A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Anonymous-cat for all the lovely reviews that I recieved from her! Thanks so much! If you notice anything that could improve my writing, let me know! Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, happy?

Chapter 6: The Darkness Within

"Do you need a hand?" Mical offered generously.

Atton Rand looked at him with much contempt before answering, "No, go back to your training, I'll call you if I need someone useless."

Slightly startled, Mical withdrew a bit. He meant no disrespect or insult but obviously he had offended the man. "Is there a problem? I was only offering to help..."

"No, no problem." Atton said earnestly before adding, "Just wondering how long you're planning to stick around."

Mical still couldn't grasp why this man was so hostile towards him. He had done nothing to hurt or otherwise insult him. In fact, he had stayed out of his way since day one due to his fear of confrontation with the older man. Atton was from Nar Shaddaa, so he would have had a hard life; Mical did not intend to make the rest of his life worse. He merely wished for peace.

"For as long as she needs me, of course." Mical answered.

Atton rolled his eyes. "How heroic of you. Well she doesn't need you. In fact, we were doing just fine until you showed up."

"Actually, there are times when you look like you could use some-" Mical didn't get to finish his sentence; Atton was already moving closer to him. His eyes were full of anger and greed.

"Always with the details, aren't you! You can't fool me, you have some hidden agenda...always spying on her, keeping your eye on her." Atton said angrily as he took another menacing step towards the younger man. Amira watched from the safety of the security room. She, too, was wondering why Atton was so upset with him. Amira was worried that this would turn into a fight.

"No, no I don't." Mical said nervously. "I simply admire her. She has many qualities worthy of respect...and a strength that matches her beauty. Surely you've noticed..." Mical added, trying to find some common ground with Atton.

It failed miserably as Atton took it more as an insult. "Yeah, and I noticed first, get it! So cut it out!"

Mical nodded, trying to calm Atton's temper. He didn't want this leading into a brawl...or worse. Perhaps they had a relationship? If that were the case, he would stay out of their way. As much as it killed him to do so, if Atton made her happy...than he would be complacent with that. He wanted the best for Amira, no more, no less. Mical turned to leave but Atton continued talking.

"And another thing...stop being all noble around her in your big hero way." He threatened. "She sees right through your little act. She likes honest guys. Not guys who go around being unselfish and heroic all the time."

"I thought she was the hero..." Mical said softly before leaving the cockpit and leaving Atton to his foolish worries and notions.

Amira was amazed at how well Mical had handled the argument. She had been in a fight with Atton before...the whole time she had kept wanting to smack that smirk off his face. Perhaps she would go see how Mical was doing right now...

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"Alright, class. Today we are going to review several basic Force abilities and..." She faded off as she saw the look of surprise on Bastila's face.

"Master, I need to speak with you." She said in the same condescending voice. By the look of her face, Amira guessed she was in trouble for something.

"I'm in the middle of a class, Master Shan." She said back, imitating Bastila's tone.

"Now, Master Darrah." There was no humor in her eyes and so Amira dismissed the class and left to talk to Bastila.

"That was...insulting, Bastila. Was it really necessary to disturb my class like that?" Amira asked, frustrated.

"You should not have been teaching the class in the first place." Bastila replied.

"What? Why not?" Amira stopped dead in her tracks. "I went through the lessons with Master Bindo. The Council said I was free to-"

"Train Selena. Which you are doing, if I'm not mistaken. We did not give you permission to start teaching the class again..."

Amira tried to maintain her cool demeanor but Bastila had always brought the worst out of her. Mical used to talk to Bastila. Amira did not know how he could put up with such a woman, but then again, he put up with Amira. Shaking her head, the memory of Mical quickly dissipated once again.

Amira sighed heavily. "I do not understand, Bastila. I have done everything you ask. I feel like you are excluding me..."

"We are not excluding you...you must understand that we-" Bastila began. She could sense the rising anger in the woman. She does not understand...I wish I could tell her...

"You kicked me off the Council, Bastila! I know I openly defied the Jedi by leaving to find Revan...but I had to do it!" Amira pleaded.

"Forgive me, I am trying to help you, believe me." She said softly.

"Help me? Is that what you were trying to accomplish by booting me off the Council, taking away my rights as a teacher of the Order, and putting me through all those therapy sessions with Jolee!" Amira yelled at her.

"Therapy sessions? They were not therapy se-"

"Save it. I am trying to redeem myself..."

"Well you're doing a pitiful job at it...wait, forgive me, that isn't what I meant..." Bastila tried to apologize but she saw that it wasn't helping at all. It could have possibly been making things worse.

Amira grew deathly quiet. Bastila was right. She was doing an awful job. Some kind of role model she was! The Council was right when they dismissed her from being a member. Amira leaned against the wall, her head felt like it was spinning. The voices in her head were also deathly quiet.

"No, you are correct. I am doing a terrible job of being a Jedi. I just feel so...lost." She confessed.

Bastila seemed taken aback by the answer. "I am not sure I understand. Lost?"

"You know...out of place. I am not accomplishing what I set out to do. I am not becoming the Jedi I was suppose to have become." Amira walked beside Bastila once again, Bastila always seemed to have that same kind of serene and calm that Mical had had. It was a comforting feeling. She paused. "I need more, Bastila."

"You know that Jedi don't need such attachments. We are happy to serve the Republic for the good of the galaxy-" Bastila preached.

"Perhaps you do...perhaps you are happy with this life. This life of servitude. But I am not happy; I am not satisfied. I hunger for more, Bastila...and I know I shouldn't but I cannot help it." Amira led Bastila into her quarters. Closing the door behind her, Amira motioned for Bastila to sit.

"You must guard against feelings of the heart and mind. It isn't always easy...but it is what we must do." Bastila sat down as if she had lived here her whole life. Her posture made her seem like royalty. It was one thing that Amira respected. Bastila's ability to fit in. Anywhere.

"Bastila, you mustn't repeat what I am about to say. Promise that this shall stay between us." Amira looked deep into Bastila's eyes.

"I cannot promise that. It depends upon what you say. I am part of the Council, I may have to share this with them." She confessed with great sorrow.

"Promise me, Bastila, that this shall stay in this room. The Council does not need to know of this. I'm going to tell you this as a friend." she said.

A look of conflicting motions briefly passed on Bastila's face. "I promise."

"Do you trust me?" Bastila nodded her head slowly. "I need your help. I am afraid."

"Of what?"

"I am afraid of what the Jedi will do if they find out that I have been contemplating going to the darkside."

Bastila sat dumbfounded for a moment. Amira noticed her hand going towards the hilt of her saber several times. "What do you mean?"

"I know there are things about the Force that I don't know. Perhaps...abilities that I have not heard of." She said as she stood up and paced in front of Bastila. "Part of me wonders...about the power of the darkside."

"Why are you telling me this?" Bastila asked, confused.

"Because I know that you once tasted the power of the darkside. I know you know things that the other Jedi don't."

"That isn't true. I...made a mistake once. I do not intend on doing it again. These thoughts are dark and traitorous. You should not be thinking of them at all."

She knows something. She is hiding something from you. The whole Council knows that you would be too powerful for them if you fall to the darkside. They know you are weak as a Jedi, and that is why they keep you a Jedi. As a Sith, you could attain so much more power. "Why are you lying to me? I see into your heart, Bastila. I see that seed of darkness in you. I know you know what I'm talking about...and I know you can help me."

"We must stop this conversation immediately before it leads us both down a dark path." Bastila said, still in shock.

Amira suddenly felt that dizzy feeling again. Black clawed at the edges of her vision and she leaned against a chair for support. And as soon as the feeling has come, it left. Amira felt as if she was just waking from a dream. Bastila helped her stand.

"I...I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me..." Come, I shall lead you down the paths of power. You felt what it was like just then to have a taste of darkness. You want justice for Mical. It is only right, he killed your husband...you should take his life! "Who!"

"Excuse me? Amira perhaps you should sit down." Bastila helped Amira get into her bed and then Bastila left.

"Who killed Mical?" she whispered into the darkness.

The truth shall be revealed to you in time. That is, if you know where to look for it...

"I will find his killer. And I will do whatever needs to be done to kill him and make him suffer." Amira said with a new conviction.

Good.

A/N: Review and let me know what you think! It makes me happy recieving a lot of reviews...and when I'm happy, I write more!