"I hope," said Revan "that you're impromptu promotion was not to inconvenient for you."

Ailene and Revan were sitting at the back of the speeder which was taking them back the hangar bay. Another pilot droid had the honor of escorting the heroes of Chiron to their destination though the droid neither knew or cared about the honor.

"I think I'll manage somehow" Ailene said with a laugh. Her life had changed almost overnight. New quarters had been assigned to her, with attendants and advisors. Her salary had almost quadrupled. She was planning to send her family a very nice bonus by the end of the month.

Revan had announced his intention to leave the following morning after the funeral despite Ailene's and other civilians pleas for him to stay and enjoy some of the sites. He had politely refused however, stating it was paramount that the Jedi Council be given a full debriefing.

Ailene had forcefully asked to escort him to the hangar bay at the very least. He accepted with good grace. The pair had left to general fanfare from the city, with many calling out their name. The prisoner Tarken and Milas had left for Revan's craft a few hours earlier, escorted discreetly by Kesslar and his guards.

They sat languidly now in the back seats of the speeder, chatting and feeling more relaxed than they had in a long time. Ailene talked about her family life and her hobbies, quite the opposite of the stilted conversation she had shared with Revan on the initial ride into the city.

"You never did mention that the…the Sith were behind all this," she remarked at one point.

"The civilians of Chiron have been through enough trauma with the mercenaries." Revan remarked. "The Sith are a matter for the Jedi Knights to handle. It is my intention that Chiron will never feel the Sith's blighted touch again." He scratched idly at some of his scars that were still healing.

"I guess its better the governor didn't know anyways…he'd probably have a heart attack if he knew how close his city was to financial ruin."

Revan smiled at the remark. Ailene felt a lot more comfortable around him now. Being together in life and death situations tended to remove any misgivings people had of each other.

Ailene purposely kept her mind occupied on talking about other things. As they got closer to their destination though she began to feel the same lump in her throat when they saw the Master die.

When they were at the funeral.

The transport reached the parking area of the hangar bay. They walked towards the long empty chamber towards Revan's starship.

"When will you be leaving on your first mission?" asked Revan as they walked the empty corridor. Their footfalls echoed through the chamber.

"As soon as I get a better idea how not to stick my foot in my mouth" said Ailene with a smile. "Apparently, it's insulting to other delegates when you're honest and open-minded."

Revan gave a soft laugh. "Diplomacy is like a battlefield. You wield your tongue like you would a sword. Secrecy and guile will serve you well in that arena." Revan gave her an encouraging nod.

"I have no doubt you will become more adept with your words than I will with my blade."

"I could hardly doubt your words anymore could I?" she said playfully.

They approached the starship with Kesslar standing at attention.

"Ambassador" he said formally. "The prisoner and Jedi have been moved into the ship and are secure. The dockmaster has informed me that all travel lanes are open and awaits your command to disengage the locking clamps."

"Thank you Lieutenant" said Revan formally. He put out his hand which Kesslar shook firmly. "It has been my honor to serve you and your city these past few days."

"You are too kind sir." Said Kesslar. His posture became less formal. "If I could speak freely?"

Revan nodded.

"You saved this city Revan" Kesslar said, addressing the other Jedi by his name for the first time. "You came, you saw, and you brought swift justice like you said you would."

Kesslar gave a broad grin.

"In all my years, I have never seen anything more inspiring than what you did to those mercenaries. Chiron will never forget it."

Revan gave a slight bow. "We all serve the Repbulic Kesslar. While men like you remain vigilante, the galaxy can withstand any hardship. Stay true to yourself and your station, and the Repbulic will be better for it."

Kesslar smiled and gave a sharp salute. "If you'll excuse me sir, I'll be returning to the city."

Revan nodded again and Kesslar turned to leave. He stopped for a moment next to the equerry. "I'll see you at the transport."

Ailene nodded and the lieutenant left.

It was only Revan and Ailene now standing at the mouth of the starship. Ailene knew this moment was coming. She had thought of a dozen things to say to make this less awkward. The thing she promised herself the most though was that she wasn't going to cry.

She really should stop making promises that she couldn't keep.

Ailene felt the tears in her eyes well as she tried to look up at Revan. In such a short time she had met a person that had changed her whole outlook on life, her very livelihood. He had saved her world and made sure that it would stay safe in all the years to come.

And now he was leaving.

She briefly thought about making some ridiculous excuse for her tears like she was having her period but that would probably have made it worse still.

Revan seemed to understand. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You are a person of courage and integrity Ailene. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He lifted her chin to look at her. "I know you will do your station proud."

"Will-Will I ever see you again?" she asked between her shaking sobs.

"The galaxy is a large place" said Revan wistfully. "It is filled with pain and tragedy, but also with joy and wonder." He patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Whatever the future holds, know that the Jedi Knights are always vigilante, and will watch over you. Always."

Ailene nodded jerkily but could not respond for several moments.

"I have something for you."

She looked up in surprise at the words. Revan had unclasped his cloak. It was the same cloak he wore when they first met, when they had traveled to the complex and when they had laid the Jedi Master to rest.

"I didn't buy it exactly." He said with a slight smile. "but I hope you may accept it all the same."

Ailene took the cloak with trembling hands. It felt like the finest wool, soft and silky. The grey material seemed to shift and adjust to the contours of her hand.

"Revan – you can't-"

"I can" said Revan gently. "Take it as a sign of what I said just a few moments ago. Whenever you see it, I hope you will remember the Jedi fondly."

Ailene couldn't even describe the emotion she was feeling. She put it on immediately, feeling the soft touch of the cloak against her face.

"I'll wear it on every mission I go. It will be part of my official garment as my role as a diplomat" she said softly.

"I hardly think grey is a suitable color for a diplomat" Revan remarked dryly.

"Whoever disagrees can go *$#% themselves" said Ailene sharply. She was surprised by the force of her own words, blushing furiously after she heard them.

Revan laughed. He was getting ready to leave when Ailene waved her hands frantically. "Wait! Wait!"

She began unbuttoning her outer coat.

Revan looked with a raised eyebrow until she had managed to take herself of the pesky piece of clothing, no small feat with the cloak still on. Some of her…stuffing fell out but she didn't care.

"Please, take this" stammered Ailene. She shoved the equerry's uniform into Revan's hands. "I'm not going to be wearing it much longer anyways."

"And besides" she laughed awkwardly. "who needs that now that I have this" she patted her new cloak affectionately.

Revan looked at the coat with an unreadable expression. Eventually he turned to Ailene and bowed again. "I'll treasure this always" he said sincerely.

Ailene nodded jerkily. Before she lost her nerve she rushed up to Revan and embraced him. She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Please be safe out there Revan."

Revan patted her back gently. "And you as well Ailene. For the Republic."

"For the Republic" Ailene whispered.

They separated. Revan gave her one last smile and walked up the ramp into his starship. The hatch closed as he entered, the interior gloom coming to embrace his form again. Suddenly he was gone, like a spirit back into the void.

Ailene watched as his shift slowly left the docking bay rising up like a graceful bird to fly up into the heavens. She stayed for many moments after the ship had left her view in the sky.

Eventually with extreme reluctance, she turned and walked back towards the corridor they came from. She stopped to pick up the objects that had fallen out of her person

before walking through the long empty hall, her grey cloak billowing softly in the wind.

"It was an…interesting meeting to say the least, wouldn't you say so Revan?" asked Vandar as he had hobbled slowly out of the council chamber.

Revan nodded, frowning at the outcome of meeting. He had entered the council chamber at the Jedi Temple of Coruscant with the prisoner and all the council members present. Vandar had asked most of the questions, with the other members looking on dispassionately.

Tarken had confessed everything about the mercenaries and his involvement, detailing how the communications had been disrupted and how they managed to ambush the various transports leaving the city. He left nothing out, knowing his best chance at leniency was to fully cooperate with the Jedi. After his confession he had been marched out by fellow Jedi escorts to a holding cell.

The discussion had then turned to the true menace that had orchestrated these whole events. At first the council members had listened with grave concern at the threat these Sith had posed. Revan made sure to point out that these Sith were not the usual vermin that plagued the Republic but savage and unpredictable individuals from a region everyone knew precious little about. The council had expressed their grief at the loss of a fellow Jedi member although Revan saw precious little of it on their faces.

It was not until Revan told them the Sith's intentions and how they were lured into the trap that the Jedi council became…intransigent.

"You are suggesting that one of the Jedi in this chamber betrayed the order" said a female warrior. She had bright silver hair and an unforgiving frown.

"I do" replied Revan unconcerned with her tone. "Unless the decision to send Jedi to that world was made outside of this body."

"The decision to send Jedi Knights was made with the utmost consideration of our resources and disposition. We do not risk our brethren lightly." A golden haired warrior with an equally foreboding presence.

"The Sith Lord was quite specific as to the method of their trap Masters" said Revan in a neutral tone. "He had no reason to lie to me."

"He had no reason to tell you the truth." Retorted another member. "For all we know he was simply goading you with a fanciful tale to taunt your presence in his domain."

"I had considered that." Said Revan "but the data I recovered made frequent references to the Talon cult and their associate's demands for resources soon."

Revan spread his hands out.

"This person's name was not included in the transcripts but the message was clear. If nothing else then their need for Jedi was true."

"We cannot know the full scope of the Sith's plans with a few discarded dataslates." Said the first female. "If you had left one of them alive, perhaps we could have ascertained the truth." Her face was dismissive.

"Until then, all we have are half truths and the words of a Sith Lord."

Revan said nothing but it was clear from his expression that at that moment he thought all the Masters were particularly stupid children.

"We do not call you a liar Revan" said Vandar soothingly. "But understand, we could not simply send more warriors to the Unknown Regions on a whim and vague evidence."

Vandar raised a placating hand. "We will discuss these matters in a closed session. Until then, you have the thanks of the council for executing this mission with such efficiency."

His words signaled the end of his contribution to the meeting. Revan bowed to the Masters and made to move for the exit.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a shadow that seemed to move slightly behind the pillars of the room. Revan looked a moment longer and walked out.

That had been almost an hour ago. Revan had waited that time outside the chamber until the council members left the room. Many Masters turned to look at him, some nodding, others with various expressions of contempt. Revan said nothing until he saw Vandar leave the council chamber, the last Master apparently to do so.

Coming back to the present Revan gave a thin sigh at Vandar's question.

"With respect Master, the Sith force is real. There will be more coming for retribution. I urge at the very least to send a standing force to guard Chiron from future danger. They will want to know what happened to their initials forces."

Vandar nodded. "That was one of the things we talked about. We are willing to send a token force into that region to ensure no mercenary activity resumes within that sector. Chiron should be given a chance to recover."

Revan nodded, knowing he couldn't ask for much more.

"I know you think the Jedi council…resistant to most of your advice Revan. It is our way to be slow and deliberate. We must consider the ramifications of all our moves. The Republic looks to us to show them the way."

"I can respect that Master." Said Revan. "However I urge you to send me to investigate these matters further."

"In time Revan, I suspect we will do just that." Said Vandar. "Until then, please, meditate and think upon the things you have seen. Steel your soul against the hardships you endured, and you will find peace."

Revan nodded. "By your leave Master, I will go check on the padawan." Milas had been placed in the care of the Jedi healers. Hopefully they could heal some of the wounds in his soul.

Vandar nodded. "Force be with you Revan." The Jedi Knight gave another bow and walked away down the halls of the Jedi Temple.

Vandar stood for a long time after Revan left. He suspected someone would want to talk to him.

A shadow descended over his tiny form.

"You believe his words." Came a cold and authoritative voice.

"Of course" said Vandar wearily. "When has Revan let us down?"

"All the more reason to do what I suggested before." His voice made it sound anything but a suggestion.

"It is…unheard of in our time." Said Vandar. "This thing you ask. The Jedi council at large do not even acknowledge its authority.

"This is a time of turbulence. Of betrayal." Said the other figure. He was tall and dark, with a foreboding presence. "Its need has never been greater."

Vandar still looked uneasy. "The council…will not vote in favor of this. They think Revan proud and headstrong…that his path will lead to damnation."

"They call Revan proud because he is cold to certain members of the council. I think he has good reason to be wary of them. As for being headstrong…that is a word they use when Revan discovers things they would rather he not know."

The gaunt figure walked slowly to face Vandar.

"The council does not have the authority here. The Lady…she has asked for Revan. Even the Jedi council is subservient to her will."

Vandar looked defeated by those words. "The Jedi…only a very precious few know of her. Some will deny her very existence."

"They cannot deny her will." Said the dark figure. He walked away then leaving Master Vandar to look at a gathering storm over the horizon of the Jedi temple.

That's my first story regarding Revan's exploits. Depending on reader interest I may continue with another one. I'll just have to wait and see I suppose. Anyways user feedback is always appreciated. If you want to see a picture of Revan in this story go to

rogermein1 (dot) deviantart (dot) com