Disclaimer: Not Mine…What? Noooooo! Eh, I'm over it.
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Chapter 2: Shadows of Doubt
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"Your name?"
The room is dark, I…I can't see anything, but…I hear someone talking.
Who's talking?
I wait quietly, listening to any more signs of speech.
"What is your name?"
I hear it again, the same voice that asks me the same thing everyday.
"Who are you?"
That's a good question, but I'm not too sure myself.
"Can you hear me?"
I nod, just barley though. It's hard to move…so instead I blink, even though I still can't see, I'm pretty sure whoever was asking me that could see me.
"Good, we're getting somewhere…"
Knew it. So, I'm somewhere where I can't move, cant see, don't remember anything that happened and people I don't know are asking me odd questions, or better yet interrogating me…Great.
"Now, can you tell me who you are?"
I don't respond, half because I don't trust them, and the other because I truly don't know.
"Come on, try."
I try to move, but I still can't…something's holding me down.
I hear something…a door opening. I can't do anything, what was that? I can't get out! Somebody help me!
I panic more.
The reality of my situation hitting me hard, Where was I? Why am I trapped here?
I try to scream, to yell out for help…but nothing comes out. My voice is broken.
"Please, just…tell me your name, you're going to be ok."
The voice asks that same question again, ending with reassurance.
My name…
"I…I'm not sure." I try, I want to reply…anything to get out of this place, but my mouth isn't working.
I'm trapped.
I feel a sharp pain, but not really pain, just something pushing against my arm…
I feel calmer…I.
I…I can't think anymore.
I don't know what to do, I don't know...
I just want to sleep.
>>
The Healer stood up and walked out of the room, and headed towards the chamber where Master Vandar and the others were. Today's report would be the same as always.
Though Malak's progress in his healing was doing well, he still showed no signs of whether the reprogramming worked or not. It had been a month since they had given him a new identity as a soldier in the Republic army, and his signs of improvement were small if at all.
The first day that he had spoken with him, Malak's brain functions were no higher then that of a newly born child. Slowly however, as the days passed, he began to improve.
He showed signs of intellect normal for a young man his age, and seemed to understand everything that he was asking him. Still however, they had completely no idea if this new identity worked or not, Malak still wasn't able to move or talk…or see for that matter.
His mind was fixed but his motor functions were still badly damaged.
His brain worked and that in it self was a miracle.
He could form thoughts and think, feel things such as fear, anxiety, calm…as he had just witnessed through his Force readings, exactly like a normal person, but he had no way of functioning physically.
He was now literally trapped within his own body.
"How's he doing?"
The young healer stopped in his tracks and turned around towards the direction of the question.
"He's fine Master." He replied upon seeing who it was.
"Good." Master Vrook nodded. "What of his progress?"
The healer's face dropped and he looked away, unable to face him. Everyday he had to do this, and everyday he could tell the old Master's hope was diminishing, little by little…but he had to tell him anyways. "He's…not improving much..."
Master Vrook's face fell slightly.
He sighed. "I see…"
He moved his gaze upon the form of the young man laying there, looking as if he was dead. "You may go now."
He looked at the young healer. "Report to Master Vandar and inform him of Malak's progress, then go and prepare for departure."
The healer looked at the old Master in surprise. "Master?"
"Yes, we'll need your help in the rescue mission." He said sadly, still looking at the unmoving figure of Malak. "We need to be quiet, and quick. Getting Bastila back won't be easy, but I don't want us losing another Padawan, especially one as important as her."
Vrook turned around and looked at the young Healer. "You can do it Bandon, I have faith in you."
He nodded. "Yes Master. I will do so at once."
He bowed and turned around, heading towards the Council Chambers.
Vrook watched the young man go. "That boy will do great things, kind, caring and thoughtful. Quite powerful in the Force too."
He turned his thoughts back onto Malak and the rescue of Bastila.
Things just had to work.
The entire Galaxy's fate depended on it.
Without Malak, there was no one left to help defeat Revan, and without Bastila, the entire Republic will be doomed. Both were critically important and sure to play a great part if they were to stop Revan's horrors. He looked at the figure of Malak lying on the bed…so broken and hurt.
What Revan did to him was horrible, the worst thing that could happen to a person…
He sighed.
"I only hope we'll get to Bastila in time…" He thought dejectedly. "I only hope…"
He turned away and walked out of the door and headed towards the Council Chambers to discuss their plans of action to get aboard Revan's Flagship.
This time it wasn't going to be easy…
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"Alright so you all understand what you will do?" Master Vandar asked the ten Jedi in front of him. "Get in, get out, and do not fight unless you have to. It's best if we were undetected."
They all nodded. "Yes Master."
Master Vandar smiled. "Good, May the Force be with you…"
They all bowed and turned to exit the room, leaving the four Jedi Masters to their discussions.
Master Vandar turned to Vrook. "Is it wise to send Bandon with them?"
Master Vrook looked at him, confidence in his eyes. "Yes, I sense a greater importance in him…He will help rescue Bastila."
Master Zhar turned to him.
"Are you sure Vrook?" He asked. "How can you be sure Bastila has not been killed yet? Or worse…turned to the dark side?"
"Revan won't kill her, I'm sure of it." He looked sadly at Zhar. "He will most certainly try to turn her, her Battle Meditation is very valuable to him right now…" He sighed. "I only hope we're not too late. She is strong willed my Padawan is, that much I am sure of, but I can only hope that Revan's lures and false teachings of the Dark side isn't stronger…"
He looked up and turned to Vandar. "We must act soon my old friend."
Master Vandar nodded.
"I agree. The sooner the better… before it's too late."
>>
"Hee, well good morning Bast." Revan slowly walked up to her cell. "And how are you today?" He laughed.
"You monster…" Bastila looked up and gave him a venomous glare. "I'll NEVER join the dark side…"
Revan stared at the young woman in front of him before smiling once more behind his mask. "Never say never Basti."
"Why don't you just kill me now?" She sighed dejectedly. If she couldn't escape his grasp, she would rather become one with the Force then join him.
She wasn't going to betray her teachings, no matter what…
"Ooh, come on now Bast, I'm not such a bad guy you know." He pouted behind his mask.
"Please join me?" He asked in a tiny voice, mocking her.
His smile reemerged behind his mask as he laughed loudly.
Bastila only glared at him harder.
"Gamorrean pig." She muttered under her breath.
"Ahh well, so I guess that's a no?" He laughed. "Well alright Bast, you made me do this."
He snapped his fingers.
Two Sith soldiers appeared before him, bowing.
"So they had been there the whole time…" Bastila thought. "It's obvious that he doesn't trust me alone, he's even ordered guards with cloaking devises to guard me."
She groaned and pulled on her Force restraint collar. "As if this wasn't more then enough to stop me…" She groaned inwardly.
She pulled on it again. She had to get it off if she was going to use the Force to contact her Master…
She needed their help.
"Guards," Revan ordered. "Take her out of that cell, I'm sure our princess there doesn't want to stay in that nasty little place." He paused, obviously thinking of a place to put her.
Suddenly, he had the perfect plan. "Take her to the torture chamber, and lock her up on one of the slabs." He ordered nonchalantly. He looked at her shocked face, and he smiled behind his mask, watching her as she was being dragged away by two Sith soldiers into the torture chamber kicking and trying to free herself of their grasp.
Luckily however, the young Jedi was no match for two Sith soldiers without her Force powers.
Her attempts at escape, needless to say, were futile.
"Don't worry Bast…" He thought. "I'm not going to hurt you…"
"Well…not much anyway." He chuckled sadistically. "I'm just going to need you to see things my way."
"Because sooner or later, and I'd rather have sooner, You WILL join me…" He whispered calmly to himself as he watched her disappear at a turn around the corner.
He walked coolly towards the torture chamber after them as just as Bastila's screams of her hatred towards him rang out loudly throughout the holding cell.
>>
The young healer, Bandon walked into the Council Chambers and stopped at the center of the Masters.
"We are ready to leave now Masters." He announced.
Master Vandar spoke up while the other Masters listened. "Remember your training young one…"
The young man nodded. "Yes Master."
"And may the Force be with you…"
"And with you as well." Bandon bowed towards the other Masters, then turned around and walked out towards the ships where his fellow comrades were waiting.
It was up to them to rescue Bastila…
>>
I couldn't take it anymore. Everything that has happened…the pain he has inflicted upon me and the lies he has told me…they can't be true.
This…beast is not Revan, it couldn't be. I must remind myself of that every time I face him.
Everything he has become, so different from the Republic hero I had always made him out to be, the Jedi I thought he was.
He is nothing but a monster.
I hate him.
There is no emotion…I will be the one to stop him one day…I know I will. I must. I'm the only who can.
There is no ignorance…Killing him will be easy…I will stop the terror of Darth Revan once and for all.
There is no passion…
He will die.
There is no death…
No…
I snapped out of my thoughts of the dark side. I won't let him win.
I will not hate…
There is peace…The Masters with their wisdom shall be able to help him…I myself cannot do it alone.
There is knowledge.
I am calm, at peace. I must keep a leveled head.
There is serenity.
I shall not die by his hands, nor shall I fall…
I won't let him win.
I opened my eyes, feeling peace, and stared straight into the eyes of the Dark Lord himself.
Revan.
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He could feel the fight within her die out as she took comfort in the Jedi Code. "Naïve Bastila," He sighed. "Poor, poor naïve Bastila… Do you really think that the Code will help you?" Revan spat bitterly.
By proving his point, he resumed his torture of her by blasting her with his powerful Force lightning once, stopping only when he felt she was about to pass out.
She gasped, breathing deeply and heavily at the momentary stop of pain.
He came closer to her and took off her Force restraint.
Bastila looked at him with surprise.
Revanstared at her, the collar in his hand. He broke it what a simple snap of wrist, and the broken remains fell to the floor.
"Don't think just because I took off the Force restraint that you'd be able to contact the Council…not that they'd care I mean." He told her. "The restraint was only a precaution, just incase the Council members were strong enough to get through my shield to reach you."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Revan could tell that Bastila had been fazed, herflicker of hope diminished,even though she'd never show it.
He looked at her, deciding to take another approach.
"I'm not here to hurt you Bast…you know that right?" He asked, voice kind and persuading, in a conversational tone.
"I just want to show you." He said. "To show you of your capabilities, your power…"
Bastila only glared at him.
He smirked.
She wanted to do this the hard way.
"So…tell me Bast, why do you insist on being a lapdog for the Masters?" Revan asked. "You could be so much more then that…" He leaned towards her. "I can make you powerful…"
Bastila spat in his face. "Save your breath Revan, I will not fall." She turned her head to the side, away from him.
He smiled and leaned down close to her ear, his mask brushing against it. "There is no good or evil Bastila, not light or dark." He stood up. "There is only power…power, and those too weak to grasp it must fall."
He sent her another Force lightning to emphazise his pointand she cried out in pain.
He paused for a moment, allowing her to speak.
"You say that now Revan, and yet you hide your face from the galaxy behind that hideous mask…Why? What does the great Lord of the Sith have to hide?"
He simply scoffed. "I have nothing to hide Bastila, and I have nothing to prove to you."
A smirk fell upon Bastila's face this time as she continued to taunt him. "Or, Revan," She said, purposely stressing his name, showing him that she wasn't afraid.
The Sith Lord noticed and admired her audacity; She'd make a find Sith indeed.
"Could it be because, at the end of the day, you are too afraid to look upon your own face because of all the evils you have done?"
That hit a nerve that Revan hadn't known existed.
He lifted his right arm, as if about to strike her.
Bastila closed her eyes, preparing for the strike.
Surprisingly however, it never came.
Slowly, she opened one eye and saw the Sith Lord still in place, his arm still in position to strike.
Suddenly, he sighed, returning his hand back to his side.
She couldn't tell because of the mask hiding his face, but she was sure that he was smiling.
"So, tell me Bastila, you are the one suffering for the Council and yet they are not here to save you." Revan stated casually. "You stay ever loyal, even now, after hours and hours of torture, claming that the Jedi will save you…yet, no one has come to your rescue."
He leaned down close to her, so that their eyes were staring directly into one another. "What could possibly be more important than rescuing you? It's been weeks now and yet still no sign of them."
"So I'm curious Bast, why do you still fight for them, when they obviously do not care enough about you to even try to rescue you? He asked.
When Bastila stayed silent, he knew he had won.
He sighed. "It's because to them, you are after all, only a tool…"
He smiled evilly as he saw the flicker of doubt within her eyes.
It wouldn't be long now…
He gave her another round of Force lightning; her screams of pain filled the air.
>>
You are only a tool…
Her thoughts were racing; doubt and confusion filled her mind.Through all her pain and torturing, something that Revan said hit her hard.
It was true.
Her whole body and mind felt numb, even Revan's horrific attacks were beginning to numb away.
She felt like a tool of the Council…
No matter how hard she tried, they never acknowledged her achievements. Sometimes she even wondered if her Master even cared about her at all.
A simple 'good' was always said to her for her accomplishments…even the day she mastered the technique of Battle Meditation, something for someone her age was unheard of, she was given a simple nod of approval by Master Vrook and sent on the mission to capture Revan and Malak the next day because of her abilities, and nothing else.
Perhaps Revan was right…
Her Master never showed any affection towards her, maybe he was sitting in his chambers right now, wondering who to choose next to become his padawan…
While she was left here at the mercy of Revan…
The thought greatly angered her.
She cried out in pain, she could take no more of the torture Revan was bestowing upon her, and also because she knew he was right.
Revan had won…
Maybe she should join him…maybe.
She was so confused right now, the pain making it hard for her to think.
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Revan smiled, he could feel the dark thoughts slowly consuming her as he watched her struggle with the truth.
He could feel her resolve slowly diminishing.
Something he has said had gotten to her, and soon, she would be begging to become his apprentice…
He smiled inwardly.
Suddenly, a sharp pain went through his mind, snapping him out of his thoughts. He jumped back from her in surprise and pain. He fell to the ground, her back facing away from her.
What had she just done?
Bastila smiled weakly, the pain stopping momentarily.
She had gathered enough energy to use her Battle Meditation on him. This time was different however it felt different. Something went through the two of them.
Normally, he wouldn't have noticed, and she wouldn't have been able to hear…feel his thoughts?
She just shrugged it off…at least the pain stopped.
That was more important.
"Let me go Revan…" She said weakly.
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Revan's back still faced away from her. Turning around, he took his mask off with his hand and looked straight into her eyes.
He brought his face close to hers. "What did you do?"
He yelled, punching his fist into the slab that she was lying on, close to her head. She gasped in shock.
It was as if she had burrowed deep within his mind and now unknowingly linked herself to him…the pain was subsiding now, but the confusion was still there. But the confusion she was feeling wasn't only hers. It wasn't much, but still there. She could actually sense a tiny bit of his confusion and worry as well.
Just what had she done to him?For the first time, Bastila saw who Revan truly was.
He was a young man, perhaps only twenty years old. His eyes were brown…yet flashed yellow at times. His light brown hair fell in front of his face as he leaned down towards her, still snarling. He was completely different from what she had always imagined.
Was this truly the Dark Lord of the Sith?
She wondered as she stared back into the eyes that were now bright gold, concerned of what he was going to do to her.
>>
He breathed in and calmly collected himself while he tried to figure out what had happened. It didn't take him long however, to figure out what the young girl had done. She had collected enough energy to use her Battle Meditation on him.
He laughed.
If it was strong enough to penetrate even his mental defenses, he knew that they would win in no time…those republic dogs would be no match for Darth Revan and his army with Bastila on his side, he was sure of it.
Now he only needed to persuade her to join him.
He wanted her loyalty, and he was going to get it, one way or another.
>>
His face was close to hers, and before Bastila knew what happened, Revan, the most powerful and feared dark lord of the Sith since Exar Kun brought his lips down onto hers, in a kiss so passionate, she almost forgot who he was, and where she was.
After what seemed like eternity to her, he broke apart, panting for breath, he smiled at her, as he leaned his head down close to her ear.
"Join me Bast." He whispered against her. "Join me and we can rule the Sith as Master and Apprentince…"
She turned away, fighting the temptation that was Revan, trying to grab onto whatever meaning of peace and tranquility there was left for her within the Jedi code.
Revan bought his hands up and caressed her face, gently turning it back to face his.
"And maybe more…"
Bastila tried to move, tried to get away from him while she still had the code to help her.
She couldn't fall.
Why not? The Jedi do not care for you…Join Revan, become powerful, realize your true potential!
A tiny part of her yelled out.
But she couldn't… could she?
No...
She wouldn't.
"Please Revan…" She sobbed, "Please just kill me."
Revan smiled, looking into her eyes. "No Bast. I'll make you see, help you see…"
"You just wait, a few more-"
Suddenly, the alarms of the BladeRunner blared loudly.
His ship was under attack!
"Those Jedi fools will never learn will they…" He inwardly groaned with disgust. He looked at Bastila, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.
She squirmed, trying to get out of his embrace.
"Ahh, well Bast. I guess I was wrong. Your little Jedi friends were planning on coming to get you." He laughed. "No matter, your thoughts have betrayed you Bast. I know you've felt the power of the dark side." He smirked wickedly. "That was but a simple taste of it to whet your appetite."
He sighed wearily. "Now go and leave this place."
Bastila looked at him, confusion written across her face. "What are you saying?"
He laughed. "I'm letting you go Basti, go back to the Academy and you'll see the truth in my words."
"You will be mine Bast, and when you do, I'll make sure you come begging…"
Before she could respond, he used the butt of his lightsaber and knocked her out. Hewalked over to the place where his mask had fallen, picked it up, and placed it securly back onto his face.
He then calmly walked back over to Bastila, removing her chains as hecarefully placed her over his shoulders, her unconsiousbody slumping into his arms.
"Force…" He thought. "She sure is beautiful, I'm almost sad to be giving her back to those fools…"
He picked her up and carried her out of the torture chamber and placed her back into her holding cell. He took a moment to admire her sleeping form, slightly wondering if she was all right.
Suddenly the alarms, still blaring loudly snapped him out of his thoughts.
"What are you doing?" He mentally snarled at himself. "Go kill those Jedi bastards for even attempting a rescue mission!"
No…he couldn't do that. Someone would have to be alive to get her back to the Academy. He was going to bring his battle to the Masters themselves, and what better way to hurt them then to have their most prestigious Padawan fall to the dark side, willingly?
"Yes…that's why I don't want to hurt her…" He mentally persuaded himself. "She is the key to his revenge."
He didn't care for her, no. Though he admired her for her fire and ability, she was still nothing to him.
It was absolutely preposterous! A greatly feared Sith Lord feeling…compassion?
No, all he cared for was power…
And this girl was going to give it to him.
So all this girl was, was simply a weapon against the Jedi…right?
Angry and confused by his thoughts, he walked towards the sounds of battle, his lightsaber ignited, ready to taste blood.
>>
"Master…" The Jedi coughed. "Is…safe."
The young Jedi who couldn't be more then seventeen, died in the arms of his Master an hour after he had returned to the Enclave badly injured.
Zhar closed his eyes, a single tear falling from them.
He sighed.
His young padawan had been the only one to make it back…
Everyone else was either dead, or now a prisoner of the Sith Lord.
He stood up and walked towards the Council Chambers.
Master Vandar looked at him sadly, feeling the pain his friend was going through. It pained him horribly that this was his old padawan that causing such suffering…
He wished he never had taught young Revan the ways of the Force in the first place…But the boy he knew was nothing like the monster he was now.
He had been gentle, kind and peaceful…
"The dark side twists and changes a person until they become the very mockery of what they once stood for…" He thought.
He sighed and looked at the young Jedi resting on the bed in the Med Bay.
He only hoped they weren't too late in rescuing Bastila…
He looked to the other side, and on the other side of her laid the newly programmed Malak.
"You two are the last hope of the Republic…" He thought. "The entire fate of the Galaxy, perhaps even Revan's fate, lays in the hands of you two."
He turned around and walked towards the Council Chambers, closing the door of the Med Bay behind him.
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A/N:
Hope the edited version is better than the old one. lol, once again I simply corrected mistakes and whatnot. Oh, by the way, the first part was in Malak's P.O.V, just in case you didn't know xP
Also, original title was: The Power of Light Prevails…for now.
Bad right? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Sooo… I decided to change it to Shadows of Doubt.
What? No better?
Oh well, too bad I like it :P
Because yeah…Bastila's doubt and… ok, yeah, you get the idea.
I'll be uploading the revised chapter three and four soon!
Hope you enjoyed!
Until next time…