Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: After over 2 months of really nothing in the writing department, I am trying my hand at finishing this one... I hope it works out, but who knows... This first part is just sort of a summary of things...
Chapter 33: Twilight of the Jedi
Many would call the ending of the Jedi Civil war abrupt. One moment the galaxy was filled with thousands of Jedi and Sith Knights and the next, there was but a whisper of the warriors. Some would say the Jedi Order was lost after the destruction of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Too many Jedi fell between the Mandalorian wars and the Star Forge to ever be able to recover.
The Star Forge would be another point. Some would argue the destruction of the space station that fueled the Sith war effort was enough to break the Sith. Also in that fateful battle, the Sith Lord Darth Malak was sundered. The loss of the Sith hierarchy following Darth Revan's rampage through his former Empire was enough to break the fragile alliance between the remaining Sith Lords. Anarchy reigned within their Empire and though the Republic would prefer to mark a certain single point as an end to the war, the most notable event would have been the capture of Darth Revan, Darth Malak and Darth Shan.
Queen Talia of Onderon had arrested the Sith Lords upon their arrival. Despite the dissension within the ranks of the Onderonian military and the very vocal opposition of General Vaklu, the simple presence of Jedi Master Kavar was enough to draw a peaceful and rather anticlimactic surrender from the Sith Lords. Weary months of debate and accusations followed in which the Jedi Order was again divided on the issues.
Many within the Republic wanted to publicly execute Revan and Malak. There were wavering sympathies for Bastila Shan's plight, seeing as how she had been tortured into joining the Sith and she had been the sole reason the Republic had not fallen under Revan and Malak's assaults.
Weary of the public outcries, the Jedi Council and her remaining nine members fled from Coruscant, abandoning the Jedi Temple and rebuilding on the distant and neutral world of Katarr. The peaceful Miralukans were more than happy to allow the Jedi to train on their world. The Miralukan's close affinity to the Force was such that it allowed a close bond to form between the recovering Jedi Order.
A time of healing was to have begun... or so they had thought.
The Jedi Order had been devastated by its civil war. With what remained of Revan and Malak's Sith Empire destroying itself, the Jedi focused their efforts inward, hoping to repair the damage that had been suffered in the time since Exar Kun had driven a scythe through the heart of their ancient Order.
Little was heard of from Darth Revan or Malak though it was rumored that Malak had been given treatment by the most skilled of what remained of the Jedi Healers.
Bastila was another matter. The Jedi had begun treatments to ensure she was free of the Darkside's influence, though many of the remaining Masters frowned upon her close relationship to Revan, none stood between it.
Isolating themselves from the issues within the Republic had been one of the Jedi's more foolhardy actions. Unable to hold sway within the Republic Senate and much less visible, the peoples of the Republic soon forgot their saviors and saw only a threat.
When the ones who are labeled the protectors betray one another, it leaves a scar that most would not forgive or forget. The line between Jedi and Sith was blurred and well within a few months the people of the Republic were up in arms, wishing to see justice done to those it saw as responsible for the death and pain that had filled the galaxy for the last half-decade.
Seeing the Jedi shield mass murderers was merely the last straw and when the Jedi Order faded to nothingness, none mourned its passing. So drawn on anger and pain were the people of the Republic that they barely registered the loss of an entire planet of billions of people. The loss of the Jedi Order and the Miralukans of Katarr was barely a footnote in history. An inconvenience for the hyperspace routes that traveled through that sector.
How they had escaped, let alone survived the destruction of all the life on that planet was a mystery. Revan and Malak were not found amongst the dead, for those who cared to look and what remained of the Jedi Council and the Jedi Order, barely a hundred Masters and Knights, gathered on Telos, searching for clues as to the catastrophe that had consumed what little had remained of their comrades after Revan's war.
Bastila Shan had escaped the destruction of Katarr simply for spending time with her mother. Her trip to Coruscant was done in secret and she had spend the waning days of the Jedi Order by her mother's deathbed, only to discover that she had lost the last links to both of her families.
In mourning, Bastila left the Order, searching the Core worlds for a purpose. The Jedi were no longer, her mother had passed on and the man she loved had disappeared without a trace.
The Jedi gathered on Telos agreed to separate, fleeing to distant corners of the Republic to hide from whatever threat had targeted the Council on Katarr in the hopes of salvaging their Order. In the end the few that survived were hunted down and killed by the people they had fought to protect, betrayed for the bounties that were placed on their heads by the Exchange following the break between the Order and the Republic.
With the twilight of the Jedi Order, it seemed the galaxy had fallen into a new age of darkness. With no Jedi to stand against them, the Sith began to set their plans into motion.
On Malachor V, Darth Sion and Darth Nihilus unleashed their trained assassins to hunt down what remained of the Jedi. After Nihilus had consumed the energy of Katarr, he knew that nothing could stand in his war. The galaxy would exist to feed his hunger and salve Sion's rage. Many would suffer in the years to follow at the hands of these Sith Lords.
The primal forces on hundreds of worlds beyond the eyes of the Republic stirred, seeing that it would only be a matter of years, perhaps even only a decade before a millennium of vengeance was satisfied. The True Sith had begun their campaign, conquering and silencing the opposition along the borders of their empire, striking from Ziost to quell any warning of their long-planned revenge.
Revan and Malak fled Katarr, journeying first through the collapsing Republic and then beyond the Rim. Some attempted to follow them, though they were left far behind in the wake of the two Sith Lords.
The Republic, as it always had, turned inwards. The weakened fleets decayed as they broke apart, returning to their homes and ignoring the larger, more devastating war that was upon them. Even Sion and Nihilus were not able to view the full scope of the True Sith's plans. Their war would be but a minor skirmish, the billions upon billions sacrificed to Nihilus' hunger a mere fraction of the terror the True Sith would unleash.
Strangely all the hope in the galaxy, for those who could sense the change in the tides of the Force, did not rest on the shoulders of the Jedi, or the Senate, but upon three different men, brothers once, drawn together as comrades and friends and driven apart as rivals and Exiles.
As two of these men charged into the fringes of the Republic, one returned, having gathered the skills these two would learn over the next four years. They would not be reunited for as long, but each would have a pivotal role to play in the war to come...
Ziost: 4 years after the fall of the Katarr.
Sub-Chapter 33 : The Rising Threat
A swirl of red and black moved through the darkened forests of Ziost. The mountainous terrain was ideal place for what the two humans were doing at the moment. Running for their lives.
"This was a very bad idea!"
Malak shouted with a grin as he and Revan rushed through the rocky terrain, the Force enhancing their speed as they drove deeper and deeper into the dark forests. Revan chuckled, breathing heavily as he and his friend continued trying to escape their pursuers.
"As I recall it was your idea to come here!"
Revan returned, hearing the shouts of the Sith warriors behind them. Malak ignored Revan, pulling a thermal detonator from his belt and tossing it behind them without a glance. The explosion tore through the night, sending splinters and bits of fragmented stones against their backs as they continued on, ignoring the heat that chased them.
"Could have bloody warned me."
Revan called, pulling his lightsaber from his belt and turning, the crimson blade attracting the Sith chasing them. Malak slid to a stop, catching his breath as his own blade called to the Sith.
"Their spread thin enough now. We'll run and slash and hope to the Force we can get back to the ship."
Malak nodded his agreement, licking his lips as his eyes focused on the nearest Sith. The red-skinned insectoid had only a moment to shift into a fighting stance before Malak's crimson blade cleaved it in two. The bald former Jedi lifted the Sith's vibroblade and threw it towards the next Sith, the blade driving through the warrior's chest. Malak decapitated the Sith as he passed, ending his pain as he charged towards where he and Revan had landed hours before.
Revan took a moment to collect himself, cursing his armor before ignoring his weariness and surging forward, dodging the threat of the nearest Sith's weapon and slicing into the creature.
Running through the dark world's forests, both former Jedi tore through their foes, using skills honed by a lifetime of training under the Jedi and years of war and bloodshed. Losing sight of Revan, Malak continued forward, switching his blade off, and hoping to avoid any more of the Sith warriors. It had been this way ever since they had escaped Katarr and begun scouting the Sith worlds.
Revan was not having as much luck as his former apprentice. While the Sith were spread thin enough for Malak to easily escape, Revan found himself facing nearly a dozen of the fierce warriors. The nearest Sith, carrying a long spear, lunged for Revan, driving the point into the former Sith Lord's crimson breastplate as he attempted to dodge the blade of another attacking Sith. Revan felt himself being thrown back by the sheer force of the attack and was soon pinned against a tree trunk as the Sith's obsidian eyes gleamed. The spear made a horrible grinding sound as the Sith put more pressure against Revan. Seeing the opportunity, the nearest Sith moved for the kill, driving his blade for Revan's neck.
In a single movement, Revan brought his saber through the shaft of the spear and blocked the blade, spinning away and decapitating the startled Sith as it stared at its cloven weapon. Revan's lightsaber found the other Sith's throat as it moved again to strike him.
Exhausted, but far from spent, Revan moved through the Sith, his movements honed by years of warfare. The Sith warriors matched Revan as best they could but fell to his blade as he moved past them.
The former Dark Lord of the Sith ignored the moans of the wounded enemy and moved on, knowing that there were other Sith in the woods chasing he and Malak and knowing that Malak would not be able to wait forever once reaching the ship.
Switching off his lightsaber, Revan focused the Force around him, moving swiftly through the forests. He could already feel his connection to the Force slipping the longer he stayed on this world. Squashing the dread that rose in him as he ran blindly through the forests, Revan used the last of what remained of his power to guide him towards Malak.
A scarlet hand lashed out from behind a tree, colliding with Revan's mask. Caught off guard, Revan fell backwards, rolling immediately away from the blade that drove for his fallen form. The Sith smiled as it lashed out again, its curved sword locking with Revan's crimson saber.
"I never thought I would see you again!"
Revan ignored the Sith, backing away as he continued running. There was no point in fighting this battle. The Sith chuckled as he watched Revan's retreat.
"You can't fight it forever! Soon you will be back where you belong!"
The Sith shouted to Revan as he inspected the scorches of his blade.
Revan stopped, doubling over as he struggled for breath. The Force was slowly slipping away, drained by the power of the Sith. It was strange fighting there, like fighting wounded. Paranoid, Revan raised his hand, channeling the Force and watching, satisfied as a small rock floated from the ground before he released his hold. Whatever forces where at work on Ziost was diminishing his hold over the Force, like a poison tearing through the balance and infecting him.
The shouting of Sith behind him spurred Revan into action as he began running again, ignoring the call of the Darkside as it promised him power. Power to fight them, power to salve his thirst and hunger, power to free him of his exhaustion.
Malak breathed a sigh of relief when Revan stumbled into the small, grassy field they had landed on hours before. Coming to Ziost, the seat of the Sith Empire's power was quite obviously a reckless decision, but a necessary one.
"We can't keep doing this."
Malak called to Revan as the ship's repulsors began humming. Revan reached the landing ramp as it began raising, taking their small ship into the atmosphere and the safety of space. Both former Jedi were breathing heavily, grateful for the droids that worked the Ebon Hawk's systems.
"I... I think... I think it is time we call on the Jedi for help."
Revan nodded his agreement to Malak.
"I don't know if the Jedi will be much help to us. What few remain do not know how to fight with a diminished hold on the Force..."
Malak's lips thinned to a straight line as he eyed Revan grimly.
"You saw him again, didn't you..."
Revan nodded, still gasping for breath as he removed his mask and brushed the sweat from his forehead.
"The Patron seems to have some vested interest in reacquainting me with the Darkside of the Force. Bloody schutta can go swim in Hutt remains before I listen to him."
Malak grimaced at the mental picture, offering Revan his hand. Revan accepted, rising from where he had collapsed and staring intently off into space a moment.
"Why the diplomacy... If the Sith have the power to destroy the Vong... why would they even bother with outsiders..."
Malak's eyes glazed a moment as he was lost in his own thoughts.
"If I recall history correctly, power is all that matters to the Sith. They are not so different from the Order we built."
Both former Jedi flinched.
"Yes... but I thought this new order was trying to cleanse the bloodlines..."
Revan added thoughtfully, rubbing his goatee as his brown eyes turned to HK-47's charred remains.
"You aren't going to actually fix that thing are you?"
Malak asked with a pained expression. Having been labeled the jawless meatbag, even after the Jedi treatments by the rust-colored droid brought up painful memories. Revan shook his head, sealing the remains of his beloved assassin droid away.
"We don't have the time... I had some contacts I wanted to follow in the Wyl Sector."
Malak nodded, moving to the Ebon Hawk's starmap and frowning.
"See here how close Ziost is to Hydian Way... It is nearly center to that and the Perlemian trade route..."
Revan turned to the Starmap, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm surprised Ruuria hasn't fallen under their control... and even Telos, Force I've never recognized it before how close they are to the Republic. Its humbling in a way..."
Malak nodded, his eyes tracing the Sith Empire's hold on the Tingel Arm.
"They do tend to hold to the fringes though. They have holdings near Rishi on Roon and even on Mobus... Those are on three separate sides of the Galaxy and we know that the Republic only makes up a fifth of what we do know about this galaxy... That is including what we captured..."
Revan looked between Malak and the map.
"You have a lot of free time while I was getting chased?"
He asked, grinning. Malak rolled his eyes, flicking off the holo of the Galaxy.
"I'm just confused about how they can be on all sides of the Galaxy and still be so illusive. They are so close to the Aparo sector that they may as well call it their homeworld. And Roon is right next to the Abrion sector..."
Revan nodded, his features twisted into a grimace.
"The Twi-leks, the Kaminoans, the Bothans, even the blasted Gammorheans. If they move far from Ziost they'll have Telos and they'll cut off the Mon Calamari..."
Malak shook his head, sighing.
"From Roon there they can take the entire Corellian route at least to the Brak sector before the Republic can mobilize... if they can mobilize..."
Eyeing the taller man with a pained expression, Revan lifted his mask, running his fingers along the crimson lines.
"Take the Hawk back to the Republic, send a message to the Jedi Council... If I know Vrook, he's out there somewhere plotting our doom."
Malak scoffed.
"Why do I have to face that bastard?"
Revan returned Malak's incredulous look without flinching.
"They are getting too close. The heart of the Jedi Order was once Ossus. What is keeping them out of the Republic, what has been keeping them out for a thousand years is their fear of the Jedi. They sent the Mandalorians in to weaken them and then you and I played right into their hands. You can feel it as well as I can, the Darkside reigns out here as the Lightside once did in the Republic. If they see weakness they will strike. That they know you and I have touched the Darkside is enough for them. Most of these Sith are descendants of Fallen Jedi and the natives of Korriban... If I can get to Ossus... perhaps fool them into thinking the Jedi are still on their doorstep it may buy us some time. They fear the lightside of the Force, they know it can defeat them and if the Vong were so easily vanquished by them, imagine what disaster would befall the Republic if they were forced to fight, without the Jedi."
Malak paled slightly.
"It would be a slaughter. The Darkside of the Force is like a parasite, feeding on the lives of its users and those they enslave... It may also be why we are so weakened. There is so little of the lightside in these places that we cannot fight it. Can you hear it calling to you, Revan?"
Revan nodded, his eyes unfocused as he pondered what he would find on Ossus.
"Find what you can, we'll take our time. Leave the Ebon Hawk the first chance you get. We don't want the Sith or even the Republic to track our movements. We'll meet on Ossus in... One years time."
Malak nodded.
"I'll instruct the droids to secrecy and I will see if I can find where the Council is hiding..."
Revan grimaced as he thought of facing the Council.
"I think you should avoid Telos for obvious reasons. I'll try to contact Atris if she is still there."
Malak nodded, grateful.
"If Canderous is massing the Mandalorians on Dxun and you are gathering whoever you can on Ossus, we should only have to worry about covering our blind spots near Ryloth and Dantooine. I hope the Jedi still have a presence near Ilum, it is close enough to at least keep an eye on the Mobus region."
Revan's brow furrowed as he pondered this.
"It would leave Telos vulnerable... but I doubt Carth would turn his back on his homeworld. We should worry about Roon. If they move for the Core worlds it will be from there. Onderon can stand on its own so long as they do not bait Mandalore and the Hutts and the Exchange should be able to provide a nice barrier for the Mon Calamari and the Quarren. If they move it would either be near the Tion or the Arkanis sectors. You should keep an eye there, Malak."
The bald man nodded, rubbing his jaw absently as he stared at the floor plating of the Ebon Hawk.
"Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to work out like we want it to?"
Malak asked finally. Revan grinned, shrugging.
"We're fighting a delaying actions. Showing the Sith that we know where they are will be a nuisance to them and it is also a show of strength. They may continue to bid their time while we reorganize the Jedi... if that is at all possible."
Malak looked skeptical.
"I don't think your average Jedi can fight the Sith on their home ground. With the Force diminishing out here as it is, the only thing holding us together is our experience in the Darkside."
Revan continued to grin as he slapped his hand on Malak's back.
"Therein lies the beauty of this scheme. The Jedi will fight a defensive war, what they are so good at and you and I will continue to prod the Sith until they launch a full blown invasion. If we can draw them out, the Jedi can counteract whatever means they have been using to fight the Vong, free of the influence of their dark worlds. Free of the taint. I merely wish Vrook had not destroyed those rebel Sith on Corellia, they would have been invaluable."
Malak sighed, shaking his head.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Revan muttered his agreement, staring at his friend for a long moment before resigning himself to the Ebon Hawk's storage compartment where he recorded a short message for HK-47. Replacing the seal on the assassin droid's chassis, Revan frowned, recalling the message Bastila had managed to sneak into T3-M4. Shaking his head at his own dark thoughts, Revan renewed his shaken confidence in his programming. T3 would not tell Bastila where he and Malak had been. He had to believe that. If she were drawn here it would destroy her as it was he and Malak. The call of the Darkside was strongest out here, stronger than it had been on Korriban and the Star Forge and he feared seeing what it would do to the Jedi that had survived the war.