

Jaden woke up and got out of his bed. Thinking about the vision, he was wondering if Bastila had had the same vision, just like on Taris. He decided to go into Drakerla's room, and see if his friend was up yet. He made his way to Drakerla's room and the doors opened to reveal Drakerla thrashing around in his sleep. "Drakerla! Drakerla! Wake up!" Jaden called out to him, to no avail. "Drakerla! Wake up! Come on!" Jaden persisted, Drakerla could not escape the nightmare that he was having though.

"Argh!" Drakerla and Bastila cried. They were both tied to a board in an unknown location. Darth Malak stood over them, laughing as he forced them to endure the pain of Force Lightning. Malak moved over to Bastila. "You are strong child. But I will break you." He said.
"I'll never fall to the dark side!" She exclaimed, Malak then inflicted more Force Lightning on her, with Drakerla pleading for him to stop.
"Leave her alone!" He cried, Malak suddenly stopped his assault and swiftly started to inflict the same onto Drakerla. He yelled in agony.
"You, child, are strong as well. However, I know all about you. It will only be a matter of time before you join me... willingly."
"Dream on Malak. I'll never join you. No matter how much torture you put me under!" Malak laughed, and started torturing Bastila again.
"You think torture will turn us, Malak? You are a fool."
"Torture? No, dear Bastila. You misunderstand. This is but a taste of the dark side to whet your appetite." He said as he ran his fingers over her cheek.
"Don't touch her!" Drakerla exclaimed, Malak laughed again, as he could feel the rage and anger building up inside of the young Jedi.
"When you two finally swear loyalty to me, it will be willingly." He said, walking away before turning around menacingly to face the two.

The vision cut off and Drakerla woke up yelling in agony. In front of him stood Jaden and Bastila (whom had felt the distress through the Force and came running back to the Ebon Hawk). Drakerla thrashed around still, trying to forget what he had just seen. The result was that he fell off of the bed and onto the cold, hard floor, where he was jolted back to his senses. "Finally, you're awake! I've been trying to wake you up for ten minutes Drakerla!" Jaden cried, the look of worry and concern present on his face.
"Drakerla, you're clearly not alright. You need to speak to the Council about this." Bastila said, Drakerla groaned as he felt the pain in his head, from the vision and from hitting the floor.
"No. I can't. Not yet, anyway. I'm sure they sense it within me already. If they want to talk about it, I'm sure that they'll summon me or whatever." He said, picking himself up from the floor, "So, Bastila, did you want something?"
"Yes. I was on my way to a meeting with the Council, but then I felt your… distress... through the Force. I'm glad that I returned." She replied, "Forgive me, but I must get to the Council Chambers. They are expecting me after all. If they require your presence, both of you, then I shall relay a message through Carth."
"Thanks, Bastila. We'll see you later." Jaden said. Bastila nodded her head and left for the Council Chambers, Drakerla sat down on his bed, still worrying about the vision that kept replaying in his mind, over and over again. Jaden stood and stared at him, wondering what to do to distract his friend from his worry. Suddenly, he got an idea. "Hey." He said, nudging Drakerla, "Why don't we go and explore the Enclave? I'm sure some fresh air will do us both some good." Drakerla nodded in agreement, and they went out of the Ebon Hawk.

"This morning's getting stranger by the minute. First Bastila comes out looking like she saw a ghost, and now you two. Well, Bastila did mention that you should go to the Council Chambers after she came back from them. It's no doubt urgent, so you shouldn't keep them waiting." Was the welcome that they received from Carth after exiting the Ebon Hawk.
"OK, thanks Carth. Let's go Drakerla."
"OK." The two sped off to the Council Chambers, leaving Carth a bit bewildered as to what was going on with them and the Jedi Masters. He was also slightly annoyed at the fact that no one was telling him what was going on, and Carth hated being left out of the loop. Drakerla and Jaden arrived at the Council Chambers, where they were greeted by the Jedi Masters, and Bastila. "Bastila has told us of a most unusual development. She claims you and she have shared a dream, a vision of Malak and Revan in the ancient ruins here on Dantooine." Vandar said,
"These ruins have long been known to us, but we believed them to be merely burial grounds. Perhaps they are more than we first suspected, if Revan and Malak found something there." Dorak stated, Drakerla knew that he didn't have this vision, but went along with it, as he did not want the Council to think differently of him. "I don't wanna talk about it." Jaden remarked, but the Masters continued.
"Bastila has described this shared dream to the Council in great detail. We feel it is more than a dream. It is a vision. The Force is acting through you as it acts through Bastila." Vandar explained,
"I'm having visions now?" Jaden questioned sarcastically.
"You and Bastila share a powerful connection to the Force… and each other. This is not unheard of. Connections often form between Master and student, but rarely does a bond develop so quickly." Zhar explained,
"Whatever dangers may lie ahead, we cannot ignore the destiny that has brought you and Bastila here to us. Together."
"Are you saying we're… joined with her?" Jaden asked, Drakerla didn't seem too surprised. After all, her and Jaden had been having the same dreams/visions for a while now. Ever since they arrived on Taris. Of course, he wasn't going to mention that he had not shared all of the dreams with them. "You and she are linked, as is your fate to hers. Together, you three may be able to stop Darth Malak and the Sith." Vandar explained,
"But do not let your heads be filled with visions of glory and power! Such thoughts are the path to the dark side. The way of the light is long and difficult, as you must learn. Are you ready for such hardship?" Vrook asked,
"Yes. We're ready for whatever awaits us." Jaden stated,
"Good. It is well that you see how important this is and have the devotion to follow it." Vandar said, "Understand that there is little choice in this matter, for you or us. Across the galaxy the numbers of our Order dwindle. We have sent many Jedi in quest of a way to thwart Malak's advance... many have not returned. The Sith hunt the Jedi down like animals, ambushing and assassinating our brothers wherever they are found. We fear it is only a matter of time until they discover even this hidden refuge." He continued,
"Other Jedi have fallen from the light and embraced the dark side, giving their allegiance to the Sith and Malak, their dark lord." Vrook said,
"Do not fear Masters, I will not fall." Drakerla said, he was lying, after his vision, he knew that one day he would fall to the dark side. However, the Council members nor Bastila did not seem to realise that he was lying. "If Malak is not stopped the Republic will fall, and the Jedi will be hunted to extinction. The galaxy will enter a time of darkness and tyranny not seen for a thousand generations." Zhar said,
"The Council has decreed that you and Bastila must investigate the ancient ruins you dreamed of... once the Council deems you ready." Vandar explained,
"Perhaps there you will find some clue, some explanation, of how Revan and Malak were corrupted. And perhaps there you shall find a way to stop them." Dorak stated,
"Of course, Masters. Anything to further the light." Drakerla stated, lying again. The Council and Bastila, however, still had not realised.
"Hm, yes. Your devotion is most commendable. Before we send you to investigate the ruins, you must be trained in the ways of the Jedi so that you can resist the dark side. Otherwise you are doomed to fail." Vandar said,
"As you wish, Master Vandar." Jaden said,
"We must begin your training at once. You have a destiny upon you that you must be prepared to face. The entire fate of the galaxy is upon you two." The small Jedi Master told them,
"I can only hope you will prove up to the task." Vrook stated.


Chapter 8: The First Steps : Drakerla and Jaden begin their Jedi training. In order to complete their training and become Padawans, they will face many obstacles and challenges along the way. Will they be able to face what lies ahead? What will happen when they investigate the ruins, at the end of their training? Read to find out! To be released on Wednesday 24th August!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please read and review!