CHAPTER 8
Revan extended his blue lightsaber from his body, sweeping it around him in an arc. He was out of practice and he could feel it. His time at the Jedi Academy had been spent mostly learning basic lessons in the Force and the few occasions he had been allowed time with a lightsaber had been spent practicing basic technique. The finely honed weapon he had spent his entire life training himself into had been dulled. The new lightsaber he had built on Dantooine as completion of his training was a very basic model and he didn't like it. The blade was dimmer, less precise. The hilt was shorter than the one he'd used in the Mandalorian Wars and it was of a simple straight design.
Revan sighed, remembering his old saber. It had been a thing of beauty, the only thing he could truly call his own other than the robes on his back. He had spent hours on it, tweaking it and perfecting it. The blade had been slightly longer than standard but the two color crystals in the ornately decorated, curved hilt allowed him to alter its length to suit whatever situation he found himself in. Based on a design not seen in the Order for several hundred years, he had managed to fit four focusing crystals in the base, one more than was standard.
He smiled at the memory of working on it before his mind went back to the present and the plain Padawan's saber he was stuck with. Getting into a new stance, he began practicing his Juyo form. Unlike most other Jedi, Revan had never chosen a principal lightsaber form. His natural skill, physical ability, and strength in the Force allowed him to practice and become proficient in several, ensuring he was the most adaptable duelist in the Order. He had been well known for his ability to change with the situation, whether it be in the dueling ring facing off with another Jedi or taking on an entire blaster-firing Mandalorian platoon by himself. Revan stopped as he felt a pair of eyes watching him.
"You're practicing Form VII. I've never seen it used by anyone other than Master Kavar before," Bastila said, her own lightsaber in hand. Revan nodded.
"I helped Master Kavar perfect and complete it. A dangerous form, more so to the user than the intended target if he or she is not skilled. From last I remember there were less than twenty Jedi in the entire Order proficient in it."
She shook her head.
"There's only one now, Revan. Only Master Kavar uses it. You killed the rest."
There was an awkward silence in the confined space of the cargo hold as Revan thought back to his countless Jedi victims, trying to remember.
"I… I didn't know. I'm sorry…"
"I know, Revan," she said quietly.
As he turned off his lightsaber and replaced it on his belt, he felt her hand on his arm.
"Revan… can you teach me?"
He didn't say anything and she was afraid he would laugh.
"What would you like me to teach you?"
Bastila looked away, embarrassed.
"I never finished my training. I passed my trials but then you came back. My Battle Meditation was needed and I never got the opportunity to continue my training to become a Knight."
Revan chuckled. When she looked at him angrily, he put up his hands.
"I'm sorry, Bastila, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised you'd ask me. You want me to train you to become a Jedi Knight? I'm not sure… going from a Padawan to a Knight is a difficult transition for many and most Padawans don't become Knights until they are quite a bit older than you."
"You don't think I can do it?"
She looked at him with her eyes slanted, daring him to say something wrong.
"I think you can do whatever you put your mind to, Bastila. You're strong in the Force and you have a determination within you that amazes me. I'm not doubting you, I'm doubting me. I was just a Knight, and not even a very experienced Knight. I left the Order only a few years after my trials. Why do you think I can train you?"
Her eyes took on a strange twinkle as she answered him.
"You were no ordinary Knight, Revan. Even Master Vrook acknowledged your knowledge in the Force was even greater than many members of the Council."
Revan had the mischievous grin on his face that she had learned to dread.
"I am flattered you would think that, Bastila. I will teach you what I can."
The grin disappeared as his tone became serious.
"But understand that much of what I know is dangerous. It was my knowledge in the dark side of the Force that led to my fall. We share a bond, Bastila, and for me to teach you, I will have to open myself completely to you. I need you to give me your word that you won't try to see in my mind what I don't want you to see. I'm doing this for you, I don't want you hurt."
"I promise."
"Where would you like me to begin?"
Bastila gestured to his lightsaber.
"Teach me what you were practicing, Form VII, the Juyo form."
The mischievous grin came back.
"Ambitious, aren't you? What forms have you learned?"
"I've been trained in I, III, IV, and I was learning VI."
Revan nodded.
"That's impressive for a Padawan, Bastila. Form VII most closely resembles Form IV and Form V, but it is easiest to teach to a Form V practitioner. Form V is based loosely on Form III. Show me your Form III."
She was confused. Form III was a defensive form, a complete opposite to what she had seen him practicing. How would it help her learn? But she decided to trust him and lit her lightsaber, getting down in her stance. Revan's eyebrow arched.
"A double bladed saber?"
"You don't remember? I had it on Taris and… the Titan as well, Revan."
"Yes, but you only had one blade ignited. I suppose I must have forgotten. I guess I just never pictured you with one. They're normally associated with the Sith and Jedi attracted to the… darker side of the Force. I didn't realize the Jedi even still instructed their members in its use," he said, as if talking to himself.
"No, not normally. You trained me in its use."
This caught him by surprise. Revan was puzzled.
Why can't I remember?
A smile formed on his face, as he remembered something. It had been a joke, the summer that the always mischievous Malak gave an eleven year old Bastila a double bladed training saber, 'knowing' she would never be able to use it. As expected, the young girl was overjoyed at the gift, but completely confused on how to use it. Deciding to exact revenge on his best friend for the joke, Revan had given her a crash course in using double bladed weapons the exact weekend before Malak was to leave for Coruscant for further training. Taking her with him to see Malak off, Revan had watched in amusement as a proud Bastila, completely unaware of the background games being played by the two older Jedi, demonstrated to Malak her lightsaber prowess. After that day, Bastila had gone back to her single blade but Malak had never made fun of her apparent frailty in lightsaber combat again.
"Yes, I remember now. I thought you had given it up though. Mmmmm…"
Bastila looked at him quizzically.
"Have I ever told you how sensual I find the idea of a woman with a double blade? You're making me have impure thoughts about you!"
"Well you better stop or I may be tempted to use this saber on you!"
Revan laughed.
"Yes, Mistress. But honestly, I haven't used a double saber in some time so this may be difficult."
Taking her lightsaber, he performed a series of seemingly impossible, acrobatic moves, using the Force to twist his body in a complicated series of twists and turns. Completing the sequence, he gave her back her blade.
"That was a basic sequence. Why don't you give it a try?"
Bastila looked at him uncertainly.
He expects me to do what he just did?
Eyeing him nervously, she began with the stance he had used and attempted to copy him, trying her best to recall what she had seen. When she finished, she knew she hadn't even come close to his perfection. Expecting some sort of lecture, she looked at him sheepishly but he was smiling.
"That was good. You're a quick learner."
What?
If it had been Master Vrook, she would have gotten a severe tongue-lashing.
"But you're not really feeling it. Juyo is all about releasing yourself. It draws from within, from what you feel, your emotions."
He saw the look on her face.
"Yes, I know, there is no emotion, there is peace. That is why the number of practitioners using this form has always been so small. Many Jedi consider it dangerous because it draws so heavily upon your feelings - and it is, for those lacking in control. Let me show you again, this time with a single blade."
Drawing his own blade, she watched as he closed his eyes and slashed his lightsaber out. In less time than it took to blink, he brought the blade back across his body several times, each staccato swing seemingly disjointed and completely unpredictable. Bastila couldn't believe how quickly he was able to move and she wondered how many hours he and Master Kavar had had to spend developing the Form.
"Very impressive. That Form was practiced quite rarely in the Mandalore Wars and Jedi who used it were given a great deal of respect among my people."
Revan's hilt went back to his belt as he turned to face Canderous. The Mandalorian was leaning against the bulkhead, chewing on spice as usual.
"I didn't realize a beginner Jedi such as yourself could even learn that Form. I'm no Jedi, but from my experience, only Revan and Malak and a few other Jedi used it."
"You were familiar with Revan?"
Canderous shrugged.
"I fought against him in battle. Not directly, of course, or I wouldn't be here talking to you."
"Canderous, you're a veteran of the Mandalore Wars. You mentioned you were from the Clan… Ordo, did you not? Where did you fight?"
The Mandalorian snorted.
"Where didn't I fight? I was there when we took Onderon, right in the first wave of Basilisks. I was there when Revan destroyed us at Malachor V."
Revan glanced at Bastila, giving her a glimpse into his mind.
Are you sure this is wise, Revan?
"Have you decided what you're going to do? Have you gotten any job offers?"
"Are you kidding? I've always got job offers. More than I know what to do with! I throw most of them away though. Most of them are just from people who want me as a high priced bodyguard so they can brag about having a Mandalorian watching their back. I don't think they understand I'm not a piece of art you hang on a wall. Heh, I'm a warrior and I crave action. You can take the warrior out of the war but you can't take the war out of the warrior. Why?"
"I can't pay you much, but where I'm going I can assure you you'll get plenty of 'action'. Would you join my crew?"
Canderous laughed.
"Your 'crew'? All I see is you, Bastila, a Wookiee, a Twi'lek kid and Flyboy. Whatever you can pay me, I'm pretty sure it doesn't even come close to my regular rates. But a mercenary for a Jedi… there's one hat I've never worn. And from the looks of you… I'd say you could probably use another hired gun. What can you pay anyways?"
Revan shrugged.
"That depends on how much 'action' we see."
"No deal. I like you but I work strictly on a monthly retainer's fee."
"How does a thousand credits a month sound then?"
Canderous paused as if to bounce the number around his head.
"Two thousand."
"Fifteen hundred."
The Mandalorian grinned and extended a hand.
"Deal."
Revan brushed aside his robe and tossed Canderous a pouch from his belt.
"There's two thousand credits in there, enough for the first month as well as a bonus for getting Bastila off Taris."
Canderous opened the pouch and whistled.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
As he left, Bastila pulled Revan into a corner.
"Two thousand credits?! Wherever did you get that many credits?"
"Making war isn't cheap. The Force is a powerful ally, but there are times when even it is no match for a healthy sum of credits. I established several bank accounts in case I ever ran into… difficulties. You would be terrified if you knew how many assets the Sith Empire holds throughout the Republic. The Sith had several hundred billion credits worth of assets when I was Dark Lord. I personally controlled assets worth seventeen million credits before Malak's betrayal."
What Revan didn't tell her was that most of those seventeen million credits had existed in an account registered to his name even before he became a Jedi. The mystery as to the source of those credits would have to remain a secret, even to her. The distractions of bringing back the memories of how he had gotten that money was something he knew he could not afford.
Seventeen millions credits?!
Bastila felt her head spin at the numbers Revan was throwing out.
"I am much more than a pretty face, as you no doubt have already concluded, my dear. In addition to being dashingly handsome and a highly proficient duelist, I am also fantastically wealthy. How you can even resist my charms is beyond me, Bastila," Revan teased.
She rolled her eyes.
"What other secrets are you hiding from me, Revan?"
"I wish I knew myself."
Bastila tossed and turned restlessly, a vision from Revan's mind playing in her head. She was in some sort of a cave, a fierce sandstorm howling outside. Darth Revan's familiar form was standing before a Star Map, identical in form to the one they'd seen on Dantooine. Moaning in her sleep, she was pulled from her slumber by a hand on her arm, shaking her gently.
"We've reached Tatooine," Revan whispered. She sleepily pulled herself from the bed, suddenly realizing she was wearing only her nightgown, a thin garment made of a flowery white material that clung to her every curve. Revan noticed her embarrassment and respectfully turned away, tossing her his robe. Pulling it over her shoulders, she went over to him.
"Do you just enjoy teasing me? It's enough to drive a man insane!"
She blushed at this, inwardly flattered by the fact she had drawn his attention.
"If you didn't surprise me like you did that would never have happened, would it? Now would you leave the room for a moment please? I'd like to get properly attired before speaking with you."
Revan left the room and she quickly got dressed. Calling him back in, she handed him back his robe. When he saw her, he didn't say anything for a moment, his mouth half open as he looked at her. Then he laughed.
"What's wrong?"
"I thought you said you'd stop teasing me. Then you call me in wearing that… are you trying to turn me back to the dark side?"
"But these are my Jedi robes!"
Revan tugged at the collar on his own robes.
"No, these are Jedi robes. What you're wearing… it makes me want to lock myself in the refresher and take a long, long, LONG cold shower! If that fails, you would drive me back to Coruscant and spend the rest of my days as the Archive librarian! What happened to the robes you were wearing on Dantooine?"
"Those were my dress robes, Revan. I only wear them around the Academy. They're much too bulky and uncomfortable to move in!" she protested.
Revan chuckled.
"I was just teasing you Bastila. Those robes look very becoming on you, even if the design is a little unconventional."
She blushed, seeing herself reflected in his eyes. She had designed her own Jedi robes when she'd become a Padawan, perfecting them in the few precious moments of spare time she had each night. It consisted of two layers. The first was a simple two toned, brown and a flesh-like color, unitard of a tight fitting fabric that hugged her like a second skin, comfortable and cool. On top of this, wrapping around her upper chest she had sewn a finely embroidered strip of dark brown leather that wrapped around her slender neck in a high collar, running down over her breasts and through her belt where it hung delicately between her legs. Around her waist she wore another embroidered leather piece that resembled a garter belt in the way it hugged her hips. Down each side was a long embroidered leather sash. Over all this was her belt, a more elaborate variant of that worn by most Jedi, with small pouches attached to it and a loop for her lightsaber.
"Thank you, Revan. I designed them myself," she said proudly. Normally self-conscious, Bastila knew she was beautiful but still hated the sensation of being looked at by men. But Revan was different, giving her body only a passing glance despite his remarks, his brown eyes looking into hers. The way he looked at her made her feel warm inside, a strange but definitely not unwelcome sensation…
"I can only imagine what the Jedi Masters said though. More than a few of them must have clutched their chests in pain at the sight of you. I can see now why you said you only wore your dress robes at the Academy," he winked. Bastila hit him on the arm as he feigned injury.
"And you said I tease you?" she sighed, "Please try to concentrate Revan, you didn't just come to announce our arrival on Tatooine."
The playful smile slowly became serious on his face.
"You had a vision, didn't you?"
"You saw it as well? Of course you did, the Force is strong with us both."
"Well, yes, and it is my memory. What did you think of it?"
Bastila frowned, trying to recall it in detail.
"It was a cave but beyond that it was difficult to tell. Tatooine is known for little else but dust and sandstorms. I find it strange we would find a Star Map here."
"This world may not always have been covered in desert. The Star Map on Dantooine was twenty thousand years old. Republic meteorological records from that long ago are sketchy to say the least."
She nodded.
"Perhaps you are right. No doubt things will become more clear when we locate the Star Map."
Revan smiled and extended his hand, helping her to her feet.
"The sooner we start looking, the better then."
Revan fixed his eyes on the man in the Czerka uniform before him and waved his hand in his face.
"I do not have to pay the docking fee. You will turn around and never bother me again."
With a glazed look in his eyes, the Czerka docking agent turned and left.
"It never fails to amaze me how many people that works on. The whole galaxy must be full of weak minded fools," Canderous muttered under his breath.
"You don't think the mind trick would work on you?" Revan asked slyly. Canderous laughed.
"Ha! I'm a Mandalorian warrior; I've stared death in the eye and won more times than I can remember! I've seen things you can't even begin to imagine! Of course I'm immune to your Jedi tricks."
"Right… you will stay on with me for free."
"I will… if you ever try that again I swear I'll put a smoking blaster hole in your head!"
Revan laughed.
"Have you paid the docking fee yet, Qel?" Bastila asked, making her way towards him.
"Heh, of course he did," Canderous said, sweeping his hand in front of him, imitating Revan's motion to the Czerka agent. Bastila frowned.
"The Force should not be used for profit and personal gain! Continue with this behavior and you will find yourself…"
"Straying down the dark path, yes, I've heard that lecture before. I hear and obey, Mistress."
He gave her a mocking half bow that she ignored.
"I am going into Anchorhead. You may join me when you develop some semblance of maturity," she sniffled.
Revan laughed and turned back to Canderous.
"This Star Map we're looking for, it's somewhere in the desert. We will require transportation and supplies. Can you go into town and see about acquiring these?"
"I'm a warrior, not a quartermaster!" Canderous muttered under his breath but headed towards the settlement.
"Are you sure that's smart, just letting him off alone like that?"
Revan turned at Carth's voice.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. We're on a mission to save the Republic. He's a Mandalorian. We handed his people the worst defeat they'd suffered in their entire history and… well, I think you get my drift. Why'd you decide to bring him along anyways?"
"He's here for the same reason you are: This mission is dangerous and we will need as many allies as are willing to join us, Mandalorian or not. We can always use another hired blaster, especially one as proficient as him."
Carth shook his head.
"But like I said, he's a Mandalorian! I don't trust him. How do you know he's not going to betray us? I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back here with an army of Sith-contracted bounty hunters."
"Mandalorians don't bear grudges. They see war differently than we do. Even if he does still hate the Republic for defeating his people, he has no reason to betray us to the Sith. The Clans were stabbed in the back by Exar Kun long before the Republic Fleet bested them in the skies over Malachor. There is also the matter of payment. I have yet to pay him for the coming month. He won't betray us now."
"Wait… you paid him?! With what? I thought you were a Jedi now! Aren't Jedi supposed to swear some sort of vow of poverty or something?" Carth protested. Revan wasn't listening. In the corner of his eye he had been watching Bastila engaged in conversation with an older Twi'lek woman. As the woman left, he could see something was troubling her and he felt feelings of uncertainty and doubt emanating from her through their bond.
"I noticed the Ebon Hawk took some damage in our escape from Taris. Czerka has a decent salvage yard nearby. Why don't you see if you can obtain some spare parts, Carth?"
The Republic pilot looked at him with a puzzled expression for a moment but shrugged.
"You might be right. I thought she was handling a little sluggishly. Yeah, sure, no problem, I'll see what I can find to fix up the old girl."
As the soldier left, Revan touched Bastila's arm lightly.
"Something's bothering you."
"No, no, everything's fine."
She smiled weakly, trying to be convincing but he wasn't buying it.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"I have some… private… business to attend to at a nearby cantina. I will be there if you need me."
He looked at her concernedly but nodded.
"Alright, just don't stray too far. Anchorhead could be larger than it looks and I…"
"I'll be fine, Revan, I can take care of myself. But… thank you… for worrying about me."
She planted a light kiss on his cheek and disappeared into the city. Revan frowned. There was a slight tremor in the Force, just barely perceivable.
Something's not right.
Mission felt a cool breeze sweep over her as she followed Revan into the climate-controlled building. She paused for a moment to enjoy the cool, after having been outside in Tatooine's blazing twin suns. When she opened her eyes, the young knight was already over at the front desk, speaking to the Czerka rep.
"Large caverns? I've heard there's a few big caves out in the Eastern Dune Sea, but besides that, no I don't know of any large caverns. Why do you ask? Are you some sort of treasure hunter?"
"I have my reasons."
The woman behind the counter gave him a look.
"No one can leave Anchorhead without a hunting permit. Czerka Corporation rules. If you want to leave Anchorhead, you better give me your reasons."
Revan waved a hand in front of her face.
"You don't need to hear my reasons."
The woman's eyes glazed over.
"I… I don't need to hear you reasons."
She snapped out of it.
"But I still can't issue you a hunting permit. We've already got too many of those damned exotic hunters running around out there."
"Are you sure there's no way for me to acquire a permit?"
The woman crossed her arms.
"That depends. Can I interest you in some well-paying work? You look like a fighter. I might be able to help you if you're willing to help us."
Revan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what might this 'well-paying work' entail?"
The woman laughed.
"Don't worry, it won't be anything illegal like murder or anything. It's just that there's a tribe of Sand People playing havoc with our mining operations just north of here. They've made themselves into a serious nuisance. If you would agree to 'deal' with them, I'd be willing to give you a permit right now."
"You want me to kill them."
"Well, it would seem it might have to come to that, wouldn't it?"
"You stated your work wouldn't involve murder. Isn't that what you have just asked me to do?"
The woman shook her head.
"The Sand People are animals. We can't negotiate with them. We can't even talk to them. They speak in some strange language nobody can decipher. We even brought in language experts a few years ago but… I'll just say they met a rather… unpleasant end. Now, are you going to accept my offer or do I have to ask someone else?"
"No, no, I'll do it," Revan said quickly.
"Good. Just bring me back the gaffi stick of their chieftain as proof you completed the job and I promise you will be well compensated. But be careful. The Sand People are very dangerous. You wouldn't want to end up like that Twi'lek Griff."
Mission skin turned a very pale blue.
"Griff? What happened to him?"
The woman shook her head, clucking her tongue.
"Nobody deserves an end like that. Not even him."
"What do you mean by 'not even him'?"
"He worked for us as a miner for a while but he was a terrible worker. His foreman wanted to kill him. Always showing up late, if he did at all, making up fake timesheets, stealing company supplies. We would have fired him, but the Sand People got to him first. As I said, nobody deserves what happened to him, even if he was a slime."
"Hey! This is my brother…"
Revan grabbed Mission and stopped her.
"So this Twi'lek… he's dead?"
The woman shrugged.
"We never found his body. He may have been captured. That would have been worse. The Sand People don't exactly treat captives with great hospitality. If he was alive when they got him, he's probably dead by now."
Revan noticed how distraught Mission was getting and flashed the Czerka rep a cordial smile.
"I appreciate your help."
"A pleasure. Just don't forget about our little agreement. Czerka doesn't look kindly upon contractors who take their pay and run."
As soon as they were out of earshot, Revan kneeled beside the little Twi'lek.
"What's wrong?"
She spoke so softly he could barely hear her.
"I never told you about my brother, did I?"
"I don't remember where I was born. Griff and me… we left, I don't remember why, when I was just four. All I can remember is the trip… stuffed into a packing crate… eating scraps…"
Revan nodded, not wanting to interrupt her.
"You were stowaways."
"Something like that. Griff was running, as usual. I don't know from what, but we landed on Taris."
"What was he like? Your brother, I mean?"
Mission sighed. Revan gave her an understanding smile, reassuring her she could go on.
"If I tell you even half of the things he did, you're going to think he was nothing but a deadbeat. He drank, he gambled… even stole sometimes when things were getting tough. But he was my brother you know? He taught me everything I know now. How to scope out a rich, upper crust target in a crowded cantina… how to slice a locked down security system to break into a warehouse…"
Revan laughed softly.
"Skills not normally considered by most of society as a part of a proper education. Skills that can often come in handy when one needs to survive."
Mission, not expecting Revan to understand, beamed at his gracious appraisement of her brother's abilities.
"Yeah, something like that. Life could be hard sometimes, you know? But we survived. I was too young to understand much, but I understood this: I was happier than I think I've been ever since. Griff and me, we were more like pals than brother and sister. Things were good between us…"
The little Twi'lek frowned, black storm clouds seeming to gather overhead.
"Until Lena came along. She was some dancer at a cantina Griff visited a lot. Airhead smile, big boobs, long headtails, brains of a Gamorrean drugged up on deathsticks… you know the type. One little bat of her fake eyelashes and she had him wrapped around her finger. She convinced him to take off and leave me behind. I was only nine… I… I never saw him again."
Revan stroked his stubble-covered chin thoughtfully.
"And that's why you came with me. To look for your brother."
Mission's head snapped towards him like she had been shocked with a stun stick.
"W-well… it… kinda… I want to help you too! You… you're a great guy Qel and I thought you might…" she stuttered quickly. Revan smiled warmly, knowing he had been able to read her mind correctly.
"No, don't worry about it. I understand. Family is one of the most important things in life a person can have. And it should be. I'm honored you would think I could help you find your brother. I promise I will do whatever I can to get to the bottom of this. But this Griff… you believe this is the same Griff, your brother?"
Mission nodded, then gave a slight shrug.
"I know it's him. Don't ask me how, I just do."
A simple nod was the response Mission got, an unspoken promise communicated in a determined look in his eyes.
"I understand. If your brother is still out there, I will get him back. I promise."
Mission smiled a little for his benefit but the devastation on her face remained.
"I just hope we're not too late."
"Where's Qel?"
Carth wiped his forehead on his shirtsleeve, looking up to see Canderous returning from the city.
"I don't know. I thought he went looking for you."
The big Mandalorian shook his head.
"I didn't see him… Get down!"
Without thinking Carth instinctively pulled his head down – just as a black clad figure leapt over him. Looking up, he saw Canderous pull the Mandalorian assault rifle from his shoulder and fire two shots into the center of the Dark Jedi's chest.
"Two more behind you! Toss me a blaster!" Carth shouted. Canderous pulled a heavy blaster from his belt and threw it up to Carth, throwing himself flat on the ground as the Republic war hero opened fire. His sharp combat senses tingling, he rolled away just as the crimson blade of a lightsaber slashed into the ground where his head had been.
"Zaalbar! This is Carth, we're under attack! Get those defensive turrets online!"
Carth put the comlink down to see Canderous wrestling with an assailant, rolling around in the dust. With a roar, the Mandalorian veteran threw his attacker off and stabbed a long dagger into his chest. Turning to lock eyes with Carth, he leveled his rifle and let loose a flurry of rounds at a Sith. The Dark Jedi deflected the bolts back with her lightsaber but it bought enough time for Carth to sweep her legs out from under her, knocking her off the top of the Ebon Hawk and onto the hard metal landing pad below.
"Damnit Zaalbar, we need those turrets online now… Canderous duck!"
Taking careful aim, Carth opened fire with both the heavy blaster the Mandalorian had given him and his own survival blaster. The Sith knight managed to block some but not all of Carth's well placed rounds. Diving under the cover of one of the Ebon Hawk's landing struts, Canderous got out of the way just in time as the smuggling craft's hidden turbolasers lay down a murderous carpet of fire, riddling the remaining Sith. Breathing heavily, Carth uncovered his ears and jumped down to the ground. The Mandalorian shook his head and pulled himself to his feet.
"That was some of the finest shooting I've ever seen. You saved my life."
Carth nodded, handing him back his blaster.
"I could say the same for you. But don't be too grateful yet. We're on the same side. For now. I'm still watching you, Mandalorian. If you do anything to jeopardize this mission…"
Canderous gave him a smug smile.
"I know."
Canderous' and Carth's fight for survival at the Ebon Hawk hadn't gone unnoticed. Revan felt the tremor he'd felt before screaming like an alarm klaxon in his head. Sensing a presence behind him, he pushed Mission to the ground and bowed his head - a fraction of a second before the red blade decapitated him. Spinning around, Revan lashed out at his attacker through the Force, sending him flying into a wall. His own blue lightsaber hissed to life in his hand as he grabbed Mission by the shoulder and pushed her back towards the entrance of the Czerka office.
"Get back inside! I will deal with this!"
Two more Dark Jedi joined the first, cutting off any escape. Revan eyed them defiantly. He wasn't planning on running. Two of them attacked at once, charging at him. Revan's lightsaber became a blur as he tossed one of them aside, swinging his lightsaber back and stabbing it through the chest of the other. Harnessing the power of the Force, he launched his body into the air, bringing his blade down towards an opponent – and was astonished as his blade whistled through nothing but air. Cursing as his intended target easily parried the blow and came back at him with several blows of his own, Revan suddenly grabbed his opponent's wrist as a swing went wide and headbutted him.
What's wrong with me? These are mere amateurs compared to me! This fight should have been over by now!
Twisting quickly, he slashed through the other man's weak defense, plunging his blade into his stomach. The last attacker came at him again. Without moving from where he stood, Revan knocked his assailant's blade aside and brought his own down across the Dark Jedi's wrist. The Sith howled in pain as his severed hand hit the dust, the crimson blade of his lightsaber shutting off as Revan called it into his free hand. Flourishing his blue lightsaber menacingly, he held it to the man's throat.
"How many more of you are there?"
The man spat in his face.
"I will tell you nothing!"
Revan brought his arm back and struck the Sith viciously across the chin with the hilt of the lightsaber, knocking him out.
"Mission, get back to the Ebon Hawk. I have to find Bastila!"
Her eyes wide, the Twi'lek girl ran off. Closing his eyes momentarily, Revan reached out through the Force and found Bastila. Breaking into a sprint, he hoped he could reach her in time…
Bastila heard Revan calling out to her through their bond as she stormed out of the cantina.
"Bastila! Hold on!"
Before she could react, three Sith suddenly appeared around her. Quickly igniting her double bladed lightsaber, she blocked a thrust and jabbed the end into one of her attackers. At the same time, she reached out to throw the others back with the Force but she was a half second too late. She felt her legs swept out from under her as two more dark Jedi jumped down to the street from a nearby building. As an attacker dove at her, she quickly sprung to her feet and sidestepped the blow. Swinging her lightsaber to block another attack, she kicked an assailant in the chest, sending him flying. Too late, she sensed another behind her. Before she could react, she felt the Force closing around her neck. Her grip on her lightsaber weakening, she felt the life slowly being squeezed out of her. Just before she blacked out, what she thought to be another of the Sith assassins leapt from a building…
It was Revan. His blue blade in one hand, a crimson blade in the other, he became a blur, lightsabers whirling around him like a typhoon, his fury cutting down her attackers like grain at harvest. She could feel the rage within him, his anger fueling his power, mauling her assailants like an enraged kath hound mother. At the point of almost losing consciousness, she suddenly felt afraid. Not for herself, but for him. The ferocity with which he fought was pulling him inexorably back towards the darkness she knew lay within his soul. Summoning all her strength, she called to him telepathically, just as he slashed the lightsaber from the hand of the Dark Jedi holding her captive and gripped him in the iron fist of the Force…
"R-Revan… There… There is no passion…"
The Jedi Code brought back so many painful memories for him. Revan had long since buried it but had never forgotten it. He understood and felt a calm flowing through him, like cool, sweet water from a mountain spring, washing out the flames that burned with such fury within him.
"Thank you… for pulling me back."
He released the Force choke he had on the Sith and let him fall to the ground, unconscious but alive. Turning his head, he saw her smile weakly at him and he knew it had only been by her strength he had been kept from stumbling into the darkness. She smiled weakly at him but then winced in pain and collapsed. Running to her side, Revan caught her as her legs buckled. Cradling her head gently in his hand, feeling a terrible knot forming in his stomach, he felt her faintly through the Force. When she slowly blinked and then opened those beautiful, ocean blue eyes, Revan let himself breathe again.
"My prince has come to my rescue."
She smiled softly up at him.
"No. It was you who saved me. From myself."
Closing her eyes, Bastila felt his strong arms around her and she rested her head against his chest, trying to recover her strength.
"No, Revan. You saved yourself. You just needed a little help."
Revan smiled at her words, knowing she knew the truth but was merely saying what she did for his benefit. But he wondered what would have happened had she not been there. More serious than that at the moment though, was how he had fought. Even having struck down the group attacking Bastila with such ease, his swings had been wild, uncontrolled… lacking the legendary precision that had been his trademark. The Force still felt the same yet… when he reached out to it, he found it harder to twist it and bend it to his will.
Something isn't right with me.
"Who were those guys? They appeared from nowhere!"
They had all gathered in the central hold of the Ebon Hawk, everyone more than a little worse for wear after their encounters with the enemy.
"They attacked from the shadows, like cowards," Canderous growled, nursing an ugly-looking gash on his bicep. Revan knew their attackers well but remained silent. Taught to use the Force, but not quite Dark Jedi, he had trained hundreds of Sith Assassins, well versed in cloak-and-dagger tactics, striking from the darkness and disappearing before their victims could retaliate. He knew Bastila knew them as well. Even before he had turned his vast fleets loose on the Republic, he had dispatched them like an advance force, sowing dissent and causing unrest among potential targets. They were conditioned with a fanatical, single-minded determination to accomplish their only mission: to hunt Jedi.
"They… they were Sith. Scouts most likely. That would explain their use of stealth in their attacks," Bastila explained unsurely, stealing a glance at Revan for help. Revan shook his head and she understood. He couldn't say anything without the risk of revealing himself to the others.
"Well I look forward to meeting them again when I will be… more prepared," Canderous said threateningly, a slight glint in his eye. Mission rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Why don't you just hope they don't show up again?"
"A warrior does not shy away from battle! He embraces it!"
Carth shook his head but Canderous didn't seem to notice.
"I should probably upgrade the Hawk's sensors, just in case something like this hits us again. That reminds me, I didn't get a chance to run into town but I did a quick walk around of the ship. I put together a list of parts I'm going to need to get her up and running again. Qel…"
Revan chuckled.
"Toss it on a datapad and give it to me. I'll find what you need."
Canderous slung his assault rifle over his shoulder and gestured towards the swoop bike in the cargo hold.
"I'm going to do some scouting around this mess of a city. If we're going to go out into the desert and track down this Star-whatever of yours, I'd like to do it without getting ambushed again."
"I thought you were looking forward to another fight," Mission teased. Canderous either didn't catch her tone or wasn't interested in playing along.
"A good warrior is also one who is prepared."
This elicited another eye roll from Mission that made Carth smile. As they all dispersed, Bastila noticed Revan disappear into the secondary cargo hold.
"Bastila, I'd like to teach you something."
Slightly puzzled, Bastila followed him into the compartment and closed the door.
Revan looked troubled, like something was eating at him. Leaning against the bulkhead, he frowned.
"I wanted to talk to you about what happened. What happened in Anchorhead."
"If you're just going to brag about how you rescued me again, I'm afraid I will have to be leaving, Revan," Bastila teased. But when her smile wasn't returned, she knew something was truly bothering him.
"When I fought those Sith, I felt myself drawing upon my old ways again. You did too."
"Revan, your wound will take time to heal…"
Revan, who had been staring down at the floor since she'd joined him, looked up at her.
"No, this one will not heal. And… I'm not sure why but… there's a strong part of me that doesn't want it to. Not yet."
Bastila didn't know what to say. She didn't need to as he continued. Something flashed in his eyes as he spoke, a flickering flame, brightening his face.
"My scars give me strength… strength I may need to face the trials ahead… the dark side… I can still feel its power, calling out to me…"
A spell seemed to be cast over Revan as he spoke and Bastila called his name in alarm.
"Revan! The dark side will destroy you!"
"What does that mean to a man who is already dead?" Revan retorted angrily, "The Jedi exiled me, the Republic hates me, I'm a Sith monstrosity to the entire galaxy – and rightfully so! I created Malak, forged him into what he is now! Malak didn't destroy Taris – I did! I WILL be the one to stop him!"
"But at what price?" Bastila cried, feeling herself beginning to lose control of her emotions herself. There was anger, determination in Revan's eyes and she had seen it before – before he'd left for the Mandalorian Wars. His drive to defeat the Mandalorians had consumed him… just as his resolve in destroying the Sith threatened to tear him apart now.
"What does it matter? It doesn't. Not anymore. If I must die to atone for my sins… so be it."
Revan could feel the struggle within himself against his taint. His voice was cold, resolute, just as he remembered it on that fateful day when a certain nineteen year old Knight had taken one last look at the Academy that represented all he had ever known in life… and turned his back on it to face a new enemy. He was losing his battle for control… badly… and he didn't care.
"I have nothing left to lose… I chose my path long ago, right or wrong, and there is no turning back. What is there for me in this life?"
"Me," Bastila said softly. Revan felt her heart breaking and the tears she struggled to hold back and he bit his bottom lip.
"The Sith seek to destroy everything, including you. I told you before that I love you more than I could ever have imagined… whether as a friend or… or something more. That hasn't changed and it never will. But you are a Jedi."
Bastila struggled to understand his meaning.
"There is no emotion… there is peace. My sweet Bastila, You can never love me back."
A sandstorm howled over Anchorhead, according to the locals, the worst the small settlement had suffered in years. Not a soul dared wander the streets and even the hardy Tatooine scurriers, small rodent-like creatures that infested the settlement, had been sent scrambling for cover. The tension hanging in the air of the Ebon Hawk was so thick even T3 could feel it. Unlike the usual boisterous scene of the small crew amusing itself, primarily by driving each other insane, everyone was quiet. Revan knew his words had gone straight to her heart, sharper than a stake driven into her chest. They avoided each other, a part of it knowingly, part of it subconsciously. On occasions either one of them couldn't avoid the other, Bastila would simply give him a quick, awkward smile which he would return, trying his best not to make eye contact. He had seen her angry before, on many occasions, but she wasn't angry, just… distracted.
In the cramped quarters of the Ebon Hawk, it was impossible for him not to pass by her at least a few times each day, even if he tried to avoid it. So it was as he made his way to the cargo hold to fetch some tools for Carth, who was doing spot repairs to the communications array, that he found himself in the narrow corridor with Bastila, on her way back to the crew quarters.
"Bastila… can we… can we talk?"
As they had for the past few days, Bastila seemed to be trying to avoid meeting his gaze. So it was to his surprise that she turned her beautiful blue eyes up to his face. She answered him with the subtlest of nods, just enough to let him know 'yes'. Smiling uncomfortably, Revan pressed his hand gently against her back, guiding her towards the cargo hold. Closing off the compartment, he turned to her.
"I… I'm sorry, Bastila. I shouldn't have said what I did. I let my frustrations take hold of me and I lashed out at you. You didn't deserve the way I treated you…"
She stopped him with a light touch on the arm.
"No, Revan. I have thought on what you said and… you're right, I can't."
"You can't… what? I don't understand."
When Bastila looked at him, she looked uncertain, shifting her gaze to the floor for a moment, then pursed her lips, as if unsure whether to continue.
"I can never love you in the way you love me, as much… as much as I want to."
"Why?" Revan asked, already knowing her answer. But he had to hear it from her lips.
"You know why. You said it yourself. I am a Jedi, Revan. Such… connections are forbidden. I can't feel that way… about any man. Revan…"
Revan closed his eyes as he heard her speak the words he had been expecting – yet dreading to hear. Opening his eyes again, he smiled gently at her.
"No, I… I understand, Bastila. You know the Jedi and I will never see eye to eye. But you mean too much to me for me to ever do anything that could ruin our relationship."
Bastila looked relieved at his response as she smiled softly. Revan reached out for her and she let him hold her in his arms for a moment. Bastila enjoyed the warm, protected feeling of being held by him, but conscious of losing herself, let him know with a slight squirm she wanted to be let go. Respecting her wishes, Revan released her with a slight sigh.
"Thank you, Revan… for being so understanding," she tried to say as maturely as she could, eliciting the slightest hint of a smirk from Revan. But he simply nodded. They stood there, in awkward silence for what felt like hours before she turned to leave.
"Um, Bastila, there was something else, I wished to speak to you about."
"Yes?"
"You've seemed distracted lately, and I sense it wasn't just me that's been bothering you. Does this have anything to do with you business at the cantina?"
Bastila froze and he could feel her throwing up mental barriers, preventing him from getting anything more through their bond than a foggy image. He saw what he could barely make out as a man and a woman. Momentarily puzzled, he recognized it as the same holoimage she'd kept at her bedside since she was a child.
Your parents. It's something to do with your mother, isn't it?
"Yes, but… Revan, I don't want you getting involved. This is… personal and I… I would rather handle it myself."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"No," she said hurriedly, before quickly backtracking in a futile attempt to avoid arousing his suspicions, "I would rather not. But… thank you for your concern."
"If you ever need someone, you know I will always be…"
"It's… it's alright, Revan."
Revan got her tone, telling him to leave it be. He smiled concernedly but quickly changed the subject.
"As soon as this sandstorm blows over, we will have a lot of ground to cover if we want to find this Star Map. We should get some rest so we'll be prepared if the weather clears up tomorrow, which I think it will."
He stopped in the doorway and gave her a friendly peck on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Bastila."
As he disappeared into the dormitory he shared with Carth and Canderous, Bastila sighed.
"Goodnight, Revan."
Just as Revan had predicted, the storm had stopped in the morning and the twin Tatooine suns once again beat down mercilessly over Anchorhead through the cloudless sky. Setting off early, before the afternoon heat got to be too much, Canderous hopped on the swoop bike and headed out of the city gates. Mission, who hadn't been quite the same since hearing about her brother, played with the food on her plate, pushing it from side to side.
"Hey squirt, what's eating you?" Carth asked jokingly. Normally, his 'squirt' comment would have earned him a murderous glare and he would likely have ended up wearing what was on Mission's plate, but the little Twi'lek girl just sighed.
"It's my brother, Griff."
Carth nodded sympathetically, putting an understanding arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah, I heard from Qel. You know I feel the same way as him: If there's anything I can do to help, you need only ask."
Mission forced a weak smile.
"Thanks Carth. It's just… with the weather, we haven't even been able to leave the ship, much less the city to look for him. And I just keep thinking of him, what he might be going through right now… is he in pain? Are the Sand People torturing him? But then I feel guilty. This mission is about finding the Star Maps so we can stop Malak. The entire galaxy is depending on us and I'm afraid my problems with my brother are just not that important, especially when you look at the whole picture."
"The galaxy is made up of individuals and the struggles they face. If we ignore the little things, how can we ever hope to fix the big things?" Carth asked.
"But Qel and Bastila are the priority here. It's Qel's mission and he has to look after the Star Map first…"
Carth laughed.
"And who put Qel in charge? In case you forgot, as an officer of the Republic Fleet, I actually outrank him…"
"If I was still a lieutenant, yes. But Section 4.8, Article 32 clearly states on Jedi missions, a Jedi's authority outstrips that of a Republic officer, no matter the rank. And I am a card-carrying member of the Jedi Order now, am I not?" a voice boomed. Carth jumped and Mission would have laughed had Qel's sudden appearance not spooked her as well.
"The Star Map is important, but I promised I would help you find your brother. Onasi!"
Carth instinctively snapped to attention.
"Yes sir! I… I mean… uh… yeah, what is it Qel?"
Mission giggled at Carth's reaction to being ordered around by the much younger Jedi.
"Is the Hawk ready to fly?"
"N-no sir… I mean… Master Jedi… uh… hey, who are you to boss me around?"
Revan smiled.
"I can only order you around if you allow me to… Commander Onasi. But is the ship ready to fly? Aerial surveillance could be extremely valuable in this type of terrain."
Zaalbar roared from the engine bay.
"Not yet, eh, big guy? What will you need to get it fully operational again?"
Carth sighed and gestured to the datapad he had handed Revan two days earlier.
"Everything on there… plus this. The sandstorm did a lot of damage to the electrical systems and some more minor, nonessential systems were knocked out."
Carth handed Revan another datapad. Revan whistled. The list was long and must have taken Carth most of the night to compile. As well as detailing each part needed, he had also given a number of alternatives, incase the needed part was not available. Revan guessed Carth must have familiarized himself with the Ebon Hawk to the point where he knew it like the back of his hand. Considering they had only taken possession of the vessel a few weeks before, the seasoned pilot must have had the mind of an aeronautical engineer.
"Some of the parts might be hard to find, but the secondary options I listed shouldn't. If you can though, I'd prefer if you got the first part I copied down. Things tend to work better if you use the proper parts… although proper parts for a bucket of bolts like this is just guesswork."
Revan nodded.
"I've got an errand to run first, but I'll be back with what you need."
When he turned, Carth had disappeared down the corridor into the engine bay.
"Ow! Big Z! Careful with that arc welder!" Mission cried.
"Mission, I'm trying my best to work in here but there's not enough room for both of us!"
"I'm just trying to help, you big furball!"
"That's enough you two! But really, be careful with that arc welder Zaalbar. One slip and you could tear off the… put that hydrospanner down Mission!"
Revan couldn't help but grin and shake his head as he turned to leave.
I hope the motley crew I've put together at leaves the ship more or less intact when I get back. If not, will be a long ride back to Dantooine.
