A/N: Revised 6/8/21
Jedi Lost
The Leviathan
"Sir, we have the Ebon Hawk caught in the tractor beam." Lieutenant Felis informed Admiral Saul Karath, who nodded approvingly.
"Excellent work, Lieutenant." Karath said as he entered in a series of commands on the holotable and waited.
Silence fell.
A moment later, the holotable flashed to life as Darth Malak's holo image loomed over them.
Karath dropped to one knee. "My lord. The Ebon Hawk has been taken into custody as you commanded."
"Ahhh, very good, Admiral." Malak's metallic voice carried across the bridge. "And its crew?"
"They are being brought on board as we speak, my lord." Karath stated.
"Excellent, Admiral." Malak's eyes narrowed. "What of...Dantooine?"
"It is done, my lord. Nothing remains of the Jedi enclave and the settlement found there but smoke and ashes."
"Very good, Admiral. You may make Grand Admiral yet."
#
Ashla stole a peek at Carth, who was in the force suppression cage on the other side of Bastila. His calm outward demeanor was a stark difference from the contained anger she felt steaming off of him.
Ashla took a calming breath and tried to ease the turmoil grinding within her.
The Ebon Hawk had been pulled inside of one of the hangar bays of the Leviathan, and they had been boarded soon thereafter. Juhani managed to activate her stealth belt just before the Sith troopers boarded and took them into custody.
Now, the Cathar woman was their only hope of escape.
Ashla closed her eyes and reached out to the Force to check on Juhani, but the suppression cage severely limited her use of the Force, leaving her all but powerless.
Footsteps thudded down the corridor, heading their way. She braced herself as an older Imperial officer who looked oddly familiar to her. He glanced at her quickly before cutting his eyes over to Carth.
"Carth, my old friend. You have seen better days," he said smugly.
"You let me out of this cage, Saul, and it might just be the best day I've had in a long time." Carth snarled.
Saul…
Ashla steeled her emotions, letting a blank mask fall over her features. So, this was the man who fueled Carth's desire for revenge, she thought as she remained silent.
Saul shrugged nonchalantly. "Still holding onto that grudge, I see. Did I teach you nothing? Casualties are a part of war, remember?"
Carth suppressed the wild surge of anger that threatened to overtake him. "Casualties? What you did was a cowardly act of betrayal! Your fleet bombed civilians! Their blood is on your hands, you frackin' bastard!"
"It was unavoidable. The Sith would not accept me until I gave them proof that I had turned my back on the Republic fully." Saul stated calmly as he stared at Ashla, who met his gaze and held it until he was forced to look away.
Carth's eyes narrowed to thin slits. "My wife died that day, Saul. Once I'm out of here, I swear, by the Force, I will kill you."
Saul paled slightly before he regained his composure. He tugged his uniform back into place. "Cling to your thoughts of revenge if you must, Carth. It will not matter in the end. You are merely a supporting character in these events. Darth Malak is much more interested in your companions here. He has great plans for them both."
Bastila's eyes opened. Her voice was calm and soothing. "We will never serve the Sith, or the dark side, Karath! The Sith will soon be destroyed. As will you, if you do not turn away from this path."
Saul walked over to Ashla's torture cage and tapped on the glass, before turning to Bastila. "Hm, such conviction. It is commendable, really, especially coming from one so young. I have heard that the lure of the dark side is difficult to resist. I do wonder… Is your companion as devoted to the light as you are, young Bastila?" He cut a sideways glance in Ashla's direction.
Ashla gave him a pointed look. "I walk in the light. I will not be swayed by the darkness."
"Truely, lady?" Saul chuckled. "I'm sure Malak will find that quite amusing."
He walked closer to her cage. His breath fogged up the glass in front of her. "I should kill you right now, and save my lord the hassle. I'm sure I would be greatly rewarded." He paused as his words sunk in, but the woman continued to stare at him in defiance. "However, Lord Malak will want to question you, especially considering all the trouble you've caused him… that, and your shared history together."
Saul noticed a flicker of confusion in the woman's brown eyes before she hid it away.
"What are you talking about, Karath? I have never crossed paths with Darth Malak before." Ashla said as she focused on controlling her emotions.
"Is that so?" Saul chuckled in amusement. At her silence, his laughter faded. "Oh, I never would have believed this is actually true."
Saul took note of the quick furtive glances his former student shared with the woman in front of him. "Tsk tsk, this just keeps getting better and better." He murmured to himself. "I shall not deprive Lord Malak of the pleasure of telling you himself. He is in another sector, but make no mistake - he is on his way as we speak." He backed away from the torture cage. "I suppose I will have to fill in for him until he arrives. Activate the torture fields."
Her body felt as if it was suddenly on fire. A scream erupted from her as she exploded in pain. Beside her, Bastila and Carth cried out as the torture fields were activated in their cells.
"Enough." Saul raised his hand toward the trooper stationed at the control panel. "I need them conscious if I am to question them before Lord Malak arrives. He will be appreciative of any information I can glean from them."
Bastila raised her chin haughtily. "Save your questions, Karath. We will not answer anything," she said breathlessly.
Saul nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, perhaps you will not, young Bastila. However, we both know that your friend's loyalty has been somewhat… flexible in the past."
Carth pressed his lips tightly together as he cut his eyes over to Bastila.
She returned his look with one of her own that clearly read not now.
Ashla's unease deepened when Bastila refused to meet her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Saul glared at her. His hands curled into fists at his side. "I am asking the questions here, not the other way around!"
Ashla's mouth was set in a thin line as she tried to calm herself. She risked a quick glance in Carth's direction. Her worry for him intensified as she could feel his anger coming closer to the boiling point.
Once more, Saul noted the quick glances between the two of them. Interesting, he thought as a plan formulated, one he thought he would test to see if his hunch was true.
"I suggest we test and see exactly where your loyalties lie, lady. Although, I doubt torturing you will prove worth my time. I sense that your will is much too strong to be broken in such a manner. No, I think that even the strongest of people would find it difficult to watch those they care about suffering."
Her eyes widened in fear as the meaning behind Saul's words began to sink in.
Saul nodded as he saw the understanding dawn in the woman's eyes. "The interrogation will begin now. Each time you give me a false answer, Carth will suffer. Should you refuse to answer, Carth will suffer."
Carth's eyes softened as he tried to reassure her. "Don't tell him anything, beautiful. My pain is meaningless."
Saul gave a light chuckle. "How touching. I wonder, will you continue to feel this way after a few moments? Hmph. We shall see, Carth." He motioned to the trooper at the controls before turning back to Ashla. "Now, where is the location of the Jedi Academy in which you were trained?"
Ashla shot Carth a look of apology as she remained silent.
"Your silence will only bring him pain." Saul motioned for the activation of Carth's torture field.
Ashla squeezed her eyes shut as Carth's screams filled the room.
"I'll ask again. Where is the location of the Jedi Academy?"
She heard Carth's breath come in quickly as he panted, "don't tell him anything!" She hung her head as she refused to answer.
"Your devotion to him is touching, lady, but I wonder… would it be the same if the roles were reversed? I grow tired of these games. Tell me the location of the Jedi Academy and his pain will end!" Saul demanded. He motioned for the trooper to activate the torture fields again.
Carth's screams shook her. A sob threatened to escape from her tightly clenched lips.
"Very well. This first question was only a test. I see you remain stubborn. Obviously, Malak knew the training facility was on Dantooine. It has been destroyed by our fleet, like Taris. Nothing of it remains but ruins."
Ashla's voice shook from emotion. "You'll pay for what you have done today, Karath."
Saul grasped his hands behind his back. "Oh, is that so? I highly doubt that, lady. Nothing but idle threats from an insecure little girl calling herself a woman."
Ashla held her head high as she felt her anger boil up to the surface. She pushed it back down as she sought to remain calm. She stole a quick look over at Carth, who was doubled over and breathing fast but otherwise unharmed… for the moment.
"Now, tell me. What is your mission and how were the Jedi planning on using you to stop our Lord Malak and the Sith armada?"
Ashla pressed her hands against the glass as she pressed her lips tightly together.
"Your silence is just causing him more pain. Answer the question!" Saul shouted between clenched teeth.
Carth's screams rang out. She trembled as she fought back tears. I'm so sorry.
Saul shook his head. "Lady, you can cease his torment by simply answering the question. What is your mission?"
Ashla raised her tear stained eyes to Bastila, who refused to meet her gaze. She swallowed as she stole a glance at Carth, who was hunched over with his hands pressed against the glass. He shook his head at her.
His message was clear.
Her eyes squeezed shut. "I will not betray the Jedi, nor the Republic."
"Is that so, lady?" Saul gave a derisive laugh.
She heard Carth's screams again. A tear slid down her cheek as she heard him ask for mercy before passing out. She peeked at Carth through her eyelashes to see him still standing, thanks to the stasis fields having been activated, though his arms hung listlessly at his sides.
"You are a sick and twisted man, Karath." She said coldly as she raised her head and locked her cold gaze with his.
"Yes, well, I did learn from one of the best." Saul sighed deeply. "I can see we are getting nowhere. Perhaps you will be more amiable when Lord Malak arrives. I think you'll find that you'll wish I was your interrogator instead of Lord Malak. I am told I am considered merciful compared to the tactics other Sith employ."
Saul motioned for the trooper to activate the torture fields once more. It was as if a thousand needles pressed into her flesh at once. Their screams echoed through the room.
#
"Is that all you've got?" Ashla mocked the interrogator.
The sound of her mocking laughter cut through Carth's senses as he opened his bloodshot eyes.
Her laughter was cut off sharply, replaced by screams.
In the cage between them, Bastila stood unconscious in the stasis field holding her upright. He felt a wave of dizziness take him as blackness engulfed him again.
The blackness faded as he became aware of his surroundings. He could hear Ashla screaming again. He risked opening his eyes to see her leaning against the glass cage, whimpering slightly as blood tickled out of her nose. She let out a bloodcurdling scream as the torture cage was activated once more.
He hated the helpless feelings rising up inside of him. Again, someone he cared about was being hurt, and he was powerless to do anything about it or stop it. He watched in dismay as Ashla passed out. Her body shook violently as the guard kept activating the torture field.
Carth banged on the glass. "Stop! Stop it! Can't you see she passed out?!"
The Sith guard responded by flipping a single switch. Carth screamed as the electric current ravaged his body and blackness claimed him.
#
She dreamt... Her troubled eyes gazed out over the ocean as the tide came rolling in. Gray clouds hovered in the horizon. Her boot touched something in the sand. She glanced down and saw something dark sticking up. Reaching down, she brushed the sand away revealing an old black and red Mandalorian mask.
Ashla's head jerked back as she woke suddenly. She half expected to see the old black and red mask dangling from her fingertips but when she looked down, they were empty.
"Easy," Carth said gently as he lifted her down out of the torture cage and lowered her onto the floor.
"Jolee, did you find any medpacks in that bin?" Carth asked as he wiped the damp cleansing cloth over her face to remove the dried blood from her nose and mouth. He looked up as he heard Jolee's footsteps coming closer.
"Carth, move aside." Jolee said as he plunged the kolto syringe into Ashla's thigh.
Ashla sighed as the kolto flowed through her body. Her head rolled slowly in Carth's direction. The sound of his voice, still rough and raw from screaming, brought the interrogation flooding back. She whimpered softly, guilt ridden for all the pain she had caused him.
"Hey, it's okay, beautiful. I'm alright. See?" Carth said as he brushed her hair off her face.
"Don't try to move quickly, Ashla." Bastila was saying she, Canderous and Mission came back into the detention area carrying their belongings. "You're not fully recovered yet."
Ashla felt as if they were speaking to her through a fog. Her head felt swollen and there was a constant ringing in her ears.
"Ash, how are you feeling? They continued to torture you even after you passed out. They tortured us all, although you seemed to have gotten the worst of it." Carth shuddered. "Saul has turned into some kind of… sadist monster."
"Saul has been perverted by the dark side. His lust and greed for power has consumed him, Carth." Bastila said gently. "I fear he may be lost forever."
Ashla coughed as she tried to speak. Her throat was as raw as when she spoke Shyriiwook. "No one is beyond redemption, Bastila."
Bastila gave her a weak smile. "I suppose you are right. I… I think I am just taking the news of Dantooine's destruction hard. First Taris, now Dantooine… Is there no end to the killing?" Bastila's usual calm and steady voice trembled with emotion.
"It's hard to believe that they are all gone. There was no disturbance in the Force, like I felt when Taris was destroyed." Ashla said mournfully.
"The fact that we did not disturbed me greatly. The darkness is growing, casting its shadow over the light. I only hope that some of the masters were able to escape." Bastila replied, sadly.
Carth knelt beside her. "None of that is going to matter if we can't find some way to escape before Saul comes back. Ash, are you feeling well enough to stand? We have to get moving."
She nodded as Carth and Jolee helped stand her up. She looked around the room through blurry eyes. Juhani had done it, she thought, as she saw her crew members lined up around her.
Canderous dumped her robes onto the floor in front of her. "Better get dressed, Ash. Unless you want to run around this boat in your skivvies."
Her hands shook as she picked up her robe out of the pile and slipped it around her. She noticed the others were already dressed and were gearing up. She wavered as she finished getting dressed. Guilt swept over her as Carth handed her lightsabers to clip onto her belt.
"Carth, I…" Not caring that everyone was watching, she reached up and caressed his cheek. He pulled her in close as he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's alright, Ash. I have to confess though," Carth whispered in her ear so no one else would hear. "There was a moment - a brief moment - where I wished you would tell him what he wanted to know, just to make the pain stop."
She pulled back slightly to look up at him. "I'm so sorry, Carth...you know I'd never do anything to hurt you, right?"
He reached up and brushed his fingertips along her bruised cheekbone. "I know that, beautiful. You had no choice. You couldn't betray our mission or the Republic. I honestly don't know if I could have been as strong. Watching you suffer like that…"
Canderous interrupted. "Hey, as sweet as this is, we've got to get a move on," He said gruffly. "You two can finish this up back on the ship."
Carth nodded as he pulled away.
Saul. The time had come. He'd finally get his revenge on the man who took his family away from him.
#
They broke into two teams.
One larger team to make it back to the ship and a one smaller team to sneak to the bridge to release and open the hanger docking bay doors.
Ashla was glad she had thought to use the stimulants as she, Bastila and Carth fought their way to the bridge.
"Damn intruder protocols." Carth grumbled. "They've sealed the bridge doors shut. It's locked tight."
Bastila sighed wearily as she looked around for another way into the bridge. Ashla still had both her lightsaber hilts in her hands while she waited.
"We'll have to space walk around the outside of the ship to bypass this locked corridor." Carth muttered.
"We don't have time to space walk," Ashla said as she ignited her lightsaber and plunged it into the door, midway where she sensed the locking mechanism. She pushed the blade in deeper while turning the hilt. Sparks flew as the plasma began melting the door. "Bastila, push the doors open with the Force! Hurry!"
Carth stepped back as molten metal spilled onto the floor. Beside him, Bastila closed her eyes in deep concentration as she pictured the doors in her mind. Her hand waved to the side sharply as the doors opened.
Ashla pulled the shoto lightsaber off her belt. The white blade howled to life as they pressed forward to the bridge.
#
Saul Karath knelt before the holo image flickering above him.
"What couldn't wait until I arrived, Admiral."
"My lord, the interrogation failed to produce any results. It seems she is still just as stubborn as she ever was, my lord." Saul stated. His voice threatened to betray his calm exterior when he spoke next, "also, a new development has risen. The crew members of the Ebon Hawk have escaped. They are still on board the Leviathan, however." Saul closed his eyes as he waited for Malak's wrath to descend upon him. He flinched as Malak's laughter echoed across the bridge.
"I will take care of them when I arrive shortly, Karath." Malak said darkly. "I am not surprised you were unable to detain her. I will deal with your failure later."
Saul swallowed the lump that was lodged in his throat as the holo image of Darth Malak blinked out.
#
Foreboding slithered down Ashla's spine as they stood before the door to the bridge. She fought to calm her emotions but it was proving difficult with the anger rolling off of Carth in waves. With a wave of her hand, the doors to the bridge swept open with a quiet swoosh.
Saul Karath turned to greet them.
"Ah, Carth. Very resourceful, as always. I assumed you had some part in this? Learned your lessons well from me, did you?" Karath said haughtily.
Ashla's brows furrowed together in confusion. Karath spoke in riddles, ones that she could not puzzle out.
Beside her, Carth fumed. "The only thing I learned from you was betrayal, Saul."
Ashla reached out with the Force to Bastila, but the younger Jedi had shut her out.
"Come now. I'm giving you all a chance to surrender. A chance to live. Darth Malak himself should be arriving any moment." Saul said as he pulled his blaster out of the holster sitting on his hip.
Bastila ignited her double lightsaber. The snap-hiss of the blade flaring to life was loud in the silence of the bridge. "Carth, I feel a cold presence getting closer. He speaks the truth. I fear Darth Malak is on his way."
Saul motioned for the dark Jedi stationed on the bridge to move in closer to the three. "If you lay down your arms, I will ask that the dark lord show you mercy, Carth."
Carth activated his echani shield on his forearm. "I've seen enough of Sith mercy, Saul."
Saul's face tightened with anger. "Very well. You always liked to do things the hard way."
Ashla leapt at the closest dark Jedi before her. Their sabers clashed, her white and blue blades sparked against the crimson red blades.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Carth advancing on Saul while Bastila immobilized the other dark Jedi. The dark Jedi before her crumbled at her feet as she leapt across the bridge towards the elite Sith trooper aiming at Carth. She reached out with the Force and pulled the terminal closest to her loose. With a wave of her hand, she sent it flying into the Sith trooper.
Carth continued to send a barrage of blaster fire into Saul, who faltered as his shielding failed. Ashla gathered the Force around her and sent it plowing into the Admiral, who tumbled over backwards.
She rushed over to the computer terminal to release the docking bay doors on the hangar bay.
Saul gasped for breath as he called out for Carth.
Beside her, Bastila turned her head in the Admiral's direction. "The Admiral. He's still alive."
The docking bay doors now open, Ashla pushed away from the terminal to see Carth taking aim at the fallen Admiral. "Carth! No, don't give into your hate!"
The blaster in Carth's hand shook slightly. "Don't you understand what this man has done to me? The pain he has brought me?!"
Slowly, she approached him as she clipped her lightsabers back onto her belt. "You know I do, but...Carth, doing this won't bring her back. It won't ease your pain!"
"Carth," Saul coughed and blood trickled out of the corners of his mouth. "Carth… come closer."
Carth frowned as he leaned down close so the dying man could whisper in his ear. He paled as a shock wave tore through him.
Cough… cough… "haha, you didn't know, did you?" Saul said as he gasped for air. "Remember, Carth… remember my dying words as you look upon her… cough, cough… when you look at the ones you thought were your friends..."
"Saul!" Carth yelled as he grabbed the fallen Admiral by the collar. No, this can't be true… He stumbled backwards. "He's gone...No, this… can't be true…" The woman he was falling in… "Damn you, Saul!"
"Carth? What did he say?" Ashla asked as she moved closer to him. He backpedaled away from her.
He drew in a shaky breath. "Bastila, it's true… isn't it? You knew! You and the whole damn Jedi Council! This whole time!"
Bastila blanched. "Carth, please. It's not how you think! We had no other choice!"
Confused, Ashla didn't understand what they were raving about. "What are you talking about? What's going on?"
Bastila shot a guilt ridden look at Ashla before turning back to Carth. "Please, Carth. Not here. I promise I'll tell you… I'll tell you both all I know once we are away from here! But, we have to leave now!"
Ashla reached out to Carth, but he flinched as she neared. A shard embedded itself deep inside her heart. "I don't know what's going on, Carth, but she's right. We need to go now. Whatever is going on, we'll get it sorted once we are somewhere safe. Please, we have to go."
Bastila sighed deeply. "Carth, please. Just trust me, just a little longer. I beg you."
Carth couldn't bring himself to look at Bastila or the woman he thought he knew standing behind him. "Fine. But I expect some damn answers as soon as we're away."
The shard drove itself deeper as he stalked off of the bridge without giving her a second glance. She reached out through the Force to Bastila, but sensed only guilt and sadness as the younger Jedi turned and followed Carth. Ashla blinked back the tears threatening to flow as she had no other choice but to follow them.
As she ran, she pulled out her comlink and hailed Canderous. "Ordo! I released the docking bay doors. We're on our way to the hangar bay now."
Static.
Then she heard Canderous' loud booming voice, "great work! We have the Hawk secure. Plus, Mission and Zaalbar are leaving these goons a little going-away present."
"Roger that, Ordo. We're at the elevator now." Ashla said as she put the comlink back onto her belt and pressed the button to activate the lift.
She refused to think about the fact that Carth wouldn't stand next to her. Or how he had put as much distance as he could between the two of them, leaving Bastila to stand uneasily between them.
#
Ashla slammed another medpack and then an adrenal stim into her thigh as they neared the hangar bay. Exhaustion trying to overtake her as they had fought the onslaught of dark Jedi and troopers. She stiffened as she felt a dark cold presence nearing ever closer.
Carth shivered. "Is it me, or did the temperature just drop?"
Bastila looked nervously around. "I fear Darth Malak is near. Let's press on. We're nearly there."
Ashla rounded the corner and pulled up short. Standing at the end of the corridor, in front of the blast doors was the man who had been plaguing her dreams.
"Darth Malak," Bastila said as she stood next to Ashla.
Carth released a volley of blaster fire, "down you go!"
Malak raised his saber, and with a whirl of the red blade, deflected the blaster shots. He lifted his hand, and with a push from the Force, sent Carth tumbling backwards. He stalked closer to them. "Bastila. Leaving so soon? And, here I just arrived and ordered tea."
He locked his gaze onto Ashla. His head tilted back as he barked out a cold menacing laugh. "Besides, I had to see for myself if what I had heard was really true."
Malak's eyes narrowed as he searched her face, pausing on the scar covering her forehead. "I can hardly believe my eyes. How did you do it? What lies did you use to convince the Jedi to spare you? Have you come seeking vengeance at long last?"
Confusion gripped her. "Reunion? What are you talking about?" Ashla asked.
Malak's metallic laughter rang out. "What? You mean, you don't know?" Malak laughed in disbelief. "Surely, you have figured it out by now? Even the strength of the Jedi Council could not keep your true identity buried forever, Revan."
Revan.
Ashla felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. Her breath flew out of her in a hard gasp. "No, that can't be…no, my name is Ashla…Marek…"
Ashla's vision wavered as she remembered Master Zhar saying normally we do not take on adult apprentices, but you are a special case.
Or Bastila telling her how Jedi do not kill their prisoners. No one deserves execution, no matter their crimes.
And Carth who told her once, I heard the force can do terrible things to the mind.
"No…"
She saw the mask dangling in her fingertips. The one she had picked up on the beach. She saw herself kneeling in the sand, trembling as she put the mask on vowing to not remove it.
She heard Bastila's voice echoing, what greater weapon is there than turning your enemy to your cause? To use their knowledge against them.
"No! You lie! This is some kind of trick!" Ashla yelled as she ignited her lightsabers.
Malak laughed maliciously. "You don't remember, Revan? The Jedi lured us into a trap. A Jedi strike team boarded your ship. They captured you and used the Force to wipe away your memories and reprogram new ones. They turned you against your own followers."
Tears blurred her vision. "No, I don't believe you! You're lying! That cannot be true!"
"Ask Bastila yourself. She was on the strike team after all that captured you."
Ashla turned her tear stained face to the woman she had begun to think of as a friend. "Bastila, please tell me what he is saying isn't true."
Bastila hung her head in sorrow. "I'm sorry. I can't… What he is saying is true, Ashla… Revan. He fired upon your ship after our strike team boarded. We were closing in on you, true, but you were gravely injured from the blast. We thought you were dead. I… used the Force to try to heal what I could, to preserve the flicker of life I felt inside of you. I brought you to the Jedi Council. They were the ones to heal you."
"No," Ashla whispered as she fell to her knees, her lightsabers slipping from her fingertips. "This isn't true. It can't be…I can't...be Revan."
Carth could tell the anguish on her face was real. His mind had been reeling with the possibility that this entire time she had been using him, lying to him… that her affection had all been a ruse to manipulate him in some way, to achieve her ultimate goal of defeating Malak, once and for all. Yet, now watching her fall apart at the seams, he was beginning to have his doubts.
With tears streaming down her face, Ashla asked, "Carth, did you know this entire time? Was it all a lie?"
Malak's laughter interrupted Carth's response. "Surely, you don't think this man could have feelings for you? Clearly, he was planted by the Jedi to keep you invested in their cause."
Of course, she thought, as her thoughts spiraled deeper into despair.
"You should have just let me die, Bastila." Ashla said, her voice cracking.
"Revan, surely you don't mean that! I couldn't, not when there was the possibility I could save you!" Bastila rushed to Ashla's side.
Malak scoffed. "What noble words, Bastila. They needed you alive, Revan. They needed the secrets locked away in that beautiful head of yours. It's obvious they hoped you would tell your pretty boy pilot everything, if you didn't confide in Bastila."
"You were just...using me?" Ashla looked up to Bastila, who turned away in guilt. She turned her tear filled gaze to Carth. "This has all been nothing but...a sham?"
Carth stared at the Sith lord with loathing. Bastila spoke before he could respond.
"No." Bastila sighed heavily. "There is some truth to his words, Revan. We needed the information you held, the secrets of the Star Forge! So, the Council created a new identity for you. A soldier under my command. They hoped that, under my watchful eyes, your subconscious memories would lead me to it. There was no other way!"
"They made you their puppet, Revan." He said, mockingly.
"Shut up!" Ashla yelled as she rose to stand. She reached out with the Force, and unleashed a wave of energy at the Sith Lord, sending him tumbling backwards. "Why you? Why him?" she asked, pointing at Carth.
Bastila looked nervously at Malak, who was stomping back towards them. "When I healed you, I unknowingly made a force bond between the two of us. The Council hoped that our connection to one another would allow me to see or feel your memories as they came back, to lead us to the Star Forge." Bastila sent Carth a look of apology. "As for Carth, perhaps, it was the Force at play. He wasn't planted by the Jedi, I promise you. The Council never thought you might develop feelings for someone."
"But, what if I began to remember who I really was?" She asked softly as she stared at the grey metal floor. She couldn't bear to look at either of them.
"It was a risk we had to take." Bastila said lightly. "It was our only hope of stopping the Sith! We had no other choice."
Ashla blinked back the fresh tears which threatened to overflow. She drew in a calming breath as she pulled herself up straight. She reached out with the Force, and pulled her lightsaber hilts into her hands.
Bastila was right. The Jedi had no other choice but to try to piece back together her fractured mind, and glean from it what they could. Malak must be stopped, and it seemed they viewed her as their only hope.
"I understand, Bastila. I forgive you."
"Forgiveness, Revan?" Malak sneered, his voice harsh and metallic thanks to the vocalizer built into the metal jaw. "Before you would have never shown forgiveness! You have grown weak. I was right to betray you. You aren't fit to rule over the Sith! I used to regret the manner in which I betrayed you, hitting you from afar instead of challenging you outright! The Force has given me a second chance!"
Ashla closed her eyes as a strong sense of calm washed over her. "My name is not Revan! My name is Ashla!"
Malak's eyebrows furrowed into a frown, a deep crease running across his forehead. "The Jedi were foolhardy to let you live. I will not make that mistake. We will settle this once and for all, in the old ways of the Sith: Master vs. Apprentice." He raised his hands towards Bastila and Carth, placing them both in stasis using the Force.
Bastila and Carth were both frozen in mid stance.
She ignited her lightsabers, and readied herself as Malak leapt upon her. Their sabers sparked and hissed as they clashed. She gathered the Force around her and pushed him back. Using the Force, she pulled the metal grates up off of the floor and flung them at him, causing him to focus on deflecting her blows.
Malak pulled the force surrounding her to him. She hung in the air, as he tightened his grip, as if an invisible hand was tightening around her neck, cutting off her air.
She kicked helplessly at the floor while clawing desperately in an attempt to remove the invisible fingers.
He threw her to the floor, where she landed in a crumpled heap. "I grow tired of playing with you, little sister."
Ashla gasped as she tried to breathe. Her sides ached from where she landed and her throat felt as if it were on fire. "Little sister?" Her voice sounded small and scared to her own ears. "Haven't you toyed with me long enough, Malak?"
"Oh, that's right," Malak's metallic voice sneered. "You've forgotten all about our history together, little sister."
Ashla, ignoring the pain in her sides and throat, struggled to stand. She held her sabers out defensively in front of her. "What game are you playing, Malak?"
He struck at her with his lightsaber, causing her to bring up both of her sabers to hold him off. She gritted her teeth together from the effort of holding him back.
"No, game, little sister." Malak said, leaning into her as he pushed harder into her sabers. "Search your feelings, you know what I say to be true."
Her arms began to burn under the pressure of holding him back. "Stop calling me that!" Yet, as she reached out with the Force, she felt the familial bond between them. She glanced up to him in surprise.
He spoke the truth. This man was her brother. "No," she whispered.
He pushed her away with the force. She felt frozen in place, immobilized.
"You always did hate when I called you that, Revan. Even when we were children at home, before we were brought to the temple. You were always seen to be the better child. Smarter, faster, more talented, stronger in the force… well, look who's stronger now, my dear sister!"
He whirled his saber in a red arc as he moved in closer to strike her down.
Ashla saw a flash of blue light as Bastila's saber whirled into view and she jumped in between them. Carth's hard footfalls came up behind her as blaster fire whizzed past her.
Malak, unable to hold her with the Force and defend against Bastila's strikes, was forced to release the hold he had on the Force surrounding her. She staggered as the Force surrounding her was suddenly released, and stumbled to her knees.
"This isn't over, Malak!" Bastila yelled as she whirled her lightsaber towards him.
Carth rushed to Ashla's side and helped her up.
Malak swung at Bastila. "You always could inspire such loyalty. I see that has not changed. But even the three of you together cannot stand against my power!"
Bastila reached out with the Force and sent a wave of force energy at Malak, causing him to be pushed backwards. "Go! I'll hold him off while you get to the ship!"
Ashla rushed towards her. "No, Bastila!"
Bastila pushed them both back with the Force. "Go! Find the Star Forge!"
"No, Bastila! He's too strong!" Carth yelled.
Ashla watched in horror as Bastila used the force to close the blast doors between them, sealing herself on the other side with Malak. "No!"
She tried in vain to get the blast doors to open, but they were sealed shut. Carth was pulling on her arms, trying to pull her back.
"No!" She yanked her arm out of his hold. "We have to help her! She's not strong enough to stand against him, Carth!"
"Ash…" Carth frowned. "Revan, the doors are locked. They won't open. There's nothing we can do. We have to get to the ship or her sacrifice would have been in vain. We have to go!"
Ashla backpedaled as she stared at the door, willing it to open. But it stayed shut. She could hear the sounds of lightsabers clashing as she grabbed her comlink off her belt. "Ordo! Come in!"
"It's about time you got here! Hurry it up! We've got her running!" Canderous yelled into his comlink.
They ran towards the ship. The sound of their feet thundering in her ears as they ran up the ramp. Her hand came down hard on the button, closing the loading ramp. She felt shaken to her core as she heard Carth yelling for someone to get on the guns. She motioned for Canderous and Zaalbar to run to the turrets as she slid down in a crumpled heap in the garage.
"Ash?" Mission handed out a medpack to her. "Are you alright? Where's Bastila?"
Ashla… Revan… Who am I?
#
Two troopers examined the large crate that had been hastily pushed out of the small freighter that had been detained here recently.
"Did you sign for any drop offs?" The trooper asked.
"No, none were scheduled for today." The trooper responded as he curiously read the shipping label on top of the crate. "It says Tatooine."
"That can't be right. We haven't even been to Tatooine. I wonder what's inside?" The other trooper asked.
"I dunno. You open it." He said, backing away from the large crate.
"Coward. You're scared of your own shadow. I'll open it." He cautiously opened the lid and looked inside. "It's just a bunch of…animals."
"What?! Let me see." The other trooper opened the lid wider and one of the small animals hopped out. The gizka cooed up at him before hopping away.
More of the animals began to hop out of the crate.
They fired upon one, only to have it duplicate itself. Dozens of the animals hopped in the hangar bay.
"Darth Malak isn't going to like this."
A/N: As always, thanks for reading! May the force be with you!