Author's notes: I'm sick… and not because of the Sandral / Matale romance… my throat aches, something awful. And it's raining. Wonderful.

On the bright side, I can focus that bad mood into Revan's Dark Side. AND I'm skipping school! (evil maniac laughter)

Oh, and the last chapter's title was from the old Jedi Knight game – the cutscenes have great titles!

This chapter is the final Dantooine scene. My God, I have to write more intermezzos! The chapters all the way to the third Star Map are mostly finished, but the intermezzos… that's another thing completely.

ChaosMagicianGirl – you're not the first person to ask this... and, in truth, I really don't have an answer. LS would be difficult. DS would have to have a huge climax. Of course, when romance makes its entrance…

And to bribe you into reviewing, I'll give you a little spoiler ;-) . Revan doesn't believe she is capable of loving anyone. She wants to stay focused on her goals. Love is a distraction – one she thinks she can't afford.

Brynn – that's the whole point! If you have to be LS, be like Qui-Gon Jinn! I do hope my characters are believable – it's hard to write a believable fall, but even harder to write a believable redemption. But I'm still not sure whether to do DS or LS… Revan refuses to tell me! (pouts)

Dark Lord Daishi – you ain't seen nothing yet! (evil smirk)

X X X

Chapter 13 – A Second Calling

X X X X

The skies of Dantooine were clear, only the occasional bird flied around the Jedi Enclave, situated in the middle of a farmland. The plains were mostly untouched by the civilization, only the courtyard of the Jedi Enclave was crowded, and from what they could hear, the settlers were mostly discussing the strange news – the rogue Jedi girl was redeemed, Shen Matale and Rahasia Sandral were getting married. But the favored topic was the person who was the catalyst of both these events – some new recruit, new find of the Jedi. The questionable thing was that this person didn't apparently belong to the Order, but wielded their signature weapon with ease.

The woman in question, along with another, finished killing the kath hounds that blocked their way to the ruins.

"Is something wrong?" Revan suddenly asked the Bastila, who seemed rather jumpy. "You look like something's bothering you."

The Jedi's eyes widened, but then she shook her head, attempting to be carefree. "No, not bothering me. Not exactly. I've just been thinking about what the Council said about the two of us. There is a bond between us, I do not dispute that. I can feel it, as I'm sure you can. The nature of the bond and its affect on our mission however, remains in question."

A lecture. Again. Joy above joys. "I outrank you, little Jedi, and you are to help me here, not preach your so-called wisdom. This mission is mine."

"Well, yes, but I want to be of help in any way and I feel we won't have too many opportunities to talk to each other on the ship." Bastila explained, "I want to make things right between us."

Revan stopped for a moment. "Very well, little Jedi. Let me explain: I am partnered with you because your Council saw it fit and because you believe you have what it takes to keep up with me. I am not your lackey, nor am I your friend. My experience is greater than yours, so you would do well to listen to my counsel, if you value your life. Am I clear?" Without waiting for an answer, the blonde woman continued walking towards the ruins, while the brunette stared at her with wide eyes. "I'm still not sure whether I like the idea of you being in my dreams."

"And are you so certain that it isn't you being in my dreams?" Bastila asked, arching an eyebrow delicately.

"Unnecessary question, obvious answer."

"Believe me, I certainly don't find the prospect of being joined to you enjoyable by any fashion." Bastila proclaimed at once.

"We shall have to work on your tact, little Jedi."

"Please, forgive me." Bastila quickly said, "I did not mean to imply that you are repulsive in any sense of the word. That we shared something so personal is just not something I'm used to."

For a while, Revan decided to change the nickname for Bastila to see the reaction. "Suspicion mutual, Princess Padawan."

And said reaction came. "You…you're getting on my nerves, do you know that?"

"Yes and it's amusing." Revan noted, still not stopping as Bastila raced to her side.

"Fun? Fun?!" she demanded, "Driving me insane is your idea of a good time!?"

Ignoring the strange scowl on Bastila´s face, Revan said: "Yes. Because you get provoked so easily, react so preposterously and, despite your claims about Jedi ways, rarely seem to uphold them. If it were my custom, I would laugh."

Bastila opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head. "I must admit – I simply don't know how to deal with you. I don't know whether I should be outraged that you keep joking about serious matters…or whether I should be grateful that you can always lighten the mood." She sighed, shook her head again and sulked for some reason.

X X X

The ruins were the same as before – a dark presence on the rather peaceful (and dull) world of Dantooine. Once again, Revan found the ancient droid there. Bastila insisted that she wishes to speak with it. After circling through a variety of languages, it once again spoke the Selkath dialect.

"I can reproduce any language spoken by the Builders or the slaves." It said.

"Who are these Builders, Revan?" Bastila asked. But it was the droid who answered.

"The Builders are the great masters of the galaxy, the creators of the Star Forge and the rulers of the Infinite Empire." It said, tonelessly.

"Are you talking about the Sith?"

"I do not know who these "Sith" are, but they are not the Builders. The Builders are… the Builders." The droid noted.


"Very helpful." Bastila commented, hardly suppressing a snort.

"I am familiar with the Star Forge and the map in the ruins, Overseer." Revan said in the hopes of skipping the boring procedure. "I have been here before."

The droid was silent for a few moments. "The ones that came before you, the ones like you – neither Builders nor slaves – were the only ones that came after the Builders left."


"I had a mask on my face. You said that I have passed the first test but that I must prove myself worthy of further knowledge of the Star Forge."

The droid seemed to be checking its memory.

"You are correct. Detailed voice analysis matched your voice with the one heard here five years ago. But you bring another with you. Time has passed. If you are to uncover the secrets of the Star Forge once more, you must prove your worth once again."

Revan sighed. Well, there was no other way. She noticed a Jedi's corpse on the ground near the droid.

"Poor Nemo." Bastila spotted it too. "The Council sent him to investigate the ruins…and it cost him his life."

Revan didn't reply. She merely took Nemo´s lightsaber and the dark blue robes that remained there when the Jedi's corpse disappeared – he became one with the Force – putting it all in her backpack.

"Prepare yourself. All you have to do is deflect the blaster fire and avoid the flamethrower. Cover me – I'll deal with the rest."

Revan quickly opened the door, not wanting to give Bastila a chance to question her orders. The hall was as dark and sunless as the rest of the temple; the only light was emerging from the shining targeting systems of a guardian droid. She didn't want to wait for anything to happen, Revan ignored the droid and sprinted past it to the other side of the room. A computer console was waiting for her there. While she was breaking the life-seal, Bastila was covering her - they were standing back-to-back.

The computer console flashed to life when she spoke her request to be granted the knowledge of the Star Forge in Rakatan. She inserted her datapad into the console. After a few seconds, words in Basic appeared on the screen.

Data processing… Identity verified. Greetings. The knowledge you seek is a gift that lasts an eternity and a curse that follows it forever. Define three life-giving planetary types and your reasoning.

The grassland gives life, for the beings of the galaxy walk it since the beginning of time. The sea gives life, for its water flows through all of us. The arboreal land gives life, for it was destined to do so. Revan quickly typed in.

Answers verified. Initiating programmed sequence. Breaking life-seal.

"Ignore the droid and follow me!"

Revan retrieved her datapad and ran out of the room with amazing speed, Bastila quickly following her. She unsealed the other room and with a series of jumps and rolls, she reached a console, jumping over another droid. Bastila was trying to keep the droid busy while Revan was again attempting to break the seal.

Data processing… Identity verified. Greetings. To reach what remains hidden means to life for death and die for life. Define three death-giving planetary types and your reasoning.

The waste takes life away, for it has no life of its own. The volcano takes life away, for it is the fire of creation. The barren land takes life away, for it disturbs its dreamless sleep.

Answers verified. Initiating programmed sequence. Breaking death-seal.

Bastila dodged the carbonite freezer and struck the droid with her saber. The smell of melted wires began to fill the room. Revan ignored Bastila and dashed out of the room, stopping in front of the sealed door. An explosion was heard – the droids self-destructed – and Bastila joined her again, a puzzled look on her face.

"You have proven yourselves worthy and the sealed door is now open. If you wish to learn about the Star Forge, enter the room beyond the door." The Overseer said.

Revan opened the door with a wave of her hand, just like all those years ago.

"What was that about?" Bastila asked.

"We have proven our worth and now we can receive the first clue that will lead us to the Star Forge." Revan said over her shoulder.

Behind the doors was a room even darker than those before it, not only because of the sunless character of the ruins, but also because of the taint that remained there. The dark energy seemed to emerge from a strange ornament-covered black object in the back of the room. As Revan approached it, it opened itself and an orb arose from the center. Suddenly, a holographic image of the galaxy emerged from the orb, and several planets seemed marked for some reason.

"I don't understand." Bastila frowned. "This is a…a map. Some sort of intergalactic navigational chart. You must have used it to lead you to the Star Forge. But there are pieces missing – incomplete hyperspace coordinates, too much corrupted data and nothing is indicating where the Star Forge itself might be. What does that mean?"

Bastila gazed quizzically at Revan, but she merely continued to watch the miniature model of the galaxy.

"This looks like…Korriban, a Sith world. Oh, my." Bastila added when she saw Revan nod. "And if that's Korriban…than this is Kashyyyk…and Tatooine…and here's Manaan! Those…those planets might have more clues that could lead us to the Star Forge! I know you and Malak visited Korriban at least once – did you find something more there?"

"Each of those worlds contains a map similar to these." Revan explained, her voice emotionless. "Naga Sadow's tomb on Korriban, the forest floor of Kashyyyk, a cave in the Dune Sea of Tatooine and ruins near the Hrakert Rift on Manaan. To get to the Star Forge, we need to collect all the data, travel to all four planets."

The thought of traveling to a Sith infested planet like Korriban sent a shiver down Bastila´s spine, but then she became curious. Revan and Malak were very interested in finding this 'Star Forge'…this was where their journey down the Dark Side began, she was sure of it!

"What does this Star Forge do, exactly? Is it a factory or a weapons plant? But…it has to be more powerful than that."

"It's a powerful tool of the Dark Side." Revan laconically said. sharing such things with Bastila wasn't exactly to her taste.

Besides, Bastila clearly didn't need to know anything else. "We must inform the Council of what we have done here. I suspect our mission has only just begun, though."

On the way to the Enclave, Elise greeted them enthusiastically. Revan was very tempted to just tell her that her droid is still out there, but Bastila´s presence made her reconsider. Instead, Bastila told the woman that kath hounds destroyed her favorite pet. Which would have been the truth, had they not interfered. Still, Elise was heartbroken, which Bastila found pitiable, and Revan, in turn, sickening.

X X X

"Ah, you've returned." Vandar said in a voice that showed no surprise. "Have you recovered the Star Map data from the ruins?"

Revan and Bastila returned to the Jedi Council. When Revan handed them Nemo´s robes, it was explanation enough for them. Revan nodded and handed her datapad to Master Vandar, but he shook his head.

"I believe we don't need any verification from the Archives, where the Star Forge might not even be mentioned. You have done well in retrieving the data from the Star Map in the ruins.."

"The Council is in agreement – the Star Forge must be destroyed!" Vrook added ominously.

Revan´s face was expressionless.

"We underestimated the danger and thought that we could solve the mystery of the Star Forge without putting you in danger, by sending another Jedi there, but we were wrong. There are disturbances in the Force."

"I know that this will sound strange, but this mission is suicide." Revan commented.

"Ever brash, ever disrespectful!" Vrook nearly yelled at her. "Is this what we pinned our hopes on?"

"Peace, Vrook." Vandar softly said. "We have discussed this…it is the only way."

"I would have expected more enthusiasm from you, Revan." Bastila piped up. "After all, many thought the Mandalorian wars were suicide as well."

"The circumstances were different." She replied, her gaze not moving from the Council.

"It is a risk we must take, Revan." Zhar answered her. "You are the galaxy's last desperate hope. If Malak is not stopped, he will hunt the Jedi to extinction and an era of tyranny and darkness that the galaxy has not seen for millennia will be unleashed. Once he finds out that you live, he won't stop hunting you until you are dead."

"You can leave whenever you wish, the sooner the better. The later you leave, the stronger Malak becomes." Vrook said.

"Perhaps I should go alone." Revan suggested once more. She had to try. "I can move faster on my own and sending a company of Jedi Knights would draw Malak´s attention."

"The sessions have confirmed that Bastila can learn from you. The bond is strong and perhaps this is the best for both of you – remaining on a world with a Jedi enclave might not be the best way to hide from the Sith, not for Bastila." Vandar explained, "And Juhani has also asked to accompany you. After some deliberations, we've decided to grant her request."

"Juhani nearly fell to the Dark Side. Perhaps her presence will serve you as a reminder of the dangers of that path." Master Vrook was certainly in a cheery mood.

"Of your team, only Bastila knows who you are." Zhar noted.

"My team?" Revan repeated.

"Of course the ones who aided you on Taris will also come." Vandar added.

Revan closed her eyes for a moment. more people to take care of. She knew that traveling with two Jedi would be problematic enough and the droid would be the most resourceful companion, she knew, but dragging them all along… they would be eight on a single ship, eight, out of which she would have chosen three, at the most, as her companions – Canderous, T3-M4 and Zaalbar.

"They possess skills you may find useful. Hiding the presence of Jedi will be difficult and not something you should do. But the true nature of your mission must not reach Malak´s ears. Eventually, he will discover that you live. But the later he does, the greater is the chance of your success. Secrecy and discretion are your best allies. The Council has therefore decided that your cover identity shall remain for this mission."

"Master, isn't it unfair to our companions that they don't have the chance of knowing who Revan really is?" Bastila asked.

"They would judge her too much for the things she had done in the past instead of concentrating on the tasks ahead. This way, they will learn to accept the person behind the name." Dorak was right – it could endanger the mission.

"The fate of the galaxy is in your hands, Revan. We pray you are up to the challenge." Vandar studied Revan´s face for a moment. "May the Force Be With You."

X X X

Revan was lost in thought as they walked to the Ebon Hawk. She felt some glances from Bastila, but the other Jedi didn't bother to start a conversation, which was strange.

"Little Jedi, if you have something to say, just say it, or you'll stare at me to death." Revan said once they left the Jedi quarters and turned to the right to reach the docking bay.

"Well, I have something to say." Bastila said in a serious tone. "I've been watching you. I don't know how you manage to keep the Dark Side in check within you. "I've seen you resist the temptations of the Dark Side and remain on the path of the Light. Very commendable, though I can sense the struggle within you."

"There is no struggle, little Jedi. I only do what I believe is right. It is all I have ever done."

"Yes, I know that." Bastila said with a rather humble expression. "But we don't need to look at the atrocities the Dark Side has caused – millions dead, even more suffering. What kind of person would perform such deeds gladly?"

Revan finally looked at Bastila, but there was some chill in her eyes. "What answer do you expect for that? There is none. You don't understand the Dark Side, just as you don't understand the lectures about it. You think you do, but you don't. It's so easy to think that the Jedi have perfect vigilance and foresight; that there is no way they could fall. And yet most of those who fight on Malak´s side are Jedi, just like you and yet they have "fallen". Why? You'd have to see that for yourself and I guarantee you that after a week of Sith 'persuading', you would gladly join them on your own free will."

Bastila´s eyes widened. She opened her mouth to object, but couldn't find the words. She continued to stare at Revan with an outraged and then terrified expression. "That seems impossible."

"Yes, it does, now." Revan confirmed. "But I've seen many Jedi like you join the Sith on their own free will."

Bastila cringed. "I see. But neither of us can question the wisdom of the Council and they said that I am to accompany you. The outcome of this mission still remains unforeseen. But I understand that you have a lot to think about tight now…so much has happened since Taris…to both of us. We can speak later, once we reach our first destination. I will leave you now – I'll wait for Juhani and tell her about our task. Prepare the others for the burden, if possible." There was still a slight chill passing through Bastila as she fled from Revan, imagining how much pain could be required to break a person.

Revan met Carth on the way, and he immediately asked her how did their task in the ruins go.

"We found what we needed. Bastila and I are leaving on another mission today. The Council said you could tag along, if you wanted."

Carth blinked at that. "That's exactly what I want to ask the Council about. I've just received orders from the Republic HQ that I'm supposed to stay, but that doesn't seem normal on a Jedi task."

Revan shrugged. "Ask them. They're in their chamber, I think." And she left for the ship.

"We must be very cautions." A male voice quietly said. It was barely audible, because the door to the Council chambers was almost closed. As quietly as he could, Carth sneaked into the training room that was nearby. Just in time, because the Jedi Masters left the audience chamber, slowly walking down the corridor, discussing something.

"I still think it's a bad idea, Zhar – it's like bringing a krayt dragon into a herd of banthas." The older human Jedi in red robes clearly didn't approve of something.

"A year ago, I would have considered those words. But you must realize that it's the only way. Besides, I trust her. There is still good in her." A Twi´lek replied.

"We risk too much."

"On the contrary, Vrook, we risk nothing." A tiny alien Jedi replied. "Should she turn, we lose everything to her. Should he win, we loose everything to him. Perhaps they will even join up again…but with the aid of the Force, her… connection…to him could bring them both back to us."

"Does such a thing even exist? And if it does, are her feelings to be trusted?" the aged human said doubtfully. "Emotional attachments lead to the Dark Side."

"Still, we can only gain." Another human Jedi with dark skin, dressed in brown robes, pointed out.

"Yes. With the Dark Lord dead..."

"Are you certain Darth Revan is truly dead?" the Jedi named Vrook lashed out. "What if we undertake to trust this one and the Dark Lord should return?"

The alien Jedi stopped sharply. "Wait. We're not alone."

Carth took that as his cue to leave. It took effort to escape the watchful eyes of the Jedi, but with the help of the stealth field generator he had, he managed to quietly sneak out of the Jedi quarters.

What the Jedi said really freaked him out. Revan – not dead? If not, where is the Dark Lord hiding and why haven't the Jedi taken him captive and killed him? If yes, why would they worry about Revan? And who were 'he' and 'she'? It still made no sense to him, but there was some kind of pattern between the secrecy of the Council, Bastila´s tension and Alexa´s behavior. However, he managed to guess one thing: as long as Alexa Denali is with the Jedi, the Sith can be defeated. He returned to the ship, following the same route the Jedi took.

X X X

"Is something wrong, Mission?"

The Pazaak match on board of the Ebon Hawk was unnaturally quiet. Mission dealt the cards with less than her usual gusto, but she and Zaalbar had probably explored most of the plains already. Revan, knowing that she wouldn't be able to get rid of either of them just yet, decided she might as well resolve the situation to avoid further conflict.

"Huh?" Even her voice seemed different. "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking of Taris. I still can't believe it's gone. I mean, I grew up there and now it's…it's just gone!"

"There wasn't anything we could do, you know."

"I…I guess you're right. I'm not blaming you or the others for anything. I knew the Sith are evil and all, but the reality of it…it kind of just slaps you in the face. But I suppose that's why we need to stop Malak, right? The more time I spend dwelling on Taris, the greater chance that some other planet will get wiped out. I guess that's what it comes down to." she sighed, "Look…I'm not saying I can't go on or anything, but it'll take some time for me to deal with it. So don't worry about it. What about you? The Council must've been giving you a hard time – even the ice princess was here more often than you!"

"Bastila?"

"Yup." Mission nodded, "Who else? You should have warned us that we're traveling with someone like her! I mean, she's so stuck up! When you and Canderous were at Davik´s trying to nick the Hawk, I asked her if she ever used the Force for something more fun than the usual Jedi stuff and she Force Tripped me!"

"Congratulations. You've successfully managed to get on her nerves."

"Yeah, well it wasn't funny. I mean, I didn't mean to offend her or anything! Sometimes I think you and Carth were crazy to search for her – the Republic would congratulate you for loosing her permanently."

"Don't bet on it, Mission." Carth had returned to the Hawk – giving Revan a wary glance – before saying to the Twi´lek, "More likely, the Sith would congratulate us."

The Twi´lek smiled at Revan. "Are all other Jedi like Bastila?"

"What do you mean: all talk and no action or cold as ice to non-Force users?" T3-M4 beeped, asking her to give answers to both. "Well, the Jedi are supposed to be compassionate." Revan began. "Bastila is important, because of her Battle Meditation and that can mess with a Padawan´s head pretty quickly. The coldness comes from the emotional battles – that's why Jedi are mostly all talk and no action, unless necessary. Because…" Revan made an uptight face and impersonated Master Vrook. "…the lure of the Dark Side is difficult to resist. Blah, blah, blah, you must be patient blah blah. Bad Padawan. Obey, Padawan."

Everyone started laughing almost hysterically, completely ignoring Carth´s arrival.

Mission took matters into her hands. She stood up, struck a dramatic pose, hands at her hips, her face obscured by a familiar scowl. "This is no laughing matter! I am a member of the Jedi Order. The Force should not be used for personal interests. As Jedi, we should be above this! My ego is NOT over-sized!"

The laughter was clearly hysterical now. Mission, Zaalbar and even Carth had to hold their seats not to fall to the ground. Even T3-M4 seemed to be laughing with strange mechanical beeps. Bastila´s arrival didn't help. She came with Juhani, who seemed a bit tense in Revan´s presence.

"What's so funny?" Bastila´s question remained unanswered – the others were too busy laughing their heads off. Revan merely shook her head.

"Don't mind them. Are we ready then?"

"Yes, everything's ready. If you could stop that, please. You don't want to give a bad first impression, you know." They calmed down, although Mission was still sniggering.

"Good. I would like you all to meet Juhani – she's going to accompany us on our mission."
She said the last word slowly and Mission stopped sniggering.

"What mission?" she asked Bastila.

"We have found the first Star Map that will lead us to something called the Star Forge. Revan and Malak sought it out years ago – we are to follow in their footsteps and find the Star Forge, although we don't know what it is. The data from the map is mostly corrupt, but there were four planets visible – Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan and Korriban. The Masters believe that there are similar maps on those worlds. We were hoping that you would join us on this search. The Council has approved it. But if you don't wish to come with us, we can drop you off on any planet you want. We're not forcing you to come. But we'll need the ship and all the help we can get – finding the Star Forge may as well be the key to defeating the Sith." Bastila concluded, with as much authority as she could, glancing at Revan every now and then. Nobody answered.

"I swore a life-debt to you, Alexa Denali. I will follow wherever your path might take you, even to face the Dark Lord himself." Zaalbar finally noted. Mission nodded enthusiastically, then thought for a second.

"Hey, don't forget about Carth, Alexa!" the Twi´lek warned her. "We need someone old who can guide us through dangerous times using ancient knowledge."

"Mission! Didn't anyone teach you to respect your elders?" Such a lecture was to everyone's (except maybe Carth´s) liking.

He merely sighed. "Teenagers."

"Lighten up, old geezer." The Twi´lek beamed. "We need a good pilot and I still want to ask you about those space travels you mentioned when I asked you how you would rate Taris. You know, the worlds you've visited and things like that…"

Interrupting Mission, Revan cleared her throat. "Well, since that's settled, I officially welcome you to the world of the Jedi. I'll try to keep lectures, preaching and guidance about non-violent solutions to minimum." She glared at Bastila, who sulked.

Mission sniggered, "Now, I'll deal the cards! We still have time for a little Pazaak before we leave…"

X X X

Far away, aboard a ghost of a ship known to the galaxy as the Leviathan, Admiral Saul Karath awaited the arrival of his superior with a twinge of nervousness. He had great news about the Star Forge, but bad dreadful, if surprising, news about the pursuit of the young Bastila Shan. Not that the Admiral was squeamish or frightful. He simply remembered how he had gained his position and how his predecessor had ended up. The Dark Lord of the Sith never gave second chances.

The Dark Lord in question entered the bridge silently, followed by a wave of fear his presence brought into the room. The officers knew well of his near-legendary temper, quite a change compared to his predecessor. Nevertheless, Saul attempted to play it safe and tell him the good news first… though deep down, he doubted it would help the situation much.

"Lord Malak, the Star Forge is operating at 200 capacity – far beyond our expectations…" he began at once, attempting to sound comforting and relaxed.

"I am more interested in the young Jedi Bastila and her Battle Meditation." Malak interrupted at once. The Admiral could almost feel drops of sweat appear on his forehead. "Have you learned how she escaped the destruction of Taris?"

"She was aided by Carth Onasi, a decorated war hero of the Republic and a legendary soldier." Karath explained, "During the Mandalore wars, he was honored many times for his bravery."

"You know this man?" Malak asked sharply, viewing the Admiral's face without blinking once.

"Yes, Lord Malak." Karath nodded, feeling slightly safer now, despite the fact that the worst was yet to come. "He served under me when I still followed the Republic. You could say I was his mentor."

"Interesting." It didn't seem to surprise him that much – Bastila had connections in the Republic. "How did you acquire this information, Admiral?"

"An eye witness, Lord Malak." A short man stepped into view. A blue jacket covered most of the unique armor beneath it. Goggles made it impossible to see his eyes. It was Calo Nord. "Calo Nord, a bounty hunter was there when Bastila and Carth escaped the planet. Apparently, they left him for dead."

Calo Nord remained silent as Malak sized him up. For a mere bounty hunter, he clearly impressed the Sith Lord. "A Jedi and a war hero. It's a wonder you survived the encounter."

The bounty hunter's voice was calm and emotionless. It remained hidden whether he enjoyed the eerie presence of the Sith. "I'm hard to kill, Lord Malak." He noted, keeping his smugness to minimum.

"Calo has agreed to help us capture the young Bastila, for a very hefty fee, of course. But I assure you he is well worth the price." The Admiral added immediately to appease the Sith Lord. His reputation as a bounty hunter is well earned."

"Her companions are nothing to me, Calo." Malak snarled, "But I desire the young Jedi taken alive, if at all possible."

And thus came the test of Saul's courage. The last news he had to report. The worst news they have had in months, if it was at all true.

"Lord Malak, forgive me, there is something else. May we have a private audience away from the ears of the common soldiers?" The Admiral noted nervously, glancing around.

"I trust you're not wasting my time, Admiral Karath." Malak noted tonelessly. The punishment for such a thing was clear – something painful.

Karath nodded, "I promise you'll be very interested in what Calo has to tell you about one of Bastila´s other companions, Lord Malak."