Hello Revan

-Raithe

The Jedi walked slowly as he was brought up to another level. He stepped warily into a vast room with a high dome. The far most wall of this empty room was made of some sort of clear glass material, enabling the people see into the deep void of space. The stars beyond glittered with a malevolent light. They seemed to be waiting for a particular drama to unfold.

A viewing platform. Revan thought. The Jedi could not see anybody in evidence...but if the enemy was not here, where else was there to turn to? Was this another trap, a test to see his reflexes?

He ascended some steps to get a clearer view of the room. In the right corner of the platform, he saw some strange apparatuses which resembled huge tube like canisters. They looked like they were designed to hold another person. Glancing at the other side, Revans eyes winded in horror. The missing Jedi were strapped in the same machines, the remains of the expedition, all seven of them. They were suspended in the same blue amniotic fluid the Jedi had seen in the labs below Site A. All of them were unconscious, utterly immobile and blissfully unaware of their tenuous situation.

Revan was about to move closer to free the Jedi when he heard a cold voice echo in what he thought was an empty chamber.

"Hello Revan."

The Jedi snapped back his head. Where he had just seen empty space without the open tubes now appeared a tall human. His hair was shaped in a widow's peak, black like sin. The eyes were similarly colored, lending an inhuman quality to his features. Yet despite all that he could have been considered handsome, the sharp cruel features complimenting his apparel. Yet...there was something unnatural, something artificial about his face. Like too much makeup, or an overdone glossiness.

This man was dressed in a crisp dark uniform, not unlike the ones the scientists in Site A wore except for the colour. The man had a disturbing smile, like it was stitched to his inhuman features.

Revan knew immediately that he was in grave danger. He had not sensed the other person when he entered, yet the aura of power from him was palpable now. The Jedi frowned inwardly.

He does not look like a Sith...

indeed despite being pale, the newcomers skin did not have the sickly mottled look that was so distinctive of the decrepit warriors. He could almost past for being normal...if it wasn't for the blazing malice that Revan could feel. It almost burned his skin to be so near this individual.

Another thing Revan noticed was that his head had become a lot more pained again. There was something about this person...something that seemed to split the image that Revan could see...and what he really was.

This all occurred to him in a flash but outwardly he gave no sign of being surprised by the newcomers arrival.

"You must be Raithe." Surmised the Jedi. Revan could not see the female that Melara had warned him about.

The other man smiled, or rather twisted his lips even more to approximate the expression. In reality, it looked like a sickening leer.

"I have many names..." he replied softly. The voice was like silk, yet laden with a hidden threat. Revan got the distinct impression that the man was insane, but held it in with a calm facade.

"But Raithe is one of my favourites. It reminds me...where I come from." He finished his introduction by tilting his head fractionally. With his hands behind his back he walked up towards the viewing platform, close to the glass to stare into the void.

"And yet...what is so important about names anyways? They don't define what we are...it is what we do that defines us."

"How profound," remarked Revan dryly. The Jedi was reminded by Melara's warning not to let this man go on any tangent..."If you have nothing better to say, then let us skip the pleasantries."

Raithe didn't seem to hear him. "This is a marvellous place isn't it?" Revan got the distinct sense of deja vu again...when Melara said the exact same thing.

"A whole station dedicated to the construction of war materials...unthinking, emotionless, yet all imbued with the dark properties of its Masters." He breathed the air then, as if sampling an intoxicant. The feeling is...exhilarating."

Revan didn't quite know what to say to this other man. He clearly thought the Jedi no threat, carrying no discernable weapon and was by all signs vulnerable. But the Jedi knew it was a mistake to think that.

"But enough of that." He said turning back to the Jedi. "I imagine you have a lot of questions. Questions about this place...who I am...everything." He smiled again, the expression rendered grotesque by his leering visage.

And you are going to tell me I presume? Asked Revan.

"Of course Revan..." he used his name with uncomfortable familiarity, as if they were long lost friends.

"You have passed all my experiments...surpassed even my expectations of what a Jedi is capable of. He brushed his black uniform with the cusp of his hand. Indeed you will be the crowning achievement to my success."

"Not before I kill you," promised the Jedi.

Raithe sighed, a sharp whistling sound through his teeth. "Do we really have to do this dance? As a Jedi I suppose you must go through some of the motions...but really it can get boring. I am offering to tell you everything for nothing in return."

"Why?"

"Because it will please me to make you understand...just how deluded you really are."

His eyes had a dangerous glitter when he said the words. Revan did not appreciate the hidden meaning behind them either. The dark individual spread his hands to either side, as if conciliation to him.

"And when I have explained...everything...I am hoping you will make the right decision for yourself. Call it...another experiment if you will."

Revan said nothing then. Melara had warned, pleaded with him not to hear his words but his curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Go on." He said eventually.

"First I should probably explain what this place is." He gestured around the vast dome.

"This mighty forge was once the crowning achievement of the Rakata...an incredibly advanced civilization in its own right."

"I know all this already," interrupted Revan.

"Of course you do," smiled Raithe, "how foolish of me." That ugly smile paid a visit to his face as if remembering a private joke.

"What you probably don't know is how the Rakata managed to make it. Despite all their intellect, they were a savage race, and like all savages, they would prey on the weaker to do their bidding. It is the natural way of things."

The other man touched the walls of this ancient bastion, feeling its history...its very essence in its hand. His eyes were closed but Revan could see them twitching.

"To build such an awesome construct required many slaves...and they were always running out due to the deplorable conditions they worked in. So they built that." He pointed beyond the viewing platform. Revan could see the gateway that they had flown in from.

"The Star Gate." Remarked the Jedi.

"Exactly" smiled Raithe. "With it, the Rakata could literally jump into any part of the galaxy in the blink of an eye. They used it to great effect, harassing unsuspecting worlds, capturing slaves and disappearing before any meaningful resistance could be formulated. It was one of the major reasons for their longevity. As vast as their empire was, they could not sustain it without rapid deployment of their forces."

Raithe rubbed his chin, thoughtfully.

"The Star Gate...and the this Fortress served to cement their might. They could build a vast array of warships yet supplant them anywhere in the blink of an eye. It was very efficient."

"And yet they died out," said Revan.

"Alas, like all civilizations that do not have a foil...they disintegrated. For all their genius they could not deny what they really were...savages, scions and slaves to the dark side." Raithe clucked in disapproval.

"Without proper resistance they turned on themselves. Sentient beings should really appreciate that everything should come in moderation...yet they never do."

Revan sighed. "I'm not here for a history lesson."

The other man seemed annoyed then that the Jedi had interrupted him. "You should learn to mind your manners Jedi..." Raithe said, his voice was silky soft. "Otherwise I might take it personally."

The Jedi said nothing, letting the other man's ego do the talking.

Raithe shifted his clothing. "Now where was I? Oh yes, this wonderful civilization the Rakata had. What I mean to say is that whatever faults this race possessed, they left a grand gift more me...and my cause."

"Your cause being to make the Sith sole rulers of this galaxy I suppose?"

The other man threw back his head then and laughed. His voice peeled over the the entire dome, ringing painfully in the Jedi's ears.

"Make the Sith the rulers?" He panted out eventually. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Because you are, or at least aid the Sith." Stated Revan coldly, "and like all your bastard kind, you mean to wipe the Jedi from the face of existence."

Raithe laughed even harder then. He scrunched up his eyes and blew out a wet ragged noise, saliva trailing down his lips. The other Jedi felt sickened at this gruesome display.

"Ah ah... Revan you never cease to amaze me. You are so intelligent...yet so hopelessly bound to simple causes." Revan said nothing as Raithe continued his scathing belittling of the other warrior.

"Destroy the Jedi?" Echoed Raithe mockingly. "You might as well wish for all the stars to burn out, because only at the end of life will the Jedi and Sith both become extinct."

His words made the Jedi curious. "You don't aim to destroy our order?"

"Why would I do that? Didn't I just tell you there must be balance in all things?" Snapped Raithe. "Do pay attention Revan. Like I said, one of the major reasons the Rakata died out was because there was no common foe to unite them. A simple malady was the catalyst to their destruction. They devolved to become what they really were...savages who turned on each other, culling the weakest in a bloodbath of death."

He drew his hands behind his back, like some scholarly sage during his contemplations.

"There will always be Jedi...just like there will always be Sith. If one force was to triumph over the other, it would cause their own annhiliation." He licked his thin lips.

"That's ridiculous," started Revan. "The Jedi-"

"I told you to shut up!" Screamed the other man suddenly. The force of the command staggered the Jedi. His head suddenly felt like it was going to split open. He gasped in agony as the waves of energy passed through his injured body.

When Revan was on one knee, the other man smiled, his expression returning back to his outwardly calm façade. The hidden violence still lurked just beyond the peripheral of Revan's vision…waiting to be unleashed like a violent tide. "That's better" he said softly. Raithe wiped bait of saliva from his mouth.

"Have the sense to listen to your betters for once. You never know what you could learn."

All Revan could do was stare daggers at the other man, his head still threatening to explode. Raithe sneered, unconcerned by the Jedi's gaze.

"As I was saying...if the Sith triumphed, they would soon turn on each other, culminating into a violent orgy of death and war. The galaxy would burn out from such a catastrophic event."

He turned again to look back at the view screen. "A Jedi victory would be slower, but no less agonizing. The Republic as it stands now would slide into decadence and inactivity. They would literally die from freedom and self indulgence." The dark figure smiled at the irony of the statement. "And the Jedi would be helpless to stop it."

"Do you make a habit of generalizing everything?" Snapped Revan.

For once Raithe did not seem to mind the interruption. "It is not a generalization Revan...it simply...is."

He sighed then, as if sad at the current state of affairs. "I don't care if you believe me or not, but know that I wish to further the Republic cause as much as any Jedi. I do very much enjoy living." The dangerous man smiled viciously at that proclamation.

"And what does this...fortress have to do with your plans?"

Raithe walked up and down in front of the cold metal void. "This ...Bastion will allow me to create the war materials that will be needed for an upcoming event. One that has been a long time coming." The tall dark mans eyes glittered slightly at the prospect. "A great enemy is returning...and they mean to strip this galaxy clean of any life...regardless if you are Republic, pirate, criminal or Sith."

"You are insane. " Said Revan coldly. "The only constants in this galaxy are the Republic, the Jedi and their unending feud with Sith. There is no greater enemy."

"If you say so." came the dismissive reply. "Why should I argue with a Jedi like you? So self righteous and secure in his own beliefs." He licked his lips wickedly. "I mean to disabuse you of that thinking soon."

"What do you mean by that?" Demanded Revan.

"In time Revan, in time..." Raithe said mockingly. His smug face always looked amused, as if he held all the cards. In reality, Revan couldn't really argue the case. As much as he wanted to strike this man down for his hubris, he felt compelled to listen, as if he didn't have a choice. Maybe there was even a kernel of truth to his rants, something that the Jedi could glean from him.

"I admit I am surprised you let Melara live," Raithe commented suddenly. "She is a traitor is she not?" He spread his hands wide at the proclamation. "The lowest of the low as it were. Not only a turncoat but an active assistant in handing me her erstwhile brethren. Although I suppose it would have been against your order's tenants to kill her after she was defeated."

Raithe's tone was mocking.

"I know you are a stickler for rules."

"You'd be surprised."

Revan's eyes narrowed at the mention of the fallen Master "Why did you turn her?" he demanded. "So she would bring you more Jedi?"

Raithe snickered, tittering slightly with his shoulders. "That was one reason...the other was I wanted her to find information for me...something that only a Jedi with limitless access to the order would be privy to."

He smiled as if a pleasurable sensation moved through him. "I did so enjoy...her re-education."

"You raped her." Said Revan. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning.

"I raped her," agreed the other man. Most disturbingly he seemed extremely proud of this achievement. "I took her in all the ways that you could imagine...and some ways you couldn't. All that time she screamed body and soul...as I violated her flesh…and her mind to plant my hand into the very fiber of her being."

Revan was disgusted and horrified at the other mans boasting. He could almost begin to feel pity for the Master then. Perhaps it really wasn't her fault after all.

"I remember the first time I did it." Raithe said with a slimy smile. "I brought one of the other specimens out to parade around her. Imagine my pleasure to discover that it was a dear friend to the Master. Her former apprentice..." the deranged man continued on with his horrifying story as if he was recounting a holiday.

"The specimen...was quite used up and a failure to boot. I had no use for it anymore but the thing was alive still...if barely."

Revan clutched his fists together, too angry to speak.

"At that time I asked Melara whether she was too proud to help me in order to save her friend. Apparently she was because the good Master said she would never betray the Jedi. How confident she was then...secure she was in her self righteousness…just like you are now"

Raithe's eyes burned with the inner insanity that the Jedi saw earlier. It was repulsive.

"I quickly broke her petulant resistance."

"What did you do?" The Jedi snarled.

Raithe said the next words with perfect clarity, taking care to savor the Jedi's reaction.

"I dashed the specimens head against the wall...until his brains cracked open all over my hands. It was quite messy." Said the other man cheerfully. He licked one of his fingers.

"And then I took her while my hands were still slick with the specimen's blood."

Revan leapt at that moment, to try and strike at the other man. The Jedi was so enraged at the casual way he spoke of his conquest that Revan's instincts took over. He ignited his blade, ready to take that leering face off the man's shoulders.

Suddenly he was held in an invisible choking grip. His entire body became immobile, suspended in mid air where he tried to attack. Revan couldn't even blink. Raithe stood smirking at the other man's impulsiveness.

"Quite the temper on you Revan, wouldn't you agree?" The dark figure didn't even raise a hand. How he had managed to subdue Revan without any discernible effort, the Jedi couldn't figure out.

He must be beyond powerful...Revan thought in wonder despite his unenviable situation. The Jedi wondered then if he would ever be able to defeat this impossible foe.

Raithe continued on his rant like nothing had happened.

"Anyways after the first time...she was a lot less pretentious. When I brought her latest unconscious apprentice in and told her I would do the same thing...that was when she broke." Raithe eyes gleamed as he remembered the exact moment he had managed to turn the Master to his whims.

"The rest...was easy."

"You sick bastard," growled the other Jedi. His mouth struggled to form the words from his cage.

Raithe seemed to consider that. "You are right...my fallacy has always been my appetites...I do not deny that." His eyes became angry then, like a sudden tornado that came out of nowhere.

"But know this Jedi! You may think me a monster and be right at that, but I have never denied my true nature! Can you really say the same?" He spat the words out.

Revan did not know what to say to that. He was quickly getting tired of this game that the other man was playing.

While the other person was distracted going on about his exploits, he had quietly slipped a hand into his robes, fighting the opposing force that tried to keep him in place. As soon as the other man turned back to him, he gathered all his strength and whipped out his hand, tossing a small object into the air. It exploded in a dash of brilliant light, blinding his enemy.

Raithe staggered a little caught by surprise at this unexpected attack. His invisible hold on Revan diminished. As soon as the Jedi found his feet he bolted towards the other man.

Raithe was unarmed, but he was not defenseless. As soon as Revan reached within a meter of the other man, a flashing red disc sliced between them. Revan jerked back just in time to avoid being sawed in half by the deadly projectile. He realized it was a doubled bladed lightsaber, twirling along its own handle, guided by some invisible hand. It flicked in the air like a boomerang, returning along the trajectory it came from. Revan glanced back to see the weapon snatched out of the air by another black clad figure.

The warrior was a female, that much was certain. Yet she looked haggard and pale, the gauntness of her cheeks apparent. Her eyes were a sickly, milky grey. Despite her vicious attack she did not look like a savage fighter. In fact she looked scared as if she feared her Master more than the other man.

Revan glanced back at Raithe who was smiling smugly at him. He answered the question Revan was thinking.

"She is my loyal servant" grinned the other man. "Much more reliable...unlike Mreth."

Revan saw the pieces beginning to fall together. "You were the one that contacted the Sith Lord." He thought as much, but he wanted Raithe to say it for himself.

"Figured that out all by yourself eh Jedi?" Said the other man mockingly. "try to keep up."

"He told me that you made a deal with the Jedi." Said Revan acidly. "Subjugation does not count."

"Mreth knew what I told him," drawled Raithe lazily. "which was almost nothing at all and many of them were lies."

He had that sickening leer again on his face.

"...though the deal part was true in a way…a very one sided deal."

Revan continued to glare at him. Raithe continued like nothing was amiss.

"It was not hard to convince him...I only had to show what he wanted to see. A glorious age where his cult's avatar was born. He lapped it up like all religious fanatics do. So predictable...yet so unreliable."

Raithe sighed in annoyance. "The fool could not even bring back one subject for me. That endeavor was such waste."

"Sorry to piss on your parade." Spat Revan. He circled the other warrior warily, hoping she would leave an opening.

"Ah yes...I was told I had you to thank for that." Rather than look angry though, Raithe seemed genuinely pleased. "Melara mentioned you foiled my plans temporarily...you truly are more than what I could have hoped for."

"She also told me this whole escapade was your doing." Said the Jedi accusingly. He glanced back at the female who had put herself in front of her Master. She did not look particularly pleased at the development.

"This elaborate ruse to lure more Jedi into your hands…the attack on the facility...the Mandalorians...it was all part of your plan."

"It was a daring one wouldn't you agree?" Smiled Raithe. He stepped forward to stroke his companion's neck. He leaned forward and took a deep breath to absorb her aroma. She cringed slightly but did not react beyond that.

"I grew tired of getting only one or two Jedi to play with. I needed...a larger testing pool. But how to convince enough warriors to congregate into one expedition? Well...the threat had to be big enough first of all."

He turned his back again on the Jedi to stare into the void again, confident that he was under no direct threat.

"So I needed dramatic action...but I did not have the forces needed for a major raid against Republic territory. I needed a pawn."

"Taborous Sabot."

"Indeed. It was easy to find the Mandalorians. They nest like weeds in the outer Rim, spurred on by your order's own enemy. They hunger for their chance to strike back at those who humiliated them once."

Revan couldn't see his face but the through the reflection from the glass view, he could see gleaming white teeth and darker eyes.

"I simply plucked the cream of the crop."

"Why Jedi Raithe?" Snarled Revan. As he moved, the other female followed his footsteps, her milky eyes never leaving him. "Why pick off Jedi if you claim to have no allegiance to the Sith either?"

Raithe turned around, his smile still hanging on his face.

"I tried to work on one or two Sith warriors as well...although their contributions were slightly...different."

Revans comm bead was ringing in his head then. It seemed that Priel or someone else was trying to contact him.

Somehow, Raithe was aware of the disturbance. He raised a bony finger. "Are your friends trying to contact you?"

He made a shooing gesture with his hand.

"Don't bother, this whole level is locked out. I do not want any interruptions while I...enlighten you."

Revan turned his earpiece off, not wanting to be disturbed at the moment.

"What do you mean by the Sith being different?" Demanded the Jedi.

"I once had a specimen who payed allegiance to the Sith. I forget which cult, but if I recall…his name was...Malarius...no Imalarius." He snapped his fingers as the memory returned.

"A very violent specimen. Bloodthirsty, cruel and sadistic...in other words typical Sith."

Raithe frowned then slightly. "Yet his body was ...unsuitable for testing. His mind was already too warped and his body was ravaged by wounds and his inner rage. I discovered his cell structure to be incompatible at the very least for the conversion process. I surmised most Sith or people already tainted by the dark side would have this problem."

He smirked then, his dark humor finding something to laugh about even in this situation.

"But that doesn't mean he was useless...quite the opposite actually, a warrior with that much fuel for hate, and inner spirit was just the thing I needed to test another...experiment."

Revan didn't bother to ask what he meant by that. Raithe clearly loved to explain his exploits. He focused then on trying to find any weaknesses in his other opponent. Her battle stance was positioned to impale her double edged lightsaber straight into his chest if need by, her left foot leading. Her black hair was actually a tangled mess, uncombed or braided. But it was the eyes themselves that drew his eyes. The white sickly look spoke of pain and fear beyond his imagining.

Help me...they seemed to say.

"I have learned so much from this place," whispered Raithe, breaking Revan out of his reverie. "While the Forge is indeed a cauldron for creating mass production, it was also a centre for innovation...for the design of new schematics."

Raithe rubbed his hands looking around at this bounty that he had stumbled upon.

"Although I couldn't really take credit...the Forge helped me see the truth."

The Jedi understood then. Taborous had worn that cursed armor that was further empowered with the raging spirit of a Sith. It had to be Imilarius then that Raithe sacrificed to further desecrate the item.

"The Mandalorian's armor..." began Revan.

"Such a fine piece of craftsmanship wouldn't you agree? Beyond anything the known galaxy has seen today."

Raithe shrugged.

"In truth I barely had to raise a finger. The forge… it knew what I wanted...what I needed to empower my little pawn."

Raithe coughed suddenly, his eyes watering. He hastily pulled something out of his pocket and dry swallowed the contents. Revan wanted to take this chance to strike at him, but the female raised her double edged lightsaber even higher always positioning herself in front of the other man. She seemed distraught at her own actions.

Wiping his mouth Raithe continued.

"Where was I? Ah yes, I knew I wouldn't be able to persuade the warmonger to commit without something suitably tempting. I gave him his suit and promised to deliver more wonders after he had fulfilled his contract. Anything to help his clan establish glory."

Raithe cackled then, his shoulder heaving in amusement. "Mandalorians are so predictable...like children. Point them in one direction and shout war, and they will cleave a warpath to their destination."

He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve his dark eyes gleaming.

"The braggart didn't even know that he would be mine the moment he wore it."

Revan took a step forward, daring the other woman to strike back at him. She didn't move but neither did she step back. In fact Revan realized she was shaking slightly, the twitch just below the jawline. Even now she was battling with whatever inner demon in her mind. Revan stared at her for a moment before continuing.

"How did you manage to imbue the armor with the essence of Imilarius?"

Raithe's clucked his tongue in annoyance.

"Look around you Jedi. This whole facility is one whole living entity. The walls crawl with the spirits of the dead. Do you think it was really a stretch to duplicate that effect on the armor? Granted, getting my specimen to bend to my will was a tad harder than I suspected...but once he broke..."

He outstretched his hands in triumph.

"..he was helpless to resist any of my commands. It was a battle though...but my will always overcomes..."

He snapped his dark eyes back into Revan's

"Always."

Raithe walked slowly away from the viewing platform then, towards his captive Jedi. Revan made to follow him. The female was always between the two though, pacing each of their steps. The tall dark figure stopped next to the nearest Jedi, held captive in the glass tube. He placed a loving hand on top of his prize.

"I think I've answered enough trivial questions, don't you? How about I get to the most important matter...the one concerning you?"

"I want to know how you found this place." Said the Jedi in a low voice. He had given up on trying to attack the other man for the moment.

"How did you discover this...Bastion of Hate?" Asked Revan using the title Melara had bestowed on this horrid place.

"Oh I will get that," replied Raithe. "But really, it all connects to my plans for you."

"You keep saying that like you know me." Snarled Revan. "Who are you?"

Raithe had that superior grin again, the expression that he knew something very important that the other didn't. "Why Revan, I already told you. I am Raithe."

"I suppose you mean to convince me that you are the same Raithe that used to work at the research facility." The Jedi retorted. "Try harder bastard. I know you took his identity."

Revan took a step forward.

"Where is the real Raithe?"

The tall dark man cocked his head to the side. "You are an intelligent man Revan. Think. Why would I take the name of a dead man? From what you know about me, why would I take anybody's name if I didn't have enough reason to?"

Revan paused a moment to think about what he could possibly be eluding to. His mind traveled back to all the events in the past few days. He remembered what Melara had said then, how he somehow managed to warp her mind to make her subservient to this monster. Raithe had said he even managed to bend another Sith Lord's well to his designs. Clearly this man was a Master in his craft to subjugate others. This dark individual somehow had the ability to force his presence onto another person...to dominate them.

Revan saw the link then.

"You read Raithe's mind." Said the Jedi suddenly. If this man could force impressions on another it was a natural link that he could take from his victim as well.

Raithe smiled again, that slimy knowing smile, as if Revan had passed another of his elaborate tests. He brought his hands to clap slowly, dramatically, the sound echoing dramatically across the entire room.

"I knew you'd get there eventually."

He stopped his clapping then to face the other Jedi directly. Raithe rubbed his chin in anticipation. "I think it's time...to tell you why I am really here."