I sit at the base of the Alocer on the ramp and wait. Meanwhile, the screams ring out from the Sith wannabes lair as Fiora exacts her revenge on her former owner and tormentor.
Behind me in the hold are my fellow Jedi who are understandably concerned that I am just letting someone be savagely neurowhipped. Well, the orthodox Jedi at least. Korhal, Jalen and Tamman. Alek is concerned but is okay with this while Kae is indifferent. Let's not get into what Kalan is thinking right now.
"Revan!" I look round. It's Korhal. "How much longer is this to continue? It is not the Jedi way,"
"Fiora and her fellow sisters are not Jedi," I point out accompanied by a scream.
"Jedi are about justice, not revenge," warns Korhal.
I feel I could argue the point for a while, but it is getting to when I was going to intervene anyways.
"Very well, I shall resolve this," I say and then rise and stroll towards the entrance.
Not too fast of course. We Jedi are all about the patience of course. Inside I find the main room inside of which Fiora has her hand raised, neurowhip in hand ready to strike her victim.
"Fiora! Stop!" I call out. Also with the Force, I take hold of her arm.
Fiora looks over her shoulder at me and snarls. "What are you doing?" she says.
"The work of a Jedi. I am here to save," I begin.
"You are here to save this piece of filth?" snarls Fiora.
I shake my head, "No, Fiora, I am here to save you and the rest of your sisterhood."
"We don't need saving," says Fiora.
"The Force shall free us," says a sister, the others take up the chant. causing the shadows to lengthen and a chill to set in. Hmm, tough crowd.
I shake my head, "That aspect of the Force does not grant freedom, only slavery," I say, also releasing Fiora's arm since she is focused on me now.
Fiora advances on me, neurowhip still on, "And what would you know of that, Jedi?"
Quickly, before she can register and react I reach out and touch her, "This," is all I say as I establish a telepathic connection.
I am Revan and while I have not gone over to the puppy kicking and baby eating side of the Force yet that is not really an impediment to relaying the experiences, I kinda, sorta remember and a premonition of what still could be, What I and Fiora get is a strange melange of events from the lead up to the original game and what I can only say is the future in store for me now. One highlight in particular.
I am standing on the bridge of a starcruiser, its ominous triangular profile clearly visible out the windows. Also in view are several other cruisers, debris and a mist-shrouded world. Nal Hutta, the economic centre of the Hutt Free Economic Zone. Besides me in a black robe is a mottled Twi'lek. It's Fiora, the corruptive influence of the Dark Side already evident.
"We have broken them. Look, the once mighty and feared Hutt lie prostrate before us," I say.
"It will be a pleasure to dig those slugs out of their holes. I will begin orders for the assault," says Fiora.
I hold up a hand, "No need my apprentice. Let us instead send a message throughout the Galaxy. Let all bear witness to the fate of the wicked here. Order all ships to englobe the planet in preparation for orbital bombardment," I say.
"Orbital bombardment? Revan, there are over thirty billion beings down there. Only a tiny number are Hutts or their minions. Most are slaves." says Fiora protesting.
"Yes my apprentice, I know. They will be immortalised forever in the pyre we create today. Part of a message that shall echo through time itself," I say.
"Revan,"
I turn to face her, "It is a necessary sacrifice. Surely you see that. Or is perhaps your resolve wavering?" I say staring into her yellow eyes.
Fiora stares back, blinks and shakes her head, "No master. I am fully committed. I swear."
I nod, "Then give the order,"
Fiora nods, "At once Master," she says and turns to instruct the fleet to turn Nal Hutta into a cinder.
The vision ends. Fiora is wide-eyed, stunned by what she has just experienced, "That, I would," she begins.
"Slaughter billions at Dark Side's behest. You would end up an instrument of evil, needing to commit ever greater atrocities because nothing is ever enough. As would I. It is a true future, one all too possible if we give in to the Dark Side,"
Fiora sinks to her knees, "It seemed so real,"
I lower myself to kneel beside her, "That is because it was real. That will be both our fates if we do not act now. Come with me Fiora, there is a better path. Together and with the help of others we can avoid that fate and forge a brighter destiny,"
Fiora looks over to where Klovath is huddled and whimpering, "What about him? He,"
I reach out again and guide her head to look at me and not her abuser, "What about him? Fiora, trust me, it will never be enough because it never is. You can still walk away. I am not asking you to forget and I am certainly not asking for you to forgive. Rather, I invite you to pledge yourself to a brighter course. Come with me Fiora and bring Peace and Justice to the Galaxy,"
Fiora's face twists as the conflict rages within her. You thought you had sold yourself to the Dark Side. Well, I have one hell of a counteroffer. While she wrestles with all that I unclip my lightsabre and hand it to her.
"Here, the weapon of a Jedi. Use it to enact swift justice. Put down the neurowhip, the time for cruelty is over. It is time to become who you are," I say.
Fiora stands and walks over to Klovath, both weapons still in hand. She pauses as she stands over him.
"Please, show some mercy, please," Klovath pleads.
Fiora opens her right hand and the neurowhip falls to the floor, there is also a hiss as the lightsabre ignites and in one swift stroke, Klovath's head is separated from his body. She switches it off and walks back over to hand it to me, "Thank you," she says quietly.
I nod, "Keep it Padawan Fiora. Welcome to the Jedi," I say.
With that, I walk out.
A few minutes later Fiora and the rest of the sisterhood troop out, carrying their few possessions with them. They troop aboard.
I smile, "Excellent, this of course is just the first srep. It will be difficult and dangerous but I feel worth it in the end. Now, Master," I say before being interupted.
"Fiora!" yells Jalen as he runs to pick her up in a hug/
"Jalen!" cries an equally surprised Fiora.
"You're free. Not just physically but of the Dark Side as well!" Says Jalen, he then looks over at me, "How? What did you do?"
I open my hands, "Very little, Padawan Fiora here did the heavy lifting. She freed herself."
Jalen blinks and his head turns back to regard his sister, "How is that even possible? I don't believe it,"
"Believe it Knight Jalen. The Force does not lie," says Korhal. "You wanted me?"
"Master Korhal. Of course. We seem to have recovered several adepts from the Dark Side and they will need guidance and training if they are to stay that way. As you are the senior Jedi present, I will trust in your wisdom and experience in setting that up,"
Korhal looks at me for a moment. He is not stupid. He knows I have no intention of returning to Temple anytime soon. Finally, he nods, "Yes, they are in need of that.I shall see to it," he says before leading the sisters to get billeted and start a training regimen.
"All I see is that..." begins Surik before I cut her off with a wave of my finger.
"Not one more word, I saved people in a larger group this time and it's only going to get bigger. Which reminds me. Atton!" I end with a shout as I head for the cockpit.
Atton is still there, he looks up as I enter, "Yes?"
"Time we left this rock, we have bigger fish to fry."
"Finally, where to boss?"
"That's up to you Atton. I think you know where I want to go?"
"Oh, where would that be?"
"You tell me. Specifically, let's talk about what I believe is called the cloaked hyperlane,"
Because if anyone knows it will be mythic Han Solo.
Atton tries on his best 'who me' look and repeats, "Cloaked hyperlane?"
"Come on. Don't give me that. I know that you know and I know that you know that I know so how about we get to the point where we plot the course and we go there?" I say.
"Are you reading my mind?" says Atton tensing.
"Nothing so showy. I know you Atton. Top-rated card shark, confidence man and the hotshot pilot? All the qualifications for being one of the select few in the know of a route in and out of the Zone which both the Hutts and the Republic are unaware of," I say.
Atton relaxes a bit, "Okay, say that I did know that. If it even existed that is. Word gets out that I gave such information up to a Jedi and things get real dicey, real quick,"
"Depends I guess,"
"Depends on what?"
"You're a thief Atton Rand, but I think it's not the money, but being known as the best. So, how about participating in a massive heist? Being the orchestrator of Grand Theft Sophont?"
Atton leans towards me. Gotcha. "What are you proposing?"
"The Kalavar Grand Auction. One of the most prestigious slave auctions in the Galaxy. With your help, I think we have a shot at stealing every single slave. Imagine all those faces, gathered to buy the most exclusive slaves from across the Galaxy and not a single one present. Think of the fame, the glory of being known for pulling that off?" I say.
Atton nods, "Yeah, alright I'm thinking about it. I just want one thing,"
I spread my hands, "Ask, and I shall see what I can do?"
Atton looks me square in the eyes, "Surik. I know that you know that I know that you know. What's her deal? And I want the truth,"
Bugger.
