I sense the Blood King will make his first introduction. Good Chapter.

You'll be surprised. I am slow posting the individual chapters but I did finish Book 2 and I am beginning on Book 3. To be honest I am cruel about introductions especially my baddie but this was how I Rp'd it to myself when first conceived of the story just after TSL came out. I hope you like it when I stop being lazy about posting. :D

Chapter 19: Journals of the Front
Some more journal entries. Boy, looking back I feel bad I made people feel this way about my actions. I guess that’s why I tell this story.

-Carth-

Jacen is an enigma and is in some ways more like Revan. He feels that he has to shoulder everything himself and take every burden that comes our way. I don’t deny that he is a good tactician even though he claims that there are others that are better. Jolee mentioned this when we met up at Tatooine. In fact he told me what he saw before even talking to Jacen completely and after their talk that night in the mess. I can’t imagine someone living their whole life being hated for being someone from a different place. Jolee mentioned that he would probably get over it when he stopped running. I never knew he was running from something by the way that he gave the impression that he was in control. So much like my Revan yet lately he had been showing less and less. Last night I walked into what apparently a midnight conversation between him and Jolee. I guess it was too much for he was out of the mess quicker than when Revan hid from me aboard the Ebon Hawk after our fight over her being Revan. Jolee told me everything about his dreams and made me wonder if he and Revan were from the same place as far as memories and dreams go.

At least he has a sense of humor. He would crack an occasional joke that would make Mission laugh. He had good sense when it came to kids, well young people in general. Mission wouldn’t have liked it if I kept calling her a kid. He is also good at diplomacy. When the Exile’s crew showed up on the Ebon Hawk, it was a tense moment, at least with the pilot, Atton Rand. I don’t understand how a drunk like him could be so tactless. Jacen played the diplomat in trying to make sure that no punches were thrown. For once I was actually amused by HK-47. I tried to hold it in when he called Jacen a ‘Handsome Meatbag,’ a compliment in my vocabulary when he usually insulted people, but I couldn’t resist the chuckle nor the laughter when he blushed. He’s a good kid and I hope things go well for him.

*************************************************

I was in the debriefing room when Jacen came in looking like he had been through hell’s kitchen and back. He laid down a plan that I would have outright rejected. Mostly it was because I was afraid of losing my chance at getting to Revan. I had heard of Avalon and that few people could find it on their own, some protection by the Force thing even Jolee had trouble understanding it. It wouldn’t surprise me considering that there are numerous Jedi-like people within the system. I can’t lose Revan and I wasn’t about to lose the one chance to find her.

Jacen must have sensed my apprehension for he explained it better. It involved him hooking up with Canderous, now Mandalore and his group of Mandalorians. I wasn’t anxious to be working with Canderous again since we had never seen eye to eye and he always managed the most perverse comments about me and Revan. I do admit that he is a good warrior and he is loyal if he respects you in battle. Jacen also mentioned that the operation would be successful because the same evil that controlled the Rashikians once drove the heart of the Mandalorian wars. Jacen volunteered to lead the group by his own insistence that he knew the tendencies of the enemy, as he put it. I agreed to his conditions but laid down my own that his squad was to be involved. I wanted to be kept in the loop. He readily agreed which was surprising but I guess I should be used to the ways of the Jedi but then again he is no ordinary Jedi.

I only hope that Jacen knows what he is doing. I can’t lose him, especially if he knows where Revan is. Somehow I can’t help but worry, even with Jolee’s assurances that everything will be alright. Jacen has courage and strength but I feel that something may be holding him back. He may show this new confidence but I feel that there may be something bigger behind his mask. It almost seems as if he knows something that he is not willing to share with anyone.

**************************************************

Two standard days after Jacen left and have heard no word. I wonder if he made contact with Canderous. I worry and I hope. I find often that my thoughts drift to the moment when I may see Revan again. Jacen described how she looked and it seems that she had barely changed except for maybe the length of her hair, which is longer. Huh, I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder. Four years and I still love her and from what Jacen told me, she still loves me. He described it as a massive headache to hear. I guess he means that he was tired of hearing it. He’s a strange chap and yet you can’t help but like him.

Right now we are mobilizing and heading towards Duxn as planned. I hate being kept out of the loop but I guess Jacen will inform me when the time is right. I don’t pretend to understand the Jedi even though Revan is one. The Jedi do their own thing and decide when they want to tell anyone anything and it is really annoying. I guess I shouldn’t be hard on him. He is trying to help the Republic and in the only way he knew how.



-Jolee-

The young whippersnapper surprises me at every turn. At least he’s not a mouthy little thing. He’s too damn quiet. That talking to I gave him this morning seemed to really turn him around though I am not entirely certain that it was me that helped. At one point he stared into space and I could have sworn that a breeze flew through the ship. He then turned tail and left. Later, after speaking to Carth, he came out and started heading to the hangar bay. I was pacing in the hall when he came out. Jacen was in a hurry but he stopped to talk to me.

He told me what was going to happen and I suspected that his plan was something that Carth wouldn’t readily agree to without serious reasoning. I admit I thought he was a fine lad myself and was worried about losing him. He explained that I was…bah I shouldn’t be writing this. Who knows who may come across this. He did say that everyone else has their orders and that everything would come together when the time is right.


A strange thing happened. That furry hairball that helped when we were after the Star Forge showed up. What’s his name? Chun…nah oh it was Zaalbar. Mission threw a happy dance to see him again. I was surprised that the Wookiee came here. He said that he had come because someone sent a transmission saying that he was needed. No one really said anything but I suspected that Jacen had been doing a lot that we didn’t know. How he did it, if he did it, is a mystery.

I talked to Zaalbar and he admitted in not too few words that it was not a transmission but it was like a calling. It reminded him of his life debt to Revan and thought that maybe it was Revan calling to him. I didn’t say my thoughts about it to Zaalbar but welcomed him there as well as Carth and everyone else who knew him. Strange turn of events but I think it was the boy. He has tremendous talent and yet hides it to a surprising degree. I was most interested when I heard that Revan’s regrets were like a massive headache. It had me thinking. I tried looking for him in the archives. I only came up with the information that he had been in Republic space for about a year before returning back to his home.

I am having second thoughts about what is going on. Maybe this is something that we can’t handle and yet Jacen seemed to have the confidence that we could push this threat back. Well, I can only hope that he isn’t over his head in this.


-Atton-

No pazaak and no juma. What do ya expect with Republics? Well I guess I better give these datapads to their respective persons. Jacen’s riding a lot on this. Still think he’s really crazy but I admit he’s pretty good to have in a fight after seeing what he can do in a fighter and how he took down those Dark Jedi or whatever they were. Definitely crazy and definitely really brave.


-Revan-

Three more months and twice as many battles. I relayed my suspicions to the Council and they agreed. We currently hold the line on Avalon and her sister planets. We have had reports of a massive fleet massing near the Rakata world and a cluster of space known to the Avalonians as the Forbidden Stars. We are massing all the fleets into one but if the numbers are correct, we are greatly outnumbered. Darius and I have been working on a plan for best defense. If we were in the Outer Rim, those strongholds that I had left in place during the Mandalorian wars would have been helpful. Seeing as there is great risk to even the smallest of ships to get out of the system, most trade has been shut off. There are rumors that there is a hyperspace route called The Back Door. Very original but it makes sense. Few know the route. We are working on a way to run in supplies that way from neighboring systems.

Michaela is doing fine. She was stubborn and didn’t leave when we moved the refugee tribes to one of the moons of Belos. She insisted on staying and it made me wonder if it was her or someone else talking. I admit my heart is tender towards her and I am slightly jealous or her. Carth and I have talked a few times about our future but I always evaded the issue. I fear that what I did may have turned him away. I love him but I understand if he found someone else; I just want him to be happy.


-Darius-

Another day and another battle and I am weary of it all. I regretted my decision to go to war when the Mandalorians attacked and I regret coming out here now. I understand why I had to come but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it. Each day reminds me more and more of the battles I have fought, even the ones that threatened my life. I still blame myself for the master’s demise at the hands of Kreia. I wonder why I couldn’t see her what she was. Makes me doubt myself.

The death that I have encountered makes the void feel wider and at times unbearable. After every battle you can hear the songs for the dead and it is haunting. That’s what reminds me of the Mandalorian wars. I don’t hear of feel the dying screams of these warriors. They are different. They never cry in death but accept it. I feel the songs. Strange, well everything about this place is strange.

The fronts have been established. Revan insisted on it and insisted that I head the armada. I was willing to follow her before and out of a sense of loyalty I was willing to do it again. So here I am on the bridge of the command ship. We are waiting…

Excellent Journal Enteries from my favourite KOTOR Characters. You've captured their personalities rather well, the best being Atton and Jolee's. The only problem was that Atton's was too short and everyone else's was long. I think Atton's should have been longer. Good Chapter as always.

Well, it was hard to figure out what else to say and he didn't really like JC in the first place. Thinks he's mental. :D Glad you liked it.

Chapter 20: Duxn and Mandalorians
Golly! How hard is it to gain respect or even notice around here! Here I am stuck in the abysmal jungle trying to convince Mandalore to believe me or even see me. Apparently he has had enough of betrayals to write a book about it. I have been here for two weeks trying to gain rapport with the Mandalorians here. I did succeed to some degree with the young ones and a few of the elder warriors. It was so frustrating! At least T3 wasn’t here to listen to me. I had left him on the Sojourn with Carth. It was for the best.

I was doing my usual pacing and exploring throughout the compound, Kapu chasing whatever caught his fancy, when I saw Mandalore starting to head for the hangar bays. I followed him all the way ignoring the dueling circles and some stares I had gotten as I walked by. Mandalore was obviously planning a trip or something, possibly to Iziz. I followed him until he got to one side of the ship before I said, “You know, if you would at least to me, I would be able to tell you why I am here.”

If I could have seen under Mandalore’s mask, I would have probably seen the look of frustration and annoyance. I didn’t have to considering he was broadcasting it loud and clear. He turned to look at me and asked, “What do you want?”

It was a start and it was better than nothing. I began by introducing myself. He made a snort that I took to mean that he didn’t care. I decided to come out right to the point and said, “I am here to ask for your help in meeting a threat. An old friend, Carth Onasi sent me.”

“So Republic sent someone out looking for me, and a Jedi no less. Maybe I should have you do something to prove that you are not lying to me. Maybe the dueling circle, no too merciful…”

I became aware that something was stirring where I was. I began to draw heavily on the Force to identify it. I began to speak in a voice that was clearly not my own, “Do you wonder where she wanders now? Why she gave you your orders and left you?”

Mandalore stopped. He seemed to peer at me and asked, “What did you say?”

“Show the same loyalty you have shown in the past,” I responded. I then snapped out of it only to be staring directly at a blaster rifle pointed at me.

“Did you know that Jedi witch?” was the question.

I had no clue as to whom he was talking about and I just shook my head to show my confusion. I had no idea why I said what I did but I had a hint that it may have been a powerful Force imprint. I could sense a darkness, the lies, deceit; it was bone chilling. I decided a different approach to get out of this mess. I said, “I don’t know who you are talking about but I do know that the Exile and Revan are alive. I am here because they sent me…”

“You know where Revan is? What does she want me to do?” Mandalore asked.

It was an odd question. I cursed myself for not having asked everything of Revan and Darius when I had the chance but it was too late now. I decided to come clean, “She didn’t tell me anything. I came of my own volition to halt the invasion that has already begun here in the Republic. I came here to ask for your help.” I paused slightly and drew on the Force. I knew this could probably get me killed but I said it anyway, “I know you admired her. She is grateful for that, Canderous.”

That did it. Mandalore put his blaster down and questioned me more. I was surprised that he didn’t shoot me. Most people would have shot at me for knowing something that no one should know and I wouldn’t blame them. It got me into trouble as a kid; I shudder at the memory of it. It seemed like hours before Mandalore was done grilling me about everything. I think he was convinced of what I said though I had a nagging suspicion that he wasn’t entirely convinced. I would actually turn out to be right later.


Nighttime on Duxn was not bad except for the occasional creature that would attempt to eat you if you weren’t careful. I was sitting with Mandalore and some of the older warriors around a fire. I was again going over what I was asking them to do. They were all amused by me or they didn’t like me and were doing a pretty good job of hiding it. I had just finished when Mandalore pulled a dirty trick. He said something along the lines that I had to prove my intentions by fighting against the top warriors in the dueling circle. I was flabbergasted and upset but I hid it as well as I could. I glanced at Kapu and he flicked his ears like it was my own fault and had to suffer through it.


I was thoroughly annoyed when I went to my tent near my ship in the compound. I did not ever want to set foot in a dueling circle again ever since Mikkado but I sighed realizing that I had no choice. To be honest, part of me wanted to fight, and it frightened me. I had never experienced that feeling before and I didn’t know what to make of it. I could only hope that it was just a side effect from being around Mandalorians. I went to bed inventing hundreds of names to call Mandalore and most of them in Avalonian. I slept rather well, very well and for the first time in months.

The next morning I awoke early and I was standing facing the east with my eyes closed and my hands behind my back. I was breathing in deeply and allowing the Force to wash over me. It was actually quite refreshing to hear the smallest of life making its own distinct noise as it went about its business. Mandalore caught me doing this but I had him in my sights long before that so I kept him waiting. It was the least I could do considering that he had backstabbed me the night before. I wonder if that was how Darius felt when he had to run around the compound doing Force knows what. When I was finished, I kept my eyes closed and asked, “Is it time?”

“Just seeing if you want something to eat. A warrior needs to keep up their strength,” was the reply.

“And a good warrior knows better than to backstab an ally,” I calmly retorted, still not turning around. I was hoping to get out the real reason for this. He took the bait.

“You are not an ally yet. You come here claiming you know Revan and then you say things that no one else knows and you expect me to believe you? Huh, you must not be the smartest Jedi there is.”

“Maybe and maybe not. At least I have shou,” I retorted. The word just popped out of my mouth for some reason. I had used the Avalonian word for honor and respect. I was frustrated and it came out with me using Avalonian. At least Mandalore wasn’t a Jedi. He would have probably shot me for all the vile names that I had been calling him in my mind.

“You speak of honor? What honor do you have if you don’t show it? I have no time or patience for cowardice.”

I was surprised that Mandalore knew the meaning of the word but I did not show it for I was still turned around. I shot back, “The way of the Jedi seems like cowardice to you and yet you respect Revan and the Exile.”

“That was different. They were worthy adversaries in battle. Something you wouldn’t understand, though I admit that for you to survive the jungles of Duxn was attention worthy of yourself.’

“Duxn is nothing, child’s play.” Then I replied more softly but still in the firm tones I had been using, “I understand battle. The thrill, the exhilaration and the death; I know it well. It’s not easy trying to defend against a band of cutthroats intent on laying siege to an entire city.”

“So you know battle yet I don’t remember you from the Mandalorian wars nor the war with Malak.”

“Too young and on Mikkado,” I replied.

“Huh?”

“Mikkado, the third planet in the Avalonian system. Twelve parsecs from Rakata Prime.”

I think Mandalore’s jaw may have dropped but who can tell with a helmet on. I was still facing the east and had my eyes closed. Mandalore replied, “Maybe I misjudged you. I haven’t met very many of your kind that have dared to venture from their home. One I met was rather quiet but in a fight, he was fierce.”

“Tergis,” I said. I remember Tergis telling of his scrapes with Mandalorians before the Mandalorian wars and the early part before he came for me. I remember observing him when he sparred. You would never guess how skilled he was with the blade just by watching him tend to his gardens.

“That’s right. You know him?”

“He was my master.”

“Huh. Who knew?” I thought I heard Mandalore clear his throat before continuing, “Still you have to make a reputation here. Time to go to the dueling circle.”

I didn’t move but I did make a smirk on my face. I opened my eyes and gazed out towards the east. I didn’t respond or make a move. Some things I guess are true and others aren’t, one being that Tergis was right in Mandalorians being brutes. I was actually dead set on making Mandalore angry. I just had a sudden desire to do so and I derived pleasure from making him mad which I was succeeding at by not moving. When I was certain that he was angry enough, I said, “Why should I?”

It was a rhetorical and stupid question, but that did it. Mandalore exploded at me and I turned around to face him with a rather expectant look on my face. Mandalore almost shouted, “Have you no respect? I am Mandalore!”

Coolly I replied, “And I am a Jedi. That doesn’t mean you have earned respect from me. It is clear that I have not from you. Perhaps I’ll leave and seek aid elsewhere.” Then I shrugged my shoulder as if it didn’t matter and said, “Eh, at least I tried.” I made a move to pick up my stuff and put it back in the hold.

I was just bending over to pick up my sleeping blanket when a vibroblade struck the ground. It was followed by, “You want respect? You have to earn it and we will do it NOW! Pick it up!”

It was more of an order but I was not easily intimidated. I had faced worse during the Belosian sieges. I stood up calmly and just looked at Mandalore with a defiant look that dared him to make me. I placed my hands behind my back at an at ease position, one that I used when I was contemplating my next move. It tended to throw an opponent off edge. In this case, I was intending to show defiance and a plus was that I was getting mad. Something about Mandalore made me feel I had to push his buttons.

I did not have to stand there long for Mandalore gave me a huge shove that sent me to the ground about two feet from the stuck vibroblade. Mandalore had another in his hand and he had it raised to strike at me. I was still looking at him while summoning the stuck blade by the Force. When I felt it in my hand I brought it up to deflect the blow, which I gave a shove of my own to give me space. With an arching of my back, I flipped to get up. I brandished the blade with the deftness and skill that Cronus had taught me before settling on a start position.

“Very impressive. Give it all you got,” Mandalore responded. He then came at me hard.

I responded defensively, laying no attacks of my own. I was trying to get a feel for his style and movement. At this time the Mandalorian named Kex had spotted us fighting. He must have sounded the alert for soon after there were Mandalorians vying for a seat to watch. I was too busy concentrating on Mandalore who was very good at what he did though I think he had a better reputation as a good marksman. That was according to Carth. I defended myself until I saw an opening and I took it. I started attacking.

Mandalore was caught off guard for a moment having gotten used to me defending. We continued to exchange blows narrowly missing each other. At one point he gave me a backhand that spun me around. He grabbed me in a neck hold. I responded by grabbing his arm with my left and with the right I brought it up and hit him square on the head with the butt of the vibroblade. I turned back around and swung the blade. He deflected.

At one point he managed to kick my legs out from beneath me. My muscles had been growing sore from the fighting but I was determined to beat this Mandalorian. My blood was up but I wasn’t going to give up. I was on my back and breathing slightly heavily but controlled. I did a forward flip to get back on my feet and I made a movement to fix in on the three cuts form, a swordsman maneuver of the Bushida warriors. I think Mandalore was getting as tired as I was but equally stubborn. We kept at it much to the jeering and the calm watching of the others. Even Kapu was watching with an amused look on his face.

We had been fighting for quite a time when I began to do a run with him chasing me. I jumped on the side of my ship and flipped over Mandalore’s head and landed as if I were back on Avalon and dancing on the tree branches. I took my opportunity while Mandalore was off guard and knocked his blade out of his hand. He responded by grabbing my arms. With the last bit of strength I could muster I flipped him over hard onto his back. I got on top and held my blade close and just stared, still breathing heavily. It took a moment for me to realize my position and I got up and dropped the blade and stepped back.

It was an awkward silence for the Mandalorians were watching me. I was breathing more easily and just watching Mandalore. For some reason, I was having a sense of dйjа vu of the time when I fought Manda in an attempt to try and get rid of the legend of Kirabaros. The silence was the same and all the faces watching me gave me a familiar sight. I watched as Mandalore got up and dusted himself off. He walked towards me. His intentions and emotions were hard to read and I was wondering on whether or not if I should bolt.

My fears were unfounded as Mandalore placed a hand on my shoulder. Taking a breath he said, “You fight better than Tergis ever did. A worthy opponent. A shame we didn’t meet during the Mandalorian wars. You would have been Mandalore for besting me. You have earned my respect.”

It took a while for it to register through my dull brain. I nodded respectfully. I was still trying to catch my breath to say something. The other Mandalorians murmured in agreement. I still wasn’t sure of what to do. When I could manage to say something I said, “You going to help or not? “

Mandalore replied, “We will help.”

Why did J.C. start saying Kreia's lines? Good Chapter.

Part of his ability. Most Avalonian people are a bit more sensitive to their surroundings. Often they can sense areas that have held significant meaning and sometimes it can be a little much. All part of his grand role near the end of the entire story. Ten more Chapters for Book 2. I have a real nice twist to it. Will post Ch 21 soon.

Chapter 21: Ambush
Rakata Prime. Nice place to visit and a place for a romantic tropical evening. Maybe that’s what Carth thought five years ago. I certainly thought so at the moment as I was hiding out with my squad, and members of the Ebon Hawk in the old settlement of the One that had been broken up by Revan five years ago. We managed to sneak onto the planet to mobilize as part of an ambush to drive back the Rashikians. Mandalore and his clans successfully ‘joined’ with them. How he did it, well all he said to me was, “I took care of it.” At least he believed me when we hooked up with Carth and the fleet.

It had taken us two months to get to Rakata Prime and lay low. Mandalore, called Canderous by Carth, supplied us Intel about mobilization and plans. I asked no questions and I received none and I preferred it that way. To be honest I didn’t want to know and frankly I didn’t care. I was on full alert and everything had me ready to jump into my fighter and take off. My patience held me in check. I think my squad and ‘friends’ noticed the change for they voiced it in subtle ways. HK-47 kept saying that his gears were quivering with anticipation just like mine. He was the most obvious and frankly I found it funny. I had forgotten my previous mental note to ‘fix’ him and left him alone. The only thing I asked was that he not shoot the gizkas.

We were waiting for any word of movement towards the Republic or Avalon. Then per our plans, rather the ones I came up with, we would begin attacking. It was a bold move on my part, as I preferred to get a gist of a person’s intentions by defense. I think Canderous was surprised that I had it in me when I filled him in on the details. I shrugged it off and jus walked away. Most of the time my attention was to the stars at night. Often I could be seen sitting on one of the huge boulders just looking up at the stars. Navel gazing as I called it but it was something I couldn’t shake not even after spending eight months with Republics.

I was doing this when Mission came up and sat by me. After much begging on her part, I agreed to let her be here. I admire her courage in one so small and I often wanted to chuckle at the amusing thought that she could push even Canderous around. We were just sitting there on the boulder side by side looking up when she asked, “What do the stars say tonight?”

My gaze never left the stars but I replied, “The same as always, unusually bright especially the Morning Star cluster. Battle and death, the usual.”

“The same as every night?”

“Yep yet there is a change in brightness. It is almost time.”

“Can you see anything else besides the war?”

This was a usual occurrence between us. Ever since she first saw me gaze at the stars she wanted to know more about it. Looking back, I think she missed the closeness she shared with Revan. Sitting there was a time well spent in between waiting and more waiting. As I was sitting there, I responded, “Just the usual stories and the future.’

“What kind of future?”

“Different from yesterday and the day before that and it’ll change by tomorrow.” I always said that because the future can change with every single action.

Mission just sat there and gazed up with me. She was trying to identify planets from stars. The air felt different that night and it was said so in the stars. We just sat there gazing up at the stars and listened to the waves wash upon the shore. At one point I began to sing gently. I was interrupted by Mission, who asked, “Whatcha singing?”

“Just a song. One about the jasilyn blossom. It was named for the Morning Star and because it was pure white.”

“Can you sing it?”

“Well, it is sung in Avalonian…”

“Can you sing it in Basic?” she interrupted.

“I think I can translate it. Just give me a moment to think.” I was surprised that she wanted to know and it pleased me. I thought about it for a moment while I was watching the stars. Then slowly but surely I began:

Jasilyn, Jasilyn
Every morning you greet me
Pure and white
Shining bright
You bring joy here to greet me
Blossom of love
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Jasilyn, Jasilyn
Bless the morning forever

It was quiet after I let the last note die upon the waves. I had broken my gaze from the stars and was gazing at the ocean. Mission broke the silence by saying, “That is so pretty. I can’t imagine what it would be like in your language.”

“Maybe you will be able to learn it,” I replied and looked at her and smiled.

She returned it and we both continued to look at the sky. Upon looking close at the specific cluster I was looking at, I saw a change. I made a move to pull out my comm just as it beeped. I couldn’t answer it as we were interrupted by blaster fire.

I pushed Mission off the rock and shouted for her to run back to camp and get to the Ebon Hawk. I saw Rashikians trying to make their way to the encampment and I went to head them off. I had traded my double bladed lightsaber for two single blades, which proved to be more efficient for me to keep them back. Atton and Mira had ran to help me and we managed to succeed in holding them off.

After about half an hour of fighting, I made my way to my fighter where T3 was waiting and ready to go. I jumped in and issued command, “Red Group initiate attack pattern delta. Engage.”

The Ebon Hawk was already in the air and heading up to meet the ships with the rest of the fleet. My squad and made a run on the deck to scan for more of the Rashikians. We then made a break for space and were instantly greeted by a fleet of command ships and fighters. I shouted, “Fighters coming in.” Then to no one in particular I said, “This is where the fun begins.”

We immediately engaged in a firefight. I was expecting them to ambush us at one point. My squad was to be bait for the rest of the fleet. Our job was to hold off as much as we can until the main fleet arrived. I directed as well as I can trying to hold the line. My blood was charged with a fire as I flew in and out of the command ships, firing at the fighters. A couple of times I caught glimpses of the Ebon Hawk and I thought to myself that whoever was in the turrets was having fun. They were showing no mercy to the enemy. I was caught up in this when T3 let out of string of beeps.

Out of the corner of my eye, the rest of the Republic fleet came into view and commenced firing. Using the Force I managed to tune into the emotions of the Rashikians. They rang of anger and frustration. I saw more enemy ships appear and start firing. I thought that they were countering our move and had anticipated our attack. Still following the charge in my blood I charged into battle firing and destroying any enemy in my path. I had become aware that I had been changing over the past few months. I was feeling more of the urge to fight but I also found myself detaching myself from everything except during downtime. It was more noticeable when I came home but that was much later.

I was leading a charge at the main ship when the fighters began to reverse course and call retreat. They were heading back towards Avalon but in full force. We had managed to drive them off but we had to chase them. I called for my squad to follow. We entered hyperspace followed by the Ebon Hawk. We were heading home.

Good Chapter JM12. If this Book will be about 30 Chapters, then this will be about 22 Chapters longer than Book 1. Any ideas what Book 3 is called and will it be the last one?

I decline to comment on Book 3 but I will say that it will be the last one for this. I have minifics in mind for various plots that were never fully explained because it was from a first person view. Just wait and see.

I decline to comment on Book 3 but I will say that it will be the last one for this. I have minifics in mind for various plots that were never fully explained because it was from a first person view. Just wait and see.

I quote the Kinks here.

So tired. Tired of waiting. Tired of waiting for you...

:lol: I'll be patient.

I have something for you to think about. As you know I like to write diddies for KOTOR and Star Wars in general. The words of the song in this last chapter are written to a song. I'll give 200 cool points to the person who can guess what song they are written to. The only hint that I will give is that it is from a musical and you have to be able to sing do-re-mi.
Other than that, I'll post the next chapter soon.

I _finally_ got caught up on some of my work after vacation so I could get to do some fun reading....

Edelweiss. :D I read through about 5 or 6 lines of the Jasilyn song when the tune popped into my head.

Loved chapter 20--you got Canderous and the Mandalorians down perfect. The fight with him was very cool.

Jae, You get 200 cool points for the correct tune. When I was writing that chapter and Rping in my head the story that tune popped up. I figured why not use it? I couldn't use Edelweiss because it was too Indo-European and not original. Hence I created the jasilyn, another made up word but it fit with the kind of people that I am writing about. I have an idea of what it looks like but I can tell you right now, Jacen will not describe them. What can you expect from a guy?

Thanks for the comment about the Mandalorians. I knew I had to think agressive. That fight scene I wrote I actually got the idea from watching the Mummy Returns. That was an awesome scene and the flips and showing off seemed to fit.
Stay tuned another chapter will be posted soon.

Chapter 22: Diaries of the Jedi Part III
These were entries I found that occurred during the battle and the moments leading up to Red Squadron’s appearance into Avalonian space.

-Revan-

We have engaged the Rashikians at the plains of Jasilyn with the fleet above us. The field is covered with thousands of Rashikians that it looks like a darkened sea of death. Darius and I are on draigons on the northern hill watching and waiting for attack. This is nothing like the Mandalorian wars. Both sides engaged with the blade and few use blasters of any kind. If anything they are bound by this sense of honor in battle. It makes me wonder if they took a leaf out of the Mandalorians’ book.

The troops have been gathering and the medicine healers are on standby at the medevac camp. Petronius said that this may be the day of reckoning; that this may be the day that our enemy may finally be revealed. I’m not so sure but I sense that something is coming and many of the Bushida Jedi sense it as well. At least they are holding together in spite of the losses we took in the last battle.

That battle, Tulre died. I admit that it created a void in my heart for he was the one who helped me to better understand the Avalonian people better. At least he will live on in memory thanks to Michaela. I think Jacen will be pleased when he gets back. Eight months and we have seen many changes and not all of them good. Now we make ready for the fight. Off in the distance I can see Sigara’s old fortress. He was driven out when he resisted. He was lucky that he didn’t get so much as a scratch. I could tell from the way Naomi fussed over him that she cared for him and he did to by the way he would smile at her. Another thing to remind me of Carth and myself. I see a lot of reminders as I call forth the troops and sometimes it depresses me.

There is the blast to the east. The enemy is here. Now we fight…


-Darius-

War. A dismal time and a time that causes many regrets. Over and over I am reminded of the decisions I made to join the Mandalorian wars. At least I don’t feel the void anymore. It has become a dulled sensation because so many have died and the screams are never heard for there are none.

Revan has a determined look about her face. The same one I saw her with when she would lead her troops to battle. Heh, Tulre was right. You never do lose what you have learned. Revan assumed her mantle with courage and I was reminded again why I followed her willingly the first time. I also remember that Malak followed her like a lost kith pup. She took pity on him and so did the other students. Who knew that he would become a Sith Lord?

I find myself often looking at the sky as if expecting any moment that Jacen would come barreling out of the sky or something. I think back to when Kreia told me that Revan would need warriors. I wonder if she knew that the warriors were the ones that were our allies but I remember she said that they would be Sith and Jedi. It doesn’t seem possible but maybe the Rashikians are the Sith that are supposed to fight but they are fighting against us. Nah, always in motion the future is.

There is the sound. Again we go into battle and again we cause death and destruction…


-Michaela-

I am taking a risk but I must fight because everything depends on it. Nayana, Naomi and I have gathered what Handmaidens we could and have made our way to the plains of Jasilyn, the field of the Morning Star. A shame that blood has to defile such a pure and white place. I remember Mikkado more often now especially that night in the township. In war, the innocent die along with the guilty parties. Strange thoughts to be thinking but this shows weakness. We must not show weakness!

We are hiding in the thickets bordering the plains. The Rashikians make a seemingly endless blackened sea of hate. The stench of death hangs on them like the armor that they wear and their blades gleam in the morning sun. We are joined by a small band of Haida women from Belos. The rest are amongst the troops. I can see them from here. They look magnificient. Every muscle is finely toned and poised like a straif cat ready to strike.

I hope Jacen is alright. I haven’t been able to sense anything distressing through our special bond but I have my concerns. He has always been running from his past, hiding from who he is, a warrior under the mantle of the Jedi. Still he will find his way even if he tries everything he can to hold it at bay. He has so much to look forward to when he comes back.

There’s a sound coming from our side of the field. I can hear it rising distinctly as the morning sun starts to climb. It is the jasilyn song. I could hear the murmuring calm of all the warriors singing it. Of all the times I have heard it sung, this is the most moving. It is like saying a farewell to the purity of the field. Nayana and the others wanted to sing with them but it would give away our position if we made a sound. Instead, we each sang it silently to ourselves. It was like a revitalization of our spirits.

From the enemy side of the field, the Rashikians broke out in their signature war cry and began to charge. Our side responded and charged as well. Some were on draigons but most were on foot. At the front I saw Revan lead the charge with her yellow lightsaber gleaming in the sun. She was followed close behind by Darius who brandished his silver lightsaber with equal strength. Now all we have to do is wait. Wait until the word is given.


-Revan-

The cry sounded and the charge sounded. I turned my draigon towards the center and charged. We clashed like two opposing waves in an ocean. The fighting was fierce and there was blood in the air. I led a small squad through that sea of death to try and take Sigara’s fortress. If we could get there, we could push them back.

I lost track of Darius after the initial clash and at one point we got separated but we continued on. As much as I didn’t want to be the Revan that I was, I found myself settling into a battle readiness that was disturbingly familiar. I brushed the feelings aside as I fought on, clashing and killing Rashikians that were in my way.

We made it to Sigara’s fortress but were in for a surprise. Behind the hill there were reinforcements and more firepower than we had. Apparently whoever was pulling the strings of these creatures was really disregarding the code of honor that is inherent by these peoples. At one point, a blaster shot from a cannon hit the dirt in front of my draigon that sent me flying. I fell hard next to a downed speeder and sought refuge to try and collect my thoughts and give some aid. It was at that moment a new wave of Rashikians started charging. It was then I heard a high pitched call and hundreds of Handmaidens came out of nowhere and started charging. For a moment the Rashikians froze as if they didn’t know how to face the oncoming wave of fearless women who were said to be better than the men and something to be feared.

A new barrage of blaster fire started to rain down on them. At one point I thought I caught a glimpse of Michaela. Blast the woman! But I can’t blame her. I would do the same for my future, if I still have one with Carth. The barrage was coming down harder. I looked up in time to catch a Rashikian coming at me with a blade that was raked. I managed to dodge it but I wasn’t quick enough. The tip caught my right side causing intense pain. Now I know how Jacen felt that night when we were trying to get to the Academy.

After disposing of the Rashikian, I quickly used Force Heal to press on. The fire was getting more intense but it wasn’t directed at us. It was directed up…


-Darius-

Revan and I got separated after the initial clash. Still I had my orders, to press forward and hold the line. That seemed to be the hidden drive for Revan. I had no idea that Jacen whispered that to her the night he left. I hope he changed for the better.

I didn’t miss the call that gave rise to the hidden Handmaidens. It was a good element of surprise. Even that didn’t stop the Rashikians for they just kept coming harder and faster. At one point the barrage fire directed the cannons not towards us but to the sky. I took a moment to look up and through the atmosphere shot a single fighter. Then behind it came more. The lead fighter began to fire. I could sense that it was Jacen but a different Jacen and yet it was a familiar presence. It was like being back in the Mandalorian wars and again on the Ravager. I could also sense something else. He was not alone.

Good Diary Enteries. Again Revan and the Exile's personalities suit them.

Chapter 23: Holding the Line and Surprises
We came out of hyperspace just after the retreating enemy. We followed them down to the surface of Avalon, with my fighter in the lead. From the looks of things, the retreating enemy had take refuge with the rest of the their reinforcements behind the knoll that was behind Sigara’s fortress. Close behind us was our reinforcements, the Republic. I entered the atmosphere and brought my fighter down to the deck and commenced firing. Red Squadron followed suit and we took out the cannon fire as best as we could. It increased our odds.

Skimming the surface, I caught a glimpse of Revan who flagged me down. I brought my ship low and opened the cockpit. I shouted out, “How are we doing?”

“Holding the line,” she replied with a smile.

I noticed that her lightsaber was damaged and I tossed her one of mine. She took it without question. The look was enough to tell me that she was glad that I was back. I also caught a whiff of something that was hidden, secretive. I didn’t have long to wonder about it for my comm beeped to tell me that they needed reinforcements near the south end of the field. I quickly popped the hatch and let an energetic Kapu out. He quickly ran up to Revan and T3 and I took off.

Along the way while trying to clear a path, T3 beeped. Some of it wasn’t approval or helpful hints. I responded, “What do mean that wasn’t nice?”

T3 beeped. I replied, “And what would she have done had I told her? She’ll find out soon enough T3. We have a job to do now.”

T3 agreed. He was upset that I didn’t say anything o Revan about Carth being there. We were in the middle of a battle and we had a job to do. Plus I found it to be a bit romantic if they met under slightly better circumstances.

Brushing that brief stint aside, I focused my attention on the line and holding it. I noticed that the main thing that seemed to be standing in the way of forcing the Rashikians to retreat was the huge cannon on the knoll itself. The armor was too strong for blasters and to use one of the turrets from a Republic capitol ship would be stupid. Besides laying a huge crater in the middle of the plains, it would kill a lot of our people. There had to be another way. I was listening to reports of the space battle ahead. It sounded like things were going well and the ships were retreating to Belos where they had taken over, for now.

All of a sudden my fighter got hit by something and my controls became disabled. I called to my wingman, “Foley, I’ve been hit,” as my ship began a long descent to the ground. I braced for impact and T3 was screaming out his fear. It’s a wonder he didn’t blow his voice box. The fighter hit a small hill and bounced off then we hit into something hard.

I had hit my head on the control panel and blood was coming from a small gash near my hairline. I ignored it and checked where I was. I was crashed near the huge cannon where I could see about a hundred thousand Rashikians priming up. I opened the cockpit by pushing it open. T3 let out a deflated warble. I turned and saw that he was not in a good condition. I popped the release mechanism and struggled to pull him out.

After finally managing to get him out, I pulled him behind some boulders and went back to my fighter to retrieve my survival pack that I had found during my stay on Duxn. In it were a couple of surprises waiting for that huge cannon and the Rashikians, a stealth generator and a spare comlink. I made my way back to T3 and gave him a repair kit for him to repair himself enough to be able to follow. I made a quick inventory of my pack and found what I needed, a special thermal detonator. Thank the Force for Mira teaching me how to work with explosives.

I slung the pack over my shoulder and made my way as close as I can to the cannon and away from the fighter. T3 followed behind not beeping. I guess he knew the seriousness of the situation and followed my lead. I motioned for him to stay put and activated the stealth field. I approached as carefully as I could past the Rashikians. It was slow work but worth the effort. I managed to make it to the power supply panel without fuss and proceeded to carefully slice into the power system and set up the detonator. I had just finished when I was pushed hard by someone or rather by a Force push. I deactivated my stealth generator and turned to face who it was who shoved me.

Eуmeros looked at me with a darkened grin that was sadistic. In his right he had the unmistakable hilt of a lightsaber. He activated it and it glowed a deep crimson red. I had a sudden wave come over me and I closed my eyes briefly and opened them. We were standing in the middle of a dueling circle but it was just us two. I stood up slowly to look at him. The vision faded and we were back on the battlefield. He continued to smile at me and he said in an inquisitive tone, “Hello Kirabaros.” The rest of the Rashikians didn’t move. They were attentive to the battle and not the two of us.

I replied slowly, “Hello Eуmeros.”

“Aren’t you slow on the upkeep. It’s Lorien now. You didn’t think I’d let you get the upper hand so easily. I admit though your tactics caught us off guard with your profound change in personality. Besides I had to see for myself the great Kirabaros and see if he really is worthy of his name.”

“It is just a name,” I began but I guess I wasn’t convinced, “I…”

“Oh please. You who can call thousands to battle with more fervor than the Exile and Revan combined. You who can lead men of all races towards a single goal. Surely you aren’t going to feed that poodoo you have spat at everyone else.”

“True courage comes from those that follow the advice of the one that gives it.”

“Don’t spew your Jedi ramblings and Tergis lessons at me. I have seen a new light. One of power and strength. Something I had dreamed of long before I was named heir apparent. Eуmeros is dead my friend. Lorien is born and I have a master. One powerful and an old friend of yours,” and he made a quick slash with his lightsaber at me.

He missed chopping my head off but he did manage to open the scar on my left eye. The heat burned as I cried out. He laughed at me as I clutched where he got me. He was still laughing when he said, “I thought you were stronger than this,” and he moved to the right, “Come on. Let us end this in a traditional battle of the Sith even though we were not master and apprentice.”

I slowly got back to my feet. My left brow was still burning and my head gash was aching and bleeding. I managed to pull my saber off my belt and activated it. The brilliant bronzium blade contrasted sharply with his. I had to fight him off in order to activate the detonator. I flourished my blade and started in the Shi-Cho form, the simplest. Lorien came at me waving his blade.

Fighting Lorien was detrimental to my strength as I was losing blood from the gash on my head and the pain was intense on my face. Still I found it in me to keep up the defense. Eventually I switched to the Makashi form and took the attack to him. At one point I again experienced dйjа vu where we locked blades and our faces were about inches apart. He grinned at me and said, “Use your hate. You know you want to unless you are a coward.”

That made me angry but I didn’t let it fuel me. He gave me a shove like the one the Rashikian gave me on NarShadaa but instead of me falling, I back stepped and with a deft twist of my lightsaber, I cut off the hand holding the lightsaber and gave a Force Wave that sent him flying into a busted speeder. I then turned and activated the detonator and then yelled into the comlink to T3 to get a move on it. I then took off running. I knew this wasn’t over between Lorien and I but for now, it was done.

I was running towards our side trying to shout at the line to stay there. Behind me were a few straggling Rashikians trying to catch me. T3 was rolling as fast as he could. We were almost to the safe zone when the cannon exploded taking the Rashikian reinforcements with them. The remaining ones sounded retreat and fell back. I stood watching them go after I picked myself up from where the blast had carried me. I heard Carth on my comm that the enemy fleet was retreating as well. I responded with, “We held the line. Well done. I suggest you come in for a landing Admiral.”

Gazing at the retreating figures, I used my senses to search out Lorien. I was able to get a faint sign and a single emotion but that was all. He was still alive after all that. He was alive and out for revenge now. He would go back to his master. His master. That had me thinking. He said that it was an old friend of mine. I was taught better than to put stock in the half truths that people who fell to the darkside spewed out. I couldn’t help it though. The only feeling I got from my dreams when I saw the faceless man beside him was the extreme fear and shame that I had felt during my time at boarding school. Something wasn’t right and I knew it. This battle was only the beginning of a long campaign against an enemy that may be nothing more than a memory.

I sighed briefly and scanned the cheering faces. I saw Revan amongst them and then spotted Darius. They made their way towards me smiling. Revan gave me a hug to show her happiness that I had returned. I responded with a polite peck on the cheek. I then turned to Darius and we shook hands. He said, “So I guess this means the tide may turn?”

I responded, “For now. Always in motion the future is.”

They both grinned slightly at me for reminding them a lesson of the Jedi. T3 beeped and Kapu gave a slight woof. We were safe for a moment as we stood there on the battlefield strewn with corpses and bloody jasilyn blossoms. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one jasilyn blossom that was still pure and white. I went over to pluck it from the ground. I gazed at the delicate white petals as I held it gently in my hand. Thoughtfully I took off towards the medical tents with Revan and Darius following me close behind with T3 and Kapu. If it looked strange that I was gazing off into space, they didn’t say anything. Who would?

Good Chapter. J.C. sounded like Yoda near the end of the Chapter.

Chapter 24: Reunions
My home had been rebuilt after the Takashi Forest had been cleared and I found out that Michaela had been busy moving our things back in while in between helping the wounded and fighting. I felt the familiar feeling of home when I approached with T3 and Kapu in tow. Revan and Darius were coming to celebrate but I could sense they were there for something else. There was a tension about that had me suspicious but my desire to see Michaela threw that out the window.

I approached the staircase leading to the stoep when Michaela opened the door and came out. She stopped and looked at me with a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She was beautiful. Her hair had grown longer and I noticed that she had added highlights, the traditional mark of a handmaiden or a female warrior. Revan had done the same thing with her hair and I noticed this when we were being treated by the healers for our injuries. Michaela had her hair down and was smiling at me. She said, “I see you decided to become more manly. I thought I told you not to get any more scars.”

I smiled in reply and said, “And I see that you have become a warrior woman.”

She responded, “Shut up and kiss me you fool,” and she pulled me into an embrace.

I responded by kissing her deeply and hugging her tightly and telling her that I had missed her. She was hanging on my neck and kissing my back. It seemed like eternity that we were standing there when she broke the embrace and said, “I guess you want to see what I have done with the place.”

I followed her inside and glanced about our home. It had changed and there was a change in the air too. I was so busy scanning the room that I didn’t see Michaela walk into our room and come back carrying a small bundle. I was looking at the ceiling and reaching out with my senses when she said in a teasing voice, “You may be a Jedi but you sure are clueless to things around you.”

I turned to see her holding a tiny infant wrapped in a soft blanket. She came towards me smiling and placed the bundle in my arms. As she did she said softly, “This is Tulre, your son.”

For that moment, it seemed as if time had stopped. I was literally rendered speechless. I had known that before I had left that Michaela had been slightly emotional but she had kept it hidden so well and I had been too busy bothering with my nightmares to notice. I felt ashamed and yet she was so patient with me. I didn’t deserve her but I loved her deeply. I found it hard to say anything. I did manage to find my voice when Revan said, “For someone trained in diplomacy, he sure is quiet. I thought guys like you loved to talk.”

I grinned and asked, “You two knew didn’t you?”

“Of course,” Darius responded, “Michaela told us after you left to play hero in the Outer Rim.”

I turned my gaze down to the little boy in my arms. He seemed to know that I was his father by the way that he stared at me and smiled occasionally. I could feel my love for him pour into him. This would later create a special bond between us as he grew up. I turned to Michaela with a question on my tongue. She answered, “He’s a month old.” She then continued, “I named him Tulre for your friend at the Academy.”

I was well aware of the meaning of namesakes and I couldn’t be more happier that my son was named after a mentor and a friend. I teased Michaela and said, “And he will become a stuffy chronicler or worse. He could be like Master Vrook.”

Revan and Darius groaned and I began to laugh. Little Tulre began to giggle and coo with all the laughter. Michaela joined in as well as Revan and Darius. I admit that it was a pretty good joke that they pulled on me about my son. Little did they know that I had a couple of tricks up my sleeves.

**************************************************

That evening was a feast to celebrate the first true victory of our people. Everyone was invited including our new friends from the Republic. Darius I had a good laugh when I reunited him with Visas the Miraluka. It was nothing like the scene they witnessed me give with my wife Michaela who was now by my side holding my son.

Everyone of the Zherron tribe wanted to see him and hold him especially Nayana and Naomi. Those two fussed over him worse than a pair of grandmothers yet it was a pleasant sight to see. Sigara finally worked up the courage to tell Naomi that he loved her and he popped the question that same night. Both crews of the Ebon Hawk were there, cheering though I did not see Revan anywhere. I think she had decided to just wander next to the Chinooka River and think. I think it was the general good feeling everyone was feeling that made people who were afraid to say things say them and mean them. There was also some sadness as well.

I had worked up the courage to tell Trystan what had happened to his eldest son Eуmeros. Being the brave warrior, he tried to hold it in but he couldn’t hold back the tears. He let them fall down his cheeks and allowed me to pull him into a comforting embrace. He was grateful for it for when he composed himself he said, “Thank you.” He also asked, “There is still a chance that he can return to the light?”

I responded as best that I could, “There is always a chance. He has to take the first step.”

I think Lord Trystan was more comforted by that. I think he had hope that the good character that he son exhibited before becoming Lorien would influence his choice to be redeemed. Redemption is a hard thing to come by but the rewards are great no matter how big or small.

After I had left Lord Trystan with his wife Nayana to discuss the situation, I ran into Carth while carrying my son. I could sense that Carth was anxious to find Revan and I wanted to see what was going to happen. I agreed to help him find her and we took off walking down one of the many paths that ran along the Chinooka. We could hear Zaalbar and Mission talking rather loudly as they hugged everyone they had known but we didn’t let that bother us. Carth was silent for the most part but he took a look at my son and said, “Congratulations.”

I responded by allowing him to hold him. I think it reminded him of how he used to hold his own boy Dustil, whom I met later. Tulre seemed to sense that the man holding him was a friend and he smiled at him and grabbed at his Admiral’s uniform with joy. Carth smiled softly and stopped walking to gaze into his little face. He then handed Tulre back to me and we continued to walk. We passed by many couples that had come to enjoy the moonlight by the Chinooka. I decided to strike up a conversation and asked Carth, “So, what do you plan on saying to her?”

“You don’t beat around the bush do you? Well, I hadn’t really thought about it. I guess I would just come up, call her name and kiss her.”

My scar was more noticeable now as I cocked my brow. I guess I conveyed the expression, ‘You have to be kidding,’ for Carth switched tactics and pulled something out of his pocket. He then said, “I was intending on giving her this.”

It was a perfect silver pendant replica of the Morning Star and it was on an equally stunning silver chain that had an antique look to it. I looked at it and I voiced that it was very nice. I was surprised by it but then again it may be called something different on Telos. I then said, “The Morning Star is said to be the lovers star. Legend says that there were two families who hated each other to such an extreme that a bloody feud resulted. One day however, the son of one family and the daughter of the other met and fell in love. They tried to get their families to stop the fighting but alas they died together during a bloody exchange that claimed both their lives. The families were remorseful and erected a tomb to house them both. In the sky above the tomb a single star formed that was brighter than any of the other stars around. Since then it has appeared in the early morning when it is said that the two lovers cast their spell upon the earth. They watch and guide young lovers towards their destiny.” The longest speech I had ever made in one sitting but I was having too much fun with this. I was enjoying the fact that I was involved with this reunion. Another fact was that I could sense through our bond that Revan was going to need a lot for something great to happen.

Carth listened and said, “That is similar to the story we have on Telos.” He then motioned to the pendant. He then said, “I gave this to my wife Morgana when I told her that I loved her. I bought and gave it to a woman I loved and I was thinking of giving to the woman that I love.”

I asked a stupid question, “How does Revan feel about it?”

“Well, we talked. She said she understood that I would always love Morgana. She also said that she would love me no matter what.”

“Of course she will. The heart is something that even when broken keeps on working. You just have to find a way to repair the pieces that have been broken and take it from there.” I felt kind of silly saying that since I never had heard that from anyone before, or did I? I was starting to sound like a philosopher but I didn’t let that bother me, for now.

We actually came across Revan as she was walking along the footpath towards the bridge. Discarding her Jedi robes, she opted for the Haida woman clothes. Personally I thought it suited her though I think maybe that she was trying to change for reasons other than herself. I nudged Carth in the arm with my free hand and pointed up ahead. I could sense part of him wanted to just run up there and start kissing her but the rational part which is slightly smaller than his paranoia took over and he just stood there and watched her.

The moonlight was reflecting off her highlights creating a sheen that matched that of the river. The weaver birds were softly singing their night songs and the Chinooka ran its gentle course creating a gentle rhythm that added to the majestic beauty of the scene. Her life stone given to her by Lord Trystan gleamed it’s turquoise blue in a mesmerizing way that it reminded me of the colors I tended to see in the mornings. I gave Carth the go-ahead sign and fell back to watch the scene. I was joined by Michaela who said very softly, “There you are. I have been looking all over so as to put this little one down for a nap.” She then noticed Carth slowly approaching Revan who gave no indication that she knew he was there. I helped in that I masked his presence and had been concentrating hard when Michaela came that I barely heard her.

After Carth spoke his entrance line, “You look even more beautiful than when I last saw you Gorgeous,” I spoke my reply, “I decided to take a walk.”

Revan had turned around. The look on her face was priceless as the tears began to form down her face. She said something that I couldn’t hear but that didn’t matter, as the emotions I was getting were enough to tell me that she was surprised and happy. Carth cupped her left cheek and gently used his thumb to wipe away the tears. Michaela was watching too when she responded, “I see and you didn’t invite me to this little scene?” She had said it in her teasing voice so I knew she wasn’t mad.

They were still talking. Carth drew her in close and hugged her in a tight embrace and responded the same way. Tears were still coming down her face and they brimmed on Carth’s face. They were still hugging and talking to each other when I responded, “Well you’re here now and you have a front row seat to one of the greatest reunions of all time.”

“Oh and ours wasn’t that great?” She enjoyed teasing me and it felt good that I could the same without feeling like a cynic or brooding over a nightmare. Right now I just wanted to enjoy the moment.

Carth was using his forefinger and chin to lift Revan’s face so that her honey colored eyes could gaze into his soft brown ones. He said something and kissed her on the lips. Score! Love conquers all again! I had wrapped my right arm around Michaela’s shoulders and held her close and we held Tulre together. We watched the kiss turn into a long one and I said softly, “Ours was great but this is time going backwards to when we first kissed,” and I bent my head and kissed her forehead gently. Tulre had fallen asleep in our arms as we watched.

Carth and Revan kissed once more and hugged each other. It was as if neither of them wanted to let go for fear of losing each other again. I watched as Carth pulled the pendant of the Morning Star out of his pocket. The silver gleamed in the moonlight making it seem as if he were holding the real star in his hand. He unclasped the ends and, while still facing Revan, he fastened it around her neck. He then straightened it on her neck so it hung perfectly in his opinion. She was just gazing still with a gentle smile and the tears again forming in her eyes. She then reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and said loud enough for us to hear, “I love you flyboy,” and she kissed him.

It was a priceless moment. She had been separated for almost five years and now she had been reunited with her love. Tergis was right when he said that love itself can save you. I would later learn that Jolee said the same thing to Revan five years earlier during their mission to find the Star Forge. Michaela and I just stood here watching as two people in love were reunited after five long years. I turned my head up to look at the sky and saw that just above them, the real Morning Star was shining down brighter than ever upon them.

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This one It think was the best one I wrote. I put alot of thought into it. It also helps that I am a sap for romance. If you read the little story J.C tells, it is a very familiar story. 20 cool point for the one who can tell me.

Reunions, I had a Chapter called that in one of my Fics. No matter. Anyway good Chapter. I liked how Michaela used Bastila's line to J.C. Tulre, a good name for a son. Let's hope he becomes a Jedi like J.C.

Can't wait for the next Chapter.

Heh, I _knew_ Michaela was pregnant....
I liked this last chapter.

Chapter 25: Special Days and the Call to Arms
Time does fly by and yet it seems to drag when you are in a state of war. Still these past three months have seen bad days and yet equally good days. Governor Heros was dead. No fault of his own as he was trying to rally troops on Mikkado. So much death just to gain liberty. His eldest was the heir apparent until the next election. Mara, his daughter took her new responsibilities well and struggled to hold the fragile leadership together. I had no fear that her confidence and her strength would see her through.

On a more happier note, there was a special day that occurred. After five years, well Carth and Revan tied the knot. Such a happy occasion and yet very few were invited, for the sake of privacy. A decision that was respected by everyone. Of course their friends from their Star Forge mission were there. Darius and his friends were spending their time elsewhere, a surprise considering that he and Revan served together during the Mandalorian wars. What surprised me the most was that I was asked to stand up with Carth but it was an honor that I took graciously. Old Petronius did the honors by tradition of our people since he considered Revan one of us since Lord Trystan gave her that honor.

The ceremony was under the Judan trees in the orchards near the Chinooka. The blossoms had just started blooming and falling down, creating a pretty picture. I could sense the plethora of emotions, all of happiness and caring coming from everyone. Carth looked rather posh with his Admiral’s uniform all polished and such that I couldn’t resist teasing him saying that Revan would have preferred the orange jacket. The only thing that stood out with him were those two stubborn locks of his. Who am I to talk since I have the same problem. We had become good friends. I think it was because I made the effort to make him understand things that Revan couldn’t voice before. Either that or he felt a sense of gratitude for me bringing him and Revan back together. Revan on the other hand, well she turned heads.

I thought that she would be dressed as a Haida woman as she didn’t have a dress to wear. Later I found out that Michaela had made it for her and she didn’t tell me until I saw the fabric. I swear she was getting as bad as me about hiding things. All she told me was that I wasn’t a woman and didn’t understand. So that became a moot point. Still when I saw Revan standing there, she was a sight. The white silk and lace stood out with the Judan blossoms. Her shoulders were bare except for the silver pendant Carth had out around her neck and her life stone. The sleeves began right at the upper arm where an armband would have been. The skirt was simple and the lace flowed with the breeze. Her hair was done up in a bun which had a delicate wreath of flowers. I had managed to find jasilyn blossoms for her to hold and that completed the pretty picture before me and I was there in brand new robes again from the Academy.

The ceremony went without a hitch unless you count HK’s brief interruption of, “Such human pheromone responses sent electric chills through my processing unit and makes me wish to press a blaster pistol to my behavior core and pull the trigger.”

I had to pinch the bridge of my nose and put my head down to keep from laughing. I noticed that everyone else seemed to do the same thing, with the exception of Michaela, Revan and Carth. I think Revan and Carth were too happy to care much and I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I started chuckling and was followed by Revan, Carth and Michaela. Little Tulre was laughing as well as only babies could do. Other than that, the ceremony itself was memorable. It was after during the dinner that put a dampener on things, at least for me.

I met Dustil and he was polite during the whole ceremony and even smiled. When I saw him, he looked like a much younger version of his father but his eyes. The eyes belonged to his mother. We got to talking when I noticed that he had a dark cloud about him. I asked him why the long face. He responded, “I’d rather that be my mother.”

I looked at him and slightly frowned. I asked, “Why?”

I guess he figured I misunderstood his meaning for he started to explain. Seeing that it would be bad manners to speak of this in front of everyone so I motioned him to follow me. When we were a safe distance away, he continued, “Look, it’s not that I’m not glad that Father is happy. It’s just…well…”

“You feel that she will replace you mother,” and I rubbed his shoulder. I felt compelled to say something else but I didn’t know what. It came to me and I continued, “Revan will never replace her but she cares for you all the same. You know I never knew my mother. There isn’t a day that goes by that I wonder what it would have been like if she had lived. At least you had your mother and now you have someone who cares about what you do now. No one will replace her. She lives in you,” and I walked away. I did not stop to see the look at his face nor did I say anything about that conversation to Revan or Carth. It was one secret that I kept.

**************************************************

I never thought that I would return back to Mikkado after all that had happened the last three months. The reason that we are here at the ruins of the plains is that we had to relocate our base of operations. Also we had learned that while on a mission to Belos, Mara, the Lady Governor of Avalon was captured by Lorien. We were mobilizing to mount a rescue and to face a force that was threatening to conquer Mikkado.

As I stood on the plains of Argon, I surveyed the town nearby. A lot of memories came back, of when I was a boy and first learning of the Force. Also were the memories of the hate towards the tribes and those were harder to push away. I managed to find the dorp that I had lived in and still found everything as I had left it. I even found the fighter I had taken to get here right where I left it. I was running my hand along the weather beaten hull when I was interrupted by a cantankerous old man, “Hmm, not much like the rust bucket I crash-landed on Kashyyyk.”

I turned to face Jolee with a teasing manner, “At least I didn’t crash. I landed.”

That produced a chuckle. I had grown fond of Jolee and could see right past the gruff manner. I knew he would defend Revan and Carth’s relationship if they ever faced the Jedi Council on Coruscant. I also knew that he was a softie as I had seen him once hold Tulre. Of course I never said anything. I was chuckling myself when he said, “Now you need to learn to respect your elders sonny.”

Kidding aside I replied, “So they send the Old Man to fetch me?” We started walking towards the rear where the gardens were.

“Yes, yes Jolee Bindo now the gofer for the Republic. Can’t say that I envy you. I’m an old man as you so eloquently put it.”

“To be honest Jolee, I have my doubts about the plan. Mostly they stem from my dreams.”

“Still the same?”

“Yep and more intense. Often I wake up and I have thrown something or done something in my sleep. I guess that means no more late nights.” That last comment was an attempt at lightening the gravity of the situation. I had the strange feeling that something was going to happen at this mission. I couldn’t deny it and at the moment, I was glad that my wife and son were at home on Avalon. They were safe there.

Jolee saw through my humor and replied, “Then I suggest you be extra careful.”

I nodded but didn’t say anything as we had reached the debriefing area. As soon as I stepped in, the conversation turned serious. Carth was the one who asked if I was ready. I said that I was. The mission called for myself and another Jedi to infiltrate the detention area while the battle would be a diversion. Darius would head the main forces and two other Bushida warriors would be second in command. Carth was to direct the artillery. There was no need for the fleet as the last battle decimated the enemy fleet for now. A lot was riding on this.

I had seated myself on a broken stone bench and was surveying the people who had come to fight. All of Revan’s old crew and the Exile’s crew were there, with the exception of the Handmaiden and a tech specialist called Bao-Dur. Apparently they had returned to Telos to help in the recovery effort. I became lost in thought thinking of the mission and how I was going to try and rescue Lady Mara. I was alert enough to hear that the forces were ready to go. I was absent mindedly fingering my life stone, given to me by Lady Mara herself for my actions when I returned home when I was broken out of this when HK said, “Observation: It appears the Handsome Meatbag has not heard a single word. Shall I blast him now to get his attention?”

I rolled my eyes and briefly wondered what had possessed my mind to let HK be here. I had the distinct feeling that he would get an enjoyment of bloodshed in the coming battle. Revan saved me from more embarrassment by saying, “No HK. He knows what’s going on.” I felt a reassurance through our bond and it lightened my mood considerably. She continued, “Now the detention block has high security. We’re going to need a big distraction to get them away to allow us to slip in.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” Canderous said, “I’ve got a plan to take care of them.”

“Then it’s settled,” I found myself voicing. I was anxious to get underway and everyone else noticed it too. I started to walk to the area where the speeder bikes were kept.

“Hey J.C!” I turned and saw Mission running towards me waving something in her hand. She caught up to me and handed me a small toolkit. She said, “Just in case.”

She had been teaching me slicing skills the past three months and claimed that I was more adept at it than when she first taught Revan. Nice compliment, if I was to be a smuggler or worse. I could tell she was concerned but I gave her a reassuring smile and said, “Hey, at least I’ll have the upper hand when it comes to a lock.” I placed the kit into my belt.

She smiled and then ran back to the foyer to get ready to man a turret. She had put up a fuss when she insisted on being in the thick of the fighting. She admitted that it was she who manned the turrets on the Ebon Hawk when I came back. I managed to make a compromise to let her man defense for our operations building, much to the chagrin of Carth and to some extent Revan. If anything, I learned that a strong will is hard to force to do anything and a compromise must be made. That was another one of Tergis’ lessons when he taught me about diplomacy.

I was waiting on my bike when Revan joined me followed by Carth. I could sense the worry and fear in Carth. He did not want to lose her but this was a time of war and everyone was needed to help who could fight. Before Revan mounted her speeder, Carth pulled her into a gentle embrace and hugged her, which she returned with equal love. She started to give him a kiss on the cheek when his lips brushed against hers. I had no problem with it except that it made me wish Michaela were there to do the same to me. They kissed for a bit and I just busied myself with the systems. Canderous later asked me how I could stand it to see the two of them sucking their faces off.

When they finally parted, Revan climbed on her speeder and activated the engine. She glanced behind her and I followed her gaze, not to Carth, but to Dustil, just watching as we made our departure. I had the distinct feeling that he was still struggling over what I said to him at the wedding. I could only hope that he could see the wisdom in those words. Revan must have sensed my thoughts or something for she asked, “Hey, you awake? These speeders can’t drive themselves ya know.”

I chuckled slightly and readied my engines. A couple of warriors opened the gates and we sped out of the old enclave and headed across the plains of Argon. That was a close move. During the time that we had been at the enclave, our bond strengthened. Due to its unique nature, Revan was never completely able to hide anything from me but I could hide things from her. I had thought that the memory of that conversation had surfaced and she caught a glimpse. I brushed it aside however as we headed into the west towards the detention block at the old space port of Garanga where the Rashikians were holding Lady Mara. It was an old port that was located near the crystal caves, a place where many things could happen.

Revan and Carth got married. Bring on the Exile and Handmaiden's marriage. Good Chapter as usual and how do you post Chapters that fast?

Like I said, I finished Book 2. They are all lined up and ready to go. Oh and it is Exile/Visas match. I liked her better. Well, here is the next chapter for your entertainment.

Chapter 26: Guards and Jailbreak
I was holding my breath as we approached the base entrance on the cave side of the port. I could literally feel an adrenaline rush as we approached the door and spotted two guards. I hid behind a huge mound of crystals and continued to watch and wait. I felt for sure that I might hyperventilate but I forced myself to calm down by concentrating on a memory, any memory that brought a calming sensation. When calmed, my senses became more in tuned and I could sense Revan’s apprehension. To reassure her I dropped my hand back and took hers and squeezed it gently.

Watching the two guards I began to wonder when Canderous would come through with his distraction. We didn’t have long to wait for the two guards were called to the front. I thought it must have been one helluva distraction and I decided then I didn’t want to find out later. Knowing Canderous, it might have involved more than cracking a few skulls. We made our way through the door after the guards had left and made our way down the hall.

Remembering the layout of the port’s main building, I immediately directed Revan through the southern passages towards the cargo holds. In debriefing, we determined that one of these could be used as a holding cell. I stopped at a main console and sliced into the terminal to check the security cameras. It took a total of three minutes to slice in and examine all the cameras one by one and at the back of my mind, I was wondering if we would be caught. Revan watched my back and I could sense her alertness.

After finally determining which cargo hold Lady Mara was in, we made our way to the detention block. We narrowly avoided being caught by a patrol who had been directed towards the northern end of the compound. I passed a stealth field generator to Revan and equipped a second one. As soon as we reached the corridor leading to the prison block, I saw a few guards around the cargo hold. I nodded to Revan and I started down the corridor alone. They pointed their weapons towards me and told me to halt. Without moving, I sent their weapons flying from their hands and continued walking. Given their orders, they came at me with hand and foot. I blocked as best as I could and with a few well-placed punches, I sent them flying into the walls where they fell unconscious.

The lock was another matter. I had to use every thing I knew from what Mission told me about opening locks. Revan was about to tell me to step back so she could use her lightsaber when it popped open. Lady Mara was standing there looking at us with surprise. I unclipped my stealth field generator and clipped it onto her just in case. I handed her a katana blade that I had brought and I led the way back down the corridor. We were almost to the bulkhead that led back to the crystal cave entrance when an explosion sounded and the corridor caved in.

Seeing that it was hopeless, I turned to lead the others to another way out. We made our way towards the entrance that opened to the top of the gully. We encountered a few Rashikians who put up a fight. I noticed that at every occasion we had fought, the Rashikians seemed to have gotten stronger. It made me wonder about this. I didn’t have long to wonder for as we made our way to the bulkhead, the way out, it opened to reveal someone that made my eyes open wide with fear.

The tall, muscular figure was a carbon copy of none other than Tvark Sigun, the one that I had sent a lightsaber through the chest. He was different from Tvark in that his eyes burned with an intense hatred and for a moment I thought I saw something else. He looked at the three of us but his eyes fixed on me. He said in a voice that sounded like pain, “You actually think you can escape from my grasp sangtahut?”

All I could manage to get out was, “Tvark?”

The result was a deep chuckle that brought a flash memory of a tall man with a metal mouth laughing. I didn’t realize that was one of Revan’s memories until he stopped laughing and the image vanished. He said, “You wish. Surely you realize that you killed him over three years ago.”

I used my senses to seek out the answer. At once my nightmares flashed quickly through my mind and focused on my memory of the Judge. I made the connection and responded, “You are his son.”

“Very good. You can’t imagine how long I have dreamed of this moment. I even made a pact with an ancient power and have taken control of the Rashikians.”

“So you are the one creating the evil presence,” Revan replied much to my dismay.

“How quaint. A former Sith Lord and the Heart of the Guardian. I am going to surely enjoy killing the both of you,” and he drew out a blood red lightsaber.

That sent a disturbing shiver up my spine as I drew one of my bronzium bladed sabers. I sent through the bond for Revan to get out. She seemed to protest but she understood that I had to fight him off. I was actually determined and gave the impression that if she didn’t move and escape, then I would run her through. I didn’t mean it but we came there to get Lady Mara out and now it was up to Revan to get her out. I removed my outer robes and I responded, “No. Your quarrel is with me,” and I twirled my saber.

By that time Revan dragged Lady Mara away and headed towards one of the other exits leaving me to face the son of Tvark. We seemed to circle each other as we eyed each other warily. I could sense the dark side pour from him like a gushing river. I drew on the light of the Force and brought up my saber to guard. He responded by saying, “Still afraid to attack first? You are weak and you cannot stand against my power, the power of the Blood King.”

“We’ll just have to see about that,” I responded and swung in a combination of parries and slashes.

He defended with amazing speed and his strikes were incredibly strong. It took every ounce of knowledge I had from Tergis and Cronus to avoid getting my head chopped off which seemed to be his goal. I continued my line of defense while laying a few attacks of my own as we pushed our way to the cliff overhanging the river that flowed from the caves. I could see that he was drawing heavily upon the essence that screamed Sith to all my senses. It was so thick that I could a dark shadow that was thick as smoke hanging in a cloud over him.

As I was fighting him, I could sense that Revan was having to fight her way to the entrance. However because of the distraction of the battle going on in the valley, the Rashikian concentration was worse than that of a first year padawan. Besides she had Lady Mara helping her. Mara was not one to back down easily. Since she is the daughter of a Jedi, well former Jedi, she had a heightened sense of alertness about her and she was trained by her father in combat. I once had the opportunity to watch her practice and saw her take down one of her most skilled warriors, one of those that guarded the palace. In short, she was worthy of the elitist warrior classes.

One emotion had me worried though. I was trying to hold off the Blood King when I felt a familiar presence. Even though I was in combat, I concentrated on that to discern what it was that was hindering the jailbreak. Upon closer inspection, I realized that Lady Mara was making her escape and that Revan was taking on Lorien. That realization made me pause and that pause nearly cost me dearly.

Bring on the Blood King. Good Chapter. I always prefered Handmaiden to Visas, I don't like her much.

Chapter 27: Journals of the Front Part II
That battle was a hectic one, each with their own account. I have decided to let the journals tell this section.

-Darius-

Mandalore created his distraction to buy time for Jacen and Revan to get in and rescue Mara, the Governor of Avalon. It was rather crude but effective in that he played the whole ‘I got lost’ routine and then we ambushed them with cannon fire. That woke up the rest of the compound and sent the Rashikians running to the front lines.

We charged behind a barrage of cover fire and began to fight long and hard. The Rashikians fought back with equal determination. At one point a stray shot from one of our cannons struck the main building close to the caves. I could sense the exit blocked and realized that Revan and Jacen would need another way out. I sent some troops to the backup exit near the northern side of the compound while the main troops held the line. Atton, Mira, and the Cathar Juhani were holding that line. My Visas was with Bastilla and they led the clearing of the exit. I could see them by the bright glare of their lightsabers in the midst of the blaster fire and the glint of the swords. The Bushida warriors were charging like bull kath hounds but twice the energy and were swinging their blades. They were fighting like Wookiees, I think.

The field was riddled with holes from blaster fire and dirt was flying everywhere. It made a thick cloud that was like the morning mists that came that morning. The stench of death was like a sickness. It was terrible but we pressed on. I became aware that the dirt and sweat was clinging to my skin, adding to the sickly feeling. My second in command, Galados, one from the Academy kept in constant communication with all troops. The going was hard for the Rashikians fought equally hard swinging their own blades with equal ferocity. I just hope that the retreat will go much smoother.


-Carth-

The battle was like the others I have fought in but it took some getting used to. These people don’t really like to use blasters but rather fight in melee combat. They are a bit like the Jedi but not always the pacifists for they fight like any Republic soldier. After much arguing with Revan, I agreed to let her go with Jacen to rescue the Lady Governor. I had just gotten her back and I didn’t want to lose her again but she’s stubborn, more than me. I agreed to man the artillery line and reinforcements with Jolee helping the healers. I think Jacen put him up to making sure I didn’t chain Revan to a chair or something.

We created a barrage fire in front of the advancing lines to provide cover fire. Early on we found that it was quite effective and used it in most major engagements and few minor ones. We switched so it didn’t give the Rashikians a chance to counter. I was directing a change in direction per our plans when a stray shot hit the side that Revan and Jacen were supposed to exit the compound. I immediately wanted to panic but I relaxed when I saw Darius direct troops to an area and figured that they may be clearing another way out.

Mission was having way too much fun in the turrets but I agreed to let her be there, after Jacen interceded on her behalf. I swear he can be a sweet talker when he wants to. Other times he takes the attitude of a soldier, the tender part of him disappears and out comes this warrior that would make Canderous proud, if he let it dominate him. I was surveying the landscape when another explosion sounded near the cliffs above the caves. It looked like someone blew a hatch or something. I couldn’t really tell until I saw two figures emerge at the top fighting. I recognized one being Jacen by the color of his lightsaber. The other was someone else as the blade was red. I immediately began to worry about Revan.


-Revan-

Jacen and I had to separate after meeting the Blood King. I didn’t know who he was but through our bond, I could sense an intense fear, one that seemed as if it were buried. That feeling quickly changed to outright anger and hate but then they dissipated. I gathered that this person was reminiscent of a memory that was not pleasant. I noticed that Jacen adopted a semi aggressive state and his voice was strangely deep when he told me, “Go.” When I didn’t move, he said, with a little more force, “Go or I’ll run you through myself.”

I knew he didn’t mean it but it put my mind on the mission: get Lady Mara out. I grabbed her hand and we took off running for the northern end of the compound, the last available exit. We headed through the maze of streets within the compound; fighting off any Rashikians we came across. Lady Mara watched my back as I did hers and was a very good swordsman. I could tell that she may have been trained a bit in the Jedi arts. It made sense because her father was one.

At last we were home free towards the main bulkhead when a dark hooded person stepped in front of it and asked, “Where do you think you are going?” He lifted his head to reveal a face I only saw once but Mara recognized right off the bat. Her stunned expression was enough along with her voicing, “Eуmeros?”

The figure laughed. It sounded familiar to the way how Malak laughed when I confronted him on the Leviathan and it sent a slight chill down my spine. He replied, “Not any more my love. Lorien is the name now.” His eyes glowed a strange and familiar gleam. I could see the evil in them, the familiar evil I once felt myself.
I forced the feeling from my mind. I looked at him square in the eye and said, “What do you want?”

“My love. My bride. And to hurt Jacen.”

Mara began to show tears in her eyes. Apparently she cared for Eуmeros and it pained her to see him succumbed to the darkside. He had been missing since the initial attack at conclave. It was evident that he had been taken prisoner and turned to the darkside. It made me wonder if he was tortured as Bastilla had been over five years ago. The revenge part was more confusing. He had no quarrel with Jacen unless it was a single mindset from that Blood King. There was little time to wonder this for Lorien spoke gruffly, “If I don’t get what I am after then I will have to take what I must. I have no qualms about killing someone close to Jacen either,” and he drew a lightsaber that was a violent shade of purple.

My instinctive reaction was to draw mine. The orange blade glowed as I twirled it into position in front of me. Mara had gotten over her sadness and twirled her vibroblade as well. She knew that Lorien was not the one she fancied. It amazed me how well the Avalonian people could put their personal feelings aside and walk into battle. Lorien didn’t expect that she would fight him but he recovered from it well. He responded by coming at the both of us and juggling blows between the two of us. At one point, he kicked me in the gut, knocking me down and he used the Force to send Mara flying into the bulkhead, knocking her unconscious. He then turned his full attention to me.

He and I came at each other like two colliding asteroids. He came fast and hard, trying to get a blow inside my defense. The extra training I had underwent with Jacen and Darius kicked in and blocked as best as I could. I was being driven through the actual bulkhead and into the thick of the battle and sparks were flying where our blades collided and the smoke mixed in with the air. The others ignored us as we fought on. Once I tripped on a hidden piece of metal and Lorien struck my shoulder but missed doing serious damage. It burned and I was in pain but I staggered back to my feet and continued. All the while I was becoming distinctly aware that Jacen was attracting attention from the Rashikians.


-Darius-

I saw the northern bulkhead open and out emerged Revan and a figure clad in black. I distinctly remembered that Jacen mentioned that the dark clothed figure was Lorien but he was reluctant to share much. I guess he knew him. I didn’t press and neither did Revan.

When I didn’t see Lady Mara emerge, I began to panic. I left my second in command in charge and ran at full speed to find her. I used my lightsaber to push through the masses of Rashikians trying to get there. I tripped once but I was back on my feet. I ran past Revan and Lorien and headed into the compound. It was surprisingly empty as I scanned around.

I found Lady Mara crumpled against the bulkhead and bleeding from a gash to the head. It looked like she had been struggling to get to her feet but was too exhausted from pain to properly orient herself. I was confused as to how to carry her, as I needed a free arm. This was war however and there was no time for propriety so with as much care I could muster, I slung her over my left shoulder and adjusted under her weight. Keeping my left to hold her body in place and my right free, I grabbed the vibroblade she had been using and headed out the exit and back into the thick of the fighting.

I ignored Revan yet again so I didn’t notice that her arm had been nicked by a lightsaber. I met up with Visas and Juhani midway back to the healer station. Juhani volunteered to help watch my back as we made our way back. As we ran, I occasionally heard a whimper come from Lady Mara. It wasn’t pain from her head but an emotional pain. Whatever happened in the compound must have been painful.


-Jolee-

I saw Darius running with Juhani towards me carrying someone. I recognized her as the Governor we were supposed to rescue. I noticed the gash on her head, nothing that a little Force Healing can’t do. Bah, I’m getting too old for this.

The wounded are not serious. As soon as they are healed, the soldiers run back out and continue the fighting. Don’t they know that they have to rest after getting injured? Though I do admit that their zeal reminds me of my younger days when I was a strapping young lad with a full head of hair and smuggling supplies.

After healing the governor and leaving her on the gurney I turned to survey the fighting. I may be old but my senses aren’t dulled. I could sense that Jacen was facing what I suppose he is supposed to fight.

Good Journal Enteries. They were all the same length and were a good read. Hopefully there will be more.

Chapter 28: Battle of Fate
The smoke was thick in the air and the stench of death was on the winds. That didn’t matter as I fought the Blood King. We had managed to make our way up the stairs to the top of the cliffs overlooking the crystal caves. I could hear the waterfalls, the same ones that I had visited once before long ago. In front of me was the spitting image of Tvark, the Judge. He had been plotting since his father’s death to extract his revenge on me and he had been the one behind the war. I felt feelings of anger and hate but I pushed them deep down.

We had been fighting on precarious ground, as there were boulders and stones on the ground making an uneven ground. We had just clashed our blades together and pushing with equal force on both our ends. The Blood King decided to take the opportunity to try and bring out my hate. He said, “Use your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me and the very evil you seek.”

I felt my temper rising but didn’t give in. That seemed to make him mad for he broke the hold by freeing one of his hands and laid a punch that sent me flying into a boulder. I had let go of my lightsaber and it fell a few feet away. I slowly got to my feet and with all the strength I could muster, I sent a strong enough Force Wave to send him flying into his own boulder. I then summoned my lightsaber with the Force and came at him.

The Blood King was laughing as he got up and saw me coming. He had a few tricks up his sleeves and he used them against me. He just stood there but sent various sizes of stones and boulders flying at me. I managed to dodge a few of the large ones but a good sized one hit me in the side and broke a few of my ribs. I was lucky I had turned or I would have ended with a punctured lung. I tried not to cry out in pain but that hurt bloody hell and he knew it. I had to continue but I decided on a defensive stance.

Tired of throwing stuff at me, the Blood King came at me again with his lightsaber. I took my second one off my belt and activated it. I used both to try and drive him further away from me. He responded fairly well and managed to knock the second one out of my hand. I didn’t have the strength to summon it so I continued to fight with the one. At one point, I used the smoke through the Force to make it thick enough to allow me to hide amongst the huge boulders. I hid there to catch my breath and get a sense of my surroundings. I heard a taunting voice, “Come out, come out wherever you are.”

I was panting from fatigue as I glanced around. I looked down and noticed that Revan was fighting Lorien. She seemed to be doing all right, judging from what I could sense through the battle-induced fog of our bond. I sent a surge of encouragement through our bond before moving around and readying to continue.

I emerged from behind the structures to find no one in sight. It sent a warning through my brain and my senses became alert. I searched through the Force for him but it was to no avail. I didn’t let down but it didn’t do me good. He jumped behind me intending to run me through. I jumped away and landed a well-placed blow on his right arm. That made him mad for he growled and backhanded me in the chest that sent me staggering backwards and struck me in my shoulder. It wasn’t a serious strike and I got the distinct impression that he wanted to make me suffer.

The wound felt like when one got hit with a blaster bolt. I shrugged it off and stood up. I was exhausted but I wasn’t going to give up. The Blood King was waving his blade at me and smiling his evil grin. I just looked at him and breathed a heavy sigh. I distinctly began to hear voices from my childhood, from Zoran. In my mind I heard, Pride is keeping your head up when everyone else’s is down and courage is what makes you do it. I also began to hear the song of the Heart of the Guardian but it was too faint to be heard. My brain was slowly becoming muddied with weariness and distorted lessons from my childhood sounded through.

Then I recalled the vision that Inkosi Kanji sent me on. If anything, that image stuck with me and I felt a brief surge of strength. I was becoming aware that I was slowly opening my eyes to see a striking Blood King and in a sudden movement I brought my saber up to block it. I grabbed his wrists and we struggled that way with our eyes locked. He looked deep into mine and said, “You have strength, courage.”

It was more of a compliment than a means of attack to my character. It momentarily confused me but didn’t break my concentration. We continue to wrestle locked again when I gave him a knee to the chest and a punch that made him stagger back. The blood was up and we went at it again striking with our sabers. I landed one more strike to his right arm in the same spot. That made him overly mad and he came at me with a hard thrust.

I managed to avoid the brunt of it but he grazed me just under the ribcage and with a quick strike hit my right leg, making a deep cut. I couldn’t keep quiet about the pain and I fell to the ground. I thought it would be all over when he raised his blade to strike me down when an orange blade stopped it. I looked up and saw Revan with a grim look of determination on her pretty face. It was streaked with dirt and I noticed blood on her right arm.

“You are brave and foolish Jedi,” the Blood King said.

Revan responded, “Everyone says that about me.”

I took the opportunity to summon my lightsaber and I activated it. With a painful flip forward, I got back on my feet. I was a wreck but I wasn’t going to let Revan get herself killed. I had made a promise to myself to keep her safe and I was dead set on keeping it. I came out in front and took the lead, much to Revan’s chagrin. I said, “And you and I have business to finish.”

He laughed, taking in the pleasure that I was still on my feet and in pain. He responded, “It doesn’t matter. Two more in my book and two more bodies on my way to conquering this system.”

“I don’t think so,” I replied and I swung first. It shocked him slightly because I struck first and hard. Revan followed swinging when she could. At this point the barrage fire was dying down as Rashikians were retreating and firing at the same time. Ships were escaping to the main stronghold at Belos. That didn’t matter as we kept up the battle.

At one point I sent my own boulder flying at the Blood King even though I was near dead on my feet from loss of blood. He sent one in return but I stopped it. Revan stepped in and helped me get it spinning and together we sent it hurtling at him with astonishing speed. He jumped to avoid it and it shattered against the other boulders. The ground was littered with broken rocks and scattered pieces of metal from all the throwing around.

The last straw came when the Blood King backhanded Revan into a boulder where she fell semi conscious. I came at the Blood King with my blade swinging, letting my heart take over and not my head though I still had some sanity left. I ended up tackling him and we both fell on the ground extremely close to the cliff edge. He gave me a hard punch and then struck my injured leg, making me cry out and he pushed me to the side. I did a roll and used my arms to push me up while at the same time I summoned my lightsaber. All he did was grin at me and held up something dangling from a silver chain. He had taken my lifestone off in the process by ripping it off, causing a small gash on the back of my neck. He threw it to the ground and stepped on it, mashing it into the ground.

I was angry but I calmed down. It hurt that he insulted me by doing that but I wasn’t going to let it rule me. I just stood there and glared. I noticed Revan starting to stir as she was coming out of her grogginess and sent reassurance. Her eyes opened and she tried to take in the situation. Seeing that he wasn’t getting a rise out of me, the Blood King said, “Tis a pity that Tergis wasted his time on you. You are weak. You bring shame to the legacy of our people you sangtahut.”

I approached slowly, limping until I was within four feet of him and said, “I have shou, you don’t. You dishonor it.”

“We’ll see,” and he swung hard which I defended and attempted to punch me. I grabbed his wrist and struggled with the little strength I had left. We somehow got switched around till my back was facing the edge of the cliff. He kicked my shin on my bad leg sending a streak of pain through my leg. I nearly buckled over but I pushed hard and shoved him back and nearly lost my balance.

As I was regaining my balance, he sent a Force Shove that sent me flying off the edge of the cliff. I vaguely recall hearing a shriek or a scream as I plummeted down. I seemed to have hit every single jutted surface that projected out as I headed for the pool of water below. The last thing I remember was the flashing image of my wife and son. They were the last people I saw before I saw black.

Battle against the Blood King. Great. Looking foward to more.

Chapter 29: Thoughts of the Aftermath
-Revan-

I don’t remember much after I hit the boulder but that battle was imprinted to a degree in my mind. I remember waking up and saw Jacen and the Blood King on the ground. It looked like he had tackled him. I also remember the protective nature he took when I showed up after defeating Lorien. The healers took him after I wounded him gravely. What would happen to him didn’t matter then to me and I knew that Darius had taken Mara to safety. My immediate concern was then finding Jacen. I had sensed that he was in danger.

I watched as the Blood King struck him in the leg where a deep gash was and saw Jacen roll over in pain. He recovered quickly and I could tell that he was using the Force to sustain himself even though he couldn’t do it physically. I saw him push himself up and he spun to a standing position and summoned his lightsaber. It was an amazing feat for I had never seen any Jedi do that before. He just then stopped and stood there with his lightsaber ignited. I turned my aching head to see why.

The Blood King was holding his lifestone, the one that Lady Mara gave him. It matched mine except it was more aquamarine. It looked as if he had ripped it from Jacen’s neck. I watched in horror as he flung it down and stomped on it and pressed it into the ground. Jacen didn’t do anything. If anything, he was unnervingly calm. I watched them and they conversed in Avalonian, I think. I recognized the word for ‘blood traitor’ and realized that the Blood King was trying to incite Jacen to attack. Jacen responded with words and the Blood King struck with his lightsaber first. Jacen countered and gripped hard and they struggled as they had before but within Jacen’s tiredness, I sensed a slight anger.

The whole incident leading to Jacen getting pushed off the edge of the cliff was like a blur in my mind. I do remember screaming, “Jacen!” as he fell. The look on his face was that of a stunned surprise mingled in with the pain he was already in. After he went over the edge, the Blood King just watched with grin on his face. He then turned and looked at me and smiled maliciously. I was struggling to get to my feet when he walked by. I felt overwhelmed by the power of the darkside when he walked by. I was bombarded by images of the terrible things I did during the wars and they swamped my senses and made me pass out.

I woke up when Carth picked me up and tried to wake me a gently as possible. Apparently they came into the compound to check and see where Jacen and I were since we didn’t come back to the meeting point. It took me a brief moment to survey my surroundings and I remembered that Jacen had gone over. I scrambled out of Carth’s arms and stumbled towards the edge of the cliff where I had seen him gone over. I scanned down trying to find him but I didn’t see him except for broken brush he may have hit on the way down. Tears brimmed in my eyes and I turned from the edge and I noticed it. Jacen’s lifestone was in the ground where the Blood King had ground it into the ground. It was still in tact as I picked it up from the ground, the chain dangling between my fingers, and I looked at it.

Carth came and sat beside me and held me in his arms as I sat there with tears coming down my face. I had come up there to help him and in the end I wasn’t able to keep him from going over. I hadn’t cried since the day I saw Carth again but this was one time I couldn’t hold it in. I sobbed lightly into Carth’s shoulder as he hugged me close and whispered soothingly into my ear. I was still gripping Jacen’s lifestone and was rubbing it with my thumb. I was in a state of shock and didn’t want to move. All I could think about was that it was possibly my fault that Jacen went over and I was trying to figure out what I was to say to Michaela. Everyone else that was there seemed to have realized that Jacen had gone over the edge and didn’t know what to say. I had no feeling in my legs so Carth ended up carrying me back to camp.

I was still sitting on the bunk where Carth had sat me so Jolee could patch up my arm. I hadn’t stopped rubbing the pendant with my thumb. Instead my thoughts were diverted to the bond that Jacen and I shared. I was searching, methodically; a technique that Bastilla taught me. I concentrated hard and I felt cold and wet. I felt pain and a cry for help. I hadn’t even heard Jolee say, “Dammit you know him better than anyone. You can find him.” I then jumped up and asked, “How far does the river go?”

**************************************************

For three days we had been searching for Jacen along the river that led from the waterfalls. I was so persistent that I pushed everything else aside. That image of him going over haunted my sleep and sometimes he was replaced by Carth and then I would wake up in the middle of the night breathing heavily. Poor Carth. He had to put up with it but he would just hold me tight and reassure me that we would find him. I could sense that he felt the same way I did. I never realized before how much he and Jacen had conversed. It seemed that he had touched all of us in different ways.

I wanted to send for Kapu but I didn’t want to worry Michaela. She had enough problems already and she had Tulre to take care of. I decided to make best use of my Jedi senses as we kept the search. I didn’t want to give up on him. He was still alive somewhere. Oh Force, I need to find him.

The other day I went back to the crystal caves just to think. I came across the column we hid behind and I noticed something. It was a strange crystal glowing. I examined it and saw that it was perfectly square cut and faceted and giving a distinct glow. I touched it and the glow brightened. I just looked at it for a moment longer and then smiled sadly. I then slowly walked out of the cave just looking all around. My eyes drifted to the river and I followed its flow. I absent-mindedly pulled out Jacen’s pendant and looked at it. We were close I just knew it.


-Darius-

The Rashikians began to retreat after Jacen and his quarry had reached the top of the cliff. They retreated firing and getting in last minute slashes. They cleared out so fast that it made me wonder if it was all a setup but I couldn’t sense anything out of place. I saw that one of the figures at the top of the cliff had disappeared and figured that it might have been Jacen since I could see that a red blade was still lit. I saw medics dragging a body and recognized it as one of the tribesmen I had met before the first bombardment but Revan didn’t come back. I went to the meeting point along with Carth, Jolee and the other Jedi. When they didn’t come back, worry started to set in. I noticed three lightsaber blades on top of the cliff and I motioned to everyone.

The jaunt to the compound was rather difficult as the ground was slick with blood and littered with shrapnel and holes the size of mini craters. With Carth, I had never seen anyone move so fast. I couldn’t blame him. His wife was up there and he would be damned before losing her. I upped my speed to match his as we made our way through that junkyard of a compound. It took us precious minutes to locate the right set of stairs that led to the cliff top. When we got to the top, all we saw was Revan lying unconscious.


-Carth-

I saw her lying there crumpled on the ground. The ground was spattered with broken rocks and blood. I ran to her and ran a cursory look over her. I was relieved that it was only her arm that was injured. I held her trying to get her to wake up and make sure that she was all right. I also looked around for Jacen but didn’t see him anything and a sick feeling came to my stomach. Revan finally woke up and she looked disoriented and I thought that maybe she had hit her head or something. The next thing I knew she was scrambling out of my arms and she half crawled and stumbled walked towards the edge of the cliff.

Just watching her gaze over and looking over the edge, it made me realize that Jacen wasn’t going to come out with a good joke or anything. I think everyone else realized the same thing when they just watched her. I noticed that Revan was looking at the ground and fingering it. She picked up something with a silver chain. I recognized it as the pendant that Jacen had been playing with before he and Revan went on their mission. She just sat there looking at it with a strange and blank look. I went and sat by her and she shed a few tears.

I carried her all the way back so Jolee could patch her up. She just continued to just stare blankly. Not even Jolee’s comments could snap her out of it. I recognized that look she used to get when she remembered something but there was something else, like she was searching. For what I don’t know and to be honest and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know. Then she jumped out of her reverie and asked about the river.

That night she confided to me that she knew that Jacen was alive. She described the cold and wet feeling she felt. I was willing to believe her. I had no doubt of her Jedi abilities but to search that many miles of river seemed near impossible. I didn’t say this but she must have sensed it for all she said was, “We have to try.” I was then willing to do what she asked.

We searched for three days and for three nights she had nightmares that often had her wake up gasping for air, in tears or screaming. I tried the best I could to comfort her and she welcomed it like her life depended upon it. I think she felt guilty about whatever happened up on that cliff but she wasn’t talking and I had learned my lesson the last time and didn’t ask her about it. For her sake, I hope we find him.

Good Journal Enteries once again. Is that the last Chapter or is there one more?

Chapter 30: Dreams and Despair
-Revan-

At one point I felt ready to give up the search but that tugging through our bond kept me going. I was actually ready to abandon all the normalcy of eating and taking care of myself. Carth actually had to force me to do anything like eat. Thank the Force for his stubbornness. Bastilla, Juhani and Jolee would often join me for meditation so I could concentrate harder. One day I felt a change. Before there seemed to be a hovering near death but now there was more life. It was nightfall when the change was detected and I wanted to redouble my efforts but everyone convinced me to sleep.

That night as I lay close to Carth with my head resting on his shoulder and my left hand resting on his chest, I thought about the change. I was convinced that he was alive and well. It was just a matter of finding him. I slipped into an uneasy sleep and dreamed a different dream than the ones that I had before.

The people below looked small and unthreatening. They looked up expectantly though it was masked. Underneath was contempt and hatred in their faces. The adults had a murderous gleam in their eyes as well as a rebellious one. The children looked frightened, unable to say anything. They all continued to stare up.

The Rashikians entered the courtyard and forced the people away from the building to create a clearing. They were dressed in black, their armor sharp like the talons of the eagles and dripping in blood, fresh blood. Some of it was caked on as if they had never bothered to clean it in years. Their bodies stank of death and that mostly drove the people away. The other was that they brandished swords that were barbed with sharp points. The people responded with fear but with equal hatred. A gong sounded and they looked up.

There he stood at the summit of the palace. He was larger than the others and he wore an armor that gleamed in the brilliant sun. He was wearing a mask shaped as the head of an eagle and was decorated in blood and gold. He removed it to reveal his face. The Blood King stood looking at the people below with a look of sadistic pleasure and contempt. He waved his hand to one of his subordinates who disappeared back into the palace. He continued to look at the people below and he continued to smile but it was at the pleasure of a memory.

The subordinate returned dragged a half beaten person. It was the governor of the planet. The governor was caked with dirt and dry blood and sporting cuts all over. It was easy to see that there was no prejudice over where they had beaten him. The Blood King spoke to the people in Avalonian but I could easily understand it. He said, “You have chosen to resist and rebel against me. For that, there is a price.”

He then turned towards the governor and suspended him in mid air using the Force. He then looked deep into the governor’s eyes while smiling that evil smile. With a quick motion of his hand, he closed it into a fist. The end result was the crushing of the governor’s neck. Blood gurgled forth from his mouth as he remained suspended in mid air. The Blood King came forward and with two of his fingers, he wiped some of the blood gushing from the governor’s mouth and stuck them with extreme pleasure in his mouth. He looked almost hideous with that evil look of pleasure about him.

The governor looked like he was trying to speak but couldn’t, The Blood King just looked at him and then with a flip of his hand, he sent the governor over the edge and plummeting hard to the ground that had been cleared. No life issued from the governor but the blood flew freely. The people had a look of fear but the hatred was more intense than ever. They then looked up to where the Blood King stood looking at them grinning his sadistic smile. He then said in his booming voice, “That is what happened to your precious Kirabaros and your governor and it is the price you pay for disobedience. By right I will have what is mine.”

Then the image faded but continued to linger on the Blood King, he smile still on his face. Blood was coming down the side of his mouth but he licked it with his tongue. His presence was overpowering with evil, the very embodiment of evil.

It was fun to see Carth and Revan married.
What an evil little Blood King, especially his actions with the governor. Whew.

Your battle scenes with Jacen and the Blood king are pretty intense (which I think is a good thing.).

Hope the digs are going well!

Battle scenes are better than what I write. Anyway that is a good Chapter.

Yep. Jae: The Blood King was a name that I took based on the Scorpion King but this guy lives for bloodshed. He is worse than a war mongrel of a Mandalorian. His appearance I borrowed from the Aztecs with the warrior order of the Eagles.
Pottsie: I was surprised that my battle segments came out so intense. I was actually visualizing it as I was writing it. I was trying to live up to the ferocity of the Blood King as I originally saw him.
Well this segment I am posting is the last for Book 2. Book 3 will be posted when I return from another week at the digs. So here it goes:

Epilogue
They say that death is painful or painless. It is like a thousand knives stabbing throughout the entire body, at least that is what the icy cold water felt like after plummeting 300 feet into it. The darkness consumes you and drags you deeper into the abyss. You feel the Force flowing through you and its attempt to make one with it. You fall further and further away from the light that was life. You feel that you are free or that you are leaving business unfinished.

All of a sudden you are pulled out and thrust back into the light. You see white and the bright light. You are not sure if you are breathing or if anything is really real. You see faces staring at you and you struggle against it only to be met with an intense pain, as if every bone in your body is broken. The chaos becomes intense and you see images of death, memories, things that don’t seem real. Then you hear soothing words out of all the chaos. They become your anchor in a sea of torment as you struggle against the blinding currents of pain. Then you become calm and open your eyes and you see…life.

Nice Epilogue, although it felt kind of creepy. Makes me want to read the next Part. What is it called?

I liked the Epilogue, though I think I would have liked to have you add in more about Michaela telling him to fight for his life--you kind of hint at it with the soothing words phrase (though it could have been Revan, too). You have a great opportunity to further develop his relationship with his wife that way. I'd like to know why he decided to live instead of letting go, too.
I did feel like I was tumbling through those feelings along with him, which was cool.

The epilogue I was thinking in terms that he would be disoriented. You don't know if you are dead or alive. I was intending it to be ambiguous. To answer the question of why he came back, well, you can't finish the story without the main character. I'll I'll do is say wait and see. Book 3 should be up by Saturday. I'm about to embark on another adventure.

Book Three: The Return of Kirabaros
It has been almost two years since the Blood King made his appearance with the death of Jacen Cirrus. He began a reign of terror beginning at Belos and attempted to conquer the people of Avalon and her sister planets. The Avalonians in turn resisted along with the aid of their new Republic friends under the command of Admiral Carth Onasi and the Jedi under the command of Revan Onasi.

Things were fairly dark for the Avalonians as they tried to keep their planets free. New plans of attack were developed some with success and others were not. Time seemed to be running out but hope was still there.

With the armies holding the line it seemed as if they were waiting for someone to pull them out of the pit of despair and lead them to victory. Our story continues as we take you to a villa estate near the plains of Jasilyn where a Jedi Knight is sitting on a bench with a small boy attempting to recover that which had been lost…


Chapter 1: Recovery
It had been almost two years since I fell into the river that flowed from the crystal caves on Mikkado near the old spaceport Garanga. I had suffered serious injuries and plummeted 300 feet hitting nearly everything jutting out of the cliffside. I was dragged down the river where I was fished out by none other than the Lordes tribe, Zoran’s tribe.

Near dead, I was brought back from that dark abyss through the combined efforts of the tribe’s healers and my Jedi friends. The one who kept a firm hold on me was none other than Revan Onasi, my Jedi sister and bondmate as she guided me back to my consciousness. The strongest anchor during my recovery was my wife Michaela. She was there right by me and it was her presence that kept me from going insane.

When I finally returned to a state that could comprehend my surroundings, I had undergone some serious Force Healing and a combination of herb treatments to repair my ribs and the various fractures I had received from the fall and my tumble down the river. My right leg was another matter. The gash from the lightsaber was deep and it looked as if it would seriously impede my ability to walk. I would have preferred being dumped in a kolto tank and sleep some more but I think they wanted my to stay alert, worry I guess. Jolee managed to do some amazing healing to relieve the pain and heal the damaged muscle and Revan and Michaela were by my side. It was mostly my wife. It was here that she would bring Tulre and we would sit together. It was here how I learned that Eуmeros died and Lorien escaped and Lady Mara was taking things pretty well but she was still sad.

It took the better part of six months to recover my ability to be able to walk and even then, when I got too stressed, I suffered a slight limp. It took me even longer to regain a decent affinity to the Force. For some reason, I suffered a disconnection after I fell in the river and it disturbed me at first but at least one of my Jedi friends were there to help me. For the safety of my family and myself, Revan kept up the rumor that I was dead while I recovered. It bothered me that I wasn’t able to do anything to try and help but it gave me time to spend with my son Tulre. I think it bothered my wife greatly that she couldn’t find an easy way to explain to him why I couldn’t play rough with him but it didn’t seem to bother him. He was already calling me ‘Dada,’ something he would continue to call me even when he got older in terms of affection.

I was sitting with Tulre and telling him the story of the jasilyn blossoms on one of the cushioned stone benches at the villa that I was living at with my family and Revan’s family. T3 had stayed for company as well as Kapu who had missed me those three or four months and we were just enjoying each other’s company. Nothing made me happier than sitting there and being with my son. It’s ironic how my injuries cemented our bond. If I hadn’t been that seriously injured, I probably wouldn’t have been able to spend as much time with him. I just have to laugh at that.

During my two yearlong recovery, I noticed changes in my persona that disturbed me to a degree. I found myself becoming slightly more aggressive of late at least in terms of tactical advice. My temper was often short with people that seemed insistent on coddling me on everything and I had a propensity to start a shouting match over little things. Carth once compared my overreaction to his over when Revan found out that she was a dark lord of the Sith. I also felt something else. I had a surge of caring, love; the same emotions I had for my family that were at constant war with my aggressive nature. I felt I was myself but at the same time it wasn’t me.

My Jedi powers had changed as well. Jolee had been helping me through the basics that padawans go through when first learning about their abilities. Halfway through the initial training, I began to make things move uncontrollably and do things. At least that emotional thing that Tulre mentioned when I first met him at the Academy was not in overdrive and well under control. I had enough headaches with that. Often I would do strange things with the Force like create a ball of pure white light and just make it spin and gently float, much to the chagrin and worry of Jolee, Revan and Michaela but to great amusement to my son. This alone was rather up for debate.

I often despised myself for my current physical state but I couldn’t remember for the life of me who put me in that state. Often I dreamed of a man with the head of an eagle and blood dripping from his mouth but I could not remember who he was. That was how the other me felt. There are times that I do remember something but it was a base emotion, an extreme fear and hatred for that man and deeper lay a memory of a child crying, “You killed Manzibique!” I never said anything about it to anyone except my Tulre who just listened. It was comforting.

I was sitting there as I mentioned before spending time with my son when T3 beeped that someone was coming. I already knew who it was before he beeped. Another thing about being brought back was that it heightened my senses. I adjusted Tulre on my lap but didn’t turn around. As soon as the person was close enough I said, “What news from the front, sister?”

Revan didn’t flinch but instead sat beside me on my left. Tulre reached out to her and crawled into her lap and called her, “Reva.” I chuckled at his name for her. I stretched out my right leg to allow it to breathe while she smiled and adjusted Tulre. I noticed the way how she looked at him and smiled and thought that she would make a good mother some day. When I had settled into a comfortable position, she began, “The lines are still holding but we have taken heavy losses. If it weren’t for that tactical maneuver you suggested, we would have lost a whole division and the lines would have broken. Mira died at the last battle but she had no regrets helping the village that had been besieged. That is not why I wanted to talk to you though.”

“What is it then? I doubt it involves you asking me to join you on the front,” I replied.

“Actually that is what it is about. Jolee thinks you may be physically fit to begin sparring to get back into shape. Besides, your frustration at not being able to do anything except give tactical advice has been screaming through our bond lately. Besides I think Bastilla has been driven crazy by your moping around when she comes here,” she added with a chuckle.

I chuckled back. So nice of her to put it nicely. Lately I had taken to tease Bastilla every time she came to give a report. It helped relieve my boredom and frustration. Still smiling I replied, “Does the old man want me out of the way too?”

“You know Jolee. He is always complaining about how you plague him with your childish antics and he mentioned something about insulting his cooking.” She laughed at this. It was common knowledge that you never knew what Jolee was cooking. Mission once said that she was convinced one specialty was scampering around one of the storage holds and that put Jolee in a semi foul mood for the evening. It was a good laugh. Revan stopped it but had a hard time containing it as she said, “But he does think that you should be getting ready to get back into combat.”

“OK and I supposed he wants to teach me how to hold a lightsaber again?” I couldn’t resist the sarcasm.

It wasn’t lost on Revan and she replied, “Actually, he thought that a young ‘whippersnapper’ such as yourself didn’t need instructions on how to hold a lightsaber. He thought that maybe you should just jump right into it, after going through conditioning.”

“Just gotta stretch my old bones eh,” I said with a slight smirk.

“This is serious Jacen,” she replied in a voice that humbled me slightly. She continued, “We need more warriors on the front. It has been two years since the Lordes tribe brought you to us. More than ample time to recover. I kept it a fact that you were dead so you wouldn’t be hunted by the Rashikians or the Blood King.”

“I know, I know,” I replied and stood slowly and turned to face her. I said, “I am grateful Sister but I have my doubts about being able to keep up with everyone. I am afraid.”

She stood up and shifted Tulre to her left hip. She looked at me with her honey colored eyes and said, “You had another nightmare of falling of the cliff didn’t you?”

I had no desire to hide it from her. I replied, “Yes. I just can’t remember who pushed me off. Other times I remember feelings I used to have as a child. I feel like I am two different people.”

Her eyes bored right through me as if to see what I was thinking and see my very being. She had a look of concern about her face but chose not to say anything about it. She then said, “Maybe Petronius will have an answer. Right now I need to know if you want to start training again.”

I could tell that my revelation to her was a discussion for another time. In response I just nodded my head and said, “Yes.”

She smiled at me gently and her expression was a softened one. It was different from the other ones that I had seen her give. Something screamed at me in the back of my mind but I chose to ignore it at the moment. She used her free hand to give me a pat on my shoulder though she had to reach to do it. It was then I had a brief flash through my mind that made me understand everything. I said nothing but just smiled at her and accepted back Tulre. We turned to head back towards the house with T3 and Kapu following.

After giving Tulre to his mother, my wife Michaela, to be put down for a nap, I ambled towards the room that served as a meditation chamber and library. Jolee was there with Revan and Carth. Apparently they were discussing something pertaining to the war. They were so engrossed with their discussion that I chose to interrupt by saying, “Anything I should know or should I wait?”

All three looked at me standing in the door. I had on new Jedi robes that the Academy on Avalon had sent. I was comfortable in them and preferred them over the robes of the order on Coruscant. I walked in with an easygoing pace and stopped in front of them. I just stood there waiting for a response. Jolee spoke first, “I see you left your mouthy personality at the door. Revan told me that you were willing to start physical training. Are you certain that you are ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. I’ll promise to be good and not make the semi aged Jedi cranky.” I had said this with such a straight face that it was comical. Even Jolee chuckled at my comment. Still maintaining my posture, I asked, “When do I start?”

“How about tomorrow? Bright and early,” Jolee responded.

I nodded my assent and mentioned that Michaela was cooking tonight. It was my hint that everyone was invited and not in danger of being poisoned by Jolee’s cooking. A giggle emanated from Revan who suppressed it as quickly as it came out. I started to walk out and was followed by Carth. I hadn’t seen him in a week and I was up for a good chat about everyone at the front. I wasn’t about to miss another opportunity to tease him about something. At least he could take a joke. I had the suspicion that Revan had played more practical jokes on him than I could count. I guess he knew what expect and took it with good humor. We headed towards the kitchens to plague Michaela and Mission, who happened to be there and was learning culinary skills. I led a banter on his frequent disappearances. We didn’t notice that Revan and Jolee had remained behind and locked in an intense conversation.

Yay! He survived! I figured it would be that way, but it's good knowing just the same. He's got a lot of training to catch up on, being off for 2 years.

Ressurected two years later. Oh well. I hope they all stop the Blood King in this part.

Chapter 2: Training
The next morning began my training and, for a change, I looked forward to it. I rose early as I usually did after having a nightmare. I dressed in a simple training tunic. I took a chance and glanced in the mirror. I looked at my face that bore the scars of battle, at least on my hairline and my left eye. I looked as if I were trying to see if I recognized the person staring back at me. My eyes drifted down to my lifestone. The stone was actually more polished than when I first received it. Revan had given it back to me after I had awakened from my deep slumber of death. I fingered it and looked at it briefly. I then looked again in the mirror and I didn’t recognize the person was me. I couldn’t bear it anymore and forced my gaze away. I grabbed my pack and kissed Michaela softly on the cheek, touched Tulre’s head while he was asleep in his crib and left.

The training courtyard was really a grassy field behind the house. It was actually and old enclosed paddock that used to house draigons. I made my way there with firm strides and listened to the morning sounds of the birds. Revan, Jolee and Juhani were there waiting for me. I climbed over the fence and headed right to where they were waiting. On the way there I froze. I heard something and stopped to listen. The three Jedi were just staring at me and wondered why I wasn’t coming.

I tuned out everything and concentrated on the sound I had just heard. I closed my eyes and let everything melt away. I could feel my muscles tense up as I reached out. After reaching out, I recognized the sound and smiled. I called out, “Mandalore, you need to be a bit more quiet. You too Naomi. You sound like a herd of stampeding banthas.”

They then appeared off to my right about six feet away. I wondered if Jolee had put them up to this. Jolee was always testing to see what new abilities I had. This was an old game, two years old to be exact. I continued towards Jolee and the others who looked at me with some pride. I smiled and teased, “I see you wished to start with a game early in the day Old Man”

“Just making sure nothing’s dulled your senses sonny. At least you never miss an opportunity to run your mouth in a joke,” Jolee replied trying to hide a smile. “Well, we will begin with basic conditioning and then progress in difficulty to sparring.”

I said nothing but willing obeyed. The first few days were hard on my legs, especially my right as I went through nothing but physical stretching and a lot of running to condition my body. In my spare time I worked my upper body redeveloping the muscles that I had conditioned before my fall. During those times, Tulre would watch me with an intent look in his little brown eyes. It was painful but it got better.

During my daily sessions, there was always a warm-up which was followed by a little jaunt through the forest or the plains. Then came the one on one sparring. I was surprised at how well I adjusted to wielding the lightsaber. My first opponent was actually Jolee himself. He threw more Force attacks on me than physical ones but underneath that, he was a formidable opponent. The duels were conducted in a controlled manner especially after the first battle with Jolee.

We were in the middle of a duel when I grew slightly more aggressive. We were supposed to be going half pace. I was complying when I accidentally lost control and gave more fierce and stronger attacks. I actually ended up singeing Jolee’s robes with my lightsaber. He took it rather good-natured but I could tell he was concerned. We continued and I kept my aggressive impulses in check so no one would get further hurt.

Juhani was next after about three weeks of conditioning. She showed no mercy when it came to sparring. It was here that I found the old lessons of Cronus useful and they fit perfectly. Where Jolee was straightforward and to the point, Juhani was lithe and graceful and she made battle seem like a dance at times. I could sense that she still struggled with her anger issues for she was exercising extreme control. I had never worked harder than when I was sparring with her for she had to make me think faster than she and react much faster. During one battle, she managed to knock me backwards onto my back. Without thinking except to react, I arched my back and did a forward flip and landed on both feet squarely and firmly. I felt a brief stint of pain but ignored it as I brought my bronze lightsaber up into a twirl and reposition myself. Afterwards I checked my leg out and saw that it was fine so I didn’t say anything to anyone.

After a month and a half from that first morning, Mandalore came to test me. I had been working extra hard on my body to make sure I could take pain to my leg. It actually made my legs a lot stronger and I no longer limped under stress. The duels with Mandalore I found particularly entertaining and I wondered why I had ever disliked them. In our last duel, it was my best and the most scariest. It reminded me of the first time I battled with Mandalore way back when on Duxn with the intensity and the heat of it. At one point he had kicked my legs out from beneath me and I fell flat on my chest. I then pushed myself up with my arms while drawing on the Force and I twisted in a circular manner and arcing my body I landed on my feet and held my saber in a front ready stance. I had done that move only once before and it came back in a flash as well as the memory of the Blood King, at least how he got me on the ground.

That produced an involuntary reaction of surprise from my audience. It didn’t matter as I had my eye on Mandalore. He came at me with a swing to my left. He had aimed for my head. My reaction was that I had bent backwards so far that it looked like I had bent myself in half. With my saber still lit, I placed my hands on the ground and brought my legs up and kicked at Mandalore’s hands. I followed through with a back flip that put me in a standing position. The vibroblade was sent flying towards my audience at a deadly manner. With my right hand I thrust it out and suspended it in midair when it was dangerously close. It was still spinning as I controlled it with my powers. I then directed it towards the post of the fence where it struck hard and quivered. I slowly lowered my hand and breathed deeply. I deactivated my lightsaber and just held it in my left. A noise broke the silence.

I had not noticed that Carth had come out to bring news that there was a message from the front until he said, “Uh, am I interrupting?” I could tell he was trying hard not to overreact as the vibroblade that I had sent flying had been heading towards his wife just moments ago.

He was waiting for an answer. I was too stunned to answer so Jolee answered instead, “No, we are finished here. Is there something you needed?”

Carth mentioned that a transmission had been received about mobilization of the Rashikians. I was half listening and my gaze was drawn to Revan. She looked slightly pale and I felt concern for her. Through our bond I used my own Force energy to restore the color in her face. It was subtle and I didn’t think anyone would have noticed. She gave me thanks with a smile but also she scrutinized me as if examining me like a sensor probe. I didn’t mind because I didn’t understand it myself. I had never before been capable of moves like that except for that one time. We said nothing as we went to the main house to view the transmission.

Good Chapter JediMaster12. Nice to see Juhani (I don't think I saw her last time).

No not really. I knew the others would come in at different points. Juhani plays a bit of a part in this third segment near the end battle. That's all I will say until I post the next chapter. Maybe tomorrow will bring a new one. Who knows?

Chapter 3: Debriefing and Concerns
The transmission was loud and clear: the governor of Belos was dead as well as most of the family, the civilian populace is being terrorized by the dead that littered the streets and the Blood King had a new warship that is equipped with immense firepower. The Forbidden Stars was bursting with activity. Everyone was silent as Darius gave the report and all had various degrees of sadness and morale decline. I stood near the back with an indifferent expression on my face, one that would please Mandalore himself, but across my vision all I saw was the Blood King with his eagle headdress and the blood. I saw him looking at me with a look that said, ‘Come out, come out wherever you are.’

I was so into what I was seeing, I became distinctly aware that I felt a surge of determination, a will to destroy this evil being. He kept staring at me as if he knew me with that evil grin. I took a closer look and saw something in his eyes that I thought was familiar, I think. He then drew out a blood red lightsaber and waved it menacingly in my direction. My memory then just seemed to pop into place from that day on the cliff. He struck and I physically drew my own lightsaber and ignited it but reacted with a Force push that sent datapads flying all over the place making everyone jump. I stood in a ready position until the vision faded and I became distinctly aware I was standing in the communication room but was still in a daze. I was broken out of it when Mandalore said, “If you can do that in battle then we should have no problem winning.”

HK said, “Observation: It appears the Handsome Meatbag has achieved a new level of violence that sends a buzz through my circuits. May I test him master?”

I looked around at everyone and noticed the datapads strewn all over the place and saw that my lightsaber was ignited. I deactivated it while still looking. I saw nothing but looks of shock on everyone except for the Jedi. My eyes lingered on Revan to make sure she was okay. She actually was looking at me intently but her eyes were full of concern. I briefly wondered if she had seen what I had seen but I was getting too uncomfortable with all the staring. I just said, “Sorry,” and turned around and walked out of there with powerful strides.

I headed towards the jutted rock that overhung the river that ran by the villa. I had found it before on one of my excursions with my son and came to it often when I wanted to be alone. I found just how I had left it and scrambled up the side to the spot where it had been worn smooth and sat there with me legs dangling over the edge. I just sat there in that position and stared at the river, following its flow occasionally with my eyes. Most people would have considered it crazy to be near a river after I fell 300 feet into one but I had always found the river comforting and nothing seemed to deter that love for it. I just sat there thinking about what I had just seen and some of the things that I had done that day. Mostly I concentrated on the eyes. I had seen something or someone and it felt like I had known or met it before. I closed my eyes to deepen my concentration and drew my left leg to my chest and held it with my arms. I didn’t know I had been followed until a gentle voice came to my ears, “That was impressive. Your reflexes I mean.”

I almost fell off when I heard the voice but I managed to steady myself. I turned to find Revan standing there looking at me. She had a slight smile but it was masking her concern and confusion. I adjusted my position so I could look at her clearly. I replied somberly, “I don’t know what came over me.”

“That’s what you said when you started making your little balls of light and when you singed Jolee’s robes about two months ago. You want to talk about it?”

“It’s nothing,” I replied rather brusque.

“Don’t shut me out like you did with everyone else except Michaela and Tulre,” she shot back. It was gentle but firm. “We, I want to know if something is wrong.”

I didn’t know what to say. Since I had noticed the changes in me, I had been keeping people at an arms length from me and our conversations bordered on politeness. I had not achieved that with Michaela, Tulre was too young to understand and with Revan, I couldn’t hide everything from my bondmate. I decided to let her in on what I had been telling Michaela. I sighed and slid off the rock to the ground. No way was I going to let her climb things. I motioned for her to follow me to the orchard and gardens. Once there I explained my suspicions and the feelings that I had experienced. When I got to the recent event I instead asked a question, “Who is Naga Sadow?”

I think that stunned her. She explained that he was an ancient Sith Lord and that he was the thing that she had released when she was Darth Revan. Every piece of information she told me added to the bigger picture. After she told me everything we had actually came to the water fountain in the middle of the gardens. I then asked, “Is this why you wanted me to get ready in my training? To go to the front again?”

“Yes mainly because you are a skilled warrior and,” she paused, “Jolee told me about your ‘revelations’ through the Force and I wanted to see if it affected your physical abilities.”

“Always watching out for me, my Sister,” I replied with a slight chuckle and we headed back towards the house.


Dinner was rather quiet due to the transmission and the little sideshow following that. Everyone was respecting my privacy and I guess it was out of fear that I would get angry and start doing strange things. I was quiet but I would reach under the table and squeeze Michaela’s hand. I had told her of my intentions and she gave me a worried look but she told me that she supported my decisions. I teased her about her cooking and gave her a kiss and left her to finish dinner. I was working up the guts to say something at the table when I noticed the occasional stares in my direction. I avoided it by keeping my head down and concentrated on my plate. Mission was visiting with Zaalbar and she started a conversation about some things she found strange and funny that the Bushida warriors were doing.

I slipped into a deep thought and tuned her out. I was weighing my options and responsibilities in my mind and missed a question. Mission asked again, “J.C., can you pass the salt?”

I snapped my head up and said, “Sure.” I looked at the saltshaker and it moved across the table towards Mission. I was oblivious to the looks from everyone.

Mission replied, “Thanks.”

I said, “No problem,” and went back to my plate. I continued pushing food around with my fork not looking at anyone. I finally broke the silence and said, “I’m going back to the front. I just need an update and not just my general tactical advice.’

I didn’t see Revan heave a sigh but I heard it and felt the relief. It was clear to me then her hidden reason for wanting me to be ready to fight. I sent a feeling of understanding but I think she was confused by it. There were things that I could keep remarkably hidden but when she tried to do the same I had the bad habit of breaking the barriers down. It became a joke between us but I tried to respect the barriers unless it was important. I was contemplating the range of emotions when I felt Michaela squeeze my hand and I returned it.

After that initial silence, Carth was the one that broke it by saying, “Alright. Uh, we were planning on leaving in two days. Can you be ready by then?”

“Yep.” I continued eating. I said nothing more but I could feel a wave of concern from Jolee and Juhani. I swear it seemed as if they were waiting for me to do something like a battle maneuver. Afterwards I went to my room and waited until Michaela came. We then had a long talk.

Things look bad on Belos... Anyway good Chapter. How many Chapters will this Part be?

good story

I've got a little extra time on my hands, so I've decided to check out a few FanFics here and I've got to say this is very, VERY good. JM12, you might consider being a professional writer, if you aren't one already.

P.S. (Yeah I'm kinda gathering readers) If you have the time check out my first FanFic, ''Heir of Darkness''. Right now there's just the prologue, but the first chapter is coming tomorrow.

Very interesting new powers.
One technical detail--when someone is badly injured, the medical folks start working on rehabilitation as soon as possible (and they'll even have someone come in and stretch out the hands and arms and legs--if uninjured--of the patient while the person is still unconscious. The longer you wait, the less you're able to get back.
I'm almost surprised that Carth isn't jealous of Revan's relationship with JC. And I look forward to JC whupping the Blood King. :)