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Chapter 10: Breakdown
Darth Malak paced the bridge of the Interceptor furiously, his eyes glancing from time to time at his crew before returning to the floor as he thought long and hard about their situation. They had lost track of where they were after the jump and while Malak could sense the general direction Revan's presence within the Force was in, a general heading just did not cut it in space travel. Trying to reach through the Force to get a better sense of Revan's presence, Malak sneered in disgust at his own inability to handle the situation. The first thing Revan had ordered him to do was to begin charting the stars and he had gotten carried away with the battle and their Spartan guest. In the pit of his stomach, Malak knew there was going to be Hell to pay if he didn't find a way back to Halo and fast. The Covenant appeared to be growing in strength and he needed to cut off their reinforcements. The only way to do that though would be with more men and more ships.
"Status on the Rakatan drive?"
Malak asked. The apprentice of the Dark Lord of the Sith walked to the console and frowned down at the display.
"We'll need to speed up work on it... We have no common bearings but we can still get back to our galaxy if we can repair the damage taken..."
In his mind a plan began to form and Malak rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he nodded to his navigator.
"Good, send all available technicians that are not working on repairing the damage from the fight to repair the Rakatan drive. We're going back to the Forge and we're going to make a bloody fleet and hit the Covenant back with a full task force."
Malak knew it would take time to first repair the Rakatan hyperdrive and then make the fleet he would need. The Star Forge was a powerful tool though, and Malak knew all this would be accomplished within a week. Letting out a calming breath the former Republic General did not let his thoughts lay on the situation of his own galaxy. All that mattered was the Star Forge, which was more than safe from the Republic and then Halo and Revan. The whole of the Sith fleet would be refitted and those that weren't actively fighting the Republic, Malak would take back with him to Halo. While they couldn't find their way to Halo from where they were, Malak knew the program the ancient Rakatans used to calculate their course from their own galaxy to the milky way would work. A mere reverse of the equation would return them to their own galaxy and Malak knew he could find his way to the Forge from wherever he ended up.
"So long as it isn't Coruscant..."
Frowning at that thought, Malak decided to stop thinking too deeply on the issue and began looking over the damage reports to his ship. They'd mobilize the droid armies of the Star Forge as well as the stationed Legions and Dark Jedi. The Covenant would pay for each Sith they had struck down a thousand times over. His hands balling into fists, Malak's cold brown eyes glared at the damage reports of his own ship. He would most certainly have a nasty surprise for the Covenant when they returned.
"What is this thing?"
A Shangheilli on board the Covenant CS Class cruiser Truth and Reconciliation asked a floating Huragok. The Covenant Engineer merely let out a high pitched wail, its tentacles slapping the Elite's hand away from where it was resting on a rust-colored chassis. Glaring at the Huragok but saying nothing, the Elite left the Engineer to its amusements. They kept the ships running and the weapons shooting so the proud Shangheilli could let one infraction upon his honor slip. The Covenant Engineer turned its attention back to the scorched and severely damaged form of HK-47 before it began its work, more Huragok joining it as slowly, the mechanical creation before them took form.
Revan opened his eyes slowly, seeing the small form of Bastila Shan pacing back and forth before him. Glancing to his side, Revan saw Aven still unconscious and sighed as he rubbed his eyes and sat up, the pain in his chest diminished greatly, though still agonizing.
"What's got you in a snit, Princess?"
Revan asked, deciding to begin the mockery straight off. Just because the Jedi saved his life didn't mean he needed to act grateful. Stopping her pacing, Bastila looked over to Revan in surprise, rushing to his side when the Dark Lord attempted to stand.
"You shouldn't stand. You could harm yourself further."
Revan rolled his eyes, the action visible as he was not wearing his mask.
"So long as there aren't any trigger-happy green men in armor I'll be fine."
Clearing his throat, Revan pushed back with his right hand on the ground and forced himself to stand. Bastila's small hands snaked under his arms and helped him stand and Revan was surprised at the gesture. He must have been unconscious for a while if the Jedi had calmed down that much. Breathing in slowly, Revan closed his eyes, his head tilted down slightly as his muscles in his neck tensed against the stabs of pain echoing through his body.
"Help me get dressed and I won't bother you for an hour."
Surprised, Bastila took in Revan's state and flushed slightly. Revan was only wearing a bandage, his trousers and his boots, granting the Padawan with a clear view of Revan's impressive physique. The man obviously knew how to take care of himself as he was not too built to restrict his movements, yet built enough to be strong and fit. The Padawan looked down with a frown at Revan's blood-stained tunic and bypassed the item, searching through several of the crates that the Sith had brought with them. Finding a similar tunic, Bastila checked Revan's bandage before helping him put on the shirt and then his armor. Through all this Revan said nothing, his eyes were closed as he fought against the pain his new position was causing him and he gritted his teeth together until the Jedi had fastened the last buckle to his armor. Finally fastening Revan's cloak to his armor, Bastila stepped back and took a good long look at Revan.
The intricacy of his armor was impressive and the Padawan saw there were only a few openings, mainly behind Revan's thighs and beneath his shoulder guards. Revan's neck was fairly exposed but Bastila assumed most of the armor was designed for a frontal assault and that Revan's fighting style worked around the weaknesses left in his armor. Obviously some armor was better than none and Bastila pulled a silver breastplate from a container, pulling the Sith armor over her chest and looking down at herself, satisfied that Revan would not be so keen on pointing out how revealing her outfit was. Glancing up, Bastila frowned as Revan knelt slowly, his actions pained to retrieve his mask. Revan was standing again, attaching the mask with his right arm before Bastila could move to help him and the Dark Lord nodded to the Jedi.
"Thanks, make sure to get some gauntlets or vambrances too. Most of the injuries you'll suffer that put you in true peril are ones that cause you to drop your weapon."
Not quite knowing where that had come from, Bastila nodded, pulling a pair of silver vambrances from the case and fastening them to her forearms. Flexing her hand open and closed Bastila smirked.
"Its not too constricting..."
Revan nodded, glancing at Aven's slumbering form before he nudged the Twi'lek Dark Jedi with his boot gently. Aven's eyes snapped open and she nearly jumped to her feet, the dull ache in her chest stopping her before she stood completely. Revan's right hand reached out and grasped Aven's arm and the Sith Commander nodded to Revan, standing and glancing at Bastila with a raised brow before looking to Revan. Both Sith shrugged at each other and Bastila frowned at whatever unspoken words they had exchanged before Aven dressed herself in some Sith armor minus the helm and tilted her head at Revan.
"Your left arm isn't functioning?"
Revan's left hand opened and closed and his lips pressed together in a firm line, unseen beneath his mask.
"Muscle tissue damage from my wound. My neck is fine but I better find a sling or something to keep my arm from getting in the way of my blade if we get into trouble."
Aven nodded in agreement and pulled out a black sash similar to the one Revan wore around his hips and wrapped it over the right side of Revan's neck and helped Revan put his arm into the makeshift sling. Revan's face twitched as the pain vibrating through his body increased at the movement but it slowly dimmed to a dull and more manageable ache when he had his left arm secured properly.
"Lets get something to eat and then we'll rally the Sith and speak with Captain Keyes..."
Glancing around with a frown beneath his mask, Revan wondered silently where Doctor Halfan was before mentally shrugging and glancing at Bastila.
"You can join us if you wish, Padawan Shan. Make sure we Sith aren't making any evil plans."
Aven looked at Revan in disbelief. The Dark Lord was almost joking openly and Revan's only humor as of recent came in the form of a homicidal assassin droid and very crude what the Twi'lek called Mandalorian humor. Surprised at how respectful Revan was acting, Bastila decided not to look a gift-Bantha in the mouth and nodded sedately. Her stress level had been rising dramatically since setting foot on Halo and Revan hadn't been helping. If he were going to call a truce, she wouldn't invite his ire, yet.
"Very well, Lord Revan."
Raising a brow in surprise, Revan decided, titles aside, he would be civil. About ten minutes into his argument with Captain Keyes over the active status of the Sith on Halo, Revan's civility had all but crumbled and Bastila had moved far from Revan's side, staring at the Sith Lord with wide, slightly frightened eyes. She couldn't see the expression on his face but Bastila knew Revan was furious, the Force was practically suffocating in Revan's rage and Aven even looked wary. All things aside Revan needed to be thrown to the Covenant because he seriously looked ready to kill.
"Fine."
Captain Keyes decided after nearly two hours of arguing with Revan. The man was impossible to reason with.
"We have an ongoing operation to search for the Silent Cartographer. Cortana tells me it's a map of some kind, likely of Halo and we need to keep the Covenant from laying their hands on it."
Revan knew the Captain had been reluctant to let the Sith have a hand in this and his voice was cold, carrying a chill to all who heard it.
"I will not be swept aside. Halo will be in our hands, or in the Sith's alone. I will not allow this structure to fall outside of my control if as you say, it controls the fate of the galaxy."
Captain Keyes sighed, running a hand through his short gray hair.
"Look. Its UNSC policy to secure alien artifacts that could present a threat to us. I am obligated by the articles of those rules to first secure the site with my men. There is no sharing this power."
Revan looked as if he would strike but calmed, the Deltas and Dark Jedi flanking him looking ready for a fight but waiting for Revan to make his move. Surrounded by hundreds of UNSC Marines and Naval personnel was not a favorable situation and Revan knew, loathe as he was to admit it that Captain Keyes held all of the cards.
"Allow the bloody Jedi to inspect the site then if you don't trust us. I just want to know if its going to be a threat to my people."
Bastila looked surprised that Revan would lay such a claim. She had been under the impression Revan did not respect the word of a Jedi as truth yet he was placing a lot of trust in her. Glancing at the Captain, Bastila could easily read the man's answer and she suddenly felt uncomfortable in the presence of the UNSC soldiers.
"No one outside of the UNSC will be allowed near the Cartographer. If you want to share power you're going to have to swear an oath and uphold it to the articles of the United Nations Space Command. Seeing as you are not a citizen of any UNSC colonies or of our homeworld, I cannot allow you access to Halo's weapons."
Revan stared through his mask at Captain Keyes, admiring the man's courage but enraged.
"Then this alliance between Sith and UNSC is over. My people and I will leave and find our own way. Should any of your forces engage us it will mean a war you will not live to see the end of."
Revan closed the distance between himself and Captain Keyes and his voice dropped to a whisper so only the Captain could hear.
"And I will make it a point to find your daughter as well."
Captain Keyes' expression did not change, to his credit and he merely stared at Revan. Revan finally turned to leave, glancing at Bastila.
"Your choice, Jedi."
Looking between the Sith Lord and the UNSC Captain, Bastila felt herself more safe in the presence of her own galaxy's natives. A stray thought had echoed from the mind of the Captain's second in command, Major Silva and Bastila knew some of the Sith had been executed before reaching the base. Only the ones that had accompanied Charlie company had actually made it to Alpha base and Bastila knew Revan could sense it as well.
"My mission is to convince Revan to cease hostilities against the Republic... I am sorry Captain."
Captain Keyes frowned at Bastila but nodded slowly as the Jedi and Sith left his cubicle.
"Want me to take care of them?"
Major Silva asked, already having dirties his hands with the blood of several Sith that had intercepted his company of ODST's. Glancing sidelong at the Major, Captain Keyes shook his head.
"We will not provoke them. Call it a hunch but I think it is going to be very vital to us not to piss that man off anymore than we have to."
Major Silva's eyes were narrow but he nodded slowly, deciding an accident could be arranged at a later time. Neither Sith nor Jedi knew where the Silent Cartographer was and they were without reinforcements. Only the threat of the starship above stayed the UNSC soldier's hand in eliminating a potential threat to Earth. Humans or no, the Sith were a very real threat to Earth and what remained of the Colonies.
"Get what you can and load the transport. We'll go back to where Charlie Company was retrieved and from there we will begin working on analyzing Halo's structure."
Aven nodded to Revan's order, moving ahead to collect Doctor Halfan as the Deltas moved to get the other Sith soldiers in line and ready to move.
"Bastila I am going to give you the rank of Commander in the Sith military if you agree not to harm my men unless they are a direct threat to you. I offer you my word you will not be harmed and should we ever return to the Republic, I will stay my hand. I do not need to conquer the Republic if I can control Halo, do you accept."
Revan had stopped walking and was facing Bastila fully. Bastila reached through the Force, feeling out the bond she had created with Revan and sensing the man was telling the truth, nodded. The humans of the UNSC were brutal, violent and their actions against Sith that showed them very little hostile intent was appalling. Bastila glanced at Revan curiously, her mind dwelling on the missing Sith that had been, according to their last transmissions to the Sith's command base on Halo before it was overrun, aiding the humans of the UNSC. While Captain Keyes had been a good man, Bastila was extremely unsettled by Major Silva and many of the crude UNSC soldiers that occupied the base. It seemed being an outsider was almost as bad as being a Covenant.
"About- about your missing men..."
Bastila began, her voice wavering slightly. Revan's face was expressionless beneath his mask.
"I know. We'll sort that all out later but we need to leave. Now."
Bastila could feel the threat in the Force growing around them and knew that the threat of Malak's Interceptor was all that had kept them alive. The UNSC's view was simple. No one could ever know the location to Earth and no one could be allowed to directly threaten Earth. The UNSC was fighting for the very survival of the human race in their galaxy and they needed to be harsh to protect their world, or it would crumble to ashes and glass as the thousands of other worlds and the trillions upon trillions of lives that had been lost to the Covenant. Earth needed a miracle to survive and Halo was it. Halo's power could not be shared with the Sith who's motives were shady at best when compared with the UNSC's motives. An alliance for control of Halo was simply something the Sith and the UNSC and the Covenant could not afford. Two were fighting for the survival of their worlds while another was fighting for its very soul against what it perceived as demonic enemies sent to destroy their holy union. Within the course of a day the UNSC/Sith Alliance had crumbled and the race to Halo's rumored power began in earnest.
Watching the Sith calmly leave along with the Jedi Padawan, Captain Keyes sighed. Maybe he had made a mistake but he had ordered and the Cole Protocol was the only thing that had kept Earth, kept humanity alive for so long after the Covenant's appearance. The Jedi and perhaps her Republic were trustworthy from what he'd heard but the Sith, Captain Keyes knew the Sith were only there for information. He had little doubt that Revan would hesitate to stab him in the back once they found Halo's weapon. Briefly considering ordering his men to shoot down the transport as it lifted off and flew away, Captain Keyes spotted two specks in the distance, the two Sith fighters that had accompanied the transport and held off. Sacrifices had to be made to protect Earth and, recalling his own involvement in the kidnaping of seventy five children, whom he strongly suspected were the Spartans years before was something that weighed on his conscience. Looking at the transport as it flew away, joined by its fighter escorts, Captain Keyes sighed and turned to Major Silva.
"Find out where they're going and keep an eye on their progress. Send Lieutenant McKay, she has a level head and will know what to do."
Silva nodded, his face emotionless. The Sith were a threat and the Jedi had sided with the Sith, making her a threat.
"They're already plotting to kill us."
Aven muttered, rolling her eyes wearily. Revan and herself weren't even fully healed and already they were under fire from another threat. With a smirk, the Twi'lek looked across the hold of the transport to where Revan was sitting with Doctor Halfan and the Jedi Bastila.
"This reminds me of the second week on Dxun."
A shudder unconsciously wracked Revan and he carefully shielded his mind from Bastila. No sense driving the poor girl insane by what he was remembering.
"You are a very wicked woman."Revan spat, glaring through his mask at Aven's smirk. The Twi'lek's face did not change and Revan sighed, leaning back and allowing his mind to dwell on their situation.
"These humans are primitive in their beliefs and tactics and as such we cannot allow our own feelings to get in the way. We will let them work, let them find where this weapon is. I'm sure Captain Keyes will want to see it himself when it is discovered and we will follow his presence well."
Aven nodded, having been studying the Captain's presence within the Force and easily able to distinguish it from the other human's.
"As of this moment the Sith are no longer at war with the Republic or the Jedi Order. My orders are to be transmitted to all forces to avoid confusion. Malak, I am certain is far from Halo at the moment so a subspace carrier signal will be needed to reach him. Take us to the wreckage of the human's vessel and from there we will use their communications technology. It should be compatible."
The pilot complied and the Sith transport banked, making its way to the Pillar of Autumn's crash site. Bastila's eyes were wide and her mouth slightly agape.
"That- that's it? The- the war is over?"
Revan glanced at Bastila and nodded.
"The Sith have bigger problems at the moment. I'll order Malak back to our galaxy and from there he will send the order to all Sith Forces. They will of course be allowed to defend themselves from hostile or retaliatory actions from the Republic bu until then, they are to hold their ground. If all else fails the Star Forge and Rakata will supply us with what we will need..."
Not knowing what Rakata was, nor the Star Forge, Bastila opened her mouth to say as much when what sounded like water splashing against the hull of a ship reached her ears and she frowned.
"Covenant ground forces using low threat plasma-based weapons. Nothing to worry about... yet."
Revan answered to one of the Padawan's silent questions.
"Deltas suit up with the Repulsor packs. Get to the communicator while we keep them busy."
Revan ordered, knowing his injuries made him more of a burden than an asset at the moment. Four black-armored Sith stood and strapped repulsor packs to their armor, each standing in a square and checking the other Sith's equipment. None of the Sith showed any reactions to Revan's cease-fire with the Republic and all knew what was at stake. Without the weapon the UNSC AI Cortana was speaking of, they would fall under the control of whoever else controlled Halo. Since the Sith would fight for control, they would likely be wiped out, as there were no other options for them.
"We need that weapon."
Bastila started at Revan's statement, her thoughts torn. It was painfully obvious something had Revan worried and she could tell it wasn't the UNSC or the Covenant.
"Revan what is so terrible that you'd turn on everything? What was so horrible that you abandoned the Republic?"
The Padawan's voice was quiet but then, so was the transport as soon as she spoke. Shifting of armored plates sounded as the Deltas all turned to her, anger rolling off of them. Bastila glanced nervously at Aven who was regarding her calmly, her obsidian eyes widened slightly at the Padawan's question. Revan raised a hand, motioning to the Deltas to stand down. It was a well guarded secret amongst the Sith but he would entertain the Padawan.
"The Sith."
Revan stated simply. Bastila looked confused and then angry as she glared at Revan.
"I asked you for a bloody answer. If you want my help-"
Revan cut Bastila off.
"And I gave you an honest one. I'm not talking about my Sith, I'm talking about the Sith."
It took a moment for the Padawan to realize what Revan was talking about. Stunned slightly and sensing no deceit from Revan, Bastila opened and closed her mouth before speaking again.
"But- how- how is it possible? They'd all been destroyed after the Great Hyperspace war..."
Revan and the Sith around him laughed.
"Are you serious? You think the Jedi's pathetic attempt at genocide worked on them? Do you not read history? The Massassi Sith of Yavin IV? They were wiped out not forty years ago and you think that something that escaped the Jedi's notice for a thousand years would only be an isolated incident? The Sith have been waiting, growing in their power and they are preparing to strike back at the Republic. They want nothing more than the complete annihilation of the Republic and that is why this weapon is so important, that is why my complete control of the Republic is so important. If we are to defeat the Sith we'll need every possible advantage and Halo, my dear Padawan is a very significant advantage."
Not bothering to go into a history lesson about the Rakatans or the Forerunners, Revan motioned to the Deltas, watching as they popped the seal on the hatch and dropped from the transport. Glancing briefly at the Padawan, Revan smirked as he saw the pale and stunned look in her face.
"Want to know a few more truths?"
Revan asked harshly. Bastila turned her head slowly to Revan and shook her head from side to side, leaning back into her seat and swallowing.
"I- I think I'd rather have some time to understand this first..."
Revan exchanged a look with Aven before shrugging. They hadn't had time to get used to the idea of the True Sith, they'd just been lucky to survive.
"Sir, line open to the Interceptor. We've got a problem."
Revan glanced sharply at the pilot, turning his gaze back to Bastila for a moment before he moved to the front of the transport and opened the comm line.
"Before you start, Malak. We are no longer at war with the Republic."
Malak's crossed arms lowered from his chest and dropped to his sides in surprise. The Sith Lord exchanged looks with his bridge crew before, almost as one they all shrugged. None of them really cared one way or the other.
"You're lost, aren't you?"
Revan's voice held a hint of good humor and Malak sighed in relief. Behind him, Linda was standing calmly at ease, trying to figure out exactly what her place was on the ship.
"We're working on it..."
Malak replied, a small flush on his cheeks. A chuckle over the line from Revan surprised Malak but he waited for Revan to answer. Revan could be heard breathing over the comms before he sighed and finally spoke.
"I want you to return to our galaxy, release all Jedi and Republic prisoners, send word of a cease fire to the Republic and pass along orders for all our forces to only defend the worlds we hold. Is that clear?"
Malak rubbed his face, wondering if he was dreaming.
"Clear, Revan. What of the Covenant and the UNSC?"
Revan was quiet some time and Malak frowned.
"The UNSC has attacked and killed a good number of our forces on this world. Their leader... this Captain Keyes was rather turned off to the idea of sharing power. The second on the base, a Major Silva I am going to kill personally but until that time, return to the Forge, build me a fleet large enough to subdue a bloody Republic sector and get back here as quickly as possible with as many men, ships and droids as possible."
Behind Malak, Linda had stiffened and was looking around warily, spotting two armored Sith guards approaching her with their weapons drawn.
"Oh and Malak.."
Malak remained silent, his senses picking up a threat through the Force.
"Kill your guest."
Malak turned, focusing the Force to strengthen his body as he caught Linda's hand. The Spartan twisted, a lightning quick jab to Malak's chest sending the apprentice back and Malak lost his hold on Linda. Two blaster rifles whined as their energy packs charged and Linda advanced on Malak as he staggered back from the force of her blow. Malak, through blurred vision and a good deal of pain caught Linda's next attack, throwing the woman across the bridge with his enhanced strength.
"Delay that order!"
Malak shouted as the Sith rose their weapons to fire on Linda. The Sith paused while Revan's chuckled sounded over the comms.
"No need to kill her just yet, Malak. That was merely a test."
Malak rubbed his chest, scowling at Linda as she rolled to her feet, her stance lowered slightly as her arms raised, like claws in front of her face. Seeing that she was fairly well versed in an unfamiliar martial arts, Malak wiped a trickle of blood from his lips and swallowed back a mouthful of the bitter fluid.
"Stun her, now."
Linda managed to dodge five of the stun bolts sent towards her before two hit their marks and she collapsed to the deck. A third and fourth were needed to fully subdue the Spartan and Malak staggered slightly, feeling pain searing his chest. Using his knowledge of previous injuries, Malak knew the woman had cracked several of his ribs and nearly collapsed one of his lungs. Thanking his crimson fiber armor and the Force, Malak let out a shaky breath, channeling his pain into the Force.
"That was bloody uncalled for, Revan."
Revan, sensing Malak's injuries through the Force frowned deeply. One Spartan had nearly killed him and another had injured Malak badly.
"Keep her under constant guard. Be mindful of your guest, Malak. She is more than she seems."
Malak could not help but agree as he glared cooly down at Linda's unconscious form.