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Damn.
Meetra moved so she could better cover Jasper and their padawans. Not that the two needed her to do so. Both were skilled fighters long before they had become padawans.
A breath shuddered through her. Sweat trickled down her face. Hopefully Mission had found Revan or help of some kind.
"They're here!" a shout echoed off the metal walls.
Meetra glanced towards. Only daring to remove her gaze from the Sith for a second.
Several people raced down the street towards them. A yellow, doubled lightsaber blazed to life from one of the lead figures.
Darious.
Her head spun a little.
Mission raced beside him with Atton only a step behind the two. It wasn't only them but several security officers as well.
The lead Sith spat. "Retreat. We can't be seen." She whipped around.
Jasper lunged.
They were gone.
"Shit," the younger Jedi master spat. He scowled at the place the Sith had been. He let his lightsaber sheath.
Meetra did the same. "Darious, Mission, the two of you have great timing." She smiled at the young twi'lek. Her smile melted. "Where's R—" She coughed. "Alvar."
"He stayed at the security office," Darious informed her as he stopped. His gaze flickered over them. "Along with Mical and the senator."
Jasper returned to Meetra's side. "Why are they at the security center? I thought they would be at the senator's home all day today?"
Mark Kane stepped forward. "We're going to escort all of you to the security center," the second in command informed Meetra and Jasper.
"I can explain on the way," Darious informed his former padawan.
Meetra fell into step beside Darious. Mark led them through the streets of Telos at a quick pace while Darious explained everything which had transpired since he'd followed Revan's orders earlier that day.
"I see," Meetra stated when he had drawn to a close.
"What I sensed and what Master Tarvon could be related then?" Jasper asked.
"It could be." Darious bowed his head. "We will have to speak with Alvar when we get to the security center. Though, it is likely the two women and those Sith are connected given the younger woman is a Sith."
Great.
"But we and Meetra defeated the last of them," Mira pointed out.
Meetra shook her head. "Only those within Republic space at the time." She scowled. There just had to be more of them beyond the rim, didn't there? Her heart flickered. Then there was the fact Darious had told them the one who had attacked at the security center had stated his real targets were there. Yet, the group had also attacked them.
She shook her head. Revan would have the answers when they arrived. It was most likely why he had stayed behind, to gather intel on those who had attacked them.
They entered the security center. It had changed little since the last time Meetra had been on Telos. Her gaze locked on the one-way window into the holding area. There were two women there. Of the two had their cage's field gone and a medical droid was moving away from her. The security office reactivated the field.
Revan was seated before the one-way window. His dark gaze locked on them as he lowered his sleeve to cover his arm once more.
Meetra frowned.
Another droid caught her eye. A small vial of blood could be see clutched in its hand.
"Is there a reason a medical droid drew your blood?" she asked as she moved over to her old master. "And," – Meetra tilted her head towards the window – "that woman's?"
"Nope, I thought it would be fun to have my blood drawn twice in three days," Revan joked. A smile twitched at the corner of his lips.
"What did they tell you about the other Sith?" Darious changed the subject.
Jasper looked between them, frowning.
Revan stood. "The one who followed Mission was a part of an imperial guard tasked with protecting the empire."
"Empire?" Meetra frowned.
Revan bowed his head. "From what I could gather, they are far beyond our borders. The guard was sent to kill those two," – he flicked his wrist in the direction of the two women – "not to attack us."
"They did attack us," Jasper pointed out.
Revan bowed his head. "It seems we are too great a target. Though only ten of us pose little threat to them."
"Especially given this is the first time in years I've really fought." Jasper let out a breath. "Force, I feel rusty."
Darious chuckled. "You're far from the only one." His dark eyes glittered as he looked at Revan.
"Right." Revan shifted and gave a small laugh.
"It will wear off soon enough," Meetra assured them. "It did for me."
Revan bowed his head. "To answer your original question, there was a look Jeri, the older woman," he explained, "gave Senator Tarvon and myself. A look I've only see a mother wear when looking at their child."
"You believe she's your mother?" Jasper asked. He shook his head. "Wow, the Force just loves hitting you with all sorts of stuff, doesn't it?"
It really did by the looks of it. Meetra looked at her only living master. How warn he was from the all-nighters he'd pulled for the Order's sake or for reasons he didn't want to share. In the past fifteen years alone he'd seen more pain, lived through so much more of it than any one person. The mere fact he'd not been driven insane from it all was a testament to how strong a his will was.
Warmth spread through Meetra. There was no way even this would stop him from protecting the Republic and rebuilding the Order. Nothing could. And she would ensure one of her masters continued on to see the Order rise once more.
Revan cocked an eyebrow at her. "Meetra, there is no need for your expression to say 'please, don't pass out anymore now,'" Revan joked.
Heat flared through her face. Meetra coughed. "Sorry, master," she muttered. "It's just, you look exhausted."
"Of course, I do." Revan's eyes glittered, contrasting against the shadows under his eyes. "But it is my own doing."
The weight of his hand on her shoulder made Meetra meet his gaze once more.
"You don't need to worry. I do know my limits."
Darious shook his head. "No, you really don't."
Revan scowled.
"You don't really take care of yourself all the time when you're thinking on a matter of importance, old friend." Darious smiled. "As I recall, Alek ended up chasing you through the temple the night before we were made padawans to try and get you to eat something."
Revan blinked. "What?"
Meetra laughed. She was joined by Jasper.
"Oh, please do tell more," Jasper smirked.
"Apologies," – Darious bowed – "but I do believe there is a far more pressing matter to see to than telling everyone how Alvar forgot to eat several times."
"Did he ever pass out?" Jasper demanded.
"Yes."
Revan let out a small breath. His expression blanked at Darious's one-word reply.
"But not from lack of food," Darious added.
The soft sound of boots greeted Meetra's ears. She turned to see the senator moving over to them from where he had been talking with the commander.
Meetra bowed to him. "Senator Tarvon, it's good to see you again."
"And you, Master Surik. I am more than happy to see all of you made it through that with no injury." Justin stopped before her. "And I need to apologize for the way our meeting ended two days ago."
"There's no need. I understand you thought master killed your younger brother." And they were harboring said killer. Meetra looked out the corner of her eye at Revan.
Justin bowed his head. "That is inexcusable considering how much the Republic needs the Jedi Order to return." He straightened. "Alvar, Commander Varnon informed me he placed a rush on the dna comparison, but it will still take time to get the results."
A small breath escaped Revan. "And you did promise we would be back in time for dinner." He turned his gaze on Meetra. "Meetra, I would like you and Jasper to remain here with your padawans."
Justin cleared his throat. "If I may make a request," he started, "but given the events of this afternoon, I would like another master to return with us, Alvar."
Meetra frowned. "Because those two are saying their 'Tarvons'?" She jabbed her thumb towards the window.
"Yes. If the Sith are after them and know their surname they may target my family."
Revan looked between Justin and those around them. "If you're all right with it, would you be willing to join us?" His gaze was locked on Darious.
"I'd be honored. What about our padawans?"
Revan moved over to the two of them. "Mical."
"Yes?" the younger man looked up.
"I would like you to return to the ship. Continue looking into the matters I assigned you and reading what I provided."
Mical bowed his head.
"Go with him, Atton," Darious instructed. "If the ship is targeted, I would rather you be there."
Atton's jaw tightened. He glanced towards Meetra.
She just looked back at him. Darious was his master now, not her. He needed to learn to follow his orders instead of hers.
Meetra turned away from Atton and moved to speak with Commander Varnon. This was for the best or he would never grow to trust the rest of Order outside of herself.
She shivered.
Or she could also loss the trust he had in her.
The soft voices came from where the senator, Revan, and Darious were exchanging last words with the commander.
"I'll have the results by morning at the latest," Darrell informed them.
"Thank you, Commander." Justin bowed his head. He led the way out of the security center with Darious, Revan, and his two guards not far behind.
"What do you think of this?" Jasper asked, turning his gaze from the door to Meetra.
"I don't know," Meetra confessed. "Re—" She winced. Damn. She'd almost called him "Revan" once more. Meetra really needed to get a hold of her tongue or she would let it slip who he'd been. "Alvar seems convinced there is a relation there."
"If it was anyone else, I would think he was hoping for it. But given how thrilled he seemed this morning over the family meeting, I doubt he's pleased about the Force dropping more family before him." Jasper shook his head.
This was true. Granted, if she knew anything it was the fact her master's legend was great enough it would be the first thing many people who knew who he was would ask. Or they would pull blaster on him for his crimes during the Jedi Civil War even if he'd been pardoned of them.
"I wish people could see passed his past." Meetra's gaze lingered on the door.
"I'm more than a little worried about him," Jasper confessed. "I don't think he's sleeping."
Meetra bowed her head. Her flickered. "If he wants our help, he'll ask."
"I doubt he'd ask even if he was being tortured to death by a Sith." Jasper shook his head. "We need to do something."
"Excuse me."
Meetra looked to the newcomer. It was Mark Kane.
"Yes?" she asked.
His gaze was on Jasper. "Listen, about the day we met…"
"We overreacted a little," Jasper confessed. "Granted, it's hard to tell who is after a bounty on us and who isn't. When you knew me, I think Master Darious wanted to play it safe and run for it."
Mark gave a dull laugh. "That is far from the reason I know you, Jasper. You're my little brother."
"What?" Jasper blinked. He laughed a little. "That does explain a little."
Mark nodded. "When the Civil War broke out, all of us were hoping to never see your name come up on either side," he confessed. "Then the purge happened…"
"You thought I had died during the purge or after?" Jasper asked.
"Yes," the word fell from his as a breath.
"Master Darious and I were on a mission on the outer rim when the worst of the purge happened. We only learned of it on our way back. Without my old master, I doubt I would be here now."
Meetra frowned. "How so?" Darious was a great Jedi, but she knew very little about his capability.
"He's a master at stealth operations," Jasper confessed. "I learned a little of it, but confess I never fully picked up on how he does it so well. He got us off the ship we'd taken without anyone being the wiser. We stripped everything but our lightsabers and sliced Republic systems to remove ourselves as Jedi from official records."
"You did?"
"Yes." Jasper gave a sheepish laugh and rubbed the back of head. "Sorry, I know that's illegal. Admiral Onasi has been working to get our records straightened out once more."
Mark shrugged. "I wouldn't arrest Jedi over just trying to survive."
"But you did for those two." Meetra tilted her head back to the two women.
"That's a little different. For one, Master Darious and Jasper are Republic born not from beyond the outer rim. They sliced so they could come here without having to go through the official paperwork." He shook his head. "Alan had far more sense than those two when he immigrated here."
"Alvar's father?" Meetra straightened.
"Yes, the only matter on his record was no mention of his birth world," Mark confessed. "From what I gathered he didn't know where he had been born and, according him, his sons had been born while in transit."
"It does explain why Master always listed his home world as Telos." Meetra shrugged. "Though, Kreia did believe he was born beyond the rim."
Jasper shook his head. "I don't really care where Master Tarvon was born. He's a Jedi now and that's all that matters."
"True enough." Meetra smiled. It was a good thing they had convinced him and Bastila to join the new Order. As well as getting him as the grandmaster. She doubted she and Darious could have as good a job as he would. No matter the dangers which lurked in too many learning about his past.
A breath escaped Mark.
"What's wrong?" Meetra asked. Her eyes narrowed a little.
"I confess, I am worried about the new Order and how much work is ahead of all of you." Mark's gaze flickered to Jasper. His brow furled. "The Republic has gotten bad since the purge. Worse than the senate and chancellor will ever reveal to the public."
"You mean the crime rate going up at a faster and faster rate as the years go by?" Jasper frowned. "It is a problem, especially on the outer rim worlds."
Meetra nodded. "It was bad on the core worlds as well."
"It's more than just crime rate," Mark informed them. "There was always a feeling of safety with the Jedi Order being around. That vanished with the Order. Many people are frightened. There is little security teams and the senate can do to reverse this."
"Not without the Jedi, you mean." Meetra smiled.
"Yes and no." Mark shook his head. "Not everyone trusts the Order after the Civil War."
Meetra bowed her head. "I saw as much on Dantooine."
"As have I while Darious and I were traveling. Jedi have lost the trust of the public because of the war."
Mark nodded. He smiled, hitting hand into his palm. "I just thought of something."
"A way to help with this mess?" Meetra asked.
"Sorry, no." He rubbed his neck. "Tomorrow afternoon my family will be getting together with Varnon's, the family my wife comes from. We made the plans when we learned we were all being transferred here." His eyes lit as he looked at Jasper. "Perhaps you can join us. Our mother will be thrilled to see you're alive and well."
"I don't know." Jasper shifted. His gaze flickered away from Mark to the floor then to Visas. "I was planning on assessing Visas tomorrow."
"You could do that in the morning," Meetra pointed out.
A small breath escaped Jasper.
"I can handle helping with her training tomorrow," Meetra continued. "It might do you some good to see your family again."
"I'll check in with Alvar. I don't know what he has planned for tomorrow."
"Please tell me before tomorrow." Mark smiled. His eyes shone.
"I will."
"Mark!" Darrell called.
"Thank you, Jasper." Mark nodded and returned to duty.
Jasper shifted.
"You don't need to be uneasy. I'm certain everything will be fine." Meetra placed her hand on his shoulder.
"It's just, I have no memories of my family. The Order took me when I was five."
"I doubt any of us do, well outside Bastila she remembered hers from what I got from her."
"True." He shook his head. "I'll contact, Master Tarvon." He nodded to her and moved off to make the call.
(Author's note: Finally finished another chapter. It's another Meetra chapter, but hey Revan and Sighta have been in the line light for so many lately. Also this is helping with one of the plot points from the first chapter.)