Disclaimer- I do not own the rights to Star Wars Kotor 1 and 2 or their characters and likeness.

Ch. 7

The corpses of old war battle cruisers surrounded the Ebon Hawk as it came out of hyperspace. The wounds of blaster fire and bombardments still visible upon their skin. Far in the distance there was a mass that could have been mistaken as an asteroid, but everyone on board knew what it truly was. Even the droids and Mandalore, who were not force sensitive, could sense all the death and pain that surrounded it. This was a place completely engulfed in evil, a place simply known as Malachor V.

"There it is, in all of its infamous glory" Andrew says to everyone, who had gathered in the cockpit to see first hand what they were getting into. "This is not going to be like other worlds. Every inch of that planet is a danger zone. The gravity shifts frequently, causing earthquakes and landslides, there are cracks within the rock that emit poisonous gas, and most importantly you will not find any friendly creatures walking its surface. I didn't want to worry all of you, but the time for such kindness is over. You all need to get your minds set for what we're about to face."

"Well at least it's not going to be raining" said Mira who was trying to break the tension.

Andrew chuckled. "Yea, if you don't count the twenty-four hour lightning storms it's going to be completely clear grey skies."

"That's fine with me, I wasn't wanting to get a tan anyway. So what's the plan of attack chief? How we going to take out the old hag?"

"Well I planned on jabbing a lightsaber through her heart, but that may prove to be a little impractical if she decides to fight back. So I might need to figure something else out before I meet up with her face to face, but we can discuss details and strategy when we land."The Ebon Hawk quickly entered Malachor's atmosphere and was immediately caught in one of the ongoing storms. The ship shook violently as the raging wind continually buffeted the hull, then suddenly a stray lightning bolt hit the head of the ship and all the consoles went black.

"Oh no, that isn't good" Atton said trying to toggle the power back on. "Everything has shut down. We're falling out of the sky."

"That's not something we want to be hearing right now Atton!" Mira yelled standing behind the pilot seat.

After toying around with some buttons and switches the lights on the front control panel came back on. " I have steering back, maybe I can guide us down somewhere. I'd suggest all of you buckle up. I predict we're going to have a rough landing." Soaring down through the grey clouds, the Ebon Hawk bobbed and weaved past many mountains and cliffs; until finally the ship was rocked when it hit the tip of one of the mountains. The blow knocked the Ebon Hawk against a nearby wall and lodged itself in-between two rock-faces. Picking up his head and looking around Atton noticed that everyone had been tossed to the floor, but seemed to not have sustained any injury. "You see if you guys would have listened to me and buckled up, you wouldn't all be spread out on the floor."

"Shut up Atton." Spouted Andrew who was grabbing the back of the chair to help himself up. "Is everyone alright?" They all collectively gave a discomforted "yes", and got themselves back to their feet. "Atton that was a very unorthodox landing, but at least you got us down safe for the most part."

"Well I wouldn't be thanking me just yet. Unless we get the power fully back on-line, we're going to have a pretty hard time leaving, and frankly I'm not feeling too safe between these two flat walls of rock."

"Do you think you can get it fixed" Andrew asked Atton with concern.

Atton shrugged and glanced over all the power deprived controls and panels. "Maybe, but I'll need a lot of help if we want it done quickly."

Andrew sighed and looked at everyone around him. "Alright all of you stay here and aid Atton with repairs. I'm going out to find Kreia."

Brianna jumped in front of him in surprise. "What? No, if you want any chance of defeating her, you're going to need our help."

"Well we may not have a choice, the more important thing to do right now is make sure that we can leave once Kreia has been dealt with." Andrew turned to look at Bao Dur. "Does your remote still have that special built-in protocol."

"It would pain me to part with the little guy, but yes general, it is still programmed to activate the Mass Shadow Generator."

Mira scratched her head and gestured towards Andrew. "What's the Mass Shadow Generator again?"

"It's the device that created all that you see around us. The Mass Shadow Generator was a superweapon designed to crush the Mandalorians in one fatal swoop. Revan ordered Bao Dur to fire this weapon of his own creation, and turned this once lush and green place into a desolate graveyard with the bodies of lost souls scoured across its surface. What was the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars, became one of the largest mass killings in recent memory, and although I would rather not relive the events of that day; the Mass Shadow Generator does still offer us an invaluable advantage. I believe if the generator is used one more time the pressure of Malachor's increased gravity will be too much for the planet to bare, and it will crumble to pieces and finally die."

Stepping forward once again, Brianna tried to voice her opinion. "That's a great plan Andrew, but we're still not going to let you go out there alone."

"Listen Brianna it's not like I am against all of you wanting to come help, but we can't just sit around and waste time. We have to act now, or Kreia will do something that can't be undone. Now I'm going to retrieve my cloak and head out. You guys need to get started working on those repairs."

Andrew left the cockpit leaving most of everyone in disbelief. When he got to his room he that his cloak was laid sprawled out on the bed, and as he tried to put it on he noticed there was a gaping hole in the side of it; Most likely caused from his recent adventure on Telos. "Well I guess I won't be wearing this."

Brianna snuck into the room with a sour look on her face. "Why do you always have to act like the daring hero, and jump head first into danger? There is strength in numbers, so why are you refusing to let us fight?"

He continued to stare at the hole in his cloak and then proceeded to take it off and hold it in his hands "I told you why Bria..."

"No you didn't" she yelled. All you told us was some bull shit about how we can't waste time." Her hands were clenched and her face was tensing up. "Even though it may seem like it at times, you're not invincible Andrew. You can get hurt, and I don't think your ego is letting you see that. I understand we need to get the ship fixed, but not all of us are technicians. Many of us would be much more of an asset fighting alongside you instead, and some have waited eagerly for a fight like this."

Andrew remained silent, not showing any change in emotion over what Brianna said to him. He simply stood quietly in the middle of the room, continuing to inspect the cloak. Brianna soon grew frustrated and yelled out at him. "Don't you ignore me! I want a clear straight answer from you. Why won't you let us help you?"

"Because I don't want any of you getting hurt" Andrew snapped at her, his voice sounding harsher than he meant for it to be. "I'm sorry, It's just you guys sacrifice everything for me, and I just wanted to spare you from carrying that burden any further. It doesn't matter if it's because of my ties through the force or some immense longing to fight alongside me that makes you all want to follow wherever I lead. I do not wish to be responsible for your deaths, it would tear me apart to lose any one of you."

"Yes but we feel the same about you. Andrew If you died, it would not only mean the death of the force, but it would mean the death of a friend that has defended and supported us through this whole journey. You can't tell us to just sit back, and hope that what we fear doesn't come to fruition; Not when we can do something about it." Brianna unclenched her fist, and walked over and hugged him. "Andrew I love you, but you have to realize you're being selfish right now."

Andrew pushed her away from him, and held her by her shoulders. "I may be, but I believe it's more selfish to constantly be asking you to fight and risk your life for me. I care too much about you guys to let anyone of you get killed out there"

"Andrew can't you see that we love you just as much! Over the last few months this whole crew has grown closer to one another and it is all thanks to you. Do you think all these opposing egos would have stayed civil for so long if it wasn't for a common thread holding them together? You're our leader and our friend, and we all want to be there by your side when you face Kreia."

I'm sorry Brianna but this is the way it has to be. I have to go now. Atton is in charge, do whatever he says." Andrew dropped the robe to the floor, moved past Brianna, and made his way to the elevator lift to get outside. From the roof of the Ebon Hawk he saw more clearly the barren landscape that made up the planet's surface. It was dead and lifeless, however the dark side was very much alive within the soil. Only the strong-willed could walk it and not be corrupted. Andrew jumped off the top of the ship and started moving down a path that seemed to be created by a crash landed ship. As he wandered down, he began to think about what he had said to everyone. He couldn't deny that he wanted their aid, but he did not wish to risk their lives any further especially in a place as unpredictable as Malachor. As these thoughts went through his mind, Andrew heard a silent hissing sound emanating from behind him. The Jedi exile swung around drawing out his weapon. In the cyan blue glow of his saber stood a tall humanoid lizard creature that stared right at him with its razor-sharp teeth extended outwards, and it's jaw hung wide open. The creature circled Andrew as though he was its prey, then suddenly the creature leaped at Andrew trying to aim its claws at his throat. However Andrew was too quick, and made a slicing cut at the creature's sternum first "What other abominations has this planet produced." That question seemed to be quickly answered when he came across even more of these beasts as he went further down the path. At one point he even faced a giant-sized one that was double his size. Soon he came upon a structure that seemed undamaged and unaffected by the decay of the rest of the planet. He had a feeling this is where he would find Kreia.

Before he got to the entrance, ten Sith assassins appeared in front of him blocking his way to the structure. Andrew readied his saber for battle, but the assassins did not attack. Instead they kneeled before him and didn't say a word. He did not understand it why they were behaving in such a way, but he was not going to question it. However, once he got inside he was immediately attacked by a man in dark robes carrying a red lightsaber. Andrew defended himself from his assailant, and managed to disarm him. He pointed his saber at the man, and asked him "What is this place?"

"You stand within the Trayus Academy exile. This place is strong in the dark side, and has spawned many of Sith."

"Hmm, so this is where all of you have come from. It's a little cleaner than what I expected. I suggest you get up and leave. I do not wish to harm an unarmed opponent."

"Typical Jedi, always pacifistic and unwilling to finish the job. I do not need my weapon to kill you." Lightning expelled from the Sith's hand, but Andrew deflected it with his saber and stabbed the Sith apprentice through the chest.

"Typical Sith, always over-confident with their abilities and too willing to recklessly show them off." Andrew stepped over the corpse and walked through the first corridor he saw. He wandered the academy, cutting down any dark Jedi that would try to challenge him. Then he crossed a hallway that gave him a chill on the back of his spine. behind every door he walked past, he could feel a longing for help. He searched around and found a computer terminal that opened all the doors, and what came out of them were familiar faces that Andrew had only seen a short while ago. Among them were Mira, Visas, and hiding in the back was Brianna. "What are you all doing here?" Why are you not on the ship?"

Mira steeped forward from the group. "We went to face Kreia before you could reach her, but she overpowered us and locked us up in theses cells."

"I can't believe you guys, your lucky she didn't kill you." Andrew then noticed there was only three of them. "Where's the rest of you."

Visas spoke up now. "Last time we checked Bao Dur and the droids were still working on the ship, but Atton was with us and we don't know what happened to him. We believe he might have gotten away, but we're not sure."

Andrew's fists tightened and he felt his head start to burn warm. "That's just great, I can't believe..." He had to bite his tongue mid-sentence to prevent himself from saying something he might later regret, so he took a deep breath and maintained his calm composure "Alright I want you to go back to the Ebon Hawk and rejoin Bao Dur, and please stay there this time. I will contact you after I've dealt with Kreia or if I find Atton." The girls turned and left, except for Brianna who stayed where she. The former handmaiden peered down at her feet wearing a sad expression on her face as if she had just been scolded. Andrew walked over and stood at the side of her. "Why couldn't you just listen to me and do what I asked."

"You said do whatever Atton says. He told us that we were going to go help you, even if you didn't want us to." Brianna looked up at him and turned her guilty frown into a shy smile. "Besides you didn't say I love you before you left, so that put me in a very spiteful mood."

Andrew couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "It figures you'd find a loophole." Andrew then wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "I love you, is that better?"

"A little, but I can't help get the feeling that you're mad about what I did."

"I'm not upset that you came, I'm upset that what I feared almost became reality. That I almost lost you."

Brianna put her hand upon his, that was around her waist. "I know, and I'm sorry that I put you in this position. It's just the very thought of losing you was too much for me to handle, and I wanted to do everything in my power to prevent that from happening."

"Brianna it seems we are both wanting to protect each other, but one of us is going to have to let go of their adamancy if we are going to succeed."

There was a small pause of silence between the two lovers, until Brianna spoke up once again. "I'll let you go and do what you need to, but you must make me another promise." She spun around grabbed both sides of his face, and pulled him in for a kiss. "Promise me you won't let that bitch kill you."

He leaned down and returned the kiss and said. "I would not even dream of it. Now get out of here, I'm going to finish this." With one last farewell kiss, they went their separate ways. Now there was nothing holding Andrew back. He had become even more determined to end the pain and suffering that Kreia has caused.

Authors Notes- I'm sorry that it took me longer than usual to get this chapter out. Some family stuff came up and I had to focus on that. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long. Once again I thank all of you that have read the story so far. Considering this was my first story I think it's going pretty well. If you like it favorite it. If you have a critique, please leave a review.

...End of Ch 7...