They'd come to one of the last few doors remaining, and proceeded as usual. In the battle that followed, however, Revan progressively slowed down. Her defenses began to falter, and her attacks were weak. Carth and Jolee tried to make up for her waining strength, unaware of how much they actually relied on her. So far they only had really been back up, and the difference between their abilities and hers was painfully obvious.

Finally, after defeating about half their foes, Revan's strength gave out. She stumbled and fell and the selkath immediately swarmed over her. She struggled weakly, but it was to no avail. Carth found it shocking to see her so helpless.

Some how Jolee and Carth managed to kill the remaining selkath. The huge commotion had caught the attention of a larger group of the beasts in the next room. They beat at the door intently, and it wouldn't be long before they broke through. Both Carth and Jolee doubted they would be able to defeat them, but focused on a more immediate situation.

The both of them took in the scene, stunned. Revan lay on her back, eyes closed. Her hands were resting on her stomach and her legs were slightly bent at the knees. She was pale and a cold sweat had broken over her skin. She shook with every breath she took.

There were three deep scratches on the left side of her face. There were jagged rows of punctures on the right side of her neck, upper right arm, left wrist, right hip, and upper, left calf. More deep scratches were evident on her left collar bone, stomach, the small of her back, and resulted as deep gashes in various places on her legs. Her clothes were ripped and blood poured from her wounds.

"Oh lass, you're in a bad shape." Jolee exclaimed.

He and Carth moved over to her. Hearing their approach, Revan stirred and attempted to push herself to her feet. Jolee stopped her.

"Easy lass, trying to be tough isn't going to help anyone. You just rest while I fix you up."

She let herself go limp and closed her eyes again. Jolee wasted no time. He examined her from head to toe, checking every scratch, every puncture. Then he emptied his medical supplies from his bag.

"Carth," he ordered "I'm going to need your help."

Carth frowned, but crouched down closer to Revan's left side.

"Follow my directions to the letter, understand lad?"

Jolee's eyes were locked on Carth's, and the younger man gave a slight, displeased nod.

"Make a tourniquet above her left elbow."

Carth did as he was told by ripping some cloth from Revan's garments, then wrapping and cinching it tightly around the place that had been specified. He couldn't believe what he was doing. Again he was confused. Revan was practically dying in front of him, and he didn't know if he should help her, or allow her to die. She owed a debt she could only repay in death. However, to allow her to die was extending her a kindness she didn't deserve.

"Now, listen carefully," Jolee continued as he worked on stopping the blood flow from the gashes in her legs "She's fatigued, dehydrated, and downright exhausted. The bites on her wrist, hip, and upper arm are contaminated. To add to that, she's losing a lot of blood. All we have to worry about is the bleeding and the contamination in her wrist. Her jedi training will protect her from the toxins in her other wounds. But her wrist is a different story.

When she was bitten, some of the selkath's saliva was introduced into her artery. Her blood was able to clot the small punctures there, which trapped the toxin in her bloodstream. At this rate, the toxins will reach her heart before her training can kick in.

I'm going to need you to find some sort of small blade, reopen the wound, and bleed the toxin out. You'll need to be careful. She's already lost a lot of blood, and she's fatigued. If you cut too deep, she could easily bleed to death. On the other hand, if you do not cut deep enough, the toxin will get her.

I'll concentrate on stopping her excess bleeding. Hurry, she won't last long!"

Jolee's orders provided a moderate course of action for Carth. He would accidentally cut a little too deep. If she survived, she could live out the rest of her life in misery. If she died, her debt would be paid.

Carth removed a small vibroblade knife from a sheath inside his boot. He'd never had a chance to use it, but he felt safer when carrying it. He presented it to Jolee, who consented.

"That'll do. Now remember, you only want to niche the artery, then squeeze a little bit of blood from the cut. Make the opening about two and a half inches, moving up her arm."

Carth grabbed Revan's wrist and put the blade against her skin. Apprehension flooded through him at the thought that he might get complete revenge. Yet, there was something else that ran through his blood. He trembled slightly.

Why! Why do I feel this way?

He tightened his grip on Revan's wrist and felt her jolt from the immense pressure. Instantly he felt a twinge of regret.

What do I care if she suffers?

Feeling sick, but still determined and malevolent, he prepared to slice into her. As he took in a deep breath, he realized Revan was watching him. He turned to look at her and was taken aback. Instead of looking away, she held his gaze.

Her eyes were no longer empty. They were overflowing with pain and terror. The same terror Carth had seen in them back on Taris; in the abandoned apartment. Those sapphire eyes hit him hard. There was something else as well. Hidden in those eyes was also anticipation for the pain he would bring her. She was silently prompting him to carry out his plan.

For a moment, she even wished he would move that blade to her throat. The temptation had crossed his mind. Yet he'd kept it to her wrist.

He broke eye contact with her and returned his attention to the knife in his hand, but her eyes never fell from him. His heart beat powerfully in his chest with excitement, but his arms felt weak. He had to kill his feelings for her somehow. Revan had to die. He couldn't let his pathetic infatuation keep him from getting justice.

Justice...Was he really getting justice? She hadn't attacked Telos herself.

Carth wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. He wanted the both of them to live and die. He couldn't understand why he was so at war with himself. He did know that one side was going to claim victory right there and then, and he was hoping it would be the side that would avenge him. The world twisted and spun.

Do it!...Do it!...Just do it!

He forced himself to cut into Revan's soft cold skin; and in that instant, one side cried triumph over the other. Only, it hadn't been the side he'd hoped for. Strangely, it had been the side he'd wanted. Why had he wanted it to win?

He dropped his blade, but continued to hold onto Revan. His tight grip squeezing out the necessary amount of blood without him realizing it. He could feel Revan writhing beneath his grasp. He felt horrible. Like he was being turned inside out.

"You cut too deep, lad!" Jolee shouted.

However, Carth couldn't really hear him. He was frozen, with the world around him still spinning.

He had wanted this side to win because, he didn't want to be alone anymore. He'd wanted it because, she'd given him a reason to live past revenge. Also, he didn't want to be a monster. If the other side had won, he would have no longer been human.

He realized it went deeper than even that. She was innocent of his wife's death. Morganna had said so herself, and he knew she hadn't lied. Revan had even reunited him with his son. His heart beat painfully. There wasn't really any reason why he shouldn't try to forgive Revan. He had been the one who was wrong.

Carth snapped out of it when Jolee pushed him aside. Heart still throbbing, he watched as the elderly man wrapped some cloth around Revan's wrist and applied pressure. That was when he realized that Revan had ceased moving. After a moment Jolee let her hand drop and gently grabbed her face in his hands.

"Revan! Revan, open your eyes and look at me!...Revan!"

Carth felt as though he might die. No, he felt worse. He felt the same as he had when his wife died, but different. The desired side may have won, but the opposing side hadn't been brought down without a final blow.