Just like the last story, you can expect me to combine game dialog with my own dialog, mostly because this story does not follow the game exactly, but also because I'm too lazy to replay the game! ;) Thanks for the reviews, they are always welcome, and enjoy!


Chapter One – Awaken

Why can't I open my eyes? Is that a mask on my face? And why the hell do I feel like I'm floating?

Aeryn's world abruptly shifted and she felt herself jolt into a prone position on a hard metal floor. The air supply to her facemask was suddenly shut off, and unable to breath, Aeryn clawed weakly at it until the straps finally disconnected. She rolled to her back with a groan and forced her eyes open a sliver, but the world was painfully bright and blurry and she groaned again and rolled back onto her stomach.

Where am I? Kolto tanks? This is a medbay, but I'm not on the Harbinger anymore, that's for sure. How did I get here?

With significant effort, Aeryn rose shakily to her feet and gazed curiously around the room. She frowned as she recognized several crewmembers from the Harbinger inside the kolto tanks around her. Her stomach gave a lurch when she realized they were all dead.

Why am I so weak? I haven't felt this drained since Master N'Ty poisoned my food before my first mission. But why would anyone in the Republic poison me? Uh, I mean, besides the obvious….

Aeryn hadn't exactly been the shining example of a former Jedi during the last three months aboard the Harbinger. It wasn't long after she had bested the entire roster of crewmembers in the sparing arena that she moved on to the only other activity she excelled at – drinking. After a bar brawl landed her in the brig for the third time, Aeryn had sworn she'd lay off the alcohol…again. After all, it was probably best if she arrived on Coruscant at least mostly sober.

Last thing I remember I was trying to sleep off my hangover in the ship's brig. Someone left me a hangover stim with my meal but…aw, hell, Aeryn! You're the biggest damn fool. How's that for irony? A Sith assassin bested by the promise of a painless hangover. Revan would be proud.

She continued her internal tirade as she slowly made her way toward the exit. The door slid open automatically revealing an empty hallway, a control room on her left, a sealed door to her right, and a damaged door ahead of her at the end of the hallway.

This place is thrashed. What happened here? I don't even know where "here" is! This is ridiculous. Maybe I'm dreaming.

At the control panel, Aeryn attempted to slice open the damaged door, only to cause a power back-flow into the panel and up her arm. She hissed in pain and thrust her throbbing fingers into her mouth.

Okay, not dreaming.

She did a cursory check of the control room for anything that could possibly help open the only obvious way out of the med center, but found nothing other than a few medical supplies. Grudgingly she made her way back toward the control panel. When she finally gained the courage to touch the controls once more, Aeryn scrolled through the computer options and accessed the patient records.

For Force sake, someone poisoned us? How in the hell could someone have authorized something like this? And why? My Jedi training was probably the only thing that saved my life…at least it was good for something.

A sense of urgency grew in Aeryn's mind as the utter silence of the empty rooms grated on her unraveling nerves. She frantically searched the computer for any other means out.

The only place I can access is the damned morgue. There can't possibly be anything useful in there…still, it wouldn't hurt to check. It's not like I have anywhere else to be.

The air inside the morgue was stale and cold, accented by the sickly sweet stench of human decay. The only two "occupants" were an old woman and the badly damaged body of what Aeryn assumed had once been a man. Curious at the old woman's clothing that very closely resembled Jedi robes, Aeryn started toward her when an object across the room caught her eye. Smiling triumphantly, she retrieved the plasma torch and turned to leave.

"Find what you were looking for amongst the dead?"

Aeryn's heart leapt into her throat as she gazed into the blind eyes of the old woman she had believed to be dead who now stood before her. Smoothing the wrinkles out of her simple brown robes then adjusting her cowl to hide her eyes, the old woman patiently awaited an answer.

To her annoyance, Aeryn's voice cracked as she asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Kreia, and I am your rescuer, as you are mine."

"Rescuer?" Aeryn narrowed her eyes in suspicion and studied Kreia, but for all her training, she could gain no insight into the woman before her, but for some reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity with her. Pushing aside the odd sensation, she said coldly, "Looked to me like you were dead."

"Close to death, yes," she responded with icy calm. "I am familiar with certain…techniques that allow one to remain in such a state for some time."

Aeryn waited expectantly for Kreia to elaborate, but when the old woman simply stood there, Aeryn grew impatient. "Fine, whatever. Where the hell are we?"

A slight dry smirk pulled at the corners of Kreia's mouth as she responded, "'Hell' seems to be an over simplification of our situation. I do not know where we are, nor how we arrived here, but in my rest, I saw pain and horror in the minds of those nearby. I fear something terrible has happened here."

"You're not exactly being much help here," Aeryn muttered irritably. "And I'm beginning to think it's intentional. Look, I don't care what you do, but I'm getting out of this medbay to find out just what happened here…uh, where ever 'here' is."

Kreia nodded as if she'd expected such an answer and abruptly lowered herself into a meditative position on the floor. "I shall remain here and attempt to center myself while you investigate our situation."

Irritated by the authority in the strange woman's voice, Aeryn snapped sarcastically, "Anything else, your majesty?"

Cocking her head to one side, Kreia suggested, "You may wish to extend your search for some clothes, if only for proper first impressions."

It was only then that Aeryn realized she wore nothing but her standard dark brown bra and panties. Never one to feel self-conscious of her nudity, Aeryn was surprised to feel a little ashamed for her lack of modesty in front of her new acquaintance. Now that's just stupid, she chided herself. She's blind for Force sake!

"Thanks, I'll get right on it," she responded as she strode out of the morgue.

-

Fear was not an uncommon emotion for Aeryn, and loneliness had been her constant companion for many years, but to be lonely and afraid as well as physically alone was a combination she had rarely faced. There had always been someone around to see, to touch, even amongst the Sith. Now, as she padded on silent bare feet down the empty and badly damaged hallways, avoiding or dismantling hostile droids as she went, Aeryn was overwhelmed by the utter emptiness around her.

This place is made for hundreds of people to work and live, but now it's nothing but an empty shell, housing only death and bad memories…just like me.

She tried to smother the morbid thoughts, pull herself out of the all too familiar embrace of self-pity, but something was so wrong about the situation that she could not focus well on her progress through the facility.

Why did Revan send me back? Did her vision show her that this would happen? Damn that vision! The Force plays games with us, and we just go right along for the ride!

Aeryn froze just outside yet another closed door as the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end and a strange tingling sensation filled her mind.

Something's about to happen. But how do I know that? It couldn't be…?

The door slid open and Aeryn found herself fighting for her life against three droids, bending and twisting her body away from the laser blasts as she dismantled them with the cheap vibroblade she'd confiscated off a corpse. As she fought, the tingling grew until it was an overwhelming presence, almost painful in its intensity as it swelled through her every sense. When the last droid finally fizzled to a stop, Aeryn collapsed in a gasping heap on the cold metal floor.

No, no, please, not this. Not again. I don't want this again! The pain…the blood…the death. So many bodies…all their blood on my hands. Not again. Please! NO!

With every ounce of her will, Aeryn ground her teeth as she fought to block the rush of sensations, yet still her very limited awareness continued to expand. Her perceptions changed as the Force focused her mind, and despite her struggles, she could feel Kreia nearby, and the presence of another, but from the rest of the facility, there was only death.

The voices, screaming…so much blood on my hands.

Aeryn ground her teeth until she thought they would shatter and bit back a growl of desperation as she lifted her head off the floor. Staring back at her from a slightly distorted mirrored metal panel was her own image, her brilliant violet eyes wide with distress. Her body began to shake violently and Aeryn felt darkness overwhelm her.

-

Aeryn?

Re…Revan?

Aeryn, what…? How is this possible?

Revan, help me! I don't want this again! Please, Revan, help me-.

Calm down, Aeryn! I cannot help you. Something has happened and I….

Revan? Are you alright? REVAN?

Aeryn, I must block our bond. I am being hunted and I must hide. I am sorry this pains you so, but it must be the will of the Force. Guard yourself, little sister, and have faith.

Revan? Please, don't go, Revan! Revan?

-

"REVAN!" Aeryn half sobbed as she wrenched herself up right and supported her body on her hands and knees. Her ragged breathing echoed off the walls of the empty room as she struggled to control the wild torrent of feelings that overwhelmed every sense in her body.

Why do you fight it so, Exile? Did you not long for this for so many years?

Aeryn jerked as if burned at Kreia's cold, emotionless voice in her mind. Though she still shook, Aeryn felt so violated by the woman's presence in her mind that she momentarily forgot her anguish.

Who do you think you are? Get your slimy fingers out of my mind, old woman, or I'll make certain you never invade anyone's mind ever again!

'Invade?' It is a bit difficult not to sense your…instability…when you just happen to be broadcasting your hysteria to anyone nearby. Perhaps you have forgotten your manners while in Exile, but one should not be so quick to turn aside a potential ally.

Yeah, well I didn't have much for manners before then, either, and I'm really not sure you are someone I'd like to 'ally' myself with just yet.

Hmm…often the Force does not give us choices in these matters.

Aeryn prepared a scathing response, but she felt the old woman's mind retreat, and knew that anymore thought on the subject would be a waste of time. By then, Aeryn's breathing had steadied and her mind had mostly adjusted to the rediscovered awareness of the Force. Grudgingly she admitted to herself that Kreia's distraction had helped calm her panicked state.

She says she's an ally, but how can I know? Even now, I can't tell anything about her…she's completely blank to me. But still…Revan said there was a reason….

With a frustrated sigh, Aeryn stood up and once again moved down the empty hallways, this time focused on a destination: the only other living person she could sense inside the facility.