Ice paced back and forth in the small apartment, her dread and anticipation increasing with every second that ticked by. They had received word from Talan via comlink that he had found Bastila and the two of them were heading back to the apartment. Carth seemed utterly relieved when they had heard the news but Ice couldn't have hid her scowl even if she had tried. Not that she made any effort.

It had been fifteen years since the Shan sisters had seen each other, and Ice was not naive enough to think that their reunion would be anymore pleasant than their parting. Several times over the past few days Ice wondered why she was even bothering to assist this merry band of misfits in the rescue of Bastila. As far as Ice was concerned, it might do her some good to rot in a cell for a while. Besides, where was Bastila and all of her Jedi friends when the Mandalorians were slaughtering and enslaving half the galaxy? Maybe now she would understand what it was like to be helpless and enslaved and have to rely on the help of others, only to have those hopes shattered.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Carth. "You know, Ice." Ice ceased her pacing and glanced impatiently at the corner where Carth was lounging on the sofa. "It's been a long time, I'm sure that Bastila will be happy to see you. You are family after all."

Ice snorted and resumed her pacing without bothering to reply. What did he know? He seemed to think that this was nothing more than sibling rivalry, which was just fine. She didn't owe him an explanation nor did she have a desire to give him one. It didn't matter anyway, as soon as they were off this disgrace of a planet she would say goodbye to her sister once again, this time for good.

Bastila and Talan walked in silence, which was just fine with her. She needed time to collect her thoughts and calm herself. Not just from the ordeal she had just been through, but also because of the company she now kept.

Revan.

Of course that was not the name he went by anymore. The Jedi had reprogrammed him with a completely new identity. Well, not new exactly, but new to Revan. They had taken the identity of a Republic soldier who had died during the Mandalorian wars. The previous owner of the identity Talan Owens had left behind no family, and not thinking it wise to give Revan his own identity back, the council had decided to reprogram the previous Dark Lord of the Sith with the identity of the fallen soldier. Even though he seemed to show no signs of his previous self, Bastila could not shake the uneasy feeling she had just by being with him. They had met several times at the academy of course but that was when he still answered to Revan. Now she was walking with a stranger, and she couldn't help but be curious about him.

How many of the traits he now possessed belonged to him? To the original Talan Owens? To Revan? Was there even anything left of his original self in the man that now walked beside her? More concerning, was there anything left of the Dark Lord? Bastila shuddered at the thought.

Revan/Talan seemed to sense her unease.

"Are you all right?" He asked kindly. Bastila silently cursed herself for being so transparent. She should be better at keeping her emotions in check.

"Where are we going?" She asked, deciding not to give him any answer.

"Like I said, the others are waiting back at the apartment. We've been set up there trying to figure out how to rescue you."

There was that word again. Rescued. The fact that he was so insistent on the fact that he had rescued her was simply infuriating.

"Ah yes, the rescue again." She responded, trying to keep her voice calm. "If I recall correctly, while you were busy verbally sparring with Brejik I managed to free myself and keep the both of us from getting killed."

Talan rolled his eyes "If I recall correctly, you didn't manage to, what was it- 'free yourself', until after I arrived and put myself in mortal jeopardy."

"I'll admit, your clumsy and reckless attempt at playing hero gave me the opportunity to find the strength I needed to break free. So, yes, thank you for that at least."

Talan stopped mid stride and turned to face her. "Listen, princess."

"Princess? I am your commanding officer, and you soldier, will speak to me with the proper respect."

His deep green eyes flashed in anger for a brief moment, before a mischievous grin crept over his face.

"All right commander. Let's get you back to our base, I'm sure the rest of your crew is dying to see you again."

He turned and began walking but she remained frozen staring at his retreating form. Something in the way he said that made her suspicious and somewhat uneasy.

They stepped off the elevator leading to the apartment ten minutes later. They had traveled the rest of the way in silence, but the pace at which Talan was walking gave Bastila the impression that he was in a hurry to get back to the apartment. They stopped in front of the last door in the hallway and Talan sharply knocked three times on the door.

Zaalbar and Mission pointed their blasters at the door as Carth pressed the button to open the door, holding his own blaster in his free hand. The security system in the apartment was damaged, therefore any visitors could not be seen on the small monitor by the door. Ice did not bother grabbing her weapons, she knew very well who it was, she could feel the arrogance even through the door. She leaned against the small armchair in the middle of the room and crossed her arms.

The door opened with a sharp hiss. Talan and Bastila entered the apartment and the others lowered their weapons.

"Bastila, you're alive!" Carth exclaimed excitedly. "Finally, things are looking up!"

Ice rolled her eyes. That was a matter of opinion.

"Now we can figure out a way to get off this rock."

"You mean you don't have a plan to escape?" Bastila asked incredulously. "What exactly have you all been doing all this time?"

"Trying to find you, remember?" Talan said in voice that could be mistaken for a growl.

"I see. Well now that I am back in charge of this mission, maybe things will proceed a little more smoothly. And who are these others? I was under the impression that there were other survivors."

"We're the only ones left from the Endar Spire." Carth said sadly. "These are good people, without their help we never would have found you."

"This is Mission and Zaalbar." Talan said nodding towards the two. Mission smiled slightly while Zaalbar did little more than nod.

"And that-" Carth said motioning towards Ice who had not moved.

Ice and Bastila stared at each other for several moments. Ice's expression remained unreadable, but a look of recognition came over Bastila's face.

"You!"

Ice rolled her eyes. "Very good dear sister, I see your Jedi training has made you as perceptive as ever."

Bastila scowled, and it wasn't until now that Talan truly saw the resemblance between the two. Ice stood a couple of inches taller than Bastila, though they both had the same steel grey eyes, and currently, the same unpleasant expression. Talan wondered who would be angrier if he pointed out that they had the same nose.

"Why are you here?" Bastila asked. "Since when do you care for anyone or anything but yourself?"

"Me?" Ice shot back "That's rich coming from a Jedi, especially one who has such an inflated sense of self."

"I am a Jedi yes, I fight for the well being of everyone, not for individual gain. Something you could never fathom."

"Is that so? Well protector of the peace where were all of the Jedi when the Mandalorians destroyed planets and slaughtered us by the millions?"

"We needed time! Time to asses the situation and develop a course of action! If we all behaved like you do, taking action first and thinking later, then the devastation caused would be far worse than what the Mandalorians could ever hope to accomplish."

"Is that what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night? Why don't you tell that to the millions of children who were left without parents and the millions more who were enslaved. I'm sure they will be greatly comforted by the fact that you were assessing the situation from the safety of your enclave while they feared for their lives."

"And where were you? Last I heard you ran away from home and fled to Onderon, pursuing some reckless desire or another. Don't talk to me about abandonment when you turned your back on mother and father to fulfill your own selfish ambitions."

Ice stared hard at Bastila before answering. "Is that what you heard?"

"You hated helping father unless there was some reward in it for you. On their last visit they told me how you had run off during one of father's expeditions and left him and mother alone to handle the business by themselves."

"They have a strange way of remembering things."

"What?"

"What does it matter to you? Like you said, I don't do anything for free. So yes, you're right. I only agreed to help find you so I can get transported off this joke of a planet."

"And after that, you'll do what? Run off and disappear for another fifteen years?"

"Don't worry Sister, after this I have no intention of ever being found again."

"Maybe that would be best for everyone. You should have remained in hiding."

"And you should be a slave right now."

"Enough!" Talan yelled. The two women fell silent, but continued to stare daggers at each other for several tense minutes. Ice grabbed her blaster off the table and for a brief moment Talan thought she would fire on her sister. Instead, she clipped the weapon to her belt and proceeded to walk towards the door to the apartment.

"Running away again?" Bastila said without turning to look at her.

"Why not? It's what I do best." Ice responded as the door hissed closed behind her.

Ice stood in the hallway and stood motionless for several minutes. A flash of anger coursed through her and she turned and punched the wall with impressive strength. There was a loud crack that echoed through the hallway and Ice immediately knew that her hand had broken. She cursed silently, she would need to find a healer. A single tear fell down her face that had nothing to do with the pain. She brushed it away angrily and stormed off towards the Upper City.