A/N: To chris's review. First off, thanks for reviewing! Glad you enjoy the story! Secondly, thank you for pointing out your issue with that section. I'll honestly admit that I hadn't predicted it. Had I, I would have included a bit in the chapter to make sure that things were clear on the character's reasoning. So, the start of this chapter will include some dialogue to better explain why she made the decisions she did. Hopefully this will clear things up for you!
-=0=-
Revan glanced up from the table when she sensed Bastila walking towards the exit. When the Padawan had left the room, Revan turned to Meetra, and asked, "What's bugging you, Meetra?"
She glanced up from her food, and said, "What makes you think something's bugging me?"
"Because you've been eating way slower than usual." Revan said, smirking.
"Sorry, I don't have much of an appetite right now." she replied, "Did Veras tell you about his plan regarding Anseron?"
"About lying to the council about how he died? Yeah." Revan said.
"What do you think? Please tell me you think we shouldn't do it. I only agreed to go along with their story because we didn't have the time to discuss it on the ship. Because we needed to get that mission finished."
"I think we shouldn't do it." Revan said. "But that we must."
"Why? We can talk them out of it."
"Because," Revan said, blocking the bond with Bastila, "if we tell them the truth, it will have severe consequences. If they learn the truth, the Jedi will never be allowed to assist the Republic. So, while it is distasteful, it is the only option we have."
"Come on, Rev," Meetra said, "you can't be serious!"
"If we don't tell them a falsified story, they will view what happened as both us, and the Republic being reckless, and they will strictly forbid any involvement in the war. Regardless of how severe the situation gets. The Council is too cautious to take a risk, and will view his death as a clear sign that we should not be involved in the war. Unless we make them believe that it was because we were betrayed by someone we thought was on our side. If they think that Johnson killed Anseron before we had a chance to react while we were on the surface of Cathar, things will work better than if they know the truth. I know it's cold, but you can't count on the Council to do the logical thing. So, we have to do everything in our power to make them think the way we do. Even if it's lying about how one of our own died."
"It doesn't feel right to lie to the Council." Meetra said, "I was really hoping that you'd help me talk Veras and Alek into telling the truth."
"I wish that was an option too." Revan replied, "But, it's just the way things are right now. With the Council's attitude towards Jedi actually fighting this war, they can't know the truth of how this battle was won."
"Do you really think that they'd punish you for saving almost the entire fleet? Forsk was doing such a shit job that he almost got everyone killed, and you turned the battle around!"
"They won't view it that way, Meetra. They'll view it as me exploiting the situation to get a chance to fight the mandalorians. My actions about the mandalorians when I first joined the Order were idiotic, and now I'm going to have to pay for it. The Council will never think that I would go to war against them for anything but revenge." Revan said, clenching her fist, and slamming it into the table. "They think that I don't care about anything but payback for something that happened years ago."
Meetra placed a hand on Revan's shoulder, and said, "Hey, Rev, relax. Just because the Council thinks that you'll just be going out to fight the mandalorians for revenge doesn't mean that everyone else does. Anyone who would actually take the time to get to know you would know that you hate the mandalorians, and if you met one on the street he'd better be hoping that you're at your worst because otherwise he's dead. But, you won't go to war just because of what happened back then. You've grown up a lot since you first joined. I mean, you haven't tripped someone with the Force for trying to talk to you in years."
Revan chuckled, and said, "He did kinda deserve it. I made it very clear that I just wanted to be left alone before he fell over. And, no one could prove that I tripped him."
"Just because there's no proof that you did it doesn't mean everyone knows that you did."
"Yeah." Revan said, "But, I need to get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. I'm going to have to convince Dodonna to let us stay and keep helping."
"I doubt you'll be able to convince her." Meetra said, "And, Rev, if we're supposed to be hard as durasteel and colder than ice in war, how do we go back to regular living? How, if we throw aside what makes us civilized while on the battlefield, are we supposed to go back to it?"
Revan glanced at Meetra, and said, "I'm not sure, but when I find out, I'll share the secret with you."
"Thanks, Rev." she replied.
"No problem." the younger Knight replied, walking out the door.
-=0=-
Carth stepped into Dodonna's temporary office, and asked, "Why did you want to see me, Ma'am?"
"You are going back to Admiral Karath's fleet. Your assistance here is no longer necessary."
"Why? Jory and I were told that this was an indefinite re-assignment just before we left."
"Your skills will be better used on the front that Karath is defending." Dodonna said, "Do you have an issue with your return to your original assignment?"
"No, ma'am." he replied, "I was just surprised by the sudden change, that's all. When are Jory and I to leave?"
"You are returning to Admiral Karath's fleet alone. Jory will be staying here for the foreseeable future."
"Understood." Carth said, leaving the room. As he stepped into the hall, he saw someone in Jedi robes leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. "Do you need something?" he asked.
She opened her eyes, and said, "I'm fine."
"Then why are you just sitting there on the floor?"
"I need to talk to Dodonna." she said, standing up.
"About what?"
"Nothing that you'd find interesting." she said, "You should go and do whatever your orders are."
-=0=-
Dodonna said, "I do not recall requesting your presence, Jedi." as Meetra walked in.
"You didn't, but we need to talk, Admiral." she said.
"About what?"
"You do not want to send us back to Coruscant early. Everyone knows the only way the Republic is going to beat the mandalorians is with Jedi aid. And, when the Jedi join the war, Revan will be the one in charge. The Masters will never go to war if there isn't a Sith threat. It will be the Knights and Padawans who fight, who lose their lives defending the Republic. And, Revan is the best of us. And, if you have any idea of her history, you should know that sending her away from fighting the mandalorians is the worst choice you could make."
"I have made my decision, you cannot talk me out of it. Regardless of what story you tell me. Are you going to say that they hurt someone Tremaine's sleeping with, and now she wants payback?"
"No." Meetra said, "Even if she had a lover, hurting her wouldn't be enough to make Revan want to kill them more than almost anything else. What they did was far worse than just hurting someone. When Revan was a kid, not even ten, the mandalorians attacked her homeworld, killed her parents, and sold her as a slave on Nar Shaddaa. So, she has a pretty fucking good reason for wanting payback. And, if you don't trust her to control herself, then you are making a very powerful enemy."
"Why should I trust her, if she has a personal vendetta against our enemy? Why should I believe that she will not sacrifice my men so that she can get one step closer to her revenge against the people who you could easily say ruined her life? It's what anyone would do."
"It's what an ordinary person would do, Dodonna. But, you can't put Revan in the same category as regular people. She will take a blaster bolt or a vibroblade for those under her command. I don't like the idea of sacrificing people in battle, but Revan will do it only if it is absolutely necessary. She's not in this for revenge, that's just a bonus to her."
"What gives you so much faith in her, that it isn't just about revenge?"
"When you've known someone for as long as I've known Revan, you get pretty damn good at figuring out what their motivations are. She's not in this for revenge. If she were, she'd have given off several hints."
"Then, explain her destruction of a mandalorian camp without any assistance." Dodonna said.
"There were cathar children in need of rescue in that. Her actions were a distraction so that I could get them out of there safely. And, we learned about the traitor there."
"And where are these cathar children?"
"They were dead before we arrived." Meetra said, closing her eyes, "When I informed Rev of what had happened, that's when she started killing them all, instead of just getting their attention."
Dodonna nodded, and said, "I see. While I appreciate your input, Surik, I have no choice but to send you, Revan, Alek, and Bastila back to Coruscant. You have gone beyond the limitations set by your council, and if there are not actions taken, it will lead to further conflict between the Republic and the Jedi Order."
Meetra leaned back in the chair she was sitting in, and said, "Admiral, you are making a mistake. You need to trust that we'll have the wisdom to know just how involved to get in the conflict."
"You went beyond the orders of your Masters on the first day."
"There were extenuating circumstances that made a greater level of involvement necessary."
"What about the battle which ended just hours ago?"
"Forsk was doing such a terrible job commanding the battle that we wouldn't be around to have this discussion if someone didn't take command from him."
"Your boarding of the mandalorian vessel where one of your fellow Jedi died?"
"Johnson was using Battle Meditation against us, so someone had to go and interrupt it."
"What is Battle Meditation?"
"An advanced Jedi mind manipulation technique. It is one of the most difficult abilities to master, even with a decade of practice. It is making people either feel greater confidence or despair. Masters of the technique are also said to be able to make ship pilots move in near perfect co-ordination."
"Are there any amongst the Jedi Order who have that level of skill?"
'Yes, but Revan would kill me if I told you about her.' Meetra thought.
"Is there any Jedi with the level of skill to enable perfect co-ordination in a fleet?"
"If there is, I don't know who." Meetra lied.
"That is unfortunate." Dodonna said. "Leave my office now."
"Aye-aye, Admiral." Meetra replied walking out the door.
-=0=-
Revan opened her eyes, to see Bastila standing over her. "What's going on, Bas?"
The woman smirked, and said, "Geez, Rev. That's the first thing you say when you see me after three years fighting the mandalorians?"
"Oh." the Knight said, the thought, 'This is a dream.' running through her mind. "Sorry, I'm still a bit out of it."
"I suppose you would be. After you fought Mandalore and his guards alone, since Meetra and Alek left you behind a couple months ago."
"It was their choice." Revan said, attempting to stay in character with what she assumed would have been her reaction were the dream real.
"So, you're no longer angry with them for abandoning you? When we talked about it last time, you were really upset."
"Of course I was, two of my best friends turned their backs on me." she replied, attempting to sound bitter, and glaring at the ground. When she felt a hand on her chin, she looked up at Bastila, who gave her a quick kiss, and said,
"Relax, Rev. I'm sure they don't hold anything against you."
The Knight smiled at the younger woman, and said, "You're probably right, Bas."
"Thanks, Rev," she said, "I'm so relieved to see that the war hasn't changed you as much as Alek and Meetra said."
"I was pretty bad near the end of the war, but that's behind me now." she said.
-=0=-
Bastila knocked on Revan's door, and said, "Revan, Admiral Dodonna wants to talk to you in her office."
Revan said, "What was that?" through the door.
"Admiral Dodonna wants to talk to you in her office."
"Got it." she said, "Tell her I'll be there in five minutes."
"Alright." Bastila replied.
"Also, why didn't you just contact me through the bond?"
"You seemed to be sleeping well, so I decided to let you get a few more minutes by taking the longer way."
"Thanks." Revan said, stepping out of her room. "Do you know why Dodonna wants to talk to me?"
"She wouldn't answer any questions I asked. Told me that I was just to tell you to go talk to her, and not ask any questions."
"Great." Revan said, "Don't tell me it's going to be the same shit all over again, but with an Admiral."
"You don't mean Meetra's fool idea."
"Probably. Everyone seems to think the same damn thing." Revan said, then chuckled, "Would be kinda funny if they were right, and I was the only one who didn't realize it. That, and incredibly awkward."
"Yeah." Bastila said, rubbing the back of her head uncomfortably. "Please tell me that isn't the case."
"If I find out it is, I'll still act exactly the same." Revan replied. "Or, I'd at least try."
"Oh Force, Meetra's right, isn't she?" Bastila asked.
"Uh," Revan said, "I think she's wrong, but everyone else seems to agree with her, so I could be the one who's wrong. Though, I would like to think that if she was right, I would have realized it before every other person in the galaxy. Anyways, I need to go talk to Dodonna. Though it'll probably be like smashing my head against a wall."
"I think that would be a lot more painful."
"True." the Knight said, walking away.
-=0=-
Admiral Dodonna sat in her office, when Revan walked in. "So, why do you want to talk to me, Admiral?"
"Which one of you four is capable of Battle Meditation?"
"What?"
"Surik attempted to persuade me to allow your continued involvement in the war, and she mentioned the ability of Battle Meditation. With how she reacted, it was clear that one of you can. So, which one is it?"
"Do you really think I'll tell you who it is? You have shown a willingness to simply use our skills, then discard us when said skills are no longer beneficial."
"We are in a war, Tremaine. You should understand the need to make sacrifices."
"Your actions facilitated my seizing command from Admiral Forsk, because you would not. You never one questioned my orders, or attempted to take command from me. So, the actions that you are referring to that would necessitate the return of my fellow Jedi and I are just as much my fault as they are yours. I've done some research into you, you would have been able to turn the battle around. But, you didn't. You left it up to me."
"What of your fellow Jedi boarding a mandalorian vessel to handle the enemy who was using the Battle Meditation against the Republic fleet?"
"Obviously Meetra would have briefed you on the reasoning." Revan said, "So, your inquiries are pointless. How about you get on topic, and discuss whether or not my fellow Jedi and I are leaving."
"My decision has already been made, Tremaine." Dodonna said, "You and your fellow Jedi are leaving. Now tell me which one of your compatriots is skilled with Battle Meditation. Is it Alek?"
Revan simply glared at her, and said, "I'm not telling you."
"So it is Shan. Her talents will be invaluable in the war. I could arrange for her to be 'captured' and have that as your reason for remaining. That way the Republic can take advantage of her abilities for an extended period of time."
Revan reached for her lightsabers, and said, "Listen to me right now, Dodonna. If you so much as try that plan, I will reveal it to the Council. I think that would cause a hell of a lot more trouble than a bit too much involvement in the war. In all likelihood, I would be the one in the fire over the excessive involvement, not you."
"I now see why Surik would not reveal who it was. You are in love with Shan, and she figured that you would not put the needs of the many over the desires of the few."
Revan slapped Dodonna, and said, "I'm not some amateur who can't put her personal feelings aside for the greater good. But, there's a difference between putting my own feelings aside, and sacrificing someone to the military. I'm figuring that your plan would include the inevitable faking of Bastila's death."
"Like you are lying about the circumstances of Anseron's?"
"There is a difference there, Admiral. And we both know what it is."
"And what would the difference be?"
"Don't act like an idiot Admiral." Revan growled, "The difference is that Anseron is actually dead, while Bastila isn't. You would be asking her to sacrifice her current lifestyle for your own goals. And, while I am all for saving the Republic, not if it means sacrificing people. And, that's what you would be doing. Did you ever consider that she might not want to have her death faked, and to become essentially an exile from the Order?"
"You knowingly sent dozens of people to their deaths earlier, Tremaine. Why the hesitance to simply give someone a different life now? It is not like she'll actually be dead."
"Those were soldiers. They had taken an oath to protect the Republic, even at the cost of their lives. Bastila is here because she was told to assist with preparations for battles by the Council. I know her pretty well, and she didn't really want to come here. She may be skilled in combat, but she's no warrior."
"Perhaps we should run it by her." Dodonna said, hitting a button on her desk. Then said, "Sergeant Jade, find Shan and send her to my office."
Revan said, "Jade, belay that order."
"Sorry, Tremaine. Have to follow the chain of command."
Revan sighed, then said, "Admiral, your insistence on using Bastila will be problematic. While she has an incredible talent for Battle Meditation, it was not her ability which won the battle. It was competent command."
"We have to use every resource available to us."
"Well, Admiral, Bastila is not available to you. If you insist on doing this, there can be no assistance from myself. And, I can tell you that my fellow Jedi will follow me before they do you."
"How about a compromise, we will 'think' that Bastila has fallen in battle, but is later found to still be alive."
"The Jedi Council would never buy it." Revan said. "And even if they would, I would say no."
"Perhaps you are being irrational. We are at war, Revan. We have to do unsavory things to win. If we didn't need every edge we could get, I wouldn't insist on this plan."
"I know, the answer is still no." Revan said, as she heard a knocking on the door.
"Enter." Dodonna said.
In walked Bastila, who said, "Why'd you want to see me?"
"It has come to my attention that you are capable of using Battle Meditation to its fullest. So, I have devised a plan to enable the Republic using it starting within the next few days."
"Revan, you told her about that, and are going to use me just to get a chance to fight the mandalorians!" Bastila said, "Figures that you were simply faking not being only interested in fighting them. I thought you were my friend, but I'm just a tool to you, aren't I?" as she turned to leave.
"Bas, it's not like that." Revan said- her voice pleading- as she stood up to follow Bastila.
"Leave me alone, Knight Tremaine." Bastila growled.
"Bastila, please, just let me talk for two minutes." Revan said, attempting to get through to Bastila with the bond, as well as her words.
"You can talk with your soldier friends." she spat walking out the door.
Revan turned to Dodonna and said, "Fuck you, Admiral. When the Senate gives me command over all Republic forces fighting the mandalorians, I will be sure to relieve you of all duties."
"That doesn't seem like putting aside your personal feelings for the greater good." Dodonna said.
Revan shrugged, and said, "Whatever." before walking towards the door, but found it locked.
She turned to Dodonna who said, "I am sorry about ruining your friendship with Shan. That was not my intention. Every action I take is in the hope that it will save the Republic. We are losing this war. The mandalorians are making our best look like rookies, and we need every edge we can get."
Revan said, "Well, good luck with winning that war. I've got to go and talk Bastila into trusting me again." walking to the door, which was now unlocked again.
-=0=-
Bastila sprinted to her room, dodging several surprised crew members. As she ran, Revan's words on Dantooine went through her mind, "I know you lack confidence, but you should at least try. You'll never know your limits if you don't push yourself." her words when she'd found Urz, and Bastila had been skeptical about her keeping it, "You bet! Isn't he cute?"
As she stepped into her room, Bastila sighed, Revan's words of, "If you ever want to talk about it, my door is open." echoing in her mind. The Padawan sighed again, and said to herself,
"Figures. I finally make a friend, and she was just faking it the entire time, so that I could be used as a tool for her personal vengeance."
Then, as someone knocked on the door, she said, "Revan, go away."
"It isn't Revan." Meetra said.
"What do you want?"
"I sensed that you're upset, and Revan is on the far side of the ship, also pretty upset. So, I figured I'd check on the two of you. And, you were closer. Why are you so angry with Rev? What did she do?"
"She and Dodonna formed a plan to use me as a tool to enable her further involvement."
"Revan wouldn't do that." Meetra said, "She would fight tooth and nail to prevent you being used as a tool. Even if she isn't you like I think she is, you're still her friend."
"Yeah right. She was probably just faking it."
"Rev wouldn't do that." Meetra said.
"What makes you so sure?"
"I know Revan. She doesn't do faking it." Meetra said. "If you talk to her, I'm sure that she'll explain that she was trying to prevent you being used."
"Yeah right." Bastila muttered, stepping out of her room with a pair of bags. "Tell her that she can have fun fighting the mandalorians."
Meetra chuckled, and said, "Shan, you're really planning on leaving?"
"I have to get out of here and back to Dantooine before they can fake my abduction. Don't tell Revan where I'm going." Bastila replied, sprinting away.
-=0=-
Revan ran down the halls of the ship, scanning each corridor for Bastila. As she sprinted down the hall, she saw Alek standing at the mess hall. "Alek, do you know where Bastila is?"
"No, why?" He asked.
"Never mind." Revan replied, sprinting by.
As she ran down the halls, she saw dozens of soldiers going about their normal tasks, but not a single one who looked anything like Bastila. As she arrived at the Padawan's sleeping quarters, she saw Meetra standing there. "She went that way, Rev. You don't have a lot of time, Rev. She's planning to take a ship with a hyperdrive, and return to Dantooine." pointing to the hall Bastila had run down.
"Thanks, Meetra." Revan replied, sprinting down the hall, amplifying her speed with the Force.
-=0=-
Bastila ran into the hangar, and said, "I need a ship with hyperspeed capabilities."
"Why, Ma'am?" an engineer asked.
"Classified." she quickly replied.
"Understood. This way, Ma'am." he replied.
-=0=-
Revan sprinted down the hall, opening the door to the hangar. She looked around, and saw Bastila climbing into a shuttle. "Bastila," the Knight shouted, "before you go, let me fucking explain which side I was regarding Dodonna's plan!"
The Padawan glanced up, and said, "Figures I couldn't count on Meetra to keep her mouth shut. Sorry, Knight Tremaine. But, I have no reason to trust you anymore."
Revan sighed, and said, "Bastila, just give me sixty seconds to explain. Please."
"No." the Padawan said, entering the ship.
Revan sighed, and leaped into the vessel, as Bastila closed the door. Bastila turned to her, and said, "So, this is how you're going to use me as a tool for others? I thought better of you, Revan."
"I'm not going to let anyone use you." Revan replied, "You're my friend, Bastila."
"No I'm not. Clearly I'm just a tool to you. Why else would you tell Dodonna about my Battle Meditation, and use that as a bargaining chip to get what you want?"
"I didn't tell her, she figured it out by reading my body language, and came up with the plan on her own. I was fighting for your right to not do it, because I knew that you wouldn't want to."
Bastila glared at her, and asked, "Then why was I called in?"
"Because, she was going to run the plan by you." Revan said, "To find out if you'd be okay with going with it. I didn't want you to find out about the plan like that. What I wanted was for you to know about the plan, so you could be prepared for someone trying it. Not, so you would think that I supported it."
Bastila glanced at Revan, and saw the pleading look in the Knight's eyes. Almost as if she were begging Bastila to listen. The Padawan sighed, and said, "I'm sorry, Rev. I just, thought that you were at a point where you'd do anything to get to fight the mandalorians."
"I'm not like that, Bastila." Revan said, hugging the younger woman. "You're one of my best friends in the galaxy. There is no way in hell that I would sacrifice that just to fight the mandalorians."
Bastila nervously returned the hug, and said, "I'm sorry. I should have realized that you wouldn't. After all, if regression to the mean is accurate, you do at least partially love me." smirking slightly.
"Yeah." Revan said, "But, even if I was in love with you, and wanted to be in a relationship with you. I wouldn't push, and I would wait until you were legally an adult."
Bastila chuckled, and said, "So, even if they are right, I'm safe from advances for almost a year. That's good to know."
"Yeah." Revan said, turning to the ship, and saying, "Though, to make people think we aren't doing anything inappropriate, we should probably get Meetra and Alek, and head back to Coruscant."
"Or to meet up with the rest of the fleet over Taris." Bastila said.
Revan laughed, and said, "I don't think that would work."
"We could just let people have their crazy ideas." Bastila suggested. "You know, just ignore them."
"I've learned that isn't always possible." Revan said.
"Do you really care if they think that?"
"Well, kinda." Revan admitted, "After all, one day I am going to be their boss. If they think that you and I are together, it might cause trouble. Since, you know, it isn't legal."
"True. I just thought that you wouldn't want to leave the conflict early."
"Dodonna isn't going to let us keep up our involvement." Revan said, "So we might as well leave without causing too much trouble."
"Do you even have your stuff with you?"
"No, I'd have to have Meetra get it."
Bastila giggled, and said, "Wouldn't want Alek involved would you?"
"I want to keep my underwear." Revan replied, laughing. "So, are we going to go back to Coruscant, or have to find an appropriate explanation why we were alone in a ship for twenty minutes?"
"I think we should do the other explanation. So what should it be?"
"We could just tell the truth." Bastila suggested.
"No one would believe that. I mean, who would believe that you thought I was selling your abilities to the Republic so that I could fight the mandalorians? Actually, that's brilliant." Revan said.
"What?"
"Make the soldiers think that it was my plan, and that you eventually talked me out of it." Revan said. "How's that sound?"
"Wouldn't that hurt your reputation?"
"Not as much as people thinking I have a minor for a girlfriend. And, that we aren't waiting until it's legal to do stuff like Meetra insisted on insinuating at least I wanted to."
"True." Bastila said. "Maybe we should try to figure something else out."
"Such as?"
"I couldn't handle the pressure of a mission, so you had to explain the parameters of what was being asked of me better."
"I suppose that could work."
"Right." Bastila said.
-=0=-
Alek asked, "You know why Revan was looking for Bastila?"
"Apparently Dodonna had suggested a plan that would involve faking Bastila's death, and Bastila thought Revan had been the one to suggest it. At least, that's what seems to be the problem."
"Great." Alek said. "Want to bet that somehow it'll lead to people assuming Revan and Bastila are fucking?"
"I value my money." Meetra replied, "Revan has the worst luck in history when it comes to people figuring out that she's interested in Bastila, even though she tries so hard to keep it secret."
-=0=-
Mandalore said, "Do we still have the Republic fleet's hyperspace trail?"
"No, Mandalore." Canderous said.
"Find out where they have gone." Mandalore said, "Until then, continue the advance in the already determined path. I must leave for a while once more."
"Why? What are you trying to find? You have traveled to Tatooine, Manaan, and Kashyyyk and each time you were gone for at least a week."
"You would be wise to keep those questions to yourself."
Canderous said, "I apologize, Mandalore." bowing.
-=0=-
Revan stepped into her quarters, where she saw Jade waiting for her. "Ma'am, Dodonna told me to inform you that she has reconsidered sending you and your fellow Jedi back early."
"Great." Revan said, scanning the room for any signs of assassins. "Why did you have to be waiting in my room to tell me?"
"Figured it would seem more dramatic."
"That's fantastic." Revan said, "No get out."
"Aye-aye!" she replied, walking out the door.
Then, Meetra dropped down from the ceiling, and said, "So, Dodonna's not going to send us back early? That's great!"
"Yeah." Revan said, with a grin.
"It means I've got more time to seduce that Sergeant who just left."
"Figures that would be why you're excited about staying."
"Have you had your eyes closed when talking to her? Or were they just glued to Bastila?" Meetra asked.
"Neither." Revan said, "I don't deny that she's pretty cute, but my point was that I'm not surprised that the only reason you're excited is that you have more time to work on getting into someone's pants."
"Hey, everyone has to have a hobby." Meetra said.
"I'm not sure if that qualifies as a hobby." Revan replied.
"Maybe, but I enjoy it."
"Fair enough. Why were you hanging on the ceiling?"
"Best way to watch without being seen."
"Right." Revan said, scanning the room. "Is there anyone else in here?"
"Nope." Meetra said.
"Good." Revan said, "Why did you mention Battle Meditation to Dodonna?"
"She was asking why Veras, Anseron, Baldy, and I went to that mandalorian ship."
"Alright. I was a bit worried that you had brought it up without any questions that would lead to it."
"I figured that even if I wanted to do that, you'd kill me if I put Bastila in a position like that." Meetra replied.
"I wouldn't kill you, Meetra." Revan said, "It would be much more scarring for you."
"What, you'd force me to sleep with Alek?"
Revan's eyes bulged a little, and she said, "No, I wouldn't want to push you to suicide, Meetra. Just make you regret what you'd done."
"What would that be?"
"Dangle you upside down and throw you into people."
"Really, that's the best you could come up with, Rev?"
"Throw you into people with spiky heads?" Revan asked.
"That would just make it hurt a little bit more." Meetra said, "Come on, Rev. You can be so much more clever than that."
"Alright, if you insist that I go all out in the method I would have made you regret doing that, I will."
"Good. Give me the worst thing you can come up with."
Revan looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "I will hang you upside down with the Force, inject candy into your body, and have children beat you to get to it. Then, I will the wound, but leave a single piece of chocolate sticking out of your torso, to confuse anyone you sleep with for the rest of your life. Then, I will throw you out an airlock, and have you dangle behind a ship for a couple of hours. Followed by an extreme session of lava bathing."
"Wouldn't that kill me?"
"I'll use the Force to shield you from death, Meetra." Revan said. "After your lava bath I will then fire you into an ocean, and then I will have you dried off with a nice warm bucket of yet more lava."
"How would lava not melt the bucket?"
"How do people produce lightning from their bare hands?"
"Good point." Meetra said. "That all?"
"Nope. Then I will make you eat asparagus."
"You know that I choke when I try to swallow asparagus." Meetra growled, glaring at Revan.
"I'm sure that's just all in your head."
"No it isn't, Revan." Meetra replied, lightly slapping the other Knight.
"Sure." Revan said. "Anyways, what do you want to do while we wait to arrive on Taris?"
"Get into that Sergeant's pants."
"What do you want to do while we wait to arrive on Taris, that is appropriate?"
"Get into that Sergeant's pants."
"That is appropriate in public." Revan said, shaking her head.
"Uh, Pazaak?" Meetra said. "We never finished our game back on Coruscant before you left for Dantooine."
"Alright. Want to run a small Jedi-only tournament?"
"Sure." Meetra said. "Start in twenty minutes in here, since you've got the largest quarters?"
"Alright." Revan said, "I'll setup a table for playing, you'll get the food, and Bastila will get the drinks?"
"Oh, don't trust me to get drinks?"
"I don't trust you to get drinks that aren't alcoholic." Revan said, "You have enough of a problem as it is."
"Give me a break, Rev. I just like how the drinks taste."
"I know. But, we should start setting things up. I'll contact Bas, you get Baldy in?"
"Sure." Meetra said, walking out of the room.
-=0=-
A/N: I'll cut this one off here, before it ends up being another 10k chapter. Next chapter will start with a pazaak tournament! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please drop a review!
