Oh, my God, I hate school. Through the past week, I didn't have an opportunity to write this chapter due to a number of school assignments we receive daily and I write it only now during the weekend. Eh, stupid school. Nevertheless, in the recent chapters, we found out that Juhani was the one sent by Vrook to spy on Revan and I know that for many, many of you it looks cliché and farfetched and I apologize for that but I really, really need it for the later chapters just as I need Rakghouls' venom. So please be patient to my feeble writing and I promise that I'll at least try to make it up to you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 37
"Prepare to leave the hyperspace" Carth announced while still being focused on piloting the Ebon Hawk. Wolfie just recently returned to the co-pilot seat, still being somewhat dizzy from his sleep.
Revan was standing in the center of the ship, reading the reports of the Republic soldiers from Manaan that Fox managed to steal from the Republic database. Just as it has been back when he held the mantle of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Selkaths were neutral, allowing both sides of the war to exploit their natural Kolto deposits. This had a lot of cons and he doubted if it had any pros.
He was determined to get the Star Map data by breaking into the Sith base but he knew that it would not be an easy task. Well, not easy in explaining to the Selkaths why they broke the non-aggression pact binding on Manaan. Revan was sure that there was going to be none in the base who could have posed any challenge, at least not for him.
What he wished for was the small amount of time they would waste on gaining the data. He knew that they couldn't stay on any planet for too long. While the Hutt Space gave them some sort of protection, Manaan wouldn't be able to guarantee it. They had to make it quick since he promised to Bastila to take her later on some sort of date. He sighed heavily, silently cursing his own stupidity. But he couldn't back down, not now.
Juhani was another thing that kept on dwelling in his mind. She was aware of his true identity and he knew it. But he couldn't come up with a way of dealing with her. He already suffered enough headaches from being lectured and he didn't want to end up listening to Jolee or worse: Bastila. As much as he would want to just get rid of her, he simply didn't have an idea on how to do so.
Bastila. She, or rather conversations with her, was another thing occupying his mind. He had no idea why she was worried so much about the Dark Side subduing him, but nevertheless, she did. This was the source of few heated conversations between them.
His thoughts were interrupted by yet another series of coughing. That was yet another thing. He had no idea what the coughing that began just a few hours ago meant but he was pretty sure that the poison in his veins had something to do with it. It began as a small clearing of the throat but escalated into full coughs. Rarely in his life was Revan scared and it was one of these moments. He didn't know what was causing the venom to spread itself so vigorously through his body especially that he used the serum repeatedly.
Almost immediately after his coughing started, Revan began paying bigger attention to the physical signs of his infection. The blackness was in his veins was spreading somewhat quickly, consuming almost his entire right breast. The black bags under his eyes were growing bigger as well, though not as much for it to be worrying. He was also beginning to feel tired, and it wasn't due to the workout he did earlier that day.
He closed his eyes, rubbing them. He reopened them when he felt Bastila's comforting hand on his back. She was fully aware of his infection but, just as he, she had no idea what that meant, which made her worry even more about him. He coughed.
"How do you feel?" she asked gently, a genuine concern was heard in her voice.
"Still the same" Revan replied, not looking at her. He was still focused on the reports in front of him.
"You're distressed" she stated, watching him closely. He chuckled slightly at that.
"I am, aren't I? And wouldn't you be if you were being consumed by the sickness that you don't have the cure for?" he asked her with a humorless smile on his lips. Bastila went silent after that.
"Alen, if you can, come to the cockpit" Wolfie called him from his seat. Revan departed from the holoprojector, brushing off Bastila's hand.
"Stay," Revan said when he noticed that Bastila intended to follow him. "And alert the others. Everyone is going with me for the Star Map. We'll be needing as much firepower as we can afford in that Sith base." Without waiting for her to reply he proceeded to the cockpit.
Through the viewport, Revan could see the azure planet of Manaan. The even color of the planet's surface was broken only by a small spot where the Ahto City was located in and sparse clouds.
"Within thirty minutes we'll be approaching the landing pad on the neutral ground" Carth reported. "I failed to contact the Republic embassy on this planet. Something must be wrong with our communication system" he commented, directing it more to himself. Revan and Wolfie shared the knowing look.
"Gear up, Carth," Revan said, patting the Republic pilot on the back. "You're coming with us this time. We'll be needing as many men as we have for what awaits us."
"Why is that?"
"The Star Map data is located in the Sith base. It is the fastest way to gain access to it but we'll need to break into it."
"Does this mean that I'm coming along as well?" Wolfie asked intrigued, turning in his seat to face Revan. He shook his head.
"No. Someone still has to remain on the ship and T3 is actually coming with us. I doubt if with your eye you would be able to fight properly. So do what you do best and remain on the Ebon Hawk."
"As always" Wolfie muttered to himself, turning back again to face Manaan.
"Wait a second" Carth said quickly before Revan was able to leave the cockpit. "You said that the Star Map is located in the Sith base. How can you possibly know it?" he queered.
"Think about it," Revan said, doing his best to sound convincing. "Revan and Malak found the Star Map and established their own contingent on this planet. They must have secured the data from the Map, keeping it safely locked down."
"Now you sounded as if it was just your guess" Carth countered. "Yet you sounded so sure of it when you said the Star Map is there."
"Trust me, Carth" Revan replied, turning to leave. "The Force will guide us."
"Our mission will require stealth and awareness, as well as the combat skills" Revan, addressed the gathered crew. The Ebon Hawk was now safely put down on the ground in one of the many spaceports located in the central part of the Ahto City. "The Sith base is well guarded by hundreds of troopers. Our purpose is clear. Gain the Star Map data that's located somewhere in the base's computer terminals."
"And how are we going to get inside?" Mission asked as always eager.
"This is your job" Revan replied, looking at her. "You said that you are more than capable of dealing with any securities. You will bring us in." This earned shock looks from most of the crew members and a surprised one from the Twi'lek he was addressing.
"You can't be serious" Bastila commented, not believing what she's just heard. "Mission's too young for something like that, she's just a…"
"Child?" the blue Twi'lek interrupted, putting both of her hands on her hips. "Listen to me, Mrs. High and Mighty, I've been through things you can't even imagine. Things that your status of 'Jedi Princess' saved you from. I'm not a little girl, I've never been!" she snapped at Bastila. Revan held back a laugh upon hearing that.
"Relax, Bastila," Revan said when he noticed that she wasn't capable of coming up with any response. "Mission has survived long years in the Taris' Undercity, while you couldn't handle there for yourself" he teased her. He coughed. "She'll manage."
"I still think that taking her is not wise" Carth added with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I don't actually care what you think" Revan replied. "Now, once inside…"
Mission was trying to remain calm but it was difficult for her. She didn't believe what was happening. The mere fact that the Jedi Knight acknowledged her skills was almost unbelievable. She was excited, how could she not be? After all, it didn't happen every day that you stopped being perceived as a child and started to be treated as an adult.
The blue Twi'lek girl did her best to stop her racing with emotions heart. She knew the importance of their task and that the success depended heavily on her burglar skills. If she failed now, their entire quest on Manaan would be jeopardized.
The first part of her mission was rather easy. With the help of HK-47, she has managed to get a Sith uniform from a lonely woman who didn't watch her back carefully. After hiding the body, Mission dressed in the woman's clothes. Now she really looked like a member of the Sith Empire.
This is how she found herself now wandering the streets of Ahto City. She passed dozens upon dozens of Sith soldiers; none of them spared her a second glance, something she was thankful for. She was well aware that her young age was still visible, no matter what. To add to it the fact that she was a Twi'lek… she couldn't comprehend how no one has stopped her yet. Perhaps it was due to HK whose sheer composure was enough to scare others away? Maybe it was because she did her best to look more adult than she really was? Mission had no idea. She decided to think about it later cause she was now approaching the entrance to the Sith base.
"Hold right there!" It was the first time someone addressed her while being in her new disguise. "What brings you here?" It was a common soldier. The more important person who was sitting at the desk next to the doors didn't even acknowledge her.
After clearing her throat and making her best to sound intimidating, she replied. "I wish to get inside."
"And what makes you think that we'll let you in?"
"I'm the member of the Sith Empire" she replied. "I demand you to let me in."
"The fact that you're wearing the Sith uniform doesn't make you one of us, kid" the soldier replied. Mission felt her heart beating faster as she began to lose her wits. "Now get the hell out of here before I'll lock you up!"
"Warning:" HK said, gaining the attention of not only the soldier but also all the others who were in the small room. "You will either let us in or it will end with bloodshed what would make me happy beyond measure. The choice is yours, meatbags!"
"Meatbags?!" the outraged soldier yelled, picking up his blaster rifle. Mission hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but she had to act now or soon she would be laying on the ground with a hole in her forehead.
Moving as fast as her muscles allowed her to, she drew her own small pistol which had an additional silencer mounted and fired a killing shot into the soldier who was standing right in front of her. There was no sound, except for the metallic armor hitting the floor when the soldier fell dead right where he stood.
Acting quickly, just like the life in the Undercity taught her, she spun on her heel and fired few more shots into the Officer who was sitting at the desk and few other soldiers who were awestruck and unable to move.
The whole action didn't last longer than three seconds and now the room was filled with six dead Sith.
"Remain on guard," she said to HK, coming to the desk. She tossed aside the corpse and sat at the chair that was occupied just a few seconds ago. Her hands were trembling with excitement what made it difficult for her to type anything on the keyboard.
After taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, Mission managed to bypass the Sith security. She smiled to herself upon her achievement. Of course, back on Taris, she used to break into some minor places, but, so far, this one was her greatest piece of work. Her efforts were rewarded with the elevator doors opening.
"Come on, HK," she said to the rusty-red droid. Its eyes glowed red with anticipation.
"Gleeful statement: Ah, more meatbags to slaughter. What a wonderful day!" the droid exclaimed. Mission chuckled at that and they both entered the elevator. Once the doors closed themselves a realization struck upon the Twi'lek girl and a look of shock appeared on her blue face.
That day she deprived of life seven living beings.
The more she thought about it, the more regrets she started to feel. Most of these men she killed with cold blood had their own families; wives and children who were supposedly waiting for them back at homes. Perhaps even the woman whose uniform she wore had someone waiting for her. Mission's blue face began to turn pale. How was she now any better than those Sith she hated?
Back on Taris, she used to kill, of course, but those she killed were only Gamorreans or Rakghouls so it was hard for her to feel any remorse. Now, however, she killed the intelligent beings and in the name of what? Maybe those she just killed weren't the rotten to the very core Sith she despised? Maybe they did what they did simply out of fear? Or to protect those they loved? The more she thought about it, the more she started to question the motives of the other side of this war.
"Observation:" HK's robotic voice brought her out of her inner struggles. "We've arrived at the Sith base. I would recommend you, meatbag, to prepare your weapon for it will come in handy." Mission rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, trashcan" she replied. She really didn't like being called meatbag by that stupid droid.
"Objection: I'm not a trashcan, you worthless organic meatbag!" HK shouted at her, causing her to look at the droid in shock. "Threat: the only reason I'm not treating you like other meatbags we're going to kill only because Master forbid me to do it and ordered me to protect you. However, as soon as my Master won't have any usage of you, I'm going to disintegrate you if you dare to call me 'trashcan' again." If Mission was pale before, now she was white as a sheet. This droid clearly knew how to make intimidating threats.
"Okay, okay, sorry" she apologized quickly, looking uneasily at the large blaster rifle in the droid's hands. "You're not a trashcan."
"Observation: I know I'm not, meatbag. Unnecessary clarification: Thanks to my programming I'm far more intelligent than any other being in this Galaxy. It's almost humiliating that I must take orders from the organic meatbags such as you. The only consolation is that my Master shows many droid-alike features that place him far above other meatbags." Their conversation was interrupted by the elevator coming to halt. Mission took a deep breath and HK only reloaded its blaster rifle. "Commentary: This should be fun," the droid said with a voice that sounded very close to an excited one.
"The entrance is clear" Mission reported to the others, using her wrist communicator. She has just ended dealing with the security system and the camera circuit inside the Sith base while HK was busy with hiding the bodies. The main room was filled with a dozen or so Sith guards and some Intel Officers. It didn't take HK half a minute to deal with the unsuspecting troops. Mission was now waiting for the rest of their team to join her. She didn't receive any reply but she knew that they got her message.
As the time was passing by, she began feeling nervous. The rest of their team didn't send her any message nor were they anywhere nearby; even HK didn't sense them anywhere close.
Her worries were escalated when the communicator in the terminal beeped to life. It caused her to jump in her seat as she heard the voices speaking.
"Diana, do you copy?" someone asked. "It seems that those above are not replying. We sent a team to investigate it, but we still have no results. Just… be on your guard." With that, the communicator went silent.
Hurry up, guys, Mission thought, wishing for them to hear her. Other minutes were passing by with Mission getting more and more worried. She began pacing across the room while HK was standing still where it was. The blue Twi'lek almost jumped out of her skin when the crate of the air-conditioning shaft flew from its original place and hit the opposite wall. She let out a huge sigh of relief when she saw the familiar face of Alen appearing from the darkness of the shaft.
"Finally!" she exclaimed happily. "What took you so long?"
"We had a little problem convincing our Jedi Princess to enter the air-conditioning" Revan replied with a smile. "Just as back on Taris" he added, earning an elbow into gut from Bastila. Mission watched as the rest of the crew made their way out of the shaft. Zaalbar immediately came to her, picking her up into a bone-crushing embrace. She chuckled slightly at that what was rather difficult due to the fact that she almost couldn't breathe. "By the way, you did an amazing job, Mish" Revan added. "Handling those Sith by yourself…" he trailed off.
"Observation: Master, she didn't handle them all by herself" HK interjected. "Clarification: It's fair to say that I did most of the job" the droid added, praising itself. Revan chuckled at that.
"Of course you did, HK" Revan replied.
"Wasn't there any other way for us to get inside?" Rex complained as he and Fox were struggling to pull T3 up from the shaft.
"Of course there was. We could have used the main entrance and the elevator like the normal, civilized men" Revan said, grinning widely. He earned hateful glances from almost everyone. "…And Wookiees and Cathars" he added after noticing a specific glance from Juhani.
"Then why haven't we?" Bastila asked with her arms crossed over her chest. Revan's grin grew even wider.
"Because, dear Bastila, this way is much more entertaining, especially with you coming along. This and I wanted to give Mission an opportunity to prove her skills, and she did an amazing job." Revan earned a huge, happy smile from the Twi'lek girl.
"Diana" the communicator beeped back to life, causing everyone in the room to look at it. "It seems that someone has killed our men back on the surface. Be on your guard for they can come down to the base!"
"Well, it looks like we've lost the element of surprise" Revan commented, reaching out with his hand behind him. Immediately, a detonator was given into his awaiting palm. He placed it down on the computer terminal and clicked a button, arming it. After three seconds the terminal exploded, sending millions of debris in every direction. Everyone in the room shielded their eyes from the flying metallic objects. "Let's move on," he said; his voice lost any trail of its previous playfulness. "They already know we are here and we must act quickly." He earned a collective nod from everyone and they set out, heading into the long corridor.
Malak was standing on top of the bridge, staring into the nothingness of the hyperspace. He moved his fleet in a bald, and some would say stupid, move.
He launched an attack on the unsuspecting Dantooine.
He grew tired of playing cat and mouse with Bastila. He needed something to occupy his mind with while his apprentice was searching for the stubborn woman. And h just got an idea how to keep himself busy.
"Lord Malak, we'll be on Dantooine in no more than ten minutes" Admiral Len reported. Malak wasn't on Leviathan that was under direct Saul's command. This time he was testing a fleet of new capital ships that the Star Forge recently produced.
The man who addressed him – Admiral Len – was a man in his late forties with grey hair surrounding his skull. His dark skin was covered with wrinkles that hid the years of expertise and knowledge of the battle.
"Very well, Admiral" Malak said, acknowledging the man. "Have the fleet prepared to launch the attack immediately after we leave hyperspace.
"As you wish, Lord Malak" the man replied, bowing deeply.
Malak would have grinned if only he had a jaw. Many thought that the direct attack on the Jedi hidden Enclave was something he would not dare do, and yet here he was: on his way to Dantooine, preparing to obliterate the peaceful planet.
He didn't care about the thoughts that told him that this was the only place he could once call home. Now his home was the Star Forge, and soon when he will conquer the Republic, Coruscant. Dantooine was only a rubbish, just like Taris used to be, that stood in his way. And Malak learned long ago that the most effective way of dealing with problems was with strength.
He could sense that the Jedi Masters gathered on Dantooine have already acknowledged his approaching presence. He closed his eyes, bathing in the sensation of utter victory over those Jedi. He was fully aware that they had no means of defense against him and this made him even more pleased. Soon, the Galaxy would taste his true power after he dealt with these foolish Jedi Masters who thought he could be stopped.
And then he would have Bastila. He felt it in the Force. He could tell that either way, he was going to get her, no matter what. And then the Galaxy would burn under the firepower of his armada, strengthen with Bastila's battle meditation.
He focused his eyes on the planet below as his ship exited the hyperspace. He watched as his fleet began the assault on the unsuspecting planet. He didn't have any second thought about obliterating the civilian planets like Revan had. No, the Galaxy needed a strong sign. And what better sign than killing those who were supposed to protect this Galaxy from him?
Okay, this was it. Thank you for your patience and that you were willing to sacrifice your precious time to read this chapter. As always, leave a review and see you, guys, in the next update!
