Chapter 7: Dark Secrets of the Heart

Awareness came slowly for him as he regained a sense of consciousness. Ben could feel pain racking through his body. His eyes felt extremely heavy as he opened them to look on his body. He was out of his armor and it was only then that he realized that his mask had been taken off as well. His chest was bare with an addition of many new scars. He couldn't remember everything that happened but after he had been captured he was certain that they had put him through many different torture techniques some of which he had never seen before.

Ben looked out at his surroundings trying to deduce his location. He was within a dark gloomy cell suspended weightless in the air by a blue force field that surrounded him. He had been through this torture for what he knew had to be at least three days. After it seemed that no end was in sight for his tortures, Ben had let himself fall into oblivion only to wake up here. Time seemed to never end here and now he began to wonder if he was already dead. Could he ever escape from here? Ben held on to that hope though the longer he was here the more it seemed he did so in vain.

The door to his cell began to creak open and in walked a man in dark full body armor, one of his many torturers. The large man walked in without a sound and deactivated the field holding Ben up and laughed maniacally as Ben hit the floor with a loud thud. Ben felt the weight of the world on his body as he tried to move. The large man taunted him by leaving the door wide open slowly circling him. Ben pushed himself up to his knees only to feel his breathing hitch as the torturer slid a chain around his neck attempting to choke him. Ben clawed at his throat hopelessly trying to pull it away but the man was too strong. Anger began to coarse through his veins and Ben no longer cared to control it. He reached out his hand fueling his body with the Force using his darker emotions.

At once the door to his cell began to break in ear shattering sounds. His torturer noticed this immediately and dropped Ben to the in fear as the door was flung straight at him by the Jedi's power. The door collided with him and smashed into the wall. The armored man fell to the ground in a heap, similarly to how Ben had looked just moments before. The young Jedi looked down at the man that was taunting him only a few seconds ago now in a position of such vulnerability. Ben reached out and used the Force to pull a durasteel bar from his cell and guided it to his outstretched hand. Ben had seen many people like this man before in the forms of Mandalorians and slavers. He knew what he was about to do was against the Jedi Code but he had already done it many times. That was the difference between he and the Jedi. While they were willing to watch people die, Ben was doing what needed to be done. The longer these people lived the more lives would suffer.

He walked to within a meter of his fallen foe and lifted the bar in the air and brought it down with tremendous force onto the man's neck. Vibrations traveled up the durasteel bar and into his arm telling him that several bones had been broken but Ben didn't care about that, he would continue until there was blood. Relentlessly, Ben swung harder and harder until blood was gushing everywhere. He threw the bar away in disgust but not before he caught a reflective glimpse of another dark robed man behind him. Quickly Ben turned and unleashed a powerful Force wave that knocked the man off his feet and threw him into the next cell crushing his skull. With one last look at the dead man lying in a pool of blood in front of him, Ben took off down the hall. Escape may be impossible but he was going to be sure to kill everyone of these cultists that crossed his path.

Anakin was extremely nervous. The closer the lift got to the Council Chamber the more anxiety he felt. He couldn't shake the feeling that the tide of the war was about to change, if it hadn't already, from the Republic gaining more and more victories and possibly having a peaceful outcome to the Republic unleashing an onslaught on their way to an unconditional surrender from Mandalore. With all the new data they had compiled they had learned that the Mandalorians were preparing for an assault on an unknown location. But it also appeared that the Republic was also going to attack but where was just as much a mystery as the Mandalorians.

Tahiri placed a gentle hand on his arm drawing his attention. "Are you alright?" she asked softly.

Anakin's forehead creased in thought. What would he say? That he had the ever famous family feeling of impending doom? "I just have a bad feeling about this," he said as the doors opened to the Council Chamber. The council was already assembled and waiting for them. Many wore grave looks on their faces including his older siblings. The youngest Solo and his wife walked quietly to the center and bowed respectively to the masters.

Luke, being the Grand Master, addressed them first, "Anakin and Tahiri Solo, welcome back. I hope your assignment went well."

Anakin swallowed gathering himself for what he knew was to come, "Sadly it has." he quickly relayed to them the events leading up to he and Tahiri's adventure aboard the Bloodfin. "We were able to use the chip to access Admiral Pallaeon's personal datapad. We gained information concerning upcoming possible attacks. I . . also met with my former apprentice Vestara Khai and she said that they had intercepted a Mandalorian transmission."

Tionne leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Do you trust her?" she asked carefully.

Anakin stared her down, "I trust her with my life Master Solusar."

"Did she say anything about Ben?" Mara asked urgently.

Anakin pondered this before answering. It was well known that Mara was very concerned about anything to do with her son. No one could question the love she had for Ben. "Apparently Ben left the fleet about a week ago leaving Valin in command. I spoke to Vestara about it and she said that no one knows where he is."

Mara looked down in dismay while Luke cleared his throat, "Anakin thank you for doing this for us and you too Tahiri, but now we have more urgent matters to discuss."

From her seat Leia drew her son's attention as she spoke, "We have received a coded message from your apprentice. She said that they had successfully decoded the message they intercepted. In a war conference Valin has devised a plan that would leave the targeted planet of Hapes defenseless while they gather their forces for an assault on Dxun in accordance with plans that Ben had ordered to be carried out. After they take out Dxun, Admiral Pallaeon and a small fleet would attempt to push the Mandalorians out of the Hapes Cluster."

Jacen had heard enough about his wife's homeworld. He would do everything in his power to prevent this. "By the time they took Dxun it would be too late. We have to stop this."

"I believe it is time that we take this to the Senate. They all must know what they are planning," Corran said with a grunt. He held hard feelings toward many of the Revanchists and blamed Ben for his son's involvement. All the councilors began to speak their mind after Corran's remark.

Luke listened to all the murmuring with only half his conscience. He was completely wrapped up in his thoughts. Not only was Ben missing but he ordered an impossible attack on Dxun, the jungle moon of Onderon. Now Valin was carrying out those plans at the expense of the Hapan people. What were they doing?

He was bleeding, that he was sure of, but he kept moving anyway. He felt anger welling up within him every time he saw one of these wielders of the Dark Side. One thing he had learned was that these people came from a great variety of species including humans and the red skinned creatures as the most common. If the clues he had found in the torture chamber were any indication, there could be no doubt that they were Sith. Aria had said that she led many people down here over the last few years. A question started to form in his mind that he did not want to think on. What if they needed the life forces of those people to sustain themselves? If that theory had any relevance, they could be several centuries, or even millennia old.

While these thoughts were circling through his head, he relieved a lightsaber from a Sith he had blasted with the Force. The saber was smaller than most with a handle that was almost completely black. Ben ignited it and watched a blood red beam light up the dark monastery. He could feel all the Sith camouflaging themselves from him with the Force. While Ben had always been exceptional at dampening his presence within the Force, he had never truly learned how to hide himself to the degree that Jacen could.

Soon he would be overrun with no way out. If the great Republic general wasn't going to make it out, then neither would the enemy leader. He could briefly feel hordes of Sith heading for the exits so he came to a controversial decision. Their leader was most likely to be at the heart of this dark place relatively unprotected. Of course it was a trap, he knew that, but Ben couldn't shake the feeling that this was where he needed to go. He turned down a hallway leading him farther from freedom and closer to death.

Jacen Solo didn't want to believe it. He couldn't. Like many other masters, Jacen had been completely caught off guard after Anakin's report. He couldn't believe that Ben would authorize the abandonment of a planet just to gain a foothold on Dxun, a battle that would take months to win if it were possible for victory to even be achieved. He and the other councilors were already in a special session of the Senate presenting their allegations before the leaders of the Republic. Normally it would be his mother presenting their case due to her political background, but since Ben had been his apprentice, Jacen was given the duty of paving the way for Uncle Luke.

He had been at the forefront of their podium for some time giving his introduction and listening to all the groans of the senators as he relayed the information. "We have confirmed that this information is accurate. The Republic Navy will leave Hapes defenseless while they begin a suicidal assault on the Mandalorian stronghold on Onderon's jungle moon, Dxun. We cannot allow this to happen!" Jacen said with all the passion he had in him. He couldn't let Tenel Ka's homeworld burn like all the others the Mandalorians had conquered. Many senators began voice their agreement with him as the rotunda erupted into a frenzy between the supporters of the military and the government.

From the center of the arena, the Chief of State began to call for order. When all were silent again Jacen introduced Luke, "Honorable representatives of the Republic, I introduce to you the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker, to speak on our behalf." Jacen turned and sat down while his uncle attempted to calm the crowd. Despite drawing the ire of many, Luke still carried a great amount of respect for his deeds that occurred throughout his life.

Luke raised his hands hoping they would quiet down enough for him to speak. When he had their undivided attention he began, "We have reached a crisis that has come from a war that was forced upon us. If we resort to using tactics where innocent people and entire planets themselves become pawns in an ever changing game then we will become far worse than the Mandalorians ever were. The planet Hapes as well as the entire Hapes Cluster are at risk of annihilation. We cannot sit back and watch while our soldiers leave them unprotected and go off to fight a battle that will be far more costly than defending Hapes would be. My son, General Ben Skywalker, has authorized these plans."

Shouts of outrage and disbelief were ringing through the still air of the Senate Rotunda. Luke sympathized with them but wouldn't voice his opinions. How could his son do such an evil thing. Luke still held on to hope that it wasn't true or at least it wasn't Ben's idea but the more he thought about it, the more he believed that he had hoped in vain. He raised his voice to be heard over the uproar, "I request that General Skywalker be recalled and if these allegations are proven true I ask that for the good of the Republic he be relieved of his command and placed in the Jedi Order's protective custody."

Again a commotion took hold of the Senate. Even the Chief of State looked completely shocked at Luke's request. Cal Omas had been in office for well over ten years. Before the war he was considering stepping down as Chief of State but the Mandalorians changed that. He was a great negotiator though he, like every man, had his faults. He had given much support to Ben Skywalker even though he found himself at odds with many Jedi throughout the years though they always kept peaceful relations. Corran Horn was one of the few Jedi that he would call a friend. If Master Skywalker didn't have solid evidence, Cal had been tempted to throw their concerns away. But this was different. "Order. Order!" he shouted. A few moments later all was quiet once more, "We must abide by the law. Once General Skywalker has returned to the fleet he will be summoned before us in a special session of the Senate. There the Jedi will bring their evidence before us and we will decide if he is to be relieved. This assembly is adjourned." Cal Omas looked at the Jedi in their respective position. He quickly tore his gaze away and sat down when he saw Mara Jade Skywalker glaring at him. He needed time alone with his thoughts. He was a great believer in doing whatever it takes to win but not when they had the enemy on the run. This wasn't like General Skywalker to do something like this at the present time. The Chief of State didn't know what but he intended to find out what was happening on the front.

Ben had been walking for what seemed like hours with the weight of the Dark Side making him feel like he was being slowly pulled downward. He was so close now. Ben felt the Dark Side creeping into his very soul. He was in an antechamber with a single door on the other side. He came to the door and it slid open on its own accord. He was expected. Ben went through and the door locked itself behind him trapping him with whatever was inside. A long, narrow walkway stretched to a central platform structure. There were other similar walkways that led to it so he went forward till he reached the center.

A man rose from his seated position at the center of the central structure. Ben recognized him as a member of the crimson skinned species. Without thought or provocation, Ben ignited his red blade ready for any kind of battle. The creature smirked, showing off his pointed teeth. "Welcome to the Trayus Core, Jedi."

The Sith made no move to attack but Ben was not about to lower his defenses. He glared at the creature and spoke in a murderous tone, "I know that I won't survive this but I will make sure you don't either."

"There is no reason why we cannot be civil Jedi. I am Darth Nyril leader of the Trayus Academy. We are Sith as you know. However, like many others, I am a Sith Pureblood. How did you find us?" Nyril asked.

Ben was surprised by this and countered the question with his own, "I could ask you the same question."

Either the Sith wanted to tell him or he had fooled him but Ben wasn't going to believe that. Nyril looked perplexed just for a moment before returning to his mask of calm. "We have been here for millennia guarding this sanctuary. To answer your unspoken question, yes, we did bring people from above to sustain ourselves. You are the first Jedi I have seen since the war. I can feel your anger, your hatred, it makes you strong. Join us and we could rule the galaxy when the Sith are united once more."

Uncharacteristic of any Jedi, Ben let his anger flow. He would kill as many of them as he could before he fell. "I will kill you first!" Ben screamed at him.

Nyril looked down disappointed that the Jedi was lying to himself. He was doing everything a Sith would do and yet he wouldn't join them. Now he would get to do what every Sith loved, "I had hoped you would except my offer but we shall see if your screams of agony will change your mind."

"You will be the one in agony!" Ben shouted as he charged.

He swung for the Sith's head but it was easily intercepted Nyril's own crimson blade. They locked together looking into each others eyes. "Why do you ignore the power within you. If you unleashed it you could be stronger than any Jedi. You could rule worlds and yet you submit to masters that do nothing but talk and commit genocide whenever a threat opposes them. Let your anger and rage fuel you!"

In response Ben kicked out with his leg only to be met by Nyril's own kick. Ben was flew across the Core and hit a pillar dazing him. Quickly he got up and attacked Nyril with reckless abandon but the Sith Lord blocked every attack. Ben had been letting his emotions run rampant but still tried to deny the darkness entrance to his soul and it was weakening him. He knew it and Nyril knew as well by the way his eyes lit up. With one mighty swing Nyril knocked Ben back and unleashed a controlled amount of lightning at him from his fingertips. Ben intercepted it with his saber and felt the lighting roll through his arms and then his entire body. It took all his strength not to drop the lightsaber.

Just as quickly as it came the lightning receded and Nyril came at him and knocked the weapon out of a weakened Ben's hands. Then the Sith Lord unleashed his power on the young man before him. Ben was lifted into the air as he was engulfed in lightning making him cry out in severe pain. Nyril tossed him here and there making the Jedi's body collide with anything that available. After Nyril had had his fun he let the Jedi fall to the floor barely conscious. Never had Ben ever felt such pain. But it was far from over.

Ben was on the ground screaming while Nyril stalked around him, preaching taunts that Ben could barely hear. He felt like he had been fried and now his head was throbbing. Ben began to crawl ever so slowly toward his fallen weapon when another burst of lightning hit him. His cries echoed throughout the Trayus Core. He could just imagine the satisfied smirks on all the Sith. The Jedi had fallen right into their trap and now he was suffering for it. The air caught in his throat as he tried to breathe. Ben was desperate for any sort of respite from the torture he had received so he laid there, his body in agonizing pain.

"Did you truly think that the Sith were destroyed," Nyril said while raising his hand and shooting more lightning at the defenseless Jedi.

Ben's mind was piqued with interest when the Sith Lord revealed that. Could there be more Sith throughout the galaxy?

Nyril continued to circle Ben and torment him, "There is much knowledge here and once our Emperor returns we will be unstoppable! You could be a part of this empire. You could be the greatest of all the Sith, only loyal to the Emperor himself."

Ben could feel absolute sincerity from Nyril. Anger swirled within Ben's heart. Anger, hatred, aggression. They were all seeds of the Dark Side but did it really matter?. All these emotions fueled his rage. But what set him over the edge was his fear, fear for the future of the Republic, fear that all he had done would be for naught. At that moment Ben made his decision. He no longer fought the darkness but instead let it flood through him, giving him the strength he needed.

Nyril felt the Dark Side surge within the Jedi and grinned triumphantly at the man on the ground before him. He had won and now the Sith had gained an invaluable weapon against their enemies. However his grin disappeared when he caught sight of the Jedi's eyes slowly tinting to a familiar gold color. He had little time to brace himself before he was flung into the nearest pillar. He fell hard and knew that his skull had cracked. He looked toward the once powerless Jedi and stared in bewilderment. No one had ever been able to challenge him before. The Revanchist reached out and drew his lightsaber back to him with his newly found power and attacked. Now it was Nyril who was on the ropes.

Ben leaped at Nyril with all his rage and drove the Sith Master back. Blow after blow was barely parried by Nyril but he was tiring. Ben swung for his head which knocked the Sith onto his back. Ben flipped over him hoping to catch him lying there but Nyril swiftly intercepted Ben's blade and pushed himself up with his powerful legs. But Ben was right on him. It seemed like the Jedi was feeding on Nyril's own fear that was slowly beginning to build. Ben kicked out and landed a blow to Nyril's right knee and parried the counterattack to his head that he knew would come. With that parry Nyril left his arms fully extended and Ben swiped in a severed his wrists.

The Sith Lord howled in pain as he looked down at the stubs that were his wrists. He had been defeated by the Jedi and now was at his mercy but from the look in Ben's eyes there would be none for him. Ben drew the Dark Side around him and reached out and lifted Darth Nyril into the air choking him. Suddenly lightning burst forth from his fingertips and surrounded the Sith. Screams tore from Nyril from the intensity of the lightning. The air was filled with the sounds of screams and crackling lightning while the stench of burnt flesh drifted in the suddenly cold air around them.

Ben didn't let up his assault. Nyril's screams were music to his ears and now he would kill him. "You have paid the price for what you have done and now I will end your pathetic life!" he shouted and poured more dark power into his lightning attack. Nyril let one last cry go unheard before his body disintegrated. Ben just stared at the place where his enemy had been. How did he do it? Such power would be useful in the days to come. If that was what the Dark Side could do for him then the war would soon be over.

Now he knew that the Sith were still out there and he intended to find them. The Sith here on Malachor were very powerful but if they were only stationed here then the others must be even stronger. Ben looked around for anything of use. It was only a matter of time before the entire Trayus Academy came to face their master's killer. There were a few ancient looking footlockers where he had first seen Darth Nyril. He bent down and opened one to find his personal items that he had arrived with. He quickly slipped on his armored robes, pulling up his hood and relished the feel of his lightsaber in his hands again. He clipped it to his belt but when he came to the mask he hesitated. Why waste the little time I have left to breathe fresh air he thought. He kept holding the mask while he investigated another footlocker. Ben opened it to reveal many datapads and Sith holocrons.

After careful examination, one datapad held the coordinates for the lost Sith world, Korriban. According to his parents, the Jedi Council had Korriban's coordinates destroyed to prevent anyone from finding it again. However, Ben knew that the Council had kept them secret only revealing them to Council members and highly favored masters. This would lead him closer to the Sith. Thoughts suddenly struck him. He couldn't tell the Jedi Order or they would think he had been corrupted. The Jedi were wrong though. He remembered Callista's teachings, her theories of the Force. She had said that it would be his choice whether to follow the light or the dark and which to use on either path. The dark would help him accomplish his cause for the light. He placed as many of the holocrons and datapads on his belt and anything else he carry them in.

Ben could feel the Sith fast approaching so he sat down and began to meditate, waiting for them to come to him. His father had told him that if you fully open yourself to the Force you could learn much just by immersing yourself into it. Being a military commander, he had hardly had the time to meditate. There was much power here that could be tapped if one tried. Drawing the Force to him breathed in and out until he lost all conscious thought and was catapulted into a vision.

He saw the Jedi Council speaking before the Senate. Jacen was standing there telling them that the military was planning to leave Hapes open to attack. Then his father came forth and requested that Ben be recalled to Coruscant to face charges. And if he was proven guilty of these accusations, Luke asked that he be removed from his position and given into the Jedi's custody. Cal Omas then had no choice but to accept the terms leaving Ben with few options.

Apparently they were attempting to relieve him of his command. All of them were against him, even Jacen and now he would have to work around that. However, he knew more than they did and now he had the advantage. He would have to work quickly once he returned and speak to the one responsible for all of this. The Council may think they have a foothold but Ben knew that it wouldn't last. Once he arrived at the Galactic Capitol he would see just how corrupt the Republic was. He knew that the majority of senators would support him, either out of genuine trust in him or out of their political greed.

Nevertheless, he knew now that he would make it back to Coruscant unlike when he believed he would perish. Ben let himself drift within the confines of the Force for a little longer, hoping to receive more input on his situation. But instead he heard a quiet whisper reaching out to him, calling him. It was subtle but filled with power. Ben instantly withdrew not wanting to be influenced by the call. A silent dread filled as he recalled a time long ago that he had felt a similar presence reaching out for him. There were others who had felt it as well then but he had been a specific target. It was unnerving to have that kind of knowledge but first things first.

Jedi! Now it is your turn to die," came a voice of a Sith, interrupting Ben's thoughts.

Ben opened his eyes to reveal they had reverted back to their bluish green color. He carefully put on his mask then turned to look at his enemies. He was completely surrounded on all sides by the Sith but now Ben had a true weapon. The holocrons that he had looked at held secrets to techniques long thought extinct and now Ben was going to put them to use. "I was a Jedi . . . but no longer," Ben said as he ignited his lightsaber.

It had been standard week since the Revanchist had entered the Malachor Depths. Aria was getting more nervous by the day. She was unsure what her masters would do to the man but it wasn't likely that he would return. Yet she held onto a slight hope that he would make it out alive. No one in the village knew what she truly did with her spare time. It would be easy to suspect that her grandfather had the same job she did now bringing the people below anyone that was willing to journey through the depths. It wasn't likely that any survived.

Earlier in the day she had waited near the entrance cave as she had been over the coarse of the week but the Revanchist never came so she had gone back to the village. Things were usually easy going but since the Revanchist appeared he had been the sole subject of many conversations. Everyday people were asking around to see if he had returned but all got the same reply. No. Aria was a very appealing young woman to men but the Revanchist was far harder to read. Still there was something she felt in him that mirrored herself that stirred up emotions within her.

She was currently dining with her family in the cantina that she had originally seen the offworlder. An odd feeling spread over her telling her to leave. Her father was watching her with a strange look in his eye. "You're worried." he said. It was not a question, Aria knew that.

"I think I will go to the cave see if there is any sign of him. If that is alright Father?" she asked sweetly putting on one of her best smiles.

Arnon was a cautious man but he didn't see any harm in the request, "Alright just be careful.

With a nod she left the cantina and headed home and changed into the jumpsuit that the people with magic powers had given her. Then she raced off to the cave. When Aria got there nothing seemed to have happened but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant to be here and a moment later she saw why. Out of the shadows, the Revanchist emerged carrying with him many items that she had seen while she was in a giant monastery below the surface. When she came within a few feet of him, Aria saw the same man she had met but there was something different about him that she couldn't place. "You're alive!" she exclaimed.

"Yes. Aria they were your masters weren't they?" he asked.

At her nod Ben continued, "Aria close your eyes."

She obeyed him and felt a strong sensation spreading throughout her mind. She felt an extreme amount a pleasure obeying him. She couldn't understand why but it felt right. From within her mind she heard him say, "Think of your masters. You will find that you are no longer loyal to them." He was right she no longer felt any loyalty to them but to another and her world began to go blank. "Aria, open your eyes." the man commanded and she obeyed. "Who is your master?" he asked.

When Aria opened her eyes they held a blank look in them but yet held a sense of purpose. "You are my Master," she said as she kneeled before him.

Ben did not like the idea of binding her to his will but he knew as he always had that sacrifices must be made for the greater good to be achieved. "Take me to the village."

"Yes Master" was her only response.

When they got to the village a large crowd of just about every citizen gathered around them. They all wore shocked expressions as Aria told them that the Revanchist had returned. But then Arnon Mae showed up and took one look at his daughter and knew that something was wrong. "What have you done to my daughter!" he shouted menacingly.

Ben was not fazed in the least but knew what he had to do. "The same thing I will do to all of you," he said and entered the assembly's unprotected minds and bound them to his will. He didn't bother to do it subtly and without pain as he did to Aria. Shouts of pain ripped across the village until all was quiet. "You are now bound to me You will be my servants and carry out my will."

All of them bowed to their new master. They still had a sense of self but they were bound to do his will. Otherwise they still had their own will. Ben turned to Aria, "Since you are the first. You will command them. Lead them to the Trayus Academy and once there begin training the others. Teach them everything you know and what you receive from me. Wait there until I return. Now go."

"Yes Master," she said and began to carry out her master's orders. Ben watched them go wondering what the future would bring. He knew that the Trayus Academy was important, how so he didn't know. But there would be a time when it would be useful. After his servants left, he began the journey back to his ship to rejoin the fleet.

"I am worried that this may not be the right coarse of action," Cal Omas spoke in a somber tone. "How can you accuse him of doing something like this. With all honesty this does not sound like a tactic he would use at this time."

"We are also thinking the same thing." Master Skywalker said. He, Mara, Corran, and Leia were invited to have a private meeting with the Chief of State a day after the Senate had convened. They had been talking for some time and for the moment Cal Omas seemed to be on the Jedi Order's side. "But what do you mean by 'at this time'?" Luke asked puzzled.

Cal looked at the four Jedi seated on the opposite side of his desk with mixture of pride and fear. "When General Skywalker first joined the war, times were desperate. WE were just trying to hold on." He sighed and spoke again in a low voice, "I don't mean to bring this up but without his arrival the Republic would have fallen nearly four years ago."

It was clear what he was saying. Without Ben disobeying the Council's orders, the Republic would be no more. "But anyway he had many different plans for every scenario you could imagine. If he was unable to push them back then he would resort to letting them take a planet in order to make a tactical strike at the enemy. I would have approved of this then if it meant keeping the Republic alive but now there is no reason for such drastic measures," the leader of the Republic continued.

Leia being a former politician interjected into the conversation, "Is there any angle that my nephew might be aiming at?"

Cal shook his head, "None that I am aware of but-" he was cut off mid sentence by a message on his datapad.

"What is it?" Corran Horn asked his friend.

The Chief of State looked up at the Jedi Masters uncomfortably, "General Skywalker has just landed on the Bloodfin and will be given the recall order."

When Ben had landed he made sure to erase the navicomputer so no one would know where he had gone. Immediately, he was met by every high ranking officer in the Republic military that was aboard the ship. Many Jedi were also there including Valin and Vestara. Ben was carrying a few of the holocrons and datapads that he found on Malachor, having hidden them in his robes. From one of the holocrons he had learned how to not only hide himself and material objects but how to manipulate them to emit the opposite alignment of its aura.

He approached the officers and his close friends. "General Skywalker. Welcome back," Pallaeon said with relief.

From looking at their faces Ben knew that his vision had come to pass. Valin wore an angry mask on his face while the officers that were loyal to him looked relieved that he was now back to give them direction. Though Ben knew what was about to be said he feigned ignorance. "Ben, we have a situation," Valin told him outright.

Ben tilted his head in question, "And?"

Pallaeon was the one who spoke. "You have been recalled to Coruscant by the Senate for questioning," the admiral informed him.

Ben felt truly disdainful for the Jedi Council now. He didn't have to fake it. He never had to and now he was on his way back to deliver the final blow that would sideline them for the rest of the war. "Well then, I must review what has happened in my absence and have a word with my colleagues then I will give the order for departure. Inform the officers that they must return to their respective vessels immediately." After they left, Ben walked towards his quarters with his most trusted friends, Valin and Vestara, to get a complete grip on what had happened.

Hours later, Valin had informed Ben of everything that had occurred. The Jedi Council had found evidence of their plans and they were now recalling Ben in an attempt to convict him and remove him from his command. Most of it Ben already knew but he appreciated Valin's insight. However Ben had two secret weapons. One was Callista and the other was onboard the ship at that very moment. The young general had learned much at Malachor including a passion that he could no longer deny. Valin had just finished with the news and Ben wanted a moment of privacy.

"Thank you, Valin. Your info has been most helpful but now I would like a private word with Vestara if you don't mind," he said casually.

Valin simply nodded and left the quarters saying he would go to the bridge. After he had gone Vestara wrapped her arms around Ben in a loving embrace. He had forgotten how it felt to hold someone so close to him and now he was enjoying every moment of it. Vestara looked up at him and smiled, "I was so worried about you. Things happened so fast and I didn't know what to do without you."

Ben gently pushed her away and reached up and pulled off his mask revealing a handsome face with blue eyes that tended to mix with green. He had grown his hair long since the last time Vestara had seen his face. "Ves," Ben murmured her name and reached out a hand to touch her cheek. It was soft as he knew it would be but it still sent a thrill through his body.

"You took off your mask," she said in a soft whisper. It was all she could say. Never had she known Ben Skywalker to break a promise.

Ben smiled genuinely at her. He didn't want this moment to pass. "It's just the two of us here. I think we can keep this our little secret. I love you, Ves. I have for some time now . . . I just refused to see it."

Vestara leaned into him looking into his eyes that were only a few inches apart. "I love you too," she said and both of them gave in and shared a passionate kiss.

Ben had never felt so alive in his life and now he had found love. He deepened the kiss and Vestara obliged him by following his lead. He could not believe that he had kept himself from this for so long. She had been his friend since childhood. He had known that she had felt this way about him for a long time but he had closed himself off and devoted himself fully to the war effort. Now he regretted doing that but he felt fortunate that she still loved him. When they finally came apart, Ben slowly lead her into his room.

Brisha Syo was nervous. She had never been called to Ben Skywalker's personal quarters before. She had fallowed orders just like any other soldier but why had he made her a general? She would probably never know. From what Brisha overheard from the common soldiers she had gained the trust of Skywalker. That was true, she had tried to get on his good side but why would he take notice of her now? She had taken part in the planning to invade Dxun but didn't seem like a good enough reason.

Brisha kept walking until she reached his quarters and accessed the door which slid open. Hesitantly, she walked through and shielded her mind. She would never allow anyone free access to her mind and she had plenty of reasons for it. The door to his room was already open. He was expecting her. She strode through with confidence and entered the private room of the most important man in the galaxy. She stopped a respectable five feet away from him and waited to be addressed. The general was standing near a large window, one of the many upgrades that were made once Ben took command, gazing out at the stars. It was said that he had wanted to have a view of a battle from within his quarters. If it was true or not no one could tell.

Ben could feel her presence long before she came in but once she had she let her wait in suspense. Slowly, his augmented voice spoke, "I must congratulate you on your success. If anyone could have planted Admiral Pallaeon's data chip on Anakin Solo it would be you."

Brisha tensed immediately. How could he have known that? She had taken every precaution and yet Skywalker knew. He reminded her far too much of his father. "I don't know what you are talking about, Sir. Why would I do that?" she asked with feigned innocence.

Ben's response was short and simple but filled with conviction, "Because I know who you are, Lumiya."

Before she had just been playing along but now she was truly tensed up in nearly every way. Lumiya. She was Lumiya but how could he have known that. It was impossible. The only people that could truly identify her were on the Jedi Council and they were hiding in their temple on Coruscant. Lumiya's slowly began to drift to a secret pouch on her belt that hid a lightsaber. Her lightwhip was hidden safely elsewhere.

"There is no need for that," Ben said as he turned around. He saw Lumiya's gaze instantly scan the object he held in his right hand. She dropped her hand casually to the side once more. "Do you know what this is?"

Lumiya tried hard not to smile, "It is a Sith holocron."

"Yes. It has been quite handy as of late. It has been necessary to hide to myself and it has helped tremendously," Ben said with sincerity.

"If you knew who I was why did you allow me to do this?" Lumiya asked with curiosity. It was unnerving that the Republic's brightest star would allow her to tie up the Senate.

Ben looked through his mask with a smirk on his face. "If you could cease all information relays with the government then I would allow it so they wouldn't interfere with my plans. Since you did that without disobeying orders I was fine with it and now that I have been recalled I will soon gain everything I want. And I have you to thank for it."

This was a definite turn of events that Lumiya had not thought of. Ben Skywalker a Sith? How long had he been one? There were many questions circling through her mind but they would have to wait. "So what is the plan now, General?" she asked honestly. Surprisingly, she felt that she could trust him.

Ben set the holocron down on a nearby desk and crossed his arms. Since his return he had begun to believe that the Republic was broken and corrupt. There were definite signs and he was certain that when he appeared before the Senate that his beliefs would be justified. He had a plan forming in his mind but he had to take care of the current war first. "You have been an invaluable asset to me and I am not going to simply throw it away. You are under my protection and now I have a job for you."

Ben grabbed a small datapad from the clutter of them on his desk and handed it to Lumiya. "Why not something like the Death Star?" Lumiya asked baffled. Palpatine had wanted a massive space station that could destroy anything that stood in its way. What Ben was proposing was surprising.

"Not what you expected. It is understandable. I don't want a Death Star because it will take too long to build especially in secret and there are too many vulnerabilities. No, I want something a little more subtle that will only be used once." At Lumiya's dumbfounded expression, Ben continued, "Answers will come in time but for now get our finest engineer on the job but with the utmost secrecy. A ship is awaiting you in the hangar."

Lumiya turned to go but turned back and asked, "What should I call you?"

Ben's raised himself to his full height and said with a low voice, "There will be a time that I will reveal myself but that moment has not yet come. Now go."

Lumiya saluted her commanding officer. "Yes sir," she said and left the room having found a true purpose once again.

Ben watched her go with a smug expression behind his mask. Fool! He was no Sith and he never would be. According to the Jedi Council he would be known as a Dark Jedi now but Ben did not believe himself to be such. On the contrary, he was going to save the Republic from two threats. Lumiya was his tool just as she was for Palpatine and his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. She would be useful as long as she stayed out of his way. Soon the war would be over after the siege of Dxun. Once the jungle moon fell the Mandalorians would be on the run and Ben knew that they would jump on a target that they deemed to good to pass up on and Ben had the perfect place to ambush them. He brought his attention back to the present and picked up one of the holocrons that he had become enamored with. It told of a dark place with infinite power that the Ancient Sith coveted.

Author Note

Sorry the update took so long but I wanted to make this chapter just right. The scene with Ben and Vestara is one that I created to put more into their relationship. If you have read Drew Karpyshyn's Revan novel then you would know that Meetra Surik, the exile, loved Revan like a father but we never got Revan's feelings about her. In The Old Republic game he says that she meant more to him so I created that scene. Also an important question: When Ben becomes the Sith that we know he will be should he be called Darth Revan and likewise for Darth Malak or should he have his own unique name? If you think he needs his own name then I would be open to any suggestions. Thanks for reading and keep reviewing.