Author's notes: Last Korriban chapter is up! Sorry it took so long, the Revan-Yuthura interaction was really tough to write, but I hope it's good. This is your last chance to vote for the Exile's gender, so vote!
Elvenbane – Hmm… Exile/Sion romance… yeah! That sounds cool!
Dalis'ilhea – I'll tell him. :-) Thanks and read on.
Zazei – Your vote is noted. Damn, you guys really want me to write a Sion romance, huh:-)
Brynn – Well, if you're willing to beta the fic, I'll send you the next chapter when I'll have it ready. Your email address is the one in your profile, yes? Just to be sure.
Hannah – Heh, thank you very much. I try. Your vote is noted. Read on.
Phht – Naw, that was nothing! Read this chapter and you'll see a true LS decision. I couldn't help myself. Heh, Jorak was fun to write. Thanks and read on.
Dark Lord Daishi – Yeah, Handmaiden is cool… but Disciple is funny, in a way. DS male? I wanted to do a LS or Gray Exile, actually. Read on…
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Chapter 35 – Darkness Denied
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The darkness within the sacred Tomb of Naga Sadow was not caused merely by the sunless state of the tomb, but also by the dark taint that still remained there. Three figures entered the tomb, two of them dressed in gray Sith uniforms. The other figure was clad in black Dark Jedi robes, clearly a student from the monastery that was nearby. Each 'hopeful' from the Academy was taken to this tomb for their final test. If they survived, they became Sith. If they died…well, it was their problem. They were too weak to be true Sith.
Both of the young Dark Jedi's instructors sensed something very strange about her. She was different than any other student. A dark kernel resided within her. She could become a great Sith with all the raw power she possessed. And she had proven herself time and time again, the final proof of her skill the extraction of information from a Mandalorian prisoner. From combat to mental domination, she could do anything.
High quality material, compared to the usual trash they had sometimes received.
Neither of them knew whom they were facing. The woman was young, looked even younger, but already knew more about the Sith than the two teachers put together. The final test meant nothing to her – she was here for the Star Map that she had uncovered years ago.
The Dark Side was stronger than the Light here on Korriban. And Revan knew well there was no chance in holy hell that all three of them would leave the tomb alive.
"Very well. It is time for your final test. You have earned the chance to see whether you could become one of us, young one."
"Indeed you have." Yuthura smugly added. Uthar gazed at his apprentice… something was strange about her today.
"I dislike your tone, Yuthura. Are you up to something?"
"Nothing, of course, my Master." the Twi´lek replied nonchalantly, tracing her lekku lightly with one hand, "I was merely agreeing with you. Should we not get on with the test?"
"Yes, yes of course." Uthar nodded, turning back to Revan, "We are in the sacred tomb of Naga Sadow, young one. The one discovered by Darth Malak and Darth Revan years ago. You are to follow in their footsteps and reach the ancient Star Map near the sarcophagus. There you will find a lightsaber. The weapon is for you – an initiation present. Once you reach it, return to it with to us, for your test does not end there."
"Be very cautious." Yuthura warned, "This tomb is similar to the others – some of its old defense systems are still active."
"Do you understand what we have told you? Are you ready to begin?" Uthar asked her,
receiving only a nod as an answer. "Good. Yuthura and I will away your return."
Revan opened the stone doors in front of her with a simple wave of her hand. Wraids and hidden flash mines were no threat to her. Heading left, she encountered the first trap – an electrical pillar system. Carefully using a computer panel, she transferred all systems to the right panel and opened a sealed door. She raised her hand and a telekinetic wave emerging from her hand killed the wraids that wanted to attack her.
While exploring wasn't her primary concern right now, she was interested in the little "presents" left in the tomb – both the welcome and unwelcome ones. And, to her delight, the next one was a welcome one, laid carefully on a strange monument dedicated to the Sith Lord that "resided" here – an ancient-looking but still extremely sharp vibrosword, the entire blade covered with a faint viridian layer… whoever would be cut by the blade would surely be poisoned within seconds. With her single bladed lightsaber in one hand and the poison blade in the other, she left this section of the tomb and headed right.
She found a datapad that warned her that there were terentatek beasts in the east wing of the tomb. More of them. Wasn't killing two of them enough? Apparently, the person who designed the final test had a sick sense of humor – there was no chance that the poor little students would be able to kill the terentatek, which meant there was no need to bring new beasts to the tomb. Besides, the terentatek had a supply of fresh meat. A symbiosis on the highest level, you could say. Using Force Camouflage, Revan quietly crept to the door on the other side of the room, which was too narrow for the terentatek to pass through.
Only from there could she begin choking the beasts through the Force. Soon, they fell to the ground, dead. A poisonous gas arose from the corpses, but Revan avoided contact with it and entered the next chamber. Ignoring the dead corpses, she went to the Pillar of ice and took special grenade from it.
Now she noticed a Jedi's body on the ground for the first time. It was clearly a Jedi because there was so much Light around the corpse. Searching through her remains she found a journal and something she couldn't believe was really there – the legendary Solari crystal, which disappeared with Shaela Nur during the Great Hunt. Now she knew the ultimate fate of the Jedi. Both she and the others sent on this mission were killed by the predators they set out to exterminate. The robes she had found in the caves must have belonged to the last of the trio – Duron Qel-Droma.
A faint smirk found its way to her lips. She could study the items she found with the corpses and find out what makes them so strong. What does the Solari crystal consist of? That was a question that many Jedi scientists yearned to answer, but never could. She could find an answer to that soon enough.
A brave idea crossed her mind. She could try to wield it, wield the Solari crystal! Her laughter filled the chamber. Oh yes, she, the so-called Dark Lord of the Sith, would wield a crystal rumored to obey only those devoted to the Light! It seemed like a good joke. But she always had a talent for… charming people. Perhaps, with practice, she could force the crystal to obey her. Yes, that was an interesting idea. Carefully pocketing the crystal, she made a mental note to remember that idea.
She reached the center of the tomb once more and passed through the central door. But she stopped quickly, almost startled, when she saw the pool of acid that had flooded the way to the sarcophagus chamber. The datapad… she remembered the datapad said something about this. And even a complete idiot would be able to tell that trying to use fire against acid was a stupid idea. Well, judging by the corpses near her, she supposed that those who tried it were utter imbeciles.
While not exactly a fan of heavy explosives, she wasn't about to risk burning her robe by jumping over. And, if her guess was correct, Uthar and Yuthura wouldn't just keep waiting for her. If she remembered correctly, the final test involved killing someone… she overheard some students talking about it a day or two ago.
Now there was nothing standing in her way. She deactivated a plasma mine and opened the last door. A circular chamber with Sith statues revealed itself. But she ignored them completely. What caught her attention was the Star Map in the center – that was what she came for. It activated itself and new information was loaded into her datapad.
Seeing a statue holding out a lightsaber, she took the weapon and turned to leave the tomb. Armed with dual crimson lightsabers, now there was only the matter of getting out of the tomb and reaching her ship before the Sith realize that a… spy infiltrated the tombs.
Her "teachers" were waiting for her on the frozen acid pool. The door behind them was sealed. She knew that the time of the double-cross was here. The gray skinned humanoid and his purple Twi´lek apprentice stood on the frozen pool, waiting for her.
"So, you return to us with the lightsaber in hand, as I knew you would." Uthar seemed quite satisfied with her performance.
"The Force has served you well." Yuthura Ban was right.
"You took a great risk in acquiring the artifact. You used your mind and your power – no peaceful meditation, no pacifism. Sometimes you must fight in order to achieve your goals. It is your passion that fuels you. It is what makes you superior. That is the lesson we teach in this part of the final test. Do you understand?"
"I wouldn't say I exerted myself getting this." She only said that because she considered such behavior as a prime example of these new Sith… these ruined, pitiful thugs. It would take time and effort to turn them into warriors again.
"Perhaps not, to someone of your natural strength." Uthar said, shrugging, "The point is in the recognition of the nature of the act rather than its sheer difficulty."
Revan nodded. "I understand."
"Good. The last part of your test will now commence." he said calmly, "Here you will learn the lesson of competition. All life must compete in order to flourish. Such is the natural way of the universe. To stand still is to know death... one must always be moving forward. So it is the same amongst the Sith. Compete or die. Mercy is irrelevant. So it behooves you in this final test to strike down one you are familiar with, for no other reason than to prove you are superior and without mercy. Normally this would be against another student. You, however, get a special treat." His eyes moved away from her, to the Twi´lek woman beside him. "You will fight Yuthura, here... my own apprentice."
Yuthura´s eyes suddenly flashed with rage. "What?!" Then she understood. "So this is what you've been planning all along, is it? You wish me killed!"
"Indeed." Uthar´s tone showed some degree of satisfaction, but his face was cold. "You have become too ambitious, Yuthura. It is time for someone more…talented to take your place."
But the Twi´lek didn't lose her confidence. "No, it is time for you to die, Master." she spat, "My pupil stands with me!"
The Sith raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Is that so, young one? You wish to join Yuthura and her foolish scheme?"
She could kill them both so easily… but, as before, she didn't betray. "Sorry Uthar – I'm with Yuthura on this one." Her own voice surprised her. There was something strange in it. Dedication? There was no time to find out.
"Do you hear that, my Master?" Now Yuthura spoke in the half-triumphant tone. "The sound of a new leader rising to the Academy."
"So, the time has come, hasn't it?" Pure weariness. And overconfidence. "You both wish to battle a Sith Master and perish? THEN SO BE IT!"
Just as he ceased speaking, another sound filled the corridor, a terrible, high-pitched scream that cast echoes even through the Force. The normally soft and enchanting voice, now a hideously deformed sound, caused both Uthar and Yuthura to drop to their knees, clutching their heads and covering their ears… in vain.
And, as soon as the final echo died, a pair of crimson lightsabers was deactivated and a severed head rolled away into the remains of the acid pool, kicked away by the now heavily breathing Revan.
Scrambling her strength, Yuthura stood up, dusting her clothes slightly. She didn't comment on the Force Scream, only spared Revan a surprised glance, then gazed at the headless corpse at her feet with disgust.
"Uthar is finished and a new order is brought to the Academy. Excellent." Despite obvious satisfaction, sadness crept into her voice as she returned her attention to Revan. "While I like you…truly…I don't intend to share power. Even with you."
Revan didn't even flinch. "Typical. I knew this was coming."
"I…I did tell you there was no such thing as friends among the Sith, didn't I?" Yuthura said, almost as if apologizing. "Let's get this over with."
Two swift flashes of red and Yuthura was back on the ground, her lightsaber flying out of her hand and following Uthar´s head into the acid, a long smoking gash appearing on her right arm. It was actually surprising she still had her arm.
"Ugh…stop! I yield!" she shrieked, "You are too strong for me. I was a fool to think otherwise." Her voice kept dropping with each word. "Gather your hatred and strike me down, if that is what you will. I am at your mercy."
"You ask for mercy. You – a Sith?"
The question was not the only thing that surprised Yuthura. She sensed no hatred from the human… no anger… that was what surprised her the most. Lowering her gaze, unable to stare into those burning blue eyes and longer, she nodded, "I suppose I am. Something tells me you are not like the other students. I was right the first time back at the cantina – there is something different about you. More so than I even suspected."
Sith customs required that she would kill a traitor, Revan knew that. But she as currently considering sparing Yuthura, purely for the reason she spared Juhani. The Cathar had proven to her that there was a reason to redeem others. The lesson had been taught. As she had been taught by Kreia, redemption was a form of spiritual collapse… and it broke one's will easily.
The red beams in her hands returned to their hilts. "Few see past the surface." She returned the sabers to her belt. "You were brave enough to admit weakness, but not beg. For that, I will let you go."
The Twi´lek´s eyes widened with considerable disbelief and she risked standing up, "You… you will let me go. Is this… mercy?"
"In a manner of speaking. Condemning you to the life of a beaten Sith isn't merciful, when you look at it like this." Revan frowned, "If you knew you would lose, why attack me?"
"You are too powerful. You would never be my second for long."
"Yes, but not in the way you understand it."
"Who… who are you, really?" Yuthura asked, "I fail to understand your intentions and you are… just… different. I cannot find a better word to describe it properly. Are you a Jedi or a Sith?"
"Jedi or Sith, Light or Dark. Those are titles, words one can cling to. Both are what I am, perhaps. But neither is what I believe."
"Then who are you?"
A chuckle. "My cryptic answers are not enough for you? I am who I am. But to indulge you, I can assure you that conversing with Darth Revan isn't as impossible as you thought."
The Twi´lek´s eyes widened considerably, the wary look turning into a mix of emotions Revan couldn't quite identify. But she noticed the absence of the fear she was used to seeing in the eyes of others when they heard her name.
"I see." Yuthura quietly noted, "The blindness of others is a powerful tool indeed."
"You aren't afraid." There was surprise in that statement.
"I suppose I cannot be afraid of something I can't define or understand. You are here for the Map, that much is clear to me, but your other intentions and actions puzzle me."
"Don't try to understand. Simply feel. And the blindfold of the Sith and Jedi disappears. Feel, but don't segregate your feelings. It leads only to failure. Do not suppress emotions, but do not give in to them. You and the Force live in symbiosis. There is no master and servant, there are only two allies, strengthened by one another."
Yuthura was silent for a moment and Revan could sense memories resurfacing. Sleheyron, the Hutts, her fellow slaves… her dedication to helping them. The Jedi. The Sith.
"I… have forgotten that." She raised her gaze to meet Revan´s. "Both groups teach it, yet none follow that logic."
"To be dedicated to a belief is to be willing to betray it. Beliefs chain you. Only when you realize the strength of your will can you break the chains and yet achieve peace."
"You're right. All the things I wanted to change…all the wrongs I wanted to set right. All I cared about was power…and myself. I think… my place isn't here. Thank you for showing me that."
For a moment, something close to a half-smile, but more true and pure than any of the practiced sneers, appeared on Revan´s face. Few could hope to understand her teachings. This woman came close.
"One step closer to understanding, then."
"What happens now?" Yuthura was still unsure of her fate.
"The Academy needs a new head, since the last one ended up in the acid."
Yuthura would smile at the joke, if she wasn't about to stand up to a Sith Lord. "I can't return. They will sense what you have sensed within me and, unlike you, I don't have the strength to shield or protect myself." Seeing as Revan remained silent, she continued, with somewhat less confidence. "Let me stand by your side."
"Why would you wish that?" Again, Yuthura was surprised. She was expecting a demand to give her a reason why to allow that.
"Because I wish to learn from you. And you have spared my life when you could have ended it. I have nothing to offer you… except my aid. And… I could certainly use a… a friend, if that offer still stands."
A friend… she remembered offering that to Yuthura. It was, of course, just a way to gain trust. It succeeded, that much was obvious. But she didn't know what to answer. She had never considered the possibility of making… friends… again. It was one of the things she sacrificed when she vowed to save the galaxy, even against its will. Giving her trust to a person she hardly knew was risky, to say at least.
Yet… it would feel good to be able to trust someone again, after all these years.
"Wouldn't you rather go back to the Jedi?" she asked quietly, her last defensive wall breached slightly.
Yuthura shook her head, "After the Dantooine enclave was destroyed, I don't think there will be a chance to talk to them anytime soon. I don't know if I can ever go back to them… and if I can, I must redeem myself in their eyes… and mine as well. I have to see where I begin and Yuthura the Sith Master ends. And by traveling with you, I believe I can regain that knowledge."
Revan remained motionless, expressionless. Inspiring loyalty was one of her talents… but ever since this whole damned crusade began, she had been encountering people who seemed to have an effect on her as well. Nothing as grand as her influence, but they were all so dedicated to the Republic… perhaps she had misjudged its strength. Perhaps there was still some strength left in it, waiting to be awakened.
After a few moments, she simply nodded and gave the spare lightsaber to Yuthura, for there was no telling who or what they may encounter en route back to the Ebon Hawk. She didn't think of what mayhem this may cause at the Academy, or what would happen.
For once in her life, the greatest strategist of the galaxy damned the consequences and chose kindness over logic.