Revenant 5: shadows made reality.

Revan: The past.

He stands, gazing at the vast display that the Star Forge projects.

"So, Revan... we are prepared to take these? The final steps?"

He turns and looks at his apprentice, Malak. It's been so long since they'd found the ruins on Dantooine.... Been so long since Malak had assumed the role of Apprentice and Revan had become the Dark Lord...

He used to feel remorse, even pity for what he had to do in the Mandalorian wars. Now, with this new war, against his onetime allies, he could only feel the thirst for power, victory and the need to discard the weak. Now, he looks up at Malak and sees the same, tinged with the desire to succeed him.

"Of course," he smiles, as Malak flinches slightly at the masks booming electronic voice. Of course the missing jaw that Revan had provided him with a few months back could also have been a factor. "But I am... concerned."

Malak pauses and stares at him, he can feel his gaze. "What about?"

"I had a vision a few months back, I never told you or anyone, due to its nature." he looks back to the display, feeling Malak's surprise. "It has... disturbed me greatly, and yet I am forced to await its outcome. I sense a conflict coming Malak, one that could spell doom for the Sith." he feels Malak' heart lurch. "For I will be betrayed."

"You will?" Malak stares at Revan, he can't know! He can't! "What was the vision?"

"A Jedi strike Force will board my vessel." he looks at Malak. "I want another squad of dark Jedi placed on the bridge of the Soulstrike! Also, you will join me on your own ship. I want to totally overwhelm this miserable little trap they have set for us and then root out he or she who organised this!"

"Very well," Malak sighs, Revan doesn't know and that relieves him. "Together we shall crush them. Then... on to the Republic."

"Yes, we shall." he smiles inwardly. "I saw Shan, their trophy Jedi. She will fight me..."

"And will lose, no doubt."

"I am uncertain. The world is clouded to me from that point...." He looks up at his apprentice and ponders. He has prepared for this moment, for every eventuality. Still, it worries him. He has to place trust in another, always hard for a Sith. "It is of no consequence, we shall crush them. Now, go and await our departure!"

"Yes... my Master."

Malak strides away, his eyes glowing with triumph. He was the one who received the information about this last ditch attack. He is surprised that the Jedi would send Bastila, a Padawan to fight them.... What possible use could she be? Also, why squirrel her away until now? Still, with all the distraction, it will be easy for him to fire on Revan's ship in the heat of battle.

"You can come out now. Stop skulking in the shadows, my little assassin." Revan turns to gaze at a shadow in the corner of the room. "What do you think?"

The shadow moves and a cloaked figure steps forward. The hood is drawn fully over its face, but the curves show it to be female. As she comes to a halt in front of Revan, she looks up. He can see only her eyes, faint glints in the dark of her hood.

"I think he may be the one, Master." She sighs. "Why won't you let me take care of him?"

"Because he is useful..." He looks at her and turns away. "If what I have foreseen, despite the shadows, occurs... you are ready to do what must be done?"

"You need to ask me that?" She sounds hurt. "I love you, Revan, or have you forgotten?"

"No, no I haven't." She needs to hear the words. "I love you too."

"I am ready, my love. All is prepared... all has been secured. Only I know our plans. But it will not come to that. The Force has shown you what can be averted, now that you know..."

"There are too many variables to prepare for, so I have to prepare for the worst as I refuse to let my Empire crumble!" He turns to her and smiles. "With what we found, you and I? I will be remembered forever, as the Lord who destroyed the Jedi!"

The Ebon Hawk, now.

Revan awoke suddenly, sweat pouring down his spine. He shuddered as the final gloating laughter of him... no, his past, echoed in his head. Had that been a memory, a dream or something else... a warning?

No, no, it had to have been a dream. He sighed and leaned back on the pillow. Maybe it had been a dream, mixed with fragments of his past life.

"I.... He... Lord Revan couldn't have known that Bastila had laid a trap. If he had, he'd have killed her." Revan sighed and glanced at the still slumbering form next to him. "He wouldn't have bothered turning her... would he?"

He knew he was fooling himself. If Malak had wanted her, Revan would too. She had been the Republic's last chance, though he hadn't known why back then. So he would have incapacitated her.

He sighed and another thought pushed itself into his mind. Who had been that female assassin his past self had talked to... could it have been the person he saw in the message? He didn't know and it disturbed him. Was he the cause of his own problem? If so, what did they gain from attacking him?

With an effort, he pulled himself away from such thoughts. He had been saved from the darkness, and Bastila was alive, well, and next to him. Whatever they had planned, he was aware of them now and could counter it. Especially with help form his friends, with the love of... her.

He turned to gaze at the sleeping, lightly snoring figure of Bastila and his concerned face blended into a faint smile. He gazed at her, watched as she gurgled slightly and turned her head on the pillow. She was deeply asleep, calm and at peace with herself, that Revan could tell through the gentle ebb and flow of her emotions.

She was so beautiful. Her smooth curves outlined under the soft sheets of his bunk. Her lustrous dark hair spilled on the pillow, free of the dual ponytails she usually tamed it in. Her firm lips, smooth and slack, curled in a faint smile. She was so, so beautiful.

Unable to help himself, Revan slowly slipped against her, spooning her gently from behind. Her curves slid against his tightly, and he smiled at her unconscious gurgle of pleasure. The warmth from her body slid into him, heating his skin and he sighed in pleasure. With a smile, he ran his hand along her stomach, and then across the side of her thighs, her strong, supple thighs.

"So beautiful. My strong, beautiful Jedi... I can't believe you gave yourself to me, little pup." He grinned, knowing how annoyed she was with that nickname, yet it suited her. With a proud smile, he continued to stroke her smooth skin. "I don't deserve you, at all. Such danger to put you in, such a fool!"

He watched her shift again, feeling her sudden surge of emotions as his own state slipped towards depression. Ashamed, Revan touched her soul gently, using the bond that had grown so strong. Using an ability that was more instinct that knowledge, he stroked it tenderly, soothing her back to sleep. She deserved this, a night of guiltless dreams.

She shifted again, pressing even tighter against him, and her lips parted with a quiet intake of air.

"Grhhm." She whispered sleepily. The dream she was immersed in, making her smile and shudder with pleasure. "Mmmm."

He smiled at her, felt the despair and misery inside him break so easily at her expression. She was, and would forever be, his reason for living. His Bastila, his... she'd given herself to him and had taken him for who he was, even though she knew his past.

She snorted again, and suppressed a chuckle as she turned slightly and he noticed that the pillow was damp from her saliva. A deep murmur, that he felt tremble into him, slipped from her as she wiggled around on the bedding. He smiled. Would she get cross if she knew she was such a noisy sleeper? Possibly, more than possible in fact... a certainty.

Gently, he pulled away from her and slid out of bed. She snorted, gripped the covers a little tighter and muttered again. He could feel her emotions spike suddenly as part of her realised her wasn't there, and he reached once more into her mind.

"Sleep Bastila," he whispered, soothing her soul and mind simultaneously. "I'll be close, you're safe and warm. Sleep and I'll be back soon."

Slowly, he stood, and watched as she gurgled slightly and curled into a tight ball. She was at peace once more, much to his relief. Quietly, Revan pulled on his new robes and walked gently from the room, his mind set on Caffa.

Mission sat at the holotable in the crew annex, her mouth full of fresh juba fruit, headtails weaving as she scanned the swoop-racing program in front of her.

"Hey, finally surfaced have ya?" She grinned. "Caffa's fresh, I did ya a favour and restocked."

Revan winked at her and slid two cups under the synthesiser. "Thanks."

"No prob, I know the Jedi princess likes a hot cup in the mornin."

"Mission," Revan stared at her until the young Twi'lek's head tails wiggled in embarrassment. "Clever young women don't use snide remarks."

"Sorry." She flushed and paid close attention to the fruit in her bowl.

Pulling the two hot cups from the machinery, Revan sipped his mug, while the second hovered in mid air. "Anything important crop up?"

"Um, nah." Unable to meet his eyes, Mission fixated on the swoop racing. "Juhani said she'll pop by later, she wants to see you. Umm, Carth says he'll meet up at the Council."

"Great." Revan sipped his caffa slowly, watching as her blush deepened as she felt his gaze. "Speaking of Jedi, where's Selyne?"

"Ah, she left a note." He heard the young girl's tone cool and winced inwardly. "She's gone to meditate alone, somewhere on Dantooine. Something about needing to think."

"She'll be absent during the Council meeting?" Revan sighed and shook his head. "Great. Some Padawan trainer I am! She should have realised how important this is... even if we did..."

"Ah, frell her!" Mission finally turned to stare at him and her eyes flashed. "Stuck up, prissy, Bantha herder!"

"Shhh," Revan sighed. "It wasn't your fault."

"I... damn!" Mission flushed and bit down hard on her spoon. "Sorry, really. I bet Bast was spitting poodoo!"

"She was fine, and no, she didn't blame you." Revan watched as she flinched at that, reluctant to show she'd even been worried.

"Right, right... I'll be away for a while, okay? The Aratech store has the latest swoop recordings from Dantooine and Mannan." She smiled faintly. "By the way, so far nobody's come close to your time on both tracks."

"Well, that's interesting to know. You be careful, even here."

"I will. Hey..." Mission waited for Revan to glance back at her. "How come I never got a cup of Caffa in bed?"

Turning carefully, the caffa mug sliding gently around him as he did so, Revan winked at the young woman, before walking gently back to his stirring lover.

Bastila's eyes slid open, gritty with sleep. She rubbed at them and sighed with delight. She was naked, warm and lying in soft clean covers. The side of the bunk was warm, Revan's heat still trickling into her, and she leaned back.

The scent of him, masculine, with a hint of smooth scent, wrapped itself around her. She closed her eyes, breathing in, and a smile curved onto her lips. She was safe, secure and happy... for the first time in years, Bastila Shan was content.

She rolled over and saw him, the person who had given her all she wanted, standing in the doorway, and smiling. Her eyes flitted to the chipped mug he held, steam rolling over the edge, and she sighed.

"Would that be caffa?" She murmured. "Because if it is caffa, then I could really use some."

"Hmm, funny you should say that." Revan grinned as she rose an eyebrow and another mug of caffa slipped past him, hovering in the grip of the Force. "Would said Jedi like it in bed?"

Bastila sighed and shook her head, before sitting up and nodding with a slight blush. "Such use of the Force is frivolous."

"Tell that to someone you didn't suspend and then flip over last night." He smiled as she reached out and took the streaming cup, the blush deepening. "Can I also say, that I would very much like to see this image every time I wake?"

"What image?" She asked him, sipping and groaning with pleasure. Extra strength and double sweet, just how she loved it. "I have no idea what you are talking abo... this is an excellent caffa."

"Thanks," Revan murmured, a smile playing on his lips. "But I was referring to the woman I love, in my bed, happy and content. Oh, and with just the hint of the scruffy 'just woke up' appeal."

"Revan, do you do this to try and make me blush?" Bastila asked him, her blue eyes flashing with amusement over the cup. "I am a Jedi, and that is going to be hard to do. As for how I look, well...." She paused and sipped her caffa, as he raised a single eyebrow at the sudden sensation of amusement that trickled into him. "You look dishevelled and half awake too... I like it."

"Why thank you." He grinned and moved across to the bunk, slid next to her. "Just for your information, the Council want us to convene in a few hours."

"Oh? That will give me plenty of time in the fresher and dress in clean robes then." She smiled and sipped. "I take it I do have some left in here?"

"In the dresser on your left, though you may want to pop to the fresher...." He grinned as she frowned, and ran a finger along her lip. "We got a little, sweaty before the... interruption."

"Hmmm, you know... you're not so fresh yourself, my love."

"Ahh, well... we could always use it together," he leaned towards her and smiled. "I could help wash your back... then you could wash mine."

"Revan, you are deliberately making me blush again." She shuddered with desire at his expression and shook her head. "I have to be in the Council building in three hours, you too. We cannot go in there all... emotionally charged."

"Spoilsport." He whispered and she smiled mirthlessly, her lower lip trembling. "Why not?"

"Because I want to try and maintain some dignity, and I can't do that if I constantly feel such desire." She watched as his eyes raised and a sense of amusement trickled into her. He had no idea, or if he did it wasn't enough, of how much his very presence affected her. "So, I shall use the fresher, on my own, and then do some meditation to help me maintain a calm mind when we meet the Council. I intend to hear this message that has you so foolishly worried

"Ah," Revan's face stiffened and Bastila felt a sudden spike of misery and worry slam into him. She cursed herself for the quick words, the unthinking way she'd said them. "I... I think that may be best actually."

He moved to leave, but she slid to her feet quickly, the caffa mug falling to the floor and spilling its contents with a metallic gurgle. "Revan, wait!"

"I should go, let you mediate."

"No, I want to talk to you. There are no secrets for us with the bond, especially when we are so close... Tell me, what is bothering you so? Why does this message make you so worried? We have dealt with far worse."

"I... I..." Revan stammered and slowly sank next to her. Unable to hold it back, he gazed at her and sighed. "At first it was the tone, the reasons why she chases me, that made me fear for you, for my friends. Their sole goal is to obtain me..." He looked at her, and slowly entwined his fingers with the hand she'd slipped into his for support. "As for Juhani, Mission and the others... they have no place in their plans. You... you do Bastila. I can't let them have you."

"Revan, I am capable of looking after myself. You may have saved me on the Star Forge, but even you will admit that was a special set of circumstances. With the knowledge that you love me, I refuse to walk the darkness again."

"I know, and that's not what they want you for. Bast... I'm frightened, for myself as well as you. I know you can look after yourself, but what if they do manage to capture us? What if they make me watch as they..." He paused, shuddered and let out a breath. "No, no I'm not going to let that happen. Vandar was right! Separated, I could possibly keep you out of danger for a little while. But they'll obviously go after you once they have me. Part of me knows we stand a chance, a good one too, of stopping them."

"You know we do," Bastila squeezed his fingers with hers, and deciding he needed her, leaned into him. Her soft lips slid onto his and he felt them slowly part, felt her warm breath enter him, her smooth tongue caress his. Slowly, Bastila sat back. "I do not care what they intend for you, me or any of our colleagues. You and our friends have defeated Malak. Together, we can defend against the brotherhood."

"Its the part that cares for you, Bast... I still dream of the wounds I inflicted, trying to keep you back." Revan touched her arms, ran his hands unerringly over the areas of skin he knew once carried sabre burns. As he did so, he expected her to dance out of the way, only to find her smooth, muscular curves between his hands. "I know you are skilled with your lightsabre, I know that you are more than capable of defending yourself.... But I can't help it, I love you too much to not worry."

She looked at him, her ocean blue eyes dancing with tenderness, with a reflected need to touch. " I know you want to protect me, I do. But I am a warrior, you know this... part of you does." She sighed and slipping her arm out of his grasp touched his face. "Force help me, Revan, I love you and I hope you can trust me, trust my skills, to stay out the way. This feeling scares me more than I care to admit, even to you."

"I love you too, Bastila." His right hand slipped into her smooth hair, unbound and silky, while his left reached up to trace her soft lips. "Love's a scary business, that much I know to be real, from all my fake memories. Scary, but possibly the best thing to ever feel... to make you feel alive."

"Revan," Bastila murmured her lips close to his once more. "My Revan, mine."

His lips traced hers delicately, and he could feel the deep pulse of her heart, the rushing exhilaration slipping from her as the bond they held burst into glorious life once more. "Bastila..." He moved to kiss her.

"Ahem," a sudden soft, exotic voice whispered gently from the doorway. The two Jedi paused in mid kiss, in mid undress, and Bastila's head bumped into his shoulder.

"Revan, why does this keep happening to us?" her voice whispered to him. "All I ask for is one moment, with you. Is that too much for me to be granted?"

Revan sighed and, twisting on the bed, looked towards the doorway. There, standing awkwardly, her fur raised and a blush on the skin under it, Juhani gazed at the wall, the fresher door... anywhere but directly at them.

"I... I apologise, I... I should have knocked." She took a step back. "I... we should go and wait for you in he crew lounge. Revan, I... I am sorry for interrupting such a tender moment. Bastila, please forgive me."

"You are here now, Juhani." She forced a smile, steeled her nerve, and beckoned the Cathar in. "I have to say, that it is good to see you. But I have to use the fresher, so please, excuse me."

Revan watched as Bastila slid to her feet and walked quickly, but still with that inbred dignity, towards the refresher. As the door closed with a quiet click, he felt her reach for him. "That was most embarrassing!"

"You handled it well, my little pup." He sent back, feeling her amusement and irritation blend into a mental groan. "Sorry. Look I think Juhani needs to talk to me in private. So, I'll be in the crew lounge and leave you to indulge yourself." He slid to his feet and began to walk towards the Cathar

"Go and see what she needs, I'll be out soon."

Revan smiled and turned to the Cathar. With a small nod, he waved a hand at the door and, as Juhani smoothly slipped past him, walked with her into the corridor.

Yuthura gingerly sat on the young Twi'lek's bed and avoided her cheerful smile and searching eyes. The way she was feeling at the moment, cheerful conversation was the last thing she desired to enter into.

All she wanted was to see Revan. Once that was done, she intended to crawl into her bed at the Enclave and sleep. She was tired, and her head was still throbbing.

Jedi medical centre... a few hours ago.

The morning had been horrific to wake up to. She'd awakened, from terrible nightmares, memories of her past, to a splitting headache. It had been a sheer agony that wouldn't stop. Her gasps of pain had brought Juhani immediately to her side, and she'd shot her full of neural blockers to dampen the spikes of pain.

The two Jedi that Juhani had called in, those who had rebuilt her shattered mind, had sighed when she'd explained what she felt.

"Yes, we feared this may happen." Fara glanced at Juhani. "So much damage, so hard to heal and mend. Yuthura, you may have these attacks of pain for some months..."

"Why am I having them?" She'd asked, trying to keep the stammer, the sign of weakness, from her voice. "And will this be permanent?"

"We... don't know." Fara muttered and she sighed at Yuthura's pained expression. "I am so sorry, Jedi Ban. We did what we could, but even that you know who you are, that you have almost all of your memories back, is a miracle in itself."

"Tell me, please." She'd managed the words, felt them like acid on her tongue. Fara had sighed and gazed at her, as if judging her emotional state.

"Very well. The fractures in your mind were deep, very deep. It is a miracle you can talk as you do now, as I have already said. The pain you are experiencing is due to the fractures healing on their own."

"I thought you had managed to heal them?" Juhani asked, quietly.

"We managed to heal the fractures by linking them together with our Force concentration." Fara agreed. "However, it is up to your mind to heal the fractures permanently. This may cause you a lot of pain now and again, but you may take drugs to counter it, if you wish. I'll give you a prescription for some that should dull the pain."

"Can I...." Yuthura paused, dreading the question she wanted to ask. She'd shown so much weakness over the past few days... must have, that she felt ashamed. Even though she knew it was a holdover from her time with the Sith, what she had told Revan was true. It was so hard to let it go. "Can I use the Force? Will I be able to use the Force again?"

Fara stared at her for longer than Yuthura felt comfortable with, and glanced at her male companion. Both looked worried.

"We would... request that, for the next few weeks at least, you do not attempt to try and focus the Force other than to heal your mind." Fara watched her face twist in fear, and then mask itself quickly. "While we are both confident that you will recover fully, and have no lasting side effects of your... Sith incarceration, we urge you to take care. The Force caused the fractures, and until they heal, we have no idea what will happen if you try and use the Force as a Jedi. There may be many problems, ones which you may have to deal with, and others that you may need assistance with."

Yuthura nodded feeling weak and useless. In the background of her mind, from the darkness that she had so forcefully rejected, something sighed in disgust.

"You are weak... how can I be any part of you!"

She flinched, looking around in sudden shock. Fara, her gaze fixed on Yuthura's face frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"I... Master healer, may I speak to you in private?"

"Oh great, more pathetic mewling!"

Yuthura watched as the male healer and Juhani, who left reluctantly, casting a worried frown over her shoulder, left the room. She sighed and looked up at Fara, who stared at her with compassion.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Yes, tell the foolish lightsider all your problems."

"I.... I think something is wrong with me... that it wasn't a success."

"You do seem worried. What is it?"

"I..." Yuthura licked her lips and judged Fara's expression. "I... I keep hearing this voice, in my head. It's cold, scathing... cruel. I know this sounds crazy but..."

She trailed off at Fara's apprehensive expression. The healer was pale, but she shuddered and fixed her with a compassionate smile. "I do not think you are crazy, Jedi Ban."

"She doesn't? What a shame... I was wondering if you'd have to run."

"What's happening to me?"

"I have only seen this once, in all my time as a healer." Fara sat next to her and folded her hands. "It was a patient, like you, who had been attacked with the dark side by a Sith Master. Her mind had shattered, not as badly as yours, but badly enough that she required our help. We healed her mind... but she was terrified after a few days."

"Why?"

"She told me, in private as have you, that she could hear a voice, taunting her. My fellow healers and myself performed various mental disciplines with her and found something most disturbing. The attack had caused large cracks, like yours, and had also allowed the darker side of her mind to grow in power."

Yuthura stared at Fara in horror. Was the healer telling her what she thought she was. "You mean..."

"What you hear, what I think you can hear, is your dark side. The tiny kernel that is left, that resides in all of us."

Yuthura nodded, remembering Uthar's various speeches to the new recruits at the academy about "feeding the seed". She shivered, the memories of her past life still affected her.

"Weakling! They were glorious! WE were glorious! Yuthura Ban, Sith Master and soon to be Master of the whole academy. Students trembled in fear at one glance from us! How can that horrify you? That is who you were, who you are!"

"No!" She snapped and Fara jumped suddenly. The healer stared at her with worry and Yuthura closed her eyes, willing her composure to return. "I am sorry, it..."

"Spoke to you?" Fara shook her head. "This is my fault, I should have seen this coming. You were too much like the previous patient, even more shattered. I am so sorry... If I'd remembered, we may have been able to... to do something!"

"No, I refuse to have you blaming yourself for this. Can.... Can anything be done for me? What happened to the previous patient?"

"Ooohhh, good question!"

"She," Fara swallowed and looked away. "She was unable to stand what it whispered to her. We taught her some techniques to drown it out, to quieten it, but she couldn't stand it. She... she joined the Sith not too long after."

"No...." Yuthura went pale as laughter echoed in her mind. "I do not want to go back, cannot go back!"

"I have hopes that you will be different." Fara sighed and looked at her seriously. "Honestly? I hope that you will be able to drown it out long enough for the cracks left to heal themselves once more. If they do, then I hope that the darkness inside you will be healed as well, unable to affect you directly."

"Why?"

"Because you were a Sith! You know its temptations."

"That does not make me immune, it makes it harder to resist!" Yuthura stared at her, found she was unable to take the snarl out of her tone. "I know about the power that the dark side offers... the need that it creates! How do I fight that? How do I fight myself?"

"I can teach you, help you with a few techniques to calm your mind, defend against the voice when you need it most. But I have faith in you, in your strength of will... I know about your past Jedi Ban, I know how strong willed you are, I believe you can fight this and win."

"We shall have to see, won't we my dear."

"Please," Yuthura swallowed the feeling of guilt, of disgust that welled up. "I need... I need your help!"

"Very well, I shall teach you one technique now, we can go over others in more detail later." Fara glanced at the door. "May I make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Tell Juhani. Tell her what is happening."

Yuthura paled, her skin fading to a faint purple. "I can't tell her..."

"Out of all of us, she will be the most understanding. She fought free of the dark side once, like you. She knows the lure, the need it creates. Talk to her."

"I... I will." Yuthura nodded and sighed. "So much trouble."

"Let us begin. Once you have learned the discipline, Juhani can take you for a walk around the Enclave. I would suggest a light meal as well, mental healing through the Force saps nutrients from the body at a terrible rate. I will also prescribe some powerful pain blockers for you to take if another metal spike should happen to you."

The present.

Now she sat on the bed of the young Twi'lek, avoiding her gaze. Unfortunately, the young girl seemed interested in her for some reason.

"So, you feel any better?" Mission asked, her tone light.

"Mmhmm." Yuthura managed, as a tiny part of her, the darkness that remained, wanted to slap the young Twi'lek. She shivered. No, a Jedi did not have such thoughts, but why was this Twi'lek girl being so nosy.

"I suppose ya don't remember me." Mission leaned against the wall and stared at Ban with compassion. "Mind you, from what I remember, I ain't exactly surprised."

"What? No... I, no I don't remember you." Yuthura stared at her, and as she did so, the young girl's features became... familiar. "I... you? I can't... I don't."

She hissed and a hand rapped against her forehead. Mission's eyes went wide as she suddenly let out a savage curse in her native Sleheyron, a sharp almost hissing snarling language. The young girl took a step back.

"Hey, take it easy, I was just being friendly." Mission frowned as Yuthura continued to shake her head, a look of anger marring her face. "Yuthura, what is it? What's the matter?"

"I should remember you, that's the matter!" Yuthura muttered, her brief anger, spent. "After all you know me."

"Well, I met you twice. Once at the academy, when I was a 'slave' to Rev." Mission watched as Yuthura's expression became troubled. "The second was when I helped rescue you from that pit of a bar."

"You?" Yuthura whispered horror tingeing her voice. "I was rescued by a child?"

"Oh how the mighty have fallen!" The voice whispered suddenly, full of glee.

"Hey! Less of the kid remarks! I'm nearly fifteen years old!" Mission sniffed. "You'd still be clamped to that torture rack they had you on if it, like, weren't for me!"

"But, but you're so young!" Yuthura felt shame run though her, to be rescued by a child! She felt the darker side of her laugh, spiteful and cold. "I... you came with Juhani?"

"Yeah, Revan's plan." Mission leant against the wall, her lekku waving with recall. "Man, I have no idea how you survived to be rescued. Gotta admit Yuthura, that place was worse than Daviks slave pits, an that's sayin something! I mean, you survived all that, an whatever those sick pervs did to you, for long enough so we could rescue ya." Mission sighed and smiled. "I didn't like you at first, but I was wrong. I... I was glad to come and help you escape, y know?"

Yuthura stared at the young girls face, stared as her lekku radiated honesty. "You... you think I was brave?"

"Shows how much she knows then." Yuthura blinked at the sound of her own darkness and inwardly pushed the laughing voice away, using the meditation Fara had taught her. "I'll be back!"

"Heck yeah! Strong too." Mission smiled and leaned forwards slightly. "I'm glad you're here. After all, anyone can turn away from the dark side, look at Revan and Juhani."

"What about Juhani?" A furry voice purred gently as Revan and Juhani stepped into the room. "Have you two been discussing me?"

"You? Na." Mission smiled and winked at Yuthura, who stared in puzzlement. "I was just saying that it's good to see Yuth there, turning her back on all that evil darkness stuff."

"I..." Yuthura licked her lips, the words she wanted to say difficult to get out. "Thank you for saving my life, for protecting me when I could not."

"Hey, don't worry about it. After all I was, like, with Juhani the whole time. It was her swoop race, not mine. Look at me as her partner in rescues." Mission grinned and turned to Revan, ignoring Juhani's puzzled expression. "Rev, I've gotta jet. Those vidchips I talked about? I just heard on the holonet that they're about to go on sale."

"Fine, but the don't forget about the Council meeting."

"I won't. See you guys later!"

Revan watched Mission skip happily from the room and he shook his head. Turning to Yuthura, he smiled at her. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I... I wanted to thank you personally for rescuing me from that Sith slavery bar." Yuthura gripped the bed carefully, still shaky from the abuse and exertion to heal herself since being rescued. Slowly, she slipped down onto one knee and her Lekku coiled behind her head in a display of obedience. "I want to pledge my life to you Revan, as I should do. You have saved me twice now. Once from my own foolish need for power and this time, from those I once served unthinkingly. I thank you, my life is yours to command!"

"No!" Revan spoke quickly, shocks and fear in his voice. He sighed and helping her to her feet shook his head. "Yuthura, I don't want you to owe me anything, you don't owe me anything!"

"I have to give my life in service to someone, I should do! Juhani will not take it, as she feels it is part of this foolish debt she feels she owes me!"

"I do, and it is not foolish." Juhani's yellow eyes gazed softly at her. "You attempted to save Belaya in my stead. You did what I should have done, in my race it is that simple. You do not owe me anything, and until you are fully healed, I will protect you to the best of my abilities."

"Revan you see? Please, let me give you the only thing of worth I have at the moment!"

"Yuthura, you would make me feel far happier if you just concentrated on getting better. Force knows that they managed to almost kill you on Contara base. So, I want you to do what I know Juhani has been asking, and that's to get better."

Juhani smiled faintly at Yuthura. "You see?"

"Oh, Jedi are impossible!" Yuthura snapped, only to have the two with her both smile at once. "I come here to try and repay a debt, and you two refuse to accept there is any!"

"That's right. Now, I suggest you head back to your quarters and get some sleep. I know how much of an effort this has been for you."

"I...." She paused, realising that Revan's expression was the same as Juhani's. With a reluctant sigh, she wobbled to her feet. "Very well."

"I shall help her return to her quarters," Juhani bowed slightly to Revan and with her usual quick feline grace slid an arm around Yuthura. "I shall return shortly to go with you."

"Take your time." Revan told them both and with a nod at Yuthura walked out of the berth.

"S'ktach! Why will no one accept my pledge? Especially you!" Yuthura sighed as Juhani helped her walk out of the bunkroom. For some reason, Juhani knew that she needed to feel as though she was capable herself, and so the Cathar held her tightly enough not to fall, but lightly enough so that she felt she was the one walking. "I want to give you something of worth Juhani!"

"I do not want your life pledged to me, not this way." Juhani murmured as she escorted her along the landing bay. "As I said in there, I owe you a debt for being with Belaya."

"You are so stubborn! Like him!" She snapped, annoyed. Juhani smiled.

"That may be one of the most complimentary things said about me by another. But enough of this, you need rest Jedi Ban."