Alexis awoke the following morning before the sun had risen, still pressed against Carth. She laid one of her hands gently against his chest and tilted her head back to look at his face. He was still sleeping, snoring softly.
Alexis was surprised to find that she had slept through the night. She hadn't expected that, and it was a pleasant discovery. She felt refreshed, body and spirit, and she found that she was not as sore as she had been the day before.
Alexis splayed her fingers on the hand pressed to Carth's chest. She found that her small hand covered only a very tiny portion of the man's massive torso. She smiled and moved her hand slowly, savoring the feeling of the warm muscle beneath her palm.
She felt guilty suddenly and pulled away, her eyes on his face. She sighed softly and rolled away from him. She was instantly cold but she forced herself to rise from the bed.
Carth stirred slightly and she watched as he felt around in front of him for her body. Finding nothing, he opened his eyes. They focused on her and he smiled. "Good morning." He growled in a sleepy voice.
Alexis smiled back at him, unable to resist. She sat on the edge of the bed again and Carth reached across and took her hand.
"Were you comfortable enough?" He asked her with a throaty chuckle. He squeezed her hand gently.
"I was certainly warm enough. I notice I didn't stay on my side of the bed, though. I hope that didn't bother you." Alexis said.
"Didn't bother me in the slightest." Carth replied. He shifted closer to her and lifted himself up on one elbow.
"I'm glad you found the arrangement satisfactory." Alexis answered, laughing.
"You seem to feel better this morning." He told her.
Alexis nodded slowly. "I suppose getting a bit of sleep was a good thing. I might start to enjoy it and do it all the time."
To tell the truth, the sleep paled in comparison to what human companionship was doing for her. She hadn't been around someone else in so long that interacting with anyone would have been satisfactory, but being around Carth was even better. She would have given up the sleep if she'd had to choose between the two.
Carth didn't seem to have anything else to say at the moment, so Alexis slid back onto the bed. She pulled the blankets back over her for a moment, for she was still cold, and Carth dropped his head back onto the pillow.
It was silent for some time and Alexis glanced over at Carth to see if he had fallen back asleep. He hadn't. He was watching her, and Alexis was unsure as to why.
"Carth?" Alexis said quietly. It was still dark in the room and outside, but her eyes were keenly adjusted to the blackness. She could see him refocus on her face when she called out to him.
"Hhhmmm?" He answered, brushing his thumb lightly over the back of the hand that he still held.
"What's the matter?" Alexis asked, turning to face him.
"Nothing's the matter. Why do you ask?" He replied.
"Well, you're staring at me with the strangest expression on your face…" Alexis told him. She'd thought about telling him to forget the whole thing, but she truly wanted to know what he was thinking.
"It's nothing." He told her. His expression had not changed, and Alexis found it to be disconcerting in the least.
Alexis sighed quietly. So he wouldn't tell her. It figured. She of course could have delved into his mind using the Force, but that was not something she had done since her redemption in the light as she saw it to be evil in nature. She would have to be content with speculating as to what he might be thinking.
"Do you have to work this morning?" Alexis asked him. She could not stay silent, for some reason. The look on his face was making her a bit nervous.
"Oh. Well, yeah, but I think I'll call in sick. I'm not ready to leave you alone just yet." Carth replied.
"Won't your co-workers guess that something is amiss?" Alexis asked. "I don't think I am ready to tell the universe that I have returned from my self-imposed exile as of yet. I want a bit of anonymity, even if it is only for a little while." Alexis added.
"They'll assume I'm really sick, at least for today. If I call in again tomorrow, they might worry. Today will hardly matter, though, unless you and I leave the apartment. Then things will start to get sticky. Everyone here recognizes me, and they might even recognize you." Carth replied.
Alexis took her hand from Carth's and stretched her body languidly. "I'm fine with that. What's the plan for today if we aren't leaving the apartment?"
"I won't answer that in the way that I would like." Carth replied, eyeing her body speculatively.
"Carth!" Alexis said, blushing and punching him in the arm. He merely grinned at her and Alexis found herself grinning back. It was an interesting idea, but not a doable one.
"Fine. Why don't we just talk? There are so many things that we can tell one another. It's been more than four years, after all." Carth replied.
"Sounds like a date. I think I will go and brush my teeth and get dressed first of course, though." Alexis said, sighing quietly. She didn't really want to get up.
"Don't get back up on my account. We can just lay here for a while, if you'd like. This is the first chance in a long time I have had to stay in bed past daybreak." Carth told her.
Alexis shook her head. "So I wasn't being completely honest… I also want to take a look around your apartment. I'd like to be sure we're alone." Alexis said, feeling slightly guilty.
Carth looked at her quietly for several seconds. "I could've guessed that. Go ahead if you want to, Revan. I know you won't get any rest without having peace of mind."
This made Alexis feel even worse about it, but she stood up anyway. "I'm sorry. I just have to know." She slowly walked out of the room, her movements a little stiff and uncomfortable due to the excessive leanness of her achy body.
Carth watched Revan leave with a slightly sad expression. The girl would probably never be able to relax completely again. She was still moving strangely, he noticed, and looked near death.
Her complexion looked healthier and the bags beneath her eyes had receded slightly, but she'd been just as gaunt and ill looking that morning as she had the night before.
Carth rose from the bed as well, fully aware that now she was up, there would be no going back to sleep. He quickly contacted his office as soon as he was out of bed to let them know he would not be in to work today.
Oddly, his office secretary seemed upset by the news, and she'd done everything from offer to pick him up a bit of medication to telling him she'd be by later with a bowl of soup to make him feel better. This was somewhat disconcerting and it had taken Carth quite a bit of persuasion to convince her he would be fine by himself.
Carth sat on the corner of his bed, waiting for Revan's return for some time, but she didn't come. He couldn't hear her in the apartment so he ambled out of his bedroom and down the hall. She was seated on the floor in the middle of the living room facing the door, her legs crossed and her lightsaber resting in her lap. She motioned him over the moment she saw him and he stopped beside her shoulder.
"Someone's outside the door." Revan said softly, cocking her head slightly and continuing to watch the door. "I have a feeling that it is no one dangerous, but it is strange, nonetheless."
Carth frowned and stared at the door as well. "Can you tell who it is?" He asked her.
"I'm afraid not. For some reason I'm unable to pick up anything through that door. I can tell you, however, that the person has been there for about two minutes, trying to decide whether or not to knock to come in." Revan replied.
Carth raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced down at Revan. "Shall I answer the door?" he asked.
"By all means, answer it. I'm ready for just about anything." Revan said, rubbing the hilt of her lightsaber gently.
Carth had noticed that this seemed to be a nervous habit of hers. "Where was your saber last night?" Carth asked suddenly, remembering her had not seen it on her.
Revan looked up at him quietly. "It was beneath my pillow the entire night." She replied.
Carth shrugged and went to the door. He paused there and took a deep breath before throwing open the door and looking out into the hallway.
Alexis stared out into the hallway, slightly confused, she still held her lightsaber tightly, but she no longer felt the need to pull it, as the girl standing in the doorway hardly appeared dangerous.
Carth was staring at the girl as well, a surprised expression on his handsome face. He looked a bit angry as well, as if the visit might have been expected, though unwanted.
The girl looked just as startled as the other two. She clearly did not remember making any noise that might have alerted Carth to her presence and was unsure as to why he'd opened the door. She was very young, younger than Alexis, and quite lovely. She was tall and curvy with short pixie-like blonde hair and brown eyes. She had light freckles dusting her nose and cheeks.
Alexis nearly groaned when she remembered that she hadn't wished to be seen. She was now in clear view of the young girl. She was also wearing nothing but Carth's shirt and clasping a lightsaber in her lap. And to top it all off, Carth did not look very ill and she knew he had called in sick for work.
The girl opened her mouth as if to speak and shut it again. She looked past Carth back at Alexis and surveyed her clothing, or what little of it there was. Alexis sighed quietly and settled her hands upon her knees. This was going to be awkward.
Carth finally cleared his throat and stepped out of the doorway. "Well, Seré, come on in."
Alexis remained on the floor, staring at the girl in a resigned manner. It looked like her cover was about to be blown and she'd not even been on-planet for an entire day.
The girl walked in and stood beside the couch, shifting nervously. "Um- Carth… What's going on?" She asked, glaring at Alexis in a rather spiteful manner.
"Do you know that it is still dark outside?" Alexis said offhandedly, staring out of one of the few windows in Carth's apartment. Carth glanced over at her and smiled slightly.
"I'm normally at work before the sun rises." Carth replied, reaching up to scratch idly at the back of his neck.
"Carth." The girl repeated and Carth glanced over at her. She was looking more uncomfortable than ever. "Have I interrupted something? I just came to see if you were all right… You said you were sick and I thought maybe you might need some attention, but this girl is here and you don't look very sick to me…"
Carth frowned and appeared uncertain as to what to say. Alexis thought for a moment. It appeared the girl did not recognize her. This was unexpected. It was hard to say whether or not she would eventually realize who she was looking at.
Alexis watched Carth as he tried to think of something to tell the young woman. He appeared to be struggling, and Alexis felt a pang of guilt. This was, once again, all her fault.
She could sense that Carth had no feelings for this girl, who appeared to be his secretary from work. She could also tell that this girl was perhaps a bit infatuated with Carth. She was confused about the appearance of Alexis, for she thought that her boss was married to his job and had no outside relationships.
"This is my…" Carth began. He trailed off before finishing and stared helplessly at Alexis.
Alexis was thinking rapidly. She knew what Carth wanted to say. She knew what she wanted to say. They were much the same. It was, however, difficult to do so, as they had yet to discuss it themselves. She also knew that she would have to decide whether or not to stay in the Republic in the public eye and become some sort of figurehead or run away once again as she had done so many times before.
Ah well. It was best to make this decision rapidly before she had the chance to change her mind. The girl would have to be kept silent for a few days, but other than that, Alexis knew that once she told this girl, eventually everyone would know who she was.
Alexis rose as fast as her sore body would allow. The other two looked at her, slightly bewildered. She tugged at the hem of the shirt she was wearing awkwardly while grasping her lightsaber in one hand. This was bound to be uncomfortable for them all.
She walked right over to the girl and looked up into her face. The girl seemed rather large from Alexis's position beside her for the girl was only perhaps and inch or two shorter than the very tall Carth.
Alexis stuck out her free hand and grinned amiably at the girl. "I'm Alexis Starling. Carth and I are very good friends."
The girl looked at Alexis's hand for a few moments before taking it carefully and shaking it. She looked as if she thought Alexis might break if she shook too hard. "I'm Seré, Carth's secretary." The girl replied. She ended the contact between them quickly.
Carth appeared at Alexis's shoulder and gently rested one of his hands on it. "Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked her, looking into her eyes.
Alexis knew what he meant. The girl would eventually connect Alexis Starling to Darth Revan and before long, the entire galaxy would once again become aware of her presence. She would be forced back into the spotlight, for good or ill, and things would never be the same for her again.
Alexis nodded. "I'm sure, Carth" Alexis felt tiny standing well beneath the two of them, who literally towered over her. She also felt sick and oddly wary.
Carth started to speak once again but Alexis silenced him quickly when she realized why she felt so apprehensive. "Get back!"
Alexis could see the outline of a Sith Assassin standing in the corner of the room. His stealth field generator was on, but Alexis could easily spot his form through the disguise. When he knew that she could see him, he reached to his belt and switched off the generator.
He became visible to the other two at that point. "What the-", Carth yelled, reaching for the blaster that he had not put on that morning.
Alexis calmly switched on her lightsaber and leapt across the room to the assassin's pace in the corner. They regarded each other quietly. The assassin displayed his twin vibroblades in a rapid slashing motion.
Alexis carefully began to circle the assassin. He began to move as well and they danced oddly for a bit, watching each other's every move.
He struck suddenly, with the force of a charging bantha, and Alexis easily parried his blow. They continued this way, the assassin striking and Alexis parrying until she became tired of defending herself.
With stunning accuracy she began to strike at him with the sides of her dual-bladed lightsaber, each blow as powerful as the last. He was barely able to catch each in turn but Alexis continued, slowly marching him back towards a corner with the sheer force of her attack.
She sliced into one of his arms and he cried out, dropping the blade in which that hand had held. He was now clearly at the disadvantage. His back was now almost touching the wall and Alexis was determined to end the battle.
"Surrender." Alexis said to him, her voice loud and raspy. He merely struck at her once again and with that, Alexis landed a final blow, ramming one end of her lightsaber through his chest.
Alexis spun around and surveyed the room to be sure there were no others present. Seré was crying and Carth was standing beside her, speaking quietly to her. Alexis felt her breathing begin to ease and as it did, her pain returned to her.
A staggering bolt of pain shot up on her sides and she had to resist the urge to cry out or fall to her knees. She turned back towards the assassin and looked at him sadly. If he had surrendered as she had asked, she would have let him free. A single assassin was no match for her, even in her current state, and it was odd that he had come in alone.
Alexis stalked away from the body to check the rest of the apartment. Her body was in agony but she refused to stop until she was certain that they were now alone. Her lightsaber was still drawn and she had to force herself to turn it off, even when she found that there were definitely no other assassins lurking in the shadows.
"Is everyone alright?" She asked when she returned to Carth and Seré's side. The girl was still in shock. They both glanced over at her and she bit her lip against another waft of pain.
Carth moved away from Seré and gently wrapped Revan in his arms. He could see that she was hurting and he was careful not to cause her further pain. "Are you alright?" He said in reply to her question.
"I asked first." Revan answered, her voice muffled against his chest. He released her and stepped back, resting his arms at his sides.
"It looks like it's started all over again." Revan said stonily when Carth remained silent.
"Is this how your life has been for the past four years?" Carth asked, already anticipating her reply.
"Yes." Revan replied. She appeared to be all business at the moment and it reminded Carth a lot of the way she had acted just before she confronted Malak at the end of the Jedi Civil War.
She had been so cold and remote then that he had hardly recognized her. Perhaps now the sensation was not quite as strong, but it was there nonetheless.
Seré was still crying quietly and Carth reached out and touched her arm gently. "Seré, it's okay now. Just calm down." He said.
The girl continued to gasp and sob for another five minutes. Revan rubbed at her sore limbs and stared at the doorway, and Carth himself stood numbly, absorbed in his thoughts.
His secretary was going to cause a huge problem for all of them. He'd been so certain that he had convinced her that she need not drop by, but clearly he had been wrong. She'd come to his apartment anyway and now everything was going to have to be explained to her.
This presented several difficulties. First of all, Revan had not wanted to have her identity revealed just yet. She had wanted a few more days of anonymity so she could recover some of her health before she was thrown to the wolves.
Second, it had not seemed that she had wanted to become the idea in which the failing Republic could rally behind. It now seemed almost certain that she would have to become this.
Lastly, it was clear that he and Revan needed to discuss their personal relationship a bit more. They had not talked about it at all and though they had been very comfortable around each other the night before, the distance this morning between the two of them was great, and he was not so certain anymore that he really knew how she felt about him.
Revan had only told him that she loved him once, though he had told her many times. He remembered the first time they had confessed their feelings to one another quite vividly.
They were standing outside of her ship, the Ebon Hawk, about to embark upon the journey to Malak's space station. All of their companions except Bastila, who had been captured and turned to the dark side by Malak, had been standing around them.
Revan had just found the way to enter the space station and returned to the ship. He had not been with her, but the other two Jedi who had gone with her, Jolee Bindo and Juhani, had told a story of Bastila trying to turn Revan back to the dark side so that the pair of them could rule the galaxy.
Revan and Bastila had been best friends by then and it was amazing to Carth that a former Sith Lord, offered ultimate power once more, could turn it away. Revan and Bastila had been very powerful and could have easily defeated Malak and taken over the Galaxy together. Revan had chosen the path of light, however, and Carth had known then that he was truly in love with her, not just infatuated.
The others had watched as he'd congratulated her and then confessed that he loved her. They'd all waited in suspense as Revan just looked at him, her eyes wide and dispassionate. It was almost as if she were afraid to love him, or afraid to tell him that she did.
Carth knew that love was forbidden to Jedi and the fear had stemmed from the fact that perhaps a bond that strong might make her fall once again into darkness. She had been so obviously pained by the admission that Carth had almost wanted to take it back, but he had not done so, and he was glad. She'd finally smiled at him, her eyes alight like the twin suns of Tatooine, and she had told him that she loved him back. She had never spoken of loving him again, though he told her many times after that he loved her. It was as if she had forgotten that she'd even replied.
Now, Carth was entirely uncertain as to whether or not the words had even been true. Oh, he knew she cared for him, and maybe she did love him, but it was most likely not the way in which he wanted her love. Strong attachment was not allowed within the Jedi order, and though the Jedi were basically extinct, Carth knew that Revan would not easily cast aside their rules as she had done once before. Her fall from the light had permanently scarred her mentally and emotionally, and they were probably wounds from which she could never recover.
Carth realized belatedly that Seré's tears had subsided and he saw that she and Revan were watching each other. Revan's eyes were emotionless but Seré looked angry and frightened.
"What in the hell are you?" The girl asked, looking at Revan's lightsaber. "And why are you dressed that way?" She added as an afterthought.
Revan glanced down at her attire, clearing having forgotten that she was only wearing his t-shirt during her battle with the assassin. "I guess I'm one of the last of the Jedi." Revan replied slowly. She seemed to have come to some realization, and she straightened her slightly drooping shoulders. "As for what I am wearing, I believe it may be something called a t-shirt." The response was fairly sarcastic and her eyes seemed to suddenly dance with mischief. She was awakening from what he supposed was some sort of battle stupor.
"A Jedi? Are you the one that was here before?" Seré asked. The girl stopped and stared at Revan for a few more seconds. "I guess you aren't. You're too short. You're also far too skinny. The other one was healthy and strong looking. You look like you're about to fall over dead." She added.
"Hhhmmm. Thanks for the compliment. I doubt that I die, though, however disappointing you may find that." Revan answered. She furrowed her eyebrows suddenly and narrowed her eyes. Her breath hissed out slowly and she clenched one of her fists.
"Revan, are you okay?" Carth asked, reaching for her.
Before she had the chance to answer, the girl chimed in. "Revan? Darth Revan!"
