+TR+
(Leviathan Class Battleship Revenge)
Revan stared at them all as they awaited his response to Bastila's question, but if he was honest he really didn't know what he was going to do about the Republic once they had dealt with Malak and his followers. Could he continue the original plan of taking control of the Republic so as to rebuild it stronger than ever, because he knew to do that he would have to finishing subduing it but the problem with that now was how Bastila and the rest of the team he had fought beside for the last few months would react? He knew Carth wouldn't react well even if he had finally admitted he too knew the Republic was crippled by corruption, would he be willing to aid them in taking over the Republic would Bastila? Or Juhani or even Zayne who whilst no longer a Jedi had a high sense of morals. Would he lose them if he tried to enact their original plan? He just didn't know but he knew saving the Republic and safeguarding the millions of lives that lived within it had to come before any personal feelings, he had already sacrificed so much to accomplish this one goal as had everyone who had followed him. He could not throw away their sacrifices for his own personal feelings, glancing away for a few seconds he gathered his thoughts before speaking.
"Honestly I don't know what I will do about the Republic but I cannot and will not throw away the sacrifices the men and women of this fleet have made to save the Republic from itself, if that means I have to complete the original plan and conquer the Republic before I can rebuild it to resist the True Sith when they come they I will" Revan told them. "When that time you will each have to make a choice as will I on where you stand, with us or against us but either way we all are fighting for the Republic it is just we are fighting for a Republic not crippled by corruption or stagnation" he informed them. "I can give you no promises" he stated leaving the others to once again stare at him trying to decide where they would stand when that time came except for Canderous who already knew where he stood.
+TR+
(Jedi Temple)
Vima met Zhar as they had agreed and headed straight for the communications room careful to keep an eye out for any of their fellow Council members, neither of them wanted to be seen by any of them and questioned on their business. Thankfully the corridors were mostly empty as the majority of the Jedi were sleeping due to the late hour, but they knew to still be cautious as some Jedi especially the Council members stayed up very late. Once they reached the communications room they reached out with the force just to check if anyone was inside, they felt a slight pulse which showed one person was indeed inside. Vima knew this was going to be tricky but she looked at Zhar who nodded and then they both entered the room, Jade Eriso a short human brunette with startling green eyes that reminded most of emeralds and also a close friend of her daughter Ana.
"Master Sunrider, Master Zhar is everything okay?" Jade inquired standing up in surprise as the late shift at the communications system was usually quiet unless something serious was happening which to her knowledge there wasn't right now since she had reported the attack on Illum to the Council.
"Honestly no Jade everything is not okay, Ana is in great danger and I need to get her and her team aide but I am constricted in how I can help her" Vima stated honestly hoping Jade's friendship was stronger than her loyalty to the Council and the code she had begun to realise she hated due it getting in the way of her saving her daughter just as she knew Revan and all those who followed him had come to do. She finally saw what they had seen out there during the war the code was flawed, it was outdated by events and situations that had not existed at the time the code was created.
"Master Atris ordered me not to allow any communications to be sent without her permission" Jade admitted with a frown. "She made it seem like she knew she would become the next Grand Master for certain" she added.
"That is not a sure thing of that you can be certain of Jade, again Atris steps beyond what power she actually has" Vima said just managing to stop herself from growling. "If anyone will succeed Zirrik it will be Vandar as he has not allowed his or her emotions to cloud their reasoning" she stated. "If not, if force forbid Atris or Vrook succeeds the Jedi are doomed to fall" she added with completed conviction in her tone. "We need to use the comm system Jade, need to do it now before it is too late for Ana or any of her team" she told her looking the young woman in the eyes.
Jade stared at Vima in shock at her rather blunt words and then glanced at Zhar and noted he did not looked shocked and actually seemed to agree with her, she had to admit she had never been too keen on Atris as whilst she respected her position as a Council member she had never liked her as a person. Atris was well known for been a paranoid and hateful woman to the majority of the younger generation of Jedi, even those who had trained under her had a less than stella impression of her personality. She had a high opinion of herself and her position within the Jedi, hence the way she had given Jade the orders not to let anyone use the comm system. Vrook was hard and showed very little positive emotions, he was usually pretty hard on his students and often pointed out their flaws uncaring of their emotions or the effects his words would have on them. Still what Vima and Zhar was asking of her could get her into a hell of a lot of trouble, hell she could be arrested for doing this but Ana was her best friend and had stood by her throughout her training as a Jedi and even stood up to Atris to protect her when she had got on her bad side. How could she let her die out of fear of reprimand from a woman who clearly had little positive emotions for those under her, letting out a sigh she nodded her head.
"Do what you need to do to bring Ana and her team home Master Sunrider" Jade finally said. "She would do the same for me if our places were reversed" she stated knowing what she said was the truth to which Vima smiled.
"Thank you Jade, will you and Zhar please take up positions on either end of the corridor and alert me if anyone comes towards us" Vima requested.
"Of course Vima, just be quick so we do not put ourselves or Jade in too much trouble" Zhar told her before exiting the room with Jade behind him and then separating to opposite ends of the corridor to keep an eye out for anyone approaching the comm room.
Vima let out a relived sigh before sitting down and quickly getting to work setting the system to broadcast to the Ebon Hawk, she just prayed Revan would remember his friendship with Ana and be in a mood to aide them without letting his anger at what the Council had done to him getting in the way.
+TR+
(Leviathan Class Battleship Revenge)
Revan watched as the group continued to sit and think over his words, he didn't rush them as he knew they had time whilst they travelled to Reekiad. He glanced at Meetra who shrugged clearly unsure what choice they would make, before he could stand up to go talk with her without been overheard Major Hunt returned and snapped a salute off which he returned.
"Sorry for interrupting your talks General but we are receiving a communications signal from the Ebon Hawk's comm system, should we patch it through?" he inquired.
"Yes Major, please do" Revan responded wondering who was on the other end and hoping it wasn't just the Council once again checking in on them. "Any idea on the I.D of the caller Major?" he inquired as the group turned as one to pay attention to this new information.
"I believe it is Jedi Master Vima Sunrider" Major Hunt answered. "Serana Lawson was the one who was monitoring the Ebon Hawk's comm system, she recognised the voice" he added.
Serana Lawson had been one of the many Jedi Knights who had followed him into the war against the Mandalorians and survived to become one of his best unit commanders, she was tough and had a sound tactical mind. He did not doubt her recognition of the voice on the comm system, but the question was what did Vima want? She had been one of his teachers during his early years granted an informal one but still one he had learned much from, he had been friends with her and her daughter Ana and yet she had still taken part in the Council's plan to mind wipe him. Could he talk to her without letting his anger at that fact getting the better of him, he supposed he'd have to if he wanted to keep up his ruse. A few seconds later and the Major nodded his head after ordering the signal to be sent to the room they were in; he waited for Vima to speak.
"Come in Ebon Hawk this is Vima Sunrider do you copy" Vima's voice said after a burst of static.
"We read you Master Sunrider, this is Jaks Toulon is there something wrong?" Revan inquired.
"Cut the crap Revan I know it is you, that you are still very much alive" Vima instantly shot back much to his surprise and clearly Bastila and Meetra shared that surprise by the looks on their faces. "I felt the storm you kicked up in the force, force I don't think there was anyone who could feel the force who didn't feel the storm that you kicked up so don't even bother trying to spin that falsehood with me it is not why I called" she pressed on. "I need your help Revan and I need it now" she stated.
Revan frowned wondering what was going on that Vima would not care that he was still very much alive. "Why should I do anything for you Vima, you tried to murder me you tried to destroy my very soul?" he inquired. "And why wouldn't you care that I was still alive, I doubt your fellow Council members didn't panic if they felt the storm of my rage in the force as you did" he added.
"Oh they panicked alright and Atris immediately tried to blame it on you but I deflected her as best I could, she and Vrook have become darker and more driven by the most negative of emotions and they hate you and the fact I can feel it when they speak should tell you how bad it is" Vima answered honestly surprising Revan even more that she seemed to be on the outs with her fellow Council members. "Zirrik is old and about to step down Revan, if Atris or Vrook succeed him then the Jedi may not survive as they are supposed to be" she stated and this time she shocked everyone who was listening.
"Master Sunrider, what is happening back at the Temple?" Bastila asked.
"A divide is developing Bastila, so far it is still small but it will grow as time goes on, the Council is splitting on what is the right course of action" Vima answered. "Right now we are falling back and trying to create a defendable line for when Malak comes at us again in force, since our attempt to mind wipe you Atris and Vrook continued to badger the Council with the belief you may yet live and that we should have killed you instead, from there the Council split on who agreed with them and who did not and once we felt that storm of yours we argued over the idea of whether it would be a good idea to have you back in the war drawing Malak's focus whilst the Republic rebuilt it's war effort whilst others argued you would ignore Malak and focus your rage on us for what we tried to do to you" she explained. "But as I said I managed to deflect them, most still believe it is impossible that you survived what we tried to do, as for my part in that Revan you know had I refused to help I would have been removed from the Council and I cannot fight Atris and Vrook's influence if I lose my position even though right now I am risking that very thing but I no longer care" she told them. "I regret that I tried to aide them in this as does Zhar, that I probably hurt you during the process but I cannot leave the Council in Atris and Vrook's hands and thus I will do what I can to counter balance them" she finished.
Revan frowned and leaned back in his chair but even as he did he could feel Bastila's concern over what Vima had told them through their bond, the idea of the Council been split worried Bastila and he would guess it worried Juhani too considering that they were the only active Jedi in their group.
"Vima what has happened to make you take this step, to disregard my return?" Revan finally asked.
"Ana led a team to Nar Shaddaa to check out one of your listening posts which went dark the minute Malak staged his coup which makes me believe they were loyalists and refused to kneel to Malak" Vima answered with a sigh. "They vanished which means they were likely captured, but the Council had refused to send a rescue team after them and they have refused to allow me to go after them and thus because they view my daughter as expendable I will do whatever it takes to get her help and thus I am turning to you for that help Revan" she informed them. "Ana is your friend Revan, I am not asking for me I am asking for her please go to Nar Shaddaa and save her" she requested.
Revan stood up and began to pace and wondering exactly what Ana and her team had walked into, if the relay station was one still loyal to him than extracting them would not be a problem but if they were now rogue Sith who had decided to work for themselves than extracting them would be difficult but still he would not leave Ana in uncertain hands as Vima was right she was a friend and one he did not hold accountable for the sins of her Mother. And Vima had just told her the reasons for why she had taken part in trying to mind wipe him, that she regretted agreeing to aide them as did apparently Zhar Lestin one of his former mentors and the one who had taught him the most about using a lightsaber. It seemed not everyone who sat on the Council was his enemy if Vima was to be believed and strangely enough he did, Vima was not one to lie so blatantly and thus he decided to take her at her word.
"I'll do it Vima, I will go and rescue Ana and her team and then we will have a very long discussion" Revan finally said surprising Carth but not the majority of the others who had more trust in his word even now they knew who he really was. "Despite what the Council believes I am not an enemy of the Republic, there is more going on here than you know far more is at stake than anyone but my people and now my team know" he told her.
"Bastila, is this true?" Vima inquired sounding intrigued instead of doubtful which again shocked the room.
"Yes Master Sunrider, Revan has just explained to us the truth behind everything that has happened since the Mandalorian war" Bastila informed her. "We are still trying to absorb all the information he has told us, Malak it seems is but a distraction to the real threat we are facing but Malak and his forces are the more pressing threat at present" she added. "Revan and his people are just not willing to follow what they see as a corrupt Republic and Senate and forgive me for saying a stagnate and blind Jedi Council" she added honestly causing Revan to smile as he imaged what Vima would make of that statement.
Vima was silent for a few minutes as she considered what Bastila had told her, sadly she found she could not even argue Revan's point of view or that of his people and then suddenly frowned at the fact Bastila had seemed to indicate Revan still have people loyal to him. Clearly not all of the fleet who had followed him had been a part of Malak's coup and had clearly broken away from him. Then the question became had Revan been reunited with those loyalists, had the Ebon Hawk been intercepted by them which meant they were no longer on the mission the Council had ordered them on.
"I wish I could argue with you on that point but right now I just can't, the Council is well aware of the corruption in the senate but will not interfere with it and I suppose the Jedi has become stagnate over the years" she finally admitted deciding to think on what Bastila had said later. "Anything else we have to say to one another we can discuss later Revan, get to Nar Shaddaa and find my daughter and bring her home" she ordered before signing of.
Revan instead of frowning at the tone Vima had just used on him smiled as he knew it had come from her concern for Ana instead of trying to assert some kind of control over him, nodding at the Major who had remained quiet throughout the conversation he could not close the channel the man nodded then saluted and left.
"Meetra you will be in command whilst I am rescuing Ana and her team, Canderous I will need your aide as I have no doubt you have contacts on Nar Shaddaa we can use and possibly hire" Revan instructed and was relieved when neither argued. "Jolee, Zayne, Zaalbar you are will us as well, along with HK, T3 and Niks the rest of you will remain here" he added and was not surprised when Bastila, Mission and Juhani began to argue in protest. "Enough, Nar Shaddaa like Tatoonie is one of the seats of power for the Hutts if not one of the biggest, they presence and sense of power is unquestioned and I will not risk any of you falling into their hands and after what happened to you on Tatoonie and what could have happened had we not reached you in time I would think you would understand why I will not take you there" he growled and for a few seconds Bastila felt the same rage he had felt back on Tatoonie when they were taken by the Hutt Braka. "It is not a question of me doubting your skills, it is just not worth the risk to take the entire group and expose Bastila and the other females in the group to the Hutt's perversions" he pointed out.
"Fine I don't really want to end up a slimy Hutt's plaything" Mission said sulkily crossing her arms across her chest in muted protest. "But I really hate been left behind Revan" she growled.
"Then we need to find you something to do, Rikka how about you take Mission on as an aide" Revan shot back with a grin as Mission started at his statement. "Show her the ropes and find some light duties she can take on for you, Mission pay attention to what Rikka will teach you because if you chose to join us then you will need to learn a host of skills" he added before the young Twi'lek could protest.
"Can she teach me to use a lightsaber?" Mission asked suddenly with a wide grin surprising Zaalbar and Carth who looked at the young Twi'lek with shocked looks whilst Jolee and Revan were unable to supress a laugh.
"She could actually train you in it as I trained her but only if you pay attention to her lessons, using a lightsaber is not to be taken lightly" Revan responded taking her request seriously. "It took Rikka almost a year to become proficient in using one, and it was not an easy task as unlike Jedi or Sith she had no force potential to aide in learning and neither do you hence it will be harder if you really want to learn" he warned.
"I do really want to learn Revan, blasters are cool and all but they can be limited if someone gets up close to you" Mission shot back with a serious look. "I think it will be worth it to learn, and if I am to help her in her other duties I might as well get to do something fun whilst I am at it" she added cheekily causing Revan to chuckle a shake his head in amusement.
"Fine, Rikka will train you but you will listen to everything she says and you will heed any warnings she gives" Revan ordered. "If you disobey her or mess around whilst training then I will end the lessons understood?" he warned to which she nodded.
"I understand and I promise I'll take it seriously" Mission promised glancing between Revan and Rikka who looked uncertain of having her as a student and aide but she finally nodded clearly not about to go against Revan's judgement.
"I understand your reasoning Revan even if I still don't like been left behind, however you are correct it is unwise to take us all to Nar Shaddaa of all places" Bastila said onto the silence that fell. "Plus it will give those of us left to consider your words carefully" she added.
"Why am I been left here?" Carth inquired with a glare. "I note you are taking all the males in our team but me" he pointed out.
"No offence Carth but the reason I am leaving you here is because I think you most of all need to think carefully over what you have learned and I do not need you running of to give this information to the Senate or worse the Council" Revan answered hoping he wouldn't take his reasoning badly.
"And why would it be a bad thing to give them this information?" Carth demanded to know.
"Because more than likely they would either ignore it or worse take it seriously and try and parlay with the Sith for peace, should that be done it would be the sign the Emperor needs to realise the time to strike is now. That we are too weak to oppose them" Revan explained. "There can never be peace between the Republic and the Sith Empire and especially not whilst the Jedi live" he added darkly. "You have one serious weakness Carth and that is you let your emotions sometimes get the better of you, I would rather not put you in a position where that flaw could prove fatal to the galaxy" he stated.
Carth frowned and resisted the urge to lash out at Revan for his rather brutal analysis of his character because sadly he had to admit he was right, hell his first reaction to hearing Jaks was actually Revan was to try and blow his brains out with his blaster uncaring it would probably would have sentenced them all to death once they landed on Revan's ship. Could he really say he wouldn't go rushing off to the senate and the Council with what he knew if he had the chance? Would he care that it might make things worse if Revan had not just pointed that out to him? Letting out a sigh he stood up and nodded at Revan, before walking away towards the exit so he could retire to his quarters.
"You're right my emotions right now can't be counted on not to get in the way, so I will stay and think on this some more" he said before leaving fully.
Jarael and Juhani also left although Jarael kissed Zayne before she retired from the room as well, Revan glanced at Bastila who was looking of seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
"Meetra once the fleet arrives at Reekiad take up positions around the planet and then send landing parties down to secure the main complex of caves under the central mountain, we'll set up base there to plot out our next moves" Revan ordered turning to Meetra and Rikka. "Rikka keep an eye on Mission whilst you work with her, she is not used to been away from Zaalbar especially when you begin training her" he added quietly so only they would hear him. "Bastila I want you to work with Meetra, learn about the ins and outs of the fleet, perhaps seeing how my people act will help you make a choice" he added turning to where she stood until she nodded in agreement and then exchanged an unsure look with Meetra herself who was not looking forward to having to work with the woman who shared a force bond with the man she still held deep feelings for.
"Of course General" Rikka nodded in agreement unsure how she really felt about training the younger Twi'Lek, she wasn't certain she had it in her to fully master the art of using a lightsaber but clearly Revan seemed to think she might and she was willing to give it a try.
"Get your gear and assemble at the Ebon Hawk we leave in five minutes, Meetra get Niks to meet us there and have Major Hunt drop us out of hyper speed" Revan continued to give orders.
"Don't take any chances Revan, whoever is in control of that relay station could still be hostile unless they truly are loyalists who for whatever reason did not fall back to the fleet" Meetra warned before leaving to carry out her orders. Inside she tried not to think about the fact once he left she would have to work with Bastila Shan, she didn't know if there was anything romantic between the two but she was hoping it wasn't the case considering her own feelings for Revan.
Revan watched as the group left to get their stuff or just to head for their quarters before turning to glance at the screen which still showed the temple of the Emperor, he knew in time the Sith would come but for now his focus had to be on Malak and his fellow traitors. Turning the screen off he turned and left to get his own gear, he hoped Ana could hold on until he reached her.
+TR+
(Jedi Temple)
Vima stared at the communions system for a few seconds wondering if she had truly done the right thing but in the end she knew she had, her daughter was far more important than following the rules of the Jedi who she knew was blind to most things outside their preview and thanks to the code knew very little about emotions of the heart and motherhood. Getting up she exited the room and indicated Jade could return which she did, she thanked the younger girl and told her to keep this between them to which Jade nodded in agreement before re-entering the room and taking her seat once more. Vima quickly joined Zhar and together they returned to her quarters to talk, she hoped Zhar could help her work through some of what she had learned.
"Did you manage to get Revan's co-operation?" Zhar inquired once they were safely in side her quarters.
"I did and I told him of our regret for what we tried to do to him, in return he indicated that he and his people are not traitors that there was something behind what they have done so greater threat we are unaware of" Vima told him. "Bastila confirmed it, what I am somewhat concerned about is the idea he still has loyal followers that they may have intercepted the Ebon Hawk and that they are no longer on their assigned mission" she explained as she made them both a drink before taking a seat.
Zhar frowned not exactly liking the idea of Revan still having followers willing to aide him, traitors or not it made him more of a danger should he decide to attack the Republic again. "What is this enemy he mentioned and why attack us in the first place if they are not traitors?" he asked before downing some of his drink.
"They didn't say and he didn't exactly explain why they attacked but still he agreed to help save Ana and her team and the fact Bastila is alive and free speaks volumes, hopefully once he saves her and brings her home we can discuss this issue in depth" Vima answered with a sigh. "Bastila said they have issues with following a Senate that is corrupt and a Council that is stagnate and blind and I found I could not argue those facts with them" she explained before taking a deep gulp of her own drink.
"The senate is corrupt and the Council has known it for years Vima" Zhar admitted with a frown.
"I know I admitted that fact Zhar, but clearly one thing is clear more is going on here than we or the Council know" Vima told him downing the rest of her drink and rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Something set Revan and his people off, something drove them to attack the Republic and in their eyes if what I heard right they did not see it as treason" she told him.
"So now we must wait and prey to the force that Revan and his team can reach Ana before anything happens to them" Zhar said with a sigh and then finished his own drink. "Do you really think he may still have loyalists out there?" he inquired.
"I think he does yes, you remember how charismatic a speaker he was Zhar" Vima responded. "He talked his entire fleet into following him into the outer regions and then to come back and attack the very thing they swore to defend no matter what reason they had for that" she pointed out. "We never took into account that not all of his people may have joined Malak in his coup, that maybe some of them went into hiding and waited for a time to strike back" she pointed out.
Zhar realised she was correct the Council had just assumed that all of Revan's people had turned with Malak when he had tried to kill Revan, they had never not once taken into account some may have stayed loyal to their General.
"What do you plan to tell the Council?" he inquired.
"Nothing Zhar, they made their choice when they all but condemned her to death along with her team when they refused to send anyone to rescue them and I have made mine in what I am prepared to do to save her" Vima swore before standing up and heading to her bedroom and Zhar realised his friend was tired and thus stood himself and headed for the door.
"I pray to the force we will not regret this move Vima" he whispered as he left.
"We won't, I can feel it" Vima shot back even as the door closed behind him.
+TR+
(Space)
The Revenge dropped out of hyper speed into the space between two planetary systems, once it settled its hangar doors opened and the Ebon Hawk shot out into deep space and quickly accelerated away at top speed before jumping into hyper speed. Once the Revenge was certain the ship was away it powered up and jumped once more into hyper speed to meet up with the rest of the fleet at Reekiad.