The Ebon Hawk had served as Revan's home for the past year. However, despite that, he had very few belongings stored onboard. Besides his sabre, robes and credits, the only things he owned were souvenirs he had acquired throughout the journey. Many of his souvenirs were possessions of Jedi legends, such as Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider. Others were artefacts of ancient Sith like Naga Sadow and Tulak Hord.
Revan's original intention was to return all these souvenirs to the Jedi Order to study and safeguard them. Now, he intended to preserve them and use them to win the war ahead of him. All save for four of them: Cassus Fett's Heavy Blaster and Battle Armour and Yusanis' Brand and Dueling Shield. When seeing these items amongst merchant inventories on Dantooine, Tatooine and Korriban, the strange whisper in the back of his mind, which was only a minor influence back then, had willed him to purchase and keep these items, despite never finding a use for them. Nevertheless, they remained in his collection.
"Query: Are you alright, Master? You have been staring at your footlocker for some time now."
"Deciding what I want to take and what I want to leave here. While my quarters here on the Star Forge will serve as my main living space from now on, I sense the Ebon Hawk has not finished her service yet," Revan mused and began moving things from his footlocker onto his bed, creating a small pile.
"Statement: I recommend leaving your extensive collection of credits onboard to utilise them more effectively. However, anything of sentimental value should be moved immediately. The likelihood of the Ebon Hawk's destruction is far higher than that of the Star Forge,"
"Then I demand you leave immediately!" Revan quipped.
"Addendum: That would not be a wise move, Master. The security of this vessel and yourself would be compromised, and that I cannot allow,"
"I'm glad you think so. It's part of why I came down here to talk with you and the others. I'm sure you're aware of the nest of vipers we have landed in. After all, your memory is far more intact than mine,"
"Affirmation: Yes, Master. These meatbags are different from their predecessors. The meatbag Malak's influence has changed their tactics; their thinking has become more direct,"
"Bastila fears attempted assassination, and my senior military staff fear a civil war," Revan, having finished sorting his belongings, picked up the pile and headed for the Cargo Hold. "I believe we can defeat any insurrection, but I will need your services in that endeavour,"
"Statement: HK-47 is ready to serve, Master,"
"Thank you. For now, your services as a bodyguard are all I require. In the future, however, there may, at last, be a need for your assassination protocols." As Revan finished, he swore he could see HK's eyes flicker with hope.
Entering the Cargo Hold, T3-M4, sorting through crates, beeped, and whistled at them. HK considered how much Revan had changed since his disappearance at the hands of the Jedi. Of course, there were differences; Revan seemed to place more value on allies that had no immediate usefulness but, instead, had future uses.
His compassion had also grown. Revan had aligned with Czerka shortly after his creation yet, during their recent travels, possessed a hatred of them and their position on slavery. Perhaps some remaining Jedi influence was affecting his judgment.
"Hey, T3, could you empty one of those crates for me? I need these things taken to my quarters." Revan asked, placing the pile on a nearby crate.
T3 beeped in confirmation.
"Query: If you may spare me for a moment, Master, I have a routine security check to complete,"
"Of course, HK. When you are finished, report to my quarters. I will await you there." Revan dismissed him with a nod and focused on packing his things.
With his things stored in a plasteel cylinder, Revan had bid farewell to T3 and moved into the Swoop Hold. The bike he had procured on Taris, which had helped him win on Tatooine and Manaan, was still stored there, tended to by Canderous Ordo. The Daggerstar, coloured to match the rusted red of the Ebon Hawk and, accidentally, of HK, had little purpose now. Swoop races were not in Revan's future, and he planned to have it removed and stored somewhere, making room for any number of additions to the Hawk.
Canderous still tended to it now, as he always did. Between that and his work on adrenals, he was rarely idle.
"Canderous," Revan announced.
"Revan," Canderous replied.
"Do you have a moment? I believe we should talk,"
"Yeah, sure. Just finishing her up. Ready to be shipped off,"
"Shipped off, how did you…?"
"Not many Sith Lords go racing, do they?" Revan chuckled at Canderous's words. "What do you need?"
"You pledged yourself to me after the Leviathan, after Malak revealed my identity to us all. You followed me throughout Korriban as we navigated the Sith. I need to know your loyalty still stands after all this, in the position we find ourselves in,"
"You're Revan, and I'll follow you anywhere. That's what I said, remember? I knew what I was getting into, and I'm glad to be here. Beats working for Davik; you'll pay me what I deserve, right?"
"Right, especially after you've accepted a position amongst my senior military staff." Revan could not contain a slight smirk.
"What? You know that most everyone here hates my kind because of the Mandalorian Wars? Because they fought with you against me?"
"Do you think the soldiers we have fought will benefit from Mandalorian tactics and training?"
"Yes, but…"
"That settles it. Canderous Ordo, I hereby name you a Colonel of the Sith Army, with specifics to be worked out later. Your first duty is to attend a briefing with the rest of the senior military staff tomorrow morning." Revan held out his hand, and Canderous offered his, clasping them together in a handshake that moved into a chest bump.
"If that's where you need me, then that's where I'll go, but I'll warn you, I won't play nice with anyone, regardless of who's asking,"
"I wouldn't have it any other way,"
"And I'm not wearing one of those uniforms either. Even if my armour makes them angry, they should know a Mandalorian sits among them," Canderous wasn't surprised. Revan's ability to utilise the Republic's limited resources was legendary.
He couldn't completely hide his pride behind his anger. Revan had chosen him to lead part of his armies. With the war entering its next phase, both sides would need new tricks to have a fighting chance at survival. He learned that from Revan. Perhaps Mandalorian training would be the edge they needed.
"I wouldn't dream of taking your armour, Canderous. Or your gun, in case you're wondering," Revan jibed. "Now, I have a few more things left to do here, so I'll leave you to sort your affairs,"
"You planning on speaking to our other companions? The Cathar hasn't left the Storage Compartment since you came back from the Temple,"
"She is my next stop." And with that, Revan turned and left.
"Don't do this, kid. I don't want to, but I'll fight you if I have to. Even if it costs me my life," Jolee stated, full of regret and conviction.
"I am the Dark Lord of the Sith. You should bow down before me or run," Revan countered.
"A true Jedi will never bow down to the Sith. If this is your decision, I have no choice but to do battle against you," Juhani cried, belief backing her words.
"Kill them! Rend their flesh! Grind their bones into dust! Show them the fate of all who dare stand against us! Embrace the power of the dark side!" Bastila shouted, anger clouding her mind.
"No, I will reclaim my title, but I will not serve the dark side as I once did many years ago. I would prefer you bow," Revan calmly reasoned
"Why should we serve you, Revan? The Sith will destroy the galaxy in the same manner as Taris," Juhani spat.
"Because, Juhani, these Sith may destroy the galaxy, but I will not. All I seek is to defeat the Republic,"
"So why should we help you destroy the Republic? As Jedi, we are sworn to defend it,"
"Because the Republic is a stagnant beast labouring for breath, and the difference between the Jedi and the Sith will soon be nothing more than trivialities,"
"Such as?"
"The power to be with the one you love, Juhani,"
"What, how did you…?"
"Belaya is not as subtle as she believes, nor is she as dedicated to the Order as you think. Those two facts lead me to believe that bowing to the Sith is in your interest,"
"Why?"
"Because if you leave the Order, so will she, and under my rule, you would be free to be together as you have always desired,"
"I…I…"
"You have danced close to leaving the Jedi many a time. Now is the time to step out of their shadow and come into your own, together,"
"You… you have made me doubt myself once before, and it saved my life. You saved my life. After all we have done together, how can I refuse what you offer?"
"You should not. Join me and free the both of you,"
"I… I… Jolee, I'm sorry, but I must stand with them. For her. For a chance for us to be ourselves, together,"
"Jolee, you stand no chance against us all. You must bow or run. No more blood shall be spilt today," Revan begged.
"Damn you, Revan. The tales of your way with words have been proven right far too many times in our journey. I never believed you'd need to turn it against me." Jolee looked downcast and defeated.
"I'm sorry, old friend," Revan whispered.
"I'm sorry too. May the Republic bury you, your armada and all the Sith!"
Jolee ignited his sabre.
"Your words still haunt me," Juhani whispers as Revan opens the Storage Compartment, feline features averted.
"I know. They will haunt you for the rest of your days. As will your doubts. Only success will soothe what pains you now," Revan said, an unusual sense of familiarity flowing from the back of his mind as he spoke.
"You wish me to fight for you? For the Empire?" Juhani hissed.
"I want you to fight for her when the time comes. Wherever she may be,"
"Do you really believe she will fall? Or are you using her to buy you time to convince me in other ways?"
"She does not need to fall; she only needs to leave. The Sith are no longer an order of individuals who take pleasure in murder and torture,"
"How can you be so sure of that?"
"I will make it so, even if the three of us have to carve our way through all of them and start anew,"
"Noble words. We will see if you ever follow through with such a promise." Vitriol filled her voice.
"I suppose we shall. For now, you should prepare yourself for battle, for it will be upon us soon, in some form or another," Revan informed, to which Juhani simply nodded.
Being left with her thoughts, Juhani was weary. She could only repeat the Jedi Code so many times before it began to sound hollow. Perhaps it was always hollow. Right now, she couldn't tell. All her focus was on her goals: to find Belaya and convince her to leave the Jedi. What came next was up to fate.