CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CORUSCANT

Carth came back into his Senate hotel suite fuming mad, Vlaina following close behind. Revan and Bastila looked up from where they were sitting on the couch with Jolee.

"…. never ceases to amaze me how little they get done!" Carth barked, tossing his jacket across the chair and moving to the counter. He poured himself a mug of caffa, while Vlaina walked up to the couch.

"I take it the meeting did not go well?" Revan spoke.

Vlaina shook her head. "Every time it comes to a vote… three Senators step forward and call for a committee to study the information further." She replied. "I believe the Chancellor is becoming just as frustrated. Many of the worlds closest to the Outer Rim are already preparing what ships they have to come here to Coruscant and be placed under Carth's command. They are solidly in our favor."

Revan nodded. "They are the most directly threatened." He said in understanding.

Carth turned to face them. "They can't seem to decide whether they should trust you or not Revan." He explained. "Many are worried this is some sort of trick by you to resume your conquest as Dark Lord."

"They still think he is a Dark Lord of the Sith?" Bastila asked, clearly surprised and taken aback.

Carth nodded slowly. "There seems to be three of them, the same ones that Vlaina mentioned. The Senators from Mannan, Hypori and Neimoidia; and they continue to push the belief that you are still a Sith Lord and are trying to conquer the galaxy. I see them all the time conferring with others, including Matais. It doesn't make me very happy. Even he is starting to doubt what I've told him."

"They are the apprentices." Revan spoke. "They are using the same power as the apprentice on the Jedi Council, influencing the minds of others. They had to have been turned some time ago."

"Revan… I thought the dark side twisted your features physically as well as mentally. They look no different than they should." Carth said.

"There are techniques that can be used to defeat the results of surrendering to the dark side." Bastila told him. "They would have to be very powerful to know them and use them for so long without being discovered."

"He planned this long ago." Revan said softly. "I would imagine once he realized I came back to the light that he took steps to continue his influence."

"So what do we do?" Carth asked. "I can't go against three Sith apprentices who are controlling the minds of Senators. A vote will never get through the senate with them working against us. Is there any way to block their power?"

Revan shook his head. "Not that I am aware. But now that we know who they are… we can act on that information."

"Act? How?" Carth asked.

"Remove them from the equation." Revan replied evenly.

"And how do you propose we do that?"

Revan smiled. "When is the next session?"

"Day after tomorrow. Why?" Carth asked.

"Perhaps their demon should make an appearance." Revan spoke.

Bastila came to her feet. "Revan… you can't be serious!" She said.

"I'm very serious." Revan told them. "What better opportunity for them to strike me down."

"Revan!" Bastila nearly yelled. "That's insane!"

"I know. That's exactly why it will work." He said. "And it might also draw out the Sith on the Jedi Council." He said looking at Jolee.

"That is a big risk to take boy!" Jolee growled. "I see age hasn't tempered your reckless nature."

"It is." Revan replied. "But time is growing short Jolee. The first battle of this war is already in progress. We need to act now."

Carth's eyes narrowed. "Already in progress? What do you mean? What has happen Revan?"

"I have heard from Anja. She shares a bond with our son, as do Bastila and I… and the four of us are able to communicate with one another." Revan said.

Jolee came to his feet in shock. "Revan… you never told us that!" He spat. "The four of you can communicate with each other?"

"It was not important for you to know." Revan replied evenly. "It was a very short and to the point communication. They have found Dustil and Mission. There was a very active and rather large base hidden by the mining facility. It was swarming with Sith. They were able to rescue Dustil…" Revan looked at Carth. "Though he is seriously wounded."

"You said they found Mission as well." Jolee said.

Revan nodded. "She… she was turned Jolee." He said somberly. "She lured Dustil to the base and tortured him. She was trying to get him to reveal information about our operations. Anja and Arren were stabilizing Dustil's condition. Revan went after Mission. His orders to Kelborne were to start an immediate bombardment when he had his ships in position. If nothing delayed him, the attack should have already begun. Once they discover we have destroyed their base in that sector they will not be happy. If I make an appearance soon after this is revealed… they will act. And then we can neutralize them…"

"Mission… Mission tortured him?" Carth asked slowly. "But I… I thought she loved him."

Jolee stepped up to Carth and put his hand on Carth's shoulder. "The dark side can twist anyone Carth. But for Mission to turn… I sensed she was Force sensitive all those years ago but never…"

"We all did Jolee." Revan spoke. "It augmented the skills she already had, and she was far too old to begin any type of training."

"What will Rev junior do?" Jolee asked.

Bastila sighed heavily. "If… if he can't turn her back. He… he will kill her."

"Oh… man I really hate dark Jedi!" Carth said. "Mission? That spunky little Twi'lek. They turned her into a dark Jedi." He shook his head. "To the pits of Korriban with all of them!"

Revan stepped up to Carth. "Dustil will recover." He said. "Arren was trained by her mother. She is a skilled healer."

Carth took a deep breath. "He's not a little boy anymore." Carth said. "He's a man. I can't change that. He'll survive?"

Revan nodded. "They got to him in time. By now… they are on their ship and heading back to Dxun for more extensive medical facilities. His injuries were severe… but he will live."

"Then let's get back to this plan of yours to draw out our unwelcome guests." Carth spoke. "I suddenly feel like some payback!"

Arren and Anja worked quickly on Dustil once they got him aboard their ship. He was on the table, barely conscious as they started to treat him.

"… We need to get him to a Kolto tank!" Arren barked as she pressed more Kolto bandages to his face and on his severed arm. "He has terrible internal injuries. She must have used Force lightning on him. It's causing his kidneys to stop functioning! Anja… use the Force… try and target his internal organs. We need to stabilize him quickly!"

Anja placed her hands on Dustil's bare abdomen and concentrated, using the Force to reach out and repair any damage she could find.

Dralor came rushing into the med room. "Where is Revan?" He snapped.

"He went after Mission!" Arren replied.

"He's still in the base?" Dralor asked shocked. "Kelborne is in position. He's going to start his attack any second!"

Anja could feel him through their bond. His heart was racing… and she could feel the sadness and anger coursing through him. She felt their ship lurch slightly, as if a bomb had gone off some distance away.

"That's it!" Dralor spoke. "He's begun his attack. Lady Anja… tell Revan he needs to return now!"

Anja looked at him. "He knows!" She snapped.

Kelborne stood on the bridge of his cruiser and watched as his thirty-seven cruisers and frigates began to pour volley after volley of devastating firepower into the two entrances to the Sith base. He watched as several dozen Sith fighters blasted from one of the docking bays and he turned to his second officer.

"Deploy our fighters! Engage and destroy every last one of those Sith bastards! Bring the Second Wing in closer and commence bombardment of secondary targets on the surface. I want nothing left of this base! Have our Pursuer Bomber Wing work across axis. Nothing is to survive!"

"The son of Revan sir! Their ship is still in the mining station star port! When we begin bombardment of the secondary targets, the star port will be destroyed. It's too close to avoid." His second officer told him.

Kelborne nodded. "Revan said attack immediately. He knows we can't let any of them escape. The son of Revan can take care of himself, please order Dralor to depart the mining star port now!"

Kelborne's second officer nodded. "Yes sir!"

Kelborne turned back to the holomap as their fighters began to launch from their tubes. He nodded his head, knowing their tactics were sound, and he turned to the large view port on the bridge. He could see that his ships were pounding the Sith base and he smiled in a predatory smile. There would be nothing left when they finished.

"May your Force guide you, son of Revan." He spoke quietly.

Mission felt the sharp pain in her lower back, her eyes widening as she saw Revan lift his light saber and fling it directly at her. She closed her eyes, knowing that her death was upon her.

Mission heard the deep thud and the pain in her lower back disappeared immediately. Her eyes sprang open in time to see the dark Jedi behind her land on his back with Revan's light saber protruding from his skull. His hand clutched a small vibroknife that was stained with her blood. Her eyes snapped back to Revan as the base around them shook violently.

"Rev… Revan!" She gasped, collapsing to the ground. The pain in her back lanced through her and she could sense through the Force that the wound was deep. "Leave… leave me. Get away!"

Revan was there then, kneeling next to her, his hand covering the wound in her back. She felt the warmth as his inner light spread through her, healing the wound as much as he was able. "We have to go Mission." He spoke softly.

"No… I… I can't go back! I'm… I'm tainted! I hurt him so Revan!" The tears were pouring from her eyes now, staining her face as they passed through the dirt and dust on her face. "I hurt him terribly! I… I don't want to live anymore! I don't deserve to live! Please… please kill me."

Revan snatched her face into his hands and forced her to look at him. "Reach inside yourself Mission! Dustil is your light! Grab onto his love for you and it will pull you back! Can you feel it?"

The center was hit by another large explosion, huge chunks of the ceiling of rock smashing to the floor, showering them with dust and small bits of rock.

Revan could see her tightly shut eyes and the tears still coming form them. "Do you feel it Mission? Tell me!" He screamed at her.

"Yes!" Mission let out a howl that nearly deafened the explosions that were hitting very close to their position now. Her body shuddered violently in the sobs of horror she felt ripping through her. What she had done to the man she loved made her sick and she vomited to the side. Even in his near death state, she could feel his love for her through the Force.

"Grab on to that love Mission!" Revan spoke. "Grab onto it and don't let go!" He extended his hands out and his light sabers leaped back to him. He attached them quickly to his belt and pulled Mission into his arms. He lifted her small quivering form into his arms easily and stood up. "I'm not leaving you again!"

Revan looked at the doorway that was rapidly filling with rocks and dust. He took a deep breath and plunged through the doorway as the command center was hit by a direct plasma blast and tons of rock and granite came smashing down.

Anja staggered to the end of the ramp as more explosions shook the star port. The freighters engines were roaring as Dralor had them at full power holding their position. There were two other Dxun Jedi at the base of the ramp, their eyes scanning the port for any sign of Revan.

"The tunnel has been sealed!" One yelled pointing to the corridor Revan had gone down. "We can't stay much longer!" Anja saw that there was now tons of debris blocking the tunnel entrance.

Anja reached out through her bond to Revan. Revan.

I have Mission. I'm almost to the bay!

Revan, the tunnel is blocked! It…

Anja felt the surge of Force power before she heard it. Her head snapped to the tunnel opening and she instinctively flinched as the tons of rock and steel blasted away from the entrance to the tunnel. She gazed through the smoke and small pieces of falling debris and saw him come walking through the dust, the small Twi'lek woman in his arms. She could feel the power radiating from him as he made his way through the bay to the ramp. He smiled at her as he came up her.

"Shall we go?" He spoke, his eyes bright.

Anja smiled and followed him up into the ship. Revan made his way into the med room and set Mission on the other bed, ignoring Arren's look of distain. He went to the small holo imager and punched in a code. Kelborne's holo graphic image appeared.

"Ah… Revan! It is good to see you." Kelborne spoke. "The attack proceeds as planned my friend. We have wiped out the few fighters that were able to launch and our Pursuers are now beginning their heavy bombing runs.

"We're leaving now Kelborne. Bring it down! I don't want anything left standing!" Revan spoke, his voice hard. "If damage is done to the mining operation, so be it. I want no one to ever use this base again."

Kelborne nodded with a cruel smile. "Already working on it."

Revan nodded and turned back to where Mission lay. She had passed out from the pain of her injuries, and he started to examine her more closely. Anja was already working on the wounds from his light saber.

"Dustil?" He asked, looking at Arren.

"He's stable." Arren replied. "He needs a Kolto tank Revan. Some of his wounds are very severe. She…" Her eyes went to Mission.

"Arren… she is our friend. As is Dustil. She was not herself and you know it. The dark side twisted her." Revan spoke. "We can not turn away from her now. She needs us."

"I thought… I thought you were going to kill her." Arren spoke.

Revan met her eyes. "I almost did."

"Dxun is too far away. Dustil needs serious medical treatment from a complete facility." Arren explained to him, moving over next to Mission to examine her, any distain for the young woman gone from her. Mission was a friend, Revan was right. She had never turned away from a friend.

"Dantooine is two days away." Revan told her. "The Jedi enclave there. It has been rebuilt and has a complete hospital. And there is someone there who can… who can help Mission."

"Revan… they'll never let us land there!" Anja said. "The Jedi are hunting us! They'll arrest us the minute we land."

"Dustil was a Jedi Knight! They'll let us land. I'll have father talk to Master Vandar. He can get us in without causing too much attention."

Arren nodded. "It's the closest facility. I can keep him stable for that long. I'll let Dralor know." She moved out of the med bay and headed for the cockpit.

Revan looked at Anja. "Anja… get a Force inhibitor from the locker."

Anja met his eyes. "You… don't think…"

"I was able to bring her back because of her love for Dustil. Better that she be unable to use her Force powers when she wakes up and sees his injuries. The dark side still flows through her, and she is not as well trained as her Master led her to believe. It's safer for her and us." Revan spoke.

Anja nodded and moved for the locker. Revan looked at Mission's relaxed and now peaceful face and shook his head.

"Another casualty that you will pay for." He said in a whisper.

CORUSCANT

Vandar looked at Revan skeptically after hearing the plan he had just laid out.

"It is very risky Revan." Vandar finally said.

Revan nodded. "I know. We don't have much of a choice now Vandar. Once they realize we have destroyed their forward base… they'll act quickly." He explained. "We need to break their hold on the Senate and the Jedi Council. We need to be united."

"Yes. I know." Vandar spoke.

"I have a request."

Vandar looked at him. "What is it?"

"Dustil Onasi has been injured severely."

"Yes, I felt as much."

"He needs Kolto tank treatments. Equipment they don't have on their ship. Dxun is too far to travel in his condition. My son wants to take him to the enclave on Dantooine." Revan told him.

Vandar did not hesitate. "Tell him all will be ready when he arrives."

"Vandar… he also has Mission with him."

"He has returned her to the light. Used her love for Knight Onasi he did. The dark side still swirls within her Revan." Vandar said.

"She needs help now Vandar. Not to be treated as an abomination. She needs support, assistance to keep her on the right path." Revan spoke.

Vandar nodded. "This I understand. You and Bastila are examples of what you speak. There is a Master on Dantooine you know well. The perfect match to help young Mission on her path back to us I think. She has been in the same position. You turned her from the path of darkness on Korriban."

Revan looked surprised. "Yuthra? Yuthra Ban is the head of the enclave on Dantooine?"

Vandar nodded with a smile. "She won over her demons and became an exemplary example of the Jedi Order, though much of your influence remains. She has helped rebuild the enclave there." He added with a smile. "I will contact her immediately and inform her young Revan is coming."

Revan looked at him. "Vandar… once the influence of the Sith is gone… what will the Council do?"

Vandar shook his head slowly. "This I do not know."

"You must know that the Knights will not allow the Council to merely sit this one out. Mace told me as much." Revan said. "I did not want it to come to this Vandar. I don't want to see the Jedi Order divided again. It nearly destroyed the Order the last time. I can't… I won't allow that to happen again."

"We must trust in the Force Revan." Vandar spoke. "You need to prepare. I must return to the Jedi temple to proceed with that portion of your plan. It appears young Vlaina was able to use her womanly charms to discover there is a plot against the Jedi Temple itself. She has discovered hundreds of bounty hunters have been hired to attack the Temple upon a given signal. I must be there to assist. I have a feeling… that when they discover their base has been destroyed… that signal will be given."

Revan nodded. "Undoubtedly."

"May the Force be with you Revan."

"And you Master Vandar."

Dustil Onasi opened the one eye that was not covered in Kolto bandages, his brown eye focusing on the lights in the ceiling of the med bay. He felt a weight on his right side and something holding his hand. He lifted his head slightly and felt a tear come to his eye when he saw the familiar blue Lekku spread out across her back and shoulders, her head resting on the bed next to him, one arm draped over his waist, the other holding his right hand. He squeezed the warm hand in his and saw her head come up and her blue eyes fly open when she saw he was awake.

"Dustil!" Mission gasped, moving slowly to get closer to his face as he smiled.

"Miss… Mission." he spoke softly, his mouth dry.

She turned quickly and got something from the tray next to the bed and turned back to him. "It's water." She said, lifting his head gently and putting the cup to his lips. He drank slowly and the water felt refreshing.

"Where… where are we?" He asked.

"Revan's ship." Mission replied, pulling her chair closer. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears and she lowered her head to his hand. "Look what I did to you Dust!" She sobbed, using her nick name for him.

Dustil shook his head. "It wasn't you Sexy Blue." He said softly… using his private name for her.

Mission raised her head and looked at him. "It… it was me. I did this to you!"

"No. The dark side did this to me. Not my Mission Vao. I could feel you inside… fighting it with everything you had." Dustil said.

"I wasn't strong enough!"

"You are here now." Dustil spoke. He looked at the bandages on her arm with a questioning eye.

Mission wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Revan." She answered his unspoken question. "He came for me. He could have killed me. He… he should have killed me after what I have done to you."

"I don't kill my friends when they are in trouble!" Revan's voice carried to them. They turned to see him standing in the doorway, Anja at his side. He stepped into the room and came to the other side of Dustil's bed. He took the hand Dustil held out for him. "You are going to be up and around soon my friend."

"Thank… thank you." Dustil responded. He looked at Anja and saw her sparkling green eyes and he turned back to Revan. "I see… I see you found the little Kath Hound." He said with a grin.

Revan nodded and took Anja's hand pulling her closer to him. She smiled and slipped an arm around his waist. "I have heard quite a lot about the famous Jedi Knight Dustil Onasi." She said with a bright smile.

Dustil chuckled and winced. "All of it bad I'm sure." He replied.

"We're heading for Dantooine." Revan told them. "They have the advanced facilities to completely treat you Dustil. You'll be in a Kolto tank for a few days… but you are going to be ok."

"And… and me Revan?" Mission asked. "I… I don't want to be separated from him. Not now!"

"You won't be." He answered. "Do you remember Yuthra Ban?"

Mission nodded. "She was the second in command of the Sith academy until your father turned her back to our side."

Revan nodded. "She is the Master of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. She has gone through everything you are going through Mission. She is willing to help you on your journey. And you don't have to leave Dantooine, or Dustil."

Revan saw the light of the old Mission in her eyes then and he smiled.

"You and your father make it a habit of saving people who are twice your age?" Dustil asked with a bemused grin.

Revan smiled. "I always was my father's son." He told him. He turned to Mission and motioned to the Force Inhibitor on her arm. "I can remove it if you like Mission. I thought it would be a good idea initially. I see now that it wasn't necessary."

Mission glanced at the dull silver band. "No. Until I can master what I have been exposed to and not worry about hurting someone again, I will leave it on."

Revan nodded. "We should be arriving at Dantooine sometime tomorrow evening. We'll talk more later, but for now I'll let you get some rest."

Dustil watched them exit the med bay and he looked at Mission. She still had tears in her eyes, and she pulled his hand to her cheek. "Hey Sexy Blue… it's been so long since I've held you." He said softly. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there Mission. It tore me apart every day without you. I'm so sorry…"

Mission felt her heart nearly break at his words and the tears coming from his undamaged eye. She reached up and put a finger on his lips. Slowly… and with some effort due to her own injuries and soreness Mission Vao stood up and removed her black robes and undergarments. She turned back to the man who she had given her innocence to all those years ago and watched him slowly inch over on his bed. Mission climbed into the bed with him and stretched her body against his, being careful not to push or press any of his injuries. She rested her head on his right shoulder, her Lekku spreading out seductively across his chest and her shoulders, and felt his arm slowly curve around her. The memories of the times they had shared in the past flooded through her and filled her with a peace and love she hadn't felt in two years.

They drifted off into an exhausted sleep, yet for the first time in nearly two years, both of them had someone to share the warmth with.

Revan still held Anja's hand as they settled onto one of the couches in the main hold. Arren leaned against Dralor on another couch sipping the caffa.

"Rev…" Arren spoke quietly. "You did the right thing."

Revan looked at her as Anja rested her head on his shoulder. "The war we knew was coming is upon us Arren. Today was the opening volley. You did well. We all did."

Arren looked at him from across the hold. "And it has only just begun." She said softly, pushing closer to her husband on the seat.