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Chapter 34: Preparations

Ossus was as beautiful as Revan remembered. The sprawling blue-gray canyons of the former home of the Jedi Order's archives after they left their origins on Tython millennia before. The glowing white crystals that cast an iridescent glow over the decaying tombs of great Jedi long dead. The once shining spires of the forgotten Jedi archives, ruined by Exar Kun's lie as a mass of ruins, a testament to the ravages of the Great Sith War.

Wearily, Revan removed his supplies from his small corvette, the vehicle a cross between the flower-like Basilisk war droid and a Sith fighter and able to carry the supplies he would need. Sighing, the former Dark Lord of the Sith seated himself on a fallen pillar and gazed around the cavernous interior of the former Jedi Temple. Aside from a few randomly scattered tribes, most of the original inhabitants of Ossus fled when Exar Kun used Naga Sadow's ancient weaponry to destroy the Cron Cluster.

"I wonder if Coruscant and Dantooine feel this empty..."

Shuddering, Revan began setting up his camp, periodically making trips to his vessel. Spending the better part of a day, Revan began placing a series of emerald and sapphire crystals around the fallen temple, their cores charged with Force energies. Chuckling to himself, Revan allowed himself to fall into a deep trance, reassuring himself that the crystals would channel the lighter energies of the Force.

"This should get the Sith's attention... or at the very least any Jedi that remain out there..."

Moving through his supplies, Revan removed a small datapad and reviewed the information he and Malak had gathered on the True Sith in the past four years. Including their run-in with the Sith's sovereign leader, the Patron. After hours contemplating, Revan was startled from his thoughts by the sound of shifting robes. Raising his head from his datapad, the blood drained from Revan's face as he took in the form of his former Master.

"I see you are still alive, my apprentice."

Revan resisted the urge to touch Kreia, nodding his head and keeping a wary eye on his former Master.

"I am, Master and I am... surprised to see you are as well."

Kreia scoffed, running her hand along one of the various crystals Revan had brought with him.

"I am diminished, my apprentice. There is no need for you to worry. I am not here to kill you."

Revan relaxed slightly, his eyes taking in the battered face of his former Master.

"I see you have changed as well..."

Kreia's white eyes narrowed.

"Do not condescend to me, Revan. I know of what you sought and even diminished I can feel the scars they left upon you, as Nihilus and Sion left their scars upon me."

Flinching, Revan stood, lying the datapad alongside his mask.

"What do you know of the Sith."

Revan asked mechanically, sensing nothing from his former Master. Kreia adjusted the hood of her brown cloak, scanning Revan a moment before she spoke again.

"More rests on your shoulders than you know, Revan. Friends old and new will come here and in the end you will all mourn for that is the way of the Force."

"The Force is not a burden, it is a gift, why can you not see that?"

Revan snapped, taking a step towards Kreia. The old woman gazed impassively at Revan.

"Yet the Sith twist it to their whim, drawing the balance from it, weakening the Jedi. I can see their scars upon you, tearing at the light and filling it with its own darkness. The Force will never be balanced when the Sith unleash their power on the Republic."

Kreia walked in a slow circle around Revan, surveying her former apprentice and what the Council had deemed her greatest failure.

"You are strong of mind and body, but you alone cannot fight them. The very weapon you and all the Jedi rely on will fail you if you face them directly."

Nodding, the former Dark Lord of the Sith followed Kreia with his eyes cautiously.

"You still speak in riddles I see. Be frank, Master. Do we stand a chance?"

Sighing, Kreia ceased her prowling, looking suddenly very tired.

"I do not know, my Padawan. Once, perhaps but now there are too few Jedi. Too few who know how to fight the darkness. The Sith you trained on Malachor V may have been able to fight this war, but they are wasted on Hunger and Pain."

Narrowing his eyes, Revan thought over his Master's cryptic words.

"Nihilus and Sion..."

Remembering the names of both of Darth Traya's former protégées, Revan gauged Kreia's reaction.

"Indeed. The fools refuse to see beyond their own pleasures. They will do far more damage than you or Malak."

Revan's head snapped up.

"Then we must stop them."

Shaking her head, Kreia rose her hand to silence Revan's next retort.

"I have taken steps in removing them both. There is one whom I seek that has the power to end them. It was Nihilus who destroyed Katarr. Your efforts are more important here, my apprentice."

Hearing enough, Revan collected his mask and datapad, storming to his ship.

"It is unnecessary, Revan. It is already taken care of."

Turning sharply on his heel, Revan glared at Kreia.

"How many have died because you have not brought this knowledge to the Jedi. Nihilus was a weak amateur when I last saw him. What could have happened to allow him that kind of power? Why did you not tell me?"

Unmoved, Kreia merely stared at Revan.

"I must contact Malak. Together we can destroy them and perhaps even harness the Sith in league with them, use them in the war to come-"

"It is already taken care of."

Kreia swept gracefully towards Revan, lying a hand on his armored shoulder.

"You must stay here and gather what Jedi you can. Malak will do the same as well as Bastila."

Snapping his eyes to Kreia's, Revan grasped his former Master by her robes, lifting her from the ground.

"Do not interfere with Bastila."

Smiling, Kreia batted Revan's hand until he lowered her to her feet.

"She is alone, confused and frightened. So young and passionate oh where did her brave Knight go."

Darth Traya mocked. Revan scowled, turning away from his ship and heading back to the temple.

"Promise me you will leave her be and I will wait here."

All mocking left Kreia's voice as she responded.

"I promise you, my apprentice that Nihilus and Sion will be dealt with. I must go now to find he who will bring about their downfall and I will send him to you when his time comes. Patience, Padawan. There are more Jedi out there than you know and they will come to you, they will follow you and they will triumph because that is your destiny."

Accepting her promise, Revan bowed, leaving without another word. Kreia watched her former apprentice leave with pride.

"A failure they call him. He is far from finished and perhaps he will triumph over the Sith."

Returning to her own ship, Kreia smiled as she boarded the Ebon HawkHer meeting with Malak was not a coincidence. With all the pieces in play, Kreia went to retrieve the last element to her game. The Exile would return her power and with him would come the ability to activate the Trayus Core. The power to destroy the True Sith's manipulation of the Force.

"There will be balance once more. There will no longer be the Force."

A small smile graced the Sith Lord's lips as she guided the Ebon Hawk towards the Harbinger, where the last piece awaited to be added to the game.

Revan paced the forgotten halls of the Ossus temple nervously, wondering who this new player was that Kreia was speaking of and fighting his rising dread.

"How could Nihilus harness the power to destroy Katarr and the Jedi in a single attack... Is that how the Sith were able to defeat the Vong? If they are that powerful, why haven't they attacked already..."

It would be hours before Revan was able to fall into a restless sleep, his mind burdened with more horrors to ponder.

Malak was having less luck. After encountering Kreia and telling her where Revan was, Malak was hard-pressed to cover his identity from the throng of Republic citizens he found himself immersed in. Choosing Ukio as a strategic gathering point, Malak began to follow rumors of the Sith presence on Roon and began arranging for contacts to help him locate former Jedi. Given the amount of credits hidden in various accounts from his tenure as Sith Lord, Malak had little trouble finding vast spy nets and was slowly working his way into the Exchange's network, surprised when he discovered their standing bounties on Jedi.

Even from half-way across the galaxy, Malak was able to sense Revan's presence on Ossus, boosted by the Force-crystals the former Dark Lord had brought with him. Between the two of them, Malak was hopeful that they would be able to draw in what remained of the Jedi and Sith Orders and hopefully gain enough support to stand against the growing threat of the True Sith.

Awaking shortly after sunrise on Ossus, Revan went about preparing the crumbling academy to support what he hoped would be a small army of Jedi.

"Eventually..."

Revan thought to himself grimly as he scanned the structure of the decaying temple, searching for weak points where it would not be safe to stay or train. Hearing the sound of crumbling rocks behind him, Revan turned and smiled, granting a boy to the first of many fallen Jedi that would cross his path here.

"Revan..."

The voice drew out in surprise.

"Do I know you?"

Revan asked in a bored tone, already sensing the subtle light within the young woman facing him. Diminished, but not destroyed. Obviously a former Jedi.

"Fayre Nathron."

Revan rose a brow, taking in the woman's dark hair and pale skin.

"Alderannian?"

The woman nodded, withdrawing her auburn cloak from her cream-colored robes.

"I hear you are a Master of Nimian..."

She replied, withdrawing two sabers from her belt. Revan replied in kind, bowing his head.

"Do you seek a lesson or the challenge of a battle?"
Revan asked warily, setting his weapons on a fallen slab of marble and removing the heavy layers of his armor to reveal his charcoal robes beneath.

"A bit of both."

The Alderannian replied with a smirk. Revan robe a brow curiously, taking both his weapons and crossing them as the crimson and azure blades locked before him.

"You lead."

Revan invited. Ossus had always been a world of study. Up until Exar Kun had murdered the Library's keeper it was a place where all Force-sensitives gathered to learn. It was part of the reason Revan chose the world aside from its strategic importance.

Fayre activated her own weapons, the twin violet blades pointed downward as she bowed to her opponent before advancing, thrusting with her right hand and slashing forward with her left. Revan backed away, avoiding the thrust and blocking the slash with both his blades. Fayre twisted, following Revan's movements and struck low with her right blade and high with her left. Revan blocked each in turn with his own twin blades, still keeping defensive, his arms spinning intricate arcs around him.

The Alderannian was surprised when Revan moved forward, his crimson blade held firmly in his right hand, moving for her abdomen. Moving quickly to block, the former Jedi used her right hand to knock Revan's weapon to the side, seeing a flash of blue and red as Revan allowed the movement to spin him away.

"Well done."

Revan replied, surprised that the young woman was able to call his bluff. He could easily have skewered her with his left handed weapon if he had been intent on the attack.

"I should say it is easier facing you without your armor. Easier to predict your movements."

Revan nodded his agreement. Whatever speed he gained from discarding his battle robes and armor was lost in the movements of his muscles. Making his attacks easier to predict.

"Defend yourself."

Revan called rushing her and flipping his right-handed weapon in a backhanded slash. The added strength threw Fayre off balance as she blocked with both weapons, allowing Revan to spin and kick her legs out from under her. Within an instant, Revan had his azure saber leveled at the young woman's throat and had flipped his other saber so as to defend himself if she should strike with her still active weapons.

"Do you yield?"

Revan asked, seeing the momentary fear in the young woman's eyes as she fell. Luckily she did not panic and move quickly or drop her weapons, both actions could prove deadly when dueling with full-powered lightsabers.

"I yield."

The auburn-haired former Jedi panted, deactivating her weapons in a sign of surrender. Revan did the same, calling an end to the duel and attached his weapons to his belt before offering his hand to the young woman.

"You've trained with Master Kavar. I can tell."

Fayre nodded, brushing dust from her robes and replacing her weapons to her belt.

"It has been some time since I have been able to face anyone who knows Nimian."

Revan nodded.

"You block too readily with both weapons. Keep a firmer hold and only use one. Jar' Kai is only effective if you use it for both defense and offence. Did you notice I only attacked with one weapon and when I blocked with both I left myself an easy opening to either dodge the oncoming attack or force your hand in where you struck?"

Fayre nodded, picking up her discarded cloak and brushing dust from it as well.

"Now that we've proven you could have killed me but didn't, mind telling me why you're here?"

The young woman asked, a spark of challenge in her eyes. Revan narrowed his own eyes, growing wary.

"You're not alone."

The Dark Lord heard a voice behind him chuckle.

"Well well well, I never thought I'd see you here, kid."

Revan turned, smiling when he placed a name to the voice.

"Do you like what I've done with the place, old man?"

Jolee Bindo grinned wolfishly, casting a cursory glance around his old training grounds.

"I gotta say its an improvement from when I trained here."

Seating himself on a fallen chunk of debris, Jolee held out his hand to Revan. Revan accepted the gesture of friendship and took a Seat, awaiting the flurry of questions that was to come.

"I'm sure you can feel that I've changed... The same can be said of Malak."

Jolee nodded solemnly.

"I know, Kid. There are places in this galaxy where only very brave or very foolish people go..."

Turning his eyes back to Fayre, Revan rose a brow.

"Is she your apprentice?"

Revan asked incredulously. Jolee gave Revan a mock-indignant look before chuckling.

"Oh yea, can't be a Jedi Master without all the baggage that comes along with it..."

Revan grimaced, glad he didn't have to deal with politics or being saddled with an apprentice since leaving the Sith and the Jedi. The grimace turned to a frown when he realized he had spent most of that time running and fighting for his life.

"Pull up a boulder and join us."
Jolee called out gleefully to his apprentice, who gave him a scathing look. Shaking his head with another dry chuckle Jolee turned to Revan.

"Discipline isn't up to what it used to be. So, tell me why you decided to light a big Force-bonfire here."

Revan's lips quirked at that.

"Malak and I found the Sith's main world and their leader. Can't say I'm too terrible impressed with him, but he does have some serious power."

Jolee's brow shot up.

"Malak or the Sith leader?"

Revan glared at Jolee.

"Alright, alright. Serious dilemma here."

Satisfied that Jolee was finished with his rant, Revan continued.

"He calls himself the Patron. Far as I can tell he's old, really old and holds a very strong connection to the Darkside of the Force. He makes Malak and I look like blasted younglings. There is also something wrong out there. You may have felt it on Korriban when we were there but that was only a lingering trace, left behind by those tombs. Its as if you are drowning in the Darkside, as if it is snuffing out all traces of the light. Malak and I were so diminished out there we barely escaped with out lives. There is also the problem of some leftovers from our Empire that refuse to go down."

Jolee frowned, becoming serious.

"Anything we can do about it?"

Revan sighed, running his gloved hands over his face and through his hair, rubbing his temples.

"We've been... scouting for close to three years. All I can say is unless you can fight without the Force, or you are comfortable using the Darkside, there's not much we can do out there. I ran into another former Jedi that has a plan... I don't know if I can trust her completely, but she does see the threat and is at least taking steps to avoid the catastrophic outcome I am beginning to think is inevitable."

Jolee nodded, deep in thought before he jerked suddenly.

"When was the last time you talked to Bastila?"

The flinch in Revan's features was enough of an answer.

"Since a few weeks before Katarr..."

Revan replied quietly, a deep frown on his features.

"How is she?"

He whispered, almost afraid to ask. Jolee scowled, smacking Revan on the side of his head.

"Why don't you go find her and ask her yourself. You're the one who left her when her world was falling apart."

Revan sighed heavily, rewarded with another slap to his head.

"Hey!"
The former Sith Lord snapped indignantly, rubbing his head. Fayre giggled, drawing Revan's ire.

"Don't you start on this too."

Revan warned, glowering darkly at the young woman, noticing she was little more than seventeen or eighteen. Old enough to be considered an adult on most worlds but still little more than a child and likely half-way through her Jedi training.

"I don't have the benefit of a back story here, mind telling me what I'm missing before you cut my head off?"

She asked, smiling sweetly. Revan's eyes bugged as he stood and began pacing.

"Why the Hell is all this happening now of all times!"

He complained, still rubbing his temples and frowning at the headache that seemed to stem from his brain.

"You okay kid?"

Jolee asked in concern, sensing the pain radiating from Revan.

"Yea, m' fine."

Revan muttered dismissively, blinking several times to clear his vision.

"Malak and I have been busy scouting the Sith worlds. We've located the centers of their power on Roon, Ziost and Mobus. Their Empire stretches along the outlying systems beyond the Outer Rim. It looks almost as if they took over what the Mandalorians left behind when they invaded the Republic with everything they had. I also discovered that it was the True Sith that pressured the Mandalorians into invading the Republic."

Jolee exchanged a concerned look with his Padawan.

"What can we do?"

He asked carefully, absently toying with his beard. Revan huffed, still pacing like a caged Terantek.

"Honestly? The Sith are all hack and slash and Force powers. Its going to be a messy war and we're going to have to fight it on their terms since we're going to have a hard time invading their space. There is something seriously wrong out there... something in the Force, as if it is poisoned. We can't fight them out there, not until we're ready."

Revan stopped pacing, turning to both of the Jedi.

"If by any chance you can find any other Jedi, could you send them here? I've used a lot of the money I hoarded as Darth Revan to send in for supply shipments and construction droids. Hopefully I'll be able to rebuilt this place by then."

Jolee stood, brushing off his dark brown robes.

"I'm getting too old for this stuff... But I'll do it kid. I'm going to leave Fayne with you. Make sure she's ready for what's coming."

Revan nodded, making eye contact.

"I'll do what I can."

Jolee returned a stern nod, saying his goodbyes to his Padawan and warning her to listen to Revan.

"You should really get a hold of Bastila, Revan."

Jolee called back, showing how serious he was by using Revan's actual name. Revan watched as his friend left, turning warily to Fayne.

"I guess we should get started making this place more liveable..."

Fayne gave the ruined temple a cursory glance before shrugging and following Revan to his ship.