Author's notes: The long-awaited reunion of Revan and Bastila is here! This chapter is rather short, but I like to keep the visions as the ending of the chapter, just as the Star Map visions will be the beginnings of 4 chapters (when the Hawk arrives on the planets…duh).

Data - I actually realized that. But you can't do a KoTOR fic without repeating dialogue… but I will try to give less of the in-game and do some more of my own. For example, the character dialogues will be slightly different (my Revan doesn't really want to know about Jolee´s past, for example). The prologue was actually re-written. At first, I wanted it to begin with Revan shouting at the Council that they aren't doing anything to help the Republic and sweep through the Mandalore wars with light speed… but I figured I needed more background on Revan. So, the interludes are extremely hard to write.

Dark Lord Daishi – Until the Rakatan Temple, Bastila is LS… though she really is irritated and frightened by Revan´s behavior. Here's what you've been waiting for.

EDIT: Some dialogue glitches fixed. Many thanks to Data for strict but gentle constructive criticism.

X X X X

Chapter 6 – A vision from the past

X X X X

"So, you are the one that's gonna race with the accelerator. Don't worry, I've fixed it and it shouldn't explode…I hope. Gadon mentioned you've done this before."

Revan was standing near the swoop track, pretending to be listening to the Ithorian technician. One swoop track or another, the controls were the same. She had already raced on several tracks, so being nervous was out of the question. Winning was their only chance of rescuing Bastila. Zaalbar wouldn't fit into the bike. She didn't really have to persuade Carth or Mission that she would be the one riding the swoop bike – they would never admit it, but they were terrified of riding with the unstable accelerator.

The racing pits were not very crowded – there were only a handful of Vulkar and Bek riders there with their technicians. The only other thing there was a large human–sized cage. Revan stopped and looked at the captive.

It was a young woman. Her mahogany hair was effectively bound in two golden clips, a few strands falling loose around her face, one of them tied across her forehead. She was pale-skinned and although her eyes were almost closed, their grayish blue color was occasionally visible when she attempted to break free of the unfocused confusion filling her mind. Unsuccessfully. She was dressed in an outfit clearly meant for slaves – slightly more revealing than what was decent. She seemed to be exhausted from something and her eyes were closed, but Revan quickly noticed the neural disruptor collar on her neck.

So they know.

It was the only reason why she would wear such a device. Things would certainly get interesting now. Trying not to show too much interest, Revan walked to the announcer.

"Ah, yes, you'll be wanting to race. Name?" he asked in Duros.

"Alexa Denali." She quickly answered.

"Let's see who your sponsor is…ah, you're riding for the Hidden Beks. Always liked them. So, are you ready to hit the track? Not literally, of course. We've already lost one rider that way today." He warned.

"I want to race one of my beats."

"Okay, let's get you on the track."

X X X

It was a complete surprise to everyone when she got the top time – less than 26 seconds. That was by far the best time of the last few years and everyone in the pits seemed very impressed that a rookie could post such a time.

"You did it!" The mechanic cheered. "You got the top time! You beat racers who have been doing this for twenty years! This is amazing – someone who's never raced on a swoop before today comes here and…wait. Well, look at that! One of the Vulkars just beat your time! Who-? Ah, it was Redhros. I should have known."

Revan gritted her teeth – she didn't like the smug smile of the Vulkar one bit.

"It's okay, the day ain´t over and the accelerator still works. Just get back out there and show them what you've got!" the Ithorian said.

"Cha skrundee da pat coro-sleemo." Revan muttered in Huttese as she saw the Vulkar´s victorious smirk and walked back to the announcer.

Nobody could believe it – she posted a better time than before, less than 24 seconds. That must've been some new record, but all Revan cared about now was to get Bastila and return to the hideout as soon as possible – they weren't safe here where anyone can see them and the whole planet is watching them.

"You did it again!" the mechanic cheered once more. "Nobody is going to beat that time – nobody! I've never seen someone handle a swoop like that! I guess Gadon knew what he was doing when he picked you to ride for us. The only thing that remains is to wait for your time to become official and collect your prize."

X X X

Everyone was cheering for her as she entered the pits once more.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the winner of this year's swoop race. Put your hands together and show your appreciation for one of the most daring riders this track had ever seen!" the announcer boomed.

Revan bowed slightly to her newfound fans, who continued to cheer for her. Appreciation after such a long time wasn't so bad, she found out.

"Through your skill you have proven to be the premier rider on Taris and brought great victory to the Hidden Bek gang!" the Duros continued. "And now, to present the champion's prize – Brejik, the leader of the Black Vulkars!"

Brejik, the leader of the Vulkars, stepped forth. He was quite young, about thirty, but Revan didn't fail to notice the hidden weapons he was carrying under the military suit. "People, hear me!" Even his voice annoyed her. "Before I present the so-called champion of the Beks with her prize, I must inform you of something! The winning rider cheated!"

"You're a damn liar, Brejik!" Revan hissed.

He turned to her and smirked smugly as if he had a winning card to play. "Your swoop bike was using a prototype accelerator – clearly an unfair advantage!"

Ah, great. And if one of your riders would be using it, that would be all right, now, wouldn't it?

"In result of this Hidden Bek treachery, I am withdrawing the Vulkar´s share of the prize!"

Everyone was astonished.

"You can't do this, Brejik! You know the rules: nobody's allowed to withdraw the victory prize after the race. It goes against all our most sacred traditions!" The Duros announcer snapped.

"You old fool!" Brejik lashed out at him. "Your traditions are nothing to me: I am the wave of the future! If I want to withdraw the prize and sell this woman on the slave market myself, nobody can stop me!"

"I might have something to say about that, Brejik!"

The female voice took everyone by surprise. Within seconds, the cage was open and with a swift kick, the woman that stepped out of it got rid of her guard, taking a double-vibroblade he was armed with.

Brejik was stunned. "What?! Impossible!" he shouted at the sight of the woman. "You were restrained by a neural disruptor! How could you possibly have summoned the will to free yourself?"

"You underestimate the strength of a Jedi's mind, Brejik. A mistake you won't live to regret!" Bastila acidly hissed.

Brejik panicked. "Vulkars, to me! Kill this woman! Kill the swoop rider! Kill them all!"

The pits cleared themselves, the Beks and technicians making a quick get-away. Only about four Vulkars and Brejik remained there. The Vulkars weren't a problem – it took Revan a few seconds to deal with them. Turning around, she saw Bastila battling Brejik. He was also fighting with a vibroblade with which he seemed skilled.

It was pointless to interrupt it with another sword.

Revan smirked to herself. Picking up a heavy blaster from one of the dead Vulkar´s hands, she fired a few precise shots at Brejik. He didn't have Jedi reflexes or a lightsaber, so they hit him in the back and he dropped down dead.

Bastila stepped away from the corpse, making a disgusted face. Then she stalked over to Revan.

"Well maybe next time those bloody Vulkars will think twice about taking a Jedi prisoner. And as for you, if you think you can collect me as a prize..."

"Not that you're of any value, little Jedi." Revan interjected simply.

Bastila raised her gaze to the other woman. She almost jumped back and her eyes widened. "Wait...I don't believe this! You..." she goggled.

"It´s been a while, little Jedi." Revan said, her face a bit warmer, though Bastila hardly noticed.

"How did you end up racing for these swoop gangs?"

Revan waved the question off. "Long story, no time for it now. Let's go before I have to save your sorry Jedi backside again."

"Save me?" Bastila arched an eyebrow, "Why would you do that? I thought you hated me and wished to kill me."

"First things first, Jedi." Revan noted. "Now, grab your things and let´s get the hell out of here."

Bastila crouched and searched Brejik´s corpse for her lightsaber. She also found her usual clothing in a nearby backpack. "Still, it is… interesting… that you risked your own safety for mine." She noted.

"Well, Onasi refused to let me get off this rock until we find you. So can you cheer for the goodness of my heart later?"

"Carth Onasi is alive?" Bastila seemed much happier after hearing the name. "Finally, some good news! Carth is one of the Republic's best soldiers. He's proven himself a hero a dozen times over!"

"How sickening. Can we go now?"

Bastila glared. "How do you know him?"

"I´m with the Republic fleet now. Not that you need to ask. He told me you requested my transfer personally, Jedi." Revan said pointedly, frowning slightly.

Bastila flushed, "Please, take me to Carth right away. Between the three of us, I'm sure we can find some way off this planet before the Sith realize we're here..." she said evasively.

X X X

The racing pits disappeared in a soft twirl of darkness. The surroundings rapidly changed, the track transformed into a vast sea of stars visible behind a thick window of the magnificent starship.

Bastila´s yellow lightsaber clashed against a crimson one. The Dark Jedi fighting her was growing weary and she defeated him with a final blow. He joined the Sith troopers that already lay dead on the floor. There was a single opponent standing in front of her now…the one she came for. To finally put an end to this war…to redeem the fallen Jedi who she once vowed to save. She was facing the Dark Lord of the Sith alone.

The young Padawan prepared for more battle. Two Jedi joined her from either side. Another ran in after them. Bastila´s spirits rose. She gazed at the mask covering the face, knowing that the eyes underneath it were watching her closely, though she didn't see them through the narrow space.

The Dark One. The Faceless One.

Some of the Republic soldiers tortured to insanity and then sent back to the Republic referred to Darth Revan like that.

The Dark Lord was mildly impressed by Bastila´s abilities. Seeing that she would have to battle the strike team alone, she choked a Republic soldier foolish enough to attack her. Darkness was emerging from the Sith Lord. Anger and hatred. It was unwise to attack a cornered predator.

A crimson lightsaber flashed to life.

"You cannot win, Revan!" Bastila said, not knowing what came over her. She knew it was a lie.

The one called Revan, the shadowy dark figure opposing them, struck an offensive battle stance, her saber humming in her hand. The scene seemed to freeze for a moment. There was no avoiding the bloodshed.

But the Force had other intentions.

The other Sith Interdictor opened fire on its sister ship. The unexpected attack succeeded; the bridge began exploding in a rain of sparks. And the Dark Lord fell to the ground, flashes of energy coursing through her cortosis armor, as helpless as she was invincible mere seconds ago. Her power fled from her grasp, her will to live left her when she saw the cause of her downfall. For a moment, the darkness of her hatred diminished and regret passed through her mind.

Then she saw the Jedi, the one she hated the most, Bastila, leaning over her. Fear, pain, but also sorrow was visible on her face. And for a moment, she wished things had been different, before all ended in darkness.