Revan & Malak
The debriefing was rather simple, and somewhat impersonal. At least to Revan's tastes. Shandar of course, as he had said, did most of the talking and the apologizing. According to the council however apolopgies weren't needed. Malak thought otherwise, he seemed be blaming himself for the tragedy. And as much as Revan didn't want to, she felt partly responsible as well. No one, and truly no one was as down in the dumps as Mayla. She hadn't even left the ship since they arrived back at the academy, and there wasn't any visible chance that she was coming out any time soon.
Once they were through with the council, Revan was relieved. Malak just the same. Neither of them were booted out of the Jedi order for their failure. The council even went so far as to call it a "learning experience". Which was foolish in Revan's head. Malak was frustrated with it all, and needed to blow off some steam. When Malak needs to vent some anger he usually heads over to the training rooms, which is exactly what Revan suggested. Malak almost smiled at her quick suggestion and uttered something that Revan found barely audible. "You always seem to know what I want..."
The duo made it their personal mission to avoid Bandon at all costs. Even so much as to take the long way around the academy when they saw the young padawan in a hallway that was in their path. The last thing they needed was him walking on their heels and asking them questions. It was for his own good, Malak might have been tempted to do something awful.
They chose a training room that was unocupied, just the way they like it. Malak then procceded to smash nearly helpless droids to bits, turning up the training regimen every so often. Revan practiced her force powers by levitating various bits and pieces of broken droids, sometimes using larger scraps to scrap other droids. Malak stoot and watched as Revan exercised her force power into a bolt of pure electrical energy. Something that was very difficult to pull off, especially for a padawan. Revan needed absolute concentration, but when she could focus her powers effectively it was an impressive sight. The unfortunate droids she had tested herself on was electrocuted and fried to a burnt sparking crisp.
Malak couldn't watch Revan forever though, and turned back to training with another set of droids. He smirked and jumped into the middle of five droids, coming down with his lightsaber. It sizzled and cracked into the armored shell of the droid. Nearly splitting it in two.
Malak swung around with both body and blade. Cleaving several droids with his mighty cut. He moved his saber behind his back in an awkward position as a droid shot it's blaster at his exposed rear. But Malak was too fast and to skilled for such an attempt. The bolts were deflected with his saber and were precisely retured to the droid. Too easy he thought. He had actually left his back exposed to the droid, just to test his reflexes in deflecting at shot from behind. It was apparent that his force reflexes were up to par.
When they had at last maxed out their traing droid usage, the duo's gaze finally met eachother again. Both Jedi glanced at the other's lightsaber. Revan chuckled and pulled her blade up and went into a stance. Malak raised any eyebrow curiously at first, but then put his saber up as well. They never spared together, too often. Sparing with lightsabers was considered to be very dangerous and was only practiced by the most skilled Jedi masters. Knowing how to kill your opponent was once thing, attacking them and avoiding any serious harm was another.
It was a stare down of epic proportions indeed. Neither of the two moved in to attack, both kept their distance and help a defensive stance. Revan was first to act but not it a way Malak expected. She lowered her blade to the side and took up a hand. She held it up, and what resulted was the lifting of a mass of broken droid pieces. Arms, legs, torsos, and heads levitated by the invisible power of the force. Revan waved her entire arm across her and the metal scraps were flung at Malak.
Standing his ground he bravely swung at the first droid appendage that came near him. Splitting it in half and seemingly destroying Revan's force connection over it. The force was practically flowing through his saber as he cut at the next metal scrap. Easily dispatching it like the one before.
Revan increased the speed at which she was flinging things at Malak. Throwing them at odd angles that made it much more difficult to block from. Much to her surprise, he was actually begining to step forward through the hail of droid parts. More than stepping now, more like running toward her! She dropped the rest of her mobile bludgeons and raised her saber just in time to defend against an attack.
That strangely unique sound of two lightsabers clashing filled the room. And Malak was almost blinded by the sudden white flash. He was definetely unused to it, but he would adjust. He flowed through as series of slow attacks, attacks that were parried with deft ease. Malak turned up the heat slightly and came at her with a fast and powerful swipe. He wasn't surprised when Revan managed to block it.
She hadn't expected that last attack. He was more serious about this than she thought. Revan's response was an offensive of her own. While Malak prepared for another powerful swipe, Revan cut in with a dangerous speed. Forcing him to think twice about attacking again and concentrate on a defense. Strength wasn't needed where a lightsaber was concerned, just the slightedt touch could badly injure someone. And that was Revan's attack plan. Fast blinding strikes with limited strength behind the blows but at an intense speed. She knew Malak was stronger anyways, atleast where muscles were concerned.
It soon turned into a dazzling display of spins and elegant swordplay. The two switching from offense to defense so often until neither of them were doing it for more than a few brief moments. Each disadvantage was played, each off balance was taken advantage of, and each attack was parried. The two hadn't laid a saber's edge on each other so far. It appeared to be an even match.
Revan saw an opening for an attack, but it wasn't with her saber. She let loose her force powers from a free hand. An invisible wind knocked Malak away from her and was followed up by a swift drop kick into his jaw. Sending him realing into the air across the room. He crashed into the wall with a loud thump...and another thump as he hit the floor. Groaning.
She turned off her saber with that trademark "thwump" sound and rushed over to Malak's aid. She kneeled down beside him. Still breathing and groaning, that was a good sign.
"Hurt?" She asked, it seemed like such a simple thing to say.
"Yes...and no," He staggered up, shaking his head.
"Huh? Oh..hehe, your pride eh? Sorry about that," She stractched that back of her head, embarrassed.
"I'll live..." Malak was obviously sweating when he spoke. They both were.
The next few days passed by without anything unordinary happening. Bandon had eventually caught up with the two Jedi, and had interogated them about their mission. Revan was reluctant to tell Bandon anything about it but still gave him the majority of the story. She left out certain things of course. Bandon seemed mesmerized as Revan spoke. Malak could have sworn she wasn't using any Jedi mind tricks on him. He still seemed under a trance though, hanging on her every word. Revan actually enjoyed it. Malak stayed silent, occasionaly telling Bandon that some things were not of his business. Mandrak had eventually came to fetch Bandon. He gave Revan and Malak a few dirty looks before carrying off his student by the ear. Poor Bandon, he atleast had her pity.
The day seemed like it would end like any other as Revan settled down in her computer chair to look through some data file before hitting the sack. What usually didn't happen at this hour was someone knocking on her door. She sauntered over to the source of the knocking and hit the open button. It was Jacen, long dark hair and all. Although he wasn't dressed in the customary robes of the Jedi. Rather it was a mix of his battle boots and gloves with a much more casual line of clothing. Jacen was the tall, dark, and handsome type, he definately had a sense of style. Revan wanted to slap herself for thinking of that, what a stupid idea...tall, dark, and handsom. So cliche, what are you thinking Revan? More like what are doing? He's standing right there!
"Uh...Hey," She was really hating the sound of her voice right there.
"Am I..interupting something?" He asked quizickly, and with a raised eyebrow of interest and curiosity.
"N-no, not at all! Was there something you..wanted? Or is this just a friendly visit?" She was bordering on sarcasm right there. Such an easy defense mechanism it was.
"Call it both..just wanted to stop by and see if you were busy.." His voice was low, and calm too. He kept such a constant cool. Revan envied that.
"Well of course I'm not busy, it's rather late you know. What did you want by the way?" Straight to the point, so Malak like at times.
"Thirsty?" He asked. Leaving Revan with a confused look on her face.
"Huh..?" She didn't follow.
"Haha..Care for a drink? Downtown? I know you could use one, after that mission." He gave her a smirk.
She blushed,"Uh..sure! Just let me get my..er..things..and stuff"
Stop blushing you fool! She thought to herself as she went back inside the room to get her boots on. She was already dressed in a darker attire. Black robes seemed to find their way on her more often these days. That and black leather, that made the council cringe. And she enjoyed that. They left the outside of her room in almost a hurry. Revan hadn't been outside the academy since she had gotten back. So now she was eager to leave once again, even if it only was still on Coruscant.
Now, Revan didn't have a speeder but she did have a set of ignition codes for Malak's. Unknown to him of course. Jacen seemed to hardly care too much for going off with Malak's speeder. Revan figured that he'd never know. When everyone is that care free disaster it bound to happen. Jacen however wasn't worried, it wasn't his friend's speeder after all. Ever the gentleman he offered Revan the pilot's seat. Which she gladly accepted.
"Don't worry, I know how to fly this thing. I've seen Malak do it a hundred times! And I have flown other speeders."
"This one seems..Faster. It might be the chrome finish that gives me that feeling. Where did he get this thing?"
"Theres an entire story in that..I'll spare you.." Revan typed in the ignition codes. Failure. And then again. Failure.
"I though you remembered it..."
"I do...I must have one wrong or something.." She began to get frustrated. Success! "Haha! See, I knew it."
"I never doubted you.."
Revan was a fair pilot, and she gracefuly guided the speeder out of the hangar and into the cool night air. She speeded through night time traffic, gradualy heading down into the city depths. Jacen knew where they were going, the usual place. A dive in the lower city. Bad crowd but good drinks. He'd been there before, hell, even before he was a Jedi he was messing with that crowd. Those days were behind him now though. He would have to avoid any scuffles, he was a Jedi now. Besides, the chances of another group of Gamoreans picking a fight with a few Jedi was slim to nill. They most likely still remembered the last bar fight they had there, and who the winners were.
"Okay..plan of action," Revan spoke as she parked the speeder in an open spot outside the bar,"We have a drink..and try not to kill anyone."
"Agreed. They might not let us in ever again if we slaughter another group of drunken aliens."
"Yeah..As fun as that might be." Revan joked, but Jacen gave her a weird look,"What..?"
"Hehe..nothin sister, come on." He motioned for her to exit the speeder as he did.
"Same crowd. Same faces," Revan said as she scanned the crowd of aliens and humanoids inside.
"Were you expecting something different? This place never changes, trust me."
They took two seats at the bar and ordered their drinks. Jacen was always a good listener, and that was good because when Revan wanted to talk..she talked. About the mission mostly. Jacen seemed very interested in the story she had to tell. Nodding and giving various comments. Revan could tell he suspected something though, as she had left out a few elements of the story.
"You killed Zsar out of self defense?" Jacen's brow furrowed a bit.
"Yeah...He was mad. Out of his mind." Revan said that a little bit too quickly.
"Hmph..no reasoning with him, right?" Revan wasn't sure what he meant by that, from the tone of his voice and the way he said it. Did he suspect something?
"We had no choice!" She burst out at him.
"Right..I understand...there's no reasoning with a madman. Unless of course you happen to be mad yourself. Then I suppose you could relate somehow. Might make converstation and reasoning easier. Or even more difficult."
"Stop rambling..."
"Right..."
Revan finished up the rest of the story, about how she and Malak were rescued. And how Mayla chose to stay and come back to the academy with them.
"You mean she's in the ship? Right now?"
"Mmhmm..She hasn't come out since we got back. I'm guessing she's been eating the food stored inside."
"I hear Trandoshans have an iron gut."
"I've never had the chance to sample any Trandoshan delicacy. Thankfuly. Hmm..She can keep to herself all she wants for now. She has alot of things to sort out, ya know?"
The rest of the conversation carried on. It was good to be able to talk with someone besides Malak. He was just too serious sometimes. Jacen could be the cold type sometimes, he still had a "warm heart" as Revan liked to call it. He had life in him, youth despite his age, so much unlike any normal Jedi. Especially the rotting corpses of the Jedi Council. Hearts made of stone. Only cold and calculating logic. The way they bore into your soul with those unwavering eyes. It made Revan's blood boil.
The time finally arrived when they had to leave. They payed and casualy strode out of the bar, only to find the most peculiar thing. An alien of undescript origin was tampering with the controls of Malak's speeder. The alien was operating some kind of code hacking device. Revan was about to draw her lightsaber to scare the little thing off when the speeder vroomed to life. The alien nearly screamed with delight but his celebrating was cut short by a seeping green gas eminating from somewhere in the cockpit. It howled once before slumping over onto the seat, apparently knocked out cold.
"The hell..?" Jacen said..looking very confused, "What is that, some kind of security feature?"
"No...Malak never had anything like that installed-"
"That's because I put it there," A voice spoke out from the shadows. Revan and Jacen turned about quickly to meet the source of the voice. He was short, to say the least. That was his second most prominent feature. His first were the two largest blaster pistols Revan had ever seen in his hands," You just got lucky...thats all. My device failed. But I won't. Nobody gets away from Calo Nord. Nobody."
The debriefing was rather simple, and somewhat impersonal. At least to Revan's tastes. Shandar of course, as he had said, did most of the talking and the apologizing. According to the council however apolopgies weren't needed. Malak thought otherwise, he seemed be blaming himself for the tragedy. And as much as Revan didn't want to, she felt partly responsible as well. No one, and truly no one was as down in the dumps as Mayla. She hadn't even left the ship since they arrived back at the academy, and there wasn't any visible chance that she was coming out any time soon.
Once they were through with the council, Revan was relieved. Malak just the same. Neither of them were booted out of the Jedi order for their failure. The council even went so far as to call it a "learning experience". Which was foolish in Revan's head. Malak was frustrated with it all, and needed to blow off some steam. When Malak needs to vent some anger he usually heads over to the training rooms, which is exactly what Revan suggested. Malak almost smiled at her quick suggestion and uttered something that Revan found barely audible. "You always seem to know what I want..."
The duo made it their personal mission to avoid Bandon at all costs. Even so much as to take the long way around the academy when they saw the young padawan in a hallway that was in their path. The last thing they needed was him walking on their heels and asking them questions. It was for his own good, Malak might have been tempted to do something awful.
They chose a training room that was unocupied, just the way they like it. Malak then procceded to smash nearly helpless droids to bits, turning up the training regimen every so often. Revan practiced her force powers by levitating various bits and pieces of broken droids, sometimes using larger scraps to scrap other droids. Malak stoot and watched as Revan exercised her force power into a bolt of pure electrical energy. Something that was very difficult to pull off, especially for a padawan. Revan needed absolute concentration, but when she could focus her powers effectively it was an impressive sight. The unfortunate droids she had tested herself on was electrocuted and fried to a burnt sparking crisp.
Malak couldn't watch Revan forever though, and turned back to training with another set of droids. He smirked and jumped into the middle of five droids, coming down with his lightsaber. It sizzled and cracked into the armored shell of the droid. Nearly splitting it in two.
Malak swung around with both body and blade. Cleaving several droids with his mighty cut. He moved his saber behind his back in an awkward position as a droid shot it's blaster at his exposed rear. But Malak was too fast and to skilled for such an attempt. The bolts were deflected with his saber and were precisely retured to the droid. Too easy he thought. He had actually left his back exposed to the droid, just to test his reflexes in deflecting at shot from behind. It was apparent that his force reflexes were up to par.
When they had at last maxed out their traing droid usage, the duo's gaze finally met eachother again. Both Jedi glanced at the other's lightsaber. Revan chuckled and pulled her blade up and went into a stance. Malak raised any eyebrow curiously at first, but then put his saber up as well. They never spared together, too often. Sparing with lightsabers was considered to be very dangerous and was only practiced by the most skilled Jedi masters. Knowing how to kill your opponent was once thing, attacking them and avoiding any serious harm was another.
It was a stare down of epic proportions indeed. Neither of the two moved in to attack, both kept their distance and help a defensive stance. Revan was first to act but not it a way Malak expected. She lowered her blade to the side and took up a hand. She held it up, and what resulted was the lifting of a mass of broken droid pieces. Arms, legs, torsos, and heads levitated by the invisible power of the force. Revan waved her entire arm across her and the metal scraps were flung at Malak.
Standing his ground he bravely swung at the first droid appendage that came near him. Splitting it in half and seemingly destroying Revan's force connection over it. The force was practically flowing through his saber as he cut at the next metal scrap. Easily dispatching it like the one before.
Revan increased the speed at which she was flinging things at Malak. Throwing them at odd angles that made it much more difficult to block from. Much to her surprise, he was actually begining to step forward through the hail of droid parts. More than stepping now, more like running toward her! She dropped the rest of her mobile bludgeons and raised her saber just in time to defend against an attack.
That strangely unique sound of two lightsabers clashing filled the room. And Malak was almost blinded by the sudden white flash. He was definetely unused to it, but he would adjust. He flowed through as series of slow attacks, attacks that were parried with deft ease. Malak turned up the heat slightly and came at her with a fast and powerful swipe. He wasn't surprised when Revan managed to block it.
She hadn't expected that last attack. He was more serious about this than she thought. Revan's response was an offensive of her own. While Malak prepared for another powerful swipe, Revan cut in with a dangerous speed. Forcing him to think twice about attacking again and concentrate on a defense. Strength wasn't needed where a lightsaber was concerned, just the slightedt touch could badly injure someone. And that was Revan's attack plan. Fast blinding strikes with limited strength behind the blows but at an intense speed. She knew Malak was stronger anyways, atleast where muscles were concerned.
It soon turned into a dazzling display of spins and elegant swordplay. The two switching from offense to defense so often until neither of them were doing it for more than a few brief moments. Each disadvantage was played, each off balance was taken advantage of, and each attack was parried. The two hadn't laid a saber's edge on each other so far. It appeared to be an even match.
Revan saw an opening for an attack, but it wasn't with her saber. She let loose her force powers from a free hand. An invisible wind knocked Malak away from her and was followed up by a swift drop kick into his jaw. Sending him realing into the air across the room. He crashed into the wall with a loud thump...and another thump as he hit the floor. Groaning.
She turned off her saber with that trademark "thwump" sound and rushed over to Malak's aid. She kneeled down beside him. Still breathing and groaning, that was a good sign.
"Hurt?" She asked, it seemed like such a simple thing to say.
"Yes...and no," He staggered up, shaking his head.
"Huh? Oh..hehe, your pride eh? Sorry about that," She stractched that back of her head, embarrassed.
"I'll live..." Malak was obviously sweating when he spoke. They both were.
The next few days passed by without anything unordinary happening. Bandon had eventually caught up with the two Jedi, and had interogated them about their mission. Revan was reluctant to tell Bandon anything about it but still gave him the majority of the story. She left out certain things of course. Bandon seemed mesmerized as Revan spoke. Malak could have sworn she wasn't using any Jedi mind tricks on him. He still seemed under a trance though, hanging on her every word. Revan actually enjoyed it. Malak stayed silent, occasionaly telling Bandon that some things were not of his business. Mandrak had eventually came to fetch Bandon. He gave Revan and Malak a few dirty looks before carrying off his student by the ear. Poor Bandon, he atleast had her pity.
The day seemed like it would end like any other as Revan settled down in her computer chair to look through some data file before hitting the sack. What usually didn't happen at this hour was someone knocking on her door. She sauntered over to the source of the knocking and hit the open button. It was Jacen, long dark hair and all. Although he wasn't dressed in the customary robes of the Jedi. Rather it was a mix of his battle boots and gloves with a much more casual line of clothing. Jacen was the tall, dark, and handsome type, he definately had a sense of style. Revan wanted to slap herself for thinking of that, what a stupid idea...tall, dark, and handsom. So cliche, what are you thinking Revan? More like what are doing? He's standing right there!
"Uh...Hey," She was really hating the sound of her voice right there.
"Am I..interupting something?" He asked quizickly, and with a raised eyebrow of interest and curiosity.
"N-no, not at all! Was there something you..wanted? Or is this just a friendly visit?" She was bordering on sarcasm right there. Such an easy defense mechanism it was.
"Call it both..just wanted to stop by and see if you were busy.." His voice was low, and calm too. He kept such a constant cool. Revan envied that.
"Well of course I'm not busy, it's rather late you know. What did you want by the way?" Straight to the point, so Malak like at times.
"Thirsty?" He asked. Leaving Revan with a confused look on her face.
"Huh..?" She didn't follow.
"Haha..Care for a drink? Downtown? I know you could use one, after that mission." He gave her a smirk.
She blushed,"Uh..sure! Just let me get my..er..things..and stuff"
Stop blushing you fool! She thought to herself as she went back inside the room to get her boots on. She was already dressed in a darker attire. Black robes seemed to find their way on her more often these days. That and black leather, that made the council cringe. And she enjoyed that. They left the outside of her room in almost a hurry. Revan hadn't been outside the academy since she had gotten back. So now she was eager to leave once again, even if it only was still on Coruscant.
Now, Revan didn't have a speeder but she did have a set of ignition codes for Malak's. Unknown to him of course. Jacen seemed to hardly care too much for going off with Malak's speeder. Revan figured that he'd never know. When everyone is that care free disaster it bound to happen. Jacen however wasn't worried, it wasn't his friend's speeder after all. Ever the gentleman he offered Revan the pilot's seat. Which she gladly accepted.
"Don't worry, I know how to fly this thing. I've seen Malak do it a hundred times! And I have flown other speeders."
"This one seems..Faster. It might be the chrome finish that gives me that feeling. Where did he get this thing?"
"Theres an entire story in that..I'll spare you.." Revan typed in the ignition codes. Failure. And then again. Failure.
"I though you remembered it..."
"I do...I must have one wrong or something.." She began to get frustrated. Success! "Haha! See, I knew it."
"I never doubted you.."
Revan was a fair pilot, and she gracefuly guided the speeder out of the hangar and into the cool night air. She speeded through night time traffic, gradualy heading down into the city depths. Jacen knew where they were going, the usual place. A dive in the lower city. Bad crowd but good drinks. He'd been there before, hell, even before he was a Jedi he was messing with that crowd. Those days were behind him now though. He would have to avoid any scuffles, he was a Jedi now. Besides, the chances of another group of Gamoreans picking a fight with a few Jedi was slim to nill. They most likely still remembered the last bar fight they had there, and who the winners were.
"Okay..plan of action," Revan spoke as she parked the speeder in an open spot outside the bar,"We have a drink..and try not to kill anyone."
"Agreed. They might not let us in ever again if we slaughter another group of drunken aliens."
"Yeah..As fun as that might be." Revan joked, but Jacen gave her a weird look,"What..?"
"Hehe..nothin sister, come on." He motioned for her to exit the speeder as he did.
"Same crowd. Same faces," Revan said as she scanned the crowd of aliens and humanoids inside.
"Were you expecting something different? This place never changes, trust me."
They took two seats at the bar and ordered their drinks. Jacen was always a good listener, and that was good because when Revan wanted to talk..she talked. About the mission mostly. Jacen seemed very interested in the story she had to tell. Nodding and giving various comments. Revan could tell he suspected something though, as she had left out a few elements of the story.
"You killed Zsar out of self defense?" Jacen's brow furrowed a bit.
"Yeah...He was mad. Out of his mind." Revan said that a little bit too quickly.
"Hmph..no reasoning with him, right?" Revan wasn't sure what he meant by that, from the tone of his voice and the way he said it. Did he suspect something?
"We had no choice!" She burst out at him.
"Right..I understand...there's no reasoning with a madman. Unless of course you happen to be mad yourself. Then I suppose you could relate somehow. Might make converstation and reasoning easier. Or even more difficult."
"Stop rambling..."
"Right..."
Revan finished up the rest of the story, about how she and Malak were rescued. And how Mayla chose to stay and come back to the academy with them.
"You mean she's in the ship? Right now?"
"Mmhmm..She hasn't come out since we got back. I'm guessing she's been eating the food stored inside."
"I hear Trandoshans have an iron gut."
"I've never had the chance to sample any Trandoshan delicacy. Thankfuly. Hmm..She can keep to herself all she wants for now. She has alot of things to sort out, ya know?"
The rest of the conversation carried on. It was good to be able to talk with someone besides Malak. He was just too serious sometimes. Jacen could be the cold type sometimes, he still had a "warm heart" as Revan liked to call it. He had life in him, youth despite his age, so much unlike any normal Jedi. Especially the rotting corpses of the Jedi Council. Hearts made of stone. Only cold and calculating logic. The way they bore into your soul with those unwavering eyes. It made Revan's blood boil.
The time finally arrived when they had to leave. They payed and casualy strode out of the bar, only to find the most peculiar thing. An alien of undescript origin was tampering with the controls of Malak's speeder. The alien was operating some kind of code hacking device. Revan was about to draw her lightsaber to scare the little thing off when the speeder vroomed to life. The alien nearly screamed with delight but his celebrating was cut short by a seeping green gas eminating from somewhere in the cockpit. It howled once before slumping over onto the seat, apparently knocked out cold.
"The hell..?" Jacen said..looking very confused, "What is that, some kind of security feature?"
"No...Malak never had anything like that installed-"
"That's because I put it there," A voice spoke out from the shadows. Revan and Jacen turned about quickly to meet the source of the voice. He was short, to say the least. That was his second most prominent feature. His first were the two largest blaster pistols Revan had ever seen in his hands," You just got lucky...thats all. My device failed. But I won't. Nobody gets away from Calo Nord. Nobody."