Disclaimer- I do not own the rights to Star Wars Kotor 1 and 2 or their characters and likeness.

Ch. 5

It seemed so calm within the station, you wouldn't even know a battle had taken place there. The Ravager was destroyed by proton chargers scattered throughout the ship, the bodies of Sith assassins were being piled up in the docking bays, and the TSF, Onderonian, and Khounda military hardly suffered any casualties. After all the chaos that had happened recently, it felt like Telos and Citadel Station finally had a chance to breathe again. Enjoying the brief moment of peace Andrew strolled through the area; admiring some of the plant life along the path. Ever since Dantooine Andrew noticed that his appreciation for life, even in minute forms like this, had risen dramatically. He could feel the force from these plants calling to him, but unlike Nihilus he did not want to feed upon the life; instead he felt the urge to preserve it. Entering another part of the station Andrew caught sight of the radiant snow white of the newly christened Brianna. She was standing with Mira in the Ithorian Complex force healing any soldiers and TSF agents who might have been injured in the battle. Currently she was looking over a man who had recently been shot in the leg. Andrew walked up to the two women and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "You are one lucky guy. If I knew I was going to be treated by two beautiful young women such as these, I would have shot my own leg."

"Andrew you're back, Mira do you mind taking over for me." Brianna ran over and hugged him as tightly as she could to make sure that there was no chance of him floating away and leaving her again. "I am so glad you're alright. You were only gone a few hours, but it felt like days. Every second you weren't here beside me I feared more and more that you wouldn't being come back.

"But I am here and I did come back to you; like I promised. I hope you realize there is no amount of evil or destruction that can keep me from seeing the beauty of your face."

"You flatter me exile. Now tell me, did you accomplish what you wanted to aboard that ship?"

"Yes and I will tell you all about it but first I must ask, are you feeling alright? I would have thought you'd be taking care of your own wounds instead of the ones of others."

"Well as I said before you left I am perfectly healthy enough to offer my help, though I do admit I find it a little strange that I was able to recover so rapidly."

"I think I may have a theory about why that is. You see when we were at the academy."

Lieutenant Grenn however walked over and interrupted Andrew. "Mr. Masi, Admiral Onasi would like to speak with you. He didn't say what about, just that there was something he wished to ask you."

Andrew was partly taken aback by this request, "Oh I see, well I guess I better go meet with him than." He was about to follow Grenn to the Admiral, but before he could leave Brianna grabbed his hand to hold him back. "Don't worry Brianna I'll be fine."

She pursed her lips at him. "I don't want you to run off again. You only just got back, and I wasn't through talking with you yet."

Pulling her in close once more Andrew hugged her and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "I hate to go again, but this may be important Brianna. I promise once I get back you and me can talk with each other till your heart's content." She did not seem anymore reassured by this and Andrew did not want to see her unhappy. "Listen if you want, you can come with me to speak with the Admiral. I doubt he would mind and frankly it would make me feel more comfortable knowing you were there with me."

A sly smile returned to Brianna's face, because she knew she just got her way. "Ok I'll go with you, but if it's alright with you I'd like to continue to hold your hand. It's warm and it makes me feel safe, like nothing can harm me as long as I have ahold of it."

Andrew nodded and gently leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "Every time our lips touch my heart beats faster than a swoop bike with a modified engine." Brianna blushed at this statement, and returned a small kiss back. Then the two lovers turned and followed Grenn hand in hand to where they had been summoned.

Inside one of the entertainment modules stood a dark brown-haired man staring out one of the giant windows overlooking the city. "It's been a long time since I've been on Telos. It's a little beaten and battered, but it's still home. I couldn't save it the first time, but you gave me a chance to redeem myself today. For that I thank you."

"Grenn said you wished to speak with me about something sir." Andrew subtly interjected.

"Yes I did. The Jedi exile Andrew Masi, you have created quite a reputation for yourself around the galaxy in recent weeks. You've stirred up a lot of trouble on many planets and caught the eye of many republic officials, including myself."

"It sounds like you've become famous master." Brianna said softly standing closely behind Andrew.

"Who is this" the Admiral asked disconcerted that someone else was there listening in on their conversation. "I was hoping this could be a private conversation."

"Oh don't mind Brianna sir, she's my Padawan. I don't keep any secrets from her, and don't plan on starting now. So whatever you have to discuss with me will need to be in front of her."

"Very well as you wish and please call me Carth. I don't like being addressed by a title." He pulled a datapad off his belt and began scrolling through it. "I've read the reports on you, and they say after you were exiled by the Jedi Council you journeyed throughout the Outer Rim."

"I mostly went in between smuggler worlds such as Elerion and Tatooine, looking for whatever work I could get."

A familiar taunting voice then spoke out from the corner of the room "That's funny. If you were on Tatooine why did you never come visit me?"

Andrew turned to see a short brown-haired woman wearing a full length body suit that looked remarkably similar to Jedi robes. "Bastila is that you?" The young woman wore a friendly smile that Andrew had not seen since they were both children. It took him by surprise that she was here, and even more that she welcomed him with a hug. He always remembered her being cold and unfeeling to the people around her. Always acting like she was better than them; that her affairs were far more important than that of others, because she was a Jedi gifted with the ability to use battle meditation. However, this was not the manner in which she presented herself to Andrew. This was the first time he had seen her show compassion to anyone let alone him.

"Ummm Master Masi do you know her" asked Brianna who could not help but feel an urge to pounce on this woman for unexpectedly hugging the man she loved right in front of her."

Andrew caught himself in what was going on, and quickly removed himself. "Oh I'm sorry Brianna, this is Bastila Shan. We trained together in the Jedi Academy."

"Yes Andrew and I were great companions growing up", but then Bastila's happy expression turned into a small frown. "We all were good companions. This is part of the reason why we wanted to ask you about your travels in the Outer Rim."

"I was just about to get to that Bastila." Carth broke in. "We wanted to ask you Andrew, did you at any time during your travels ever meet or came in contact with Revan?"

"Sadly I did not. The last time I saw him was right after Malachor. I told him that I was done with all the fighting, and that I was going back to Coruscant. He dismissed me and said that I was a Jedi who was already dead." There was a slight pause as Andrew was contemplating about the past." As I understand it Revan had a few revelations since that day; it would have been nice to see my old friend again. Why are you asking about him Carth, did you know Revan?"

Carth's face became sorrowful, he looked over at Bastila whose face had turned almost grey. She gave him an understanding nod, and Carth said "I think the best place to start would be the beginning. It all began when the ship we were assigned to, The Endar Spire, came under attack.

For the next hour and a half Carth told the tale of a man who went from the lowest and darkest point in his life, all the way to becoming the savior of the entire galaxy. Andrew and Brianna just sat there at one of nearby table, listening to the almost unbelievable account of a man who changed his destiny and earned redemption among his peers. That was something Andrew had been wanting for a long time now. "I am so happy for Revan, but what happened to him? Why did he disappear?"

It was Bastila who spoke now and there was a twinge of sadness in her voice. "Even after the destruction of the Star Forge he continued to have visions, memories of his old life, I believe he eventually saw something that scared him. He said he needed to go to the Unknown Regions. That there was an evil there that only he could face, and that it would be too dangerous to bring the ones he cared for along with him. He said he would return, but that was five years ago, Then recently I hear word that Revan's ship, The Ebon Hawk, has been spotted traveling around known space again, but he is not apart of her crew. I don't believe he is dead or I would have sensed it through our bond, but I fear something has happened to him. I know he wouldn't intentionally abandon us." A small tear rolled down her face, and she began to choke her words. "I know he wouldn't intentionally abandon me."

"How much longer?" They all looked down to see a small dark-haired boy no more than 3 years old standing in the doorway, and it was clear by the way he was gesturing towards Bastila who his question was directed towards.

Bastila bent down and patted the boy on the head. "Not much longer sweet heart. Why don't you go wait by the ship, I'll be there soon." The boy ran out of sight on his way to the docking bay."

Andrew put his hand on Bastila's shoulder to offer comfort. "I didn't know that you and he."

"Not many did, not even the Jedi Council. His name is Vaner." She looked up at Andrew and smiled with tears still in her eyes. "He is the sunshine of my life you know."

Andrew got down to his knees to be face to face with her. "Bastila I don't know how long it will take, but I promise you this. We will find Revan and bring him back to you. I swear it on my life."

"And I for mine as well." Brianna had now moved down to the floor with them, and was showing her own approval and readiness to help.

Bastila embraced the both of them and pulled them in tightly to show her gratitude. "Thank you Brianna for your selfless decision to give aid. You will be a great Jedi one day."

Nudging him in the ribs, Brianna smiled at Andrew. "Well it's all due in part to my loving master who has always guided and supported me."

"Thank you Andrew." Bastila then did something that made Brianna want to take back her offer of help. Bastila grabbed ahold of both of Andrew's cheeks and kissed him firmly on the lips. "Thank you for always being such a good friend to me."

All four of the individuals said their farewells, and then departed. The whole walk back to the Ebon Hawk Brianna did not say a word, and Andrew had a pretty good idea why. So when they finally arrived and reached the loading ramp Andrew grabbed her from behind, twirled her around, and kissed her. This time however, he did not break it right away. He wanted to savor the moment, enjoy the sweet taste of her lips for as long as he could. When he finally did pull away he felt different from before. He stared into her eyes and there was a longing that grew within him. He knew he loved her, but it was almost like he was becoming more assured that he loved her. "Brianna I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about earlier. When we were kids Bastila had a bit of a crush on me, and I think that was whatever was left of it coming out. Me and her do not and have not ever had a thing. I love you, and I don't want you to be upset with me."

The Echani Warrior chuckled at him, and pulled herself back in to kiss him again. When she broke the kiss she smiled and said "You're so cute when you're trying to apologize. I'm not mad at you, I was just thinking about how dangerous what we have to do next is going to be."

Andrew had not forgotten, but he was trying not to think about it until now. "No matter how dangerous it may be Brianna, we have to stop Kreia. What she plans to do is a threat to all life, and we can't let her succeed."

"I know that we have to do this and I have confidence that we can, but it's where we have to go that worries me. Malachor is soaked in the dark side of the force. I'm afraid of what might happen to all of us when we walk its surface; that the darkness will be too much for us to resist and we will give into it."

"I will not lie to you, the aura of the dark side is very thick around the planet, but as long as you have a strong will and a desire to follow the light you'll be able to carry through." Brianna seemed like she understood what he was talking about, but Andrew could see she was still seemed uneasy. "Listen Brianna it is ok to be afraid, it is a natural human emotion. You don't have to act like you're not, because you're an aspiring Jedi. Remember courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to face one's fear head on regardless of the risks."

"I believe that makes some sense. Thank you for trying to comfort me." She took his hand into hers and they both walked up the ramp together. "Andrew I am glad you told me there was nothing between you and Bastila."

Andrew confused by the statement asked "Ummm why is that?"

Brianna stopped in place and turned to give him an evil smile. "Now I don't have to kick her ass for kissing you."

...End of Ch 5...