You Might Die Trying
by: Sam Lincoln
Rating: PG
Summary: In a rebuilding galaxy a disparate band of adventurers try to solve the ultimate mystery. Where is Revan?
Spoilers: Both Kotor games will be gleefully spoiled
You Might Die Trying: Chapter Nine
"I told you that wasn't a good idea Colm," Skyre said. "But did you listen to me, no."
"I was sticking up for my crew, that's what a good captain's supposed to do," Colm retorted. "Cheyn needed my help."
"He's a Mandalorian, he didn't need your help," Skyre shot back.
"Damn right I didn't," Cheyn added. "I had everything under control."
"Cheyn, one of them was pulling a blaster," Colm said.
"Just like an Onderanian to pull a blaster in the middle of a good tussle. Them fellers hold a powerful grudge."
"You did kind of conquer their planet a little," Colm pointed out.
"It weren't nothing personal, them things just happen in war. And besides, they took it back so we should be all square. That's the problem with your Republic types, you think just because your planet gets bombed from orbit we've got some kind of personal grudge 'gainst you."
"May I remind the both of you that we're currently in the brig!" Skyre snapped. "Don't you find that be a might bit troubling?"
Colm shrugged, "We're traveling with Jedi, what's to worry about. Bastilla'll come down, do her thing and we'll be on our merry way."
"You seem awfully confident about that," Skyre noted.
"She picked us for a reason Tom, don't know yet what it is, but she's not liable to let us rot in a brig until we've done what she wants."
The door to the brig opened and a TSF officer walked into the room. "Well, well, Colm Abrik, never thought I'd see you in here."
"Been a long time Gren," Colm replied.
"What are you doing in here Colm?"
"You should know that, Mr. TSF."
"I want to hear it from you," Gren told Colm, his voice even.
"A couple of them Onderanian soldiers got a little frisky with one of my crewmen, had to get involved myself to even out the numbers."
"You always were loyal to your men to a fault," Gren mused. "But a Mandalorian? Of all the people in the galaxy you're the last person I'd expect to see working with one of them."
"Like I said, that was a long time ago. The war's over Gren, we're all just folk now. So when do we get out of here?"
"You don't. Station chief is cracking down on brawling. He doesn't want Citadel Station to turn into a little Nar Shadaa."
"Wait a second, I don't see those Onderanians in here, and they started the fight!" Skyre protested.
"If you haven't noticed the people Telos owes Onderon a fair debt. The leader of the Onderon military on Citadel station promised he'd discipline his men and that suited the Chief fine."
"So they ain't gonna get hardly punished while we're left here to rot?"
Gren nodded, "Something like that. But a man has to be able to take responsibility for his actions, and those of his crew,"
"And of who they are, ain't that right Gren?"
"That's about it Colm."
"Would it make a difference if I told you we're on a huh-hush assignment for the Jedi."
"It might, if I believed you."
"It's true, we were hired by Bastila Shan," Skyre said. "We're on a mission so secret we don't even know what it is." Skyre paused. "That doesn't sound so good, does it?"
"It's a classic Jedi black book job Gren. You know the type," Colm added.
"If you are working for Bastila, where is she?"
"She went planet-side," Colm replied. "Had some sort of Jedi thing to do, you know I don't ask no questions when it comes to the Force."
"You really think I'm going to fall for that load of bantha poodoo?"
The detention center door opened and Jolee walked in. "So this is where you three ran off to."
"Jolee, great! Tell the nice man we're on a secrete mission for the Republic and we need to be released immediately," Skyre said.
"Jedi Bindo," Gren said. "You know these, reprobates?"
Jolee sighed, "I have the unfortunate pleasure, yes."
"And they really are on a top secret mission?"
"They're working for Jedi Shan," Jolee confirmed.
"So I should let them out?"
Jolee looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, not yet. Let's let Bastila deal with them. If they're in here they can't get in anymore trouble." Jolee turned to leave.
"Hey, Jolee, you can't leave us here!" Cheyn protested.
"Mandalorian, you obviously can't be left running around without adult supervision and I can't stay to babysit you."
"Where are you going?" Colm asked.
"Telos, to clean up after the child running this whole mess," Jolee replied before leaving the detention center.
Skyre slumped down in his detention cell. "Well that's a find how-de-do for you."
"Ain't that the truth," Cheyn agreed. "What do you make of it Colm?"
Colm stared at the door for a long moment before replying. "I think Bastila and Mira have gotten themselves into something powerfully wrong and Jolee don't want to get us involved, and I think that's a kindness. We'll get out when they get back. 'Till then we get to enjoy the TSF's hospitality."
"Such as it is," Cheyn muttered.
"You'd rather be here, or facing something that makes a Jedi nervous?" Colm asked the Mandalorian.
"When you put it that way, brig don't look so bad."
-------
Jolee brought his "borrowed" shuttle in for a landing next to the shuttle Bastila and Mira had used. He immediately made his way to the council room where he found Bastila standing over an unconscious Mira.
"Jolee, what are you doing here?" Bastila asked.
"The better question is what have you done to Mira?" Jolee demanded and he knelt down next to the unconscious woman.
"She was trying to locate Revan," Bastila replied.
"That was a damn foolish thing for her to do," Jolee replied. "You know where Revan went, you know the risks involved with trying to find him. Why did you let her even make the attempt?"
"She might not have been fully cognizant of all the dangers," Bastila grudgingly admitted.
"In other words you didn't tell her," Jolee accused.
"I thought the planet's Force shadow would protect her," Bastila replied. "Besides, it's not like we had any other options," she added defensively.
"There are always options," Jolee muttered as he reached out and placed his hand on Mira's forehead. "Well it's a good thing I'm here, I know you never had the patience to learn the cleansing techniques that will save her."
"I was about to call for you," Bastila said.
"Sure you were, now hush, this sort of healing doesn't take kindly to distractions." Jolee closed his eyes and drew on the Force.
Bastila stepped back and petulantly crossed her arms in front of her chest. She plainly wanted to protest Jolee's brusque treatment of her, but knew better than to do so while Jolee was in the middle of a delicate situation.
After several long minutes passed Jolee leaned back on his heals and opened his eyes. "I've done all I can, it's up to her now. She experienced one hell of a psychic shock, it damn near overloaded her mind. You're lucky she's got a strong spirit, a lesser person wouldn't have been able to withstand the beating she took."
"I know she's strong; why else do you think I recruited her?" Bastila asked.
"I thought it was because she wasn't a member of the Order and hadn't heard the Council's ruling," Jolee noted dryly.
"That too," Bastila admitted. "But her latent talents made the decision an easy one."
"You know the balance of your ship's crew managed to get themselves thrown into Citadel Station's brig," Jolee commented.
"It will keep them from getting into any further trouble," Bastila said.
"That it will," Jolee agreed. "Strange though that they'd run into trouble that quickly. It's almost as if somebody set them up."
"Why Jolee, are you insinuating that I paid an Onderanian officer to pick a fight with Mr. Zevne and had the station manager ensure that Captain Abrik and the others stay incarcerated for the balance of our stay on Telos?"
"I never insinuate anything Bastila. But I am curious why you're so insistent on keeping Colm and the others in the dark about what you're up to."
"Surprise is our only advantage. The less Captain Abrik and the rest know about where our destination is, the less chance our opponent will know as well."
Jolee glanced down at the unconscious Mira. "I'd say that advantage is out the window at this point. Tell them Bastila; do you really want them to find out before you want them to? Colm Abrik's not the sort of man to take being lied to well."
"I've given this a lot of thought Jolee, and I remain convinced this is the best course of action."
Jolee glanced down at Mira. "If this is the best course of action, I'd hate to see the other options."
"Be fair, I did not intend for this to happen."
"That's the problem with plans, they never turn out the way you intend them to."
"How long will Mira remain unconscious?" Bastila asked in an attempt to change the topic.
"That's totally up to her."
"And until she does?"
"We wait," Jolee replied.
-------
Gwyn sat on the Errant Vow's boarding ramp and looked around the hangar bay despondently. Jolee had promised to get the rest of the crew out of the brig, but several hours had passed and there was no sign of Jolee or the others. "Don't know what I was thinking," Gwyn muttered to herself, "Going gallivanting 'cross the Galaxy. I'm not supposed to go gallivanting. Silly of me to even think I should."
"Excuse me," a voice said from behind her.
Gwyn jumped and spun around to see a young man standing there. "It ain't polite to sneak up on folk like that. You nearly scared me half to death."
"I'm sorry," the man replied, "That was not my intent."
"Well what is your intent, and before you say anything I have to warn you that there's a crack team of mercenaries standing guard in the ship, so don't try nothing."
"I am simply looking for passage on a ship and yours looked like a worthy candidate."
"Oh, you don't want to fly on this heap, we ain't what you might normally call a passenger ship, and seems to be we get into scrapes more often than not."
"Believe me, I was rather counting on that," the young man replied. "I'm a student you see, and I am writing a paper on life on the Outer Rim."
"That sounds…nice," Gwyn said, slightly awed. "Goodness he's a cutie," she thought to herself. "But you'd have to clear it with the Captain, and he's…not available at the moment."
"Where is your captain? Perhaps I could talk to him."
"He's….he's in the brig," Gwyn admitted. "There was a bit of trouble in the cantina and now they won't release him."
"Why don't I have a word with the station commander."
"What good would that do?"
"I didn't want to say anything, but my father has quite a bit of influence in the Core Worlds. Some of that is bound to hold true out here on the border."
"No guarantees Captain will let you come with even if you do get him out," Gwyn pointed out.
"I'm sure we'll be able to work something out to our mutual satisfaction. Come, let's go talk to your captain's jailer."
"One thing first, mind telling me your name?"
"It's Mical."
"Mical, that's a nice name," Gwyn said to herself and she followed him out of the hanger bay.
-------
Mira opened her eyes and groaned when she found herself in the same white, featureless hallway she saw in her vision on Kashyyyk. "Great, another vision."
"You say that like you're disappointed," A familiar voice said from behind her. "You really don't like talking to me that much."
"Not when you're a figment of my imagination," Mira groused.
"I'm more than just a figment of your imagination, but I take your point."
"So why am I here this time?" Mira asked.
"I think you know the answer to that," Dacen replied.
"No, I really don't."
"If I know then you have to," Dacen pointed out.
"I was trying to find Reven," Mira recalled. "And I found…what was that?"
"You've encountered it before, on Kashyyyk. It's the shadow that Revan's fallen under."
"You mean Revan's fallen to the Dark Side?"
"Stop being so figurative," Dacen chastised. "Revan's simply gone beyond your ability to find him."
"So what did I run into, or do I want to know?"
"That was the shadow I was talking about."
"The Sith Lord from Kashyyyk?"
"That's the one. He tried to destroy your mind for attempting to intrude on his domain. Your psyche brought you here to protect itself."
"Great, so how do I leave?"
"I can't answer that, this is your mind, figure it out on your own."
"Some spirit guide you are."
"I'm no guide," Dacen said, "I'm just here to keep you company."
"You're doing your best to make me want to escape," Mira deadpanned. "Wait a minute, you said Revan fell into shadow, is that where you are?"
"I might be more than a hallucination, but I'm also not Dacen Graff. I don't know what happened to myself any more than you do," Dacen said. "But having said that, it's a good bet wherever Revan went I followed."
"So any advice for where to find you?"
"What and make it easy for you? Sorry Mira it doesn't work like that," Dacen said with a smile that slowly faded. "I'd like to talk more, but we don't have any more time."
"What do you mean?"
"What happens when you poke a kinrath nest? The Sith are coming for Mira, and you have to wake up, right now." Dacen reached out and tapped Mira between the eyes.
Mira's eyes shot open and she found herself back on Taris with Bastila and Jolee standing over her.
"Mira!" Bastila exclaimed, "Are you alright, did you find Revan?"
Mira stood up with help from Jolee. "Later, we have to leave now. The Sith are coming."
"Are you sure?" Bastila asked.
"Of course I'm sure," Mira snapped.
"Mira's right," Jolee said. "and even if she's not do you want to take that chance? Taris can't stand another attack."
Bastila nodded, "You are correct Jolee. Can you walk?" She asked Mira.
The bounty hunter nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
"Then let's collect out ship and be on our way. Though tell me, did you find anything?"
Mira shook her head. "Nothing that will help you. Revan went to Malachor, and after that…nothing…" her voice trailed off as she remembered the dark void she encountered.
"There will be time to talk when we're off the planet," Jolee said impatiently. "Let's get going."
-------
"Captain!" Gwyn shouted as she burst into the brig. "I brought some help."
"What are you going on about?" Colm asked.
"This fellow here says he can get out of the brig."
"Oh can he now? And just who is this fellow?"
"That would be me Captain," Mical said as he entered the brig.
"And just how is a young dandy like yourself going to pull that off?" Cheyn said dismissively.
"My father is a powerful figure back in the Core, his name carries a great deal of weight wherever I go. I'm if I spoke the right word the warden would see his way to letting you go."
"And what's in it for you?"
"I'm looking for a ship to continue my travels on…"
"And you figured if you got us out of the slammer we'd be obliged to give you a lift free of charge, is that it?"
Mical nodded, "Something like that, yes Captain."
"You sure you want to make that trade boy? Don't know if Gwyn told you or not, but we're traveling with Jedi. Can't say I can guarantee safe passage with them on board."
"If I was looking for a safe voyage I would have booked passage on a cruise ship, not a derelict transport."
"So you're just some rich punk out looking for a few thrills out the Rim before heading back to the safety of the Core to tell stories to all your country club buddies?" Cheyn asked contemptuously.
"Now Cheyn, don't be insulting the man who can get us out of jail," Skyre said.
"I don't take offense at your Mandalorian friend's opinions," Mical replied. "My reasons for traveling are my own, but I can offer my skills in exchange for further passage."
"Unless those skills include handing over credits I don't see what you have to offer," Cheyn groused.
"I have a modest amount of medical training, not as much as a Core-trained surgeon, but enough to get by out here. I expect a crew like yours is always in need of a good medic, am I right Captain?"
"Boy does have a point," Colm said thoughtfully. "Alright, you've got yourself a deal Mr. Mical. Provided you can get us out of here."
"I will speak to the guard commander immediately," Mical said before turning and walking out of the brig.
"Ah Captain, you sure that's necessary?" Cheyn asked. "Won't the Jedi be getting us out of here?"
"And you want to be more indebted to her?" Colm replied. "Sides, I've got a powerful urge to see the look on our resident Jedi Princess's face when she sees us out of jail."
Mical re-entered the brig followed closely by Gren. "I don't know how you pulled it off Colm, but you've got some powerful friends," Gren said before deactivating the force cages.
"Clean living Gren, it gives you friends you didn't even know you had."
Gren shook his head, "Be careful Colm, you're traveling in sectors way above your pay grade."
"You know something I don't?" Colm asked.
"When haven't I? No, I've said all I can, just giving you a heads up, keep your head on a swivel."
"Always do, good to see you again Gren," Colm held out his hand.
"You too Colm," Gren shook Colm's outstretched hand.
"Tom, get the ship prepped for launch. Gwyn, Cheyn, help our new ship's doc gather his luggage and get settled on the ship." Colm waited for Gwyn and Mical to leave the room before grabbing the Mandalorian's arm. "Keep an eye on our benefactor will you? He don't exactly give me the warm fuzzies."
"Don't need to be telling me that," Cheyn groused. "It was danged obvious that's why you asked me to help get him settled."
"That, and I figured it'd put your big manly arms to good use," Colm said with a chuckle before waiving the Mandalorian off.
"What'll you be doing Captain?" Skyre asked.
"Oh you know me Tom, little o' this, little o' that," Colm replied cryptically. "I'll meet ya at the ship in ten, ok?"
"Aye-aye Captain."
-------
Bastila brought their shuttle in for a landing next to the Errant vow. "Help me get Mira onto the ship," She told Jolee. "Then we can get Captain Abrik and the others out of the brig."
"Shouldn't we be warning the station commander that the Sith are coming?" Jolee asked.
"The Sith are after us, if we leave they will follow," Bastila replied.
"Are you sure of that?" Jolee asked.
"If you mean am I willing to risk the lives of everyone on this station? Yes."
"Ok, if you say so."
They walked to the rear of the shuttle where Mira was sitting. "I'm not a total invalid you know," she complained.
"Oh, is that so, then why are you still sitting?" Jolee asked bemusedly.
"Ok, so I'm still a little weak," Mira admitted. "Are you going to help me up, or leave me sitting here?"
Bastila and Jolee helped Mira into the Errant Vow. "Take her to her cabin," Bastila ordered.
Jolee nodded, "Come on girl, you need a nice long rest," he said to Mira as he helped her make her way to the crew cabins.
"Now to fetch captain and the rest of the crew," Bastila muttered to herself.
"Fetch us from where?" Colm asked, as he stepped into the loading bay.
"Good, you're here," an unruffled Bastila said. "Captain Abrik have Mr. Skyre ready the ship for takeoff, we need to leave immediately."
"What, you ain't the slightest bit curious how we got out of the brig?" Colm demanded.
"We don't have time for that."
"Why, what's wrong?" Colm asked, his demeanor turning serious.
"I have reason to believe the Sith are about to arrive, looking for us."
Colm stifled a Huttese curse, "Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere that is as far from here as possible. Do not worry about the safety of the station, the Sith are after this ship, not Telos."
"This have something to do with what happened to Mira?" Colm asked.
"They are related, yes. Now is the ship ready to depart or not?"
Colm activated his com. "Hey Tom, we ready to head out?"
"You bet Cap'n," Skyre's disembodied voice said. "Cheyn and Gwyn came back with our new passenger's gear a while back and we've got clearance to take off."
Colm punched the button to close the boarding ramp. "Take us out of here then Tom, real quick-like, and you might want to warn the control tower to keep an eye out for some raiders, of the Sith variety."
"The Sith? You sure 'bout that Cap'n?"
Colm glanced over at Bastila, "When a Jedi says there's about to be Sith involved I tend to take 'em at their word."
"Understood Captain. We're bugging out quick like."
The Errant Vow's engines fired with a roar and the ship flew out of the Citadel Station hangar bay. Colm made his way to the cockpit with Bastila following along close behind.
"Any sign of the Sith?" Colm asked as he slid into his seat.
"Not yet Captain, I'm bringing the hyperdrive online. Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere quiet and far from here," Colm replied.
"You got it." Skyre punched a series of coordinates into the ship's navicomputer. Suddenly alarms began to sound. "Uh Captain, we've got a large warship dropping out of hyperspace."
"It's the Sith," Bastila said quietly.
"How soon until we can make the jump?" Colm asked.
"Just give it another minute," Skyre replied. "There, we've got the coordinates, making the jump to hyperspace now."
"Wait, what was that Mr. Skyre said about a new passenger?" Bastila asked as the ship transitioned into hyperspace.
-- to be continued --
Author's Notes: Bleargh, well, it's another chapter, maybe I'll finish the story after all. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
-sam 11/14/2006