A/N: Just a little bit of business to handle before the chapter begins. And that is thanking each and every one of you who have favorited by name. So, thank you AltonHammen, Bad Brad526, DarkStorm00, Finefrenzy15, KingBalonIX, Lydrin, Old Emerald Eye, Oni X-Wolf, OverseerBishop, Princess Raelis, RAD092515, Robofin117, ScreamingJello(awesome name, that.) , Shadowknight77, Slayerofslayers, Tumby, Umbra8191, a JUGGaMILK, aljash, astroga 121, grim reaper 15, jack89, mephistopheless, olcos, .33, reaper of souls 115, sgtranglin, spiff33, valkyrie9034, and zelene2004 for favoriting Beyond the Light and the Dark. Thank you very, very much for favoriting, and for those of you who also reviewed, an extra thank you for the review.
Anyways, that's the business I was talking about. On to the chapter.
-=0=-
Revan sat down at the table she'd, barely, managed to fit in her quarters. She glanced up at Bastila, who was standing in the door, looking confused. "What's wrong, Bas?"
"Why do you have a table in your room?"
"We're holding an all-Jedi Pazaak tournament. Come on in."
"I don't know how to play." Bastila said, "So I can't really join you."
"I'll teach you. It isn't that hard. And, I'll give you a few strategy tips. So you're up to a competitive level once Meetra and Baldy show up."
"Alright." Bastila said, sitting down across from Revan.
Revan pulled out a main deck, and said, "There is a single main deck which both players draw from. You draw a single card at the beginning of your turn. The main deck has four of each card numbered one to ten. They add to your total number. The goal is to get closer to twenty than your opponent without exceeding it. If you do you win the set, if they get closer to twenty than you they win it. If you both have the same number, or both exceeded twenty it's a tie. Understood so far?"
"Yeah. What are those two piles of cards for?" Bastila asked, pointing at two smaller piles of cards.
Revan said, "Those are the side decks. They're composed of ten cards which can range from one to six. There are plus cards which add to your current number, minus cards which subtract from it, and plus or minus which you get to choose which one it does. At the beginning of the game you draw four cards from it, and you don't draw any more."
"Okay. So, is there anything else I need to know about the cards?"
"Now that you know what the cards are, let's talking about turns and the playing area. There is a three by three grid where cards are placed, starting in the top left corner. Now, after you draw a card from the main deck, you have three options. You can stand, which is to stick with the number you currently are at, and not draw any other cards. If you stand first, the other play can keep drawing until they either reach a better number than you, or have filled all nine spaces. If you fill all nine spaces without exceeding twenty, you have to stand with your current number. To win a game you need to win three sets before the other player."
"What's a set?"
"It's a round of play. In each round play alternates between the players. One takes a turn then the other until both have stood. Or exceeded twenty. But, if your opponent has had to stick with greater than twenty, stand the instant you draw a card, unless you're sent over by that."
"Got it. What's the third option for a turn?"
"Just end it and pass play to the other player."
"Ok. I think I get it." Bastila said.
"We'll play a practice game or two to let you get a feel for the game."
"Alright." Bastila said, as Revan passed her a side deck.
"This one should be fine for you to use. It keeps the decisions you have to make relatively simple."
"Thanks." Bastila said. "Why'd you have a spare deck for me to use just lying around?"
"I figured you'd never have played, so I put it together."
"Good guess."
"Not really that hard, though. When we first met you were socially awkward, and didn't have anyone you talked to outside of training. Actually, speaking of which. I was thinking of taking you on as a student when we get back to Dantooine. What do you think of that?"
"Uhm, since we're friends would that really be okay?"
"I don't recall any rules saying that teachers can't also be friends of their students."
"True." Bastila said, "But, don't you have things you'd rather do? I thought you wouldn't be going back to Dantooine at all."
"Now why would I do that? I don't want to burn any bridges with the Jedi Council. After all, if I did that, my career as a Jedi would be pretty much over. I'd end up just roving the galaxy like Jolee. Until I end up disappearing like he did."
"I suppose so." Bastila said. "So, why take me as a Padawan? Aren't there are other Padawans that you'd rather help?"
Revan chuckled, and said, "Why would I want to train one of them and have to bother with getting to know them when there's already a Padawan who I already know, and is lacking a teacher?"
"Because you showed that Quatra had actually fallen. But seriously, how do you not even realize it when you fall?"
"It's happened before. You think that you're doing the right thing when you're being incredibly harsh. You just 'ignore' the pleasure you get from crushing other people."
"That sounds horrible."
"There's a reason that the Council speaks against the dangers of the dark side. It'll turn you into a bastard."
"I don't think that's how it works." Bastila said.
"Not like that, Bastila." Revan said, shaking her head. "Basically just means a terrible person. Would asshole work better?"
Bastila lightly slapped Revan's shoulder, and said, "Don't swear."
"Oh relax, Bas." Revan said, "You should know by now that I swear like a sailor."
"Why is that term even still in use? No one uses boats anymore."
"A few people still do." Revan said. "And it's just one of those things from ancient times that stick around because no one wants to spend time coming up with a replacement."
"I guess." Bastila replied. "What's taking Meetra so long to find Alek?"
"Don't know, don't care." Revan replied.
"Really, another lie, Rev?"
"Alright, alright. I have a theory, but I'd rather not have the image of it in my mind."
"What?"
"You know that Sergeant who helped us when we temporarily took command from Forsk?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I think Meetra may be trying to get into her pants."
"Figures. Does that woman have any sense of what is appropriate?"
"Yeah. It's just hers is very much skewed into accepting most lewd things."
-=0=-
Meetra groaned as Jade popped her head up from between her legs, and asked, "How'd you like that, Meetra?"
"Quite a bit, Selena." the Knight replied, "But I should probably get going before Revan starts to get suspicious."
"Oh come on, with how she wants to bang that Bastila chick, does she really have any right to talk?"
"She'll just be annoyed that instead of doing what she told me to, I found you. Though, to be fair I was looking for who she wanted me to find when I bumped into you."
"Don't have to defend yourself here, Meetra." Selena said, while she put her clothes back on. "Come back later tonight, okay?"
"Sure thing." Meetra said, kissing the woman quickly before putting her own clothes on.
-=0=-
As Bastila played drew a five to put herself at twenty, Revan nodded, and then said, "Seriously, what is taking Meetra so long? It's been nearly two hours. How hard can it be to find one person on this ship?"
Then, Meetra and Alek walked in, and said, "Sorry about the delay, Rev."
"What took you so long? Did you go and try to get into Jade's pants instead of looking for Baldy?"
"No, I want looking for him, encountered Jade while walking around, and succeeded at getting into her pants. She's really good. You should try out that tongue. She knows just the right places to put..."
"Meetra, stop it now before I cut out your jaw to make you shut up. No one wants to hear about your time spent sleeping with Jade."
"Actually," Alek started, but was interrupted by Revan saying,
"No, if you want to hear about it, you can ask Meetra when Bastila and I are not around. We really don't want to hear anything about it."
"Oh, want to have the first time be a surprise, Rev?" Meetra asked.
"Meetra, didn't you say that you would stop this?"
"I said I'd stop teasing you about Bastila. I never said anything regarding her. You're just jumping to conclusions."
"Whatever." Revan replied, "So, I figured it would start out with Meetra playing Bas, and I'll play Baldy."
"Sounds good to me." Meetra said, then as she walked past Revan, whispered, "Don't worry, Rev. I'll keep my hands off your girl."
Revan simply glared at her, while Alek sat down on the other side of the table. "So much for just coming out about Bastila to her to get her to shut up."
At this, Revan just slammed her head against the table, and said, "Really, Alek? Really? Why did you just say that?"
"Thought it would be funny."
"Is he telling the truth?" Bastila asked.
"He was joking, Bastila." Revan replied.
"Okay." she said.
Revan glared at Alek, and said, "You can tell those jokes to Meetra, but not around Bastila."
"Don't want the secret to get leaked, do you?"
"Did you not hear what I just said, Baldy? Do I need to tell the Council about the four other Padawan's who you're sleeping with?"
"How do you know about that?" he asked, looking creeped out.
"I didn't." Revan replied. "I just guessed a number, and put it out there."
He shook his head, and muttered, "Bitch."
He instantly regretted it as both Bastila and Meetra slapped him hard. Bastila said, "Don't swear, and be polite to Rev." while Meetra said,
"No one calls Rev a bitch."
"Alright, alright." He said, rubbing his head. "Do that too many times and you'll break my jaw."
"Do you have brittle bones?" Revan asked. "'Cause otherwise there's no way that either of them would break your jaw by slapping you."
"Thanks for the insight." he replied, as he drew an eight, and ended his turn.
"Any time." Revan replied, drawing a nine and passing the turn.
"Did you shuffle this main deck?" Alek asked as he drew a ten, and stood.
"Yeah, a couple of times." Revan replied, drawing a five, and then drew another one.
"I think we need to shuffle this a bit more."
"Yeah. That was a bit too organized." Revan agreed, glancing over at Meetra's and Bastila's game. The Padawan was at nineteen, while Meetra was at seven. When Bastila played a plus one, Revan nodded in approval, while Meetra let out a small groan. She drew a four, and then a two, and followed that up with a ten.
"Well played, Bastila." Meetra said, "You win this set. We'll see how the next one goes."
"Don't hold back, Meetra." Revan said, "She's a natural."
"Sure that isn't your skill leaking over the bond?" Meetra asked.
"That may have influenced her, we aren't really sure how much information leaking between it affects our minds." Revan replied, as Alek finished shuffling.
"You don't know? Shouldn't you have looked that up?" Meetra asked.
"You have to get a Master's permission to check the archives on Dantooine. And then they'll get you the datapads you requested. And since it might cause the Council to jump to conclusions similar to yours, Meetra. Then, if they found about the bond they would break it as soon as possible. Which, as you know, could have serious implications for both myself and Bastila. Such as one or both of us being turned into human vegetables. I don't really want that to happen. So, we're walking blind."
"I could send you copies from the temple on Coruscant, if you want."
"I don't think the Council would approve of that." Revan said, "You might get in some serious trouble for that."
"Wouldn't be the first time." Meetra said, laughing.
"Everyone knows that, Meetra." Revan replied. "But just because it's happened before, doesn't mean you should try and make it happen again."
"Just trying to help, Rev." she replied.
"It hasn't caused problems yet, so there's no need to worry about it."
"That's surprisingly apathetic of you, Rev."
"I don't want to risk drawing attention to it by researching bonds. Better to have everyone be unaware of the details than to tip off the Council."
"You're too paranoid, Rev." Bastila said.
"Would you rather I wasn't and the Council inadvertently destroys both of our minds?"
"Uhm, no." Bastila replied.
"Then don't complain." Revan said, as she played a card to drop down to twenty.
"Alright." The Padawan replied.
-=0=-
Kreia walked into her chambers, and was greeted by a pair of Jedi. The first said, "Master Kreia." while the second said,
"Far Seer."
"What is it you require?" The old woman asked.
"We would like to train under you."
She looked at them for a few moments, then said, "Neither of you possess the discipline I require from my students."
"What do you mean, Master?"
"You do not think for yourselves. But rather entirely in how the Council tells you to. So, I cannot teach you. Your minds are closed to all paths but the one the Council teaches."
"What other path would you have us follow?"
"The one you believe is right from your own thoughts." Kreia replied, "Now please leave my quarters."
"As you wish, Master." they both said, walking away.
-=0=-
Selena Jade walked into Dodonna's office, and said, "Sergeant Jade reporting, Ma'am."
"Good." the Admiral said, "When we reach Taris you are to accompany the Jedi. To keep a close eye on them, and to assess them. I need to know what they are capable of."
"Wasn't their performance in the Battle of Cathar enough to give an assessment, Ma'am?"
"That was a single incident. We need to see how they handle a wide variety of them."
"Understood, but why me, Ma'am? There are others who are better at assessing the abilities of soldiers."
"Because the Jedi appear to trust you."
"I don't know, Ma'am." Selena said, "I just seem to have the worst luck and keep bumping into them."
"Just keep an eye on them, Sergeant."
"Understood, Ma'am." she said.
"Good, you can leave now."
-=0=-
Revan said, "Well played, Baldy." as he played a plus six to win the set. "Not many put those in their side decks."
"I tend to go with weird decks." he replied.
"No shit." she replied, glancing at the other game. "You two already done?"
"Yeah," Meetra said, "I didn't get what I needed to win more than one set a game."
"That sucks." Revan said, "We're about done here, too." as she drew a plus nine to put herself at twenty.
"Yeah," Alek said, "Can't beat that."
"Alright, Alek and Bastila, Meetra and myself?" Revan asked.
"You didn't organize this very much, did you?" Alek asked.
"Spur of the moment thing." she replied. "Well, it would have been more spur of the moment if Meetra hadn't decided to get distracted."
"Right. So you couldn't have spent five of those minutes she was gone figuring out the order of the rounds?" Alek asked.
"That would ruin the spur of the moment feel of this."
"And Force forbid this feel somewhat organized." He replied.
"Quit being cheeky, boy, or I will send you down to the Undercity when we reach Taris."
"What's the Undercity?" he asked.
"Oh for fuck's sake, Baldy. You were sleeping through every last one of your classes, weren't you?"
"I wasn't! I swear!"
Bastila said, "He was probably just ogling Master Venitas."
"Who?" Revan and Meetra asked.
"Master who handles a lot of the classes on Dantooine." Bastila said. "I'm assuming that with Alek's... history that could be the explanation."
"Is Bastila right, Baldy?" Revan asked.
"No. I just forgot most of that stuff after leaving the room."
Revan shook her head, and said, "You're an idiot, Alek. You know that?"
"I still passed all my classes." he replied.
"Whatever." Revan muttered, "The Undercity is the actual surface of Taris. There's no light down there, and it's crawling with mutants called rakghouls that pass their disease onto people by the bite. There's no known cure. So, one bite and that's it for you. We'd have to put you down like an animal."
"Okay." Alek said, "I'll accept your chaotic pazaak setup over that."
"Good." Revan said, "Who's going to move?"
"I will." Meetra said, "Swap with me, Baldy."
"Alright, he replied, as they attempted to move, but there wasn't room.
"Maybe we should move this to an area with a bit more space." Bastila suggested.
"Nah." Meetra said, wiggling a bit to get under the table, "We can make this work."
"That doesn't look comfortable." Revan said.
"It isn't." Meetra said, as she popped up beside Alek. "Go back the way I came."
"Heh, I doubt you'd want me to." He said, snickering.
"What?" Bastila asked.
"You don't want to know." Revan said.
Meanwhile, Meetra said, "Feel free to try and find a time when she's available."
"I'm confused." Bastila said.
"That's because you're innocent." Revan said, "Unlike these two."
"Could you please just explain?" Bastila asked.
"You don't want to know, Bastila." Meetra said, squeezing the Padawan's cheek for a second before Revan kicked her in the shin, and said, "Remember what I said back on Coruscant?"
"If I lay a hand on your girl you'll rip my head off with your bare hands?"
"I didn't call her my girl." Revan said, "I said that if you try and corrupt the last innocent soul in the galaxy, I will make you regret it."
"Revan, I'm practically an adult." Bastila said.
"I am well aware of that, Bas." Revan replied, "But I see you as a little sister, and so if people said that shit in front of my little sister, they'd reget it."
"That's kinda gross with what you want to do to her, Rev." Meetra said.
"Didn't you promise to stop?"
"I'm sorry, Rev. It was too easy. And you know how little self control I have when there is a teasing opportunity shaking its ass right in front of my face."
"I do not want to know about anything shaking its ass in your face." Revan said, closing her eyes.
"Metaphor, Rev." Meetra said.
"Right. Now can we get back to the cards. They're less likely to make inappropriate jokes."
"Get me two eights, two zeroes, and a five and you'll think twice about that." Meetra said.
"Do you need t be put in the sensory deprivation chamber again, Meetra?"
"Wait, again?" Bastila asked.
"That was a joke." Alek explained.
"No it wasn't." Revan and Meetra said.
"Okay, I want to know this story." Alek said.
"Meetra was being extra irritating for a while. The Council decided that if she kept it up serious action would have to be taken." Revan began.
"Needless to say I did keep it up." Meetra added.
"So the Council put together a sensory deprivation chamber which not only made so she couldn't see anything, hear anything, or even sense anything through the Force. After half a day in there, she was much less of a hassle."
"In my defense, everyone said the sensory deprivation chamber was a myth. I wanted to see if there was any truth to it. Turns out there was."
"Yes. And, I know where that is, Meetra. So, do you really want to keep this up?" Revan asked.
"I'll try to hold my tongue when you give me really easy jokes." Meetra said.
"Good." Revan said.
"What was that came thing earlier?" Bastila asked.
Revan gave Meetra an evil grin, and said, "I'll explain it to you later, Bas."
Meetra groaned, and said, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Of course." Revan replied, "Consider it a test."
"Can I please, please say something about that." Meetra asked, her eyes pleading.
"No."
"But I can." Alek said, "Really..." but he was interrupted by Revan saying,
"Alek, don't. We're here to play pazaak. Not tell terrible, terrible jokes."
"Alright." he replied.
"What's going on?" Bastila asked.
Revan said over the bond, "I'll explain after we're done playing cards. And Alek and Meetra are gone. Though you'll probably wish I didn't tell you."
"I can handle it." Bastila replied.
-=0=-
A couple of hours later, Revan said, "Well played, Bas." as the Padawan tied another set.
Meetra and Alek, who had both lost their games, sighed with exasperation. Meetra said, "Come on! You should have had that set, Rev! You two have been tying sets with both of you needing a single win for an hour and a half."
"We're aware of that." Bastila said, "We're getting really equal draws."
"Maybe someone else should try shuffling." Meetra suggested.
"We've all tried shuffling, Meetra." Alek pointed out, "Who else could we have shuffle? Admiral Dodonna?"
Revan said, "Forty card pickup to get things randomized to the point where it won't be a draw?"
"Revan, have you been drinking anything alcoholic?"
"All we got to drink was some water." Revan replied, "And some cheese crackers for snacks. Unless those got spiked, there's no alcohol in here. I'm just tired of playing the same last set over and over again."
Someone then knocked on the door. Revan said, "It's open!"
Selena Jade walked in, and said, "I was told to let you know we're going to reach Taris in about three hours."
"Thanks for the info. Do you know how to shuffle pazaak cards?" Revan asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Bastila and I have been tied with two sets each for the last hour and a half. Everyone else in here has tried shuffling, but no luck. We're really running out of options."
"We really are." Meetra said. "This game has lasted so fucking long."
"Meetra..." Bastila said, her voice trailing off.
"Oh grow the fuck up, Shan." Meetra said, "I'll swear as much as I fucking want. And if you have a problem with it, you can go fuck yourself."
"Meetra," Revan said, glaring at her, "don't be a bitch."
"The kid has a problem with swearing, she needs to learn to deal with it." Meetra said.
"I agree. But, you can be a bit more civilized about it." Revan said.
"Actually, Revan could you imprint an acceptance of it through the bond?"
"Really?" Revan asked, "Just bring it up right in front of someone who isn't aware of it? You are aware that it's supposed to be a secret?"
"Sorry." Meetra said, "Anyways, Selena. Please shuffle the cards. Before the four Jedi still around lose their minds."
"What was that about a bond?" Selena asked.
"Don't worry about it." Revan said, glaring at Meetra. "It doesn't concern you."
"Why are you trying to keep it a secret so hard? Is it some kind of Jedi sex-thing?"
"No!" Revan said, blushing a bright red as an image of herself and Bastila flashed through her mind for a moment. "It's a mental bond that sometimes forms between Jedi when they are close."
"Isn't Shan a minor?" Selena asked.
"It doesn't have to be like that to form a bond!" Revan said, shaking her head.
"Okay. So, why is it so important to hide it?"
"Because the Council removes any bonds formed between Jedi who are not student and teacher as they believe it could be a sign of dangerous emotions brewing between them. But, the simple truth is it can form between people who are just friends, and will never be more."
"Alright." Selena said, "Hand me the main deck and I'll shuffle it for you."
Revan glanced at Bastila, sensing something was bothering her. "Something wrong, Bas?" she asked.
"No, Rev. Just thinking about something."
"Okay." Revan said, thinking, 'I wonder why she's acting like this? Ever since the Battle of Cathar she's been distant. She didn't realize how I feel, did she?'
"Hellooo." Meetra said, waving a hand in front of Revan's face, "Galaxy to Revan. Are you there, Revan?"
"Yeah." she said, "Just planning what to do when we land on Taris."
"What were you thinking of?" Selena asked.
"I've heard some talk of slavery on the surface. If that's true, some people are going to get their asses cut off."
"Ouch." Meetra said.
"Are you really surprised Rev would do that, Meetra?" Bastila asked.
"Not really."
Selena said, "It's done. Let's see if the cycle will break this time."
"I doubt it." Revan said, as she drew her first card with resignation.
"You seem really bored, Revan." Selena said.
"An hour and a half of just drawing cards and tying. There was ONE time that I would have one because Bas went over, but we were having a lot of fun, so for the laughs I kept going until I went over. That was seventy-five minutes ago."
"I don't think any of us are going to ever forgive you for that." Alek said. "Though why do Meetra and I have to stay?"
"Because I say so, Baldy." Revan replied. "And if Bastila and I are going to be trapped in this for hours, we're going to let you two join in the fun of waiting for someone to win."
"You should just call it a draw." Selena said.
"No." Bastila said, "That will just leave things unclear."
"Well, it always ends in a draw. So clearly something has to be done." Meetra said.
"Why don't you both draw a card from your side deck, and then if the card doesn't enable one of you to win, you draw another. Until you run out of cards."
"No." Alek said, "That's changing how the game works."
"So, you'll just spend all your time playing the same game of pazaak? You could set up a random number generator and it would be doing the exact same thing you are." Selena said.
"We know." Revan said. "I'm half tempted to just bring HK-44 online and have it handle that for us, while we do something else."
"Wait, you make hunter-killer droids?" Selena asked.
"They aren't actual assassins." Revan replied, "They're more like bodyguards or battle droids."
"Then why give them an HK designation?"
"It sounded better than the other options."
"So, you call them hunter killers, because it sounds nice? That's the strangest reason I've ever heard."
"Well, that and because it helps me keep count of how many I've made. When I started making them I was planning on having a unit of assassin droids to take out any mandalorian targets I felt like. But, that was a long time ago. I've almost got one droid that fits my needs. But 44 values life, and won't kill anything. 45 I had to destroy when it tried to shrink my head."
"What?" Bastila asked, looking concerned.
"Remember when you sensed me waking up freaked out a month after the fight with Nicole? That was why."
"Why?"
"It didn't like how I refused to let it use mines as a power supply."
"So worse than the one which spent its time trying to figure out how to create the perfect pie?" Meetra asked.
"Yeah, but 46 was the worst." Revan said. "I swear that thing was trying to have sex with me."
"What kind of programming glitch did it have?" Selena asked.
"I honestly don't know." Revan said, "I examined every last line of its code, and nothing was wrong. I think it may have been a hardware issue."
"So, are you working on an HK-47?" Selena asked.
"I've started looking into what parts I will be using for it, as the ones I've been using don't fit what I want them to do."
"What's wrong with them?" Bastila asked.
"Too slow, too loud, too imprecise." Revan said, "Too easily hacked. I'll need stuff with fail-safe's on the memory core so that if I send it with a team and it gets captured they won't be able to access it and get data off it."
"You're cautious, I'll give you that, Revan." Selena said, "But why would you send it with others?"
"The situation could make it the most tactically sound course of action. Or, I could have a friend in that unit who I would want to know is safe. When 47 is done, it will be as skilled as an elite Republic commando."
"You've got high expectations for this droid." Selena said, "I know that Commander Veras would say that no droid can equal a human."
"Well, old Bill would also say that no Jedi has the guts to take out a mandalorian camp."
"Didn't you just do that because you were pissed that one of them almost hurt Shan?"
"No!" Revan said, blushing and shaking her head and hands rapidly. "It was because I was made aware of the cathar children in the camp. And, I know from personal experience what the mandalorians do to children who they take prisoner. It leads to slavery on Nar Shaddaa. Which is about the worst experience anyone could ever have. So, I did it because I was pissed about the idea of other children having to deal with what I was put through before I shot the bastard who 'owned' me through the head four times and I was shipped off to the Order by the man who saved me from there. So, that's what pissed me off, Sergeant Jade. And, if you continue your insinuations, I will do the same to you. I still have the blaster I shot that sonofabitch with."
"That's a bit creepy." Selena replied.
"So are you insinuations that I am a pedophile!" Revan said, the temperature in the room rising with her temperature.
"Rev," Bastila said, "relax. Remember what you said about not being controlled by your emotions."
Revan ignored her, and said, "You seem to forget, Sergeant, that if it were not for my actions you would be dead. So, perhaps you should understand that while I may not have an official rank in the Republic Navy I am essentially your superior officer. So, when I give you an order that I expect you to follow it. Are we clear, soldier?"
Selena stiffened her back, and said, "Knight Revan. I do not see a superior officer when I look at you. I see a little girl who hasn't gotten over losing her mommy and daddy to the mandalorians. So, she defies her Master's orders involving a conflict with them, and uses every excuse she can find to fight them. Then, when she is so painfully obvious about being attracted to someone that if there were a Dark Lord of the Sith they'd give her a hard time about it, she reacts violently. You say that you'd be a pedophile if you acted on how you feel towards Shan, but in terms of mental maturation she would be the one acting in a pedophilic manner. You're just a whiny teenager who expects people to respect people because you managed to kill a few mandalorians and win a single battle. You are nothing more than a bitch, Tremaine. You demand respect, but you are the kind of leader who would throw away an entire army just to get your own revenge." Selena said.
"You just crossed a fucking line, Jade." Revan said, as the Sergeant rose into the air grasping at her throat.
"Revan!" Bastila said, reaching for the Knight, but her hands hit a barrier a couple of inches from the Knight.
"I do not act out of hatred for the mandalorians. If it were any other enemy I would behave exactly the same. I do what is necessary, and I will burn the names of every last man and woman who I sent to their deaths during the battle. And, I will never forget their names." Revan said, releasing the Sergeant from her Force Choke, and tossed her a datapad.
Jade looked at them, and said, "What's this?"
"It has the manifests of every ship that was lost during the battle. I've committed every name to memory. Until the day I die I will go over every last one of those names before I go to sleep. I do not sacrifice the lives of people who I have been placed under my command lightly, Jade."
"Still doesn't change the fact that you're mentally and emotionally five." Jade said, lightly rubbing her throat, "And you act like a bitch who can't handle being teased about something which is so obvious that people from alternate realities probably know about it."
Revan thought, 'Oh please don't have her know about Shepard saying the same thing in that weird dream the other day. Please don't let her know.' while she slammed Jade into a wall with the Force, and said, "What do you want, Jade? Me to say that I'm in love with Bastila and that if anyone harmed her or tried to even do something as small kiss her I would rip their heads off with my bare hands, and then perform ancient Sith rituals to make sure that their spirits are existing in eternal torment worse than having every last pain receptor in the body being lit up like a star going supernova? And if they went beyond kissing I would not only kill them and do the rituals, but also put them through psychological torture before finishing them? Why don't you people get that I don't have feelings for Bastila beyond friendship. She's just a friend, and she'll never be anything more to me. Because guess what, in some ways I am emotionally crippled. I can't feel love. The most positive feeling I can have for anyone is mild fondness or respect. Because, when I was kidnapped as a child and sold as a slave on a world where female slaves are considered lucky if they aren't raped before they're fifteen. You may say that I'm just an angry teen, but you're wrong. I am a Grey Jedi who will go to any steps necessary to ensure that no one will endure what I did."
Jade choked out, "Can't-can't breathe."
Meanwhile, Bastila was screaming, "REVAN!"
Meetra, on the other hand, had drawn her blade, and swung it towards her best friend. It hit the shield, and bounced off. Meetra said, "Revan, I swear to the Force, if you don't get a fucking grip, I will put you down as if you're the animal you're acting like! LET SELENA BREATHE!"
Revan looked at Meetra, and said, "You would side with Jade over me? I thought you were my friend, like the sister who was slain by the mandalorians when she was still in my mother's womb."
"I am, but you have completely lost your shit, Rev." Meetra said.
Meanwhile, Bastila tried to place a hand on Revan's shoulder and sooth her through the bond, but the Force shield blocked her touch, and a wall of pure rage blocked her attempt to reach Revan through the bond.
"I have lost my shit, Meetra?" Revan asked coldly, "You're the one who has lost your reason to your rampaging lust. You did not interrupt Jade when she was flinging accusations at me that were false. Why? Because you were afraid that it would hurt your chances of having sex with her later. You practically raped Bastila on the streets of Coruscant just because you were worried that I would end up with her instead of you even though I told you that I would never be with anyone. Because, guess what, even if I had such desires, I have always known that my life will end when the mandalorians have been defeated, and are no longer a threat. I have always known that the way it would happen would be because I make the ultimate sacrifice."
Meetra said, "If you don't feel anything for Bastila, why are you completely ignoring her, and blocking her out?"
"Because I see the only way to end this is to completely cut her off. Because if I do not, the assumptions of others will get in the way of my work."
"Then why did you say what you did before the mandalorian camp? About going in because when you sensed Bastila getting wounded through the bond you were terrified of losing her? That you were going in to make sure that she would be safe?"
"I lied." Revan coldly said, the look in her eyes as hard as durasteel. "I just see her as a tool to ensure that victory and my end will come sooner."
-=0=-
As Revan's words came out of her mouth, tears formed in Bastila's eyes, and she walked around so that the Knight could see her. Revan attempted to turn her head so she could not see the younger woman, but Bastila again moved so that Revan could see her. The hurt in the Padawan's eyes hit Revan. And Bastila said, "Do you really mean that, Revan? Am I really just a tool to be used, so that you can get yourself killed sooner?"
-=0=-
Revan looked at Bastila, and seeing the hurt in the Padawan's eyes hit her hard. The pain, the tears she was fighting back. Revan felt an urge to let the barrier drop, and to wrap her arms around the Padawan and confess that it was all a lie because she couldn't take being in love with her, and knowing that she couldn't have her. The stress of everyone telling her that she was obvious, despite her attempts to hide it so that she didn't affect the Padawan breaking her.
Then, the knight looked at Meetra, desperately pulling Selena out of the room, and trying to break the thread of the Force Revan was choking the Sergeant. She glanced at Alek, and saw him just standing there, his eyes open wide, and his jaw hanging slightly open. Terror at the furious woman in front of him. Then, her eyes returned to Bastila, and the tears now running down her cheeks practically broke the Knight's heart, and her resolve. But she thought 'No, I have to be strong. I have to weaken the bond, so that it won't hurt us when the Council severs it. I have to set her free from me, so that I don't corrupt her through my desire.'
-=0=-
Meetra sprinted through the halls, feeling the distance weaken Revan's assault. Then, it suddenly broke. She checked Selena for a pulse, and found the Sergeant was breathing again. When Selena opened her eyes again, she said, "Remind me not to piss Revan off again."
"Don't worry," Meetra said, looking back. "I don't think she's going to be a problem for long."
"What do you mean, Meet?" Selena asked.
Meetra looked back, and said, "I think she's going to kill herself."
"What, why?"
"Because, she's afraid that this is a sign that she is falling to the dark side." Meetra said. "If I know Rev, she'd sooner take her own life than let that happen. And, if she doesn't you have to stop giving her a hard time about Bastila. She has it hard enough loving her but knowing that she can't act on it."
"Alright, I'll keep my fat mouth shut." Selena said.
"Good." Meetra said.
-=0=-
Revan looked at Bastila one last time, before turning to leave, thinking, 'If I stay here, I won't be able to do what I have to.' and walked out of the room. Bastila moved to follow, but the door locked itself, and the panel exploded. Revan walked away, thinking 'What's happened to me? I show Quatra's fallen to the dark side, and then I act like her. Nearly killing someone over them pointing out what I know is obvious. I've fallen. And not for Bastila. If I stay here, I'll make Bastila fall too. Hell, even if I put distance between her, it might not be enough. The only way to be sure to keep her safe is to, to end it all. I need to get to an airlock.'
-=0=-
Bastila walked up to the door, and said, "Rev, please don't go! Please, talk to me. Please..." her voice trailing off as tears began to flow even faster.
Alek said, "You'll have to accept that she doesn't want to be your friend, Bastila."
"She was lying!" Bastila shouted at Alek, "I know she was! She couldn't have meant it! Because if, if it had been the truth I wouldn't have..." her voice trailing off.
Alek placed a hand on Bastila's shoulder, and said, "Revan is a master of deception. She must have fallen years ago. Probably learned under Venerus himself. Even Kreia in her examination of her didn't notice anything that would give her away."
Bastila slapped Alek, and said, "Revan isn't working for Venerus! She wouldn't! Maybe if you people didn't constantly hassle her like that she wouldn't have melted down!"
"So it's our fault that your not-girlfriend went full Sith just five minutes ago! Didn't you listen to her? She just saw you as a tool! All of us are just tools to her!"
"Then why the manifests of the ships that fell? Why risk her own life on Dantooine to save us from the terentatek, why do so much to protect Urz? Why would she have done what she did if she's always been a Dark Jedi?"
"To make us trust her. It probably made her feel sick to her stomach acting so 'weak'."
"She wouldn't." Bastila muttered, "You clearly don't know Rev."
"She's made over forty assassin droids? What Jedi does that?"
"Alek," Bastila growled, "shut the fuck up. Just hand me your lightsaber. I have to get to Rev."
"Are you stupid, she's a Sith!"
"No, Alek. I know Revan, and she is no such thing! And besides, the only way we'll get out of here is by cutting the door open, since Revan fried the circuits that control the door."
He sighed, and said, "Alright, I figured we'd just wait for maintenance."
"That could be days."
-=0=-
Revan stepped up to the door of the airlock, and pulled out her datapad. She silently began typing on it the following message. "Bastila, I'm so sorry. I was so cruel to you before. I said you meant nothing to me because I thought that the only way to make so that the bond between us could be weakened to a point where it would be safe to remove would be to completely separate us for months. But, the truth is I'm just as bad as Quatra. I've fallen to the dark side, and not even noticed it. So, I'm going to protect you from the darkness in me the only way I can be sure will leave you pure.
"I know that this is the worst way to say this. Probably the worst way anyone could handle it. But, I suppose that I don't have any time to do it otherwise. I love you, Bastila. When I said you mean nothing to me, I lied. You mean everything to me. If someone ever hurt you, I would have done exactly what I said in that room when I responded to Jade. But, since I'm the one who's hurt you, I can't do the ritual to make so that my spirit experiences unequaled torment for all eternity. But I can't. Baby, please know that I am so sorry about what I said. Goodbye, my love. I wish that I had more time with you. And, I know it may be a small comfort
Revan placed down the datapad, and took her weapons and placed them beside it. She then took the blue layer of her robes and placed them down beside it. She then turned to the first door of the airlock, and stepped towards it.
-=0=-
A/N: Mwahahahaha! Cliffhanger! So, how is our heroine going to get out of this predicament? What will talk her out of taking her own life and leaving her friends miserable? We'll never know. I'm retiring from fanfiction effective immediately. This was a last chapter. Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted, because you're stuck with this cliffhanger that leaves you with absolutely no closure.
Nah! I'm just messing with you guys! (hope I had a few of you scared!) But, that is what the ending of Mass Effect 3 feels like to me, the writers and development team all retiring without providing closure, so I was giving you a very short example of that if you didn't feel the same.
Anyways, the next chapter will come out some time in the future. I'm not sure if it will be soon, because Titanfall is coming out on the 11th and I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford it yet, so you may get more content sooner rather than later.
Again, to all who have favorited, thank you. To all who have reviewed, thank you. To all who have followed, thank you. Please leave reviews, because they really do make my day, and inspire me to get more chapters out in a shorter period of time. I read every last review I get for all of my stories, and will thank all reviewers personally. To any people who don't have an account and are reading, unless your review is trolling, it will be let through. That is the only way I moderate my reviews. So please, review. And, to those with accounts who haven't favorited, please do so. I am planning on doing another thanking by pen name of the favoriters around chapter 30. Until next time, thanks for reading.