Apologies for the long wait! In truth, I had this chapter half done...then real life kicked me in the butt this summer. Thankfully, I got some inspiration...I don't want to leave you guys hanging especially since things were supposed to start ramping up plot-wise. And to be honest it was nice to sit down to write this again and get in Revan's ugly head ;) Funnily enough, it was easier than I thought it would be...

As a reminder, last time Revan (Wes) had many interesting chats with Yuthura and discovered her past. He contemplated rescinding the order to HK to poison her because of it but decided not to (because he's a petty son of a bitch). He set up poison in Uthar's room and took Revan's holocron.

Anyway, onto the chapter!

Revan's holocron still weighed in my pocket as I walked into the darkness of the Korriban valley.

Why did I take it? The question lingered in my mind for…too long. I remember telling myself that if I opened the holocron and took a peek it would all be over. Wes Gale would die and Revan would be reborn. Yet, that was a delusion, wasn't it? There was only one reason why I took the holocron. The holocron was mine. And Revan—no, I had always been too curious for my own good.

A fatal flaw, perhaps.

I smelled the smoke in the distance before I even arrived at our cave hideout. Loud singing echoed throughout the canyons, loud enough that it was almost heard by the Academy. An odd dread filled my chest—they were Mandalorian war chants, and somehow…I recognized them.

I quickened my pace.

In front of the cave, an enormous bonfire had been lit and surrounding it were the Mandalorians of Clan Ordo. Almost all of them had removed their helmets to better sing the chant except for Veela who stood beside the entrance of the cavern. She noticed me immediately and crossed the encampment around the rowdy Mandos. Since I was weaponless, I took a step back, but I didn't sense any animosity in the Force.

"Took you long enough." She turned and faced the fire. "I was beginning to think you weren't a man of your word."

I relaxed only enough to speak without scorn.

"Where's Canderous?"

"Guarding the Jedi. He refuses to leave their side. Doesn't trust his own people." Her head shook as one of the Mandos began pounding a loud drum. "I sent the Fetts to gather the rest of the clan and bring them here. They should be arriving in an hour or two."

I waved at the flames. "Why are they making a racket out here?"

"Hate our merry-making, Sith?"

Yes. I flinched at the Mandos' crude songs. A part of me despised it. But I wasn't going to admit that.

"You'll expose yourself to the Academy."

She huffed her chest up with pride. "Let them come. Clan Ordo hasn't had a real fight in a long time."

"Then you're a fool."

Mandalorians have a fatal flaw. They fight hard. Too hard. In their frenzy, they become blind to their surroundings. They take foolish pride in this flaw. Which is why they will lose in the end, Malak.

I shook my head and ignored that odd thought—memory—as I approached the cavern. Before I entered, Veela grabbed my shoulder. I met her gaze through her mask. Her stare was intense. Dark. I could sense that single eye—a cold ball of ice.

"Where is Mandalore's Mask?"

I met her invisible gaze for a beat of the Mandalorian's chant. Then, I smiled.

"You haven't fulfilled your end of the deal yet."

"I haven't?"

"The Sith Academy is still standing."

"Ah, so you want us to fight your battles for you again." She pushed my shoulder. "Coward. I won't agree to do anything unless Canderous brings us to the mask and he wears it himself."

"You will have your stupid mask," I said. "The Sith are in the way of it, unfortunately."

I felt a chill that didn't come from the night.

"Don't you dare demean the mask of Mandalore, Sith." She leered over me. "We will fight your battles for as long as Canderous stands by your side. When he's gone though…"

She left that thought trailing as she turned and marched towards the fire circle. Veela wasn't a patient woman. It was too bad, then, that her promise wouldn't be fulfilled any time soon. Of course, unless, I remembered where Revan hid it. Strangely enough, I did not like that prospect.

Juhani shot up from the ground as I arrived in the cavern room, face twisted with concern. Canderous, who had been in a guarded position, relaxed once he saw it was me.

"What took you so long!" He cursed in Mando'a. "Veela has grown impatient. I can hold them off for a bit but the Fetts…they have stopped listening to me."

Juhani ignored him and walked up to me. Her eyes searched mine, almost as if she was looking for something. The dark side. Fortunately, she must have been satisfied with something because she gave me a small smile. Her accented voice was quiet as she spoke.

"I made some progress with Belaya, I think." She glanced over her shoulder. Belaya was alone in the corner near the skull. Sulking. Her leg injury was almost healed based on the quick glance I gave her. "Progress being that I got her to talk to me. I…told her all about our mission but it is still not enough. She has not talked to me since yesterday." Her gaze drifted to the ground. "Perhaps she does not truly love me."

"And that fact isn't your fault, is it?"

She looked up at me and then shook her head.

"No. It is not." She frowned. "Though, I still sense that love within her. Locked away. She refuses to take hold of it. I…I do not know why."

"Maybe she wants to protect you."

"Protect me?"

Belaya was now looking at us with intensity. Eventually, she stood and marched up to us, getting in between me and Juhani. Her eyes narrowed.

"What are you saying, Revan?"

I shrugged. "Nothing."

"Nothing. Really? Do you think I'm stupid? She was listening to your 'advice' again. From what I heard, she treats you like her Jedi Master!"

"What's wrong with that?"

Her face beat red.

"What's wrong with that? What's wrong with a Sith Lord acting as Juhani's Master? What do you kriffing think?"

I ignored her and instead looked at my cracked nails.

"Not much, frankly." I feinged remembering something. "Oh, by the way, the Sith think you're dead." I pat her shoulder and she flinched away. "Congratulations! You're free to run to the furthest corner of the galaxy now if you want to. No need to thank me."

Her face twisted with shock and anger.

"I…" Belaya looked at Juhani. "You—!"

"That is unless you joined the Sith to flagellate yourself. Which…well, I guess we all have our kinks. I'm a masochist myself."

"W-What?!"

I waved. "You can start by walking into the Sith Academy if you're so inclined. Yuthura doesn't appreciate deserters that fake their own deaths."

"Wait! No!"

"Have fun!"

"How are you—" I didn't let her finish and walked away towards Canderous. She sighed and her voice became quiet. "You were right. He really is a different person. Revan wasn't this…eccentric."

Juhani chuckled. I mean, was I really that weird?

Canderous cleared his throat as I walked up to him…he was obviously amused by our conversation.

"So, what's the plan?" He nodded outside. "How long will we stay cooped up?"

"Not long. In fact, we're leaving."

"The cave? Right now?"

"No. The planet. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, huh?" He frowned. "How will Veela react to us 'leaving?'"

"Well, you see, that's up to you." I crossed my arms. "She doesn't trust me to tell her where Mandlore's mask is. She wants you to lead her to where it is. And I have no idea where it is."

"So, I can either tell her this or…I will have to lie to her."

"I wouldn't blame you if you told her the truth, but having the Mandalorians as a distraction would be useful for our escape tomorrow."

Canderous shook his head. "No, you don't need to convince me, I've made my decision." He gripped his blaster rifle hard. "Veela is leading the clan with lies so I'll tell her all the lies I want in return. Clan Ordo is no more—it should have died on Malachor. That and I told you, Revan—I'm with you until the end." Why was I even surprised that he was? Canderous nodded at the cave exit. "You all go. I'll have to stay behind…and act like I will lead her to the mask. Once I find an opportunity, I'll meet you at the Ebon Hawk."

He put on his Sith armor that had been tossed into some random corner—it was better than nothing. I trusted that he could escape Veela's clutches or at least I hoped that for once the Force would be on our side.

Juhani approached Belaya who hadn't moved from her defensive spot in front of her.

"Belaya…"

She waved. "Just go."

"But where will you go?" Juhani asked. "Come with us. We…we can sneak you in—"

"You'll be a better Jedi without me, Juni." She smiled. "Believe me."

Yet Juhani's emotions in the Force wavered as she bowed her head. I knew for a fact that she didn't believe a word that Belaya said. Yet, she couldn't force her to come with us. Neither could I, really.

Belaya gave me one last look before Juhani and I left the cave for good.

It was a familiar look.

It was a look of regret.

The Ebon Hawk was brimming with life as Juhani and I entered the main hold. Carth was humoring Mission, who was patiently feeding Gil on a chair, Jolee was yapping Verena's ear off who looked about ready to die on the spot, T3 was letting out more happy beeps than usual, perhaps due to Mission's game with Gil, and Dustil…I paused as I saw Dustil sitting near his father, staring intensely at the lights. Carth must have picked him up somewhere or he found the Ebon Hawk himself. I had to keep myself from glaring at him with suspicion since I knew he was here to help with tomorrow's fight now.

They all stopped talking once they saw me.

"There you are," Jolee smiled. "We were beginning to worry you wouldn't show, kid."

I walked up to the holodisplay.

"I always keep my promises, Jolee." Carth snorted. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Well, most of the time."

"Dustil was able to gather some intel from the other students…" Carth nodded at his son who chose to instead broodily stare back at the holo. "Intel that includes a map of the entire Academy. Should come in handy when we escape with the Star Map."

Dustil finally stood and plugged a chip into T3. The droid rolled up to the holodisplay computer and hooked himself in. Moments later, a holo of the Sith Academy rotated before us. There were four upper levels and two basement levels, each a sprawling maze.

"I showed what happened to Selene and…I was able to get ten or so students on my side including Mekel. During the trials, most of the students are going to be training in the lower halls as punishment for failure. We'll fight our way up—"

"No, down." I shook my head and pointed at the lowest basement level. To the prisons. "You will go with Verena and help her rescue the Mandalorian children."

Carth frowned. "No. It's too risky. I'd rather my son actually live for a day or two after we've been reunited."

"No, not risky at all." Dustil smiled. "Not if she's with ten Sith apprentices. Well, ex-apprentices."

"You do realize she's the same woman who brought you here, right?"

At Carth's statement, there was an…awkward silence. Since what he said was true. I forgot, actually. I considered speaking up for Verena again, but the expression on her face told me not to butt in. Eventually, she spoke up.

"I do not need assistance. This fight is mine and mine alone." She faced Dustil. "You're father is right. It is my fault you were brought here in the first place. So I—"

"I would have died if you hadn't taken me." Dustil shrugged. "Children in the refuge camp didn't live long. It is what it is. I became a Sith to survive. We both did. But we're redeeming ourselves now, right? That's all that matters." He eyed his father. "Trust me."

Eventually, Carth sighed.

"Alright."

Wow. Carth actually conceding? A miracle.

"Carth."

He flinched at the sound of my voice.

"What?"

"You will need to stay here and wait for us to get to the Ebon Hawk. I don't want to tip any of the Sith off as we fight through the halls. Every attack will be a surprise."

"That will be impossible. One of them will sound the alarms eventually."

"No, Mission would have already turned those off."

Mission flinched, obviously shocked that I mentioned her.

"Huh?" She shot up. "Uh, oh, yeah! I'll help!"

I smiled. "Remember I gave you that stealth unit? Use it to break in during the trial and turn off all of the Sith's emergency protocols." I pulled out the master key that Yuthura foolishly gave to me and passed it to Mission. "This opened up Uthar's room so it should work to open the server room too. If not, you can use it to crack open other doors." I searched the map then found it—dangerously near the Sith Master's rooms but I trusted Mission's ability to sneak around. "It's there in the heart of the Academy on the second level. Juhani will go with you as a backup since she won't look too suspicious."

Carth rubbed his chin with a long hum.

"Wes, I don't know…that's probably the most dangerous area. You think she can handle it?"

Mission slapped the console, glaring lightsabers at Carth.

"Of course I can handle it, old fart! Who's the one who got us out of our cages on the Leviathan, huh? Not you. Me. I also snuck around the Undercity better than you!" She faced Dustil. "You weren't there but your old man went splat on the ground and almost got turned into a rakghoul. So, I know what I'm doing!"

Dustil chuckled faintly to himself at Mission's intensity.

"She's got a point."

Carth shook his head at his son yet shot Mission a soft smile as if he was only half serious with his remark. I smiled back then faced Jolee.

"Canderous is currently undercover with the Mandalorians. He will cause enough of a distraction so that the Sith will stay away from the alarms. As for me…I won't be able to fight out of the Academy alone as much as I would like to. Jolee and HK will follow me to the tomb where the trial will be held."

Carth crossed his arms. "I'll go with them too." I raised a brow. He raised a brow back. "It doesn't matter if I watch the Ebon Hawk if you're not there. It's important that you get to the Ebon Hawk safely with the Star Map coordinates. I'll go with Jolee."

Huh. Maybe he was right. I nodded.

"Alright. Then you will go with Jolee and fight with us during our escape." I pulled out a comm from my pocket. "Verena—you will attack as soon as you get a chance to while the trial is going on and Canderous will do the same. It should be chaotic enough so that you can use the comms to contact each other. Once I get the Star Map, I'll send out a signal and we'll get the hell out of here."

They all nodded in agreement with the plan. It seemed simple yet I knew something would come up either during the trial or during our escape. Knowing the Sith, Uthar or Yuthura could give me one last surprise after I leave that tomb without them.

Something heavy and cold weighed in my pocket. I tried to ignore the pull of it…but I stuck my hand in my pocket and felt the sharp groves of the holocron.

Metal pieces danced amongst electronic parts and each piece was set into place by design. The cold face of Malak watched from above.

"Is that a holocron?"

I didn't answer my apprentice. Instead, I finished the construction… sending waves of dark side energy into the metal. Infusing it like a mechanic would to metal plates in armor. Afterward, the blue glow of the holocron shifted to red. I stood up slowly and smiled.

Malak gave me that suspicious look.

"What's it for?" he asked.

"As much as I would like to keep teaching the students here…I can't be in two places at once. This war needs to be my sole focus. That and the Star Forge."

"Let me teach them then." Malak's lip quaked. "I can kill that weakling Jorak Uln and claim the title of Academy Master."

"No." I shook my head. "You will stay at my side."

The thought did cross my mind. Day after day I grew weary of Malak. His overeagerness and his clumsy attempts to vie for power hadn't gone unnoticed. A Republic General would have shunted him far away at the first sign of disobedience. Knowing Malak, that would only encourage him to defy me again.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Though friends…well, they didn't really have to be in the equation.

"Kid?"

I blinked…must have drifted away. So much so that I hadn't noticed Jolee speaking to me.

"What?"

"Everyone's gone now."

Huh, he's right. They all went their separate ways to prepare for tomorrow probably. I released my tight grip on the holocron and looked down at T3 who also remained at my side.

Jolee sighed. "You should rest as much as you can tonight. I doubt the Sith will make your trial easy."

No. It wasn't going to be easy. Two terentateks, a crazy apprentice, the Lord of Pain, and two crazy Sith Masters. All in one day.

I would prefer fighting Darth Malak on the Leviathan again over that.

Uthar and Yuthura led us down the halls of the Academy—the students and Sith lined the walls and looked down as we followed our Masters to the site of our trial. The ghosts in the halls seemed more restless today as if they could sense the pending battle.

Far behind us, I could sense Jolee with Carth following him. HK-47 returned the night before and was now positioned somewhere in the valley—watching for us so that he could inform Jolee and Carth of my location. Mission and Juhani had also already gotten into position. And Verena…her dark mask faced me as I turned the corner. Yusanis' blade was sheathed on her back. Behind her was Dustil and a group of Sith students—one of them being Mekel. He briefly made eye contact with me before looking down at his boots again.

Lashowe walked side-by-side with me and never let me out of her sight.

"It's too bad," she muttered. "Only one of us will be able to come back to the Academy alive."

I faced forward.

"You're giving up then?"

"You will wish you were back in Ajunta Pall's tomb starving to death by the end, Gale. I will make your death as agonizing as possible. You have Yuthura to thank for that."

We turned another corner. Another row of students. How long was this procession going to last?

"What makes you think you'll be the victor here?"

"It's obvious." Her voice hissed. "I didn't learn the Force from the weak Jedi Order like you. I fought tooth and nail for this position while you just strut in here and earn a place at my side like it's nothing. Gaining Yuthura's favor so easily…" She smiled. "Don't expect it to be so easy in the trial, Jedi."

I frowned. "I pity you."

That pissed her off. Just like I expected it to.

With a dark shove, she tried to slam me against the wall but I expected the attack and repelled her easily enough. Lashowe was flung to the ground. She stared up at me with extreme intensity, eyes glowing yellow as she pulled from the dark side of the Force. Force, she's trying to choke me. I kept holding my ground yet I winced as the pressure around my neck intensified.

"Apprentices!" Yuthura's voice made Lashowe lose focus in her attack. "Enough. You'll have time to kill each other during the trial."

Lashowe shoved off the ground and she marched away from me with a huff. Yuthura gave me a concerned glare before moving on again.

Eventually, finally, we made it outside. The valley was deserted during the daylight hours. No Sith students prowled around the tombs or tents. No soldiers marched about. Everyone was ordered to stay within the Academy as the trial was ongoing. This was to preserve the secrecy of the tomb we were heading to, of course.

And to hide the Star Map.

A few dark Jedi followed us. The five dark Jedi were hand-picked by Uthar who would guard the grounds and make sure we didn't escape or that trespassers didn't interrupt the trial. They would need to be dealt with. I eyed the valley and tried to sense Jolee. I could feel his presence somewhere behind us.

Yuthura walked at my side as we approached the western side of the valley. Just like in my vision, I saw the same statues. The same iconography.

"You did as I asked?" she whispered in my ear.

I nodded.

A slim smile formed on her lips.

"Good. It will kick in…after I throw this." She showed me her belt. On it was an arrangement of grenades along with my lightsaber. "I would expect a fight still, of course—"

"Yuthura."

The Twi'lek Sith flinched at the sound of her Master's voice and rushed away from me to his side.

"Yes, Master Uthar?"

"What are you whispering about to Apprentice Gale, hmm? Are you scheming perhaps?"

Her gaze wavered over to me.

"I…" Her body straightened. "I don't know what you're talking about, Master. I am not... scheming. Should we not get on with the test?"

Uthar glanced over at me knowingly. Both thought I was on their side. Both believed in this lie that I ever took a side other than my own.

"Yes. Let's."

He led us to a row of columns…before he raised his hand and flipped something with the Force. The air wavered and eventually, there was a low hum. Static rained in the sky as the cloaking device shut off revealing a large stone door. Tricky. So, even if we were searching the entire valley we would have never found the tomb we were looking for.

Uthar waved at the five dark Jedi who gave Lashowe and me stern looks as we passed them into the cool chambers beyond.

Of all the tombs I'd seen on Korriban, this one had to be the largest. The ceiling was at least as tall as the valley itself, the columns disappeared into the darkness above. Yuthura lit a torch and brought the flame to the stands on the wall. Gradually, the light revealed the room to us.

A tall statue stood in the center of the room surrounded by debris from millenia ago. He wasn't human, that was certain. The two tendrils on his cheeks and high cheekbones meant this Sith Lord was in fact a true Sith.

Uthar chuckled low. "I'm sure you are both wondering where we are. We are in the sacred tomb of Naga Sadow, young ones. The one explored by Darth Malak and Darth Revan years ago. You are to follow in their footsteps and reach an ancient Star Map that lies deep within. There you will find a lightsaber amongst other things. The lightsaber is for you. However, there is only one. Return to us once you have it or if you fail to retrieve it. For you, the test does not end there."

He waved to Yuthura. "Before you go, give your weapons to Yuthura. You will face whatever you find in the tomb with the dark side alone."

Lashowe snorted before she unhooked her lightsaber and handed it to Yuthura. I took my blaster off my belt and handed it to her as well while shooting her a knowing look. Uthar raised his hand once we handed over our weapons and opened the large doors at the far end of the chamber with the Force.

"Begin!"

Lashowe sprinted into the hall as soon as Uthar shouted. I took a more methodical approach and walked into the dark hall. Something…or someone was waiting. Then, without warning, the doors shut behind me, purging me in darkness.

Sensing my surroundings using the Force was difficult, like trying to swim through sludge. Something is hiding. Thankfully, there was only one way forward.

The hall went on and on…I almost thought it had looped in on itself. As I walked, the sludge only seemed to get thicker, the air colder. This wasn't like Ajunta Pall's tomb where there had been a certain melancholy in the air. No, the thick darkness sucked all hope, all life, from my surroundings. It got to a point where I could only sense a few feet in front of me. I stopped when I realized that I didn't even know where I was going to place my foot next. That and I felt another presence. Another danger.

I reacted at the last moment, using the Force to push my attacker away. Lashowe's cackles echoed around me.

Don't stop. That's what Yuthura told me. Who knew what that meant but I wasn't going to find out. Instead of attacking back, I rushed away.

"Coward!" A bolt of lightning split the air but due to the darkness, Lashowe missed her target. "Stop running!"

A wave that I didn't sense hit me in the back. When I collided with the ground, I heard a faint click.

Ignoring Lashowe's taunts, I sensed the ground beneath the pressure plate I landed on. A trap…the plate spanned the entire length of the hall so I wouldn't have been able to avoid it. I searched further.

Gas. Poison.

A shadow rushed towards me and when I sensed it getting close, I shot onto my feet and pushed my attacker to the ground. A cloud of gas erupted from the floor and ceiling filling the air.

"Kriffing hell."

It was filling the hall. Fast. Using the Force, I amplified my limbs to run faster. Lashowe was close behind. Finally, she stopped trying to ambush me like a grunt on Nar Shaddaa and focused on her own survival.

Light. A door. And it was closing. I didn't have much time.

"Clumsy buffon!" She coughed. "Setting off traps…how did Yuthura even think you'd get passed—"

Using the Force, I tripped Lashowe. She yelped in pain as she collided to the floor. I ignored it since I was only a few feet away from freedom. I slid past the door and into the next room. I didn't bother to observe my surroundings and instead turned to watch Lashowe.

She was still struggling to get up. Sprained ankle maybe. It was hard to tell since I could barely sense past the doorway. Her struggling breaths were…painful to hear.

"So. You'd let a measly trap kill me." She scoffed. "Why not finish me off? Unless you really are a coward."

"Not falling for it."

The door was half closed and Lashowe was crawling now. She was too far away to make it in time though. Once she realized this…a terrified expression filled her face. Her eyes bulged. I could sense a tinge of fear that I hadn't sensed from the woman before.

"I…" She bowed her head and soft laughter peeled from her lips. "I guess…this is the end then."

"Yes. Ironic," I muttered.

"Ha. Very funny. I tried to kill you by closing a door in your face and now you're returning the favor."

"But unlike me, you have no one to save you."

She grew quiet after that.

"I never had anyone so whatever." She spat. "Parents…abandoned me…mother left me…on the steps of a Jedi Temple. I foolishly ran into the streets…after her." A cough. "As I ran…I found Mother. Father. The Sith got to them already. They were dead. Killed. They were looking for me." Another laugh, this one was weak. "They asked if…I wanted to go with them and join Darth Revan. I knew right then and there..." She finally looked up at me with gleaming eyes. "...that I was destined to become a Sith."

The door was only open by a foot and she was now only a meter or so away. I sensed a force ripple through the air into my mind. I pushed her attempt to enter my mind away. She gathered the rest of her strength and managed to stand. She was laughing all the while.

"You can't hide from me, Gale. I can sense your guilt."

She was right. A part of me didn't want her to suffer despite the crimes she committed. After all, I had committed worse. Done worse. It was Revan's fault she'd been kidnapped, tormented, brainwashed. I took a step forward and pushed on the door with the Force so that it stopped.

"Weak!" She coughed and staggered forward again. In a few steps, she would escape. "I never felt sorry. Not once. Not for the weak initiates that skipped around Dreshdae. Not for the weak excuse of a rival that I needed to slaughter to get into this place. Not even for my own mother and father's deaths. Not once. I've sensed your guilt since the beginning. It's a weakness." She shuffled forward again. "Yet you, Wes Gale, were able to gain prestige despite it all! No Sith—"

Without a second passing, I lifted my hand and forced Lashowe to the ground just before she could cross the threshold. She cursed, struggling hard against my hold in the Force. A hidden blade clattered to the ground.

For the first time, shock grazed her features. I stepped closer so that she could meet my gaze through the slit of the door.

"You're right. I feel guilt. Unimaginable guilt. Guilt to the point of death even." I laughed—not out of joy. Of madness. "You were going to kill me there, weren't you? I sensed it once you got close enough. You have every right to kill me. It's my fault that your parents are dead. It's my fault that you became a Sith."

Her eyes widened. "What—"

"For that, I'm sorry, but guilt…it isn't enough to stop me from doing what must be done."

Lashowe's mouth hung open. It was the last thing I saw of her before the doors shut with a quake.

Maybe I made a mistake killing her. Mekel and Dustil were able to turn around and realize the error of their ways. But something that Jolee said a few days ago struck a chord with me. The lack of remorse makes a man evil. When Lashowe proclaimed again and again that she had no remorse…I knew she was lost.

The corridor led into a more spacious room. The left wall led to a new area of the tomb. The way forward was barred by a shield. It was easy to narrow down that the switch to turn off the shield would be guarded by the terentateks. A stink wafted over me as I got closer to the room to the left. Yup. A terentatek or two was passed here. Without a weapon, there was no way I was going to defeat the monsters unless I miraculously found something to aid me. I brought my hood up so that it covered my face and braced myself as I used the Force to open the door.

Piles of bones. The stench wafted past due to the displacement of the air. And something…different yet familiar. I scanned the room and didn't see a single sign of the terentateks but that didn't mean they weren't nearby.

On the other side of the room was a control panel.

After waiting for a few moments, I realized that I needed to move or else I would be spotted. I dipped low and hid behind a pile of bones, trying to use the Force to sense the creatures. Any Force ability used against a terentatek is nullified. Which meant I had no choice but to run really.

"Wes?"

I flinched at the sound of someone calling my name.

What?

Risking a peek, I glanced over the side of the bone pile toward the voice. I dipped once I realized who it was.

Bastila.

How was she…? But no, it was a trick of some kind. I closed my eyes and focused on the Force. On blocking out the terentateks' attempts to get into my head.

A laugh. "That isn't going to work." I felt something touch my shoulder. "Wes...no, Revan. Why are you trying so hard to save me? I betrayed you." Go away. "Betrayed you like your apprentice. Betrayed you like the Jedi. Raped your mind with the Force bond. Save me? You should kill me like you killed that weak woman Lashowe."

You…you didn't—

"Didn't want to do this? Funny. I knew you were Revan from the beginning. I didn't care that we were manipulating the Dark Lord's shell. There is no emotion; there is peace."

You said you loved me.

"What do I know of love?" She paused. "What do you know of it? You, Darth Revan, despise it. Saw it as the weakness that it was. Still do."

No. That's not true.

"You always lie to yourself, don't you? Isn't it exhausting?"

I felt something brush my face, touch my scar. I dared to open my eyes. She was standing there…close. So close. Her breath brushed my lips as she caressed my face. If I didn't know better, it almost felt…warm.

She spoke to me using the Force bond.

"We had that in common, you know? Our hatred of love. That similarity tricked us into believing that what we had was love when, in fact, it was a lie." She smiled. "You only ever loved yourself, Revan. Vile, inconsiderate, egotistical. Vain. Arrogant. Power hungry. Monster."

I slid to the ground and felt a heavy weight on my shoulders. Dread. Deep down, I knew this image of Bastila was right.

Then, I heard another chuckle. Malak sauntered behind Bastila—instead of the chin guard, the machinery was exposed. I felt my stomach churn as he stepped away from the wall.

"You turned me into a monster, Revan." Malak's voice echoed in my mind. "You would have done the same to Bastila eventually. This is what your love does to people." He pointed to his chin. "Disfigure, corrupt, defile. Bastila will end up the same way."

A flash of anger filled my body. I stood up slowly and glared at him.

"Don't touch her."

"Too late." He placed a hand on Bastila's shoulder. She smiled up at him. "I defiled her…just as you defiled me."

This is your fault.

I grabbed my head and a hot pain flashed in my mind. Too much. I backed up…and collapsed into the pile of bones. Closing my eyes, I tried to force whatever was entering my mind…to leave. I thought back…back to Bastila's lessons. The ones I joked about. The ones I teased her about. In the depths of my mind, everything collapsed into a white light.

Peace.

Bastila meditated in front of me. Her expression was quiet. Forlorn. Her lip twitched. I glanced around…we were in the cargo hold. Time seemed to be standing still.

"How do you make it look so easy?" I asked, repeating my words.

Bastila didn't move. She spoke in my mind.

"Part of it is due to my training in Battle Meditation. While I also learned how to intentionally pass along surface-level emotion, I also had to learn how to defend myself from Sith who would invade my meditation..."

"How?"

She looked up and met my gaze.

"You want an answer? Truly?"

"Yes. I'm done playing games." I leaned forward. "I want to know. How do you do it? How can I break out from this?"

"In truth…" She ducked her head. "I never needed to teach you how to create a thought shield, Revan. You already know how."

"I forgot."

Bastila shook her head. "You couldn't do it because…I was a distraction." A tense moment passed. "The terentatek aren't speaking the truth. What they say to you is what you say to yourself. It is why the Sith are unaffected by them and why the Jedi...fail to defeat them. The Sith thrive off their self-loathing."

I felt my body fall with that truth.

"What are you then?" I asked.

"I am hope. It will pass soon though. You don't have hope for long. Probably because hope was…a foreign concept to you before. Before I saved you." She looked up and smiled. "But now you stand at a precipice. Before it…I stand in the way." She sank. "I am your hope but I am also what you despair. A contradiction. That is why…you must kill me."

"No." I shot up. "I will never hurt you again—"

Her eyes bulged with terror.

"You must kill me!"

I let out a shout, animalistic, loud, painful. I grabbed a bone, sharp, and plunged it into Bastila's chest. The shade, despair, didn't move…as blood sputtered out of her lips. Malak's shade disappeared into the nether…as did Bastila's.

The oncoming wave of the dark side was thick. So thick I was shocked that I hadn't sensed it before. A looming shadow rushed towards me and I dodged it just in time. The terentatek—Bastila's terentatek—roared both in the temple and in my mind. Another shadow bolted towards me and I jumped in the air using the Force.

I landed behind both of the creatures. Run. I sensed the bones around me and shot them at the monsters. It wouldn't be enough to pierce their tough hide but it was enough to slow them down. I arrived at the computer and switched it on. There was only one command to place.

Shields off.

I waited for the light on the machine to turn green before I ran once again. The terentateks were blocking my path so, I glanced around for a solution.

Face them.

Yes. It's the only way.

Taking a deep breath, I focused on the terentatek that had been Bastila's shade. The monster resisted me at first…yet it had invaded my mind. It was easy to slip in…and speak to it as its prey…

You both can't have me.

The Bastila terentatek shuddered. The other one rushed towards me. That one is stronger. Faster. He stole your meal last time, didn't he? He'll get me first…and you will feast on nothing for another year. Maybe longer. How is that fair?

The terentatek groaned…then its yellow beady eyes locked onto the other that was rushing towards me. Without hesitating, the Bastila terentatek threw its enormous claws and slammed the other against the wall. I dropped my hand and lifted my hood once again as I ran towards the exit. As soon as I escaped, I slammed the door shut behind me. The sounds of the fighting terentatek still echoed into the corridor.

My breaths were shallow.

That was…too close.

No time to rest though. I walked past the empty frame of the shield and up to the massive doors. This had to led to the tomb. To the Star Map. Which meant…I was going to face the Lord of Pain next. Don't bother facing him. Grab the lightsaber, the Star Map, and run. With that plan running through my mind, I pushed the doors open with the Force.

The chambers beyond were…quiet. Unusually quiet. I stepped in carefully, watching for any sign of the Lord. Naga Sadow's sarcophagus was also unusually quiet. In fact, I hadn't sensed Sadow's presence at all this entire time. Usually, that would be a good sign, but when it came to Sith Lords…well they had a tendency to come back from the dead. I would know.

The only life within the tomb was the Star Map. As soon as I stepped up to it, the object glowed. I took out my datapad from my deep pockets immediately and slid it into the slot.

Finally.

The last one.

We had our ticket to the Star Forge.

But…where was the Lord of Pain?

Once the Star Map dimmed, I slid the important coordinates into my pocket. I scanned the tomb and found the lightsaber propped up on the Sith Lord's sarcophagus. I didn't wait…I just wanted to get this fight over with. So, I picked it up.

Nothing.

Had Yuthura been mistaken? She hadn't been wrong about all of the other dangers that I ran across. Yet the Lord of Pain didn't show. I dared to search the place, peeking around every column, every possible hiding spot, yet the Lord was nowhere to be found.

Yuthura's advice flitted through my mind.

You won't be able to kill him. He uses those children from Malachor—

No.

He didn't…know what Verena was doing, right?

No. That wasn't possible. Yet, if the children were so important to the Lord of Pain it made sense that he would be hyper-aware of them. Even Yuthura sneaking Liam out was discovered despite the fact that one child going unnoticed from the pack wouldn't be unusual. The fact that they were even able to track the boy was unusual. So, he must have sensed something in the Force…and discovered them escaping…using the Force. Who knows how long I was stuck hypnotized by the terentatek? He could be long gone now...close to stopping them.

I have to get out of here. Now.

As if in answer, something quaked to my left. A tunnel opened up to what I would assume would be the exit. Throwing all caution to the wind, I sprinted into the darkness of the tunnel. Verena, Dustil, and the children were all in danger.

And only I could save them.