Bastila shivered, but not from the cold. She watched Revan as he stood on the bridge, appalled by his lack of concern for the lives of others. He had killed one of his own crew members in front of her. His apprentice and the entire crew of Malak's ship were also dead. Thousands of lives snuffed out in the blink of an eye because Malak dared betray his Master. Countless innocent people were dead at Revan's whim.
She struggled to control the anger and hatred she felt burning in her heart and mind. Her thoughts had become a constant mantra repeating the Jedi Code as she tried to remain calm. Bastila's mind drifted back to the Enclave on Dantooine. She bit her lip against the bittersweet memories. She remembered the warm sun over the lush prairies that spread out from the Enclave. She imagined running her fingers over the warm, sturdy stone walls of the Enclave itself. She had always felt so safe there. She could see the faces of her Masters with their gentle, patient eyes and reassuring words. Her heart trembled in her chest. She longed to feel that warm sun and see those safe, welcoming stone walls again.
Another shiver pulled her sharply out of her homesick daydream. The cold only exacerbated the situation. Bastila hated the cold. She had little doubt that the bridge was kept cooler than normal so that Revan would not be uncomfortable in his full armor. Her eyes narrowed. Just like a man to make the entire ship suffer to ensure his own comfort. And all because he insisted on wearing that ridiculous mask and armor all the time. His arrogance was insufferable. Her thin Jedi robes did little against the chills. As she looked around the somber grey bridge, all she found was cold and emptiness. Cold grey metal, the cold dark of space through the view port, cold lights flashing on computer screens, even the cold, empty looks on so many of the crew members' faces. There was no warmth to be found here.
She caught the ship's Admiral watching her. He had the calm, confident bearing one would expect of a high ranking officer. As their eyes met she saw something akin to pity in his hazel eyes. It was as though he had some notion of what his Master had planned for her and he already felt sorry for her. Bastila looked away, her gaze falling on Revan as he turned to face her.
Bastila knew that somewhere beneath the armor and the mask, Revan was a man; he was human. But as she stared into that horrible, emotionless mask, she could not find any shred of humanity in him. Revan had destroyed worlds, slaughtered countless people in reckless and selfish conquest. She had felt his power when her team had faced him here on the bridge. She had watched as he killed Master Jenna and two other Knights. Bastila held no delusions that her life meant anything to him. She only mattered as long as he considered her to be useful to him. That single thought, above all others, disgusted and infuriated her. A knot of nausea settled in the pit of her stomach. Just like all those others, her life now hinged on the whim and fancy of a Sith Lord.
The collar around her neck aggravated her. It chafed at her skin and her inability to touch the Force was growing increasingly frustrating. She wanted nothing more than to rip the collar off and throw it at him, but it was locked tight. She glared at him. She would not let him see how uncomfortable she was. He would not get that satisfaction from her.
Revan felt the ship jump into hyperspace as the view port showed the stars blurring into streaks. He walked over to Bastila, one gloved hand closing on her upper arm. He felt her muscles tense and noticed the venomous look in her grey eyes. He felt a twinge of regret, but quickly shoved the thought aside.
"Walk with me, or would you prefer that I drag you along?" He hissed, leaning closer to her.
She huffed and squared her shoulders, trying to shake his hand off of her. Revan smiled beneath the mask and moved his hand to her shoulder, firmly guiding her off the bridge. As they crossed through the doors into the corridor, four soldiers snapped to attention. Their polished golden armor trimmed in crimson formed a sharp contrast to the dull, cold, grey of the ship. Revan nodded slightly and the guards fell into formation behind him and Bastila.
Revan let his hand slip from Bastila's shoulder, there was really no place for her to run to or hide. He trusted the guards to keep her from hanging too far behind him. They walked in silence except for the sounds of their footsteps and the background hum of the ship's systems. Stepping into the elevator, Revan activated the controls with a casual flick of his fingers. The elevator stopped at the brig level. The fleet would be arriving at the Star Forge in seven hours, and he decided to pass the time seeing to the Jedi Knights he captured along with Bastila.
When they walked into the main detention area of the brig, he heard a shocked gasp escape Bastila's lips. The two Knights had been stripped of their robes, leaving them with only their leggings. They both huddled pitifully on the floor of their force cages. Revan knew Bastila was also feeling the drastic drop in temperature. She pulled her thin robes tightly around her slender body.
"Why must it be so dreadfully cold?" she muttered.
Revan laughed, humorlessly. "My brig is not designed to make prisoners comfortable, Bastila. I keep it significantly colder than the rest of the ship deliberately. I find that when they are miserable, prisoners are more inclined to be cooperative."
The furious, withering look from Bastila would have caused a weaker man to hesitate. The touch of color brought to her cheeks by the heat of her anger only made her even more beautiful. Revan however, shrugged nonchalantly and turned his attention to the first of his prisoners. As the Dark Lord moved closer, the human Knight looked up. His green eyes focused briefly on Revan, but then were drawn to Bastila standing behind him.
"Bastila! Thank the Force you're alive."
"Kelan!" She stepped forward without any thought of Revan, but was frozen in mid stride. Her body sparkled as it was enveloped by a stasis field.
The Knight bristled, "Leave her alone!"
The force field around his cage vanished but Kelan was lifted off his feet by the Force. The Sith Lord stepped closer as the Jedi struggled to breathe.
"You are in no position to make demands, whelp. What I do to Bastila is no concern of yours, Jedi." The ice in his tone concealed the rage Revan felt clawing at his mind, demanding to be released.
He relinquished his grip and Kelan fell in a crumpled heap on the floor. Gulping in deep breaths, the Knight struggled bravely to his feet. His fists clenching, the Jedi rushed at Revan. The icy dam of control holding back the river of the Dark Lord's rage shattered. The Sith Lord's hand stretched out, lightning arced out from his fingertips to slam into the errant Knight. The power of Revan's attack knocked Kelan backwards and he slid against the cold metal flooring. The rough floor left bloody trails of cuts and scrapes down the Jedi's bare back. A second blast of lightning caused Kelan to scream as his body writhed against the searing pain.
The stasis field faded and Bastila rushed over, placing herself between Revan and Kelan. Anger ignited behind her grey eyes. She stood with her feet spread apart and her hands on her hips.
"Stop it! You're killing him! You don't have to do this, Revan!"
He closed in, stopping to loom over her with his height. She raised her chin slightly, haughtily defying him as she held her ground. Revan reached out, his gloved hand closing on her neck. Her eyes widened and she tried to pull away but his grip only tightened. Turning her around, he forced her to walk backwards towards the guards. Shoving her at them, he growled.
"Hold her, and keep her out of my way."
Two guards took hold of her arms and held her tightly between them. He could feel the undercurrent of the guards' thoughts. It was unlike him to show any mercy. He buried his emotions deeper beneath the layers of his mind. The Dark Lord reached out and ran his fingers over her cheek, smirking beneath the mask as she struggled to pull away from him.
"My dear, it is not a matter of having to. I do what I want to do."
He turned back to the Jedi who was staggering to his feet again. Revan snarled as he raised his hand and the Knight groaned as he was wrapped in the crushing grip of the Force. With a single, quick motion, the Dark Lord threw the Jedi into the far wall. Another cry of pain was ripped from Kelan as the vicious impact caused bones to crack.
"No!" Bastila's voice cracked slightly as she screamed the word. She struggled to pull free of the guards until a third raised his blaster, aimed for her chest. She closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Seeing her fellow Jedi suffering so badly and being unable to help them was tearing her apart.
Revan motioned to the fourth guard who stepped forward and dragged Kelan back to his force cage and reactivated the force field. He stood still for a moment, searching for stray thoughts. Neither Knight provided anything of interest.
"The two of you have six hours to decide. Either you see things my way and join me, or your lives are forfeit and you will be executed when we arrive at our destination."
Revan turned and walked out of the brig. Outwardly, in large part because of the mask, he appeared calm. Inwardly, Revan was almost shaking as he fought to regain control. He felt the knot tighten in his chest as he realized that he had given in to the rage, the anger within him. Taking a deep breath, he tried to clear his mind. His guards followed at his heels, with Bastila still held between the lead two. He could feel the tempestuous waves of her anger and hate, although she was struggling to control it. A wry grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he could hear the repetition of the Jedi Code echoing through her surface thoughts. The muscles along his spine twitched as he imagined her fierce grey eyes boring into his back.
Stepping back into the elevator, he felt the storm of her emotion ease slightly and glanced over at her. She stood with her eyes focused on the elevator door, refusing to look at him. He nodded slightly to himself. She had succeeded in controlling her anger toward him. Her expression held no hint of rage or hatred, only the calm and grace worthy of a Jedi Master. He smiled behind his mask, admiring her courage and strength.
Bastila took a deep breath, and kept her gaze focused on the floor in front of her. She hoped that Kelan and Tej would survive, but she knew dwelling on it wouldn't help anything. Leaving the elevator she felt Revan's hand on her shoulder again. She felt her skin crawling as she tried to shrug him off. His grip tightened and he led the way into a wide corridor. They were met by the Captain of Revan's guards, and as Revan approached, the soldier straightened to attention.
"Lord Revan."
"Captain," he acknowledged, "I trust everything is ready?"
The Captain bowed, "Yes, all is as you ordered, my Lord."
Revan nodded and the Captain recognized his dismissal and turned to carry on with his other duties. Bastila's jaws tightened as she wondered what Revan had planned. The Sith Lord led the way down the corridor, eventually turning down a smaller side hall. Finally they came to a stop in front of a door. Revan waved his hand and the door slid open with a low hiss. His hand caught Bastila's arm and the guards released her as he walked her into the room.
The door closed behind them and he let her go. She looked around the room, noting the bed and other furnishings. His mask kept her from reading his face, and that annoyed her. She moved away from him, unable to fathom his intentions. She felt increasingly uncomfortable from possibilities presented by the room.
"These will serve as your quarters until we reach the Star Forge. I would advise you to get some rest. There's a change of clothing for you as well." He stepped closer, and she could almost feel his eyes sliding over her body behind his mask. "You might find them a bit warmer than your current attire."
"Why would you care?" She snapped, "After all, didn't you say that you don't intend for your prisoners to be comfortable."
He circled around her slowly, "Indeed, but you are not a prisoner. You are a guest."
She huffed, her body tensing as she resisted the urge to turn to keep him in sight. "I can't say I think much of your hospitality."
"Your opinion is noted, Padawan."
She bristled at the sarcastic and insulting tone, and then looked around the room again. They appeared to be standard quarters. As he moved around her to stand in front of her again, a thought worked its way into her mind and she swallowed hard. "These aren't your quarters are they?"
He reached out, taking hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Less than a foot separated them and she tried to keep from shaking. "My quarters are wherever I choose them to be."
He released her and stepped back. Turning sharply, he left the room. As the door closed behind him, she shook herself and moved over to the door. Though the thick door muffled the sounds beyond it, his voice was clear.
"No one is to enter that room except me, and she is not to leave unless she is with me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Lord Revan." They responded in unison.
"Good. If any of you fail me, I will hang you from the bow of this ship by your own entrails."
She heard footsteps growing fainter as Lord Revan left.
Entering his room, Revan barely waited for the door to hiss closed behind him before he pulled off the mask and his gloves. He hurled them across the room and unfastened the clasp on his cloak, letting it fall to the floor without a second thought. He crossed the room to his desk and turned on the com unit.
"Yes, my Lord?" Admiral Blair's voice responded.
"ETA?"
"We're approximately five hours from the Star Forge now, Lord."
"Very well, I am in my quarters. Alert me when we're a half hour away."
"Understood."
He switched the unit off. Pulling off his armor, he dropped it into the chair in front of the desk. He walked over and sat down on his bed with a disgusted sigh. Revan stretched out on the bed, his hands clasped behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.
His body was tired, but he knew his mind would not let him sleep. The memory of her face filled his thoughts. Her fury and hatred for him stabbed at his heart and he found another reason to despise what he had allowed himself to become. With a growl, he rolled over on his side, and tried to still his thoughts.
His fingers curled into a fist, clenching tightly as her angry words echoed though his head. You don't have to do this, Revan! He swallowed hard. She didn't understand. She couldn't possibly understand his reasons.
"Fool." He snarled at himself. "How could you expect her to understand?" He pulled himself up and out of the bed, giving up on the idea of sleep. He started pacing. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her...those deep grey eyes accusing him, hating him. He saw the disgust in her eyes when he touched her. Regret ripped at his soul, reaching deep into that part of himself he fought so hard to keep locked away.
He remembered the glimpse of her face as he had first seen it in his vision. Her eyes had been warm, full of compassion. He sighed heavily, knowing he would not see that look in Bastila's eyes now. It felt strange for him to admit to himself that he wanted her to trust him, he wanted her to, well, at least not hate him.
"Brilliant way of going about that you stupid, stubborn bantha," he berated himself. "You want her to trust you? What reason have you shown her to trust you?" He paused in his pacing, shoulders sagging. He couldn't blame her for hating him. He'd nearly murdered one of her friends in front of her. What had he shown her besides the vicious Sith Lord? Bastila had no idea that she had actually saved the lives of the two Knights. His self-control had slipped. If she had not been there to object, he would have killed them both.
The image of her standing against him; the beautiful, defiant tilt of her chin and the fierce gleam in her eyes came to mind. A mildly amused grin danced across his lips as he realized the absurdity of the situation. Bastila was only a Padawan to the Jedi. He was the Dark Lord of the Sith and she had gotten him to back down without even knowing it. Revan shook his head. It was a good thing she wasn't one to take advantage of her power. The possibilities of what she could accomplish if she did made him nervous.
Revan took a deep breath. He was not accustomed to anyone having such an effect on him. No one had ever been able to sway him from his path before. Yet, as he replayed the moment in his mind again, that was exactly what happened. He could not kill the Jedi. He had intended to, but those accusing, cold grey eyes stopped him. How, even through the darkness that had taken a hold of him at that moment? How could she influence his actions so easily?
Turning as he resumed his pacing, Revan's eyes caught the mask where it lay on the floor. It had landed face up when he had thrown it. As he looked at it, he felt the shadows pushing against the edges of his mind. The dark side whispered to him. You're getting weak, Lord Revan. Anger flared at the thought that the darkness dared to invade his sanctuary. No. His mind resonated on the word firmly and his mental walls strengthened. "You have no place here. Go away." He could feel the shadows laughing. We can wait, you will come to us. He felt the shadows slink away, for now.
The mask stared back at him. When had it really changed? The mask had once been a symbol of his resolve to end the threat of the Mandalorians. That war was long over, why did he keep it? It had become convenient. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. The mask had made it easy to do what had to be done. The mask made it easy to accept the darkness, to use that power to accomplish his goals. It was easy to hide behind that mask, to deny what he was becoming. Looking at that mask, he saw himself through the eyes of those who served him. He wondered if all that he had done could ever really justify the sacrifices made.
Revan walked over and picked up the mask, regarding it closely. It had become a part of him, of his identity, no matter how much he hated it now. The mask waited patiently for him to become Darth Revan, the Dark Lord, once more. With a growl, he flung the mask at the wall. It simply bounced off and landed on the floor looking up at him again, as though mocking him. He sighed. No matter how many times he threw it at the wall it never broke or even dented. Revan realized that even if he could destroy the physical mask, it was too late for him to ever be rid of the one that hid his soul.
He would never be free of the darkness within him. Power always came with a price; he had known and accepted that. Revan had vowed that the dark side would never control him. In his arrogance, he believed that he was strong enough to accomplish what no other had. He realized now for the first time just how narrow and precarious the path he walked had become. He saw how dangerously close he had come to completely losing his control.
Revan closed his eyes and Bastila's face appeared in his mind again. "If you're not careful, you will end up destroying the very thing you sought to preserve," he told himself.
As she moved away from the door, Bastila felt a chill run down her spine as her mind recalled the way Revan held her chin. The image of that awful mask he wore burned into her thoughts as he had forced her to look up at him. She shivered as she imagined his eyes on her as he had moved around her, as though he was inspecting her. Closing her eyes, she fought to shove those thoughts away.
Walking over to the bed, she picked up the first of the neatly folded garments. Bastila was rather surprised to see tastefully styled robes similar to the typical Jedi uniform. She had been expecting something designed to further humiliate her. They were lighter in color than normal Jedi robes, tan and light grey. The biggest difference was in the fabric. It was thick, yet soft against her skin, and grudgingly she admitted that Revan was right. They were considerably warmer than her usual clothing.
She sighed as she felt warmth spreading through her body. Glancing back at the bed, she noticed a small hair brush and comb. Taking them both, she walked over to the mirror and grimaced at the disheveled state of her hair. Pulling her braids loose, she worked at combing the tangles out, and then gave her hair a final brushing. She debated redoing the braids, but instead, she just pulled her hair into two short ponytails and tied them.
Bastila's eyes strayed down to the collar around her neck. She reached up and tried again to get the thing off. After several minutes, all she had accomplished was making her neck and fingers sore. Bastila saw Revan's mask again in her mind. She felt the overwhelming closeness as he stood in front of her. Her gaze returned to the collar around her neck.
He had forced her to follow him around like some new pet, or a slave. The idea infuriated her. That collar not only cut her off from the Force, leaving her extremely vulnerable, but it also effectively marked her. As long as that wretched collar was around her neck, her life was not her own. She swallowed hard as his words echoed in her mind. My quarters are wherever I choose them to be. Bastila sat down on the bed but found herself staring at the door, worried that he would come back to claim what he considered to be his.
Exhaustion washed over her and Bastila felt the full impact of everything that had happened come crashing down on her. Images flashed through her thoughts. She saw Master Jenna and the other two Knights dying at Revan's hand. She saw the glimpse of Malak's ship exploding through the view ports of the bridge. She remembered the painful sensation of her connection to the Force being cut off as the collar locked around her neck. She saw Revan killing the officer from his own crew. She saw Kelan as he suffered the brutal treatment Revan had dished out and she prayed that he and Tej would survive.
Her body trembled. Before she could stop it, the carefully constructed wall around her emotions crumbled. Bastila buried her face in the pillow and for the first time in years, she cried.
Revan heard the beeping from the comm unit and he knew the Admiral would understand when he did not respond. He didn't need to reply; Admiral Blair was perfectly capable of seeing the Dark Vengeance properly docked with the Star Forge. The beeping had only been to comply with his orders. They would be dropping back into real space within sight of the Star Forge soon.
Revan sighed. He truly needed sleep, but as usual, it had eluded him. The short meditative trance he had finally managed to achieve was as close as he was going to get to sleep. A scowl spread across his face, his brows knitting together briefly before he sat up. He was glad that he could draw on the Force to sustain him when he couldn't sleep. However, he disliked that he had to rely on it so much lately.
He took a quick shower and changed clothes. Toweling his shaggy brown hair dry, he couldn't help but notice the irony. "I don't know why I bother. My clothes never show under the armor anyway." Tossing the towel aside, he gathered up the scattered pieces of his armor from around the room. He pulled it all on, stepping into the refresher to check the mirror and give himself a once over before he left his room.
Revan studied his own reflection; his deep blue eyes wearily stared back at him. His brows furrowed slightly as he noticed several new lines around his eyes and mouth. He tilted his head as he regarded his appearance. Time was catching up to him, and he knew that drawing on the dark side so often was aging him as well, despite his sincere efforts to fight it. He also noticed that his usually sharp cheekbones had become even sharper, reflecting poorly on his habit of skipping meals. He shook his head and straightened himself up, adjusting his armor. Finally his hand rested on the mask, and he frowned. Turning away from the mirror and walking toward the door of his room, he settled the mask into place. He paused at the door, and sighed heavily. He pulled the hood of his cloak forward and the transformation was complete as Revan retreated back to the deep, hidden corners of his mind. He felt the weight of his chosen part settle across his shoulders, he took a deep breath and the Dark Lord stepped out into the corridor.
Revan arrived at the door of Bastila's temporary quarters. He motioned to the guards, "You are dismissed."
They glanced at each other, but dared not question his orders. "Yes, Lord Revan." They marched off down the corridor. Revan watched until they were well out of sight, and then turned to the door. He knocked.
Revan got no response, yet he could feel her presence in the Force. He knew she was awake. He knocked again. Finally he heard her call out, "Yes?"
He realized that it was as close to an invitation as he would get. He opened the door and stepped inside. She looked up at him, one sculpted eyebrow arching up quizzically. He noticed that part of it disappeared under her bangs. His gaze also took in her cross-legged position as she sat on the floor.
"Meditating?"
"I was, until I was interrupted. I hadn't thought Sith Lords to be polite enough to knock."
He shrugged and leaned against the wall beside the door with his arms folded over his chest. "Normally, we're not. I do find it interesting that you would be such an expert on Sith Lords, though, considering that you're merely a Padawan."
She stood up, bristling as she faced him. "I find actions speak rather clearly, Darth Revan."
He couldn't miss the particular emphasis she placed on his title and inwardly he winced. His conscience was jabbed even harder when he stepped closer and noticed the redness in her eyes. She had been crying.
"Come on, we've arrived at the Star Forge."
"Go. By all means, don't let me stop you." She stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest.
His jaws tightened as he stifled a deep sigh. "Nice try, but you're coming with me."
"Hmph." She rolled her eyes and turned away from him. "Or what? You'll torture me or kill me like the other Jedi?"
He felt another deep stab of regret.
"No. I'll just pick you up and carry you like a disobedient child."
She spun around, the furious look on her face daring him to try it. A faint smile crossed his face and he moved a step closer. Realizing that he likely would carry out his threat, or worse, she relented.
"You'll do no such thing. If you insist, fine. Let's go."
Revan felt Bastila hesitate as they stepped out into the docking bay on the Star Forge. He looked over at her and saw she had gone pale. She stopped and looked at him and he saw the trace of fear in her eyes. He understood. He knew she had to be feeling the immense dark side power pulsing through the Star Forge, even with the collar on. His own mind had instinctively braced for it, accustomed to the relentless assault as the Star Forge sought to break through his control. She had been completely caught by surprise, although the collar would mute the worst of it.
They were alone. He had dismissed his guards and no one had yet arrived to clamor for his attention. He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder. She tensed against his touch.
"You should be grateful for that collar now. The Star Forge is a maelstrom of dark power."
"I can still feel it." Her voice was hushed, barely more than a whisper.
"I know, but with your connection to the Force blocked, it will subside soon. It feeds on the Force, corrupting anything it can. With that collar in place, you won't interest it for long."
"You…?"
He shrugged, "I'm used to it."
She swallowed hard but started walking again. With his hand on her shoulder, he could feel her trembling as she struggled against the dark energy. He focused his mind and pushed out against the Star Forge's power, shielding Bastila. He felt the disappointment in the shadows as the dark whispers complained to him. Revan strengthened his resolve and the Star Forge retreated.
I hope I don't need to do that too many times. I'm too tired, he thought to himself. Hopefully it'll leave her alone and content itself with pestering me.
He felt the tension in her body ease and she took a deep breath.
"Feeling better?"
She nodded, "I can still feel the darkness of this place, but it's no longer oppressive. It seems you were right."
He smiled beneath the mask, satisfied. "It happens occasionally."
He guided her away from the docking bay, through the labyrinthine corridors of the Star Forge. The dimmer lighting of the Star Forge was a sharp contrast to the brightly lit halls of his flagship. The Star Forge was also considerably warmer, and he could never get that to change. He glanced over at Bastila, suspecting that she wouldn't object to the warmer conditions. As they turned down another corridor, Revan spotted a rust colored droid approaching.
"Greeting: It is good to see you, Master. However, you seem to be rather hard to find."
"Obviously not hard enough, HK, since you found me."
"Clarification: Well, naturally Ican find you, Master. You did build a homing system into me. None of your meatbag associates knew where you were though."
Revan chuckled, "I don't tell them for a reason. Now walk with me, we can talk on the way."
Obediently, the tall droid fell into step on Revan's other side. "Statement: You did order that I report to you once I returned."
"Yes, however, your report can wait. Just answer this, was the mission successful?"
"Proud statement: Oh yes, Master. Of course I was successful. The target was eliminated just as you requested."
"Good. I have another mission for you."
"Statement: Very well, Master."
Revan glanced over at Bastila and noticed her watching the heavily armed droid warily. He smirked, realizing that at first glance, HK-47 probably did look rather intimidating. They reached an elevator and Revan keyed in the command.
Bastila looked up at Revan, "You didn't build this place, did you?"
He shook his head, "No, the Star Forge is far older than you can possibly imagine."
The elevator stopped and he led the way through several more corridors. He finally stopped before a door.
"HK-47, this is Bastila Shan. Your new mission is to protect her. You will stand guard at this door, and if she leaves the room you will be responsible for escorting her and maintaining her safety while she is here. If anything happens to her, I will personally rip you apart bolt by bolt. Understood?"
He caught Bastila's incredulous expression as she watched him.
The droid's photoreceptors flashed. "Objection: But Master, such a simple task is a waste of my genius engineering!"
"No, it is a waste of my genius engineering since I built you. However, it is a task I would not trust anyone else with." He stepped closer to the droid, lowering his voice slightly. "I need you to do this for me, HK."
HK turned his head to Revan. "Query: Master, would it not be more advisable to just lock the female meatbag where she can't get into trouble?"
Revan stepped back a pace and then turned to his droid. "HK, initiate protocol number 157-A."
"Objection: Not…"
"HK, do it, now," he growled.
"Pained recitation: Revan is the creator. Revan is the Master. I exist to serve the Master's wishes. The Master will not be questioned."
Revan folded his arms across his chest. "Now, what part of that are you having trouble processing?"
The droid emitted a hissing wheeze of a sigh, "Resignation: None of it, Master. I will guard the female mea…"
Revan cleared his throat sharply.
HK looked from Revan to Bastila, and then back to Revan. "Correction: I will guard and protect the Jedi, Master."
Revan nodded and pointed into the room. "You can start by sweeping the room."
"Observation: You are a very harsh master, Master." He stepped into the room, and began a thorough check for hidden threats.
Revan shook his head as he watched the droid. "Yes, I suppose you'll just have to suffer."
The metal assassin sighed. "Statement: You have no idea, Master. No idea at all."
Satisfied that there were no threats or security breaches to threaten the female Jedi, he returned to Revan's side.
"Statement: The room is safe, Master."
"Thank you, HK. Now, remember, Bastila is a guest, and you will mind your manners. I know for a fact you have them. If she leaves the room, you are to see that she remains safe."
"Answer: Yes, Master."
HK-47 took up a position beside the door, blaster rifle cradled in his arms. Revan led Bastila into the room and the door slid shut behind them.
An amused grin played across his lips as he saw her expression of confusion and utter disbelief.
"What?"
She turned and her eyebrow danced upward. "That thing is supposed to guard me?" She pointed to where HK stood outside the door.
"HK-47 will do his job. He just likes to complain."
She took a few steps away from him before turning to look back at him, still doubtful. "So, did I actually hear you say I was permitted to leave this room?"
"Yes. You are a guest, Bastila, not a prisoner. However, I would advise against wandering around too much, even with HK along to keep you from getting lost." His concerns colored his voice, and he bit his lip when it became obvious she had noticed.
"Have you always been so suspicious?" She was watching him, her hands folded across her chest.
He stiffened, not really wanting to answer her. He saw that one eyebrow rose as she waited for his response. "It doesn't matter."
"If it doesn't matter, then why is it so important that I have such a lethal bodyguard here?"
He sighed, "Because there are those who are ambitious and they are always looking at a way to move up in the hierarchy."
"Why would they care about me?" She pressed.
Her question struck a nerve. Because I do, he thought. He looked over at her, "They may not, but as you said, I'm suspicious, and I'm not willing to risk your safety."
She shook her head, "I take it back. You're positively paranoid."
He laughed, spreading his hands out. "Guilty as charged. But it keeps me alive. Now, I do have one request of you."
Bastila's eyes narrowed slightly, still puzzled by his actions. "What?"
"Would you join me for dinner?"
"And what if I refuse?"
He saw the defiance and determination in her eyes, and he shrugged slightly, "Then I would have your meal prepared and brought to you here."
"I would appreciate it if you did so, then. I would rather eat here, alone."
Revan winced, swallowing the unfamiliar taste of defeat. He turned toward the door, "As you wish."
Bastila would never know that Revan had overseen the preparation of her food personally, driving his cook to extreme lengths of frustration in the process. She would never know that Revan had shadowed the serving droid until her meal was safely delivered to her. She had asked to dine alone and reluctantly, Revan respected her wishes.
He made his way to his own quarters. He took a deep breath as he looked around the room. Revan pulled off his mask and flung it viciously at the wall. He was too tired to even bother pulling off the rest of his armor. He raked his fingers through his hair and sank down on the sofa. His own stomach protested its emptiness, but he ignored it. He leaned back, propping his feet up on the small table in front of the sofa.
Revan clasped his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. He felt the fatigue settling over him like a heavy blanket. Bastila's image drifted into his thoughts and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. With a heavy sigh, he tried to relax, desperately hoping he could sleep.
Bastila sat at the small table in her quarters, puzzling over the apparent sudden change in Revan's actions. A Sith Lord being nice? No, she told herself. It was just a Sith trick. It's all just an act. He's just trying to trick you into trusting him.
Still, she hadn't expected him to actually allow her to refuse his request to join him. When her meal had arrived, it was another surprise. She had expected something small and unappetizing as punishment for her refusal, she was not prepared for what she got. A colorful assortment of fruits covered one plate, some she couldn't even recognize. Another plate held several slices of different fresh breads. The centerpiece was a steak nestled among cooked vegetables. Medium-rare, just the way she preferred it- how had he known? Guessed, she corrected herself. The whole meal was wonderfully prepared and mouthwateringly delicious.
After she finished eating, she stood up and took a good look around the room. There was a door into the refresher. A footlocker sat at the foot of the bed. Opening it, she found more robes matching the ones she was wearing as well as some that were darker colored. She laid out a clean set of robes on the bed, and then headed into the refresher to take a shower.
Feeling much better after her shower, Bastila pulled on the clean clothes and sat down on the edge of the bed. She reached up and worked at toweling her hair dry. Deciding to just leave her hair loose, she curled up on the bed.
She was just beginning to feel herself dozing off, when a loud noise outside the door caught her attention. She got up, her hand instinctively reaching for her lightsaber only to remember that Revan had taken it from her. Something hit the door with a loud thud, and she backed against the far wall. Unable to reach the Force and unarmed, she realized how vulnerable she was.
The door hissed open and HK-47 stepped in, firing off several shots before the door closed again.
"Statement: It would appear that the Master's suspicions were correct. You are not safe here, Jedi."
"What do you propose to do about it? He told you to keep me safe."
HK flipped on his built in com link. A moment later, Revan's voice responded, "What?"
"Observation: Master, we have a situation. Several of your meatbag followers seek to harm the female Jedi. I may need your help."
"On my way."
Revan stood up, the murderous thoughts in his mind boding very ill for whoever had dared cause the disturbance. He half-wished that HK would leave some of them alive, so that he could have the pleasure of disposing of them personally. For the first time in a week, he had actually accomplished falling asleep. But the shrill beep of the com link had driven any trace of that blissful sleep away. Revan grabbed his mask and slipped it on as he left the room.
When he arrived at Bastila's quarters, there were six dark Jedi trying to get through the door. They were met by a steady barrage of fire from HK's rifle. However, the droid was outnumbered and Revan knew Bastila was unarmed.
Revan growled and a blast of lightning slammed into the group. His twin sabers sprang to life with bloodthirsty hisses. Three of them charged at him, their sabers blazing. HK took advantage of Revan's appearance and shot two of the others who had become distracted. The last one turned and sought to destroy the droid.
The Sith Lord spun, and dropped low under the guards of two of his opponents. Howls of pain echoed the sparking of his sabers as they seared into flesh. Out of the corner of his eye, Revan caught the sight of Bastila kicking the dark Jedi who was attacking HK-47. Revan's patience vanished as the dark Jedi managed to catch Bastila with his fist. He trapped them all in a stasis field. With a furious growl, he sank his saber into the nearest Dark Jedi, and then turned to HK.
"HK-47, terminate the traitors."
"Statement: With pleasure, Master." The droid proceeded to blast each of the remaining dark Jedi.
Revan moved over to Bastila as he clipped his sabers back on his belt. He smiled as he noticed that she had let her hair down. "Are you alright?"
She straightened up, her hand rubbing lightly at her jaw where the dark Jedi had hit her. "I think so, just a little sore."
His eyes narrowed at the sight of the bruise already starting to show against her pale skin. "That settles it. You're coming with me."
"Where?" She hesitated.
"Just keep walking." Revan urged.
HK-47 fell into step behind them, and Revan led the way back to his own quarters. He opened the door and ushered her in, then stepped back and offered a graceful bow.
"You'll stay here. These quarters have security measures that no one will get through."
As they stepped into the room Revan felt her stop sharply. He turned and saw she was standing stiffly, her grey eyes widened slightly as she looked around the room. He frowned as he caught the hint of her surface thoughts. The room reflected him; the furnishings and colors were bold, dark, and very masculine. He could tell she was uncomfortable. She'll just have to get over it, he thought with a smirk.
She took a step backward against the door. "Revan, I will not stay in your quarters."
He noticed the way her lips pursed and saw the proud tilt of her chin. He smiled behind his mask.
"You will stay here."
She started to object again and he stopped her with a raised hand.
"Considering what just happened, it's now obvious that this is the only place I can guarantee your safety. You will stay here, and HK will be just outside the door."
She put her hands on her hips. "And just where do you intend to sleep?"
Revan simply turned and walked out of the room, a smile hidden beneath his mask.