Chapter Eight-A Face from the Past
Revan stood facing the entrance to the temple. Nervousness coiled lazily in her stomach like a slow awakening snake. So far, she had managed to avoid the Mandalore and his warriors. She had left her data-pad by a rock near to the entrance, with strict instructions that she was not to be followed. She had done this as a precaution in case the Mandalorians had thought that she had been taken by unknown Sith.
She raised a gloved hand, and pushed at the great stone door. It rumbled deeply as it opened with relative ease. Revan frowned at the implication of this. She gave a quick backwards glance as she stepped into the temple.
Darkness swallowed her whole, a dank blackness that echoed of evil. She reached out a hand, and felt the rough hewn stone through the thin material of her glove, and tracing the wall, she descended further into the darkness.
She used the Force as a guide to unseen obstacles, easily side stepping debris and rubble that lay strewn in her path. Her hand briefly touched her belt, and felt the hilt of one of her light sabers. She removed it from her pouch and stopping, she lit the blue energy blade.
She stood in a small square room. Water trickled damply down the walls, giving them a slick sheen. Her saber lit the stone with a faint blue glow; the hum of the blade was the only sound that she could discern. Broken statues lined the four walls, shining whitely like ghosts. She ignored these, only stopping when she saw a discarded blaster pistol lying on the floor among the debris and dust.
Someone has been down here recently, she thought as she looked at the weapon. It was Sith in design. She tossed it to the floor, where it thudded dully amongst the dust.
From the light of her blade, she saw an opening yawn darkly in front of her, rough hewn stone steps leading downwards.
She was about to descend, when she became acutely aware that she was no longer alone. She shut the energy blade down, and grasping it in her hand, she pressed against the wall; merging into the deep shadows.
Footsteps echoed dully several paces in front of her, and she leaned further into the stone work. She silently removed her other saber, and with both held tight in her hands she waited, her breathing shallow.
The figure moved towards her, then stopped undecided. She sensed that this being was alone, and igniting her sabers, she stepped out from the deep shadows.
The blue light fell on the dark gun metal of battle armour. She glanced up to the face, and saw that that too was encased in metal plating.
"Revan," a metallic voice rasped in the deep gloom.
She sighed, "Why are you here, Mandalore?"
He held out her data pad to her, "You left this. A Sith could have found it…"
"But," she replied, "I knew that you would find it. And any Sith would not have passed so easily through your warriors. There was never any danger of it being discovered, I left it for you alone to find."
He handed the pad to her and she took it, slipping it deep into the depths of her hooded robe. "Why did you disobey me, again?"
"I couldn't leave you to come here alone. We can't risk losing you Revan," he intoned darkly. "My warriors are guarding this temple. I chose to follow you."
She sighed with irritation at the stubbornness of the Mandalorian leader, "Do you always disobey an order?"
He remained silent, watching her.
Revan turned away from him, and by the light of her twin sabers, she descended the steps into the awaiting darkness, Mandalore following behind.
They proceeded for a while, moving cautiously downwards. There was no sound apart from the dull tread of their feet on the stones. The dark of the place touched at her, whispered softly to her.
"You should not have come, Mandalore. There is a great evil at work here…" she touched his arm suddenly, "hush!"
He stood silently, gripping his heavy blaster tightly in a gloved hand. He looked around, but could not see anything.
Revan pointed to a large plateau that stretched widely in front of them, at the foot of the steps. "Something comes," she whispered.
He strained his ears, and then heard it. A faint whispering sound. He glanced towards Revan, but she had already turned away from him and was proceeding down the final steps to the floor below. He hurried after her, shifting his blaster to both hands.
The sound grew steadily stronger. A whisper of leather upon leather.
Suddenly a loud shrieking filled their senses; a flurry of large wings lifted the air current, sending reams of dust flying up into the air. A great winged creature rushed at them, heavy taloned feet striking at the Mandalorians head, knocking him heavily to the ground.
Revan leaped at it, sabers flashing in a deadly blue arc. The creature shrieked and spun round quickly, lashing out with a great taloned foot at the Mandalorian, knocking the blaster rifle from his hands.
Mandalore cursed as he was shoved ungraciously to the floor again.
The creature flew out of Revans reach, circling them warily. Its huge wings beat down, gusting them with foul dank air. Revan crouched, sabers at the ready as it made another lunge at her. She feinted the blow as it dived at her, and then rolled across the ground, sabers held straight out before her.
With a screech of annoyance, the beast flew towards where Manadalore was trying to rise to his feet. His thoughts were solely on his blaster, laying several feet away.
Revan stood up, and with one hand, sent her saber flying towards the creature. It shrieked loudly as the blade cut through its chest. Extending its large neck, it clicked its heavy beaked head at Mandalore, missing him as he crawled defensively away from reach. He stretched out his arm, and his fingers grasped at the heavy blaster.
The saber returned to Revan, and she sent it flying out again, blue sparks flashing brightly as it hit the beats neck. It shrieked with pain, and made another lunge towards where Revan stood.
A burst of bright orange plasma hit it deep within its back, and it fell screeching, crashing into the ground with a heavy thump, its wings curling up loosely behind it.
Mandalore stood in the near dark, blaster held in both hands, "Are you alright, Revan?" he called out to her.
She strode over to where he stood, the great beast laying prone before them.
"What manner of beast is this?" he asked roughly.
Revan kicked at the creature with a booted foot. "It has been corrupted by the dark," she replied, "it carries the taint." She gazed across the large chamber, "This one was alone…it has grown large because of the dark power that is held here."
Mandalore grunted, "So we can expect more of these beasts?" he questioned.
Revan ignored him as she walked across the plateau. Blue light from her sabers fell upon a large scattering of white bones that gleamed dully in the light. Strips of black cloth littered the pile.
"It has been feasting upon the Sith," she called out to Mandalore, "seems that dark will prey upon dark; it is no great wonder." she pinioned matter of factly, "The dark side of the Force has no objections as to what fuels it."
He walked across to where she stood, and with the muzzle of his blaster, he poked through the pile of bones. "At least that makes for a few less Sith!"
Revan looked across at Mandalore, "Are you hurt?" she asked gently.
"No. Well, just a few bruises where the beast caught me," he replied firmly, "it is of no matter."
Revan stared at him. As much as she was accustomed to his bluntness, she distinctly felt that the Mandalorian leader was hiding something from her. She looked across the great room. "Come," she said to him, "there is another entrance here." She disappeared into the darkness, the Mandalorian leader following her silently.
Mandalore stared at the back of the retreating figure in front him. He felt disconcerted; something that he couldn't quite understand did not feel right.
"She will betray you, Mandalorian."
He glanced around to see who had spoken.
"She feels no loyalty towards you. You, her enemy. She leads you to your doom," a low voice insisted.
"Revan?" he called out to her.
Revan appeared like a white wraith from the doorway, "Yes?"
He looked at her, "It's nothing."
"Are you alright, Mandalore? What is it?" she insisted.
"I told you, it's nothing," he replied harshly.
He watched Revan disappear into the awaiting darkness.
"She will betray you. She feels nothing for you. She will bring nothing but death and destruction to you."
He glanced around once more, and then shrugging his shoulders, he followed Revan into the gloom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The blue beam of her saber eerily lit the small room in which they were standing. Revan was stood to his far left, examining the wall.
"Mandalore," she called out to him, "take a look at this."
He strode over to her, "Look at what?"
"These indentations in the wall."
Mandalore peered over her shoulder, "So, what's the big deal? Plenty of old places like these have holes."
She smiled to herself at the Mandalorians ignorance, "No, not holes. They look like resting places for holocrons. I can feel their faint presence, even if they are gone."
"Huh, more stolen Jedi artefacts, Revan."
"No, Sith," she turned and glanced behind her as she heard his footsteps move heavily away from her. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"I…ah…my head," he replied weakly, "the beast must have knocked me harder than I thought."
Revan went across to him, and held the Mandalorians arm, "Your head?" she looked up at him worriedly, "I really ought to take a look, you might have a concussion…"
He shook her hand off angrily, "No, Revan."
"Let me look, Mandalore…"
He glared at her, "I said no, just leave it will you?"
He turned from her, and staggered slightly as he walked across the small room to the entrance.
"Look, you are hurt, you fool Mandalorian," she said in exasperation.
"I will not remove my helmet, for you or anyone…"
"By the Force, you are stubborn! What are you so concerned about, Mandalore?" she walked across to him, and laid her hand gently on his shoulder, "There is no-one else here, and I can keep a secret."
Mandalore glanced sideways at her, but will she think any less of me if she knows? He thought, bah, she left me before… "No Revan, I can't."
She hissed through her teeth, "Then go back, Mandalore. You are useless to me injured."
"Fine," he shouted at her angrily.
"Then go!" she stood with her hands on her hips, "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"Nothing," he replied sullenly, striding out of the room
Revan watched him go, her heart hammering in her chest. How dare he? She thought, fighting back a surge of anger. Damned Mandalorians! She breathed deeply, trying to focus herself and the emotions that were swirling around inside of her, but her thoughts kept returning to the Mandalorian leader. It must be this place, she said silently, it has to be.
She followed after him out of the small room. In the dim light, she could see the shape of the Mandalorian leaning against the wall. She raced across to him, "Mandalore?" she called out, her voice full of concern.
He didn't look at her, "Revan, help me take this accursed thing off."
She swallowed hard, "Are you sure?"
"Damn it woman! My head feels as if a Basilisk war droid has used it as a crash pad," he groaned deeply as he turned to face her. "I think I'll sit…" he slid to the floor heavily.
Revan crouched down by him, "You fool," she whispered, "why are all you Mandalorians so wilful?"
"Shush Revan, you are making my head throb with your lecturing."
She reached up, and undid the clips to his helmet. There was a slight hiss as air was expended. She went to remove it, but strong hands knocked her away.
"No. I will do it," he said quietly. He raised his hands, and removed the dented helmet, placing it on the floor between them. He turned and looked at her, "Well?" he demanded hoarsely, "Think less of me now, Revan?"
Revan stared into familiar steely grey eyes that regarded her intensely.
"No," she replied softly, "I could never think less of you, Canderous." She gently placed her hand against the side of his head, feeling his short cropped hair tickle her finger tips. She flushed slightly, glad of the fact that he couldn't see her. "This is a nasty cut you have, already its rising into a bump. You must have taken quite a knock…unfortunately; it didn't seem to knock any sense into your thick Mandalorian skull."
He remained silent as she probed about the wound.
"I have some kolto wraps here in my pack," she said as she moved away from him to reach into the small pack that she carried with her. She quickly removed one and placed it against the side of his head, "Place your hand here," she held one of his hands, and guided it the kolto wrap, "Just hold it in place…" she became aware that he was watching her intently.
"It doesn't bother you, who I am?" he asked her questioningly.
She sighed, "I have known for some time. I recognised your voice, masked as it was by your armour."
Canderous laughed quietly, glancing away from her, "Could never fool you, Revan."
She knelt next to him, her hand still covering his, staring up at his familiar profile. He hadn't changed much at all. His hair was still that dark grey that she remembered of old, and glancing across, she could see the faint scars that ran down his features. She felt an overwhelming urge to trace her fingers down them, to caress the battle worn lines, but she resisted the temptation, as great as it was. It had been a long time since she had physically seen him, and the sight of his bare face brought a restlessness to herself that she didn't like to admit.
Canderous looked at her, his eyes narrowing as he saw that she was staring at him intently, "Revan," he growled softly.
She let go of his hand quickly, feeling flustered, "What, Canderous?"
"Bah, its nothing."
She rose from her couching position next to him, but was caught off guard as he snaked his other hand out at her, and caught her about the wrist. She slipped and fell into his lap heavily, "Let me go," she warned him.
"And if I don't?"
She struggled against him, but he slipped his arm solidly around her waist and pinned her there. "Don't Canderous…"
He removed his other hand from the side of his head, letting the kolto wrap drop casually to the ground. He turned her to face him, both hands holding her shoulders tightly, "One question, Revan, and then you can go."
She looked breathlessly into his eyes, "What?"
"Why didn't you want me to follow you, when you left?"
"This is not the time or place, Canderous…"
"Answer me, Revan," he replied gruffly.
"I couldn't take anyone with me, you know that. I couldn't let anyone imperil themselves for my sake."
"But it's okay to endanger yourself? You abandoned me, Revan. You left me."
"You followed me out here, because of that?" she replied frowning at him.
He shook his head, "No. I came for the glory of battle," he replied with a small smile, "But you are not answering my question."
She tried to look away from him, but his steely gaze held her, "It was for your own good, and for the good of the Mandalorians. It was your place, your right to gather them and lead them. I just didn't think that you would bring them here."
"Wrong answer."
"Look, I didn't just leave you. I left others too…" she said in irritation.
"Yeah, like the Republic idiot."
"He was never an idiot, Canderous."
"I disagree. He was an idiot to have let you go without a fight." Canderous pulled her slightly towards him, "Why Revan, you've stopped struggling…" he said in an amused voice.
"Damn you," she spat at him, "I thought you were hurt."
"Seems that I forgot to tell you that I heal quickly," he replied roguishly.
She rested her hand against his chest armour, trying to gain leverage so that she could push herself away from him.
Unexpectedly, he leaned forward quickly, and crushing her close to him, he kissed her roughly. Revan tried to push away from him, but his arms were like bands of steel around her. She tried again, but she felt her resolve suddenly weaken. Sighing, she let her hand slowly rise from his chest to around his neck, and she responded to his kiss with unexpected passion. Memories of Carth flittered into her mind, but she resolutely pushed them away, Carth is not here, but Canderous is. She felt a slight thrill as the short hairs at the nape of his neck brushed against her open palm.
He reluctantly let her go, watching her with wide grey eyes, "Revan…" he whispered her name reverently, "I would have followed you to the ends of the galaxy. Didn't you know…?"
She put her hand to his lips, "Shush, Canderous," she leant forwards and kissed him, "It's been a long time," she smiled at him sadly, "and time seems to be the one thing that we are running out of."
He wrapped his arms around her, "Then best we make the most of what time we do have then, Revan," he replied hoarsely, as he leant down to kiss her.