Part III
1
The T3 droid had fixed the slow response problem and the Ebon Hawk was once more streaking through space; and a lot of thoughts were streaking through Atton's mind. He was very worried about Anara but he knew she was still alive. He was also thinking about Revan. He still wasn't sure how he felt about her. Anara seemed to trust her explicitly and he had to admit he liked the way she had handled Bastila when she had come to the cockpit earlier. He'd been telling Revan and Carth how he had first met Anara. Bastila had walked in as he was explaining how the Sith had fired on the asteroids around Peragus II trying to destroy the Ebon Hawk, starting a chain reaction in the fuel deposits in them that resulted in the total destruction of the mining facility.
"So that's what happened!" Bastila had interjected. "Actions like that are why she was exiled in the first place. This acting without thinking is what causes so many problems Revan. This is the kind of thing I have been trying to make you understand. Why you should return to the Order so you will have the guidance you need. Instead you are drawing others away from the Order and it will only cause chaos throughout the galaxy."
"Just because someone thinks differently from you does not make them wrong, Bastila," Revan had commented. "Anara had already decided not to rejoin before we even met. We simply discovered that we had both come to the same conclusions over time. I'm not saying that we haven't ever made mistakes, but we have come to trust what we believe in and to be true to that, even if it means standing alone."
"But with Jedi you don't have to…" Bastila tried again.
"Look Bastila, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it won't change my mind. I'll not be a hypocrite and pretend to live by I code I don't totally believe in. Thank you for your concern but this topic isn't up for debate."
Bastila had left, angry but trying not to show it. Atton had tried to hide the fact that he had enjoyed their banter, but Revan had read him too easily.
"She takes some getting used to but her heart's in the right place. She can just be very opinionated at times."
"Don't forget vain, haughty, rude, condescending…" Atton threw in and Revan laughed. Then he grew serious again. "Can I ask you something? What happened during the Jedi Civil War? I mean, you were a Sith Lord up until the Jedi captured you. Then suddenly you're defeating Malak and saving the Republic. How did that come about?"
She stared at him a moment, then sighed and gave a small nod.
"When the Jedi captured me, my mind had been damaged. The Masters healed me, but they reprogrammed me into believing I was someone else, a soldier with the Republic. Bastila led me back to the Jedi, where I was told I had Force tendencies, was retrained and sent after Malak."
"So when did you find out who you really were?" Atton asked.
"We confronted Malak on the Leviathan and he told me. At first I didn't believe him. I thought he was trying to trick me but I had already been having visions and I finally couldn't ignore the truth. By then though, I was determined to stop him and the Sith, and my mindset was what it had been before the Mandalorian War, when I had originally been a Jedi. Also," she added, giving Carth a wink, "I was already falling for a certain pilot and wanted very badly to prove to him I could be trusted, that I was no longer Revan the Sith Lord."
Carth grinned widely. "That's definitely the short version. She also helped the Wookies on Kashyyyk liberate themselves from Czerka slavers and saved my own son, Dustil, from joining the Sith. He was quite impressed by you, by the way."
Revan smiled at the compliment. "Anara and I talked a lot about the Force, the Jedi and the Sith on our return journey. She told me about her exile and what happened after joining up with you and Kreija, but she didn't mention that you and she were so close."
"We, uh…weren't on good terms when she left to look for you," Atton replied. "That was my fault. She had already been through so much and killing that witch Kreija had disturbed her. I thought she was just running, not wanting to come to terms with everything that had happened."
"The Force drew her to look for me, Atton," Revan remarked softly.
"I know that now," he told them. "But then…well, let's just say I was in a different frame of mind. I saw how Kreija manipulated her, always getting in her head, telling her things. She killed the remaining Council members you know…Kreija. She used Anara to get them to gather on Dantooine. They told Anara she was a breach in the Force and they were going to strip the Force from her permanently and Kreija stopped them, then killed them."
"Yes, she told me. I was sorry to hear about Kreija, but not surprised."
"I wasn't sorry when Anara finally killed her. You knew her?"
Revan nodded. "She was one of my teachers."
Carth sat quietly listening. There was still a lot about Revan's past he didn't know and he was fascinated by the way everything they had done, and were doing now, seemed so connected.
"Kreija was your teacher?" Atton was asking. "Huh! Figures, was she always in your head too?"
"We communicated that way at times, yes, but it was a mutual thing. I never had anyone send me thoughts or commands the way Anara has. She was more than a little upset when she told me about Tsuinsu…"
"Wait!" Atton interrupted. "You mean it's happening again? How come she didn't say anything?"
"I don't think she wanted everyone to know. I was already aware she hadn't told everything in the Council chambers and confronted her about it after takeoff. He was trying to get her to come to him, alone."
"Well she wound up there alone anyway, didn't she?" Atton said quietly. "Do you…do you think she's okay? I mean, they think she's the answer to some prophecy, right? So they won't…you know…kill her?"
Revan stared out the window at the stars and didn't answer for a moment. "They won't kill her, but they will try to make her believe she is what they think she is. We'll just have to hope we get there before they convince her of anything."
Atton nodded, but he caught the uncertainty in Revan's voice and he could see the concern he felt mirrored in her reflection.
When the Ebon Hawk landed on Korriban, six people emerged. Revan led the way, having been inside Ajunta Palls' tomb before when she was searching for the star maps. She took them down a long passageway to a room where she, Carth and Canderous had found two bridges spanning a wide cavern. They had taken one of them when they explored the tomb, but the other had been blocked. Now, thanks to looters, the second bridge was clear so she took that route, sure it was the right way. When they came to a passage leading farther down, she was sure they were on the right trail. They came to a large stone door that had been pushed aside and stopped, each of them preparing mentally for whatever they might find inside.
They went through the first couple of rooms finding nothing and seeing no one. At one point Bastila commented, "The dark energy here is so overwhelming! It's like nothing I've ever felt before."
"Like being at an altitude so high you can't breathe," Revan said to no one in particular, "Or having an invisible weight on your chest while your head is locked in a vise."
"Very apt," Jolee agreed.
"The planet where we first encountered the Sith'ari was twice again as strong as this," Revan informed them and Carth was amazed that she and Anara had escaped that place unscathed. She sensed his feelings. "It left its mark on me Carth. I've been struggling to maintain control from the moment we left the tomb and entered this…temple, or whatever it is."
Then she noticed Atton leaning against a wall, his eyes closed, and she stepped over to him. "Are you alright?"
"Don't have a choice, do I?" He answered haltingly. "It's just…taking everything I've got not to…run madly around, shouting her name."
"Hang in there sonny," Jolee said, "I think we're getting close."
"Come on, we need to keep moving," Carth added, putting a hand on Revans arm, suddenly needing to touch her.
Finally they found themselves in a long hallway sloping down and ending at very elaborately decorated double doors. Atton was fighting hard now not to go bursting through those doors, sensing, knowing he would find Anara on the other side. They were all moving cautiously, weapons drawn and ready, with Jolee and Canderous bringing up the rear and making sure they weren't taken by surprise from behind.
The surprise came when they were halfway down the hall. Suddenly appearing before them were five shadow sith. One of them held one end of a heavy chain and attached to the other end was a Hissis, a large reptilian creature with spines down the back, long claws and a huge mouth with very long, very sharp teeth.
"Ah, a welcome committee," Atton joked.
"I don't feel very welcome," Carth replied.
"Then I wouldn't turn around If I were you," Jolee added, so of course they did, only to see five more shadows and another Hissis. Canderous barked out a laugh.
"Hah! A few shadows and a couple of lizards? I won't even break out in a sweat!"
As the shadow sith and the hissis' advanced on them, they split into two groups standing back to back. Revan, Carth and Atton faced the enemies in front of them, blocking the way to the double doors. Bastila, Jolee and Canderous turned to take on the ones that had materialized behind them. Carth and Canderous tried to concentrate on the beasts, more than once barely missing the snap of a huge maw filled with serrated bone. To their credit, there wasn't much room in the hall and they were all used to working closely with most everyone else here; but the fight was still over rather quickly, and Revan was just starting to think it was too easy when the hall suddenly began filling with more shadow sith. The hissis' were dead and these sith bore no lightsabers to break and they swarmed over the group.
There was nothing any of them could do. Their weapons, fists, even their feet simply passed through the smoky shadows with no effect. Revan heard two things before she was overwhelmed. One was Atton shouting, "I think we're in trouble here!" And the other was Carth's cry of frustration: "Aaauugghh!"
2
Revan woke to a tingling in her arms. She snapped fully aware and realized they were all held firmly to a wall. There were metal bands around their middles, ankles and wrists—which were raised above their heads. Quickly glancing left and right, she made sure everyone was accounted for, if not yet conscious, then she turned her attention to the room they were in. It was large, high ceilinged, with a few benches along the wall opposite them. To her right was a set of double doors; the ones they'd seen at the end of the long hallway she guessed. To her left was a carved stone chair atop a stone platform. Four wide steps led up to the chair, and on either side of the platform, chained to the sides, was a Hissis. There was no one else in the room.
Bastila, Atton and Jolee were starting to come to so she turned her thoughts to her companions.
"Don't move too quickly," she warned.
"Uhh, where are we?" Atton muttered, shaking his head to clear it.
"Some kind of audience chamber, or throne room," Jolee guessed. "Anyone sitting in that chair would have command of the room."
Carth and Canderous began to stir.
"Everyone alright?" Revan asked.
"A little sore, but in one piece," Jolee answered first.
"Ditto," Atton added.
"If by alright you mean alive, then yes, I am too," Bastila put in.
"Carth? Canderous?" Revan inquired.
"We're fine," Carth said.
"I just want to get my hands around the throat of whoever is in charge," Canderous barked.
A sound brought all of them to look toward the doors. They opened and a cloaked figure entered. Revan and Atton knew immediately who it was even though the hood of the cloak hid the face of the wearer.
"Anara!" Atton exclaimed, relieved to see her alive and entertaining a small hope that she'd already defeated the Sith'ari master and had come to release them. His hope was short lived however. Anara ignored him and, after opening both doors wide, walked toward the platform at the other end of the room. As she passed the group held prisoner, Atton called to her again.
"Anara, are you alright?"
She stopped for maybe a second, and then walked on, not looking anywhere but ahead of her. Atton swallowed hard. This wasn't a good sign. She walked up the steps and stood to the chairs' left, turning to face the doors.
"What did that son of a schutta do to her?" Atton asked angrily.
Before anyone else could speak, another figure strode into the room. It was Master Tsuinsu. He didn't look at them either, but walked directly to the dais, up the steps, and then sat in the chair. He wore a cloak also but, unlike Anara, they could see his face beneath the hood. Skeleton-like, with red pin-pricks for eyes, he spoke (hissed) to Anara in a language only she understood.
"Have you chosen?"
"Yes," she answered in basic, in a deadpan tone that made Atton's heart drop, "the woman, the one I first encountered you with. She will be my test."
"Good choice," Tsuinsu hissed at her. "The rest are mine."
"No!" She replied loudly, defiantly. Atton flinched, but even though Tsuinsu tensed, he simply waited for her to continue. "I want one other, as a servant."
When the Sith'ari Master tilted his head, she explained, her voice cold and dead again. "It will be a reminder to me…of how pathetic I once was."
Tsuinsu chuckled and it was a cold, whispery sound. "Of course. You are not our mistress yet, but I will allow you one for now."
Anara stepped down from the platform and walked slowly across the room to face the group on the wall. Revan was at the center, with Bastila to her right and Jolee beyond that. To her left were Atton, and then Carth, then Canderous. No one moved or spoke as she raised her hands to her hood, but more than one gasped as she pulled it back and let it fall on her shoulders. There was a haughty, contemptuous look in her eyes which were surrounded by black make-up that followed the contours of her brows and cheekbones, giving her a feline look. Her lips held a sneer and were blood-red, and there was a two inch strip of white running from the center of her forehead down the length of her hair.
"Nooo!" Atton blurted, straining against the bars, and she snapped her head to stare at him.
He almost bit off the end of his tongue as she stepped closer to him, undoing the clasp of her cloak and tossing it to the floor. The low-cut, skin tight, black bodice left little to the imagination. Her skirt seemed to be made of strips of black cloth that didn't do much to hide her thighs. She saw the look on Atton's face as he looked her over and she smiled wickedly. She leaned in toward him and sniffed along his neck and he flinched. She chuckled softly and leaned back again to run a hand up his chest, feeling the shiver that ran through him. She chuckled again and glanced at Carth.
"I'm already spoken for," he commented casually.
"Silence!" She yelled at him. "You're mine if I so desire!"
She stepped in front of him and put both hands on his chest, sliding her fingers over his shoulders and then clasping them together behind his neck.
"I won't be your slave," Carth said calmly and anger flashed through her eyes.
"Then you will die," she told him, and removed her hands to gaze at Canderous. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm a little old for you, don't you think?"
She stood back, hands on her hips, and looked him up and down slowly, appraisingly. Then she moved up to him to feel the muscles in his arms. This brought her face close to his chest and she inhaled his scent. She felt the shock that went through him and smiled. Backing up and looking him in the eye, she spoke to Master Tsuinsu.
"Can't I have two?"
"No, more will come later. These must be sacrificed to consecrate the second coming of the Sith'ari."
Anara stood for a moment as if weighing her options. Finally she stood back in front of Atton. She stared into his eyes and he stared back, searching for some hint of recognition from her. He wanted to believe he did see a flash, but it was gone too fast to be sure.
"This one then," she decided, and he wasn't sure whether to be thrilled or thoroughly frightened.
"None of us will do what you want," Bastila spoke up. "These dramatics are pointless."
Anara looked at her, the contemptuous sneer on her face once more. "The only thing my Master wants of you is for you to die. Those of you who are Force sensitive will feed the amulet. The rest will be sacrificed."
"Sacrificed for what?" Revan asked quietly, holding Anara's gaze when she turned to her.
"For my ascension to the throne," Anara informed her. "I will take my rightful place as leader of the Sith'ari. After I pass my test that is."
"What test?" Revan asked, somehow already knowing the answer.
"Killing you." Their eyes remained locked on each other, neither looking away as the comments flew.
"No!" Carth protested.
"Don't do it Anara!" Atton pleaded.
"This should be interesting," Canderous muttered to himself so low that no one else heard him.
"Wait!" A voice boomed from the doorway.
3
Everyone turned to see Nios standing there. Anara's hands went to her sabers, but Master Tsuinsu made a small motion that stopped her.
"Nios," he called, "Come, we will watch as destiny unfolds."
Nios walked slowly into the room, eyeing his master with a confident sneer of his own.
"The only destiny unfolding today will be mine. I will be the new ruler of the Sith'ari, not her!" He pointed at Anara, who clenched her fists but remained where she was. "I will rule the galaxy alone. All life will serve me!"
"What say you, Xanya?" Master Tsuinsu asked her, a self-satisfied smile crossing his face. He had been expecting this. He knew Nios had always felt inferior to Vix and had been planning to challenge him soon. The two Jedi females had taken that challenge from him. This would be the perfect chance for the Sith'ari Master to tighten his hold over the karani and put Nios back in his place.
"Nios would challenge your supremacy; will you let him have the throne?"
"He can have it when he takes it from me!" Anara hissed back. She and the two sith'ari were speaking the ancient tongue, and those on the wall could only guess at what was transpiring. The confusion cleared when she ignited her lightsabers and began moving across the room determinedly toward Nios.
"Revan," Atton said, concerned, "can she beat him? So far all of us together haven't stopped him."
"I don't know, but we can't help her," Revan answered honestly.
Nios ignited his oversized lightsaber, and he and Anara began circling each other. Her eyes narrowed as he grinned at her.
"First I will get rid of you," he taunted, "Then Master Tsuinsu. Then nothing will stand in my way!"
"You could have stood by my side Nios," Anara replied. "Now you will just die!"
She flew at him and he batted her first strike away. It was apparent from the start that Nios had her beat when it came to strength. While he blocked her swings easily, those he directed at her almost knocked her over or brought her to her knees. Nios was feeling cocky and those secured to the wall were feeling nervous. Even Carth and Canderous, who weren't force sensitive, could feel Anara's anger building. Revan was thinking quickly, wondering what strategy her friend could use to best this huge man.
"Anara," she called out, "use your speed! He's too strong to fight head on!"
Whether she heard or not, Anara finally began to dance and spin around Nios, faster and faster. Swinging her sabers, quick jabs and slices, and she finally made contact. It wasn't enough to hurt Nios, but he howled in anger. Anara let loose her Force lightning and, fueled by her emotions, succeeded in hurting him again. He pulled his arms against his chest, gritting his teeth against the pain. By now they were both breathing hard. Nios tried to use the Force to choke her, but she was ready and had placed a barrier on herself to negate his power. He growled and ran at her, his saber raised, and they were whirling around the floor again, lightsabers flashing and singing and Anara had to really move to avoid his aggressiveness.
Then suddenly Nios managed to get the upper hand. No one was sure how it happened, but Anara was on the floor on her back. Nios was standing above her, his saber raised. She shoved a hand forward, using the Force to push him back. He only staggered a few steps, but it was enough for her to regain her feet. Atton let out the breath he was holding without being aware of either action.
"Feed Xanya," Master Tsuinsu whispered in her mind. "You can end this by simply feeding off him."
Anara raised a hand hesitantly and concentrated. A small streak of energy shot from Nios and flew straight to her fingers. Nios roared in anger and pain. He reached out and tried to do the same to her, to draw her energy to him, but it didn't work. Instead of pulling energy from her, it only siphoned off more of his own. He looked at her, confused. Anara let a smile spread slowly across her face. Her eyes sparkled mischievously and his widened in fear. Just like with Nihlius, Nios couldn't feed off of her. It only made him weaker. She was truly Xanya, mistress of the Sith'ari! She laughed triumphantly; she had him now! Nios knew it too. He dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
"I…cannot beat you. Let me live and I will serve you forever…Mistress."
Anara eyed him with gleeful contempt. "You will serve me Nios, but not in the way you think."
She reached out to him and drew more of his life force to her. He cried out and bent over even farther.
"Finish him Xanya," Master Tsuinsu urged. He was speaking aloud now, still in the ancient tongue, but even Revan and the others understood that he was commanding her to kill Nios.
More than one of them wanted to yell at her to stop, knowing that this would only draw her further from them. They all knew however, that if she didn't kill him, both he and the Sith'ari Master would see it as a weakness and would no doubt kill her and seal their fate. Anara looked at Tsuinsu, who nodded, and then back at Nios. He saw he would get no mercy from her. He was right.
Anara reached out one last time and drained him of life, feeling the power course through her. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. When she turned back to Tsuinsu and the others, she wore a satisfied grin and Atton's heart sank.
She strode over to stand in front of Revan again.
"When I have you broken and lying at my feet, I will do the same to you."
"No you won't Anara." Revan spoke quietly. "I can sense the turmoil in your mind. A part of you is still trying to fight him; to reject whatever lies he's told you. I will get through to you, I promise."
"Lies?" Anara cocked her head. "Master Tsuinsu has shown me the truth. I know who I am now, where I came from and what is expected of me."
"Don't let him control you, kid," Jolee tried to distract her. "If you were strong enough to bring Revan back to us, your strength of will must be stronger than this—fight it!"
"Please," Atton spoke again, "I know you're in there Anara, snap out of it!"
"Don't call me that!" She snapped at him, glaring. "I am Xanya, reborn, and the galaxy shall once again be mine!"
"What kind of crap has he been filling your head with, kid?" Jolee asked, determined to keep stalling, hoping someone would come up with something quick.
"The statue," Revan thought aloud, then spoke to her, "You are not a reincarnation of their queen, or karani, or whatever! He's lying Anara, tricking you!"
"Enough!" Master Tsuinsu commanded.
Everyone fell silent and Revan noticed that Anara flinched at the tone in his voice. He stood and stepped down from the platform, crossed the room and stood behind Anara, who hadn't taken her eyes from Revan.
"There is no need to explain yourself to them Xanya," he hissed at her, still speaking ancient sith. "One is your slave and the rest are corpses."
There was a moment of silence and then she spoke softly.
"Use me, master." She said, "I…ask this of you. They were once…friends. It is important to me that they know the truth before they die."
The way she said it tore at Atton's heart again. He knew he would never let himself love anyone again if he survived this. He'd let his guard down and this was his punishment and it hurt more than anything else he'd ever experienced.
The Sith'ari Master remained silent a moment longer, trying to decide if she was softening or wanting to strengthen her resolve.
"You owe them nothing." He paused, but Anara kept her eyes locked with Revan's. "You will feel more pain than they. Are you sure you wish this?"
"Pain is nothing," she replied in that dead tone and closed her eyes.
Before anyone could protest, Master Tsuinsu raised his arm and reached out. A stream of energy streaked out of it and hit Anara in the back of the head. She screamed and her eyes flew open, unseeing. The energy came through her eyes and split to reach out to each of them. There was a moment of pain to which they all cried out or gave a loud grunt in response. Then the pain faded a little and in return they all saw what the Sith'ari master had shown Anara. They saw the battles, the death of Xanya, the rape and then the murder of Anara's mother, all of it. When it ended they were too stunned at first to react. Anara dropped to her knees, breathing hard, her eyes closed again.
Master Tsuinsu turned and moved to the center of the room before speaking to her. "Gather your strength Xanya. Next you must test yourself in battle to prove you will let none stand in your way."
As he made his way back to the platform and chair, Anara opened her eyes and stood up. She found Revan looking back at her, pain and sympathy in her eyes. What Revan saw in Anara's now wasn't the haughtiness of before, but resignation.
"All your life you've been a jedi, Anara. You made all the decisions that determined who you were going to be. You made your choices and, despite what others thought or told you, you decided your future. Remember our discussions?"
Anara simply stood before her, not answering, so Revan went on.
"To have no masters, only teachers. To enjoy the Force, not to conquer the galaxy, but to live your own life!"
Revan was starting to feel encouraged by the fact that Anara was at least listening. "You choose the future you want, not some prophecy thousands of years old. Not just because he says so!"
"Didn't you get enough mind control with Kreija?" Atton jumped in and they were all surprised when she responded, her head jerking to look at him.
"I can't keep him out!" She whispered desperately and, even though it made no sense to anyone else in the room, Atton replied, pleading:
"Pazaak, Anara—play pazaak! Count cards, play with me, I'll help you!"
"I tried that," she answered, her voice going flat. Then even quieter, and seeming to stare through him instead of looking at him, "It didn't work."
Revan sensed they were losing her and she couldn't give up, not yet, not ever for this woman who had risked her life to find her. Suddenly she thought of something.
"There is peace, but also passion," she began, then waited while everyone held their breaths and wondered what she was up to. Anara still seemed to be staring at something beyond Atton's chest and the wall he was attached to, but she responded.
"Through knowledge comes power."
"Knowledge, power and serenity give you…" Revan encouraged, and finally Anara looked at her.
"Strength. Harmony in chaos will bring you victory. All is the Force."
Revan had joined her on the last line and saw a tear escape the blackness surrounding Anara's eyes and she watched as it rolled down her cheek to fall on her left breast, just above her heart. Revan pushed on.
"You and I together could defeat him Anara, just like we did Vix."
"No, he's…" she began, shaking her head, but Atton cut her off.
"Come on, you took on Kreija and her whole academy, including Mr. 'sleeps with vibroblades'. I know you can do this! I have faith in you!"
Just then Master Tsuinsu spoke one word, his tone a warning.
"Xanya."
Revan's heart skipped a beat and she knew Anara's did too. Then she and Atton both saw something in her eyes that they had never seen before…fear.
"Yes master," she answered in his language, beginning to tremble.
"Do you falter? Have you forgotten your lessons already?"
"No master!" She straightened up and whirled to face him. "Please!"
"You dare beg?" He punished her anyway.
His arm whipped out and a bolt of lightning hit her in the chest. She screamed in agony, louder than when he had shoved the energy beam through her mind, and arched so far back that Atton was sure she was going to fall over.
"Stop it!" He growled. "She's taken enough from you! Why don't you take one of us on?"
"She has taken this and more," Tsuinsu answered him in basic, though it still sounded like hearing something carried on the wind. "It was necessary to make her remember."
"You mean you got inside her head and messed around a bit," Jolee accused him.
Master Tsuinsu grabbed Anara by the throat with the Force and flung her toward the open doors which shut just in time for her to slam into them and fall to the floor. She got up slowly, a hand to her throat.
"Come here," the Sith'ari commanded.
She stood as straight as she could and walked over to stand next to him. Once again she wore the superior, haughty look on her face and anger flashed in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Her master demanded, and she replied, "Xanya."
He looked back at the group and, gloating over his control of her, said to them, "You see? She cannot deny the truth."
"The truth?" Jolee butted in. He had to keep them talking until someone came up with a plan to get them out of this! "Or what you want her to believe?"
The Sith'ari didn't answer. Instead he flicked a hand in Jolee's direction and the old jedi began choking. Another flick and Jolee's bands came open and he was pulled over to stand in front of Tsuinsu who then slammed him to the floor.
"Stop it!" Revan demanded.
"Aw, he can only pick on old men and young women," Canderous taunted.
The Sith'ari ignored him and spoke to Revan. "See the power."
He reached out again and Jolee was caught in a Death Field. He drained the life of the old Jedi and then, to everyone's horror, the stone in the amulet around his neck began to glow. Black swirls appeared and curled in and around themselves and one tendril leaped out to stretch toward Jolee. Jolee's life force rose to meet it and, as his spirit was drawn into the stone, Revan fought back tears for her fallen friend.
"You'll pay for that," she promised, glaring at Tsuinsu.
"It is time," Anara announced. She walked over to the far wall where the benches were and picked up Revan's saber. All their weapons were lying there, but they had not noticed them before. Anara brought Revan's to her and laid it at her feet. As she stood up, Revan tried again to get through to her.
"Anara, he can't make you do this. You and I have nothing to prove to each other."
She didn't answer, merely stepped back and ignited her own lightsabers. Master Tsuinsu waved a hand and Revan's bands opened and she was free. She scooped up her dual hilt, ignited both sides and reluctantly faced her friend. She thought about rushing the Sith'ari but suddenly she was ducking to avoid the saber Anara threw at her. She would have no choice but to fight her.
Anara's blade returned to her hand and she brought them up, weaving them back and forth. Revan held hers in a defensive stance, diagonally in front of her.
"Please, I don't want to kill you Anara," she pleaded one last time.
"This can't be happening!" Atton exclaimed. He looked at Carth desperately. "We have to do something!"
"What can we do?" Carth asked him. "We'll just have to trust Revan." He paused, then added, "Try to reach out to her again Atton. If anyone can get through, it's going to be you or Revan."
Atton nodded, but he wasn't sure anymore. He and Revan had both tried and failed but what choice did they have? If he didn't try, he'd never forgive himself, and definitely one of them would wind up dead. If Anara killed Revan, they were all doomed. If Revan killed Anara, he wouldn't care what happened to himself and there was a chance they would still all be doomed if Revan couldn't defeat the Sith'ari.
"Anara, please listen to me," he called to her. "Remember all we've been through together. Remember Dantooine and how we feel about each other. This isn't who you are. I had so much I wanted to discuss with you when we had time."
"Keep it up!" Carth whispered. "I think it's working!"
Anara had lowered her blades just slightly and turned her head toward him warily. Atton spoke faster, hoping against hope.
"I want us to get a ship together and travel through the galaxy. I want to fight at your side, grow old with you…Anara?"
A mere second before Tsuinsu began choking him, Atton had seen the flash of love in Anara's eyes. Of course, having his air supply cut off meant that he didn't see that look turn to hatred and, unfortunately, Tsuinsu didn't see it either. It was unfortunate because the hatred was aimed at him. Her love for Atton had finally overridden her fear of the Sith'ari master. She thought quickly. She couldn't let him know yet that she was no longer under his control.
She rushed at Revan, both lightsabers swinging; knowing Revan would be able to block them easily enough. She didn't let up however, but kept coming at the other woman until she almost had her backed against the wall. Their sabers locked together for a moment and Anara pushed hard, staring at her friend until she was sure Revan could sense her thoughts, and then she winked at her. Revan's expression never changed, but her eyes told Anara she understood. Then they were twirling around the room, actually having fun though they wore scowls on their faces and made noises of frustration or determination to hide it. As they fought, they moved closer to Tsuinsu while those still held captive on the wall watched anxiously. Carth and Atton were especially torn on how to feel, each wanting the woman they loved to win, but not at the apparent cost.
As Revan swung at Anara's legs, she leapt backward to land just a few feet from the Sith'ari master and Revan rushed at her. They parried a few more times, and then at some unseen signal, turned as one to strike; Anara aiming to take off his head and Revan meaning to cut the amulet from his neck.
Instead, Tsuinsu raised both hands and a beam of energy shot from each one, hitting the two women and sending them flying back across the room. They got back up quickly to face the Sith'ari together. Anara stood slightly crouched, her left blade up nearly shoulder height and held horizontally in front of her. Her right one she held lower and at more of an angle, ready to slice. She was almost back to back with Revan, who stood tall, her double-bladed saber in her right hand and held straight out and vertical. Her left hand was empty but raised as one might when fencing, only with Revan it was held that way so she could either move fast enough to utilize her lightsaber best or use some of her force powers that she could command single handed. Atton almost cheered, caught himself before he could shout out, and settled for grinning widely at Carth.
"So Xanya," Master Tsuinsu said, "you want to test yourself against me? So be it, but first you must get past the power of the amulet!"
Smoky tendrils started streaming from the stone and in minutes they were facing a dozen shadow sith. Worse, one of them bore a striking resemblance to Jolee Bindo. Revan steeled herself, reminding herself that it wasn't really Jolee anymore, and spoke to Anara.
"We have to break the stone in that amulet! I'm certain it's the only way to free Jolee and the other souls trapped within."
The one that looked like Jolee charged first, but the rest were only a second behind and the battle was on.
"Well," Atton remarked, "and here I was afraid they'd be outnumbered."
"How long do you think it will take?" Canderous asked musingly. "Anyone want to wager a guess?"
"I'd say twenty minutes," Atton offered.
"Twenty!" Canderous commented. "They'd better do it in ten or they're not the warriors I thought them to be!"
"I can't believe you!" Bastila said, incredulously. "They're fighting for their lives!"
Atton and Canderous gave Carth a questioning look. He finally shook his head and grinned sheepishly.
"Okay, okay…fifteen minutes."
They turned their attention back to the fight and several minutes later, Bastila said quietly, "Twenty-five."
They turned to her, all three shocked, and she raised her chin.
"Well there are a lot of them and one used to be Jolee, correct?"
Then they simply watched, since they had no choice, as the two women leaped and turned, spun and danced among the shadows, blocking attacks and breaking smoky lightsabers.
Revan was having a hard time with the Jolee shadow. Not only was he an excellent fighter, he had also once been her friend. Plus there were always one or more of the other shadows attempting to get a swing or stab in. She had just finished off one of these, barely turning in time to block a blow from the Jolee-shadow when it leaned in toward her and spoke.
"What's taking so long, girl? What's holding you back? Finish me off and end this so I can rest in peace!"
She gasped in shock and the Jolee-shadow stepped back and raised his lightsaber high. Instinctively Revan started to bring the bottom blade up, anticipated her opponents feint, and when Jolee changed his swing to arc out and around to come in from the side, she reversed her own swing. The top blade of her saber sang a high pitched tone from the speed of the switch and sliced diagonally and down, cutting Jolee's hilt in half. As her friend faded and the smoke swirled and thinned, she heard him one last time.
"Thanks, kid. I want you to know I'm proud to have known you."
Then he was gone and Revan had no time to think of him as three shadows attacked her. She felt anger rise within her and used it to move with incredible speed. She kept her eyes only on the lightsabers coming at her, slicing them, smashing them, knocking them to the floor to break them. She found herself next to Anara once more and they moved together, side by side, then back to back; their lightsabers humming, sometimes crossing each other's path, but in the end—shadows gone—they were as they had been in the beginning, when they'd first faced Tsuinsu. Carth would have applauded if it had been appropriate (and he wasn't still attached to the wall), and Atton exclaimed loudly, "Yes!"
Anara heard another voice in her head then only it wasn't Tsuinsu. It was Mical, and it was simply a memory, but suddenly she realized she had the power to end this. He had once told her: 'Do not forsake your friends as you did when you went to war. Instead, draw strength from them. They are here for you.'
She stood up straight and when she spoke, it was a commanding tone, that of a leader.
"Now, 'Master', you will feel my power…and it comes from the strength I draw from my friends!"
She swept an arm sideways and the metal bands opened, freeing those on the wall. Another sweep of her arm and their weapons, which had been lying on one of the benches, flew through the air to them. Carth and Canderous held back at first, knowing this battle would mostly be between the Sith'ari and the Jedi. Bastila moved to the left of Revan and Atton ran to stand on Anara's right. Anara winked at him and he grinned back.
"Woman, when this is over…"
Anara laughed. "We can discuss the future later, if we still have one!"
"Oh we will. Let's do this!" He cracked, still grinning, and spun his twin blue sabers in anticipation.
4
Master Tsuinsu drew his lightsaber, double-bladed and red. The four jedi faced him, spreading out and sabers twirling. Anara stepped forward first and they circled each other a few times before she tried to strike. First with her right, out and around to draw his blade to his left, then with her right, hoping to cut him at the waist, but when she started this move—even though she was positive she didn't blink—he was suddenly gone! Her back was to the others and she heard Revan call out, "Behind you!" Before she could turn however, Tsuinsu had reappeared behind her and Force pushed her so hard that she went flying face first into the steps leading up to the platform.
Atton yelled and started to run at the Sith'ari but Tsuinsu again raised a hand and Atton was lifted from the floor and flung to the side of the room.
"Let us see if he can handle two at a time," Bastila remarked, stepping up beside Revan. "Just like old times?"
"Like old times," Revan agreed and they attacked together.
The three of them twisted and turned and spun around each other, sabers clashing. Carth and Canderous had been slowly moving toward the platform, looking for a chance to get a shot in to no avail.
While all this was going on, Atton had gotten up and glanced toward where Anara had been thrown, expecting to see her up and ready to reenter the fight but she had only risen to her knees. The Hissis on either side of the dais were living up to their name and straining against the chains holding them. He ran to Anara and helped her to her feet. Her face was covered in blood. At first he was alarmed, then angry when he realized the blood had come from her nose. He held her up until her head cleared, noticing the Admiral and Mandalore moving in their direction. He could feel Anara shift her weight to stand on her own. She looked up at him, wiping her arm across her face, and smiled.
"Ready for another go?"
He shook his head, trying not to laugh. There was blood on her face and now on her left hand and arm. Her hair was disheveled and, with that white streak she actually looked pretty scary. But there was color back in her cheeks and a mischievous twinkle in her eye and his heart swelled with love and pride for this woman who had basically fallen into his lap one day. They turned together to join the fight.
Tsuinsu, still parrying with Revan and Bastila, didn't even turn to look in their direction. He quickly flicked a hand and, behind them, Anara and Atton heard the clink of chains. They spun quickly, just in time to block and dodge the attack by the Hissis to the left of the platform. Anara fleetingly worried about the other one coming up behind them until she heard a very welcome sound. It was a battle cry and suddenly Canderous was behind her, his huge gun jammed in the second Hissis' mouth, preventing it from biting him. She turned back to Atton, who had bloodied the snout of the Hissis in front of them. Now he was holding one lightsaber out to hold the creature at bay while he brought the other one over his head to strike. As he brought his blade down on the Hissis' head, it lunged, only to find Anara's viridian blade piercing its throat. Meanwhile, Canderous was having a power struggle with the second Hissis, even with Carth shooting at it as fast as his blaster would fire. Finally the creature decided to take a snap at Carth and when it let go of the Mandalorian's gun to turn its head, Canderous leaped onto its back and unloaded the cannon directly into its brain. All four of them turned then to the other battle going on in the room.
"He's trying to keep you out of this until he kills the rest of us," Carth commented to Anara.
"Well he's not trying hard enough," she replied angrily and took off, Atton right behind her.
"They grow up so fast," Canderous remarked, gazing after her as a father would gaze at a child who has just learned to drive a speeder.
Revan and Bastila were to the left and right of Tsuinsu who was still managing to avoid both of their attacks. He had underestimated the time it would take for the Hissis to be defeated however, and so was taken by surprise when Anara's silver saber was there, slicing the back of his head open. For a moment everyone stopped. They all took a step back as the wound began to smoke and a horrible smell of burning flesh filled the air. Then Anara realized that the wound was healing itself, but before she could warn the others, Tsuinsu started laughing. It was a demonic, maniacal sound, the laugh of the insane, and for the duration of it no one moved.
"Holy shit!" Atton muttered.
Next the Sith'ari spun around with his arms outstretched and a powerful energy wave blasted all of them. Revan and Bastila were sent crashing into the walls on either side of him. Atton flew backwards to one side of the platform to land on top of the Hissis he and Anara had slain and slid to the floor. Carth and Canderous were tossed to the other side of the platform and came to rest unconscious, with Canderous on top of Carth's legs. Anara was slammed against the steps again, this time hitting it with her back. Her left arm flew back as well and she heard a snap in her wrist when it hit the stone. The pain was excruciating for a moment and the lightsaber that had been in that hand, the silver one, rolled off the steps to land near Atton, who was moaning but wasn't getting up as yet. The pain was shoved aside as hatred filled her. She got up, ignoring her wrist. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Revan getting up, but Bastila was still on the floor. Tsuinsu faced her.
"Now do you see Xanya, the power you have—the power I can teach you to use?"
"I don't want your power," Anara hissed at him. "I want you dead."
She walked toward him as he laughed again. One hand held her viridian blade in front of her, the other hung useless at her side. She stopped about five feet from him, glaring at him. He started circling her, but she didn't turn with him. She remained still, breathing hard, sensing his movements around her.
"I can feel the hate in you. It is strong, your desire to kill. Let it grow, feed off of it. Let the power swell within you!"
As he talked, she could feel her anger rising. For a second she thought to fight it, but then she let go, let it flow over her. He stood behind her now, whispering in her ear.
"Embrace it; it will make you strong." He could also sense her anger and thought he once more had control of her. Revan stepped in front of her, facing her and Tsuinsu. She could feel Anara's hate too, but she hoped she was correct in sensing it wasn't directed at her. She was getting ready to take a dangerous chance and their lives depended on her being right.
"Yes Anara," She said, grinning at her friend, "Let the power build within you and strike at your enemy."
Master Tsuinsu was surprised at her comment and it put him on guard. What was she up to? Why would a jedi say such a thing?
"What are you up to, Jedi?" He asked, stepping out from behind Anara. "To say such is not your way."
"I do not follow the jedi code," Revan informed him. "But you destroy all you come in contact with," she added, gathering her strength, "and that is not my way either. You must be stopped!"
Revan swung and he moved to step behind Anara, but she turned as well and he saw that the hate in her eyes was directed at him. So be it, he thought. He brought the left end of his lightsaber up to ward off Anara's downward strike, then swung the right end around to knock aside Revan's blow. This left him open for a second and that was all Anara needed as she brought her blade back across to slash the Sith'ari's ribs before he did his disappearing trick again. The two women crouched with their lightsabers ready, heightened senses trying to determine where Tsuinsu would reappear. He popped back in on Anara's unprotected left and she leaped sideways to avoid being hit. Revan, in rapid succession, brought one end of her saber up, then the top one swiftly back down to first block his swing and try for another hit, and she and the Sith'ari exchanged a few parries before he leaped backward and hit them both with lightning.
Just as Revan and Anara had turned on Tsuinsu, Atton had been getting up. He saw what was going on, but a moan from the other side of the platform made him stumble that way instead. Carth was conscious but couldn't move. Canderous was still out and lying across his legs. Carth looked up at Atton.
"Help me wake him or get him off me, will ya?"
Atton grinned and started helping Carth to push the big man off. They had just succeeded when the two women were hit with the Force lightning and they froze, Carth still sitting and Atton crouched, neither one sure what to do with no weapon in hand and Carth's legs numb from the lack of circulation. The women had screamed when hit, but then Anara screamed again, this time at Tsuinsu.
"I know that trick too!" And she slammed him with a lightning bolt of her own.
As soon as she did, Revan rushed at him, her saber snapping back on. Just before she reached him, he used the Force to push her back and she landed on her rear just in front of Anara. Tsuinsu brought a hand up again and a beam of energy shot from it, heading straight for the two women. Simply reacting, Anara stood over Revan and shoved her good hand out in front of her, meaning to use a basic Force barrier to deflect the beam. Instead, an energy blast leaped from her own hand to push against the one coming at them from Tsuinsu. It held and the two beams pulsed, pushing against each other. Slowly Anara's started gaining ground and the Sith'ari master shoved his other hand forward to strengthen his. Again the two beams held position as the waves of energy pressed against one another. Atton and Carth could do nothing but watch. Behind them they heard Canderous coming to, and over to one side, where they had all been stuck to the wall, Bastila was conscious and crouching near Jolee's body.
"Did you know she could do that?" Carth asked Atton, not taking his eyes from the scene as Anara's feet rose off the floor.
She was now levitating about a meter from the ground, the beam from her hand still holding off the one from Tsuinsu, her hair whipping around her head as if she had stuck her fingers in a power coupling. Atton shook his head though his gaze was also glued to the scene before him.
"I'm not sure even she knew!"
"How long do you think she can hold it?" Canderous asked, getting up and bringing his oversized gun up to his shoulder.
The answer came to them along with a blinding flash as they heard: "Why—won't—you—just—die?"
Anara gave a sudden push of her hand and her beam surged forward, pushing through Tsuinsu's and hitting him full blast in the chest. The amulet around his neck exploded and the gem fell to the floor and shattered. Anara fell to her knees, exhausted, and Revan crouched beside her, touching her shoulder.
Tsuinsu uttered a blood-curdling scream and then froze in place as his body first turned to stone, then began crumbling apart. When the stone broke, a dark cloud had risen above it and now it started swirling and tendrils leaped out as it separated into the individual souls that had been trapped inside. The tendrils whirled around the room before dissipating to join with the Force. All save one. This one floated down in front of Revan and Anara and they all heard Jolee's voice.
"You did good ladies. I'm proud of you. May the Force always be with you both." Then it too was gone.
"Are you alright?" Revan asked Anara and she nodded.
"I just need a moment."
Atton had jumped up as soon as the sith'ari's body had crumbled and Anara had sunk to her knees and he ran to her, scattering the dust that had been Tsuinsu only minutes before. He pulled her up from the floor and hugged her to him tightly.
"You really had me worried for awhile there, woman!" He said gruffly, his face buried in her hair. "Don't scare me like that ever again!"
She chuckled and squeezed him tiredly. "I'll try my best."
"And you!" Carth exclaimed, holding Revan, "You were magnificent!"
"They both were," Bastila conceded. "The Jedi are in sore need of people like you. Are you sure I can't convince either of you into returning to the Order?"
Revan and Anara looked at each other, then at Atton and Carth, then back to Bastila. Revan shook her head.
"No, sorry," she answered for both of them. "We can't. It would be hypocritical, Bastila, but thank you for asking. If the Jedi ever need my assistance however…"
"Or mine," Anara interjected, leaning on Atton.
"Thank you," Bastila said. "I shall let the Council know we have powerful allies should we need them."
Anara looked around, confused. "Anyone see where my other lightsaber went?"
"I know where it is," Atton told her. "Can you stand on your own?"
"I think so," she answered and managed alright until he was a few feet away, then started to sway. Canderous moved over to hold her up and, grinning down at her, told her:
"Damn girl! If I were a lot younger…"
Everyone laughed. Atton returned with her silver saber and the cloak she had had on earlier and took her back from the Mandalorian, being careful of her wrist. Canderous shouldered his big gun and they began to make their way out of the temple back to Korriban's surface. No one spoke until they reached the open air and sunshine. There was a slight breeze that made Anara shiver and suddenly she was aware of her attire.
"My armor…" she remarked, pulling the cloak together against the wind.
Atton, who had been very conscious of her outfit from the moment he'd seen her in it, raised his eyebrows at her.
"You want to go back for it?"
Anara looked back at the entrance to Ajunta Pall's tomb, shook her head and shivered again. Atton drew her closer to him and, as they followed the others to the Ebon Hawk, commented casually, "Now, let's talk about your make-up…"
5
Once they had gotten under way, Anara had gone to clean up and change clothes. Then she made her way to the med bay to wrap her wrist. She healed fast but it would still be a week before she would be able to wield her lightsaber in that hand effectively again. Her nose would heal in a couple of days, but would be a much more colorful process. She walked in to find Revan there, a strip of cloth already in hand.
"Thought you could use an extra pair of hands."
"Thanks," Anara said, hopping up on the table to let Revan wrap her wrist. "And…thanks for everything else too."
"No need," Revan assured her. "I could thank you as well." She paused and then added, "If you don't mind my saying so, we make a pretty good team."
"I think so too," Anara commented. "You know…if you ever need my help, or just want me along for the ride…" and they grinned at each other.
"So, what will you do now?" Revan asked her. "I mean, since you aren't rejoining the Order?"
"I'm not sure yet. Atton and I…well, we haven't had time to discuss anything. I know we'll need to find another ship. Other than that, I just want to travel around and take it easy until my wrist heals…and my nose…and I should probably do something about this white streak in my hair, too." She paused, turned to Revan and sighed.
"You know, don't you," she remarked, "we probably haven't seen the last of the Sith'ari. Tsuinsu, Nios, Vix…they weren't the only ones out there. I can…sense others. And if I can sense them…"
"They will eventually sense you as well," Revan finished, frowning. Anara nodded.
The two women were now walking through the center of the ship where HK's alcove was located. Anara glanced toward the droid.
"Well, you've got your droids and your ship back anyway."
Revan looked around and came to a quick decision.
"I'll keep HK and T3. They both cost me a bundle and I'm pretty sure I was HK's original master anyway. Of course, we've both suffered memory loss before and I could be wrong, but he's kind of grown on me. But you should take the Ebon Hawk," she offered. "It's not like I bought her in the first place. Consider it a gift from Carth and me to you and Atton."
"Are you serious?" Anara asked, surprised. "Won't you need her?"
Revan laughed. "I'm very close to a prominent Admiral in the Republic Fleet. If I need a ship, I don't think it will be a problem, and if I need a fast ship…I'll probably be looking for you anyway!"
Anara laughed with her, just as Atton entered the room.
"We're almost to Coruscant. Canderous said he'll be getting off there, as will Bastila. He said he has unfinished business there before returning to Dxun." He looked questioningly at Anara. "What about us?"
Revan moved toward the passageway leading to the cockpit.
"You two have things to discuss and I've got to talk to Carth. We'll talk more later."
They waited until she was gone, then Anara smiled at Atton.
"What do you think of the Hawk?"
"What? Oh, well, she's a fast one. I hope we can find one that will take as much abuse as she has without falling apart." He paused. "Um, can I ask you something? Were you serious about not rejoining the jedi, and what was that stuff you and Revan were reciting back there in the temple? It didn't sound like the Jedi Code, or the Sith's."
"I was serious Atton," she replied. "That 'code' you heard, that was something Revan and I came up with together; kind of a mix of the two codes. She and I both believe that to really understand the Force, you need to understand it from all sides. I want to teach others. I don't want to start an Order or anything like that, but I want to share what I've discovered. I…we…think it's important for the galaxy as a whole for others to realize how intricate the connections through the Force actually are. I don't know how you feel about that."
"Well you might have to explain some things in more detail later, but for now just know that I don't want to be without you, no matter where we might end up. So…are we okay? Does this mean we are going to find a ship together?"
"We're better than okay, Atton." She gave him a big smile. "Revan just gave us the Hawk as a gift…she's ours!"
"What…that's great!" Atton said excitedly. "Wait…you did say 'ours', right?"
"If you still feel the same way about me after…"
"There's no need to even question it." He stopped her. He stepped up close to her, taking her hands in his—holding the injured one gently. Then he pulled something from his pocket. It was a ring with three stones. The center one was sky blue and seemed to glow with some inner light and, on either side was a smaller stone…one viridian, one silver.
It was her turn to look at him questioningly and he nodded.
"I want to be with you, always. No matter what happens, I want us to face it together."
They held each other, marveling at how things had worked out. They had each other, they had the Ebon Hawk. What more could they want? The galaxy was theirs!
THE END