Author's notes: Ah, the Romeo & Juliet type story of the Sandrals and Matales… makes me sick when I play LS. "Oh, Shen!" "Thank goodness, Rahasia!" Doesn't that just make you want to vomit? It's so cliché… So, naturally, I had to mess with them a little bit.

Anyone who discovers the origins of the chapter title – you have my compliments for liking the old school training.

Brynn – Your plea was noted, and I rewrote the chapter a bit. I actually managed to do both – God bless the person who invented blackmail and threats! You'll see what I mean…

Dark Lord Daishi – that's the most important thing – she has to be mysterious in order to gain their trust. I hope you liked the picture of Revan´s robes (if you checked it out, that is). Everything about "Jedi Revan" has a double meaning. Everything she says or does seems to serve the purpose of the Jedi… though it only serves her own purpose.

X X X

Chapter 12 – The Force Within

X X X

"This is private property. By what authority are you trespassing on this estate?" They were once again greeted by the emotionless mechanical voice of a protocol droid when they barely even set foot on the Sandral estate.

"Casus Sandral is dead." Revan flatly said, her tone made it clear that that alone was reason enough to let them in.

"Casus is dead? Then it is as we feared. You should speak to Nurik himself. He will want to question you on the details of his son's death. Nurik left orders he was not to be disturbed, but given the circumstances I will make an exception. Go into the main hall. Nurik will meet you there." The droid reported.

They did as it asked, and were greeted by an elderly dark skinned human man. "I have been informed by my protocol droid that you have news about my son Casus." He said in a slightly melancholic tone.

Casus is a kath hound chew toy. Revan thought privately. And it was perhaps for the best – she had noticed the notes about the "Rak" on his datapad.

Revan! Bastila´s voice echoed in her head.

"Your son was killed by kath hounds while exploring the Dantooine ruins." Revan emotionlessly said.

"Kath hounds?" Sandral said quietly, "I... I was so certain the Matale family was to blame... But this changes nothing! My own son is dead - why should I shed one tear about the disappearance of my bitter enemy's son?"

Bastila sighed in frustration. "Typical. Anything to continue the feud which has become so customary to you people." she muttered.

Sandral asked only for one more thing – the diary of his son. Revan, slightly reluctant about doing that, so she gave the diary a good smash before handing it over. She accepted the credits offered, knowing that in their case, they would need any kind of fortune they would get.

"Could you tell us what you know of the Matale boy's disappearance?" Bastila asked. Guilt flashed through the man's mind, but all he let show on his face was grief. "The Jedi are renowned for their fairness and pursuit of justice. There is nothing to fear from us… unless you have something to hide." She persisted.

"That's quite a line." Carth piped up. "Do you actually believe that? Don't you think someone is allowed to value privacy?"

"We have nothing further to discuss." Nurik Sandral distantly said, clearly not listening.

"Please… leave me to my grief." And he left without another word. Bastila turned to Carth.

"Privacy is all well and good, but justice must be valued higher. Is it not obvious to you that this man hides something?"

Carth shrugged,"Actually, it is. All I'm saying is that not everybody welcomes the sight of a Jedi with open arms. Better get used to it."

"Let's just go." Revan said, turning to leave through the main front doors.

But a female voice stopped them, "You are here from the Council, are you not? Looking for Shen Matale?" she asked.

"And you are?" Bastila immediately went into action.

"My name is Rahasia - Nurik is my father." the young woman said, "He has not been himself since Casus disappeared. He is mad with grief, and he is convinced the Matales are responsible. He is not thinking rationally."

"We brought him his son's diary – your brother has been killed by kath hounds."

"Casus is dead?" Rahasia asked, obviously grief-stricken, "It is as I feared, though I am relieved the Matales are not responsible. My father is a good man. When my mother died, he raised me and my brother by himself. He loves his children, and we love him. I just don't want you to judge him too harshly."

"Judge him? What has your father done?" the Jedi asked sharply.

"You must understand that Father has been under a terrible strain." Rahasia said quickly, "I have no wish to disobey him, but there are matters where even my father's authority is not absolute." She lowered her eyes guiltily, as if she had been the one to do some ill. "My father has kidnapped Shen Matale." she said quietly, "He is holding him prisoner here in the compound. He feels this is a way to get back at the Matales, a way to get even for the disappearance of my brother Casus."

Bastila nodded. "I see. Well there is the answer we seek. The Jedi Council should be informed of this at once.

"You don't think that perhaps there's more to look at here, do you? That maybe everything isn't what it appears?" Carth asked.

"Of course not. It seems very simple to me. The Council must be allowed to decide the next step."

"No!" Rahasia cried desperately, "Since Casus went missing my father has become unstable, he might hurt him if you do that! He no longer even cares if the Matales are responsible for what happened to Casus. I am afraid my father will simply kill Shen out of a mad, misguided lust for vengeance!"

"Why are you telling us this?" Revan finally spoke up, not without suspicion.

"Shen is an innocent victim in all this." Rahasia said plaintively, "My father is not a bad man, but his grief has driven him to madness. He must be stopped. The Jedi Council does not have the authority to search our estate, and if Father finds out his secret has been revealed he might kill Shen right away."

"But why do you care about him?" Revan asked.

"Shen and I... we... Well, we have been taught by our families to hate each other, just for being related to our fathers." Rahasia said, almost dreamily, "But I met Shen alone one day in the city, away from his father, and... and Shen was so charming, so sweet. He didn't care at all that I was a Sandral, he just accepted me for who I was, with no reservations. We talked and met again over months and fell in love. My brother Casus met him too and they were beginning to become friends, but then this whole mess had to happen... Please find Shen and free him! You are my only hope!"

Revan shut her eyes tightly for a moment. She thought she heard Bastila chanting something about Jedi duties again. Something that made her wonder, once again, how come she had ever wanted to be this close to the Jedi brat. Nevertheless, she knew she would simply have to survive this… she knew that their actual mission would take weeks, at least, and they would be encountering at least a dozen other pitiful sentients who would seek out their aid. It would slow them down, as usual, but when it came to the big choice, Revan knew that she would have to put up with the Jedi's goodie-goodie heroics, because otherwise, the lecture automaton would start again. And then, she would have to strangle the Jedi.

"Does this mean you'll actually help them?" Carth´s voice asked from behind her as Revan snatched the key from Rahasia´s hands and stalked away to the side entrance, more fed up than usual.

"I'm doing this for all of us. Unless you wish to spend more time listening to the self-righteous brat we're stuck with?" she asked idly, ignoring the understanding and then clearly annoyed expression on his face. Revan unlocked the door easily and blasted the first droid attack away with a dose of Force Lightning.

Force, she had been yearning to do that all day long.

Carth blinked at that. "Don't only Dark Jedi do these things?" he asked Revan, slightly suspiciously.

"You're smarter than the impression you give, Onasi." Revan noted dispassionately as Bastila caught up with them, thoroughly oblivious to the reason why Carth gave both her and Revan a slightly irritated glance.

"I can sense another person over there." Bastila said after a moment, bolting in the direction she had felt it. The others followed her, until they reached a locked door. Revan began slicking the lock, which clicked open in a couple of seconds, revealing a small prison-like room. A young man sitting on the bed raised his head as they entered.

"Who are you? What do you want with me? Are you working for my father?" Clearly, Shen Matale. But even Bastila´s entirely ineffective persuasion, Carth´s clear annoyance at the whole feud and the blank stare Revan was giving him, he didn't intend to leave without Rahasia.

Back to Rahasia it was, who behaved like a blushing schoolgirl, despite the situation. Together, though unaware of it, Carth and Revan both began considering that they should have picked a better mission than this. If they could survive this, then Malak would be nothing.

At least Shen had decided to cooperate when he heard that Rahasia was waiting. They escorted him outside, where the Sandral girl was waiting already, thoroughly visible. It didn't seem to have occurred to her that she was in plain view from the household she so dreaded.

"Shen! You are safe." Rahasia breathed.

"Rahasia! Thank goodness you managed to escape!" Shen said.

"It was all thanks to this kind Jedi that we managed to get this far at all." Rahasia said, smiling at Bastila, who tried not to look too proud or too guilty, because she knew deep down that it wasn't entirely her own doing. "I thank you, lady Jedi, for all that you have done for us."

"We should get out of here quickly." Bastila interrupted.

Rahasia nodded. "You're right, we should go as fast as we can. I don't know how long it will be before my father realizes we're gone."

"You're right, we should…" Shen was interrupted by the arrival of Ahlan Matale – who was, incidentally, followed by two fully armed battle droids, clearly holding true to his word and engaging his assault. Seconds later, Nurik Sandral emerged from his estate, also followed by two battle droids.

"There you are, Shen!" Ahlan beamed.

"Father!" Shen seemed slightly shocked that he arrived so quickly.

"Mr. Matale!" Rahasia nervously said.

"Rahasia!" Nurik called.

"Father!" Rahasia turned to him.

"Mr. Sandral!" Shen said.

"Nurik!" Matale noticed his adversary.

"Ahlan!" and Sandral was only too happy to return the glare.

The two men stared at each other, their eyes narrowed. Revan sighed deeply, resisting the urge to cover her face with her hands. Carth was looking just as anxious to end all this as Bastila was looking helpless. Nevertheless, none of them had any wish to stay there and witness this slaughter or reunion, whatever it was.

"I knew this was all your doing! I knew you had captured my son!" the elder Matale shouted.

"You had taken my Casus from me long before that! You started it!" Nurik Sandral yelled right back.

"I do not need to you're your excuses! Now I will get revenge for your transgressions!" Matale claimed.

"Why don't you just shoot each other and get it over with." Revan suggested without batting an eyelash.

"What are you doing?!" Carth snapped at her. "Are you trying to get everyone killed?!"

"Save for the fact that they want to do it, I refuse to stand here all day until they make up their minds." She replied, slightly snappishly now.

Bastila looked shocked and horrified at the same time. "You're a Jedi!" her tone clearly implied that she would blame Revan if the two families would massacre each other, and they were on edge.

Only technically. Revan noted mentally.

Then stop goading them into a fight! Bastila persisted.

I call it speeding up the decision, Jedi, but let's see how you go. You are the one trialed here, after all.

Revan rolled her eyes as she ignited her lightsaber, throwing it at the Matale droids, which were soon scrap. The saber circled the families and destroyed the Sandral droids, returning to Revan´s hand. Silence.

"All yours, Jedi." Revan said, deactivating her weapon as she mock-bowed to Bastila with a cold face.

"Mr. Sandral, Mr. Matale, please calm down." Bastila said, "You should try sorting this out together."

"We ARE trying to be reasonable here, of course." Sandral voiced, "We ARE sensible people after all – it's our children that are being stubborn!"

"If Shen would only do what I say!" Matale retorted.

"I don't care!" Shen snapped, "Rahasia and I will live on our own if you don't accept us!"

"You will do no such thing!"

They continued to ramble, the bickering becoming more violent by the minute. Bastila, once again unnoticed, sighed dramatically and stalked back to Carth and Revan, who was looking at the whole situation with a mildly interested expression.

"Interesting how they seem unwilling to accept assistance from an outsider, no?" She remarked, rather like a scientists observing the behavior of a pack of beasts.

Bastila shot her a glare for that, but then sighed. "They… they are so unreasonable. They simply cannot compromise!" she whined, "This is hopeless! What will the Council think of me once we return to them?"

"Can you spell egoist?" Carth snapped at her, "Those people are biting each others heads off and all you can think of is yourself!"

"Onasi, I might actually change my opinion about you for the better." Revan commented, as close to praise as she was able to get. Then, the turned her attention to Bastila again. "Now, if you please, a lesson in subtlety and humility, little Jedi." She began walking towards the two families.

"This is ridiculous!" Bastila said prissily to Carth. How dare she imply that she didn't have humility!

Stopping in her tracks, Revan turned on her heel. "Would you prefer explaining your failure to the Council? This task is one for you to deal with, not me."

"She's right, you know." Carth added, but didn't look at Bastila

"This… this is unbelievable! Carth, while I respect your options, this is a matter of the Jedi and not of my competence to solve problems!" the Jedi hissed.

"Yeah, but if you aren't competent to deal with these things, Bastila, then you'll be no good in the open." Carth said defensively, "Look, I might not be a Jedi, but I understand there's something being planned by your Council and it seems you're a potential candidate for a task. How can you show the Council you can handle yourself far away when you can't do it here."

The Jedi's usually pale face was turning crimson as she squeezed her eyes shut, almost as if attempting to imagine she was alone on the plains. "Can you really stop them?"

"Without problems."

Bastila relaxed her eyes and exhaled, "Go."

"So you are willing to learn?"

"I… I… yes.. Now go! Stop this!" Bastila shrieked at Revan, who turned on her heel again, facing the two families.

To get their attention, she was forced to knock them back with a semi-powerful Force wave. Crude, but effective. Otherwise, she would have lost her voice for certain.

"Look, if you want a bloodbath, go ahead and shoot each other. But there is also the possibility of letting your children live their own lives. They are capable of making their own decisions."

"But Shen is my son… I don't want to lose him…" Matale distantly said.

"And I won't let my daughter go with him!" Sandral shouted.

"Children grow up and leave eventually."

"My little Rahasia…" Nurik dreamily gazed at his daughter.

She smiled. "Father…"

"I… I don't know why we fight like this. We got along in the beginning, didn't we, Ahlan?"

Nurik asked distantly, possibly mortified and brought to his senses.

"I don't know how you can think of that when out children are trying to go away together." Ahlan Matale noted, though less angrily.

"Well, it wouldn't be so bad, would it? Shen seems to genuinely care for my Rahasia. He might be a good husband for her someday." Nurik suggested.

"Hmph. As much as I may dislike it… I think I see it too." A pause. "I suppose, I suppose I might be convinced to see that Sandral girl with my son. IF she is loyal to him." Ahlan Matale voiced, extreme emphasis on the 'if'. "But I don't trust you a centimeter farther, old man. Your daughter may treat Shen well, but you will never see them! They will live with me."

"Of course not, you pompous old windbag! They'll be living with me!" Nurik´s eyes narrowed once more.

"I will not have them set foot in the Sandral household!"

"They shall not live with the Matales!"

"Then you propose to buy us a new house, do you?" Rahasia stepped into the yelling match, smiling innocently – she obviously knew that victory was near.

Nurik stopped to think for a second. "Um… well, yes, actually that sounds like a good idea."

"I'm… surprised. That does sound like a good idea." Ahlan admitted.

"We should discuss this more." Nurik noted. Shen and Rahasia both sighed in relief, then beamed at Revan.

"Thank you, Master Jedi, for bringing us together and getting our families to accept us." Shen voiced.

"We will praise you to the Council for what you have done and name our children after you." Rahasia added.

"Thank you again. We will remember you always." With that, both families retreated into the Sandral estate.

Revan triumphantly (and gracefully) walked back to Bastila, who was staring at her and Carth, who was giving the Jedi the 'I-told-you-she-could-do-it' look.

"Watch and learn, little Jedi." Revan walked passed Bastila without giving her a single glance, leaving the stupefied Jedi to follow.

On the way back to the ruins, the sound of kath hounds attempting to tear something (or someone) apart and mechanical beeps coming from the aforementioned something drew their attention. Quite predictably, Carth started shooting the kath hounds (trying to protect the victim), which caused them to notice them and charge at them. Bastila threw her lightsaber at them before they could come too close. She then went to help the droid stand up. It was slightly battered and chewed, but functional.

It turned its attention fully to Revan, who stepped in front of it, "Thank you for saving me, Master Jedi. I am C8-42, a personal assistance droid."

"No problem." On the technicalities, she outranked Bastila, though the Jedi still pressed her lips together forcibly, forming a thin line of them.

"I am sorry if I seem a bit abrupt, but I must be moving along. I am rather in a hurry."

"Are you running from something?" Bastila asked.

"From my master, Elise. Wait..." the droid´s normally emotionless voice showed fear, "Did she send you to find me? Please do not tell her you saw me! I have my reasons!" the droid said, "I'm afraid my owner became a bit too attached to me. Obsessed even. She... she tried to treat me as her dead husband. It was not healthy for her."

"Err… ALL the time?" Bastila edgily asked.

"You don't want to know. " The droid assured her.

She flushed slightly. "Umm…probably not." Carth sniggered at that.

"She is obsessed." the droid explained, "She rarely sees other people, and appears to be fixated on me as her husband. She was becoming more and more insular... I thought it best that I leave. She may meet other real people this way. In fact, that was the reason I came here and sought out those kath hounds."

"What are you, suicidal?" Revan asked.

"I think it would be best if I were no longer a factor. She would meet new people. Living people. Please... will you destroy me?" it begged.

Revan raised her eyebrows. "Well… let's see what happens when I tell Elise why you did it." She ignited her lightsaber, giving it a twirl.

"Thank you, kind lady! You have my eternal gratitude." the droid said, holding its hands out as if wanting to hug the blade. With a single swipe, Revan sliced the droid in half.

Bastila shook her head at that. "I do not believe Elise will be pleased. But I suppose you did the right thing."

"You have no idea." Carth said in reply.

X X X

They were ambushed by a group of Mandalorians and Duros as they almost reached the ruins.

"Ah, so this is the meddler." Their clear leader (judging by his armor) said when he noticed the ignited lightsaber in Revan´s hand. "You have caused us far too much trouble for a mere Jedi. " the impertinent Mandalorian laughed. "I will add your head to those of the other Jedi I've killed and take yet another lightsaber for my own."

Revan then noticed the two lightsabers on his belt. What surprised her was that he drew them and charged at her. She blocked the swing and kicked him away while their sabers were locked. He landed several feet away from her, on his back. To scare his minions off (though it was unnecessary, since Carth and Bastila were doing a good job killing them), she leapt into the air, lightsaber raised high above her head. The Mandalorian had just a second to scream before she swung the saber like a club, slicing his head cleanly in half. What remained of the Duros screamed and attempted to run. Of course, they never got out of range of Revan´s Force Lightning.

"No one touches my lightsaber." Revan noted to the leader's corpse.

"Nice fighting, Alexa." Carth commented, putting away his blasters. Revan nodded curtly before proceeding to search the corpses. Mandalorian mercenaries were usually heavily armed and could have some credits.

"We should inform Jon about this." Bastila immediately claimed.

"I'll do it." Carth suggested. "You two Jedi can handle yourselves just fine in those ruins."

"I'm no Jedi. I'm just a girl with a lightsaber and a mission." Revan noted, "See you at the enclave."