Authors Notes: Sorry for another long wait but I have struggled to get this chapter done thanks for problems with my health as well as a bad case of writer's bloc, hence if this chapter seems a little of and on then you know why and I apologise for it. I only felt the end of this chapter was me getting back up to speed, I intend to start up the next chapter this week so I won't suffer such a long period of inactivity again.

+TR+

(Ebon Hawk)

Revan entered the room where Vima and Vash had been placed whilst they returned to the fleet, both women were sitting facing one another talking in low voices which quickly stopped as they felt his presence enter their room. Both turned to face him both looked somewhat uneasy, it did not take him long to guess it was not due to him but more to the fact they had turned away from the council to come with him. A decision which had to have been hard considering how long both had been on the council, he supposed they might still be council members depending on how Zirrik and the others view their choices but for now they stood apart from it.

"We should be back at my fleet within an hour baring any problems, I thought we might talk how you will function once there" he said to them. "You told Zirrik and the others you would try and act as a bridge to keep things from collapsing between us and the Republic if you could but you must know that will not be easy" he continued as he sat on the far end of one of the beds. "Whilst we are loyal to the Republic and you now know our reasons for the way we have acted since returning, that does not remove a lot of the bad feelings many of my people feel for the senate and the council" he told them. "Their actions have left many discontented, cut off from the all they believed they were fighting for" he added.

"Hence your idea of removing those you consider corrupt from the senate" Vima cut in. "And how do you tell the corrupt from the loyal Revan?" she inquired.

"Most will be those in power within the senate especially those still in power even now the Mandalorian War is over, those who purposely redirected our forces just to make themselves look good during the war" Revan answered. "So many of my people died for their pride and glory and greed and their blood will be repaid, only those who actually care for the people they are supposed to represent will be left where they are" he continued. "A new senate will be raised dedicated to actually protecting the Republic and the people within it instead of exploiting it" he added.

"Do you really think it will be as easy you think it will to do that?" Lonna asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We'll see once Malak and his followers are dealt with and we turn once more to our true goal" was all Revan would say in response. "We don't want to have to fight the Republic again, but if we have to we will because we cannot afford to fail" he told them seriously. "There is too much at stake, the real enemy will not sit idle for long once it realises the Republic is growing stronger once more" he stated.

"Who is this real enemy you keep eluding to" Vima demanded to know having had enough of the slight hints of just whatever it was Revan and his people were actually fighting against.

Revan simply smiled at them knowing that their need for that answer was really gnawing at them, however he still feared telling them the truth might bring about total chaos and destruction if they decided to contact the council and tell them the truth. Could he trust them to keep the information they sought to themselves?

"I can't tell you that Vima not until I am certain or have your word that you will not turn around and tell the council" Revan finally responded. "Believe me Vima like I said back in the temple if they tried to contact this enemy and make peace, all it would do is reveal how weak we are right now and they will reign down destruction upon us and end us all" he stated with complete conviction. "Everything we have fought for, everything we have lost, everything we have done whether good or bad, every death and injury will have been for nothing" he growled. "Will mean nothing" he finished before he turned and left.

Vima and Lonna exchanged unsure and confused looks but both realised they would get nothing out of Revan right now, but both swore they would get the answer to just what shadowed enemy was out there that had made Revan and his people do the things they had.

+TR+

(Corustant, Chancellor's Office)

Dodonna paced up and down Chancellor Arix Valorum's office alongside Admiral Tia and the Chancellor himself who looked vastly nervous over what had just taken place, how Corustant the home of the Republic had been attacked by a spectre from the past. A spectre they had all assumed to be dead, yet instead of seeking destruction this spectre and his followers had seemed more intent on distracting them whilst they completed their mission of ending an attempted coup within the Jedi Council. No ships had been destroyed only briefly disabled and the loss of life had been minimal, limited to a few pilots whilst all the ground targets even the badly injured ones would live. Nothing about the attack or the spectre's actions made sense to them, Admiral Stark's explanation of the entire thing was questionable given his loyalties but the attackers actions including helping to destroying the Sith ships that had shown up seemed to bore out his story. The door opened to admit the Jedi Council members Zhar, Vandar and the Grand Master Zirrik who looked tired and worn out, his age clearly catching up to him as evidenced by the fact he was wheeled in on a floating wheelchair.

'Finally we'll get some answers as to how Revan and his people are still alive' she thought as she stopped pacing and turned to watch them.

"I thank you for taking the time to join us considering the damage that has been done to the Order, I hear many of your Jedi still within the temple were wounded" Valorum stated right out the bat.

"Wounded they are but live they will" Vandar responded calmly. "Killing was not the objective" he added.

"No according to a dead man they just wanted to distract us hence attacking the fleet and drawing your people into ambushes so as to wound them, all so they could stop what they say was an attempted coup" Dodonna stated coldly.

"Atris and Vrook along with some others did indeed try and take control of the Order" Zirrik admitted with a sad sigh and slow shake of his head. "Atris has turned to the dark side and fled into hiding, Vrook and the rest are under arrest and all authority they once had has been revoked" he informed them slowly.

"And you didn't see their actions coming?" Tia inquired.

"I'm afraid we did not even though Vima and myself had some misgivings about Atris and Vrook, we never expected them to try and usurp power from Zirrik" Zhar answered. "And we must admit without the intervention of Revan and his people they would have succeeded and the future of the Order would have become corrupted" he added sounding somewhat bitter by what had happened.

"Yes another dead man who somehow is not dead, would you like to explain how Revan is still alive because you told us your strike force killed him?" Dodonna growled out the most burning question she had.

"Revan was not killed he was captured by Bastila and brought back to us, we decided to make use of him to try and find out where they were getting their never ending supply of ships, tanks and other such equipment" Zirrik slowly explained knowing this was not going to go down well. "We decided to use the full power of the Jedi Council to wipe his mind and insert a new one loyal to us, making use of the force bond that had developed between Bastila and himself during their brief fight it was our hope to draw out any residual memories left within Revan to find the secret of their overwhelming power" he continued. "It seemed to have worked and we learnt of the Star Forge and the star maps that would lead to it, we sent what we assumed was a reprogrammed Revan out alongside Bastila and some others to track down these maps and that part of the plan seemed to work out as they located the ones on Tatoonie and Kashyyk" he paused here as the glanced at his fellow Jedi before continuing. "Our plan failed as the force protected Revan's mind and thus our attempt to mind wipe him was useless and failed but he played along and made us believe we had succeeded" he admitted.

"He managed to withstand the combined might of the entire council?" Valorum inquired in shock at the very idea.

"The force wanted Revan to remain himself and thus protected him from our attempted mind wipe for reasons we do not yet understand" Zhar put in somewhat weakly. "He came to put a stop to Atris's coup, he told us some of his reasons for his actions since returning from the unknown regions" he informed them. "He spoke of finding some dangerous enemy out there, they returned to wage war not to destroy the Republic but to save it to rebuild it from the weakened and corrupted state it has fallen into" he continued. "To be ready for when this enemy finally comes for us" he finished bleakly.

"Did he name this enemy?" Tia asked sceptically.

"No they refused to tell us who they are out of fear we would try and negotiate with them, make peace thus revealing how weak we are and inviting them to invade and destroy us" Zhar responded. "An action he was certain would be the outcome of such an attempt to make peace, he and his people believe the Republic has become corrupt due to the actions of some of the senate and others in positions of power that has weakened us over the years" he told them.

"I can't exactly argue their view as I know many of the senators are only out for themselves, that they wish more power for themselves but still that does not give Revan and his people the right to turn on us and attack us" Valorum admitted. "Their actions have caused death and destruction throughout the Republic" he pointed out.

"Yes but not as much as we believe, Meetra Surik pointed out how Revan had gone out of his way to cause as little destruction to the planets he conquered whilst in command of the invasion" Zhar shot back recalling the former exile's barbed retort. "That he tried to limit the number of deaths as they went, Malak however has shown no such restraint and cares for nothing but death and destruction and the power it gives him" he added.

"Surik is back as well?" Tia inquired remembering one of the best Generals from the war who had followed Revan and was third in the upper command of the Revanchists.

"Yes, Meetra has returned from her exile and re-joined Revan and more to the point it seems she is slowly regaining her control of the force and has joined Revan's mission completely" Zirrik admitted with a slow nod.

"How do we know they even told you the truth Master Zhar, that there even is some unknown enemy out there waiting to attack us?" Dodonna asked having been considering the information the Jedi had given them.

"Bastila and some of the other members of her party confirmed it saying they had seen the evidence of this unknown enemy's existence" Zirrik responded. "They were not lying, whatever evidence Revan and his people have, Bastila and the others have seen it and they believed it" he stated.

"Then Bastila Shan and her party know who the unknown enemy is correct?" Dodonna pointed out.

"I believe so but if you are about to ask us to bring them here to question them then do not bother" Zhar cut in before she could demand Bastila be brought in. "Bastila and her entire party are now with Revan, we forfeited Bastila's loyalty some time ago without even realising it" he admitted knowing this piece of news was not going to go down well.

"So now we are without her unique gift to aide us in keeping the Sith at bay" Tia said with a groan.

"Worry we should not at the absence of Bastila, now Revan and his people have revealed their survival Malak will turn his attention to them intending to finish what he started when betray Revan he did" Vandar finally spoke up once more.

"Agreed, Malak will not be able to ignore the fact that not only did Revan himself survive the betrayal of his former friend but so did a large percentage of his people" Zirrik continued in agreement. "He will have to try and finish them if he has any hope of staying in power, to be seen as to have failed to kill Revan will make him look weak" he added.

"And if it is one thing Malak hates to think people see him as it is weak" Zhar put in. "This shift in his attention should give us time to regroup and refortify the Republic, we should not waste it" he told them.

"And if you are correct about him shifting his attention we will not waste it, let us pray then you are correct" Valorum assured them wondering if the Jedi's view of things could be relied upon considering the secrets they had been keeping.

"So we just let Revan and his people go free to cause more mayhem?" Dodonna asked after a short silence followed.

"We don't have a choice right now Admiral and thankfully Revan's attention is fixed on ending Malak and his people" Zhar responded. "Lonna Vash and Vima Sunrider went with him in order to try and ensure that once Malak and his people are dead negotiation is a more likely outcome than another attack where Revan and his followers are concerned." he informed them.

+TR+

(Star Forge)

Malak stood in the secret chamber of the large space station whilst the Leviathan was overhauled for his next planned strike, his rage at learning Revan and the Revanchists were alive was barely been contained. How any of them was still living after he had planned his coup down to the last detail, not one of them should have been able to escape and nor should Revan had lived through the devastating barrage he'd rained down on him during the Jedi ambush and yet they had. It was gaoling and worse he was certain word of their survival was already spreading throughout his fleet, he would be certain to track that worm who had reported their survival down and kill him for daring to spread the information. The survival of his former best friend and his followers was more than gaoling, it also weakened his position as the Dark Lord of the Sith and he was certain some of his people would begin to plot to supplant him.

He would not be surprised to find there was already some trying to remove him so they could take his place, his own apprentice Brandon been at the top of the list as was the way of the Sith. But he had no intention of allowing any of them a chance to do to him what he had done to Revan, the Republic was in shambles and barely holding on as it was and thus he decided he could put aside finishing the conquest until Revan and every last one of his stupid followers were dead as they already should be. He would hunt them down and utterly annihilate them, his name would forever be remembered as the one who wiped out the so called great Revanchists. He turned and exited the chamber and headed for the command centre of the Star Forge, the large hub was full of activity as he entered not that he was surprised.

"Admiral Niles send word to every scout we have to track down and find me Revan and his people, all other operations are suspended until we find and destroy the Revanchists completely" he commanded of the human male who commanded the station when he was not here.

"My Lord that will halt our conquest of the Republic" Niles protested only lightly not wanting to provoke the Dark Lord's anger. "We almost have them completely broken" he pointed out as he saw his Master's eyes darken.

"They are broken Admiral, their defeat is certain and thus we can delay it or even prolong it just to make them suffer more" Malak growled in response. "Nothing they do can stop us, they are doomed" he stated without one trace of doubt in his tone. "Revan and his fanatical followers are however a danger for they know where this station is, they know many of its secrets and they know about the force field and how to turn said field off" he reminded the man. " They must be destroyed before our conquest can be completed, or they may decide it worth alerting the Republic to its location and stage a joint assault causing enough damage to delay us and I will not allow them that chance" he pressed on stalking forward and pinning the man with his eyes. "Send the order Admiral or refuse and die" he commanded.

"Yes my Lord I understand" Niles quickly responded as he sensed he was a hairsbreadth away from been destroyed.

He turned and quickly began to relay the orders to the comm specialists, he tried his best to ignore the presence of the Dark Lord watching his every move and he quickly regretted even putting up a token argument. Many of died for even less than that even his own predecessor had died for daring to voice a protest to the Dark Lord's simple orders to ramp up the station's processing power, he had watched in horror as his former commander had his arms and legs removed with two swift blows of the Dark Lord's lightsabres before his head was taken a few seconds later. It had been a savage end for the man, but it had delivered the message the Dark Lord wanted to send and that was never question his orders if you wanted to live. He might have already signed his death warrant by speaking up but hopefully he would be spared at least for a little while if he kept quiet from this point onwards and just did as he was told, slim chance but a chance all the same.

"Orders been sent my Lord" he finally said as the comm officers are set to work.

"Good then send orders to all fleets to prepare to hunt down and destroy the Revanchists wherever they are once any of the scouts report in, they are not to move unless directed to where the cowards are hiding" Malak commanded with a dark glare already considering taking the fool's head for daring to question him. "If any of the commanders argue you will tell me immediately and I will deal with them as I always do, destroying Revan and his idiotic followers is now priority" he stated darkly. "We'll leave the Republic to wallow in their misery at their inevitable destruction, making our victory all the sweeter when it comes" he added with a smirk although it was hard to tell with his metal covered jaw.

"Of course my Lord as you say" Niles agreed as he again set about giving the orders to the comm people.

"I will be returning to the Leviathan within the hour Admiral to lead the hunt, you will alert me if any sightings of the enemy" Malak told him deciding to allow the man to live for now as he was at least loyal to him, the next man might be one out for himself or loyal to someone who wanted his positon.

"My Lord if I may, we must at least keep the already engaged fleets where they are" Niles bravely stated. "To pull back without destroying the Republic fleets will make us look weak or at the least give them a chance to counter attack and push us back" he pointed out knowing he could be signing his death warrant right at this minute for daring to speak up again.

Malak glared at him for a few minutes making him shiver in fear. "Agreed, tell those fleet already engaged to ignore the new orders until they have destroyed the Republic fleets and conquered their assigned targets" he finally said before turning and walking away leaving Niles shaken and leaning against the wall in relief at still be alive.

+TR+

(Leviathan Class Battleship Revenge)

Carth hit the hangar at a dead run with Mission close behind him and Zaalbar and Jarael bringing up the rear, Rikka soon followed as the Ebon Hawk came into the hangar alongside the Fireclaw which Canderous and his team had used for the mission, the ramps opened on both ships and their friends disembarked alongside those who went with them. They were all taken aback by the presence of two of the Jedi council also with them, Rikka and the guards within the hangar all shifted into a more alert stance. They also noticed Bastila was been carried by Revan and was still very much asleep, but thankfully she did not look injured and neither did any of the others.

"How did it go?" Carth couldn't help but inquire.

"The coup was put down however Atris has completely turned to the dark side and fled more than likely to the academy she has on Telos in the deep south of the planet" Meetra answered angrily still annoyed that the older woman had managed to flee especially as she was now fully evil and insane making her far more of a threat. "Vrook and Kai-El are in the cells with their followers so at least they won't be an issue now, however Atris been free and fully turned means she'll eventually show up again to threaten us" she added.

"We'll deal with Atris when she shows herself Meetra" Revan assured her even though he had to admit he did not like the fact she had managed to escape either.

Atris was powerful even now and clearly from the brief spell under her barrage of force lightning turning to the dark side had only increased her power, she was dangerous as long she was free. Yes they knew where she was more than likely hiding but that did not mean they should rush in and deal with her, they had bigger targets to deal with beginning with Malak and his corrupt followers. If their ships had been identified during the battle above Corustant then he did not doubt Malak would shift his attention to hunting them down and destroying them, his very nature would not allow for them to live after previously believing he had killed them all. It would be a blow to his ego for them to survive and it would weaken his standing before his people as the Dark Lord of the Sith, something he could never tolerate.

"What happened to Bastila?" Mission asked as she looked to the sleeping Jedi in Revan's arms.

"She exhausted herself using her battle meditation on three separate battles for far too long, she will more than likely stay asleep for a day or two as her energy is replenished" Revan answered as he glanced down at Bastila's sleeping form.

"General, may I inquire why you have two of the Jedi council with you?" Rikka inquired stepping forward with suspicion.

"Vima is mostly here to see her daughter but is also hoping to act as a link between us and the Republic once Malak and his people are finally dead and our lost blood is avenged, she is hoping her efforts will avert us needing to attack the Republic again to finish our mission" Revan explained.

"Considering you claim to still be loyal to the Republic I would think you would wish a solution that did not involve needing to attack it once more to achieve your goals" Vima stated as she stared at the red Twi-Lek.

"We would wish such a solution but we hold little hope the corrupt senators will just step aside" Rikka countered hotly. "They enjoy their power far too much to just give it up" she added to which many nodded in agreement.

"Still any solution is better than raging another war, and weakening the Republic even more than it already is" Vima shot back with a glare. "You have no idea just how badly the Republic stands since your crusade began, and especially since Malak took over" she went on. "We are barely holding on, our fleets are in disarray and most of our best people have either dead or worse turned" she growled a little at the end as she recalled just how many people she had once trusted had turned on them.

"We can discuss this later Vima come I will show you to the medical bay where Ana rests with her remaining team members" Revan cut in before the argument could truly started. "Canderous remain here as we will be heading for the planet below so you can finally claim Mandalore's helmet" he instructed as he turned to the former bounty hunter who quickly nodded feeling a sense of anticipation and destiny begin to form within him. "Carth I want you to go back to your quarters and prepare for our trip to Korriban, I need you clear headed for this" he stated locking eyes with the pilot. "I cannot have you rushing off yelling for your son, we will need to be controlled and ready for anything and you will need to forget any such ideas of rules of war" he added. "Korriban is not for the weak hearted, you must have iron will and discipline or it's dark energies will destroy you" he finished darkly and Carth felt himself shiver at the warning.

"I understand Revan" he said in response before turning and exiting the hangar to do just as he had been told, he felt unease at just how badly the planet will have messed with his son's head.

He had been on Korriban since Saul had helped the Sith all but destroy Telos, and that had happened almost a year or more before, perhaps even longer. Time seemed to fly past as they struggled to survive, still he would find his son and he would save him from whatever it was Saul intended by putting him on Korriban. Even if it meant saving Dustil from himself, he would do whatever it took to get him off that damned planet.

Revan moved through the ship with ease still carrying Bastila who remained asleep completely drained from overusing her powers, best she be kept in the medical bay just in case any complications arose. He had seen other Jedi suffer badly from over taxing their abilities, he did not wish to see Bastila suffer the same. Entering the bay he quickly found an empty bed and place her on it, Rikka quickly sort out the lead doctor having followed Revan and the two Jedi as she had a request to make of him. The doctor was a medium sized Zeltron called Senna Vos, she quickly set to work examining Bastila before turning to face him.

"She is fine General just extremely exhausted from over taxing her force powers, we've seen it before during the war but they quickly recovered after a day or twos rest" Senna informed him to which he nodded having already suspected that would be the case. "I'll keep an eye on her just in case though" she added before moving off to check on some of the other patients.

"Where is Ana?" Vima asked somewhat impatient to see her daughter.

"Follow me" Revan responded with a smirk not at all irked by her tone as he led her them deeper into the bay only to pause as he spotted Ana in the far bed already deep in discussion with Atton Rand, he should have known she would not allow been injured to stop her helping where she could. "There she is on the far side" he told Vima pointing her out.

"Who is she talking to?" Vima inquired with narrowed eyes already recalling what Revan had told her about how her daughter had been found.

"That is Atton Rand one of the men who captured Ana and her party and also the one to kill two of her team and almost kill her before she begged me to stop" Revan informed her. "She insisted she could save him from the darkness that had overcome him when Malak launched his coup and I vanished, he is now her bodyguard" he added as he noted how Vima's frown deepened as she took in this information.

"And you just allowed him to roam free and have access to her after what he had done?" Vima snapped turning to him.

"Ana insisted and I have him watched just in case he loses control, she is quite safe Vima I assure you" Revan countered as he indicated a guard just to the left of the area where Ana and Atton where.

Vima did not respond and instead went to her daughter with Lonna following her, Revan watched for a few seconds before turning and leaving with Rikka close behind. Ana looked up in surprise as she sensed her mother's familiar force signature approaching, a smile lit up her face as Vima closed in. Atton quickly backed away as he noticed the glare the approaching Jedi was giving him and he was certain she knew exactly how close he had come to killing Ana Sunrider.

"Mother you're safe" Ana said as Vima stopped at the foot of her bed and quickly pulled her into a hug. "Revan did it" she added as she returned the hug.

"He did Ana, he and his team saved us and put down Atris's coup" Vima assured her as they pulled back. "I insisted on coming back with him so as to see you, and hopefully in time prevent them fighting the Republic again to achieve their goals" she told her.

"Yes Atton has been explain just what is happening since they vanished into the unknown regions" Ana responded with a glance at the now silent figure of Atton.

"Has he" Vima said darkly as she turned to face the man who had almost killed her daughter who unable to help himself shifted nervously.

Back in the hangar Revan watched as the ship was readied for the trip down to the surface of the planet they were orbiting, he could sense Rikka was eager to talk to him about something so he finally turned to ask her what.

"I wish to come with you to Korriban General" Rikka answered with no hesitation.

"Why Rikka, you are not usually in the field" Revan inquired. "You are my main assistant in keeping this fleet stable and in working order, especially if Meetra and I are to be absent from it" he added.

"Yuthura Ban is on Korriban or at least that was her last posting before the coup happened, we've heard nothing about anyone who would have been loyal to you and our cause who was stationed on Korriban" Rikka explained with a worried expression overtaking her features. "She is the closest thing I have to family, a sister in all but blood" she stated. "I need to know what happened to her, and if the worst has happened and she has turned even if I am certain that would never happen I must be the one to end her" she finished.

"I remember Yuthura, I rescued you both at the same time and both of you earned your places in the Revanchists" Revan responded as he placed what he hoped was a comforting hand on her shoulders. "Both unlike you, Yuthura actually possessed a force ability which was quite strong" he recalled. "Very well Rikka when I head for Korriban you will come with me, Meetra will have to stay and lead the fleet until we return please let her know" he decided to which Rikka smiled in thanks before she turned and quickly left.

Revan then turned and headed for Canderous and the ship that would take them to the planet below so they could recover the mask of Mandalore, he hoped Yuthura had proved resistant to the dark side for Rikka's sake. If she dead he would ensure Uthar Wynn paid for it with his own life, he had not forgotten the man he had placed in command of the academy and had no doubts where his loyalties lay.