Admiral Kern scowled as he regarded the Jedi Master.
"Master Vandar, I'm hearing rumors that your Padawan, Bastila, is missing. Is it true?"
The diminutive Jedi nodded solemnly. "Yes, she is missing."
"Do you have any idea where she could be?" Dodonna asked.
Vandar shook his head.
Commander Onasi stood, "With all due respect, Master Jedi, I am pretty sure I have a good idea where she's gone, and I think you do too but don't want to admit it."
"Carth?" Admiral Dodonna turned to him.
"Admiral, am I really the only one who sees the obvious?" He leaned forward, his hands resting on the large conference table. "She's gone back to Revan."
The gathered Jedi Masters looked at one another, and Vandar sighed. "It is a possibility, but we know nothing certain of her whereabouts at this time."
"Well, I think until we know otherwise, it may be prudent to assume that Commander Onasi's guess is correct." Kern frowned. "Which means he'll be privy to anything she heard as far as what we were planning regarding him."
The other military leaders nodded grimly.
General Heath stood, "Still, even if he's expecting it, I think the only way we're going to stop this war is to take out Revan. Does it truly change our plans that much?"
Admiral Kern regarded them all and shook his head, "No, we need to see to it that Revan dies. With him out of the picture, the Sith faction would likely splinter and fall apart."
Vandar frowned, his heart growing heavy with the realization that he would be outnumbered if he voiced his concerns. Instead, he simply turned and excused himself from the gathering.
Bastila woke, smiling as she felt Revan's sleeping form beside her. She shifted slightly and propped herself up on one elbow. Her eyes were drawn once more to the scar on his chest, and she frowned at the remembered memory.
"What?"
She almost started at the simple question. Bastila looked up to meet Revan's curious eyes. "I thought you were still asleep."
He grinned, "I sleep very lightly. Comes with the job." He caught her hand where she'd gently placed it against his chest near the scar.
She glanced back to his chest, "Your father did that?"
He tensed, and regarded her closely.
"I'm sorry, Revan. I somehow picked up part of your memory of what happened while I was on the Star Forge."
Revan sighed, "Ah, yeah that would explain it, with the bond forming between us at that point." He stretched and folded his hands behind his head. "Yes, my father did it. I was five. If it hadn't been for my mother's talent as a healer, it would have killed me."
"Why would he do such a thing?" She frowned.
He shrugged. "My father was Sith. He had served under Exar Kun in his war years ago. We were training and I held back, which he perceived as mercy. Mercy is a weakness in the eyes of the Sith teachings, and was unacceptable to him. He was also disappointed that my mother healed me instead of leaving me to fend for myself or die trying. When I was seven, she risked her life defying his wishes and took me to the Jedi on Coruscant, hoping I wouldn't follow my father's footsteps." A wry smile played over his lips. "Ironic when you think about it. My father followed a Sith Lord. I became one."
Bastila saw the dark flicker of regret and sorrow cloud his eyes. "That isn't who you are, Revan."
He shifted his gaze to meet her soft grey eyes. "Isn't it? Do you forget so easily what I must be when I step outside this room?"
She frowned, "I've heard plenty of gruesome stories about you Revan, I haven't forgotten anything."
He sighed and sat up. "I'm sure there are plenty of things being said by the Republic. They have to justify killing me after all. However, you'd be safe in believing at least half of those stories, Bastila. I have done a lot of things over the years that I'm not exactly proud of, but they were necessary."
Bastila tilted her head, "Why?"
He looked away from her for a moment. "I was able to pull together a broken, fragmented, scattered faction of Sith and unite them into a solid, formidable empire. How do you think I accomplished that, Bastila? It wasn't through being kind or merciful. Sith are not loyal for the sake of loyalty or out of a sense of duty like the Jedi are. Sith are only loyal when they fear or respect someone because they've accepted that someone is stronger than they are. The moment those who follow me think I've gone soft, or gotten weak, I'm facing a gauntlet of challenges until I prove that they're wrong."
Revan ran his fingers through his hair, and glanced back at her. "Do you even realize the seriousness of this situation?"
Bastila chewed her bottom lip briefly, "What do you mean?"
He chuckled and leaned over to kiss her. "You have no idea how completely you've just complicated my life do you?"
She frowned and lowered her eyes. He sighed softly and reached over to lift her chin until she was looking up at him again.
"Bastila, I wasn't complaining. Just stating a fact. I love you, regardless." He pulled her against his chest and held her. "For one thing, I've just put my life in your hands."
She tilted her head to look at him, confusion furrowing her brows. He smiled, and ran his fingers through her tousled hair.
"I never let anyone get this close to me, Bastila, for a reason. Anyone this close to me is close enough to kill me, but I'm putting my life in your hands, trusting that you won't."
Her eyes widened as she understood. "Of course I wouldn't, Revan. Not after working so hard to keep you from destroying yourself."
He shrugged, "Everyone is a potential threat. That's why I'm always so paranoid and suspicious, it's what keeps me alive most of the time. There's always someone wanting to kill me, and many that will try. Keeping people at a distance minimizes how many get a chance."
"How can you live like that?"
He gave her a lopsided half grin, "Welcome to my world, Bastila. Which leads to the second big complication we need to deal with."
She sat up and looked at him, "What?"
Revan glanced at the door, "Outside this room, I am and must be the Dark Lord. You're a Jedi. Many of my followers are aware that I had you once, and let you go. I suffered a week of near constant challenges and accusations of being unfit to lead the Sith after that. How do you think I'm going to explain you being back?"
Bastila frowned, the weight of his words hitting her hard. "They'd be expecting you to kill me or break me."
He nodded. "Unless we can convince them that I already had."
She looked at him, arching one eyebrow.
"It's not an idea that is going to be pleasant for either of us though it will be more difficult for you. But I was thinking about it all night, after you fell asleep. We could explain your leaving the Star Forge in that I'd given you a task, a test of loyalty of some sort. Now that you've presumably completed the task, you return to officially take your place at my side as my apprentice. It's the only thing people would believe, but can you be convincing at it?"
Bastila looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure, Revan."
He slid out of bed, pulling the loose black pants back on. "I'll be completely honest, Bastila. I had entertained thoughts of you becoming my apprentice when I first planned on capturing you." He glanced back at her and smirked, "Even then you started complicating my plans. I should have known you'd be trouble."
She looked up and tilted her head, "Oh?"
He nodded, "I found myself unwilling to do it. I realized after I had you that I couldn't hurt you, that I didn't want to see you becoming a Sith." He sighed, "But now your survival, at least for the immediate moment, is going to hinge on how well you can pretend to be a Sith, without letting it actually change you. If you lose yourself, there won't be anyone else to stop me from falling again."
She swallowed hard, realizing the reality of what he said.
Revan handed her a small bundle. "Nonetheless, I had made preparations, and I suppose it's a good thing since they'll be useful now."
She opened the bundle and raised one eyebrow at him upon seeing the outfit. He grinned, "What? You can't go around looking like a Jedi if you're going to make people think you're my apprentice."
Bastila sighed and changed into the new clothes. Snugly fitting black leggings tucked into her boots, and a well cut tunic of black and silver with a dark grey belt completed the outfit. She turned around, and then looked over at him.
He smiled, "Perfect, if I do say so myself. Work through your basic forms, make sure you can move well enough in it."
She nodded and dropped into the rhythm of footwork and twisting motions that had become habit for her. When she finished, she nearly lost her balance as she found Revan right beside her, flowing through the same motion.
He nodded, "What do you think?"
"Comfortable enough since I'm already used to my robes being a bit more snug than is typical. I'm glad their cut is at least tasteful, though the color will take time to get used to."
He chuckled, "Well, I would offer that I was looking to preserve your modesty, but in truth, I'm simply no good at sharing. No one else needs to see what's under those clothes."
She gave him a look and shook her head. "Naturally."
He pointed at her lightsaber where she'd sat it the night before. "You'll need to change that too. No self respecting Sith would walk around with a yellow saber."
She frowned, "What do you suggest?"
Revan crossed the room, opened a small box on his desk and tossed her a small dark colored crystal. "Change that one for the yellow one, and try it."
She caught it deftly and pulled her lightsaber to her. Settling down on the floor, cross legged, Bastila began to concentrate on what was needed to change the color crystal. Once she'd settled the new crystal in place, and reassembled the saber she stood and ignited it.
She smiled over at him, "It's not red."
He shrugged, "Being the Dark Lord has its privileges. I make the rules, but don't have to follow them. Mine aren't red either." He pulled his sabers to him and both snapped to life in his hands. One was a fierce burning orange, a shade darker than the orange that now burned in Bastila's saber. The other was a vivid glowing violet. He nodded at her saber, "You can claim it as part of your reward for pleasing me so well."
She caught the smug smirk on his face and sighed, "As long as they don't learn just how I accomplished that, hm?"
He laughed, "No doubt there will be some rumors to that effect. It's one thing you'll just have to prepare yourself for. People are going to try to challenge you once I announce you as my apprentice. Sith are always ambitious, and there will be some who believe they deserve the position more than you do and will try to challenge you for it. Stay close to me as much as possible, and I can block most of them. However, you are going to need to be able to handle yourself in the event we do become separated for some reason. I don't have time to start it now, but I can begin teaching you some of the basic Sith fighting techniques and lightsaber forms. It'll help you be more convincing as well as being more prepared for any fight if it comes to that."
She nodded. "Alright. So what's the plan?"
Revan gathered up the rest of his clothes and armor, and began putting everything back on. "First thing is I have a disobedient Admiral that I need to deal with."
Her eyes went wide, "Revan, don't be angry with Davon, please, he did what he thought was right. I couldn't have gotten here without his help."
He looked over at her before he slipped his mask on. "Bastila, remember that if you're going to be convincing as my apprentice you have to be able to control your emotions. You can't show that you care about people, you can't show that anything I say or do bothers you in any way. And regardless of his reasons, Admiral Blair did disobey my direct, express orders."
She bit her lip, but nodded.
Revan flipped on his comlink. "Admiral Blair."
"Yes, Lord Revan?"
"Your presence is required in my office, immediately."
"Of course, Lord. On my way." came the crisp reply.
Revan nodded and put the comlink back in his pocket, and motioned for Bastila to follow him. "This is going to be your first test, Bastila. You must pass this if you're going to have any chance of staying here in any measure of safety."
She swallowed hard, "I'll try."
He led the way across the corridor to a stark, lightly furnished office. Bastila followed his direction and settled into a chair beside the desk, while he positioned himself in front of it. He stood, arms folded across his chest, and Bastila was sharply reminded of just who he really was. For all that they had shared, the truth remained. Outside his private quarters, Revan was the Dark Lord of the Sith.
The Admiral entered the room, and snapped sharply to attention as Revan stepped toward him.
"Lord Revan, you wished to see me?" The Admiral's eyes strayed briefly to Bastila before returning to watch the Dark Lord.
Revan nodded, "It seems, Admiral, that I have an officer who has taken it upon himself to disobey my orders. Not just one, but three specific and detailed direct orders given to him."
The old Admiral stood stoically, his expression carefully schooled to impassiveness. He simply watched his Lord and waited.
"Admiral, what is the usual price of disobedience?"
Davon took a deep breath, but his voice remained calm and steady. "My Lord, the punishment for disobeying orders is typically death."
Revan studied him carefully behind his mask. "Do you believe this disobedient officer could be unaware of the consequences of such actions?"
Admiral Blair's hazel eyes flickered briefly but he shook his head, "No, my Lord. I believe that any officer serving you would be fully aware of the consequences of disobedience or failure."
Revan took a step closer to him. "Admiral Blair, did I not give you very detailed, and very specific orders regarding the Jedi Bastila Shan?"
He nodded, "Yes, my Lord."
Revan paced in front of him for a moment, and then faced him again, "Yet, you deliberately chose to disregard my orders, and you brought Bastila here, putting her in considerable danger."
Davon swallowed again, but nodded, "Yes, my Lord. I did so."
"Do you expect me to ignore that? Am I to allow such disobedience without consequence?" Revan studied him closely.
Davon focused on the mask, feeling Revan's cold glare upon him. "My Lord Revan, I did what I felt was necessary for your own good. I do not expect, nor ask for any special consideration. I disobeyed orders, and did so fully aware of the consequences of my actions, and I am fully prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."
Bastila struggled to keep her expression impassive, especially when the Admiral's gaze drifted to her briefly again before he looked back to Revan. Her heart ached to think that by helping her, he could lose his own life.
The cold snap-hiss of one of Revan's sabers drew her attention up as her heart nearly stopped. Revan stood, tip of his saber poised only inches from the Admiral. Sweat shone on the old officer's forehead, but his calm hazel eyes looked to his Lord, and he nodded.
"As you will, my Lord."
Revan glanced over his shoulder at Bastila. She had risen to her feet, and her eyes focused on him briefly before she looked away, focusing her gaze elsewhere. She fought to keep her thoughts from showing on her face. He nodded approvingly.
The saber vanished, and he turned to the Admiral. "I expect that there will never be a repeat of your disobedience."
Davon allowed himself a deep breath and regarded the Dark Lord more closely, "I can assure you my Lord, that such a thing will only happen again if it should prove necessary to do so."
Revan grinned beneath his mask. "Do what's necessary no matter the cost?" He studied his Admiral. "Sounds like you've been around me far too long, Davon."
At the sound of his name, and the less menacing tone in Revan's voice, Davon arched one eyebrow upward but took a chance and shifted to an at ease posture. "Guilty as charged, my Lord."
"Admiral Blair, don't think you're escaping my wrath in this. Your first task as Fleet Admiral is to appoint a new commanding officer for the Dark Vengeance."
The Admiral blinked, in spite of his practiced control. "I'm to understand I've been promoted, my Lord?"
"Yes, you're now Fleet Admiral of my entire fleet. Go get back to work. You'll be taking your place on the new flagship when its finished, so put someone else on the Vengeance."
Davon snapped back to attention with a sharp salute, "Yes, Lord." He spun on his heels and left the office.
Bastila sat back down, sighing heavily. Revan turned and leaned against the wall with a smile. "You handled yourself rather well. I know it wasn't easy because Davon is a friend."
She looked up at him, visibly shaken. "I don't know if I really could have handled it if you'd actually done anything to him."
He nodded and walked over to her. "I'm sorry, I know this is going to be extremely hard for you. Especially when I do have to do particularly unpleasant things to people. You can't let people think you disapprove of, or disagree with anything I say or do, and you can't appear uncomfortable or disturbed by anything. It will be a little easier once we're on my flagship, but could still be a challenge for you."
She nodded. "I'll do my best."
Revan held out a hand to her, "Come on. I think its time you understand what I'm fighting for. You asked me once before why I do what I do."
She followed as he led the way back into his room. He took his mask off, tucked it into his belt, and then walked over to the small desk against the wall and pulled out a datapad. He handed it to her, his eyes darkened by emotions she couldn't read.
"Read that. You might begin to understand me." He walked over and settled down in a chair, letting his eyes close.
She took the datapad, and then frowned as she watched him. Finally she moved over to the small sofa across from him and sat down to look at what he'd handed her. By the time she had finished reading it, her face had paled considerably and she shook her head, barely able to believe what she'd seen.
He seemed to sense her thoughts, and looked over at her. "That is the full account of what happened to me, and what I found in the Unknown Regions after I left the Republic following the Mandalorian war." His eyes still held a distant, almost haunted look at the memories.
She stood and walked over to him. "I'm sorry, Revan." She gave him back the datapad which he summarily tossed at the desk.
Revan sighed and looked up at her. "Now do you understand? Do you see why I had no choice but to become what I am?"
She sat down beside him and took one of his gloved hands in hers. "Yes, I understand. I'll do whatever I can to help you, but it still doesn't change the fact that I know there is a part of you that has not been lost to the dark path you walk. I am not going to give up on that."
He smiled warmly, "I'm counting on it, Bastila. I can't do this alone any more. If you let go..." His eyes met hers.
Bastila shook her head firmly. "I won't. I won't let you lose yourself again."
He nodded and then stood. He put the datapad back in its place and locked the desk again. "Alright. Ready to make people think you're my apprentice?"
She sighed and straightened herself up. "As ready as I'm going to get."
Revan hugged her gently, "Just remember not to act like a Jedi." He teased softly.
She nodded, making a face at him. "As you wish, Master."
The assembled sith fell silent as the Dark Lord stepped out onto the raised dais to address them. However, on seeing the young woman who followed their Lord and now stood at his right hand, there was a whispered wave of murmurs.
Revan noticed the reaction in the crowd as he began to speak. "The work on this project is progressing well, even ahead of schedule. This pleases me greatly, and I expect your efforts to continue to the same standard. The faster we complete this project, the less chance the Republic has to find us before we are ready." His comments were met with a low murmur of excitement and he waited for the crowd to quiet down again. "However, I have an announcement that pleases me even more." He motioned for Bastila to step forward. "Bastila has returned from the mission with which I had tasked her. Now that she is back, she is fully prepared to take her rightful place at my side as my apprentice."
Bastila knelt before him, thankful that he provided quiet cues through their bond. She could also feel his quiet strength radiating from him, and drew on that to bolster her own. On cue, she rose and bowed before returning to her place just behind and to his left side.
Revan had finished his address and turned to leave. She moved to follow him and then stopped as a dark Jedi rushed forward.
"Lord Revan, I demand the right to challenge your apprentice!"
Revan faced him, and Bastila could feel the anger rolling through his mind, echoed through their bond.
"You demand?" Revan sneered beneath the mask. "You dare to presume yourself worthy of making demands of me?"
Suddenly the would-be challenger faltered, realizing the error of his actions. "No, no my Lord, I would not. I only sought to challenge her that I might prove her unworthy of the prestige."
The further protests only caused Revan's temper to sour more rapidly.
"You question the worth of my apprentice? So you would dare to question my judgment, my decision on whom shall be my apprentice or not?"
Bastila felt the brewing storm and closed her mind to the echoes from Revan, and braced herself knowing that people would be watching her reaction. Revan had taken a step toward the offender who raised his hands in a stammering attempt to placate the Dark Lord.
Revan gestured casually with one hand and the unfortunate challenger gasped and struggled against the invisible force that held him in the air. Another casual flick of his wrist and the man's body slammed into the ground. One last motion and the crumpled form was tossed aside like a broken rag doll.
He folded his arms over his chest, and glanced over the assembled crowd. "Anyone else wish to question or challenge me?"
Stunned silence was the only answer. He nodded, and then resumed walking. Bastila took a deep breath, struggling to keep thoughts of the event out of her mind. Once they were back within the facility, she tentatively opened her mind to the bond again. Revan's mind was still seething. Gently she reached out to him, and slowly she felt the raging storm calm within him. He led the way back to his quarters, and only slowed his pace once the door had slid shut behind them.
"Thank you." He offered quietly as Bastila sank into the nearest chair.
She regarded him as he began to remove his armor. Bastila frowned slightly as her mind sought to reconcile the pieces that made up the whole of Revan. It seemed impossible that someone who, by his own admission, was capable of unfathomable brutality could be the same person she had shared such tender moments with the night before. However, she knew it was true. Now she also had some understanding as to why he had chosen the path he did. It cast the Revan she knew in a whole new light, and she found that she admired him even more than she had before.
He turned to see her watching him and tilted his head. "Having second thoughts?"
"Fourth thoughts actually." She said lightly, smiling to put him at ease, "It doesn't matter, Revan, I meant what I said. You are doing what you have to do. I will do what I have to do to make sure that doing so doesn't destroy you."
A half-hearted smile flickered over his lips. "I'm not so sure you can entirely prevent that inevitability, Bastila, but I sincerely appreciate your efforts."
She stood up and walked over to put a gentle hand on his chest. "I refuse to accept it as an inevitability. So, care to fill me in on the project?"
He hugged her tightly and nodded, "I'm building a new flagship."
"Isn't that what the Star Forge is supposed to do for you?"
He chuckled, "It builds ships, I'm building a better one. It has some aspects of the Star Forge technology but also some new advances my own engineers have developed. It isn't going to look like a flagship, which is the most amusing thing about it. So the Republic can target the Vengeance if they want. I won't be on it."
Bastila smiled, "Very clever."
He winked at her, "I thought so. I get good ideas every now and then."
She looked up at him, "I do believe, my Lord, you said something about teaching me the finer points of being a sith without being a sith?"
He could hear the teasing tone in her voice and grinned. "Indeed. If you are ready we can begin any time. Be warned however, I'm not always a gentle trainer."
Bastila nodded, "As long as it doesn't involve dodging lightning, I'm sure I can handle it."
Revan winced at the reminder of how close he'd come to killing her, and he frowned. "I'm really sorry about that, Bas."
She smiled, "It's alright, I think you made up for it last night."
He gave her a roguish grin, "Think so?"
"Maybe." She winked at him.
Admiral Dodonna paced. "It's been two months. How is it possible that we don't know where Revan is, but his forces keep decimating targets around the galaxy?"
Admiral Kern frowned, "Sit down, Forn. I don't know where he's hiding, but I am getting disturbing reports from a few spies we have in place."
She sat down and sighed "What reports?"
Kern looked significantly at the Jedi Masters, and noticed Vandar's continued absence. "There are reports among his forces that Revan has chosen a new apprentice to serve as his right hand."
"Do we have any proof of that beyond the reports of spies?" Master Vash asked quietly.
"Not yet, but I'm sure its only a matter of time. I would like to know what is keeping Master Vandar so indisposed that he can't join us."
"Master Vandar has been needed on Dantooine, and sends his apologies." Master Zhar offered diplomatically.
The Admiral frowned, but nodded. "We have to find Revan's hiding place. He's still in command, but from where beats me. He's hitting us with at least two or three attacks spread out in such a way that its impossible to respond to more than one at any time, and its taking its toll quickly."
"I wish we had more to offer, Admiral, but we're unable to discover his location any better than the Republic can." Vash stated flatly.
Bastila stood quietly at Revan's side as he studied the tactical displays. The fleet was on the move, with the new flagship Ghost Dragon tucked neatly in formation behind the larger and more prominent Dark Vengeance.
She had grown to understand the constant struggle that Revan faced. The forced duality that often threatened to tear his soul to pieces was only barely kept at bay with her help. She felt the strain of her own duality as she wore the mantle of his apprentice while still holding tight to her conviction to not let the darkness corrupt her. Their shared private moments provided the release and solace that both needed.
Revan turned and she straightened instinctively, waiting to follow his lead. "Time to introduce the Republic to my new pet." He grinned beneath the mask. She could hear it in his voice, and nodded.
He left her to finish things on the bridge. After the first day, there had been no further issues of people disobeying orders she relayed, nor had there been any challenges to her or him. So she was more often left to convey instructions while he saw to other matters.
She caught the attention of the helmsman. "Take us to Ruusan."
"Aye, Lady." He snapped a quick salute and saw to his duties.
Bastila watched the stars blur as the ship jumped to hyperspace. She turned to Admiral Blair who straightened and caught her slight nod.
"You have the bridge, Admiral."
"Yes, my Lady."
She found Revan on the empty observation deck above the bridge. "What's bothering you?"
He turned and shook his head, "Nothing really. Just thinking."
She moved to stand beside him. "Do you really think you can stop them?"
He frowned, knowing she'd picked up the thread of his thoughts. "I have to."
She smiled softly, "Determined to save the Republic in spite of itself?"
He nodded, "Someone has to, and we're the only ones who can. We know what's coming."
Bastila stood quietly for a moment longer, feeling the echoes of his emotions through their bond. "Will you join me?"
Revan shrugged, "In a moment."
She turned and left him. She had come to learn that sometimes, Revan just had to be alone with his thoughts. He would join her when he was ready. As she made her way to his quarters, Bastila began to wonder if it was a good thing that she'd been able to adapt to his world so easily. She frowned, remembering the state she'd found him in after he'd lost himself. She had to stay strong, because she knew he needed her, and she needed him.
Master Vandar shifted uncomfortably as he looked around the gathered faces. He had avoided the summit meetings for as long as he could, but had run out of plausible excuses for his absence. His heart was still heavy and very troubled, and something in the Admiral's face heralded more bad news.
"Revan's making his moves again. We've confirmed that Revan is with his fleet again, but there's also something more troubling." Admiral Kern looked at the Jedi Council members. "Bastila is with Revan, as we suspected. This holo-record is from our patrol fleet stationed at Ruusan."
He nodded and the tech brought up the vid screen. It showed Revan making his demands, and to his right, they could see Bastila standing beside him.
"There's more. We got this report just hours ago from a small fleet near Ord Mantell." Dodonna added.
The tech displayed the new video.
Bastila stood calmly as she relayed the message, "Republic fleet. This is Bastila Shan, apprentice to the Dark Lord, Darth Revan. Lord Revan has decided to give you one chance to save yourselves and your ships. Stand down and retreat now. We are taking possession of this system, resistance would only result in your destruction. Consider your options carefully."
Commander Onasi scowled, "She's freely calling herself his apprentice, I think that's ample proof."
Vandar frowned deeply. "Look closely, Commander. Her eyes are not showing the corruption of the Dark Side. It could be that she's not entirely a willing player, but doing what she feels is best for the greater good."
"By helping Revan?" Carth asked incredulously.
"Master Vandar," Admiral Dodonna spoke softly, "I understand that Revan was your own Padawan when he was still a Jedi. I can only imagine the difficulty in seeing someone you were close to falling so far, and I'm sure it's difficult to accept that Bastila has also fallen. However, we must face the proof in front of us."
Vandar sighed, "I feel that there is something more to this than what we are seeing, and what we are missing is very important. I would caution against hasty actions."
Carth shook his head, "If we keep waiting, we're going to lose the galaxy to Revan. He's already got a significant strategic advantage with the systems he controls now, never mind that his fleet is a lot larger and stronger. We have to eliminate him as soon as possible, and I am sorry if that also means taking out his new apprentice as well."
The diminutive Jedi stood, "If the Republic is not willing to exercise a bit more patience, then I am afraid I can no longer take part in these discussions." He turned and left the room. I can't be party to plotting the murder of two of my students. His heart ached with the knowledge that he was helpless to stop the juggernaut that the Republic had become, bent on Revan's death as the only solution.
Bastila ducked and rolled under Revan's sweeping attack. She smiled as he adjusted and pressed her again. She was helping him to work off the raging storm of fury that had built up in their last encounter with the Republic. Nimbly she twisted and dove away from him again, pausing to throw a telekinetic strike at him which succeeded in taking him off his feet. He rolled and quickly came up again, poised in a low crouch. His eyes narrowed as he watched her.
Gently she reached out to him through their bond, gauging his temper. He felt the light touch and smiled. He pushed her back, forcing her on the defensive. She moved to slide out of his grasp but felt her herself falling as he pulled her feet out from under her. She landed and rolled, but he was already in motion and pinned her.
Revan grinned as he leaned down and kissed her. "I win."
"This time." She said as she worked to calm her breathing after the exercise.
He rolled over, stretching out on his back. "You still amaze me."
"Oh?" She smiled, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him.
He nodded, "How easily you still manage to pull me back from the edge of the abyss when I stray too close."
Bastila reached over, lightly tracing over the most recent scars across his ribs. "I'm still amazed at how many scars you end up with despite all that armor you wear."
He chuckled, "It was designed more with defense against lightsabers in mind. Other weapons still manage to slip through if I'm not careful."
"Then you need to be more careful." She chided.
Revan let his eyes close, focusing on the warm gentleness of her touch. "Maybe. Any idea what went wrong with that last battle?"
She frowned, "It felt like something was blocking my battle meditation, but I couldn't pinpoint what. I was unable to push them to retreat."
He pondered the thought for a moment. Now that he was able to focus past the seething fury that had nearly overwhelmed him, he sought to find reasons for what happened.
"They have to be feeling that loss, their fleet is already small enough, that many capital ships is going to hurt. Maybe they'll see the folly of trying to stand and fight now, though I regret that you weren't able to get them to back down on that one."
She nodded, "So do I. I've never encountered a situation where my meditation was so totally blocked, that puzzles me."
"Yeah, another Jedi perhaps?"
She shrugged, "Perhaps, but they're unknown to me if so or they're able to conceal their Force signature."
"Maybe our newest prisoner will shed some light on the puzzle." He sat up, running his fingers through his hair.
She sat up and looked at him. "What prisoner?"
He looked over at her, "We recovered an escape pod from one of the ships. I hadn't told you yet, because I was too distracted."
She frowned, "True, you were. Do you want me with you when you question them?"
Revan took a deep breath. "I may not be very gentle with them, so it depends on if you are up to it."
"Think I should be near in case you lose perspective again?"
He sighed, "I wouldn't mind if you wish to play conscience again. I'm surprised you haven't tired of me yet."
She leaned over and kissed him lightly, "Someone has to keep you out of trouble. Come on then, we should get to it." She stood up and brushed off her clothes and retrieved her saber from where it had fallen.
He grinned, regaining his feet in a fluid motion. He pulled his shirt and armor back on. Bastila watched, and felt the shift in his energy as the burden of his role settled on his shoulders when he slid the mask back in place.
The prisoners were two Republic soldiers, and as Revan stepped into the brig, both stood defiantly in their cells. Bastila sighed inwardly knowing that such attitudes would only make the interrogations more painful for them. Revan wouldn't tolerate the defiance, and he was determined to find out everything they knew that might be of any value to him.
A sith trooper pulled the first prisoner from the cell and shackled him in place in the center of the room, then bowed to Revan and stood quietly by the door. The soldier had been stripped of all but his pants, and as was Revan's custom, the brig was kept significantly colder than the rest of his ship. He glared at Revan, and then turned a disgusted sneer on Bastila.
"So much for the Jedi's prodigy. What's it like being Revan's lapdog?"
Bastila ignored the jibe, and stood quietly, watching Revan. He, however, was not content to let insults pass. He reached out and backhanded the soldier hard. Bastila almost wondered if she'd heard his jaw crack from the force of the blow.
The soldier spat blood and glared at Revan. "Touched a nerve did I? Is that why you took her as your apprentice? To have someone to warm your bed when you've run out of decent women to force yourself on?" He sneered. "She's not your apprentice, she's your personal wh..." The soldier's words died in a strangled gasp.
Bastila could feel the seething white hot rage burning in Revan's mind, just barely held in check. As he ripped his way into the soldier's mind, he was not being gentle about it. Bastila knew by the time Revan was done flaying away layer after layer as he searched for useful information, there would be little of the man's mind left. His body writhed and twisted in pain as Revan continued his relentless assault. Bastila tried to occupy her mind with other thoughts in an attempt to block out the screams.
The second soldier was a little more cooperative, but ultimately suffered the same fate. Revan scowled as he turned, still holding his temper under control, but just barely. She looked over at him, waiting patiently.
"Some useful tidbits of information, but nothing that I really wanted to know. There was nothing in their minds indicating any Jedi presence in the fleet." He frowned beneath his mask, "So there's still
our strange puzzle unanswered."
She nodded, "Still leaves the chance that there might have been a Jedi present, but not on their particular ship. Maybe the Republic is trying to keep the presence of a Jedi quiet."
Revan regarded her for a moment. "True, it is still a possibility. I'll have to see if my spies can find anything."
He led the way from the brig, and back to the bridge. Bastila stood near Admiral Blair, and watched Revan as he paced the bridge restlessly. Unknown factors that complicated his plans bothered him, and would until he solved the puzzle.
