Slayers of the Old Republic
Book I: Arrival/Endar Spire
By Michael Weyer
Buffy's eyes slowly blinked open. It took her mind a few moments to realize she was awake. Her eyes moved over the tiled ceiling above her as she took in her surroundings. She lay on a bed, now clad in only a thin robe under the blankets. She sat up, wincing at the pain rocketing through her body. She felt…different somehow. Weak, which wasn't too surprising, but still…she just felt different.
"Good morning." Buffy started and whipped her head around. She saw that woman from the…ship…standing near the bed, a light smile on her face. "How do you feel?" she asked, her voice sounding like it had a slight accent but Buffy couldn't place it.
"Um…ok, I guess," Buffy said. "Ah, I'm a little…confused. I mean, even more so than I usually am."
"Understandable," the woman said. "From what I gather…you had no idea where you were when we found you."
Buffy frowned, suspicion erupting inside her. "What, you read my mind?"
The woman looked away before nodding. "I'm sorry, normally such an intrusion is against the Jedi codes but this was a serious situation."
"Jedi?" Buffy's anger was offset by the confusion at the bizarre circumstances around her.
"My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Bastila Shan, Jedi Knight. You are on the planet Dantooine, at the Jedi Enclave. It may be difficult for you to accept but you are in a galaxy far, far away from your own."
Buffy stared at her, blinking at this sudden news. "Wow," she whispered. "That's…um…wow…"
Bastila frowned. "You believe me?"
Buffy nodded. "I know what I saw in that ship. And hell, with my life, I'm more open to the wackiness than most people would be."
"Yes, I could see that," Bastila stated.
Buffy furrowed her brow. "I just realized…you're speaking English."
"No, actually, you're hearing English," Bastila said. "You were gravely injured by Revan and I had to use my Jedi abilities to stabilize you long enough to get you to medical treatment. It was afterward that you were brought here for further attention and the Jedi Council ensured you were not a danger to us. As part of that, we allowed a…connection, you could say, in your mind so you could understand Basic."
"There's that word again, Jedi," Buffy said as she moved to get out of the bed. "Just who are you guys?"
"Jedi Knights are the protectors of the galaxy," Bastila announced. Buffy couldn't help noting that the tone was the same one Giles used when he talked about the history of Slayers. "We use our connection to the Force to enhance our abilities, mental and physical. We would prefer to stay out of battle but the war has forced us into it."
"War?" Buffy shook her head. "God, I feel like I've walked into the middle of a David Lynch movie. What war? And who was that freak who shocked me?"
"That was Darth Revan," Bastila explained. "He was the Dark Lord of the Sith." Seeing Buffy was about to speak, Bastilla quickly went on. "The Sith are the opposite of the Jedi. They use the dark side of the Force, to enhance their power and evil."
"Force? What Force?"
"To put it simply…it is an energy field extending around all living things. It binds us, protects us and some have the ability to manipulate it in various ways. We Jedi do it to keep the peace in the Republic. But the Sith use it for domination." Bastila smiled. "I believe you know more of it than us."
"I do?" Buffy frowned.
"Yes. It seems you have a connection to the Force."
"Me!" Buffy's eyes blinked out. "I…I don't even know what the hell it is, how can I have a connection to it?"
Bastila shrugged. "We…do not know. It is unheard of. But then, so is your arrival. It may be that this is part of some larger plan of the Force to aid us in our battle. You did keep Revan off-balance enough for his fate to be sealed."
"So, tall, dark and gruesome is gone?"
"He is no longer a threat," Bastila confirmed. "Sadly, this no doubt means his apprentice, Darth Malak, will assume power."
"Let me guess. He makes Revan look like a pussycat?"
"Revan's skill was in strategy. Malak is more…forceful."
Buffy was now pacing, feeling the strength returning to her body. "Um…I know this may sound like a stupid question but…you don't have any way I could get back to my home, do you?"
Bastila sadly shook her head. "I am sorry. We do not have the technology to send someone across galaxies. Even if we did, we have no idea how to find your world and send you back." She reached to place a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "I am truly sorry, Buffy Summers…but I fear you are stuck here."
Buffy hissed inside herself, trying to gauge her feelings. Oddly, she didn't feel as torn as she thought she might. Maybe it was still partial shock from all that had happened. Maybe it was the fact she had already died once. Whatever it was, she somehow accepted this woman's word, that, at least for the future, she was going to be in this strange new land.
"So…what now?" she softly asked.
Bastila smiled. "Now, we see the Council. I believe they have an offer to make you. One I do think you will want to take."
"Lead the way," Buffy said. She paused and looked Bastila over. "But please. Tell me that is not the dress code cause me and robes? Not happening."
Bastila's mouth thinned as she fixed the young woman with a look. Something told her this was going to be a tougher chore than she had anticipated.