"What did you guys talk about?" Mission demanded later, when she finally managed to drag Kenna away from her near-constant cloud of admirers.
"Whaddya mean?" Kenna played innocent.
"You know what I mean, Ken. What did you and Carth talk about when you conveniently vanished from the party?"
"Oohh, that."
"Yes, that." Mission crossed her arms. "What did you talk about?"
"Well, I overheard a conversation when one soldiers was saying all kinds of… unkind things about Revan, so I'd been sulking. He had to get me out of my funk, then we got around to the Jedi and how I'm leavin' the Order if they want me to give him up. Then I asked him what he thought we should do, now that we've saved the galaxy."
"What did he say?" Mission pleaded.
Kenna couldn't stop her cheeks from coloring. "He said I should marry him."
Mission's jaw dropped. "What?? Seriously??"
"No, just kidding. Yes, seriously," Kenna laughed. "Something wrong with that?"
"No way. It's awesome, I'm happy for you guys." The Twi'lek grinned. "I just didn't think he would ask so soon."
"You knew he was going to ask me?"
"I'm good at reading people, remember? I knew after Kashyyyk that it would happen sooner or later, long as you both survived." Mission giggled at Kenna's expression. "C'mon, Kenna, it's not like it wasn't obvious how much he loves you."
"Okay, I'll give you that. Now I just have to figure out how to deal with the Council when they eventually corner me. I probably should just face the music and get it over with, but I don't really want to."
"How many of the Masters actually survived?"
"Well, I know Vandar did, obviously. And I think I saw Vrook somewhere, but I hope I was imagining things."
Mission shook her head. "You weren't. Sorry. I saw him lecturing Bastila about her fall to the dark side about an hour ago."
Kenna groaned. "Great. And I know Master Dorak and Master Zhar both died, so I'm appealing to Vandar and Vrook without a balancing voice." She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "Vrook will just hammer me about falling in love."
"Aren't there any other Masters? They can't have all been on Dantooine," Mission pointed out.
"True. But I don't know if any of them made it here. The Masters will probably want to talk before we leave Rakata Prime," Kenna explained. "They let me leave, they may never see me again. I'll go hide in some remote corner of the galaxy with only Carth for company." She smirked. "That actually doesn't sound half bad."
"Well, remember, you'd have Big Z an' me, too. He'll follow you 'cause of his lifedebt. And you know I go wherever he goes."
"What if I told you we…wanted to be alone?" Kenna grinned slyly, then burst out laughing at Mission's expression.
"Ew. That's all I have to say. Just ew." The Twi'lek shuddered at the image conjured up by Kenna's words. "Let's change the topic, shall we?"
"That's right, I forgot I was talking to a kid." Kenna chuckled and grabbed Mission's wrist as the teenager tried to hit her. "Now, now, young lady."
"Kenna Tasman, I'm gonna kill you!" Mission's threat didn't sound very serious, uttered as it was through a fit of giggles.
"Forgive me for not being afraid." Kenna arched one eyebrow.
"Why not?" Mission planted her hands on her hips.
"Because if you kill me, Carth'll kill you."
"Hmm. Good point. Maybe I'll just annoy you to death." The Twi'lek grinned. "That could be lots of fun."
"And it could work both ways," Kenna pointed out.
"Oh, curses, you're right." Mission pretended to pout. "Well, then maybe I won't kill you or annoy to death. I'll just tell Vrook where to find you and let him do it for me."
"Now that's evil," Kenna complained.
"What is, beautiful?" Carth walked up behind Kenna and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Mission's going to rat me out to Master Vrook. Where have you been?" She kissed him on the cheek.
"Enduring polite conversation. No matter how unappealing you find the topic of conversation, you have to listen if the speaker is a higher rank than you."
"How much higher could they be? Captain's pretty high up."
"Vice-Admiral. Just barely higher, but protocol still applies."
"Ah. Don't you just love protocol?" Kenna teased, sarcasm dripping from her words.
"Oh, yes. Especially the parts about not getting romantically involved with someone who ranks higher than me."
"And who would that be?" she asked innocently.
"You. Jedi technically rank higher than anyone in the military." Carth grinned at the look on her face. "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret telling you that?"
"I have no idea," Kenna replied, smiling sweetly. "I promise not to abuse my power…too much."
"I am so gone." Mission made a gagging noise at the look that passed between Jedi and pilot and took off in search of Zaalbar.
"Kids," Carth chuckled, unable to hide his amusement.
"I can't wait until she's making mushy eyes at some guy. I will tease her so much."
"Y'know, beautiful, for someone who's supposed to be so good, you can be incredibly evil at times."
"Yet you still love me, so I can't be too bad."
"You have me there, beautiful," Carth admitted, kissing the top of her head.
"Can I have you somewhere else, too?" she whispered, leaning back against him.
"Now, now." Carth chuckled as he scolded her. "No talking dirty when there are other people around."
"Then let's go somewhere we can be alone. Say, the roof of the Temple? We've socialized enough. And maybe the Masters won't find me up there."
"I think that is just wishful thinking, beautiful." Carth slid one arm down to rub her back as she groaned. "You're going to have to deal with them sooner or later."
"I say later. As in, 'check back in a couple decades'," Kenna mumbled. "Mmmm. That feels good. Don't stop."
Mission darted back over. "Thought you'd like to know the Jedi Masters are heading this way. You have about five minutes if you wanna try to disappear," she warned.
Kenna groaned and dragged both hands through her hair. "Well, might as well get it over with, I guess." She looked up at Carth. "You probably should go. I can handle them. And it might be better if you aren't here."
"Well, if you put it that way, beautiful..." He stole one last kiss, gave her an encouraging smile and disappeared after Mission. He didn't like leaving; it felt like abandoning her, but she had a point. It would probably go better for her if he wasn't there.
Kenna took a deep breath to calm herself down, and waited for the Jedi Masters. Oh, Force. What am I going to say? How do I defend myself if they bring a certain violation of the Jedi Code? How do I make it clear I will leave the Order before I give up Carth without sounding too defiant? She shook her head. Just face the music and take it as it comes. You're overthinking things. Calm...down.
"Ah, Revan, there you are." Master Vrook came into view, followed by Vandar and three Masters Kenna hadn't met before.
"Master Vrook." She nodded in greeting. "Would you mind not calling me Revan? I've decided to let Revan be dead. I'm Kenna now." As I've been insisting to everyone from Carth to cannibalistic Rakatan ever since I found out who I was.
Vrook raised one eyebrow. "If you wish. But why?"
"While the tale in the Jedi Archives will include my redemption, the galaxy at large still harbors quite a lot of hostility and animosity toward Revan, because of my fall to the dark side. Kenna, on the other hand, is the savior of the galaxy, able to resist the dark side's temptations and stand for what's right and all that. Besides that, all of the people who matter to me, except Bastila and Jolee, knew me as Kenna long before they knew I was Revan."
She saw the look that passed between Vrook and the green-skinned Twi'lek standing behind him before Vrook nodded his agreement to her request."Very well."
"Before we begin, allow me to introduce the others," Vandar spoke up. He extended one hand toward the Twi'lek. "This is Master Shi'ian, and the two humans are Masters Kyraa Tane and Tristan Allorn." The man and woman both bowed their heads slightly in greeting.
As Kenna returned the greeting, she decided she liked Tristan better than Kyraa or Shi'ian. He looked less stern than the others, a smile showing in his amber eyes. Or maybe it was the dark blonde hair spiking in multiple directions that reassured her he would more likely be an ally than an enemy. She had a feeling he and Vandar would be the most sympathetic if the issue of her relationship with a certain pilot came up.
"We are curious what you intend to do, now that your mission to defeat Malak is completed," said Shi'ian in an inquiring tone.
"I haven't had much time to think about it," Kenna pointed out, sidestepping the question. "What does the Council think I should do?" They exchanged looks.
"Well," began Kyraa, "you should return to the Temple on Coruscant with us, first of all. And the aid of Revan, whatever name you may be going by now, to help safeguard and strengthen the Republic would be an invaluable help. Even if the people only know you as who you are now."
Kenna bit her lip to keep from lashing out at the woman's cool, formal tone, in part because she knew Kyraa had a point. Just leave everyone I care about, just like that? "What about my crew?"
"Oh, the Jedi are welcome to join us at the Temple."
"What about the non-Jedi? What are they supposed to do?" Kenna demanded, calm veneer beginning to crack at the thought of abandoning anyone. And like hell Jolee'll go to the Temple. He'll probably just go back to Kashyyyk.
"Oh, I'm sure the Mandalorian can take care of himself. And Captain Onasi will probably get a new assignment, now that this one is concluded. Why the curiosity?" One of the woman's eyebrows arched upward.
"The Wookiee owes me a lifedebt, he's sworn to go wherever I go for the rest of my life. And Mission is his best friend; she goes wherever he goes. I'm wondering what will happen to them."
"I'm sure we can work out something," Tristan smiled. "They did assist her in saving the galaxy," he pointed out when Shi'ian started to object. "We at least owe them something, don't you agree?"
The Twi'lek nodded. "You have a point. We will see what we can do."
"So, was that all?" Kenna asked hopefully, and a tad suspiciously. That was too easy.
"Is there anything you feel we should know about your journey?" Master Vandar said, holding up one hand to motion for Kenna to stay where she was as she started to walk away.
Kenna immediately jettisoned all thoughts of Carth from her mind. "Not particularly. At least, nothing important."
"Oh?" Describing Vrook's expression as 'stern' would have been an understatement on par with saying Malak was a bad person. "During my conversation with Bastila, something came to my attention. About your relationship with Captain Onasi."
Bingo. I knew that was too easy. Here we go..."What about it? Did I do something wrong?" Kenna didn't know how she kept her voice steady with all the tension coiling inside her.
"Some of the things Bastila said led me to believe there are feelings of some kind between you and him."
There it is. Oh, Force, what do I say? "Such as?"
"Some things about the way you and the Captain interacted after you were a fair way into the mission."
"Oh, you mean Manaan? I already explained to her there was nothing. All she sensed there was that he finally came around to being willing to trust me. He is the most paranoid person I've ever met, though with good reason."
"So you didn't... care for him?" Vrook pressed, obviously unconvinced. Kenna felt him probe her mind, attempt to read her emotions and clamped down even harder. I need to help rebuild the Republic. Why is he questioning me about this? Shouldn't we be trying to work together? She filled her head with thoughts totally unrelated to Carth.
"Romantically? No. As a friend, yes, I cared about him. I still do. I care about all of them. Are Jedi not allowed to care about allies now?" Cool it, honey. You'll make them suspicious.
"Not romantically." Kyraa's tone was emotionless as she inserted herself into the conversation.
"Why?" Kenna crossed her arms and tried to look curious rather than confrontational. Bastila had already gone through every single argument possible, and she had refuted them all.
"Love is attachment, which leads to jealously and fear, which leads to anger, which leads to hate. It is the path to the dark side." Kyraa extended a hand toward Kenna. "You have a reply?"
"Well, first, I think you should say it can lead to, rather then leads to. You cannot guarantee that love will lead to the dark side. But any strong emotion can lead to the dark side. Even friendship. Malak and Bastila both fell, or at least reached a point of starting to fall, because of friendship."
"You're saying love can keep you strong?" Tristan inquired, looking genuinely interested.
"Yes." Kenna turned eagerly to what was probably the only sympathetic ear in the whole group. "If a Jedi were in love with someone, let's say for the sake of the illustration Captain Onasi and me, love could be instrumental in refusing the offers of the dark side. Knowing that there was someone who was so good, who loved me the way I am, waiting could be a great aid in refusing offers of power and glory. Especially if it was Captain Onasi. " Her voice shook, passion and nerves getting the better of her as she continued, "He's loyal to the Republic, concerned with the good of the galaxy more than personal gain, constantly doing what's right rather than what's easy. He's brave, selfless, and good. Someone like that would never stand with a Sith. Therefore, that wasn't an option." She had rehearsed her defense so many times it slipped free with such ease she didn't even realize she was giving herself away. "I knew my mission was important, and I was and still am loyal to the Jedi Council, but it would be a lie to say those were my main reasons."
"So you do care for him?" Kyraa raised one eyebrow.
Oh, damn it! Kenna wanted to kill herself for that. "I didn't at that point, but now, yes I do. Is there a problem with that?"
"You have a duty to the galaxy over just one man," Shi'ian chided sternly, crossing her arms.
"I doubt very much falling in love with a Republic soldier is going to hinder my duty to the galaxy. Car--Captain Onasi is such a loyal soldier he'll probably pester me to death if he thinks I'm neglecting the galaxy for him. However," Kenna held out her lightsaber toward the Masters. "If you think it will be that much of a problem, I'll leave the Order. If you really don't want to work with a Jedi who is breaking the Code, I can surrender my lightsaber and Force abilities." It was a risk, but she was serious. "If I told you breaking his heart like that would kill me and then you still wouldn't have my help, would that influence your answer at all?" She stared straight at Kyraa as she asked. She knew Vrook was probably of more than half a mind to cast her out of the Order already. Kyraa, however, now looked undecided.
"We need you," she admitted, dark eyes full of uncertainty. "But I don't think we can condone your disregard for one of the most important rules of the Order."
"Kyraa, I think we should think about this before we give her an answer. Perhaps a compromise is possible?" Tristan suggested.
"I don't see how," Kyraa replied apologetically. "But we can try." She looked over at Vrook, and Kenna suddenly got the sense that the woman was a fairly new addition to the Council, which explained her wanting to go by the book.
"I understand if a compromise is impossible," Kenna reassured her. "I'm perfectly willing to aid the Republic with rebuilding even if I do it without Jedi abilities. Or maybe I could live as a civilian and not claim to be a Jedi unless some great crisis arises?" All but Vrook looked willing to accept that. The old man was still frowning. Kenna sighed. I should have known he would be the toughest to convince. "Master Vrook?"
"It still seems like you want us to accept you breaking the Jedi Code."
"Let me make myself even clearer." Kenna was struggling to reign in her temper. Erupting wouldn't help her case in the slightest, but he was infuriating. "I will hide my lightsaber, not use the Force, live like any normal human on whatever planet I end up on, and not say a word to anyone about being a Jedi, but you can call me out of my self-imposed exile if you need me."
"And you think you won't be recognized?" Vrook was still skeptical.
"I'm willing to chance it if you are," Kenna challenged.
"I don't think we need to go that far even," Tristan pointed out. "I think this relationship might actually be for the best. I sense no lies in what she's told us." He turned to Kenna. "If Captain Onasi really is so much a motivation for you, perhaps the relationship could continue, and you could still help us with rebuilding the Republic."
"How would we explain our relationship? It's well known the Jedi aren't supposed to develop such close, and enduring, relationships as what we have."
"Maybe if you just don't volunteer it as public knowledge, it could work."
Kyraa nodded. "I have to agree with him." She turned to Shi'ian. "What do you think?"
The Twi'lek looked undecided. "Master Vrook has some good points as well, though." They all turned to Vandar. And the head of the Council--such as it was--it came to his decision when they were so divided.
"While it is unorthodox, I believe we will go with Tristan's plan," he said. "Provided you can be content with a degree of anonymity." He looked at Kenna as he finished.
"Of course," she promised eagerly, unable to believe he had actually agreed. "I won't do anything to even hint at being a Jedi. And I am always available if you need me."
"That is good to know." Tristan smiled. "Hopefully just the story of your redemption will be enough inspiration for others and we can leave you to your life. Though if you would be willing to live on Coruscant and help us rebuild, it would be appreciated."
Kenna returned his smile. "I'll have to see how things play out, but I will do my best." I'm going wherever Carth goes. If he ends up on Coruscant, I'm only too happy to help.
"That's good to hear." A smile cracked Kyraa's face. "I think that was everything. You're free to go. We will want to hear a detailed report on your mission from you and the other Jedi eventually, but we'll contact you later about that."
Kenna nodded slightly as a farewell and headed off to find Carth.
Okay, so this chapter was a little bit more diffcult, with the extra characters and all, and I hope the whole thing with Kenna talking to the Council makes sense and seems plausible. It's the best I could do. ;)