Author's Note: Hello there, boys and girls, let me tell you a story. Right then, I'm going to stop trying to create original greetings, they're starting to get downright creepy. Moving on swiftly, this chapter should, hopefully, be interesting, good and exciting. Remember that Mandalorian is in bold. Revan has found a Sith. I wonder what Revan, the greatest tactician of his age, will do with an unconscious Sith. No, he's not doing that; get your minds out of the gutter. Honestly…
Disclaimer: Knights of the Old Republic belongs to Bioware, including Revan. Star Wars belongs to Disney these days. Not to me. Although I am working to rectify that.
Dauntless, 288ATGS
Revan stood in the hangar, looking down onto the planet Kashyyyk below. With the assistance of the wookiees on the ground and the strategies of Dodonna in space, the Mandalorians had been driven from the system within a single local day. After Revan had incapacitated the Sith assassin, he had taken her to a shuttle he had called down where she was fitted with a Force inhibitor and taken to the prison cells of the Dauntless. With that out of the way, Revan had rejoined the battle, in the process further enhancing the image of the Dark Knight of the Republic.
Now, however, he watched through the visor of his mask as a shuttle glided into the hangar. As the small craft landed and the ramp lowered, Revan snapped to attention. When Admiral Dodonna exited the shuttle, the two officers exchanged salutes before moving out of the hangar.
"What have you managed to gather so far?" Dodonna asked as they strode through the halls.
"Nothing. She only regained consciousness moments before you arrived. I've told them to hold off on the questioning until we get there. Before that, I was going to have a look at her belongings. Would you like to join me?" Revan asked.
"Indeed. Sometimes a persons belongings can shed a light on how to get answers from them," Dodonna commented as they approached the detention block.
Revan only nodded in agreement before entering a small room. The room was bare except for a table and a few chairs. On the table lay a small pile of objects, all of them presumed or known to belong to the Sith a few doors down. Revan turned toward Dodonna to suggest waiting for the pile to be sorted only to find her entering the room and approaching the table.
"If we wish to understand our prisoner, we must examine their possessions. We will just have to sort through them ourselves," Dodonna informed her subordinate, removing the purse at the top of the pile.
With a shrug, Revan stepped forward and grabbed a datapad from the pile. The pair went through the pile, gradually whittling it down and organising its contents. After a while, despite the difference in rank, the two started chatting, sometimes discussing an object they had found, planning their interrogation or sometimes something utterly pointless. When Revan was looking at a hologram that showed a map of the surface of Kashyyyk, he noticed Dodonna pause.
"Revan, any ideas what these are?" she asked.
Revan glanced up and nearly dropped the projector in shock. Staring at the objects resting in Dodonna's palm, Revan placed the projector on the table before approaching.
"I don't believe it. I've never seen these before in real life, only ever pictures," Revan murmured in awe.
"What are they?" Dodonna asked, slightly exasperated.
"Holocrons."
Revan pointed to one of them, a three-sided pyramid with a black and red vortex pattern.
"This one is a Sith holocron. It is used by the Sith to store knowledge, teachings and information. They allegedly also have the ability to corrupt Jedi by extended exposure to their presence," Revan explained.
He then pointed to the other holocron, a perfect gold sphere with glowing blue veins running across it.
"This one, I've only ever heard stories of. If it is what I think it is, this is one of the first holocrons created and the first stable one. It is known as the Holocron of the Force and is rumoured to contain more knowledge than the Jedi Archives, including the Holocron Chamber," Revan informed the Admiral, the awe clear in his slightly mechanical voice.
"Why would an assassin have these?" Dodonna asked, confused.
"I would guess that the Sith holocron was a gift from someone or she took it after killing its previous owner. As for the Holocron of the Force, she must have found it. However, while the Sith holocron bears signs of recent use, the Holocron of the Force appears not to have used for thousands of years," Revan muttered.
"How can you tell?" Dodonna asked, getting more confused by the minute.
"Signs in the Force. May I?" Revan checked, reaching for the Holocron of the Force.
"Go ahead," Dodonna agreed.
Revan plucked the sphere from Dodonna's hand, allowing it to rest in the palm of his right hand.
"I'm pretty sure I'm correct in my statement. I always thought the Holocron of the Force was a myth, a story. I'm going to activate it," Revan stated.
"What? Did it ever occur to you that it could be a Sith trap?" Dodonna almost shouted at him.
"It isn't. A holocron's nature cannot be disguised. A Sith holocron always feels dark whereas a Jedi holocron feels bright. This one simply is," Revan explained.
With a slight twitch of his fingers, Revan sent a jolt of Force energy into the Holocron. The veins seemed to pulse briefly before a blue image of a cloaked figure appeared, face hidden by a hood.
"Greetings, Force-user. I am Vaar Tokand. Might inquire as to your identity?" the figure asked in an extremely deep voice.
"My name is Revan Surik. I seek to access the knowledge contained within this holocron, with your permission, gatekeeper," Revan informed the figure with a slight bow.
Dodonna could only watch in shock, as the figure seemed to look Revan up and down.
"Yes, I shall provide you with access. You are already on the correct path. There is one lesson that I shall teach you now. It is crucial that you remember this first lesson, for it is the most important," Vaar Tokand told Revan sternly.
"I am ready to learn all that you are willing to teach me," Revan replied, head slightly bowed.
"There is no "light side". There is no "dark side". The Force does not have such limitations. The Force is infinite, as are the abilities of a Force-user. The only limit is your mind. If you remember this, I shall be able to teach you much. For now, you must think on this. Return to me once you are ready," the hologram instructed before disappearing.
The two people in the room just stared at the orb for a full minute before either of them spoke.
"What was that?"
Dodonna's question seemed to bring Revan out of his shocked stupor.
"That was the most intriguing lesson I have ever had. The Holocron has just dismissed beliefs that have existed for over twenty thousand years. It will take some getting used to. Do you mind if I hold onto this?" Revan asked after a pause.
"Not at all. Now come along. I believe we have a Sith to interrogate," Dodonna remarked.
The two left the room, proceeding down the hallway to the one door that had a pair of guards stationed by it. Nodding to them both, Revan stepped toward the door. As he approached, the door slid into the top of the doorframe to allow the two officers access to the cell.
Entering the small room, they were faced with the sight of the Sith strapped to a table by thick metal restraints while a Force inhibitor was attached to her neck. As the two entered, the twi'lek raised her head and sneered at them.
"You may as well leave, I will tell you nothing," the woman snarled.
"Regardless, I wish to speak with you. I am Admiral Dodonna and this is Rear Admiral Surik," Dodonna introduced them.
"I fail to see what you wish to accomplish here, Admiral. I will not speak with the enemy even at the cost of my life," Zathera hissed in an effort to confuse them.
Her efforts were partially successful. While Dodonna understand the Mandalorian, Revan understood it perfectly despite a number of mistakes. Hence, it shocked the other occupants when he responded.
"You know, if you are going to use another language, at least learn how to speak it properly. That was pretty bad," Revan pointed out.
"What's going on?" Dodonna muttered to Revan.
"She was trying to confuse us by speaking Mandalorian, quite badly at that," Revan explained in an undertone.
"I didn't know you spoke Mandalorian," Dodonna whispered.
"My father was Mandalorian. I am Mandalorian in all but name and that by choice," Revan responded quietly.
Dodonna nodded slightly in understanding before turning back to Rana Zathera, who was still staring at Revan in shock.
"Now then, miss Zathera, I want you to answer me a few questions," Dodonna said, calmly, with a glance to Revan.
"I will tell you nothing."
"We'll see. You are an assassin for the True Sith Empire, correct?" Dodonna asked.
"Yes," Zathera stated proudly.
Glancing to Revan, Dodonna saw him nod once.
"Okay then. The True Sith Empire, how powerful is it?" Dodonna asked as Revan walked to the opposite corner of the room and into her direct line of sight.
"The Empire is mightier than you can fathom. Our armies are vast and our fleets unbeatable. The Empire's rule is absolute. The Empire is the pinnacle of power and when it comes, and come it will, the Imperial war machine will crush your puny Republic and those filthy Jedi," the Sith ranted.
Revan once again nodded his head once Dodonna glanced at him.
"What about star systems and their locations?" Dodonna asked.
The younger woman remained silent but after a moment, Revan once more bobbed his head.
"What is the capital of the Empire? Where is it located?" Dodonna asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"You will never find it. It's secret will die with me," Zathera shouted.
Glancing to Revan once more, Dodonna saw him nod once more.
They continued in this way for a while, Dodonna would ask a question, Zathera would refuse to answer in one way or another and Revan would nod his head moments after each question was asked. After roughly an hour of questioning, Dodonna signalled Revan and the two left. Once they reached the turbolift to the hangar deck, Dodonna turned to Revan and broke the silence between them.
"Did it work?"
"Flawlessly. As soon as something was mentioned it floated to the forefront of her mind. From there, without the Force to aid her, it was a simple matter to see the information. I'll transfer it to a datapad and give it to you," Revan stated.
"Good. The more we know about them, the better. Do you think we should notify anyone?" Dodonna asked him.
"I think it should be classified as highly as it can be and High Command should be notified of this. Whatever happens, the Jedi must not get wind of this yet. They will try to force the Republic to turn all of its attention to this and with the Mandalorians still at large, we can't afford to do that," Revan pointed out.
"My thoughts exactly. I will leave the prisoner in your custody. Her fate is up to you. I trust you will make the best choice possible. I'll show myself back to my shuttle. Have your ships hold position until further notice. We're likely to be here for a while. Good day, Rear Admiral," Dodonna said as she exited the lift.
"Good day, ma'am," Revan responded with a salute.
As the doors slid shut again, Revan sent it toward the floor with his quarters. Upon entering them, he placed the mask on the desk and hung the cloak on the back of his chair before sitting down. Revan sat and meditated for almost two hours before stirring once more.
This meditation had had a distinct purpose. A purpose it had fulfilled.
Revan had seen evidence in the currents of the Force as he meditated that pointed toward Vaar Tokand's statement being true. He had already had his doubts about the black-and-white view of the Force and his meditation and the words of the Holocron had confirmed it.
He pulled the Holocron out of his pocket and once more sent a pulse of Force power into it. The image of Vaar Tokand appeared once more.
"Ah, Revan Surik. I assume you have considered what I told you?" Tokand asked.
"Indeed. I have thought and meditated and I have come to the conclusion that you are correct. The dark side and the light side are related to the person using the Force and not the Force itself," Revan agreed.
"Well done. You have taken your first steps into a wider world. Now, however, we will need space and time to work. A starship is no place for such an endeavour. You will travel to the planet Despayre in the Horuz system. It is located at the coordinates L-5. Take supplies for you will be there for at least six months," Tokand instructed.
Revan nodded and was about to close down the Holocron when the Force nudged him toward a decision. Hence, he asked Tokand one last question.
"May Rana Zathera, a Sith assassin, accompany me?"