Chapter Four: Reunions
En Route to Tython-3944 BBY
In the cargo hold of the Ebon Hawk Dustil and Vaner were sparing vigorously. Observing the mock battle was Bastilla, Juhani, Jolee, and Canderous. Dustil's two blue blades clashing against Vaner's green blade. Dustil had been exceptionally proficient in the art of Jar'Kai and his mastery in the art of being a battle master under Juhani's tutelage has only grown. Vaner himself had taken to the art of Niman and Ataru with ease. Dustil towered over the nine-year-old padawan, both his blades pressing down on Vaner's.
"Come on, kid. I know you can get yourself out of this," Dustil spoke.
"I can't press back! You're too strong, Dustil!" Vaner grunted between clenched teeth.
"Let the Force flow through you, Vaner. Find your focus. Remember what your father and mother taught you," Juhani said calmly.
Vaner continued to struggle, but as he closed his eyes and thought back to all those happy moments with his father and mother his eyes shot open, and a small smile graced his face. The power of the Light channeled through Vaner nourishing his body and mind. With one great heave, Vaner pushed his saber against Dustil's and sent him staggering back. Dustil grinned at this. He had hoped Vaner would find such strength. He charged at Vaner and swept at him with both swords. Vaner dodged this attack, rolling past Dustil and slashing at Dustil's back. As this was only sparing, both Dustil's and Vaner's weapons had been switched to a far lower energy intensity setting to allow them to train safely.
Dustil winced at the stinging sensation, but still a smile on his face remained. "See Vaner, I told you. You just got to keep your focus. Any Jedi knows that our strength does not come from our flesh. It comes from the Force."
Vaner smiled and bowed before Dustil, and Dustil before Vaner.
The ships speakers emitted Carth's voice from the cockpit, "Alright people, we should be coming up on Tython pretty soon."
The lot of the team went to the cockpit. Bastilla took her seat in the co-pilots chair.
"So, I gotta ask, what is so special about Tython?" Mission asked.
"Tython is home to the first ancient Force users known as the Je'daii. Many people throughout the galaxy believe that the Je'daii sought to find balance with the dark and the light. If one was out of touch with one or the other, they were sent to one of Tython's two moons. One represented the dark and the other the light," Bastilla explained.
"But they failed in this," Vaner explained. "The more one comes to know the light side, the more one comes to understand that it is the balance of life and the dark side seeks to pervert that balance out selfishness, pride, and hate. I consider Tython to represent the Will of the Force, which seeks balance between self-lessness and self-interest, and whilst it is correct to see the moons representing the light and the dark."
"Hmmm, interesting perspective young one," Jolee spoke. "One could also think of the moons not just the aspects of the Force, but the spiritual aspect within ourselves."
"So, the will of the Force and the Light Side promotes the idea of a father who hunts to feed his children, but he also has to eat in order to provide for them until they are able to do so for themselves and the cycle continues?" Mission asked.
"That is probably the most applicable description I can think of Mission. I am impressed at your understanding," Bastilla smiled.
"Well whatever Tython represents, we're coming up on it in a just a little-" Carth began to say when the ship started to shake violently. Within that instance the hyperspace tunnel began to shift and distort. The Ebon Hawks instruments went haywire, and all control systems wouldn't respond.
"What the hell's happening, Onasi?!" Canderous shouted.
"Don't ask me! The readings that the instruments are picking up are fluctuating so erratically I can't even give you guess as to what's going on!"
Soon the hyperspace tunnel began to shift back into its normal state and the ship was brought to a halt.
"Whew! For a second I thought we were goners. You alright back there, Zaalbar?" Mission yelled.
The wookie growled in wookiespeak to confirm he was alright if not a little banged up.
"Vaner, dear. Are you alright?" Bastilla rushed to her son's side, helping to pick her boy off the floor.
"I'm fine, mother. Are we nearing Tython?" Vaner asked.
"Systems are still on the fritz. I'm shutting everything down, save life support. Gonna run are hard reboot of the systems," Carth said. The lights and systems immediately powered down and within minutes came back online. "Alright, let's see if that did the trick. Mission can you please check the astro-navigation chart."
"You got it!" Mission said. The Twi'lek brought up the map and gave a weird look to Carth, "It says we're near Serapin. But we're heading away from Tython."
"That can't be right. I set the correct coordinates to-hey, what in blazes is that?" Carth pointed into space. The group looked outside the window to an odd command ship of some kind.
"Send out a hail signal, see if they've experienced any strange hyperspace distortion," Bastilla said.
As all of them looked out to the approaching ship, Vaners eyes widened.
"Father is on that ship," the young boy said. Everyone turned and looked at Vaner with eyes as wide as his.
Carth turned to the boy's mother, "Bastilla?"
Bastilla breathed in and closed her eyes. When she last felt Revan, it was like a blip on a radar, but now it was a giant signal flare. Bastilla opened her eyes and spoke with a shaky voice, "He's there. He's on that ship. We have to board it, Carth!"
"Yeah, I don't think that's gonna be a problem," he said.
"Why do you say that?" Canderous asked.
"Because they've got us in their tractor beam. Whoever they are," Carth sighed. Just then a shuttle passed the Hawk and approaching the command ship.
"Who in blazes is that?" Carth said.
"I don't know, but whoever it is, they are strong in the Dark Side," the Cathar said.
"Well, if there's a Sith involved, we all better prep for a fight. Everyone gear up!" Canderous ordered.
"Exclamation: Ah, excellent! No rescue mission is a rescue mission without bloodshed!" HK exclaimed.
Serapin System-32 BBY
"Blast him," the commanding droid said. In the blink of an eye every blaster bolt that headed towards Revan halted in mid-air, the droids themselves were confused as to what happened and ceased firing. Revan, one hand holding the ignited Mantle of the Force, the other hand extended outward, said, "Let me show you heaps of scrap the true power of a Jedi!"
His outstretched hand flexed, and all blaster bolts rained down upon the battalion of battle droids. More units were quickly approaching Revan and the crew advanced forward. The Royal Security Force and the droids exchanged fire, while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed behind Revan, who was moving at lightning speed and massacring the droids. The thing that surprised Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan was that they too were exhibiting a great deal of power than they had before. The shift in the Force has greatly benefited the Jedi, indeed.
Out of one of the hangar doors rolled in six destroyer droids. They took aim at the guards and Anakin, but Revan swooped in front of them and erected a large shield using the Force.
"Run! Get to cover!" he yelled at the group. As soon as Revan saw that they had took cover behind a large pile of cargo boxes, Revan lowered his shield and leapt over the droids, using Form V of lightsaber combat to deflect their fire. Revan then raised his left hand and using the Force caused the droids to explode.
Everyone stared at Revan with awe and shock. A good many of the guards and the two Jedi were able to take out many droids, but it was Revan who took the largest bite out of them.
"Is everyone alright?" he called out over his shoulder. The group nodded and ran up to him. The head of a droid flew into Revan's hand. Revan looked down at the remains and shook his head. "In my age battle droids were machinations to be feared, not these mass-produced play things. To call them battle droids is an insult to any engineer or mechanic worth their salt," Revan said as he tossed the droid head aside.
He looked off to the side and shook his head as he saw the royal guards approach with Padme and Anakin in tow. "Your Highness... Anakin," he looked down at the young boy who had frowned slightly. "Both of you should've remained on the ship. Neither of you are fit for a firefight. If I hadn't moved at just the right time you would've been charred ash."
Padme stood her ground, "And it's just as dangerous if we were left on board and have droids blasting at or the ship blown to bits."
Revan sighed and looked from both Anakin to Padme, "Very well, but when I give an order in combat you be sure to follow through. Otherwise, it could put us all in jeopardy. Do both of you understand this?" Padme sighed and nodded slightly. Anakin was quick to agree. Revan conceded to the young pair.
"We can't stay here for long. More droids will be converging on our position. Getting to the bridge and shutting down the tractor beam is our primary objective," Panaka said.
The group then heard the beeping of R2-D2 who was plugged into a nearby terminal. Once the droid unhooked from the plug-in, he approached the group and beeped and chirped in binary while projecting a hologram of the ship's layout.
"What did he say?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He said there should be a turbolift that can get us to the droid maintenance level, which is several areas above us, but from there we will have to fight our way through to get to the bridge," Revan said.
"You speak droid?" Anakin asked.
"Among many other dialects," Revan smirked.
Revan took the lead and making great strides towards the corridors that led to the turbolift. The group purposefully lagged behind him so not to be in earshot of him. But Revan knew what they were talking about.
"We shouldn't trust him," Panaka said.
Qui-Gon looked at Panaka with a raised eyebrow. "We have nothing to fear from him. He is-"
"Darth Revan. Dark Lord of the Sith. We've all heard the stories. How he held the Republic by its throat before being betrayed by his apprentice Malak," Panaka said.
"Revan's story is tainted by darkness, yes. But it is what happened after Malak attempted to take his master's life that matters," Qui-Gon rebuffed.
"I don't understand," Anakin spoke, "Who is Revan? What is his story?"
Qui-Gon smiled down at Anakin, "Four thousand years ago, a race known as the Mandalorians were deceived by the Ancient Sith Empire into attacking the Republic. The Mandalorian Wars had begun and two young, but powerful Jedi Revan and Malak went against the Jedi Councils wishes to engage in the war when the Republic pleaded with them to intervene. The only reason they didn't was they felt the Sith were behind it and were waiting for them to show their hand. Revan and Malak were two of the Order's most powerful Jedi, but Revan was far more powerful than Malak, and his charismatic and intelligent nature made him an excellent leader and military strategist. It was because of this that Revan led the entire Republic fleet with Malak as his second-in-command. But their noble mission was twisted by war and the dark side had its hold on them, but they had not yet forsaken the Jedi. When the war came to a close Revan and Malak learned of the Sith threat and sought to destroy the Sith Emperor known as Darth Tenebrae and Vitiate."
"But Revan and Malaks fall to the Dark Side was complete when the Emperor used the Force to warp their minds and did to them that he had done with the Mandalorians which was to make war with the Republic and prepare for him to invade. But Revan and Malaks wills were too strong and broke free of Vitiates commands. They perceived the Emperors desire to invade and conquer the Republic as their own. Revan soon took up the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith and Malaks master, but Revan on some level felt the threat of the Emperor and sought to turn the Republic into a war engine against a greater evil. Thus began the Jedi Civil War. While Malak was Revan's apprentice, the once loyal friend became resentful and sought to take Revan's place. It's even said that Malak challenged his master in a duel which resulted in Revan severing Malak's jaw. The Republic and Jedi soon hatched a plan to capture Revan. They lured Revan and Malak into a space battle, and a Jedi strike team was dispatched to deal with Revan. Soon Malak saw an opportunity to destroy Revan and the Jedi team. Whilst aboard his own flagship, he ordered his men fire on the bridge of Revan's. Revan would've died if it were not for a Jedi known as Bastilla Shan. She healed Revan but his mind was broken. The Jedi Council needed the knowledge inside of Revan's mind to finally stop Malak. So, they used the Force to program a new identity into him, or so they thought. They may have given him new memories, but the Council stripped away the darkness and his character was exactly what it was before the war. The character of a noble Jedi and a good man. Soon he was reintroduced to the ways of the Jedi and became a servant of the light once more. Even after learning of who he truly was he still fought for what was right and he went on to defeat Malak and saved the galaxy. Thus, he was given the title of the Prodigal Knight."
Anakin looked a Qui-Gon with a scrunched face in confusion, "They took away his identity?"
Qui-Gon was about to speak when Revan interrupted, "It was war, Anakin. My persona as a Sith Lord was far too dangerous. But Qui-Gon was right. They cleansed what effect the Dark Side had on me. They gave me back my soul."
Anakin looked down and asked another question, "Whatever happened to the Jedi that saved you? Bastilla?"
"She became my wife," Revan said.
The entire group looked at the redeemed Jedi. "It's funny," he chuckled, "the Jedi they sent to capture me was the one I would fall in love with."
Panaka narrowed his eyes, "What do you remember about being, well... you?"
"Everything," he sighed. "I remember the battles of Roche, Axxila, Gizer, and Randon. I remember inflicting my rage upon Malak after he ordered the bombardment of Telos. I remember the face of every Jedi and soldier I had slain. A great part of me wishes that I would've died on that bridge."
The turbolift soon opened and as they all entered. "But fate had other plans for me and a greater destiny than I would ever know."
The Ebon Hawk soon landed in one of the many shuttle bays. Inside the crew were preping their weapons. Zaalbar sporting his personal bowcaster and the blade of Bacca. Mission with her personal vibrosword and an Arkanian blaster pistol. Canderous with his heavy repeating blaster. Carth carrying his personal blaster and a Zabrak Tystell Mark III blaster pistol. HK was equipped with a Zabrak Battle Cannon and T3 was equipped with two Mandalorian heavy blaster.
The crew slowly exited the Ebon Hawk to be greeted by a battalion of battle droids.
"Mocking query: Who in their right mind gave blasters to such poorly designed droid units?" HK scoffed.
A holographic image of a Neimodian came before the group.
"Eh, a Neimodian. Slimy and crooked as a Hutt, but way more cowardly," Mission whispered to the young Vaner which he smirked at.
"Our apologies for docking your ship, but there has been an unfortunate incident with smugglers in this sector. Your ship fits the profile of a freighter," the Neimodian lied. In reality they did not want any potential witnesses of their dealings in Republic space.
"Well I can assure you we are not smugglers. I'm Admiral Carth Onasi of the Republic Navy. We're merely on a search and rescue mission," Carth explained.
The Neimodian chuckled, "You must be hitting the juma pretty hard. The Republic military has been defunct for a thousand years."
Nearly everyone's eyes flew wide open. "Defunct? One thousand years? " Carth murmered to himself.
The Neimodian caught a glance at Bastilla's lightsaber.
"Ah, a clever ruse. You are indeed here to aid the Queen and her Jedi companions. I am afraid none of you may leave here alive," The hologram disappeared.
Every battle droid took aim at the Ebon Hawk's crew.
"Open fire!" the lead droid said.
A wide smiled spread across Canderous's face, "For Clan Ordo!"