W/N - I wrote originally wrote this before KOTOR II came out so not everyone is going to make it in this ending. Also, look for Paradise Regained, one of the alternate endings. Domo arigato gozaimasu to Jen and thanks for the good news on KOTOR III.

We did a bit of tameshigiri this past week and I was able to cut through forearm sized mats. Cleaning the shinken is almost as fun as cutting with it. Rich paper, powdered deer horn, choji oil.

Minnasan, otanoshimi nasaemase (please enjoy, everyone). Oyasuminasai!

The Eve of Destruction – Part III

The Star Forge – Day Three – 0203 Z

Colonel Geffen strode through the open blast door into the Command Center, where a giant hologram lit up the dim room. The tall, slightly portly Sith officer adjusted his silver armor, carrying his helmet in the crook of his left arm. He slicked back his gray, receding hair over dark skin while he walked deeper into the massive chamber.

Geffen continued up the metal steps to a platform near the hologram, which depicted the apocalyptic battle in nearby space. Red triangles swarmed in unison, darting in and out of formations of blue circles. At the base of the holographic projector, Bastila Shan knelt, focusing her immense energies on destroying the last hope of the Republic.

The colonel walked past the kneeling Jedi to where Darth Malak stood, facing away from him, seemingly talking to a medical droid. The droid hovered near Malak's head, its metal appendages flitting about the Dark Lord's face.

"M'Lord," spoke the colonel.

Darth Malak turned, revealing a grotesque face, marred by the fury of Revan's lightsaber. Jagged teeth clung to an upper jaw without lips while electronic implements covered his throat. What sort of interruption was this? Malak raised an impatient eyebrow. Colonel Geffen stepped back, eyes wide.

"Frotz…What is it, colonel," an icy voice sounded from a speaker mounted on Malak's throat.

Geffan stuttered several times before finding his nerve. The Dark Lord could see the terror in his eyes. The news would not be good. "M'Lord, Revan has broken through the battle droids and our outer defenses. I have mobilized your personal guard." Why were so many of his servants so incompetent? Surely, Revan could not be that formidable.

Malak ran a gray finger along his ravaged teeth. "So much the better," he said, putting on a convincing tone. "Throw everything we have at her."

"Yes, M'Lord."

There was another question that needed answering. He was fighting for time now. "And colonel…how much longer before Darth Sion and Admiral Dessler arrive? Their forces would help me finish these annoying Republic fools once and for all."

"M'Lord, the latest update on their ETA is four hours."

"Brtzz, very well. Keep me updated. We only need to hold Revan for four hours," he said, knowing that four hours was a long time. Indeed, his former master had shown speed and violence of action. He knew which personality was in control of her body.

The colonel bowed and withdrew, walking backward for several steps before turning and moving past Bastila.

When Geffen had gone, Malak strode over to his new apprentice with the medical droid in tow, holding his alloy jaw in a long, spindly hand. Bastila knelt, covered in perspiration from her efforts to give the Sith victory. The Dark Lord squatted before her and ran his fingers along her sweat soaked hair, feeling the individual strands. As far as he had fallen, he could still appreciate beauty and she was as lovely as Revan in her darkness.

The auburn-haired Jedi opened her eyes and gave him a strained smile. She looked tired, but it would all be over soon. Then, she would be all his. "Yes, my master? Do you require anything of me?" she said fawningly, looking up at him with big, loving eyes.

"Soon my apprentice…soon. You have been of great use to me and have proven to be more powerful than Bandon. Your moment shall arrive and then you will show me the extent of your might." All that he had taught her would soon come into play. He knew his former master's technique, her strengths and weaknesses, and had planned accordingly. He had forged Bastila into a weapon for one purpose – to kill Revan.

Bastila glowed in the approval of her master and touched his mutilated face with her long fingers. Instead of recoiling, only adoration filled her eyes. He envisioned himself as young and whole again as she spoke. "Revan is tricky, but her weakness shall be her undoing. I have grown in strength and have been infused with the power of the dark side."

Malak nodded and took Bastila's hand in his. For the briefest of moments, the image of a long-past snowy Dantooine night intruded into his mind until Darth Moritz broke the vision.

"M'Lord, we have Revan pinned down on Level Three."

The Dark Lord stood, letting Bastila's hand fall away. His heart raced with excitement – she had made a mistake. "Excellent, hit her with our reserves. You lead them, Moritz."

The icy woman raised her one organic eyebrow. "Very well, M'Lord. I shall be victorious." She turned and her flaming red hair swung behind her, but as she left, she shot Bastila a long, jealous glare.

"I will crush Revan and bring her head before Malak. I shall not let that upstart, Bastila, supplant me in the affections of the Dark Lord," the nearly droidlike woman said, her lips curled back in a sneer.

The Star Forge – Command Level – 0210 Z

Republic soldiers in blue armor fell as they desperately attempted to set up a defensive perimeter on the wide platform overlooking the great abyss from where a multitude of ships rose. These ships were the product of the power of the Forge, which birthed them and added ever increasing might to the Sith fleets that were ravaging the Republic. Time was running out.

"We're pinned down!" yelled Master Zez-Kai as he slashed an incoming bolt away amid the chaos of battle.

Troops piled debris and dead bodies as a makeshift barricade against the volume of blaster fire being unleashed by the Sith. Oblivious to the danger, Carth walked calmly from position to position, urging the Republic men to hold. "Pour it into them, boys! Keep up your fire." His bravery was always inspirational, but Revan just wanted him to keep his head down. Truly, he seemed blessed though as bolts whipped past him and explosions erupted only in places he had left.

Revan quickly scanned the area, ignoring the whine of bolts around her. She was looking for openings, any openings out of this increasingly desperate situation. "They are tightening a noose around us. We must break out if we are to succeed. I'll put together an attack. Jedi Masters, please ready your forces," she told the assembled group.

Zez-Kai bit his lower lip, wrinkling his leathery skin. He grasped Revan's arm tightly. Was he going to start another argument? Now was not the time. "It is the will of the Force that brought you here to this moment in time, Revan. My personal feelings about you cannot deny that. The bulk of the Sith defenders are here…let us distract them here while you lead your team out. You must find Bastila. Go, may the Force be with you," he said, stunning Revan. She had not anticipated that and his words did carry wisdom. Perhaps he was a better leader than she gave him credit for.

Master Kavar approached and nodded in assent, upon which Revan turned to go. She made one last glance back as she took a step. She wanted them to know something. It may not matter, but she had to say it. "For what it's worth, the Order has been my life. I only sought to preserve it."

Without waiting for a reply, she quickly returned to the barricade, yelling, "Team, on me!" summoning her group. Carth brought a squad of Republic troops and Jolee had convinced a handful of Jedi to join.

Kneeling behind cover, Revan quickly outlined her plan. "We're breaking out. Masters Zez-Kai and Kavar will cover our escape. I want to hit the Sith here," she said, stabbing a finger at part of the enemy line, "at their weakest point and we will head for the computer control center. According to Niki, we can compromise the Sith defenses from there."

Zaalbar and Mission nodded as they readied grenades and swapped out blaster power magazines.

"We're going to need to move quickly," added Carth, pulling the straps on Davik's armor tight. Revan shot him a smile and squeezed his hand tightly for a second. Gods, she loved him more than ever, her brave Republic pilot.

The team then crept to a corner of the defensive position and Revan nodded to Master Zez-Kai. Suddenly, the Republic forces shifted their fire and blasted away at a Sith stronghold. Sparks and rubble flew into the air as bolts hammered down on the enemy, knocking many Sith back. Smoke grenades then detonated around the area, giving cover to the team.

"Now, forward!" yelled Revan, waving the group ahead. "Over the top!"

Carth scrambled over the barricade followed by the others while Revan helped team members to climb. Together, they sprinted toward the blasted Sith position, smoke swirling around them, covering their mad charge.

Revan screamed for all she was worth as she ran through the billowing gray clouds, blaster bolts flashing around her. Only the sound of her pounding heart and her footfalls resonated in her ears. Explosions erupted just within her peripheral vision. Gods, she was scared, just about out of her wits.

Damn you, Aerin…how did you ever survive with an emotion like fear.

As she arrived at the Sith line, Zaalbar cast a metal beam aside and smote Sith troops with Bacca's blade. With great chopping cuts, he flayed several of the enemy open, creating huge gaps in the opposing force. He was followed by HK-47, who was unleashing a torrent of flame into the backs of fleeing Sith. The charge was working.

Revan and Mission rushed through the gap created by the Wookiee and cut down a Dark Jedi. As bodies burned around her, the raven-haired woman waved her group on. "Quickly! Move out!" she yelled. This was going to work…her strategy was successful.

Zaalbar bellowed as he charged through, but a blaster bolt slammed into his side, throwing sparks into the air. The great Wookie staggered and another bolt cut clean through his shoulder, exiting out his back.

Revan and Mission stopped and turned back, horror in their eyes. The Jedi's heart froze in her chest. No, not Zaalbar. This couldn't be happening.

"No! Keep going!" roared Zaalbar as a third bolt exploded on his chest, knocking him to the ground. He landed on his back with a monstrous thud.

Mission screamed and started to run back for the Wookie, but Revan held her. There was no stopping now, no matter who had fallen.

"Mission, we've got to go. We'll come back, I swear," Revan yelled, dragging the sobbing Twi'lek away as the smoke rolled over the fallen Wookiee. Through the dense swirls, Revan could see Master Kavar dueling a Dark Jedi on the barricade. They had to keep moving or die.

Half carrying, half dragging Mission along, Revan ran, surrounded by her team. A Republic soldier exploded next to her, showering body parts, but all she could hear was Mission's wailing and the pounding of her own heart. Up ahead, Canderous was firing down a corridor to the computer control center while Carth covered the team from any pursuit.

Revan rushed past Carth, yelling, "Zaalbar has fallen." Her voice cracked, but there was no time to mourn now.

The captain nodded grimly as he hurled grenades at Sith pursuers. Revenge was the best remedy.

At the front, Jolee charged down the corridor, followed by Juhani and the other Jedi. Canderous' bolts slashed past their heads and sliced through Sith defenders in the control center. A Dark Jedi cut a bolt away with his red lightsaber, but Juhani was on him and sliced through his side, cutting the man in two.

"Control center secured!" bellowed Canderous.

As the team entered the corridor, Carth walked backward, firing bolts with both pistols and then slapped a mine at the door as he disappeared down the corridor. They would be safe for a few minutes.

In the chamber that was filled with banks of mainframe computers, Revan set Mission down and the Twi'lek shrieked in sorrow and rage. Revan pursed her lips, trying to keep her characteristic command presence, but Aerin's compassion infected her soul and her she could not swallow past the lump in her dry throat. Now that they had a chance to breathe, all she wanted to do was collapse and start sobbing, but duty drove her on.

"Mission, I'm so sorry. We will get through this. I need you to focus for just a little while more," Revan said with genuine concern and Mission clung to her like a wet shirt. The Jedi wrapped her arm around her friend rocked her gently like a child. After a long minute, the Twi'lek took deep, raspy breaths and wiped her eyes.

"I…I understand, Aerin…we must keep going," she said between sobs. Then, her face pinched up with malice. "I'm going to make those Sith bastards pay. I swear."

With a look of fierce determination, Mission leapt into one of the seats at the numerous terminals. She shoved the computer spike that they had acquired on the Leviathan into a port and began typing.

On a monitor, the raging battle on the platform appeared with Sith forces methodically wearing down the Republic troops. Master Kavar was down, being dragged behind cover by other Jedi and Master Zez-Kai spun and cut, defending against four Sith. Meanwhile, enemy troops maneuvered to the flanks, ready to cut them to ribbons.

"Oh yah, you punks think you're so bad?" Mission said through clenched teeth. "I got your number." She overrode the access codes to the Sith laser turrets and inserted new targeting parameters.

The monitor showed defense turrets cease fire for a moment before swinging around to pour fire into the Sith. Twin laser bolts rocketed from each turret to explode in a brilliant flash amid the enemy. Armored troops flew in all directions and the Sith turned in horror. Revan was pleased – this was poetic justice.

Carth put a reassuring hand on Mission's shoulder and she gave him a forced smile. "I'm okay, gramps," she said. "I just gotta get some payback…you know, for Big Z."

The Twi'lek then switched screens and accessed a new menu. "Aerin, check this out," she said as she scanned the options. She then pointed to an alien platform in the corner and light enveloped it as Mission pressed a button.

A suit of light armor appeared and Revan brought it over. It was arrayed with energy shields and a duralloy breastplate of negligible weight. Revan held it up and noticed that it would fit Mission perfectly.

The Twi'lek vacated the seat and took the armor. She pointed to the controls and said, "You try it, Aerin."

Revan sat and scrolled through the menu. She typed a few words and then pressed the button and a white garment appeared on the platform. She rose and took the item, unfolding it to reveal form-fitting, white robes with sharp pectorals and three gold symbols, one on the forward face of each shoulder and one in the center of the back. Revan examined the symbol; it was a golden phoenix, the Royal Seal of Freesia. This would suit her. This would be perfect for her confrontation with the Dark Lord. Revan quickly discarded her shredded blue robes and donned the new ones.

"It's you," quipped Carth.

"Fashion: Master, your taste in meatbag garments is oh, so fabulous. We must be sure to accessorize your battle accoutrements."

Revan was about to grin when Mission called, "We have enemy units enroute. We best prepare." The young Twi'lek wiped the soot from her face, revealing a grim expression.

Carth and Canderous rushed Republic troops to where the room joined the corridor and they set up, taking advantage of cover. A Sith elite trooper in scarlet armor rounded the far end of the corridor and detonated a mine. Blast and shrapnel tore into the hall, shredding several Sith. As they fell, shrieking, more troopers charged in, oblivious to the danger. Malak cared not about casualties – he just wanted them dead.

The Republic forces opened up, hurling bolts into the mass of Sith. The front ranks tumbled over with an awful groan, but the red clad enemy continued on. Canderous flipped his selector to a wide angle burst and a shotgun blast filled the hall with energy. Four Sith blew apart with his shot, but more rushed forward and a grenade bounced into the computer room. Revan could see it in slow motion, but was helpless to intercept it as the enemy rushed her.

"Grenade!" a Republic soldier yelled and leapt on the deadly sphere. It exploded in a dull thud, ripping the man's innards apart, but caused no further damage. The soldier's bravery had saved the team.

Then, the Sith were upon them.

Dark Jedi burst through, hurling soldiers back. Carth drew down on one, but a red lightsaber sliced through one of his blasters, sending red hot sparks into the air. The captain threw the broken weapon down and immediately fired with his second pistol, a bolt slamming into the Dark Jedi's face, bursting like a fireworks display.

A Sith soldier leapt over the falling body onto Carth and they both toppled to the ground amid the chaos. Juhani stepped over and separated the Sith's head from his shoulders with a powerful stroke, but she too was driven back by a Dark Jedi.

Juhani spun her body and parried with her blade over her shoulder. She then thrust the point of her weapon into the Sith's belly, letting his guts sizzle. In spite, the enemy head butted her, knocking her to the floor. He staggered a step forward, red lightsaber raised until two bolts ripped through his body, taking out two troopers behind him.

Canderous quickly pulled her up, laying down covering fire. He turned toward a dark shape appearing at the command center's entrance and took aim, but lightning arced into him and he fell to one knee, smoking, gritting his teeth against the pain.

Into the light stepped a red-haired woman, dressed in ebon robes with one, mechanical eye. Gears and servos whirred as she moved her left arm about in a combat style in concert with the lightsaber in her right hand. She settled into a wide, but flexible stance from Ataru, the tip of her weapon dancing before her. Revan watched her, thinking her familiar. Yes, the woman had followed her from Dantooine. She was a master of spies and intelligence and she worked with that man…what was his name? Yes, that Jaq Rand fellow. It was coming back to her now. Wasn't the woman human once instead of this grotesque machine?

The droidlike woman made a slight bow. "Darth Revan, the Dark Lord wishes to welcome you back to the Star Forge." Despite her misgivings and knowledge of Revan's power, Moritz could not fail in the eyes of her master.

Revan nodded in response. The mock politeness was almost comical, but necessary. "Darth Moritz, he should have come himself. It is rude not to greet guests personally."

Moritz smirked, crinkling the flesh around her robotic eye. With a toss of her head, Sith troopers opened fire on Revan.

In the Command Center

Jolee Bindo watched as the raven-haired Jedi smacked away several bolts, but one burst upon her leg in a shower of sparks. He heard Revan grunt, but her elegant robes deflected most of the damage. To him, she'd always be Aerin. Yeah, he would still call her that. It was his prerogative. From the flank, he darted forward and cut down a Sith trooper, his emerald blade cleaving the man from shoulder to belly through red armor. He followed up with a wave that slammed several others hard against the walls. He wasn't going to let any damn robot woman get the better of them.

Switching into the balanced Niman form, Jolee's green blade cut downward at Moritz and she sidestepped to avoid the blow, using the defensive Djem So. The red-haired Sith smote him in the jaw with her mechanical fist and old Bindo staggered. That machine witch packed a wallop. From the side, Revan moved up and delivered a double cut with both of her weapons, but Moritz backed away, letting the blue blades slice air. By then, Jolee had recovered and turned to face the Dark Jedi. He glanced back to see Juhani and the rest hotly contested in the room. It was going to be just he and Revan here.

He watched Revan lock her gray eyes with her former follower and Moritz' sinister blue eye whirred, focusing back. Jolee knew that this was the moment of truth. He inhaled, gathering the Force within him, letting it flow through his limbs. He settled, legs and arms in balance, just as a Jedi Councilor should be. He could see barely perceptible changes in the two women's breathing – it was time. In an instant, all three combatants moved, lightsabers humming. Jolee's jade weapon lashed out, but was caught in Moritz' bionic hand. She moved it out of the way as the tip of her red lightsaber stabbed into Jolee's chest. At the same moment, Revan's blade sliced through Moritz' windpipe.

Darth Moritz backed away, dropping her lightsaber and grasping her neck. Her human fingers dug into the seared flesh as her human eye rolled back. She made a horrible wheezing noise and clawed at her own skin. Then, with a thud, she crashed onto the deck and all was quiet.

It was over, but not just for Moritz. Jolee put his hand over the blackened wound and blinked his eyes. Damn, he was too old and slow. He looked at Revan. "Seems the old man missed one," he said calmly as he sagged to his knees. He tried to rise, but there was no strength in his legs. Funny, it didn't hurt too much.

"Jolee, no!" yelled Revan as she and Juhani rushed over to catch him. They guided him to the ground gently, letting the Force pour into his body. No, it wouldn't do any good. Best they save their strength…they would need it for later.

Then, pain surged over Jolee and he winced. It did hurt after all like a hot spike through his heart. "It's too late, kiddos. This old man's had it. I had a good run, no?" He reached out a quivering hand to the Cathar. "Juhani, you made an old man's life so much richer. I…I'm going to be watching over you from beyond," he said, ever weakening. Things were getting dark – it wasn't just some stupid cliché. He reached over and put a bloody hand on Revan's white robes. "And you…you Aerin…yeah, I'm still calling you that…I always knew I made the right choice coming along. You…you make damn sure…you get a good price for my hovel on Kashyyyk."

With a final cough, Jolee Bindo closed his eyes peacefully and became one with the Force and Revan screamed, tearing at her hair with anguished fingers.