Chapter 3

Maicah sat at the table in the ship's small mess hall, drinking some water. Revan walked in and looked at her then poured himself some ale. He slowly sat down across from her at the table in silence.

"So..." Revan said after taking a few sips from his cup, "let's talk about some of your past."

Maicah looked at him, puzzled.

"Don't act like you don't know what I mean. We've fought together a bit and I've poured out my own past to you, yet you haven't even told me what you did while in exile. Actually, you've hardly told me anything you did with your previous companions. I'm lucky that you've even mentioned the whole blowing up a planet before meeting up with me deal." In typical Revan fashion, he tried his best to lighten up his demand with some humor.

"Telling me of your past was your choice. Keeping my own to myself is mine. Respect that." She said coldly, finishing off her water.

"Oh, don't give me that." His sense of humor faded some, a serious look overtaking his expression for a moment. "I don't even know if I can trust you. You're hiding far too much."

"I'm hiding too much?" Maicah asked, offended. "You're the one who acts like you're some normal, happy person. Like you're weren't a leader in the Mandalorian Wars, a war hero who turned to the dark side, who became a Sith Lord and killed millions, both Jedi and not. Only God knows what you did between the time you defeated Malak and decided to look for the 'true Sith', if they even exist," she nearly scoffed and shook her head, "but you left the Republic in pieces. You broke the hearts of those who loved you. You have so much to answer for. Why? What are you trying to hide?" Maicah stopped and immediately watched Revan who had stayed calm throughout her rant, guilt overcoming her for a moment. She had let her emotions get the better of her, something she was slowly beginning to lose control over, and she was expecting to quickly be put in a right state of mind again as she deserved.

"I'm sorry. You're right, I do have so much to answer for. I know I've been forgiven, but I can't completely forgive myself. That is why I'm so happy…or appear to be. It's the only way I can try and cope with everything that's happened. Instead of dwelling on all those things, I just try and make a joke out of everything now." He shrugged his shoulders lightly. "If I didn't, I don't know where I'd be. It's all I know to do right now."

"I apoligize, I was out of line." Maicah looked down to her cup, silent.

Revan nodded his head slightly to show he accepted her apology, knowing she wasn't in need of some lecture about how such things lead to the dark side at the moment. He allowed the silence to overtake them before breaking it once again.

"Pazaak?" Revan whispered to himself.

Maicah looked up, anger rising in her. "Stay out of my head, Revan."

Revan looked at her. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to know something. It wasn't fair for me to look into your mind, but I've revealed about all there is to reveal about myself. It's time for you to tell me something. What was with the pazaak? Do you have a love for the game?"

Maicah sighed this time, knowing he wasn't going to give up on the subject. "The game is all right, but I wouldn't say I have a love for it."

"Then why was it always on your mind before…and now?" Revan asked.

Maicah looked away from Revan, her thoughts wandering elsewhere. "When you need to escape, think of this. Just you and me, playing pazaak." She whispered.

Revan stared at her, puzzled. He had heard her clearly, but had no idea what she was talking about. "Maicah? Are you feeling okay?"

Tears began to stream down Maicah's face. "Atton." She said quietly.

Revan looked relieved. He listened, anxious to hear whatever Maicah was about to say.

"Atton Rand. He was…a Jedi." She stopped and Revan remained silent. "He taught me that trick as a way of keeping intruders out." She glanced up at him for a moment, Revan returning a slightly innocent smile. "He was intelligent, handsome, and strong. He had one of the best senses of humor out of anyone I've ever met...I loved him."

"Loved?" Revan asked curiously. "Where is he now?"

"He is dead. He died in my arms on Malachor V." Maicah responded, her eyes emotionless.

"Oh, Maicah. I'm so sorry." Revan began, but fell silent when Maicah waved her hand.

"All the tears I had left were all ready shed. Let us leave what is in the past in the past…and let us focus on the present and future." She slowly stood. "Where are we heading?"

Revan shook his head. "I have plotted no where as of right now. I'm trying to think of where we can go."

Maicah thought for a moment and began to leave the mess hall, but stopped, startled. "I can't believe I forgot to tell you. Admiral Onasi."

Revan looked at her with a worried expression. "What? What is it?"

"I met with him a bit before I found you. He wanted me to deliver a message to you." She continued as Revan waited. "He just wanted me to tell you he's following your orders."

Revan nodded his head, appearing to be in deep thought for a moment before he stood and exited the room. His steps were leading him towards the cockpit, drawing Maicah to follow him with simple curiousity.

"What are you doing? Where are we going?" She finally asked as she watched him begin to chart a new destination for them.

Revan continued to work as he spoke to her, "We have no information on any true Sith at all. Maybe my memories were wrong all along, maybe there is nothing to fear. Those I fought before and after you joined me were simply the Sith of our age scattered about. They didn't even know what they were doing out there."

Maicah shook her head. "We can't give up, not now. Besides we may have something to look at. I didn't think it was anything important, but I downloaded a small amount of information from one of the terminals onto my datapad." She took out her datapad and handed it to Revan.

Revan sighed and accepted the datapad. "Maybe it's time to return to the Republic and see how things are doing. If Carth's been following his orders, it's in much better shape than it was when I left. That's something I'd love to see."

"And you may only have to wait a bit longer to see it if you work with me here, but I can't do this alone. Please." Maicah begged, hoping to God he wouldn't back out now.

Revan hesitated then stepped away from the map and towards the holographic console, sliding Maicah's datapad into the machine.

"You thought that wasn't important?" Revan asked, looking at Maicah.

Maicah nodded. "It dates back to before I visited the academy with Kreia. Darth Traya. Whatever her name was. It was probably recorded about the time you were there."

"Darth Traya? How do you know her?" Revan asked then shook his head. "Never mind, we can talk about that later. Do you know how many years 70 relyents comes up to according to our time?"

"70 years?" Maicah asked then shrugged. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters." Revan answered sharply. "70 relyents is 7 years. If this being they talk of plans to come back to known space in 7 years…it should be here any time now." A frown found it's way to his lips as he thought more on it. "Whatever this is, we need help to fight it, Maicah."

Maicah crossed her arms, clearly puzzled by what Revan was talking about. She did not enjoy not understanding what was happening in any situation, so she was determined to get all the answers she needed now. "Why are they called relyents? I've never heard of that in my life. And why would we need help from others? We've handled ourselves very well so far and I think we could take this thing, whatever it is, out on our own."

Revan began replotting a destination for Telos. "It's just another term for years from a long, forgotten language. It's very rarely used, in fact no one alive can speak it fluently anymore. Not that I know of, anyway." As he finished plotting the course, he looked towards his friend. "Do not become over confident in yourself or anyone for that matter, Maicah. Just trust me on this; we are going to need as much help as we can get."

Maicah shook her head, biting her own tongue. She strongly disagreed with him on the matter, but she was in no mood to argue. Instead, she gave a bitter reply. "Whatever you say, Revan." She turned and began making her way down the corridor. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

Revan watched her walk away and raised a brow. Whatever was going on with Maicah right now would have to wait; he had to dissect this message before he reached Telos to give somewhat of a reasonable explanation for it. He began replaying the hologram over and over again over the time that passed, watching intently and taking mental notes on whatever he was able to pick up. He sat back after a bit, gently rubbing his temples in a thoughtful manner.