After exchanging greetings with the soldiers, they followed the younger of the two men--Trevin--to where some advance landing groups from the Republic Fleet had set up temporary shelters around the Temple for the night.
"Unfortunately, you'll have to share, we don't have enough for everyone to be alone," Trevin apologized.
"You kidding?" Carth chuckled. "We've been sharing four to a room for months. Only one roommate will be a relief."
"Guess so, Captain," Trevin conceded, with a smile that reached his eyes. "And no co-ed sharing, Admiral's orders. Other than that, it's up to you."
"Damn," Kenna teased, leaning over to kiss Carth on the cheek, grinning when he blushed. "You're so easy," she teased in a whisper. "I call Mission," she said louder.
"I want the Wookiee," Canderous grumbled. "He doesn't snore." Kenna nearly laughed out loud when she felt Carth bristle at the inference.
"I don't snore," he muttered under his breath.
"How would you know, Republic? You're asleep." Kenna grabbed Carth's arm to keep him from laying into the Mandalorian on the spot.
She smiled sweetly at Trevin. "We'll figure something out. Thank you." After he walked away, she turned to the others. "I'll share with Mission, Bastila, you can share with Juhani, Canderous, you can share with Zaalbar so you and Carth don't kill each other--"
"Maybe you should make 'em share," Mission piped up. "They gotta learn to get along sooner or later."
"No, I'd rather not tempt fate like that," Kenna replied, only half joking. "Carth and Jolee can share." Mission looked disappointed. "Besides, the last thing we need is you with more blackmail material. Yes, Mission Vao, I know your ulterior motives." Kenna smiled sweetly at the speechless Twi'lek. "Come on, it's late and we all need sleep."
She was awake before anyone else the next day. Kenna rolled over on the narrow military-issue cot, careful not to get to close to the edge lest the whole contraption upset and deposit her on the ground, as Mission's had done twice last night. She sighed and stared in the direction of the sky, despite the barrier in the way. Now what? That had been the most nagging question in her mind since escaping the Star Forge. What was she going to do now that the Sith had been so crippled? She supposed eventually they would rise to power again, and she might have to face them again, but until then? I know one thing for certain: it will involve Carth. Her decision had been made. If she couldn't be a Jedi and be with him, she would leave the Order. It was selfish, perhaps, to forsake the galaxy for one man. But she was so in love with him that having to leave him would probably kill her. Her restlessness drove her out of bed and the temporary shelter. She shuddered slightly as the dawn chill swept over her light-weight tunic. She'd left her outer tunic hanging on the foot of her cot. Kenna crossed her arms and decided not to worry about it. She could manage. Still shivering slightly, she crossed the Temple grounds to the low, crumbling wall circling the perimeter and perched on top of it. She took a deep breath and looked off in the direction of the sunrise as she settled in for a long discourse with herself.
When she returned to the camp, it was no longer deserted in appearance, as it had been when she made her way through it before. Now, everyone was up and busy about something. Kenna caught sight of her companions, and headed toward them.
Bastila looked up and smiled as she drew near. "There you are. Admiral Dodonna was wondering where you were."
"And you weren't?" Mission chipped in.
Bastila ignored her. "The Admiral mentioned that they want to start the ceremony soon," she said to Kenna. "Carth and Jolee are the only ones who still need to be told."
"I'll find Carth," Kenna offered.
"I thought you'd say that," Bastila chuckled. "We haven't seen him yet, so you might want to see if he's even awake yet, first of all. I'll go find Jolee." Kenna nodded and headed for the shelter Carth had shared with Jolee the night before.
"Carth?" She slid through the door of the shelter. "You awake?"
He wasn't. Kenna smiled when her eyes start to adjust to the dimness inside. Carth was sleeping on his stomach, one arm hanging off the edge of the narrow military-issue cot, the other buried under his pillow. As her eyes grew fully used to the lower light, Kenna saw he had slept in only a pair of flight pants. No shirt. As she stepped closer, she could see the scars from various battles covering his back, showing as pale brown ridges across his skin. "Carth," she whispered, then shook her head at herself. What're you whispering for? You're supposed to be waking him up. But I don't want to. Not yet, anyway. She took another, almost timid, step closer to the bed. She was more than half tempted to try and count the scars. Kenna wondered absently which were from the crash he'd told her about and which were from the Wars as she moved even closer. I'll find out eventually. The thought gave her no small amount of satisfaction. She reached out with one hand, fingers trembling slightly, to trace one long, slightly diagonal ridge that ran from the bottom of his shoulder blade practically all the way down his back. Wonder where this one came from. Her fingers had barely come in contact with his skin when he woke up.
Sensing the presence nearby when he woke, Carth reacted as his years in the military had conditioned him to, hand coming out from under the pillow clasped around the grip the blaster habit had dictated he have near. He jumped up, pushing the intruder back against one of the shelter's support poles.
"Carth!" Kenna protested, hands coming up and pressing against his chest to keep a little distance between them as she eyed the blaster held to her temple. He relaxed, blushing slightly at the amused gleam in her eyes.
"Oh, Sith's blood, Kenna, I'm sorry." He tossed the blaster towards his cot, not even looking to see where it landed. "I guess old habits die hard. Forgive me?"
She gave him a coy grin. "Mmm, I don't know." She slid one hand around the back of his neck and pulled him closer as her grin widened and turned decidedly seductive, matching the look in her eyes as she murmured, "Maybe I should make you work for it a little bit."
Carth grinned back at her. "Lucky me," he whispered before pulling her in the final fraction of an inch necessary for their mouths to meet.
Kenna slid her arms up around Carth's neck as his circled her waist, both pressing themselves deeply into the kiss. Now this is a kiss, Kenna thought blissfully as her heart threatened to explode under the devastating inrush of passion. On the beach was a kiss, and a good one, but this is a kiss. She could feel the blood pounding in her temple as her pulse went through the roof. Her light-weight tunic was the flimsiest of barriers, and it was only seconds before she could feel the warmth of his bare skin soaking through it. She tangled one hand in his hair, the rest of the galaxy fading into non-existence as she poured herself into the moment, not even bothering to breathe until it ended.
"Am I interrupting?" Canderous' tone was so acerbic it effectively and merciless shattered the moment and yanked both Carth and Kenna back to reality. "Weren't you supposed to tell Republic something, Revan?"
Blushing more because of who had caught them than simply because they had been caught, Kenna muttered, "Admiral Dodonna wants to start the ceremony soon. So, back in that armor, flyboy." Much as I like you out of it…
"What's wrong with my flight jacket?" Carth demanded, reluctantly letting her go.
"Oh, absolutely nothing, as far as I'm concerned." Kenna gave a grin that dared him to continue at his own possible peril.
"So why the armor? It's hot," he grumbled.
"Yes, it is," Kenna agreed. "In more ways than one."
He stared her for a second, knowing exactly what she meant, before moving to collect the scattered pieces. "Fine. Go." He pointed toward the door.
"Maybe I should stay in case that shoulder guard gives you trouble again." She chuckled at the look he gave her. "Oh, fine." Kenna kissed him again. "Yum," she whispered in a whimsical tone before pulling away and leaving.
He forced himself to not stare at her hips as she left. After Kenna had disappeared, Carth set about pulling on the armor, hoping Canderous would take the hint and leave. He didn't. "What?" The Mandalorian was staring at him.
"Just wondering if Revan's a good kisser." Carth ignored him, reaching for the chest plate of the armor and trying to control his temper. "C'mon, Republic," Canderous goaded, watching with wicked amusement as Carth's jaw tightened. "How'd she do?"
"None of your business," Carth growled, struggling to resist the overpowering urge to clock the leering mercenary. That's what he wants you to do.
"Alright, fine, don't tell me. Wouldn't surprise me if a Jedi didn't know what the hell she was doing. But then, Revan was a Sith for a while." Canderous smirked. "Who knows what she and Malak--"
"Shut up," Carth snapped. "You can say whatever the hell you want to about me," he growled, "but you say one more thing about Kenna and I swear--"
"Kenna never existed, Republic. That's the fake past the Jedi created for Revan."
"She decided to be Kenna. As far as she's concerned, Revan is dead."
"Whatever you say. Try convincing the rest of the galaxy of that," Canderous scoffed before walking off. Carth wasn't sorry at all to see him go.
Kenna headed back to the shelter she had shared with Mission. She needed to finish getting dressed herself. The outer tunic of her Qel-Droma robes still hung on the end of her cot, slightly wrinkled but otherwise fine. Mission came in as Kenna pulled on the tunic.
"How long's it take to find one pilot?" the Twi'lek joked.
"Oh, not long," was all the reply Kenna offered as she cinched the belt over the tunic.
"Come on, out with it," Mission demanded, grinning furiously.
"Out with what?" Kenna feigned innocence, raising one eyebrow at her friend. "The fact Carth's a good kisser? Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Mission made a face. "Ew. But how long of a kiss are we talkin'?"
"When you're in a state of absolute bliss you don't exactly count seconds," Kenna pointed out. "Come on. We don't want to keep the Admiral waiting."
"If you insist," Mission agreed, feigning reluctance. Kenna knew she was looking forward to all the attention as much as Carth was dreading it.
The Ebon Hawk's crew met the Admiral and Master Vandar on the ramp leading into the Temple. It was the only place they could stand where the assembled soldiers could all see them. Kenna was thankful for the low wall that blocked anyone standing below from seeing how tightly her fingers were intertwined with Carth's. She looked at her companions, scarcely able to refrain from laughing at Mission's obvious enjoyment as the teenager waved to the crowd.
The soldiers all fell silent when Admiral Dodonna stepped forward. "You have defeated Malak, destroyed the Star Forge, and broken the spirit of the Sith!" The Admiral smiled at all of them, even Canderous, as she continued, "For this I am proud to present you each with the Cross of Glory. The highest honor the Republic can bestow." Kenna caught the look the Admiral exchanged with Carth as she pinned on his medal, and resolved to ask him about that later. The Admiral turned to face the crowd. "From Coruscant to the furthest reaches of the Outer Rims you will be known as the saviors of the Republic!" The soldiers cheered as Dodonna stepped back and allowed Master Vandar to come forward.
"On behalf of the Jedi Council, defenders of the galaxy and sworn protectors of the Republic, I too would like to honor you for your actions," Vandar said warmly. "We Jedi now have another tale to weave into the grand history of our eternal Order--" Kenna could have sworn he smiled at her before continuing, "the Redemption of Revan, the Prodigal Knight. Wherever you go you will be recognized as the saviors of the galaxy. The heroes of our age. But you must remain ever vigilant," he cautioned. "For one day, you may be called upon yet again to defend the glory of the Republic against the tyranny of the dark side, for this is the destiny of the Jedi." Kenna couldn't help but hold her head high as the Jedi Master concluded his address. The emotion welling in her chest wouldn't let her do anything else.
Mingling wasn't her favorite thing in the world to do, but doing it with Carth's arm possessively around her shoulders made it bearable. Her greatest fear had been that the soldiers wouldn't care what was said and would still see her as Revan, as the enemy in need of extermination, but that fear had proved groundless so far. Everyone she had met; a long parade of names, faces, and ranks she would never be able to remember no matter how hard she tried, had been courteous at least, and some very friendly. She'd seen the eyes of a couple men light up when introduced, and could only imagine the look Carth must have given them to make them back off.
"You don't share very well, do you?" she ribbed, shooting him a grin that made it plain she didn't mind at all.
"Why should I?" He kissed the top of her head.
"Good point," Kenna conceded, tilting her face toward him. "Kiss me."
"Yes, ma'am," Carth teased as he obliged.
"Y'know, a hero's welcome isn't as bad as you made it sound," she chided when they pulled back.
"To each his own. I still don't like all the attention."
"Carth, there you are." Admiral Dodonna approached the two of them. "If it's alright, I need to borrow you for just a couple minutes."
"Oh, no problem." Kenna assured her with a smile. "But I do want him back."
"No worries. I really do only mean a couple minutes."
"I'll hold you to that." She wandered in the direction to where she'd last seen Bastila, only to be distracted by a nearby conversation between two soldiers. Normally against eavesdropping, she found herself unable to stop. The conversation was about her.