Chapter Twenty Seven-A Question of Trust
Revan stood at the edge of the encampment, waiting for Kelborn to give word to the Mandalorians to move on. Two of their party had disappeared, Visas and Mira, and Revan wondered where they were. She couldn't remember them leaving and she felt a subconscious stirring of anxiety; her thoughts had been too occupied with the Mandalorians, and their leader, Canderous. Damn him, he keeps distracting me, even in his absence. Curiously, she wondered if the Exile had found him yet. She smiled at the thought; the Exile was unaware that she knew that she had gone to find him.
What would he do if he knew the truth about me and…she touched her stomach briefly, No, he will not want this. Revan sighed; their relationship had been doomed at the start. A Mandalorian and a Jedi would never work. She should move on from this, after all, she was Revan; ex-Dark Lord now redeemed Jedi Master. There was also the threat from the Sith. They had to be scourged from this planet, and that was her greatest priority.
Revan stood watching Kelborn as he strode towards her. She contemplated the Mandalorians leader, Canderous Ordo. He was the Mandalore, and as much had a lot of responsibility. His path lay in a different way to hers. With effort she turned her mind to the missing Jedi She was unsure of the Miraluka, who was normally introverted, a contrast to the brash flame haired Jedi. Her thoughts flitted idly between her former general, and back again to the Mandalore. Damn you a thousand times Canderous, she thought glowering, I cannot allow you to dominate my thoughts.
"Revan, we are ready," Kelborn said, as he stood at her side.
She glanced at him thankful for the distraction, and nodded. "Then let's go."
Revan walked to the edge of the encampment, with the might of what remained of the Mandalorians behind her. Kelborn walked silently at her side, his rifle clenched in his hands. She reached into her robe, and pulled her lightsaber out. Gripping the hilt, she frowned. It didn't feel right, not like how it should. She glanced down and stared at her hand, in it was clenched the Sith blade; her fingers longingly caressed the ornate carvings around the unfamiliar hilt. Revan fought an inner battle to regain her senses, and she suppressed the shudder that ran through her. Grimacing, she thrust it deep into the safety of her robe. An inner voice told her to throw the saber from her, but she felt a reluctance to part with it.
She shivered, and pulled the collar of her robe tight about her neck, stifling the goose bumps that rose. Looking for an excuse to be free from any thought, she turned to Kelborn as they marched.
"The Mandalorian Wars; I am curious Kelborn, and although I know we have discussed this many times, I would like to hear your views again."
Kelborn turned his head inquisitively, "What do you wish to know, Revan?"
Revan smiled at the humour in his voice, "Bear with me, huh?"
"Go on, Revan."
"Did you hate the Jedi for your loss in the Mandalorian Wars?"
"That was a long time ago," he said reproachfully, "But yes, I will humour you," he noted the even look she gave him. "As you are aware, we, the Mando'ade like to be tested to the best of our abilities. We seek new challenges, new enemy to test and hone our skills in battle. We had always considered the Jedi weak, and incapable of battle, partly in due to their code. But we were wrong. Revan, you showed us that. We fought many glorious battles, and even though we lost, it was indeed a memorable day for us. We are proud to have fought against such a powerful enemy. Ask any Mandalorian veteran, they will tell you the same." He laughed deeply, "I can see why the Mandalore follows you; although, I will admit, it did cause consternation with us when he ordered us to follow you to unknown space. But then, we respect the Mandalore, and as long as that respect is maintained and earned, we would follow him without question. I personally was pleased that it was to aid you, Revan."
"It was an honour to have fought against you, and the Mandalorians, Kelborn. I am glad that the Mandalorians are the ones to have aided us here. I thank you." Revan smiled up at him.
"Your thanks are noted, but not needed Revan. When Mandalore informed us of our duty, the majority of us went willingly. There were a few, such as Kex that disagreed, but in his case, it was a personal issue that he had with the Exile. You were right to have slain him; at the end he brought shame on his clan."
Kex, Revan thought evilly, I would kill you again for what you did. "I thank you for your view, Kelborn."
They marched in silence, the space between them and the Sith facility growing shorter.
"Revan, if I may, I would like to pose a question to you, in return for my answer to yours."
She glanced at him, "Okay, that seems fair."
"This is an awkward thing for me to ask, but as acting commander, I have the authority. The Mandalore, he follows you closely. Did you know him before? You have always seemed very familiar with him."
Revan took a sharp intake of breath, and regained her composure quickly, do I trust him? I have fought with him for near three years. She decided quickly, yes, I sense no distrust from him. "I have known him, along time ago now it seems."
Kelborn remained silent.
"He travelled with me, as one of my companions when we were sent to look for the Star Forge."
"Was he honourable then?"
Revan smiled at the memory of the stubborn Mandalorian. He had always maintained that he had felt nothing more than respect for her. Her mood soured as she remembered that he had practically driven her into Carth's arms. "Oh yes, he was honourable," just: more than was good for him…
"That is good," Kelborn replied. He turned to face her as they walked, "The Mandalore is Canderous Ordo, isn't he?"
Revan could see no reason to lie, "Yes, he is Canderous Ordo," she said softly. Damn this, I am trying not to think of him, and what happens?
"I am loyal to the Mandalore, Revan. A few of the warriors might be alarmed to know his identity, but it does not bother me. Ordo has a high reputation."
Revan went to reply, but her Force sense alerted her to the figures that approached, "Shh Kelborn, someone approaches."
Kelborn raised his blaster, and stood waiting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atton stumbled with Bao-dur across the rough terrain, the exhaustion marked their faces. The Zabrak was in pain from the several blaster blasts that he had taken to his shoulder and arm. It had been a long hard fight out of the facility, but they had escaped seemingly well. It was up to them to find and warn Revan.
Driven by the importance of their task they strove onwards.
"Atton," Bao-dur stopped, and stood holding his arm, "You go on alone. My wounds….they pain me."
Atton turned and faced him, "I'm not leaving you behind Bao-dur. I can't heal you myself, sorry," he shrugged his shoulders in a helpless gesture. Atton glanced away from the Zabrak guiltily; his inability to use the Force to heal bothered and frustrated him.
"It doesn't matter," Bao-dur replied tersely, after what you did to the General… no, I cannot think like this, She is safe with Mical, and the Mandalorian. I must forgive Atton his actions. He was…not himself.
"I have some kolto, if that helps," he reached into his ribbed jacket and pulled out the remaining wraps he had of the healing balm. "Perhaps Revan can heal you when we find her?"
"Ah, kolto!" Bao-dur breathed as he took the wraps off Atton gratefully. He opened them, and quickly pressed the balm to his arm and shoulder. He looked across at the Jedi, "We should move on, the General needs us to relay this message to Revan."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They stumbled into a throng of weapon ready Mandalorian warriors. Atton looked around the blue clad Mandalorians, his eyes searching for Revan. He glanced at Bao-dur, and pointed, "She's there."
"Then lets go," Bao-dur hastened to where the blonde haired Jedi was stood. He ignored the blaster that Kelborn had raised to him.
Revan strode across to him, a thousand questions on her lips. She looked at him questioningly, "Where have you been…"
"Revan," Bao-dur spoke hurriedly, "There's no time, you must listen. We have a message from the General. She left it on this data pad," he said, handing her the pad.
Revan stared at the data pad, her face ashen, "We must leave…We have to warn the Republic, and Carth, "but how?"
Atton smiled slowly as he strode across to them, "Well we do have the Ebon Hawk."
She nodded thoughtfully, then looked at the Zabrak, "Bao-dur, you are wounded," she raised her hands, and directed the Force at him, enveloping him in its healing rays.
The Zabrak glanced at her sheepishly, "Thank you, Revan." He stretched out his arms, smiling as the pain disappeared. He felt invigorated; the healing had lifted his mood as well as taken the pain away.
Revan smiled at him distractedly, "I have to speak with Kelborn." She turned with the Mandalorian at her side, and walked off into the distance. They stood together, conferring in low voices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sion? But how is that…"
"Possible? He wasn't always that way, Exile," the Sith Lord replied, laughing gently. He glanced about him, his violet eyes wide with knowing, "Sadly there is no more time for introductions, more Sith are on their way." He stood nearer to her, and rested a white hand on her arm, "and you will need my assistance, which I offer to you freely."
Jennra looked at him in disbelief, "Why should we trust you?"
The Dark Lord lowered his head, "I can understand your reluctance, but I want to stop all this, before it is too late. Maybe I have the same reasons as you for wanting that. But for now, I have to ask that you trust me," he said quietly.
"More Sith on their way," Canderous growled as he turned his back to them. He pointed back along the corridor they had come down.
Jennra turned to Mical, resting her hand lightly on his chest. Indecision ran through her. She looked up at the blonde Jedi in confusion, do I trust him? Mical stared down at her evenly. What else can I do? We are outnumbered as we are, the last thing we need is a rampaging Sith Lord. She stepped away from Mical, and walked past him to where the Mandalorian was stood. "How many, Canderous?"
"Too bloody many," he laughed deeply, "But not enough that we cant handle."
She ignited her saber, and stalked down the corridor, flourishing her blade as a tide of black rushed her. She dimly heard the Mandalorians war cry as he joined in the affray, his scimitar causing bloody havoc as he swung his way solidly through the dark lines. She ran to him, sensing Mical and the Dark Lord to the side of her.
Several Sith fell before her, their bodies writhing with blue electricity. She cast a glance across her, and saw the Sith Lord holding his hand out, his eyes narrowed gleefully as the lethal bolts poured from his hand. A body pushed against her, and she swung her saber, dropping the Sith to the ground instantly. A silver energy blade whirred to her right, dropping Sith. Mical glanced across at her, and smiled grimly. He swung his blade, and another Sith fell, writhing beneath the flash of his saber as she watched. Blue bolts reigned across the Sith lines, slaying a neat path through the dark line.
She felt the tug of dark power surge within her chest as she watched the Dark Lord, his powers seemingly awakening something deep inside her. She twisted away from it, her mind filling with horror. As if in a dream, she watched as the Mandalorian raised his sword, decapitating a lone Sith soldier. A voice gently questioned her, and she felt a hand grip her arm. She shook her head, trying to awaken from the languid stupor that had crept over her.
"What is wrong with her?" Canderous barked out, irritably.
Mical held her by the arm, a look of apprehension on his face, "I…I do not know," he said to the Mandalorian worriedly. "Jennra," he shook her arm gently.
"It is this place," the Sith Lord walked across, his long robes trailing behind him, "We need to get her away from here."
"We all need to get away from here," Canderous growled at him menacingly, "Sith's blood!"
Jennra leaned against Mical, blinking her eyes rapidly as the dark thoughts slowly withdrew. She stared up at him, and raised her arms, slipping them around his neck and pulling him down to her. She brushed her lips against his ear and whispered, "Mical, I don't trust this Sith Lord. There's something…oh, I don't know, but he makes me feel nervous. I'm afraid that while he is around, that I…I might…" fall.
Mical kissed the side of her head, his gaze on the Sith, "You might what?" he questioned quietly. When she didn't answer, he said, "There is something, you are right about that. But I fear for the present time, we will have to go along with what he says," he held her close to him, "Are you alright, Jennra?" Concern edged his voice, and he glanced down at her, noting the paleness of her face.
Jennra pulled away from him, and stood to his side, feeling his hand slip into hers, squeezing it lightly. She tightened her fingers around his, and turned to the Sith Lord, their clasped hands hidden behind her back. "Firstly, what is your name? Secondly, what is it that you plan on doing with us?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ebon Hawk loomed largely before her, the loading ramp down. Revan frowned at this, until she heard the sound of a metallic clump. Curiously, she slowly walked up the ramp, smiling as she saw the droid approach her.
"Incredulous statement: Master? Are my photoreceptors malfunctioning?"
Revan laughed, and patted the droid affectionately, "HK, it is good to see you."
"Delighted response: It is good to see you, Master. Query: The meatbags that are accompanying you-do you wish me to eradicate them?" The assassin droid lifted his blaster, and took aim.
"No…no, HK. They are with me," Revan said hastily, glancing over her shoulder at her three companions.
"Disappointed statement: Has Master grown as weak and soft as the organic meatbags that accompany her?"
"Uh…that will be all, HK. I can handle it from here." Revan watched as the rust covered droid disappeared from view up the loading ramp, then turned to her companions. She watched as Atton, Bao-dur, and the Mandalorian Zuka walked up the ramp, Zuka trailing as he waited for her to follow.
Revan entered last, stopping and staring out, as she activated the cargo door. The planets surface disappeared, as the ramp rose, narrowing her view to a thin sliver, until it disappeared, the door clanging slightly, as if in finality.
She walked down the ships small corridors, the Mandalorian walking heavily behind her, and entered the main hold. Bao-dur wandered aimlessly, trailing his hand across the ships hull. He glanced up at her in embarrassment.
"I…uh never thought I'd see her again, the Hawk that is."
"Neither did I," Revan nodded her agreement, and stepped across to the cockpit.
Atton was draped in the pilot's chair, as if he had never left. He grinned up at her, and ran his hand over the console, his fingers deftly punching buttons. The Hawks engines roared into life, and he glanced across at Revan, "Destination?"
"Telos, I imagine the Admiral will be there," after all it is his home...it was once ours.
The Hawk lifted into the air, wobbling slightly as Atton corrected their course, then it rose gently into the air.
Telos, here we come, Revan thought grimly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sith facility emerged ominously in the dusk; to the side of it, shuttles stood silently, shadows cast largely by the setting sun. Dark figures flitted silently past the guard towers, and melted into the looming shadows of the facility, as if consumed by the very building itself.
Kelborn gestured to the Mandalorian at his side. The warrior nodded at him, and turned and walked away to where the shuttles lay with twenty five blue encased warriors following behind him. He watched as they disappeared with a low whine of their stealth shields, melting into the growing darkness. He became aware of the warrior stood to his left, and he held his hand up. Wait.
Satisfied that his chosen warriors were at a good distance away, he lowered his hand, and activated his own stealth shield. All the Mandalorians disappeared as if they had never been there. They snuck past the towers, and into the side door of the facility. Kelborn felt thankful for the Exiles description of the layout of the building. If anything, the element of surprise added to their luck.
He did not have long to wait before he saw the Sith. With a smile, he charged at them, his warriors throwing themselves at the Sith with barely contained impatience. The Sith spread out in panic, unsure of what was attacking them. Kelborn raised his heavy repeater, and blasted a Sith that got a little too close. The body thumped heavily to the ground. The Mandalorians were ruthless in their efficiency, and took no casualties, or wounds. The Sith however, lay strewn across the corridor like discarded rag dolls.
Now, to find the Mandalore, Kelborn thought, as he shouted orders to his men.