Sorry for taking so long to update. I have exam during these weeks and I am also suffering from writer's block. I know what the later chapters will be about but it is those linking chapters that are difficult to write. I was debating whether I should initially make Revan the admiral of the Republic army or have her prove herself. I hope I made the right choice and that you will enjoy this chapter. And finally, please review so I can improve.
On that day alone, Malak and I were able to get about one hundred Jedi. It was astonishing how many Jedi saw the flawed reasoning of the Jedi Council but it was definitely for the better. Malak commented that at least the Jedi were not drones of the Council. At least that we could think freely and decide our own fates. He was absolutely correct. Leaving the temple for the first time was so liberating almost exhilarating. We could finally interact with society and experience new things that we could only dream about. Imagine learning how to hold a blaster for the first time. When you were young, the gun probably was mysterious object that you wanted to get your hands on. When you finally squeezed the trigger for the first time, you got a rush of blood to the head, a slight tingling chill in the spine, and finally the sense of euphoria and achievement. However, you realized that possessing a blaster carried great responsibility because without it, the blaster could also cause untold destruction. It is that balancing act that many of us need to learn.
As raw recruits for the Republic army, we were stuck doing supply escorts or "milk" runs as they called it. It was not the most glorious of tasks especially for our Jedi status, yet it was work that needed to be taken care of. The Jedi were divided into different divisions and naturally Malak and I were placed together for the same missions.
Our first task was to escort a weapon cache from one base to another base that was situated closer to the Mandalorian camps on Jarluxia. It was simply a straight road path between the two baths. Without using the force, I could tell we would not be ambushed. The Mandalorians were too busy setting up a defensive perimeter around their camps to be worried about one single weapon cache. Yet I saw Malak's fingers feeling around the handle of the lightsaber as if anticipating an attack. Sometimes, he would light it up after hearing any ominous sound, scaring the Republic scouts we were accompanying. I chuckled every time he did it and told the scouts to calm down after Malak reluctantly retracted his weapon.
"What are you laughing about, Revan?" Malak inquired noticing my inability to hold my laughter.
"Nothing really," I smiled.
"I know what you are thinking of. I am not that naïve but I wanted to show the scouts that we always have to be on high alert." He uttered this with a renewed sense of confidence as if he cleverly hid his blunder. It was always musing to watch Malak conjure up bullshit even when I caught him every time.
We were asked to do similar missions with almost zero percent of conflict and every time, Malak would randomly ignite his saber. The soldiers eventually caught on the ruse and decided to just ignore him. I, however, started to get annoyed and approached him directly. Before I could ask, he came to my side and whispered in my ear,
"To tell you the truth: I feel bored, actually really bored. I am sorry for acting in a childish way but I just cannot wait to use my lightsaber. I know that you also feel the same anticipation but I cannot stop thinking about it until… "He paused not sure why he was saying the things he was actually saying. He simply shook his head and said, "I just do not understand why Jedi are stuck doing such worthless tasks."
Malak seemed quite troubled and I tried to think of something to say but I could not rationalize Malak's logic. I did indeed feel my lightsaber's call to use and unleash its power among my enemies. However, Malak's call was definitely much more rooted than mine. Ever since we were kids, Malak was always fascinated with using a lightsaber. He would always ask the Masters to hold their lightsaber despite being admonished countless times. When he constructed his personal saber, he twirled it around with great speed and accuracy like he had been practicing with it for countless years. He was so good at lightsaber combat that people believed he and his lightsaber shared a force bond. It was absurd really but it did shed some light on his present disposition.
"Do not worry. We will have our time."
Two weeks on Jarluxia, the Republic finally was ready to launch an assault on the fortified Mandalorian camps. Fully controlling Jarluxia would mean the Republic could have a key hyperspace route between the core worlds and the Outer Rim. For such an important mission, we were asked to lead the assault so as to minimize casualties. We gladly accepted and immediately started to draw up battle plans for the assault.
The enemy camp was quite large and heavily fortified with turrets. They did not have many troops within the camp because the Mandalorians were concerned with other planets and they were unaware of our presence on Jarluxia. However, they still had twice the forces we had. To minimize losses, Malak and I came up with a simple plan. We with twenty some soldiers would come from the side entrance hopefully catching the Mandalorians by surprise. Then we would make our way into the control tower and force the turrets to shot down. Afterwards, our real force could storm the entrance and mop out the survivors.
We quietly waded through the jungle and around the camp. The least fortified entrance was guarded by two watchtowers and three turrets. I told my men to stay and stay hidden while Malak and I proceeded forward to get into force distance. When I felt the mind currents emanating from the towers, I muddled them. It was a simple force technique called Mind trick that could confuse weak minded people for a temporary amount time, significantly decreasing their awareness. I then located the circuitry embedded in the turrets and in a quick mind burst, forced the circuits to overload. It went perfectly except for the fact the overloaded circuit caused a loud electric sound.
"What the fuck happened with our turrets?" The Mandalorian exclaimed, scurrying outside to see what happened. He noticed us just when I was still recovering from the force exertion.
"The Republic has breached the perimeter. Prepare yourselves!"
"Charge in and provide some cover fire!" Malak motioned the soldiers to leap from their hiding places. They went through the wide open entrance and formed a semi circle, which gave me the amount of time to recover. Malak already had charged past our line igniting his lightsaber. All you could see was purple blur as Malak proceeded to decimate the frightened Mandalorians. He was indeed a marvel to watch. Every fallen enemy fueled his will to keep attacking faster and stronger.
I led some soldiers into the control tower while Malak's division held the line behind us. About a dozen Mandalorians were in defensive formation near the control tower door. I sensed the energy signatures of their blasters and yanked them out with force pull while we stormed through. The Republic soldiers made short work of them as the Mandalorians had to switch to their vibroswords making them vulnerable. I ran through the hallways trying to find the main computer. I finally found the room, which to my astonishment, there was no one defending it. However, Mandalorians were known for illusions and deceptions. I took a few steps and immediately lit my saber. I heard the uncloaking humming sound as I slashed behind me. There was no time for thinking as my saber connected with the Mandalorian behind me. His clunky helmet fell lazily off his body and I saw a mere shell of a man lying beside me.
It was a peculiar feeling, forcefully taking someone's life. I, however, was expecting something more drastic, more corruptive as dictated by the dogmatic Jedi Code. I was not feeling that anger, excitement and bloodlust but something more calming. Emptiness …I felt absolutely no shame, no regret. There was only me and what I had to accomplish.
There was more humming sounds but this time I held my hands together, channeling a ball of force energy. I then unleashed it all around me; knocking the hapless Mandalorians to the walls with a force so strong that one could hear their bones crack. As the force left my body, my body started to ache. I had never exerted myself this far and was gasping for last bits of energy but it simply felt so liberating.
"Commander, we have secured the control tower and are now trying to slice the system." A few soldiers were standing beside me, frantically trying to input crack codes.
"Good. Let me know when… argh!" I felt a pain so sharp that a white flash briefly filled my eyes. A laser beam was burning the skin on my shoulder and I felt searing tinge but oddly there were no marks to indicate I had been shot.
"Are you okay, Commander?"
"It's nothing." The pain went away as fast as it happened. Force energies were fighting the pain away but I did not channel force heal… It cannot be possible. No!! I ran out of the building and saw Malak by himself deflecting blaster bolts. Using the highly defensive form, Soresu, he spun around with great speed covering all his vital spots and managing to reflect back the bolts back to his opponents. He was making no ground though and his energy was waning for channeling force heals all the time. I stunned their front line with a stasis field. For a brief moment, I saw Malak turn to face me. His eyes told me that he was thankful as he leapt forward landing with an impact so great that some Mandalorians fell over. I radioed the remaining troops stationed at the front entrance to storm through. Luckily the turrets were finally disabled and the soldiers quickly flanked the Mandalorians attacking Malak. It did not matter though because many feel by a simple spin twirl from Malak's saber. The remaining scurried in fear but was pelted by the Republic troops. The battle was over. We had won.
I quickly rushed to Malak's side and embraced him. I started to shed some tears on his broad shoulders.
"I thought I had lost you." I dried some of my tears and raised my head, facing him, feeling his warmth against my body. "I felt your pain and I tried my best to…."
"I know and I am sorry for being too weak to shut out the pain," he lamented as he returned my embracing pushing us a little closer to each other. "Thank you." He let out the widest I had ever seen from him. His smile was so refreshing that it made me forgot all of my insecurities and worries. I smiled back locking my eyes with his. I felt the sudden urge to draw my face closer to his but inexplicably stopped myself and instead rested my head on his arm. We swayed a little as we held on to each other tightly.
Right now, Malak and Revan's force bond is drawing them closer together. But will that last? Stay tuned for the next installments.