Chapter 9

What Remains

Not a hint of shame or regret visible in his eyes, Darth Malak glared viciously at the smoldering ruins of the surface of Taris which continued to be mercilessly incinerated by the fire of the gargantuan Sith fleet. The sheer magnitude of the atrocity that had befallen the planet was felt by Jedi and Sith everywhere, from the highest Master to the lowliest initiate, and their emotions ranged from tormented anguish to ecstatic and sadistic glee.

But still, despite the rigid and unmerciful gaze he kept up as he stood atop the bridge of the Leviathan in order to keep his subordinates in their rightful place, Malak still possessed what little fragments there was left of his heart. A tear threatened to form against his eyelids as he stood staring at the ashes of a corner of Taris he kept reserved deep in his memory. Closing his eyes, he recalled the day he stood there, confessing his feelings to the woman he hoped he would be able to love and care for for the rest of his life.

He still remembered her tenderness, the warmth of her chalk-white skin. The optimism and goodness he saw in her eyes, and was representative of all that was good in the Republic he strived to protect with all his heart. Her silky white hair and peerlessly divine figure which drove him almost mad with desire. The rosy, beautiful lips he wished he could make his forever.

And to think that the one who meant the world to him was stolen from him…by an undeserving whelp who love for, and willingness to protect her paled in comparison to his. If not for the wretched Zayne Carrick, Jarael would have become his empress, and the progenitor of a dynasty that would last through the millennia.

Jarael…forgive me…

He could repeat those words again and again in his mind, but it would never reverse the tragedy that was committed by his hands. She would never forgive him for it, and Malak soon began to regret breaking the heart of the one he always sought to return to.

His eyes shot open and glared savagely forward when he heard the violent bombardment cease, leaving an echo which resounded throughout the fleet. He turned around, his enraged eyes staring with venom at the Admiral and Vice-Admiral who nervously looked up at him from the lower deck, where dozens of officers were ceaselessly working away at consoles in communication with the other vessels. The captain who was speaking to his two superiors shuddered as he returned to monitor his subordinates, leaving a less-than-calm Krieg and a sweating Karath to approach their master to report on the most unpleasant findings.

"Speak…," Darth Malak hissed slowly, expressing his desire to receive an explanation from the two men.

"My lord, we-we have…," the Admiral swallowed nervously, his hands shaking with fear as he spoke. "We have just received reports from our advance scouts that a lone freighter vessel has managed to escape the destruction of Taris. It was…the only vessel to do so."

"We sent swarms of fighters to pursue it, my lord," Krieg said more calmly, albeit he himself was not without fear. "But many of them were destroyed. The freighter jumped into hyperspace, and we lost contact with it."

"My lord," Karath spoke again, his eyes wincing with panic as Malak's glare upon him intensified tenfold. "We must immediately begin to investigate whether that vessel contains-agh!" The Admiral's right hand flew up to his collar as he felt the oppressive grasp of Malak's Force Choke almost crush him into submission. The Dark Lord's right hand curled up viciously, forming a semi-circle with its fingers and thumb which continued to contract ever so slowly.

"You have failed me, Admiral Karath," Malak hissed, the dark side of the Force emanating a powerful wave of energy that was felt by all. "Failure is not the way of the Sith. It is inconceivable. Unforgivable. The price that all must pay for it is death."

"I-Lord Malak…Please…," Karath struggled for breath, struggling on against the vicegrip around his throat in utter futility. The Vice-Admiral looked on and darkly grinned, believing that his day to rise to glory and true recognition had finally arrived.

Unfortunately for him, it did not.

Not yet.

"Lord Malak!" the captain who had relayed information about the freighter's escape to the Dark Lord called to him. "Our scanners have detected a lone shuttle making its way off Taris! It seeks to make contact with our fleet!"

Believing that this new turn of events could yet help him save his own life, the dying Admiral reasoned with his master. "L-Lord Malak, please! This may…very well present the answers…the answers we seek!"

Frustrated that his duty prevented him from relishing in the death of his unworthy superior, Vice Admiral Krieg spoke to the captain. "Just who is it that is piloting the shuttle?"

"It is Calo Nord, sir. The bounty hunter," the captain answered.

"Bounty hunters," Krieg spat, insistent on seeing the demise of Karath. "We don't need their scum. Have the fleet run projections on the possible hyperspace routes that the freighter may have taken. We'll catch them yet."

Feeling the oxygen rapidly running out of his lungs, Karath gasped what he thought would be his last breath before he felt the grip around his neck finally come loose. He fell to his knees, clutching his chest and throat with both hands and inwardly rejoiced at the fact that he was spared the grim fate of his predecessor.

"Consider this your last warning, Admiral," Malak rebuked him. "There shall be no such mercy the next time you hinder my plans with your incompetence."

"Th-thank you, Lord Malak," Karath said raspingly, gradually rising back up on his feet. The Vice-Admiral merely gritted his teeth next to him, utterly disappointed that the man he deemed to be a dismal failure was shown mercy.

"The bounty hunter would not request a meeting if he did not possess valuable information," Malak guessed. "His insistence on presenting himself, rather than attempting to flee the detection and wrath of our fleet suggests so."

"Your orders, Lord Malak," Krieg asked, looking at Karath from the corner of his eye.

The Dark Lord turned once more to look upon the dead planet as he dismissed his servants. "Allow his shuttle to land in the hangar. Have him brought to me at once."

-o-

His mind rejuvenated and refreshed after manning the portside turret which brought back memories from his old days of glory during the Mandalorian Wars, Canderous walked straight to the cockpit, where Carth and Bastila were yet carrying out navigational checks for the travel to Dantooine. His heavy footsteps signified the pride that was still ringing in his heart even after the shameful defeat of many years ago, and he didn't do as much as glance sideways when he heard the light sobbing of the young Twi'lek child who was part of their entourage.

Approaching the captain and Jedi Knight who still sat at the controls, he gruffly smiled and spoke. "Nice piloting."

"Nice shooting," Carth replied positively, attempting to hide the obviously trauma he experienced after witnessing the death of an entire planet.

"That reminds me," Canderous said, recalling that he didn't get to ask any of their names as of yet. "I never had the chance to make a proper exchange of introductions during our last little meeting in the Lower City of Taris. I'm sure you remember my name from back then," he addressed Carth, then looked to his right at Bastila, "but I've never had the opportunity of meeting this here Jedi princess before. Name's Canderous Ordo."

"Carth Onasi. Captain of the Republic fleet under the command of Admiral Dodonna," the pilot answered, his mood highly sombre in contrast to the Mandalorian who was still exhilarated after the battle. Clearly not in the mood for a conversation with Canderous, he continued to labor away at the controls, using the scanner of the Ebon Hawk which was limited in scope in an effort to ensure that no Sith fleets would move to intercept them on their escape to Dantooine.

"Bastila Shan, Jedi Knight," she said with a twinge of impatience with the man. "And I would much appreciate it if you would keep your quips to yourself."

"Heh, don't blame me for merely pointing out the obvious," Canderous teased her. "I've seen plenty of Jedi in my time. Killed many of them, too. Many of them were surprisingly keen on maintaining a pompous appearance, but you my friend surely are like an impeccable cupcake with cream and a cherry on top when it comes to vanity."

"Enough, Mandalorian," Bastila sighed, the anger starting to build in her before she inwardly recalled the first line of the Jedi Code to soothe her emotions. "If you have nothing to do here other than irritate the two of us, then I respectfully ask that you take yourself to another section of your ship to polish your weapon. We'll be arriving on Dantooine in approximately four hours."

Canderous gave a mocking puff as he turned and left for the workbench he recalled was in the garage of the Ebon Hawk from his occasional spacing trips to clients of Davik. He grunted as T3 came out of the communications room and bumped against him, coming off second best against his strong legs which were toughened as a result of years of battle. T3 stuttered and beeped, rolling back as Canderous proceeded onward, not caring about the droid.

After passing through the main hold, he stopped when he saw Kael and Elena coming out of the starboard dorm. He looked at them wordlessly while they looked back at him, then moved on without speaking towards the garage, gesturing with a swing of his head for them to go to the cockpit to talk to Carth and Bastila.

"Looks like he's had a rough introduction with the two of them," Kael guessed, walking forward after Canderous passed by them.

"War does terrible things, both to the livelihood of people as well as their minds," Elena said. "You cannot expect Carth to simply forget such tragedies like those he faced."

"I've been thinking, Elena," Kael spoke, looking at her face. "I've had a feeling that we may very well be in this for the long haul. I'm not just talking about you and Bastila as Jedi; I'm talking about the rest of us – me, Carth, and…perhaps even Ice, Mission and Zaalbar."

"What do you mean?"

"My mind always went back to what you and Bastila said to me after I informed you of the dream I had. Not to mention the possibility of the bond you explained. While we were still on Taris looking for Bastila, I thought for sure that I would soon be reassigned to a different vessel once we'd rescued Bastila and gotten off the planet. But when you told me of the possibility of me being Force sensitive, everything changed. I just don't know what the future holds for me."

"I know you feel confused right now, Kael," Elena sought to assure him as they passed through into the corridor which led to the cockpit, "but I assure you that all your questions will be answered after we come before the Jedi Council. Until then, I ask that you be patient."

Kael stared at her eyes that looked back at him with a serene glow. And despite all the questions that raced through his mind regarding his vision that was brought to him by the Force, he couldn't help but ask himself what was so special about this woman who now walked beside him. Why his heart sunk when he first received news from the Rodian Bek regarding her capture; why he so erratically put himself and the others in jeopardy in the sewers out of his desire to save her life; and why he was even more glad to see her safe when he found her in the captivity of the Vulkars, than Bastila whom the entire Republic depended upon during the ongoing war with the Sith.

She was beautiful and fair beyond measure, as well as kind and nurturing. He would also be lying to himself if he tried to tell himself that he did not find her ravishing and sought to protect her because of his natural sense of duty and his budding feelings for her.

But something else…something else seemed to simply draw him to her, and compel him to protect her with his life. It was not a sense of duty, nor his knowledge that her life, as a Jedi Knight, meant so much more to the war effort than his.

Made nervous by his intense gaze, Elena briefly shuddered before looking forward again. They did not speak again until they arrived at the cockpit, to see Carth and Bastila looking out to the stars that wheeled overhead.

"Are you both alright?" Elena asked them, placing a gentle hand on the shoulder of her former student.

"If you mean 'alright' as in safe, then yes," Carth muttered back. His left elbow was up against the side of the console that was free of any buttons or controls, and he rested his weary head against his hand. "If you mean 'alright' as in both safe and not shocked to the core, then no."

"That entire planet…," Bastila wept, the reality of the moment finally having caught up with her after she overcame her initial shock. "Destroyed. All those innocent people…Men, women and children…All dead because of me."

"Bastila," Elena rubbed her hand on the woman's back. "Please, don't blame yourself that way. None of us could have done anything to prevent this from happening."

"Of course we could!" Bastila grumpily insisted, turning around to shoot a tearful glare at her. "All of this is happening because of me! Everywhere I go, carnage and death follows as the Sith pursue me relentlessly. The hundreds of crew of the Endar Spire, the entire populace of Taris – they all died because of me! I would have gladly died long ago if it meant sparing those innocent people from a fate they did not deserve."

"Don't think that way, Bastila," Kael said, drawing her attention. "Billions of people died today because of us, yes. But that number would pale in comparison to what unspeakable carnage and destruction other wings of the Sith armada may have wrought in other parts of the galaxy had you not been there to aid the Republic with your Battle Meditation."

"What are you saying, Kael?" Bastila puffed. "That my life is worth more than that of an entire planet?"

"Yes."

Bastila, Elena and Carth all turned with a shudder to look at Kael, who continued on. "Your ability is worth more than anyone can imagine. You may not be aware of it, but every fleet, every capitol ship, fighter or even a single soldier that is saved as a result of your Battle Meditation is worth more than you think. The galaxy needs you, Bastila. It will pain you all to hear this, but Bastila is worth more to the Republic right now than an entire star system, with all its planets and the lives they sustain. You are the inner foundation that holds together the entire war effort, Bastila. Without you, the Republic itself will come crashing down, and all life buried and crushed underneath it."

The shock took some time to settle into the mind of Carth, who begrudgingly became forced to accept the truth behind Kael's words as he turned to the console once more. Bastila and Elena, however, continued to look at Kael with horror in their eyes, and could not speak to give an explanation why.

In their hearts, the two Jedi knew the truth, and were mortified to find that it would only be a matter of time before Kael himself would be made to know it.

Slowly but surely, they assumed more composed expressions, and soon all four of them looked out into the spiralling blue vortex ahead.

"So how are Mission, Ice and Zaalbar?" Carth asked, feeling concerned as always for the young child's welfare. "I still remember Mission panting with panic as Ice took her to the dorm."

"She is resting at present," Elena said. "She was traumatized when Kael and I went to check on her. It is best that we give her time alone for the time being. She currently despises us for causing the destruction of Taris."

"Ice…is she…is she alright?" Carth questioned.

"Ice is relatively fine," Kael answered. "She didn't care for Taris as much as Mission did. She is worried about Mission, though. Says she's the only family she has left."

"That makes two of us, then," Carth remarked. Still deeply affected by the death of his wife and disappearance of his child following the destruction of Telos which occurred only two years ago, he wanted to do anything within his limited power to protect Mission's life and prevent such a fate from being imposed on her by the Sith.

He still kept a golden locket that was given to him by his wife Morgana as an anniversary gift shortly before he departed with the fleet to fight off the Mandalorian fleet. He opened it from time to time whenever he was afforded a moment of privacy, and the tears would always begin to well up against his eyelids every time he looked upon the face in the picture that smiled back at him.

And strangely, whenever he saw Ice's face, he could see the spirit of his deceased wife within her. They shared the same golden hair; the same stark blue eyes; the same fair skin; and the same stubbornness that would never relent no matter how much arguing they had to put up with. Her resilient attitude was also shared in common with Mission, whose argumentative nature reminded Carth of his son Dustil, whom he never saw again after the devastation of his homeworld. Morgana always stayed strong for Dustil during Carth's lengthy absences that came with answering the call of duty, and it was no different with Ice, who kept her anguish buried deep within the recesses of her heart so that she could protect Mission from whatever storm came their way.

"Dantooine," Kael spoke, fearing the terrible sight of what happened to Taris. "Is it…safe?"

"It most certainly should be," Elena nodded. "It's quite a secluded planet. The Sith would have to go out of their way to send a force to assault it. And considering that they are still being engaged heavily by the Republic fleet in the nearby sectors, we should reasonably be safe for at least the medium term."

"You should be reasonably safe for the medium term, you mean," Carth couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Kael and I, we'll most likely have to jump back into the firing line within a few days. We still have duties that need tending to."

"That depends on the decision of the Council, Carth," Bastila told him. "Elena and I must inform them of the vision Kael experienced on Taris. We must get to the bottom of this, and that may mean that Kael will have to remain on Dantooine for some time. There is much to discuss."

"Whatever," Carth muttered in frustration with a shake of his head. "The sooner I can leave Dantooine after arriving and get back to the front lines, the better. I don't like your Jedi Council. I never trusted them, and I never will. First thing I'm going to do once we arrive on the planet is send a transmission to Admiral Dodonna, requesting a relocation as quick as possible."

Thoughts suddenly arising about the three Beks who were gathered together in the starboard dorm, Kael spoke. "And what about Ice, Mission and Zaalbar? What'll happen to them after they reach Dantooine?"

"The choice will be left to them as to where they will go," Bastila said. "The three of them have seen enough death and destruction to leave them scarred for a lifetime. Nobody can deny that they deserve to live in peace for the rest of their lives after being made to bear witness to the destruction of their home. I am certain that they will be able to settle on Dantooine."

Kael disagreed. "Mission and Zaalbar might, but I'm doubtful that Ice would ever decide to do something like that. You've seen and heard how vengeful she is towards the Exchange, after what happened to her family. She's not just going to sit down and stay quiet."

"She puzzles me greatly," Elena frowned. "On one hand, I sense a seething hatred in her – something that would have made her extremely dangerous had she been born a Force-sensitive. But on the other hand, I sense a bottomless pit of sorrow in her. I cannot hope to truly determine whether she seeks to exact revenge on the Exchange solely because she wants to take revenge for its own sake, or whether it's part of something deeper, in that she seeks answers to the tragedy of her mother's death and siblings' kidnapping."

"If you ask me, it's got to do with both," Carth said quietly, his voice low and whispering, as if he wanted to subdue the anger that was festering within him after being reminded of Ice's desire for retribution and answers which mirrored his. "I still want to make Saul pay for what he did to my family and homeworld. I want real answers from him regarding why he did it, but above all, I want revenge."

"Carth…," Bastila turned her head to persuade him to let go of his anger, but he quickly shot back at her.

"Shut it, Bastila. Don't give me that crap and your lectures about the dark side. Look at me – do I look like a damn Jedi to you? Do I look like someone who can put the fate of the entire galaxy at risk due to his own personal desire for revenge? I'm what I am, Bastila – a soldier, and nothing more; not a single flicker of Force ability. I swear to you it'll all be finished once I see Saul die with my own eyes."

Realizing that he knew so little about Carth and his other companions due to their hasty efforts to escape from Taris, Kael made an attempt to delve deeper into the soldier's past. "Carth, I've been meaning to ask you—"

"Not now, Kael. I'm not in the mood," Carth snapped, clearly incensed after being reminded of his lost family and his personal vendetta against Karath. "Look. All I want to do right now is arrive on Dantooine as fast as we can, and in one piece. We're all dead tired and traumatized after witnessing the destruction of an entire planet and the billions of people who once populated it. We'll have plenty of time to discuss things and get to know each other better once we get to where we're headed, and I'll be more than willing to talk then. But until we touch down on Dantooine, do me a favor and get some shuteye. Ok?"

Respecting Carth's wishes, Kael started to walk away to the portside dorm, followed by Elena. "Alright, Carth. I'll see you again once we land."

"Right…," Carth muttered beneath his breath, then turned his attention back to navigational duties.

"You seem disturbed," Elena said to Kael, looking at him with a worried expression as they walked to the dorm together.

"What makes you say that?" Kael replied, making eye contact with her, albeit uneasily.

"We Jedi can sense people's thoughts through the Force. Of course, we can't read their minds to determine exactly what they're thinking, but we feel vibes of emotions, especially when they are powerful ones. And something tells me that you're deeply conflicted on the inside."

"I don't know," Kael sighed as they came to the main hold. "It's just that things have happened so fast over the past week. We were so caught up in our efforts to rescue you and Bastila, and then we were so hasty in trying to get off this planet, that I hardly had the opportunity to actually get to know any of you as well as I would have liked."

"I don't blame you," Elena chuckled and smiled at him. "City streets filled with Sith patrols; cantinas and arenas filled with mischievous villains; and sewers and shadowlands filled with monsters...They don't exactly make for good locations for regular chats. So, what would you like to know?"

"I'm not sure where to start," Kael shrugged, then spoke the obvious. "From the start, I guess."

Elena grinned as she continued with her friend through the corridor on the left that led to the portside dorm. "If you insist. I was born 34 years ago on Deralia, a world in the Outer Rim . I was discovered by the Jedi to be Force-sensitive at the age of three, and was inducted into the Order. My parents were reluctant to give me up at first, but then assented to my departure later on when they realized that it was for the best."

"Deralia, you say?" Kael inquired, his interest piqued by the mention. "That's where I was born, too. I still remember it very well."

It has worked, Elena thought. He does not remember.

"Oh?" she smiled at him. "You still think of home every now and then?"

"Of course," he nodded. "I'd love to return one day after the war ends." His spirit of optimism was doused, however, when he reminded himself of the direness of the current outlook of the war. "If it ends, that is…and ends well."

"Never give up hope, Kael," Elena encouraged him as they came into the dorm and decided on which beds they would occupy. "No matter what the odds."

Kael chuckled at her and laid down on the bed which's head section was right up against the wall. "Considering the hammering we've been taking the past few months, whoever told you that must be a dreamer indeed."

That dreamer was you, Elena thought as she lay down on the bed next to Kael's and exhaled with exhaustion, her sullen frown unseen by her companion who could not see her from behind the metal separator which stood between their beds and supported the upper bunks. And I shall never lose hope. Not for the galaxy, not for Bastila…not even for the two of us to rekindle our—

"Elena?" he asked, noticing her eerie silence. She broke out of her thoughts and quickly made an excuse for herself.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just…tired. I was beaten savagely by the Vulkars, and it appears my legs still had some recovering to do when I took part in that escape from Davik's estate."

"Well, we're safe now," Kael spoke softly from his bed. "And I hope you get better once you're properly rested. Sleep well."

"You too, Kael," she answered, then Kael did not speak again.

Reaching down her collar, she again grasped the wooden pendent which was strung around her neck and held it in front of her eyes. She wrapped her hands together over it and placed it over her heart, closing her eyes as she drifted off to sleep. As it always was the case following her meeting with Kael, she dreamed of the one who gifted her with the most precious treasure she possessed, all those years ago.

-o-

Laying a soft kiss on the brow of Mission who finally succumbed to fatigue and sleep after mourning the loss of her home and the only family she ever knew, Ice rose from her bedside and quietly departed the starboard dorm with Zaalbar. The icicle that was heart had finally melted, and an almost invisible tear welled up against her right eye lid. She fought it back down with a stubborn blink, but then gave a sharp gasp of shock when she saw Carth standing in front of her when she opened her eyes again.

"Sorry," he smiled weakly. "Did I startle you?"

She smugly replied. "With a name like mine, do you think I'm the type of gal who gets easily startled?"

Carth teased back. "Well, you just did. Sorry to break it to you." Unbelievably, he felt a warm glow of happiness rise up from his heart when he saw her smile back at him. "Anyways…how's she holding up?"

"Not good," Ice shook her head in dismay, her smile quickly turning upside down. Zaalbar also gave a low sullen growl. "She's more than devastated. Even cursed savagely for a bit, saying how much she hates Bastila for ever coming to Taris."

"I guess like you said after your Bek friends died, time and silence are the only things that'll do it for her," Carth sighed, then looked her in the eyes. "But…how are you? I know it's in your nature to be tough so that you can live up to your name, but…you must also be saddened, at the very least."

"I…uh…," she stammered. She almost couldn't remember the last time that someone openly expressed such concern for her, and wasn't put off by her cold reputation in doing so. "To be honest, I don't really know what I feel."

"What do you mean?" Carth said, very slightly approaching her.

Ice did not withdraw out of uneasiness, but rathe stepped forward so that she could connect with him as she spoke, looking into his eyes. "In a way, I wanted to leave Taris so that it could become just a memory to me, because I still vividly remember the death of my mother. But…just…not like this," she looked down with a sigh. "I never thought I'd have to see it burning with my own eyes. My true home is Alderaan – always was, and always will be."

"But you were such a successful combatant in both the Lower and Upper City rings of Taris," Carth noted. "You would have had ample money available to purchase a trip off that planet to return to Alderaan. Why didn't you?"

"I just couldn't," Ice admitted. "I couldn't just up and leave, and turn my back on Gadon. Not after what he had done for both me and Zaerdra, by taking us in under his protection when we were only children and living on the streets as orphans. And Zaerdra was like a beloved sister to me until she died. I still remember every time we saved each other's lives in combat against the other rival gangs, especially the Grey Hands. And whenever I looked upon the poor people who littered the streets of the Lower City during the day, I just couldn't abandon them. They reminded me of the desperate times my mother, my siblings and I faced. I used my arena earnings to care for the needy. The arenas of the Upper and Lower Cities knew me as Ice, but the people I cared for knew that my heart wasn't as cold as I would have had many believe it to be."

Carth nodded in empathy. "I understand. That's very noble of you."

Zaalbar groaned in a hushed voice, expressing his sorrow over the destruction of his adopted home.

"I know how you feel, bud," Carth assured the tall Wookiee. "Believe me. The destruction of my own home planet is as fresh in my mind, as if it happened yesterday. Just hang tight. It should pass if you give it enough time."

"So how long until we reach Dantooine?" Ice asked.

"We should be arriving in approximately just under four hours, tops," Carth said. "We could all use a rest, and Bastila and Elena say that we'll have an ample opportunity to do so. And, uhh…"

"Yes?" Ice said softly, imploring him to continue.

"Bastila said that the three of you will have the opportunity to settle on Dantooine, if that's what you want. What happened on Taris must have been hell on earth for you."

"No," Ice said solemnly, firmly rejecting Carth's suggestion as she scowled, curling her hand up into a fist.

Zaalbar growled out of concern for the woman's welfare, worried that her anger may lead to disaster.

"What?" Carth spoke.

"If you think I'm just going to settle on Dantooine, move into a cosy home, marry some man who will father children with me and live in peace for the rest of my life, then I'm afraid that you're wrong. I am not going to do any of that until I find my brother and sister and see them safe."

"I know what you mean," Carth exhaled, all too familiar with the emotions that raged on in Ice's heart. "It's exactly the same with me and my son Dustil. He's out there somewhere, and I'm going to find him, no matter how long it takes."

Ice looked at him with a more relaxed and neutral expression, and her fingers released once again. "I'm glad we understand each other perfectly."

-o-

Night fell upon Dantooine, covering the tranquil grasslands of the planet with the wonder of a star-riddled sky which was unmatched in beauty by even the brightest of jewels. A female Iriaz sat herself down upon the grassy plains, her back against the trunk of an old tree and her young cubs snuggled up and fast asleep against her warm body. She looked calmly around, inspecting her surroundings for the possible presence of any and all predators. Not a soul could be seen or the cry of another animal heard for miles, and she finally closed her eyes and rested her head on the ground to indulge in a most peaceful sleep.

Snap.

Her eyes jolted open and she looked about with alarm the moment she heard the snapping of a twig. However, looking down, she saw that it was only due to the right hind leg of one of her young, which had brushed up uncomfortably against a weak tree branch before snapping it in two.

Her nerves settled and calmed once more, the mother shut her eyes again and tried once more to drift off to sleep, confident that no ill events would befall her and her young this night.

She was wrong, and would soon pay for it with her life.

A pair of fiery yellow eyes rose from over the hill, glowing in the darkness as two black pupils stared viciously at the unwary Iriaz mother who continued to sleep peacefully. The predator looked upon her prey with glee, her stomach laying low against the ground as she slithered forward without a sound.

Finally, with her eyes staring firmly at the throat of the female, she extended a hand outward to seize the opportune moment.

The Iriaz mother immediately began convulsing with pain, her violent jerks and twists startling the innocent young which slept beside it. She felt her lungs being crushed by an invisible force beyond her control or understanding, paralyzing her in place and leaving her utterly incapable of defending herself from her hunter.

Panic rushed through the mother's heart in an instant when she saw a massive Kath hound lunge over the slope of the hill and down towards her with a savage roar. Her eyes darted down to her helpless young who watched on in terror, before rolling back into their sockets as vicious fangs tore into her neck.

The predator rose to her feet, laughing darkly as she congratulated her pet for a most impressive kill. The Kath hound gorged in its prize, beginning with the youngest of the Iriaz cubs which it devoured almost in an instant with its razor-like teeth. It cooed as it felt the hand of its master caress its head, and reveled in the pleasant touch.

The master smiled as she looked down upon her beloved pet. Then, hearing the distant howling engines of a vessel far away, she looked northward to see a glitter of light descending through the night sky. The Kath hound looked up and snarled, for it was stirred and incensed by the mere presence of any who would seek to inflict harm upon its master.

"Patience, my dear pet," the master hissed as she stroked her pet, a gleeful grin revealing her pointed beast-like teeth which gleamed under the moonlight. "All good things come to those who wait…"

A/N: I'm definitely going to go ahead and add new scenes that are not shown in the game, such as Bastila's (and Elena's, in this story) meeting with the Jedi Council before they make the decision to retrain Revan. There's also a ton of flashbacks that I'll need to put in here and there – simple recounts in narratives just isn't going to cut it, because the flashbacks are extremely important, especially those which involve Elena and Revan.

Keep an eye out for the next chapters. I can really flesh out characters' backstories and interactions with each other now that the party is going to be staying on Dantooine for some time. I'm also considering bringing a lot of characters from KOTOR II into this fic – Darth Sion is one, because I've read that he was on Korriban during the academy's final days when the Sith all turned on one another. Zayne Carrick and Jarael will also be introduced at some point, because they are vital to Malak's character development.

I've basically decided now that Revan will indeed take a "gray" path, in order to reflect his former personality. I personally think that the Jedi Council couldn't really "remake" him completely by altering his whole psyche and inner nature – only rearrange what was at the surface regarding his memory. I've also noticed that many of the other KOTOR I fics don't accentuate Revan's independent nature enough, in regards to his personal philosophy about the Force. As such, I'm going to have him basically question everything and anything the Jedi teach him, as well as combine lightsaber styles in an unorthodox manner.

Please leave your reviews, and keep an eye out for the next update to "Heart of a Padawan". I'm going to be working on that next.