Compulsion

- Bastila Shan -


Ice was curdling in my veins as I sat in stark horror. The Ebon Hawk was now flying meekly through hyperspace, and Carth was muttering over the consoles. All I could think of was Dantooine.

And Revan.

Who is still alive? What do I do? I'd only once felt as helpless as I did right now, and that was back on Taris. Collared and sedated.

Dantooine, under attack? I could barely believe what I had seen. Why? Why is this happening? My resolve and confidence were faltering; cracking. Master Vrook? Vandar? Nemo? I thought of all the Jedi I knew back in the Enclave, and a dark sickly grief surged through me.

Despair is one of many roads to the Dark Side, child. Nemo had said that to me, once. You must have faith in the Force.

I could not succumb; now, more than ever, I needed to be strong. Logically I knew that the Jedi masters would survive the attack on Dantooine, and possibly triumph. I felt numerous masters using the Force back there. If I could have helped... despite common sense telling me that Carth had been correct in his course of action, I could not stop the bitter anger at his quick jump into hyperspace. I feel like we betrayed the Enclave in their darkest hour.

It seemed Malak had split his fleet to attack both Dantooine and Taris jointly. But why? It is not a clever move. Dantooine is a civilian target, for all that it is a member of the Republic. Surely this will rally other Rim worlds to declare against the Sith. Malak may not have been the tactician Revan once was, but he certainly wasn't a floundering idiot. He knows a direct assault on Dantooine would be unlikely to succeed, even by surprise. The Force is too strong there. Had the Dark Side twisted him so fully that he was content to destroy parts of his Fleet against a planet he would not be able to conquer?

Or was he after some other objective?

My blood ran cold. What if our mission really had been betrayed? What if he knows we have learnt about the Star Maps, and his target was the master Star Map? That made horrible sense. Without the Dantooine Star Map, there would be no markers to the other four worlds. We had, however, already downloaded the data from the ancient Rakatan relic, thanks to Master Nemo's scouting team. Only a handful of Jedi knew about the Star Maps, and near all of them were masters. Could a Jedi have betrayed us? Turned to the Dark Side, without anyone knowing?

Was it possible for there to have been a spy in our midst?

What is done, is done. You can only make the best of what happens next. Funny how my father's words still came back to counsel me, even though I had last seen him at the tender age of seven. I pushed my emotions away and struggled for a calm the seemed impossible against the well of horror and anger that was surfacing. There is no emotion, there is peace. I must find a way forward.

I felt my lips pinching in resolution, and turned to face Carth. His expression was dark with concern.

"Where are we headed?" I asked, and my words sounded cold even to my own ears. I must hold on to this calm.

"Tatooine," he replied, and it was in a questioning, almost wondering tone.

"Tatooine?" I spluttered. "Tatooine?"

Carth looked almost sheepish. "I picked the closest hyperspace route out of the pre-programmed list. They're all smuggling destinations, so maybe it's not too surprising. Tatooine is a short jump from Taris, and I daresay this ship was used as a smuggling vessel between the two."

I leaned back, at a loss for words. The surprise was overwhelming, on top of the despair I was still struggling to tamp down. Is this not a large coincidence?Heading toward the original destination of the Endar Spire. And, thanks to the earlier research of the masters, I knew the rough location of the Star Map on that desert planet. How likely is it for this to occur by chance?

Master Vrook did not believe in coincidences, or luck. I knew well one of his favourite sayings. There are no coincidences. There is only the Force.

Perhaps the Force had led us here.

With that thought in mind, I hardened my resolve and turned back to Carth. "How long do you expect the hyperspace jump to last?"

Carth glanced at the central console. "Two days. Hopefully we can repair the Ebon Hawk when we land."

I licked suddenly dry lips. "If we will be on Tatooine, then perhaps the mission is not totally over." The Force had a will of its own. Perhaps… perhaps I was meant to carry on. Perhaps, in stealth and smaller numbers, it would be possible.

Ever since I had escaped from that Brejik's slimy grasp, the desire for recuperation in safety had been growing. And now, with the shock of the Sith attack on Dantooine, so close after witnessing the destruction on Taris, I could feel an utter well of grief and despair deep within my core. But, I reminded myself, Taris and Dantooine are only two planets. So many more will suffer the same fate if we don't stop Malak and his ever-growing armada. The Star Maps had to be the answer to defeating Malak, and it seemed like I was being given an opportunity to uncover the next part of the puzzle.

Carth had turned sharply to face me at my words, a frown darkening his face. "You want to complete a mission the Jedi Council had originally sent a dozen knights to accomplish?"

"Perhaps a covert approach would work," I said absently, my thoughts racing. The Endar Spire had been a large taskforce in the case of Darth Revan returning, which had once seemed highly improbable. And only I and Galdea knew about her. Not even my old friend Kylah was informed, despite our long acquaintance. And now, with the danger of Revan's re-emergence seeming like a distinct possibility, maybe the idea of striking out for the Star Map was as ludicrous as Carth's tone seemed to be suggesting.

"A covert approach?" Carth retorted, and his voice was incredulous. "Isn't that what the Endar Spire was meant to be?"

I didn't answer; my thoughts were still whirling. But it would not take more than a few days, at most. The masters had derived the location of the Tatooine Star Map to be in one of the old caves in the Eastern Dune Sea, very close to the small settlement of Anchorhead. Force relics had been placed there in the past, and the presence of Revan and Malak had been sighted in Anchorhead shortly after their return from the Mandalorian Wars. Manaan's Star Map, too, was known, thanks to the Republic Embassy who had so recently discovered an archaeological site near their secret kolto base. This is too much of an opportunity to cast away. Despite my fear… despite Revan… it seems like this must be my course of action.

The reminder that I was alone, with Darth Revan temporarily held at bay by the fracturing identity of a shy scholar, slammed the crawling fear back into my body. I had talked to her briefly some hours ago, and sensed no anger, no wildness, nothing but the meek shell of the scholar who had once existed. Yet that was merely a small reassurance - for when I thought upon the dark emotions that had flooded our bond back in Davik Kang's stronghold, a very real horror gripped me.

I had the terrible feeling that if Revan embraced the Force again, the persona of Jen Sahara would vanish like a child's ice cone under a desert sun.

I must be rational about this. How could one be rational about the Dark Lord of the Sith, Revan herself? I forcefully swallowed my fear, and reviewed the last day. The only times Revan had escaped the persona of Jen Sahara was when her life was threatened. Hence, I would have to make sure she did not become endangered. Perhaps I should persuade Revan to stay on the Ebon Hawk until I can get in contact with the Council?

At least she had not tried to use the Force. I could block her, I did so instinctively, but she no longer even seemed aware of the Force. Her earlier attempts on Taris had been clumsy, like someone fumbling for the light switch in the dark. Our mind-link gave me sufficient leverage to make sure she never found that switch. Her unbalanced emotional state is to my advantage. And ever since Jen has become her dominant personality, she has not even questioned her own ability. If I could keep her grounded on the Ebon Hawk, then we may very well find our objective, receive our new orders, and leave Tatooine to meet up with the Jedi wherever the closest masters may be.

I breathed in deeply, and turned to face Carth full on, projecting what I hoped was my most calm and commanding tone. I will be strong. The Force will be my ally, and I will be strong. "Carth. There will be a delay on Tatooine regardless, as we repair our communications and contact our superiors. There is a very real opportunity here, and it only takes one Jedi to find what the Council needs on Tatooine. I was your commander back on the Endar Spire. Will you follow me on Tatooine? Will you help with the war against Malak?"

Carth banged a fist down on the controls, hard and sudden. "How can you even ask that, Bastila? Of course I'll help! But I'd like to know a little more, first!" He was scowling. "Not to mention that I think we should wait until we've talked to Republic HQ and the Jedi Council before forging our own way forward!"

"Of course, Carth," I replied calmly. I could see he was irate, but I would not let it affect me. My emotions were pushed back, firmly under control. "But while we are waiting for the Ebon Hawk to be repaired, we may as well investigate any leads."

"Look, I-" he broke off, sighing. "I suppose that's fair enough. What is it you're after, anyway?" He still sounded annoyed, and I bit back an exasperated huff. I thought he was military. Used to taking orders, and not questioning his superiors.

"It is a Force relic, as you deduced earlier." I said no more, and despite a black expression, he seemed willing to let the matter drop for now.

"We should talk to the others," he muttered. "They need to know where we are headed, and we have very real logistical issues to sort out."

My thoughts had been whirling through black fear and blind panic, despite my attempts to stay in control. I needed some time alone to strengthen my resolve. But it made sense to hear Carth out.

"What issues?"

"Funding," he said shortly. "Look – especially if you want to do this quickly and in stealth, how do you expect to repair the ship? Are we going to need any equipment for your mission? And what about Ordo? What's the blasted Mandalorian planning on doing?"

I blinked; all valid questions I had not yet thought of. I gave Carth a quick nod, he switched to auto-pilot, and we both stood to leave the cockpit.

xXx

The answer to one of our immediate problems was right there, glistening in the form of innocent pre-paid plasteel credit chits. Zaalbar had called me in to the cargo bay as soon as he'd discovered it.

Has the Force so fortuitously offered me a solution? The Wookiee was standing to the side, idly holding a durasteel bar he had used to pry the crate open. The rest of the cargo bay was littered with equipment and open crates, mostly weaponry and armour, but this was the goldmine. I did not want to think on the origin of it, but the Ebon Hawk had been a smuggling freighter, and its profits were likely on the back of the slave trade or worse. Frankly, it was lucky we had not found glitterstim onboard.

"How much is there?" I asked quietly. "Enough to repair the ship?"

"Half of that is mine," came a gravelly voice from behind, and I stiffened in outrage, turning to face Canderous with a glare.

We were halfway to Tatooine, and the mood of the crew had been somber. Zaalbar and Mission had not reacted strongly to our change of destination, and Revan was deeply bewildered by everything, and more than a little scared. Of herself. It had taken only the smallest amount of Force persuasion to convince her that a sleeping tablet would lull her into a recuperative sleep that would result in her feeling refreshed and calmer.

Ever since I had crashed on Taris, I found myself acting less and less like a Jedi should.

The Mandalorian had been, in a word, frustrating. He was unwilling to divulge his plans thus far, other than claiming he had a half-share in the freighter which Carth and I both hotly objected to. We had been in the process of yet another argument when Zaalbar had interrupted us with this discovery from his inventory of the cargo bay.

"Half? And what, pray, is your argument for this?" I protested.

He was smirking, even as his grey eyes bored into mine. "I got you lot access to this ship. If it wasn't for me, you'd be lost on Taris amongst the Sith's plasma."

"And if it was not for us, so would you!" I retorted, feeling my cheeks flush with anger. It was the same argument we had had regarding the ownership of the Ebon Hawk, and Canderous was not giving ground. But despite his strength, Canderous could not win, not against me, and Carth, and the Wookiee. Perhaps I need to find another solution to this. My eyes slid back to the crate. And perhaps he does have a right to some of it, at least.

"We need to repair the ship, Canderous," I stated, before he could argue further. "We may need some basic supplies on Tatooine, as I have an objective to complete. And we do require the Ebon Hawk to leave Tatooine and meet up with the Order."

The Mandalorian folded him arms, and his expression could only be called impassive. "Are you proposing something here, princess?"

I could feel my lips pursing as I looked upon a man I seriously disliked. But his skills were useful, and antagonizing or alienating him would hardly be beneficial. "Assist me in my endeavour. I am on a mission from the Jedi Council, and I would like you to accompany Carth and I into Anchorhead when we land. Whatever chits remain after our purchases can be yours to do with as you will."

"As I said before, half of those are mine regardless. If you're offering me a job, then you need to pay me on top of that."

Mercenaries, I thought with disgust. "I hardly have access to any additional currency here, Canderous. But when we met up with the Jedi Order, I will make sure you are reimbursed for your time."

He snorted. "The Order pay well, does it?"

"Yes," I said icily. "Once we have restored communications, I will ensure they know of your assistance – both with leaving Taris, and whatever occurs on Tatooine."

Canderous was silent for some time, and his gaze rested on both me and Zaalbar before landing again on the open crate resting in the middle of the cargo bay. "There's not as much there as you're probably thinking, princess. Enough to repair the ship, if Republic's right about it just being the relay that's down. Maybe some supplies on top of that. I don't see any harm in getting you out of whatever trouble you're liable to put yourself in, at least until I can find some real work. But there's still the matter of the ship to sort out between us."

"I need this ship to leave Tatooine," I said again. "But it will no longer be required once I meet up with the Order. I do concede you have a stake in this ship. If you accompany us to our final destination, then perhaps we can discuss what happens to the ship at that stage."

"We will," he stated, and his gaze was hard. "But… you've caught my interest, princess, you and that Jen Sahara both. What, exactly, do you need on Tatooine?"

I let out a small sigh I hadn't realized I'd been holding in. "The repairs need to be underway first, so Carth and I can contact our superiors. We will land in a small settlement called Anchorhead, and we may require equipment to travel in the desert if there is nothing suitable onboard. Transport, too, although my destination is not far from Anchorhead."

My eyes closed even as I continued talking. "It should not be difficult nor long." Darth Malak, presumably, did not know about my escape. But the Endar Spire had been compromised. If Darth Malak was aware of the Endar Spire's destination, then he will assume other Jedi will travel to Tatooine.

How likely was it he knew? Even if he did not, the attack on Dantooine indicated that he suspected the hunt for the Star Maps was on. Would he believe that taking out the master Star Map would be enough?

There were too many questions. And the mantle of leadership sat uncomfortably on my shoulders.

I heard Canderous grunt. "All sounds fairly easy, princess. Let Republic organize the ship's repairs when we land, and you and I can scout around Anchorhead."

xXx

I was feeling relaxed and at peace when a presence slowly roused in the far reaches of my mind. Revan. She is waking. I breathed in deeply, and stood from my place on the floor. The room I occupied was a small office of some description, perhaps created as the personal quarters of the ship's captain. It seemed a good place for some privacy.

My determination was clear as I stretched, and left the room. We were close, now, to Tatooine, and I had to ensure that Revan stayed safe. Safe, and onboard the Ebon Hawk.

I must ensure Revan listens to me. At any cost.

I found her in the port quarters that the Twi'lek claimed as the women's sleeproom. The room itself was bare, and cramped with two sets of bunks filling most of the available space. The floor was littered with the bright cards of some sort of game I did not recognize; I wondered if Mission had brought these along on our hasty departure from Taris, or if she had found them in the cargo bay.

I frowned, and made a mental note to check back on the contents of the crates. The Twi'lek had been both a gang member and a street kid, and likely was not above acquiring some of those chits to line her own pockets.

"No, no, that's a nerf-herder move. I mean, the chances of winning on a score like that- sheesh. I see why you lost so much back on Taris," Mission was saying as I entered the room. She was sitting cross-legged on the small sliver of floor-space with her back to the door, and opposite her crouched Revan, frowning, as her bright green eyes stared at the cards on the grated durasteel floor.

"I don't really understand this game," Revan agreed, looking up as she spotted me. A slight smile appeared on her face.

"C'mon, the basics aren't exactly rocket science- Oh. Bastila." The Twi'lek's voice dropped several degrees as she turned to see what had caught Revan's interest. Mission's face was pale and wan, and I was reminded that she, too, had just seen a planet dear to her attacked most viciously. She scowled darkly at me.

We had not started off on the right foot, her and I, and I regretted tripping her with the Force – but I also did not understand why she was disposed to think of me so poorly. The expression on her face told me that my presence was decidedly unwelcome.

"Excuse me," I said in my most neutral tone. "I require Jen's attention for a short while."

"Can't you see we're busy?" Mission snapped. Revan glanced uncertainly between us.

"It will not take long, Mission, but I am afraid I must insist."

At that, Revan pushed herself up to her feet, and so did the Twi'lek. "Jen," she spluttered. "You don't have to do what she says, y'know-"

"Actually, she does," I cut in, and I could hear my voice freezing as my ire rose. She is being unreasonable and immature. This is why we should not have children onboard. "Jen is employed by the Jedi Order, Mission, and therefore answers to me. I have already said that it will not take long. Come, Jen." I turned briskly and exited, trusting that my words would be enough for Revan to follow.

I strode through the freighter in silence with Revan's footsteps behind me, feeling vaguely irritated, and wondering how best to repair my relationship with Mission. Perhaps it is not even important. I should not have to waste energy in smoothing the ruffled feathers of a petulant teenager. The only factor that made Mission Vao important was her relationship to Revan, and that was stronger on the Twi'lek's side than the Human's, I believed.

I waited until Revan had followed me into the pilot's quarters I had claimed, and closed the hatch firmly behind her. I motioned her to sit on the bed, and followed suit.

"Jen," I began. "I wanted to have a talk before we landed on Tatooine. We will be there for a few days only, before leaving to rendezvous with the Order again. During this time I will be engaged in a scouting trip with Canderous Ordo and Carth Onasi. You must stay onboard at all times, Jen. We require someone to guard the ship, and it is my job to ensure you are safe." Dared I use the Force to strengthen my commands? It was becoming a habit to keep her contained this way, and I knew, on some level, that it was not right. Stripped of her affinity with the Force, and attached to me via our bond, Revan was a great deal more susceptible to any Force suggestions I made. It was so very tempting to use that opportunity.

But was it necessary? Was it risky? Would she become aware of it? The questions made my stomach lurch.

Revan was staring at me with her bright green eyes, nodding. Jen Sahara's expressions made her look younger, closer in age to myself or the original scholar. I took a deep breath.

"How are you coping, Jen?"

"I-I am so confused," she whispered, and her words mirrored her emotions through the bond. "I feel like I don't know who I am." There was no anger I could sense, only a whirling puzzlement that was almost choking in its intensity. She could not understand her actions or behaviour, and was scared. I had bought myself some time with the sleeping tablet, but the real risk would be on Tatooine, when I left her onboard.

The Wookiee had already assured me he would not leave her side, and it made me grateful for the life-debt he had sworn.

"You are Jen Sahara, a scholar from Deralia who has been employed by the Jedi Order," I said, looking at the woman sitting next to me. Her expression was downcast, and her posture hunched in on itself. If it were not for our battles on Taris, I would have believed she was the same meek academic she had been on the Endar Spire. Whatever that crackpot doctor had done to her on Taris seemed to have been a real blessing in disguise.

Revan glanced up at me again, a slight frown on her face. "I don't understand everything that has happened. This- it all feels like a dream, somehow. Or a nightmare."

I placed my hand on her knee gently. "It is the same for all of us, I suspect. We have all been through a lot. But do not despair, Jen, for we will not be long on Tatooine." I paused, wondering if I needed to reassure her further. "The Jedi have mind healers also. They can help much as your doctor did, back on Taris."

Revan's expression froze, and I felt a sharp blast of emotion through the bond, so quick that I could not decipher it. I reached out to the Force in panic, and Revan moaned, her hands clutching at the side of her head.

Jen Sahara. I am Jen Sahara. The confusion was back, threaded through with fear. But the swift feeling I'd sensed earlier… I could not be sure, but it felt like rage. Black, furious rage.

The fear was deep in my gut, too.

"You will be safe, Jen," I said shakily, and felt the compulsion twist through my words. "Stay onboard the Ebon Hawk whilst I am outside."

"Of course," she whispered, rubbing at her temple. "Of course I will, Bastila. I'll stay onboard while you're outside."

There was a sickly churning in my gut as she parroted my words. This is not the right way. I am letting my fear dictate my behaviour.

I forced a smile on my face. "Good, that's settled," I said, a little shakily. I stood, and she followed, her hands dropping to her side. "I suggest you prepare for hyperspace exit, Jen. It will not be far away. I shall leave now to accompany Carth in the cockpit."

She took a few steps towards the door before hesitating, and looking back at me. Her expression was both apprehensive and questioning.

"Is there something else, Jen?" I asked with a calm I did not quite feel. There were questions she hadn't thought to ask yet; prime among them was Dantooine. I had convinced Revan - some form of her for it certainly hadn't been the Jen Sahara that stood in front of me now – that we were headed to Alderaan, not Dantooine. And I cannot forget the sedation, even if she has. Would it occur to her to question her sudden collapse when we had first boarded? She had not questioned it yet.

Revan bit her lip. "Sorry, it's just that- we're on Tatooine, now. Where we were going originally." She frowned. "I am still unsure exactly what my purpose is to the Jedi, Bastila. Do you- do you need me for anything here?"

I tried to send her a gentle smile. "Not on Tatooine, no. As for your purpose, well, you have studied the era of the Massassi, and that is of interest to us. We are keen to increase your education, Jen. It is not uncommon for the Jedi Order to fund scholars. We look to the past for guidance."

It was deflection, pure and simple. Jen Sahara's studies of interest had been the extinction of the Massassi, as well as the formation of the Republic, neither of which had anything to do with the Star Maps. Master Galdea had kept Revan entertained with research onboard the Endar Spire; that was not possible while we were flying blind. Once our communications were repaired and access to the holonets restored, I would be able to divert her in the much same way.

"Okay," Revan said softly, her gaze dropping from mine. "I'll leave you be then."

xXx

Arriving in Anchorhead had not been a problem, and Carth had landed the freighter with ease before exiting to meet up with the docking officials. He had not been away long before returning, shooting me a brief smile as we all clustered in the central common room.

"Alright, let's head out," Canderous said, hefting a pack from the cargo bay over a shoulder.

My eyes rested on the young Twi'lek, who alternated between glaring at me, frowning at Carth, and staring worriedly at Revan. Mission's face was an open book, and I wondered idly if she was cross with Carth for some reason. But the concern toward Revan explained the reason for her anger at me. She was worried about Revan, and believed I was to blame.

If she knew the entirety of the truth, it would blow her childish mind apart, I thought irritably. Mission Vao, I realized, would not take nicely to staying onboard the ship. I looked over to Zaalbar, and understood that the Wookiee was key to them all staying behind.

"We shall not be long," I told them, standing in the middle of the room. Zaalbar had hunched over the end of one of the benches, plainly too large for the furniture. Mission was sitting next to him, one leg tucked under her chin and the other dangling. Revan sat on her other side. "This is a smuggling destination, and it is not safe even in the town. I will lock the hatch behind us. Mission, Zaalbar, it is best if you stay behind with Jen."

"Sure thing, Bastila." Mission replied, and her voice was light and sweet. I did not trust it.

"I am serious, Mission."

"Sheesh, I said okay!" Mission snapped. "What d'ya want me to do, swear my life on it?"

"A promise would be nice," I said tightly.

"Fine! I promise I'll stay on the Ebon Hawk!" She crossed her arms and pouted, and I had to restrain an exasperated sigh. Canderous snorted as he headed towards the exit hatch. I looked over to Carth to see him frowning at Revan, his expression both puzzled and irritated, and I wondered again at the mixed reactions he had for her. His eyes rose to met mine, and he gave a nod of readiness.

I turned, and followed the Mandalorian out of the Ebon Hawk.

xXx