The Mandalorian Wars6

Chapter 6

"This mission is suicide!" Atris noted, flopping down on one of the dormitory beds. "I cannot believe you're actually considering this!"

"I can't believe you're not," Janis Bassin replied. "You heard what Revan said. The council is asking us to turn against our own training. We can't stand by and watch the Republic die." The girl finished packing her duffel and stored it in a small footlocker. Like many of the Jedi who'd agreed to leave with Revan, secrecy was her closest ally. None of the Masters needed to know the plan until they were long gone.

Atris watched the young girl leave the room as she continued sitting on the bed. Raye Bassin, Janis's elder brother, was also feverishly packing what few belongings he had into a small duffle. It had been unusual for the Council to permit family members to even be in the same school with each other, but somehow, the two had ended up together. Since Raye was older and more experienced, he seemed less likely to have a negative effect on the two, until now. Clearly Atris could see that the girl was pushing her brother to this action. It had to be that. She waited a while for him to pay attention to her sitting there. When he didn't, she spoke up quietly. " So, you're still going through with this?"

"Someone has to show the council that the Republic needs Jedi assistance," Raye spoke quietly. He dropped his bag into the same footlocker that Janis dropped hers in and began to leave the room. Atris stepped in the doorway, stopping him from leaving. "Why are you here, Atris?"

"I'm here to convince you to stop this. Going to war just to look after your sister is just as fool-hearty as Malak convincing young Jedi like your sister to go to war just to look after Revan. If Revan believes that she can stop this, then by all means, allow her to, but don't throw your life and your sister's life away."

Raye laughed for a minute and scratched his head. "You think that's the reason for my going? Did it ever occur to you that I believe Revan's right? The council's refusal to help is only costing lives."

"They didn't refuse! They simply asked for more time."

"They've had almost a year, Atris. How long does it take?"

"We must trust in their wisdom. They're command of the Force – "

" – Does not make them gods, Atris. They are capable of mistakes and I think that this is one of them."

"So you choose to disobey them? They will expel you from the Order! You will be stripped of your powers!"

"So you want me to choose my own needs and wants over the needs and wants of others? That's a very un-Jedi thing to do."

"You're twisting my words. Revan's plan is doomed to failure. She cannot goad the council into action and if you go – " Atris's words trailed off as she realized something that scared her. Raye wasn't the first person she'd heard of that had been convinced by Revan's display in the hall or Malak's petitioning speeches to go to war, but for some reason, his leaving hurt her the most. Could it be that her feelings ran deeper than simple friendship? That would have been a direct violation of the Code, and yet here those feelings were, showing themselves. What was worse was the lingering feeling of jealousy towards the person who'd started all of this mess. Though Atris wanted to deny it, in her mind, Revan was taking him away from her.

If Raye had picked up on any of this, he didn't show it. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Atris, but it's not working. Whatever consequences, even if its my life, are better than allowing the Mandalorians to take-over."

Atris snapped back to attention. "The Republic forces already outnumber the Mandalorian fleet 6 to 1. Do you really think the Jedi can make any difference?"

"I have to try." He smiled a bit and patted her shoulder, sliding her out of the doorway in the process.

Atris was growing desperate now, emotional. "I could tell the council!" she yelled at Raye, who stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to face her, obviously shocked at her words. She had gotten his attention. "I could tell them Revan and Malak's entire plan. I could stop this rebellion before it even got started."

Raye walked back to her, expressionless. He studied her for a minute, and Atris glared back. "But you won't, will you?" he spoke. "You know that if you do, you risk starting a Jedi Civil War. You could cause more Jedi to rally to our cause. Even some of the Jedi Knights could rebel." He hugged her gently and Atris felt her eyes burning.

He turned to leave again, to finalize his plans. "Don't leave me," Atris called. The words left her lips so quickly that it shocked her. Her voice sounded so small, so scared. If there had been any doubts in her mind regarding her feelings for Raye, they were gone now.

"Goodbye Atris," Raye spoke again, this time without turning around to face her. She stood there, without moving for an unacknowledgeable amount of time, thinking. Her face felt wet and she was shocked to discover later that it was tears. She wiped them away quickly and ran through the hallways of the enclave. She knew now that Raye wouldn't be swayed from his duty, but neither would she. She pushed past a few Knights and burst into the council hall. "Excuse me, Masters, but there's something we must discuss."

Kreia had been right. As much as Revan had tried to leave alone, Malak refused to let her do so. What's more is that he'd convinced several others to go with them. Padawans and Knights alike were filling up the transport hangar. A Republic freighter had been sent to accommodate the Jedi and would be here soon. All they need do was wait.

Revan felt uneasy. She had accepted the risks of leaving the Jedi after her conversation with Kreia. She knew in her heart that this was something she had to do. But she didn't want to take anyone down with her. They didn't deserve what was coming. She'd tried to convince them to stay and let her find another way for them to help. She'd tried to remind them of the risks. Each tactic had failed. They were hooked and refused to abandon her cause now. She closed her eyes and recited the Jedi Code silently. Maybe this was the will of the Force.

"The Jedi are all assembled, Revan," Malak said walking up to her. They were all still wearing their robes despite what was happening. Malak supposed that old habits died hard. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just trying to do my best impression of a leader – you know, looking all serious and stuff." She was trying to lighten the mood but there was a little truth in her words. Like it or not, she was now the leader of the Jedi Rebellion, and that meant that there would be a part of her that would always remain separate from the others. Even Malak.

"Well, I think you've got that down," he replied smiling. "In any event, we're all here now. Nothing can change that."

The hum of the landing ship drew all Jedi eyes to it. "Time to go," Malak replied as Revan turned to give her orders to the remaining rebels.

"My words exactly, Padawan," a voice called from the back. "It is time to go."

The Jedi turned and formed a path so that Revan could face the voice. She was disheartened but not shocked to see the council and many of the Jedi Knights that were loyal, facing them. She'd hoped to leave without this goodbye, but someone had apparently informed them.

"Is this the path you choose for the Jedi, Revan," Master Vrook continued, "to leave in secrecy. If your cause is so noble, why not face your Masters as you betray them?"

"I do not wish to betray anyone, but I must do this," Revan answered.

"And so must we," Malak continued.

"You cannot be allowed to leave," Kavar spoke, "not just for the Republic sakes, but for yours. You're not ready."

"Then send those who are, Master," said Revan.

"So you rule the Jedi council now, Revan," Vrook spat. "We do not take orders from you." He drew his lightsaber and the Knights that surrounded the rebelling Jedi drew theirs. "Return to your rooms, students. You are not leaving."

"We are not staying either," Malak retorted, drawing his lightsaber. A few other students near them drew theirs out as well.

"No," Revan said, holding Malak's arm. "We're not going to do this. We're not going to leave this way." Vrook didn't move and neither did his knights, so Revan turned her attention to Malak. "Put it away, Malak." Malak looked at her a moment, then obeyed, turning off the saber and storing it in his belt. The other Jedi's obeyed Revan and faced the still armed council Jedi. She walked up to Vrook and swallowed. "The ball's in your court."

Vrook lowered and turned off his lightsaber and his Jedi obeyed. He was angry but he was still a Jedi. Revan turned and looked at Kavar as well as the rest of the Masters. "I'm sorry, but we have to go." She then turned to Vandar, kneeling on the floor to put herself at his height. "We're no good to you like this. We respect you, and have followed every order, but we cannot follow this one. You are wrong. Please, let us go so that we can prove it."

Vandar was tranquil. He studied the woman's face and emotions carefully. She felt such conviction. There was no anger, no malice in anything she said. Her intentions were true. He knew that he wouldn't be able to convince her to stay. Even if he did, the Jedi order was so divided now that others would try to do the same. He sighed and moved over to the side. "Then go, Revan . . . and may the Force be with you."

Revan smiled slightly and stood, walking past her Masters and the Knights to the ship, the Jedi Rebels following her. She found a seat near the window and looked down at her Masters as the crowd around them became smaller and smaller. She had betrayed them. They all had. But it was up to her now to make sure that it was not in vain.