Writer's notes: UPDATED 11/20/06 by Candace and Alice. More insight into Revan as she molds her fledgling force to fight the Mandalorians. There are some characters from KOTOR II that I'm adding for flavor. SMUT WARNING!
The theme is the law of the jungle as well as 'being kept'. Revan establishes the law of her new group and sets herself up as keeper of her sisters and brothers. Next, we shall see how this applies to Zaalbar and the Wookiees. We also see more of why Bastila is 'kept' in her situation through her own guilt and fears, but struggles to find her own will...perhaps with disastrous consequences.
My Brother's Keeper – Part I
Now this is the Law of the Jungle – as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
Rudyard Kipling
Aboard a large freighter that Revan had secured, the fledgling Jedi army soaked in the excitement and anticipation of the coming fight. Bright faces beamed when Revan would approach to give words of encouragement.
"You all did well," she told the gathering. "It is an honor to lead you."
Mai-Lyn T'Sing stood by her side. "We are with you all the way, Revan. No matter what the costs, I will fight for you."
"Do not anticipate that this will be easy," Revan continued with a serious expression. "I have studied everything I could find on the Mandalorians and they are fierce warriors. Many of us may perish in the war."
"No sacrifice is too great for the Republic," boasted Mai-Lyn and soon, her words would be put to the test.
Facing the crowd, Malak then spoke, "We must train hard, everyone. The trials that we faced on Dantooine will be small compared to what lies ahead." He turned to Revan. "I have a physical training schedule set up. Expect it to be grueling."
From within the mass, Sion raised his fist. "I am ready for any challenge."
"And challenged you all will be," said Revan. Then, with a sweeping gesture, she added, "But the galaxy awaits our coming and we shall fall upon the Mandalorians like a thunderclap. Never before have they faced the like of the Jedi! We will show them our mettle and save the Republic."
Shouts and cheers of support rose from the crowd and Malak ushered them out of the bay to begin training. As the area emptied, Mai-Lyn remained behind with Revan. The blonde woman looked at her dark-haired leader.
"Revan, despite your boldness, I see some concern in your face. Is there something wrong?"
Revan smiled weakly. "You've come to know me very well. Yes, something has been on my mind."
"Please, share it with me. I am your friend."
"I've stewed over my duel with Master Vrook for the past week," Revan said as her eyes turned downward. She crossed her arms and bit her lip.
Mai-Lyn appeared confused. "But you were victorious. I don't understand."
Revan inhaled deeply and looked up for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. "He was like a father to me. I think…I think that defeating him came as a harder blow than I realized. I play the scene in my mind over and over again, wondering where I had failed in my attempts to make him see the truth."
"I too, have pondered over my failure to bring Atris to our side. Like you, she was a sister to me."
"And Bastila…Bastila too," Revan said and she thought for a moment about her friend.
Bastila…Bastila…you were ever my faithful friend. You never failed to follow my guidance and my will. What became of you? Why did you fall short so close to the goal?
Revan inhaled deeply. The time for these regrets had passed.
Mai-Lyn sensed her thoughts and tried to smile. "Yes, regret does not help us. Come, Revan, I have accumulated much information for you. I think you will be pleased."
Together, they went to another bay within the freighter. There, Moritz and Indraal, the intelligence operatives for the group, had laid out a multitude of data pads for Revan. Mai-Lyn gestured towards the data. "This is everything we could find on strategy and military leadership."
A smile came to Revan's face. "This is more than I could have asked for. You have done me proud."
With her Force-fueled mind, she delved into the manuals, absorbing every bit of information. Mai-Lyn had also set up a holographic battle simulator for Revan to test her skills and she soon mastered both ship and fleet maneuvers.
The blonde Jedi bowed with a smile. "Revan, we will be invincible."
The dark-haired Jedi placed a hand on Mai-Lyn's shoulder. "And you are a part of our triumph. How can I fail when I have such fine individuals to support me?"
The door hissed open and Malak and Sion entered. Having shed his Jedi mantle, Sion was now prone to strut around bare chested, showing off his rippling muscles. As the physically strongest member of the rebel force, Sion spent inordinate amounts of time developing his body to perfection, often infusing his tissue with Force energy like a powerful steroid.
Malak approached and took Revan's hand. He now wore a form-fitting red body suit, woven with Cortosis and strong enough to turn a lightsaber blade. The Twi'lek, Indraal nodded a greeting to him. "Eviran, come see our trainer."
The blond man smirked at her and spoke, "Indraal, I am no longer Eviran…I am Malak. Eviran remained on Dantooine, weak and afraid."
Revan grinned broadly at his words and put her arm around his waist. "You are my strength, Malak."
He looked down at her with adoring eyes. "And you are my vision." He put his arm around her shoulders and then looked over to the others. "Bandon is leading the training for today. I told him to work the students hard."
"I have no doubt that he will," Revan said. "He has really grown into the man that we need. I see the fire in him now."
"I see it too," Malak said.
Revan then guided him toward the hatch. "Come, walk with me, Malak." She smiled at the others. "Please, continue your training. I will see you at our next meal."
Together, the two strode from the bay. As the hatch closed behind them, Revan again looked up into Malak's eyes. "Did I do the right thing?"
"Of course you did. Master Vrook sought to stop us. He sought to stand in the way of destiny and you defeated him."
"Not just that, Malak. I mean the whole thing…the whole movement to save the Republic."
Malak gave her a tug with his hand. "You know what I will say, Revan. I support you entirely. Had you not followed this course, the Mandalorians will be on Coruscant within the year. You know we are all in it together now."
"Thanks, I needed to hear that. I suppose regret is no longer an option as what is done cannot be undone. There is no going back."
Malak cocked his head and mused for a moment. "Do you think that we'll be cast from the Order?"
Revan chuckled grimly. "I suspect that, in true Order fashion, that there will have to be a debate and a vote and a referendum before any action will be taken. In short, the war will be over before they'll do that so I guess we're still Jedi in the meantime."
"I never realized just how bureaucratic all of our systems were. Remember our visit to the Republic Military Academy? I'm shocked that we get anything accomplished."
A glint appeared in Revan's eyes. "All that is about to change. I have a lot of ideas," she said as they approached her quarters. She opened the door with a wave of her hand and guided Malak in. She could feel the rippling muscles in his back, solid and strong. She ran her fingers through his thick, blond hair. "I do like how we are no longer under the watchful eyes of the masters. We no longer have to sneak around to be together."
Revan placed herself in front of his tall form and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We can now show the world our love and not be ashamed."
He gazed deeply into her gray eyes and smiled warmly. "I could not understand how the Order made us feel so wrong when it feels so right. You completed me, Revan. I can't believe how weak and afraid I was."
"But no longer," she said and buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his masculine scent. She brushed her lips along his skin, feeling its texture. Malak breathed in deeply and grasped her hips, pulling her close. Revan ran her tongue up along his ear and she could feel his need now. "I love this new body suit of yours, but it has to go right now," she said as she undid the fasteners and peeled it from his torso, revealing his hard pectorals and rounded biceps. He helped her to pull down the rest of the suit and he stood before her, unafraid.
Revan stood back to admire him and she slid her robes to the ground. They both grinned and circled each other like hunting cats. Malak reached out and tenderly cupped one of her breasts. "You never looked so beautiful, Revan. I am the luckiest man in the galaxy."
She smiled demurely at his words and then stepped toward him, reaching down to take him in her hand. "And you are strong in every way," she said with a girlish giggle. She maneuvered him to the bed and rolled him on his back. She blew softly over his tense flesh and he groaned in agony and delight. When he could no longer stand it, Revan slid atop him and they became as one with the Force.
When Malak uttered his last cry, Revan again buried her face in his neck. "I will keep you in my heart forever, Malak."
"And I will keep you in mine."
Revan propped herself up and gazed into his deep blue eyes. "I wish this moment would last for all eternity. I will never forget what we have."
Alas, the moment had passed, and time would show that her words would prove false.
The Practice Room – Some Time Later
In the wide, open practice room of the freighter, the rebel Jedi trained with their weapons or in unarmed combat. In the absence of the Masters, the most powerful Knights and Padawans conducted the training.
Revan watched as Sion and Malak tossed weaker students about like so much paper; their strength was awesome in its scope. Although Sion was greater in sheer physical power, Malak's command of the Force was superior.
Malak stood boldly as Bandon, Nisotsa, and Carriaga Sin circled him, looking for an advantage. The blond Jedi decided to take the offensive against greater odds and lunged forward, seizing Nisotsa by the shirt. Malak spun and flung the smaller man over his shoulder, smashing him into the padded mat. Carriaga Sin, a razor thin woman, tried to take Malak's arm, but the bigger man body checked her, knocking her back. Then, his huge fist found her gut and all of her air left her lungs.
As Carriaga crumpled to the mat, Bandon hesitated, and Malak lay into his side with a kick. Bandon grunted and hit the bigger man across the face with his fist to which Malak barely blinked.
"Put your weight into it next time, Bandon," Malak said with a smile and then wrapped his arms around Bandon's neck. Bandon tried to break free, but Malak's strength was too much. The dark-haired boy struggled, coughing and choking until he tapped out.
"I give, Malak, I give."
Malak released him and then combed his blond hair from his face. "You are learning," he said. "We will need to be stronger still before we meet the Mandalorians."
Revan came up and patted Malak on the back. "Raw power, yes, but no subtlety," she said jokingly. "Come, let us watch some of the stealthy arts," she added and pointed to another group of trainees.
Nearby, Indraal and Moritz taught students the secrets of stealthy attacks and silent strikes, useful in covert operations.
One student, the newly acquired agent, Atton Rand, activated a stealth field generator and faded from view. He crept slowly along a wall until he came up behind another student. He drew a fake dagger and then cupped his free hand over the student's mouth and simulated plunging the dagger into the man's back.
"Very good," commented Revan. "Be sure to penetrate the lung so that he cannot call out."
Atton bowed. "I will remember that."
Revan approached him and saw that he had multiple bruises and a swollen eye. "You're injured. Please get someone to heal that."
Atton shook his head emphatically. "I'd prefer to continue. I am learning much. Revan, your guidance has given me meaning in my life."
Moritz, the Jedi with flaming red hair, put her hand on Rand's shoulder. "He's a tough one, Revan. He can take a beating and still keep fighting."
"Then, we'll need men like him in the coming days," Revan said, giving Atton a wink. "Together, we'll build a professional intelligence corps. Now, Atton, go get healed…that's an order."
Satisfied that her forces were training hard, Revan strolled up to the mat and powered her lightsaber. She spun it around her body like a baton, twirling her body and delivering kicks and strikes in perfect unison with the cuts of her weapon with the powerful Juyo Style. The surrounding Jedi watched the fluid form in awe.
A brown-haired Jedi observed her with great interest, studying her every move. "She could best Master Vandar," he said quietly to Mai-Lyn.
Revan looked sharply over to him. "You think so, Jorath? Come, let us test your theory." She beckoned to him like a lover and he stood nervously, unhooking his lightsaber from his belt.
"Do not fear," she added. "We are here to learn."
Jorath stood engarde, weapon held low and away while Revan placed her weight on her back leg, lightsaber skyward. She nodded.
With the acrobatic Makashi Style, Jorath initiated an attack by leaping forward, but Revan spun, slamming her heel across his face. Jorath staggered and recovered his guard - a welt appeared on his cheek. Again, Revan nodded and beckoned him with her hand.
Jorath moved and delivered a cut at Revan's head, but she spun low, dodging under the cut, sweeping his legs with her foot. Jorath crashed to the ground and struggled to his feet. He bowed. "Revan…I cannot match you."
"You are wise, Jorath. However, you must be instilled with the will to prevail. We cannot run at the first sign of adversity. This you will learn."
Revan then tossed a holocron on the mat and looked at the group. It floated just above the ground, spinning and glowing with power. "Here is one of my holocrons. It contains lessons of combat and of leadership. Learn these lessons…we will need them against the Mandalorians. I will prepare and protect you, my sisters and brothers, I will be your keeper."