Twisted Morality (Part III of "Only Light Can Cast Shadow" AU KOTOR FanFiction)

[Lady Revan]

After some debate whether or not to do so, I've decided to post Part III of my FanFiction series "Only Light Can Cast Shadow." Since Parts I and II are technically prequels to Part III, the reading of the first two is net necessary for the third. HOWEVER, this being said, if you are not familiar already with the plotline of the Knights of the Old Republic game, this section will contain some spoilers as to events in the first two (first spoilers come in the prologue, but the rest should be mostly safe until close to the end of this part; none of the spoilers should affect those who already know the main KOTOR plotline, as the personalized aspects of the first two do not hold much sway over the third portion). Please be advised to read at your own risk if you are not familiar with the plot of the games. You have been warned.

Just a reminder as to the format, each section begins with a prologue in first person from a character who will be one of the main focuses of the section. The consequential chapters will all be in third person. Thir prologue is shorter than part 1 (or 2 for that matter) but it does contain spoilers relating to characters that exist in Part 1 if you've not played KOTOR.

I have the first couple chapters written (2 and 3, currently working on 1) but I'll space them out a bit before posting. Chapter 17 of part 1 is proving quite the doozy and I want to feel like I've accomplished something. lol


PART THREE PROLOGUE

   My name is Gwen Dakaal. I was born on Deralia—a small planet on the Outer Rim, not far from Hutt Space. There’s not much to see there in terms of tourism. The capital is a beautiful place, but most of the planet is simply farmland. Personally, I couldn’t stand it. I've always fancied myself more of a city girl and spacer than the country type. I left some time ago and worked as a smuggler for several years. I never did any serious hauls… usually just minor spice or blaster shipments. It wasn’t great work, but it paid the bills.

After all, I was alone. My parents both died during the attacks leading up to the Mandalorian War. I didn’t join the effort then—after all, I didn’t want trouble, just to make a living for myself. But when our heroes from the Mandalorian War turned on the very Republic which they had previously saved, I couldn’t bring myself to continue turning a blind eye. I joined the Republic forces in hope to prevent other families from being torn apart by the plague of war. Unfortunately, it is a plague which seems to have no clear end in sight.

   When the Mandalorians surrendered, Revan, Malak, and the Jedi who had served under them were considered heroes. But after the war, they disappeared. No one heard from them until their return two years later. But this time, they were different. The Dark Side had taken a hold over them and they had joined the Sith Empire. They started a new war—a war of Jedi against Jedi, and a war against the Republic. It was the start of the Jedi Civil War.

Battle after battle was fought, with many casualties on both sides… Though while the Republic forces seem to diminish and to dwindle, the Sith seem to continue growing stronger and more numerous. When Revan and Malak had returned, they brought with them a new fleet, unlike that the Republic has ever seen before.

Things were desperate when a small strike team of Jedi led by Bastila Shan boarded Revan’s flagship and challenged the Dark Lord. It is said that during this time, Malak betrayed his Master, and Revan finally met an end at the hands of the Jedi strike team.

After the death of Revan, Darth Malak, Revan’s apprentice, claimed the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith for himself. However, his tactics were quite different than his Master’s. Revan was a tactical genius, employing stealth, subtlety, and manipulation, turning his enemies to support his cause… whereas Malak commands in terror and fights with brute strength, destroying all obstacles in his path, as was the case in his order for the destruction of Telos IV even during his Master's lifetime.

Currently, I am assigned aboard the Endar Spire, accompanying this Jedi, Bastila Shan, on a mission from the Jedi Council. None of us onboard are entirely certain as to what this mission is, other than that we are supposed to protect her with our lives. She is said to have a unique ability among the Jedi known as the “Battle Meditation” that has helped the Republic greatly in the war against the Sith.

There are a few other Jedi that were also a part of the strike force that killed Revan who are accompanying Bastila. I must say that I’m not so fond of not having any details on the nature of our mission other than to protect Bastila, but those are the orders. In fact, I’d go so far as to say I hate the idea. When I signed up to help the Republic, blind missions babysitting Jedi weren’t exactly what I had in mind. After all, if they are Jedi, shouldn’t they be able to take care of themselves?

I can only hope that it’s all worth it and that, by carrying out our mission, we will be able to bring an end to this seemingly never-ending war with the Sith…

[Lord_S_Gray]

That's an interesting way of arranging your stories...skip the middle!  But yeah can definitely see potential if you have strong threads between all three parts...that could be a very very interesting and dynamic way to tell a very large story in multiple sections in parallel could really play the interconnections very strongly. Looking forward to seeing how you work this!

[Lady Revan]

That's an interesting way of arranging your stories...skip the middle!  But yeah can definitely see potential if you have strong threads between all three parts...that could be a very very interesting and dynamic way to tell a very large story in multiple sections in parallel could really play the interconnections very strongly. Looking forward to seeing how you work this!

Part II actually relates most strongly to Part V (there are approximately 9-10 parts in total according to my original plans), So I'm strongly considering it to post those two simultaneously. Keeps the suspense instead of having all of the answers right away Part I is still in the works, but as much as I love everything that happens in Part II, I think this will be for the best, both in terms of progression and in terms of my own sanity.

[Lady Revan]

CHAPTER ONE: A NEW MISSION OF THE JEDI  (Part 1 of 2 to 3)


   Bastila Shan paced nervously outside of the medical bay of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Much rode on the outcome of the patient within its walls. The situation had been discussed with Coruscant and the High Council there. All parties had determined that the procedure must be done in the strictest of secrecy. The Republic could not discover what they were doing, nor could any within the Order outside of the Council Members and those who had been involved directly in the event. Bastila had been one of the latter.

   The success of the operation depended largely upon its secrecy. It was for this reason that the patient had been brought to Dantooine rather than Coruscant. On Coruscant, there were too many eyes. People would begin to question. Somebody would be bound to find out. Even here the risk existed, but it was far less great.

   The procedure was a risky one even when removing the factor of everything that was at stake if it should fail. The process would take at least a month total, possibly longer before completion, and it was important for Bastila to remain there while it happened. After all, her relationship to the patient was one of the things they needed to be mindful of while operating. For the moment, the patient was still unconscious. She could sense that much.

   The moral grounds regarding the procedure itself were questionable. The potential existed to completely destroy the patient should it go wrong. While this may have been a preferable outcome to those who were not allowed to know of its occurrence, it was not the one that they hoped for. It was why they needed to ensure the patient lived, even if it meant the extended length of time it would take. The fate of the Republic and of the galaxy depended upon it.

   Every so often, they would call Bastila into the room to allow her to visit and to test the results so far. They needed her to ensure that the most important information regarding the patient in question remained intact.

   Suddenly Bastila felt a sharp disturbance in the Force. The patient was stirring. Bastila could sense a whirlwind of emotions flow from them. Fear, confusion, pain, betrayal… but mostly fear. Bastila found this somewhat difficult to comprehend. Fear was the last thing she would have expected given the patient’s reputation. And yet, such a primal, almost animalistic instinct had taken over. They were afraid.

   A sharp scream of agony came from within the medical bay, and Bastila was forced to brace herself against the wall, clutching the side of her head as she braced herself against the patient’s suffering. It was so much that it was overwhelming. She’d never felt anything so strongly in the Force before in her entire life… and yet this was only a taste of what was surely yet to come were the operation successful.

   As suddenly as it had started, the disturbance stopped. The patient had been sedated again and was once more unconscious. Bastila panted, catching her breath. She wasn’t certain that she was ready to take on this mission, but she didn’t have any choice in the matter. After all, she was the only one who could accept it under the given circumstances. While it was unintentional at the time, she’d bound herself to the fate of the human who laid on the operation table now. It was because of this that the Council was willing to even attempt the operation at all. Otherwise, the more likely situation would have been stasis.

   It was unclear to Bastila, however, whether the procedure they now attempted was any more merciful than letting the patient live out the rest of their days and die within a stasis pod. The longer the procedure lasted, the more questions she found herself asking… questions which she regretted having. The Council was far wiser and more experienced than her. What authority did she have to even consider questioning their judgement? Even so, it troubled her, so much so that she felt she needed to address them regarding the patient. After all, it was her own future which was in question here as well…

><><><><><

   The Council Chamber in the Dantooine Enclave was far different than the High Council Chamber located in the Temple on Coruscant. It was far smaller and less grandiose. Where Coruscant’s Council Chamber stood gleaming in white, Dantooine’s was more earthen. Grays and browns made up the floor and the walls, and a great Blba tree grew inside, stretching its branches over the Chamber Seats. A circular skylight was in the center of the ceiling allowing the natural light of Dantooine’s sun to shine inside. Directly adjacent to the Council Chamber was the Padawan training room, so the Council could easily watch over the developing Jedi’s progress.

   Padawan Bastila Shan entered the Chamber approaching the four Jedi Masters within who comprised the Dantooine Council: Master Vrook Lamar (who also sat on the High Council and served as Dantooine’s liaison on Coruscant), Master Vandar Tokare, Master Zhar Lestin, and Master Dorak (the chronicler of the Enclave). Two months of the procedure had already passed and Bastila had begun to worry about the patient. The thoughts she could sense from the patient had grown more vague, distant… and it was this she wished to speak to them about.

   “Troubled you are, Padawan Bastila,” Master Vandar commented as she approached. “A question you have for the Council?”

   “Yes, Masters,” Bastila said, kneeling before them. “I am concerned about the operations regarding the prisoner. I can sense that their consciousness is… failing.”

   “We must ensure any possible threat from the prisoner is dead, Padawan Bastila,” Master Vrook replied to her. “You know better than anyone the risks we all face if too much remains of what once was…”

   “Yes, but how much longer must this go on? I can feel the patient’s suffering…”

   “You are not the only one with reservations,” spoke the Twi’lek, Master Zhar, “however, we all agree that there is no alternative in this. This is our only hope of being able to stop the war… You’ve done a great thing, Padawan Bastila Shan. Without you, there would only be death… But you have given them a second chance. If the Republic knew that they lived, do you think they would have offered so much?”

   “Consider this, Padawan Bastila,” Master Dorak began, “You have not only saved their life, but also countless others if this operation should succeed. You need not pity their fate. This is for the better.”

   “Besides,” Master Vrook interjected, “This one was always quite stubborn and resilient. I don’t think you need to worry as to whether their physical body will survive or not. It is because of this resilience that the procedure has taken so long. We’ve asked that extra… precautions be made.”

   “What sort of precautions?” Bastila asked. “Is the procedure itself not enough?”

   “A severance to the Force may be necessary,” Master Dorak explained. “It’s a severe punishment that hasn’t been used since Ulic Qel-Droma, but… the Council has agreed that it is for the better. The patient’s command of the Force is not necessity in order for the rest of the mission to work. That is why we need you, Miss Shan. You are to be the vessel of the Force necessary to filter the information we need to save the Republic.”

   “As it was stated before,” said Master Vrook, “we cannot risk any part of what the patient once was to remain alive other than the information we need. They are too much of a risk not only to the Jedi Order but to the entire galaxy.”

   “Go, Padawan Bastila,” Master Vandar said to her. “Unnecessary your worry is. Vital it is now that you focus on preparing for your mission. The time is almost at hand.”

><><><><><

   After three months, the process had been completed. Bastila was asked to enter the medical bay where the patient was being held one last time. As she entered, several of the Jedi specialists involved were clearing the room of any evidence of the procedure having taken place. The head specialist, a Mirialan by the name of Tiva Koq, greeted her.

   “Padawan Bastila,” Tiva said, greeting the other female in a polite bowing gesture. “I trust you are here to see the final results of the patient?”

   “I am, Bastila said, nodding and stepping forward toward the operation table. The patient was unconscious. It seemed as though they had been given heavy sedatives to avoid coming to too soon. If that happened, then they would need to begin a portion of the process over again. Bastila looked down at the woman laying on the operation table. She seemed so normal. So peaceful. There wasn’t a trace left of the one she had faced aboard the Vindicator.

   “Here,” the Mirialan said, handing Bastila a datapad. “We’ve programmed the patient with a new identity. We’ve chosen to keep parallels to the patient’s original background wherever safely possible. The mind is better able to grasp and to retain the new memories when there is less conflict with the ones that were extracted. We’ve gone ahead and put together service records for the patient also, so they might accompany you in your mission without question from the Republic fleet.”

   Bastila Shan scrolled through the information regarding the records of the patient’s new identity.


NAME: GWENEVERE DAKAAL
SPECIES IDENTIFIER: HUMAN FEMALE
AGE: 34 YEARS, CORUSCANTI STANDARD
PLANET OF ORIGIN: DERALIA, DERALIA SYSTEM, TAMMUZ SECTOR, GRID T-15
LANGUAGES: GALACTIC BASIC, DERALIAN, BINARY, BOCCE, DOSH, SELKATH, CATHARESE, BOTHESE, DURESE, GAMORRESE, HUTTESE, JAWAESE, KALEESH, MANDO’A, CORELLISI, RODESE, SNIVVIAN, TOGRUTI, TWI’LEKI, ABYSSIN, AQUALISH, FALLEEN, GALACTIC SIGN LANGUAGE, KEL DOR, CORUSCANTI, QUARRENESE, SAVRIP, SOCORRAN, MIRALUKESE, SMUGGLER CANT, STEREB, SHYRIIWOOK, HIGH SITH…


“So many?” Bastila said frowning and looking up from the datapad.

   “Yes,” the Mirialan. “The patient appears to have had quite a love for languages and was rather adept at them, no doubt partially due to her command of the Force. We were able to keep nearly all of the language-dominant areas of the cerebral cortex intact. There were some languages the patient understands that we were unable to identify even within our database, so they have been left off of the records accordingly. No doubt it will come in handy convincing the fleet of her recruitment and transfer, yes?”

   “I suppose,” Bastila said. The list went on with at least a hundred different alien languages, but she’d stopped reading when she had reached ‘High Sith.’ “I think it would be better to leave this one off of the record.”

   The Mirialan glanced at the datapad to see where Bastila had been indicating. “Ah yes,” Tiva Koq said. “I could see where that might prove problematic… It must have been overlooked when the file was created. We’ll delete it at once.”

   “Good,” Bastila said, continuing past the languages as reading through the rest of the patient’s created service records.


BLOOD RELATIONS:
-   HERCARL DAKAAL, FATHER, DECEASED
-   VIVISHEA LUKLEE-DAKAAL, MOTHER, DECEASED
BLOOD TYPE: HUMAN, O POSITIVE
DESIGNATION: SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CODE BREAKING
RELATED BACKGROUND: RECRUIT HAS PAST EXPERIENCE AS SMUGGLER WORKING THE CORRELLIAN RUN. BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF STEALTH, COMPUTERS, SECURITY AND DEMOLITIONS. BASIC PILOTING SKILLS. RECRUIT UNDERSTANDS A LARGE NUMBER OF ALIEN LANGUAGES. SUGGESTED DESIGNATION CODE BREAKING AND DEVELOPMENT BASED ON EXISTING SKILLS.


Bastila handed the datapad back to the Mirialan and looked at the patient again. The time and severance from the Force had lifted all traces of the minor Dark Side degradation she had shown previously. The color had returned to her previously death-pale flesh and Bastila could not help but to notice a series of scars running down the side of her body. Bastila frowned and turned back to the specialist.

   “Old injuries,” the Mirialan assured her. “Not caused by our operations, but they do not match those described on her records from the previous war either. We’re not certain where they came from. But rest assured, we have inserted appropriate memories to explain them. Gwenevere Dakaal is a fully fleshed Republic citizen. I’ll admit, the primary behavioral core was quite difficult to reprogram, and so we were forced to leave many fundamental personality traits… but without the corresponding memories and without command of the Force, it should be of little to no threat.”

   “And what if something should go wrong and the one from before should try to break through? I was informed that certain information from the previous mind would be retained for the sake of my own mission. Would these latent memories be enough to elicit such a response?”

   “We have ensured that the latent memory can only be accessed while the patient is in a state of REM sleep. The memories will appear as no more than dreams to the patient, but the link between the two of you should allow you to view them simultaneously to the patient experiencing them. You can go ahead and test if you would like…”

   The Mirialan then showed Bastila a small brassy cube with an intricate design, radiating a faint blueish light from within. It was a holocron. “We’ve recorded the full entirety of what we were able to recover here in case something should go wrong. The designation we’ve assigned the patient should keep them away from combat, but this is a war, Miss Shan. Accidents happen. We needed to be certain there could be a backup of the information should the patient be lost for whatever reason. The holocron of the patient’s full memories and personality is being sent to the Coruscanti archives for safe-keeping.”

   “If there is holocron recording, then why do we not simply access it directly rather than using the subject?”

   “We did consider the possibility. However, the personality within the holocron has proven to be quite rebellious and uncooperative. Beyond that, within the memories it is technically possible that there are certain portions which may only be accessed by the subject herself. All things considered, using the patient directly was decided to be the more ideal means of access.”

   Bastila Shan looked back down at the patient and gently pressed her fingers to the woman’s temples before closing her eyes. Hazy images appeared. Herself, the Vindicator, a battle… Bastila opened her eyes and looked at the woman’s face. Some memories certainly remained. She only hoped that the ones that would bring an end to the Sith reign of terror were among them.

   “We should leave as soon as possible,” Bastila said to the specialist. “We’ll need to be certain she remains sedated until we’re able to meet with the Republic fleet around Alderaan and introduce her into the crew. From there we’ll start along the Hydian Way Hyperspace Route and begin passing through the planets Revan and Malak visited starting from the Mandalorian Wars. There has to be something there that can give us a clue to what happened and how to stop it…”

   “I’ll ensure that personnel remain with the patient until the integration had been made in case additional sedatives need to be administered. May the Force be with you, Padawan Bastila Shan. With any luck, this experiment will mean an end to the war.”

><><><><><

[Lord_S_Gray]

Twisted morality indeed....good to see your take on the thought process behind...creating Gwen...i can imagine they didn't choose his lightly...yet...well the Jedi are full of contradictions between competing priorities of standing for justice and mercy in a very unjust and merciless galaxy...Its actually good timing as i'm exploring exactly the same thing in FotA at the moment (not to plug my own stuff too much but check out the Fallen Order Chapters if interested). 

But yeah I think this is battle as old as the Jedi order itself, and there is never a final resolution on which path is best - in my parlance through Jedi Master Soryu in FotA it is the battle between the 'Jedi' and the 'Order'.  In this case it seems the 'Order' as represented by the Council focused on 'saving the galaxy' is winning out, but Bastilla still feels very...uncertain - her Jedi side wishing to 'save just one person or spare them from pain' grinding against the actions the order takes. And of course you see the same tension in the Clone Wars in a different form again. 

But yeah glad your delving into this space it is something I am personally very interested in.       

[Lady Revan]

Twisted morality indeed....good to see your take on the thought process behind...creating Gwen...i can imagine they didn't choose his lightly...yet...well the Jedi are full of contradictions between competing priorities of standing for justice and mercy in a very unjust and merciless galaxy...Its actually good timing as i'm exploring exactly the same thing in FotA at the moment (not to plug my own stuff too much but check out the Fallen Order Chapters if interested). 

But yeah I think this is battle as old as the Jedi order itself, and there is never a final resolution on which path is best - in my parlance through Jedi Master Soryu in FotA it is the battle between the 'Jedi' and the 'Order'.  In this case it seems the 'Order' as represented by the Council focused on 'saving the galaxy' is winning out, but Bastilla still feels very...uncertain - her Jedi side wishing to 'save just one person or spare them from pain' grinding against the actions the order takes. And of course you see the same tension in the Clone Wars in a different form again. 

But yeah glad your delving into this space it is something I am personally very interested in.       

Hello Lord_S_Gray! I'm so glad to hear that it is a topic of interest to you. Personally, I think it's one that's not explored enough (too often we are encouraged to accept an inherit "good" and "evil" in the way characters are presented). It's something that I feel the source material (particularly the second game) did very well, making you question which side was actually "right" very often. I'm looking forward to working through the relationship of the Council with "Gwen," particularly when.... developments happen that they hadn't anticipated.

I'll admit, Bastila has been a big challenge for me. She's always been my least favorite companion in the canon, but I think that this section has made me appreciate her more as a character though, trying to imagine her own feelings given her unique position in the middle of this rather complicated situation.

I'll certainly check out FotA! Right now I'm still reading through CotA. Is it safe to read the mentioned sections without too many spoilers for the parts before? I just got to Yoda in CotA. Haven't had reading time much lately

[Lord_S_Gray]

Hello Lord_S_Gray! I'm so glad to hear that it is a topic of interest to you. Personally, I think it's one that's not explored enough (too often we are encouraged to accept an inherit "good" and "evil" in the way characters are presented). It's something that I feel the source material (particularly the second game) did very well, making you question which side was actually "right" very often. I'm looking forward to working through the relationship of the Council with "Gwen," particularly when.... developments happen that they hadn't anticipated.

I'll admit, Bastila has been a big challenge for me. She's always been my least favorite companion in the canon, but I think that this section has made me appreciate her more as a character though, trying to imagine her own feelings given her unique position in the middle of this rather complicated situation.

I'll certainly check out FotA! Right now I'm still reading through CotA. Is it safe to read the mentioned sections without too many spoilers for the parts before? I just got to Yoda in CotA. Haven't had reading time much lately

Yeah i think...in some ways the conflict was dealt with in Clone Wars...but not enough - the Movies didn't have enough time and the series was too black and white about some things, though Ashoka at the end was good turning from the Jedi.  But yeah for your narrative it is an important aspect...they are basically 'enslaving' Gwen in a sense, or at the very least using her.  I would love to see how Atris felt about it all...she never really mentions Revan in KOTOR2 but presumably she knew and approved it...

Yeah Chapter 36 is fairly spoiler free- after all we all know Yoda survives and while Soryu doesn't appear in CotA till later the character is still on the same path overall - and I think it can be enjoyed without worrying too much about the why of the situation. 

[Lady Revan]

Yeah i think...in some ways the conflict was dealt with in Clone Wars...but not enough - the Movies didn't have enough time and the series was too black and white about some things, though Ashoka at the end was good turning from the Jedi.  But yeah for your narrative it is an important aspect...they are basically 'enslaving' Gwen in a sense, or at the very least using her.  I would love to see how Atris felt about it all...she never really mentions Revan in KOTOR2 but presumably she knew and approved it...

Yeah Chapter 36 is fairly spoiler free- after all we all know Yoda survives and while Soryu doesn't appear in CotA till later the character is still on the same path overall - and I think it can be enjoyed without worrying too much about the why of the situation. 

Atris would have had to have been a part of the decision, given the fact that she was on the High Council at the time.... You're giving me ideas for an interlude later The Council's actual meeting deliberating the matter would be an interesting thing to explore... Certainly there were likely to have been split decisions on the matter. It would be interesting to explore who had what opinions and who was a contributing factor to each portion of the final decision... As Master Dorak points out, the only similar situation the Council has been forced to make a decision in in "recent" history was Qel-Droma (I don't count the Exile because I'm more inclined to believe Kavar's account of the situation personally, plus we get to see that trial in the canon )

I'll take a look into Chapter 36 then.... In what year is it set in comparison to CotA, so I can have context of timeline?

[Lord_S_Gray]

Atris would have had to have been a part of the decision, given the fact that she was on the High Council at the time.... You're giving me ideas for an interlude later The Council's actual meeting deliberating the matter would be an interesting thing to explore... Certainly there were likely to have been split decisions on the matter. It would be interesting to explore who had what opinions and who was a contributing factor to each portion of the final decision... As Master Dorak points out, the only similar situation the Council has been forced to make a decision in in "recent" history was Qel-Droma (I don't count the Exile because I'm more inclined to believe Kavar's account of the situation personally, plus we get to see that trial in the canon )

I'll take a look into Chapter 36 then.... In what year is it set in comparison to CotA, so I can have context of timeline?

It was a very...un Jedi thing to do to Gwen....to use someone like a tool is almost completely contradictory to what they are about - Qel Droma is different that was more outright punishment like a prison sentence...I wonder who proposed it in the first place, it seems so un-Jedi like to even suggest it...but desperate times...

About 21 years and a lot of blood later...as you can imagine while in CotA the Aethan tribe is ignorant and scared of the galaxy...they don't stay that way for long....in common time frame about 579BBY so Yoda is about 300 years old.

[Lady Revan]

It was a very...un Jedi thing to do to Gwen....to use someone like a tool is almost completely contradictory to what they are about - Qel Droma is different that was more outright punishment like a prison sentence...I wonder who proposed it in the first place, it seems so un-Jedi like to even suggest it...but desperate times...

About 21 years and a lot of blood later...as you can imagine while in CotA the Aethan tribe is ignorant and scared of the galaxy...they don't stay that way for long....in common time frame about 579BBY so Yoda is about 300 years old.

Yeah, I think that decision was possibly one of the darkest and most screwed up in documented Jedi history in terms of moral compass Arguably even more twisted is trying to argue it as an act of 'redemption.' More like reprogramming a droid... Desperate times call for desperate measures and all... but it's still very un-Jedi-like...

I'll take a look then! Thanks for the suggestion! I've really been enjoying CotA so far!

[Lady Revan]

CHRISTMAS UPDATE!


CHAPTER ONE: A NEW MISSION OF THE JEDI  (Part 2 of 2)

><><><><><

   Gwen Dakaal took a sip of Caffa as she went through the proposed cipher against the intercepted message on-screen. She’d wished it would’ve been something stronger, but alcoholic beverages weren’t permitted onboard. Just one more of those stupid fleet laws she cursed under her breath at least twice a week. She leaned back in her seat as far as she could stretching before cracking her knuckles and checking the cipher again.

   The code was in a combination of languages: binary with Mando’a and Old Coruscanti… They knew there was a fourth language as well, and traces of a fifth. The more used seemed to Gwen like Old Deralian. It seemed odd for it to appear in the context of Sith Code—after all, hardly anyone even on Deralia spoke the thing! The only reason she recognized it herself was because her parents had made her study it while she was a kid. Her father had been quite the history buff and thought planetary history and culture was an important subject for his daughter to learn. Whoever created the code must have had some sort of Deralian ties…

   The other unknown language did seem familiar, but she couldn’t place it… She’s picked up fragments of so many during her smuggling days that sometimes they got mixed up in her head. Was that Togruti, or was it Savrip? After a while they all started to sound the same…

   She groaned and rubbed her temples. As much as she wanted to see an end to the Sith attacks, she had to admit that signing up to join the Republic fleet hadn’t cracked up to be all that she had imagined… no pun intended. She’d hoped there would have been a bit more action and excitement… Technically speaking, it was a good thing that the Endar Spire hadn’t been caught in any battles since she’d come aboard, but is was damn sure boring.

She’d thought being in fleet would be more like those action flicks on the holovids, but so far it had turned out to be mostly paperwork. When they had checked into her background experience, the person recruiting had some bright idea she’d fit best in the cipher department…. Which seemed interesting at first until she realized that it was mostly hours upon hours of staring at screens of intercepted Sith messages searching for fragments of anything that might prove useful counterintelligence…

Her shift never seemed to end soon enough. When it was over, she grabbed her cup and made her way to the mess hall, disposing of it in a receptacle along the way. She wondered what she should attempt this time. Fleet food hadn’t sat well with her stomach, but she was also getting sick of ration bars. She’d not had any stomach problems in the past, but ever since coming aboard, she’d had the same issue. She wasn’t sure if it was the foot itself, or some sort of motion sickness. She was more inclined, however, to think it was the food.

She took a tray of something that looked like a stew with meat and vegetables in it, hoping she would fare better than she had with the bantha burger last time, which had made her violently ill. In a worst-case scenario, she had more ration bars stored in the footlocker by her bunk.

Gwen toked around for an empty seat in the mess hall and found one among a few of the fighter pilots. “Mind if I sit here?” she asked.

“Not at all,” the pilot said. “Haven’t seen you around before… you new?”

“Transferred onboard at Alderaan last week,” she said as she took a seat. “Name’s Gwen. Gwen Dakaal”

“Sergio Padawe. Good to meet you, Gwen. I didn’t think we were expecting any new transfers… What department are you in?”

“Cipher,” she said. “Picked up a lot of languages in my previous line of work. Guess the higher-ups thought it would put me in a good position for code-breaking. I assume you’re all pilots from the uniforms?”

“You’d assume correctly,” Sergio said. He began working his way around the table, indicating each of the pilots there. “This is Tony, Ben, Jane, Ricky, Thom, Jim, Terra, Bonnie, Tim, and Oliver.” A few of them muttered a hello or gestured before returning to their meals.

“Carth is the other fleet pilot, but he never hangs out with the rest of us lately. Caught up in business with those Jedi since they came onboard…So how are you liking the Spire so far?” he asked her.

“Well, to be completely honest, it’s a lot less exciting than I’d imagined it to be… especially in Cipher. I know it’s important work and all… but I was kind of hoping for a bit more action.”

“Hey, don’t go cursing the times between combat. Front lines are a dangerous place. This is a war, not a picnic. Oftentimes less action is a good thing…”

“Yeah, maybe…” she said, blowing on a spoonful of stew before popping it into her mouth. “What do you guys do around here for fun?”

“Well, some of us meet up with some of the ground soldiers for Paazak on Taungsdays. You’re welcome to come join if you play.”

“Can’t say I do, but I might come watch. Maybe one of you would be willing to teach me.”

“The more the merrier. We’ll expect to see you next time then. On that note, we should probably head out. It’s about time for inspections. We’ll see you around then. It was nice meeting you, Gwen.”

“Nice meeting you guys too!”

><><><><><

Carth Onasi followed along with the small company of Jedi onboard the Endar Spire. At their lead was Jedi Bastila Shan. Shan had become a rather recognized figure since the recent months of the war. She had a rare gift among the Jedi known as ‘Battle Meditation,’ which, from what he understood, worked as a way to inspire allies and cause fear and doubt in one’s enemies. The ability had come in very useful for the Republic in battle, but what Jedi Bastila Shan was most famous for was the recent incident involving Revan and Malak, the two Jedi who had turned on the Republic and initiated this new war.

It was due to her Battle Meditation that, three months prior, she had led a strike team of Jedi aboard the Vindicator, the flagship of Darth Revan, the leader of the Sith. During the strike, Darth Malak, Revan’s apprentice, had turned on his Master and Revan met his end in the duel with Bastila. Thus, Miss Shan was best known as the Jedi who killed Darth Revan.

Recently, the crew of the Endar Spire had been assigned to escort Miss Shan on a special mission from the Jedi Council. Little detail was given to the Republic military personnel about the mission’s details. Carth knew that they would be roughly plotting a course along some of the battles during the Mandalorian Wars, though he wasn’t completely certain why. The Jedi refused any specifics on the matter. He had been requested to act as a sort of ‘guide’ to the mission since he’d fought in many of the battles they wished to retrace along the Outer Rim. Even so, he was just as much in the dark about most of the goings on as the rest of the crew was.

They had requested many things when they came aboard… a quiet chamber for meditation, specifics about the route to be taken between the points of interest, the transfer into the crew of a new Cipher in the intelligence department… While Carth respected authority and knew how to take orders, working with the Jedi was beginning to be a bit of a pain. He only hoped it was worth the trouble for the Republic fleet.

“I want a full report on the battle history at each planet,” Bastila Shan said as they walked. “I’ve been told you served much in the earlier parts of the Mandalorian Wars and that consequentially you would be the best option in serving as guide on our mission.”

“I served in a lot of the early battles, yeah, but the planets on your list don’t match up with all of them. Fleet never had an opportunity to react to Flashpoint…” He glanced down at list of places in the datapad. Flashpoint, Suurja, Serocco… What was this, some kind of a tour? The Republic was at war, and it wasn’t his job to be playing tour guide to a bunch of Jedi on some sort of hush hush mission from the Jedi Council. He looked back up at the Jedi. “Cathar?”

“Yes,” Bastila said plainly. “Mister Onasi, you were not recommended to me for the purpose of questioning my authority. Rest assured, the Jedi Council believes that this mission could bring the end to the war that we have all been looking for. You need only to trust in their wisdom and their judgement on the matter.”

The Jedi had been a key factor in the Republic’s victory in the Mandalorian Wars, but the Jedi then had acted very differently than the Jedi now. While he never saw much of them personally, once those Jedi had officially entered alongside the Republic, they had been very directly involved, participating on the battle field and employing knowledge of tactics in positioning troops. They didn’t involve soldiers in secret Jedi Missions that seemed to have no direct connection to the effort. While the Jedi Bastila who was leading this group had an ability that might help them win a few battles, she was young, and her lack of experience made him question her ability to command troops. “There are good men and women onboard risking their lives for this mission. I hope that the Council’s wisdom takes that into consideration too,” Carth muttered to himself.

[Darth Silenoz]

I just started to get around to the fan fiction (finally). Your writing is really impressive! I'll have to catch up on your other stories soon. -1

[Lady Revan]

I just started to get around to the fan fiction (finally). Your writing is really impressive! I'll have to catch up on your other stories soon. -1

Hello DS! Thank you so much! ^_^ Part I is on pause while I do my research for the upcoming chapter, but I already have a good start on the next couple for "Twisted Morality." Since "Only Light Can Cast Shadow" is technically a prequel, you shoudl have no issues following the plot if you start here instead.

[Lord_S_Gray]

“There are good men and women onboard risking their lives for this mission. I hope that the Council’s wisdom takes that into consideration too,” Carth muttered to himself."
Twisted Morality once again...I uspect the answer is no the Council does not take that into consideration, they have more important things to consider...the Jedi are using the Republic just as much as they are using Gwen...like tools to serve their end game of defeating Malak...effectively cleaning up their own mess in a way - how are they any better than the Sith now...or maybe they aren't, its just the Sith don't pretend to a higher calling....

[Darth Silenoz]

the Sith don't pretend to a higher calling....

I like this guy.