For Love of a Jedi

Chapter 7

Leaving

4 Years Ago -Dantooine

After weeks of poring through the archives on Dantooine, Revan had finally pieced together the information she had been looking for since returning from the war. The time for her and Malak to leave was at hand; tonight, under the cover of darkness they would begin their search for the object that would change the face of the galaxy for the better – the Star Forge.

She had no intentions of leaving without speaking to Bastila, however, and despite Malak's pessimism, she hoped that Bastila would accompany them, despite not having seen first hand the need to do what they were going to attempt.

But things don't always go the way you want them to, as she would soon realize.


Bastila awoke to the sound of her door closing. Sitting up quickly, alarm gave way quickly as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she recognized the dark figure approaching her. A smile played across her lips as Revan sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hey you," Bastila greeted, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "While I do need to sleep on occasion, I'm glad you came by to... visit," she said, running a hand down Revan's arm."You're a bit overdressed, don't you think?" she added with a sleepy smile, as s her fingers ran across the rough, scratchy fabric of Revan's cloak, a smile that faded once Revan turned to face her and she knew from her expression that this wasn't the kind of social call she initially thought it was. "What's the matter, Revan?"

"I'm leaving tonight, Bas. Me and Malak." Her voice was soft, and something about Revan's demeanor tonight stirred her to complete wakefulness.

"I don't understand, Revan? Going where, it's the middle of the night!"

"I can't stay here anymore, Bas," Revan said. "I'm going to finish what we started."

Confused, Bastila replied, "I don't understand, finish what? The war is done, any Mandalorians left certainly aren't in any position to try anything. It's safe now, thanks to you."

"It's safe for now, sure. But for how long? How long will it take for the Republic to forget all the death and destruction that happened, and to grow lazy and careless enough that another war happens? It's not finished, and it won't be finished until the Republic is dead and buried, and a government that can actually protect its people takes its place.

I hate the Mandalorians for what they've done, not just to me, but to every other person that was affected by their actions... but they aren't entirely to blame. Had they been stopped before they threatened the Core Worlds, so much needless pain and destruction would have been prevented. "

Bastila looked at Revan in disbelief, her eyes searching the war hero's for any sign that this was all just some misguided attempt at a joke. But Revan's face was as serious as she had ever seen it. "You're joking Revan," Bastila said, though she had a sick feeling Revan was deadly serious about this. "That's... that's treason."

Revan's lips twisted into a tight, bitter grin at that, and Bastila's blood ran cold at the sight of it. "Treason?" Revan echoed with a laugh empty of any of her usual mirth, "I'm not the one who let millions – hundreds of millions of people die over the years. If anyone is a traitor, they are. And believe me," Revan said, standing up from the narrow bed, "they will answer for it." She looked back at Bastila, who had a look of complete horror on her face. "Bas, come with us," she continued, the sharp edge in her voice fading as she reached out for Bastila's hand. "I've left you once for a war, I don't want to have to do it again."

Her offer went unheeded, as Bastila shrank away from her touch, moving further away in response, until her back hit the headboard of the bed. Revan's proffered hand fell back to her side, fist clenched.

"You'd turn your back on me... for them?" Revan asked, though it came out as a statement. Malak had been right, no one could understand the necessity of their cause unless they had seen firsthand what she had. "The day before I left, you said you wished you could come with me – I wish you had been able to come too. I think you'd understand my motivations, then... and see there is no sense in keeping a government in power that would let what I have seen happen.

If you won't come, just do me one favor. Wait until daylight before telling anyone we left. For old time's sake," she added with a wan smile, as she flipped the hood of her robe up over her head. "Goodbye, Bas," she said, hoping this wouldn't be the last time she saw her, as she turned and started to make her way to the door.

She didn't get far before Bastila's arms wrapped around her waist tightly, the younger girl pressed flush against her back. "Don't go," Bastila pleaded, and Revan could feel tiny spots of dampness seeping into her robes. "Can't you just let it go, Revan? For me?.. for us?"

Her hands reached up to cover Bastila's, and she closed her eyes, relishing the contact, and tried to envision the Republic, changed and perfect, as it was in Bastila's eyes. Tried to imagine the future they could have if she could stop fighting...

And she almost gave in, almost put aside the old hatreds. Almost. But when she closed her eyes, all she could see was the broken worlds she had fought on, her own hometown laid to waste, the last time she saw her parents alive. She couldn't let it go. But she could let go of the one thing that would hold her back, as much as she didn't want to make that choice.

"I can't," she ground out, freeing herself from Bastila's grip, and stalked out of the room, leaving Bastila crying behind her, as she tried to keep down the rush of her own conflicting emotions.


There were no I-told-you-so's from Malak when she finally arrived, alone, at their meeting place, not far from the ruins they had searched the previous night to discover the first Star Map. Instead, he said nothing at all, opting instead for a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they boarded the small ship he'd stolen from the enclave. And for the second time, Revan and Malak left Dantooine to go to war, this time against the banner they had fought under previously.

To her credit, she didn't cry until they were well on their way to Tatooine.


Bastila honored Revan's wishes; no one knew about the recent departure of Revan until the next morning, when Vrook's yelling about the theft of his personal courier had been stolen woke half of the enclave.