Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 12: Road to Redemption

Darth Revan opened his eyes slowly and sat up, staring at Jedi Master Atris. Looking down at himself, Revan scowled.

"How long was it this time?"

The Dark Lord asked the Jedi Master. Atris paled slightly and closed her eyes as she fought with herself and her decision.

"I am offering you a second chance... Surely you're interested?"

Revan snorted as he tested the restraints and took in the dim lighting around him. Raising an eyebrow, Revan turned to Atris.

"The Council doesn't know about this... do they?"

Atris sombered and shook her head.

"No one..."

Revan was surprised by those words and he knew as he scanned Atris' mind subtly that she was speaking the truth.

"I- I was the one that violated your mind and stripped away who you were... I was the one who the Jedi sent to observe you... It- its been nearly two years, Revan."

Sneering, Revan pulled against his restraints and felt one of the armbands snap. Smiling at the suddenly terrified Jedi Master, Revan removed his other restraints and stood.

"Do you think I could have some clothes, Master Jedi?"

Turning bright red, Atris nodded numbly and left the room, returning with a set of obsidian Jedi Robes. Revan eyed the clothing appreciatively as he pulled the hooded cloak over himself.

"Guilty conscience?"

Revan smirked as Atris closed her eyes.

"You were sealed away within your mind... You are not the reason I am doing this... What you said about Ian, I-"

Atris sighed and looked away. Suddenly interested, Revan seated himself on the bed and resolved to not kill the Jedi Master for a few more minutes.

"I saw the effect your death had on Vrook's Padawan..."

Revan paled and shook slightly.

"Bastila..."

Force he loved to hear that name coming from his own lips. Everything he knew about the Padawan, down to her temper tantrums he found beautiful. Smiling slightly, Revan continued to listen, suddenly feeling ashamed.

"I know what she went through and I can't deny her you... "

Revan knew that Atris had held feelings for Ian, it surprised him greatly that the Jedi Master would admit those feelings.

"Continue."

Revan said evenly as he stretched his sore arms.

"A Republic ship is preparing to attack Malak over Taris... They are taking Bastila with them and they are horribly outnumbered."

Revan sat up, staring into Atris' eyes.

"Malak has controlled the Sith for two years?"
The Dark Lord did nothing to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Malak has gained much power since your... demise. The Council believes he is using some ancient artifact of the Dark Side to amplify and increase his power..."

Revan blinked as he stared at the Jedi Master.

"The Star Forge..."
"How am I... Still myself?"

Revan asked, checking his memories and satisfied that there were no gaps.

"The technique we- I used only locked you away within your subconscious. You would be able to access your memories unconsciously..."

Revan nodded.

"While I was constructing the barrier... I caught a glimpse of what you saw..."

Atris stared intensely into Revan's eyes.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

Revan snorted.

"I thought I did."

Atris smirked.

"You knew we wouldn't believe you."

The former Dark Lord of the Sith frowned slightly.

"You know I'm not a good liar."

Sighing, Atris ran her hands through her ivory hair.

"You know Yusanis' children respect you, don't you?"

Revan furrowed his brow, looking away.

"They shouldn't."

Atris shook her head.

"They are the ones that convinced me to do this... I- I listened to the way they spoke of you, of how they still held respect for you... Brianna saw you when you were with her father you know."

Revan paled considerably.
"She unconsciously hid her presence in the Force when she saw you and that demon droid of yours."

Atris noticed Revan's hands were trembling, smiling internally.

"Good, he feels guilt."

"She told me what you said... but that you didn't carry out your threat was what she respected."
Atris cautiously closed the distance between herself and the former Dark Lord. Taking his hand, she forced him to look into her face, seeing his eyes gleaming.
"You are still young, Revan. You can still change."

Revan pulled his hand violently from Atris' grasp.

"I don't deserve to be given that choice. I deserve to die!"
Atris smiled, placing her hand on Revan's shoulder.

"You're afraid."

Startled, Revan's eyes snapped to Atris'.

"I can't face them... After what I've done... I can't face... her..."

Atris smiled as she saw a tear fall from his dark eyes.

"You never fell, Revan. You always did what you thought was right..."

Sneering, Revan looked away.

"What I thought was right was the furthest thing from it."
Atris sighed, seating herself beside Revan. She had known the former Jedi as a friend of Ian's and had thought herself a friend to him at one time.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions. To be afraid... and to be angry is not the Dark side. Anyone can be redeemed, look at Ulic-"

"Shot in the back by some lowly soldier while fighting for redemption that was beyond him."

Atris scowled slightly.

"You know Nomi and Vima would kill you if they heard you say that. He became one with the Force, Revan. He was redeemed."

Sighing, Revan shook his head.

"That is the flaw of Jedi teachings... Not everyone can be redeemed..."

Atris sighed in frustration, taking a moment to calm herself.

"Would you change it now that you know?"

Revan blinked, staring at the wall before him.

"Where the Force are we anyways?"

Atris smiled.

"You're avoiding the question..."

Taking a deep breath and sighing, Revan stood, stalking to the wall and crossing his arms across his chest as he paced. Hearing a small giggle form the Jedi Master, Revan turned and gaped.

"You're pouting!"

Atris laughed as she held her side and burst into full blown laughter. Revan continued to stare at the Jedi Master, certain that raising six teenage girls had brought this change in her, one he did not mind.

"To heal your own soul, you must heal hers."

Atris said after she had stopped laughing and caught her breath. Revan scowled, hating the fact that one of the all knowing members of the Jedi Council actually did know his secret.

"When she forgives you, you may be able to forgive yourself for hurting her. Love is giving someone permission to hurt you... She loved you..."

Revan scowled.

"Love is not allowing someone to hurt you and then taking them back in so they can hurt you again."

Revan muttered, clenching his hands tightly as he uncrossed his arms.

"She will need you before your time is done, Lord of the Sith..."

The words surprised Revan with their lack of usual malice. Warily, Revan turned to Atris with a guarded expression.

"What do the Jedi know of love?"

Atris flushed slightly, looking away.

"Not so blind to her feelings as I thought..."

Revan smirked. He knew there was a reason the Jedi Master had felt so betrayed by Ian's decision to fight in the Mandalorian wars. It saddened the former Jedi to know that whatever chance the two had was destroyed by the Jedi Code.

"Another flaw of the Jedi teachings. There is always emotion."

"Since when did you become so insightful?"
Revan teased, feeling at ease with the normally eccentric Jedi Master. Atris turned to Revan, an angry expression gracing her features.

"Since I saw the effect your death had on Bastila. Vrook was livid, perhaps you did not sense the hostility..."

Atris paused.

"The unusually large amount of hostility coming from him."

Revan stifled a laugh at the Jedi Master's subconscious joke. Shame washed over him as he thought of what he would do where he in Vrook's position.

"I'd probably obliterate the planet I was on..."

Shaking his head, Revan blinked to clear his bleary vision, brushing the sleeve of his cloak across his eyes.

"I am giving you a second chance..."

The former Dark Lord raised an eyebrow. Atris' voice dripped with guilt.

"Perhaps she sees that what they did to Ian was a mistake."

Shuddering, Revan walked over to the Jedi Master and stared down at her. Atris shifted and stood from the bed, looking up into Revan's stoic visage.

"Bastila's mission to Taris is set in a month. The Council hopes that she will be able to use her Battle Meditation to capture Malak as she did you..."

Shaking his head, Revan voiced his disagreement.

"Malak betrayed me, that was how the Jedi were able to get so close to me... Whatever is planned will fail."

Atris nodded.

"The Republic ship leaves in a week. I give you three days to decide what you will do."

With that, Atris spun on her heel and left the former Dark Lord alone With his thoughts. Revan slowly made his way to the small refresher and splashed water in his face, looking up into his reflection.

"Two years..."

The former Dark Lord had already made up his mind on what he would do but he was still skeptical that he was worth redemption. He knew one thing though, he could not allow Bastila to go another day in pain that he had caused.

Three days passed before Atris returned.

"Doesn't the rest of the Council wonder what you are doing With your free time?"

Revan joked as he stood from where he was doing pushups. Atris shook her head.

"The war has nearly shattered the Order. We have divided ourselves in separate parts of the Galaxy to train and hide."

The former Jedi brushed the sweat from his brow and seated himself on a chair.

"You can't trust me you know..."

Atris smiled, sensing that Revan was lying.
"You're right..."

Revan raised an eyebrow.

"You are a terrible lair."

Scowling, Revan crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're name will be Tauryn Katarn. It is a lot more common than Revan Bloodraven."

Revan nodded, repeating the name to himself several times.

"Now then... Tauryn... You must shield your presence in the Force and your conscious thoughts from Bastila."

Revan looked about to protest as Atris raised a hand to stop him.

"If she knows this soon she may panic. She is young and passionate."

Revan nodded reluctantly.

"Give her time..."

Sighing, Revan nodded again. Atris nodded, reaching into her snow-colored robes and pulling a lightsaber. Revan recognized it as the azure bladed one he had left With the Jedi Council five years before.

"What was I?"

Revan asked as Atris handed him the weapon.

"You were a Republic soldier. Your... personality was similar to what it is now so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to fall into character..."
Atris paused for a moment as she watched Revan hide the lightsaber away within his cloak.

"Good, accepting the lightsaber means he wishes to turn away from his old path..."

"You were also recently transferred to the Endar Spire so no one will know you."

The former Dark Lord nodded.

"Has the Council been watching me?"
Revan asked, wanting to know how free he could be in his training. Atris shook her head.

"They threw Tauryn into the Republic fleet and all but washed their hands of you."
Revan nodded.

"Does Bastila know?"

Sighing, Atris closed her eyes.

"She thinks your mind was too damaged for your memories to return. She saved you you know..."

Revan grimaced slightly.

"Her actions on that bridge... they created a bond between the two of you... One you must be wary of should she discover you."

The former Jedi took in the new information, wincing.

"I will be careful, Master Atris."

Surprised by the respectful display, Atris nodded.
"You will be free to move about the facility for the next three days. Tauryn Katarn was to be on leave on the Citadel station while The Endar Spire loads supplies and its new crew."

Revan furrowed his brow.
"What is the Citadel station?"

Frowning, Atris motioned for Revan to follow her. The former Dark Lord eyed the blue polished steel of what seemed to be a perfect replica of the Jedi Temple of Coruscant.

"You should probably spend your time following the developments since your... mindwipe..."

Revan nodded, seating himself in a lounge area of the Enclave. Lifting a datapad from a pile on the table, Revan reacquainted himself With the Galaxy.

Atris lingered for a moment, breathing a sigh of relief. Ever since wiping Revan's memories, she had felt as best she could describe, dirty. She felt a fraction of the guilt and anger that welled in the Dark Lord as she violated his mind and she felt as though she had murdered him. Shuddering at how she had simply erased the new personality from Revan's mind, Atris made certain to leave a datapad containing all the information Revan needed to know about his alter ego.

"May the Force be With you, Revan Bloodraven."

Revan was immersed in a datapad about the condition of the Republic Senate and the Jedi Order when he heard movement in the room. The former Dark Lord's eyes snapped to the intruder and he growled low in his throat as he smirked.

"I guess its just a Mandalorian thing."

"Who's there?"

Timidly, a young woman walked into the room and cautiously approached him, her hands clasped before her nervously. Instantly, Revan knew who it was.

"May I ask you a question?"

The young woman asked. Revan nodded, eyeing the girl warily.

"My father... Yusanis... did- How did he die?"

The girl asked. Revan eyed the youngest child of his former friend.
"He died honorably and to protect you from me."

Revan hissed.

"Now leave me."

Revan snarled as he turned impatiently down to his datapad, not wanting to see first-hand the results of his sins.

"Thank you..."

Brianna said softly as she stood and stared at the former Dark Lord with an unreadable expression. Revan continued to stare at the datapad, his eyes narrowing.

"May I challenge you, Lord Revan?"

Knowing he would get no peace with his own conscience if he did not give the girl this reprieve, Revan nodded reluctantly.

"Very well."

Brianna smiled slightly and nodded, leaving the room. Revan shuddered at the resemblance the girl bore to her mother. He could remember when he, Yusanis, Arren, Malak and Ian were drinking in a bar during a small break form the combat how Yusanis would speak of how proud he was of his daughter and how he had showed him holos.

"You're better..."

Yusanis' last words echoed in Revan's mind as the Dark Lord ran his hands shakily through his hair.

As he expected, Revan easily defeated Brianna and her sisters in hand to hand combat. The former Jedi was surprised by the skill each of the girls displayed and was certain Yusanis would be proud. Clenching his hands in anger directed at himself, Revan turned his thoughts to the children of Yusanis. The fact that they seemed to respect him and were enthralled by him left the former Sith torn.

"They should hate me... This isn't normal..."

Frowning, Revan shook his head.

"Okay, maybe in Echani culture it is... but the lack of bitterness..."

Approaching footsteps snapped the Dark Lord from his thoughts.

"You will be leaving tomorrow... Brianna will escort you to the Citadel station and from there you will report to the Endar Spire. When you see Bastila make certain you hide your thoughts..."

Revan nodded, knowing that the fate of the Republic and the Jedi were again in his hands.
"Thank you, Atris."

Revan said softly as he ran a hand through his short and spiky hair. Atris eyed the man's disheveled appearance.

"You may want to shave as well... You look like you've been on an all night Tarisian ale drinking binge."

Revan breathed a single laugh and nodded, rubbing the unkempt stubble on his face.

"I' guess I could use a good shave."

The next day, Revan and Brianna took a transport shuttle to the Citadel station where the Echani left the former Dark Lord. Revan brushed a hand over his goatee and licked his lips as he looked around the landing pad.

"Now then, where the hell are the Republic transports..."

The former Dark Lord of the Sith pulled his duffel bag containing his lightsaber and obsidian Jedi robes over his shoulder as he glared openly at the Republic uniform he wore.

"I never like these things."

Revan muttered to himself as he pulled on the collar of the uncomfortable armor.

Well there ya have it. I decided to go AU. I hope I didn't make Atris too out of character. I wanted to convey that she was feeling guilty at the end of the last chapter and that is partially what influenced her decision here. I'd like some feedback to see if you like this or dislike it. Constructive criticism is always good.