No one in the Enclave had ever seen an older Padawan take to a youngling in the way the two of them did. The two groups rarely mingled, and yet they joked, teased each other, laughed, and enjoyed each others company like they had known each other for years. Those five minutes walking down the corridor, unbeknownst to either Revan or Bastila, had changed their lives completely. As the years dragged by they were rarely ever seen apart, stuck together like brother and sister, so much so that even Malak and Logan began to accept Bastila as part of the gang, though she rarely spoke around them.

Revan and Bastila, couldn't explain it nor knew it, but both Kreia and Hestra had begun to notice how calmly the Force seemed to swirl around the two, once swirling like a hurricane. They seemed to be finally at peace when they were together.

Revan was at times helping Bastila with her lightsaber techniques and her Force abilities for hours at a time that Malak and Logan rarely saw him, but Revan enjoyed it.

There were some up's and downs over the years, Revan finally achieved the feat of wielding not one, but two lightsabers much to Kreia's and the Council's fascination. In fact Revan had become an incredible combatant, rarely was he beaten in a duel. Many of his fellow Padawans put it down to him being a competent strategist, but Kreia knew, as did Revan, that it was his skill in controlling the strong Force aura that surrounded him that allowed him to be able to predict several moves ahead of anyone else. The Council had their reservations but agreed with Kreia that Revan had the potential to be as skilled as the greatest Echani warrior in predicting the outcome of battle.

Bastila, too, was the top of her class much to Hestra's astonishment, as she never knew about the extra lessons Bastila was receiving from Revan. Bastila, in time, had finally acquired and built her own lightsaber, though to her disgust.

She let on that she was happy; she celebrated when she came of age to be a proper Padawan, she seemed to be making new friends, but something was always gnawing away inside her. It was her time apart from Revan that stricken her most, as Revan's training became harder he was away more often with Master Kreia on some assignment by the Council. This often left Bastila by herself, and once again she felt the loneliness creep back into her life. No one knew that sometimes she cried herself to sleep, scared to face the next day alone. Hestra never said anything, but noticed how drained her Padawan had become. Bastila often thought of running back home. She knew that her dad would take her back when she told him how horrible the Academy was, but the same thing always held her back, Revan. She would think of the strong, warm embrace he had given her all those years ago, how much like her fathers it felt. That, at least, brought a smile to her face.

3964 BBY

Jedi Council, Dantooine

"We saw it with our own eyes. A fleet the size of which we haven't seen for years"

"Indeed Master Kreia. Near the Mandalorian planet you say?"

"Yes Masters. We were on an assignment by the High Council on Coruscant and came out of lightspeed to make some immediate repairs. The sight that greeted us was…"

"Investigate into this we will Master Kreia. Bearing in mind that the planet you speak of is beyond Republic jurisdiction, so ultimately it maybe up to the Senate to decide the best course of action"

"I understand Master Vandar. Thank you for your time"

The chamber door slid shut behind Kreia as she left. Zhar leant back in his chair, "This is disturbing news"

"Yes it is, Zhar. On an Outer Rim planet as well…you don't think... the Mandalorians cannot have amassed such an army in such a small amount of time" commented Vrook, lost deep in thought

"Help they have undoubtedly received" sighed Vandar as he nodded his head and stood up, "I will travel to Coruscant and have a word with the Senate and the High Council".

- - -

Galactic Senate, Coruscant

"Order! Order!"

"The Supreme Chancellor recognises the members of the Corporate Alliance"

"We disagree with the comments made here. It is not within the Republic's interest to protect the Outer-Rim territories. The Republic has neither the finance nor army to protect those worlds"

"We do not agree with the Corporate Alliance. The Outer-Rim world's maybe governed by the Hutts and the Exchange, but that is no reason to abandon them. If we cannot defend them, how can we possibly believe we can defend the Core worlds!" came the cry from the Techno Union

The Supreme Chancellor cleared his throat, geez it was times like these he wished he never bothered to study politics. I could be on Manann enjoying the sun, with nothing but the Selkath to bother me, thought the Chancellor.

"I have the tallied votes, so if the honouree members of the Corporate Alliance and Techno Union may be seated"

The respective platforms floated back into position as once more the Chancellor cleared his throat and looked at the tallied votes, "It seems for once in our history, we are all unanimous…with one or two exceptions. To war, it seems, we have chosen to go. If this is indeed the will of the Senate, then I shall make sure the Republic sees this war to the end" the Chancellor shook his head and sighed, " As our friends in the Jedi Order say…may the Force be with us"

In an observation room above the Senate Chamber, two Jedi Masters had watched the proceedings with great interest.

"It is done" Atris crossed her arms and leant against the glass wall

"Hmm, begun the Mandalorian Wars have" Vandar closed his eyes, mediating on the future

"The Republic won't be strong enough to hold off the Mandalorian armada. Not by themselves"

"Into this conflict we cannot be pulled. Clouded the future is" Vandar looked up towards Atris, a questioning look in his eyes, "The Mandalorians cannot have built such an army by themselves. The make of the spacecraft are not of their design"

"No they couldn't Master Vandar, but neither could any planets on the Outer-Rim. Most of them are ruled by the Hutts and they don't have an army"

"Disturbing this is. Help they have received…perhaps…not from this galaxy. Darkness clouds the Unknown regions. Hmm, wait we must, until the real enemy presents itself"

Atris nodded in agreement, "You are right of course Vandar. But I doubt many of the Padawans will agree, as too will the Senate"

"The Senate will understand Atris. The Padawans, I agree, will see this as a chance to show that they are heroes…"

"It is not, altogetherthe younger ones I am worried about. It is the older ones who will believe that we are defying the Code, Vandar"

"A Civil war we cannot endure, harsh treatment must be made for those that defy us I am afraid"

Atris bowed her head and sighed, "Alright Vandar, I'll make sure the rest of the High Council hears of this and I'll inform the Chancellor later" she laughed, "Amazing, how we are afraid of the dark"

"It is not the darkness but the unknown we fear, Atris. The unknown"