(A/N) Ok I've got some news. Sadly this will be the last post on this story for a little while, maybe a week or so. I'm not getting enough reviews and I'm not sure what to do considering it's my first story. I also haven't got a clue to what to do right now after this, hopefully this will give everyone some time to catch up and hopefully give me some good tips. I'll be starting off 'The Tales of a Mandalorian's Revenge" and you can read that while this is put on hold. I'll be playing a ton of KOTOR and KOTOR II to get outta' this writers block. Thanks for reviewing KiraYamato1, I'll post as soon as I get some thoughts in the old nogin. R&R, and enjoy this chapter. I've got a big big feeling that I'll think of a good "Rescue" Chapter. You'll find out why later.
Chapter 7:
The Silver Fire swooped into the Telos docking bay and it's pilots dashed out, carrying Bastilla. Jolee, Atton, and Mira carried the injured Bastilla through the docking bay. They pushed right past the docking fee collector and hurried through the battle scarred Citadel station. Jolee had tried to heel her as much as he could but it was pretty much useless. Bastilla's arm was still bleeding quite a bit, any normal person would've passed out a quarter of the way to Telos. Bastilla had to be using the Force to stay strong, and that was a good sign.
The gorup pushed past the destruction. The aftermath of the Sith invasion of the planet was horrible, but the results of the station was nothing compared to what had happened on the unknown planet that Malak had resided. Scorch marks planted themselves on various spots in the Citadel walls. In diffrent areas in the distance Jolee could see men and woman working on walls and floors, repainting some of the most battle touched areas. They ran out through the main area and finally through to the medical facility.
They must've thought Bastilla was a discovered surivor found under rubble because they immidietly took her in and shut the doors behind Jolee and the others. They all looked and stared at eachother with questions on there minds, yet no answers.
"Well," Jolee started. "We've got somewhere to go now, someone to meet while Bastilla is tended."
"Who, another Jedi?" Mira questioned, half-half sarcastically.
"No no, a man I knew far before this mess. Wouldn't of gotten out of that blasted Star Forge if it wasn't for him. He sent me a transmission from here about a month ago after the Sith invasion. I think that he'd like to see us." Jolee had an expression of happiness on his face as he began to lead him into the apartment sectors.
Knock knock knock.
Jolee tapped on the apartment door and stepped back, arms crossed. Mira and Atton stood cashually, eye lids seeming to gain weight. The door opened and Mira and Atton's eyes opened largely. They couldn't believe the man standing before them.
"Carth Onasi!" Jolee shouted to the brown haired man who had clearly just woken up.
"J-Jolee? Jolee Bindo, is that you?" Carth's eyes seemed to widen despite waking up three seconds ago.
"Oh-ho!" Jolee laughed. "Eyes rotting already kid, your too young for that!"
"Heh heh," Carth laughed at Jolee's joke. "Yeah, I couldn't believe it was you, what brings you to this place? Here come in, come in." Jolee strode in and the others stared wide eyed at the Republic ledgend as they followed.
"Carth, wow, well I know what you're doing here but these two kids don't. Go 'head and fill 'em in." Jolee sat on a small couch relaxingly.
"Hey, I'm Carth Onasi, former Republic pilot." Carth greeted humbly.
"Hi, I've heard all about you," Mira shook Carth's hand in amazment. "I'm Mira, bounty hunter from Nar Shadda."
"Nice to meet you."
"Hey, I'm Atton Rand," Atton seemed to show his amazment and surprise less than Mira had let herself. "Former Republic trooper."
"Now now, we're not here to talk about who you are, get to the reasons." Jolee unheartedly said.
"Oh yes, yes." Carth said. "Well... I've had losses due to the Sith. They attacked my home world, Telos, and then once again 5 years afterward, I led a Republic strike force to stop them from doing as much damage as before. I decided to leave the Republic and help rebuild my home world of Telos."
"I see.." Mira said interested.
"Volunteer Telos rebuilder?" Atton said. "Hm, that's quite a change from being a paid Republic commander."
"Quite a change indeed." Carth agreed. "Now, well what are you guys doing here?"
Jolee sighed long and hard.
"Well Carth... The threat of the Sith has returned.. At first we didn't think so. The True Sith, the.. The species. We knew they were hiding somewhere else on the outer-rim, perhaps far far beyond the outer-rim. But then we found out... Malak has returned. He possessed Juhanni and tried to kill us. Bastilla is injured with her arm nearly torn off in the medical room right now."
"What? You've gotta be kidding me, I mean if Bastilla the Jedi's old secret wepon could get over powered, then how are we going to stop him! Plus the threat of the Sith is coming, the real Sith, how do you suppose we'd stand up against the odds of Malak and the true Sith species?"
"Exactly, which is why we're trying to come together, bringing the heros of the Star Forge, and the helpers of The Exile Drendan Kline so that we can have The Exile and Darth Revan to lead us on into battle."
"Well then how can I help, I mean I'm just a former Republic soldier past his prime, I can't do as much as I used to."
"Exactly, we need you to bring back the Republic to get as strong as it can get, bringing far away worlds to join us lending their armys into our war. We are going to have an all out war that is far more perilous and meaningfull then any war we've ever had before. We are going to need more fire power, more numbers, more everything. This is bigger than the Star Forge, bigger than the Telos invasion, this is bigger than anything you could think of. The fate of the galaxy is balancing on a thin, thin line, and if we're not there to build about three inches under that line, everything that could ever happen in the future, destroyed. "
"I see... I don't know how much I could help you out but I must try regardless. Telos will lend whatever it can, I can guarantee you that. Especially the Ithorians, after Drendan left to face Sion and Traya, the Ithorians honored him as a hero, someone they'd gladly lend a favor to. Especially if it's to save the whole galaxy. I mean if we can-" Carth stopped short.
"Hey! Hey, I've got a great idea! Remember good ol' Mission and Zaalbar? Well if we can find them again, I bet you that Zaalbar could convince the Wookie's to help as well!"
"Good thinking Carth, I knew you were a good choice."
"Yes, hey what about Canderous? Canderous Ordo, he could probally get the Mandalorians to help. I mean it's kind of odd having the Republic fight along side the Mandalorians, but I'm sure Canderous could convince them."
"Yeah, we'll have to find him though, once Bastilla gets out of her medical state-"
Bleep bleep bleep!
Jolee's com-link beeped and a red ball flashed ontop of it barely seen. Jolee reached down and picked it up, answering.
"Mr...Bindo? Yes Jolee Bindo, this is Citadel Station Medical Center, you are the ones who brought in Bastilla, correct?"
"Yes," Jolee answered expecting to hear Bastilla was going to be out soon.
"Mr.Bindo, I am sorry, but it seems unexpectedly without any reason, Bastilla has entered a Coma."
Jolee's face turned into utter surprise and shock. Atton looked at the com-link as if he had heard wrong. Carth looked down at it, eyes opened wide. Mira leaned against the wall lips slightly parted.
"What?" Jolee asked.
"Yes, a coma, there seems to be no reason why, she just knocked unconcious, we took all the tests, she's alive but won't wake up or respond to anything."
"How can that happen, you have to be kidding! Coma's don't just happen without reason!" Jolee seemed to be furious, something none of them had ever seen before. "Bah, forget this!"
Jolee shut off the com-link angerly and looked at the others.
"What are we to do now, we've got no leads as to where Canderous is!"
"Or Mission." Carth pointed out.
"Well wait a minute..." Jolee began to think. "That girl grew up on Taris. I want to help out the place I grew up on, wouldn't Mission? And wherever Mission is Zaalbar is sure to be found. The others who helped out Drendan are on Marooqu with the droids."
"Well, it seems easy enough. A coma that went by that fast, I mean maybe it will go just as soon. Then we go to Taris, find Mission and Zaalbar, then we can get to Marooqu or whatever, and meet up with Revan and Drendan. Simple. Well you can go to Marooqu. I'll just go ahead and bring together other planets to form the Republic back to what it was and greater, then we can prepare for the Sith strike."
Jolee seemed to be in another world. His eyes were glazed over, his stance seemed not to move, not even breathing signs of him.
"Jolee?"
Jolee snapped to attention and shook his head ,staring at Carth.
"What? Carth, Mira, Atton, there's something terribly wrong... I can sense it in the Force... Something is-"
Bleep bleep bleep!
The com-link buzzed again. Jolee reached to it slowly and answered.
"Hello?" Jolee began. There was a striking and haunting pause that seemed to last forever.
"Mr.Bindo.." The news came as a stab in the chest, something none of them expected. The news was so unexpected, so un-explained that it seemed unreal. No one could understand it. But it was true.
"Bastilla has been kidnapped."