Disclaimer: I own none of it. Except Damien - he's mine. This fanfic was constructed from my memory of playing the XBox version of the game, and the dialog.tlk file from the PC version. It may have some mistakes... probably got continuity errors too... but add the fact the character's not acting like he should anyway, and it doesn't really matter, does it?
Author's note: Would you resist the lure of the dark side if you already knew its tricks? I don't know if I would. Either way, please keep reading, this fic is almost done. One more chapter awaits, after this one.
Naron: You think my Revan's like Han? I definitely take that as a compliment. I always did like Han Solo. And I was proud of the retorts to Saul, so thank you for commenting on them ^_^
_Data_: On the bright side, I've already started writing two more KotOR fics. Yes, I am obsessed. But I don't know if I'll ever upload them - my first one died before I got it finished, this fic is actually my second.
Daesereg: Well, I'm a fast writer. When I'm inspired, anyway. Hmm... depends what my Sith Master's like, to be honest. I kinda wouldn't mind being 'dominated' by Revan ^_^
Ozziegrl: I agree wholeheartedly about being attracted to the bad guys.
Shadow39: Thanks. Here's more.
arrow maker: I named her Avril, because I wasn't paying attention when I met her in the game, and that is actually what I originally thought she was called. Then I stuck with it cause I thought the name suited her. It has nothing to do with the person you named in your review. As for a Carth/fem!Revan fic... I started one that died in chapter six, and am in the process of writing another fic that has it as a background detail.
NathanPostmark: Yeah, about Xor. I read somewhere that he was a Twi'lek in the PC version... but he is definitely a human in the X-Box. And it makes more sense that he be human, because he insults and degrades "non-humans", and why would a Twi'lek do that if he is a non-human?
The Holy Beergut: I understand why people don't like the Selkath, but I do like them. Their laws are good and fair, hence Damien actually paid the docking fee ^_^ what annoyed me was you couldn't use their laws against the Sith the way Damien did. Glad you liked the chapter, though.
Xan: Yeah, it was a maze, wasn't it? Which was why all my Jedi characters have Force speed, so they can get from one place to another faster... same with the Dune Sea. Glad you liked the chapter, though. I consider it a major compliment for someone to tell me I portray something they dislike in a way they like it (someone told me something similar for my Harry Potter fanfic about a Draco/Hermione pairing) and I appreciate hearing it. ^_^ I was particularly proud of the going-insane-underwater thing... glad you liked it.
LC Wolf: ^_^ me like long review. Thankies. I sincerely doubt I shall write a sequel to this fic. Glad you enjoyed the Sith getting a taste of their own medicine with Selkath laws - we should have been allowed to do that to them in the game. As for the Sith Master, it was supposed to be disturbing, but Revan has seen worse... to quote C8-42, "you don't want to know" ^_^
Nightmare and Flip: Erm... while that specific Sith Master does deserve to be killed bloodily, your reasoning bothers me. I just don't like homophobia, is all. I mean, it's not like I'm writing a slash-romance fic here, no need for violence. Although, get as violent as you like over the fact the Sith Master in question murdered, raped and tortured many innocent people to get to where he is today.
slincoln: Thank you. I think. Just out of curiosity, what did you "disagree with" out of this fic? I like to know these things. As for Damien being "snarky", that was deliberate... makes him more annoying to Carth and Malak, among others.
Starlight the Wanderer: Hmmm... well, about the meatbag thing, just wait and see.
Revan/Bastila fan: Sorry I took a while to update. As for a sequel, well I wasn't going to do one, but I've actually started debating it... depends entirely on if there's a sequel game, and what it's like. I've seen some promising rumours, but that's all there is so far.
chris-warren876: I was originally going to write fem!Revan, when I got the idea of a fanfic into my head. But then I saw how many of those there were out there... and I never was one to follow the crowd, so I went for the male!Revan plot instead. Actually, I'm glad I did... Revan/Bastila is more fun to write than Revan/Carth. Yes, Yuthura can be turned back to the light side, and if she does before Dantooine gets destroyed then she goes there and you can meet her in the courtyard. It's one reason I usually do Korriban last, nowadays, so she doesn't get killed by that attack on Dantooine. Thank you for the lovely review. Glad you're enjoying the story.
* * *
Chapter 8 - There Is No Death...
We had the complete co-ordinates now. Carth plotted the course for the Star Forge system, and it didn't take us more than a few hours to get there from Manaan. "The Star Forge... it's huge. I've never seen anything like it before." Carth said, as we dropped out of hyperspace in the Star Forge system. You really couldn't miss the huge glittering factory hovering close to the star, even though we were fairly far from it right now.
"Yeah... it's beautiful, isn't it?" I said, smirking. I was sitting in the co-pilot's seat next to him. Even this far away, I could sense the darkness from it. Like a drug... I wanted more.
Carth shot me a glare, "I'm transmitting these co-ordinates to Admiral Dodonna. Maybe a quick strike by the Republic can cripple the Sith fleet." I didn't look away from the Star Forge, but I heard him typing on the control-panel. A few seconds later, "Message is away. We should probably wait for the Republic fleet to show up before we try and rescue Bastila. We'll need cover if we want to fly in and dock on the Star Forge."
"Yeah... wait - to hell with the Star Forge - see that faint line there?" I asked, pointing to a shimmer between us and the Star Forge. I wasn't sure he could see it without Force-enhanced vision.
No." he said flatly, "What are you talking about?"
"There's a disruptor field." I said, "I remember the shit I went through to get that thing knocked out. I guess Malak reactivated it... honestly, I don't blame him, it's a damned good defence."
"So what do you suggest we do?" Carth demanded. We suddenly felt the ship shudder, "We've got company..." Carth said, frowning at the control panel, "A small vanguard of Sith fighters, coming in hard! Get on those gun turrets! Take those fighters out before they report our position to the main fleet!"
I bolted to the gun turret, and had already shot one Sith ship down before I activated my commlink, "Carth. We don't have a static resistance generator on board, do we?" I shot down another Sith, and felt the Hawk lurch to port.
"No. Why?" Carth replied, clearly stress.
Two more Sith got knocked out of the sky. "Damn. See a planet here?" I asked.
"Yes. Why?" Carth asked, now clearly irritated.
"Land in the northern hemisphere if you can. There's only a few islands there - aim for the biggest one." I said, eliminating the last two Sith ships. I dropped down from the gun turret, and returned to the co-pilot's seat, "It'll take an expert pilot to land, though. That disruptor field will wreak havoc with ship's systems." I smirked darkly, "Two Jedi Knights at the controls and we still didn't hit the right island, even when we'd had the time to scan the surface before the disruptor field got us."
"That's reassuring." Carth muttered.
"You're a better star pilot than me. I have faith in your abilities." I said honestly.
Carth blinked, "You're saying you trust me?"
"Yes." I said, smirking. "Go for the planet, now."
Carth turned the Hawk towards the planet, and we hit the disruptor field. "All my instruments are jammed... we've got massive overloads on all systems!" he said, horrified.
"That's what a disruptor field does." I said flatly, "Fly without the instruments, and use the ship's inertia rather than the engines."
Carth nodded determinedly, and guided the ship down towards the northern hemisphere of the planet. "Hold on - this may be a rough landing."
"Can't be much worse than Malak's attempt at landing here." I muttered.
* * *
"Whew! Talk about your rough landings, Carth!" Mission whined as Carth and I entered the common area of the Hawk, "What's the matter? You're flying like you've been on an all night Tarisian ale drinking binge!"
I sniggered at that. "That disruptor field fried our stabilizers - we're lucky we made it down in one piece!" Carth said, clearly displeased at the insinuation that he would ever fly a ship under the influence of alcohol, "But if we can't find the salvage to make repairs I won't even be able to get the Ebon Hawk airborne again!"
"Plenty of ships crash here. Shouldn't be too much trouble rooting out some new parts in working condition." I said flatly. "That's what I did last time. Actually, some of the locals are very helpful... if you run into the right group, that is."
"That's good." Mission said brightly.
"Although, the wrong groups would rip you to shreds on sight, if they got the chance." I added.
"Not so good." Mission muttered.
"We need to take out the disruptor field, otherwise no one's getting within shooting range of the Star Forge and we'd be stuck here." I said flatly, "I did it once before, but since Malak's had a year to screw with the defence systems, who knows how much more trouble we'll have."
"This is going to be so much fun." Carth said sarcastically.
"Well, the sooner we get out there, the better." I said flatly.
We had to kill a few of the more hostile locals, as soon as we left the ship. It actually was self-defence. The quickest way to get into the temple, which housed the disruptor field, was to speak to the Elders, so that's where I went. The problem was that the other locals didn't like the Elders, and hence they got in our way. These savages had their second, third, and fourth chances millennia ago - I had no qualms about killing them. The Elders were the few of their race who had been redeemed.
Eventually, I stood before the council of the Elders, with Carth and Mission at my side.
I bowed to the leader, [I know what this must look like.] I said flatly, in their own language, [But... I need access to the temple again.] I decided economy with the truth was the way to go, [My apprentice, Malak, has taken control of the Star Forge and I have to stop him.] technically true - I just didn't mention that I'd led him to do it.
[Do you think we are fools, Revan?] their leader asked coldly, [Do you think we have forgotten how you lied to us last time? Why should we believe you now?]
I bit my lip, [The darkness of the Star Forge is... corrupting. It affected my mind.] I said, frowning, [I have learned from that, and it should not happen again. I do genuinely wish to destroy it, this time.]
[You say you have learned from your misdeeds, yet here on our world you repeat the pattern of your last visit. Like the last time, you have crashed here. Like last time, you have come seeking our help. How can was trust you, Revan?] the leader demanded.
"You'd really like these guys, Carth." I muttered, "Just because I lied to them one little time, now they've got a problem trusting me." It was pure sarcasm, but Carth still glared at me for it. I sighed, [Give me a chance to prove myself. Actions speak louder than words, do they not?]
They told me to eliminate their enemy - the One - leader of another tribe who had been attacking and killing their scouts - and if possible rescue any survivors of the Elders' scouts. I accepted the mission.
I ditched Carth at the Hawk, and took Mission with me. We used our stealth fields to sneak into the One's settlement. I distracted the guards by releasing their pet Rancours, without dropping my stealth field. Mission slipped past the beast, unnoticed, and used her stealth field to conceal the sole surviving Elder scout. Still unseen, I crept up behind the One, and stabbed him through the heart. I'd met the One last time - he deserved far worse, but this way no one saw me and I was able to reactivate my stealth field before anyone caught me. The three of us escaped unseen.
The Elders were grateful, and also surprised that I had managed to successfully infiltrate the One's camp without anyone but the One himself either noticing me or being harmed.
They agreed to let me into the temple, but I would not be allowed to bring anyone else. Last time I broke their sacred rituals to bring Malak with me, and just look at the consequences. I tended to agree with them - many superstitions have basis in fact.
* * *
When I reached the entrance to the temple, the Elder mystics were already waiting, [I will begin the ritual. It will take many hours, but when it is complete you must be ready... the shields will not stay down for long. Prepare yourself.]
I nodded. I remembered the ritual well enough.
They began to chant, but second later, they stopped, [Wait... someone is coming!] their leader snapped.
I looked up to see Juhani and Jolee rushing towards me, "Wait... you can't go in there alone!" Jolee said, much less out-of-breath than you'd expect from an old man who'd just run the whole way from the beach.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, frowning.
"We have had a... a premonition." Juhani said, panting slightly from the run, "The Force has given us a vision. There is great danger within the Temple. We cannot let you face it alone."
"You might be walking into a trap... maybe Malak himself is waiting inside." Jolee noted, "Even if he isn't, that temple will be crawling with Dark Jedi. You'll need all the help you can get."
I rolled my eyes, "Everyone has their own little superstitions, old man. You may think you need to come with me because of this vision... but this is their planet, and I have to go in alone! I disobeyed their rule last time, and look what happened!"
"Your destiny - maybe the fate of the entire galaxy - could be forever changed inside that Temple." Jolee snapped, "I'm not about to let you face that alone. Not after my premonition. There's a reason I had that vision. So you just tell that guide of yours to do whatever he has to do to get us all inside the Temple."
I folded my arms and glared, "No." I said coldly, "Either I go alone, or we sit here and watch the whole Republic fleet crash in this planet's ocean."
"You don't mean that." Jolee said flatly, "And I've got more patience than you, I assure you."
I narrowed my eyes, "You are a very irritating old coot. You know that, right?"
"I'm proud of it." Jolee said, smirking.
I rolled my eyes and turned to the Elder, [Continue the ritual.]
[No! You must enter the Temple alone! I will not lower the shields!] he protested.
"I don't know what he said, but it sounds like your guide's being stubborn. We don't have time for this." Jolee said.
[Look who's talking about people being stubborn.] I growled in Shyriiwook - considering how long he spent on Kashyyyk, I was sure he knew what I'd said.
Jolee chose to ignore my comment, however, "The Republic fleet is on the way and we're stuck on this planet until we deactivate that disruptor field. You have to convince him to get us inside that Temple!"
I sighed, [I cannot destroy the Star Forge alone. They must come with me into the Temple.] I told the Elder.
[I... I believe you.] he said, [The Elders have said you wish to destroy the Star Forge and end the terrible legacy of our ancestors. If you need help to do this, I will not stand in your way.]
"I hope you're happy, old man." I hissed, "This could do more harm than good."
* * *
The temple was boring. I knew everything in it already. Except for a bunch of Sith-wannabies who didn't give me the opportunity to talk before having no choice but to kill them. Eventually, however, we reached the Temple summit, where the controls for the disruptor field could be found.
She was waiting for me.
How she got there, I don't know, but she was waiting.
Bastila.
"Revan - I knew you'd come for me." she said coldly, "Malak thought you might be afraid to enter the Temple again, but he doesn't know you like I do. Not anymore. Not since you've changed."
"Quickly, Bastila - come with us! We have to escape before Malak arrives!" Juhani said.
Bastila laughed, "Escape? You don't understand. I have sworn allegiance to Lord Malak and the Sith; I am no longer a pawn of the Jedi Council."
"It didn't take long to convert you, did it? I told you this would happen, didn't I?" I said flatly.
"I resisted at first." she said coldly, "I endured the Sith torments with the passionless serenity of a true Jedi, emptying my mind. But after a week of endless tortures I finally saw the truth. Malak forced me to acknowledge my anger and pain. He showed me the liberating power of these emotions. Then he made me see how the Jedi Council has denied me what is mine by right! The Jedi Council gladly used my Battle Meditation in their wars, but they still treated me like a child - like an inferior. They were jealous of my power... of what I could become! They wanted me to bow and call them Master and follow their Code and obey their every order. But all the while they were exploiting my Battle Meditation for their own use!"
"You think anger and hate are worth being proud of? You've got a lot to learn." I said.
She snorted, "A pity the power you once had is so diluted in you. You could have been strong as I am now... stronger, even. But that will never happen, now. With the power of the Star Forge Malak will destroy the Republic and conquer the galaxy. And I will be the apprentice at his side - after I prove my worth by killing you!"
She swung her now-red lightsaber at me, and I blocked her, "Don't do this, Princess." I whispered.
"Don't call me that!" she yelled, swinging the blade at me from another angle. Again I blocked it. I used Force wave to send her flying away from me. She picked herself up and glared at me, "You are stronger than I would have thought possible, after what the Jedi Council did to you. Seems that Malak was wrong - the power of the dark side is not lost to you after all, Revan."
"The source of my power is not the dark side, Bastila." I said flatly.
"You can deny what you are, Revan, but you are only fooling yourself." she said acidly, "I know the truth. I have seen the shadows inside your mind. Remember: I was there when you nearly died in the trap set by the Jedi Council. I used the Force to preserve your life, Revan. We are forever linked by my actions on that bridge!"
"I know the darkness in me, Bastila. Everyone has darkness in them. But you can't let it rule your life." I said, "And we are linked by more than just a bond."
"Do not mistake the power of the Force for love, Revan." she hissed, "It does not exist. Power is what forged our bond, and power is what made us both tools of the Jedi Council!"
I frowned, "What are you saying, Bastila?"
"The Council tried to exploit the bond between us. They hoped I would draw out your memories to lead them to the Star Forge." she explained as if she thought she were talking to a mentally-deficient two-year-old, "We were slaves to their will - like all who follow the Jedi Code! But in our shared visions of the Star Maps I also felt the so called taint within you. I resisted it at first, but now I embrace the power of the dark side - your dark side!"
"I am a slave to no one. Not the Jedi, not the Sith. Not the light and not the dark." I said coldly.
"Once long ago you defied the Jedi Council, freeing yourself from their control." Bastila said, almost pleading, "You claimed your rightful title of Dark Lord of the Sith. Together we can defeat Malak and take back what is yours!"
"How do I know you won't betray me?" I asked flatly.
She smirked, "It is your power that will keep me as your loyal apprentice, Revan. I need deny my passions no longer. I would stand by your side gladly, as your lover and apprentice! I swore allegiance to Malak only because I thought you had lost the power you had once wielded. But this... this would be much better. I would be utterly yours, master! Together we would destroy Malak and you would reclaim the mantle of Dark Lord!"
"No! Do not walk down this path... it can only lead to destruction! I know of what I speak!" Juhani snapped.
"Shut up, Juhani!" Bastila snapped right back, "You know nothing of the dark side's true potential! When you felt its touch you fled to a cave and cowered in terror!"
Juhani glared at Bastila, then turned to speak to me, "I have no wish to fight you and Bastila, but if you choose to walk down this path you know I must stand against you... even at the cost of my life."
I hesitated for the longest time - Bastila's offer was so tempting. But... "Bastila, don't make me choose a side. Damn it, I don't like either of them!"
Jolee sniggered, "That's the way to go, kid." he said.
Bastila glared. I sighed, "Princess, if you feel anything for me, you'll turn away from the dark side. I'm not asking you to serve the light again, simply not to fall to your hatred." then I added in a whisper, "Love is so much stronger."
"I..." then she shook her head, "I don't. The only Revan I could respect is one who would break free of the Council's slavery. One who would grasp the power that lies before him... not the weak fool I see." she turned and ran away to a ship that was waiting for her.
I rolled my eyes, "If I have to do to you what you did to me, on the bridge of my own bloody flagship, to get you back, I will!" I yelled at her retreating back. She didn't even look back.
I sighed, and glared at the departing ship. I would get her back if it cost me my life. I slowly walked over to the computer console and deactivated the energy shield and disruptor field.
I didn't speak, the whole way back to the ship. I could sense the worried looks Juhani and Jolee were giving me, but I didn't care anymore. I made the right choice and look where it got me. I lost her. It shouldn't have happened like this.
Before I knew it, "You're back! But where's Bastila? Is she alive? What happened inside that Temple?" Carth shouted - he and the rest of the crew were waiting for us outside the Hawk.
"How did you know she was there?" I asked, with no emotion in my voice.
"Jolee told me he had a vision - she was in it." he replied.
"That's right." Jolee said to me, "She was the danger in the vision I mentioned to you."
"Hold on a second! What about Bastila? What happened?" Carth persisted.
"Bastila has fallen to the dark side. She fled to the Star Forge." I said, just as emotionlessly.
"The dark side? Bastila? No! How could that happen?" Carth asked, horrified.
"She was always in danger of being seduced by the dark side, Carth." Jolee explained, "Bastila was strong, but she was always impatient and headstrong. Malak preyed upon her weaknesses."
"We have to get her back." I said flatly. "Let's just go already." I stalked onto the Hawk before anyone else could speak.
* * *
As we left the planet, Carth seemed to know better than to try talking to me while I sulked. Well, until... "The Republic Fleet must have got the message I sent as we were crashing onto that planet. I'm picking up a transmission from them now."
We both turned to face the holo-transmission, "This is Admiral Forn Dodonna to the Ebon Hawk, do you read us?" a woman in military uniform, with a severe grey haircut, said. Her voice matched her hair perfectly.
"Admiral Dodonna, this is Carth Onasi. We are receiving your transmission." Carth responded, standing to attention in front of the holo-projector. She would see his image, but she wouldn't see me sulking on the co-pilot's chair in the background.
"Carth, I'm glad to see you're still alive." the admiral said, "We've begun our assault on the Star Forge, but we're taking heavy losses. How did the Sith ever manage to build something of this scope!"
"The Star Forge wasn't constructed by the Sith, Admiral." Carth said flatly, "We don't have time for me to fully explain it, but that space station is far older than you can imagine."
The admiral frowned, "Maybe we should pull the fleet back and retreat. I don't know if we have the firepower to go up against this alien technology."
"You can't do that, Admiral." Carth said desperately - he had dropped his military posture and let the fear show on his face - that in itself should tell anyone who knew him at all just how bad the situation was, "The Star Forge is a factory of immense power. It's been churning out the capital ships, snub fighters and assault droids that have powered the Sith war effort. You have to destroy the Star Forge now or you'll be fighting an unending wave of reinforcements."
The admiral sighed, "Then I guess we have no choice. But it isn't going to be easy. I can't even get our capital ships into position to start bombarding the Star Forge. The Sith fleet is too well organized. It's like they can guess our every move and counter our every strategy."
"Bastila." I said flatly.
"What was that?" Dodonna asked, clearly not seeing me but the transmission had picked up my voice.
Carth sighed, "It's because of Bastila, Admiral. She turned to the dark side and became Malak's apprentice. We suspect she's somewhere on that space station right now, using her Battle Meditation against you and your fleet."
Dodonna suddenly stepped to one side, allowing the short form of Master Vandar to step into our view beside her, "This is Master Vandar. A number of Jedi Knights have joined our fleet under his command." she explained.
I quickly stepped forward and shoved Carth to one side so we would both be visible, "It's good to see you're all right, Master Vandar." I noted, before dropping the pleasantries, "When this is over, I want to talk to you." I smiled too innocently, and he clearly could tell what I meant.
"So, now you know?" he asked.
"Yes." I said flatly.
"It will be discussed after the battle." Vandar said.
"I'll make sure you survive to explain yourself." I said emotionlessly, before returning to the co-pilot's seat.
Vandar turned his attention back to Carth, seemingly unruffled by my demand, "If Bastila is using her power to augment the Sith then Malak's fleet is invincible. Our only hope is to somehow stop Bastila from using her Battle Meditation."
"I've got dibs on that job." I said flatly. They all heard me, and they all ignored me.
"How can we do that if she's on the space station?" Carth asked.
"I will send a squadron of Jedi Knights to the Star Forge to find Bastila." Vandar explained, "Their small ships will be able to fly through the Sith blockade and dock on the space station. If they can find Bastila, they may be able to distract her attention from the battle overhead."
"The Hawk's going in with them." I said, more loudly.
Dodonna glared over Carth's shoulder in my general direction, "I hate to ask you this after all you've done, Carth, but the Jedi may need all the help they can get..."
"Don't worry, Admiral." Carth said, smiling slightly, "The Ebon Hawk and her crew are going to see this through to the end!"
"And may the Force be with you." Vandar added.
* * *
The Hawk made it through the Sith blockades, although half the Jedi ships that accompanied us got shot down.
"Mission. Canderous. You're with me. Carth, be ready to fly at a second's notice." reluctantly, Carth nodded and returned to the cockpit. "Jolee, have the medbay prepped to hold a hostile patient. I'm likely to bring back an unconscious and pissed off Jedi Princess."
Jolee smiled, "You got it."
"What about me?" Juhani asked.
"Try not to pay too much attention to any voices you hear in your head. That goes for you too, old man." I said, perfectly seriously.
Jolee snorted, "And here I thought the suggestion to kill you all and steal the ship was such a good idea." he said sarcastically.
Juhani blinked, "Very well." she said, frowning. Every Sith who has ever set foot on the Star Forge has told stories of hearing it speak to them. It's not just me, I assure you.
"Why're you taking Little Blue instead of HK-47?" Canderous asked.
"Because I want a conscience accompanying me. Besides, she handles a sniper rifle well enough." I said flatly.
Canderous shrugged and picked up his favourite two vibroblades, "Make sure you aim for the back of their heads, kid." he said, smirking at her glare, "Cause Jedi can deflect blaster-bolts if they see them coming."
I carefully and deliberately removed my coat and left it in the common area. "Nobody touches the coat." I warned. Then I led Mission and Canderous off the ship. We made relatively good time through the Star Forge, and we left a trail of ruined assault droids littering the first level, in our wake.
The second level was swarming with Sith troopers and dark Jedi. Mission eliminated most of the non-Jedi enemies right away. Canderous dismembered and disembowelled the rest. I dispatched the dark Jedi with relative ease.
"You'd think." Mission noted as I used the Force to heal a blaster wound on her shoulder, "With only one dark Jedi per year being let into Korriban academy, there'd not be so many of them here."
"You'd think. But Korriban wasn't the only place to train Sith." I noted, "There. Good as new - you might want to get new armour, though - that one's ruined."
Some time later, we eventually reached the main corridor, and a large number of blaster turrets. "The blaster control room's this way!" I shouted at Canderous who seemed to think the most heavily guarded way was the way to go. He turned and followed me to the door I knew led to the control room.
After killing a few more dark Jedi, I set Mission to work slicing the system. She deactivated the blasters and got access to the Forge Systems for me.
"Cool. Here's a present for you, Mission." I said as I typed in the command codes for light battle armour - it was the same design as the armour Bandon had worn, except it was cut to fit Mission's much smaller form.
She vanished behind a computer bank to change, "Thanks." she said, reappearing.
"Looks good." I noted, "And this doesn't actually make any armour better than what you're wearing already, Canderous. So..." I typed in a few more codes, "Burn my robes will they. Well I'll show them." I muttered as the container glowed. I collected the black robes from it.
I threw them on over my clothes, and pulled the hood up. I know my eyes glowed with the dark side for a moment, but I got over it, "Uh... Revan?" Mission asked warily, "You sure those robes are a good idea? I'm Force-blind and even I can tell they're bad news."
I smirked, "This station makes two types of specialised robes. The light side version not only makes the station sick at the idea of making them, but it also makes me sick at the idea of wearing them - they look like a sissy-girl's dress."
Canderous snorted, "Would match your hair, then."
"Hey. Don't insult my hair." I snapped, "You'd be amazed the amount of peer-pressure I had to fight off - and by fight, I mean literally - to be a Sith Lord without shaving my head."
Mission giggled. Canderous scowled.
"Come on. The blaster turrets are deactivated, let's get going."
* * *
We eventually carved our way through the hordes of Sith, to the doorway to the main command deck. Mission rubbed her arms and glanced nervously over her shoulder, "Is it just me or does it feel... creepy, here? I mean more than the rest of the station. Like... like something bad's in there waiting for us and we're going to lose."
"I'm not usually the pessimistic type, but it's not just you, kid." Canderous noted, "I've never believed a battle was unwinnable, but I'm getting that feeling now."
"Ignore that feeling." I said flatly, "Bastila's on the other side of this door - I can sense her. She's using her battle meditation. If you realise the trick, and are strong-willed enough, it's like fighting a Force persuasion, you'll not fall prey to it."
Canderous nodded determinedly. Mission adjusted her grip on her sniper rifle, and tilted her head back, also determinedly.
I entered the access code on the door, and stepped through. The door slammed shut before Canderous or Mission could follow. Damn.
"Revan - I knew you'd come for me." Bastila said coldly, standing up and breaking her meditation. She slowly walked towards me, igniting her red lightsaber.
"I'll never give up on you, Bastila. I know you can still be saved." I said flatly.
She snorted, "You are wasting your time. I have seen the Jedi for what they are: weak and afraid. The Sith are the true Masters of the Force. You have forgotten that lesson, Revan. Now you must pay the price. Here on the Star Forge the power of the dark side is at its strongest. This time you will not defeat me!"
She twirled her lightsaber - quite a spectacular display, really. "Careful - you could lose your jaw that way." I joked, smirking. She laughed coldly and lunged at me. I blocked her with my own lightsaber. "And I wouldn't want that. You're such a good kisser." I added. She snarled and spun to try to strike me again. Yet again, I blocked her.
I pushed her away with Force wave. She used Force lightening on me. I stayed standing, and repaid her in kind - a low voltage, because I didn't want to kill her.
She gasped, and staggered backwards, "You are growing weary, I can sense it! Your strength falters, the light side is failing you while the power of the Star Forge re-energizes me! Soon this will all be over!" she spoke the truth that the Star Forge was re-energizing her - I could see it clearly enough. Which meant I shouldn't fear to hurt her in the fight - the Star Forge would heal anything short of a fatal wound.
"You've been consumed by the dark side, Princess. Can't you see it's destroying you?" I asked.
"The dark side has made me stronger than I ever was before!" she shouted, "I have a greater command of the Force than all but the most powerful Jedi Masters. As Malak teaches me the greatest secrets of the Sith, I will unlock more of my potential. Eventually there will be no limit to what I can accomplish with the Force!"
"You will accomplish death and destruction with the dark side alone, nothing else." I said flatly.
She glared some more, "Jedi propaganda. The dark side is only a tool, and Malak will train me in its use. Eventually I will surpass my Master and challenge him. If I am worthy he will die by my hand."
I rolled my eyes, "You're dooming yourself to an endless cycle of death and betrayal." I said coldly.
"No, Revan, it is you who are doomed!" she snapped, and she held up her hand.
I felt weaker - she was draining my energy. I ran at her, and tried to remove her right arm with my lightsaber. She blocked me. After a vicious fight, I succeeded in carving a deep gash across her stomach. She clutched her wound and backed away from me.
"No, this is not possible!" she gasped, "You have rejected the dark side, you are a weak and pathetic servant of the light! How can you still stand against me? Why can't I defeat you?"
"I am stronger than you could ever be, Princess." I said flatly, "And the darkness has its place in me, it simply doesn't control me."
"Yes, I see you speak the truth." she said, nodding, "I am no match for you. Please, for the sake of what we once shared, do not make me suffer. End my life quickly. There is no other way."
I frowned, "No." I said flatly.
"Wh-what?" she asked, looking up at me - I saw fear cross her face, and I was sure that for a moment she was afraid I might make her die a slow and painful death.
"I don't want to kill you." I said gently.
"What other choice do you have?" she asked, her tone sounded pitiful, "I have fallen to the dark side, I am the apprentice to the Dark Lord himself. You cannot let me live."
"Everyone deserves a second chance." I noted.
"Look what happened the last time you gave Malak's apprentice a chance!" she snapped, "And this time, I know where your heart is!"
"In your hands." I said quietly.
"Wh-what?" she asked again, stunned.
"I love you, Bastila. I couldn't hurt you, even if I wanted to." I said gently.
"You... love me?" she asked, stunned. Then she made a nervous half-laughing sound, "I... there was a time I yearned for and yet dreaded to hear those words. I loved you, too, but I could never... face who you were. Malak knew how I felt. Any part of the light that was within me would be extinguished when I killed you." she sighed, "But what good is love? It cannot save me from the sea of blackness I am drowning in. I have betrayed everything I ever believed in! How can I atone for that?"
"You could help us defeat Malak." I said quietly.
"But how would you be able to trust me?" she asked weakly, "How do you know I wouldn't turn on you when you faced Darth Malak? How do you know the dark side wouldn't make me betray you again?"
"I trust you enough to leave myself open to your attack, Bastila." I said, clipping my lightsaber to my belt, and holding my hands out to show I was unarmed.
"You play a dangerous game." she said, a faint smile on her face, "Are you certain you wish to take this risk? I could end your life and gain Malak's favour with a single stroke of my lightsaber."
"But you won't." I said calmly, also smiling. I could see it in her eyes.
"You are brave... and some would say foolish." she said. Then she sighed and deactivated her lightsaber, "But you are also right. The dark side has not wholly consumed me. I cannot raise my blade against you. I should stay here, though. If we face Malak I am afraid his dark presence will overwhelm me. It would not be wise to expose myself to such temptation."
"You could use your Battle Meditation to aid the Republic fleet." I smirked, "In all honesty, they need it."
She smiled, "Yes, that would be for the best." she said, nodding, "You don't need me to defeat Malak, anyway. Now I understand that a true Jedi is a match for any Sith. Even the Dark Lord himself. You will go on to defeat Malak, of this I have little doubt. You will have gone from being the Sith Lord, himself, to the saviour of our galaxy." she hesitated, but I sensed there was something more she wanted to say. After a few seconds, she said it, "And... and you said you loved me. This may not be the best time to say it, but... I love you, too. With all my heart."
"You aren't afraid to love anymore?" I asked, smirking.
"After this? No, nothing could make me feel safer than to be loved by you." she said.
I took a step towards her, and pried her hand away from the wound on her stomach - I kissed her lips lightly, and placed my own hand over the wound, using the Force to heal her. "I will always love you, Princess." I whispered.
"Good luck, my love... and may the Force be with you." she replied.
I turned and walked through the doors that led to the observation deck - I knew Malak had been watching me from there, and I also knew he was going to get his ass kicked.
* * *
Malak was waiting for me on the observation deck, with his back to me. I could so easily have thrown my lightsaber at him from here and struck his heart - end it so quickly - but I wasn't a coward, and while backstabbing is efficient, it's also very cowardly.
"Well done, Revan." he said, turning to face me as I approached, "I was certain the defences of the Star Forge would destroy you, but I see there is more of your old self in you than I expected. You are stronger than I thought; stronger than you ever were during your reign as the Dark Lord. I did not think that was possible."
"I was always stronger than you, Malak. That was why I was the Master." I said, smirking.
"Once you were stronger than me, Revan." Malak said, nodding, "But as your apprentice I surpassed you. The Master must always be stronger than the apprentice... that was why I betrayed you."
"You betrayed me from afar. You were afraid to face me, Malak." I snapped.
"No!" he snapped right back, "I was prepared to face you, Revan. But fate presented me with a better option. I saw my opportunity and seized it. The trap set by the Jedi only hastened my decision. If they had not attacked I would have challenged you for mastery of the Sith soon enough."
"Yeah... right." I taunted sarcastically.
He glared, "I am tempted to try and capture you alive, Revan. Then I could break your will and bind you to me as my apprentice, as I did Bastila. You would be a far greater asset to me than even Bastila and her Battle Meditation, if I could control you. But is it worth the risk?"
I snorted, "Try that one, and lose the other jaw." I said flatly.
He glared, "Perhaps you are too powerful to be my apprentice." he said, shrugging slightly, "I betrayed you when I realized my own strength was greater than yours; in time you might try to do the same to me."
"No duh." I said, smirking, "It's not too late for you to turn away from the dark side... like I did." I noted. I considered it more a taunt or a joke than a serious attempt at turning him. I doubted it was possible, really.
"Foolish words." he snorted, "The darkness and the light wage a constant war within you. Saviour, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all things Revan... and yet you are nothing. In the end you belong to neither the light nor the darkness. You will forever stand alone."
"You are wrong." I said calmly. I quite deliberately let my inner darkness show in my eyes, and ignited my green lightsaber - the one in the hilt of which I had placed what I had discovered to be the fabled Solari crystal. "I am at peace, Malak. Not from the light. From balance. You cannot defeat me."
"We shall see." he growled, drawing his own lightsaber, and using the Force to leap at me. I blocked his attack, and a real battle ensued.
It could have lasted half a minute... it could have been an hour. I was drawing on my passion to give me strength, but remained detached from the fight itself, using the Force - and I'm sure Bastila was helping me, I could feel it - to predict his feints and block his attacks.
Eventually, I managed to trip him. He stumbled and my lightsaber grazed his side. He used the Force to throw me back, and rushed away. I followed. "You continue to amaze me, Revan." he said, before I could resume the fight. I paused to see what he had to say for himself, "If only you had been the one to uncover the true power of the Star Forge you might have become truly invincible. But you were a fool. All you saw was an enormous factory, all you ever imagined was an infinite fleet rolling forth to crush the Republic. You were blind, Revan - blind and stupid!"
"Actually, I did know, I just didn't use it. I would have eventually, though." I said flatly.
He laughed, "Such a blatant lie. An excuse to hide your foolishness." he said coldly.
"Believe what you want." I said calmly, "Tell me something I don't know about the Star Forge, then."
He smirked, "The Star Forge is more than just a space station. In some ways, it is like a living creature."
"I knew that already." I said flatly, "And if you think you're the only one who hears it in your mind, you haven't talked to your subordinates in a long time."
He glared, now, "It hungers. And it can feed on the dark side that is within all of us! Look around you, Revan. See the bodies? You should recognize them from the Academy. These are Jedi who fell when I attacked Dantooine. For all intents and purposes dead, except for one difference: I have not let them become one with the Force. Instead I have brought them here. The Star Forge corrupts what remains of their power and transfers the dark taint to me!" I watched as he used the Force to drain the remaining life-energy from one of the Jedi - it healed the wound on his side.
I curled my lip in disgust, "Converting already dead Jedi to your side, just for your own personal gain? That's delightful." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You cannot beat me, Revan. Not here on the Star Forge. Not when I can draw upon the power of all these Jedi! And once you are beaten I will do the same to you. You will be trapped in a terrible existence between life and death, your power feeding me as I conquer the galaxy!" he said, as if he thought he'd already won.
"Bite me." I said flatly, keeping a straight face.
He lunged at me. I blocked his attack and glanced up briefly - the ceiling was lost in the distance, so I couldn't do my favourite trick. I used the Force to push him away, and did the next-best thing to my favourite trick. I levitated off the ground, out of Malak's reach.
He cast Force lightening at me, but I dodged it, somersaulting in midair, "What's the matter, Malak? Can't fly?" I jeered.
"Get down here and fight like a man, you coward!" he yelled.
"Look who's talking." I taunted, "I'm no coward... if you can't fly that's your problem, not mine." I said, smirking. I threw my lightsaber at one of the captive Jedi, and directed it with the Force to hit every one of the containment tubes in turn - they were released from their prisons, and I sensed them become one with the Force.
"You cheating bastard!" Malak yelled at me as I caught my lightsaber again.
I laughed and dived at him. He leapt out of my way, and I landed on my feet, turned and kicked him in the stomach. "You want a fair fight - you've got one... I only cheated to eliminate your cheat-tactic." I said brightly.
"You're still a bastard." Malak snarled, lunging at me.
"I know exactly who my parents are, thank you very much." I said flatly, blocking his attack... again, we duelled for an indeterminable length of time - I was too focused on the battle itself to know how long it lasted. I blocked his every attack, and he blocked mine. Eventually, he got sick of the evenly matched duel, and used Force lightening on me.
I was caught off guard by it, and he grazed my right shoulder with his lightsaber - I dropped my own lightsaber and it rolled out of reach. He raised his blade to deal a final blow.
I kicked his knee, and he staggered backwards - right in the middle of his back-swing, even if he'd managed to swing at me he'd have missed. I used the Force to leap away from him, up onto a higher platform, and summoned my weapon back to me, assuming a defensive stance.
It took him some time to race up the ramp to me, and I used that time to heal my wound - it still burned, but it wasn't so bad now. I used Force wave to send him flying, and as he was picking himself up from that, I slashed him across the chest with my lightsaber.
He fell to his knees and dropped his lightsaber. "Im... impossible." he said, coughing. I idly wondered just how he managed to cough without a mouth but decided it was better not to think about that too much, lest I make myself sick. "I... I cannot be beaten. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith."
"The dark side alone will always be weaker." I said, kneeling next to him, my lightsaber deactivated but still in my hand, in case he struck out at me with his dying breath.
"Still... still spouting the wisdom the Jedi, I see." he coughed, "Maybe there is more truth in their code than I ever believed."
I smiled weakly, "There is. There's also more truth in the Sith code than the Jedi like to think."
"I... I cannot help but wonder, Revan. What would have happened had our positions been reversed? What if fate had decreed I would be captured by the Jedi? Could I have returned to the light, as you did?" he coughed again, and I could sense his life fading - if he wasn't healed soon he would die, "If you had not led me down the dark path in the first place, what destiny would I have found?"
"I am sorry I started you on this path. It's not too late to turn back." I said quietly.
"Isn't it?" he asked, coughing again, "You are... a fool, Revan." I could see in his eyes that he would be smiling if he could, "I am dying, and you... you try to talk me back to the light?"
"Well, away from being Sith Lord, anyway." I said, smirking slightly.
He laughed, which resulted in more coughing. His eyelids flickered, and I could sense he was close to death. I couldn't let it end this way - I hadn't finished. I placed my hand over the wound on his chest, and used the Force to heal him. The wound was severe, and the darkness in him was so strong it blocked the healing powers, but I kept him alive. Barely.
"What do you say, Malak?" I asked quietly.
He coughed again, and looked into my eyes, "Yes." he passed out, but was still alive because of my healing power. I closed my eyes - it was taking all my energy to keep him alive. The Star Forge shook - the Republic had reached us. *Bastila!* I called out with my mind, hoping she could hear.
*Revan?* her surprised voice sounded in my head.
*Get in here. I need help. We don't have much time!*
*I... I can't. I can't face him.* she whimpered in my mind.
*You don't have to. I've defeated him.*
Minutes later, she appeared in the doorway.
"Help me get him back to the Hawk." I said, looking up at her.
"Wh-what?!" she asked, horrified.
"It's taking all my strength to keep him alive. Help me carry him back to the Hawk." I said desperately.
She gnawed her lower lip apprehensively for a moment, and it took the Star Forge shuddering from another serious hit to snap her out of her indecision. She hurried over to me and with some apparent difficulty, levitated Malak's body. I stood as he rose into the air, and didn't stop my healing, even though it was exhausting. We took the elevator back down to the Hawk.
"What the-?" Mission asked, stunned, when she saw Malak's unconscious body - she and Canderous had been waiting outside the Hawk for me to get back.
Canderous raised an eyebrow, but seeing the exhausted looks on our faces, he took some of Malak's weight, which allowed Bastila at least to stop draining her energy for him. Canderous and I carried Malak onto the Hawk, closely followed by Mission and Bastila. Mission bolted to the cockpit to tell Carth we were ready to take off. Bastila collapsed, exhausted, on a seat in the common area. Canderous and I dumped Malak unceremoniously on the bed in the medbay.
"That doesn't look like a Jedi Princess to me." Jolee noted. But he still set to work injecting a shot of kolto into Malak's arm and examining his wounds, not bothered by the fact the Hawk lurched violently as we flew away from the Star Forge.
I sensed Malak's condition stabilise, and smiled weakly, "Keep him sedated for... for now." I said, just as weakly.
Then I passed out from exhaustion.
* * *
Author's note: Would you resist the lure of the dark side if you already knew its tricks? I don't know if I would. Either way, please keep reading, this fic is almost done. One more chapter awaits, after this one.
Naron: You think my Revan's like Han? I definitely take that as a compliment. I always did like Han Solo. And I was proud of the retorts to Saul, so thank you for commenting on them ^_^
_Data_: On the bright side, I've already started writing two more KotOR fics. Yes, I am obsessed. But I don't know if I'll ever upload them - my first one died before I got it finished, this fic is actually my second.
Daesereg: Well, I'm a fast writer. When I'm inspired, anyway. Hmm... depends what my Sith Master's like, to be honest. I kinda wouldn't mind being 'dominated' by Revan ^_^
Ozziegrl: I agree wholeheartedly about being attracted to the bad guys.
Shadow39: Thanks. Here's more.
arrow maker: I named her Avril, because I wasn't paying attention when I met her in the game, and that is actually what I originally thought she was called. Then I stuck with it cause I thought the name suited her. It has nothing to do with the person you named in your review. As for a Carth/fem!Revan fic... I started one that died in chapter six, and am in the process of writing another fic that has it as a background detail.
NathanPostmark: Yeah, about Xor. I read somewhere that he was a Twi'lek in the PC version... but he is definitely a human in the X-Box. And it makes more sense that he be human, because he insults and degrades "non-humans", and why would a Twi'lek do that if he is a non-human?
The Holy Beergut: I understand why people don't like the Selkath, but I do like them. Their laws are good and fair, hence Damien actually paid the docking fee ^_^ what annoyed me was you couldn't use their laws against the Sith the way Damien did. Glad you liked the chapter, though.
Xan: Yeah, it was a maze, wasn't it? Which was why all my Jedi characters have Force speed, so they can get from one place to another faster... same with the Dune Sea. Glad you liked the chapter, though. I consider it a major compliment for someone to tell me I portray something they dislike in a way they like it (someone told me something similar for my Harry Potter fanfic about a Draco/Hermione pairing) and I appreciate hearing it. ^_^ I was particularly proud of the going-insane-underwater thing... glad you liked it.
LC Wolf: ^_^ me like long review. Thankies. I sincerely doubt I shall write a sequel to this fic. Glad you enjoyed the Sith getting a taste of their own medicine with Selkath laws - we should have been allowed to do that to them in the game. As for the Sith Master, it was supposed to be disturbing, but Revan has seen worse... to quote C8-42, "you don't want to know" ^_^
Nightmare and Flip: Erm... while that specific Sith Master does deserve to be killed bloodily, your reasoning bothers me. I just don't like homophobia, is all. I mean, it's not like I'm writing a slash-romance fic here, no need for violence. Although, get as violent as you like over the fact the Sith Master in question murdered, raped and tortured many innocent people to get to where he is today.
slincoln: Thank you. I think. Just out of curiosity, what did you "disagree with" out of this fic? I like to know these things. As for Damien being "snarky", that was deliberate... makes him more annoying to Carth and Malak, among others.
Starlight the Wanderer: Hmmm... well, about the meatbag thing, just wait and see.
Revan/Bastila fan: Sorry I took a while to update. As for a sequel, well I wasn't going to do one, but I've actually started debating it... depends entirely on if there's a sequel game, and what it's like. I've seen some promising rumours, but that's all there is so far.
chris-warren876: I was originally going to write fem!Revan, when I got the idea of a fanfic into my head. But then I saw how many of those there were out there... and I never was one to follow the crowd, so I went for the male!Revan plot instead. Actually, I'm glad I did... Revan/Bastila is more fun to write than Revan/Carth. Yes, Yuthura can be turned back to the light side, and if she does before Dantooine gets destroyed then she goes there and you can meet her in the courtyard. It's one reason I usually do Korriban last, nowadays, so she doesn't get killed by that attack on Dantooine. Thank you for the lovely review. Glad you're enjoying the story.
* * *
Chapter 8 - There Is No Death...
We had the complete co-ordinates now. Carth plotted the course for the Star Forge system, and it didn't take us more than a few hours to get there from Manaan. "The Star Forge... it's huge. I've never seen anything like it before." Carth said, as we dropped out of hyperspace in the Star Forge system. You really couldn't miss the huge glittering factory hovering close to the star, even though we were fairly far from it right now.
"Yeah... it's beautiful, isn't it?" I said, smirking. I was sitting in the co-pilot's seat next to him. Even this far away, I could sense the darkness from it. Like a drug... I wanted more.
Carth shot me a glare, "I'm transmitting these co-ordinates to Admiral Dodonna. Maybe a quick strike by the Republic can cripple the Sith fleet." I didn't look away from the Star Forge, but I heard him typing on the control-panel. A few seconds later, "Message is away. We should probably wait for the Republic fleet to show up before we try and rescue Bastila. We'll need cover if we want to fly in and dock on the Star Forge."
"Yeah... wait - to hell with the Star Forge - see that faint line there?" I asked, pointing to a shimmer between us and the Star Forge. I wasn't sure he could see it without Force-enhanced vision.
No." he said flatly, "What are you talking about?"
"There's a disruptor field." I said, "I remember the shit I went through to get that thing knocked out. I guess Malak reactivated it... honestly, I don't blame him, it's a damned good defence."
"So what do you suggest we do?" Carth demanded. We suddenly felt the ship shudder, "We've got company..." Carth said, frowning at the control panel, "A small vanguard of Sith fighters, coming in hard! Get on those gun turrets! Take those fighters out before they report our position to the main fleet!"
I bolted to the gun turret, and had already shot one Sith ship down before I activated my commlink, "Carth. We don't have a static resistance generator on board, do we?" I shot down another Sith, and felt the Hawk lurch to port.
"No. Why?" Carth replied, clearly stress.
Two more Sith got knocked out of the sky. "Damn. See a planet here?" I asked.
"Yes. Why?" Carth asked, now clearly irritated.
"Land in the northern hemisphere if you can. There's only a few islands there - aim for the biggest one." I said, eliminating the last two Sith ships. I dropped down from the gun turret, and returned to the co-pilot's seat, "It'll take an expert pilot to land, though. That disruptor field will wreak havoc with ship's systems." I smirked darkly, "Two Jedi Knights at the controls and we still didn't hit the right island, even when we'd had the time to scan the surface before the disruptor field got us."
"That's reassuring." Carth muttered.
"You're a better star pilot than me. I have faith in your abilities." I said honestly.
Carth blinked, "You're saying you trust me?"
"Yes." I said, smirking. "Go for the planet, now."
Carth turned the Hawk towards the planet, and we hit the disruptor field. "All my instruments are jammed... we've got massive overloads on all systems!" he said, horrified.
"That's what a disruptor field does." I said flatly, "Fly without the instruments, and use the ship's inertia rather than the engines."
Carth nodded determinedly, and guided the ship down towards the northern hemisphere of the planet. "Hold on - this may be a rough landing."
"Can't be much worse than Malak's attempt at landing here." I muttered.
* * *
"Whew! Talk about your rough landings, Carth!" Mission whined as Carth and I entered the common area of the Hawk, "What's the matter? You're flying like you've been on an all night Tarisian ale drinking binge!"
I sniggered at that. "That disruptor field fried our stabilizers - we're lucky we made it down in one piece!" Carth said, clearly displeased at the insinuation that he would ever fly a ship under the influence of alcohol, "But if we can't find the salvage to make repairs I won't even be able to get the Ebon Hawk airborne again!"
"Plenty of ships crash here. Shouldn't be too much trouble rooting out some new parts in working condition." I said flatly. "That's what I did last time. Actually, some of the locals are very helpful... if you run into the right group, that is."
"That's good." Mission said brightly.
"Although, the wrong groups would rip you to shreds on sight, if they got the chance." I added.
"Not so good." Mission muttered.
"We need to take out the disruptor field, otherwise no one's getting within shooting range of the Star Forge and we'd be stuck here." I said flatly, "I did it once before, but since Malak's had a year to screw with the defence systems, who knows how much more trouble we'll have."
"This is going to be so much fun." Carth said sarcastically.
"Well, the sooner we get out there, the better." I said flatly.
We had to kill a few of the more hostile locals, as soon as we left the ship. It actually was self-defence. The quickest way to get into the temple, which housed the disruptor field, was to speak to the Elders, so that's where I went. The problem was that the other locals didn't like the Elders, and hence they got in our way. These savages had their second, third, and fourth chances millennia ago - I had no qualms about killing them. The Elders were the few of their race who had been redeemed.
Eventually, I stood before the council of the Elders, with Carth and Mission at my side.
I bowed to the leader, [I know what this must look like.] I said flatly, in their own language, [But... I need access to the temple again.] I decided economy with the truth was the way to go, [My apprentice, Malak, has taken control of the Star Forge and I have to stop him.] technically true - I just didn't mention that I'd led him to do it.
[Do you think we are fools, Revan?] their leader asked coldly, [Do you think we have forgotten how you lied to us last time? Why should we believe you now?]
I bit my lip, [The darkness of the Star Forge is... corrupting. It affected my mind.] I said, frowning, [I have learned from that, and it should not happen again. I do genuinely wish to destroy it, this time.]
[You say you have learned from your misdeeds, yet here on our world you repeat the pattern of your last visit. Like the last time, you have crashed here. Like last time, you have come seeking our help. How can was trust you, Revan?] the leader demanded.
"You'd really like these guys, Carth." I muttered, "Just because I lied to them one little time, now they've got a problem trusting me." It was pure sarcasm, but Carth still glared at me for it. I sighed, [Give me a chance to prove myself. Actions speak louder than words, do they not?]
They told me to eliminate their enemy - the One - leader of another tribe who had been attacking and killing their scouts - and if possible rescue any survivors of the Elders' scouts. I accepted the mission.
I ditched Carth at the Hawk, and took Mission with me. We used our stealth fields to sneak into the One's settlement. I distracted the guards by releasing their pet Rancours, without dropping my stealth field. Mission slipped past the beast, unnoticed, and used her stealth field to conceal the sole surviving Elder scout. Still unseen, I crept up behind the One, and stabbed him through the heart. I'd met the One last time - he deserved far worse, but this way no one saw me and I was able to reactivate my stealth field before anyone caught me. The three of us escaped unseen.
The Elders were grateful, and also surprised that I had managed to successfully infiltrate the One's camp without anyone but the One himself either noticing me or being harmed.
They agreed to let me into the temple, but I would not be allowed to bring anyone else. Last time I broke their sacred rituals to bring Malak with me, and just look at the consequences. I tended to agree with them - many superstitions have basis in fact.
* * *
When I reached the entrance to the temple, the Elder mystics were already waiting, [I will begin the ritual. It will take many hours, but when it is complete you must be ready... the shields will not stay down for long. Prepare yourself.]
I nodded. I remembered the ritual well enough.
They began to chant, but second later, they stopped, [Wait... someone is coming!] their leader snapped.
I looked up to see Juhani and Jolee rushing towards me, "Wait... you can't go in there alone!" Jolee said, much less out-of-breath than you'd expect from an old man who'd just run the whole way from the beach.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, frowning.
"We have had a... a premonition." Juhani said, panting slightly from the run, "The Force has given us a vision. There is great danger within the Temple. We cannot let you face it alone."
"You might be walking into a trap... maybe Malak himself is waiting inside." Jolee noted, "Even if he isn't, that temple will be crawling with Dark Jedi. You'll need all the help you can get."
I rolled my eyes, "Everyone has their own little superstitions, old man. You may think you need to come with me because of this vision... but this is their planet, and I have to go in alone! I disobeyed their rule last time, and look what happened!"
"Your destiny - maybe the fate of the entire galaxy - could be forever changed inside that Temple." Jolee snapped, "I'm not about to let you face that alone. Not after my premonition. There's a reason I had that vision. So you just tell that guide of yours to do whatever he has to do to get us all inside the Temple."
I folded my arms and glared, "No." I said coldly, "Either I go alone, or we sit here and watch the whole Republic fleet crash in this planet's ocean."
"You don't mean that." Jolee said flatly, "And I've got more patience than you, I assure you."
I narrowed my eyes, "You are a very irritating old coot. You know that, right?"
"I'm proud of it." Jolee said, smirking.
I rolled my eyes and turned to the Elder, [Continue the ritual.]
[No! You must enter the Temple alone! I will not lower the shields!] he protested.
"I don't know what he said, but it sounds like your guide's being stubborn. We don't have time for this." Jolee said.
[Look who's talking about people being stubborn.] I growled in Shyriiwook - considering how long he spent on Kashyyyk, I was sure he knew what I'd said.
Jolee chose to ignore my comment, however, "The Republic fleet is on the way and we're stuck on this planet until we deactivate that disruptor field. You have to convince him to get us inside that Temple!"
I sighed, [I cannot destroy the Star Forge alone. They must come with me into the Temple.] I told the Elder.
[I... I believe you.] he said, [The Elders have said you wish to destroy the Star Forge and end the terrible legacy of our ancestors. If you need help to do this, I will not stand in your way.]
"I hope you're happy, old man." I hissed, "This could do more harm than good."
* * *
The temple was boring. I knew everything in it already. Except for a bunch of Sith-wannabies who didn't give me the opportunity to talk before having no choice but to kill them. Eventually, however, we reached the Temple summit, where the controls for the disruptor field could be found.
She was waiting for me.
How she got there, I don't know, but she was waiting.
Bastila.
"Revan - I knew you'd come for me." she said coldly, "Malak thought you might be afraid to enter the Temple again, but he doesn't know you like I do. Not anymore. Not since you've changed."
"Quickly, Bastila - come with us! We have to escape before Malak arrives!" Juhani said.
Bastila laughed, "Escape? You don't understand. I have sworn allegiance to Lord Malak and the Sith; I am no longer a pawn of the Jedi Council."
"It didn't take long to convert you, did it? I told you this would happen, didn't I?" I said flatly.
"I resisted at first." she said coldly, "I endured the Sith torments with the passionless serenity of a true Jedi, emptying my mind. But after a week of endless tortures I finally saw the truth. Malak forced me to acknowledge my anger and pain. He showed me the liberating power of these emotions. Then he made me see how the Jedi Council has denied me what is mine by right! The Jedi Council gladly used my Battle Meditation in their wars, but they still treated me like a child - like an inferior. They were jealous of my power... of what I could become! They wanted me to bow and call them Master and follow their Code and obey their every order. But all the while they were exploiting my Battle Meditation for their own use!"
"You think anger and hate are worth being proud of? You've got a lot to learn." I said.
She snorted, "A pity the power you once had is so diluted in you. You could have been strong as I am now... stronger, even. But that will never happen, now. With the power of the Star Forge Malak will destroy the Republic and conquer the galaxy. And I will be the apprentice at his side - after I prove my worth by killing you!"
She swung her now-red lightsaber at me, and I blocked her, "Don't do this, Princess." I whispered.
"Don't call me that!" she yelled, swinging the blade at me from another angle. Again I blocked it. I used Force wave to send her flying away from me. She picked herself up and glared at me, "You are stronger than I would have thought possible, after what the Jedi Council did to you. Seems that Malak was wrong - the power of the dark side is not lost to you after all, Revan."
"The source of my power is not the dark side, Bastila." I said flatly.
"You can deny what you are, Revan, but you are only fooling yourself." she said acidly, "I know the truth. I have seen the shadows inside your mind. Remember: I was there when you nearly died in the trap set by the Jedi Council. I used the Force to preserve your life, Revan. We are forever linked by my actions on that bridge!"
"I know the darkness in me, Bastila. Everyone has darkness in them. But you can't let it rule your life." I said, "And we are linked by more than just a bond."
"Do not mistake the power of the Force for love, Revan." she hissed, "It does not exist. Power is what forged our bond, and power is what made us both tools of the Jedi Council!"
I frowned, "What are you saying, Bastila?"
"The Council tried to exploit the bond between us. They hoped I would draw out your memories to lead them to the Star Forge." she explained as if she thought she were talking to a mentally-deficient two-year-old, "We were slaves to their will - like all who follow the Jedi Code! But in our shared visions of the Star Maps I also felt the so called taint within you. I resisted it at first, but now I embrace the power of the dark side - your dark side!"
"I am a slave to no one. Not the Jedi, not the Sith. Not the light and not the dark." I said coldly.
"Once long ago you defied the Jedi Council, freeing yourself from their control." Bastila said, almost pleading, "You claimed your rightful title of Dark Lord of the Sith. Together we can defeat Malak and take back what is yours!"
"How do I know you won't betray me?" I asked flatly.
She smirked, "It is your power that will keep me as your loyal apprentice, Revan. I need deny my passions no longer. I would stand by your side gladly, as your lover and apprentice! I swore allegiance to Malak only because I thought you had lost the power you had once wielded. But this... this would be much better. I would be utterly yours, master! Together we would destroy Malak and you would reclaim the mantle of Dark Lord!"
"No! Do not walk down this path... it can only lead to destruction! I know of what I speak!" Juhani snapped.
"Shut up, Juhani!" Bastila snapped right back, "You know nothing of the dark side's true potential! When you felt its touch you fled to a cave and cowered in terror!"
Juhani glared at Bastila, then turned to speak to me, "I have no wish to fight you and Bastila, but if you choose to walk down this path you know I must stand against you... even at the cost of my life."
I hesitated for the longest time - Bastila's offer was so tempting. But... "Bastila, don't make me choose a side. Damn it, I don't like either of them!"
Jolee sniggered, "That's the way to go, kid." he said.
Bastila glared. I sighed, "Princess, if you feel anything for me, you'll turn away from the dark side. I'm not asking you to serve the light again, simply not to fall to your hatred." then I added in a whisper, "Love is so much stronger."
"I..." then she shook her head, "I don't. The only Revan I could respect is one who would break free of the Council's slavery. One who would grasp the power that lies before him... not the weak fool I see." she turned and ran away to a ship that was waiting for her.
I rolled my eyes, "If I have to do to you what you did to me, on the bridge of my own bloody flagship, to get you back, I will!" I yelled at her retreating back. She didn't even look back.
I sighed, and glared at the departing ship. I would get her back if it cost me my life. I slowly walked over to the computer console and deactivated the energy shield and disruptor field.
I didn't speak, the whole way back to the ship. I could sense the worried looks Juhani and Jolee were giving me, but I didn't care anymore. I made the right choice and look where it got me. I lost her. It shouldn't have happened like this.
Before I knew it, "You're back! But where's Bastila? Is she alive? What happened inside that Temple?" Carth shouted - he and the rest of the crew were waiting for us outside the Hawk.
"How did you know she was there?" I asked, with no emotion in my voice.
"Jolee told me he had a vision - she was in it." he replied.
"That's right." Jolee said to me, "She was the danger in the vision I mentioned to you."
"Hold on a second! What about Bastila? What happened?" Carth persisted.
"Bastila has fallen to the dark side. She fled to the Star Forge." I said, just as emotionlessly.
"The dark side? Bastila? No! How could that happen?" Carth asked, horrified.
"She was always in danger of being seduced by the dark side, Carth." Jolee explained, "Bastila was strong, but she was always impatient and headstrong. Malak preyed upon her weaknesses."
"We have to get her back." I said flatly. "Let's just go already." I stalked onto the Hawk before anyone else could speak.
* * *
As we left the planet, Carth seemed to know better than to try talking to me while I sulked. Well, until... "The Republic Fleet must have got the message I sent as we were crashing onto that planet. I'm picking up a transmission from them now."
We both turned to face the holo-transmission, "This is Admiral Forn Dodonna to the Ebon Hawk, do you read us?" a woman in military uniform, with a severe grey haircut, said. Her voice matched her hair perfectly.
"Admiral Dodonna, this is Carth Onasi. We are receiving your transmission." Carth responded, standing to attention in front of the holo-projector. She would see his image, but she wouldn't see me sulking on the co-pilot's chair in the background.
"Carth, I'm glad to see you're still alive." the admiral said, "We've begun our assault on the Star Forge, but we're taking heavy losses. How did the Sith ever manage to build something of this scope!"
"The Star Forge wasn't constructed by the Sith, Admiral." Carth said flatly, "We don't have time for me to fully explain it, but that space station is far older than you can imagine."
The admiral frowned, "Maybe we should pull the fleet back and retreat. I don't know if we have the firepower to go up against this alien technology."
"You can't do that, Admiral." Carth said desperately - he had dropped his military posture and let the fear show on his face - that in itself should tell anyone who knew him at all just how bad the situation was, "The Star Forge is a factory of immense power. It's been churning out the capital ships, snub fighters and assault droids that have powered the Sith war effort. You have to destroy the Star Forge now or you'll be fighting an unending wave of reinforcements."
The admiral sighed, "Then I guess we have no choice. But it isn't going to be easy. I can't even get our capital ships into position to start bombarding the Star Forge. The Sith fleet is too well organized. It's like they can guess our every move and counter our every strategy."
"Bastila." I said flatly.
"What was that?" Dodonna asked, clearly not seeing me but the transmission had picked up my voice.
Carth sighed, "It's because of Bastila, Admiral. She turned to the dark side and became Malak's apprentice. We suspect she's somewhere on that space station right now, using her Battle Meditation against you and your fleet."
Dodonna suddenly stepped to one side, allowing the short form of Master Vandar to step into our view beside her, "This is Master Vandar. A number of Jedi Knights have joined our fleet under his command." she explained.
I quickly stepped forward and shoved Carth to one side so we would both be visible, "It's good to see you're all right, Master Vandar." I noted, before dropping the pleasantries, "When this is over, I want to talk to you." I smiled too innocently, and he clearly could tell what I meant.
"So, now you know?" he asked.
"Yes." I said flatly.
"It will be discussed after the battle." Vandar said.
"I'll make sure you survive to explain yourself." I said emotionlessly, before returning to the co-pilot's seat.
Vandar turned his attention back to Carth, seemingly unruffled by my demand, "If Bastila is using her power to augment the Sith then Malak's fleet is invincible. Our only hope is to somehow stop Bastila from using her Battle Meditation."
"I've got dibs on that job." I said flatly. They all heard me, and they all ignored me.
"How can we do that if she's on the space station?" Carth asked.
"I will send a squadron of Jedi Knights to the Star Forge to find Bastila." Vandar explained, "Their small ships will be able to fly through the Sith blockade and dock on the space station. If they can find Bastila, they may be able to distract her attention from the battle overhead."
"The Hawk's going in with them." I said, more loudly.
Dodonna glared over Carth's shoulder in my general direction, "I hate to ask you this after all you've done, Carth, but the Jedi may need all the help they can get..."
"Don't worry, Admiral." Carth said, smiling slightly, "The Ebon Hawk and her crew are going to see this through to the end!"
"And may the Force be with you." Vandar added.
* * *
The Hawk made it through the Sith blockades, although half the Jedi ships that accompanied us got shot down.
"Mission. Canderous. You're with me. Carth, be ready to fly at a second's notice." reluctantly, Carth nodded and returned to the cockpit. "Jolee, have the medbay prepped to hold a hostile patient. I'm likely to bring back an unconscious and pissed off Jedi Princess."
Jolee smiled, "You got it."
"What about me?" Juhani asked.
"Try not to pay too much attention to any voices you hear in your head. That goes for you too, old man." I said, perfectly seriously.
Jolee snorted, "And here I thought the suggestion to kill you all and steal the ship was such a good idea." he said sarcastically.
Juhani blinked, "Very well." she said, frowning. Every Sith who has ever set foot on the Star Forge has told stories of hearing it speak to them. It's not just me, I assure you.
"Why're you taking Little Blue instead of HK-47?" Canderous asked.
"Because I want a conscience accompanying me. Besides, she handles a sniper rifle well enough." I said flatly.
Canderous shrugged and picked up his favourite two vibroblades, "Make sure you aim for the back of their heads, kid." he said, smirking at her glare, "Cause Jedi can deflect blaster-bolts if they see them coming."
I carefully and deliberately removed my coat and left it in the common area. "Nobody touches the coat." I warned. Then I led Mission and Canderous off the ship. We made relatively good time through the Star Forge, and we left a trail of ruined assault droids littering the first level, in our wake.
The second level was swarming with Sith troopers and dark Jedi. Mission eliminated most of the non-Jedi enemies right away. Canderous dismembered and disembowelled the rest. I dispatched the dark Jedi with relative ease.
"You'd think." Mission noted as I used the Force to heal a blaster wound on her shoulder, "With only one dark Jedi per year being let into Korriban academy, there'd not be so many of them here."
"You'd think. But Korriban wasn't the only place to train Sith." I noted, "There. Good as new - you might want to get new armour, though - that one's ruined."
Some time later, we eventually reached the main corridor, and a large number of blaster turrets. "The blaster control room's this way!" I shouted at Canderous who seemed to think the most heavily guarded way was the way to go. He turned and followed me to the door I knew led to the control room.
After killing a few more dark Jedi, I set Mission to work slicing the system. She deactivated the blasters and got access to the Forge Systems for me.
"Cool. Here's a present for you, Mission." I said as I typed in the command codes for light battle armour - it was the same design as the armour Bandon had worn, except it was cut to fit Mission's much smaller form.
She vanished behind a computer bank to change, "Thanks." she said, reappearing.
"Looks good." I noted, "And this doesn't actually make any armour better than what you're wearing already, Canderous. So..." I typed in a few more codes, "Burn my robes will they. Well I'll show them." I muttered as the container glowed. I collected the black robes from it.
I threw them on over my clothes, and pulled the hood up. I know my eyes glowed with the dark side for a moment, but I got over it, "Uh... Revan?" Mission asked warily, "You sure those robes are a good idea? I'm Force-blind and even I can tell they're bad news."
I smirked, "This station makes two types of specialised robes. The light side version not only makes the station sick at the idea of making them, but it also makes me sick at the idea of wearing them - they look like a sissy-girl's dress."
Canderous snorted, "Would match your hair, then."
"Hey. Don't insult my hair." I snapped, "You'd be amazed the amount of peer-pressure I had to fight off - and by fight, I mean literally - to be a Sith Lord without shaving my head."
Mission giggled. Canderous scowled.
"Come on. The blaster turrets are deactivated, let's get going."
* * *
We eventually carved our way through the hordes of Sith, to the doorway to the main command deck. Mission rubbed her arms and glanced nervously over her shoulder, "Is it just me or does it feel... creepy, here? I mean more than the rest of the station. Like... like something bad's in there waiting for us and we're going to lose."
"I'm not usually the pessimistic type, but it's not just you, kid." Canderous noted, "I've never believed a battle was unwinnable, but I'm getting that feeling now."
"Ignore that feeling." I said flatly, "Bastila's on the other side of this door - I can sense her. She's using her battle meditation. If you realise the trick, and are strong-willed enough, it's like fighting a Force persuasion, you'll not fall prey to it."
Canderous nodded determinedly. Mission adjusted her grip on her sniper rifle, and tilted her head back, also determinedly.
I entered the access code on the door, and stepped through. The door slammed shut before Canderous or Mission could follow. Damn.
"Revan - I knew you'd come for me." Bastila said coldly, standing up and breaking her meditation. She slowly walked towards me, igniting her red lightsaber.
"I'll never give up on you, Bastila. I know you can still be saved." I said flatly.
She snorted, "You are wasting your time. I have seen the Jedi for what they are: weak and afraid. The Sith are the true Masters of the Force. You have forgotten that lesson, Revan. Now you must pay the price. Here on the Star Forge the power of the dark side is at its strongest. This time you will not defeat me!"
She twirled her lightsaber - quite a spectacular display, really. "Careful - you could lose your jaw that way." I joked, smirking. She laughed coldly and lunged at me. I blocked her with my own lightsaber. "And I wouldn't want that. You're such a good kisser." I added. She snarled and spun to try to strike me again. Yet again, I blocked her.
I pushed her away with Force wave. She used Force lightening on me. I stayed standing, and repaid her in kind - a low voltage, because I didn't want to kill her.
She gasped, and staggered backwards, "You are growing weary, I can sense it! Your strength falters, the light side is failing you while the power of the Star Forge re-energizes me! Soon this will all be over!" she spoke the truth that the Star Forge was re-energizing her - I could see it clearly enough. Which meant I shouldn't fear to hurt her in the fight - the Star Forge would heal anything short of a fatal wound.
"You've been consumed by the dark side, Princess. Can't you see it's destroying you?" I asked.
"The dark side has made me stronger than I ever was before!" she shouted, "I have a greater command of the Force than all but the most powerful Jedi Masters. As Malak teaches me the greatest secrets of the Sith, I will unlock more of my potential. Eventually there will be no limit to what I can accomplish with the Force!"
"You will accomplish death and destruction with the dark side alone, nothing else." I said flatly.
She glared some more, "Jedi propaganda. The dark side is only a tool, and Malak will train me in its use. Eventually I will surpass my Master and challenge him. If I am worthy he will die by my hand."
I rolled my eyes, "You're dooming yourself to an endless cycle of death and betrayal." I said coldly.
"No, Revan, it is you who are doomed!" she snapped, and she held up her hand.
I felt weaker - she was draining my energy. I ran at her, and tried to remove her right arm with my lightsaber. She blocked me. After a vicious fight, I succeeded in carving a deep gash across her stomach. She clutched her wound and backed away from me.
"No, this is not possible!" she gasped, "You have rejected the dark side, you are a weak and pathetic servant of the light! How can you still stand against me? Why can't I defeat you?"
"I am stronger than you could ever be, Princess." I said flatly, "And the darkness has its place in me, it simply doesn't control me."
"Yes, I see you speak the truth." she said, nodding, "I am no match for you. Please, for the sake of what we once shared, do not make me suffer. End my life quickly. There is no other way."
I frowned, "No." I said flatly.
"Wh-what?" she asked, looking up at me - I saw fear cross her face, and I was sure that for a moment she was afraid I might make her die a slow and painful death.
"I don't want to kill you." I said gently.
"What other choice do you have?" she asked, her tone sounded pitiful, "I have fallen to the dark side, I am the apprentice to the Dark Lord himself. You cannot let me live."
"Everyone deserves a second chance." I noted.
"Look what happened the last time you gave Malak's apprentice a chance!" she snapped, "And this time, I know where your heart is!"
"In your hands." I said quietly.
"Wh-what?" she asked again, stunned.
"I love you, Bastila. I couldn't hurt you, even if I wanted to." I said gently.
"You... love me?" she asked, stunned. Then she made a nervous half-laughing sound, "I... there was a time I yearned for and yet dreaded to hear those words. I loved you, too, but I could never... face who you were. Malak knew how I felt. Any part of the light that was within me would be extinguished when I killed you." she sighed, "But what good is love? It cannot save me from the sea of blackness I am drowning in. I have betrayed everything I ever believed in! How can I atone for that?"
"You could help us defeat Malak." I said quietly.
"But how would you be able to trust me?" she asked weakly, "How do you know I wouldn't turn on you when you faced Darth Malak? How do you know the dark side wouldn't make me betray you again?"
"I trust you enough to leave myself open to your attack, Bastila." I said, clipping my lightsaber to my belt, and holding my hands out to show I was unarmed.
"You play a dangerous game." she said, a faint smile on her face, "Are you certain you wish to take this risk? I could end your life and gain Malak's favour with a single stroke of my lightsaber."
"But you won't." I said calmly, also smiling. I could see it in her eyes.
"You are brave... and some would say foolish." she said. Then she sighed and deactivated her lightsaber, "But you are also right. The dark side has not wholly consumed me. I cannot raise my blade against you. I should stay here, though. If we face Malak I am afraid his dark presence will overwhelm me. It would not be wise to expose myself to such temptation."
"You could use your Battle Meditation to aid the Republic fleet." I smirked, "In all honesty, they need it."
She smiled, "Yes, that would be for the best." she said, nodding, "You don't need me to defeat Malak, anyway. Now I understand that a true Jedi is a match for any Sith. Even the Dark Lord himself. You will go on to defeat Malak, of this I have little doubt. You will have gone from being the Sith Lord, himself, to the saviour of our galaxy." she hesitated, but I sensed there was something more she wanted to say. After a few seconds, she said it, "And... and you said you loved me. This may not be the best time to say it, but... I love you, too. With all my heart."
"You aren't afraid to love anymore?" I asked, smirking.
"After this? No, nothing could make me feel safer than to be loved by you." she said.
I took a step towards her, and pried her hand away from the wound on her stomach - I kissed her lips lightly, and placed my own hand over the wound, using the Force to heal her. "I will always love you, Princess." I whispered.
"Good luck, my love... and may the Force be with you." she replied.
I turned and walked through the doors that led to the observation deck - I knew Malak had been watching me from there, and I also knew he was going to get his ass kicked.
* * *
Malak was waiting for me on the observation deck, with his back to me. I could so easily have thrown my lightsaber at him from here and struck his heart - end it so quickly - but I wasn't a coward, and while backstabbing is efficient, it's also very cowardly.
"Well done, Revan." he said, turning to face me as I approached, "I was certain the defences of the Star Forge would destroy you, but I see there is more of your old self in you than I expected. You are stronger than I thought; stronger than you ever were during your reign as the Dark Lord. I did not think that was possible."
"I was always stronger than you, Malak. That was why I was the Master." I said, smirking.
"Once you were stronger than me, Revan." Malak said, nodding, "But as your apprentice I surpassed you. The Master must always be stronger than the apprentice... that was why I betrayed you."
"You betrayed me from afar. You were afraid to face me, Malak." I snapped.
"No!" he snapped right back, "I was prepared to face you, Revan. But fate presented me with a better option. I saw my opportunity and seized it. The trap set by the Jedi only hastened my decision. If they had not attacked I would have challenged you for mastery of the Sith soon enough."
"Yeah... right." I taunted sarcastically.
He glared, "I am tempted to try and capture you alive, Revan. Then I could break your will and bind you to me as my apprentice, as I did Bastila. You would be a far greater asset to me than even Bastila and her Battle Meditation, if I could control you. But is it worth the risk?"
I snorted, "Try that one, and lose the other jaw." I said flatly.
He glared, "Perhaps you are too powerful to be my apprentice." he said, shrugging slightly, "I betrayed you when I realized my own strength was greater than yours; in time you might try to do the same to me."
"No duh." I said, smirking, "It's not too late for you to turn away from the dark side... like I did." I noted. I considered it more a taunt or a joke than a serious attempt at turning him. I doubted it was possible, really.
"Foolish words." he snorted, "The darkness and the light wage a constant war within you. Saviour, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all things Revan... and yet you are nothing. In the end you belong to neither the light nor the darkness. You will forever stand alone."
"You are wrong." I said calmly. I quite deliberately let my inner darkness show in my eyes, and ignited my green lightsaber - the one in the hilt of which I had placed what I had discovered to be the fabled Solari crystal. "I am at peace, Malak. Not from the light. From balance. You cannot defeat me."
"We shall see." he growled, drawing his own lightsaber, and using the Force to leap at me. I blocked his attack, and a real battle ensued.
It could have lasted half a minute... it could have been an hour. I was drawing on my passion to give me strength, but remained detached from the fight itself, using the Force - and I'm sure Bastila was helping me, I could feel it - to predict his feints and block his attacks.
Eventually, I managed to trip him. He stumbled and my lightsaber grazed his side. He used the Force to throw me back, and rushed away. I followed. "You continue to amaze me, Revan." he said, before I could resume the fight. I paused to see what he had to say for himself, "If only you had been the one to uncover the true power of the Star Forge you might have become truly invincible. But you were a fool. All you saw was an enormous factory, all you ever imagined was an infinite fleet rolling forth to crush the Republic. You were blind, Revan - blind and stupid!"
"Actually, I did know, I just didn't use it. I would have eventually, though." I said flatly.
He laughed, "Such a blatant lie. An excuse to hide your foolishness." he said coldly.
"Believe what you want." I said calmly, "Tell me something I don't know about the Star Forge, then."
He smirked, "The Star Forge is more than just a space station. In some ways, it is like a living creature."
"I knew that already." I said flatly, "And if you think you're the only one who hears it in your mind, you haven't talked to your subordinates in a long time."
He glared, now, "It hungers. And it can feed on the dark side that is within all of us! Look around you, Revan. See the bodies? You should recognize them from the Academy. These are Jedi who fell when I attacked Dantooine. For all intents and purposes dead, except for one difference: I have not let them become one with the Force. Instead I have brought them here. The Star Forge corrupts what remains of their power and transfers the dark taint to me!" I watched as he used the Force to drain the remaining life-energy from one of the Jedi - it healed the wound on his side.
I curled my lip in disgust, "Converting already dead Jedi to your side, just for your own personal gain? That's delightful." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You cannot beat me, Revan. Not here on the Star Forge. Not when I can draw upon the power of all these Jedi! And once you are beaten I will do the same to you. You will be trapped in a terrible existence between life and death, your power feeding me as I conquer the galaxy!" he said, as if he thought he'd already won.
"Bite me." I said flatly, keeping a straight face.
He lunged at me. I blocked his attack and glanced up briefly - the ceiling was lost in the distance, so I couldn't do my favourite trick. I used the Force to push him away, and did the next-best thing to my favourite trick. I levitated off the ground, out of Malak's reach.
He cast Force lightening at me, but I dodged it, somersaulting in midair, "What's the matter, Malak? Can't fly?" I jeered.
"Get down here and fight like a man, you coward!" he yelled.
"Look who's talking." I taunted, "I'm no coward... if you can't fly that's your problem, not mine." I said, smirking. I threw my lightsaber at one of the captive Jedi, and directed it with the Force to hit every one of the containment tubes in turn - they were released from their prisons, and I sensed them become one with the Force.
"You cheating bastard!" Malak yelled at me as I caught my lightsaber again.
I laughed and dived at him. He leapt out of my way, and I landed on my feet, turned and kicked him in the stomach. "You want a fair fight - you've got one... I only cheated to eliminate your cheat-tactic." I said brightly.
"You're still a bastard." Malak snarled, lunging at me.
"I know exactly who my parents are, thank you very much." I said flatly, blocking his attack... again, we duelled for an indeterminable length of time - I was too focused on the battle itself to know how long it lasted. I blocked his every attack, and he blocked mine. Eventually, he got sick of the evenly matched duel, and used Force lightening on me.
I was caught off guard by it, and he grazed my right shoulder with his lightsaber - I dropped my own lightsaber and it rolled out of reach. He raised his blade to deal a final blow.
I kicked his knee, and he staggered backwards - right in the middle of his back-swing, even if he'd managed to swing at me he'd have missed. I used the Force to leap away from him, up onto a higher platform, and summoned my weapon back to me, assuming a defensive stance.
It took him some time to race up the ramp to me, and I used that time to heal my wound - it still burned, but it wasn't so bad now. I used Force wave to send him flying, and as he was picking himself up from that, I slashed him across the chest with my lightsaber.
He fell to his knees and dropped his lightsaber. "Im... impossible." he said, coughing. I idly wondered just how he managed to cough without a mouth but decided it was better not to think about that too much, lest I make myself sick. "I... I cannot be beaten. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith."
"The dark side alone will always be weaker." I said, kneeling next to him, my lightsaber deactivated but still in my hand, in case he struck out at me with his dying breath.
"Still... still spouting the wisdom the Jedi, I see." he coughed, "Maybe there is more truth in their code than I ever believed."
I smiled weakly, "There is. There's also more truth in the Sith code than the Jedi like to think."
"I... I cannot help but wonder, Revan. What would have happened had our positions been reversed? What if fate had decreed I would be captured by the Jedi? Could I have returned to the light, as you did?" he coughed again, and I could sense his life fading - if he wasn't healed soon he would die, "If you had not led me down the dark path in the first place, what destiny would I have found?"
"I am sorry I started you on this path. It's not too late to turn back." I said quietly.
"Isn't it?" he asked, coughing again, "You are... a fool, Revan." I could see in his eyes that he would be smiling if he could, "I am dying, and you... you try to talk me back to the light?"
"Well, away from being Sith Lord, anyway." I said, smirking slightly.
He laughed, which resulted in more coughing. His eyelids flickered, and I could sense he was close to death. I couldn't let it end this way - I hadn't finished. I placed my hand over the wound on his chest, and used the Force to heal him. The wound was severe, and the darkness in him was so strong it blocked the healing powers, but I kept him alive. Barely.
"What do you say, Malak?" I asked quietly.
He coughed again, and looked into my eyes, "Yes." he passed out, but was still alive because of my healing power. I closed my eyes - it was taking all my energy to keep him alive. The Star Forge shook - the Republic had reached us. *Bastila!* I called out with my mind, hoping she could hear.
*Revan?* her surprised voice sounded in my head.
*Get in here. I need help. We don't have much time!*
*I... I can't. I can't face him.* she whimpered in my mind.
*You don't have to. I've defeated him.*
Minutes later, she appeared in the doorway.
"Help me get him back to the Hawk." I said, looking up at her.
"Wh-what?!" she asked, horrified.
"It's taking all my strength to keep him alive. Help me carry him back to the Hawk." I said desperately.
She gnawed her lower lip apprehensively for a moment, and it took the Star Forge shuddering from another serious hit to snap her out of her indecision. She hurried over to me and with some apparent difficulty, levitated Malak's body. I stood as he rose into the air, and didn't stop my healing, even though it was exhausting. We took the elevator back down to the Hawk.
"What the-?" Mission asked, stunned, when she saw Malak's unconscious body - she and Canderous had been waiting outside the Hawk for me to get back.
Canderous raised an eyebrow, but seeing the exhausted looks on our faces, he took some of Malak's weight, which allowed Bastila at least to stop draining her energy for him. Canderous and I carried Malak onto the Hawk, closely followed by Mission and Bastila. Mission bolted to the cockpit to tell Carth we were ready to take off. Bastila collapsed, exhausted, on a seat in the common area. Canderous and I dumped Malak unceremoniously on the bed in the medbay.
"That doesn't look like a Jedi Princess to me." Jolee noted. But he still set to work injecting a shot of kolto into Malak's arm and examining his wounds, not bothered by the fact the Hawk lurched violently as we flew away from the Star Forge.
I sensed Malak's condition stabilise, and smiled weakly, "Keep him sedated for... for now." I said, just as weakly.
Then I passed out from exhaustion.
* * *