Light in the Darkness
By Red Guard
Disclaimer: I do not, did not and probably will not own Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic or any of the characters appearing in or associated with it. LucasArts and BioWare own the characters and most of events appearing in this work.
Chapter 2: Dark Revelations
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
'I will not lose, Bastila.' The young Jedi announced as he deflected a blow.
'Fool.' She sneered as she resumed her dizzying strikes. 'So many have fallen to my blade. Why should you be any different?'
'No.' He took a leap backwards and drew himself into an offensive stance. 'I am not easy prey. The many years of battle have taught me much.'
'Interesting.' She smiled as she brought her blade down. 'You wish for me to test you? Then test you I shall.'
'I accept any challenge.'
'Then I will not deny you.' She motioned to the three Sith apprentices that accompanied her into the cave. 'You three, strike him down. The one who does so will receive great reward.'
'So this is how far the great Jedi Bastila has fallen.' Dustil lamented as he began to concentrate on his new assailants. 'I never knew that Sith Masters relied on their lackeys to do their work.'
The Dark Lady gave him an emotionless smile in reply.
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown Planet, Temporary Jedi Headquarters
'Masters!' A young apprentice yelled at the top of his voice as he threw the doors to the hall open. He wanted to continue, but somehow, the gaze of a dozen senior Jedi struck him mute.
One of the elderly men gave the unexpected guest an expecting gaze. 'Well?'
'Oh. I. I.' The young lady stammered slightly, trying her best to regain her shattered composure.
One of the robed Jedi Masters stood as she shook her head. 'We can't keep doing this to the young ones.'
'They must learn respect.'
'Speak of that when the Sith have fallen.' She said soberly as she drifted towards the apprentice. 'We must bind together during these dark times.'
'Where are you going?'
'The young one has something to tell us.' She smiled at the young lady and took her hand. 'But it seems that she wants to do so privately.'
The tightly knit group of Jedi Masters watched the pair exit the Hall. They looked at each other, each knowing the questions that were to be asked and the answers that were to be given.
'Her wisdom continues to astound me.' A sigh escaped from the lips of one of the Jedi. 'Master Yuthura Ban.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
She watched impassively as the last of her Sith apprentices crumpled to the floor. Dustil raised his blade towards her once again. 'Do you still wish to challenge me?'
'I will triumph.' She replied as she gathered her strength. 'My Lord commands that of me.'
'Bastila.' Dustil said solemnly, 'We don't need to do this.'
'You Jedi are all the same.' She sighed deeply. 'Do not try to redeem me, young one. Others have tried, and have failed.'
'You were a great Jedi once.'
'I was young and foolish then. The Jedi Order had denied me too much.'
'The Order has changed.' Dustil said softly. 'Mainly due to your hand.'
'If you wanted me to feel some soft of compassion, you failed.'
'We do not need to fight.' Dustil shifted his stance slightly. 'Serve the dark side no longer.'
'I am unable to cease doing something.' Bastila closed her eyes and gave a soft sigh. 'That I never did in the first place.'
Dustil felt a slight ripple of shock course through his body. Immediately afterwards, Bastila lunged forward, her crimson red lightsaber brandished high above her head.
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown Planet, Temporary Jedi Headquarters
'Now, my child. What is so important?'
'Master Yuthura.' The young apprentice grimaced slightly. 'I am sorry for interrupting.'
'Nonsense.' The twi'lek Jedi admonished the young lady. 'I know that you have good reason for interrupting our meeting.'
'I do, Master.' A hint of panic crept into the apprentice's voice.
'Tell me, then.'
'Word has just reached us that Master Onasi's ship's hyperdrive system has malfunctioned.'
'What?' Yuthura's eyes widened in shock. Master Dustil Onasi was supposed to be on his way back with a fresh batch of recruits. Losing him and the recruits would be a severe blow to the reeling Order. 'Tell me everything.'
'Their last transmission was fairly garbed, but we did manage to pinpoint their position.' The apprentice brought out a small datapad. 'We believe that they crashed on the planet called Hoth.'
'We will aid them.' Yuthura said without hesitation. 'Let me speak to the Admiral.'
'But, Master. we do not whether they are still alive.'
'Trust in the Force. They still live.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Bastila's Flagship
When was the last time she cried?
She was supposed to be at peace. She chose this path because she thought that it would be best for her. This was the only path open to her, because she wanted to love.
Where did it all go wrong?
Why could she do it no longer?
She remembered that time so long ago when Malak tried his best to turn her away from the light. She remembered all the empty promises that he gave her. He told her the dark side gave her power, when it was obvious to her that Revan was so much stronger in the light. He promised her that the dark side gave her freedom, when she knew that he would still control her. Malak assured her that the dark side would triumph, when Revan crushed wave after wave of opposition before him.
But still she decided to walk on the path of the dark side. It surprised her that the choice came so easily, but she was so desperate for his love. She knew that even if the Sith lost, that even if they returned to Coruscant as heroes, the Council would never allow her to be with him. That thought was too difficult to bear.
She remembered the time that she spent on the Ebon Hawk, denying her love even to the end. They had embraced, they had declared their love for each other, and yet she rejected him. Her petty fear of her own emotions and her fear of the Jedi Council paralyzed her. But one thing was certain; she could no longer bear being separated from him.
And so, she betrayed everyone. She betrayed the Jedi and joined Malak. She betrayed Malak to be with her love. She betrayed herself so many times just to be with him. It was her dark secret, but she never truly served the dark side. She was not a Sith. She was just the Dark Lady because she was beside the Dark Lord.
Now, everything was beginning to unravel. She couldn't do it anymore. She remembered trying to numb herself to the horrors of the war that she had wrought upon the galaxy. She wanted to be true to him, and so she decided to stay by his side through everything. She remembered supporting him, giving him support, following him to battle and using her Battle Mediation for him. He was truly the Dark Lord of the Sith, and she stood by him just to experience the love she thought they shared. It was so addictive, yet so satisfying at the same time.
It was a war. A war that was waged in her soul. A war between her undying love for one man, and her inability to keep up with him any longer. He would realize that she had betrayed him. He would cast her out, maybe even kill her, but when that time came, she would face it gladly.
She would do anything to be by his side for another day.
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
'Master!'
A voice pierced the veil of mist that seemed to surround his person.
'Master!'
What had happened? He tried to shake the choking fog away from his mind.
'Master!'
A shake. Another. They jarred him from his comatose state. His eyes fluttered open and his vision slowly returned. The young students had gathered around him. They stared at him, concern in their eyes.
'What.' He tried to find his voice. 'What happened? Where is Bastila?'
'I don't believe it, Master.' One of the apprentices replied, his voice tinged with a sense of uneasiness. 'She. she spared your life.'
'What?' The shock drove the grogginess away.
'You fell, and she stood over you.' Another student said slowly. 'But, she couldn't deal the finishing blow. She stood and tried to lift her blade over and over again, but she could not do it.'
'What?' He felt stupid for repeating the statement over and over again, but that was really all he could say.
'We. we felt her despair. and in the end, she ran from the cave.'
'It could be a ruse.' Dustil rose to his feet and staggered slightly. 'But. something tells me it is now.' He took a hard look at the gathered youth. 'This revelation must reach the ears of the Council. There is little time, we must reach the ship.'
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
He sat on his throne, receiving reports of rebellions being squashed on worlds that he had never even heard of. It was tiresome, and it was growing more tiresome by the day. He looked at the immense hall that was the throne room. Hundreds of Sith gathered here. Some of them served as guards, some as advisors and yet some more as servants. Millions more were spread throughout the far flung empire that he had carved.
None of them were to be trusted. Their famed lust for power had not escaped his notice. That would not have mattered if their penchant for cruelty was not better known. He knew that he could not trust anyone with his empire. Even if he did conquer planets by force, he still had some sort of obligation to the masses. He smirked to himself, maybe those Jedi tenants never did leave him after all.
Suddenly, loud fanfare coursed through the hall. He stood reflexively, an eagerness coursing through veins. The large doors burst open and a lithe figure clothed in dark robes rushed through. Instinctively, he found himself running towards the center of the hall.
They met, and flung themselves into a tight embrace.
'My love.' She breathed as she buried her head into his shoulder. 'I missed you.'
'I am glad you have returned.' He wrapped his arms around her, cherishing her presence. 'I was beginning to grow weary without you by my side.'
She pulled away and stared into his eyes. 'I know, my love. Let us treasure the time we have together.'
Their surroundings, the Sith guards, the dozens of aides, the majesty of the grand hall, faded as they kissed fiercely.
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
Two Sith Masters walked down the corridors. After making sure that they were alone, they stopped at one of the many doors and rapped on it silently. A quick Force probe, several exchanged code signs and a spoken password later, they found themselves in the room, among dozens of Sith. Masters, apprentices, even simple guards had gathered in this small room. A boisterous meeting was taking place, with everyone wanting to voice their own opinion.
'Did you see them?'
'I cannot bear this anymore.'
'I tolerated this from the start, but no more. They are making us Sith look like fools.'
'This was never the way. Master and apprentice are supposed to clash. Not. not.'
'This is horrible precedent. I caught several of my apprentices courting each other in the open! I wanted to discipline them, but my words sounded hollow! Not with those two acting like love-sick teenagers!'
'Every single time they see each other.'
'Peace, my brothers.' One senior Master stood among the crowd. 'The movement is growing stronger. Soon, we will act. But until then, do not breathe a word of this to those who you do not trust. As I am sure you all know, the Sith do not treat traitors kindly.'
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
He looked at the sleeping form of his love. Even after all these years, she was still as divine as the day they declared their love to each other. He smiled as he brushed a lock of hair away from her face. He sighed softly to himself. But these days would not last. That was the price that he paid for walking this path.
He quietly got out of their lavish bed and walked out onto the balcony. He felt the cool night breeze flow around him. It was depressing, but he realized that these were the only times that he enjoyed now. Earlier, he reveled in the fury of battle, the passion of smiting world after world. Now, when everything was over, the only time that he could really enjoy was the time that he spent with his love.
It was intoxicating. It always had been. She made him feel so alive. He could not imagine how he had spent his life without her. But now, he saw the end. The end was always in the distance, for the followed the path of the Sith. The apprentice will usurp the master. That was the way of the Sith. She had betrayed him, he felt it. She had finally decided to take the place of the master. He should have her killed, but he knew that he could not give such an order.
She had always been the stronger one. Even after he rediscovered his past, he was so tempted to follow the light. But, he had to fall in love with her, and she had to fall to the dark side. When she asked him to join her atop the temple, he knew that he could not refuse. He saw the burning ambition in her eyes, he saw the immense power that she wielded, but most of all, he saw her naked desire for him.
He gave in. He wondered what would happen if he hadn't. Would he have redeemed her? Unlikely. Would Jedi Council approve of their relationship? Unlikely. And he knew that he would have crumbled without her by his side.
And so, he saw her grow from strength to strength. He saw her mastery of the Force surpass his. He saw her become the Dark Lady. His Dark Lady. He thought that their love could weather the storms. He still could not remember his past life, but conquering came easy to him. The Republic was huge, and he was hesitant, only sending in his troops when the battle would be easily won.
However, she stood with him like a pillar of strength. Every time he wanted to flinch, she pushed him onwards. Every time he thought of pause, she urged him on. Every time he wanted to stay and rest, she pulled him up. He thought that she was the perfect partner, supporting him in his time of need.
But now, he saw that he was being naïve. She was slowly gathering her power. She was beginning to make her move. She had somehow decided that he was no longer worthy to be her master. He knew that he should act. He knew that he should stop her. But in the end, he knew that he would do nothing and let his fate claim him.
He took another long breath and turned away from the nighttime view of Coruscant. As he slipped back into bed, he felt her drape an arm around his chest. He turned towards her, wondering whether she had managed to listen to his thoughts. But, in the end, she was still fast asleep.
He pulled himself into her embrace, and his face beside hers, slowly enjoying her cool breath upon his cheek, trying his best to enjoy the last few moments that he could spend with his love.
************************************************************************
Author's Note: Wow, depressing eh? This could be called the epitome of miscommunication. The dark side does corrupt. Dozens of books, several games, and five movies have pretty much cemented that idea. But we have never seen the dark side corrupt love before have we? I'm not too sure, but I don't really think Sith Masters had much of a love life. I could be wrong but. I don't think so. So that's my crack at it. A nice angsty romantic drama eh?
Now. the ' why 20 years to crush a Republic' question. I would be lying if I had a perfect excuse for choosing that time frame. But, I wanted to give an impression of how much time had passed. That would prove how strong Revan and Bastila's relationship was going, and would give me some leeway in explaining how the Jedi managed to reorganize themselves. Plus, while it is a stretch, one can imagine that sundering the whole Republic would take that long. It is bloody big, and it is imaginable that they have put up some sort of fight near the Core Worlds.
Yeah excuses all I know. but. at least they were plausible. I hope
And to anyone who's asking, you can redeem Yuthura Ban. Just pump a couple of points into persuade, jack your charisma a bit, and it ain't that hard.
No pre-readers were hurt in the making of this chapter.
Anyways, please remember to email me at red_aurum@yahoo.com for any suggestions, critiques, reviews and the like. Please don't flame me, I have a fragile ego.
Fanfic available at the following sites:
Fanfiction.net ()
Unofficial KoTOR Fan Media Site ()
If you wish to add this piece to any site, please contact me at the email address above.
By Red Guard
Disclaimer: I do not, did not and probably will not own Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic or any of the characters appearing in or associated with it. LucasArts and BioWare own the characters and most of events appearing in this work.
Chapter 2: Dark Revelations
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
'I will not lose, Bastila.' The young Jedi announced as he deflected a blow.
'Fool.' She sneered as she resumed her dizzying strikes. 'So many have fallen to my blade. Why should you be any different?'
'No.' He took a leap backwards and drew himself into an offensive stance. 'I am not easy prey. The many years of battle have taught me much.'
'Interesting.' She smiled as she brought her blade down. 'You wish for me to test you? Then test you I shall.'
'I accept any challenge.'
'Then I will not deny you.' She motioned to the three Sith apprentices that accompanied her into the cave. 'You three, strike him down. The one who does so will receive great reward.'
'So this is how far the great Jedi Bastila has fallen.' Dustil lamented as he began to concentrate on his new assailants. 'I never knew that Sith Masters relied on their lackeys to do their work.'
The Dark Lady gave him an emotionless smile in reply.
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown Planet, Temporary Jedi Headquarters
'Masters!' A young apprentice yelled at the top of his voice as he threw the doors to the hall open. He wanted to continue, but somehow, the gaze of a dozen senior Jedi struck him mute.
One of the elderly men gave the unexpected guest an expecting gaze. 'Well?'
'Oh. I. I.' The young lady stammered slightly, trying her best to regain her shattered composure.
One of the robed Jedi Masters stood as she shook her head. 'We can't keep doing this to the young ones.'
'They must learn respect.'
'Speak of that when the Sith have fallen.' She said soberly as she drifted towards the apprentice. 'We must bind together during these dark times.'
'Where are you going?'
'The young one has something to tell us.' She smiled at the young lady and took her hand. 'But it seems that she wants to do so privately.'
The tightly knit group of Jedi Masters watched the pair exit the Hall. They looked at each other, each knowing the questions that were to be asked and the answers that were to be given.
'Her wisdom continues to astound me.' A sigh escaped from the lips of one of the Jedi. 'Master Yuthura Ban.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
She watched impassively as the last of her Sith apprentices crumpled to the floor. Dustil raised his blade towards her once again. 'Do you still wish to challenge me?'
'I will triumph.' She replied as she gathered her strength. 'My Lord commands that of me.'
'Bastila.' Dustil said solemnly, 'We don't need to do this.'
'You Jedi are all the same.' She sighed deeply. 'Do not try to redeem me, young one. Others have tried, and have failed.'
'You were a great Jedi once.'
'I was young and foolish then. The Jedi Order had denied me too much.'
'The Order has changed.' Dustil said softly. 'Mainly due to your hand.'
'If you wanted me to feel some soft of compassion, you failed.'
'We do not need to fight.' Dustil shifted his stance slightly. 'Serve the dark side no longer.'
'I am unable to cease doing something.' Bastila closed her eyes and gave a soft sigh. 'That I never did in the first place.'
Dustil felt a slight ripple of shock course through his body. Immediately afterwards, Bastila lunged forward, her crimson red lightsaber brandished high above her head.
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown Planet, Temporary Jedi Headquarters
'Now, my child. What is so important?'
'Master Yuthura.' The young apprentice grimaced slightly. 'I am sorry for interrupting.'
'Nonsense.' The twi'lek Jedi admonished the young lady. 'I know that you have good reason for interrupting our meeting.'
'I do, Master.' A hint of panic crept into the apprentice's voice.
'Tell me, then.'
'Word has just reached us that Master Onasi's ship's hyperdrive system has malfunctioned.'
'What?' Yuthura's eyes widened in shock. Master Dustil Onasi was supposed to be on his way back with a fresh batch of recruits. Losing him and the recruits would be a severe blow to the reeling Order. 'Tell me everything.'
'Their last transmission was fairly garbed, but we did manage to pinpoint their position.' The apprentice brought out a small datapad. 'We believe that they crashed on the planet called Hoth.'
'We will aid them.' Yuthura said without hesitation. 'Let me speak to the Admiral.'
'But, Master. we do not whether they are still alive.'
'Trust in the Force. They still live.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Bastila's Flagship
When was the last time she cried?
She was supposed to be at peace. She chose this path because she thought that it would be best for her. This was the only path open to her, because she wanted to love.
Where did it all go wrong?
Why could she do it no longer?
She remembered that time so long ago when Malak tried his best to turn her away from the light. She remembered all the empty promises that he gave her. He told her the dark side gave her power, when it was obvious to her that Revan was so much stronger in the light. He promised her that the dark side gave her freedom, when she knew that he would still control her. Malak assured her that the dark side would triumph, when Revan crushed wave after wave of opposition before him.
But still she decided to walk on the path of the dark side. It surprised her that the choice came so easily, but she was so desperate for his love. She knew that even if the Sith lost, that even if they returned to Coruscant as heroes, the Council would never allow her to be with him. That thought was too difficult to bear.
She remembered the time that she spent on the Ebon Hawk, denying her love even to the end. They had embraced, they had declared their love for each other, and yet she rejected him. Her petty fear of her own emotions and her fear of the Jedi Council paralyzed her. But one thing was certain; she could no longer bear being separated from him.
And so, she betrayed everyone. She betrayed the Jedi and joined Malak. She betrayed Malak to be with her love. She betrayed herself so many times just to be with him. It was her dark secret, but she never truly served the dark side. She was not a Sith. She was just the Dark Lady because she was beside the Dark Lord.
Now, everything was beginning to unravel. She couldn't do it anymore. She remembered trying to numb herself to the horrors of the war that she had wrought upon the galaxy. She wanted to be true to him, and so she decided to stay by his side through everything. She remembered supporting him, giving him support, following him to battle and using her Battle Mediation for him. He was truly the Dark Lord of the Sith, and she stood by him just to experience the love she thought they shared. It was so addictive, yet so satisfying at the same time.
It was a war. A war that was waged in her soul. A war between her undying love for one man, and her inability to keep up with him any longer. He would realize that she had betrayed him. He would cast her out, maybe even kill her, but when that time came, she would face it gladly.
She would do anything to be by his side for another day.
************************************************************************
Location: Hoth, Unkown Cave
'Master!'
A voice pierced the veil of mist that seemed to surround his person.
'Master!'
What had happened? He tried to shake the choking fog away from his mind.
'Master!'
A shake. Another. They jarred him from his comatose state. His eyes fluttered open and his vision slowly returned. The young students had gathered around him. They stared at him, concern in their eyes.
'What.' He tried to find his voice. 'What happened? Where is Bastila?'
'I don't believe it, Master.' One of the apprentices replied, his voice tinged with a sense of uneasiness. 'She. she spared your life.'
'What?' The shock drove the grogginess away.
'You fell, and she stood over you.' Another student said slowly. 'But, she couldn't deal the finishing blow. She stood and tried to lift her blade over and over again, but she could not do it.'
'What?' He felt stupid for repeating the statement over and over again, but that was really all he could say.
'We. we felt her despair. and in the end, she ran from the cave.'
'It could be a ruse.' Dustil rose to his feet and staggered slightly. 'But. something tells me it is now.' He took a hard look at the gathered youth. 'This revelation must reach the ears of the Council. There is little time, we must reach the ship.'
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
He sat on his throne, receiving reports of rebellions being squashed on worlds that he had never even heard of. It was tiresome, and it was growing more tiresome by the day. He looked at the immense hall that was the throne room. Hundreds of Sith gathered here. Some of them served as guards, some as advisors and yet some more as servants. Millions more were spread throughout the far flung empire that he had carved.
None of them were to be trusted. Their famed lust for power had not escaped his notice. That would not have mattered if their penchant for cruelty was not better known. He knew that he could not trust anyone with his empire. Even if he did conquer planets by force, he still had some sort of obligation to the masses. He smirked to himself, maybe those Jedi tenants never did leave him after all.
Suddenly, loud fanfare coursed through the hall. He stood reflexively, an eagerness coursing through veins. The large doors burst open and a lithe figure clothed in dark robes rushed through. Instinctively, he found himself running towards the center of the hall.
They met, and flung themselves into a tight embrace.
'My love.' She breathed as she buried her head into his shoulder. 'I missed you.'
'I am glad you have returned.' He wrapped his arms around her, cherishing her presence. 'I was beginning to grow weary without you by my side.'
She pulled away and stared into his eyes. 'I know, my love. Let us treasure the time we have together.'
Their surroundings, the Sith guards, the dozens of aides, the majesty of the grand hall, faded as they kissed fiercely.
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
Two Sith Masters walked down the corridors. After making sure that they were alone, they stopped at one of the many doors and rapped on it silently. A quick Force probe, several exchanged code signs and a spoken password later, they found themselves in the room, among dozens of Sith. Masters, apprentices, even simple guards had gathered in this small room. A boisterous meeting was taking place, with everyone wanting to voice their own opinion.
'Did you see them?'
'I cannot bear this anymore.'
'I tolerated this from the start, but no more. They are making us Sith look like fools.'
'This was never the way. Master and apprentice are supposed to clash. Not. not.'
'This is horrible precedent. I caught several of my apprentices courting each other in the open! I wanted to discipline them, but my words sounded hollow! Not with those two acting like love-sick teenagers!'
'Every single time they see each other.'
'Peace, my brothers.' One senior Master stood among the crowd. 'The movement is growing stronger. Soon, we will act. But until then, do not breathe a word of this to those who you do not trust. As I am sure you all know, the Sith do not treat traitors kindly.'
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
He looked at the sleeping form of his love. Even after all these years, she was still as divine as the day they declared their love to each other. He smiled as he brushed a lock of hair away from her face. He sighed softly to himself. But these days would not last. That was the price that he paid for walking this path.
He quietly got out of their lavish bed and walked out onto the balcony. He felt the cool night breeze flow around him. It was depressing, but he realized that these were the only times that he enjoyed now. Earlier, he reveled in the fury of battle, the passion of smiting world after world. Now, when everything was over, the only time that he could really enjoy was the time that he spent with his love.
It was intoxicating. It always had been. She made him feel so alive. He could not imagine how he had spent his life without her. But now, he saw the end. The end was always in the distance, for the followed the path of the Sith. The apprentice will usurp the master. That was the way of the Sith. She had betrayed him, he felt it. She had finally decided to take the place of the master. He should have her killed, but he knew that he could not give such an order.
She had always been the stronger one. Even after he rediscovered his past, he was so tempted to follow the light. But, he had to fall in love with her, and she had to fall to the dark side. When she asked him to join her atop the temple, he knew that he could not refuse. He saw the burning ambition in her eyes, he saw the immense power that she wielded, but most of all, he saw her naked desire for him.
He gave in. He wondered what would happen if he hadn't. Would he have redeemed her? Unlikely. Would Jedi Council approve of their relationship? Unlikely. And he knew that he would have crumbled without her by his side.
And so, he saw her grow from strength to strength. He saw her mastery of the Force surpass his. He saw her become the Dark Lady. His Dark Lady. He thought that their love could weather the storms. He still could not remember his past life, but conquering came easy to him. The Republic was huge, and he was hesitant, only sending in his troops when the battle would be easily won.
However, she stood with him like a pillar of strength. Every time he wanted to flinch, she pushed him onwards. Every time he thought of pause, she urged him on. Every time he wanted to stay and rest, she pulled him up. He thought that she was the perfect partner, supporting him in his time of need.
But now, he saw that he was being naïve. She was slowly gathering her power. She was beginning to make her move. She had somehow decided that he was no longer worthy to be her master. He knew that he should act. He knew that he should stop her. But in the end, he knew that he would do nothing and let his fate claim him.
He took another long breath and turned away from the nighttime view of Coruscant. As he slipped back into bed, he felt her drape an arm around his chest. He turned towards her, wondering whether she had managed to listen to his thoughts. But, in the end, she was still fast asleep.
He pulled himself into her embrace, and his face beside hers, slowly enjoying her cool breath upon his cheek, trying his best to enjoy the last few moments that he could spend with his love.
************************************************************************
Author's Note: Wow, depressing eh? This could be called the epitome of miscommunication. The dark side does corrupt. Dozens of books, several games, and five movies have pretty much cemented that idea. But we have never seen the dark side corrupt love before have we? I'm not too sure, but I don't really think Sith Masters had much of a love life. I could be wrong but. I don't think so. So that's my crack at it. A nice angsty romantic drama eh?
Now. the ' why 20 years to crush a Republic' question. I would be lying if I had a perfect excuse for choosing that time frame. But, I wanted to give an impression of how much time had passed. That would prove how strong Revan and Bastila's relationship was going, and would give me some leeway in explaining how the Jedi managed to reorganize themselves. Plus, while it is a stretch, one can imagine that sundering the whole Republic would take that long. It is bloody big, and it is imaginable that they have put up some sort of fight near the Core Worlds.
Yeah excuses all I know. but. at least they were plausible. I hope
And to anyone who's asking, you can redeem Yuthura Ban. Just pump a couple of points into persuade, jack your charisma a bit, and it ain't that hard.
No pre-readers were hurt in the making of this chapter.
Anyways, please remember to email me at red_aurum@yahoo.com for any suggestions, critiques, reviews and the like. Please don't flame me, I have a fragile ego.
Fanfic available at the following sites:
Fanfiction.net ()
Unofficial KoTOR Fan Media Site ()
If you wish to add this piece to any site, please contact me at the email address above.