"I sense great power in this tomb. I believe you are strong enough to explore it."
Visas and Mira made no effort to accompany Ilza as she entered to tomb. She wasn't quite sure what to expect, and there was a sort of ominous dread weighing down on her.
She could not believe her eyes.Tavlon, Cariaga, Xaset, Nisotsa...Malak. And a young woman she vaguely recognized as Bastila Shan.
"The Jedi Council is wise, but they are too slow to act. Are we to just stand by and watch the worlds of the outer rim die?" Malak - 'No! Not Malak', she reminded her self, 'Malak is dead' - The thing that looked like Malak continued.
"We cannot sit idly when millions of innocents need our help. Will you join Revan and I?" Tavlon and Cariaga stepped forward to Malak's side, as they had done more than a decade ago.
'I remember. This is when I joined them. this is during the Mandalorian Wars.'
"In the last month alone, the Mandalorians have taken seven systems. Surely you can see what needs to be done." Nisotsa and Xaset left her side and flanked Malak. Only she and Bastila were left.
'The council advised patience. They were too slow. Something had to be done. So I joined Revan and Malak, without hesitation."
"It is our duty as Jedi to confront this threat and protect those who need our aid."
Finally, Bastila, too, went to Malak's side.
"Wait a moment!" She finally spoke up, "Bastila didn't come with us to the Wars. She stayed behind, sided with the council."
Malak - The thing with Malak's face simply smiled, "She didn't join us then, that much is true. But eventually, she saw the truth in our way of thinking. So now you are all alone. What will you do? Will you make the same choice again, knowing what it will cost you?"
"I..." 'NO! My resolve will not weaken!'
"Yes." She spoke after a long while. "I would go with you again."
The thing that was not Malak smiled even wider, and ignited his lightsaber. The others followed.
"So you would condemn yourself and the galaxy once more? Good." And then, they charged.
In a flash, her own sabers were active. She was a flurry of motion, blocking, striking, dodging. But it wasn't enough. There were too many of them. She was on her knees, and she knew it was the end. Malak's spectre raised his lightsaber...
..And there was nothing. The blow never came. Ilza felt the dark side flow through her, as if a gate had been opened. Rising to her feet, shakily, she allowed the force to heal her wounds. She grimly made her way through the arch at the other end of the room, and she knew that there was much more to come.