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Chapter 18: Evasion

The former Lord of the Sith, Darth Revan sat on an empty crate in the Ebon Hawk's cargo bay and held his head in his hands as he shuddered.

"The entire planet..."

A report had been broadcast over the holonet that the Sith fleet had reduced Taris to rubble, killing billions of people. The Sith fleet had left immediately after the assault, though only Revan knew where they were going. The former Sith Lord did not know why it bothered him so much. Even when the Mandalorians had been destroying worlds he had not felt such a burning hatred.

"Its because I am responsible for it..."

Revan's eyes narrowed.

"Why did Telos not bother me... or those other worlds I sent Malak to burn..."

Revan shook his head angrily and stood, stalking to the cockpit.

"What-"

Carth was cut off as Revan reached over the controls and pulled the Ebon Hawk out of hyperspace. Moments later, an annoyed Bastila appeared.

"What the Force do you think you are doing?"

Revan ignored Bastila and Carth as they raised their voices at him. After feeling a hand lay on his shoulder, Revan turned to see Carth looking at him questioningly and Bastila still glaring at him.

"Our trail from Taris is still traceable. If the Sith follow us we're finished and so is the Jedi Civil war."

Bastila's glare deepened as she saw the truth in his words.

"Where shall we go then?"

She snapped, causing Revan to scowl.

"Nar Shadda first. We need some supplies and I know some people there."

Revan could hear Bastila muttering something skeptically under her breath. Carth nodded his agreement.

"I think that's a good idea. It'd be hard to track us from Nar Shadda."

Revan sighed in relief. He could handle Bastila's accusations but not Carth's as well.
"Then we should stop by Telos."

"Why!"

Bastila snapped.

"We should go to Dantooine immediately and warn the Council of what has happened."

Revan knew she meant him and not Taris. News of Taris was already on the other side of the galaxy and the Jedi were not that isolated in their enclaves.

"Why Telos?"

Carth asked, shaken.

"You and Mission have a lot in common now, Carth."

Revan replied simply, leaving out his wish to speak with Atris. Something was not adding up. Carth sombered and nodded his head while Bastila's scowl softened to a sad expression.

"Yes... Remember though, she is stronger than she appears..."

Bastila whispered. Revan held Bastila's gaze for a moment before he caught the silent message.
"I'll see if she needs anything."

Revan muttered as he vacated the suddenly tense environment of the cockpit. The trip to Nar Shadda was uneventful. Most of the Ebon Hawk's crew stayed to themselves and T3-M4 seemed to appoint himself mechanic. Bastila slowly rose her eyes to Revan and stared at him curiously for a moment as he exited Mission's room. The crew, aside from T3 and Canderous had tried to offer Mission support, but the only ones she would speak to were Zalbaar and Revan. It confused Bastila to no end how trusting Mission was of Revan. A small, bitter scowl graced Bastila's lips for a moment before she shook her head and frowned.

"Why can't I get Revan out of my mind?"

"How is she?"

Bastila heard herself asking as Revan stopped and seated himself wearily across from her.

"She's just lost the only home she's ever known... and everyone she's ever known..."

Revan shook his head, ignoring the dull throb of pain in his chest. Revan brushed a hand over the bruises and grunted.

"Damn that girl can sure hit hard."

Revan did not blame Mission for literally screaming at him for what happened and blaming him. It was still too soon after witnessing such an atrocity and her young mind could not grasp it. That Revan blamed himself also helped in the amount of screaming he had subjected himself to and how he had allowed Mission to batter him angrily with her tiny fists until she had collapsed from exhaustion. The former Dark Lord thanked the Force that Zalbaar had sealed off the room and that Davik's paranoia had caused him to soundproof the vessel.

"She needs time."

Revan's voice was barely a whisper as he ran his hand over his face and stared at the silent Bastila.

"I- I have something I need to talk to you about..."

Bastila said softly. The Padawan waited for some sarcastic or spiteful response from the man but none came. Bastila took his silence as an acknowledgment.

"O- on Taris... When you were stealing the codes with Mission... I- I felt something from you..."

Bastila had looked away from Revan as she spoke, not seeing his unusually pale features.

"I think you may be strong in the Force and the Council may want to seek the possibility of training you..."

Revan had stopped listening long ago as Bastila continued to speak of his training.

"Stop."

Revan said suddenly. Bastila frowned and gazed at Revan through concerned blue eyes.

"I felt something too... as if something was looking for me..."

Revan turned his eyes to Bastila

"Why would the Sith be looking for me?"

Revan asked, knowing perfectly well the answer. Bastila flushed for a moment before she spoke in a shaky tone.

"I- I think it was because of your power... It is... very high for one untrained in the Force."

Revan raised an eyebrow.

"Not a direct lie."

Revan noticed Bastila staring at him oddly.

"What?"

Bastila looked away for a moment.

"Did you have a dream the other night?"

Revan scowled immediately. He had had a dream and it was of one of the saddest moments in his life, when he had contemplating killing the woman before him on his bridge.

"All I could see was a golden blade striking a crimson one... A Jedi and a Sith fighting... I can hear voices and shouting but its as though all that exists there are those two figures..."

Bastila nodded, still not making eye contact.

"Yes... I had the same dream..."

The Padawan licked her lips for a moment, wondering why it was so hard to lie to this man.

"I think there may be a bond between us... One created by the Force for whatever reason, I do not know."

Revan decided to cover up his anger at himself with sarcasm.

"A bond, really? I don't think I like the idea of you in my dreams."

The anger was immediate, as Bastila flushed scarlet and stood, looming over Revan with her hands on her hips.

"Well I don't like the idea of being connected to you in any way pleasant."

Revan scowled, knowing he had hit a sensitive subject.

"This bond exists because she saved my life... Why the Force is it so hard to talk to her?"

Revan snorted.

"Well thanks a lot."

Bastila looked as if she was going to snap something indignant back to him but stopped herself.

"No, he doesn't know. He doesn't deserve this. He is a different man..."

The Padawan shook her head.

"I- I'm sorry I should not have snapped at you like that. Its just that with the recent..."

Bastila eyed Revan for a moment.

"Developments... I find it difficult to center myself."

Revan nodded.

"Yea... as Carth said: Witnessing the destruction of an entire world isn't easy."

Bastila nodded, when a sudden feeling of dread entered her.

"You say you felt as if something was... searching for you?"

Revan nodded, tensing suddenly.

"If the Sith sensed a high power on Taris... and one that was untrained... Oh Force."

Revan brought his hand to his head and released a groan.

"It was because of me, not you."

Bastila was taken aback for a moment.

"Of course it was you, Revan. Malak knew it was you when you slipped up and now all those deaths are directly on your hands. Force why did I ever decide to fight?"

The former Dark Lord did not know why he had such remorse. Before he had always separated himself from others and all the deaths were calculated and measured and compared to how many could have died.

"But Taris... Force it was my fault, there was no reason for it to be destroyed."

Bastila laid a hand on Revan's shoulder, ceasing his internal rants. Revan froze when he felt the hand and trembled slightly at the soft touch.

"How can she even stand to look at me... let alone comfort me?"

Revan asked himself.

"There's nothing you could have done... Remember it was Malak that destroyed Taris."

Revan felt his jaw clench.

"She is doing this because she doesn't think I remember..."

Revan turned to her.

"She should hate me with her entire soul but here she is..."

"We should be nearing Nar Shadda soon... There is enough traffic from there to loose whoever is pursuing us and we can make a stop at the Citadel station over Telos just to make sure. With all the shipments going in and out of there it'd take Malak himself to track us."

Bastila nodded numbly, hoping that Revan had not felt what she had when she had laid her hand on his shoulder. The Padawan shivered slightly.

"Force, its been so long... He's not even the same man..."

Revan sighed and stood, walking to the cockpit. Carth appeared to be stressed, but Revan had taken that look to mean Carth was semi-comfortable.

"We should be to Nar Shadda within the hour."

Revan nodded.

"So... are you alright with going to Telos?"

Carth froze for a moment before he nodded slowly.

"It helps remind me of why I fight."

Carth said in a deathly quiet voice. Revan sighed, nodding slowly as he stared at the blue and white pattern of hyperspace. Bastila stood in the corridor, listening to the two men talk and leaned against the bulkhead.

"How's the girl?"

Carth asked. Revan shook his head.

"She's hurt and confused. She's strong though, she'll be alright."

"I hope..."

Revan added to himself. Bastila stared at Revan for a moment, her eyes narrowed slightly. Revan had been blocking the bond they shared, though Bastila suspected it had just weakened over time. He could not shield his dreams though and his subconsciousness was something that frightened, yet excited Bastila.

"In his dreams he is still the man I knew..."

The Padawan found a small comfort in that knowledge and took a steadying breath before she headed back to her quarters to meditate. Nar Shadda was as Revan remembered. Crowded and noisy. The former Sith Lord was grateful he had convinced Mission to not announce to the others who he was and that the environment had calmed her slightly.

"This is what Mission knows..."

The former Dark Lord considered for a moment leaving Mission and Zalbaar on the small moon but shook his head.

"No... that wouldn't be right. I have a responsibility to these people."

Unknown to him, Revan was being trailed by the very girl he was speaking of. Mission frowned as she followed his path, contemplating what she wanted to do. She had thought that he was joking when he had said Malak would destroy Taris, it just didn't register in her mind that it was possible and yet, he had. Part of her still blamed Revan but she knew it was not him who had given the order.

"I really shouldn't have taken it out on him..."

Mission's frown deepened as she felt tears sting her eyes.

"No, I've cried enough."

Picking up her pace, Mission followed Revan to what looked to be an establishment from the Intergalactic Banking Clan. Revan came out several minutes later with a satchel that Mission figured was filled with Credit chips. The Twilek followed Revan for some time as he visited several merchants and purchased equipment and supplies for the Ebon Hawk.

"Sheesh, how's he going to explain to Carth and Bastila where he got all that money?"
Mission followed Revan for some time before she got bored and deactivated her stealth field.

"Hey Rev."

She smiled slightly. Revan nodded.

"How are you, Mission?"

Revan asked, staring directly into Mission's eyes. Mission nodded her head slowly, chewing on her lip.

"I- I just wanted to say I'm sorry for blowing up back there... You know?"

Revan nodded.

"I know. Just let it all out Mission."

Revan said softly. Mission furrowed her brow for a moment in surprise and thought.

"Wait a minute. You don't think that was your fault do you?"

She asked, feeling even worse about some of the things she had said to him on the Hawk. Revan shook his head.

"No, I know it is my fault."

Mission frowned and lunged for Revan, trapping him in her tight embrace.

"Come on, don't say that..."
She cried as she held him tighter. Revan rested a hand on Mission's back and sighed.

"I make Malak follow me and I am the one who put him in power... I could have stopped all this."

Mission shook her head, burying it in Revan's chest.
"No, don't say that. You didn't give the order to dest- to destroy Taris..."

Revan took in a deep breath and released it slowly.

"I may as well have..."

"Thanks, Mission."

Mission held Revan tightly for a few more moments before breaking away and staring into his face sadly.

"No, thanks Revan. You put up with all that garbage I said and I hope you still want to be my friend..."

Revan smiled slightly at the hopeful tone.

"Of course I do. Where the hell would I be without you? Stuck in the sewers."

Mission laughed lightly and looked at the towering spires around her.

"Its nice to know there are other places out there like Taris..."

She sighed. Revan nodded, though he wanted to argue several of Taris' more unpleasant attractions.

"The merchants are delivering the supplies to the Ebon Hawk, so in a couple of hours we'll be on our way to the Citadel station..."

Mission shrugged.

"Sounds dull. Wanna go exploring?"

She asked, staring at Revan with wide eyes. Revan scowled.

"Does every little girl know that trick?"

Growling, Revan nodded in defeat.

"Fine, but we're going to have to get back to the Hawk in a few hours."

Mission smirked.

"So tell me..."

She began as she led Revan to a slum-filled area of the smuggler's moon.

"How did you explain to Bastila and Carth that you got all that money?"

Revan smirked slightly.

"When our local investigators drilled me on that when I said I'd take care of it. I told them I won a big Pazzak hand a while back and had invested in IG stocks and hid most of the credits in a few unnamed accounts. They seemed to accept it."

Mission shook her head.

"I wonder how the still don't suspect who you are."

Revan frowned.

"Because they think I am dead..."

"Couldn't tell you..."
Revan trailed off, his head snapping to the left and right.

"What is it?"

Mission asked as she rested her hand on her blaster. Revan pulled his holdout blaster and motioned to Mission to follow him.
"Where'd all these mines come from?"

Mission asked quietly as Revan used the Force to deactivate the triggers on the dozens of mines in the sewer ducts.

"It looks like someone was setting a trap... but for who?"

Revan motioned to Mission to cover him as he rushed into the room. Revan trained his blaster on a charred body and a cursing young woman.
"Dammit Hanharr!"

The red-haired woman snapped. Mission furrowed her brow as she looked down at the burned body and gasped, causing the young woman to whirl around, a wrist launcher trained on the two newcomers.

"Who's there?"

She asked in a shaky voice. Revan blinked for a moment.
"You're name wouldn't happen to be Mira... would it?"

Revan asked. The woman scowled and trained her weapon on him, narrowing her emerald eyes.

"Who wants to know?"

She snarled. Revan could tell that she did not have the intent to kill him. She was curious and a bit wary seeing as she was surrounded by mines and a Wookiee that was stalking her. Revan noticed the young woman scanning his face. He waited until he saw recognition flash in her eyes.

"Revan?"

She asked quietly, shocked. Revan nodded his head, ignoring Mission's confused and slightly suspicious gaze.

"You're supposed to be dead..."

Mira whispered. Revan snorted.

"I see you made it out of Malachor V alive..."

Revan began, noticing the wince in the young woman's features.

"It was hard... and half the time I expected you to come looking for me on that hulk... but I got through it."

Revan nodded.

"I'm sorry for abandoning you on that ship."

Mira shook her head.

"No big deal... I made it didn't I?"

She snapped. Revan slowly nodded his head.

"So... what the hell is going on here?"

Revan asked. Mira growled angrily as she leaned over Hanharr's body.

"This big fur bag was trying to catch me by setting all these mines. Problem was he charged in after me and I managed to get by them."

Revan rubbed the base of his chin with his hand.

"Hmm..."

Mira scowled as she looked down at Hanharr's motionless form.

"You think you can help me get him to a Healer?"

The bounty hunter asked. Revan nodded, placing his hand on Hanharr's still form and putting the Wookiee in a healing trance.

"Let's get him out of here before any of his friends show up to finish the job..."

Mira added. On the way to the Healer's, Mira filled Revan in on some of the gaps in her life, telling him how she had come to Nar Shadda as a refugee after the war and eventually found work as a bounty hunter. Mission seemed to like the red-haired Mandalorian and exchanged a few tips with the young woman. Hanharr was left with the medics as Revan explained his predicament to Mira. The bounty hunter shrugged.

"Hey, no bounties still out on you and I don't fill Sith contracts, so you've got nothing to worry about from me."

She replied with a smirk. Revan returned the smirk that all Mandalorians seemed to know. Seeing the interaction between the former Lord of the Sith and the bounty hunter, Mission smiled.

"Its good to know someone remembers the good things he did..."

Mira decided to avoid meeting the rest of the Ebon Hawk crew and thanked Revan for what he had endured for her five years before.

"I wonder how many more people we're going to run into that know you..."

Mission said aloud. Revan shrugged and watched as Mira left the docking port.

"Off to Citadel..."

Revan rubbed his goatee as he watched Mira leave. Something felt off about Mira, as though she had developed a strong connection to the Force.

"Is everyone I know strong in the Force these days?"

Shaking his head, Revan climbed on board the Ebon Hawk, immediately pummeled with questions from Basitla about who that woman was. Revan allowed himself to relax and smirked at the display.

"Why Bastila, I didn't know you cared."

Revan grinned as Bastila flushed and sputtered for a moment before screaming at him.

"Why must you be so impossibly infuriating!"

Bastila stormed away, leaving Revan in the silence of the Ebon Hawk's cargo hold.

Citadel was as the Endar Spire left it. Carth spoke with the TSF while Bastila used a comm to speak with the Jedi Council on Coruscant. Mission and Zalbaar seemed to entertain themselves at the Entertainment module and Canderous had a contact on Citadel he wanted to speak with. Revan rented a transport and took it to the hidden academy on Telos. Atris and her Handmaidens were surprised by the presence of the former Dark Lord but accepted his presence.

"I need to know exactly what it was that you did to me."
Revan said firmly. Atris frowned as she furrowed her brow.

"We did a memory wipe and reprogrammed your memories... nothing more. You were in essence the same man even after the mindwipe... We were only able to destory your memories but for some reason your reactions to the scenarios we put you through remained the same..."

Revan's face scrunched up for a moment. He could tell through the Force that Atris was telling the truth.

"Thank you, Master Atris..."

Revan stood and walked from the meditation chamber, leaving a thoroughly confused Jedi Master behind. Speaking briefly with the Handmaidens, Revan quickly retreated back to Citadel where Carth was in an uproar about where he had gone off to.

"Miss me?"

Revan asked, smirking widely. Carth threw his hands up and sighed in exasperation.

"Why is it that everywhere we go, you disappear for hours on end?"

The former Jedi laughed.

"Even I don't know the answer to that, Carth."

Carth rolled his eyes and motioned for Revan to get on board.

"Bastila talked with the High Council. They're sending us to Dantooine in the hopes that it will be more isolated than Coruscant. There could be a lot of eyes watching us there and I think it's a good plan..."

Revan nodded as he and Carth climbed up the landing ramp.

"For once I agree with you..."

Carth slapped Revan on the arm and quickened his pace, sealing the landing ramp and heading to the cockpit.

"Dantooine, here we come..."

Carth mumbled into the Hawk's comm line and brought the Ebon Hawk from the Citadel station.