Disclaimer: Anything you recognize isn't mine. Anything that makes you go "what's that?" I made up.

ether-fanfic: Thanks. I hope you'll like this chap. Don't worry, you'll find out.

Data: Hope you like this chapter!

snackfiend101: Thanks. As for Revan not being human.. well you'll have to read on to see why I put that line. ;)

A/N: I don't know if I need to tell you cuz you're all smart people (:D), but sel- and sul- are equivalent to miss and mr.

Chapter 3: Awakening and Recovery

Al'tsaar looked down on the female humanoid asleep on the narrow cot, medical sensors attached to various limbs. When the battle overhead had petered out as the Sith retreated, one of the medics in a remote village had rushed in and yelled incoherently about a sentient who was so injured it was unbelievable. Al'tsaar had been doubtful at first. The coastside healers were a half-trained lot at best. Still, he had consented to come and take a look.

He remembered his shocked reaction to the human. Walking up to the bed in which she had been placed, he pulled back the sheet that covered her. His rikkiuan frills had spread to it's full extension, an equivalent to a humans body hair raising. He had never seen such extensive burns and wounds, in addition she had looked half drowned. He had immediately taken her to the best human treatment center on Y'fan, and called in several of his colleagues. It had taken several long hours to stabilize her enough so that treatment could be administered. In truth, they had despaired, thinking that she could not be saved. But they were healers, they had to make the effort. It was a miracle of Y'f that she pulled through.

Over the next 3 weeks she had been monitored closely, until Flieesaw, an expert on human anatomy, could be called in. When he had been informed of her initial condition, and examined her, he had exclaimed that she was an impossibility. She should not have been this well healed. He had then accused the staff of falsifying records.

Al'tsaar and Hirelf, another healer, had convinced him to wait and see. After watching her progress over a week, Flieesaw reluctantly agreed that she was healing at an incredibly accelerated rate. He requested that she be moved to his private clinic on Y'sonnes. After it was granted, Al'tsaar had asked to transfer temporarily as well. He was intrigued at this strange human, he had said. But he also had another reason for wanting to keep an eye on her.

He had told no one, and made sure the backwater healer was silenced, that she had been wearing tattered black robes and clutching a lightsaber in a death grip. Everyone thought she was one of the Republic's soldiers. He had had records forged for her by certain 'contacts'. No one knew Al'tsaar had sympathies toward the Sith. In his opinion, the Republic was stagnating, crumbling like a rotten tree from the inside.

The human moaned slightly. Al'tsaar jumped and strode to the door intending to call out to an aide when she suddenly screamed. He whipped around and saw her thrashing against the sensors. He pounced on her and pinned her arms to the cot.

"Aide!" Al'tsaar bellowed, "Get Healer sul-Flieesaw!!" Gods, she's strong! He thought in amazement, struggling against the Dark Jedi.

"No!" She moaned, "Don't... trap... crystal..." She seemed to be in the grips of a nightmare. A hand suddenly appeared in front of him, pressing a hypospray against her neck. Slowly she stopped struggling and quieted.

Al'tsaar breathed a silent sigh of relief as he straightened. He hadn't been sure he would have been able to hold her down another minute. "I had forgotten how strong humans could be." he commented to no one in particular.

The Y'fanese the hand was attached to briskly stepped forward and checked her over. "Mmm. What caused that reaction?" Flieesaw asked.

"I do not know. I believe she was having a dream." Al'tsaar answered.

The other healer nodded. "I see. Keep a sharp eye on her sul-Al'tsaar." he ordered, "She may regain consciousness soon." Without another word, he left.

Al'tsaar pulled a face. As soon as the healer was out of earshot he said, "Arrogant dinko." He got a chair and sat down next to the cot, occasionally checking the sensors, and waited for her to wake.

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"We can't keep her sedated!" Revan stirred at the voice. Y'fana. Revan automatically noted the language. "Too many drugs will ruin her body's systems!" Who was that loudmouth? She had a pounding headache, and noise was not helping.

She recalled her last dream (or was it a vision?) and suppressed a shudder. It was a dream! Nothing more! But still, I must be wary the next time I see the Star Forge. It doesn't hurt to be cautious. The other two dreams were real memories. Who says the last wasn't as well? A part of her said. And if her dream was true... I will destroy it! Nothing controls the Dark Lord of the Sith! Her thoughts were interrupted as a second voice spoke.

"I know what I am doing! In case you have forgotten this patient is under my jurisdiction, you are merely an observer as you stated when you transferred!" Revan took her earlier thought back. This one was the loudmouth.

"Just because she is your patient does not give you the right to pump her full of unnecessary drugs!" the first voice retorted. What? Unnecessary drugs? Revan decided that she had better set them straight, she disliked drugs. And the faster she could shut them up the faster she could get back to sleep. Cautiously she opened her eyes.

She was in a white, sterile room with various medical equipment situated around her bed. Looking out a doorway she could see a corridor and several healers of different species. Right at the moment they were staring into her room. Their focus wasn't on her however.

Revan finally turned her attention to the pair standing over her, totally oblivious to the scene they were making. They were both Y'fanese, tall and slender, with tiny blue greenish scales on their skins. Revan noted with fascination that their rikkiuan frills, flat fishlike-fins with flexible spines which were attached on their temples, were very stiff and pointed out. A sign of anger. Or readiness to attack. The farthest of the pair was carrying a hypo. Revan assumed this was the doctor who she was 'under'.

"I granted your application because you seemed sensible! Now I see I was wrong! I was trained at a highly respected college on Coruscant! I am the qualified medical doctor! Not you! If you persist in opposing me I will resign your application!" the healer almost screeched. He tried to walk past the other healer, but her 'defender' moved in front, blocking him.

"The place you went to may be respected, but that does not mean you shall be as well!" He snarled rather nicely. He should put more menace in it though, Revan thought.

The healer seemed about ready to explode. His frills were so stiff Revan thought they would snap under pressure. "Get out! If I even see your face around here I'll-" She decided it was time to intervene. Her headache was getting worse.

"Are you always so pompous?" Revan's sharp voice cut through his tirade like a vibroshiv through water. All eyes turned toward her in shock. She was pleased her voice was still strong after being asleep for.. Just how long had she been asleep? "How can a person get some rest around here? You two are more louder than a herd of rancors in heat!"

The two healers felt their frills curl in embarrassment. The human was right. They were both acting like children. Flieesaw was the first to recover. "I apologize. I was concerned. I have never treated a human with extensive injuries such as yours." he said. He looked at the doorway. The impromptu audience suddenly decided that they had pressing business elsewhere.

The other nodded. "I apologize as well. In my experience too many drugs at once is not desirable for the patient. I am called Al'tsaar. And this," he gestured, "is my colleague sul-Flieesaw. We already know who you are of course, sel-D'tanis." Al'tsaar fervently hoped she would pick up on it.

He had no need to be worried. Revan had sensed his deception through the Force. "A pleasure." she said, "So. What is my condition?" Revan had a fairly accurate idea but it had to be said.

Flieesaw immediately came forward. "Are you in pain?" he asked. He cursed Al'tsaar. Maybe she needed the drug that he had been about to administer before he was interrupted. But her next words banished that worry.

"Nothing I can't handle. I was just wondering when can I leave." Actually she was in considerable pain, but she wasn't about to tell him that and be drugged insensible. He seemed the type to like his patients unconscious.

Flieesaw frowned. "You are in no condition yet to even try to stand." He sat down on the chair that Al'tsaar had placed next to her bed. "You have been in a coma for more than seven weeks." Revan blinked. That was more longer than she thought. "Even if you are healing 50 times faster than a normal human, it will still take time for you to be fully healed."

"I see." Revan said, "But I will make a full recovery, right?" She looked at him keenly. If he said no, she would make him have a small 'accident' and hope for a more competent physician. She knew very well she would recover.

Flieesaw's eyes widened, a Y'fan smile. "If it was anybody else I'd doubt they would wake, let alone say to get used to a bed. Yes, you will make a full recovery. I've never seen such rapid healing." Revan smirked inwardly. Obviously, he'd never encountered a Force adept. "But even so, you will have to work to regain what you lost." Revan nodded. She had expected as much.

"sul-Flieesaw, she needs to rest." Al'tsaar told him. And he needed to tell her about her identity.

"I do feel somewhat tired..." Revan said, putting weariness in her voice. Which wasn't too hard. Flieesaw was immediately concerned and admonished himself and Al'tsaar for tiring her. Revan got impatient at his dithering. Waving her hand as if in unconcern, she said "I'm sure there are others who require your attention.", putting a small amount of Force behind it, "sul-Al'tsaar can take care of me, I'm certain."

Flieesaw blinked, and slowly said absently "Well, there is that Twi'lek in ward nine I've been meaning to check up on..." he looked at his fellow healer, "Make sure she doesn't overtax herself." He nodded to Revan and left.

Al'tsaar was impressed. He knew from certain sources that it was hard to coax someone to do something with the Force without completely overcoming their will. He felt his heartbeat pick up slightly. She must be a Sith Master. He thought in awe.

Revan studied him. She was aware that he knew what she had done. "So," she finally said, "D'tanis?"

Al'tsaar did a duck nod, that one uses with a superior. "Yes. Areana D'tanis, a scout for the Republic, stationed on the Wraith, which was destroyed over the Loredias Sea. Only a close scrutiny will reveal it to be false." He lowered his eyes, "I had thought it prudent to provide you with an identity of a Republic soldier since the Sith Fleet's retreat." Revan nodded, and he relaxed. "I have your lightsaber in my possession." he continued tentatively, "I do not wish to bring it in anytime soon, you would have nowhere to put it."

Revan looked sharply at him. "Very well." she slowly said, "Keep it safe." she added in warning. Her tone clearly said what would happen if he didn't. His frills fluttered nervously. "Now leave." she commanded, "I wish to rest. And don't try to wake me for any reason." Again putting a small Force compulsion behind it. Al'tsaar nodded his understanding, bowed and left. Revan wriggled and shifted into a comfortable position, ignoring the pain of excessive movement. Reaching out to the Force she slipped into a full healing trance.

It wasn't until Al'tsaar was halfway to the next ward that he realized that she didn't give him her true name. He shrugged it off. Sith were paranoid. It is not like she is the former Dark Lord of the Sith, he thought with a smile.

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Revan continued to recover. Kolto treatments combined with Revan's frequent healing trances ensured a steady, rapid recovery. Revan was quite pleased with herself, if a little impatient. 3 weeks later, Revan began her physical therapy. She was disgusted at how physically weak she had become. She could barely stand upright without having to grab hold of something for support. Flieesaw assured her that it was normal, and that she should build up her muscle tissue with daily exercise.

Revan set herself with determination. She would recover and get out of this place. Revan had never been one to frequent the medical wing in the Temple, not even when Malak had been injured during training or a mission. She had avoided it at all costs.

Flieesaw monitored her with awe. Truth, he was even a little frightened at the way she concentrated on recovering. She was almost obsessed.

When Revan felt she was strong enough, she began to exercise the basic katas, slowly building up to more complex ones. After she 'persuaded' Flieesaw to move her to a more private room, she had demanded Al'tsaar return her lightsaber. Using the Force she had easily slipped out unnoticed to practice. Al'tsaar also kept her informed along with recent holonet updates on Sith movements. Apparently after the death of Darth Revan (Revan had fought to keep a straight face at this) the Sith had fragmented momentarily, until Darth Malak had consolidated his power.

Now the Sith were on the rampage, burning worlds for no reason other than they were there. Some were even whispering regret that Darth Revan was dead and wished she wasn't. During the former Dark Lord's reign, worlds that had surrendered or been conquered were treated somewhat fairly. Revan's lips had twitched at this bit of gossip. When she killed Malak and reclaimed her title, they would get their wish.

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An alarm beeped steadily. Revan opened her eyes and blinked at the chrono. Why had she set it? Ah, her latest physical. Revan sat up and pushed the covers away from her. She stretched, luxuriating in the feel of her strength. Revan stood up and walked into the 'fresher. After she had showered, she examined her reflection. Thick, silky dark silver hair trailed down her face just past her shoulders, framing an almost exotic face with high cheekbones. Her eyes looked back at her, pale grey. For some reason, they had lost their Darkside taint while she was fighting for her life. Revan smiled at herself. She had no fear of being recognized. It was one of her many secrets that not even Malak knew.

Revan's mother had been half Sylis. A Sylisian's hair and facial features changed drastically during puberty. Since Revan was only part Sylis, the change had not occurred until she was well past it. Before, her hair was black and her face plain. The only other person who knew was her old Master, whom she had confided in because of a childish fear that she would become ugly. Everyone, including Malak, had thought she wore the full robes and mask because she did not want them to see her Darkside disfigurement. Revan had discreetly encouraged the rumor. It was useful if she needed to escape detection. Like now.

Briskly fixing her hair she dressed and went off to her appointment.

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"Ah, there you are sel-Areana." Flieesaw greeted her as Revan approached. "Please lay down." he said, gesturing to an examination table. Revan climbed on. Flieesaw started to check the sensors, occasionally asking a question.

"Very good. I've never seen anyone who recovered this fast." Flieesaw praised her, shutting down the equipment. "If all my patients were as motivated as you, I would have an easier job."

Revan sat up on the examination table. She smiled and repressed the urge to Force Choke him as he continued prattling. What was it with healers and 'you're doing fine' speeches? Revan was quite sure there was a separate class all on it's own for teaching how to make a 'reassuring sermon' at every medical school.

"sul-Flieesaw," Revan finally interrupted, "when can I be allowed to leave?" If she had to stay another month in this place she might not be able to restrain herself from killing them all. Except maybe Al'tsaar. That one was useful and sensible.

Flieesaw hummed a little. "I believe you are fit to return to duty. However, you need to be given a full check-up. Then you must fill out several forms.. but that is mere formality. I have no doubt you will be out of here within the week." He checked the sensors over one last time. "You may go back to your room now if you wish."

Revan immediately hopped off the table. If she wished? Did he really think she wanted to stay and listen to his ramblings? "Thank you sul-Flieesaw." she said politely and left. She went around looking for Al'tsaar. If she was going to leave soon she wanted to discuss how to get her offplanet with a new identity.

She found him in one of the casual check-up rooms, looking over a Y'fan adolescent. Revan waited outside trying not to fidget. When he was done he accompanied his patient over to his parent and reassured her that her child was fine. As soon as he spotted her, Revan jerked her head in a slight movement and walked back to her room.

Once they were inside Revan asked him point blank, "How do I get a new identity? One which can stand up to intense background checks?"

Al'tsaar was taken aback. He had thought she would merely take a transport into Sith controlled space and announce herself. "Why? The identity I had made for you is enough to get you even to Korriban."

She waved her hand lightly. "It is of no concern to you." She said, bringing the full force of her mind on him.

Al'tsaar's eyes glazed and his frills went limp. "It is of no concern to me." he repeated dutifully.

"Now, about a new identity..." Revan prodded.

Al'tsaar blinked. What had they been discussing? Oh, yes. His frills waved gently as he thought about her options. "Your best bet would be with the Exchange. They have an extensive network of information."

Revan shook her head. "They would require I join first. I don't deal with criminal organizations." They were parasites in her opinion. She had put in almost as much effort as the Republic to stop them. But unlike the Republic she had just wiped them out without the fuss of 'criminal evidence' or 'trials'.

"It is not required in this instance. Only those who wish the benefits need to join. Smuggling routes, safe havens, permission to deal and such." He told her. "There are many beings who wish to disappear from the face of the Galaxy. New identities are a commodity, though how good it is depends on how much credits you have. Which is not a problem for you." he added with a smile. When Flieesaw said her bills would be sent to the Republic A'tsaar nearly panicked. He remembered her saying she did not want to be dependent on the Republic.

She then gave an anonymous account number. He recalled clearly Flieesaw's reaction. He had never seen frills flutter so fast in surprise. She had told him later in private that the account was for emergencies such as this. This just reinforced his earlier assumption that she was a Sith Master.

Revan nodded thoughtfully. "Can you put me in touch with the Exchange?" she asked. Distasteful as it may be, she had no choice in the matter.

"No, but I know a few contacts who could." he said. "I can get you in touch tomorrow, if you wish."

"Do that." Revan said. As he turned to leave she asked, "Do you know where I can find a place where they make custom armor?"

"I am sorry. I do not know such places. I am no fighter." he said apologetically. "You might ask the contact. I believe he knows how to acquire equipment for those of your.. profession." Revan nodded.

After he left Revan meditated, forming her plans.

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