A/N: I've taken some liberties with Yavin 4, and probably taken some liberties with the way the Force works, too. I plead poetic license.
Reviewer Thanks: Special thanks go out to all my reviewers! Myxale, you do me honor with your praise. Gollo and Nima – Carth's tattoo will get attention in due time. eg Aroseb, a review that makes me feel that good will never be useless. g Bjrn Fallqvist, Shadow Chaser, WysdomsGirl, and Akasha15, a thousand thanks. Nat2, it's a testament to the characters and the great job that Bioware and Lucasarts did with the game that keeps me so productive.
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Bastila
So Revan declared to the Council that she was keeping me. And they let her get away with it. Once again, I must marvel at the way she blazes her path through the galaxy. Only Revan. Our relationship has always been strained, but I never thought she hated me. Hatred leads to the dark side.
To keep me from safe haven with the Council is a cruel thing. And yet she reached for my hand, as if we are sisters. I took her hand in spite of myself, fear making me reach out for whatever I can grasp to keep me from floundering, rudderless.
We hadn't made it out of the council chambers before an apprentice rushed in, nearly knocking Jolee off his feet. "Masters," the young man shouted. "The garrison! The Sith. There's been a breach! The prisoners are gone!"
The Sith? Cold dread filled me. Beside me, Revan dropped my hand and reached for her lightsaber. "Where," she said, her voice deadly flat.
The young man stuttered. "The Republic was holding two Sith prisoners. They escaped somehow."
"Two prisoners?" Revan relaxed. "You make it sound as if we're being invaded."
Master Vandar conversed with the young man. After a low-voiced conversation, he nodded to Master Vrook, who smiled toothily at Revan. "It appears that you've won Bastila from us, but not without a price."
Master Vandar threw Master Vrook a look. "Right, Master Vrook is. Evil there is, here. A test of your abilities this will be."
Revan's stance became offensive. "Haven't you tested me enough? I've about had it with jumping through the Council's hoops already."
"A test this will be, of your abilities to mentor," Master Vandar said. "Prove yourself right, you will, if prospers your Padawan Bastila in the face of the darkness here."
Revan's frown cleared and she relaxed. "You're a canny little gremlin," she said, clipping her lightsaber back on her belt.
"Without being so, a Jedi Master, one does not become." Vandar's mouth curved upwards in a small smile.
I failed to appreciate the humor in the situation. "I am not ready," I whispered to no one in particular.
"Fine, we'll do your clean-up job," Revan said. "I think we can handle a few renegade Sith."
"Underestimate them not," Master Vandar cautioned.
"Oh, I won't, Master," Revan said. "If that's all?"
Master Vrook spoke. The hollow tone of his voice sent a disturbed chill through me. "The Dark Side braids itself in knots through past and present. It will call the darkness that we all battle. Be wary of its pull."
"That sounded like a prophecy," Revan said.
Master Vrook blinked rapidly, speechless, while Master Vandar nodded. "Through Master Vrook, the Force itself speaks."
"Fine." Revan nodded and bowed to them. She turned to us. "Let's get this done."
I bowed to the Council, and followed her out of the Council's chambers. I stayed my tongue until we exited the Jedi Enclave, then turned on Revan. "Why did you not let me return to the Council?"
She smiled faintly. "Once you begged to be my apprentice. Do you remember?"
How could I forget my shame? She didn't wait for my answer. "You trusted me to destroy your humanity." Her smile turned bitter. "Now I'm asking you to trust me to help you get it back." She led us down the humid walkway. "We need to round up the troops and get on our way."
I have always believed I understood why the Sith followed Revan--her aura of power pulled them in with an almost gravitic force. The power was intoxicating. Even to myself, as a Jedi sent to strike her down. Now I saw what had inspired the Republic fleet and young Jedi to follow her to fight the Mandalorians. The plainspoken, almost prophetic wisdom that inspired her words appealed to the most intellectual of strategists, and the simplest of ground troops.
Blaster fire erupted from the cantina at the far end of the settlement. Revan smiled. "That'll be our boys," she said, breaking into a run.
She never waited for my answer or acknowledgment, simply assumed I would trust her when she asked it. And I found myself trotting after her, next to Juhani. Even Jolee kept pace with her, moaning all the time about his aching joints.
The cantina was a disaster area, tables upended, blaster fire marks on the walls, and the bartender cowering behind the bar. A Trandoshan held court, surrounded by wary bodyguards. Our friends were nowhere in sight.
It is a sign of my mental state that I was most concerned about Canderous.
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