-Revan-

I watched in horror as Carth fought for breath, clawing at his throat as Malak lifted him into the air. I felt my heart stop when his face turned a deep shade of red and his struggling slowed. I whirled to face Malak. "Let him go! This is between you and me."

Malak's sinister laugh sent a chill down my spine. "As you wish, Revan." He hissed as he threw his arm out, and in doing so, sending Carth's lifeless body into Mission's kolto tank. The glass surrounding Mission shattered and she landed on top of Carth at an impossible angle.

I felt my stomach lurch, and had to fight myself to keep down the bile that was rising in my throat. I turned and faced Malak again; anger and the Force swirling around me in a maelstrom of pure power.

I rushed Malak, sending my lightsaber crashing into his with all the strength that I would muster. He caught each blow effortlessly, a glint in his eyes that revealed his amusement at my futile attacks. I kept my gaze glued to his, my mind focused on each minuscule twitch of muscle that telegraphed his next move.

But my heart was a different story. I wanted to run back to Carth and Mission and make sure that they were safe, but I couldn't. If I allowed myself to succumb to my emotions for even a moment, then I would surely lose this battle and there would be no hope for the Republic, for the Jedi, or more importantly, my friends.

I could feel the dark side of the Force pounding against my ears, calling out to me to use its power and end this battle once and for all. That all it would take for me to kill him was a gentle release, and Malak's life would be rendered forfeit in a moment.

But I didn't want to do that. I had worked too hard, too long to stay on my path of the light, and I intended to stay on that path. If only I could master the knowledge of combining the dark side of the Force and the light…maybe...

I cried out in pain as Malak's elbow crashed into my nose, fragile cartilage shattering under the impact. I stumbled backwards as the taste of iron filled my mouth, temporarily losing my balance from the force of the blow.

He took the opportunity to send his boot into my chest, knocking the breath out of me and sending me sliding across the durasteel on my back. He was on me in an instant, 'saber close enough to tickle my throat and burn the sensitive skin on my face. My lightsaber was the only thing protecting me from certain death.

His eyes bored into me, radiating pure hatred and a hunger for my blood sprayed across the floor. I wasn't going to be able to defeat him, I thought despairingly as Malak shifted his weight so it was all on me. My body screamed in pain from the impact of the fall and my shattered nose as I struggled to catch my breath, part of me willing myself to give up and let the force take me.

Needless to say, the outcome of this fight wasn't looking too bright.

-Mission-

I could barely move, and my body stung from the splinters of glass that bit into my hands as I pushed myself off of large bulk underneath me. It grunted in protest. Startled, I shook my head and tried to focus my eyes.

Terror ripped through my when I realized that object was Carth. His ragged breathing and the blood leaking from his temple brought tears to my eyes.

Quickly, I searched his pockets and, luckily, I found three kolto packs and immediately injected them into his side. As I did so, I spared a glance at the battle going on around us. Malak had Revan pinned to the ground, his lightsaber dangerously close to her throat.

I tore my eyes away from the scene, unable to watch my friend die at the hands of that monster. I injected another kolto pack into Carth's side. "Come on, Geezer, come on! Revan needs you, so wake up, bantha brain!"

I got no response. At least he was alive and breathing. That was something at least. But what was going to happen if Revan couldn't get away from Malak? I shuddered at the various scenarios.

I had come here to help Revan under any circumstances, and that was still the game plan. the problem? Malak had taken all of my weapons upon my capture.

The pain I was in was immense, and as I shifted my weight off of Carth, something sharp nudged my leg. I looked down to see Carth's blaster, still clutched in his hands. I glanced quickly at Revan and Malak. He still had her pinned to the floor, his lightsaber inching closer as she desperately fought to free herself.

Thinking quickly, I grabbed Carth's blaster and aimed it towards the Sith Lord. His attention was completely focused on Revan. As long as they stayed in that position, I could get a clear shot at him without harming her.

My entire body trembled uncontrollably as I gripped the blaster firmly in my hand. Concentrate, Mish, I told myself. Rev's counting on you.

Just as I was about to take my shot, in a blinding move that would've made Master Zhar proud, Revan bucked once and managed to roll out from underneath Malak's massive weight, catching him off guard with the sudden loss of support.

The Sith Lord growled angrily and pounced again, almost like that rancor that we fought back when... Ouch! I winced as Revan's battered body hit the metal floor hard, as Malak pinned her down for the second time. At this rate, I wouldn't be able to get a clear shot without accidentally hitting her.

A moan from underneath me startled me so much that the weapon slipped from my fingers and clattered against the floor. I knelt down next to Carth. "Geezer?"

His concussed eyes settled on me. "You," he sputtered out slowly. "Are in so much trouble."

I rolled my eyes and carefully slid my arm around Carth's back to help him sit up, injecting him with another kolto pack. "Punish me later, old man. We have problems. Revan's in trouble."

It was almost as if Carth just remembered where we were and what we were doing. "We gotta figure out a way to turn off these kolto tanks so Malak can't use them to his advantage." he whispered heatedly, glaring at the Sith Lord with hate darkening his eyes. "I'm not going to let him take away another person I love..." He turned to me. "Do you still have your security tunneler?"

I grinned and reached into my pocket. "Never leave the Hawk without it."

Carth shook his head. "I'm not even going to ask how you snuck that past the Sith guards."

Ignoring his comment, I searched around, noticing a nearby computer terminal. "I can try to slice into the Star Forge's life support system and shut them down."

He nodded. "I'll cover you, although I think Malak's a little too preoccupied to notice anything else."

It was true, Malak and Revan were now both on their feet, locked in a heated lightsaber duel. Every time Malak would send a shock wave towards her, Revan would counter with a blow of her own.

I raced over to the computer terminal and quickly hooked my tunneler up to it. Within seconds, I was in the system. I smiled to myself. Jackpot.

I waited for the upload to finish transferring. Of course, it would be slow. Come on, come on!

A loud crash behind me sounded behind me, causing me to jump. I looked over to see Revan Force push Malak into a nearby kolto tank. The glass shattered around the trapped Jedi.

I chuckled sarcastically. "That works, too."

One by one, the life support systems on the kolto tanks began to shut down. Malak desperately tried to steal the life forces of the dead Jedi, but was unsuccessful. His movements began to slow. He was losing stamina; becoming weak.

Revan was gaining ground. She rushed forward and sent her lightsaber crashing against his. Malak stumbled backwards as she sent a swift kick into his mid-section.

The next thing I knew, Revan's lightsaber was embedded in the chest of the Sith Lord.

-Revan-

I withdrew my weapon from Malak's chest and switched it off. It was over. I should have been relieved, but... all I felt was emptiness.

Malak slumped to his knees. "Im...impossible." Malak choked out, gasping for breath as he clutched his hand to his chest. "I cannot be beaten. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith."

My chest tightened. I was no better than he was. I had just sent my childhood friend and ex-lover to his grave. "This is the way of the dark side, Malak. But you can still be saved. It's not too late."

The dying Sith Lord forced out a strangled laugh. "Still spouting the wisdom of the Jedi, I see." His breathing was ragged and I could hear the sound of his blood reaching his lungs. "I...I suppose there is more truth in their code than I ever believed."

I forced back a sob. I had to try to save him. He was my only link to my past. "You can still come back to the light, Malak."

Malak coughed, tiny specks of blood caked to the side of his mouth. "It's too late for me." he paused and looked me in the eye. "But I can't help but wonder, What would have happened had our positions been reversed? What if fate decreed that I would be captured by the Jedi? Could I have returned to the light as you did? If you had not lead my down the dark path in the first place, what destiny might I have found?"

"No," I shouted, tears threatening to stream down my face. "I'm...I'm sorry I started you down this path, Malak, but you chose to continue with it."

My old apprentice sighed. "I suppose you speak the truth," I could feel his life slipping away by each second that past. He slowly, carefully, laid back on the cold, hard floor. "I alone must accept responsibility for my fate. I wanted to be Master of the Sith and ruler of the galaxy. But that destiny was not mine, Revan. It might have been yours… but never mine."

I knelt down next to my old friend and gripped his hands tightly in mine; they were cold and clammy. I could feel Carth and Mission's eyes on me, but I didn't care. "I'm sorry, Malak. For everything."

He reached up with his free hand and gently touched my cheek. I couldn't stop the tears from falling now. This was the man I once knew. Not the Dark Lord of the Sith.

"In the end, I am nothing." he whispered. "But I want to show you something before," he coughed loudly. "Before I go,"

Before I could respond or protest, everything went dark.

Hopefully you guys are still out there! HUGE thanks to Kaia Moonchild for being a totally awesome beta and helping with the fight scene!

Once again, so very sorry that it has taken me so long to update. They changed my hours at work (retail + holidays + me xx) and am also in the process of getting a new job at the local hospital! Yay me! So hopefully the new job will give me some extra time go work on the last couple of chapters as well as the sequel!

Hope everyone has a good holiday! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Kaia Moonchild: Thanks for being a very patient beta! Hopefully next chapter won't take 4 months! Hehe.

Artemis-Delilah-Avari: Haven't gotten all of the sequel's bugs out yet, but there will be some cameos of the exile

DhtrofIsis: Heh, yeah I know the last chapter was too short. Writer's block has been eating me alive. Hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Lady April: dun dun dunnnnn! Only a few more to go ;-)

Dvana: I like leaving people in the dark ;-) hehe

Selena Mars: Once again, thanks for the kind words. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter too :)

Anaya: heh I never get tired of hearing that people like my stuff :) thanks for reading.

Sundiz-Star: Thank ya, thank ya:-D

Sugi: Thanks so much! No worries. And my apologies for lack of updates! Hehe