Hearts Eye View – Chapter 6

Family Issues

Disclaimer: George Lucas and Bioware own everything. I'm merely having some fun in their playground. Besides which, I'm just a poor, unemployed college graduate (woohoo!!!!) so suing me will get you nothing but the rights to my student loan payments.

I did manage to take Jolee aside during our trip to Tatooine. I cornered him in the medical bay, while the most of the others were still asleep. I quietly shut the hatch behind me as I entered. "Forgive me for asking, Jolee, but you did not seem at all surprised by the ancient computer's last-second verification of Veran. May I ask why?"

He turned around and looked at me, not with suspicion but amusement. "Why ask me what you already know? Better yet, why not ask a better question? How is it that such a fine, upstanding young Padawan like yourself is playing babysitter to a Dark Lord of the Sith; or how about an even better one? How come he doesn't know he's a Dark Lord of the Sith?"

I had steeled myself for this. He was obviously a member of the Order, even if he had been absent for some time. He must have come from one of the other enclaves, perhaps even Coruscant itself. If that was true, then it was possible he knew Revan as a young man, before he started wearing the full body armor and mask, and recognized him now even now.

Reluctantly, I told him the tale of Revan's capture and his brain-damage, as well as how his new personality had seemingly manifested itself from nowhere. The aged Jedi just sat on the medical table and listened, head bowed as if contemplating my every word, and he did not look up again until I was finished. "That's quite a story, kid. I don't really know what to tell you, other than that I won't tell him either. It's not my place. If you want my opinion, though you probably don't, it's that it should be yours."

I turned away from him, looking downcast. "I am under strict orders from the Council. If he were to learn the truth, it might break him."

"Ahhh yes, the infinite wisdom of the Jedi Council hasn't gotten any less infinite since I was under their care. Have any of you stopped to think what would happen to him if he learns the truth from another source, hmm? I know few have seen Revan unmasked, and I'd be willing to be most of the holos of him have been erased from the Jedi Archive for 'security reasons' since his accident, but sooner or later, he will figure it out. Haven't you noticed that he's been more and more suspicious of how all these ancient computers and artifacts seem to want to respond only to him? Oh, don't so concerned yet. I don't think he's figured it out, but he knows something's up. I'd be willing to bet the only reason he hasn't pressed the issue is because of you."

"Because of me?" I turned to look at him quizzically.

"Ugh, you may be a gifted Jedi, girl, but I know Miraluka who see more clearly than you."

"Miraluka see everything thanks to their connection to the Force."

"I know that! Stop interrupting me and correcting my metaphors. Now what was I saying… oh yes, He's developing feelings for you girl, and his smart-ass irreverent demeanor aside, he takes you very seriously. I've known you both only a couple of days, and it's so obvious it might as well be written all over him. And over you as well, I'd wager."

I was incensed at his suggestion that I would allow myself to show my feelings about Veran, not that they existed. "Don't be preposterous! You know as well as I that the Council forbids such attachments!"

Jolee just shook his head and grunted. "Decrees and rules don't mean it can't happen. One day you'll see that your precious Council isn't infallible girl. Trust me; I'm living proof of that. He cares about you, and it's not just because of that bond you share, though it's certainly helping things out in that area. Been sharing more than just random flashes of memory, haven't you?"

"That is none of your concern, Jolee." I did not like where this conversation was going, and I needed to extract myself from it quickly. "I thank you for your candor on this matter. I shall deal with Veran as I see fit. I'll see you at dinner." With that, I spun on my heel, opened the hatch and went back to the women's dorm, just in time to see Mission waking up. It wasn't until later that I realized my hands were shaking.

The trip to the remote desert world of Tatooine went otherwise without incident. I've described in detail how the crew likes to spend their time, and I won't bore you by re-iterating the details again. The one difference was that I no longer had to be pulled into various social activities by Veran. I even tried to let him teach me his meditation techniques, though to be honest, I was distracted by thoughts of my mother and father. I was not looking forward to seeing her, and I knew the Council would frown on my contact with them, but something compelled me. It was as Veran said; it was as if the Force were pulling me there.

I am ashamed to say I paid little attention to events on Tatooine. Mission and I went with Veran into the port of Anchorhead; she seeking her brother, and I, my mother. The city, if it could honestly be called that, was a hovel. Why would my parents have come here? Given mother's tastes, I doubt she would have come here of her own volition. Perhaps father was here on another expedition! I hoped so. Of the two, I only wanted to see him.

We were stopped by an angry Duros cursing a human female in the cantina. From the epithets he bandied, I knew it had to be my mother, though I doubt she'd appreciate being called a "pit rancor". I wanted to go straight there, but Mission insisted on stopping by the Czerka Corporate Office first since it was on the way. It seemed the local populace was suffering from increased raids from one of the indigenous species, called Tuskens. During one of their raids, Griff was taken captive.

A hunting license was needed to exit the city, which the Czerka executive was only too happy to give us for taking care of the Tusken raider problem. As we exited the offices, we were confronted by another irate Duros. This one was an anthropologist who was insisting there had to be a peaceful way to end this dispute, but that Czerka was unwilling to explore the option. He pointed us in the direction of a local droid shop where a protocol droid who could speak Tusken was available. We agreed the droid would be worth the expense. Kashyyyk had shown us the business practices of Czerka Corp. and none of us had any love for them.

We finally reached the cantina and the confrontation I had been dreading. Just as the first Duros said, my mother was inside sitting at a table, her bearing as though she was holding court on Alderaan, not sitting in a dingy cantina in the Outer Rim. I muttered ever so lightly under my breath "There is no emotion, there is peace." As I was about to move forward I felt a small squeeze on my shoulder. I turned my head to see Veran looking at me reassuringly. He said nothing, but I could feel his encouragement. Steadying myself I stepped forward. She looked up, confused.

"Hello, I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"I'm here, mother, or don't you recognize?"

"Bastila? How could I do that when I haven't even had a picture of you in years? Do you know how long I've been trying to find you?" Of course. The first words out of her mouth had to be some kind of beratement. At least there were some constants in the galaxy.

"You knew as well as I did that communication would be impossible once I joined the Order. Now what is this about? Where is father?"

"Then you haven't heard. I should have known." A hollow note in her voice caused my pulse to quicken.

"Heard what? Are you going to tell me or not?" I could feel myself growing more and more impatient, but I already knew what she was going to say.

Mother glanced down at the table. "Your father is dead, Bastila. That is part of the reason I was looking for you."

"Dead… What happened? What did you do that got him killed?!" I snapped.

"Isn't this a lovely reunion? She's already hurling insults at me. You…" she said, inclining her head to Veran behind me. "You're one of her friends. Do you treat your mother this way?"

"My mother is long dead, actually." I could feel a hint of sorrow in his voice as he said it. I remembered how he told me he envied me my time with my family, back on Dantooine.

Mother actually looked sympathetic for a moment. "Is that so? Well I suppose I'll be joining her soon enough."

I had had enough of this. "I was told you were sick mother. Are you actually dying or is this just melodrama for my benefit?"

"Such sweet things you say," she said, exasperated. "I suppose I should tell you everything before we start arguing again."

"You could start by telling me what you got father into that killed him."

She stood up angrily. "I hadn't realized Jedi were so spiteful. You want me to tell you I brought your father here for an expedition, do you? You want to blame me for his death? You never understood. I was always to blame for everything. You father loved going out on his hunts, leaving you with me. Yes, I brought him here, to hunt for krayt dragon pearls. He took an expedition out into the desert, and he died."

My quickened heartbeat suddenly froze. I knew… I had prepared myself for this revelation, but it didn't matter. Maybe she was wrong. She had to be, but I knew she wasn't, even as I asked. "How can you be sure? Father was an experienced…"

She didn't give me the chance to finish. "Don't be daft, girl. I wouldn't have gone to all this trouble if I wasn't sure. They were attacked by a krayt dragon. One of the guides fled, and he saw your father killed."

"I see." I felt hollow inside. I hadn't seen my father in years, but to hear that was dead just tore at something inside me. This greedy, spiteful, selfish woman had finally gotten him lead him to his death. "So what is it you want from me, mother? Credits?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I want you to use those Jedi senses. I want you to find him. I want you to bring back your father's holocron."

I could no longer disguise my disgust for her. "Why? So you can sell it?"

Mother was growing incensed. It was good to see her break that icy demeanor of hers; always so proper and controlled. It was satisfying. "Is it too much to ask that I have something to remember your father by? No, of course it is. You couldn't be bothered!"

I just shook my head. I don't know why I came. This was foolish. "We are on a very important mission for the Jedi Council, mother. Ask my companions if you doubt me."

Veran moved forward, standing next to me. "What about your mother's illness?"

"It seems to have little bearing on what she's asking. Are you actually sick, mother?"

"What difference does it make to you? None, I'm sure. " She sat back down in her seat, looking back up at me defiantly. "Just find your father's holocron, and you'll never have to worry about me again either way."

I let out a long sigh and tried to reign my emotions in. "Exactly the kind of response I would expect. Very well. We shall look for the holocron if we have the time. I will make no promises, however."

"Fine. Your father was headed out towards the deep Dune Sea, just west of that Sand People enclave. Check along that route, dear. Please hurry." She then turned away to let us know that the conversation was over. Typical.

As we left the cantina, Veran pulled me aside. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I reluctantly looked up at him. "About my mother? I'm unsure. I find it difficult to remain objective where she's concerned. I find that… disturbing."

He looked sympathetically at me, the vaguest of smiles forming at the right side of his mouth. "She certainly seemed to get to you easily enough."

"I told you my mother and I never got along. That obviously has not changed. Now father is dead. That leaves a hurt inside you cannot imagine…" I glanced back up at him to see a look of pain flicker through his eyes. "Oh, Veran… I'm sorry. Of course… that was senseless of me."

"Don't worry about it. I barely remember my parents. I was only 3 when they died. I mourn their loss and how it affected my life, but I don't really mourn them, if that makes any sense. You, on the other hand, were very close to your father. Its only natural it would upset you." It was than that I noticed that my hand had somehow wound up in his. I don't remember him offering it or my taking it. It had just happened.

"Thank you. I… just don't want to talk about this right now. We should get going." I pulled away and began walking down the dusty road to the droid shop.

The droid shop was run by an Ithorian named Yuka Laka. He sold us the protocol droid, a blood red mechanoid designated HK-47. Protocol may have been one of its functions, but it was certainly not its primary one. It was sarcastic, caustic, and bloodthirsty. It also had a penchant for calling organic lifeforms "meatbags", a term that I found quite disturbing, as did Mission. Veran seemed amused by its antics though. He did a quick systems check to confirm that it would not harm its owner, and then removed its restraining bolt. The four of us then proceeded to leave the spaceport.

I spent the rest of our trek through the "city" thinking about my father and my mother and my life before the Order. My musings were interrupted at one point by Mission asking me if I ever used the Force to play pranks on people who annoyed me. I denied such behavior but the blasted girl kept bothering me. This was neither the time nor the place for such a discussion. Since she was so interested in pranks, I used the Force to pull her feet out from under her, landing her right on her butt. She accused me of doing it deliberately, which I denied. It was childish of me. What was it about my mother that turned me into a petulant child?

Once we left Anchorhead, I was able to sink back into myself. I paid little attention as he helped a hunter escape a deathtrap set by his estranged wife. In fact, I found the delay more than a little annoying. When I mentioned congratulating his wife, Veran shot me a look that was rather disparaging look. It wasn't very Jedi-like of me, but my own inner turmoil was projecting itself onto my every word, it seemed. I spent the rest of the journey in silence. We dispatched some marauding Tuskens with easy and used their uniforms to get close enough to their encampment to speak with their chieftain. For all his homicidal tendencies, HK-47 proved to be an asset in translation.

The Tusken Raiders were attacking because Czerka was intruding on sacred ground. Also, they appeared to have some kind of religious aversions to machines. I wasn't paying much attention as Veran and HK seemed to have the situation well in hand. All it took to appease them were a pair of moisture vaporators and they not only promised to reduce attacks, but they released their prisoners: a handful of Jawas and Mission's brother, Griff.

Mission confronted Griff on the spot about Lena's accusations of abandoning her on Taris, which Griff did confirm in a roundabout way. Such a reprehensible little creature. Once the truth was out, Mission proceeded to berate her brother in a fashion that only a teenage girl can. I felt sorry that Mission should have to share blood with someone so low. Her brother was as much a disappointment to her as my mother was to me. It seemed family problems really were very common. The Council was right; I was too attached to my father. A Jedi was supposed to have detachment. I tried to place myself above these feelings, but it was little help.

With the Sand People appeased, we were given a map of the western Dune Sea, where a cave containing ancient ruins had been found by their tribe. They warned us that a large krayt dragon had taken up residence with the cave, however. I knew it could not be a coincidence. This had to be the same dragon that killed my father. A thought bloomed in the darkest recess of my mind, one that I made sure I kept hidden even from the bond I shared with Veran: this beast would die, not for natural balance, or for protecting the settlers, or even to accomplish our mission; it would die because it took my father from me.

After what seemed like hours under the burning suns, we reached the dragon's lair. It was a cave of gigantic proportions, visible even from a great distance. There we found a Twi'lek hunter named Komad Fortuna. We arrived just in time to watch his companion enter the cave. Moments later, we heard his screams. Fortuna was there to slay the beast to help preserve the ecological balance on Tatooine, and to repeat the great hunt of his father before him. There was another pang in my heart as I heard this story; he was not the only there to slay this beast in honor of their father. I wanted to ask him if he knew my father, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to know. It would only make it hurt more. Blast it, I was supposed to be in control of my emotions, not the other way around.

Fortuna had lain down a minefield just outside the mouth of the cave. All he needed was someone to herd some banthas near to the cave to draw the beast out. I immediately volunteered our services, which drew a strange look from Mission. I refused to look at Veran, but I could feel his concern through our bond. Blast it; he knew what I was feeling! Why couldn't I have one private feeling to myself? Curse this bond, I wish I had never saved him from that bridge. I suppose I should feel lucky he could not read my thoughts as well. Why did he have to see my weaknesses?

The bantha herding provoked some nearby Tusken raiders, who considered the bantha a sacred animal. The fight was brief, and hardly worth mentioning. Once the banthas were close enough, the dragon emerged. I had no idea one could grow so large. I doubt father did either. If he wasn't prepared for such a beast… yes, my father was truly dead, and there would be no remains to recover. I doubt he was more than a bite to such a monster. My awe was soon replaced with satisfaction as the great lumbering beast strode into the middle of the minefield.

It took almost a dozen detonations, but the krayt dragon fell. Komad looked almost saddened by his victory. He babbled some hunter nonsense about denying the beast honor or a final battle or some drivel like that. I didn't care. The thing that murdered my father was dead. I thought I would have been happy, but all I felt was emptiness inside. I felt a hand on my arm. Veran just looked at me, nothing in his eyes that I could read. He said nothing. He just touched my upper arm for a moment, and then walked forward into the cave.

Inside was another Star Map, surrounded by the ruins of an ancient structure that the sands had subsumed eons ago. Shattered statues bore a resemblance to the strange alien we saw in the holo-interface for the computer on Kashyyyk. There was a lot of refuse as well. Apparently the dragon lined its cave with things taken from meals that it found indigestible. As Veran and Mission updated our map data, I began searching the piles, hoping against hope.

It was not in vain. After but a few moments of searching, I found a holocron. Activating it, an image of my father, carrying me on his shoulders, as we stood on a hill over-looking the ruins of Ossus, the ruined Jedi library world, appeared. My mother had insisted we go there, looking for lost artifacts of the Jedi Order we might be able to sell them. In fact, it was that expedition that had brought me to the attention of the Jedi. Master Vrook was the one who came to inspect the scrolls and tablets we recovered from one of the ruined libraries, and it was he noticed my potential to use the Force. My entire life changed that day.

I felt my eyes beginning to water, and I clamped down. No. I had already given in to anger, annoyance, and revenge since seeing my mother. I would not give into grief. No more. I would not have Veran or Mission or even that sociopathic droid see me cry. I was so intent on bringing myself under control; I did not feel Veran come up behind me.

"Are you going to give it to her?" he asked quietly.

I quickly shut off the holo-image. "Do you think I should?"

"You might want to consider it."

Yet another sigh escaped my lips. "That would just lead to another argument. How I always despised talking to her. I'll think about it about. I should try and remember my training. It shouldn't be this difficult. Can we not talk about this anymore? I need to think."

"What you need to is to sort through your feelings." He said calmly, and with that, he turned and strode out of the cave. Mission and HK-47 hurried after him. I just stood there, and pulled up that image, and looked at it one last time before following them.

Returning to Anchorhead, I knew I finally had to make a decision. I walked into the cantina with Veran. Mission went back to the ship without a word, for once. HK-47 was ordered to stand outside and guard the entrance. I hoped he wouldn't gun down any innocent patrons on their way in.

"I have the holocron, mother. I'm just not sure I want to give it to you."

She actually had the nerve to look surprised. "Would you deny me even that?"

I looked sternly at her. "I've never denied you anything, mother. You think I don't remember what it was like before I left, but I do. You were the one who always pushed father into his treasure hunts. I remember the arguments. You loved living in wealth. You were the one who wanted to give me to the Jedi Order, even though I didn't want to go. You took father away from me, and this holocron is all I have left of him."

That was when I saw something I didn't expect to see: a look of amazement. "Fool girl, you have a strange way of remembering things. That wasn't how it…"

I cut her off. I didn't want to hear any more of her lies. "No, I don't wish to argue anymore, mother. I think its time we parted ways, for both our sakes."

"Don't you think you should at least listen to her?" Veran had finally decided to interfere. I turned and looked at him, the hurt and anger I had pent up for all those years finally showing in my face as well as my voice.

"You don't know her. She is notoriously deceptive when she wants something. Why should she have the holocron?" Even I was taken back a bit by the venom I heard in my own voice.

Mother finally got up from the table and moved around to look me in the eye. There was something in the way she walked, something I hadn't noticed earlier. She was in pain. "Is it too much to believe that I'm a dying woman who just wants to see her husband one last time?"

I heard Veran's voice from behind her, though I could no longer see him clearly. "One of you needs to give the other a chance." There was this soft tone in his voice, not pleading, but patient. I heard it in Master Vandar's voice many times, as well as Master Zhar's. It touched something in me at that moment, and I softened, just a touch.

"You're right. It shames me, I just… I find it difficult to… to let go of the past." Something inside me let go as I admitted it to both of them; a pressure on my chest finally lifted.

Mother closed the distance and laid both hands on my shoulders. "I know I was hard on you, Bastila. I was never a very good mother, I know that." Her voice was cracking. "Your father loved you so. He wanted you to be just like him. He wanted to take you with him on his hunts, but I said it was too dangerous."

"But you let him go on these dangerous excursions," I heard Veran comment. My head was bowed. I couldn't look at either of them. I didn't want them to see how wet my eyes were becoming. Mother let me go and turned to face him.

"I always tried to keep him from the dangerous ones, but he would nothing of it. It was a reckless life we led and it was no place for you."

I wiped my eyes clear while their attention was diverted. "That was why you gave me to the Order?"

"What do your father and I have for all those years? Nothing. That was no life for a child, especially someone as gifted as you," she said as she turned back to me. "Your father spent his last years trying to pay for my treatments. That was why we came to Tatooine; for krayt dragon pearls. I begged him not to…"

"Your treatments…" She wasn't being melodramatic. Perhaps I had always known but just didn't want to see it. It was so much easier to just see her as I remembered; to just hate her.

It was her turn to look down at the floor. "I'm dying, Bastila. It's been a long time coming, but there's nothing that can be done for it anymore. I told your father to let me go, but he wouldn't listen. He was stubborn. Like you." There was no chastisement in her tone this time, just a fondness, both for my father… and for me? This was too much… First, my father and now my mother, after all these years of silence and bitterness, was about to be taken from me as well.

I could barely speak. "I'm so sorry, mother. I don't know what to say."

She took my hand and pulled me into a hug. The move surprised me, and I didn't resist. She had never shown any sign of physical affection before; it was always my father. Maybe she was right. Maybe I am remembering things the way I wanted to. "Keep the holocron, Bastila. It would do me good to know you have it. This talking to you is what I really needed before I..."

I was not about to let her finish that sentence. Returning her embrace, I just let my eyes close and savored the moment. "I know. Thank you, mother. I'm glad we talked too."

She was the one to pull back first, wiping her eyes. It seems we were more alike than I ever would have thought. "Now, you said you had important business, and you were never one to mince words." She spun back around and gave Veran a stern look. "You there, you take good care of my daughter, you hear me?"

Veran cracked that lop-sided smile of his and said, "as if she'd let me."

"Well you make her let you. She's too much like her father in that respect."

"The rest she must get from you, "he said jovially.

"Where are you going to go, mother?"

She looked back to me, smiling. It was probably the happiest I had ever seen her. "It doesn't matter, dear. Don't you worry about me."

I took her hand, pulled out my cred-stick and gave it to her. "Take this. Its 5,000 credits. It should get you to Coruscant. Find one of the best hospitals. I'll meet you there when all this is over."

Her eyes widened. "Bastila, I already told you there's nothing…"

"I want you to take it, mother. I want to see you again… when we can talk." I squeezed her hand shut over the chip and looked at her imploringly.

"Alright, I will. Now you go do what you have to. Make your father and I proud." She patted my hand and then slowly made her way back to her seat.

"I'll try, mother. Farewell." And with that, Veran and I left the dimly lit cantina and returned to the sun-drenched streets. He said nothing to me, the entire way back to the Ebon Hawk. To be honest, I didn't want to go back there right then. I needed to be alone to think, and the ship was far too crowded. The only place for that was the desert, however, I did not want to do this in the place of my father's death.

As soon as we got back on board, Veran called everyone together. "Okay guys. I noticed a swoop race track right next to the local cantina, which is filled with more than a few gamblers. We've all been cooped up here long enough. Between these two places, we should all find something to do to occupy our time. Take a little time off. We leave in 6 hours. ALL of you, that means you too, Jolee." Carth, Canderous, and Mission were pleased. Jolee and Juhani were a bit taken back by the sudden suggestion, but a stern look from Veran told them not to question him. Much to my surprise, neither of them did.

As everyone moved to the landing ramp, he looked straight at me. "Everyone but you, Bastila. Someone needs to be on the ship, and since you've spent as much time off-ship as I have, you're nominated. Don't worry; I'll look after the kids." I was about to protest when I saw the sympathetic look in his eyes, contrasting that smirk, and I realized. He was clearing the ship for me. Once again, he knew what I needed, and offered it without protest. He arranged this entire "shore leave" scenario just to earn me a few hours privacy. He turned and followed the others off the ramp, but he turned and looked back at me as he walked away. He stopped and smiled. Not the lop-sided grin I was used to seeing, but a genuine smile. He held my gaze for a moment, and then he turned and caught back up with the others.

I watched him walk away before going into the ship to meditate on all that has happened to me. By the time they came back, I was through with my meditation and reflection. I was waiting at the base of the landing ramp for them as they started to file in. They all gave me an odd look, except for Jolee, when they walked by. It took me a moment to realize it was because I was smiling. I suppose I didn't smile enough. It was the weight of the mission, both watching Revan and searching for the Star Map.

But during my introspection, I had realized something: I was not the shepherd. He was going along just fine on his own. If anything, he was helping me. He was selfless and brave, if a bit foolhardy at times, and certainly headstrong. There was a sense of caring about him. He gave without any thought of reward. If he was bold, it was only because he wanted to do everything in his power to help. While I had seen moments of anger in him, they seemed to just pass through him like the wind through the trees since his all-too-brief training on Dantooine. He seemed so at ease with the passions I fought so hard to control. Despite appearances, it was not emotional impulsiveness that he followed, but his own instincts, and isn't that what a Jedi strives to do?

I could see now, that if it had not been for him, I would never have reconciled with my mother. He was a better Jedi than I; there was no shame in admitting it. It was the truth, and I admired him for it. Once, I would have been envious, but not anymore. Revan may have been an evil man, but this new person in front of me could not be the Dark Lord. He had all of Revan's potential, power, and charisma, but whatever demons drove him into darkness did not exist in Veran Shadowfyre. I did not know where Veran came from, but I was glad he existed. It made me wish Jedi were allowed to form attachments, but that could never be. The Council would forbid it, no matter how much I desired it. Besides, I had no idea if he felt the same. He was just as patient with Juhani and as kind with Mission. These thoughts were foolish and I pushed them away as he walked up, trailing after the rest.

"Well, you certainly seem in a good mood. Feel better?" He walked up and rested his elbow against one of the landing struts.

"Yes, it brought me peace, more than I would have thought possible. Thank you for urging me towards it." I'm not sure what possessed me in that moment, but I reached out and took his free hand, squeezing gently before letting it go again as quickly as I had taken it. "After all my training, I thought it would have been easier. I apparently still have much to learn."

"We only stop learning when we're dead, Bastila. Learning is a part of life. Come on. Two down, two to go," he said as he flashed me that grin of his. Without a word, I followed him back up the ramp. Yes, there would time enough to sort out all my personal feelings later. I took the co-pilot chair next to Carth as Veran laid in a course for our next stop: Manaan.