A week of training in cold empty space felt like a month. Carth and his crew were just as restless. No one, it seemed, had a care for his or her current mission. The Jedi had their way of drowning their contempt in meditation and training. For the first time in years, the Jedi had to do something for themselves. War had never been so dull. The Jedi order was under attack by what they feared the most. The dark side of the force had to be fought again by direct opposition just as in the war with Exar Kun. These Sith had spawned from Darth Malak’s Sith academies. As it were, these academies had been founded by Revan before he had returned and made himself known as the new enemy of the Republic. However, he had only used them to teach those that followed him. When Malak took over, he had opened the training academies to all that sought to learn the ways of the Sith.
War after war, people had given up on the notion of peace and it was easy to understand their eagerness to learn to fight. The Sith academy offered them everything: shelter, food and knowledge. Those who were force sensitive were made to feel very welcome. Those who had training, like the Jedi, were practically catered to. The Sith academies were very fruitful, spawning many new soldiers and collecting large numbers of Dark-Jedi. The only problem is that they were leaderless. No one would step up. Perhaps it was out of fear of their own ways, perhaps it was because no one truly felt capable of commanding the Sith empire. It was partly true. No matter how much they had learned of the Sith, they were still no more than apprentices in the grand scheme of things. They had learned that the hard way; from during the last year, there had been a few self-proclaimed leaders in the Sith empire, but none lasted. For when one spoke up, another felt he/she had the right to challenge the speaker. The Sith were almost decimated right then and there. The Dark-Jedi eliminated themselves until they realized that the power of leadership had been out of their reach. They lacked the strength it required to be Sith lords. Even the Jedi padawans that have come to the Sith had very little to offer in the way of leadership and there was not one Jedi Knight left in the ranks of the Sith. There was a power struggle that prevented them from moving forward until it was resolved. In the mean time, the deterioration of the Jedi order from the bottom up meant great potential for the empire, should anyone lay claim. It was only a matter of time before the future of the Sith was secured. They waited to see where their patience would lead them.
Bastila and her master had felt a tremor in the force. They leapt out of their sleep at the same time.
“What is it?†Carth asked his bridge officers while rubbing off the sleep from his face.
“A mid range Sith scout ship sir.†The radar operator confirmed.
“How far?†the Captain asked immediately.
“Five minutes out.†The officer answered.
“Report our present coordinates to the Admiral and then jam all frequencies.†Carth ordered, keeping his professionalism.
“Yessir.†The comm. officer replied enthusiastically.
“Shields up. Put it up on the viewscreen.†Captain Onasi said. He considered calling for Bastila and Kavar but knew that they were probably already on their way. They were Jedi after all.
“It’s a Stinger class. Probably scouting the way ahead for an armada or a convoy.†Carth observed.
“Keep an eye out for any additional ships entering the sector and prepare for an emergency jump to lightspeed.†Carth cautioned. Carth looked at the enemy ship closely.
“It’s coming straight for us sir.†The tactical officer said.
“Probably trying to get close enough to ID us.†The officer added.
“Maintain course and speed.†Carth said at the helmsman.
“How long until we can jump?†The Captain asked the navigations officer.
“Seven minutes.†He answered.
“A walk in the park.†The Captain assured his crew. Moments later, the stinger class ship was in scanning range.
“The Sith vessel has begun to circle us.†The radar officer said.
“It’ll have what it came for soon enough. Just make sure it can’t make any transmissions while it’s near to us.†Carth said.
“What can you tell me about this stinger?†Carth asked the scanning station.
“Three passengers on board. Stinger class, slightly modified.†The scanning officer said slowly as he was analyzing data.
“Weapons?†His Captain asked.
“Minimal… except for what looks like four portside…†The scanning officer spoke before being abruptly interrupted by the tactical officer.
“I’m detecting an Ion discharge. Four Ion torpedoes heading our way.†He said loudly.
“Torpedo tubes.†The scanning officer finished quietly.
“Target those torpedoes lieutenant, all batteries.†Carth said, a little less confident.
“Ion torpedoes. What are they up to?†Carth asked himself.
“Where will they impact?†Carth asked the tactical officer.
“The target seems to be our starboard shields sir.†The lieutenant said.
“Increase power to our starboard shields. I don’t want any residual charge affecting our systems.†Carth said. He could hear the two Jedi entering the bridge just as he finished but he didn’t acknowledge them just yet.
“The stinger is moving towards us now Captain. Heading for our starboard…â€
“Shields, yes I know.†Onasi quickly finished his tactical officer’s assessment.
“How long before our shields recharge if one of those torpedoes hit?†Carth asked smoothly.
“A mere moment Captain.†The lieutenant answered. The torpedoes were within firing range. The tactical officer knew the Proxis well and was confident that he could destroy the torpedoes before they impacted the shields. The Captain, he thought, was only being cautious. The Stinger was moving very fast towards them and so far the torpedoes were evading the counter fire.
“Smart missiles?†The tactical officer asked bemused. Carth shook his head silently and finally glanced at Bastila Shan, who had just received an update from the nav. Officer.
“I sense the dark side.†The Jedi padawan said quickly. Kavar nodded in approval.
“Any chance you can help us?†Carth asked worriedly. Bastila nodded, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was her battle meditation that guided the tactical officer to make the next few impacting shots. Two of the torpedoes were immediately vaporized. A slight tremor in the electronic systems could be felt throughout the ship. An instant after the dimming of his monitor, the tactical officer made another attempt and succeeded in destroying another torpedo. It was dangerously close to the ship and its detonation momentarily disabled his firing systems yet again. The last torpedo struck the shield. This time, a few sparks splashed out of the tactical officer’s console and the bridge lights blacked out for a second. The lieutenant had dived back and hit the floor. Before he could get back up, the ship shock violently and he was thrown back on the floor as a large thud echoed through the ship. The lights came back on and everyone looked at Carth Onasi.
“We’re being boarded.†He said as he shot an impatient stare at the two Jedi across from him. He crossed his arms and waited for them to speak.
“We will deal with them.†Jedi master Kavar bowed at the Captain and left the bridge with his padawan. As mush as he would love to teach the invaders a lesson for attacking his ship, he knew that this wasn’t his fight. Throwing himself at them with a pair of blasters would be a waste of his life.
The pair of Jedi made their way towards the center of the ship where the Stinger had almost crushed itself against the hull of the Proxis in its attempt to dock quickly. The intruders were heading towards the bridge and the Jedi would meet them halfway. Bastila and her master stood between the turbolift and the three Dark-Jedi in the narrow corridor ahead of them. They waited patiently for the triplet to arrive. At least one of them was grinning in anticipation of the upcoming battle. As they all stood looking at each other, that grim became nothing less that a smile followed by laughter.
“Bastila Shan. What an unexpected pleasure.†The Dark-Jedi showed his delight by igniting his lightsaber first and crossing his free arm on his chest as a symbol of respect. Everyone else ignited his or her weapons in turn. All three Dark-Jedi focused on Bastila, completely ignoring the deadly threat of master Kavar’ twin blue-green blades. It didn’t take long for the other two Dark-Jedi to understand the luck and opportunity that this encounter brought them as they felt what it was that their apparent leader had noticed first. They all started to smile. Bastila was well worth the price of facing a Jedi master, it seemed. Kavar made the first move. He threw himself at the pair that was on his side, while Bastila immediately kept the last one occupied with her yellow blade. The leader of the Dark-Jedi allowed master Kavar’ aggressiveness to lead them farther down the hall and away from the Jedi padawan. He didn’t want her to interfere in his two-to-one odds against the master. No matter how strong this Jedi master was, there was always a dark way to use the two-to-one advantage against him. Being a Sith allowed him to do just that. Two crimson red lightsaber blades clashed against two blue-green ones, again and again, making the Jedi master more and more comfortable while dark anticipation grew stronger and stronger along the stretch of the corridor. The Dark-Jedi were well trained and what they lacked in speed and agility, they made up in cunning and ruthlessness. Bastila Shan was quickly gaining the upper hand against her now powerless opponent. As her body’s adrenaline production increased, so did her confidence. It was only a matter of time before she would slice through her enemy’s defenses. The dark leader had to act now. He stepped back momentarily from his fight and allowed a stroke that was meant for him land on his colleague. He instantly forced his blade against the back of the swinging blue-green one and pushed himself forward with all of his strength. Being single-handed and with his blade sandwiched between burning flesh and another lightsaber, his side became as undefended as this Dark-Jedi left his partner. The dying Sith fought with the last inch of strength he had left, preventing master Kavar from shifting his attention to his other side until it was too late. The crimson red blade overpowered him and slowly disintegrated Kavar’ right shoulder flesh. The Sith leader persisted for as long as he was out of danger, breaking through the bones of the now screaming Jedi master. Master Kavar’ arm was almost falling off when the Sith finally took a step back to avoid the other blade that was finally release by his dead friend. Without hesitating, the Dark-Jedi called upon the force to accelerate Kavar’ swing further, leaving his other side unguarded and struck a final stroke at the master’s neck. His body, arm hanging off, fell heedlessly on the floor. The Dark-Jedi moaned in pleasure of his accomplishment and took a look at the Jedi padawan that was now standing motionless behind the carcasses that lay waste in the corridor. Bastila had finished her fight, but she was too late. Her heart was pressed in a vice. Her eyes blistered in flames. Her lightsaber clenched under her firm grip. The scene was horrendous. She glared at her dead protector, not knowing at what moment she would be overtaken by furry. At the moment, pain was the dominant emotion.
“How wonderful that my skills have brought me to you.†The Dark-Jedi broke the silence. Bastila didn’t lift her eyes off the headless body of her master. She simply tightened her jaw and let loose a few tears.
“You are the most wanted Jedi in the galaxy.†The Sith added. Bastila dismissed it as being nothing but Sith pride.
“I will not be made your trophy.†Bastila finally looked her opponent in the eye. Hate had finally swelled within her.
“Trophy? Bastila Shan? I think you underestimate your value.†The Sith laughed. Bastila held her blade horizontally and urged to pounce forward. Something held her back. Perhaps she was afraid that her aggression would get the best of her. She stiffened like a statue and waited until she could tell right from wrong.
“I have felt your dark presence before I was even on board. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that it was you.†The Dark-Jedi said with glee.
“If you think I am one of you, you are sadly mistaken.†Bastila spat.
“The dark side of the force covers you like a cloak. You were once apprentice to the great Darth Malak. You have fallen to the dark side from which there is no turning back. Now that I have liberated you from the grip of the Jedi you are once again free to claim the mantle of the dark side!†The Dark-Jedi said excitedly. His ignorance was insufferable. Bastila couldn’t hold back any longer. This Sith’s delusion was getting under her skin. She struck swiftly and pushed forward violently.
“Let the hate flow through you!†The Dark-Jedi marveled. Sith propaganda, she thought. Her hatred of Darth Malak had never given her strength. If anything, it dulled her power and made her even more helpless against him. He had captured her, tortured her, given her plenty to fear and hate, but all of it had made her more his slave. This vermin was her chance at getting back at him. She did not fear him, but her anger had only once been this focused.
“You will suffer for all that you have done!†Bastila spat. Her words had made him laugh. Her furry was hitting the top. Something had to be done. It was the Sith way to dwell on hate and suffering. She could not be a part of it. She had to back off now. She had to call his bluff.
“You have the aura of the dark lord! I could be at your command, at your mercy! If only you would reach out to me and cleanse me with your dark will.†The Dark-Jedi begged as he noticed the Jedi padawan step back slightly. The mind games had to stop. She was not in a position to deal with any of it. She had no more master and she needed his support now more than ever. If her bond with Revan had become her foe, she would surely lose herself now. The time had come for her to challenge that after all. She had to soak it in, absorb all that was included in her connection to her old companion. She has to bathe in her doubts am immerge a new person, for better or for worse. She would rather take her chances with Revan than fall alone in chaos and in misery.
“I am a Jedi!†Bastila straightened herself showed the composure of a true Jedi. She attacked as a Jedi, with grace and tranquility with the force. She did not fight or struggle from within, nor did she do battle with the Dark-Jedi. All she did was obey the command of the force and trust it’s guidance as she had done countless times before. The force’s will was on her side, and so was Revan’s, it seemed, for her opponent suffered defeat very quickly. Her bright yellow lightsaber had flowed like a wave and anchored itself in the Dark-Jedi’s ribcage. She felt nothing. She made herself aware of her surroundings to be ready to defend from a final desperate blow. It never came. The Sith had yielded in defeat, heart broken by her blade and mind gasping for one last feel of the force. Bastila retracted her blade and let the last body fall to the ground. She knew she would survive this encounter. It was what came next she was afraid of.
As an apprentice of the force, Bastila couldn’t help but play back the events in her mind. She wanted to learn from it and understand what had changed, if anything. She had taken a leap of faith into the unknown, trusting herself completely to someone she could no longer hear or see or touch and whose alliances had always been a hierarchy that begun with himself. She didn’t know what happened. All she knew was that she did feel like herself, perhaps even more than ever. She felt proud and free as she had as a padawan. She was grieved by her loss, yet she had the confidence of someone who had just gained something of equal or greater value. She had given into the will of none other than Revan and she emerged free and clear headed as if it had always been the right thing to do. Where the force would have forsaken her, Revan had been there for her… again.
You are in my very soul. Bastila thought. She felt as though she had just walked through fire and didn’t get burned. Revan was hers; he did not belong to the dark side.
I will find you and I will repay you for what you have done for me. You are my hero. She thought passionately.
“I wish you still served the republic so that I could have everything.†Bastila whispered to herself.
“I do serve the republic.†Carth said aloud. He stood behind Bastila, ready to be needed in some way. Bastila turned around slowly and gave him a soft smile.
“I was talking about Revan.†She pretended to hide a slight irritation in her words.
“Good. For a second there I thought you were talking about yourself.†Carth admitted.
“Yes, Carth, I’m still with you.†Bastila did sound irritated this time.
“Are you sure?†Carth persisted.
“Yes, Carth, I’m sure.†She was really irritated now.
“Welcome back Bastila!†Carth smirked. Her irritation could only mean that she was being herself again. Suddenly the hallway shook so harshly that they both hit the wall as if it was the ground. Claxons sounded all throughout the ship and emergency hatches were being sealed. With a slight residue of adrenaline left pumping through her veins, Bastila was the first one back up from the ground.
“Dead man switch.†Carth said firmly as he was getting up.
“We’d be lucky if my ship is still in flying order.†He said angrily as he reported to the nearest checkpoint along the wall. There was an emergency comm. link there.
“Damage report.†Carth spoke into the small computer in the wall.
“Shields down, decks two and three have been breached. Forward and aft sections have been sealed but no reports of survivors yet. Engines running on auxiliary power only.†The report had been swift and professional.
“Great, our engines are down.†Carth spoke into Bastila’s direction.
“How long to bypass auxiliary power and make a jump to hyperspace?†Carth asked.
“Hours sir, five minimum. We will need to suit up to work on deck two to make it possible.†The officer at the other end of the comm. said. There was a short pause as the tension built up.
“Any more Sith ship appear on radar?†Carth asked, not wanting to know the answer.
“No Captain, nothing to report.†The comm. officer said.
“We have five hours to make better luck, officer. Let’s get these repairs underway immediately.†Carth said gravely.
“Yessir!†the officer said. Bastila didn’t look like she was worried. She was like a Jedi again. It pleased Carth to see her strong and proud once more. It had irritated him in the past, but now Bastila was the only Jedi left on his ship and she had proven herself worthy time and time again. He felt he could trust her now. As he looked at her, he felt calm and confident about her. She had been more reassuring to him than she ever has.
“Are you all right, Bastila?†He asked sympathetically, while keeping his sudden peak of confidence in reserve. Bastila nodded quietly and looked around the corridor once again.
“Suddenly, I’m not so alone.†She said simply as she walked towards the turbolift. He froze for a moment and then followed her up to the command deck. It was obvious to him that something had happened to her, but he knew that it was for the better. It occurred to him that she was talking about Revan. What she meant, however, was beyond him. All he knew is that Bastila was far more interested in reuniting with Revan than he was. He felt that day may come and he had better watch her as it did. He knew how unlimited Jedi determination was, and if someone could find Revan, Bastila could.
Jedi Civil War, chapter 3: Stinger
