A/N
This came to me a while back I and I always enjoy making fun of Bastila a bit so I figured I'd throw in an AU character that could REALLY get on her nerves. This was meant to be more angsty but so far it's not really when it could be. Oh well. R&R if you've got time and just a fore warning that I'm a really slow writer so I don't usually do longer fics. So updates may be slow.
Disclaimer: all hail Lucas he owns all, making money I am not, I only wish I was, don't sue me it would be a waste of your money not mine because I don't have any
I curled tighter in the cramped storage compartment that had been home for the last few days. A word of advice to anyone not wanting to get themselves shot, do not I repeat do not stow away on a republic military ship. Especially if there are Jedi aboard. It simply never goes well.
Masking my presence constantly from the Jedi had exhausted me and I hoped we would reach our destination soon. Because what was bad now would be made much worse if I was discovered. Listening closely I let my senses flow outwards through the room looking for occupants. My entire body ached and I really wanted to get out and stretch even if only for a few minutes. Taking every precaution I slowly opened the door to the tiny cramped storage area I'd somehow managed to fit into.
"So far, so good" I thought to myself as I slowly uncurled; now all I have to worry about is getting back in which could be a problem. I grinned at the thought, surely I hadn't gained any weight in my stay aboard the 'Endar Spire' so I shouldn't have too much of an issue.
The door slid open and I scrambled to close the hatch on the compartment. Fumbling with the handle I lost my balance and went tumbling out of the compartment landing unceremoniously in a heap on the floor. I froze when I glanced up and saw a mildly attractive yet somewhat scruffy looking republic officer staring back at me.
"What the hell!" he yelled pulling out his blaster. "You just stay right there!"
I bolted for the door as he triggered the lockdown system, from a consol on the wall. An alarm went off followed by a computerized voice "Intruder, intruder! Security to wing 3 level 4! Lock down commencing." I dove head long through the rapidly closing door, rolling to my feet I took off running. Sprinting as fast as I could I cut into a side corridor and picked a random room on the left.
I pressed the controls to open the door. Nothing. Trying not to panic I pulled the plate covering the wiring away and displaced a few circuits. The door slid open and I ducked in jamming it closed behind me. Resting my head on the cool surface of the heavy metal door, the hair on the back of my neck began to prickle. I had a very good idea that if I wanted to continue to believe I was safe and hadn't picked quite possibly the worst room to lock myself into then I wouldn't want to turn around.
"I'm assuming you're the cause of all this commotion" haughtily stated a voice to my left. A voice I recognized all to well.
Padawan Shan.
I turned to face her and found myself facing seven Jedi including Bastila. She regarded me coolly then her eyes flashed in recognition.
"Karmanta?" she questioned suddenly looking unsure. I watched uneasily as nearly all of the Jedi reached subconsciously for there lightsabers. I'm no coward but seven to one is kind of pushing it, especially since I'm little more than a decent fighter.
"Traitor!" snarled a Jedi to my left igniting her saber. The deep blue blade bathed the darkened room in rich color shadowing all of our features. Nervous as I was, the hum of the deadly blade was soothing, although the thought of a weapon of any sort being soothing disheartened me. "What a monster I've become" I thought. Glancing around I saw Bastila wince slightly as if I'd projected the thought for the whole room to hear, but she seemed to be the only one, for none of the others wore expressions of compassion but barley tolerated disdain or outright loathing.
"Some Jedi." I mused.
She held up a hand in a passive gesture, "Lana put your weapon away, she is no threat, to kill her would be an act worthy of the Sith."
"But…"
"That's an order Lana." stated Bastila her voice dropping dangerously.
She sounded tired poor girl. Nothing like the energetic outgoing and not to mention friendly 13 year old I remembered. But it had been seven years. Seven very long very taxing years. She turned back to me and her eyes spoke volumes. Behind the pompous attitude and harsh words was a girl who'd seen to much, and grown up to fast, a girl who very likely suffered guilt for every life taken, saw it as blood on her own hands. She'd shut everything out in fear of getting it ripped away and was now alone. It was the same detached look I'd seen in the mirror nearly everyday for the last seven years.
The doors sparked and slid open causing all eight of us to jump. A small army of republic troops followed by "scruffy", the same solider that had started the lock down procedures. I stiffened as the safeties on the blasters that each trooper carried were switched off in unison. I couldn't help but wonder if that was rehearsed. Watching them carefully I slowly backed away not really caring how incriminating it was, I simply was not comfortable with blasters in the hands of trigger happy soldiers, who more than likely thought I was still a Sith, and wouldn't be to upset if they splattered my brains across the walls. I started to explain the fact that I was not a Sith and conveniently leave out the "anymore", when the ship lurched to a halt, throwing all of us off our feet. Alarms blared and the troops all scattered to there stations. Just as I regained my footing the ship shuddered violently and somewhere in the distance explosions could be heard.
"We have to get to the bridge" yelled one of the Jedi, stating the obvious as usual. Bastila turned and said lowly "You're welcome to come with us, just stay out of the way." I nodded in understanding, she didn't trust me but that was fine because I didn't trust her either.
As we made our way through the halls, the soldiers parted to stay out of our way while they scurried to their command stations. I eyed a consol warily as we neared; it was sparking and making ominous hissing sounds. Lana, the Jedi who'd been so intent on killing me skirted around it to get to the heavy security door. The consol made three more high pitched shrieks then began to smoke.
"Take cover!" I yelled tackling Bastila to the floor, the consol exploded shooting tendrils of brilliant blue electricity into Lana and two other Jedi who'd been near the door when the consol exploded. They fell to the ground dead.
"Are you alright?" I asked Bastila as we both got to our feet.
"Besides the crushed ribcage, I will be just fine." She said grinning slightly.
"I choose to ignore that" I shot back "Besides I don't weigh any more than you do!" She didn't reply as we passed the three bodies. "Now there are five." I thought sadly.
We kept going. I'd never realized how big this ship actually was, which could stem from being in a storage compartment the entire time I've been aboard. A door to our right slid open and I whirled dropping into a defensive stance. Three dark Jedi their cloaks billowing behind them entered flanked by Sith troopers. I drew my saber, as did the other Jedi in the party.
"Bastila get to the escape pods! We'll take care of them!" yelled an older Jedi, likely a master as he engaged the veiled Jedi in front of him. Someone grabbed my arm and I whirled punching them in the face.
"Oh!" yelled Bastila. "I tink uh boke ma nosth!" she screamed at me her hands over the lower portion of her face.
"Your nosth?" I questioned trying desperately not to burst out laughing, because I wanted to keep all my limbs attached to my body.
"Yes mah nosth, you schutta!" she screamed looking even more angry than before as we stepped through a door into another hallway. Raising one hand she proceeded to heal it with tendrils of the force. I winced slightly her nose wasn't broken but it did look painful.
"Control your emotions young Padawan" I said as we made our way towards the bridge. "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." I intoned attempting to calm her down. She turned to me anger sparking in her eyes, "You dare mock the wisdom of those wiser than you?" she snapped defensively.
"Uh huh, I don't like the council. I never have and I never will."
"Well that explains why you fell!" she snarled angrily.
"Don't presume that you know everything Bastila, you know nothing!"
"I know enough" she stated hotly "You followed Revan in the wars then into unknown space, and you fell. Simple."
"I-"
"Now that Revan is dead here you are, crawling back to the council with you're tail tucked between you're legs to much of a coward to choose a side and stay there!"
The ship shuddered again rocking dangerously. The Sith wouldn't wait much longer.
"We don't have time for this." I sighed suddenly tired.
"Let's get to the bridge so you can do that thing you do, and buy us some time."
"Very well, but I don't intend to remain in you're company for any longer than is necessary" said Bastila walking away from me.
"Completely mutual" I muttered glaring at the back of her head.
Walking on to the bridge I was met with deep sorrow. Most of the people who were here would not make it out alive. And there was nothing I could do about it.
Bastila left me standing stupidly in the center of the room and went to talk with the first officer. I wandered around staying out of the way, observing the crew work together against overwhelming odds. It was encouraging and spoke volumes about the heart of the Republic.
She returned looking even more tired if that was possible.
"I can't concentrate here, we're going to the escape pod bay, we'll stay as long as we can and give others a chance to evacuate."
"This 'we' is staying right here, you don't want to be around me longer than necessary. Remember?" I snapped crossing my arms over my chest. I knew it was childish but I couldn't help it, I don't 'crawl' back to anyone especially the Jedi.
"Oh honestly!" she yelled throwing her hands up in the air. "You've got to be the most frustrating…, never mind!"
"You can stay here, I really don't care!"
"No I'm coming with you, I'd hate to miss the opportunity to annoy you more" grinning evilly I followed her as she stalked angrily away.
She let out a stream of curses in several different languages that made the surrounding crewmembers stare in awe.
Smirking I called out loud enough to be heard by most of the crew on the bridge, "Why, Bastila do you actually know what that means, because it's not very becoming of a Jedi!"
She didn't even dignify my comment with an answer, she simply kept on walking.
'Scruffy', or as I now knew him 'Carth Onasi' turned out to be the most paranoid annoying prick I've ever met. In a monumental sense. He was really annoying.
"No"
"What do you mean 'no'?" I yelled at him.
"I mean no you are not going in the same escape pod as Bastila" he stated evenly.
"Trust me I'm not looking forward to it either-"
"Hey!-"
"-but I'm not going to take a separate pod that could be used for another group of people" I glared at him, this guy was just asking for it.
"I guess that makes sense…" he said pushing his hair back with one hand.
"We really should be going-" started Bastila, she was interrupted as the ship lurched.
"Okay, get out of here" said 'scruffy' waving his hand in the general direction of the escape pods.
"Aren't you coming?" asked somewhat concerned.
He motioned towards the monitor life sign monitor; two green dots were making their way steadily in this direction.
"Not while they're out there"
I smiled as I closed the hatch on the pod, maybe he wasn't so bad.
FIN