Three hours. That is the amount of time I had to corral all one hundred or so gizkas into the cargo hold again before we exited hyperspace. After getting some painkillers to cure the incessant headaches that were not of the gizka kind, I began my grueling task. A task no one had offered to help me with. Lazy sons of...

Ten gizkas stared me down the hall that wrapped behind the main hold. They'd been slowly, ever so slowly, jumping away from me. Sure, they thought this was only a game. But oh, no—this was no mere game.

I whipped out a nutrition bar, smiling. "Here, gizka, gizka…fo-od. Yum."

They shuddered as if my voice had been a lightsaber hum then scattered. Scattered like the wind. I crushed the bar in my fist.

"What! How—?"

Gil had been so receptive to this technique!

Another hour or maybe two passed with me just trying to find the remaining creatures. I had to make them think their imprisonment was their idea, otherwise, the problem would get worse—quoth Jolee Bindo. So, I searched the dorms, freshers, comm room, everywhere. Eventually, I ended up on my hands and knees in the canteen, peering under the tables. I'd considered trying to sense them through the Force, but there were way too many of them. It would have been almost impossible to determine.

Before I gave up, I spotted something glimmering near a table leg. A blue gemstone. Some type of sapphire had been set in an intricate silver chain. I grabbed the jewelry and held it up closer to the light.

Soft hands. Warmth. A woman smiled at her as the sun set on Dantooine. It would be their last day together...for a long time. If not forever...

I blinked a few times—a vision. Only...this one had been gentle. Not violent or terrifying like the others. On the back of the jewel, the name Belaya had been engraved. It looked expensive, hell, I doubt anyone on this ship could have afforded to buy something like this. Had Mission stole it from someone?

There was a shuffle behind me.

"Um...Gale?"

I cursed after my head collided with the table at the sound of Juhani's voice. Hissing and rubbing my new injury, I twisted around. The young Cathar's expression twitched.

"Yeah?" I asked back.

"There were some...gizka splashing around in the fresher…"

I sighed. "Agh, I just checked—!" I threw the necklace into my pocket—I'd have to find the owner after I dealt with this problem. I pulled myself up to my feet using the table and rolled up my sleeves. "Round two…"

The Cathar smiled at me. "Uh, do you want to take a break? I locked the door so they are not going anywhere. You look exhausted..."

And hungry. My stomach was an empty chasm. I smiled back at the Jedi.

"Yeah, why not?"

Chasing gizka was hard work, what could I say?

Juhani and I grabbed a quick bite to eat and we settled at one of the tables in the canteen. The young Jedi's face remained tranquil, shoulders relaxed, at peace. It was strange. Of all the "Jedi" in our team, the one who really exemplified the Code the most happened to be the one who supposedly "fell to the dark side." Because Bastila and I...well, we were definitely not adhering to the "there is no emotion" part.

"So…" I said after getting bored of the silence. "How have you been...doing?"

The Cathar's yellow eyes met mine. "I have been doing well, I suppose. As well as I can."

"Great, great…" Really? That's all I could come up with? The search for the gizka must have ruined my ability to make proper conversation. "So…you mentioned something about how the Mandalorians were the reason you and your family were on Taris. But why would your parents choose Taris of all planets?"

She flinched. Oh, wait, ugh—bad, don't mention childhood trauma! What the kriff is wrong with me?

Fortunately, she didn't start shouting. "I'd like to tell you about it, Gale, but..."

"Oh, right, sorry, that was—"

"Do not mistake me, it is just that even though we have traveled together for a while, it seems I know next to nothing about you, personally."

Ah. Yeah. Of course she didn't. Not that I told many people about myself…

Juhani had been a bit of an odd-one-out on our team—through no fault of her own. The Jedi Council sent her with us as an example for me (something I wouldn't dare tell the poor Cathar), so perhaps I had unconsciously decided to distance myself from her. Though, that hadn't really been fair of me, had it?

I sat back in my seat, rolling my shoulders. "Well, since we're here, what would you like to know about the one-and-only Wes Gale?" I said with a grand wave.

"Hmm…" Juhani narrowed her yellow eyes. "I guess I'm curious about...who you were before you became a Jedi. I know you were not a part of the Order before Taris…"

"Oh, you don't know?" I smirked. "I was a smuggler. An arrested one in fact."

"A-A smuggler?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I batted the air. "I told you I was a bad influence."

"Oh, no, that isn't..." She scratched her chin. "I...honestly would have never guessed. You are always so kind and generous. Patient. Wise. You saved my life, after all. A criminal wouldn't have bothered."

I winced at all of those incorrect statements but ignored them. She would insist on these descriptors till the end of her days, I swear.

"I mean, not all criminals are heartless, you know? Most of my crew...we became smugglers to survive. The Outer Rim isn't a kind place—you would know, right?"

Juhani nodded. "Yes...you have a point."

I stuck out my fingers as if counting. "Hutts, Trandoshan bounty hunters, gangs, the Exchange...if you aren't a part of a crew, you have absolutely no protection. Only the real tough sons of bitches can afford to walk alone."

"But your parents...they couldn't protect you?" she asked. I flinched and the Cathar must have noticed she'd touched something a bit too...personal because she backtracked. "I am sorry if I am making you uncomfortable. I will fully understand if you choose not to answer."

"No, it's fine." I sighed. "The Mandalorians...they destroyed my homeworld. Killed my parents."

"I...I am sorry, I did not know." Juhani frowned. "But then how?"

"How?" I tilted my head. "How what?"

"How are you able to look Canderous Ordo in the face? Talk to him like a...friend? I heard that you went after him on Kashyyyk. I could never. My father…my father turned to stimulants after his homeworld was destroyed by the Mandalorians. He spent much of his time in local bars and dives on Taris. We Cathars are warriors. It runs through our blood. And when he was on stims he…he let his warrior nature get the best of him. One day he was killed...by a Mandalorian who provoked him. Cut down like an animal—leaving me and mother…"

I shrugged. "Well, Canderous didn't kill my parents, did he?"

"He could have!" Juhani shouted. "How would you know? He could have attacked your homeworld."

"I…" My hands fit into my pockets. "I honestly hadn't thought about it like that. There was...so much had happened since. And it happened a long time ago...so, should it matter anymore?"

"Should it matter?" she hissed. "Of course it matters! You should hate him. Despise him!"

Darkness pooled around the Cathar.

My shoulders sank. "I don't know...I just don't. Canderous saved our lives on Taris, so I guess that redeems him in my eyes. And I don't see the point of being angry about it all the time. My mentor taught me to not let painful memories or emotions influence my decision making and I try my best to not let them." The Wookiee incident being the latest example of my failure at doing that. I sighed. "We all have to move on or else we'd be wallowing away for the rest of our lives."

Juhani blinked—stunned. "Yes, you...you're right." The young Jedi sighed. "I should try to suppress my pains. Now I understand why...why you saved me—why you forgave me. Your mentor sounds very Jedi-like."

"Huh, she does, doesn't she?" I smiled as I thought back, leaning my chin on my hand in thought. "Thea Starr was her name. She...she was like a mother and a teacher to me."

"'Was?'"

"She...died seven years ago. I…" A tinge of pain entered my chest as I recalled that memory of Alen. "I almost blamed myself for letting her go alone on that heist. But...she wouldn't want that."

My other hand shook as I pulled out my coin...no, not my coin—the necklace. The blue sapphire gleamed in the Ebon Hawk's lights. Juhani flinched at the sight of it.

"Where...where did you find that?"

"Hmm? Oh, this? Under a table. Do you know—?"

"That's mine."

I tilted my head. "This...is yours? Really?"

Juhani glanced to the side. "Er...well, I know Jedi aren't supposed to have belongings, but it really is—"

"How did you end up with something like this? There is no way you could have bought it."

"J-Just give it to me!"

She tried to snatch it out of my hand, but I lifted it away before she could.

"Answer a question and I might," I said with a smile. "Who's Belaya?"

Her yellow eyes narrowed and I sensed...anger flowing through the Force. Wait...I didn't think I was being—

"That is none of your business!"

When she tried to take it from me again, I let her. As the Cathar rushed off, she put the necklace over her head and stuffed the jewel underneath her tunic. Hiding it from sight. Force...that had been something really important to her, hadn't it? I'd kriffed up with her again.

Before I could go after the Cathar to apologize, there was a hiss over the intercom.

"We're leaving hyperspace t-minus five minutes," Carth said. "Wes? Bastila? To the bridge."

I sighed.

Guess the gizka would have to wait…

Carth's back was taut as I walked into the bridge of the Ebon Hawk. Bastila watched me as I entered yet I ignored her, choosing to instead let the hyperspace swirls hypnotize me. Last night was...strange. I hadn't been a talkative drunk before, so the fact that I'd blabbed like a fool then fell asleep on her...the shame of it all was a bit too much. Though, I didn't exactly sense the same shame over the bond. So, maybe I was worrying over nothing.

The map and the coordinates blinked.

"So...Uyter," I began. "What's so important about it that the Sith want it? This system isn't in Republic space."

Carth turned in his seat. "Yes, you're right but, I mean, it practically is at this point. Uyter is an agriworld for both Coruscant and Corellia. A long-standing ally. If Malak gets his hands on it, well…"

"People will die." Bastila's voice was droid-like. "And then later, after Malak destroys the world, people will starve."

"Lovely…" I crossed my arms—mostly to hide the shaking. "A lot is at stake here then, huh?"

"Yes. A lot is."

Bastila's head fell an inch. I sensed a flutter of nerves in the bond.

"Well, I have...I have faith in you, Bondy," I said, smiling. "Whatever happens I—er—we'll...we'll always be here for you."

Fucking smooth, Wes. Smooth.

Carth glanced over at me with a raised brow—a humored look. I glared at him back. What? Before I could snap that question at him, he nodded.

"For once, he's right, Bastila. You've saved many worlds before. You've already provided more than enough aid to the Republic's war effort. This is just a bonus."

Force, why couldn't I have thought of that? What he said had been way better! That never happens!

"I…" Bastila's lips turned—a smile. "Thank you. Both of you."

I was about to rework that pitiful excuse of a pep talk before the blues of hyperspace faded, revealing the stark loneliness of space and…

Chaos.

Red blaster bolts sparked across the vastness of space. Many Hammerhead-class cruisers were being bombarded by the sleek Sith ships. Ships that I'd never seen before—alien in design. Fighters from both sides, red and white ones from the Republic, dark ones from the Sith, shot continuous streams of torpedoes at each other.

Bastila shot up. "How are they—? Admiral Dodonna said the Sith fleet wasn't due to arrive for at least a week!"

The Republic fleet positioned itself in front of the fragile planet of Uyter and was tightly packed together in order to provide the best defense. But their formations...were breaking apart because the entire Republic fleet hadn't shown up yet. They were fighting without full support. Outnumbered.

We'd, fortunately, ended up a fair distance away from the ensuing battle. It wouldn't be long before we were spotted by the Sith battle fleet. We had to get out of there before that happened.

"Incoming transmission!" Carth shouted. "It...it says it's from the Catalyst."

"That must be the Sith's command ship," Bastila said. "They know we're here."

"Not Malak or Karath's ship though…" He glanced up at the Jedi. "Darth Bandon. Do we accept?"

"No!" I spat. "Why would you want to hear what they have to say? We need to jump out of here!"

"But they're using an Interdictor-class star cruiser," Carth said. "It...somehow it looks like an exact copy of the Leviathan. We won't be able to jump unless we clear the field."

"Accept the transmission," Bastila said. "We need to find out what is going on."

"It's obvious what's going on. The Sith are trying to trap you!" I waved at the battle. "And it looks like this system is lost already. Nothing you do here will matter—"

"We aren't abandoning them!" Bastila shouted at me. "We have to salvage the battle—at least long enough for the Admiral to arrive." My mouth slammed shut. She faced the pilot. "Carth, accept the transmission. That is an order."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. A second passed before the holoimage of a bald, darkly dressed man flickered in front of us. He looked...familiar. The Sith gave us all a sickly grin. Even the voice that echoed out of the comms felt slimy.

"Bastila Shan. So good to finally meet. My Master knew you would fall for the bait. You Jedi always seem to care too much for these worthless systems. Of course, he is otherwise preoccupied with Admiral Dodonna. It's too bad...he wanted to destroy you himself."

Heat, anger, rose in both my chest and in the bond.

One of the hammerhead-class ships exploded and multiple Republic fighters scattered with the debris. The planet of Uyter was occasionally hit by the Sith's firepower but most of it was blocked by the Republic's ships.

Bastila's voice darkened. "Darth Malak will regret splitting your fleet. You won't—"

"Ha!" The Sith shook his head at her as if she was a child. "We still outnumber you, Jedi, and my Master knew I'd be enough to defeat what little is here."

"But when Admiral Dodonna arrives—"

"If your pathetic Admiral arrives, the Republic fleet will be mere space dust. And you...well, you have a choice." His grin widened. "Surrender or I will destroy you."

I finally took a breath. "Bastila—"

"Never." Her shoulders tightened. "I will never surrender."

"Wrong answer." Bandon's holo wavered as darkness seeped from him. "You may have defeated the pathetic bounty hunter my Master sent after you, but he was nothing. You will be no match for me. I have studied at the foot of the Dark Lord himself!"

He blinked away, leaving us silently staring into the void of space.

"What do we do?" Carth asked Bastila. "I pinged each of the cruisers. No one has central command—they've been operating independently on Dodonna's standing orders to defend Uyter. This...this is your call, Commander."

"I…"

Bastila glanced back at me. Who knows why. I had no idea what we could do.

Dark fighters reflected this system's star off their metal as they rushed towards us. It wouldn't be long before they attacked. The rest of the Sith fighters pummeled the Republic fleet. All of their hits were guaranteed because the Republic ships weren't moving. They...they were just sitting there taking it.

Though...

The Jedi gave up on me, returning to staring out the port. "Let the fighters give chase. The Hawk will be able to escape them behind the Republic's fleet. I will use Battle Meditation to extend the fight until—"

"They need to maneuver or...or spread out or something!" I interrupted—my words leaving my mouth before my mind could catch up. "Right now they're living target practice for the Sith."

"The fleet cannot maneuver, Wes." Anger and fear flowed out of the bond. "If they do, then they'd be leaving the planet exposed. If Uyter is destroyed, there would be no point. There is nothing—"

"Look at what's happening, Bastila!" I shouted, waving out the port to the Republic's fleet. "If they don't maneuver, both the fleet and the planet will be destroyed. It's only a matter of time..."

"Both will be saved if Admiral Dodonna shows up."

"So will Malak. And you can't rely on her, can you?" I said. My thoughts once again raced a parsec a minute. "The Republic fleet is outnumbered. If they spread out and flank them, they could have a chance. The Sith won't be able to attack everywhere at once. Maneuver—"

"You don't know anything!" Bastila shouted, her gray eyes gleaming. Fear. "Nothing! You...you have no experience with warfare. We...we hold back the Sith and wait for the Admiral." I opened my mouth to try and convince her that my experience didn't matter if I was right, but she faced Carth again. "Relay my orders, Onasi. I will be in the main hold—Wes." Her face grew serious—her "Commander" face. "Take over as copilot. If...if anything happens, I can relay to you my orders over the bond without breaking out of my Battle Meditation."

"But—"

"I trust you with this. Please."

My lips pursed together as I stared deeply into her eyes. I wanted to argue against this...this hopeless defense, but she was right. I didn't know a thing about warfare or space battles except how to run away from them. Why would she listen to me?

I nodded. "Alright."

She left with a small nod of her own. I slid into the copilot's chair—taking note of the systems and readouts. I noticed Carth's worried stare in my peripheral vision before he pushed the button for the comms.

"Everyone—strap in! Fighters incoming! Canderous—you'll need to take over the turrets!"

The Ebon Hawk zoomed towards the Republic fleet, bending around the Sith fighters. I watched the radar readout and spoke over the comms.

"Ten, incoming—ten o'clock!"

Canderous' voice hissed. "Got it!"

Carth twisted the Ebon Hawk around and the green planet swirled. Red blaster bolts erupted from the Hawk's turrets towards the Sith fighters who deftly dodged. A few were caught and exploded in an eruption of heat and fire.

A minute later, the familiar sensation of warmth flowed through my mind. My limbs moved with more confidence and the fear that occasionally shook my hands no longer affected me. Bastila. I made a note of the Republic ships on the radar and saw that they were beginning to tighten their formations again. The fighter drop attacks became more coordinated as they dove at the enemy in a spray of blaster and torpedo fire. In return, the Sith's fighters broke apart.

But would it be enough?

I shouted the positions of more enemies. Carth made the adjustments to the Ebon Hawk's flight path, and Canderous shot more rounds at the Sith. More and more were incoming, yet after I felt Bastila's Meditation, more and more fell to Canderous' sprays.

Finally, we were able to take refuge behind the Republic fleet. But even with the protection of the fighters, the Sith still gave chase. Persistent shuttas. A brigade of dark fighters cut through the line, completely unafraid of retaliation. Their suicide run was swiftly dealt with by the Republic fighters which rushed at our side. My breath increased as the adrenaline spiked in my body. I wondered...how exactly I would be coping without Bastila's Meditation calming my mind. So much was happening all at once.

And things were starting to look up. Or at least get better. The fleet neither lost ships nor destroyed Sith cruisers. They were doing what Bastila promised—put the battle into a standstill. But for how long? How long would they be able to last?

Canderous growled. "More of them!" The pews from the turrets interrupted his cursing. "They aren't giving up!"

"Well, yeah, because they know Bastila is on board!" I shouted back. "They're going to keep trying...trying until…"

Until the Ebon Hawk was blown to pieces.

This wasn't going to last, was it?

The Republic had to maneuver. It would be the only way they could survive. The only way we could survive. My hand hovered over the comm channel. Carth…wouldn't know if Bastila did or didn't give me the go ahead to change her orders over the bond. I could...make the call without her...

No.

My hand fell away from the comm. I couldn't do something like that anymore. Because...she trusted me. I had to convince her.

After I informed both Canderous and Carth about the twenty or so fighters making their way past the Republic's blockade, I closed my eyes.

Bastila!

The connection between us was unstable—a jumble of emotions. So much so, I could barely tell which emotions were my own. She responded after the wave cleared.

I can't talk for long. I need to concentrate.

We're not going to last. The Ebon Hawk isn't going to last. We're being attacked on all sides. And the fleet—

Keep going! I flinched at a burning sensation. It...it was the sensation of Republic fighters. Dying. Her mental voice became softer. The fleet should be able to hold back the Sith. I will be able to hold back the Sith. Long enough for Dodonna to show up.

More sensations. These coming from Bastila. She was growing tired, weak.

You're stretching yourself thin. I opened my eyes to check the radar and shouted out more directions before returning to the bond. This will not last. You can't—

I can!

The confidence in my body wavered. Some Republic fighters exploded as they once again lost coordination with each other. I gave up on trying to convince the Jedi and once again focused on trying to direct both our pilot and our turrets. Five or ten minutes passed of us trying to avoid the Sith and any explosions from the Republic fighters. Utter exhaustion infected my mind which was only replicated in my own body. Eyes drooping, blurring. Images crisscrossed, overlapping the here and now...

They dove at the cities. Enormous ships exploded in a ray of light. Death. In the thousands. I couldn't protect them and attack them at the same time.

There had to be a sacrifice.

Boom!

Two more hammerhead-class cruisers exploded. The Ebon Hawk shook as some debris collided with the ship and our shields screamed at thirty percent. I snapped out of the odd bond vision and grabbed the control panel, my knuckles whitened as I felt a spike of pain.

Bastila! What...

I…

Grief. Terror. Its bitterness chilled the blood in my veins. But she didn't stop. She wasn't stopping. It caused me to shoot out of my seat.

"Wes! What are you—?"

I stormed out of the cockpit towards the main hold, ignoring Carth's shouts. Sure, they would be half-blind without my directions, but if I didn't snap her out of it then we were going to die.

I found her hovering in front of the holodeck. Sparks danced around her body and a hot energy originated from her position. Her shoulders shook as another ship had been lost. The pains...the screams. I could hear them clear as day because she heard them.

"Bastila!"

The Ebon Hawk's lights flickered. I stormed to the front of her so that I could see her face. She'd grown pale. Her eyes moved underneath their sockets as if she was in an endless nightmare. I grabbed her shoulder, shaking it.

"Bastila!"

No! Her head twitched. Go away! I can do this...please!

"They need to maneuver," I said, as calmly as I could muster. "If they don't, then—"

The planet would die if they do!

"We will all die if they don't!"

So...so be it! I'd rather sacrifice myself than let millions of people die again!

"If you die then the Sith will win the war!" I shouted. "You sacrificing yourself would be...would be pointless."

Silence. The bottom of her lip quaked. She knew that I was right. Knew she had to make this decision. Why then, was it taking her so long to make it? It was out of her hands. Out of her control. Not her fault. I gripped both of her hands. Tight. Hoping that could snap her out of this...this sentimentality.

"But their sacrifice?" I shook her again. "Their sacrifice would be worth it."

Disgust. Disgust aimed at me. Yet I...I didn't know why.

She pulled herself out of my grip. The sparks around her body dissipated. She fell to the ground with a soft thump and her shoulders sagged forward. But she didn't completely collapse.

"Take...take over."

I flinched. "W-What?"

Her gray, pained eyes opened and found my own steady gaze. "Do...do what you think needs to be done. I…I will try to use my Meditation for when..."

Bastila didn't finish her sentence, choosing to instead close her eyes, but I knew what she meant. I nodded, rushing to the cockpit. Carth had grown red with stress as the Ebon Hawk rocked again. The fleet's formation had become chaotic. There was no order, no leader, so they were forced to fend for themselves.

I opened communications. Carth noticed immediately.

"What are you doing?"

"Bastila told me to take over." I typed commands quickly with a pained smirk. Hopefully...this would work. "We're doing things my way."

"Is...is she crazy!?"

"Probably!"

"No! You…" Carth weaved around an exploded Republic fighter. "You don't know a thing about the Navy or...or space warfare! What is she thinking?"

"I don't know!" I shouted back, continuing my typing. "But I...I do know how to get out of tight spots, right? Heh, heh, you know me!"

"Fucking…" Carth whispered a hundred more explicatives. "If we die, I hope there is an afterlife. That way I can send you to hell!"

"Well, at least I won't be alone since you'd be there alongside me, Orangy!"

My mind raced both as the Battle Meditation affected my body and as the pressure of battle rang around us. Before I finished typing the commands and sending them out, I opened up a comm channel to the Catalyst.

Darth Bandon's figure wavered in front of me. His grin was arrogant. He thought he'd already won. Perfect.

I didn't waste time with introductions and put on a pained expression.

"We surrender."

"What?" Carth shouted.

Bandon chuckled. "Knew you Jedi would see reason. My Master wanted Bastila taken alive so he will be pleased…" He folded his hands behind his back. "If you truly surrender, then allow my vessel to capture yours in a tractor beam."

"Call off your kath hounds first. Don't want your prize to explode in your face after you've won it, right?"

He hesitated. "Call off yours and I might consider it."

Oh, he was playing that game? Really?

"The fleet didn't surrender, did they?" I sneered. "And even if they did, it would be pointless. You wouldn't accept their surrender. Without Bastila, we've already lost the battle. You can destroy the Ebon Hawk, Bandon, sure. But Darth Malak wouldn't be pleased if you wasted an opportunity to capture the Battle Meditator."

Darth Bandon's pale face scrunched. "Fine." A moment later, the fighters that had been shooting at the Ebon Hawk flew back towards the Sith fleet. "Make your approach or the attack will recommence."

When the Sith blinked away, I pointed out of the window. "Carth—fly as slowly as you can towards the Catalyst. Then, before you're in range of the tractor beam, break away."

His face slackened—he'd been stunned.

"But you just surrendered!"

I snorted. "No, I didn't. But that arrogant idiot thinks we did." I pressed a button to send my orders. Now, all we had to do was witness the result… "Once you break away, you're going to dock on that Republic cruiser there."

"How? It's defending the planet. It would be too far—"

"I know." My hands shook. "Trust me. I know."

Carth let out a long sigh. "I really hope you know what you're doing."

"Oh, I have no idea what I'm doing," I said with a nervous laugh. "Hopefully we won't end up like I did that one time over Corellia..."

"You mean when you purposely crashed your ship?"

"Yes, when I purposely crashed my ship."

He threw his hands.

"Great. Just great. Wonderful."

Yet Carth still listened to me, despite his complaints. The Ebon Hawk flew slowly towards the dark armada, past the fragile lines that were being broken apart by the Sith. The fighters avoided shooting at the Ebon Hawk and focused instead on the Republic ships surrounding us. The Catalyst moved forward in a hurry to intercept us allowing their center to be exposed. But what did Darth Bandon have to worry about? After all, we were losing. The Republic was on the defense.

Not for long.

It took a moment for the fleet to follow my orders. Maybe because they were a bit out of character coming from Bastila Shan. One by one, all of the cruisers spread out and moved towards the Sith armada. The hammerhead-classes flew above the Catalyst and started a violent barrage on the exposed capital ship.

The Sith had been taken completely off guard. Darth Bandon's impatience had become his downfall.

I grinned.

"There! Now!"

A Republic cruiser drifted to our right—the dock lights blinked. Carth swerved the Ebon Hawk and landed past the shields before the incoming Sith fighters could attack us again. And I knew Darth Bandon would become angry. Enraged. I'd waved a nutrition bar in front of his gizka-face and snatched it away before he could jump for it. Hoh, that anger...he was going to make many, many mistakes now!

A transmission was incoming. Darth Bandon. I flipped a switch and the red light blinked away. That anger only got worse. The grin widened on my face. All of this...this was rather cathartic.

The dock shut and we were forced to watch the battle over the radar. One by one, the Sith ships blinked away as they became even more disorganized both due to Bastila's Battle Meditation and because of Darth Bandon's idiotic fury. All of the Sith's fighters mixed within the Republic Navy lines, leaving all of his ships exposed. What a fool! The Sith Apprentice had been so used to going on the offensive, he had forgotten that he needed to actually defend his own cruisers. And that idiot still attacked, attacked, attacked…even after losing—

Screams, pain, fire. Fields burned and red chemical waste blanketed the once blue skies.

My grin cracked.

Ignore it. Block it. Focus.

Clouds of smoke. Half-burnt corpses. Debris trapping them...trapping them, suffocating them. Children crying...all ceased when the fighters—

Something was...forcing these images onto me. The bond. I collapsed in the copilot's chair and grabbed at my chest.

"Hey, are...are you alright?"

Carth's voice pierced my mind yet I didn't respond. I could hear them. Hear their pain. Dying. They...they were dying. Just like Taris. Only now I knew it wasn't a dream. This was real.

Smoke, heat. Cities of silver collapsed into rubble. The Sith fighters dove at the farm communities. The ship ports. Shot down...shot down civilian ships that were trying to escape. There...there were no survivors.

I grabbed the edge of the control panel—trying to keep myself in the here and now. But the images...the death...were never-ending. It was worse because her Battle Meditation let us feel that pain as if it was our own. We were forced into this never-ending, hell, never-ending cycle of pain.

Make it stop.

I grabbed my head. Something shook my shoulder. Nonsense words came from Carth. Words that were trying to calm me down yet, I couldn't hear them over the screams of torture.

"Killing...killing them…"

That is all that I could mutter before I took a deep breath and released the grip on my head. The pain stopped. Not because they were safe. But because...the bond had numbed. I no longer heard the screams.

But I could still feel Uyter. Burning.

The Sith ships were at less than half of their numbers when the radar blinked. Multiple lights disappeared as they jumped—each following the Catalyst into hyperspace.

Cowards.

I sat back. Exhaustion slowed my limbs as if I was twice my age. I stared up into the ceiling. Feeling...numb. Carth didn't say a word to me. The bond shivered and Bastila...I couldn't sense her conscious mind. She'd collapsed from the stress of all of that destruction and death.

The battle of Uyter had been won.

But at what cost?

Uyter burned. Most of the cities and settlements had been wiped off the map. Any survivors...the few that survived had been shuttled to the Republic cruisers. The Republic was left with the cinders of a system.

Before I hadn't been too sure about fighting in this war. Now I had more than enough motivation. The Sith had to be stopped. If only to stop this from happening again.

Admiral Dodonna's fleet emerged from hyperspace an hour later. Darth Malak must have heard about his Apprentice's defeat and had given up the chase. We were due to speak to the Admiral once Bastila...once she woke up. After the battle, I'd rushed to the main hold and found her collapsed in a heap. Mission had tried to shake her awake. Nothing she did helped, so I picked Bastila up and carried her to the med bay.

And now...instruments occasionally beeped after I connected her to the med bay systems. Her vital signs were fine. Perfectly healthy. But her mind? Not so much. Remnants of the nightmare that was the destruction of Uyter flittered within her dreams. I leaned my elbows on the bed and couldn't look away from her tight, pained face. Couldn't let go of her hand. If I did...the pain could get worse.

Had I made a mistake? Could the fleets have held off for an hour so that the Admiral could join the battle? No. Even if they could, Darth Malak's fleet would have joined Bandon's. We had to have done it or else everything would have been lost. Yet still, it felt like I'd made an error. A misstep. Was this what it felt like to have power over who lives and dies? Is this what Bastila felt every day in this war? Because if so, I didn't want her to have that power anymore. Not when it caused her this much pain...

I sensed someone walking up from behind. I didn't bother to turn around.

"Is..." Carth's voice stuttered. "Is she alright?"

I dropped her hand—though I think it was too late. He probably already saw...

"Physically? Yes." I sighed. "Mentally...?"

My mouth slammed shut. I couldn't continue. If I did, I would have had to describe exactly what she'd felt.

"What you did back there…" I cringed in anticipation of Carth's rant. But… "It was brave. You made the right call. More people would have died if you hadn't ordered for the fleet to maneuver. Not many would have been able to make a call like that. Soldiers who have been at this for years wouldn't have been able to do it. I...wouldn't have. Not after…" I turned away from staring at the unconscious Jedi. Carth didn't appear as disappointed as I would have expected. He frowned. "What I'm trying to say is...don't blame yourself."

I looked back to the Jedi again.

"I don't."

"No. No, you do."

"Why would I—?"

Carth grabbed one of the other stools and sat next to me without prompt.

"I've been in the military long enough, been through two wars, seen hundreds of battles, experienced death on a scoop I...I could barely handle it. I know what grief looks like in a soldier. You can't fool me."

"We won, right?" I raised a brow and let a smirk drift onto my face. "And I'm not a soldier, Orangy, remember?"

"That...that only makes this whole thing worse," Carth said. "You don't have any experience and shouldn't have been put into a position to make those decisions. Bastila shouldn't have—"

"All of this is the Sith's fault." I waved a hand, leaning on the bed again. "I don't need a pity party. I made the right call. No regrets."

"You can tell yourself that," Carth said. "Doesn't mean you actually believe it."

"Oh, so are you a Jedi now?" I smiled at him. "Read my mind, can you? Sense my emotions?" I watched him try to remain stoic before I snorted. "Didn't think so."

"I don't need to read your mind to know that you're suffering, Wes. And deluding yourself into thinking that you aren't will only hurt you in the long run."

This guy.

My gaze sharpened. "All of this is reminding you about Telos, isn't it, Carth? I'm sorry, but not all of us need pity points like you do."

I'd thought that would have set him off and to get him to stop bugging me about it, yet instead of his face reddening in anger, it softened. "Why do you always push away people who are trying to help you?" My smile fell. "Yes, you're right, Uyter's destruction reminds me of Telos. But it should also remind you of Taris. Remind you of...your homeworld. Deralia. I didn't forget about that, you know."

My clenched teeth relaxed and I unintentionally let my mouth gape. This break only lasted for a second, fortunately. A smile reappeared on my face.

"Yup, you're projecting." I shrugged. "I...know how that looked, Carth, but it's not what you think. What I felt...is what Bastila felt. In the bond. Throw her a pity party when she wakes up. I'm sure she'll be just as enthusiastic about it."

It was true. Sure, I might have felt slight regret for the lives lost. But it was necessary. All of the pain had been from Bastila. The bond had distorted my emotions about this entire thing. I couldn't trust my own mind. The Wes from before? He wouldn't have felt any regret for those choices he made. Especially if it resulted in a victory.

The stool scratched the floor as Carth stood. "You're not alone. You know that, right?" When I decided not to respond to that redundant statement, he muttered to himself as he walked away. "Who am I kidding…talking to a wall at this point..."

I grabbed Bastila's hand again and returned to staring at her frozen face. Returned to observing the endless nightmares of the burning planet.

My eyes cracked open when I felt the bed shift. I raised my head once I realized Bastila was waking up from her short nap. A smile drifted onto my face...though it was tight.

"Morning, sunshine, finally catch up on your beauty sleep?"

Her face twisted. Disgust...turned to grief. It had been present while she'd been having her nightmares, but now that she was conscious, her grief felt more real.

"What…" she sighed, "what...happened?"

"We won."

"I...know that." Her eyes blurred. "I meant...Uyter…"

"Oh." Jolee's rock collection drew my attention. "The planet...is burning. They...there were some...survivors. But not a lot." I weaved my fingers together. "There are...a lot of people were wounded."

Pained silence. She didn't take the news well—the grief from before only got worse.

"This...is my fault."

I ignored the rocks and glared at Bastila. "No, it's not—"

"I know, Wes, I know. The Sith killed them. But I let them do it. If I...if my Battle Meditation had been stronger, if I was stronger, maybe—" Her hair fell over her eyes as she slumped forward into a ball. She held her head with both hands. "I killed them. Almost...almost let everyone die. Because I...I was weak. Let my...emotions..."

I lifted a shaky hand and rubbed her back. As if that could help. I could feel her trying to suppress her emotions over the bond. It wasn't working.

"Bastila." Her body shivered. "You aren't weak. You...you're the strongest person I know. You saved the fleet. Everyone would have—"

"No." She turned her head, mouth covered by her arm. Her eyes blurred as if they were behind rippled glass. Tears threatened to fall. "You saved them."

I froze. My hand stopped at her shoulder. And I...for once I didn't know what to say.

She lowered her arms and I let my hand fall to the bed. "You were right." Her expression became determined. "Of course you were right! You knew what had to be done, and I...refused to see it. You saved more lives in the end. It...it had to be done. Their sacrifice. And you had...you didn't let your attachments cloud your judgment. Like a true Jedi." Her hand grabbed mine and she closed her eyes. "You're stronger than I am, and there's no point in telling me otherwise. You will be a great Jedi, I think. I hope."

I placed my other hand on top of hers. "Bastila…you—"

But she didn't let me finish. She pushed my hands aside and threw her legs over the bed, standing.

"I...the Admiral probably wishes to speak with me."

I didn't say anything back as I watched her disappear down the hall. It was almost as if...she was running from me. In all honesty, I didn't know what I felt about...her...about this whole thing anymore. Why? Why couldn't I have spoken fast enough? Told her that her "weakness," her "compassion," was actually her greatest strength.

But she wouldn't have wanted to hear that from me of all people, would she?

A gizka jumped in front of us—one of the many I hadn't been able to catch. The entire crew stood or shifted once they saw Bastila, Carth, and I marching out of the cockpit.

Admiral Dodonna was waiting by the Ebon Hawk.

If only gizka had been the only thing I had to worry about.

It was unusually quiet on the ship after the destruction of Uyter. It was an ugly reminder of Taris, after all. Mission had an expression of eternal worry for Bastila that was matched by Jolee Bindo's wrinkled one. Canderous grinned at me but, for once, I didn't return that smile. Verena and Juhani both appeared grave, somber. Bastila didn't even address them. She turned and made for the ramp—still running. I hesitated before following. The crew shuffled after me.

The ramp lowered and Bastila marched down it, shoulders tight, hands clasped behind her. I followed close while our crew hung back by the entrance. The cool Republic hanger cut through the fabric of my tunic and the hundred or so Republic soldiers stood at attention as Commander Bastila Shan made her entrance.

At the foot of the ramp, Admiral Dodonna watched us with weariness. Dark bags were underneath her eyes. Anger. I felt its heat ripple through the bond—directed at the Admiral. I wasn't too sure if it was my own or if it was Bastila's. We were probably both angry at her, honestly. Behind the Admiral were a group of commanders and some unfamiliar Jedi. Their leader, a tan Zabrak, narrowed his eyes at us.

Dodonna spoke once we stopped a meter in front of her. "Bastila Shan." Her voice cracked. "I...apologize. Darth Malak set up an ambush in the next system over. We—"

"How many."

The Admiral's face flinched at Bastila's cold voice. Only a Jedi could have sensed the slight fear in the military woman's expression.

"We...we have lost a third of our cruisers. And Uyter..." The Admiral sighed. "Their losses are innumerable. I have spoken to the commanders about what happened. If you hadn't been here...the system would have been lost." She saluted. "The Republic is in your debt, Commander Shan."

All of the commanders and soldiers copied the Admiral's salute. I watched the back of Bastila's head. She hadn't moved and I didn't sense gratitude. No. I sensed hatred.

"I would assist with the reclamation efforts, Admiral," Bastila said, voice cold, "but we need to continue our mission."

"Yes, of course." Dodonna's gaze flickered over to me before returning to Bastila once more. "I will send a personal escort with you to Manaan."

"Manaan?" Bastila breathed out. "Is that wise? While the treaty would prevent them from attacking us there, we should still try to distance ourselves from Malak's fleet. The planet is within range of this system."

"We lost sight of both Malak and Bandon's fleets. Either of them could be waiting to ambush you on the remaining planets." She waved. "I am sending the injured refugees and a few ships to Manaan anyway. You would be safer sticking with us in the meantime."

The Admiral glanced past me up the ramp. "You and your crew are free to wander the ship until we arrive. We owe you assistance with your mission, Shan. Its importance is paramount."

Bastila nodded. "Thank you...Admiral."

And with that, Dodonna left, her flock of commanders following.

The Zabrak Jedi stepped forward—one of the Jedi followed his lead—probably his Padawan. The woman's emotionless face gave me a once over, and something in her eyes looked...familiar. His face scrunched as he ignored Bastila and decided to look me up and down like Canderous did to all of the gizka. Oh, I already knew I wasn't going to like him. Why did all older Jedi hate my guts? I hadn't even said anything to piss him off yet! Though, I probably would have out of spite!

"Padawan Shan," he began. "I sense a...great disturbance within you." He glared at me again. "Within both of you."

Bastila straightened. "I—"

"Maybe, just maybe, it's because a lot of people died today," I interrupted. "Anyone would be 'disturbed' by that."

The Zabrak shook his head but didn't address me—acted like I wasn't kriffing there. Typical Jedi behavior.

"After the battle, I contacted the Council, Padawan." He frowned at Bastila. "They wish for me to make a report on the current status of your mission. I almost hesitate to do so. Both of you are falling to the dark side. It is obvious."

I was about to snap back at the Zabrak, but Bastila nodded.

"I know, Master Sul Koth." Her shoulders fell. "This mission has tested us both. Anything that we can do to...rectify—"

"First, we need to speak." Koth looked me up and down. "Privately."

"Hey, now…" Jolee marched down the ramp and stood by my side. His face wrinkled. "Is all of this really necessary?"

Koth's face scrunched further—if that was even possible.

"Jolee Bindo."

"Yes, yes...that is my name. Happy you still remember it, Sully."

Koth obviously did not like that nickname.

"What are you doing here?"

"You know, a lot of people have asked me that question recently." Jolee smirked, crossing his arms. "But I think you already know the answer."

"This mission is none of your concern, Bindo." He waved. "Go. Run away. It's what you do best."

I raised a brow at that statement but the old man wasn't phased. "I go where the kid goes." His jolly voice darkened—it almost sounded...threatening. "Got it?"

Sul Koth's eyes became as sharp as the spikes on his head. The Master gave up with a huff, turning on his heel, his robes swishing. Bastila didn't look back when she followed the Master to have their little discussion.

Oh, boy. Can't wait to see what comes out of that conversation...

Next time - Manaan!

...Yes, a little bit predictable, but I'll be expanding/improving(?) the water world's storyline and needed to include all of this setup. Let me know what you thought about the space battle - hadn't tried my hand at one before so hopefully, it turned out alright!

See you guys next time!