After receiving clearance to land, Carth silently cursed at the ship for its hard pull during the decent and landing. Most pilots would probably not have even noticed but he was looking for any reason to bring judgment against the vessel. Force, I hate this ship!
X-14 had reprogrammed the security codes and Carth set the droid to carry out, yet another, scan of the ship to make sure there were no hidden devices or lock out measures in the system before strapping on his holster and heading towards the exit.
Revan was already there, waiting for him and a sigh of relief escaped his lips when she saw she had dressed more appropriately. In fact, she looked rather stunning. Her hair was no longer tied up and instead cascaded softly around her face and down her back. It had grown a lot since their last mission and the way it was falling made her look absolutely beautiful. He realized the off-white tight fitting shirt might also have something to do with that opinion. Unfortunately, there was a jacket covering most of his view and Carth found himself wishing he could slip the jacket off and take in the full view of the stretched fabric around her body. He scowled inwardly at himself for thinking such thoughts. Her trousers were simple and were left to cover her boots instead of the other way around. No one would think twice that she was Jedi. I wonder where she's hiding her light sabers.
"Ready?" she asked, breaking through his thoughts and he realized that she was just as happy as he was to get off the ship and find some answers. At least we have that in common.
The information they had been given was that the contact was a human who ran a kiosk in the open market area of the planet. They would be able to recognize his stand by the insignia on its roof. It didn't seem too hard, at least until they entered the open market. The cobblestone street was filled with massive amounts of locals and the endless row of stands left them both speechless. Neither of them had ever witnessed such a sight and it looked more like a bazaar than a simple market. There had to be hundreds of kiosks set up in the area.
After wandering around for three hours, weaving around patrons, turning corners that revealed even more rows of merchants and getting pushed and prodded and begged they were both feeling agitated.
Revan looked at him, "I think we should split up. You take the Western side and I'll head east. We'll both work our way North and meet somewhere in the middle."
Carth considered this for a moment, noting the growing agitation in her as he spoke, "I know it sounds like a good idea but I don't think we should take the chance. I can't see beyond the person in front of me, let alone be able to find you, even if we both head towards the same destination. Besides, I think we should both approach this contact – we have no idea…"
"And if we continue like this it could take days, even if we split up it could take days! If we don't meet up in, say 6 hours, then we just head back and met at the Rubicon."
"No, I don't like it." His reply was short and curt at first. "Revan, everything in my gut is telling me we should stick together. So, what happens if you don't end up back at the …" He refused to call it the Rubicon, "ship? Where would I even begin to look for you?" His eyes emphasized the question.
"Fine Carth, but then we need some guidance. I'll just…"
"NO! You can't use your," his voice lowered, "force powers here. Just look around, there are literally thousands of sentients – we have no idea who could pick up on any of this, who might end up…"
"You can't have it all your way, split up or have some guidance. There is no way I am wasting any more time wandering around here like a fool."
"A fool? Dammit Revan; do you honestly think that any action that may help us find our kids is a foolish gesture?" She noted the exasperation in his reply and wished she had chosen different words.
"I didn't mean it like that. I just don't have this kind of patience Carth. I feel like we are getting no where. We don't have time to waste and I can help. If I don't and something happens… It's just, well, that right now the risk seems worth taking." She looked up at him and he found himself wavering under her earnest eyes.
"No Revan, we can't. There are just too many people…"
"Follow me" she said confidently, "Don't worry so much Carth, it only detracts from your handsome features."
His jaw dropped and he was still picking it up as he quickly followed her, afraid she would get lost in the crowd. Dammit she used her powers anyway!
They walked for another forty-five minutes, both of them realizing they would never have found the place, at least not today, if she hadn't let the force guide her. The crowds began to thin and the merchants became seedier. Carth couldn't help the words that followed, "Yeah, figures, this is definitely the right direction, where most paths lead us – to the scum of the planet."
"Carth!" Her voice rocked him out of his thoughts as he realized he had spoken them aloud.
She turned another corner, "By the way, that also distracts one from your otherwise charming self." She turned her head, batting her eyelashes at him before bursting out in laughter.
Before he even realized it, a crooked grin had played across his face and the walls he had been building up began to collapse. She's so beautiful. She makes me smile and forget about everything like no one ever could… His defenses quickly sprang into action, Yeah and she's bad news, she lies to you, deceives you, and now she welcomes darkness and everything you try to fight against…
The sudden sound of her light saber being ignited brought him back into focus. They were standing almost in front of the merchants shop; unfortunately they were surrounded by a group of seedy characters that had a look of total determination in their eyes. Almost as if they had just stumbled upon the greatest treasure in the galaxy.
"Word travels fast of high bounty Jedi – there are even more of us waiting in the shadows. I suggest you come quietly." The leader moved towards Revan, holding a neural restraining collar.
Carth noticed her eyes moving around, just as his were, judging all the places where more could be hiding, "My business is not with you and I really don't have time for these games."
"So it is a fight you want?" He never gave her time to answer, his hand moved to hit some signal. Within the next moment groups of six or more began to emerge from all around them. Carth quickly did some calculations and including the ten before them, four of which Revan had already cut down, they had about thirty enemies to contend with. It was way too many for just the two of them, especially with Revan's limited force ability.
Wasting no time, Carth was firing off shots at the closest approaching foes even as he did his calculations. Nice welcome, all we need now are groups who picked up on the Jedi thing! Even while he was thinking it he noticed another group moving down the street. Great Onasi, perhaps you should have wished for something a bit more helpful!
Revan was glad for her exhaustive training on the Rubicon, it was being put to the test now as she fought off four plus enemies at once. So far she had avoided any major damage and she was still trying to avoid using the force to guide her moves. Although she knew that was futile since the force was always guiding her, asked or not, and she knew, even without trying, that she was using it now.
The groups were closing in and Carth had not been able to thin their numbers enough to avoid the gathering that now surrounded her. Her back was being hit as she tried to defend her front and vice versa. She pulled her resolve, knowing that in her exercises this was still only slightly past the half way point of how far she pushed herself. Her moves were good, but there were just too many of them, something she wasn't prepared for.
Unable to avoid it any longer she sheathed one of her light sabers and reached out to send a force wave through the thick gathering. Now using her preferred one saber stance she jumped at a group of still dizzied thugs and cut three of them down before she felt the blade cut through her backside. Trying to hide the pain, she spun quickly, preventing him from delivering another blow. Her shoulder was aching and whenever she brought her saber up it was screaming to her in agony, but she couldn't be concerned with that, the rest of the group had recovered and was now rushing towards her. She fought with everything she had, ignoring any pain but it was still not enough. Suddenly a thought flashed through her mind.
She could hear Carth's pistols but she had no clue where he was or how he was fairing. She dipped into the force to see if he was alright and was shocked to discover that he was taking considerable damage. She spent a few more seconds trying to clear the crowd before sending another force wave, jumping in the direction of Carth's presence a few seconds later.
She was completely shocked to realize that two dark Jedi had surrounded him. She had been too involved with her fight to even notice that there were Jedi forces to contend with. Trying to use her power to force them away from Carth she realized her attempts were failing. She was wasting precious time and when she saw him clutching at this throat, caught in a choke hold, she became frantic.
The other groups were quickly descending around her and she couldn't avoid the only solution left available. Resting her head down for a moment she then brought both her head and hand up as she let loose a chain of Force Storm power. The first jolt was followed by a second and then a third, a fourth was followed by a fifth before she finally felt herself being spent. Although if it had been up to her, with the feeling she had, she would have sent at least three more waves coursing through their lifeless bodies. As it was, the five merciless waves were enough to have their bodies drop at her feet. A feeling of supremacy flowed through her and despite not wanting to, a smile escaped her lips along with a feeling of satisfaction.
She tried to fight off the wonderful feeling that was swelling through her, I am so powerful, I could be so much more, imagine if …
Although unable to react, Carth had been cognizant throughout the entire episode. And now he knew that she was standing above him. He could feel the concern emitting from her tangled with other thoughts that he desperately wanted her to avoid.
His knees were to the ground, hands holding up his body, coughing uncontrollably as he tried to force air back into his lungs. But he knew he had to break through to her, he knew something was happening and he had to stop it, "Revan, what" coughs raked his body and before he could continue her light saber sprang to life as she turned and cut down a final remaining foe.
"It was the only way Carth. I wish it had not come to that." Her hand rested on his back and he could feel the sorrow that the words didn't even begin to explain.
"But how, Revan, why would you even" he coughed again as he brought his upper body to a sitting position.
She tried to put her charm into the words, "Come on, you haven't forgotten that I was once a Dark Lord. I know both powers and when to use each one. It is fine Carth! Really! As long as I don't let it consume me."
"You can't Revan, you can not play with both sides. Please, do not fool yourself." He reached out to her, "Please" he begged.
She was giving him a grin that made it seem like this was all some kind of joke as she injected him with a medpac. "I would have done it sooner if I had known you were in such trouble. Really Carth, it's fine, I'm fine." She replied as she administered another pac.
"No, Revan, don't ever." He reached out and grabbed her hand. "Don't do it for me, please do not ever risk yourself over me."
Her astonished look, although he hated to admit it, gave him a warm feeling, "I love you Carth. I would do anything for you. Always." She leaned over and brushed a kiss across his lips. "Now, are you ready to see that merchant we finally found? Before he runs off in fright? If he hasn't already!"
"No, wait, you're injured too…" he reached out, trying to use anything he could to keep her there, to see a glimpse in all that had just transpired that she was still the Revan he knew, that she was still there.
She looked down at him, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine until we get back to the Rubicon. I'm used to feeling pain."
What the hell did that mean? He asked himself. Force Rev, don't tell me you are enjoying pain now! "Wait; use a pac on yourself first. I won't go if you don't." He stared at her adamantly as his full figure rose in front of her.
"You may need it, I won't take that chance." She ran a hand across his face, "I do love you, with all of my heart, I'm sorry I'm not just a simple girl." She turned away trying to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
Guilt over how he had been feeling and anger over how their life, and love, had become so complicated seared through him. But he still couldn't stop what she had done from passing through his thoughts. Grabbing her arm he pulled her back to face him, he looked at her long and hard before saying the only words that came to him, "I'm sorry too."
That was it. She tried to dismiss her thoughts as they approached the merchant, that was his way of telling you it is over. But why? Because of who I am? He knew all that, even just days ago he knew all that and refused to give me up, even when I wanted him to. What had changed? Why has it changed? No you are just being silly, he will always love you.
Suddenly she realized how much she had taken his love for granted. No, he wouldn't always be there, no one would, and she was lucky that he still was after all she had put him through. She had played with his emotions, a man who was so unwilling to share them in the first place. She didn't deserve his love. She was so wrong for him, they were so wrong for each other. She should have never let him back into her life. Her selfish gesture had come at great cost to him. She had spent years trying to deal without him and she should have continued on that path. Another reason to hate herself formed in her mind and she told herself she wouldn't play with his emotions anymore. That was the least she could do for the man she loved with all her heart. Moving towards the kiosk, Revan pushed all this aside as she started to speak to the merchant.