Author's notes: Sorry it took so long – I had some busy weeks, plus I needed to play KotOR II some more to be able to do this chapter properly – I've always wanted to write the scene when Revan returns to Kreia and asks her for the final lesson. So, here it is – a flashback! Spoilers for KotOR II, though mostly just about Kreia. Did I mention I like Kreia? She's crazy, but good.

Anyway, somewhat of an Exile cameo here, though not really – not sure if I'll be doing a male or female Exile yet, but I have a plot twist already ready (heh, that rhymes). KotOR II rocks, even though the ending is really brief. Kreia rocks the show, even though she's you-know-who and you-know-what and I honestly think I fell in love with Atton. Strange, considering I'm not a big fan of Han Solo-ish characters and I wasn't that obsessive about Carth.

Chocolate this week for anyone who can find the half-quote from one of the Phantom of the Opera songs here – should be easy. I love that story… really, I do. I just have no idea how Christine can be so stupid and pick Raoul. Not to mention in the movie, where the Phantom is the embodiment of the word "sexy" (faints & quickly jumps back to her feet) and Raoul looks, um… like Disciple, you could say. (whacks Christine on the head) Idiot girl! Ahem! Anyway, on with the KotOR-ing!!!

Darth Jenrai – (hands half of a chocolate bar) You got one quote right. I had to use it… Voldemort is just too damn cool… especially in book 4. And book 2… Tom Riddle… (dreamy eyes)…Ahem, um… yeah… where was I? Oh, yes. The second quote was: "He's here. He's come." That's a Frodo quote from Osgiliath when the Ringwraith flies into the city. Only with "they" instead of "he".

Dark Lord Daishi – hey, it's my fic, so I can make Malak do what I want him to do! (enters dancedancemalak cheat) See:-D Don't worry, he´s not gonna survive the fic… I think. Heh, kidding. It´s going to be tragic, no matter the alignment. Yes, we all love HK-47. One Korriban pizza, coming right up!

Passon – (waves her hand a bit, muttering about weird English grammar) Ignore that. I'll change it when I have time. Thanks & read on.

X X X

Intermezzo VII – Beyond

X X X

"At one time, Revan was my Padawan. At times past, long ago."

"Revan was power. It was like staring into the heart of the Force."

"But in the end, she came back to me. When she found that there was nothing more to be learned from Jedi… except how one can leave them forever."

Kreia

X X X

Several days (by galactic standard) later, HK-47 guarded an official looking room. Their location: Manaan. Their situation: good. At least, it seemed to be, since Revan sat inside for hours, examining maps of the ocean floor. It was obvious that the Map had to be hidden somewhere down there – most likely in a valley or rock formation. But the position had to be precisely calculated – their trip to the unknown had to be as quick and smooth as possible.

The sleepless nights didn't help either ex-Jedi's appearance – both Revan and Malak were now completely pale, like nocturnal creatures from the depths of the Korriban tombs, avoiding sunlight for a lifetime. Their eyes, now shining gold, were empty except for the occasional quickly vanishing anger. Only when they argued or simply spoke to each other did a trace of passion – whatever its meaning was – appear, a crimson fire glowing from within their souls.

When the Dark Lord entered the room, the very warmth of the air seemed to vanish, replaced by an icy chill reflecting her soul, freezing all - flesh, blood and heart. Yet even now the loyalty of her underlings was unquestioned, even when she was leading them away from the cause they set out to defend. Malak no longer questioned her methods or goals. Fear of her was mingled with admiration in his mind.

They sometimes spent hours, just talking about random things – from politics to the food on Manaan. Sometimes, he came close to making his point, but there was always some seemingly unimportant detail Revan threw in his face at the end and ordered him to think before speaking. And he did – he listened to all she said, memorizing her words, from lectures to commands. She was a strict teacher, expecting excellence, at the very least. But she was also patient and waited until he did precisely what she wanted him to do. It took her time to learn control over her new instincts. Aggression came quickly when her guard dropped. Revan learned to maintain a Jedi-like calmness. Unfortunately, that was a habit her apprentice found difficult to pick up. The calmer she was, the more ruthless was he. He had no idea how clearly she could see all his emotions using old Echani techniques of battle prediction.

Three days after their landing, Malak found himself marching to Revan´s office, out of sheer impatience. Naturally, he would have to get past a certain assassin droid first.

"Command: Halt, minion of the Master. Statement: The Master has ordered that no one may disturb her studies."

"Last I looked, I was higher on the food chain than you, tin can. Let me in." Malak growled back at the droid.

"Retort: The term "food chain" is used to define the natural series of links between the gastronomical habits of organic beings, most often plants and animals. This unit is neither organic, nor in need of consuming biological material for its survival. Irritated threat: I take orders only from the Master. No one may enter to interrupt… though I believe a human whose tongue has been ripped out may cause little interruption." HK noted, almost eagerly.

"Listen, you ex-trash compactor scrap. Your 'Master' and I have business to discuss."

"He's right, HK." Revan's voice said from the doorway behind the droid. The Dark Lord was again hooded and cloaked, with a datacube in her hands. The eerie grace of her stance and footsteps cooled the air – she simply began walking briskly down the corridor, ignoring both HK and Malak, even as they jogged to catch up with her. "We might need some equipment – the rock formation isn't all that stable, according to the charts."

"I've arranged our transport – just the two of us can go. It's not a large submersible."

"I didn't suppose HK-47 would want to go underwater, anyway."

"Agreement: I am not waterproof, Master. And corrosion is not desirable. My systems are too gentle for that."

"No questions asked about our trip?" Revan ignored HK for the moment… a fact certainly enjoyable to Malak. Their relatively unhidden war for Revan´s favor was still going.

"Not really."

Once aboard the submersible, finding the desired location was easy. The Star Map was there. When they returned to the surface, without any complications, night had already passed. The streets were beginning to get crowded – Ahto had awakened. Since together, they were bound to attract unwanted attention, they decided to keep a five-minute gap between each departure. Revan was the first to go, avoiding crowds and sunny streets, heading straight to the Adamant. She already had a plan formed. A crude version of it could be: 1. Finding the Star Forge, 2. Conquering the Republic fleet and the already not-so-Light Jedi psychologically and 3. Forming a new and improved armada. Then and only then could she proceed to the next phases.

Through extensive research and a long visit to Malachor and Korriban, she had gathered much of the knowledge of Sith teachings. Planets vital for her efforts were targeted, their leaders marked as soon-to-be-deceased. All she needed now were the resources.

She sat there, her mind wandering to one person… one she didn't know where to find, but hoped that was well and safe.

X X X

On a distant world, in a shadowy corridor, the otherwise soft footsteps echoed loudly. A woman, clad in Jedi robes decorative enough to be a ceremonial gown, reached the meditation chamber of the temple, gazing upon a kneeling figure – another woman, though far older than the newcomer, her gray hair held in richly carved golden clasps. As the footsteps stopped, she opened her eyes, revealing nothing more than a shadow of a color that might once had been piercing.

"Your presence cuts through the Force like sunrays through shadow." The elderly Master noted, matter-of-factly. Revan smiled faintly, but the smile faded a second later.

"I am too old for games of hide-and-seek."

The old woman also smiled for a moment. And Revan could sense it, even though she was facing her back. "Perhaps. But I had not expected you to return to me after all this time, my former Padawan." Revan sat down, cross-legged, now facing the other woman. Yes, she used to be her Padawan, when she expressed that wish to the Council and Zhar decided to oblige her plea, allowing her to take on her first student… back then, unknown to them, the greatest of them all. But now, even she needed counsel. "Rumor has reached this enclave that you have been promoted once again… to the dislike of most of the High Council." A nod… a humble gesture that few had the privilege to receive from the proud Jedi Master. "I have also heard that you have refused the position of Watchman for the sake of teaching others."

"Yes. I wish to continue teaching and learning. You know I don't have the patience to be an overseer, waiting for crisis."

"Instead, you search for it and confront it, this I know well. I am pleased. And where, might I asked, is your shadow?" the Master noted, half-joking, "You two are rarely parted."

"He's on Dantooine, recruiting more Jedi to join us."

"Ah yes. The great crusade. Is that why you have come, Revan? To persuade me to join you, as you have convinced hundreds, if not thousands, already?"

"The thought has often crossed my mind. But I don't intend to use my… charm on you. I have come to learn, Master." Her voice kept dropping with each word, as if she was afraid to say anything at all. That was one of the reasons why Kreia arched an eyebrow.

"And what could you, the insatiable student, consuming all knowledge and wisdom like a black hole, hope to learn from me? I have taught you all I know, Revan. And while it pleases me that you, of all people, seek my counsel, I fail to see why. But you are troubled by something." She studied her Revan´s face carefully and saw that she looked far older, the years of life crushing her. This wasn't the vital, ever-eager girl she knew.

"I need to­… have to… learn how to leave­… to leave the Jedi." There was no mistaking the weariness behind her voice. Kreia, never one to show such emotion, reached out, raising Revan´s now bowed head gently with her hand.

"What has happened, Revan? Speak, tell me what's wrong." Kreia urged, certainly not unconcerned. She knew Revan well enough to tell this wasn't an act.

"During my studies of Mandalorian culture, I uncovered some information about a taboo world that Mandalorians fear. A graveyard world, more dead than alive, known to the galaxy simply as Malachor V. I needed to know why Mandalorians fear it, to use it against them. So I went to that planet, alone, not knowing what to expect. What I found there is… beyond words, I… can't explain it fully." She paused for a second, her eyes remembering. "An ancient academy that reeked of the Dark Side, promising power, strength. But I saw beyond the conjured illusions. And then I saw… I saw what made every plan I had shatter." Her eyes regained focus, now gazing back into Kreia´s. "An empire of immense might. I suspect it wasn't the intention of the Mandalorians to attack… that perhaps someone else persuaded them to do so. And I have a good idea who." She shook her head, "When the Republic couldn't repel this first assault, how can it survive the next? This is but a taste of the Dark Side."

"And you want to stop them? How? How will leaving the Order help you?"

"They wouldn't believe me. They are blinded by their own arrogance." Revan noted bitterly. "We need to mobilize our forces and strike back before they destroy us. But perhaps they made a critical mistake – the Mandalorian assault might be an advantage. I cannot fight the Council anymore – there is no time. But I can break the Jedi, one by one, by the war. Breach their already shattered faith in the Order to make them see my side of things. To destroy preachers to create warriors that will join my cause."

"Too often you say "my" and "me". And broken Jedi are Jedi no longer." Kreia frowned, "So you have come for a Gray Jedi's robe? Or do you wish to hide noble causes and an innocent heart under a Dark Jedi's robe? Don't look away from me, Revan." Revan didn't obey the request. "Why do you want the galaxy to see you as a tyrant and think of you as a bloodthirsty beast? You want to save them by your sacrifice, like a true Jedi, but masked as a Sith." Revan said nothing, but still refused to look back at Kreia. "Does Malak know?"

"No, only you know."

"Why are you telling me this if you refuse to tell even your closest allies?"

"He would try to stop me. This isn't something he would understand. You are different – you know of the Sith, of their ways."

"True, but there are other reasons, are there not?" Kreia´s lips formed something between a non-malevolent smirk and a sad smile.

"Other factors aren't as important." It was almost defensive.

"Indeed, but they are there…" Kreia tried to search Revan´s mind, but the younger woman had become an expert on mental domination since their last encounter – she blocked the attempt, driving the presence from her thoughts easily. Kreia smiled, "You have learned much… I see that the fools you call teachers didn't ruin your progress."

"What did you want to find?" Revan asked sharply.

"Proof, dear apprentice. Proof of what I suspected for quite some time. Not all the pain comes from the secret knowledge you now possess." Revan blanched slightly, even though this didn't surprise her. "You need not worry. In time, you will realize why you fear and yet yearn for departure. But the future will take a different spin than the one you dare imagine in your wildest dreams – those you yourself know are impossible. One lacks the power to let it go… the other, the courage to face and confront it. And perhaps that is for the best." She sighed, standing up slowly. There was no furniture in the small meditation chamber, but Kreia entered another room next to it, finding a small object wrapped in a thick cloth. She returned, giving it to Revan. "If you truly wish to learn again, you must know this – whatever you do after you leave cannot be undone."

"The future is always in motion, difficult to see."

"But it is shaped by the smallest of acts." Kreia gestured to Revan to unwrap the package. As she did, she understood. Within it was a lightsaber crystal, radiating from its core a pure glow of red.

X X X

Revan returned her mind to the present, finished her work with the star charts and entered the chamber she used for meditation, decorated with various symbols of both past and present knowledge of the Force. But just as she assumed her preferred meditation pose, the communications terminal in the next room – the administrative office – beeped, causing her to frown, stand up and vow to decapitate the caller if it wasn't important enough. A mild move of her fingers and the hologram of Malak appeared. He seemed relatively angry about something, judging by the venomous gleam in his eyes.

"What is so urgent that you must interrupt my meditation, Malak?" Revan asked coolly.

"I've informed the commanders of our next course of action, as you ordered. All is ready – except for one problem. We have a deserter."

The Dark Lord arched an eyebrow beneath her mask. "Indeed? One of the Jedi or a common soldier?" If it was the later, it certainly wasn't worth all the commotion.

"Take a wild guess." Malak muttered, "A Jedi. And you'll be interested in this – it's your favorite general." It was obvious who he was talking about, so the hologram he showed and the name he said were unnecessary. Indeed, it was Revan´s favorite general, who was at Malachor and gave the order to activate the Mass Shadow Generator. The image of Malak reappeared a few seconds later. "Ran straight to the High Council, I bet. I say we dispose of…"

"No." Revan interrupted sharply, "Under no circumstances will you harm this one."

Malak raised an eyebrow, "I know you pitied this one very often, but I didn't expect you to get so attached to someone."

"Don't be a fool." It was a hiss. "I want the Council to see what they've never seen before." Her voice was now an eager whisper. "They didn't come to Malachor… so I'll send Malachor to them." Even she wasn't at Malachor – not during the detonation, anyway. The battle with Mandalore took place several hours before that and news of his death spread slowly, even when most of his escort left immediately. When the Jedi left to rejoin the fleet, a patrol of scout ships ambushed them and cut them off from the rest. So Revan never reached Malachor, never saw the death and destruction. But she returned to find what pleased her – the core of the planet was still intact.

Malak, who never ventured to the depths of Malachor, didn't understand what she meant, but he wasn't about to risk angering her by objecting. "As you wish. The fleet is ready for departure. I'll give them the coordinates – if the data is precise, it should take a week at the worst." Revan nodded and the transmission ended. She returned to her meditation chamber and knelt, closing her eyes for a moment.

"If we pass beyond this door, we can never go back…"

It was done. She had passed the point of no return.