Time passed slowly. A year, then two. Still nothing else emerged from the Outer Rim. The Republic was starting to get antsy. The return of Revan had redoubled the efforts for fortification, but now people were starting to murmur and most wondered if the end would come tomorrow or if they lived in fear for no reason.

On Telos Atton and Mira sat at a table in the Cantina, playing Pazaak. Mira was visiting, taking a break from her duties at the small academy they had on Nar Shadaa. She had flown in the week before when she heard that Mandalore was going to be there visiting with Admiral Onasi and Revan. Visas sat next to Mira, but did not take part in their game, preferring to sit quietly and listen to them talk smack back and forth.

" You're getting better, Mira. That's the fifteenth time in a row that you've beaten me." Atton exclaimed. He had never lost so much in his life.

Mira laughed and Visas gave a soft chuckle. "Well, to be honest, Visas' sending me a peek into your hand and I'm pulling the card I need to the top of my deck."

Atton threw his cards down and looked at the two women. Then his face broke out into a smile and he started to laugh.

"That's good to hear." Visas said softly. Atton realized she was right. Since they had lost... well, he had rarely smiled, much less laughed in that time.

Mira touched his hand. " I'll go get us some jima." she said heading to the bar. Visas scooted her chair closer to Atton.

" She would not want you to be so sad."

" I know."

" I have tried to comfort you. You were hers." she murmured

" I know and I thank you." His hand reached out to touch hers. "You're the only one who understands how deeply..."

" Atton..." Visas whispered suddenly. He had moved closer to her as he was talking. He closed the small gap remaining and lightly brushed her lips with his. They sat quiet, Atton trying to read what she was thinking. Suddenly she moved away. "Mira is coming."

A few moments later he saw her out the corner of his eye balancing three cups in her hands. " Here we go. Three jimas and another round. Promise I won't cheat this time."

" Yes, no cheating." Visas murmured as Mira sat back down and shuffled her cards.

They left the Cantina in the early morning hours. There were no other people about and the lights were out in the seldom used corridors.

" I'll walk you back to your quarters." Atton told them.

" Such a gentleman. Pleeease. Atton we could each kick you ass by ourselves." Mira said. " I can find my own way, but thanks for the offer." Mira took off down a corridor to their left.

" I'll let you walk me." Visas whispered. She laced her arm around his and let him lead her through the darkness although she could probably see better than he could.

" I'm sorry about earlier." Atton blurted. He had been wondering how she felt about the kiss.

" It's to be expected. You are still grieving for her, but you also feel like you should begin to move on. It has been a few years since..." Visas voice trailed off. " But I can not be that for you."

Atton stopped and turned to look at her. "Kindred, but not lovers." he said bringing his hand up to brush her cheek. She gave a shudder and grabbed his wrist.

" Sorry... I..."

" No. The darkness... there." Her head nodded ahead of them as she stood listening and waiting. Atton's heart leapt. He strained his eyes, but couldn't see anything in the inky darkness. Suddenly something darker than the surrounding darkness moved near the end of the corridor ahead of him. Both Jedi pulled their lightsabers. The figure stepped closer and Atton could see it reach for something as well.

" What is it?" Atton asked.

" A shadow."

Atton's heart flip flopped. Could it be? The dark figure did indeed look like a shadow. It was there, but it almost wasn't... like a trick of the eyes. Slowly a silver beam of light extended across the air in front of it. It too wielded a lightsaber, the same color blade as Ariane's. Atton's body went cold.

" Kalen. " he called out. The shadow's head tilted as if contemplating, but did not attack. " Senka?" he tried again. It hissed in short gasps... was it laughing?

" I am. I bring you a message from my Master." it answered. The darkness began to fade from around it and Atton could now see an outline of a hooded figure. " That which you fear... You have little time. My Master comes for you."

" He is coming? To destroy the Republic?"

" He comes to set you free and together we will destroy."

" You are mistaken if you think we will fall to the dark side." Atton cried out.

" You will embrace it. He will cover you in his darkness and you will become it." It slowly moved forward as it spoke and seemed to carry the darkness with it. " There is no choice. He is the dark side." It hissed as it suddenly leapt forward and their lightsabers connected.

In his mind Atton sent out a cry to Mira, Mandalore and Bao-Dur. He felt their reply but wondered if they would reach them in time.

"Tsk, tsk... already doubting yourself." Senka taunted tossing Visas aside with a force push and flipping lightly behind him. Atton turned and connected with it's saber again. They dueled out of the corridor and into the open walkway as Atton felt it attempt to envade his mind. Quickly his thoughts turned to Pazaak. He pushed it far back sending bits of the concrete walkway scattering into the air as Senka dug in and tried to prevent him from pushing it too far. He could feel Visas throwing up mind sheilds and he was able to return his mind to his lightsaber as it leapt back towards him. Suddenly it slid between his legs and he could feel the searing heat of it's lightsaber across his back. He turned to block, but wasn't fast enough and Senka buried it's saber into his side to the hilt. He cried out and fell to his knees. He could feel his insides melting, burning, charring. He could see Visas running towards him and Senka standing in front of him, it's face partially covered by the hood, but grey and mottled by the dark side. It sheathed it's lightsaber and just stood there, waiting, as everything seemed to reduce speed to slow motion. Visas sent out a heal and in the exact same moment Atton felt it begin to stitch him back together, Senka moved. Using his back as a springboard it leapt high and back and came down hard on Visas. Atton could hear and feel her body crush under the impact. Senka grabbed Visas by the throat and hissed as it moved it's face down towards her.

" What do you say in your last moments? What is most appropriate?"

Visas gasped. " My life for yours."

" No!" Atton's mind screamed as he felt her life ebbing away.

Senka put a hand over Visas' face and Atton staggered to his feet trying his best to finish the healing that Visas had started so that he could get to her. A light began to pass from Visas to Senka's hand and Atton's body convulsed as pain shot through him. He had felt this before. Visas life- the Force- was being ripped from her body and absorbed by this creature. Atton fell to the ground almost unconcious. He could hear shouting and then quickened footsteps as he felt hot breath against his cheek. A cold hand encircled his throat. He felt warmth flood his body as he was healed and he could see Mira, and Bao-Dur and Revan as they ran at Jedi speed towards them, still so far away.

" My Master comes for you. There's no use in fighting." It's other hand was lightly caressing his arm. "I know the darkness inside you, Jaq."

He shuddered and then tried to move as it pulled back from him. He could see the bottom of it's face come into focus as his fellow Jedi came closer. A cold, icy feeling crept along his spine and he saw the others finally reach him only to be held back by Revan.

Senka's other hand slithered down between his legs. " Do you remember the day she left? How she felt in your arms before she left you alone?" It pulled it's hood back. " I remember, lover." It released him and turned towards the other Jedi. The normally quiet Bao-Dur let out a roar "NO!"

Senka let out a laugh and simply vanished. Mira was holding Visas where she had fallen and Mandalore was running through the open square not far behind Revan. They helped Atton up.

" What the hell is going on?" Mandalore shouted. Atton glared at Revan standing in front of him.

" Atton..."

His hand struck her before he could think. " Why didn't you tell us?" he yelled.

"What was that thing?" Mandalore asked as he pulled Atton from Revan.

" Ariane." Bao-Dur said.

" She was." Revan replied. " Not anymore."

" No. Not her. She wouldn't have turned to the dark. She wouldn't." Mandalore insisted.

" Atton, Visas is gone." Mira said unbelieving.

They all turned to find Mira sitting on the ground alone with a stain of red.

" She stole her life force and now her body is gone as well." Revan murmured. " Worse than death. She's been erased."