Weeks later, nothing of note had occurred. Revan and the Exile had been stood down as the Council attempted to solve the crisis that seemed to be occurring in the Senate as they tried to rationalize Revan and the Exile's existence. Now, Revan stood out on the edge of the Jedi Temple, the darkness and cold enveloping him as he attempted to meditate. All he found, however, was memories.

Bastilla stood with him on the edge of the Star Forge planet, looking at him with a smile. "You will have gone from being the Sith Lord himself, to the savior of our galaxy." Revan smiled back at her. In that moment, he was carried away, even further back.

He and Bastilla stood on the plains of Dantooine, meditating and contemplating his Jedi training. "The Jedi don't believe in executing their prisoners. No one deserves execution, no matter what their crimes…"

He was taken back even further, remembering flashes of who he was and the fight that had taken his identity. He remembered Korriban and the first time he took off his mask to look over the valley as Dark Lord of the Sith.

He remembered the final fight against the Emperor that had enslaved him and the final thrust that had brought him to his knees in death.

Revan shook his head, the cloud clearing, as he opened his eyes and looked out on Coruscant. "And now he's back."

At that moment, the commlink began to buzz. Revan stood up and activated it, a protocol droid appearing. "Yes?"

"The Chancellor would like to meet with you."

Revan shook his head, confused as to the urgency of a meeting at this time of night. "It's midnight…"

"The Chancellor requested to see you."

Revan nodded and gave up his attempt at evading yet another politician and said, "Of course. Tell him I'll be there."

Revan closed the commlink, and as he stood up, the Emperor's words echoed in his mind. "My life spans millennia. Legions have risen to test me. My ascendance is inevitable. A day, a year, a millennium—it matters not. I hold the patience of stone and the will of stars. Your striving is insignificant. Let your death be the same."

A short while later, Revan arrived at the Senate Building and was escorted to Palpatine's personal office. Revan arrived and soon shook his head in disgust, seeing several luxurious historical artifacts. "One more politician more than alright with padding his own pockets."

He was instructed to wait for a moment, which he spent in quick meditation, reaching out with his senses, hoping to discern the purpose of the visit. Revan was surprised, however, to find that no matter how hard he reached out, he discerned…nothing. "What…not even Jedi can hide their true intentions from me…"

At that moment, the door opened and an off kilter Revan strode through the door and into Palpatine's office. Palpatine stood off behind his desk, his back turned to Revan, gazing out of the window and over the darkened Coruscant. "Master Jedi." He spoke, his voice sending chills through Revan, although he did not know why.

"Chancellor." Revan replied.

The chancellor nodded and spoke, saying, "Isn't it amazing that beneath us, trillions of beings are going about their daily lives, and a few select individuals have the power to completely change their entire existence?"

Revan shook his head, bewildered at the concept that the leader of the free galaxy so openly embraced. "I suppose. I would assume that is why your constituents hope that you are an honest man."

The subtle slight did not go unnoticed by Palpatine, who turned and sent a glare over his shoulder before walking back to his desk and sitting down. "Revan, a Separatist battle fleet has descended on N'Zoth III and captured our dockyard in orbit. Ordinarily, I would have the Republic send a battle fleet, but a naval engagement would result in the loss of the dockyard. I want you to take several Jedi and Republic troopers to the surface and connect with Kataris 26, a rebel group on planet. If you can garner enough of a movement, perhaps the droid army will be distracted enough for a battle fleet to drop out of hyperspace and save the dockyard."

Revan was still confused and distracted at the veil that Palpatine had over his mind but managed to nod in agreement. "Yes, Chancellor. What of the people on planet? What if they don't go along with the revolt?"

Palpatine lifted his hand, indicating Revan should leave, as he answered, "It is of no matter. Good night, Master Jedi."

Revan felt the coldness and shook his head, knowing that the Chancellor would not answer his questions, even if he kept pushing." "Of course, it is not. You as well, Chancellor."

As he exited, Revan could not help but notice that his force senses were heightened, and that the dark side, however small, surrounded the Rotunda.

Revan arrived back at the Jedi Temple to find Roth disembarking from his ship, having finished with the watch over Senator Malric. Roth turned and bowed slightly before falling in line with his former master. "Master."

"Roth. The watch went well, I trust?"

"Yes, Master."

"For the time being, you might have to find a replacement. We've been given an assignment."

Roth was clearly troubled but nodded. "Of course, Master."

Revan glanced over at him for a moment before continuing to speak. "I'll speak to the council and make sure she gets the level of protection she requires."

Roth was silent for a moment, wrestling with how to articulate his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, saying, "Master, I sense a plot against the senator. The dark side surrounds her, but it is not her…it's as if a cloud surrounds her and follows her every move. It's sinister."

Revan nodded and continued walking, not saying a word. Eventually, he spoke, "Roth, you have had a long day. Go get some rest. I will meditate on this and speak to the council."

"Of course, Master." Alex Roth then swiftly exited, heading for his room, while Revan headed for the council chambers.

Revan entered the council chambers, expecting them to be empty, but instead found the council in session. The Jedi masters looked up in surprise before looking to Windu to speak. Mace Windu nodded and lifted his hand, indicating Revan come stand in the center of the room. Revan did so, still trying to understand why the council was meeting. Windu started, "Revan, several members of the Senate have expressed concern with your involvement in the war. And frankly…the council agrees."

Revan scoffed. "That is why you are meeting? That is what this is about? Politicians disliking me?"

Obi-Wan interjected, saying, "Revan, your history is well known. People distrust you. Can you blame them?"

Revan coldly responded, "I listen to those that take up lightsaber and blaster with me. All others, especially their criticism and misgivings, fall on deaf ears."

Yoda responded, "A dangerous line of thought, that is. To ensure peace and the will of the Senate, our job is. Your misgivings, troubling, they are."

Revan simply nodded and attempted to appease Yoda. "Of course, Master. What I meant to say was, I care little for criticisms of career politicians."

Mace Windu coldly stared at him and said, "The politicians are not the only ones who are concerned about you, Revan."

Revan stared back with an icy glare and responded with enraged sarcasm, "Then please enlighten me…Master."

"Your use of the dark side troubles us. You lie to close to the edge of the light far too often."

Revan chuckled angrily, not knowing what else to do as he was once again questioned, millennia later, for the same misunderstandings of the Jedi Code. "Master, with all due respect, for one to truly understand the force, one must understand all of it! I don't advocate embracing the dark side at all times, but don't you think that if in service of the greater good, it has its time and purpose?"

Mace Windu shook his head. "And what good could the dark side possibly serve?"

Revan responded, "If not for using the dark side, Senator Malric would still be in chains. I will not stand here and have my actions second guessed. I am fighting as I always have…to bring peace as soon as possible."

The masters looked amongst one another, their individual looks clearly displaying what they thought of Revan's ideals. Obi-Wan spoke, saying, "Revan, we just wish for you to be careful. We still, to a large degree, do not understand what is going on with yourself and the Exile. We do not wish to see you fall again."

"That is something that you will not have to worry about. My defense of the Jedi and of the Republic is unreproachable."

"You fell once before."

"I was under the influence of the Emperor. I am stronger and wiser now. I will not fail."

With that, Revan strode out of the chambers, still infuriated, leaving the council even more concerned that they had been previously. Yoda spoke up, saying, "Dangerous, that promise is."

The next morning came quickly, with Alex Roth heading for Senator Malric's apartment. He was escorted inside from the landing pad and quickly bowed, once he caught sight of the senator, clad in a billowing white dress. "Senator, you look as beautiful as ever."

The senator smiled, turning away for a moment to hide her blush, before turning back, smiling, and saying, "What a compliment from a handsome Jedi. Come, walk with me."

Roth politely offered her his arm, and the two walked out onto the observation platform that stemmed from her penthouse. Ana spoke, saying, "Alex, I must say, it has been a pleasure having your company these past few weeks. I must say, not only have you made me feel safe again, but you have developed into a friend that I can rely on. Thank you."

Roth nodded and smiled, before looking out over Coruscant. "Of course, milady. I agree, Senator. You, as well, have developed into someone I can rely on. I am honored to call you a friend."

The senator smiled. "Well, enough of this talk. I do enough of that at the Senate. What do you say we find something different, something new?" Roth smiled uncomfortably and shook his head. "I'm sorry milady, but I'm afraid that will not be possible for the time being. Revan and I have been reassigned to N'Zoth III."

Ana turned away, determined to not let the Jedi see her fears, desperately hiding that she couldn't breathe. "But N'Zoth III…it's been run over by the Separatists."

Roth shrugged. "I guess that's why they are sending a Jedi strike team."

"Are you sure you have to go?"

"I'll get you the best protection I possibly can, Ana. I promise you that." Ana shook her head and turned away.

"It isn't that."

Roth walked over and put his hands on her shoulders and asked, "What is it, then?"

"It's this." With that, before she could tell herself to stop, Ana grabbed Alex, pulling him into a deep kiss.

The moment was quickly broken, however, as she pulled away and turned around, saying. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have done that."

Roth didn't respond, not knowing what to say, and instead simply turned around and left, far more confused than he had arrived.

Obi-Wan opened the door to one of the meditation rooms and found Revan, who was seeking solace in the silence. Obi-Wan said, "I hate to interrupt, but I have something that I want you to see."

Revan simply nodded and followed, the two walking in comfortable silence, as Revan genuinely liked Kenobi and didn't wish to argue with him. After a few minutes, they arrived outside of a dueling chamber, where Revan gazed down and saw a young Twi'Lek, her skin as blue as an ocean, working on her lightsaber skills. Kenobi said, "This is Cyanna Aphax. She just completed her trials a few months ago. Shortly after, she and her former master were ambushed by Dooku. Unfortunately, her master didn't survive the encounter. Since, she has withdrawn into herself, speaking to only a select few, Ahsoka, Anakin, and myself being the primary figures. She holds you in high esteem, Revan. I was hoping you would take her with you on this assignment. She needs to be outside of the Temple."

Revan nodded. "Of course, Master. I'll do what I can."

Obi-Wan stopped him as he walked in. "Remember Revan…this is a chance to change what the council thinks of you."

Revan shook his head. "No Obi-Wan, this is a chance for me to help her. That's what this is. A chance to help her."

Kenobi smiled and nodded. "You're wise, Revan. May the force be with you."

"And you as well."

With that, Revan walked through the door and slowly walked down onto the dueling floor. Cyanna turned around, catching a glimpse of him, and deactivating her lightsabers, bowing as she did so. "Master."

Revan smiled. "Cyanna. It's a pleasure."

She stood there in shock for a moment, before finally shaking it off and speaking. "When Master Kenobi mentioned I might get to meet you, I didn't quite believe it, but now…here you are."

Revan nodded and waved two seats over to them, motioning her to take a seat. "Obi-Wan told me a little of your story, but I wanted to hear it for myself."

Cyanna nodded. "My master's name was Kylath Ferral, a Togrutan from Chias. He was strong…but kind. He taught me everything I know. My master and I…we encountered Dooku when our ship was captured en route to Syllias. We dueled, hoping to escape…but as our ship was let go and the air lock snapped, my master pushed me back into our ship. I watched as he was cut down by Dooku. He died saving me…and I can't let go of that."

Revan nodded and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. I wish that there was something that I could say to help you…but I know words won't do anything to help you. I cannot change what you went through…but I can help you move forward…if you would like."

The young Twi'lek smiled. "I would like that very much, Master."

Revan stood up and shed his cloak, activating his lightsaber. Cyanna did the same, activating her two blue lightsabers. "Keep your guard up…and when the moment is right…" With that, he launched out with a strike, and the duel was on.

Anakin arrived a few minutes later with Ahsoka in tow. They saw the two in the training duel. Ahsoka leaned over and whispered, "He seems at home teaching and helping others."

Anakin nodded sadly. "He is. That's all he ever wanted to do, heal the galaxy and save those he loved from the fate that he had befallen."

"What fate was that?"

Anakin looked over at her for a moment before speaking. "Saving the galaxy from the Eternal Emperor. It cost him everything many times over, but he did it to save the galaxy from what he knew would befall them if he did not. Destroying your enemies, even destroying a planet, was understandable. But what the Emperor did wasn't simple destruction. It was annihilation; obliteration. The very fabric of the Force had been shredded. Anyone capable of turning an entire planet into a nihilistic abomination had to be completely mad. Revan understood that, and that's why he chose to stand up and fight. That's why the council and politicians fear him…because he is not afraid to do what he must to stand up to evil and fight against injustice."

Ahsoka looked up at him and asked, "But wasn't he a Sith? Didn't he turn to the dark side?"

"Is that what he was? Or was he always true to himself, no matter what personality he wore? And there is something that the Council may never understand. That perhaps Revan never fell. The difference between a fall and a sacrifice is sometimes difficult, but I feel that Revan understood that difference, more than anyone knew. The galaxy would have fallen if Revan had not gone to war. It would have fallen if he didn't sacrifice himself, letting himself be imprisoned for centuries. He became the dark lord out of necessity, to prevent a greater evil."

Ahsoka nodded, but said, "Maybe, but the council doesn't see it that way."

Anakin shook his head. "I can't say that, if put in his position, I wouldn't do the same."

Anakin and Ahsoka proceeded down to the floor, where they found the new pair smiling and laughing, finding joy in the company of one another. Ahsoka remarked, "Seems as if the two of you have hit it off."

Cyanna smiled and said, "I appreciate him already. The two of you didn't exaggerate. He's powerful and wise, but kind. I look forward to learning from him."

Anakin nodded and said, "We all do."

Revan shook all of the talk off, however, and said, "Come. We need to prepare. We meet in the war room soon and leave for N'Zoth after that."

Anakin shifted away from the group, citing a personal trip, and quickly headed for Padme's. he arrived, catching her as she prepared to leave for the Senate. The two quickly kissed before taking a seat on her couch. "Anakin, what a pleasant surprise." "Unfortunately, not. The council informed me that I have a mission. I just wanted to come by and let you see me off."

Padme crossed her arms and winked. "Oh, you did?"

Anakin smiled and said, "I did."

The two kissed once more, before Padme rested herself in his arms. "Anakin…when will this war end?"

Anakin sighed and shook his head. "I don't know Padme…I don't know…"