Memory

by kosiah

After the Star Forge, the galaxy has changed. As most of civilized space mourns the fallen heroes of the Star Forge expedition, its real survivors must face the consequences of their actions - even the ones Revan can't remember.

78. Follow You Into the Dark

Chapter 78 / Follow You Into the Dark

Xxx

General Revan: "It's over. I'm… happy to report that the last of the Machine Ships were destroyed today at a classified location. Our allied casualties were minimal. Five snubfighters and one Imperial corvette were lost, but we recovered several survivors."

General Sheris: "All Imperial veterans of this combat are to be offered full Republic pensions, and their kin casualty-rights. With our own forces defending Republic skies, the final work was left to them."

General Revan: "Not just to them."

General Sheris (blinks): "Certainly, if there are any Mando'ade who wish Republic assistance, we would be more than happy to provide it. Just, traditionally… they do not… but we will never forget their sacrifice."

General Revan (hoarsely): "Never."

-Excerpt from the Seventh Speech.

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so, University of Coruscant.

XxX

Aemelie was generous in death. She gave Canderous ample opportunity to slake his vengeance in stars upon the drone fighters that remained. With what was left of Gundark, Cannock, Krayt, and Wraid squadrons, Canderous and his blooded warriors destroyed the enemy ships, including the crippled capital that had turned toward the Degriass moon.

"Kote!

Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.

Malachor a'den mhi, Vode an!"

Canderous's voice was hoarse from singing and his cheeks were wet as the last light on the final aruetii hulk died. They pulverized its bones with a few well-placed plasma torpedoes. It was fitting that the dust of their foes and the dust of their family mixed in stars. One day, eons ahead, that dust would form new life in a sun's heart.

"Life pods went to the moon," Jakata noted when they had finished.

"And the Medix shuttle as well," Canderous agreed. The Ordo beacon pulsed fiercely from the surface of Oas, beckoning them to rest.

But many of their ships had been damaged, and so it took the span of two sleep-cycles to nurse the crippled sublights along. In a few cases, they had to jettison a broken vessel and transfer its rider to double up with another.

A scattering of Imperial and Republic survivors joined them and were taught the words of the Vode across their open channel.

They were just approaching the planet Degriass-the moon of Oas still on the far side-when a ship came out of a cloaking field so old that it flickered, making the vessel it had concealed shimmer like a rock underwater-or a ghost.

The ship was a Republic heavy capital: small for her class and heavily armored. The call-sign on his scanner registered the vessel as the New Hope, which made Canderous wonder if she were a ghost, for his ship's computer flagged the name as a capital destroyed at Malachor Five. Nor was she the first ghost-ship he had seen from that fateful day. Canderous remembered the Harbinger and Katarr all too well. And Oerin Lin, the arusuum'la son of Manda'lor who had nearly killed Milli.

His hand tightened on the controls, and for a sharp moment, Canderous considered attempting to perform the same maneuver that had brought his wife her glory. In that moment, his vision flickered and abruptly the ship was one of at least a dozen battered hulks, shifting in malevolent formation above the tiny moon, and then-

His eyes watered inside of his helm and the other ships vanished, leaving only the New Hope.

He tapped his oxygen meter to check the pressure.

"Did you see that, General?" Demain's voice was hushed with awe.

"Yeah." Not just him, then.

"Unknown Vessels." A woman's voice blasted across their channel. "Our scans indicate several of your ships are too damaged for atmospheric re-entry." The hangar bay of the New Hope slid open. "Perhaps we can be of assistance." The speaker repeated her words in badly-accented Mandalorian. Then Standard again. Then badly-accented Sith.

The space surrounding them flickered again-until there could have been five ships. Or ten. Or fifty.

And then only one.

There is only one ship, Canderous thought. You're hallucinating, Ordo. Only one ship. That blasted New Hope. He had not forgotten Katarr, and the lessons his people had learned from the dar'jett of the Harbinger.

"Don't need anything from you." Canderous tapped his targeting reticule on. "Whoever you are-"

"I am the Deathbringer." Her voice was calm. Young, even. Assured. "Meetra Surik, the Deathbringer. Isn't that what you call me?"

"We don't bother with your name, dar'jett!" Milli's beacon rang from the moon, monitoring their conversation.

Canderous smiled with pride under his helm. "What my daughter says is true. We claim this system for Clan. And we have you outnumbered at least fifty to one-"

There was a familiar creaking sound as his instruments froze. The Hope's tractor beam had activated. One of his fellow fighters-still free-made a run at the enemy vessel. Meters from the impact it froze, too, caught like a fly in a kinrath web.

"Outnumbered, perhaps. But with broken ships. We mean you no harm," Surik continued. "Please."

Please. For some reason that made Canderous think of Revan, and then he laughed. Not for humor, but because he was still alive.

Xxx

The best kind of god is one that keeps coming back so you can kill him again.

-Mandalorian Aphorisms for Everyday Seasons

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

XXX

The Mandalorians emerged like survivors from some sea-storm back home, scrabbling out of dented and blasted ships like cuttle-crabs, their armor hissing and steaming when it made contact with the New Hope's oxygenated air.

Thalia May had already seen them in her dreams, but dreams did not convey the stink of ozone and blood or the sheer presence of this lot. There were Imperial pilots, too-and even two Republic flyers-but it was the Mandalorians she watched-and not just because they all had their guns out and pointed at her.

"You." The man wasn't the tallest or the broadest, but his presence conveyed that effect, his voice gravel-metal through the voder of his helm. "You." He gestured with his blaster in Thalia's direction. "I know you."

She had been trained since childhood never to take her eyes off an enemy, but nonetheless, Thalia looked instinctively to her right, to the web of shadows and Force-weaves.

"He means you." Oerin Lin's chuckle was in her mind more than spoken. Hidden in shadow, she could not see if his dead lips moved-or not. "Don't mind me, pretend I'm not here."

"M-master Ordo-yes." Thalia was too nervous to get the title right. Strange to be nervous now, when her dreams had seen nothing amiss with this vision. The chance that the Mandalorians would turn on them was slight. "We met briefly. On Korriban."

"Yeah. One of Jin's friends. The kids from the cave."

"As you say. I saw you in the Jedi Temple as well."

"That was the day you killed me with a kiss, sweet Thalia." It was the first time Lord Sion had spoken of it. Thalia had been foolish to think he could have forgotten.

"Why are you here, Jedi? With Surik?" The man gestured with his heavy gun carelessly, but Thalia noted the other Mandalorians' stances sharpen.

"Master Surik left me to greet you. She has returned to Oas-to the moon below. We're establishing a refuge there. Your daughter is already-"

"I know where my daughter is." He waved his gun again. "You're gonna prep us a shuttle now to make it down there. Rest of our crew's gonna go to the bridge."

"They want the ship." Oerin sounded amused. "Give it to them."

"Master Surik asked me to provide escort." Thalia opened her hands in a gesture of peace. "We are merely here to help, Master Ordo. We are travelers who mean you no harm."

"Travelers with lightsabers." His helm was full and battered and her reflection a dark blur. "You think I don't know that the New Hope was the vessel that launched Revan's Mass Shadow Generator? She should've died at Malachor Five. And we've met 'travelers' from there before… Sith just as bad as that force-spawned Emperor." His eyes narrowed. "What is this, really? One of Lin's games?"

"No! Of course not-"

"Try to lie effectively." The dead man's sigh was a wheeze in her head. "Not admitting you know me would help."

"I-I don't know any 'Lin,' but Master Surik will give you this vessel, as a gesture of goodwill. A-a gift!" Meetra would not be pleased, perhaps, but Thalia had dreamed of this possibility.

"Not your gift to offer." Lord Sion corrected. " But I will ask Meetra to give it up. She cares nothing for ships and my people have lost so many- -"

"We don't need gifts of what we can take." Suspicion darkened the Mandalorian's tone. Around him, the others murmured, buzz of whispers lost in the open space of the hangar, echoing like ghosts. "Just how many ships do you have up here, anyway?"

"Just the one." The others had retreated-still cloaked-to the far edge of the system. Most were barely manned and some, Thalia thought, would not survive another hyperspace jump.

"There is only one ship." Lin's voice turned silken and seemed to echo louder than the Mandalorian horde-to become a dozen voices-fifty-as they repeated his words.

"Huh." Canderous Ordo didn't look convinced. But he holstered his weapon. "One ship... for now. We'll sweep for others. Jakara, check the engines for sabotage. Lex-you're on systems. Make sure they haven't done something to air, or temp control. Rest of you-scan this ship for more life signs. Jettise hide their numbers to make themselves look small." He continued barking commands and his soldiers fanned out-even the Imperials and the two Republic pilots following his commands.

"We mean you no harm-" Thalia began again.

"Pacifists. Right." A chuckle emitted from the helm. "Let's see that shuttle of yours, kid. Got a name?"

"Thalia," she told him. "Padawan Thalia May."

The shuttle felt empty with just the two of him. In her dreams there had been more-in her dreams, Canderous Ordo had brought companions to the barren moon. But dreams and vision did not always jibe perfectly.

"He left the others to take this ship and lay claim to stars." Sion's voice said in her ear. "He knows there are hidden ships. They will find them. And take them. Meetra won't mind."

Thalia did not glance at the pool of shadows in the corner of the cockpit. Canderous Ordo had taken over piloting himself, leaving her nothing to do but wait.

"Master Surik no longer requires a ship-or ships," she told them both. "The Republic ship Great Hunt returns for us. They're on their way now."

The Mandalorian made a grunt that could have been surprised. "Wideband's up?"

"Yes," Thalia told him. "The war is over."

"At Rekkiad? Or Malachor V?" Canderous Ordo's voice was metallic, almost bored, but Oerin's amused chuckle in her head told Thalia the dead man thought the question anything but disinterested.

"Reports say the details are still classified," she demurred. "But I think Rekkiad. There hasn't been time to travel as far as the Malachor System."

"Depends on how you go." But the Mandalorian leaned back in his chair as if the answer pleased him.

"Malachor is ours," Lord Sion told her, almost smugly. "It belongs to the children of Mand'alor. He would not have it sullied again."

XXX

My First Grandfather met his glorious end above the skies of an unnamed planet, in battle against a foe who flew a ship made of stone. First Grandfather had tracked that asteroid-ship across the galaxy. In his fading years, after First Grandmother's death, it became his obsession.

My Second Grandfather was far more temperate, although he also was a great war hero to the barbarian Republics. Second Grandfather knew when to attack and when to retreat, but my favorite memories are from the times he taught me to fly in ships even faster than drexl, on worlds as distant as Telos and T'Rith.

Second Grandfather met his end in his bed, next to his Jettise wife. In Republic lands, dying old and asleep is honorable, too.

I was nine when I learned Second Grandfather and I had no blood-ties. Nine when I learned that my father was not my father by the laws of the Independent Collective of Onderon… but my mother's people were not bound by those laws and so I did not care.

-Queen Faene Starshine of Onderon, Recollections of My Girlhood. 75RRA

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

The New Hope's shuttle came down in a cluster of battered vessels. Grief and pride welled in Canderous's heart to see the Medix I unscathed and his daughter atop its roof, waving fiercely as his shuttle landed.

The air was thin and cold and in the space of ten heartbeats, Canderous was out of the hatch. He had just enough time to adjust his suit for the heavier gravity before Millifar hurtled into his arms.

"I saw," Canderous responded to her barrage of questions, whispering the words in her ear, his own bare cheek resting against her shaven scalp. "She was magnificent."

"I yelled." Millifar sniffled. "At her. On the comm-link. Just before-"

"No. You showed spirit." He let the wind take his tears.

"Leskal is here. And Urex. She made them… made most of the boys take the escape pods."

"She saved me some warriors." Although his heart thought it would be a long time before his people met for a true war again.

Behind Millifar, that hu'tuun Emperor was in the Zabrak. Eyes red and glowing.

"What the hell're you lookin' at!" The wind made his voice harsh. "Get out!"

The eyes flashed once and then faded. The boy's body collapsed in the sand. A few other sents hustled over to the body, lifting Zepth and taking him away, back into the Medix .

"Huh."

"Oh." Milli had followed his gaze. "He's always doing that, Father."

"Was that the Emperor in there? Or her?" He wondered if Revan would try to apologize for their loss. Blame herself and insult them both. He did not think he could bear to hear Aemelie's sacrifice demeaned.

You don't know what to say to her, old man, his thoughts whispered. Perhaps she doesn't know what to say to you, either.

"Zepth never speaks when his eyes glow." Millifar paused. "The Jettai Surik just offered us ships, Father. We could be rid of this place." Her eyes were red-rimmed. "I want to go home."

Home. To a moon she had never seen.

"I do as well." Canderous looked at the sky. "They told me the war is over. The Republics will be coming back."

"We are done fighting their battles!" his daughter said fiercely.

Canderous nodded. "We are." Jettise, he thought. That old word meant Jedi and Republic both when both had been their foes. He wondered what Revan would make of the Deathbringer.

Xxx

Moderator: "Senators, we're not sure how long this wideband connection will last, so please keep your questions short."

(Thunderous applause.)

High Admiral Rensha (snarls): "The Senate floor is now open to questions. Senators?"

Senator Pallas Rist of Alderaan (over commlink); "I'm sure we all speak with one voice when we congratulate your victory over the Sith Empire. Of course, that is the Sith Empire that Darth Revan created in the first place-"

General Revan (laughs): "You're giving me way too much credit, Senator."

Senator Pallas Rist of Alderaan: "Am I? I'd also like to formally file charges against you for murder, and demand an investigation into the Organa family's death upon Deralia."

General Revan (laughs): "I… could you just get me a private channel with… uh, with your secretary? Uh, Secretary Boon Organa? I'm sure we could clear up any misunderstanding."

Senator: "You will face justice in an Alderaanian court of law! And that does not even scrape the surface of your war crimes against the Republic-am I the only sentient on this floor not bought and paid for by Racharn?"

General Sheris: "I have already submitted an application for a full Republic pardon for Revan Starfire D'Reev-"

General Revan (mutters): "You would."

General Sheris: "Please try and take this seriously, Revan. Senators, as you can see from my attached petition, it is imperative that Revan and I be allowed freedom of movement if we are to continue to protect and serve the Republic."

Admiral Rensha: "No. I have requested you both remain in custody until we have at least established there is no further Imperial or Mandalorian threat-"

General Revan: "The Mandalorians were never a threat!"

Senator Feezkit of Kuat: "Coming from the woman who commanded their largest warship, that is less than reassuring."

General Revan: "The Aleema? I didn't-"

General Sheris: "Gentlebeings, please listen to reason. My fellow Jedi General and I are the only ones capable of assessing and neutralizing the Imperial threat. You need Jedi to fight this war-"

Senator Tyg, of Byss: "Hah! And where have we heard language like that before?"

General Revan: "Gee. Let me guess. The Mandalorian Wars?"

General Sheris: "Feema la'kirt!"

General Revan: "Iksay bah. Go-to ak'namla seem!"

-A Memorandum of Events from Senate Council Meeting XxIXxxxxxIv, popularly known as 'The Seventh Speech.'

{'Not a Transcript' is hydro-marked on the flimsi, casting some doubt on its accuracy. In addition, a handwritten note across the bottom says, "I'm always happy to translate Rakatan for you, Lydie, but they're just telling each other to be quiet in crude, but descriptive terms." -AL.}

[Note: Although several scholars have tried to use these phrases as a sort of 'Taug Stone' to translate the Rakatan language, the mix of the colloquial idiom has confounded them. Whoever this 'AL' was, he must have been a formidable scholar indeed!]

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

"You were gone again."

Dar had taken to holding a bulb of hull-scouring fluid under Revan's nose to bring her back from a trance. It was as effective as the shock stick and a lot less painful.

"Yes-" Revan pushed her hand with the bulb away. "Canderous is alive. He made it to Oas."

"Good." But the frown between her counterpart's eyes said that was not her concern. "I feel it's less good how much you are with Tenebrae."

"I didn't see the Emperor. I don't know where he is." His presence had faded to a whisper when the last Machine Ship died. Perhaps the death of the Sleepers had weakened-or even killed him-leaving Revan alone with everyone he possessed.

Was that victory? Victory felt brittle and hollow trapped in this room, on this ship when there were so many lives elsewhere in the galaxy free and alive-

Like the feeling of pie crust beneath Revan's borrowed fingers on Deralia-

-the joy of catching a fish, seeing the skies of a new world-Ystred-where she'd never been-

-cold wind on her face on Oas watching Canderous hug his daughter-

-catching a glimpse of Korrie from a window on Nar Shaddaa-

All of those moments felt more real than this stifling room and the woman who was her reflection staring back-usually with corrections about whatever Revan had said wrong last.

At least the headaches and nosebleeds had stopped with the death of the last Sleeper ship. But had they won? Not exactly comforting that Meetra Surik had surfaced. Dar seemed less worried about the woman Vima had called her true apprentice than Revan was. Be it on her head. From Zepth's borrowed body Revan hadn't seen Meetra Surik or her padawans do anything more insidious than roll their eyes with impatience.

"I'm not sure it's better that you're possessing his bodies instead of him." Dar raised an eyebrow. "You need to eat something. In this body."

"I've more news of Korrie." Malak had filled in some details but Revan had so many unanswered questions. The Weequay could only get so close. She wanted to ask Mission to comm, but what if that spooked Lena Wee and the Twi'lek twins?

Korrie's face in the starboard windows. A profile, walking past. A glimpse and then gone.

"And?" Dar smiled. "Once this is finished we'll see him. You should have been more polite with those senators. We need our freedom."

Doesn't matter. They're never going to let us go. For all her wisdom, Dar refused to see how far they were from free. Cold comfort, that the Force would allow Revan to escape this cage so easily, when it would mean permanent exile and the life of a fugitive-and not just for her. Rensha had made that clear, too.

"Our son likes to be called Kore, now. The twins and Lena Wee have been staying on their ship, The Blue Ghast. One of those luxury skycruisers, registered to a 'Go-To.'"

"Go-To? One of your twins has a sense of humor. Or both, I suppose."

That was funny. "If we're going by the theory the 'Go-To' is from the Rakatan, yes."

Dar raised an eyebrow. "What else could it be? How did you explain yourself to his guardians?"

Revan shook her head. "I haven't. I'm just watching. Korrie's even taller. As tall as us, I think."

"He'll grow more. Mal shot up between twelve and sixteen. I stopped growing at eleven-" A trace of a frown tugged at her lips. "Or-no. I was thirteen."

"You were tall for thirteen." Little slips. Sometimes Revan wondered if Dar noticed them. Discordant histories. If Revan hadn't experienced the feeling of being two people herself, she might never have noticed when Dar called herself a padawan or referred to events that had happened after the real Revan Starfire's death.

Once, Revan would have exploited Dar's weakness… but they were no longer at war. "Polla shot up six centimeters when she was seventeen. Surprised the hell out of everyone."

"Oh. Our mother was taller than we are," Dar shrugged, twisting her fingers in her lap. "Was Malak with our son?"

"He's not here, so I…." She had assumed so. "The Weequay doesn't have the Force. I couldn't see Malak from his body. Was… was our father tall, too?"

"Shorter than Mam." The personal endearment hung between them awkwardly. "And Radrik was kind. No matter what you've heard, he was always kind to me-"

"I haven't heard anything except he was Vrook's brother." Revan thought. "And… a Jedi, right?"

"He was always kind," Dar repeated, almost stubbornly.

"Oh." A whisper of memory tugged at Revan. "There was… there was a fire in the lab. Our mother was yelling-"

"You remember that?" Dar sounded startled.

Only the tone of voice and the brightness of the flames. "Just a little."

"I knocked over a burner. With my mind. They weren't expecting-"

"You made the flames spread." Revan could remember nothing but the expanse of them, dry crackling heat amongst all the cold. "They were… pretty."

"Yes." Dar fiddled with her cup of tea. Endless cups of tea. "Pretty. But it was fine. The maintenance droids took care of it. No one was injured."

"Oh. Good. We could find out what happened to our parents-when we get back-"

"There is nothing to find. Malachi erased all traces of my past on Hoth from the official records when I married his son." Dar sounded bored again. "Our parents are dead, Revan. Leave it alone."

"Fine."

The awkward silence yawned between them for an eon.

Revan slouched in Carth's battered jacket. She only wore it in their room. Everywhere else, she dressed in white robes, identical to Dar's. In the last day, there had been a lot of public appearances and broadcasts as the Hunt's team of relations demanded interviews and testimony. She wondered if Carth was getting the same treatment on the Arm. Revan had suggested going there, but then everyone got very quiet. Malak's ghost had whispered in her ear that it was unlikely they would allow Revan Starfire on the command deck of a Sith war cruiser.

Ever again.

On the other hand, they didn't seem willing to let Carth off of his command deck. And that-

That was a surmountable problem. Revan smiled and closed her eyes, ready to go to him-to step through hyperspace to the Voice on his ship-when-

"What do you think of Surik?" Dar's voice pulled Revan back. She sounded careful and precise, which meant that her counterpart was more rattled than she was willing to admit.

"Meetra Surik is spearheading the rescue mission on Oas. Doing a good job. Zepth's Force-sensitive, I'd sense darkness, if…." Revan paused. "She hasn't tried to kill Zepth."

"Does she know what he is?"

"I don't know. I'm doing my best to keep my distance." Although lately, it was harder and harder to find Zepth among the multitudes, especially when she preferred to watch Korrie, or retreat back to Sydax's head and all of those pies.

Polla's son was walking, now. Revan hoped she had the chance to tell her.

Dar gave her a flat glance. "Carth's son and our cousin?"

"Still unconscious." And Dustil looked bad, but there was nothing Revan could do. "Surik's healers have looked at them. I worry the Emperor could use them again-"

"That's why we have to stop him now. You said it's two jumps to Nar Shaddaa from Rekkiad. Two jumps and we could end this."

Revan wished she'd never admitted it was only two jumps. Dar was like a kath with a fracking bone. "And then what?" They were already speaking in Rakatan but Revan lowered her voice anyway. "You want to go get your box from Lena-" the coincidence made her suspicious already "-find a possessed sent and put Tenebrae in it? Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"And the armed guard outside this room? My friends three decks down? Where are we going to find a ship for all of us?"

Dar sighed. "Vima's corvette is in the officer's hangar. I know the release codes."

Revan would bet anything Rensha had changed them. "You think Rensha will let us go?"

"She can't stop you." Dar paused. "We will need an ally to pilot the ship-"

"No. But she can stop my friends." Revan tried not to roll her eyes. Dar's naivete had to be deliberate. "Jasp isn't well. And Zaalbar feels responsible for his people. He won't leave them. How do you think we'd get a dozen Wookiees and Phylus Blais down fifty levels from a private lift-"

"You escaped from me on the Leviathan, Red." Malak's voice appeared a millisecond before he did, glimmering blue, still with that face that she didn't recognize: the gentle smile, the mane of hair past his shoulders. "You escaped without even the Force to guide you. Shackled with neural restraints. You rescued your friends then. Surely with our help-"

Dar glanced up. "See? Malak would help."

Revan felt a half-hysterical laugh bubble in her gut. "Oh? Would he?" Two Jedi who sacrificed planets rescuing my friends. What could go wrong? "And then what? We'd be fugitives. If you want the damned Mind Prison so badly, my bounty hunter is on Nar Shaddaa now. I could possess his body, and obtain the box for you-"

"Without having harm come to Malachor?"Dar shook her head. "No, that plan is too risky."

Revan bit back her impatience with some effort. "Wasn't planning on harming anyone. Mission says those twins are her, and Lena Wee is an innocent."

Dar'Revan picked up a nutrabar and unwrapped it slowly. "No one touched by the Rakatan computer is innocent."

"Whatever," Revan snapped. "You're the one who wants the box so badly. I'm just offering to help."

Makak's expression shifted as he glanced between them. His insubstantial hand brushed through Dar's shoulder. "Perhaps she could try, Red. I can shield our son."

"No! It's not safe for her to get the box in that body. Tenebrae might know, Even now-he might still know that we're plotting against him-" Dar sounded insane, babbling about the Sith Emperor. "I'll go alone," Dar continued, frowning. "Perhaps you could arrange a distraction, Fragment, and then I can make my escape."

"But I don't sense Vitiate at all." Revan could walk across stars like a colossus, and see a thousand thoughts, a million tiny lives. The Sith Emperor was in none of them. "Maybe he died with the Sleepers."

"No." Dar's laughter was dark. "It can't be that easy."

"Well, what if it is? Then we don't need your Rakatan Mind Trap.."

"It can't be." Her counterpart was stubborn. "Do not return to the bounty hunter's body. Draw no attention to Malachor or the Twi'leks. I'll go alone."

"Not alone, Red." Malak's hand brushed through Dar's shoulder.

Dar smiled up at him.

"Get a room," Revan snapped.

Dar'Revan and Makak didn't answer her. Malak gazed down at Dar with an expression on his face that made Revan's heart twist and her stomach churn.

Suddenly the room was stifling. "I'm going to check on Oas again. Have fun, you two." Revan closed her eyes and reached out again, across the stars-

"Wait! You fool!" she heard Dar say-but Revan was already gone.

XXX

Ellis Pho: "This is E-Pho with CoruNet, a Racharn Broadcasting Corporation, coming to you viewers live from the middle of nowhere! My pilot tells me this is the Degriass System, the moon of Oas, and we're about to interview some of the survivors of the Machine Wars! Although the Senate has been in touch with High Admiral Rensha and our Fleet, the coordinates to Degriass came from an unexpected source-the Jedi Exile Meetra Surik! She's invited us to join her on a mission of mercy. Guiding our tour we have two of her apprentices, Mira the Hunter, and her Wookiee-

Hanharr (growls).

Mira: "He's not my Wookiee. And we're not apprentices. Master Surik says we're padawans now. Jedi-in-training.

Hanharr (in Shyriiwook): "Why must we suffer the idiocy of fools?"

Mira (in Shyriiwook): "Because the master says so. I don't think you want to challenge her again."

Hanharr (in Shyriiwook, whines): "I cannot."

Ellis Pho (nervous laugh): "So hard to believe they're really talkin when they go on like that, ain't it? Funny creatures, Wookiees. This one's not the one who went on the Star Forge jaunt, is he? Don't remember that many scars-"

Hanharr (in Shyriiwook): "Imbecile."

-Old Republic Broadcast, Holonovella, "Kashyyyk Passions"

[Note: Although fictional, this transcript seems accurate with what is known of Hanharr the Wookiee and Mira the Hunter.]

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

The port-side window revealed a flat white plain. Clusters of small ships were half-covered in stuff that had to be snow. There was a bonfire, half-ringed by Mandalorians. Mekel couldn't hear them through the thick layers of transparisteel, but it looked like the Mandalorians were singing.

He blinked hard and wondered if he were still dreaming. Or dead. This could be Mandie heaven. He glanced behind him, to the other cot, where Telos was still out like a comatose mark. Mekel had woke up a few moments ago to find tubes connecting them. He'd ripped the tubes out of their arms and then almost puked.

Dustil looked like he'd been through a war. Mekel felt like he'd just gotten back from one.

"Had one kriff of a nightmare," Mekel told the unconscious man. But Telos didn't even twitch. His skin was mottled and purplish. Shiny with kolto. Waxen, like a burn victim.

Memory was vague. Some kind of sick dream where they'd held skeins of power in their hands and burned ships from the sky. Couldn't be real. The Force was gone again. The galaxy was as flat and blank as it ever was-ever since that asshole Lin had taken Mekel's power away.

Mekel glanced outside again, trying to make sense of the scene at the bonfire. All of the Mandos had their armor on, but not one wore a helm. Most were bald-or nearly so. Milli had her hair shorn to the scalp. Someone else had died if she'd cut her hair again. Next to her and just as skin-domed was her father, Canderous Ordo. And, as Mekel watched, a group of fracking Jedi walked in front of his view, all in neat gray robes with lightsabers dangling at their belts.

Jedi? Maybe this wasn't Mandalorian heaven after all

One of the Jedi was a Wookiee, strolling next to a sassy red-headed piece. A HoloNet reporter trailed after the pair of them, remote cams bobbing. The reporter was a Zeltron who looked familiar, but Mekel couldn't remember the last time he'd watched CoruNet. The real thing was the Wookiee Jedi, even wearing a gray tabard like it was a robe-

Fracking unreal. Mekel rubbed his eyes. Definitely not Mandie heaven-

A small shuttle landed, blowing snow off the grounded fighters with its descent. The shuttle was stamped with the CoruNet logo. The sents crowding out with their floating remotes looked to be more reporters. They approached the Mandies with their broadcast antennae waving like a pack of corpse-worms.

Milli and a few others drew blasters-but then a dark-haired, brown-skinned Human Jedi in gray robes came between them. Held up her hand and said something.

She had a red star inked on her cheek.

Mekel didn't remember hearing there were Jedi in this war.

Whatever the Jedi said made the Mandies back down. Milli didn't shoot. Holocams flashed. Then the Mandalorians walked away, leaving just the Jedi to talk to the reporter.

The bonfire choked out black smoke, staining the sky. Wind blew gusts of snow off a few crashed escape pods. It looked cold out there.

"You're missing the show, fockda." Mekel looked back at Dustil. His old pal looked like one giant bruise. At least with the bond gone I don't have to feel it. That thought made his gut feel funny, with an emotion it would take Mekel another decade to recognize as guilt.

He sat back down and stared at Dustil, trying to make sense and coming up empty. They'd been so powerful, part of the Emperor and everything, but Mekel remembered he'd been scared, too. A blank spot in his brain circled like a vortex-the spot where he thought the Emperor's real face was supposed to be. But that had all been hallucination, right? Our ships were damaged. We both got hurt and Telos almost died, maybe-

Maybe it was all a dream. Or this is. This is the dream because Telos has to wake up-

Then the door slid open and the Emperor himself walked in, possessing Zepth with his eyes glowing red as blood. "Mekel. Good. You're awake."

"Master." Mekel ducked his head, trying to play it cool, like the sight of those red eyes didn't remind him of that fracking nightmare-and like another part of him wasn't so relieved to see His Luminance that he could've kissed him. "I'm glad to see you, my Lord."

There was a pause as the Zabrak froze, in which time Mekel realized his mistake.

"Master?" the Zabrak scoffed, eyebrows shooting up. "Really, Mekel? You call Tenebrae your 'master? ' "

"He is the Emperor of the Sith." Mekel wasn't stupid. "Uh... hey, Cousin Revan. Good to see you… kind of see you. How's… how're things?"

"Hey, Mekel." Zepth's glowing eyes squinted. "You look like shit."

"Feel like it, too." He tried to laugh. "So… uh, where is Lord Valkorion?"

"Valkorion? You call him that?" She made Zepth's voice sound surprised.

"His Luminance asked me to. It's the name He has chosen for his next ascent-"

"The hell? His Luminance is not your master, Mekel. He's a body-stealing schutta who's killed billions."

Right. That's why he's the master. Didn't Revan get that? She did the same thing?

Cousin Revan had stopped in front of Telos's cot. "What happened to Dustil?"

"Dunno. Woke up and he was like that. Looks like he got burned. Maybe our ships got hit in the fight?"

"No. He's space-seared. From the vacuum. He wasn't wearing proper gear when Millifar pulled him out… knew that, but he's still not healing." Revan shook the Zabrak's head. "Dar will take a look when we get to you-looks bad if the kolto isn't making a dent. Are the burns why he's unconscious?"

Mekel shrugged. "Dunno. I woke up and he was like this."

"You can't tell why he won't wake up?"

"The Force bond broke, remember?"

"Hrmm…" She sounded like she didn't believe him. "At least you're awake. Third time I've checked on you. You were both out yesterday." She glanced toward the window lowering her voice slightly. "I'm trying to keep a low profile. Don't want to get Zepth locked up or shot if someone thinks I'm the Emperor."

Yesterday… how long had they been here? Mekel refused to panic. "Where are we?"

"Oas. It's a moon orbiting the Degriass planet. A lot of the survivors landed here, too. After the fighting."

"Oh. Hey, how's the war going?"

"It's done." Her voice was flat and disinterested. "For half a day, now. My real body is in the Rekkiad System-about to turn around and come back. I see Canderous is-" her words made the Zabrak's voice a whisper. "Must've made it here over the last cycle. Glad he's still alive. Glad to see so many made it off the Aleema . They evacuated everyone they could."

Mekel nodded. Evacuated? "Yeah, but somebody died. Milli shaved her head again."

His cousin turned and glared at him with her borrowed face. "A lot of people died, Mekel. Aleema was lost with all hands."

"Lost?" It didn't make sense. "How-"

"I felt them die. Little lights winking out. That's what it feels like." She walked to the window and looked out. "They took out more than half of the Sleeper fleet. You and Dustil… you were there when we took out a third more. Do you remember?"

"I remember we were linked to my-linked to the Emperor. And you were there." He swallowed. "We could've finished the Sleepers off. The Aleema wasn't gone then."

"Don't you think I know that?" Her voice was too high-pitched to be in Zepth's throat. She made the words squeak in a way that should have been comical, but even without the Force Mekel could see how pissed off she was. "That power would have killed you-you and Dustil both."

"Oh." He didn't know what to say to that. It couldn't be true-His Luminance valued Mekel too much-but Revan didn't look like she wanted to argue, pacing back and forth on Zepth's muscular legs, and peering out that window from time to time, like she was hiding from all those Mandalorians and the Jedi that still lived.

"I don't know what to say to Canderous," she added, softer now. "Or his daughter. Rensha's established an official channel going through those Jedi so they'll know I'm coming… I just don't know what to say."

Zabrak's giant head blocked most of Mekel's view, so he looked at Telos again. The Aleema-gone. That ship had been too big to fracking die-and the closest thing to a place Mekel wanted to be since…

Since Korriban.

"I've been out of it." He tried to sound careless. "Did you send the Jedi down to help?"

"No." She shook the Zabrak's head, still staring at the window. "That lot was here when I checked in at sunrise yesterday. Recognize any of 'em?"

"No. But one's a Wookiee." Mekel had never heard of a Jedi Wookiee. "Maybe they're from another enclave. My dads said there were other Jedi in hiding, and everyone on Katarr scattered-"

"Maybe. But the nets say that one with the star on her cheek is Meetra Surik, the Jedi Exile. And... there's something off about all of this." She glanced at the window and then back to Mekel. "Something off with Tenebrae, too. Maybe he's weakened, but it feels like he's… hiding from me. You really haven't seen him?"

"Uh, no. Just you. I just woke up." The world felt flat and empty now. Hadn't been His Luminance using them. It had been her, Mekel thought, channeling all of their power. "You were there, too, Revan-before. When we wrecked those ships… we were a part of something."

"A part that Tenebrae was using." She made Zepth's handsome face look like it was sucking on a lemma. "You called him 'master' before. Mekel, you don't have to serve him. You're not his stars-kissed errand boy!"

"Frack you!" Later, Mekel would have time to think that maybe words had different meanings outside of the Underground, in places where not everyone was for sale. Maybe in some places 'errand boy' wasn't a fancy term for whore. But right then, his anger came fast as a mark renting by the minute. "I'm not anyone's errand boy, cousin." Came out mean, like words had the first time they'd met-when he thought she was just another prospie who'd starve to death because she was weak. "Not Valkorion's-and not yours."

"I know that." She didn't, though.

"Get the frack out." He felt like he was gonna be sick, facing down the former Dark Lord of the Sith. "Get out of Zepth and out of this ship. Get out!"

She made Zepth's body take a step back, toward the door that led to the ship's corridor. "Mekel. I promise, we're coming to help. Watch those Jedi-something's wrong-."

"You possessing my fracking friend is what's wrong! You were there with us. You were the one burning those ships and you liked it! I saw you! I felt it-"

Those glowing red eyes narrowed. "Careful, Mekel." Scarcely more than a whisper. "I mean it."

"Get out!" He pointed to the door.

She blinked. And then the glow around Zepth's face faded and the Zabrak collapsed on the floor.

Typical. Wasn't that just like her, dropping Zepth like an old pair of shoes when she didn't need him anymore? Same way she'd dropped the Aleema-

"Guess I showed her, Telos, huh?" Mekel tried to laugh.

Dustil, being unconscious, said nothing. Mekel dragged the Zabrak onto the cot he had vacated, an effort that left him sweaty and sick.

"Move over, fockda." He climbed on top of Telos, rolling the man onto his side to make room, and then wrapped his arms around him. It was a tight fit but they'd slept on worse.

But it took a long time for Mekel to fall asleep, even next to Dustil's solid warmth. And when he woke up again, things were even more complicated.

Xxx

Dalia Yuvik: "This is Dalia from the Alderaan LiveWire, courtesy of Rist Broadcasting here on special assignment. I've been quite fortunate to snag the first interview with a woman who needs no introduction to most of the free galaxy-especially in the last Standard year.

Joining me now on the Oas moon is Jedi Meetra Surik, the former Exile. Exiled no more, she has returned to give aid to these refugees from the Machine Wars, many of whom are her former enemies! Meetra, in the time we've been setting this up, we've seen both Mandalorian and Sith uniforms walk by our booth. Is it strange giving succor to old foes?"

Meetra Surik: "Broadcaster Yuvik. If we don't help the less fortunate we are no better than they were when they burned our planets and killed innocent civilians."

Dalia: "Well… yes, but still. I'm sure this can't be easy for you."

Meetra: "Honestly, it's not easy. But it's the right thing to do. There are so few remaining Jedi, and the ones I've found need to be guided along the right path."

Dalia: "And you think you should do the guiding?"

Meetra: (Sincerely) "I am the only one who can."

-Interview with Meetra Surik, Alderaan LiveWire, 3966 BBY

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

Millifar Ordo was Mekel's next visitor, shaking him awake and looming over his head. She was pale-faced and red-eyed, smelling like smoke. There were scratches on her skull where the razor-edge she'd used to cut her hair had scraped flesh.

"Mekel!" She looked startled when he jumped off the cot and scrambled to his feet, backing up before he could hug her. "Mydia will be pleased that you're conscious. Sinae and I told her your vitals were stable, but she was worried-" she frowned, glancing at Dustil. "Mydia keeps saying you're both going to die, but she has been hysterical ever since the Jedi came. I didn't take her seriously."

"That's Mydia." Mekel blinked, trying to sort out the dream he'd been having from reality.

Dream had been better. Telos had been there. They'd been together, part of a warmth that felt as powerful as the sun.

Milli indicated Zepth, still passed out in Mekel's old bed. "Did the Zabrak wake up? We had him in the isolation room down the hall before. The door was locked."

"Just for a sec," Mekel lied. He sat up on the edge of the bed. "He… uh, guess he got lonely in there."

"Hrm…" she frowned. "Father says we should put him out of his misery now that we don't need the arusuum'la Emperor."

"It's just Zepth," Mekel lied again. "And he's unconscious. You can't shoot him."

"I do not see the honor in it. But my father is heart-bitter and wishes to be gone from this place. We are leaving soon."

"Good." He reached for her hand. "That's snow outside, right? Frack this place. I hate snow. Where are we going?"

"Dxun." She squeezed his hand back. "I wasn't sure you would come."

"Nothing keeping me on this rock." He tried to make a joke of it. "What's with the HoloNet crews?"

"They came right after the Jedi did. I think Deathbringer Surik summoned them." Milli rolled her eyes. "She's giving us ships for her blood price. Father wants to leave before the rest of the Republics get here."

"Uh, when is that?" Revan had said something about tomorrow. But Mekel had to play dumb.

"Soon," Milli repeated. "We will leave this Medix shuttle. We've already relocated the genebanks. Sinae doesn't think Dustil should be moved." She glanced at the unconscious Zabrak. "The arusum'la can be the Jettise's problem."

"Right." Later, he would realize how stupid he'd been. But in that moment, it didn't occur to Mekel that making a choice meant leaving Telos. "You said Mydia was worried. You weren't? Not even a little?"

His game was off because she didn't smile back. "I knew your vitals were stable." Her stubborn chin jerked in Telos's direction. "His vacillate wildly. Sinae can't explain it."

"You had us hooked up, sharing each other's blood."

"He has internal injuries. You're a perfect match. You disconnected the feed-" for the first time she seemed to noticed the tubes on the floor, the blood spatter on the sterile white floor. Her disgusted expression made Mekel notice it too.

"Sorry…" he offered.

"He is stable, now." Milli pulled a sani out of the wall cabinet and started cleaning up the mess. "How long ago did you disconnect the line?"

"I don't know." She kept scrubbing. Suddenly, Mekel felt that funny feeling in his gut again. "Milli, I'm sorry. I… I heard about Aemelie."

"From who? You've been unconscious. You both almost died. I saved your lives. She saved us. Everyone on the Aleema died to save us." She was on her knees, scrubbing at the floor. Even on Korriban, they'd had mouse-droids for that crap.

"Uh… Revan. She was just here… possessing Zepth … she said they're coming."

"You lied to me? You said it was only the Zabrak!"

"For a second it was her." His girlfriend had her hand on her blaster. "Don't shoot Zepth. It's not his fault."

"I would not. I am not my father." Her face looked up at his. The shaved head made her nose too big and her jaw too strong, but she was still beautiful. "Revan and the Emperor, back and forth in that Zabrak's body. If it were honorable I would put him out of his misery!"

"But you can't." Mekel had shivved more than one knocked-out sent in his time, but none that he'd liked. Zepth was a good guy and he was Lydie's brother.

"I know." She drew a ragged breath. "The Jettise brought a wideband receiver. It summoned the reporters-and gave us news of the war. We won."

"Yeah. Revan told me." Didn't feel like victory, this empty flat feeling. "Uh, where did the Jettise come from?"

His girlfriend spat on the ground. "The Deathbringer said they were all in hiding before. On Malachor Five."

"Deathbringer? Who's that?"

Millifar gave him that look that said he was ignorant and then began to explain.

Xxx

Dalia: "You were just speaking about guiding the Jedi along the right path, Jedi Surik. Pardon my informality, but you don't look any older than some of your students! I guess we're all used to seeing Jedi Masters who are old and wizened… what makes you the leader of this group?"

Meetra: "Nothing, really. Except they asked me to be the leader. Most of my followers never had proper training. They were passed over by the Order, or relegated to the Service Corps, or tempted by the Sith. With the Purges, there aren't very many Jedi left."

Dalia: "We have all wondered where the Jedi went."

Meetra: "Into hiding, or killed by the Emperor's assassins, I'm afraid. Now my followers and I stand in the footprints of behemoths, merely trying to find our humble way."

Dalia: "And General Revan Starfire? General Sheris Darkstar? Have you spoken to them?"

Meetra: "General Sheris was a dear friend of mine during the war. I am looking forward to our reunion."

Dalia: "Some say you and Revan had a less amicable relationship."

Meetra: "My master always told me that gossip is the work of idle minds, Dalia. If you'll excuse me, we still have so much work to do..."

-Interview with Meetra Surik, Alderaan LiveWire, 3966 BBY

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

It took a while before Mekel ran out of questions, mostly ones Millifar didn't have answers for. In that time he realized he hadn't wondered about Mydia Blais-even when Milli had mentioned her-except that he'd never thought she was dead. Somehow, even back then, he'd known that bint was too tough to die.

Turned out she hadn't been on the Aleema at all. And-

"We needed the tank space." Milli's voice was hoarse from all of the death hymns she'd been singing-all night she said. She brought him water, which made Mekel remember he was supposed to offer tea. When he did, she shook her head. "We needed the tank space so Sinae had to decant them early. The boy's fine, but some of the Jettise healers have been working on the girl-"

"The babies." Maybe Mekel had lost the thread of the conversation, somehow. "Dustil's babies are born?"

"That's what I just said." Her hand was cool on his forehead. "Are you fevered?"

Telos looked like a dead statue lying there on the cot. If it hadn't been for the monitors beeping green, Mekel might have thought he was already dead.

"I'm okay." Mekel tried to laugh, but it was more of a cough. "Can't wait to see them."

"You like children?" She sounded startled.

"Sure. Kids are okay." He tried to think of the last time he'd been around one. "Dustil and me hung out with Revan's kid, once. And that smuggler, she had that baby-I saw the baby at my moms's brothel-"

Millifar made a face.

"No! They were just hiding out there.. it wasn't like-"

"The smuggler is here, too. Polla Organa." She sighed like Mekel had disappointed her again. "Aemelie was very fond."

"Polla Organa's here?" That didn't make any sense. "But Revan's not-not either of the Revans-"

"They are coming." She reached for his hand. "I told you that already, Jin of Lin."

Maybe she had, but the way Milli told stories went too deep into space math for Mekel's taste. Her version had their attack vectors, the rates of drift for his and Dustil's ships, the physics of what had actually happened to the Aleema-

We coulda been on that ship. Later, maybe Mekel would feel sad for Dessa and Aemelie and everyone who had died. Now he just felt… drained. Like that power the Emperor had put into him had all leaked out.

"-that's why I don't want to wait," Millifar continued. "Sinae has all the necessary components. She extracted them from you during your last physical. When you were still healthy."

"I'm healthy now." Did she think he wasn't? Mekel grabbed her arm and kissed her, just to prove the point. It wasn't a passionate kiss-not at first-but something stirred inside of him and it became one, open-mouthed and hot-maybe even hotter for Telos being there-even unconscious.

"Is that a yes?" Milli asked, when they broke apart. "You'll be a father to her?"

Babies. She was talking about babies. Mekel knew that-knew what she was asking. Later, he'd try and laugh it off, pretend that he didn't understand-say she'd tricked him. But there was no deceit in Milli. Her heart shone in her eyes. She asked him and he knew.

"Or him," he said. "Maybe twins. Or triplets. What's the word for four?"

"It is safer just to have one inside my body." She took his hand, then, and brought it to the hard place on her beskar, the place where her belly would grow. "I want to have a girl first."

"Can Sinae do that?" Later-later, he'd tell himself it was a joke. In the now, Mekel kissed her cheek. She tasted like salt.

"Sinae will select the best embryo. Now that we have your consent to make them."

"Good."

Later, he'd deny it. But in this now, Mekel wanted the kid-the kid and Millifar of Ordo. In this now, the idea that saying yes was making a choice didn't occur to him.

It would take over a decade for him to realize what he'd done-and in the ensuing years, losing Millifar and her daughter would become just two of Mekel's many regrets.

Xxx

Dalia: "If Revan-or Sheris-are watching this broadcast now, do you have any words for them?"

Meetra: "I have been told that Revan has no memories of her past."

Dalia: "That is the claim, but in light of her victory, I wonder. I suppose, knowing her as well as you once did, you will be able to tell."

Meetra (shrugs modestly): "My words are for Sheris, for she was my friend, once. I look forward to seeing her again. We will have so much to discuss. And, I must admit, I am hoping… a mutual friend of ours suggested she might be up for a game of chess?"

-Interview with Meetra Surik, Alderaan LiveWire, 3966 BBY

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

Mekel's third visitor scared the crap out of him. By that time, another half-day had passed and Mekel had tottered outside on legs that felt too stiff-had stumbled into another Mandalorian mourning circle, been poked and prodded at-first by Sinae and then by an earnest blonde Jedi who'd be hot if she wasn't so cold. He'd even met the one Milli called 'the Deathbringer,' and she seemed pretty fracking normal for someone with a title like that. The Balmorran Star was tattooed on her cheek. Her name was Meetra Surik and she was the Jedi Exile the newsvids had been gushing about when the real Jedi had all been dying on Katarr.

Holocams followed Master Meetra Surik everywhere. She was a healer. Did a bunch of work on the injured, always looking serious and sweet for the cams.

But when she came alone to see him and Telos-her face turned cold, almost angry.

"There is nothing wrong with his body," she said, staring through Mekel as if he were invisible. "Except dark side corruption. When it permeates the flesh like this there is nothing we can do. The most notable example of this phenomenon is Malak D'Reev and his rotting jaw. I assume you've heard the tale…."

"Yeah. Darth Malak was my sponsor," Mekel was trying to be polite because she could probably kill him. "And Revan's my cousin. Master Vrook was my dads. He's dead now."

The Last Jedi's eyes were dark brown-warm color-but nothing warm in them. She made prickles run up Mekel's spine. "I know who you are, Mekel Jin."

I'm famous. The Last Jedi knows my name. The thought made his mouth twist up, even if it wasn't much of a laugh.

"Your friend's suffering is something I cannot mend," Surik continued. "I am sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Mekel wanted to put himself between her and Dustil. He didn't like her stance, didn't like the way she kept turning and looking at an empty corner of the room, either, lips moving as if she were talking to someone who wasn't there.

The famous Jedi Exile, Mekel thought, might be fracking nuts.

"Odd, in the Force… yes." She was still talking-to thin air. "I had my connection severed in the same manner. But it did return. Perhaps Mekel's will, too, given time."

"Some fracking asshole stole it from me. Killed my father."

"Misfortune comes to everyone from time to time. It makes us stronger, for having endured." Meetra was staring at the corner again. That empty corner, staring like someone was there. "Your father's death was a mistake."

"The asshole who killed him was already dead."

"The asshole is Oerin Lin. My brother." She raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah… really see the family resemblance." Her skin was a few shades darker than caff. Lin had been pale as sand, even before he died.

Later, Mekel would realize he'd entirely missed her use of the present tense.

The Last Jedi raised her eyebrows. "We had different fathers. But our mother was-"

"Jana Novasun. Vima Sunrider. Blah, blah, blah. I know the song. Heard all about her." The snarl came natural. "Telos's father killed her."

"Telos." She nodded. "And they called you Coru, didn't they? Lashowe Devry was Taris. Kel Algwinn, Alderaan. And Thalia May was Ziost."

"Are you in my head?" A weapon wouldn't do any good, but he reached for one anyway-coming up empty. "Get the frack out of my head!"

"No." The Last Jedi blinked. "I have no need to read your thoughts. They are as simple and predictable as your urges. But I am truly sorry I cannot help your friend." Her lips pursed in thought. "The Force is strong in him. And entirely gone from you. Curious. I have seen something almost like this before..."

"Yeah?"

Her head turned to the corner again. "This is the shatterpoint, then? These two-barely into manhood-"

Barely? "Frack you! Revan's gonna help Dustil! My cousin! She's on her way-"

"Revan?" The choked laugh could have been incredulous. "She has no healing talents."

"The other one does. That Sheris bint! She's Revan too."

Surik's amused expression faded. "I had… heard she possessed Sheris's abilities." She glanced at the corner again. "My Seer thinks she might help us, as well."

"Right. With Dustil." It was then that Mekel started to get it-what his fracked-up head hadn't let him see before. "Except… I'm gonna be gone. I'm going with the Mandalorians. They're cutting out at dusk. Can't you do something for him before that? Make him wake up so I can say goodbye-"

"You will leave your bondmate behind?" She sounded surprised. "Willingly?"

"Sure. He's pissed at me… doesn't want me around anymore… he's got a new family, now…." Mekel barely knew this schutta, but something in her eyes made him start babbling like she'd hit him with truth serum.

Later, he was never sure exactly what he'd said-what he'd confessed-only that it ended with her sitting on the empty cot next to Dustil's with her hand on her chin and her dark eyes wide and watchful.

(Mekel and Milli had moved Zepth's unconscious body back to the secured room and resealed the lock. If the Exile sensed Zepth-or cared-she never brought it up with Mekel.)

"The Force is the only thing keeping your lover alive," Meetra Surik said. "Your Bezal-bond has been unbalanced, but not broken. Dustil Onasi is still your bondmate. My Seer did not think you would leave him."

"Frack your Seer," Mekel told her.

"She told me you tried." From anyone else that might have been a joke, but the Jedi Exile was deadly serious. "Thalia May she says you cannot leave Dustil, Mekel Jin. You will go down together. Thalia has told me that the fate of the galaxy depends upon it."

And that was how Mekel found out that Thalia Fracking May was one of Surik's padawans.

"We go down together all the time," he snarled back at her. "Frack you!"

Xxx

My master never wanted a eulogy and this is not one. Meetra Surik rebuilt the Jedi Order and helped restore peace to the galaxy, but she was no saint. She was sometimes petty and always manipulative. She was, in more ways than one, her mother's daughter-righteous and self-aggrandizing, filled with a zealot's fire for a singular truth. By her very nature, her gift in the Force inspired others to bend to her will-whether she willed them to or not.

Imagine, if you can, being a child that no one could ever deny, being the ringleader of every mischief, the director of every adventure. And then imagine that child grown with a woman's strength, subjected to the horrors of war… and then severed from every bond she had ever known.

Imagine her being pulled from afar by the puppet-strings of a true Sith Master. Imagine her being forged to hunt Force-sensitives, to twist her former bonds of affection to make echoes of her own emptiness.

Imagine a Jedi so numbed by broken bonds that she came to the dark from a place of indifference.

Indifference is a crueler knife than hunger. A more brutal instrument than pain. My master was the Lord of Apathy before her mother's death shattered her chains-and, once free, she had to learn like a child all over again.

How to feel. What her purpose was for.

What the Order would be.

It goes without saying she made mistakes.

Upon her return to civilization, my master was starving, though she knew it not. We followers were the meat between her teeth, the plia-bread in her hands. Our love sustained and fed her, and in return, she strengthened our own gifts, gave us a cause, and formed ties of affection between us all.

The kindest thing she could do for her disciples was to send us away, far across the stars to form enclaves of our own-to train others away from her influence-and in doing so find our own agency. But that took time, and in the first days of the New Jedi Order if my master erred on the side of the autocrat who could blame her? She knew nothing else.

None of us were blameless in that time. I have my own smuggler's cache of lies to atone for.

-Thalia May, to her padawan, Personal Journal

[Note: unlike her prophecies, this document is undated. Her padawan is also unnamed.]

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

If there'd been any justice in the galaxy, the fourth visitor would have been Thalia May and Mekel could've told her what orifice she could shove her prophecies up… but instead, the fourth visitor was Mydia Blais, accompanied by a battered protocol droid carrying two bundles of joy.

One bundle was half the size of the other one.

For some reason, both bundles had green hair and started screaming the second they were carried into the room.

Later, when Mekel tried to remember what they'd looked like at that age, all he could see was that hair and those wide-open mouths. The wailing of them.

"This is Ganesh and Myleah," Mydia told Mekel, raising her voice over the screaming. She flopped down on his cot with an exaggerated sigh. "Do you think Dustil will live? He looks awful." She frowned, folding her arms. "I don't want him to die."

"He's not dying." He sat down beside her. The monitors around Telos were still green and steady.

Mekel was leaving soon. Because, seriously, frack this. Frack the Force. Frack Dustil. Frack fate. Dxun was a moon above Onderon and Mekel had always wanted to see the Iziz on Onderon, to see drexl. No Force? Fine. He could still be a Mandalorian. "Dustil's not dying. He's gonna be fine. I'm going to Dxun. You guys can be one happy fracking family without me."

Mydia Blais rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly! We can't be a family! I'm going to be a Jedi. Master Surik says I would be a very powerful force for good if I apply myself to her teachings. We're going to Coruscant after this. I think Inse is there." She smiled dreamily. "I'm going to have her killed."

"Yeah? You're doing a great job with the Jedi thing."

"Thank you." She beamed at him, missing the sarcasm by a parsec. "Have you seen the blue-eyed Seer yet? She won't speak to me. Peasants from Ziost always have such a superstitious fear about our family-we didn't really grow up bathing in their blood, you know. Maybe Mother did, but she was so old-fashioned. Personally, I think it would be disgusting-"

Mekel only knew one way to shut her up-and maybe piss off Telos if he ever heard about it, too. "Myd." He tugged at the buckle of his pants. "Come here." With his other hand, he switched the privacy settings on the empty cot on. A field shimmered into existence around them, blocking out unconscious Telos and his crying kids and the droid-not to mention Thalia May and fate-along with the rest of the kriffing moon.

At least... in theory.

XXX

You possess the gift of Force-sight, Padawan, which is different from foresight, being as it denies wisdom and experience, showing only the cruelest of futures-the ones carved by error and mischance.

Sometimes the path to good does not come from good. This is the hardest lesson you must learn. It was easier for me, being raised on blood sacrifice, but even I nearly faltered the day I spoke to Mekel Jin on the cold moon of Oas….

-Thalia May, to her padawan, Personal Journal

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

XXX

The fifth visitor was Thalia May.

She came in about an hour after Mydia left after not coming... because it turned out Mekel wasn't in the mood after all. He'd kept thinking of Telos and those kids on the other side of the privacy screen and that distraction, as Master Uther used to say about being a Sith and grading term papers, had killed all the joy.

Thalia May came alone and was so serious that Mekel couldn't even make that phrase into a dirty joke.

"My Master says you're going to Onderon, Coru." Thalia's eyes were even bluer than Mekel remembered, like lakes in her brown face.

"Your Master gives me the creeps," he told her. "How the hell are you even here, Ziost?"

"I came with the others." She shrugged. "Master Surik and her brother Oerin Lin."

Mekel's blood froze. "Oerin? That asshole is here? Now?"

"You haven't seen him. Of course." She smiled. "He hides-and even when he does appear, he rarely chooses his real form." She laughed. She'd always had a beautiful laugh, even on Korriban when there was nothing beautiful to laugh about. "If I'm not mistaken, he's doing interviews as Meetra Surik right now while our master meditates in her quarters."

"Lin should be dead." For what he had done to Mekel's father and Kex and Milli. For what he had taken from Mekel before that. "Did you come here to tell me how to fracking kill him?"

"Oerin is dead." Her head tilted. "I thought you understood." She looked at Dustil. "The Force is the only thing binding Oerin to this plane. Not so different from Telos, by the looks of things."

"Banthashit! You're saying Dustil's gonna turn into a walking corpse?"

Thalia blinked. "If I said you were the only one who could save him, would you do it?"

In the now, Mekel was too pissed to notice she hasn't answered the question. "There's no way I could. I saved him tons already. Wasn't for me, you'd both have died on Korriban."

"Yes." Thalia nodded. "I thanked you on Korriban, too. Remember?"

"Yeah. Before I'd even done it." But back then, Thally hadn't seemed so sure of herself. Back then she'd been weak.

The woman standing before him wearing gray robes had new scars on her face and hands. Her soft blue eyes were the only soft thing about her. She wasn't weak now-he was.

"I don't have to listen to you!" Mekel snapped. That quiet stillness of hers used to infuriate challengers back on Dresh'd. Keep 'em raging 'til the last second, when she'd finally strike. Seeing all possible futures was fracking handy in combat. After the second week, everyone wanted Good Old Reliable on their team.

"You have never listened to anyone." Her voice raised, and if Mekel had a saber on him he'd have drawn it. "I could say that you and Millifar would be happy until the end of your days. That you would find the peace you seek on the Dxun moon-peace without the Force-peace like Ulic sought in vain. I could tell you the names of six children born to Millifar and Clan Ordo-and it would still leave you wanting. Or, in another fate, I could recount the Jedi hero you could be-the noble and principled man, at ease with peace and battle. I could tell you tales of your half-Zabrak son, Ollivair Korr, and his mother-tales of your loyalty to one woman, or one man, or one cause-but it would still never be enough for you…" Her voice had an edge now. "Would it, Coruscant?"

"Huh?" He could never tell when she was putting him on. Old Faithful, they used to call her-but sometimes, Thalia was wrong-or Thalia just flat-out lied. "Wait. Ollivair Korr? Zabrak? Like Lydie? You're saying Lydie and me are gonna have a kid?"

Thalia sighed. "No." She walked to Dustil's cot and sat down, reaching for the unconscious man's hand. It dwarfed her own. Mekel had a weird flash of memory-of the time he'd caught Thally in the sonic back on Dreshdae. Plan had been to kill her, split the prestige with Shaardan but she'd been so naked and then she'd looked at him and just shook her head.

"You won't," she'd said while he'd stared slack-jawed at her tits. And she'd been right. He'd cold-cocked Shaardan instead-was right after Selene died, thanks to Shaardan, (thanks to Mekel-who could have stopped it and hadn't.. because he wanted Telos to need him and not Selene, who was gonna wash out anyway-)

"They will haunt you all of your days, those memories of Korriban." Thalia looked up at him like she knew his thoughts, and patted the cot beside her. "You need to make peace with them in every future. So sit down, Mekel. Try."

"Yeah, okay." He did, while she peered at Dustil's waxy hand like she was some kind of palm-scryer.

"You do love him," she murmured, wrinkling her forehead and stroking the lines in Dustil's hand with one of her delicate, breakable fingers. "You have always loved him, Mekel-as much as you are capable of loving anyone other than yourself."

"I loved a lot of sents." He leered at her. "Shame you'll never know what you've missed out on."

"Oh, I know." Trace of a real smile there-something about it made him think that studied expression she was putting on before was fake. "I see futures in my dreams, Mekel. I've dreamed of you-of you and me."

"Oh, yeah?" He leaned closer. "What were we like?"

"Damned." Ziost raised an eyebrow. "Strung out on deathsticks and starving on a bombed-out planet. I've never been sure which planet. Perhaps one we destroyed."

"Yeah, well…" Mekel looked down at Telos instead of meeting those blue pools she had for eyes. He tried to memorize the sharp curves of his bondmate's face: full lips, stubborn jaw, soft stubble on his cheeks and chin. "Never liked deathsticks, so that's banthashit."

Thalia May sighed. "What do you want, Coru?"

"Don't you know?" He was trying to flirt, making his voice hoarse in the way that Telos had always dropped trou for, but the directness of her gaze blocked him-even when he wasn't looking at her. "Everything I can get, Zio. What else is there?"

"Is that why you're going to Dxun with the Mandalorians?"

"It's a start. It's something." Better than sitting here waiting for Telos to die.

Her voice softened. "You know… you won't find the Force on Onderon. Or Dxun."

"No shit. I'm not looking for the impossible-"

"Anything is possible with the Force."

Mekel looked up. Those blue eyes were staring directly into his. His heart clenched and seem to skip a beat. "Wait. You mean I can get it back? You're serious?"

"Yes. But not on Dxun. He will help you get it back." She put Dustil's hand into Mekel's own. Just a hand. No Force. No power. No bond. Nothing.

But suddenly all of his pipe-dreams about joining the Mandalorians and living without the Force seemed as appealing as living the rest of his days in the Underground.

Just as trapped. Just as dry and colorless.

"Dustil will help me get the Force back? How?"

"With trust. You need to trust, Mekel. Trust in Him, even when your heart warns you otherwise."

"Are you nuts? Of course I trust Telos! He's gonna be okay? He's gonna wake up?"

"He will." Her voice seemed sure of it. "But you need to trust Valkorion, Mekel-not Dustil. Dustil may not understand. Make him understand. Then trust His Luminance to guide you both." She paused and Mekel looked up at her. Those pools of eyes she had were liquid, now, and he thought she was about to cry. "The Emperor will save you both, Mekel Jin. He is the only one who can."

XXX

I spoke of lies before, but I never told you the cost.

The night before I spoke with Mekel, I dreamed of a future where the two Revans combined their strength and cleansed Dustil Onasi's body of the dark side taint.

With Valkorion's hold on Dustil and Mekel broken, their bond recovered.

They were happy.

Mekel regained the Force. They both became respected Jedi.

In that future, my friends were happy.

But in that future, Valkorion's rise was never checked, and his Empire returned in less than one lifetime. Dustil and Mekel's happiness brought fifty years of prosperity-but also-

A thousand years of war with the Sith, war that drenched the Core in blood-

-all for the fate of two men.

You must only lie for the greater good, my Padawan, but you will have to lie. Often.

-Thalia May, to her padawan, Personal Journal

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

The last visitor came in the middle of the night, but Mekel was ready for him.

Now that he knew what to expect it was obvious that the wide smile on Zepth's face was Tenebrae's, not Revan's.

Valkorion, he reminded himself. His Luminance likes to be called Valkorion.

"Oh!" The Sith Emperor said, smiling. "I rather thought you'd be asleep."

"I was." Mekel untangled himself from Telos, who'd rolled over half-crushing him. Maybe it was good, that Telos was rolling over, even if he still didn't wake. "But you tripped the sensor alarm, my Lord."

He'd found it and set it just in case Mydia decided to come back for round two. Not that he didn't trust her… but he didn't trust her. Milli hadn't come back from the fire circle-which Mekel guessed meant she'd spent the night out there.

He hoped she had someone to keep her warm.

"Clever," the Sith Lord chuckled. "You're so clever."

"Yeah." Mekel shrugged. "Was expecting you, my Lord. Did you want to do another ceremony, now?"

"Oh, ho! Yes." The Emperor beamed. "But not here, my dear boy. No! Keep your shirt on! Not here, dear boy!"

"I'll follow you," Mekel vowed, snapping his shirt shut again. "Anywhere."

"Anywhere…" the Zabrak frowned. "I must say, I had expected I'd need to convince you. Forgive me, but a thousand years can make one a bit… mistrustful. You will truly follow me? Anywhere? Of your own free will?"

"Thalia May said that you'll get me the Force back. And save Dustil."

Later, there would be too much time to remember the order of those words, how eager he'd been, like a trained kath.

"Oh, ho! And who is Thalia May?"

"Thalia was trained on Ziost. She sees the future-"

"A Seer." The wide Zabrak mouth stretched open. "I lost so many at Ziost, you know. To the bombs. So many gone I hardly know the future myself! How fortuitous this Thalia survived! Thalia May… May… that seems almost familiar…."

"We're friends from Korriban, my Lord. She was a student there."

"A rare gift indeed, friendship!" His Luminance lowered his voice theatrically. "Well, if Seer Thalia says you must follow, then follow you must! We'll need to bring Dustil, of course, if I am to heal him. And the first thing we'll need is a ship…."

"I have an idea about that." Always scout your escape routes. Mekel had already spotted the best ship half-buried under a blanket of snow: disc-shaped, with the parts of its hull that peeked out as blue as Thalia's (or Lydie's) eyes.

Xxx

Wiskit Thy: "Exile, I'm hoping you can tell our viewers on Corulag more about the Sith Lords and how you beat them."

Meetra: "There is much I can't say and, of course, the Fleet were a great help destroying their Machine Ships."

Wiskit: "Of course! But these Sith lurk in the shadows? They could be among us now? They could be anyone at all?"

Meetra: "Fortunately for the Republic, I have an acute sense of Sith corruption."

Wisket: "Uh, okay. Let's try a different approach. There are Mandalorians on Oas. Do you hate them?"

Meetra: "Why would I? I'd sooner hate the sun itself. Or a flower. Mandalorians are free sentients who just want to return to their lands. They are a peaceful people, who mean us no harm."

Wisket: "The Mandalorians are a peaceful people who mean us no harm."

-Holovid interview, Mantellian Inquirer, bt Wisket Lee, BBY 3966.

[Note: An analysis of Meetra Surik's interviews from her time on Oas indicate a variation in idiom and expression that could indicate a split personality-or an imposter. One of the more half-cocked theories put forth by my colleagues is that half of her interviews were performed by an impersonator, perhaps a master of illusions…]

-Holovid clip Excerpted from "An Historian's Introduction to the Machine Wars: Lecture by Kree Usam Racharn for the Revan: Fact or Fiction Symposium, SHWL," University of Coruscant Press. 3653 BBY

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

Dustil woke up because someone was pounding on metal, right by his head. They'd been doing it for some time, because his dreams had been full of marching sents, and someone (probably Mekk) dropping rocks off cliffs as if for funsies.

When he woke up he had no fracking idea where he was-at first.

The pounding continued, adding in some yelling. He stared at the wall, noting its familiar durasteel curve, the distinctive hexagonal grid in the plates as his brain connected the dots.

When it finished connecting, he flopped out of the bed like a newborn nerf, taking in the double bunk, the scattered crates, the random pieces of machinery and clothing strewn all over the room.

"What the... hell?"

He was in Dad and Revan's room. Aboard the Ebon Hawk. And, from the hum beneath his feet, they were in hyperspace.

The banging and the yelling went on from the other side of the wall. Dustil slammed his own arm into it. "Shut up!"

There was a pause like he'd scared whoever into silence. But then the banging began again. He thought he heard a few words, maybe cries for help.

"Stop it! I'm coming, okay?" But when he tried to walk, his legs buckled. He felt so weak. And funny, like parts of him had fallen asleep.

More banging.

"I'm coming!"

"Hey! Dustil." Mekel appeared in the doorway, out of breath like he'd run from the front of the ship. "You're awake?" His brows beetled together. "Sure you should be up? You look like hell."

"Frack you, too." Dustil flipped him off.

"I'm just worried." Mekel moved in with the instincts of a hunter-killer droid, managing to catch Dustil a few seconds before his knees buckled.

"This is my dad's room," Dustil objected. "You can tell me why we're here and who've you got locked up-but after you find us another bunk. We can't stay here."

"But it's the biggest room." Mekel frowned. "We're almost there anyway so it doesn't matter. Just relax." His mouth twitched and he shifted his hips with more grace than Mydia had ever shown, but Dustil wasn't amused. "Come on, Telos. Enjoy it. I'm really glad you're awake."

You're impossible. But Mekk couldn't hear him. "You're a pain in my ass, Jin."

Mekel snickered. "Seriously. I'm glad you're alright." He caught Dustil's arm and pulled him back down, half-sprawled on his own lap. The banging on the wall went on, and Dustil wondered if he was the only one hearing because Mekk didn't seem to notice.

"I feel like hell."

"Trust me when I say you shouldn't look in a mirror." Mekel rolled on his side and Dustil rolled to face him. "But ask… ask anything you want. His Luminance told me he could wake you up, but I thought he was just being an optimist."

"His Lum-" Oh, no. "Mekk, do you have the Sith Emperor locked in the bunk next door?"

"Of course not! He's flying the ship!" Mekel paused. "That's Polla Organa locked next door. Didn't know she was on Hawk til-well, we should've run checks before we stole this rig, but I didn't think-"

"What?" The Sith Emperor was flying the ship. Same Sith Emperor who'd been using them up like some kind of battery. Didn't Mekel remember that? "Mekk, why are we on the Hawk with the fracking Sith Emperor?"

"Because he can save you, Telos. He promised." Mekk's eyes glittered with sincerity. Something about his conviction made Dustil's hackles rise.

"Save me? From what?"

"You're dying, I think." His former bondmate swallowed. "Told you before not to look in a mirror. It's bad."

Mekk didn't look so hot himself. He was pale and sweaty, and the Force made Dustil too aware of how fast the man's heart was beating in his chest.

"What are you talking about? I feel fine-" Dustil's voice broke off when he waved his own hand in front of his face and caught a glimpse of it.

White-purple, ringing to gray. All of the veins visible and black. And the skin looked like it was flaking in places.

He looked at his other hand, rolled up the sleeves to see his arms. The same. His skin felt too hard in places and too mushy in others. Bile welled in his throat and he felt like he was going to be sick. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

"I don't know. Milli said she had to pull you out of your Stinger in vacuum. You got burned, but that doesn't explain why you're not healing. You've been packed in kolto-Jedi healers came, even-but you just-nothing worked." his voice faltered. Mekk's dark eyes were suddenly enormous and in Dustil's face, blinking back tears as if Dustil was one of his marks. "I didn't want to lose you. I didn't think you'd ever wake up again-"

"But I feel fine." He did. Mostly. A little wobbly. And parts of his body seemed numb in a way that might not be good. He couldn't feel his guts at all. But it didn't hurt. Nothing hurt. "Cut the banthashit, Mekk. I'm fine. Don't tell me you trust that asshole-"

The ship jerked, hyperspace engines ticking down.

"We're coming out of hyperspace." Mekel blinked and turned paler like he always did coming out of hyperspace, and then an actual fracking tear snaked its way down his cheek. Later, Dustil would wonder at that tear-what it meant. "We have to get you better, fockda."

"Where are we?"

"Dromund Kaas." Mekk wiped his face with his sleeve. "His Luminance has a plan-"

"Stop calling him that!" Dustil had had enough. He pushed past the other man and stumbled into the corridor. He felt fine… just… just parts of him were numb. The banging to the right of him seemed to increase and he punched the lock open. Door slid open and there was Polla Organa, knuckles bloody and skull shaved bald, yelling. She barrelled into him like a bull bantha, still screaming, her hands scraping his belt like she was looking for a weapon. It took Dustil a second to remember he was bigger and stronger than her, and in that second she almost knocked him over.

In the next, he nearly backhanded her into the wall, the Force welling up inside him with a heady power that felt like a spice rush. In the last second, he managed to check it, and she only staggered back a few steps, eyes wide and shocked. Something wrong with her eyes. They'd been a bright, fake green before. Now the color looked like it was melting into brown-like the dye that'd made them green was wearing off.

"Get off me," she hissed, those twisted eyes narrowing into slits of pure hate.

"No thanks for letting you out?" Dustil scoffed. "I'm not the one who locked you up in the fracking first place. They kidnapped me, too!"

"Not kidnapped," Mekel said from behind them. "Rescued. I told you already, Meez Organa, I didn't know you were in here-"

"-Yeah, yeah. Just wanted the ship. I got that." The Hawk jerked again and her eyes widened. "If you're down here, who the hell is flying?"

"The Sith Emperor," Dustil told her. "Mekk says. He says we're going to Dromund Kaas."

"Great." She let out a sigh. "The old homestead. What the hell happened to you, Dustil? You look like the walking dead."

"I don't know-"

"Vacuum burns-" Mekk said at the same time.

"Don't look like vacuum burns to me. And how are we at Kaas already? Hasn't even been a day-"

"His Luminance knows the hyperspace routes-the new ones that the Machine Ships made."

"Really." Polla's skeptical tone didn't match that spark of sudden interest in her eyes. "Does he know all of them-"

"Attention Unknown Vessel," a voice broke in, blasting through the comm speakers. "This is the Acting Port Authority of the planet Dromund Kaas, under the guardianship of the Republic Fleet. State your business and your command code. Unauthorized deliveries are not accepted at this time. This world is interdicted. State your business and-"

"Shit," Polla muttered. "You mean high-and-mighty Tenny-Bro didn't bother to grab a simple freighter auth before you started this jaunt?"

"I don't know-" Mekk began, but Polla was already heading for the bridge, with Dustil right on her heels.

Xxx

Panning shot, establishing location.

Great Hunt in the sky above. Snow on the ground on a flat plain.

An assembly of robed Jedi watches a shuttle descend. The Ssyrian pan flute plays a march, increasing tempo until the shuttle doors open.

(music stops.)

Trandoshan Admiral Aridoma Rensha emerges from the shuttle, weak sunlight glinting from the medals on her chest. She is followed by two white-clad Human women.

From a distance, the only distinguishing feature the Revans possess is that one has a golden arm.

The Jedi Exile steps forward from the lines of robed Jedi. (Casting note: Meetra Surik needs to project an aura of emotional distance, mixed with vulnerability. NOT SEXY. Please don't send me Seriina Starr in another holomask!)

Meetra: "Welcome to Oas."

Admiral Rensha: "Knight Surik."

Sheris: "Meetra."

Meetra: "Thank you for saving the galaxy from the Sith machines. We Jedi have done our humble best to give succor to the injured-if you have more injured upon your ship, our healers can-"

Sheris: "I'm a healer, Meetra." (Giggles) "Have you forgotten?"

Meetra: "Of course you are. My friend Sheris. It's been too long. Truly."

Revan (interrupting): "Why the hell are you here?"

Meetra: "My padawans and I came to help-"

Revan: "Why?"

Sheris (hums): "Decorum, Revan!"

Revan: "Where's Canderous? I know he's alive. And the other Mandalorians? They were here yesterday-"

Meetra: "What Mandalorians remained after you used them to fight your war left at dawn. We gave them salvage ships and bid them farewell."

Rensha: "You gave them ships?"

Meetra: "Transport ships." (Pause.) "I have a message. For Revan."

Revan: "From Canderous?"

Meetra: "No. From another, who admires you both. The message is this. The Mandalorians are free. That was the bargain. It was broken once. Do not break it again."

Sheris: "Ah."

Revan (whispered, furious): "What?"

Sheris: "Later-"

Revan: "What bargain?"

Sheris: "Whikii heemtesh. Ayren Len, na dhesti?"

Revan: "Khaleen! Ni'istak! Agrusulk leem…."

(Note: since no translator has even been able to make sense of the language used, the actors should feel free to improvise during this sequence, adjusting for length with the percussion section, until the electro-harp begins.

"Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot," Starfire 2! The Mandalorian Cycle! written by Senator See'raa Wen, 3940 BBY.

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so, University of Coruscant.

Xxx

"Unknown vessel," the broadcast began again. "Respond now or we will be forced to take hostile action."

After a quick, muttered exchange with the Emperor, which seemed to involve the smuggler bargaining with the immortal chivhole, Polla Organa just flat-out grabbed the comm from Zepth's hand. "This is Captain Desidirata Tran. Running Freighter Blue Ghost with relief supplies from Hakis Six. Got... vitamins from the charity op 'Blue Milk of Human Kindness.' You guys got a landing pad for me in Kaas City?"

She was good, Dustil noted, a little numbly because he'd just noticed his own reflection in the Hawk's mirrored cockpit door.

Mekk was right. He did look dead.

But I feel fine. Dustil had to keep telling himself that or he'd panic. When was the last time he'd eaten, or taken a piss? He couldn't feel anything in his core-like parts of his body had just switched off. And when he pressed his hand to his chest-

His heart was slow. Too slow.

The Emperor sat in Zepth's body in the co-pilot's chair, chuckling softly to himself. "We need to land near the Dark Temple," he told Polla Organa. "Even if they've rebuilt the landing pads in the spaceport, why waste half a day's journey?"

"When did the Republic come back to this system?" Polla waved the Sith asshole off. "I was just here like a week ago!"

"Only a few days. Their claim on my planet is tenuous. They have only the one capital ship-and I believe we have more loyalists incoming…"

The comm beeped. "Request denied. We have reason to believe that the Blue Ghost is a smuggling ship."

"Of course she's a smuggling ship-! Who else would be insane enough to come into a warzone?" Polla made a face and leaned over the deck, unceremoniously shoving Mekk's new best friend the Emperor out of the way, and grabbing the yoke.

"We can run their gauntlet," she added, nodding at the gunner chair. "Probably. If one of you kidnapping schuttas wants to handle defense."

Mekk looked suspicious. "Still don't get why you're helping us."

"Do I have another choice? Hell if I'm going to die for you." She angled the yoke down hard. "You'd better be right about saving Dustil's damn life.*

"I feel fine-"

"You're not," Polla Organa snapped. "I've seen mummified remains smuggled out of dig sites in better shape than you."

"Blue Ghost! Any further incursion into the atmosphere of this planet will be taken as a hostile measure. We are launching fighters now-"

"Frack." Polla pointed at Mekel. "Aren't you supposed to be some kind of gunner? Get to it!"

"I'm a better shot than he is-" Dustil spoke before he thought. For a weird second, it was like arguing with Dustil's dad.

"Maybe. You're dying." Her expression was almost feral. "You'd better be dying. We'd better not be here just because Tenny-Bro got homesick!"

"Oh, ho," the Emperor murmured. "I will leave you all to your tasks. Do get us down in one piece. There is so much to prepare for the ceremony-I have most elements in place but assembling the sacrifices-" Zepth's head hit the command deck with a think, horns scraping a lever that made them pitch wildly.

" -$2-1-$& &," Dustil said in Ancient Sith and then shoved the unconscious Zabrak out of the way. It was the gyros. He knew this one. His dad had shown him exactly what to do.

"Blue Ghost- we will have no choice but to shoot-"

"They're not shooting, though," Mekk said. He'd stumbled to the turret chair, strapped himself in. "Why are they stalling?"

"They're not sure what to do with us," Polla answered. "I'd bet anything-"

"This is General Jiya Sand." A new voice, now. "I know exactly which ship this is. Tell me-immediately-who is on board and what your business is on Kaas. I'm launching three full squadrons to escort you to ground, and you're going to follow them. Are we clear?"

"-they recognize this ship," Polla finished smugly. She reached for the comm-switch.

"Oh, frack," Mekel whispered.

"Shhh." She waved him off and flipped it back on.

"We understand. Perfectly." Polla's voice shifted, developed a crisp edge. "This is Revan Onasi Starfire... we can dispense with the rest of my surnames… this is Revan. I have returned. I have returned bringing three extremely dangerous and powerful Sith Lords with me that I have captured. I intend to lock them up in the Dark Temple… and... if you try and interfere they might escape, so… keep your distance!"

Mekel shouldn't be making that face because Dustil was gonna laugh and the comm was still open.

"Are we clear?" Polla growled into the mic.

There was a pause.

"Still giving you an escort," the general said. "If this is one of your tricks, Revan-"

"Don't be a fool." Polla rolled her eyes. "Proceeding to the Dark Temple. Recommend you don't try and stop me. Did you hear what I did to those ships above Rekkiad? I'll do it again."

Mekk was shaking his head. He didn't think this was gonna work.

On the floor, the Emperor of the Sith let out a snore and rolled over on his belly. It didn't occur to Dustil until later that the smart thing would've been to Force-fry the asshole and surrender to General Sand.

General Sand coughed. "Usually, you call me Jiya. I suppose you don't remember. I'm watching footage now from Degriass, General Revan. If you're here now… why are there two of you landing on Oas?"

"Holomask." Polla didn't blink, but her hands were white-knuckled on the yoke. "One of em's an imposter in a holomask. Just some grunt I paid off. Maybe arrest her. I don't care, okay?" She gunned the accelerator, dropping them a few thousand meters in a few seconds, causing Mekk, who'd already looked green, to gag and nearly lose his lunch.

For a null she was good at this, Dustil realized. Good at pretending to be Revan. Good at piloting. Their ship swerved past a loose squad of snubs, flipping between their blockade like it was nothing.

No one fired on them.

Mekk started retching. Dustil laughed.

"I'm watching you," the general warned.

"Good. Here." Polla back-jetted neatly, diving through the cross-winds like she was slicing through water, and setting the Hawk down flat on a landing pad. The Dark Temple loomed in front of them. Someone had blasted the front doors open since the last time Dustil had seen it.

Their escort lit up the sensors on every side of them. Snubs came down, ringing them in a circle, guns all aimed to the center. Dustil had seen this scenario on fighter sims. If they tried to take off they'd be blasted from all directions.

"Thanks for the escort, Jiya," the Deralian drawled. "Now tell your men to back off."

"We can't do that, General Revan," one of them said. "Sorry."

Polla made a disgusted face and switched the comm off. "We're here," she snapped. "Maybe one of you should lock up the Sith Emperor while I figure out how to get us out of this. Zaalbar told me before there's a tunnel to the lower level-if we run into the Temple, we might be able to make it out to the jungle-"

"Thought we were here to save me," Dustil said.

"You don't really look like Revan, Polla," Mekel said. "No offense, but you're not gonna fool them walking out of here."

"You want me to save your friend or not, Mekel Jin?" She made an exasperated noise.

"We're good from here," Mekel shrugged. "You can go."

"I feel fine," Dustil added. Better than fine, now. The energy coming off that Temple was really something.

"Fine. In that case… Tenny-Bro and I had a bargain." Polla was rummaging through drawers in the cabinet wall now, pulling out a half-dismantled blaster that Dustil was pretty sure didn't work. "I drop you off here, he gives me the ship with all the nav points programmed in. All the Sleeper hyper routes in the galaxy." Her voice sounded tired. "I got you here. Take your damn passed-out Sith Lord and get off my fracking ship."

"It's my father's ship, and if you try and lift off now, you'll get blown out of the sky."

"Maybe. But you're father's not here. He's getting court-martialed on Kuat… or, Coruscant or something. Last we heard anyway. Canderous thought it was just the Republic saving face. They're not gonna do anything to Carth. He's too popular. Same goes for her , I bet. The real Revan."

"My father's not with Revan?" He left me? He left both of us? So typical that Dustil wanted to laugh.

"Guess you were too unconscious to watch the news. Carth didn't have a choice. Brought as much of the Sith Fleet as he could to surrender. But a bunch mutinied-jumped off to frack knows where. Here, probably. Bet that's why General Sand is so suspicious…" She toed the Emperor's unconscious body, frowning. "This Sand guy doesn't know if Revan's with the Republic or not. I can use that. Now, get your Sith Lord off my sh-"

The Zabrak groaned, eyes fluttering, sparking red. He sat up. "There," he chuckled softly. "Preparations are complete. Some of the guardians in Kaas City were suspicious before I removed their will."

"Try that with me," Polla planted the gun in his face. "You'll be sorry."

"Nonsense! I like the galaxy better with you in it. So much more fun with all of your vague threats." Vitiate batted the blaster away, almost playfully.

Polla shoved it back. "Whatever this crazy stunt is, you'd better save Carth's kid, or I'll get the real Revan back here and have her deal with you."

"Oh, ho." The madman chuckled as he stood up. "I quite believe you would." He smiled, like a serpent unraveling its coils. Like something ancient. His voice deepened, thickened, until it seemed to resonate within the Force. Echo in Dustil's head. "You would, wouldn't you? Fetch her for me? To save these two?"

It was really something, Dustil thought, the way evil assholes laughed exactly like holovillains in the vids.

"I-I…" something sparked in those half-dyed eyes, the irises twisting between green and brown. Polla's entire body shuddered. "I-will."

"Yes. My will." The Emperor lifted his arm and crooked his finger. "My will is that you do this one thing. Such a little thing, smuggler. Bring Revan to me. Then you may have your ship and go."

Polla Organa knelt, face growing wooden and cold. "Yes." Her jaw was clenched. Her lip was bleeding.

"Good." The Zabrak's head to Dustil. "Shall we begin?"

Dustil felt the Force rising like a fire inside of him, dark whispers echoing. His vision blurred until all he could see was the Deralian's face. And in that moment, his eyes weren't his own-he was looking out through the Zabrak's-through Mekk's, through a thousand others and somewhere-somewhere across the Force he felt a strand tug like a web.

He felt Her turn, Her power molten in their hands and She turned and She reached and She saw-She saw-

-his own body, glowing, Mekk glowing next to him. And Polla kneeling, head bent, face blank and empty like she was already gone, like she was nothing, too-

No. No! What have you done, Vitiate?

Revan's dismay was so comical that Dustil heard himself laugh.

"Dust?" A hand grabbed at his chest, a weight there, Mekel-trying to pull him-face right there-sour breath and stubble. Wide eyes. Frightened. "Are you okay?"

Even now, Mekk didn't get it.

"You're an idiot." Their foreheads touched and the Force expanded around them, amplified by the pulse of the Temple nearby. You led us right into a trap, fockda.

"Thalia-she said-"

"She's Sith, asshole! Just like Vitiate. You keep trusting fracking Sith! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Dustil was laughing because it didn't matter. The darkness surged between them and it didn't matter. Mekel was there, he wasn't alone and everything he felt-this passion was power -was theirs.

"You were dying." The bond flared between them as the world went white. Dustil couldn't tell if they were standing up or not. Somewhere, he thought he heard chanting and smelled incense. Heard flames crackling-and screams. Time spanned both centuries and seconds. Sparks flickered and went out. "I didn't want you to die. I just wanted the Force again."

"Which one is it Mekk? Me alive or the fracking Force?" But Dustil already knew. It was never one thing with Mekk. It never could be.

Elsewhere, She was running down a hall, shoving open a door, interrupting an impossible scene. Her own body. Revan's own face-

"Something's wrong, Dar!" she said. "Something's wrong! We have to go-"

Elsewhere, he saw the Ebon Hawk take off like a shot slung from hell, wobbling in the cross-winds like her pilot had the jitters, streaking past the burned-out wreckage of at least two squads of snubs. The damage around the Temple radiated out in a perfect circle, extending from the eldritch fire that flickered through their body-

Which body? Where's my fracking body?

Dustil glanced back.

His body and Mekk's floated, frozen like statues. Both of their mouths were open in screams, eyes closed, hands crossed over their chests. Dark energy licked out from their skin, leeching color away. Mekk was as gray as he was, now.

The Emperor was humming something under his breath. He turned Zepth's body toward the blasted Temple doors.

-and in the ruins of Kaas CIty a procession of red-robed supplicants began their journey to the Temple-

-thought we'd killed all of them, guess he found more-

My dear boy, there are always more.

-dust. Mekk's voice. Just a whisper as their thoughts interwove, shrinking until there was almost nothing left. i did want to to save you i love-

yeah.

Dustil knew everything. They both did. They were everywhere, a conduit of power funneling directly into-

Come, the Emperor whispered, but not to them. Come now, Starfire. Save them.

His face. His true face. Deathless and infinite, beaming down upon them from on high .

Xxx

Judge Advocate Qwill: "In your own words, again, General Sand, what happened at the Dark Temple on Dromund Kaas?"

General Jiya Sand: "I was cloaked in orbit aboard the Grim Redoubt when a Corellian disc-freighter attempted to run our blockade. You've already heard my deposition."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "Why did you not immediately proceed to the Dark Temple when someone claiming to be Revan Starfire informed you she was escorting powerful Sith to that location?"

General Jiya Sand: "Because I was trying to figure out what the hells was going on! I pinged Rensha and Cein-even checked with Onasi. My shuttle was ten minutes behind those snubs, but by the time we landed-"

Judge Advocate Qwill: "The Dark Temple was sealed. Seems suspicious. Satellite images clearly show the main doorway had been smashed open."

General Jiya Sand: "When I got there with my shock troops it was closed. Sealed. I don't know what to tell you. All our men were dead and the entire structure was glowing. There was a… a strange hum. Some of my men complained they heard voices… saw things. I thought I saw…." (Inaudible.) "It doesn't matter. There was nothing we could do. And then the prox alarms sounded that the Imperial capitals were coming out of orbit-"

Judge Advocate Qwill: "We'll deal with those capital ships in a moment. Let's retrench. What did you think you saw, General Sand?"

General Jiya Sand: "It doesn't matter."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "Again, this is part of Carth Onasi's trial, not yours. This is a confidential transcript. Force illusion is well-documented. Your competence is not questioned."

General Jiya Sand (reluctantly): "I thought I saw Davad Arkan. Knight Arkan. With a squadron of Jedi from the Mercy Corps. Beya Organa. Vik Tio. And… for a second, I thought I saw Bastila Shan."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "Did they say anything?"

General Jiya Sand: "Bastila Shan told me not to stop her."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "Not to… stop... her? That was all?"

General Jiya Sand: "I knew what she meant. She meant Revan. Don't ask me how I knew. Revan wasn't even there yet. But I just knew."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "And that's when you ordered the retreat? When you surrendered the system back to the Sith? When a corrupted Jedi ghost told you to do it?"

General Jiya Sand: "Yes, but-"

Judge Advocate Qwill: "I think we're done here."

General Jiya Sand: "Don't ask me how I knew. I don't know how I knew. The Jedi ghost wasn't corrupted. She was bright and shining with light. She told me to let Revan come because Revan could save us all."

-Fleet Judge Advocate Inquiry into the Actions of Carth Onasi at the End of the Machine Wars, as a Precursor to His Court-Martial

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so, University of Coruscant.

Xxx

Whatever fracked-up thing the Emperor had done to Polla's head wore off just as the Hawk made the leap back into the Degriass System. Consciousness returned like a sledgehammer, to yet another patrol ship demanding her business. Polla heard herself whimper and forced it into a laugh. Her lip was swollen where she'd bitten it, trying to use the pain to keep those sickly fingers out of her mind.

"I'm here to see Revan," she snapped at the Republic scouts trailing her. "Either let me land or shoot me down. I don't give a damn."

That worked because they didn't bug her again. The massive bulk of the Great Hunt let her pass to the surface.

In the half-day she'd been gone, Oas had changed. The bonfire where Millifar and Freya had run the razor-knife over Polla's scalp and scalded her throat with their firewhiskey was naught but a blacked circle. Three lone shuttles were parked where the Mandalorian ships had been.

A red-headed figure cloaked in a banthahide jacket was a waving speck as she descended.

For a black second, Polla considered the turret gun-wondering if wiping Revan Starfire off the damned moon might work. Probably not. And she already felt sick, like she could still hear the explosions as all of those Republic ships had burst into flames around them, with a twist of Tenny-Bro's Zabrak hand.

I just stood and watched. He made me kneel to him and watch-

The Hawk's thrusters banked as she landed, landing gear slipping a little as exhaust slicked the snow beneath into ice. A creaking noise alerted Polla that someone was trying to drag the hatch open. Using the Force to break a perfectly good hinge.

Her bitten lip twinged. "Hold your hessi," she told the outer speakers and let down the landing ramp.

Revan appeared in the doorway of the cockpit three seconds later. The fracking Force.

"Your face." The other woman's eyes went wide.

"It's nothing." Polla had already admired the bitten lip and the bruise she didn't remember getting on her cheek. "What'd you do to your hair?"

"Cut the topknot off."

"Obviously." Polla drew a breath. Her knuckles were scabbed over from where she'd beaten them on the door and throat was raw from yelling. "Me too. Millifar Ordo did it for me. Mourning. Because my friends in the Aleema died."

"I know." Revan had shaved off the brown, but not the red. It made her look just like Bossypants.

"Did you do it? Did you kill them?"

"Destroy the Aleema?" The woman shook her head. "No. But I could have… stopped it. I had the power to destroy the entire Fleet myself, but I-"

"You had a good reason not to?"

"Yes." The woman's face was frozen. "The same reason I'm coming with you now. Dustil and Mekel. What did that asshole do to you?"

"Told me to come get you." Force compulsion was funny, Polla thought. Because she was pretty sure she'd have come anyway. But how could she know?

Maybe I'd have run. Navboard full of routes I could sell or just seize monopolies-

A hundred trade routes across the galaxy, suddenly obsolete.

"I don't want you to go back to Kaas." Revan paced to the nav-board, peering down at it. "Get off the ship."

"No." Polla didn't think it was Force compulsion. Just logic. "Someone needs to fly it, Revan."

Revan glanced up toward the sky. "Zaalbar will. Or Mission. They're on the Hunt. You don't have to do this-"

"She's right." The other one was slower, maybe because she'd thought to bring supplies with her. She had a pack of something strapped to her back, and two crates levitating behind her. "This is our battle, Polla Organa, not yours."

"Wrong. It's mine." The real Revan, the one Polla had gotten out of carbonite, practically growled the words. "My battle. My problem. You both can jet off now. Tenebrae wants me on that planet, I'm not going to hand him more hostages."

"You don't have that luxury," Bossypants said. "You can't keep us safe from him. You can't keep anyone we love safe from him."

"That's why I want to watch you kill him." Polla was still strapped in her seat. She put an end to their conversation by shifting the yoke straight up, sending the ship spinning off the planet and back up into the black. The Revans' protests fizzled out like dying embers on a bonfire as they both slammed against the bulkhead when the gees kicked into overdrive.

They didn't argue again. They knew she was right. Someone did have to fly the fracking ship.

Da, Polla thought as they shot by the Great Hunt. She didn't know if he was still alive. She turned to ask Revan, but the woman was turning green and running for the fresher, even before Polla punched them back into hyperspace.

Xxx

Judge Advocate Qwill: "High Admiral Rensha, by your own admission, the Ebon Hawk returned to Degriass and landed on the Oas moon, for a period of approximately five minutes before departing again. In that time, you did nothing."

High Admiral Aridoma Rensha: "There wasn't time."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "You had the sky above the moon blockaded. Yet you allowed the Mandalorians to leave. And the Hawk to leave and return-then leave again."

High Admiral Aridoma Rensha: "I cannot explain this." (Pause.) "I felt that the Mandalorians should be free. I cannot explain why."

Judge Advocate Qwill: "And Revan?"

(Silence)

Judge Advocate Qwill: "And Revan?"

High Admiral Aridoma Rensha: "I am submitting my resignation and my request for honorable retirement. I believe my will was compromised. And then the possessed Toydarian Lieutenant C'Tannis laughed and told me not to stop the Hawk-"

-Fleet Judge Advocate Inquiry into the Actions of Carth Onasi at the End of the Machine Wars, as a Precursor to His Court-Martial

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so, University of Coruscant.

Xxx

When Revan didn't come back from the fresher, Polla went to check. The woman was sprawled against the wall, glowing. Her eyes were staring at nothing.

"She is with him."

Polla did not jump out of her skin because, at this point, she was used to Force-users sneaking up on her. "Him?" Like Polla didn't already know.

"In one of Tenebrae's other bodies. They've grown closer."

"That's sweet." Polla willed her voice to sound normal. "Doesn't she have enough husbands already?"

"Amusing, but this isn't the time. You need to understand what it is she must do-and what we must do to help her." Bossypants grabbed Polla's arm and tugged her away, leading her down the hall to one of the smaller bunks. At least it wasn't the one Polla had just been locked in before.

The explaining took most of their sweet, single hyperspace jump. Polla didn't like one second of it. "You're just going to let her sacrifice herself? Become part of that monster? To save two kids you don't even like?"

The Jedi's eyes shifted away from hers and she looked uncomfortable. "Mekel Jin is my cousin. It is unfair to say I don't like him; I don't know him."

"Did you even try to know him?" Not that Polla could recall.

Bossypants's gaze shifted to the floor. "I thought we'd have more time."

"Everyone always thinks that." Da, Polla thought. She didn't even know if he was alive or if he was dead. "It's never true."

"After Kaas…" Bossypants's voice crisped again. Polla had a pretty good sense of her by that point. Bossypants sounded the most like a Coruscanti muckity-muck who didn't wipe her own piss was when she was trying not to show any emotion-which meant the opposite. "After Kaas, I need you to take me to Nar Shaddaa. There is an obelisk there that can stop the Emperor-"

"I remember the box. We tore apart this ship looking for it." Right before freezing the other one in carbonite. Another one of Bossypants's stellar ideas. "Let me guess. We find the box and it'll free Revan from that tomb-thing?"

"That is possible." Again, classic Bossypants. That calm noncommittal tone meant, 'no, you moron.' "The device will stop Tenebrae. That is the objective."

"How?"

"The Rakatan mind prison will entrap his mind."

"And his bodies? They'll just go back to being regular people."

"Yes." The yes came too quick. That was another tell.

"You're not sure of that. You only know it's a prison. 'The Rakatan Mind Prison.' You only know it traps people."

"I know it was used to trap a Rakatan prince who rebelled against the established order, approximately twenty-five thousand years ago." After that mouthful, Bossypants took a breath. "The account of T'chrrrrnak'tahk'leànjsëwrrrrnak'tahk'leànjsëw. I discovered said that he was a cruel, immortal tyrant who enslaved billions."

"Uh-huh. But isn't that, like, every Sith?"

"The Rakatan Empire predates the Sith. And no. Not at all. Some Sith Lords had policies that were almost… reasonable."

"Uh-huh."

"Immortality is extremely rare. Vitiate relies upon an endless stream of vessels to maintain his essence."

"Fine. But even if all of Tenny-Bro's bodies are connected, how do you know capturing one will take all of him?"

"Because he is one." Bossypants glanced toward the cockpit fresher. Maybe she sensed Revan stirring. "One essence. He cannot be divided."

"Once Revan joins with him neither can she?"

The Jedi exhaled. "It is possible they will be trapped in the mind-prison together."

"Is it also possible that every other sent he's possessed might stick to him and not their bodies? Like some kind of… Force-magnet?" The Grass Priests had a story about something like that. About following false prophets to hell and getting stuck there.

Green eyes blinked. The pointed chin that was almost like Polla's jerked in a nod. "I… have hypothesized that could be one of the possibilities."

"I see. So…" Polla held up a finger. "It's possible that your box might just trap one of him." She held up a second finger. "It's possible that it might trap Revan and him for all eternity." She held up a third finger. "And it's possible that your mind prison might trap everyone he's ever possessed. You said there's billions. If their souls are in the box their bodies-"

"-would die. Yes." This time Bossypants wouldn't meet her eyes. "But it wouldn't be everyone he'd ever possessed. The ones who were already dead would still be dead."

"They'd all be dead," Polla pointed out. "So what's the difference?"

"I only meant his possession only extends to the physical plane. Ghosts, for example, are freed from his influence."

"So after the billions die, they might not be trapped in the box, they'd just be dead. Dead ghosts."

"This is all hypothetical."

"So is your space-damned box!" Polla had only meant to attempt to come up with a better plan than 'give the asshole Emperor exactly what he wants.' Now Bossypants was just giving her a headache. "If this mind prison is the one thing that can stop Tenny-Bro, how come he hasn't found it? Does he know about it?"

The Jedi looked uncomfortable. "I think he… he tried to find it."

"Or, maybe he knows what you don't. Maybe he knows it won't work."

"It must. I have to stop him."

"No, Bossypants." Polla shook her head. "Seems more to me like she does."

Xxx

Dear Jin of Lin,

I trust this missive finds you well. I waited for you until the last transport off Oas, at which time one of the Jettise informed me that the Ebon Hawk had departed and that you had been seen transporting an unconscious Dustil Onasi up its loading ramp shortly before its departure.

It has been clear to me for some time that your affection for him supersedes your affection for me.

But I thought we had an agreement. I thought we were Clan.

I am on my way to Dxun. The matter we discussed was taken care of before your abandonment-I ran to Sinae immediately after leaving you and she prepared the materials. It took most of the night or I would have returned to you.

Now, as the most promising embryo splits and spins on her dish I am faced with a choice.

Should I add your genetic material to our clan, or should I cast her into the bio shredder?

It is sentimental and foolish of me, but I have already given her a name. Faene. Faene was a planet that Aemelie always wanted to sack. I wanted to bear this child for her as much as for us.

But I can always find her another father, Jin of Lin. That is the Way.

I am sending this correspondence to your mother's place of business, as you neglected to leave me a comm-link number, or a forwarding address.

[Scrawled across the top in a different hand: Goyle, hunny u can't show this 2 mekelkins they just want credits. Hire agent 2 do DNA check. Use Minta she's on retainer.]

[Note: This datapad was found in a Coruscanti midden, along with an undated holostill of a dark-eyed blonde infant who some historians believe is Queen Faene Starshine of Dxun. If true, it sheds a very interesting light on Queen Faene's parentage. Scholars have noted a six-year gap between the end of the Machine Wars and the time of Queen Faene's birth, but Mandalorian science perfected embryo storage centuries before the Redeemed Age of Revan. -Tazikex Vizla, Manda'lor, BBY 1921.]

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

In some ways, Revan thought, it was already done. She was already with the immortal Emperor. The power from the Temple on Kaas gave everything an unreal quality; even the connection to Dustil and Mekel that ran through Tenebrae, amplified and expanded every time she stretched her virtual hand. The faceted beams of more lives than she could count were reflected in the stars. They contained her. She was multitudes.

So many lives suspended in the Force and all of them so, so beautiful-

Yes, her enemy murmured. Our union is nearly complete. Merely one final step. Shed your mortal carapace and join me.

First promise, she thundered into the void. Let them go.

Free them yourself, dear one. The dark voice burned in her skull, through her bones. Dimly, she felt her flesh body twitch as power licked through her synapses. They lie on my altars in the Dark Temple's High Chamber. Free them, then come to your tomb below. Or… his nonchalance was amused. Or, leave them and enjoy your immortal shell. With prudence, those two might last us both another thirty years. It could have been longer, had you not been so profligate with their essence, but I can hardly blame you for that. You used them to destroy our enemies!

I'm coming. There was no other choice. Dar kept babbling about her Rakatan Mind Prison, but if Mekel and Dustil were linked when Valkorion went into the box-

They could be trapped, too.

Acceptable risk, a cold part of her brain murmured, while the rest of it told the cold part to frack off.

I'm coming, she promised Valkorion. They'd better be unharmed or I will use our power to crack Kaas in half.

I do enjoy your threats. The mental equivalent of a shrug. I have other planets. Other installations. Do you think it mattered to my essence when the mainframe on Nathema failed? I was already in the stars, my dear. As you soon will be. Once you leave your shell behind, it is gone forever. Nothing but dust.

I'm coming, she repeated. For you.

Best say your goodbyes. Another chuckle. Of course, they don't have to be goodbyes. You can visit your loved ones as often as you like. I did. I watched children being born and grow. From time to time, I watched you-

You can go straight to hell!

Shall I show you how it can be? This is no time to be squeamish, Revan, not when I've watched you stroll through my collection of Blinds these last few days like a child lifting candy-samples at market. Did you think I wouldn't notice your stolen pleasures? Catching a fish? Baking a pie? Watching a child toddle across a floor….

I was only in them to keep them from you!

A lie, the cold voice inside whispered.

Tenebrae thundered in her head. Go to him. Go where you've wanted to be all along. There is no shame, Starfire. Not between us-

An ineffable wave enveloped her, shrinking the universe to a pin-point. It picked her up and rocked her and then shoved her-

And then Revan was-

-watching her husband sleep in a black and red room.

She gasped a breath and felt it fill unfamiliar lungs. Something moved when her head shook. Heavy weight of hair on the back of her neck. The murmur of sublights whispered they were drydocked. The decor told her Carth was still on the Captive Arm. The lack of guards indicated he hadn't been arrested. She wondered if that would last.

A faint buzz in her ears was irritating. Revan frowned and shook her head again. The Force collar around the body's neck cracked off, clattering across the floor.

Carth sat up at the noise, one hand already pulling out a blaster from the sheets.

"Don't panic, Flyboy." The body's voice was deeper than Revan expected. She'd been in this body before-on the bridge of the Arm- but its baritone startled her, still and deep in the silence of the room. "It's just me."

He gestured with the gun. "Tell me something to be sure."

"Carth. It's about Dustil."

"Oh." He drew his knees to his bare chest. He'd shaved again. It brought out the new hollows in his cheeks. "You're not… Yuthura told me that disruptor would hold."

"Were you trying to keep me out?" She wasn't sure any Force restraint would ever work on her again.

Flash of dark humor in his smile. "I was trying to keep Lord Nondik from murdering me in my sleep."

She stood up to walk to him-only to find her legs shackled as well as her hands. Revan blinked and the chains opened. Her body walked free. No mass of blubber like that last one. This was a man in the prime of health, strong in the Force. His mind seethed as she sank into it, fueling her own control.

"No closer! You've got my attention." Carth still had the gun. Revan was proud of him for that. "What… what about Dustil? Is he okay?"

"Dustil's going to be fine."

"But he's not fine now." It wasn't a question. "Where?"

"Dromund Kaas. I'm here, too." Almost.

His face shuttered up tight. "H-he went back to the Sith?"

"I don't… I don't think so. Not like you mean." If Revan let her concentration slip she could be there. She could know precisely what had transpired. At that moment, Dustil and Mekel were as much a part of her as the Emperor. As this body. Their minds would be just as open-

-she shied away from that.

"The Emperor doesn't want them, Carth. He took them as bait. He wants me."

Her husband shook his head. "You can't go. We stopped the Sleepers. We stopped him from making more bodies! Without you, he'll fade away and die. You said that's how this works! Yuthura said that's how this works!"

"Not fast enough. And now he has them. H-he took them-" right from under my nose. Should have noticed, but I was too busy walking in the lives of a hundred other sents, too busy on Nar Shaddaa, watching for a glimpse of my son-too greedy, too drunk with this power, this sweet power, even now-

Even now it called to her.

And she heard the Emperor's laughter echo in her head.

Now you see. Quickly! Say you will save his sons and then come to him again. In another body, if this one does not please you-

"You're going to have to kill this body, Carth."

Would you both prefer a female-

"What?" His voice cracked.

"Tenebrae can use it to get close to you. He'll use you like he did before. Anyone I care about."

I will not! I merely want to give you what you asked for, Starfire. Your husband. His child. More children, if that is your wish-I will locate a female. I must have a few close to his location-

Revan bit down so hard on the Sith's tongue she tasted blood. Shut. Up!

Carth's face was pale, but as she watched, that warm mouth twisted in a wry smile. "That bastard already has everything I love, Freckles. Let him do his worst. There's nothing more he can take."

"When I'm in him I can fight him. I think. Maybe I can stop him from… doing worse. Maybe I can help."

You can. You can use our power for your greater good all that you like! It makes no difference to me. I spent generations helping my people. Freeing commoners from the Sith aristocrats. An amusing time it was, too! Although… his amusement bubbled in her head. In a few centuries, you will learn there is no difference between help and harm.

"Help?" Carth shook his head. "You can't ask me to choose between you and Dustil."

"I'm not. I wouldn't." It's not your choice to make. It's mine. Either I leave your son to be drained by Tenebrae or I join him as an equal. I walk the stars.

Poor creature. So unlike your original. You hunger for what she took for granted, value what she discarded. Those little lives, ones you never lived-

And then I will see all the lives that were always denied me-

Yes. Yes! Give me a conscience! A fair trade. I will give you life, Revan. Any one that you choose. Even let you sleep in ignorance, grow as a child-

A part of her wanted it-

I never had a life. I have memories of someone I am not, a family that was never mine-

He lies, the cold voice inside whispered. Vitiate always lies.

"Revan." Carth's voice drew her back from the stars. "Are you… you still there?"

She nodded the Sith's head. "He's calling to me. He's promising me… things."

"Things like getting Dustil out safe." Her husband nodded as if that was the only thing she could possibly mean.

"It's not all… it's not all bad." The deep voice of her vessel mocked her, made her words weaker.

"The tomb." Carth's jaw worked. "I saw what was in there. After all this, you're telling me he's won. That's going to happen to you… that thing in the tomb is gonna be you."

"Yes." Something swung from Revan's chin when she moved her head to stare at Carth's face. Her hand reached out and touched tendrils of flesh, hanging down like a beard.

Her husband laughed raggedly. "And you want me to shoot you goodbye."

She felt the strange mouth twist, even as the Sith in this body seethed. "You could kiss me first."

Carth choked. "No. No." He got up, one hand still holding the gun. The other reached for her hand and led Revan back to her chair like she was a kid being tucked into bed.

"I didn't mean it. About the kiss." She let him lead her. The body was taller than Carth. The hand larger than his. His hand felt fragile in hers.

"Force collar." Carth dropped her hand and picked it up from the floor. "If I put this on Nondik are you gonna disappear on me?"

"No." For some, it might. But she was sunk too deep into the man's mind for it to matter, too strong in the Force now to be affected.

You make us both stronger, my Starfire-

The collar clicked around the Sith's neck. Her husband's hand reached out and touched her cheek. "

"Restraints too, Carth. When I leave, he will try and kill you."

"Restraints didn't stop you," he pointed out.

"Lord Nondik isn't me. He's much weaker. But he does want you dead."

The man's hatred invigorated her.

Yes. Delicious.

Carth clicked the chains around her ankles and then her wrists, fitting her hands back into the binders. "You… you can hear his thoughts."

She nodded. "I'm trying not to listen. Mostly, he just wants you dead. He's… imaginative."

"Yeah." He straightened, staring at her. Hard planes of his body, the fur of his chest. Carth smiled again, that sharp smile she'd noticed first on Taris. Designed to charm. Once, she'd thought it was unconscious, but now she knew better. It was his public smile-the one he used to charm the pants off smugglers and wrangle command positions for his soldiers. That smile tightened as she watched, something underneath it brittle enough to crack.

One of his hands reached out and tugged at her chin-flesh. "Wattles."

She shook her head from side to side, felt the Sith's chin flaps flutter. "Doesn't quite have the same ring as Freckles."

"No." The smile faded. "Shame I'm not still possessed by the Emperor. Then I wouldn't have to tell you what I think. You could read my mind."

His eyes gave her a clue. They were less professional than that smile. Revan felt her breath whistle through the man's pierced teeth. "I can find another body, Carth. I can come back-"

"For what?" His jaw twitched. "You'd still be someone else. Someone who didn't want to be here."

"Right." Of course he was right. "But I can still-this doesn't have to be good-bye-we can still… talk. Like this."

"I'm sorry." He turned away, muscles of his back working, walking away from her. "Send Dustil back to me, Revan. Please. No matter what… give me that. But don't… I want to believe in you. I want to believe you're out there… somewhere… doing good." His voice faltered. "But if we fight Sith again, I don't want to know that they're you."

"They won't be." She felt the tug of the son's thoughts, even now, as if he knew where she was. His rage screamed across the void. "I'll get Dustil back. I promise."

"You'd better." He walked back to the bed. "The investigation into my court-martial starts tomorrow. Gotta get my beauty sleep."

"They're going through with that?"

"A formality." His voice roughed, blurred as he turned away from her, pulled the covers back over his skin. "Can't promote me til they absolve me. Guess you see now why I can't be having affairs with Sith Lords. Would send the wrong message. Hell, the things they're already saying about Yuthura-"

"What about you and Yuthura?"

Her husband shook his head. He had something in his hand and she heard plasti crackle as he popped a seal. "Nothing, Wattles. It's nothing. Gossip for the vids. There's no one else for me… tried that already… after Morgana-none of it worked til I found you."

"I'm sorry we… I'm sorry we never had a chance."

Carth rubbed his chin, running his hand down his neck, resting it above his heart. "I'm not. You and me… we saved the galaxy. At least… at least twice. Save… Dustil… least twice." He rolled over and she spotted the derm he'd planted on his skin.

"Go… going back… sleep," he slurred. Her husband's eyes fluttered closed, his mouth gently opened. His breath hitched, became even and slow.

"Good-night, Carth. Sleep well."

He didn't answer her again.

Xxx

"Look, it's one hell of an honor-an honor I don't deserve, being promoted to Admiral. But I get it, you don't have anyone else who'll take the job."

(Crowd cheers.)

"What's that? Oh! Did you find someone else? Go ahead. Promote away. I bet there are some instructors from the Academy, or you could exhume Saul Karath…."(Crowd boos.)

"Just don't ask me how he died, folks. I don't want to spoil the vids. Or incriminate anyone… including me.… hey, did you hear I'm a grandpa? That's right. I come back to Coruscant and the first thing that happens is this woman calls me up and tells me someone dumped two kids off at her brothel. Then she says they're my son's kids. Said their mother packed it and ran off with some fly-by-night hotshot, gives me some story about how she thought they were her grandkids, but… turns out? They're mine."

(Beat.) "Put that in your hyperdrive and smoke it, huh? I run down to the Underground, pick them up, and… hell if she's not right. She's got the gene scans and everything."

"No, I'm serious. I'm a grandpa!" (Cheers.)

"Ganesh and Myleah. They're the best thing that's ever happened to me since… since Dustil…."

(Crowd goes silent. Then begins cheering.)

"But you're not here to hear about my son. Or my grandkids. Or even how I'm the handsomest admiral in the Republic Navy. Sorry, Denis. But you know it's true." (Cheers.)

"I understand. You want to hear about Revan. My wife, Revan. Hero of the Star Forge. Savior. Conqueror. Villain. Saint. Revan the Redeemed, isn't that what they're calling her out on the Rim? Sents sacrifice themselves all the time in wartime, but one big send-off and suddenly, everyone wants a piece…."

(Breath.) "Sorry. Sorry. Right. This is supposed to be funny. You know, getting up before a crowd was never my thing. You want charm, you should've seen Malak." (Beat.) "Before my wife blew his ass off the Star Forge, that is. There's nothing charming about space dust."

(Cheers.) "Are we done yet? Rew, you said five minutes. Feel like I've been up here long enough to find at least one Star Map…."

(More cheers.)

-Recording of a Naval Speech given by Admiral Carth Onasi at the after-party of his promotion.

[Note: For centuries this was assumed to be a

---

political satire. An analysis of voiceprints taken from other recordings of Carth Onasi indicates it may be genuine.]

-compiled by Archivist Lanna T'so.

Xxx

Polla brought the Hawk into atmosphere expertly while Revan stared down into a maelstrom of clouds and lightning. Miraculous, with the Machine Ships maps. They had crossed the galaxy in half a day, what would have once taken her fleet half a year.

This will change the nature of war, Revan thought, restlessly drumming her metal fingers on the communications board until Polla told her to stop.

You could have let the Deralian go, Malak chided. I could have shown you how to fly the Hawk.

"Because that worked so well when you were alive, my love?" Revan had to smile, thinking of how nervous her husband had been whenever she took the yoke.

"Huh?" Polla turned her head. "Oh, right. Talking to yourself again. Totally normal, Bossypants."

"I am speaking to Malak."

"Great. Tell him I said hi." The Deralian coasted in slowly, banking under the clouds. "Republic blockade seems to be gone…."

"He can hear you."

"Can he?" The smuggler pivoted in her seat and then made a crude gesture. "Can he see me, too? You didn't have to bomb all those planets, Malak. Or have your little war with Revan on top of my homeworld. And you both could've left Deralia out of it."

She isn't wrong. But the past is done. It's the future we can change, Red.

"He says you should look to the future."

Polla scoffed. "Which future? The one where my Da's still dying and we're giving Tenny-Bro everything he wants? The one where we won the war and we're handing it off? The Emperor wants Revan and you're just going with it! Oh, Polla, let's sacrifice the other Revan and then will you take me to Nar Shaddaa? No! I won't! I'm not your kriffing livery cruiser, Revan!"

"I never claimed you were in my service. I am hoping Fragment is strong enough to make a difference until my mind prison can work-"

Malak flickered before her eyes. Have faith, Red.

"Why?" Polla snarled. "Think the tenth time she fights him it'll be the charm?"

Revan exhaled. "No." Under the accusing eyes of the smuggler, her faith crumpled.

Have faith, Malak repeated, as stubborn in death as he always had been in life.

How can I? The Fragment failed, too. Every step we have taken is just another in a circular path. Everything we've done has only added to Vitiate's power.

"No, my heart." Malak enfolded her in his spectral embrace. " My Bright One."

Revan realized that both her hands were knotted into fists-one metal and one flesh. The Force surged weakly with her frustration, dulled to distraction by the Fragment's pain and the Deralian's fear. I am not your Bright One! Sheris was your Bright One! Always in my shadow! If I had not placed her in your bed you wouldn't have noticed her-I nearly had to strip her myself because you were so busy looking at me!

"Yes." Malak's voice was detached. Infuriatingly calm. " You were the sun, Red. I had to look at you. You blinded me to everything else, cast your shadow over everyone else-"

My master died at Malachor, Sheris murmured But someone saved me. I thought they saved me for you, my love. Saved me to heal you, Malak.

"You did your best, Bright One." It was Revan's skin that buzzed with his sepulchral touch, but it was Sheris staring back into his ghostly eyes.

And then Revan saw what had been before her all along. "The shadow-"

"Huh?" Polla barely glanced in her direction. "Still talking to Darth Malak?" She sighed unsteadily. "How'd I know if I'd been brainwashed? I'd be able to tell, right? Am I bringing you here because Tenny-bro made me? We shouldn't be within a million parsecs of this system!" Her hand reached for the yoke. "We should go," she mumbled, bringing them in closer to the planet instead.

"Be quiet," Revan told her. "I have to think."

Words from the past echoed in her mind. "She is the shadow you hide behind. Her power deafens. You, in your weakness, will hear as she cannot. Your weakness is your armor. She drowns out the world's whispers but you hear all." Vima Sunrider's speech-what the woman had said on the day of Revan's rebirth.

"She is the shadow you hide within."

Revan's breath froze in her lungs. Their ship hung in the sky and the galaxy rested on a precipice.

"She is the shadow you hide within. Your weakness is your armor, Padawan."

Malak's voice sounded more puzzled than hurt. " But you sent Sheris, Red. To me. Are you claiming it was someone else?"

I wanted to go, Sheris murmured. To follow him into the Dark.

Yes. Revan closed her eyes.

I knew. I could not tell you before, Sheris whispered. You would not listen to me before.

I tried once to go already. But it didn't work-

There was no sun before.

Yes. The Fragment wasn't here before.

Revan opened her eyes. She laughed. The air in the ship was stale and stank of fear. But it was sweet, too. "Vima... she was right."

"Huh?" Polla Organa had activated the landing gear. "Dunno what you're going on about, but we're here." She had coasted the Hawk in, past a charred circle of rubble. Ahead of them, the doors of the Temple appeared to have been blasted open and then melted shut-the stone warped and cracked by the Force. The malevolent energy emanating from the building was unmistakable. "What happened to the doors?" Polla flicked their engines off. "Blasted 'em open the last time I was here. Give me a sec-I'll do it again-"

"Wait." Revan put her hand on the smuggler's arm. "They're Force-sealed."

"Then how can we get in?"

"There's another set of doors below, on the back of the Temple. Keyed to us. But Dustil and Mekel are here-on the main level." They had to be, that bright knot of power she sensed could be nothing else. "And the Imperial Fleet is cloaked in the sky." Revan felt their ships appear, like sparks of light coming out from a cloud. The power of the Fragment in the ship had blinded her sense of them before.

Then Revan laughed again. Vima was right! "We may have missed a very short war. I know you have no faith in my plans, Polla, but trust in the Force."

"Just the driver," the Deralian muttered. "Just came along to say good-bye. Because the Sith Emperor made me. And to keep you from wrecking my ship."

"You need to trust me-"

If you keep saying that, she won't, Sheris chided.

There wasn't much time. "When… I'll tell you when-"

"Tell me what?"

No time to answer, as the door to the cockpit slid open.

"I think we're in time for the main event." The Fragment stood in the doorway. She looked down at her own body, making a face. "Almost dusk now, local time. Tenny-Bro 's babbling in my head that we should wait for dawn. He's assembling survivors to send me off-"

"We can't wait," Revan interrupted.

"Eager to get rid of me?" Revan glanced in the direction of the Temple and then back. "Don't want to wait, either... but there's no reason I have to climb into an ancient tomb sober-is there?"

"No. No reason." Revan's mind was still stumbling; logistics unraveling like a skein of tangled wire. "I'm sure you'll have time for a drink. Has Tenebrae informed you how Dustil Onasi and Mekel Jin will be freed?"

"He says I can release them when I go into the Temple. After I free them I'm not sure I can stop myself." The Fragment bit her lip. "That thing in the Temple… it's happy I'm back. It's calling to me. And I… I want to go to it." Her voice cracked. "I've… I've wanted to go to it for a while now."

All those little lives… Revan remembered her own brief experience with the tomb. "I understand," she said. "We'll go together, Revan. Polla… Polla will wait with the ship." Her mind worried at words, trying to find the right ones. "But the… the intensity of the Force inside might incapacitate me. I'm not as strong as you are.*

"Maybe you should wait with the ship, too." Her counterpart's nose was bleeding again. Her hands were white-knuckled. "Both of you. Wait with the ship. He says when I go in, they'll be free. I'll send them out."

"Just like that?" Polla scoffed. "They were passed out on Oas for two days-Dustil was barely awake on the ship. You think they'll be walking out of there?"

The Fragment's voice was even. "Guess we'll have to see."

"You go alone," Revan told her. "We'll be here. Come out if you need us."

Polla shot her a frown.

"It calls," Malak whispered. " You remember the temptation of the Dark, Revan. With all of our training, we were broken reeds before it. It takes all of her will to resist."

Then help her. We need to finish this before the Emperor returns! There can no doubt-

"You will need the smuggler. This ship will need to leave quickly, after-"

I know that, Mal.

"A drink first." The Fragment took a ragged breath. "Polla?"

"Sure." The Deralian shrugged. "But if you go evil in that fracking tomb I'm going to haunt your conscience for eternity. You know that?"

"You'll haunt me anyway." The Fragment blinked too hard.

"Yeah." The Deralian was smiling. "Hey, look. It's a good thing you're doing, saving those kids."

"Would you do it?" The Fragment walked to the gunnery turret and popped open a cabinet there. She extracted a half-empty bottle of what looked like fermented krill-juice and uncorked it, making a face as she swigged some of it down before passing it to Polla.

"Well, no. But I spent more time with Dustil than you did. Sulkypants is a real brat. Probably do him good to spend a few centuries hooked up like a battery." The smuggler took a careless gulp and handed the bottle to Revan.

"Thank you," Revan said.

"Dustil won't last a century." The smile that had almost been on the Fragment's mouth faded. "And I-I wanted to do it before. Now that I'm here…."

"I remember the way it called to me." That curious feeling couldn't be envy. Perhaps it was relief. I would have sacrificed Dustil and Mekel without a thought, Revan realized. Bought another few decades and kept searching for victory.

Yes. She is not you, Red.

This still could be a trick-another one of Tenebrae's tricks. Hope. It was a dull ember in Revan's chest. She did not want to extinguish it. The drink was abominable. She handed the bottle back after one sip.

When she looked up, Malak's ghost smiled down at her with his eyes, the smooth curve of his prosthesis a graceful line against his muscular neck.

Our trick, this time, her lover said.

"Mekel said Dustil was dying. He looked like he was dying." The smuggler fidgeted, flipping open a blaster she'd had at her belt and adjusting the parts. "They both looked pretty bad."

The Fragment took another gulp. "The Emperor's draining them. It's what he'll do to me, but I'll be… hardwired. Dustil and Mekel are just patched in. I can pull them out."

"And being his power source won't kill you, because you can't die?"

"Right." The Fragment grimaced, and drank still more of her concoction, finishing the bottle. "Lucky me." She wiped her bleeding nose again. "I'll be the Emperor's power source, but with luck, he'll be mine, too. I can do good, maybe. Save some sents."

"You will do some good," Revan ordered her.

She will, Malak said.

Can you see the future, my love?

Only you.

Polla Organa sighed. "Dustil Onasi's a good kid. He looked out for me and Zaalbar on Kaas. Guess Mekel's a good kid, too. Never really spent much time… but he is your family, right?"

"You're my family." The Fragment blinked too quickly, and then wiped her eyes.

"Even Bossypants?"

"Is that humor?" Revan tried to smile, to show she understood.

Polla snorted. "Sure. A real jape."

"You're gonna have to take care of Dar," the Fragment told Polla. "Hope you know that. I've done all I can."

"Yeah." Polla ducked her head and drank. "She's rich. Right?"

For some reason that made them both start laughing.

"Take care of them both for me, Malak." The Fragment's voice sharpened. "You didn't think I couldn't see you-almost see you-hovering? Once I'm omnipotent, I'll have my eye on you, too."

"Once you're inside the tomb, you won't see me at all, I think," Malak spoke slowly.

Oh. There was no time for a reaction, and Revan could not give one, not under her counterpart's bright green gaze. She half-expected the Fragment to crack some jape at Malak, but the woman only blinked.

"Tell Korrie I love him." The Fragment wiped her eyes. "Tell him I'm watching over him, always."

"But not in a creepy way," Polla interjected. "Don't tell him you're in someone else's brain. That'll give your kid nightmares."

Revan forced a choked laugh at almost the exact same time as the Fragment.

Courage, Bright One, Malak whispered. My brave Bright One.

Always, Sheris whispered, and for once Revan did not object.

XXX

In conclusion, there is overwhelming evidence that Talonis Revan was a fictional character, and the real Revan Starfire's life story was reduced to Apocrypha within four generations of her sacrifice.

The question is why?

Why would a woman who was dead for nearly two hundred years need to be erased from the galactic record?

To protect her few descendants? Protect her cousin's (numerous) descendants?

Perhaps. But could it be something else?

On the Sith world of Korriban, they have a springtime festival each year on the day of Revan's birth. A statue of a robed figure is constructed from flowers in the Dreshdae Central Square and all of the local courtesans wear red wigs. The tradition is that this disguise will give the real Starfire's ghost cover to walk among the living for a night and a day.

-Excerpt from "An Historian's Introduction to the Machine Wars: Lecture by Kree Usam Racharn for the Revan: Fact or Fiction Symposium, SHWL," University of Coruscant Press. 3653 BBY

Xxx

"Goodbye," the Fragment said again. She turned and walked down the Hawk's landing ramp, heading for the Dark Temple as if she owned it. She had taken off that battered flight jacket, was now dressed in a patched coverall from the ship. At the halfway point she turned to face them. "Tenny-Bro's pissed," she called out. "Wanted me to wait for his party-you're gonna want to clear out if here soon as you can. He's got a dropship of Thulian priests coming. And some kinda procession from Kaas City."

"Duly noted!" Revan called back.

"Be careful." The Fragment had kept walking, now backward, still staring at both of them. "Uh, goodbye. Again."

"Don't bump into the door!" Polla yelled.

"She won't." The Force led her. Revan had been twelve before she'd noticed that most sentients needed eyes to know what lay ahead of them, that they had to walk in a straight line facing forward to see.

"We really letting her do this?" Polla dropped her voice. "Sure it's a good idea? We could've tried the carbonite again-"

"No. This was always inevitable." At the end of every path. "You need to trust me, Polla."

If you keep saying it like that she won't! Sheris's tone was gentle for all of its chiding.

"You're making it hard," Polla noted. "Between letting Revan run off to kill herself and you going on about trust-"

"It isn't death, going into the tomb." Revan took another deep breath of clean sweet air. "Not for her."

"Easy for you to say." Polla wiped her eyes. "We're never gonna see her again."

The Fragment had lifted both her arms and turned her palms up. She'd started glowing again.

The doors of the Dark Temple cracked open. The Fragment was far enough away that her features blurred, lost in a haze of light that seemed to be coming from inside the Temple as well as from her. As they watched, the glow followed her, casting shadows from the shattered door.

The shadows looked like claws, chasing her inside.

"Now, my heart," Malak whispered-just as Revan was already opening her mouth.

"Polla," she said. "I have to go help her."

"Huh?" The smuggler looked confused. "But she said she'd come back if she needed help-"

"She won't. Trust me-"

"The more you keep saying that, the worse this looks. You know that, right?"

Told you. Sheris's laughter sounded like bells.

Revan shook her head. "Listen to me. When I return we're going to leave. Quickly. You've got to get Dustil and Mekel on the ship, get the Hawk ready to go-before my return. Understand? But if the Fragment comes back before I do…"

"You just said she wouldn't."

She might, Sheris noted. If those two Bezal-bonded men can't walk.

"If she comes back before I do, tell her I'm in the fresher." Pathetic excuse-a ten-year-old Padawan could have found one less flimsy-but there was no time.

"The lower hidden entrance," Malak murmured. " That seems the most logical approach."

I know, Mal.

"Tell her you're in the fresher," Polla repeated. She laughed. "Did I ever tell you your plans are all terrible, Bossypants? I don't know what you're up to, but…"

"I have to help her." She patted the woman on the arm. "Tell her I'm in the fresher, Polla."

Without further ado, Revan turned and ran for the hidden stairs along the side of the Temple's wall; heading to the entrance carved into the side of the edifice by a clever T3.

A/N

This is penultimate. For serious. One more chapter to go! And that is mostly written, although some of the pieces need to be sorted.

Thanks as always, Ether, for beting another monster. I've probably added more typos trying to fix tings. This is the version with typos.