Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2: The Frozen Wastes of Rhen Var.

"Have you gone completely mad or is there a reason we are here?"

Atris complained as she drew her white cloak tightly around her. Revan chuckled, doing the same with his black. They were a real pair. Atris clad in white robes with light hair and eyes and him, almost the complete opposite. Dark hair and eyes, and obsidian robes. Yes, life was unbearably funny at times.

"I'm thinking we end the universe."

Atris cocked a brow, not entirely certain if Revan was joking.

"Come again?"

Atris asked warily. Revan sighed.

"Rhen Var was once the focal point of an ancient race of aliens that possessed a vast knowledge that goes beyond anything the Infinite Empire or the Sith or the Jedi have in any of their archives. So much has been lost to us over the millennium that with each new generation a little more is lost. With each war we forget the true nature of the Force in favor of our training."

Intrigued by the buried civilization, Atris answered.

"And what is the true nature of the Force?"

The former Dark Lord of the Sith turned and stared into his companion's eyes.

"Balance."

Atris frowned.

"Balance?"

Seeing that his companion was not following him, Revan continued.

"The nature of the Force is to create balance. For every Jedi that walked the path of the Lightside, there was a Sith practicing the Dark arts. Twenty-one thousand years ago the Legions of Lettow brought about the First Great Schism. It failed in the end with the deaths of General Xendor and Arden Lyn. Even thought this was stopped, throughout the millennium, more Jedi left the order, pursuing the paths of passion. Most notable beyond Exar's war and Freedon's campaigns on Onderon and Dxun is the Hundred-Year Darkness. Being a librarian I am certain you know the significance of that war."

Atris nodded grimly. A hundred years of constant war where Jedi turned on one another.

"Three thousand years ago that became the Second Great Schism of the Order. Even now these Schisms are only legend, but they did happen. After the Battle of Corbos, a hundred years after the split in the Order, the Dark Jedi were banished from the Republic and happened upon the Ancient Sith Empire. It was here that they found the Sith people and through those thousands of years of interbreeding became a new people. With the technological advantages the Outcast Jedi brought to the Sith, and their powers of the Force they introduced, they became as gods to the Sith people."

This was all common knowledge to the Jedi Council, but how Revan found out so much about this Atris did not know.

"The Sith are the descendants of Outcast Jedi, remember that. They are, in essence our children..."

Revan trailed off, a distant look in his face as the wind seemed to blow the chilled air in a violent roar around the two former Jedi.

"Do you know the legend of the Chosen One?"

Revan asked. Atris nodded, answering.

"All Jedi know that tale. The Whill are beings that have ascended and become one with the Force. Their shamans are believed to have the strongest connection to the Unifying Force, giving them a direct line to the future. They are the ones from which the prophesy arose. I believe the prophesy goes along the lines of; "And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns..." The Chosen One is said to be a being that is conceived within the Force that would be more powerful than any Jedi of the time. He will restore Balance to the Force and repair the Schism that had poisoned our Order. He will unite the Living and Unifying Force and bring about an era of peace."

Revan chuckled as Atris stared off at something only she could see.

"Very good, one minor detail is missing, however. A less commonly known face is that I have died and was momentarily connected to the Force. There I saw a road that extended far into the future. I saw pain and suffering and passion and love and all the drama that is life. I saw for a moment the face of the Chosen One..."

Revan trailed off, his voice holding reverence.

"I also saw the truth. The Sith have a legend as well of a messiah. The Sithari..."

Atris stared directly into Revan's eyes, a curious look on her face.

"I knew only that you were close to death on the Star Forge, not that you had died."

Atris' curious look turned to suspicious quickly.

"Why did neither you, Malak or Padawan Shan tell us of this?"

Revan stared into Atris' eyes, silence answering her.

"We should have seen it."

Atris gasped, noticing the change in Revan's aura.

"Are you-"

Revan shook his head.

"I am not the Jedi's Chosen One. I may be something else, however."

Atris frowned.

"You believe that you are the Sithari?"

Revan nodded.

"The Sithari is said to be a perfect being that would bring balance to the Force. You and I both know balance can always be disrupted. It is said that the Sithari will be the salvation of the Sith Order. The Sith are no longer a people, but an ideal. Exar Kun showed us this and I- I in all my foolishness may have brought this about. Even now thousands of former Jedi and Sith are in hiding. The Order will return in time, if it hasn't already. They will work in secrecy and build their strength, changing their ideals to suit the changing times. The Sith Malak and I began on Malachor V will do the same. Jedi and Sith are not so different, Atris. Remember that at one time we were all one. We all can trace our roots back to the Priests of Tython..."

Revan's face shifted to confusion for a moment.

"Sometimes I doubt my actions, but I know. It is not about balance, its about power. That is all the Sith will respect and all they will bow to. The Patron is the Sith's guardian and I suppose you and I are all that is left of the Jedi. Either way, if we win or lose, live or die, Atris. The Sith will go on and the Jedi will go on. You can cripple an enemy and send them away, but there will always be others to fight, and always, the enemy will remember and will return to exact vengeance. The Jedi that fled to Ziost Three thousand years ago and returned in the Great Hyperspace War a thousand year ago..."

Something seemed to fall into place in Revan's mind as he dwelled for the first time since Bastila and Malak had saved him on what he was shown. It wasn't a vision, some beautiful and terrible look at the afterlife or becoming one with the Force. It was wisdom being imparted to him.

"The Chosen One and the Sithari are one and the same... They both bring Balance... and a child conceived by the Force would be in all likelihood perfect. Oh Force, Atris they are one and the same. The salvation of the Jedi is the salvation of the Sith. Force, why did I not see it before!"

Revan cursed in several languages, pacing angrily through the snow. Atris stared at the former Jedi in confusion. What he had said had all entered her mind, but she couldn't quite follow his line of thought.

"How could the one who will save the Jedi also save the Sith, Revan?"

Atris asked uncertainly. Revan stopped and turned to Atris.

"Because the Jedi and Sith are one and the same, Atris. You cannot kill the Jedi without killing the Sith. The Sith merely believe in another set of ideals, but they are our children, Atris. All Sith were once Jedi. Kreia always told me that but I never understood... not until now. Force!"

Going over their conversation, the truth of the matter became clear to Atris. Revan had been plagued with visions his entire life. He had spent so much time seeing some threat beyond the borders of the Republic. He never saw that the true battle between Light and Darkness, between balance was within himself. Many, oh so many of the Jedi Council did not see that either. Not until the end.

"Are you saying that if one powerful enough takes control of the Sith... they could be converted."

Revan stopped his pacing and muttering and snapped his eyes to Atris.

"What I am saying is that the only solution to ending the threat would be to end the Force. The Sith people will follow whoever is powerful. Their lines will weaken and eventually fall and they will be assimilated into the rest of the galaxy. Balance will restore itself. The Sithari, the Chosen One, whatever you wish to call him will show the next generation this truth. This war cannot be won in our lifetimes, it cannot be beaten with weapons. This war exists in the hearts and minds of all those who feel the Force. I can think of only one man who has touched both the Light and Dark of the Force and turned away from both. Ian Kenobi."

Atris stared at Revan, a pained look crossing her face.

"The Council believed he would be the Death of the Force... they were terrified of him. Do you think he has that power?"

Revan's eyes traveled to his hand. He could hear the whispers of the Darkside, begging him to give in and the clarity of the Light, exposing it for what it truly was.

"There is no weapon we can find that will end this war. It will go on forever. The Chosen One will only come about when there is so little power in the galaxy that he will be needed. The Chosen One will restore the Force to its former glory. The Force will grow strong and clear once more, but it will not happen within our lifetimes. Kenobi may have a chance to end the Sith. But he would be ending the Jedi. You were right, I cannot kill the Sith people."

Atris tried to make eye contact with Revan, but he turned away.

"Only a Lord of the Sith can control the Sith people... Only a Lord of the Sith can wield the might of the Sith... I have to kill the Patron... I have to become the Lord of the Sith people and teach them there is another way. Teach them before they are the end of us all. Teach them before any more damage is done."

Atris shook her head.

"This is madness, Revan."

Revan nodded grimly.

"Yes, but it does make sense. Only the Lord of the Sith can end the threat. Only the Lord of the Sith can show them that the Darkness is not the answer. With so few of our Jedi brethren, perhaps the Force can be at peace with itself if the Sith people can learn to use both the Light and Dark. It is not about the Unifying Force or the Living Force as the Jedi believe. It is about being at peace with the light and the dark. The harness the control of the Jedi with the power of passion. It is always, always about power and right now, the Sith Lord has the power."

Revan shook his head, laughing at the insanity of it all.

"The Sith people only respect power. We have to show them power can be gained beyond the Darkside."

Atris lowered her head, staring at the snow-covered ground.

"Its cold, Revan. Lets find a place to camp for the night and discuss this further. If you intend to become the Lord of the Sith again, someone has to be there to watch your back."

For the first time in four years, Revan's block on his bond with Bastila Shan dropped. For the first time since he had sworn an oath to become a Jedi Knight, the first time in his life, he knew what he had to do. He knew it with such certainty that the Force bent so easily to his will. He knew the Force was with him. He knew he could end the tyranny of the Sith and right the wrongs brought on by the Great Schisms. He may not bring balance to the Force, but he would shine a light of truth on the Jedi and Sith's history and he would pray to the Force and all of the Gods of the galaxy that they would listen to him.

Light-years away, Bastila Shan felt Revan's sudden presence and started, thinking he was nearby. Only then, did she hear the call of the Force, telling her what she had to do. It went against the teachings of the Jedi, to whom she had sworn her life. It went against the beliefs of the Republic to which she had vowed to protect, but it did not go against the will of her heart. Revan for the first time in a decade knew what he wanted. The bond open, she felt his mind touch hers and felt the peace of their bond. She also felt the presence of another within that bond and knew if she did not act quickly, she would lose Revan forever.

Her heart she could deny by logic, but Bastila felt the clarity of the Force through the bond she shared with Revan. She chose then, to go against the oath she had taken as a member of the Jedi Council and sought out the leader of the Council, Nomi Sunrider.

"Master Sunrider."

Bastila bowed as the fire-haired Master turned to her.

"Yes, Master Shan?"

The Jedi Councillor asked her companion. Bastila lowered her head, her doubts rising. She quickly crushed them. The Force was with Revan, she knew that. She also knew she wanted to be a part of that and that the Force was not against her being with Revan. If Jedi were servants of the Force, they should follow its guidance. Shouldn't they?

"I must respectfully decline the invitation of the Council and resign my commission as Jedi Councillor and Jedi Master... Revan- The Force is guiding me to seek Revan out and I cannot deny it."

Nomi raised a brow.

"The Force, or your heart, Bastila?"

Bastila closed her eyes, resolving herself to her fate.

"I should be there with him. If Revan is a danger to those around him... I should be by his side to guide him. Yes, my heart is telling me to find him. I know for certain the Force is not warning me against him. Whatever decision he was going to make that made him so dangerous has been made. He is resolved to follow through and I- I will stand behind him and share his fate."

Nomi stared into Bastila's eyes, trying to see into her mind.

"The bond had reopened."

Bastila nodded, trying to be as respectful as possible, though all she wanted to do was run to the nearest hangar and follow Revan's presence.

"When you see him..."

Nomi began, breaking eye contact with Bastila as she turned and lifted a picture of a young man with brown hair and eyes.

"Tell him the truth."

Bastila bowed, leaving the room and stopping briefly by her quarters before leaving in a long-range Jedi fighter. Nomi lifted her eyes from the picture of Ulic Qel-Droma and hoped that fate would be kinder to Bastila. She had loved and lost twice. First her husband Andur and then Ulic. The Jedi should never have changed the Code to ban relationships between Jedi. While they had always frowned upon emotional attachments, they had only banned them amongst the Order since Exar Kun's war. A decision based in fear and one, she feared would lead to more sorrow than it would stop.

Author's Notes: God that was fun to write.