KOTOR 1 - Connections: Training Begins

CONTEXT: This is the second chapter in the the fan fiction which started in KOTOR 1 - Connections: Revan's Surrender. This chapter is set during the events of KOTOR 1. The group has recently reached Dantooine after the destruction of Taris.

ANOTHER NOTE (because I just like notes, I guess): this portion of the actual game contains two meetings between the main character and the Jedi Council, as well as some events in and around the Ebon Hawk. This can all be seen on YouTube. This chapter of the fanfic speculates about conversations that occur around these two meetings. I'll note within the body of the text where the meetings occur.

"The first mission under your leadership did not go to plan, did it Padawan?" asked Jedi Master Vrook.

Bastila Shan stood before the Jedi Council on Dantooine. She had recently returned from Taris. In most ways her mission had been a disaster. But, she thought, there was a bright spot.

"No Master, it did not", she said, bowing her head deferentially.

"Let us inventory the results," said Vrook. His voice was often gruff, but he appeared even more irritated than normal today. And, Bastila had to admit, he had good reason. "You lost a Hammerhead-class cruiser. You lost almost its entire crew. You lost the planet Taris. You lost Trask Ulgo. And you almost lost the patient. Am I missing anything significant?"

"I do not believe so," Bastila said softly, head still bowed. "However-"

"When we told the galaxy that you led the mission that killed Revan," Vrook interrupted, "it was because the galaxy needed a hero to rally behind. 'Promising Padawan leads mission that destroys Dark Lord' is much more inspirational than 'Leader of mission to destroy Dark Lord gets killed by stray blaster bolt, then lucky Padawan drags unconscious Dark Lord back to Dantooine'. We put great faith in you. And now this? Perhaps we picked the wrong hero."

"Perhaps, Master," Bastila said. She now raised her head and made eye contact with Vrook. "But-"

"It was fortunate that Doctor Ulgo was able to lock in the programming on such short notice," Vrook said. "The patient was not scheduled to regain consciousness for several more weeks, to allow the new identity to be fully accepted. I was always skeptical of the plan to put her on a starship. We should have kept her here, where we could have ensured her protection."

"We all agreed that keeping her in one location was too risky," said Jedi Master Zhar. "Her presence would have been too easy for our opponents to sense and recognize. Keeping her moving gave us the best chance to avoid detection."

But Vrook did not appear to hear the Twi'lek. Or if he did, Vrook chose not to acknowledge him. Instead, he continued berating Bastila. "The loss of Doctor Ulgo is almost as great as the loss of the planet. For someone not Force-sensitive, and someone so young, he had an incredible intuitive understanding of how the Force affects the mind. There is no way to overestimate where his career could have led, what techniques he could have discovered. And I am to understand that he posed as an ordinary solider to avoid revealing the mission to the patient? And then sacrificed his own life so the patient could escape?"

"Yes Master," Bastila said, her face now growing red. "But if I may-"

"And you spent virtually the entire time a captive," Vrook said over her. "If it hadn't been for Lieutenant Onasi, our losses would have been even more drastic. From what I can see, it was he, not you, who saved the-"

"She saved the mission," Bastila said forcefully, now speaking over Vrook. "The Force-"

"So in addition to your other failures, you let her take over the mission? Did you even think what putting her in command could awaken in her?" demanded Vrook.

"Of course I did," said Bastila, now flustered and speaking quickly. "That's why I asserted authority and regained operational control of the mission immediately upon my liberation. Ask Lieutenant Onasi if you like. He even had to caution me not to overdo it. Of course, he didn't, and still doesn't, know who she is, so he couldn't have realized why I was being so forceful. But the point is-"

"So we're taking leadership lessons from the Republic now," interrupted Vrook. "Perhaps we should-"

"The point is," Bastila said, now practically yelling over Vrook, "the Force is fully awakened in her!"

There was silence for a moment, as all four Jedi Masters stared at Bastila. Vrook started to respond, but it was Jedi Master Vandar who spoke first. A small being the height of a child, his affinity with the Force far exceeded his size. "You mean, she has regained her old strength? This is unexpected. And disturbing."

"She remembers nothing of her former life," Bastila said more calmly. "She is not who she was. As with any untrained Force-sensitive person, her abilities are raw, unfocused, and not under her conscious control. But she has lost none of her connection to the Force. As her awareness of it grows-"

"Then we have made a grave error in judgement," said Jedi Master Dorak. "Perhaps if her healing cycle had not been interrupted, this would not have occurred. We must move quickly to apprehend-"

"Master, I don't think you understand what I'm saying," Bastila interrupted. "She is not the same person that she was. She is not a threat. She is an asset. She was a Jedi once. Perhaps she could be again. Think of what that could mean to our efforts!"

"You would seek training as a Jedi for her?" demanded Vrook. "You would return to her full access to all her abilities? You know who she is!""

"She is Victory Relevant!" Bastila said, her voice again rising. "That is the name you gave her, and that is the person she now is!"

"SHE IS REVAN!" thundered Vrook. "She is the Dark Lord! How many billions have already died because of her? And you would restore her to her full power?" He glared at Bastila. She returned his gaze with equal intensity but did not speak.

It was Vandar who broke the tension. "Perhaps we should examine her ourselves," he said.

"An excellent idea," said Zhar. "Incidentally, Padawan Shan, we did not give her the name 'Victory Relevant'. She gave it to herself." Bastila broke eye contact with Vrook and looked at Zhar. The confusion on her still-flushed face was obvious, so Zhar continued. "The reprogramming technique involves feeding imagery to the patient, creating the broad strokes of the new identity. The patient's mind fills in the gaps itself. The mind is much more accepting of an identity that it participates in creating."

"It was of interest to us that she chose the name 'Victory Relevant'," said Dorak, "because in addition to its grandiose and almost threatening surface meaning-"

"-it contains the letters of 'Revan'," Bastila conceded. "Yes, that had occurred to me as well. However, she told me that she prefers to be called 'Tory', which does not."

"Tory. Victory Relevant. Revan. Whatever we're calling her, bring her before us so that we can see for ourselves who she has become," said Vrook.

"As you wish, Master," said Bastila. She bowed her head briefly, then exited the chamber.

NOTE: the first in-game conversation between the main character and the Jedi Council occurs here. During the conversation, Master Zhar suggests that the main character be trained as a Jedi, Master Vrook is skeptical, and Master Vandar says the Council should continue the discussion privately. The main character and Bastila then leave together.

The Jedi Council watched as Bastila Shan and Victory Relevant exited the Council chamber, then waited a moment to ensure the pair were out of earshot. Their meeting with Victory had been revealing, but more important had been the impressions of her that each of them had gathered through the Force.

"Opinions?" said Dorak. "She seemed impressive to me. I understand now what Padawan Shan was trying to tell us."

"This woman was assured, but calm," said Zhar. "I felt none of Revan's restlessness or defiance. This one is a leader, not a follower, and may challenge us if she disagrees with us. But I do not think she would do so lightly, or with deception or malice. I am in favor of training her."

"I sensed none of Revan's personality or purpose," said Vandar. "But I felt all of Revan's power. She is indeed not yet aware of the fullness of her abilities. But in this Bastila is right: she has lost none of her strength. The Dark Side tempts us all. I feel training is a necessity, so that she is prepared to resist it."

"I agree on her power but I disagree on the rest," said Vrook. "That was Revan standing before us. I don't see what has changed. We should deal with her now, before she realizes who she is and resumes her attack against us."

"Are you so sure, Master Vrook?" asked Vandar. "We all have our preconceptions. Are you sure that yours are not affecting your opinion? If you did not know this woman was Revan, would you still feel this way?"

"If I did not know this woman was Revan," said Vrook, "then I would say she was too old and be done with it. As, I believe, would you. Can you truly say you believe someone of this age, so fully set in their ways, could be trained?"

"Is she though?" asked Zhar. "She thinks she has a lifetime of experience as Victory Relevant, but she actually has very little. Perhaps her mind is still more malleable than her physical age would suggest."

"The dangers in training her are immense," said Vrook. "Surely all of you will admit that. If we were to have the defeated Dark Lord at our mercy, then chose to restore her power and the galaxy fell ... Master Dorak, what then would your histories record about us? If there were even any Jedi left to record them?"

Dorak started to answer, but Vandar spoke first. "If instead we had the defeated Dark Lord at our mercy, and had the opportunity to restore her to the Light, might not the galaxy benefit greatly? In this also, Padawan Shan is right. Our numbers are thin, and we need allies in this war. Can any of you name a greater one available to us?"

"She will naturally seek a teacher," said Dorak. "And her old self gravitated toward dangerous ones. Recall that she sought Master Kae, both early and late in her career as a Jedi. If she were to find another teacher such as Kae was ultimately revealed to be - or even worse, Kae herself - what would the consequences be? Surely it would be better for her to learn from us."

"I thought Kae was dead," said Zhar.

"That is the official story," said Dorak. "However, I find the evidence inconclusive. It would not surprise me to learn that Kae is still alive, perhaps under another name, spreading even greater heresy."

"And Kae's daughter?" asked Zhar.

"Following in the Echani tradition of her father. We do not believe that Kae has had contact with her. Our concern in this meeting, however, is Revan. If Kae were to sense Revan, find her, and draw her into Kae's twisted ways, the consequences could be unimaginable. There are worse things than the galaxy falling. I fear that Kae had grown to hate the Force itself. Coupled with Revan's power ... I can't possibly overstate what could happen."

The four Masters were silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Dorak interrupted the silence. "Master Vrook, Master Vandar, do you also speak for the High Council, or should they be consulted?"

"This is a good question," said Vandar. "Though Master Vrook and I serve on both Councils, I do not feel we can speak for the other High Council members. I am uncertain how they would feel about this matter. I suspect that body would be as conflicted as this one."

"Atris would most definitely oppose training," said Vrook. "She was extremely reluctant to agree to even the original plan. I'm confident she would see this as an utter failure, and would want the damage limited as quickly as possible. I believe Master Kavar would also oppose it. I think he would find the military risk unreasonable."

"On the other hand," said Vandar, "I believe Masters Vash and Ell would support training. However, after our previous meeting the High Council determined that discussing Revan by communicator, even on a secured channel, was too great a security risk. We would have to travel to Coruscant and ask them in person to be sure of their opinion."

"How can we spare that time?" asked Zhar. "The war still rages, and as Master Vandar says, we are in need of allies."

"How can we not?" replied Vrook. "Making the wrong decision now could destroy all our hope of success. I suggest we all meditate on this tonight. Tomorrow morning, Master Vandar and I will travel to Coruscant and consult the High Council."

"Agreed," said Vandar.

The four Masters walked quietly to their separate chambers. But none slept.

Back at the Ebon Hawk, Tory and Bastila walked up the loading ramp in silence, each processing their conversation with the Council. The interior of the Hawk was quiet. Only minimal lighting was active. Carth, Mission, and Zaalbar were nowhere to be seen. Presumably, they were in their bunks.

"I'm sure that was overwhelming," said Bastila, "especially coming directly after the tragedy at Taris. I'll leave you to rest." She started to walk away, but Tory stopped her.

"Please, stay a moment," said Tory. "I'd like to talk with you."

"Of course," said Bastila. "I'm confident that the Jedi Council will agree to train you, if that's what you're concerned about."

"I admit that I was surprised with how much internal conflict there was within the Council," said Tory. "But that's not what I want to talk about. Well, in a way, it is. Please, sit." The two settled into seats in the Hawk's central room.

"I'm not sure how to describe this," began Tory. "So this may not make much sense. I've had a feeling that started on Taris, when Carth and I were looking for you. It's been steadily growing."

"Go on," said Bastila. "Describe the feeling."

"It's like being in a cool river on a warm day. Some parts of the river are faster, some slower, but none are violent or frightening. I'm floating with the current, drifting in the eddies. The river moves along of its own accord, and moves me with it. If I try to control my path, move somewhere of my choice, if I try to swim, it disturbs the serenity of the river. I'd have to splash, and I don't want to. I love the river, and I don't want to be anywhere else. Bastila, is this what the Force feels like?"

Bastila smiled. "I've heard the Force described as a river before, but never quite so poetically," she said. "Yes, I believe that you are feeling the Force."

"The Jedi Council..." Tory stopped, considering her words, then continued. "The Council wasn't what I expected. They were focused on battles, wars, and strategies. They seemed less concerned with the Force than their own agendas. They were rough spots in the river. They didn't move with the river. They fought against it."

"You must understand," Bastila said, "the Council is under tremendous pressure. You've seen yourself that the war is not going well. As the Council said to you, our numbers are thin and the Jedi are desperate for recruits. Nothing is simple for them. Many see being on the Council as an honor, and it is, but it is also a sacrifice. Part of what they sacrifice is their own peace of mind. While they may even appear harsh at times, it is because they carry great burdens for all of us."

"They're so desperate for recruits that they would consider training even an adult like me," said Tory, as much to herself as to Bastila. She thought for a moment. "Master Zhar questioned whether they could 'safely' ignore my power. I'm not certain what power I may or may not have, but is there something dangerous about it? About me?"

Bastila hesitated, and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I believe Master Zhar meant that many have fallen to the Dark Side, and he would not want that to happen to you. Now that your Force Sensitivity has begun to manifest itself, you could become a target for the Sith."

"That makes sense," said Tory. "Master Vrook questioned whether Revan was truly dead. Is it really possible for Revan to have survived?"

Bastila again shifted, and looked away. Walking back to the Hawk, she had wondered if she had overstated her support for Tory to the Council. She had become emotional in the argument with Vrook. Was she truly confident that Revan no longer existed inside Victory Relevant? Or had she simply dug into her own position because her pride had been wounded? Vrook had not been wrong in his assessment of the mission, and his criticism of Bastila had been justified. Could he be right about Revan as well? Nothing felt certain lately. The woman in front of her, though, was clearly no Dark Lord. At least for now.

"I don't know," she finally said. "I hope not. For all our sakes."

"Do you think I'm trainable?" asked Tory.

"Absolutely," said Bastila. "The Council doubts you only because of your age. Jedi training both demands and instills a certain level of mental discipline that could be difficult for an adult not raised in the Jedi ways. But I believe you are capable. And the Council recognizes your strong affinity with the Force. Your successes on Taris are more than sufficient evidence of that."

"Looking back, I'm not sure I did that much," said Tory. "I simply let the river flow, and I went where it took me."

"That's precisely what convinces me that you can be trained," said Bastila. "Let me enumerate what you did on Taris. You shut down a Gamorrean slaving ring. You resolved the Lower City gang wars. You brought the most wanted criminals on Taris to justice. You saved numerous innocent citizens from Sith, repressive crime lords, brutal bounty hunters, and street thugs. You made a cure for the Rakghoul Plague available to the Republic. You discovered the way out of misery for a group of previously-hopeless outcasts, to a destination so appealing that they called it the 'Promised Land'. And along the way, you won the annual swoop race, launched an intergalactic dance star's career, became Taris Dueling Champion, and bested every major Pazaak player on the planet."

"I did do well at Pazaak, didn't I?" said Tory. "I don't think I ever lost a game. Niklos, in the Upper City cantina, accused me of something called 'save scrumming', but I don't even know what that is. None of those things I did mattered much in the end, did they? Didn't everyone die in the bombing?"

"It matters because you did it," said Bastila. "Also, we don't know the fates of everyone on Taris. In particular, I have hope that the Undercity outcasts made it out of the affected areas before Malak started his assault. They may be safe in their Promised Land right now.""

"I hope so too," said Tory. "But I didn't actually try to do any of those things. Master Vrook was wrong, it wasn't luck. But it wasn't really me either. It was the river. The Force, I suppose."

"And that's exactly why you are trainable," said Bastila. "What you describe is a very strong level of Force Sensitivity. The Council will see it too. They must. Too much depends on this for them to come to any other conclusion."

It was now Tory's turn to shift uncomfortably. "Bastila, forgive me, but you are often the same as the Council."

"Excuse me?" Bastila asked defensively.

"You make splashes in the river too. I don't question the direction you're swimming. But I question whether you should be swimming at all. If you are really following the Force, why would you need to?"

"I'm not following the Force?" challenged Bastila. "You weren't the only one who accomplished things on Taris, you know."

"That's not what I meant-," began Tory.

"You're quite capable," said Bastila. "But you know essentially nothing. Your instincts have served you well so far, but they are unreliable and are no substitute for actual knowledge and training. If you think you're ready to pass judgement on people who have dedicated their lives to the Jedi Order, you're getting way ahead of yourself."

"This is exactly what I'm talking about," said Tory. "If I know nothing, then shouldn't I be asking questions? How do you suggest I learn?"

"I suggest," said Bastila, "that you trust in the wisdom of the Council, and in the training that I'm certain you will receive, rather than accusing people who have been doing this much longer than you."

"I made an observation, said Tory, "and you're responding with criticism and anger. All I'm saying is that if you flow with the Force, wouldn't it take you where you need to go?"

"That is dramatically oversimplified. You don't understand that-" Bastila stopped herself mid-sentence and sighed. "Actually, I'm the one who doesn't understand. I became emotional in my earlier conversation with the Council, and I'm doing it again. The Jedi code says 'There is no emotion, there is peace.' I forget that sometimes. The pressures and demands of the moment are real and cannot be ignored, but I should take more time to feel the Force than I do."

"Then take the time now," said Tory. "I don't know how Jedi meditation works, and I'm sure you're not authorized to teach me. But could we just sit for awhile and feel the Force together?"

"Of course," said Bastila.

They assumed meditative poses, sitting cross-legged on the floor, facing each other. And together, they felt the Force for a long time. Afterward, they retired to their respective bunks, where they slept peacefully.

Until the vision.

NOTE: at this point in the game, the main character has a vision while asleep on the Ebon Hawk.

Bastila Shan entered the Jedi Council Chamber at a full sprint. Masters Vrook and Vandar were exiting through a side door. Masters Zhar and Dorak, apparently having just bade them farewell, were returning to their customary places. Bastila ignored all this.

"I know where Darth Malak's fleet comes from!" she exclaimed. All four Jedi Masters stopped and turned to face her. She paused for a moment, catching her breath, then continued, her words a jumbled rush. "Darth Malak's fleet comes from something called a Star Forge. He and Revan learned of it just before they attacked the Republic. We have to destroy it!"

"Slow down, Padawan," said Vandar. He and Vrook walked back to the center of the chamber where the others stood. "Where is this Star Forge?"

"I do not know its location," Bastila said. "At least, not yet."

"How did you learn of it?" asked Vrook. "Did she tell you?"

"No Master," said Bastila. "Tory-"

"-Revan," Vrook interrupted.

Bastila glared at Vrook briefly, then continued. "She did not tell me. I saw it in a dream."

"Tell us of this dream," said Dorak.

"I saw Revan and Malak," Bastila said. "They were in an ancient, deserted chamber. I believe it was underground. They paced before a massive stone door. Malak said the Dark Side was strong in the place. Still, he questioned whether they should proceed inside. He said the ancient Jedi sealed the door, and breaching it would mean their banishment. He questioned whether the Star Forge was worth the risk. Revan opened the door anyway. Inside was an object whose construction I did not recognize, but I believe it may have been a map."

"Indeed," said Dorak. "And you believe it to be a map to this Star Forge?"

"I am not certain," said Bastila, "I feel it is only part of the puzzle. But perhaps a significant part, a starting point."

"I see," said Dorak. "Describe this chamber more completely. Leave nothing out."

Bastila described elements of the dream for several minutes, as the Council questioned and clarified detail after detail. Dorak left momentarily, and returned with a datapad. He asked several additional and very pointed questions, then addressed them all.

"There is no doubt," he said. "In her dream, Bastila saw the ancient burial mounds here on Dantooine. Apparently, there is more beneath than we knew."

"Can we continue properly calling it a dream?" asked Zhar.

"No," said Dorak. "It was clearly a vision."

"Tory saw it too," said Bastila.

"You mean, she shared this vision?" asked Vandar.

"Yes. I am certain of it," Bastila replied.

"You have discussed it with her?" clarified Vandar.

"No, Master," said Bastila. "However, I could feel her presence even in the vision. And as I review in my mind the events of Taris, and even our short time here on Dantooine, I realize that I can often sense her, much more strongly than I can normally sense other Jedi. I feel we are connected."

"Perhaps she is Victory Relevant now, but she was once Revan," said Zhar. "Are you sure you did not mistake Revan's presence in the vision for Victory Relevant's real presence?"

"I am quite confident of it," said Bastila. "It is difficult to explain, but when I perform Battle Meditation I am connected to all my allies in the battle. Because I am connected to many people, and because I am focusing on the battle as a whole, no single connection to any individual dominates. But the feeling I get with Victory Relevant is more similar in nature to that type of connection than to the normal feeling I have when sensing other Jedi."

"I believe you are describing a Force Bond," said Zhar. "It would be unusual for a bond to develop so quickly. Perhaps it is a side effect of Bastila's ability with Battle Meditation, combined with Revan's unquestioned power and ability to turn others to her cause."

"It may be more than that," said Bastila. "On Revan's flagship, when she was dying, I reached out in the Force and preserved her life. Even unconscious, I felt her reach back. Is it possible that, in that moment, we formed a Force Bond?"

"It is more than possible," said Vrook. "It is terrifying. That would mean the person you are linked to is not, as you prefer to call her, Victory Relevant. That would mean the person you are linked to is Revan. If the Force Bond continues to exist, then so does Revan. We had hoped to benefit from leftover memories from the person she once was, but this is proof that the Dark Lord still actually exists inside her."

"Would it not also be proof," Bastila asked, "that she therefore, at some level, knows the location of the Star Forge? Master, forgive me - I am merely a Padawan, yet you have all talked as if the outcome of this war depends on me. I understand that my Battle Meditation is significant, but if the fate of the Republic depends on one Padawan then we are in dire straits indeed. Can we ignore this opportunity to find and destroy the Star Forge? If, as you say, Revan still exists within Victory Relevant, then should we not use that to our full advantage?"

"Hmmmm," said Vrook, considering. "Master Kavar would be impressed with your ruthless strategy. However, we have no way of knowing how long we might have before Revan fully reemerges. In using Revan to help us, we risk losing you to Revan, and losing the war."

"We may have little say in this," said Vandar. "If Bastila and Victory Relevant are bonded, then their destinies are intertwined and their fates are linked. I believe we must accept this as an opportunity. Bastila sometimes acts rashly, but I do not believe she would easily fall to the Dark Side. It would however, be asking too much of a Padawan to keep Revan from again falling."

"Then train her, Master," said Bastila. "Train her in the ways of the Light. Train her to resist the Dark Side. Give her, and me, the tools we need to win this war. Master Vrook, I know we disagree fervently about her, but can you deny that she could be the key to unlocking all our opponent's secrets?"

Vrook frowned. "No, I cannot deny that. But I see far too much risk in training her in Force techniques that could easily be turned against us. I propose an alternative. We speed up the original plan. There is no longer any need for the subtlety that it required. Visit the locations. See what response you get."

"That could work," said Zhar. "Bastila, do you feel that she would be willing to voluntarily participate in the plan?"

"I do," said Bastila.

"Good," said Zhar. "The time originally required for a Jedi to cultivate a friendship with Victory Relevant on the Endar Spire was only necessary so that she would confide in us if visiting the locations triggered anything. But through the events on Taris, she has already developed a closeness with Bastila. Because of the vision, she now knows about the Star Forge, so we can be open about the mission's purpose. If she is willing to participate, then the plan can proceed much more quickly."

"Surely you're not suggesting we tell her who she is?" demanded Vrook.

"Of course not," said Zhar. "However, she is very much aware that she is seeing visions of Revan. And she is already aware that she exhibits exceptional sensitivity to the Force. I see no harm in her also knowing about the Force Bond. We can attribute the visions to a combination of her sensitivity and her bond with Bastila. Having witnessed the destruction of Taris, she is also aware of the urgency in defeating Darth Malak. Moving quickly would be only natural."

"We could move directly between the locations that were significant in Revan's life, rather than visiting them more circuitously under the guise of a Republic mission," Bastila said. "That would certainly speed up the process."

"It could be even faster than that," said Vrook. "If the vision you and she saw was indeed a map, it might direct you where to go next. Instead of wandering the galaxy between places that Revan had been, you might be able to go directly to somewhere that triggers either a memory or another vision."

"There is still a danger," said Zhar. "Another aspect of the original plan was to place Revan on a ship with multiple Jedi and a full complement of Republic soldiers, in case her old personality resurfaced. Would we be placing Bastila in a situation where she might have to confront the Dark Lord alone?"

"I'm sure Lieutenant Onasi would accompany us," said Bastila. "While he is admittedly only one solider, he is an excellent one and his skill in battle was evident on Taris."

"I would not be comfortable disclosing Revan's identity to Lieutenant Onasi," said Vrook.

"Nor would I," said Bastila. "The fewer people who know, the better. I do, however, believe that we could count on him to react quickly in an emergency. Could we also send additional Jedi?"

"Sending additional Jedi may increase our risk," said Vandar. "It was no surprise for multiple Jedi to be on a Republic warship. However, it would be unusual on a smaller vessel. Certainly none of the Masters could go. Their presence in the Force, combined with Revan's, makes it too likely that Darth Malak or his apprentice Darth Brandon-"

"-Bandon," corrected Vrook.

"Sorry, 'Bandon'," said Vandar. "I have a nephew named 'Brandon', so I always typo that."

"What in the Outer Rim are you talking about?" asked Vrook. "You don't have any nephews! What is a 'typo'???"

"Never mind," said Vandar. "My point is, sending a Master would make the mission too easy for them to sense and intercept. We could perhaps send an apprentice, but that seems insufficient for stopping a returned Dark Lord."

Dorak had been listening quietly, but now he spoke up. "Then let us take a small amount of time to reduce the risk. There is precedent for partial training, especially in adults. It would not be necessary to train her fully. The main requirement seems to be preventing her from falling to the Dark Side. We could focus her training on that, and that alone."

"A wise suggestion," said Zhar. "It would indeed be possible to perform useful training of this sort in a relatively short time. Any measure of control we can provide her should slow the return of the Dark Lord. If the mission can be completed as quickly as we hope, it may be enough."

"A reasonable compromise, wouldn't you say?" asked Vandar, looking at Vrook.

"Atris and others on the High Council might disagree," he said. "But we have no time to consult with them. If Bastila is correct and Revan has also seen this vision, then it could awaken things in her that we must keep repressed at all costs. I will support training her in discipline and control only. I also recommend that Master Zhar, as our most talented trainer, administer her training personally."

"You realize, of course," said Zhar, "that physical and mental discipline are inseparable in the Jedi training. She will have to receive basic combat training. It is also necessary for her to feel the Force in order to control it, so I will need to train her in at least some rudimentary techniques."

"An introductory Lightsaber Form and levitating inanimate objects should suffice for these purposes, yes?" confirmed Vrook.

"That should be adequate," said Zhar.

"Very well," said Vrook. "With great reluctance, I remove my objection to training, under the conditions we have discussed."

The other Council members nodded in agreement.

Vrook turned to face Bastila directly. "But I want to make sure you understand, Padawan Shan, the grave responsibility that you bear. If she falls - if you both fall - then the galaxy is lost. I had hoped that our previous public statements regarding your importance were hyperbole, but there is no longer any question. The fates of the Jedi Order, the Republic, and the galaxy rest on you. Once you start down this path, you will not be able to turn from it. This is your last opportunity to reconsider. Can you handle the Dark Lord?"

"Yes Master," said Bastila. "I choose this mission voluntarily and of my own free will. I will not fail."

She wished she was as confident as she sounded.

NOTE: the second in-game conversation between the main character and the Jedi Council occurs here. During the conversation, the Council informs the main character that they have approved training. The game then shows a training montage. The conversation below occurs during this training period.

Bastila Shan's blade slashed and stabbed, flying almost faster than they eye could see. Victory Relevant, however, fluidly parried, dodged, and sidestepped, her blade and body anticipating each attack. She gave ground intentionally, letting Bastila advance, waiting for an opening. Finally, Bastila overextended herself and Victory used the opportunity to mount a counterattack. Now it was Bastila's turn to fall back. Unable to recover control of the battle, Bastila circled, struggling now to fend off Victory's powerful strikes. Just as it seemed that Bastila's defenses would crumble and Victory would land a blow, Master Zhar clapped his hands.

"This match belongs to the apprentice," he said.

The combatants stopped their duel and looked down. In her efforts to stop Victory's attack, Bastila had stepped off the large circular training mat. By the rules of the contest, this ended the competition in Victory's favor.

"Enough for today," Master Zhar said. "I will see you tomorrow at the usual time." He exited the room, leaving the two women alone.

Victory returned the training blade to its rack, then collapsed into a chair. Sweat rolled down her brow and stained her clothing, and she was still breathing hard. The last two weeks had been the most intense that she could recall. From the physical training, to the mental discipline, to the intense study, she'd barely taken time to eat or sleep. Her mind and body were exhausted, pushed far beyond any limit she could have imagined. But she'd never felt more alive. It was as if the galaxy were being opened before her, as if the world she thought she knew had been merely a faded painting on a curtain. Now the curtain had been pulled aside, revealing the true glory behind it.

Bastila also secured her training blade. She appeared, if possible, to have exerted herself even harder than Victory. She sat heavily into another chair and leaned back, trying to catch her breath. After a few minutes, she spoke.

"I don't think I've pushed myself this hard since my own training," Bastila said. "I'd forgotten how demanding an instructor Master Zhar is."

"I appreciate your help," said Tory. "I can't imagine a more challenging sparring partner."

"Be glad they didn't recruit Master Vrook for the job then," said Bastila. "Don't be deceived by his age. I'd be no challenge to him. You might be, though."

"I thought honesty was required of a Jedi," said Tory with a grin. "Or are you just afraid that if you don't encourage me a little, I'll quit the whole thing?"

"I mean it," said Bastila. "I've been training since I was a child. I've faced actual Sith in battle. But I'm barely able to keep up with you, and you've only been training for a couple of weeks."

"I'm not, really," said Tory, her voice now more serious. "Training, I mean. Not like Master Zhar thinks I am."

"What do you mean?" asked Bastila. "Your progress is phenomenal."

"I mean that I'm doing the things Master Zhar says, but not in the way he says to. When I levitated the chairs, he told me to reach out in the Force, feel the chairs, visualize them rising, and then will them to rise. But that's not what I did."

"Of course you did," said Bastila. "I was there. I saw the chairs levitate."

"Yes, the chairs levitated. But I never felt them. Instead I felt the Force. I didn't visualize the chairs rising. I saw the Force swirling about them. Then I nudged one of its waves against them. I didn't lift the chairs. The Force did. I merely encouraged it a bit."

"I think we're saying the same thing in different ways," said Bastila.

"I don't," said Tory. "Master Zhar told me to will the chairs to rise. That would have meant that they rose at my command. But I didn't command anything. I asked the Force to lift the chairs. They rose because the Force agreed to. My will had nothing to do with it."

"That's certainly a different way of thinking about it," said Bastila. "But I'm still not convinced there's really a difference."

"I think there is," Tory said. She paused a moment then continued, her voice sharp: "I'm tired and thirsty. Bastila, get me a drink of water. Now!"

"Excuse me?" objected Bastila, offended. "I'm not yours to command."

"Of course you're not," said Tory, her voice now calm. "But what if I had instead said 'Bastila, I'm really thirsty and I'm so tired. Would you please get me a drink of water?' What would you have done?"

"I would have gotten you a drink of water," said Bastila. "I see your point, although I really don't appreciate the way you made it."

"It was necessary, though," said Tory. "You might have understood my point, but you wouldn't have felt it. And I needed you to feel it. Because even though the apparent end result would have been the same if you had gotten me a drink when ordered versus when asked, our relationship would not have been. Quenching my thirst would have damaged a friendship, which is a cost I would not have been willing to pay."

Tory noticed that Bastila's face was still a bit redder than her physical exertion could explain. The expression on Bastila's face wasn't anger though. What was it? Caution? Appraisal? Doubt? "I didn't, did I? Damage our friendship, I mean?"

"No, I'm just not accustomed to you using that tone of voice," Bastila said. "It sounded a little like I imagine ... nevermind. No you didn't. To your point, you think this applies to the Force as well?"

"I do," said Tory. "In the same way that I wouldn't be comfortable demanding that you get me a drink of water, I'm not comfortable demanding that the Force perform at my command. Even if the end result is the same, it feels offensive and wrong."

"But the Force isn't a person," said Bastila. "It is ... well, we describe it as an energy field to small children incapable of comprehending more nuanced concepts, but it is clearly more than just that. The greatest minds in the history of the Jedi Order have struggled with this question. Some have claimed that it is the unified, collective will of all living things. As such, it has no individual feelings to offend."

"What if they're wrong?" asked Tory. "Or even if they're right, am I really justified in imposing my own will on the collective unification of all life? Even if my effect is just local, doesn't that create ripples, echoes, that could have a cumulative larger effect?"

"That's certainly not how I've been trained to think about it," said Bastila.

"Suppose someone had an incredible strength of will," Tory said. "I'm not saying I do, but suppose there was someone who did. If the Force connects all life, couldn't they, in theory, affect all life with a sufficient application of their will?"

"That sounds unlikely to me," said Bastila. "I can't imagine anyone having a will that powerful. And even if it were, no Jedi would do such a thing. It is the Sith who impose their will on others."

"Bastila, can I say something that may sound harsh?" asked Tory.

"I would never have you be anything less than open and honest with me," Bastila said, somewhat uncomfortably.

Tory wondered for a moment at Bastila's discomfort. Did she think Tory hadn't been honest with her in the past? She considered pursuing it, but instead continued with her point.

"The intentions of the Jedi are Light. I have no doubt of that. But their methods seem to me to border on Dark. Why should we command the Force? Shouldn't it command us? From what I understand so far, which I admit is not much, one major difference between the Jedi and the Sith philosophies is emotional control. The Jedi say that the Sith are consumed by their negative emotions, leading to all sorts of atrocities. As just one example from the writings that Master Zhar instructed me to read: 'Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.' I agree with all that, but it misses a larger point. The Jedi and the Sith both tell the Force what to do. They both impose their will on the Force, even if the Jedi don't impose it on other people. The Sith act from a perspective of hate rather than peace, but that's a difference of degree and not type."

"That's quite the condemnation," said Bastila, her voice rising. "You have two weeks of training and you're saying the Jedi are evil?"

"No, that not at all what I'm saying," said Tory. "I unconditionally support the Jedi. I'm just saying that the Jedi's relationship with the Force ... could perhaps be improved. I'm saying the Jedi are trying to do all the right things, but they may be going about some of it in the wrong way. As opposed to the Sith, who are clearly trying to do the wrong things. I'm saying the Jedi are good, but I believe there are ways they could be better."

"Looking for ways to improve is commendable," said Bastila. "However, Master Zhar has been training Jedi for decades. I'm confident he knows what he's doing."

"I'm confident he's extremely skilled at teaching the same things he was taught," said Tory. "And I realize I'm just an apprentice. I don't intend to challenge his teaching. But there are certain things that I feel I must do in my own way."

"Going your own way, especially when you haven't even completed the initial training, sounds very dangerous to me," said Bastila. "In time you may develop the wisdom to add to the Jedi's understanding of the Force, but that's many years away. For now, you need to be putting all your energy into understanding your training. The Jedi have refined their methods over millennia. Still, some fall to the Dark Side. Often because they pursued their own way, believed they knew better than the Council, better than the Order. It is expected that some of the Jedi ways feel unfamiliar to you. It is a large part of why adults are so seldom trained. You have a lifetime of accumulated preconceptions to overcome."

"It is wrong to question?" Tory asked.

"No, but you're doing more than that. You're passing judgement. That is wrong, at least at this stage of your development. Be patient. Trust the wisdom of the Council."

"Even when I think they're wrong?" Tory asked.

"Especially when you think they're wrong," Bastila said, an impatient edge now in her voice. "There may be a deeper wisdom that you cannot yet see. You really think yourself qualified to judge those who have dedicated a lifetime of service to the Jedi Order when you've barely been here long enough to need to do laundry?"

"Is what I described, how I lifted the chairs, contrary to Jedi principles?" asked Tory.

"No," said Bastila. "While I'm not convinced it is correct, it actually sounds quite polite."

"Then try it," said Tory.

"I'm sorry, what?" said Bastila, surprised.

"If it doesn't violate Jedi principles, and it isn't heretical, then try it. What would be the harm in that? I don't know any other way to show you what I mean."

"I guess there's no harm in that," Bastila said cautiously. "You understand, I'm doing this just to better understand your viewpoint, to help in your training."

"Of course," said Tory. She stepped out of the room for a moment, then returned with three glasses of water. "First, one for you and one for me. You have to be a thirsty as I am."

"Thank you," said Bastila. "I very much am."

After they each drank their glass of water, Tory set the third on a small table. "Feel the Force," she said. "Don't feel the glass. Don't connect with the glass. Be aware of it, but feel only the Force. There's no hurry."

Bastila closed her eyes. "I feel your presence," she said. "I feel the Force between us. Between me and the table. Between me and the glass."

"No," said Tory softly. "You're connecting with objects. Remember before I started my training, when I spoke about the river?"

"Yes, I remember," said Bastila.

"Feel the river," said Tory. "Feel it all around us. Feel its currents, feel its flow. It flows around you, around me, around the table, around the glass. But don't feel those things, feel the river. Don't resist it. Let it carry your mind. Connect to the river, float with it." Tory gently placed her hand on Bastila's shoulder. She wasn't sure how the Force Bond worked, but maybe she could share some of how she felt.

"This feels very much like meditation," said Bastila.

"Good," said Tory. "It should. Don't fight the currents, float with them. Float around the room. Feel the currents as they gently brush the glass. Acknowledge the glass as you pass by it, but do not do anything to it. Let it simply be another thing in the river with you."

"I feel it," said Bastila. "This is very peaceful."

"Now, next time you brush past the glass, encourage the flow to take the glass with you."

The glass rose and hovered above the table.

"That's amazing," said Bastila, her eyes opening. The glass fell to the table, spilling its contents.

"I guess I should have asked you to let it follow the current back down," laughed Tory.

But Bastila was no longer paying any attention to the glass. "This is how the Force feels to you? Always? That was peaceful, almost serene."

"Yes," said Tory. "It might not feel that way if I were willing to try the methods that Master Zhar wants me to. But I won't."

"I understand now what you mean regarding levitating objects," said Bastila. "But when we were sparring, you matched me blow for blow. By the end, we both saw that I was unable to keep up with you. You've only learned the one basic form, but your mastery of it is flawless, far exceeding your natural physical abilities. Is this not an example of you commanding the Force?"

"I know it appeared that way," said Tory. "When Master Zhar said to feel the Force, then use it to enhance my movements, I simply felt it and then followed its path. I wasn't steering the boat. I was just floating with the river."

"It didn't feel like you were floating," said Bastila. "I've faced Sith that didn't hit that hard."

"But it did feel that way to me," said Tory. "I think that, in surrendering my movements to the Force, I'm faster and stronger than I could ever be by commanding it. Obviously my body was working very hard," she gestured at her still-soaked clothing, "but I felt nothing but peace."

"Aren't you concerned that your approach will fail at a crucial moment?" asked Bastila. "What if you float one direction and your opponent strikes a blow from the other?"

"That's the whole point," said Tory. "I'm trusting in the Force to prevent that. You tell me to trust the Council, and to the best of my ability I will try. But I tell you to trust the Force. If we can't trust the Force, what are we even doing here? "

Bastila started to speak, then realized she had no answer to this. Tory continued.

"Bastila, I respect the Masters, but my first loyalty will be to the Force. I will not abuse it, under any circumstances. I refuse to impose my own will." Tory was surprised by the relief she saw on Bastila's face. She could understand if Bastila had doubted her abilities, but what reason had Tory given Bastila to doubt her commitment?

"I'm very glad to hear you say that," Bastila said sincerely.

"That's why we're going to win. You know that, right?" said Tory.

"Because you won't abuse the Force?" asked Bastila, confused.

"No," said Tory. "Because our opponent does. The Force is on our side. I've read enough of the ancient wisdom to know that the old Masters are divided on whether the Force has a will. But I'm convinced it does, and we are following it. Malak, on the other hand, tries to control the Force, bend it to his will. He believes that he is the master of his own destiny, of all our destinies. He believes that his hate, malice, and determination are strong enough to subdue not only the Republic, but the Force itself.

"He is wrong.

"Bastila, when I think about my life before the Endar Spire, it's almost like a half-remembered dream. I know I wasn't a perfect person. The mistakes I made as a smuggler in the Outer Rim weren't out of malice or evil, but they were still mistakes. Nevertheless, what I once was doesn't matter now. My life before the Endar Spire doesn't matter. Ultimately, I don't matter. And from a certain point of view, Malak and the Sith don't matter. What matters is the Force.

"Don't misunderstand me, I know it is critical that we defeat Malak. I believe I can. This may sound prideful, but I know I can. It isn't because of me, though, not because of any power I possess, not because of anything special about me. It is because the Force wants Malak defeated, and I have decided to be its servant. Malak, and others like him, think their wills are more powerful than the Force itself. But no one's is. If the Force wants Malak defeated, and if I'm following the Force's will, then Malak has no chance.

"This is why the river matters. This is why how I relate to the Force matters. It was, is, and always will be the Force. I'm not asking you to trust in me. I'm just a woman with a shady past and two weeks of Jedi training. I'm asking you to trust in the Force.

"Master Vandar was both right and wrong. He said the entire fate of the galaxy was upon me. And maybe in a way it is. But really, the entire fate of the galaxy is, always has been, and always will be, upon the Force. It has never failed, and it never will. Can you trust in that? Can we trust in that together?"

Bastila nodded.

"Good," said Tory. "I know I've been confusing. This is just a start. I don't have the words yet to really explain it all. But I've never before been so convinced of anything. Together we will make things right, Bastila. And in time, I believe I'll figure out how to make you really understand what I'm trying to say."

"I look forward to that," said Bastila. "While I remain skeptical that what you're describing could or should replace traditional Jedi training, I must admit that your demonstration was intriguing."

"There's one more thing," said Tory. "Master Vandar said I had little choice in being trained, and on going on this mission to defeat Malak. He's wrong about that. Destiny matters, but our decisions matter as well. I've had ample opportunity in the last two weeks to leave."

"You've been thinking about leaving?" Bastila asked, concerned.

"No, I haven't. That's my point. The Council has declared that I must stay, but the Ebon Hawk is unguarded, and Dantooine has virtually nothing in the way of planetary defenses. I'm not a bad pilot, and I know my way around the galaxy. I could have taken the Hawk, left you all, and headed for Wild Space. Maybe Malak's reach would someday extend that far, but the galaxy is a big place. Odds are, I could have lived the rest of my life on my own terms, doing what I already know how to do. Do you know why I didn't?"

"Why is that?" asked Bastila.

"Because I want to be here. Joining the Jedi against Malak is the way the Force is directing me, and I choose to follow. I want to follow the Force, and win this fight. I choose this mission voluntarily and of my own free will. I will not fail."

There was no doubt in her voice, or in her heart.

Bastila lay awake in her bunk late that night, thinking about her conversation with Tory. As different as this approach to interacting with the Force was, Bastila could not escape its purity. Was this how the Force had always felt to Revan? Bastila couldn't imagine a Sith relating to the Force in the way that Tory had described. But maybe her connection to it was simply on a different enough level that her perceptions of it were different from everyone else's. More than that, though, Bastila was impressed by Tory's sincere commitment, both to their mission and to the Force itself.

What if this was the Revan that could have been? What if she was really redeemed? What if the Dark Lord had been banished, but the person had remained, wiser and perhaps even stronger? Bastila's passionate statements to the Jedi Council when arguing for training had been, at least in part, an attempt at persuasion, and she had to admit to herself that she had her own doubts. But what if it were really true? If Revan were actually on their side, her power undiminished but her purpose reclaimed for the Light, how could they fail?

However, her independent nature, her unabashed questioning of Jedi fundamentals ... was that not cause for great concern? Wasn't that just a small step away from rejecting the Jedi? And what then? What if these had been the kind of questions that had led Revan astray in the first place? Much of the Jedi teaching was designed to guard against falling to the Dark Side. Without the protection of the teaching, what hope did Tory have of saying on the path of the Light? Especially when she'd fallen once before. Would knowing about her past help warn her against making the same mistakes again? Could her past failures safeguard her future?

No, that was out of the question. It would be far too dangerous to tell her who she really was. Whatever guilt Bastila might feel over the manipulation and deception, she would not risk the galaxy to ease her own conscience. Hadn't Tory expressed a deep desire to see the mission accomplished? Hadn't Revan been a master of manipulating both events and people to her own advantage? Wasn't Bastila simply taking a page from Revan's own book? Surely both the person Revan had been, and the person Tory was now, would see the wisdom in withholding the truth. The Council was correct. The mission must be completed, and quickly.

Whoever Tory was now, though, she had lost none of Revan's inspirational skills. Bastila had long wondered how Revan had first amassed a small army of Jedi against the Mandalorians in defiance of the Jedi Council, and then as Darth Revan had turned so many Jedi to the Dark Side. What had Revan said or done to convince so many? What words or actions could have generated such unlikely loyalty? What arguments or deeds could have such an effect on so many?

Now Bastila understood. Revan had a gravity about her, as if she were a newborn star, bright and shining, and everyone around her had no choice but to be pulled into her orbit. It wasn't just her unmistakable charisma, or her undeniable conviction. It wasn't even just her strength with the Force. There was something special, something undefinable about Revan. Tonight had been almost like talking with the Force itself. Revan had been more than powerful, she'd been almost luminous.

Revan would need Bastila's help, of course. Revan's new mind had retained all of its potency, but had lost much of its knowledge. She would be Revan's guide and guard, keeping her from the mistakes of the past. She would be quick to correct even the slightest drift to the Dark Side. On this there could be no compromise. But together they would accomplish this mission. She was now certain of it. Darth Malak would be defeated, and the Republic would be saved.

Bastila didn't even realize she had stopped thinking of her compatriot as Victory Relevant.

All she knew is that they would win. Because there was simply no way that Revan would lose.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: the events described above are followed immediately by the remainder of KOTOR 1. The fan fiction continues in KOTOR 1 - Connections: Banned, which is set just after the game concludes.