Bastila looked at the plains as the vehicle sped them across the terrain. After a few moments of silence, she asked, "How is it that our hostile separation led to a tear in the Force?"
Revan took a deep breath, and said, "You know we're bound by the Force. That bond, that link, is incredibly strong. If you were to ask the Masters about it, assuming any of them learned of it, they would say it is dangerously strong.
"And, in a sense they are right. When we separated, the bond itself was in massive flux. Shifting and twisting. The location of the tear is the point between you and I had been that suffered the most severe fluctuation.
"That fluctuation was too great for it to handle. The only way for the shifting bond to keep doing what it was without suffering any harm was for the Force around it to tear, so that it could be in both places at once.
"Now, we've got to fix that tear. If we don't, it will lead to massive death."
"Why then would the hostility between us cause it to worsen? You said it was like salt in an open wound, but we've been traveling for miles, but we're still not much closer."
Revan was quiet, then said, "Imagine a huge cut. All the way up your leg, abdomen, and up your shoulder. That's the relative size of injury we're talking about. We're not in it yet, but we're close enough that the proximity still manages to inflame the wound. Since it doesn't technically have the same kind of system though it's more like making a tear jagged. Making it much more unstable. It would make our jobs a lot easier if you just let go of the anger a little bit."
Bastila glared at the older woman, the snow starting to fall thicker and thicker around them. Then she said, "Maybe, but it doesn't make it any more likely for me to do that."
Revan sighed, and said, "I know. I'm going to have to do a lot in order to get back on your good side. Can't say I blame you either."
They continued to travel in silence, miles of snow-covered plains disappearing behind them. But the snow and wind were picking up, the speeder was starting to struggle to maintain course. Then, Revan placed a hand on Bastila's shoulder, and said, "I know you hate me right now, that you probably don't believe a word I say. But I'm going to need you to trust me with your life now."
"Why?" Bastila glared, struggling to stay angry at the apologetic Knight.
"You see how the speeder's already struggling to handle the winds and snow. It won't last ten more minutes of this whether. So, I need you to trust me that I'm not planning on killing you in a snowy wasteland when I stop this thing."
Bastila was quiet, then asked, "How can I know that's not your plan?"
Revan shook her head, and said, "Now you're just trying to make me angry." as the speeder started to flip. Time seemed to slow for the Knight as she grabbed Bastila, leaped out of the vehicle with the younger woman in tow, and landed on the ground, now carrying Bastila on her back.
She let Bastila down, then said, "Guess we had less time than I thought."
The Padawan was quiet for a few minutes, then said, "Thank you. If I'd been alone back there, I would have died."
Revan smiled, and said, "You're welcome. I'm not going to let anything happen to you if I can prevent it."
Just as those words left her mouth, a massive gust of wind sent both flying backwards, and when they got to their feet, two others were standing where they had been. Cautiously, Revan drew her blades, and asked, "Who are you two?"
They turned around, and one was Marthan. The other... an old man, eyes clouded in darkness. Fear and anger coursed through Revan's blood in equal measure as she stared at the face of the man who had killed her parents.
She ignited her blades, and attempted to charge, but her knees were shaking so much that she stumbled, then fell. Beside her, Bastila slowly began to back away, holding her blade up at the old man.
Marthan walked over to Revan, and said, "So, I've finally found you. The slave who killed her owner and escaped with a crazy old man. It's been quite a hunt, Tremaine. But no one gets to leave their rightful place in life forever."
Revan looked up at him, the terror still running through her, and said, "You're right, Marthan." the rage starting to take over. "No one does get to leave where they belong. I learned that the hard way. But, what you don't get to say is that I belong as a slave.
"Because any fucker that tries to make me their slave will die by my blades. I will tear them apart with every ounce of hatred I have. So, Marthan, I have advice for you. Run. As far and fast as you can. If you're still here by the time I'm back on my feet, you're going to be eradicated."
He kicked Revan, and ground the heal of his boot into her back, and said, "You think that you'll actually get back up? Fool girl, you won't get a chance."
Revan groaned in pain, and whispered, "Your life is over, Marthan." before trying to stand up again.
He again struck her down, then saw Bastila slowly walking away. He said, "Oh, I was wondering why Thairus was here. I guess for your friend."
"Darth Thairus... of course." Revan said, standing up, blocking Marthan's attack when he attempted to stop her. "You aren't real."
"Such insolence. Attempting to protect your own fragile mind from the terror you feel by saying it isn't real." Marthan said, drawing his blade. He brought it down on Revan, who caught it with bare hand, no damage done. She looked at him, and said, "You are not real. A mere reflection of my worst memories. The person I fear the most in this universe."
He glared at her, and attempted once more to strike. She again deflected his attack, and threw the mandalorian aside, "But it isn't you I fear, Marthan. It's what I'm going to do if I ever find you."
He stood up, and charged again, only to have his head severed before he could react. Revan looked at the fading corpse with cold dispassion, before turning to see Thairus approaching Bastila, reaching out to take her weapon.
Bastila's shaking hands didn't have a firm enough grip to stop him from taking her blade. He then tossed it aside, the glistening weapon laying unused on the ground.
Then, as he placed a hand on Bastila's shoulder, Revan said to the younger woman through the bond, shattering the wall on it in the process, "You can stop him. Right now."
Bastila stood there, frozen in fear, only able to say, "I... can't. Help."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Kill him while I have him distracted."
"That's not an option. You have to face your own fears." Revan replied, as Thairus pulled Bastila into a hug.
"Help... me... please..." Bastila said, her voice growing fainter as Thairus stroked her hair. Then, Revan said out loud, "Thairus!"
He turned, and said, "Dark Lord Revan, it is an honor to meet you."
"I'm not a Sith." she replied.
"Not yet, but one day." he replied.
"That won't be the case. I'm not a fucking animal like you sith."
"Not yet, but one day." he repeated.
"You know nothing of the future, Thairus."
He laughed, and said, "Perhaps I do know something of the future." as he began to grope Bastila.
Fury filled Revan, and the Knight drew her blades, and said, "Get your hands off of her now. Or face my wrath. I may not be a Dark Lord of the Sith or a Jedi Master, but I sure as hell can kill a pathetic weakling like you. One who died in combat with an apprentice who had barely ever used a lightsaber before."
He looked at her, and said, "I am not yours to face."
"Maybe I don't care anymore, Thairus. Step away from her, NOW!"
He looked at Revan, then the paralyzed Bastila, and said, "No."
Revan charged, but the wind and the ground stopped her from making any progress towards him. She lunged helplessly, trying to get him away. Then she sent a pulse of energy to Bastila through the bond, and said, "Annihilate him. Take all my strength you need, and wipe him off the map."
Bastila stirred, ever so slightly, and nodded. A pulse of Force energy sent him flying away from her, another recovered the Padawan's weapon, and a final one held him to the ground while she brought down her blade upon his skull.
A moment later, the winds died down, and Revan walked over to Bastila, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" the warrior asked softly.
Bastila looked at her, and rested her head on Revan's hand. "Not really, no. I was so... terrified that..."
"It's over now. Do you need some time to rest?"
Bastila looked at Revan, and nodded, her hands still shaking.
"Come on, there's a cave nearby. We can take shelter in there. Wait until you're ok."
Bastila shivered, and said, "Thank you, but you really should go on ahead without me."
"There's no way I'm leaving you alone after what you just went through, Bas." Revan said, gripping the Padawan's shoulder tighter.
She nodded, as they walked into the cave. The younger woman stumbled a few times because of her legs shaking, but she managed to stay on her feet. When she fell down, she said, "I'm fine."
"You're shaken up, Bas." Revan replied, picking her student up.
Bastila said, "I can walk on my own."
Revan smiled down at her, and asked, "That why you fell flat on your ass just ten seconds ago?"
"Ass..." Bastila muttered.
"I'm just trying to take your mind off of things, Bas. No need to be so rude. Relax, we're almost to that cave, I'll put you down inside. Just... rest up for now, please."
Bastila sighed, and rested her head on Revan's shoulder. "Alright... but try anything and I'm cutting your hands off."
"That hadn't even crossed my mind. That's the last thing you need right now."
Bastila nodded, closing her eyes as Revan carried her. A few minutes, Revan placed her sleeping form gently on the ground, not wanting to disturb the young woman.
The Knight shivered, then walked towards the exit. She had seen some firewood stored there. Taking it back to the heart of the cave, she made a small campfire, and sat down beside Bastila.
She sat there, watching her student sleep. She watched, until Bastila stirred a few hours later. "How long was I out?"
"A few hours." Revan replied. "Not too long. Did you have any nightmares?"
"None." Bastila said, "No dreams at all."
"That's good. With what happened, you don't want to dream for a while. How are you feeling?"
"A lot less angry at you."
"Thanks."
"I'm still angry, just a lot less."
"Still, thanks." Revan replied, "I was worried you'd hate me forever and that all returning here would do is make both of us more miserable."
"Why couldn't you have stayed? Why'd you have to leave me here alone?"
"I thought you wouldn't be alone, Bas. I thought you'd have other people to talk to. That you'd be alright in the long run."
"You're my only friend here, Rev. Or you were before you left. Now... I don't know what we are. It's definitely not friends."
"I thought you had other friends. I was wrong, and for leaving you truly alone, I'm sorry. More than I have been about anything else I've ever done in my life."
"The only friends I had were you, Alek, and Meetra. Talking to them... it would have been awkward because they're more your friends than mine."
Revan nodded, and said, "Meetra... she was constantly telling me that I should never have left. That I'd done some stupid shit over the years, but that leaving you was the biggest dumbass move I'd ever made. She was adamant that I had to come back as soon as possible."
Bastila sighed, and said, "You're really back to stay?"
"Until I have to go to war, I'm staying where you are."
Bastila smiled, and said, "You're serious?"
"If I weren't I wouldn't have said it." Revan said, "You ready to get moving again?"
"Yeah. Let's fix that tear."
"Sounds like a good plan. But the worst is yet to come."
"How so?"
"You'll see." Revan said, leading Bastila out of the cave.
Outside, three men were standing, blasters drawn. They said, "You're the Jedi Revan, correct?"
"I am Revan. What do you want?"
"You show up and a few days later there's this unnatural storm. We want to know what you've done."
"The fabric of the Force is torn here. I don't know why, but I'm investigating it. Making sure that it s something that can be repaired."
"How would you know that it is torn?"
"As a Jedi I'm more closely attuned to the Force. Any member of the Order with the skill of a Jedi Knight can sense it."
They were quiet for a moment, then the leader said, "I knew you Jedi were up to no good, messing with something like the Force. And now you've torn it, causing chaos all across Dantooine. Thousands dead... more dying, and even more injured. This is all your fault!"
Revan grimaced, and said, "I know it's my fault. That's why I'm trying to fix what has happened."
"You tore the Force itself! Why should we trust you to fix it?"
Revan looked at him, and said, "Because I'm the only one who will even try. The Jedi Order is broken today. A group of old blind cowards guiding many who are too afraid to defy them.
"There are only a half dozen members of the Jedi Order willing to do what is necessary to actually help people. The fear of someone becoming another Exar Kun if any action is taken cripples most.
"The Force is torn here. It is my fault. Because I became a coward like those who lead the Order to decrepitude. But, that is behind, and now I'm here to fix the mistake I made."
"You haven't given us a reason to trust you! You just admitted to guilt for every last person who died today!"
Revan sighed, as the man placed a blaster to her forehead. She looked at him, and said, "What good will killing me do? It will not bring back those who are gone. It won't make the Force heal. The chaos will remain. I could bring it back under control. Make so that the danger is gone."
His hands shook, and said, "My wife and son are dead... I watched as a spike of ice pierced them both... and you want me to spare you..."
"I never wanted that to happen. I never wanted any harm to befall the people of Dantooine. What I did that led to these deaths was meant to prevent them."
"That won't make them any less dead..."
"I know. But, if you keep this up all that will happen is every last soul on Dantooine will die. The deaths will continue for a thousand years before the Force mends itself. So, put your weapon down, allow me to do what I must."
"No. You have to pay for what you've done."
"You kill her, and she won't be the only one here to die." Bastila said, blade glowing in the dimming light of the setting sun.
Revan shook her head, and said, "Put your weapon away, Bastila."
"If anyone gets to kill you, it's me."
"Put your blade down, now."
"There is no way I am letting some lunatic with a pistol kill you."
"I wouldn't let someone put a gun to my head if they actually had it in them to pull the trigger."
"What makes you think that he won't? He clearly has nothing left to lose."
"Just because he doesn't have anything left to lose doesn't mean he has what it takes to pull the trigger."
"You sure about that? He looks pretty determined to put a few shots in your head."
"His hands are shaking, he doesn't want to pull it. All threats do is put him more in an even more unstable state of mind where he might actually pull it. Don't want that to happen."
"What do you think talking about me like I'm not even here does, bitch?"
Revan looked to him, and said, "Sorry about that. It was rude. Anyways, can you please point that gun somewhere else, it's making me a bit uncomfortable, and I'm already struggling with my survival instincts telling me to make so it is not pointing at me and there is no way you or your friends could threaten me further."
He glared at her, hands shaking more, then Bastila said, "It's really not a good idea to make her struggle with those instincts. She can only last about fifteen minutes before they just take over. If you don't put that down soon, she'll at least disarm you. She won't be gentle about it either."
"There is no way in hell that I am letting this murderer get away with her crimes!"
Revan took a deep breath, and said, "I've killed a lot of people in my time as a Jedi. Not a single one was a murder. Each kill was because the person I ended was either trying to end me, or someone close to me. And, if you get out of my way and let me do what needs to be done, a lot more people will die to this tear."
He was quiet, then put his pistol away. "Fine. Get out of here and do what you have to. But after this... I am going to kill you."
"Try to kill me, and I will have no choice but to defend myself." Revan replied, walking away.
Bastila asked, "How did you know that he wasn't going to pull the trigger?"
"He's just a farmer, not a killer. He would have difficulty killing a hound if it were endangering his family. An intelligent life form would completely break him. Probably push him to suicide. Either that or it would make him go crazy and become a serial killer."
"He wouldn't have lived long enough to become a serial if he killed you." Bastila said.
Revan smiled, and said, "I'm touched that you'd avenge my death."
"Like I said, if anyone is going to get to kill you, it's me."
Revan chuckled, and said, "You'd have a better chance than pretty much anyone else in the galaxy of killing me if you really wanted to. But, you don't want to."
"Why would I have a better chance than anyone else?"
"I wouldn't be able to bring myself to the point of hurting you. Even to save my own life." Revan replied.
Bastila looked at Revan, and shook her head. Then, asked, "Why wouldn't you be able to do that?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you."
"Do you always have to say things and then refuse to give any explanation?"
"Such is my fate." Revan grimaced, looking up at the sky. She then said, "The hounds are going to want our heads soon. If we don't keep moving they'll get them."
"Why would the kath hounds want us dead?"
"The tear affects them." Revan said, marching towards the tear. "But, we need to get to the heart of this mess. Make so that there aren't any more deaths."
-=0=-
The Dantooine Council looked at the snow falling. As they did, Vandar said, "This is not natural. The Force is torn."
"But how would it be torn, Mastar Vandar?" Dorak asked, "Historically the Force has only been torn at moments when hundreds of thousands died in one place. Or, when dangerous experiments were performed and something went wrong."
Vandar looked out, and said, "We all know that the Dark Side is growing stronger. That its corruption is spreading, and affecting hundreds of thousands. Perhaps it has grown strong enough to tear the Force."
"Why on Dantooine, if it were strong enough to tear the Force?" Vrook asked. "There are other places that it could have affected, where it would be worse for the galaxy?"
Vandar did not respond, but Zhar did. "There is one critical difference between here and the places where a tear could affect more people. We all know what, or rather who, it is. Perhaps that is why."
Vrook grimaced, and said, "Revan."
"We all know that a Jedi like Revan only comes once in a dozen generations. Perhaps the forces of Darkness are trying to turn her to their side. Take our greatest student, and turn her against us." Dorak said.
Then Vandar said, "Revan is no longer a student. She has surpassed us all. Her skill with the blade and might with the Force is enough that if she possessed wisdom to match them she would be Grand Master."
"She is young and arrogant. Can we trust her not to fall?" Vrook asked.
"We must. Because if we act in distrust towards her... the entire Order will be torn asunder."
"We should remind her that she does not know everything. Remind her that while she is powerful, she is not yet experienced enough to assume that she knows what is for the best."
"We cannot do anything to Revan. Should we try to lay her low all that will happen is her followers will come to her side. Against us they would stand. If we deny her anything, she could bring a shift in the power of the Order overnight. You have already seen how the Knights, Padawans, and Apprentices look up to her."
"They see a hero and a wise warrior who protects the Republic in her. Only the old see her as the arrogant child she is." Vrook said. "We have to do something to avert any disaster she might cause."
"There is nothing we can do." Dorak said, "Revan does not realize it yet but she is the one with all the power. All we currently have is the ability to keep her in the dark about it for as long as possible."
Vrook looked out, and said, "There is another option. We can make her... disappear. Never be seen or heard from again."
Vandar said, his voice more firm than it had been in years, "No. That is the path to the Dark Side, we cannot succumb to its corruption."
"What do we do about Revan, then?" Zhar asked. "If we cannot remove her from the equation, how do we protect the Jedi from her foolishness?"
"The only thing we can do is hope that in reparing the Force, she is removed from the equation." Vandar said, as the snow landed on his ancient shoulders, and melted away.
Vrook sighed, and said, "It is a shame that we must leave the fate of the Order to chance."
"Such is what happens when a Jedi like Revan is born." Vandar replied.
The ground shook and Zhar said, "The tear opens more and more with each passing moment. If Revan is not quick... there will be no Dantooine left to save."
Vandar looked at the snow falling along the plains, and said, "She will be. She may not have the wisdom to lead the Order, but she does know how to handle a catastrophe."
"What should do if she survives?" Dorak asked. "She does not yet realize that she has enough influence to force each and every Master to allow her wishes? She could destroy the Order in her quest for revenge against the mandalorians, if she just realized that influence is hers."
-=0=-
Ten marched towards Revan, blades drawn. They walked, each covered in robes of a different color. They journeyed towards the Jedi Knight, their blades slowly starting to glow in shades matching their robes.
As they approached her, one stopped to stand guard. Then, further down another, and another. One by one they stopped to stand guard and prevent the progress of the Jedi Knight and her student as they drew closer to the tear.
They stood their guard, until only one marched forward. When it neared Revan, its pace increased. It ran towards her, blade ready to strike. The Jedi saw it coming, but was still only able to barely catch it with her lightsaber. She pushed the attacker back, and shouted, "What the fuck are you?"
It looked up her, and the hood shifted slightly, but no sound came from behind it.
Revan shook her head, and brought her blades down towards the opponent, who easily deflected it. She struck, again and again, each time easily being countered.
The foe struck at her with lightning speed, and the Knight was too slow to catch it. The metal of the blade sunk deep into her shoulder, making the Jedi grimace in pain. She dropped her sapphire blade, and grabbed the blade in her flesh.
She stared at her foe, and growled, "Time to see what's underneath that hood." while swinging her violet weapon at its head. It attempted to move its sword to catch her attack, but the Knight's grip held firm, despite the blood flowing from her hand.
Her lightsaber burned through one side of the hood, but before it could go any further the entity deflected her weapon, and kicked the Knight in the abdomen.
As the blade ripped its way out of her hood, Revan screamed in agony, and sent a pulse of Force energy towards her foe. It split it with a single slash of its blade, and stabbed her in the abdomen. The blade sinking in all the way to its hilt.
Eyes watering from the unnatural intensity of the pain, Revan coughed up blood. She reached out, and pulled off the being's hood. An intense glowing energy flowed through it, in the vague outline of a human's form.
It pulled away, a strange, warbling screach escaping from it. Revan looked at it, the weapon still imbedded in her stomach. She stumbled forward, and stabbed the being of energy with her remaining saber.
It took the blow, and cowered, attempting to hide its face. Revan stared at it, and then looked at the hood, she held it up, and burned it to ashes. The entity screamed, not in anger but in terror. She walked towards it, and placed a hand on its face.
She then pulled the Force energy into her body, and began mending the wounds it had inflicted upon her. She looked at Bastila, who had been watching with mouth hanging open out of shock at the speed the two had been fighting, and said, "I guess that tells us some of what is coming to stop us from mending the tear."
"What was that?"
"An entity born of raw Force. The shroud was to prevent a Jedi or Sith from simply absorbing them and using them as a kind of amplifier for their natural abilities. That is why it was so afraid once that was gone. It knew what could happen."
"Why does it want to kill us?"
"I guess they'll die once the tear is repaired. Something about the instability in the Force being what allows them to take physical form."
Bastila's shoulders slumped, and asked, "Are we going to face many more of them?"
"I wouldn't disregard the possibility. There's a chance we won't face more, but it seems slim."
"Then let's get this over with quickly. The more of those things we have to face the more likely one of us will die."
"If one of us is going to die, it will be me." Revan said, "I won't let anything happen to you if I can prevent it. So long as I live, you'll have my protection."
Bastila looked at the older woman, and said, "While that's touching, there may come a time when you have to choose between protecting me, and doing what is best for everyone else."
"They say there are some who just want to see the galaxy burn. I'm the kind that doesn't care if the galaxy burns so long as a few she cares about are safe from the heat."
"That's a terrible attitude to have. I mean... putting more value on a few friends over the rest of the galaxy..."
"It's how I am. The only way I can maintain my humanity in these times that demand so much sacrifice is by holding selfishly onto a few people."
"You don't have to be the one who makes all of the sacrifice, Rev."
"I'm the one who has to make the sacrifice of asking others to sacrifice themselves. To die for a shared cause. The few who died above Taris is a heavy burden to bear. With an entire war that I'll have to fight in the future, making similar sacrifices..."
"You really believe that you have to make those sacrifices?"
"You can't protect everyone in a war. People are going to die. It's a matter of making sure that you minimize the death toll. Save as many of your people as possible, while also getting the job done. It was taxing on me when I first had to do it over Taris. The countless times I'll have to make sacrifices to save a greater number is going to put a massive weight on my mind. The only way anyone could hold onto their humanity in such a situation is by having a few special people that means everything to them that they keep alive by doing so."
"Why am I one of those people? I get Meetra being one of them, but why me?"
"If you can't see why, Bas, I'm not going to be able to explain it to you in a way that you're ok with." Revan replied. "So... let's just leave it at I'll protect you so long as there is any way in this universe I can."
Bastila nodded, and said, "Alright. Though it might be the only person you need to protect me from is you..."
Revan grimaced, and said, "You know, I might actually be turning a little bit into Meetra. Because right now my response and what hers would be are the same. You just totally killed the mood with that bit. I've said I'm sorry, promised it won't ever happen again. Sworn that I'll do anything that I can to keep you safe and happy. Maybe you'd be a little bit happier, if you weren't so determined to hold a grudge."
"The first bit is the only thing that seems very... Meetra'y."
"You haven't known her as long as I have. She'd have slightly altered the wording so that it was her talking about me, instead of met alking about myself. That's beside the point, anyways. Please... don't let your anger at me stick inside you like a disease. I know what it does to people, and it isn't good."
"You cling to your anger at the mandalorians."
"That's a bit different, I didn't exactly kill your family and sell you into slavery as a little girl. I just was a little bitch and ran away from you when I shouldn't have. And... I know how my anger and hatred of the mandalorians affects me. How it is tearing me apart inside. But, it isn't like that at a friend. I never meant to hurt you, they came to Deralia with their only purpose being to hurt those there."
Bastila sighed, and said, "You make it really hard to stay mad at you... I just worry that if I forgive you the idea will get into that thick head of yours that you can just go away whenever you want and I'll be willing to forgive you."
"I know that isn't the case. I know I've been pushing my luck after leaving you on bad terms once. I'm sorry I did, and I will do whatever it takes to make you believe me that it'll never happen again. If the circumstance is dire enough that it demands my attention but you still don't want me to leave you alone, I'll bring you along with me." Revan said, "Even if it terrifies me what might happen to you because of it."
-=0=-
A/N: Thanks for reading the latest chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. And, as always, please leave a review with your thoughts about what happened.
