CHAPTER 09 - NAR SHADDA

Now (3953)

"At last, we are finally here!" Atton exuberantly stretched out his arms as the crew made their way down one of the moon's many narrow streets, a thin guard rail the only barrier between them and a deadly plummet to the planet's lowest levels.

Shaking her head at his antics, Meetra gently reminded him, "We do have a mission."

"One that's finally on a world that I'm familiar with."

"And since you're so familiar, you'll be able to lead the search for any new information on Zez-Kai Ell or the Sith."

Hovering on the periphery of the crew, Mira eyed them cautiously. "No offense to your whole group dynamic, but I should probably split if you want me to keep the other bounty hunters off your tail."

"The Exile informed us that a Wookiee has been stalking you and interfering with your work. Would it not be best if someone travels with you for extra protection?" Dressed like a spacer, Brianna was nearly unrecognizable as the Sith acolyte she'd once been.

"I can dodge Hanharr for now. Though, if one of you Jedi wants to provide me with a little extra muscle, I wouldn't say no."

"It'll be good to have someone watching your back and Brianna is probably the best choice." Nodding approvingly, Vann arched a brow. "But maybe don't call her a 'Jedi' in public. It'll attract the wrong kind of attention."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I can keep a secret." Grinning in admiration, Mira wondered, "What about you, Chis? Going to dig up some of your old contacts? Your name is still well known in certain circles."

"Actually, we're going down a few levels to meet with one of Meetra's contacts."

Shifting uncomfortably beneath everyone's curiosity, Meetra nodded weakly. "It's less clandestine than it sounds." Turning to her pilot she hurriedly added, "Make sure to comm us with any news and we'll do the same for you. Hopefully, Master Ell can be located swiftly and without any incidents."

"Yeah, because we're so good at being subtle." Atton snorted at the idea, but his expression softened. "Just… stay safe everyone. Don't do anything that, well, that I'd do."

"Noted. Though, as a reminder, I was performing this type of recon while you were still using a training sword." Winking playfully, Vann nudged Meetra towards the turbolifts as the younger man scowled after them. Once they were lost amongst the crowd he took the opportunity to straighten the long gray cloak that she was wearing as a rough disguise from casual observers, his attention to detail so distinctly Revan.

Their trip to the cantina was fairly silent, something Meetra was thankful for since it helped to hide her nervousness as she anticipated the upcoming meeting. Vann had initially been annoyed by her vague answers regarding this source of information but he trusted his former General enough to drop the issue. Unfortunately, that inclination probably wouldn't last much longer since there was no avoiding the fact that the former mercenary wasn't going to like what was coming. The story surrounding this particular contact was undeniably complicated, and while the blonde knew him well it had been years since they'd spoken in person. But this individual had never lead her astray and right now he might be their best resource in the galaxy. Using him was a calculated risk… the type that Revan taught her to make.

The cantina they entered was crowded but not overly loud, filled with various sentients meeting in quiet booths and shadowed corners to exchange secrets. Vann's dark eyes scanned the dimly lit space, his expression going lax for a moment before he whispered, "We've been here before, haven't we?"

"We've used this location a few times before and during the war. That's also how my contact knows it."

Vann accepted this, his gaze following Meetra's as she nodded towards a back table where a cowled figure sat stoically. Despite showing no visible features it was obvious that the individual was large, at least for a humanoid, yet possessed a certain meekness to his posture as though he was trying to hide from the outside world. It was a strange contrast but not one that was unexpected. A warm smile tugged at Meetra's lips as she approached with a quickness that bordered on excitement. Unsurprisingly, the former mercenary didn't share his companion's enthusiasm and suspicion immediately creased his brow as he studied the figure, his hands subtly drifting towards the lightsaber hilts that were hidden beneath the hem of his jacket. His eyes narrowed as his awareness extended to probe for further clues, a snarl tugging at his lips. When they were less than a meter away he stopped dead in his tracks, roughly grabbing Meetra by the shoulder to halt her as well.

"I don't think that's your contact."

Drawing a slow breath, Meetra steeled herself for the inevitable argument. "Yes, it is."

"No, that's…"

The cloaked figure lifted his head, pale eyes gazing at them from beneath the shadow of his hood. They were blue and not sickly gray, thank the Force. Shrugging off the former mercenary's hand, Meetra insisted, "I know who it is, Vann. I'm the one who called him here."

The mechanical sound tainting Alek's voice was startling as he hissed, "For once in your life can you not make a scene? We can explain, but I don't have much time."

If there was one individual in the galaxy who could talk Revan down when his temper struck, it was his best friend. Unfortunately, the pair hadn't been friends in six years. Quicker than most species could blink Vann drew his concealed lightsabers, igniting them with a flick of his thumbs and extending his arms so that one blade was pointed at each of the other Force users. His irises flashed an eerie yellow, the color making his skin appear sallow.

"Kriffing Sith hells, do you not understand Basic?!" Alek was still speaking in a hushed whisper but his exasperation was audible.

By now the entire cantina was staring at them. Despite the burning tip of the lightsaber aimed at her throat Meetra managed a smile. "Nothing to see here," she called, summoning the Force to add persuasion to her voice. "Just a little disagreement. No need to concern yourselves." Most of the patrons immediately turned back to their business, though it was unclear if this was due to her command or the fact that they were quite used to looking the other way during violent arguments.

Vann's expression was murderous. "You both have sixty seconds to explain. And you know that I'll be counting."

The situation was precarious but out of all the individuals in the galaxy, the two currently held at 'saber-point were the best equipped to diffuse it. Slowly and calmly, Meetra began to speak. "Alek and I have been in contact for just under two years. He's the reason that I was trying to return to Republic space." It was the first time she'd admitted that even to herself. "He felt something extremely dangerous, and I'm now certain that he was sensing the same Sith threat we're currently fighting."

"Forty-five, forty-four…"

"Before you ask, I got messages out through a few Republic officers who were still loyal to me… though not necessarily to the Sith. I contacted Meetra, and only Meetra, because she was the one individual I trusted to stop what I felt coming."

"Thirty-two, thirty-one…"

"I was having nightmares. I don't know if you remember Dromund Kaas, but…"

"I spent some time there recently. Lots of lightning and torture, can't say I'd recommend it."

Realization struck Meetra. "You were taken captive about two years ago, right? That's around the same time that Alek's dreams started."

Vann's lightsabers pressed just a fraction closer, the heat of the blade burning the delicate skin of the former general's neck. "Malak! His name is Malak and he's a kriffing Sith!"

"Was. Was a Sith." Alek heaved a mechanical sigh, sadness filling his gaze. "I fully admit that I was under the sway of the dark side the last time we met. I was trying to do the right thing, but my mind was too clouded by fear and rage for me to think clearly. But I did tell you the truth back on the Leviathan, all I wanted was to recreate your vision for the Republic."

The chill of anger surrounding Vann turned to a frigid torrent. "You wouldn't have had to 'recreate' anything if you didn't try to gut me and then shoot me out of the sky!"

A wave of determination washed over Alek and he pushed his face against the blade, the plasma singeing his prosthetic. "For Force sake, Deran! Put your damn 'sabers down and let's talk this out like adults. The entire Republic is once again at stake and if you're going to let our past interfere with saving it, you're no better than the Jedi Council who stood by while the Mandalorians…"

"What did you call me?"

Blinking in mild embarrassment, Alek stuttered, "Err… Revan. I called you…"

"He called you Deran, which is your real name." Meetra stared defiantly at Vann, watching as confusion danced across his features.

It was quickly replaced by frustration. "That's something I would have known if this kriffing son of a kath hound hadn't deleted all of my records…"

"That wasn't me! I know my word means nothing to you, but I swear that I didn't do it." Alek had never been as good at concealing his Force presence and the truth of his words was so blatant that even Vann couldn't deny it. The lightsabers gradually lower as the former mercenary considered this new information, finally deciding that despite everything that happened he needed to hear his former friend out.

As Vann's 'sabers snapped closed Meetra exhaled, gesturing to the empty pair of chairs placed around the table. "We should sit down. I think we have a lot to talk about."

The tension that filled the Force was new and uncomfortable. The last time Meetra had been around Revan and Malak they'd still been best friends and while they had occasional disagreements, those confrontations never contained the visceral aggression that she was currently sensing. But then, the pair had tried to kill each other twice in the intervening years.

"So, talk." Vann was still gripping both of his hilts, each pointed at one of his current companions.

Alek glanced at Meetra, who gave him a slight nod of encouragement. He drew a slow, tinny breath before speaking. "Obviously, I've had a lot of time to consider my actions and determine why I carried them out. That led me to meditate on all of the pieces that brought us to this point including the war, the Sith Emperor, and our journey to Dromund Kaas…"

"Which is still a horrible place, by the way."

Ignoring the quip, Alek continued, "I've come to believe that the main catalyst for all of the… mistakes that transpired occurred on that planet."

"Are you sure? I've also had a lot of time to think and I realized that I started to change towards the beginning of the war when I let go of my empathy to become a more effective commander. Even before Malachor, I realized that I could never truly return to the Order." Meetra looked down at the table. "I know I'm not the only one who barely recognized myself by the armistice."

"We may have stopped being Jedi during the war, but that's a lot different from what Malak did. I'm pretty sure that the jump from 'not Jedi' to 'fascist dictator' is a unique one." Scathing sarcasm colored Vann's voice. "I mean, raise your hand if you've ever tried to take over the Republic."

Alek leveled his gaze at his oldest friend, his mechanical tone deadly serious. "Revan, I thank the Force every day that you were the one who lost your memory and I was the one to return to Republic space. If it had been the other way around… No power in the galaxy can stop you once you set your mind to something. You might not remember, but you were planning big changes for the military once we returned home. If you had been given free rein to enact all of your ideas, I don't think any of us would be sitting here today."

"It's Vann, not Revan. Thanks to the aforementioned memory loss I barely remember being Revan."

"I didn't intend for that to happen but… I had to stop you. During that duel in the Emperor's palace, you were out of control and I was afraid for the future. I knew that if you were allowed to return to the Republic, tragedy would follow."

"Oh, I would cause tragedy? You're kriffing joking, right?" Vann's knuckles were white from the pressure he was putting on his lightsaber hilts. "I may not have all of my memories but I remember that fight and I know it wasn't fear that was driving you, it was hatred. I don't know why you hated me so much at that moment, but don't pretend that you tried to kill me for some greater good."

"I didn't hate you! If anything, I hated myself for what I knew I had to do!"

"Oh poor you! How terrible to 'have' to kill the one person standing between you and dominating the Republic. And don't try to tell me that I lost control. I know for a fact that I was the only one of us who was in my right mind at that moment! You went for the kill. I went for…"

It was Alek's turned to be incensed. "For what? The torture? The pain? The humiliation? Please, tell me more about your mercy."

As the Force grew bitterly cold from the strength of her friends' anger Meetra was overwhelmed by the regret that she had been harboring for years. It was all built upon the theory that if she had only been on Dromund Kaas she could have stopped the duel that tore the pair apart, both mentally and physically. Her irritation mounted and she shouted, "Both of you, stop! Arguing isn't helping anyone! I can't stand what this Sith has done to you. He took two of the closest sentients I've ever known and filled your minds with suspicion and doubt until you decided that you can never trust each other again. That the only way for this to end is with one of you dead by the other's hand."

"He's the one who tried to kill me! Twice!" Vann made a gesture towards his abdomen. "I can show you the scar if you want."

"And you cut off his kriffing jaw! I think you can call things even at this point." Drawing a steadying breath, Meetra stared hard at both men. "A Sith poisoned you against each other because that's what they do. But you're stronger than that. So, are you going to give in and let the Emperor win? Or are you going to resist his manipulations, put your pettiness aside, and work together to defeat him?"

Alek blinked back his frustration. "I'm not the one being petty."

"No, you're just being pedantic which might be worse." The former Consular sighed. "I'm not asking you to forget what happened. Hells, if anyone knows how hard it is to move out of the shadows of the past, it's me. But I also know that, once you do, there's something better waiting on the other side. Hatred left its mark on both of you, but that doesn't mean that you can't move forward and keep fighting for something so much larger than yourselves. This Emperor needs to be stopped and you're the best hope of doing it."

Leaning his head back, Vann groaned. "Ugh, has she always been this annoyingly good at being right?"

"Yes."

"Fine. I'll hear Malak out before I shove a kriffing lightsaber through what's left of his face." It was difficult to tell how serious the former mercenary was being.

"My name is Alek. If I can call you Vann, you can manage that much."

Glaring venomously enough to send a fresh chill through the Force, the former mercenary gritted out, "Alright, Alek. I will sit here and I will listen to you. But that doesn't mean I trust you."

"That's fair. But I hope that at least one of you is willing to trust the information I provide."

"I've trusted everything you've sent me so far. In fact, I've read every letter you've written at least twice. I was actually re-reading your notes on the Sith obsession with immortality when I felt the Force stir within me for the first time since Malachor…"

"You felt the Force again?" Alek sucked in a sharp breath. "When? You never told me."

"I… was a bit preoccupied." Wincing at her failure to relay that important information, Meetra mumbled, "First I was trying to find my way across the Outer Rim and then the Sith attacked. It's been… complicated."

"I see that you're still both good friends and I'm very happy for you. I hope that your heartfelt correspondence can continue even after Alek is back in prison." Vann used one lightsaber hilt to gesture at the larger man.

"I'm not going back. At least not until I know that the Emperor has been dealt with and that my mistakes don't cause the Republic to fall into his grasp." Alek's eyes were hard even as his vocabulator kept his tone even. "Meetra is right, we might be two of the only people in the galaxy with any chance of beating him."

"Then I hope that you've somehow been brushing up on your combat technique while in Republic custody because I was no match for him when I went to Dromund Kaas. And, in case you forgot, I kicked your ass last time we faced off."

"You did. And I should probably thank you for that."

Gaping at her friend, Meetra blurted out, "Why should you thank him? He nearly killed you!"

"Yes, and I'm fairly sure that's what finally destroyed what was left of the Emperor's conditioning. Most of his control broke when we fled Dromund Kaas far quicker than he expected. But the last of it only seemed to release upon death or at least a near-death experience. Vann's occurred during the crash that took his memories and mine…"

"When I paid you back for causing the kriffing crash that took all my memories." Noting Meetra's angry glare towards his flippancy, Vann shrugged helplessly. "What?"

"By the time the Republic collected me from the Star Forge, I was barely breathing. They revived me and when I came back to consciousness I felt more clear-headed than I had in years. Lighter, even. My mind truly felt like my own."

"So, the Emperor's influence is why you… did what you did?" Meetra's voice was barely a whisper as she asked, "Is that why you destroyed planets like Dantooine?"

"I'm sorry about Dantooine and all of the other worlds." Sorrow bloomed around Alek, his broad shoulders slumping. "But I carry most of the responsibility for that destruction. I ordered those attacks because I acted on all of my rage. It's like you said, the war turned us into different people."

The bold truth shattered any hope that Meetra held of her friend being nothing but a mindless puppet when he committed the worst of his atrocities. The disappointment ached like a physical punch to the gut and she couldn't help but recall Kreia's final words. There are no limits to how far a Jedi can fall…

"Did the war really change us that much?" For once Vann sounded heart-wrenchingly genuine as he hurriedly added, "I'm actually being serious. I, uh, don't exactly remember the person I was before. I just know who I became and I don't always like what I see. I realize I wasn't the Jedi paragon the Republic made me out to be but did I… did I actually fall?"

"All three stories I told about you were true… and none of them were. There were little bits of the real you in every version." Alek's eyes crinkled into a smile. "You've always possessed a volatile temper along with a little too much cleverness for your own good. It's proven to be a dangerous combination. But you've also always had a wealth of compassion and a desire to defend those who can't fight for themselves. And, from what I've seen, none of these things have changed."

"Your Force presence feels the same as it did during the war. I think the question is if you feel that you fell."

"Sometimes." Feigning a grin, Vann added, "But I like to think I'm not all bad."

Alek shrugged. "Then that's your answer."

"That's a shitty answer."

"Considering everything you've learned about the Force, it was kind of a shitty question." It was Alek's tune to receive an angry glare from Meetra. "What?"

"So," Vann muttered, "On that enlightening note, what amazing knowledge do you have that can help us?"

"It's actually a series of theories and ideas about Sith philosophy."

"Because you were a Sith?"

"Actually, yes." Staring straight at Vann, Alek explained, "Don't forget that you introduced me to their teachings. You were my first master in the ways of the dark side, not because you wanted us to be Sith but because you wanted us to see there was more to the Force than the Jedi's limiting beliefs."

Noting the guilt tugging at her former commander's expression, Meetra assured him, "Don't feel bad, it was the only way we survived the war…"

Looking at the gathered trio, Vann wondered, "Did we really survive?"

"She said we survived. She never said anything about being whole at the end."

The words resonated with all of them, hanging heavy in the air as they all took a moment to truly study each other. Their realizations echoed through the Force as they silently acknowledged everything that they'd lost, both in themselves and each other. It traveled between them, thrumming through the frayed connection they still apparently shared.

It was Meetra who spoke first, her tone firm yet imploring. "Alek, come with us. We're fighting the same enemy and we've always been stronger as a team."

"I can't."

"For once, I'm going to agree with him." Vann only sounded mildly sarcastic.

But Meetra wasn't listening to their objections. "You can join us, my crew will understand."

With a snort, Vann asked, "Will they really?"

"He's one of the strongest Force users in the galaxy and one of the only individuals I've ever known who can take you on in single combat with any chance of winning. Plus, he's one of two Humans alive who have faced this Emperor and survived. You can't tell me those aren't strategically advantageous assets!"

"Meetra," Alek pleaded, "Be serious for a moment."

"I am serious! Vann has already proven that trying to face this Sith one-on-one won't work. If we're going to take this Emperor and his minions down, we should have a real plan utilizing every asset at our disposal."

Vann sounded like Revan when he conceded, "Fine. But if he comes with us, the rest of our allies stay behind. I don't trust him around them, especially Atton and Bastila."

"I'm still not officially agreeing to this plan, but I do have a shuttle capable of hyperspace travel that we can use. It's stocked with enough supplies that you'd be provided for should you decide to leave your freighter in the hands of your crew."

Taking a moment to consider the offer, Meetra finally nodded to both men. "That situation would be acceptable to me."

She must have agreed too quickly because Vann narrowed his eyes as his awareness briefly flared around him. "You were never planning on letting your crew anywhere near those Sith Lords, were you? Not after Korriban."

Alek stared. "You faced Sith down on Korriban? The dark side energy permeating that planet would make them nearly impossible to defeat!"

"She went in with one of your former assassins, two Force novices, and a semi-reformed Sith acolyte who they weren't actually sure was on their side. But they left Bastila on the ship. So, if you want to discuss strategic planning…"

When Vann and Alek both shot her an incredulous look, Meetra innocently responded, "What?"

"Whatever your plan is, we should get to my shuttle as quickly as possible since I doubt I have much time before there are bounty hunters after me. We can debrief in orbit where we can make a quick escape into hyperspace if needed. You share what you've learned and I'll tell you what I know."

"I'll notify my crew that we're leaving after we're out of Nar Shadda's atmosphere. I have a feeling they'll try to stop us if they find out that our plan before I reach that shuttle."

Standing from the table as he once again concealed his lightsabers, Vann nodded. "If you're serious about leaving them behind, that's probably the best choice. They seem like the type for flashy heroics which aren't a good idea if you're traveling with the most recognizable fugitive in the galaxy."

Alek arched a brow at his former friend. "Flashy heroics? I suppose it takes one to know one."

"We literally charged off to war with our 'sabers blazing to defend the helpless. I'd say that everyone having the conversation has indulged in overdramatic heroics at one time or another."

"Shit, speaking of lightsabers I just realized that Alek doesn't have one."

"Which makes it harder for him to kill me, especially considering that I currently have two." As the trio were made their way out of the cantina a cheeky grin spreading across Vann's face. "You're right, this is a great plan!"

Meetra clenched her teeth as irritation surged around her. "We need. Every. Weapon. At our disposal!"

"So, we'll figure something out once we're in the air!"

Doing his best to seem small beneath his cloak, Alek merged into the crowded walkway, "It would be wise to check the black market here."

"I'm going to deeply regret saying this, but it would actually be better to check with one of my contacts. I know someone on a station orbiting Yavin…"

The rest of Vann's offer was cut short by the crackling of two commlinks, followed by Atton's slightly strained voice. "Meetra… or Vann, come in. I, uh, have some good news and bad news."

Due to his focus on weaving unnoticed through the crowd, Vann couldn't help but respond tersely. "I know I'm not the pretty one with the big blue eyes, but I copy. Go ahead. And start with the good news."

"I mean, some might argue that you're more handsome than pretty, but yeah. Anyway. The good news is that we found Ell and nobody caused a scene in the process. Actually, it's more like he found us."

Genuinely surprised at this news, Meetra asked, "Really? How did that happen?"

"Well, that's the bad news. He tracked us down because the entire underworld and the holonet are buzzing with exactly one piece of information. Malak escaped from jail a few days back. Apparently, the report was only just released because Coruscant's security force finally confirmed that he's not anywhere on the planet. It took them a while to raid the lower levels looking for him."

"Oh, we're aware of the situation."

Atton couldn't have missed the ire in Vann's tone. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes Rand, we're fine." Keeping up with Alek's longer strides as the larger figure rushed towards the turbolift caused Vann to be slightly breathless as he informed the crew, "But unfortunately we're going to be… a little delayed in rendezvousing with the rest of you."

"Why? Is everything alright?"

"It's fine! Tell everyone not to worry and…" Meetra nearly dropped her commlink when she accidentally walked into a particularly burly Aqualish. Though she tried to smile an apology as she backed away, they took the bump as a personal affront and responded with a harsh shove. "Ow! You didn't have to push me, bantha brain."

Suspicion was creeping into Atton's voice. "Are you sure that you're okay?"

"Yes! We just ran into an unexpected delay that we need to handle before we meet-up with you." Vann yanked Meetra into the lift as he snapped, "Kriff, it's not like we're being held at blaster-point!"

"Please use the Hawk's resources to keep collecting as much information as you can. If you can't reach us, make sure that you stay in contact with Rakata Base and the Jedi. We'll update you on our plan as soon as we're able, alright?"

There was a long pause before Atton slowly stated, "Alright, I hear you." His words were unusually guarded when he added, "Don't worry, me and the rest of the crew have your backs."

There was no further response, causing Meetra to frown at her comm. She already missed the usual flirty comment or snarky quip that marked Atton's sign-offs. He only sounded this serious when he was genuinely worried and slipped back into the role of a trained Sentinel. Or maybe it was a trained assassin…

An assassin who had served under Alek and who was definitely Force-sensitive enough to recognize his former master's presence, even on a moon as crowded as Nar Shadda. With his skill set, he could probably pinpoint which level the familiar signature was coming from and he would definitely remember that it was the same level Meetra and Vann were using for their meeting. In retrospect, their vague comm responses probably didn't help the situation, especially considering how strained their tones were as they moved quickly through the crowd. Atton probably thought they were in trouble. With a wince, Meetra shouted into the mouthpiece, "Atton, no! It's not what you think!"

Vann sensed his companion's concerns and began pacing impatiently within the lift. "And this is why you don't sleep with your pilot! Because now that he probably thinks you've been kidnapped and he's going to try and rescue you, which means I probably get to be the asshole who knocks him unconscious so that you can leave."

Alek frowned at Meetra as the lift jerkily carried them up several levels. "Wait, what happened with Atris?"

"She hates me but won't admit it, so I thought it was time to move on. I'll tell you all about it after we settle this, I promise!"

"You probably want to turn off your comm before your engineer uses it to triangulate…" Vann winced when the lift door opened and Brianna's recognizable form was immediately visible in the distance. "Our location. Dammit!"

As he gestured to a hangar about five hundred meters in the opposite direction from the Echani, Alek wondered, "You can't just explain to your crew why there's been a change of plans?"

Vann rolled his eyes. "Sorry everyone but we're ditching you to go on a possible suicide mission with a recently escaped former Sith who spent three years committing genocide and otherwise terrorizing the Republic, including most of your families and allies."

"Well, when you put it like that it sounds bad!"

"And there's a way to make it sound good?"

"Kriffing hells! Can the two of you stop arguing for two minutes and just get moving?" Giving both men a push using the Force, Meetra marched past them as they stared at her in surprise. She ignored their incredulous expressions and kept walking, managing to get within a few meters of the hangar before she noticed a single figure moving rapidly towards her.

"Meetra Surik?" A balding man with a thick mustache paused mid-stride, surprise alighting on his wrinkled brow.

Preparing herself for a situation was certainly going to devolve rather rapidly, Meetra slowed to a stop and managed a weak smile. "Zez-Kai Ell! There is a very long and fairly complicated explanation for what's going on here, but I'm not entirely sure I have time…"

But the Jedi Master wasn't paying attention to her. Instead, he was scowling just over her left shoulder as a figure pulled to a halt behind her. "Why is it that trouble always seems to follow the two of you?"

"Because we're apparently the only people in the galaxy who are willing and able to save the Republic every kriffing time it's in trouble." Vann moved to stand beside Meetra, his arms crossed over his chest.

Alek ducked his head lower as he hissed, "I thought you wanted to keep moving!"

Before either of the former Revanchists could respond the Jedi Master's eyes narrowed and he drew his lightsaber, the dual violet blades illuminating the walkway as it ignited. "Did you save the Republic? Sometimes it feels more like you destroyed it. I don't know what you're planning this time but I can't in good conscious allow you to leave this moon."

Meetra desperately searched for the right words to diffuse the situation, but Ell was flipping through the air before she could find them. He landed directly in Alek's path, swinging his weapon around as he attempted to hold the upper blade at the former Supreme Commander's throat. But the strike was blocked by two mismatched weapons that luminesced orange and cyan.

Pushing the Jedi Master away with an easy parry, Vann challenged, "Are you sure you're ready to face two of the best lightsaber combatants in the galaxy?"

Cautiously eyeing the violet blades before glancing pointedly down at his empty hands, Alek rolled his eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, he's only facing one of us."

"Why is it that my conflicts with the Jedi Masters always end with you coming out ahead?" As he deflected two slashes with his main hand, Vann extinguished the orange blade in his off-hand and tossed the hilt behind his back. Its movement was partially guided by the Force, ensuring that Alek easily caught the weapon. "I'd better get that back! And not by you stabbing it through any of my kriffing body parts."

The former Sith stared astounded at the lightsaber, testing the feel and weight before powering it up. A grin tugged at the corners of his eyes as he quickly lunged at Ell, using his superior reach to block a low blow that would have broken through Vann's guard and carved into his shin. With two highly skilled opponents closing in, the Jedi Master quickly fell back as he reevaluated the situation.

Meeta's hand hovered near her own lightsaber as her front teeth worried her bottom lip. She should draw her weapon and help her friends finish this battle quickly so that they could reach Alek's shuttle, but she couldn't bring herself to ignite the silver blade. Arguing with the Masters was well within her rights, but attacking one directly was a boundary that she wasn't sure she could cross. Her other hand brushed the commlink that was once again clipped to her belt and she considered calling her crew to try and explain the increasingly complicated situation. At least some of them would understand why the Emperor who caused the Mandalorian Wars was an opponent she had to face… and why they couldn't come with her.

"You know, I didn't think I would be collecting a bounty on this trip but it seems I was wrong."

Wincing at the sound of Mira's voice, Meetra turned towards the bounty hunter with a heavy sigh only to see that she was joined by Atton and Visas. The former assassin quickly rushed over as relief filled his voice.

"Meetra! Thank the Force we found you. It was a little jumbled but I was able to hear the clues in your message and…"

Brushing away the hands that were clutching her shoulders, Meetra bit back a scream of frustration. "No! There were no clues in anything I said! Vann and I actually had to change our plans because…"

"Malak's here, isn't he? I thought I sensed that son of a kath hound."

"Don't!" Grasping Atton's wrists before he could draw his own weapons, Meetra kept a firm hold on him as she looked imploringly at Visas and Mira. "I need him, we need him, to defeat the Sith who cause the Mandalorian Wars. Alek is the only person alive besides Vann who's faced this Emperor before."

"He didn't face the Sith, he became one! And then he made me and half the kriffing Jedi Order follow him down."

"He's my friend!"

"Malak is nobody's friend!"

Visas appeared more pensive as she looked past Meetra, watching the fight unfold along the walkway. "And yet, the Force links him and Vann together. I can see it in the energy that moves between them. I'm not sure if I would call it friendship, but it is an undeniable connection."

Turning to glance at the duel, Meetra bit back a gasp as she watched Vann and Alek work in tandem to nonlethally defeat Ell. The older Consular was attempting to drawn upon his numerous Force powers to keep the younger men at bay, but whenever he tried to push one down or hold one still the other would distract him. They flowed around each other physically and mentally, one striking as the other dodged. Vann was remarkably nimble, his technique even more polished than it had been during the war, while Alek was raw power. The strength of his large frame easily compensated for his lack of recent practice.

Even before the war Meetra had enjoyed watching the two Guardians spar, either against each other or working together to hold off any number of other opponents. As older Padawans they had even managed to take down Kavar. The way they fought always perfectly complemented each other, the living embodiment of the Force bond they once shared. A bond that, according to Visas, had never truly been broken.

But their connection was frayed by time and betrayal, something made obvious as Ell began to find flaws in their teamwork. He was slowly realizing that Alek was the weaker link due to wielding a borrowed lightsaber after spending the last three years in a cell. A Consular was trained to notice these things and Meetra's heart sank when she saw the Master use the Force to push Alek down before immediately whirling to attack Vann. The sudden turn in tides caused chilled fear to wash over the younger man, but he immediately drew upon the emotion as the taste of ozone filled the air and sparks danced across his fingertips.

Meetra had seen Revan's Force lightning before, the purple forks of electricity both dazzling and terrifying. But what was building in Vann's hand was tinged with black and felt far more ominous than anything he'd used during the war. A cold jolt of panic ran down the former General's spine and she charged forward with a shout when she realized that Ell didn't know the dark side well enough to recognize the peril he was in. But Atton and Visas gripped her protectively as they also sensed the danger that was building, their combined strength enough to hold the smaller figure back.

"No! Stop!" Meetra wasn't sure if she was talking to Vann and whatever new form of darkness he'd discovered, or her own crew who were preventing her from potentially saving Ell's life. Struggling against the arms lovingly holding her back she drew a breath and screamed, filling her voice with all of the confusion and dread that were mounting within her. The sound flowed forth faster than the lightning, causing everyone in the vicinity to stop what they were doing and reflexively cover their ears, their eyes squeezing shut as they tried to block out the noise that was shredding through their minds. Thankfully, even the former Revanchist paused to clawed at his head, whatever power he was wielding quickly dissipating.

Even after the sound faded everyone around Meetra continued to keep their ears covered as the lingering effects of the scream reverberated. She used the time to wriggle free from her friends' grasp, darting forward to place herself between Ell and Vann. Alek was also regaining his footing, bewilderment filling what was left of his face as his gaze darted worriedly between his former co-leaders.

"This has gotten out of hand!" Meetra felt that she was understating the situation. "Atton, I know you want to protect me, but can you please trust that I know what I'm doing? Zaz-Kai, you also have to trust us, as hard as that might be. And Vann… what the hells was that?!"

"Lightning?"

"No, it wasn't." Alek fell into a defensive stance, still wielding his borrowed lightsaber. "You've hit me with lightning multiple times and that was different."

"Well, I did have a weird run-in with a Sith sorcerer. Maybe it changed my innate use of that power?"

The former Supreme Commander blinked with droll amusement. "You just wielded Sith sorcery and you're afraid of what I can do?"

Ell pointed his blade at Meetra. "And that little demonstration is why the Council can't just trust the three of you!"

"No, you refuse to trust us because you all seem to store your 'sabers up your own…"

Interrupting what was probably going to be another well deserved and profanity-laced tirade by Vann, Atton glanced between Meetra and Alek. "Uh, I'm just confused as to why Malak is here and nobody is attempting to kill him."

"I assume it's because they're letting me collect his bounty," Mira smirked.

"Stop." Using the Force to add emphasis to the word, Meetra glared at everyone. "All of you. Weapons down and mouths closed. Please. I don't know how many more ways I can explain this, but we need Alek's help. Atton, Visas, you faced the Sith Lords with me on Korriban so you know from experience that it's going to take a lot to bring them down. And their master is even more terrifying."

"You don't need Malak. Me and the others should be more than enough…"

"Korriban went well, right?" Vann snapped his fingers in mock realization. "Oh wait, you got your asses handed to you by two of the three Sith Lords. If the third shows up, or Force forbid the Emperor, you're not going to last two minutes."

Meetra hummed in agreement. "Which is why I don't want any of you near them. You can scout, collect information, research their weaknesses, but when it comes to facing them head-on, that fight is mine."

"Exile, you cannot…"

Gently shaking her head at Visas, Meetra drew a slow breath as she searched for just the right explanation. "The three of us have seen and done things that the rest of you can't even imagine. We haven't just accepted our own darkness, we've sought it out. Used it. Become one with it. So, we know this enemy better than any of you." There are no limits to how far a Jedi can fall so that they might rise to meet every challenge…

A wisp of awareness escaped Atton's careful camouflage as he examined the explanation through the Force. "I sense that's not entirely what you mean."

"It's her nice way of saying that we're broken enough to be expendable." Glancing at the Jedi Master, Vann muttered, "Admit it, Zez-Kai, you're thinking the same thing. We won the war but we each lost our own battles, body, mind, and soul."

That observation caused everyone to finally fall silent as multiple pairs of eyes glanced awkwardly at the three war veterans. Within the Force, the others' thoughts were obvious as they silently acknowledged Alek's lost jaw, Vann's missing memories, and the gaping void that had become Meetra's Force presence. Body, mind, and soul.

"We have the power to stop these Sith." Alek stared pointedly at Atton. "You have the power to rebuild everything that we've broken."

"So, you think this is a suicide mission?"

Nodding wearily to her pilot, Meetra acknowledged, "I'm prepared for that possibility."

"Well, then I'm coming too. I told you once that where you go, I go, and I meant it."

Stepping forward to stand beside Atton, Visas murmured, "I will also join you, Exile. As I said on Telos, my life for yours."

"Oh, and by the way, I've had my comm open the whole time. So, the rest of the crew is hearing this and I'll bet anything that not a single one of them is going to let you run off and die trying to save the Republic yet again. We're all with you until the end."

Brianna finally stumbled out from the nearby crowd, panting but undeniably resolute. "Atton may talk too much, but he is correct. I joined you because I owe you a debt, but I continue to follow you because there is nobody else I would rather lead me into battle."

"And General," Bao-Dur's voice broke in from over Meetra's commlink, "You're well aware that I have my own ghosts. It would be my honor to help you do some good for the galaxy."

"Well, it looks like you're staying behind," Vann noted with a dry chuckle.

"Yeah, I should probably mention that Bao-Dur was patching that transmission through to Rakata. It was originally because I thought you were being kidnapped and that Carth might need to send the fleet to rescue you. But now I'm pretty sure this is just going to make the captain and Bastila charge over here to drag you home." Atton grinned at this, even as Vann shot him a poisonous scowl.

Noting his former friend's growing irritation, Alek assured him, "Don't be angry because your allies are loyal. You tend to inspire that in people."

But Vann just turned his ire onto the former Supreme Commander. "Do you honestly think that you get to go free? Uh-uh. I'm not letting you out of my sight even if that means dragging you back to Rakata."

"Then I guess you should let your people know to expect another guest." Atton continued to look smug. "Bao-Dur, I assume you can make that happen."

"Actually, that might be a bit of a problem. I just started receiving a transmission from Rakata Base and, well… I think you need to hear it for yourselves."

Meetra's commlink crackled as the communication was broadcast through the tiny speaker. Even though Carth's voice was partially obscured by static his distress was still audible. "...Hawk, I repeat, Rakata Base has been contacted by a Sith Lord calling herself Traya. She says that she represents all three Lords and is demanding our unconditional surrender within three days or they will attack. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I wanted to check with Vann before I potentially plunged the Republic into yet another war with the Sith."

"Kriffing hells, give me that commlink!" Using the Force to snatch the item from Meetra's belt, Vann took a moment to calm himself before responding. "Carth, it's me. I know the connection is crap, but I hope you can hear me. Do not surrender. I repeat, do not surrender. I'm coming home and bringing the rest of Meetra's crew to provide back-up. Call in whatever troops you need because I'm not giving anything to those kriffing bastards. Send me the specs of the base, your current armament, your vehicles, and anything else you have. I'll work out a plan en route."

Alek's expression was calm, though concern flickered through his presence. "If you only have three days, you'll need to take your ship. It's far faster than mine."

"We're really taking Malak on the Hawk? Really?" Atton arched a doubtful brow.

"Yes. This isn't the time to argue. That includes you, Zez-Kai." Meetra pressed close to the Master as she sweetly informed him, "I mean this with as much respect as possible, but I will stab you myself if you try to stop us."

Holding up both hands placatingly, Ell chuckled. "I can recognize when I'm outmatched."

"Good. If you want to help, contact Kavar. Tell him everything you've learned about the Sith and anything else that you feel is pertinent. He'll be sure to relay the important information to us."

"I'll contact him today. That much I am more than willing to do for the three of you."

"Thank you, Zez-Kai. I'm sure that your information will be an asset." Turning away from the Master, Meetra managed a weak smile as she looked over at the bounty hunter. "Mira, thank you for your help. We'll stay true to our word and assist you when we can, but I think you understand that we need to handle this situation first."

The redhead scoffed. "Don't sweat it, I'm coming with you."

"It's not that I don't appreciate your help, but why?"

"I saw what the Mandalorian Wars did to the galaxy. If I can do anything to keep that from happening again, I will. And right now, helping you weirdos seems to be the key. If you don't mind letting me use your comm unit once we're on your ship, I know a few people who might be willing to lend a hand."

"I think we'll take any help we can get." Squaring her shoulders, Meetra nodded towards the turbolift. "Alright, let's get back to the Hawk!"

"Vann, stop pacing!" Meetra had been patient, fully cognizant of the stress that her friend was currently under. But his relentless laps around the garage were fraying her nerves, as were the waves of anxiety and anger that were pouring off of him. From the workbench, Alek gave her a thankful nod before returning to his project.

Whirling to face the blonde, Vann threw his hands up. "I can't just sit still! Those pieces of bantha shit are threatening my friends and my home."

"They are," Alek agreed, not looking up from his work. "But wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to get this ship moving any faster through hyperspace. At this point you're just making everyone else nervous, so stop. If you need something to occupy your time, you can help me with this."

"You know how to build a lightsaber."

"Yes, I do. But I also know that you wait better when you keep yourself busy."

"That's not true." With a snort, Vann crossed his arms.

"You know it is and you're just being stubborn."

Carefully placing the pieces he was manipulating onto the bench, Alek gestured to Vann's now-empty second hilt. Its orange crystal was currently sitting beside the mostly-complete lightsaber he was crafting. "If you don't want to help everyone, look through Meetra's bag and find another crystal to set in that."

The suggestion was punctuated with a long, pointed stare that the former Sith had perfected over many years of dealing with a willfully stubborn prodigy. Vann met the look with a glare of his own, though he ultimately turned away first and obeyed the recommendation, albeit with more stomping and cursing than necessary. Alek's surprise was delightfully bright as he turned back to his own work, both eyebrows raised. As she watched Meetra had to hold back the peal of laughter that was caught in her throat. She had seen this interaction dozens of times before, usually with the same results, but after Revan's death and Malak's fall, she never dreamed that she would witness it again. It was so familiar that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

For several minutes the gentle sound of crystals clinking filled the air, occasionally punctuated by Vann's grumbling as he searched through the small collection that was stored in her worn backpack. Most of the prime specimens had already been claimed, but Meetra knew there were still one or two that might meet her friend's exceedingly high lightsaber standards. She was just about to sit back and try meditating when a gasped series of swears startled her.

Holding a violet crystal up to the light, Vann studied the item as though it couldn't possibly be real. "Where… where did you get this?"

Walking over to look at the object in question, Meetra replied, "Dantooine, in the kinrath caves. Why?"

"It feels almost exactly like the crystal I found there four years ago."

"It might be from the same formation. I don't think those caves were touched much after…" Meetra trailed off, her gaze dropping to the floor.

"After I ordered an orbital bombardment of the planet. Just say it. After I destroyed the one place in the galaxy where you were the happiest." The sheer misery radiating off of Alek knocked the breath from Meetra's lungs and she gasped for air as she turned to look at him. His head was ducked and his shoulders were slumped, his fingers digging into the sides of the workbench hard enough to turn his knuckles white.

"I'm not denying what you did. In fact, I've seen the destruction with my own eyes."

"You're furious, I can sense it." Guilt washed over Alek, though it was quickly swallowed by a freezing wave of unrepentant anger directed only at himself. "You don't have to hold it back to preserve my feelings. It won't be the first time that someone threw my mistakes in what's left of my face and it certainly won't be the last."

"I'm not mad. I want to be, but…" Meetra sighed, walking over to the former Sith and placing a hand on his forearm. She recognized his fury as the same outrage that had churned through her during the first few years she trudged aimlessly along the edges of known space. That emotion eventually gave way to nothing more than the gnawing emptiness that Kreia claimed contained endless potential. But the former Consular wasn't so sure. From what she could tell, the ruins of her former self barely held enough shattered pieces to form a whole person. "I think most of my hatred towards all of the tragedies of the war burned up a long time ago. You feel what I am now. I'm just a void."

Alek shook his head, his eyes fierce. "No, you're not. You may be different, but you're still so much more than what the Mass Shadow Generator did to you."

"And you can be more than the sum of your atrocities. I know that you feel remorse for what you did, so you're already better than the monster who destroyed my home."

A cold, desperate tendril of sorrow drifted out from Alek's presence. "Your home… Kriff, can you ever forgive me?"

Memories of Dantooine's ruined enclave raced through Meetra's mind and she shuddered, trying to find the strength to forgive the person who had caused that destruction. While she'd run out of hatred, absolution might be more than she could provide. "I need time."

"That's more than fair." A dark, self-deprecating laugh erupted out of Alek's prosthesis. "Maybe, by the time you're ready to forgive me, I'll have earned it."

Throughout this conversation, Vann remained silent with his presence drawn tightly around him as he watched the interaction. It was difficult to gauge his reaction. Out of the pair Alek had always been far easier to read, his signature glowing and fading with his moods. But Revan, and later Vann, was often an enigma. The expressions that he showed to others were carefully measured, the smaller nuances of his emotions hidden beneath clever words and a razor-sharp wit. During the war, Meetra and Alek had both believed they understood him, at least until the first time that his eyes turned yellow and lightning erupted from his fingertips.

Staring down at the violet crystal in his palm Vann whispered, "It's alright if you both blame me for everything that happened. I know that I ruined your lives."

"Is this still about the fact that you introduced the Revanchists to Sith teachings?" Alek shook his head. "As you told me on the Star Forge, you may have shown me the path but I'm the one who continued down it long after you were out of my life."

"Back on the Star Forge, I didn't know about Dromund Kaas… or about Malachor." Closing his fist tightly around the crystal, Vann studied both of his former co-commanders. His face was nearly inscrutable, but the frigid stream of regret swirling around him revealed his true mood. "Now I realize that I break everything I touch. I convinced Meetra to join the Revanchists and one of the most promising Consulars in the Jedi Order ended-up using a kriffing superweapon that cut her off from the Force for seven years. And she did it all on my command."

With a mechanical sigh, Alek turned from the workbench and took a few steps closer to his former friend. "I was the one who recruited her."

"And like I've already told you, I volunteered to handle the Mass Shadow Generator." This drew a hiss of annoyance from the former Sith, the subject apparently a sore spot even after everything else that had transpired.

But Vann wasn't listening to either of them. "After Malachor, I tried to go after the Sith Emperor. I think we can all agree that idea was a disaster that caused the Republic to fall under the rule of a fascist dictator."

"Which was mostly my fault."

"I'm the one who led you to Dromund Kaas, the one who convinced you that we could somehow take on that Sith. But he destroyed us both." The weight of leadership punctuated each of Vann's words, just as it had during the war.

"Because he's a Sith and that's what they do." Alek narrowed his eyes. "I should know."

"Even when I tried to fix my kriff-up… Does either of you have any idea how many times I lost control of my power while we were searching for the Star Forge? I don't know how my entire crew didn't end up dead."

Meetra couldn't help but chuckle as Alek coughed out, "From my perspective, you were all startlingly efficient."

"You lost all of your memories. The fact that you managed to keep moving forward and tried to fix your past mistakes is more than most sentients would be capable of." Moving to stand beside Vann, Meetra gave him a gentle nudge with her shoulder.

"I didn't exactly keep moving forward. In fact, I was pretty content in my life doing really horrible things for even more horrible people, at least until Bastila showed-up. I was a good mercenary because I was a bad person. If you don't believe me, ask Mira."

"We've all done terrible things." Glancing at Alek, Meetra felt the faintest pang of sympathy as he stared at the bulkhead, his gaze lost in any number of brutal memories.

"No, you did terrible things because I lead you to war. Neither of you would be in your current situations if it wasn't for me. I think all of this happened because there's something wrong inside of me. You saw what happened on Nar Shadda. I had sorcery lighting in my hand and I didn't think twice about using it."

"You also spent over a year being tortured by the Sith."

Waving away the excuse, Vann clenched his jaw. The icy negativity surrounding him was growing by the second, becoming a storm of doubt that all centered around the rage he directed solely at himself. "No, I think I've always been like this. There's always been a dangerous amount of darkness in me."

The emotions filling the garage made Meetra shiver. "Vann, stop. There's nothing wrong with you."

"Yes, there is. I give in to it all the time. My eyes turn yellow and people end up dead."

The strength of the darkness that encompassed Vann was nearly overwhelming. It whirled like a cyclone around him and even from a distance the energy was potent enough to be frightening. Alek gave Meetra a concerned look before shaking his head helplessly to indicate that he was unable, or at least unwilling, to diffuse the situation.

"I know that you've both seen it, so you can't deny it!"

The bone-chilling sensation engulfing the room was beginning to coalesce, all centering on a single point. At first, Meetra thought that it was focused on Vann, which would make sense. But as she adjusted her awareness she realized that the eye of this storm was actually the crystal that he was holding. It wasn't the origin of his anxieties and regrets but somehow it seemed to absorb them, pulsing with dark power as it was infused with all of his negative emotions.

Trembling slightly beneath the onslaught, Meetra reached over and grasped the hand holding the crystal. Giving it hard shake she scolded, "Stop it! We've all made a lot of bad choices and we're all equally responsible for the outcomes. But you're also so much more than just your mistakes. Now calm down before you lose control and do something else that you regret!"

It took a moment for Vann to register the words, lost as he was in his own fog of negativity. His awareness spiked for a moment as he finally sensed that there was something amiss, all centered on the crystal he was holding. A second later he violently flung the item to the floor. It struck with a soft ping, bouncing once before falling still. A soft glow radiated from it, though the color was no longer violet. The entire object had turned brilliant crimson that twinkled beneath the bright garage lights like a spot of freshly spilled Human blood.

Staring in horror at the crystal, Vann muttered, "Shit. I broke it."

Meetra felt a sense of deja-vu as she also looked down at the object, taking in its new aura of cold dread. However, Alek seemed unbothered. "You didn't break it, you just bled it. That's the Sith term for forcing negative emotions into a crystal until it connects to the dark side and turns red. In your case, this was caused by all of your crushing self-doubts which always seem to find the worst times to emerge."

"That's not comforting."

"It wasn't meant to be, it's just the truth." As he shrugged, Alek's tone grew noticeably gentler. "You've always had some issues with confidence, mostly because the Masters used your anxiety to keep you under their control. But even after you began defying the Order, there were times when you'd think too hard and start to doubt yourself. You eventually learned that tinkering held back the worst of your anxieties. The fact that you've never bled a crystal before is honestly shocking."

"I've always been this much of a mess?"

"Give or take a few poorly timed panic attacks."

Pressing close to Vann, Meetra draped what she hoped was a comforting arm around his waist. He immediately leaned into the contact as some of his panic drained away. "The galaxy wanted to see you as a larger-than-life hero, which means that nobody recorded all of the moments where you were only Human."

"I literally just broke a 'saber crystal with all of my personal issues."

Gently lifting the item off the floor, Meetra examined it closer. Despite the new color, it remained as solid and strong as the day it was collected, possessing a nearly perfect structure with no visible blemishes. If anything, its pulse felt more intense than before. "This is still a really nice crystal, though I can see why it didn't resonate with any of my crew. There's something about it that's so…"

"Dark?"

"Powerful." Pressing the crystal into Vann's palm, Meetra insisted, "You should keep it as a reminder to trust in yourself a little more."

"Put it in your second 'saber." It was amazing how well Alek could smirk with just his eyes. "I can't wait to see the look on Onasi's face when he spots you using it."

Vann was immediately incensed. "You are such a kriffing asshole!"

Despite the sarcasm of the suggestion, Meetra couldn't help but take it seriously. "It's not the worst idea. You fight better with two weapons and you're down one since you were kind enough to give your second crystal to Alek."

"You can't be serious."

"Why not?" The conversation that she'd had with Kreia flashed through Meetra's mind as she found herself echoing her former mentor's argument. "Juhani uses a red crystal. Brianna used to. Hells, most of the people on this ship could easily lay claim to one."

"And I kept using a blue one even after I fell and plunged the entire Republic into darkness. The color of your 'saber isn't the important part, it's what you do with it that really matters. And we've already agreed that we need to utilize every asset at our disposal."

Begrudgingly acknowledging that this was the agreement, Vann used the Force to collect his second lightsaber hilt from the workbench. Judging by his snicker, it wasn't a mistake when the trajectory almost intersected with Alek's head. Meetra was ready to yell at him, at them both, for acting like younglings but she stopped herself. They were in the same room without attempting to kill each other which was honestly the best outcome she could hope for given everything that had happened.

It took a matter of minutes for Vann to disassemble the hilt, using the Force to float the pieces in the air as he made minor adjustments to the components so that they would accommodate the new crystal. Meetra was enraptured. While she was particular about her own weaponry, Guardians were absolute perfectionists and watching them modify their lightsabers was like viewing art. All too soon Vann was waving his hands in an achingly familiar gesture, the individual parts of his 'saber clicking together flawlessly. Lifting the hilt from where it was hovering, he checked the balance before drawing his main weapon.

Both lightsabers ignited with a smooth snap-hiss, the cyan blade so close in color to the weapons Revan had used during the war that Meetra's breath caught. The other was a clear, blood-shine red that should have felt ominous but that somehow seemed right. As Vann flowed into the smooth, circular motions of Juyo his lightsabers blurred, leaving faint streaks of violet in the air. It was the embodiment of who he was, neither Jedi nor Sith, light nor dark. He was both, and yet something far beyond that.

It was what they'd all become. Alek, who resonated so strongly with the orange crystal he'd been gifted but who could barely hold the cyan stone that looked far more like the weapon he'd once wielded. And Meetra, who now carried a silver crystal that had been cleansed of its bloodiness yet never recovered its original bright hue.

Staring at both of his lightsabers, Vann declared, "It works."

"Of course it does." With a shrug, Meetra airily added, "It's really just a fancy rock that powers a laser stick."

Alek snorted out a muffled laugh. "Very astute of you, Consular."

"Well, someone has to do the thinking for you Guardians."

It was such easy and playful banter that Meetra almost forgot how strange it must seem to someone who only knew them as the Exile who had destroyed Malachor and the Supreme Commander who had nearly ruined everything else.

Watching the others with a curious look, Vann wondered, "Is this what we were like during the war?"

"In a lot of ways, yes."

Suspicion crept through Alek's presence as he noted, "There's something else that you want to ask, I can feel it. So, ask already."

There were probably a hundred questions Vann could have posed that would have made sense, and Meetra honestly thought that she could predict the topic that he was about to breach. But his mind never moved in a linear fashion so it shouldn't have been shocking when he completely changed the subject.

With searing intensity, Vann turned to Alek and demanded, "Were you in love with me and I never noticed? Is that why it was so easy for the Emperor to turn us against each other?"

Somehow, the former Sith managed a blush that was the same shade as Vann's new crystal. "Meetra, what the hells did you tell him?!"

"He figured this one out on his own!"

The next words were raspy and uneven, making it difficult to know if Alek was hyperventilating or holding back his laughter. "And it only took him twenty years. That's actually faster than I would have predicted."

Clearly not seeing the humor in the situation, Vann narrowed his eyes. "Your vocabulator makes it really hard to tell if you're being sarcastic."

"I'm honestly not sure myself. Our relationship was…" Alek rubbed one palm over his tattooed scalp, searching for the right words. "It was complicated, at least from my end. For you, things were very simple, which only made it harder for me. But I never expected you to reciprocate what I felt, mostly because you never showed those feelings towards anyone."

"Then I showed up on the Star Forge with Carth."

"That didn't exactly help my aggression towards you during our last confrontation."

Scrubbing one palm over his eyes, Vann mumbled, "I guess I owe you an apology for being, well, me."

"Don't." Alek held up a hand to stop any objections. "If you were anyone else, I doubt the Republic would still be here."

"And you're honestly not the one who deleted my records?"

"I think you know that I care for you too much to ever erase you from any system."

Vann furrowed his brow. "So then, who was it?"

"My credits are on Atris."

Thinking back to the Echani Master's harsh words on Telos and the scathing lecture she'd apparently given Vann when he snuck into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Meetra winced. "Oh, it was definitely Atris."

An easy peace was settling around them, not as pleasant as it had been during the early days of the war before the violence took its toll on all of their minds, but still less strained than it had been earlier in the trip. It finally felt comfortable and Meetra smiled to herself as she watched Alek return to the workbench to put the finishing touches on his new lightsaber. Vann appeared content to ignore him, settling atop a bin of spare parts with a datapad containing information that Carth had sent him. While he would have been better off examining the diagrams in the main hold, he'd been serious about not letting the former Supreme Commander out of his sight.

Closing her eyes, Meetra drew a deep breath and let her mind slip into the soothing Force currents that now encompassed the room. There is peace…

"We'll be coming out of hyperspace around Rakata Prime in a few minutes." Atton's fingers were unusually tense around the Ebon Hawk's controls. "Remind me again why all of you need to be in here for that?"

Grinning affectionately, Meetra murmured, "Because I'm your co-pilot and where you go, I go."

From his place pressed against the back of the pilot's seat, Vann announced, "And as a reminder, this is my ship and we're approaching my home. So yes, I need to be here."

"I'm just here because he's being childishly serious about not letting me out of his sight." Alek was leaning in the cockpit doorway, looking mildly annoyed.

"Great. No pressure. There are just three of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy watching me fly the ship." Glancing behind him, Atton grimaced. "Dammit Vann, do you hover behind Carth when he flies?"

"All the time. He hates it."

"I can't understand why…"

"Look, this also has tactical reasoning. Due to the positioning of the hyperspace routes, it took us more than three days to reach Rakata from Nar Shadda. The Sith's attack on the planet has already begun." Vann's expression hardened, his tone growing more formal. "We're entering a warzone and the Hawk might be the best look that Rakata Base gets at the fleet surrounding the planet. I need to see what's going on so that I have an idea of what we're up against."

"If there's a fleet battle happening, it's also to your advantage to have the one person with the most knowledge of both the base and its ships in the cockpit with you. It might be your best chance at maneuvering through the firefight without interfering or putting your crew in more danger than necessary." Noting the stares he received, Alek added, "Not that my opinion matters. I'm only here because Vann made me come."

"Those are all valid points, not that it makes this situation any less awkward. Coming out of hyperspace in three… two…"

The brilliant blue and white streaks fell away as the Ebon Hawk jumped back into real space, the exit so smooth that it took a full second to realize that cannons were firing all around them. Bright green streaks cut through the starry sky as fighters and warships took aim at each other, the smaller crafts leveraging their agility to escape the heavier artillery attacks of the larger vessels. The Hawk's sudden appearance was barely noticed, though two stray shots came racing towards the freighter.

"Shit!" Atton banked the ship into a hard left, rolling away from the cannon fire moments before it struck. Pulling hard on the controls he steered the Hawk away from a fighter that was getting close to its tail. "Hold on to something, because this is about to get rough! You're all lucky that I'm Force-sensitive."

Even as the Hawk veered elegantly around a volley from a set of turbolasers, Vann seemed unimpressed. "You don't need the Force to fly well. I've seen Carth maneuver through fleet battles before."

"And I've seen Carth shoot." Meetra arched a brow. "Are you sure he's not Force-sensitive?"

"He did produce Dustil." Upon receiving a threatening glare from Vann, Alek sighed. "Not that my opinion matters."

"Can you please have this conversation when I'm not out-maneuvering two separate fleets!?"

The Hawk went into a controlled fall, swooping around a Sith battle cruiser before climbing back up to avoid the squadron of fighters that were exiting the ship's lower hatch. As the freighter veered around the worst of the battle, Meetra caught a glimpse at what appeared to be multiple vessels firing on a single, enormous target. "What's going on over there?"

Atton checked a few readouts. "It looks like the majority of the Sith fleet is focused on attacking something in orbit."

"Is that…?"

Interrupting Alek's question, Vann dashed towards the ship's main control panel as he shouted, "No! We have to stop them!"

But his fingers never touched the console. Instead, he was held back by a wave of cold power that flowed from Alek's hand. The taller figure charged into the cockpit as he demanded, "Did you keep the Star Forge?!"

Vann narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with venom. "If you don't let me go…"

"You're going to do what? Crash the ship? Kill all of us and yourself in the process?" Now close enough to yank his former friend back by the collar, Alek sneered, "I know you have no sense of self-preservation, but at least think of everyone else on board."

"I, for one, don't want to die." Atton was doing remarkably well ignoring the chaos surrounding him as he continued to fly the ship past scattered cannon blasts.

"Why didn't you tell me that you kept that damn forge?"

Sliding out of her seat, Meetra tried to move between the two quarreling men. "Carth told me that the Republic base was guarding something called the Star Forge, but nobody explained what it is, aside from an ancient artifact from a lost civilization."

"It's not an artifact."

"It technically is." Twisting himself out of Alek's durasteel grip, Vann reached for his lightsabers. "Now stop getting in my way!"

Alek's hand also moved towards his weapon. "No."

Frustration burned cold beneath Meetra's skin and she felt the room grow frigid with the combined power of all of their emotions. Driving the two men apart with a shove through the Force she yelled, "Tell me what's going on or I'm going to shoot you both out of the airlock!"

Slowly unclenching his fists, Alek managed to explain, "The Star Forge is a machine, of sorts, that was built by the Rakata Empire thousands of years ago."

"It's the thing Malak utilized to make the armada that he used to control the Republic." There was an air of smugness around Vann as he stated this.

"And also the thing where the two of you had your big final showdown." Knuckles white around the controls, Atton gritted his teeth. "You know, aside from this one which is happening while I'm trying to fly."

Giving the arguing pair another push, this time towards the doorway, Meetra hastily informed them, "We need to have this conversation somewhere else. But it needs to happen now."

"Rand, protect that forge…"

"Do not listen to him…"

"Both of you shut up! Atton, just fly us somewhere safe."

Breathing a sigh of relief, the pilot offered a mock salute. "Aye-aye, captain."

Meetra felt like she was herding a pair of overgrown younglings as she jostled both Vann and Alek into the closest corridor, not bothering to be gentle or hide the anger seething around her. They didn't resist much, partially because they were so preoccupied with glaring at each other. With a few well-placed shoves she finally managed to position everyone so that she was once again in the middle and capable of looking at both men simultaneously.

"Now, talk. Vann, what exactly is the Star Forge and why is it so important?"

"I don't think there's a sentient alive who knows exactly what the Forge is but from what I can tell it's some type of mechanical device that I learned about towards the end of the war when I was looking for… options to end things quickly. It can create using the power of the Force, but the individual controlling the forge needs to have a strong Force connection. The obvious use is to manufacture vehicles, weapons, and armor without having to mine resources or spend credits. A concept that was proven by Malak over there."

Ignoring the obvious bait, Alek added, "What he's not telling you is that, much like the rest of Rakata, it has an innate connection to the dark side and will corrupt whoever uses it. I've experienced it firsthand. Yes, I used it to build an armada and yes, it was startlingly effective. But it also caused me to surrender to the dark side more easily. That thing is what made me willing to commit atrocities without a second thought. I fell, but the Star Forge dragged me down further than I ever thought possible."

"Which is why I didn't tell you I had it! I knew you'd want it back to pick up right where you left off."

"Like hells I do! I want nothing more than to see that monstrosity blown to bits."

Vann seemed visibly surprised by that response, though it was quickly overpowered by his irritation. "Well, that's not going to happen because I need it!"

"For what?!"

"What do you think? To destroy these Sith Lords and their Emperor!"

Staring in shock, Alek blinked a few times before muttering, "Kriffing hells, this is your entire plan, isn't it?"

"No! I designed an actual battle strategy, I just didn't include myself in it. All I need is that forge so that I can…"

"Can what?" Rising to his full height, Alek moved just a little closer to Vann. "Fall completely to the dark side? Decide that saving the Republic isn't enough, that you need to control it? Start committing genocide 'for the good of the people'? That went really well for me."

"I'd never do any of those things."

"Really? Because that's exactly what I thought. You are one of the strongest Force users the galaxy has ever known and one of the most brilliant tacticians to ever live. If you fall as I did, there is no telling what you'll do… or if it will even be possible to stop you."

Looking directly into Vann's eyes, Meetra murmured, "He's right, you know. During the war, we used to joke that it was a good thing you weren't born a Mandalorian or the galaxy would have been doomed. But it wasn't really a joke."

"Remember when you said that there has always been darkness in you? You were right. You have always had an innate connection to the dark side, and once you accepted that fact you were able to draw upon its power far easier than either of us. But you always balanced that darkness with all of your compassion, like your desire to help those in need and to protect the innocent. If that light is extinguished there's no telling what you'll become capable of. My fall was bad, yours would be catastrophic."

Scoffing, Vann grumbled, "Once again, thanks for the overwhelming reassurance."

"And once again, I'm not trying to reassure you. I'm just telling you the truth!" Alek exhaled mechanically, his expression pleading. "The last thing you need is the Star Forge. It won't let you defeat the Sith, it will make you one of them."

"I sensed something dark, something dangerous when we first entered Rakata's orbit. I thought it was the planet since you told me that its native people have a long history of war, slavery, and even cannibalism." Shuddering at the memory, Meetra placed a hand on Vann's bicep. "But now I know it was that forge that I was feeling. You can't use it, nothing good will come of it."

"You want some reassurance? You don't need that thing. From what I've been told you somehow managed to infiltrate Dromund Kaas for a second time, survived Sith sorcery being thrown directly at you, nearly outran the Emperor while carving a chunk out of him, resisted his torture, and then managed to escape with your life and all of your limbs. And you did it all with one freighter, two droids, and a pair of 'sabers. Imagine what you can do with a Republic base and a Force-user enclave, both full of people who adore you!"

"But what if it's not enough?" Desperation laced Vann's voice, his presence tinged with icy fear.

Meetra gently squeezed his arm. "We'll make sure that it is."

"Without that forge, I'm putting everyone I know in danger. Bastila, Carth… even your crew."

"We didn't join the Revanchists because we thought we'd survive to see glory. We joined because we knew that we could never live with ourselves if we didn't fight against an evil that was threatening the galaxy. It was the right thing to do. I think that everyone in this ship and down on Rakata feels the same way about this conflict. They're willing to fight and yes, even die, because it's the right thing."

"The light thing, even." Realizing the irony in him being the one to state this, Alek hastily changed the subject. "Honestly, the best thing you can do for everyone is to command them well. Guide them through this battle."

Vann's fingers brushed his lightsaber hilts, his tone resolute. "If I'm going to be down there, I have to fight."

"You can do two things at once."

"Fine. I'm not going to say that you stopped me from making a huge mistake because I still think I'm right…"

Rolling his eyes, Alek muttered, "Of course you do."

"But I appreciate the reminder that there are other options. So, thank you, I guess."

"You're welcome. But just one more thing." Hurt filled Meetra's words. "Why didn't you tell me what the Star Forge does?"

"Because I didn't want you to know that I had acquired another potential superweapon. I knew that you'd try to stop me from using it." Jerking his head towards Alek, Vann mock-whispered, "Just like I knew he'd try to stop me if he found out that I didn't destroy the forge… though I honestly did believe that he'd just want it for himself."

Meetra frowned at the explanation. These types of omissions had apparently happened during the war, with similar results. "You need to stop limiting our information to what you think will keep us on your side. I know it's a tactical choice, but we're not your soldiers anymore. We're just your friends."

"Speak for yourself. I feel as though 'not enemies' is adequate."

"I'll… I'll try to be more open and honest with you."

Delicately patting Meetra's shoulder, Alek informed her, "Trust me, that's the best you're getting. Take it and move on."

"So," Vann drawled awkwardly. "What now?

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I think I know where you have to go." Brianna's face was unhealthily pale as she cautiously approached from the corridor leading to the main hold. "When we came out of hyperspace, I sensed my former master on the surface of the planet."

Alek appeared confused by this news. "And her former master was…?"

"Nihilus." All notes of levity left Vann's face as he once more slipped into the persona of a battlefield commander. "The Sith Lords are on the surface of Rakata."

Author's Notes

Thank you for reading. Comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated!

You can find me on Twitter (ergo_maria) and Tumblr (ergomaria). Feel free to say "hi" or ask me any questions.

1. I said at the end of No Light without Shadows that Malak's story wasn't over. Living long enough to face your mistakes is a lot harder than dying.

2. Vann's real name is indeed Deran. (Anyone who follows me on Tumblr may already know this.) Its meaning and similarity to "Revan" will be covered elsewhere.

3. Vann's recurring panic attacks are mentioned in Watch Me Float as I Fall. His false bravado and self-doubt are also mentioned in No Light without Shadow. (Specifically, after he learns that he's Revan.)

4. I always planned for the Heart of the Guardian to be Alek's. Vann's cyan crystal is the Mantle of the Force, giving him one "blue" blade and one red blade. This is very intentional.

5. Vann's tendency to hover behind the pilot's seat of the Ebon Hawk and Carth's annoyance towards it is mentioned in No Light without Shadow.

6. I never planned to have Vann use the Star Forge. I mostly wanted to use Rakata as a base of operations for the original KOTOR characters to make it a planet that Vann felt an emotional connection towards. I briefly considered using Telos, but Atris's presence complicated things.