Disclaimer: I do not own KOTOR, Star Wars or even George Lucas. I don't even own the planet that NASA discovered recently and named Tatooine (I'm not making that one up! Google it! They discovered a planet that orbits two suns and named it Tatooine! NASA is full of Star Wars nerds! Its Epic!)

I'M BACK! So how many of you guys are about ready to kill me for disappearing on you guys again? Yeah. I know. Its probably the majority isn't it? I would give you guys the full story but i bet the majority of you here just want to read what i've written lol so i'll skip the sob story and save it so that you guys can read what you've waited months to read! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!


Discovering the Seeds of Darkness

"To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness."

The air around her had thickened. It had become this invisible miasma that wrapped around her head and tried to cloud her thoughts as well as her sight. It was sickly sweet. Samirah knew that was the sign that they were close to the ruins—it had to be. The area was tainted with this dark cloud of evil power, a velvet smooth blanket that wrapped around every tree and spread across each blade of grass. She shivered from the feel of it against her skin and how it snaked around in her mind, more potent than it had at the grove. The grove had been nothing. There was no comparison. She could hear whispers so close to her ear that it felt as if someone was breathing on her neck, making empty, sweet promises.

That's only in your head…

… It wasn't always like this… it couldn't be…

Its stronger… it's… intoxicating even…

Wait, are you sure about this? Let's think carefully… please…

It's too late…

The voices sounded so familiar and yet… so distant. So far away from her that they seemed impossible to reach and yet… they persisted to bother her. Why? Was she going crazy? Madder with each resilient push she had against the dark side? Was that how they pulled you to their side? Made you think you were losing every shred of sanity you had left? She had never experienced so much until she had been so closely involved with the forces of light and darkness so what other explanation could there be?

It was easier to be a simple Scout.

Canderous noticed her change in posture and mood. She seemed uneasy and it almost looked like she was struggling to keep her feet moving. It was all subtle of course but for someone like Canderous who paid attention to detail… it was obvious. She absently rubbed her arm as goose bumps began to make their presence known on her arm. She shivered as beads of sweat formed on her brow as her concentration deepened. Canderous kept a careful eye on her and made a mental note to keep doing so just to be sure.

Bastila felt along the sides of the rock that enclosed the area. She didn't even have to look to know that as she rounded the corner she would come face to face with the dark ruins that began Revan and Malak down the path to the dark side. It was like a wall of power overwhelmed her senses the moment their eyes met the ruins.

The stone structure was dark in looks alone. Pillars lined the entrance creating a sort of corridor that led you to the front steps. It almost felt like it was beckoning them to approach it. To anyone else, it would appear as ordinary ruins, unguarded and unused after years of being forgotten in the far corners of Dantooine. To a Jedi, it was almost shocking that it was never disturbed until now. Almost more shockingly, how had no one come across it until now? Had their senses become so dull to its presence over the years that it seemed nonexistent? A simple echo in the back of their minds? How did Revan and Malak come to find it then?

It didn't make sense. It never did.

Bastila realized that she had stopped walking to gawk at the ancient structure and made herself slowly approach it, ignoring the hum of power against her skin. Samirah and Canderous followed behind cautiously, preparing for anything. Samirah's hands rested lightly on the hilt of her lightsaber, twitching every few seconds so that she could snatch it quickly if the time called for it.

"This is it. These are the ruins the council sent Nemo to investigate… "She stood in front of the double doors that led to the interior of the ruins.

The raw power radiating off the walls like a pulse—a heartbeat of the structure—leaving a feeling that was, to say the least, unsettling. It made Bastila uncomfortable. Death. Not just recent, but years—centuries—of death centered around these ruins but she could not recall any history of disappearances. If there was any, they were never reported but the magnitude of it all… it was potent. Death always lingered. It would attach itself to its surroundings like a memory, burnt into each fiber. She slid her hand over the stone doors looking for a handle, a button—something that would trigger the mechanism. She poked and prodded around every possible nook and cranny only to end up empty handed. How did Nemo open these doors?

"You're doing it wrong…"

When Bastila turned around, she half expected someone else to be standing before her but found only Samirah and Canderous. Samirah looked tired and a bit pale. Through the bond, Bastila felt how hard it was for Samirah to be here. Something was making this a hard experience for her. Something plagued her and it was evident to both Bastila and Canderous.

The voice she had spoken in sounded nothing like the happy, sweet and courageous Samirah they knew. She stepped forward hesitantly, wincing at the small ache in the far reaches of her mind. It was like a small pounding, as if someone was beating against a wall, trying to escape. She stepped up to the structure, biting her lower lip as she waved her hand over the door slowly, releasing a small amount of the force into the stone doors. After a few seconds the doors screeched to life as the sound of stone grating stone rumbled. The two doors separated, screaming in protest to the unwanted visitors of its inner sanctum.

Canderous smirked as he nodded in approval. She may look ill and a bit on the uneasy side but she still managed to produce results. That's what he liked about her. Always able to get the job done no matter her present state.

"Well done, Kid. I'm impressed." He sauntered up to her side, ruffling her hair. She winced but gave him a small, tired smile. Bastila eyed her very carefully, but aimed to keep her tone light.

"How did you know what to do?" Samirah pursed her lips as she tried to think.

How did she do it? Even she didn't know. It just… kind of happened.

"I don't know how, but I could tell that you were doing it… wrong. My body just responded as if it knew what to do… I think, in the vision, Revan did something like that but I'm not exactly sure… Do you think… that the force guided me?" That was the only possible explanation. It had to be. She rubbed her temples as she tried to will the aching away. It was pestering her insistently and she wished it would just leave her be.

Bastila thought carefully about her words—she had to choose them carefully.

"The force guides us all in mysterious ways. It… is possible that it wanted you to be the one to gain us access to these ruins. As I said before, the force is working through you so I expect it has some sort of plan." She spoke in a soft tone, her eyes focused intently on the dark interior of the structure. "I suggest that we tread lightly as we enter. We do not know what we will be facing so mind yourselves."

Her eyes turned back to the doors before she moved slowly, cautiously, through the entrance. A shiver trickled down Samirah's back. Fear. Was she afraid to enter? Why? This place should hold no meaning to her and yet, here she was, frozen in place and unable to enter this forsaken place. The stale air brushed by her nose briefly. Not as stale as it should have been, it was only a lingering smell which meant it had to have been opened recently... and not simply by Nemo.

"Come on, Kid. We can't keep the Princess waiting much longer." She felt the large hand of Canderous fall on her shoulder as she turned her head to look at his smirking face. Always so confident. "You know how patient she is." He gave her a gentle but forceful push towards the door as the raw power slammed into her stomach.

She held back her desire to run and took a deep breath. She had to do this. She needed to do this. It was a direct order from the council. In an essence, it was a way to prove herself. She clenched her fists tightly as she took hesitant steps through the stone doors, perfectly aware that the Mandalorian followed behind her. He was eager to explore. Eager to fight. The faster she got this over with, the faster she could get far away. The Faster she could leave. The faster it would be over. The whispers of the dark energy were unsettling. It came as close to her as it dared, sliding along her skin, touching the recesses of her mind, caressing her in this false sense of welcome. She knew it wasn't real. It wasn't safe. It wasn't ok and that's what scared her the most… how inviting it was and how much she wanted to believe it.

It needed to go. She wanted it to leave.

No more!

She screamed in her head, willing that whatever power the council believed her to have would push away the seductive laugh and prodding touches. She felt the dark side retract its claws like a bird pulling away from its prey but just the same, she knew its eyes would watch her. Always watch her in this place.

Guard yourself, for it will take whatever advantage of you that it can get. Darkness will not play fair so long as you give it a reason not to. Guard yourself. Mentally and physically. Every fiber of your being is a door for darkness.

The voice didn't exactly sound like Bastila, but then again, it felt like it came partly from her. Not her voice but her thoughts. Like a secret that wasn't meant to be shared.

"Looks like she got impatient..." Canderous mumbled as they inched closer inside.

It took her a moment to realize that she was in the middle of a narrow corridor. Walls that were about two feet tall were lined down the sides of the wall, blocking any passage to outer regions of the area. The ruins were bigger than she thought. The stone was perfectly intact and covered in intricate designs, symbols possibly from a language that was unknown to her or perhaps meant nothing at all. Beyond the short walls were empty rooms with nothing but stone floors and stone walls. They were barren and vacant of anything- chairs, desks, beds, swords- it was like they had never been used. Never even had a purpose.

Bastila stood at the end of the hallway, her eyes transfixed on a closed door—Identical to the one that allowed them inside. The stone was worn and all carvings that were imbedded into the stone had worn away with time leaving only inklings of what they once used to say. Bastila gave Samirah a meaningful look before deciding to attempt what Samirah had. She let the force flow into her fingertips as she waved her hand carefully over the stone, letting the power brush into the granite structure. It moaned in protest as the marble grated against each other, pulling apart to reveal another room but one with a surprise.

A spider like droid lay beyond the doors, possibly hibernating. Unlike the rest of the ruins, it wasn't covered in dust or looked like a statue—it was real. It was covered in dents, scrapes and a few broken pieces but it looked like it had recently been activated. It looked all wrong for a droid that had been lost here for centuries. It shouldn't have been active, should it? Why was it even here? It wasn't until the doors came to a stop that a light illuminated from its head. The droid activated before slowly standing up and stared in their direction, unmoving.

"What the-" Canderous was interrupted as the droid began to make noises. It sounded like a language but not one that Samirah knew. She scrunched her eyebrows together, trying to place it but could find no recollection of ever knowing or even hearing it. Was it communicating?

"Forgive me, but I don't understand." The droid stopped before switching to a new language, one that consisted of screeching sounds and screams that made Samirah wince. This one was more familiar but not by much. "I'm sorry, I still don't understand you." She grimaced.

"I believe that it is cycling through a variety of languages in an attempt to find one we can understand. It keeps using a different alien dialect when it speaks. It can more than likely understand us, but it must be difficult. It probably wasn't programmed with the phonemes of a language we can understand." She assessed the droid, her eyes narrowing in fascination.

Samirah could hear as Canderous hoisted his gun again, a reminder that he was prepared to kill the machine if it even moved. He was itching for a battle. The Droid cycled again, searching for a language and Samirah worried that it was a hopeless cause. How long had it been here, how long ago was it built? It was speaking in languages that Samirah had never heard before. As a scout, she's heard just about every language in existence and at the very least, known about the ones she hadn't. This droid spoke none.

She grimaced again. Perhaps there wasn't nothing that could be done. The droid cycled once more and this time, when it spoke... she understood.

"I can reproduce any of the languages spoken by the builders." The sound was like a hum, a slithery, groggy hum with slurs and rumbles of the throat... if it had a throat.

"I understood you... that was a Selkath dialect, right?" Bastila nodded, her eyes still transfixed on the motionless droid.

"Close. It's an archaic variant. Curious that a droid would be programmed to speak ancient Selkath..." She trailed off, hoping the droid would pick up on her unspoken question. It didn't disappoint. It spoke again with the slurs and hums of the language.

"Communication was vital to ensure that the slaves constructed this temple according to the wishes of the builders. But you are not of the slave species. Neither are you of the builders. You are like... the one who came before." Its pause was curious to Samirah. Bastila immediately picked up on the droids words, clarifying what it more than likely meant.

"It must be referring to Revan. The Dark Lord and Malak likely encountered this droid when they explored these ruins." She spoke, her eyes drifting from the droid to the structure around them. Samirah followed her gaze, feeling the eerie sensation ripple through her veins.

Revan had been here.

This was where Revan's fall to the dark side began. This was the beginning. What would it take for them to follow in Revan's footsteps? Would they find themselves falling into the temptation, falling to the dark side? The idea sent chills down her spine. Samirah didn't want that to happen. She looked at Bastila through the corner of her eye to see that she must have had the same train of thought. She was biting her lower lip, deep in thought. Canderous, on the other hand was too busy getting his aim just right. He wasn't taking any chances. He didn't believe in any of this "Jedi superstition", as he called it.

She turned her attention back to the droid whose still posture and eerie silence made her nervous. In a place like this, it didn't soothe her already rising anxiety.

"Are you some sort of guardian here?" She questioned.

"I am the Overseer." It corrected in its strange version of the ancient Selkath dialect. "The builders programmed me to enforce discipline among the slaves while this monument to the power of the Star Forge was constructed. At project completion, all slaves were executed. I was reprogrammed to serve should a builder return in search of knowledge of the Star Forge." Samirah turned to Bastila with a confused expression.

Bastila shook her head, already sensing the question on Samirah's mind.

"There are no recordings of the construction of these ruins to my knowledge. It has been here so long that we hardly even knew of its existence."

"How long have you been stuck here then?" Samirah redirected her attention to the droid. "You couldn't have possibly just appeared here or even been placed. It must have been..." She trailed off to think as the droid spoke up.

"My chronological circuits have marked over ten full revolutions of this system's outermost planet around the sun since the builders left." Samirah blinked, counting in her head. It said ten revolutions so that means...

"Ten revolutions would take more than twenty thousand years." Bastila spoke up, surprise filling each word as she spoke them. "If this is true then this droid is nearly five thousand years older than the Republic itself! There must be some mistake." She offered.

"There is no mistake." The droid answered in its mono tone that would have otherwise been offended. "The builders constructed my chronological circuitry using the technology of the Star Forge itself. My calculations are infallible."

This droid was older than the Republic. And it's only counting from when the builders left so it's much older than just twenty thousand years. How long did it take before this structure was completed? Did it witness it all? How much older is this droid? How closely linked to everything was it? It had to play a substantial part if it was told to remain here in the event a builder returned. Samirah fixed her eyes on the droid, ready to get her answers and ready to leave.

"Tell me everything you know."

This was vital and she wasn't going to screw it up. She would succeed where Revan failed. Finding the answers without falling into temptation. Without falling to the Dark Side. She would surpass Revan and fix everything like it should be fixed. This was her only chance and she wasn't going to ruin it like Revan did. She was going to be better. The council wanted her to be a Jedi, well she was going to show them that she was worthy of it.

This was the start.


Carth rolled over, groaning as he started to wake up. He was restless. His entire night was restless. Despite the fact that his jacket somewhat kept him comforted by the sweet aroma that filled his senses. Crisp, fresh apples with the sweet and warm scent of blooming flowers. A scent so unfamiliar to him but now becoming the air he breathed as he slept. He was wearing his jacket as his slept, the lingering scent of Samirah imbedded into each fiber. It helped eased his mind and at the same time, worried him.

It reminded him that she wasn't safe.

She wasn't out of harm's way. If he hadn't gone with them they would probably take Mission with them. Knowing Mission, the moment she sensed adventure brewing off in the distance then she was already prepping for it. Zaalbar wouldn't go without Mission but if they both went then that was too big of a group, Bastila tried to avoid T3 and then you had the Mandalorian and well... Carth knew they wouldn't pick him. Mission was the only one left. That meant that right now, she was with Bastila and Mission and he had to rely on them to keep her safe. If they suddenly weren't looking, she'd find some hole in the floor and fall right through it. Worse yet, she could fall off a ledge and find herself impaled against sharp stones or sucked into the random manifestation of a worm hole... the thoughts swirled around his head making him feel uneasy. He pressed his face into the rough pillow, suppressing a moan of frustration.

Why didn't she want him to tag along? Why did she tell him no? Did he do something? All the questions circled his head until he couldn't stand it anymore. He threw the covers off and swung his legs off the cot until he was sitting and could rest his elbow's on his knees. He was being overly protective and letting it get to him. She was a grown girl. She could make her own decisions, she could protect herself, she could do what she wanted and he had no say in the matter. She was her own person and would do what she thought best.

And the thought still terrified him. There was a difference between what was best and what she thought was best.

He groaned again as he covered his face with both hands. It was like watching over a child.

"Are you just going to sleep all day or what? There's work to be done, ya know." The voice surprised him as his head shot up to meet Mission's smirking face.

"Mission! What are you doing here?" He asked her, startled at her sudden presence. She was peeking around the side of his door before stepping out and leaning against the wall. She seemed fine to him and unscathed which in his mind, was a plus.

"What do you mean what are you doing here?" She asked, mocking his voice in a way that made him smile despite his inner worry. "Unless you guys forgot to hand me my eviction notice, this is still my home too." She stuck her tongue out at him as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I didn't mean anything by it Mission, you just surprised me. I thought it would have taken you guys much longer to do whatever the hell it is the Council wanted you to do." He was shaking his head at the audacity of the council. A little adventuring of their own would do them good. When he looked back up at Mission, she was looking at him with a puzzled look. "What?"

"What are you talking about?" She raised an eyebrow at him, scrunching up her nose as she watched him. Carth's body went rigid as he struggled to remain calm.

"You went with Samirah and Bastila to do whatever task the Council assigned you." He stated matter-of-factly. When she slowly shook her head, raising her eyebrows as she did, Carth couldn't help but clench his teeth. "You left earlier today and just got back now, right?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I've been here the whole time. They went on a adventure without me?" She was fighting a smile now. She knew that look. Only one person ever made his face contort like it was now. His jaw was clearly clenched and his muscles were tensed in an attempt to keep himself calm. Mission was pretty sure he wasn't aware of the fact that his hands were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

"Mission. This isn't the time for games." He tried one last time. Surely Mission was mistaken.

"Carth, I have no idea what you're talking about. I've been-"

"What!" He shouted as he jumped up to his feet, his face no longer calm but red with anger. He began pacing back and forth quickly, not making any eye contact with Mission as he began his rant. "I mean why wouldn't she want me to go along in the first place? Did I really do something so wrong? I've only wanted what was best for her and now, all of a sudden, she's... she's punishing me! For what? What the hell is-"

"Ok, Carth. Cool it, would ya? Sheesh, you're-" He flicked his angry gaze at her, hardly pausing in his own movements around the quarters.

"Oh don't you defend her Mission! She-" He froze. Why hadn't the thought occurred to him before now?

"Carth?" Mission asked cautiously but he was too frozen, too stiff, to answer her.

If Mission hadn't gone with them... Surely they wouldn't have gone alone. Samirah and Bastila were formidable opponents but... Bastila was proud. She probably thought she had enough power to go it alone with Samirah but would Samirah allow it? Wouldn't she say no? The two of them wouldn't possibly have gone but then... who would go with them? Mission was here and so she wasn't a possible candidate like he had thought but Zaalbar wouldn't be able to go without Mission even knowing. That left T3 and...

"Where's Canderous?" His tone was low and even. He hadn't seen the Mandalorian when he first arrived at the Ebon Hawk. Canderous was always here. He rarely ever left. He wanted nothing to do with the Jedi. He wanted nothing to do with the entire enclave. The time they had already spent here was nothing more but a giant migraine to him so for him to leave...

"Mission, where is Canderous?" He asked her again when he realized she had yet to respond. She shrugged.

"I don't know, what do I look like? His babysitter?" With that, she pursed her lips and turned on her heels. The clicking of her boots was the only sound audible to Carth's ears as she calmly walked away, leaving him to fume on his own. He ignored her smart-aleck response as he realized what it all meant.

"She wouldn't dare..."


"Hrsiki? Jsoofs oiuwn so h itasoo'khf?"

"AH!" Samirah cried out in frustration as she kicked the second computer with her foot.

The only response she got was the aching screams of her foot after impact. It was a stupid thing to do but these trials were frustrating. Battle droids waiting behind each door, ready to pounce out at the unsuspecting victims and annihilate them before they could even step inside the room. Poor Nemo didn't even stand a chance seeing as how he never stepped inside either room before being killed. The first computer didn't work either but she somehow managed to get it to understand her. Of course it required her Data Pad first and then wouldn't let her have it back until she got it to translate to a language she knew and after yelling and poking and prodding, she finally got it to work. In response, she was asked for life giving planets which was a simple enough question to ask really.

Now she was in the second room and the second computer was giving her a bit more trouble than she would like. She knew kicking the stupid thing wouldn't do anything but it made her feel better... until her foot started throbbing.

"Kid, I don't think kicking it is going to do much for us." Canderous mused. He swung his gun over his shoulder as right side of his face twitched up into half a smirk.

"Well if it would just do as I- Oh!" The symbols on the screen finally translated into letters and her Datapad shot out into her hands. It beeped and sputtered as it processed her language into what she needed.

"Here we go... Identify the three primary death-giving seed world types." She quickly scanned through the choices before selecting the three obvious choices: Desert, Volcanic and Barren. The machine sputtered and hummed before dying down and turning off completely. A clicking sound confirmed to her that the final test was completed and she was free to enter the final room.

"It seems you did it kid..." Canderous spoke with a grin as he patted her on the shoulder.

"It seems so... the droid said that once we completed the two trials... the door would be unsealed..." She was almost there. The dark energy was becoming easier to deal with but she still struggled with it. The closer they got the more strength it took to ward off the darkness and the pain that throbbed in her head. It was this pain that kept pushing and pushing at every corner of her mind, exhausting her.

"Come on... it's time to see what Revan was after." Bastila's voice chimed in for the first time, startling Samirah. She had been oddly quiet the further they progressed into the ruins. Samirah figured she too was struggling to protect herself.

Samirah nodded as she followed Canderous and Bastila out of the second room and towards the final one. The droid that had greeted them at the beginning remained motionless and inactive. It apparently had not deemed them a threat or had merely already carried out its purpose. Samirah put her attention back to the final door. Her heart sped up and she suddenly felt... scared. Why?

Her chest clenched as she waited for Bastila to open the doors. For a moment, Bastila hesitated. Her eyes turned to Samirah, waiting for her consent to proceed. Apparently she wanted to make sure Samirah was ready for whatever awaited them on the other side. They were going in blind. All Samirah felt was the energy that hummed around the cracks and corners of the door. She nodded slowly as Bastila turned to face the door, slowly waving her hand over it as she commanded the force to unlock it. The doors quivered under her command before finally pulling apart with a loud grating sound to reveal the room they had worked to uncover.

The room that began Revan down the path of darkness.

It was empty.

At the end of the room was another door. With a frown, Samirah pushed forward and walked quick down the length of the room to the final door. Bastila followed behind with Canderous covering the back, curious about this apparently protected secret that the council didn't even know. Samirah didn't even hesitate before quickly waving her hand over the door and waited for the mechanisms in the door to work. She didn't want to wait too long and become too afraid to proceed. Her anxiety had built itself up as she waited for it to reveal to her the secret she had been waiting for.

The moment the doors opened up, her head nearly split in pain. She cringed away, stumbling back a few steps as her stomach flipped from the impact of the energy. For a moment, the air was completely knocked out of her. Bastila was immediately at her side, keeping her steady as she watched her with concern.

"Are you alright?" She asked quickly as Samirah nodded her head quickly, trying to choke out a response.

"Fine..." She didn't want to waste time. She wanted out of there. She looked up and peered into the room to see an item nestled into the back of the room. Ignoring the pain and the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach, she stepped forward with Bastila and Canderous hovering nearby to get a better look.

It was a cone shaped metal machine of some sort. It was like a claw that was locked at the tip and hollow on the inside. It was practically a mechanical pyramid from the looks of it. Lumps of stone and rock were clumped around the machine from where the structure had failed over time but it had never crushed the machine somehow. Samirah walked forward, drawn in by its aura and tingle in her fingers. Bastila was too busy staring at it with curiosity to notice that Samirah had broken away from her to get closer.

She stepped forward and when she was close enough to nearly make out the symbols etched into the metal pieces, the machine hummed to life. It popped, separating a small bit at the top before slowly opening like a flower does at the dawn of each day. It unfolded slowly as three triangular crystals lit up and were connected with a string of energy, pushing a spherical object up into the air. A small pulse of air pushed away small bits of debris and dust in a whirlwind as it powered to life, projecting an image.

"This… this must be what Revan and Malak found when they entered this temple. This must be where their journey down the dark side began." Bastila's voice was slowly getting closer as they peered closer.

"A map…" Samirah murmured, her head aching a bit more the closer she got.

"An intergalactic navigational chart of some sort… Revan and Malak must have used this to lead them to the Star Forge." Bastila stood beside her now, her eyes wide as she gawked at the machine that had been hidden on Dantooine for so long.

"This was it?" Canderous scoffed before turning to watch the door, his interest lost.

Samirah was entranced. A map? That was all it took to bring Revan down the dark side? Bastila continued to talk but Samirah only heard clipping of what she said. The map showed Korriban, Tatooine, Manaan and Kashyyyk but didn't show the Star Forge—whatever that was. She was so close but suddenly felt like she had been thrusted seven steps back while Malak was gaining five. This wasn't going to be an easy journey at all.

She was so focused on the machine that Bastila was nearly tuned out as she spoke. The map seemed to be... humming. As if it was speaking to her in hushed tones, words that she couldn't make out but desperately wanted to hear. Maps? Darkness? What was it saying? What did it want? Unable to resist, Samirah extended her hand towards the mechanism, Bastila so engrossed with the map that she didn't notice as Samirah's fingers lightly brushed the map.

A spark shot through her arm.

Her eyes widened as everything went white.

"Revan…"It was Malak's voice. " Revan, do you know what you're doing?" There was no response. Malak sighed in frustration and the sound of someone pacing could be heard.

"Your silence is not welcomed, Revan. You do realize what it means to seek out the Star Forge, do you not? The council will not forgive us. We are deliberately disobeying them."

Someone responds but the words are muddled and incoherent. It was like trying to listen to someone speak with water in your ears.

"Is that what you truly believe? Is this worth it? I have my doubts. The dark side is nothing to underestimate. It's not something you can tempt or play games with." Revan speaks again and again, nothing is understood. "I am not afraid!" Malak shouted before clearing his throat to calm himself.

"I am not afraid… for myself… only you and what is to come. We are heading down a dangerous path… one I'm afraid neither one of us will escape unscathed…"

"Samirah… Samirah…" Bastila's voice stirred Samirah as she groaned. The sick feeling was gone and the migraine had dwindled into a dull ache in the back of her mind. She tried to swallow as she struggled to open her eyes which seemed to have the intent of staying closed. With much effort though, she was able to open them into little slits.

Bastila was hovered over her with a look of worry. Samirah felt someone's arms holding her in a cradle and when she turned her head, she found herself staring at Canderous. They were outside the temple and Canderous had knelt down in the grass, leaning her against his chest as he propped one leg up to help support her. Her body was limp and for some reason… it felt so weak to her.

"Samirah, are you alright?" Bastila asked as Samirah turned her head to look at her.

"I… think so…" Her voice was barely over a whisper and Bastila had to strain to hear her.

"I don't think you should be talking, Kid." Canderous said dryly as he started to stand up and was careful not to shake her too much. Bastila was nodding.

"I agree. It seems the artifact managed to drain a bit of your strength when you touched it. Best you take it easy and rest. You've had a tough couple of days but as soon as we return, it would do you good to get some rest." After pondering a few moments longer, she looked at Canderous. "Do you think it's possible for you to sneak past Carth when we enter the Enclave? I'd venture to say that he will have a few words for us if he even has the slightest notion that she's injured or in a worse state then when we left."

The idea hadn't even occurred to Samirah yet. Carth was going to kill her. She had forgotten the terms in which they had parted on… which weren't the best. She shuttered at the thought of his glowering eyes fixed on her, his face turning a menacing shade of red and the silence before he began his angry outburst on her reckless actions. She was suddenly not too excited about finding Carth when they returned to the enclave…

Bastila and Canderous began walking, Samirah nestled snuggly in the Mandalorians arms as she pondered on the vision and the possible welcome she'd receive from Carth. In the vision she saw Malak and… almost Revan. For some reason, Revan had been obscured in the vision but the intentions had been made clear. They were discussing the Star Forge. The strange bit was that Malak seemed like he was hesitant to follow the trail. He was almost trying to dissuade Revan but in the end, Revan seems to have won.

They were once Jedi Knights of the light so of course they would have weighed their options first but what convinced them to switch? Was it the Star Forge? Or was it the path to finding the Star Forge? Would she and the rest of the crew fall prey to the same evil that Revan had? The unanswered questions bothered her. She didn't know what they were walking into, what to expect and most certainly what to guard herself against. She hadn't been raised as a Jedi. She was a scout. She couldn't do this. She couldn't protect them from the taint they would encounter. The artifact itself was hard enough for her to resist and she couldn't protect everyone else if she could barely protect herself. What was she to do?

She leaned her head against Canderous' chest, closing her eyes as the sun hit the edge of her face. Canderous barely even registered the slight movement she made as he kept a calculating eye out for any surprise attacks. He never let his guard down, years of personal experience had taught him that and he was going to need a heads up since the kid was in his arms. Samirah hadn't realized it yet, but the further they traveled from the ruins, the calmer she felt. The tendrils of darkness had receded back into the ruins as she was moved further and further away from their reach. She was safe again.

She didn't have to struggle against the lull of the dark side, she didn't have to cringe away from the voices that fluttered around her like little bugs—she was free from it all. She was slightly weary, the past few days had been fast paced and very eventful which made her think the next few days wouldn't get any better. Why couldn't she ever catch a break? Why couldn't things be simple for once? She wanted to sleep and do things the way she used to.

"Samirah!" Her whole body stiffened as her eyes flew open. She knew that voice. She turned her head to see if she had imagined it, hoping that she had. She hadn't.

Carth was marching towards her with a face that was as hard as stone. The Enclave was behind him and from the looks of it… he had been waiting for them to return. Her tongue was caught in her throat, unable to utter out the terrified response she had. Canderous' arms tightened around her in reassurance as he felt her body grow stiff with fear while Carth closed the little distance between them in quick strides. Samirah felt the color drain from her face as seconds later, Carth was upon them.

"Samirah, what happened?" Before she could answer him, he let loose the thoughts he had on his mind with a fury that made her cringe into Canderous. "What the hell were you thinking? Not taking me along was something I could live with but bringing him instead?" He shouted, pointing to Canderous but his eyes focused on her. "Why not Mission or- or Zaalbar? Hell, take the droid!"

"Carth, this is hardly—"Bastila started before Carth shot her a glare.

"Don't start, Bastila." He warned.

"Hey, soldier boy, why don't you save it for a better time?" Canderous spoke in a clear, condescending tone as he spoke to Carth. He stared down at the pilot with a small smirk on his lips.

"I wasn't asking you."

"And I wasn't giving you a choice." They locked eyes for several seconds, neither one moving, neither one backing down. The tension between them was strong and Samirah fidgeted. It felt like time had temporarily stopped while they had this silent battle with one another. She didn't like it.

"No more… stop it you too…" Her voice cracked but was easier to hear than earlier as she struggled to be free of Canderous' arms. He obliged by releasing her legs and setting her up right, his eyes—still so smug—remained on Carth.

"Samirah—"He started angrily before she wobbled a bit, almost losing her balance on her unsteady legs. He instinctively shot his hand out and caught her elbow, his eyes breaking from Canderous as he steadied her. "Hey, what happened?" His irritated tone immediately shifting to one of concern as he examined her carefully. She slowly shook her head.

"I can't say yet… not until I talk to the Council first." She tried to look at him reassuringly, her voice sounding weaker than she felt but she worked on making it sound stronger. "Now no more fighting, ok? We didn't take Mission because I couldn't find her and I was running out of time. If you want to be angry be angry but…"She leaned a bit heavier into his hand as it struck her again.

Her vision blurred and for a moment, she forgot where she was. She didn't see anyone, didn't see her surroundings and certainly didn't hear them. But she heard something. Something she thought was going to be a sound she'd become familiar with as time progressed.

Malak's voice.

"If you go, I too will follow." It was night time as Malak paced back and forth within the confounds of an unknown ship. His hands were clasped behind his back, his eyes on the floor as he slowly walked. "Whether it's the darkness that consumes us or if we do not survive at all, I will follow you. You have a plan… that I know. I trust you…"

He stopped and looked at Samirah, her heart stopping before she realized that she was watching through Revan's eyes. Malak smiled at her before stopping and reaching a hand out to her, ruffling her hair softly as she felt a tear roll down her cheek. A true friend indeed. A friend who will follow you even when the danger is imminent and success is nearly inexistent. They follow you into the heart of darkness.

Malak was that friend.

Samirah blinked again to fine herself staring straight at a terrified Carth. His hands were gripped firmly on her arms, keeping her standing instead of falling. She could feel Canderous' hands on her back and she noticed that she wasn't exactly up right. Her head had lolled backwards and drooped to the side as she came back slowly to the present.

She had heard Revan's thoughts. They felt like her own.

"Samirah!" She finally realized that Carth had been calling her name. "Are you ok?"

She numbly nodded her head as she waited for her head to clear again. She raised her hand to her face and felt a wet droplet run down her cheek. A tear? Was she crying?

"What… happened?" She wondered while Bastila moved beside Carth in an instant, her face calm as she quickly examined Samirah, looking her over.

"You had another vision believe. The Map must be greatly affect you since you are unaccustomed to such exposure as I am. You are acutely attuned to the first it would seem so you are very sensitive and susceptible to it. The force seems to be communicating with you, perhaps in hopes of helpings us further our investigation of Revan's descent to the dark side." She clarified despite the few traces of worry on her face.

Carth glanced at Bastila as she mentioned the map but dismissed it to return his attention to Samirah. He had the feeling that now wasn't the best time to try and acquire the answers he sought after.

"Ok…" She murmured as Carth gently pulled her away from Canderous, supporting her wait entirely. Canderous didn't fight him or argue but allowed her to be taken.

"Let the kid rest, soldier boy. She's had a rough day." His tone was calm and matter-of-fact. To Carth, it was unnecessary. He already knew that just from looking at her. She was pale and one look told anybody who was paying attention that what she really needed was a bed.

He shouldn't have started to shout at her and let on that he was unhappy with the situation. For once, her owed Canderous an apology but wasn't ready to give it. The smug Mandalorian would get over it. Samirah's eyes were still far away as she stared past him, trying to regain her focus.

"I know." He said quietly before he put one arm around her shoulders and sweeping the other under her knees so that she was now rested in his arms. She didn't resist and instead, rested her head on his chest.

The migraine had returned. She seemed to develop one each time she was struck with images from the force. She just wanted to sleep and wanted it to go away. Carth held her tightly as he quickly turned around and walked swiftly back to the Enclave. He didn't waste much time talking to Bastila and Canderous so Samirah had to figure that Bastila was going to inform the Council of their findings and Canderous… well, he was going to more than likely return to the Ebon Hawk.

Rest easy. The Council will be notified of what we found. Do not fret. I will ensure that everything is taken care of.

The voice was Bastila's. It breezed through her mind like mint, soothing the aching pain that pressed against her skull. Within seconds the pain was gone and she was overwhelmed with exhaustion. Apparently Bastila was cheating, using her power with the force and their bond to ensure she slept. Her head bobbed as she tried to fight the suggestion Bastila had planted in her head, all the while, being vaguely aware of Carth as he moved and of the people that shot them strange glances. The walls blurred as he moved quickly down the hallway of the Enclave, searching for her room.

He found it with ease this time and managed to open the door with only minor difficulties. Her room was as simple as ever and well kept as expected of the Jedi. He gingerly laid her down on her bed for the second time since they had arrived in Dantooine. Her eyes were nearly shut as she tried to keep them open to see him. He pulled the sheets over her and was making sure she was comfortable when he caught her staring at him.

"I'm sorry…"She spoke slowly and softly as her chocolate brown eyes searched his. Her brunette hair fell loosely on top of her pillow and for the first time he noticed the natural auburn highlights that were weaved into each strand. How had he not noticed? It was faint so easy to miss but for some reason... they were visible.

"Sorry?" She nodded slowly as he smiled softly, a little amused at her sudden change in mood. Damn, he just couldn't stay angry with her.

"I was worried… that if I brought you along… you wouldn't be safe. I thought… you'd be safer here… safe…" Her voice slowly fell as her eyes closed and her head fell against the pillow. Carth waited as her breathing deepened until he let go of the breath of air he hadn't known he had been holding.

He was stunned.

She was trying to keep him safe. She wanted him to be safe. He wanted to laugh. She had this big heart and it was determined to keep everyone safe, even him. He somehow found himself unable to stay mad at her as he watched her sleeping form on the bed. He couldn't be mad. She was safe again and what made him smile was that she was looking out for him as well. This whole time he thought he was the one protecting her and now it seemed that she was protecting him. She was going to be the death of him, he knew it. It's hard to protect someone when they're busy trying to protect you.

Troubled times were ahead of them and he had a feeling that everything they knew was going to be put the test. Everything they did. Their safety, their will power, their strength, their wisdom and even the ability to protect the people around them. He didn't comprehend the dark side like they did but he knew not to underestimate it. Whatever this map was and whatever it meant, it wasn't good. Without feeling it, he instinctively knew that the dark side was closely connected to it. It had to be. Revan had fallen prey to it. It had consumed people and it was going to be his mission not to let anyone else fall. Especially not Samirah.

"Get some sleep, Samirah…" He said it with a small smile as he stroked her hair out of her face. She was growing on him. He was in trouble and he knew it because this small girl was slowly becoming a bigger piece in this whole fight and he'd be damned if he let her go it alone. "I'll be here when you wake up."

He wasn't going to let her keep him on the sidelines. Wherever she went, he was going to make sure he was close by. Everyone needed a little bit of help and he was going to provide it to her. Whatever it may be. The dark side was a wicked thing. It pulled Revan and Malak and no matter how strong Samirah was... he knew that she would be tempted and he wanted to be there when she was. This was only the start of their battle against the dark side. The battle against Malak. Samirah was key to it somehow and Bastila knew it. The council knew it. They just needed to wait to see what the Council said about it all.

And Carth had this eerie feeling he already knew what they would do.


Thanks for reading guys and thanks to all my readers who have stayed dedicated even though it looked hopeless after a while. Please review and let me know what you think, I love to hear from you guys! :) It makes me feel really good to know you enjoyed to story or to even see you guys laugh over silly lines :3 I can't wait to hear from you guys.

Also, this is your last chance to vote on the planet in which Samirah will travel. LAST CHANCE. Next chapter will be written using the winner. Vote ASAP! :)

Thanks for reading guys and I hope you enjoyed it!

~~SilverShards~~