Disclaimer: By now, I should know I don't own this. You should know, too.

Chapter Forty-Two

The entire crew of the Ebon Hawk was waiting for them when they returned. Everyone but Bastila. Aithne felt a pang for her fallen friend. But it wasn't over. She knew that much. They were all ranged out on the beach in various attitudes of anxiety. Carth sighted them first. He ran forward to meet them and matched his paces to theirs as they walked over to the others, asking questions all the way.

"You're back! But where is Bastila? Is she alive? What happened inside that Temple?"

Aithne frowned. "First of all, yes, Bastila was inside the Temple," she said. "How in the galaxy did you know?"

Carth waved her question aside. "I had a feeling she would be. Well?"

Aithne sighed. Carth's instinct had been unfailingly reliable this entire journey. She vowed to herself to never, ever take anything he said for granted. She thrust her dirty hands into her pockets and strode to the center of the group. She looked around at the waiting crew. "Bastila has fallen to the Dark Side," she announced. "Juhani, Jolee, and I had an altercation with her at the Temple Summit. She ended up fleeing to the Star Forge."

Evidently Carth's 'feeling' had only prepared him for so much. He recoiled in shock and anger, but he looked worried, too. "The Dark Side?" he cried. "No! How could that happen?"

Jolee answered. "She was always in danger of being seduced by the Dark Side, Carth. Bastila was strong, but she was always impatient and headstrong. Malak preyed upon her weaknesses. This planet is a tainted place." His tone was reasonable, thoughtful. "The Star Forge and the Temple have twisted the Force into an instrument of evil- just as Malak has twisted Bastila into a servant of the Sith."

Mission winced. Aithne caught her fear and regret. She went up to the teenager and gripped her shoulder reassuringly, trying to take some of the girl's grief onto herself. She turned back to face everyone. "She fell with my help," she said quietly.

Jolee shook his head. "In the end we all choose our own path," he said, "But keep in mind the role that you played in her downfall. You and the task assigned to her by the Jedi Council. Remember the bond that was forged between you when she rekindled the spark that was your life. Through that bond she touched your memories and also the echo of the dark taint within you."

Aithne grimaced. Well. She hadn't expected that Jolee would let her off the hook entirely. She would have been disappointed in him if he had.

Carth spoke up in her defense, in Bastila's defense. "But there's still hope for her, right?" He turned to Aithne. "I mean, you rejected the Dark Side, so Bastila could too, right? We might still be able to save her."

Mission turned to look at Aithne hopefully. Aithne squared her shoulders. "We can try," she said. "And I promise that we will. I'm not quite done with Bastila."

Juhani tilted her head for a moment, then spoke. "I don't know what fate awaits us, but I sense Bastila still has a role to play in the events to come. I have no doubt she will be waiting for us on the Star Forge."

Jolee nodded grimly. "No doubt." He was silent for a moment. Then his face seemed to clear, and he smiled at Aithne. "I must say, it's good to have you with us, my dear. For a moment there I thought you might decide…" he shook his head, deciding it didn't need to be said. "Well, never mind what I thought."

Carth picked up on the unsaid words. His gaze hadn't left Aithne from the moment she'd come into view. Now it intensified. "Decide?" he repeated. "Decide what?"

Juhani spoke up softly. "Bastila tried to tempt her to the Dark Side. To reclaim Revan's heritage. She failed."

Carth's gaze fired. A tension charged the air, and Aithne took a step away from Mission and towards Carth in response to the pull of it. "So you did it?" he asked. "You turned against Revan once and for all?"

Aithne nodded apprehensively. And then Carth's arms were on her waist and she was lifted off of her feet into the air, and all she could see in the blur of beach was a grin a galaxy wide on his face. "I knew it! I knew she wasn't a part of you anymore!" he cried in exuberance.

Aithne laughed in delight. "Put me down!" she ordered. Carth complied, but his hands stayed on her waist and the stupid smile stayed on his face. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Anything could still happen."

"No," Carth contradicted firmly. "I told you that you would have to make a choice eventually- that you would be tested. I think that was it. I…I can feel it."

Well. And Aithne had just promised herself to never, ever take Carth's instinct for granted. She grinned. The delight she had felt upon the discovery of her identity and allegiance at the Temple Summit came back stronger than ever, along with a peace and an undeniable sense of wellbeing that she couldn't remember ever feeling before. Carth continued.

"You did exactly what I hoped you would. It couldn't have been easy." His voice deepened, and he leaned forward, touching his forehead to Aithne's. "I'm…I'm very proud of you."

Aithne laughed. "I had good reason not to turn, Carth. She offered me the galaxy, but I didn't want it. I figured I had too much to lose." She gazed at him. "I will never go back there," she promised him.

"I know," Carth said. "I can't blame Bastila for being turned, however. She's just so young. She doesn't deserve her fate. But I know you'll save her." He drew back a few inches and brought his hand up to grip Aithne's chin. "Aithne…I love you. No 'could' or 'maybe' about it. And…and I can't wait until all this is over with."

Aithne arched an eyebrow. "You'll have to tell me about that 'when this is over' bit," she said. Carth grinned, and Aithne's pulse quickened. Then she laughed. "Carth Onasi, I've loved you since halfway through Dantooine."

The beach had devolved to background noise a few seconds earlier. When Carth kissed her, it ceased to exist. This time around, there was no hesitation, no guilt. Aithne returned his kiss passionately, twining her arms around his neck and trying for all she was worth just to melt into him until the galaxy couldn't tell where he started and she began.

She was called back to order when Canderous cleared his throat rather pointedly. She blinked, a little disoriented to find herself back on the beach, and broke apart from Carth, feeling only somewhat self-conscious. She couldn't stop grinning. She was sure she looked about as stupid as he did, but as humiliating as that was, she couldn't quite bring herself to care.

And Mission was saying, hands on her hips, as impudently as she could possibly manage, "Hey! Sheesh, get a room, will ya?"

Carth laughed, and Aithne felt it rumble through his chest. Zaalbar chuckled too, and spoke to his best friend reprovingly.

/That two spirits have found each other amidst all this turmoil is a good omen, Mission. Does it not please you to see?/

Aithne laughed. "Yeah, Mish. Carth and I are a good omen. Aren't you pleased?"

Mission smiled, her gray eyes unexpectedly earnest. "You know I am. Aithne, Carth? I'm happy for you." She smirked then. "But you still need to get yourself a room before you go all gross on us, good omen or not!"

Jolee smiled too, a bit sadly. "Well, I'm an old man and I know you should take love when you can find it. I won't even say 'I told you so'."

"Good of you," Carth told him, stepping away from Aithne, but keeping an arm around her waist.

Juhani was the only one that looked a little awkward. She shifted her weight from her left foot to her right foot. She looked a little hurt, but Aithne was glad to see that she also looked amused, and even a little happy for them. "Confidence is all well and good, Carth," she said. "But if we are going to catch up to Bastila we should leave soon, don't you think?"

Aithne frowned at the reminder of the danger, but Carth nodded. "You're right. Let's get moving."

The crew began to file into the Hawk. Aithne turned to Carth. "Um? The stabilizers?"

Carth blinked. "Oh," he said, reddening. "um…Teethree started on them yesterday. This morning I had them almost fixed, but I…uh…I was worried about you."

Aithne rolled her eyes. "Thank you very much. You see I'm fine. Now go fix those stabilizers! Hurry!"

Carth smiled. "Yes, ma'am," he said, saluting comically. Aithne restrained her goofy smile until after he'd disappeared into the engine room. He was adorable off-balance. She filed it away for future reference.

She went to go find Canderous. She found him sitting up in a turret, as if he could already imagine firing it. "Hey," she said.

"Yeah?" was the monosyllabic response.

"You're the only person I didn't hear from after the Temple," she said quietly. "What are you thinking?"

Canderous shrugged. "About you and Carth? About damn time. Don't see what else I'm supposed to say."

"Actually, I was wondering more what you had to say about the battle. And…other stuff."

Canderous smiled lazily. "This is going to be one hell of a fight," he said. "One I can tell other nosy Jedi about in the future," he added. He chuckled. "I'll tell 'em I fought alongside the greatest warrior the clans have ever seen. It's been my honor, Aithne."

"What are you planning to do after the battle? I mean…if there is an 'after the battle'."

Canderous grunted. "I don't know. I'm not happy with the way my life has turned. I'm not the Mandalore I once was." He looked at her meaningfully. "I don't even think I'm the merc I as when I joined you. I think…I think I need something more than killing and fighting in my life after this. I need a purpose or something like that." He shrugged, half-ashamed of the notion.

"Like what?" Aithne asked. She was intrigued. A Mandalorian figuring that there was more to life than killing and fighting was veritably unheard of.

Canderous looked away, out across the beach, up into the sky. "The way the Mandalorians-we-fought…it holds no appeal for me. To rape and ravage worlds for the thrill of battle…it gets old. Very old. Honor in battle," he mused. "Cheating death. Comrades in arms. The Code of the Mandalore. I think I'm something different now. Maybe more, maybe less."

Aithne nodded contemplatively. She crossed her arms. "So? What are you planning on doing about it?"

Canderous turned his chair to look at her in response to the challenge in her voice. "I don't really think there is any place left in the galaxy for the clans as they were," he said decisively. "I don't know if I can go on forever fighting as I have done. Even warriors get insightful in their old age. Once my time with you is done- if we live through this battle- once you have moved on, I'll find my own way again. Maybe the Mandalorian clans will be reborn once again." He snorted. "Maybe even under the Republic. Or the Sith."

Aithne frowned suddenly. To unite the Mandalorian clans…she caught her breath, suddenly possessed of an idea. She bit her lip and made a mental note to visit the Jedi Archives on Coruscant, if she lived, and dig up some of her own history.

Canderous shook his head. "Dreaming about the future right now is stupid, though. Has Carth fixed the stabilizers yet? We need to finish our business on the Star Forge. If we survive all this…maybe we could talk about it then."

Aithne caught his gaze. "Maybe so," she said firmly. "I might have an idea." Canderous' gaze sharpened, but Aithne shook her head. "Later," she promised. "I'll go check on the stabilizers."

Snapping with energy, Aithne jumped down from the turret ladder and strode back to the engine room. Carth was hunched over the hyperdrive, fiddling with it like a master musician playing his instrument. Aithne stopped in the doorway, smiling at the sight.

"How's it looking?" she asked. "There is a war on, you know."

Carth looked up at her. He focused on her face, and frowned. "Yeah, and Bastila's still up there," he agreed grimly. "But at any rate, it's looking good."

He turned back to the hyperdrive, making one last adjustment. "That should about do it," he announced. "I'll get us up in the air. The first of the Republic Fleet should almost be here."

They spent three days hiding on the dark side of the Rakatan world. Aithne could feel the Republic assembling on the other side of hyperspace, ready to break out. The tension and quiet built up until one morning Aithne awoke and knew it was the day of the battle. She went to the cockpit. Carth was sitting there staring at the Sith Fleet buzzing around the mammoth space factory. His hands were tight. His face was lined. Aithne gripped his shoulder.

"It'll happen today," he said quietly.

"I know," she said. "I think we're going to be on the Star Forge at some point."

Carth nodded thoughtfully.

Aithne closed her eyes. "The others better get ready to fight," she said. "I'll tell them to arm up. I could do some modifications on my lightsabers myself…"

Carth's lips tightened. "You've been tinkering with them for days, Aithne. We still have to wait for orders from the Fleet."

Aithne squeezed his shoulder. "Do I ever do anything else?"

Carth looked up at her. "Yes. Frequently." His voice was flat. Aithne scowled.

"Well this time I won't." She pressed the button for the com. "All crew arm up! Battle's coming and I have a feeling we'll be doing more than manning turrets!"

Just then hundreds of ships materialized, coming out of the hyperspace tunnel. Enormous Republic carrier vessels like the Endar Spire. Darting fighters, larger warships of various sizes and makes. Everything Aithne imagined the Republic had left.

"The Republic!" Carth cried jubilantly. A bright red light flashed on the dash, and Carth flipped the switch for the Ebon Hawk to stay positioned. "C'mon," he said to Aithne, moving towards the living area and the holo-interface. "We're getting a transmission."

Aithne hung back as a nasty thought struck her all at once. "Carth," she said. "I'm…I'm not sure how classified my being alive is. I mean, you didn't know. I'm sort of a criminal. Or…I was…" She brought a hand to her head. Thinking about her legal status was dizzying.

Carth paused. "I didn't think of that," he admitted, thinking quickly. "We won't bring your name into it," he said finally. "And you stay in the shadows. Not that many people would know your face anyways, seeing as how you always wore that Mandalorian mask. If we all get through this, we'll sort it out."

Aithne nodded. But she still felt more than a little apprehensive. She could see the wanted posters now. Revan. Alias: Aithne Morrigan. Wanted for numerous crimes against the Republic. Presume armed. Highly dangerous.

Carth led them to the main hold and punched the interface button. A tall, impressive-looking woman in an admiral's uniform rose from the holo-interface. Mission and Juhani watched intently from a nearby bench.

"This is Admiral Forn Dadonna to the Ebon Hawk," she said by way of an introduction. "Do you read us?"

Carth stepped up to the interface. Aithne knew the technology was transmitting his image to a similar interface aboard the admiral's vessel. "Admiral Dadonna," he said clearly. "This is Carth Onasi. We are receiving your transmission."

The admiral smiled. "Carth," she said, informally enough that Aithne concluded that she and Carth had worked together in the past. "It's good to see you're still alive, what with traveling around with Jedi and all." She seemed to press a button. A screen came up on the interface that showed the placement of the Sith and Republic Fleets. The Sith Fleet had magically formed lines and was returning Republic fire with gusto. The screen disappeared, and Admiral Dadonna came back up, frowning. "We've begun our assault on the Star Forge, but we're taking heavy losses. How did the Sith ever manage to build something of this scope?"

Carth shook his head. "The Star Forge wasn't constructed by the Sith, Admiral," he contradicted. "We don't have time for me to fully explain it, but that space station is far older than you can possibly imagine." His eyes darted to Aithne. Aithne kept her back against the wall of the hold. She looked away from the interface so that her hair hid her profile.

The Admiral's brow wrinkled in worry. "Maybe we should pull the Fleet back and retreat," she said. "I don't know if we have the firepower to go up against this alien technology."

Carth's jaw tightened. "You can't do that, Admiral. The Star Forge is a factory of immense power," he reported. Aithne had shared the information with him right after they'd gotten the Hawk up. "It's been churning out the capital ships, snub fighters, and assault droids that have powered the Sith war effort. You have to destroy the Star Forge now or you'll be fighting an unending wave of reinforcements."

The Admiral's eyes hardened. "Then I guess we have no choice. But it isn't going to be easy." She looked at something a ways off. Aithne supposed it was the battle readouts. "I can't even get our capital ships into position to start bombarding the Star Forge. The Sith Fleet is too well organized. It's like they can guess our every move and counter our every strategy."

Aithne felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Carth, too, looked a bit nervous. "…It's Bastila, Admiral," he confessed. "She turned to the Dark Side and became Malak's apprentice. We suspect she's somewhere on that space station now, using her Battle Meditation against you and your Fleet."

Admiral Dadonna left the holo-interface, but it continued to run. For at least three minutes, Carth just stood there.

"Um…is it over, then?" Aithne asked.

"No, just wait," Carth said. Sure enough, Admiral Dadonna reappeared, and this time, a small green alien was alongside her. Aithne bit back a greeting. Vandar knew who she was, sure. He might even know by now that she knew who she was. But Master Vandar's knowledge of her true identity did not necessitate the Republic's knowledge of it, and she wasn't sure who would ultimately have jurisdiction over her fate should she survive this battle.

Still, Aithne smiled a little. Even if Vandar and the rest of the Council had been manipulative, secretive pigs, it was nice to know that her idiotic ex-apprentice hadn't managed to blow them all up. She wondered wistfully whether Zhar and Dorak had survived, too. She couldn't quite bring herself to care about Vrook.

But Admiral Dadonna was talking. Aithne forced herself to pay attention. "A number of Jedi Knights have joined our Fleet under his command," she was explaining.

Vandar looked grave. "If Bastila is using her power to augment the Sith then Malak's Fleet is invincible," he said baldly. "Our only hope is to somehow stop Bastila from using her Battle Meditation."

Admiral Dadonna squared her shoulders. "How can we do that if she's on the space station?" she asked. Not despairingly, but like she was thinking about how she could make it happen. Aithne found herself liking the woman.

Vandar tapped his leg with a claw thoughtfully. "I will send a squadron of Jedi Knights to the Star Forge to find Bastila," he announced. "Their small ships will be able to fly through the Sith blockade and dock on the space station. If they can find Bastila, they may be able to distract her attention from the battle overhead. That should allow you to move your capital ships into position for a final assault on the Star Forge itself."

Admiral Dadonna nodded decisively, turning to Carth. "I hate to ask you this after all you've done, Carth," she began, genuine regret in her eyes, "but the Jedi may need all the help they can get."

Carth glanced at Aithne. She nodded. "Don't worry, Admiral," he said. "The Ebon Hawk and her crew are going to see this through to the end!"

Suddenly the Admiral frowned. "Have you taken over command of the vessel, Carth? I had thought Bastila was in charge of your crew, but if she has turned to the Dark Side…"

Carth looked nervous. Master Vandar looked up sharply at Admiral Dadonna. "If all goes well, you shall know all," he said, with a glance at the corner where Aithne lurked. "If it doesn't…" he trailed off, with a last look at Carth. "May the Force be with you."

The hologram blinked out, and the crew was alone in the Hawk once more.

Aithne stepped up at once. "Alright," she called loudly. "Everyone in here now! We only have about five minutes."

Teethree, Aytchkay, Jolee, Canderous, and Zaalbar filed in from different doors. Aithne looked at them all. "The waiting's over," she said quietly. "We've been ordered in. Carth, in a minute you'll have to try to land us on the Star Forge. Canderous? I'll help you man the turrets."

"When we land on the Star Forge," Aithne continued. "We have three objectives. In descending order of importance they are to find Bastila and stop her from using her Battle Meditation, stay alive, and keep the Ebon Hawk safe for our getaway."

She looked around at the faces she'd spent nearly a year with. Canderous' expression was grim, but she could tell he was taut with suppressed excitement. Jolee looked a little sad. Juhani's eyes were alight with battle-lust. Aytchkay was polishing his gun. Teethree whirred and beeped encouragingly at Mission. The teenager looked scared, and a little sick. Zaalbar stood tall and unflinching. Carth looked determined. This battle was just a particularly unpleasant task for him; he would complete it without complaint. Aithne sighed.

"I'm not gonna sugarcoat it," she said. "There'll be hundreds of Sith in there, if we even manage to land. Odds are very against us. I want a guard of six on the Hawk. I'll take two and try to get to Bastila."

"What's the breakdown?" Carth asked. His jaw twitched.

Aithne looked over the crew, considering. "Canderous?" she said.

The Mandalorian nodded. Aithne addressed him. "You've experience with command, and I trust you. You're in charge of the Ebon Hawk defense. Once the Sith realize we're aboard the space station, their priority will be to stop us from leaving and kill us all. So, you protect the ship and keep everyone safe as best you can."

She turned to her psycho assassin droid. "Aytchkay? I want you to take your orders from him. And you have my permission to wantonly slaughter any Sith that gets even remotely close to the ship."

Aytchkay's eyes glowed. "Affirmation: With distinct pleasure, master."

Aithne turned to Juhani. "Juhani? You, too. You're in charge of protecting the group from any Dark Jedi that show, okay?"

Juhani's eyes flared as she realized she was to be left behind to guard the ship, and under Canderous' command, but she nodded. "Understood."

/Zaalbar,/ Aithne said, nervous for the first time. /I want you to stay behind with Mission./

/I am to protect you,/ he protested with a loud roar.

"Hey!" Mission yelled.

Aithne glared at them both. /How would we feel if she died?/ she asked Zaalbar. /She is like a cub to you, I know, or a sister. You know I consider her my kinswoman as well. If we survive this battle, you are to be freed of your life debt. You may return to Kashyyyk. And where does that leave her?/

Zaalbar was silent. Aithne turned to Mission. "Mish, this isn't any playground, okay? Defense of the Ebon Hawk is a big job." She went to the teenager and grabbed her shoulders. "I know you'll fight well and bravely, but I want you to stay as safe as you possibly can. If we both live through this…well, never mind about that. We'll talk about it when the battle's done."

Mission for once didn't say a word. Instead, she wrapped her arms tightly around Aithne. Aithne hugged her back. When Mission released her, she turned back to Zaalbar. /Well?/ Zaalbar placed a paw on Mission's shoulder.

/It will be as you say,/ he consented.

Aithne turned to address the little astromech. "Teethree?" she said, "I want you to help Canderous and the others out, too. You can pull out those battle upgrades Mission outfitted you with the other day."

T3-M4 chirped bravely, rolling over to stand beside Canderous. Aithne grinned at him.

Aithne turned to Carth and Jolee, hands extended. "If you've no objections," she said quietly, "I'd like to have you two with me."

Carth smiled at her in relief. Jolee glared at her. "Lass, if you thought I was going to miss something like this…Well! I'm not that old!"

Carth nodded in agreement. "With you all the way," he confirmed. "I wouldn't miss it."

Mission rushed forward to hug Carth and Jolee quickly, too. When all was quiet again Aithne addressed the entire crew. "Alright. I love you all. It has been a ride to remember. Survive if you can, but if not? This is a great way to go out! Carth?"

"Aithne?"

"Take us in!"

A/N: Alright! On to the grand finale! Next up we have the bulk of the Star Forge battle, and Aithne's confrontation with Bastila. Malak- he deserves his own chapter, idiot though he be. I hope you people are still enjoying this! Leave a review on your way out!

May the Force Be With You,

LMSharp