Title: Destiny's New Path
Summary: A what if. What if it wasn't Revan on the Bridge when Malak fired on his Master's ship? Suddenly the Apprentice is betrayed by the Master, and Revan then infiltrates the ranks of the Jedi. The Dark Lords mission: turn Bastila to the Dark Side of the Force.
Disclaimer: George Lucas and Bioware own the basis of this FanFic. I am merely entertaining the idea that I am good at making Star Wars stories (stupid ideas).
Author's Note: Typhoon99: "To be honest it doesn't seem like that big a difference from the game, only your replacing Revan with Malak and more or less going on the same journey." Oks, thanks for your complaint/criticism/pointer-out (oks, I don't know what exactly it was), I'll try and build a new story around him in this chapter.
Chapter 5: Kayle's Quest
I lay in the infirmary, the pain of Taris still with me, though we'd been in hyperspace for hours now. Kayle had come in when I'd first regained consciousness to see if I was alright.
"I'm fine." I insisted, though in truth I was as sick as a Kath Hound, feeling nauseous and somewhat dizzy every time I moved too fast. "How are the other Jedi, Erik, Seth, and Zora?"
"They're doing okay." Kayle said. "Zora and Seth are recovering in their respective dormitories, but Erik didn't seem affected by it like you three."
I sat up faster then I should've, and my head spun somewhat, I lied back down. "What do you mean he didn't seem affected?"
"I mean he didn't seem affected. As in, unlike you three, he was up front in the cockpit helping Canderous and then Carth getting us away from Taris before we got killed."
This time I sat up so fast it felt like I'd left my head behind, and took a few seconds to recover my line of thought.
Revan had been known to have been able to disconnect himself from the battle. Was it possible Erik was Darth Revan? Then another thought occurred to me. I looked up at Kayle.
"Where's our destination?" I asked.
Kayle shrugged. "We don't really have one yet; we're just drifting in hyperspace at the moment."
I nodded. "Okay, plot a course for Dantooine. We can find shelter from the Sith there." This was only half-truth. True, we could be sheltered from the Sith, but I also wanted to discuss the matter of Kayle's sudden Force Sensitivity.
Kayle nodded and exited the infirmary. I let myself slip into a healing trance to try and deaden the pain that I had felt on Taris.
The three tall claw-like mechanisms separated like a giant black flower as we approached. From the center rose a small sphere of swirling light, that expanded to reveal a galaxy maps of green, blue and black lights. Our journey down the Dark Path had begun.
I had recovered most of my strength more or less when I left my trance, and found out we still had at least an hour or so to go before we reached Dantooine, so I stood and went to find Kayle. There were a couple of things I had to discuss with him.
"Like what?" He asked me. I must've jumped a foot in the air when he'd asked that, and I turned around to face him.
"What do you mean, like what…?"
"Do we have to go through this again?" Kayle asked, smirking as I opened my mouth to say something, and then closed it again. Three or four times... Then he continued, "I mean, what do you want too discuss with me?"
Taking a deep breath so as to keep myself from strangling him, I spoke, "I want to discuss how you managed to find me with so little to go one? And also how you managed to avoid capture by the Sith, won the Taris Dueling Championship, stole uniforms to get into the Lower City, learned I was a prisoner of the Vulkars, broke into the Black Vulkar base, gained sponsorship from the Hidden Beks, and became the Taris Swoop Champion. That is quite an achievement."
"What can I say, I'm a talented individual."
Kayle said; the corners of his mouth curling into another smirk.
"Yes I can see that, although your modesty certainly leaves a lot to be desired." I said.
The lack of modesty was a trait that Malak was well known for. Perhaps there was more of him left in Kayle then I had thought.
"Very well, that is all I wanted to know."
I said, turning on my heel and walked away. I had made up my mind to contact the Jedi Council, and alert them to the power I had been feeling while talking to Kayle.
We landed on one of the few landing pads located near the Jedi Enclave not long before dawn. Everyone was either asleep in their respective dormitories, or just getting to sleep (in Carth's case). I on the other hand, had just woken up. Deciding to use my time awake to discuss the situation with the Jedi Council, I got up from my bunk and snuck out of the Starboard Dormitory, which I shared with Zora and Mission.
I crept out of the Ebon Hawk and down some stairs into the Enclave itself.
Once inside the Jedi Enclave I no longer had to creep, as most of the students were already up. I walked into the Council Chambers to find three of the four Dantooine Council Members: Vandar, Zhar and Vrook. They had obviously not yet sensed my approach.
"Master Dorak is inspecting the Archives for any information on the Force cloaking." Vandar said.
"Good, the sooner we discover the identity of Revan's disguise the sooner we will find him." Vrook said.
"Indeed." Zhar said. "The longer Revan is among us, the more chance he has of-!"
"Padawan Bastila!" Vandar suddenly said. The other two Jedi Masters turned to look at me. Vandar stepped forward. "Heard of the tragedy at Taris, we did. To see you alive and well, we are glad."
"I too, am glad I survived the attack on Taris, but I'm afraid I did not come with good news." I said.
Vandar frowned, Zhar looked at me curiously. Vrook's face remained neutral, giving away nothing.
"The Force has begun to grow inside Kayle Starfire again. However, it is more then the flicker that was expected." I continued. "It is a powerful collective of Force energy; wild and untamed. I do not think we can leave him untrained without risk of losing him, once again, to the Dark Side."
The Masters' seemed to consider what I had said for a few minutes, and then Master Vrook spoke up.
"Bring him before us. It is for the Masters to approve training, not a willful Padawan," he said.
I was somewhat taken aback by his remark, but said nothing. I had learned long ago not to talk back to the Jedi Masters.
"Very well, at this time he is still sleeping." I said shakily. "I will bring him before the Council as soon as he awakens."
That said, I turned and left the Council Chambers. Vrook's remark had hurt me more then I had thought; I knew that it was the Council's choice as to who was trained and who was not trained, but I had merely been pointing out that to leave him untrained would be a danger to the Order. I hadn't meant any disrespect to them.
I waited for Kayle outside the Ebon Hawk for what seemed like hours. Perhaps, at that moment, I doubted how trustworthy the Council could be. From what I'd just witnessed, it seemed they could turn on anyone without warning, and I wasn't sure if I really wanted to be like that.
I quickly squashed those thoughts. How could I have even doubt the Jedi Council? They were the building blocks of our Order and beliefs! …who would teach us, if they couldn't be trusted? I shook my head, this is foolish nonsense! I told myself, and slapped my forehead, leaning against the wall weakly. My thoughts were starting to betray me...
"Hey, Bastila... Bastila, are you all right?" An insistent voice was calling my name and I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at Kayle. I swallowed, this could not be happening. I nodded, not trusting my voice and stood up, looking straight into those brilliant brown eyes.
"Would you mind backing up a little?" I asked, quickly regaining my thoughts, and using the Force to push Kayle backwards a little.
"What the-…?" He began, but I held up my hand and he fell quiet, obviously seeing this was not the time to complain to me.
Then I remembered the reason I'd been waiting outside the Ebon Hawk. "I've spoken with the Council; they wish to speak with you immediately."
"An audience with the Jedi Council…?" Carth asked from behind Kayle. Until he'd spoken I hadn't even realized he was standing there. I must have doubted the Council much more, than I had thought ...if my senses had been that far off.
"They probably don't want to be kept waiting, huh?"
"I'm sorry Carth, but you may not accompany us." I said, and before Carth could object, I took Kayle's hand, though somewhat reluctantly, and pulled him into the Enclave.
I led Kayle down the halls of the Enclave, leaving Carth outside at the Ebon Hawk. Carth didn't argue about being left behind and Kayle didn't argue about being pulled along (although I let go of his hand as soon as we were inside). When we reached the doors to the Council Chambers, I stopped.
"Okay, bow when you enter, bow when you leave, don't speak unless they talk to you."
I had said this a thousand times before, having had to introduce many newly-promoted-apprentices to the Council, so I said it automatically.
Kayle merely raised an eyebrow and smirked at me and I wanted to strangle him for that, but this wasn't the time, I told myself.
As we entered, I saw that all four Council Members stood at the back of the room now, and Vandar spoke as we came closer.
"Ah, so you are the one who rescued Bastila on Taris." He said. "Welcome to the Jedi Enclave. I am Jedi Master Vandar. With me are Master Zhar, Master Vrook, and Master Dorak."
"We have called you here to discuss the matter of your newly manifesting Force powers." Zhar said. "Already your powers are strengthening beyond your control, and we believe that if we ignore it any longer we risk you falling to the Dark Side."
Vrook cleared his throat and spoke up. "This war against Darth Revan has ravaged the Jedi Order. Many Jedi have fallen in battle, slain by the Dark Jedi and Sith we fight. And many more have fallen to the lure of the Dark Side."
Vandar nodded as Vrook spoke, and then spoke up himself. "The Council would not normally accept an adult for training, but we believe this to be a special case." His gaze flickered to Bastila, then back Kayle.
"At this time, you are accepted into the Jedi Order as an initiate. You're Jedi Training will begin immediately."
Kayle had been training for about two weeks when he came into my quarters during my meditations.
"Is there something I can do for you Kayle?" I asked. Kayle stood there in the doorway for a moment longer, then came and sat down in front of me, crossing his legs as I had.
"Will you teach me to meditate?" He asked. I was somewhat taken aback, at least in a good way this time, by this request …but I nodded anyways. Then I began recalling everything Master Vrook had taught me to teach to Kayle.
"Okay, take a deep breath – let it out…and again…then empty your mind and clear your thoughts. Join you mind with the Force…feel my thoughts…
We stood before the great black stone door. I stood back a bit from my companion, someone in dark grey almost black robes, and wearing a crimson and black mask. I watched, in awe, as he pressed in the panel in the center of the door, and after a moment, it slid open.
"Are you sure this is wise Revan?" I asked. With a wave of his cloak my companion, Revan, spun around, his hand raised and fingers curled as if he was gripping something, and I felt a claw like grip suddenly encircle my throat. He reached to my throat, trying to remove the grip. But it was useless. "My lord, forgive me…I would not question…your wisdom…re-release me, I plea…" And my throat was released. But I heard a snarl come through the voice synthesizer in Revan's mask.
"Do not question me again, Malak!" He hissed, and turned away to walk into the next room. At the back of the room stood some strange tripod, curved like claws, sitting upon a second tripod.
The three tall claw-like mechanisms separated like a giant black flower as we approached. From the center rose a small sphere of swirling light, that expanded to reveal a galaxy maps of green, blue and black lights. Our journey down the Dark Path had begun.
I opened my eyes, my gaze locking with Kayle's.
"Did you see it?" We asked in unison. My eyes widened. "…A vision!" We both said. Kayle stood, and helped me up. Our quarrels forgotten for the moment, we sprinted down the halls to the Council Chambers.
I quickly explained our vision to the Council, and they seemed absolutely dumbstruck. Vandar looked thoughtful, Zhar looked curious, Dorak looked fearful, Vrook looked like he always did.
"It would appear that this is a sign of a Force Bond, a link in destinies, a connection in fate." Vandar said. He closed his eyes in thought. "Your training must continue, more so now that this link has grown. For as long as you go untrained, you risk falling to the Dark Side, and this will put Bastila at risk of falling to the Dark Side."
And so we doubled our efforts in training, teaching Kayle the ways of the Jedi.
I was shocked, three weeks after the vision, when Zhar announced that Kayle was to be promoted to the rank of Padawan. I wasn't surprised, seeing as he already knew it, somewhere in his mind.
All that was left was for Kayle to pass the three tests of the Padawan Trials: 1. Recitation of the Jedi Code – 2. Construct a Lightsaber – 3. A final test set by the Jedi Master.
Kayle had memorized the Jedi Code the first time he heard it, and understood the meanings of all the lines after only an hour of contemplation. It had taken me years to understand the Code!
His lightsaber was build near perfectly; I suppose knowledge of actions remains with someone even after the destruction of the mind, as he had already constructed three lightsabers in his previous lifetime. He chose to become a Jedi Consular; the exact opposite of what Malak had been!
His final test was to acquire three items in the depths of the Enclave Lower Levels. They were sending him on a scavenger hunt in a part of the Enclave's normally forbidden to Padawans! He was only an Initiate! What was worse, they had forbidden me to accompany him. In fact, he had to face the trials of the Lower levels completely on his own.
Of course, just because I couldn't go with him, didn't mean I couldn't watch over him. At the time I told myself I just didn't want him to get himself killed, as that would cause me unthinkable pain.
I retired to my Enclave quarters, sat cross-legged on my bed, and allowed the Force to join with me, to allow the Force to merge with my thoughts, and my mind…
I looked around the small room I'd dropped into. It was too dark to see, so I ignited my emerald green Lightsaber to light up the room. It worked, more or less, but it flooded the walls with an eerie green light.
Keeping my lightsaber in front of me, I stepped forward and felt a tug at the back of my mind. With split second reactions I gathered the Force around me and Force-jumped into the air as the floor gave way beneath me.
I landed on the very edge of the hole that had just formed beneath me, and used the Force to push myself forwards so I didn't fall back.
"Who dares enter my domain?"
I looked up, searching the dark room for whoever had spoken. In my haste to land, I'd dropped my lightsaber next to me and it had deactivated.
"Who walks my path while I feed on the night?"
The woman's voice again. As I stood I held out my hand and the lightsaber sailed up off the ground and into my hand. I tapped the activation button, and the green blade shot out of the hilt as a crimson blade appeared out of the darkness, the hilt held by a young Cathari woman, perhaps not even twenty-one years old.
But there was something wrong with her; her eyes were not the beautiful yellow of most Cathar, but a sickly, green-yellow. And her fur was matted and twisted and dark.
"Leave me in my darkness!" She shouted, and I suddenly realized she was speaking in her native. But…since when did I understand the Cathar language?
I didn't get a chance to contemplate this, as she rushed forward, her blade striking in a flurry of movements. I managed to parry them without too much trouble, and then made my own attack on her, though it wasn't as accurate or fast as hers had been.
The Cathar attacked me ferociously, enlisting the power Dark Side of the Force to aid her. But even with the Dark Side pulsing through her, when it finally looked like she would win, I turned the tide and began making my attacks more ferocious. This caught her off guard, and within moments I'd disarmed her.
She screamed at me in some form of Cathari I didn't recognize, as if losing this battle had been her death sentence.
"Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you." I whispered soothingly, trying to use the Force to cool her heated temper. She stopped screaming, though it may have been that she was out of breath, because she was taking in deep breaths as if she'd run a marathon.
"Who are you?" I asked. She narrowed her eyes at me, but didn't scream again when she opened her mouth.
"I am Juhani!" She snarled. "And this is my lair. These Lower levels are where I can rule the darkness and feed upon it. This is the place I came to, when I struck down my Master; when I bettered her in combat. It is mine!"
"You fell to the Dark Side?" I asked Juhani. She growled at me.
"Maybe I fell…or maybe I broke the chains the Jedi place on their students! I will no longer be held back by the Council." She shouted, and before I could react, she had used the Force to pull her fallen Lightsaber off the ground and back into her hand.
I ignited my green saber just as the red blade of her saber ignited and struck, only to be blocked by the green blade.
"Don't fight me Juhani!" I whispered. "If your freedom is what you truly want, forsake the Dark Side. It will only keep you wanting more…" I gathered the Force around me and thrust its power forward at Juhani, throwing her backwards against the wall.
When she stood I could see changes in her. She had not forsaken the Dark Side entirely, but her face was recovering some of its former Cathar beauty.
"You…you are strong…stronger, even then me, even after I embraced the Dark Side." She whispered. "I am pathetic. Here I am in this dank, dark, dampened place, consumed by my anger, and still I do not have the power I believed would be mine-should be mine!"
"That is the path of the Dark Side. You will always want more, and always get less." Kayle said.
"But what else can I do?" Juhani whispered. "I struck down my Master in anger…I let my passions take control of me and killed Quatra in cold blood. How can the Council forgive me for that?"
"Show them that you have released yourself of these emotions." Kayle said. "Your serenity will prove your sincerity. Let the Force light the way."
"Perhaps…if I truly relinquished the power of the Dark Side, maybe, just maybe, they will allow me to rejoin the Order." Juhani said. "I thank you Master Jedi. Without your wisdom I would not have seen the truth. You have been a beacon of light to shine through my dark veil." Juhani bowed to me and I returned it. She then walked past me.
I continued down the path, my lightsaber once again active to light the way. My encounter with Juhani had shaken me up somewhat, but I had to continue and finish my test.
After walking for around half an hour, dealing with the occasional Laigrek, I found the first object: a Jedi Holocron. The Council had made me swear not to look at the Holocron, and did not much wish to anger the Council, so I placed it in a pocket of my robes and continued on.
The second item I found was a small rock. The Council had told me it would be located in the hand of a statue of a Jedi Master. The statue was easy enough to find. It was the only one swathed in sparkling lights. I walked up to it and pulled the rock out of its hand.
As soon as my fingers wrapped around the rock, it had started glowing a faint red. As I pulled it out of the grip of the statue's hand, I felt the rock crumble in my hand, and all that was left was a shining blood-red gem.
Shrugging, I put the stone in another pocket, and went in search of the third and final item: an ancient lightsaber hilt.
It was easier to find then I thought. Not far from where I'd found crystal, the Lightsaber had been placed on an elevated platform. I placed my hand around the cylindrical hilt, and lifted it off of the platform.
"Thank you kindly…now, if you don't mind, hand those artifacts to me."
I turned to the synthesized voice to see the man from the vision. Hidden beneath the dark grey robes and crimson and black mask, Darth Revan had his Lightsaber ignited and was blocking my path to the exit.
"Don't just stand there Jedi, hand over the Jedi Artifacts!" He hissed.
"Give me one good reason why I should." I said.
"I do not need to explain my reasons to a pathetic excuse for a Force user like you. Now hand them over!" Revan snarled.
"Why didn't you just take them yourself?" I asked, trying to stall for time.
"They cannot be lifted from their resting places by one of the Dark Side…I had to have someone lift them all first. Now this is your last chance. I will have those artifacts."
"Over my dead body, Sith!" I shouted, igniting my lightsaber.
"I was hoping so!" Revan said; rushing forward attack with a sudden flurry of power attacks against me. I parried them as best I could, but Revan, unlike me, was an expert swordsman, and backing a lightsaber up with expert swordsmanship would make the attacker extremely deadly.
And he was. Within seconds he had me up against the wall fighting for me life. Another few seconds and he would've killed me and taken the artifacts for himself; but…
Except at that precise time, a second crimson blade sailed through the air and struck Revan, though doing nothing against the thick armour he wore.
Revan turned to the Cathar woman fast approaching, then back to me.
"Your time is up."
He used the Force to pull me forwards. I made an attempt to strike him with my blade, but he clenched his hand into a fist and crushed the lightsaber in a Force grip. By then our faces were inches apart, Juhani only about fifteen yards away.
It was too late. I heard a release of breath from Revan and suddenly my entire body went cold, and my vision blurred. All strength in my body left me as Revan released his hold and I fell flat on my face.
"Another victim of my plague..." Revan whispered softly, and with a whirl of his cape fled down a side passage…