Revan exited her home followed by Urz, and said, "Stay." to the kath hound.

He barked in response and sat outside her door, as she walked towards the Enclave. As she walked, she thought, 'What is happening to me? I arrive on a new planet, and in a couple of weeks have a Force Bond with a Padawan who's been a pain in the ass. Then she easily gets under my skin, and then there's Meetra being a pain in the ass about it. Wait, who's that at the edge of the Enclave?' she thought as she saw a silhouette near the entrance to the Enclave. As she got closer, it vanished, but then she felt a foot hit her in the back. She turned around, and asked, "Who and what are you?"

"I am the one who will kill you, Jedi filth. But, I suppose you will need a name to call me by. I am..." the figure, a woman, said, but the last words Revan did not hear.

"What were those last words?"

"So, you cannot hear my name. Fitting that I destroy you then."

"Leave me alone. I have enough trouble already."

"Oh, you will not have any trouble soon." the woman replied, drawing a single blade of pure black.

"You want a fight? Let's do this." she replied, drawing and igniting both of her weapons. The two paced around for a moment, then the second woman vanished again, and reappeared behind Revan, who had to block it by moving her weapons over her shoulders to catch the black blade.

"You are stronger than I thought, Jedi. But this will be over soon."

"What are you?" Revan asked.

"I am the right hand of the Lord." she replied, stabbing at Revan.

The Jedi Knight leaped into the air, and landed on the moving blade, and kicked her attacker in the face, causing her to stumble backwards. "What Lord?"

"You do now know? Well, not surprising. Your order was always so uninformed."

"What are you talking about?"

"I will not tell a worm such as you. You are unworthy of hearing his name."

"Give me an answer, or you'll find that I'm a hell of a lot more than a worm, bitch." Revan replied, charging at her again, deflecting a stab at her heart, and nearly ramming a lightsaber into her foe's chest. But, she disappeared once again, only to have a blade pierce her heart from behind.

Revan looked around, and saw Bastila standing there. The Padawan said, "I-uh-I sensed you were freaking out through the bond so I came to see what was going on."

"Thanks for the assist, Bastila."

"Yes, thanks for the assist." the woman, a brunette with short hair, said. Before pulling away from Bastila's blade and slamming her against a wall.

"So, you're a Force user. What is that technique you use to teleport around?"

"One beyond your pathetic comprehension, Jedi." The woman said, and stabbed Revan through the heart. The Jedi Knight clutched at the blade, then fell back as she felt it pulled out of her heart. The woman approached Revan with a malevolent smile, and severed her head.

-=0=-

Revan woke with a start, sweating in her bed. 'Great. Why is it that the two things that won't leave me alone are death and Bastila?' before getting up and quickly putting on her robes and walking to the enclave, even though her clock said that it was the middle of the night. As she walked quietly along the plains, she thought, 'I have to look into that technique that bitch used to beat me. Maybe master it myself.' as she entered the structure. She walked into the empty Council Chambers, and went to the door near the back. Looking above it, the sign said Archives. She tried to open the door, but it was locked, and a small message in the door terminal said, "Only Jedi Masters are permitted to enter the archives."

"Well, shit. That's just great."

"Is there something wrong, Revan?" Bastila asked.

Revan jumped, and asked, "What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be in your quarters like the other Padawans?"

"I felt you were stressed out and in the Council Chambers. I figured something was wrong, and that maybe you might want to... I don't know, talk about it."

"I just had a weird dream."

"What kind of weird dream?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Were you having inappropriate dreams about someone, Knight?"

"NO!" Revan shouted. "And, if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your nose out of my business."

"What's gotten into you? Is this about the bond? I've already said I'm sorry that it formed, and that I wasn't trying to make one."

"It isn't about that. I've just had to deal with false accusations about myself for years, so I don't like it when people make them towards me. We clear, Padawan Shan?"

"Of course." she said, and walked away.

'Good riddance she's leaving.'

"But why were you lying about people making false accusations?" Bastila asked, "I could sense you were lying about it."

"Don't ask, kid." Revan replied, sitting down and assuming a meditative trance.

"I'm not a kid!" Bastila replied.

"Whatever." Revan replied, as she felt the Force flow through her veins. The face of the woman who had slain her clear in her mind.

-=0=-

Mandalore stepped into the bridge of his flagship, and asked, "How goes the battle for Cathar?"

"We have disabled their orbital defense stations and completely destroyed their communications." Canderous replied.

"Excellent. Let us go to their capital, and make it ours."

"Mandalore, sir," Canderous said, "might I suggest a slightly less direct approach before we take the capital? Perhaps take the cities of Illian and Tear first, so that they cannot call there for aid?"

"Illian and Tear are at war with Ran-Tal. They will not help it."

"I understand, sir." Canderous replied.

-=0=-

Masters Vrook, Dorak, and Zhar stepped into the Council Chambers, and asked, "Knight Revan, Padawan Shan, why are you here at such an early hour?"

Revan stood up, and said, "I don't know why Bastila's still here, but I am here because I had a strange dream. Almost like a vision, Masters."

"What was it, Knight?"

"I was on my way here to the Enclave to continue my training, when I saw a silhouette near the entrance. It turned out to be a Force-wielder who had great contempt for the Jedi Order. She attacked me, and I attempted to defend myself, but she had the ability to teleport, and that led to her defeating me. Even took my life."

"I see." Vrook said, "Master Dorak, do you have any recollection of an ability such as the one Revan speaks of?"

"Yes. It is an ancient art, but none have been able to master in over five thousand years. There is almost no chance that there is anyone who could learn it anymore."

"Do we have any texts on how to perform it, Master Dorak?" Vrook inquired.

"We have a few, but I doubt they would be of any use."

"Master, may I view them?" Revan inquired.

"Revan, as much as I am sure you would love to learn this technique, I cannot allow you to view it. You might try to do something beyond your abilities, and kill yourself."

"I know my limits, Master. I will not go beyond what I can do."

"I cannot risk it." Dorak replied, "And my decision is final."

"I understand, Master. But might I ask you this, what if this woman who has mastered this technique is real, and not just part of a strangely vivid dream? What if she exists, and there is no one who knows the technique that will undoubtedly be necessary to defeat her? What do you think would become of the Jedi Order?"

"The odds of her existing are slim to none. She was just a part of your imagination."

"What if no one learns it, and you're wrong about her, Master?"

Dorak was quiet for a while, then said, "I will discuss it with the other Masters, and the entire Council will decide."

"Thank you, Master."

Vrook then said, "But do not think this does not excuse you from your planned training for today, Knight Revan. We shall begin immediately."

"Yes, Master." Revan replied, and they went into the training grounds.

-=0=-

King Melchizedek of Cathar stood in his throne room, and asked in his native tongue, "What are you doing here, Mandalore? Did you not get your fill of pillaging and raiding in your youth?"

Mandalore replied, "Melchizedek, I am merely the voice of the desires of the mandalorian people. We desire honor and glory earned in battle. This is nothing more than business to me."

"Then, Mandalore, I hope you are prepared to die on business this very day."

"I will not die this day, Melchizedek. You will." he said, drawing his blade, and approaching the massive cat.

The cathar king also drew his blade, and approached Mandalore slowly and cautiously. The two warriors stood there in perfect stillness and silence as they watched each other, looking for an opening they could exploit. Then, Mandalore said, "You know, I respected you once, Melchizedek. But it seems in your age you have forgotten the ferocity your race is known for. Now even you could easily be taken as a slave."

The cathar king replied, "I will not fall for your taunts, Mandalore. In my age I have learned wisdom. Something it is clear that your youth has hidden from your eyes."

"Say what you will, feline. On this day I shall slay you and your head shall become another trophy for my wall."

"You are as arrogant as ever. Did you learn nothing from your raid on Dekuuna? Or the one on Kamino? You are not as strong or skilled as you believe you are."

"I was defeated twice, but only by those who had been given powers by the Dark Lord, Exar Kun. You never fought alongside him, so he gave you no powers with which you could defeat me."

"I do not need powers to defeat a whelp such as yourself."

"You say that, but I see that in your age, you have grown week."

"Then why do you hesitate, if I am week?"

"I stay my blade because I am giving you a chance to save your world. I know that if I act first, this battle will be over long before you could raise your blade in defense."

"Your arrogance is greater even than that of Exar Kun. Let us finish this now. I grow tired of talk."

"Are you sure that you don't need a nap, your majesty?"

"SILENCE! I grow tired of your taunts. Either come at me or leave my palace and my world!"

"Very well. I shall take your life now." Mandalore said as he charged the cathar king.

The ancient cat deflected Mandalore's strike towards his head, and stabbed at his left arm, but his blade was caught in the mandalorian's gauntlet, which he then used to rip the blade out of his foe's hand.

The cathar roared and extended his claws, when he felt searing pain in his left leg, and saw that another mandalorian had shot him.

Mandalore said, "Sherruk! What do you think you are doing?"

"Ensuring victory, sir."

"You dishonor both yourself and your clan through your actions. Leave now."

"Yes, sir." he replied, and left the room.

Mandalore turned to Melchizedek, and said, "Do you require first aid for your leg wound?"

"I will never go to a raider such as yourself for help. We have a battle, and I will end it even with this wound." he replied charging Mandalore. When the warrior swung his blade towards the cathar's head, it was simply grabbed and thrown aside, before he was tackled through a wall by the cathar.

"Your race never did have skilled builders." the mandalorian replied, as he kicked Melchizedek away. They then met in the middle of the second room, where Melchizedek roundhouse kicked towards Mandalore's head, but it was caught, and the leg broken in a single motion.

The Cathar king let out no sound, but instead struck at Mandalore's left leg with his arm, it connected, but the mandalorian's armor protected him from the blow, giving him time to slam Melchizedek into a nearby pillar and begin brutally beating the cathar king. The cathar pulled a pistol from his belt and fired three rounds into Mandalore's chest, who stumbled back after the energy rounds hit him. He glared at Melchizedek, who charged him even though his leg seemed to crumple beneath him with each step.

Then, just as Melchizedek raised his arms to strike with his claws, a blade extended from Mandalore's armor and he stabbed it into his foe. As Melchizedek clutched at his chest, Mandalore reached into the hole his weapon had left, and pulled out the cathar king's heart, saying, "I rise... you fall."

-=0=-

Revan stepped out of the training room, feeling exhausted and beat. The multitude of bruises she'd received from Vrook aching. She thought, 'At least I got close to beating him a couple of times. But damn, he kicked my ass.'

"You alright, Revan?" Alek asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because you look like shit."

"You try fighting a Jedi Master when he's going all out." she replied, walking towards the exit. "You ready to work on a droid?"

"Yeah." he replied. "How serious is the damage?"

"Not too serious. With working on it a few hours a day we should be good in less than a couple of weeks."

"Great. You going to do any upgrades or mods?"

"Nope. Just sending it back in like-new condition. That should keep the feud in check."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Well, we'll have to hope that the Council will let us do something about it. Though they might say that there's a dark force behind it, so they can't risk any Jedi handling it."

"You talking about the refusal to send Jedi to help the Republic fight the war?"

"Of course." she replied as they walked into her cabin.

Alek chuckled, and said, "You might not want to say stuff about it to the Council. You might get kicked out."

"Oh, if they keep this shit up for too long, I am going to give them a piece of my mind. And it will not be pretty." she replied, getting out her tools. "You familiar with how to get to the drive train of this model of protocol droid?"

"Yeah." he replied, grabbing a pair of tools.

"Good, let's get to work then." she replied.

-=0=-

Two hours later, Alek asked, "So what the heck is going on with you and Bastila? I rarely see either of you apart from each other."

"Really? Why is it that everyone I talk to is just talking about Bastila? Can't we talk about something else?"

"I was just asking. It seems kinda weird. Unless... are you two sleeping together?"

"No, just no. I swear, you are acting as bad as Meetra. Wait, she didn't contact you and put you up to this, did she?"

"No, I'm just asking, because you two are acting really weird. You've become practically inseparable. And who is Meetra."

"My best friend, she's back on Coruscant."

"Oh. Wait, why is someone on Coruscant giving you a hard time about Bastila?"

"Bastila went into a topic that was a bit too personal, and I got... upset with her, so Meetra assumed that meant I want to sleep with her."

"That seems like a massive logical leap."

"It was, but if there's one thing she's known for, it's taking massive logical leaps."

"Right." he replied, looking at the droid's circuitry. Then he tilted his head, and asked, "What is that?"

Revan looked at it, and said, "Some kind of data recorder. But not part of the schematics." she replied.

"What do you think its recorded?"

"Let's find out." she replied, pulling it out, and hooking it up to her datapad. She pushed a button, and then it showed a video. It showed Ahlan Matale, and said, "With this, we should be able to observe the Sandrals. They would never suspect a dead droid of being a spy unit."

Alek replied, "I suppose we now know what that was for now."

"Yeah. We'll just leave that out of the droid." Revan said, crushing the data recorder.

-=0=-

Mandalore stared at the ground of Cathar, and asked, "How long until the cathar surrender?"

"They will do no such thing, Mandalore. We will have a long occupation in front of us." Calo Nord said.

"Very well. Let us continue, and kill any who dare stand in our way."

"As you command, sir." he replied.

-=0=-

Revan lay in her bed, and was thinking, 'I should apologize to Bastila. It's not her fault that she was asking if I was having what Meetra was saying I was. But, the more I think about it, the more what Meetra said about my liking her that way makes sense. I mean, the rapid formation of a bond, the fact that she seems to be able to easily get under my skin, and then I simply can't get her out of my head. But, if she is right, I can't let her know. She'd never let me live it down. And besides, nothing can come of it. She's younger than me, and another Jedi, so she'l not be open to the concept of a relationship. Ever. Oh well, not too big a deal.'

-=0=-

Revan stepped into the Council Chambers, and said, "Masters." when she noticed that they were all watching her.

"Knight Revan, after much discussion," Mastar Vandar said, "we have decided that the ancient technique you wished to learn is far too dangerous and therefore we shall not allow you to study it."

"I understand, Masters." she replied.

"Good. We should begin your training for the day." Vandar said.

Revan nodded, and followed the ancient Master into the crystal cave.

-=0=-

Five hours later, Revan left the cave, and walked out onto the plains, the bond telling her where Bastila was. As she walked along the plains, she began to feel tense and nervous. "What the hell is wrong with me?" she asked yourself.

"Other than the fact that you talk to yourself?" a man in armor of darkest black.

"Who are you?"

"You can call me Venerus, child."

"What do you want with me, Venerus?"

"I came to see what has been done to prepare you for the coming war."

"The war with the mandalorians that's already started?"

"No, the war between Jedi and Sith that will soon resume."

"That's impossible. The Sith were killed off at the end of the Exar Kun War."

"We were defeated, not driven extinct."

"You're a Sith?" she asked, drawing her lightsabers.

"Yes, I am Sith. But, you cannot defeat me."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I am the Dark Lord of the Sith." he replied.

"What would the Dark Lord of the Sith want with me?"

"You have great potential, especially for one so young. I would not want you to waste it by merely serving the Jedi, when with your natural talent you could have nigh-limitless power with the Dark Side."

"I don't buy into that Light Side or Dark Side only crap, Venerus. Powers don't have intrinsic morality, there's just morality in how they're used. So, why don't you go before I call the Jedi Council here for backup?"

"Please, those fools would crumble before my might. They would tremble before the might of the spirit I helped you seal back in the pyramid, and it was as a newborn infant before my might."

"Why would you help me with that thing?"

"You have great potential, as your parents did, before they quit walking the path of the Force to live ordinary lives."

"My parents were Jedi?" Revan asked.

"You know so little of your own lineage. Perhaps you would like an explanation."

"Not from you." she replied, "If you leave now, I'll not mention a Darth Venerus to the rest of the Jedi because I seriously doubt that you've actually got the forces necessary to start a war with the Republic, and I've got some other stuff to take care."

"Oh yes, the child you have such a... fondness of."

Revan just looked at him flatly, and said, "Just leave me alone and I won't mention you to the other Jedi. Okay?"

"Fair enough, Revan. Good luck in your training. Hopefully one day you will learn to understand the wisdom in accepting the power I offer you."

"There's no wisdom in sticking to black or white." she replied, walking away.

"One day you will realize otherwise." he replied, vanishing in a cloud of darkness.

'Great, do all Sith know how to do that? Or just the ones who bother me?' Revan thought to herself, as she looked up and saw Bastila.

The Padawan said, "Is something wrong, Revan? You look like something's troubling you."

"It's nothing much." she lied.

"Why do you insist on lying to me every time I ask you a question?"

"Why do you insist on calling me on my lies every time?"

"Because, a Jedi shouldn't lie."

"Sometimes people have things they want to keep secret, Bastila. And, if I lie to you, don't pry, it's probably for the best."

"Why?"

'Well, for starters, you could find out about some lunatic who claims to be the Dark Lord of the Sith.' Revan thought, but replied, "There are some things that people don't want others to know. Or, that it would be dangerous for certain others to know."

"Well, what is it this time?"

"The dangerous for you to know kind."

"Then shouldn't you tell the Council?"

"They'd not listen." she replied.

"You don't seem to have much confidence in them."

"They're a bunch of bureaucrats who are more worried about avoiding any possible danger than actually doing what they claim is their duty."

"You're really upset about them saying no Jedi are allowed to help the Republic fight the mandalorians, aren't you."

"Of course I am. The one thing I thought I could count on the Jedi Order for, fighting to protect the Republic from any danger, suddenly didn't just come into question, but quit being something at all."

"They felt that there was a greater threat behind the mandalorian uprisings, and they didn't wish to risk another Exar Kun."

"Yes, but don't you think it's strange, that they only decide to not fight the mandalorians? Yet every time there is even a single Sith they go to full-scale war? Why do you think that they do it that way?"

"Because the Sith are a far greater threat."

"The Sith are more dangerous, but the mandalorians have ravaged countless worlds along the Outer Rim. They are a considerable threat, and to have them attacking the Republic is dangerous. Especially if there is no Jedi aid."

"Are you sure that you aren't letting your own past experiences with the mandalorians cloud your judgement, Revan? Surely they aren't as powerful as you think. They're raiders, not an army."

"You're wrong. Most people think that after the war with Exar Kun that they lost their skills and became mere raiders, the truth is, they just lost a large number of warriors, but those numbers were replenished shortly, and they went right on back to destroying entire worlds and civilizations." Revan said, glaring at the ground.

Bastila was silent, then asked, "I see. There something you wanted to talk to me about? Or were you just walking around and ended up here?"

"I came to apologize. I was really rude to you earlier."

"You're... apologizing? I just figured you hated me because the bond formed, and wanted me to leave you alone. That's why when I sensed you start to tense up earlier I didn't come to see what was going on."

'Good thing too. He might have killed you.' Revan thought, before grinning and saying, "I don't hate you Bastila. I'm just a bit confused about how you managed to make a bond with me when my best friend on Coruscant couldn't. Despite her trying her hardest."

"Why would anyone want a bond with you? You're just as likely to stay and do what you're told as you are to go try to fight off an entire army of mandalorians on your own."

"I wouldn't do that. I may be a bit reckless, but I don't want to die. Besides, getting killed isn't really an option anymore. Now I can't fulfill my dream of going out in a blaze of glory, thanks to you." Revan replied with mock bitterness.

"Sorry for denying you a death at twenty." Bastila replied, with a slight grin.

"Was that a joke? From you?"

"Yes, you don't have to sound so surprised." Bastila said.

"Well, looks like I've been having an influence on you already, Bastila. Never thought I'd see the day when you'd crack a joke around a Jedi Knight."

"You're not exactly as serious as other Jedi Knights."

"True." Revan said, slightly nodding her head. So, what you doing out here?"

"Master Quatra sent me out here to meditate because she found out about our little trip to the crystal cave shortly after you showed up."

"Great." Revan flatly replied, "When is she going to be coming for my head?"

"Probably today, maybe tomorrow."

"Well, at least I'll be ready to be attacked by a paranoid cathar. Thanks for the warning."

"No problem. Are you actually going to try to fight her?"

"If I have to. Though, she did say that it was only if I tried to train you in any way, shape, or form that she'd come after me. I might be safe."

"I doubt it. Master Quatra was furious when she found out about it."

"Well, not too big a deal. I can probably beat her."

"You're overconfident. Master Quatra is one of the stronger Masters in the Order."

"She's got power, but- like much of her race- lacks control to optimize that power."

"Just be careful, okay?" Bastila asked.

Revan laughed, and said, "Don't worry, Bastila. I won't do something to hurt you if I can avoid it. Speaking of which, were you able to feel the pain from the beating I was getting while training with Master Vrook?"

"Not really, why?"

"Just checking if I successfully managed to block the pain from your notice."

"Why? I could handle a little pain, as the pain transmitted through the bond is greatly numbed."

"Really? Then you're tougher than I thought."

"What makes you say that?"

"When you got bit by that kath hound my leg was hurting like hell."

"But, why bother blocking the pain? I can handle it."

"Because, Bastila, I don't want other people to feel pain if I can avoid it."

"Oh. Well, I need to get back to my meditations for now or Quatra will never let me back into the Enclave." Bastila replied.

"Got it. I've got to fix up Matale's droid anyways. Hopefully Baldy's not busy. Guy may be completely incompetent with the Force, but he knows how to fix droids. Bye... Bas."

"What did you just call me?"

"Bas. Why?"

"Just surprised. Bye, Revan." she said.

The Knight nodded, and walked away.

-=0=-

Meetra sat down, and asked, "Why was I called here?" when looking around the High Council Chambers.

Master Sunrider said, "We have received some... disturbing news regarding the incident in which you were injured by a mandalorian assassin."

"What?"

"It appears that this mandalorian was smuggled onto Coruscant by a group of Jedi. We have not been able to confirm their names, but they appear to have fallen to the dark side and hidden the taint. Since you were directly affected by their actions, we have decided that you should be allowed to handle an investigation into any Jedi you suspect of being part of this group."

"Why not have a Master handle it?"

"We believe it would be a beneficial experience for you, Meetra. You have the potential to become a Jedi Master, and this would give you a chance to practice some of the skills a Master requires."

"I understand. Thank you, Masters." Meetra said, bowing.

Kreia added, "As well, I believe this should keep you too busy to give Revan a hard time."

"She told you about that?"

"I sensed your amusement, and knew that only giving Revan a hard time would entertain you so much."

"Fair enough, Master." Meetra said, "May I begin my investigation immediately?"

"That would be for the best. But be sure to keep it quiet, that way none of the Dark Jedi find out about what you are doing. And, I would suggest beginning with the Padawans who have not been assigned a specific teacher, as you could say that you are looking for a student of your own."

"Understood, Master." she said leaving the room.

-=0=-

A/N: Alright! Another chapter done. Might not get much more for a while, going out of town for a while, and won't be able to write anything. Until next time, thanks for reading, and please review.