Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Bastila's Redemption

Chapter XIV

"Coruscant has to be retaken!" Carth said firmly to the Jedi Council around him. "The Republic won't be able to do this without the support of the Jedi."

"The council has already spoken with you, Admiral Onasi," Master Vira spoke. "The have been severely crippled by the attack on Coruscant. We simply cannot agree to assist in this battle."

"The Republic will fall!" Carth repeated. "The Jedi are its defenders!"

"The Jedi were nearly destroyed by Malak," Atris reminded Carth. "We are not the great force we once were."

"You still have your powers," the admiral urged. "You still have the ability to do good!"

"We will not be able to do good if we all die in a meaningless battle," Atris snapped.

"Meaningless!" he repeated, dumbfounded. "If the Republic falls, then all of the good in this galaxy, all of the order and justice we have brought to the core worlds will be gone! Everything that the Jedi have stood to protect for twenty thousand years will collapse!"

"The Jedi will return when we have the strength, but we will not go to war. We cannot go to war."

"Darkness, we sense," Vandar explained. "If these Sith lure the Jedi into battle, the true enemies will have won."

"True enemies?"

"The ones who have prompted the Sith to attack us after all this time."

"Does it matter!" Carth shouted.

"Of course it does!" Kavar assured him.

"Just like it mattered in the Mandalorian Wars!" Carth cried.

"The Jedi Civil War was a result of the Mandalorian Wars," Vira reminded him.

"Which only occurred because you would not go to war! Revan and Malak would never have fallen to the dark side if you had sided with them!"

"Do not think to tell us what would have and would not have happened, Admiral!" Atris thundered.

"Don't yell at him!"

The four remaining Jedi Masters of the High Council turned and watched as Jedi Knight Revan, Knight Shan and their… friend, Kreia, entered the room. "The fact that he's right is the only reason you reacted so harshly to his words."

"Knight Revan, we have not yet summoned you and Knight Shan," Vandar spoke, not with anger, but a general annoyance.

"I know, but I really don't have time to wait around. Carth is right. The Republic needs the Jedi, the same way they needed us during the Mandalorian Wars." Before the council could speak, Revan raised his hand for silence. "I'm not going to sit back and wait for what's left of the council to deliberate. Bastila, Navin, Visas, Kreia and I are going to leave. And I know that Master Bindo and Padawan Vao would follow me. As would the Jedi who realize that trillions would die because of the decision to wait."

"Padawan Vao is my personal apprentice," Kavar stated. "She would not follow you."

"Mission is my personal friend. She won't side with the Jedi over me," Revan said calmly.

"How did you even know that Mission was here on Naboo?" Vira inquired.

"She's been in contact will Zalbaar, chief of the wookies, who I have also been in contact with, but that isn't important. What is important is that-,"

"The Jedi and the Republic won't follow you again, Revan!" Atris sneered. "They won't put their lives in your hands a second time."

"They'll put their faith in me!" Carth stated. "And I put mine in him!"

"Trust me, Atris," Bastila said with a slight snicker. "After the way that the Jedi glorified our redemption, and the way Carth will glorify my part in the battle of Coruscant, the Republic will side with me."

"The Republic believes that you began the battle of Coruscant."

"Or they'll believe that the Sith lied to them, again," Carth spoke, finally catching onto the whole of Revan's plan.

Revan, for the first time, acknowledged Kreia's presence. "She knows what the Sith are capable of. She knows what the Sith are planning. That is why she sent me into the Mandalorian Wars!"

There was a murmur of shock and disapproval amongst the four Jedi Masters and a gasp from Carth. Kreia remained silent, though a slight smile creased over her lips. Revan held his hand again for silence. "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be the Jedi I am today. I was a powerful Jedi during the Mandalorian Wars. I'm far stronger now; perhaps even strong enough to overthrow the will of the Jedi Council!"

"You as the Sith Lord, Revan!" Kavar warned him. "Continue this train of thought and you will fall!"

"No," Revan replied calmly. "I won't."

"And what of Knight Shan?" Vira inquired. "Would you bring her down with you?"

"I'll side with him to the very end!" Bastila insisted.

"So, you will rush off to war, just as you did before?" Atris mused. "You will rush off to war with a powerful Jedi Knight as your second in command. You will force her to become your apprentice and you will use her powers to your own selfish ends!"

Revan shook his head. "I'm not going to argue with you. I don't have the time. I need an answer. Will the Jedi go to war or not?"

"You already have your answer!" Atris sneered. "Now get out!"

"Then we shall leave," Bastila replied with a respectful bow.

"Just a moment," Kavar interrupted. "Your lightsabers. You no longer deserve the right to carry them."

"You are exiles!" Atris spoke, almost triumphantly.

Revan sighed. He pulled the cylinder shaped weapon from his belt and ran his hand over it. He had only just constructed the weapon and now he had to give it up. What a pity. The lightsaber began to hover above his hand and spin slowly. Revan's eyes narrowed and a crack appeared in the durasteel hilt. With an intense twitch of his muscles, Revan's lightsaber shattered. He watched as the metal pieces fell to the ground and the shards of the silvery green crystal shimmered in the light of the sun.

Bastila was not as flashy with her performance. She simply pulled the duel bladed weapon from her belt and set it on the ground before her. She also pulled the single bladed weapon that she kept as a spare from her robes and set it down beside her primary weapon.

"It doesn't matter," Kreia stated as she walked up to Revan. She reached into the folds of her pocket and drew out another lightsaber, handing it to Revan.

"I led the Jedi to the Mandalorian Wars with this weapon," he stated as his finger found the switch and the blade of ruby red energy poured forth. "I'll lead them against the Sith with it."

He jerked his head slightly and began to walk from the room. Bastila, Carth, and Kreia quickly followed. The Jedi Masters watched him in stunned silence. The Dark Lord had returned before they're very eyes. Revan was going to lead the Jedi into hell.

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"They're just as foolish as they were a decade ago!" Revan thundered as he entered Carth's apartment in the Naboo palace.

"Revan, you said it yourself. We don't need them," Navin reminded him.

"What are three Jedi exiles and a Sith renegade going to do against an entire Sith armada?" Bastila inquired. "I don't like to be pessimistic, but we need help!"

"You've got the entire Republic behind you Revan! Do you think the people of Manaan or Kashyyyk forgot what you did for them? No! They'll support you! And Canderous had better support you if he wants to walk straight for the next couple of months!"

Revan smiled. "Go easy on him, Carth."

"Stop giving me orders and get ready to follow yours," the admiral snapped. "I need Dustil to do a small job for me on Nar Shadda. I want you to go with him!"

"What small job?"

"We're in the middle of a war, Rev. And you know that there is one group who is bound to get in the middle of everything."

"The Exchange?"

Carth nodded. "Their boss, Goto lives on Nar Shadda. If you can, negotiate with him."

"And if we can't?" Revan asked.

"Shut down the Exchange."

"Sounds like a plan," he said with a shrug.

"Take HK-47 with you when you go to Telos and leave him with Dustil's apprentice." Revan nodded. "Bastila, I want you to stay here on Naboo and work with a self-taught Jedi who could use some tips with a lightsaber."

Bastila nodded, though she glanced at Revan to see his reaction. Their eyes met for a very brief moment, before Revan looked away. She sighed. "Alright," she agreed.

"You," he pointed at Navin.

"What?" She demanded hotly. Navin was not used to following orders. Her days as a general were long over and since then she had adopted a life of independence. This Republic scum-bag would learn not to mess with her really quickly if he was smart.

"I'm headed to Dxun to negotiate with an old friend. I could use a woman with your skills to help me out," he said politely, catching her attitude problem and working around it. Navin nodded. "I guess I could help."

"I will stay here," Visas volunteered. "I will lend my knowledge to the Republic and then you may deploy me for combat."

Carth shrugged. "I'll leave you with our intelligence officer. Once you've given him all the details you have, I'm going to have you assigned to the Jedi building. You'll be guarding the Jedi and listening to everything they say. You will report back to me if you hear anything important."

"Yes sir," she replied.

"I am leaving this place," Kreia spoke, just as Carth was about to assign her. "Do not presume to order me about."

"Where are you going?" Revan inquired.

"That is none of your concern, but know this; I shall be back with reinforcements."

With that, Kreia left the room. "Good riddance," Navin commented.

"Agreed," stated Bastila.

"You've all got your assignments. Get going," Carth barked.

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Navin threw her pack onto the bed of her new apartment room. She quickly unclipped her cloak and threw it on top of her bed, as well as her lightsaber and a small hold out pistol she kept around her ankle, but rarely used. She looked around, taking the room in at a glance. It was a comfortable room. It was probably the only comfortable room she'd see for a while. A pity she had to leave so soon.

Navin had never been fond of the high life. She had grown up poor and the Jedi weren't big on the idea of rich guardians. She had spent the last seven years since the Mandalorian Wars roughing it. She had spent time on Nar Shadda, traveling through space, selling out as a mercenary or whatever else kept her alive, even if it wasn't beneficial to other's lives.

The exile glanced at herself in the mirror. She had not realized how long it had been since she had been living in civilization. Her face was covered with dirt and grime. Her robes were tattered and torn in places. The cloak that she had thrown on the bed was seared and fringed in multiple places.

She walked into the restroom, shed her clothes, and stepped in the refresher. Shortly afterwards she stepped out and put on a soft white bath robe. The exile went back into the main living room of her apartment and sat down on a large sofa. Her white-blond hair, normally pulled up in a tight bun, was down, cascading down her back and chest. Her emerald green eyes gazed over the room.

"T3-M4," she spoke softly. The droid rolled out of a small closet where it had been dropped off by a Republic guard. "Get over to that computer," she ordered, pointing at a small computer system that was now a standard issue for all hotels and houses. "Get me all of the history details on Admiral Carth Onasi."

The droid replied in a series of beeps and chirps and then went promptly to the computer terminal. Navin leaned back on the sofa and reached for the synthesizer behind her and typed in a code. Moments later, a steaming hot meal was prepared for her. She set it down on the table in front of her and smiled.

"I could get used to this," she commented.

Just as she spoke, T3-M4 rolled over to her, producing a datapad for her. She took the datapad and began to scroll through its contents. There was a picture of Carth and his wife and details on his life. As a child he grew up on Telos. He was soldier in the Republic since his early twenties. Shortly into the Jedi Civil War, Malak gave an order to destroy Telos. Carth had been on an assignment on Nar Kreeta at the time. Shortly after the destruction of Telos, Carth took an extended leave of absence to search for his wife and son. Neither were found and both were presumed dead. When Carth returned to his duties, he was placed aboard a ship called the Endar Spire. From there he left the front lines and traveled on an un-logged mission with Jedi Knight Revan and Jedi Knight Shan, along with several other individuals. In the end, that mission led to the end of the Jedi Civil War. Carth Onasi was awarded the Cross of Glory and promoted to the rank of admiral. Admiral Onasi spent several months aiding in the reconstruction of Telos with the aid of his son, who returned mysteriously after the war. The admiral is currently stationed on Coruscant.

"A little out of date," the exile muttered as she set down the datapad.

The small utility droid began to beep and chirp at her quickly. "Shut up," she muttered as she began to think. After eating, Navin changed into a fresh set of black robes. She pulled her long sand colored hair into a pony-tail. She grabbed a visor from her pack and slipped it on. The visor screen, when active, would cover her left eye with a green lens that would assist in aim and she could scan technical data from any up to date computer terminal. It was a handy little tool she had taken off a body back on Coruscant and was eager to test. She strapped the hold out blaster holster to her ankle and holstered her weapon. She attached her lightsaber to her belt, along with several frag and smoke screen grenades. She also holstered an extra heavy pistol on her hip, on the right side.

"T3, get me in communications with Admiral Onasi," she ordered. The droid chirped merrily and began to access the holophone system. After several moments, Carth's face appeared on the holoscreen.

"What can I do for you, General?" The admiral inquired.

"When are we leaving?" she asked bluntly.

"Tired of the apartment already?" Carth asked with a chuckle.

"I dislike permanency. Now when are we leaving?" She asked again.

"We can leave as soon as my ship is ready," he replied. "The Steel Wing should be prepared in a matter of hours."

"Good. Alert me the moment we are ready to leave!"

"Yes ma'am," Carth replied. "Admiral Onasi out."

Carth's face disappeared from the screen and Navin turned away from it. She sighed and looked around. The restless spirit inside of her was getting feisty. He muscles began to tense and twitch as she began to pace the room. The T3 unit began to watch her intently, curious as to what its master was doing.

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Bastila sighed as she pulled on her robe and pulled it closed. "We won't be apart for long," she called into the other room.

"I know," Revan called back, from the refresher. "It's still too long."

Bastila smiled. She loved knowing how he felt about her and how being apart would tear him up inside, the same way it tore her apart. Despite the cruelty in that statement, it really was meant to be a compliment.

"I'll be right here when you come back," she called to him as she walked back into the main room and began to dry her hair.

She heard the refresher open again a moment later. "I'll come back as fast as I can!" he called to her. She smiled at his words. A few moments later, he came into the room, dressed in loose fitted pants. He threw his towel on a chair and came to sit on the sofa beside Bastila. He put his arm around her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't worry, Bas. As soon as Dustil and I take down the Exchange on Nar Shadda, I'll come home and we can be together. You, me, the baby; we'll be together." Bastila nodded and snuggled up to him. "But, don't tell them about the baby. They'll try to take her from you, by force if they have to."

"I know," she replied. "I won't let them."

"Your assignment is simple. You need to train a Force user who works for Carth. Train him, but don't strain yourself."

"I won't."

"You might want to speak with some of the women in the Republic armada. They may have children and could help you."

"Revan, I'll be fine. And you should be back long before the baby's born, right?"

"Of course!" He replied. "I'll be back long before that, but you should still be ready." Bastila nodded and sighed.

"I can't believe we're really doing this," she said calmly. "We're going to have a daughter."

"Yeah," Revan said as he pulled her closer. "We are."

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Navin looked up at the Steel Wing star ship without much enthusiasm. According to Carth's boasts, this ship was responsible for the success of seventeen Republic missions. The exile couldn't really say she believed such a boast. All she could do was stare at it in grim silence as she leaned against the wall to the Naboo palace hangar.

"This is your beautiful star ship?" She said in sarcasm.

"Beauty ain't she?" Carth asked as he began to haul crates up the loading ramp.

"You paid money for this thing?"

"Cost a fortune," Carth replied with pride.

"On purpose?"

Carth looked at her, realizing for the first time that Navin might not appreciate his ship. "What is the matter with you?" He asked in an offended tone.

"I know a piece of crap when I see it," she replied. "That ship is a piece of crap."

"Look, she may not be as fancy as the Hawk, but she'll fool you," Carth assured her. "Now get on. We're leaving."

"Yes sir," she muttered as she began to walk towards the ship. She boarded the loading ramp and looked around. It was larger than the Ebon Hawk, that was for sure. The cargo hold was filled with crates, most of them empty, but a few containing weapons. Carth kept a large store of blaster rifles and pistols hidden in secret compartments throughout the ship, all of which Navin found within an hour after take off. The canisters and barrels in the cargo hold were filled with frag and plasma grenades. The central room of the ship contained a holotable, which, like the Ebon Hawk, could be used for communication, but was also capable of creating statistical battle simulations and accessing the holonet. Upon further inspection, Navin concluded that the rest of the ship was boring. It could house twelve people in the barracks on top of everything else.

"Well, this is boring," the exile said as sat down in the cockpit.

"You really don't know how to appreciate true beauty, do you?" He asked.

"If this is your definition of beauty, then no, I don't," she replied.

Carth chuckled. "Well, we'll be on Dxun in a matter of days. Maybe you should play pazaak with the T3 droid."

"I guess," she said dourly. She got up and walked away, her cloak swishing behind her. Carth watched her as she went. He turned back and went back to piloting.

"Women," he muttered.