Disclaimer: Meh. KotOR's not mine. Nor are the Elders, the Black Rakata, Mission, Canderous, Carth…well you get the idea.
Chapter Forty
By the time Aithne, Mission, and Canderous arrived outside of the Elder compound, all six of the others were already there. Carth came up to Aithne immediately.
"Elders," he said, cutting straight to the point as usual. "What do you mean? Who are these people? Have you been here before?"
Aithne grimaced. "One question at a time, Carth, please," she said. She turned to face the entire group. "Right. So it turns out that yes, I was here before as Revan. But in answer to the question that Jolee hasn't asked yet, no, I still don't remember these people or what happened when I was here."
Jolee chuckled softly, but he and Carth still looked worried. Aithne frowned.
"Then how do you know you have been here before?" Juhani asked.
"We got some parts from a tribe of cannibals up the beach," Canderous informed the group. "They had a prior understanding with Revan."
"Apparently these people can control the temple lock, but the Elders hold the knowledge," Aithne sighed.
"Last time Revan was here, she promised to kill off these Elders or whatever and bring their knowledge back to that other tribe," Mission said, trying with some effort to keep the judgment out of her voice.
"I didn't, though," Aithne said, somewhat defensively. "They're still here, and that electric defense is still working." She gestured at the pillars stood around the gateway to the Elder enclave. A fine line of electricity ran around them.
"She promised she'd kill them again to get away from those cannibals and their pet rancor-monsters," Canderous said.
Aithne prodded the dirt with the toe of her shoe, not looking at anyone. "I don't intend to kill anyone," she said quietly. "I intend to find all the parts we need, disable the disruptor field, and save Bastila. That's it. The only one I really want to kill in this entire quadrant is Malak."
"You alright, beautiful?" Carth asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"She doesn't like breaking her promise," Mission said. "Even if it was to a bunch of cannibals."
Jolee sighed. "Why must you always make things so hard on yourself, lass?"
Aithne swallowed. "I'm fine," she said, a bit too loudly. "I have to go inside and find out what mess I made when I was here last. Who wants to come?"
The moment the words left her mouth Aithne knew they were stupid. It turned out the entire crew wanted to come. But if Aithne didn't want to end up killing the entire compound, she couldn't very well go storming in with half an army. She was forced to choose her companions.
Aytchkay was not, under any circumstances, to come with her to negotiate peacefully with a tribe when there was the option to kill them all instead. Even if he didn't find some sort of loophole, phrasing her instructions to him and putting up with his complaints would be exhausting. Leaving him meant leaving either Jolee or Canderous to deal with him. In the end Aithne left them both, along with Teethree, Mission, and Zaalbar. Canderous led the group with the parts they'd recovered back to the ship. Teethree was going to begin repairing the Hawk.
Aithne stayed at the compound with Juhani and Carth. Carth's request to stay and help could not be denied, not now, and if Juhani was feeling up to spending time with her again, Aithne felt it could only be a good thing. The younger Jedi had been avoiding her for weeks, passing by in shamefaced silence.
As the others rounded the bend and walked out of sight, Aithne approached the columns. She stepped through the gateway with some trepidation. Something pulsed, and Aithne flinched. But they were not incinerated. Instead, a holographic projection of a Rakata appeared. He was dressed differently than the Rakata in the tribe of the One. His robes reminded Aithne of the Jedi, a little.
/You are not Rakata,/ he said in some surprise. /What is your business here, off-worlder?/
Beside her, Juhani seemed to focus for a moment, then her expression cleared as the Force within her processed and translated the Rakata tongue for her as well.
"These people are definitely more advanced than the others," Aithne murmured to her companions at the use of the word "off-worlder". She nodded politely at the holographic projection, and licked her lips. On a whim, she announced, "I seek the Star Forge."
Her voice rang out clear and confident, and the Rakata projection stepped back. Shock was written across its amphibious features. /You…you are Revan!/ it gasped. Aithne groaned. The projection looked over his shoulder and seemed to have a moment's discourse with someone. Then it looked back, blinking. /The Council wishes to speak with you,/ it said. /You may enter./
The electric field shut off, and the stone door slid up with a grumbling grind as old machinery worked. Aithne led the others inside. "Force," she muttered. "A Council wants to see us. That can't be good."
"I take it they know you?" Carth said.
"Apparently."
Aithne looked around. The interior of the Elder Enclave was clean and austere-looking. Rakata milled about. These Rakata were not the gray of the cannibals, but orange, and all dressed in those quasi-Jedi looking robes. Their teeth were intact. But Aithne blinked, and her skin crawled. She felt out, felt around, but they felt dead. There was no Force presence in these people. In any of them. She gripped Juhani's arm. "Juhani…"
The other woman shuddered. "I feel it, too," she said. "They are Force-blind, all of them. It is not possible."
Aithne frowned. She hadn't noticed it so clearly among the cannibals, because the rancor monsters had been around giving off their nasty Force signature, but the One had been so remarkable because he'd been the only Rakata that gave off any indication of being at all open to the Force. She turned to tell Juhani this, but just then, a Rakata came up and bowed to them.
"I think he's come to collect us," Juhani said. The Rakata motioned them to follow, and Aithne and the others did not argue.
The Rakata led them a little ways, into an open area shaped like a semicircle. Five Rakata hooded in white were waiting for them. They gazed at her coolly, and Aithne felt suddenly nervous.
The one in the center addressed her. /We of the Elder Council did not expect to see you again, Revan,/ he said. /We thought you had betrayed us. Why have you returned to our village after all this time?/
Behind her, Aithne heard Juhani whisper to Carth. "Aithne has indeed been here before. The Council addresses her as Revan, says she betrayed them, and ask of us why she has returned."
Aithne sighed. "I come here now because I came here then," she told them. "What did I want, years ago? What happened?"
/Is this some type of test, Revan?/ A Council member to the side demanded. /Some type of trick?/
The central council member interjected. /You came seeking our aid;/ he said with quiet dignity. /You came in search of a way to enter the Temple of the Ancients. You claimed to be seeking a way to destroy the Star Forge, and we were foolish enough to believe you./
Aithne's face fell. Behind her, Carth and Juhani frowned as she translated.
The Elder Council member continued. /Unaware of your true nature, we helped you enter the Temple. But you betrayed us, Revan. Instead of destroying the terrible legacy of our ancestors you unleashed the evil of the Star Forge on an unsuspecting galaxy. And now you stand before the Council of Elders once more and once more we ask you: for what reason have you returned, Revan?/
Aithne slumped. "Alright," she said. "Look. You seem nice enough. You're certainly smarter than the last set. Many things have happened since we met last, and the long and short of it is that I have no idea what happened last time. I don't remember you or what I did. And you're telling me this story now and all I can think of is how that sounds like something that Revan would do, but I'm not her anymore."
Carth beamed to her right, and Aithne took heart at his approval.
The Council was not convinced however. The one furthest on the right frowned. /Do you think we are fools, Revan? Do you think we have forgotten how you lied to us last time? Why should we believe you now?/
Aithne met him stare for stare, and then took in the entire Elder Council. "My mind was destroyed since last time. It has been rebuilt, but my memories were lost and my entire identity changed. I go by Aithne Morrigan now, and all I know about my past is what others tell me."
The central Elder considered. He looked at some of his companions. They nodded. /They say that the experiences of our past define us and make us what we are,/ he said carefully. /If it is true you have lost your memories, then perhaps you are changed. But how are we to know this is not some trick, Revan?/
"Aithne," Juhani said firmly to the Council. Aithne felt a rush of gratitude towards her.
/I've yet to see any evidence of it,/ the Council member replied, unruffled. /You say you are Aithne Morrigan, yet here on our world you repeat the pattern of your last visit. Like the last time, you have crashed here. Like last time, you have come seeking our help. How have you changed, Revan?/ He emphasized the name slightly. Aithne got the feeling he was daring her.
"I don't blame you for being suspicious," she said carefully. "I'm not sure I would trust me either. But if you give me a chance, you may judge me by my actions."
The Elder seemed to smile. Aithne got the feeling she had just walked headfirst into a trap. /We sense you mean the words you speak,/ the Elder said smugly. /But words are easy to say; it is actions that prove the true nature of your character. You must prove to us that you are not the same as you once were, Revan. You must prove that you have changed./
Aithne sighed. Since they had invited her in, they'd probably had this in mind. "What do you want me to do?" she asked quietly.
/Recently,/ one of the others said, /Several of our scouts were captured by the One. Most of them were brutally slaughtered, but we have information that one of the scouts is still alive. They will use unimaginable tortures to force the scout to reveal everything he knows about our tribe, and once the One is done with him, the scout will be executed like the others./
Aithne didn't doubt it. The One hadn't pretended any mercy or any decency towards the Elder tribe. Still, she didn't like where this was going.
The central Elder finished. /You must prove you have truly changed by risking your own life to save another. Rescue our scout from the clutches of the One, and we will consider helping you./
Aithne bit back a curse. She whirled around angrily, and paced in a rapid circle, running her hands through her hair until it stood up more crazily than usual. Blood pounded in her ears, and her face was hot. Finally she sighed, and turned back to the Council. "I'm going to end up slaughtering a tribe either way, aren't I?"
The Council regarded her without sympathy. /We would prefer if you could find some way to save the prisoner without bloodshed, but we don't believe that will be possible. The One does not like to negotiate./
"I'd noticed," Aithne said bitterly. "And if I save the prisoner, you'll help me?" This with a desperate plea in her voice.
The central Elder blinked. /Risking your life to save the prisoner would show us that you are sincere about making amends for the past,/ he said, not really answering the question.
"I made a vow to the other tribe, too," she said softly. "There isn't a good choice I can make here. Damn Revan!" Her voice broke, and Carth reached for her, but Aithne shook him off. "Fine!" she cried. "Fine! I'll help you," she told the Council angrily. A rogue tear slid down her nose.
/Return to us once he is free,/ the Council said imperiously. /Until then, you have free run of our Enclave./
The speaker made a gesture of dismissal. Aithne barely restrained herself from making a ruder gesture herself as she wheeled about. She stormed down the corridor.
"Really," she ranted to Carth and Juhani as they blew through the Elder Enclave. "Do I have 'heartless killer' written all over me, or something?" She kicked the wall viciously.
"Slow down, Aithne," Juhani said urgently. "Do not let your anger carry you away. Anger is…"
"Oh, leave the Dark Side lectures to Bastila!" Aithne snapped. "I don't care! In case you haven't noticed, I practically was the Dark Side! Besides, you're one to talk about anger."
Juhani blinked, and slowed her pace, hurt. Carth, however, quickened his pace, and caught Aithne's arm. "Hold it," he said. "That was out of line. She was just trying to help."
Aithne opened her mouth to say something particularly cutting, then closed it again. She closed her eyes, relaxing in Carth's grip. After a moment and a breath, she opened her eyes again. "You're right," she said in a quieter tone. She turned to Juhani. "Forgive me?" she asked.
"Of course," Juhani said softly. "You are right, you know. I am not one to talk to one such as you about anger." The words had a double meaning that Aithne caught immediately. She winced, then nodded.
"No one would no better than you how anger can lead to the Dark Side," Aithne said quietly. "Juhani- it has been a pleasure and an inspiration to watch you learning to control yourself- to watch you growing away from all that. I should listen to any wisdom that you have to offer. But you also probably understand why I'm kind of losing it right now."
Juhani smiled, a bit sadly. "There was a time when I would not have," she said. "And I admit, I still have trouble comprehending how a Jedi- how a woman such as you could have difficulties. But I am learning, Aithne. I am learning."
Aithne gripped her shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered.
Juhani nodded. "Despite your difficulties, you will do what is right in the end, I know." She turned away, and Aithne's hand fell to her side.
Carth looked from Aithne to Juhani and back to Aithne. He raised an eyebrow. Aithne pressed her lips together. "Come on, then."
The three of them continued down the corridor, at a slower pace. "You realize, Carth," Aithne said after a short, slightly awkward silence, "That these Rakata are probably the descendents of the Builders."
"The Builders?" Juhani inquired.
"They made the Star Forge," Aithne explained. "I don't know what happened to the 'Infinite Empire', but I'm willing to bet we'll find out, and soon."
"Is that what we're doing now?" Carth asked.
Aithne looked at him quizzically. Carth gestured behind him. "The Enclave exit is that way," he said mildly.
"Oh, ha-ha," Aithne said sarcastically, before realizing he was absolutely right. She stopped. Her eyes clouded, and then she began walking purposefully towards the back of the Enclave again.
"Memory?" Carth asked.
"Flesh," Aithne clarified. "My mind doesn't remember the sights, but my body remembers walking this way."
"Remind me not to take you to Coruscant," Carth joked. "You'd…"
"Probably drag you everywhere with no idea why I was going there," Aithne finished. "Yeah. It's annoying for me, too, you know."
"I find it interesting, myself," Juhani put in.
Aithne shot her a look, but said nothing. Aithne considered as they came to a fork in the corridor, and then she turned left. She stopped in front of a door, and looked down at a wrinkled old Rakata. This one was more slender than others she had seen, and the skin was a lighter shade of orange. Aithne got the feeling this was a female.
"Hello," she said, helping the Rakata to rise. "I don't know you, but I think I've been looking for you."
/Revan,/ the Rakata said. /Yes, the Council has told us what happened to you. I am Orsaa, Keeper of History for the Elder tribe./
Over the next hour or so, Aithne learned several things worth knowing. Historically speaking, she learned that the Rakata were indeed the descendents of the Builders, the last remnant of the Infinite Empire, a cruel one that fell when the Rakata genes mutated and Force Sensitivity was bred out of their species. They had been particularly strong in the Dark Side of the Force, she noted. The Elders in particular were descended from the priest caste of Rakata, the only ones that remembered technology and history truly. They repented of the sins of their forefathers, and were desperately trying to keep the knowledge of evil from tribes such as that of the One, who would abuse it.
Of more immediate import was that the disruptor field keeping the Ebon Hawk earthbound and threatening the approaching Republic Fleet could indeed be brought down from inside the Temple of the Ancients. But an energy barrier kept all the Force-blind out. The Elders were able to lower this barrier by a ritual chant passed down from their ancestors, but they could not enter the temple themselves. More gravely, the barrier could also be raised and lowered from inside the temple. When Revan had gone in with Malak, her apprentice had gained access to this technology, and the long and short of it was that the Temple of the Ancients now crawled with Malak's Dark Jedi.
Aithne thanked Orsaa and rose from her position on the floor, groaning a bit. Behind her, Carth and Juhani stretched.
"That was most informative," Juhani remarked as the three of them turned towards the exit.
"It was," Aithne agreed. She checked her chrono, scowling. "We have just time enough to visit the One's tribe and rescue that scout before supper."
"Will you really feel like eating?" Carth asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Aithne reached up and held his hand there for a moment, before squeezing and letting go. "No, but let's not discuss it. Should we call in a few of the others? The Rakata on the north beach really idolize the One, and he's not going to let the prisoner go without a fight."
Carth's face was heavy and lined as they left the Enclave together. Finally, he seemed to make a decision. "Call Canderous," he said reluctantly. "Have him bring Jolee and that psycho droid of yours. If we're going to slaughter a tribe we might as well do it right."
"I shouldn't have the rest of them come?" Aithne asked lightly.
"You don't want to bring Mission and Zaalbar into this," Carth replied. "And Teethree needs to fix the ship."
"Carth, I don't want to bring us into this," Aithne snapped.
"It will be fine," Juhani said. "The task is distasteful, but necessary."
Aithne almost yelled at her again. But Juhani was only trying to make her feel better, and she was right, even if the task was a good deal more than merely 'distasteful'. Aithne brought up her com-link. "Canderous, come in," she said.
The Mandalorian's scarred face appeared on the communicator. "Yeah? What do you need?"
"We're slaughtering a tribe after all," she said tightly. "Get Jolee and Aytchkay. Meet us on the path leading to the north beach."
Canderous said, "Affirmative," in a voice flat, so she couldn't tell exactly what he thought of it. "Over and out."
Aithne's jaw was tight on the way over to the cannibal tribe. This whole business just made her feel dirty and deceptive. It made her feel like Revan. She greeted Jolee, Aytchkay, and Canderous with a nod, and flinched when Aytchkay went on about how excited and grateful he was to the master for letting him participate in a real bloodbath at last.
They were met outside the One's camp by several Rakata and rancor-beasts.
/Halt, interloper!/ they cried. /We have observed you! You are a servant of the Elders! By order of the One you must die!/
Aithne's mouth twisted bitterly. The Rakata weren't even going to make things difficult for her. She nodded to the others, and they all attacked as one.
They were unstoppable. On Aithne's left, Juhani sprang lightly from rancor to rancor, dispatching the monsters with a grace and efficiency that somewhat surprised her. Aithne was vaguely and dispassionately conscious of dancing through the Rakata defense to slice them in two herself. She heard the hiss as her lightsabers met Rakata guts. She saw one open its filthy mouth wide in a scream of rage, only to receive a bolt from Canderous' big gun that blew his face beyond recognition.
Aithne stepped over the bodies. She felt numb and slightly sick as she led the party into the Enclave.
These aren't my enemies! This isn't my fight! screamed something inside of her spirit. Aithne ignored it. She cut down Rakata males, females, even young that got in her way as she advanced to the chambers of the One. She herself remained untouched, as did her companions. Jolee knocked Rakata aside with a Force Wave and Aytchkay shot them down with gleeful battle cries as they made their way along the corridor directly adjoining the One's chamber.
He stood there, with a guard. Maybe six elite warriors. Maybe seven. It didn't matter. They all would die.
/The Black Rakata shall never fall to you!/ he cried, his jaw working furiously with his gravelly language. But fear and resignation lurked in his eyes as Aithne approached, lightsabers whirling.
She wondered in some detached part of her brain how she could have possibly forgotten to ask Orsaa what these people called themselves. Not that it will matter after today, she thought, even as the One released four full-grown rancors.
The battle was a flurry of attack and defense. Instantaneous, emotionless, automatic reactions. The soldiers of the Ebon Hawk fought as a seamless team. They knew one another's every move and weakness. Juhani and Canderous, the two strongest, most practiced fighters, focused their weapons on the rancors. Aytchkay fired his blaster rifle rapidly, letting out exclamations of glee that sickened Aithne. Jolee concentrated Force attacks on those the assassin droid struck down, but did not kill. Aithne herself battled in the middle of the Rakata. Carth stood at her back as he always did, guarding her, shooting the rancor that would have come up on Aithne in its eye. Aithne felt a wave of appreciation for him. Even now as they committed this terrible crime Carth stood with her.
She came face to face with the One, the only Rakata she had seen to have any sensitivity at all to the Force, though his aura was dark with evil and power-lust. She felt a kinship to him. As they fought, a lone tear burned a freezing path down her stone-hard face.
"You had to know you didn't have a chance," she whispered to him as she thrust a lightsaber through his chest. His eyes, glassing over, looked at her with hatred. "Forgive me," she said.
Then there was silence. All around, bodies lay sprawled- rancor and Rakata. An open rancor-prison contained more Rakata corpses.
But these were Elder, orange-skinned and impaled upon stakes. Save one. The lone survivor knelt on the dirt floor. Whitish blood leaked from his numerous wounds. Aithne walked over to him wearily. She helped him to his feet, willing the Force through him to give him strength.
/You…/ he rasped, /you have saved me from the savages and their war-beasts./
Aithne fought an urge to vomit. "Yes. Your life for this entire tribe. The Council seemed to think it a good idea. They sent me."
/I don't know what I could have done if you had not come,/ the Elder scout confessed. /I suppose I would be dead now, like the others they captured with me./
Aithne sighed, unable to hate the scout despite herself. "There's been enough death," she said quietly.
/Thank you for saving me,/ the Elder continued. /I shall attempt to return to the Enclave on my own./
He released her hand, and staggered a step away. Aithne stopped him. "Hey. Hold it. You're in bad shape."
The Elder shook his head, and moved to go again. Aithne nodded at Juhani and Carth.
"Look, if you're determined to go off on your own, at least take a medpac and a blaster. Rancors are everywhere out there."
Juhani handed him a medpac without a word, and Carth similarly gave him a blaster, one of some half-dozen ordinary spares they had.
The Elder took them, and turned to Aithne. /Again, Thank you. I will tell the Council of what you have done./
Aithne's friends parted to allow the scout, now walking a bit steadier, to depart. He moved through the Black Rakata bodies and the silence, and Aithne watched him go, feeling an incredible bitterness well up inside of her.
"Go," she said softly, fiercely to the others.
"Morrigan," Canderous began.
"Go!" she cried out angrily. Doubtfully, he turned, leading the others away, back towards the ship. Aithne didn't watch them.
Numbly, she sank down in the center of the floor, among the corpses of a once great tribe, the war-like descendants of the Infinite Empire.
Aithne felt out for the Force, felt out for life; but all around her, there was only death. Above her head, far, far away through the atmosphere of the planet she felt the legions of the Sith swarming. Their hatred pressed in upon her in a concentrated, overwhelming wave of malice. There, too, she felt a great, disinterested, ancient evil. She knew it must be the Star Forge. She retreated into herself, fleeing from the darkness, but there was no refuge. The hatred and loss were a sea about her. The emptiness of the Black Rakatan Enclave rose up to mock her, and Aithne knew the slaughter she had led today would always be a part of her. The promise she had broken, the murders she had committed, would follow her for an eternity.
And it wasn't just this battleground. Corpses stretched across the galaxy with the marks of Aithne Morrigan's blade on them. Animals. Exchange thugs. Gang members. Sith. Businessmen. Sons, daughters, sisters, brothers.
And though Aithne had killed dozens, the stench of death didn't even end there. The trail went further back, the list of crimes went on for ages. The only thing that changed was the name. How many hundreds had died because of her, because of Revan? How many thousands? The Sith above: all that hatred and darkness had collected to her banner. This whole miserable war was her fault. And she would carry that around on her shoulders until the end of time.
Her heart rose into her throat and threatened to choke her. She breathed in dust and death and thought she might suffocate. But then, just as the guilt and despair threatened to drown her, she felt a vibrant presence just behind her. Confidence, hope, and sympathy emanated from him. Aithne wanted to turn, to throw herself into his arms, but instead she drew her knees up to her chest, ashamed by how much she needed him.
"I thought I told you to go," she said. She didn't look at Carth.
"I'm not leaving until you are," Carth replied. He sank down to sit beside her in what would be the graveyard of the Black Rakata, until their pride and their evil and their hunger sank into the abyss of time.
He was waiting for her, there for her, and she couldn't stop herself. Through the Force, Aithne clung to Carth. She held on to his protectiveness, to his courage, to his strength. Somewhere far off, she realized that Carth Onasi was no longer a broken man.
So she turned to him. She looked into his eyes, and accepted the comfort he offered as a gift, a grace she didn't deserve. She fell into his waiting arms and clung to him physically, as if he were the only thing holding her to reality. She trembled. Perhaps he was. The darkness sang around her and through her. It still called from the slaughtered bodies here, taunted her from the trail of crimes leading all the way back into oblivion. But in Carth's arms, Aithne rejected it, at least for a while.
After a little time had passed, Aithne was able to rise. Carth stood with her. Hand in hand, walking slowly and with the proper respect, they left the Black Rakata compound and made their way back to the Elders. They were ushered in front of the Council as evening drew nigh.
/Revan,/ the central council member addressed her. /You are back. Our scout has told us of how you rescued him. His injuries are severe, but we believe he will survive. We are grateful for what you have done./
"That's nice," Aithne said. "You're grateful that I took on your battle so that you may pretend that you've risen above your heritage. You're grateful that I slaughtered them for you. Scores of them. For one of your own." She knew that it was unwise to speak so clearly. She knew she was probably insulting them. But she couldn't help it. "It still was wrong, your gratitude notwithstanding. The Black Rakata were a cannibalistic, bloodthirsty people, and yet I mourn their deaths, and the loss my honor has sustained for the promise I broke to them, if yet I retain any honor to lose." She swallowed and looked up into the Council's dry and scaly faces, confronting them with what they had ordered. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. "Please say that you will help me."
The Council looked at one another. /Risking your life to save our scout seems to prove that you have changed significantly since the last time you were here…Aithne,/ one said, bowing to her a little.
Another spoke up in a harsher tone. /But you have deceived us before. We must discuss this in greater detail. We must have some privacy. We will return when our deliberations are done./
Without another word the Council filtered out. Aithne laughed helplessly, spreading her hands. "They're still thinking about it," she told Carth. "After all that."
"They'll help us," he told her solidly. "They have to. The Republic…" His face betrayed his worry for the army probably even now on its way.
Aithne nodded in agreement. The two stood there in silence, waiting for the verdict. It was not too long in coming. Twenty minutes later the Elder Council returned.
/Aithne Morrigan,/ one addressed her. /You have rescued a member of our tribe from the One at great personal risk to yourself. We believe this action…and the remorse you have shown for the necessary bloodshed it accompanied, shows that you have truly changed since your last visit here. The Council has decided we will help you once again./
Aithne broke out into a smile of relief. "Carth, they're going to help us," she said breathlessly. Carth's face remained stoic.
/Wait to celebrate until they've told us what their 'help' involves,/ he said, surprising her by speaking in Mandalorian. She stuffed down her surprise, though, and looked back at the Elder Council. He was right.
The Council went on to explain again what Orsaa had already told them before. The Elders, being Force blind, could not enter the Temple of the Ancients themselves. Nor could Aithne, without the ritual chant they offered, hope to enter and destroy the Star Forge without their help. /You need us as much as we need you,/ they told her seriously.
"Given," Aithne answered tersely. The lead-up was going to a condition, she thought. Something she wouldn't want to hear. "Go on."
/For our own sake, and that of the entire galaxy, we hope you truly mean to atone for your past evils,/ a Council member said. /When you are ready, Aithne, we will take you to the Temple. But the Temple is a place of sacred power. If you are to enter, you must do so alone, in the tradition followed by our Rakata ancestors for the past thousand generations./
Aithne's eyes flashed. She turned to Carth. "They're going to take me to the Temple," she said angrily. "But they want me to go alone."
Carth began to protest, but Aithne cut him off, turning back to the Elders. "Why do I have to go alone?" she demanded. "Your Keeper of History informed me there are Dark Jedi."
The Elders' faces were hard. /When you were last here, we broke the ancient tradition,/ they said. /We allowed you and your apprentice to enter the Temple together, and you unleashed untold suffering upon the galaxy./
Aithne opened her mouth to argue. The central council member held up a claw. /We believe you truly wish to destroy the Star Forge this time,/ he said. /But the lesson of the past is not easily forgotten. We will not defile the sacred ritual a second time; only you alone may enter./
Aithne bit her lip. It seemed almost appropriate, she thought, upon reflection. Dark Jedi or no Dark Jedi, she had entered the Temple three years ago as Revan, defiling tradition and breaking two vows. She returned now as Aithne, but she was still paying for Revan's crimes with every breath she took in. And so was everyone else, she thought wryly.
So when she looked up, a moment later, she dropped Carth's hand. "I…I understand," she said quietly, but firmly. "I will meet your ritual speakers at the Temple at dawn. Alone."
"Aithne, you can't!" Carth cried.
The Elder Council cut him off with a gesture of dismissal. /So be it./
Aithne turned away to make her way back to the Hawk. "I can do this, Carth," she told the pilot firmly, walking ahead of him. "I can and I will. This is my wrong to right." As she said the words, her vision came to her with new force. Red on black on blue. There was an emptiness at the top of the Rakatan Temple, an openness in her destiny, and a presence. There was a presence waiting for her. Soon.
Carth caught up to her. "Don't do this, Aithne," he pleaded. "You don't have to do this alone."
Aithne ignored him and moved ahead again. The wind moved through her hair and whispered of change. Restlessness surged through her bones. The Republic was coming. The war would end, one way or another. And it would all hinge on tomorrow.
A/N: Rewriting this story, there have been several fundamental character shifts in Aithne. Partly, it's because the main character in any RPG is largely self-generated. I've changed in the year and a half since I first wrote this. I also think I'm a more sensitive and realistic writer.
The first time around, Aithne didn't ACT like a general, or a twenty-eight/-nine year old woman. She acted, for the most part, like a fifteen year old smartmouth. Her reactions were hardly ever appropriate to the situation, she often did exactly what she charged Trask with doing in Chapter One and rushed in without thinking, and she was inconsistent as a character: callous and compassionate by turns.
This time I think I've handled Revan a little better. She's gotten a lot more serious. She doesn't recover from things as easily as before and is consistently more compassionate and consistently more calculating. She still can be childish at times. Sometimes she still holds a grudge or speaks out of turn. And she's still about as artless when it comes to romance as anyone could possibly be, and more clueless and awkward than most people could believe. But those were always the flaws I built into the character. Anyway, I'm glad I rewrote this, for her sake.
On other fronts, this is the first time in the story that Carth has been shown to be completely well. It just gets better for him as the plot moves ahead. The big confession comes up in Chapter Forty-Two, as does the first AU turn, but Bastila makes HER reappearance next chapter. I've missed her.
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and I apologize for the wait. Your reviews, as ever, are very much appreciated.
May the Force Be With You,
LMSharp