Part II

I can sense him below, a brightly burning presence in the Force that obliterates anything standing in its way. He is indeed powerful, as much so as one can be when following the weakness of the light. But he will be no match for me. Lord Malak has assured me of that.

I stand at the peak of the Temple, waiting. It is not long before the familiar figure appears across the courtyard. Something in my heart moves, but I have learned to crush that feeling, that weakness.

There is nothing but passion and strength and power.

He sees me and breaks into a run, his eyes alive with hope. But as he draws near his step falters; he senses the difference between the woman standing before him and the weakling he once knew. He stumbles to a halt, Juhani and Jolee rushing in behind him.

I saunter toward him, my hips swaying. "Revan." The word rolls off my tongue. "I knew you'd come for me. 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!" Juhani, the fool, exclaims. "We have to escape before Malak arrives!" Revan says nothing, just stares at me. He knows better.

"Escape?" My voice drips contempt. "Escape from what? I have sworn allegiance to Lord Malak and the Sith; I am no longer a pawn of the Jedi Council."

Revan flinches at each word, the weak fool. "A pawn of…what…?"

I direct my words at him, drive them home. "You of all people should know what I mean, Revan. Look at what the Council did to you: they turned you into their puppet! The same thing they do to all who are truly strong in the Force."

Revan's mouth works. He glances at Jolee, who shakes his head in bewilderment, then looks back to me. "Bastila, what are you saying? You can't believe that—the dark side—"

"The dark side!" I spit the words. "You say that as if the 'dark side' is some terrible entity. The Jedi Council has brainwashed you like all the others, like they did with me. They speak of the 'dark side' as if it is something to be feared. But their true goal is to manipulate those strong in the Force." Revan shakes his head, but my voice only grows louder. "The fear of the dark side is a tool to maintain control. Why do you think the Jedi forbade you and Malak from joining the Mandalorian Wars? They knew you would realize your true potential and break free of their domination."

"No—" he protests, but I ignore him.

"Malak has shown me how the Jedi Council used me, the same way they once tried to use you. They've been holding me back, because they knew one day I would surpass them all."

"Bastila." His voice is soft but I hear the steel and anguish lurking behind the words. "What did Malak do to you?"

His expression tugs at something inside me, but I ignore it. "Oh, I resisted at first. I endured the Sith torments with the passionless serenity of a true Jedi, emptying my mind. After all, 'there is no emotion, there is peace.'" My words are mocking. "But Malak made me see the truth." …with pain and knives and the smell of burning flesh and screams that last until your cries are just part of the background… "He forced me to acknowledge my anger and pain, showed me the…liberating power of these emotions."

Revan has taken each of my words as an almost physical blow. His shoulders slump. "No, Bastila…"

My rage, hidden for so long, now rises to the surface. "Malak made me see how the Jedi Council denied me what was rightfully mine. They were eager to use 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!" My fists are clenched. "They wanted me to bow and call them Master and follow their code and obey their orders. But all the while they exploited me for their own ends."

"Bastila," Revan pleads. "Those are Sith lies. Don't believe them."

"Lies?" I chuckle. "You're the one living a lie, Revan. You used to be Revan, Master of the Sith, but now you are a pawn of the Jedi and the Republic they serve. I was, too, until Malak freed me from their shackles."

I pause, studying him, then shake my head. "A pity the power you once had is so diluted. You could have been like I am now…or even stronger. But that will never happen. Malak will use the power of the Star Forge to destroy the Republic and rule the galaxy." My hand steals toward the hilt of my double-bladed saber and my body shifts ever so slightly, coiling like a serpent. "And I will be the apprentice at his side, after I prove my worth—"

—my blade ignites and I lunge—

"—by killing you!"

I am on top of him before he can possibly react; a Sith warrior moves in the space between eyeblinks.  But this is Revan, Jedi Knight and former Master of the Sith, and though he has cast off that mantle I can still feel the power emanating from him. He moves so fast his body is a blur even to me, knocks aside my blade and reflexively slams the hilt of his saber into my stomach. I double over with a gasp and he pulls away, guilt etched on his features.

"Stay back!" he snaps at the two Jedi accompanying him. They obey, extinguishing their blades, while Revan and I circle one another.

He moves in a purely defensive pattern, making no effort to attack. I pause, but then understand. He is too weak to strike at me. Held back by that foolish emotion he thinks he feels. Love.

Where was that love when I burned at Malak's hands?

I charge again, closing the distance between us in an instant, but he is no longer there. Behind me. I pivot to drive my saber into his chest, but it is picked off cleanly by his own blade. Our weapons lock in a harsh screech; I press but he is too strong.

I pull back with a shriek, then proceed to hammer at him with all my strength. Fueled by hatred and fury, blows that would cut steel and drive even Malak back are met and turned aside with ease. Revan remains untouchable behind a humming wall of defense, his face filled with sorrow.

I finally break away, panting and glaring at him. He isn't even breathing hard, just stares at me with pained eyes.

Those eyes…

I snarl and shake my head to clear my mind. Peace is a lie, there is only passion.

Through passion I gain strength.

I explode forward, slashing at his ribs.

Faster than lightning, he catches my blade with his, jerks it up and wide, trying to disarm me. I keep my grip on the saber and my foot lashes out at him. He rolls away.

Through strength I gain power. Through power I gain victory.

My lightsaber is a crimson blur as my attacks whip at every possible weak point. His eyes. The throat. One to the neck. His chest, shoulder, stomach. The groin. Hamstring. He parries or dodges the blows, foolishly refusing to counter, and I press him against the wall. I raise my blade for the killing stroke.

Through victory my chains are broken.

A shift in the Force and I can sense Jolee and Juhani charging at me. A snarling Juhani is already in mid leap, sabers blazing.

I raise my arm to the sky and summon the Force, savoring its unbridled power before I unleash it on my opponents.

The Force shall set me free. An explosion of might hurls the two Jedi to the ground like trees snapping in the wind. 

Revan stands before me, unaffected.

My eyes widen. I stare at him, panting. "You…you're stronger than I thought possible, after what the Jedi Council did to you. Perhaps Malak was wrong…perhaps the power of the dark side isn't lost to you after all, Revan."

"I am not Revan," he says. He extinguishes his blade and lowers it cautiously to his side. For a moment I am tempted to charge, but his eyes gleam and I know he knows and it will be futile.

Though it shames me to admit it, I am not strong enough to defeat him—not like this. Not yet.

But victory need not come from combat. I turn to words.

"You can deny what you are, Revan, but you only fool yourself. I know the truth—I've seen the darkness in your mind. I was there when you almost died in the Council's trap; I used the Force to preserve your life. We are forever linked by my actions on that bridge."

And indeed I can sense it now, that shimmering strand of Force that connects our very beings. I probe deeper into the bond, see him wince as I dive into his private thoughts. Fear and confusion and betrayal and…passion? Longing?

Then suddenly I am pushed away and locked out, as his mental shields clamp down and deny me. His mind is calm and smooth as the surface of a polished lake.

But I have caught a glimpse of the raging storm underneath; I know exactly where and how to strike.

"We are linked by more than just a bond, Bastila," he says softly. "That's how I know you will come back to the light."

I snort in disdain. "Those aren't your true feelings, Revan. You speak as a tool of the Jedi Council, like I once was. The Jedi used us both…they tried to exploit our bond, hoping I would draw out your memories and lead them to the Star Forge. We were slaves to their will—like everyone who follows the Jedi Code!"

He shakes his head, but I press on. "But when I saved your life on your flagship, when we shared our visions of the Star Map, I also felt the darkness within you. I resisted it at first, but now I understand and embrace its power. Your power!"

He has drawn back, staring at me. "I…I caused this? Caused you to fall?" The calm is broken; his face is a mask of guilt.

Jolee and Juhani begin to stir; I do not have long. "Listen to me, Revan," I urge. "I did not 'fall.' I have been reborn in the wake of destiny—your destiny! The power of the dark side is yours by right." I throw myself behind the passion of my words. "You deserve to be the true Master of the Sith, not Malak; I see this now. Together we can destroy your old apprentice. Join me and reclaim your destiny!"

"I. am. not. Revan." He bites off the words.

I wave that protest away. "Your mind was too badly damaged to fully restore your memories, Revan. But your power, your strength of will, the essence of who and what you are: these things still remain! Years ago you defied the Jedi Council and freed yourself from their control. You claimed your title as Dark Lord of the Sith—and you can claim it once again. Together we can defeat Malak and take back what is yours!" He is frozen, staring at me. "Together, Revan," I press forward. "Together again."

I see the sudden, desperate longing in his eyes, and exult inwardly. He does want me! He would do it! Behind all the nonsense of Jedi codes and peace and honor is a man who yearns for me at his side, and desperately seeks a reason to give in.

I can sense the battle raging within him. He wants so very much to believe me. "I—how can I trust you?" he pleads. "How do I know you won't betray me again?"

I smile, expecting the question and wanting—needing—to give my answer. "Because I no longer need to deny my passions, Revan. I would stand by your side gladly, as your lover and apprentice." He swallows at those words. "I swore allegiance to Malak only because I thought you had lost the power you once held. But this... this would be much better."

His will is wavering. So very close… "I would be utterly yours, master." I lick my lips and watch his eyes flare. "Together we would destroy Malak and you would reclaim the mantle of Dark Lord!"

I take a step forward, letting my hunger for him show on my face.  His body trembles and he takes an involuntary step toward me. Yes!

"Don't do this, kid." Jolee has finally stirred. I hear him and hatred wells up inside me. How dare he! He and the Jedi Council, doddering old fools who tried to keep me first from my destiny and now from my rightful place at Revan's side!

"Shut up, old man!" I hiss. "Your time is over—the Republic and the Jedi will fall. This is the age of Darth Revan and the Sith!"

Revan doesn't seem to have heard our exchange. Sweat trickles down his brow and his teeth grit together. I can sense the raging passion swirling beneath his facade, threatening to burst over the dam created by the Jedi Council to rein in the Dark Lord of the Sith. He takes a slow, agonizing step toward me, then another. We are almost close enough to touch. He reaches for me; his hand hovers in midair.

The moment lasts an eternity.

And then he lowers his arm. His face is torn with sadness but also resolve. For some reason my heart drops. He has rejected me. He will leave and forget me, just as he did after I was captured by Malak.

I wonder briefly where that notion came from, then banish the thought.

"No," he says. "I…I don't want you like this. I want the woman I knew."

I do not believe his words. A man of such power wants…the woman he knew? That weakling? Why would he…?

"Please, Bastila…if you feel anything for me, come back to the light." His eyes plead with me. "I don't want to rule the galaxy. I just want you to come back to me."

The simple words strike like a poisoned dagger, twisting cruelly at my heart. For the first time since joining Malak, I am unsure of myself. "I…I don't…"

"Bastila…" Only a whisper, but it makes me tremble and I suddenly feel weak. His hand touches mine, scalds my very skin. I snatch my arm away.

"No!" I cry. Why did I – why am I – I must leave this place at once! I must flee, I cannot face him. Not now. Not like this. I turn tail and run, ignoring the thought of what Lord Malak will do to me when he learns of my defeat.

I race to my ship, hear the pounding of boots on concrete as Revan chases after me. I must stop him! I cannot do it directly, but…

I concentrate and a burst of the Force explodes the ground at his feet, causing him to stumble. I leap onto my ship, slam down the controls to take off and leave this foul planet forever.

As the vessel rises in the air, I make the mistake of glancing out my viewport. Revan stares back at me.

I try to turn away, but I cannot. Our eyes are locked together.

The figure grows smaller and smaller until it is only a speck in the distance, and then I am gone.