The main chamber of Naga Sadow's tomb was hot with tension. Uthar stood on one side unusually far from Yuthura. If I hadn't walked in then, they might have actually begun to fight without me. I would have preferred that to be honest.

I didn't have much time to waste, yet there was no way I could face them both at the same time. So, I needed to divide and conquer. Betray one then betray the other.

Did they both have to die though? Of course they did, they were Sith. They would die just like Lashowe. Neither of them had any regrets. Even Yuthura who wasn't even planning on freeing those children after she took over the Academy. I didn't have time to wallow in pity for…anyone.

I gripped the lightsaber tight before I jumped down to the floor out from the alcove in the wall. Both stopped their intense staring contest to look at me as I approached the center of the room. Uthar was quick to get to me first.

"You return with the lightsaber in hand as I knew you would."

I raised a brow. "Had no hope for Lashowe?"

"She was a fool." He eyed Yuthura who slyly walked up to his side. "Forget her. You used your mind to defeat the trap and your power to defeat Lashowe, the terentateks, and the Lord of Pain. No peaceful meditation, no pacifism. Just raw power."

So, even he didn't know the Lord of Pain was gone. I wasn't sure if I should have been terrified by that or relieved. I didn't mention it to him either way.

I shrugged. "I didn't do much. Lashowe tripped. The terentateks fought themselves. I just…picked up a lightsaber."

He paused, obviously confused by my lackadaisical demeanor, before he continued. "The point is to recognize the nature of the act rather than its sheer difficulty. This trial is supposed to show you what gives you your passion, and what makes you superior to those who wish to stand in your way. Do you understand?"

"I'm not superior to anyone."

Uthar's face twisted—a wrinkle carved his forehead. I could sense frustration.

"Then that is a no, you don't. If you truly believe that you aren't superior to your fellow students, you are not a Sith. 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. It is the same amongst the Sith. Compete or die. Mercy is irrelevant—"

"Uthar." Yuthura interrupted his rant by stepping forward. "This trial isn't over yet though, is it?"

Darkness grew from where he stood. He glared at Yuthura.

"Yes, but he is the only one remaining. The final test is 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.

"The Lord of Pain was there to demonstrate that you are weak and that the Sith Masters will always be your superiors if you allow them to be so. Prove to me now that you belong at my side, Wes Gale. You will fight Yuthura. Your teacher and my own apprentice."

Yuthura backed up towards me and then lit her red lightsaber.

Uthar chuckled. "You're not surprised," he said.

"Of course not."

"Well, it makes no difference." He crossed his hands behind his back as he watched Yuthura's lightsaber, unfazed. "Half of the Academy will turn on you…what will happen to the Lord of Pain's chattel then?"

She flinched. "I…I don't care—"

"Lies! I know you were the one who rescued that child—I am not a fool. When you rescued that whelp, I realized that you were still weak, Yuthura. I couldn't kill you right away, unfortunately, since I didn't have a replacement in mind. It's why I brought the boy…to Gale. His death was a message and a test. Gale passed where you…failed."

Yuthura growled with rage, and her body tightened. Then, she shouted.

"I've waited years for you to make good on your promise to be rid of that thing! That's why I'm taking over!"

"Even if you defeat me, you will have no power to rescue them." He raised his hand. "There's still a chance for you to redeem yourself, of course. Kill Wes Gale and we will destroy the Lord of Pain together."

Yuthura flinched and I took a step back. She…wasn't going to agree to this, was she? I met Uthar's yellow gaze from across the hall around Yuthura who was still debating. He smirked at me. Of course. He knew I could have sided with Yuthura and he was covering all possibilities. If he made her betray me first, then there was no chance I'd try fighting him.

This was becoming more and more like a damn dejarik game.

Wes, come on, think.

Yuthura's saddened gaze met my own as she faced me. She made a decision then. The slaves over me. I should have not been so…disappointed. After all, I wasn't going to join her or the Sith once we had successfully killed Uthar. Yet, for her to betray me first?

"I'm sorry, Gale." She got into a familiar stance, it was the one that she used so often during our training. "I only wanted to become a Sith for one reason…to go into Hutt Space and destroy those who harmed me. If I don't free those slaves, it would have been for nothing. Uthar is right. You…are strong." She waved her lightsaber in front. "Too strong I think."

In a flash, she darted at me. I was quick to dodge and unleash the lightsaber I was given during the trial. Her speed in the Force was tempered by the raw strength she put behind each of her blows. I had no choice but to block and parry each attack as I tried to reorient myself to this betrayal.

Once I got into the rhythm of the fight, instead of blocking her attack I pushed her aside as if I was brushing away dust. Occasionally, I spotted Uthar at the side with crossed arms. Smiling. This was a game to him, wasn't it? I sneered before ripping a Force wave out at Yuthura. She hadn't expected it and was tossed in the air. She righted herself and then called her lightsaber into her hand.

She scoffed.

"You were holding back, weren't you?"

I twirled the red lightsaber before pointing it at her.

"Part of the art of smuggling." I raised a brow. "I never show all my cards."

"I see." She took out something from beneath her robe. Another lightsaber. The purple blade ignited. Just like…Revan's. "Neither do I."

A hurricane of lights pounded onto my defense. I tried to bash them aside but since I had to deal with twice the power, twice the speed, I almost felt myself floundering. As a Jedi…I never had to train against something so fierce and consuming. Yuthura's defense was unbreakable. Her attacks barely slowed down. I couldn't tire her or push her aside.

So, then, I had to do something unexpected. Yet there was nothing I could do that could surprise her.

You remember her weakness though, don't you?

Yuthura beat down a shadow. Revan. She was just as fierce now as she was back then. All of that energy…without a target, she'll stumble. She leaves herself open when she loses sight of the enemy. Revan pushed her aside then—

I jumped back, behind the statue of Naga Sadow, and ran to the other side. I threw the lightsaber just as she approached the statue herself. I managed to aim precisely for one of her hands—her right hand. She screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground while holding her wrist. I didn't bother to call the Sith lightsaber back as I sensed her pain through the Force.

As I drew close, she shot onto her feet again.

"You…" She staggered and held the purple lightsaber with the only hand she had left. "I'm not finished—"

A vial fell at Yuthura's feet. A mist wafted at her boots…then her body contorted with pain. Yellow glowed in her eyes as she resisted the pain of the poison.

"No…" She staggered back. "What…what is—"

"Poison. All thanks to your pupil." Uthar stepped to my side with a grin. "He told me of your schemes. Though, I was well aware of your plotting. Wes Gale was on my side the entire time."

She collapsed to the ground and then lifted her head. Her eyes…watering…appeared betrayed. A pang of something…dark…cold filled the air. Then, there was a flash and the face of an unknown boy floated in the darkness.

A throb of pain hit my head at Yuthura's look and at the random image, causing me to stumble back. Uthar hadn't noticed my fumbling though and paced closer to the prone figure of Yuthura. He spoke to me with a haughty tone.

"Defeating Yuthura was to be your test, Gale, but I always wanted to make the final blow. Call it even for when you defeated my Master."

Yuthura tried to reach her belt, maybe to get the poison reactor for Uthar, but she was obviously too weak to do so. Uthar finally took out his lightsaber and made the red blade hover over her shoulder.

A greasy smile spread on his face.

"Any last words, Yuthura?"

She spat at his boot.

Maybe I should stop this. No. She betrayed me. She was going to kill me for…something she even said was impossible. You were going to betray her first. Because deep down I knew. The Sith were evil betrayers. Yuthura was never on my side. She was on her side. Everyone betrays each other eventually. So, she deserved this.

I didn't stop Uthar as he lifted his blade—

STOP.

Once again, a throbbing pain hit my head. I watched in slow motion as Uthar lifted the lightsaber ready to decapitate Yuthura. His arm slowed until eventually, it stopped. Beside the statue, was a figure. Was this a vision? My imagination? Insanity? Likely a combination of all three.

Since the figure standing there was myself.

No, it was Wesley Gale. Long hair, warm eyes, scarless face, lazy expression. He leaned against the statue of Naga Sadow as if he hadn't just shouted in my mind. The red jacket…the same one I'd burned…he wore it. Occasionally, Wesley flipped a coin. Once. Twice. Thrice. Again and again.

I turned to the side. Uthar and Yuthura were frozen in time. I tried to move myself but I was also frozen. Only Wesley could move. After a second, Wesley stopped throwing the coin. He sighed and then shoved it into his pocket.

"You will really just stand there and do nothing."

I felt heat in my chest. Since I couldn't speak, I spoke in my mind.

She betrayed me. That and if she lives she'll take over the Sith Academy and be another Uthar. She dies now…I can attack Uthar and get rid of them both. And the Sith Academy falls.

"So, then she's another sacrifice."

No. She deserves it.

"So do you, Revan."

I know. But I can't die at the moment. Not when—

"—people need to be saved." He shook his head. Clear disappointment was on his face. It was too much like Jolee. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, she needs to be saved too?"

She doesn't want to be saved though. She wants power.

"Maybe she doesn't think it's possible without power. She needs someone to stand with her."

That won't be me.

"Why not?" Wesley stepped away from the statue and walked up to me. "You saved Juhani. Belaya. Dustil. Mekel. Why could they be saved and not Yuthura who only became a Sith to destroy an evil?"

No. I sneered. Get out of my head.

"Not possible." Wesley smirked. "Because I am you. And you are me."

You're just the identity that the Jedi created. Nothing more.

"You know that's not true."

It is. You are a part of the Jedi's manipulations. I refuse to play their game. Or the Sith's. That is why I will let Yuthura die right now.

"You aren't trying to save her because she is like you, and you don't think you can be saved."

The light of the fires dimmed to the wicks yet despite the darkness I could still see Wesley Gale clear as day. He dug around in his pocket and took out the Mandalorian coin. He flipped it once more but this time he let it drop to the ground with a sharp ring.

I didn't dare to look down to see the result.

"Even after you save everyone and the Sith have been defeated, you think Revan can't be saved in return."

I…

"Why did Bastila save us then? Why is the Ebon Hawk crew still with us? Why would they waste their time?"

I don't know.

Wesley Gale smiled once more.

"If she wanted to save you, if the crew wants to stand by you, then what is stopping you from saving Yuthura?"

I'm not like…Bastila. Like Carth or Mission or Jolee. I'm evil.

"Really?" Wesley rolled his eyes. "Why are you being so dramatic? You have a lightsaber—right there." I looked down. It was still on Yuthura's belt. "The Mantle of the Force. You can stop this. Now."

I can't.

"Yes, you can! You are Revan!" Wesley shouted, face red as the fires around us burned once more. "Revan never stood idly by! Revan never waited for anyone to save anyone! He acted! If you are Revan, act!"

I…I can't be…he can't be…me.

"Stop lying to yourself!"

I'm not!

"Then face it!" He picked up the coin and shoved it in my face. Heads. Always heads. "The day you picked this up you learned the truth. You are Revan!"

The flash of a cyan lightsaber heated the air accompanied by a deep hum. It chopped Uthar's hands off and the lightsaber flew into the depths of the tomb. A hiss and the smell of burnt flesh were the results of my first attack with the Mantle of the Force.

"Jedi!" Uthar bellowed as he collapsed. Pain…I could sense it rolling over the Academy Master. Instead of weakening him, however, he was only getting stronger in the dark side. "I should have known that you were a Jedi!"

The cyan blade lit the area bright. I felt my body lighten as I held the lightsaber in my hand—it was the same feeling I had as I held the crystal. My lips turned up as I twirled the hilt. I hadn't felt this alive…since…

I lowered the lightsaber to his neck.

"You were fooled," I said. "I never intended to become a Sith again. I only came for the Star Map."

Something like shock bled into Uthar's expression.

"The Star Map. How did you learn of it?"

"I remembered."

"Remembered?"

"Keep up. I already told you."

"What?"

I chanced a glance at Yuthura. She was still conscious. Thankfully. I wanted her to hear what I was about to say.

"I am Revan."

"Revan?" Uthar's eyes lightened as if humored…but then, he must have sensed my unwavering attitude in the Force. I was serious now. "No, you—"

"—are supposed to be dead? Yeah, well, I'm not. Unless you think I'm a Sith ghost. I wouldn't blame you if you thought that. Too many of them around here."

He used the Force to grab a large stone and threw it at me. I stopped it with the Force myself without turning and his face contorted with horror at the display of my strength. It was the reaction I was expecting.

"H-How are you alive? Darth Malak killed you."

"A Jedi saved my life."

Uthar let out a laugh. It was cracked with fear though.

"So now Darth Revan thinks he's a Jedi?"

Was I?

I didn't or couldn't answer. He blinked away his sweat and then made a single glance behind. At the door. The coward was going to get back up. Before I could try and stop him, Uthar used the rest of his strength in the dark side to target my mind. I had no choice but to focus on beating him back and dodge the rock, which meant he easily slipped away from me.

No.

I twisted around and focused on Uthar but he batted away any attempt I made to pull him towards me. So, instead, I focused on the statue of Naga Sadow which would end up in his path. The tingling in my hands increased as I sensed the Force in its entirety. A crack formed in the statue slowly but surely. Yet, it was too large. I was taking too long and Uthar would pass by to the door before I could block him.

Something small was flung with the Force towards Uthar. It hit his chest and a mist sprayed out over his body. The effects of it were immediate. He collapsed to the ground, coughing. I relaxed my attack on the statue…but it was too late. More cracks formed without my aid and the statue slid onto Uthar's collapsed body.

The statue crumbled to pieces and once the dust settled, it was obvious that Uthar joined the ghosts of Korriban and that Yuthura…was now in charge.

I kept my lightsaber on as I faced Yuthura. Her pale skin was somehow paler, her lekku twitched in pain, though she didn't look entirely on death's door. I walked up to her yet she didn't crawl away as I expected or…move at all in fact. She looked up at me with wide eyes.

After I realized she wasn't going to attack and was in shock, I extinguished my lightsaber. She kept watching me as I got onto a knee before her.

"I'm sorry."

Yuthura looked me up and down before letting out a broken laugh.

"Sorry? Why? I am…a fool," she muttered. I frowned before I dug into the pack at my side under my robe. I found one of the leftover kolto syringes and held it up. She flinched back as I leaned forward. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?"

Her face twisted with confusion. "A Sith would have struck me down by now. Darth Revan…would have…killed me for my weakness." I didn't say anything after that. She bowed her head and her body jerked as more of the poison filled her blood. "In the back of my mind, something told me that you were...not like the other students. I felt something almost familiar about you. I didn't know why that was, so I pushed it aside. I...was right back at the cantina though, wasn't I? There is something special about you. You are…Darth Revan."

I sat back on my heels and stared long at Yuthura.

"I'm not a Sith Lord anymore."

"Not anymore, yes." She made eye contact with me again. "But it is your rightful place. Darth Malak betrayed you. You could have told me who you were from the beginning…we could have taken over the Academy on day one. No one would have stopped you. Why?"

"Because I am not a Sith." My voice raised as I repeated my words. Finally, that got through to her…and Yuthura stared at me with bewilderment. "I don't have time to explain the details of why, but long story short I wasn't going down that path again."

Maybe it was the way I said it because she didn't argue the point. Yet, that still made her fall into some sort of depression. Her body shrank…and I finally took the opportunity to give her the shot of kolto. She didn't move as I grabbed her injured bare arm and pricked her with the needle.

As I administered the kolto she spoke, low.

"What happens now?"

I stopped and leaned back so that I could look her in the eyes.

"You could come with me to destroy the Sith Academy and save the slaves."

She smiled. "That's...tempting, but I don't think I could. This battle only proved how weak I am." She waved at her decapitated hand. "You though…you can save them."

"So, you're just going to sit here and do nothing?"

"I tried doing something, yet I failed at doing anything! The Jedi were right. I shouldn't have tried to save anyone and just…meditate on Dantooine like a good little Padawan. All that I tried to do as a Sith…it was pointless. Saving the slaves and destroying the Hutts just got farther and farther from my mind. I couldn't even save the slaves under my kriffing nose!" Her shouts rang around the tomb. I didn't move a centimeter. She bowed her head once she saw my stoic response. "All I've cared about is power and...and myself. I can never be the Yuthura that I was…again."

I snorted.

She looked up at me both puzzled and angered.

"How is that funny?"

"Not funny. It's just…not true."

"It's true. I can never go back."

…can never go back. Malak's words rang in my ears.

"I didn't know that I was Revan. Learned about it recently, actually." She stared at me, shocked. I ignored her because I needed to tell a story. Jolee would be proud. "From what I remember, he wanted to save the Outer Rim and the Republic from the Mandalorians. He sacrificed everything until he ultimately fell to the dark side and proved the Jedi right. Is the Republic saved?" I shook my head. "Hell no. Farthest from it. But I'm trying to right my wrongs even if I don't remember them."

She sneered. "I know my wrongs though. It's not possible."

"So? I know it will be impossible for me, but what good is there in doing nothing? I need to do something because if I do nothing…I wouldn't ever be the Revan who cursed the Jedi for standing aside. Who went off to save people instead of waiting in a safe temple. I'd be Wes Gale, ex-smuggler, coward...but I'm not Wes. Never was. I will never stand aside. I am Revan."

Yuthura finally calmed down as she listened to my words. She took a deep breath and stood, wavering only a little. I stood with her. She used the Force and called her lightsaber from Uthar's dead hand to her left.

"If there is any hope that I could be the Yuthura that I was again, then I will start by fighting at your side, Revan." She smiled. "If you think you can go back to the light, then what is stopping me?"

Thank the Force.

"First things first." I pointed. "We need to take care of Uthar's thugs and reunite with Jolee, Carth, and HK."

"Not a problem. I will tell them that I have killed Uthar and order them to stand down. Half of them will revolt…the other half will be on our side." She tossed her lightsaber before igniting the purple blade. "There is no chaos; there is harmony, as the Jedi say…"

I ignited my own lightsaber before smiling.

"Let's go make some chaos then."

Outside, the sun was setting, casting a red light over the valley. The Sith guard took out their lightsabers as soon as they noticed that Yuthura and I were alone. Once Yuthura made her declaration, that Uthar was dead, two of the five Sith took out their blades and cut down the other two who had been on Uthar's side. The remaining one was taken care of by Yuthura herself who used the Force to bring him to his knees.

A flash of orange fell at my side. Carth shot his blaster at Yuthura who easily deflected it. Before he could do it again, I waved.

"Carth, wait! She's with us."

He narrowed his eyes. "Is she?"

Yuthura responded by extinguishing her blade and smirking at the pilot.

"I'm on Revan's side. As are you, Republic soldier."

He frowned at me now.

"You told her?"

"Look, Orangy, we really don't have time right now." I looked around. "Where's Jolee? HK?"

As if summoned, Jolee fell to the ground next to Carth and HK-47 collided on the opposite side. The old man cracked his neck and then yawned.

"Took you long enough, kid." He blinked lazily at Yuthura. "I see you've made another friend, heh."

HK-47 raised his blaster. "Query: Can I finish the job, Master, oh please? Observation: The purple meatbag is wounded and will make for easy pickings."

I groaned before pushing the blaster aside. "No, HK, I changed my mind."

If the machine had actual human expressions, I'd imagine he'd be red with anger at the moment. At least, that's how his voice sounded.

"Protestation: To be blunt, Master, you are fortunate that I cannot act outside my parameters, or else I would have seized the chance the moment I laid eyes on her. And knock you over the head so that you could 'remember' and let the real Master return."

"I thought I was your Master though." Before HK calculated a response, I addressed them all. "Change of plans. We're meeting up with Verena and Dustil—the Lord of Pain is missing and I have a bad feeling I know where he is."

Yuthura's eyes widened. "He's…missing. Why didn't you say something?"

"I was busy fighting you," I said. "That and it's better if we go now and talk about my careless decisions later."

They didn't argue with that.

Yuthura ordered the two remaining Sith to muster those who would stand by her side and kill any Uthar loyalists. I made the call over the comms that I'd got the Star Map and that it was time to strike. Before we could head out after them into the Academy, a large group of heavily armored foes entered from the canyons. Clan Ordo. Shouting erupted from the back and a red light shot out from behind them.

It was a laser cannon retrofitted from a ship of some kind. There were a few of them. All of the blasts hit the tombs, collapsing one if not a few. The Sith could be buried in the ground for all I cared.

In the front of the pack was Canderous Ordo. It could be no other. He wore the same armor and emblem as Veela who stood behind him only his was heavier, stronger, and made for his form. Canderous nodded at us before waving his hand at the highest point of the Academy. They were precise strikes…the type that was meant to lure potential combatants out into the open.

The Sith were going to gladly take the bait.

I didn't have time to watch the ensuing battle, unfortunately. I ran towards the lower entrance, the same one that I remembered led to the basement floors, with Carth, Jolee, HK, and Yuthura trailing behind me.

Inside, a battle raged within the hallways. Some Mandalorians had already broken in, likely as Canderous distracted them at the front. Some helped the Mandalorians…Yuthura loyalists. The alarm hadn't gone off yet, so Mission, Juhani, and T3 were still holding the fort. But they weren't going to last long without backup. I faced Jolee and pointed towards the steps that led up.

"Go find Juhani and Mission and protect them with your life, old man!"

Jolee ignited his lightsaber.

"Don't need to ask twice."

Once Jolee left, Carth found the stairs down using the map Dustil provided us. We avoided most of the fighting, only deflecting a lightsaber or blaster fire here or there, in order to run down the steps into the heart of the Academy.

I stopped once we got to the bottom. So did Yuthura. Carth ran ahead of us and turned.

"What's wrong?"

We could sense…him. The Lord of Pain. I was right then. He knew that someone was going after the slaves, the children. Which meant we didn't have much time left. Without hesitation, I ran through the dark, empty halls, passing prison cells, and torture chambers, descending deeper until we spotted a group rushing towards us.

Dustil and the other Sith rebels ran towards us obviously beaten up. In front of them were the children. I let out a sigh of relief when I didn't sense the Lord of Pain. But he was close still.. Carth shouted as Dustil stopped, grabbing his shoulder.

"Keep going! That Sith is—"

"I know!" He nodded back down the hall. "He trapped some of them…we ran as soon as we got a chance."

"Where's Verena?" I asked.

Dustil lowered his head. Oh no.

"We tried to make her run with us…but she chose to stay to try to rescue the rest." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but if I stayed behind these children would have died."

Carth patted his son's shoulder. "It's fine, you did the best that you could given the situation." He faced Yuthura, narrowing his eyes. "You know the most about that…monster. How can we beat him?"

Yuthura shrugged. "He's flesh and blood still. He merely feeds off the children of Malachor's Force essence…their pain."

"So, if we get all of the children away from him, he'll be vulnerable," I said.

As soon as I said that, Carth faced Dustil.

"Get them as far away from here as you can. Take them to…the Mandalorians."

"The Mandos?" Dustil seemed confused at his father's request, but he nodded. "I will. But, old man…you're not—"

"I'll be going with them." He eyed me. "I go where the Star Map goes."

"Then take it." I pushed the datapad with the Star Map into Carth's hands and pushed him towards his son. "It'll be too dangerous."

Carth opened his mouth once then twice as if he was going to argue, but I wasn't going to have it. I started to run away, fast, using the Force so that there was no way he could follow me. He should protect his son…not a liability like me.

Finally, it got to a point where the presence in the Force became heavy. It was so heavy it reminded me a lot of how it felt in the tomb of Naga Sadow. Yuthura, HK, and I stopped before a large door that likely led into the prisons that used to hold most of the children. We all prepared our weapons and I faced Yuthura.

"When we get inside, you will get the children to safety." I sensed the darkness beyond. "I will distract the Lord of Pain."

"Revan, I'm not sure…"

"I won't try to defeat him. Just distract him. If you get the children to the Mandalorians they'll be free." I smiled. "And that's what you always wanted to do, right?"

She watched me with awe on her face before she nodded, placing a hand on her heart.

"Yes, my Lord."

I frowned. "Um. You really don't need to call me Lord. But good." I spotted HK who held his blaster tight. "HK, watch the door and follow Yuthura once she gets out."

"Argumentative: But—"

I didn't bother listening to his argumentative as I slowly opened the door.

Broken chains littered the ground along with empty cages. Boxes of food and supplies lined the back of the room. A large shout echoed down the almost empty prison. Verena pounded onto the Lord of Pain while he deflected each of her attacks. He sat still and hadn't even moved to fight back. A few children huddled in the corner as far away from the fight…if it could even be called that.

I didn't wait for the Sith to notice us. I ran towards him, igniting my lightsaber as I did. As soon as I got to him, he got up to dodge my attack and began to circle us like prey. Yuthura ignited her own lightsaber…she was quick to run toward the children and usher them away. They didn't move at first, probably due to recognizing her, but when they realized she was helping they followed her out of the room.

The Lord of Pain noticed this. He stepped away from me, yet I blocked him by pushing him back with the Force. Doing that was…difficult. He only stumbled back. Verena stood next to me with Yusanis' blade at her side.

Eventually, he sighed. Then, he sat down and crossed his legs as if meditating. Verena and I looked at each other at this strange action. Was this a trick? A trap?

"What are you?" I asked. "Why…are you doing this?"

The Lord of Pain didn't answer for a long time. Eventually, he spoke with a deep lilting voice.

"Even if you strike me down, I will not die."

"The children are gone now," Verena said, smiling. "You won't be able to feed off their pain anymore."

"You think I wanted to do this to them?" The Lord of Pain looked up at us both with crystal-clear yellow eyes. His perfection was uncanny. "I wanted to live. Need to live. And so, I live."

"You sacrificed innocent lives to do so," I said.

"Sacrifice, is it? It is a meaningless sacrifice then. Their lives mean little in the grand scheme of it all. It is the nature of the Force. Weak and strong. Life and death. But with the power of the dark side, I always live and I remain strong." He smiled…the smile cracked his perfect skin. "That and there is another."

He raised his hand and a child screamed in terror from behind one of the boxes in the back. The boy shouted in pain as he forced the child into painful positions. I jumped into action and slammed my lightsaber into his. The child fell to the ground…and ran away once he was freed.

The Sith didn't move even after I slammed my lightsaber into his again. It was like I was hitting a stoic wall. Verena hung back and didn't try to get in our way. The Lord of Pain smiled with pearl-white teeth as I slammed attack after attack at him.

He used the Force on my leg and squeezed tight. I hissed and ignored it as I swung the lightsaber at him again. He was still smiling.

"I feel your pain."

Another blast…this time, heat. It filled my chest…caused my limbs to shake. I tried to ignore it again, yet it was getting harder and harder to focus. The Lord of Pain though was relishing in the pain he was causing.

"You have old wounds…" I felt something…ripe in my chest. "Let's open those up."

Blood pooled and I fell to my knees as a scar on my chest burned. I held the hilt of the Mantle of the Force tight…trying to get as much light as possible from it. But the Lord of Pain only used the Force to hurt more.

His lightsaber brushed near my face.

"Close, but not quite. If you used the dark side, you might have—"

Yusanis' blade exited through the Lord of Pain's eye just as Verena stabbed him with it directly into the back of his head. I focused on the Sith with the Force and was about to push him back…but I was too late.

He shoved his lightsaber behind him directly into Verena's chest. She collapsed to the ground.

"No!"

I shouted, throwing the Lord of Pain against the wall with a burst of lightning. In a blind rage—with the dark side—I used my lightsaber to cut his arm, his leg, his chest. Every part of him was torn to pieces and he didn't even see it coming. I used...everything that I had held back out of fear from falling again. It didn't matter. Not when my...weakness—

I dropped the Lord of Pain's body, and the pieces of his body, once I saw the light of life leave his eyes.

Dead. He was dead.

And he was right. Only the dark side could defeat him. If I had used the dark side—if I'd used it to defeat him at the start then… I collapsed onto the ground beside Verena. I wouldn't have failed.

There was no time to wallow. I turned Verena so that she was facing up and held her head so that she wouldn't be on the cold floor. The wound on her stomach was fatal. No amount of kolto baths or surgery could heal her. Not even the Force. Though, I could try. I focused on the Force…closed my eyes…and tried to give her energy, something, yet the light was so far. Distant. The more I gave, the more tired I became, and the more weak she got.

She laughed to herself.

"Stop…trying…it's over." She used the strength that she had left to pick up Yusanis' blade and held the hilt towards me. "Take it."

"No." I sneered. "I can't."

She didn't listen to me though. As always. Verena grabbed my wrist tight and shoved the hilt into my hand. Immediately, reality melted away.

—blood dripped from the mouth of General Yusanis as he stumbled back from the stab. He collapsed to his knees before me, holding his gut. He never raised his blade. Never tried to defend himself. He just…stood there as I made the killing blow. Someone shouted as he fell to the ground—the Echani observing the fight didn't stop me though as was customary.

He deserved respect.

I sheathed my lightsabers and walked up to him. Everyone was silent…as General Yusanis said his final words.

"Great men do not seek power; it is thrust upon them," I muttered. "But only men that are afraid hold onto power. Which is why anyone given this burden must never stand alone." I looked down at Verena before I finished telling her Yusanis' final words. "You are not alone, Revan."

A tear fell down the side of her face.

"He had faith in you…even when you killed him. Spoke to you…like you were the one in pain. But you didn't care." Revan took a step back as Yusanis' body fell to the ground. Dead. Numb. He only stood there for a minute before he marched towards the Sith ship…the same ship that Verena stood in. She shouted at him. Screamed how she was going to take vengeance. And all Revan said that day was… "Make your death matter." She laughed again…then coughed. "I guess I listened to your advice. Never thought in a million years that it would be to save you."

I eyed the corpse of the Lord of Pain then felt tears in my eyes. I couldn't stop them from falling.

"I'm…so…so sorry. I should have just…used the dark side to—"

"No." She laid back—her body was heavy. "Stop...stop apologizing. Yusanis was right." Her silver eyes closed. "You have Carth, Jolee, Canderous, Mission, Juhani…the stupid droid. Bastila Shan. You even had…me. You are not alone. Never were."

She took another breath.

Then another.

Before finally taking her last.