Chapter Thirty-Six, Part Three

The four Jedi Masters fanned out, lightsabers already in hand. Each movement of their body's was practised and calm. They covered each other's blind spots, effortless teamwork that widened May's smile to a grin.

"We cannot allow Revan to go free, but we have no wish to fight with you," Master Vandar sighed as he activated his viridian blade. "Yet I can see that you will refuse to listen to reason."

"Call it whatever you like," May waved Revan back and levelled her staff at the Jedi Masters. "But I won't roll over to your dogmatic ideals like most people in this galaxy and the fear of Jedi mysticism won't work with me."

"From where do you hail, Miss…" Master Vrook activated his lightsaber alongside the rest of the Jedi Masters. He levelled the green blade at May, eyes set in hard lines. "Your connection to the Force is strange… as if you stand beyond its reach yet control its energy as your own."

"Such perversion is reminiscent of the Sith, who place themselves above the Force's will," Master Dorak held his purple blade at the ready and stepped further to the side. The four Jedi now stood in a square around May, lightsabers ready to engage. "Whatever Cult spawned your teachings, it must be of dark origins"

"Please, May… listen to the Masters," Bastila pleaded from next to Carth and Revan, hand on her own sabre. "You can't stand against them, even with that ship you have in orbit."

"Ship… you mean Gladius?" May snorted as she spared the young jedi a glance. "You thought that was my trump card?" She shook her head and levitated until the ceiling almost touched her back. "Gladius could turn this world to glass, but I won't need her help today… sit back and watch, little padawan, I'll show you what a real Master of 'the Force' can do!"

Staff held across her body, the runes at May's back condensed into a luminous sun. Ferocious heat evaporated the building above, a gaping hole that let in the sounds of the world. Her eyes dragged over the Masters, one by one, until she settled onto Vrook.

"My people find special kinship with the sun," May gave the wide-eyed Jedi a half-smile, filled with pity. The light at her back built with each word, a blue-white glow that replaced all vision. "Maybe I can return your ability to see the truth, by sacrificing another of your senses…"

A gentle sweep of her staff and the magical star focused its rays. Four brilliant pillars, unavoidable as the noonday sun, touched on the Jedi like the fingers of god. Lighsabers did nothing to block the tide, consumed by a light that hunted for a very specific target. Screams of pain, the whisper of smoke from roasted flesh, then silence.

The sun at May's back faded, finished with its work. The Master's below had fallen to their knees, sabres abandoned as they clutched hands to blackened skin. Gaping pits, filled with grey-white ash, replaced the Jedi's eyes. Branded between the ruination was an image of the sacred tree. An Yggdrasil carved into half-cooked flesh.

"How is this possible…" Basitla's words slid out, a whisper that only May could hear. She staggered toward the fallen Masters, fear and horror in her eyes. "This kind of power… to defeat so many without any possible defence…"

"This is what Dan-EL meant, when he said you could show us a better way to use the force…" Revan's knuckles turned white, blood driven from her fists by the strength of her grip. "Against such magic, the hidden Sith have no hope of victory against us… even if I hadn't seen your husband move a moon with his bare hands, I'd have no fear of defeat."

"Let's go find Juhani, she should be near the ruins we detected from orbit," May descended to Revan's side and placed a hand on her shoulder. "These four won't be capable of judging anyone for a while," she glanced at Bastila and motioned to her as well. "You're still welcome to join us, maybe your presence can help prevent future misunderstandings between us and the Jedi Order."

"I…" the young woman shook her head, uncertain. She flinched as Revan lay a hand on her back, but didn't recoil. "Will they be alright?"

"We can both sense that their lifeforce still runs strong, as does their connection to the force," Revan soothed the confused padawan and led her away from the unconscious Masters. "They will survive and heal, even if no one comes to their aide…" She glanced at the small collection of Jedi teachers that cowered in the shadows of the broken temple. "And once we leave the others will tend to their wounds."

"But…" Bastila allowed Revan to guide her feet. The pair followed after May, who floated a few metres above, eyes focused on the horizon. The young Jedi shook her head, face creased in a deep frown. "I can't betray the Jedi Order, I…"

"We don't need you to betray anyone," May landed beside the two women and gave an easy smile. Bastila winced at the warm, honest expression, a face at odds with the wrathful display from moments ago. "Just join us, help keep Revan on a better moral path, if you like… for all your words, I can tell you have the same doubts as she does, buried under your respect for tradition."

Bastila let her eyes wander over the damaged temple. She traced the tower of smoke and took a deep breath. The Force flowed through her and calmed her expression, while May continued to smile. The woman would join, her connection to Revan and the questions in her heart left only certainty in May's mind.

"You two can take a walk and talk it out," A glance to the heaven's deepened May's smile to a grin. Two figures had entered orbit, on course to their position. "Dan has arrived with another guest, we'll grab Juhani and meet you two when we're finished!"

– – – –

"What in the name of the Force WAS THAT?" Jolee Bindo twitched in Dan's grasp, eyes wide as they stepped from the phantom zone and into orbit around Dantooine. "I've lived another lifetime in that horrible place!"

"The first trip is always the worst," Dan shrugged as he scanned the planet's surface. He pulled the disgruntled hermit on a course that would take them to his Wife and the others, a small smile on his lips. "Once you know what you're in for, it's just extra time to practise your mental skills."

"Extra practice time…" Jolee grumbled as he shook his head. "You're crazy! If I never experience that again, I'll die happy!"

"You're welcome to travel on one of our ships," Dan changed his angle as May rose from the ground to meet them. Their new course would put them directly above Juhani, the last business they had on this world. "The weird time effect doesn't exist as long as you're inside a starship for the jump…"

"Dan!" May soared into the conversation and drowned out the hermit's reply. She wrapped Dan in a hug and planted a kiss on his cheek. "It looks like your mission to Kashyyyk was a success!"

"And it looks like you've done a number on the poor Jedi," Dan laughed and returned his Wife's kiss. The smoke from her work still filled the air with the scent of barbequed meat. "I assume they wanted to take Revan into custody, or wipe her mind and start their little plan all over again?"

"They got what they deserved," May shrugged as she released Dan and turned to Jolee, who still hung from Dan's other hand like a piece of fruit. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Bindo, you can call me May!" She reached out and grasped the hermit's free hand. "Dan has told me a lot about you, I'm glad you decided to join us!"

"Let's save the introduction for when we're on solid ground," Jolee sighed as the handshake shifted him through the air. "I need a moment to gather my thoughts after the horrors of our travels!"

"The phantom zone can do that to a person," May chuckled and led the way to the ruined structures below. Abandoned and tainted with the dark side, it was the current home of their next target. "Come on, I think Juhani has already noticed us…"