S/N: Onto the Star Forge at last....
The trio returns to the beach and Borden notices Mission swimming along the coast. She waves at them, Juhani strips down to her fatigues and goes out to join Mission. Borden and Jolee share in a laugh though glad to see someone can still have fun even when stuck on a strange world with a temporarily damaged ship. Carth comes out after announcing the stabilizers are functioning as far as he can tell, and the targeting arrays should be ready by evening thanks to Canderous' weaponry expertise. Some are eager for battle and others make the most of the reprieve before the storm above them for now they are within the eye of it, the calmest point.
"You are letting them swim out there, you have no idea what is out there with them…"
"Come on Carth, the water is so clear out there, they would know if something was out there with them…"
"Okay…"
"Go for a swim Carth… we can handle the rest…"
"If you say so…"
***
Borden travels to the Elders' settlement to face their decision as he had been facing the decisions of so many others in the past several months. His mind is patient yet his heart is restless.
"The Scout reported your attempt to dissuade the One from violence and that you were trying to reach a compromise; something unexpected given your past behavior of self-interest governs all policy…"
"It is from his evaluation that we are granting you access again to the Temple though remember this, break our trust again, and you will know a fraction of the torment that the Rakata were capable of at our peak though I suspect you recall the box just the same…"
"I vaguely recall it, but I assure you I will adhere to your rule that only I enter…"
"Very well, the Councilors and I will prepare for the ritual starting this evening, join us by then, it will be ready by first light, only you…"
***
In the shadows of the Temple, the dust blows in the wind as Revan meditates near the Councilors' Circle. The hours drift by like the light rain drops that patter along the Temple's lowering shield, but the barrier at the entrance remains though specific fighters from the Star Forge had the ability to phase through the field. Bastila's presence is radiating from within the Temple, but there is something distorting everything else, an overload of conflicting energies.
As the first light nears, two figures come charging up through the grasses that surround the Temple. Jolee and Juhani are those figures. The Councilors naturally object to their presence as their interruption disrupts the ritual setting them back a time. However Borden reminds them that Jolee and Juhani came over their own accord despite his insistence that they obey the Elders' request.
"Both of us had disturbing visions about things that have happened in there and might happen in there if you face the darkness in there alone…" says Jolee.
"We know Bastila is there as well, you cannot face her on your own despite your growing mastery of the Force…" continues Juhani.
"I am afraid we have to insist on joining him…" remarks Jolee.
"You must understand this is our doing, not his, we would not defy your ritual rules if there were not another way…" says Juhani.
"They understand, I translated telepathically for you, they agreed because both of you spoke with such honesty, devotion, and concern for my safety…" responds Borden.
***
The Temple's built in defense measures engage once they cross the threshold and the resident Dark Jedi or Sith have a field day with the Jedi trio. They battle their way through by the numbers, and there are also several droids alongside them. The main floor sweep ends in a dead end corridor where Borden has a flash of Bastila's captivity here. He stumbles, drops to his knees, and is drawn into the memory from the preceding days while she was chained to the elevated stone table.
"Bastila…" whispers Borden choking on tears.
"The dark side calls to you, Bastila. You hunger to taste it. Become my apprentice, and all its power can be yours!" snarls Malak
"I will never turn to the dark side!" yells Bastila
"We shall see, let this be another taste of it for you," growls Malak.
Bastila experiences the charge of Force lightning in her flesh and bones again. The torture is growing tiresome as it wears against her ability to block Borden from feeling this through the bond. Malak repeats the process for days at time while occasionally leaving her alone in the room in the dark without even a candle. He tries immensely to drain the light from her, but she resists for weeks. Inevitably, she can resist her 'hate' for no longer.
"The Jedi abuse me for my Battle Meditation."
"Yes, that is why you remain their pawn."
"I am no longer an agent of their stagnant agenda."
"Their indecisiveness nearly destroyed the Republic and the Order."
"I am my own woman finally; I am the Lady Bastila, Sith acolyte."
"You will be my apprentice soon enough, and your final test rests with the greatest threat to us all, my former Master, the one that was Revan, but you referred to as Borden."
"Borden is a shadow of what Revan was, he has the raw potential, but is a pawn like I was to the Council, his memories of the Star Maps are the only reason why we finally found this place as you two had years earlier…"
"I suspected as much especially after Nord's demise at Tatooine and Bandon's failure at Manaan, and he has probably had his way with Korriban by now though there has been no word…"
"He has been there or is there now that is my belief, and after that he will inform the Republic of this location though he will come ahead of them, not to face us alone rather to show the way then lead the charge…"
"We shall destroy him, Dodonna's assault fleet, and any Jedi that follow this ridiculous endeavor to defeat us instead, your abilities will prove invaluable to our success, when this is over, you will gain more from joining us than serving them…"
"As it should be Lord Malak, you are the new Dark Lord after all…"
Bastila's Sith eyes haunt him much like his own did when he was a Sith Lord and from his recall of his first time at the Temple's Summit. Jolee kneels next to Borden and smacks him across the face knowing his friend is stuck in a memory trance. Juhani calls out to his name yet he remains unresponsive to them. Tears stream down his face, and then he wipes his eyes before pulling himself up.
"What did you see?" asks Jolee
"Bastila's conversion, she resisted for weeks, but he got her, her 'weaknesses' as anyone would call them 'broke' her for him, but we will save her, I have to save her."
"You will…" continues Juhani.
"When the time comes, we will deal with that, but until then we still have to find a way to the Summit as the access point is still sealed off…" remarks Jolee.
"We need to enter the Catacombs; it has the only terminal that can unseal the ramp to the Summit…"
The trio heads off for the Catacombs, and finds it equally good condition like the Main Floor. An odd platform of glowing squares is between them and the room presumed to house the Temple's central terminal. Borden tells them to stand back while he attempts to discern the pattern to unlock the door. He attempts countless patterns before he reaches what believes the correct one except he did this all his head on the off chance that his pattern is wrong and set off a trap mechanism.
His decided sequence unseals the adjoining chamber and he walks quickly to the terminal then begins accessing its database searching for the system controls for the Summit's doorway. Ll'awa's request for any archival data on the Rakatan Genome and any other genetic research flashes in his mind. He accesses, downloads, and unseals the passageway leading to the Summit.
The Jedi trio doubles back out the Catacombs to the Main Floor then towards the Summit. Another string of flashbacks enter Borden's mind following the failed attempt to capture him when he was the Dark Lord. His body keeps moving yet his spirit travels backwards not forward. An injured yet unharmed Bastila appears over him in the flashback.
***
Two Years Earlier…
Revan's Flagship, Jedi Task force en route to Dantooine
"I am proud of you Bastila…" whispers Revan.
"Easy now, you have taken a direct blunt hit from those ceiling supports, damn Malak."
"He will not have an easy time taking full control, my supporters will block him, though I expect him to eliminate them or persuade them to join…" continues Revan.
"The power vacuum provides an opportunity to beat him, he cannot lead this further without you Revan," remarks Bastila confidently.
"I am afraid you cannot afford to underestimate him, because I knew one day he would try to eliminate me or as the Sith call it, the betrayal, the treachery, which requires that the apprentice remove the master by any means necessary to dominate from a position of strength…"
"He failed… you are still alive…"
"I live for the moment, but I am dying, it takes an immense amount of concentration to prevent this internal injury from killing me, the Council is better off letting me die rather risk another 'fall' on my part…"
"I will not allow it, killing or executing prisoners is not the Jedi way, not mine nor Master Zhar… he took your 'fall' hardest as he trained you at one time though some of the others are set on believing that she had more to do with it than anyone else…"
"She had influence as my Jedi Master, but none have seen or heard from her since the Wars… I already feel my memories slipping away or being routed around by my attempt to heal myself…"
Revan finally drifts off to sleep while Bastila concentrates through the hours to heal him as best she can through this he again challenges her without an actual fight. She runs her fingers through his hair when she falls asleep next to him. The Republic forces aboard ship were busy keeping it flying so she was left to herself. The Jedi that survived the failed assault capture are recovering elsewhere in the fleet or busy helping out on various ships. This effectively leaves her alone with him, as alone as you could get out here in the depths of space.
"I love you Bastila," he whispers to her.
He hardly moves though a faint sign of smile forms on his face as if even in his sleep he could feel her intensity towards him. She kisses his cheek then places her arms around him. She had so earnestly felt a need to return their seemingly carefree days at the Enclave before the Wars and this Civil War. However Revan even in his wounded state knew that world had gone away, all they have left is now, here in this room, a universe unto itself. He thinks wonders if living through this would do any better than dying for this attempt to protect everyone even her from what was really out there.
"You are not afraid to love anymore," whispers Bastila.
"Nothing could make me feel safer than to be loved by you," whispers Revan.
The Present
Ancient Rakatan Temple Summit
The crimson glow of a double blade lightsaber swirls in the shadows inside the distant archway across from the Jedi trio. Jolee and Juhani activate their lightsabers then charge out to meet what they think is a Dark Jedi master, but the shock on their face tells Borden all he needs to know despite already knowing it is her. Juhani is blown backwards by a direct bolt of Force lightning while Jolee absorbs a second blast with his Jar'Kai stance then deflects it towards the already eroding archway. It drops forcing Lady Bastila to divert her attention to it.
"Now you will pay for that Bindo!" growls Lady Bastila
"Will I now, I would like to see you try," chuckles Jolee.
"Laugh while you can because here it comes just for you!"
Jolee is able to deflect the small pieces, but the larger ones keep on coming until Borden force pushes Jolee out the way leaving the debris on a path towards him. Bastila drops her mental reach on the debris before it reaches Borden. She redirects one piece towards Jolee knowing that Borden will either have to defend against her attack and risk Jolee or assist Jolee and risk her getting him before then. Juhani regains her composure and slice the debris as it nears her and Jolee.
Borden had given Juhani a mental nudge while holding his space against Bastila. She looks at him with her not entirely evil grin and taunts him about his past then how he has lost the greatness of his old mantle to a pretender. Borden reminds her about their past together on Dantooine trying to get her to think about their interludes from before and after the Wars. He summons memories of the arboretum, the sparring matches, the cheek kisses, and their eventual confession of an enduring love despite their conflicting allegiances at the time.
"You cannot win Revan," snarls Bastila.
"Who said anything about winning," remarks Borden.
"You can still reclaim your mantle, be Darth Revan again, retake the throne from Malak, and together we can rule and protect as you had intended, the Council is too shortsighted to be entrusted with this task…"
"I am not Darth Revan anymore, he died on that bridge two years ago, I have shards of his pre-Dark Lord essence and memories of his years, my years at the Enclave with you and others…"
"Then you are fool, you have become what I was a pawn for the Order, a fall boy for the Jedi, and I will strike you down just as I will strike Malak down…"
"Malak will kill you before that can happen whether he has the courage to do it himself or fire a barrage from one ship onto another, he will rid himself of you once your purpose is served…"
"I will have no more of your cheap lies and trick memories!"
The blades attack, defend, parry, and then Borden switches his off leaving himself open to attack by her. Jolee and Juhani look on in horror, but as Bastila moves to make the killing blow, she is unable or unwilling to finish him. She curses him before fleeing to her fighter and back to the Star Forge. Borden drops to his knees again knowing it will take more to free her mind as she had freed his two years prior. Juhani and Jolee rush off to him.
"There is still good in her, I felt it as she went to kill me, Malak may have broken her body, but not her mind or her spirit…"
"Why did you deactivate your lightsabers in the middle of duel, she could have killed you, and then we have no one to match Malak in combat…"
"It is like I told him, love will not lead to the dark side, giving into your worst fears will, but never love, love can save you, can save Bastila…"
"I need to shut down the shield around the temple and the disruptor field if the Republic Fleet is to not crash as we have…"
Borden struggles to his feet, clips his sabers to his belt, and operates the Rakatan Terminal. He looks back to Jolee who barely manages a nod while attending to Juhani's lightning burns. The temple shield drops almost immediately then Borden reports the disruptor will not be dragging anyone down again ever. The trio takes their time leaving the Temple as the Elders Councilors watch for their return at the settlement. Borden hands over the genome data to Ll'awa and afterward they leave with the promise of the Star Forge's destruction at last.
***
The Republic Fleet drops out of hyperspace at the edge of the Star Forge System. Forn Dodonna sends out a general call to her commanders and a holographic session begins to map out a plan for an attack on the Sith Fleet guarding the Star Forge. There is an agreement that the Forge must go down as well in order to ensure a crippling defeat for the Sith. However Master Zhar expresses concern about the fate of the Ebon Hawk, but Master Vandar interrupts when the Hawk appears on long range sensors as it is coming up from the Unknown World. Holograms of Borden and Carth appear alongside the others.
"The Star Forge's planetary countermeasures are offline so we will not have to worry about losing anyone when we pass near despite our abrupt encounter with it after arriving in system… it is ancient alien technology, the Builders or the Rakata as we have learned have long since lost ability to control it…"
"I am not prepared to risk our numbers on destroying something we never engaged before…"
"Nearly all the new Sith technology was made there, it has to be destroyed if you want to cut their endless reinforcements on the technological front…"
"I am inclined to agree with Padawan Borden."
"So how do we approach it because Malak is obviously around here somewhere and Bastila is his new apprentice after Bandon met his end while hunting us?"
"Bastila's Battle Meditation is likely to be used against us, you must confront her, and we must divert her attention from the battle…"
"You are not suggesting killing her…"
"Understand this well, she has fallen to the dark side, she is a risk to our triumph over Malak…"
"I will consider it, but there are alternatives to killing Master Vrook…"
"You will not defy the Council on this…"
"Enough gentlemen, we have a battle to fight, our snub fighters and Jedi starfighters will cover your approach while the rest of the Fleet engages the Sith capital ships…"
***
The Aureks cover the Hawk's approach vector while the Republic assault fighters cover the Aureks. Several are shot to pieces and others follow the Hawk into the nearest landing bay. Canderous puts on the helmet he took from the dead Mandalorian then takes his best ranged weapons out of storage. Carth trades his flight suit for armor bought from Suvam as does Mission. Zaalbar wears a scabbard for Bacca's blade and carries his modified bowcaster. Borden assigns each group a Jedi so that means he will lead one group, Juhani another, and Jolee with the last group that will cover the ship.
Juhani travels with Mission and Zaalbar while Borden takes Carth and Canderous, while Jolee remains on the ship with the droids. The Jedi Knights that made it pass the automated defenses soon find themselves facing the first of the Dark Jedi in the Forge's Hangar Bays. The leader of the Jedi strike team tells the Ebon Hawk crew to keep going; pockets of Jedi will hold the Star Forge personnel while they deal with the bigger problems. Juhani's team and Borden's team travel together until the first juncture.
"See you on the other side," shouts Borden.
"Good luck to us all," yells Juhani.
"In my experience there is no such thing as luck," chuckles Jolee through the comlink.
Star Forge
Viewing Platform/Command Center
"My Lord, the Jedi are on the Star Forge, and the Republic forces are holding against our forces in space… what are your orders?" asks a Dark Jedi Master
"Who could have…? I should have expected this given that she came back with that look on her face like he had outwitted her emotionally and mentally. You will deploy the Star Forge Assault droids against the Jedi from the Ebon Hawk crew," snarls Malak.
"As you wish My Lord," replies the Dark Jedi Master.
Darth Malak descends to the Command Center to ensure Lady Bastila's Battle Meditation will turn the tide against the Jedi-Republic forces assaulting the Star Forge. If the droids and his forces in the Star Forge fail then it is up to him to really strike down his former master. He is confident, he is arrogant, he is bold, but even the slightest trace of doubt and fear worms around inside his mind.
"These tactics will only delay him, he is relentless, so you will have to hold him or really kill him this time Lady Bastila or he will kill you…"
"Yes Lord Malak…"
Malak departs back to the Viewing Platform to await Revan or Borden depending on which persona he felt compelled to associate the ex-Sith with at this stage. He senses a conflicting struggle not just within himself, but Bastila and the echo of what was once Darth Revan. It would not end like this, he would not permit it, but somehow the words of Revan's old master come now to him as well. He had nearly forgotten her though most were under the belief she had died during the Wars though Malak had his doubts as another of their numbers in those days was also thought dead too.
"If you were to face an ancient Sith Lord in combat, you would learn that we are as children playing with toys compared to the prowess of the old Masters."
"I always did hate it when the masters used to seem right, but somehow I never did doubt her words."
***
"Their lines are holding despite our attacks, it must be Bastila's Battle Meditation, if your strike team does not reach her in time, we will have to fall back otherwise, Malak will succeed in destroying the reserves leaving what is left of the Republic Navy for pickings…" yells Dodonna
"We must keep faith in our soldiers and warriors in there…" replies Master Vandar.
"The calmness of your voice will not assuage her concerns…" remarks Master Zhar.
"You must stop being so stick your neck in it like Zhar…" retorts Master Vrook.
"I tire of your cynicism, I admit it there were inescapable legacies of training the likes of Revan, Malak, and now Bastila so please take your judgmental attitude elsewhere, we have a battle on our hands!" shouts Zhar
Vrook backs down not wanting Zhar to see that he clearly gotten under the aging Human Jedi Master's skin. Zhar resumes his place next to Vandar who looks rather pleased to see Zhar finally expressing him directly to someone he disagrees with for a change. The snub fighters flurry about the ship to ship fire between warships and capital ships.
***
"The droids were all destroyed my Lord, I have sent all Dark Jedi and Sith forces available to slow them down though I consider at this point…"
Malak hurls the Dark Jedi Master into the bulkhead crushing the man's skull, which bleeds all over the window before the Forge's maintenance system cleans up the mess. He glares out the view port to watch the ongoing collision of ships in the darkness of space. The only light in the system is the star that powers the Star Forge's power grids that seems to outshine the dark side energies from his followers. He silently curses Revan's survival knowing this can only end with one of them dying a physical death.
"All remaining personnel engage the Jedi strike team working its way into the Star Forge towards the Command Center and my location," says Malak through the com system.
***
"This is a delaying tactic," remarks Canderous.
"I could tell that from the moment we got into this section, there seems no end to their numbers especially here," retorts Carth.
"Focus people, we have to get to Malak as soon as possible," continues Borden.
The Jedi, the Mandalorian, and the soldier press onward to the next deck where more Jedi and the other team are battling the rushes or waves of enemy reinforcements. Borden begins to run then uses Force Speed to reach Juhani's team and the other Jedi. Carth and Canderous pace down the same ramp Borden is using in an attempt to catch up to him. Borden takes out an oncoming rank of Sith Elites and Dark Jedi who are again no match for the ex-Sith Lord.
"We will hold the line, you three need to press on, there are other battles to be fought, you know what I mean Borden," says Juhani.
"I know, I just thought you could use the help," replies Borden.
"I know, but move quickly, the battle in space is reaching a deadlock, a stalemate will force a retreat by Dodonna, if she falls back now the Sith will obliterate her ships leaving a scarce number of Republic warships all across the Republic…"
"I am on my way, but I ask that you convince the other Jedi survivors here to fall back with you to the Hangar Bays because when this is done, we will have to be out of here quickly…"
"I understand, now go!" shouts Juhani
Borden, Carth, and Canderous forge ahead to board an elevator that should get them to a section designated the Command Center, to Bastila. The ride feels like an eternity. Borden takes the time to meditate briefly while the others check their weapons, replace clips, and holster them before switching to their melee weapons. The doors slide apart to reveal more Dark Jedi and Sith Elites waiting for their arrival. Borden charges out first employing the Shien and Djem-So techniques against the selected company. His lightsaber mastery becomes all the more apparent as he carves a path through the relentless waves of enemies especially here on the Star Forge.
Borden feels waves of calmness upon him like the waters of Rakata. He hears the winds of from Tatooine as his body adjusts to the coldness in the Star Forge corridors. The echoing silence is reminiscent of Korriban while the star that powers the war machine is as bright as the sun that renews the grasslands on Dantooine. The function over form is contrary to the wroshyr trees of Kashyyyk. Carth and Canderous slice their way through to keep up with Borden.
A Dark Jedi trio blocks their path to the Command Center so Borden heads for the leader while switching back to Jar'Kai before crossing blades. Carth instead rams the Dark Jedi off the side of the walkway down into bottomless pit that all Star Forge pathways are built over given the vertical depth of the station. Canderous fights briefly then kicks the other Dark Jedi off the walkway as well. The Force barrier surrounding the door drops and the trio enters to see a dark cloaked figure in a meditation position while generating a Battle Meditation outward and away from the room.
"You should not have come back, but now your failure is complete, so again I offer you a chance to reclaim the mantle, to be the leader you always were to these Sith, to be with me without the attachment taboos of the Order, and more…" says Bastila.
"You know me Bastila, I am relentless, I never give up, the mantle is no longer mine and it will never be yours, we can be together despite the Council or the Order," replies Borden.
"Revan stop being a fool, we can rule the Galaxy together, make it the way we want it to be…"
"You remember what I told you atop the Summit, remember the way we were on the journey to find this place, remember the way we were before these wars, before I offered myself up to the Dark Side, and the Council made an indifferent use of your abilities…"
"If you will not join me, then you will die, and I will fight Malak alone eventually…"
"When your usefulness ends he will eliminate you somehow… he needs pliable and you will never be pliable despite his 'success' at converting you… remember how you said what better weapon than to turn an enemy to your cause…"
"You remember that conversation?" whispers Bastila
"I do not forget easily though I was forgiven by the crew though more importantly by you, you made a swing to forgive me when I was set on dying or worse after Malak's attempt to kill me during your attempt to capture me…"
Bastila flings both Carth and Canderous into nearby walls knocking them out before activating her crimson double blade. Borden reluctantly duels while not using the full extent of his newest abilities from the visit to Korriban. She is far more aggressive in her usual stance, and makes no use of Soresu, a commonplace stance for Jedi with her kind of training. She instead employs a variant of Shien against him, but his understanding of form surpasses hers allowing him to breach it.
"The Star Forge is steep in the dark side thus I am renewed…"
"You might be channeling the dark side, but you are not Sith!"
"You never saw a fault in being both sides, you were one of the few to recognize the failure of the Jedi teachings, I know that now, I saved your life thinking you could be redeemed, now I see the error in that because it makes it that much harder to bring you back to the dark side with me…"
"I was young, I made decisions on the fly, I had a thirst for learning, I went to the front thinking I was saving the Republic from the Mandalorians, but something worse is out there, worse than them or these new Sith…"
"Malak made no mention of that…"
"He subscribes to the belief that Sith are only as they exist now, that prior incarnations only lost because of the Jedi and internal struggles between rivals…"
"I take it that you know he is wrong…"
"You remember hearing about the final battle of the Wars…"
"Malachor V?" whispers Bastila
"Yes there is where my plan to militarize the Republic began, but Malak knows nothing of the place. I made certain he never would simply because if he could then worse things would have followed his attempt to kill me then assume my place at the head of the new Sith dynasty…"
"The militarization can still happen under your tenure, you see you need my help to ensure its success…"
"The way will not work, I found that out the moment sides started forming after the attack on Foerost despite its success proved my suspicions that even the Republic did not deserve such a fate even if it was meant to protect… on this quest I have seen all of us come face to face with struggles we had to face alone even though others could be at our side…"
Bastila moves to attack again and Revan deflect her blows with ease. He slices her double blade in half and shorting it out in the process. She whips out two new sabers and ignites them then continues her attack. The pair begins an awkward clash through Jar'Kai techniques however Borden is the better duelist of the pair. Canderous starts to come around and watches them duel as Carth jolts back from his knocked out state.
"He is impressive, it is like he is riding that swoop all over again only better, but she is not quick enough, he could just as easily kill her now or she will beg him to do so though her body language suggests that too."
"She will come around I am sure of it."
"We will see Onasi…"
"Yes we shall Ordo…"
Borden slices a lighting power line, which darkens the Commander Center and finally shows on the larger holo-projector that the Sith lines are eroding without Bastila's Battle Meditation though not enough to crack them for the Republic warships. Borden sees this clearly and Bastila takes another swing though Borden blocks it with only second to spare. He switches off his lightsabers and just stands there.
"You were unwise to lower your defenses; your foolish move will be your end…"
"I thought you wanted my help against Malak…"
"I do need you…"
"Then why fight me like this?"
"I do not know anymore… I have fallen… kill me…"
Her voice is cracking, tears stream down her face, and she drops her sabers, and then deactivates them. Her eyes revert back to their gray-blue mixture as she stares at him imploring the look for him to kill her. He switches of his sabers before her, and wraps his arms around her. She wraps her arms around him in the same moment.
"None deserve an execution, not while there is a shot at redemption…"
Her tears slow, but she smiles knowing that he never did intend to kill her despite her pleas. Jolee had been proven right, love really can save you, as much it hurts it allows the healing to begin anew. She kisses him intensely, and he returns it as the other men stare at them in shock. Canderous is shocked at his boldness, allowing her an opportunity to kill him, yet she is unable because killing him would be like her killing herself, her love for him is too great. It outshines the shadows of her contempt for the Council, and Malak's attempt to convert her to his side.
"I love you Borden with all my heart…" whispers Bastila.
"You aren't afraid to love again?" says Borden
"After this, no, nothing could make me feel safer than to be loved by you."
A genuine smile cracks the hardness Borden had worn most of the time since her capture and conversion to Malak's following. He kisses her again as the others approach them. He helps her up and directs the men to get her out of her as soon as it seems that the station is going to fall into the star. He insists on that particularly as he will rejoin them as soon as he can otherwise he will find an alternate route off the falling war machine.
"Be careful my love, and May the Force be with you still…"
"I intend to, after all it is me you know, and may the Force keep you safe too…"
"Enough with the mush, we have a battle to finish okay…"
"For once I actually agree with him entirely, shocking is it not?"
Borden clips his lightsabers to his belt and heads off for the only elevator to the Viewing Platform. Bastila redirects her Battle Meditation to the Jedi-Republic forces finally allowing them to break through the Sith cordon. Carth and Canderous keep watch on her as Onasi seeks to save her for Borden's dedication while Ordo protects her out of loyalty to the man that in many ways still resembles his Revan alter ego.
***
"There is a significant break forming in their lines… Red Wing move in, Green and Blue follow when I give the orders…" orders Dodonna over her headset.
"Red Wing Aureks on the move…" replies Red Leader.
"Bastila is no longer using her Battle Meditation against us, she is using it on us again, Borden did it," chuckles Zhar.
"You got lucky Zhar," retorts Vrook.
"Regardless, Borden did the same for Juhani back on Dantooine, and I trust you remember Bastila's words about redemption…"
"She is capable, but has much to learn…"
"I shall never bother trying to convince you that there are things about the Force or about people you will never understand given your years on the Council. You need to be out there to understand it, not always within the Enclave training Jedi to be whatever you believe is the right way…"
"Let us just finish this because afterwards we still have to pick up the pieces…"
"I have taken responsibility; you still have yet to take yours…"
"Enough Zhar, I am tired of you…"
"Gentlemen please," insists Vandar.
"The Sith Fleet is in disarray, all destroyers and cruisers move in, capital ships cover them, we are pressing…" continues Dodonna.
A Sith Interdictor class battleship crumbles under constant barrage and falls towards the star below. The dogfights between fighters are a frenzy of lights while the Star Forge's turbolasers concentrate on the Republic warships. The Sith lines crumble, but there are still enough active units in play to slow the advance though not stop it or even turn it back now.
***
"We need to fall back to the Hawk now," shouts Mission.
"I agree, they are relentless, and both of you are nearly out of ammo," replies Juhani.
Mission climbs onto to Zaalbar's back and the Wookiee charges out taking multiple hits from Elites though presses forward despite the pain and blood loss. Juhani deflects shots back at the newest wave of attackers and senses the tide is shifting across the board. She smiles knowing Borden's successes are mounting, but the real last challenge of the Star Forge awaits him at the top.
***
Canderous takes point as Carth and Bastila follow him to another elevator that will hopefully get them straight back to hangar in time to escape. The dark monument to the Infinite Empire is about to become another footnote in the Galactic Archives though unlikely for the same reason that Revan's survival had not been shared two years earlier. The trio's return to the Hangar Bay coincides with Juhani's team returning from the scene of the earlier fights. The Star Forge personnel continue to assault them, but Zaalbar requires Jolee's medical expertise.
HK-47 takes the injured Wookiee's place in the defense of the Hawk. They cannot hold out indefinitely and once the Star Forge starts to plummet into the star, the departure would need to be quick. Carth heads aboard and finds Dustil reloading weapons for Canderous. He asks his son if he has any experience at presetting departure programs, and the younger Onasi shines saying I learned from the best aside from what little you taught me about ships as a kid. He tells his son to program the Hawk's helm for an accelerated departure knowing an escape from here would need to be quick to avoid being sucked down with the station into the star.
Carth carries out reloaded weapons to Mission and Canderous who are busy firing away at the Elites while Bastila and Juhani handle the Dark Jedi acolytes. He resumes firing too while Dustil programs the helm with an accelerated departure protocol. He heads back to the Main Hold and activates the central console's holo-projector to track the space battle. The Republic is really turning the tide and the capital ships are nearing the station at last.
"We are really counting on you now Borden…" murmurs Dustil.
***
"It will take more Star Forge droids and all your available acolytes to stop me Malak, but it is not too late to end this…" shouts Borden.
"I am afraid this is the end for you my former Master…" snarls Malak.
"It did not have to be this way…" responds Borden.
"It did… one way or another it ends here…" retorts Malak.
Malak falls back to the observation deck of the Viewing Platform and Borden follows slowly being cautious of possible ambushes, but then there is a Force overload as he senses multiple Force sensitives in range of him. However they are not moving, not alive, yet somewhere between living and dying. Borden advances with lightsabers in hand ready to switch them like he had always done.
"The war is never over, but this battle will end eventually…" says Borden.
"This battle is on, it will not end until one of us is dead, as for those ships out there, they are a symptom of a much larger situation, a shadow meant to block us out of history, you see Revan, the real battle is the one between beings, between those who channel the Force…" responds Malak.
"Perhaps, but no game of dejarik can be won without all the pieces in play."
"You sound like your old Master when you talk like that…"
A/N 1: I go through much of the Star Forge interior fight rather quickly once they are inside. I tried to utilize everyone even though the game only you and two others to go out as usual. I would tend towards using Jolee and Juhani or Canderous and Carth. I tried to get everyone into the field except for the droids and Dustil. I know Dustil doesn't go with you after Korriban, but I thought I could use the opportunity to have father and son start their next journey.
A/N 2: I do a fair amount of flashbacks only because you only have so much to go on in the game and because this is my version of a Revan/Bastila romance I thought it made sense for them trying to keep each other alive.
A/N 3: My dislike for Vrook resurfaces only because I had him and Zhar on Dodonna's ship with Vandar.
A/N 4: The duel happens next chapter... I just thought I would end this one with a lead-in.