Chapter Fourteen

Making Ready

Adaliah awoke to the torturous ringing of the alarm that she had set an hour and a half before. She groaned and lifted her weary head, her still-damp braid swinging as she pulled herself up. She felt groggy, but better than she had the night before. There were clean clothes in the closet, as there had been clean nightclothes. Her robe was still a wretchedly dirty thing, but she was grateful for the clean clothes, at least. She headed to the refresher room once again, dressed and splashed her face with water to wake herself up.

"Come now, child," she told herself. "You've stayed up all night before."

She slipped out of her room, noticing that there was very little activity in the halls so early in the morning. Much of the crew was asleep, and she saw no one she recognized. She passed one door, two, and halted at Atton's. She knocked softly, then harder, wondering if he had developed the habit of being a deep sleeper. Still, no one answered the door. It was unlocked, so she opened the door with a quiet swish!

"Jaq?" She called out softly. "I promised to wake you." She pulled aside the curtain that surrounded his bed. The bed was empty, the covers tucked over the sheets and pillows neatly. Adaliah was alarmed! She stepped out into the hall, looking backwards and forwards, side to side, trying to catch a glimpse of the scoundrel. She retraced her steps to and from her quarters and Atton's three times, until at last she spotted Admiral Onasi and that hall, emerging from his quarters.

"Thank the Force, Carth," she called out to him. He paused and turned back to look at her, a rather confused expression on his.

"Why, Exile!" He exclaimed. "You are supposed to be in the landing bay, or were as of-" he checked his chronometer "- five minutes ago. I was going there to see you off. What in the galaxy are you still doing here?"

"I can't find Atton," Adaliah told him, a worried expression on her face. "His bed is made and everything. I don't know where he can be."

"Atton?" Carth took a step toward her. "I haven't seen him this morning either. He must be already waiting for you in the landing bay."

"Maybe." Adaliah sounded doubtful. "But I did tell him I'd come by his quarters."

"Perhaps he wanted to get something for you," Carth suggested. "In any case, I'm sure he'll be waiting for you in the landing bay."

Adaliah said no more, but she could not convince herself that nothing unusual was going on. She was sure that Atton was up to something, or was in some sort of trouble. He was usually dependable, and if he wasn't, then he was trying to be and something was holding him back. She tried to forget it as she fell into step with Carth and headed toward the landing bay beside him.

Just before they reached the landing bay, Bao-Dur rounded the corner opposite them, looking rather flustered. He halted immediately when he saw Carth and Adaliah heading for the landing bay door. "Oh, General!" He exclaimed, "I was looking for you! Say goodbye. Just in case... Well, since I didn't get to say goodbye last time."

"This won't be the last time I see you, Bao-Dur," Adaliah said, reaching out to touch his sleeve. "I promise, I'll be coming back. We'll look for Revan together. You and me and Jaq and everyone else. Just like old times."

"Sure, General," Bao-Dur's response was glum, but he tried not to give it away. He wanted to say something more, but he decided against it. Adaliah caught the gleam in his eye, but she didn't know what it meant. She had to admit that she really didn't know the Zabrak as well as she would have liked. Someday, she told herself, someday she would listen to all of his joys and heartaches, just like a Jedi Master-and a very good friend- would do.

Bao-Dur followed her into the landing bay, where a small group was gathered to see her off. She knew all of her own friends: Mandalore, Visas, Mical, Mira, her two mechanical counterparts, and- where was Atton Rand? She started to see that he was not in the group, especially since all of Revan's shipmates were there to see her off. This was not like Atton one bit.

She didn't have time to think about it, however, for there was a young woman in the crowd who was pushing her way over to greet Adaliah. She looked somehow familiar, as if Adaliah had seen her before, but Adaliah did not know her.

"Excuse me, but I wanted to introduce myself," the pretty lady said softly. "My name is Taliana. I was in the crowd that greeted you last night, but I wanted to stay back. I didn't want to interfere with your reunion with your friends. My brother seemed to know you very well. Funny, he didn't mention you before." Adaliah caught a certain twinkle in her eye, and started.

"Your brother?" She asked. "You have a brother?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Taliana smiled apologetically. "His name is Atton. Atton Rand. He found me in- well, it's a long story."

"Atton?" Adaliah was surprised, but then realized that she shouldn't have been. Taliana mirrored her brother in almost every way. Her long hair shone with a golden tint, and her chocolate eyes were warm and sensitive and humorous, just as her brother's eyes were. She had the same full, firm lips, and the same soft heart, Adaliah observed through the Force.

"I haven't seen your brother this morning, do you know where he is?" Adaliah asked hopefully. Her heart sank as the young woman's brow furrowed and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I don't know where he is. Mission woke me this morning and whisked me away to this landing bay to see you off, and I expected him to be here-" once again, Adaliah noticed the soft twinkle in Taliana's eyes "-but I haven't seen him. No one else seems to miss him much." She gave a light laugh.

"I was hoping to see him before I left. I don't exactly know when I'll be able to get back here," Adaliah confided. "But don't tell anyone I said that. I don't want them to worry."

"We're all worried," Taliana said. "For you, for Revan. Even for the galaxy."

"So am I," Taliana said, shaking her head a little, "so am I."

"Adaliah?" Mical tapped the Exile on the shoulder. Taliana gave a little nod and withdrew, perhaps sensing that the conversation had come to a close.

Adaliah turned to face the Disciple. "Yes, Mical?" She asked softly.

"I don't know what kind of things are out there, awaiting you. But I beg you to realize that you cannot fight this war on your own. And that's what it is, it's a war. I just want you to know that if you ever need friends, here we are. We beg you to use us," he said.

Adaliah couldn't help but be touched by the sweet, sincere words. She smiled at Mical and touched his cheek the way a sister touches her brother's, "Mical, you've changed so much in so little a time," she said. "You no longer ask so many questions, but instead you give answers. I can feel that the turmoil in you has settled. You're becoming new," Adaliah told him.

"I can feel it as well," Mical said. "I know I haven't always been the best student-"

"On the contrary, you have been-"

"Please, Adaliah," Mical shook his head. "I know that there is no such thing as a perfect pupil, and I do not claim to be anywhere near one. I know that my questions have kept you awake, burdened you. And my answers to your questions... they were not always better than my questions."

"Mical," Adaliah said, looking into his clear blue eyes, "you have been the best student I could have ever hoped for. I can feel that you will be a great Jedi someday, and people will look up to you, and seek your wisdom. You think more than any of us, and I think that's wonderful, for it has taught me to think also."

"But this isn't what I really wanted to say," Mical twisted his fingers together. "What I wanted to say was that I believe you to be the most honorable woman I have ever known, and the best teacher I could have wished for. Whether or not you return to us, I will follow all you teach and have already taught me. I hope- I pray- that you will come back to us."

"So do I, Mical," Adaliah said, putting her arm around him for a quick embrace. Mical warmly returned her gesture, holding her close to his chest for a moment, then gently releasing her and moving back into the crowd, mingling with the others who were awaiting the perfect moment to talk with their Exile.

Visas was the next to step forward and take Adaliah's hand. "Exile, I have never had a chance to tell you how grateful I am to you. You saved my life."

Adaliah's blue eyes blurred with tears. She was not the hero these people wanted her to be. She was amazed at how openly they were showing their love and loyalty. It made her want to sing, weep and dance all at once, but more importantly:

It made her just want to be herself.