Disclaimer: Anything you recognize isn't mine. Anything that makes you go "what's that?" I made up.
Chapter 1: Betrayed
"Commander", A figure in black robes and mask called, "what is that?" The Sith Lord pointed.
The commander looked up at the Defiance 's tactical display. His eyes widened. "I-it appears to be a light attack craft L-lord Revan."
"And what is it doing near my ship?" Revan hissed, "How did it get past your notice?"
The commander paled and started shaking. "I- I-" Revan lifted a gloved hand and slowly closed it. The commander started clawing at his throat in an effort to breathe, even though he knew it to be useless.
Revan turned to the weapons officer. "Destroy that craft now." she ordered. Revan realized she still held the commander in a Force Grip. She released her hold on the now lifeless corpse. Ignoring the body, she turned her attention back to the battle and the planet before her. Revan studied the beautiful world that filled one quarter of the of the viewport. Deep green oceans and swirling clouds, home to some of the galaxy's rarest and prized minerals, Y'fan would make a fine addition to the list of her conquests. Lost in her musings, she felt a surge in the Force. What? She concentrated on the feeling. What was it? It feels like... something important is going to change... something that has to do with me.. For the first time in a very long while Revan felt a touch of apprehension.
Suddenly the bridge rocked and alarms shrilled. 'WARNING!: HULL BREACHED IN DECK 4, SECTION 6'
4? That's the crew quarters, Revan thought. "Report!" She snapped out.
One of the senior captains turned toward her. "It's that attack craft Lord Revan," he reported grimly, "It came under a blind spot and punched a hole-" Another alarm blared to life. 'INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS! SECURITY TO DECK 4, SECTION 2!'
"Seal off deck 5 and 3!" Revan instantly ordered.
The communications officer suddenly cried "Lord Revan! Security reports that it's the Jedi!"
Revan snarled several curses in no less than 10 languages. "How many Sith Masters are on board?" she asked the captain.
The captain closed his eyes a second, praying for whatever soul he had left. He was surely going to die after this bit of news. He opened his eyes and looked at Revan. "Only you my Lord."
"WHAT?!" Revan exploded.
The captain quailed before her. "Masters Veksiel and Etare are leading two of the squadrons and Masters Les'gru, Itahrn and Wanxir are missing."
" 'Missing'?! What do you mean 'missing'?!" Revan demanded.
"They didn't report for duty my Lord." he explained weakly.
"Why wasn't I informed?" Revan snarled. 3 masters gone missing and no one told her? She couldn't believe such incompetence from her crew.
"T-the c-commander said he would t-take care of it." He answered. Revan seemed to swell with dark power in her anger. The captain waited for the Force Lightning the Dark Lord favored to end his existence.
"What about Sith Knights and Apprentices?" Revan finally asked. There were always a few here and there, serving as aides to the masters.
"There are 3 Dark Jedi and 4 Apprentices currently on board." The captain replied. He didn't feel relieved that he was still alive. If the Dark Lord didn't kill him now, it would be later. Or the Jedi would.
7 Sith? It's better than nothing, Revan thought. "Order them out in the corridors to stop the Jedi." Inside her mask, Revan's lips thinned. She could feel the Force swirling with power. She had to assume that the Jedi would send a dozen or more Jedi Masters to assassinate her. There's no telling who was on that strike team. Revan composed herself for the coming battle. She severely doubted that those weaklings would be able to stop the Jedi.
The communications officer called out in a slightly panicked voice, "The Jedi broke through! They're on deck 3, section 5!" So it's only me they're after. Revan thought that they were going to head for the engines first to disable the Defiance. Or maybe they're in a rush. Revan snarled in her mind. Curse Les'gru, Itahrn and Wanxir! If I live to find out that they ran or betrayed me they'll wish that the Force never existed!!
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"Lord Malak," the commander said respectfully as he walked up to the Sith.
"Yes, commander?" Malak rasped. This had better be good.
The commander continued, "The Defiance has been boarded by a Jedi strike team. Lord Revan has ordered you to take command and finish the battle while she deals with the Jedi."
"Is that so? Hmmm..." Malak trailed off thoughtfully. "How far away are we from the Defiance? "
The commander barely hid his surprise. Was Lord Malak actually concerned? "Too far to be of any help my Lord." he replied.
"How far until it is in range of our weapons?" Malak asked, ignoring the stupid commander's assumption he wanted to help Revan. He would deal with the commander later, all he needed right now was some well placed shots...
The commander blinked. "The Jedi's ship?"
"No, commander! The Defiance !" He sounded irritated and exasperated.
"T-the Defiance ?" the commander stuttered, wincing inwardly. It was suicidal to get Lord Malak in a foul mood. Apparently he was wrong in Malak wanting to help. He checked the display. "Depending on how many fighters will harass us, 5 or so minutes."
Malak nodded. "Move us into range."
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They were getting closer now. At first Bastila had been dubious when she was ordered to come along with the strike team. Sure, her Battle Meditation was able to get them past the interdictor's defenses, but she felt it was unnecessary for her to be present. She could have easily got them here from one of the large Republic cruisers. At least she thought so.
But not the masters. She felt resentment bubbling up. Bastila had a split second's warning in the Force and managed to barely dodge a blaster bolt. I have to concentrate! There is no emotion.... She evaded another bolt, sliced the blaster from the offending hand and stabbed the Sith soldier. ....There is peace.
By the time they were nearing the bridge, Bastila was starting to feel confident that they were going to get through this alive. The floor suddenly heaved and she was knocked to the floor. One of the Knights offered a hand up. She shook her head and picked herself up. What did they think she was? A child?
"What was that?" cried one of the Republic soldiers with the Jedi. The Republic ships had been ordered to leave Revan's flagship alone until the mission had been completed. Had one disobeyed?
Their portable comms crackled to life and the pilot of the ship they had arrived on reported, "Malak is firing on the ship! It's falling apart! Get out of there!" They exchanged grim looks. Or rather the Knights did. Bastila just stuck out her lower lip in an almost-pout.
One of the Knights answered, "We've come too far to turn back." He looked at the soldiers accompanying us. "You start to head back. We'll meet you at the ship."
The soldier shook his head. "We won't abandon you Master Jedi." he said stubbornly.
The Jedi nodded curtly. They had no time to argue. Without another word they spread out and continued towards the bridge... and Darth Revan.
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Revan frowned at the sight outside the viewport. Malak was firing on her ship. She tasted something bitter in her mouth at the thought of the traitorous apprentice. He will pay dearly for this. Already, an explosion had occurred and fatally injured more than half her bridge crew.
The door to the bridge opened. Revan turned and saw one of her Dark Jedi and an Apprentice run in, closely pursued by a young Jedi and a republic soldier. Revan could sense 3 more Jedi coming. The Dark Jedi turned and tried to set himself in a stance but the young Jedi (Padawan? Revan guessed)was too quick and she slashed him deep in the side. He collapsed.
The Apprentice had run up almost to Revan before finally getting some nerve to turn and attack the Jedi. The soldier had the bad sense to go after Revan directly. She absentmindedly dispatched him with a brutal Force Choke, her attention on the Padawan. Where have I sensed that aura before? It reminds me of a battle.. battle.. It came to her. Ah! The Battle Meditation Brat Bastila!
By this time Bastila had slashed the Apprentice with a diagonal swipe to his chest, killing him. 2 more older Jedi came up on either side and a third just arrived. It seems she was emboldened by this for she said in a most arrogant manner, "You cannot win Revan!"
Revan just laughed gently in amusement, shocking Bastila. Revan ignited her saber and assumed a defensive stance. She saw the Padawan's eyes suddenly look over her shoulder and widen a fraction in horror before everything exploded around her.
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Malak watched the Defiance slowly crumble under his assault. The other commanders in the vicinity had refused to fire on Revan's flagship. He clenched his fist in anger. Once he had the mantle of the Dark Lord, they would regret it.
Not many knew that Revan ruled with loyalty. They always thought that she was a empty, heartless monster. Only those in her inner circle knew she took her honor almost to a fault. And she never lied. Malak was totally disgusted with her. He would rule like a true Dark Lord- with fear. And the galaxy will tremble at his feet.
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Pain. Heat. Where were they coming from? Revan wondered hazily. A voice penetrated the ball of fuzziness in her mind. "We have to get through!" Hmm. Was that panic? Where had she heard that voice before? Revan struggled to clear her mind and remember. She realized she was laying face down on something hard. She didn't like laying down on cold, hard floors. She preferred her soft, warm bed. She started to get up with the intention of going to her room, when more intense white hot pain shot through her back and shoulders. She dropped back down.
"She's still alive!" That voice again. Brat.. something to do with a brat..
"We can't get through, Padawan. It's too dangerous.", another voice said. A loud noise. The cold floor Revan's cheek was pressed against started to vibrate. Hmm. Where's my mask? Did I leave it somewhere?
Another new voice said, "The ship's lost her stabilizers! She's falling into the atmosphere!" Ship? "We have to get out now!"
The first voice cut in, concerned but still panicked, "But what about Revan?! We can't just leave her!"
"Calm yourself Bastila, there's nothing we can do." the second voice said. Bastila? Memory started flooding back. Her ship.. The Jedi.. Malak..
Revan struggled for a moment to open her eyes. When she finally managed it, what met them was chaos. A large section of the deck plating was torn open, live power conduits that ran under the deck broken and sparking madly. In addition, a raging fire from the exploded terminals was flaring between her and the Jedi. Only a suicidal idiot would try to get past that. She could barely make out Bastila's face through the flames. It was twisted in agony. Had she been hit?
"But we were supposed to-!" Bastila protested. The other Jedi waved her to silence. "Come Bastila.", he ordered her. Bastard, Revan thought, even though she knew he was right. He started to leave.
Bastila cast one last agonized look at the dark figure at the other side of the maelstrom of fire before following.
When the Jedi left, Revan turned her head slowly and painfully to the right and looked up. Y'fan was completely filling the viewports.
.....Beautiful planet..... Revan closed her eyes and waited for that last, final darkness to take her.