Revenant5: The shadows Within.

Bastila stepped out of the refresher with a sigh. It had been cramped in there, and washing with Sonics always left her with a slightly itchy sensation, as though her skin was left quivering by them. Regardless, she felt clean and refreshed. Revan still hadn't returned from wherever Juhani had yanked him, and she hummed as she glanced at his bunk.

"Still the same Revan," she thought fondly. "Well, it has only been a few weeks since I saw him last. What was I expecting?"

However, even as her mind wandered over this, her soft blue eyes caught sight of a small transparent plastisteel tube sitting on the small shelf above it. It was new, and it gleamed.

"I do not remember Revan having this before I left..." Bastila frowned and with a quick glance around, lifted the tube gently down. She stared at it, her fingers trailing across the smooth surface. The controls set into its base made her frown. "Why would Revan have a holotube in his room? What would he use it for?"

A sudden click, as her finger accidentally hit the activation button, had her biting her lip in dismay. Even as she tried to hit the off switch, the tube lit with a bright glow. In the shimmering light of the tube she saw the flickering image of a girl of four, dark haired, blue eyes, grinning at someone. A sudden voice had her eyes fill with tears.

"Okay princess... try again for daddy!"

"Yes daddy... " The little girl glanced around, absently twisting her hair with her little fingers and then launched into a song.

"There once was a lazy Rodian, who was green, happy and full... Said the Twi'lek neighbour 'You should work for your food. Cause when the cold it comes, there will be no food!'"

Bastila stared at the image, her breath coming in sudden heaving gasps.

"The Rodian was lazy, didn't want to work, ate an drank while it all grew an grew." She watched as the girl scuffed her foot against some pebbles and grinned. "But when winter came there was no food! He begged an he pleaded but they all said no! The poor little Rodian, he shivered and froze. Til the warmth came back, and more food grew. The little lazy Rodian he worked for his food!"

"Well done princess, well done!" The male voice on the recording laughed and the little girl started to giggle. Slowly the image faded.

Bastila clutched the tube tightly... feeling the tears that had trickled down her cheek wet her skin. She sniffed and gently placing the holotube on the tiny table next to the bunk wiped her eyes with her towel.

"That was a present from your mother, Bast." Revan's voice echoed into the room, soft and gentle. He watched as she turned away, as her shoulders shook. He sighed... So brave, so stubborn. "Well, the recording anyway. I had to buy the tube from one of the stop off planets, but the recording is one of the few Helena has left."

Bastila turned to him, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. "She gave it to you? Revan, I am sorry, I was just curious and when I was looking at it my finger it, well..."

He held up a hand. "I was going to have the bottom inscribed for you, as it really belongs to you."

"What?" Bastila blinked and her she felt her lips tremble. "Me?"

"There was a little message with it, attached to the text file." Revan walked up to her and slipped one hand around her waist as he slid open a tiny compartment and yanked a pad from it. "Here, she wanted you to have it..."

Bastila's eyes trailed to the pad and flicked over the message written there.

Young man, I can never truly repay you or my daughter for both the peace and chance at life you have both given me. You've made a bitter woman very happy, far happier than she deserves.

I... I found this, rummaging through my belongings they have just brought me from Tatooine. Such a miserable collection, all my jewellery is gone, as is anything I felt I could sell... that I could part with. But I did find something.

I forgot I had this, my small box, sealed when Bastila left us, sealed to keep me from feeling any remorse, any pain. I was a fool, and I let my bitterness fester when my hero of a daughter never answered any of my comms... I know now that she probably never got them.

I have sent you something from that box. The rest I will keep until Bastila and you come back. When you do, I want Bastila to have it... I think she deserves it, and I hope she'll share it with you. The gift is attached to this message as a data block, you'll need a holotube to see it, a small token of thanks, to both of you... a reminder that I think of you both.

Take care of my daughter, please.

Helena Shan.

Bastila stared at the words as they fuzzed on the screen, felt her fingers chill. It was only the sudden warmth of Revan's hands wrapping around her that made her look up.

For almost all her life, she'd hated her mother. Always believed that Helena had discarded her, pulled her away from her father. It had left a bitter scar inside her, and that had festered for too long. She had never sought her out, never tried to contact her mother at all, and now she wondered if it was due to the beliefs of the Jedi, or if she used that to convince herself.

"So many years lost..." She whispered, feeling the bitter guilt, hidden for her mother's sake, because of her illness, contained in those memories. "I was such a fool."

Revan stood there, unable to answer. He knew that if he told her it was untrue, to Bastila it would be a lie. He gripped her tightly, felt the bitter pain running into her.

"You know, I wonder what she thought of me... for all those years?"

"Bast..."

"Heh, probably some stuck up Jedi, too busy to care about anything. She'd be right."

Revan groaned. "Stop it. Come on, that's unfair."

"She, she never forgot me. But I forgot her. Then along you come and.... and solve it. All those years of... hate. The huge chasm... gone." Bastila stared at the tube and suddenly felt something bitter stir inside her... aimless, no reason to pin it on. "She gave this to you... because she couldn't trust her spoiled daughter with it."

Revan stared at her, speechless as she stared at the tube. "Bastila... pup."

"Oh stop it!" Bastila turned to him, irritation on her face. "I know my own sins, and all that lost time is some of it. I know I have you to thank, for giving that back... but there still remains a rift. Part of her still sees me as a child."

"I..."

"She gave you the tube! Not me." Bastila frowned at the angry snap and pulled her voice back to a whisper. Her gaze returned unwillingly to the tube. "Despite her intentions, she gave it to you... not to me."

"She didn't know where you were!" Revan watched as she placed the tube back in his cupboard. As she stepped back he reached in slowly and took it out again. "It's a lovely gift Bastila, take it."

"My mother gave it to you, you keep it!" She snapped again, angry with herself and taking it out on him. "I... by the Force, all the lost time between us! A rift doesn't heal in a few months!"

"No, but I know you two will be alright." Revan watched as Bastila trembled slightly. "Bast?"

"I... you... why do you always try to save me?" She looked at him, lips thin. "I... Revan I... By the Sith!"

Revan coughed and shook himself, unable to stand the upset that pulsed through the bond and into him. "No Emotion, only peace... serenity."

"If only it were that simple." Bastila whispered. "If only it were that easy. To repeat that I have emotion, yet I have peace. But it is not, and my guilt and my own stupid anger with my mother... with myself, remains. My relationship with Mother is upsetting to me. Even when mother was alone in the hospital, I could not find the courage to ask her about her thoughts "

"I wish I had an answer or I could think of one, but then maybe that's the problem... I always do." He watched as she turned to gaze at him, felt her sudden irritation cool to embarrassment. "I have to remember you don't need rescuing."

"Revan, please." Bastila placed a hand against the locker set into the bunk, and tried to ignore the shaking of her hand. "Please... I didn't mean that you..."

"Yes, you did." He felt his own irritation spike, and saw her wince at the reaction her own loss of control had caused him. "We can discuss it later."

"I..." She watched him walk to her dress locker and pause next to it. "Revan, I didn't mean to imply you coddle me... or that I do not realise the terrible risk you went through to save my life." Bastila shivered and ran a hand through her hair, forcing the aimless bitterness away for a little while. " I am useless at this, I really am..."

"Bast..."

"Now I have offended you, my love, with my quick and stupid words." She watched his face soften slightly and plunged on. "I love you, always will. I'm sorry, you were a target, over my guilt with Mother. Not us..."

"I wish I could believe you," Revan whispered, even as the bond pulsed between them, carried her buried bitterness. "But I know otherwise. You do have issues with... with that. We'll talk about this later."

"Revan, please..."

"Would you mind getting dressed soon? We do have to go and see the Council." Unable to hide the reaction to the upset in his voice, Bastila felt her body tremble. "We can... discuss this in private later, for as long as you wish. I... I did have another surprise for you."

Bastila stared at him, felt the shame sink lower and turn to guilt. "A surprise?"

"Yes, It's in here." Revan gestured to the locker holding her clothes. I know now may not be the time, but I still want to give it to you."

"Oh," Bastila hesitated for a few seconds and then slowly crossed to the small recessed lockers. With a gentle snick, her fingers slid open the one that she knew contained her spare clothes and she stepped back in shock. There, clean, immaculate and pulsing with Force, lay a pristine Jedi robe, the lightside pouring from its aura. Reaching out, she caressed the fabric, recognised it and turned.

"Revan!" She began, only to find him leaning against the door jam. He stared at her with cloaked eyes. "I... these cannot, should not, be for me!"

"To be honest, I can't think of a more deserving Jedi." He watched her flinch, as his words struck home, and he sighed. "I want you to have them."

"I fell!" She managed. "Besides, my outburst shows how little control I still have! Even with Jolee helping me cannot control myself. I... I do not deserve to wear Qel-Droma's robes! They are for shining examples of Jedi."

"Bast. To me, to Juhani... to many Padawan's... you are a shining example." He watched her face tremble and shiver. "They know you fell, and yet you fought the darkness inside yourself. What's even more impressive? That you did it while the Star Forge held you tightly. Lord Revan wasn't as strong!"

"Stop praising me," she whispered, her voice tinged with horror and the regret that still lingered. She bit her lip and clamped down on her foolish bitterness. "I almost killed you back then and.... yes, you saved me that day and I am grateful for that and what we have.."

"Bast... I..." Revan sighed inwardly as he felt her step back from her bitterness, and walked up to her. He reached out and slid a hand onto Bastila's towel. "I want you to have them, and as you seem so reluctant."

"Revan!" She managed, before the towel hit the metal deck with a quiet flap. She shivered, but she didn't cover up. "What will this prove?"

"That I love you, that I want you to have these." He slid a hand around her reluctant wrist, slid up one of the robe's sleeves. "That you are Bastila Shan, Jedi, but even more than that. Because... no matter how much we clash, I love you and you love me."

She shivered as the robes slipped inch by inch onto her skin. It was wrong, she didn't deserve them. But Revan's face was so sad, her words still so obviously biting into him, that she let the fabric slip onto her. Bastila sighed, expecting the robes to be useless to her, but she reached out with the Force and her eyes widened in shock.

"I... I, these are amazing!" She whispered, as her Force senses exploded with focus, with clean, calm power. "I... Revan."

"Take them, wear them." He smiled so softly, so sadly, that she felt her heart flutter. "I've got to get ready. HK47 is guarding the only copy of the message and I should get there ahead of everyone else. I promise you, as soon as this is all done, you can tell me how you want me to act the next time we end up in trouble."

She watched as he walked out of the bunkroom. Ensuring she was alone, Bastila stroked the fine fabric and cursed in Deralian. The robes were an object of the light, and she could feel it... she could feel it. Maybe Revan was right, she was still a Jedi. But, even so, she felt guilty.

"Idiot... why did I say that to him? He can be possessive, protective to me yes, but never overly so. Oh, Bastila Shan, you have got to control yourself... Remember, emotion yet peace... chaos yet serenity." Unable to help herself, Bastila picked up the holotube once more and stared at it, at herself. "Mother, what do I do? What do I say? Oh, why fool myself? He does protect me and in my mind... far too much... far too often. I am a Jedi, I will always be in harms way, as much as he will. We have to find a balance, or I shall always be coddled... protected by him. I do not wish that."

She loved him, knew it deeply in her heart... but even so, his need to keep her totally from harm was beginning to split them apart.

"Is it because I fell? Is it because he thinks deep down, where I refuse to go... that I am weaker and need help?" With another sigh, she slipped the robes off herself and rummaged in the drawers for an undershirt. "I cannot believe that... He is right, we will have to find a way... together."

Jedi Council room: New Jedi Enclave.

"Ah, Revan, Bastila... I see you have brought your group with you." Vandar, his wrinkled green face smiling slightly, tapped the floor with his walking stick. "As this could very well affect you all, it may be best."

Revan's eyes flicked around the large all of the Council chambers. It like the rest of the currently rebuilding Enclave, was new... he could smell the drying permacrete.

Bastila stood next to him, quiet... thoughtful. He could feel her lingering guilt over her attack, mingling with the bitterness she let seep past her defences. Even as he watched her, observed the blue eyes flicking across the room, their friends, and then to him... and pause, his mind constantly snapped back to one thought.

"What if she's right? What if I am over protecting her? If I am, then am I doing the same thing to the others?"

Unable to find an answer, his own eyes broke the gaze and flicked across his other friends.

Juhani stood with her inherent agility, in the centre of the room. Her own yellow eyes took everything in, but yet she was obviously thinking about other things as much as him.

Jolee stood to one side, interested but separate and, next to him, Mission slouched against the wall at the back of the chamber.

Next to her, was Canderous. The Mandalorian had strolled up to Revan as he had made his way to the Council, and grinned at him as he puffed on a ciggara, Now, he also slouched against the wall and stared with hard eyed interest at the Jedi around him.

"We await one more addition at Admiral Dodonna's request." Vandar told Revan quietly and Revan frowned. "She should be here directly."

"Very well, Master," Revan nodded quietly. "Oh, Padawan Selyne sends her regrets. She has been requested by one of the Padawan's to assist her in sabre construction and basic combat. She will not be present for this meeting, but I'll fill her in later."

"Ah, I see." Vandar smiled. "I am pleased that the Coruscant Council saw fit to issue with your own Padawan Revan."

"Hmph, I do not agree Master Vandar." Vrook, his wrinkled face locked in a scowl, glared at Bastila and Revan. "How can you hope to teach Selyne that which she needs to know when you cannot follow our own code?"

"Master Vrook..." Bastila began, her face turning red, but Revan reached out into the bond and soothed her into silence.

"Maybe you're right Master Vrook. However, I never asked for Selyne to be my Padawan, but she is here now, and I will guide her if I can." Vrook opened his mouth but shut it again as Revan gazed at him. "I admit that I cannot, will not, be able to follow the Jedi code to it's full letter. However, I can only bring myself to believe that the code is the starting point to something greater. Something that helps Jedi cope with emotion rather than repress it."

"Revan, you have not even attained Master yet, and you think you can decide what to follow and how?" Vrook shook his head. "Such pride, such arrogance."

"Heh, I think Revan's doing fine the way he is." Jolee grunted from his position at Revan's side. Vrook stared at him and frowned. "Every Jedi has to find their own path. I say that we let Revan and Bastila find their own way."

"They are emotionally involved, that is dangerous for Jedi. Look at what happened to Bastila, she attacked Malak with no logical thought at all."

"Master, Malak would have killed Revan if I had not done something. I... I could not stand by and let my bond mate die!" Bastila felt her spine stiffen. This was too much like Coruscant. "Yes I love him, but is that such a terrible thing?"

Vrook glared at the two Jedi, only to have Vandar interrupt them by tapping his cane once more.

"Master Vrook, this has been discussed on Coruscant already. The Council there saw no reason to punish our two young Jedi. The Force decreed a bond would be formed, the Force decreed that Bastila would sacrifice herself out of duty and love, and it lead her to the dark side, yes."

"All the more reason to..." Vrook snapped, his gravely voice severe.

"Peace Vrook. Let me finish, please. Despite the lure of the darkness, Bastila was brought back to the light by one thing. We can argue and disagree with Revan and Bastila's decision to try and understand their feelings, but it cannot be refuted that it was their love that saved her. Is this not so Bastila?"

"Yes," Bastila whispered, her lips trembling slightly. "I cannot deny what I feel, Master Vandar. It would be unfair to you, to the Council, to Revan and.... to me." She glanced at Revan and, despite their current problems, felt his strength flow into her. "I love Revan, Masters and I will be with him, if he wishes it, for the rest of my life."

"Bastila, you know how close you came to being lost forever to the darkness. How can you stand there and let your passions flow for Revan?"

"Passion is not the same as love, Master Vrook." Bastila bowed her head, and bit her lip. "Love is very different to passion. I can only say that it saved me from the darkness... it did not condemn me. I... I am sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear Masters but I..."

"No apologies are needed young Bastila. None are needed from any of you." Vandar smiled at her and glanced over at Vrook's stern disapproval. "The Council on Coruscant, as you have said Bastila, has already dealt with this matter. If they had nothing to say about these turn of events, then nor do I."

Revan glanced at the two new members of the Council. He recognised Jestra, a female Twi'lek who was skilled in data sifting. She had been given Master Dorak's job as archiver. She was a quiet Jedi, skilled, intelligent, and compassionate. As he stared at her, she smiled slightly at him and bowed surreptitiously. No, she had no problem with Bastila or himself.

The Master that had taken Master Zhar's place was a male Zabrak called K'rtirr. Zhar had been an excellent teacher, unequalled. Despite this, Revan respected the Zabrak and hoped that, while K'rtirr would frown upon his decision to control and feel, rather than repress, his emotions, he would respect it.

Vrook shook his head, but his grunt was one of capitulation. "Very well, but I still say that it is too dangerous for all Jedi to follow your example. That in mind, I ask you keep this between yourselves, not to discuss it with the Padawan's. Selyne will, I hope, also be included."

"That may be best," Vandar sighed and nodded reluctantly. "How you interpret the code is a matter for your conscience, but I have to agree that the Padawan's must know the code as it is, before they find their own path."

Revan glanced at Bastila, and bowed. "Of course Master, that should pose no problem."

A sudden commotion at the entrance to the Council chambers made the group look round, only to see Captain Denara walk quickly into the room, a flushed expression on her face.

"I... apologise. I was distracted by other matters at hand last night and fell asleep far too late. I... I am sorry for being late and holding you all up."

"It's fine Captain," Revan smiled at her, even as Bastila cocked an eyebrow. "It's good to see you again, but why are you here?"

"I can answer that," Vandar smiled slightly as all eyes turned to him. "Captain Denara has been transferred to the Spirit as officer in charge of the Soldier and Marine contingent aboard her. Dodonna felt it was the perfect way to reward her heroic defence of the Taris supply run against many Dark Jedi."

"I can say that I'm pleased anyway." A familiar voice echoed around the chamber and Revan turned to it with a grin. Even as he did so, he heard Mission squeak with delight.

"Carth! Ya wrinkled old Bantha herder!" She ran up to him and hugged the old soldier tightly. Carth grinned and squeezed back.

"Good to see you Mission, you too Revan. All of you." Carth nodded to all of them, even Canderous who inclined his head respectfully.

"Onasi" His deep voice held no scorn, he'd grown to respect Carth since the Leviathan, the man had taken out Saul one on one, as Revan and Bastila had fought the dark Jedi.

"Admiral Onasi has been ordered to assist you on this mission as well." Vandar smiled. "Although the Hawk is... admirably fast, Dodonna requested that we allow you to use the Spirit as your base of operations."

"I'm flattered," Revan muttered and Carth winked. "Honestly, its good to see you, Carth."

"You too Revan, you too." Carth leaned against the wall next to an excited Mission and cocked his head. "Now, anyone mind telling me what this is all about?"

"Firstly I must contact the Council on Coruscant. They have requested to sit in at this meeting, with everyone's permission?" Vandar watched as Revan and his friends nodded, and Canderous shrugged. "Very well."

With a hum, one of the holoemitters that had been integrated into the Council chamber snapped into action. A flash of light shimmered around the room, to focus into a picture of the Council on Coruscant. Revan smiled at the images of Vreik and Sunrider.

"Ah, Revan, Bastila." Vreik nodded and Sunrider smiled. "It is good to see you both again, but in less than desired circumstances. We understand you have a new enemy to face?"

Revan glanced at Vandar and he nodded. "Very well, Revan I suggest the message, it explains what you and your colleagues face."

"Yes Master Vandar." Revan glanced at HK, whose red eyes had been studying the various people in the chamber, no doubt for potential attack, and the droid glanced down at T3.

"Annoyance: You heard the Master, rust bucket! Begin the playback!"

T3 whirred at the insult, but his small transmitter dish slid into position and a second projector flickered into life.

"Yes, my Master?" A voice echoed around the room, cold and aggressive. "What is your will?"

"I have instructions for you, my brethren. The time for Revan's revenge is at hand. Malak has already paid for his betrayal, even if it was at the hands of the puppet the Jedi have created." The figure on screen was clad in a black cloak, the hood covering her face. The only way they could tell it was female, was due to the shape under the robes. Her voice was processed electronically, distorting it beyond recognition. Behind it, the room was shadowed, little light hiding any detail. "Now the Jedi will pay for standing against our lord, for denying him his true self!"

"That's not what happened!" Bastila whispered sadly, unable to help the terrible pang of guilt that still assailed her. Revan nodded and, with a slight hesitation, placed a hand on her arm. "I... we... tried to save you!"

"I know, I know..." Revan felt her gently touch his arm, felt regret trickle from her. He squeezed and whispered. "Later... it's okay."

"Yes, my Master." The voice of the recipient of her transmission agreed. "What are your orders?"

"Are our loyal Sith troops in place, as are the dark Jedi?"

"Yes, Master. We are in position to cede fifteen Sith Battle cruisers from the others. It helps that the Sith as a whole are now struggling to find new leaders. But we stand ready to assist."

"Good. I want two of the dark Jedi we have under our command to go on a mission for me. I want Ban eliminated, chose two dark Jedi you trust and have them kill her."

"May I ask why? She is crippled, both in mind and body. She betrayed the Sith, she deserves to remain a Twi'lek pleasure slave for the rest of her life. I can only imagine the way she must be screaming at this moment. I hear her past involved slavery, she deserves this fate!"

"No!" Juhani muttered coldly, her fingers curling. "No one, especially Yuthura, deserves that fate. She deserves redemption, compassion and support!"

"I agree," The female Master nodded and then sighed. "But I have discovered that Revan knows about her now. Doubtless he will try to save her. I want her disposed of before he can do that. Remember that our primary goal is to capture Revan. I refuse to have Ban wandering around, assisting him in any way she can."

Revan felt Bastila shiver next to him at the tone the figure used when she said, "capture". He reached out with the bond, felt her apprehension, and she sighed at the laughing image in front of her.

"To hear you repeat it to me is one thing. To hear this from her own lips is quite another. I see why you are so worried, my love." She whispered, realising for the first time that his fear for her safety was more than just a misplaced need to protect her. "We have to stop this Brotherhood!"

"Yes, Master."

"Ban is powerful in the Force. If she joins him then it will become harder to obtain Revan alive." The figure paused and its fingers clenched in annoyance. "Besides, I want her death to send a message to Revan and the Jedi, one they cannot ignore! No one can escape the Sith, those that are weak and run from the dark side can find no redemption, only pain until they either accept the darkness or die! The Sith has been weakened by Malak and his stupidity for long enough..."

"So, you wish her killed Master. Any particular method?"

"Just ensure that Revan, and his pathetic group of Jedi, know who did it. As to the method? She is currently being held as a slave. Give them a copy of this message to hand to our contacts on Contara. I want them to be aware of my other instructions, but they will help your two assassins gain access to Yuthura Ban! "The cowled figure leaned further into the holocam. "I hope that I will not have to repeat myself Security officer Ghern! Assist the two dark Jedi who give you this message, then carry out my other orders!"

"Yes Master, I shall instruct them to give him this message. What about Jedi Revan's 'friends'? Do you have any orders to deal with them?"

"Hmmm...." The figure pondered for a few moments and then laughed. "I want them killed as well. Send a message to our loyal Sith and dark Jedi. Tell them to do the following. Jolee Bindo, Onasi, Ordo and that Wookie are to be killed if Revan is seen with them. I have no use for any of them. Bindo is too old to be of use, Onasi would die before he told us anything, so we'll save the torturers the time. Ordo is Mandalorian, I've never trusted them. As for the wookie? If I wanted a slave, I would take the Cathar. So, kill them all... tell them to do it quickly as well. Revenge is something we have no time for, this has to be clean and efficient."

Revan glanced at his friends, his own temper flaring. Jolee, his wrinkled face scowling at the floating figure, noticed Revan's expression and grunted. "Charming woman, I wonder what she does in her spare time? Skin Kinrath pups perhaps...."

"I'll say," Carth muttered behind Revan with a sigh. "Not someone I'd like to meet on a dark night."

"She's pathetic," Canderous muttered his Ciggara glowing as he inhaled. "They would need more than a few Sith lackeys to take any of us out. She's obviously not seen any of us in action. She has no honour, on the battle field or for her own actions... none." For the Mandalorian, there could be no greater insult.

"Yes my Master. What of the Twi'lek girl, the Cathar and Bastila Shan?" The lackey's voice inquired. The Master paused in thought once more and her cold laughter echoed around the chamber.

"Hmm. Mission Vao is pathetic at combat, so I want her alive. She is pretty and would catch a fair price at the slavery markets. I imagine there are a large number of clients with specific tastes. I want her alive!"

"As you wish, Master. May I ask why we do not just kill her?"

"I have my reasons, just follow my orders."

Juhani hissed at that and Revan watched in shock as her claws slid slightly from her fingers. "She will not have Mission, that I swear! Not while I breathe, will any of my friends be enslaved as I was!"

"Juhani, s'okay I can handle myself. I'm not gonna become a damn slave girl I can tell ya!" Revan glanced behind him and saw Mission glaring at the holofigure with loathing. "I say we find her first and I'll show her 'no combat skills' with my vibroblade, in her Sith'in face!"

"The Cathar, Juhani I think her name is, she interests me. So full of anger, repressed passion that she denies." The figure laughed slyly. "She would make a worthy apprentice to me. Powerful and obedient with the right... offers. If she resists me? Well, as I said, I always wanted a Cathar pleasure slave, I hear they are sensational!"

Revan heard Juhani's snarl and turned quickly to look at her. The Cathar's fur had risen and her claws had slid further from her fingertips. Even as Vandar and Vrook shook their heads in dismay at her lack of control, Revan reached out to her.

"Juhani, there is no emotion...." He whispered. "Peace... peace."

Juhani stared at him, anger in her yellow eyes, but she shivered at his understanding expression. Slowly, her claws slid back into her fingertips and her face slipped to dismay.

"Revan, how can we stand back and let her plot? She threatens you, Mission, Yuthura and now me. She is evil, twisted and I shall be there to stop her!" Juhani's voice was ice and her fur settled back. "She will not enslave any of us, take any of us, kill any of us. Not while I still draw breath! We shall stop her!"

"Yes, we will." Revan muttered and Juhani's face slipped distastefully to the holofigure once more.

"What of Bastila Shan, my Master?" The rough voice inquired and Revan stiffened, as did Bastila. "What is your wish concerning her? I know many of the Dark Jedi would be honoured to have the pleasure of killing her."

"No!" The figure snapped. "I want her alive. The whore of the betrayer is the key to bringing Revan to our temple! I want her as a prize, alive!"

"Master?"

"Revan is in love with Bastila." The figure sneered at this. "She is Revan's one weakness that can be exploited. Bastila herself is weak and feeble. She fell to the dark side once, and was saved by him. It should prove easy to turn her to the darkness, the seed remains, despite her battle to regain her foolish belief in the light."

"But... Master..."

"Do as I say." The Master snapped. "Not only would she be a valuable Dark Jedi, but she would prove too much of a lure for Revan to resist. Remember, the Brotherhoods one goal is to capture Revan! I have said that once already!"

"It may be hard to obtain her." The lackey managed, trying not to tremble at the fury on her face. " She has powerful allies, who can shield her own pathetic abilities."

"Yes, so I want a bounty placed on her head. Both for the Sith, the Dark Jedi and any mercenaries. Two million credits for Bastila Shan, alive!"

"Very well, Master. It will be a great day for the Brotherhood to regain Revan."

"Yes, it will. The revenge of Revan will occur on that day. We, the Brotherhood of Revan will be triumphant! It was the will of the Force that Revan discovered our temple, that it contains the power to make everything we desire come true. Revan will come back to us, and when he does we shall gain access to the Curse of Revan, and the Jedi shall know pain and defeat!"

"I shall distribute these orders, my Master. Victory to the brotherhood!"

"Victory to the Brotherhood!"

The message faded and Revan felt Bastila slip her hand, ever so hesitantly, into his. Refusing to allow the argument separate them, Revan gripped hers tightly and squeezed. "Two million to secure me as a... a prize." She smiled weakly. "You were right, they really do see me as something to hold, material worth, something to obtain and use against you."

"I won't let that happen Bastila, I swear that to you." He held her hand tightly, ignoring the look of disapproval from Vrook. "I won't let them take you again."

"The main thing is to try and find them first." Canderous rose from his leaning position against the wall and strode forwards. "The best defence is offence."

"That is the problem, Mr Ordo." Vandar glanced around the room. "We have no idea where this 'temple' is secreted. As you can see, the message gives orders to what seems to be a large splinter group of the Sith. If we do not do something, you and your friends will remain in great danger for the rest of your lives."

"Hunt them down!" Canderous insisted. "Stop them before they have a chance to mobilise fully against us."

"The Jedi do not "hunt down" people!" Vrook shook his head and stared at Revan. "You should try and find the leader of this 'brotherhood' and stop her, as peacefully as possible. Remember, revenge leads to the darkness."

"How?" Revan asked the room. "That message contains no planet name, no co-ordinates... nothing. How am I going to find this 'temple' of theirs in time to stop them?"

"Hmm, this is difficult." Vreik's flickering face looked intently at Revan. "You have no memory, no matter how faint, of this temple? Of going there?"

"Master, I can't even remember going to the Star Forge!" Revan sighed and felt Bastila's sympathy trickle into him. He smiled weakly at her and shook his head. "Besides, even if I did, is it wise to go after them this way? They want me! My friends, Bastila, are nothing more than tools... prizes to obtain or be dismissed. How can I fight this?"

"The same as you did Malak, with stealth and cunning Revan." Sunrider stepped forwards and even Vrook looked up with interest. "We cannot stand by and let them complete their plan. They want you, and as you have already pointed out, they will attack you with all the resources they have. I wonder why they want you so badly, apart from you being dangerous as a returned Sith Lord."

"That's not going to happen, not willingly." Revan muttered, and missed the pleased expressions Sunrider, Vreik and Vandar gave him. "We have to stop her before she can put any of these plans into action."

"What's this 'Curse of Revan' thing?" Carth piped up, his eyes alert. "That seems to be the main reason they want you, apart from making you join the dark side."

"Onasi's right," Canderous muttered. "What is it? Why do they seem so eager to obtain it?"

"A weapon?" Denara whispered, and then flushed as all eyes turned to her. "Sorry."

"No," Revan frowned at her and motioned for her to continue. "Keep going. A weapon, possibly ancient Sith?"

"No!" Bastila looked at him, her eyes bright, their argument forgotten. "The Star Forge Revan. Remember the Star Forge. Revan found that thanks to the Starmap's."

"You're saying he found something else with the maps?"

"Possibly, or something that was contained in the Forge itself, a map or information. But with the Forge destroyed, we have no way of knowing what was written in there."

"True." Revan sighed. "It would be up here, if my mind wasn't shattered beyond repair. I would be able to lead us to where we have to go."

Bastila felt his annoyance at himself and slipping closer, slid her hand into his, and slipped her gentle reassurance down the bond. Revan sighed and squeezed her hand.

"Maybe... maybe Fara could help?" Juhani looked at Revan with compassion. "If the memory of where they are is locked in the shattered portion of Revan's mind, could we access it? You said that the dreams of the Starmap's were actually fragmented memories of your past self's life."

"They are or were." Bastila agreed, nodding. "I used the bond to draw them out, reluctantly I might add."

"Bastila, it's fine." Revan looked at the Cathar and nodded... a frown on his face. "Maybe, just maybe, with the right help... with the people I trust helping me, we could search for a fragment like it."

"But wouldn't you have already had a dream about that?" Denara asked him with a frown. "If they are fragments of Revan's past, and Bastila was trying to draw out the Starmap's, wouldn't that have possibly pulled the memory of this other place from you?"

"I was fixed on the Starmap's..." Bastila whispered. "Nothing more, that's all I was searching for, at the time they were the only vital things to find. Maybe, just maybe we could find a fragment. It's slim... Lord Revan's mind was badly shattered, so much lost for all time, but it might be possible."

"It is all we have to go on." Vreik agreed from the flickering image. "Revan, I know this is a lot to ask you to do, but will you let Bastila and the other expert Jedi try to find something to assist us?"

Revan glanced at all his friends and colleagues in the room, his gaze flicking to Bastila, the woman he loved, trusted with his life. "This is all my fault, I'll do whatever I can to put it right."

"Then may the Force guide us." With a flicker the transmission from Coruscant faded.

Vandar pursed his lips. "Fara would be the one to talk to about this. Bastila will be the conduit into your mind Revan, and now that you know who you are, the two of you can both search the fragments. Fara will be there to assist you, to provide you with as much meditative ability as she can."

"I understand." Revan sighed and Bastila felt his apprehension.

"You are Jedi Revan now. The fragments that remain of Lord Revan, cannot harm you. Besides, I will be there, I will aid you."

Vrook shook his head. "Revan, Bastila, this is a dangerous path, yet I agree that it seems to be the only way. Take our blessings and go, you have your ord..."

A sudden explosion rocked the Council room, shaking everyone to their feet.

"Sith spit!" Mission, her young lithe body able to absorb the shaking, slid to her feet and glanced around in horror. "That's a Permacrete detonation!!"

Revan glanced around in shock, noticed Bastila's own frightened eyes and then turned to the Council. "Wait here!"