The contrast of bright white sand and sparkling turquoise waters are shocking compared to the muted gray and orange of the Ebon Hawk. In fact, everything on the Rakatan planet is so dizzyingly colorful that Mal pinches herself often to make sure it's all real. She digs her bare feet further into the sand and watches Zaalbar Jr., the largest of the gizka, splash against the waves. The shaken creatures had left the Ebon Hawk in a mass exodus as soon as the loading ramp opened. Mal had been anxious, immediately asking her companions to help catch them all to bring back on board, but the gizka were content to explore their new world. Mal has never liked goodbyes. At least here she knows they'll be free to cause unlimited mischief for the rest of their lives.

And what a place to live, this anomaly of a planet. The vast and great power of the Rakatan empire hinted at through the clues of the star maps leading to this last surviving pocket. It truly feels gratifying once Mal lets the sting of disappointment fade. They had been so close to finally reaching the Star Forge. So close to rescuing Bastila and facing Malak. But being forced to crash here and surviving the impact relatively unscathed is a clear act of the Force. Mal can feel it prickling against her skin. This place is where she was always meant to come.

"There you are."

Mal peeks over her shoulder at Jolee standing in the distance.

"Mission thought you ran off and got eaten by a rancor."

"Don't sound so disappointed, Jolee."

"Oh, so you do remember my name," he huffs. "Thought you'd forgotten."

Mal presses her lip together and turns to face him. "I was ignoring you."

"You don't say." His voice drips with sarcasm. "I suppose since you're speaking to me now that means you've forgiven whatever offense I caused?"

Mal frowns. "You seriously don't know?"

"Of course not!" Jolee crosses his arms as his expression hardens. "I've already told you I'm not a mind reader. Who knows why you kids get so angry these days."

"You knew." She advances toward him. "You knew the whole time who I was."

He dismisses her words with a wave of his hand. "I fail to see how any of that was my business."

That pricks at her temper. "Isn't that the whole reason you came with me? To see what happens next after you find a Sith Lord with amnesia wandering the Shadowlands?"

"Of course. And here we are now! But instead of moving on, you're scolding me because?"

"Because you're the only one left!" Mal snaps. She takes a deep breath and steadies herself, peeling away the instinctual anger to acknowledge the hurt underneath. "I know… I know none of it is your fault, but you're the only one here. The council is gone. Bastila's trapped with Malak. All that's left is you."

"I see." Jolee takes a moment to stare at her with that inscrutable gaze. "And at what point do you take into account your own responsibility?"

Mal bites down on the defensive words ready to pounce from her tongue and waits.

"Would you have believed me," he continues, "if I had told you about your identity? Would it have made a difference in where we are now?"

This is where you were always meant to come.

"No," she answers wearily. "I suppose it wouldn't."

Jolee sighs and shuffles forward. Up close, he looks as tired as Mal feels. Something about his vulnerability settles her. "I'm sorry I made you feel like I betrayed your trust. I've tried to guide you in my own way during our time together. Believe me, if you had walked up to me that day in the Shadowlands and introduced yourself as Revan, I still would've followed you."

"Why?"

"I already told you. I want to see where destiny is leading you. I want to see the choices you make in the face of it. It's been interesting enough so far and you're about to make another big one here with the Rakata."

Mal stifles a groan as she rubs her fingertips against her temple. "Don't remind me."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you managed to play both sides of the conflict the last time you were here." Jolee smirks at her uncomfortable shuffle. "You were planning to do it again, weren't you?"

"Obviously I can't," Mal pouts. "Apparently I already burned that bridge."

"Revan, indeed." Jolee laughs heartily. The sour mood between them breaks and Mal feels her muscles relax. "No more slippery maneuvers for you. It's time to choose and choose wisely."

"I know, I know. Enough with the lecture, old man."

He turns to leave her with his classic hmph and she's alone on the beach once more.

Choice. It's the hot word jumping across everyone's lips. All of them pushing Mal to make a choice, to pick a side.

She stares at the Ebon Hawk nestled in the sand. This little ship has carried them so deep into the unknown. It had been the first semblance of choice on this journey: how to escape Taris. That choice had been an illusion. Mal was always meant to be on the Ebon Hawk. Just as she was meant to crash on Taris, collect her crew, and fight her way back to the ever-grasping hands of the Force.

Now she's come full circle. As Revan, she had listened raptly to the secret histories of the Rakata with Malak at her side only to play her part in the endless loop of the galactic story. Life, growth, conflict. It's the same ambition she sees in The One, the familiar hunger in his eyes as he speaks of his tribe's potential to reach out beyond the skies. The pursuit of power and the inevitable collapse under its weight. What hubris she must've had back then to believe she could escape that fate.

Mal tilts her head back and raises her eyes to the sky. The shape of the Star Forge teases her with its proximity in the far distance. The treasure at the end of the hunt. It's a shame they're going to destroy it. Mal instinctively knows that she could spend long months peeling back the intricate layers of its workings and barely breach the surface of its secrets. She can't help but mourn all the unique knowledge that must be hidden away within her lost memories. If she could find a way to get rid of the Sith while keeping the Star Forge intact, maybe the Republic will let her study it before blasting it to pieces.

A useless thought exercise with the Ebon Hawk still out of commission and the entrance to the temple barred. Mal shakes herself out of the contemplation that so easily sucks her away from the present moment. The waves of heat rising from the sand make the ship waver across the beach, its form wiggling loosely in the breeze. There's something else lurking in the distance. Mal squints hard. A black figure moves from behind the boulders.

Her heart stutters. She takes a stumbling step forward, breaking her feet from their encased tombs of sand. The dark form wavers and disappears. Mal squints her eyes and approaches cautiously. Creeping around the backside of the boulders, she catches a glimpse of movement around the bend. She ducks back the other way to cut them off, but there's no one there. The skin on her arms prickles.

"Revan."

She whips around to see Bastila standing before her, dressed in the same Sith uniform Mal had been wearing only two days ago.

"Bastila." Mal whispers her name like a sigh of relief.

Bastila takes a slow roam of Mal's body with her eyes and settles onto her face with a look of disdain. "Do you remember yet? Do you remember how great you used to be?"

Mal clenches her jaw as she takes note of the sickly pale of Bastila's face, the sharp hunger of her eyes. "No, but I've learned how to be great again. In my own way."

"You're nothing like you once were. So strong. So brilliant. Facing you was the greatest thrill of my life."

"I know what he's done to you Bastila," Mal approaches cautiously. "I felt it too."

"You know nothing," she hisses back.

"I know that I wouldn't blame you if you've decided to join him. I would understand—"

"Save your pretty words, Revan. I know the lies that you weave so well."

"And you know the hate that lives in my heart. It's why you're here, isn't it?'

Bastila slinks forward until she's within arm's reach. "You could do it you know," she whispers tenderly. "Kill Malak. Take everything back that he stole from you. I could help you. I want to help you. You know how I feel."

Mal frowns. "I thought we agreed that you were mistaken."

Bastila's smile sharpens. "I'm not afraid of what the Jedi think anymore. We can be together now, bound by the power of the dark side."

"Bastila, I don't—"

Mal freezes for a moment. Maybe she could do it. Convince Bastila that she shares her affections, that she's accepted the darkness in her heart. That she's willing to become the Revan she once was. It would be the easiest way on to the Star Forge. She could leave her crew safely behind, use Bastila to make her way to Malak, end this once and for all.

"No, you can't do this!"

Mal's heartbeat quickens as Mission runs to stand in between them with arms outstretched.

"Get back on the ship!" Mal hisses, but Mission only shakes her head.

"You're really going to betray us, aren't you?" Carth joins her side, a look of quiet defeat in his expression. "After everything we've gone through together, this is what you decide?"

"If that's what you want, it's fine by me." Canderous moves to stand by Bastila. "You're Revan. I'll follow you no matter what."

"But I will not." Juhani joins Carth. "You helped me to decide my fate. Let me help you decide yours."

"You don't understand," Mal whispers harshly. "Let me go with her. Trust me!"

"Is that what you think?" Bastila cuts in with a smirk. The shadows under her eyes have darkened and a network of pale scars bloom across her face. "You can't lie to me, Revan. I alone know the truth. You think you can come with me and change my mind, but there are greater forces at work than what's happening here on this beach. If you come with me, it's because deep down you want to reclaim the secrets of power you once held. You can't lie to me. You're only lying to yourself."

Mal stares back in panicked alarm. "That's not true."

Mission drops an arm and points her ringed thumb at Mal. "I know what I'm about," she declares. She turns her head and Mal jumps at the sight of her bloodied face. "Do you?"

Zaalbar roars in chilling agony as he shakes his bloodied fists in the air.

"Do you, Revan?" Carth turns to her. His eyes are empty black sockets. "I don't think I could stand to see it."

"What's it going to be?" Canderous fumbles with his hands, the chains tying his wrists to his rifle rubbing against raw wounds. "Will you continue to give us war?"

"Will you reclaim your throne?" Juhani gurgles, blood pouring out from her lips. "Will you embrace power again?"

"It's time to choose." Mal turns to look at Jolee standing away from them all with a hand pressed to his stomach holding its slashed contents in place. "Choose wisely."

Mal grits her teeth and turns back to Bastila's gleeful face. She swallows the lump of all the things she wants to say, the words she could plead, the excuses she could make. Instead she shakes her head and says, "I already have."

Bastila lunges at her with a snarl, all her companions reach out to claw at her arms, her face, wherever they can reach. Mal struggles against them until she lets out a great push of the Force. They fly off into the sand where they disintegrate amidst the grains. Bastila's laughter echoes faintly in her ears as she snaps out of the grisly vision.

Mal drops to her hands and knees, clenching her jaw as her mouth overfills with saliva. Is this a test or a trick? Is Bastila messing with her head or is this the Force prodding Mal? The Star Forge could be useful to the Republic. The Star Forge could be devasting in the hands of the Republic. If only she could remember… no, that doesn't matter now.

"I've already decided," Mal grits out as she presses her fists into the sand, digging down until her knuckles sting against the grains. "I've already decided."

There is no choice. Mal can't bargain or steal or puzzle her way out of this one. She has to save Bastila. She has to kill Malak. She has to destroy the Star Forge. She has to save her companions. It is the only way forward. She has already decided.