I'm taking a break after this one. There's only so much fantasy drama I can handle! But I'll be back, sooner rather than later. Oh, and thank you all so much for the reviews…I've been so bad about responding to them, but I read every single one.

Chapter Twenty Five – Revelations, Part 2

"Revan?" Aeryn asked, looking in confusion from Malak to Bastila. "What does he mean, Bastila?"

Bastila stared at Malak pleadingly, almost as if she expected him to suddenly change his mind and save her from this disastrous scene. The Dark Lord gestured grandly, as if to say "go right ahead" before crossing his arms over his powerful chest and leaning against the doorway as he relished her discomfiture.

Letting out a shaky sigh, Bastila turned to face Aeryn. "What I told you was true," she started, her voice carefully calm. "Myself and several other Jedi were to capture Darth Revan and deliver her to the Council so that she might be redeemed. What I failed to mention is that Revan was not killed in that attack."

Aeryn stared in disbelief, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion. "You mean…Revan is alive?" she whispered.

Malak began to chuckle, but indicated that Bastila should continue. "Yes," she confirmed hesitantly. "Revan is alive. She was gravely wounded from Malak's assault, but I was able to hold on to the thread of life in her body and sustain it through the Force. She was brought back to the Council, just as planned, but a new strategy was deemed necessary when the Master's realized just how extensive the damage was to her mind. It was decided…" she broke off momentarily, her eyes traveling nervously across the faces of all those present, "that her identity would be replaced…with that of her sister's."

A deafening silence filled the corridor as Aeryn, or rather, Revan, stared, unblinking, unmoving at Bastila. It was Dustil who asked, his voice a cracked whisper, "You mean…Aeryn…she's really Revan?"

Bastila nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Revan's face as she tried to reach her through their bond, but now it was Revan's turn to block the connection. After an interminable silence, Revan whispered harshly, "You lied. About everything. You and the whole damn Council…you lied!"

Malak began to chuckle again, a triumphant light behind his eyes as he watched Bastila squirm. "Please, you must understand," Bastila implored. "We had no other choice. We needed the information in your mind, but we could not risk restoring you to what you once were. Even you yourself admitted to what a threat Darth Revan was!"

"And could still be," Carth muttered under his breath, earning a scathing glance from his son.

Shaking her head as she struggled to come to terms with the unwanted information, Revan finally managed, "Why…why don't I remember anything about being Revan? How can all of my…of Aeryn's memories be so clear?"

"I was wondering that, myself, dear Bastila," Malak said, pushing himself off the wall and slowly circling them like a predator. "Our beloved Revan here appears to have many of the more…intimate memories of my time with Aeryn. Just how did the Council acquire such knowledge?"

Bastila set her mouth as though she had no intention of answering him, but Revan's piercing stare convinced her to explain. "Much was gathered from historical and private records," she admitted painfully. "The rest, most specifically her time in Exile, was speculation."

"'Speculation?'" Revan repeated, rubbing her forehead with one hand. "So, the Council has no idea where Aeryn is…or even if she's still alive."

"No," Bastila said. "The last true 'memory' of hers is the day you and Malak walked out of her life."

Tears stung Revan's eyes as she suffered guilt for an act she could not remember. Malak's cruel voice cut through the silence, "It's not really surprising that you couldn't figure it out, Revan. You always were the weaker one."

Channeling her sorrow into anger, Revan faced him, her voice low and menacing as she growled, "Not so weak as to be under you, my old apprentice."

Malak's eyes sparkled mockingly as he approached, stopping only a few inches from her. "Ah, Revan," he said softly, "but you have been under me…many, many times, my dear." Revan stared at him defiantly, refusing to flinch even as he ran one cold finger across the scar on her face. "You were so much easier to manipulate than she was. It took me years to win her trust, but for you…all it took was a few pretty words." His hand slid from her face to her neck, gently encircling the delicate pale skin as his eyes took on a haunted look. Revan stood motionless in his grasp, almost hoping that he would kill her and end the torment in her mind.

The sudden hum of a lightsaber and a flash of blue blurred Revan's vision as the weapon appeared over her shoulder, aimed at Darth Malak's neck. "Get away from her," Dustil ordered, his face set with grim determination.

Malak chuckled again, but let his hand slide from Revan's neck as he backed away. "So, one traitor comes to the defense of another," he taunted. "I find it most amusing that you betrayed your allies, your father, the Jedi Council, only to end up betraying me. And now, you will die along side them."

Dustil's eyes narrowed as he growled, "Not if I can help it." Throwing his hand out, Dustil caught the Dark Lord by surprise, sending a Force wave that threw the tall man backward into a dark side room with a loud crash. "Get out of here!" Dustil yelled as he sprinted past Revan. "I'll hold him off while-."

His words were cut short just outside the door as he was suddenly thrown into a stasis. Bastila dashed after Malak, calling out, "Get out of here! Complete the mission!"

"No, Bastila!" Carth screamed as he ran toward her. Bastila gazed back at him, her eyes shining with regret as she closed and sealed the door behind her. Carth's fist pounded against the hard metal as he screamed, "No, please! Bastila!"

Time slowed to a crawl. Revan's steps were leaden as she moved toward Carth and the door that Bastila was holding closed. A panicked refrain echoed in her mind: Bastila, no…Bastila, no…Bastila…

You must flee now! Bastila's urgency as she screamed through their bond brought Revan to a halt. I do not know how long I can hold him off, but you must go!

No! Revan screamed in response. I won't leave you here! We can defeat him!

Please listen to me! Think of the others. Get them away from here. Save them!

Revan hesitated for only a moment before she finally said, her voice weak and hollow, "She is telling us to leave." Dustil moved up beside her, now free from the stasis that Bastila had used on him, his face strained, but Carth seemed not to hear her words and continued to beat relentlessly on the door. "Carth," her voice gained volume and conviction, "Bastila is telling us to go."

Carth whirled on her, his face twisted in agony as he spat, "Like I'd believe a single word out of your mouth, Revan."

She flinched at the naked hatred in his voice, but Dustil stepped toward him slowly. "She's telling the truth, Father," he said calmly. "I can feel Bastila's emotions. She is doing this to protect us."

Eyeing his son warily, Carth asked, his voice cracking with misery, "And why should I trust you any more than her, Dustil?"

"You shouldn't," the younger Onasi said flatly, burying the pain caused by his father's words. "But you should think about this logically. We can't save Bastila now, not surrounded by half the Sith fleet, but if we escape and find the other Star Map, we can find this Star Forge and end this war." Carth's eyes showed uncertainty, so Dustil pressed him. "Don't let her sacrifice be for nothing."

Carth wavered indecisively for a moment before turning back to the door, his face filled with sorrow has he rested his hand briefly on the cold surface. Without a word, he turned and ran down the corridor toward the Ebon Hawk, followed closely by Dustil and Revan.

Canderous stood anxiously on the loading ramp, frowning as they ran past him onto the ship. "Where the hell is Bastila?" he demanded.

"Get to the gun turret," Revan told him softly as Carth sprinted for the cockpit. "You might have to hold them off for a few minutes until we can make the jump to hyperspace."

Canderous studied her closely for a second, knowing something was very wrong, but accepting the necessity of the situation, he ran toward the turret. As they shot out the docking bay doors, Carth shouted over the Comm, "We've got company already – looks like half a dozen Sith fighters."

"Come to papa," Canderous muttered, taking aim at the first fighter.

Carth focused on evasive maneuvers as the fleet lurched slowly to life, all crafts focusing their attention on the Ebon Hawk. Revan hovered over the navicomputer, punching in the coordinates for Manaan. Carth was so absorbed in his piloting that he didn't notice her finish and back quietly out of the cockpit.

"Everybody hold on to something," he shouted through the Comm as the hyperdrive hummed to life. With a sigh, he sank back into his seat, running his hand through his hair as they left the Sith fleet behind them.

Canderous appeared in the doorway. "Where's Aeryn?"

-

Alone in the port dorm, Revan locked the door behind her and moved slowly to stand before the full-length mirror. This damn mirror was your idea, Revan. You always were a vain, selfish woman. Guess not even the Council could erase that.

Staring at her reflection, she studied every aspect of her visage, willing her mind to conjure up something, anything to corroborate what she'd been told. Every memory that formed, every emotion that surfaced, was a lie…a fabrication…a fantasy. "Who are you?" she whispered aloud to the woman in the mirror. Silence, more deafening that a sonic charge, filled her senses, washed over her mind…who are you? There was nothing, just the vacant stare of her reflection, taunting her with inaction. Revan felt her body begin to tremble, the air around her crackling with the Force, her nails digging mercilessly in her own palms as she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, "WHO ARE YOU?!" Dry, ragged sobs rose in her throat, her shoulders shuddered with every agonized breath as she slowly opened her eyes again. With a gasp, she stepped back as she saw that the mirror had been split by the force of her scream, divided by a jagged vertical crack down the center. She gazed now upon two identical images of herself, panic pulling at the corners of her mind.

Please calm down. You are making this much more difficult for me.

Revan jumped at the voice in her mind, forcing herself to look away from the mirror. Bastila?

Yes, but I do not have much time. There are things you need to know before I do what I must.

Do what you must? What are you talking about?

I will explain in a moment. Right now, you need to listen. I am sorry that things were revealed to you in this way. The Masters were always divided on how this should be handled, and I personally never liked the idea of keeping the truth from you, but I had little choice.

It…it's alright, Bastila. I understand…and I forgive you, and the Masters. I can't believe they're dead…Master Zhar…

We do not have time to dwell on this. The wall that separates Revan's memories from those of your conscious mind was formed almost entirely from the bond that we share. That is why you started to have flashbacks when I was injured on Taris. The damage to my mind also impaired our bond.

So…so those were Revan's memories…

Some of them, but mostly it was a confusing blend of the real and the artificial. The strain on your mind could have killed you. I am telling you this because I hope to avoid a repeat of that when I sever our bond.

What? Sever…? Bastila, no, don't!

There is no alternative. You have to be allowed to be Revan again. Being Aeryn will only drive you slowly mad, as your little tantrum with the mirror just proved. This is the only way.

But how will we find you? Bastila, isn't there any other way? I don't want to lose you!

A Jedi's life is sacrifice, Revan. I will resist whatever Malak puts me through, but I cannot allow you to be put at risk for me when the entire Republic is at stake. Just…will you please tell Carth…that I…I am sorry…so sorry…please…

Bastila, no do not do this!

He is returning. I must act now. I am sorry, Revan…for everything.

No, Bastila!

A searing, white-hot pain sliced through her mind and she found herself collapsed on the metal floor of the dorm room. Outside the locked door, her companions called to her frantically, beating the door as someone attempted to disable the lock. Suddenly the door flew open, and Canderous cleared the room in two long strides, gently lifting the trembling woman into his arms. "What…?" he started to ask, then broke off, "You're bleeding." They both gazed down at her hands, blood stained on her palms from her own fingernails. Canderous looked up at the broken mirror, shaking his head in confusion. "Aeryn…what in the hell is going on?"

"Aeryn?" she gazed up at him, her dazed eyes sharpening with every passing moment. "No, Canderous, I am not Aeryn. I am Revan."

-

"How…how can you be Revan?" Juhani's voice struggled to stay calm as the words echoed through the main chamber of the Ebon Hawk where the crew had gathered. "The woman that I know, that I have come to…to care for, could never do the things that Revan did."

Revan calmly met her gaze, though there was sadness and regret behind her eyes. "And yet it is true," she said softly. "I can remember much now, and the rest is slowly falling into place. It will be some time before I fully recover the memories of my time as Sith Lord, but," she tried to smile, but it came out as a pained grimace instead, "I am in no hurry for those to return."

Jolee chuckled. "Can't say that I blame you there," he mumbled.

Revan suddenly focused on him, the corners of her mouth quirking slightly as she said, "You knew."

The old ex-Jedi shrugged. "Of course I did. I'm glad you do too now – better that you know, if you ask me."

Dustil scowled at him as he said, "You seem to know a lot of things that you don't share with the rest of us."

Jolee tilted his head at the young man and asked pointedly, "And what would you have preferred me to do, boy? Tell the crew that they were being led by the former Dark Lord of the Sith? Or that you found a portable long-range communicator in the security room and used it to alert the Sith to the location of the Enclave on Dantooine?"

Dustil shifted uncomfortably, his eyes pinned on the floor as everyone turned to regard him. "It…" he started brokenly, "it was before…before I knew about…Selene. I didn't…I was…I just…" he faded out as tears filled his eyes.

It was Mission who moved first, sitting beside him on the bench and putting her hand gently on his back. Dustil fought back a sob as she said quietly, "It looks like we've all made some pretty bad mistakes. Maybe it's time we all forgave each other…and ourselves."

Revan smiled at the wisdom and compassion the young woman displayed, but Carth seethed, "Forgive? How can you say that? Dustil…well, he didn't know all the facts, but only because Revan thought it would be a good idea to keep that datapad from him. If she'd just told him the truth from the beginning, we might not be here right now!" He turned his furious gaze upon Revan, as he spat, "You really didn't change much did you? They may have given you Aeryn's memories, but you were still the selfish, twisted, evil Sith Lord underneath."

Revan swallowed hard the lump of pain in her throat, but met his gaze calmly, thinking, This is what you deserve after all you've done. Canderous, however, was much less accepting of his anger. Carth suddenly found himself staring up at an enraged, scowling Mandalorian. "Just give me an excuse, kin jag," he growled. "All I need is one, and it doesn't even have to be a good one."

"No, Canderous," Revan rose and placed her hand on his arm to pull him away from Carth. "He has every right to be upset. You all do, I suppose. Now Bastila is gone…." She saw the anger in Carth's eyes transform briefly to deep anguish. "But we cannot give in to our emotions. There is too much at stake now. We only have a few days until Manaan. I suggest we use this time to rest and gain some perspective." Without waiting for anyone to respond, Revan turned to leave.

Canderous caught up to her in the corridor. "Revan…please wait," he said, his voice strained as he called her by a name that his mind didn't yet know.

Revan turned to him, her eyes luminous and sad. "I am sorry, Canderous," she said, forcing her voice not to waver, "but I need some time. Time alone. Please, excuse me." Canderous watched helplessly as she walked away.