Author's notes: This chapter is particularly short, dealing with the whole Basty thing. It's short because I wanted the Malak chapter to be long. The epilogue is already in da works, so don't worry about a thing. As for the KotOR II fic – the prologue is in da works as well, with a certain blond badass chick and her two droids as the main stars of it. You know who I mean. If you don't, that's your problem.

Warning: The author apologizes for the atrocious typo in the last chapter. However, she is not responsible for your hysterical laughter when you read "of" instead of "or" between the words "Princess" and "Jawbreaker"

Dark Lord Daishi – typos happen... yeah, cliffhanger again!

FlyHigh4Life – well, his eyebrows are intact, so why wouldn't he be able to frown? He is jawless – canon shall not be denied. Anyway, here you go.

Ryumasa the Ryuhaitou – That's what I wanted people to think when they would read the tour comment. Thanks and read on!

Phht – gah, typos! I hope Jolee is IC now… he was a bit OOC at one time. I love da hermit-man. Sequel? Well, there will be a KotOR II fic, if you mean that. And I won't just abandon my original Revan character, lemme tell you that.

Cittygurl – here's the chapter.

X X X

Chapter 41 - Fallen

X X X X

The large circular chamber was different from the rest of the complex. In the middle was an enormous hologram of the space station, surrounded by dozens of tiny dots, clearly representing ships. And, right at the end of the small bridge leading to the center of the room, sat a meditating figure in black robes, a faint blue glow surrounding her, dots of light, like fireflies, circling her. Once the intruders had arrived, the light disappeared and the dots faded. Bastila stood up, her face more weary than angry and came to face the trio.

"Revan – I knew you'd come for me."

"No matter where you go, I will find you, Bastila I refuse to give up on you this easily."

Bastila obviously didn't seem pleased with that prospect. She frowned delicately and shook her head. "You're wasting your time. I've seen the Jedi for what they really are – weak and afraid. The Sith are the true Masters of the Force. You've forgotten that lesson, Revan. Now you must pay the price. Here on the Star Forge, the dark side is at it's strongest. This time, you will not defeat me."

With a move of her hand, she paralyzed Jolee and Canderous. They were still standing behind the door, which quickly shut itself right behind Revan. The other woman didn't appear impressed, even when Bastila elaborately ignited her double-bladed lightsaber and this time, didn't run away.

After about four blows, however, Bastila was heavily on the defensive. Revan clearly had the upper hand in the battle and Bastila quickly realized that when she barely deflected a critical strike aimed at her face. She lowered her weapon.

"I see now why Malak followed you. Even though you are merely a shell of your former self, you're still a formidable opponent. I can't even imagine the power you must have wielded during your reign as the Dark Lord. You were a fool to give it up and follow the Light Side."

"I follow my own path, Bastila." The stony voice replied. "You are blinded by your own foolishness."

"The Dark Side has made me stronger than all but the most powerful Jedi Masters. As Malak teaches me more it, I unlock more of my potential." There was pure belief behind the words, blind belief­.

"You'll accomplish death and destruction, nothing more. You can have power without blood on your hands, you're too blind to see it."

"Jedi propaganda." Bastila spat, "The Dark Side is only a tool. Eventually, I will challenge my Master. If I am worthy, he will die by my hand." she proudly crowed.

"And then you will take on your own apprentice to continue the circle? You're a fool." Was the hiss of a reply.

It is the way of the Sith – our leaders must always be the strongest and most worthy."

"You're dooming yourself to an endless circle of death and betrayal."

"No, Revan. It is you who are doomed."

A bolt of energy from the hologram hit Bastila, reenergizing her. But her hand was led by anger – it was quick, but often missed. The two similarly colored blades clashed several times until the Sith, now panting heavily, took a step back.

"You're growing weary. I can sense it. The Light Side is failing you while the power of the Star Forge reenergizes me. Soon this will all be over."

Yes, soon it would be over. But Revan knew that Bastila was trying to summon more strength. The desperation in her voice was clear. "I have not faltered, Bastila. You have been misled by the dark side."

The desperation was suddenly gone, replaced by anger. "The Dark Side will always triumph over the light! Malak has assured me of victory. You can't defeat me here on the Star Forge. YOU CAN´T!"

The Star Forge gave her new strength for the fight. But Revan knew she can't spend any more time here with Bastila – Malak had to be stopped. She gripped her saber tightly in her right hand and struck Bastila´s shoulder mercilessly, leaving a deep cut. The young Sith seemed exhausted and winced in pain. Bastila lost her balance for a moment. Her knees were buckling as she attempted to stand straight. After a few seconds, she couldn't hold her balance anymore and found herself on her knees in front of Revan.

"This is called the Niman X form." A cold voice remarked. "Normally, you have two lightsabers when using this form, but as you can see, fencing with one hand is also a valuable skill."

"No…this is not possible." Bastila objected weakly. And not only to the fact that she was defeated. "You've rejected the Dark Side, you are a weak and pathetic servant of the Light. How can you still stand against me? Why can't I defeat you?"

"Because you allow yourself to be ruled by your own feelings. You cannot do that if you can achieve mastery of the Force. You have to be your own person, not the puppet of a more skilled handler."

Finally, Bastila seemed to have realized that. She directed her first question to Revan´s boots, but now, she raised her gaze and observed Revan for a moment. She nodded briefly, her eyes slightly squinted in pain and even humiliation that she was so wrong.

"Yes." Her voice echoed. "I see you speak the truth. I'm no match for you. Please, for the sake of what we once shared, do not make me suffer. End my life quickly."

"I have no intention of killing you, Bastila."

"What other choice do you have?" Bastila asked, despairing, "I have fallen to the Dark Side, I'm the apprentice to the Dark Lord himself. You cannot let me live."

"You can reject the Dark Side. Fight it… and achieve peace." Revan noted quietly.

"No, I'm not strong enough." Bastila couldn't withstand Revan´s penetrating gaze anymore. "There is too much hatred in me…to much anger and fear."

"Look into your heart and see the light that is there." The charismatic voice demanded.

Bastila obeyed – she reached out into her soul, only to find the Dark Side lurking there. Yet there was something…something else there. Something that was rekindled when she confronted Revan in the Rakatan Temple. A strange, yet familiar feeling.

"I…know a flicker of light still burns within me." She said after a moment of silence. "Malak felt it too. He knew it would only be extinguished if I killed you. But what good is a single flicker of light against a sea of blackness I'm drowning in? I have betrayed everything I ever believed in! I can never atone for my betrayal!"

"I was the Dark Lord, Bastila. The Council let me live. They might be fools, but they did one thing right – they showed me the value of mercy. Not for everyone, of course, but there are cases when mercy is an option."

"You were a special case. The Jedi wanted to find out about the Star Forge. The Council had to let you live – it was an act of desperation." Bastila weakly objected, "It was my task to protect you from the lure of the dark side. Is this how it has to be? Must another Jedi fall to redeem a fallen one? I cannot let that happen. Please, this is too painful. Strike me down."

"You cannot protect someone from their path. Each individual must choose it themselves. But you can redeem yourself by helping us defeat the Sith."

Bastila´s eyes seemed to be almost dreamy now, her tone distant. She was weighting the options – could she do it? She could save the fleet… she could help the Jedi… even if they wouldn't accept her back, at least they wouldn't view her as the utter traitor. Perhaps…

"Yes…that alone would not atone for all that I've done, yet it would be a step in the right direction. But how could you trust me? You play a dangerous game. I could end your life and gain Malak´s favor with a single stroke of my lightsaber. Are you certain you wish to take the risk?"

"A year ago, I met a prissy, thickheaded girl. She was rather irritating, but she fought for what she believed in. Do you believe in the Jedi, the Republic?" Revan received a slight nod in response. "Then I trust you enough to leave myself open to your attack, Bastila."

The fallen Jedi silently stood there, gazing at the former Dark Lord. She would never have imagined that she would fall and Revan would be the one to redeem her. Bastila faintly smirked, but then shook her head. "You are brave…and some would say foolish. But you are also right. The Dark Side has not wholly consumed me. I cannot raise my blade against you."

With that, the double-blade lightsaber flied back to her belt. It was once again the Bastila that everyone remembered – the lecture-reciting, critical, bossy Jedi Princess. The friend helped her see the truth. Now she helped her in the same matter. There was no more debt between them now – but their bond remained, a powerful link they now both had to draw upon.

"I should stay here though. You must go face Malak without me. If I'd face him, I'm afraid his dark presence would overwhelm me. It would not be wise to expose myself to such temptation."

"You could use your Battle Meditation to aid the Republic fleet."

"That would be for the best. You don't need me to defeat Malak anyway. But you have to hurry. Once I turn the battle in the Republic's favor, we won't have much time to get out of here."

"Don't stay here – can you open the exit?" Bastila hesitantly nodded. "Go back to the Ebon Hawk with Canderous and Jolee. The rest of the crew is assembled there. I'll deal with the rest and then we'll have to get out of here, fast." Revan turned to leave through a door on the left.

"Revan?"

She turned back to Bastila, who smiled faintly. "From the Dark Lord to the savior of the galaxy."

Revan briefly smiled. "Just another day in my life." And she left for the next room.

X X X

The Republic fleet slowly advanced to the space station. Master Vandar and Admiral Dodonna watched the battle on a panel.

"There. A break in the Sith formations! Green Squadron, move in!"

"Green Squadron moving in!" the squadron leader replied via comlink.

The Republic ships managed to destroy several of the Sith ships, breaking through the Sith formations. "Green Squadron's through – we've broken their lines!"

"Bastila is no longer using her Battle Meditation against us! The tide has turned!"

"Red squadron – into the breach! Capital ships reinforce their positions! The Sith fleet's in disarray! NOW's our chance to hit that Star Forge with everything we've got!"

The rest of the fleet was quick to notice that. The strange feeling that gave them strength returned…hope. There was still hope for the Republic, hope for victory.