Epilogue
Canderous
Two days after the wedding, Carth gathered up his troops and headed out on the Republic transport to return to his own warship, the Eternity. Mission, Dustil, Jolee, and Stefan joined him. Things seemed quiet with the Republic soldiers gone, but I knew that wasn't going to last long. The first wave of Mandoa refugees were due in four months. Construction of the house had started, keeping Bao Dur and me occupied with supervising.
Ladria left three days later. She apparently slipped Atton drugs, ordered the assassin droid to carry him off ship, then took off in the Ebon Hawk in the dead of night with only HK-47 and T-3 for company. Atton was livid when he woke up. Used to his easygoing manner, Atton in a rage rivaled any Mandalorian in camp, and the rest of us could only stare in shock or admiration, depending on the point of view. I myself was impressed with the vocabulary and creativeness of his curses, combined with a truly magnificent potential for destruction.
"Atton," Bao Dur said after the initial wave had abated, "she left this." He held up a holovid disc and Atton made a grab for it. The Iridonian easily snatched it out of reach and I thought Atton might attack right there. Jennet tensed beside me, ready to leap on him if he made a move.
Then like the sudden quiet after a tidal wave, Atton slumped, all the fight draining out of him. He sat abruptly, not even checking if there was a chair behind him. Luckily, there was, and he slouched in it, head down.
"She shouldn't have left without me," he said, and the pain in his eyes when he looked up at us almost made me flinch.
Jennet relaxed, and I felt her sympathy for the man wash over her. She stepped forward and wordlessly crouched in front of his chair, putting her arms around him like a mother comforting her child. He clung to her for a minute, hiding his face in her shoulder. When she stepped away, his eyes were dry but blazing.
"I'm going after her," he announced. "You all can come if you want, but I'm out of here."
"How are you going to do that, son?" I growled. "No ship, and I'll be damned if I let you take the Phoenix."
"Just get me to Onderon," he snarled back. "I've got credits; I'll buy a ship."
"And track her how?" Jennet asked gently. "You know better than anyone that if you don't want to be found, that's easy enough to do."
"Let's see what she has to say before we run off half-cocked," Mira said reasonably.
Bao Dur nodded, and plugged the holodisc into the computer. Ladria appeared on the screen, standing in the common area of the Ebon Hawk. The date stamp in the corner indicated she'd made this the night of the wedding, after the ceremony. Gods know how she found the time or privacy to manage it, but then Ladria was one of the most resourceful women I knew.
"By now, I've left," she said simply, gazing out at us. I figured T-3 had made the recording. "I'm sorry to do it so abruptly, or to have tricked you, Atton. But you can't follow, and it was the only way. None of you can. I don't have the ability to See the way Visas can, or even Kriea did. But she was right; where I'm going, I cannot take anyone I love along."
There were a series of irritated beeps, and a small, sad smile touched her lips. "Besides you, T-3," she agreed.
"You all have work to do," she continued. "The Republic needs you now. I expect Jolee and Stefan will soon meet on Coruscant, to begin rebuilding the Jedi council. All of you, my Padawan, will be needed desperately, especially in light of Bastila's betrayal. I place this trust with you. I won't ask you to make me proud; you all already have."
"Mira, remember your lessons, and listen. Visas, your Sight and wisdom will be a guiding force with the new Order. Disciple, your knowledge and tireless restoration of the archives will be key in pinpointing past mistakes and keeping the Order from repeating them. Bao Dur, your strength and faith will get us through. Along with your incredible ability to build anything out of nothing." A gentle smile crossed her face, and Bao Dur blinked back what suspiciously looked like tears. "That will be our foundation upon which we will build.
"Please tell Admiral Onasi that if Revan is alive, I will bring her back. I know she is, I sense it," she said, almost to herself, then her voice was strong again. "I'll find her.
"Jennet and Canderous, your union has given me so much hope for the future. With the help from you and the Clan, the Republic will be strong again. Be well, and happy. I feel certain we'll meet again in battle, and I am proud to serve with you both."
"Atton…" she paused, and swallowed. "I know you're angry, and have probably already started to prepare to follow me. You know that would be pointless. I need you to wait for me, and help the others with their tasks. You are my heart, and my home. I need both to be there when I return. Please."
Atton glared at the image, but made a short nod and looked away.
"I love you all. May the Force be with you." The holo ended, and we were all silent.
"Do you think she'll find Revan?" Jennet asked softly after a moment.
"I've never known the General to fail," Bao Dur answered. "If it can be done, she will."
"Ladria is a strong woman, and an impressive warrior," I pointed out. "She'll come through."
"And come home," Jennet added, putting a hand on Atton's arm and looking him in the eye. "She loves you."
"Yeah," Atton said bitterly, and I understood. If it had been Jennet, nothing would have kept me from going after her. But then, we had a few advantages that Atton and Ladria didn't.
"I'll see to it Admiral Onasi gets a copy of this," Bao Dur said quietly.
"You do that," I nodded. "It will give him hope."
"Hope is a good thing," Jennet said, taking my arm. "And it crops up where you least expect it."
"Well put, Wildcat," I said, and kissed her cheek.
Author's note: Well, there it is. I don't know when I'll write Ladria's and Revan's story. I'm taking a break for a while, my family has been very tolerant and deserve some undivided attention. I hope everyone has enjoyed this story. Thanks so much for the comments and support! I enjoy hearing from readers, and hope that you all will continue to read and review. It's been a wild ride!
Always, LJ