The Cathar tumbled fast while shouting insults at me as she rushed closer to her destination. Over a waterfall to her death.

I surprised even myself when I went running after her.

Using the Force, I fell one of the weaker dead trees downriver so that she was caught by it. She grabbed the log and coughed—her fur blotched with red, probably from hitting a few rocks on the way down. The river's edge was slippery so I was careful not to get swept away as I leaned onto the broken tree's roots. I held my arm out to the dangerous Cathar.

"Grab my hand!" I shouted over the rushing river.

The Cathar's yellow eyes narrowed. "Why are you saving me?" she screamed. "I have fallen to the dark side! You cannot save me! Not anymore! I can never go back."

The log slipped and I sucked in another breath. The river was going to wash her away if she didn't listen. I reached out further, hoping that she would pull herself closer to take my hand.

"That's not true." I placed my foot on the tree, balancing. "You can be saved, I know it!"

Her face darkened—all compassion lost.

"You know nothing. Nothing of my sorrows—my suffering!"

"How am I supposed to know if you won't tell me—"

"I killed my Master!" She slipped, holding tight onto the log. "I struck Master Quatra in a rage while training. She was slow with me. She didn't think I was ready. Now...I can never go back. She's dead. I...killed her."

What she described...almost sounded like my situation. Eerily so. Of course, it hadn't gotten to the point of murdering Master Zhar. But what if it had? What if, in a fit of rage, I accidentally struck him to death during our training? Would I have run off into the hills like this Cathar and then succumbed completely to the dark side? Before I would have said that I knew myself enough to know that something like that would have been impossible.

But maybe everyone did have the potential to fall to the dark side.

She looked down the river, towards the waterfall.

"I should let go...die. It's what I deserve."

I sank back. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"I've become a Sith. There's nothing left for me now…"

Her claws began to detach from their grip on the wood.

Before she let go, I focused with the Force and flipped her onto the log. Her feline eyes faded in shock and I felt the cold wash away—as if the taint had been cleansed in this river. She grew a tighter grip on the log now. This time, instead of throwing herself to her death, she pulled herself after me.

Something cracked. The Cathar yelped.

Her weight had caused most of the log that wasn't rooted into the soil to break off. I rushed forward then grabbed a hand, wincing in pain as her claws dug into my forearm. I took her entire arm in mine then hoisted her onto the shore. We both stood, taking in deep breathes, and watched as the log tumbled down the waterfall.

We collapsed cold and shivering both from the fight and the struggle. I stood quickly—unsure if she was going to attack again. But the Cathar coughed into the ground—blood matted the back of her head. She no longer had her red lightsaber—it had washed down the river—forever lost. Because of that, I relaxed.

She looked up at me in awe.

"Why have you saved me?" she asked. "Even I wouldn't have saved me, so tainted by the dark side as I am."

I got to a knee so that we were more at eye level.

"You never fell to the dark side," I said. "Not really."

She pounded a fist into the mud. "How could you say that? I attacked you! With full on lust for your blood! How could you say I didn't fall to the dark side?"

"You wanted to let go," I said. "You regretted taking your Master's life. Would a Sith regret?"

She limped to her feet and more water dripped off her fur. Her eyes softened, their bright yellow hues dulling. She held her face with both hands.

"But the Masters—"

"Forgive." I stood from my kneel. "They've forgiven me for my stupid mistakes. They weren't as bad as yours but...there's no harm in going before them."

The Cathar finally cracked a smile—one that didn't lust for my blood. "I suppose you are right. Perhaps if I appear truly repentant, the Council might take me back." She eyed me. "I never caught your name?"

"Wes Gale," I said.

"Juhani." She bowed. "And I'm...sorry for attacking you."

I shrugged with a smirk. "None taken."

Juhani sighed then sat on a rock by the river facing the waterfall that had almost been her death. The kath hounds had vanished after their old master's fall into the river. Their howling echoed far within the forest.

She dipped her head. "I will beg for the Council's forgiveness, as you've suggested." She closed her eyes. "Give me a moment. I need...to meditate on this."

Honestly, I needed to rest as well after all of that. I picked a spot underneath another one of those dead trees to wait for Juhani to finish. I wondered, briefly, why I saved that Cathar when so many other Sith tried killing me before.

How was she any different?

It wasn't a question of whether the Council would or wouldn't forgive Juhani.

When we arrived at the Enclave that night, Juhani and I both went before the Masters. There, the prodigal Cathar bowed low and asked to be forgiven for killing her master in a fit of rage.

Master Vandar's answer was immediate.

"There is nothing to forgive, young one."

Master Quatra, alive and well, limped into the Council room on crutches. The old woman—who I now recognized as that rude old hag that ran into me a month ago—smiled at the Cathar.

"Juhani."

"Master…" The Cathar got to her feet in shock then rubbed the back of her head. "I really am a fool…"

The old woman chuckled to herself. "Come, we must speak further." When Juhani arrived at her Master's side, the old woman raised a white brow. "You seem to be missing a lightsaber, Padawan...

When they left, I turned again to face the Council. For once, they all gave me proud looks—even Vrook.

Master Vandar smiled down at me. "It is good to see Juhani has returned to the way of the light. You are to be commended for your role in this. Your actions give us great hope for the future."

I shook my head. "I couldn't just kill her, Master Vandar. She hadn't truly fallen."

My own Master, Zhar, "hummed." "An interesting interpretation, Apprentice. By all means, Juhani had fallen to the dark side after she struck her Master in a rage. What made you believe this wasn't the case?"

I stared past the glass-domed ceiling of the Jedi Temple to the night sky beyond. "She regretted all that she did. She only attacked because...she didn't think there was any other way." Eventually, I met the stares of the Council again. "But that was just a stupid lie she told herself."

The Masters all gave each other looks. Eventually, Master Zhar stood and walked until he was in front of me. His smile was wider than I'd ever seen it. If I hadn't been tired and possibly hallucinating, I swear he had some tears stuck in his eyes.

"Congratulations, Apprentice. Or should I say congratulations, Padawan? You have passed all of your trials and have proven yourself worthy of joining the Jedi. Let me be the first to welcome you as a full-fledged member of our Order!"

He began to clap politely and the rest of the Masters joined in as well.

"Get up."

I awoke facedown—without my pillow—in my own sweat. These visions weren't as bad since I opened myself up to the Force—at least when it came to the "Revan and Malak scheming" variety. No, instead the dreams were foggy and incomprehensible. I don't remember anything from them except this sensation of terror.

Bastila's forever annoyed face peered down at my half-naked body with lidded eyes.

I smirked. "Good morning, beautiful. You should storm into my room and wake me up every day so that I can see your lovely—"

She threw robes at me, interrupting my wonderful suggestion.

"Shut up and get dressed. We're leaving."

I removed my robes from my face as I sat up—wondering briefly where she got them—then peered up at her reddening face.

"Already? What time is it?"

"0600."

I frowned. "Can I at least have some caffa?"

"If it's really that important." She twisted to leave. "We go in half an hour."

"Yes, your highness," I threw out after her as the door swished shut.

I staggered to the fresher. As I washed my face, the mirror reflected a tired newly initiated Padawan. A small braid was hidden behind my right ear tangled with the rest of my hair. Proof that I had passed my trials and had become a true Jedi. And, honestly, I still didn't know what to think about that. The Wes from a month ago would have gone running for the hills at the mention of being inducted into the Jedi "cult." But that Wes didn't know the feeling of the Force. And...I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to being that Wes anymore.

After a shower, I grabbed a caffa then strolled through the gardens one last time before we made this trip to the ruins Revan and Malak visited. When I arrived at the gate out to the wilderness of Dantooine, surprisingly, Bastila was nowhere to be found. Couldn't she have at least come here earlier than me if she was so insistent on keeping a schedule?

Someone called out to me. I twisted around and Carth approached from the shadows of the hall.

I threw a quick salute. "Mornin'."

He rubbed the back of his neck then stood next to me as if he was waiting for someone. I leaned against the metal wall. At first, I eyed him with suspicion then I gazed out into the courtyard in anticipation for Bastila to actually show up. I waited for five minutes before I coughed. Loudly.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere?" I asked. "Go do whatever it is that you Republic soldiers do. Shout at...Canderous or something."

Carth backed away. "Snappy with the orders there. Alright, sir ."

When he mockingly saluted I watched the sky. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm coming with you two. I heard that the Council discovered that Malak has some sort of Star Forge. The Republic Navy needs to know about anything the Sith were involved in."

It sounded like he hadn't been told how the Council figured out Malak had a Star Forge.

I smirked. "So, you're the Republic's spy?"

"You're still going on about that?" He shook his head. "I'm not a spy. You're not a spy. We're not spies. Drop it."

"You have something to confess, Onasi?"

His eyes narrowed. " Anyway, I'm here under Admiral Dodonna's orders. I'm short both a fleet and the Endar Spire to command. What else am I supposed to do?"

"You only had one command ship?" I threw up my hands. "The only command ship you had and you named it that ?"

The commander frowned. "That's what you—wait, you've said that before. What's wrong with the name of my ship?"

"What was wrong with it you mean?" I didn't wait for his response. "And there's plenty wrong with that stupid name. You could've named it The Titan or The Revenge—classy, blunt, terrifying—but you named it the Endar Spire. How the hell is that supposed to instill fear in your enemies? What even is an Endar anyway?"

Carth rubbed his face either defeated by my excellent points or regretful of the choices he made in life.

"Your priorities and your lack of them never cease to amaze me."

Before I could snap back, Jedi Princess Bastila marched into the courtyard—ten minutes late. I could tell she was embarrassed by that—not because of the bond, no—because her face glowed red.

I crossed my arms with a smirk. "Better late than never?"

"Before you say anything—" She glared at me very un-Jedi-like. "—the Council meeting went on for longer than I expected."

I uncrossed my arms. "Wait... Council meeting? What did they want you without me for?"

Carth narrowed his eyes at the Jedi, probably more suspicious than I was. For once I didn't fault him for his paranoid behavior.

Bastila glanced away. "They simply warned me about the dangers of the ruins and how to...protect you when the need arises."

"And they didn't want to tell me how I'm supposed to protect you ?"

" Protect— I don't need your protection. That and you are newly trained in the Force while I have had years of experience—"

"So did Revan and Malak and look what happened to them," I said with a wave.

Carth inched closer to us in order to butt his head into the discussion. "Why is the Council even sending a newly initiated Padawan to these ruins if they're 'filled with the dark side' like they say? Why not just send you, Bastila?"

At that neither of us had answers, mouths flapping up and down like fish from Manaan. I don't know why we kept our bond a secret. Probably because it was embarrassing that this annoying Jedi was connected to my mind somehow. After all, I didn't want to tell the world that Bastila knew all my "deepest, darkest feelings'' and that we "shared each other's dreams." Sounded like some mushy holofilm or something. Well, that and it would give Carth another excuse to hound me down. The latter was the more likely scenario.

I glared at Bastila—trying to mentally tell her not to blab to the commander about our bond.

Fortunately, she shook her head, pigtails waving. "While we stand here questioning the Council's decisions, Malak continues his quest to conquer the Republic. The faster we discover what exactly this Star Forge is, the faster we can restore peace to the galaxy."

I sighed, thanking the Force that Bastila didn't blurt about our bond. I wondered why she hid something like that from the commander though. It was in her resume to blurt out terrible things about me.

Carth raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine, but I will get to the bottom of all this. I guarantee it."

"You said that last time," I cut in. "Did you discover anything yet?"

That glare he sent me indicated that he did not appreciate that quip.

After that wonderful conversation, we followed the Jedi, her boots stomping past the Enclave's automatic doors. We gathered in front of the speeder bay as Bastila briefed us on the ruins. They were close to that tainted grove—a few kilometers away in fact. They were so close that I wondered if I accidentally walked past them on my way to deal with Juhani. It took us an hour to travel to the dead forest with the speeder. We all remained quiet even after I tried to start up a conversation or two. Both Bastila and Carth were still at each other's throats. And, honestly, they were both getting at mine.

We arrived at the edge of the forest. It was just as foggy, dank, and mysterious as before. Once we left our speeder behind, we began our trek through the fog.

Unfortunately, travel through the forest hadn't been as quiet as it was while we sat in the speeder. Bastila rambled on about information the Council already told me about—dangerous ruins, a Jedi Knight who never returned, blah, blah, blah. Carth listened intently— very intently—while I tuned the Jedi out and instead worried over what we could possibly discover at the ruins.

"Wes!"

Bastila and Carth had stopped far behind me. I stopped with them then twisted my head in their direction.

"Um...what did you say?"

Bastila huffed. "I said to at least pay attention once we're within the ruins."

"Great job doing that so far..." Carth muttered.

I grew hot then stabbed a finger at the Jedi. "I pay attention all the time...when it's actually important."

"And what I'm trying to tell you isn't important?" Bastila asked. "You know what, at this point, I'm not surprised."

"What do you mean you're not surprised ?" I held my hips. "I'm not surprised that you ramble on like an Ewok. Or a Wookiee. Or any other species that's hard to understand."

"Hard to understand?" Bastila shrieked. "I'm not hard to understand—and I do not ramble!"

"On the contrary—I wouldn't even call it rambling. At least that sometimes makes sense."

She grew red, chest puffing, lips pouting. "Anyway, let's move on before you continue with your petty remarks."

She stomped off again yet went so fast she became a blur. I ran after her—leaving Carth far behind. When I finally caught up, I heard her muttering "There is no emotion...there is peace," under her breath. Her face was still scrunched together and her frown dipped low.

"You know, even if I couldn't sense your emotions through the bond, I bet I could tell you exactly what you're feeling," I said over her shoulder. She didn't answer as she increased her speed. I matched her pace. "Ah, yes, silence, it indicates that you're...curious. Interesting. How am I, Wes Gale, able to read the stoic Bastila Shan? Well, I will reluctantly reveal my secrets." Her face scrunched and wrinkled. "You always make this cute face when you're angry. Sort of like a kinrath pup—"

She twisted sharply on her heel then dug a finger into my chest

"Why must you be so impossibly infuriating?"

A few birds flew away from their perch along with some disturbed kath hounds. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if half the wildlife on Dantooine was startled by her shouting.

I heard footsteps behind me, then the huffing of Carth who finally was able to catch up.

"Not...everyone...can move that fast...you know?"

We both ignored him.

"How am I infuriating?" I pointed with my thumb at myself. "I'm amazing. Charming. Handsome even. The only thing infuriating is your sense of humor."

"Oh please. Half the galaxy couldn't contain your ego."

"And the other half wouldn't know what they're missing," I said.

"Why do you insist on annoying me?"

"I'm not annoying anyone, princess. You just don't want to have the last word."

"Princess. Why you—! Why can't you just—!"

"Force just please stop. Both of you fight like an old couple, I swear."

"What? "

We both shouted that at Carth after that remark.

The animals around us bustled to safer branches. Safer than being near the princess for sure. When I glanced towards Bastila, her face was scorching red as if she had a fever. When she noticed me eyeing her, her "Jedi Mask" replaced that expression...

"Let's go before you decide to say anything else."

I didn't have to guess who she was referring to.

She left with a stomp. Red began to spread on her face again—she could barely keep up that stoic façade.

Carth coughed in his fist then gave me a raised look. A humored type of look. A look I did not like.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You've got a problem, Orangy?"

"Nothing just...good luck. You'll need it."

And he followed Bastila, leaving me confused behind him.

The forest ended an hour into our journey and we followed a broken trail into the wild crags. I felt the darkness before we even saw the first sign of the familiar structures. We were as silent as meditating Jedi as we walked through the mist past tall obsidian-like statues. The ruins themselves appeared just as they did in the vision—domed, cold, alien. We arrived at the ancient stone door and glanced between ourselves—worried as to what we would discover.

"This is where Revan and Malak began their fall to the dark side," Bastila muttered. "This is where they sought out the Star Forge."

"I'll say," I said, rubbing the back of my head.

I waved my hand at the door. The ancient metal creaked as it opened—the sounds echoed endlessly within the ruins. A cold ran down my spine—probably Bastila's too. A heavy fear as breathable as the air itself seeped out of the ruins like Juhani's taint. There were no lights within the temple, so I took out a torch and used the beam to search the crevices.

I chuckled despite a fear clogging my breath. "Nice place we have here. Right next to the Tarisian sewers in vacation material."

"This is no time for jokes."

Bastila walked into the ruins—fearless. Carth and I reluctantly walked in after her. As we traveled through the darkness, I made sure to point the light in front of us. Yet, somehow, even the light didn't chase away most of the shadows.

"I wonder…" Carth interrupted the silence. "What did Revan and Malak find here?"

"No use asking when the answer's right in front of us," I said.

Bastila didn't even respond.

We walked in the darkness until we arrived at another door—this one was also familiar. There were shadows in the Force—dark shadows that poisoned the air. I recognized this sensation. Revan and Malak. And, now, if things didn't go right here, whatever happened to them could happen to me.

Before we entered the next room, a hand grabbed my shoulder.

"If you don't feel ready..."

Bastila was giving me that worried look. I sighed.

"I've been ready," I said as I shook off her hand.

The second door crumbled open. Bastila and I gripped our lightsabers—Carth his pistols. An ancient spider-like machine awoke with steam rising from its back. A deep glottal resonated within the chamber as it spoke some language that I didn't understand. Bastila and Carth looked as if they didn't understand either. I lowered the torch in my hand as I edged closer.

"Look... thing ..." I interrupted it. "I don't understand what you're saying." Its language changed into something more barbaric. But I still didn't understand it. I threw my hand. "All of this for nothing?"

Bastila arrived at my side. "I believe it's trying to speak to us by cycling through languages that it knows."

" Are you builders or are you slaves ?" the droid asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Hey, that's Selkath isn't it?"

She nodded. "Yes, but it sounds ancient. How would this droid know ancient Selkath?"

" I was programmed to understand the languages spoken by the slaves," it said. " You are like the ones before neither builders nor slaves. If you desire the Star Map then you must complete the trial."

"Trial?" I asked "What trial?"

"You need to complete a trial in order to gain access to the Great Indestructible Empire's Star Forge. Only the builders are allowed this knowledge. "

"What is the Star Forge?" I asked. "And who are the builders?"

" The builders are...the builders. The Star Forge is the greatest achievement of the Great Indestructible Empire ."

I chuckled. "Indestructible...sure." I faced my two companions. "I doubt that this droid was programmed with information about anything useful..."

Carth sighed. "So, we'll complete some kind of trial then?"

I grabbed my lightsaber from my belt. "Maybe Revan left the door unlocked..."

The way Bastila eyed me told me the answer to that was going to be a resounding no. The three of us entered the room with the machine. Unfortunately, the door past the machine was sealed. I punched the stone. Should have expected this...

"Well, guess we have no choice," Carth said.

When I turned towards the other door in the room, I spotted a bundle leaning against the wall. I pointed the torchlight at it, revealing that the bundle was in fact the body of a Jedi. I rushed over and pushed the body over to reveal the Jedi's face.

"Nemo," Bastila whispered in horror. "He was sent to scout out the area by the Jedi Council days ago..."

His body was riddled with blaster burns, his face also scarred with them. I laid him down on his back then reached over to close his eyes. Whatever killed him did so without a lick of mercy. And to think that I just saw him days ago...

"What happened to him? Did that thing— ?" I pointed the light at the droid. "Did you kill him?"

The ancient droid buzzed awake. "I do not possess a means to attack."

He must've been killed by the trial. Was that why he was injured yesterday? Maybe he tried opening one of the doors, fled when he was attacked, then tried to go back to the Enclave. But then why did he come back here?

This trial was starting to sound more dangerous by the minute.

I stood and approached the door to this "trial." Bastila's expression was determined while the soldier appeared weary. I sighed.

"Here goes nothing."

I opened the only door left and was immediately ambushed by blaster fire. I unleashed my lightsaber in time with Bastila's double-bladed one. The droid roared at us and a blue shield flickered to life. As we volleyed back the blaster fire, the bolts bounced back into the wall. Carth stopped shooting his own blaster after the appearance of the shield.

"Grenade!" he shouted.

Bastila and I dashed to the side to avoid Carth's grenade. The ion explosion fizzed and the droid was exposed to our lightsabers. I grinned at Bastila who ignored me. Instead, she soared at the droid and cleaved it in half in one stroke. The red metal sizzled as the parts collapsed into a heap.

I huffed. "I get the next one, alright?"

Carth backed up. "You want there to be another one?"

"There's always going to be 'another one', Orangy."

And there were others. Many others. We followed the winding halls which were filled with more of these droids. Eventually, Carth ran out of grenades, so Bastila and I had to use the Force to knock out the shield unit from within. The labyrinth ended in another bland room. Only this one had a glowing terminal—the only light in this place so far. Bastila approached it and put the datapad in the bay. After pressing a few things on the screen, she glanced back.

"Is this...a joke?"

I walked up to her side and read out part of the translated passage. "Which planets are considered living or dead...? Really?"

Maybe the "Indestructible Empire" was some kind of Sith inside joke or something.

Once we completed that "trial," we walked back the way we came. I pointed the torchlight into the passive droid's face. "You know that insulted our intelligence, right?" The droid didn't respond. "Any sheltered idiot from Tatooine could figure that out."

"Would you rather it be difficult?" Bastila asked.

"What type of 'Indestructible Empire' asks a question like that to protect their superweapon?"

"One that isn't indestructible?" Carth added with a smile.

Bastila groaned at us before she made for the northern door. The vision we shared flashed in my mind. Revan and Malak entered this room and a blinding white and blue light hummed from the darkness. Funny how their trip into darkness started within the light. Bastila hesitated before the door as if troubled by what she felt. And I could feel that fear in the bond. She was shaking so much so that I placed a hand on her shoulder.

She jumped back as if stung, then stuttered.

"I-I'm sorry. I just—"

I used the Force to open the door—the locks cracked open.

A bright light flashed. The same light within the vision faded and revealed an ancient device humming. Stars and planets swirled around forming our galaxy. I frowned.

"This isn't the Star Forge," I said. "A star map?"

I walked into the room in order to get a better look at the white-blue light of the map. Bastila eventually entered herself along with the silent soldier.

"This is—this must be what Revan and Malak were searching for." She walked to my side as she gazed into the brilliant lights. "Some of the planets are marked. Here's...Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan, Korriban. Revan must have visited each of these planets to find clues of the Star Forge. I know that Revan has been to Korriban at least once."

"What sort of clues?" Carth asked.

I wondered that myself before I noticed scrawling words on the bottom and a place to insert a datapad. I took out mine and inserted it into the slot. A number flashed on the screen.

"That would be five..." I smiled back at Bastila. "They're coordinates, of course! Each of these planets probably have star maps like this one that lead to the Star Forge."

"That's a rather big supposition..." Carth said. "How are you so sure? "

"What else could it be, Carth?"

"Why would you think there could be more star maps on these planets? What if it's something else like other ruins..."

"I just know, alright?"

Bastila interrupted our argument with a huff. "We must tell the Council in any case. This is a bigger lead than anything we've found so far."

I nodded before we all turned to leave the star map behind. The darkness of the ruins returned once more. Was it really that simple? Not that finding star maps randomly on planets would be simple, but had the key to the Sith's destruction really been so close this entire time?

The journey back to the Enclave had been quiet as we all pondered the meaning of these star maps. The sun had traveled halfway in the sky and the courtyard was absent of Jedi. Carth waved back at us before stomping away.

"You want to keep your secrets I suppose."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Why did he think they were even hiding anything? What could they hide? Bastila watched as Carth stomped away with crossed arms. She didn't comment and instead marched towards the Council chambers with me trailing behind her.

The Masters were completely attentive as we told them about everything we found. I passed over my datapad with the brand-new coordinate flashing.

Master Vandar passed the datapad back with a sigh. "What you found within the ruins is interesting, Padawan." The wrinkled imp glanced towards the Archivist. "Master Dorak has been researching everything there is to know about the Star Forge within the Archives."

Dorak stared off into space. "I found next to nothing about a Star Forge, but I was able to get some info on the ruins. It was created by an ancient civilization dating back before recorded history. Whatever Revan and Malak found is beyond what we can even begin to imagine."

"What are you going to do then?" I asked. "Send someone out to find all these star maps?"

The Masters looked at each other before Master Zhar faced me. "I'd hate to send you out so unprepared—"

"We discussed this before," Master Vandar interrupted.

I raised an eyebrow. "Discussed what before?"

Vandar sighed, his sad eyes meeting mine. "We wish to send you out in search of the Star Forge, Padawan," he said. "Because of your bond with Bastila and the Force guiding you with these visions...we feel as if this is the best course of action."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Wait, me? Me and Bastila?" I looked at the Battle Meditator. "Are you serious? Why wouldn't you just send her out there?"

Master Zhar sighed. "Because of your bond, Padawan. You both need to be together for this to work."

Great. So, I was going to risk my neck again on this Sith War. I'd almost forgotten that had been their intention this entire time. Spending a month meditating with the Jedi really must have clouded my sense of self-preservation. Old Wes was better at that.

"Ah," I muttered, "so you're completely fine with just sending me out there to be slaughtered by the Sith."

Master Vrook waved his hand at me. "Ever brash, ever disrespectful. Is this what we've pinned our hopes on?"

"Peace, Vrook. We've already discussed this. We have no other choice." Master Vandar faced me again. "You will not do this alone. Juhani has agreed to come along with you."

"Perhaps she will serve as a reminder of what happens when one falls to the dark side," Vrook added.

I groaned and looked down at my feet. "Great, the feline. Anyone else?"

Zhar spoke next. "Carth Onasi has expressed his desire to remain with you and Bastila. Anyone that came with you from Taris may help as well. However, I cannot join you. This is a secret mission, Padawan. The Sith cannot discover you and my presence would make that task difficult."

I held my face as a splitting headache began to form there.

"Why should I even do this?"

Vrook laughed once. "I thought we already told you. Malak will be searching for Padawans like yourself and if he isn't stopped then even this enclave will not remain a refuge."

He was right. Why was he always right? I peered up. Bastila eyed me, her expression almost begging, hoping that I would agree to this...this suicide mission. I pursed my lips before letting out a heavy sigh, shaking my head. She was going to be the death of me someday.

"Fine ...alright. When do we leave?"

Vrook sat back. "The sooner you leave the better."

Bastila addressed my question in Vrook's stead. "We will prepare for departure on the Ebon Hawk tomorrow." She faced the Masters again and bowed. "We won't fail you, Masters. I promise."

I nodded yet refrained from bowing. Because I was not looking forward to this "secret mission" that will more than likely end in our deaths.

Master Vandar sighed at Bastila's promise.

"We will send you off then." He bowed his head. "And may the Force be with you."

There was a tingle within the back of my head forcing me to awaken from my peaceful slumber.

Wes!

I threw the blanket off and wondered what in all hells Bastila wanted at five in the morning. Was she a droid? Did she not sleep?

The sun was just about to peek above the horizon. I pulled on my robe then stomped out of the Enclave while following her call like it was a beacon. For some reason, she was out in the grand Dantooine wilderness. Grumbling to myself about pesky Jedi, I trekked across the hilly grasslands along the lake's shore. The journey went on for ten minutes before I ran into a large willow tree. A figure sat behind those vine leaves as if trying to hide from the world.

But I knew who she was.

I batted the leaves away and stomped over to Bastila—ready to give her a piece of my mind. However, before I went on my tirade, I paused. Her eyes were closed, legs crossed, lips slightly parted. She never looked so relaxed—her face was always either in a forever scowl or her forehead creased. It was a...nice change of pace.

It took her a minute to notice I was there. The scowl returned immediately—gray eyes fierce.

I crossed my arms. "You called?"

"Yes. Yes, I did." She sat back stretching her arms of meditation sores. "I wanted to speak to you about our mission. About what lies ahead for us. It seems fate, or the Force, is driving us into a confrontation with the dark lord."

"So, the usual discussion topics then." I sat a foot from the Jedi then watched the lake. "Are we really going to confront the dark lord? All we're trying to do is find this Star Forge. The Republic army could take care of the rest."

Bastila didn't answer for a moment. "You, as well as I, should be prepared to face Darth Malak anyway." She watched as the wind blew the willow leaves. "If not, then the confrontation will be difficult for you...as it was for me when I first faced Revan—"

"And killed the bastard." I pointed out with a smile. "That adds to our advantages, right? You already killed the big bad dark lord of the Sith. So is there any real reason to be worried? Malak is a kinrath spider in comparison."

The Jedi paled, her lips moving in terror.

"I...did not kill Revan."

My smile stuck onto my face and then it fell into a confused frown. "That's not what I heard. All the Republic soldiers on the Spire mentioned how you defeated the dark lord. It's what you're famous for."

Bastila shook her head with that frozen look on her face still. "Our mission was to capture Revan if possible. It was Malak who turned on his master by firing upon his ship. It was his desire to kill me and Revan both. We were fortunate enough to escape alive."

Really? Then why did everyone—the Jedi Masters included—spin the story as Bastila striking Revan down in one-on-one combat? Not some Sith betrayal. To increase morale?

I shook my head. "Well, I'm not surprised. They're Sith. It's their m.o." Bastila's pigtails drifted within the winds. "So, you didn't actually kill Revan—Malak did the dirty work for you."

Bastila's figure tightened along with her fists. "As I said, it was our mission to capture Revan alive." She paused to take a breath. "The Jedi do not believe in killing their prisoners. No one deserves execution, no matter what their crimes."

I raised my eyebrows. "Even Malak?"

"Even Malak."

I couldn't believe what she was saying. I shook my head, a doubting smile playing on my lips. "I'm sorry, but I faintly remember that he killed billions of people. On both Taris and Telos. Malak isn't like Juhani who made some mistake. He's a monster that deserves—"

"—another chance." She finally turned and met my eyes. "Yes, he's a monster. Yes, he probably deserves punishment for his crimes. But remember that both Revan and Malak used to be great Jedi. Heroes in every sense of the word. Heroes...that fell to the dark side."

Something stirred in the back of my mind, a sadness growing from its bud, Bastila its source.

"Are you alright?" I asked, placing a hand upon her closed fist. She flinched away from my touch then turned.

"I-I'm sorry," she said. "It's just... remembering my confrontation with Revan is...painful. I just...need a moment. Please."

I glanced away from her, the tree's canopy waving in the winds. Why did Revan cause such distress within Bastila? He probably was a true terror to behold—I would've run away screaming as soon as I saw that red mask of his. Yet, Bastila was able to face him and get out alive. Even if she hadn't made the killing blow.

And that made her a better Jedi—a better person—than I could ever be.

I leaned back against the tree and looked up at the branches. "However it happened...Revan's dead," I said with a grin. "He isn't going to hurt anyone from the grave now, is he?"

Only, for some reason, my reassurances only caused her to delve deeper into a depression.

We remained silent, gazing out across the Dantooine prairie, a whole planet alive and open. We weren't set to leave until 1000 so I took the chance to relax in fresh air before being shoved into a freighter. Meanwhile, I tried thinking of something to cheer her up—a joke or something self-deprecating. But I somehow fell fatally short. Which wasn't like me. No matter what, I always found a way to snark about the sky or...rancors? But my tongue was tied like Twi'lek lekku.

Pathetic really.

It took me half an hour to finally break the silence.

"So..." I began. "Why'd you decide to have a conversation out here? Unless this is revenge for making you trek across Dantooine after me all the time."

The Jedi raised her sad eyes to meet my own. "I couldn't sleep last night. This tree...I always hid here as a child when my emotions got the better of me. It reminded me of home...and father."

"Your father? What happened to him?" I asked. "Is he dead?"

"No, I was taken by the Jedi when I was young as most Padawans are." She pursed her red lips. "Family connections are fraught with powerful emotions. Anger and hate are the worst but even love can lead to folly."

I sat back. "Wait, love? You don't— I mean —you don't actually believe any of that bantha fodder though, right?"

"What bantha fodder?"

"You know, about attachments. What about the families? They don't just allow the Jedi to take their kids without fighting back, right?"

She sighed—probably over my apparent ignorance. "You were an exception to our Order being discovered as late as you were. But yes, it's best that children are taken away before they start forming attachments."

"But it wouldn't be that bad though," I said, "if a Jedi loved. What harm is there?"

"You risk falling to the dark side."

I snorted. "Kriff, if the dark side includes love of all things, then it's no wonder why so many have fallen!"

Her face grew heavy in shadow. "Don't say such things! The dark side is everything that we strive to avoid." She sighed, rubbing her face. "I was actually considered too old. I lived on Talravin before I was taken. My father...he doted on me. Spoiled me even. My mother on the other hand..." She gritted her teeth. "...was different."

"Different?"

"She would whittle away all my father's money he earned from hunting expeditions on cantinas and parties. She didn't even say goodbye as I was being taken away. In fact, I think she was glad I left."

There was a glimmer of anger within the Force. I watched the leaves again.

"So, you were taken to Dantooine then? What was that like?" I asked.

"All of my peers were raised within the Enclave since they were very young. They all had friends amongst each other and I was an outsider. Estranged. So I ran here. It reminds me of what I left behind...and prepares me for what lies ahead."

I looked out across the rolling hills and cliffs, brith flew out of distant forests, flowers blew in the wind. A smile lifted my face. "I wouldn't exactly call this a bad planet. Compared to Taris, this place is a paradise," I said. "My home planet...it was a lot like Dantooine. Clean air, quiet countryside, peace. I've traveled all over the galaxy as a smuggler for years, and for some reason I never missed it. Not once."

Bastila stared meaningfully in my direction with softened eyes.

I smiled back at her sadly. "Maybe that was a mistake on my part. I guess I...forgot places like this even existed." Without waiting to see her reaction, I shot to my feet, stretching. "Well, I can't smuggle spices around the galaxy anymore, right? I'm a changed man—no thanks to you."

I winked, but instead of red blanketing her features as I expected, all my joking returned was a stony face lacking any sort of humor. The connection between us grew unstable, her body filling with that sadness I didn't understand.

Before I asked if something was wrong again, she stood up with a smile.

"I suppose you are."