Knight of the Old Republic 3- Heart of the Force

by Jinn Sage

The child of the most revolutionary Force wielder in galactic history searches the Unknown Regions in desperate hope to reunite with his father. However an evil that blinds darkness itself looms at the edge of the Galaxy; a threat that Revan himself was frightened of. The single light that divides the Sith Empire of Old and the Galaxy stems from the bond of father and son.

2. Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Star Wars or Knights of the Old Republic franchise. All rights belong to Lucasarts, Lucasfilms.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

'Telepathic'

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

3,936 BBY- 15 years later; Coruscant

The obsidian light of the Dark Holocron shone against Vaner's face, the moonlight color basking the holocron in haunting, mystical energies. Bastila watched her son inspect the holocron that was once belonged to the Sith Lord Exar Kun, the predecessor to Revan. A strange whirl of pride and worry clouded her, her troubled woes lingered to her husband, to wherever he was.

Meetra hadn't come back.

She had to be dead. That meant… Revan must be dead.

However the tiniest flicker of hope burned in her soul. Maybe her destiny was to never see him again, but her son would. The Force was too mysterious to be quantified in crude logic and scientific means, so she eased her mind into the calming flow of the Force.

Vaner was very much like his father. He had a blinding power that was like staring at the heart of the Force. He looked like the perfect mixture of herself and Revan; although Revan always downplayed his physical attractiveness, Vaner held a stunning resemblance to him, the few brown strands of his hair layered his forehead, a childish innocence gleamed in his gray eyes as he inspected the holocron. Bastila was quietly thankful that her son didn't grow out his hair like Revan had, he kept his nice and trim. She liked that look on him.

"You're nervous," Vaner commented and he looked away from the holocron towards his mother. "I know this holocron has a dark past and it caused the Order to become dogmatic and crude, but there is a silver lining to it. Its path caused you and dad to meet."

Bastila smiled somberly, he was sweet boy.

"Within that holocron yields many secrets of the ancient Sith, secrets that will help you on your path," Bastila said. Walking over to her son, she grabbed his face and planted a motherly kiss on his forehead. "I will not join you. It is not my path to cross."

Gray eyes widened in surprise, confusion and anger. Why wouldn't she join him?! Seeing the flux of emotion storming in him, Bastila kept a stern gaze upon him. "Do not look at me like that. I care and love your fatherly deeply, but it is not the will of the Force that calls me to him. My path is coming to an end."

Vaner's eyes wavered soberly, the glistening of a mother's tears caused him to regain focus. "You're right, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking and being selfish."

"You live in a time where everything makes no sense," soothed Bastila, her hands resting on Vaner's shoulders. "You will hear empty words from fools who think they know true wisdom. The path of the Force, as your father traveled once, is a walkway of duality, know your enemy." The former Jedi ushered her son towards a secret room in their home, revealing robes of long, sand-brown color, and its chestplate, gloves, and boots broke the ascetic simplicity. "Your father wore this when we arrived on the Star Forge, a counterpart to the robes he once wore as Darth Revan."

Grabbing the simple robes from the closet, Vaner felt the earthy texture of it; it was simple, slightly coarse but durable. Similar to the robes worn by the Jedi. From the corner of his eye, his mother handed him a mask.

"The mask of Revan- Savior, conqueror, hero, villain. He was all these things when the galaxy needed it. In the end, he belonged to neither the light or the darkness. He stood alone," Bastila gently fondled the mask, the weighted memories etched on it. The many sins that stained it, impossible to wipe clean. Turning it so the mask faced Vaner, she handed it to him. "Take it."

Hesitant fingers latched onto the mask, the burden of his father's legacy crushing on his being. The black visor staring ominously as the light struck upon it. Slowly, Vaner's world shrunk around him, his power and strength of will increasing as the cool metal sank onto his skin.

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

Yavin 4

The volcanic island on top of the very deep river housed the Temple of Exar Kun and it could only be reached by a path of stepping stones. The temple itself was made from polished black-colored obsidian that was studded with corusca gems. It was etched with Sith hieroglyphics and pictographs, most likely magic incantations to protect the temple and call doom to its defilers. At its apex was a large statue of Exar Kun and outside, Vaner could see a small courtyard.

The son of Revan ventured past the stone steps, remembering the story of the Dark Lord and the massacre that followed after his arrival of the Massassi. Sensing no life outside of the native creatures, Vaner's blood ran ice cold. This was the power of the Dark side. This was the power of Exar Kun- the fall of a Jedi and the rise of a Dark Lord.

Was this the power that his father had sought after?

He could his chest compress from the overwhelming power of the temple. The courtyard was decorated with various plant life and vines stretching out to any sign of life in the vicinity. Entering into the temple, Vaner took down his mask and adjusted his eyes to the light.

No lightsaber hung from his belt. Only the power of the Force would aid him in his journey.

The dim, faint lights provided a path amongst the catacombs. The smell of moist earth swelled in his nose, his gray eyes flexed as the torches suddenly engulfed in flames, illuminating his path with haunting mockery. Vaner placed his mask back on and continued, ever cautious of whatever laid in the temple.

The dark presence was ever-looming, covering over Vaner like a coat of shadows. He shuddered at the cold embrace.

"Why do you come to my tomb, Jedi?" Vaner halted in the midst of the catacomb, the high ceiling cast a faint light in the otherwise dimly lit temple.

"To learn," answered Vaner.

Silence answered, yet Vaner kept still.

"The darkness lingers in you. Good. Then you might be worthy to pass the trials."

"I will use the power of the Dark side but I will not become its slave," declared Vaner boldly. "I shall break its chains around me, setting me free."

Laughter reverberated in the catacombs, coming from everywhere it seemed. "What do you know of slavery? To be denied what is rightfully yours, and no one else?"

"Says the bodiless voice wasting my time," mocked Vaner, continuing his journey further into the temple. "You died for nothing. My father embraced the darkness but he didn't let it corrupt him, he kept his identity and free will."

"That would explain the darkness I sense in you," an apparition of Exar Kun emerged from the wall, halting Vaner in place. Shifting his stance and taking a step back, Vaner braced for the Dark Lord's attack. "I am not dead, child, my spirit is strong and eternal. It is the temple itself that you place your feet upon. You fear me, good. You are smart enough to understand how far over your head you are."

"I know what you once were, how powerful and cunning. But you're dead, you have no purpose in preventing me from what I want."

"Except you have barged into my temple, into my home. You do not wander into a man's home unless you are looking for a fight," countered Exar Kun. "You have power and potential, but you lack skill and experience with said power. Many treasures dwindle beneath your feet, secrets of the Dark side and techniques that are forbidden and unnatural. What is it that you seek?"

"Your weapon."

"Only that?"

"A lightsaber is a Jedi's life, surely you can understand that."

Exar Kun glanced towards the simple robes of his intruder. "You do not have a lightsaber of your own, so your plan was to steal from me?"

"And hopefully destroy the temple while I'm at it," Vaner said. "It'll be better without your presence on the planet."

"Be careful Jedi, the lure of the Dark side will spread across the planet once you destroy the temple."

"I highly doubt that, you need the temple to survive. Otherwise I imagine your spirit merely floating in emptiness," Vaner took a step forward, staring eye to eye with the deceased Dark Lord. "I need the power for a reason, not just for powers sake. Get out of my way."

Exar Kun smiled at the intruder. "Power comes at a price, Jedi. I hope you are willing to pay it in blood."

"I am not a Jedi," Vaner declared, walking through the spectral Dark Lord. "I am the one who walks on the line of darkness and light. I see the Force for what it is."

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

The symbol of Exar Kun stood as a monument for his throne. Two massive pillars held up the ceiling, and a flight of stairs lead to the Dark Lord's throne. Blood red fire engulfed the chalices that held them, adding to the consternation of the Dark side's presence. It was an unholy place yet its mysticism could cull the weak-willed to its domain.

Taking a cautionary scan, Vaner approached the throne. The lightsaber of Exar Kun had to be close by, either in his personal chambers or here. The abstract memorial of the Dark Lord looked down upon the intruder.

Vaner placed his hands on his hips, tapping his finger with methodical ponderment. "It must be nearby. He must've wanted his weapon placed somewhere safe where no one could find it, at least not easily." Exhaling in slight annoyance, the son of Revan looked behind him to the painting of Exar Kun. Tilting his head in thought, he stood on top of the throne's arms and turned away from the painting, looking up towards the walls.

No pattern. Nothing that stood out to him.

"Can't be behind the painting," Vaner said slowly, more in doubt than suggestion. Facing the painting, Vaner grasped the edges and tugged on it. Giving a soft grunt Vaner tried again, with more strength this time. The painting gave way, and as he placed it on the floor, he saw a deep hole in the wall. "Let's see what treasures lie here." Crawling halfway into the hole, Vaner strained his gray eyes into the pitch blackness. Seeing nothing but the end of the wall, he crawled back out and placed the painting back in its place.

Frowning in disappointment, Vaner faced the main room again. He was missing something, something he overlooked. Sith were clever beings…

Taking his mask off, rubbing his face and clearing his mind, Vaner observed the room once more. "What am I missing? Finding his weapon shouldn't be this hard." Gray eyes shifted side to side in realization, turning around to face the painting again. Placing his hand on the painting, he imbued some of his Force power into it. The painting began to glow a faint crimson light from the eyes of Exar Kun. Following the light to the spot on the floor past the flight of stairs, Vaner quickly went after it.

Sliding to his knees, he patted the floor and listen for a hollow sound. Grinning as he placed the mask back on, Vaner pried the tiles apart with the Force revealing something golden.

The question lingering in his mind, Vaner ripped the ground faster to reveal a four meter wide spherical orb. Within the golden orb looked to be the contents of sand and dust, flourishing as if there was wind inside of it.

"You have made a grave mistake," the voice of Exar Kun called.

The voice startled Vaner from his gaze. "What is this?"

"Something you should have left unattended, now leave before I kill you."

The son of Revan stood firm, glaring at the Sith Lord behind his mask. Matching the boy's glare, Exar Kun's power flung Vaner off his feet and into the pillar, bits of debris raining on the floor.

"You cannot win, I am unkillable in this form. You cannot touch me. You do not have the strength of power or will to do what is necessary. You are a boy trying to prove himself a man." Vaner grunted and picked himself up, using the pillar as a base to hold himself. "The ways of the Sith will never die as long as I survive. And I know of your bloodline, you are the child of Revan."

Removing himself from the pillar, Vaner stalked towards Exar Kun. "Then you know what I am capable of."

"I know what your father was capable of, but you stand alone, boy. As the darkness closes in around you, I sense your fear and your desperation." The ground trembled under the might of the Dark Lord's spirit. "You will die here- a boy desperate for your father's affection. Your spirit will be mine to feast on."

The faint glow of the orb began to brighter, catching Vaner's attention. "Those are the spirits of the Massassi. They gave you your power."

"Try if you wish, the Golden Globe will throw you away from it. It cannot be touched or the souls within it will die."

They were still alive? Such a thought was tortuous to imagine, stuck in a bodiless form trapped in a ball. Vaner reached his hand and called on the Force to the Golden Globe. Using his skill Tutaminis to block the Dark Lord's potent lightning, Vaner focused his efforts on the orb and calling it to him.

The yellow eyes of Exar Kun brightened in renewed anger, creating a repulse of Force to throw Vaner painfully against the wall. "I will not bested by a child! I have sacrificed too much for this power, and I will not be stripped of it!"

Standing on his feet, Vaner braced his hands in front of his face, slowly stepping into the destructive maelstrom of the Dark Lord's energy. Perhaps the Golden Globe was the key to eradicating Exar Kun from existence, maybe by trapping his spirit with the rest of the Massassi.

Calling to the Golden Globe, Vaner grunted as parts of his robes ripped from the ravaging power of Exar Kun. His body felt like it was being crushed, forcing him on his knees. Still he focused his power on the orb, and it began to rise from its prison. The spirits and sand and dust flourished wildly within its casing, and a holy light brightened the chambers. Streams of dust and sand and light left the orb, surrounding the young man; he heard unintelligible whispers but it sounded almost grateful. The streams lashed around his arms and body, gently lifting him up to Exar Kun; the Dark Lord scowled at the boy.

"You cannot kill me! I am the greatest Sith Lord! I am EXAR KUN! I shall live forever!" cried the Dark Lord. Cracks began to form within the Golden Globe, and a light brighter than a supernova blinded both the Sith Lord and Vaner. Barely able to keep his eyes open, the sight of the Sith Lord's spirit being ripped apart by the spirits of the Massassi caused him to regret looking at the unholy sight. Screams of rage and anguish from Exar Kun stung Vaner's ears… then silence.

Feeling gravity take a hold of him, Vaner braced to land on his feet. Stumbling to regain balance, the son of Revan took a cautious breath. "What the hell was that?" He looked towards the ceiling, to his father, wherever he was. "Is this the Dark side? Is this was you felt? No wonder you turned away from it." Exhaling with a shaky breath, the sudden sound of the far reaching wall shifting to reveal a hidden passage startled the young man. "This lightsaber better be worth this aggravation."

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

The double-bladed weapon of Exar Kun was placed on a simple pedestal in the vacant room, which still smelt like the moist earth of the catacombs. The hilt of lightsaber was about the same length of a normal lightsaber, perhaps half size bigger. Grabbing the weapon as his own, Vaner's mask shone with the blue light from the crystal within.

Exar Kun was marveled with his mastery of Niman, or rather his erratic version of the form. Gripping the hilt with both hands, Vaner performed the standard Niman ritual of a Force push and slash. Levitating the lightsaber, and calling to him his father's crystal, Vaner removed the blue crystal and replaced it with the Heart of the Guardian.

Reassembling the lightsaber, the yellow glow of the crystal brightened the room like a miniature sun. The final heirloom his mother gave to him, the final piece he had to remember of his father.

The robes from the Star Forge.

The Heart of the Guardian.

The mask of Revan.

He was ready to follow in his father's footsteps, to bridge the gap of the light and dark. Hope, determination, and ambition was all he had left.

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

The temple of Exar Kun shrank in the distance, to be lost and forgotten in time. The chirps of the birds and the soft coo of the wind kept Vaner company as he saw his Aurek-class starfighter up ahead, commonly known as the A-wing. A thought crossed his mind- he still had the Holocron of Exar Kun in the ship. Opening the hatch and dug for it, the Dark Holocron sat in his palm; he had what he wanted, he learned from the Dark Lord before his father and served his purpose.

Reeling his arm back, Vaner flung the Holocron to the swamp water close to the temple. No one would find it there. The gentle ambiance of nature was nurturing and pleasant to listen to. Climbing into his ship, the ship's engines ignited and Vaner blasted off to the stars, far, far away from Yavin 4.

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

Rakata Prime

The lush and green tropical world of Lehon was a true beauty, the humidity was low and the sun brightly claimed the world. The crystal ocean looked inviting, even admist the scattered and broken warships sticking out of the water.

Two decades prior, a battle was fought between his father and his former apprentice Darth Malak onboard the Star Forge. There the truth of Revan's past was told to him- A Jedi going to war to prevent the Mandalorians from invading while the Jedi Council sat there debating, and then falling to the Dark side.

The white sands muffled Vaner's boots, leaving a visible trail in his wake. His new lightsaber hung from his belt over his right thigh.

Before him stood the Temple of the Ancients, a twenty meter temple that held the secrets of the Star Forge. The large transparent image of one of its two moons loomed dauntingly over the Force wielder.

Halting at entrance way, Vaner faced the tropical sun and overlooked the beautiful jungle. "I wonder why Mom and Dad didn't setup a home here, probably the battle scars here might've been a bit much I guess." A ship caught the corner of his eye, one in perfect working condition a mile out from where his ship was. It might have been here for a while, Vaner figured. Possibly a Jedi starfighter. "We'll see who's waiting here," said Vaner, entering the temple.

-Knights of the Old Republic 3: Heart of the Force-

The rough marble wall, visible by the blurred dim lightstands, was the only thing he could see. Keeping a brisk jog Vaner tried to keep track of where he was last, yet everywhere he turned looked the same.

"Wait," Vaner halted and retreated back down the hallway, taking a left, then a right, then another left. Before him was a temple door, "Oh good, it only took me… doesn't matter, it's only a few more hours in this godforsaken maze." Grumbling to himself as the temple door open, the sight of broken droids caught his attention. "Probably Mom and Dad's handiwork, they didn't mess around against droids." Rushing past the discarded droids, the son of Revan continued down the corridor.

Who else was here? What could the Jedi hope to get from here? If anything they would go ask his mother. Maybe the Council knew something that his mother didn't tell him. Stretching his senses in the Force, he felt the presence of someone above him.

Yet he also felt a indistinct presence within the temple walls.

"Dad," Vaner said touching the wall gently. Focusing on the task at hand, Vaner rushed through the multiple corridors following the faint trail in the Force. It was a lot easier now compared to earlier, looking to his right he saw the beautiful ocean flowing with the current, and in the far distance laid the mounds of islands.

Entering the dim lighted hallway again, Vaner soon saw a open door passage that lead outside to the rooftop. Letting his eyes adjust to the bright light gleaming on his mask, Vaner saw someone not too far under the overhead, as if waiting for him. Cautiously slowing to a tread, he reached for his lightsaber.

"I knew you'd come here, after all this is where you began," the woman greeted. A human female with slick back brown hair and a thin golden-bronze metal piece on her head, blue eyes with an ashy shadow makeup and fair skin. She wore black robes that left her shoulders bare. On her belt carried a lightsaber. She looked about the same age as him. "You have created quite a name for yourself Revan."

"Vaner," he corrected, removing his mask to reveal the handsome faced eighteen year old. "My father is who you're talking to, but I don't know where he is and I'm looking for him." He tapped his finger on the lowered mask. "Why are you here looking for him? Who are you?"

"Name's Naresha, and I'm just looking around Revan's old stomping grounds, trying to make sense of him and what he believed," Naresha stated.

Vaner snicked somberly. "I know the feeling. You don't look like a Jedi however, you're too beautiful. And you're strong in the Force too."

"My, aren't you the sweetheart," teased Naresha, sauntering over to the Force wielder. "I was a Jedi but after what I heard with the Mandalorian Wars, Darth Malak, and the Sith Triumvirate I wanted to understand what Revan was and what he stood for. And since I have his son-"

Lowering the hood of his robe, the Force wielder spoke. "I don't know where he is, like I said." Naresha stopped in front of him. "I'm sorry, I… just want to find him, I've never seen or met him before. All I have is his name and legacy."

"What I was going to say is that I can help you," offered Naresha. "You'll need help and this is a chance you can't refuse."

"Pretty sure I can," Vaner countered, smirking playfully. "Unless you plan on following me across the galaxy, not that I wouldn't mind a beautiful woman stalking me."

The female Force wielder rolled her eyes at the flirt, a smile growing on her lips. "Right, but you're pretty cute so there's an upside to this."

Vaner chuckled a bit nervously. "Have you found anything here?"

"Just the same things you probably did. All this planet is by now is a junkyard," Naresha said. "I was hoping you have a better plan."

"I was thinking of going to some of the places my dad went to, maybe it might give me an idea of where he was taken," Vaner asserted.

"He was kidnapped?" asked Naresha.

"Yeah, and that's my problem- I don't know where. And an old family friend went off to find him but she… hasn't come back either. I fear for the worst." Vaner inhaled and sighed, his heart aching a bit.

"With how powerful your father was, I'm sure he's still alive," comforted Naresha. Vaner smiled in gratitude. The female Force wielder pointed at the mask. "That's Revan's mask," Vaner glanced at his father's mask, then handed to her. "No I can't-"

"You're not keeping it," chuckled Vaner. "You can hold it though."

Playfully glaring at the young man, Naresha took the mask into her hands. She could feel the weight of Revan's burden etched on it. Every Jedi, every Mandalorian, every living creature stained its soul onto the mask, she couldn't begin to comprehend the kind of man she would meet. Her blue eyes softened at Vaner, how he must feel about a father he only heard of but never met. Not to mention all kinds he must have heard about his father.

Handing the mask back to Vaner, their fingers brushed on the others and a faint blush grew on their cheeks. Yet they kept their eyes locked for a time.

"Where to next Van? Off to the wild jungles of Kashyyk or the utopian paradise of Nar Shaddaa?" Naresha asked teasingly.

"Probably somewhere closer to home," Vaner snickered. He frowned when he remembered the Sith Triumvirate. "We're not too far from Malachor are we?"

"Depending on which space route you take, you're thinking about heading to the Traya Academy?"

"Could be some useful information to gather there, also it might shed some light to my father's past. There must've been a reason why he turned to the Dark side," explained Vaner.

Naresha tilted her head at the sound reason. "This is your little expedition, you should take the lead."

Vaner smirked and placed his mask back on. "I was the one who made the plan so yeah, I'm in charge." Smiling flirtatiously at the young man, Naresha followed alongside a new friend. "Hopefully the trip back is a lot easier than getting here, otherwise we might get lost for a while."

A/N: Hey guys, hope you enjoy this new chapter!

So the adventure pretty much begins here my friends, Vaner is now following the path of his father and has vanquished the spirit of the Sith Lord Exar Kun! And he has met a new companion, Naresha.

Just to recap here: Vaner has the Star Forge robes, the mask of Revan, the Heart of the Guardian crystal and the lightsaber of Exar Kun. Vaner's physical appearance is based on the picture Revan unmasked remasterized by ReVaNzz on Deviantart (handsome devil lol).

For Naresha, she is actually a concept art character for the KOTOR 3 game so you can check either on Wookiepedia or Google to find her and other concept art stuff I'll be using for this story (lol).

Power scale (there have been changes from the VS Battle wiki site, in essence all the characters under the Continent tier have now been changed to Multi-Continent and Revan has been changed to Moon tier)-

Multi-Solar System to Multi-Solar System+:

The Son

The Daughter

Solar System to Solar System+:

Vitiate

Revan (Possibly; Force visions determined that either Vitiate or Revan could come out on top)

Multi-Continent to Multi-Continent+:

Meetra Surik (managed to defeat Darth Traya)

Kreia/Darth Traya (Entirely drained three Jedi Masters of comparable power to Darth Sion and Pre-Malachor V Meetra Surik, the combined Force Drain/Sever of Darth Nihilus and Darth Sion failed to drain her of her power completely, finally, at the time of her death, she was still considered stronger than Meetra Surik)

Darth Malak (comparable to, but weaker than, Darth Revan)

Darth Nihilus (Force Drain; potentially higher to Planet once filled)

Country to Country+:

Bastila Shan (Small Country; comparable to Darth Sion)

Darth Sion (Small Country)