Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, this is a work of fiction, based on the game and is not meant to raise money or take away from the copyright holders of the game, only to express my fanatical devotion to that wonderful game that has taken up so... very much of my time.
Destiny's Knight
Set during/after Brin Tachi (Revan's sister)'s Jedi training. Revan has taken care of the Mandalorian raiders and revealed himself to Mission.
Chapter 15 Is set during/after Brin Tachi (Revan's sister)'s Jedi training. Revan has taken care of the Mandalorian raiders and revealed himself to Mission.
Chapter 15: Advancement
"Congratulations Knight Shan."
Vrook said happily as he removed Bastila's Padawan braid and handed it to her. Bastila smiled and bowed before her former Master, she searched the gathered Jedi for Revan but inwardly frowned when she failed to find him. After the ceremony Bastila found herself standing near the training room watching Revan duel with Brin, she was shocked at how quickly Brin was advancing but she could also sense the limits Brin was testing and knew she was close to exhaustion. Seeing Bastila Revan stopped the duel and came over, smiling; Brin had no objections as she collapsed and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Congratulations Knight Shan."
Revan said with a smile that faded as soon as he sensed Bastila's anger.
"I was ordered to assist Brin with her training, I would have been there."
"You should have been there."
Bastila said as her anger dwindled slightly, she knew the importance of training and was not entirely angry, more upset by her trials.
"The trial?"
He asked as if reading her mind, she nodded and Revan motioned for her to have a seat. Seeming to know the question before he asked Bastila answered.
"I lost..."
Revan nodded but did not answer.
"I was fighting, the person could match all my moves, every opening I would see would be blocked instantly it was almost like fighting myself. I could not win and I had no choice but to surrender, I thought I would be struck down but the vision or whatever it was cleared, what does it mean?"
Revan could not help but smile as he spoke softly.
"You defeated the dark side, not all battles can be won with a lightsaber and the battle that is the final trial is a battle with yourself, with your dark side. Bastila Shan I am proud to say you have surpassed me!"
Revan was beaming with pride, he knew it was wrong but Bastila was so innocent, so talented, she had saved him and now herself from the dark path. The confused look on Bastila's face melted away as realization dawned on her features followed by a mischievous grin.
"So I can outwit the great and wise Master Revan then!"
"You are a true Jedi..."
Revan bowed to Bastila and returned to Brin's side.
"Alright, enough rest, prepare yourself."
Brin groaned but lifted herself, blocking Revan's constant and well placed attacks. After several more hours Revan was satisfied with Brin's training session and told her to speak with Master Zhar. Turning back he smiled, seeing Bastila was still where he had left her.
"I say we celebrate!"
Bastila blushed slightly and smiled radiantly. Revan felt his chest ache slightly and smiled warmly in return.
"There's a really nice restaurant nearby that I hear is wonderful."
Bastila looked off in the direction Brin had gone.
"What of your Padawan?"
She asked restraining her laughter.
"I'm certain she will be enjoying Master Vrook's lectures!"
Bastila burst into a series of giggles and eventually found herself trying to catch her breath. Revan eventually stood and led her to the Hawk, gathering the rest of the crew to celebrate they made their way to restaurant Revan had pointed out. Canderous sat silently listening to the conversation with indifference as he read a datapad with Sith and Jedi fighting techniques. After several hours the party made their way back to the Hawk and found Brin passed out in the main chamber.
"Well Carth, why don't you take our tired little Padawan here to her quarters."
Revan said with a hint of amusement as Carth lifted the sleeping Jedi in training and carried her to the women's crew quarters. turned to see Master Vandar making his way up the ramp.
"Tomorrow Brin Tachi will face the final trial, prepare yourselves."
Revan and Bastila bowed.
"As you wish Master Vandar."
They said in unison as the tiny Jedi Master vacated the ship. Bastila turned to ask Revan what the trial would be and Revan whispered the answer.
"You can't be serious!"
She scoffed as she looked in the direction Carth had carried Brin away.
"She is ready, she has already learned everything a Padawan needs to know to begin training."
"But who will act as her Master?"
Bastila said as she felt her annoyance grow. Revan spoke quietly, avoiding the off looks Canderous and Zalbaar were casting him.
"We need to hurry, Malak is moving the Sith fleet and massing for another attack. We need to find the secret behind the Star Maps and she is the key, the Force is giving her the visions to find them and we must obey, the Council has sent Nemo to investigate the ruins where Malak and I spoke to that strange droid... I hope there is an answer."
The following Morning Brin was asked to investigate a disturbance to the east of the enclave after being given a lengthy lecture over the dangers of falling to the dark side and of the redemption of Ulic Qel Droma. Revan was asked by the Council to settle a dispute between the Sandral and Matale estates with Mission while Bastila was investigating a murder of a local settler with Zalbaar as backup. Brin walked through the grove warily as Carth and Canderous eyes the surroundings with suspicion.
"I don't like this place flyboy."
Canderous said quietly as he spotted a Mandalorian corpse near a set of ruins. Without warning or provocation a young woman walked from the ruins and raised her hand, activating a lightsaber. Brin turned to see Carth and Canderous frozen in place as the woman advanced.
"I will be your doom!"
As the battle erupted Revan and Bastila stood on a nearby hillside watching with interest as Brin and the other woman locked in a deadly duel. After several minutes of fighting Brin managed to use the Force to knock the other woman down, her lightsaber rolling away Brin advanced and leveled her saber on her opponents throat.
"Why did you attack me!"
She said with a hint of anger. The other woman glared angrily at her.
"I am Juhani! This is my grove! My place of darkness!"
Revan and Bastila approached slowly and quietly as Brin and Juhani talked. Revan sighed in relief when he sensed the anger die down between the women, replaced by sorrow and fear. Waiting silently nearby Revan watched as Juhani released Canderous and Carth from their stasis and ran towards the enclave. Despite Canderous' protests and Carth's indignant comment Brin ignored their advice to.
"Blast the damn cat Sith."
Brin was momentarily shocked when she saw Revan and Bastila standing together watching her, she did not sense their presences the whole time and with the training bond she shared with the jedi she was surprised.
"How long have you two been there?"
She said as Carth and Canderous shifted their attention to the Jedi.
"Long enough to see you do a good thing."
Bastila said softly with a smile. Brin smiled back and asked of their assignments.
"Well it turned out their were both guilty, they have been taken back to the enclave to undergo a trial."
Brin turned to Revan who went into a lengthy explanation of the Sandral and Matale feud.
"So a couple of kids in love ended the little feud. huh?"
Carth said with a hint of a grin. Canderous glared at Revan and nearly shouted.
"You should have just killed them, or sent the kid back to his father and taken the reward. You're not getting soft on me are you?"
Revan began to laugh but stopped when he noticed Canderous' serious look.
"Only on farmers and children."
Revan replied with a shrug that seemed to appease the Mandalorian. The next morning Brin, Revan and Bastila found themselves standing before the Star map after a shared dream between the three.
'What is the Star Forge anyways?"
Brin said to no one in particular as Revan copied down the coordinates for the other worlds the Star map indicated.
"It could be a weapon of some sort.."
"Maybe a factory?"
The group of Jedi made their way back to the enclave to report their findings to the Jedi Council. After a debate and a ceremony to Knight Juhani, Revan found himself seated in the Ebon Hawk's lounge with his companions.
"This is serious and it is going to get really dangerous, none of you have to come along... well except Brin and Bastila and Juhani..." Revan waited until the laughter died down.
"I don't have anything better to do."
Canderous replied with a shrug as he turned his attention to Carth.
"Just as long as I'm no left out of the loop"
"Left out of the loop, what do you mean?"
Brin asked with concern as Carth snapped.
"Left out of the loop, you know not being told what is going on. Look at you Brin, you're a neophyte Padawan that is supposed to go gallivanting across the galaxy with three Knights, one who just returned from the dark side."
"Do you think we can have some privacy for a moment?"
Brin asked, turning her attention to the rest of the crew. As they exited the Hawk Revan spotted Mission arguing with a Twilek woman and decided to intervene.
"Hello, are you a friend of Mission's?"
"This is Lena."
Mission said angrily. After a colorful argument and a few choice swear words Revan found himself standing at the bottom o the ramp again listening to the muffled argument between Carth and Brin. Revan smirked towards Bastila.
"We aren't that bad are we?"
Bastila shook her head and sighed.
"Only on the best days..."
Even Canderous laughed at that remark and after the argument died down between Carth and Brin the crew found themselves en route to Tatooine. After a discussion with Mission, Revan found himself promising he'd find her brother on Tatooine.
"Alright Mission, we'll look for Griff..."
Revan paused for a moment before continuing.
"... You know Lena may have been telling the truth..."
After a short argument and a few tears Mission finally settled down and Revan found himself in the maintenance area with Canderous discussing the politics behind the Mandalorian wars. Revan had to admit after a while Canderous' stories and his sense of Mandalorian honor were making sense. Revan spotted Bastila trying to slip by and decided to follow.
"How are you doing Bast?"
Bastila shrugged and sat quietly on a bunk as Revan sat next to her.
"I've been thinking about my mother and father for some reason..."
Revan took a moment to recall the countless discussions he and Bastila had of her parents.
"I'm sure they are still on Talravin, maybe when this is all over we can visit them?"
Bastila frowned slightly at the comment.
"I- I don't know, the Code says.-"
"Bastila honey, you know what I think about the Code."
Bastila smiled faintly.
"That same thing you do about the Council."
"Old and in need of some change."
They said in unison. Bastila sighed and laid down in her bed looking at the ceiling absently.
"What ever happened to life being simple?"
"Come on now, we're Knights, lets not think this way!"
Bastila narrowed her eyes
in suspicion.
"Whatever you are planning, don't even think
about it."
Several minutes later Revan left the women's crew quarters nursing a cut on the side of his head.
"Woo that looks pretty nasty, what happened?"
Mission asked loudly, Revan felt his head throb and groaned.
"I tossed Bastila in the refresher and turned the cold water on, she didn't appreciate it."
"No I didn't and if
you think you are getting off that easily you are sorely
mistaken!"
Bastila hissed as she chased after him, half
soaked and pulled him back into the quarters. Mission suppressed a
snicker as Revan paled slightly and was dragged by the Jedi to his
impending doom.
"Sorry, can't help you Rev."
Revan was tossed none to gently on the bed and Bastila applied bacta gel and a disinfectant against the wound.
"Do you really have to do this, I mean I can just use the Force to-"
"No, you had to press my buttons, you are going to pay!"
Bastila said with a grin applying the antiseptic. Revan winced slightly and sighed.
"It did get your mind off things for a while thought?"
He said with a smile as Bastila shoved him back into the bed.
"Sometimes you are just too much, why don't you go speak with Brin or Carth about the geopolitical temperament of the Sith Empire or something unless you'd prefer staying around here and driving me insane."
"Hey, what can I say its fun..."
Revan replied with a shrug as Bastila glared at him.
"Fun? Fun? Driving me insane is your idea of Fun?"
Revan grinned as Bastila sighed and muttered the Jedi Code to herself.
"You know you love it."
Bastila frowned and look at the floor.
"You Revan are a very odd man, I don't know if I should be angry that you constantly joke about serious matters or grateful that you can always lighten the mood..."
Noticing the serious tone Revan decided to cut his losses.
"I try, it keeps my mind off things... and it is always dangerous to look at a situation too long."
Bastila raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she lay on the bed and sighed.
"You will pay for this one day Revan I swear."
She said, indicating her soaked Jedi robed, Revan gave her a mock-hurt expression and indicated the cut on his head.
"What Princess bashing me over the head with a lightsaber wasn't enough for you?"
Bastila gave Revan a calculating grin and closed her eyes, leaning back into her bed. Revan did not like the silence and carefully made his way out of the room, looking over his shoulder cautiously he heard Bastila yell down the corridor.
"Be prepared."
"Revenge is of the dark side Bastila!"
Revan had little hope the play would work in his favor and decided it would be a good idea to be a light sleeper the next few nights. As he walked into the lounge area of the Ebon Hawk en route to Tatooine, Revan spotted the newest addition to the crew and decided to get to know her better.
"Hello, Knight Juhani if I am not mistaken?"
The Cathar woman looked up, slightly started but calmed and purred slightly.
"Y- Yes, please call me Juhani."
Revan smiled warmly and sat next to the young woman.
"My name is Wedge Suron, most people refer to me as Rev-"
Revan noticed the woman wince before continuing.
".. its my middle name, Wedge Rev Suron..."
The former Dark Lord inwardly rolled his eyes as the Cathar Jedi tensed.
"... So.. Juhani... how do you enjoy the Order?"
Juhani didn't respond, she merely purred slightly and stared at the floor as if something else was clouding her thoughts. Revan remained silent for a moment, studying the woman and her heavily shielded mind.
"I- I feel I must apologize for my actions against Brin, I know you are a close friend of hers and one of the Jedi overseeing her training..."
The young Jedi frowned and stared intently at the floor, her head lowered in shame. Revan shook his head and waved away the comment.
"Not a problem Juhani, if you ever need anything you know I'm here and I'm sure Brin would also like to get to know you better, we are a family here when we are on a mission, everyone is important and everyone is essential."
Revan noticed the genuine look of gratitude in Juhani's yellow eyes as she stared at him for a moment and nodded.
"I- I thank you, I must begin my meditations however.. perhaps we can talk at a later time?"
"Certainly, whatever you need, just let me know."
Revan replied happily with a smile, he watched as the young Cathar woman he rescued on Taris years before walked past and into the rear of the Hawk to meditate. Sighing, Revan made his way to the cockpit, instantly falling under the scrutiny of Brin and Carth. Carth was finishing off yet another argument with Brin and the anger radiated from both like heat from a fire, Revan sat silently in one of the chairs and checked the readouts. Seven more hours... Carth ignored Revan as he continued his discussion with Brin.
"I don't understand why you are having visions or how your Force abilities just seem to appear out of nowhere, there is a connection somewhere... Something else is going on here that the Jedi aren't telling us about..."
Carth said pointedly as Brin sighed and threw her arms up in exasperation.
"You know what, we should elect you for the galaxy's most paranoid man. Not every single person is out to get you, why would the Jedi send someone as important as Bastila along just to be offered up as a sacrificial lamb to the Sith, you need to calm down flyboy."
Carth scowled for a moment before his face lightened to a frown and he looked out the viewport to the hyperspace around them.
"There just seems to be something strange about all this... about the other.."
Revan noticed Carth staring at him and rolled his eyes as he stood and straightened his black cloak.
"If you'll excuse me I think I need to go speak with Darth Malak about where he is going to intercept us."
Brin laughed quietly as Carth slumped and shook his head.
"That isn't what I meant Wedge, there is just... I never met Revan but I met Malak, I can say I was impressed by him when I met him. I remember looking up to him and his master, they were our heroes, our saviors and then they stab us in the back... I'm glad Revan got what he did, I just hope we can stop Malak before this slaughter spreads..."
Revan winced inwardly but maintained an indifferent facade as he shrugged and shifted his attention to Brin.
"Well Padawan Tachi, being the eldest Jedi and seeing as Miss Shan is asleep at the moment I think it is time you practiced meditating."
The former Dark Lord raised his hand to silence the protests and motioned to the rear of the ship.
"Knight Juhani is meditating at this very moment, perhaps she can help you, I would like to discuss something with Mister Onasi."
Brin slowly rose for the copilot's seat and trudged to her meditation session. Revan watched the longing gaze in Carth's eyes as he followed Brin.
"Who was she?"
"Huh?"
Carth jumped slightly as he turned to the Jedi Knight.
"Nothing, I was just admiring the scenery."
Revan narrowed his eyes. That is my sister you're talking about... We're walking about...
"You're not fooling me Onasi."
Carth sighed and sat back in his chair, staring once more at the stars as they passed. After a long silence Carth caved in an spoke.
"I had a wife and a son on Telos when it was bombed by the Sith fleet... she- Brin she reminds me so much of my wife, she's independent and smart and she packs a punch."
Carth absently rubbed his shoulder and smiled slightly, Revan nodded and followed Carth's gaze.
"You're feeling guilty about something.."
It was more of a statement than a question as Revan turned back to the hardened soldier. Carth's weary look gave Revan his answer.
"I wasn't there when she needed me, I was powerless to stop it... My best friend... my mentor stabbed me in the back and turned on us, he bombed my world into submission, I remember holding Morgana in my arms as she died..."
Revan felt a pang of guilt enter him. This was my fault.. The Jedi and the soldier sat in thoughtful silence until a sigh escaped Carth and he continued.
"Her last words were simple really, she said she wanted me to be happy, not to be sad and linger on her.. she wanted Dustil- My son to have a mother... She didn't want me to waste away in the army..."
Carth closed his eyes and shook slightly, releasing another sigh he locked his brown eyes with Revan's.
"I didn't have the heart to tell her Dustil had died as well, we never even found a body, there was nothing for us to bury... "
Revan saw Carth's eyes shine slightly but no tears came forth, he pulled the edges of his cloak tightly around him, suddenly feeling cold.
"Well, I'm certain Brin would a good friend Carth and who knows... maybe Dustil did make it out of there, maybe he is safe."
"I want to believe that... I want to know he is alright, but there was nothing..."
Carth closed his eyes and remained that way for several minutes.
"The Force is telling me that you will have happiness in your life again Carth, I don't know where this will come from, but there is more to life that revenge and fighting."
Carth opened his eyes and nodded, giving a slightly grateful look at Revan before standing.
"I'd better go get some rest before we hit Tatooine, I have a feeling we are all going to be busy."
"That we are."
Carth
walked slowly from the cockpit towards his quarters, stopping to
watch as Brin sat in the engine room silently meditating in a light
Force trance, she opened her eyes and smiled warmly to the soldier
before resuming her meditation, Carth smiled back and went to the
men's quarters to rest. Revan shifted to the pilots seat and cursed
under his breath.
"Damn conscience, it was all so much simpler when I was insane and evil."
