A/N: This story starts with the scenario that only Bastila and Revan have turned away from the Republic and, the crew of the Ebon Hawk are unaware of that fact. In other words, the scene on the beach of the Unknown World where Revan asks the crew to join him/her and Carth and Mission won't join you will happen soon. Enjoy!
"And in the end, as the darkness takes me, I am... nothing." Malak's metallic voice croaked as he succumbed to death. His pale and corrupted body dropped to the floor with a thud that resonated throughout the Viewing Platform. Bastila approached Lord Revan apprehensively from the Command Centre, having just felt Lord Malak's death through the Force. An action that disrupted the battle long enough to balance the odds, her Battle Meditation now no longer needed to keep the Republic at bay. She smirked as Lord Revan sheathed his lightsaber. They had finally won; they were the Lord and Lady of the Sith now. They were in charge. At least, those were her hopes.
She yearned for this moment ever since she swore her 'fealty' to Malak. Weeks of torture did not engender loyalty or respect or even fear. She only felt hatred when faced with her new 'Lord'. With his death, the Dark Side has gained a stronger and mightier leader. One she hoped to stand alongside forever, as his Lady and his lover.
"Come, my Lord, let us inform our 'friends' of these new developments. They'll be dying to hear." She cackled with a small smile. Revan silently nodded and turned to leave, with his long, black, custom-made robe flowing behind him. It was not the one he wore before Malak's betrayal. It was more like a Jedi Master's robe except it was black and grey instead of brown and white, with armour plating hidden underneath the fabric. Bastila still wore the robes Malak had given her, against her wishes. She had had no opportunity to change since her battle with Lord Revan in the Rakatan Temple on the planet below. It was like her old attire but, it was black and red instead of brown and yellow. Revan's single-bladed crimson and violet lightsabers bumped against him as he walked and Bastila's double-bladed red remained in her hand. Before they left the Viewing Platform, Revan turned back, beckoned Bastila to wait and returned to Malak's body. He bent down and closed the eyes of his former Apprentice and friend and whispered something as he picked up Malak's lightsaber and attached it to his belt, alongside his own.
The bodies of Malak's last few loyal soldiers and the mindless droids forced to serve him covered the silent walk back to the Hangar on Deck 1. The Star Forge: an immense kite-shaped station made of cold, grey metal, with vast, expansive hallways and open construction plants; a formidable fortress with near unlimited defences. Marauders and droids could be built in seconds, and Battlecruisers, that would normally take the Republic months to make, only took the Star Forge weeks at most. The Rakatan weapon was created for one purpose; war and Revan intended to use it wisely.
Bastila had managed to convince many of Malak's own men to turn against him after her encounter with Lord Revan in the Rakatan Temple, Admiral Saul Karath included. Unbeknownst to Revan and Carth, Admiral Karath had managed to survive their meeting and discovered his true loyalties soon after Malak stripped him of the title of Grand Admiral because of his failure. She still held some disgust at the man's presence yet, gained a newfound respect for him and his patience when it came to dealing with Malak. She only spoke to him because of his influence over the men, both on the Star Forge and across the Empire. If he fell in line behind his new Lord, and he did, she would have no trouble convincing others. Lord Revan had the Empire on his side before he even boarded the Star Forge.
Their battle in the Rakatan Temple had an odd, but welcome, conclusion. After Bastila had beaten Jedi Knight Juhani and Jedi Padawan Jolee into unconsciousness, Revan defeated her. When she pleaded with him to reclaim his position as the Dark Lord of the Sith, very much to her surprise, he agreed. He ordered her to return to 'Lord' Malak, telling a tale of failure and, to lay the groundwork for his arrival. She sent all those she could not convince to join him, to face Revan directly, to dispose of them. Everyone she did manage to convince, held their ground against the Republic and waited for their true Lord's return.
As they approached the Hangar, the number of living Sith personnel increased exponentially, having cleared Malak's dead men away. When Lord Revan's control was slowly certified, the Star Forge's defences slowly retargeted to the few Battlecruisers still loyal to Malak and, to the Republic Cruisers attacking the station. Admiral Dodonna and Grand Master Vandar were leading the attack from 'The Admirable' and the Republic's entire Second Fleet was here. It was a desperate attempt by their enemy and, it was about to fail. With the destruction of the Second Fleet and the loss of Admiral Dodonna and Grand Master Vandar, the Republic would be crippled, becoming an easy target.
"Who's in charge here down here?" Lord Revan shouted, startling many. Much to his chagrin, Admiral Karath came running over. He still wore his Republic Admiralty uniform, despite the modifications made. His service in the Mandalorian Wars made him proud and, the uniform partnered with that pride.
"I am, Lord Revan, how might I serve?" Admiral Karath bowed to Lord Revan and Lady Bastila, staying as still as a statue.
"Admiral Karath," Lord Revan hesitated. A gut feeling, stirring somewhere deep inside of him, demanded that he refused this man everything. Some hidden distaste surfaced whenever his name was mentioned yet, the source was clouded. Revan's memories had still failed to return, leaving him with a smattering of flashbacks. However, like the gut feeling to accept Bastila's proposition, this new one must be followed. They were all that remained of him from before the ambush, the betrayal. He had to cling to them. "Get any of Malak's men dealt with. Then, re-double your efforts to destroy the Republic Fleet." Lord Revan barked at the former Republic Admiral.
"Yes, Lord Revan," Admiral Karath bowed again before distributing orders out to his subordinates. "And might I say, it is a pleasure to be under your command again, my Lord." He added quickly. He internally cursed himself. It was too deferential. He was trying to seem respectful but, he didn't want to come off as patronising. Lord Revan was a living legend during his time as Supreme Commander, and afterwards, he became an icon. Saul simply hoped that their problems of the past stayed there.
As the Star Forge bent to Revan's will, it changed, reverting to the way it once was. Sentry, Assault, Medical, Astromech and Protocol droids, as well as Auto Turrets, poured out of the Droid Generators littered across the station. Soldiers, Sith Acolytes and Apprentices, Operators and Officers filled the station, staffing every major post, solidifying his power. The construction rate slowed down to much lower than what Malak ran the station at; 300% capacity towards the end, which was his downfall. The Star Forge turned to Revan to sustain itself the moment he stepped on board. With Revan running the Star Forge, Malak had lost his power and his advantage, and, with Malak's death, the Star Forge was all too happy to switch its allegiance permanently.
Revan and Bastila entered the Hangar to find the Ebon Hawk and her crew waiting. The Hangar was much like the rest of the Star Forge: solid, grey metal walls and ceiling; a grey, grated metal floor with a pit that seemed endless below and a large opening showing the battle that took place outside, separated from them only by a forcefield. The Jedi strike team that had boarded alongside Revan was long gone, drawn further into the Star Forge, into a trap set by Bastila.
"Gather round all! We have returned!" Bastila announced. They all approached as Revan, having hidden the three lightsabers clipped on his belt under his robes, watched Bastila with quiet curiosity.
"Bastila, you're alive! I was worried about you. For a minute there I was sure we'd never see you again once Malak captured you. Did you do it? Did you kill him? Is it over?" Carth asked, impatient as ever. Bastila rolled her eyes at the Republic Officer. Despite their many interactions during their travels, he had always been whiny and snappy.
"Spare me your pathetic pandering, Carth! Revan has defeated his old apprentice and taken his rightful place as Lord of the Sith, and I as his Lady!" Bastila shouted with perverse delight and as if by magic, the jaws of Carth, Mission, Zaalbar, Jolee and, Juhani dropped in quick succession. Bastila's smirk grew as their realisation sunk in. Revan raised an eyebrow at her outburst. No doubt it was Malak's influence, twisting her into an angry shell like he was. Bastila's power lay in her passion and devotion and, that was what needed to be unlocked by Malak, not her hatred.
"What? What are you talking about?" Carth, shocked, stepped backwards, stunned by the former Jedi's attitude and her words. The familiar pang of betrayal hit him. His blood began to boil. He would be damned if he left himself get betrayed again. The rest of the group stayed in startled silence.
"Calm yourself, Bastila," Revan placed a hand on her shoulder, placating her. "She is correct. I have joined the Sith and reclaimed my mantle. If any of you wish to join me, you may," he paused. "If not, we will force you to retreat to the Republic Fleet. I will not face you here. I cannot kill my friends." Revan offered. He had become very attached to everyone on his crew. He'd confided in Jolee, played games with Mission, sparred with Juhani and hunted with Canderous. They all had strong wills and stronger allegiances, meaning he could lose any one of them. Carth internally fumed. It happened again… betrayal. Revan's calm demeanour wasn't fooling him. He knew that perverted, evil bastard was hidden inside, behind that blank face. He had seen first-hand what joining the Sith caused. It caused planets to burn. It caused families to die. It caused irreparable damage.
"Glorious Statement: My Master has finally returned! At last, I can take my rightful place by your side again!" HK-47 stated with delight. With a nod from Revan, the assassin droid moved to Revan's left with Bastila on his right. The droid bordered on homicidal maniac but, he had a streak of loyalty that deepened beyond programming. HK himself was merely saddened he hadn't been there to kill that meatbag himself. Oh, how he would have loved to spend the rest of his days dreaming up ways to inflict unspeakable pain for weeks on end. Zaalbar spoke next.
"I am bound by the oath of my life debt. I must stand with you, Revan. What remains of my honour demands it but, if you treat other worlds like you did mine, I will gladly do so." Zaalbar spoke in his native tongue, Shyriiwook. He approached Revan and stood behind Bastila. As he did so, Revan placed a hand on his arm and offered a quick smile. The Wookie had admired Revan throughout their journey. He could deal with problems, no matter how insignificant, with the same consideration, which made those he helped feel important. However, he hated the Sith as much as he hated Czerka and here stood a Sith who hated Czerka as much as he did, for the same reasons he did and, might have the power to do something about them. The phrase 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' came to mind.
T3-M4 rolled to Revan's feet and sat in front of him. The Astromech was always smarter than any of them gave him credit for. His help through the Sith Military Base on Taris and the Sith Embassy on Manaan was invaluable. His love for causing chaos was something Revan exploited throughout their travels and, could continue to utilise. Juhani spoke next.
"A true Jedi, like you, would never bow down to the Sith. A true Jedi never falls completely!" Juhani reasoned. Her fall from the Light would be an interesting one. Almost killing her Master, Quatra, led to her enraging the local wildlife and brooding in a field, killing anyone who crossed her path. It was almost pathetic. But, when she murdered Xor on Korriban, she unlocked the potential to be the Sith she was destined to become. The passionate, vengeful woman she could be. The avenger of Cathar, the icon of her people's need for revenge.
"You revelled in true power once, Juhani. Allowing your emotions to influence you has led you to our time together, and all throughout our travels, we have experienced times where your emotions have bettered you," Revan stated. Jolee and Carth slowly backed away, towards the Jedi Strikefighters. Juhani opened and closed her mouth in silent protest, and Revan sensed her internal conflict. "Remember, the Jedi Code forbids love, but the Sith Code does not." Revan reasoned further. Juhani looked up in surprise. He remembered Belaya, the concerned notes in her voice when Juhani had turned and the joy when she had returned. There was some attraction there, he was sure of it. He also sensed the same barely restrained passion in Belaya, after she shouted at him for 'mocking the Jedi Order'. If given the opportunity and reason, she could fall quickly. The Cathar walked over and stood behind HK. She was not surprised Revan had her all figured out. Their many chats on the Ebon Hawk had allowed him a glimpse into her personality, without the restraint of the Order, and he preyed on that. Dax, Belaya, Quatra, Xor; her past was littered with things that break the Jedi Code. She trusted Revan, and perhaps that was enough. Jolee, Carth, Canderous and Mission stayed still.
"You're Revan, and I'll follow you anywhere. It doesn't matter who're you're fighting against, I'll be at your side. Mandalorians don't have any great love for the Republic anyway. You are a great warrior and military leader. It is my honour to join you." Canderous spoke and approached the group. He stood next to HK, who seemed to flash his eyes at the Mandalorian. The two had developed mutual respect during their travels. Their love of war and battle made them perfect for each other. Their only difference was that Canderous needed purpose and HK already had his. Revan hoped that his newfound loyalty would be a purpose worthy of him. Canderous had seen this was coming if he was honest with himself. He had travelled with Revan while he was on Korriban after Bastila was captured. The changes in his character were evident, so much so that HK had commented on the switch. However, that mattered little. He would follow Revan anywhere, without question. Following such a man was bound to gain him honour and purpose. The group's heads turned to Mission who stood with fear flooding her.
"I saw what the Sith did to Taris, anyone who serves the Dark Side is evil! But I know you, or at least, knew you. You are Dash Vendar, you saved Kashyyk. I don't like it, Big Z must go with you, and we've always been together so... I'm in. Wouldn't want to lose my friend. Either of them." Mission decided and stood next to Zaalbar. Revan shot the Twi'lek a smile as she walked past him. They had become fast friends after the Black Vulkar Base. They often played Pazaak together. One time they organised a tournament for the whole crew, besides Bastila who outright refused to participate. Mission earned thousands of credits that day.
"Fools, all of you! Listen to me, the Dark Side leads to death and destruction. I've seen the horrors the Sith have unleashed on the Galaxy. Turn away from this path! You have seen what the Dark Side does to people! How can you betray all you have fought for? Almost died for? Taris, Telos and countless other worlds suffer because of the Dark Side, and you would join them?" Jolee shouted. His pace backwards quickened, with the Republic Officer close behind. They could both see there was no one changing their minds and they were outnumbered and outmatched. It would be foolish to stand and fight. Then, Admiral Karath entered the Hangar as they boarded the Strikefighter. He handed Lord Revan a report on the spread of his influence throughout the expanse of the Empire. It looked as if resistance was massive and the fighting was heavy. No doubt the clean-up would be substantial. Carth leaned over to see who had entered, gasped in surprise and, charged at his former mentor, screaming.
"How can you side with him? He is a mass murderer!" Carth yelled as he began shooting his personal blaster at the group. At that moment, all that mattered to him was his belief that he could end the Galaxy's evilest men. Two dear friends turned traitor stood before him, and between him and them were several blaster bolts intended to end their lives, for which he felt no remorse, no guilt. Here stood the only enemies that kept him awake at night; a Mandalorian, a Sith and a Sith officer and, he planned to wipe them all out. HK and Canderous were quick to respond and fired back, heavy repeater bolts tearing through the air. Revan pulled the group behind cover and Force Pushed Carth back to Jolee. Jolee pulled him, now rendered unconscious, into a Strikefighter and set autopilot for the Republic Flagship The Admirable. Despite his dislike for the Jedi Order, he knew they would be the only thing that could stop a Sith Empire with Revan and Bastila at the helm. Even then, he doubted they would survive long enough to form any kind of defence.
"Admiral, make sure that Strikefighter makes it back to a Republic Cruiser. After that, I want the Second Fleet obliterated!" Lord Revan ordered as he handed back the report. Admiral Karath ran back to his station to dispense the orders and quickly caught up as Lord Revan, and his crew returned to the Star Forge's Viewing Platform. The view of the battle looked very promising. The Star Forge's defence systems were taking out Republic Fighters as more Sith Marauders poured out of the Hangar's. The Sith Fleet repositioned itself to defend the Star Forge and to receive the benefits of its close-range turrets and constant fighter cover. The Republic could never hope to beat the ultimate power in the Galaxy that is the Star Forge with someone competent in charge. Revan's brilliant tactical mind and incredibly strong will gave the Star Forge plenty to feed on while it pumped out a stream of fighters, simultaneously building Cruisers and Battlecruisers in the bowels of itself. The Rakatan were evil geniuses and managed to create the first Force-sensitive machine that gorged itself on Dark Side energy and Revan had just enough to satisfy it and enough Light Side energy to keep himself becoming connected too deeply.
"The battle appears to be well taken care of. Lady Bastila, take everyone and try and find some uniforms. Yours and Juhani's should be a set of robes like mine except Juhani's will be pure black, like a Sith Acolyte. You should find some upgrades for your lightsabers as well. Zaalbar, HK-47 and T3-M4, you should stay here. Canderous and Mission, your uniforms should be grey and black, like that of my Admirals and Colonels." Lord Revan informed. As the team dispersed, the battle continued.
A/N: Thank you to everyone returning to this story and, to all the new readers. This story is a re-upload but, there are a lot of changes, major and minor. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!