Chapter 3

"So let me get this straight" Carth crossed his arms. "The Council wants us to go through a spatial anomaly to a planet no one has ever seen to find your sister." He paused and looked straight at me, "Revan, I know this means a lot to you but doesn't this seem like a long shot."

Everyone stared at me, waiting for my answer.

"Okay, I'll admit it" I leaned against the wall in the Ebon Hawk's center meeting room. "It probably will be next to impossible for us to find her, if she's still alive. If we don't find her, we can come back. It shouldn't be that difficult." He looked at me skeptically.

"Come on, Carth." Mission piped up, "It's not like there's really anything to do around here besides fend of reporters, let's go for it!!"

Always up for an adventure I smiled at the young Twi'lek.

"If this is going to be a problem, the Council offered to give me my own ship to take in ... Alone." I added the last word just for Carth's sake. It worked.

"I don't think so . . . "He dropped his arms to his sides, his eyes flashed with worry, concern and a slight bit of indignation, "I'm not letting you go in there alone, Revan."

I smiled, "Thanks Carth. What about the rest of you?"

"I'm in!!!" Mission chimed in.

I will follow wherever you choose to go Zaalbar growled.

"Ahhhh ... What else is there . . . count me in." Jolee winked at me.

"I will come with you; I'm quite interested to meet this sister of yours."

I smiled, "Thanks Bastilla."

Juhani nodded to me and I knew that she wasn't going to leave my side either.

"Count me in." Canderous stepped forward.

T3 beeped excitedly.

"Of course I wouldn't leave you behind," I laughed.

"Well then," Carth looked at me and smiled, "I guess this means we'll head out for Dantooine as soon as everything's ready."

Everyone scattered to check the ship over.

"Rev?" Carth began to walk towards me, "Can I talk to you? I want to ask you about what we said on Rakatan."

I immediately began to feel uneasy. It had been 3 months since then and I'd pretty much absorbed myself in meditations or other things in order to avoid this discussion.

"Carth, can this wait until another time…I…" I avoided his eyes as I searched for an excuse…any excuse, "We need supplies…when I get back we can talk…alright?"

He sighed, "Rev, why do you keep running from me?"

"I…I've gotta go." I ducked away from him and hurried out of the Hawk.

Luckily something more important than getting the latest picture of Bastilla or I had to have come up because all of the reporters that had swarmed the docking bay had gone MIA. I slipped out of the docking bay and went to buy supplies.

As I was leaving one store, I was caught off guard when someone tugged my arm and pulled me aside.

"I understand the Council is sending you through the anomaly." Master Zhar spoke in a hurried hushed tone.

"Yes, they are sending me to find my sister." I answered, slightly annoyed.

"I know. They did not tell you everything, however." He glanced around, "The people that inhabit the planet are a very suspicious group. They do not trust anything they don't understand. They will shoot you down if they see you."

"That's nice to know." I said through clenched teeth, Great, just when I thought they were actually going to be honest with me for once. "How are we going to get by them then?"

"Several workers are loading a cloaking device on your ship. When you exit the anomaly, simply switch it on. It'll keep you undetectable so you can find Kahelle. However, it can only last for up to 1 week. After that . . ."

"We become a giant red light saying 'Blow us up' I get it." I turned to walk away and paused to glance back at the kind Twi'lek, "Thanks" He nodded and stepped back into the store.

The afternoon sun streamed through the buildings as I walked back to the Hawk.

I went to the bridge and there in the pilot's chair was Carth. He turned to me. "Welcome back, almost thought you'd decided to ditch us and go solo anyways."

"I don't know, but that option is starting to look pretty good if you're going to keep busting my chops." I put my hands on my hips and smiled. He tossed a Don't-Even-Think-About-It look in my direction. "Just take care of the ship, flyboy." I playfully pushed his shoulder and went back to my quarters to rest. It's a long trip to, well…wherever we're going to end up.

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I woke up a few hours later and went to the center meeting room to fix myself some caffa. I heard loud voices coming from the bridge. Shortly afterwards, Bastilla came storming by.

"Hey!! What's . . .?"

She was too absorbed to even notice that I was sitting there.

Wonder what Carth said this time . . .

I continued to sip on my caffa when Carth came in.

He sat across from me. "That woman is so . . ."

"Uptight, Prissy, Frustrating . . . need I go on . . . "

He gave a half-attempt at a smile

"What happened this time?"

"Just a little argument . . . nothing else." The look he gave me said not to press the subject any further.

"So . . . how much longer until we get to Dantooine?" I took another sip, never letting my eyes leave his face.

"About 12 hours." He leaned back in the chair.

"Whoa, I was asleep for a lot longer than I thought!" I set the cup down.

It was silent for a while. I stretched, "Well, I'm going to go work on the Swoop a little."

"We probably won't be there long enough to do any racing, you know."

"I know, I just . . . need . . . I mean . . ."

He shrugged, "Go on, I understand."

I avoided his eyes and headed for the hanger.

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Canderous was surprisingly quiet while I worked on the swoop.

"What's up with you?" I slid out from under the bike.

"It's nothing to you." He didn't even look at me.

"You aren't normally this tight-lipped about . . . well . . . anything. Spill." I wiped the grease on my pants and waited.

"It's none of your business and I'm not talking." He walked out leaving me alone.

I resumed working on the bike. A little under an hour later, Canderous' voice startled me, causing me to bang my head on the bottom of the swoop.

"I thought you Jedi heard everything from miles away. Ha!"

I slid out from under the bike rubbing my sore temple and shot him a look, just enough to let him know I didn't appreciate the surprise.

"So, decide you wanted to talk after all."

"No. We're nearing the coordinates from that data pad you gave Carth. Figured you'd like to know."

"Thanks." I softly touched the tender spot on my forehead and went to clean up.

I returned to the bridge after a quick trip to the refresher.

Carth and Bastilla were already there.

"So, do we see anything yet?"

Carth jumped.

"Nothing visible, but if these coordinates are correct, it should be right . . . "Bastilla's words were cut short as the ships alarms began blaring.

"Whatever it is, I think we found it." Carth flipped on the communications system, "Everyone hold on, this could be a bumpy ride."

I watched, as the space in front of us seemed to open in a blinding light.

"Here we go!"

I braced myself as the ship began to shudder. A sudden pitch threw me against the wall.

"Are you alright, Revan?" Bastilla asked as I pulled myself back to my feet.

"I'm fine." The ship jumped, this time I managed to stay on my feet.

"We're almost through the other side."

"The people that inhabit the planet are a very suspicious group. They do not trust anything they don't understand. They will shoot you down if they see you."

"Crap!" I started for the cargo hold.

"Where are you going?!?" Carth yelled over the alarms after me.

"Making sure our trip doesn't come to an abrupt end." I yelled over my shoulder.

My eyes darted around the hold looking for the cloaking device. I looked over and saw a strange box in the corner.

That has to be it.

I ran over to it. There was a panel with three buttons on it: red, green, and blue.

Crap, Which button turns it on?

As the ship pitched again, I tried to remember my conversation with Zhar.

"We become a giant red light saying 'Blow us up"

"It's as good as anything."

I slammed my hand down on the red button. I held my breath until I heard it buzz to life. I'd never been so happy to hear something start up. Running, I left the hold and went back to the bridge.

The ship pitched a few more times, knocking me off my feet more than once. By the time I reached the bridge, things had stabilized. A planet had appeared.

"I guess this is it then?" Carth leaned back in the chair.

"Well, flyboy. Let's land this thing."

We're coming to bring you home Kahelle.