The flight back to the fleet was long and quiet. Aside from Orthus telling his mother about Lavok's fate, no one said a word for the rest of the flight. The gunship boarded the lead transport and once everyone started to walk off, Kayla spoke up.
"Ersanan," she said, "Orthus."
The Mandalorian and Revanite Zabrak stopped and turned.
"I… I um…" Kayla said slowly, "…I'm sorry about what happened to your arm and I'm sorry about what happened with Lavok… I… I didn't want anyone to get hurt."
Kayla bowed.
"Please forgive me," she said.
Orthus and Ersanan looked at each other, then they looked at Kayla. Ersanan approached her and pat her on the head.
"It was not your fault Kayla," he said.
Kayla looked up as Ersanan pulled his hand away.
"These things happen, whether we want them to or not. I did not engage your former master with the hopes of beating him, it was only to make sure that we could all escape," he said, "Kayla, you're going to have moments in your life where your moral code will be challenged, you're going to be faced with decisions that will determine how your peers will look on you. That's why we're so much more powerful than the Jedi and Sith, they become so attached to their code that they end up becoming weak. Dogmatic even. Or in the case of the Sith, they'll turn on each other when victory is within their grasp just for a shot at gaining more power."
Kayla didn't say anything. Ersanan continued.
"We're not Jedi. We're not Sith. When push comes to shove, the code of our order comes second," said Ersanan, "in other words… Don't let tradition… Don't let some code keep you from doing the right thing."
"He's right," said Orthus, "if it were up to my mother, my clan would've stayed and fight alongside my father. But… Like I told you, he wasn't just a leader, he was a husband and father. And he wanted to make sure that, not only did the clan survive, but my mother and I survived."
Kayla looked at Orthus.
"And don't worry about the arm," Ersanan said as he looked at his bacta cast, "our doctors make quality prosthetics."
Ersanan and Orthus started to walk away when Kayla spoke up again.
"Um… Ersanan if I may… I'd like to make a request," she said.
"Mm?" he asked as he stopped and turned around.
"I… I want to become a full member now," she said.
"…I'm afraid you forget yourself Miss Abaven. Initiates don't request to be made into full members of our order, they get requested," said Ersanan.
Kayla looked down.
"Oh," she said with embarrassment.
"…Would you like to become a full member?" Ersanan asked with a smile.
Kayla gasped and looked up.
"Wh-Wha? I… I… Y-Yes! Yes abso-"
Kayla stopped and composed herself.
"Ahem… I mean… Yes, I would like to," she said with a bow.
"Very well. We'll begin the apprenticeship ceremony, when we return to Erus," said Ersanan, "…is there, anything else you have to say?"
Kayla looked at Ersanan, then she looked at Orthus and back at Ersanan. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Absolutely not," said Malakam.
"That boy was a great help to us High Master," Ersanan said as he was getting his new arm worked on in the medical center, "Kayla said that he did not reveal anything about our plan to that inquisitor."
"He was a member of the late Jedi Order and… I could sense the dark side swirling around him. The boy fine now… But I fear that after everything he has been through, he could snap at any moment," he said.
"All the more reason why she also requested that he be made into a member," said Ersanan, "I could sense the bond between them Malakam, it's very strong. I fear that if we do not keep them together, she could have a relapse and go back to being a cold-blooded huntress."
"Ersanan," said Malakam.
"And… I'd hate for her to have us hypocritic after she learned so much about our order," said Ersanan.
Malakam facepalmed.
"Dammit, I was afraid you were going to say that," he said with a heavy sigh, "…very well. I will… Bring this up to the other High Masters."
"Thank you, old friend," said Ersanan.
Malakam left.
"If I didn't know any better Master Revanite… I'd say you're rather fond of that girl," said Dr. Arodas.
"Perhaps she has grown on me during her time with my apprentice and I," Ersanan said with a chuckle.
/\/\/\/\/\
He knelt before his master in the ceremonial chamber, bruised and battered, he bowed his head as the Revanite Zabrak ignited his lightsaber. All around them the Knights of Revan, graduated apprentices, ignited their lightsabers, and stood at attention as the master prepared to deliver the oath.
"Do you swear to embrace all aspects of the Force and not just the light or the dark?" asked Ersanan.
"I do," said Daralec.
"Do you swear to help uphold order and chaos in equal measure?" asked Ersanan.
"I do," said Daralec.
"And do you swear to use this knowledge you've acquired to act… Should you be called upon to do so?" asked Ersanan.
"I do," said Daralec.
"Then by the power granted to me by The Grandmaster. By the will of the Force," Ersanan said as he knighted Daralec, "no longer are you Daralec Triclar, Revanite Apprentice. You are now, Daralec Triclar, Knight of Revan."
Daralec rose to his feet.
"Thank you, Master," Daralec said with a nod.
Daralec looked over his shoulder and motioned for someone to step forward.
"And now… You, Miss Abaven" said Ersanan, "when you found us… You were a fragile, lost child… Who told herself that she came here to acquire the power needed to defeat her master. Your path was clouded by your morals and codes… But in time, you had finally begun to embrace our ways and our culture. You have finally learned to let go of your beliefs and in doing so you have broken from the chains of your past."
Ersanan clasped his hands behind his back.
"Flowing through all, there is balance. There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide. Knowledge fades without the strength to act. Power blinds without the serenity to see," he said as he slowly paced back and forth in front of Kayla, "there is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. The Force is all things, and I am the Force."
Ersanan stopped in front of Kayla.
"Are you ready for your true training to begin?" he asked.
"I am," said Kayla.
"Then by the power granted to me by the Grandmaster," Ersanan said as he placed his hands on Kayla's shoulders, "I make you, Kayla Abaven… My apprentice."
Kayla smiled.
"Thank you Ers-"
She stopped.
"…Thank you… My master," she said.
With the ceremonies concluded, Kayla was given a set of black and brown apprentice robes, while Daralec went to go forge his new set of Knight robes. Afterwards, Kayla brought Vaukel to the Revanite Healing temple.
"A healing pod?" asked Vaukel.
"Yes," said Suki, "these pods are designed to help heal individuals who are suffering from long term physical or mental damage. If what I've heard about you is true, this is the best treatment to help cleanse you of your pain."
"…How long would I be inside of the pod?" asked Vaukel.
"Depends," said Suki.
"On?" asked Vaukel.
"The extent of the damage," she said.
"Vaukel, it's okay, Mirialans are professionals at this kind of thing, I think," she said.
"You think?" asked Vaukel.
"You… You don't trust me, Master Jedi?" asked Suki.
Vaukel looked at Suki and blushed. She looked sad.
"No, no, no! It's not that it's just… I just… I just wanted to make sure that… Kayla will be fine if I'm going to be in here for a while," he said.
"Vaukel, I'm a big girl," Kayla said with reassurance, "I've endured the empire's conditioning and training when I became an inquisitor, I can endure this."
Vaukel felt his chest get tight as Kayla smiled at him. It wasn't a smile of confidence. It wasn't forced. It wasn't sad. It felt… Warm. It felt… Genuine. Vaukel felt a tear run down his right cheek.
"Vaukel? What's wrong?" asked Kayla.
Vaukel gasped and wiped his tear away.
"Nothing," he said with a smile, "…I just saw your father in you again."
Vaukel and Kayla hugged.
"…I'll miss you, little sister," he said.
"…I'll miss you too… Big brother," she said as she hugged him back.
Suki opened the pod, Vaukel walked over and climbed inside, then he laid back and got comfortable as he looked back at Kayla. The healing pod closed and started to fill up with clear, shimmering liquid that stopped just enough so it wouldn't submerge the weary Jedi Knight, with one last smile, Vaukel let himself relax and close his eyes.
"The water is infused with special healing properties," said Suki, "I'll keep a close eye on him to see how his treatment is progressing."
"Thank you," said Kayla.
Kayla placed her hand on the pod and let out a sigh.
"…Goodnight brother… Sweet dreams," she thought.
And with that, Kayla turned and left her brother to her treatment as she prepared for her true training, from Imperial Inquisitor, to a full-fledged Revanite.
Author's note: And so the true journey begins...