Tenth chapter woho! I hope you do enjoy my story, and if you do, then follow, add to your 'favorites' (if you haven't done it yet) and leave a comment. That way you support me. Also, I would like to thank you all, cause my story has reached a number of 1000 views and approached a number of 200 visitors. It means a lot to me and once again thank you all for your support.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 9
Revan was in some sort of vision. A memory would be a better word, actually. It was a moment of his capture. The familiar pain in his head brought back to him the scene that played out on his bridge. He watched Bastila killing his Dark Jedi almost easily. She delivered a powerful thrust into the man's chest, taking his life out from him. Now there was only the Dark Lord left.
Carth watched as the man on the bed was wriggling uncontrollably. He checked his temperature to know if he had a fever. But he didn't.
The Republic pilot eyed suspiciously the other three soldiers. They looked similar to each other. Almost as if they were brothers.
All three had impressive posture. They looked like they've seen a lot of fights in their lives. And Carth was certain it was true.
He watched them through the Endar Spire's life support system. Their combat style was different than the one used by the Republic soldiers. They didn't act on their emotions. They were concentrated and kept the cold blood. Their shots were precise – something rarely seen amongst the soldiers, both Republic and Sith alike. And their melee combat also was different.
They more reminded Echani in combat than a regular soldier. Especially the one, laying on the bed. Alen, Carth thought his name was. He moved swiftly and with practiced ease with the vibroblades. He sliced through the Sith minions, cutting them down. And that intrigued him.
Normally the Republic soldiers weren't that good in combat. They mostly were shooting blindly and their moves in melee exchange were clumsy and uncoordinated.
But these four acted more like bounty hunters or the Echani warriors. Their moves were planned and precise. And that caused Carth to wonder about his companions.
The three of them, who weren't laying unconscious, remained silent all the time. They didn't feel any need for talk. From time to time, they eyed the man, who was resting on the bed. Carth saw in their eyes something, that was coming close to admiration and anxiety. And that also intrigued him.
What was so special in this Alen? From what he found in his database, he wasn't anyone special. Of course, he had a lot of skills that made him almost a killing machine. At such a young age it was practically impossible to possess so many abilities. But other than that, he didn't find anything unique in the unconscious man. And yet his three companions acted as he was their General at least.
Carth's thoughts have stopped when he heard a groan from the bed. With a corner of his eye, he saw a movement from the three other soldiers. They watched so-called Alen intensively.
Carth decided to leave questions for later when the man returns from the unconsciousness.
Revan blinked few times. First, he felt a huge headache. He tried to move his head a little. It was a mistake. It has exploded in an enormous pain that caused him to shut his eyes back immediately.
Suddenly he felt himself being pulled upwards and placed against the wall. He tried to reopen his eyes. Everything around him was hazed over. He only saw human shapes in front of him and a characteristic Republic orange color.
Revan felt a glass being pressed against his lips. He opened his mouth and willingly drank the water. It brought to him some sort of relief and his eyes weren't so hazy anymore. He tried to find focus again. This time he could make out some details.
First, he saw his most trusted men. In front of them was Rex. It was he, who gave him the glass of water. Behind him where standing Fox and Wolfie. Then he noticed someone else in the room they were in.
It was the same man who helped them to get out of the Endar Spire. Carth. He was sitting on the chair and eyed him carefully. Revan could see suspicious in the man's eyes. And he knew, he had to make it go away.
Apparently, he wasn't such an idiot as most of the Republic soldiers. The former Dark Lord could see the unasked question on the man's face. Carefully he entered his mind. He couldn't risk too much. Otherwise, every Force-sensitive being in this system would feel him.
But he could lower his restraints from him and slip into someone's mind. It wouldn't make him sensible for anyone.
He saw it in Carth's thoughts. Tons of suspicions caused with what he saw through the Endar Spire's cameras and with Alen's database. The one question was probing in his mind. Who are you?, he seemed to ask. Revan used as little Force as possible to sooth the other man. And it worked. He saw Carth noticeably relax. The Republic officer stood up and came up to him.
"Good to see you again, instead of thrashing around in your sleep" he welcomed him. Revan returned it with a nod. "You must be having a lot of a nightmare. I was wondering if you were ever going to wake up. I'm Carth, one of the Republic soldiers from the Endar Spire" he introduced himself and pulled out his hand. The former Dark Lord took it and shook their hands. "I was with you in the escape pod, do you remember?" he asked. Revan nodded.
"Yes, I remember. I'm Alen, by the way" he introduced himself. "Alen Royce" he finished. He had to use his false identity, that was sure. Even if they outnumbered him four to one, it wasn't wise to reveal themselves. So for the time being, he was Alen.
"I guess we haven't told you our names," Rex said. He relaxed when he saw his leader shaking hands with Carth. "My name is Rex. This one next to me is Fox. And the one without an eye is Wolfie" he introduced himself and his companions. Carth shook hands with all of them. The tension in room lessened visibly.
"What has happened, by the way?" Revan asked. It was good to start some friendly conversation with that man. If he wished to escape this planet, he would have to use every help, he could get. And right now they weren't in that much hurry. Of course, they needed to find the way out of Taris but first, they had to make some recognition.
"You've hit your head and fell unconscious" Carth cared to explain. "Our escape pod have crashed against the Taris' Upper City. We had to get out from it quickly, cause the Sith patrol was nearby. We have managed to find the abandoned apartment in one of the skyscrapers. And the rest you know" he finished. Revan nodded. It gave him some basic information he needed.
First of all, the Sith have taken the planet. It forced them to somehow change their appearance. The Republic armor was too recognizable. And if the Sith controlled the surface, they had also a blockade on the orbit. It made their escape more difficult. But not impossible.
"How long have I been out?" he asked. It was also important. The shorter he was unconscious, the better.
"For almost a day" Rex responded. Revan wiped his face. A day. It was much longer than he would want. This gave the Sith more time to find them and reinforce their position on the orbit.
"I've made some recognition already when you were unconscious," Carth informed him. That intrigued Revan.
"You did it in THAT?" he asked, referring to his jacket. It had a Republic emblem on and the orange color. If he did it, Revan wouldn't be surprised if the Sith battalion suddenly entered the room they were in.
"Of course not! I'm not an idiot" Carth responded. "But I don't have any spare clothes."
Revan nodded. At least this man wasn't some over proud Republic ignorant, who assumed that he would able to take down the whole Sith Empire himself. This boosted Revan's opinion about Carth.
"We have to find some way to change our clothes. We are too easily recognizable."
"I have found a store, not far from here. We can resupply ourselves. But I don't have many Credits left" Carth responded. Revan again just nodded. He had millions of Credits in his bank accounts, but he couldn't use them. They were being tracked for sure. He checked his pockets.
"I have few Credits," Rex said, pulling out five chips. Fox and Wolfie also searched for any spared money. After around a minute, they had a small stack of Credit chips. They have counted it. Around one hundred Credits. Certainly not enough.
Revan again wiped his face. He had to come up with a plan and he had to do it fast.
First of all, they had to find Bastila. If they didn't, the Sith would do. And then, they would be screwed.
Next, they had to come up with some sort of escape from the planet. It was impossible to steal any Sith fighter, that for sure.
An idea started to form itself in Revan's mind. The sun was setting down, so the cantinas would be full right now. He came up to the table the Credits were laying on and took them.
"What are you doing?" Carth asked surprised. It wasn't suspicious tone though, just intrigued.
"I'm going to make some money and hopefully find some supplies. It will be better if the rest of you stay here. Alone, I won't be drawing much attention" Revan replied, undoing his armor. Now he wouldn't be that recognizable, but still, the pants betrayed him. He had to come up with a way of changing that orange bright color. Then another idea came into his mind.
"Carth?" he asked. The man looked at him with a questioning expression. "Do you mind changing trousers for a while?" Officer's eyes widened in shock.
"What?!" the man responded with disbelief in his voice. Alen couldn't be serious, could he?
"Mine are too recognizable" Revan reasoned. "And yours are of the black color. I won't be standing out so much in them" he continued. Carth could see a point in the younger man's way of thinking. But still he didn't like an idea of clothes' changing, but, unwillingly, he complied.
"I'll go to the refresher then."
Revan nodded and started unbuttoning his trousers. He didn't want to do that as well, but it was a necessity. He almost pulled down his cloth but stopped in his tracks. He turned to other three men sitting in the room. They watched him with amusement, barely restraining laughter.
"Are you going to turn around?" he asked them. They chuckled a little but complied. Revan took off his trousers and walked up to the refresher's doors. He knocked lightly. After few seconds they have been opened and a pair of black breeches flew out from the room. Revan caught it with ease and tossed inside his own pants.
He quickly put on Carth's trousers on and buttoned them. They were soft and comfortable. The black color was able to make him look like a regular citizen. With the stack of Credits, Revan left the apartment they were in.
Of course, it was dangerous to go alone, but it was the only possibility they had. They didn't have more clothes to change so their outfits would make them stand out from regular Tarisians. And while being alone, Revan could blend into the crowd much easier.
It would also give him the possibility of coming up with some sort of plan. He needed the fresh air to clear his mind. Revan walked out of the building and looked around.
The sun was setting already. It wasn't late yet. He had around an hour before the cantinas would start to teem with life. If this what he heard about Taris, during Mandalorian wars, was true, he Revan wouldn't have any problems in making some money. Hazard was something common in here. And for someone, who could influence others' minds, it would be all too easy to get some Credits.
He didn't have to search long. The first cantina was right in front of the exit of their apartment. He walked there, passing citizens and Sith patrols on his way. Just as he expected, they haven't paid him any attention. Revan smirked. After all, it was good to wear a mask during his reign as the Dark Lord. Now almost no one, except for Rex, Fox, Wolfie, Malak, Meetra, Atton and the Admirals knew his face.
As he stepped into through the doors, he was immediately flooded with dozens of different smells. The one, that was the most sensible, was an odor of alcohol. It stung his nostrils and caused him to bring a hand to his face. Revan had to use his all strength to keep himself from vomiting. Fortunately, he hadn't been eating anything for some time already. Slowly, he retracted his hand. The former Dark Lord was able to survive many things and certainly, he wouldn't allow some scent to bit him.
He gathered his mental strength and walked further in. He came up to the counter and ordered himself a drink. It would look suspicious if he didn't drink anything. And one small quencher wouldn't harm him.
He drank in a one swift movement everything when the barman gave him his order. He put the glass back down and looked around the room he was in.
In the middle was a small holographic orchestra with female twi'lek dancers around the holoprojector. They were dressed in scanty outfits, that barely covered the front of their breasts and their hips. Between their legs, they wore only a thin piece of material, that kept their crotches hidden from the lustful looks of men gathered in the cantina. Revan averted his eyes from the dancers. Bastila certainly wouldn't approve him checking out some girls.
With that in mind, he looked around the tables. On most of them were standing empty glasses after alcohol and the men, who were sitting at them, were playing Pazaak. A popular hazard game, that could help Revan to gain some money. He smirked under his nose. A Pazaak tackle wasn't expensive and was able to buy in any place actually. It was being even sold in cantinas by players. After few minutes, Revan had a complete deck of cards in his hand. He lost for it fifty Credits, but he was sure, that he would be able to make up for this expense during this night. He approached one of the tables and started to ask if anyone wanted to play with him.
Three hours have passed before Revan left the cantina. He managed to earn over five hundred Credits by simple Pazaak contests with Taris' citizens. It wasn't difficult. They were mostly already under influence of the alcohol so their thinking processes were disturbed. And with Revan's possibility to enter one's mind, it was impossible for him to lose. He played with practically everyone, who was in the cantina. And except Credits, he got also some information.
First of all, the Sith blockade on the orbit made it impossible for any ship to leave the planet. If he wanted to do it, he would need launching codes. And he could get them only in the Sith's base, that was located here in the Upper City of Taris.
And the second useful information was a mean of transport. No one was in possession of any sort of ship. Only the Exchange had some ships, but it was almost impossible to get them. Only those worked for Davik, could enter Exchange's quarters.
Even if the information was bad, it was better than nothing. At least Revan knew what was their position. And, as always, he would find a way out.
Now he was walking from the cantina towards his apartment and stopped in his tracks when he was passing through a connector, placed in one of the Upper City's skyscrapers. There was a store, that Carth mentioned earlier. Revan entered the shop and was greeted with a sight of a dark-skinned woman, standing behind the encounter. He walked up to her.
"Hello there," the woman spoke. "I haven't seen you in my shop before… allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kebla Yurt. Welcome to the Equipment Emporium" she finished. She had a soft voice that was too gentle in Revan's opinion. But, after all, she was a seller – she had to be polite if she wanted to have clients.
"You looking to buy some supplies?" Kebla continued. "My shop's the largest one in all of the Upper Taris. Best selection on the planet. Whatever you need, I've got. Well, mostly" she added with a quiet sigh, that didn't escape Revan's hearing.
"Mostly? What do you mean by that?" he asked intrigued.
"The Sith confiscated all my heavy weapons" she started to explain. "And they impounded all my ships and swoop bikes. But I've still got a really nice selection if you're interested."
"Well, I'm looking for some regular clothes for a group of men" Revan started to say. "Around my posture and height. It doesn't have to be anything from the top shelf. Just something that will make us look more like locals."
"And why is that? Are you trying to hide from something?" Kebla asked with a small laughter. Revan smirked as well.
"No, but we're going to spend some time here walking all the time in one set of clothes isn't good, certainly" he responded.
"Okay, I was just kidding. So, some regular clothes, you say? Fortunately, the Sith didn't take that from me. I would just have to go to the warehouse. Give me a minute" she said and disappeared. After a moment she came back, caring a pile of different clothes.
"Well, this is something that should please you," Kebla said, placing the clothes on the table before Revan. He was scanning them for a while and was pleased with the results. He found few white and few black shirts, some brown trousers and grey outerwear. He only hoped, he had enough money.
"How much for that?" he asked, mentioning to the pile of clothes he created. Kebla was considering for a minute and responded.
"Seven hundred Credits" was her answer. Revan cursed mentally. He looked around and returned his gaze to the seller, standing in front of him.
"You will sell it to me for four hundred Credits," he said, waving his hand, before her face.
"I will sell it to you for four hundred Credits" she answered repetitiously. Revan smiled lightly.
"Very well, here is the money," he said, handing her few chips. Then he picked up the pile of clothes and left the shop.
He returned to the apartment, where his companions were waiting for him. He got there after few minutes of walk. When he entered the room, he cast the pile of clothes on the floor.
"How was your quest?" Rex greeted him, eyeing what Revan brought.
"Just as you can see" was his response. "What are you waiting for? Dress up!" he ordered. As his companions were digging through the pile of clothes, he started to explain.
"I have managed to make some Credits in the local cantina. As well as some information. Apparently, we will be needing the Sith launching codes to escape the planet and a ship as well. And here comes the biggest problem. No one of the citizens is in the possession of ship. Only the Exchange has some, but you have to work for them, to be able to use it."
"And we need to find Bastila" Carth added, as he was putting on his own trousers, and redressed his top. Revan nodded for that.
"Yea, that's true. We'll start to make some more detailed searching tomorrow. It would be pointless to wander now, in the middle of the night, on the streets. We would be drawing a lot of attention. Citizens right now are or in the cantina, or in apartments. Only the Sith patrols are out." Revan continued. He finished already dressing up. Now he was wearing the same black shoes as earlier, a pair of brown trousers, a white shirt, he put on the black vest, and a grey jacket. Now he looked more like a smuggler, than a citizen. But Taris was filled with people like this.
He came up to the small sack he took from the Endar Spire. He had in there a datapad, and two lightsabers he took from the Endar Spire. He cautiously hid them back and placed them under his bed. He decided to repair them that night. He could use some parts from his blaster rifle. He wouldn't be able to use them here on Taris, of course. But they could be of a good use later.
With that in mind, he laid himself on the bed and waited for others, one by one, drifted off to sleep. When they did, he started to work.
His bed was near the workbench, so, hopefully, he wouldn't wake up anyone. He took the chair and placed it in front of the small table. There were some tools he needed so he began his work immediately.
First, he put his blaster into pieces. He took the parts he would be needing and placed them on the side. The rest he threw away.
Then he took the lightsabers' handles. He had to add some extra weight to make them more balanced. He had to rebuild them a little. They were in a very bad condition. He sighed heavily. He had a long night before him.
Well here is another chapter. Huh, I thought I will never be able to finish it. From all the chapters I have written, this isn't one I'm content with. Write down what you think about it (for me it is my least favorite for now hahaha). And as always, add this story to your 'favorites' and follow me. See you next time!
