When Revan came to, there wasn't an inch of his body that didn't hurt. He groaned and rolled to his feet, wearily looking at his surroundings. To his shock Revan was not longer in the Emperor's tower on Korriban.
He was lying on the large ceremonial staircase leading into the Jedi Temple. It was dusk, and the cityscape of Coruscant was dead silent. There were no ships or speeders flying through the sky, and the city lights had gone out as far as Revan could see. He stood up and entered the Temple cautiously. The ancient home of the Jedi Order was empty.
The air in the Temple was stifling, and the warmth of Revan's blood seemed to have left. It was quiet. So quiet that the Jedi could hear his own heartbeat. At least until Revan heard an echo from across the Great Hall.
"Revan…"
A small Jedi Padawan was staring at him. She was a Twi'lek dressed in a simple brown tunic, and didn't look any older than six. The girl turned away and ran to a stairway. "Wait," Revan shouted and started after her. Racing through the Great Hall, he followed the young Jedi up to the base of the Temple's central spire.
He found her in the training ground, huddled at the base of the Force-sensitive tree that served as the heart of the Jedi Temple. Revan approached the Twi'lek gently and knelt next to her. The girl recoiled in fear. "It's alright," Revan muttered. "I won't hurt you."
The Padawan looked up at him with tears rolling down her face. "It's too late," she sobbed. A chill washed over Revan and the training area grew dark. Revan whirled around his heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest when he saw the central spire of the Temple crumbling. The training ground was now littered with the bodies of Jedi.
Revan felt a stir next to him and looked back down at the girl. She was lying limp against the tree and red lightsaber was thrust through her chest. "No!" Revan pulled the weapon away, but it was too late. The girl was dead.
"You will bring nothing but death to everything you hold dear."
Throughout the training ground, Revan could hear the Emperor's voice. Revan felt the Force-sensitive tree move and looked at the tree in horror. The ancient monument's leaves were shriveling up by the second, and its bark peeled back violently. As Revan watched the tree was split in two.
And the Emperor stepped out from the wreckage.
For a second the vision of the Temple around them flickered. Revan's face flushed with anger. How could have he been so stupid? This was just another illusion. Leaping to his feet Revan ignited his lightsaber. "Enough mind games, Vitiate."
Vitiate shook his head. "I figured you would like one last look at your beloved temple before you die. But, as you wish..." Revan started towards the Sith Lord when suddenly a searing pain in his left leg caused him to fall to his knees. From behind him a hulking figure clad in black armor strode into view. Scourge's lightsaber was drawn, having cut Revan down from behind.
Revan's eyes screwed shut and he felt a rush of air around him before opening his eyes again. The vision of the Jedi Temple had disappeared. He and the two Sith Lords were on a balcony overlooking a deep canyon below. Revan craned his neck back to get a better view of where they were.
He saw that they were in fact at the bottom of Vitiate's tower. But it was still high enough for a fall to be fatal.
"Quite a view," he muttered and looked back at the Emperor. "Am I supposed to be afraid?"
Vitiate's armor was singed, and the marks left from Revan's own attacks still remained. A part of Revan grew more hopeful at the sight. Vitiate wasn't invulnerable. Even the corrupted Scourge looked worse for wear, with half of his face covered in horrific burns.
But as he approached Revan, Vitiate seemed no weaker than he had before. "You should be," he growled. "You will be." He raised a hand and it crackled with blue lightning.
"I would have ended this quickly, Revan. But you have tested my patience for long enough. You will beg for death before I am finished."
Revan moved to defend himself but it was too late. He was slammed to the stone floor beneath him by a burst of Force-lightning. "The tower will collapse soon," Vitiate hissed. "But I will have just enough time to enjoy this."
The pain from the Emperor's lightning was more intense than anything Revan had felt before, and the power behind the Emperor's attack kept him pinned down. Again he felt his mask and armor beginning to heat against his skin.
Vitiate was going to kill him. Slowly and painfully. And there was nothing Revan could do to stop him.
Bastila was boarding the Ebon Hawk for when she felt a disturbance in the Force. Her legs gave out from under her and Bastila collapsed to the deck before anyone could catch her. She panted heavily, sensing Revan's presence. He was alive, but he in terrible pain. Nearby, Meetra Surik noticed her on the floor and pulled her back up.
"What's wrong?"
Catching her breath Bastila looked back at the Emperor's tower. "Revan's in danger. We have to go back!" Without thinking she began to run to the cockpit, where Carth Onasi and HK-47 were manning the ship's navigation and weapons. "Bastila, what…"
She cut him off hastily. "Take us back around, we need to find Revan." Carth looked down at the damaged structure, which seemed like it could come down at any time.
"Revan said to blow that thing to bits if he didn't make it back," he said worriedly. "But if there's a chance he's still alive in there I'm willing to risk it."
Nodding urgently Bastila answered, "He is alive. I know he is." While Carth maneuvered the Ebon Hawk around the wreckage of the throne room and into the open HK-47 spoke up. "Question: Of course we must assist Master Revan, but how are we going to find him in time?" As if on cue a distant light caught Bastila's eye.
It was coming from the base of the tower, and as it grew brighter Bastila felt Revan's pain growing.
"There!" The Ebon Hawk swooped down until Bastila could finally see what was happening. At the center of a storm of energy was Revan, being pummeled by torrents of lightning by the Emperor, who was indeed still alive. Nearby stood Lord Scourge, his armor and face disfigured. Bastila cursed under her breath.
They couldn't open fire with the ship's cannons for fear of hitting Revan. And the balcony hanging from the bottom of the tower could be dislodged by any misplaced shot, and would send Bastila's husband falling to her death. She felt another jolt of pain course through her and began to panic. She could feel it already, Revan was close to death. And if they didn't act fast it would be too late.
Unless…
"Carth… Open the garage doors."
Revan felt himself beginning to lose consciousness. His muscles had gone numb and he could barely move. Vitiate had started with only enough lighting to torture Revan. Only now did he seem ready to finish the job, as the Emperor summoned another blast.
But Vitiate was interrupted when a bright light behind him. Revan heard the roar of a ship's engines and seconds later an unseen force threw Vitiate and Scourge in different directions. The Emperor disappeared over the edge of balcony while his servant crashed headfirst into a column emerging from the floor. Revan tried to get up but his legs felt like jelly.
He managed to roll onto this stomach before looking up at the source of the light above. The Ebon Hawk hovered in space just feet away from the balcony edge, having used two searchlights to distract the two Sith Lords. The door to the garage was wide and Revan could see his wife was standing on the ramp.
"Bastila…"
The sight of her gave him enough strength to rise to one knee. Revan staggered across the platform to the ship, ignoring the growing ache in his limbs. He reached the edge and reached out to Bastila but lost balance, almost falling into the canyon below. "Come on," Bastila pleaded and reached out with her hand.
Revan regained his balance and shook his head. "I can't make the jump."
Bastila's hand wavered. Her face then grew determined and she answered, "Then I'll make it for you." Revan shouted in surprise as he felt his feet lifting off the balcony. Slowly and carefully, Bastila pulled him over to the ship with the Force. Revan did his best to hold still until she finally set him down in the ramp.
"I though the plan was to blow the tower if I didn't come out," he said wearily. Bastila shook her head stubbornly. "I don't think anybody liked that plan," she retorted. "And I'm not leaving you here." Revan couldn't help but smile as she lifted one arm over her shoulder and began to take him inside.
Before they could take three steps however the ship jolted violently. Revan threw out one arm to steady himself as the Ebon Hawk veered back towards the tower. "No," he murmured and looked down to the balcony.
Vitiate was facing the Ebon Hawk with both hands outstretched. "You will not escape!" he bellowed and wrenched his hands downwards. The ship moved down, nearly throwing Revan and Bastila off the ramp when it collided with the side of the tower. "And you won't touch my crew again," Revan growled. He drew his lightsaber and threw it down at Vitiate, who was now directly under them.
The Sith ducked with inhuman speed and the lightsaber buried itself in the floor before its violet blade dissipated. Off from the side a dark shape leapt from the balcony onto the Ebon Hawk. It was Scourge. Revan saw the Pureblood Sith race across the top of the ship towards the cockpit, with his lightsaber drawn.
Bastila yelled into her comlink, "Carth! Fire at the tower now, before the Emperor trashes the whole ship!" as Vitiate took another chance slam the Ebon Hawk into the wall. Revan looked up at Scourge again and then at the Vitiate. "Stop Scourge," he ordered and stretched out his hand. His lightsaber flew back to his grip as Bastila asked, "What about you?"
"I'll keep him busy," he said flatly. Revan wasn't in much shape to duel Vitiate but he could still use the Force. Before his enemy could smash the Ebon Hawk again Revan gathered his energy and blasted the stone columns holding the platform to the tower. Behind him Bastila ignited her own weapon and went to stop Scourge.
Carth Onasi and HK-47 struggled to keep control of the ship as it veered back and forth. "Worried: Turn this ship around so that I may fire, meatbag!"
Carth waved his hand angrily and yelled back, "I'm trying, I'm trying! Just shut up!" Straining against the ship's controls the Republic soldier slowly maneuvered the Ebon Hawk into an angle where they were facing the tower head on. Below, Carth could see the Emperor casting a bolt of lightning at Revan, who deflected it with the crossguards of his lightsaber. Carth turned the ship upwards after taking a moment to stare at the unusual design of Revan's weapon, which he had never seen him use before.
A crossguard. Carth was surprised Revan hadn't cut one of his own hands off.
Targeting the uppermost section of the Emperor's spire and the cliff from which it was hanging, Carth looked over at HK-47 expectantly. "Ready?" The droid bobbed its head up and down. "Affirmative: Ready to fire and dispose of meatbag emperor…"
He couldn't finish his sentence. A crimson lightsaber blade speared down from the top of the cockpit and was intercepted by another blade, this one a vibrant blue. HK-47 cocked his head to the side.
"Worried: It would seem we are being attacked. And the target lock is thrown off."
With a heave Bastila wrenched Scourge's lightsaber from the roof of the Ebon Hawk cockpit. The Pureblood brought his lightsaber down in a crushing slash that Bastila only barely managed to avoid. Regaining her bearings she tapped her comlink. "Carth, how long until you lock back on the tower?"
"Keep him off us just a minute longer, we'll have it back up!"
Bastila stepped back into a defensive stance. "Understood." Scourge attacked her with a renewed ferocity and Bastila channeled Form II, gracefully parrying each blow. "I don't know if you can hear me in there," she said and trapped Scourge's blade beneath hers.
"But if you can, I'm sorry about this…" Shoving his blade to the side Bastila raked her lightsaber across his armored chest.
The Sith didn't register any pain but stumbled back, having lost his balance. Bastila watched as Scourge looked down at the wound before turning his pitch-black eyes back to her. The wound was shallow, with his armor seemed to have taken most of the damage. Scourge stared at her before clenching his fist menacingly, and Bastila felt herself rise off the hull of the ship.
Straining against his telekinetic grip Bastila rasped, "I know you don't have any choice… And I know this is likely… what you would want." She once again tapped into the Force and pulled Scourge towards her, as she had Revan. He lurched forward, caught off guard, and Bastila held her lightsaber out.
Bastila's arm shuddered as Scourge was impaled on her weapon, the blade piercing straight through his midsection. Released from his chokehold she landed on one knee and drove the blade further into Scourge's gut. His armor wasn't going to do him any good this time.
But to her shock Scourge seized her by the throat and slammed her down onto the Ebon Hawk. She gasped for breath, trapped beneath him. But his hold was weaker than before and she managed to dislodge him when the Ebon Hawk shuddered. Bastila heard a crackle from below, guessing that the ship was being tossed about by another exchange between Revan and Vitiate.
Scourge rolled several feet away before stopping. Unbelievably he managed to stand up again. Desperately, Bastila tried to raise her lightsaber for another attack while he advanced on her. But just as Scourge retrieved his lightsaber and raised his hand, a green light flashed from behind him. And Scourge's hand was sent careening off the ship, into the canyon.
Meetra Surik stood behind him, holding her lightsaber high for another strike.
Bastila's heart jumped and she saw Scourge begin to turn on Meetra. He was distracted, if only for a precious moment. Without thinking she leapt forward, her black hair and her robes flying behind her and her lightsaber swinging in a bright blue arc…
She landed next to Meetra and looked back over her shoulder. The Emperor's Wrath collapsed, his severed head rolling away from his body.
The two looked down at the man who no more than an hour ago was their ally. Scourge's eyes had returned to their normal state, but were already fading. There was a peaceful look on his face that caused Bastila to pause if only for a moment. She deactivated her weapon and clutched her neck, which was still throbbing from Scourge's last attempt to strangle her.
"Thank you," she said to Meetra. Her friend nodded and took her by the shoulder affectionately.
"You're welcome. Now let's get back inside before Carth and the droid are ready to fire." T
They made their way to a modified hatch leading back into the ship. But a dull groan from the tower caused them to freeze.
It was a terrible, inhuman sound and slowly rose to a roar that caused the hairs on the back of Bastila's neck to stand up. It didn't take two guesses to know what it was. Bastila snapped back to reality as a strong wind caught her from behind and the Dark Side washed over her and Meetra.
"Hurry," she said urgently and opened the hatch doors. She and Meetra leapt in as the wind outside grew more violent.
Revan tossed a large fragment of rock from the damaged tower at Vitiate after deflecting yet another bolt of lightning. The rock shattered mere feet away from the Emperor and as the dust cleared Revan heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber.
Instinctively he ducked and a pale blur whirled above his head singing the garage door above him. Revan looked back up and saw Vitiate's lightsaber flying back to its owner. Vitiate was daring Revan to come back and face him. And a part of Revan was considering it.
But a disturbance in the Force rippled through the air and struck them both. Revan felt Scourge's presence heighten before it suddenly vanished, like a candle being blown out. He stood rooted in place before realizing what had happened. Scourge had leapt to the top of the Ebon Hawk minutes before. Bastila and the others must have been waiting for him. And now Revan could no longer sense him.
He was dead.
Vitiate reeled back. He seemed to falter, as if the death of his Wrath had weakened him. But to Revan's alarm he felt Vitiate's weakness replaced by rage. The fury emanated from Vitiate like a storm, and Revan felt the air growing colder. As Revan's cloak was swept up in a strong wind the Emperor let out a roar which shook him to his core.
Revan!
Bastila's voice spoke out to him and he answered. Is everyone all right?
Yes. Carth and the others are ready. Get inside!
Revan sighed in relief. I'll be there… But his mind was suddenly wracked with pain. Revan clutched the sides of his head in horror as he felt the Emperor's consciousness stabbing through his head like a knife.
NONE OF YOU WILL LEAVE THIS PLANET ALIVE!
Several things happened at once as Revan retreated into the garage of the ship. The Ebon Hawk's cannons flashed, pummeling the tower with blaster fire and proton torpedoes. The Emperor's scream reached a fever pitch, and he released a shockwave that shook the Ebon Hawk yet again and sent Revan flying back.
Vitiate's fortress separated from the cliff with an earsplitting crack. As the massive structure plummeted to the base of the Valley of the Dark Lords, the Ebon Hawk began to pull away. Revan watched the tower coming down, accompanied by a large section of the cliff side.
But as his view of the ancient Sith spire grew larger by the second and his eyes widened in realization. With the death of his Wrath and the chaos of the tower's collapse Vitiate could not bring the Ebon Hawk down.
But he didn't have to. All he had to do was knock it off balance slightly so that when the cliff collapsed…
Revan cried out as the tower struck the Ebon Hawk as it fell. After Vitiate's assault the ship could not take any more punishment. The Ebon Hawk began to spiral out of control and Revan watched the view of the outside turn into a blur. He heard the panicked thoughts and voices of his crew clamoring as the ship fell.
…we're going down…
…have to steer clear…
…try to land north…
Brace for impact!
The Ebon Hawk shuddered and Revan was thrown out of the garage as his ship crashed.
Author's Note: And again with the cliffhangers...
If you're getting impatient, don't worry. Next chapter is the epic climax of our story! Lord Scourge is dead, the Emperor's fortress is in ruins and our heroes' ship just crashed. We're approaching the finish line, folks.
Leave any thoughts down below, and be sure to come back next time for the final showdown!
