A/N: this chapter gave me a hell of a time, trying to figure out how Darth Revan would behave. I'm a huge fan of the theory that she was just pretending, but she had to be convincing, right? Hence the terrified staff. As for the rest... well, it made sense in my convolouted head, if it doesn't to you, well, I'm sorry. Also, this next chapter is dedicated to Ang, aka Ogreatrandom, for not only being an awesome author, but for reviewing just about everything I write, including all six chapters so far of this in one go yesterday. Made my day, too. grins Anyway, props to you, Ang!
"My Lady" a simpering voice said. Darth Revan turned to look behind her. There was the latest of the heads of security. He'd lasted a month longer than anyone else, but from the look on his face he didn't think he'd last any longer. She sighed. It was such a pain to train these people up properly.
"What is it, Rawdon?" she asked, humor in her tone. The security chief went white. Her staff feared her the most when she was amused, because she could stop being so in the blink of the eye, and when that happened, heads would roll. Malak had lost his jaw because he failed to amuse her one day.
"I-um-the-"he babbled, petrified.
Revan sighed heavily. "Do we need to have a little talk?" she asked, "Babbling wastes time, and time is precious. Just spit it out." The chief relaxed a bit. Not amused, then, but she was in a good mood. He might lose a less vital body part than his head.
"My lady, a small craft has docked with the ship. It appears to belong to the jedi." He said, wincing.
Revan frowned. "Have you sent your forces to detain them?" she asked, eyes narrowed.
"Y-yes my lady Revan. They cut through them easily. The same with the soldiers I dispatched."
Revan sighed. "Then send out higher level troops." She said, "And the apprentices."
The Security chief bowed. "It shall be done my lady." He said, hurrying off.
Revan looked around her. She was on the bridge of her ship. "Delas!" she snapped. Delas was her current second in command on the ship. He, too, was doing much better than his predecessors. And not without reason. He rushed over.
"My lady." He said with a bow, "What do you require?"
"Make sure that the other ships do not know anything is amiss. I do not wish Malak to… complicate the situation."
Delas, bless him, did not even blink. He merely bowed. "As you wish, my lady." And left, bellowing orders.
The communications officer shrank back. "My lady?" she said. She was young, only about 23. She was brand new to her post, but very good at her job. Revan turned to raise an eyebrow at her. "Yes, Sierna?" she asked, still in good humor.
"I-I already sent a warning. As soon as Rawdon informed you." Sierna, new as she was, didn't quite fear Revan as the older recruits did. Revan found it refreshing to have someone that will speak up to her, and if the girl ever went too far, well, she could always give her a warning. Take off a finger, or some such. "It's protocol. We were trained to always warn the others in the fleet immediately if one is boarded."
Revan shook her head. "You will come see me after your shift ends." She said, "And we will have a little… chat on the matter." Revan was only planning to scare the girl a bit with the wait, seeing as at any other time that would be exactly what she would want. The girl had not had enough time with her to have an idea of her whims, so she couldn't have known. "For now, Sierna, can you get me a feed of the fighting? I want to see what we're dealing with."
The terrified girl nodded and sent the feed from the security cameras to the viewscreen by Revan's seat. She watched, unconcerned, as the group of young, untrained jedi fought their way up. She was about to turn it off and go back to what she'd been doing before, when Bastila appeared. She looked… older now, more confident, not the unsure, quiet girl she'd shared a room with. In fact, she'd forgone the Jedi robes, something she'd sworn not to do, and had on leggings and an outfit that made the most of her figure, but was still combat ready. Before, she'd buried herself in her robes, uncomfortable with her body. Revan sighed again. It was time "Delas." She snapped.
He came back to her side immediately. "You have the bridge until I return." She said irritably. She turned off the viewscreen and left, intending to meet the intruders head on.
Poor Delas was at a total loss.
Bastila couldn't take it. She was supposed to stay at the ship, guarding it and using her battle meditation. She had been too close to Revan; the council didn't want her to face the temptation her old friend would have for her. It was too risky. But Bastila couldn't keep away from her old friend. She had to know the truth. That's why she broke away from the team and took the paths Revan slowed her through their long neglected bond, to find her standing there, without mask or cloak, silently waiting. She was surprised to find that Revan looked mostly unchanged. The Dark Side should have taken it's toll on her old beauty, but it hadn't. She looked a little paler, a little more worn, a bit harder, but that was all.
Maybe there's hope after all. She thought
Or maybe she preserved her looks out of her old vanity. A traitorous voice in her head suggested. She ignored it.
"Revan." she breathed.
Revan blinked away the tears in her eyes. "Bastila. You came."
Bastila sighed. "Of course I came!" she said impatiently, "I didn't believe you would turn, and it looks like I was right. Now lets worry about how to clear your-"
"No." Revan said, "It's too late for that. Just... listen to me."
I'm Limited
Just look at me
I'm limited
And just look at you,
You can do all
I couldn't do
Bastila
So now it's up to you
For both of us
Now it's up to you
Bastila wanted to argue, she wanted to say she could do it herself, but she knew it was a lie. Even if she were taken back, she wouldn't ever be trusted again. As it stood now, she was fairly certain that her friend would not be coming back alive.
"I'll miss you."
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those
Who'll help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
She shook her head.
Well, I don't know
If I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you
A rather un-jedilike stream of tears was threatening to fall, but Bastila by now was beyond caring.
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through a wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better
But
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good
Revan smiled sadly at her friend. She knew what needed to be done, and she'd do it. Her death would be no great cost to anyone. She herself would be glad to die, to no longer have to pretend, and yet...
With Bastila here, she was losing her nerve. Couldn't she just... Go with her? Earn 'redemption', save the galaxy herself, live. She shook her head. "Bastila." she said, "You're going to have to kill me."
The girl looked horrified. "What? I-I can't do that. You-you're good!"
Revan sighed. "I've done what I set out to do. The Republic is armed, they're ready, but until Malak and I are dead-not 'cured', not redeemed, but dead- they won't look outward and see the real threat." Bastila opened her mouth to speak, but Revan cut her off. "They're real, they're coming, and I wish I could explain more, but there's no time. It has to be now, before I lose control. I lost Malak. He's truly turned, and he's rebelling." The anguish in her voice was clear and heartbreaking. "I've given orders. When I die, he will die soon after. Please don't make this any harder than it already is."
It well may be
That we may never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now
Whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend
Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better
But
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good.
Revan attempted a smile. "I wish we had more time. There's so much I want to tell you." She closed the distance between them and hugged Bastila. "Force, I've missed you, Basti."
Bastila stifled a sob as she returned the hug. "Not a day went by where I didn't wish I'd joined you. I've missed you as well, Rev. Pretend we have time. Tell me."
Revan shook her head. "I can't." she murmured, "I'm just so glad I got to see you again one last time."
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done
You blame me for
Bastila laughed and shook her head.
But then
I guess
You know there's blame to spare
They both smiled at each other.
And none of it seems to matter
Anymore
The two of them sang in harmony at this point, taking their own choruses.
Like a comet pulled/ Like a ship blown
From orbit as it/ Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like/ By a wind off the
A stream that meets/ Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way/ Dropped by a
Through the wood/ Bird in a wood
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
But
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good
By now, both women were crying, silent tears streaming down their faces. "Well?" Revan asked, "Will you do it?"
Bastila shook her head. "I can't! Why do you want me to do it? I'm the only one on the team who can't."
Revan smiled sadly. "Because you're the only one who would be sorry you did." She said simply.
Bastila was silent for a while, and they could both hear the footsteps of the rest of the team getting closer and closer. Finally, she nodded and pulled out her lightsaber. "You have to fight me first." She said.
Revan sighed. "Fight you? I couldn't-"she started, then saw the look in Bastila's eyes. "Alright," she said, pulling out her own.
They were fighting when the rest of the team got there.