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Chapter 5
Revan carefully lifted his eyelids. He expected to see a grey room of his cell with a slight orange glow of the force field. But instead, he saw whiteness.
Everything was white. Walls, ceiling, floor and the bed he was laying in.
Bed? He frantically moved his hands through the surface he was on. Yes, it was a bed. Not that comfortable as he would wish but still better than the floor of his cell.
He tried to lift himself up only to find out, that he was pinned to it.
His hands were strapped on both sides of the bed, as well as his legs. He still had a neural disruptor around his neck.
But he didn't feel any pain. That intrigued him. He moved his head as much as he could and looked down on his body.
He had an IV needle in his left arm. His whole body was covered in bandages, soaked up in Kolto. He could make out this terrible smell of a medicine.
They're preparing me for an execution. He thought.
Revan retracted his head back down on the pillow. He was staring blankly at the ceiling. The terracotta tiles were placed in symmetrical lines. Small traces of silicone filling were visible between the tiles.
He heard a gentle hiss of opened doors. He didn't look in that direction though. Revan knew who came in and certainly, the Dark Lord had no intention to speak with this person.
Atris came up carefully to his bed. Even though he was restrained, he remained dangerous. He proved it when he could hold all twelve members of the Jedi Council in a trap of his mind.
The Jedi Grandmaster slowly walked up to the laying form. She always was disgusted with Revan. Atris could never understand what the female part of the Order saw in him. He was nothing more than just a man. The body desires abandoned her years ago, so she was free from such a… disturbance.
She made her way to the IV needle poking out of his arm. It wasn't connected now to anything. And that's something she was counting on. She cautiously placed a vial with an orange liquid at the other end of the needle.
At this point, Revan finally acknowledged her presence. He didn't say anything though. He was only staring at her. His emerald eyes fighting with her icy blue orbs. But he was too exhausted for any challenge.
Atris smirked when Revan cast his glance downwards. It was a victorious smile. The one that clearly said 'no one can challenge me'. Her grin became deeper when she thought of the nearby future.
The substance Atris delivered into Revan's bloodstream would work within an hour. Within an hour Revan would turn into a defenseless being. Unable to say or even think. He will only be able to breathe. His eyes will become unseeing. Only his heartbeat and his breathing wouldn't change. It wasn't this kind of poison that would kill him, no.
This substance was meant only to turn him into a shell of a human.
This day had come. Bastila nearly didn't wake up on time. She had problems with falling asleep. Today was the day she would help to kill her former best friend and lover.
And it's all thanks to you. His words still present in her mind. She didn't cry though. She cried out herself the previous night and she didn't have any tears left. Bastila slowly lifted herself up from the bed.
She was acting as in trance. She didn't know when she put her clothes on. In her state, she didn't notice when the Council's chamber appeared before her. She found herself staring blankly onto the doors.
The very same doors that used to be a symbol of wisdom for her. She was coming here often, seeking knowledge from the Masters. And now she wanted to be anywhere but here. But she couldn't. Young Padawan slowly made her way through the doors.
The Council was there already. As well as Revan. He was kneeling on the marble floor, pinned to it. She didn't see much of him since he was turned back to her. The only thing she registered was a neural disruptor, white shirt, and chains on his hands and legs. He was barefoot.
Bastila averted her gaze from Revan. She came closer to the center of the chamber. She was standing in front of the Grandmaster Atris right now.
"Hello Bastila," she said with a soft voice. Two things surprised young Padawan. Usage of her name and Grandmaster's tone.
"Well since all of us are here" Atris didn't wait for Bastila's answer. She looked around the Council chamber. Except for the twelve members of the High Council, there was also a Temple Guard and other three prisoners. Revan's companions. They were forced to watch helplessly as their General was going to be killed.
Revan remained still. He didn't move and he wasn't making any noises. The only sound coming from him was a steady breath.
Bastila now decided to look at the man she brought here. He was all but Revan she remembered.
His hair was a mess. Previously they were pulled backward. Right now they were falling on his face, covering his eyes. They had also burned endings.
His head was bowed in a resigned pose. A defeated stance.
His eyes remained shut. That's all Bastila could make out from behind the curtain of his hair. Though she could pretty well see the bags under them.
His lips also remained shut. He was breathing through his nose. And they were livid.
Then she moved her eyes down his body.
He was wearing a simple white shirt, way too big for him. It was covered in sweat and, she assumed, blood. It was also torn in few places.
He was wearing pants in the same color. And just like the shirt, they were too big.
"As the Grandmaster of the Jedi High Council, I, Atris, condemn this man before me, Revan, for the greatest penalty of all. We, the High Council, found him guilty of the following deeds: mass murders, betraying the Republic, he swore to protect, as well as the Jedi Order, leading many of his followers down the path of the Dark Side" she recited. She fought an urge to grin under her nose. Now, these were only formalities. In mere minutes, Revan would hear his judgment. "After summing up all of his crimes the Council has decided. You, Revan, are going to be stripped of the Force and you will be sent to the exile, just as your friend, Meetra" at mentioning her name, Revan lifted his eyes and placed them on Atris. The Grandmaster was taken aback by this. He shouldn't be capable of opening his eyelids. And yet there he was. Staring at her absently. Though she quickly regained her posture. "Do you have anything to say in your defense, Revan?" oh she had to toy with him, just a bit more. Despite Revan's mental strength, he wouldn't be able to say anything. He could only listen.
"If not, then the Council takes your silence as an affirmation of our judgment" she finished with a small smile dancing across her lips. This time Revan could do nothing to defend himself.
Always deal the final blow, she thought.
Atris gave a subtle nod to Bastila in order for her to begin. Even if she didn't want it. Her purpose was one. To find Revan in the Force.
This was something different than during the previous interrogation. This time the Council searched only for the place in the Force, where Revan was present. Normally it wasn't that difficult, but now the Dark Lord was wearing a neural disruptor around his neck. This caused to cloud him as a Force-sensitive being. And in consequences –hid his place in the Force.
But finding him was much easier for Bastila. She could feel his presence in the Force just like she could feel her own. She had a constant access to it. It was on the edge of her mind. Bastila carefully entered the Bond she was sharing with Revan.
Bastila was standing on… nothing, she realized. She didn't see or feel any sort of floor. It was like she was hanging in a midair.
She looked around.
It looked like a Galaxy, observed from the space. Millions upon millions of stars were shining around her. But she was looking for only one.
She found it quite easily. It was a familiar presence, in which she often relaxed. And it worked on her this time as well.
Revan's presence in the Force looked like a dying star. A white dwarf star. Previously he more resembled a red giant. But now he was a mere shadow of his former self.
Bastila approached Revan in the Force. Right now she was standing right next to him.
Revan could feel Bastila's presence near him. A subtle, soothing one, that made him abandon any fears. He knew that he had things to be afraid of. But he couldn't right now. He had no strength to fight.
Unwillingly he gave up to the relaxing feeling overwhelming him.
"I found him" Bastila whispered after few minutes of her trance, her eyes remaining shut.
Atris grinned again this day. In mere minutes, Revan is going to be no more. She nodded at the other Masters.
All Council, as one, searched for the Revan's presence in the Force. They found it easier, due to Bastila being right next to it. They looked at him
He was powerful. Even now. The form he took was only a consequence of a neural disruptor. Striping him off the Force would be such a waste. But they had to do it.
They approached him and acceded his presence in the Force. Then they began to consume it. It was an act, that would at the same time feed them. It would make the Council members more powerful. Atris smirked.
But a second after that, she almost lost her footing.
The entire chamber was filled with a piercing scream coming from Bastila. Masters reopened their eyes. She had her hands pressed to both sides of her head. Now she kept her mouth open with a voiceless scream. She was curled up on the floor, her knees brought to her chin.
Master Nomi Sunrider was first one to regain her posture. She ran up to the Padawan and helped her to calm down. Slowly her screams turned into nothing, though still, she sobbed a little.
"What has happened Bastila?" Atris spoke with a slight irritation in her tone. She wanted to get over with Revan and go back to her own business.
"I… I don't know" Bastila answered when she felt she could trust her voice. "I've just felt like my mind was being ripped apart into thousand pieces," she said. Atris was speechless. She only could look at Revan. A slight smirk was dancing across his lips. A victorious smirk. She walked to him and hit him on the cheek.
"What have you done with her, you monster?" she asked him. Pure hatred was heard in her voice. Revan didn't answer anything. He just looked at Master Vrook.
Atris followed his gaze up to her friend.
"Vrook?" she asked with a concern. He was feeling uneasy.
"Well, we met few obstacles when we were returning from our quest" he started with a trembling voice. His worst fears were now confirmed. "Revan was dying at one moment. The medics could do nothing to revive him".
"Bastila found herself in the medical bay right then. Not thinking that much over her actions, she entered Revan's mind and passed out. When she woke up, she told me that she stopped Revan on his way to becoming one with the Force". Vrook explained. It was the first time he explained Bastila's and Revan' bond. Atris understood everything.
The Force Bond. And a damn good one at this matter, if it could allow her to feel such pain of his, even through neural disruptor. How could she not foresee it? The Grandmaster looked back at Revan.
His eyes were slightly opened and his lips were curled up in a small smile. They moved a little, but no voice came out of them. Atris though could make out the unspoken words
Always. One. Step. Ahead. Revan seemed to whisper. His smile never abandoning his lips. Atris' blood boiled in her. This arrogant fool dared to ruin their plans! AGAIN! Even while being closer to death than any of them ever was.
She slowly lifted her up from the spot nearby the Dark Lord. The poison in his body has fulfilled its task and Revan had no strength to keep his head up. It was hanging now almost on his chest.
Atris looked on the Padawan, who was struggling to stand on her feet. If not her rare gift of the battle meditation, the Grandmaster would sacrifice her without a second thought.
But she was necessary. They needed her as a weapon. She was their only mean of defense against the Sith. And now her life was bounded to the Revan's own. Ah, the Force surely wasn't with Atris that day.
The Council was silent. No one dared to speak. Not even other prisoners. They were only staring at their leader, though now, just like him, they held victorious smirks on their faces.
Atris was struggling to keep her rage at bay. They didn't have many options. Killing Revan would be for nothing. A second of pain, and he would be one with the Force. They, no, SHE wanted to make him suffer. She truly wanted him to be forced to curse the day he was born, his mother and father, who gave him life. The nameless world, that was his home. Everything.
But she couldn't. Revan was holding all the cards. They had one more left, but Atris was worried if he didn't have a prepared response for that one as well.
A soft thud broke the silence. Everyone looked in the direction it came from. Revan was lying unconscious on the marble floor. Showing them no respect again. He just passed out! Because of the poison of course, but if Atris' plan worked, he would be wide awake because of pain.
And now he was sleeping. On his own trial.
Rex, Fox, and Wolfie were only staring. A slight chuckle escaped their lips. They knew what was going on. Revan was going to survive this day.
Atris watched, as Revan was being dragged out from the Council chamber. She was sitting on her armchair. Only silence was being heard in the room.
Masters kept their eyes dropped to the floor. Some were holding their heads. They had to do something with Revan, that for sure. But they didn't know what it was.
Bastila was sitting on a small stair, next to the Master Sunrider. Her gaze was unfocused and absent.
Atris let out a sigh. Revan was becoming even more irritating than ever.
Poison started to make its way out of his body and the numbness was finally escaping began to slowly wake time it was, he was returning from the unconsciousness? He didn't know. But he was surprised to find himself in his cell again.
He didn't remember that well what happened in the Council chambers. He cautiously looked around.
Once again he saw Rex, Fox, and Wolfie. Always by his side. He smirked at them, and they returned the gesture, though their smiles were wider.
The smiles on the faces of all four men started to turn into a chuckle. Then a small laughter, and then they were laughing out loud.
They've escaped the death once more. Just like in the old, good times.
Bastila didn't know what to think. Revan survived his trial. Her previous actions saved him once again. And she was proud because of that.
The Jedi Masters couldn't be mad at her. After all, she fulfilled her task – the Dark Lord was brought to them alive.
Only to be killed by them, she thought. But it didn't matter at this moment. Revan has avoided the most terrible penalty of all. Though still, he wasn't safe.
The Council would not stop until they found some way to finish Revan. Even if they would be forced to keep him in this prison until the end of his days.
And that's something she did not like. Many times she was being lectured about forgiveness and sanctity of all life. And now the Masters were denying these words.
But her obedience to the Council took best of her. She knew that Revan truly was a threat and that he had to be punished. Even if her heart loudly protested against it.
Two days have passed since the Revan's trial and, finally, Council made its decision. They were united as to this act of punishment. Revan was going to have his identity wiped out and replaced.
There was no way, that it could affect Bastila somehow. This was something into someone's mind didn't cause any damage to the person on the other side of the bond. They contacted the Jedi Mind Healers in that matter.
This time it had to work. There was absolutely no way, that Revan would be able to defend himself, no matter how many Terentateks he would use against them. They would simply 'clean' him, just like you do with a droid.
Atris was smiling at this thought. Finally, she managed to find a way to punish this arrogant man.
But she didn't remember one thing. Revan was always one step ahead.
He was sitting in his cell all the time. The Jedi didn't have much of a choice. There remained only one thing there could do. And he was fully prepared for it.
He just didn't know, what the Council would do with his men. If the same fate would meet them, then he would need only a few days to undo the Council's actions.
The doors to the prison opened and again a Temple Guard walked towards his cell. They took him and his companions and led them the familiar path to the highest tower of the Jedi Temple, where the Council's chambers were placed.
The Masters collapsed out of tiredness. They did it! Finally, they managed to finish Revan. They have wiped out his identity and memories and reprogrammed him with a new personality, one loyal to the Republic. This time, strangely, they met no resistance.
His companions were far easier to reprogram since they weren't the Force-sensitive beings. They were a childish play, compared to Revan.
But they did it. There was no more Dark Lord of the Sith or the General of the Mandalorian wars. Now there was only Alen Royce.
Bastila was back in her room now. Tears were slowly running down her cheeks. She just witnessed the 'death' of Revan.
His body remained, of course, but it was habited by some stranger right now.
She wiped out her tears. That was necessary, she reasoned herself. The Council also explained her the plan.
She was supposed to have an access to Revan's memories because of their when she did, Bastila would be able to get some knowledge of Revan's source of power that made him invincible.
She has just witnessed a turning point of the Jedi Civil War.
Okay, I'm done with another chapter :D. I know I've said that I wasn't going to update it today, but turned out that I had a lot of free time today and managed to write another one. Additionally, I'm addicted to this story hahaha and I have to keep writing. So until my ideas expire and I will be struggling with other chapters, you can expect updates pretty often. But in turn, I want as many reviews from you guys as you can write. It doesn't take a lot of time and it helps me as an author. Also, I would like you to add this story to your 'favorites' and to follow it so you can know when the newest update comes out.
And please this is very important for me: write in the comments if this chapter was realistic. I did my best to make Revan's trial as real as I could but I honestly don't know if this is good. Then please help me and write your thoughts about this chapter. I will be thankful for both positive and negative comments. See you soon!
