The sound of kolto draining from the tank she was in woke Revan up. A moment later she blinked open her eyes, and saw that it was gone, and she was standing firmly on the bottom of the kolto tank at the Enclave.
"You're looking... uhm, better." Bastila said.
"Why were you watching me, Bastila?" Revan asked, with a single eyebrow raised.
"Master Vrook sent me to get you since you were being brought of the kolto today." Bastila replied, looking curiously at Revan.
"What's wrong with me? What did they do to me while I was unconscious?"
"Uhm, nothing. I'm sure it'll wear off in a few hours, or days. Maybe months. Or years. Or never."
"What happened, Bastila?" Revan asked, sounding concerned.
"Nothing serious, just a slight... cosmetic change."
"What is it?"
"Uhm, your hair... it's now... uh, blue."
Revan's eyes twitched for a moment, then she said, "They died my hair?"
"Uh, no."
"What do you mean, no?"
"It turns out you're a one-in-a trillion kind of person."
"I already knew that."
"Not personality or talent, but genetically. You are one of the very, very, very few people who have some... negative effects when exposed to large amounts of kolto. You're actually lucky, just having your hair change color."
"How is that lucky?" Revan asked.
"Uhm, most people who have the rarest allergy ever, well after oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, water, and the sun, die horribly painful deaths. So, a slight mutation in your genetic code that produces the pigments that determine the color of your hair. Or, at least that's what the doctor's said."
"Wait, if I have to be exposed to kolto will my hair color change again?"
"The doctors believe that you are exposed to large amounts of kolto again you will have a more serious reaction to it. So, you're stuck with blue hair unless you want to get a ridiculously expensive genetic treatment to undo it."
"Great. Why wasn't I ever told about this problem before?"
"Because it's only noticeable after exposure causes the negative side effects. But, Vrook's not very patient. He said that you've wasted enough time recovering already."
"Where is he?"
"In the training grounds near the Council chambers."
"Thanks, you should get back to whatever you were doing though. Don't want to have Quatra getting on my case again." Revan said, looking for her belongings.
Bastila turned to leave, but Revan asked, "Where's my stuff?"
"In the locker in the corner."
"Thanks." Revan said, walking over to it and quickly grabbing her lightsabers and a fresh pair of dark blue Jedi Knight robes. After changing, she walked out, and was soon in the training grounds.
Vrook asked, "What did you do to your hair, Knight?"
"Nothing, Master." She replied.
"But it is a different color than before. Tell me the truth, Knight." Vrook growled.
"Master, I am. It turns out I have an allergy to large amounts of kolto, and it messed up the pigment in my hair."
"I see. Draw your weapons, we will begin your training immediately." he said, drawing his purple blade.
Revan ignited her weapons, and began circling Vrook. He watched her silently, then said, "You don't need to stand with your back ramrod straight. Let it relax, it will help your flexibility."
She nodded, and slipped into a casual slouch, watching the Master's movements carefully. He then said, "You hold your weapons too tightly. In a long battle your hands will begin to cramp. It is better to hold it loosely, but firmly."
"Yes, Master." she said, slightly loosening her grip.
"Good." Vrook said.
Revan nodded, then saw a slight deformation in the floor that Vrook was headed for. 'He'll be there in about four seconds. If I strike now, I can distract him, and use that to knock him off balance.'
She charged, with her two weapons behind her, then struck at Vrook with an upwards X strike. He ducked beneath it, and kicked her in the chest, knocking her backwards. He stabbed at her with his weapon, but she leaped over him and kicked him in the back of the head as she passed him, before turning in mid-air and swinging the blue lightsaber in her left hand.
He deflected it with his blade, and used that as a chance to enter into a flurry of strikes. She blocked the first blow towards her head with her violet blade, the second towards her left side with her sapphire, the third towards her neck with both, and the fourth with the blue while swinging her other at Vrooks left shoulder.
The Master released his weapon with his left hand, and grabbed her lightsaber with it just before it connected, the energy weapon fizzling as he used the Force to absorb its blade. He then pushed her back, and said, "A smart move, Revan, but you should never assume simply because another Jedi's blade has been contained that they cannot block your strikes." Vrook said.
"Yes, Master." she replied, watching him, waiting for his next attack. Then, he leaped at her, the weapon in his hand seeming to trail behind him as he swung it downwards towards Revan. The Knight barely raised her weapons in time to catch it, and the force behind his strike sent her stumbling backwards, then she felt the heat of his lightsaber at her throat. "Yield." he said.
"As you said, Master, simply because a Jedi's weapons are not usable, doesn't mean they are defenseless." Revan replied, sending out a shock wave of Force energy from her body.
The Master stumbled backwards, and said, "Clever, but dangerous. That is not one of the standard powers Jedi are trained to use. To experiment is dangerous."
"To not experiment would lead to stagnation, which is more dangerous, Master." she replied, ducking beneath a strike from Vrook.
"Would you rather lose your life because you were experimenting with powers beyond your comprehension?"
"Yes." she replied, blocking as he struck at her left side, and countering with a twin strike at his exposed right side. But, just as he moved his blade to block her attack, she moved the blue weapon to hit his left arm. However, he ducked, and swept her legs out from underneath her.
"You have talent, but there is still much for you to learn if you wish to become my equal. However, you have proven your skills with the lightsaber, go speak with Master Vandar in the Council Chambers. We shall train more tomorrow."
"Understood, Master Vrook." she replied, leaving the training room. 'Damn, he's good. And a lot less... harsh than everyone said.' she thought, while entering the chambers.
-=0=-
Meanwhile, Bastila walked up to Quatra and asked, "What do you need, Master?"
"You have spent a good deal of time with Knight Revan, especially during the recent terentatek incident. What do you think of her, Bastila?" the Cathar asked.
"She seems to be a good person who is devoted to the Jedi Order and wishes the best for it."
"I see. What of her skills, Bastila?"
"She is incredibly skilled. She managed to defeat many of the terentatek beasts simply with her lightsaber and extensive knowledge of how to use the Force."
"I see. Do you think she has the discipline to rise to Jedi Master?"
"Yes, while she may appear rough around the edges, but she is wiser than she lets on at first."
"I see. Bastila, you are to keep a close eye on her and tell me everything that she says to you."
"You want me to spy on another Jedi?"
"Yes, I have strong reason to believe that she could cause great harm to the Jedi Order as a whole with... radical beliefs."
"I see. I will do as you ask, Master." Bastila said.
"Good. Go and enjoy the rest of your day, Bastila." the Cathar said.
Bastila walked off, and thought, 'Why does she want me to spy on Revan? That doesn't seem like something a Master would ask her Padawan to do. Maybe Alek was right, maybe she really is only a step above the dark side. I-I don't know what I should do. Maybe Master Vandar will have advice. He's always been open to speak to me when I was having trouble.' before walking towards the Council Chambers. Inside, there were Revan and the tiny Master engaged in combat with the Force.
As they danced around each other, with grace and attacks of Force energy of such strength that it made Bastila shudder, she saw something in Revan's eyes that she never would have expected. She was in perfect peace, dueling with the Master.
She moved with agility and grace, giving the Master some difficulty. He gave Revan some advice every now and then, but most of the time they fought in silence. As she watched, Bastila thought, 'Why would I spy on her? She's not trying to hurt the Order, but help it. If she really wanted to harm the Order, she could easily kill so many of us with ease. Spying on her could upset her, and make her turn against the Order, and if that happened, we'd all be doomed.' Bastila thought.
Then, Revan asked, "What you thinking, Bastila?"
"Sorry, what?"
"What were you thinking?" The Knight asked.
"I just had some stuff on my mind."
"I see. Don't you have training?"
"I've already done what I'm supposed to for today. What about you?"
"Just finished up Vandar's tests to see where I am, and did Vrook's before that."
"What was it like, dueling with Vrook?"
"It was tough, but exhilarating. Fighting an actual blademaster is not like anything I've done before. But, someone so skilled with the blade is terrifying."
"Why?"
"Because, when you're fighting them, you know that they could kill you with ease if they wanted. That they're playing with you. Every move they make is with a speed and grace that only comes with decades of practice. When you fight them, you know that if it wasn't training, you'd die."
Bastila just nodded, then asked Revan, "I've seen you fight with the lightsaber, you're really close to Vrook in talent, why do you think that he could beat you easily?"
"It's just something that you can feel in the Force when you're fighting someone that good."
Bastila looked around the plains, and asked, "Are you looking for something out here now?"
"Nothing specific. I'm just looking for something."
"What?"
"It's not something that I can describe."
"You could try." Bastila said.
"It's not something I can describe, because I have no idea what it is. It's just I have a feeling in the back of my head that I lost something important and that I really need to find it." Revan said, "What was your life like before you were sent to the Order?"
"Nothing remarkable. My family and I traveled across the galaxy on various dangerous treasure hunts my mother sent father on."
"Why did she send him on these treasure hunts?"
"She wanted to live in wealth and luxury, but no matter what father found, no matter how many credits he made it wasn't enough for her. He ended up going on more and more dangerous hunts to make her happy. Leaving me alone with her for weeks at a time. And in all that time she never showed any concern for him once."
"Have you spoken to your father since joining the Order?"
"No, it's strictly forbidden. The rules are clear that there is to be no family contact after joining the Order."
"Some rules are meant to be broken, Bastila. You still have a living family, and you should stay in touch with them. Even if the Jedi don't approve, some things are more important."
"You can't be serious!"
"Bastila, I know the Jedi are against family and the like, but listen to me on this. You shouldn't let the fear of one organization separate you from family. Family is one of the most important things out there, and to abandon it for the Jedi is foolish. Family relationships do have a lot of emotion involved in them, but your family is one group that you never quit being a part of. And, trust me on this, family can help Jedi stay away from the dark side."
"But, it's dangerous!"
"Bastila, everything that's worthwhile is dangerous. The path of the Jedi is dangerous, but you still follow it. Just, take a risk and keep in touch with your family."
"Why do you want me to keep in touch with my family? And how can you be so certain that it's worth the risk?"
"Because, if you don't try to reconnect with your family, you'll regret it when you're looking back on your life in your old age."
Bastila shook her head, and said, "I'd rather not talk about this. This is all just really confusing for me. There's the Council and Master Quatra telling me one thing, and then there's you telling me something entirely different. It just leaves me not knowing what to do."
Revan laughed, and said, "I know what you mean. When I was still an apprentice I had Master Kreia telling me to think for myself, while every other Jedi I came across told me to just accept the Jedi Code and follow it without question."
"If you don't mind me asking, what were your parents like?"
"They were good people. They were very much like Jedi. They stood for what they believed in no matter how dangerous. They risked life and limb to keep the colony safe. They were stern, but fair. They were open-minded. They didn't judge others based on what they believed or felt. They just accepted it and tried to understand everyone." Revan said, "Even when the mandalorians came, they tried to resolve things peacefully. But, mandalorians don't know the meaning of the word peace." Revan said, anger starting to slip into her voice, "Sorry," she added calmly.
"You really hate them, don't you?"
"Of course I do. They killed my parents and sold me into slavery. Some things you can't forgive. Sometimes things happen that you can never forget. Things that are burned into you. Things that become a part of who and what you are. What they did is one of them."
"You should just let go of it, it can't lead to anything good." Bastila said.
Revan stopped in her tracks, and clenched her fists. She then turned to Bastila, and growled, "Listen, Bastila, I can't let go of it. Even if I killed every last mandalorian I would still be haunted by them. What they've done is more than just some bad memories, it's a part of me. It's in my DNA. I can't move on and I never will be able to. Every day I feel like I shouldn't be here. That I should have died that day on Deralia. You don't know what it's like being a slave on Nar Shaddaa. I was one for two years of my life. Most people would have just killed themselves if they'd been through what I have. You have no right to tell me to just let it go! You don't know what real pain is, but you think that being sent to the Order against your will means you know what true suffering is! You've lived a sheltered life that has never seen what real pain and suffering is! You haven't seen your family die, you haven't lost your home and been sold as a slave! You don't understand what I've been through, so you have no right to tell me to just let it go! I'm surprised you even have the gall to." she finished, walking away.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, Revan."
"Leave me alone. Meetra was right, I shouldn't have come here. I should have known that people here would ask me about Deralia and then tell me to just get over it."
Bastila sighed, and said, "Alright. Hopefully you find whatever you're looking for."
Revan glared at her, and stormed off.
-=0=-
Meetra was sitting in her quarters when her data pad beeped. She picked it up, and saw a message from Revan. "I can't believe the people here. A Padawan just asked me about my past and when I told her about it she told me I should just get over it."
Meetra replied, "So, is the kid still in one piece?"
"I don't cut people up just because they piss me off. I'm no Sith or mandalorian."
"You might want to take a deep breath, Revan. I can practically sense your anger through the com link."
"Calm down, Meetra? You do realize what I was just told to do, right?"
"Yes, but letting what some dumb kid suggested isn't really like you, Rev. You'd normally just laugh it off. What's the kid like that she'd actually get under your skin."
"It's not about who it was, it's the fact that someone had the nerve to tell me to just get over it."
"Revan, you have just laughed in the face of other people who have told you to get over what happened. What's different about this kid?"
-=0=-
Revan shook her head, and replied, "I don't know."
"So, you can read everyone else, but you can't read yourself?"
"I don't get it. There's nothing special about this kid. Average with a lightsaber, a bit better than average with the Force, but nothing special."
"What about her personality? Maybe there's something you 'like' about her." Meetra replied.
"Really, Meetra? She's a minor."
"Oh, don't try anything until she's older, Rev. Don't want to end up in jail."
"You really aren't helping, Meetra."
"You're the one who's got a thing for a minor, Revan, not me."
"I do not have a 'thing' for anyone, especially not minors." Revan said, blushing.
"Right, then how come this kid managed to get under your skin after knowing you for a few weeks and not even trying when I wasn't able to with trying nearly non-stop for over four years?"
"You really are not being helpful."
"Oh relax, there's no big problem with liking a minor, so long as you wait to act until she's legal."
"Meetra, just drop it."
"Oh come on, Rev. No one would judge you if you wanted this kid."
"Actually, quite a few people would, especially me. So, drop it, Meetra, or I will quit my training here just so I can slap some sense into you."
"Oh, finally managed to hit a nerve. You must really like her."
"Meetra, I am warning you, this is your last chance. I've had a bad day, and you are not being any help."
"Fine, grouch. :-("
"You were the one being a pain in the ass."
"Oh, would you rather the pain in your ass was from the kid? :-)"
"Meetra..."
"Oh come on, you walked into that one like it was a brick wall and you were a drunk."
"It wasn't funny."
"If you say so, buzzkill."
"I am not a buzzkill, you were being inappropriate."
"When did you become Master Oraka?"
"I haven't become Master Oraka. It's just someone has to keep you in line or the Council will exile you for actions not fitting a Jedi Knight."
"Yeah right. I'm sure they'd be willing to overlook a few jokes."
"Maybe. Or, they could view it as you trying to send another Knight to the dark side. Never can be sure with them."
-=0=-
Alek walked along the plains of Dantooine, when he sensed an immense anger coming from the plains. He walked towards it, and saw Revan just standing there, typing into a datapad. He asked, "What's the matter?"
"None of your business."
"Alright. You need anything?"
"Privacy, Baldy."
"Okay." he replied, walking away.
Revan looked up at the sky, and typed into her datapad, "I have to go handle some stuff here on Dantooine. Looks like some bandits are heading my way."
"Bandits?"
"If it is bandits, I'll be fine. I just hope it isn't who I think it is."
"Who?"
"Some local who doesn't seem to know how to mind his own business, gotta go." Revan sent, turning off her datapad.
Up walked a local man, who when he saw Revan approaching he asked, "Do you need something, Master Jedi?"
"No, I simply thought you might be someone else." she replied, walking back towards her cottage. When she arrived, she found that it had been completely fixed, and that Urz was sitting at the door, wagging his tail. She petted the kath hound, and asked, "Miss me, boy?"
He barked, and followed Revan into the building. She went into the fridge and getting what she needed to make a quick meal. After cooking and eating the meal, she walked back outside, and thought, 'At least there aren't any terentatek this time.' She walked down towards the grove, where she saw Bastila meditating.
The Knight sat down by the Padawan, and began joining in the meditation. They sat there in silence, meditating. As Revan felt the Force flow around her, she felt a strange sensation in the back of her mind. She felt a boost of confidence from out of nowhere, then said, "You're practicing Battle Meditation, aren't you?"
"Only when you showed up. Master Quatra keeps telling me I should practice whenever there's a chance."
"It's a hard skill to master."
"That's what everyone says, but it seems so easy."
"We've already had this conversation." Revan said.
"Yeah." Bastila said, looking around nervously.
"What's bothering you."
"I can tell that you're still angry at me, but you're acting like nothing happened."
Revan then looked at the ground, then said, "I lost control earlier over myself earlier. I let my anger about people always telling me to just let go of my past control me. I'm still angry, yes, but it isn't important. I should not have lost control over myself. Everything I've been trying to tell you about thinking for yourself and not acting like a mindless drone of the Council has lost its credibility because of my actions. I'm sorry that I flipped out at you earlier."
"I thought you had a right to. I had just told you to let go of the pain that's become a part of you."
"I'm a Jedi, I shouldn't have let it control me. The Order may have problems, but Jedi shouldn't let their emotions control them."
"It's alright, Revan. Everyone has a bad day every now and then."
Revan shook her head, and said, "The thing is, I'm not just an ordinary person, even for a Jedi. I'm someone who from the moment she joined the Order had the potential to be one of the best Jedi in ten thousand years and was expected to become as good as she had the potential to. I have to adhere to a higher standard. I have to be certain that I never slip up. Otherwise, I've failed."
"Isn't it, I don't know, arrogant to expect yourself to be absolutely perfect all the time? And, I thought you didn't really follow the orders of the Council that thoroughly."
Revan looked up at the clouds and said, "Maybe you're right."
"I'm surprised you're bothered at all. I thought that your interpretation of the Code let you feel emotion."
"I may be allowed to feel emotion by my interpretation of the Code, but I'm not allowed to be dominated by my emotions. There are still limitations, though they are less severe than those of the Council."
Bastila nodded, then asked, "Revan, what is it you're trying to achieve? I know you're trying to become the best you can, but you don't seem to have any ambition other than that."
"I'm trying to become the best I can so that when the mandalorians attack the Republic, I can go and show them that they aren't the masters of the galaxy. That there are still forces greater than they are."
"What if the Council forbade action?"
"I would wait, for a while, but not too long." Revan replied, silently adding, 'I've got no reason to live other than making those bastards pay for what they've done.'
Bastila nodded, and said, "I'm expected back at the Enclave now. Talk to you later?"
"Sure." Revan said, staring into the grove as Bastila walked away.
-=0=-
A/N: Here's chapter nine. Please leave a review with your thoughts.
