Chapter 7
Admiral Dodonna stared into the tactical read out of the battle, Vander standing intently next to her. The battle had been pretty much even up until this point, but now something was changing. All of a sudden on of the red diamonds on the read out blipped and vanished as a Sith battle cruiser was destroyed.
"There!" the Admiral called out "A break in the Sith formation. Green squadron move in!"
On command a squadron of republic snub fighters rocketed past the viewpoint. Within a few minutes they had ripped through the Sith lines and were on the other side.
"We've broken the Sith lines, loop around and attack those Interdictor ships" The fighters did as commanded and soon hot flames were licking up on the platting of the Sith ships as the Republic fights bombarded them with laser fire.
"Bastila is no longer using her battle meditation against us the tide is turned" The republic burst into a chorus of cheers over the intercom and the Sith fleet began becoming disorganised and desperate, as Bastila's power began to take an affect on their minds and souls.
"Red squadron into the breach!" Another squadron of fighters shot past the cruisers heading for gap in the formation and began causing hell amongst the Sith fighter squadrons.
"Capital ships support their position" The large powerful cannons of the Republic battle ships began opening fire, ripping into the Sith Interdictors which began to slowly tip over as the assault became too much for their shielding to handle.
The capital ships began moving past the Sith Fleet heading for the large Space Station behind them.
"The Sith fleet is in disarray! Hit that Star Forge with everything we've got!" The Republic fleet began closing in as the numerous vessels of Malak's fleet began to implode and disintegrate around them.
Malak stood scowling on his observation Deck watching his fleet being ripped apart. He realised now Bastila had betrayed him and rejoined his enemies. He made a silent oath to himself to find her and make her suffer the consequences.
As these dark thoughts swirled in his mind, the wreckage of a star forge war droid flew past him and into the wall where it clattered to the ground a worthless pile of refuse. Malak heard the footsteps of his former friend and Master behind him, keeping his back to the approaching dark-angel that was Revan.
"Pathetic Malak…I mean really…" Malak's eyes narrowed at Revan's words "Droids are no match for human instincts… well except one but we shouldn't go into that…" Malak knew of the droid Revan spoke and scoffed.
Malak took one final glance at the destruction of his fleet and turned to fully face the 'Jedi' before him. He found himself slightly surprised by Revan wearing his old robes and could also sense the power emanating from him now.
"Well done Revan…" he said "I was certain the Star Forge defences would destroy but it seems there is more of your old self left within you than I thought" Malak rubbed his chin as if in thought. "You are stronger than I thought, stronger than you ever were during your reign as the Dark lord. I did not think that was possible." Revan scoffed.
"This is your last chance Malak surrender you can't win" if Malak had a jaw he would have been smirking.
"No Revan…" he replied. "This time our confrontation can only end in death…yours or mine." He took his lightsaber from his belt. "Again you and I will face each other in singles combat" Malak span the hilt in his hand. "And the victor will decide the fate of the galaxy" his blood red saber activated in a flurry as he spun the blade around his hand and body in a masterful display of blade work before settling with blade held in one hand in front of his body.
Revan reached behind him, where his sabers were held in an X shape on the back of his belt. Taking the Heart of the Guardian in his right hand, he held it in a reverse grip as the blade slowly hissed to life.
For a moment both stood gazing at each other, Revan keeping calm and collected, Malak cold and calculating. Then Malak leapt forward.
Revan's bronze blade came up to catch Malak's blade. Revan altered his grip and took the blade in both hands and aimed a downward strike at Malak, who masterfully deflected the blow and responded in kind. Soon the two were locked in a fierce duel, both men seemingly even as the bronze and red blade's howled and screamed through the air as they clashed neither giving ground.
Malak neatly parried Revan's blow and aimed a blow at the former Dark Lord's head. Revan ducked under it and slashed his blade up. Malak rolled away and Revan leapt at him, his strike skilfully intercepted. Revan stepped back for a stab at Malak. The Dark Lord parried the blade spinning round and swung at Revan's back. The 'Jedi' curved his blade back round to guard his back with one hand and blocked the strike. Revan then brought his blade round battering Malak's away, before spinning round and aiming a blow at Malak's left. Malak caught the blade with his own and using his superior height and physical power, he powered Revan's blade up and kicked him square in the chest.
Revan flew backwards as the air was knocked out of him and flipped backwards so he landed on his feet. Malak held his saber in both hands judging Revan's style but was unprepared for Revan's next move.
Revan's second saber simply flew to his hand and Malak prepared for the use of Jar'kai Revan had become infamous for. However the pile of junk suddenly kicked up and rocketed towards Malak. The Dark lord turned startled and managed to cleave a part of it in two. However the second lower half of it collided with him. With a yell he flew into one of the walls and stars swarmed into his vision. Malak shook his head and got to his feet and looked over at Revan who had barely moved, still holding both sabers in his hand.
The speed of his Force powers is incredible Malak thought I barely even saw him move. The lightsaber summoned to his grasp was just a distraction to keep me from detecting his Force attack Revan smirked.
"Not bad Malak…" Revan commented, "You almost anticipated my move…" Then Malak felt a searing pain in his left side and growled before spinning away to reveal Revan standing behind him. "Almost"
Malak snarled and leapt back a couple of more steps and Revan raised his hand.
A vicious barrage of force lightning crackled towards Malak. Luckily for the Dark Lord, he raised his saber and intercepted the dark power before it reached him. The energy of the blade caught and negated the electricity in a matter of seconds. Taking advantage of the distance between himself and Revan, Malak ran over to one of the many pods that littered the room. Upon getting close, one could see the body floating within it. Malak turned in time to see Revan land in front of him.
"You continue to amaze me Revan…" he stated, a hint of the respect he once held Revan tingeing his words. "If only you had been the one to discover the Star Forges secrets then you may have become truly invincible" Malak's eyes seemed to smirk as Revan frowned slightly his bronze blade held firmly in his hand as he paced in front of Malak.
"But you were a fool!" Malak suddenly spat "You saw only an enormous weapons factory, all you ever imagined was an infinite fleet rolling forth and destroying the Republic" Malak scoffed as he spoke the next words "But you were blind Revan-blind and stupid!" Revan continued to pace.
"What are you talking about?" Revan inquired calmly.
"The Star Forge is more than just a space station." Malak explained darkly "In some ways, it is like a living creature. It hungers. And it can feed on the dark side that is within all of us." Malak gestured around the two combatants. "Look around you Revan. See the bodies? These are the Jedi that fell when I attacked Dantooine. For all intent and purposes dead. Except for one difference"
Malak's yellow eyes seemed to cackle and grin maliciously as Revan looked at the bodies. "I have not let them become one with the Force. I have brought them here. The Star Forge corrupts what remains of their power and transfers the dark taint to me!" Malak held out his hand to the kolto tank and an orange beam of lightning connected with the Jedi in the tank.
The Jedi seemed to explode in a cloud of blue light before appearing as a grey and shrivelled corpse. Malak's dark aura increased substantially, and before Revan could move Malak had sent him crashing to floor with a hard elbow to the face. Revan hit the cold, harsh steel and rolled into a crouch blood oozing from his mouth.
"You cannot beat me, Revan. Not here on the Star Forge. Not while I can draw upon the power of all these Jedi" Malak declared confidently his lightsaber snarling back to life. "And once you are beaten I will do the same to you. You will be trapped in a terrible existence between life and death, your power feeding me while I conquer the galaxy!" Malak charged Revan and the battle was rejoined.
Malak's power had grown incredibly thanks to the force drain. Revan ducked under a sweep at his head and brought his saber down towards Malak's skull. Malak blocked the blow and shoved Revan back with awesome power. Revan staggered and quickly began defending himself from Malak's onslaught. Revan realised with the way this was going he would loose. Despite how he held his own, he was draining, the battle through the Star Forge and the previous duel with Bastila had taken their toll on him. Revan rolled underneath another swipe at him and rose to his feet. He made a split-second decision knowing it was the only way.
Revan's eyes were hidden by the shadow of his jet-black hair as he raised his hand towards one of the pods, and a purple beam of energy connected with the Jedi held in the pod, the power within him coursing into Revan. Malak's jaw would have dropped, had he still had one. He slowly turned to look at Revan who dropped his hand to his side and sensed the renewed power within the dark-angel. Revan's eyes slowly rose to meet Malak's and they were no longer the cyan eyes they had been but were now a focused, sulphuric yellow colour.
Malak breathed slightly. "Those eyes…" he continued to stare into Revan's intense gaze "they were Revan's eyes". Revan had realised that he needed to use the Dark sides power to help him win, he just hoped he wouldn't fall if he did.
The Jedi said that the Dark side was a quick way to learn, easier to use and thus more deceiving, making the light side the true path to power. But despite what they believed, it offered unbelievable strength to those that wielded it. The Dark Side was power, pushing a person beyond whatever limits they believed themselves to possess, at the cost of them becoming addicted to the darkness. But Revan had always been different. He had allowed the Dark side to grant him power, but never allowed it to rule him.
This is what made him superior to Sith and Jedi. He was not completely dead inside when he had fallen. The good within him had always remained and this prevented the Dark Side from consuming him wholly. Revan now had become what no Jedi or Sith could even imagine; a perfect balance between the two, the light's compassion and serenity while allowing the dark's rage and hatred to be free without them controlling him.
Revan's Mantle of the Force lightsaber flew into his hand and roared into being. Malak knew that Revan was finally getting serious. Revan's yellow eyes gleamed and then with a roar like a wookie Revan propelled himself at Malak. Malak smoothly deflected the blow and the battle was rejoined as the Republic fleet closed in on the Star Forge.
These men were once best friends, brothers but were now bitter enemies. It was a sad irony, how Revan's fall had started Malak's and how Revan's redemption would lead to Malak's end. They fought for what seemed to be hours, while in reality only half an hour passed. It was Malak's black and utmost mastery of Juyo against Revan's fierce, intense and bright concentration of Djem So. The two most powerful and skilled force practitioners and lightsaber combatants of their time were locked in a fateful duel.
After half an hour had passed, both were standing chests heaving. All of the Jedi had been released from the stasis that they had been imprisoned in, solely for purpose of fuelling the titanic struggle between the two.
Revan shakily stood up straight his leg suffering from slash courtesy of Malak and his chest plate having been removed by Malak aswell leaving a streak down his chest. Revan's sabers were growling in the air as Malak stood his hand holding his right shoulder due to blow from Revan and his ribs having been shattered due to a powerful kick. Malak looked up at Revan with an animalistic rage.
With a feral howl Malak charged one final time, raising his saber in one hand. Revan kept himself calm and collected as Malak closed in. With three swift moves the battle was over. After first parrying the blade down with his bronze blade in his right hand, Revan brought down his cyan blade to sever Malak's wrist. While he did this, he reversed his grip on the other saber and then spun round Malak to drive his saber through Malak's back.
It was finished.
Malak crumpled to his knee's coughing as Revan deactivated his sabers and turned to face his former friend, his eyes turning back to their normal cyan colour as the Dark Side was replaced with the bright light of the force.
"Im…impossible…. I… I cannot be beaten" Malak exclaimed "I am the Dark Lord of the Sith" Revan groaned limping over to Malak and kneeling down in front of him.
"This is the way of the Dark Side…" Revan struggled with his words, his chest burning. "All things end with death" Malak looked up at him and chuckled dryly.
"Still sprouting the wisdom of the Jedi I see…" Malak coughed again "perhaps there is more truth in their code then I had ever believed" He looked up at Revan his eyes were now brown, the colour they had been before his fall.
"I . . . I cannot help but wonder, Revan. What would have happened had our positions been reversed? What if fate had decreed I would be captured by the Jedi? Could I have returned to the light, as you did? If you had not led me down the dark path in the first place, what destiny would I have found?" Malak continued to gaze at Revan searching for his answer.
"Could I have returned to the light as you did?" Malak choked again as his wound began drain his life force "If you had not lead me down the dark path in the first place, what destiny would I have found?" Revan reached forward and placed a hand on his former friend's shoulder.
"You know I am the farthest thing from a servant of the light Malak…" Revan pointed out "And…I am sorry…for starting you on this path but you chose to continue down it" Malak couldn't help but agree.
"I suppose…I suppose you speak the truth. I alone must accept responsibility for my fate. "Malak agreed. "I wanted to be Master of the Sith and ruler of the galaxy. But that destiny was not mine Revan. It may have been yours, perhaps but never mine." Malak looked at Revan as the light began to fade away from him.
"Savoir, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all things, Revan, and yet you are nothing. In the end you belong to neither the light nor the darkness. You will forever stand alone." Malak gulped painfully, a tear actually slipping from his eye as he fell forward. Revan caught him and Malak couldn't help but feel thankful that he was dying in his best friends arms.
"And in the end…as the darkness take me…I am nothing…" Revan felt Malak's life force leave him and heard Malak's final breath leave his body. He sighed and lay Malak down on the deck lying on his back. He pushed back his hood and slowly closed Malak's eyes.
"Be at peace…my old friend…" Revan called Malak's lightsaber to him and placed it within his robes. He stood up looking down at Malak for a split second before turning and fleeing the command deck.
Carth and Bastila were waiting near the Ebon Hawk as the explosions echoed around them. Bastila had her eyes on the door waiting for her beloved to return. Behind them Falcan was leaning against the top part of the ramp waiting calmly despite the hellhole that was quickly forming around them.
After a few more moments, the elevator door whooshed open and Revan walked through. His movements were slower and slightly pained but he was alive and that's what mattered. Bastila ran towards him and embraced him passionately. Revan returned the embrace readily as Carth and Falcan kept their respectful distance.
"You're alive…" Carth breathed as Revan and Bastila approached "what happened?!" Revan looked down slightly.
"Malak's dead…I couldn't save him." Bastila touched his cheek.
"I'm not sure anyone assumed he could haven been saved…" she replied gently "But at least someone tried" Revan nodded.
"Hey guys…" the other three looked at Falcan who was just about on board. "Now that we're all back together let's get on board and get the hell out of here!! This station isn't gonna hold up much longer!!!" With that Falcan disappeared on board the Hawk. Carth quickly followed and hurried on board. Bastila and Revan looked at each other and smiled before following the latter two on board.
Carth skilfully and quickly lifted the Ebon Hawk out of the hanger and piloted it out of the Star Forge as a large torrent of flame exploded behind them. The Ebon Hawk soared away as the Star Forge plummeted into the star below and exploded into a collection of stars.
As the Ebon Hawk crew breathed a sigh of relief as a message beeped over the communications from Admiral Dodonna.
"Carth you made it!!" Carth laughed and tapped on the communications button.
"We couldn't let you start the victory celebration without us Admiral!" he replied. He heard her laugh on the other side, as the Republic fleet grew larger in the view port.
"I'm sending an honour guard to escort you in…you'll get a heroes welcome when you get home…" Carth switched off the communications as the squadron of fighters arrived to escort the ship in.
Revan sat in the garage section deep in thought, looking at the lightsaber that had once been Malak's. As he sat he felt a pair of arms wrap around his shoulders and he smiled softly as Bastila placed light kisses down his neck.
"Why did you keep his lightsaber?" she inquired as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Revan thought for a moment.
"Just something to remember him by…and to remember the consequences of my journey in darkness…" Bastila looked at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Come my love …you need to rest…" Revan began to stand up but then the wound on his chest decided to make itself know. With a groan he fell forward only to be caught by Bastila.
"Revan…what?" her eyes widened as she saw the slash in his tunic. Quickly and calmly she guided him into the barracks they had shared before the Leviathan. "Stay still" she commanded.
Bastila gently undid the clasps to his armour and then pulled the armour from his chest and then pulled down the top layer of the tunic. She gasped painfully as she saw the long line of a lightsaber slash running from the right to left of his chest. Bastila felt tears fall from her eyes. While she hadn't caused it, she realised that anyone of her attacks could have potentially done the same.
"Oh Revan…" she choked as she looked up into Revan's eyes. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" she threw her arms around his neck and finally allowed her tears to fall. Revan soothingly rubbed her back and whispered comfort to her as the rest of the crew gave them their privacy.
And there we go. Now then what do you think??? reviews please!!!!