Chapter 28
Revan
The Jedi outpaced Carth, Zaalbar and Canderous with unnatural speed. Dustil had a clear lead even ahead of herself. Their feet scarcely touched the ground. Urgently the four hurried in the direction of the port. At this late hour their was little in the way of crowds to hamper them. When the doors to the Gargon docking facility came into view Revan could feel Dustil's intentions.
No weapons.
Dustil's thoughts protested, his calloused hands reaching for his lightsaber anyways. Sternly Revan repeated the telepathic thought to him. Reluctantly his hand dropped.
The doors rolled aside and the Jedi spilled inside. As Revan expected following a week of prowling the hall after business hours, the place was deserted. If Motta had arranged something there would be no witnesses around for it.
They proceeded to their right where the Raptor waited in her slip. As though they were nothing more than shadows the group of Jedi moved soundlessly down the corridor.
Mission Vao had taken refuge behind a stack of crates belonging to another ship. It concealed her position but allowed for a good view of doors to the Raptor's stall. Doors Revan now noticed standing wide open.
"Psst!" Mission hissed catching sight of them. Dustil reached her first.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly. His hand hovered just over her shoulder, concerned but hesitating.
"Yeah. Totally fine, but there's someone in the ship! I saw the doors were opened and took a quick peek to make sure."
"How many Mission?" Bastila asked. The young Twi'lek shrugged her expression apologetic.
Carth and the others were finally catching up. The admiral put a hand on the small of Revan's back and looked meaningfully at the open doors. He was winded but the question was easy to read in his face. Revan could sense someone aboard the vessel and she nodded to indicate this to him. The presence felt odd though, there was no malice to them. Only anxiety.
"Something Motta cooked up?" Canderous asked. It appeared he had had an easier time with the run to the port.
"I doubt Motta would rely on one person to challenge us," Revan disagreed. They could sit out here all night waiting for the other person to emerge. But she wasn't that patient. "I'll go ahead, just make sure the rest of you are ready."
"Not alone you won't," Carth snorted. He had unholstered his blaster.
"Why not?"
"Because its reckless, because I outrank you, because you just finished a fight to the death, because you look tired, take your pick Revan. But you aren't going in there alone!"
"Um. Pardon?" Revan blinked, a little shocked as her mind replayed what he'd just said.
"You heard me." Carth gave her a stubborn look, his mouth set in a stern frown.
"You do not outrank me," Revan told him bluntly.
"I guess you forgot that celebration dinner for my promotion? Don't tell me you forgot what happened after dinner?" Carth asked, his look very pointed. For her part Revan blushed at the suggestion of intimate details aired before their friends. But she wasn't going to give up.
"I made general in the Mandalorian Wars. On seniority alone I outrank you."
"That was mostly an honorary title!"
"Children!" Bastila hissed. Her brown eyes flashed at Revan and Carth. They each had the grace to look ashamed over the reprimand. "Perhaps you can finish this in private after we get off this planet?"
"I'll go," Dustil quickly volunteered.
"Yes, okay. Good. Lets go," Revan said, embarrassed their friends had seen the argument. It's ridiculous anyways. Of course I outrank you Carth.
They dashed across the hall, and carried on through the door. Revan caught her first glimpse of the ship. The loading ramp was open, light spilling the from Raptor onto the floor. If this was a trap it was ploy of an amateur. At her side Dustil went reflexively for his belt where his lightsaber hung.
Revan and Dustil stopped at the top of the ramp, startled by the sound of singing. It wasn't Basic and while the words didn't make much sense to her Padawan, Revan understood it perfectly. Rodese. Rambling, a little off key, and the words weren't all there, but whoever waited inside was singing an old melody about hunting ghests.
Curiously Revan continued into the ship, cautious but no longer expecting combat. They followed the song down the corridor to the main hold. Sat at the table, his long fingered hand curled around a bottle of beer, Pulla Vaga broke off his song. He made a happy noise and raised the drink in Revan's direction.
"Pulla Vaga not expect see you again! Very happy lady Jedi alive!"
Carth Onasi
The Rodian bartender had escaped Motta's to implore them to take him away. He'd also brought along a case of beer and a couple bottles of high end whiskey to pay for his passage. Carth hoped Revan wasn't going to turn down the alcohol the way she usually refused rewards.
While Vaga had waited for their arrival he'd apparently helped himself to a couple beers. For a bartender he was a lightweight. The second beer wasn't even half finished and Vaga was stumbling on his feet. It would almost be funny Carth thought, but he was too stressed and tired for humor.
"Are you sure about this?" Revan asked switching over to Basic again.
Strained by the alcohol Vaga's broken Basic forced the Jedi to address him in Rodese. Vaga had been excited by her ability to converse in his native tongue. Carth wasn't sure what they talked about. The Rodian must have flirted though if Revan's scarlet flush was any indication.
"Vaga certain. Vaga done working for Sibba Motta. He took Vaga's son, Vaga give him no more," the Rodian sighed hanging his head.
She rose, leaving Dustil and Mission to sit with him. Wearing only the ripped bodyglove and his bloody handprint dried to her cheek Revan looked like the image of some primitive goddess, wild and beautiful. Beckoning to Carth and the others she withdrew to the corridor leading to the flight deck. They followed, gathering closely to discuss the matter in hushed tones.
"This could be a trick," Carth said. "The Hutt may have put him up to this."
"He's indebted to Motta though, leaving will probably put a bounty on his head," Canderous pointed out.
"Seems petty if you ask me. Would the Hutt really waste the credits on some bartender whose son owed the debt to start with?" Carth asked.
"Petty is a good word to describe that slime," Revan said her lip curling in disgust.
"Motta was angry about the shields on those droids," Jolee added. "If he finds out Vaga had anything to do with it, he'll probably order his thugs to rip the little guys arms off. Or worse."
"We don't have a choice," Revan said. "I'll check in with the representative for the Exchange on Wayland to see if Motta puts any bounties on him."
"And if he does?" Bastila asked.
"I'll convince them to remove the bounty. I can be persuasive when I want to be," Revan shrugged offering a weary smile.
"I don't think anyone would argue that," Jolee chuckled briefly then turned serious. "There's no guile in the Rodian, a deep sadness perhaps even hate towards Motta. He's not trying to deceive us though."
With the decision made Carth ventured ahead to the cockpit. He was accompanied by Jolee, and the old man took a seat in the navigators chair. Eager to depart Gargon the pair went through the takeoff procedures. As the Raptor lifted into the air Carth was still expecting some final trick to keep them pinned down. But the vast stretch of the galaxy awaited them. It appeared Motta really had taken all he'd wanted from them.
"I got the feeling you have some questions," Jolee said as the ship broke through the planets atmosphere. Carth gave him a sour look. He didn't mind Revan anticipating his thoughts, but it was something else when the others did it.
Jolee was right though. Carth needed to speak with the man. Turning to ensure they had privacy Carth watched the empty corridor for a moment. Laughter drifted from the main hold.
"You said you were married once, to another Jedi?" Carth asked, satisfied they would be left alone for now.
"I was. Nayama, beautiful woman," Jolee said with fondness. "But you don't want to talk about my Nayama do you?"
"Not exactly," Carth admitted.
Revan
The others were helping themselves to the Hutt's liberated beer and joining their guest for a drink. Revan leaned against the bulkhead for a moment, watching, enjoying their laughter and smiles. Pulla Vaga was attempting to lead a song. It didn't take long for a pazaak game to break out. As Mission dealt the cards to Dustil a sadness struck her.
Why can't these be the moments I see in my dreams?
Aware someone was watching her Revan straightened and her eyes met her Padawan's. The intensity of his focus made her uncomfortable. She pushed back her unhappy thoughts and tried to smile. Raising a beer to his lips Dustil took a swallow of beer, his gaze narrowed thoughtfully.
Shaking her head Revan turned and went for the refresher. Her body was begging for sleep but she felt a desperate need to wash away the events of the night.
The torn and bloodied underclothing crumbled to the floor. Its fate lay in the ships incinerators. Standing nude before the mirror Revan critically inspected her reflection. After hand to hand combat any normal person would have been a patchwork of bruises and lacerations. Testing her shoulder Revan rolled and flexed the joint. It had been fractured in the fight, but healed with Bastila's command of the Force.
Curiously Revan's fingers dropped to her lower abdomen. Where the terentatek had gouged her the skin was smooth and flawless. There was nothing save for the dried blood to indicate she'd ever been injured. She wiped then at the red handprint on her cheek, the blood coming off in flakes. Tremors shook her hands.
With the drugs from the stim shot leaving her system Revan tried to prepare for their after effects. As Canderous predicted they were going to be a little stronger then usual. Standing in the sonic shower Revan felt muscles twitching involuntarily. There was no choice but to bear it so she gritted her teeth and recited the Code.
The shower was a balm to her troubled mind. She emerged, still exhausted, but feeling better regardless. Dressing herself in a simple sleeveless jerkin of soft linen and a pair of pants she scooped up the bodyglove and headed for the incinerator with it. There was still the heady sound of laughter and a chorus of familiar voices from the main hold. She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind one ear, the rest still pinned into place. A beer, maybe a hand of cards and Revan would allow herself to succumb to sleep. For now, she needed the company of her friends.
Carth Onasi
Shortly after takeoff Carth let the Raptor's autopilot take over. Neither he or Jolee immediately joined the small celebratory party underway in the main hold. The men talked quietly in the cockpit.
It was surprising to discover that while forbidden there were Jedi who defied the Order to marry. Many of the things Carth believed about the Jedi in his youth had been dispelled as he aged. Jolee cautioned there was no way to know if the Council would overlook the defying member or banish them from the Order. Most of Jedi who married did so in secret.
"Did you do that? Marry Nayama in secret?"
"Oh no, wasn't my style. I loved her and wanted everyone to know it. Besides I had a history of defying the Council, hard habit to break that one," Jolee sighed. "You ever talk about any of this with her?"
"No, it just - never came up," Carth shrugged.
Suddenly he struggled to think why it hadn't. They'd been happy and that had been enough. Now Carth had Revan back he wanted more.
"Perhaps you should. You're adults after all, well most of the time. If an admiral and a general can't have a mature conversation what hope have the rest of us regular folk got?" Jolee suggested with a grin.
Carth was quiet but he nodded. The old man rose and went towards the main hold muttering about the need for a beer. For a while Carth lingered with his troubled thoughts. There was nothing at risk for Carth if they married, but Revan might be expelled from the Order. Would she be willing to risk losing that for marriage?
It was pointless he decided to dwell on it by himself. Carth rose and ventured towards the hold. Pulla Vaga had gone to sleep with his head on the table and his hand wrapped about an empty bottle. The others had been helping themselves to the Rodian's beer. Carth grabbed one for himself and watched Canderous and Bastila at a hand of pazaak.
"Kandosii*!" Canderous bellowed and laughing raked the pile of credits from the center of the table.
"What? Not possible!" Bastilla protested. She rechecked the cards the grinning Mandalorian had played. Unable to find fault with the hand Bastila huffed.
"Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade!*" Revan said coming into the hold. Canderous grunted in approval raising his beer to the woman while counting his newly won credits.
"Hope there's some left," Revan said pointing to the drink in Carth's hand. She gave him a funny look and Carth smiled. Though he'd been watching the round of pazaak the admirals thoughts had been on his conversation with Jolee.
"Everything okay?" she whispered as he kissed her cheek. Carth nodded and squeezed her arm before fishing a new beer out of the crate.
"Canderous seems to have hit a lucky streak," he said. "Mission won't play with him anymore."
Revan glanced to the Twi'lek who was engaged in conversation with Zaalbar and Dustil. Lost in his thoughts Carth didn't notice how focused his son was on Mission as she talked, her animated face bright and happy.
"Thanks," Revan said accepting the bottle.
"You deserve to celebrate, but why don't we run a quick check on you in the medical bay?" Jolee suggested his bushy brows arched. Revan appealed mutely to Carth.
"I agree with Jolee, if anything, just do it for me? And stop rolling your eyes."
The Raptor's small medical bay was fairly standard for a vessel of its class. There was one bed in the harshly lit room and enough equipment to treat most ailments and a variety of species. Jolee pointed her at the bed and Revan slid onto it. Carth leaned in the doorway, arms folded, smiling at her.
"How many stims did you take?" Jolee asked. He'd lifted Revan's hand to note the tremor.
"One, but it was a special mix courtesy of Canderous. It's not so bad," Revan replied stifling a large yawn. Jolee prodded her a minute longer then administered a shot of kolto.
"I'll hand her off to you Admiral. Make sure she gets some sleep," Jolee said winking at Carth and chuckling at his joke. The old Jedi slipped out of the room and they were finally alone. At least as alone as they were going to get on the Raptor.
Revan smiled sleepily at Carth. He swallowed, and instead of speaking sat at her side.
"What's wrong?" she asked him. Carth's hands moved to her hair. Carefully he removed the pins holding it up, and a shudder passed through her as he began unbraiding it.
"Remember when we got to Coruscant?" he asked. The thick silky waves of her hair tumbled into his hands, and over her shoulders. Revan's eyes were half lidded as his fingers worked in her hair. "All those ceremonies? The debriefings? The senators and their dinner invitations?"
Revan laughed, a low and sensual sound. "I thought we'd never be alone."
"And then we holed up my old apartment for three days?" Carth reminded her. With a happy sigh Revan slipped her arms around his waist and leaned forward, resting her head against his shoulder. Her gentle weight pressed into him. Carth wrapped an arm about her.
"It was the first time I had you to myself, not that we didn't try for privacy on the Hawk," she murmured.
Carth remembered. They'd never gotten farther then a few eager kisses without someone interrupting. And somehow Coruscant offered less privacy. Until he'd dragged Revan from a dinner party in the crews honor determined to have her to himself.
He drew in a deep breath. It was better to just get the idea of marriage out in the open so they could talk like adults.
"I want to talk to you about something. It's pretty serious and - important to me as well. I know you're the one who has everything to risk here but - "
Revan, her face buried into his chest, interrupted his words with a light snore. Her whole body had gone limp in his arms and he realized with shock she was asleep.
Blast it woman. You aren't getting out of this that easily.
Gently laying her back into the bed Carth leaned over her, brushing the hair from her face and placing a soft kiss on her mouth. He lingered for a while content to enjoy just having her so close again. There was always tomorrow he reasoned. It wasn't like Revan was going anywhere.
Mando'a translations:
* Kandosii = Nice one / Well done
* Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade! = Don't mess with Mandalorians
