A/N: Here it is the Penultimate Chapter, I hope you enjoy it. The ending won't be far off, perhaps by the end of the month. Some short story this turned out to be, lol. Enjoy.
Hestra and Bastila left the town behind them and begun the long walk back across the valley. Hestra was beaming with pride at how quickly Bastila had completed her assignment. Not that it was too difficult, thought Hestra, these idiots couldn't get a spaceship going even if the button was labelled 'Start'.
Bastila felt she really had accomplished something today. She had taken her first major step towards becoming a Knight, and all this exhiliration had wiped Revan from her mind. She felt like she was a new woman.
"You made me proud today Bastila" said Hestra
"Thanks. I'm proud of me too"
"It's great to see you looking so happy again. You're going to make a great Jedi Knight. Oh, and Bastila?"
"Yeah?"
Hestra stopped walking, the wind billowing her hair and robes, and turned to face Bastila, "I'm sorry that I never told you about your Battle Meditation. It's just that I had strict orders from the High - "
"It's alright Master. Now that I've got over the shock, it's alright" said Bastila trying to sound as convincing as possible. It was the truth in most respects, she was happy and had forgiven Hestra but not the Council for the way they had treated her and Kreia.
Bastila glanced up towards the sky to feel the sun on her face, Hestra smiled in acknowledgement and started back towards the ship.
"Hestra!"
Hestra spun round, expecting to find trouble, what she found was Bastila pointing towards the sky, "What is it, Bastila?"
"That. Is it a comet?"
Hestra saw what Bastila was pointing to, barely blocked by the sun's glare, whatever it was, was burning up upon entering the atmosphere. Suddenly she saw another one several metres apart, and as they came out of the sun's glare there were hundreds.
"I've got a bad feeling about this" muttered Hestra, "C'mon Bastila, let's get back to the ship"
Bastila nodded in agreement. They hurried up the valley, and as they started the uphill struggle, the crest was lined with Mandalorian soldiers. Behind the two Jedithe Basilik War Droids were crashing down into the town.
"Okay, move slowly back Bastila" said Hestra, removing her lightsaber
"Were surrounded though!"
"I know, I know, but we got to get to flat ground, otherwise were going to be fighting uphill. You know that's not a good thing"
"Yeah. Okay, okay" said Bastila stammering, unhooking her lightsaber
They backed down the hilluntil theywere standing upon flat ground, and could hear explosions and laserfire from behind. "Listen Bastila. If there's a time to use your Battle Meditation, it's now" said Hestra
"What? But one of us - "
"No, listen. There's over a hundred of them and two of us. If you use your Battle Meditation at least only the odd one might attack us, the others will just ignore us if you inspire fear into them. You can do that Bastila. I'm counting on you"
Bastila nodded, and hurridly sat down to begin meditation.
- - -
"General Ordo, the troops are in the city, but were recieving reports...well I'm not sure it's coming over warbled"
"Keep me informed Sergeant" replied General Ordo, eyeing the two Jedi on the valley floor
"Our men are ready to move through the valley, sir. Shall we take care of the Jedi as well?" asked Lieutenat O'Hara, the only lady in Ordo's regiment
"Your main priority is the city. The men can have a go at killing the Jedi if nothing more than for honour, but tell them they will all be shot if they all go after em and forget the objective"
"Yes General"
- - -
The soldiers came pouring down the hill. Bastila could feel them through the Force, a whole pulsating wave washing down the hill. She could also feel the comforting presence of Hestra in front of her, and she poured the Force into her. Bastila could feel a chain linked between her and Hestra, and instilled a circle of fear around them as best she could. There was so many Mandalorians, trained to resist such tricks, that Bastila was hard-pressed to keep the circle going.
- - -
"General Ordo! General Ordo!"
"What is it Lieutenat O'Hara?" replied the General
"The men in the city are retreating! There are reports coming through of Jedi in the town!"
"What!"
- - -
The Mandalorians fell at Hestra's feet, Bastila could feel the Force drain from their bodies as they died. Her concentration was starting to waver, she had sensed something else in the Force, something she hadn't felt in months. Unexpectedly, just like in theJedi Temple,her hazy view through the Force changed to the town, and see saw what hadn't been there before. There were countless numbers of Jedi fighting through the streets, the Mandalorians being pushed into the valley. There was a presence amongst them, that she hadn't felt in months. It couldn't be? Bastila thought, and yet it was. Revan. He was there, amongst the Jedi. She couldn't see him, but she could feel he was there. The Force still swirled around him like a hurricane. Bastila was lost in a tumult of emotions, she tried to reach out to him, call to him.
Suddenly there was a cry of utmost pain, and it scorced her mind. Bastila broke out of her meditation, eyes watering from the pain. Hestra was clutching her hand, blood gushing from the blaster wound. She had dropped her lightsaber. A Mandalorian, wielding a Vibrosword swiped off Hestra's hands, and as she collapsed in pain the Mandalorian plunged his sword through her chest.
Hestra's body slumped lifelessly to the floor. Her face still etched in pain. Bastila shook uncontrollbly, the battle forgotten. Hestra was dead. Her Master, and her friend. She was dead because of her. Bastila stood up slowly. Time, itself, seemed to slow to a crawl. The Mandalorian and his Vibrosword came bearing down upon her, and the next moment his head was rolling across the floor. Bastila exploded into a rage of fury, she had never felt anything like it before. She twirled back and forth, her lightsaber dancing before her eyes. Enemy after enemy collapsed at her feet.
- - -
" – and our fleet reports they are surrounded by the Republic armada. Our rear scouts report enemy movement behind us and our men flee the town. We have to evac or were going to be trapped, General" explained O'Hara as she struggled to regain breath
Ordo knew she was right. The Republic had once again outplanned and outmaneovered the Mandalorians, but being one that refused to leave battle emptyhanded, he turned to O'Hara, "Very well order the retreat, but I want that last Jedi as a prisoner. Send two platoons to distract her, pull the rest back, and get me my rifle"
"Sir?"
"Do it"
- - -
The Mandalorians were finally backing off, and Bastila relaxed a little though never lowering her guard. This had been her first real taste of combat and she was absolutely buzzing with adrenaline. Bastila watched as the Mandalorians scarpered back up the valley.
- - -
The order had been giving. General Ordo could see the two platoons rushing down the valley sides, Vibroswords at the ready. Ordo smiled to himself, this would be his third Jedi prisoner during the War, the honour of his Clan was already swelling. The Jedi had noticed the two platoons attempting to flank her, and she cut them down with relative ease. Ordo brought his rifle to bear on the Jedi.
- - -
This is what happens when you're not careful, thought Bastila, as she attempted to fend off both groups, her lightsaber swirling back and forth. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash, followed by the crack of a rifle. Her arm jerked backwards, her lightsaber cascading to the ground. Before the pain had even registered, another crack and she could feel her right leg give a violent jerk. Bastila was down on the ground before she even realised it. The pain seared through her like a red hot poker. There was another crack and her lightsaber shattered before her. Bastila closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. It never came. The sound of running feet made her look up. The Mandalorians were running. A man leapt over her, his lightsaber cutting down those too slow to run away. She glanced back to her lightsaber, its pieces spread before her. Her arm stretched slowly forward and she grasped the last intact piece of her lightsaber.