Book Two – Rebirth
Chapter Twelve
The Point of no Return
"Is it truly wise to send this woman after the Star Forge?" the Jedi Master demanded, openly questioning his colleague. "She seeks confrontation and tries to provoke us on every turn. She's as likely to destroy the Star Forge as she is to join Malak's cause and attempt to overthrow us."
The other master held up his hands in an attempt to calm the other. "Xana has no desire of destroying the Republic and the Jedi Order. In that regard Mission Vao was an unexpected yet valuable gift, for it has made Xana greatly adverse to Malak and his ruthless war. She will never join him or attempt to continue his campaign. Besides, this time we have our fail-safes in place."
The first looked skeptical. "Ah yes, the reprogramming of Revan's mind. I am not convinced. I thought Miss Grey was supposed to be made subservient to Bastila, but that seems far from the case. Wouldn't it have made more sense to make her loyal to the Republic instead?"
"That's not possible. For an idea to take hold to the mind, it needs to have a basis. Revan never felt any kinship to the Republic, therefor the idea of being loyal to it would be swiftly rejected. Turning her loyal to the woman who saved her life however…" He gave his colleague a significant look.
"But it looks like Grey's mind is slowly rejecting this idea as well. At the start of her training she was very susceptible to Bastila's orders, but right now she offers her master enough resistance to be worrying. Besides, Revan wasn't known to submit to anyone."
"Our purpose wasn't to make Xana a mindless slave. We very much need the old, brilliant Revan. I hope you do realize her success was in a large part due to her stubborn, challenging nature. We fully expected Xana to fight her restraints, so don't fear she might break free. We learned from our mistakes. Indeed, we did a rather… thorough job to ensure her loyalty. Have a little faith in us."
Departure day was hectic. Two of their team members were still yet to arrive and the Ebon Hawk was still being prepared. The stolen Exchange vessel was currently being retrofitted to properly accommodate their small team, allowing it to serve as a home as well as a base of operations. The choice for this freighter had been simple, the outrageously fast ship would allow them to outrun any Sith fighters or other adversaries with ease, perfect for their mission.
Bastila and Xana had been charged to find the missing pieces of the star map. The Builders didn't give out the location of their Star Forge easily; they had fragmented the navigational chart and spread the pieces all over the galaxy. To ensure the solution wasn't lost forever they had left clues in their part, which had been traced back by the experts to the desert planet Tatooine. They suspected another piece of the map was hidden there.
Their hypothesis corresponded to the intel the Jedi had on Revan and Malak. During their journey after the Mandalorian Wars they had been spotted at least once in Anchorage, a miner settlement on Tatooine. It would be their first destination, the first of what seemed to be many. Roughly twenty percent of the map was filled in, so logically there had to be four other parts, hidden anywhere in the galaxy. It was the task of Bastila and Xana to find them all and eventually lead the Jedi Order to the Star Forge, whatever it might be.
A small team had been assigned to them. The Jedi Guardian Juhani would accompany them, which Xana considered both a blessing and a curse. Zaalbar was bound to her by honor, so he was coming as well. For undisclosed reasons Master Vandar had been adamant that those who helped them on Taris were to come along, including the Mandalorian Canderous Ordo. When his name had been called Juhani had tensed, making Xana worry old blood between the Cathar and Mandalorians might lead to fireworks. That didn't mean Xana wasn't happy with his expertise, quite the contrary. He had seen more war than Bastila and her combined. The last two to join them were Carth Onasi and – obviously – Mission Vao.
Xana hadn't seen much of Bastila in the last few days. They both had their own tasks for the preparations, but she was pretty sure her master was avoiding her ever since she'd declared her love. The brunette certainly seemed anxious and depraved of sleep, avoiding eye contact whenever they were together. There wasn't much she could do about it. She had played her cards, now it was up to Bastila to make her move.
She sighed, she just wanted things between them to become normal again. Having gone from spending nearly all of the time with Bastila to virtually none was proving harder than she had expected. She admonished herself for whining. Own damn fault for falling in love with a Jedi Knight, stupid bitch. She shook her head and continued on her way to the docks, where Carth was scheduled to arrive any minute now.
Carth was already waiting when Xana got to the docks. They acknowledged each other with a nod, after which an awkward silence followed. For a tense moment they considered each other, waiting for the other to make a move. They hadn't spoken for six months and some irritation still lingered unspoken between them. Xana was the first to move by tentatively extending her hand. "Onasi mate, how are you doing?"
He smiled in relief and moved forward to shake her hand. "Much better. They had me tied to a desk for nearly four months. PTSD, you know how it is." Xana nodded sympathetically, during her short time with the Republic she had seen with own eyes what war could do to soldiers. "Lucky for me it's much easier to treat these days, they've developed meds that greatly suppress the symptoms. Talking with the shrink helped too, helped me give a place to my past."
"Good to hear. So, you sure you're ready for this? There's no shame in retiring, you know? You earned your stripes during the Mandalorian Wars."
The pilot shook his head. "I need to do this, Grey, for my own peace of mind. Don't worry about me breaking down. I've flown some missions last month, killed some Sith. I'm ready for this."
Xana smirked and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Alright, you know yourself best. I must say it's good to have you back, if only to talk some sense into the Princess. Although I still hate you," she added in a teasing voice.
Carth gave her a shameful grin. "I guess I owe you an apology. My distrust in you was totally ungrounded, Bastila says you're a fine Jedi and as poised to end the Sith Empire as we are. I'm sorry."
The former lieutenant waved it away. "Pfft, forget about it. Last time we worked together I had half a mind to abandon everything and become a petty criminal once again. Finding my roots and everything? Even I would've distrusted me."
The pilot's smirk widened. "You were unbearable at times."
"Oh believe me, I still am. Ask Bastila." Her wanton smile turned sincere and she extended her hand once again. "Let's call it even?"
He firmly shook her hand and nodded. "Even. Now, Bastila told me we're on a tight schedule. I'd like to check the ship out before we depart." Xana gestured for Carth to follow her and they fell in stride next to each other. While she led the pilot to the Ebon Hawk – which had just been rolled out of the hangar it had been stored in for the last six months – they comfortably caught up on everything that had happened in the last six months.
Just as the ship came into view they were approached by Bastila, who greeted Carth like an old friend. She appeared tense and twitchy, not daring to look Xana in the eyes. She told the pilot she needed to discuss something with him in private and immediately started herding him away with gentle force. He gave Xana a confused look, but she just returned it with a shrug.
Bastila led her friend to a secluded place just outside the enclave, scanning the area to make sure they weren't being overheard. When she was satisfied she turned to the flight commander. "Carth, I have a huge problem!"
Carth was slightly taken aback by her behavior and sudden outburst. "Err, alright… what's up?"
"I've fallen in love with Xana Grey."
He blinked. "Oh, right," he said rather unenthusiastically. "I mean, congratulations. Grey must be happy, she was really into you."
"Wha-? No, you don't understand. I'm a Jedi Knight, I can't fall in love!"
The flight commander gave her a bewildered look. "Meaning you're a medical miracle for the fact that you just did? They locking you up in a closed ward for observation?"
"Carth, I'm being serious here! I've fallen in love, but I can't. What am I going to do?"
"How about stop talking in contradictions for starters? Either you fell in love, or you can't. Doing both is rather impossible, last time I checked."
"You know what I mean, so stop messing around. You're my only friend and I need your help."
He watched her sheepishly. "What do you expect from me? My sexual experience is rather limited to begin with and I honestly don't know how it works for two women. Maybe you try rubbing them together?"
A deep blush appeared on Bastila's cheeks. "What? Carth, stop being such an utter bastard! I can't be with Xana because the Jedi Code forbids us, that's the problem here."
An inaudible 'oh' appeared on Carth's mouth and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Err, sorry 'bout that. But honestly, she seems more than fond of you and I guess she's a pretty decent person. Beautiful too. Despite the pain it brought, my time with Morgana was wonderful. Life's short, can you live with the regret of missing out on Grey, if you're sure you two are meant for each other? Could you die peacefully?"
"But the Code…" She gave him an almost pleading look.
"Hmm, do it secretly?" he suggested in a serious tone, seeing her sad puppy eyes.
"Carth, grow up. We aren't children."
"Oh, right… So what does Grey say about all this?"
"Are you kidding me? I can't discuss this with her! I haven't even come out to her yet."
Carth blinked. "Okay, now you've lost me. I thought you came to me because the two of you failed to come to a satisfactory arrangement."
The brunette growled in frustration. "Yeah, thanks for nothing Carth. You're about as useful as a Hutt at lunchtime." She turned around and stormed off.
The pilot watched her go aghast. "Yeah, thank you too," he told the air. "I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking."
Back inside the enclave Bastila nearly trampled over Master Vandar, failing to spot the small figure in her hurry. After a quick apology she wanted to make her escape, but he wasn't going to let her get away that easily. He must've noticed her recent anxious behavior, because he wanted to have a word with her in private. All she could do was follow meekly when he led her away.
They went to the enclave's roof, a place where they usually had their private conversations, as it offered seclusion without being confining. Over the last six months they had talked quite a bit, Bastila was completely new to the role of master and didn't have the easiest of apprentices. The wise master was more than willing to provide a kind word of advice whenever Xana gave her trouble.
The Jedi Master sat down with his back against the wall, letting the rays of the sun warm his old body. Bastila sat beside him, nervously looking at the view and wondering if he was suspecting anything. "I am impressed with you, Bastila. We suspected Xana would be a swift learner, considering most of Revan's stubbornness and muscle memory remains intact. Still, no one had anticipated her growth to be this tremendous. You are a good master and an even better influence."
The brunette looked away, confused and wondering if this was a trap, because she didn't feel special in the slightest. "Revan's fierce determination is shining through here, fueled by the atrocities that happened to the one closest to her. When Mission Vao saw everything she cared for wiped out, the war came a little too close to Xana."
"That event has certainly been a catalyst, but do not count yourself out. Revan always had a tendency to study everything at once. Master Kreia was the only one able to keep her in reign and focused on important matters. Her later masters all failed in that regard, as they failed to earn Revan's respect." The sage gave her a meaningful look. "Until you. That is an achievement you should be proud of."
Bastila shook her head. "Her obedience seems to stem from the Force Bond rather than the respect she holds for me. A-And perhaps the need for the affection of a close friend." Her face turned red and she looked the other way. "Something I cannot give her, of course."
"Hmm, ho now, young Bastila. There are assumptions in your words that are equally hasty as they are faulty. Are you not her master? Are you not bonded to her through the Force? As such, is her wellbeing not your responsibility?"
"B-But… such relations are prohibited!" The brunette watched the master apprehensively. How much did he know about the extent of her feelings for Xana? Was he probing for information?
Vandar studied her keenly. "Ah, it seems I have come to the root of your anxiety. Your recent disquiet has had me worried, Bastila, for I could not figure out from where it came. Usually you are confident and considerate at the start of an important mission, so that could not be the source. But I see it now. You have grown close to Xana and are afraid those attachments might corrupt you both, am I correct?"
"I- I was always told Jedi can't form close friendships. I'm… afraid, yes. Afraid that I'll become something I do not wish to be. And… afraid Xana becomes something she once was. The Code warns us for strong emotions."
"Ah, the Code. A most peculiar text. It has as many interpretations as there are Jedi Masters, or so it would seem. Some indeed claim Jedi need to shun all closeness. I take it the masters you served under were all of that opinion?" When Bastila nodded, a sad smile shadowed his features. "I was afraid of that. When your gift of Battle Meditation was discovered, you were reassigned to the more strict masters. It saddens me that you have not received much warmth during your upbringing, for there is much strength to be gained there. Have you never felt it in your friendship with Xana?"
Bastila stayed on guard, still not comfortable with the subject. "I… well, yes. She is… her presence is… powerful. She radiates this aura that offers protection and bolsters my confidence."
"And have you ever tried giving her strength in a similar manner?"
"After Juhani defeated her," she admitted. "Exhaustion and shame became too much for her and she felt worthless. I-I embraced her and assured her she was far from it. It worked, her confidence returned. I was surprised by the affect I had on her."
"And after admitting that to yourself, do you still truly believe this beautiful bond of friendship you share is such a bad thing?"
Bastila studied the sage for a long time, the warmth in his voice betrayed he wasn't trying to lure her in a trap. He only wanted to help. "Well… no. Quite the contrary, it makes us both better people."
"Indeed. Where you believe your friendship might wound Xana, I believe it will heal her." When Bastila gave him a confused look he continued. "Xana is a wounded soul, Bastila. Her life is a terrible wreck and she is desperately trying to pick up the pieces. Her need to go after Malak and the Sith is not so much a quest for vengeance, but rather a way for her to confirm that her life matters. Someone needs to make her realize there is more to life than fighting this war. There are still beautiful things too, even for us Jedi."
"So you are saying instead of pushing her away, I should welcome her friendship?"
Master Vandar gave her a grave look. "Be very aware that the two of you can never part again. Your souls are connected by the Force so strongly that when one dies, the other will most likely suffer a similar fate. The bond formed on the bridge of the Absolution, when you showed Revan the mercy of saving her life. It is defined by those incredible emotions of respect and compassion. Xana felt it during your first meeting aboard the Endar Spire and it will continue to affect you until the very end. The Force is guiding you on a path of camaraderie and loyalty, do not repress that! It will devour you both if you continue treating each other coldly for the remainder of your lives."
"I never really thought of it that way." Bastila sat in silence, watching the horizon but not taking in the view. She had been right, she was destroying Xana by shunning her. But still… "This isn't easy, Master Vandar. Methodically training her into a Jedi was doable, but befriending the former Dark Lord…"
"Do not think of her as Revan anymore." Something in Vandar's voice was stern. "Xana Grey is a completely different person."
"Whenever I look at her, I always have this eerie feeling Revan lingers just behind her green eyes, waiting for the right moment to reawaken. It feels like I could trigger it by coming too close." There it was, her biggest fear outspoken for the first time. The main reason why she had kept Xana's advances at arm's length and why she was so conflicted about her feelings for the former Dark Lord.
The old master immediately disarmed that fear. "That is impossible, there is too little left of Revan for her to return. Much of her memories were destroyed when you recovered her body, salvaging her was beyond our capabilities. We were forced to lock away the remainder of her memories via a strong memory block, to prevent harmful side-effects like hallucinations. But I understand your concern. While her memory is gone, her personality is not, giving Xana an uncanny semblance to Revan. But be assured the former Dark Lord is truly gone." A shadow crossed his face. "A fact that still hurts me deeply."
Bastila let that information sink in and sighed a deep breathe of relief, feeling her entire body relax. She trusted Master Vandar completely, he had proven again and again to be wise and reliable. If he said she had nothing to fear of Revan, she had nothing to fear of Revan. "You have no idea how much that eases my mind." She had to force herself not to burst out in cheerful laughter.
"For that I am glad. However, let Revan's downfall be a lesson to you, for Xana is bound by the same flaws. She is bold and pragmatic, threading her own cold and calculated path. She needs a strong guiding hand, someone who understands her and is able to offer resistance when she threatens to lose sight of what is important. Someone who is not afraid to voice her disagreement, but is also able to mend her soul by being there for her. That person is you."
The Master got heavily to his feet – reminding Bastila just how old he was – and smiled kindly at her. "Know that the entire Council trusts in your wisdom. Even Master Vrook – cold as he may appear – has confidence you will make the right decisions. I can only hope one day you will find the same confidence in yourself." With a final nod he left.
Bastila was hurrying to the docks. Canderous Ordo would arrive any minute, which was their cue to leave. Everything was prepared for their journey, all that remained was load up Ordo's luggage and depart. She had her doubts about the gruff Mandalorian tagging along, but had been swayed by both Xana and Master Vandar. The wise master saw something in the war veteran, so perhaps he would be useful.
He certainly didn't lack enthusiasm. When the invite came he had responded excitedly, dropping all his current work to be part of the mission. Thanks to the war space travel from the planet he was currently working on to Dantooine was difficult, but fortunately for him he had made it just in time. Bastila would've departed without him all the same, but it seemed she was in no such luck.
Halfway to the docks she ran into Xana and Mission. When she gave the padawan a second look she stopped dead in her tracks and felt her face heating up rapidly. "X-Xana? What on this Force-blessed planet are you wearing?"
The padawan gave her an indifferent shrug like there was nothing out of the ordinary. "Robes."
Bastila looked her over, seeing that her clothing indeed represented something like robes. Except that they were the most sensual set of robes she had ever seen. The base consisted of a set of white pants and sleeveless polo, each stretching over her body like a second layer of skin. It was so tight that Bastila feared it might tear apart if Xana made a wrong move. At the back of her waist hung a black half skirt that waved out widely to the floor, giving her the dignified look of a true Jedi Knight. On her feet was a pair of comfortable looking black boots.
Her toned arms were fully exposed for the world to see – Force, Bastila had never noticed how beautifully subtle the muscles of her shoulders and arms curved out – and she wore a pair of black, fingerless gloves. Draped over her shoulders was a set of spaulders made from black cloth. They were similar to the ones Bastila wore, but a bit higher and more pronounced. Together with the high, black collar she looked authoritative and slightly intimidating.
The collar hung open rather lazily, with the opening plunging down to give a view of her breasts. It wasn't in any way outrageous or vulgar, but actually very tasteful and empowering. Here stood a woman that was confident in her body and not afraid to use it to influence those around her.
It was all white with black details, a perfect mix of angelic Jedi and demonic Sith. The only colored detail was the wide leather belt around her waist, which was of a deep brown similar to that of the standard Jedi robes. Her shoulder length hair was tied at the back in a ponytail – with a few strands escaping nonchalantly at the fringe – and she looked ready to jump right into action. How she did it was beyond Bastila, but Xana managed to look imposing, commanding, sturdy and incredibly sexy at the same time.
Xana Grey is jaw dropping gorgeous.
"Judging by the dip of your lower jaw you like what you see," Mission stated with a mischievous grin. "Are you sure you want to let all of that slip away?"
The knight blurted something out that sounded like a combination of 'no' and 'wha-?', eliciting a giggle from the girl. "Why?" she finally managed to ask.
Xana once again shrugged. "Why not? It looks good, doesn't it?" She flashed the brunette a sultry smile that sent the butterflies going rampage. "Mission and I were of the opinion we want to save the galaxy in style."
For the first time Bastila looked at the young Twi'lek and saw she was wearing a brand-new combat suit. This too was formfitting, but equipped with several armor inserts at strategic places. Whatever curves her lithe, adolescent body already had were accentuated by the suit and her arms were completely bare, just like Xana. The deep grey colored suit made the girl look a few years older and – Bastila had to be honest – quite pretty.
Mission saw her looking and smirked. "You know us Twi'leks, our race demands we need to look pretty for the boys."
"Or the girls," Xana added playfully.
The girl huffed and gave the human a shove. "Shaddap!"
The padawan pointed at Bastila. "Hey, the galaxy's prettiest and coolest Jedi Knight is a lesbian, there's nothing wrong with it."
"Except that I ain't, you ogler!"
Xana grabbed her chest in an exaggerated manner. "Why do you always wound my feelings? I merely wish the best for you."
Mission folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow. "So the best for me is a sixteen year old twi'lek girl with slightly too large breasts for her age, who – because she's too young for you to date – you couple to me so you can see her snogging anyway? Creep!"
"Errrrr…" The padawan scratched her head awkwardly. "Have I ever told you you're way too smart for your own good?"
"You two are insufferable." Bastila couldn't suppress a tiny smile tugging at her lips, the infinite challenging yet playful banter between these two was starting to get to her. She gave Xana a pointed look. "So… what's with the color scheme?"
"Isn't it obvious? The perfect combination of light and dark." She pointed at her brown belt. "With a little Jedi ugly to show my current allegiance. See it as a sign of good will."
"How generous," the knight remarked dryly. "Well, let's head for the docks, Ordo should be here any minute. The faster we can leave the enclave, the better."
She wanted to push past Xana, but the padawan grabbed her arm to stop her. "No verdict?" she asked, while wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Bastila turned her eyes downward to avoid eye contact, but was greeted by Xana's breasts instead. She noticed the toned woman was wearing a push-up bra that made them look much rounder and more inviting, certainly from this angle. She coughed and felt her cheeks heating up when she realized what she was thinking. When she looked back up she saw Xana smirking openly at her. "That's what I thought."
Bastila huffed. "You're such a shameless creature."
The apprentice's smirk only widened. "That's kind of you to say, thank you."
The brunette rolled her eyes. "I thought we were going on a trip to save the galaxy, not a fashion shoot."
Green eyes turned to her master's brown robes. "Hi pot. Or are you the kettle?"
After another quick glance at Xana's breasts Bastila scowled. "At least I cover up all the fleshy bits."
"Why hide the beauty nature has given us?" The padawan took a suggestive look at the brunette's breasts. "Although in retrospect, it'll make the inevitable unpacking much more exciting."
"Inevitable unpacking…" Bastila's voice trailed off when the meaning of the words sunk in. She pictured Xana tugging at the zipper of her robes and turned bright red. "That's…"
"Hot?" Mission suggested, unhelpfully.
"A pleasant prospect?" the apprentice added with an innocent smile.
The knight pulled her arm free that was still locked in Xana's grip and gave her a pointed look. "You know, if you're truly serious about us becoming a thing, maybe you should stop treating me like an object for you to lust after." Xana's face dropped and she fell silent; Bastila's challenge had clearly hit home. She smiled within, it was time to take back some control and find out just how serious Xana was. "To the docks."
When she pushed past her apprentice the duo followed in strained silence.
Back at the docks most of the team had already assembled. Juhani and Zaalbar were calmly chatting and when Mission rushed forward to join them, the Cathar greeted her with a faint smile. It surprised Bastila, the hot-tempered knight seemed to be taking well to the chatty Twi'lek and her Wookie friend. It came as some relief to Bastila, at least Juhani wasn't a total outcast.
Carth – who had been checking the Ebon Hawk's hull – approached the two humans when he spotted them. He gave Xana's new robes an appraising look-over. "Nice gear, Grey," he said with a low whistle. "Not standard Jedi equipment, I take it?"
Xana smirked. "Hardly." She seemed rather smug about the attention; Bastila had expected her to call him a lecher, to the very least. To her displeasure she felt a little pang of jealousy, Xana shouldn't be getting any attention from anyone except her.
At that moment the final companion made his entry. Canderous Ordo looked just as burly and gruff as the last time Bastila had seen him. His massive repeater was slung over his back as he lazily approached them. The padawan and the Mandalorian acknowledged each other with a nod, but Bastila cut right to the chase. "Tell me, Mister Ordo, why should we trust you to take us on our mission?"
He regarded her for a moment. "Hasn't Grey informed you yet?"
The brunette glanced briefly at her apprentice, but didn't let up. "I'd like to hear it from your mouth."
The Mandalorian shrugged. "If you insist. Our people have been humiliated by those who now call themselves Sith. The clans have been wiped out like ants, calling it pathetic is an understatement. I plan to redeem my people by ending the Sith Empire." He gave the brunette a shrewd glance. "That is what your mission entails, isn't it?"
"You will receive a full briefing aboard the Ebon Hawk later tonight. Suffice to say our mission will indeed be critical in stopping the Sith armada."
That seemed to be enough for Ordo, because he nodded. "Imagine the people notorious for burning the galaxy now saving it from a similar threat. Imagine the glory it would bring us if I aided you in bringing down this tyrant."
"You'd be a fucking hero," Xana chimed in, earning an angry look from Bastila.
"And then what?" she wanted to know. "Your people are known for bloodlust and war. You aided Exar Kun and scourged most of the Outer Rim during the Mandalorian Wars. How am I to know you don't plan on selling us out to Malak when you get the chance?"
"The Sith Empire is a threat to us both. I understand your concern, our less than honorable past has muddled your perception of us Mandalorians. Unfortunately we could discuss this topic for hours and probably not come to a satisfactory conclusion. Let me say I'm not proud of what happened and wish to show the galaxy we're not blood lusting warriors, but merely misunderstood. Will you give me the chance to prove that?"
The brunette folded her arms. "It seems I have no choice in this matter, as Master Vandar wishes you to join. He is our wisest master, so perhaps you're indeed destined for great deeds. Just remember I have my eyes on you."
That elicited a dry chuckle from the burly mercenary as he looked at Juhani, who had been watching him with killer intent pretty much constantly. "That makes two of you. If willingly walking into a Mandalorian deathtrap won't say enough about my good intentions, nothing will."
Xana gave him a wide smirk. "Hey, if a sorry scoundrel such as me is able to survive them, so are you."
Ordo looked between the two women and smirked. "Unfortunately I don't have the body type to appeal to the senior knight." Bastila scowled at him, while Xana shot her a sudden uncertain look. "Sore point, huh? Oh well, don't mind me. I'm going to ease some of the friction with the Cathar, before her eyes burn a hole through my skull." He slouched off in Juhani's direction, who tensed up visibly.
The padawan watched the Cathar with concern. "I better go after him. Wouldn't want to have to bury the first body before we even depart."
While Ordo was speaking with the two other Jedi and Mission was goofing around with Zaalbar, Bastila turned to Carth to discuss her concerns. He was as doubtful about the Mandalorian as she was, so they agreed to keep a close eye on him. It felt good to be able to rely on her best friend again, only now she realized she had missed it sorely. Carth and she were on the same wavelength most of the time, they made a good team.
As they were talking they were suddenly alerted by the sound of clashing lightsabers. When they wheeled around they saw Xana locking her strangely colored lightsaber with Juhani's blue one, standing between her and Ordo to shield him from her weapon. "Get the fuck back." The padawan spoke with raised voice that was dripping with authority.
As Bastila rushed towards them, she saw Juhani's eyes breathing fire at Ordo. She was speaking in swift Catharese, no doubt cursing the Mandalorian. To her credit Xana didn't flinch from the display of anger. "I told you to get the fuck back," she repeated, even fiercer this time.
When Bastila reached the Cathar she planned on grabbing her wrist, but the feline was suddenly yanked away violently from the padawan. It was Zaalbar who was protecting his master; he had grabbed Juhani under the arms and tossed her away with brute force. She landed with a roll and turned swiftly to her assailant, surprise and shock visible on her face. The Wookie stood tall, shielding the padawan. "Don't threaten Xana!" he thundered, taking a step towards the Cathar. Juhani quickly held up her palms, watching the mountain of muscles with genuine concern.
The Wookie went for his bowcaster, forcing Juhani to activate her lightsabers again in defense. That only angered the brute even further, he was clearly taking it the wrong way. Things threatened to escalade beyond control when Xana stepped between them with drawn lightsaber. No doubt she just wanted to protect Zaalbar, but Juhani thought the padawan was attacking her. She looked like a wild animal, surrounded and trapped, ready to lash out.
"That's enough!" Bastila's ice-cold order wasn't just spoken, it forcefully echoed through the minds of those around. It caught their attention dramatically, making them all stop directly. When the brunette marched between the three with steel in her eyes they all seemed to shrink under her presence. "Put away your weapons, at once." They immediately complied, not knowing how fast to pull away their weapons. When they were all disarmed the knight turned to Juhani. "I understand why the Mandalorian's presence bothers you, but that doesn't give you an excuse to lash out at him."
"L-lash out?" Juhani watched her with big eyes. "I didn't attack him! I merely showed him my weapon to make him back off. Xana must've misread my intentions."
"Why did you want him to back off so badly?"
Ordo had joined their group, watching the Cathar with caution, and spoke up. "I tried to explain that my involvement in the destruction of Cathar was merely because I was following orders. I figured she'd understand, considering we come from a similar culture based on a strong hierarchy, but I guess I was wrong."
"Do not compare my people to yours!" Juhani snarled, eyes still burning with anger. "We were content with taking what we needed, nothing more!"
The Mandalorian wanted to counter, but Bastila didn't let him. "This is what you consider 'easing the friction'?"
"I meant no harm." When two sets of eyes regarded him angrily he held up his palms. "Forget it, I get the message. I'll leave Juhani alone until she's ready to move on." With a final wary look at the feline he entered the Ebon Hawk to get settled.
"He's a murderer, Bastila," hissed the Cathar. "We cannot trust him."
"Master Vandar trusts him, and I trust his wisdom."
That had a big effect on Juhani, for she immediately slumped down and hung her head in shame. "I apologize, Knight Shan, I merely wished to express my concern." When her commander gave her a nod in understanding she continued, "I assure you I meant no harm, but if you deem punishment necessary I will accept it."
Bastila knew she had to be both diplomatic and crystal clear right now, as it was her task to build a strong team. She briefly touched the Cathar's arm and looked her in the eyes. "It was a misunderstanding, punishment won't be necessary. But never point your weapon at an ally again, unless he's an immediate threat to the team." The Cathar made a deep bow and thanked the brunette. "I do appreciate it when you speak your mind, so please don't refrain from that in the future. As long as it stays at words…"
"Yes ma'am, I will." Juhani then turned to Zaalbar, who was watching them with big eyes. Mission was patting his arm, but he was clearly distraught. "I didn't mean to harm Xana."
"I didn't mean to hurt you too!" The Wookie sounded almost teary-eyed. "You're a friend, but between Xana and you…"
"I understand, you did what your honor demanded." A look of understanding passed between the two aliens and Zaalbar relaxed somewhat.
It was then that Xana thought it clever to chime in, "This is all so bloody fucking confusing. Was it truly necessary to design your codes of honor like fucking minefields?"
Bastila wanted to curse the rude woman for her awful timing, but she saw Juhani flaring up. Things threatened to escalade again, but at that exact moment Belaya came rushing towards them. "Oh no, oh no, oh no. They told me there was turmoil at the docks. Ju, you didn't…"
The Cathar immediately moved to intercept her lover. "It didn't come to blows," she assured. Belaya saw her killer intent aimed at Xana and led the tall alien away around the ship, no doubt to find a place of privacy to calm her lover.
The brunette placed her forehead in the palm of her hand and had to count to ten. "Xana, is it truly so hard to show at least some respect for her culture?" she finally dared asking through gritted teeth.
"Her culture almost cost me my head." It was an annoyed snarl. "How did you stop us anyway? I felt… strange."
"Battle Meditation. It can show even the greatest fool she's about to slay her comrade." When she saw Xana's offended scowl deepen she quickly added, "That wasn't your fault. I would've intervened as well." Her apprentice relaxed, but still looked ruffled. Bastila took a deep breath, she had to be careful not to lose Xana's support as well; with relations so tense she couldn't afford that to happen. The former marine had described it spot-on by calling it a minefield, she'd have to weigh every word carefully from now on, lest not to offend anyone.
Carth had to add his two cents. "Should've expected this. Inviting politics in a military operation is never a good idea."
Xana scratched her chin thoughtfully. "It's a shame that the hellcat is such a huge asset. Her entire life has revolved around conditioning, if anyone can give Malak a run for his money, it's her."
The brunette gave her apprentice a dark look. "Strange. I've always considered Juhani a decent and honorable woman. Until you came along." Carth must've noticed the tension between them, for he quickly excused himself to make the final preparations to the ship. Mission was still soothing Zaalbar a few yards away, so Bastila was left behind with Xana. "I swear you have the tact of a misfiring ion canon," she said with an exasperated sigh.
Xana folded her arms defensively. "She's hot-tempered and treats me like I'm retarded. I'll show Juhani her respect when she shows me mine."
"And she no doubt thinks the same, nice vicious circle you've got going there. Can't you put your differences aside and at least try to understand her?" When Xana gave her a wronged look she pressed on, "Put yourself in her shoes. She comes from a culture where even looking at a superior in the wrong way can get you severely punished. Then you come along with that grimy cantina speech of yours, ridiculing her entire culture in a single line. What would you do?"
The padawan shrugged. "Laugh it off, say we're both fucked by the system, make a harsh joke about politicians, have a drink together. Life's much easier when you're not whining about every puny little detail."
Bastila rolled her eyes. "Things are so easy in your world. And I get to clean up the mess."
That seemed to come through to Xana, because she suddenly watched the brunette uncomfortably, wearing a guilty expression on her face. "I- I'm not making things easier for you, am I?"
The brunette let out a tiny sigh, her exhaustion was catching up with her. "Everything seems to be breaking down before we even depart. Tension in the group is almost palpable, even without you adding to it."
Xana sighed as well, shaking her head. "Shit, you're right. The two of us need to be the strong backbone on which our team can build. And now look at us, fighting together." She gave Bastila a sincere look and wanted to reach out to her, but somewhere along the way she changed her mind and pulled back, causing a pang of longing in Bastila's stomach. "Sorry about this, I'll try to be more professional next time. For you, not for the vicious beast." Bastila gave her a grateful nod, too tired to press the argument any further. At least they were still in this together.
With that out of the way an awkward silence suddenly hung between them. They hadn't really spoken together after Xana had declared her love and Bastila knew she had been acting like a juvenile about it. Part of her wanted to apologize, part of her wanted to fling herself in Xana's arms and kiss her, but the biggest part of her had no idea what to say or how to continue. She silently cursed her inaptitude for social matters.
Instead she looked around to the spot where Belaya and Juhani had gone and clacked her tongue impatiently. "They sure take their time." She then marched after them, planning to grab the feline by the pointy ear and pull her into the ship.
Xana rushed after her. "Wait Bastila, I don't think that's a good…" The two of them stopped dead in their tracks when they had rounded the ship, spotting the other duo in an impossible position. "…idea."
A good sixty feet away from them Juhani was locked in a deep kiss with Belaya. Their bodies were tightly pressed together in an entanglement of limbs, completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Bastila watched them with open mouth, unable to repress the thought how incredibly right they seemed. If there was one Jedi Knight devoted to the light side, it was Juhani. If she could love and be loved in such an utter devoted manner, so could Bastila. Right?
She gave Xana a sideway glance, watching her beautiful face looking back at her. A barrage of thoughts hit her; Carth warning her not to die with regrets, Vandar speaking about the strength to be found in close friendship, Juhani claiming two souls fitted together like one, Mission's constant attempts to bring them together, Xana tenderly declaring her love, assuring her it was very real.
Her eyes were drawn to Xana's full, lush lips, noticing they were moist and slightly parted. They were looking extremely inviting and she impulsively leaned in just a bit. When she realized what she was doing she had half a mind to pull back, but Xana finished the motion by placing her hand between Bastila's shoulder blades and pressing their lips together.
Their kiss was tender, almost chaste, but sent an array of feelings coursing through Bastila's body that were completely new to her. The soft texture coupled with electricity and warmth, but also strength and love. It was exactly what she needed; her insecurity was instantly wiped away, the madness from before was calmed down and the feeling of solitude was crumble by the support she felt from her bondmate.
The Bond flared up and Bastila could almost physically feel it change. It bound them together so tightly they were almost one. Xana's emotions overwhelmed her, Bastila felt both longing and incredible support. That assurance made her relax into Xana, who tightened her hold around the brunette. The anxiousness of last days vanished instantly as she gave in to what she had wanted for so very long.
When they pulled back they both sighed. "I'm sorry Bastila." The brunette was startled by Xana's soft apology, wondering what it was for. "Sorry for making you feel like a piece of meat earlier. I didn't meant it in a bad way, I just love to compliment you because I can't bring myself over the fact how impossibly beautiful you are. But my horrible sense of humor made it come out completely the wrong way."
Bastila smiled softly and tenderly stroked Xana's cheek. "We've got our work cut out for us." When she saw Xana's confused look she continued, "Trying to finish the star map while preventing our team from killing each other. I'm glad I don't have to do it alone." She caught Xana's gaze. "I'm glad you're here with me."
The sincerity of her words made Xana swallow and avert her eyes. "No one ever said that to me."
The sad whisper was so full of desolation that it nearly broke Bastila as well. She embraced the woman she loved. "I mean it," she softly murmured in Xana's ear. "You're not alone anymore."
"Good to know," Xana whispered hoarsely. They looked the other in the eye, until Bastila leaned in for another soft kiss, wanting to experience the beautiful sensation once again.
A cough startled them and they quickly separated, wheeling around to see who made the noise. They had been so engrossed in each other that they hadn't heard Belaya and Juhani approaching. The human was beaming at them, while the Cathar regarded them with a satisfied expression. Bastila blushed self-consciously, but Xana greeted them openly with a grin. Belaya went as far to congratulate them – which Bastila didn't quite know how to respond to – after which she said their final goodbye to the three of them by giving them a firm hug, even Bastila.
After kissing Juhani one last time she returned to the enclave, while the three other Jedi returned to the Ebon Hawk's entrance, where Mission, Zaalbar and Carth were waiting for them. Zaalbar had calmed down and Mission seemed almost giddy, smiling broadly at Xana. "You just had to take it one step further, hadn't you?" For a moment Bastila feared she might've seen the kiss as well, but when the girl elaborated she could relax again. "A pink lightsaber? Honestly?"
The padawan smirked. "It's violet, you colorblind imp."
"Riiight. It's you being an even more massive dyke than you already are."
"It's not one of the standard colors, is it?" Carth asked curiously.
The padawan gave him a feigned look of offense. "Do I look like a standard Jedi to you?"
He looked her tight robes over and grinned. "Definitely not. So… any deeper meaning?"
"Violet is the perfect blend of Sith red and Jedi blue. I don't pick sides, I merely do what I reckon is best."
His face fell. "I've heard that before," he said, sounding like his old, suspicious self. "Revan claimed she followed a similar path. If I recall correctly she called it a 'Grey Jedi'."
Mission snorted. "More like a gay Jedi."
Xana laughed at that and pinched the girl's cheek. "Don't get snotty with me, little missy. You might mean well, but your slang could seriously offend people." The Twi'lek pulled free and stuck out her tongue, earning a chuckle from Xana.
Carth didn't find it any funny though. "Look, we all know what happened to Revan and her so-called grey path. Is it truly…"
"Carth, please," interrupted a tired looking Bastila. "By questioning Xana you're questioning me as her master." That shut him up effectively, though he still looked wary. Bastila sighed. "Let's just go."
She ushered her team inside the Ebon Hawk. Mission and Zaalbar happily entered the ship, with Carth coming right after them, shaking his head grumpily. Juhani gave the padawan one last hard stare before going in as well, reminding them Xana's earlier insult had not been forgotten.
Bastila watched the gangway with trepidation. Of all the battlefields she had ever entered, the Ebon Hawk was certainly the worst one. Everyone seemed to have a problem with everyone, making her task seem much more daunting. She had half a mind of returning to the enclave to tell them they had to send experienced master instead of her, until she felt soft fingers intertwine with hers and squeezing gently. When she looked around she saw Xana smiling softly at her. She returned the smile, feeling heartened by the sign of affection. At least she wasn't alone in this.
They entered the ship together.
The Leviathan was drifting purposefully through space, its path littered with pain and destruction. On the bridge an impatient Lord Malak was pacing around. He was more than fed up with the Republic and blasted Jedi giving him more resistance than they had anticipated. The Star Forge's legions should've stampeded those pathetic worms, yet the actual results were far bleaker. "How long until we establish full control of the Outer Rim?"
Advisor Haroph wiped a bead of sweat from his massive forehead. His obese body was trembling, he knew his Lord's moods and the current one was dangerous. "Milord, full control is something we cannot hope to achieve anytime soon. We must patiently build our backbone before attempting to…"
"I do not have patience!" Malak roared, pointing his red lightsaber at the bloated human. Haroph paled and took a step backward. "The Rims should be bowing before me in fear yesterday!"
"Milord, please. The war is going more than well. Our propaganda machine is working better than expected; each day more and more soldiers, politicians and Jedi join our ranks voluntarily. In combination with those turned by other means our war machine is growing steadily."
"It's not enough."
The duo was interrupted by an extremely nervous looking lieutenant. "Milord, you have an incoming transmission. Exchange wishes to have a word with you."
The bald Sith Lord's eyes burned with anger as he turned to his filthy subordinate. To vent his anger he molded the dark side of the Force around his neck and suspended him in the air. The lieutenant clasped his throat in panic and desperately gagged for air, but the Dark Lord did not relent, watching coldly as life seeped out of him. Only when the lifeless body hung still in the air did Malak lower his arm, making the body drop unceremoniously drop to the floor. "Put him through. And let someone clean up this trash."
As a group of soldiers rushed forward to take away the corpse, a holographic image appeared on the transmitter unit. It was no more than a polluted image of… something, filled with static and noise. "Lord Malak," the figure greeted in a digital voice. It was impossible to guess the gender or race of the creature, or if it was even a real being to begin with. All Malak knew was that it was called Exchange and that it was one of the bosses, if not the boss, of The Exchange.
"Exchange," he snarled. "I hope you realize you're interrupting an important meeting."
"Does it perhaps concern the strong diminishing effects of Taris' destruction on your war machine? For it is certainly on my mind, Lord Malak, as it has strongly affected my organization, and not in a good way."
"Did you call to give me a lecture, Exchange?"
"Need I remind you I once started this clandestine liaison with Lord Revan for it to be beneficial to both our parties? Tell me, Lord Malak, what exactly do you reckon is the benefit of reducing one of my biggest crime hubs and most important trade routes to a cloud of ash?"
"Don't mention the name of that Republic loving whore! You can call me back when you've gained some respect for your overlord. Disconnect."
The holographic image vanished instantly, making the advisor gasp for air. "M-Milord, you just disconnected Exchange! What if they decide to sever our ties? That would be catastrophic!"
Malak laughed darkly. "Let them try. They're nothing without our power."
"Milord, need I remind you the Exchange is among the wealthiest organization of the galaxy? Not only do they own every type of crime, they also have shares in virtually every company that matters on galactic level and have a strong political foothold on many planets. Roughly twenty percent of the governments we own could be turned against us by the Exchange with very little effort. A single command from Exchange could send the entire Sith Empire in severe disarray. Keeping him our friend would be a wise course of action."
"The power of the Star Forge will blast him and his pathetic blackmail practices to bloody bits."
"Milord, not every enemy can be fought with raw firepower. The Exchange's power lies in information, secrecy, extortion, corruption… They're like weeds, you can burn away the visible leaves, but if you don't take out the roots they'll sprout in even greater numbers. And I'm afraid their roots are well hidden."
The Dark Lord rushed forward and grabbed the fat human by the throat. "We were discussing your inability to give me the Outer Rim within an acceptable timeframe, before your little crime friend interrupted. If I recall correctly you haven't given me an acceptable answer yet."
Haroph swallowed hard, his opulent moustache twitching nervously. Malak was going stark raving mad and there was no way of escaping his clutches.
Many light-years away another vessel coasted through the vast expanse of space.
The Desolation possessed a magnificence matched by only few other ships. The Exchange had made no compromises; no expenses had been spared to integrate the most advanced technology in this vessel. It was built for stealth, it could lazily drift through the bulk of the Sith or Republic fleet unnoticed, should someone bother to try. It was currently parked in orbit around Nar Shaddaa, where it served as the base of operations for the Si'Klaata Cluster.
Two Twi'lek women were making their way through the Exchange vessel. They were monozygotic twins, the striking creatures were carbon copies of each other. They possessed a breathtaking beauty that could melt even the coldest of hearts. Their skin was of the softest of grey and had a natural healthy flush. Their beautiful feminine curves were scantily clad in black leather, giving a grand view of their well-endowed décolleté and toned abdomen, shoulders and arms.
They were well aware of their beauty and exploited it to the fullest. However innocent their cute little faces might appear, these trained and ruthless mercenaries were far from it. The Twin Suns wielded seduction like a weapon only few were able to resist.
Filled with thrilled anticipation the twins stepped into the ship's quarantined communications center. They had been summoned by someone from the upper echelons, meaning this could very well be the chance to prove themselves and climb in rank. The Exchange was known to reward their higher officers well, so making mistakes now was out of the question.
A number of cameras observed the twins as they stood and waited. After several minutes a digital voice greeted them through the intercom. "Seer'aa, Teer'aa, welcome. The Exchange requires your… special set of skills for an important job." The emphasis on the word 'special' made the twins smile sweetly at each other, this contract could be fun.
A projector lit up, showing the figure of a handsome human woman. Her appearance was exotic, with a skin tone that was slightly darker than that of the average human and shoulder long, pitch black hair with a slight curl. Her features were sharp and striking, her stance straight and poised, radiating an authority that betrayed a no-bullshit attitude.
The sisters giggled. "She's pretty."
"Do we get to play with her, Mister Robovoice?" They were soft-spoken, with a playful edge to their sweet, pleasant voices that sent the blood rushing to your face.
"Oh, most certainly. The Exchange's philosophy revolves around playing our operatives' strengths and our objectives' weaknesses. In fact, she might not even mind the mission I have for you, considering her… sexual preferences." The twin's innocent little smiles widened. Being paid to frolic with their very own gorgeous plaything, jobs didn't get much better than that. "Now listen carefully," the hologram continued. "This is what you're going to do…"
End of Book Two
A/N: Hey everyone, little heads-up. I've done some long overdue revisions to earlier chapters. Especially the Taris arc had some quirky stuff, as I didn't have a beta reader at the time and wanted to release a chapter at least once a week… yeah. I promise I'll focus on quality rather than quantity from now on. (I'd blame the decline of the quality of Dutch education, but that would be cheap.)
So, revisions. No major stuff, just clearing up most spelling and grammar errors. I hope I've got them all this time. I've also removed some weird out of character statements and improved the overall flow of the story. There's no need to reread everything, but now you know it's there. (And you can't blame the delay of this chapter on me being a sloth, ha!)
Some people complained that Xana was too submissive to Bastila at certain points. You'll find the explanation for her subservience at the beginning of the chapter (it's one of the things I chose to alter because it makes more sense to me this way), but after rereading the entire story I agree that at some points it was simply too pronounced. I made some subtle changes to fix that. Again, nothing major, but hopefully an improvement nonetheless. Xana isn't a pussy after all, please don't think of her that way, she'd flail my mind.
This concludes things for the Dantooine arc. Next chapter we'll have another flashback in Revan's past. I thank you all for the continued support and constructive criticism and hopefully till next arc!
