Chapter 13

Black fog crept along the corridors of memory.

Snap—hiss the familiar sound of a lightsaber. A flash of green. Red. Gold. The humming clash as blade kissed blade.

"No! NO! I won't let it end like this. I won't let you die here!" The mists of memory allowed recollection of the voice. Bastila's voice.

Two heartbeats: one dimming, the other strong, fortified, full of life. The staccato drumming of two hearts found a single beat, a singular rhythm. One heart beating for two lives brought back the fading soul.

A soft whisper, a gentle touch. …"You will not die this day but live to face the future. Come-what-may."

"Angel…" words not spoken but felt.

Fog swirled, churned, pulsed. The smouldering dying bridge transformed into a chamber of a long-forgotten ruins.

Another voice…male. "I can feel the power of the dark side. Can you not feel it filling you?"

It was Malak, not yet with his steal jaw. He seemed so young… as did the hooded and masked figure before him- smaller and pacing deep in thought.

"Revan, once we pass beyond this door, we can never go back. The Order will surely banish us. Is it worth it?"

The masked figure didn't answer but turned from her pacing before a great black door within the ruins. With the wave of a hand the massive barricade groaned and opened. Revan masked and cloaked strode ever forward with blind determination.

The mists swirled, black and grey.

Skye bolted from her bunk, her heart slamming hard against her breastbone. The dreams, for they were dreams, not a single vision, were terrifying in their questions- Bastila with a dying Reven on the Dark Lord's bridge with the words spoken by her sweet saviour, her Jedi Angel. The darkness of the forgotten crypt and buried secretes on a Jedi world.

She tried grasping at the strands of memory within the dream, but always as before they remained elusive. Memories not her own but felt as if she had lived them. 'By the Night Mother now even my memories are getting muddled with Bastila's. What the hell is going on in that head of yours, Princess? Why the frack am I still linked to your memories? I have enough trouble with my own; I sure as hell don't need yours. So, you can take them back.'

Scrubbing her fingers through her long black hair, Ravensong attempted in vain to push back the memories of the night.

"Skye? You okay?" came a sleepy response from a barely awake teenager on the top bunk.

"Yeah, bad dream. Don't worry about it, Kiddo" Ravensong answered, "go back to sleep."

"What time is it?" Mission said through a yawn.

"Early. I'm not wearing my chrono, but I wager it's around 0500."

"Yuck! I'm going back to bed. Wake me two hours after the sun gets up." The girl plopped back down onto her pillow and covered her head with her blanket.

Skye chuckled in soft amusement as she moved for the refresher. She only had an hour before the meeting with the Jedi council. That was best done with a clear head, not one mired in lost and mangled memories.

Jump in, jump out; though not full military Ravensong followed a lot of their procedures- one of them being a two-minute shower. In three she was fully dressed, geared up and heading out the rear hatch. It was there she crossed paths with Onasi and Ordo. Both were attempting very poorly to ignore one another.

Since their incarceration both males at least made surface if not shallow effort not to go for each other throats. Ordo was busily toiling at one of the workbenches no doubt installing a few of the mods for his guns he had picked up the day previous, but hadn't the chance to toy with them until now. He didn't even look up when the scout passed by him.

Seeing Ravensong emerge down the gangplank Carth however had a different reaction. "This morning is getting stranger by the minute. First Bastila comes out looking like she saw a ghost and now you. Are you sure you're alright? Neither of you look well."

"I had a rough night." Skye said dismissively. "Did she say anything?"

"Well Bastila did mention that you should go to the Council chamber before she left. It is no doubt urgent you shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Yeah they're supposed to come to a decision whether or not they're taking me on as a Padawan- and I decided whether or not I'm going to let them."

Carth turned astonished at the Nagai's words. "I don't think you get to say no to the Jedi Council on something like this. If you can use the Force, it's probably best if you…"

"They're waiting." Skye turned from the human.

She didn't need him to tell her what she already knew. If she didn't agree to 'enlist' they'd mentally neuter her. She didn't know what severance from the Force would be like but it wasn't something she wanted to experience. Even if she didn't know she had the Force before her connection to Bastila, it had always been a part of her. You were born with the Force or you weren't it wasn't something you suddenly developed during puberty like breasts or facial hair. That being said, she wanted to develop her abilities and hone them to a razor-sharp edge.

The discipline within the enclave could not differ that much from what she experienced within the monastery on Deraila. Actually, the prospect was strangely compelling. The rituals, trials, spiritual and marital training of the monastery always brought a sense of inner tranquillity to the scout. Though, some might consider that learning the art of death dealing at the age of five to be somewhat twisted and dark, bordering on the teachings of the Sith.

Skye thought such views to be short-sighted and not at well informed. It was not unlike the widely-held belief that Jedi were incapable of feeling true emotions because of their Code. Rumours and ideas were notoriously difficult to silence let alone kill. You constantly had to prove to others the contrary. It seemed that once again Ravensong was going to be placed in that position, only this time she was attempting to prove to the Jedi Masters she was worth the risk to undertake the training.

Upon entering the Council chambers, Ravensong quickly divorced her mind from errant thoughts. She already felt unnerved with all the eyes of the Masters on her. Vrook was practically glaring, Zhar look unnerved. Dorak seemed intrigued and worried, only Vandar was difficult to read. The only hint of his thoughts was that his ears were not as perky as they had been when the Nagai had first met him.

Master Vandar was the first to speak. "Bastila told us the most unusual development. She claims you and she have shared a dream; a vision of Malak and Revan in the ancient ruins here on Dantooine."

Skye snapped her head around to her counterpart. There was a connection between them and Skye was aware of it, but to go so deep they now shared dreams that was something altogether very different. To be so intimately connected, Ravensong didn't know if she would feel violated or a voyeur.

Dorak's voice brought attention back to him. "These ruins have long been known to us. But we believe them to be merely burial mounds. Perhaps they were something more than what we first suspected, if Revan and Malak found meeting there."

Skye once more pinned Bastlia was her eyes, questions smouldering behind a well-placed mask of control. "Yes, they seemed to be searching for something. If you saw it Bastila, do you have an idea what they were after?"

The Jedi knight shook her head. "No. No idea. Revan seemed to be internally debating what Malak was voicing. A choice… one that once made and they proceeded, they would have been banished. It seemed to weigh heavily upon them. Especially Revan."

"They chose banishment when they chose to go to war." Vrook commented venomously. "They choose to follow the path of the dark side when they turned from our wisdom. Their decision in the ruins proves how far they had fallen."

"Just how much do you know about this dream?" Skye asked ignoring the glowering human.

"Bastila has described this shared dream in great detail. We feel there is more to this dream. It is a vision. The Force is acting through you as it acts through Bastila." Vandar's voice had a claming effect as much as it had a commanding one.

"I'll trust in your greater wisdom but how does Bastila know what I have or have not seen in my dreams? She knew both former Jedi- wouldn't that change her perceptions?"

"You and Bastila share a powerful connection to the Force, and to each other." Zhar started explaining. Both women's eyes met, the grey pair almost seemed ashamed by the revelation. "This is not unheard of. Connections in the Force often form between master and student. But rarely does a bond form so quickly."

Skye's eyes never left Bastila's. She could feel the human's unrest, her shame. The scout misinterpreted it as disgust. 'As if I wanted to be connected to you, Princess.' Ravensong thought, apparently loud enough for Bastila to pick up on it.

"Whatever dangers may lie ahead we cannot ignore the destiny that brought you and Bastila here to us, together." Vandar said.

"I'm still trying to process that she and I are joined. What gives with that? And why?"

Bastila still had no voice for the scout. Her deferring look to the masters perhaps spoke more volumes to the scout than she had intended. "You and she are linked as is your fate to hers. Together you two may be able to stop Darth Malak and the Sith."

Again, Vrook spoke and his voice still contemptuous and sneering, "But do not let your mind be filled with visions of glory and power. Such things are the path to the dark side. They way of the light is long and difficult as you must learn. Are you ready for such hardship?"

"Yes, I'm ready for whatever awaits me, Master Varook. But whatever your problem with me is old man, maybe it's best you spell it out now. I thought Jedi Masters were supposed be all calm, and sanguine- you're far from that pal. You're practically seething with anger and resentment. And your story that Bastila and I have a connection born out that little fracas after the season opener doesn't track. It's a nice story but it has a lot plot holes in it. There wasn't even a kriffing Sith there, just a bunch of spice snorting gangers. The danger wasn't large enough, or dire enough for the kind of bond you're talking about to be made.

"Maybe because I wasn't taken in as youngling and educated here or in any of your other Jedi temples you think I'm a bit thick and you can skim over some the details. You placed me on the Endar Spire's crew manifest because my skills as a scout and the fact I pick up on tiny details. I didn't suddenly lose those skills because I'm linked to the Princess here. So, what gives? Are you Masters going to tell me the straight up truth or am I going to piece it together on my own? I guarantee you if it is the latter, I'm walking."

Bastila gasped at the open defiance and disrespect. Vandar raised his three-fingered hand, immediately stopping any argument.

"Please understand that in this there is little choice in this matter for you or us." the small impish Master said. His regretful tone wasn't lost on the scout. "Across the galaxy, the numbers of our Order dwindle. We have sent many Jedi in a quest to find a way to thwart Malak. Many have not returned. The Sith hunt the Jedi down like animals, ambushing and assassinating our brothers and sisters wherever they are found. We fear it is only a matter of time until they discover even this hidden refuge."

"Other Jedi have fallen from the light and embraced the dark side, giving their alliances to the Sith and to Malak as their dark lord." Vrook growled.

"Just how many Jedi are turning to the dark side? Nothing is just as easy as waking up and saying 'Golly gee I think I want vast power and more of it and I'm sick of snide masters giving me the evil eye pretending to be all light side. I think I'll just become a Sith and be done with it." Skye asked, deliberately baiting Varook.

"Perhaps you do not understand the lure of the dark side. It is not easy to resist. Malak's power grows as more and more planets fall to his conquering armies." Varook said. "It is also clear you do not understand the proper protocols within the presence of the Council."

Zhar decided to intervene before the heat between his colleague and the young Nagai grew far more intense that it could not be contained. "If Malak's not stopped the Republic will fall. And the Jedi will be hunted to extinction. The galaxy will enter a time of darkness and tyranny not seen for a thousand generations."

"The Council has declared that you Skye and Bastila must investigate the ancient runes you dreamed of once the Council deems you are ready." Vandar concluded. "Master Zhar will take you on as his padawan."

"Perhaps you will find some clue, some explanation of how Revan and Malak were corrupted. And perhaps then you shall find a way to stop them." Dorak said. "Skye, you are correct about the Jedi turning, something more is as you said at play, and something is corrupting the Jedi captured by Malak's people, perhaps some kind of indoctrination."

"I'm ready now, if it's that dire, send me. I accept the mission."

"Impatience on top of impertinence. You will heed the word of the Council!" Vrook all but snarled. "The Force flows through you like no student we have ever seen. But you are wilful and headstrong, Rev…Ravensong. A dangerous combination."

"Before we send you to investigate the ruins, you must be trained in the ways of the Jedi so you can resist the darkness within yourself, within all of us. Otherwise you are doomed to fail." Vandar again intervened as the others had. In his eyes reflected that perhaps it had been a bad idea to include Vrook on the proceedings. But what was done was done.

"As you wish Master Vandar." Skye titled her head in a bow of true respect.

"We must begin your training at once. You have a destiny upon you that you must be prepared to face. The entire fate of the galaxy is upon you."

"No pressure." Skye smiled worriedly.

"I can only hope you are up for the challenge." Vrook said.

Skye shot him a look of pure defiance. "I get the feeling you actually want me to fail. You still haven't told me what your hang up with me is."

"If you find me overly critical it is because we can afford nothing but absolute perfection from you and from Bastila. For all our sakes, you must succeed in your training. Concentrate your lessons to come, Ravensong."

"Bastila, be so good as to show our newest acolyte to the dormitories. Given the unique nature of your connection to each other we have deemed it advisable you two will share quarters." Zhar said "See to it she is also properly attired in the robes of an acolyte."

Ravensong followed Bastila but before they came to the threshold of the Council chambers, she turned around. "Wait. Masters, there is another matter. In the course of fleeing Kang's estate, we freed two slaves, sisters: Ald'rehuna and Avid'ar. They are talented in the arts of massage therapy and creating oils…"

"The Jedi do not engage in brothels…." Vrook started but Ravensong interrupted them.

"I didn't say whores, I said massage and it is no euphuism. I was sorely injured in acquiring the means to escape Taris. Had it not been for their skills the battle against Kang and his lackey may have had a different outcome. They aided us in acquiring the codes to unlock the Ebon Hawk and I freed them. They have become my responsibility. I would like to see them installed in employment here. Allow them to use their arts of physical therapy and topical solutions to aid say young novices and acolytes during training. If not, then loan me the funds to give them so they may set up their own shop."

Vandar smiled, "And if it is funds loaned how do you suppose to repay such finances?"

"I have a droid, he's worth easily three thousand credits, after that you can garnish a percentage from the shops overall profits during the fiscal year. If I did not think to need the Ebon Hawk for our mission against Malak, I'd sell her to aid them."

"This means much to you." Zhar asked. "You must realize the Jedi Order is not a charity."

"The word was given. I mean to keep it."

"As Master Zhar said we are not a charity but we can be charitable. We will give them an opportunity within the enclave." Vandar said. "The fact you are willing to go such lengths to fulfil your oath speaks highly of them. Leave their details with young Knight Beyla. She will see them comfortably quartered and provisioned if this is their wish. You can also inform them they will be given a small stipend for their services."

"Thank you, Masters." Ravensong bowed humbly then stoically and quietly left.

The Masters watched the two young women leave the Council chambers, for a moment none of them spoke, and then the small impish master turned to the human. "You are deliberately antagonizing young Ravensong. Is this a cause for concern?"

"She is insolent, belligerent; she faces all challenges with levity and impudent sarcasm. When we reprogrammed her, I had thought Atris, Dorak and you Master Vandar to have erased of those undesirable traits. Yet they seem stronger than before." Vrook said harshly.

Vandar gave a great sigh before he spoke. "She was made loyal to the Republic. She has no true memory of who she was. Personalities traits can be altered, but some tendencies are stronger than others. Bastila's objective to draw out her memories of how she amassed such formidable power is difficult enough without the added complications of you deliberately baiting her, Master Varook.

"Perhaps I was mistaken in believing that having had a similar discussion before, this matter was settled. Ravensong is not the Revanchist. Treating her as such will derail our agenda. Malak has Revan's amassed powers but none of her control or charisma or command. He was always a blunt instrument even when he was Alec to her refined finesse.

"He rampages; where Revan had at least seemed to have had a very concise plan. He attacks blindly the worlds Reven deliberately left alone. She preserved the infrastructure of core worlds, and even outer rim worlds like Onderon and no one knows why, not even Malak. The only one who does is locked up inside Ravensong's mind. We must tread careful. Already she doubts our words concerning the bond she shares with Bastlia.

"She needs to trust us, which will not happen if she is constantly bombarded with your memories of your previous encounters with Revan. And now Bastila struggles with heeding our wisdom. Bastila is young and an idealist, while these are not wholly undesirable traits in a young knight, it can become problematic in this situation. Bastila must draw out the memories of the Revanchist without drawing out the dark lord."

Having said his piece the diminutive Jedi Master left the chambers leaving his colleagues to contemplate and digest his words.

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"You're not asking me questions." Bastila said not even making the attempt to keep surprise from her voice.

"Why should I? Waste of effort, you'd only regurgitate whatever it is the Masters told you to tell me any way."

"Skye…I…we must trust in the Masters' wisdom. The Force allows them to see things we cannot. They have the knowledge and experience…"

"And this makes them automatically correct? The old human…Vrook has an undeniable resentment for me. If you try and tell me I'm seeing something I'm not, then you truly are blind and naive or just plain stupid. I don't think you're any of those things."

"He…you remind him of Revan." Bastila admitted sullenly. "That much is true. Perhaps it has something to do with your species. But Skye, he is also correct in demanding our absolute best. Our perfection. We must rise to the challenge if we have any hope of defeating Malak and his former master's legacy."

"Seems like that bloody legacy is dogging me whether I like it or not. And let me tell you so far, I haven't liked it. If I didn't know better, I'd say that old man and Onasi are blood."

"You really shouldn't call Master Vrook, old man. Skye, he deserves…"

"Respect? From me? Why? Because he's a Master of the Jedi Order or because he sits on the Council," Skye shook her head. "If you have to posture and chest pound to get respect, you don't deserve it. You know that. People like Master Vandar command that kind of respect. You want to be Vrook's little obedient puppet that's your choice, Princess. Look, let me be perfectly clear; I have no issue with the rest of the Council, just that old man- and he brought it on himself."

There was a small fraction within Bastila that completely understood Master Vrook's treatment of the Nagai. It was difficult to reconcile the woman standing beside her and the memories of the Dark Lord. "Perhaps we should focus on getting you settled."

The scout nodded. "Yeah. So, me bunking with you, I know you can't be happy about that."

"It will be different."

"That's it? You have to give up your own private suite and you're okay with that?"

Bastila softly chuckled, "You know very little of Jedi life. As acolytes, there are many of us within the dormitories. When we are selected as padawans, it is traditional that we share quarters with our masters. As knights, we are often paired up with another knight because space is a rare commodity. Yes, I have a single room, but it is not like I am unaccustomed to sharing living space. I assume much was the same within the monastery in which you were raised?"

"Yeah, all novices lived in chambers together, trained, ate and bathed. Same when you were raised up to acolyte and adept statuses. Only the first five top brother and sisters were given their own cells. And that was barely more than a cot, a footlocker and a work station."

"And again, shared living space within the military."

Skye chuckled, "Too true. It's a wonder we ever find any kind of privacy."

"It can be found but perhaps it is more internally than external. As a Jedi, you will learn the art of meditation, of being able to pull into your own mind, and block out all else. I suppose our meditative state is a kind of solipsism."

"Solipsism? I suppose that makes sense when you have no external privacy, the only real sort you have is within your own minds." For a moment, Skye chewed over a few thoughts before she spoke. "And what about Force bonds? Doesn't that mess with the whole concept of solipsism?"

"It is…difficult. Believe me I do not find the prospect of being bonded to you enjoyable in the least."

"Gee thanks a lot."

"I…I didn't mean…"

"Mean what? Trust me Princess the feeling is more than mutual." snow flurries accompanied the Nagai's words.

The jedi sighed, "Perhaps then it is best we focus on the tasks put before us. In our mission to discover what was within those ruins we can find a way to sever the bond."

"Nothing would please me more. I'd rather be alone in here," she tapped her skull "than have you mucking around inside. And I don't like sharing my dreams or nightmares with you, or being a part of yours. Considering the first ones, I'd say I was pulled into your dreams about you killing the Dark Lord. You tell the Masters about those too?"

Bastila nodded. "They had to know. I was asked how deep the bond was when I told them about the dreams on Revan's bridge that we shared though at the time neither of us knew we were. I spoke of the race track and the flash you had after the conflict. And as you know I told them of the ruins. To keep things from the masters is ill advisable."

Skye smiled slyly. "So, you tell them what really happened to your lightsaber?"

"Some small details may have been…forgotten in the full narrative."

"Ah-huh. Right. So, what did happen?

"Look we have arrived. Our rooms are right though here."

"You're not going to say, are you?"

Bastila bit her lower lip and said nothing.

"You are a miserable cheat, you know that, right? Now I want to know more than ever."

"Some things are best left in the dark, especially when they are rather humiliating."

"Alright, alright you win." Skye held her hands up in the air in mock surrender. "I give up. Keep your little Jedi secrets, Princess. Let's see this room of ours, then get my gear."

The quarters were modest as was to be expected. They were oddly enough not unlike the apartment room back on Taris. There were two beds, two work stations, complete with computer terminals for study. They each had a footlocker and a wardrobe.

"Homey." Skye quirked an eyebrow.

"As Jedi, we are discouraged from having possessions. The only thing we can truly say is our own are the few robes we are given and our lightsabers. The robes we will see to shortly; the lightsaber comes when Master Zhar believes you are ready to construct your own."

"I was going to ask you, what's with the different color robes? Some are even wearing what looks to be chain mail. I get some of them are ranked, but some seem to have more significance than others."

"The colours represent the different sects…Schools of training and philosophy. Though not all Jedi prescribe to a specific philosophy. Most of us wear the traditional browns and whites. Others however have chosen to walk a specific philosophy, though they number in a very small minority."

"Okay, I'll probably be told all of this by Master Zhar or be told to research it, but why don't you give me a crash course?"

"The green robes come from the Jal Shey school. They seek to understand the nature of the Force. The armour carries an aura of dignity and competence. The Jel Shey concentrate on the intellectual study of the Force, seeking to understand it at a mental level rather than a spiritual one. They are typically exceptional diplomats, but are less successful in physical pursuits. They possess a strong understanding of the Force and are widely respected for their wisdom. When they reach the stage of mentorship they are unparalleled in their intellect and often serve as highly respected advisors and teachers.

Those that wear blue and purple robes come from the Zeison Sha school. They are known for their survival skills and resourcefulness. They favour the more flexible armours which are very durable. The school originally comes from the Outer Rim planet of Yanibar, where they developed their Force powers as a means of surviving the harsh planet. The Zeison Sha stress independence and survival as well as assistance to those in need. Many Guardians and Sentinels favour this path. The Zeison Sha warriors are powerful combatants who are particularly skilled in telekinetic Force powers.

"The green and black cloth robes are of the Matukai. They are masters at guiding their bodies with the Force. They are capable of astounding physical feats. They use their physical bodies to channel the Force. The balance of the physical and spiritual is a cornerstone of their philosophy.

"Those that wear all white, like Master Dorik have chosen to dedicate their lives to the Archives. Master Atris also wears the whites as do all the Keepers of the Hall of Knowledge in the Great Jedi Library."

Skye soaked it all in, categorizing the titbits of information in the unique filling system that was her brain. For a moment, she felt a strange kin-ship to the mentioning of the Zeison Sha. In fact, it seemed so familiar it was as if she had walked that path before but that of course was impossible. She had never heard of the Zeison Sha before today so how could their philosophy seem as familiar to her as the breath leaving her lungs?

Perhaps it wasn't Skye's familiarity but Bastila's. The bond! That blasted kriffing interfering bond. Had to be. "So, you walk the way of the Zeison Sha?"

Bastlia shook her head. "I prescribe purely to the traditional teachings of the Order. Why do you ask?"

To this Skye frowned. "Just seemed like the Zeison Sha were…I don't know. It's like I know that way, like wearing the blue and purple armour is something I've done. But I haven't so I figured must have been you. Something carried over by the bond."

"No." Bastila was quick to school her concerned expression. "We are still touched by the memories of Revan and Malak. Revan…was of the Zeison Sha. Most say it was their philosophies that lead her to leave the Order and join the Mandalorian wars."

"Care to explain that one? I thought she left after Cathar was destroyed by the Mandies and the Order still refused to step in." Skye sat down on the bed that was to become hers.

"There was more of a catalyst long before that. Many masters believe it was the philosophy she walked. To the Zeison Sha, the Force is a means primarily to defend themselves and their families but also to aid others who could not defend themselves. As such, they were also known to be generous and aiding another was considered honorable and noble by them."

"And I take it this is a bad thing according to the Order?"

"On the surface no. But there is more beneath you do not know. You must understand Skye theses sects within the Order are…tolerated because they have been adapted and reengineered and amalgamated into the fundamental teachings of the Jedi. But they were not Jedi from the beginning, none of them were. The Jal Shey, the Zeison Sha, Matukai and even the Baran Do are all from other Force sensitive sentients. These philosophies in their true form, their pure form are other races' who do not belong to the Republic answers to the Jedi Order or to the Sith.

"Some of the schools of thought have bled into the Order. And rather than purge the ideologies out right they were adapted and integrated into the greater whole. They are accepted so long as the greater teachings of the Order are adhered to first and foremost."

"So, these schools of thought are more like the bastard children of their truer original forms"

"Crude, but yes metaphorically speaking that is exactly what they are."

Skye nodded. "I wonder how much of a tither will I create, especially in that old man if I decided to go Zeison Sha."

"Skye…" Bastila blanched, her voice taking on a warning edge to it. "If you desire to follow a philosophy, do so because it is right for you, not to spite one man."

Ravensong stood up, "Believe me Princess. If I become a disciple of the Zeison Sha it will because I will it and for no other reason. So, if it was the Zeison Sha that lead Revan and her disciples to make the decisions she made, to go to war, why then was the school allowed to continue within the Order?"

"Not all the Revanchist's were Zeison Sha. In fact, of all of them only two were- Revan and the Exile Metra Surik. You do not condemn an entire school of thought on the actions of one person or even a handful of individuals."

"Yeah, I guess it would be very hypocritical for the Masters to do that considering that whole thing with the Triumvirate. They slaughtered all their padawans and blamed on that poor schlep Zayne Carrick for the massacre."

Bastila opened her mouth and shut it with the snap of her teeth. "How…how do you know that?"

"I'm a very good scout." Skye responded causally. "Besides Carrick wasn't exactly quiet about the Masters using him and framing him for crimes not only did he not commit but tried to stop. And those Covenant Masters were not exactly a subtle bunch. But you're right, you cannot judge or hold an entire faction accountable for the actions of a few. Judging the whole of the Council on the actions or words of an old bitter man isn't fair."

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"Wow!" Mission exclaimed running up to Skye as soon as she saw the elder woman coming into the enclave's landing platform. "You look great! Proper Jedi robes and everything." The girl held either side of the cowled outer robe and opened it. "Well almost everything. Where's your lightsaber?"

Ravensong brushed the enthusiastic teenager's hands away as she might have a younger sister's "I haven't earned the right to carry one."

"That day will come, Ravensong." Zaalbar said sagely. "A rite of passage; it is only proper a warrior must earn the privilege to carry such an honoured weapon. I had to earn the right to carry my bowcaster."

"Yeah about that. Look guys I'm going to be here awhile in training. I know where Big Z goes you go Mission, and he swore a life debt to me, but it'll probably be months before I'm allowed off planet. If you guys want to catch a transport and go someplace, I won't hold you here."

"I made a promise, Ravensong. I stay where you stay." Zaalbar few words held the strength the durasteel.

"Yeah me too. Maybe not in the Jedi enclave but somewhere in the town proper. We can still sleep in the ship, right? The bunks aren't bad, better than the one I had with the Beks, anyway."

Skye nodded. "Of course, you can still have your rack on the Hawk."

"Woohoo! It's gonna to be fun! I can't even remember seeing so much open space!" Mission's face was aglow with smiles. "I mean look at all that sky up there! It's soo blue! And they even have fluffy white clouds! Oh! I'll be able to see the all the stars. On Taris even at night it was so damn difficult to see the true night sky, all that light pollution, you know. And there aint never no fluffy white clouds. I want to feel real grass under my toes.

"Can I go swimming in a real lake, do you think? I've always wanted to do that. And all this clean air…" Mission took in a deep breath. "You can suck in the air and not hack up a kriffing lung from all the exhaust and crap in the Lower City. Plus, no rakghouls climbing up from the Undercity! No gangers wantin' to rape you or shoot you, or shoot you then rape you. You, kidding me, Skye? I'm not gonna leave, I'm staying right here!" Mission was so excited she was actually bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "I can't wait to go see what's out there." She wrapped her arms around Skye and squeezed her hero for all she was worth.

Skye grinned at the true enthusiasm of the girl's wonderment and joy for simply being allowed the opportunity to experience the quaintness of a quiet world. She deftly slipped from Missions embrace and turned to the only other one on the near the Ebon Hawk.

"What about you Ordo? The blood oath was done the moment we touched safely down here. You are no longer bound by that promise."

"A'grow worlds were never my style. Mandalorians have never been the farming type." Canderous admitted. "But, you'll be jumping into the fray against the Sith soon enough."

"Yep."

"Might be I'll stick around for it. Might be I catch a transport; dabble in a few ports until you become a proper Jedi an' they let their leash off you. But when you're off to face that tin-jawed slimeo I'll be back for it."

"I won't be able to pay you."

"I keep what I kill."

"And that's good enough for you?"

"No. But it's a start. The opportunity to test myself, prove to be a true Mandalorian and not some hired gun. Now that…. yeah…that'll be worth it. Facing Malak and the Sith- plenty of opportunities there."

"Alright then guess that settles that." Skye grinned.

"You didn't ask about Carth." Mission cocked her head playfully.

"He's military, I assumed he'd be reassigned to another ship and heading back out into the Black." In truth, until Mission spoke of him, Skye hadn't given the man much thought past his and Ordo's incarceration. Her concerns had lain with her unofficial wards, Big Z, Mission and the two freed slaves.

"You got it in one, whelp. He's been on the horn with your Republic Brass. No doubt spinning his version of events so they'll slip some sort of commendation in his file and give him a command of some dreadnought and place him back in the front lines."

"One can only hope."

"You really don't like him, do you?" Mission asked.

"He has his uses, and I don't hate him. I just don't get along with guys like that."

"Guys like that?" the girl pressed.

"Always ready to blame anyone and everyone for the sins and betrayals of someone they once trusted. I have no issue with having a difficult time of earning trust, or if you really trust no one. But when you start ranting and raving and screaming out your paranoia of betrayal at every other sentient- now that's something entirely different."

"I have no use for the whinny orange boy myself, Whelp. Crew's better off without 'em. You, me that princess of yours can fly the ship. Don't know if the walking carpet can fly…"

Zaalbar snarled a deep throated warning.

"Ah, just because you can't understand him, doesn't mean Zaalbar can't understand you, Ordo. But it's a good question, can you pilot a ship Big Z?"

"I can." The Wookie grunted. "Been known to remove unwanted refuse too."

Skye smiled.

"What he'd say?" the Mandalorian demanded.

"Said yeah he can fly."

"Lot of growing to just say yes." Ordo gave an accusing look to both of them.

The Nagia simply shrugged. "So, hey you see the twins? I've got good news for them."

"Ah yeah they were here about ten minutes ago, then a human Jedi woman came and collected them, said they'll be starting work in a couple of days but they were going to be given quarters and a clinic room on a trial run." Mission explained.

"Good to hear." Skye grinned. "I'm sure they'll settle in in no time."

"Hey Skye not a lot of people would go outta their way to help Twi'lek slaves unless it's to get 'em between the sheets, so um, just thanks." Mission blushed.

"I keep my promises Mission." Skye waved off the complement feeling a little awkward at the accolades being showered upon her by the teenager. "Look, I have to get back. I'm all official now and I'm expected to report in soon. My classes start tomorrow."