Chapter Thirteen: Promises To Keep

"…they will listen."

Revan's brow furrowed. She looked around the bridge of the Sith vessel—The Leviathan. Malak stood at the window, staring down at Taris—no, it wasn't Taris. Revan could see grass… plains… Dantooine?

"Lord Malak, forgive me, but the people have spoken and united against our troops."

Revan turned. "Admiral Karath," she gasped. Wasn't he dead?

"Then destroy the cities!" Malak roared. "Level this planet! We will make an example of their disobedience!"

"Destroy the planet?" Revan asked. "Malak, why—"

Admiral Karath nodded. "It will be done, Lord Malak. Our ships are already in position."

Revan got in Malak's face. "Dantooine has no weapons!" she cried. "They're nothing but farmers! Why are you doing this? What's going on?"

"Good," Malak said. "Let the rest of the galaxy learn from Telos's mistake that Lord Malak isn't a weakling like Revan…"

Revan's eyes grew wide. "Force," she softly cursed. "Malak, don't!"

Malak cackled his mechanical cackle as Saul barked orders in the background.

"Malak, you can't do this!" Revan cried. But Malak didn't listen. He didn't even acknowledge she was there. "Malak, damn you!" she screamed.

Nothing.

Revan heard the sound of the main cannon firing. She looked out the window, seeing red beams of energy showering down on Telos. "Malak, you have to stop! You can't do this! There're innocent people on Telos! We didn't find the Star Forge to destroy planets!"

Still Malak said nothing. Revan turned and watched the shower of red beams. She'd never felt so helpless…

Suddenly Revan was running. She was on Telos's surface, running for her life. People were screaming, buildings and homes were being destroyed left and right. She tripped on rubble, then quickly picked herself back up began running again. A young girl was crying, alone, no adults stopping to help. She couldn't've been more than two. Revan rushed over and picked the little girl up. "You're going to be okay," Revan soothed. "I'll protect you."

Through the screaming and the blasts, Revan could hear the all too familiar sound of Sith rifles discharging. She looked over her shoulder seeing Sith Troops in formation, shooting at the fleeing Telosians. The man running besides her screamed and fell. Revan had to stop herself from turning around and healing him. One Jedi fleeing with a child in her arms was no match for the terror the Sith were unleashing. Tears flowed down her face as more people around her fell. How could Malak do this to these innocent people? Revan held the little girl tight as she dodged bodies and debris.

A young boy tripped in front of her. With her free hand, Revan helped him up. He looked familiar, but in the panic, Revan didn't have time to think. She dragged the boy along until he was running on his own. He screamed for his mother, then started to run in the opposite direction.

"THIS WAY!" Revan screamed. But the boy didn't acknowledge. She didn't have time to chase after him.

The fighting suddenly stopped. No one was running, no one was screaming. Revan herself was standing still, the little girl no longer in her arms. The smell of blaster fire filled the air as she stood surrounded by injured and dead bodies. People were moaning, begging for help. Revan just stood there.

"Miss… Miss…"

Revan turned and saw a woman lying on the ground, badly bleeding, and calling to her. Revan rushed over and knelt. "Yes?"

"Are you… Repub… lic…?"

Revan nodded. "I'm a Jedi."

"My… son… I lost… him…"

"There are survivors," Revan said. "The Republic's coming. They'll find him." Revan didn't know how she knew that information, but somehow she did. "What's your son's name?"

"My son… he's… lost…"

"I'm sure he's fine," Revan said, taking the woman's hand. "Please, save your strength. The Republic medics—"

"My… husband…"

"I'm sure he's—"

"He said he'd… come," she said. "The Sith… came first…"

"Is he a Republic officer?"

"Yes," the woman smiled. "So proud… of him…"

"I'm sure he's happy to know that," Revan smiled.

"Take care of him."

"Take care of who?" Revan asked.

The woman smile grew wider. "Take care… of Carth."

Revan let out a faint gasp. Her heart began to race.

"Love him," she said, her voice full of compassion and tenderness. "Love him like… I did…"

"I… I will," Revan said.

"Promise me?"

Revan nodded. "I… I promise. I love him. He's… he's a wonderful man."

The woman smiled. "I'm… so proud of him…"

Revan's bright eyes snapped open. All she saw was darkness. All she felt was her pounding heart. It took her a few second to realize where she was. The Ebon Hawk… in her room… in Carth's arms…

Carth. Was that… his wife she saw? What exactly had she just seen? A Force Vision? An imprint? A communication? Whatever it was, it left her with chills. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself.

Revan jumped slightly as Carth stirred. In the darkness she found his hand and laced her fingers through his.

"Take care… of Carth."

Gently, Revan raised her head and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you."

Revan jumped. "I-I didn't know you were awake." Why hadn't she sensed that?

Carth lazily stroked her hair. "Been awake for a few minutes now," he whispered. "You were trembling in your sleep again."

"Oh," Revan lamely said. "Sorry."

"What did you dream?"

Revan bit her lip. He had to ask, didn't he? "I'm… I'm not quite sure if it was a dream," she whispered.

"What did you see then?"

Revan closed her eyes. "A planet being destroyed," she said. "People… running, screaming…" She sighed. "I'm… gonna talk to Jolee in, in the morning."

Carth gave her a gentle squeeze.

Revan let out a soft moan. "Force, I'm so hungry…"

"I think your dinner's definitely cold by now," Carth said.

Revan smiled. "What did you guys eat?"

"I'm not sure," Carth said, "but Mission was convinced it was scurrying around in the swoop hanger before it landed on our plates."

"Oh, that sounds appetizing."

"Jolee assured us he didn't capture it in the swoop hanger," Carth continued. "And Zaalbar said he liked it."

"Oh, like I trust those two," Revan said. She paused. "Are there any of those snack cakes left?"

Carth raised an eyebrow. "A Jedi cannot live on snack cakes alone."

Revan grinned. "Watch me."

Carth chuckled. "What am I going to do with you, woman?"

"Didn't you say Canderous had some ideas we should invest in?"

"Actually—"

"Careful, flyboy," Revan warned. She then giggled hysterically as Carth tickled her sides. "Stop—STOP!"

Carth grinned, then rolled onto his side. "I guess I gotta feed you now," he said. He lowered his head and kissed her, letting his lips linger on hers. "We don't need you starving to death."

Revan smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I suppose I could wait a few minutes before venturing off to the kitchen." She slid closer and began rubbing her leg up and down his.

Carth let out a low moan.

Revan slid the palm of her hand down his arm and over his hip. "Maybe… more than a few minutes."

"Temptress."

Revan giggled and pulled Carth closer…

Revan lay there afterwards, holding Carth in her arms. She lay on her back, Carth's head resting on her shoulder. He'd fallen asleep, breathing softly, and Revan held him close. Mindlessly she stroked his hair while she stared into the darkness. She had some visions of Malak during their lovemaking, but nothing as vivid and strong as before. But now all she could think of was her dream of Telos… and Morgana Onasi. She still wasn't sure if that truly was Morgana, or the Force messing with her mind again. Revan tucked Carth's head under her chin. It didn't matter, she decided. Carth promised to protect her, and Revan promised to love him.

"I love you, Carth Onasi," she whispered. "I promise."

Thanks again to Ocelott for assuring me this wasn't a lame idea.