CHAPTER NINE
ORD MANTELL
Revan sipped the mug of caffa as his eyes remained focused on the planet in front of him. Pink clouds nearly surrounded the entire planet, with small gaps that you could see portions of land and the dark oceans below. He was coming in at sub light speed, having dropped from hyperspace upon entering the system.
Revan leaned forward and gently touched a sleeping Anja on the shoulder. " We're there." He spoke softly.
Anja came awake almost instantly, her green eyes focusing quickly and settling on the planet. They had taken shifts at the controls to maintain their course and flight path, though Revan started the trip and would take them in for a landing. Anja's piloting skills were not the best when it came to take offs and landings. She stretched as much as she could within the confines of the small cockpit.
" Sleep well?" He asked handing the caffa he was drinking over her shoulder.
Anja took the mug and took a grateful sip, letting it warm her. She smiled at his question. " Why do you ask?"
" Just curious. You were muttering some things in your sleep. Wanted to make sure you were ok." Revan spoke.
Anja couldn't turn all the way around, but she turned her head as far as it would go and looked at his reflection in the canopy. " What was I muttering?"
" It was weird really. Something about this incredibly handsome and charming guy you know, and you couldn't decide whether you wanted him too…"
" Don't go there Revan Panlie!" Anja snapped, but with a smile on her face.
" Hey! I was just telling you what you were muttering." He spoke. He reached forward and used the back of his knuckles to gently caress her cheek. Anja closed her eyes at his touch and smiled.
" I don't mutter in my sleep." She said softly.
Revan chuckled again and they both heard the com system come alive.
" This is Ord Mantell approach hailing Mandalorian Pursuer. Identify please."
" This is Mandalorian Pursuer nine four one, activating transponder. We have two passengers aboard, requesting permission to land." Revan replied.
" Receiving transponder nine four one. Please state your business."
" Well… I thought I'd try my hand at some Pazaak in the Fifteen Moons Casino, Approach." Revan replied. " And take in the view. I understand you have the best looking dancers this side of Coruscant."
Anja reached back with her right hand and pinched Revan on the calf. " You will do no such thing!" She spat.
" Ow!" Revan exclaimed.
The voice came on again and they could hear faint laughter. " That we do Nine Four One. I have cleared you into bay 15 on the east pad. How long will you be staying Nine Four One?"
" I'll pay for three days Approach. If I get lucky at cards, or anything else, I might just stay longer!" Revan answered bracing himself for the pinch that was coming. He winced as Anja did not disappoint him and the sharp pain lanced through his calf again.
" Welcome to Ord Mantell Nine Four One."
" Thank you Approach." Revan replied.
" Won't we draw attention in this ship?" Anja asked.
" No. We've been coming here from Dxun for about twenty years now. And as long as you don't cripple me before we land… we'll be in good shape."
" Serves you right." Anja told him. " We are not here for you to gawk at scantily clad dancers in a casino."
" I do not gawk! I admire." Revan popped. " I only gawk at scantily clad Jedi."
" Well… I doubt you will find any of them on Ord Mantell." Anja said with a smile.
" I can always hope." Revan spoke with a smile. " Hang on, here we go."
Revan dipped the nose of the Pursuer into the atmosphere and followed the directional beacon that was flashing on his screen. Anja let her eyes drift over the built up star port. Parts of the buildings were built right into the mountains, with the urban sprawl spreading out nearly four kilometers in her estimate. Some of the buildings were tall, but crudely built. It was not Coruscant and its towering lights and buildings, and she briefly wondered why her parents had decided to settle here. She lost site of the ground then as Revan turned to take them in for a landing.
Revan helped Anja down from the Pursuer and held out the bag for her. He leaned close to her ear. " Ord Mantell is another smuggler's moon, just a lot more civilized. Most of the capital city is relatively safe, but it does have its underbelly of scum. Let's just stay alert and find your parents."
Anja looked at him. " You sound worried." She said softly.
Revan shook his head. " I'm not worried. This isn't like Coruscant Anja. They don't think or talk the same here; lots of smugglers and people who don't want to be found. We just need to tread lightly."
" I've been trying to understand why my parents would come here." She told him.
" Well… it is a beautiful planet. If you mind your own business. C'mon, the Mantell Medical Facility is this way. " Revan took her hand.
Anja let Revan lead her through the mass of urban sprawl. She saw dozens of different species, the streets filled with people shopping and traveling from one location to the next. She saw many hotels and the tourists that entered and exited. Some were very well dressed. Twenty minutes later, she was standing in front of a thirty story steel and glass building. The building was old and some of the steel looked to be in very bad shape. This was not what she expected from a medical facility. Revan led her inside, where she saw people waiting in line for medical attention
They walked up to the chest high counter where the Twi'lek female stood. She turned and looked at Revan, her dark eyes looking him up and down. Anja felt a pang of jealousy shoot through her as this was happening.
" Yeah?" The Twi'lek finally asked.
" What room is…?" Revan looked at Anja.
" Jaspar. Jaspar Tamari." Anja said.
The Twi'lek nurse pulled up the information on the screen in front of her. " Here it is. Room 940. Only family is allowed upstairs."
" I'm his daughter." Anja said quietly.
The Twi'lek looked at her briefly before nodding. " Ok. Lift is over there!" She motioned with her hand.
Revan looked at her as they entered the repulsorlift. You are very anxious.
Revan, I haven't seen them in ten years. I haven't talked to them in nearly seven. The Order discourages contact with family. You know that.
Another mistake on their part. Revan said. Anja you are their daughter. They love you. Relax.
The repulsorlift deposited them on the ninth floor and they followed the room number signs until they were outside 940. Anja looked at Revan. He leaned over and kissed her forehead gently.
" It will be fine. Go!"
Anja nodded and pressed the panel beside the door. Within ten seconds the attractive older woman with billowing brown hair and green eyes opened the door. Revan could immediately see the resemblance in them. The woman's hand went to her mouth in surprise.
" Anja?" She gasped. " Is it you Anja?"
" Hello mother!" Anja said, smiling and trying to contain the tears that threatened to come out.
" Oh… my baby!" The woman said, opening her arms. Anja stepped into them with no hesitation as the tears came pouring out. " Jaspar! Jaspar… it's Anja! It's our baby!"
" What?" The man's gruff voice barked from within. Revan saw the tall man lean forward in the bed. His black hair was nearly gray, and his leg was wrapped tightly with Kolto bandages, but when he saw his daughter his dark eyes came to life and he struggled to get out of the bed. " Anja! My little flower! Lena, help me out of this bed damn it! I want to see my daughter standing up!"
" Papa… no!" Anja said, moving quickly and using the Force to keep her father from crumbling to the floor under his weak leg. She got under him quickly, and with her mother's help kept him from falling.
Jaspar Tamari crushed the daughter he hadn't seen in ten years in his arms and Revan could see the small tears escaping his tightly shut eyes. " My little flower!" He gasped, holding her away from him and looking at her. " My lord Anja… look at you. You're grown up!"
Anja couldn't help it and more tears came as she drew her parents into her arms and held onto them for dear life. " I missed you so much!" She sobbed. " I'm sorry… I'm sorry I haven't written or contacted you. I…"
Lena held her daughter's arms. " You… you are so beautiful Anja." She said, touching her face. " You've grown so much! Didn't you get our messages? We've sent so many."
Anja shook her head, her eyes tearing up again. " The Order… they don't allow personal messages to come in Mother. You knew that. I sent out two or three holo/cards. I…"
" It's ok child." Lena said, squeezing her hands. " You're here now. How did you get here? Did they let you come?"
Anja shook her head slowly. " I was on a mission with Master Corna. They contacted me and told me what happen. I came as soon as I could."
Lena leaned close to her. " Who's the strapping young man waiting patiently in the corridor dear?" She whispered. " I didn't realize the Jedi were turning them out so handsome looking!"
Anja turned and saw Revan standing in the doorway. " Oh… this is… this is Borma. He…"
Revan stepped into the room with a smile. " Borma Owens ma'am. I volunteered to transport your daughter here. We've been working together for a few weeks now." He bowed slightly to Lena and she smiled.
" And so polite." Lena said.
Revan grinned. " My mother raised me well ma'am."
" So it seems."
Revan reached around Anja. Who is Borma?
" It's a pleasure to see you sir. I'm glad to see you're recovering from you injuries." Revan spoke shaking Jaspar's hand.
He was my teddy bear when I was a little girl. Anja replied to him. And don't you dare laugh.
Revan's smile never left his face. I wouldn't think of it.
" What is it that you do Mister Owens?" Jaspar asked.
" I'm a pilot sir. A fairly good one if I do say so myself. I'm currently assigned to the Republic Forces. I understand that you are an excellent pilot yourself sir." Revan spoke.
Jaspar nodded with a smile. " In my younger years!" He replied. " What do you drive?"
" Right now a Mandalorian Pursuer, highly modified and very sleek."
" A Pursuer!" Jaspar spoke. " Now that was a slippery devil!"
" Papa… what happen?" Anja asked, breaking into the conversation with an evil glare at Revan.
Jaspar waved his hand. " They came out of no where. Three Rodians. They came into our place and started shooting. They couldn't hit a Tatooine wamp rat on a clear day!"
" They hit you Jaspar!" Lena spoke. " Three times!"
" Ah… these little things! If it wasn't for the automated defense turrets I installed three years ago, they would have really tore the place up."
Lena looked at him. " Your father was shot in the chest twice and in the leg. As you can see." She told them.
" I was grazed Lena." He corrected.
" Grazed! Jaspar, they had you in a Kolto tank for six hours!"
" Six hours!" Anja snapped.
Lena nodded. " If it wasn't because your father is as stubborn as a kath hound, he would have been in there longer."
Now I know where his daughter gets it from. Revan projected to her.
You're pushing your luck buster!
" I have never felt better!" Jaspar popped. " Want me to dance for you! Your mother taught me to dance you know!"
Anja let out a small laugh and held her father down on the bed. " No papa. That's ok."
" Anja… can you stay?" Her mother asked. " For a few days at least. We have so much to catch up on."
Anja nodded quickly. " Yes. For a few days."
" They won't let your father out of here until tomorrow." Lena said. " Do you have a place to stay?"
" We came right here from the spaceport." Anja replied. " We didn't have time to get a room."
Revan was the only one who saw Anja's father stiffen a little at her words. He smiled quickly. " One thing I hate about the Jedi. They are always so frugal." He said. " My commander gave us enough for two rooms Jedi Tamari."
Anja looked at him. " Of course Rev… Borma."
Jaspar Tamari quickly looked at Revan out of the corner of his eye. A tall, muscular young man for sure, his skin deeply tanned. He didn't look like any pilot Jaspar had ever known. They tended to be a little on the pale side. Jaspar looked Revan up and down, taking in the clothes and large calloused hands. Jaspar detected something under the gray cloak, a slight bulge, but not big enough to be a blaster. There was much more to this young man than met the eye.
" Nonsense!" Lena continued. " You can stay with us. We have plenty of room."
" I thank you ma'am." Revan spoke. " I'm sure Jedi Tamari will take you up on your offer. I can stay at one of the taverns in the space port."
" I won't hear of that. You brought my daughter home to us young man. The least I can do is help you save your credits." Lena said. She took Anja's hand. " Visiting hours are almost over. Come I'll take you home."
Revan waited until Anja had hugged her father and her mother was pulling her out of the room before turning to Jaspar. " It was a pleasure to meet you sir. I would imagine I will see more of you."
Jaspar shook his hand firmly. " I look forward to it." He said guardedly.
Revan gathered their bags up and exited the room. His eyes found the nurse's station and walked over to it. The doctor at the station was an aging Duros, his silver jumpsuit worn by use and time.
" Excuse me." Revan spoke in basic.
" Yes."
" I'd like some information please. I want to inquire about Jaspar Tamari." Revan spoke.
The Duros turned to face him and gave him a once over. " Who are you?"
" I came with his daughter. I was wondering if you could tell me what happen?"
" What's to tell? Three Rodian scum entered Jaspar's place and started blasting away. If it wasn't for the turrets he installed a few years ago, he'd be dead. As it is he almost did die." The Duros replied.
" You sound like you know him well." Revan asked.
The doctor nodded. " He comes here every month for his treatments." He replied. " He doesn't have enough credits to travel to Coruscant for a transplant, so every month I have to flush his kidneys."
Revan was thoughtful for a moment. He looked back at the doctor. " Does Ragnar Tovan still own the Fifteen Moons?"
" Yes."
Revan held out the small chip to the doctor. " Take this. It should cover any expenses for him up until this point. And allow you to purchase some much needed supplies and equipment for your hospital here."
The Duros doctor looked at the Republic credit chip, and if he had any eyelids, they would have exploded open. He looked back to Revan. " Why you do this?"
" Just make sure he is cared for." Revan spoke.
The Duros nodded. " I'll see to it personally."
Revan! Where are you? Anja called through their bond.
I'll be right there.
Revan turned and headed for the repulsorlift. He didn't notice Jaspar watching him from the door.
The Tamari home was a small piece of property on the outskirts of the spaceport. It wasn't far from the dark waters of the eastern ocean, and had plains all around it, with mountains far off in the distance. Lena sat with Anja and Revan at the table in their dining room telling them of the attack.
"… was terrible. They just came in and started shooting. They didn't try to rob us or anything. I've had the store closed down since the attack. Your father, stubborn ox that he is, won't admit how bad he was injured. He's been on the Kolto treatments for three days now." Lena spoke. " They said he can go home tomorrow, but he'll want to go right back to work."
" You operate a store?" Revan asked.
Lena nodded. " Just a small general store. Nothing of real value. We've been here for ten years and nothing like this has ever happen before. It scared me."
Anja took her mother's hands. " It's ok mother. He's fine. He'll be home tomorrow, and I won't let him go back to work right away. I'll stay as long as I have too."
Lena smiled and touched her face. " You have changed so much Anja." She said. " You are not the little tomboy anymore. You've become a beautiful woman. And a Jedi."
Anja smiled and blushed. " Not just yet. I am still a Padawan Learner."
" Your father was so proud of you when you were accepted into the academy." Lena looked at Revan. " She had quite a time getting in you know. They didn't want to take her at first. They said she was too old. Bunch of old wind bags if you ask me."
" Mother!" Anja said. " The Masters are very wise."
Revan chuckled. " Mrs. Tamari… I'll have to side with you on this one." He said getting to his feet.
Revan!
Revan smiled. " If you ladies will excuse me, I think I will pop back into the space port and check on our ship."
" Do you want my assistance?" Anja asked, standing up.
Revan shook his head. " No Jedi Tamari. I think you should stay with your mother and catch up. I can handle this."
Anja watched him go to the door and leave without looking back. She turned back to her mother and smiled. " I'll be right back." She said. She got up and followed Revan out the door quickly.
Revan!
Revan turned and saw her on the porch. " Yes."
" Where… where are you going?"
" I'm going to talk to someone." He answered her, walking back to where she stood.
" Who?"
" A man who knows my father. I've dealt with him before."
" Why?"
Revan looked at her. What's wrong?
You have been anxious since we left the hospital. Worried about something. I don't… I don't want you to shut me out again.
I swore to you I would not do that again my love. I don't break promises. I'm going to see a man we conducted business with many years ago. His name is Ragnar. I want to arrange for protection for your father. The hospital is too easy a target. Once they realize the first attempt failed, they will try again. It's only until our people come from Dxun. They'll be here sometime tomorrow. I won't be long.
Be careful.
Always.
Revan bent down and kissed her softly. Anja squeezed his arms and nodded. He turned and walked to the speeder car. Anja watched until he was out of sight and then turned to go back in the house. Her mother was standing by the table looking at her.
" He's more than just a pilot isn't he Anja?" She asked.
Anja looked at her. " What makes you say that?"
Lena smiled and walked up to her. " I've been married to a pilot for nearly forty years dear. And forgive me for saying so… but that young man is no pilot. He may be very good at flying, but he walks like someone used to being in charge. A leader. And he is far too tall and muscular to be a pilot by profession. He's like you isn't he? A Jedi."
Anja looked at her. " In a manner of speaking." She said with a smile. " But he's far more powerful than I am."
" He's quite taken with you." Lena said.
" Mother!" Anja said.
" Well it's obvious you know. The way he looks at you. And you at him. Do you love him Anja?"
" It's complicated mother." Anja said.
" Is it?" Lena asked, taking her daughters hands. " Love is always complicated dear. That's what makes it so special to have. Come sit down. I haven't seen you in ten years. I want to hear about your adventures. And I want to hear more about Borma… if that is his real name."
Anja laughed as her mother led her into their living area.
Revan stood at the bar of the Fifteen Moons Casino sipping the juma juice. The place was just as he remembered. Patrons filled every nearly every gambling machine, tables of card players. The casino was teeming with activity. The human bartender came up to him.
" Want another?" He asked.
Revan looked at him. " Is Ragnar in the building?"
The man's eyes narrowed. " Who's asking?"
Revan pulled the small chip from his pouch and the bartender noticed the hilt of the light saber with his keen eyes. He held out the chip to the bartender. " I'd like to talk with him if I could."
The bartender looked at the chip, his eyes getting wide. " Hold on."
Revan turned and walked to tall steel beam and leaned against it as his eyes swept the casino. He spotted several surly looking individuals in the back who were not gambling. They were just sitting at the table drinking slowly. Two of them were Gamorreans and the third was a Trandoshan.
" Well… look who we have here!" The voice behind Revan spoke.
Revan turned to see the Iktotchi male standing behind him. Standing nearly two meters tall, with twin downward sweeping horns that protruded from the side of his head, his skin was a yellowish color and his hairless face was grim looking. Revan smiled.
" Ragnar." He spoke.
The Iktotchi's face split into a huge grin and he embraced Revan in his huge arms. He lifted him off the ground and nearly crushed his ribs in the bear hug, pounding him on the back. " Ah… boy… it's good to see you again!" He bellowed.
Revan smiled and coughed when Ragnar put him down. " It's good to see you too."
" Come to the back Junior. I got some nice Corellian whiskey, and I'll get Nara to entertain you!"
Revan looked at him. " The whiskey I'll take. There is no need for Nara."
Ragnar cocked his head and looked at him. " No Nara? Well… well… has junior finally found the perfect female companion? The one you were always talking about when you were young? You always were Nara's favorite. Even though you two never…" Ragnar laughed at the expression on Revan's face as he motioned with his hand. He slapped him on the back. " C'mon junior."
Revan motioned to the three shadowy figures in the back. " When did you start allowing armed Bounty Hunters in your place?"
Ragnar followed where his hand went and he looked at the three aliens. He smiled and squeezed his shoulder. " Your eyes are sharp as ever junior." He spoke. He motioned to the serious looking men at the bar. Four of them came over to him. " Watch the three in the back. They're armed."
One of the men looked at them. " We scanned them when they came in boss."
" They're armed. Don't do anything, but watch them."
" Will do boss."
Ragnar draped his arm over Revan's shoulders and pulled him back towards a set of double doors. They walked down a long corridor to another set of doors that opened into a lavish office. Ragnar motioned for him to sit down while he went to the counter and poured two glasses of red liquid. He walked back to him and held out the glass. " The finest in the galaxy. I have it imported just for me."
Revan sniffed the liquid and took a long pull. The whiskey burned as it went down his throat, but it was the best Corellian whiskey he'd had in years. He nodded his head and tipped his glass to him. " Excellent!" He said.
Ragnar settled into the chair next to Revan. " So what brings you back to Ord Mantell junior?"
" Do you know Jaspar Tamari?"
" Jaspar? Sure I do. Everyone does. Most honest person in this place. Runs a general shop about four blocks over. He and his wife are always helping people out. That's why they don't make any profit." Ragnar replied. " Three schutta bounty hunters went into his shop a few days ago and shot it up. Hurt him pretty bad."
" I need to ask a favor." Revan asked.
" Name it."
" Any idea where they came from?"
Ragnar shook his head. " Off world. Never seen them around here before."
" I need protection for Jaspar. Just until tomorrow. I have people coming. He's still in danger." Revan said.
" Done!" He turned to a panel on the table next to him. " Tian?"
" Yeah boss."
" You take four of your best boys over to the hospital. You know Jaspar Tamari?"
" Sure boss, everyone does."
" Rev junior has some people arriving tomorrow. You cover Jaspar until they get here. No one gets near him, got it? You need any help you call me. And for added measure… put some people on Lena too. Cover their place."
" On our way boss."
Ragnar looked back to Revan. " They'll be there in ten minutes. Now you want to tell me what is going on?"
" The Sith." Revan spoke. " They are back."
" The Sith! Oh… Revan my boy, whatever you need! Name it. They done more damage to my organization then I care to admit. What's going on?"
" Right now they are hunting me. And anyone even closely related to me or working with me and my father. That's who went after Anja's father." Revan said.
" Anja? You mean the Tamari girl? Their daughter? I thought she was a Jedi."
" She is. I brought her here. She is at their home now with her mother catching up on ten years of her life. We flew in today after the Jedi Council informed us of the attack on her father." Revan spoke.
" You got a safe haven here junior. You know that."
Revan nodded. " I know. I don't want you to put your operations at risk though. If we fail… well it won't be pretty."
" That war your father told me about once. It's coming… isn't it?"
Revan nodded slowly. " And the implications if we fail are pretty wide spread."
" Then don't fail boy. I know you and your father too well. You got this thing planned down to the tee. What do you need? Want me to put together some ships and come help you kick some Sith backside? You just tell me. This will involve all of us my friend."
" We just might need the help Ragnar." Revan said.
" You're worried about this aren't you?"
" My father taught me to never underestimate the enemy. The Sith are capable of anything. No matter how brutal. They'll do anything to accomplish their goals."
" Then we need to fight dirtier than them Rev. We need to get mean."
Revan looked at him. " Oh… we will." He said with a cruel grin. " We will."
Ragnar poured them some more whiskey. " Well good. Right now… let's have another drink."
" I have some other favors to ask." Revan spoke.
" Ah… ask while we drink my boy. It's been a long time since I've seen you!"
Revan returned to the Tamari house later that evening. The lights were dimmed, so he assumed everyone was asleep. He sensed Anja just inside the door waiting for him and remained outside for a moment. Ragnar had been true to his word. Five men were stationed around the property. They were hidden well, and not giving away their location to the naked eye. He turned to go inside.
"You are back very late." Anja spoke getting up from the couch.
" Yes, I know. I didn't mean to wake you."
" I was already awake." Anja said, walking over to him. " I was worried about you. I stayed awake."
" I am capable of taking care of myself." Revan said. " You should have gone to bed."
Anja stepped back from him. " You've been drinking."
" Yes. I know that too." Revan said with a smile.
" You're intoxicated! Where did you go?"
" I told you. I went to see an old friend. To arrange protection for your father and mother. I'm sure you sensed the men that have taken up positions around the house."
" I sensed them, yes. That doesn't explain why you are drunk!"
" I am not drunk!" Revan spoke.
" You smell like the inside of a cantina!" Anja snapped, more angrily than she had intended. " Did your friend also set you up with some companionship as well!"
" Excuse me?"
" I asked my mother about your friend, Ragnar. She told me he runs the Fifteen Moons Casino. She also told me he smuggles guns and runs a brothel inside his casino. Is that why you went there? For companionship!" Anja snapped at him again.
" You think I went there to find a woman?" Revan asked incredulous.
" Didn't you? Why else go see this Ragnar person? He's a two bit criminal!"
" You have never met Ragnar. Why would you assume something of which you have no knowledge?" Revan asked, still in a state of shock from her verbal attack.
" I am not stupid Revan!" Anja barked.
" I have never implied you were." Revan said. He reached up to touch her face.
Anja slapped his hand away. " Don't touch me!"
Revan's eyes went wide. " Don't touch you? Forgive me for asking, but where is this attack coming from? I thought you…"
" You thought what? That I was going to melt into your arms? That I was going to let you take me to bed?" Anja barked at him.
" Take you to bed?" Revan asked stunned. " I believe I already stated to you that I would not put any pressure on you Anja."
" Yes I know. How noble of you!" she said viciously. " If you were a Jedi… you would never have put me in this position to begin with!"
Revan's eyes darkened. " And what position is that Anja?" He growled.
" Who is Nara? Tell me who Nara is Revan?"
" Nara? What does Nara have to do with anything?" Revan's face was very confused now.
" When I sensed those men out there… I went out to where they were. I got close enough to hear what they were saying. They said Nara would take care of you. That Ragnar would make sure Nara made you feel better! You… you lying…"
" Anja… you don't understand." Revan said smiling. He stepped closer to her, now understanding what she was upset about.
Anja lifted her hand and used Force push to shove Revan back. She didn't realize how much power she put into her command and her eyes went wide when Revan was lifted off his feet and sent smashing through the door into darkness.
" Anja!" Her mother screamed from the top of the stairs where she had been. She had woken up after hearing them argue, and stopped at the top of the stairs. She was now racing down the stairs and across the room.
Anja turned to her, her eyes wide. " Oh… mother! What have I done?"
They both ran outside to see Revan pulling himself up off the ground. He had struck the side of the stone wall after smashing through the steel door and the side of his face was cut and bleeding quite badly. He got to one knee and spit blood from his mouth as Lena ran up to him.
" Oh my. You're hurt!" Lena said.
Revan took her hand gently and push it away from him as he stood up. Revan turned to where Anja stood, a look of horror on her face. She gasped when she saw the deep cut across his cheek.
" Revan… I…" She stepped toward him.
" If you wanted to know who Nara was… you need only have asked me Anja." He spoke, his words measured and spoken with a great deal of pain. " I would have told you then… as I tell you now… she was my Twi'lek nanny." Anja's hand went to her mouth. " She was nearly a hundred years old when she cared for me." He slowly removed his torn cloaked and Anja could feel the pain he was. His shoulder was dislocated and she winced in agony when he grunted and popped his shoulder back into place, yet it wasn't the pain she felt. It was the hurt coming from his heart.
Lena had her hand to her throat as she cringed as well, almost feeling the pain for herself. She also saw the twin light sabers still attached to his belt, and her eyes widened.
Revan stepped closer to Anja, and that is when she saw the tears in his eyes.
" I have loved you since I was fourteen years old Anja Tamari. There has not been a day that went by that you have not been in my thoughts. Perhaps to you it was due only to the Force bond that we share, but I know differently. You love me as well. I can smell it pouring from you… just as Uncle Canderous said. I have never once lied to you Anja. Never! I would never betray you in such a way. It is beneath me and all that I hold honorable. " He hissed, stepping forward, closer to her. " And you can not even bring yourself to tell your mother who I really am." Revan shook his head. " These injuries…" He leaned over and spit blood onto the ground again, causing Anja to burst into tears. " I've suffered worse in the Mandalorian Battle Circle. What you do to my heart though… that will never heal."
Revan straightened up and turned away from her and started walking into the darkness. He stopped and looked at Lena. " There is a Mandalorian Frigate arriving tomorrow Lena Tamari. It will take you and your husband to Onderon. He needs a transplant of his kidneys. I have made arrangements for that to take place. Queen Talia's personal surgeon will do the operation, and you are free to remain on Onderon until your husband is fully recovered. It has been taken care of. There will be no cost to you or your husband. Ragnar has agreed to look after your shop here on Ord Mantell while you are away. No harm will come to it. It… It was going to be my gift to you and your husband when I asked for your blessing to marry your daughter." Revan turned away and started walking again. " It appears that will not be happening. Please take her with you to Onderon. She will… she will be safe there."
Lena stepped forward. " Wait! Who are you?"
" My name is Revan. I am the son of Jedi Knight Revan Panlie and Jedi Knight Bastila Shan. Ask your daughter… I'm sure she would be happy to tell you how my father was the former Dark Lord of the Sith that destroyed your world! And how my parents were expelled from the Jedi Order for falling in love."
Lena gasped as she watched Revan Force jump out into the night towards the ocean until he could not be seen anymore. She turned back to Anja, who was now on her knees, slumped on the ground and sobbing uncontrollably. Lena got down on the ground next to her daughter.
" Anja… what is going on?"
Anja looked at her through tear stained eyes. " I've lost him mother." She said softly, her body shaking. " I've lost him."
Lena took her daughter in her arms and held her as she sat in front of their home wondering what in the world just happen.