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 4: Loss
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
Silence was never a good thing when the Dark Lord of the Sith was present, especially when such he had just witnessed such a disaster. Everyone looked from the Dark Lord to the blank screen, each wanting to leave the room, yet none daring to.
'Lord Revan?' One of his aides ventured into the silence.
In the past, he would have slain the foolish man in an instant. But now, the thought barely crossed his anguished mind. He saw it coming, but he did not expect it so soon, and he certainly did not expect it in such a manner. He heaved another heavy breath, drew on the Force and pushed the cloud of emotions away.
'Commander?' His tone was forceful.
'At your service, my Lord.'
'Ready my ship.' He turned away from his entourage. 'I will leave before the night falls.'
'Where to, my Lord?'
'Where else?' Revan took a sidelong glance at the Commander. 'They wanted my attention. They got it.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
The observation chamber of the Republic corvette would usually be bustling with activity. The young Jedi apprentices would sit around and listen to the older Jedi in rapture. Some of the Masters would meditate in the center, in yet another attempt to touch the life that was the Force. Sparring sessions were not uncommon between the brasher few. Others would just stand at the massive window, and watch as the galaxies flew past. Everyone found their escape here. Escape from years of war. Escape from the grim future that many predicted for the Jedi Order.
But now, only two stood in the chamber. Recent events had been shocking, and even the youngest of the Jedi knew that great change was coming. Though none were certain whether it would be salvation, or destruction that awaited them at the end of the journey.
'Are you certain that he will come?'
Yuthura nodded slightly. 'Few can move a Dark Lord of the Sith. But, this time, we hold the only thing that he holds dear.'
'What have we reduced ourselves to?' Dustil looked out into hyperspace. 'Would the masters of old approve?'
'They would not.' She admitted in a sigh. 'But, this is the best chance that we have.'
'A last stand.'
'I'm sorry that I placed so much responsibility on you.' Yuthura said softly. 'But no one is your equal when it comes to captaining a ship.'
'I want to go with you.' Dustil hissed through his clenched teeth. He knew that the odds were against him. He had captained many ships before, but this time, it was different. So much was at stake, and he was more unsure of himself than ever before.
'You can't.' Yuthura looked at him with maddeningly calm eyes. 'You have your path, and I have mine. We must believe in ourselves. Believe in the Force.'
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown
The grey fog swirled around her, dominating her surroundings, and draining the area of whatever light it should have had. She had spent what seemed like eons wandering in the mists. She tried stretching out with the Force, but she found nothing. She was close to a panic.
Suddenly, a light erupted in the distance. A soft red glow dominated everything else in the distance. As she edged tentatively towards it, the glow grew in length and definition. Soon, as she walked further into the rolling fog, she realized that the red glow was actually a solid cylinder of light.
It was such a familiar sight.
It looked almost like... a lightsaber.
And then, the light moved.
************************************************************************
Location: Orbit around Coruscant, Revan's flagship
All good things will come to an end.
The Dark Side will dominate your life.
Only the strong will survive.
Find peace in the Light.
A thousand phrases flashed past his mind. He took another look around his private quarters and the memories assaulted him once again. Memories when he was younger. Memories when he was brasher. Memories when his life did not weigh so heavily on his shoulders.
But, he made a choice on that fateful day. He knew what that choice entailed, but he always shirked from the duties that the choice forced on him. But now, fate decided to force his hand.
Could he do it? He didn't think so.
He would lose.
He would die.
And his title would pass on.
Maybe then, he would find some measure of peace. But, what use was peace when he would be alone?
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
They looked into the plasteel cell, upon the unconscious woman, who was trashing furiously in her slumber. The restraints that bound her were barely holding together.
'She is restless.' One of the Jedi observed.
'I can feel much struggle within her.'
'Such is the corruption of the Dark Side.'
'But such strength!' One of the youths exclaimed. 'Did you not see how she bested all the others? I counted at least two dozen, and she defeated them all! I have never seen such great skill in my life!'
'Defeated? She slew them!'
'Are you mad? Lauding the Dark Side is the first step down the path of corruption!'
'Even though she is Sith, we Jedi must not condemn her to the darkness.' Yuthura Ban announced as she entered the room. 'Everyone can be redeemed.'
'But, Master Ban, you should have heard what was said about her. Such plaudits should not be said of our enemy.'
'I heard.' Yuthura turned towards the prisoner and took in a long breath. 'And I agree. She is a great warrior. One of the very best. But, I feel that she is not like most of the Sith that we have faced.'
'What do you mean, Master?'
'I don't know, but much has changed. I will need to think on this.'
A groan escaped from the lips of the prisoner.
'She stirs.' Yuthura turned towards the gathered Jedi. 'Please leave. I wish to talk to her alone.'
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown
She leapt backwards in a desperate attempt to avoid the swing of her foe's lightsaber. She tried to peer through the misty fog and identify her foe, but all that she could see was a shadowy figure brandishing a crimson red blade. She was defenseless. She had no blade, and the Force had all but abandoned her.
Another lunge from her assailant forced her into an awkward roll. This could not carry on any further. Her foe seemed to be tireless, striking with inhuman speed.
'Who are you?' She asked as she weaved past another flurry of strikes.
The figure answered only with another wide slash.
'Answer me!' She tried to inject as much power into her voice as possible. 'Answer the Dark Lady of the Sith!'
That demand brought an inhuman chuckle from the opponent.
'Answer me!' She screamed as she grew increasingly frustrated at her impotence.
Another chuckle greeted her anger. A blaze of red, hot fury consumed her. She ducked another slash, flipped past a thrust, twisted away from a sidelong swipe, and brought herself within striking distance of the figure.
In an instant, an intense pain shot through her side and she crumpled to the floor. Her foe chuckled mirthlessly as the lightsaber was raised up high. She looked up, and felt all hope drain away as her assailant's face became illuminated by the red glow of the blade.
It was Revan.
No, not Revan. The soulless eyes, the expressionless face and the terrifying aura meant that the man that stood before her was not merely Revan. It was the Dark Lord of the Sith.
'You will fail me no more.' His cold voice echoed throughout the misty landscape. 'You will betray me no more.'
And then, the blade came down.
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
She screamed.
Then, the light flooded in.
'Are you alright?' A voice beside her said softly.
She turned and a sick feeling settled into her stomach. 'Yuthura Ban.'
The Twi'lek Jedi smiled slightly. 'I'm glad that you still remember me, Bastila Shan.'
Bastila struggled, and was not surprised to find herself bound to a bed. She took a quick look around and realized that she in what seemed like a simple holding cell. 'Do you think that this will hold me?'
'No.' The Jedi replied. 'But in your condition, you won't be able to fight you way past all of us.'
She sighed and pressed her eyes together. This was it. She had finally failed, and now, Revan would be searching for her replacement. 'Then, it's over. Kill me.'
'You know that I won't do that.'
Bastila allowed herself a small smile. 'You can't stop me from killing myself.'
'Why do you wish to destroy yourself?' Yuthura look down at the restrained woman. 'You are with friends here.'
'Friends?' Bastila chuckled to no one in particular. 'I am alone now.'
'You are never...'
'Shut up, Yuthura.' Bastila snapped. 'I still have no idea why Revan speaks so highly of you. You are filled with more of that Jedi Code nonsense than any of the old masters.'
'Revan still speaks of me?' Yuthura was stunned.
'Of course.' Bastila said with a hint of deep sadness. She had spent so much time with Revan. Now, she had no drive to live on. There was no point. Nothing mattered anymore.
'He will come for you.'
'Of course he will.' Bastila smiled softly. 'A last stand, Master Yuthura?'
'Yes.'
'He will kill all of you.' Bastila predicted. 'And then, he will kill me.'
Bastila was not herself. She was talking too much. Either she was truly emotionally shattered, or she was giving false information. Still, a Jedi could not refuse a call for help. 'Why would he?'
'I failed him, Yuthura.' Bastila let out another deep sigh. 'We Sith can't afford failure. It makes us weak. I'm not strong enough to be by his side anymore, and I will have to be removed.'
'Failure tempers us.'
'I told you to stop spouting that nonsense.' Bastila smirked.
'You believed it once.'
'A bunch of lies meant to stymie our powers.' The answer came immediately. 'If I bothered with it, I would have failed so much earlier.'
'You don't believe that.' Yuthura shook her head. 'You can't believe that.'
'Of course I do.' Bastila snarled. 'Even with the full power of the Dark Side, those blasted apprentices nearly got the better of me.'
'You were caught unprepared.'
'Don't rub it in.' Bastila turned closed her eyes and whispered slowly. 'If I weren't already condemned to death, I would have thanked you for rescuing me.'
'The Jedi always help those in need.'
'There you go again.' Bastila snorted. 'No one ever helps his enemey.'
'We did, didn't we?' Yuthura answered calmly.
'Then, I suppose that you won't mind helping me once again.'
'What?' Yuthura gaped, genuinely surprised at this turn of events.
Bastila turned her head, and caught Yuthura's gaze. 'Before Revan kills you all, tell him of the betrayal. The Sith are moving against him. He must know.'
'He would believe me more than you?'
'I am a failure. Everything I say has no more value to him.'
'Then why are you doing this?'
'Because I still love him.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Revan's flagship
He angrily dashed a tear away from his cheek. The Dark Lord of the Sith must not ever shed a tear, even though his emotions were running wild. Every text that he read, every ancient Sith Code that he found, everything that was Sith abhorred what he had done. Love drew passion, and passion would fuel the Dark Side. That everyone knew. But master and apprentice should never be intimate. It was either the Dark Side or the union. And the Dark Side always won.
He thought he had the power to avoid the fate that the ancient Sith had predicted. But, it was just a fool's errand. He had blinded himself to the obvious, in the vain hope that what he would not see, would not happen. Now, everything was coming undone.
Bastila had been more ambitious that he had ever dreamed possible. Slaying all her apprentices and joining with the Jedi in an attempt to usurp his position. The revelations that his Commanders carried to him were stunning, but he had no reason to doubt them. Her actions were brash and ambitious, and that was what he had come to expect of her.
He would deal with her. He had to. Her actions practically demanded that he confront her in the ancient Sith tradition. They would duel to the death while his minions and the Jedi engaged in a savage battle.
He was certain that his forces would decimate the Jedi. He was certain that Bastila would persuade the Jedi to bring all forces to bear on him. And he was certain that the Jedi would lose, and the back of the remnants of the Republic would be finally broken. If he came out of the duel alive, he would finally have total control over the galaxies. If Bastila won, she would rule over all the known worlds.
A duel to decide everything.
Somehow it was fitting.
But, he already knew the ending.
He would lose. He tried searching within himself for the cold, calculating heart of a Sith Master, but he failed. He would never be able to deal the final blow.
He loved her too much.
************************************************************************
Author's Notes: Right.... I know that this took some time, but real life (wonder what that actually is) is seriously eating into my time. With exams peeking round the corner, it's only to get worse. But, luckily I managed to piece together this chapter. Don't expect the next one any time soon. I will finish this, I just need time. A heck lot of it.
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 4: Loss
************************************************************************
Location: Coruscant, Sith Palace
Silence was never a good thing when the Dark Lord of the Sith was present, especially when such he had just witnessed such a disaster. Everyone looked from the Dark Lord to the blank screen, each wanting to leave the room, yet none daring to.
'Lord Revan?' One of his aides ventured into the silence.
In the past, he would have slain the foolish man in an instant. But now, the thought barely crossed his anguished mind. He saw it coming, but he did not expect it so soon, and he certainly did not expect it in such a manner. He heaved another heavy breath, drew on the Force and pushed the cloud of emotions away.
'Commander?' His tone was forceful.
'At your service, my Lord.'
'Ready my ship.' He turned away from his entourage. 'I will leave before the night falls.'
'Where to, my Lord?'
'Where else?' Revan took a sidelong glance at the Commander. 'They wanted my attention. They got it.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
The observation chamber of the Republic corvette would usually be bustling with activity. The young Jedi apprentices would sit around and listen to the older Jedi in rapture. Some of the Masters would meditate in the center, in yet another attempt to touch the life that was the Force. Sparring sessions were not uncommon between the brasher few. Others would just stand at the massive window, and watch as the galaxies flew past. Everyone found their escape here. Escape from years of war. Escape from the grim future that many predicted for the Jedi Order.
But now, only two stood in the chamber. Recent events had been shocking, and even the youngest of the Jedi knew that great change was coming. Though none were certain whether it would be salvation, or destruction that awaited them at the end of the journey.
'Are you certain that he will come?'
Yuthura nodded slightly. 'Few can move a Dark Lord of the Sith. But, this time, we hold the only thing that he holds dear.'
'What have we reduced ourselves to?' Dustil looked out into hyperspace. 'Would the masters of old approve?'
'They would not.' She admitted in a sigh. 'But, this is the best chance that we have.'
'A last stand.'
'I'm sorry that I placed so much responsibility on you.' Yuthura said softly. 'But no one is your equal when it comes to captaining a ship.'
'I want to go with you.' Dustil hissed through his clenched teeth. He knew that the odds were against him. He had captained many ships before, but this time, it was different. So much was at stake, and he was more unsure of himself than ever before.
'You can't.' Yuthura looked at him with maddeningly calm eyes. 'You have your path, and I have mine. We must believe in ourselves. Believe in the Force.'
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown
The grey fog swirled around her, dominating her surroundings, and draining the area of whatever light it should have had. She had spent what seemed like eons wandering in the mists. She tried stretching out with the Force, but she found nothing. She was close to a panic.
Suddenly, a light erupted in the distance. A soft red glow dominated everything else in the distance. As she edged tentatively towards it, the glow grew in length and definition. Soon, as she walked further into the rolling fog, she realized that the red glow was actually a solid cylinder of light.
It was such a familiar sight.
It looked almost like... a lightsaber.
And then, the light moved.
************************************************************************
Location: Orbit around Coruscant, Revan's flagship
All good things will come to an end.
The Dark Side will dominate your life.
Only the strong will survive.
Find peace in the Light.
A thousand phrases flashed past his mind. He took another look around his private quarters and the memories assaulted him once again. Memories when he was younger. Memories when he was brasher. Memories when his life did not weigh so heavily on his shoulders.
But, he made a choice on that fateful day. He knew what that choice entailed, but he always shirked from the duties that the choice forced on him. But now, fate decided to force his hand.
Could he do it? He didn't think so.
He would lose.
He would die.
And his title would pass on.
Maybe then, he would find some measure of peace. But, what use was peace when he would be alone?
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
They looked into the plasteel cell, upon the unconscious woman, who was trashing furiously in her slumber. The restraints that bound her were barely holding together.
'She is restless.' One of the Jedi observed.
'I can feel much struggle within her.'
'Such is the corruption of the Dark Side.'
'But such strength!' One of the youths exclaimed. 'Did you not see how she bested all the others? I counted at least two dozen, and she defeated them all! I have never seen such great skill in my life!'
'Defeated? She slew them!'
'Are you mad? Lauding the Dark Side is the first step down the path of corruption!'
'Even though she is Sith, we Jedi must not condemn her to the darkness.' Yuthura Ban announced as she entered the room. 'Everyone can be redeemed.'
'But, Master Ban, you should have heard what was said about her. Such plaudits should not be said of our enemy.'
'I heard.' Yuthura turned towards the prisoner and took in a long breath. 'And I agree. She is a great warrior. One of the very best. But, I feel that she is not like most of the Sith that we have faced.'
'What do you mean, Master?'
'I don't know, but much has changed. I will need to think on this.'
A groan escaped from the lips of the prisoner.
'She stirs.' Yuthura turned towards the gathered Jedi. 'Please leave. I wish to talk to her alone.'
************************************************************************
Location: Unknown
She leapt backwards in a desperate attempt to avoid the swing of her foe's lightsaber. She tried to peer through the misty fog and identify her foe, but all that she could see was a shadowy figure brandishing a crimson red blade. She was defenseless. She had no blade, and the Force had all but abandoned her.
Another lunge from her assailant forced her into an awkward roll. This could not carry on any further. Her foe seemed to be tireless, striking with inhuman speed.
'Who are you?' She asked as she weaved past another flurry of strikes.
The figure answered only with another wide slash.
'Answer me!' She tried to inject as much power into her voice as possible. 'Answer the Dark Lady of the Sith!'
That demand brought an inhuman chuckle from the opponent.
'Answer me!' She screamed as she grew increasingly frustrated at her impotence.
Another chuckle greeted her anger. A blaze of red, hot fury consumed her. She ducked another slash, flipped past a thrust, twisted away from a sidelong swipe, and brought herself within striking distance of the figure.
In an instant, an intense pain shot through her side and she crumpled to the floor. Her foe chuckled mirthlessly as the lightsaber was raised up high. She looked up, and felt all hope drain away as her assailant's face became illuminated by the red glow of the blade.
It was Revan.
No, not Revan. The soulless eyes, the expressionless face and the terrifying aura meant that the man that stood before her was not merely Revan. It was the Dark Lord of the Sith.
'You will fail me no more.' His cold voice echoed throughout the misty landscape. 'You will betray me no more.'
And then, the blade came down.
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Jedi Corvette
She screamed.
Then, the light flooded in.
'Are you alright?' A voice beside her said softly.
She turned and a sick feeling settled into her stomach. 'Yuthura Ban.'
The Twi'lek Jedi smiled slightly. 'I'm glad that you still remember me, Bastila Shan.'
Bastila struggled, and was not surprised to find herself bound to a bed. She took a quick look around and realized that she in what seemed like a simple holding cell. 'Do you think that this will hold me?'
'No.' The Jedi replied. 'But in your condition, you won't be able to fight you way past all of us.'
She sighed and pressed her eyes together. This was it. She had finally failed, and now, Revan would be searching for her replacement. 'Then, it's over. Kill me.'
'You know that I won't do that.'
Bastila allowed herself a small smile. 'You can't stop me from killing myself.'
'Why do you wish to destroy yourself?' Yuthura look down at the restrained woman. 'You are with friends here.'
'Friends?' Bastila chuckled to no one in particular. 'I am alone now.'
'You are never...'
'Shut up, Yuthura.' Bastila snapped. 'I still have no idea why Revan speaks so highly of you. You are filled with more of that Jedi Code nonsense than any of the old masters.'
'Revan still speaks of me?' Yuthura was stunned.
'Of course.' Bastila said with a hint of deep sadness. She had spent so much time with Revan. Now, she had no drive to live on. There was no point. Nothing mattered anymore.
'He will come for you.'
'Of course he will.' Bastila smiled softly. 'A last stand, Master Yuthura?'
'Yes.'
'He will kill all of you.' Bastila predicted. 'And then, he will kill me.'
Bastila was not herself. She was talking too much. Either she was truly emotionally shattered, or she was giving false information. Still, a Jedi could not refuse a call for help. 'Why would he?'
'I failed him, Yuthura.' Bastila let out another deep sigh. 'We Sith can't afford failure. It makes us weak. I'm not strong enough to be by his side anymore, and I will have to be removed.'
'Failure tempers us.'
'I told you to stop spouting that nonsense.' Bastila smirked.
'You believed it once.'
'A bunch of lies meant to stymie our powers.' The answer came immediately. 'If I bothered with it, I would have failed so much earlier.'
'You don't believe that.' Yuthura shook her head. 'You can't believe that.'
'Of course I do.' Bastila snarled. 'Even with the full power of the Dark Side, those blasted apprentices nearly got the better of me.'
'You were caught unprepared.'
'Don't rub it in.' Bastila turned closed her eyes and whispered slowly. 'If I weren't already condemned to death, I would have thanked you for rescuing me.'
'The Jedi always help those in need.'
'There you go again.' Bastila snorted. 'No one ever helps his enemey.'
'We did, didn't we?' Yuthura answered calmly.
'Then, I suppose that you won't mind helping me once again.'
'What?' Yuthura gaped, genuinely surprised at this turn of events.
Bastila turned her head, and caught Yuthura's gaze. 'Before Revan kills you all, tell him of the betrayal. The Sith are moving against him. He must know.'
'He would believe me more than you?'
'I am a failure. Everything I say has no more value to him.'
'Then why are you doing this?'
'Because I still love him.'
************************************************************************
Location: Hyperspace, Revan's flagship
He angrily dashed a tear away from his cheek. The Dark Lord of the Sith must not ever shed a tear, even though his emotions were running wild. Every text that he read, every ancient Sith Code that he found, everything that was Sith abhorred what he had done. Love drew passion, and passion would fuel the Dark Side. That everyone knew. But master and apprentice should never be intimate. It was either the Dark Side or the union. And the Dark Side always won.
He thought he had the power to avoid the fate that the ancient Sith had predicted. But, it was just a fool's errand. He had blinded himself to the obvious, in the vain hope that what he would not see, would not happen. Now, everything was coming undone.
Bastila had been more ambitious that he had ever dreamed possible. Slaying all her apprentices and joining with the Jedi in an attempt to usurp his position. The revelations that his Commanders carried to him were stunning, but he had no reason to doubt them. Her actions were brash and ambitious, and that was what he had come to expect of her.
He would deal with her. He had to. Her actions practically demanded that he confront her in the ancient Sith tradition. They would duel to the death while his minions and the Jedi engaged in a savage battle.
He was certain that his forces would decimate the Jedi. He was certain that Bastila would persuade the Jedi to bring all forces to bear on him. And he was certain that the Jedi would lose, and the back of the remnants of the Republic would be finally broken. If he came out of the duel alive, he would finally have total control over the galaxies. If Bastila won, she would rule over all the known worlds.
A duel to decide everything.
Somehow it was fitting.
But, he already knew the ending.
He would lose. He tried searching within himself for the cold, calculating heart of a Sith Master, but he failed. He would never be able to deal the final blow.
He loved her too much.
************************************************************************
Author's Notes: Right.... I know that this took some time, but real life (wonder what that actually is) is seriously eating into my time. With exams peeking round the corner, it's only to get worse. But, luckily I managed to piece together this chapter. Don't expect the next one any time soon. I will finish this, I just need time. A heck lot of it.
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.