Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords - Volume 3: The Enclaves.
Knights of the old Republic and Starwars are owned by George Lucas (I think he owns them both). Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters belong to Joss Whedon. I own nothing here. As said by many wise men..and women…please don't sue me.
The timeline for Buffy takes place about three years after the end of Buffy. No exact date has been decided. KOTOR 2 timeline starts right from the beginning of the game. I apologize now for my lack of grammar etc, etc. I've never posted anything I've written until now. This bug has been floating in my skull since I first read Slayers of the old republic by Michael Weyer. It definitely fed my imagination. Thanks Michael. Anyways on with the show. Please comment. It won't get better in quality or quantity without constructive criticism.
One last mention. My thanks to Gatemaster for agreeing to beta for this x-over.
Dantooine - Ebon Hawk
Willow stepped lightly into Kreia's berth, her presence definitely set her on edge. Simply being around her gave the young woman a feeling of standing on the edge of a deep dark hole, and if she didn't watch where she walked she could fall for ever.
"Your instincts serve you well." the old woman said as she turned, milky white eyes barely visible beneath her cowl.
Willow cursed internally, and focused on her shields "Please. I came here for advise, not to be read" she responded.
Kreia bowed her head slightly "I meant no disrespect, and to be clear, I did not read you, not with the force at least, body language can reveal much of a persons emotional state".
Willow didn't believe it for a second "I accept your apology."
Kreia said nothing as she moved to the bunk and sat down slowly, "You have befriended the seer. The subject of the advice you seek."
"Her name is Visas-Mar...why do you call her the Seer?" she asked.
"Her species do not see as we do. They see the galaxy through the force...and it is how she found you. It is a rare gift, squandered on her people." she hesitated for a moment "The Sith carry the battle to the Exile, the little warrior and the master...to you as well, yet you spare them. And as we travel, the empty spaces of this ship are slowly filled. I hope your thoughts on this matter are clear. If you take her on as your servant...or apprentice. Know that the Sith meet their end at the hands of their apprentices."
"S-she is not my servant" Willow said quietly.
"Still. It is something I do not wish to happen to you. This one you have saved has other Masters...Though blind, she has ties to darkness. Her presence here is a threat to us...to you. Do not underestimate her, or her loyalty." Kreia said quietly, sounding almost concerned.
Willow didn't move as she mulled over the old woman's words "I think I can help her, she doesn't feel...Evil."
"To show mercy to a Sith, is to invite a blade to your throat. You walk a fools path Willow Rosenberg, and I will not aid you in helping her." Kreia said coldly.
"Her entire planet was wiped out...she has no home left, if I lost everything..." she didn't finish the thought.
Kreia nodded "Ahh. Without a home. Another Exile, Her people are not prone to violence, war, or hatred, yet their planet is obliterated. Scoured from the face of the galaxy, and all that remains is a Sith."
Willow looked into the shadows of the old woman's hood "A force sensitive world was obliterated."
Kreia smiled, her lips seemed unaccustomed to the act "You are wise to trust those instincts. Something is wrong...it is only a matter of discovering what, and why. If your instincts lead you to an answer, seek me out. Perhaps we will discuss more."
Korriban - Shyrack Caves
"Six hours, six god damn hours," Xander whispered "And all I find are deadly critters, darkness and a creepy-ass cave that wasn't here the first time I walked by."
An odd feeling snapped through his mind, like someone walking over his grave, only ten times more powerful, it was a familiar feeling, he had felt it twice before, both of which was when he met the Dark Lord Sion.
Xander snapped his lightsaber around, and instinctively adjusted his posture "Okay, enough games."
A dark shape seemed to detach itself from the surrounding darkness, and slowly glided towards him, giggling quietly.
Giggling?
"You are a hard man to kill Alexander Lavelle Harris" said a rather young, feminine voice "I shouldn't be surprised though should I, so much death and carnage, yet you always find a way...you have always found a way."
Xander didn't know how to respond, the fact that she knew his name intrigued him, but what truly bothered him was how she seemed truly know him, he couldn't put a finger on how he knew, he just did.
"Oh, did I give you a brain fart?" she asked, giggling again.
Now he was starting to feel completely out of his depth "How?...who are you?"
The small dark shadow glided to his right, forcing him to change his stance "Answers, now," he demanded "I've had a very, very bad day."
The tone in his voice seemed to have an affect on the tiny shadow, she stopped instantly.
"Hmm, indeed you have" she said, her voice sounding like ice "Such anger only leads to badness...and a bad Xander leads to all kinds of blood...and pain."
Xander watched, and reached with the force, gently probing her mind. What he felt was indescribable, he gasped, trying to find breath.
A girl. She was just a girl, no older than Dawn, but her mind was so dark, full of pain. Her thoughts were jumbled and chaotic. She had nearly no focus, and no defense against any force sensitive trying to read her.
He realized suddenly. Her mind was the perfect defense.
"Naughty, naughty" the child shadow tisked, igniting a pale blue lightsaber "You should know better than to enter someones house uninvited."
Xander could see hazy images, flitting around his own vision, sounds of screaming, a jumble of voices, all screaming. He couldn't focus, his balance shifted, he felt himself collapse onto his knee's. The voices began to increase in volume, so many, all of them in pain.
"This is why he sent me," a voice said, cutting through all the others. "He knew you would take a peak, you were always curious."
He blinked his good eye hard, trying to clear his sight, and looked up at the advancing shadow, now illuminated by her blade's soft blue glow, her faces seemed to absorb the light, her eyes seemed to glow with a deep green light. Two scarred Lekku, marking her as a Twi'lek trailed out from under her hood.
"How...do you...know me?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
She just smiled, and raised her blade to strike "You will never know. You can't ever know".
Xander blinked, only once. He knew the saber was descending, he grasped onto one thought and tapped into every ounce of willpower he could find inside himself, his eye opened and he saw a look of complete shock on her face.
A bright red lightsaber criss-crossing the Twi'leks pale blue.
His own Violet saber crossing both.
His brain latched onto that sight instantly. And felt the same shock the child Twi'lek did.
His eye followed the crimson blade and finally rested on a face he had seen only once, and not very long ago either.
"Hello Mission, did you miss me?" asked a rather amused Bastila Shan.
Xander looked between the two women. Bastila Shan, former Jedi Knight, companion of Revan.
The Betrayer.
Mission, the child Twi'lek gasped like a fish for a moment, then was gone. Having crossed a dozen feet in only a heart beat.
Staring down the woman, she growled, "What the fuck!"
Xander couldn't help himself as he stumbled back, hoping to put some distance between himself and both women "Sorry, but that's my line." he growled.
Bastila regarded him wearily. A very curious expression plastered across her face. But she quickly glanced back to Mission.
"I'm curious Mission, we left you for dead on Lehon. After Zaalbar cut you nearly in half." Bastila said, devoid of emotion.
Xander glanced between the two women, and noticed that the child was not happy, her barely suppressed emotions seemed to roll off her in waves.
"Nooooo," she said quietly, her eyes wide, nearly simmering in rage "Zaalbar had no choice...none of us ever had a choice. No choices were left for us...gone, gone and flew away at his command!"
Xander watched Bastila's face, and barely noticed a look of dawning realization, her shoulders slumped slightly with an exhaled breath.
"Are you here for him or me Mission?"
The child smiled wide, revealing a set of gleaming metallic teeth "Questions, questions, questions...so many questions...but no one has the right answer" she said, giggling again, sounding more manic now "No one answers the darkness when it asks where the light went...no. I won't give you the answers I don't have."
Xander was starting to feel much better, the voices were subsiding, as if the brief connection with the child had been cut, or was fading, either way, he was no longer defenseless.
"Oh Mission...what happened to you?" he heard Bastila ask. Her voice soft, and sympathetic.
Mission began to pace back and forth, her gaze never once lingered from either Bastila or himself "Saved by Father...he made me, made us all...better."
Xander watched the interplay and knew it would end badly, he didn't need to the force to see it. Someone would likely die in the next few minutes.
He hoped it wouldn't be him.
"And you, my dear Betrayer. How have you been?" Mission asked abruptly "Tired?...you look tired. I guess running around the Galaxy would have that affect."
Bastila shifted slightly "What do you know of it?"
"Nothing, just whispers...that you lost something, dear to you." she swooned as she clutched her free hand to her chest.
A growl, deep and low echoed from Bastila's throat, her eyes narrowed in annoyance "He did this to you didn't he...and left me out there, knowing I was searching."
Mission started to giggle again "Ding! And Bastila gets it in one," she inhaled sharply "But, I was sent to kill, and kill I must. I wish we could do this again sometime."
Xander barely brought his blade up to deflect Missions sudden attack.
Korriban - Elsewhere
Faith couldn't stop brushing her very short hair back, it kept getting in her eyes and tickling her face "God damn Sith" she muttered as she left the small med-bay, intending to check on they're wayward Jedi Master.
She entered and abruptly stopped, finding the middle aged Cordy awake, and sitting up, a number of pillows arranged under her back and supporting her head, the shock however was the criss-cross myriad of cuts that marred her once gorgeous face.
"Not a pretty sight is it?" she asked, sounding very weak.
Faith didn't know how to respond, she looked away instead, and focused on a chair.
"It's alright Faith, I'm alive, that's all that matters, thanks to you." she smiled.
Sitting slowly she finally looked back to the seriously injured Jedi. "Just another day at the office."
A very strange silence filled the room, and neither woman seemed in a hurry to dispel it.
"This must be very confusing," Cordy asked, "Finding me here, in this galaxy."
Faith nodded "Kinda, yeah."
She sighed and looked at the back of her hands for a moment "I was reborn. I grew up and lived a completely different life here, I am Lonna Vash...it was only a few years ago that the memories of being Cordelia Chase began to surface."
"Do you know why?" Faith asked, "I mean didn't you like ascend to a higher plane of existence or something?"
"I did?" she asked "Hmm, that wasn't in the memories...or maybe visions."
Faith understood "Not getting the full story eh?"
Cordy. No, Lonna nodded, "When I have the visions, they're so vivid, so real. I can see everything with perfect clarity, and within I have all of my memories, I know the day, the important events. It's like I'm living it for the first time. But when I'm me again, most of the memory is gone, leaving only impressions mostly."
"So what should I call you then...Lonna or Cordy?".
"What ever you feel more comfortable calling me, Cordelia is as much a part of me as being Lonna," she smiled "Just don't expect fashion tips, several decades wearing nothing but robes has taken a toll."
Faith laughed "Thanks, I needed that."
Cordy only smiled "Faith, did Xander come with you?"
Both women locked eyes, several seconds passed before Faith spoke "We lost track of him...an explosion collapsed the valley entrance to the academy but we're pretty sure he made it to safety."
Cordy sighed in relief, "Good."
"So you not all that surprised to find us here are you?"
Cordy shook her head "I felt you arrive, and a few days ago I had another vision."
"You felt us arrive?"
"Yes...hello, Jedi Master here." she smiled, channeling Cordelia perfectly.
Faith chuckled "Sorry, I keep forgetting that...I keep having this urge to jump in front of Xander every time we run into trouble when he definitely doesn't need me getting in the way."
"Xander's gotten better has he?" Cordy asked.
"Oh you could say that, the Xan-man has some wicked mad skills now, the man is a whirling dervish with a lightsaber." Faith replied.
"Say that again?"
Faith looked up "Say what.."
"Xander...he knows how to use a lightsaber?" Cordy asked, obviously shocked "How can he know...it takes years to develop the skills to use one without hurting yourself."
"I…you said you had visions...I thought you knew." Faith said quietly.
"Faith, tell me."
The second oldest living Slayer was for once finding words difficult, "Uh...it's kinda complicated."
"Start at the beginning."
"You mean when we arrived?" Faith asked. And receiving a silent nod she took a deep breath "Okay…uhm, well I got shoved into a cage, with a very annoying but kinda hot space-jock, spent a few days locked up. And then Xan, Dawny and another chick, named Shayla busted us out, turns out the whole station was dead, a very deadly assassin droid had basically killed everyone, so this Shayla chick could get picked up by someone for some reason."
"Faith, you're losing me." Cordy interrupted.
She took a deep breath "Sorry, I'm not really good at the whole telling of stories".
"It's okay. Now you said you got busted out by Xander, Dawn and someone named Shayla. In my Vision you your arrival I saw a blonde, I assumed it was Buffy."
Faith shook her head "Naw, Buffy and the others came after us, we met up on Telos a few days ago, they're on Dantooine right now looking for some Vook guy."
"Vrook."
"Yeah." Faith smiled "The blonde is Shayla Kracek. You would remember her as the Exile."
Cordelia seemed to sink into the narrow bed at the mention of the name "I remember."
Faith could see the strain she was going through "Maybe I should go, you should rest."
"No. Tell me the rest." Cordy said, with a hint of strength.
Faith nodded "Alright...uh, well, it turns out that both Xan and Dawny got some kinda connection to Shay. She started to feel the force again, or something like that. And both Xander and Dawn started to get the mojo too."
"This can't be, Shayla lost her connection to the force. Though I've heard of people regaining a connection...what I felt in Shayla was unlike anything...she shouldn't have been able to regain anything." she stuttered, clearly stunned.
"Yeah. Well it's a good thing I gotta say, without those two we never would have survived Peragus," Faith said "And you'd still be in that cage."
Cordy nodded "True. So, Xander...how good is he?"
Faith smiled, and proceeded to describe just a few of the encounters they had weathered over the last few weeks.
The look on the recovering Jedi Master was nothing short of priceless.
Dantooine - Ebon Hawk
Giles stepped through the hatch leading to the common area, and silently moved to stand next to Buffy, she smiled lightly in acknowledgement but turned back to the crowded room.
Everyone was there, minus Shannon and Willow, the young Slayer was still off somewhere, investigating something she claimed was important, and had requested radio silence. And Willow was currently watching the blind Sith who was still unconscious in the infirmary.
Dawn was standing next to the storage hatch, quietly examining everyone as well, he recognized the look on her face, one of deep contemplation. Faith had been right about her. She truly was a gifted young woman, somehow overcoming the multitude of trials they had faced, a resilience he was pleased to see she possessed.
He was starting to see what the wild Slayer was trying to explain back on Telos.
Sitting together on one of the couches were both former initiative soldiers Riley Finn and Graham Miller, with Caridad sandwiched between them, all three seemed quiet and withdrawn. Shayla and Buffy had explained the events within the Enclave, and the thought of only one Dark Jedi being able to best them all...worse, toy with them with such ease. It was understandable to see the defeat on their faces.
He barely spotted Atton Rand slip into the room from the cock-pit, the man had originally struck him as a loud mouthed braggart, the last few days however he had heard him speak barely a word. Of course the way he seemed to avoid one young woman with a new found ability in the force explained everything he needed to know.
Giles would find time to talk with the man, or at least lend an ear.
The new arrival Mical. Jedi Apprentice and self styled scientist and historian leaned against a bulkhead opposite of Dawn. They had been introduced before Shayla called a meeting to work out a plan for rescuing Master Vrook, but that had been all.
The young man was smiling however. A pleasant smile that seemed to raise his spirits slightly. Of course he had just survived a very trying ordeal, and had found others with similar goals as his own. Giles would be smiling too if they're places were reversed.
Shayla entered the room finally, she had wanted to speak with her unofficial Master before they hammer out a rescue plan, everyone's attention quickly fell upon the platinum blonde warrior.
"My apologies," she said curtly "We have only been here a day, and already the Sith have found us. I have already talked with Dawn and she's ready to lead the expedition to Nar Shadaa."
Giles raised an eyebrow. Everyone glanced to the youngest Summers. She said nothing however.
"Before anyone objects I should point out a few things. First, if the Sith had wanted us dead, we would not be here discussing this. Second, I do not believe she was associated with the Dark Lord who is hunting us, in fact I believe we are now facing several different Sith factions. Each of which are tracking us for their own purposes." she continued.
Buffy raised her hand slightly "Sorry to interrupt. But we still have to rescue that Vrook guy, and we have no idea how many Mercenaries are holed up in those caves."
Shayla nodded "True, but my main concern is more Sith, of the other factions finding us. Dawn is in full agreement."
Giles noticed both sisters make eye-contact. Something transpired between the two of them with only a look. Buffy frowned "This doesn't feel right...i don't feel comfortable leaving them in the lurch like that".
Dawn took a deep breath before speaking "We've already attracted one Sith, we can't afford to attract any more...without me here, it might buy them enough time to rescue Vrook. I'm sorry Buffy, the decisions made...are you in or not?".
The tempurature in the room dropped a few degree's as both sisters regarded each other. Buffy looked into her sisters eyes and knew she didn't like it any more than she did.
"Yeah, i'm in, i already told you that. Doesn't mean i have to like it" she said firmly.
"Duly noted" Dawn said quitely.
"Forgive me," Mical said quietly, catching everyone's attention "From the little I overheard earlier, this expedition is to find another Jedi Master?"
Shayla nodded "Master Zez-Kai Ell actually."
Buffy cleared her throat "We have a list of missing but hopefully alive Jedi Masters, Vrook is here, Lonna Vash is on Korriban, Pez is on Nar Shadaa and Kaviar is on Onderon."
Everyone smirked at the trade mark butchering of names. Even Mical seemed to see that it was just Buffy's way, he nodded and looked back to Shayla.
Dawn however decided to take over "Atton, Giles told me the freighter is ready?"
Atton nodded, stepping forward slightly, "Yeah, the hyperdrive is an older model, but we should be able to reach Nar shadaa in two days, three at most. The fuel tanks are full and basic systems are fully operational. All we need is to transfer some supplies and we're good to go."
Buffy smiled "Cool, so Dawn, myself and who else?"
Atton held up his hand "I'm rated for freighters of that size, don't think anyone else is."
"Kay, Atton. Anyone else?" Buffy asked.
"I would like to volunteer" Mical piped up "If I understand correctly, the more force sensitives either group has, the easier it is for our enemies can locate us. Shayla and Kreia, as well as your friend, Willow I believe, are more than enough for one group I would think."
"There's also Visas." Willow added, stepping from the shadows. Still wearing her weapons. Giles would never get used to seeing her walking around with two alien guns strapped to her waist, he was certain of that.
Shayla smiled "How is she?"
Willow frowned "Still unconscious, but she'll recover, the wounds I...the wounds are already closing."
"I'm glad to hear that." Shayla said quietly.
Atton however snorted "Are you serious? That Miraluka is a Sith! Sent here to kill you, if I might add Willow."
"No. I don't think she came here to kill me," Willow added, "In fact, I'm pretty sure her Master sent her to guide me, for what or to where i really don't know" She left out the rest of her theory however, it wasn't anyone's business, not yet anyway.
Everyone looked around at this revelation. Dawn stepped forward, and wrapped an arm around the red-head, "If Willow believes she can be saved. Well, who are any of us to say no?"
The assembled Earthers all smirked awkwardly at the reference to their history, nearly everyone of them had experienced troubling times, and no doubt more than a few of the others as well.
"Thanks." Willow said quietly.
Buffy clapped her hands together as she stood up "Okay, then that's it then. The rest of you guys should stay with Shay, your down four bodies already".
"Buffy's right" Caridad piped up "What i saw this morning at the merc camp didn't leave me with warm feelings, nearly fifty merc's or more and some pretty heavy firepower".
Buffy nodded to the younger Slayer, a silent thanks for stopping anyone from volunteering.
Shayla nodded "Then it's settled, Dawn will lead a small team to Nar Shadaa, I wish you all the best of luck, may the force be with you."
Next chapter, the rescue of Vrook. Xander gets some answers, and even more questions. And another emotional goodbye.
