Following the battle with the three Dark Jedi on the plains, Revan was given so much extra work with her training that she did not have any spare time. She was constantly either dueling with Vrook or learning more about the Force with Vandar for the following three months. She also had to handle the matter of her punishment for harming Quatra.
It was a simple matter of resolving a dispute between two farmers, surprisingly not the Sandrals and Matales. Rather one farmer claimed that the other let his animals roam freely, and they had destroyed his crop for the year, and was looking for some kind of reparation for the damages. The other said that he kept his securely fenced up. After a bit of investigating, Revan found that the man's fence had been broken down.
Upon closer examination she found that it was terentatek claws that had broken the fence. She promised the farmer who's crops had been damaged that he would receive payment from the order to cover what the other farmer's animals destroyed, and promised the man that the Jedi would have his fence repaired free of charge.
After that, she was simply too busy with training to so much as talk to anyone for three months. Finally, Master Vrook said, "You have done well in your training up to this point, so you may have this week off, Revan."
"Thank you, Master." she said, leaving the area, her muscles feeling leaden from all the training. After the brief walk to her cabin, she collapsed onto her bed, and fell asleep.
A few hours later, she was woken up by her datapad beeping loudly. She looked at it, and it was a message from Meetra saying, "There's been an update on the Council's stance on involvement in the Republic's fight with the mandalorians. Can you get on a vid-com in twenty?"
Revan replied, "Yeah." before walking into the main section of the room. A short while later, the vid-screen in the main part of her cabin that Ahlan Matale had given her as a bonus for the improved functionality of Shen's tutor droid came up, and she saw Meetra standing there with lines under her eyes. "You okay, Meetra?" she asked.
"Just tired." she replied, "Been really busy with an investigation for the Jedi Council."
"What kind of investigation?"
"They want me to look for any Dark Jedi hidden on Coruscant."
"You found any?"
"There was this one guy who showed up a few months ago. Said he was the Dark Lord of the Sith."
"Venerus showed up on Coruscant? Did he hurt you?" Revan asked.
"You've already met him?"
"He approached me a little over three months ago. Wanted me to join him. I told him to fuck off. What did he want with you?"
"He wanted to use me as a hostage. Probably hoping you'd join him to save me."
"So, tries to get everyone who's close to me to join him."
"What you talking about?"
"You remember how I told you about my best friend on Deralia?"
"Nicole, yeah. She was killed when the mandalorians attacked."
"Turns out I was wrong. Venerus rescued her, and turned her into a Dark Jedi. She showed up on Dantooine and tried to kill me. Nearly did, but let her guard down which let me cut off her arm. Then, when things weren't looking too good Bastila showed up, killed her. I was busy fighting a couple of friends of hers at that moment."
"So, you angry with the kid for killing Nicole?"
"It was a situation of kill or be killed."
"You sure that's not why you aren't mad at her?" Meetra asked.
"Really, Meetra? Didn't you say that you wanted to talk to me because of a change in the Council's position on Jedi involvement in the Mandalorian Conflict?"
"Yeah, but it isn't quite what you were hoping for."
"What do you mean?"
"Jedi are still under strict orders to not get directly involved with the combat, but the Council has decided we are to help bring supplies to beleaguered worlds. We're in the first batch being sent out."
"It'll be good to see you in person." Revan said, as she heard someone knock on her door. "Just a sec, Meetra, someone's at the door."
"Alright, I'll wait." she said.
Revan walked over to the door, and opened it to see Bastila. "You alright, Bastila?" she asked.
"Not really. I haven't really been able to sleep since the incident with those Dark Jedi. Every time I fall asleep I'm haunted by that woman's face as my blade ran her through. I know you said that if I ever needed someone to talk to I could come to you."
"I did say that. Why did you wait so long?"
"I knew you were really busy with your training so I didn't want to bother you." Bastila said.
"You talking to the kid who's pants you want to get in?" Meetra asked from the screen.
Revan blushed, and said, "Sorry about Meetra, she has a habit of being very inappropriate. And inaccurate." she said.
Bastila looked uncomfortable, and said, "Can we talk later then?"
"You don't have to go now!" Meetra said, "I just like making Rev uncomfortable. It's what she gets for getting on my case for leading this poor guy on, despite the fact I don't swing that way."
"You really need to stop that, Meetra. Seriously, just tell him you just want to be friends." Revan said.
"Where's the fun in that?"
"Nowhere, I guess. But I've seen the guy, he's crazy about you, and if you don't break the news to him, he might not believe you."
"That's not important. I'm here to talk to you about the Council's decisions, and give you relationship advice."
Revan turned and glared at her, before saying, "Meetra, I swear to the Force, if you do not drop this idiocy, I will throw you out of the nearest airlock when I next see you in person."
"So, I either drop this, or only have a few days to live." Meetra said. A few moments later, she added, "What was the kid's reaction?"
"I am not a kid." Bastila said, though her surprise at Meetra's words were clear in her voice.
Revan motioned for Bastila to come in, before sitting down on the couch. Once they were both seated, Meetra said, "Oh, you two are just so cute together! Can't believe you didn't listen, Rev. You moved really quickly."
Both Revan and Bastila blushed, and the Knight said, "Drop it, Meetra. You are walking on very, very, very thin ice. Though, being born on Coruscant, you've probably don't even understand that saying."
"Oh, getting touchy, Rev? That is so not like you. You must really have it bad for her."
Bastila said, "I'm just going to go."
"Aw, don't do that, Bas." Meetra said.
"She does this." was all Revan said. "A lot. And to everyone. Didn't Kreia give you a lecture about this when you were teasing her about having a thing for Master Oraka?"
"Wait, what?" Bastila said.
"I was giving Rev and I's old Master a bit of a hard time about having wet dreams about herself and Master Oraka, and she gave me about a three hour lecture on knowing when to keep my mouth shut." Meetra said.
Bastila looked even more uncomfortable then before, and just walked to the door. When she left, Meetra grinned, and said, "She's definitely a hot one. You have excellent taste, Rev."
Revan said, "For the umpteenth time, there is no such thing going on. And there will never be such a thing going on."
"Hey when I had a thing for that crazy twi'lek girl, Yuthura, you gave me a hard time about it."
"You never denied you wanted to get in her pants." Revan said.
"Oh, don't act like that gives you an excuse for you to tease me about wanting some chick, and then I don't have a right to."
"Fine, Meetra. Tease me away. Just please, don't do it in front of other people. It makes everyone uncomfortable."
"It doesn't make me uncomfortable."
"Because you have no sense of appropriateness." Revan replied.
"Oh well. You excited to be leaving that backwater planet for a while?"
"Yeah. Am I the only one from Dantooine in the Cathar unit?"
"Nope. Bastila and someone who the file just refers to as Baldy is going too. From Coruscant there's just me and a couple of other Knights. Already forgot their names."
"Got it. Baldy's another Padawan here on Dantooine. His name's Alek something really complicated. Most people here tend to just call him Squint when referring to his last name."
"Got it. Well, the shuttle is supposed to be leaving sometime tomorrow. I think the Council there will be bringing up the new position and who's being sent where when tonight, so act a little surprised." Meetra said.
"I'll try, Meetra. And you try to behave yourself for once in your life."
"You know that won't happen." Meetra said, "But I've got to go. My time's run out, and if I don't get off now, I'll have to pay. See you in a few days, Rev."
"See you soon too, Meetra." Revan replied, turning off the vid-screen. She walked out of the building, and saw Bastila still standing outside the cabin.
The Padawan asked, "Was Meetra being accurate, about you?"
"Oh, that. No. She just enjoys making everyone uncomfortable." Revan said.
Bastila sighed with relief, and said, "Thank goodness. It would be really weird if she was accurate."
Revan laughed, and said, "Don't think too much about what she says along those lines. It'll help you live a much more relaxed life. If you can, just try to laugh it off, and respond in the affirmative, but in a tone that's dripping in sarcasm. But, sometimes she's just too inappropriate for that to be a way to respond, and you just have to say that she's wrong. But, that's beside the point. What's been bothering you?"
"I just can't get the look in that Sith's eyes out of my mind. Every time I fall asleep I see her. Every time I look around a corner I expect her to be there, with lightsaber in hand, ready to take her revenge. I just can't get what I did out of my head."
Revan nodded, and said, "I understand."
"What do I do? I tried to convince myself it was the right thing to do, but it didn't work. How do I quit feeling so guilty about killing her?"
Revan placed a hand on her shoulder, and said, "I don't have a solution, but sometimes it helps to just vent what you're feeling."
"I feel guilty. I feel horrible. I feel like I should have tried something to get her to surrender. I feel like I had no right to decide the best choice was to kill her. I feel like I was a fool to even go and try to help you. I feel like I should have let you handle it on your own, since you aren't bothered by killing any of them."
Revan said, "If you hadn't come and helped me, I would have died there, and all three of them would still be alive, causing trouble across the galaxy. Your actions, as horrible as they seem now, were for the best. You helped rid the galaxy of three people who could have killed thousands or millions of others. You actions probably saved countless lives more than the one they ended. It at least saved two."
"Two?"
"Mine and yours." Revan said.
"Why?"
"Nicole was as crazy as Meetra. Said that I'd replaced Meetra with you. She said she was going to kill you."
"What did you say?"
"The truth, that she'd never stop at one."
"Why?"
"She said that I always replace my friends, and so she was going to force me not to."
"She was going to kill me? She was going to kill others? Who else?"
"Baldy. Meetra. Maybe some others. I don't know. Didn't make many friends on Coruscant." Revan said.
"What did she have against you? Against anyone who you befriended?"
"I don't know, and I never want to. I'd rather remember Nicole like she was on Deralia. As a slightly clumsy kid who needed someone to fight off the bullies."
"She was bullied a lot?"
"Yeah, but Bas, it doesn't help to humanize those you've killed."
"You're right, Revan. But, I'm just so curious about her. How someone can go from your best friend to being someone who will kill you and anyone close to you."
"She fell to the Dark Side. That breeds hate and bitterness. It made her change from who she once was." Revan said.
"How come you aren't even sad about her death?"
"I accepted that she was gone a long time ago. She may not have been, but I'd accepted it. Now that she really is gone, nothing's really changed. Besides, she wasn't the person I knew anymore. To me, she was just a Sith wearing Nicole's face and shared her memories."
"I see." Bastila said.
"And, if it makes you feel better, all those heroes of the Republic and the Order, they would have done the exact same thing. They did do that to a lot of Sith."
"Thanks, Revan. I should get going. You probably need your rest."
Revan yawned, and said, "Yeah. Talk to you later, Bastila." before walking back into the cabin.
-=0=-
That evening, Revan stepped into the Council chambers, and saw it mostly full. She scanned it for a place to sit, and the only spot was between Bastila and Alek. She walked over to them, and sat down.
Alek said, "We made sure to save you a seat."
"Thanks." she replied.
Then, Vandar and the rest of the Council stepped into the room, and the sage said, "Now that you are all here, this meeting can begin."
Vrook said, "As you know, the Republic is in a war with the mandalorians. While the Council on Coruscant has decided it to be best that Jedi do not become directly involved in this conflict, it has decided that it would be good to send Jedi to bring supplies to some of the beleaguered worlds in the Outer Rim. First we are sending a team of six Jedi to the planet of Cathar. Three from this Enclave, and three from Coruscant."
"Who's going?" A young Padawan asked, excitement clear in her voice.
Dorak said "Knight Revan, and Padawans Shan and..." he paused for a moment then continued, "Alek, will be going, Padawan Belaya."
Then, a Knight asked, "Why, when Revan is undergoing extra training, and Bastila and Alek are also in extra difficult stages of their training are these three being sent?"
"These three have been selected due to their combined set of skills. Revan is an expert leader, as well as having an extensive knowledge of Catharese. Bastila has the gift of Battle Meditation which could be valuable in helping with the morale of the cathar people. As for Alek, he has skill with machinery that is second to very few. These skills will be valuable in helping the locals fight off the mandalorian menace, while not becoming directly involved in the combat, Knight Telarn." Zhar said.
"I understand, Master Zhar." he replied.
Then, Revan stood up, and asked, "What are we to do if we are attacked by mandalorian forces while doing our other duties?"
"You may defend yourselves. But you are not to go out of your way to seek battle with them." Vandar said.
She grimaced, then said, "I understand, Master." before sitting down.
"Are there any other questions?" Vrook asked.
"Yes." Quatra said. "Why are you sending my Padawan into a potentially dangerous situation with Knight Revan, who has previously shown a disregard for both her own safety, as well as Bastila's?"
Vandar said, "We have given our reason for sending Bastila, Master Quatra. And, it will only be a short deployment. They will be back in three weeks time. And, the first three days they are away will be on Coruscant."
"Then I request to be sent in Bastila's stead." the Master said.
"Your request is denied." Zhar said.
"Why do you insist on sending a Padawan who is barely worthy of the title. Who cannot handle a few kath hounds, to go and fight mandalorians."
Revan said, "The only reason she has any difficulty with kath hounds is that you are so harsh that she has absolutely no confidence in her own abilities. Her skills are good enough to handle most enemies if she had confidence, but your methods are such that they do not instill that in your students."
"Revan, be quiet!" Vrook said. "We do not need another incident like three months ago!"
"Are you questioning me, Knight?" Quatra asked.
"No, I'm telling you your methods are wrong." she said.
"Know your place, Knight." Quatra growled, while Bastila tugged at the Knight's robe.
The Padawan whispered, "Revan, could you please stop this. You're going to get all three of us into a massive amount of trouble!"
"I know my place, Quatra. And it is standing up to you, and your methods."
"Revan! Show Master Quatra respect!" Vrook roared.
The Knight ignored him, and said, "You treat your pupils like they are incompetent fools. This leads to them believing they are, and makes so that they cannot grow beyond that."
Quatra roared, and drew her twin blades, and said, "I will have your head for that insult, Tremaine!"
"Do you really think that is a good idea, Quatra? You stand before the entire Enclave. If you attack me, there is the entire Council present. They would quickly disarm you. And, are these really the actions of the Jedi? Threatening to slay someone because of a perceived insult? What I was saying was merely a critique of your methods."
"What are you trying to say, Knight Revan?" Dorak asked.
"That Master Quatra has fallen to the dark side." Revan said.
"That is a bold accusation to make." the Master said, "What makes you so certain?"
"Where should I begin?" Revan said to herself, "Let's see. She attempted to kill me three months ago, and used the Force with intent to harm me. Her actions just now, when she prepared her weapons for combat, against a clearly unarmed opponent, and I mentioned the entire Council was present, she showed no sign of even being intimidated. As if she thinks she could handle you all, Masters. Now, I do not know of a single Jedi who would believe that the Council was no match for them, but a Jedi who has fallen, that's a different story." the Knight said. "As we all know, they are often, if not always, overconfident in their strength. They believe that none can stand up to them, when that is not the case. And, a friend of mine on Coruscant recently told me that they had caught a Dark Jedi on the temple in Coruscant. Now, if a Dark Jedi can hide their presence there, in the heart of the Jedi Order, why could one not be hidden here?"
The Council nodded, and Vrook said, "Continue, Knight Revan."
"There is also the matter that she attempted to kill me before, when I attempted to peacefully defuse the situation. Giving her logical reasons why her attacking me was not a viable option. And, she was still intent upon hearing my reasoning for taking Bastila with me. Now, I've known a few over-protective Masters, but when they're told that it was to save an innocent child, they usually accept it. Quatra was still bent on killing me. She has shown continual disregard for the Jedi Code, any form of it, and has shown great anger in many instances. Has it not been taught by the Order for an untold number of years that anger leads to hate, and hate leads to the dark side?"
"That is no proof that I have fallen!" Quatra said.
"Quatra, let Revan finish." Vandar said.
"No! I will not allow this arrogant child act so high and mighty any longer! She is the one who has fallen! She seeks to seduce Bastila."
"Come again?" Revan asked.
"I know all of your communications with Meetra Surik! Of how you have talked of how you wish to take Bastila into your bed, and defile her!" Quatra said, to everyone's surprise.
Revan said, "That is not true. Yes, Meetra has teased me about that, but I always told her the truth. That I was interested in no such thing. And, why would you be spying on me, Quatra? Doesn't seem very Jedi-like of you. And, don't the Jedi believe in fair trials? Where one may speak, without fear of being harmed for what they say? Is it not the Sith who threaten to kill any who say what they do not want?"
"Your accusations have no base!" the cathar said.
"My accusations are based on your actions, Quatra. You have attempted to kill me once, and threatened to kill me twice more. You have spied on me, in my communications with a close friend without a reason. Communications, which you lied about the details of in an attempt to switch the guilt onto me. If I remember correctly, Jedi are only supposed to lie if captured by enemies of the Republic and Jedi Order, and only then to protect the Order. Never to lie to defend themselves."
"Revan speaks the truth." Vandar said.
"You cannot believe this woman's lies!" Quatra said.
"What Revan has said has been backed by what we have either seen, or what you have said." Dorak said. "The question now is if you are truly fallen. Not if you are in the right, because you are clearly not."
"You cannot mean that, Dorak!"
"Do you have anything more to say, Knight Revan?" Vandar asked.
"Just a little. We know Quatra's manners are harsh. Before, we just thought she was stern as Master Vrook is. But, if she has fallen, perhaps it was less her being akin to a good Jedi such as Master Vrook, but her following her fallen nature."
The Council nodded, and Zhar said, "We will have to consider this. What do you have to say to defend yourself, Master Quatra?"
"I have served the Jedi Order faithfully for my entire life. I have trained more than twenty Padawans, and not one of them has fallen to the dark side. If I were fallen, wouldn't they have fallen? And, do we really trust Revan? A woman trained by Kreia, who is infamous for being deceptive? We already know she takes after her old Master."
The Council nodded, and Vandar said, "We will have to consider the facts. Until then, Quatra, you are on suspension."
"You cannot be serious!"
"We are." Vrook said.
Quatra sighed, and walked away. When she was gone, Dorak said, "You all are dismissed."
The crowd quickly dissipated. When Revan, Bastila, and Alek were alone on the plains, everyone else having gone to their quarters, Alek said, "You really threw the book at Quatra in there."
"It had to be done."
"What did you mean, when you said a friend of yours on Coruscant had found a Dark Jedi?"
"Meetra encountered a Dark Jedi on Coruscant."
"They've infiltrated the temple?" Alek asked.
"It might not be plural." she said, "It was the Master of the three who came after me."
"Did Meetra find out his name?"
"He calls himself Venerus." Revan said. "But, we should be getting ready. We're heading to Coruscant soon." a smile crossed the Knight's face.
"You seem excited." Alek said.
"Yeah, but I'm going to have to punch Meetra." Revan said, looking sad.
"What for?" Alek asked.
"Being highly inappropriate."
Bastila said, "That was definitely awkward earlier."
"What, you go to hook up with Revan, and she was talking with this Meetra chick?" Alek asked.
Both women blushed, then Revan kicked him in the gut, and said, "Quit acting like Meetra. Both of you need to get your minds out of the gutter."
"You're one to talk." he said.
"What?"
"Nothing." he replied, "So, you know anything about the planet Cathar?"
"It's a large savanna in most places, but there are also large forests. The cathar people are split into three groups. The ruling class look like large, talking, upright cats, while the two lower classes look more humans. The forest cathar live inside the massive trees of the forests, while the savanna and desert cathar live in large tents that provide shade from the blazing sun. The cathar race follow a strict warrior's code of honor. Often when one is insulted it leads to a battle. They are a relatively savage people, who live by their instincts. This instinctive savagery causes difficulty at first for cathar Jedi, but there is a special training regiment which helps them handle that particular part of their culture. Some revel in their society more than others." Revan said, as they walked along the plains.
"Looks like the road around the Matale estate is well on the way to being finished." Alek said, as they walked around.
"Yeah." Bastila said.
Revan then said, "I'm going to go get ready for the trip to Coruscant. You two should as well."
"Understood." Alek said, running off.
When he was gone, Bastila asked, "Why does everyone act as if we... like each other... that way."
"Meetra because she's a pain in the ass at times. Baldy is probably because he's a pervert." Revan said, as she walked towards her cabin.
"Okay." Bastila said, "See you tomorrow."
"Right." the Knight said, walking away.
-=0=-
Revan stepped out of her quarters the next day, and saw Vrook standing there. She asked, "Is something wrong, Master Vrook?"
"I came to test your skills one last time, before you leave for Coruscant." he said, drawing his blade.
"I understand, Master." she said, as she put down her bag, and ignited her twin sabers. The two clashed, Revan striking at Vrook's head and left arm. The Master dodged both attacks, and struck at her torso, but she blocked it.
She swung both of her blades at Vrook's head, and he blocked it with his blade. Revan then kicked him in the gut, and stabbed at the Master. He barely blocked it, but Revan rapidly moved her weapon in a circle, causing Vrook's blade to fly out of his hand. She kicked him to the ground, and bound him there with the Force. She placed her twin sabers to his neck, and said, "Yield."
He said, "I yield. You have truly become a blademaster."
She turned her blades off, and removed the bonds. She extended a hand to help the Master up. He accepted it, and when they were both vertical, she asked, "How are you feeling, Master?"
"Proud of you, Revan." he said, "You truly are as talented as Kreia said. Few have ever defeated me, and fewer still using two lightsabers at once. You are undoubtedly the most skilled Jedi I have ever trained. But, you should hurry to the shuttle. You do not want to be late, on your trip to Coruscant."
"That I don't. Does this mean that my training with you is over, Master?" she asked.
"There is nothing left for you to learn from me." He said, "Soon your advanced training will come to an end, if your progress with Vandar has been even close to your progress with me. And then, you can train a Padawan yourself."
"I may need advice on how to do that." She said, smiling as the two walked towards the Enclave.
"Your experience with young Bastila says that you are ready to train another." he said.
"What do you mean?"
"You may not have noticed it, but she looks up to you. And, during the time she has spent serving alongside you, she has gained much experience. Perhaps even more than in her time with Quatra. Though, next time you two kill those who would do you harm, do bury them a bit deeper."
"You found their bodies? And, what makes you say it was Bastila and I who killed them?"
"I didn't, a group of kath hounds did. As for how I could know, there was one who was missing an arm, but had been killed by a blade through the heart. The other two were killed in ways that were more damaging."
"I understand, Master. Are Bastila and I in trouble for killing them?"
"No. They must have meant you and others harm." Vrook said.
"They did. The leader said she was going to kill Bastila. But, I could tell from the look in her eyes, she wouldn't stop at just one. I knew she intended to slay anyone who was a friend of mine."
"Why?"
"She had a personal grievance against me, and wanted me to suffer, I believe." Revan said.
Vrook nodded, and said, "Until we meet again." as Revan boarded the shuttle. Inside the ship, she saw Bastila and Alek.
"So, what took you so long?" Alek asked.
"Master Vrook wished to test my skills one last time before we left." Revan said.
"Yeah. How'd it go?"
"I won." Revan said.
Both of them looked shocked, and Alek asked, "Are you serious? Did you really beat Master Vrook?"
"I did." she said.
"Wow." He said, amazement clear in his voice.
Revan smirked, and asked, "What else did you expect, Baldy?"
"Him to beat you, to be honest."
"Well, so did I." Revan replied. "You're awfully quiet, Bastila? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." the Padawan replied.
"Alright." Revan said, as she walked into the main part of the ship. There, she saw that there wasn't anyone else, except for crew. She walked into the medbay, and saw Stephanie working on someone. "What happened to him, Steph?" the Knight asked.
"What?" the woman asked, jumping slightly.
"What happened to him?"
"Oh, Knight Revan! How are you doing?"
"Pretty good. What happened to this guy?"
"Oh him? He was working on taking care of the baggage for the people who were departing. The pile was way too high, and it collapsed. Broke his feet."
"Ouch. You put him under?"
"Yes, he was in a lot of pain, and his movements made my job a lot harder."
"Interesting. How long is his recovery time?"
"Probably a week or so after we get back to Coruscant. He'll get put in a kolto tank, and that should be the end of it. By the way, love your new hair color. Why'd you decide to dye it?"
"I didn't. I'm allergic to large amounts of kolto, and it resulted in a mutation that changed its color."
"Well, blue's a good color for you." Stephanie said.
"Thanks. I'll leave you to your work."
"Alright. You might want to talk to your other female Jedi. There was a package for her in the items being brought here, and it seemed to upset her."
"Thanks for the suggestion. Thought I could feel something wrong with her."
"Oh, forgot about your Jedi powers. Sorry."
"It's not a problem. I think I know why she's so upset." Revan said, walking out of the medbay. Then, the ship rocked, and after some loud feedback, a voice said, "We are the Exchange. Everyone is to put away their weapons immediately. We have infiltrated your shuttle's systems. If you do not comply immediately, we will destroy your vessel."
Revan said, "If you have hacked into the ship's systems, Exchange, then you would know that there are three members of the Jedi Order on board. I would highly suggest rethinking your position." well saying to Bastila over the bond, "Can you use your Battle Meditation to make them more likely to leave us alone?"
"I can try." Bastila replied.
Revan said, "Do what you can." before walking towards the boarding ramp.
The Exchange said, "We do not fear you, Jedi. We have control of your ship. Your engines are disabled."
"Who says we need our engines to handle you?" she asked, embracing the Force. She then focused outwards, and found the ship. She reached towards them all, and molded the Force around them. Soon, they were gasping for breath. She then said, "Either, leave, or I will continue my assault." while she felt her confidence being bolstered by Bastila's Battle Meditation.
The Exchange said, "Very well. We will let your ship go. Though, we are curious as to how a Dark Jedi is allowed in the Order."
"I'm not a Dark Jedi. I'm a Grey Jedi. I use both sides of the Force. I do what I see as right. I do what I see as necessary. And I use, what I see as necessary to protect the innocent. The Council is well aware of this." she said.
The Exchange did not respond, but left. Revan walked into the bridge, and asked the rodian pilot, "Are they gone?"
"Yes." he responded.
"Good to hear it." she said, "What happened to Onasi?"
"Went to fight in big war with mandalorians."
"Good for him." Revan said.
"Told him he was foolish. That we're shuttle pilots, not soldiers. He not listen."
"Sometimes you've just got to fight." Revan said, walking out of the bridge. She stood in the main room, looking at the variety of tools, when Alek walked over to her.
He said, "Want to play some Pazaak?"
"Not right now." she said, "Got some stuff on my mind."
"You and Bastila both." he said.
"Listen, Baldy," Revan growled, "We are being sent to an active warzone where the fuckers who ransacked my homeworld, killed my parents, and sold me into slavery are. And, I've been told to avoid seeking out a battle with them. So, I've got a lot on my mind. I've had all I can take of you and Meetra making false assumptions about me. I'm not interested in romantic entanglements with anyone, and much less interested in just sex. So, quit it!"
"Easy, Revan. I wasn't trying to make any assumptions." he said.
"Sorry, Alek. I'm just fed up with you and Meetra acting like I'm interested in Bastila." as she walked away.
Then, Alek said, "Who wouldn't be interested in Bastila?"
Revan shook her head, and ignored him, as she collapsed in her room.
-=0=-
The rest of the journey went on in silence. Revan spent most of the time in her room, and Bastila did the same in her own. Alek spent his time in the bridge, watching the stars fly by.
When they did arrive on Coruscant, Revan and Bastila left their respective rooms, to watch their descent towards the Jedi Temple. Bastila said, "It's enormous!"
"Yeah." Revan distractedly said.
Alek watched in silent awe, until the ship touched down. He and Bastila excitedly headed for the ramp, while Revan stood in the bridge in silence.
"Are you alright, Revan?" Stephanie asked.
"Not really." she said, as she walked towards the exit.
"What's wrong?"
"The war, that's what." Revan replied, walking to the exit.
When she walked out, she saw a grinning Meetra, and a silent Kreia. The Knight smiled at her old Master, then glared at Meetra. Even more so when she heard a surprised yelp from Bastila before the Padawan collided with her, and both collapsed to the ground. Revan quickly pushed Bastila off from on top of her, trying to ignore her completely, before walking over to Meetra and silently punching the laughing woman in the gut.
Kreia watched, quietly laughing as Revan did so, before helping Bastila to her feet. The Padawan said, "Thank you, Far-Seer."
Revan, on the other hand, was shouting at Meetra, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, MEETRA! IS THIS GOING TO BE A CONTINUING ISSUE? HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN HER FOR YOU TO GET THE POINT!"
"Sorry, Rev." Meetra said, "I just thought it would be funny. And, you seemed pretty down, when you stepped out of that ship."
"WELL I'M NOT DOWN ANYMORE. I'M PISSED. WHAT THE FUCKING HELL WERE YOU THINKING? YOU COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT EITHER ME, BASTILA, OR BOTH OF US!"
"Oh, you don't want her to get hurt?"
Revan lowered her voice from a shout, and said, "In case you've forgotten, Meetra, we're going into space where the mandalorians are doing serious damage to a world. If one of us is hurt, that could mess up the operation."
"Always so professional. You ever think about relaxing a bit?"
"Have you ever consider letting it go?"
"Nope. Gonna tease you until you reveal to me your dark thoughts."
Revan shook her head, and said, "I should have known." before turning to Kreia, and saying, "It's good to see you again, Master."
"And you too, Revan. It seems Meetra has not done as she was told. I might suggest dunking her in a large pool of water whenever she does so in the future. That worked when she was young."
"I'll try it, Master." Revan said.
Then, she turned, and saw Meetra was openly ogling Bastila. The Padawan asked, "Did I do something wrong?"
"Nope. You're even cuter in person. No wonder Rev has it so bad for ya." Meetra said.
"I do not!" Revan said, before continuing to ask Kreia, "What is the situation on Cathar?"
"I do not know, Revan. But, I fear it is grim indeed."
"I see." the Knight said.
Then, Revan turned around, and saw that Meetra had tackled Bastila. "Dude, what the hell?" she muttered to herself, before pulling Meetra off of a crimson Bastila.
"Aww, you ruined the fun!" Meetra said. "Did I make you jealous?"
"No." Revan flatly replied, helping Bastila to her feet. "You made everyone uncomfortable. Now can you please stop this? It isn't funny anymore."
Meetra sighed, and said, "Only if you agree to quit mooning after Bastila."
"I am not mooning after Bastila. Trust me, if I was it would be very different behavior."
"Oh come on, Rev. You've got to admit, you love her."
"No, I don't."
"Yes you do."
"Nope."
"You don't have to deny it, Rev. No one here will judge you. You're among friends. One of whom you want to fuck senseless."
"I see where Revan got her mouth." Bastila muttered.
"Actually," Kreia said, "Meetra got hers from Revan."
"Oh. Why is she so crude?"
"That is just Meetra's way." Kreia said, while Meetra and Revan kept arguing. And, Alek had collapsed he was laughing so hard while watching the two. "She uses it as a way of protecting herself, as she is in love with Revan, and does not want her to be with anyone else. And Revan loves her too, but just as a friend. You could say that Meetra's actions are that she sees you as a threat."
"To what?"
"To her attempt to seduce Revan."
"Why aren't you opposed to this? It's against the rules."
Kreia laughed as Revan simply lifted Meetra into the air, flipped her on her head, and dropped. Then said, "The current rules are flawed and wrong. To not allow love, to not allow romantic relationships is wrong."
"But, love can lead to the dark side!"
"It could, but it could also save one from it. Keep them away from that path." Kreia said, "It is a risk, but all things that are truly worthwhile hold a risk."
Bastila was silent, then was surprised to see Revan and Meetra hugging. "Weren't they fighting just a second ago?"
"This is their relationship, more or less. They may fight for a while, but after a while, they will simply hug, and move on."
"Oh." Bastila said.
-=0=-
"So," Revan, "you break the truth to Traynor yet?"
"No, I was hoping you could do it for me." Meetra replied.
"That's you. Get your ass in a mess, and then expect me to pull you out of it. You know one day I won't be around to clean up your messes for you, right?" Revan asked.
"Yeah, but you're here now. Help me out?"
"I'll help you tell him, but you are the one who's going to tell him. Okay?"
Meetra sighed, then said, "Fine. I suppose you want me to do it now, too."
"Yeah. Don't worry, if things get hairy, I'll take care of it." Revan said.
"You better." Meetra said, as the two walked off.
-=0=-
Bastila asked, "When are we going to be leaving for Cathar?"
"The day after tomorrow." Kreia said, "That way you and Alek will have time to experience some of what Coruscant has to offer. But not all, there is far too much to experience in a single lifetime."
"Really?" Alek asked.
"Indeed. It would take more time than there is in a single human lifespan to get through all the prostitutes alone." Kreia said.
"Wait, what?" Alek said.
Kreia chuckled, and said, "That was a joke. Come this way."
-=0=-
A/N: I guess I'll cut this one off here. Don't want too much content in a chapter. Thanks for reading, and until next time, please drop a review. They really help me tell what you guys do and don't like.
