Vaukel was taken aboard the star destroy, Fallen Phalanx, where Claieva personally took him to a cell so they could… Have a word.
"…That was rather bold of you… To give yourself up so quickly after that traitor showed up," Claieva said as she sat him down, "you're probably the first Jedi I've encountered who still stuck to the failed teachings of your order."
"I've just seen what the empire is capable of doing," said Vaukel, "the last thing I need is more bloodshed from people who are trying to protect me."
Claieva was quiet for a moment, then she took off her helmet and set it on the floor.
"…There's something off about you Jedi… You're definitely not like the others," she said as she approached Vaukel and crossed her arms, "…are you?"
"Not really," said Vaukel, "my master wasn't like the other Jedi in the order. Unlike them, he trained me to be more of a warrior than a diplomat, fitting given the time period we were in."
Claieva grinned with amusement.
"Is that right? And just who was your master, young knight?" she asked as she bent forward.
Vaukel scoffed.
"Why do you care? You're just going to kill me anyway," he said.
Claieva stood up.
"Kill you?" she asked, "I don't plan to kill you. In fact, I had a word with the admiral, and told him to hold our position so that you and I can have a chat."
Vaukel's mood changed in a snap.
"What?" he asked with a hint of concern.
"Take me instead, leave these people out of this, especially Kayla," said Claieva, "isn't that what you said?"
Vaukel made a face.
"You know, I thought I could sense a change in your emotions when Kayla showed up… But I shrugged it off like it was nothing," said Claieva, "but then you told me to leave those Mandalorians out of our fight… Especially that traitor… And that's when I was certain."
Claieva beamed.
"…There's something between you two," she said.
Claieva put her hands on her knees as she bent forward again.
"So… You and I are going to have a little talk… And if you're a good boy, maybe I'll give you a treat," she said with a giggle, "m'kay pumpkin?"
Vaukel felt his heartbeat slow down.
"…This might've been a bad idea," he thought fearfully.
/\/\/\/\/\
Things were quiet for Clan Zaijen and Clan Cold Blood after the encounter with Claieva and her troopers. Fortunately, there were no casualties, however, no sooner had the imperials left Ersanan informed everyone that the Revanite ships had arrived, and they needed to get to the fleet in case the empire decided to come back and wipe them out for what happened with Vaton, her warriors and her imperial buddies.
Kayla, who was still torn about Vaukel being taken away, was sitting on her bed in the barracks looking at her lightsabers.
"…Kayla?" asked a voice.
It was Daralec. Kayla didn't respond. She didn't even turn around. Daralec slowly walked over to her, with something in his hands. A metallic case.
"Um… Listen, I'm not sure if you heard but… We're about to head to the fleet, so uh… You might want to get ready…" he said slowly.
Kayla didn't respond. Daralec sighed.
"Kayla, listen… I know I'm not the best when it comes to pep talks but… Your brother… He did this… He… He gave uh…" Daralec tried to say.
Kayla didn't respond. Daralec sighed and set the case right beside her.
"…I'll leave you alone," he said.
Daralec left. Kayla slowly let her lightsabers fall to the floor. She felt hollow. Empty. The one person whom she had forgotten all about, the one person who came into her life and helped her and her friends… The one person who protected her and stuck by her side… Was gone again.
"Look at you," said a voice.
Kayla looked up and saw someone she hoped she would never see again: The Sith Assassin.
"Are you really going to sit there and let that bitch take Vaukel away?" she asked as she sat on the bed across from her.
Kayla didn't respond. She looked down.
"This is what happens when you turn the back on the dark side… You become weak, you become soft," mocked the assassin, "and when you become soft, you can't protect yourself or anyone you care about."
Kayla started to form her hands into tight fists.
"…Good," the assassin said with a wicked grin, "that's it Kayla, open yourself to me… Let the darkness take you. Let it goad you to hunt down that inquisitor and take your revenge."
Kayla gritted her teeth and started to get up when she looked at the case that Daralec left for her. The Sith Assassin's grin vanished.
"Nooo, no, no, no, no… Don't you touch that. Don't you touch that case," she said.
But Kayla pulled the case onto her lap and popped it open, revealing a holoprojector that scanned her face.
"Facial recognition confirmed," said the projector, "beginning playback."
"Wait, wha?" murmured Kayla.
The projector showed a video. A video of a Jedi, a Miraluka Jedi, sitting in his quarters looking out the window.
"Father?" she murmured.
Durac turned and appeared to look over his shoulder at the sound of a door opening.
"You wanted to see me, master?" asked a voice.
"Vaukel, please come and sit. Have a drink with me," said Durac.
Kayla saw a young Vaukel appear and sit down to join Durac for a drink.
"What's that?" asked Vaukel.
"Juma Juice," said Durac, "go ahead, have a sip."
Vaukel looked at the liquid for a second and shrugged, then he took a sip and made a face.
"Ugh… Tinge," he groaned.
Durac chuckled.
"Don't worry, it's not too bad when you get used to the taste," he said.
Durac poured himself another glass.
"So… What did you call me for master?" asked Vaukel.
"I've just received word that General Grievous has been slain by General Kenobi," said Durac.
Vaukel spat out his Juma Juice after her took another sip.
"A-Are you serious?" asked Vaukel.
"Would I ever lie to you, my apprentice?" Durac asked with a light chuckle.
Vaukel beamed.
"At last, we can finally retire after all of the fighting and conflict," he said as he downed his glass in excitement.
"…I'm afraid that might not be possible my apprentice," said Durac.
Vaukel's beam faded.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"…My vision hasn't changed," said Durac.
Vaukel nearly dropped his glass.
"B-But… I don't understand, the war is over… The Droid General is defeated, how could your vision still be the same?" asked Vaukel.
"…I don't know. But I fear that our real enemy will show itself soon," said Durac, "and what's more… I fear that when it does, I won't be able to be by my daughter's side… Or my darling's…"
Durac looked at Vaukel.
"That is why I called you here," he said, "to tell you of my plan and let the Force be the deciding factor in this… Moment of quiet time."
Kayla watched as her father reached down on his left and pulled something into her lap; it was a case, the same case that Daralec left for her.
"If my vision turns out to be false… That's that. I'll see if I can set up my troops with a retirement plan, we'll leave the Jedi Order and retire to Naboo," said Durac.
Kayla gasped.
"…But if something happens… If our real enemy comes before we make it home to Coruscant…" Durac said as he placed the case on the table and slid it over to Vaukel, "the second lock inside the case will disable by the time my daughter reaches the age of eighteen… What happens after that… Will be up to the both of you."
Kayla was confused as the message stopped playing.
"Second lock?" she murmured.
Just then, there was a distinct beep, followed by something being unlocked; the inside of the case opened, and Kayla's eyes went wide as she gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth, seeing what was inside.
/\/\/\/\/\
"And that's what happened," said Ersanan.
"By the Force, this is ill news," said Malakam.
"Indeed, why would that boy go and give himself up after he was there when High Master Malakam shared our grand plan with everyone after the assault on Vaton's base?" Kagra asked as he facepalmed.
"Surely he knew the consequences," said Malakam.
"…Kayla," said Ersanan
The Revanite Master and Revanite High Master looked at Ersanan.
"When she joined the fight, I could sense his fear overwhelm him," said Ersanan, "he must've tried to stop that inquisitor so Kayla wouldn't have to."
"It would make sense, given that he is her step-brother," said Zarayvia.
"This is going to complicate things," said Malakam, "if he were taken by that inquisitor, he'll likely be interrogated and if he cracks, he could tell that imperial what we're going to do; he could tell of our existence."
"Surely there's something we can do," said Daralec.
"There is… We destroy the ship… And everyone on board," said Malakam.
"What!?" someone exclaimed.
Everyone turned and saw Kayla had entered the command center.
"You're going to kill him? Kill my step-brother?" she asked firmly.
"Kayla, you heard what he said when he was apprehended," said Zarayvia, "he would want this, you're in good hands now."
"Would he want this?" asked Kayla, "what just because he told me to take care of myself you would think he would want this?"
"Kayla, this has to be done. He the empire learns of our order we're done for," said Ersanan.
"I know that the empire can't learn of the order… I just… I can't… I don't want to believe that… Not after all these years," Kayla said as she started breathing rapidly, trying to keep herself from breaking down.
"For what it's worth kid… He never took your grudge against him personally," said Mandalore.
Kayla slowly looked at Mandalore for a moment… A long… Long, quiet moment. Kayla looked at everyone inside of the command center… Then she marched out.
"Kayla?" asked Ersanan.
"Oh dear," Malakam said with a sighed.
Ersanan ended the transmission and rushed after Kayla.
"Kayla what are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm going to borrow a ship… And get my Vaukel back," she said as she went to go borrow a Mandalorian starfighter.
"What!?" exclaimed Ersanan.
He grabbed her arm.
"There is no way in hell you're doing that," he said firmly.
"Let go of me!" she demanded.
"Kayla, listen to me! And understand," Ersanan said as he yanked her, "the fleet is already here. Our mission is done. We don't need to stay here anymore, Master Kagra and High Master Malakam both agreed that the ship needs to be destroyed and your brother needs to go down with it."
"No! I don't want that to happen!" screamed Kayla, "that's my step-brother up there, he wouldn't mention the existence of the Knights of Revan."
"And just how do you know that?" Ersanan asked as he let go, "the whole time he was with us, you treated him like he wasn't even a sibling to you. You even beat him up so you could slip past some purge troopers."
Kayla felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"…It's true… I did treat Vaukel like he didn't exist," she said as she looked down, "but… Then I learned something… There was more to what he told me about my father… About what my father told him."
"…What are you talking about?" asked Ersanan.
"My father didn't just tell Vaukel to run, he wanted to make sure that I got my father's last message as well," said Kayla, "my father saw the Jedi Order's downfall, but he didn't know when it would happen, when the darkness came…"
"…When the darkness came, what?" asked Ersanan.
Kayla shook her head.
"Look all that matters is that I was a fool to have treated Vaukel the way I did when he fought alongside me," said Kayla, "and what did I show to let him know I was sorry? A simple apology? A simple apology to the one person, the only person left in my family who still showed me kindness…? I'm willing to carry the weight of the countless Jedi… Countless Padawans I've killed. I've willing to carry the weight of the imperials who fell to my blades… But not this."
Ersanan gave Kayla a look.
"Please, let me save my step-brother," she pleaded.
Ersanan sighed.
"Kayla, say I let you go rescue him, the empire have him onboard a Venator-class star destroyer, even if you managed to cut through all of the troopers onboard, they could have special force units. Saber guards, shadow guards… Not to mention that inquisitor," he said, "I know how much you want to get him out, but what you are planning to do is suicide."
Kayla sighed.
"You're right… Maybe it is suicide," she said, "I'm not going to pretend that I'm not scared… That I'm not terrified of the possibility that I might not make it… But the truth is… I've been thinking about what you've been saying… About how I haven't accepted violence, about how I haven't accepted darkness… About how its only accepted me."
Kayla brought her right hand up and watched as she formed it into a fist.
"And the truth is, I've been afraid to accept it, ever since I met Vaukel after so many years," she said, "ever since my mother left me when she saw what I had become, I started to accept my darkness just like my master did; but when Vaukel and I met again, I've been afraid. I was afraid that if I accepted it, I would let it consume me… And I wouldn't recognize who I once knew…"
Kayla looked at Ersanan.
"I… I want to use this mission as a chance to try and accept my darkness and control it," she said, "use it for something… Something besides committing atrocities."
Ersanan was quiet for a moment, taking in what Kayla said. Though he still believed it suicide, he could sense Kayla's feelings. She was afraid, well-aware of the risk… But at the same time, she was determined to save a loved one despite the odds being stacked against her. Ersanan sensed the dark side and light side swirling within her very core, as if they were trying to balance each other out.
"…And you insist upon this?" he asked.
Kayla nodded. Ersanan sighed.
"Then… I will have Daralec accompany you," said Ersanan.
"What? No, I have to do this alone, this is personal," said Kayla.
"Personal?" asked Ersanan.
Kayla felt a chill go up her spine as the Revanite Zabrak crossed his arms.
"Let me tell you something, I respect your determination to go save Vaukel despite the odds being stacked against you," said Ersanan, "to me, that shows the marks of a rising Revanite; however, if you're truly serious about saving Vaukel, you're going to need help."
Ersanan bent forward.
"And since I am your acting-master, if you don't like it, I can have Zarayvia or Mandalore send a squadron up there to destroy the ship," he said firmly.
Kayla swallowed.
"Do we understand each other?" asked Ersanan.
Kayla nodded.
"Good," Ersanan said as he stood upright, "now… I'm going to see if these Mandalorians have a gunship you can borrow."
Ersanan turned and walked away. Kayla sighed and looked up at the sky.
"Hang on Vaukel, I'm coming for you soon," she thought.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Why can you not just cooperate?" Claieva muttered as she struck Vaukel with an electro baton.
Vaukel screamed as Claieva held the baton against his chest, electrocuting him.
"Why can't you behave like the other Jedi before you?" she muttered.
Claieva pulled the baton away, Vaukel slumped over, groaning and panting.
"You gave yourself up for that treacherous bitch, why?" she asked as she forced him upright.
"Go to hell," he groaned.
Claieva grabbed him by the throat.
"What do you know about Kayla, Jedi… Tell me!" she demanded, "whatever you have locked away in that head of yours is exactly what I need to strip her of her favor with our master leave her with nothing. Who is she to you? What is your connection!?"
Vaukel spat in her face. Claieva was not amused and backhanded him.
"Pfft, tehehehehe, for someone trained by a Sith Lord… You sure do suck at interrogating people," he mocked, "I mean ask me where the other Jedi are hiding, I can understand, but wanting to know my connection with Kayla? All so you can use it against her to gain more points with your master than her? Seems pretty petty."
Claieva got ready to backhand Vaukel again when she stopped.
"Petty?" she asked with a grin, "this isn't petty."
Claieva grabbed Vaukel's shoulder and pushed him against the wall of his cell.
"Let me show you, what 'petty' is…" she said as she caressed his cheek and winked.
Vaukel's expression changed again as the inquisitor climbed onto his lap.
Author's note: "Mama warned me about women like you... I was hoping she was right"