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Chapter 4: Alone

"The darkside is strong in this place. I can feel its power... Is this wise? Once we pass beyond these doors we can never go back... The Council will surely banish us."

Malak's words rang through Revan's mind as he knelt with his eyes downcast before the Jedi Council. He could feel their intrusive mind probes and almost see the smug smiles they hid behind their stoic masks. They were right and they knew it. He needed them.

"You should have thought of this before you defied our wishes, Revan."

Master Vrook said with surprising calm. Apparently seeing the proud former Jedi that defied the Council and went to war against their every order was enough to sate the man's temper. Revan heard a snarl and the movement of a cloak before heavy footsteps sounded beside him and left the room. Malak it seemed did not have the patience to kneel before his former Masters, even if he himself admitted to needing them. Revan turned his head upwards, still kneeling before the twelve Jedi Councillors.

"I need the Council's full support... I need you to convince the Republic to give me more men. I NEED more Jedi."

Revan replied, catching the mirth hidden in several of the Jedi Master's eyes. Trembling with anger, Revan cast a dark glare at each of the Jedi Masters through his mask and was surprised to see the humor vanish.

"You've tasted the darkside..."

Vima Sunrider gasped as she stood from her seat. Revan remained kneeling, staring at the red haired Jedi Master.

"Whatever do you mean Master Sunrider?"

Revan asked in a tight tone, secretly reveling in the look of horror on the woman's face.

"If I had given in to the darkside the Star Forge would obey my commands, to despise someone for allowing death and suffering to go on is not the darkside. How ignorant of them."

Several of the other Jedi Masters stood as well, uneasily taking defensive postures.

"You are no longer a member of the Jedi Order, Revan. You cannot ask us to help you with YOUR war."
At that, Revan had enough, tearing his mask from his face, Revan glared openly into Jedi Master Atris' face.
"My war? My WAR! Do you think just because I am one of them that this is my war!"

Revan screamed at the Echani Jedi Master, ignoring the confused look he received. Revan stood abruptly and spat on the floor, removing his lightsaber and allowing it to drop to the floor as he glared at each and every one of the Jedi Masters.

"We die because of you. The Force will not forget that when it is your time to answer."
Revan turned and left the room, his cloak billowing behind him. The Jedi Masters looked at the spot where Revan had spat his disgust and threw his last connection to the Jedi Order, his lightsaber.
"I think we have made things worse..."

Jedi Master Kavar added quietly. Master Zhar and Vandar nodded silent agreement as they took their seats, startled by Revan and Vima's sudden outbursts.

"What makes you think he has fallen, Vima?"

Master Dorak asked after the Council had settled into their seats after the exchange with the former Jedi Knight. The Jedi Councillor wore a solemn expression as she turned her eyes to the dark-skinned Jedi Master.

"I remember my mother telling me how it felt when Ulic fell... I felt that in him, the bitterness, the despair... He will do something drastic and if we are not prepared... it could have serious consequences. We should take his council under advisement, we have ignored the Mandalorian threat for too long."
Several of the other Jedi Masters offered snorts of disagreement with her words.

"If he has fallen as you say, nothing can save him. That one was always too proud-"

"Yet he knelt before us, yet he all but begged us for help."
Zhar interjected, cutting Master Vrook off. The Council let out a collective sigh. Whatever was stirring in Revan's mind one thing was certain, they all dreaded to hear it.

Revan stormed through the Jedi Temple, his hands gripping tightly to his mask as he glared at the floor.

"Do they want us to lose this war? Do they want the Republic to fall?"

The former Jedi Knight sighed, heading for the Room of a Thousand Fountains.
"Perhaps I can relax before I die."

The Republic Commander mused as he seated himself in the lush gardens and began a calming meditation. Malachor V had not been what he had hoped, the world was dead and after seeing the barren terrain and the dangerous storms that covered the lifeless rock, Revan knew why the Mandalorians chose to restrict the world. Sighing heavily, Revan continued going over his options.

"I can attack the Mandalorians head on, but that would likely destroy what is left of my forces... I could move my troops in a defensive pattern but that would only allow the Mandalorians the time to regroup and mount an effective counterattack, which would mean certain victory for them..."

Shaking his head, Revan removed his armor and placed it in a neat pile beside him.

"I could always draw them into a trap... but how could I draw the bulk of their Forces into a trap... and how can I spring this trap. The Mandalorians have at least four times as many men as I do and with less than two thousand Jedi left..."

A frustrated sigh escaped Revan as he opened his eyes from his meditation and thoughts. The Coruscant sky had dimmed some, though it was never truly dark on the city planet, Revan knew it was night and that he had spend several hours meditating and going over pointless strategies.

"Maybe I can make a bomb."
Revan mused aloud.

"That wouldn't be such a bad idea."

A voice said from behind him. Revan turned calmly and gave a subtle nod to Ian Kenobi.

"Did you try as well?"
Revan asked, knowing the former Jedi General had been in some of the hardest fighting of the war alongside him. Ian shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest and looking to a nearby fountain, admiring its beauty.
"Its not worth it. What point is there to go before them and have them rub it in your face that you should have listened?"

Revan smiled slightly at that comment, nodding agreement.

"A bomb them. So what shall we call this doomsday weapon?"
Revan joked, not taking his fellow outcast seriously.

"The Mass Shadow Device..."

Ian replied. Revan furrowed a brow, looking at the slightly older man before standing.
"Don't tell me you've already got something? I knew you were efficient Ian but Force!"

Ian shrugged.

"I have an Iridonian in my Ithorian tech crew, he says with four core drives from four Republic ships he can make a gravity well the size of Yavin."

Revan brought his hand to his chin in thought, mulling over the news.

"If we can draw the Mandalorians into an asteroid field... no they would never follow us in there..."
Revan frowned slightly, shaking his head as dozens of possibilities passed through his mind.
"I take it this device isn't picky about what it swallows?"
Revan asked. Ian nodded his head and frowned as well, not knowing how to lure the Mandalorians into a trap.
"I have an idea..."

Revan muttered after a few moments. Ian looked over to his comrade skeptically before Revan slowly rolled up the sleeve of his tunic, revealing a raven crested tattoo.
"This is the symbol of a Mandalorian Conscript. Any who bear this mark or the mark of any Mandalorian can challenge Mandalore..."

Ian was silent, staring at the mark on Revan's bicep.
"I can allow them to capture me and then challenge them. If I win I can order them to surrender and if they choose to torture me I can tell them our forces are gathered around Malachor V. You can use the Mass Shadow device to destroy the forces they send there and we can end this in a single stroke!"

Ian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Mandalorian crest tattooed to his friend's arm.
"You're a Mandalorian?"
He asked after Revan's plan had been explained. Revan sighed heavily and nodded once. Ian returned the gesture.
"I always wondered why they respected you. I suppose you all think alike."
Revan gave Ian a sour expression before the older exile shook his head.

"No point in arguing. We can't change what is, only what will be."

Revan took a deep breath and allowed it to pass from him as a shudder ran up his spine.
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
Ian commented. Revan snorted and nodded agreement before the older man bowed to him and departed.

"I am going to die."

Revan shook his head at the thought.
"I am going to die, slowly..."

Snorting at his own dark humor, Revan rose and turned to leave the peaceful gardens when he sensed someone's eyes on him. The former Jedi turned and stared in the direction of a nearby tree and shook his head.

"Its been a while hasn't it?"
Revan said a bit too loudly. Bastila sighed and came from her hiding place, staring at the armored man.

"You know you look awful in that don't you?"
Bastila teased. Revan smirked slightly, though the weight of what was about to happen was distracting him from the peace he felt in Bastila's presence. Revan turned, unaware of the wistful smile on his face and glad he still wore his mask as his jaw dropped slightly.

"What the hell are you wearing?"
Bastila smiled sheepishly, turning slightly to Revan could see the light brown, form-fitting silk-like outfit she wore. Revan shook his head, trying to block out how much Bastila had changed in the several months since he had seen her.
"What do you think?"
Bastila asked, a gentle flush rising to her cheeks.

"..."

Bastila frowned slightly at the lack of response and was about to speak her mind when Revan suddenly motioned to her to follow him. With a small scowl, Bastila followed the former Jedi until he finally led her to a waterfall and small stream. The area was deep within the Temple gardens and Bastila could not sense any Jedi nearby.

"This... this is beautiful..."
Bastila sighed as she took in the stunning and private view of the Temple gardens. Revan nodded slightly, his mind still playing over the guarantee of death and torture in his near future.
"As are you..."

Revan replied quietly as he lowered his hood and removed his mask. Bastila flushed slightly and stared contently at her friend for a moment. The months since she had seen him last had taken their toll. Revan's skin was pale, too pale to be considered healthy and Bastila could clearly make out the worry lines in his young face.
"Who are the Bloodravens?"

Bastila blurted out suddenly, not knowing anything else to speak of. Bastila cursed herself mentally as she saw Revan tense. Bastila had immersed herself in studying the strange tattoo on Revan's arm and had discovered something that brought a bit of pride to her. Atris was wrong. The symbol was not that of the Raven Clan but of the Bloodravens. The texts she had read were vague at best and as far as she could tell, the Bloodravens where merely a family, a sub-clan in the larger Raven Clan. Bastila watched Revan's face for any signs of a response and was shocked to see his wary expression.
"I have never told anyone this before, Bastila."

Revan muttered as he slowly rolled the sleeve of his tunic up to reveal the obsidian Raven superimposed over a crimson shield.

"The Bloodravens where a Clan of Mandalorians that could wield the Force. They don't really know where the power came from but it was said that each member of that Clan could use the Force with little to no training, meaning they held an unbelievably powerful affinity to the Force. The Bloodravens acted as Mandalore's personal guard and there were only allowed to be thirty at a time, selected from birth that would pass to adulthood. After Ulic Qel-Droma defeated Mandalore in their duel, Mandalore pledged himself to the Dark Jedi and allied with he and Exar Kun. The Raven Clan, which was where the Bloodravens came from, where wiped out and only a few dozen lived beyond Exar Kun. The Bloodravens where decimated as well and only two survived. A man and a woman... and they had a child before they were killed by a Jedi Knight. This Jedi Knight had killed them in defense though she did not know she was trespassing in Bloodraven territory... She later found the child... he was only five at the time... and she saw the potential within him. She saw the potential in him to do good instead of evil and she took him back to her people to teach him the ways of the Jedi only to abandon him a decade later to fight his people once more..."

Bastila stared, wide-eyed at Revan as he told her of who she could only presume to be his parents and what had befallen them as well as the way he had become a Jedi. The young Padawan felt a heavy weight settle in her stomach and looked to the ground. She had been given to the Order by her parents while he had his parents taken away by the Order only to be taken in by the one who had killed them.
"Do you hate her?"

She asked timidly. Revan sighed and sat back, staring at the waterfall and allowing the gentle flow of its waters to calm him.

"Mandalorians are taught not to hate. Jedi are taught not to hate."
Bastila frowned at the analogy but said nothing.

"To a Mandalorian, honor is everything. Kreia was a better warrior and defeated my parents in battle and deserves the honor that comes from that. She raised me from the age of five on and taught me of the ways of the Jedi. Mandalorians do not kill for some bloodlust or anything else so sinister. It is their pride, they glory that they seek. Few of them still hold true to the ways of their people as they should, to the roots of their honor, but it is always there, keeping them in check."

Revan slowly sat up and looked over to Bastila, who had seated herself beside him and was staring at something only she could see.
"That is what is so strange about this war... It is as if there is something behind it, manipulating and driving the Mandalorians. Mandalores rarely waste their time killing innocents and when they do there is always a purpose. They would obliterate an entire planet of innocents if they thought a soldier was hiding amongst them simply because they hate only one thing. Cowardice. They want their enemy to know that they will die regardless of where they hide or run to simply for want of an opponent that will fight back. The worlds they ravage are left to those amongst their own ranks that have no honor and desert, living off the native populations... pirates and slavers... the Hutts, the Exchange, even Czerka."

Revan sighed heavily.

"There is always someone who is willing to take advantage of someone else's misfortune, that is what disgusts me, that is what I am fighting to stop..."

Bastila remained silent, allowing Revan to speak. She knew he had been holding this in all his life and that he had placed a lot of trust in her to tell her, even if her own curiosity was the catalyst for this situation. Revan trusting her enough to tell her these things touched her in a way and she smiled softly as she reached over and brushed her hand across his face. Revan jumped with a start, staring at Bastila for a moment with a questioning expression.
"What-"

"Shhh."

Bastila answered as she continued to stare into his tired, yet still passionate brown eyes.

"I never knew anything about your past but you knew everything about me... now I see why you did not tell me."
Bastila answered softly, watching his eyes shift slightly.
"That must have been difficult to live with and to relive it each time you kill one of your own..."

Bastila trailed off as a tear shimmered in her eyes.

"Why do you understand me so well? We've only known each other what? Three years and I've barely seen you..."

Revan answered in a miserable tone. Bastila continued to stroke the side of his face, brushing a stray strand of hair back. Slowly, Bastila moved closer to him and brought her other hand to his face, brushing her lips against his softly as she kissed him. Bastila felt Revan stiffen in response before he groaned quietly and returned the kiss. After a moment, he broke away gently and sat up with a troubled expression.
"What's wrong?"
Bastila asked softly, frightened she had placed their friendship at risk by her bold move. Revan stared at the endless blue of her eyes and allowed his own misery to reflect in his.
"We can't have this, Bastila. We can only be friends."

Bastila frowned slightly, not knowing what to say but relieved that he was not angry. Revan stared at his eighteen year old friend, suddenly feeling a pang in his chest that made him feel as if he were going to collapse. He would be dead soon, either by the Mandalorians or by the Mass Shadow device and would never have to deal with the consequences, while Bastila... He did not know what love was and was not some fool who chose to declare something he was taught to never feel or to hide, but he knew he would never take advantage of Bastila as he was tempted to for the briefest moment when she had kissed him, he would never dishonor her by putting at risk, all she had sacrificed her parents and youth for. He was not selfish enough to ask her to choose him over the Jedi and he would die before he even considered that.

"Are you angry with me?"
Bastila asked, seeing his glazed expression and startling him from his thoughts.

"Of course not!"
Revan snapped, grinning.
"I actually am rather flattered that a lovely young lady such as yourself would consider a lowly Supreme Commander of the Republic and Jedi Fleet such as myself."
Bastila stared at Revan, expressionless for a moment before smiling and slapping his shoulder playfully.

"You're teasing me!"
She chided. Revan chuckled softly, reveling in the peace he felt at that moment.

"My deepest apologies, Princess Padawan!"

Revan replied as a mischievous glint lit his eyes. Revan stiffened as he spoke, preparing for the coming attack.

"Revan!"

Bastila gasped, slapping him across the face.
"How many times have I told you NEVER to call me that?"

Revan smirked as he rubbed his red cheek.

"The real question is how many times have I listened?"

Revan dodged the next blow and was soon rolling around the garden, laughing and teasing his friend, trying to ignore the guilt that was gnawing at him for not telling her he would not be there for her.

"I am doing this for her, I can't let the Mandalorians win."

A shudder racked Revan for a moment as he stared into Bastila's eyes. He loathed to think of what would happen to her if the Mandalorians conquered the Republic.

"Commander."
Revan stood and looked in the direction of the voice, eyeing Bastila for a moment. General Kenobi soon approached in a run, slowing to a stop as he caught his breath.

"The Mandalorians are attacking Duros..."

Revan nodded and turned to Bastila, giving her an apologetic look before sprinting away with Ian. Bastila frowned as she watched the two former Jedi race away, hating to be left behind and hating that her friend was risking his life.

"How long ago did the attack begin?"

Ian led Revan to the Jedi Temple's hangar.

"Just a few minutes ago. They have a lot of men, Revan. More than we thought they'd have."

Revan stared at Ian for a moment before nodding and boarding a transport hastily, leaving Coruscant and all thoughts of peace behind.

"Where is Malak?"
Revan asked, not having seen his friend since he stormed out of the Jedi Council chambers. Ian snorted slightly.

"He's with the fleet about ten minutes ahead of us."

Revan nodded, looking over the initial data of the Mandalorian attack and freezing.

"What the hell?"

Revan questioned, turning to Ian.

"Why are they attacking the-"

Revan silenced his thoughts, turning to the datapad again.

"They're trying to draw us out, they'll be long gone by the time we get there. They want to send us a message..."

Ian narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Revan.

"What do you mean?"

The General asked warily, not really wanting to know the answer.

"This war has been fought on a very small scale, one planet at a time. The Mandalorians have been so spread out that they cannot form a decent and tactical assault aside from the initial one five years ago. They want a showdown. They want to show the Republic and the Jedi just who they are dealing with. Have you noticed how they are abandoning and destroying worlds recently? Its an old tactic, destroy your enemy's resources and add their strength to your own... They are forcing their prisoners to fight for them..."

Revan laughed quietly.

"I think they are getting tired of waiting, I think they had the same idea we did. Lets end this, Ian."
Ian nodded agreement.

"I'll be aboard the Ravager, completing preparations on the Mass Shadow Device and I will head straight to Malachor V after the assault..."

Revan nodded and turned from Ian, staring at the hyperspace trail.

"Ian."

The General turned to his comrade and waited.

"I'll likely be dead and Malak will be too busy fighting on Malachor when the time comes... can you do it?"

Ian nodded his head slowly, sighing heavily.
"I can."

Revan nodded and turned away, continuing to stare at the hyperspace trail as Ian left the bridge and headed towards the landing bay.

"Good, you may have to."
The former Jedi whispered, pondering how he would fall into the Mandalorian's hands and lead them to Malachor V.