Canderous kicked the white sand of the hidden world's beach. He squinted against the harsh light of the afternoon sun and scanned the horizon again for Revan. The old man and the Cathar had run after her over two hours ago.They should have been back already.
Initially, Mission had shared his watch. But the young girl thrived on conversation and acceptance and since he gave neither, she sought refuge back on the ship where Onasi and the Wookiee could coddle her.
The last Canderous knew Zaalbar had been working on getting the Hawk spaceworthy again. He could only assume the mechanic was still busily jury-rigging salvaged parts into the hyperdrive engines. Onasi was probably with him; although Canderous wasn't sure if that would be a help or a hindrance. Either would be preferable to the moping the Republic pilot had inflicted on them since leaving Manaan.
There were no secrets on a ship the size of the Ebon Hawk. Especially not with eight people crammed on board. Revan was using dark Force powers.
Good.
As far as he was concerned if the Sith felt like shooting lightning up his ass, Revan should sure as hell shoot it back at the bastards. A weapon is a weapon. If you're not prepared to use everything in your arsenal, you've got no place having one.
That had always been the Republic's problem. Their precious senate was too busy debating the ethics of war to fight one. They were cowards hiding behind the flimsy shelter of politics and morals. If not for Revan, they'd have been conquered. And now they wanted to debate the ethics of her as well.
Canderous shook his head. If they wanted to be fools, let them. He wasn't afraid to follow Revan. No matter where her path led. Light side, dark side. Republic, Sith. It didn't matter. He'd throw his lot in with Revan.
Over forty years of combat had honed his reflexes to near perfection. When he heard the loud metallic echo of a footfall on the landing ramp, his rifle snapped toward it before another step sounded. Two steps later, he knew it was the pilot. They were too heavy to be the girl and too sharp to be the Wookiee.
True to his deduction, Carth Onasi came into view. "Any sign of them?"
Canderous turned back toward the hill and resumed his watch. The man had eyes. He could see the answer for himself. But maybe he couldn't. When it came to Revan, Onasi acted blind.
She'd been spending a lot of time reviewing records of the Mandalorian and Sith Wars. She'd spent countless hours hearing Canderous's own stories. And while he spoke, he could see her mind working. Pieces of history blended with fragments of memory.
Canderous had a feeling she wasn't going to let something as powerful as the Star Forge be destroyed. Whatever scenarios Revan was constructing in her military mind would make full use of all resources. And the Star Forge was one hell of a resource.
There was no way Revan would unnecessarily sacrifice it. The station was hers before; let it be hers again.
"I thought they'd have been back by now," Carth ventured.
Canderous heard the hint of concern in the man's comment and knew Carth underestimated Revan. She could handle whatever was in that temple even without two Jedi trailing behind.
Revan had a score to settle with Malak. And Canderous knew better than to think that anything would get in her way. He only hoped that when they reached the Star Forge, there would be enough Dark Jedi to go around.
After all this standing around, he was itching for a good fight.