"Why didn't you intervene?" Sighta demanded, glaring at her mother. Her gaze only flickered from her mother to the guards in the room for a heartbeat before she returned to firry gaze to Jeri. "You could have won me that duel!"
Jeri just looked at her, gaze cool, almost cold. "My aid would have made little difference. Alvar's skill is far greater than your own."
Sighta gritted her teeth. "He—"
"Is the one who will defeat the emperor."
"What?" Sighta stammered. "It was me, all me! I have been the one to stick by your and father's plan, not him. I am the one who will defeat the emperor."
"No, you're not." Jeri smiled. "I had believed the prophecy spoke of you." Her hand was warm on Sighta's face. "I honestly believed this."
"Prophecy?"
What was Jeri talking about?
"There was a prophecy made the year you were born."
Sighta's heart flickered. This meant everything mother had pushed her to do, all the achievements she had made were for the sake of whatever this prophecy. And the prophecy was about her.
It had been a fluke the weakling had defeated her then.
"It was about a child born of a salve who would rise to defeat the emperor."
Yes, yes. It had to speak of Sighta. She was the one who worked tirelessly to achieve such a goal. She was the one who had worked to undermine and overthrow the emperor.
"I had such high hopes you would kill the emperor and rise to be the new emprises."
"What do you mean 'had'? I can still take the empire. I can still become empress." She was the one the prophecy spoke of. There was no other…
But, there was.
Sighta's heart raced. "The prophecy spoke of me." Sighta took a step towards her mother.
"Oh, no." Jeri's once warm eyes were cold as she looked into Sighta's. "It spoke of Alvar, not you. The duel made this clear."
The air froze in Sighta's lungs. She couldn't breathe. "I am the one who has given everything to the cause, not him. Not that weakling!"
Jeri smiled. A weight fell on Sighta's shoulder from her mother's hand. Jeri's breath was warm against her ear. "You? You're more than useless now, Sighta."
No.
No.
This, it couldn't be happening.
It just couldn't.
Sighta had to be the one prophecy spoke of. She was the one her mother had chosen to raise Sith. She was the one who had fought and bleed for a plan her father had left to come to life. She was the one who had been about to become a Darth, a member of the dark council.
A chill settled deep in Sighta.
All she could feel was Alvar pinning her against the wall. All she could hear was his threat to strip her Force sensitivity from her.
Who was he really?
Why did Jeri believe he could become the emperor?
It was inconceivable.
Yes, he was stronger than her. Yet, he had never once been to the empire. He had no stake in defeating the emperor.
Her mouth was dry, tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth.
Sighta swallowed.
This did nothing.
The room rang with a haunting silence.
x – Meetra – x
Meetra's gaze flickered over those gathered around the table. A shiver trickled through her. Five was such a small number, if the old council saw how few Jedi remained…
It was her fault. She had been the one to find them. The one who had led Keria there. If she hadn't then Kavar and the rest would still be alive. Her old master would still be there to help rebuild the Order.
Yet, in death he had joined with the Force. It was small comfort to know this, but it helped nonetheless.
"Given everything that is going on," Revan started, "it would be unwise if we follow the original plan and split up."
"Hmm." Darious rubbed his chin. "I agree; however, we can't delay in gaining senate support. We should keep to part of the plan where Jasper, Meetra, and their padawan learners remain here. Instead of my going off in search of lost knowledge, Atton and I will join you and Bastila."
Revan frowned; his gaze thoughtful as he looked at Darious.
"I agree with Master Darious," Meetra added her voice to Darious's. "You did promise aid to Telos in exchange for Senator Tarvon's support. We should honor that."
"Very well." Revan bowed his head to Meetra. "We'll need to speak with Commander before heading to Coruscant."
"Carth might be able to aid as well, it wouldn't hurt to ask him," Bastila added. "Perhaps a little help from the Republic on the security of the restoration project."
Revan frowned. "It is worth asking."
"Telos is Carth's homeworld after all." Bastila smiled. "I'll handle asking the admiral."
"I'll speak with the commander," Meetra offered. "Given I will be the one remaining here, it would follow I should be the one to build a relation with the commander."
"Have Jasper go with you and both of your padawans." Revan's gaze locked on hers. "This way none of us are traveling Telos alone while the Sith threat remains."
Meetra bit back a protest. He was right. He always was.
"If you sense anything out of the ordinary—"
"I'll contact the council," Meetra cut off her former master.
Revan bowed his head. "We need to stay in communication this time and not have a repeat over what happened before."
"Understood."
This was only him trying to make certain all of them were safe and the Order didn't suffer any unnecessary losses. Still, she knew this.
The first time they had been attacked, she hadn't reached out over the communicator to Revan. Instead she had sent Mission to find him. The Force must have guided the girl for her to find where Revan was. Revan wasn't wrong in reminding them, yet again, to remain in contact, especially when sensing a disturbance in the Force.
"Over the apprentices," – Revan turned his gaze to Darious – "would you be willing to aid me in their training, old friend?"
Darious frowned. "Given two of them need more attention than the others, it makes sense. Very well." Darious bowed his head. "Which one would you have me train?"
"Nalin and Tina."
Meetra smiled. "That makes sense. Tina can aid Darious in keeping Nalin in check."
"And show them both more over the first and second form." Revan bowed his head.
Jasper snapped his fingers. "Oh, that makes perfect sense. The basic forms are every master's specialty and given Tina wants to be guardian," he trailed off, grinning.
"Very well," Darious agreed. "What did you have in mind for Sighta and Hanna?"
"I would like to assess Sighta's Force ability outside of Force lightning and start Hanna on learning the basics of being a consular."
That made sense. Sure, Meetra had helped Mical with the first steps on becoming a consular, but Revan would know more about it than Meetra did.
"We should meet again tomorrow to go over the results of the apprentice training," Meetra suggested. "This way if one of us is needed in aiding you or Darious we will know where each apprentice is at."
Revan bowed his head. "Agreed. Until then," – Revan stood – "may the Force be with you." He gestured to Darious.
The two men left the meeting space.
Jasper whistled. "I don't envy them. Both Nalin and Sighta are going to be a handful." He shook his head; then, shot Meetra a grin. "Good thinking on keeping all of us appraised on the apprentices' progress. I would rather aid where I can than leave everything to Masters Tarvon and Darious."
Bastila frowned. "I confess I would rather Revan not be the one to train Sighta."
"Because she's a Sith?" Jasper asked.
"Perhaps." The younger woman shook her head. "I confess I wouldn't be able to handle it, not without aid from Revan."
"Which would still put a lot on him." Meetra sighed. "We can all keep an eye on him. You could also make your concern known to him."
Bastilas smiled. "I will, thank you, Meetra."
Meetra returned the smile. "We should speak with commander, Jasper." Meetra stood. "Let's collect our padawans."
"Yup." Jasper stood and stretched. "Hopefully today is uneventful." He chuckled to himself as the two of them started towards the space Admiral Onasi had given them to train padawans and apprentices alike.
Bastila had split with them and headed for the bridge to speak with the Admiral.
"Hopefully." Though it most likely wouldn't be. Not with so much going on and the plot around Revan's family thickening. Then there was the fact that Kreia had spoken of Revan being born either in the outer world territories or beyond the rim. It seemed with the more that was revealed he had been born outside the Republic, far outside of it.
It was amazing really. The one man who was perhaps the most determined to protect the Republic, even fallen to the Darkside, wasn't a native of the Republic. Though, in the end, Revan wouldn't have been any other way. At least as far as Meetra could tell he wouldn't be.
Yet, how and why had her old master turned on the Republic? Sure, he had fallen to the Darkside, but this alone wouldn't explain it.
"Meetra?" Jasper's voice jarred Meetra from her thoughts.
"Sorry, Jasper, I was lost in thought."
"I could tell." Jasper frowned. "You're also worried about Master Tarvon?"
"A little," she confessed. "He spoke with his mother, right?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know what he learned from that conversation?"
"Nope, I haven't asked him."
"We'll need to during the next meeting."
Jasper just nodded as they entered the training aera.
The padawans were at one side of the room. Atton was busy training with Mical. No doubt both Revan and Darious had set them this task to improve cooperation between them. Visa and Bao were waiting and watching the other two. The only one messing from the group was Mira. No doubt Bastila had sent her padawan a message to meet her at the bridge.
"We're heading to speak with Commander Varnon," Meetra informed the two padawans.
Meetra lead the way off the ship and through the throngs of people. It was far more crowded now than it had been when she had first traveled here. A good sign the restoration effort was going well.
"I don't sense anything out of the ordinary," Jasper commented.
"Keep your senses alert," Meetra told Bao.
He nodded; eyes alert as he looked around the crowded streets.
"I wonder what the Sith are up to," Jasper muttered.
"Same." Meetra glanced around, but still nothing was out of the ordinary.
Nothing happened.
No sign of them being attacked or anything else. Everything was peaceful as they made it to the security center.
"Jasper, Meetra, what brings you two here?" Mark asked as he stood.
"We need to speak with Commander Varnon," Meetra started.
Mark frowned. "All right."
"Over?" the commander asked from where he was seated near to Mark.
"Myself, Jasper, and our padawans will be remaining here to aid with the restoration effort," Meetra explained.
Darriel frowned. "Is that wise with the Sith returning and a bounty still being out for Jedi?"
"Telos needs the aid," Jasper stated, "and we need the aid of Telos."
"Ah, so it is a political deal then? Hmm," – Darriel rubbed his chin – "I can see to it the rest of the force is made aware you four will be remaining here."
"Thank you." Meetra bowed her head. "If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to contact myself or Jasper."
"We will." Darriel nodded to them. He returned to his seat and his work.
Mark smiled. "I'm glad you're staying for a while, Jasper. Perhaps we will be able to talk more."
"Yeah." Jasper smiled.
Meetra led the way out of the office. "Are you all right?" she asked.
"Fine," Jasper stated. "It's just weird having contact with family again. I'll get used to it and the other changes within the Order."
"Everything is happening so fast for council members," Meetra sighed.
"Especially for Master Tarvon," Jasper spoke what Meetra had been thinking.
A shiver raced through her. "Did you feel that?"
"Yeah." Jasper stiffened. His eyes darted around the area. "Do you think it's the Sith?"
"It could be." And if it was, they couldn't waste this opportunity to find them. Perhaps even capture one of them. "Come." Meetra raced off down the hall.
Jasper followed as he pulled out his communicator. "There's been another disturbance in the Force," he reported to the rest of the council. "Meetra, our padawans, and I are heading to investigate. I'll keep in contact with our location."
"I'll meet you there with a few soldiers," Bastila's voice came in reply.
"Agreed," Revan's voice followed.
Meetra whipped around the corner.
Lights flickered overhead.
Odd.
The Force followed through her. Darkness, far more than just the malfunctioning lights, lingered in the passage.
A dark figure stepped out.
Meetra skidded to a halt.
She sensed another dark figure step out behind their group.
"Tch," a female voice came from the shadows of the hall. "I had hoped this would draw out Inlustris, but what can one expect when Jedi are meddling in Sith business."
"Who is Inlustris?" Meetra asked. Her hand dropped to her lightsaber.
"We'll just have to settle with killing the meddlers, now, won't we?"
The hall was lit by several red blades sliding from the pikes.
"Be ready," Meetra whispered to Bao. She activated her own lightsaber. The double-blades filled the space with a silvery white light.
(Author's note: I am still working on this story. I just keep taking breaks on it. Sorry about the delay.)