A newchapter, and it did not take a month! Thankyou everyone for the reviews and following along. I hope you are still enjoying the ride.
Time for a flashback, another look into Revan's past...
"Look at these robes!" I squealed as I emerged from the 'fresher of our quarters. I swirled around to give Malak a better look: the dark hooded cloak billowed around my form. The robes themselves were amazing—elaborate and simple at the same time. The black and gray fabric flowed gracefully down to the floor allowing incredible freedom of movement while the arms fit snuggly with bracer-like support around my forearms and wrists. A form-fitting inner liner circled my head, showing only my face. "Where did you get these? They fit perfectly!"
Malak beamed. "They should fit: I had them made special for you!" he said with a stretched grin. He was wearing his own specialized outfit: the most notable feature was a wide high collar that rested on his shoulders and seemed to go half-way up his head. It reminded me somewhat of the Selkath clothing, only more exaggerated. "A gift in honor of our knighting last month. Sorry it took so long."
"They were worth the wait," I said admiring myself in the mirror. "I look taller—a definite plus," I announced as I bounced up and down on my toes. "So you had these custom tailored? Should we add fashion designer to your list of talents?" I joked. Malak snorted.
"Hardly," he said, almost wounded. "Here, this is where I got the idea from. I found this while researching the Dantooine ruins." He picked up a datapad and punched in a few commands. The screen lit up brightly. "See these hieroglyphs? They look like what we saw at the burial site. And see here, look," he said excitedly as he pointed to a small pictograph. At the top of a temple there were a number of hooded shapes in an outfit similar to mine surrounding a figure in a high-collared ceremonial garment. They were all reaching up towards a sun. "That hooded robe is the best and I figured you would look great in it…and I was right," he said with a smirk.
"But why did you go for that collared thing? It looks okay, but, well…" I stuttered.
"I wanted to look shorter," he said bluntly. "And this collar is reinforced—great neck protection." I looked at him suspiciously. I got the better set of robes out of the two choices, no question. But Malak's explanation was thin; I was sure it had more to do with the uniqueness of his clothing style in the picture—obviously this was a high priest or leader of some sort, while the hooded figures were acolytes or servants. So it did not matter to him how silly it looked—it held a higher office and greater importance. "Your robe is reinforced as well; extra padding and mesh underlay. It is practically armor."
"Now why would I need something so heavy-duty?" I asked cocking my head at him. "We haven't been given a single assignment since becoming Knights," I sighed.
"Well, uh, when we go fight the Mandalorians…" he stammered.
"We might never get the chance—the Council has yet to decide."
"But I thought we decided, Rev. Come on, look at what the Mandalorians are doing. The Republic is at a total loss as to how to deal with them. They have only two victories to their name, and one was because of your strategy!"
"Yes, plans that you sent to Karath behind my back. If the Council found out…" I said hotly. It was a few months ago, after learning of a devastating defeat over Althir: Malak and I stayed up night after night studying the Mandalorian attack and we came up with a counter tactic to use in the next encounter. It seemed sound, but it was risky and unproven. Malak took it upon himself to forward the plans to Admiral Karath. I don't know why they agreed to the plan, but the Republic carried the instructions out to the letter and sent the Mandalorians packing with resounding authority in the very next battle.
"Rev, that just proves we need to go do something. Your ideas and my enforcement will end this quickly. It has gone on too long already. How many more planets have to fall? How many more innocent people have to die before the Council decides to take action? They are so damn secretive: they have given no explanation at all for their reluctance to join the effort. It makes no sense. There is no way we can stay neutral in this." His voice was full of anger and despair. "They already got my homeworld," he said sadly. "Not that I remember anything of it, but just the thought…my family, my parents were still probably there."
"I know Malak, I am sorry," I said feebly as I traced my hand softly along his chin. "Just, they took those plans without knowing who I am. Do you think they will actually listen to me, this tiny little girl?" I sighed turning back to look at my small self in the mirror. The robes were imposing, almost sinister. But knowing what was beneath them reduced the impact.
"I will be there, they will listen," he said forcefully. "Besides, look at you in that get-up! Cover your face and they won't know who or what is under there. The padding hides quite a bit, which I admit was by design. I don't want everyone knowing how good you look," he said with a wicked smirk. His hands circled my waist and spun me around to face him. He bent over awkwardly, his face entering the full hood around my head, and kissed me deeply. The collar was in the way, but it was more his height that caused his problem reaching down to me. He usually picked me up, and eventually did this time, raising me higher as he stood to his full height, never relinquishing the embrace. Some six years ago, literally on his 19th birthday, Malak had his final growth spurt. Already taller than I was, he now towered a full head and shoulders above me—maybe even a bit more than that. I never grew again: the same size now as I was at 16. He lessened his grip and I slid down against him, gently placing my feet back down on the floor.
"The Council will never allow us to go," I sighed. "Maybe we could just keep sending plans in secret?" I offered as a compromise. Malak wrinkled his brow with displeasure and disappointment.
"That won't do: we need to be there to direct battles as they unfold. You know the Mandalorians change tactics at a whim; we need to be there to outsmart them as it happens. And as for the Council," he grumbled. "We are full Jedi Knights now. We can go anywhere; do anything we want with or without their permission," he shot defiantly.
"You know we didn't get that sort of license when we were knighted. I am actually surprised they allowed us to share these quarters," I said with a sweep of my hand. After our ceremony, we were moved from the apprentice and training dorms to the 'adult' sector of the temple, where the Knights and Masters were housed. I was a bit shocked, and embarrassed, when they gave us the one room, even if it did have two beds in it.
"We aren't the only ones," he said dismissively. He was right: many Jedi here shared rooms: masters with their apprentices as well as some obvious partners. We were surprised, but relieved. We had gone to great lengths to hide our relationship and thought we had successfully snuck behind the Masters' backs, when all along it was clear to everyone what we were up to. It felt good to no longer hide it. "They say they frown on these commitments, but there really isn't anything specifically against them," he said. Still, I felt a twinge of guilt, especially as I gazed towards the rarely used second bed.
"I wish we could get rid of that thing," he sighed as if he were reading my mind. "We could use the extra space in here."
"Oh, that would look great!" I yelped as I delivered a petulant shove to his chest. "Sure, let's just toss the extra bed out in the hall…here, Masters, we don't need this!"
"Well, we don't," he smirked, collecting me again in his arms. I smiled back; I was surprised he held out this long. Undressing me from my robes was one of Malak's favorite activities. I had stopped wearing my padawan clothing for that reason: he seemed always eager to remove them. But I could not get out of our training matches: after a rough sparring match he would always 'finish me off' he said, in our chambers. I stole one last quick glance of myself in my new outfit before the cloak blocked my view as Malak lifted it above my head and tossed it aside. The rest of my garments, and his, quickly joined it, and we were together on our bed. Malak was on me instantly. There was little in the sense of foreplay: it was more a systems checklist. His hands searched along my form, a random squeeze every so often, followed by a nuzzle to my neck, a nibble to my ear, and finally a couple kisses. He planted his hands on the bed just above my shoulders as if to lock me in place and began to lower his hips to mine. Our minds met within the Force, leaving me breathless with the contact of both his energy and his body. Like in all other aspects, Malak was direct and powerful, in full command of the situation. I could sense his emotions crashing through me, as if trying to become my own feelings. My fingers mechanically traced along his sides and back as his body hovered above me, braced rigidly by his locked arms. I leaned up and randomly pressed kisses to his chest and collarbone. I strained my neck, tilting my head backwards to try to catch sight of his face, but I could not see past his throat and part of his chin. His form surrounded, engulfed me; I had always felt overwhelmed as he moved above me, unable to see or hear anything else but him. He seemed to stage things that way; as if I could concentrate on anything else. But I wanted to see Malak: for once, this time, I wanted to look into his eyes as he joined with me. His pace began to quicken, I knew my opportunity was fleeting. I pulled my thoughts from him in order to surprise him; he seemed not to notice. Quickly I coiled my arms around his chest, locking my hands together behind his back. I raised my legs and wrapped them around his hips: I lifted myself to him, clinging tightly. I was completely off the bed.
"What," he grunted with surprise and agitation "what are you doing?"
"This," I said playfully as a small push from the Force rolled us over. He fell firmly into the bed and I slowly sat up, my knees digging into the sheets. "I have you now!" I teased lightly.
He seemed at a loss, shocked almost. I raked my nails along his chest as I smiled down at him, my eyes locked to his. A brief flicker of bewilderment and pleasure flashed across his face, but then his brow began to knit in annoyance. I felt his excitement shrink away as the thoughts I sensed from him turned black; this unexpected change in temperament left me confused and slightly dazed. His hands took me by the waist with rough insistence, his grasp aggressive and painful. Instantly, I was rolled over, my back pressed flatly to the bed. This time Malak leaned forward to rest on his elbows, his entire body pinning me down as he started over.