"What exploded in here?" Kenna teased as she walked into the dining room. "Mish, we have to eat on that later, remember."

Mission looked up from the hilt of the vibroblade, the only thing still intact from the weapon now strewn across the table. "I know. But I found some new upgrades, and the workroom's already a mess from whatever Carth's workin' on down there, and I swear I'll clean this up."

"Well, if you swear." Kenna headed for the bedroom, then turned back. "Oh, did you hear from Dustil? He said he'd check in when he got closer."

Mission shook her head, flicking grease off one of her lekku. "Nope. Nothin' from Dustil. But the Council called a few minutes ago, while you were out. They wanna talk to you."

"Lovely. Can't wait. Thanks, Mish."

oOo

Kenna couldn't help but wonder if Bastila had let something slip again that was going to land her in big trouble. What am I so worried about? They let me get married, and they had to know this could happen. They may have thought it unlikely, but they had to know it was possible. She sighed and tapped in the code to contact the Council.

"Ah, Revan. Thank you for answering so promptly," Master Shi'ian bowed in greeting, as did the others.

Kenna returned the greeting. "Master Shi'ian. Please, I'm not Revan anymore." I thought we went over this already. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Mission said you wished to speak with me?" Amazing how formal her speech became in the presence of the Council.

"Yes, we do. We have a...request. Something that needs to be done that we think it is best you handle."

Kenna fought the urge to quirk an eyebrow. At least she knew she wasn't in trouble...yet. "What is it?"

"There is a small group of dark Jedi who have congregated on Dagobah. We need someone to neutralize any threat they represent to the galaxy."

"Normally we wouldn't ask you to do something like this, since you've already done so much," Tristan explained, "But we are short on Jedi at the moment."

Kenna chewed her lip. Carth will kill me if I did something like that...still, it sounds like it's important. "How many dark Jedi are we talking about, Master Shi'ian?"

Shi'ian exchanged a look with the others. "No more than twenty."

Kenna laughed. "I'm honored you think so highly of me, but I know my limits. I can't take twenty dark Jedi on my own." Especially in my condition.

"You may take one or two other Jedi with you. No more than two, and no non-Jedi." Vrook's tone conveyed the 'don't-argue-with-me' he intended.

"May I think about it?"

"Of course," Kyraa agreed before the others could open their mouths.

"Thank you, Master Tane." Kenna bowed. "I'll call you back and let you know." She closed the connection and let out a relieved sigh. She really wanted to say yes. Mostly because if she said no, the Council was going to want to know why. And she really didn't feel like telling them just yet.

oOo

Finagling a yes out of Carth was easier than Kenna had thought it would be. She didn't even have to play the 'for me' card or anything. He took one look at the determined gleam in her eyes and shook his head. "I know that look. Fine. Go ahead. As long as Leni says it won't be too bad for the twins. And remember about Dustil."

Kenna nodded. "Of course." She called up the doctor to ask and got a go ahead, with a "don't push it" warning tacked on the end. "Don't worry, Leni. I won't."

"You better not. Or I'll help Carth kill you when you get back."

Kenna laughed. "The media would have a field day with that. Well, I should let the Council know I'll do it."

"Of course. Remember, don't push it."

"Yes, ma'am." Kenna ended the call and immediately contacted the Council. Kyraa and Tristan were the only ones who appeared on her screen when the call was answered. "Where are the others?"

"They were...called away for various reasons," Kyraa replied. "Do you have an answer for us, Kenna?"

"I do. I'll accept the mission."

Tristan smiled. "Very good. Who do you want to take with you?"

"Jolee Bindo, for one. He's used to living in an environment with limited visibilty, even if darkness is different from fog. And we've fought together before, so we know each other's fighting styles and can play off that."

"And the other?" Kyraa arched one eyebrow as Kenna hesitated slightly. "Well?"

This is going to go over well... "Bastila Shan."

The two Masters stared at her. Kyraa looked like she thought Kenna had lost her mind. "You trust her?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Kenna demanded. "I can feel her through our Bond just as well as she can feel me. There's no more darkness in her."

"She has shown she is weak against the pull of the Dark Side," Kyraa countered. "I really do not think it is wise to take her into a situation where you will be facing dark Jedi."

"Nevertheless, I trust her and want her to come. It will be an ideal test of her strength," Kenna pointed out. "Besides, if the worst should happen and she falls again, I can beat her. I've done it before."

Kyraa sighed. "Very well. You shall have the team you requested. Master Vrook is not going to be happy about this, though."

Kenna very nearly told her what Vrook could do with his disapproval. "Is it not enough that I trust her?" She sighed. "Forget it. When do we leave?"

"As soon as you're ready. I'll alert your companions and have them meet you in the Temple hanger."

"Very well." Kenna nodded. "I'll be there as quickly as possible." She ended the connection.

oOo

After filling Mission in on what she was doing and passing along quick instructions regarding dinner, Kenna went to the Temple and met Bastila and Jolee in the hanger. She wasn't sure why Jolee hadn't returned to Kashyyyk yet, especially with as much complaining as he did about the Jedi, but she was very glad he was available to come with her. He seemed equally surprised she had accepted the mission and asked for him.

"You're not tired of an old man's incessant lecturing?" he asked in pretended shock.

Kenna shook her head and laughed. "To be honest, I almost miss your harping," she teased. "Almost." She turned to Bastila, who looked worried. "What's wrong?"

"Are you certain you should be doing this?" the younger woman asked quietly. "I mean, in your condition." Jolee's eyebrows shot up at that, and Kenna knew she was in for an interrogation session as soon as their shuttle lifted off.

"The doctor said it's fine, so long as I don't push it too hard," Kenna assured her. "Is that all that's bothering you, Bastila?"

Bastila hesitated before shaking her head. "No. How did you ever convince the Council to let me come? They still don't trust me. Except Master Allorn," she corrected herself. "He seems willing to forgive my past...transgressions."

"In all honesty-" Kenna sighed, "-I had to remind them that if the worst happened and you fell again-which I don't think will happen-I'm more than capable of...killing you."

"Oh."

"Bastila, I have faith that you won't fall to the Dark Side again. They're just very suspicious, and that was the only way I could convince them to let you come."

"I understand." Still, the Jedi's shoulders slumped as she followed Jolee up the ramp to the ship.

Kenna couldn't think of any way to explain how repulsive she found the idea of having to kill Bastila, so she just kept silent as she trailed after the others.

oOo

The journey to Dagobah was long enough for Jolee's interrogation and the very lengthy lecture Kenna had to endure after letting him in on her news. It was more about telling him about these things sooner and taking care of herself than it was about how Jedi weren't supposed to have children, blah, blah, blah.

"I'm touched that you care so much," she finally interrupted, a teasing tone filling her voice. "And thank you for not using the 'Jedi aren't supposed to...' arguement."

"Missy, I'm an expert on what Jedi aren't supposed to do," Jolee chuckled. "And you let me and Bastila do most of the work when we get there, are we clear?"

"Wasn't aware you were in charge here, Master Bindo," Kenna joked airily, secretly intending to do just that.

"I just promoted myself." He chuckled again at her expression. "Don't worry. I'll still follow orders. But you stay back and let us handle them."

"Sure, a Guardian letting the Sentinel and Consular do all the fighting. Makes perfect sense."

"If you were worried about that, you would have brought Juhani," the old man pointed out.

"You have me there," Kenna sighed. "Let's just focus on getting there before we worry about strategy."

"Good plan."

oOo

The three Jedi spent the rest of the voyage lost in their own thoughts, Kenna and Bastila occasionally tapping into each other's as well. Kenna didn't like what she was sensing.

Bastila was worried, verging on panic. She was afraid she would fall again. She hadn't been tested in the stregth of her recommitment to the Light since her fall and redemption. This would be a bit of a trial by fire, Kenna had to admit.

As they disembarked on the spongy surface of the planet, Kenna turned to Bastila. "I have faith in you." She looked past her fellow Jedi and commented, "Glad we missed landing in that."

Bastila and Jolee turned to look where Kenna was pointing. One of the landing struts was just barely two feet from a pool of slimy water that was who knew how deep.

"Indeed," Bastila murmured. "However, we landed safely, so might I suggest focusing on the task at hand? Kenna, how much were the Masters able to tell you about this enclave?"

Kenna shook her head. "Not much, actually. We know there's about twenty dark Jedi, maybe a few acolytes, but we don't know building layout, or security measures they may have taken, or anything else."

Bastila raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand why they sent you here if they don't know anything more. This is too dangerous. It seems suspiciously like a trap."

"Well, trap or no, we're here, we may as well see it through." Kenna rubbed her back. The morning sickness may have been gone for the most part, but the aches got worse every week. "I trust you two. We'll do what we can, and hope that it's not a trap."

oOo

It took all of five minutes to see that Kenna was right. This wasn't a trap, just an overconfident group of stragglers who thought they could rebuild the Sith. The Jedi managed to infiltrate the building without being detected. Until they came to the first room. Instead of being a private room, as Kenna had so fervently been hoping, it was a training room. In the three seconds of astounded silence before all hell broke loose, Kenna counted six dark Jedi and two acolytes in the room.

The dark Jedi had barely started to move in the direction of the intruders when Bastila cast a Stasis Field. The odds narrowed to an even three on three contest for the moment. When the young Jedi called forth a Force Storm, the lightning spidering around the room, the odds tipped more permenantly in their favor as one dark Jedi and both acolytes dropped from their frozen positions to the floor.

Kenna couldn't wait any longer. She powered up her lightsaber and went after one of the attacking dark Jedi. She could hear Jolee grumbling about kids being unable to listen to their elders as the blue blades clashed against the twin violet sabers wielded by her opponent. She faked an attack, drew back, and slashed the dark Jedi across the chest. She was already breathing hard as she turned to take on the next one. Force, this pregnancy thing may be a problem in here. The Stasis Field reached its end, and the freed dark Jedi immediately threw themselves into the battle. Kenna and Bastila stood back to back, trying to take the brunt of the assult and draw the enemies away from Jolee.

The room filled with Force-summoned lightning, creeping tentacles of terror, flung lightsabers whirling their course toward opponents and then back to their owners. Kenna was hit by a wave of the Force and slammed against a wall, hearing Bastila and Jolee grunt as they tumbled backwards as well. There were only two dark Jedi left, but they were attacking with a desperation fueled power that made them harder to fight.

Bastila flung her lightsaber at them from the doorway to the room, decapitating one and grazing the other's shoulder. He snarled and glared at the weakened Jedi. "Scum." The Force lightning built around his hand until practically the whole room smelled of a storm.

It died a quick and anticlimactic death, however, when a blue lightsaber blade suddenly materialized through his chest. Kenna pulled her 'saber free and tossed Bastila a medpac. "Here. Jolee's pretty drained."

"Don't you coddle me, missy," he grumbled.

"I'm not. I'm conserving resources," Kenna shot back. "We have another fight like that, I want you able to pull your weight, like you did here."

The old man grumbled under his breath some more, but had to concede she was right.

oOo

They went through the whole of the small base, checking every room. Nowhere else were there enough dark Jedi together to put up a fight like the training room. They seemed to share two bunks to a room, but even if both occupants were in the room, they didn't present too much of a challenge. In acquiesence to Jolee and her doctor, Kenna let the others handle as much as possible of the work, only lending a hand if things looked bad. She hated feeling this useless, like she was only along for the ride. But she didn't want anything happening to the babies, and Jolee read her the riot act every time she tried to do too much. Almost wish I hadn't told him, Kenna grumbled to herself.

Bastila did her proud. There were a number of times the dark Jedi seemed to sense the younger woman's former weakness and attempted to entice her to the Dark Side. She stayed strong every time. Even the man who appeared to be in command of the base couldn't sway her. Kenna could feel the temptation as it nibbled at Bastila that last time, but still she resisted. It took all three Jedi to fight the man. I'm glad they sent us, if only to kill him, Kenna thought as Jolee's lightsaber finally slashed through the dark Jedi's chest.

"Well, I guess that's it," she sighed as she used the Force to heal Jolee and Bastila's injuries. "I'll call the Council and ask them what they want us to do about the base."

Bastila nodded, breathing heavily. "Alright."

The Council wanted the base left alone, now that there were no more dark Jedi, but could Kenna perhaps download any files kept by the dark Jedi, so the Council would know what else any stragglers might be up to? Kenna agreed and tasked Bastila with finding anything relevant in the computer system. "And Bastila?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you stayed strong. I'd hate for Vrook to be able to say 'I told you so'." She smiled. "I knew you could do it."

Bastila actually blushed as she murmured, "Thank you," before turning back to her download. Kenna could feel the pleasure and relief radiating off her friend, even without using their Bond. She'd passed her trial by fire with flying colors.

The comlink warbled as the download finished. "Yes?" Kenna answered, expecting it to be the Council checking back in.

"Hey, beautiful."

She smiled. "Hey, yourself, flyboy. What's up?"

"Just wanted to let you know Mission talked to Dustil a few minutes ago, and he said he should be here in a couple days."

"Alright. We're finished here, so I should be home before he shows up."

Carth chuckled. "You didn't push yourself too hard did you?"

"No, I didn't push myself too hard. Jolee made sure of that." Kenna made a face at the older Jedi, who was fighting a laugh.

"Good," Carth laughed. "Thank him for me, would you?"

"I'll do that," Kenna promised as they headed for the door. "See you when I get home, love."

"Mm-hm. I love you."

"Love you, too." She turned off the comlink and tucked it back in her belt. "Let's go."

"What was that about?" Bastila asked.

"Dustil's coming for a visit, and he's had a hell of a time getting leave from work," Kenna explained. "Apparently his boss is a slave driver who never gives time off. I think he had to play the 'Do-you-know-who-my-father-is?' card."

Bastila laughed. "How does Carth feel about this visit?"

Kenna shrugged. "He's fine with it. Already stressing that he'll say the wrong thing and tick Dustil off more, but he really wants to patch things up, so he's glad things worked out. Now, come on. If we leave now, I think we can beat Dustil to Coruscant. I'd like to be presentable when I greet him."

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get this up; my internet went out for almost a whole week. Hope you like the chapter, and hopefully Dustil will finally show up in the next one. *bites nails nervously* And hopefully I'll do a good job writing him...