A voice called from somewhere behind me; the ship was secure. We were clear to move out. I remained still; I felt weak, my mind locked on the past. More voices swirled around me, urging quickness and care. I sensed I was being lifted; I could not even offer protest, let alone act against it. My feet came to be on the ground; mechanically, I moved along, relying on my present day guides. My vision saw only shadows in a time long passed, long forgotten…until now.

"A word, Revan."

My shoulders slumped as I slowed my pace. I was hoping to make it into the Council chambers to meet with the Academy masters upon our arrival, but Zhar was able to catch me just past the courtyard. I had avoided him on the trip here from Coruscant by feigning sleep in my quarters the entire journey. I turned to face him with a practiced smile.

"Yes, Master Zhar?" I said sweetly. Though his expression was placid and calm, I could tell he was upset and concerned.

"I invited you here to Dantooine in order to get away from your troubles," he said motioning to Malak as he vanished around the corner "but you have packed them and brought them along. Explain yourself," he said sternly, "and I will have an answer this time."

"Forgive and forget, Master. I took your advice."

"Ah, but you have neither forgiven nor forgotten, Revan. There is still pain in your heart and it seems only to have grown. These are dangerous emotions you toy with."

"I cannot simply turn my back on what has happened," I said softly. "I need time, I am trying, Master. What better way than to confront my anger to its face? It would do me no good to run away from my demons."

Zhar studied me a moment. "I see next time I ask for an answer from you, I will need to be more specific," he sighed. "Be aware, my student, when you lead someone towards a fall, you must yourself head towards the brink. More often than not, you both go over the edge in the end."

I stood before him silently smiling. I wasn't going to fall; I was already down, and Malak was going to join me for what he had done to put me there.

"Let us go," he said evenly as he walked past me, "we should not keep Vandar and the others waiting."

I followed briskly behind his lead. As we entered the Council room, I saw Malak chatting with Master Dorak. Their conversation ended abruptly as I approached.

"Ah, good," Vandar said as I took up a position next to Malak. "We are pleased to see you both again, and you too, Master Zhar. Your return is well timed."

"How so?" Zhar asked quickly.

"We have had troubles of late surrounding the ancient ruins. Two treasure seekers recently attempted to break the seal to the site, and this has piqued the curiosity of some of the more impulsive and headstrong students," Vrook grumbled. "It is increasingly difficult to keep the apprentices in line. There seems to be a contest as to who can get into the ruins first."

I tensed in reaction to the news, yet Malak seemed unaffected; I suspected this is what he and Dorak were discussing. Since discovering the ruins the day of our padawan trial, Malak and I had researched for more information, but we were finding little. We had hoped to use the academy's computers to further research why the Jedi had banned the site, but now, obviously, there would be extra security on the files, if not at the ruins themselves. Malak must have been trying to worm information from Dorak as Zhar and I arrived.

"We offer our assistance," I began. "Would you like us to patrol the area?"

"I see no need," Vandar intoned. "The Force seal around the entry is very powerful. I prefer no one go near the ruins at all, the temptation is too great to learn its dark secrets. To that end, I think we need to keep the students distracted."

"And tired," Zhar said with a slight smile. "Our two young knights here have some skill in the sparring arena. Shall we set up some training sessions?"

"Indeed," Vandar said with enthusiasm, his ears standing to attention. "It is well known how you two defeated a Terentatek while still apprentices."

Malak smiled broadly at the mention of the battle so long ago. It would seem we had become legends; this at least explained the awe the students greeted us with as we disembarked from our transport.

"And I have heard of your talent growing ever stronger since that day. I am interested in seeing a demonstration myself. Are you two up for the challenge?"

"Challenge?" Malak asked. In truth, I saw no real threat either from a bunch of children and padawans. What challenge could he mean?

"What say you, Master Zhar? A tournament, perhaps?" Vandar asked. Both Zhar and Vrook nodded in knowing appreciation.

"Yes, this would keep them to their studies," Vrook mused. "Say, to attend a showing? Or even win an opportunity to train and duel with our guests?"

"Many here are spoiling for a way to test their abilities, this is true. This arrangement may serve many ends," Zhar said as he glanced towards me. "How about a match tonight, to display your expertise? This will most assuredly take the students' minds from the ruins."

I gave Zhar an agitated stare, then looked nervously at Malak; I was unsure I could hold back against him, even in an exhibition for the students…and Zhar knew it. He was actually counting on it.

"Excellent idea, Master Zhar," Dorak said with bold approval. "Maybe, I will be inclined to join the fun, if they are indeed as skilled as you claim!"

"Master!" Malak said with alarm.

"You don't think it is just the students itching to pit themselves against a worthy opponent," Vandar said with a small grin. "Make an announcement: all students completing their assigned tasks will tonight be allowed to attend a dueling exhibition featuring our heralded knights here, and perhaps a couple of their teachers."

Zhar nodded, then turned and left. Now he was avoiding me; he had cornered me into this arrangement, and I would need to play along. It should not be all that difficult, I decided; I had a new plan to cause Malak pain, and it really had nothing to do with the arena. Yes, this would serve many ends, I concluded—all my own.

"You let him win," Malak whispered as we made our way from the arena.

"No I didn't," I insisted. "I had no idea master Vandar could move like that. He was making me dizzy."

"Ha! I could follow his movements, I know you could. You think he realized you let him claim victory?"

"Okay, maybe I did hold back some, but he still would have won…probably. Besides, bad form to beat a master in his own school. It looked like I tried, right?" I asked nervously.

Malak laughed. "I knew you let him off easy! It looked decent enough, the students were impressed."

"Good, they need to be kept focused away from the ruins," I said flatly. Malak darkened at the mention. He cast furtive glances around the hall, then leaned a little closer to me. I struggled to keep from pulling away.

"I was speaking with Master Dorak about them. He did some searching in the old archives as a result of the recent interest. He only knows there is a great dark power at the site. He thinks it might be a temple, rather than a burial mound."

"Really? Like the pictograph you found?" I asked with obvious interest.

"I don't know. And I don't know if we should continue to investigate," Malak said with caution and a hint of fear. "Dorak was concerned—I think he left out some information about what he found. He said anyone entering the ruins might well be exiled and banned from the Order."

"Well, only if they were caught," I said with a smirk. Malak gave me a shocked stare.

"It is not wise to go against the Council in this," he said gravely. "They know something we do not."

I studied him a moment—his trepidation was genuine. So he really was sincerely trying to be a good boy. I smiled to myself; this was going to be a delicious revenge.

"If there is something as dangerous as they believe hidden there, I say we get it and keep it safe here at the academy. There may be a Force barrier now, but one day someone will figure out the right combination of explosives to get in and misuse what they find." Malak considered my argument. "Think about it—if we secretly move it from there, where everyone knows its location, no one will know where to look for it, and it won't ever be used against the Jedi or the Republic."

"That does make sense," he said slowly. "Or we could destroy it too, to make sure."

"Yes, either way, we would be helping," I grinned. "And I am curious, I admit it."

"Me too, after all I have done to try to find out about it, I would hate to never know. Still…" he wavered. "Dorak was insistent. No one should enter the ruins, for any reason."

"Come on, Malak, they will thank us after it is done. I have a plan. We continue with this ruse of fight practice. We keep the students engaged in their studies, and they will soon forget all about the ruins…and then the masters will let their guard down. We just need to bide our time, play along. I am sure we can break that seal. We are strong in the Force, we will find a way around it. We just need to wait for the right time to act."

"I don't know," he winced. "Do you think we can fool the entire Council?"

"We can do this, you and me, right? We are a team. We can't be beat," I said to him with eager exuberance. A smile slipped across his lips as he looked back at me. There was peace in his eyes, a contentment he had not known since that day. I could not help but grin.

"Yeah, Rev, we are a team, you and me," he beamed.