Revenant:chapter2: part5

"Ah, Revan and colleagues." Vreik said softly as the troupe walked in. "Now that you're all here we can begin."

"What the… well, well," Jolee looked at the female council member next to Vreik and grinned. "Nomi Sunrider, it's been a long time."

"Hello Jolee, yes it has." Sunrider smiled at him and leaned forwards. "Tell you what, once the meeting is over would you care to meet up? We have a lot to catch up on."

"I'd love to. Living on Kashykk all these years has left me out of the loop as far as Jedi matters are concerned. But that's not why we're here is it?"

"No, but our decision does involve you master Bindo," Vreik looked at Revan and Bastila. Both stood close to one another, and he raised an eyebrow at the sight of Revan's left hand intertwined with Bastila's right. "The council has decided and we are ready to tell you all what must be done. Bastila, you must come first of course."

Bastila felt Revan gently tighten his grip, and she squeezed back gently. Looking at the council leaders, she stepped forwards.

"I am ready to accept your judgement masters. However, I ask that you be lenient as my fall to the darkside was at the hands of Malak, one of the most powerful Sith lords. I ask for the council to help me find my way once more, not to punish me as I requested earlier."

"I see you have come to your senses Bastila," Vreik murmured, a gleam in his eyes. "It is good you have, we were beginning to worry for you. Your fall to the darkside was due to many things, all of which were not in your power to have prevented. Indeed, there has been some discussion between us that you should be granted the title of Knight as has Revan and Juhani."

Bastila felt Revan gently touch her mind. "Maybe the council isn't as dumb as I thought."

"Revan, really!" She thought back, her tone scolding and she glanced to her right as he cleared his throat, trying not to laugh. Turning back, she bowed.

"I do not feel I am ready yet masters. I lack the emotional discipline to accept the responsibility."

"We would agree with you as far as the lack of emotional discipline. It has been pointed out… by someone not a million miles away, that you had rather a lot of overwhelming pressure placed on your young shoulders. To that end, we have come to a compromise."

"Compromise?" She asked, her head tilting slightly.

"We have decided that for the time being you will remain a Padawan, until the master we have chosen decides you are fully able to maintain the emotional discipline required of a knight. Once they are satisfied, you will be given the title of knight with our blessing and our thanks."

"Thanks?" Bastila looked at the small master with surprise and Vreik smiled.

"Yes young one. Despite your fall, you managed to accomplish more than even a master Jedi could have hoped on the mission assigned to you. Thanks to you, the starforge was discovered and destroyed and, more importantly, you protected your ward, Revan, at the expense of your following of the light." Vreik looked at Sunrider and Hieruk. "The council has also, with a majority vote I might add, found you innocent on all charges, especially murder. You are to be honoured Padawan Shan, something that will happen as soon as you have learned control."

"Heh. I'd hate to be the poor sod who has to teach you emotional control, Bastila." Jolee said with a frown. He looked at her, shaking his head. "It's one of the hardest things to learn, harder to teach. It took me many years in Kashykk, to accomplish what control I have. No, I don't envy them at all."

"That may be a problem then, master Jolee." Sunrider leaned forwards in her chair and smiled at him. "We have decided you will be the master assigned to Bastila. We have great confidence in your ability to teach her all she needs."

"Me?" Jolee looked at the council and Bastila turned red at his face, a mingled expression of horror and shock. "But… Me?"

"Thanks a lot. You make me feel really appreciated." Bastila whispered at him and he shook his head.

"Hey kid, I like you. You'll make a fine knight, hell, a fine master someday." She blushed at his serious tone. "But I'm not the one to teach you, really."

"On the contrary we think you're perfect." Sunrider grinned at him. "I remember a young knight who defied the council long ago and began to smuggle supplies to a planet… He lacked emotional control, despite his friends telling him he needed to learn. But it seems he's learned a lot since he left us…"

"Thanks a lot, Nomi." Jolee muttered and sighing looked at Bastila with a shrug. "Fine. It seems you and me kid, are going to be hooked together for a while. Just one thing, call me master, and I'll knot your arms behind your head. We've been through too much poo-doo for you to start doing that. I promise I'll sort you out in record time. We need Jedi such as you, Jedi who've seen the darkside, like Revan and Ju."

"Of course, Jolee." Bastila grinned at his face and turning back to the council bowed. "Thank you for your understanding and… thank you for your leniency." She said quietly, and Vreik nodded at her.

"We feel you have more than deserved it Bastila. Now," Vreik turned slightly and looked at Juhani. "Juhani, it is a pleasure to meet you finally."

Juhani stepped forwards and the Cathar's lithe body flipped into a deep bow.

"The honour and pleasure are mine master. I am confused, however, as to why I have been summoned to the council chambers as well as Revan, Bastila and master Jolee."

"Juhani, you were instrumental in aiding Revan in his quest to find and destroy the starforge. You stood with him at all times, even during the hardest. It is only fitting you also receive our thanks."

"I did only what the council on Dantooine bid me." She said shaking her head.

"That in no way diminishes what you accomplished alongside them, young Jedi. Indeed, master Vandar has asked that upon your return to Dantooine, you join him in training the students. I understand that he wishes you to assume master Zhar's role, to train them in sabre combat. Regardless, the council wishes to give you our thanks, your name will be forever inscribed into our history, as will the others, as a great Jedi of our order."

Juhani stared at Vreik with shocked pleasure and Revan nudged her slightly.

"Th… thank you masters." She stuttered, looking around the council in dazed pleasure. Vreik nodded and looked at the quiet Jedi standing next to Bastila.

"That leaves you, knight Revan. Unfortunately, the council is unable as you know to provide you with what you wish." Leaning forwards, his arm stretched out with a flourish. Revan took the small envelope held in his hand with a questioning look. "The envelope contains the… 'favour' you asked us for earlier. I hope this will go in some way to mending any rift between us?"

Revan sighed and nodded. "I… regret that I will never know what the discipline used to restore me actually did. However, I thank you for this and also for master Hieruk giving me the data about who Revan was before he fell." He looked up at Vreik and shrugged with a weak smile. "So, looks like you've got yourself a redeemed Jedi after all."

Vreik smiled and turned to Sunrider. With a wave of his hand, the old woman stepped lithely down from her chair and smiled at the assembled group.

"Actually, the council and the senate would both like to show their appreciation for all you've done. Despite some, ah, heated debates in the senate chamber, the majority has asked for your presence at the official victory gala being held tonight." She held out her hand to Bastila, who took the small wafer she held gently. "They would appreciate as many of your party being there as possible. We know Carth Onasi will be unable to attend, as will Zaalbar. They request, however, that the rest of your group attends, to officially receive the medals that Admiral Dodonna handed out on Rakatan… live on the holonet. Indeed, we understand that the public will soon know that it was you, Revan, who vanquished Malak. The council requests that you go, in order to demonstrate that you have been redeemed. Will you?"

Revan glanced at Bastila and cocked his eyebrow. "Want to go? Dancing, drinking and people slapping you on the back?"

Bastila looked at the wafer in her hand. "Actually, I was hoping for a quiet fire, a soft bed and a certain Jedi to tuck me in…" She looked at him, eyes sparkling, as his own widened in surprise. "Still, I suppose we could do them a favour, for not mentioning or trying to wreak our relationship."

Revan nodded and glanced at Juhani. The poor Cathar had a mixed set of emotions on her face. She obviously wanted to come with Revan and the others, but she hated large groups of people and that warred with her emotional control. Revan looked at her and gently placed a hand on her arm.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to. That's right, yes?" Revan asked, glancing at Sunrider, who nodded. "I don't intend to ask you to do something you don't want to, Juhani, and nor will they."

"No… I will come." Juhani said slowly. "I will have to get used to this sooner or later and besides, I would like to come."

"Great…" Revan said grinning. "Jolee?"

"Eh?" The old man looked up from the floor he'd been studying. "Me? Sure I'm coming. I need a stiff drink to cope with what they've just dumped on me." He glared at Sunrider, who just smiled serenely.

"Ahem," Vreik said from his chair and the group turned to look at him. "We also have decided the missions you need to go on after the party. Bastila, we ask you to go after the two weeks of leave you have requested."

"What missions do you wish us to undertake master?" Bastila asked, looking at Vreik politely.

"Republic Intel has informed us that the Sith 6th fleet is massing to assault one of our primary tabana gas facilities in order to steal it's production. As you know, we still have insufficient ships to go against them without your battle meditation." He looked at her as she slowly nodded in understanding. "We have four weeks until they move to attack. Dodonna is sending the Republic 8th fleet to defend it and would like you to be on the flagship. You and Jolee need to rendezvous with them two weeks from now, that should give you the time you requested from us and yet still give you time to move the fleet into position."

"Yes master."

"Revan?" Vreik turned to the Jedi, who calmly looked at him. "We have need of your skills also. Unfortunately, they will take you away from Bastila for quite some time. I must also apologise as the situation is desperate and we need you to go in three days."

Revan looked at Bastila and felt his heart flutter slightly. The look in her eyes mirrored his and he touched her gently. "I don't want to go. Maybe we should run away together… we could do the fire, and bed thing."

Bastila sighed, she knew he didn't mean that, he knew he had a duty as much as she did. She squeezed his hand. "No, we can't escape our duty. I have to go and help the fleet and you have to do what they want. We'll have to wait until we meet up again to do what I wanted." She looked at him, sorrow in her eyes. "Being a Jedi is going to be hard if we're constantly separated like this."

"As long as we don't let it happen that often we'll be fine." He assured her, wishing he felt more certain of it himself. "Nothing will keep me from you for long, I promise you that."

With a sigh he turned to Vreik and nodded at the small master. "Very well master, I understand. What is it that you require me to do?"

"The republic has been assembling small fleets of cargo ships recently, to transport supplies to Taris." Revan nodded, Mission would be pleased to hear that. "However, the Sith have started to attack the supply lines for their troops. The republic has lost four supply hauls in the past two days. Worse, the troopers they use are not just ordinary troopers, they are also using dark Jedi in the assault. We have been asked to support the republic and have decided to send you with them to ensure the cargo fleets safety. The aid to the survivors on Taris will dry up if we do not and the planet's remaining population will die. Be careful however, the reason we are sending you Revan is that the cargo haul has had our support already. We sent a group of Jedi with the most recent haul… none survived and the cargo shipment was taken, the ships destroyed. It is our opinion that the dark Jedi obviously have a master of great power with them, but no one has seen him or her. Protect the ships, the crew and the supplies. Remember though, a Jedi does not strike in anger."

Yes, master Vreik." Revan sighed and looked around. "Am I doing this alone?"

"No of course not young Jedi. Although Bastila and master Bindo are needed elsewhere, we feel Juhani should accompany you. Also, we are sure your friends on board the Hawk will be happy to come. The republic will reward them handsomely for helping protect the crew and cargo."

"Mission would do it regardless," Revan said, nodding. "However, Canderous may just feel this is worth his while. I'll ask him."

"Very well, young Jedi." Vreik looked at the group and bowed his head. "We will see you at the party, you may go with our blessing."

Revan turned to leave and then pausing at an empty chair looked back.

"Just one thing master, if I may." Vreik glanced up. Sunrider also looked at Revan as she sat down. "Where's master Telan?"

"Ah. She was one of the, rather small, group who felt we should punish Bastila and subject you, Revan, to a war tribunal. She has left the council in protest over our decision." He sighed at Revan's puzzled expression. "Please do not judge her too harshly. Telan was one of the early victims of the war with Darth Revan. She was captured while on a mission on Korriban and tortured, although she managed to escape. However, what she saw, and was subjected to, have left her a little… conflicted. Despite this, she was and still is a capable council member, she just needs time."

"Yes master." Revan said, while part of him sighed inwardly. Poor Telan, another victim of his previous life's lust for power. Shaking his head he looked at Vreik and Sunrider. "We'll go and get ready with your permission."

Across Coruscant, near the industrial sector of the northern quadrant of the planet, lay the slum areas. Often forgotten, more usually ignored by the population of Coruscant in general, it remained a place of darkness. It's dripping alleys and rotting walkways, connected various rundown buildings and flats. It was a place where the police never went, and the local population avoided as much as possible. The local crime syndicates found it perfect, as did other groups who wished to avoid the authorities, to vanish.

Inside a small rotting flat, a female figure sat in front of a well-lit table. The lamp provided the only light in the room however, the rest of it was covered in dark shadows. In front of her lay a series of components, and in the middle lay a gleaming red crystal. With skilled hands, the figure began to assemble them slowly, pausing only when a tiny knock was heard against the door.

"Yes?" She said quietly. "Come in."

Her voice was calm, controlled. Yet, to the second female figure that opened the door and stepped into the tiny room, it filled her with dread.

"Master, I have news." In the shadows, only the voice gave away the arrivals fear. "News that you must hear."

"Really?" Leaning across to a small control remote, the figure at the bench raised the lighting sufficiently to see the others face and turned. She herself wore a dark red cloak with hood and the face underneath was shadowed despite the light. "And what would that be, Telan… my reluctant apprentice?"

"The… the council has seen Padawan Bastila Shan and Revan." Telan looked at the shadowy figure as she began to fiddle with the components on the table. "As we suspected master, they are romantically involved."

"I see." The red crystal was plucked by two gloved fingers and slipped into a small cradle. "I take it then, that you managed to have Bastila removed from the Jedi order? That was the sole reason for you being there."

Telan looked at her with fear and apprehension. Shifting her body weight so that her sabre hilt swung closer to her hand, she cleared her throat.

"N… no master." Telan swallowed, as the fingers paused in their movements. "It wasn't my fault! Revan was there, he somehow got Bastila to allow him to be honour bearer! I couldn't get through to the other council members with him standing there, calm and collected. He's totally changed and they saw that! Because of him, they've let her go on all charges. She's actually been thanked for helping him, despite her fall to the darkside!"

"Mm. You were supposed to stop that from happening, we knew that could be a possibility. "The female figure took the assembled crystal structure and slipped it slowly into a well tooled cylinder. "The Sith do not appreciate failure Telan, and you have failed."

"I know master." Telan swallowed and knelt down on one knee. "Forgive me I beg of you. It wasn't my fault! I couldn't have known how much support he would have from the leaders of the council, they tipped the balance in his favour."

"Do they know that you are working for us?" The assembled structure was turned upside down and the bottom gently unscrewed, power units added. "Do they know anything of our operations here?"

"No master, the discipline you taught me helped mask my allegiance to you and the Sith. Besides, my capture and abuse at Korriban helps explain away any unusual behaviour."

"Good." The figure picked up the now assembled sabre and with a gentle press, the blade snapped into existence. With a few swings, the figure nodded and turned back to Telan. "We will have to give them something to focus on, to lure them away from our true intent."

"Yes master."

The figure clipped the sabre to her belt and the gloved hands pushed the table away. Getting up, she walked across to Telan and reaching out, stroked her hair gently. Telan flinched at her touch, memories slipping into her mind, and the figure smiled.

"Where are they going to be tonight?"

"The senate of the republic is throwing an 'official' celebration party for them. They are going to be presented with medals of valour by the Chancellor."

"Interesting," Telan watched her stroke her shadowed chin. "Tell me, do you have an invitation? Do you have any clearance codes to this party?"

"I have been invited, master. Why?"

The figure stroked her hair once more and kneeled down to look at her shivering face. Telan looked at the terrible gleam in the dark eyes and wanted to turn away, but she found she couldn't.

"Well, I think it's time to prove your worth to me once more. I want you to give Revan and Bastila a little present from me. It will help mask our true intentions from anyone watching and will give you my favour once more."

"Me master?" Telan shivered again and looked at her. "What present?"

The figure grinned and leaning forwards whispered into her ear. Telan's eyes widened in horror and she looked at the cloaked figure with apprehension.

"Me? Please master I… I will do as you say but…"

"Good. If you accomplish your task, get back here… I will let you assume the role of apprentice officially, including all the power that comes with it."

Telan looked at her and felt the hunger for power swell in her breast. She nodded and the dark figure stood once more, waving Telan up with her hand.

"Go. Show them the power of the Sith, my apprentice."

Telan turned and walked quickly away from the figure and out the door. With a sigh, the Sith turned back to the small table and clicked the remote on it once more. With a gentle glow, a hologram of Revan at Rakatan flickered into existence. The newscaster that droned on in the background, announcing the redemption, ignored. Slowly the Sith woman kneeled down and feeling under the chair she had sat on, pulled a box gently from under it. With a gentle click the top slid open and she pulled the clothing inside it, out, with an appreciative look. Glancing once more at the figure of Revan, now joined by his friends, the Sith pulled the hood back. In the dark of the room, her red eyes gleamed.

"It begins Revan. It begins now."