CHAPTER FOUR

She heard voices. People all around her.

Smoke.

Heat.

Fire.

The trees. The trees reached hundreds of feet into the air. A lush green color.

What is this place?

A stabbing pain in her side. In her neck.

Terrible pain.

She looks down and sees the massive wound to her abdomen. Blood everywhere, soaking her clothes. She can see inside her abdomen, her clothes torn away.

Where was she?

People running and shouting.

A figure… clouded in smoke. Reaching out to her.

Papa? Mommy?

No. A boy. Not much older than her? With eyes the color of a deep blue ocean. So calming. So peaceful.

The pain was fading. To be replaced by an incredible warmth.

Anja jolted upright in the bunk as the chime to her quarters rang insistently. She threw back the covers and got up, walking to the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She touched the panel and the door slid open.

Vlaina stood there dressed in loose fitting pants and a tight shirt that exposed her abdomen. She held out the Force Pike. " Let's go!" She spoke in her command voice.

Anja looked at her, taking the Force Pike, her head clearing. " Excuse me. Where are we going?"

" You'll see."

" I'll change into something."

Vlaina took her arm before she could turn back into her room. " No need for that. What you have on is fine."

Anja wore a simple white shirt with a pair of tight black shorts. They were her normal sleeping clothes, but were unsuitable for anything else, and certainly not being out in public. " I must change! I'm not dressed!"

" For what I have in mind, you have all the clothes you need." Vlaina snapped. " Now… will you accept my challenge Jedi. Or retreat to your quarters?"

Anja gripped the Pike tighter. " Very well!"

Anja had never been so physically exhausted in her life. Her entire upper body was soaked in sweat, the white shirt clinging to her chest leaving nothing to the imagination. Her arms and legs were red with welts from the contacts of the Force Pike wielded by Vlaina. She had battered her for three hours, never stopping, always on the attack, always taunting her. After every taunt, Anja would strike… only to be pelted by her Force Pike. It was frustrating and she had to keep reciting the code in her head to keep from losing her temper and striking in anger.

Twice she had forgotten that she could not use her Force powers and both times Vlaina had made her pay. Her legs bore the brunt of those assaults.

It was only after the fourth hour that she slumped to the mat in near exhaustion. Her only consolation was that Vlaina was also drenched in sweat, but she didn't seem to be breathing hard in the least.

Anja used the Force Pike to lean on. " Enough." She spoke between gasps.

Vlaina knelt next to her on the mat, sweat dripping form her face. " I'm impressed Jedi." She spoke. " I did not think you would last as long as you have. You combine power and speed, but your form is shaky. You will not always have your Jedi weapon, or your Force powers might not work. You must learn to rely on your other skills. They are there, but need refining. We can help you, if you let us."

Anja looked at her. " Why?"

Vlaina took a breath. " You travel with the son of Revan, Jedi Tamari. From this moment forth you are a target. Every bounty hunter in the galaxy is now looking for us. We are only as strong as the weakest part of our armor."

" I am only a Padawan." Anja said.

" Once you set foot on this ship… you became a Jedi." Vlaina told her. " You have skills and powers we could never have. Allow us to help you temper the skills you have neglected within your Jedi halls. You are the weakest link right now Anja Tamari," Vlaina saw her eyes flare a little and she smiled. " Let us help you change that."

" The Jedi Code…" Anja began.

" Means nothing outside the walls of your temples. Do you think a Rodian bounty hunter will care for your Jedi Code if you are unarmed and are unable to draw on your Force?" Vlaina asked her.

Anja shook her head. " No."

" Welcome to our galaxy Jedi. Let us help you." Vlaina asked, holding out her hand to Anja.

Anja hesitated for only a moment before taking the outstretched hand and rising to her feet. They heard the muted voices of others and turned to see more of the Crimson Guard gathering by the archway into the next training room. Vlaina motioned with her head.

" Come. Gaze upon a true Master in the arts."

Anja followed her to the archway and they stepped in front of the other Guards. Anja saw Arren on the mat in the next room, and she was sparring with the large Mandalorian that she recognized as her husband. He was speaking to her in a language she didn't understand, but the meanings were clear. He was calling out directions to her, strikes to take, blows to land. It was an almost effortless dance. And the speed with which she acted made Anja realize just how weak she was. A feeling of helplessness came over her, and Vlaina saw her shoulders slump slightly. She reached out and touched her shoulder.

" Do not berate yourself Jedi Tamari. Lady Dralor has trained for many years in the arts.

She is far superior to any of us as well. She was trained by her mother, an Echani Master. Only the son of Revan can match her."

" What are they speaking?" Anja asked. " I've never heard that language before."

" It is the Rakatan language, the language of the Star Forge planet." Vlaina replied. " All of us have learned it over the years. It gives us an edge over the enemy if they can't understand what we are saying."

Anja nodded. " Very sound tactics." She said, her eyes mesmerized by Arren and her fluid movements. It was almost like watching an intricate dance.

Vlaina touched her shoulder to break her from her gaze. Anja looked at her. " Come. We must do something with your hair."

" My hair? What's wrong with my hair?"

Vlaina took her arm.

Anja stood in front of the mirror in her quarters and had to admire what the Mandalorian woman had done. She had never been able to wear her hair down because of its length, it fell to nearly the middle of her back, so she had always worn it tied tightly in tails or in a bun. Now, however, Vlaina and two other Mandalorian women had spent the last two hours brushing her hair out and styling it in a fashion that would not hinder her abilities to fight. She still had one long pony tail, but the hair was now combed out and silky and tied in four strips of elastic cloth down the length. It would allow her to treat her hair when needed without the fuss of a bun. Several semi-thick strands of her hair alongside either side of her face were now braided, with four beads on each end.

Anja liked it quite a bit and she smiled as she sat on her bunk totally exhausted from the day. It was not even over, yet she felt as if she had sparred for a week at the Jedi Academy. Anja decided she would meditate before going to have dinner with Master Corna. She settled into a lotus position on her bunk and closed her eyes, letting her body relax and feel the Force flow through her, reviving her spirit. She was several minutes into the meditation, feeling peaceful and strong again. It was a sensation she had never experienced. She had never had this type of calm and fulfilling experience before when she meditated and she enjoyed it immensely.

Anja suddenly found herself on the shores of an ocean, the calm seas quietly lapping onto the pure white sand. She could almost feel the sand between her toes as she stood on the small dune.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

Anja turned her head quickly and standing next to her was someone she had never expected to see.

" Knight Shan!" She gasped.

Bastila smiled at the expression on Anja's face. " Hello Knight Tamari."

Anja looked around, seeing only the beaches and the dunes. " I was meditating. In my quarters."

" You still are Anja." Bastila replied. " And your light brought you here."

" Here? How? Where is here? Where am I? What is this place?"

Bastila laughed at the barrage of questions and she reached out to place her hand on Anja's arm. " Calm down Anja. I can feel your heart beginning to race. Be at peace. I will answer your questions."

Anja took a deep breath. " I… I am sorry."

" There is nothing to apologize for. Your reaction is the same as mine was the first time I came here." Bastila replied.

" But you… you are lost. In the Outer Rim. We are looking for you." Anja said.

Bastila smiled. In the Outer Rim, yes. Lost? No. We know exactly where we are going." She answered.

" What is this place?"

" This is the Force." Bastila spoke, waving her hands around. " Our sanctuary within the Force. This is where we come to center ourselves. To obtain peace."

" We?" Anja asked.

Bastila motioned off to her right and Anja saw two tall men, one older with a little gray seeping into his hair, the other younger and…

" Revan!" She gasped. " He told me… he told me he shut the link with my mind! He lied to me!"

Bastila shook her head. " No. He did as you asked him Anja. He can not sense your presence here. And what small imprint you have created… his father and I have blocked. You came here on your own."

" But how?" Anja asked.

"I must apologize to you Anja. This…" she waved all around with her hand again. " This is because of what happen on Dxun. When my son reached out to you, healed you, the Force bond he created with you is very similar to the one my husband and I share. It was not his intent. He saw only your injuries and that if he did not act, you would die. He did not sense the Force within you, and when he reached into himself to heal you… your own powers manifested themselves quite strongly. They assisted in your healing, but they also bonded with Revan's and formed this link. When I arrived at the crash site, I saw what he had done and tried to erase any imprint he may have left on you because I wanted to protect our secret. I wanted to protect my family. Many of your struggles since then at the academy have been because of the attempt I made to safeguard the ones I loved. You are extremely powerful with the Force Anja, else you would not have been able to bring yourself here."

" So… so he can not sense me here?" Anja asked.

Bastila shook her head. " No. He has closed that part of his mind, the part that is one with you. You on the other hand are unable to shut off your thoughts, because the connection is so new to you, so your thoughts battered his mental shields continuously, and he comes here to center himself again."

" This ability…"

" We consider it a gift, not an ability or a power. After 'my' Revan and I…" Bastila smiled at that. " After we decided to leave the Order, we would come here often to find the peace that events up until that point had taken away from us. It took some time… but we achieved that peace."

" The archives say you were expelled." Anja said.

" Yes, I know, one of the many twists to our story that the Council has told. Forgive me if I sound resentful at times, but I blame the Jedi Council for many things. Revan and I chose to leave the Order, we were not expelled. We knew they would never allow us to cultivate our love for one another, so it was a decision we both made. The Jedi Council expelled us only after we told them we were leaving."

" I am sorry." Anja spoke, her eyes falling to the sand.

" For what child?"

" For what I called you the first day he came to Coruscant. It was cruel and I let my emotions control my actions. I did not mean them to come out the way they did." Anja said.

" Believe me Anja… I have been called worst." Bastila chuckled. She held out her hand. " Walk with me."

Anja looked at where the two Revan's were standing before turning back to Bastila, who lifted her hand higher. " Don't worry, I promise you, he can not sense your presence. Besides… knowing those two, they are discussing some form of military strategy. When they get like that… they are as dense as Boma skin and would not see a meteor falling for their heads."

Anja couldn't help but smile. This woman was nothing like the Jedi Archives made her out to be. She fitted her hand into Bastila's and they began to walk along the beach.

" Your bond with 'your' Revan has given you a unique perspective on many things, and they will assert themselves as time passes." Bastila said.

" He's not… 'my' Revan." Anja said, more quickly that she had intended. She regretted it almost immediately.

" No?" Bastila spoke smiling, a twinkle in her eye. " Then why does your heart race whenever you gaze at him? Your breathing quickens when you are in the same room as him. It is the same for him you know. You have the same effect on him."

" I… how could you…" Anja blushed. " It is… uncomfortable that you would know these things. It is not… the Order teaches that emotions are the path to destruction."

" Anja… your bond with 'your' Revan permeates within ours. And make no mistake… he is 'your' Revan Anja; as you will come to see during your journey. We sense what you sense… feel what you feel. I can not explain it. We can close each other out as you can see, but the echo is still there." Bastila said. " It will never go away. As many years as you live, you will be linked to my son, and us. Even our other children do not share this bond with us, perhaps because Rev was our first born. He was born the first year after Revan returned from the Outer Rim. At that time… both of us were still attempting to come to grips with the events of our past, and rejoicing that we were finally together. I believe, and I do not know this to be true, but I believe it was due to the emotional state of his father and I that led him to be able to be with us here. And now… you as well." Bastila couldn't help but grin. " It is very pleasant to have another woman here to talk to you know. Men can be so boring sometimes. Especially those two."

Anja returned her smile with a small laugh.

Bastila pulled her down onto the sand dune, still holding her hand. " You must have a million questions. Please… I have talked enough… I will try and answer some if you like."

" Can you show me what happen? On Dxun?" Anja asked.

Bastila shook her head. " No… I'm sorry. Only my son can do that. He is like his father in that regard. He keeps that part of his mind locked away tightly. I can tell you… like his father… he will infuriate you… drive you crazy… be over protective… tease you relentlessly… call you names… but he will love you with such power it will shake you to your core and make you bask in it's warmth."

" But the Jedi Code… Jedi are allowed no such attachments." Anja said.

Bastila nodded. " Yes, that is part of their code, rigid and infallible, and the only right way of doing things, or so they like to think. Then again… 'your' Revan is not a Jedi. Nor does he wish to be. I fought my feelings for my husband for so long, I almost drove him away from me. His love for me is what saved us both… although he will tell you different. You will need to find your own path as well Anja. Your heart will tell you what to do. I only hope your path is not as bumpy as mine."

" What… what did he find in the Outer Rim? Your 'Revan'?" Anja asked. " Why are you doing what you are doing? Master Vandar said something about a great darkness… Master Corna too."

Bastila nodded. " Again… there are some things my husband has shared only with a few. He is still protecting me in his own way. 'Your' Revan knows… and Dacen… and Canderous. No one else. And part of me does not want to know. We… you and I… are going to play a large part in what is to come… that much I can sense."

" Will he trust me?" Anja asked.

" Trust you? Child he loves you." Bastila replied. " From that day on Dxun... There are four people in this universe that my son trusts utterly. His father… me… Arren… and you Anja. You are the center of his universe… though it might take a few knocks with a Force Staff to get him to stop calling you…"

" Calling me what?" Anja asked with a smile.

Bastila shook her head. " If I tell you… he'll know you talked to me. He would not be happy to know you and I have had this conversation. Again… like his father, he can be obsessively private sometimes."

" Ah… I guess you are right." Anja said.

" Right about what?" The male voice asked.

Anja's head snapped around and she saw Revan Panlie standing in front of her, or at least the Force projection of him.

" Revan!" Bastila said getting to her feet and going to her husband. Anja saw them share a warm embrace and tender kiss. " Where did our son go?"

" He needed to clean up. He wanted to get a few hours of training in before dinner with Corna. They will be arriving at Katarr in the morning." The senior Revan told his wife. " So this is the little…"

Bastila slapped his shoulder. " Revan!"

" Oh yes… I almost forgot. He doesn't know." Revan senior said. " I sincerely hope he doesn't wait too long to profess his love for you. I'm not getting any younger, and some grandchildren would be a nice thing."

Anja, even her Force projection, blushed a deep red.

" Revan Panlie… you apologize to our guest right now!" Bastila spoke.

" You… you certainly seem confident that your son will somehow win my heart." Anja said after regaining her composure.

" By the Force he better! Or everything I taught him will go right out the garbage chute!"

Revan said with a smile.

Bastila looked at Anja. " Don't mind him. He tends to hold himself in rather high regard in that respect. More so than he should."

" In thirty years of marriage to you my love I've never heard any complaints." Revan looked at his wife with a smile. " Only these little…"

Bastila nodded. " I'll concede that." She said, blushing, and placing her hand over his mouth to stop his words.

" You don't act like a… like a former…" Anja began.

" Like a Former Dark Lord of the Sith?" Revan finished her question for her.

" Forgive me." Anja said

" She reminds me of you Bas. Always so apologetic." Revan said. " It is a fair question Anja Tamari, and it deserves a fair answer and I know you are somewhat of an historian." He smiled warmly. " Perhaps one day I will tell you the story of my fall, and my redemption. Not this day. I am sorry. I will say that even when I was at my darkest moment, that person was not who I truly am."

" Forgive me for asking." Anja spoke.

Revan shook his head. " Not at all. I will make you a deal however." He stepped up to her and whispered in her ear for several moments. He stepped back from her with a smile on his face. " Agreed?"

" I believe I can agree to that." Anja said.

Revan nodded. " Excellent! Now… would you care to walk with us for a while longer?"

Anja saw Bastila nod in agreement and she smiled. " I think I would like that very much." Anja replied.

" Good! I want to stay here as long as possible. I don't care to eat anymore of Dacen's Boma stew."

Bastila laughed as she took his hand and Anja fell in beside them. " I will agree with that."

KATARR

There were now two dozen Mandalorian and Onderonian warships in orbit of this once dead world. The jagged remains of five light cruisers could be seen dotting the area around the friendly ships. Katarr had once been a world of millions of Miraluka, a species of blind humanoids that used the Force as their site. It was this world that drew the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus, who sensed a great gathering of Jedi. He proceeded to drain the life from the Force sensitive race on the planet, to include the gathered Jedi. There were only two known survivors of this horrendous massacre, the Jedi Master Vandar, who the other Masters killed had rushed to a Force sensitive cave in the mountains that was surrounded by unusual crystals that blocked the Force from being detected. The other Masters were killed before being able to reach this location.

The other survivor was the woman currently in a heated argument with the huge Mandalorian wearing silver and black armor. His white hair was cut to stubble, and several scars could be seen extending up from the armor along the back of his neck.

Visas Marr had been taken from her world by Darth Nihilus and trained as his apprentice. She had been his apprentice for several years before dispatched to discover the cause of an echo her Master detected in the Force. This echo turned out to be Dacen Vorsut… who had shown her the path back to the light. Though she had been in love with Dacen briefly, she discovered after returning to her world that it was not a love of the heart. It was more a love between brother and sister, as they were both thought to be the last of their kind at the time. Visas threw herself into repairing her world and peace had finally begun to return to her as more of her kind, thought to be extinct, came to Katarr to resettle the world. The lessons of the past had not fallen on deaf ears, and Visas had prepared for another attack by the Sith with the help of the man in front of her.

Canderous Ordo had agreed to help with the rebuilding of Katarr at Dacen's request. At first Visas had refused, but as one of his requests before departing to find Revan, Dacen asked her to allow the Mandalorians to assist her. Over the next few years she found a kindred spirit in Canderous Ordo, and they had formed an unusual bond between them. A bond that eventual led to them becoming lovers. Both of them knew however that because of the positions they held, their relationship could never advanced beyond what it was. Both of them willingly accepted this, but both secretly relished their moments together. Visas knew Canderous considered her to be his mate, and while she would never allow him to know it, she considered him as hers. And it was the only reason she allowed him to corner her in this room now and vent his frustration at her for not being better prepared. It was all an act, she knew. But she allowed him to act Mandalorian in fashion anyway.

Visas still wore the red and black shawl over her sightless eyes, as was the custom of her people. The only man to have ever viewed her otherwise was Canderous. She wore a custom fit Verphine Alloy armor that conformed to her still shapely figure, and was bluish black in color. After several minutes of Canderous's angry fit, Visas reached up and touched his element weathered cheek.

" I am alive Canderous." She spoke softly, seeing the tension begin to leave his face, his dark eyes losing the fury he felt. " Thank you for coming."

" I will always come for you." He spoke to her. " You know that."

Visas nodded. " Yes. And it brings joy to me to hear you say those words. However, at this moment, we have other things to take care of. Revan and Arren have landed on the far side of the old colony. They are making their way here now. I was talking to him before your protective rant began, and he was explaining to me that they would come in from the east."

" I'll send a patrol to meet them." Canderous said. " He said he felt they landed assassins on the ground, and that is why they did not attack with a larger force."

" He said as much to me." Visas told him. " Even with my Force sight, I will not be able to detect them until they strike."

" Well… I have taken care of that." Canderous said. He took something from his belt and handed it to her, pressing a button on the cube. " Keep this activated and on your person. It will disrupt any stealth shield known to exist within a twenty meter radius of your person. My men are already installing larger ones around the entire colony. When they are finished, we can start bringing everyone out of the bunkers. Another hour perhaps."

Visas nodded, tucking the cube into the pouch on her armor. " Then I suggest we head out to meet Revan and Arren. They will not have such new toys."

Canderous chuckled as they headed out of the bunker. " Bao-Dur had them delivered right after they left for Coruscant. He said they were experimental, but they work. He only had several dozen to send. Besides… I been trying to sneak up on that boy with a stealth generator for years and he always tags me."

" Yes… well better safe than sorry. I doubt very much Revan senior would be happy if we lost his son so early in this quest." Visas said.

" True."

Revan led the small group along the edge of the tall buildings of the old Katarr colony. Many of the towering skyscrapers had begun to show their wear at the lack of upkeep, but they were still magnificent to look at. The streets of the old colony were deserted, the slight breeze blowing trash in circles. Accompanying Revan, Arren followed further back in the column of Mandalorian and Jedi. Vlaina traveled just behind Revan, Anja behind her. Traveling behind Arren in the column were two more Mandalorian Crimson Guard, with Master Corna bringing up the rear of the small team. Anja and Corna now wore the same type of Jedi armor that Revan and Arren wore. Both were surprised at the freedom of movement the additional protection allowed them, without changing the looks of their robes.

Revan stopped at the corner of one building and quickly ducked his head around the building and back. He turned to Vlaina and motioned her forward across the wide street. As Vlaina moved forward, Anja did the same until she was directly behind Revan. She looked at his face as his eyes scanned the area around them, and she felt her heart flutter when those eyes came to rest on her.

" The colony is not much further." He said. " Vlaina will scout ahead."

Corna moved up from his rear position as one of the other Mandalorians took rear guard. " I heard what Nihilus did to this world, but I did not realize he left the structures intact."

Revan nodded. " Not much was destroyed in the attack. He simply drained the life from millions using the Force."

" These Sith Assassins you spoke of?" Corna asked. " Have you sensed anything?"

Revan shook his head. " Arren's father encountered them first, on the empty hulk of a Republic ship. They feed on Force sensitive prey. Almost impossible to detect until they attack."

" They almost killed him." Arren spoke now. " They hunted him for months, until he finished them at Malachor V. They don't use light sabers. Mostly war swords wrapped in cortosis. Very skilled unarmed combatants. Almost like machines. We encountered them twice before."

" On Dxun?" Anja asked.

Revan looked at her and shook his head. " No. They would never be able to penetrate our defenses there. We encountered them on Rakatan several years ago. The elders reported some missing members of one of their tribes. Arren and I went to investigate. Apparently they were leftovers from the Star Forge before it was destroyed. They kidnapped several members of the elders tribe thinking they could use them to breach the temple there."

" When they realized that Revan's father sealed the temple to only a few, they slaughtered them like animals. We found their remains." Arren continued. " It was horrible what they had done to them."

Corna looked at her. " And the assassins?"

" Revan found them the next day." Arren replied. " The problem was ended."

Anja looked at Revan, feeling his eyes upon her. " What happen?"

" I asked them to surrender. They chose to fight. They made the wrong choice." He stated simply.

" You killed them?" Anja asked.

" They left me no choice." Revan answered her. " It was not the path I wanted to take."

Anja gazed at him for several moments, swearing she could detect the sadness in his eyes for having to take life. No matter the reason. Her eyes grew wide when in an instant, Revan had pulled one of his light sabers out and it was flashing towards her face. His glowing viridian blade stopped just inches from her face as something slammed into it. She glanced at his face, and saw not the calm look of seconds before, but a vicious snarl. Yet his eyes were not looking at her, and her senses told her why when she heard the stealth shields begin to deactivate all around them.

Revan's light saber had stopped the gleaming blade of the war sword only inches from her head.

" You will not harm her assassin!" Revan snarled, bringing up his other hand and unleashing a Force Wave that knocked the assassin to his back on the ground. Revan's words echoing in her head, Anja's own instincts flared to life and she came to her feet, her light saber igniting. Revan brought his blade down on the assassin, there was a muffled cry, and then the smell of seared flesh. Anja looked at the dead Sith assassin, seeing the smoking slash in his chest. It was not the first time she had seen death, but it had never been so close before. Her eyes came up again to see Revan wading into a group of four assassins, his second blade out by now, and flashing in unison with the first. Corna was battling with two, and Arren was flanked by the Mandalorians and they were dealing with one each.

Anja moved to assist Revan, but found her path blocked by an assassin who appeared out of thin air. He brought his doubled bladed sword across in a powerful slash, which Anja easily deflected harmlessly away. She countered with a move from her Ataru form, banging away quickly and with strength from three different corners. Her relentless attack kept pushing him back on the defense, until finally his defense crumbled and her blade connected with his neck. Anja watched as the body fell, the assassin's head at his feet.

" Anja!" Corna's voice snapped at her, as he spun gracefully dispatching the second of the assassins attacking him. " Focus! We are still in danger!"

Corna's words shook her out of her momentary state and she looked to where Revan stood, countering the attacks of three assassins with his twin blades. She Force jumped the ten meters to him, bringing her light saber down in a powerful attack, cleaving one of the three assassins in half. She did not pause and turned to face one of the two remaining assassins. This allowed Revan to act when the assassin's attention turned to Anja. He unleashed a massive Force storm, and the blue lightning ripped into the two assassins, frying them where they stood.

Revan turned quickly, scanning for more, and began to relax when none appeared. He lowered his light sabers and turned to Anja. " Nice to know my little Kath Hound has teeth." He told her.

Anja's eyes widened. " Kath Hound! How dare you! I do not resemble a Kath Hound in any way, shape or form!" She sputtered. " You over confident… Bantha farmer! Wading into battle against four armed opponents!" She stepped over the body of one of the assassins. " That was reckless and dangerous! You could have been killed!"

Revan grinned at her. " And I'm sure that would have brought you much grief and despair." He said.

" You… you are… you are the reason I followed Master Corna on this mission!" Anja spoke. " Your death would not lead to a successful mission."

" Is that the only reason?" Revan asked.

Anja was now aware of the others gathering around them. Vlaina and Arren were actually grinning, while Corna looked on with a confused expression.

" What… what other reason would there be?" She asked, her face starting to blush.

" You tell me." Revan spoke.

" You…" Anja's eyes grew dark as she realized what he was doing. " You insufferable… male hormone driven… back side of a Dewback!" Anja popped.

Arren burst out in a fit of laughing that nearly doubled her over when she saw the look on Revan's face. Vlaina was smiling from ear to ear, as she was the only one of the Mandalorian Guard not wearing her helmet. The others present could be heard chuckling inside their helmets.

" Everything ok here?" The new voice asked.

Everyone turned to see Canderous and Visas appear with a full platoon of Mandalorian troops. " Uncle Canderous!" Arren said, going to the hulking figure and embracing him.

Canderous returned her embrace gently and touched his forehead to hers. " You look well child."

" As do you!" Arren said. She turned to Visas and hugged her tightly. " Visas."

" You are as stunning as your mother Arren." Visas told her, squeezing her hands.

Canderous looked at Corna warily as Arren turned back to him. " Uncle Canderous this is Jedi Master Corna. He has decided to accompany us."

Canderous nodded towards Corna, before looking back to Arren. He motioned with his head towards where Revan and Anja were still arguing. " Is this who I think it is?" He asked.

Arren smiled once more and nodded. " That's her."

Canderous couldn't help but laugh. " Oh… this brings back memories!" He said. " Who's winning?"

" At last count Revan was the backside of a Dewback." Arren told him in a mock whisper.

" Ouch!"

" … do look like a little Kath Hound!" Revan popped. " The way your eyes narrow and you lips curl back when you get angry!"

" You arrogant…"

" Uh oh… here it comes… Bastila junior!" Canderous spoke.

" … egotistical, son of a moisture farmer!"

" Ewww…" Canderous muttered." That one hurt!"

Arren looked at Vlaina. " I think this might change my impression of her." She said with a smile. " I don't believe I've ever seen anyone stand up to him like that!"

" Nor have I." Vlaina said. " At least not someone who was still standing."

" I better step in and save him. He's not as quick as his father was with the one liners" Canderous said. " We need to get back under cover anyway."

" Just when it was getting good." Arren said.

Canderous walked over to where Revan and Anja stood. " Enough you two!" He bellowed, causing both of them to look at him. " While I'm sure you two have much to discuss, right now we don't have time to listen to the repressed emotions come out."

" I do not have repressed emotions!" Anja snapped. " And who are you!"

" I'm old enough to be your grandfather, little girl. And trust me. I have some experience with Jedi Princesses' repressing their emotions. Right now we have to get back to the compound, before more of our friends come back. If there are any left in the area, thanks to your yelling, they know where we are for sure."

" I am not a little girl!" Anja snapped.

" Enough! We need to move back to the compound! Now either be quiet and follow us, or I'll have Rev here pick you up and carry you!" Canderous said.

" He will do no such thing!" Anja spat.

Canderous looked at Revan. " I'm too old to do this again boy." He said. " Why do you and your father have to pick the two most impossible and obstinate women in the universe?"

" I don't know who you are… but I have no intention…" Anja never saw it coming, and her eyes rolled back into her head when Canderous snapped out and stuck the injector into her neck.

Revan stepped forward quickly and caught her body in his arms before she fell. " Uncle Canderous!" He snapped.

" She's no different than your mother!" Canderous snapped. " And I will not debate with her while we are standing in the middle of hostile territory! At least your mother had the common sense not to do that. Now… pick her up and lets get back to the compound"

Revan lifted her limp form easily into his arms and turned to see Arren and Vlaina looking at him. " What?"

Arren shook her head. " She had you are the ropes Rev." She said with a grin.

" What are you talking about? I was winning hands down."

Arren looked at Vlaina and they both shook their heads as they turned and started to follow Canderous.