Author's notes: And so we come to the second intermezzo. The Dantooine suspense will remain for a day or two… depends on how much time I have. I need to do some corrections yet. So, here you have my take on Revan and Malak´s first encounter.

Oh, and if you want, here's an Easter Egg – check out babynames. com for name meanings – I always choose names from there, according to their meanings. For example, in the first intermezzo, there was a woman named Althea, a Jedi healer. And Althea means "healer" in Greek. Check it out – it's fun.

IMPORTANT! Yep, I had to write it with CapsLock… because some people just wouldn't notice it. (Ahem) So. It's not easy to write this kind of first meeting… and with quite a few people doing their own version, crafting something original proved troublesome. But eventually, I kinda got the hang of the two mischievous apprentices and sent them right into the belly of the beast – yep, Jedi training begins. And with quite a blast, I might add. Oh, and before you start criticizing that they're too young to wield lightsabers – anyone can swing a lightsaber. But it depends what it cuts. Besides, think the Bear Clan from Episode II. I mean, those kids were barely 7 (or they looked that old to me) and they could deflect the shots. And you have two future Sith Lords here. That's major talent we're talking about. So, sue me for loving both characters so much and letting them kick some droid a….AAAHH!! (gets dragged away by a bunch of lawyers)

Data - Oh. Oh! OH! I… I have failed… (anime watery eyes). Sniff, sniff. You're right.

Nevertheless, I never ignore logical advice, if it's sane (and yours is, I might add). I understand your points fully. So, I did something that I probably won't repeat. I altered chapter 6 and 7. Do read them again, please and give me your option. And please continue reviewing – it is most helpful.

Bastila and Revan – you're right. Bastila should be dead scared of Revan.

"I am in charge" – hey, she's talking to Carth and the others, so she wants to prove her maturity or something. But notice how she shuts up when Revan starts shouting. She doesn't assume that Revan would follow her - she wants to prove she is capable of leading them. Prove it to herself, to Revan… wouldn't you want to prove yourself to someone like her? Maybe it's the bond or Bastila´s own darker impulses. But it wouldn't be good old Basty without her little ego. :)

"Use the Force!!!" – that was a glitch. A true, completely genuine glitch. I wanted to give her the classic Dark Jedi attire (like the ones who ambush you on Kashyyyk and Tatooine wear). The mask sort of slipped. But it's there now.

"Die, even though you're an ally! DIE!!!" – fixed and corrected. It was a scrap from the earlier version of the story… but when you pointed it out, I read it and immediately went completely red with embarrassment. So much for professionalism, huh?

Brynn – I'm a huge fan of VMorticia´s KotOR stories myself. Cooperation? Depends on how you define it. She plots her own little schemes in the background. You know, she's practically alone with Bastila – the others are not important. So... you can guess...

Dark Lord Daishi – Here you have it.

X X X

Intermezzo II – Soul mates

X X X

You're the one I need
The way back home is always long
But if you're close to me I'm holding on
You're the one I need
My real life has just begun
Cause there's nothing like your smile made of sun

In the world full of strangers
You're the one I know.

Shakira, The One

X X X

Her name was Revan.

She didn't know any second name for herself. Her planet of origin was Deralia, an uninteresting Outer Rim world so far away that she had never seen the Core Worlds. She was seven years old, but smart beyond her age, or so she believed. her face wasn't exactly precious, but she had the promise of beauty behind her slightly cold blue-grey eyes.

It was evening, galactic standard, and Coruscant's sun was setting. It had been mere hours since she returned from the Jedi Council… standing in a circle of Jedi Masters and answering questions to which she was sure they knew the answers before she even said a word, was slightly tiring. One of the other apprentices had already shown her the way to room. The room was relatively Spartan, but comfortable.

She decided to explore the building – it was immense, but not built as a labyrinth. Besides, there was always the option to ask someone for directions. The Jedi were known for their helpful nature. And the Temple, like the planet itself, never slept.

A Jedi herself, she was now, she reminded herself. The fancy new clothes they had given her were proof of that. Before, her parents had always given her humble garments. As far as she knew, she had no siblings and her parents had been a popular couple that kept their distance from the rest of the town she had called her home.

The Jedi who had found her on Deralia left once again on some mission or another, wishing her good luck with her training. And she figured that the last goodbye they gave her – 'May the Force Be With You' – was a phrase she would be hearing a lot from now on. Her sadness evaporated slightly when she was introduced to the Masters who would be teaching her clan. Nevertheless, something about the Jedi irritated her. She couldn't put her finger on it, despite being used to obedience…

Two Jedi passed her, talking about something. What caught her attention was that they were breathing slightly heavily… obviously returning from a training session. Idle curiosity kicked in. apparently, the apprentices weren't allowed to use lightsabers… not real ones, anyway. But she wanted to get a good look at the items in question.

It was a risk. If one of the Knights would catch her, she would get into trouble before she even started her training. Even a stealth field wouldn't help her, not that she had one. The Jedi were said to read people's auras – whatever those were. To be able to see into their minds. All she knew was they could tell when someone was close. The safe choice would be to leave it and go back. But safe didn't always equal right, did it?

The girl slowly crept down the corridor. The Knights' training area had to be close. After some time alone with her doubts, she reached it. It was empty, but still spectacular. She found herself staring, like a child that discovered a giant chocolate cake hidden from her sight.

All sorts of bladed weapons on the walls. Strange but somehow soothing runes and markings on the floor. And in a small room with no door outside the dueling area, a wooden cabinet with finely polished metallic tubes, which she immediately recognized as lightsabers.

Always, she had been an outcast because of her liking of weapons. Not because she was cruel or brash, no, but because she admired the skill with which warriors handled them… though she had seen very few truly skilled fighters. It wasn't very girl-like or appropriate for her age, she was often told, but Revan had never been one to fit into the crowds.

Revan smiled slightly when she spotted them. Careful not to make a sound, she approached the cabinet. The lightsabers seemed exact replicas of the same model from a distance… but from up close, she saw that each was completely unique. She had never seen one ignited, but she could guess that the blade would be a not so pleasant thing to touch.

She didn't have time to test it, however. A sound from the left told her someone was coming, so she quickly snatched the closest lightsaber and bolted to the darkest corner she could spot. The newcomer surprised her.

It was a boy; about the same age as her, perhaps only a bit older, obviously one of the other apprentices. She idly wondered whether he came here for the same reason she did – to see the forbidden. Revan knew the Knights' training area was out of bounds to apprentices. He wore robes similar to those she had received and changed into upon being accepted, though his were navy blue as opposed to her maroon. She held her breath for a moment when he came too close, also taking one of the sabers. From this close, she could see that he had dark blue eyes, almost matching his robes and bore strange tattoos instead of his hair. He had a plain but pleasant face, but he was over a head taller than her already. Upon remembering that Gavrilla Zene also had tattoos, she simply assumed it was a result of the culture he came from.

The boy pressed several buttons on a nearby console and ignited the lightsaber he had taken. Within a fraction of a second, an electric blue beam appeared from one end. And a second later, a drone emerged from a hidden compartment in the wall. Revan could see that the boy was attempting to focus on the droid… though not like a normal person would. Even with his eyes closed, he managed to deflect the shots. But some did hit him. Apparently, they weren't designed to be fatal or hurt badly, but enough to make you feel pain. A particularly accurate shot hit his arm and made him drop the lightsaber. And the droid didn't look like it was going to stop blasting anytime soon.

Practically without thinking, Revan ignited the lightsaber she had claimed. Sunny yellow light filled the room. She was very uneasy with the blade in her hands. She had never held a weapon in her hands, save for sticks or stones, which didn't really count. Wielding a vibrosword was considered a skill. Wielding a lightsaber was considered an art. And she never even held a weapon greater than a wooden stick.

Almost on cue, the training droid noticed her and fired several shots at her. The first one missed her completely. Another hit the beam of her raised lightsaber. She held it in an imitation of the boy´s stance, the tip aimed slightly away from her. A shot hit her shoulder. The pain was bad. But she swung her blade at the droid nevertheless, not knowing if there was any other way to stop it, or perhaps not realizing it. It dodged.

She raised the blade once again, completely unaware of what to do. The droid fired. And her blade deflected the bolts with a single sweep. The swing also went through the droid's surface, sending it whirling and spinning around the room. And it came in contact with a blue lightsaber.

Revan lowered her weapon, breathing heavily. The boy also seemed tired. Even if they tried, they couldn't have avoided the brisk footsteps approaching. Not that they actually tried – they were too busy staring at each other for the three seconds before several Jedi practically burst through the door. Revan blinked once and turned to the entrance. The human introduced to Revan as Master Vrook, a human female and a Kel Dor male. Chances of escape were lower than zero.

The stony silence was interrupted by Vrook. "Explain yourselves, apprentices."

A thousand different lies, one more bizarre and impossible than the other, flashed through Revan's mind. However, not one was even the slightest bit probable to save them from the punishment at hand.

But then.. "It was my fault, Master Vrook." the boy noted. Vrook's eyes darted into him, "She's new, she probably just got lost." Revan blinked. No one had ever stuck up for her in such a way. Her personality had always made others far too timid in her presence to actually even speak to her most of the time.

"You did this?" The female Master asked, pointing to the remains of the seeker drone. The boy smirked, gazing at Revan.

"It was already badly damaged." They got the hint. The Kel Dor Jedi glanced at Revan.

"Have you ever used a lightsaber, apprentice?" He asked in Basic. Revan shook her head. "Ever held a lightsaber?" Revan shook her head once again. "Then let me congratulate you, young one. How long have you been trained?"

"She arrived just today." The female Master explained with an amused smile. The boy goggled at her, then at Revan as if she just fell from the sky. For some odd reason, she tried her best to pretend that the wall behind Vrook was amazingly fascinating. Then she realized her lightsaber was still ignited in her hand. A press of the button same button that activated it, then a hiss, and the blade returned to the hilt. Another hissing sound told her the boy did the same. "Not to mention apprentices are only allowed to use training swords during their lessons. Those are standard lightsabers."

"Impressive their skills might be, it does not apologize the fact that both apprentices were out late, which could still be acceptable, but in a restricted area forbidden to them for obvious reasons. They could have both been greatly injured by the training equipment."

"But they weren't, Vrook." The female Master noted, looking at Revan with something close to admiration. Revan found herself looking away. "They have successfully defended themselves. I therefore believe we could forgive them their little breach of the rules for proving their skills… only this time, of course."

"I think Saidi has a point." The Kel Dor Master noted politely.

Vrook took a few seconds to glare at both apprentices, before sighing. "If you believe that is wise… and as long as neither of you spread word of this. We do not want apprentices barging into these chambers. Apprentices not as lucky as yourselves. Take this as a warning." He turned and left the chamber, rather sulkily.

The female Master smiled at the doorway. "Do you think we should repeat to him that we all know there is no luck, only the Force?" she asked the Kel Dor with a hint of mischief in her voice.

"Perhaps later." He said, the smile clear in his voice, despite the breath mask he wore to shield his face from the Coruscanti air. "I think it would be best to send our two adventurers back to bed. I assume you won't get… lost… on your way back to your residential levels?"

Both apprentices smiled at him. "Very well. You may go. May the Force Be With You both."

Revan then felt the lightsaber lifted from her hands, and with the slightest hand gesture from the female Master, both sabers returned to their exact positions on the cabinet. The female Master smiled at them once more before they left the chamber, leaving the Jedi to their 'cleaning'.

X X X

Neither said a word until they reached the elevator. The residential level of the apprentices, both male and female, wasn't too far, but it seemed too narrow an escape to both of them to tempt fate – or the Force – again the very same evening. After minutes of awkward silence and avoiding each other´s eyes, Revan decided she had had enough of it.

"Thanks, by the way." she spoke up, in her usual straightforward fashion.

The boy looked at her at long last, surprised. "For what?"

"Well, you wanted to put the blame on yourself." She shrugged. "Guess I should thank you for that."

The boy grinned briefly at that, "We're even, then." He noted, referring to the fight with the training drone, "You sure you've never used a lightsaber before?"

"Neither have you, from what I saw." Revan joked.

"Thanks." he muttered sulkily.

"I was just kidding. You actually knew what you were doing. I didn't."

"I said thanks, didn't I?" he said, slightly snappishly. Admitting that he needed help with something obviously wasn't one of his virtues.

Revan giggled at his pouting expression, "No problem." Then, "You know… you're alright."

"You're not so bad either… for a kid." he added with a smirk.

"Didn't think you were ancient." Revan noted, her tone half-challenging.

"Obstinate brat."

"Crazy old coot."

"Kid."

"Hermit."

Giving up and half-scowling, half-smiling, the boy commented: "I think this may be the start of a wonderful friendship."

"Maybe. My name's Revan." she said with a smile, holding her hand out to him, like the Jedi who found her did.

The boy's expression changed into a full smile as he took it. "I'm Malak."

His first assumption proved true.