Chapter 11
Pain. That was all he could feel right now. He remembered something be tipped down his throat and how bitter it had tasted. However the feeling of imminent death had left him soon after it had cascaded down his throat. The pain was lesser now, not as fierce or as fiery as it was before, now like a dull throbbing that was slowly growing more painful again.
Drake slowly opened his eyes greeted by the dim light of a hut as his vision re-focused after becoming blurred during the fight with the mandalorian. He winced slightly as his eyes began to ache, even the light as dim as it was still hurt his eyes slightly. His muscle's felt weary and heavy as though he'd run across an entire planet flat out for a week.
As Drake's senses began to return, he became away of unfamiliar fingers laced with his right hand, and the sound of gentle breathing to his right. He looked down to his side to see Bastila, fast asleep her head resting on her right arm and her left hand entwined with his right. He gingerly and silently sat up, being careful not to wake her and gazed at her while she slept.
Bastila looked so peaceful in her slumber, despite her prowess with the lightsaber and her strength in the force when she was in battle. The innocent beauty of her features made her look angelic and divine as she slept. Her aura was tranquil and calm despite the hell of a day they'd been having. Drake continued to gaze at her, a small smile working its way onto his lips as she shifted slightly in her sleep and sighed quietly as she became more comfortable, though a stray strand of hair slipped down over her face.
Drake unable to help himself reached forward and softly brushed the small strand from her face. Bastila groaned quietly and her blue-grey eyes slowly fluttered open. She saw Drake was awake and relief gleamed in her eyes and she sat up.
"Drake…" she sat fully straight keeping her fingers laced with his "how are you feeling?" Drake smiled then winced slightly as the pain decided to remind him it was still there.
"Better, though my muscle's would not agree with me" he answered and then groaned slightly and almost fell off the bed had Bastila not caught him "and I feel a little light-headed…" he breathed as she helped him sit up straight.
"Don't strain yourself Drake, there was terentatek poison in your system and that has obviously taken its toll…" she whispered. Drake looked down and saw her hand still resting on his. He looked back up and saw her eyes gazing at him, with a mixture of fear, relief and something else as well though he couldn't tell what.
"How long was I out?" he asked. Bastila sat next him and continued to gaze at him.
"I'm not sure…I stayed awake for about three hours while you were recovering but how long exactly I don't know…" she replied softly.
"You stayed all that time?" Drake whispered. She looked away and he noticed her eyes grow watery.
"Yes…you were so badly injured, when we brought you here…you began writhing as though you were being tortured from the inside… it was so hard to watch, I…" she stopped for a second and looked at him as silent tears slipped from her eyes as he gasped slightly unprepared for this yet alone what she said next "I was so frightened…I didn't know how to help you…I couldn't bring myself to leave, I was so afraid you wouldn't wake up…" she looked down as the tears began fall much quicker now and she fought to keep them back but failed miserably.
Drake placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed her back soothingly. She looked at him and then what she did caught him off guard. She pulled him into a firm embrace as she dissolved into tears.
The strength she often displayed had disappeared, as she buried her face into the side of his neck. Drake gently wrapped his arms around her and hushed her gently, rubbing her back. She snuggled a little closer to him taking whatever comfort she could from the embrace as her tears slowly halted and she breathed shakily. She pulled away from him keeping her hands on his arms as she gazed at him. She saw a mix of emotions within his cyan coloured eyes: understanding, sympathy and love? Was it love she saw or did she simply wish it was? Bastila found herself entranced by his eyes as she gazed into their depths.
"I'm ok Bas…" he whispered, "I'm still here…" she smiled shakily and wiped her eyes.
"I know…but now I'm just even more confused about things now…" he frowned slightly as she continued "I said I needed to think about something…us… to be honest" his eyes widened as she said this.
"Us?" he repeated.
"I…well…" she stammered then continued following not what her training wanted to say but what her heart wanted to say "I'm thinking of you all the time now…whenever I try to meditate I think of you and I feel at peace, I look at you when I don't mean to, I watch you as lead our companions, when you speak with the girl in the cargo hold, when you spar with Falcan…and the more and more I watch you, the more the Jedi training tells me 'you can't think about him the way you are'…" Drake listened carefully.
"But then another voice tells me to keep thinking of you, to keep watching you and I want to think of you, I want to watch you, I…. I want to be near you…" she paused for a second "then after yesterday, I realised how much you meant to me…how much I can't stand the thought of you not being with me, even after all my Jedi training I become more and more intrigued and interested in you…" she finished.
"So you do feel something?" Drake asked slowly, Bastila looked away for a second then back at him, her eyes filled sincerity and honesty.
"Yes…I think I do…which is what confuses me…I shouldn't be feeling this way about you…I want to say its only the bond that links us giving us these feelings but I know it isn't true and that it would just be an excuse…I can't decide what I want to do…" she finished as he gazed at her with those piercing blue eyes she'd come to admire so much.
"Bastila…you should know by now…that I feel something for you…I watch you at times when I don't mean to, I'm thinking of you when I shouldn't be but I can't stop myself when I do…I know what it feels like" he admitted. Bastila looked at him. "Like you I'm confused as well, but I know I would like for us to be more than just friends…" Bastila's eyes turned a deep ocean blue as she looked at him, eyes wide with surprise "but its not what I want unless you want it too" he concluded.
"Drake…" she struggled "I admit I like the thought of us being together, adore the idea even…but my training just keeps conflicting with my feelings…I don't know…"
"Bastila…" she stopped as he spoke softly "What does your heart tell you?" she frowned slightly and thought for a second. What did her heart say? She sighed knowing what she wanted, but once again found her training still telling her no…
"I just need more time…" she replied painfully. Drake nodded but gazed at her with something in his eyes she couldn't work out.
"Well can I give something to think about?" he whispered. Drake leaned in slowly, and Bastila felt her heart jump a couple of beats with joy and surprise as his lips slowly brushed against hers.
The kiss was slow and chaste, his lips inflicting sweet tortures on her own. She moaned softly her hand coming up to rest on his cheek as he deepened the kiss a little more, letting her know that if this what she wanted, the intimacy and love he was willing to offer, then he'd give it to her but only if she wanted it. After a few moments he slowly pulled and Bastila felt her heart flutter at his soft loving gaze and she brushed his cheek again with a soft smile.
"Well that's definitely something to think about…" she breathed and he chuckled a little. Drake stood up and reached for his shirt that lay on the table next to the bed. He slowly pulled it over his head, and winced again slightly. She stood as well summoning her lightsaber to her from the chair she'd been sitting in.
"We'd better get going…I heard Falcan say something about the Bacca's blade being given to Freyyr, so no doubt he's waiting for us…"
"Yes Jolee said Freyyr was going to wait until you recovered "Bastila replied. Drake nodded picking up his lightsaber and clipping it to his belt. As he moved out the door, Bastila caught his wrist; he turned to look at her.
"Thank you…" she whispered, Drake frowned
"For what?"
"Understanding and being honest about your feelings..." she whispered "and…for not dying" she finished slowly unsure of how else to put it.
"That's ok…and thank you for staying with me" he replied. She smiled and the two exited the hut.
To both their surprise Freyyr and Falcan were waiting outside. Falcan smiled widely at the recovered Jedi as he approached and Freyyr nodded to him.
"How you feeling?" Falcan asked.
"Stiff, sore but fine" Drake replied Falcan sensed Drake was still nowhere near one hundred percent, but was ready for action if necessary. "Freyyr what news?"
(I have been able to gather support secretly from some of my old followers…I thought it best to wait for you to recover first…Drake) Freyyr answered with a few growls.
"Very well…we'll continue through the Shadowlands if you climb up ahead of us we'll meet you in chieftains hall" Freyyr nodded and vanished into the shadows.
"We should expect the lift operator to attack us but that'll be no problem…" Falcan pointed out. Drake nodded and began leading the way back towards the lift.
Falcan hadn't been wrong about Gorwooken. He did attack them when they returned to the lift. Drake had engaged him in a fight, while Falcan and Bastila dealt with the wookies that tried to ambush them. Drake used the force to throw Gorwooken into a sharp spike like log that protruded from one the trees. The mighty wookie succumbed to its deadly effect very quickly. The other Chuunder loyalists soon fell at Falcan and Bastila's hands. Falcan had stabbed his opponent through the heart, while Bastila cleaved hers in two,
Drake was able to work the lift in order to take them back to the surface. A wookie know as Chorrawl whose hunting party had been encountered by Drake earlier greeted them. He told them of Freyyr's presence in the village and offered to lead them the back way straight to the chieftain's hall. They followed him and sure enough they soon arrived outside the great hall, while a crowd of wookies waited outside.
As the entered they head Chuunder growl in a frustrated tone.
(Oh that's just great; it's an entire family reunion)
(Yes son I have returned bearing the blade of Bacca's sword, step down Chuunder!) Freyyr growled.
(I have the hilt and you have the blade, we are at an impasse it seems!) He roared back. Suddenly all the wookies present began roaring and growling at each other, as Zaalbar stood looking both confused and angry
"Zaalbar?" Drake suddenly broke out "Who do you think should rule?" the wookies all stopped and gazed at him expectantly.
(Well Chuunder has told me many things they make sense but at the same time I cannot forget what he has done)
"Then who do you choose?" Falcan asked
(Father…my father should rule my people!) Zaalbar roared defiantly as Chuunder rounded on him.
(So be it! KILL THEM!!!) He all but howled as he leapt at Zaalbar.
The melee that ensued was brutal and clumsy in the closed space. With little space to manoeuvre the Jedi and Falcan could not resort to their extreme feats of acrobats and were forced to fight grounded against the wookies and Czerka guards on the side of Chuunder. The timely arrival of Canderous, Juhani Jolee and Carth helped tip the battle in their favour.
After a long and bloody brawl, Chuunder and his followers lay dead, while Freyyr and Zaalbar stood tall. Drake groaned slightly and slid down the wall he was leaning against to sit down. Bastila moved to him and with her hand on his shoulder sent a soothing wave of force energy to reduce the pain he was in. He smiled with thanks and brushed her hand with his. Falcan approached and helped Drake to his feet. Drake's hand moved to his right side as Freyyr and Zaalbar exchanged words Freyyr offering Zaalbar a place by his side.
(I can't… I have just gotten used to being free and I wish to explore the galaxy I have discovered and…I have a life-debt to fulfil I cannot forget that) Zaalbar answered.
"No Zaalbar…" Drake struggled as he approached his companion "If you wish to follow me, let it be not out of a life-debt but out of friendship, it's your decision not mine, since I release you from that life-debt…. you repaid that debt to me a many times already by saving my life" Drake finished. Zaalbar smiled a wookie smile
(Then it is out of friendship that I will follow you, you need my help and I will gladly give it) Drake smiled as Zaalbar placed his paw on his friends shoulder. Bastila and Falcan smiled as well.
(Before you leave us…you deserve something for you aid, but we have very little to give at the moment) Freyyr spoke in a thoughtful tone.
(I have a request father) Zaalbar answered (I wish Bacca's blade) Freyyr looked at his son.
"That would be sufficient" Drake stated as Freyyr thought it over.
(Well that is quite a request…but I will not deny my son his wish, very well let the two halves of the sword become one: my son will wield Bacca's blade) After a long wait Zaalbar, emerged from the hall wielding a red hilted vibrosword that shone brightly against the son light coming through the trees.
"That blade suits you Zaalbar" Falcan commented as Zaalbar approached him, Drake and Bastila.
(Thank you, father has arranged some escorts for us, they'll guide us back to the ship while avoiding the battle with Czerka) Drake nodded and the four of them moved to the guides awaiting them.
After half an hour later they were on board the Ebon Hawk, Drake Bastila in the cockpit looking down at the planet as they rocketed away from it.
"We didn't find the Star map," Bastila stated.
"There's no rush for now Bas we can get the Map after we've returned Sasha to Dantooine, that way the Czerka presence should have been eliminated by the Wookies when we return. Freyyr did say we would be able to return Kashyyyk whenever we wish" Drake replied shifting uncomfortably in his sit, his side still painful.
"You have really planned that through…" Bastila mused with a smile "Well you haven't led us astray yet"
"Yet being the main word in that phrase" Drake replied.
"You're doing fine Drake, do not doubt yourself" Bastila said covering his hand with hers "You have developed very well as a Jedi and a leader, and there is no one more qualified to lead us than you" Drake smiled and ran his thumb over her hand.
"Thanks Bas…" she nodded and yawned standing up.
"I'm going to have a shower and get a good nights sleep on the way back to Dantooine" Bastila declared as she began to leave the cockpit.
"Bastila…" she turned to look at him "Let me know once you've made up your mind" she knew what he meant and smiled softly with a reassuring nod.
"I will Drake…" she replied as she exited the cockpit.
Drake groaned in pain, setting the coordinates for Dantooine and the Ebon Hawk soon slipped into light speed. Drake stood and left the cockpit heading for the medbay. Slipping a kolto bandage and placing it over his wound and feeling the pain relax a little. Hearing the sounds of construction coming from the garage, he slipped his shirt back on and made his way to the garage. He found Falcan working on something at the workbench. He was welding two pieces of metal together, looking very focused on his work. Drake approached slowly observing what he was doing.
"Need something?" Drake had forgotten how attuned Falcan's senses were. From years of being a bounty hunter as well as being connected the force, Falcan could immediately sense any approaching person, either through hearing or feeling their life force.
"Just curious what are you doing?" Drake asked sliding into the seat next to him, to his surprise he answered his own question seeing what Falcan was constructing "You're building a lightsaber?" Falcan nodded as he continued his work "Who for?" Drake knew Falcan wouldn't build it for himself.
"You…" Drake raised an eyebrow as Falcan finally finished what he was doing and revealed a machined electrum lightsaber, with a 30-centremetre cylinder that was a mixture of sliver and gold in colour, with bright yellow and a black, thick handgrip. The cylinder had an almost majestic and regal appearance, with the electrum hilt design.
"An electrum lightsaber?" Drake muttered "Impressive, but why would I need a new lightsaber?"
"Simple you want to build one, and haven't had time… so I took matters into my own hands, I built it based on the preferences you have that I can pick out from your movements and from the lightsaber combat form you use: Form V, Djem So and Shien if I'm not mistaken" Falcan replied. Drake nodded and took the cylinder and examined it in his hands.
It felt like it was his. He could imaging himself wielding it and found it was suited for his combat style as he held it. It had thick metal casing in some sections and a bevelled emitter designed to designate separate facets of the blade for offensive or defensive purposes. The hilt was rigid and slightly thick and he found he had excellent grip on the hilt as he took it both hands.
"How did you know how to build lightsabers?" Drake inquired keeping the hilt in his hand.
"I met two Jedi in my travels, the first found me…the second I sought out" Falcan began "The reason being he was a self-exiled Jedi lightsaber master who had lost faith in the order after the Mandalorian wars…his name was Darogun" Drake looked up at him in surprise.
"Darogun the lightsaber master?" he replied astonished.
"Yeah… unfortunately when I found him he was approaching the end of his life, he was only in his mid thirties but a poison had been given to him by the exchange was slowly taking his life" Falcan said grimly "He taught me how to construct lightsabers, the basic principles of each lightsaber form from one to seven and which lightsaber hilt designs were best for each form" Falcan looked behind him "these are all the lightsabers I built under his guidance. Drake turned to see a collection of different styles of lightsabers arranged on the swoop-bike surface: single blades, double-bladed, short lightsabers or shoto's aswell.
"Incredible…and you learnt all of this from him?" Drake asked.
"Yes…just before he died" Falcan replied "That lightsaber you have there is a dual-phrase saber: you can manually change the length the blade, to at it least double its original length, which is good tactic for Djem So" Drake nodded and stood.
The blue blade slid into being from the cylinder with a slow snap-hiss and he spun it around his hand experimentally. He felt more comfortable with this hilt then his previous one, as he could feel his style flowing more comfortable as he took experimental yet masterful swings with his blade, leaving blue arcs in the air of the cargo hold.
"Thanks Falcan…this'll be perfect" Drake said.
"You're welcome, just keep you're old saber as a spare" Drake nodded and de-powered the sabre. "You should get some rest…" Drake nodded again. "Goodnight Drake." Falcan said as he returned to his work. Drake instead of going to the quarters went to the cargo hold.
Sasha was sitting eating something when he entered. She looked up and a wide smile spread over her face and she leapt up to him and hugged him. After a few minutes of conversing about taking her back to her parents, which she received with a grin and ecstatic words, she yawned and he told her time for bed. He picked her up and carried her to her den.
To his surprise however Sasha instead of crawling into her makeshift bed pulled one the blankets over her and curled up in his lap resting against his left shoulder. Drake hesitated slightly and then sat down and held her as she slept like a father or elder-brother. He sat quietly as she fidgeted at little in her sleep and then gradually her breathing became slow and gentle as she passed into the child's dream world.
Sensing someone very familiar, Drake looked to see Bastila looking at him from the doorway, with a soft smile on her face as she gazed at the child sleeping in his arms. He smirked aswell.
Not a word to the others Bas he whispered through the bond
Oh I'm not saying a word…I just wanted to say goodnight She replied but her could all but sense the smile in her telepathic voiceGoodnight Bas… sweet dreams
You too…sleep well Drake
With a final smile, she turned and vanished from view as Drake remained the child sleeping soundly in his arms, as he too past into the world of slumber.
I know... I have really rushed their relationship but I simply couldn't resist. By the way Darogun was my own idea, he isn't a real character from the Star Wars universe...just to let you know...
Anyway reviews please!!!!