For the Republic...

Carth Onasi stared in growing horror at the woman before him. As she spoke, as she tempted, as she pleaded, the innocence drained from her eyes, and was replaced by something that frightened him to the core.

He listened, as Canderous once more swore his loyalty to the Dark Lord. He heard Zaalbaar bemoaning his lifedebt, but promising to fulfill it as an act of honor. He heard Mission's denial, and refusal to comply with the Sith's wishes.

Celt--- no, not Celt, not anymore… Revan. Revan smiled, and the smile was more fatal to Carth than any blaster bolt through the heart could have been.

She brought her hand up, and caressed his face, tenderly, "I've always loved you, Carth," she whispered.

"Celt… Celt, don't do this… please, don't make me do this…"

"Come with me, Carth… The Republic is doomed, there's no need for you to die alongside them."
The same words Saul Karath had once spoken, what seemed an eternity ago.

"Come with me," Revan pleaded, "Rule by my side..."

He closed his eyes, and bowed his head. "I love you," he whispered, "I've always loved you… from the moment I saw you on the Endar Spire…"

Revan took that as a sign of submission, and her soft smile broadened into a hard grin, "You've made the right choice, Carth…"

She claimed his lips in an aggressive kiss, and for that moment, Carth felt as if the life was being drained from him, as if the warm mouth against his had been full of poison…

But only for a moment. She pulled, and turned to walk away. Carth raised his head, and watched her sashay over to where Bastilla, smug as ever, stood.

You've made the right choice…

I love you…

"I know."

Whether it was because the blaster had been heavily modified, or if it was because Carth was a crack shot, or whether it was because Fate, or the Force, was on his side… Revan never saw the shot coming.

She stared at the smoking hole over her heart, and looked up at Carth, her blue eyes large with shock.

She was dead once her body hit the sand.

Carth fell to his knees, the blaster falling from his now numb fingers. Immediately, he felt the cold barrel of Canderous' blaster pressed against the back of his head, his gravelly voice ground out, "That was a mistake, Carth."

Carth didn't turn, didn't move. He stared at the body of the woman he loved, lying on the sun-warmed beach, her blue eyes staring up at the sky.

"Any last words, Onasi?"

That was a mistake…

You've made the right choice…

I love you….

You've made the right choice….

"For the Republic."
Canderous felt a moment of hesitation, of regret… before pulling the trigger.

***