Chapter Thirty-Five: Foiled

Canderous had seen Revan sneak away from the impromptu celebration Admiral Dodonna had organized. Neither a fan of the Republic, nor in the mood to answer questions and talk about being a hero to a bunch of Republic soldiers, Canderous followed Revan. He tried to get Carth's attention, but the pilot was still busy talking to Admiral Dodonna. Canderous didn't like the Admiral at all. High Republic brass made him feel uneasy, especially after what happened to his people. All these Republic soldiers celebrating together… the war wasn't over, just the battle.

Canderous spat into the grass, then went after Revan. During the celebration and award ceremony, Revan was almost a ghost. She smiled, bowed, and did everything a Jedi was supposed to do. But she didn't look like she was having a good time, or even all there. Canderous was surprised Carth hadn't noticed or at least said anything.

Revan entered the Rakatan Temple seemingly unaware that Canderous was tailing her. The Mandalorian watched as she headed straight for the upper level of the temple. She was on a mission of some kind, that much was for sure. Canderous waited in the shadows for a few seconds, then followed her. "What the hell's she doin'?" Canderous muttered under his breath. Whatever it was, hopefully it was more entertaining than watching Republics try and have fun…

Canderous reached the top of the upper-level, still lurking in the shadows and watching Revan. If she knew he was there, she didn't make any indication. As far as he knew, Revan was unaware of his presence. He contemplated calling out to her, but didn't. Something wasn't right, and he certainly didn't want to alarm her. Maybe he should have brought Juhani or Zaalbar along just in case…

Revan walked down the long, stone platform of the upper level. Canderous watched her every move, her every step. He was no Jedi, but he knew something wasn't right. The ceremony was something no one wanted, one of those stupid Republic publicity events. But that wasn't enough to make Revan act so… weird, was it? Was she that uncomfortable about being paraded around as the Sith-Lord-gone-good? Vandar hadn't singled her out as Revan, nor was she wearing a sign around her neck. What could the problem be?

Canderous watched the tiny Jedi stroll down the stone sidewalk. She was so silent, not even talking to herself. It was like watching a ghost. Canderous had never stalked someone so quiet, so stealth-like before. If Revan knew he was watching, she gave no indication. Maybe she didn't sense him? How could she not; she was a Jedi. She sensed everything and everyone.

Revan reached the end of the stone platform and stopped. From what Canderous could tell, the stone platform overlooked a sort of courtyard. Maybe this stone platform meant something to Revan—

Could she be following another vision? Carth had said something about the Star Forge calling out to Revan, giving her visions, making her unable to tell where the visions stopped and reality began. Carth said how Revan called him Malak several times when she was experiencing the flashbacks.

Was Revan having another flashback now?

Canderous walked out of the shadows and ever-so-slowly headed towards the former Sith Lord. If she was, in fact, having another flashback, there was no telling what she'd do. He watched Revan step up to what looked to be the very end of the platform. What the hell was she doing? Canderous moved faster than he had been. What flashback was she seeing? When she first announced her reign as Dark Lord of the Sith?

Revan spread her arms. Canderous raised an eyebrow. Greeting her followers? He walked faster.

Revan leaned forward.

Canderous's eyes grew wide. "Phwoar!"

Bastila gasped and grabbed Carth's shoulder. He turned to her. "What?"

Bastila's face was white, all the blood drained. She looked at him whispered one word: "Revan."

Carth's eyes grew wide. He turned to Admiral Dodonna and others and politely excused himself. "Lead the way," he said to Bastila. She nodded, grabbed his hand, and rushed towards the Rakatan Temple.

Canderous didn't have time to think, just act. He ran full-force at Revan, grabbed her waist and pulled her backwards. Her body collided hard with his, the sheer momentum knocking Canderous on his back, Revan falling back with him.

Canderous lay there on the stone walkway, Revan on top of him. He still held her tight around her waist. He took a few deep breaths and waited for his heart to stop pounding. Everything happened so fast. If he hadn't been following her, if he hadn't decided to walk over to her to see what exactly she was doing—

"Let me go."

"Revan?" Canderous asked.

"Let me go," she whispered, her voice filled with pain.

Canderous snorted. "I don't think so."

"Let me go," Revan whispered again. "Please let me go."

"You tried to jump off the balcony," Canderous said. "I ain't lettin' you go."

"I have to," Revan said. "I have to."

"Uh… no."

Revan started to struggle. Canderous held her tighter. "Let me go!" she cried. "I have to end this!"

Canderous rolled over, pinning Revan between him and the stone walkway. He straddled her hips, pinning her arms above her head. "Over my dead body!"

"Sith spawn!" Revan cried as she struggled.

"Curse all you want," Canderous said, holding her tight.

"Frink!"

"Where'd'ya learn that one?"

"Mandalorian Shavit!"

Canderous chuckled as he shifted positions to hold her. "You're just a walking encyclopedia of insults."

"I could kill you with the Force for holding me like this!"

"So do it," Canderous said. "Break my neck. Boil my blood. Throw me across the platform, and break every bone in my body."

Revan let out a whimper.

Canderous heard heavy footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw Carth and Bastila running towards them, Carth leading the charge. "What in the name of the galaxy are you doing?" Carth yelled.

Canderous sighed. "I never thought I'd say this, but damn am I glad you're here."

"Let me go!" Revan sobbed.

Carth looked at Canderous, then at Revan, then back to Canderous. "What—"

"She tried to jump off the frackin' platform!" Canderous said.

Carth's eyes grew wide. "What?"

"She frackin' tried to jump off the frackin' platform!" Canderous angrily repeated. "If I frackin' wasn't here, she'd be a frackin' splatter on the frackin' ground!"

"Nice," Bastila said. "Next time try to use the expletive as every word in the sentence."

"Listen, Princess, I wouldn't talk if I were you!"

"Just stop!" Carth cried. "Both of you!"

Revan continued to whimper. "Let me go…"

"Did she fight you?" Carth asked, kneeling down. Gently he stroked Revan's hair. "I'm here, Beautiful," he whispered.

"Struggled after she realized she wasn't dead," Canderous said. "You got her?" Carth nodded. Canderous released his hold and stood up. Revan continued to lay there motionless. She made no effort to get up. "She just kept whinin' for me to let her go so she could 'end this'," Canderous continued. "Then she started throwing insults around. That girl's got a mouth on her—"

"She was a Sith Lord," Bastila said.

Canderous crossed his arms and looked at the young Jedi. "What, that supposed to be a news flash?"

Carth helped Revan sit up. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, whispering, "I got you. Everything's going to be okay." Revan said nothing to him. She showed no emotion at all.

"How did you know to follow her?" Bastila asked Canderous.

"She was actin' weird down there," Canderous said. "While you were all cheerin' and slappin' each other on the back, I saw her slip away. Thought maybe she was having another vision. Then she tried to dive off the platform."

"Why didn't you alert one of us?" Bastila asked. "You should have said something—"

Canderous spat on the ground. "Well, if this happens again, I'll be sure to shout, 'Hey gang! I think Revan's gonna off herself!'"

"Could we not talk about this?" Carth snapped. "Bastila, go find Jolee."

"Why—"

"Just do it!"

Bastila closed her eyes and nodded. "As you wish." She turned and walked away.

Carth looked up at Canderous. The Mandalorian saw the love and concern in the Republic pilot's eyes. He also saw hurt and confusion. Carth hadn't a clue what to do next. "Thank you," Carth said.

Canderous nodded. "You want me to hang around in case?" He expected Carth to refuse and request privacy, but instead the pilot nodded, and looked down at the frail Jedi in his arms.

Slowly Canderous wandered over towards the exit of the platform, pretending he was looking for Jolee and Bastila to return. In truth, he was attempting to give Carth and Revan some sort of privacy. He heard Carth whispering to Revan, but didn't pay attention to what he was saying. Canderous did take note that he didn't hear her reply. He glanced back over at Carth and Revan, and saw they hadn't moved, then looked back out the exit.

What would make Revan want to off herself like that? True, she was hell-bent on dying on the Star Forge. But he thought everything was better now. The previous night during dinner, Bastila looked uncomfortable and had turned three shades of red. When Canderous asked her if she was all right, Bastila said Revan was awake, then excused herself from the group to go meditate by herself. And since Bastila and Revan's minds were hooked up thanks to the Force Bond, Canderous figured that once Revan awoke, Carth wasted no time and got right down to business. That had to be why Bastila turned red and insisted that no one go see her.

And now Revan was trying to kill herself. It didn't make any sense.

Canderous heard Jolee and Bastila approaching. When the two Jedi reached the upper level of the temple, Jolee immediately walked over to Carth and Revan. Canderous stood in the doorway with Bastila, watching as Jolee knelt down and gently spoke with Revan. "Think she's going to be all right?" Canderous asked Bastila.

She looked up at him. "Going soft?"

Canderous glared. "Since when is concern from one warrior for another 'going soft'?" he asked. "Besides, she's made her choice. Carth sleeps in her bunk."

"Jealous?"

Canderous crossed his arms. "You know, you certainly got bolder after turning to the Dark Side."

Bastila's cheeks flushed. She coughed, stood up straight, and placed her arms behind her back. "Revan's a bit broken, but she'll be all right."

"'A bit'?" Canderous questioned. "Just 'a bit'?"

"She's extremely vulnerable right now," Bastila said. "She's attempting to comprehend the death of her friend, the consequences of her previous life as a Sith Lord, the fact the Jedi Council deceived her, her forbidden love for and relationship with Carth, and the end of the journey. The slightest thing will send her over the edge."

Canderous snorted. "You can say that again." Bastila shook her head. "So what triggered this reaction out of her?" Canderous asked.

Bastila shook her head. "I don't know."

"I thought the Bond—"

"Searching her mind for memories is an invasion of privacy," Bastila said.

"So me asking you how Republic is in the sack would be out of the question?"

Bastila glared at Canderous.

Canderous nodded. "Thought so."

Bastila sighed. "I only knew she was planning to jump when I felt the tremendous stress of the decision through the Bond. Our fates are linked. When she made the decision to jump and was in the process of doing just that, it felt as if I was falling with her."

"Like when Malak tortured you," Canderous said. Bastila's eyes quickly made contact with his. "Revan could feel it," he explained. "She started screaming like she was the one being tortured. She didn't stop until Malak stopped with you, I guess." He saw Bastila shiver, so dropped the topic. "Come on," Canderous said, looking back at Carth, Jolee, and Revan. "Let's go back downstairs. Give them some privacy."

Bastila shook her head. "I think we should stay close just in case."

"You think Revan's going to try and kill herself again? Carth's holdin' on to her like there's no tomorrow. She ain't goin' anywhere."

"I don't know what's going to happen," Bastila said. "But I'd rather not take any chances. When they get up to leave, then we can go as well."

Canderous leaned against the doorframe. "Whatever. I've got nothing to do, anyway."

Bastila looked up at Canderous. "Thank you for saving her," she said. "If you hadn't followed her, we'd be dealing with a bigger issue right now."

Canderous shrugged. He went back to watching Jolee talk with Revan. Canderous could stand there all night if he had to. And judging from the progress Jolee was making, they'd all be there long into the night.