Okay, well it's been a little while since my last update, and for that, I apologize. AAU basketball season has started, and that means I have no spare time. Anyway, I felt that I should respond to some of the reviews I've received during the interim between the last update and this one.

No names, just responses. I'm tired.

Thank you to all of the people who have graciously submitted song ideas, as I have found many of them to be near or exactly what I am looking for. I will be using some of the songs soon!

Compliments are always welcome (I'm a sucker for 'em) but I do appreciate the constructive criticism as well - without it, I'd never get better. Someone commented on Bastila's passiveness, and brought it to my attention, and for that, I thank you. As for your questions, no I didn't entirely mean to make her more passive, it kind of just happened, but it was partly meant to be like that. I think I went a little too far though, but the world's not going to end. And about the anatomy and physiology stuff - it's all me! I love anatomy to death, and I find it fun to use it for many reasons, sometimes to give the reader a better idea of what's going on, and sometimes just to make it more visceral.

I'm trying to be detailed, but battle scenes can just get so boring to write...so I'm very sorry if they come across as such, or if they don't seem up to par. From this part of the game on, I have had a harder time completely expressing emotional conflict/ and or motives for mood swings, but I hope that I did all right. Some of the things I have purposefully left ambiguous, as humans are very hard to understand sometimes, and I think that I shouldn't have to explain everything that someone does - it kind of takes away from the humanness of it all.

Recommended song: "The Art of Subconscious Illusion" by Avenged Sevenfold.

P.S. Revan gets a little combustible-happy in this chapter. I had much fun with the whole "Set You on Fire" Force power.


The holographic image seemed to be processing this information, and there was a moment where Revan believed that it had been unwise to state his true name. But the hologram simply disappeared – and so did the lightning that blocked their path – and the doors of the Elder Settlement opened before them. He stepped in cautiously, surveying everything with his perceptive, calculating green eyes.

(Revan,) he heard an Elder's voice state derisively. Whoever it was obviously didn't like him.

(Tell us, why have you come back after all of this time? Surely there is nothing more you can take from us,) another Elder said.

(Quiet!) a third one admonished, turning his attention to Revan and extending his hand. (I believe this is the greeting you used last time.)The 'Jedi' shook the Rakatan's hand, his gaze never leaving the two Elders behind the alien he was greeting.

(Please, ignore them,) the more amiable Elder said, almost fearfully.

(Why do I get the feeling I've been here before?) Revan asked. (Wait – don't tell me. I came asking about the Star Forge.)

All of the three Rakatans looked perplexed. (Yes, you did,) the one he had been talking to the most replied, continuing to speak for the rest.

(That's what I thought.) Revan crossed his arms in front of his chest, resting one elbow on the lower arm and bringing his hand up to rub the goatee on the bottom of his chin. (You're going to have to forgive me. Between the time I first visited and now, I was robbed of my memories. What exactly did I do while I was here?)

(Robbed of your memories? How is that possible?) one of the more silent Elders exclaimed.

(When you have an entire Jedi Council wishing for you to forget who you are, it becomes quite possible,) Revan answered cynically. (My previous visit...?) he pressed.

(Ah, yes,) the friendliest Elder said. (The first time you came, you met our rivals, the other Rakatan Settlement before you reached us. Their leader, the One, had already made a proposal to you: he wanted an ancient tome that we have, and he wished to use it to get inside the temple that is on this island's grounds. You had originally agreed to get the tome for him, but when you came to us, and when we agreed to let you go inside the temple and deactivate the force field that it creates around this world so you could take off in your ship, you abandoned the idea of getting our tome and simply used our help.)

(I'm not understanding why your friends have such an apparent dislike for me then,) Revan stated, seeing no wrong done to this settlement.

(Well, you lied to us, you see. You promised that you would destroy the Star Forge, and that you would go inside of the temple alone, which is the rule. You broke that rule, taking your very bald friend with you, and you slew all of our men who had assisted you in getting into the temple if they protested. You corrupted the temple with your followers, and you threatened us with the same fate if we were to try and stop you from leaving and taking the Star Forge for yourself,) the Elder explained.

Revan covered his eyes with the hand that had previously been resting on his chin, not surprised in the least that he had been capable of such a thing, but ashamed of it nevertheless. (I apologize for my actions...I was wrong, and so were they.) He sighed, and his tone became almost pleading. (I know you're not going to believe me, but I need you to trust me one more time. I have been approached by the One with the same offer as before, but I'm finding that I trust him even less than I'm sure you trust me. I will do whatever you ask of me to prove my sincerity in this.)

(You must be insane if you think we'll listen to you again!) one of the Elders spat.

(I must be,) Revan replied quietly, a cheerless smile upturning one corner of his mouth.

(What reason do we have to trust you, Revan?)

(You don't. But I'm asking you to judge me by my actions, not my words.)

The three Elders looked at one another, seemingly debating this issue.

(Wait here. We must discuss this amongst ourselves.)

The 'Jedi' nodded, watching as the Elders disappeared into a large room just behind them. He sighed as the doors closed, wondering how he could be so callous – and stupid. Then again, he never would have expected to be captured and brainwashed, not to mention sent on the exact same mission he had already gone on once before – this time, with the Jedi Council's help.

(Fine. We will give you one task – there is one of our own, an Elder taken captive by the One. We wish for you to bring him back,) The friendly Elder said as the three Rakatans emerged from the room. (This will most likely involve you killing the One, as he is not very reasonable.)

(And let me guess, I'll then have the whole settlement on my ass?)

(Eh...yes. "On your ass," as you have so aptly put it.)

"Great," Revan muttered in Basic, then, switching back to Rakatan, (I'll be back when I have your man.)

(Please,) the Elder said hurriedly, (Do not venture out – not at this late hour. Our settlement is open to you, and it would be better if you stayed here overnight. You look like you've been through much in a short time.)

Revan raised an eyebrow at the Elder, who shrugged.

(Our people were once Force sensitive, but that trait has long since faded. But perhaps it isn't as dead as we believe, as we are very attuned to the state of others.)

(Well you're right,) Revan said. (But why are you letting me stay? I betrayed you before...)

(It is not our right to turn away someone in need. And I believe you need more than just rest.) The alien waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. (But we can talk more of this tomorrow. For now, follow Ll'awa – he will take you to your quarters.)

A Rakatan looking almost exactly the same as the others stepped up from behind the three Elders and gave a quick bow.

(Please, come,) he said, sweeping his hand in front of him to allow them to go first. Ll'awa walked alongside Revan, who was in the front of the group.

(I can't say that you'd get many visitors,) the 'Jedi' commented as the alien led them down a curved hallway. He noted the warm, orange tone of the rock that served as the building material for the settlement, and against his better judgment, he felt himself beginning to relax.

(We don't,) Ll'awa replied, (and that is precisely why I am so excited to see you again!)

Revan glanced at Carth who was trying to suppress a chuckle at the alien's amusing exuberance. He turned his attention back to their guide. (Is that so?)

(Yes!) Ll'awa nodded his head vigorously. (The first time you came, I was not able to ask you about your affinity to the Force, as you were...ah...)

Revan sensed that the Rakatan didn't want to offend him by telling him what he was like during his first visit. (It's all right. I don't remember any of that, so I would rather like to hear about myself from your point of view.)

Ll'awa gave him a swift, hesitant glance but nodded even so. (I understand. It is just that I did not want to anger you in case that was something you didn't wish to hear. Your volatile temper has not been forgotten, even after all of this time.)

They had reached their room, and Revan was surprised to see that it was large and comfortably furnished. It was equipped with four good-sized single beds on one wall, a large table with chairs and two couches along the other wall, and there were two droids floating in opposite corners of the room.

(Why are you so technologically advanced, while your brother Rakata are barbarians?) he asked, not seeing how half of a society like this could just collapse.

(If you wish to know the history of our people, I would suggest talking to Keeper Orsaa. He knows it much better than I, and can tell a tale that will keep you enraptured for hours. I would only succeed in making it long and boring,) Ll'awa said with a smile. (I would like to ask you a few questions, if I may,) he added.

Revan had begun to peruse the room, checking the beds and footlockers, and he was currently holding up a pair of clothes that looked as if they would fit him perfectly.

(How did you...?)

Ll'awa's smile became excited again. (It is incredible, no? Our technology is capable of regeneration on its own, and we have modified it to be able to create synthetic materials such as clothing within seconds. It is not a new addition, but in never fails to amaze me.)

(How did you know to make it this size?)

(It is the technology,) Ll'awa explained. (It is self-sufficient, and is almost capable of operating on its own. It is not self-aware, however, and therefore will never rise up and revolt, as other technologies that have intelligence are prone to doing.)

(The Force runs through it,) Revan stated.

Their new friend nodded. (Yes. As the councilors already mentioned, we were once Force sensitive. But no longer,) he said sadly. (That is why I am so glad you are back, though! I wish to speak to you about the Force.)

"Whoa!"

Everyone turned to look at Carth, who had practically melted into one of the beds in the room and had a look of utter bliss on his face.

"This is the most comfortable thing I've ever felt in my life!" he exclaimed.

Revan shook his head at his pilot friend and moved to sit in one of the chairs, sinking into it and beginning to remove his armor.

(What do you want to know about the Force?) the 'Jedi' inquired as he undid the clasps that held the material and armor together.

(What is it like, to be connected like that?)

Revan thought for a while, trying to come up with the best description he could for Ll'awa. (It's like...your senses are alive. Like you're seeing for the very first time,) he said, remembering what it felt like to reconnect with the Force while he was on Dantooine. (You feel every living thing as a part of you, and in turn, you are a part of it. It's a gentle pulse that flows through you.) He paused, his expression darkening. (It isn't always a good thing, though.)

(What do you mean?) Ll'awa asked, perplexed.

Revan gave him an ironic smile. (Here I am, getting ready to preach about the Dark side, when I'm the one who fell...) He snorted a quiet laugh and finished undressing himself, now in his undergarments that were like skintight breeches, and got up from the chair, grabbing the clothes that had been provided to put them on. He stopped, thinking of a better idea. (Do you have a refresher?)

(A what?) Ll'awa asked, confused by Revan's choice of words. He seemed to be ignoring the fact that Revan was half-naked.

(A...shower? Someplace I can bathe?)

(Oh! Oh yes, I remember that word now. Yes, we do. It is through this door,) Ll'awa replied.

Revan nodded his thanks and returned to his earlier subject. (Do you remember how I acted when I first came here?)

(I don't believe I can forget that, Revan.)

Revan's face registered an unreadable emotion. (Tell me what I was like.)

(As always, you were confident. Charismatic. We believed everything you said, simply because you sounded so sincere. But we all sensed that there was something different, almost like a shadow that hung over you. After a short while, it became apparent that you were ruthless and merciless; you had a sadistic temper that was easily triggered and not as easily pacified. Killing meant nothing to you, nor did betrayal, and we experienced that firsthand,) Ll'awa related in a quiet voice.

(That is why being sensitive to the Force is not always a good thing. I was corrupted, like you said, and I was corrupted by the Dark side of the Force. It twisted me into something I wasn't, and caused me to harm millions of people with my actions. Actions that I am now trying to make up for,) Revan spoke.

(I see,) Ll'awa replied in a semi-awed tone. (Thank you, Revan. If you wish to use the refresher now, I will leave you in peace.)

(Wait, I had one more question.)

Ll'awa stopped and waited patiently.

(This planet, what's it called?)

(Rakata Prime.)

Revan blinked, wondering how he hadn't made that connection. (Thank you, Ll'awa. I'll let you get back to your research.)

The friendly alien bowed again and exited the trio's room in his usual rapid, excited manner. Zaalbar made a noise that sounded like a laugh and shook his furry head at the Rakatan's personality.

"I call the refresher second," Carth said sarcastically, knowing full well that Zaalbar didn't bathe. "It was sure nice of you to strip for our friend," he added.

Revan smiled distractedly as he stepped inside the surprisingly large room with his new outfit and took in his surroundings. The refresher was huge, almost equal in size to their room, and it contained four showers, each separated by a semi-thick wall of rust colored stone. Opposite the showers was a mirror stretching the length of the wall, though it was currently opaque. Revan was impressed as he set his clothes down on the counter next to him and approached the panel that was next to the water nozzle. After a brief moment of confusion over the many buttons on the panel, he entered how hot he wanted the water to be, how much pressure was to be behind it, and the angle at which he wished for it to come out of the nozzle. The water started pouring out immediately, and Revan quickly stripped himself of the last piece of clothing he owned, stepping under the wonderfully steaming-hot liquid. He just stood there for a few minutes letting the pulsating water slam into his body, massaging his tired and aching muscles. His mind drifted to Bastila and the bond that they shared – and the horrible void that he had felt a scant hour before when he had reached out to her. She was still there, but everything felt twisted somehow, and he had only been able to keep their connection for a few seconds before it disappeared as if she had shut him out. Revan grunted as something of his own body caught his attention – a brand new scar.

"Great," he muttered, his gaze traveling along the thin line that circled his waist, most prominent on his hips. He knew what it was from: the torture he had been subjected to aboard the Leviathan. His body was a testament to the suffering he had been through, and he had all of the scars to prove it. Looking at the palms of his hands and his fingers, he saw the thin white lines that peppered his skin, marking where he had shed blood at one time or another, and he knew that the rest of him was a similar picture. The only one that was readily visible to all who saw him was the narrow line that ran down his cheek from the outside of his right eye, but there were many more than met the public view.

Sighing, Revan grabbed a washcloth that was sitting on a step near him in the monstrous shower and rubbed the soap that had been provided into the cloth, creating lather. He sniffed the soap and was pleased with the scent, identifying it as sandalwood rose.

"My favorite," he said, sarcastically peppy, speaking to the reddish-orange stone wall that was staring back at him. Once finished with his scrub down, Revan washed his hair and rinsed, switching off the water nozzle and stepping away from it, toweling off and plodding over to the large mirror that covered one of the walls. The murky haze that polluted the glass cleared as he approached it. He had become accustomed to the reflection that stared back at him, and was not surprised in the least when he saw the same hard eyes and residual frown on his face. Retrieving his clothes, he slipped into them, noting that there were made of a shockingly soft fabric.

"Refresher's ready," he said as he passed Carth on the way back into their room, reaching his bed and sitting on the edge, his elbows propped up on his knees and his face resting in his hands. He stayed like this for a few minutes, listening to the sound of the shower starting and the water slapping against the floor.

(You are troubled.)

Revan glanced up at Zaalbar who was looking at him intently with a worried expression. "I'm fine," he lied, staring back down at the floor and taking notice of the intricate pattern that adorned the stones.

(If you do not wish to talk, I will understand,) the Wookiee said graciously, giving his friend a way out.

"It's not that I don't want to talk, Zaalbar...it's just that I don't know what to say," the 'Jedi' explained. "All of this is happening so fast..."

(I would imagine this is hard for you,) the Wookiee speculated.

"I guess it's better that I haven't had much time to sit and think about all of this, really. I might not be able to keep it together if stopped to try and deal with it all," Revan confessed.

(You will have to face it eventually.)

The young man sighed heavily. "Don't remind me." He stood and pulled back the sheets from the bed, climbing in and yanking them up to his waist. "I'm going to sleep. Or at least I'm going to try to," he said sullenly.

(Sleep well, friend,) Zaalbar said quietly. (You deserve it.)

After a reasonable amount of time, the Wookiee saw that his friend had fallen into a restless, fitful slumber and wished that there was something he could do. Carth came out of the refresher a few minutes later and gave Revan a pitying glance, his face showing how both of them felt.

"Not sleeping again?" the Republic pilot asked.

Zaalbar shook his head. (He never does. I don't think I've seen him get a full night's rest since I first met him.)

"He hasn't had one. If we weren't being attacked by Sith he was having one of his visions or something," Carth replied.

(I don't know how he's still sane.)

"Vin – ah, Revan is a much stronger man that he lets on." Carth had almost called him by his alias that had been given to him by the Jedi Council. That hadn't happened in a while. "I think he's also much more troubled than he lets on, too."

(He will find a way to face his demons, Carth. Let him do it in his own time,) the Wookiee said, gently reminding his friend not to be overbearing. (Revan is a prideful man. He doesn't want us to know that he isn't as confident and sure of himself as his façade suggests. When he is comfortable, he will come to us, but until then, leave him to himself.)

Carth sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "He's trying so hard to keep it together for the rest of us...there must be something we can do for him."

(Support him. Let him know that you're standing by him throughout all of this. That is all he needs.)

The Republic soldier didn't reply. He was already under the sheets of his bed, and beginning to slowly drift into unconsciousness. Zaalbar simply rested his head against the wall behind him and fell into a light slumber not too long after Carth.

Revan sat up quietly, his gaze moving slowly between his two companions. He had awaked shortly before Carth had come out of the refresher. He felt a tightness in his chest at their concern and thanked the Force that he had friends like them – true friends who had stayed with him even after they knew who he used to be.

Who I used to be...who I still am, it's all alike. I may not be the same man, but that part of me is still here, he thought for the second time in as many days.

Falling back against the bed, Revan rolled to his side and closed his eyes. His thoughts became muddled as darkness began to take him again, though he was unwilling to give himself completely to sleep.

- - -

"Hey, Revan...you need to get up man."

The 'Jedi' rolled away from the hand that was shaking him – and landed hard on the cool stone floor. He moaned at the rough awakening and picked himself up off the floor gingerly, disentangling himself from the sheets and stretching languidly.

"Ah...what time is it?"

"About 10:35. And it's Satunda, by the way."

Revan's head snapped around. "What! It's not halfway through the week!"

Carth looked down at the floor. "Yeah...it is."

The 'Jedi' groaned and covered his eyes with his hand. "Nearly three weeks," he muttered. "There's no way...my fault, dammit."

Carth glanced at Zaalbar while Revan continued to talk to himself. The Republic soldier cleared his throat loudly, getting his young friend's attention.

"Sorry. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Well, I was going to suggest we get moving," Carth answered.

"Oh? I was thinking we could just sit on our butts and do nothing today – you know, just chill...take a break," Revan replied mordantly.

"I was being serious."

"I wasn't."

"You know, this pissy little mood you've been in for the past couple weeks is really starting to grate on my nerves!"

Carth had not slept well.

"Well, if you'd just shut up and stop bothering me –"

"What, so you can mope around and pity yourself?" Carth spat, earlier resentment that he thought he had let go of surfacing, courtesy of his snappish mood and lack of sleep.

Revan's eyes showed the hurt he felt at that statement for a brief second before becoming closed off again. "You have no idea what I'm going through, so don't even presume to think that you would be any better than me," he growled in a low voice.

(Ignore him, Revan. His insecurities are none of your concern,) Zaalbar warned, seeing that a heated argument was impending.

"I thought you had come to grips with the fact that I was Darth Revan," the 'Jedi' spoke, a hint of anger and bitterness in his tone.

"In this short of a time? You must be delusional."

"No, not delusional. Trusting. I don't consider myself a spineless deserter like you are."

"I've never deserted anyone in my life!"

"Is that so?" Revan asked darkly. "So where were you when I needed encouragement? You were in your little cockpit, sulking to yourself about how unfair it was that Darth Revan, the man who was responsible for the death of your wife and, presumably, your son – me, a former Dark Lord of the Sith – could be a trustworthy, loyal friend! Tell me how that doesn't count!" He continued to rant, cutting off Carth's response. "And yet here you stand before me, with the gall to try and say that you are a better man than I am? I've made some mistakes, I will admit that. I have made some of the worst mistakes I can make, and I've cost the galaxy millions of lives! Do you know how hard it is to live with that, knowing that I am nothing more than a mass murderer? No, you don't, because you've never had do more than you were ordered to as a grunt!"

Revan spun around and stalked out of the room, his body seething with anger.

"Revan, wait! I didn't...ah, dammit!"

Zaalbar watched him go with a strange feeling of empathy – the Wookiee knew what it was like to be utterly rejected and alone, disowned by your people and abandoned by your friends. And, though Zaalbar wasn't fully aware of it, that was what had happened to Revan. He had attempted to make the Republic stronger and fortify them from the impending doom he had discovered, and they, in turn, abandoned him, claiming he was mad and a pawn of the Dark side.

"I really screwed that up, didn't I?" the Republic soldier asked, his eyes on the floor.

(Would you like the truth, or a lie?) Carth's face showed true apology, so the Wookiee became fully serious. (Just leave him alone. Like I said, when he wants to come to us, he will. And you really must forgive him, Carth. He doesn't want to be Darth Revan any more than we want him to.)

"But...I thought I had forgiven him. I really did." Carth sighed. "I must've been wrong," he muttered.

- - -

Revan's fast pace and driving steps continued all the way outside, carrying him to the edge of the cliffs that were to the east of the Elder Settlement. Frustrated, he picked up a small boulder with the Force and flung it out into the sea as far as he could hurl it, keeping his eyes on it as it flew through the air and landed in the beautiful, tropical-blue water with a tremendous splash. He slumped tiredly against the rock wall next to him, his back on the cool organic material, his head turned to the right to gaze out at the vast expanse of water that stretched as far as his eyes could see.

So Carth was still bitter about his identity as Dark Lord of the Sith. Why was he not surprised? If worst came to worst, Revan would have no qualms about trusting the Republic soldier with his life – and he knew that Carth would never let him down like that – but the man refused to trust him. And Revan couldn't figure out why. He knew that Carth didn't hand out trust easily, but this was borderline ridiculous. Revan had tried to prove himself to his friend, and it hurt him to find that the soldier still didn't have faith in him. Looking up at the vast sky, his thoughts shifted to Bastila again and he felt a cold dread seeping through him. Somehow, she seemed so close right now, but at the same time, she was further than she had ever been from him. He sensed that in true distance, she wasn't far, but their relationship was...strained, to say the least. Revan sensed Carth's presence through the Force long before he appeared within seeing distance of the former Sith Lord, and the 'Jedi' was expecting him by the time the soldier walked up behind him.

"It's a beautiful place," Revan commented, continuing to stare out at the sea and sky.

"It helps that there are no people here to ruin it," Carth replied. Revan finally turned, the look in his green eyes oddly comforting to Carth. He knew that in some way, Revan had already forgiven him for what he had done. Now it was his turn.

"What I said back there...I didn't mean it. I do trust you, but I'm still new to it." Carth sighed and shifted under his friend's now unsettlingly calm gaze. "And I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said earlier."

Revan's smile was accommodating but morose. "I understand what you're thinking. Trust me, I've thought about it too. What if I fall again? What if I'm not strong enough and I become Darth Revan for a second time?"

"I don't want it to happen again – to get betrayed by someone I respect," Carth confessed, embarrassed. "I'm just so afraid of that, of seeing you turn into that again that sometimes I get kind of irrational."

"I didn't have friends like you to help me the first time around," was all that the 'Jedi' said as he silently stood and walked back across the sand and into the Elder Settlement. Carth was grateful for Revan's compliment and the sincerity in which it was given, and finally felt a peace with his friend as he followed him inside.

- - -

Revan was much more at ease now that he was in his armor and fully suited up. Except for his lightsabers, he had everything he needed. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned, not expecting to see Zaalbar holding his violet lightsaber hilt with a barely concealed look of apprehension and excitement.

(I found the Solari crystal that you discovered in your pack and placed it in your lightsaber,) the Wookiee informed him. Revan's brows furrowed at this – he remembered that crystal and the way that his left shoulder and right hand had burned as he held it. Tentatively, he reached out and grasped the cool, cylindrical metal hilt and took a deep breath to conceal the discomfort that holding his weapon caused. As with before, the fiery pain subsided within seconds, but it still bothered Revan that holding a strictly Light side crystal hurt him. He wasn't having delusions of perfection, but he still didn't think that touching a Light side object should render him any harm.

(Is there something wrong?) Zaalbar asked, worry reflecting in the Wookiee's large, brown eyes.

"No, I can just feel the difference. I'll have to get used to it," Revan lied, and did so convincingly.

(If I am correct, that will increase the damage that your lightsaber inflicts.)

Revan gave the Wookiee a reassuring smile. "Thanks. I'm sure I'm going to need it soon."

The group left their room, everyone dressed and ready for the day ahead, and searched out the complex for the Elder councilors. When they found the Rakatans, Revan spoke first.

(Elders,) he said with a small bow, a mere slight bend at the waist and a lowering of his head in a respectful gesture.

(Revan,) the three aliens said in unison with a nod of their heads. (What is it that you wish to speak about?) the friendly Elder inquired.

(I wanted to tell you that we're going to try and rescue your companion from the One's compound,) the 'Jedi' replied.

(Is that so? Well then, we all wish you the best of luck.)

Revan thanked the Elders for their accommodations and bid them goodbye, his pace brisk as he strode out of the settlement and into the vast, expansive beach that was Rakata Prime. The former Sith Lord easily remembered which paths to take to get to the One's settlement, and the trip took considerably less time than before. As they drew near to the structure, however, Revan sensed a large number of Force signatures in front of the settlement, much larger than the number that normally patrolled the perimeter of the their beachhead. Holding his hands out, low and with his palms facing behind him, to his friends, he told them silently to stop moving – not faithful to his militaristic nature when combat was involved, true, but it worked nonetheless. Carth understood this to mean halt and take cover, and he unholstered his blasters.

Snick.

The sound of Zaalbar switching the safety off of his large Bowcaster was much louder than Carth's blasters, but even so, Revan barely heard it. Glancing behind him, he saw that Carth had crouched behind a large chunk of rock that had fallen out the large rock wall that served as the boundaries of the path they were on. Zaalbar had found a shadow thrown by another object higher up, and had used his dark coloring to slip into obscurity within the small slice of darkness. Revan unclipped his lightsabers from his belt and pressed his back against the rock wall opposite Carth, inching slowly forward and peering cautiously around curve in the wall to see what they were up against. Four young rancors were stomping around, grunting and snarling like usual while at least twenty Rakatan Warriors patrolled the beach, all armed with a vibrosword, double or single-bladed.

Leaning back to make sure he was out of sight, Revan began to think. Four rancors by themselves would be a handful, but with the extra twenty Rakatan Warriors, they were pushing the limits. He had to find some way to get thin the number of rancors, and fast. As he wracked his brain, sifting through his memories of past conflicts for a feasible strategy, his mind drifted to the burning that was throbbing in his arm and wrist. Revan almost spoke out loud as the thought of "burning" made him recall a Force power he had yet to use, and was invaluable in many circumstances. Closing his eyes to block out any distractions, he immersed himself in the Force, feeling it flow through himself, his friends, and the large group of hostiles less than 200 meters away. He searched for one of the rancor's life signatures and a shadow of a smile flitted across his face as he felt the base emotions of the creature, the essential desires and needs that marked every living thing, human, alien, or animal. Grasping the Force signature of the rancor, Revan concentrated all of his energy, thought, emotion and power on the animal.

The shadow of a smile that had been hovering over his face formed into a wicked grin as he heard the screeching of the rancor and the shocked yells of the Rakatan Warriors. His efforts had succeeded, and Revan charged into the chaotic fray with a guttural yell, lightsabers drawn, his friends following seconds after. Revan cut down two Rakatans before they even knew he was there, impaled a third as he swung wildly at the 'Jedi', blocked the attack of a fourth and decapitated him with a quick twist of his blade. A fifth Warrior attacked him, and Revan blocked the sweep that would have taken his legs out at the knee. Striking high with the violet blade in his right hand, the 'Jedi' was met with cold metal alloy halting his attack and pushing him back. Spinning, Revan shoved the Rakatan's sword away and faced his enemy, sizing up his options and using the brief pause to see how his friends were faring. Carth shot down a Rakatan Warrior as it charged at him, and sidestepped the alien's last desperate swipe as he crashed to the ground. The Republic soldier pumped on last round into the Rakatan's skull and slammed a fresh power cell into his blaster, looking around for any other attackers. Zaalbar had replaced his Bowcaster with Bacca's blade and was fending off one of the rancors that was left, a trail of corpses behind him.

Revan cursed as he saw the other rancor charging straight for Carth and shoved the Rakatan Warrior that he was occupied with out of the way, using the Force to augment his speed. The only thing that Carth saw was a flash of violet and red before the rancor collapsed to the ground with two smoking holes in its head. The soldier looked up in surprise to see Revan standing on the rancor's back, his legs in a wide stance for balance, his face hard and merciless, the two lightsabers he possessed held firmly at his sides. Revan leapt down from the rancor and moved near Carth, keeping his gaze on the rapidly diminishing battle before them. The four remaining Rakatan Warriors had turned their attention away from the lone Wookiee battling the last rancor, and were now moving toward the Republic soldier and the 'Jedi.'

"You all right?" Revan grunted, his voice lacking the normal compassion it would have held under ordinary circumstances.

"Never been better," Carth responded, futilely attempting to stem the flow of blood that poured from a deep gash in his left thigh. Revan glanced over at his friend and noticed the wound, moving unobtrusively in front of the soldier, exposing his back to the oncoming attackers. Carth felt Revan's gaze on him and knew what the 'Jedi' was thinking.

"The damn thing got me as he fell," he explained. He felt a tingle around the area of the gash and watched in wonder as the skin closed itself and the pain disappeared. He had been healed before, but he had never actually seen how it worked. Carth's instincts took over, and his conscious thought returned to the battle and hand – and more importantly, the fact that Revan's back was to the enemy.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed, trying to shove Revan around the face the Rakatans.

"Kneel," the 'Jedi' ordered in a cold voice.

Carth's face showed confusion and a deep uncertainty. "What?"

"Trust me. Kneel," he commanded again, leaving no room for disobedience.

Carth very slowly dropped to one knee while keeping his eyes on his friend's face. "What are you doing?" he asked for the second time, a deep sense of dread spreading from his core.

"Trust me," Revan replied for a third time, closing his eyes and deactivating his crimson blade, clipping it back onto his belt. "Charge a shot."

Carth reluctantly did as he was told, flicking the switch on his blaster that allowed him to charge up a shot for greater damage.

"I'm going to spin to your left. As soon as you've got an open shot, let go of the trigger."

The Republic soldier finally understood Revan's strategy, and was glad that he had not become belligerent in his protests. His suspicion trickling away, Carth could see the feet of the approaching Warriors through Revan's legs, and he prepared himself for the ensuing skirmish, taking a deep breath to steady his hand and clear his mind. He glanced up at Revan and saw that the young man's eyes were still closed, and he was surprised to see a serenely calm expression on his friend's face; the 'Jedi's' knuckles were white as he gripped the hilt of his violet lightsaber, both hands' fingers wrapped tightly around the metal, but Carth could not tell if this was from nerves or pain, or perhaps neither. Revan took a deep breath, and the soldier watched his chest rise and fall evenly just before the 'Jedi's' face twisted into a feral snarl and he whipped his body around, clotheslining the nearest Rakatan Warrior with his left arm and slicing down with his right as he spun away, just like he said he would.

CRACK!

Both men heard the alien's neck snap, the sound like a small firecracker going off. As soon as he had a clear shot, Carth let fly with the supercharged bolt of energy, firing with his left blaster the moment that angle was clear as well. Revan had already killed one of the Rakatan Warriors when he had cleaved him in half after brutally clothelining him in the throat, and Carth's charged blast and subsequent shots had taken out two of the Rakatans, leaving one left to deal with. Revan's violet lightsaber hummed through the air as he kicked the last Warrior's feet out from underneath him. Thrusting his blade into the alien's skull, Revan's attention was already focused elsewhere as the Rakatan writhed in the throes of death below him. Zaalbar was standing some 300 yards away, across the beach, holding Bacca's blade with both paws and panting heavily, the body of the rancor on the sand before him. Revan helped Carth to his feet and together they picked their way through the blood-stained sand to where the Wookiee was.

"Zaalbar?" Revan asked cautiously, seeing a large, deep cut running from the Wookiee's left shoulder down to the opposite right hip. The 'Jedi' healed his friend and came around in front of him, placing a hand on Zaalbar's large, furry forearm.

"Zaalbar?" he repeated, forcing the Wookiee to look at him. When he did, Revan continued. "Are you all right?"

(I...am tired...I...apologize,) the Wookiee managed between deep breaths. (I wanted...to catch my wind...before...speaking.)

"Oh...come on, walking will make it better. Put your hands on the top of your head if you're having trouble breathing. It should help," Revan said distractedly, leading the way to the entrance to the Rakatan Settlement. "We're going to have to do a lot more fighting inside. Do either of you want a battle stim?"

"I'm game," Carth piped up, grabbing the stim that Revan offered. Zaalbar merely nodded, taking the proffered stim as well.

"You don't need one?" Carth asked after he had administered the drug. Revan shook his head. "How is that possible? It takes more work to wield a lightsaber than it does to shoot a gun!"

"I have the Force, remember? But barring that, I have good stamina. I'm only twenty-six – keep that in mind," Revan replied.

Carth's face went slack. "Twenty-six? You...had to have been eighteen when the Mandalorian Wars started!"

"I was," the 'Jedi' said quietly. "I passed my Knighthood test just three months into the conflict. It was two years before I would actually join the war though. I tried to be patient with the Council, to see their point of view, but after the Battle of Cathar..." Revan's voice would not cooperate with him, and he paused to gain his composure. The thought of what the Mandalorians had done still infuriated him, but the fact that he could now say that he had done much of the same thing infuriated and shamed him even more.

"After the Battle of Cathar, Malak and I joined the Republic forces, taking with us many other Knights and a few Masters as well. As you know, once Malak and I took control of about one third of the Republic fleet, we began to push the Mandalorians back." They had stopped walking now, and were resting against a small outcropping of rocks near the water's edge, and Revan saw that Carth and Zaalbar were listening to him intently, so he continued. "We began winning battle after battle, and the end of the war was practically within our grasp. We don't have the time, and I don't want to talk about it right now, but I saw how I could keep the Republic safe and protect them from the threat that I knew was out there. I went down to Malachor V, looking for a valuable outpost but finding my downfall, if you could call it that. What I discovered there is what made me disappear into unknown space after the Mandalorian Wars and come back as Darth Revan. And I would do it again, if I had to. I know what I found there, and I know what I'm dealing with. The Council is too weak and rooted in their pacifistic teachings to do what needs to be done, and that was what made me take matters into my own hands in the first place. I will not leave the Republic defenseless because of the stupidity of others." Revan stood from the rock he had been sitting on and massaged the tired muscles of his neck and feeling his lower back beginning to tighten from their small break. "Come on. The quicker we get this over with, the quicker we can get off of this planet."

Both of his friends knew the unspoken end of the sentence, "and the quicker we can rescue Bastila."

"Besides, those stims should've kicked in by now," he added, stopping just in front of the doors to the Rakatan Settlement.

"Wait just a second," Carth called, preventing the 'Jedi's' movement. "What exactly did you do when I heard that rancor start screeching all of a sudden, right before you charged like a maniac into the middle of the Rakatans?"

"I set one of them on fire," he replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, returning his attention to the doors. "It must have caught another one of fire as well," he added thoughtfully. With a flick of his wrist, the doors scraped open with an obstinate growling, revealing the compound within. Carth glanced back and saw that there were indeed two charred corpses that he had not noticed during the chaos of the battle. Revan walked through the entrance, violet lightsaber in one hand, looking around, not expecting the immediate hallway to be deserted. Walking cautiously down the corridor that he knew would eventually lead him to the One, Revan didn't pause as he used the Force to kill a Rakatan Warrior that was attempting to hide in the shadows and ambush them. The 'Jedi' noticed that even though it was about five o'clock, the compound was surprisingly dimly lit, and he was sometimes cornered into using the Force to see into a particularly dark crevice. He noticed that the overhanging cloths that were normally pulled back from the top of the medium-sized walls were now pulled together and blocking most of the incoming sunlight. The group had met only one alien thus far, but they were not surprised to see a whole contingent of Rakata waiting for them at the entrance to the bridge residing over the chasm filled with water that would transport him directly to the One.

"Well this should be fun," Carth muttered, his hands tightening on his blasters.

"Oh no. This is just the warm up. Don't you remember the four rancors that were in that circular room with the One? I doubt those were just decorative pieces," Revan retorted. He thrust out his free left hand, flinging a whirlwind of Force at the unsuspecting Warriors, hurling half of their number over the sides of the bridge and sending them plunging into the water to complete their unceremoniously violent end by electrocution as the 'Jedi' let electricity flow from his body into the liquid. Revan felt the waves of heat rippling off Zaalbar's Bowcaster and searing into his neck before the charged shot erupted from the weapon, spitting a spray of green globs of molten hot energy and killing three more Rakata.

Clink – clink – clink.

Revan heard the slugs hit the floor from Zaalbar's weapon as Carth picked off the last two with ease, sniping one and pumping the other full of holes. The trio crossed the bridge without further resistance, and Revan called his unused lightsaber to his left hand and ignited the crimson blade, twirling both of his weapons in anticipation.

(Revan,) the One called to them with a hint of anger and a shade of surprise lacing his words. (I see you have decided to side with the Elders.)

(I have,) the ex-Dark Lord replied, speaking in the Rakatan language. (I try not to commit acts of senseless murder if I don't have to.)

(Whoever said anything about murder?)

(You honestly think the Elders would just give up their tome and let you take over their temple? I think not,) Revan retorted, pointing the tip of his violet blade at a cage that held a rancor, but also a single Elder prisoner. (Let him go. He's all I came for.)

(I'm afraid I can't do that, Revan. I tolerated your betrayal once, but I am not about to do so again. If you want that prisoner, you're going to have to kill me.)

Revan watched calmly as a small sword that the One had thrown sailed end over end to strike the lever that opened the cages with enough force to activate it. The bars in front of the holding cells slid up and away, freeing the rancors within.

(Would you like to see what I did to your pets outside?) the former Sith Lord growled, his cold, green eyes never leaving the One's black orbs as two of the rancors exploded into flames behind the alien. "Sorry guys," he yelled, addressing his friends, "but you're going to have to deal with the last two on your own! My energy's nearly exhausted!"

(You rely on your vaunted "Force" to give you an edge in battle! But let's see how good you are in combat without it!) the One snarled, twirling a vibroblade menacingly.

(I can assure you that I am quite proficient in that area as well,) Revan replied in a mockingly positive tone, the grimace on his face showing his true disposition. (I'm not leaving here till you're dead,) he informed the leader.

The One's reply was a howl of rage as he charged at the 'Jedi', smashing Revan's crimson lightsaber out of the way and meeting his enemy's violet one with incredible strength. Revan pushed back, kicking the One and forcing him to take steps back, putting some distance between them. The young man went on the offensive, attacking with quick but powerful strikes, keeping his body under control and not wasting energy on excess and unproductive movement, not forced in the least to use all of his skill with his blades. He was trying to push the One into one of the cages in the hopes of cornering him, but the alien saw this strategy and constantly circled, negating the 'Jedi's' plan and keeping them securely in the middle of the circular room. Revan ducked a swipe for his head and returned a strike, catching the One on the arm and searing a deep wound in his flesh. The pain seemed only to spur the Rakatan on, as he came at Revan almost wildly, lashing out at any opening the 'Jedi' seemed to present. The young man blocked all of these strikes, though not all of them with as much ease as he would have liked, and he decided that it was time to finish their sparring match. Drawing upon his discipline and strength of will, Revan pushed through the exhaustion that was throwing a black veil on the edges of his vision. For the span of two seconds, he became a blur of purple and crimson as he moved with a speed that no one present in the room could follow, grasping the One's blade with his two – one underneath the vibroblade, the other on top, like such to gain leverage and grip – spinning to the left and wrenching the metal sword out of the alien's hands and sending it whistling through the air to stick quivering into the stone wall. In the next split second, Revan completed his spin and brought both of his lightsabers down at an angle, slicing from the One's right shoulder down through his right hip, the Rakatan leader's body falling to the ground in two pieces.

SCRAPE!

Revan felt the claws of the last rancor slam into his right side, flinging him through the air. The 'Jedi' tucked his left shoulder in close as he hit the ground and rolled away, flinging himself on his stomach to avoid the second swipe of the remaining rancor, and he heard it give a feeble cry and crash to the ground seconds later; the smell of acrid flesh filled the air in the aftermath of the battle – a smell that was all too familiar to Revan. Standing, the 'Jedi' observed the tear that was in the cloth of his armor, exposing the tough, titanium-alloy mesh underlay beneath. It had stopped the rancor's claws from piercing his flesh, but Revan could already feel a bruise forming where the sharp talons had slammed into him. He made his way around the creature's corpses to enter a formerly occupied cage, now housing only a severely wounded Elder.

(I've been sent by your people to rescue you,) the 'Jedi' said as he used the last reserves of his energy to pull the Force around the alien and heal his more serious injuries. Staggering against the wall, Revan breathed heavily, a wave of dizziness enveloping him, his vision becoming unfocused as the tendrils of darkness curled around his senses. He felt a sharp prick on the side of his right thigh and a tingling before a second wind seemed to revive him.

"Hyper-adrenal stimulant," Carth said as he helped Revan to stand. The younger man nodded in thanks, motioning at the Elder to follow them, which he did with no hesitancy.

"We have medical packs for a reason you know," the soldier said quietly into Revan's ear when the Elder was far enough ahead with Zaalbar to be a safe distance away.

"The Force works better. He could have had internal bleeding. Our medical packs can't fix that."

"Yes they can, and you know it."

"Why are we having this argument? I healed him, and it's done. I don't see the problem," Revan fought back.

"The problem," Carth said with a patient tone, "is that you exhausted yourself in doing that. It wasn't a smart thing to do, especially in the middle of a hostile settlement."

Revan knew Carth was right and didn't bother to argue his point further, wincing as the Republic pilot's shoulder dug painfully into his bruised right side. The trek back to the Elder's Settlement was mercifully short and uneventful, and Revan was immediately escorted to the healer when the Elder Councilors saw the state he was in.

(Please lie on the bed and relax. This will only take a few minutes,) the healer instructed, helping the exhausted and battered young man recline. As he sunk back against the soft material, Revan took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to relax as the healer checked his pulse. He heard someone else enter the room and reopened his eyes to see the three Elder Councilors walking to where he was resting.

(We have deliberated,) the friendly one was saying as they approached, (and we have come to an agreement.)

Revan waited without bated breath. He knew already what the Elder was going to say. There was no way he could say anything else.

(I can see that you have guessed what it is I am going to tell you,) the Elder said with a smile. (Yes, we have all decided that you are sincere in you redemption, and we will assist you in entering the Temple for a second time.)

Revan allowed himself a small measure of relief in knowing that he was one step closer to finding Bastila, but the fact that she was...

He stopped that train of thought as quickly as he could, turning his attention back to the Elders.

(...we believe that it would be wise for you to take this time to rest,) one of the Elders was saying.

(I'm sorry, what?) Revan asked apologetically.

(It will take us some time to prepare for the ritual. You should use that time to rest and prepare yourself,) another Elder reiterated.

(How long is it going to take?) the 'Jedi' inquired.

(The arrangements will take the better part of tomorrow. The ceremony itself will take many hours, and we will only be able to keep the shield down for a brief time. But we will explain all of this when the time comes,) the friendly Elder said. (Come. For now, sleep. I'm sure Ll'awa wishes to interrogate you once more before you leave us again,) he added with a smile.

Revan's eyebrows rose and fell in comprehension of the statement, but he showed little else in the way of emotion. He reached his room without need of a guide, and flopped down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Briefly, he wondered when it was during the conversation that the healer had finished with him, but he let his mind go blank in an effort to induce unconsciousness. His two companions were quiet, Carth already asleep and Zaalbar on the brink of slumber as well. Revan's last thoughts before he fell asleep were not on current matters – in fact, they were on matters that he probably had no real memories of, fake or otherwise. He wondered what his real parents were like, and what they would think of him if they could see him now. He imagined it wouldn't be pride that filled their hearts.

- - -

A black man, medium in stature and dressed in military uniform nervously took the steps that brought him ever closer to the imposing figure that currently had his back to the entire deck of the Star Forge. This figure was standing in front of a machine that was whirring away, its mechanical arm moving back and forth around the man's face. Admiral Varko, swallowing, clearing his throat and straightening his uniform, halted his steps and addressed this man.

"Lord Malak, the preparations are nearly complete. Every day the Star Forge adds more ships to our fleet – it is operating at three-hundred per cent of our projections. The fleet is assembling around the Star Forge and awaits your instructions."

Malak turned, and Varko could not help but take a step back in revulsion. The Dark Lord's mandible was completely missing, a small, glowing metal device implanted in his throat to allow for speech. Malak's upper lip, still there, moved as if nothing was amiss whenever he spoke, only adding to the surreal and disturbing feeling generated by the sight of the Sith's disfigured face.

"Patience, Commander," the Dark Lord said. "My new apprentice is nearly ready." A malicious, dark fire lighted his eyes, and Varko was sure if Malak could have smiled, the picture would have been a sickeningly triumphant grin. "Once Bastila joins her Battle Meditation to our enormous fleet, we shall be invincible. Then we shall begin our final conquest of the Core Worlds, and the Republic will be crushed forever."

Admiral Varko executed a small bow, bending slightly at the waist and lowering his head. "As you wish, Lord Malak."

He exited as quickly as possible, not wishing to stare at the Sith's mutilated face any longer. Varko told himself that if he did as he was ordered, he would be fine, but he was a war veteran, and he knew the feeling of the build up to a major conflict.

The tension was reaching its peak.

- - -

Carth and Zaalbar had packed up all of their belongings except the essentials for battle, and had moved all of the unneeded equipment back to the Ebon Hawk. The Elders had provided them with a nourishing breakfast, and the two were now waiting for Revan to awake. The young man had been sleeping soundly the last time they had checked, and neither had wanted to disturb him, both Zaalbar and Carth knowing the importance of a good night's sleep. As if on queue, the 'Jedi' appeared in the medium-sized mess hall that his two friends were sitting in.

"How long have you been up?" he asked worriedly, hoping he had not overslept.

"An hour, maybe two. It's still early morning," Carth replied.

Revan slumped into a seat and mumbled a 'Thank you' to the servant who brought him food.

"Didn't you sleep well? You looked out cold," the soldier remarked upon seeing the weariness in Revan's movements and the dark circles under his eyes.

"Too tired to sleep. If that makes any sense."

Carth blinked. "No...it doesn't."

"Have you ever been tired in the middle of the day, and you take a nap, but you sleep too long and you're still tired?" the young man asked.

"Yeah," the Republic pilot answered, not seeing the connection.

"Even though I didn't oversleep, my body was in such a deep state of rest that it's almost like I was asleep for too long, like the nap thing. So basically, I got screwed again – that's all that really matters."

"Hey, uh...somebody contacted our ship asking for you. Some merchant on Yavin IV. He...well, he wants you to come up and look at his stuff. Says it's very important that you see what he has," Carth said, changing the subject.

"What makes him think that he's more important to me than getting Bastila back and killing Malak?" Revan said, his irritation evident.

"I don't know, but he said he had two lightsaber crystals that you should look at. He said that one of them used to be yours, and that the other belongs to the Jedi Council. He found that one and I guess he thinks you can return it."

"One of the crystals used to be mine?" Now Revan's interest was genuinely piqued. "Maybe I should go see him..." He took another bite of food and was silent for a while. "Did this man give you his name?"

"Yeah. But he's not a man – not a human, at least – he's a Rodian. His name's Suvam Tan."

"Suvam Tan," Revan repeated. The name wasn't familiar, and he supposed that was a good thing. "We might pay him a visit today, then. Is the ship able to get up off of the ground?" The young man punched out a heavy exhale and rolled his eyes. "Never mind. The planetary shield is still activated. We'll have to see what this Suvam wants after we search the inside of the Temple."

"And we've still got part of a day to kill," Carth pointed out.

"Yes, about that..." Revan mused, "I think I'm actually going to attempt to meditate. I have a feeling that it isn't going to be successful, but I have absolutely nothing better to do."

(If you don't need me, I will return to the ship.)

The young man's gaze flicked to the large Wookiee for a moment, his head nodding in assent. "If that's what you want to do, I'm not going to stop you."

Zaalbar rose from his seated position and loped out of the mess hall unhurriedly, leaving the two men behind. Revan rose from his chair as well, as did Carth, and the 'Jedi' made his way outside, looking for a suitable area to meditate.

"Just what exactly do you do when you meditate?" the Republic pilot asked curiously.

The former Sith Lord snorted. "I wouldn't be able to fully answer that question, Carth. I don't believe that I have ever achieved a perfect state of meditative bliss." He became more serious, and chose his next words carefully, trying to explain the action to his friend. "When you meditate, technically, you are trying to let the Force flow through you unimpeded. You calm your mind and purge it of anything stressful or worrisome, and the entire process is supposed to be like de-toxing, but more for your mind than your body. It is restful, though, and it rejuvenates both the mind and body."

"Are you unconscious?"

"No," Revan replied, "not entirely. You still retain all of your senses but..." he stopped, searching. "This would be the equivalent of a machine powering down to operate at a much lower capacity to give itself time to recharge without actually shutting off."

"Smart," Carth remarked.

"Yes. Now if only it was as simple as it sounds."

"It's hard?"

"It isn't supposed to be difficult, no, but it always has been for me. Even more so lately, with Bastila being gone and Malak so close...the Dark side can cloud the Force and make it hard to find calm."

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" Carth asked. "I guess I can't meditate like you can, but maybe I can do my own version."

"That's fine."

They had stopped walking minutes ago, Revan having picked a spot on the South beach, the Elder's beach, just out of reach of the ocean's tide, shaded from the sun by high rocks, and relatively safe from view. The 'Jedi' sat down on the cool sand, moving to a lotus position and resting his hands on his knees, thumbs and forefingers softly touching, the rest of his fingers loosely extended. His eyelids slid shut over his intense, green orbs, and he bowed his head slightly, relieving any tension that was forming in his upper trapezius by the gentle stretch that his angled head provided. Taking one final deep breath and holding it for a short time before letting it go, Revan opened himself to the Force, letting the tranquility and stillness of Rakata Prime flow through him and quiet his restless mind and spirit.

Carth watched all of this with a mute fascination, not wanting to make a single noise for fear of breaking the serenity that had descended upon his friend. The soldier knew that he couldn't achieve the state of harmony that Revan was in, but he figured that he might as well try to get comfortable while his companion was meditating. He mirrored the same lotus position, and placed his hands the same way, but he propped himself up against a rock, knowing that his back would not be able to stand being in one position for too long. Carth closed his eyes and concentrated on listening to the sound of the ocean lapping against beach, of the surf crashing against the rocks farther away, and waited.

- - -

When Revan pulled himself out of his trance, he was neither surprised nor offended that Carth was no longer with him. He had been in a meditative state for nearly three hours and it was now nearly noon; Revan guessed this from the high position of the sun in the sky and the not quite uncomfortable heat that beat down upon his exposed neck. Standing, he brushed the sand from his clothes and slowly walked back to the Elder Settlement, taking his time to appreciate the scenery along the way. Revan entered the compound headed for the mess hall, hoping to grab a light snack, but was met instead with the now-familiar faces of the three Elder Councilors.

(Ah, there you are,) the Elder who always spoke said in a semi-serious tone. (We were hoping that we would not have to search for you. It is easy to hide on this planet,) he explained.

(I was meditating,) Revan said truthfully as he picked up a piece of fruit from a bowl and inspected it before sinking his teeth into the succulent and tasty produce. (How are the preparations coming?)

(We are finished, and can take you to the Temple any time you would like. Some of our people are already there, and are waiting for you to decide when.)

(If you'll allow me ten minutes to get ready...) Revan trailed. The Elders nodded, and the 'Jedi' finished the piece of fruit quickly, jogging back to his room and finding his armor, weapons and other provisions set out neatly on his bed, along with a small note telling him that Carth and Zaalbar had joined up with the rest of the Ebon Hawk's crew on the ship. Suiting up and fully equipping himself, Revan reappeared in the mess hall almost exactly ten minutes later.

(I can guess time well,) he offered upon seeing the Elder's somewhat surprised faces. (I had to learn in the Mandalorian Wars, which means I had to become very good, or else people were going to die.)

(I see,) the friendly Elder replied, not fully comprehending but pretending to for time's sake. (I take it you are ready, then?) Revan nodded. (Very well, follow us.)

The trio of Elders led him out of their settlement, across the South beach, and into the front courtyard of the Temple where a group of Elders were already waiting in a circle around what might have been a gathering of stones, or perhaps a small fire – Revan couldn't see.

(As I am sure you have been told, this will take many hours. You must stay vigilant, however, as the shields will only stay down for a short time,) and Elder priest said. (You must enter this Temple alone, as the ancient customs state. If you are not ready to comply with this, then I will wait until you are amenable to these terms.)

(I am prepared to go in alone,) the 'Jedi' replied.

The Elder priest looked at the young human in front of him for a long while, seeing the defiance in his strong jaw, the confidence in his broad shoulders, and the boiling, conflicting emotions in his eyes. It was almost the same Revan that had stood before him nearly three years prior, but this time, the man did not bear the sinister shadow of evil – not externally, at least. The priest could discern that this human was still plagued by past demons and the taint of darkness within him, and that it was a struggle he had yet to win. Finally, the Elder gave a slow nod, and turned to rejoin the circle of chanters performing the ritual.

Revan had the distinct feeling that the priest had just seen through the façade that he kept up – the pretense that he had everything together and that he was holding up just fine. Strangely, this did not bother him like he thought it would. Sitting down on the short grass that covered the ground, he settled in to wait, slipping into a semi-meditative state for the second time that day. Revan stayed like this for perhaps two hours until he felt the tension of alarm permeate the air, and he opened his eyes to see the Elder priest that he had spoken to earlier looking very irate.

(Someone is coming!) he barked, halting the ritual. Revan got up and looked behind him, seeing both Jolee and Juhani hurriedly approaching.

"Wait!" Jolee was yelling. "You can't go in there alone!"

"What are you doing here?" Revan hissed once his two friends had halted in front of him.

"I had a...a premonition. A vision through the Force," Jolee explained gravely. "There is great danger inside that temple. We can't let you face it alone. You might be walking into a trap...maybe Malak himself is waiting inside. Even if he isn't, that temple will still be crawling with Dark Jedi. You'll need all the help you can get."

(No others can go with you into the Temple. You must enter alone. That is the way of the ancient ritual,) the Elder said stubbornly.

Revan knew that Jolee was right, but he didn't want to give the Elders any reason to think he was going to betray them again. With an apologetic look, he turned back to his friends.

"Jolee, Juhani – you can't come. The Elders won't allow it."

"Your destiny – maybe the fate of the entire galaxy – could be forever changed inside of that temple," Jolee argued passionately. "We are not about to let you face that alone. Not after my premonition. There's a reason I had that vision. So you just tell that guide of yours to do whatever he has to do to get us all inside the Temple."

Sighing, Revan faced the Elder priest, his tone almost pleading. (Continue the ritual, please.)

(No! You must enter the Temple alone. I will not lower the shields,) he argued right back.

"I don't know what he said, but it sounds like your guide's being stubborn. We don't have time for this! The Republic Fleet it on its way and we're stuck on this planet until we deactivate that disruptor field. You have to convince him to get us inside that temple!" Jolee urged.

(Look,) Revan began, preparing to try and persuade the Elder priest, (that temple is going to be crawling with Dark Jedi. If I go in there alone, I'm committing suicide. I need you to let my friends in with me.)

The Elder priest eyed Jolee and Juhani suspiciously, but Revan could tell that he was going to relent. (It goes against everything the rules say, but...I do not want to send you to your death.) Growling in malcontent, the priest turned his back on them and joined the circle of chanters again. (I will continue the ritual. We are near – be ready.)

Revan gave Jolee and affirmative nod and the old man relaxed slightly. For a second there, he thought that the kid might not have been able to get the ritual started again.

"Are we able to come with Revan?" Juhani asked quietly.

"Yeah, we can go with him."

"That is good," he heard the Cathar mutter under her breath, and the old Jedi silently agreed. Revan was perhaps the most skilled man he had ever seen with lightsabers – even among the Masters – but he knew that sometimes skill was no match for numbers. There were times that no amount of skill could stand up against the sheer magnitude of the enemy.

Even though the Elder priest had said that they were near the completion of the ritual, it still took another hour and a half before something started to happen. The three Jedi turned in surprise as silver beams began to shoot out of each Elder's chest, all connecting at one point above the ring of chanters. Suddenly, it shot towards the force field that guarded the temple's entrance and dispersed upon connecting with the shield of energy, causing the barrier to flicker erratically for a few seconds before disappearing entirely.

"Come on!" Revan said. "We need to move now."

The trio of Jedi ran as quickly as possible up the stone ramp in front of the structure and paused at the first set of doors. They snarled as they opened, stone grating roughly against stone from years of disuse, sliding away and revealing the gloomy passage within. Revan was the first one through the entrance, glancing around, weapons in hand and ready for whatever might come his way.

"I remember this place," he muttered. Jolee and Juhani shared a glance.

That didn't sound comforting.


Lyrics for "The Art of Subconscious Illusion"

A living nightmare, asleep but still aware.

The endless torture.

The painless pleasure.

I grasp myself.

Trying to regain control.

I experience and learn.

In another faction of my mind.

So confused.

But everything makes perfect sense.

Can't feel the pain.

Emotional pain's so much deadlier.

Lost, you've just been raped.

Pain. Your friends can't help you.

Why wont they help you? Another reality.

This can't be happening.

Why is this happening?

Who the fuck are you?

Who the fuck. Are you?

Trying hard to figure out what's done.

I scramble but now I run.

The images in my head.

All the problems that I've been fed.

Punching slowly my mind can't change the speed.

As my victims bleed.

No matter what I do or how hard I try.

I can't use my abilities.

Use my abilities.

Art of Illusion.

My razor sharp knife's edge, pierces my victim's body.

But I can't take their soul.

Punching through jello, stabbing not killing.

Disappointment. Discomfort.

Yeah...the song itself doesn't make much sense to me, but some of the lyrics go with Revan's feelings...

It's the best I could come up with, as this chapter doesn't have much of an emotional theme that I haven't already covered earlier, so I apologize if you don't like the song.