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Alan followed Rana into the mess hall. The buzz of conversation filled the air though it was light with the few soldiers who were on the morning shift. All the Jedi were gathered around three tables as they had been the night before. Alvar sat with the rest of the council, his son between him and his wife.
"I'll get us something to eat," Rana's voice lanced through Alan's thoughts.
He tore his gaze from his youngest. Rana had started for the trays without waiting on his response. A small breath escaped Alan. He turned his gaze back towards Alvar. It wouldn't be wise to join him once more. To do so would boarder on being pushy and showing him, Alan didn't trust his son to come of his own will. Alvar could make his own mind up on if he was coming or not.
His heart twisted. What if Alvar didn't want to come at all?
Alan shook the doubt from his mind. He limped over to a free table and settled himself there. His back to Alvar and his family. It was better not to stare.
"Why aren't we sitting with him?" Rana asked as she joined him.
"Thank you." Alan took his breakfast from her. The meal was basic. "He needs his space." The food almost reminded him of what he had been served as a child. Though, he knew the quality of this meal was far higher than the muck he ate as a kid.
Rana huffed as she joined him. Her gaze narrowed as she took a bit of her food. "Disgusting." She dropped her spoon back into the porridge. "We could have made something far better than this crap."
"Rana," Alan warned.
"It's true."
A small breath escaped Alan's lips.
There was no way to convey to her to be grateful for the food she had. The difference between his early life and hers was far too great. Then there was the fact he would rather her never know the pains of hunger while being driven to work beyond all breaking point just to get a smaller, worse meal than this one.
"What do you think?"
Alan blinked. "Hmm?" He lifted his gaze from the food.
"About Uncle Alvar and the conversation I had with him." She frowned. "Did you not hear me, grandpa?"
A weak smile twitched at the corner of his lips. "I suppose not. Sorry, Rana."
"It's fine," Rana muttered. She took a deep breath and repeated, "He wasn't willing to open up about himself. Not until the other Jedi joined us and it was less about him and more about some of the old members of the council and a friend of his."
"A friend of his would still count," Alan pointed out. Anything would count. Alvar didn't seem to be as open as he had been when he had been a child. Granted all Alan had to go by for this was the brief conversation yesterday and how Alvar had deflected them onto politics after the council meeting.
"Then there's the fact he slipped out last night. I could have sworn given his reaction yesterday he was going to make a run for it."
Alan's heart flickered. Was he being selfish in the desire to know his youngest child? Perhaps he was pushing too hard too fast.
"The only way to know for certain is to see what happens today." Alan's breath shuddered as he released the bent-up air.
"All right." Rana stood. "Want me to take your tray?"
Alan eyed her barely touched food.
"I'll eat later."
His eyes narrowed.
"It's terrible."
"You took the food," Alan reminded her.
"Yeah, well, but I can eat later."
Alan passed her his tray.
He stood as she headed off.
Alvar had already left the mess hall. He had slipped out with Bastila, Vaner, and another of the Jedi. Alan's heart flickered. Perhaps Alvar didn't had a desire to know his family. Perhaps…
Alan limped to the exit.
Voice trickled to him from just down the hall.
"—Certain?" it sounded like one of the Jedi.
"Yes," Alvar replied.
"It is coming here?" Bastila asked.
"Whatever or whoever caused the disturbance in the Force is all ready here," Alvar stated.
"You're not thinking about," Bastila's voice trailed off.
"No. I promised them if you agreed I would go. You agreed. I won't break my promise."
"What's the plan?" the other Jedi asked.
"Darious, I would like for you take both Atton and Mical, see what the three of you can uncover about this disturbance."
"It could pose a threat to the new order," Darious agreed. "And will provide good training for the two of them." He chuckled. "Especially if you want them to see passed their rivalry for Meetra's affections."
A small laugh came from Alvar. "It could push them to work together, but this mission could also make them compete harder."
"I will see to it, they learn even Jedi who dislike one another should see beyond their differences for the betterment of the Republic and its people."
"Thank you, my friend. May the Force be with you."
The sound of another moving off followed the words.
A disturbance? Alan frowned. It wasn't going to make Alvar break his promise of joining them today. This meant it had to be a small disturbance, right?
No.
Perhaps it was small, but Alvar was sending three Jedi to investigate, including this own padawan. If it was a threat to the Republic, then the Republic could very well fall if another war sparked up just after the last event which had been fought in the shadows of the Republic. Not to mention the fact the Republic was still tittering on the edge after both the Mandalorian and Jedi Civil Wars.
"We should find your father and niece," Bastila broke the silence. "Revan?"
There was a moment of silence. "Yes, let's." The sound of boots against metal followed the words.
Alvar and Bastila rounded the corner. Little Vaner was perched on his mother's hip. Bastila frowned as her eyes locked onto Alan.
"Morning," Alan greeted them. He limped forward. "Once Rana joins us we should head over to Justin's."
"Very well." Alvar grinned. "I believe she's coming now."
"I finished putting away the trays," Rana spoke from behind Alan. "Are we ready?"
"As we'll ever be," Alvar joked.
"This way." Alan led them off the ship and onto the streets of Telos.
Justin lived deeper into the station, in a more guarded part.
The door opened just as they arrived. It wasn't Justin rather Nalin. He glared at Alvar and Bastila. The boy didn't even glance at Alan or Rana.
"Who are you?"
Alan opened his mouth.
"No one," Alvar joked.
"Go away, no one," Nalin snapped.
"All right!" Alvar turned, eyes laughing.
"No you don't." Bastila snagged his collar.
Alvar gagged.
Nalin reached for the door controls.
"Nalin, don't you dare," – the door shut before Rana could finish – "close that door." Her face turned bright red. "Nalin, you jerk! Open the door!"
Alan let out a breath.
"I wasn't going anywhere," Alvar gasped. "It was a joke."
Alan stepped up to the door. It had been locked from the inside. He knocked.
A heartbeat later the door opened. It wasn't Nalin this time. "Sorry about that," Sasha smiled at them. "He's been acting out for awhile now."
Rana huffed. "More like forever."
"Rana." Sasha looked at her oldest. Her gaze softened. "Please come in." She stepped to one side.
"It's fine," Bastila returned the smile. She dragged Alvar forward. "Besides," – she nodded towards Alvar, given her other arm was wrapped around Vaner – "he started it."
Alan followed after Rana into the apartment. It was larger than most on Telos station. This wasn't shocking given who the apartment belonged to.
Nalin glared at Bastila as she released Alvar.
"Who are you?" he demanded once more.
"This your uncle, Alvar, his wife Bastila, and their son Vaner," Alan explained to his grandson.
"Hiya!" Vaner waved at Nalin. "You angry at daddy?" the little boy asked.
Nalin scowled. "Whatever." He shrugged and stormed into the main sitting room of the apartment.
"Come," Sasha gestured for them to follow, "the others are excited to meet you." Her eyes flashed towards Nalin. "No matter the way one of my children is acting."
Alvar hesitated before he followed Rana and Bastila into the main room.
A small breath escaped Alan's lips. He glanced at the closed door. This wasn't going to be easy. He never thought it would be. Still, he should have considered how Nalin would react to Alvar. His heart flickered. Hopefully this would start to go more smoothly.
x – Revan – x
Tension clogged the air as Revan entered the sitting space. His gaze flickered to Nalin who stood in a corner of the room. Anger flashed in the boy's eyes. Never once did Nalin look away from Revan.
There was something about the boy's anger which reminded Revan much on the way others had felt towards him before. This was different, even from those. The feeling of anger stimming from betrayal wasn't new. It was the deepness of said anger.
Revan moved to where Bastila had settled in a seat. He stood beside her. Vaner glanced around the room from his mother's lap. His eyes wide as he looked at all the faces surrounding them. He mumbled around a mouth full of his sleeve.
This was more people, especially children, than Vaner had ever been around outside of the one reunion they had before the last war had struck. Even then, Vaner knew everyone there. There had been no children outside of himself at all.
Revan's eyes moved from his son to those gathered in the room.
The youngest of Justin's and Sasha's children was seated on the floor. Her hazel eyes glinted as she watched Revan and Bastila. According to the file, her name was Hanna. She was the spitting image of her mother from her hazel eyes down to her auburn hair and freckled face.
The last of Justin's and Sasha's children was seated near to Hanna. She was spitting image of Justin from her sandy hair to her brown eyes. Eyes Revan also shared.
A shiver raced through him.
Her file reported she was looking to join the military when she turned eighteen. Yet, he could sense the Force in her. In all Justin's children outside of Rana.
"I'm glad you came," Justin spoke, drawing Revan away from the two children. A soft smile spread across his face. There was nothing fake about the smile. "The children have been looking forward to meeting you and Bastila since yesterday."
Nalin snorted.
Justin's eyes narrowed. He cleared his throat. "You can sit, Alvar."
Revan did so.
"These are my other two daughters. Hanna, my youngest," – Justin gestured to Hanna – "and Tina."
Hanna looked at Vaner. "So you're our cousin."
"What cosin?"
Hanna giggled.
"You're too cute." Tina grinned, eyes shining.
"But what it?"
"It's you, silly," Hanna said through her giggles. "And I'm your cousin."
Vaner tilted his head to one side.
"Want to play a little?" Hanna stood.
"Play!" Vaner clapped and slid off Bastila's lap. "Okay, mommy?"
"It's fine," Bastila assured him.
Vaner ran over to Hanna. "What play?"
"Come on. I'll show you my room. There's tones of great toys there."
"Yay!" Vaner clapped. He followed by the girl. At nine she towered over little Vaner, but his shyness was forgotten in the wake of playing.
Silence followed the two children's despatcher. Revan could sense them in another room.
"So," the word was released as a breath, "how did you two end up together?" Justin looked between Revan and Bastila.
Bastila shifted.
Alan's gaze rested on them.
It appeared all of them were curious about this. Revan let out a small breath. "She fell to the dark side. I pulled her because we loved one another. What more is there to tell?"
Bastila cocked an eyebrow at him.
"What?"
Her eyes stayed on his.
"You want me to go into the full story."
"No."
Revan looked at her. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Turning away from the dark side is nothing to sneeze at. No matter the circumstances on how you did it."
Bastila looked at her lap.
Well, this wasn't working. "Now, a horde of rampantly breading gizka is another story entirely," he joked.
A hint of a smile flickered at the corner of Bastila's lips.
"Unless you didn't find that to be a challenge. Perhaps I can return to Tatooine and find whoever gave use the crate."
"No!" Bastila shot down the idea. "The mere fact you let Mission keep one of those things was bad enough."
"I didn't let Mission do anything. She made her own decision on the matter." Revan smirked. At least she wasn't being ashamed anymore.
Justin cleared his throat. "There has to be more behind how you two ended up together than that."
Bastila's face reddened.
"Perhaps," Revan stated. "Why is it so important to you to know?" He kept his tone light.
"Well, she is about my age," Rana pointed out. "And you are about twenty years her senior." A note of disgust trickled into her voice.
Revan's eyes narrowed. "Marriage, until recently, wasn't permitted by the Jedi Order," he explained, voice even.
"It was my choice to marry him," Bastila interjected. "Whether or not you agree or disagree with our age difference is up to you. Just know our marriage helps the both of us."
"But," Rana started.
Alan held up his hand. "Understandable." His eyes softened. "And I am far from one to judge considering I had Justin when I was barely seventeen."
"Perhaps, there is something else you would rather discuss," Bastila suggested. "Family matters." She was trying to steer the conversation away from the two of them or their marriage more over.
Revan looked at the group.
"What was the war like?" Tina asked, eyes intense. "I mean you fought in two of the largest wars of our time. You have to have stories about them."
"Nothing of interest," Revan stated.
"Right," Nalin scoffed. "You're betrayal is nothing of interest," he sneered.
Tina rolled her eyes. "Ignore Nalin." She clapped her hands together. "You have to tell us about your final duel with Mandalore. It is renowned as one of the greatest in history. It also earned you the title of the greatest duelist of our age. Please."
Nalin huffed.
"Most of it is in history vids as it is," Revan stated. This wasn't a good topic.
A small breath escaped Tina. "I know what the holo-vids say, but I want to hear it from you. As you were there. You are Revan, right?"
"I am."
"Then, please." Tina edged forward. "That battle and the one with Darth Malak are two of your greatest achievements."
"Good to know."
"Oh, come on!" Rana shouted. "Why do never answer questions about yourself?"
Bastila laughed at this.
"You're not one to talk. You're married to him." Rana folded her arms across her chest.
"Rana," Justin warned.
"He's never been one to talk about himself," Bastila informed them. "Even to me."
"What? You still don't believe I was born on Kashyyyk and I'm a wookiee."
Bastila shook her head. "Honestly. Just because you speak fluent shyriiwook doesn't make you a wookiee no matter how impressed by it Zaalbar was."
"Um, what is this about?" Tina asked.
"Back on Dantooine I asked him a few basic," – Bastila shot a stern look at Revan – "questions found on his records. He answered all of them as if it were a joke."
"Why?" Tina frowned. "I always assumed you would be very serious given you're regarded as one of the greatest tacticians of our age as well."
"Trust me, when he is serious you don't want to be there. It means we're in a very bad situation."
Tina returned her gaze on Revan.
Alan cleared his throat. "I should start getting launch ready. It will take a few hours." He limped out of the room.
"I believe all of us are interested in hearing about the battle which saw you redeemed," Sasha spoke from her place beside Justin.
"The death of Darth Malak is what won us the war." Tina nodded.
Revan closed his eyes. He could almost feel the dead weight of Malak in his arms. Pain lanced through his heart. He couldn't redeem Malak. He had caused his fall, but there was no pulling Malak out of it. No taking back the path Revan had set his closest friend on.
Revan stood. "I believe I will help Alan." He started off.
"You mean our father," Justin pointed out.
Revan paused. "Yes." He continued on towards the kitchen.
"I'll help," Revan could just hear Rana's voice.
"No. Let them talk." It was Sasha. "Forgive me if that was insensitive to ask him. It was just such a great victory."
"We don't discuss the wars much," Bastila explained.
The voices faded as Revan entered the kitchen. Alan had set to work on a few the vegetables for the meal.
"Would you like some help?" Revan offered.
Alan froze. The older man turned, his dark gaze locking onto Revan. "I," he choked on the word. A smile spread across his face. "Yes, I would love your help."
"Where do you need me?" Revan removed his robes and the tan upper layer to avoid dipping the sleeves into the food. It left him with only the tank top on. Revan tied back his hair.
There were several dishes Alan was preparing. Revan was set to work on one of them, preparing the meat and sauce for the dish.
Revan moved to stand by… by his father. This was the closest he had been to Alan since the mess had started. Well, outside of the moment Alan had pointed the blaster at Revan. The man had been standing close then as well.
Alan stiffened. His eyes grew wary. "Your mind…" the words were soft, less than a whispered breath.
"What about my mind?" Revan asked.
"Nothing." Alan relaxed. He kept working on the food. His hands were covered in scarred lines down the fingers as if he had sustained nerve damage. The scars vanished into his sleeves.
The bombing of Telos.
Revan looked away from Alan. If only Revan had known just what Malak had planned. Revan would have stopped it. The anger. The raw rage he had felt upon learning what Malak had plotted behind his back left a bitter taste in Revan's mouth.
"I know you had no part in it."
"In the bombing?" Revan asked.
"Yes."
"Not even Carth believed me on that part until I'd earned back his trust."
"You still remembered us back then, didn't you?"
"Most likely. It would explain why I was so angry towards Malak's actions."
"Then I know you had nothing to do with it."
Revan kept his eyes locked on the food. "You were still injured in the bombing."
"I was. It was more my own fault than anything else. Reca had to pull me away from trying to help as many people as I could. Or so she told me. All I remember of the bombing was running away from the evacuation towards a child. A few blurred images of helping others and pain. I woke days later in a kolto tank."
Revan glanced at him. Racing into the bombing instead of away from it. Perhaps Revan got some of his own willingness to do stupid things to save as many as he could from Alan.
"Where did the scar on your shoulder come from? If you don't mind my asking."
Revan touched the scar. "When Malak fired on my ship, the interior hull was destroyed and collapsed in on me. A fatal blow if Bastila hadn't pulled me out and healed the wound when she had."
Malak had.
Revan stared at the meat. Perhaps, if he had remembered this moment better, he would have known there was no saving Malak from the Dark side. Yet, even Revan had been redeemed. Why couldn't he have done the same for Malak. Malak didn't… it had been Revan's fault. Not Malak's. The war, the pain, everything the Republic had gone through after the end of the Mandalorian Wars, was Revan's fault. Even the purge. The darkness which surrounded his old master might have stimmed from her actions in the Mandalorian Wars. Though, perhaps not. She had always been more gray than light side. Still…
Warmth touched Revan's shoulder. "You need never tell us what happened at the end of the Jedi Civil War."
Revan turned to find himself looking into Alan's eyes.
"Forgive me for Tina's curiosity on the topic. She doesn't understand war. Right now it is a matter she reads about and listened to as a child nothing more."
"It's fine." Revan returned his attention to the meal.
Silence lapsed between them. A silence Revan was more than happy to welcome.
(Author's note: Funny idea for a tradition, the oldest born of Alan's line is rarely force sensitive. It explains Justin, Rana, and poor little Vaner then.
I am back again. Thank you all for your patience on this chapter.)
Guest Reviews:
Anon: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Here is the next chapter. I just take awhile sometimes. I must be in the mood for the fan story I am working on. Though I am trying to get into a pattern where I update this story, then the dragon age one, then trinity blood and then back to this one.