A/N: Chapter 26, I know I am excited, how about you? So to clear things up so I don't have to get any messages or reviews asking "Why do you skip a lot of the main plot in Kotor 2?" Simple, this fic, if you didn't know already, is centered around Revan. With Bastila and Meetra being the supporting characters along with others but I feel it is necessary to skip a lot in order to get to the good stuff. So here is chapter 26 with Dxun, Onderon, and Dantooine. All summed up in this chapter. And thank you to all that reviewed, followed, and favorited. You guys and girls are the best. And sorry about how long this chapter took to come out but I literally had to redo this chapter twice, this is the third version so I hope you like it, took a while for me to finally finish it. Anyway please review with your fantastic opinion.
Moon of a Fading Heart
Two days. That's how long it has taken Meetra to hunt through the jungle and fix all of the Mandalorians messes. Never in a million years would she have thought that she would be allies with Mandalorians let alone helping them out. The reason she didn't cut through them all was because she had sensed the difference of the Mandalorians she fought and these ones still on Dxun. Well that, and the fact that she still didn't have a lightsaber or barely any of the skills she had during the war years ago.
She had found parts to fix the Mandalorians relay and base operations. Then she killed the great beast in the forest. After that she blew up the door to the Mandalorian cache and killed over a dozen beasts that came to ambush her. Then she saved the trapped Mandalorian from even more beasts. Afterward she had helped a fellow Mandalorian track down and kill the intruders on the moon that were consequently hunting her. Then she had bested all the Mandalorians in the battle ring just for fun. It was mostly due to her Echani training during the hand to hand combat matches, she mentally thanked Revan again. Also the sword matches she had to thank Revan. He had taught her how to fight with her blade without the Force. She had truly owed Revan a lot.
Now she was waiting to go to Onderon and to see her former master. Jedi Master Kavar, who had taken to protecting the queen of Onderon. Meetra knew it was a longshot but something told her that Master Kavar would want to see her again. And truthfully, he was the only one she really wanted to see. Master Vash was one she didn't mind seeing, Master Zez-Kai Ell was not so high on her list but he was a good man, even if his judgment was wrong. And then there was Master Vrook, that guy always had it out for her and Revan. She didn't want to pay him a visit but then again she had never anticipated to see Atris again. But life is full of surprises. So she figured to get the hardest one out of the way next. That way it could only get better, she hoped.
Meetra was now heading back to the Ebon Hawk to rest and gather supplies before her journey to Onderon. Her companions included: Atton, T3, Bao-Dur, Kreia, and the Handmaiden, who had joined after leaving Telos. She really gave Meetra and the others no choice when she had snuck aboard. Together they were the force that would stop the Sith threat. 'Yeah right,' Meetra thought sourly. She had little hope that they would all beat the Sith. A smart-mouthed gunslinger, a technician, a repair droid, an Echani trained warrior, an old one-handed Jedi and a broken Jedi that didn't even have a lightsaber yet. Things weren't really in their favor.
But on the good side of things she was learning more and more in the Force each battle and each day. And she almost had enough pieces to construct a new lightsaber. Her hands began to ache for one after she had received the Force once more. It was only natural with a Jedi, or exiled Jedi. She wished for another double bladed lightsaber. She was so used to the fearsome twin blade that having only a single would make things difficult and awkward for her.
Meetra walked up the ramp followed closely by Kreia, Bao-Dur and the Handmaiden. As soon as she stepped inside her companions went their separate ways but she stopped. Meetra looked over her right shoulder, then her left. She felt something. Something dark, but… dying. She felt pain through the darkside. There was someone else on the ship.
She brushed some of her long hair out of her eyes and started towards the back sleeping quarters. Her hands instantly grabbed onto her dual vibroswords. There was a threat, but it wasn't quite a Sith. There was something different in the aura she felt. Meetra rounded the corner to see a young woman kneeling in a meditation stance. Meetra relaxed and let her hands slip off her weapons. "Who are you?" She questioned.
Without warning the woman got up and turned to her, activating a red lightsaber. Meetra took a defensive step back and grabbed both of her swords. What she would give for a lightsaber right about now. The Sith charged her and swung the red blade downward, aiming for her head. Meetra held up both swords and crossed them, blocking the attack. The Sith brought her weapon back and attacked again. Meetra utilized her former lightsaber skills and was able to read each movement of the Sith. Her years away from battle were costly but that didn't keep her battle instincts from kicking in. She blocked and parried the Sith's attacks. She was obviously very well trained, but her moves were still flawed. She withheld a lot of power in her swings and she seemed almost hesitant. Meetra could also feel that the woman was clearly holding back. No, not quite holding back, more like there was so much power within her but she didn't unlock it. Like she has caged her own power, or someone else had.
Meetra blocked another strike aimed at her side and countered. She swung her right hand at the Sith but it was blocked. The Sith took a step back and held out her free hand, gathering the Force in her palm and it sparked into Force Lightning. Meetra quickly ran towards her and swung her left sword at the Sith before she could unleash the lightning attack. The Sith went to block and Meetra quickly swung her right sword, aimed at the lightsaber hilt, before the woman could counter. The sword hit its target and the lightsaber broke, the top of it falling to the ground in pieces and it shut off instantly. The Sith took a step back as Meetra held both her swords defensively at her sides.
The woman dropped to her knees and let the broken hilt roll out of her hand. "My lightsaber… you destroyed it. I yield… Master." Meetra's eyes softened a bit and she was shocked to hear this Sith call her master. "It is as I heard through the Force. My life for yours."
At first Meetra didn't say a word. She just stared at this Sith. But as she looked closer she could see the faint scars and even fresh wounds upon her opponent. Wounds Meetra did not do herself. Meetra took a slow step forward. "I will not kill you." Meetra said in a soft tone.
The Sith flinched but didn't stand back up or even raise her head up to Meetra. "You must! The alternative is only another death. And I would rather die by your hands."
Meetra stared at this sad woman in sympathy. She appeared to be a broken woman. A lot like herself but also different. Whatever had befallen this Sith it was clear that she was not given a choice to become what she was. Meetra thought for a moment before dropping both her weapons. They fell to the ground and the woman moved her head up to look at Meetra. "Come on, let me heal your wounds. No more harm will come to you." She said in a kind voice.
"I… having nothing to offer you. Your strength is superior. It is as I felt." As she finished the sentence the woman stood up only to begin to collapse. Meetra ran forward and caught her before she could hit the ground. The woman had passed out.
Meetra called upon the Force to try and heal the Sith's wounds but she could only do so much with her limited power. "Atton!" She yelled for the pilot as she struggled to her feet.
"You called- who is that?" Atton said running in. He would rarely hurry when his name was called but when he heard Meetra he did run. She had never yelled for him before so he knew it was urgent. When he came in to see her carrying, or trying to carry, a Miraluka he got why she yelled.
"It doesn't matter right now, just help me." Meetra said. Atton went over and helped her carry the injured woman. Shortly after the Handmaiden and Bao-Dur came in to see what all the noise was about. "She's hurt badly, we need to heal her."
"Right, hey handy man," Atton's nickname for Bao-Dur. "Get the medical bay ready." Bao-Dur looked from him to Meetra before he gave a quick nod and ran off. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing, she attacked me. I think she is a Sith but then she surrendered and passed out."
Atton shook his head but didn't stop helping. "So now we are healing our Sith enemy. Great…"
"Just shut up and go." Meetra said losing her patience. She wanted to know about this girl. It was clear that she wasn't loyal enough to the Sith but she was strong in the Force. And it intrigued Meetra enough to save her.
Earlier that day a ship had slipped onto Dxun completely undetected. The ship was a small freighter that was from Telos. It passed through the Onderon blockade completely undetected. The ship only carried one passenger, Revan.
He was now walking through the Mandalorian camp and no one saw him. He made himself invisible to all eyes through the Force. No one would know he was there unless he wanted them to. But he had still waited until Meetra had gone back to the Ebon Hawk to go into the camp.
Revan had a mission. He needed to speak with an old friend. Passing through giant doors, he made his way over to Mandalore the Preserver. Or Canderous, as Revan knew him. Once he was inside and the doors were sealed Revan dropped the guard over himself and he was now visible. In front of him stood Mandalore, who was busy with whatever he was doing on the control panel. Revan slowly started walking towards him and Mandalore stopped what he was doing and his head was now raised.
"Only few people could sneak up on me." Mandalore said. He turned around and saw Revan standing before him. "And fewer can come into our base undetected." Revan smiled underneath his mask.
"Been a long time, Mandalore." Revan said walking forward.
"About two damn years Revan." Canderous walked towards him and the two exchanged a friendly handshake. "What brings you to this damn moon?"
The smile on Revan's lips faded. "You already know. The general as she is known, or Exile, Meetra, my friend. She has come and sought out your aid to get to Onderon. She is part of the reason why I am here."
"Ah yes, the young general who was like a second, female, version of you. I didn't recognize her at first. She seems very different now."
"She has been through a lot. Maybe more pain than me, she is strong but I am afraid she may break. And soon. So help her when you can."
"Yeah got it. But I have a feeling that is not what you came here for."
Revan smiled under his mask. "Yes, I came here to check up on your progress as well as a warning."
"I have a full division of Mandalorians under my command and dozens join each week. How's that for progress?" Mandalore said with pride.
"Very good, you should be able to amass a good force for the war." Revan said.
Mandalore hesitated at hearing that. "The… war? Which war are you talking about?"
Revan took a moment to feel out where Meetra was and how long it would take her to get back. He sensed her still at the Ebon Hawk and that she wasn't going to leave for a while. Which was good because he was going to need a lot of time. "This may take a while…"
Meetra Surik didn't depend on anybody. That was a fact. It had always been a fact, even Revan knew that. He never overstepped his boundaries to try and make her feel weak or unhelpful. He never coddled her, in the Mandalorian Wars or even when they were kids. She was strong, hell even stronger than him. You didn't see her fawning over some young Padawan almost every day. She made it a statement that she didn't need anyone.
Then why did she feel so… empty? She didn't need anyone during the Mandalorian Wars, or when she was exiled. But then, why did she feel like she needed help now? Now, when she was just starting to feel strong again. The Force was returning to her, she had a lightsaber, a better lightsaber, and she even had companions. So why did she feel empty? Like there was a hole, waiting to be filled. It kept her unnerved.
All in all, the trip to Onderon was very eventful. From fighting off bounty hunters to rescuing a wrongly convicted man, it was all taxing. She had finally been able to see Master Kavar, her old master. He was understanding in a way, and had patience, until their meeting was interrupted. And now Onderon was on the brink of a civil war, great. Just another thing to add to the list.
After getting back to Dxun she had talked with Mandalore and found that she had no choice in his decision to travel with her. She didn't mind, not as much as Bao-Dur, Mandalorians were tough and excellent fighters, even if she killed thousands of them. But she didn't trust him. She was not a very trusting person to begin with though. The only person she had ever truly trusted in her life was Revan, and he was gone. To where, she did not know.
Now she was walking towards the back of the Ebon Hawk with a bad taste in her mouth. Talking to Atton usually did that to her. They had argued, again, over going to find the Jedi. Their argument ended when Meetra offered to drop him off wherever he wanted and he just up and quit the conversation, claiming that no one on this ship could pilot like him, and she left angry. Angry and unsatisfied. She never got the answers she wanted, from anyone for that matter. Especially Kreia. During her Jedi years she would often hear Revan complain about the cryptic speak of the Masters, she was heavily reminded of that through Kreia. The old woman wouldn't shut up but she would never fully explain anything either. It annoyed her greatly.
But Kreia was her master now, kinda. But she never really considered anyone to be her master, not even Kavar. The only one who was close was Revan. He saved her so many times during the Mandalorian Wars that she was eager to learn from him, and became the greatest general, behind Revan and Malak. Their trials in the Mandalorian Wars were a story in itself.
Anyway, her decision had been made. They were going to Dantooine next. She figured she may as well get it over with. She didn't like Master Vrook, hardly anyone did, but he could be a valuable ally if you could put up with all his high and mighty bull shit. Revan's words. Besides it would give time for Master Kavar to contact her after that whole incident on Onderon.
As she walked towards the back she brushed her hand over her newly constructed lightsaber. It was a double blade, again. It was harder to master, sure, but it added to the intimidation factor, and she needed that considering that she looked like a teen boy fantasy. When they were young the choice of a double blade was hers but Revan was the one that pushed her to master it. She quickly became greatly skilled with her weapon and one of the best lightsaber duelists in the Order. And that lead to a certain… favor from Revan.
Nine years ago,
"You want me to what?" Seventeen year old Meetra stared at Revan incredulously. They were in the training room late in the day. It was five months before they were going to join war and fight the Mandalorians so tensions between Revan and the council were very tense. The young Knight had pulled Meetra in here to discuss something of great importance.
"Oh come on Meetra, it's not like I'm asking you to fight the Sith by yourself. It's just a small favor." Revan said.
"Small? Revan, she doesn't like me. She hates how much time I spend with you. If you ask me she's jealous." Meetra said folding her arms over her chest.
"Really? Now why would she be jealous?" Revan asked quirking a suggestive eyebrow and smirking lightly.
"Force your impossible." Meetra rolled her eyes and tucked a strand of her long blond hair behind her ear. "Look at it from her perspective."
Revan dropped his smirk and stared at her for a moment. "You're asking me to try and figure out a girl's mind?"
"You make it sound like it's hard."
"You make it sound like it's easy."
"Fair enough. But listen to me before I decide on your offer. Bastila is overly attached to you and what does she think when you spend long times away from her exploring with me? We know nothing happens but she's a teenage girl with… hormones. She's probably already jumping to conclusions. And now you want me to teach her? She doesn't like me." Meetra said with a half attempt at a glare.
"She will, you two are very similar, and you started off as friends, what happened?" Revan questioned.
"You're asking the wrong girl that question."
"Well here's your chance to fix it." When Meetra didn't look like she would change her mind Revan pressed on. "Bastila will become a very powerful Jedi, she just needs to develop her lightsaber skills. That's why I'm asking you."
"Why me? You're the lightsaber expert." Meetra argued.
"Yes, but you're the expert on double blades and that's what she wants to use."
Meetra brought her hands up to her temples and rubbed them furiously. "I know I'm going to regret this but fine, send her tomorrow and I will help her. But if she refuses then I tried, and it's over."
Revan smiled and shrugged. "Fair enough, but you only have to train her until she gets the hang of it, then I will do the rest."
"Alright, but I still think this is a bad idea."
Next day,
Meetra sat in a meditative stance awaiting Bastila. Revan had approached her to train the young Padawan in the arts of the double blade lightsaber. It wasn't a mystery that Revan basically trained Bastila but now he wanted Meetra to teach her how to use her new weapon. Meetra and Bastila weren't really friends but they were still friendly to each other. To a degree.
Meetra slowly lifted her left hand and her lightsaber flew up in front of her face. With her eyes closed, and deep in meditation, Meetra clenched her hand into a fist. When she opened her hand back up her lightsaber exploded apart into all the little pieces. All the parts circled around her being held connected by the Force. She slowly let her hand fall back into her lap and all the pieces flew back together, recreating her lightsaber. She smiled lightly but kept herself deep in her meditation.
She could feel all the Jedi around her, all their life force. She could feel the great power all around her. But, something changed. The Force began to surround her, go into her. It was a normal thing for Jedi's to gain more power through the Force during meditation but this wasn't her own power. She could feel her own source of power, but there was another. It was drifting towards her, filling her with more power, more clarity in the Force. Meetra felt odd, it wasn't natural, she had felt this before but she hadn't told anyone about it. She had approached Revan before about it and he turned up all this old information about Force bonding and how it led to extreme Force syphoning and stuff. She didn't bring the issue up again.
Just as she felt something coming around her, another presence entered the room. Meetra snapped out of her meditation and her lightsaber hit the ground. She looked up to see young Bastila standing there. Meetra put on a small smile. "Hello Padawan Bastila, nice of you to come by." Meetra stood up and grabbed her lightsaber.
"Revan asked me to come by, he said you wanted to ask me something." Bastila said a little unsure of herself.
Meetra rolled her eyes. Of course Revan would make her do everything. "Well he told me that you may be interested in using a double blade lightsaber so I thought you could use a little help, if you will accept it." Meetra explained.
Bastila looked at her for a moment. "You're… you're willing to teach me?"
Meetra gave a kind smile. "Yes, Revan thinks that you could really do it, and I do too. But it's not going to be easy."
Bastila's features hardened. "I know that, I wouldn't have chosen it otherwise."
Meetra couldn't help but smirk. "I see Revan is wearing off on you. That's good. You will need his determination, because I'm not going to be easy like Revan." Bastila gave a short nod and Meetra walked over to her. "Good, now, let me see your lightsaber." Bastila removed her weapon from her belt and held it out towards Meetra. She looked from Bastila's eyes to her single hilt lightsaber then waved her hand in front of it. Bastila's lightsaber broke into pieces and fell from her hands. The young Padawan looked from her broken lightsaber back to Meetra and furrowed her eyebrows. "First, you won't need that single hilt anymore, now rebuild your lightsaber. Only this time," Meetra held up her hand and Bastila's yellow crystal came up from the ground and into her hand. "Build it, for a dual hilt." Meetra held up her other hand and revealed a second yellow crystal. "You'd better get started, I think it may take a while."
Two months later,
"Good, only this time block using both ends." Meetra and Bastila were training again. They trained once a day, every day since she agreed to working with Meetra. As she promised, the training was hard, and taxing. But Meetra wasn't surprised when Bastila took everything and kept persisting. Enduring, wanting to do everything and more, just like Revan.
They were in the training room and practicing lightsaber combat. Bastila was still early in her training so she kept relying on only one side of her duel blade. Meetra had only one side of her own duel blade activated, maybe she did go slightly easy on Bastila.
"But last time I almost cut my own arm off." Bastila said as she held her lightsaber in a defensive stance. She had many burns and cuts from their little training.
Meetra rolled her eyes and held her lightsaber up. "But if you don't use it you'll never learn." She reminded the younger girl. "Now block." Meetra came at her and swung for one side. Bastila blocked beautifully but now it was time to test her. Meetra immediately switched her grip and swung for the other side. Bastila would usually try to bring her lightsaber around, thinking that she still used a single hilt, but this time she concentrated on using the other side of her new weapon. She blocked Meetra's other attack with the opposite side.
"Good." Meetra said with a smile. "But," Meetra jerked her blade back around and gave Bastila a knick on her shoulder. "Your stance is a bit off." Bastila hissed in pain and grabbed her hurt shoulder.
"When I said don't take it easy on her I didn't mean try and kill her." The two girls both looked at Revan as he walked into the room. "Bastila, how you holding up?" He asked walking over towards her.
Bastila instantly brightened up and dropped her hand from her wounded shoulder. "I'm fine Revan." She said with a bright smile.
"Of course," he smiled then his eyes went to Meetra. "How about you? She given you enough trouble yet." Bastila instantly glared at him.
Meetra let out a small laugh. "She's as determined and stubborn as you, but I have managed. At least she listens."
Revan rolled his eyes and looked back to Bastila. "I know, I've been watching. You have done well so far Bastila, I'm proud of you." Bastila smiled again and resisted the urge to giggle. "How about we go for a walk? I'll meet you in the courtyard in a moment." Bastila gave a curt bow and went outside. Revan watched her go with his eyes and turned back to Meetra. "How is she doing?"
Meetra shrugged and placed her weapon on her belt. "Great, she will probably get the hang of it in another month." Meetra eyed him for a moment before she crossed her arms over her chest. "But I don't think that's why you're here."
Revan frowned and waved his hand. The door to the room instantly closed. "We have a problem. The Mandalorians attacked again. Burned an entire colony, their continuing into the outer rim. Reports say their numbers are greater than any projections the Republic has come up with."
Meetra sighed and turned around. "I was worried it would be about this." She took a couple steps away from Revan. "Things are already complicated as is. With you fighting the council and everything, it could create a friction in the Order."
Meetra didn't have to turn around to know that Revan was right behind her now. She could almost feel him close to her. "I know, the last thing I want to do is destroy the Jedi, but if the council won't act-"
"The council won't act!" Meetra whirled around and was inches from Revan. "They won't listen! The council will just stay blind and shut this out and they will shut you out! You may not be a threat but they know how smart and how strong you are and they will eventually exile you." Meetra spoke that last sentence in a hushed tone.
She could feel Revan's breath and hear his heart. She was staring right into his eyes. She could see the confusion in them, and the conviction he had for his cause. Meetra always cared about Revan. She cared deeply for him, but it was never something romantic. Her feelings were deep, as was his, she knew it had to be something akin to love. She couldn't admit it then but she knew she loved him very much.
"What would it matter if the Mandalorian generals walked through the Jedi temple after it was burned? The threat they pose is greater than anything the council could do to me." Revan said looking back at her.
Sighing, Meetra gently placed her forehead against Revan's chest. "You know I stand by your side Revan but you're playing a dangerous game." She felt Revan place a hand on her back and his chin on the top of her head.
"I don't want you caught up in it, but you still can make your own choice." Revan said in a low voice.
Meetra thought for a moment before she took a step back and turned away from Revan. She was talking about the Mandalorians but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about Revan and Bastila, and how their feelings with each other were different than her feelings with Revan. Bastila felt something for Revan that Meetra didn't feel. And for the first time in her life Meetra was jealous. Not about Revan but for the feelings he had with another, the feelings themselves.
"Did you ever think that we could feel something more?" She questioned out of nowhere.
Revan turned towards her. "What do you mean?"
Meetra kept her back towards him and continued. "You and me, we hold each other close. Keep each other safe, trust each other. But that's where it ends."
Revan stared at her for a moment. "Are you angry?"
Meetra quickly rubbed away any signs of tears that were coming on and turned back to him. "Yes, but I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself. I want to feel something… more. But I can't. I can't feel anything close to what you and Bastila have. I don't know what's wrong with me, I just want to know what it feels like."
Revan took a step towards her. "What?"
Meetra smiled sadly and kept the frustration in her back. "Love, or whatever you have with her. I'm not jealous of her but, I don't know." Meetra turned back around and cursed at herself for blowing all her feelings out there like this. A Jedi has no emotion. Yeah right. "Please just forget this Revan."
Revan stood there for a moment looking at her. He took a deep breath and walked over to her, turning her around. Meetra let out a small gasp as Revan wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. Revan wasn't one to show his emotions so this was a very rare thing. Meetra hesitantly wrapped her arms around Revan and hugged him tightly.
"Jedi or not, you can tell me anything Meetra." He pulled back a little and looked her in the eyes. "Feelings can never be classified or defined. It's alright to feel whatever is in your heart."
Meetra smiled and hugged him once more before letting go of him. She looked back up at him and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Now you better hurry up or princess will be wondering what took you so long." She said with a small smirk.
Revan grinned and turned to walk out. "She will always wait for me." He said as he left.
Meetra waited until he was out of the room before her smirk dropped. She turned on her heel and walked out the other exit in the room. "Some things aren't meant to be Revan, you have taught me this."
Meetra shook her head to get that flashback out of her mind. From there it was all downhill. Revan continued his defiant outbursts against the council and the Mandalorian Wars hit the breaking point.
Walking into the dormitories she found it empty and sat down. She needed to meditate. This whole saving the galaxy thing was really difficult. She got in her stance and concentrated. It only took about three minutes until she got frustrated at herself for not concentrating enough to focus. She groaned and stood back up.
"Peace does not come easy when you cannot focus." Meetra whipped around to see Kreia standing in the entranceway. The older Jedi walked toward the young girl slowly. "It is never possible though, for one to find peace. Not for one such as yourself who has endured so much and has yet learned so little."
Meetra stared at Kreia, trying to decipher what the old Jedi was saying. "I have learned many things from my travels." She tried to defend herself.
"Learned to fight yes, learned to live? No, that you did not learn, especially from him." Kreia said standing in front of the Jedi girl.
Meetra narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. "How much do you know about me?"
The older Jedi let out a small chuckle. "Oh more than you can ever realize. I know who you were before the Mandalorian Wars. I knew him too, I was his Master, his first Master. And his last. Just as I am yours now. I know why you went to the wars, I know why you fought to the end and I know why he couldn't take you with him." Meetra's eyes widened as her gaze slowly slipped to the ground. She hadn't realized that Kreia knew all this, and she was Revan's original Master! Still, one thing did not make sense.
"Then why? Why waste your time with a broken Jedi like me?" Meetra's soft voice echoed off the walls.
"Bah, you listen too much to what those Jedi who exiled you say. But you don't listen to the Force. If you would listen, truly listen, then you would know why you are the last hope for the Jedi. Where you are broken, you will fix the entire galaxy. It is as I have foreseen it, as he foresaw it. That is why he searched for you." Meetra brought her eyes back up to her Master, which Kreia answered with a nod. "Yes, many sought you out after the Jedi Civil War. Some, to find answers, others to destroy those answers. But he sought you out, for hope. Before Revan disappeared he searched for you all through the galaxy. But even he could not find you."
Meetra lowered her gaze once more and looked down at her hand. She slowly closed it into a fist and sighed, dropping her arm. "It is because I am not one with the Force anymore, isn't it? Why he couldn't find me, that's it right?"
Kreia let out another short chuckle and shook her head. "No child no, he found you. Before anyone else did. But, he had to leave. Another call to war. Revan did not want to leave the galaxy to unworthy hands so he selected you. You may think of me as the controller of this game but Revan is the player and we are all his pawns. However, I believe you to be the secret, the queen, his secret weapon and best hope at winning his game. But that is one secret Revan took with him when he disappeared." Meetra was now looking back at Kreia and opened her mouth to ask some more questions but the old Jedi interrupted her. "However, I am tired as this journey is taking a toll on my old mind, I must rest." She said before she promptly exited the room.
Meetra was left with silence and the weight of Kreia's words on her mind. She didn't need Kreia to tell her that Revan was smart, a genius in fact, and that he was probably behind this whole mess. But wherever he was, Meetra wished he would return soon.
As the Ebon Hawk took off from the jungles of Dxun, Revan remained in the Mandalorian base. He watched the ship take off and go towards its next objective, wherever that was. Revan had decided to not hitch a ride this time, his services would not be required for some time. Instead, he thought to give himself a little break.
Walking away from the base, he went towards the shuttle he had left in the jungle. Everything could be left in Meetra's hands, he was sure of that. Some things she needed to handle on her own. And he was confident that she would handle everything perfectly. She was his oldest friend after all.
"Oh so now what are we doing?"
Revan rolled his eyes as he heard the female Sith's voice in his head. Truly, he had not gotten used to the fact that she now existed. "What do you care?"
"If you haven't noticed, I am trapped in your body so there is not much entertainment in watching you go to meetings and all that other crap."
"Then go away." He said as he walked into the cockpit of the shuttle and got it fired up. "I already have one woman telling me what to do and I don't need another."
"Oh so that's where we are going."
Revan rolled his eyes and set the ship for takeoff. Putting in the coordinates for Tython in the computer. He wanted to see his family, and to rest a while.
Meetra walked into the dormitories and threw herself on one of the beds. It had been too long of a day. First, getting to Dantooine, investigating old Jedi ruins, saving Master Vrook, who then had the nerve to lecture her, then fighting off an entire mercenary army. Oh yeah, fun day. Not to mention the hostility she got from all the people there.
She could feel the robes she had on sticking to her sweaty skin. It had been forever since she had a shower and it seemed like a nice idea. But she was too tired to move at the moment. She had been constantly fighting for an entire day and a half without sleep. Sure, during the Mandalorian Wars she was used to this kind of thing but now she was getting readjusted to the lifestyle.
Moving some sweaty strands of blonde hair away from her face she sighed and struggled to get up. When she looked up she saw Disciple standing in the doorway. He had been their recent companion, a Jedi scholar who she found in the Jedi temple ruins who wanted to assist them. Meetra found him to be a valuable ally and not that bad looking. He had that whole pretty face with gentleman attitude about him. He was like at the opposite spectrum of Atton. Shaking thoughts of the frustrating rogue from her mind Meetra sat up and looked at him and he seemed shock that she was awake.
"Forgive me, but I thought you were asleep so…" He began.
"So you decided to watch me sleep?" Meetra said with a humorous smirk. The reaction she got was well worth it. He became all flustered and his cheeks tinted barely with the hint of red.
Meetra didn't need Atton's constant ogling and random strangers' come-ons to know that she was good looking. Granted, if she read Atton's mind at the correct times she would hear things that would make her blush beat red. Same with all other men. Apparently there was something about her that men found intriguing but, being raised as a Jedi and all, she didn't really give those things a second thought. Well, most of the time. Damn, Atton was rubbing off on her.
"N-no, I had noticed you were asleep and was going to leave when you got up. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable." Disciple said not looking her in the eyes.
Meetra offered a kind smile and stood up walking over to him and stopping a few feet in front of him. "Don't worry about it. It's not like you're the first one to do it." She rolled her eyes thinking back to the Mandalorian Wars when Alek had tried to hit on her when she had just come out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel. It was funny, because it was on Revan's ship and Revan soon, forcefully, made the point that Meetra was to be left alone. Alek couldn't grip his lightsaber for a week after Revan finished with his arm. "Anyway, what's up? Is everything alright?"
"Well yes, that is part of the reason I wanted to talk to you." He started looking at her again. "I was wondering if I could take a look at your trial. You mentioned earlier that you had a recording of it. Of course if it's alright with you." He added.
Meetra frowned thinking back to her trial. It was something that she wished to forget. But Disciple was one for being helpful, so why not? It wasn't like she was going to watch it again anytime soon. "Sure, I'll let T3 know that you can watch it." She said.
He offered her a smile. "Thank you, I will be in the medical bay if you have any questions for me." He said before giving her a bow. Meetra rolled her eyes and laughed a little. He was quite the gentleman.
Disciple made his way to the medical bay while Meetra went looking for T3. She stumbled into the security room to see if the droid was there but didn't find him. She frowned and was on her way to the back of the ship when a figure in the doorway stopped her.
"Atton, don't sneak up on me like that." She said, after jumping slightly, and pushing some of her long strands of hair out of her face.
The rogue pilot was leaning up against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Saw that pretty boy was joining us. Didn't think that this ship could get any bigger." He said in his usual tone.
Meetra did her best to hide the smirk she wanted to show. "What's wrong Atton? Jealous I might be into the gentleman type?"
Atton rolled his eyes. "No, I'm not jealous. I don't need to be jealous, the only reason I tend to flirt with you is because you're the only thing one this ship that is decent to look at."
Meetra raised a brow. "Oh really? Is that all?"
"That, and it's fun to watch you become all flustered and confused." He said with a devilish smirk.
Meetra crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. "I don't, become all flustered and confused."
"Oh right, I'm sorry. I forgot all the relationships you've been in and all the experience you have with the opposite sex." From just hearing the word sex Meetra's cheeks began to flare just a bit. "See? You are so innocent it's fun."
Meetra huffed and put a hand on her hip. Little did she know that when she did that she became more alluring in Atton's eyes. "Don't think you're the first so called bad boy to come on to me. You're not special Atton no matter how much you claim to be."
This time Atton raised a brow. "And no matter how much you want me to be too right?"
That made Meetra clamp her mouth close. She would never tell him but there was something about him that actually made him different from everyone else. Was it the fact that they had been on so many adventures together? Or just the fact that she could admit that he was a little bit attractive. 'No Meetra! Stop, no personal attachments.' She reminded herself.
"You think you know what I want but you're sadly mistaken." She spat out and went for the door. She was actually stunned when Atton reached out and grabbed her wrist spinning her back around. His grip was loose but still firm. Meetra let out a small gasp as she was met with Atton's eyes. He was staring at her in a way she hadn't seen before. It wasn't lustful or anything like that but more of a longing gaze. She felt paralyzed as his other arm wrapped around her waist and his body turned to hers fully. She felt her own breathing hitch as he leaned closer towards her face.
"Then tell me what you want, Meetra." Hearing her name roll off his tongue made her weak in the knees for some reason. She never felt like this before. She was actually nervous. This was ridiculous, she was the famed Meetra Surik, general of the Mandalorian Wars and killer of thousands. And yet, this one man, this Atton, was making her nervous.
'No!' She told herself. 'I am a Jedi, I am not attracted to him. Not in any way! He may be handsome, but that's all! His eyes are not that gorgeous. Wait, maybe they are. And his hair, it's always in the wonderful disheveled look. And his smile, so attractive. Wait… this wasn't where I wanted this to go.' She was fighting a losing battle. She could only watch as her own hands went up to his shoulders and rested on them lightly. She didn't know if she was going to push him away or bring him closer. This feeling inside her chest became maddening and she felt hot, like her body was warming up for some unexplained reason.
Atton stared at the Exile intently. Ever since he first laid eyes on her back when she was half naked at Peragus, he knew that she was the rarest type of creature in the galaxy, an angel. Of course he would never tell her that. Even as he admired her every curve he was still drawn to her face. The hardened features of a young woman who had faced more challenges that anyone in the galaxy had ever imagined and the soft girlish features that she showed only when she was confused or surprised. Like now. She was truly so innocent that Atton almost felt bad for wanting to be the one to take that innocence away. Almost. But he still had a bit of self-respect in him… somewhere, so he waited for her to make the move. Even if she didn't, he wasn't about to lose her to some pretty boy wanna-be. He had almost gotten killed too many times for that.
Meetra curled her fingers in the fabric on his shoulders as she realized how painfully close he was. Too near, too soon. She remembered back to her conversation with Revan all those years ago. About being jealous that he had someone to love, in a romantic way, and she did not. Was Atton the one? Sure he could be cold and rude but there was more to him and she knew it. But she would never give herself to someone who acted so brash and crude like him. Not without breaking him first.
Slowly, she released her grip on his shirt and gently pushed him back from his shoulders. She was actually shocked when he complied to her soft pushing and released her, even stepping a foot back. Atton kept his gaze fixed on her as she tried to find something to say. She bit her bottom lip and brushed some of her hair out of her face again trying to find words.
"Excuse me, General." They both turned to see Bao-Dur standing there looking between them. Meetra inwardly thanked the Force that she didn't need to say anything at this awkward moment. "Sorry for interrupting-"
"You weren't interrupting." From the glare Atton gave her she knew she said that too fast.
"But T3 has received a message from Dxun concerning our Jedi friend." Bao-Dur finished, not noticing the looks the two were giving each other.
"Alright, I will be right there." She said and Bao-Dur gave a nod and left. Leaving the two back to their awkward silence.
But this time it was Atton who broke it. "So, plot a destination for Dxun then? Not like we were there four days ago." He muttered the last part sarcastically.
Meetra nodded. "Yes, thank you." She said in her usual soft voice. Atton actually liked that tone a lot better than her scolding one when she got angry at him. Atton gave a quick nod and turned to leave. He stopped however, when she spoke again. "Atton." He turned and looked back at her.
Meetra wanted to say something. She needed to say something. It wasn't like she could just leave things the way they were. But she couldn't find the words. She couldn't submit to her feelings for Atton and he couldn't submit to his feelings for her. They both had their reservations about each other, and it needed to stay that way until someone gave. And Meetra was known for her patience and endurance.
"Never mind." She said quietly before rushing towards the back of the ship. If her day had been long before this than it was now. And she really, really, needed sleep after all that.
Fin.
A/N: So again I apologize for the long wait on this one but I hope I made it up with this long chapter. I found the most difficult part about this chapter was the last scene. I had come to find that I couldn't write it without Meetra becoming too much like Bastila in personality so I hit a brick wall. That scene was originally planned for right after Onderon but I found that if I pushed it back it made a little more sense but I don't know, still hit a paradox with it. I find that Meetra's personality is almost like a coin. She has her harsh tactical war general side, then her sweet caring and innocent side which I love to write, considering that she would be the first to have this side. But in writing that scene I kind of demolished that by making her harsh towards Atton but guess what? It's all blamed on the fact that she didn't sleep for almost two days straight. Don't you love that I could do that as a writer?
Anyway, despite that scene, Meetra's personality is still that sweet innocent girl we all imagined her to be. And if you haven't guessed it that Sith spirit in Revan's head is more of a comic relief for the time being but she will play a bigger part later on. But for now enjoy the laughs at Revan's expense.
So does anyone have any questions about Meetra or Revan or their relationship? Or Atton and Meetra's relationship? If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask and as always please leave me a review telling me what you think.