A/N: I apologize for the significant drop in quality in this chapter. Feel free to yell at me. I deserve it.
"GET US BACK INTO HYPERSPACE! NOW!" Onasi shouted at the top of his lungs. The bridge around him was in chaos as soldiers rushed to do their jobs.
"Captain!" one of the pilots called. "The drive just went offline!"
Onasi wasted not a moment vaulting over the partition separating him from the pilot's seat. He shoved the man out of the way, trying his own hand at the controls.
From Bastila's right, another soldier shouted, "Hostiles approaching, sir!"
Captain Onasi's fist came down hard on the metal frame of the console. "Damn it!" he swore. "Sabotage!" He turned back towards the bridge and started hollering more orders. "Sanders! Gerrik! Zhol! Get a team and get the hyperspace drive back on line! Ejin! Get the escape pods ready!"
On the other side of the bridge, an officer was calmly announcing into a headset, "All personnel to battle stations. I repeat; all personnel to battle stations. Hostiles incoming. Prepare to be boarded. Estimated time to breach: seven minutes. All personnel to battle stations."
The calm-voiced officer's words reverberated through the interior of the ship. In harsh contrast, the bridge was still a cacophony of sound with orders and status updates being barked out constantly.
Bastila had never felt so helpless in her life. Next to her, Zanthis was the picture of a cool, controlled Jedi. He studied the scene for a moment more before turning to her.
"This is a lost cause and we both know it. Get to the escape pods. The Republic still needs your ability. I will do what must be done."
Bastila's eyes widened as she realized the implications of what he had just said, but before she could protest, he was gone.
*.*.*
4 days earlier…
Bastila admitted defeat for the third time that day with the hiss of withdrawing lightsaber blades. After the Endar Spire's launch, Zanthis had offered to spar with her to improve her martial skills. The week worth of training had removed some of the rust from Bastila's lightsaber technique, but she had yet to defeat the Jedi Guardian.
"Better," Zanthis declared. "But you are still relying too much on rote movements. You can only get so far just using the kata the masters drilled you in. Any fallen Jedi will see through you in an instant."
Bastila's lips thinned at the criticism. The first time he had told her about that flaw in her technique, she had understood and accepted the advice. This was the fourth time she had been on the receiving end of this lecture, however, and it was starting to wear thin.
"I am trying," she assured him icily.
They squared off. This time, however, Bastila found herself facing the tip of a lightsaber after trading a mere two blows.
"You have proven your point." If Bastila's tone could have gotten more frigid, it would have.
Zanthis disarmed his lightsaber. "It is a shame the masters neglected your training out of necessity. Battle Meditation is a valuable skill. However, the narrow focus has stunted your growth in other areas."
"Is this how you speak to the apprentices you teach?" Bastila bit back.
As if she had not said anything, the Knight continued, "The more I come to know you, the more I begin to doubt the Masters' judgment. You may have a strong connection to the Force, but you have never been taught to utilize that to the fullest extent. And here you are, shouldering the two greatest burdens in this war. If it were not for me, you would be expected to do so alone."
Bastila fought down her rising anger. "The Masters have confidence in my abilities."
Zanthis made a harsh, swiping gesture with his left hand. "Look beyond your pride for a moment and think about this rationally! This is too much for even a master or a knight, but a Padawan? Even you can't be that blind. Why did they choose you, of all people?"
Bastila's reply came through clenched teeth. "I was the only one left."
"That is not good enough and you know it."
"Because apparently I am the only one whose judgment is not skewed on this issue. Is that good enough, Knight Zanthis?"
"Your judgment? You are the one who let her live!"
"I saved her life! Jedi do not kill their prisoners." The vehemence with which she recited the line was enough to startle even her. Zanthis, however, was unmoved by the paradigm.
"Sometimes you have to make exceptions to the rules."
"The information she knows might decide this war."
"So you are willing to risk her getting loose just for the sake of some information she might have and probably will not be willing to divulge? If she returns to the Sith, we will lose this war."
Bastila stared at the Knight, out of arguments to combat his apparent belief that she had made the wrong choice. Certainly, she'd had her own doubts, but to have them all laid out in front of her was imposing at best.
It also made her wonder: was there a single other person in the galaxy who would have done as she had done? Would no one else have spared Revan's life?
Had she really made the wrong decision?
Unaware of the doubts playing back and forth in Bastila's mind, Zanthis continued to rant. "She is singlehandedly responsible for the state of the Jedi Order. She drew the members of our Order to her side against the Council's wishes and then turned them to the dark side. She is responsible for the deaths of billions of sentients. If there is anyone in this galaxy I would call 'evil', it would be her."
"She fell," Bastila retorted, her calm voice not betraying her doubts. "It is the risk that all Jedi share. Stop giving voice to your hatred, Knight Zanthis. It is unbecoming of a Jedi and need I remind you that such strong emotions are themselves a path to the dark side?"
The Jedi Guardian was too nonplussed for words for a long moment. Finally, he pursed his lips. "I suppose you are correct. However, that does not change the fact that she is a Sith. She cannot be trusted."
"Perhaps. But consider this: you knew her for all of a matter of weeks. I knew her for years. I know the dangers far better than you seem to think. Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to meditate and clear my mind. I suggest you do the same."
Zanthis only paused a moment before spinning on his heel and marching over to the door. He could not resist a parting shot. "Do not hesitate when it matters most, Padawan Shan, or the blood of the next massacre will be on your hands."
Before she could even fully process the warning, the door was slamming closed in the Knight's wake. Sighing, Bastila looked around at the disarray of furniture around the edges of the large living quarters. Pulling on the Force, she began to move the pieces back to their original positions. She made certain to leave a space large enough for her meditations amongst the elegant furnishings.
The wealth of the suite was a bit much to Bastila, who was used to the Spartan accommodations of the Jedi Enclave. However, such was to be expected of a warship used for the escort of political dignitaries.
As she sank into her meditation, one desperate thought floated across her conscience.
Don't betray us, Revan. Please.
*.*.*
The day after their argument (or, rather, a shift and a half- Bastila was still getting used to the military way of doing things), the two senior Jedi aboard the Endar Spire were summoned to the bridge at the Captain's behest.
Bastila tried to remain the picture of Jedi solemnity as she studied Captain Onasi, wondering what was so important that he had asked for them. He had made a point of trying to 'get to know' her at various points during their voyage. However, these were merely attempts at grilling her for information; mostly about her defeat of Darth Revan. Once or twice he let the name "Saul Karath" slip into conversation and though it was obvious he was trying to be subtle about it, Bastila knew that he was really looking for information about the man.
She had answered honestly that she had no idea who that was.
This, however, would not be some quick chat, as was evidenced by the presence of all of the senior officers aboard the Endar Spire.
Captain Onasi looked around, making a mental tally. "Good. Everyone's here. I'll get straight to the point: our orders have changed."
Had this been anything but a gathering of well-trained military officers and two Jedi, murmurs would have gone up at this pronouncement. Instead, the only reaction the declaration got was a few raised eyebrows and a couple of the more junior officers glancing around to see how others were reacting to the news.
Clearing his throat, the Captain continued. "Intelligence has gathered that the Sith intend to launch an attack on Taris, in the Ojoster sector. As you know, this is a vital stronghold for the Republic. It's our last major foothold in the Outer Rim. It must be protected at all costs.
"A fleet is moving into position over Taris to defend it from the increasing Sith presence in the sector. We have been ordered to meet up with the fleet over Taris and assist in its defense. We have already changed course for our new destination. Any questions? As soon as this meeting is adjourned, I will make the announcement to the crew."
Silence greeting this pronouncement until Zanthis spoke up. "Have we received confirmation of these orders?"
One of the senior officers gave him a dirty look. "Of course. The orders are genuine. I checked them myself."
The Jedi Knight pursed his lips but said nothing more.
"One more thing," Captain Onasi added, catching everyone's attention again. "Our course takes us directly through Sith space. We should be out of range of all Sith installations and known patrols. But you all know the drill: no communications. We're running silent. Understood?"
When no response was forthcoming, Onasi glanced around once more before nodding curtly. "Dismissed!"
Almost in unison, the officers saluted. Bastila paused a moment to admire their strict uniformity before turning to leave, the other Jedi beside her.
They said nothing as they threaded back through the ship- they had not spoken since the argument- and the silence stretched tensely between them.
As they were closing in on their quarters, Zanthis finally broke the silence. "Something does not feel right."
"Then why didn't you say so?"
With a shrug, he answered, "It is likely nothing."
"Nothing is nothing when it comes to the Force."
"I am going to check on her."
With a disgruntled sigh, Bastila watched him walk off before entering her quarters. She wondered if Zanthis was planning to 'end things' himself.
No. He was a Jedi. He would not do such a thing.
*.*.*
Zanthis cursed under his breath he ran away from the bridge, alarms and orders echoing through the halls of the Endar Spire. He had been right to be suspicious. His gut feeling had been correct all along, but he had been too focused on the threat presented by Revan to see the truth.
Revan was quartered on the opposite side of the ship from the bridge. He wouldn't make it before the Sith boarded, and it Revan wasn't there, he wouldn't know where to begin looking after that. He would have to find her somehow. She could not be allowed to fall into Sith hands one way or another. If that meant she had to die at his, so be it.
Soldiers rushed about, getting to their battle stations and making ready to meet the threat of the boarding parties. They would have no chance, Zanthis knew. There were dark Jedi on those boarding ships. He could feel their presence encroaching.
He pushed himself to run faster. The dark Jedi could probably feel Revan's power. He would have to head them off. He doubted any of the Sith troopers would take the time to capture a Republic soldier, but the dark Jedi would know what they were dealing with. They were the real threat.
He was almost all the way to the docking bay when he started running into Sith troopers. He tore through them with a mindless determination, not caring that he did not kill most of them. A few of the blaster bolts he reflected hit their marks, but he didn't much care.
Because right behind them was his true target.
Zanthis wasted no time leaping towards his adversary, bringing his blade to bear. The blades flared brightly against each other, blinding in their intensity.
Sith troopers started firing at him, but after the dark Jedi had to reflect some of the shots himself, he glared at the offending footsoldiers and ordered them off.
Without a moment's hesitation, they engaged once more. Zanthis was almost immediately put on the defensive, blocking hammer-like strikes at a breakneck pace. Around them, the Sith Troopers ran deeper into the ship and soon enough, all that remained were the two combatants and the sounds of their battle.
He blocked an overhead strike, countering with a side swipe towards his adversary's stomach. The enemy deflected his lightsaber blade downward, where it sliced through some piece of electronics. The console began to spark violently, but since his robes didn't catch on fire from it, Zanthis paid it no heed.
He went on the offensive again, raining fast, precise, but weak blows upon his opponent's defense. Just as the enemy deflected yet another blow, he pivoted on his left heel and chambered a kick directly towards the dark Jedi's stomach.
The enemy was caught off-guard by the action and stumbled back. It was enough. Zanthis' lightsaber cleaved a brilliant green arc through the air, ripping through the opponent's clavicle and opening a gaping wound in his chest. The man was dead immediately.
Zanthis looked around; checking for potential threats. As he looked towards the direction the Sith had come from, his eyes landed on Revan and some Republic soldier. Their eyes met just for a moment. Zanthis reignited his lightsaber behind his back, intending to finish it in one decisive blow…
Reacting to the sudden flare of energy, electricity from the severed console behind him arced directly into his lightsaber, destroying the weapon instantly and sending thousands of volts of electricity through the Jedi's body.
Nearby, Revan watched dispassionately.
*.*.*
Her escape pod was hurtling towards Taris at a blinding speed, but Bastila paid no heed to that fact as she used her Battle Meditation to track Zanthis' and Revan's progress through the Endar Spire. Zanthis' death was unfortunate, but she didn't have time to worry about that. There were still at least two dark Jedi aboard the ship, one of whom was directly in the path to the escape pods, cutting down any and all Republic soldiers who tried to get off the ship.
She steeled herself to concentrate all of her talents on that inevitable confrontation. Revan and the Republic soldier with her were getting closer and closer, cleaving through any and all resistance with efficiency. When they got close enough, Bastila focused herself and reached out through the Force…
Her escape pod crashed into the surface of Taris with and unforgiving jolt. The sudden interruption from her Battle Meditation stunned her and she tried to pull herself back together. Revan was still on that ship, likely facing off with a dark Jedi, and Bastila could not allow that battle to go the wrong way.
The hatch of the escape pod was pried open and Bastila had no time to react before she was set upon by the locals.