Chapter 17
(Tatoonie, Czerka Office)
Revan stood alongside Zayne and Zaalbar having finally made it back to the city with little trouble. Now he just had to get his hands on the five water units or this entire situation would quickly go downhill. Bastila and the others lives were on the line, hence failure was not an option.
"Ah you have returned, although I note most of your party is missing," the same woman who had hired them said as she finally spotted them as she had been writing up some reports when they entered. "Does that mean you have failed as well?" she inquired without any hesitation or care in her voice.
"No, we didn't fail although nor have we yet succeeded," Zayne replied with a dark frown not liking the woman at all as she reminded him a little of Raana Tey just before she died, only without the madness that had descended on her.
"I don't understand," the woman replied with a confused frown.
"We have negotiated a ceasefire and the fall back of the Sand People's enclave, but to ensure that they keep their end we needed five large water moisturization units," Revan explained doing his best to keep his anger under control. "It was three, but to secure the release of the prisoners we offered two extra, so you will give us what we need and we can end this on a peaceful note," he stated.
"But we only have six of those units here and we need them to provide the city with water," the woman began to protest but Revan quickly cut her off.
"You can buy more with little problem and there is more than enough water to last the city until you receive your new supply. I am not enough of a fool to believe you don't have a warehouse full to the brim with water if not more than one," Revan told her with a slight glare. "You also will do this for the sole purpose of making the mistake of hiring us to clean up your own foolishness in starting these attacks. Yes, the Chief told us you began this whole conflict more than likely to gain more ground to mine for water and anything else you could sell," he continued, his tone becoming darker.
"We have made a deal that will give everyone what they want and saves lives, now give us the water units or pay the price of thinking you can get out of this without paying for your sins," he finished with an ominous warning making the woman pale.
"Don't make the mistake of thinking us ordinary Jedi," Zayne said with a smile which seemed slightly twisted, but then he'd had plenty of practice pretending to be a darksider or evil during his time on the run. "We have a slightly more flexible code than most and we don't like being cheated or made fools of. You started this whole thing and now you will help end it peacefully," he told her. "Or you can refuse and then try and explain it to my more than unreasonable friend, who already has a slight grudge against your company," he added with a gesture at the still glaring Revan.
"Fine I will give you what you want," the woman snapped quickly caving in after staring at Revan for a few more minutes. "But believe me I will be putting in a complaint to the Order about your actions here. Czerka does not take threats lightly," she tried to sound unafraid, but was clearly terrified of Revan.
"Go right ahead, the council is a little busy right now with a war to care about complaints from corrupt corporations," Revan shot back unafraid of the threat as the woman didn't even know their names and by the time the complaint even reached the council they would be long gone and safely with his fleet.
"Varko, get five of the large water units up here now," the woman snapped out an order to one of her underlings.
"But mam, we cannot afford that," the short Rodian began to protest.
"I know but we have no choice in case you didn't hear and now do as I say," the woman barked back with a glare of her own. "I will explain to our superiors the loss and need of replacement in such a way we cannot be blamed. Now get the units," she ordered. "I hope you know what you are doing, if the Sand People don't do as you say they will, I have a bounty placed on your heads so large you will not live long enough to cause us anymore trouble," she threatened, causing both Revan and Zayne to smirk in response at her attempt at bravado.
"You have no idea who it is you are threatening and while I find your attempt at a threat amusing don't make the mistake of thinking that I will not remove your head if I thought for an instant you would bring more trouble and danger down on our heads," Revan warned darkly making the woman gulp and back away. "Be happy we have cleared up your mess, once we have the units we will leave and deliver them. Your people will be released and should be back here within a few hours," he stated coldly. "Give the Sand People a couple of days to fully remove themselves from the area before you make the mistake of rushing in to claim it, or you may find all of this effort wasted and we will not help you a second time," he added as the Rodian and his helpers returned with the water units on an anti-grav platform.
"Are we going to carry them or take the grav unit?" Zayne inquired, watching the woman who had gone pale as she began to suspect they were perhaps not Jedi at all.
"We'll take the grav unit as it will save us time and allow us to keep a hand on our weapons in case we are attacked," Revan decided giving a glare to the Rodian before he could voice a protest.
"Zaalbar will take point and I will cover the rear, you will handle the grav platform," he added quickly coming up with a plan to get the water units back as quickly as possible.
Zaalbar let out a roar of agreement and quickly led the way out. He wanted to get this mission over with as he didn't like the desert planet and he especially didn't like leaving Mission in such danger. Zayne followed with the grav unit on which the water units rested held by a suppression field, Revan followed but paused by the door and turned back to the woman.
"I would think twice about reporting to anyone about our presence, as I said you have little idea about who I am and what I will do if you cause us anymore problems," he gave a final warning before exiting the building, not caring to hear her response.
The woman let out a deep breath of relief that he and his friends had left, but she found herself still unsettled by the leader's very presence. At first when she had hired them she had thought them Jedi and their helpers, but now she had begun to suspect they might be Sith instead. 'But then why take the job and help them?' she wondered. It was possible they belonged to neither party and wanted to remain unobserved hence the threat about contacting anyone about them. For now she would keep her silence as she dared not push the man. Especially as she still had to contact headquarters and explain the loss of five water units and the need for replacements and somehow keep her job.
Zayne walked in silence as they headed back to the main gate and the waiting desert. Something had been bothering him since they had first met Jaks and his friends. It had started with the way Jaks had talked about Malak as if he had known him personally, and then there was his personality which was not what he expected from a Jedi especially in this day and age. The fact he shared a force bond with Bastila Shan was suspect, it was clear he was no Jedi Master so the question had begun to eat at him. 'Who was he really?' He had a sneaking suspicion he knew exactly who he and Jarael had joined up with, but how it was possible was beyond his understanding, but clearly more was going on than he had previously known.
"You know you might have pushed a little hard back there," Zayne finally said after they had exited the main gate and stepped back into the desert, causing Revan to lock his gaze on the younger man.
"I was just trying to ensure she didn't cause us anymore problems than we already have," Revan shot back quickly having forgotten that Zayne didn't know who he truly was and while he may suspect something was off about him he didn't know the truth or at least he didn't think he did.
"No you weren't," Zayne responded with a smile as he glanced back at Revan. "You meant every word, plus there is your general disgust with Czerka itself and considering what Jarael and I found when we found you on Kashyyk well I have to say it goes beyond disgust, more like hatred," he stated boldly knowing he could be provoking a confrontation here, but he preferred to know who he was allied with, especially as Jarael was involved as well. "You are no Jedi, they would never approve of what you did there or how you acted in that office and while I don't think you are Sith I have to believe that at one time you were allied with them," he continued. "I need to know the truth if I am to trust Jarael's life to you," he stated. "Are you Revan?" he demanded to know.
Revan eye's narrowed at Zayne's insistence of his theory meaning he had clearly given away more than he had intended when they first met back on Kashyyk, but at least he was keeping his voice down so Zaalbar didn't overhear them. He knew he had made a mistake speaking as if he had known Malak so well. Who else could he be? Who would have such knowledge of Malak's feelings for Jarael and how he had taken her rejection of him. However he could sense little threat from Zayne, clearly he was not about to try and attack him and was only concerned with his lover's safety and that he could understand.
"Yes I am, no I was not killed by Bastila instead she saved me when Malak tried to kill me," Revan finally admitted knowing Zayne would not quit until he had the truth. "The Jedi Council then tried to kill my mind and personality, but the force protected me. Bastila knows the truth although not the whole truth just yet and apart from Jolee, Niks and Jarrik no one else knows I am still myself," he explained and he didn't miss the look of disgust that passed Zayne's face as he mentioned what the council had tried to do to him, but then considering how the council had treated Zayne back when he was accused of the Padawan massacre he suspected Zayne had little love or trust left in them. "I will stop Malak and his followers I promised Bastila that, and in the end the galaxy will be better off without them running riot," he went on. "Once that is done then things become difficult, lines will be drawn and choices will have to be made," he stated, locking his gaze with Zayne's. "Hard ones," he finished.
"Meaning you will go back to the war with the Republic," Zayne stated.
"Possibly, it depends on what happens when we bring Malak down," Revan responded with a shrug. "And what Bastila and the others will decide once they know the whole horrifying truth of why we came back pretending to be Sith," he added.
"Pretending, I think Malak and his people are doing more than pretending," Zayne countered.
"Yes they are, they have fully fallen to the dark side and embraced it, but my people, those still loyal to me, and myself were never actually Sith just using it as a cover to hide our true intentions," Revan explained. "It was a disguise that worked a little too well, thankfully now I know my people survived I can prove just what is the truth," he told him with a smile. "But that is for later once we get off this damn planet, so for now Zayne I hope you, like Jolee and Bastila, will keep my secret," he requested.
Zayne didn't sense any falsehood from the man or any threat even as he finished speaking, so he considered his request without even thinking of lying. "For now I will keep my peace and say nothing, but as Jarael is involved I promise this, you put her in danger and we will have a problem," he warned after a short silence.
"Fair enough Zayne," Revan agreed.
From there they both descended into silence as they continued into the desert, once more passing the disabled sand crawler they had helped defend during their first trek.
+TR+
(Jedi Temple)
Zhar stood outside Vima's door, conflicted over whether to try and confront her or not. He still had only a vague suspicion on what it was she was hiding, if anything, but he suddenly felt very isolated from his fellow council members and felt the need to have at least one friend he could still count on who would not think him mad to feel guilt over Revan's fate. But would Vima even choose to admit she felt the same or knew something the others didn't? Well he guessed he would find out as he knocked and then entered the room to find Vima sitting on her bed looking to be trying to meditate.
"Am I disturbing you Vima?" he inquired as she opened her eyes and looked at him.
"No Zhar, as my attempts at meditation are being stifled by my worry for Ana and her team, my worry for the growing hatred I sense in Atris and Vrook, especially in light of us giving her the task of keeping some of our most deadly holocrons safe," Vima answered tiredly. "An error I see coming back to bite us in the future, she grows more unstable and yet the others seem oblivious to it," she stated in confusion.
"Yes I too have my concerns where Atris is concerned, especially in light of her continued obsession over Revan," Zhar admitted and knowing it would help ease into the subject he wished to discuss with her. "She will not hear anything but her own view on the matter, it makes me wonder if his fall and betrayal alongside that of Meetra Surik didn't unhinge her mind somewhat," he continued as he sat in a nearby chair. "Surik was at one time her most prized pupil and having her turn and join Revan damaged her somewhat. Revan too had been someone she had admired and believed would take his place on this council one day until he took his stance against the council," he mused.
"Yes Surik's return to face us showed me how much Atris had taken her rejection of the order and of her in favor of Revan and his movement," Vima agreed with a nod of her head. "Still the council fails to see the effects all this had on her and Vrook and even the rest of us to some degree," she stated. "
"You are angry with the council for refusing to allow you to send anyone to check on Ana and her team, aren't you?" Zhar inquired, choosing to leave the subject of Revan alone for a minute.
"Yes I am Zhar, she is my daughter and any mother would feel the same as my mother would have felt for me," Vima answered passionately.
"Yes I suppose that is true enough, but in the eyes of the council you a Jedi foremost and a mother second," Zhar replied as carefully as he could.
"And for so much of my life even after having Ana I would have agreed with them," Vima responded.
"But things are different now, I am different," she admitted with a deep sigh. "I am not the same woman, I will not make the same mistakes my mother made that forced me to run away when I believed she was putting the Jedi above my needs," she explained, having come to the conclusion she had indeed become just like her mother or close to how she had become forcing her to take drastic action to wake her up.
Of course that had led her to find Ulic and become his apprentice and in turn help him find redemption although it had come so close to his death. At least he had not died without it and had become one with the force. Her mother had admitted she had felt the blaster bolt that had killed Ulic through their long buried force bond, the bond that had formed when they had been in love so very deeply before Ulic's fall. That, more than anything, had convinced her that Ulic had indeed come back and she had praised her daughter for leading Ulic back to the light. Ulic might not have been recognized by the order as one of her Masters, but to her he was her most important teacher. Her mother had taken over her training after they had buried Ulic on Rhen Vher. She had visited his small shrine three times since then and each time she still felt the loss not only of Ulic, but of her mother who had passed away just as she was made a member of the council. She liked to believe that her mother had been reunited with Ulic and her father in the force, at peace forever more.
"Perhaps your history with Ulic gives you a unique view of Revan. We all know the tale and while most Jedi especially those in the council have always dismissed it, the idea one can come back from such darkness gives me hope," Zhar stated, breaking the silence that had fallen. "Yet I fear we may have opened up the path for him to be always clouded in darkness, if he were to have survived what we tried to do he would know we tried to not only kill him, but in essence destroy his very soul," he spat and his self-disgust clearly broke through.
"You are having second thoughts about what we did?" Vima asked in surprise.
"I feel guilty about what we did to Revan, without even giving him a choice not that I believe for an instant he would have chosen such a fate," Zhar answered. "I fear this war is changing who we are. The Jedi are losing themselves and are becoming hard and bitter," he added with a tired shake of his head. "While the idea Revan might have survived seems impossible, a part of me can't help but feel it is so and from the expression on your face during the council meeting when the subject was raised I can see I am not the only one," he explained. "But I have to ask is your feeling based solely on your feelings or do you know something?" he asked.
Vima didn't respond as she was unsure why Zhar was asking, clearly something in her facial expression had given her away. She cursed her lack of control, but the damage was done now.
"I swear Vima I will not say anything to the others," Zhar told her with a gentle smile. "If anything it will put my mind at ease knowing he is alive, although one would wonder why he remains with Bastila and the others in their group if he was," he mused thoughtfully.
"The force bond between them will have had an effect on them both, I believe Revan is not as lost as we had believed although I cannot say the same about Malak," Vima finally spoke, breaking her silence which Zhar seemed to have been willing to allow no matter how long she was silent.
"Something else is going on we don't yet understand, I believe Revan survived as I felt him through the force when I last meditated," she finally admitted. "I was going to say something, but then rethought that when I considered Ana's situation. I intend to send Revan and his team after her once they are finished on Tatoonie," she stated.
"I understand but if you felt Revan then why did we not also feel him?" Zhar inquired.
"Perhaps because I was meditating and in tune with the force at that point in time, or maybe the force wanted me to know he was alive for reasons we as of yet don't know," Vima answered after considering his question. "I don't think he bares Bastila any ill will, if he had done so she would already be dead, force bond or not and the same for those who are with him," she speculated. "As for us and the Republic I cannot say where he stands, but we will have to answer for what we did to him at some point," she added as she rubbed her eyes and got up from her bed and moved to the nearest window. "We tried to commit a crime that goes against all Jedi law and beliefs, a price will be extracted for it," she stated with total belief in her voice.
Zhar sighed before he responded. "I wish I could say you were wrong, but I fear you are more right than you know, we will pay heavily before all this plays out and I fear what will happen when Zirrik has to step down due to his age and illness," he admitted.
"Our only hope is that Vandar will be gifted leadership of the council," Vima responded still looking out of the window. "He is the only one I still trust in any real sense beyond yourself, and he is someone I believe even Atris and Vrook would respect and follow," she explained her reasoning.
"Agreed," Zhar said with a nod before he stood. "I will leave you now, I can see you are tired and more to the point so am I. I will keep my word and say nothing of what we have discussed," he promised. "But Vima tread lightly, in sending Bastila's team after Ana you might bring sever consequences on yourself especially if Vrook or Atris succeed Zirrik," he warned.
"I no longer care for my own future Zhar, but for my daughter's and I will see her returned alive no matter what it takes," Vima swore.
Zhar nodded in understanding and then turned and headed for his own quarters, knowing he would need a good night's sleep before he even contemplated going through what he learned and discussed with Vima.
Vima watched her friend depart and hoped she had not just made a mistake in trusting him. She didn't feel any warning in the force and thus pushed the brief concern aside as she got ready for bed. Zhar had been more right than he knew in that she was tired, she needed a good long sleep she decided as she finally crawled into her bed and closed her eyes.