Revan marched into the Council Chambers, hundreds of Jedi already within. She looked around, and saw only one section with only a few Jedi sitting there. As she approached, they moved further away, as if she were contagious.

She sat down, everyone in the room trying to put as much distance between themselves and the Knight. As they did so, Bastila, Alek, and Meetra walked over. The bald man said, "You know what this is about?"
"No clue." Revan replied, looking around the room. "But I've got a really bad feeling about this. Notice how everyone else is trying to put as much distance between me and them?"
"Yeah, you can almost taste the fear in the air. I think they're expecting you to do something crazy, Rev." Meetra replied, looking around the room. "Are you planning on doing anything nuts?"
"Not at the moment, can't say for sure about in a few minutes." Revan replied, looking across the room to see all eyes fixed on their group. She looked at them, and said, "But if I do anything crazy, will you guys have my back?"
"Depends on how crazy you go." Alek said.

"Glad to know that I can kindof count on you, Baldy." Revan said, smirking, "What about you Meetra?"
"Rev, do you really need to ask if I have your back?"
"Didn't think I did, but with Alek being a bit of a bitch and only kindof having my back, wanted to be sure."
"I would like to think you and I are way better friends than you and Baldy." Meetra replied.

"We are, but I thought he was the kind of guy who is always looking for a bit of excitement."
"A little bit, I'm not exactly going to fight the entire Jedi Order for you, Revan." he said.

"I wouldn't ask you too, I'd ask you to just step aside so I could finish that fight."
Bastila sighed, and said, "You aren't actually going to do anything that means you have to fight the Order, are you?"
"Don't worry, Bas. If after this meeting I do end up leaving the Jedi, it'll be on peaceful terms."
Meetra shook her head, and asked, "Do you really think they'll let talent like yours go peacefully, Rev?"
"They'll realize that they can't force me to stay, even if they wanted." Revan replied.

"What makes you so certain, that's four really powerful Jedi."

"Should they try, it shall be four fewer Jedi in the galaxy."
"Why are you so confident, hell downright arrogant?"

Revan said, "Because I have to be the confident face of a war now, Meetra. I cannot show any fear of the Jedi Council or their actions, even if they threaten to throw me into a cell for the rest of time."

Bastila shivered, and said, "Rev, do you think that there will even be enough Jedi to make a difference in the greater scheme of the war?"
Revan smiled at Bas, and said, "The number is irrelevant. We will guide the Republic's warriors to victory, even if we never have to ignite our lightsabers."

"There is no way that you're seriously planning on telling the Jedi Council to go and stick not joining the war up their asses..." Alek sighed.

"You'd better believe it, Baldy. And I damn well expect you to have my back, regardless of the shit Vrook gets you."
"You know I will. I've been itching to get out there and make a difference for ages now."
"That's what I like to hear, was hoping that you hadn't been promoted to Knight just because you'd been fully indoctrinated."
Then, the Council walked in, and the room was silenced in an instant. Vrook stepped forward, and said, "Jedi of this Enclave. The mandalorians have struck again. An attack of overwhelming force, annihilating an entire planet. The world has been reduced to nothing but glass and rubble.

"But even in these dark times, we must not lose sight of the greater threat of the Dark Side behind this latest display of mandalorian savagery. We must remain ever vigilant for the darkness that is guiding the mandalorians to strike out in such brutal ways. We must let emotion at the tragic loss of life at such a grand scale cloud our reason.

"We must remain strong, so that when the greater threat reveals itself the Jedi Order at its fullest might can stand up against it. Though it pains us to say this, any Jedi who attempts to go and join the war effort will be seen as fallen, and exiled from the Jedi Order."
Silence filled the room as Vrook's words echoed through the room. Revan looked and smiled sadly at Bastila. The Padawan returned it a moment later, as Revan rose, and said, "So any Jedi who seeks to fight against evil, as the Jedi Order once demanded, shall be seen as fallen? Shall be exiled from the Order?

"I suppose though the Republic may have won the actual conflict, Exar Kun did win his war in the long run. A crippled Jedi Order, unwilling to stand against an armed force rapidly expanding the power of the dark side and eradicating worlds.

"And here we stand again, once more with a Jedi tired of the limitations of the Jedi Order standing up against their former teachers. But instead of standing for the Dark, I must instead fight to defend the balance of the Force. When I first came to this world I was but a student. Yet now it seems that I must be the one to call on both my fellow students and the Masters to stand up and fight against the spread of darkness.

"I know not what changed in this Council, but it has become ever clearer to me throughout the years that the Jedi Council can no longer be counted on to make the decisions that are best for the Republic. That in the end you've lost sight of what it is that truly matters.

"You insist that we do nothing while billions of innocent lives are eradicated. You demand that we let entire worlds die because of your fear of the Dark Lord behind this war. And in the end, the Jedi Order withers and dies inside. The Jedi Knight loses faith in the teachings of the Light, and seek answers elsewhere.

"Journeys to the places where the Dark is strong, an attempt to find a power great enough to regain control of the Jedi. A power great enough to once again allow us to do what is necessary to preserve the Republic, and the soul of this Order.

"And still you continue to demand that we do naught in the face of the growing danger that is the mandalorians. The Republic is pushed back on every front, and you still say that it is too dangerous for Jedi to go to war. That the Republic can handle the threat, and there is no reason to fight against an enemy that can be defeated without us.
"But every day, every battle, the Republic is driven further and further back. More good men and women die out there because of Jedi inaction, and you have to gall to demand we do nothing. Well I'm done with that. If standing against the Dark Side makes me fallen so be it! If you wish to exile me for going and defending the innocent, go right ahead. I will turn my back on this order, just as it turned its back on the Light in its time of need.

"I will stand against the mandalorians, I will do whatever I can to push them back, to liberate the worlds that were lost to Mandalore's mad quest for power! No longer can I look at the deaths and try to tell myself that the Republic will take care of it with just a little more time!

"I will stand with the Republic against Mandalore and the Dark Lord behind his actions, even if it means I stand alone. Even should I die out there, I will be able to return to the other side content, knowing I did what was right.

"But I don't think I will be going out there alone!" Revan said, her voice growing louder as she looked at the room. Meetra and Alek instantly rose, yet Bastila remained seated, looking at Revan with concern. Revan smiled at the younger woman, and nodded at Meetra and Alek. "And the reason I know I won't be going out there alone is because I know there are countless Jedi who are ready to stand up and do what is necessary to protect the innocent! To make sure those they love are safe!" Revan shouted, scanning the room to see more Jedi slowly rise. And yet still Bastila did not move. The Padawan's lack of movement stabbed Revan like a knife. But the Knight took a deep breath and continued, "We will defeat the mandalorians to return, if not to the Jedi, then to our friends. Those who were not able to fight, but sought to find other ways to help us while out there!" Revan continued to examine the room, most Jedi rising to their feet, but Bastila remaining seated. The Knight's eyes met the Padawan's for a moment, pleading for her support.

Yet Bastila remained still, either unable or unwilling to rise against the Council. Revan took a deep breath, and said, "But deep down, I know that if we go to war, we will not be exiled! For should the Council seek to silence our voices so, instead it will be we who silence theirs. We shall show them that though for a time they guided the Order with wisdom, they too can be wrong! Will they exile most of the Order for standing with what is right? Or will they step aside and realize that though they sought to speak for us, the Jedi Order has spoken in disagreement with them!"

As Bastila remained seated, tears began to form along the corner of Revan's eyes, so the Knight swallowed and continued, "And in the end, it shall be we who preserve the soul of the Jedi Order, not those who let their fear control them."

Vrook looked at the chamber with disgust at the assorted Jedi's defiance, but Revan's eyes never left Bastila. The Master looked at Revan, and said, "It is a shame that so many good Jedi would allow the Dark Side to consume them, using their emotions to take advantage of what is best for the galaxy."
Revan turned to him, and said, "It is a shame, that four good Jedi were controlled by the Dark Side." before turning to leave the room, only to see a group of apprentices standing too. She looked at them, and said, "Apprentices, while your support is appreciated, we cannot take you with us. There is too much left for you to learn, before you face the war." As she walked out the door, hundreds of others followed her. She raised her hand, and said, "Go and make your preparations for departure. We cannot waste time, the enemy grows ever stronger."

After they were gone, Vrook stepped up and asked, "Did you know which world fell?"
"Deralia."
"Do you see that as Mandalore sending you some kind of challenge, going directly after your homeworld?"
"I don't need to see it as a challenge, he'd already challenged me when he went after Bastila in an attempt to get to me."

"I see. But you know I cannot let you leave, Revan. This uprising of Jedi will falter, and that is what is best. We cannot have Jedi going off to war because of one inspirational speech. So, I'm sorry but I have to stop you hear and now. To bring in the fallen leader of a Jedi rebellion."

Revan looked him in the eye and said, "You can't."

"Such arrogance. You may have defeated me once, but do not expect it to happen again." he said, drawing his lightsaber.

"Put that weapon away, now." Revan commanded.
"I was your teacher, Revan! I know how to defeat you."
"You used to. For me a thousand years have passed since we last trained together."

Vrook sighed, and said, "It is a shame, you were my greatest pupil."
Revan shook her head, and said, "Very well, do what you must, Vrook. But know I shall too."

"I do. Draw your blade."
"I will not fight you, Vrook."

"I said draw your blade, so that this may be an honorable duel. More than a fallen Jedi like yourself would offer."
"Make your move, Vrook. It will not affect mine." Revan replied.

He sighed, and said, "Such a shame." as he struck at Revan. She flicked her wrist, and a wave of Force Energy sent the Master flying away, while Revan walked away.

-=0=-

Vrook gasped for breath when he landed almost a hundred meters away from where he had been a moment ago. The strength of Revan's attack shocked him to his core, as he returned to the Council Chambers. He said, "Revan has grown too strong… it cannot be natural."

Vandar said, "It is not. Though her body is young, her mind is far older than even ours now, Vrook. Traveling through the Force has given her great strength, but it has not changed her."
"You are not disappointed that I was unable to bring an end to this foolish rebellion now?"
"They do not seek to rebel." Zhar said, "But to defend the Republic. If they could they would leave peacefully. And we must. For if Revan so easily dispatched you, what good would even four of us do."

-=0=-

Revan stood alone in her cabin, silent. Fighting back tears as the image of Bastila not showing support flashed through her mind. She sighed, and turned to Urz, who sat beside her, wagging his tail. She pat him on the head, and said, "At least you've got my back."

She continued to look around the room, then opened the closet, and a full suit of armor revealed itself, with cloak, hood, and modified mandalorian battle mask she had used to hide her face when speaking with Mandalore above Cathar.

She looked at the armor, and said, "Tomorrow…"

-=0=-

Bastila stood in silence, as Meetra approached, fury clear on the Jedi Knight's face. As she approached the Padawan, Meetra said, "You need to not be here right now, Bastila."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about."

"If I did I wouldn't have asked."
"You need to quit being so afraid, and go to see Revan."
"I can't do that, she needs to be focused on the war."

"You know what would be more of a distraction, wallowing in misery because you didn't have her back. Then multiply that by a factor of not even having the guts to go and talk to her before she goes. The feeling of betrayal of you turning your back on her the moment she defies the Council.
"She'll not look at it as you trying to not distract her. She'll see it as you siding with the same people who are saying to do nothing after Mandalore has clearly said that if the Jedi do not act then the Republic will be destroyed. Deralia was just wiped clean of life. That place just was ravaged by mandalorians for the second time in her life.

"And then you add on to that the only person she's ever loved seemingly turning their back on her? It would be enough to break a weaker person. Revan, even with all the people who stood behind her, feels alone right now. Because you, her protege, didn't stand behind her. And for a really fucking stupid reason."
"What could I do other than provide a distraction if I went and told her how I felt? She'd either be distracted because she feels the same or is weirded out because she doesn't. Both result in distractions."

"Didn't she talk to you about having an anchor to what makes someone human?"
"Yeah."
"She loves you, and wants to be with you. Don't you realize that knowing she had someone who loved her to come back to that she would fight that much harder? Fighting to protect someone, rather than fighting for vengeance?"
Bastila sighed, glancing at the stars. "Why do you always push me to try and get closer to Revan?"
Meetra laughed, and said, "That's a complicated answer, one you don't have time to hear."

Bastila glared at her, and said, "I think that if I'm going to listen to any of your advice I should at least know why you're giving it."
Meetra laughed bitterly, and said, "I do it because I love Revan, and I want her to be happy. Even if it means her being with someone else. But I also do it because I hope it'll make it easier for me to move on, to find a new love. To extinguish that hope that one day she'll love me. I've tried but it won't.
"And it's because I think that if Revan goes to this war without anything tying her to what makes her normal she'll be corrupted by the Dark Side. She has always walked a thin line between light and dark, and in war that line gets stretched to its breaking point."
Bastila sighed, and asked, "What makes you so sure that Revan won't freak out and cut me out if I tell her how I feel?"
"I can't tell you."

"Can't, or won't?"
"I promised I wouldn't tell you."

"What did Rev say to you?"
"I can't tell you, you'll just have to trust me."
Bastila took a deep breath, and said, "Fine. I guess if you can't tell me I have no reason to go."
"Bastila if you don't go, I will end you."

"I'm not as weak as I was before."
"Doesn't matter, I'll still wipe you from the face of the galaxy. I told you before that if you did anything to hurt Rev I would. So get your head out of your ass, and go get the girl. Please."

Bastila took another deep breath, and said, "If she doesn't feel the same..."
"I'll let you have whatever revenge you want. Even if that means killing me." Meetra replied.

-=0=-

Revan stood in silence in the middle of her cabin. Staring into the wall, her back to the door. Tears flowing down her cheeks as she thought of Bastila siding with the Council. Someone knocked on the door, but Revan ignored it. They knocked again, this time more insistently.

Then they knocked a third time, and Revan heard Bastila's voice call out, "Revan?" with concern.
Revan choked down her tears, and said, "Come in."

As the door opened, Bastila walked in. The Knight could see in the reflection of a mirror in the corner that the Padawan's hands were shaking. Through the bond the Knight could sense her fear as she walked into the room.

Revan took a deep breath, trying to swallow the pain of betrayal she felt. But she also found that she couldn't bring herself to look Bastila in the eyes. She then said, fighting to maintain composure as she did so, "Why did you side with the Council?"
"I didn't."
"You were the only one in the entire Enclave. The only person to not have my back."
"You know I'll always have your back, regardless of what you're doing!" Bastila replied.

Revan didn't even listen, and said, "You know it's funny. When I first spoke up, there were only three people I thought I could surely count on to show support of defiance. And yet the only person who didn't show it was the one person I thought I could count on more than any other.

"Yet you stayed there, still wanting to serve the Council's bidding. Even as so many stood to show their support, I didn't care. The one person who if they had my back I wouldn't care that no one else followed remained in the Council's camp.

"Even when I had to tell the children and apprentices to stay behind, you didn't show your support. I had hoped if nothing else you would have come to visit me right afterwords. But the only one who I encountered after leaving that room before now was Vrook.
"Are you really so afraid of being seen as even slightly supporting me that you were so reluctant to even come and say goodbye, Bastila? Or is this your way of showing you still hate me for how I left before? That you haven't forgiven me? What is it, Bastila?"
Bastila swallowed, and said, "I never wanted to hurt you, Revan. And I don't have the Council's side either. I didn't stand up because I know how protective you are of me. I thought that I would just be a distraction.

"That's the same reason that I didn't come sooner. I was afraid that I would make it harder for you to focus on the war. I didn't do it because I want you to win that as soon as possible so you can come back sooner."

"You thought you'd be a distraction?" Revan said, shaking her head, "Didn't you listen to what I said about having something that anchors you to your humanity? Something like that isn't a distraction, it's something to push you to fight harder. To win quicker, so you can get back to them. Is it fear or hate that made you try to use this war as a chance to sever ties?"
"Why would I want to sever ties with you Rev? Every time something's terrified me, you've been there. Every time that someone tried to hurt me, you were there to protect me. Even when you left it was because you were trying to protect me."
Revan sighed, and said, "So it was just me being an idiot again. Thinking that you hated me."
"I wouldn't say you were being an idiot, it looked like I'd turned my back on you."
"Why didn't you look me in the eye, in the Council Chambers?"
"Because I knew that if I did I wouldn't be able to stay seated."
Revan laughed, and said, "The same reason I couldn't look at you when I fled. We're more alike than anyone would give us credit for."
"Yeah." Bastila said.

Revan took a deep breath, and said, "Have I ever told you how I don't see Deralia destroyed when I close my eyes anymore?"
"No."

"Then I suppose I haven't told you what consumes my mind every day. What haunts my dreams. What I can't get out of my head even if I try."
Bastila's breath hitched for a moment before she asked "What?"
Revan took a second deep breath before turning around and saying, "All I see when I close my eyes is your face. Every night I dream of what it would be like if I could hold you close. When I'm working on a test of forty-seven I keep finding my mind wandering to you.

"Wandering why it had to be someone so far out of my league. Why my mind couldn't fixate it on someone down at my level. Someone else broken. But it was always you.

"Even when I was on the other side, when I was one with the Force. The only thing that kept me going through all those years was the thought of coming back to you. Even when it seemed like you'd die of old age before I could return. Even when I felt so alone out there.

"And then I came back, and you were there. Fighting to keep me alive in the eyes of the galaxy. Telling the Council that I was still out there, and that one day I would return.
"I've spent so much time trying to figure out which part of my brain was so dumb to have so many of the thoughts I've had over the last few months. Cursed myself for ending up falling in love with you and not being able to get it out of my head."

Bastila looked shocked, then said, "You love me?"
Revan laughed awkwardly, and said, "Yes."
"So when you were talking about something that was more important to you than revenge..."
"Yes." Revan replied, walking closer to Bastila. "Does that make you uncomfortable?"
Bastila shook her head, and said, "I was starting to think all those visions I put in your dreams weren't doing anything."

"You mean all those dreams I had of you and I before I left were your doing?"
"Every last one." Bastila said, smiling. "I thought you would have noticed what I was doing."
Revan laughed, and said, "Well you've got a great head on your shoulders, it was insanely tempting to just slip into the dream, put aside the active-dreaming of the Jedi for once."

Bastila blushed, and said, "Thanks."
Revan ran a hand through the brunette's hair, and said, "I love you."

"I know. You told me, remember?"
"Yeah." Revan replied, wrapping her arms around Bastila, holding the younger woman close in her arms.

They stood there for a moment, simply relishing the small contact. As they did so, Revan quit filtering the bond, let everything through. Bastila smiled at Revan as she felt the sapphire-haired woman's love flow through the bond.

She rested her head on Revan's shoulder, and whispered, "I love you too."

Revan smiled, as she ran a hand through Bastila's hair. A moment later, Bastila lifted her head. Revan stared into her eyes for a moment before leaning in and kissing the younger woman. It was soft, gentle, exploratory for a moment. Then deeper, and more passionate.

And then it was interrupted by someone coughing in the doorway, and saying, "Sorry to interrupt."

Revan turned away from Bastila, and drew a single lightsaber. The violet blade glowing in the faintly lit room, she said, "Don't you know how to fucking knock?"
Selena leaned against the door, and said, "Nope. Besides it was looking like it might be a pretty good show."
"Why are you even here?" Revan asked, clearly exasperated.

"It was either that or get killed by Republic High Command."
"What did you do to get them so pissed at you?"
"I didn't pull off an assassination they wanted me to. I couldn't get in range of the target undetected in order to wipe them out before the necessary time frame for the mission was through. A lot of people died because of it."
Revan shook her head, and asked, "Why are you even doing assassinations? I thought you were front-lines."
"I did that for a while, but my skill at fitting into most roles got me put into black ops. Working with you was another assignment."
Revan shook her head, and said, "You're going to have to tell Meetra about this."
"Already did. Made it clear before we started fucking."
"I do not want to hear about you screwing my best friend."
"Don't worry I'll spare you the details."

"Is there anything in particular that you were sent here to tell us, or are you just here to interrupt a perfectly good moment?" Revan asked.

"Sadly gotta deliver a message. Crazy-boss-lady says that your homeworld of Deralia has been bombed out of existence. The whole surface has been glassed. Nothing is ever going to live there again."
"Figured as much." Revan replied, "I felt the disturbance in the Force."
"Isn't that impossible at this distance?"
"For most Jedi, yes. But a few of us are strong enough that the ordinary rules don't really apply."

"So what are you going to do?"
"I already declared that I'm going to join you. The message may not have reached Coruscant yet, but I've got everyone who agrees with me getting ready to make the trip. We're going to turn the tide of this war."
"You're serious?"
"Like three or four hours ago I sent a Jedi Master flying over a hundred meters with a flick of my wrist because he wanted to bring me in. Something about me being a fallen Jedi or some bullshit. Political nonsense trying to keep their control by discrediting me."
"Seems like everyone really hates you, Tremaine. Well except for Shan."
Bastila blushed, and was shrinking into the corner. Revan glared at Jade, and said, "Look, do you have anything serious to say, or are you just being an ass?"
"Sorry, it's just my new boss said that you're just a horny teenager more interested in getting some pussy than actually doing some good."

Revan shrugged, and said, "Okay. Anything else?"
"Yeah, she said that you need to meet her at an asylum on Coruscant. Near where the center you were given shelter is. I don't know why."
"Who is your bosss?"
"I don't know, but they're a crazy powerful Force user, and they seem to have a problem with you."
"Figures, seems that everyone does these days." Revan replied, starting to glare at the Sergeant.

"Right. Since you're obviously very busy right now, I'm gonna head out. Maybe grab some enchiladas or something from a food vendor."
"Get out of my cabin now before I eject you from the premises with my mind." Revan replied, "I'll go talk to your boss when I get to Coruscant."
Selena nodded, as she turned and nearly sprinted out the door. Once she was gone, Bastila sighed, and said, "It was looking like it could have been such a pleasant night before she interrupted."

Revan wrapped an arm around her lover, and said, "Yeah."
Bastila smiled up at Revan, and asked, "What are your plans?"
"For now, I just want to be here with you. Tomorrow I can worry about saving the galaxy."

Bastila smiled, as she rested her head on Revan's shoulder. The Knight ran a hand through the younger woman's hair for a moment, simply enjoying the near-combining level of connection through the bond.

-=0=-

A/N: Holy. Fucking. Shit. That took me a lot more attempts to get close to right than I want to admit. But, anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter and merry christmas.