14: The Foundry

As Revan and Carth reentered the Temple, conversation on the lower level ground to a stop. She felt the eyes on her as she headed up the ramp, but did not acknowledge them. The Council had been wrong — it was important for them to realize that, even if she had lost her temper in rather spectacular fashion.

She was typically much better at staying calm though, like always, her anger bubbled right under the surface.

They cut through to the holorecords and she beelined for Katherion, the Cathar suddenly growing very interested with the sleeve of his robe.

"The Noetikons?" she asked. He motioned for the door. "Thanks."

The chamber hadn't changed at all, with the rebuilt console and the three holocrons sitting quietly in their places. Carth turned on the light as T3 and HK joined them, and closed the door behind the two droids. Revan picked up the last Noetikon and set it on the ground gently, closing her eyes briefly as she got back to her feet.

The three Masters contained inside stopped talking as soon as they appeared. Bastila waved her hand. "It looks like a private call again."

"Very well." The other two disappeared. As soon as they did, Revan sighed.

"Bas, I frakked up."

"Oh, no."

"The Council sent one of them right into the Emperor's hands. Right like he wanted them to!" She started pacing, waving her hands wildly. "And she's immune to his mind control, too! And now he has her, and he's doing … he's doing Force-knows-what."

"They didn't include you in the planning?"

"No."

"That seems deficient." Bastila shook her head. "Anna … how bad was it?"

"I broke two chairs and the entire Temple is afraid of me." The hologram drew her fingers together across her eyes. "I know, I need to be better, but … Bas?"

"Yes?"

"What Malak did to you …" She looked away at the far wall. "He got some of it from what was done to me, by the Sith." Bastila's face softened immediately. "I don't want her to go through that. The Emperor is terribly skilled at breaking Jedi—"

"Going after her is not an option," she said. Revan nodded.

"Why not?"

They both looked back at Carth. "Because I'm not stupid. There's a significant chance that he showed me hoping I'd come running after her," Revan said. Bastila nodded agreement.

"Right," he said. "That makes sense."

"But I know you are coming to talk because you have a plan," Bastila continued. Revan nodded again.

"T3?" The droid rolled forward and chirped happily at Bastila, who waved at him. T3's optic grew slightly brighter and he projected an image of a large space station, carved into an asteroid.

"This is the Foundry," Revan said, motioning at the image. Carth stepped closer, one hand rubbing his jaw. "It's another Rakatan factory, like the Star Forge, but it only makes droids. I found coordinates for it and several other Rakatan factories in the Star Forge's computers, but erased the information. So it's only up here." She tapped her forehead. "Safety measures, so I'd have backups whenever Malak or the Emperor tried to get rid of me. The Jedi memory block kept me from finding them after the attack on my flagship."

"Hm." Bastila rubbed her chin. "If this is another Rakatan factory, it will run on the dark side."

"It's true. I mean, I have some theories on whether a Rakatan factory can only use it, or if they're powered off the Force and we only ascribe alignment to it, or something else, but that's beside the point. The point is, even one factory like this could easily turn the tide of the war." She sighed. "That's why I had to come talk to you."

Bastila's eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing, at the moment. Something like this —" She motioned at the projection. "— could easily be misused. I did it with the Star Forge, and nearly wrecked the Republic. I wouldn't trust anyone else with something this powerful … but I can't trust myself again, either." Bastila was quiet, staring up at the ceiling.

Carth frowned. "You said it might not run on the dark side? Is there a way to, I don't know, change that?"

"There might be. I don't know."

"Would it help?" he asked.

"I think the Republic needs all the help it can get. I need a way to make some good long-range probe droids to see if these other coordinates are accurate. But I don't trust something like this to most Jedi or military. That was part of the problem with the Star Forge." Bastila nodded silently, still studying the ceiling.

"You said that before," Carth continued. "What—"

"So I'm not convinced that the Rakatan factories don't run on the Force, alone," she explained. "You know I disapprove of the Jedi notion that the Force has any sort of alignment. If anything, I think the Force is neutral, and I certainly hope it doesn't guide the universe, because that means it's a spiteful bitch and we should all be afraid. But — it's possible, with the Star Forge, that intentions clouded the energy itself.

"The Rakata used it to build an empire built on slave labor and genocide — obviously dark side material. When I found it, I was angry. I wanted revenge. Malak was simply driven mad with power, possibly based on how it had been used before. But I wonder … the robes I pulled off it, when we destroyed the factory, were imbued with the 'light side.' Jolee said so. How could a dark-sided facility produce that?"

"That's a good point," Bastila murmured.

"I thought so. The use of the factories may have tilted them towards the dark side, rather than being dark side to begin with. That likely colored Rakatan tech for millennia, given that the Star Maps also gave off the same feeling." They both nodded. "It may be that there's a way to avoid the factories from going too far. I don't know, and I won't be able to test my hypothesis until I'm there."

"What do you think?" Bastila asked. Revan looked away. "Do the benefits to using the Foundry outweigh the risks?"

"Yes," Revan replied instantly.

"Then why are you hesitating?"

Revan was quiet, staring at the floor and rubbing her mouth. Carth looked at Bastila.

"Do you think it's a good idea?"

"I think that I trust her more than she trusts herself," Bastila replied.

"Bastila, the last time anyone trusted me with anything, billions of people died and at least two planets got destroyed. Three and a quarter, if we count Taris and Dantooine."

She shook her head. "You aren't listening to me. You are rash, impulsive, extremely annoying, and stubborn to a fault. When I first learned of our bond, I immediately hated you. But what I grew to realize was that your worst fault, and greatest strength, are none of those — it's that you care too deeply, and you carry the weight of the galaxy on your shoulders. That is why our entire crew rallied around you after they found out — even Carth."

Revan glanced over at him, and he nodded.

"You're worried about taking it too far again. I understand. But you have never let that stand between you and what must be done. I agree that this task must not be left to another … but you would not be an improper choice."

"Even though I'd just —"

"You won't 'frak it up,'" Bastila said irritably. Revan snorted despite herself, and even Carth coughed into the back of his hand. "Children."

"Hey!" Revan protested.

"You are stronger now than you ever have been. As long as you keep your anger in check, which you are usually proficient at doing, you will be fine. Otherwise, I suspect you will listen to Carth's input, won't you?"

"What about it, flyboy, you mind being used as a moral compass?"

He curled his arm around her shoulders. "What, exactly, would you be doing with it?"

"War droids, primarily. Big heavy tank droids, smaller, lighter infantry, keeping our organic soldiers off the frontlines. Medical droids, some infiltration astromechs for my own purposes, probe droids, that sort of thing. Command said they needed more support droids, so that would be the focus after the battle droids. Maybe a couple more HK models."

"Hm." Carth shook his head. "No more HK models."

"Hesitant Agreement: The meatbag is correct. I will simply be forced to eliminate any potential competitors."

Revan frowned. "Fine. But I get to make upgrades to 47. He needs some new hardware."

"I suppose that's fair." He sighed dramatically, and she elbowed him. "Alright, alright, I'll do it."

"Then it's decided?" They nodded. "Very well. Keep me updated, and Anna?"

"Yeah, Bas?"

"Try to stay out of trouble?"

Revan laughed. "No promises."

#

"You know you should."

Revan sighed, staring at the door in front of her. "I didn't do anything wrong. Except lose my temper."

"Anna…"

"You're absolutely incorrigible," she grumbled, raising her hand and rapping the door. After a few seconds, there was a click and it slid open.

"Revan," Satele said coolly.

"Alright," Revan replied, glancing back at Carth. He waved his hand. "Fine. Look, I'm sorry I lost control earlier and nearly wrecked the Council chambers. I'm not sorry about what I said, but I am about the blatantly irresponsible actions that went along with said statements."

Satele stuck her head out into the hallway and checked for eavesdroppers, then motioned them inside. Revan waved for HK and T3 to stay outside, and Satele closed the door behind them.

"Tol Braga was the leader of the mission to capture the Emperor," Satele said as she moved towards her desk. "I was against his decision to not include you in planning, but I deferred to him. Had I known the mission would go so poorly, I would have exercised my authority in the matter. For what it is worth, I am sorry I did not."

"Have you tried to contact him?"

"Yes." She leaned on her desk. "We've attempted to reach all of them. We sent three Masters — Braga among them — with Mariamne. All four commlinks are dead, as is the one to Mariamne's ship."

Revan sighed. "Damn. I was hoping he was just being an ass."

"What, exactly, did you see?" Revan raised a brow. "I must know how to proceed. Apart from the Masters we sent, Mariamne is one of our best knights. I'd prefer to locate her."

She relayed her vision — what Vitiate had said, whether there was anyone else in the room, how Mariamne had looked. Satele listened quietly, making notes on a datapad. "I'll check with our notes. Would you go after her yourself?"

She shook her head. "There is a chance Vitiate showed me to lure me there. I … I want to, but I can't take that risk."

"I understand. I will do what I can."

"How is Thaymina?" Carth asked. Satele shook her head.

"We have known for some time that Mariamne and Thaymina possess a Force bond of an odd strength," she explained. "They are actually stronger when they work together, as if one's presence strengthens the other. Sometimes it seems as if they carry the same connection to the Force, simply shared between two people. Unfortunately in this case, I suspect that will be a detriment."

"Thaymina may be feeling what is happening to her sister," Revan said. Satele nodded.

"That happened a little with you and Bastila," Carth said. "You would wake up screaming."

She nodded. "I'll visit her before we leave to present our idea to Command. I may be able to help."

Satele arched her brow, setting her datapad down. "You were not lying about leaving, then?"

"…yes and no," Revan answered, with a look at Carth. "I may have a lead on something that could help the Republic war effort. A lost Rakata droid factory that was part of the reason the Emperor kept me alive."

"Well. I wish you luck," Satele answered. "I would understand if you did not want our help, but know that I, at least, welcome you to Tython whenever you return."

"I sense you don't speak for the rest of the Council," Carth said. Satele shook her head.

"I cannot say I was pleased with your outburst, Revan, but I recognize that your usefulness far outweighs your risks. The others are not so convinced. They wanted you … placed into confinement. I informed them that the last time you were confined, you nearly destroyed the Coruscant archives and encouraged havoc among Initiates. That seemed to settle it. I cannot guarantee that we will allow such a confrontation again."

"Trust me, I'm hoping there won't be an again. If this works out, we'll be safely out of your hair."

"I am putting considerable faith in you. Do not make me regret it."

"Don't worry. As long as Kaedan doesn't start with the Service Corps routine, we'll be fine."

Satele had opened her mouth to reply when her holocomm chirped wildly. She picked it up from the desk and answered the call, and Supreme Commander Rans appeared above the disk.

:: Grand Master? ::

"Yes? What is it?"

:: It's time. ::

She sighed heavily. "I will begin making preparations and we will meet you on Coruscant as soon as possible." Rans hung up, and Satele started towards the door. "I would continue this discussion, but time has become very short."

"What happened?" Carth asked.

"The Republic is once again at war."

- 9 -