32,497 TYA:
One standard year later.
He stood at the edge of the beach, looming over weathered-down dark grey rocks. The sea foam pooled at his feet, and behind him, he could hear the whine of landspeeders nearing along with the confused whispers of trailing Jedi. He could also sense the righteous yet controlled fury of the Masters but he chose to pay it no mind, instead focusing on the vast expanse of the ocean before him.
The waters of the Primordial Sea, Tak Y'elul Mala'mi, as the local feline species called it, were turbulent. The sea churned as high waves crashed against the outcropping of andurite, spraying him with salt water.
The water below only reflected the skies above.
The firmament was smoky: large clouds blotted out the system's sun, allowing only some thin beams of precious light to filter through. Yet, the clouds were heavy with the promise of impending rain. He breathed in deeply, reaching out with the force, feeling for anything amiss – and he found it – something had happened here, something dark , he could sense it, the way it thinned the air and left a stain.
"I just – it makes no sense!" he heard the voice of a disturbed Jedi exclaim, pulling him out of his meditation, "All my people can't have simply vanished! The only things left here are long-abandoned buildings, Master."
"I understand your confusion, young Knight, but you must remember that the Republic has already made a verdict – mass migration due to disease. Your people left to keep themselves alive," The calm and grating voice of a Jedi Master replied.
"No!" the Knight – Ferroh – argued, "I have heard rumours, fragments from my kind – of harassment from the Mandalorians. They have hated us since the last war. I am certain they are responsible–"
"A foolish notion," Master Vrook interrupted, and he heard their footsteps grow closer to him, "No doubt one encouraged by your wayward leader." The last jab was aimed at him, he smiled bitterly under the brown cloak drawn over his head.
"Master Vrook," he greeted, glancing back at the older man before returning his focus to the sea beyond, "I see you have finally deigned to join us," he added, his voice as frigid as the waves ahead. While he did not like the Master very much, he did not mind his presence, it was important for the Jedi to see the atrocities they ignored. There were other Jedi masters accompanying him as well, like Master Zhar and Vandar who were certainly more agreeable.
All three were influential Jedi – members of the Dantooine Council, perhaps this would be the push they needed to send the Jedi to help and defend the Republic.
"How many times must you be told? From what we've seen, there is nothing special about these Mandalorians, certainly not enough to warrant Jedi aid in another war." Master Vrook remarked.
"Then perhaps you have not seen enough. This is not the first planet that the Mandalorians have led to ruination. Surely even you must have heard what happened to Myrkr, I would take you to worlds that have suffered worse fates, but alas, they are already under the rule of Manda'yaim. " He countered.
"Cease your aimless wanderings, Knight, and return to the Temple. You are forgetting your duty to the Order yourself and are leading others astray as well," Master Vrook admonished.
His jaw tightened, why are the Jedi refusing to see what was right in front of them?
"All of you," Master Vrook then called, getting the attention of every Jedi gathered, "Lost Jedi! You are some of our best and brightest, hope is not lost for you, we Masters are to lead you back to the light."
"Lead us back to the light?!" A voice piped up, incredulous. It seems Squint was finally here, "All we have been doing is our duty to the Jedi!"
"You have defied Council orders, Knight Squinquargesimus! This is unacceptable, you will cease your efforts, disband, and be brought before the Grandmaster for judgement." Master Vrook answered and several Jedi spoke up as well – some agreeing with him and others refusing to leave.
He swallowed the irrational panic that rose and thought about what he would do ahead. If the Knights refused to return, the Masters technically did have the right to bring them in forcefully but no – he could not afford for the movement to dissolve, it had taken two long years to be put together and gain momentum, and stars knew how many more it would take if he got arrested by the Jedi.
He concentrated on the waves dappled with golden sunlight and there! Nestled between rocks in the shallow waters he saw a glint of – metal? He took a step further, wading into the shallow waters, and came before a blurry lump, distinct from the rocks around. His eyes widened as he recognised the material – it was beskar ! The lump was a mask belonging to a Mandalorian, it was long, grey, and had dull rusty red stripes running down the front and around the dark visor.
Brushing off the errant seaweeds he picked it up and suddenly, he heard the screams of terror and the panicked footsteps of a running horde. He turned back to face the source of terror and saw the Cathar, who had suddenly returned. They were fleeing towards the beach to save their lives! Behind them, several figures clad from head to toe in beskar'gam rose from the crowd, their jetpacks leaving a trail of smoke, their blasters drawn and aimed at the poor Cathar who were being chased into the sea.
Immediately, several Jedi sprang to action, lightsabers drawn, to defend the locals, but he knew already that it was of no use. Their weapons swiped through air as they realised that the Cathar and Mandalorians were only phantoms – a vision of the past, of something that had happened years ago. The Mandalorians finally withdrew and pulled away from the Cathar following their leader – Cassus Fett – there was no mistaking his yellow-gold armour: donned only by Mandalore the Ultimate's closest advisors.
His heart dropped, already knowing the fate of the poor felines.
The Neo Crusader's Field Marshall had earned a reputation for being cruel and sadistic. And as they saw the Teroch -type gunships fall into formation and prime their laser cannons, others understood what was going to happen as well, and yet they screamed, but no one would hear their plea to save the wraiths that now surround him.
However one of the Mandalorians broke away – wearing the same helm he clutched – and yelled, "Cassus! Wait! They're defeated!" She stood in front of a petrified Cathar child clinging to her mother, and continued, "We don't have to do this!"
"The Cathar have left a stain of dishonour on the Mando'ade ," Cassus' voice boomed, "Today I shall wash it clean in the waters of their own presumption. But," he added, addressing the brave Mandalorian woman, "If you truly feel that they need a defender to stand with them then – do so, warrior. I salute you. Ke'serim !" He called to the ships and the whole planet was engulfed in screams as hot laserfire was unleashed from the ships and then – it was over. The vision ended as quickly as it began, leaving them alone.
The Jedi were slumped over, overwhelmed by what they had seen – what they had felt – the plight of an entire species boiled away at sea. Fett had left the structures intact to attest to the existence of the Cathar, but he forgot that there was another testament. The Revanchist realised he was still holding on to that helmet and his mind ran at a million miles as his grip tightened, "They were beaten, you didn't have to do it!" he said, frenzied, "One of you knew, but you didn't listen!"
His doubt hardened into resolve as lightning streaked across the sky, and everyone was quiet, the only sound was that of the resounding waves and booming thunder, and he raised his saber, and brilliant azure light shined upon the helmet, "I don't know your name – but I take up your cause! I will not remove this mask until there is justice – until the Mandalorians have been defeated once and for all. So swears…Revan! "
𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪
Over sixty-five parsecs away, Bastila Shan wakes from her newest dream. Breathing hard, she sat up on her small bed, sheets pooling in her lap. Her mind still reeled from what she'd seen. It was far from the first time that she had these visions – these memories – of the former Dark Lord that materialised in her dreams.
She swallowed, calling upon the Jedi Code to find peace but the vision lingered in the forefront of her mind. The sound of thunderclaps did not cease and Bastila thought for a scant moment that she was somehow still inside the vision. It took her an embarrassing moment to realise that it was raining outside her window on Coruscant, and that the dream had ended.
There is no emotion, there is peace, she chanted in her mind, finding solace in the familiar words at last. Feeling calmer, she sat back against the headboard, closing her eyes and breathing in. Lighting streaked across the Coruscanti sky, illuminating her dorm in the Jedi Temple as heavy rain poured from the heavens. It seems that Coruscant WeatherNet was still failing, given that it was raining and the sun wasn't supposed to be down yet.
Dismissing the weather, Bastila's mind went to the very mask that she had seen Revan find, hidden away in a locked chest underneath her bed, wadded up in rough cloth. A part of her suspected that it was the cause of her nightmares, but she knew it was wishful thinking.
She had half a mind to take Revan's mask to the Council, surely they would find a way to destroy it and maybe, just maybe she would be free of the Sith. But, doing so felt…wrong – demolishing the mask felt like wiping away the last vestiges of Revan.
And well – it wouldn't matter anyway, not when she would be seeing him again tomorrow – when their ship would depart from Coruscant and rejoin the Republic fleet scattered in the Outer Rim. Besides, these nightmares were important, the Jedi hoped that against all odds they might lead them to whatever the source of Sith's seemingly endless fleet was.So, she decided that the helm would remain where it was – hidden and forgotten.
But, it wasn't right for her to keep such a secret from the council. She couldn't let her execration for the Dark Lord get in the way of her duty to the Jedi. The fate of the galaxy mattered more than all this, it was why she had volunteered for this mission in the first place.
Her dilemma was interrupted by the sound of nervous knocking on her door. Bastila got up, opening it to see who had come to her room. A small apprentice stood, anxiously twisting his hands, and he bowed – despite the fact that Bastila wasn't a Master yet – and said, "Kni–Padaw–Miss! Miss Shan! Master Sunrider wishes to speak to you in the Gardens of Contemplation urgently."
Before Bastila could say another word, the boy bowed again and practically ran away. She shook her head, a part of her disliked the way people treated her once they learnt of her powers, especially the younger ones. Sighing, she put the incident to the back of her mind and wore more appropriate robes.
𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪
Walking through the Temple always used to instil Bastila with a sense of calm, but now as she passed by a few Jedi lingering in the hallways, having hushed conversations about the war that ravaged the galaxy, she felt differently. Some Masters looked at her with sympathy and trepidation – worried that the fate of the galaxy was put into the hands of one so young – someone who was still a padawan. The Knights, most of whom were her age or slightly older, saw someone who had to be protected for the sake of the Republic while the apprentices, small children most of them, unmarred by the horrors of war, saw her as a shining beacon of hope, someone who they should be more like — someone who would end this terrible conflict once and for all.
She swallowed, trying not to let their feelings rattle her. She was not new to this responsibility, having been prepared for war since her teen years – her training had become even harder once her power bloomed. While the Council had forbidden her from ever participating in the Mandalorian Wars, (and she had been wise enough to listen to them) they had made sure to train her for warfare, wary of the hidden threat that they had foreseen.
Things had only become worse once the Revanchists had returned as Sith from the Unknown Regions with their massive and seemingly endless fleet in tow, intent on conquering the Republic.
She brushed these thoughts aside when she finally reached her destination, standing before the tall stained glass doors that separated the lush and vibrant grounds from the rest of the Temple. The sacred symbol of their order – a starbird rising up in the air, wings spread – had been painted on the crystal in gold. Stepping in, Bastila took a deep breath, relishing the fresh, clean air of the grove. She could see the skies through the reinforced transparisteel ceiling that shielded the garden from the city around.
Bastila sensed the Grandmaster's presence in the force, shining like a bright beacon, and she walked over the stone pathway towards it. Verdant tchuspera bushes lined the sides and tall blackneedle trees brushed the top, laden with thick crimson baloo vines and dorva vines that snaked around branches. Small, azure starflowers dotted the bushes alongside dark black lillies and blood-red plom blooms rose above the grass.
The Grandmaster sat beneath a massive Uneti tree, her eyes closed and legs crossed. Bastila stood for a few seconds, unsure of what to do, but her tutor opened her eyes then, smiling, "Come Bastila," she began, gesturing for Bastila to sit opposite her. She obeyed, settling on a patch of soft, green balmgrass. The two women simply sat in peaceful silence for a few moments before the Grandmaster frowned and asked, "You had another dream didn't you, dear?"
Bastila wasn't too surprised that the Grandmaster could read her so easily, after all, she had been under Nomi Sunrider's tutelage for the past few years – since her powers had come to light, but it was still jarring, so she stammered, "Ye– Yes, I did."
Grandmaster Nomi's frown deepened, "Well, what did you see?"
Bastila sighed, "Cathar," was all she said. She was sure that the older Jedi would understand perfectly well what event she spoke of – when Revan had made his promise and sworn not to remove his mask till justice had been delivered. The news of it had spread through the Order like wildfire, even Bastila, who had still been an apprentice back then, had heard of the incident. After this, the Jedi had been left with no choice but to sanction the Revanchists and allow them to go to war.
"I understand," she said and added, "I want to ask you something, and I want you to give me an honest answer – not something you think I'd like to hear – but the truth."
Bastila nodded, and her teacher continued, "Do you truly think the Council's work will hold?"
She opened her mouth to say, yes, of course it will, I have utter faith in the Masters, but then she saw Master Sunrider's patient and kind expression so she said instead, "He's already recovering some of his memories, but I doubt he shall remember all that has transpired."
Master Sunrider nodded, "Right. Hence the…spontaneity of your mission," she cocked her head, studying her padawan intensely, "Are you afraid?" she probed.
"N...No, of course not, I have faced him before, numerous times–"
"Not for yourself, then?" Master Sunrider interrupted.
Bastila took a deep breath in and admitted, "Yes. I worry for the crew, it is a small one – soldiers who are most dedicated to the Republic – but unlike me, they do not know of the danger that lurks. It is my responsibility to make sure that even if he remembers, he won't harm anyone."
"So far, my reports tell me of no…friction between him and his comrades. Besides, you have a Jedi accompanying you." Master Sunrider assured, "But that, of course, doesn't mean one should become less vigilant, and I know you well enough to say that you'll take your duty very seriously."
Bastila only nodded in response, sombre, and looked up, breathing in deeply. The skies outside had cleared at last, clouds parting to reveal the setting sun and, her comlink beeped, signalling that she would have to leave for orbit soon. She stood up then, heart heavy, ready to say her goodbyes. The Grandmaster stood up as well and placed her hand on Bastila's who froze in response, staring at the older woman.
"Bastila," She began, voice grave, breaking the silence between the two of them, "I understand the burden that comes with your powers."
Master Sunrider's words were surprising to say the least, and Bastila's eyes widened before she answered, protesting, "It is a big responsibility, yes, and I am honoured that the Council trusts me so, but it is hardly a burden–" Her words were cut off by the Jedi who held her finger up to quieten her.
"It is." The Grandmaster insisted, "I know you feel pressured, that this is too much and too overwhelming, don't tell me otherwise. I have been in a similar situation, or have you forgotten your history, Padawan?"
Bastila shook her head, she knew about the Grandmaster's journey, and yet, "Whatever I feel is irrelevant in comparison to what is happening in the galaxy." She confessed, "There are far more important things to worry about."
"It sounds to me like you are trying to convince yourself of this." Grandmaster Sunrider said bluntly and Bastila flushed with shame. She heard the other woman sigh and explain kindly, "It is not wrong to feel this way. You are only human, and are so young as well. Certainly too young to have the weight of the entire galaxy on your shoulders."
Bastila blinked in response to the Grandmaster's words. They were filled with so much understanding and compassion. The Grandmaster stepped closer to her, cupping Bastila's face in a wrinkled hand — a gesture that was almost maternal.
"Your future is clouded," Grandmaster Sunrider said softly as sunlight streamed in from the high transparisteel windows, suffusing the gardens in a golden glow.
"It pains me to say this, I cannot see much, but I sense a great darkness ahead." Bastila swallowed, Grandmaster Nomi's vision made more sense in light of the council's decision to place an amnesiac Revan under her watchful gaze.
"You must be prepared to face whatever is to come," she continued. "Remember one thing Bastila — the light will always be there, patient and waiting."
"All you have to do–," she added, her voice calm, and Bastila felt the stirring of the power and eternal light, "–is reach out, and it will answer your call. No matter how bad things are, no matter how hopeless you feel, remember that the light is everlasting, it will always persist."
They stood unspeaking for a few moments, feeling the peace and serenity around them, the strength of the light that enveloped the Temple in its familiar warmth.
The Grandmaster stepped away then, her expression one of worry because of the trepidation she felt from Bastila.
"For what it's worth," She said then, attempting to lighten the mood, "I really do wish I could help you out there. But I am much too old and my advisors would get a heart attack if I ever said I wanted to join this war." But Bastila could sense the earnestness in the Grandmaster's voice and shook her head.
"You did your duty to the Order during the war with Exar Kun, Master. Now I must do mine." She said with determination. Masterrider Sunrider's expression softened and she responded, "I understand, my dear. May the force be with you, always."
𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪 𓆩𓆪
The Endar Spire was like every other Republic Hammerhead-class cruiser Bastila had been on, armed with four double light turbolaser batteries, two medium turbolaser batteries, two point-defence laser cannon batteries, and a tractor beam battery. Only another Knight was accompanying Bastila – a woman named Angcia Parrae, who had already been on board when Bastila arrived.
The first thing the Lieutenant had done was show her the path to the escape pods, and Bastila knew that they did not mean to imply that she was a coward or anything of the sort – she merely was doing her duty of making sure that in the event of an attack, Bastila would be safe.
Bastila had been most pleased to meet with Captain Carth Onasi – it had been a while since she had last seen the faithful and loyal man. She had seen Revan – or Ariv he believed he was called in the brightly lit corridors a few times and had avoided him, averting her gaze because there was always either someone with either of them, and any attempt at…inspecting his thoughts and intentions would not go unnoticed.
She hadn't been sleeping well the past few days, terrified out of her mind worried that she might have doomed the entire crew, the galaxy, and finally, a few days into their journey in hyperspace during a debriefing she got her chance.
Keeping her observation of Revan clandestine, Bastila began to look for anything out of place. He was dressed in the typical Republic uniform – burnt orange and black, sans helmet – it was odd for her to see him like this, out of those ridiculously long and billowing dark robes and armor. He had recovered from his injuries almost entirely, all that remained was a small scar bisecting his cheek – one she'd given him during an intense duel but had been too exhausted to heal after his apprentice's betrayal – but there were other outward signs of the Dark Lord of the Sith.
His hair was the same: long and jet black, and his eyes remained a clear green, unblemished by the dark side and so unlike the golden-yellow she had grown used to.
Bastila reached out then, slowly, gently, into his mind to see if she could find anything amiss, but all she encountered was a firm wall blocking his thoughts from her. Her hackles rose: he knows something is wrong, before she remembered that despite his amnesia, he did not have a weak mind that could be manipulated and that someone as powerful as he was would be able to stop someone from reading his thoughts.
But, if she tried again and went deeper, he did not possess the knowledge to wall her away – especially because of their suspected bond.
Taking a shuddering breath, Bastila reached out again, the thought of delving into someone's mind when they were somewhat defenceless left a sour taste in her mouth. But this very person could be hiding, biding time, waiting for the right moment to pounce and end it all.
So, she slipped past his mental defences easily enough and much to her relief, found what she was hoping for and not what she had been dreading. His mind was focused on the mission and what he would have to do once they reached the rendezvous point, nothing about the dark side or Sith. Before she could go deeper, someone broke her concentration by calling her name, "—will be transferred to the Guardian, Admiral Dodonna's flagship along with some of our crew. We're in the Ojoster sector now, only a few days from our destination—" Carth was the one who had been speaking, Bastila realised, and she nodded in response before tuning him out, and turning her attention back to her task.
Revan only stared at her for a second, smiling awkwardly and Bastila understood her mistake – her 'clandestine' observation of him, hadn't been, well, as secretive as she hoped. He had seen her staring at him! Her mouth dropped open in horror and colour rushed to her cheeks. She couldn't even keep her inspection of his mind private in a crowded room, how was she going to make sure that the Dark Lord wasn't hiding beneath the facade of a common soldier, plotting to take back his Empire! Sudden tears of frustration sprang to her eyes, the sleepless nights strife with worry were taking their toll. Mortified, she blinked them away.
Perhaps if she was unable to get answers out of him from afar, she could try approaching him as a friend, yes, that could work – but now wasn't the time, not when they were dispersing for the night.
She sighed, feeling slightly better for the first time in weeks, thinking, hoping that perhaps this mission might not just be as bad as she expected.
A/N
hello everyone! so that's the first proper chapter of the fic - i'm sorry if the writing is a bit clunky or unclear, i am learning as i write. i will try my best to upload one chapter a week and as always, any feedback is appreciated!
also this fic is up on ao3 under the same name :)