W/N - Arigato gozaimasu, Jen. Less people die in this version. The material will diverge more from the alternate ending as we go on. If anyone has any ideas for the post Star Forge scenes, let me know. :D
Otanoshimi nasaimase.
Paradise Regained – Part II
Republic Warship Sovereign of Freesia – 0451 Z
Admiral Dodonna sat grimly in the dull red glow of the bridge of the flagship. Fear and doubt infected her mind as the Republic's attack stalled on the very doorstep of the Star Forge. Beside her hovered Master Vandar, his sharp ears twitching from the stress of the moment. All was going against them. A Sith fleet would shortly reinforce Malak and Coruscant would be in ruins tomorrow.
Suddenly a dark cloud lifted from Vandar's heart. "Bastila…Bastila is no longer using her Battle Meditation against us. We must renew our attack." What had happened? Did Revan kill her? Was she redeemed?
Admiral Dodonna face lit up under her cocky maroon beret. "Order our reserves into the fight. It's all or nothing now!" she called sweeping her hand to the tactical map of the battle.
Without Bastila's influence, the Sith defenders lost their cohesiveness and the Republic exploited the weakness. The new starfighters tore into Sith formations, raking them with laser cannon and torpedoes. Three Star Destroyers burst apart, scattering debris into the vacuum of space. Revan's design was superior to any known starfighter and Republic pilots obliterated whole enemy squadrons.
In the forward viewing port, a mighty vessel grew larger and the Sensor Officer turned. "Admiral, it's the Leviathan."
The stern admiral grit her teeth, fierce in her determination to prevail. "Come twenty degrees to starboard and target them with Turbolasers. Have the Sixth, Seventh, and Eight Fighter Squadrons lead an attack run."
Despite the lack of Force guidance, the Sith were still formidable. The enemy flagship unleashed a bombardment of massive bolts and the Republic ship's shields lit up.
"Return fire!"
Broadsides were exchanged, but the smaller Republic ship began to take the worse of the duel. Forn's jaw tensed up from the stress and she watched as red lights flashed on the consoles indicating damage to her ship. Dammit, what was happening on the Forge? Did Carth complete his mission? That old space dog had never let her down before. Then, three huge bolts crashed through the shields and one sheared an ion engine clean off. The Sovereign of Freesia listed to starboard, flames and gas spewing from monstrous holes. On the bridge, Admiral Dodonna tumbled out of her seat into a bulkhead and Master Vandar was hit by flying debris.
The world went black for a moment and she could taste blood in her mouth and feel it gushing from her forehead. How badly was she hurt? It didn't matter as she was still alive and the ship could still fight. If she was to die, she would go down swinging. Shaking her head, the Admiral swept blood from her eyes and commanded, "Squadrons, hit the Leviathan now!"
On her command, three starfighter squadrons led an attack run with torpedo squadrons close behind. Lasers twinkled from cannon and streaked into the Sith flagship, followed by proton torpedoes that punctured the metal skin of the great vessel before shattering her insides.
Then, a deep, sonorous voice came over the comm channel, "This is Gadon Thek, let's finish the Sith!"
Forn Dodonna's face shined and she looked heavenward in thanks. Reinforcements had come none too soon. She looked over to Vandar, who was brushing debris from his robes and gave him a hopeful nod. For the first time in a long time, she thought that this damn war might actually come to an end. She looked over to the tactical display as Gadon's ships darted along the hull of the Leviathan, ripping her durasteel hide to shreds.
The Star Forge – Command Center – 0427 Z
In the cavernous chamber that coordinated the Sith war effort, a long, wide bridge spanned the great abyss of the heart of the Star Forge. From afar, it appeared that two, tiny figures marched with determination toward one figure, clad in black, that awaited them at the far end.
Behind the black clad woman, rows of computers and consoles surrounded a massive, holographic globe that tracked the progress of the nearby battle, showing blue circles overwhelming red triangles; the Republic fleet had turned the tide and the arrival of the Tarisian, Gadon Thek and his Hidden Bek force, had put many of the Sith to flight.
In her tight, black robes, Bastila Shan stood with a sneer, confident of fulfilling her destiny. As Revan and Carth approached, she spoke, "The fools have arrived at last. I noticed how your army has been whittled down to only two now…the brave Captain and his concubine."
Revan grit her teeth, always one to take offense at any insult. With great effort, she forced her hands away from her lightsabers. "Don't call me that, Bastila."
Bastila put her hands on her hips as if taunting them. "Why, does the truth hurt? Revan, you had the ultimate truth at your command, but you cast it away like garbage. The Sith know what the truth is…the truth of power," she said and then shifted her weight, pointing a finger at the admiral. "You said it yourself, Revan, the Republic is based on the collective belief of lies. Shall I start naming some for you? Admiral Vrex…Admiral Deritz…Supreme Chancellor Locarno? Did you mean what you said or are you a liar as well as a fool?"
"I said, don't call me that," Revan uttered, bristling, her fingers flexing – itching for a fight. Just being put in the same category as those bureaucrats was enough to piss her off.
Carth put a reassuring hand on Revan's shoulder and she took a deep breath. She silently thanked him, knowing that they were not here for a fight. She needed to remain patient, but it was getting difficult. Bastila could see that she was getting under Revan's skin, tired as she was, agonized as she was over the recent loss of many friends.
"So," began Jedi Shan, "how would you compare the noble captain to Malak? How did it feel when you sold your body as well as your soul?"
Despite her attempts at composure, Revan snapped. How dare she? Who did she think she was, speaking to an admiral like that? "Look who's talking! You just opened a whole can of whoop as -"
The raven-haired Jedi was reaching down for her lightsabers when it felt as if someone kicked her in the gut and a wave of nausea swept her.
Damn you, Aerin…not now!
There is no chaos…. the voice sounded in her head. Aerin was trying to calm her.
Revan sucked her teeth in irritation. Don't you go quoting the Jedi mantra to me, Susan.
There is no death…, the voice called again in a soothing, melodic tone, unconcerned by Revan's slight.
Her heartbeat slowed. He breathing eased. The Code did bring peace of mind. Revan sighed and spoke aloud, "There is the Force."
Bastila laughed bitterly, her teeth flashing between cruel lips. "And I shall use it to slaughter you," she said as she ignited her twin blades and they growled to life in scarlet hues. She swung her left foot back, taking a balanced Niman stance while Carth moved to her flank, slowly placing his hand on his pistol.
"Bastila…please don't do this," uttered Revan, slowly backing away and holding her palms out peacefully. "You can come back to the light. We need you…I need you." She began to crouch into a defensive stance from Shien. She would not kill her friend unless there was no other choice.
Jedi Shan sneered and thrust forward with one blade and Revan thumbed the switch on her lightsaber and swept the attack down and away with a tight circle. Bastila immediately followed up by switching blades and cut a red arc through the air. Revan jumped high above the strike, preparing for a counterattack, but Bastila spun her with a push of the Force and Revan fell flat on the ground. In pursuit, Jedi Shan swept the deck like she was using a broom and Revan rolled backward out of the way and met the red blade with her blue. Sparks flew and the smell of ozone filled the air between the two women.
Reluctantly, Carth opened fire and a bolt streaked from his weapon, but Bastila turned and swatted it away while dodging behind a large computer that burst into flame upon being hit by another shot.
When her opponent was out of range, Revan took a quick breath. "I'll never give up on you, Bastila. Please, listen to me."
From behind cover, Bastila shrieked, running her lightsaber across the top of the console, sparks lighting up the dim chamber. She then skewered the center of the mainframe computer and the entire room went dark except for the glow of lethal energy weapons.
"Who are you to do anything for me, Revan? Your weak, pathetic mewling makes me sick! You were once all about action, Revan…decisive, victorious…now, all you can do is regurgitate your miserable light side mantra."
Malak's new apprentice powered down her lightsaber to avoid detection and she crept along between consoles, moving to a position of advantage. Revan was a fool to come here.
Powering her weapon, Bastila emerged from behind a console, the ruby glow of her blades casting blood-hued shadows across her face. Taking her opponent by surprise, she struck diagonally and Revan was forced to dodge awkwardly. The blade clove a computer bank, throwing sparks and debris into the air. In response, Revan cut down at Bastila's thigh, but her attack was met with a fierce parry.
Slicing away more blaster fire, Jedi Shan aimed a riposte between Revan's legs, but the raven-haired Jedi seized a monitor with the Force and crashed it into Bastila as more blaster bolts flew about. Revan followed up with an arc of electricity that just missed the fallen Jedi was she leapt away. Her black robes spinning beneath auburn hair, Bastila again ducked behind a console and unpowered her weapon, shrouding herself in darkness. Revan gulped air and began moving around, her eyes searching for any signs of attack. She tried to reach out with the Force, but her opponent shut down any attempts to find her. It was like a dark void in space.
"I am as strong in the light as I ever was, Bastila. You can see that…can feel it," called Revan as she stalked her former mentor through the gloom, letting her blue lightsabers illuminate her way. She would try another tactic too. "You must know that Malak will never let you become too powerful. I am telling you this through experience," she said through the lump in her throat, her eyes searching in vain for any sign of attack.
Carth moved up quickly to Revan's side and again, Bastila came at them from the darkness, igniting and twirling her twin blades. The captain fired a bolt, which Jedi Shan struck aside with an upward cut. The scarlet blades came down at Carth in rapid succession, but he dove over a console, letting Bastila slice through the computer, leaving a hot, white glow in the damaged metal. She followed with a blast of lightning that blew the consoles over.
Revan cut at Bastila's arm, but a red shaft of energy swept the attack upward and Bastila advanced with a thrust. Niman was a formidable style in its own right and without the power of Juyo, Revan was at a disadvantage. She sidestepped, her white robes and black hair spinning, letting the blade slide by. Too close to use her weapon, the raven-haired Jedi released one lightsaber and slammed her fist into Bastila's eye.
Jedi Shan grunted, but seized Revan's lapel, snarling. For a brief moment, the two women stood, face to face, unable to move without yielding the advantage. They pushed and pulled, neither wanting to let go for fear of being cut on the disengage. Revan could tell that her opponent was finally losing patience. The time to switch tactics had arrived. Bastila drew her lightsaber back, the tip aimed at Revan's belly, but Revan seized her hand. The admiral saw the look of surprise and frustration in her opponent's eyes just before she rotated her body with her hips and flung Bastila over her shoulder.
Falling head over heels, Bastila struck the deck hard and Revan straddled her, wrapping her hands around her opponent's throat. "Don't you understand?" cried Revan, "You're dooming yourself to the same fate that I did. The way of the dark side is death!"
From behind the console, Carth tried to angle for a shot, but the movement of the two women was too violent and erratic for him to draw a bead. He gritted his teeth, feeling helpless before the grand melee of mighty Jedi. Frustrated, he holstered his pistol and yanked a wrench from his belt. He rushed back to the fight and drew back his arm to clock Bastila.
Jedi Shan looked up at the captain, straggly auburn hair tangled over her eyes and she brought her legs up behind Revan, wrapped her up, and slammed her head down into the floor. The admiral should have known how formidable Bastila's unarmed skills were.
Bastila rolled away as Carth pounded the deck with the wrench. She willed her weapon to her hand and reignited it, slashing at Carth, who again dodged behind cover into darkness.
Amid the shadows, Revan wobbled to her feet, holding her throbbing head. Her eyes were filled with anger and she dearly wished to separate Bastila's head from her shoulders. However, with Aerin's subconscious pushing, the light side got the better of her and she lowered her weapons, standing tall and seemingly calm, despite her new emotion of fear. This had better work. The old Revan would never have engaged in such foolishness.
"Bastila, if you want to kill me so much, here I am. Strike me down," she voiced as she searched the blackness, trying to find her former mentor. Revan's heart pounded in her chest, half expecting Bastila to leap out and skewer her. No, she had to trust Aerin this time. She had to grudgingly admit that the blend of their personalities made them greater. They were one.
Carth looked at her in horror. "What? Aerin, no." Revan turned, wanting to say something to ease his panic, but things were moving too fast now.
From the darkness, Jedi Shan emerged, her lightsaber humming hungrily. She advanced slowly, eyeing Carth, who took aim from beside Revan.
"You are not evil, Bastila. You can reject the dark side," Revan added sincerely.
Bastila blinked several times, her expression wild and confused. Strained breaths came through her split lip. She curled the edge of her mouth up, showing her teeth. "Revan, I could end this with one cut…remove your head and I'd be sure of ruling the galaxy at Malak's side. And then, one day…I would be Dark Lord of the Sith. What's to stop me from slaughtering you…after all, I already slew one of our team. I no longer have any restraint. What's to stop me now?"
Revan saw an opening…. "Bastila, it was not your fault that Kyle is dead."
Upon hearing Kyle's name, Jedi Shan's hands began to tremble and her lower lip quivered in inner agony. Her face scrunched up, become feral. "How could you know?" she screamed. "I killed him! I killed him with my own hands!" she yelled, pushing her arms out for emphasis.
With a snarl, she hurled her power at Revan, hand extended and knocked Carth flat on his back, but Revan remained standing, focused. The wave had rolled right past her and she merely pushed an errant lock of hair aside.
"Bastila, Malak did this to you…to Kyle. Bastila, I slaughtered millions and yet the Council redeemed me…you redeemed me. Yes, the Council is flawed, but they knew enough to put their trust in you," the raven-haired Jedi said, snippets of a Deralian accent sneaking into back her words.
"Trust?" Bastila groaned, her words dripping with cynicism. "I could not even protect you…or save him. I am lost." Her chest heaved, struggling for breath and slowly, her weapon lowered. Her shoulders sagged like the weight of the world was upon them.
Seemingly unafraid, Revan approached Bastila, unarmed, hands open. "I trust you. You will not harm me. Come back to the light…your whole life has been dedicated to justice. Help me defeat Malak and bring peace to the galaxy."
The red blades vanished with a loud hiss and the lightsaber fell to the floor with a loud thunk. Carth sighed heavily in relief as Bastila sagged to the deck. She stared off into nothingness, eyes peering through matted hair. In a burst of anguish, she raked her fingernails down her cheeks and screamed. "I killed him! I killed him! I've slaughtered the innocent."
Revan knelt down before her and held her hands as Bastila thrashed. Then, she pulled her into her bosom and held her tight. "I've got you, Bastila…I've got you. Just let the light flow back into you."
Jedi Shan continued with a pained expression, her fingers digging into Revan's arms. "I condemned you…hated you…wanted to rip you to pieces for what you had done to the Order. But I am no better…I am nothing."
Revan squeezed her hands gently, tears pouring down her cheeks onto her white robes. She had brought Bastila back against all hope, but the agony and humiliation that the woman felt flooded into her. Through the bond, she felt the torture, endured the degradation, and saw her lover die in terror and pain. Bastila had endured what no other should have endured. She had to let her know that she was still a Jedi, in spite of what she had done in the name of darkness. "No, you are everything," Revan said. "You are the reason the Order exists today because you had the bravery to stand up to me. As Aerin, I looked up to you; you are everything the Jedi stand for. Come, Bastila, let us do what we were meant to do and save the Republic."
Bastila shook her head desperately, fear and loathing on her face. Her doubt came through like a trumpet call. "I cannot face Malak again…I am too weak. He would manipulate me and turn me against you."
Revan nodded, brushing her sister's auburn hair from her face to look into her eyes. "I understand. Destiny has decreed that I face Malak alone. Your sacrifice today has been enough. Remain here with Carth and use your Battle Meditation against the Sith."
With a red, puffy face, Bastila forced a weak smile. "I will do that. I will do my duty…for the Order…for Kyle." Revan released her embrace and Bastila collapsed to the floor, exhausted.
Moving between the women, Carth looked into Revan's gray eyes with deadly seriousness. "You're not facing Malak alone. I'm coming with you."
She looked away for a moment before returning his gaze. "Carth, Bastila had only a fraction of Malak's power and he is fresh. You would not survive and I cannot have that happen. There is no one left and we are out of time. I have to face him, Carth, it is the only way. You know this."
Carth started to protest, but Revan raised a finger and a tendril of the Force permeated his mind. He blinked hard, seemingly confused. She hated to do this to him, to manipulate him so, but there was no other way. She could not bear to see him hurt…not now, not when they were this close. It was all for the greater good. He would understand.
She shook her head and pointed back toward the bridge. "Carth, Juhani and Canderous are too badly injured and it would take too long to heal them. Mekel's nuts and Lashowe would be no more than an insect to Malak. I will take HK."
Dazed by the Force, the captain believed that he agreed with this. He nodded like it was his idea. "Do it. I'll stay here with Bastila and keep her safe," he said quietly, knowing that they had come to the end of things - the final reckoning.
Revan brushed her fingers along Carth's stubbly cheek, looking into his intense, dark eyes. Something in her told her that she had to seize the moment. She had to set things right. "Whatever happens, take care of Mission and Sasha. They deserve no less. I regret not returning Sasha to her parents…. It is a mistake I will live…or die with."
He nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Is there anything else?" he asked and she knew the answer before he could finish his words.
She leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, there is," she said, gazing at his as if this were the last time she'd see him. "I love you…more than words could ever say. When this is all over…I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
His eyes said it all. The gleam in those deep, dark orbs spoke volumes and she wrapped him up in a tight embrace, squeezing him half to death. They had beaten the odds so many times. They had parted so many times, thinking that this was the end. Each time was harder than the last. This time, he pushed back from her. "It's time. Let's get this over with so we can spend that eternity together. Sasha and Mission will be worried."
She nodded with a forced smile and imagined Sasha crying in the Ebon Hawk. She would go back and take the girl in her arms and tell her that mommy was back and would never leave again. They would be a real family. Maybe she and Carth would have children of their own. She saw their home in her head as surely as if it were real. Maybe it would be on Telos…yes, they would restore Telos to its former beauty. She would see to it. As Bastila began to infuse the Republic with her awesome power, Revan and Carth returned to the bridge to find HK rebooted.
"Query: Master, how are we going to kill the Dark Meatbag of the Sith? Incinerate, obliterate, or ventilate."
Revan took Carth's hand and squeezed it firmly. Knowing that her destiny awaited, she began to walk away, breaking her grasp. Their fingers lingered in contact for a few seconds more until she led HK toward the far blast door, giving Carth a longing glance as they departed. "All of the above, HK, all of the above."
"Joyous: My gears are quivering in anticipation, Master."