The two terentatek charged, preparing to strike, when they were engulfed in a wall of lightning and fire. They stumbled backwards, crying out in pain as their eyes and dark shrouds were destroyed by the attack. Revan then charged the nearest flailing beast and rammed her blade into the skull of the creature. The blade pressed through the outer flesh, shattering the bones in the skull, and left a hole in the brain of the creature.
It crumbled to the ground, dead. At the same time Alek and Bastila charged the other one, but were sent flying away by the flailing of the beast. Revan threw her blue blade at it. The terentatek dodged the blade, and turned towards her. It charged, but was distracted by Alek stabbing its leg.
It howled in pain, and slapped Alek away, its claw leaving a deep gash along his right arm. Then, Revan and Bastila struck, their blades cleaving the terentatek in two, then bouncing off of each other.
She nodded at Bastila, and turned to Alek, asking, "That thing poison you?"
"I don't know." Alek said.
She handed him an antidote kit, and said, "Just to be safe. Terentatek venom can be very deadly if it isn't taken care of quickly."
He took it and said, "Thanks."
She nodded, and noticed that Bastila was nervously fiddling with one of the crystals that she'd been given before the terentatek showed up. Revan asked, "There something wrong, Bas?"
"You used dark side powers to stop the terentatek charging."
"Dark side powers, light side powers, those are mandatory distinctions put in by old men who don't really understand what they're talking about."
"You-you shouldn't talking about the Council that way! And besides, using those powers is wrong!"
"Why? What makes it wrong to use one power but not another? What right does any one group have to decide what mystical abilities are acceptable to use and what aren't?"
"The Council have a better knowledge of those abilities, so they make the decisions."
"But, what makes an ability itself wrong? The abilities themselves do not have a moral alignment. They just are. When natural lightning strikes do you say that it is dark sided? Of course not. So, why should Force lightning be judged that way? And the same for fire. If you do not judge the natural forms of abilities, why then would you judge their Force counterparts?"
"Because, they can only be used for destruction. You can't do anything good with them."
"Really? Blinding creatures of the dark side with those abilities isn't good? Protecting others with them isn't good?" she asked.
"Of course it's protecting people is good, but using those abilities to is wrong!"
"Why, Bastila?" she asked, "Because the Council says it is? Why do you say that it is wrong? What is your reason, not the Council's. Or, is your reason that the Council says it is wrong?"
"Isn't that a good enough reason?"
"Of course not." she said, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "You shouldn't have your opinions just be whatever you're told."
"Why not? What's wrong in trusting in the wisdom of the Council?"
"Because, just blindly following the opinions of the Masters has led to the Order becoming stagnant."
"Their wisdom has kept the Republic safe for thousands of years! What is wrong about trusting them?"
"They're a bunch of cowards who were willing to let you die just to save their own skins. Why should you trust them?"
"They were protecting those who were already inside the enclave. They couldn't risk opening it and the terentatek getting in."
"They weren't anywhere near the enclave!"
"It was too risky." Bastila protested.
"There was no reason to think that they would be able to get in when the door opened. It would have been ten seconds only, Bastila. That isn't enough time for you to get in the doors and for them to be closed behind you before the terentatek got there."
"The-the Council was just being cautious."
"And that's their problem. They're too damn cautious!" Revan growled. "They're too worried about avoidingany risks that they'll never consider the fact that sometimes to do the right thing you have to take a risk. They forbid love because they refuse to take any risks. Hell, there have been Jedi who have had to fake their own deaths because they fell in love. Shaela Nuur and Duron Qel-Droma faked their own deaths, and their best friend Guun Han Saresh did the same to keep their secret safe. Because they knew that if the Council found out they would either be exiled, separated, or executed because of the Council's paranoia. What makes you think that people like that deserve unconditional respect?"
"How do you know that those three had to disappear?" Bastila asked.
Revan shook her head, and said, "I met Guun Han on Deralia before the attack. He talked to my parents about what happened, and I overheard the conversation." then quietly added, 'Not to mention that my parents were old friends of his.'
"Are you sure Guun Han wasn't lying?"
"I'm absolutely certain he was telling the truth."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons. It isn't what's important. What's important is that the Council shouldn't just be mindlessly followed. You need to think for yourself, or you'll end up as brainwashed and useless as most Jedi. You'll become useless to the galaxy because you follow one path, and don't think beyond that. You'll become what the average Jedi is. A tool that is held in contempt by the entire galaxy. They fake respect when they know you're a Jedi and think you're looking, but the moment they think you don't notice what they're doing, they act contemptuous towards the Order. They only pretend to respect the Order, and with good reason. It is broken."
"Why do you say that? Why do you have contempt for the Jedi?"
"Because, they say that for non-Jedi love is the greatest thing in the galaxy, but say that for Jedi it has to be avoided like being at the center of a WMD's blast radius. I respect what they are represent, but the current way the Order is handled, it can't be what it represents."
"So, you're just trying to convert me to your way of thinking." Bastila said with derision.
"NO! That is the exact opposite of what I'm trying to do, Shan!" Revan roared. "I'm trying to get you to think for yourself! If I wanted to just have you think exactly how I do, you would already be agreeing with me on everything. I don't care if people agree with the Council instead of me, so long as it is their opinion they came to on their own, not what was programmed into you by your teachers. And you don't judge me for my opinion." she added with a small grin.
Bastila was quiet for a moment, then said, "Okay. I suppose it's not like you're trying to conquer the galaxy and kill millions of innocent people. And, sorry, about flipping out at you. So, what are we supposed to do next?"
Revan patted Bastila on the shoulder, and said, "It's alright. We'll need to get out of here and find the remaining terentatek. This didn't work as I had planned."
"Why? We managed to kill two of them." Bastila said.
"The traps didn't exactly hold them off. I think the crystals could be amplifying their power too."
Bastila nodded, and Alek said, "But, what about the rain?"
"That will be a bit of a problem." Revan said, thinking, 'What do we do about it? We'll not be able to do much if we have to keep coming back here to get dry and warm so we don't get pneumonia. Maybe the barrier again, but then when we found terentatek we'd have to expose ourselves to the elements. Maybe, no that would be too risky. Might block out the air. Maybe a bit of a modification would let air through while keeping the rain out.'
A moment later, Revan was surrounded by glowing blue energy, but it faded away a moment later. Then, Revan said, "Alright, made a little bit of a change to the barrier I used earlier. Here's how to do it." she brought it up again, so that the two could study it. Once they had managed to get it right, about twelve minutes later, Revan said, "Come on, let's get going. There are still more terentatek we have to take care of. Probably eight or nine of them."
"You think we'll be able to find them in this rain?" Alek asked, "They don't exactly have giant glowing signs with arrows pointing down saying, 'Here I am, come kill me'.
"It'll take a while, but we should be able to kill them before it's too late." she replied, walking towards the exit. Near the exit, the barriers were struck by a stream of black fluid. Revan said, "Gross. I think my mines were a bit too powerful."
"Really?" Alek asked, "What made you think that? The fact that it liquidized the terentatek?"
"Quit being a jackass." she growled, sprinting past the bloody mess. Once they were past the blood, and the rain had cleaned the barriers off, Revan said, "I think that next time I'll use a touch less explosives the next time I make a batch of mines. Don't want to do that," she said pointing back at the cave, "to anything- even terentatek."
Bastila said, "Wait, you made those mines."
"Yeah, there aren't exactly many places that sell military grade explosive mines to the public. I might have been able to get some stun mines, but those wouldn't have been enough."
"How many of them do you think we got with the mines?" Alek inquired.
"Two. I saw a couple of hearts, and terentatek only have one heart each."
"Wouldn't those have been liquidized too?"
"The hearts of terentatek are the most heavily protected part of the body, and before you ask, Bastila, I don't know why."
"I wasn't going to ask." she protested.
"Well, you seem to ask about everything, it's refreshing to meet someone just as curious as me. Most Jedi won't ask a question if it hasn't been approved by the Council. Hell, even Meetra was that way for a while."
"Who?" the two Padawans asked.
"Friend of mine back on Coruscant." Revan explained.
-=0=-
Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Meetra walked out of the medical bay on one of the lower levels of the temple, and after a while found herself in the main hall. A Master was saying, "As of now, the Order will not be mobilizing against the mandalorians."
Meetra asked, "What happened, Master?"
He said, "The news just came in an hour ago. The mandalorians have attacked Republic space. Three systems have already fallen, and the Supreme Chancellor requested Jedi aid."
"Why aren't we going to help the Republic?"
"There is a darkness behind this that we have not been able to determine. The mandalorians would never attack the Republic unless there was something that made them think that they could win. They would not want to risk being destroyed as the Sith were."
Meetra nodded, and thought, 'Hopefully when Revan hears about this she'll not just go off to fight the mandalorians alone. Force knows that she's wanted an excuse to fight them for ages. Maybe the Council on Dantooine will be able to keep her in line.'
-=0=-
Revan said, "Stop. Something's coming our way."
"What?" Bastila asked.
"Not sure." she replied, igniting her twin lightsabers. The sapphire and violet blades glowed, evaporating the rain as it struck them. The ground began to tremble as something approached.
As the... thing grew closer, the three felt great pressure all around them. The ground began to tremble faster, and then a loud roar filled their ears and a massive terentatek charged them. Revan raised her blades, and growled "Bastila, Alek, hit him from the left and right flank. I'll handle it from the front."
They nodded, and ran off as ordered. Revan watched the creature charge, and when it slammed into her, she gasped out in pain while she felt two of her ribs crack. Flying backwards, she embraced the Force and let out a stream of fire at it. The terentatek ignored it, and struck her legs. Revan groaned, and crumbled to the ground. It raised its arms to finish her off, when a yellow blade and a blue blade severed its left and right arms.
Revan saw an opening, and charged at the fifteen feet tall beast. Jumping into the air, she slammed her twin lightsabers into its skull, then jumped away from it, leaving her weapons in its brain.
The creature roared, but did not fall, instead, it charged and tried headbutt Revan. She rolled out of the way, wincing in pain as her ribs touched the ground. Wielding the Force, she summoned her blades, and with them in hand, stabbed the creature in its chest.
It did not crumble, but tried to kick her in the gut. She evaded it, and stabbed it in the back, then when it still survived stabbed it again. It collapsed to the ground, roaring in rage.
Revan stumbled over towards the terentatek, raised her blades when she reached its neck, and beheaded it. Her vision began to blur, and it became more difficult to breath. She gasped for breath, and then fell forward.
"Revan!" Bastila yelled, moving towards her.
-=0=-
Kreia was sitting in her quarters, when Meetra entered. She asked, "Did you hear about the mandalorians attacking the Republic."
"Of course." she replied.
"What do you think about denying the Republic's request for help?"
"It is a safer course of action than granting the Republic aid, but it would be more in line with what the Order is believed to be."
"You don't have an opinion on what would be the better course of action?"
"I do not focus on the political matters of our times." she replied, "It is not my role to determine the course of action for the Order. That is for the Council to decide, and they made their decision. Any opinion of mine would not make a difference on what is going to happen."
"But," Meetra began, but was interrupted by Kreia.
"It does not matter, Meetra. And you would be wise to not tell Revan this."
"She should know."
"She needs to focus on her training for now. When the time is right, she will learn of the mandalorian aggression."
"But, if it's kept secret, she'll be pissed. She might even leave the Order."
"Revan will not leave the Order if it is kept secret, she would understand why she was not told. If she was informed of it, though, she may decide to go to war prematurely."
"What do you mean prematurely?"
"Eventually the Order will have to aid the Republic if both are to survive." Kreia said, "But, if that happens too early, there will be catastrophic results for the entire galaxy."
"Such as?"
"Deaths of those who it would be better if they survived, the destruction of the Republic, and more."
"What is the more?"
"I do not know. But, you should return to your duties now, Meetra."
"Very well, Master Kreia."
-=0=-
Bastila said, "Alek, we've got to get her under some cover. The barrier's starting to fall apart. And, it looks like at least two of her ribs are cracked."
He nodded, and picked Revan up. Once they were out of the rain, Bastila examined Revan's injuries, and said, "These are serious. Are you any good at healing wounds?"
"No, I've never gotten the hang of it." he replied.
"Well, then just hand me a couple of those crystals. Maybe I'll be able to fix her up with just them."
He handed her a blue and a yellow crystal, and she sat down beside Revan, placing a hand over the broken ribs.
-=0=-
A tall man wearing a dark mask which obscured his face asked, "Is the Republic going to retaliate?"
"It is preparing its fleet to fight us, and they have asked the Jedi for assistance." another man said.
"Was the assistance granted?"
"We have heard no news either way."
"Good. Continue following the plan. Send in Canderous."
"As you command, Mandalore." the other man said.
A few moments later, Canderous walked in, wearing a suit of crimson armor, the only part of his body uncovered was his scarred face. He said, "You wanted to see me, Mandalore?"
"Canderous, you proved yourself an excellent leader during the Battle of Althir. I want you to command our forces during the next battle."
"Why won't you be commanding us in the coming battle?"
"There is something I have to take care of, and I will not be able to return before the battle commences."
"What is it, sir?"
"It does not concern you, Canderous."
"Understood." he replied, looking at the fleet, "When will you be leaving?"
"In a few hours. If I am still gone after the next battle, do not delay to attack the next world. We cannot delay if we are to defeat the Republic, and gain the glory from so great a victory."
"I understand, sir."
"Good, I will inform the soldiers of my decision soon."
-=0=-
Bastila sat down, wiping sweat from her brow. "I've done all I can to heal her." she said.
"She looks like she's feeling a lot better." Alek said, "But, I thought she'd be able to handle that thing. Why do you think it beat her so easily?"
"It was a lot bigger than a normal one, so she probably wasn't prepared to fight it." Bastila said.
"Still, how long can she stay out cold? It's already been an hour." Alek said.
"I don't know. We'll just have to do what we can to make sure she doesn't die in her sleep. Force knows that we're going to need her to keep us alive while those things are running around."
"But, what if she doesn't make it?"
"Then we'll have to fight them without her help."
He nodded, and asked, "Why are you so calm? You saw how big that terentatek was!"
"I saw them created, and it was a lot bigger than the others. I think it was made out of multiple ones of them, which means at least two more are gone. And, if Revan could survive that fight, there's no way that a regular terentatek could take her out."
They heard a slight groan, and looked back at Revan. "You finally waking up?" Alek asked.
Bastila went over to her, and Revan groaned again. She blinked a few times, and when her vision cleared and she saw Bastila looking at her, she said, "Hey, beautiful."
The Padawan blushed, and looked away. Revan laughed, and said, "I'm just joking around." She turned to Alek, and said, "You try getting beaten by a monster that's fifteen feet tall, Baldy. We'll see how good you're feeling."
He just nodded, and said, "You've got a point. What's the plan?"
"We strike the enemy at their heart. I've been thinking, and it would make sense that the spirit was sealed in that burial ground beyond the Enclave. And, if we consider how far away from the Enclave it was, we could assume that it would not be the nearest one. More likely the one on the Matale grounds. While there, we could find some way of sealing it. If my theory is correct, that should reduce the power levels of the terentatek so that they're easier to eliminate."
"You think that will weaken it?" he asked.
"Yes, the only way that those things could be so powerful is if something has amplified their abilities. Now, as I'm sure you're aware, Force amplification of physical abilities quits working once energy is not actively being added to the subject, the amplification will quit working."
"I didn't know that." Alek said.
"Did you not pay attention during your classes?" Revan asked.
"I payed close attention during class, that just wasn't mentioned."
"Well, that's too bad for you." Revan said, "We need to get moving."
The two padawans nodded, and the group walked out. They walked in silence for a few minutes, but then Alek asked Revan, "What's wrong?" while she scowled at the area around them.
"Just thinking about something." she replied.
"What?"
'Well, how about the fact that I'm randomly flirting with a minor? Or that I let a terentatek get the best of me? Or could it be that I've been on a new planet for only three days, and everything's started to fall apart?' she thought, but said, "Just personal stuff."
He nodded, and they walked closer to the tome they sought. Standing at pillars near the entrance, there were three terentatek standing near the pillars.
"We'll have to take care of them simultaneously, otherwise they might warn the spirit and it could lock the tomb, keeping us out."
Alek nodded, and Bastila asked, "What makes you think it would do that? You know how powerful it is."
"Because, Bastila, if my theory is correct, there will be some kind of device to seal it away inside the tomb, and that's how it was taken care of whenever it was originally sealed away."
"If there was some device sealed it away before, and it broke out anyways, would it really manage to seal it again?"
"I think it's more likely someone accidentally released it from its prisons and it had to take a while to recover its power. So, once it was strong enough, it left the tomb it was imprisoned in, and made the terentatek, using them to amplify its power so that it could maintain a form akin to what it was originally. But, I could be completely wrong, This is just speculation. Maybe we'll get a chance to interrogate it, figure out what it is."
"You want to talk to it?" Alek asked, his voice dripping with shock.
"If conversation will shed some light on what it is, and its origin, yes. That way we'll be better equipped to take care of anything similar to it should such a situation arise again."
"You're crazy." he muttered, shaking his head.
"You think I'm crazy? That hurts, Baldy." Revan said, sniffling slightly.
"You want to talk to something that can create monsters, and is theoretically powerful enough to defeat the entire Jedi Council. That makes you crazy!"
"Anything could theoretically be powerful enough to defeat the entire Jedi Council. A single pebble could, in theory, do that. But, just because theory says that something can do something, doesn't mean it can. Raw power doesn't matter if you don't have any control over that power."
"Still, that thing could kick our asses so fast that it isn't funny." Alek said.
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll never know if we don't try and take it out."
"Still..." Alek began, but was interrupted by Bastila.
"We'll have to take care of it eventually, so we may as well try and handle it now."
"Well said, Padawan Shan." Revan said, "So, why don't we go in and take care of it now, instead of sitting in this rain and wasting time?"
"Because, we could die if we go in unprepared!"
"Every day we could die." Revan said, staring out into the distance, "But we don't hide in our beds, do we Alek? No, we get up, and we go about our daily lives. For a Jedi, handling an incredibly powerful spirit of the dark side is just another day at the office. I understand that you're afraid of it, I am too, but you cannot let that fear control you. If you do, it will lead you to only one thing, death because you didn't have the guts to do what you had to." she pointed towards the Enclave, and continued, "There's a series of buildings over there with hundreds of Jedi and civilians. They're counting on us to take care of the terentatek and the spirit. There are kids in there, who if we don't handle this situation, will never get to grow up. They'll die young, because we couldn't act. And, if that happens, you'll never be able to live with yourself over it. Do you really want to have to live your life in self-enforced exile, because you were a little bitch and turned your back on your duty, Padawan? Do you want to spend the rest of your days punishing yourself for being a coward, and you see the mutilated bodies of dozens of children who died because of your inaction?"
Alek lowered his head, and said, "No, ma'am."
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you, you were too quiet. What did you say, Padawan?"
"No, ma'am." He replied louder.
"Good, now, let's take care of these guards so we can get in, take out the spirit, finish off the few that are still alive afterwords, and then get some rest knowing that we did a good job."
"Sounds good to me." Alek said.
"Good. What about you, Bastila? You ready to take the fight to that thing?"
"I think so." she replied.
"Excellent." Revan said, clapping both of them on the shoulder, "Now here's the plan. I'll take out the one in the center, and at the same time Bastila, you'll take the left one, and Baldy, you've got the right."
They nodded, and Revan continued, "When I light up my sabers, you two will do the same, and three seconds later you'll move. Clear?"
"Why three seconds?"
"Short period of time that's easy to count. Should make it easier to take them out all at once." she replied, cracking her fingers.
The two moved quickly, and Revan seized her twin weapons. The feel of the cold metal in her hands driving all thoughts from her minds as a void engulfed her. She stood there, in a state of mind beyond both thought and emotion. Coldly assessing the situation.
The three terentatek stood near the pillars, but far enough away to not be in danger of being crushed by them. They were all standard size for their species, but the one in the middle had larger tusks, and moved on all fours, instead of on two legs.
Revan gently pushed her fingers against the activation switches of her weapons, then pushed them down forcefully, igniting her twin blades. When Alek's and Bastila's ignited in her peripheral vision, she mentally counted, 'One... two... three!' before she leaped towards the middle terentatek, followed by Bastila and Alek attacking their respective enemies. Her sapphire blade pierced the skull of the creature beneath her, while she stabbed its violet twin into the terentatek's heart. It crumbled to the ground and she saw that Bastila and Alek had similarly dispatched their targets.
"Good work." She said, "We need to get in now. Before it realizes we're here."
They nodded, and at the black metal doors, Revan placed a hand on the central square, and a few seconds later the door opened. Inside, it was a simple, dark, rectangular room. After walking through another door, they were in a square chamber, and in the middle of it there stood a simple droid. It was a cylindrical machine with three legs extending from the widest point of the machine.
It let out a series of raspy noised, and Revan said, "What?"
It let out a series of shrieks, and she said, "How does a droid on Dantooine know the language of the sand people of Tatooine?"
It let out a series of sounds, and Revan said, "Do you know any language that we can understand?"
It said, in shyriiwook, "I can speak any language spoken by organic lifeforms from when I was created."
"What are you?"
"I am the guardian of the one who was imprisoned here for his crimes."
"Who?"
"The warlord who turned his back on the Empire so that he may gain more personal glory."
"What Empire?"
"If you do not know, you are strange indeed. The Infinite Empire."
Revan shook her head, and said, "Whatever. Where is the one who was imprisoned here?"
"He is in the chamber containing his prison. But, to enter you must prove yourself worthy."
"How?"
"There is a series of challenges that I was programmed to administer to any who sought to move the prisoner. If they passed those challenges, they are deigned capable of handling the prisoner, and can move his prison."
"I take it this is a small prison." Bastila said.
"You will see if you are worthy."
"What are your challenges?"
"First, you must prove yourself powerful enough to handle the prisoner. Go into the chamber on the right, and there shall be something you must handle if you wish to take care of the prisoner."
"Got it." Revan said, walking towards the room.
"Do you think that you'll be able to handle whatever is in there? It could be incredibly powerful." Bastila said.
"I'll be fine. Whatever's in there I can handle." she replied, "You two be careful while I'm gone." she said, opening the door. Inside was another rectangular chamber. She walked into the middle of the room, and started pressing keys at random.
When nothing happened other than the screen flickering to life, she said, "How do you work?"
It responded, in the same language that the droid had, and Revan shook her head. When she did, it opened a receptacle and let out another series of raspy sounds. She looked at it, and put her datapad in.
The machine made a series of beeping noises, and a few seconds later the symbols changed into Basic. Now the symbols said, "Welcome. Are you prepared to begin the challenge?"
Revan typed in, "Yes."
"Good. Engaging defenses."
Revan drew her weapons, and five droids fell out of the ceiling. Their design was strange. Each had a slightly curved middle section with a head extending forward out of the top. Slightly below the head of the machines, there was a bar at a right angle to the rest of the body, and from that bar there were two arms, longer than the middle section that they used to move. All five fired on Revan simultaneously, who drew her twin blades, and deflected all of the rounds. The shots hit the walls, and Revan molded the Force into an emp that stunned the droid directly in front of her.
One droid grabbed the back of her robe when she tried to move towards the stunned droids. She flipped both of her weapons around in her hands, and rammed them into the droids cortex. It collapsed, still holding onto her robe, tearing out a large section of the back.
She swore, and jumped on the still-stunned machine, cutting both of its arms off, before removing its head. The remaining droids arms then slid up, compacting and thinning into sharp blades, and the center section split in two and molded into legs.
One sprinted at Revan, swinging both of its blades at her. She raised her blades in time to deflect its attacks, but its mechanical strength pushed her back. She grinned, and threw her violet blade at the furthest droid.
The weapon flew through the air, rapidly approaching the droid, but it was knocked aside at the last possible moment.
Revan shook her head, and slammed all three droids into the walls, before grabbing her fallen blade and guiding it to behead all three droids. Then, the terminal said, "You have passed the test." and the door opened. Revan walked out, and said, "I've passed your first test. What's next?"
"Prove that you have the wisdom to not be deceived by the prisoner."
"How do I do that?"
"Answer the questions properly." it said.
"Ask away." Revan said, as she shivered because her back was exposed to the cold of the tomb.
"There are three warriors under your command, and they have betrayed you to your enemies. What do you do?"
"What resources do I have?"
"You are the leader of a large fleet."
"How did they betray me?"
"They have sabotaged your fleet's defenses."
"What's my fleet doing?"
"It is defending a largely unimportant world, that only produces a small amount of useful materials."
"How many people are there on the planet?"
"Two million."
"In this hypothetical situation what would my enemies do to the people of a captured world?"
"They will turn the entire population into their slaves."
"I'll have my fleet stay and keep the people safe."
"An illogical choice. You know that the enemy has a distinct advantage, even if you were to win, it would be with heavy casualties."
"We were protecting the planet. I wouldn't order my fleet to retreat and leave the population to be enslaved by the enemy. And, if I was defending a largely unimportant world, I clearly wasn't the supreme commander of all of my side's forces, so I would be still following my orders. I wouldn't shirk my duty because the odds were against me."
"Your choice, while illogical, is well reasoned." the droid said, "Next, you are on trial for crimes against the Empire that you did not commit. You know that it was one of your rivals who framed you for the crime. What do you do?"
"What crimes am I being accused of?"
"Attempting to kill the emperor."
"How many who have been falsely accused of such a crime have proven their innocence?"
"None."
"Will the court even listen to defense?"
"Unlikely."
"Then I don't bother trying to defend myself. I just let the court know what I think of it and its so-called justice."
"An intriguing choice. You have proven yourself brave enough and skilled enough to handle the prisoner."
"Good." she said.
Then, Bastila asked, "What happened to your robes?"
"The combat test was to take out several droids, and one of them grabbed the back of my robes. Let's go take care of this bastard." she said, walking over to the door. She opened it, and immediately heard darkness say in the back of her head, "Welcome, Interloper. I have been waiting for you."
-=0=-
A/N: Thanks for reading. Sorry for the long wait for this. And please, please review. PLEASE!
