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Chapter 3: Revelations

After Malak had been defeated, Bastila, like most other citizens of the Republic, had hoped to enjoy many decades of peace. Instead, a group of rogue Sith had broken away from Revan's former faction, plunging the galaxy once more into civil war. Led by a woman named Darth Traya, the Sith Triumvirate began a systemic purge of the galaxy, hunting down all Jedi, killing them by the tens of thousands. Their relentless pursuit virtually wiped out the Order, and a few managed to flee and survive. Had Revan returned to face them, Bastila would have eagerly fought by his side. Together they might have been able to quell the uprising, ending it before the horrors of war enveloped the Republic and millions lost their lives. But she had heard nothing from him since he had set off with Canderous four years earlier. With many Jedi either dead or in hiding, she didn't dare to challenge Darth Traya and her followers alone. With Carth's help, she was able to hide from the Purge, but not all their friends were lucky. While Jolee was able to stay hidden in his old age, Juhani was a major player in the rebuilding of Cathar. She and her fellow Jedi fought hard, but sadly, Darth Sion was too powerful and struck them down.

While Bastila assisted Clark in the Republic's war effort against the new Sith, it had been the Jedi Exile who had fought them directly. Bastila heard stories about her during her time at the Academy, but she never met her face to face. Three years after Revan's unsuccessful attempt to locate her, she had emerged on her own to end their reign. Like Revan before her, she became the savior of the galaxy. And also as with Revan, there were many who felt her recent actions could not atone for the sins of her past. The death on Malachor 5 was on such a scale that it became a story of nightmares.

Now this woman—a hero to some, a villain to so many others—was sitting in the living room of Bastila's apartment. Just outside the door, he could hear Canderous exchanging words with HK-47. Turning back to the one in front of her, Bastila wasn't sure what to make of the woman before her. Meetra had short brown hair, pale white skin, and piercing blue eyes. She was taller than Bastila, and almost a decade older, though she would still be considered beautiful by any empirical measure. She possessed a presence and confidence, along with enviable natural grace. She was clad in the simple robes of a Jedi Master, but somehow she managed to make even the drab brown cloth seem stylish.

Foolish as it was, Bastila couldn't help but feel some hint of jealousy. Meetra had known Revan long before Bastila; she had answered his call to go to war against the Mandalorians, and in doing so she became one of his most trusted advisers and closest friends. Bastila knew Revan and Meetra had shared a special bond, not unlike that of Padawan and Master. Worst of all, Meetra was an integral part of Revan's lost past—a past he had felt compelled to go in search of, even though it meant leaving her.

'Calm down, Bastila. There's nothing to fear about her,' she thought. "You said we needed to speak," Bastila said.

"I wasn't sure if we should come," Meetra admitted. "I understand this might be difficult for you, T3 said it was urgent." She reached out and patted the little astromech accompanying her on the head.

The last time Bastila had seen T3-M4 he had been boarding the Ebon Hawk with Revan and Canderous. Revan was still missing, but the droid had returned. Clearly he had latched on to Meetra, following at her heel as he had once followed Revan. It was one more small detail to feed Bastila's irrational jealousy.

"Whenever I asked him and Revan, he wouldn't answer," Meetra added.

Bastila smiled faintly. "I gave him special instructions the night before he left with Revan. I told Tee-Three if they ever became separated, he had to come find me. I programmed him so he wouldn't tell anyone else what had happened until I heard it first."

Meetra nodded. "That was for the best. We've both experienced enough betrayal to understand you never know whom to trust."

"I never imagined I'd be in hiding when he returned," Bastila continued. She turned to the little Utility Droid. "I'm sorry about that, Tee-Three. If I'd known you were back, I would have tried to contact you."

The droid nodded it's head and beeped in acceptance of her apology.

"Fortunately, he found me," Meetra said. "I guess he thought I was the next best thing, given my history with Revan."

Bastila bit her lip. She knew her feelings of resentment were neither justified nor fair, but even her training couldn't quell her emotions.

The Exile sensed her unease. "Then again, he might have needed me to find you," Meetra added quickly.

Bastila's expression warmed. "He was always a loyal companion ever since Taris. He helped Revan manage his repair shop alongside HK. Although, the Rustic Droid was kept in the back for obvious reasons." She patted T3's head. "The little guy seems to have a habit of joining galaxy saving quests," Bastila remarked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

The droid beeped in slight agitation.

"I'm sorry," Bastila said again. "You're right. I suppose I have been stalling. You've been very patient so far. I feel that I'm not ready to hear the bad news." Bastila often wondered if Revan was still alive. She'd always imagined their love would let her sense him through the Force, even across the breadth of an entire galaxy. Once he left, she learned that it wasn't true. Some nights she would dream of him, but she was never sure if these were true visions or merely manifestations of the loneliness she'd felt since he'd gone. Still, she believed she would have sensed a disturbance in the Force if he had died. Clinging to that gave her hope. Now, however, her belief might be exposed as a mere illusion if T3 told her that Revan was dead. She wanted to hear the truth, of course, but she was determined to hang on to the fantasy for just a few seconds longer.

Meetra placed a comforting hand on Bastila's shoulder. "I know this is difficult. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with the past. There's no shame in you doing the same. Tee-Three's waited three years for this. I'm sure he can wait a little while longer."

Her words were meant as comfort, but Bastila sighed bitterly. "Maybe this would be easier if Tee-Three and I spoke in private."

The request caught Meetra off guard. She glanced at the droid and back to her, and she quickly regained her composure. "Maybe so, but Canderous told me all about Revan and his search for the storm-covered world. There's nothing to worry about."

Bastila grimaced. She'd heard rumors that a Mandalorian had aided the Exile in her battle against Darth Traya. "Is it true? Is Canderous the new Mandalore?"

Meetra nodded. "Revan helped him find Mandalore's Mask before continuing on alone."

"What else do you know that I don't?" Bastila asked, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Meetra frowned at the developing situation. "I'm sorry. Did... Did I do something wrong? I'm not trying to hide anything from you," Meetra assured her earnestly.

"No. No, you didn't." Bastila took a deep breath. Flashbacks of her time with Revan resurfaced.

Revan hugged her from behind in their quarters on the Ebon Hawk. "Bastila, if we're gonna make this work, we need talk about it. If you don't want to, just say so, but we will have to eventually." Bastila slowly nodded as the two spooned each other in the bed.

Bastila shook he head back to the present. The woman in front of her was searching for an answer. "In a way, seeing you makes me jealous."

Meetra blinked in confusion. "What?"

The younger woman gestured to the Exile. "I mean, look at you. You were his General during the war. You defeated the Sith and saved the galaxy by your own hands. Even T3 and HK like you. Being pretty is just another plus. I can even sense the bond you had with him..." Bastila slouched with her head in her hands. "Meanwhile, I'm just a girl who couldn't defeat Malak and hid as almost all the Jedi were purged. Maybe Revan and I don't deserve each other..." Before she could sulk even further, a sharp pain reached her forehead, causing her to look up and see pouting Meetra.

"Stop thinking like that."

"But. I-"

Meetra stuck a finger to her lips. "Hush. Now listen. Were Revan and I together during the war? Yes, but the battle of Malachor 5 broke me. I left Revan and the Order, because I couldn't look them in the eyes after what I had done. I chose my exile, not anyone else. I got so bad that I repressed everything for a time."

Bastila nodded to her words. "You remind me of an old friend, Jolee Bindo. He too chose to exile himself from the Order and others. He couldn't live with himself after the incident with his wife."

"When Revan and Malak came back as Dark Lords, I remained in my exile doing nothing." Her smile became downcast. "As my mentor once said, apathy is death. The man I loved was hurting people, and I chose to do nothing. But you..." Ber expression brightened as she gripped both of Bastila's hands. "You were there when the galaxy needed it the most. You saved Revan from himself. You helped him save the Galaxy. Your Battle Meditation saved many lives during the final battle." She smiled. "I'm positive that he loves you as much as you love him."

Bastila's expression softened, suddenly ashamed of her previous behavior. "Thank you. I didn't know that I needed to hear that."

"We all have our moments of weakness."

"All that matters is that you learn to overcome them," Bastila finished. In turn, she held Meetra's hand. "I'm sure Revan would be happy to see you again."

Her smile wavered. "I don't know. I don't want to make things difficult for you."

Bastila laughed a bit at herself. "If having you in our lives ruined the relationship, then we weren't meant to be together in the first place."

"That's sweet of you to say. Come here. Bring it in." Meetra wrapped Bastila in a big hug. Bastila hesitated for a moment before reciprocating the gesture. Both would be lying if they said their eyes weren't a bit wet.

"I think we had enough of a heart to heart for now. If you still wish, I can leave the room. You are his lover. You have more right to the truth than anyone." Meetra got up, but Bastila pulled the woman back to her seat.

"In that case, you have the same right," she said. "You stood by Revan's side at the beginning; he had no truer friend. Whatever Tee-Three has to say, we should hear it together." She looked back to the door. "It would be for the best that see as well.

Meetra smiled at her and accepted her hand.

Bastila welcomed her old companions into her home. Canderous stood tall as ever, and HK made his usual snide remarks.

"It's been a long time, Princess."

"I never thought I would see Mandalore face to face," she replied with a smirk.

Canderous placed a fist to his chest. "Aye. You can thank Revan for that when we find him. He gave my people a chance to redeem themselves, to unite and fight against the threat in the Unknown Regions."

"I'm sure he will be proud." Bastila smiled before turning to the homicidal assassin droid. "It's good to see you, HK."

"Greeting: As it is for you, Mistress. It is fortunate that a meatbag like yourself survived the Purge. Master would be most unhappy if you were dead."

The woman sighed. "Yeah... I missed you too HK." he clapped her hands. "Now, you two take a seat, so we can start catching up on everything." It took little time for them to get seated around the Astromech. Taking a deep breath, Bastila sat down on the living room chair, facing her guests. She folded her hands in her lap, mentally bracing herself for what was to come. "I'm ready," she said to T3.

In a series of beeps, chimes, and holorecordings, T3 relayed his story. He began with Revan returning to the Ebon Hawk on Rekkiad. He told them how he and Revan had left Canderous behind and journeyed to Nathema alone.

Canderous confirmed this part, adding a few details of his own.

T3 described the unexpected attack on the Ebon Hawk and the near-fatal crash landing on Nathema's surface. He had checked on the unconscious Revan to make sure he was still alive, but he had been forced to hide when someone else boarded the ship. He played the holorecording of the incident. A red-skinned man had taken Revan off the ship.

Bastila gasped, knowing the species from the history books. "I can't be. I thought they were all gone after Korriban and the Hyperspace wars."

"Kreia was right. I guess the True Sith aren't as extinct as the Jedi thought," Meetra said.

"The Order is wrong again," Bastila muttered.

Canderous rolled his eyes. "Big surprise."

"Declaration: Had Master took me and Mandalore with him, this would have never happened. I would finally be able to add these True Sith to my list of targeted species. That vagrant wouldn't know what hit him."

Canderous huffed. "Maybe, assuming we also didn't get incapacitated by the blast."

T3 let out a low whistle, apologizing for his cowardice.

"Statement: You let the man take our Master without even a hint of resistance. You should be more than sorry."

"Stop it HK!" Bastila glared at the orange droid before comforting the little droid. "That wasn't cowardice." If the legends are true, then only a few people can match their skill. "If you hadn't hidden, they'd have captured you, too, or turned you into scrap."

"As much as I hate to admit it, the little guy did the smart thing," relented Canderous.

"You were outgunned and likely outnumbered. The only way you could help Revan was by making it back to us in one piece," Meetra added.

"Reluctant Statement: I suppose I shouldn't have expected a lot from you, T3. Unlike me, you didn't receive the necessary upgrades for heavy combat. I'll be sure to change that in the future. Your actions were sufficient, for now."

Mollified, T3 expressed his thanks and continued his story. He told them how Revan was taken onto a waiting shuttle and whisked away. With his master gone, returning to Bastila became the astromech's primary purpose, as per her last-minute instructions before they'd left Coruscant. The first step involved getting the Ebon Hawk airborne again. The droid described in detail his arduous efforts to repair the damage done by the crash. For months he scoured the streets of the deserted city, gathering scrap, salvage, and other necessary parts.

Canderous chuckled. "You fixed the down ship all on your own? Hah. I knew you were more than worth the credits back on Taris."

"And you never saw anyone during that time?" Meetra asked. "No refugees? No looters?"

"Query: Nothing to kill for months? It would have been torture for me to be there."

T3 chirped out a confirmation.

Bastila blinked in surprise. "No animals? No insects? Not even any plants? How could the entire population of an entire world just be wiped out?"

Canderous frowned with a knowing expression.

Meetra shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and Bastila knew she was thinking back to her role in the massacre of Malachor V. She felt empathy for the other woman. Bastila didn't condone what she had done, but she understood what it was like to be ashamed of acts in your past. She herself had let Malak turn her to the dark side; only the power of Revan's love had redeemed her. Bastila sensed that despite all Meetra had done to stop Darth Traya, she was haunted by guilt and remorse. She was still looking for redemption.

T3 beeped that the planet was different than that of Malachor V. There were no signs of an explosion, but it was as if all life withered and died.

Meetra paled a bit. "That sounds like the work of Nihilus or someone who could do the same."

Bastila nodded. "Yes. I heard about the devastation of Katarr."

"Visas Marr is still recovering from her time with Nihilus." Meetra took a breath. "I was told she would help the Jedi rebuild."

Unaware of the tension in the room, the droid continued his tale. After nearly a year, he was finally able to get the Ebon Hawk airborne again, though its hyperdrive core was only operating at minimal efficiency. The Hawk limped back to Republic space. By the time it arrived, Traya and her followers had all but wiped out the Jedi. With Bastila off the grid, T3 didn't know where to search for her, or whether she was even alive. It was during this time that the little astromech droid stumbled across the disassembled pieces of HK-47, abandoned on a remote and nameless world. Recognizing his old companion, the little droid gathered up the pieces and stored them on the Ebon Hawk.

"Statement: That incident will forever stain my reputation."

"I told you not to go off on your own, but you ignored me as usual," chastized Bastila. The chance encounter was the kind of coincidence that Bastila would have chalked up to the influence of the Force had T3 been an organic being. "How did you even end up in that situation, HK?" she asked.

Before the droid could answer, Meetra shook her head, answering on his behalf. "I tried to figure that out too, but his memory core was damaged. I repaired what I could, but he was unable to recall anything."

"I suppose that makes sense. Even After Revan repaired HK, HK's memories didn't return until after he was confirmed to be back with Revan. His internal failsafe must still be active." Canderous added.

"Declaration: As soon as I am fully operational, the ones responsible will regret their entire lives.."

Bastila nodded. "Tee-Three," she said. "Tell us the rest of your story. What happened next?"

The astromech continued his tale. After finding the disassembled bits of HK-47, he found the wandering Meetra, joining her as he had joined Revan many years before. By the time he learned Bastila was alive, he was once again caught up in a battle for the Republic's survival. Despite his instructions, he knew he couldn't abandon Meetra until the safety of the Republic was secured.

His confession caused Bastila to feel another surge of bitterness. T3 had chosen to help Meetra instead of following her instructions. He'd put the Exile's mission above his loyalty to Revan. The emotion passed as quickly as it came, replaced by guilt and shame. Bastila's love for Revan had once again momentarily blinded her to logic and reason. Her husband was one man; it was foolish to value his life against the fate of millions. If Revan had been standing in the room, he would have congratulated the droid for putting the greater good above personal wants and desires. "Revan would be proud of you," she told the little droid. "I'm proud of you, too."

"I think our path is clear," Meetra declared. "We will go to Nathema, find Revan, and rescue him."

"Heh, looks like the gang's back together, most of us anyways." Canderous stood up and stretched his back. "When Revan and I embarking on a mission to locate Mandalore's Mask, we decided against taking Vao and Zaalbar with us. They deserved some peace for their war effort."

They all learned that Revan had left because he believed there was something in the Unknown Regions that was a far greater threat than any the Republic had ever faced. Guided by his visions of a storm-covered world, he thought his journey was the only way to protect the future.

Bastila teared up a bit. "It's hard to believe that this is really true. He's still out there. I just … I miss him. All this time, I felt so helpless. So useless. All I did was wait. You don't understand how hard it's been."

"I can only imagine how you've suffered," Meetra replied gently. "I wish I could say it will get easier. But I fear that may not be the case. We all had burdens to bear, and this was yours." Her words offered little comfort, but Bastila appreciated her honesty. "We will do everything in our power to find Revan," Meetra promised. "If he is still alive, we will do whatever it takes to bring him back."

T3 beeped twice.

"I would be honored if both of you came with us," Meetra told them.

"Of course. You're going to need all the help you can get to fight these Sith," she said.

"Then we must leave as soon as possible," Meetra declared, rising to her feet.

"Maybe not just yet," Bastila said. Leaving Meetra and T3 to in the living room, she rushed into the bedchamber and opened the wooden chest tucked away in the back of her closet. She grabbed an item, then returned to her waiting guests.

"It's about time that I returned this to Revan," she said, placing the item in Meetra's hands. It was a heavy object wrapped in a swath of black cloth. Meetra glanced at her, silently asking permission to unwrap it. Bastila answered with a subtle nod. Meetra unwound the cloth carefully, revealing a worn and scarred metal helmet with a red-and- gray faceplate.

"Revan's mask!" Meetra gasped.

Just as surprised, Canderous stared at the mask that they fought against during the war. "I always knew that would come back. There's a history in there."

Meetra looked to the woman. "I thought it was lost when he was captured by the Jedi strike team."

"I led that strike team," Bastila reminded her. "I don't know why, but I took it when Revan fell. Perhaps even then I sensed our fates were intertwined. I never told anyone. Not the Council. Not even him."

"Why not?"

Bastila hesitated, then decided Meetra deserved to know the truth. "Revan wore the mask during the Mandalorian Wars, and during his time as Darth Revan. To me, it symbolizes his dark past—a relic from a time before he became the man I loved. I was afraid that if I showed it to him, it might trigger something inside his mind. It might awaken some dormant evil, rekindle the spark of the dark side."

"Then why give it to me now?"

"I tried to keep Revan's past at bay, but now I understand what was wrong. I was being selfish. His past is a part of him, whether I like it or not." She looked away from the mask. "When we find him, we'll give him the mask. It might mean nothing to him now, but there's a chance it will bring back some of what he has lost. Seeing it might restore crucial memories that will help us return safely."

"What if your fears are right?" Meetra asked, her voice grim. "The mask could bring back his memories. But what if it does more? What if it unleashes the power of the dark side in him?"

"If our bond is true, then this will simply be another huddle for us to face together," Bastila said defiantly. "I have faith that he will still be the man I love."

Canderous shrugged. "Worst-case scenario is that we slap the dark side out of him if he tries to conquer the galaxy again."

Meetra laughed at the rather blunt plan before reassuring Bastila. "He was there for you when you fell and brought you back. I have no doubt you will be there for him to do the same." The other woman rewrapped it in the cloth and tucked it safely away beneath her robes.

"Alright, enough of the sappy stuff. We've got work to do!" declared Canderous.

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