Krayt Freedom, Chapter 6

Note, this chapter is first set a year after the last, when all the events in KOTOR 2 are just beginning... then it goes to a year after that, and then to... I don't wanna ruin it for ya, so I'll just say that this chapter is really fast paced, so it can be a bit confusing...(Mainly because I am combining several chaps into one, because my usual chaps are really short.)ooh, suspense! =)

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One Year Later... It all started with blame. She blamed the Council, the Jedi Order, the Republic, even her own son for Revan's travel to the Unknown Regions. It turned into hate, darkness. When a half- dead man came to her with an offer, she could not resist it.

This was her second time down this path, and she was more powerful this time. Her hand dropped to the hilt of her lightsaber as she heard something in the darkness. A blood red blade of light came out of the lightsaber, and she took an offensive pose.

"Put it away, Bastila, it's only me," a man said from the darkness.

Bastila deactivated the weapon. "What is it, Master?"

"There are direct orders from Lord Nihilus himself," her Master said. "We are to begin our campaign against the Republic."

---

Keelan stepped into the cantina, greeted by several friends. He grinned at each of them and Jestin clapped him on the back."Hey, man, great for you to come!" Vigro said, stepping forward. He clutched a bottle of 'low alcohol' juma juice.

"Hey guys," Keelan nodded to Krayt Freedom. "Where's -"

"Jaina?" Devan said. "She's at the bar."

Keelan grinned and advanced to a golden haired, fair skinned girl at the counter. When he was next to her, he said, "Hey!"

Jaina looked at him, smiled, and gave him a hug. "Hey!"

"I'm booked this week, so I guess this is gonna have to be our date night," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

Jaina nodded. "That's fine with me."

"So, you want something to drink?" Keelan asked, pulling out his wallet and counting his credits.

Jaina smiled. "Sure, why not?"

---

Jestin and Vigro watched Keelan from a distance, observing his every move."You think that Jaina is gonna come between Keelan and the band?" Vigro asked.

"Nah," Jestin said. "They've been going out since that concert together last year. She hasn't been much of a problem so far."

"Are you crazy? He's paying more attention to her than us!"

"In case you didn't know, I'm Jestin. I don't realize a lot of things. And I think you're just jealous... that didn't sound right."

"No it didn't and No, I'm not jealous!"

"Well, give Keelan a break. His dad went to the Unknown Regions and no one knows if he's alive or not. His mom left on a mission for the Jedi and is missing. Nobody has felt her become one with the Force, so they're assuming she's out there somewhere. Keelan's going through a hard time right now."

"Yeah, I know." Vigro admitted, talking more to the floor than Jestin.

"I have a question, Vigro. If you were forced to choose between the Jedi and the band, which would you choose?"

"That's not gonna happen, Jestin."

"I sorta have a feeling it will."

---

Two Weeks Later...

Vandar sat in his study, going through papers that should have been gone through a few hours before.

There was a beeping noise, and the Jedi Master turned on the communication device in front of him. There was a bunch of static, and then the holographic image of Bastila appeared in front of him. She seemed... different.

"Bastila!" the little alien exclaimed. "We have been so worried about you! Where are you?"

"I can see why you would be worried about me," Bastila said coldly. "I'm only calling upon my Master's request to warn you that we are attacking soon."

"Warn us?" Vandar asked. "Your Master?"

"Yes. I am warning you of our attack on Coruscant upon my Master's request, you fool! Can't you hear?"

"Bastila, have you..." Vandar couldn't finish the sentence.

"Fallen to the Dark Side?" Bastila finished for him. "Of course! Even though I have joined the Dark, I have finally seen the light!"

Vandar shook his head. "No, Bastila!"

"Yes, Vandar, I am with the Sith. Deal with it!!"

The image of the had- been Jedi Sentinel faded and left Vandar in his study alone with his thoughts. This was going to be very difficult to tell Keelan.

---

Keelan sat with Dissent and the rest of Krayt Freedom. The others had given up trying to comfort him with words, and it had been silent for nearly an hour, except for and occasional growl from Jestin's stomach and Jestin whispering for it to shut up.

Everyone jumped when Keelan spoke, although it was softly. "Dad left, Mom's gone to the Dark Side, why can't we keep it together?"

Devan grinned in spite of himself. Vigro elbowed him, gesturing that it wasn't a happy statement."Song inspiration," Devan whispered an explanation.

---

Devan was in his room, working on a song bent around Keelan's earlier statement.

Dustil Onasi walked in the small room, knocking on the open door. "Shouldn't you be in bed? You're gonna be really grumpy in the morning!"

"One minute Dad," Devan answered absentmindedly.

Dustil grinned at his godson. "You said that an hour ago."

"Dad, this is important!" Devan said, wheeling around to face Dustil.

The older Onasi chuckled. "You said that an hour ago, too."

Devan looked at his godfather. "Dad, please! I'm almost done!"

"You-"

"I know, I said that an hour ago, but I really mean it!" Devan interrupted.

Dustil rolled his eyes. "Okay, ten minutes," he said, knowing it was likely to turn into another hour to comment about.

Devan grinned and turned back around.

---

Keelan read the lyrics Devan had written. 'This is... really really good!" he smiled for what seemed like the first time since receiving the news about Bastila.

Vigro and Jestin high- fived at the sight of the upturned corners of Keelan's mouth.

Keelan grinned again. We gotta play this right away!"

---

Up on the stage, Krayt freedom addressed the crowd, explaining the meaning of the song they were about to perform, both overall meaning and personal meaning.Then the stage exploded with the sound of music as Keelan sang.

Oh! Gravity,
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Sons of my enemies,
Why can't we seem to keep it together?

Why this tragedy?
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Oh! Gravity,
Why can't we seem to pull it together?

The crowd cheered. Jestin leaned toward Devan. "If we ever have a hit single," Jestin said, "this has gotta be it!"

---

One week later...

Vandar stood in front of all the Jedi Knights and Masters, explaining that, because of Bastila's second fall to the dark side, emotions such as love were to be prohibited. He said that the council believed part of the reason she turned was because of her love for Revan, which led to her hate of the people she thought responsible for his disappearance: the Jedi

---

Jaina was tied up and gagged, left in an alley of Coruscant. She had fought back, but the gangsters had proved too much for her. She had been too scared to use the Force, and she regretted it. She was sending out a mental message over and over to the nearest Force-sensitive person, hoping that they could help her.

---

Keelan felt a disturbance in the force while taking a shortcut to the academy he'd found a few months after he'd enrolled there. He stopped and reached for it, following the sign to a seemingly deserted dimly lit alley.

Keelan pulled his lightsaber from the belt at his waist and activated it, the blue light brightening the alley. A lone guard looked up at the source of the light and Keelan saw a tied up figure hunched over behind the guard. Keelan squinted to see the prisoner more, but the guard had pulled a high-powered blaster from its holster and started firing. The Padawan barely got his lightsaber up in time before the blaster bolt ricocheted off the blade. Keelan then leapt forward, quickly clearing the distance between the guard and himself. In one fluid movement, he decapitated the guard, and looked at the corpse in disgust before moving over to the prisoner.

When he got close enough, Keelan realized it was Jaina. He untied her and took the gag out of her mouth. She threw herself onto him, holding him. He looked down at her with a smile, then leaned in and kissed her. It lasted only for a while before they pulled apart, gazing into each other's eyes.

At that moment, Keelan knew he loved her.

And he knew it was wrong.

---

Keelan handed Vigro the song he'd written. Vigro looked at it, different emotions playing on his face. "It's awesome," he said. "But I don't think the Masters will like it, especially after the no emotions bit they issued last week."

"I know, I know!" Keelan closed his eyes and shook his head. "But I think I've made a decision, but the rest of the guys need to be here before I tell you."

"That can be arranged," Vigro said. He took out his comlink and dialed Devan and Jestin's numbers, explained the situation, and the two were over there quicker than Keelan could blink.

"So, what's going on?" Jestin asked.

"Guys, I've made a decision, a big one, too," Keelan took a breath before continuing. "I think I'm gonna leave the Jedi."

---

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---

"Woa, Keelan!" Jestin said. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. I already talked to Vandar about it. Everything's all set."

"This is... big" Jestin commented.Devan put a hand on Keelan's shoulder.

"Dude, I've known you since we were babies. If you're going, I'm going."

"I'm not gonna abandon you either," Jestin said.

The three then looked at Vigro. The black haired boy remembered a conversation between Jestin and himself. 'If you were forced to choose between the Jedi and the band, which would you choose?' 'That's not gonna happen, Jestin.' 'I sorta have a feeling it will.'

Vigro looked at them. "I'm sticking with the band, but I'm still a Jedi. If it comes to the decision, I'll find my answer then."

---

4 years later... Krayt Freedom's penthouse apartment was filled with many people, from the intergalactic music industry staff, to Dissent, to many friends they had met over the years.

Keelan was now 18 years old, his once short brown hair with a Padawan braid was now braidless and shag- style. Small whiskers dotted his lower chin in his attempt to grow a small beard.

Keelan stood up on the table with Krayt Freedom and got everyone's attention. "5 years ago," he began, “three of my friends and I started a band. You can see what's happened since then! We've had several songs in the top ten lists and have sold a best selling album. Today, I turn 18, and as the oldest member of the band, we celebrate all of our birthdays on my birthday, so guys, welcome to the first day of the rest of our lives!" He raised his glass, and it made a clink sound when it hit the glasses of Vigro, Jestin and Devan.

He grinned, and Ron took the album that Keelan had handed him and started playing it. Keelan jumped down from the table as a song he had written just before he left the Jedi started playing. He walked up to Jaina as his recorded voice started singing."Hey," he said to Jaina. "You wanna dance?"

Jaina nodded, and she put her arms around his neck, leaning into his chest.

Keelan's recorded voice moved into the chorus, and he hummed along as he danced.

Then one day you held me in your arms

I knew I loved you but I knew it was wrong

You held me tight, how could I know?

The rest of the music faded away as Keelan's thoughts turned back to the first time (the only time) he kissed Jaina. He remembered the feel and taste of her lips against his, even if he could not have felt those when it actually happened.

They had both dated other people in the past 4 years, but to tell the truth, Keelan still loved her. He'd loved her then, he loved her now, and he would love her in the future.

But did she love him?

---

Jake and Alysha ran up the boarding ramp into the Ebon Hawk, both excited to get back to known space."Typical for you to fall in love with a scoundrel and then train him to be a Jedi!" Jake laughed, taking a seat in the pilot's chair.

Alysha put her hands on her hips. "Atton is not a scoundrel! He's just... a scoundrel."

Jake chuckled. "At least he's not a Dark Jedi."

Alysha tried to think of something to say to him, but couldn't. She put a hand on Jake's shoulder as he lifted the Ebon Hawk into the air. Jake had been depressed ever since he had been forced to kill Bastila, as she would not turn back to the light."At least you're not a Dark Jedi," she finally said.

Jake smiled at her. "Thanks Alysha."

Alysha grinned and pulled her light brown hair back into a ponytail and out of her auburn eyes. "I'm going to the 'fresher," she stated. She went into the small refresher, closed the door, and ran the water.

Alysha pulled off the bloodstained tunic she wore and sank into the warm water, which instantly soothed her aching muscles.

She'd grown closer to Jake during their journey through the Unknown Regions. She wasn't sure if she was as excited to see Atton as she had forced herself to believe. And now that Jake's wife was dead, there was an empty part in his life, the part she had once filled, and could fill again.

---

Jake punched a fist in the air when he reached Known Space. They stopped at Tatooine for supplies, and Jake was bored there, so he turned on the ship's radio.

He managed to catch the very end of a song before a DJ came back on the air, saying the name and artist of the previous song. Then the guy said, "Hey, hey! Coming up next with their new hit, Krayt Freedom!"

Jake shook his head. Krayt Freedom? That was Keelan's band! They were alive? They were on the radio? They had a hit?!? Jake pulled the holo of Keelan out of his credit wallet. The image was of a 13 year old Keelan and was one of Jake's most prized possessions ever since he'd left Coruscant.

An older sounding Keelan came onto the radio, and Jake clung to the voice of his son.

And I know
We get a little crazy
And I know
We get a little loud
And I know
We're never gonna fake it
We are wild
We are free
We are more than you think
So call us freaks
But that's just the way we roll

Jake almost left Alysha on Tatooine right then, but he waited for her to finish getting the supplies before beginning the long journey to Coruscant

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'Oh! Gravity' by Switchfoot'Sister Blue' by Bit 'O Jane, 'That's the way we roll' by Jonas Brothers

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In case you don't know, Alysha is my exile... ya!