Chapter Two

Crisp autumn breezes ruffled through the thin blades of murmount grasses at the edge of the Jedi Compound on Dantooine, the sound like that of crashing water as separate tufts within the fields bowed down with each firm gust applied. The late evening sunset was only an hour away and already the chirrups of Night Singers were echoing through the shallow valley. Soon it would be dark and the stars above would shine brightly.

Almost a year ago, the dark Sith Lord Malak wiped out the small contingent of Jedi Masters, Knights, and Padawans stationed on this planet in his attempt to seize the Galaxy from the Republic's hands. However, only a fraction of the planet had actually been assaulted. The remainder had been largely unpopulated and left relatively untouched by the Sith battle fleets.

When Darth Malak was defeated at the hands of Jedi Master Alexandre Kodiak and Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, the decision was made to construct another forward outpost on Dantooine.

Tactically, Dantooine was a premier crossroads for several major systems that were thought of to have prospering worlds with the ability to affect Republic legislature. It would not do to have a world or worlds go to war over something the Jedi could easily mediate.

Symbolically, the Jedi would not back down as defenders of the Republic. They would rebuild. They would re-grow. They would prosper. They demonstrated by their very existence on Dantooine that the horrors of yesterday were not to be forgotten. Instead, they were to be testament to the cruelty given out by the children of the dark and that the children of the light would never cower, never surrender.

A glass valley, mirroring the sky above, pock-marked by rubble and dirt, was but the only vestige left of the old Jedi outpost. Still, a recent string of pilgrimages by Jedi wishing to pay respects were beginning to become popular as the one-year anniversary approached.

One such group, like so many others, was likewise setting out to pay their own respects to their fallen tutors and comrades. The only thing that set them aside from their fellows was the simple fact that they were the reason that the glass fields, valleys, and mountains even existed.

They had brought Malak's wrath upon Dantooine. They had brought pain to the innocent. They had done it all in the name of defense and it was a burden that each lived with on a daily basis.

"Master Kodiak." A slender female Jedi called out, her near-raven hair snaking lazily over her accentuated Anglo features. About her slender form were the loosely fitting garments common in Jedi garb. Beneath the robes, when the wind fluttered, one could catch sight of a black neotex bodysuit that was becoming the rage with younger Jedi, giving hints to a firm, toned, and shapely figure beneath.

"Bastila Shan." Alexandre Kodiak called out across the field, his lips resisting the urge to grin at the sight of seeing the woman.

'Remember. A Jedi knows not hate, fear, or love.' This was a reminder every time he saw Jedi Knight Shan, but the lesson never seemed to have truly set within his mind. Questions arose frequently as to why he could not ask her to be his. Wasn't it he who saved her from Malak's clutches? Wasn't it he who sacrificed mission and life to reunite her with her mother? And wasn't it he who made the choice, the choice that he still regretted?

She was all that reminded him of that horrible day. If he had just chosen a different path, he could be with her now, he was sure of it. Instead, his work carried him away from her instead of nearer while her mindset returned to that of a true Jedi. It seemed, at least to Jedi Master Kodiak, that his appeal to Bastila was nearing an end.

Alexandre neared the woman and the group standing around her. His eyes confirmed what his mind had already deduced. Knight-Errant Canderous Ordo, Commodore Carth Onasi of the Republic Sixth Fleet, and Jedi Knight Jolee Bindu had assembled to await transport for this most solemn of occasions.

"Revan, it has been awhile, hasn't it?" Canderous greeted Alexandre with a mild flick-salute. No matter how many times he was corrected, the Mandalorian refused to call him by any other name than that given to him at birth.

"Canderous." Alexandre greeted, bowing at the waist briefly. "Indeed, it has been. I hope the Republic has not one of your stature and capabilities pushing pencils all day, have they?"

"I see more trees on my desk than I do in the forests anymore. It appears I was right. There truly seems to be not a place in the galaxy for warriors such as you and myself."

The message conveyed self-pity but the tone was full of an underlying sadistic humor.

"Indeed." Alexandre said, eyes wafting towards Carth. "Commodore. Moving through the ranks of the Navy, I see." He reached his hand to the man. "Congratulations are in order, I assume."

Carth Onasi, golden child of more wars than either Alexandre or Bastila could remember, was a firmly built man a full three inches taller than Alexandre himself. His blue and red Navy dress uniform was adorned with ribbons and medals of all types on both breasts of his jacket though he wore them with less pride and more burden than most of his contemporaries.

He cared more for the losses than the gain in almost all of his conflicts. At times he was the conscious you needed. At other times, he was the little voice in your head that needed to be silenced in order to remain sane.

"Thank you, Master Kodiak." Carth smiled, a slight flush rising to his cheeks. Very seldom did he receive heralds from men he admired and trusted. Alexandre was but a few with the honor.

The group spoke for some time while waiting for their transport craft to arrive. Their conversation mostly lingering on personal life issues and anecdotes received throughout the past year or so since many saw each other last.

When the craft finally arrived half an hour later, all filed inside and journey to the memorial began.

"Explain to me again, Master Kodiak. Why did you beg the council to keep the Sith Academy intact after the Star Forge was destroyed?" Bastila asked this, looking up into his face as he thoughtfully gazed out onto the horizon.

The trip to the memorial was direct and without incident. The walk to the actual stone memorial where the old Council chambers once stood was one of silent reflection and remembrance.

All five were now staring out over the expanse of the glazed earth lying at their feet and beyond over the horizon. When Bastila spoke, it was the first time since arriving that anyone had opened their mouths.

"I feel the Sith will yet play a part in the life of the Republic. To leave them is a wise course of action. To eradicate them, destroy them, to kill them all - this would surely devour our souls by the very force we are trying to fight. To leave them." He nodded his head several times as if checking with his own mental advisor. ".would be to bring balance to the Force."

Bastila seemed to have been readying a rebuttal for the type of logic Alexandre presented her. She could not, however, find one.

'Who else would better know the Sith than an ex-Sith himself? There are things at work here that I know nothing about and wish to know nothing about. I trust him.' She thought, blue eyes floating over Kodiak's face like two icebergs breaking free from Hoth's icepacks.

It was several more minutes in silence before Carth was the first to move or speak again. The corners of his eyes were slightly damp and his cheeks a little reddened. He was leaving, sighting business and responsibilities he needed to tend to. Bastila was right behind him, essentially asking for a ride back to the enclave where she would see to some additional duties before likewise returning to her station.

Alexandre nodded briefly to the departing female Jedi, his eyes closing as if to inhale her passing as silently as possible.

Canderous did not so much as dismiss himself as to just turn and walk away. As one of very few non-force adepts in the Jedi Order, Canderous enjoyed many more liberties and oddities than was normally allowed. One such was political savvy or lack thereof. It made Alexandre smile.

Several minutes were spent in silent reverie, Alexandre with his eyes closed, head bowed. It seemed like the world of Dantooine was just now beginning to resettle its spirit, growing accustomed to the vicious scar inflicted upon it. All was calm. All was serene.

"I know what you're doing." It was Jolee Bindu's voice that shattered any sense of calming effect the quiet world had had on Alexandre. He had almost forgotten about the ancient Jedi, he had not said a word all day. But his sudden emergence from the shadows of background flowery within the group caused a very faint tinge of annoyance to wash through Alexandre's body.

"Hrm?" He responded.

"I know what you're doing." Jolee repeated again, voice deepening. "No one else sees it, but I do. I won't let it happen."

"Jedi Bindu." Alexandre said slowly, eyes turning towards the dark skinned man. "I haven't a clue what you are referring to. Whatever grievance you have with my business and myself you are more than welcome to bring to the Council's attention. They will deal with it fairly. Seclusion, however, is not an option."

There was an uncomfortable pause between the two men.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know why you were there."

With that one statement, the color drained from Jedi Knight Jolee Bindu's face.