Ch. 7
I sensed the attack coming, surprisingly, considering how weak I was, long before it actually occurred. It clearly shows that my power is growing, slowly but it is growing. I could tell that we were far outnumbered, outmatched as well as outgunned. It wasn't looking so good for the Republic now was it and the higher-ups are always confused as to why so many defect. After a time, mediating, centering myself with the dark side, I could faintly feel the presence of my former apprentice, Malak. He had grown stronger than I had anticipated. Not overly so, but still, that means I must train that much harder, become more powerful than before.
After several rounds of what Brea likes to call 'love makin', I departed from her and Iella's quarters, leaving her asleep curled up in her blanket, my lust satiated for the moment. I did not feel tired, so I did not want to return to my room, I contented myself with roaming around the ship, moving between the people. 'Taking in the sights' as it were. My mind not on what I was seeing or even where I was heading, just thinking of my plans and such went I was bumped into. Not hard enough to do any damage, or even push me, but the other person was not so lucky. They rebounded off me, and onto the ships floor. That succeeded in tearing me from my thoughts, my shaky plans.
I looked upon the form of, to my utter amazement, the one person I have been trying to avoid the entire voyage, Bastila Shan. Her face red from what I assembled was a mixture of anger and embarrassment, a most amusing combination. At first I was shocked, but that wore off quickly to bring about almost crazed laughter. This was the single most amusing thing I have ever been apart off. The one person I was hiding from runs into me. That shouldn't have happened though. Bastila should have sensed my presence and stopped or moved out of the way. It shows that she wasn't paying attention or that she is not as powerful as she acts. Curious. I almost keep a straight face as she picked herself off the floor, not waiting for me to help her, (Not that I would have, mind. If she had waited, she would have waited along time, indeed.) I couldn't stop a small throaty chuckle.
"How dare laugh at your superior!" She almost roared at me, her face ablaze with self-righteous fury. I almost exploded into a fit of crazed laughter had I not restrained myself.
'Where is your vaunted peace now, Jedi?' I sarcastically asked her, in my head.
With an almost ghost of a smile I replied in a calm voice. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Master Jedi. You must be mistaken."
Her eyes seemed to blaze with her anger. I could feel it, the glorious feel of it. It was so richly coming from a supposedly 'passive' Jedi. Another round of laughter threatened to burst forth, I could barely contain myself. But my face remained blank, devoid of emotion, as Bastila's should be. It's ironic really. Amusing as well.
With a firm stance, hand on her hip and everything, self-righteous fury burning in her gaze, Bastila all but roared at me. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about! Now apologize!"
Her volume now gaining the attention of all of the people around us attention, a variation of species, their curious eyes glued onto our little spat. Eager for more gossip, to fill their drab and worthless lives with. It disgusted me so much that I swept my cold gaze across the lot of them, causing the meek to flee and leave only the more brave few to witness this. For withstanding my gaze, they earned that right at least.
With a wide-eyed innocent look, obviously fake, and the help of a small amount of the dark side I causally lied. "I really have idea what you are talking about. Are you all right? Maybe you should lie down a moment."
Her face a show of offence and disdain, by her heated gaze I quickly anticipated what was to come. It's amusing really, outside the supervision of their masters these young ones always seem to loose their way. With a little guiding the young ones will see the truth, of life, of the force. I will see to that personally. It is a beautiful, glorious thing to behold when you turn them. Break them, twist them until the lies of the Jedi council, the abomination of their teachings is destroyed, shattered for all to see. Force-user or otherwise, I will enlighten the entirety of this galaxy to the truth. The purpose of the weak is to be fed upon by the strong. The way of the Sith. Lost in my thoughts, as I was I almost wasn't fast enough for this young padawan. Her hand moving to slap me for my actions, but I availed and stopped her hand a hairs-breath from my cheek.
*Bastila*
Bastila looked on in anger that she was thwarted by a lowly once Sith Lord, now whipped Republic soldier. Maybe there is still some of Darth Revan still in him, even after what the Council had done to him, she silently pondered to herself. It needed to be tested by more talks with him, not punishment. I need his trust if the plan is to work as I have told the Jedi masters it would be. Need to control myself. And with deep breathe and a quick recite of the Code of the Jedi to steady myself, I proceeded to ask him in what I thought a light tone. "Would you like to take a walk, so we can talk?"
With a small lift of his eyebrows, Vaka slowly released my hand from his surprisingly strong, firm grasp. He lowered his arm to his side and gazed at my face, his intense red eyes drilling into me, his face void of any emotion. I could barely keep his gaze but I managed, not without a lot of fidgeting under his piecing gaze. For a moment I thought he would refuse my offer but he nodded softly and told me in a cold, calm voice. "If you wish it."
I quickly let out a breathe I did not even know I was holding, but I quickly straightened my stance and turned, towards where I knew their was a nice view and perfect place for us to be alone, for few knew where it was located. We walked for a time in silence for a few minutes, Vaka following behind, before we arrived at the secluded location. I stopped before the large window, looking out at the vast amount of stars and planets. I could feel him beside me, his gaze burning into my form before he too turned to the view I was looking upon.
We stood like that for a time before he broke it with a question he posed to me. "Why have you brought me here?"
I frowned, not knowing how to answer his question. (I had not thought of what I was doing beyond getting him here.) A shook my head of such thoughts and improvised. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. It was uncalled for. I am sorry."
It took a lot to say that to him, even if it were a lie. I do not apologize to those under me, but I swallowed my pride. 'It is for the mission. It needs to be done.' I firmly told myself.
He stared at me for a moment, his face betraying the smallest hint of shock, disbelief maybe?, before his face was a mask once again. He did nothing for a moment. Not a sound, not a twitch until he slowly shifted his weight from foot to foot before he finally spoke, a hint of almost humor in his voice. Amused, maybe? "Don't lie to me, Jedi. You did not drag me down here to apologize." The last with an almost sneer on his face, he continued. "What is your real purpose, pray tell?"
With a glower at him I frantically tried to think of what to say to him. It took me a moment before I found something perfect. His little get-togethers he and that annoying little thing that's always following him around. That would be something a Jedi would complain and preach about. It was perfect. With a deep breath, I proceeded to do what I do best, beside tower over those lowly creatures under my station. I lectured him.
"What do you think you are doing in with ensign Kahst? She is your comrade, not some skank you can use! How dare you call yourself a soldier or even a man? Taking advantage of her like that you manipulative little hutt-spawn!" I all but shrieked in false anger, my voice rising as I continued on.
At first he just gaped at me in disbelief at my sudden outburst but he soon, to my utter surprise and disdain, he began to hysterically laugh. He body shaking from how strong the laughter was. His eyes misty with obvious mirth, I couldn't stop my face from burning red with embarrassment at him laughing at me. I tried to calmly wait for him to stop but he just kept going on almost falling onto the floor from his fit of laughter. I had to stay in control, no matter what.
'But why is he laughing? I thought I did fairly well.' My mind a buzz in anger and deep embarrassment, even if he was the only person here to witness this.
After what seemed an age he finally took a hold of himself, only letting out a few deep chuckles before he went silent. His face, sadly back to it's empty gaze. I stood for a moment, shocked. 'I'm sad that he's not smiling.' With a horrified shake of my head I again focused on him, waiting to see if he would truly respond to what I have asked. 'Not laugh at it.' I grumbled to myself.
"Why would you ask such a thing, Padawan Bastila? Curious as to what a relationship truly entails? Do you want all the juicy details, perhaps? Hmmm… Are you so deprived that you come to me for that information?" Vaka asked with an amused glint in his eyes, a slight smirk on his lips.
As soon as he started to speak, my face began to burn again. My face getting redder than I thought possible. I did not know how to respond to his questions without shouting because she knew she would, she's so angry. 'I don't want to know that, you perverted Gamorrean pig-man!' I roared in my mind, barely keeping myself contained.
He continued to gaze at me, waiting patiently for my response. I took my time formulating my response to his vulgar questions, just to punish him for the questions in the first place. When I finally chose to answer him, my red face had cleared and my breathing had slowed to its normal rate. "I did not mean it that way nor did I want to know what you two do together and you know that. I was just advising you on what you should do and warning you what you are doing."
"You presume too much, Jedi. Not everyone will blindly follow behind the Jedi. With no thought beyond what they are told to think. Some people want to be more. So much more." The last part was almost a whisper Bastila had to lean in to hear him clearly. He then swiftly turned away from her, faster than she thought he could. Surprising Bastila enough, he was halfway across the hall before she thought to respond.
"It…it is the truth! How can you say it's not?" I finally managed to ask him, but hating myself when her voice broke.
Vaka stopped, his back to me and I had to force myself to remember that he once was the most powerful as well as evil being in the known galaxy, Darth Revan. He turned his head back towards me, his gaze hard and cold, molten fire red. He told me firmly in a deadly tone. "A belief is not a truth. It is but a possibility. Burn that in your mind, little Jedi."
He was gone, and I could not help but agree with him. Much to my own horror.
*Revan*
I took my time as I walked my way through the ship, thoroughly enjoying going over and over again in my head all of mine and Bastila's conversation. She has been shaken to her core by my words. I pleasantly going through that when, yet again, someone bumped into me. 'This was getting tiresome.' I thought with disdain. My eyes narrowed in anger and spied upon who it would be this time. I clearly recognized Brea's roommate, Iella Vanet Snight. I believe her name was. Her dark red skin easily hiding the blush to hide her embarrassment but I could easily feel it through the force. Her emotions crashing in waves from her.
Iella looked up at me, her eyes wide from embarrassment, her mouth hanging open in shock of what has just happened. I continued to look upon her face until she pulled herself together, shaking her head and a clearing of the throat she told me. "I've been looking for you all over, Mr. Shiva. Brea's has been worrying herself to death over your disappearance. She told me to find you, so…-"
I raised my hand for silence. Iella quickly followed my orders, closing her mouth and lowering her gaze to the floor. 'I do not have time for her right now. Things are going in motion faster than I had anticipated. I can feel a change. Something will happen soon.'
"Tell Iella that both of you should spent more time together. I have kept her to myself for far too long. She is your friend and your must have a lot you need to catch up with, I'm sure. Besides I'm still quite tired from me and Brae's earlier activates." I finished with a wicked smile, feeling her body go warm, and her face grows hot.
With a shaky nod, I helped her up and she left will a simple. "Night, Mr. Shiva."
I just watched her go, wanting to return to Brea's bed for more of what we had done, a sweet relief. But I knew that there were more important things to be done than trivial things such as that. So I proceeded to my room. Knowing there would be no sleep to be had, no dreams for me to explore like I enjoy doing. Things are changing. I knew the truth.
'The galaxy still needs the likes of Darth Revan, so I will take up my mantle once more. To rid the cosmos of the Jedi, unwanted refuge." My gaze glowing in the dark of my room, feeling the presence of one that betrayed me. 'Heh…heh…So it begins.'
