Part 3

Revan's lightsaber cut through the Sith trooper's armour like a knife through butter; the Jedi showing little emotion as he cut the soldier down and twirled the saber to deflect a trio of blaster bolts. Beside him, Laani was firing on the gun emplacements that were a new addition to the Temple's structure, Canderous knelt with his Repeating Blaster, laying down a deadly barrage of fire just on Revan's other side. Nearby, the Jedi engaged Dark Jedi in a close-fought struggle. Adrenaline coursed through him as he matched sabers with a black-clad Jedi, deflecting the foe's red-coloured energy sword almost on instinct, before slashing upwards in a deadly finishing strike. He held the pose for nearly a second as the Sith fell.
"This is taking too long." Canderous growled. "They'll have reinforcements here in minutes"
"I concur!" Laani added, taking cover from the heavy fire of the turrets.
"We must press on if we're to get to Korlan." Revan answered, pushing forward. He could feel the disturbance in the Force before it happened; the approach of something new and different. His eyes moved instantly to the Temple's entrance, where the shimmering energy field that surrounded it began to fade. "Korlan..." he muttered, glancing towards Bastila and the other Jedi. They could feel it too. From the shadowy entranceway, a cluster of figures appeared, wearing Dark Jedi robes, and led by a sinister-looking silhouette of a man. His face was shrouded, but Revan knew who he was simply by the way the Dark Side shrouded him. Darth Korlan himself was coming to face them.
"This isn't good..." Canderous muttered. "I have a very bad feeling about this one, Revan"
"Me too." Revan muttered, moving clear of the two men and forward to meet the Sith Lord. Korlan's hood lifted slightly, casting a little light on his pale-skinned face.
"Lord Revan. I am honoured to finally meet you. The famed Dark Lord of the Sith himself"
"I am not that Revan any more, Darth Korlan. I am a servant of the light now." Revan answered slowly, not backing down. Unlike others, he was not afraid of the Dark Side of the Force; Unlike others, he knew firsthand that it was not stronger at all, no matter how easy.
"As I well know." Korlan sneered. "You were a fool, and your apprentice was weak. Only I have the power to crush the Republic. I am not as misguided as you were." he glared slightly, revealing the pale, yellowing eyes that were a trademark of a man consumed by evil. Revan stared unflinchingly ahead.
"I've heard many say that. Few understand the true nature of the Force, Korlan. It is not too late for you to change that. I was saved, just as you can be"
"Saved? Is that what you call the shedding of all that was great about you? Ha!" Korlan spat the words, eyeing Revan with bitter disdain. "I have come to find that the Force is my weapon against the self-righteous Jedi Council, and the likes of you. Now you will witness the true nature of what it means to bear the title of Sith Lord." he raised his hands, a lightsaber in each. "Now, Revan, I will destroy you as an example of my power to all who would oppose the might of the Sith." the two weapons ignited with a hiss of energy, their wielder twirling them with a deft speed and skill that any normal man would have found impossible to achieve. Revan waited, silently drawing on the Force and giving Korlan a pitied look.
"Then I am afraid that I will have to stop you." he answered, lifting his own saber in readiness for the duel.
"Not alone!" Saralyin jumped forward, her yellow-tinted lightsaber held high. "A Jedi Knight is never alone, Master Revan!" she called out defiantly.
"Get back, Padawan! This is not your fight." Pex warned, though his apprentice was oblivious to his protests. In a moment of what Revan saw as overexcitement, the young woman lunged forward wildly. Korlan, however, was not as easy a foe to overcome as his minions. With a seemingly effortless twist, he whipped the two crimson blades in perfect unison, deflecting Saralyin's charge and driving one of them into her body. A deathly silence descended on the assembled, as the young Jedi apprentice suddenly became very still, then staggered backwards into Revan's grasp. Her eyes watered as she stared upward, into his face.
"I...wanted to be...like you..." she gasped, struggling for air. "I understand...now"
"There is no need to fear or feel sorry, Saralyin Kell. You are a Jedi." he responded quietly.
"Thank you...Master..." she whispered, before her head rolled back and sounds of breathing faded. Revan laid her down on the ground, before slowly rising and fixing his eyes on Korlan.
"Really, Revan. You should keep better control of your students." the Sith looked at the others in Revan's party. "Whom else should I let you witness die? Perhaps...an old friend...?" he leered at Bastila, who straightened slightly.
"I am not afraid of you, Darth Korlan. Perhaps you take pleasure from murdering young Jedi, but you will find that we are stronger than you think." Bastila answered. Revan could feel in her heart that Bastila was indeed concerned, despite her outer strength.
"I will not let you get that close." he said aloud. "I will see to it that you do not harm another living soul." he lifted his lightsaber, ready for the challenge.
"Finally. All that talking was making me sick." Canderous grunted. Korlan gave a sneer, raising his own energy blades ready to counter Revan's. Simultaneously, the Dark Lord's cohorts ignited their own. Revan looked at the line of crimson lightsabers, a short wave of doubt hitting him. He'd faced these kinds of odds before, but he wasn't so sure this time; these appeared to be Korlan's elite Sith bodyguards, not just run-of-the-mill Dark Jedi.
"Scared, Revan?" Korlan goaded, a trait stereotypical of Sith Lords. Revan held his saber ready, unflinching.
"There is no emotion. There is peace." he answered calmly. Korlan stepped back as two of his allies lunged. Revan twirled his saber expertly, deflecting both skilfully, managing to cut through one and slay him instantly before the other dodged back. Bastila, sensing Revan's need for backup, closed the gap between them, moving closer to him.
"No emotion? Your feelings betray you both. I can see your bond has had...repercussions..." Korlan indicated, his voice haunting and cold, as he turned to his allies. "Take Bastila alive...her Battle Meditation could prove useful." Revan tensed a little. Obviously his control wasn't enough to prevent Korlan reading him and his feelings for Bastila. Perhaps she had been right; perhaps such feelings were dangerous.
"You touch her, Korlan, and I'll kill you myself." Revan growled. His darker thoughts were pushing to be released. They willed him to unleash a Force Storm on this usurper to the role of Dark Lord.
"He won't get the chance. I'll never turn to the Dark Side. Not again." she added. They glanced at one another, reassured by their mutual love.
"How remarkable. The Jedi Council's best...blinded by love. I thought they taught you that it was wrong at the Academy?" Korlan smirked, waving his arm. "Get them"
Revan drove forward, locking sabers with the Dark Lord and matching flurry after flurry with his twin-bladed lightsaber, pushing hard. He could feel Pex reinforcing the group through the Force, drawing on it's strength to empower the rest of them with added might. Revan's determined stare met the paling yellow pupils of his apprentice's successor. A shrill cry nearby distracted him, though he managed to remain alert enough to parry Korlan's sudden attack and withdraw. Bastila knelt, her lightsaber fallen nearby, a Sith lightsaber held close to her neck. Canderous stood, aiming his blaster at the culprit, but Revan held up an arm. He didn't want anything to happen to her. Korlan laughed loudly.
"So, Revan, now we see why love is a weakness...I see it, and the Jedi see it. You, however, are held-back from greatness because of it." he looked back to his minions. "Take her into my Temple...Follow if you dare, Revan. My men will not stop you, should you come alone. I'm sure you know the way..." he signalled, and Bastila was grabbed roughly, and dragged up to the Temple entrance. Canderous and Pex pushed forward to stop Revan from following immediately.
"No. Don't go rushing in there; that's what he wants." the Mandalorian urged.
"Indeed. Patience, Master Revan. A Jedi has patience..." Pex added. Revan took several breaths, again repeating the Jedi Code in his mind as he helplessly let Bastila be taken away.