Chapter Three

When Ariana arrived on Onderon days later, she looked around but it just looked like any other place. For some reason it reminded her of home, before it was destroyed. Ariana decided to stay away from the main city and stayed where most of the outsiders stayed.

She knew this planet didn't many problems, even during war time, well, except for the royal family not being able to agree on things. As night fell on the planet Ariana settled in a grassy spot near the corner of the outer city walls. She spoke to a few vendors but they didn't really have anything to tell her.

Ariana wasn't sure she wanted to be here but she didn't know where else to go. She just punched in co-ordinates to a planet that was far, far away from Nar Shaddaa. She never wanted to go there again. Ariana wrapped her blanket around herself as she watched other outsiders interact with each other. Ariana was sure that all of them had been here a while and gotten to know each other.

There were many of them and as far as she could tell none of them were human. Gradually, Ariana felt her eyes droop but she quickly opened them when she heard a rustle beside her. She jumped and the blanket flew from her and she pulled her blaster at the person standing there but he already held his hands up to indicate that he was no threat to her.

'I'm s-sorry,' he said quietly, fumbling over his words. 'I just wanted to see if you were alright here.'

'Yes, I'm fine,' she said tightly, putting her blaster back.

The man sat beside her. Ariana looked over. He was human. 'I didn't expect another human to be here,' she commented.

The man shrugged. 'Well, I was banned from the city the other day and I cannot leave until my ship is prepared. What about you? I haven't seen you before, why are you here?'

It was Ariana who then shrugged but she knew the reason but it wasn't something she really wanted discuss with a stranger. 'I left home, did some exploring, saw my brother, argued with my father, went to Nar Shaddaa but ran into some trouble and came here, just to get away,' she explained, shorting her answer considerably.

'What planet is your home?' he asked after a moment.

'Telos,' she said fondly.

'Nice place,' said the man. 'Well, it used to be. Shame it was bombed by the Sith.'

Silently, Ariana agreed with him though it would always be home for her even though it held many bad memories. She tried holding onto the good ones but the bad ones always seemed to spoil it for her.

'Do you have a name?' asked the man.

'Ariana Onasi,' she replied distractedly.

'I'm Jordan Quinton,' he said quickly. 'Are Admiral Onasi's daughter?' he asked curiously, leaning in closer to her.

Ariana's eyes went wide. She had told him her surname. She shook her head to herself and bit down on her tongue. 'Admiral?'

'Well, not Admiral yet, but he will be is what people are saying,' said Jordan as he leaned against the wall.

Ariana's mind went elsewhere and she ignored the man sitting beside her. Was it true? Was he really going to become the next Admiral?

Months past and Ariana still remained on Onderon, living with the outcasts though she would sometimes sneak into the inner city walls, to hear for some news. Most days she heard nothing but today was going to be different and the only thing that was giving her any indication of it was her stomach. She felt nervous and she had no idea why.

She walked into the inner city and went straight over to a news-terminal. She activated it to hear to latest news. A hologram of a woman appeared.

'Good Evening,' she said politely. 'In the news, everyone has been talking about what has been happening in space near the Rakata world. There have been reports of a huge explosion of a station called a Star Forge. What the thing is exactly, no one is sure, but most people aboard the station were killed, including the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Malak.'

Ariana's eyes widened but she continued watching the hologram.

'Also, relating to the story it has recently come to light that a group of Jedi and certain others, including Carth Onasi, a decorated war hero of the Republic were amongst the survivors. He has been tipped to become the next Admiral of the fleet as Admiral Deena has since retired. The announced should be known by tomorrow. In other news....'

Ariana trailed off and went into her own thoughts. Her father, an admiral? For some reason she had trouble seeing it. She was sure he would take it if the position were offered to him. Ariana went back to the outer city and sat down in her corner. At the moment, she felt confused. She honestly didn't know how she felt about it.

A few days later, Ariana returned to her ship and packed up all her things. She had heard her father was about to become the new Admiral of the fleet and the ceremony was taking place in a few days time on Telos and for some reason Ariana wanted to be there. She wanted to see this for herself.

Ariana arrived on Telos within a couple days. She had made a few stops along the way but she made sure she was in time to see it. She got directions and walked to the ceremony. The place was huge. Telos was definitely different to what she remembered.

The ceremony was taking place inside Citadel Station within a module Ariana had never been inside of. When she was young her mother had once told her about the things that happening inside Military Module 001 but no one but Military personnel were allowed inside, except for special occasions and this time Ariana was about to enter, seeing as it was a special occasion and she was related to the person it concerned.

She showed her ID to the guard at the door and he gave Ariana a few choice looks but he did not question her claim to being the next Admirals daughter and he let her inside. Ariana stepped inside and she waited until the door closed behind her before she moved. She walked down the long hallway and she did not stop until she reached the end.

She turned to the left and entered the door that automatically opened. The room, which looked as though it had been cleaned out, was huge. Ariana guessed that there was enough room in here to put hundreds of fighter ships. Ariana scanned the room. The room was mainly covered in a blue-gray colour which Ariana found quite appealing.

She continued looking around, hoping that no one would know who she was. Her eyes found the back of the room and she looked back. There was a balcony. She found the stairs and walked up. She ignored the looks from males and the disapproving ones of females as she walked past and she stood behind the barrier. She leaned against it and took a deep breath. She hadn't seen him since Korriban.

When the ceremony began she crouched down and peered around the barrier. She had a clear view of everything that was happening at the front. Music echoed around the room and subsided as a person came forwards and looked to everyone in the room in front of him.

'Ladies and gentleman,' he started in a great, booming voice. 'I am honoured for this day to come since Admiral Deena's retirement. I will not keep people waiting any longer....'

Ariana looked around further and she watched as the man whom spoke turned to his side and the crowd went silent. Ariana's eyes widened as she watched her father walk forwards. As she watched her father named the next Admiral she noticed the woman, Revan, was there, by his side. Ariana frowned inwardly. Why was she still around?

Ariana continued to watch. Her heart leapt again. Dustil was there also, by their father's side. He looked proud. Ariana did wonder whether Carth still wondered where she was or even if he planned on looking for her. She thought after they found Dustil and was done with what they were doing then he would come looking for her, but apparently it was not the case.

When Carth finally turned, his badge showing, the crowd applauded and stood on their feet, though Ariana did not join them. Revan stepped forwards, bowed and shook hands with Carth and stepped back. Carth gave the crowd a small wave and a polite smile though he seemed unwilling to say anything.

Ariana's heart jump up her throat as she saw Revan stare straight through her but she looked away quickly and did not move from her spot. Ariana frowned faintly. She thought Revan would have said something. Ariana looked back to her father.

Something within her stirred, though she did not know what it was. Why was she here? Did she want this man to be in her life again?

The man whom had spoken before came forwards and smiled broadly. 'I do hope everyone here will be joining us at the celebration ball. All people are welcome.'

Ariana waited until most people, including Carth and Revan had departed before moving. She went to the Entertainment Module 081 and sat in the cantina. She sat at one of the back tables. She did nothing but sit there. Part of her wanted to attend the ball but she had nothing to wear, except what she had on now and this wasn't quite how she wanted to face her father. She wanted it done privately and not on the night of his celebration.

Ariana eventually moved out of the chair and made her way outside Citadel Station, in the night air. She made her way over the grasslands and followed some other people who appeared to be going to the same place. When reaching the building Ariana looked it over. This must be a new place as it wasn't here before the bombing.

It looked nice, appealing even. Ariana walked through the front entrance and found herself in the lobby. She made a point not to be seen by many and she eventually found the ballroom. It was massive. On the other side of the room she could see a balcony. It gave Ariana an idea.

She walked back outside and went to the back of the building. It was just as beautiful as the front. Ariana stopped and looked over it. The grasslands certainly looked greener. There was a balcony leading up to the back to the building and she walked up. She looked out over the railing.

Not far from where she was she could see the beach line in the distance and when she looked below her she could see a large pool. Ariana didn't think people actually used it but that it was here for more of a decoration, but Ariana didn't linger on the thought as she went to one of the back doors. She could see everything that went on within the room.

She instantly found her father. He was dancing with Revan. Something close to jealously clouded her mind and she felt anger spread throughout her body. Ariana left and returned back to Citadel Station. She worked out a small apartment to stay in and settled in.

A few days later, Ariana had still not spoken to Carth. She couldn't. She wanted to but she couldn't. She had been following him around, watching him. Dustil was around a lot and they seemed to be mending their relationship and it appeared to be going well.

Almost a week after the ceremony Ariana decided it was finally time to confront her father. She waited for him. When the apartment door creaked open, Ariana could tell he was alone, which was exactly what she had hoped for. The room was dark and she heard Carth sigh. She silently got to her feet, as she had been sitting in an armchair in the corner while she waited.

She took her blaster off her belt, pointed it towards her father and waited. The light went on but Carth's back was to her.

'Good Evening, Admiral.'

Carth shot around, pulling his blaster as he went but when he noticed it was Ariana he immediately pulled his blaster away, his eyes wide, knowing he could have just shot his daughter. He stepped forwards and dropped his blaster on the sofa and raised his hands to show Ariana he wasn't going to do anything.

'Ariana,' he breathed.

She held her blaster in place. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do but before she decided she had things she wanted to talk about. 'I have questions,' she said getting to the point.

Carth nodded but said nothing. He seemed a little perplexed to see her. Ariana paused and took a moment to steady herself before speaking. 'First off, Congratulations on making Admiral,' she said calmly.

Carth gave her a small smile. Ariana did not return it. 'So, Dustil decided to listen to you.'

'Well,' said Carth slowly. 'Not me exactly, but he listened to Revan after she showed him that he was making a mistake. The Sith had killed a female that was with him. He was interested in her and it angered him so he agreed to meet me back here.'

'Your relationship seems to have repaired,' commented Ariana.

'It's getting there,' said Carth.

'And about you and Revan?' asked Ariana, fearing the answer.

'What do you mean?' asked Carth, taking a step closer to Ariana.

Out of anger, Ariana fired a blaster shot over Carth's shoulder. He ducked slightly up quickly straightened again. 'Stay back,' she warned.

'You're not going to shoot me,' said Carth confidently.

'Are you in an intimate relationship with Revan?' asked Ariana, ignoring Carth's statement.

'No,' he said firmly.

'Why don't I believe you?'

'Look,' said Carth heavily. 'I started to have feelings for her and she was able to return them but as a Jedi she has trouble giving in to those feelings, so we've decided to go no further and to just stay friends.'

'Why didn't you come looking for me?' she asked in a very soft voice, almost as though she didn't want to be heard. Despite her fears, she kept her eyes on her father.

Carth sighed. It was obvious that he didn't want to talk about this. 'We've talked about this. I-'

'Stop,' said Ariana, almost calmly. She wanted to explain. 'I thought you would come looking for me after you spoke with Dustil but then I had heard about the ... Star Forge ... and then I thought you'd come looking for me, but you still didn't. Why? Not too concerned about what happens to me, so long as you have Dustil?'

'I love you and Dustil equally,' said Carth evenly. 'I just-'

'But what about me?' asked Ariana, her voice tightening.

'I did look for you,' said Carth. 'After the incident on the Star Forge I came back here and spoke with Dustil. He agreed to help look for you. I managed to get half the fleet searching for you but nothing was found, not even the slightest trace of you. You covered your tracks extremely well. Part of me thought you didn't want me to find you.'

'I wasn't about to make it easy,' said Ariana. 'I wanted you to show me something but it did not happen as I would have liked.'

'I tried...

'You didn't try hard enough,' yelled Ariana.

'Ariana, please calm down,' he said in a firm voice. 'Let me explain.' His voice softened. 'I came back to Telos once I heard about the bombing but I had arrived too late. I was able to find your mother but ... I was too late to save her. After it all happened I looked for both you and Dustil and I found no trace of either of you so I thought both you had died too.

'After some travels with Revan I ran into an old friend who said he had seen Dustil on Korriban and that he had joined the Sith but he made no mention of you...'

'Didn't ask though, did you?'

Carth ignored her interruption. 'We eventually went to Korriban and before I got to speak with him I happened to run into you. You never mentioned how you knew Dustil was there either and I wanted you to stay with me but you didn't give me the chance. What you said then ... it hurt me. I did try with you and Dustil and I know I was never around but I had planned on leaving the fleet to join your mother and....'

'But you didn't,' Ariana interrupted again. 'Imagine if you had, mother might still be alive. And what I said on Korriban may have hurt you but it was supposed to, besides, it's true.'

'I'm sorry,' said Carth wistfully.

Ariana finally looked away but her blaster remained on Carth's chest. He seemed defeated. 'There's nothing else I can say to you. I have many regrets when it comes to you and Dustil and your mother but nothing I say or do now will ever change anything. All I want is to know you again.'

'You never knew me,' Ariana hissed through her teeth, turning back to look at him.

'Then give me chance to get to know you,' he said quietly. 'But you have to let go and forgive me.'

'Oh, that'd be so easy for you, wouldn't it?' said Ariana, bitterly.

'What about your necklace?' asked Carth, looking towards her neck.

'What about it?' asked Ariana, frowning, not understanding where he was going.

'I gave it to you, when you were three,' said Carth softly. 'I bought it on Manaan. When I saw it, it made me think of you.'

'I was nearly two when you left for that trip with the fleet. You were gone over a year,' said Ariana. 'I always looked forward to you coming back because you'd always have something for me.' Ariana absently stroked the silver chain with her free hand. 'But it ended when I was eleven. I eventually learnt that we came second and since then I've hated you for it.'

Tears stung the back of Ariana's eyes. She removed her finger from the trigger and slowly put her blaster back onto her belt. The silence between them remained and Ariana was now unsure of herself. She let go of her necklace and slowly walked around her father, not removing her eyes on from. She headed towards the front door.

'Ariana ... please ...'

She slowly shook her head and she swiftly slipped out the front door. Carth instantly followed but when reaching outside, Ariana was gone.