Dark Shadows

by Solo Jedi

A tale of Revan and Malak before they began their journey to the Dark Side. Follows Revan from his young days up to the beginning of his dark journey.

1. Chapter 1

Dark Shadows

by

Adam Howard

Note: Star Wars and Knights of the Old Republic are property of Lucasfilm and LucasArts.

Chapter One: Friends and Allies

Early morning winds blew across the plains of Dantooine. Sky-rays gently glided on the currents, circling the great plateaus and valleys. Kath hounds roused themselves from their sleep, ready for a new day's hunting. Green grasses waved gently in the breeze, rolling hills turned into a sea of green. Farmers on their homesteads welcomed the cool breeze as they began their day. The wind swirled around the dome of the Jedi enclave, carressing the stone towers like the currents of the Force.

As the small yellow star rose east of the southern plateau, thowing its light over the ever-moving grass sea, the idyllic silence was broken by the harsh clash of electrons and the lightning crash of colliding arc-waves of energy. Two men leaped up the edge of the plateau, blue energy swords in their hands. Ignoring the winds around them, they battled intensely, blades crashing into on another as they moved across the plateau. The older of the two was also the larger, muscular and athletic. His shoulder-length brown hair flew in the breeze as he bore down on his opponent with superior strength and control. The smaller man was quick and agile, deftly parrying the sweeps of his more powerful foe and counterattcking with dizzying speed. The early sunlight glinted off his shaven head, marked with two devotional tattoos.

Abruptly, the bald man leaped far backwards from his opponent and dropped of the edge of the mesa, racing across the plain below. The other man sped across the plateau and jumped far out over the ground below, setting off after his foe. Hearing his opponent behind him, the small man whirled around and let loose a series of attacks that the other was hard pressed to deflect. Gradually, his superior strength allowed the larger man to get the upper hand, wearing down the other until the edge in speed was nullified by fatigue. With a vicious cut, the brown-haired Jedi knocked aside his opponents blade and gave a kick that sent the other sprawling. In an instant, he sprang on his adversary, pinning him to the ground with his boot, laser sword poised at the other's throat.

The bald man smiled up at the victor. "You will lose eventually, Revan."

Revan did not move his sword away from the other's neck, but offered his own smile in return. "Maybe someday, Malak. But not today. You should have used position four to deflect my last strike, my friend."

"Yes, but position six would have put me in a better position to respond after the initial deflection. You put more strength into the blow than I anticipated." Malak relaxed a little. "It's good to get out of the Enclave for a while , isn't it? I thought Master Vrook would catch us for sure, the old--"

Both men started as Revan's blade abruptly deactivated and flew out of his hand towards a shadowy shape under a nearby tree. An orange-skinned Twi'lek Jedi Knight stepped into the morning light and caught the lightsaber in his outstretched hand. His expression was impassive, but both young men could see the flush of color in his headtails that signalled great agitation.

Jedi Master Zhar looked from Revan to Malak. "What do you Padawans think you are doing? Why are you outside the Enclave?"

Revan glanced at Malak, then bowed with respect. "Master Zhar, we came out to practice our swordsmanship, and to enjoy the morning air."

Zhar's features showed disapproval for the first time. "I know the Enclave can be confining, but it is unwise and forbidden to spar outside the supervision of the weapon-masters. Such illegal combat encourages aggression, and can lead to feelings of anger. Feelings that lead to the Dark Side. I sense rebelliousness in you two. You must learn control, and obedience to the will of your Masters. Come, return with me."

Once more a look passed between the two young Jedi as they turned toward home, shoulders slumped in resignation. "Yes, Master Zhar," they said. The morning sun rose toward midday and the winds died down as they approached the causeway that led to the Jedi Enclave, the only home that both men could remember.