Revan stared out of the control room, looking over the Star Forge with pride. She had done it. It was hers.
"What now, Master?" Malak's voice grated on the last word. He still grudged her the victory with which she had won the title Dark Lord.
"Now we have to make it strong. Whatever the cost. It must be the strongest thing in existence, in the galaxy, or even beyond the Outer Rim. Incapable of defeat." Revan looked back at her apprentice, her yellowing eyes seeming to stare right through him. "Go assemble the troops."
"Yes, Master." The metallic replacement jaw disguised any emotion that may have been in his voice. Revan knew she would have to watch him. He was bigger and stronger than her. If she wasn't wary, wasn't ready, he might catch her off guard. She could still beat him, she was sure, but she really didn't want to have to go through the hassle of finding a new apprentice.
"Kenna. Kenna!" Someone was shaking her. "Kenna, dammit, come on!" That's Carth. But I thought he got killed. I thought I got killed. The floor was uncomfortable. She pried her eyes open and tried to sit up. Oh, Force, bad idea! She hissed in pain. "Easy." A hand rested on her shoulder as she leaned forward, world spinning in a pool of agony. Finally things settled and she looked over at Carth.
"You look awful," she croaked. He did. His face was deathly pale, which made the huge bruise on his forehead stand out even more vividly.
"I'm fine. You okay?" Kenna nodded. "Don't ever scare me like that again, beautiful, or I'll kill you myself," he whispered, trying to joke, but she could see the fear in his eyes.
"Deal." Kenna leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "What happened? I thought you were, um, dead. I thought I was dead."
"Well, for one thing, we're back to me only owing you four." He grinned. "Jolee finished off the couple that were left after you were knocked unconscious."
"Death field," was all Jolee said when Kenna shot him a questioning look. They both knew combat was not a Consular's strong suit.
"Ah. I see. I thought you didn't like to use that."
"I don't. It's not like those damn Sith gave me much choice," the old Jedi pointed out.
"True. Thank you, Jolee." Kenna shifted position, climbing awkwardly to her feet. She rested one hand on Carth's shoulder to steady herself when the world started spinning again.
He wrapped one arm around her waist. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Kenna smiled wryly. "Do I have a choice? I have to beat Malak."
"Malak can wait. You can't beat him if you can barely stand."
"Thank you, Captain Paranoid," Kenna teased, knowing he was right. "Maybe a few minutes won't hurt."
She was so stubborn. Carth smiled. What is it with me and falling in love with stubborn women? "That's more like it, beautiful." He made her wait five more minutes before they continued on, ignoring the sighs of impatience and death glares she aimed in his direction.
She would never admit it, but she had needed the break, short as it was. However, with the fate of the Republic, not to mention the galaxy, hanging in the balance, Kenna refused to wait any longer. "We need to get going." She pushed away from the wall that had been supporting her weight and offered Carth a hand up. He took it. She knew he probably thought she should rest longer, but there wasn't time. "C'mon, handsome," she teased, heading towards the door.
"Right behind you, beautiful." Hoping they were nearing the heart of the space station, Kenna slapped the control button. A small group of dark Jedi waited at the bottom of the sloping ramp down.
"There's only three of them," Jolee muttered suspiciously. Kenna agreed with the caution in his tone. The entire Sith force had to know they were here. For there to only be three dark Jedi waiting for them made her think there were more waiting to come running after Kenna's party was already engaged in combat. But they didn't really have any choice, they had to go forward.
"Let's get it over with," she sighed, activating her lightsaber and charging at the trio at the base of the ramp. One of the Dark Jedi smirked and made some comment about how Malak would reward them for killing Revan as she turned to meet Kenna's charge. Well, you won't be getting any reward, Kenna thought as she cut her down without much trouble. The other two were a little tougher. One wouldn't stop calling up Force waves, and the other seemed to have a sadistic love of draining life. Kenna lost track of the number of times she and Jolee used Death field to simultaneously heal some of their injuries and weaken their opponents. Finally, the dark Jedi took a break from Force wave, and instead attempted Stasis field. He managed to catch Jolee and Kenna, but Carth somehow managed to resist. Not again! Kenna grumbled to herself as she was forced to watch the rest of the fight.
Carth took advantage of the way the dark Jedi's attack left him open and rammed one of his swords into the man's side. As the body slid to the floor, he was already in combat with the other dark Jedi. The man was good, and, having hung back for most of the fight, was less worn out than Carth. However, the one area where Carth had him beat was motivation. Knowing the woman he loved--as well as the whole galaxy--needed him to survive beat hollow the fear instilled in Malak's followers. He had to win. The stubborn resolve to not let Kenna down, whatever it took, drove him to fight more ferociously than the dark Jedi expected from someone so obviously not a Force user. His arrogance was his undoing, as his surprise at Carth's skill slowed his reaction time just enough to allow the Echani foil to take off his head.
The Stasis had worn off at about halfway through Carth's fight with the second dark Jedi, but Kenna didn't interfere. She knew Carth could handle one measly dark Jedi, a belief that was confirmed when he sliced the man's head off a couple seconds later. "I knew there was a reason I brought you along."
He shot her that adorable crooked grin she loved. "Now we're down to three in your favor."
"Two," she corrected. "There were two of them, you took care of both of them, so we're down to two you owe me."
"Whatever you say." He wrapped one arm around her neck, pulled her close, and kissed the top of her head.
Kenna giggled before pulling away. Amazing how easily he can make me go from being "the Savior of the Galaxy" or whatever to a giggling pile of mush. That's love for you, I guess. "Come on, we need to find Bastila." She wasn't relishing the encounter. She knew she would at least have to fight her friend, maybe even kill her. But no one is beyond redemption. Not even Revan. Certainly not Bastila. Maybe I can convince her to come back to the light. I have to try. Whatever the cost.
Carth could tell Kenna was contemplating what to do. He knew she didn't want to fight or kill Bastila. Despite the Padawan's preachy-to-the-point-of-annoying attitude, everyone on the Hawk knew she lectured Kenna so much because she was concerned, and the two had had a tenuous friendship before she sacrificed herself to allow them to escape. He wasn't exactly happy about the idea of encountering her again, either, if he was honest. But it was necessary, so he followed Kenna up the ramp to the door behind where the Dark Jedi had been waiting.
Kenna pushed the button that opened the door, feeling through the Force that a powerful enemy waited on the other side. The dark side was strong ahead. The door hissed open. The room was dominated by a holographic map of the space battle raging outside. And underneath stood the source of the darkness Kenna had sensed. Bastila, her back facing them as she used her Battle Meditation to aid the Sith. She whirled at the sound of the door opening, her face twisting with a mix of fury and delight. One hand shot out, Stasis freezing Carth and Jolee where they stood before the door hissed closed again and sealed, separating Kenna from them.
"Revan--I knew you'd come for me," Bastila sneered, slipping her lightsaber free of her belt.
"I'll never give up on you, Bastila. I know you can still be saved," Kenna replied as she pulled her own 'saber free, not at all surprised when the younger woman scoffed.
"You are wasting your time. I have seen the Jedi for what they are: weak and afraid," Bastila declared imperiously. "The Sith are the Masters of the Force. You have forgotten that lesson, Revan. Now you must pay the price. Here on the Star Forge the power of the dark side is at its strongest. This time you will not defeat me!" She attacked.
Kenna blocked her swing, separating her emotions from the fight as everything in her rebelled at the idea. Despite Bastila's continued use of Force storm in addition to her lightsaber attacks, Kenna still wore her down rather quickly. "I see now why Malak followed you," Bastila panted. "Even though you are only a shell of your former self, you are still a formidable opponent. I can't even imagine the power you must have wielded when you were the Dark Lord. You were a fool to give it all up and follow the light side."
Kenna shook her head. "You've been consumed by the dark side, Bastila. Can't you see it's destroying you?"
"The dark side has made me stronger than I ever was before!" Bastila retorted. "I have a greater command of the Force than all but the most powerful Jedi Masters. As Malak teaches me the greatest secrets of the Sith, I will unlock more of my potential. Eventually there will be no limit to what I can accomplish with the Force."
"Malak will never let you become that powerful. He will kill you first," Kenna said, stalling while she desperately scrambled to form a convincing argument in her head.
Bastila shook her head in disgust. "Have you forgotten the ways of the Sith already, Revan? Eventually I will challenge my Master. If I am worthy, he will die by my hand and I will become the new Sith Master. Then I will take on my own apprentice and the cycle will begin again. This is the way of the Sith. It is how we assure our leaders are always the strongest and most worthy."
And to think I once considered that a sound plan. "You're dooming yourself to an endless cycle of death and betrayal."
"No, Revan. It is you who are doomed!" Bastila spat contemptuously as she attacked again. Again Kenna met her with detached indifference. Trying not to think of the fact she might soon have to kill her friend. She's so far gone. Can I save her? I have to try. No one is beyond redemption, I'm proof of that. She carefully held back, using only enough of her Force and strength to wear Bastila down, weakening her without killing her. "You are growing weary, I can sense it!" Bastila crowed breathlessly, backing down, at least momentarily. "Your strength falters, the light side is failing you while the power of the Star Forge reenergizes me! Soon this will all be over!"
Kenna smirked. "I have not faltered, Bastila. You have been misled by the dark side."
Almost as if sensing the strength still welling up in her opponent, Bastila fell back on the Sith mantra. "The dark side will always triumph over the light! Malak has assured me of victory! You can't defeat me here on the Star Forge!" she hollered, desperation underlying her voice, "YOU CAN'T!" She attacked again. Kenna took a moment to heal--better safe than sorry--before counter-attacking. This time, driven by desperation, Bastila actually proved to be slightly challenging. Kenna still managed to beat her. "No, this is not possible!" Bastila exclaimed in disbelief, sounding like she was reciting a well-learned lesson. "You have rejected the dark side, you are a weak and pathetic servant of the light! How can you still stand against me? Why can't I defeat you?" she demanded in frustration.
"Now you see the dark side is not stronger than the light," Kenna said, struggling to keep the smirk off her face and the smugness out of her voice.
Bastila nodded, conceding the point. "Yes, I see you speak the truth. I am no match for you. Please, for the sake of what we once shared, do not make me suffer," she pleaded. "End my life quickly. There's no other way."
Kenna's heart broke for her friend. "There's no need for me to kill you, Bastila," she said gently, deactivating her lightsaber and letting the hilt hang loosely in her hand.
"What other choice do you have?" Bastila asked miserably. "I have fallen to the dark side, I am the apprentice of the Dark Lord himself. You cannot let me live."
"You can reject the dark side, Bastila. Return to the light," Kenna urged, desperately hoping it wasn't too late. I don't want to have to kill a friend.
"No, I'm not strong enough," Bastila replied sadly. "There is too much anger inside me now. Too much hatred and fear. I can no longer find peace in the Force." There was such regret in her tone that Kenna was more determined than ever to redeem her. Whatever the cost.
"Turn to the Jedi Code, Bastila," she encouraged. "It can help."
"I doubt mere words can help me now," Bastila sighed, "but to appease you I will recite them: 'There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no chaos; there is harmony'…" She paused. "Strange, but even now I find comfort in these words. I…suppose old habits die hard." She finished, "'There is no death; there is the Force.' Thank you, Revan. I am ready to face my fate now." She still bore the look of someone doomed to die, but there was peace on her face.
Kenna wasn't as ready to give up on her. "Look into your heart, and you will find the light."
"I…I know a flicker of the light still burns within me," Bastila stammered. "Malak felt it too. He knew it could only be extinguished if I killed you. But what good is a single flicker of light against the sea of darkness I am drowning in?" she asked hopelessly. "I can never atone for my betrayal."
"Help us defeat the Sith, Bastila. This will atone for what you have done." Kenna felt the flicker of hope flare in her friend as she spoke.
"Yes," Bastila said slowly. "I…could join you in your battle against the Dark Lord. That alone would not make up for all I have done, yet…it would be a step in the right direction. But how would you be able to trust me? How do you know I wouldn't turn on you when you faced Darth Malak? How do you know the dark side wouldn't make me betray you again?"
They were valid concerns. "I trust you enough to leave myself open to your attack, Bastila," Kenna pointed out, briefly raising her deactivated lightsaber in one hand as proof.
"You play a dangerous game," Bastila said softly. "Are you certain you wish to take this risk? I could end your life and gain Malak's favor with a single stroke of my lightsaber."
Whatever the cost, Kenna reminded herself as she continued her walk down the knife's edge. "You won't, Bastila," she replied with certainty. "I know you still serve the light side."
"You are brave indeed…and some would say foolish. But you are also right. The dark side has not wholly consumed me. I cannot raise my blade against you. I should stay here though. If we face Malak I am afraid his dark presence will overwhelm me. It would not be wise to expose myself to such temptation."
Kenna had to admit she was right. "You could stay here and use your Battle Meditation to aid the Republic fleet," she suggested.
Bastila nodded. "Yes, that would be for the best," she agreed. "You don't need me to defeat Malak anyway. Now I understand that a true Jedi is a match for any Sith. Even the Dark Lord himself. I will stay here in the chamber and use my Battle Meditation to aid the Republic fleet. I am their only hope of destroying the Star Forge and ending the Sith menace. You must go and face Malak, but you have to hurry," she said urgently. "Once I turn the battle in the Republic's favor we won't have much time to escape the Star Forge before it is destroyed. Good luck…and may the Force be with you."
Relieved the cost had been worth it, Kenna smiled at Bastila, then headed for the control center of the Star Forge. May the Force be with you, too. Friend.
As soon as the Stasis wore off, Carth went at the door, cursing under his breath when the controls didn't respond. Bastila had done something to them. He could hear the distinctive sizzle of lightsabers clashing in a hotly contested fight on the other side. He considered kicking the door, but knew all he would get out of that would be a sore foot. His armor wasn't that good. He couldn't pick the lock, couldn't bash down the door. He couldn't help Kenna. "Damn it!" The curse in no way summed up all his frustration, but he needed to vent somehow.
"We can't help her anymore. She has to face Malak alone." Jolee stood back. "You knew she would have to do it alone. Save the galaxy whatever it costs her."
"Even her life?" Carth demanded, spinning angrily to face the old man.
"Yes. There is only one thing I know for a fact she won't sacrifice. You. That's why we're not supposed to fall in love. It complicates the whole 'being willing to sacrifice yourself' thing immensely." Jolee placed a restraining hand on Carth's arm as he prepared to go at the door again. "Let her go. We should get back to the ship and get everyone ready to leave. When Kenna wins we need to be ready to make tracks."
"You're right," Carth admitted with extreme reluctance, casting one last despairing glance at the sealed door. The two headed back for the ship. Not having to fight their way through a forest of Sith minions made it considerably easier. Halfway back to the Hawk, Jolee stopped dead in his tracks, raising one hand to cut off Carth's wondering as to what was going on.
A slow smile spread across his face a few seconds later. "Come on, we need to hurry."
"What was that all about?" Carth demanded, walking faster to match the old Jedi's pace.
"She redeemed Bastila." Jolee's grin grew even wider. "I don't know how she did it, but Kenna got Bastila to return to the light. Which means she'll be using her Battle Meditation to aid the Republic, which means we need to be ready to take off the second Kenna sets foot on the Ebon Hawk."
"I'll say," Carth muttered as they hurried through the deserted halls of the space station.