Chapter Twenty One-Revan's Vision (future echoes)

The ripe sweet scents of lush grass fragranced her senses deliciously. She opened her eyes, and stared up into a perfect azure sky; soft puffs of clouds blew gently past on a light breeze. She smiled as she felt the warm healing rays of the morning sunlight tentatively caress her skin, warming the chill from out of her grief stricken heart. I could lay like this all day, she thought contentedly, and forget who I am. Is that such a bad thing, to want to forget-even if it is for only a short time? She pushed herself up into an upright position, smiling at the scenery around; feeling joy awaken in her soul for the first time in a long time, Oh the bliss, I do want to forget! She pulled a long piece of grass to her, and gently snapped its stem, playing with it idly in her hand.

"Hello, Revan."

She glanced up at the figure in front of her, and felt the first shard of dread threaten to crush her new sense of tranquillity. "Malak?" she whispered fearfully.

He sat down cross legged facing her, tucking his brown Padawan robes around himself. He stared back at her, "Yes, Revan," he smiled gently.

Revan gazed at the man in front of her; he was greatly changed from the last time she had seen him. His face was whole, his lips curved in wry amusement, a smile she remembered of old. The blue tattoos stood out starkly on his pale hairless head, and his dark eyes shone with a gentleness that tugged at her heart.

"Why am I here?" she whispered, gazing down at her hands.

"This is a vision…"

"So none of this is real? You are not really here, are you?" Revan questioned sadly.

"I am here, in a sense," he smiled at her, "Revan, you must listen to me. You have reached a point, a line that is in danger of being crossed. Do not make that mistake again. Turn away from this foolishness. Do not become what you once were."

"I led you down that path," she said, tears welling in her eyes, "and it all started here, didn't it Malak?"

Malak smiled at her benignly, and shook his head, "That is the past, Revan. You cannot hold on to that, not anymore. No, you must look to the future, and the consequences of your actions, for if you fall, there are many that you love that will fall with you. Come," he said rising to his feet, "take my hand, and see for yourself, Revan."

She glanced up, doubt shining in her eyes, "Why would I want to? The future is unwritten…"

"The future is what you make it. Now do you wish to see, or does a part of you still hold onto ignorance?"

Revan got to her feet slowly, glancing around the plains of Dantooine, "Will I ever come back here?"

"That is up to you."

She slipped her hand into his, marvelling at the warmth of his skin, "Then show me, Malak."

They walked through the long grass, and stepped…

…into an apartment at Telos.

Carth sat at a low table, a half empty bottle of brandy gripped loosely in one hand. He looked pale and dishevelled, dark smudges ringed his tired tear stained eyes. His jacket was flung untidily across the back of his chair.

Revan walked into the room, glancing back at Malak who stood watching her from the doorway. He nodded to her, "See what has become of your love. He has lost all hope, and sits in fear. Fear of you, Revan…"

She walked slowly into the room; her hand reaching out to the man slumped in the chair. She knelt down by him, "Oh Carth," tears ran hotly down her cheeks, as she gazed at him.

"You cannot touch him, Revan. Remember this is the future you bring."

She glanced back across at Malak, and nodded.

A sudden explosion rocked the room, and Revan, her eyes widening in surprise, ran across to the large window. She nervously raised her hand and pulled back the heavy drapes. Her hand shot to her mouth, and she stared back at Malak, her eyes wide. "No….this cannot happen…not again!"

Malak went across to her, and laid his hand on her shoulder, "Take a look at what you have done," He turned her to face the glass, "See how Telos falls."

She stared out the window, watching as explosions ripped through Citadel station. Small shuttles fell from the sky in flames, to land crashing against the many buildings. Glass and rubble fragments flew through the sky, as heavy fire reigned down from the large Sith cruisers that patrolled the skyline.

She heard a low moan behind her, and she turned to see Carth struggling to get to his feet. He raked a hand through his tousled hair, "All gone," he slurred heavily, "I have failed…and I am a disgrace! The fleet, ah…the fleet," he made a fist with his hand, then let the fingers fly out loosely, "Bang…gone like that. And now I cower, and wait for your return." he laughed bitterly, "Revan….Revan, you have cursed us all, and I…I was too weak, and too foolish to stop you when I could…."

Revan stood next to him, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Malak questioningly, "Why?" she whispered hoarsely.

Malak stared at her intently, his dark eyes betraying no emotion, "You know why, Revan," he replied darkly. "But come now, this is not all that I wish to show you," he held his hand out to her, and she reluctantly went to him, her hand slipping into his. She gazed back at Carth longingly.

"Come Revan," Malak led her from out of the small apartment, into…

….the lush jungle of Dxun. They stood at the perimeter of an old disused military facility. She let go of his hand, and walked around, gazing at the ruined disused buildings.

She shook her head, "I don't understand…there is nothing to see here."

"That is because the Mandalore fell, and the Mandalorians fell apart without him. They all perished on an unknown planet, a long way from here. Your final battle against the might of the Mandalorians. A small glory for you, but ultimately death to them. There are no more Mandalorians left, Revan. They perished fighting you and the Sith that you amassed."

Revan stared at him, "No, they could not have all gone…it is not possible."

"And why is it not possible, Revan?" he replied chidingly, "You had the love of the Mandalore, and yet you left him to die?"

"He was dead, anyway. You know that!" she spat at him angrily.

Malak shook his head, his brown eyes staring through her, "No, he was not dead. But your actions stopped the Exile getting to him, so he too perished…"

Revan walked back across to Malak, and gripped his arm tightly, "What do you mean? He was alive…the Exile?" she stuttered in confusion, "What does this mean, Malak?"

Malak smiled at her benevolently, "Some things, you must find out for yourself, Revan. This is the near future that we speak of, and you are not at liberty to know anymore. But walk with me, there is something more that I wish to show you."

Revan stared at him defiantly, "I have seen enough!"

"No, you have not. Bear witness, and see what your betrayal did to the ones that followed you."

She looked out across the plains of Dantooine, with Malak at her side. She turned to him, "But why…this is where we started."

"Look again, Revan. See what has changed," he turned her to face the Enclave.

She gasped as she looked. There was no Enclave left, only a levelled mass of smouldering rubble.

"What happened here?"

"You happened, Revan. You let them destroy all that was left of the Jedi. You, their pawn-you did their work for them." He shook his head sadly, "There are no Jedi left, Revan…apart from you and the Trinity. All the Jedi were hunted and executed, one by one."

"But what of the Exile?"

"Ah, she is dead."

"How did she…she die?"

Malak looked at her, and sighed deeply, "I shouldn't really tell you."

"But you will…."

He nodded, "Only because I do not wish to see the Jedi wiped out. The darkness within you caused ripples that were felt through others. Certain Jedi that were with you on the unknown planet fell when you did. Your power grew so quickly, Revan, they felt compelled to join you," Malak regarded her solemnly with narrowed eyes, "The Exile was not one of those, nor was her lover. She did not wish to join you on your dark path, Revan, and she fought against you, and all your might. But then you made her witness the death of her love, and she simply gave up the will to carry on. She struck herself a death blow with her light saber. Such a futile, pointless death. The future of the new council died with them both, and the repercussions were felt on Dantooine. With no warning, or aid, the Enclave was defenceless, attacked by those whom pretended aid, yet only sought death. Revenge is such a bitter word, Revan-yet it is a word that you embraced."

Revan shook her head sadly, "But this is not true…"

"You aligned yourself with them, Revan, and because of that, the consequences were felt all over." Malak stood in front of her, and took her hands within his own, "There is one last thing that you should see, Revan."

She gazed up at him, as fresh tears slipped from her eyes, "I don't know…"

"Yes, you do, Revan. You alone have the answers. Come with me, one last time."

She nodded at him weakly, "Okay, one last time, Malak."

He placed his hands on her shoulders, and turned her away from the ruins. "Look," he said pointing in the distance, "This is your future, Revan…"

She watched for a while, but could see nothing. "There is nothing there…" she trailed off as she saw a small figure approach her. She turned her head and glanced at him, "Malak?" she said in surprise, "What is this?"

"Just watch, Revan."

Revan gasped in surprise as the figure of a small black haired boy stood nervously in front of her. She fell to her knees, her hands flying to her mouth.

The young boy stared up at her, steel grey eyes regarding her in a once familiar manner, "Who are you?" he asked curiously.

Revan looked up at Malak, who was watching with slight amusement shining in his eyes. "Malak?"

"Look closer, Revan-you cannot deny his parentage."

The boy stared at her intently, his small hands grasping loosely at his tunic.

You are so like your father, Revan thought, tears shining damply on her cheeks.

Malak reached down, and pulled her to her feet. She glanced down to see that the young boy had vanished, "Is this a trick, Malak? If so, it is in poor taste!"

"It is no trick, Revan. You are carrying him now. You are not aware of it; it is too small for you to know. But it is the truth, the child that you carry is your future, whether you wish it or not. Again, I say to you, Revan- you have reached a point, a line is in danger of being crossed. It is time to make your choice…"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revan opened her eyes slowly, gazing up at the night's sky. Her hand reached out and touched her flat stomach, "Is it true?" she whispered to herself, tears blurring her eyes.

She heard the heavy tread of a Mandalorian approach her; a voice whispered in her ear, "Revan…I don't know how to say this, but the Exile is missing from camp…"

Revan rose to her feet, and faced the Mandalorian. She resisted the temptation to hug him, "I know, Kelborn," she replied, smiling slowly, "and I know where she has gone. Leave me a minute-please?" Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she suddenly knew the answer.

She walked across to her pack, and pulled out the holocron. Wrapping it up deep within the folds of her robe, she walked out of the camp.

Revan smiled deeply as she placed it upon a low rock, listening to its indignant hisses. Unclipping her saber from her belt, she activated it, admiring its keen blue blade. She turned to the holocron, and with a single minded swipe, she struck it savagely, laughing as it smashed into tiny splinters that fell and tinkled musically against the stone on which it had lain.

She stood with the blade pointing downwards, that's for Carth, for the Exile, for Canderous, my future and our son, she thought, a look of determination shining brightly on her face.