Revan stormed onto the bridge and the crew got out of his way. One was too slow and he flew into a bulkhead at a flick of Revan's finger.
"Captain were you able to trace their jump?" Revan asked.
"General we were not, but they won't be able to out run us. There is only one jump point out of here and we are soon to follow." the captain reported. "We'll be waiting for them there." Revan sighed. The captain was right in his assumption, but he was sure they wouldn't be there. Hours later the small fleet came out of hyperspace and just as their sensors came fully on line they detected another jump only one light minute ahead of them.
"I don't understand." the tech stated. "I have the ship we are following jumping out."
Are you positive?" the captain asked.
"Registry code 34-P7JK it is the same ship. "The Ebon Hawk." Revan perked up at hearing the name as a rapid vision confuses him. Something told him that the future changed, but the vision made no sense.
"They could have gone anywhere by now, but I have been away from the front long enough." Revan stated. "Get us back to the front captain." The officer nodded and the ship jumped following the Corellian Run.
"That was a great shot, Pala." Pash complimented.
"It would have been better if the guns were properly aligned." she replied. The two hugged and Jolee walked in as they kissed. They both broke apart as they noticed him. "Sorry."
"Ah the love of youth. I was in love once." Jolee stated.
"You're a jedi?" Pash questioned.
"Not for a long time. Jedi do fall in love it is just how they handle it that matters." Jolee stated. "I was even married, not that it was allowed either, but that is one story you two won't hear."
"Why not I haven't heard it." T'aa Kel replied. "I would have assumed you would, considering my relationship with Phot."
"I have been wondering about that, but it is your choice. You are also not a Jedi and I left the order a long time ago." Jolee stated.
"That is one I want to hear as well." T'aa Kel demanded. "We got a long way before we reach Denon."
"Denon? The story isn't that long." Jolee countered.
"This ship has a class one hyperdrive." she stated. "It is much faster."
"Very well. Technically I was only a padawan. Not that it makes a difference to most, but as far as the order I didn't leave it it left me. What I really hate is how most people view the jedi. Everyone thinks the jedi can do not wrong. That they are perfect. They believe that the Jedi Council is completely beyond injustice. The Jedi are just as capable of injustice as anyone else. They may try harder, sure, but sometimes they get it wrong, and I am not going to talk about how we can fall to the darkside. What I am going to say is that the average robe wearing jedi can try to do the right thing and still be completely wrong." Jolee explained. He saw that they didn't understand. "Fine, I'll tell you a little tale about a Jedi Master I once knew. Hortath, I think. Or was it Hartoth? I could never get it straight." Jolee paused.
"Go on we're listening." T'aa Kel stated as she sat down.
"Where was I, then? Oh. Oh, yes, Master Hortath. He was a kindly old Jedi who meant well, but the most near-sighted thing in the Core, I swear. He would walk into walls, knock over tables, mistake apprentices for rancor beasts, that sort of thing, and he was too proud to submit to proper treatment." Jolee explained. "Some used to counsel him and urged "Use the Force, Master Hortath. Allow the Force to see for you." But he refused to believe that his eyes were failing. He simply squinted more and more as the years went on, the other Jedi resignedly passing it off as the amusing quirk of a compassionate old man."
"I don't get it." Pash stated.
"I'm not finished yet! Now shush!" Jolee scolded. "So one day a young Padawan meets Master Hortath in the courtyard and, not knowing of his blindness, asks him for directions to the Council. Quite sure of himself, Hortath gave the lad directions which happened to lead back outside and away from the enclave. The Padawan is confused, naturally. He asks if Master Hortath is sure, and of course Master Hortath says that he is. The Padawan suggests that perhaps he should ask someone else, but the proud Hortath now feels insulted. He tells the Padawan to take the route he prescribed and no other. Rather dejectedly, the Padawan did as he was told, and so ended up leaving the Jedi Order forever. It was decided that the boy's fate was to leave the Order anyway, though whether that was out of respect for Hortath or because the boy went on to something else, well, we'll never know."
"So what does the Padawan leaving the Jedi have to do with the Jedi leaving you?" Pala asked. "I thought you were going to say something about that?"
"Not much. I never knew the Padawan nor met Master Hortath, himself. He was before my time." Jolee replied. "The tale is about blindness and I thought the point was clear. At any rate, you think about it."
"This is Jolee great stories and never about the questions you ask." T'aa Kel stated. "One of these days you will tell me."
"One day I might when you don't patronize me so much." Jolee grumbled. "Now shoo, don't you have a ship to fly." The two teens laughed and walked over to the food processor.
"You know you can tell me. I can feel it hurts still, but I am here for you." T'aa Kel said as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh messing with the old man, now are you." Jolee replied. She giggled and left him alone. Yet he followed her to the crew quarters.
"You want to say more don't you?" T'aa Kel asked.
Yes I do, but then I don't. My private affairs are just that private." Jolee stated. "Let me tell you something. Once you've lived as many years as I have you'll have yourself a long, long list of memories. If you are lucky. Most of them will be good. If you are not some of them will be bad. If you are really unlucky, some will be so bad you never want to be reminded of them again, ever. You'll go far away to a place that doesn't hold any memories at all. There you'll be happy just to forget, and be forgotten."
"I feel that is why you were on Kashyyyk." T'aa Kel guessed.
"Partly, I doubt I could ever explain fully, even if I wanted to." Jolee stated. "Let me ask you this have you ever been in Love? Truly in love. I mean, not simple infatuation?"
"Yes I have. When I grew up I had my first love, than latter after the Mandalorians invaded I loved a man for nearly a year before we parted ways. Later I spent more than ten years with my first love. I am not as young as you keep thinking. Plus I have had enough lovers over the years."
"Hmm, then maybe you do know, but The Jedi with their damnable sense of over caution would tell you love is something to avoid. Thankfully, anyone who's even partially alive knows that's not true. Love doesn't lead to the darkside. Passion can lead to rage and fear, and can be controlled, but passion is not the same as love. Controlling your passions while being in love, that is what they should teach you to beware of. Love itself will save you, not condemn you." Jolee explained. "But listen to me go on as if I had all the answers. What do I know of love anymore? I'm just a lonely old man, who's not even a Jedi." T'aa Kel put her hand on his shoulder.
"You know a lot about love I can feel it has touched you deeply." she replied. "You act as any Kishi does and as far as I know it is the same as being a Jedi."
Nope, not really. Technically I never rose above the rank of Padawan, for various reasons. Does that surprise you?" he asked.
"No, but I see your balance. You never truly gave up your abilities." T'aa Kel replied. "Rank doesn't have any effect on ability."
Heh, I suppose I'm not prone to live my life like most of the Jedi Masters do, that's true. My opinions on love are no different." Jolee explained further. "Love causes pain, certainly. Inevitably love is going to lead to as much sorrow and regret as it does joy. I suppose there are perfect, eternal loves out there, but I haven't seen any. How you deal with the bad part of love is what determines your character. What determines the dark side's hold over you."
" I see what you mean. I have loved and it came with pain yes, but not so much regret. Then again it was a lot of work at times. As far as eternal love I know many couples who spent a few centuries together. My father and mother were together for two hundred fifty years before my father died. I guess I have a more solid base. It is also why I never could stand my mother playing match maker. If I accepted who she picked, I would be with him for hundreds of years." T'aa Kel revealed. "I just can't see myself in such a long relationship."
"Now that is something. I never thought you could live so long and that explains a few things. You are not human to most people are you?" he asked.
"No I am Ilfirim. The humans of my world are called Firimar. We have deviated from normal humans. Yet we retain the same looks from the people I have seen." she explained a bit. "But back to love. So the Jedi think you shouldn't take that risk."
"Bah. A life without risk is boring. Is that how you would want to live? You've got to fight for it. I'll tell you one thing. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you and the one you love simply aren't meant to be together." Jolee explained. "The trick is to know when it is time to fight and when it is time to part ways." She smiled and then she hugged him. "Hey now what is this for?"
"You are a wise man, Jolee. Through everything that you have lived. You know how to live. I think if you were not so old looking I would show you a thing or two. Then again I don't think you could handle me falling in love with you." T'aa Kel teased. Jolee was shocked if she only knew how much like his wife she looked. Just having her so close brought back memories he didn't want to face. Her hug was warm and what she felt for him was friendship, but that he didn't expect.
"Are you two going to mate like the other two or can I sleep in here." Hanworr asked. T'aa Kel blushed and Jolee started to stutter. She turned to him and hugged him by jumping up in his arms. "No you have no hair. I don't want any part of your rituals"
"Oh be serious fur ball. You're like a big stuffed Bayamon, but better." she teased. "I had one as large as you are when I grew up. I think it is still in my room. I am glad I have both of you as friends."
"Then we are friends." Jolee replied. "And a nap sounds good about now. I hope you don't snore."
"Not as load as you old spirit." Hanworr fired back.
"You and your naps. Wish I could sleep so long sometimes. No can do an Ilfirim only gets four hours if their lucky." T'aa Kel stated as she slid down off Hanworr. Jolee looked like he was going to say something and the he didn't. She left to check on the ship.
"She looks sad. Yet she was just happy." Hanworr stated.
"She is alone. She doesn't feel a part of any world she is in. Too different to be a Jedi. Different on her world, not that I can figure out why. Maybe to do with that goddess bunk. Too different to accept the Mandalorian life and the Republic doesn't suit her either. This quest of hers is the only thing she has that is solid, yet it is quickly coming to an end." Jolee surmised. "But that was the first time she has felt like family."
"She is like a non mate, mate. A friend. Never thought I could call a bald skin friend." Hanworr replied. Then he let out a large yawn.
The ship was working properly. She couldn't believe the clock as it counted down to normal space. It took the Kishi Goddess three months plus two months just to travel the same distance. From what she could tell the system her map pointed to was deep in unknown territory and she was glad she had changed ships. Her old ship would never make it. This one might not make it either. They would need plenty of supplies. Now with two more on board. They might need speeders as well. She would have to stop to gamble to rebuild her funds. Paying Phot a hundred thousand was nearly everything they had and high grade fuel was three times as expensive. They would need that, and since their was a war going on she would find it difficult to get a hold of. She left the cockpit and entered into her office. It used to be a storage compartment.
"Oh Mistress I have been locked in here for hours. I have a hundred things to do. Master Kann is going to scrap me for sure." C2H3 fretted. She jumped and then laughed. "I don't see the humor."
"I do. We are hours away from Tatooine, stowaway, but I could use you. I want a complete inventory of the of both holds. They need to be straightened up and organized. I will get Pala and Pash to help you." she replied.
"But you are not my master. I really need to get back to him." C2H3 countered.
"You are not going back if ever. Plus didn't he tell you to follow my orders?" she asked.
"Yes he did, but I am sure he didn't mean for you to take me as your own." it replied.
"You will have to think he did, cause I am not bringing you back. Not now, so go do what I ordered." she demanded.
"Very well, but this is highly irregular. I just know I am going to fry a circuit or two." it stated as it walked away. She chuckled and headed for the other crew quarters. She didn't here them until the door opened. The gravity was off and they stopped or Pash did like an animal caught in a high beam. It was an interesting position.
"Don't stop." Pala demanded.
"Hey d- d- don't you knock?" Pash questioned.
"Not when it is my ship. If I knew you two were a couple I would have said no. Now I have work for you two. I am not going to forbid your relationship, but I doubt you will have time for this anytime soon." T'aa Kel stated. "Get dressed. I have work for you two."
"Hey we are not your slaves." Pala replied.
"You are my crew and it is time you acted like it. Plus you are both old enough to work and young enough that I could put you over my knee." she threatened.
"You are not any older than us." Pala replied.
"I am not as human as you think. My father was three hundred when he was killed and my mother is two hundred and ninety. My grandparents are both in their four hundreds shall I go on?" T'aa Kel informed them. "I am forty five." She hit the gravity plate and they both fall to the floor. Pala lands on her feet and Pash is fast as well spinning and landing in a push up position. Still she saw him wince from the cold deck. "Go find C2 and help him. Follow his commands and hurry up he is expecting you." She spun and walked away. She heard the two quickly dressing. The thought of training them both was tempting, but she wondered if they could even separate their Chi from the force. If not Jolee could train them.
Two weeks brought them to Denon. The resupply burned up most of her and the crews credits, but Pash and Pala watched as she slowly over a month rebuild the funds through various gambling dens. They watched the holonews as Supreme Commander Revan won battle after battle. As he won battles T'aa Kel and her crew moved toward the Koornacht Cluster for the final jump to the Rakata Star Forge. The year moved on by almost crept by as she hauled freight from one system to the next. Then the year changed and she finally stopped hesitating, yet she still waited.
"Are you ever going to find this Star Forge the map points to." Jolee asked during the many times they meditated.
"Jolee I don't even know if I should. For once in my life I feel like I have the family that I should have had. Pala and Pash have grown in their relationship and Pash started to realize his potential in the force. You have become less grouchy and I have grown a bit fond of you. Hanworr is happy working on the ship and the two droids get along like the best of friends." T'aa Kel explained. "Why would I change any of that now?"
"I don't know I just feel it is getting close to the time. The Battle of Althir destroyed most of the Mandalorian troops, so it is just a matter of time before the Republic wins. They just have destroy their navy." Jolee replied then he looked a bit more serious. "T'aa I am fond of you as well, but I will not travel down that road again. I had a wife once and I am not about to have another."
"Okay daddy you are reading too much into this." she countered. "Yet I can see how you confuse my attention. I so much wish that you were Ilfirim than you wouldn't be safe. I would fight your resistance with all my ability. I am only holding back because you can't live as long as I can."
"Very true, but let me tell you of my wife Nayama..." Jolee started. They talked for hours. Him remembering the times together and her training and the ultimate battle and decision to spare her that caused her to survive and kill many jedi. He talked of his council trial and their decision. "So the Jedi council left me as much as I left it. Now you know everything, but there is one more thing." T'aa Kel looked up at him as her head rested on his leg. He sighed and then slowly blew out. "You young lady look exactly like Nayama. That is why I joined you and every day I see the good and the bad. Yet it has helped me heal, but I feel that would be lost if you no longer saw me as a father figure."
"So the truth about why you call me Na is finally out." T'aa Kel replied. "I felt something each time you did. That I feel now. You loved her and you still do, but I feel it is time you let go of the bad and forgive yourself." She scooted up and wanted to kiss him on the cheek, but he moved suddenly and it landed on his mouth. She blanked for a second and felt a shock as he returned the kiss. Both of their resistance broke. What they held back was released during that one kiss, and then the universe collapsed in pain and torment. Thousands of light years away the planet of Malachor V destroyed a thousand ships. Millions of troops and navy personal died. Many of them her people. She felt Meetra Surik's pain and her sudden separation from the Force. Then darkness.
"T'aa, what is wrong?" Jolee asked again. He had felt something had happened, but he lost the feeling as she became insistent. He had vowed never to fall in love again, but here he was after a few hours lying next to her after making love to her like he never had before. He let go of every emotion he had and he felt she had as well. At one point he felt everything she had felt. This was like no other feeling he could describe. She looked up at him and then saw something she didn't even know was possible. Her face changed from one likeness to another. From their many conversations he noticed Tina, Narim, Nira, and Toval. Toval remained a bit longer and she smiled differently from how T'aa Kel smiled. Her face returned and she frowned.
"How did I get in your bed?" T'aa asked. "Wait this is my bed. Jolee oh my gods." She sat up and then the time they made love flashed back to her and what started it all. She knew the war was over and she had run out of time.
"I asked what is wrong and I am confused can you change shape?" he asked.
"The war I felt the war ended... Horribly... I love you Jolee I can't deny it. I... We need to find the Star Forge or a new war will start. I felt the death of the jedi and then the galaxy." she explained not really understanding it at all. "We need to leave now."
"We have to talk. I didn't mean to lose control and it can wait a few more hours." Jolee countered.
"My sweet Jolee. I now can say I have fallen in love. Not like before as this is different. I didn't want to risk it with you as it will only last for a flash in my life. Yet you are the one. The eternal love you talked about." She stated. "I feel that you feel the same way." Then he heard her in his mind. I love you He was shocked yet he thought the same way.
A round of clapping made both of them stop as they came out of her cabin. Pash and Pala were the ones clapping and Hanworr was amused at their show.
"What are you two doing?" Jolee asked.
"We are celebrating." Pala replied.
"You two have been dancing around for over a year." Pash added. "It was about time you both saw it."
"You are louder than these two in your mating." Hanworr revealed. "Thought you were dying at one point." T'aa Kel blushed as well as Jolee.
"It's true. We had to hold him back." Pash stated.
"Of all the..." Jolee tried to reply. T'aa Kel just stopped him with a finger. He chuckled and the others laughed. T'aa Kel smiled and kissed him. They cheered again and finally she giggled. Dirty old man. He looked at her.
You wish. he thought back at her. She laughed and then looked serious.
"For a long time I have avoided what must be done. Now what we need to do is to find the Star Forge. We need all the supplies and fuel this ship can hold." She declared. "Don't move all at once."
"Yes Mistress Kel." C2H3 responded. Then the others went to work as well. Food supplies, extra parts, to include mostly engine and hyperdrive. She got the fuel exchanged for military grade which would increase their range. Still it wasn't enough so she waited as they attached external tanks as well. The ship lifted off and it was heavy. A quick top off at the outer station and the first leg of their journey was underway was under way. The weeks passed as they surveyed each system they flew past. Each one popping up on her maps. It took a few months, but then it felt like a moment as they arrived five light hours away.
"Here it is the Rakata System." Pash reported.
"Doesn't look like much." Pala replied. "The star is pretty small." Jolee laughed. "What?"
It is small cause we are so far out. We are going to have to make another jump to get in closer." Jolee explained. "I know that much at least."
"Long scanners fully active. Will take a while to get a full scan." Hanworr reported. "Anyone hungry?"
"You go ahead and wake T'aa for me will you?" Jolee asked.
"Eight planetary objects three are gas giants. I am getting a major signal from the fourth orbit, but I have never seen anything like it." Pash reported. "I don't think we should get any closer, cause I have a bad feeling about this." T'aa Kel walked in and waved them all to follow.
"Bring up our scans on the holo." she ordered. "Okay this is Rakata Prime. From what information I have been able to gather the star is called Abo and the Planet Lehon in their language. This is the Star Forge I think as the other two are moons." T'aa Kel explained. "I also feel the system is steeped in the darkside. I know why I am here, but how I am going to balance an entire system I am not sure."
"Still too far away to get any good readings. This field I don't like. I think we can get within twenty light minutes, but closer than that I wouldn't risk it." Pash suggested.
"Then we get closer." she ordered. Ten minutes later they popped back out of hyperspace.
"The field is much stronger here. I am getting warning from navigation and our subspace transceiver." Pash reported. "We came all this way for nothing."
"Oh the view is excellent from here." Jolee replied. "Reminds me of Kuat with its rings of shipyards."
"That station is huge maybe even build out of a third moon." Pala suggested. Pash gave her a strange look. "What it is big enough."
"How long before this field affects our systems and we are stranded here?" T'aa Kel asked.
"A few hours. We have enough parts to fix it as long as we can fly away, but it may affect other systems as well." Hanworr stated. "Better we leave."
"Contact multiple hyper jump signatures. About one light minute from the planet." Pash reported.
"That looks like the Republic Fleet or what is left of it." Jolee commented.
"Not for long the field has strengthened. I am shutting down everything except life support." Hanworr stated. T'aa Kel and the others rushed to help him as they shut the systems down. Sensors remained unaffected and they watched as the entire fleet was disabled. Each ship headed for the planet many of them blowing up or burning up as hundreds of life pods ejected and smaller craft launched. Each affected in turn none getting even close to the great station.
"I want an intercept course plotted with the station. We will jump out and increase our exit speed. Once we come out. A Final course correction and a full system shut down. It may not protect us, but we will be close enough to land on that station." T'aa Kel ordered. Jolee's eyes went wide as he saw her face change. This time it looked very masculine. He blinked and her face changed back. He wondered what truly was going on and it made him afraid as the Force swirled around her in many different colors. "I also want a way that we may be able to compensate for the field's interference." The crew got to work and two micro jumps later they were rocketing towards the Star Forge. Warning lights and bells went off as the systems were shut down quickly. At nearly 3 million kilometers a second it would take a long time to slow down, But the engines seemed to be unaffected by the field. Pala was crying at the noise and the alarms. Pash yelled at her to get her moving. The rest of the crew worked like crazy. Still half the navigational system failed by the time they slowed down enough. T'aa Kel sat down and delved into the Force as she felt that the ship was going to miss the station. She reached out and pulled the ship back on course and by the time she started glowing the station reacted. The ship shook as massive tractor beams took hold.
"What was that?" Pala asked as she was suddenly calm.
"That is T'aa, she is doing something." Jolee replied. "Can you feel it?" Pash and Pala nodded. Hanworr growled as the others just stopped working. He saw the station take up the entire view screen and hollered as he felt certain they were going to crash. The ship spun around and a hanger opened for the first time in millennium. They ship vibrated and then clanked as the landing gear locked into the deck.
"Welcome to the Star Forge." T'aa Kel announced. Multiple sounds were heard as it felt like meteors were hitting the hull. Pash brought up the outer sensors and they all saw the droids of every size converging and crawling over the ship.
"This is not good." Jolee stated. TJ beeped and whistled.
"What do you mean they are repairing the ship?" C2 asked. He beeped some more.
"He says the droids on the ship are some type of flight crew. There are way more than normal." C2 explained.
"Can you tell them to back away from the ship?" T'aa Kel asked. TJ beeped and then a sorrow full whistle followed.
"They refused." C2 replied. They felt the air pressure change and the heard the rush of droids as they entered the ship. Droids as small as their hands to half the size of a human rushed on board. "Oh my we better leave the ship. They are going to take it apart." T'aa Kel was stunned and she thought only for a second to fight them, but seeing the mass of droids converging on the ship she followed the others as they exited the ship. Hanworr dragged a crate of survival gear and food out of the hold as Pash knocked the curious droids away.
"They are really excited. They claim they will make the ship better." C2 reported. They watched as the ship and her fighter vanished in less than an hour. A few minutes later each bay in the hanger came alive and they saw ship frames appear.
"Looks like we are going to each have our own ship." Jolee stated. "Though I don't see your fighter."
"It doesn't matter right now. Hanworr set up camp over there in that small alcove." T'aa Kel ordered. "Pash and Pala help him."
"What are you going to do?" Pash asked.
"Find the center of this station." T'aa Kel replied. C2 and TJ moved on ahead only to be scooped up by a large construction droid. Pash fired at it, but his rounds just bounced off.
"Great there goes are only droids that can talk to these ones." Jolee complained.
"I think they will be fine." T'aa Kel stated. "Let's go."
"Very well just hope they don't want to copy us." Jolee remarked.