Chapter 9. The Cure
As Bastila and Revan slept, Steve was strolling around the ship. He was looking for a source of distraction. He didn't want to make any noise whatsoever. He also didn't want to venture in the bedrooms because he didn't want to wake anyone up. He could walk around like a ghost and knew it wouldn't wake anyone, but he didn't want to suddenly give out emotions that could alert them during their sleep the same way he woke Revan in the morning. He wanted to sleep, but he simply couldn't. He left the lights off around the ship and walked around in the dark. His favorite spot to visit was the cockpit. He liked the little lights all around the control consoles and the hyperspace window that twirled around in a dim blue light just ahead of the ship. He was very comfortable just sitting back on the copilot's chair, in a slouching fashion, just staring out, not concentrating on anything in particular except all the small lights that glowed all around him. He was very comfortable like that. He looked at his broken hand and was touching it with his other. He couldn't feel anything. He sighed. Though his life clock was ticking towards its end, he felt anxious to arrive at the planet and do something. He wished he could go into the port bedroom to wake Bastila and spend time with her. He still didn't want to tell her what would happen to him. There wasn't one moment that went by in which he didn't consider it. She was a strong Jedi, but she had little control over her emotions. She was the type of woman that wanted to act tough on the outside but was as gentle as a dove on the inside. Even if she said she could handle it, she couldn't. She would probably do anything to stop him from going all the way to whatever end was awaiting him. It was a fact. If Revan was capable of thinking it, Bastila was capable of doing it. Steve just squeezed his eyes shut and cursed himself for not being asleep. When he knew his attempts were going nowhere, he tilted forward and buried his head in his arms, against the controls. As he breathed in and out, he was beginning to feel helpless against the overwhelming stress that finally caught up to him.
This can't be the end… it can't be. I need to live, I just need to. What if she's pregnant? I want to be here… I want to be with my family. I'm too young to die. I don't belong with the force, I belong here. I have to survive. I have to survive! Find a way! How can the force die? It can't just happen like that there has to be something else. Something… find the answer! Why would I die trying to stop this? I don't understand… something's missing. What did you see, Revan? What's waiting for us out there? I have to stop it, and I have to survive! Steve thought to himself. At that moment, he could feel a warm touch stroking his back. Suddenly he felt afraid. He jumped out of his seat and looked behind him. It was as he feared, it was Bastila and not Revan that came to see him. Steve held his head in his hands and squeezed it.
I let my guard down! Curse you, curse you! Now she knows! Steve thought to himself and his knees gave out supporting his weight. He was kneeling on the floor and squeezing his head. Bastila could see the terror in his eyes. She was completely stunned by it. Bastila tried fighting back the fear that was now taking over her. When she was successful, she knelt down in front of the man and pushed his hands off of his skull. Steve didn't offer any resistance; he let his arms fall down beside him. Bastila put her hands on his face and looked into his eyes. Steve turned his head away and closed his eyes in shame.
"Steve, be still, I'm just trying to help." Bastila whispered as she twisted his head to face her again.
"Why are you so upset?" Bastila asked.
"You looked into my mind… I didn't want you to know! I let my guard down! All I had to do was keep my mind shut for a few more hours!" Steve moaned.
"I'm so sorry… I didn't think you would mind if I… forgive me." Bastila said.
"It's not that… it's not you, it's me. This was the only time, the first time I actually have something to hide from you… and I let my guard down!" Steve whispered.
"I felt you; I felt your fear from my room… why did you want to hide it? There's no shame in fearing death." Bastila said.
"Fear… death… fear…" Steve was thinking aloud.
"What did you see when you looked in my mind?" Steve was hoping she didn't see past his fear… he hoped she didn't see that he knew his death would come. But if she thought he only feared death… he could cover it all up.
"Just… fear… and distress." Bastila said.
"What do you know of death, Bastila?" Steve asked softly.
"Just that it isn't the end. That you return to the force at one level or another. Why are so afraid all of a sudden? You didn't seem to fear it before." Bastila said softly.
"Tell me you don't know why… tell me I'll be alright. My place is here, not with the force." Steve was about to know what Bastila knew. The Jedi was all confused.
"Why do you say that? Did Revan tell you something? Do you know something I don't?" Bastila suspected something. She knew how Revan went into far more detail about certain aspects of this current mission with Steve. She wanted to know what he knew. Steve pressed his hand on his lips to seal his mouth and shook his head as his eyes started to water.
Don't say it, don't say it! He cried in his mind. Bastila understood Steve was hiding something about the mission, she couldn't help but feel left out.
"Steve… Why won't you tell me? Don't you trust me? Have I done something wrong?" Bastila pulled back a little to give the man some space. Steve slowly let go of his mouth and breathed hard.
"Why are you like this? Please Steve, please tell me!" Bastila pleaded.
"Bastila no… please, don't say that! Please don't think that way of me; I trust you with my life! Don't ask me to tell you, please! I… I don't want to tell you… not you… not you! I care too much for you… I can't! Don't make me tell you, please!" Steve moaned. Bastila was so confused. The Jedi sat down next to him very slowly and took hold of his arm with both her hands. She was literally pulling his arm towards her, letting her body do the talking for a moment. When his arm was hers, she caressed it softly.
"I just want to know why you aren't telling me… Whatever secret you hold… isn't as important to me." Bastila said to the man. Steve wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked into the darkness of the cockpit's corridor. He pondered what the woman was asking of him.
"You're a Jedi Bastila. If I answer this one question… it will answer the other." Steve said.
"Right now, I'm not a Jedi, I'm your friend. I don't know much about friendship, but I know this: You and I… we aren't made to keep secrets from each other. Look at you, you're a mess. You serve no one by holding secrets from me." Bastila said. The woman stood up like she was about to give up. Steve quickly grabbed her hand.
"Don't leave like this… not like this. It wouldn't take a genius to figure it all out. You already know too much. Let me think a moment. Let me get it out in the open. I need to fix this before it's too late." Steve said fearfully. Bastila nodded and sat back down next to him. She put her hand against his back and brushed the other against the tear marks that were left on his cheeks.
"I didn't tell you, Bastila… I don't want to tell you… because it will cause you great pain." Steve had a difficult time saying it.
"Wouldn't you feel better if you shared your pain with me?" Bastila didn't understand. Steve shook his head.
"My pain… is but a byproduct of what you will feel." Steve said.
"A byproduct?" Bastila asked.
"Don't you understand? I'm in pain now just thinking of how you will feel... and how others will feel later." Steve was very vague. His heart was screaming for him to stop, but his mind wasn't meant to keep secrets. Bastila frowned and her jaw fell open; a clear sign she needed more to understand.
"Revan told me that this mission… will be the end of me. That I'm going to die, somehow, and there's nothing anyone can do about it…" He started.
"She said she knows it's my destiny." Steve continued.
"She said… You're going to die?" Bastila repeated.
"I know she's right!" Steve said.
"When did she tell you this?" Bastila gasped.
"The day before you arrived." Steve answered.
"Please forgive me! Understand that I have no choice! I need to complete this mission; I'm the only one that can! Please forgive me!" Steve moaned.
"No, please don't say that! You don't need to die! I don't understand this, this is just a mission… there are so many… so many other missions… you can't die yet! You can do so much more if you just live!" Bastila cried.
"I'm sorry Bastila, I'm so sorry!" Steve was about to stand up and leave, but Bastila pulled him back down with all of her strength. Steve fought it for a moment.
"Don't go! Let's talk about this! Steve, for the love of the force! You have a family on the way! What are you doing? Talk to me! Sit down please! I'm the one who should be sorry, not you! I treated you unfairly at first… and it took me so long to embrace your friendship… Steve I need you now." Bastila cried. Steve let himself be pulled back down beside the woman.
"You have nothing to be sorry about… I should be sorry. I should have never begged you to become my friend… now I truly understand why Jedi shouldn't have friends… or family." Steve was ashamed of his interference in Bastila's life.
"Don't say that… You and Revan are the best thing that ever happened to me! Before I met you, I was just another soldier… a tool. With you, I feel so alive." Bastila said.
"That's why this is so difficult… You were better off without me; I was selfish, I wanted you… I wanted you so bad! Now I've jeopardized your carrier." Steve said sadly.
"You're wrong! You're so wrong! You made me a better woman and a better Jedi! You have to believe me!" Bastila said defensively.
"How? Look at what you are doing now; you're placing me instead of the mission." Steve admitted his fear of Bastila's weakness; her only weakness. And he hoped to god he was wrong about her.
"You don't believe me do you?" Bastila said.
"I wish I did. It would make me so happy to know you aren't going to suffer any long term damage form… from my death." Steve said.
"Steve, you showed me how to become a greater Jedi and Revan is the proof of that. She loves you so much, and she still does what she has to do. I can't imagine a better life for any Jedi to have than that." Bastila said.
"Bastila, you aren't made like Revan…" Steve couldn't finish.
"Maybe not, but I aspire to become more like her. And she wouldn't be like that if it wasn't for you. Don't you understand what you mean to me?" Bastila whispered.
"Bastila, I love you. I love you just as much as I love Revan. I wish I knew what I meant to you, but it will all change now… very soon, I will die. And all that I believe in will go on… because of you and Revan. But if I don't complete this mission… none of it will matter; I will have failed and none of what I fought for will have made a difference." Steve explained.
"Oh Steve! Why didn't you tell me how you felt? I know how much you love Revan… you can't possibly love me that much!" Bastila said.
"I loved you from the first moment we spoke. Is it so hard to believe that all I wanted for you was the best possible future you can get? You're the best Jedi there could ever be! You're the perfect Jedi! I observed you; I looked at you and tried very hard to understand you. I think I did. I saw that you really wanted to be a Jedi… and I kept out of your way at first. When I knew you better, I could see a way that could make you better. I gave you my friendship and Revan's friendship. I knew with her help you could do anything! Still, I had to keep my distance because anything more than a friend would have been an obstacle to you. Was I wrong?" Steve looked into her eyes for confirmation.
"You'll never be an obstacle to me; even less of one now than ever." Bastila reassured him.
"What will you do now?" Steve asked his final question.
"I'm going to prove to you that I love you. I'm going to show you what you mean to me. I'll do exactly as you asked. I will do this mission of ours, I won't stop you. When we are done… I will honor your wishes. I will speak to the council and find a way to become both your child's godmother… and the greatest Jedi." Bastila said as she reached over to taste the man's wet lips.
"I underestimated you, Bastila. You're already the greatest Jedi in the world. Now, I'm complete." Steve said in between kisses.
"I wish I had understood you better before. It's ironic how things turned out. There was a time I almost wouldn't hesitate to chop your head off. I may have done it if it wasn't for my fear of Revan. Now look how much I've changed." Bastila said.
"You saved my life; you saved Revan's life… You were already a far better person than I have ever seen. I knew that about you even as your blade threatened me. You did the right thing and I had nothing to do with it. Now you'll have all the help and support you need. You will always do the right thing, and I'm very proud to consider you my family." Steve said.
"One day, all the Jedi will know who you are and what you've done for us… and for me. You will be remembered forever. I'm overwhelmed with honor of being a part of your family. Even if we haven't known each other for long, I feel like I know everything there is to know about you. I will make sure you are remembered as I will remember you." Bastila said softly.
"I'm still very young… and I always speak from the heart. You know all you need to know about me. I'm sure you can explain to them who I am better than I could explain myself." Steve said. Steve let his head fall on Bastila's shoulder. He was feeling sleepy now. Bastila held his hand against her thigh and leaned her head against his.
"When this mission is over, I'd like it if you told Mira what happened between us today. She loves me like a little brother, you know? She knows how I feel about you, and she would love to hear how it turned out. So would Revan, but she will know soon enough." Steve whispered as he closed his eyes.
"I will, I promise." Bastila said. She also closed her eyes. The both of them were quickly sound asleep.
A few hours later, Revan walked silently into the cockpit. She looked at the two sleepers that were leaning against each other, hand in hand. They were both sitting down on the floor between the pilot seat and the copilot seat with their backs against the control panels. Revan smiled at the sight. She approached them very quietly and crouched to their level to look at them closely. Suddenly, she thought of something. She turned around and went to the back of the cockpit. She pressed a few buttons on the side wall and a thin pipe extended from the console. Revan stood behind it and activated it. There was a sudden flash that emerged from the device and then it retracted back into the wall. Steve and Bastila blinked their eyes and looked at where it came from. Revan was standing there, facing a screen against the wall.
"Did you just take a picture?" Steve asked Revan.
"Yes. Come see." Revan smiled. Steve stood up and helped Bastila up from the floor. He took a few big steps and looked at the screen.
"I thought it would be a great picture for our child to remember you by… if we have one." Revan smiled.
"It's perfect. That's how I want to be remembered." Steve observed and then smiled at the two women.
"I'm so proud of the both of you. Thank you Bastila, this is the greatest gift you could ever give us." Revan said and she hugged them both. Bastila was a little surprised that Revan already knew what happened between them.
"Don't you want to hear about it?" Bastila was curious.
"As much as I would love to know everything you said to each other, we have very little time as it is. We are going to exit hyperspace in just a few minutes. It's time to get serious. Try not to think too much; just do what you have to. When we get there, just stick together; don't get separated. I have a feeling everything will happen fast." Revan said. Bastila and Steve nodded. Revan turned the cockpit lights on and Steve gave his copilot seat to Bastila.
"I'll get my weapons." He said. He returned a minute after wearing his large rifle on his back with the two pistols strapped on his lower back.
"Let's do this." Steve said with great ambition. Everyone looked outside of the ship at the planet they were about to land on. It was a much darker planet than Steve had previously seen. It had a similar amount of large water bodies as Dantooine, but the soil was mostly the color of carbon and the vegetation was more spread out than any other planet. Revan entered the landing coordinates and steered the ship in a shaded area of the planet. It looked as though the reddish sun was setting in this region, which made everything look even redder. On Steve's home planet, there were cultures that believed such redness in the sky was a signal of a terrible battle to come. It would have been a silly thing to say for this planet because the sun was already red. Still, he couldn't help but relate the events that were about to happen with this cultural legend. The ship landed and the three passengers hurried into the building. They were greeted by a miraluka. She wore dark clothes just like the planet's soil and a red veil that covered her forehead and her eyes. She had a beautiful voice though, and she seemed very friendly.
"We've been expecting you. Everything is prepared. On behalf of our people, we hope you enjoy your stay." The blind woman said.
"Thank you, miss. Is the council ready to meet with us yet?" Steve asked politely.
"I believe so… if you follow me, I will take you to them." The woman smiled. She brought them to a large dark room. Because the miralukas were blind, they didn't need lights. Inside, there were red couches and natural sunlight lit the room from certain holes on the top side of the walls. It was actually very beautiful if you got used to the darkness. A large majority of the couches were taken. There were many masters present at this meeting. Steve counted over two dozen. Around them there were other Jedi; mostly Jedi knights. Like Revan asked, Bastila and Steve stayed close to her. They walked to the middle of the room and waited to be noticed.
"We are glad you came on such short notice. This is a serious problem, and we have to find a solution as quickly as we can. I believe you met most of the masters here. This is my colleague master Dorak, over there, there is master…" Jarr started.
"Master Jarr, please, we need to begin this immediately. I fear something terrible is approaching." Revan interrupted the Twi'lek.
"Strange that we have not…" Master Vandar said as he overheard the conversation.
"Not strange master Vandar, but unfortunate. The Sith have ways to cover their tracks, these Sith most of all." As Revan said that, the room fell silent.
"I thought you're empire was disassembled." Master Vrook raised an eyebrow.
"It is. This is another Sith faction created by Darth Traya… Kreia if you prefer." Revan said.
"Are you certain of this?" Vrook asked.
"Yes, master; quite certain. Like I said to Bastila, I believe there is a strong relation between the disappearance of the Jedi and the…" Revan said before she was interrupted by a young Jedi padawan.
"Masters, we've just detected an interdictor class starship entering the system. It's republican by the looks of it, but, so far, it failed to respond to our hails." The young man said.
"There are no republican ships due in this sector for another month." Master Vrook said.
"Republican, master? Haven't you heard a thing I said?" Revan was annoyed. Master Vrook looked at Revan coldly, but understood how serious she was.
"Bring us a display of this ship." Vrook said to the padawan.
"Right away master." The man said.
"We need to start thinking defense right away. Have your fighter ships take off and hide in orbit opposite to the ship's trajectory. We should also be ready for ground assault." Revan said. Everyone was looking at her. The padawan returned with a large flat screen that displayed the ship. Everyone looked at the screen to inspect the ship it displayed.
"That's one of our old ships… a republican ship that was destroyed during the Mandalorian wars." Revan observed.
"Possibly. However, it hardly looks in any condition to fight." Master Dorak said.
"It isn't the ship we should consider a threat master. You of all people should know that. These Sith don't need to focus on fire power to destroy us. Hide your fighters behind the planet now or it will be too late." Revan said. Dorak nodded and gave the signal of a silent alert to dispatch a squadron of fighters.
"What should we expect of these Sith?" Master Vrook asked.
"I'm not positive. But what I do know is that they will eventually land a ground assault to finish us off. They will come to us. We need to stay together." Revan said simply.
"What about the starship?" Jarr asked.
"We only need to keep it from escaping. If we can't learn anything from the ground forces, we will need to learn what we can from the people on that ship. We need our fighters to disable it." Revan explained.
"How long until it reaches us?" Vrook asked the padawan.
"Estimated three minutes." The man responded. At that moment, almost half the room filled with Jedi of all kind. They all had a lightsaber in hand. They were here to protect the council.
"Seal the entrances; fortify our position." Revan ordered.
"What if we need to make an escape?" Master Jarr asked.
"There is no escape, well all need to stand our ground. Something tells me, if we step out, we will die." Revan said.
"How is it you feel this and we don't?" Vrook was suspicious.
"We don't have time for this master. We are all in this together." Revan said.
"Masters, we have reports of a small fighter ship landing just a few clicks away from our position." The Jedi padawan said as he was listening to the message through his communicator. Master Vrook was about to respond before everyone was suddenly overwhelmed with pain. Steve and Revan were the only ones that could still stand… everyone else hit the ground struggling to fight the pain. Revan grabbed Bastila's head in her hands and looked into her eyes.
"Bastila, you have to fight it! Stay with us! Concentrate on me honey! Listen to my voice." Revan screamed to the frightened Jedi. Steve looked around in shock. He was terrified.
"Revan! The force! Ahhh! I can hear it scream in my ears! The Miralukas!" Bastila screamed in pain.
"I know! I feel it too. You have to fight it Bastila! Ignore it! We need you now!" Revan screamed back. Steve jumped out of his state of disbelief and placed his hand on Bastila's forehead. He didn't know why he did that, but it seemed to work. Bastila was bale to stand. She still had a terrified look in her eyes though.
"How did you do that?" Bastila asked after she was able to turn her eyes to Steve.
"I don't even know what I did. Get ready, I'll try and see if anyone else is feeling better." Steve said in disbelief. He went to master Jarr first. Jarr seemed calm enough, but he wasn't moving much.
"Master Jarr, can you hear me?" Steve asked as he held the Twe'lek in his arms. As soon as Jarr nodded, Steve helped him up.
"What's happening to everyone?" Steve asked the master.
"There is a great disturbance in the force… the miraluka… they are all dying… this planet is dying." Jarr said.
"Oh no!" Steve said.
"Steve, there's no time, just try and help the others. We will need all the help we can get." Revan said to the man. Steve nodded and tried to wake more of the masters. He worked fast and was able to revive half the room before the ground forces arrived at the gates. Some of the Jedi he revived were all ready to go out and defend the entrance.
"Wait! Stay behind us! Steve, Bastila stay behind me." Revan said as she led everyone to the nearest gate. When they got there, Revan stood near to it, waiting. Everyone did as they were told; they waited behind her. Steve took out his two blaster pistols and approached Revan. He stood so close to her, he was breathing down her neck. He stuck his two blasters beside her as if his arms were hers. He looked over her shoulders to have a clear view of the gate.
"Bastila, stick behind me and Revan and use your meditation to call the targets. I'll be ready." Steve said after turning his head around as much as he could.
"Good idea baby. Don't move, I'll defend the both of you, and you shoot anything that comes out of that gate." Revan approved.
"That's the plan." Steve said as he kissed Revan's ear for good luck.
There were sparks that splashed out from either side of the gates. The Sith must have been cutting through it with some kind of power tool. When they were finished their cutting, Revan extended her arm and summoned the force to propel the gate out onto the enemies that were waiting on the other side. The moment the gate was in the air, Steve fired a barrage of shots that cleared the smoke screen created by the machinery and struck the targets on the other side. He couldn't even see what he was firing at, but he trusted Bastila. Revan ignited her crimson blade and deflected the return fire that was targeting Steve. When the smoke cleared, the Sith noticed all the Jedi waiting for them and begun firing everywhere. They were all dressed in black and wore masks over their heads. They looked like assassins. Steve shot them down like dogs. It didn't take long for the gateway to be clear of the first Sith wave. There were more of them out there somewhere though. The Jedi that were behind Revan were ready to explore the parameter of the enclave.
"Stay inside!" Revan shouted before anyone could take more than two steps forward.
"They are just waiting for us to go out there." Revan added. Steve put his pistols back in their straps and took off the big rifle. He dropped down to the floor and said:
"I'll find them." He activated the infrared option on the scope and looked through the cold elevated stone walkways that were all around the enclave. He could see there were rows of Sith just behind them. They were all crouched down, waiting. He added the standard mode on the scope so he could see a combination of the two views and fired his first shot on a Sith's head that was sticking out above the walkway. He quickly fired at another target and then another until the Sith finally realized they were spotted. After seeing that four of their colleague's brains were splattered on the floor, they all rushed out of their hiding spots to confront the Jedi. The front row of Sith were dark Jedi. They had their lightsabers ready and they defended the other Sith who used heavy blasters.
"Strike down the dark Jedi first! Go!" Revan said as she pointed the Jedi in the direction of the assault team that headed their way. Bastila stood behind the couple with here eyes closed and her hand squeezing her hilt. She needed to help Steve with his targeting. Without her help, his shots would have been deflected by the Sith or he would just spend too much time looking to line up a shot. In a battle like this, it was too unpredictable to target anyone in particular unless Bastila was there. Steve let her guide his shots. He fired into the crowd and never failed to hit his targets. Soon, they were getting too close though; the rifle he had was only good for long range. He got up and took out his pistols again.
Soon, the Jedi were overwhelmed by the Sith. Steve had to get Revan and Bastila to push forward; that way, he could cover more angles than just straight ahead.
"Stay close." Revan said to him and Bastila as she walked into the battle. Steve extended his arms on either side of him and fired shot after shot at any black wearing trooper. They were severely outnumbered. Many of the Jedi perished in the attack. There were a dozen masters left standing. Steve was able to take out many of the assassins, but the dark Jedi were hard to hit even with Bastila's help.
"Bastila, take Steve back inside. Get some more Jedi out here." Revan said.
Steve and Bastila ran back into the enclave and did what they were told. Steve helped the petrified Jedi off the floor and sent them into battle. Revan and the masters held their ground, but the reinforcements they received made the battle much less unbalanced… and there were more Jedi on the way. Revan was super fast, and her crimson blade confused some of the Sith enough for her to take advantage of it. She moved through the Sith like a shadow. She split them apart and never stopped moving towards her enemies. The Jedi masters also fought with great fierceness. They were not afraid of battle. Some of them were still stunned by the sudden death of the force that they couldn't concentrate on the battle. Those were the ones that perished the quickest. Revan felt she had to finish this battle as quickly as she could. There was someone on this dead planet that she needed to catch. She threw her lightsaber towards a pair of dark Jedi. The blade twirled out of her hand and was projected towards them at an incredible speed. The fist Sith saw the blade come towards him and tried to deflect it, but it just spun past his blade and cut through him. The dark Jedi standing behind him couldn't see it coming until Revan's blade had spun through his colleague and severed his upper body in two. By then, it was too late; the blade had but another foot to travel before it would transmit the same fate the other dark man suffered. The battle finally looked like it was going to be won. Revan's lightsaber quickly flowed back into her hand, and she ran off to the next targets. There was a group of for dark Jedi that stuck close together. There were too strong for just one Jedi to handle. They stuck so close to each other that it was like fighting one person with three blades. They struck down any Jedi opposition and moved slowly to their next targets, like leeches. Revan's legs were swelling with blood as the force charged her muscled with a surplus of energy. She ran like lightning and leaped high into the air. She landed both her feet on one of the Sith's chest and broke into his torso, squashing his heart and lungs instantly. The man crashed down against his colleagues, sending the two others to the ground. Revan stabbed her blade into the closest one and jumped out of the dead man's carcass before the other dark Jedi could strike at her legs. She landed a few meters to the side and let another Jedi finish him off. She looked around for more targets, but they were getting scarce.
"Retreat! Everyone back inside!" Revan called out and ran towards the enclave. Master Jarr grabbed her arm as she ran passed him.
"Revan, what about the others? They are getting away!" Jarr was puzzled.
"I'll take care of them! You get your people back inside!" Revan said loudly. She saw that the master was in doubt.
"You're going alone?" He was concerned.
"Yes Jarr! Stay with Steve! He's the only one keeping you alive! If you fallow me, you will die too!" She said before she broke free of his grip and ran like the wind in the enclave.
"Back inside everyone!" Jarr finally agreed.
Revan went back into the council chamber where Steve was working on reviving the last of the Jedi.
"Steve, Bastila, stay here and protect the Jedi. I'm going to chase the Sith down and find out who is behind this." Revan said.
"Alone? Revan, let me help you!" Bastila said.
"Don't you understand what's going on here? We are the only survivors on this entire planet! The only reason we are still alive is because of Steve! You need to stay close to him!" Revan said.
"What about you?" Bastila was concerned.
"I will be fine; Steve could explain it to you. I have to go. Just make sure no one leaves this place, and I mean no one!" Revan said before she ran back outside.
"What's this all about?" Bastila asked Steve.
"I think I understand… She said she gained a part of me… maybe she can resist what's happening around here… at least to a certain extent." Steve answered.
"Bastila!" Vrook screamed out.
"Mater Vrook, what is it?" Bastila didn't like the man's tone.
"You need to come with us, we are going to pursue the Sith." Vrook said loudly.
"What? You can't! You need to stay here! We all need to stay right here! You heard Revan, we will die the moment we step outside… just like all the Miraluka…" Bastila said defensively.
"We can't just stay here and do nothing." Vrook said coldly.
"Yes you can! You know, that's exactly what Revan said when she left for the mandalorian wars… but at least she can learn from her mistakes. She's gained more wisdom than all of you combined. Give her a chance! She will find the ones responsible for this, I promise you!" Bastila said defending her friend.
"That's not the same!" Vrook spat.
"Yes it is! Yes it's the same! You knew of a danger she didn't foresee until you admitted something was wrong. Now it's the same; she knows there is a danger for all of us out there! We have to stay inside! This time, she knows something you don't, and she's going to fix it herself because she's the only one who can!" Bastila shouted back.
"I don't have time for your insolence!" Vrook spat.
"Don't you say that to Bastila! Stay here, that's all there is to it!" Steve intervened.
"What are you going to do about it boy? You have no place here." Vrook said.
"Don't make me make you." Steve said coldly. Vrook was annoyed. He gathered his friends with him and got ready to leave. Steve threw his guns down and stood in their path.
"What are you doing? Remove yourself from our path." Vrook said.
"You leave, you die. You may be willing to take the risk, but I respect you too much to let you get killed because of some stupid vendetta you must still have against Revan." Steve said in a serious tone.
"We are Jedi, we don't have vendettas." Vrook said. Steve frowned at the man and stood up to his face.
"Step aside; this is your last chance." Vrook said plainly. Bastila had a fright in her eyes. She thought about what Steve told her just a few hours ago… about his destiny. She was about to intervene, but she understood this is what Steve does… this what he was. This wasn't how he would go down. At least, that was what she hoped. From what she witnessed of him previously though, she was pretty sure he was going to win this somehow.
"What are you going to do old man? Strike me down?" Steve said sadly.
"I just may." Vrook said as he stepped back and placed his hilt in his hand.
"You kill me, and we all die." Steve said.
"You leave me no choice." Vrook activated his blade and waited for the Jedi around him to give him room for the battle that was to come.
"You would strike down a defenseless man? Come on, Vrook! I'm on your side!" Steve said defensively.
"Then get out of my way!" The master replied.
"Jarr, help me out here, someone! Tell Vrook he's making a mistake! There's no point in leaving this place. Revan is probably dealing with the remaining ground forces as we speak, and the starship isn't going anywhere for as long as your fighters are out there!" Steve yelled.
"Vrook, he's probably right…" Jarr said before being interrupted.
"We don't have time to argue! If those damned Sith find a way to escape, they could do this to any other planet!" Vrook shouted before he started to charge at the defenseless man. Steve's eyelids stretched open at the site of this danger. He could see with the corner of his eyes that Bastila was tossing him her lightsaber. Steve caught it and activated it just on time before the first hit struck. Bastila moved back and closed her eyes to concentrate on her battle meditation as she had done previously. Steve was terrified; he had no wish to harm the old man, and he knew he had something very important to do after all of this was done. He focused on Bastila's thoughts that rushed in his mind and let his adrenaline carry out his movements. With only one blade, he stood little chance against a Jedi master. Master Vrook wasn't as powerful or nearly as fast as Revan, but he fought differently. Steve had to get used to his methods in order to survive. All the Jedi watched the battle. Jarr moved closer to Bastila, he could see what she was doing. He shook her arm.
"Not now master! Not now!" Bastila said without even opening her eyes. Jarr let go of the woman and looked at the battle sadly. Steve looked like he was holding his own, but he was tiring quickly. Bastila could feel it. She was getting frightened too.
"Jarr! Give him your lightsaber! Please, do it now or we may all die!" Bastila cried out, never letting go of Steve's mind. Jarr hesitated for a moment and then tossed his hilt up in Steve's direction. Bastila help Steve guide one of his hands to catch it. The cylinder landed in his palm but started to slip down the sweat that covered it. Steve kneeled down, caught the hilt a second time and activated it before Vrook could take advantage of his clumsiness. Steve was still kneeling and held the green blade in a cross with Bastila's golden one. When Vrook's blade landed on the lightsabers, Steve rose to his feet and pushed Vrook back. Vrook came back with a series of strikes. Even though Steve was physically slower now that he was tired, he was still able to deflect the hits. He stood his ground for as long as he could. His exhaustion was overwhelming him. He was breathing too hard and too fast. His heart was beating so hard it made his hands shake and made him lose his precision. He came close to being hit, but, thanks to Bastila, he was able to place his lightsabers in the right position to absorb as much of the blow before it actually landed on him. It came very close a few times. He was getting weaker by the minute. Bastila could see what was going to happen and she yelled:
"Vrook, stop! Stop now! It's over!" Bastila cried out as she finally opened her eyes. She could see his blade forcing itself past the cross barrier of Steve's green and yellow blades. Steve wasn't strong enough to hold it back. Vrook's blade was getting closer and closer to his face as his muscles were stressing to prevent this from happening. Bastila suddenly lifted her hand up and summoned the force to push Steve out of the way. Steve flew back and landed on the floor. He was too tried to get up. He just kept his blades in a cross to protect himself. Vrook stood above him and pointed his blade towards him.
"What are you doing old man? Even if you can get passed me, you still can't reach the Sith on time! You have my respect Jedi, but don't pretend like you didn't notice." Steve said.
"You're in no position to make demands." Vrook said plainly.
"You think I fear you? My fate is sealed; I die today, but not by your hands. Leave me be. I'm doing this to protect you." Steve said.
"You only care about Revan, and you would do anything she tells you. For all we know, this was all her doing. Darth Traya was her old master, she may still be." Vrook said.
"Why do you think I would do anything Revan says?" Steve asked.
"Because you're blinded by your love for her." Vrook answered.
"You want to know who else I love? I love Bastila just as much as I do Revan." Steve admitted proudly. Vrook looked at the young Jedi.
"It's true. And I love him. He's here to help, you have to believe me." Bastila said.
"Help us what? Help keep us caged in here?" Vrook wasn't convinced, but he deactivated his blade. Steve did the same. He was tired of the humming that resonated in his ears as he held his blades above his chest.
"No Vrook. I'm here to undo whatever is causing the death of the force. You see, it isn't enough that we stop it; we have to destroy it completely before it spreads. Your death won't solve anything! Stay here where it's safe. That's all I ask." Steve said softly.
"It's too late to leave old friend… We have to assume Revan can complete her task. Let the man go." Jarr said to Vrook.
"I don't trust him." Vrook frowned.
"Well I do, and there are more of us here that do. He was helping us then and he's helping us now… I believe him, why can't you?" Jarr said.
"Come on, Vrook! Revan is your ally, or have you forgotten your agreement?" Steve said.
"Then why hasn't she rejoined the Jedi?" Vrook said.
"Because she can't have a family when she's with you, can she? She can't have any freedom with you Vrook. Besides, she's very capable of doing what you do on her own." Steve said.
"Revan isn't the type to have family." Vrook stated his opinion.
"Then what do you call me?" Steve said.
"A damned inconvenience is what you are!" Vrook said.
"All right Vrook, believe what you want. I did my work here. I kept you from getting yourself killed, and I helped you fight off the Sith. When Revan comes back, you will never see me again, and you can go back to whatever it is you think is more important that respecting those that actually care for you." Steve said as he tried to lift himself up. He rolled to his side and used his arms and legs to push off the floor. With his abdominal muscles damaged, it was the only way he could get up. Bastila helped him up the rest of the way and gave a look at his attacker.
Revan reached the small fighter ship that had landed not too far from the enclave. She knew this was the ship that carried the one she was looking for. It was a tall man that wore a cloak and a white mask. This Sith must have been tracking down the Jedi and tried to assassinate them all in one blow… along with all the life on the planet. Little did he know, Revan had other plans. When this Sith discovered the Jedi were still alive, he sent his ground forces down to the enclave to finish them off. He didn't care about them though, he would kill them too if it meant destroying the Jedi. He couldn't specifically target the Jedi and not his own troops. He waited for his men to report back to him so he can begin again. Instead of his men though, it was Revan approaching him. He summoned the force in anger and tried killing everything again. He already sucked the force out of everything on the planet, but it wasn't working against Revan. He thought she must have been the one responsible for defending the Jedi. He was very angry. He started to speak in an ancient Sith language that Revan had learned during her studies of the dark side.
"Your master doesn't care about you and she certainly doesn't care for killing Jedi. You're just some bait to lead me to her. Tell me where she is, and I'll give you what you want: a quick death." Revan said plainly. As the tall man spoke his language, Revan translated it in her mind:
If you survive this, you can go find her where it all started. She will be waiting for you there.
"Malachor… Very well, you shall have your death." Revan said as she ignited her lightsaber. The tall man did the same. Just as she promised, she killed him quickly. This man was not a duelist. He was just a monster. It only took her a moment to find a weakness and strike him down. When she was done, she ran back to the enclave.
When she got back, she could sense the tension in the room. She noticed everyone was silently whispering to each other. Then she saw Bastila holding Steve's hand and giving Vrook a bad look. Revan grabbed Steve's hand and said:
"Leave him alone Vrook, he's under my protection. Our job is done here. Kreia is waiting for me at Malachor 5, and the Sith that came here to kill you is dead." Revan said simply. Revan was about to leave with Steve but noticed Bastila was still attached to him.
"Bastila, this is our fight. No one else can fight it for us, that includes you." Revan said sadly.
"But I'm safe with you and Steve. I survived once, I can survive again." Bastila persisted. Revan put her hand on her face and looked into her eyes.
"I want to go with you." Bastila continued.
"Hasn't Steve told you what will happen?" Revan said softly. She could see the look in her eyes, and it was saying yes.
"If he dies… or if he fails… you will die along with him. We can't take the chance. I know it's his destiny to succeed, but the future is sometimes uncertain." Revan said.
"I understand. Let me at least say goodbye." Bastila said.
"Of course." Revan smiled. Bastila reached over to Steve, kissed him on the cheeks and then on the lips. She placed both her hands on his face and caressed his lips with her own. Steve held her lower back against him with one of his arms and kept Revan's hand in the other.
"Goodbye dear friend, may your soul live eternally with the force. I love you Steve." Bastila said as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Steve smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.
"I will watch over you, always. Keep Revan happy for me. Love our child as if it was your own. I love you Bastila. Help her raise our baby and pass on my knowledge. Keep the Jedi out of trouble. And most important of all, trust yourself. Goodbye Bastila Shan." Steve said. He kissed her again and then left with Revan.
"Bastila, you have a lot of explaining to do." Master Jarr whispered behind her. Bastila was still looking at the couple leave.
"I know. All will come in time. He will find what is causing the death of the force, and he will find a way to undo it. I know this. He has that strength within him, I can see it clearly now." Bastila said calmly.
"I'd like to know what that's all about." Jarr said.
"So would I, master, so would I. We still have much to learn, we all do. I think, if we work together, we may be able to prevent something like this from happening again. It isn't fair to leave this responsibility to someone so young and pure. He barely started his life, and, now, he may never return." Bastila said sadly.
"Who is that man, really?" Jarr asked.
"He is a part of the force we've never known existed. He's Revan's soul mate, my greatest friend, protector of the Jedi, perhaps father of a child I will help raise, and most importantly, the most loving person there could ever be." Bastila answered.
"I believe you." Jarr confessed.
"Help me make his wishes come true. Help me convince everyone of who he is. He deserved to be remembered as no less than a hero." Bastila demanded.
"He will be." Jarr agreed.
Revan and Steve lifted the Ebon Hawk into orbit. Just behind them, they could see the broken republican ship being attacked by the Jedi starfighters. It had severe battle damage, yet it was still working. When the couple was far enough from the planet's gravitational field, the Ebon Hawk entered hyperspace. It was the final journey of this mission.
"This is it, isn't it?" Steve asked. Revan closed her eyes and confirmed:
"It is." There was a pause.
"Why can't I find anything to say?" Steve was disappointed in himself.
"You don't need to say anything baby. I can hear your heart." Revan said.
"What will you do when I'm gone?" Steve asked.
"I'll do what I said I would." Revan answered. Steve got off his seat and sat on top of the woman. Revan wrapped her arms around him.
"Aren't you going to try to find someone else… another man?" Steve asked.
"No." Revan said.
"Why not?" Steve was curious.
"Because. No one can replace you baby." Revan said honestly.
"I know. But isn't our child going to need… a father?" Steve asked honestly.
"What if we don't have a child?" Revan was uneasy.
"What if we do?" Steve persisted.
"You're the only father our child needs…" Revan said.
"Revan, I worry about you. You're capable of so much love… You could make another man very happy." Steve said.
"Steve, before I met you, I never considered having a man in my life." Revan said.
"What about now? Aren't you going to consider it?" Steve asked.
"You are my man. You're the man of my life; the only man of my life. I don't need anyone else." Revan said honestly.
"What if you're wrong?" Steve asked.
"I'm not wrong. If there was something I wished I was wrong about, it would be that our child would grow up with a father… but that father would be you, Steve, not anyone else." Revan said.
"Whatever you do, Revan, just don't burry yourself in the past. I want you to live in the present. Try to enjoy yourself as much as you can. Set the right example for everyone else. It wouldn't be fair for our child to have a sad mother." Steve said.
"How could I not be sad?" Revan was unsure.
"Look at me." Steve said as he twisted himself to look into the woman's eyes.
"Do I look sad? I'm not sad because everything is going to be better for everyone now. Sometimes, you just have to concentrate on what you have instead of what you could have. You have so much left to do and so many people to watch over. You'll never be alone, never. If you ever feel lonely, just talk to Bastila… or Mira… or the Echani. They all have something about them that could remind you of me… especially Bastila: she's so compassionate." Steve said honestly.
"You've seen many people die before; people you care about. But you got over them. Why should I be any different?" Steve said.
"Because no one else ever imprinted themselves in my soul. I have part of you inside of me, and I will always feel it. I will never get over it. It would be like trying to forget you have lungs to breathe with or ears to hear with. It just isn't possible." Revan answered.
"Maybe it'll go away when I die." Steve observed.
"I don't want it to go away. I love it. I feel so right. I couldn't lose it. It's you, Steve! I want it to stay with me forever." Revan explained.
"Then I'll never really die, will I? Shouldn't that make you much less sad?" Steve observed.
"I guess it will baby, I guess it will." Revan agreed.
When she arrives here, Darth Sion, I want you to give her a choice. Offer something to her.
Later, the ship exited hyperspace in a very unpleasant part of the galaxy. Malachor 5 was more than just a dead planet; it was a battle field and a graveyard. It looked like a giant asteroid… and empty shell of something that once was. Revan searched the surface of this rock to find signs of her old master. She searched through the force and pinpointed the source. She could also see where the great plague in the force was coming from. She steered the ship in a big canyon that led somewhere underground. She saw lights just ahead. They were coming from a big facility. Revan landed in a clearing just a few hundred meters before the facility. The ramp was lowered and the outside air flowed in. It reeked of poisonous fumes and decay.
"Is it safe to breath?" Steve was curious.
"Not for long." Revan answered.
"Let's make this quick." Revan added. The couple walked away from the ship. Just ahead of them, there were two rows of Sith assassins on both sides of a bridge that crossed a large gap in the rocky floor. As Revan approached them, they all kneeled down to greet her and Steve. They all stood completely still, with their heads looking down at the floor and with their hands on the floor in front of them. Revan didn't hesitate; she held Steve's hand and crossed the bridge. She had nothing to fear, nor did Steve. The couple walked all the way to the academy's entrance. When they looked back, they saw that the Sith men were still bowing at the bridge.
"Why are you playing games with me Kreia?" Revan thought out loud. The great doors opened ahead of them. She could see there were people inside the hallway. There were red lights on every wall and dimmed white lights on the ceilings. Just ahead of them, there was a single dark Jedi standing in a circle. He held a lightsaber, but he didn't move from where he stood. He didn't blink or fidget or anything; he stood calm. Revan and Steve stood facing him and waited a moment. Revan pulled Steve's hand and started to walk around the Sith man.
"Wait." Steve said to her. Revan stopped. Steve let go of her hand and approached the Sith man.
"Excuse me sir, may I borrow your lightsaber?" Steve asked the man seriously. The Sith man was stunned. He unclipped his blade from his belt and hesitated. Then he finally extended his arm to offer it to the one who asked. Everything he was asked to do this day was very confusing; he simply didn't know what to do.
"Thank you. I shall return it to you, I promise." Steve accepted the hilt and walked back to Revan. Revan was very surprised but understood that it was all Kreia's doing. For some reason, her old master wanted to make thing very confusing. Steve and Revan continued around the man who stayed in the circle and walked down the hallway. There were other people there, but they were moving around. They were getting ready. When Revan was close, they activated their lightsabers. Steve gave Revan the lightsaber he borrowed.
"Here, you can use this more than I can." He said to her. Revan nodded and accepted the lightsaber.
"I'll get you a pair, just wait here." The woman told him. Steve smiled and took a step back. Revan activated both lightsabers and the Sith finally attacked her. There were five of them in total. Three of them were women. They all died very quickly. Revan had no time to waste with these people. She kept her energy for later though. She fought with only her blades and was able to finish the five attackers in less than thirty seconds. When they were all dead, Revan picked up two lightsabers from the ground and handed them over to Steve. She could hold his hand anymore, so instead, she said:
"This way." Revan signaled the direction and Steve followed closely. They entered another hallway. On either side of the entrance of this hallway, there were more Sith waiting to ambush the couple. Revan spun her blades as fast as lightning and cut down two of her attackers before aiding Steve with the group on his side. There were bodies with severed limbs all over the hallway entrance. Some of the Sith were still alive, but they were too wounded to do anything. Revan passed over them and stabbed them in the heart to kill them quickly.
"Show them mercy even though they will show you none." Revan said to her companion. Steve smiled at the woman.
"Who taught you that?" Steve was curious.
"You did; you inspired me to say it." Revan smiled back. Steve nodded and followed his lover. At the end of this hall, there were a few elevators. Revan took the closest one. She pressed the button to the lower level and waited for the doors to close. Steve stood beside her and looked at her constantly. Revan looked back and smiled.
The elevator reached the bottom and the doors slid open. It was a tall dark room with pillars everywhere. The stone that made the room was of a light gray. Revan and Steve strafed sideways to see what was waiting for them inside. They couldn't see through all the pillars. They walked along the side of the room until they reached the middle of the wall. They turned and faced straight down the room. There was a man waiting there. He had his back turned away from them. Revan and Steve could see all the scars that covered the half-naked man's body. The tall Sith man looked ahead at the doorway that led to his master, Darth Traya. The couple approached him. Revan kept her man behind her and stepped forward. When the Sith turned around, Revan asked:
"Who are you?"
"I am Darth Sion. I am one of Darth Traya's failures. None of us could be as great as the first, she keeps reminding us. She has been expecting you to return someday." Sion's voice was piercing through the couple's ears like needles. He was a scary thing to look at, but nothing was stranger than his voice.
"You look terrible Sion, what are you doing here, really?" Revan observed.
"I do what I'm told. Surly you understand that. You were once the Dark Lord of the Sith." Sion replied.
"I took over the Sith so I can finish the war, not so I can tell everyone what to do." Revan said.
"I know what you did. There is no difference between what I am doing and what your old apprentice was doing, regardless." Darth Sion said.
"You have nothing in common with Malak." Revan said.
"You would be surprised to see what the dark side can do to the unworthy." Sion replied.
"It has nothing to do with worth, Sion. Perhaps that's what you failed to realize." Revan said.
"You can't expect us all to know what to do. We are not all as talented as you, Revan." Sion said.
"Talent doesn't outweigh wisdom." Revan said.
"Maybe not. Still, I follow Traya because she has both. This way, I do what I need to… the same as your old apprentice." Sion said.
"What do you want from me, Sion? You want my approval?" Revan didn't know where this was going.
"No. I want to see if you are who Traya says you are." Sion admitted.
"And who do you think I am?" Revan asked.
"You are the true power in the force." Sion replied as he activated his lightsaber.
"You wish to fight me, Sion?" Revan said as she stepped into a defensive stance and activated her two blades.
"I wish to test your power. You cannot kill me, not here." Sion said as he attacked with his single blade. He was much stronger than he looked. A person with that much damage to his body couldn't be. But Sion was not really a man anymore. The dark side had turned him into a monster, just like the white masked man she encountered. These were Darth Traya's failures. Revan fought with all her might. Sion couldn't touch her. Still, Revan noticed the man was doing rather well. He held his ground. Steve just watched the battle. There was nothing he could do. Besides, he knew it would only upset the tall man if he intervened. He also knew there was no greater power that Revan. She didn't look like she needed any help. Revan accelerated he movements and managed to cut trough Sion's hilt. His lightsaber flicked off and the bottom half of it fell to the ground.
"Perfect." He said.
"Now you are ready to face my master." He continued.
"I'm not here to face your master, Sion. I just want some information." Revan explained.
"She is waiting for you. Just go. And bring your friend with you." Darth Sion said.
Revan went into the next room and Steve followed very closely behind. There was a great walkway that led to a half sphere. It was just a big bubble that seemed to be floating miles above the planet's dead core. There was emptiness everywhere except within the bubble Kreia was in. It was obviously a meditation chamber of a very dark and ill prestige. Not a great source of motivation for anyone. Still, it was very much like what was happening around. Revan and Steve walked into the half-sphere and found an old cloaked woman sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room.
"Hello Revan." The woman said.
"Hello Kreia." Revan replied.
"Why are you doing all of this, Kreia?" Revan continued.
"It was not my doing. I am merely a spectator in this." The old woman answered.
"All these Sith are working for you, Kreia. Don't pretend like you are powerless to do anything." Revan said.
"Oh I have power, Revan, but this is beyond me." Kreia admitted.
"Is this why you brought me here? Because you can't undo this?" Revan wanted to know.
"No. No one can undo it. I brought you here to tell you of it though." Kreia answered.
"Why have you let it grow for so long? Why did you learn its power?" Revan asked her old master.
"Because I hate the force. I saw this as my freedom. The force will be silenced for ever, just like we will. It will die, just like we will." Kreia said.
"Tell me what you discovered." Revan asked.
"There is a rift near here… a portal through witch death has escaped." Kreia answered.
"How did you create it?" Revan asked.
"I was not the one who created, you know that." Kreia answered.
"Then who did?" Revan asked.
"Someone you knew well, an old friend, a Jedi, and a general of the Republican armies… now exiled and disconnected of the force… lost." Kreia answered.
"How can a Jedi do this?" Revan asked.
"That is a question for which I do not have an answer. What I do know, is that it was a mistake… a terrible accident." The old woman answered.
"How do I get to it… to this rift?" Revan asked.
"There is a passage that will take you there… through the east of this facility… Revan, you cannot enter that rift or you will die." Kreia warned.
"What makes you say that?" Revan asked.
"I have studied it for years, and I have sent many through it. In all this time, only one person returned… Darth Nihilous. He returned as a monster… a soulless carcass of death and emptiness. A monster I sent for you to kill. I cannot let that happen to you." Kreia answered.
"I have learned many things from the time we left each other, just as you have, and I know there is a cure for this thing. And I carry it with me." Revan said.
"Is that so? Are you going to sacrifice yourself to prove it?" Kreia was unsure.
"I'm not going to step through the rift, Kreia, Steve will." Revan said as she held her lover's shoulders and presented him to her. Darth Traya stood up and approached the couple. She looked up and down at the man with her blinded eyes.
"There is… something different about your friend here… but to send him through will surely kill him. Do as you will, Revan." Kreia said before she stepped back.
"Before we go, I want you to promise me you will never teach anyone of this power… burry it with you." Revan demanded.
"And what should I do instead?" Kreia refused.
"I don't care. You're a wise woman, Kreia. Use your knowledge, teach someone something but not this." Revan said.
"Very well… If you succeed, if your friend can close the rift… I will do as you ask." Kreia said.
"Why do you even doubt me? He will close the rift, even if it costs him his life." Revan said.
"I never doubted you for a second, Revan." Kreia answered.
"Well, you can't doubt Steve either. He has made me into a better person. He has the power to end this, I assure you." Revan said and then turned around to leave.
"Wait. I want to give you a gift before you leave. I want to tell you the future I see. I never had as much of a skill for it as you do, but this is something I have looked into for many years now." Kreia said.
"I don't need to know, Kreia." Revan turned around to answer.
"Please, just this once. You will need to hear this." Kreia said.
"What is it?" Revan asked.
"You will conceive a child, Revan. A child of great power. I see a great future… though there are many things surrounding your child that I cannot see. It is as though I was not mean to see it. Tell me, do you believe your child will become a Jedi or a Sith?" Kreia was curious.
"My child will be neither." Revan answered.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now go. I will stay out of your way." Kreia said.
"Goodbye Kreia." Revan said as she bowed and walked away with Steve.
The couple returned to the entrance of the academy, where the Sith man was still standing in the circle. Steve took the lighsaber from Revan's hand and added it the two he already carried. He approached the Sith man and gave the three of them to him.
"Here you go, like I promised… and I gave you interest on it too." Steve smirked and walked away with Revan.
The two of them walked along the academy to the east and followed a hardened path that led even deeper within the crust of the planet. The air was foul there. After a ten minute walk, they reached a dead end. It was some kind of peninsula that overlooked a great gas pocket. After looking all around, Revan noticed a very dark area to her right. She led Steve to it and observed it. It was a large flat dark spot. It looked like a wall. There wasn't a hint of light that could be seen from it. It was perfect black. Revan looked behind it and noticed that it was as though this rift had only two dimensions. She couldn't see it from the side or even from the back. It was the strangest thing she had ever seen. She went back to the front of it and looked Steve in the eyes.
"This is the place, I can feel it all around me… this place calls death." Revan said. Steve nodded and took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I'm ready." He said simply. Steve stopped looking at the rift and turned his attention to Revan. He stood just in front of her. He held her neck and chin in his hands and stood quietly for a moment.
"Revan, I want you to know that… for the past year… I've lived more that anyone could hope to live in a life time. You gave me the greatest gift I could ever ask for by bringing me along with you. Thank you so much." Steve said to her. Revan's eyes were watering. Steve kissed her on the lips and pulled back a little. He held both her hands.
"Could I say goodbye to our child?" He asked her. Revan nodded and lifted her tank top up to her breasts. Steve descended to his knees and held the woman's sides in a most comfortable embrace. Then he tilted forward and kissed her on the belly. Then he stood up and said:
"Goodbye Revan… my love." He said as he started to step backwards towards the rift, never looking away for her eyes. Soon, he was too far for Revan to hold his hand anymore. She saw his back was entering the darkness of the rift, slowly taking him in. She cried. Steve still held the same look on his face. He had a faint smile to comfort his soul mate. Soon later, his eyes were the only things left to see. And then he disappeared completely. Revan kept the image in her mind for as long as she could, but it started to fade away. She crumbled down to her knees and whispered.
"Goodbye Steve." She was soon seeing nothing but the tears dripping down to the floor in front of her. Moments later, she felt a tremor through the air. She looked at the rift and then felt a sudden pull. She looked at her arms and noticed all her hairs were pulling her towards the rift. Soon, all the hairs on her head, and her lightsaber stood parallel to the floor as the static energy was building up all around the rift. She got up from the floor and stepped back until the static pull was less of an issue. She could hear a tare noise in the air and noticed the rift was actually shrinking.
"Go Steve! You're doing it! I'm so proud of you baby!" Revan yelled into the closing portal. The darkness disappeared completely, and there was a gust of wind all around. Suddenly, the air smelled fresher and the earth was calm.
"You are the cure." Revan whispered.