Epilogue

But now my voice is beginning to crack, and it is time for these old bones to have a rest.

What, you want more? You think this cannot be the end?

For some, perhaps, it was an ending. And for some, a beginning. For Revan herself? Ah, well, it was just another step in her story. A pause, before the rest followed.

I always did enjoy the journey in the middle myself. Like biting into a rose-apple pie, and sucking out the filling first. That's not to say the pastry itself isn't enjoyable – but the middle! Oh, that tart tang of fruit coupled with spices and dew-honey – that's the real treat.

You can't have a pie without pastry, though – and the pastry, really, is the foundation.

At the start of this, I mentioned that the Force has its favourites – but being so favoured comes with its own challenges. The Force is in everything, after all: a child's laughter, a storm's tempest, the scent of home wafting idly on a warm summer's breeze. Some say the peak of emotion is where the Force truly sparks alive – for what is living without embracing all that we feel?

Ah, yes, I know well the doctrine of the Jedi – that transcendence above such sentient folly is the key to the heart of the Force. But to me, rather, it is the acceptance of our foibles that carries the greater understanding. We all contain light and dark within us – just as we are all moulded by our pasts – and from this self-awareness our actions carry the greater shape of the person we truly are.

Actions, I said. Plural. For as Revan herself came to understand, a fall is not a single moment in time. Nor can redemption be attained in one conversation alone. Everyone is fallible – and no one is singularly without hope.

Revan understood that, when we finally left her in the desolate depths of a mining facility.

There are more challenges for her, of course, and more challenges for her friends and allies. Perhaps even the greatest battle the galaxy has ever seen. But I like to think this part of her journey was her defining triumph – the one where she reconciled with her past, her flaws and her failures, and refound her conviction to strive on and do what she must, without losing herself this time.

But I've rattled on long enough. I'm sure you have your own take on the events you have seen, so I'll leave you to ruminate on matters while I rest-

What? You want to know my name? Bah, what's in a name? Everything, some might say, especially those who had met Revan Freeflight. Nothing, others might riposte, having only known a wraith once named Jen Sahara.

You could call me the ghost who haunts the Enclave, I suppose. For I am merely the story-teller here, sharing the visions of others who touched the galaxy.

If you come back tomorrow, I might just continue on. For there is more to Revan's story. Of course there is.

Maybe even another whole pie's worth, if you're lucky.

xXx

Author's Note:

And thus, this story arc is at an end.

And it's screaming out for a sequel. Will I write it? If I did, it would be "inspired" by KotOR 2 rather than "based on". Certainly, Revan would be a, if not the, main character, along with the usual suspects of Carth, Yudan, Canderous, Juhani, Mission, Meetra, Atton, Kreia and her Masters of Pain and Hunger – plus additional KotOR 2 characters. And with the less-common characters, such as Mekel, Dustil, Vima, Dak, Selene, Yuthura, and more.

It might even answer some of the less obvious questions. Such as, why did Malak's mother and Revan's mother both land on Talshion? What truly happened to Malak's half-brother? What was Morgana Onasi's backstory, and what were her parents running from? Will Selene escape Korriban unscathed? Will Revan encounter Vima Sunrider, the only one left alive who played a direct part in her mind-reconstruction, and who is also, incidentally, her cousin? Will Griff Vao escape prison and seek out his sister? Will the Force return to Mekel, and if it does – will there be any vestige of Force-bond left?

Will Mission Vao ever take up competitive swoop racing?

I imagine a sequel would be a proper completion of Revan's story. (Without the lead-in to SWtoR. I do not like canon-Revan's end, and would not follow that path).

But I started this saga back up in 2016 with the purpose of practicing writing – to then try my hand at something original – so part of me believes I need to try that first. I am honestly unsure, as my heart is firmly in the KotOR world. So, I can't promise I'll return to write the sequel – but I may. Time will tell! So stick me on author alert if you're interested in a sequel and we'll see what the future holds.

I hope the ending is open enough for all readers to imagine the reunions and challenges and end-game to come.

I have some ideas for other stories, both in this 'verse or different KotOR AU's – I've put them in my profile/bio page. Let me know if you have any comments on them, I'd love to hear.

A few notes –

"Happy" Endings:
For those disappointed that Revan didn't get a "happy" ending, at least for a year or two, well… I would have liked to have given her that, with Carth. But Carth is a military man, and his time with Revan has healed him – as it has her. Realistically, I do not see how Revan could live peaceably in the Republic at this moment in time, except as a secret life – and that would have clashed with Carth's military career. He may have sorted his priorities out, (I can certainly see that he'll be putting Dustil before his career now), but I don't see him giving up the Republic.

And I don't see the Republic forgiving Revan. At least, not yet. Sorry, but the LS ending of the game just seemed a bit forced – a bit too early, for me. (Let's forget everything Revan has done that actually caused Lehon/Malak/the war, and instead label her a hero of the Republic! Let's give her a medal!) I would like to say that I do love happy endings, I am a sap, but I have to believe the ending as well.

At the close of it all, I don't believe Revan is in a bad place, right now. As she noted, she finally has time to process – without imminent danger, and also without the inherent dangers of the Force. This is important, I think, for her well-being. Time to think things through, without even the Force itself to muddy things in her head. She'll need that, because the threat still lurks.

What is also important is Malak's final observation.

The GenoHaradan:
I loved the concept of a shadowy assassination order pulling the strings of governments in the background. Wasn't too keen on their overseers, though. E.g. Hulas: too accessible. Rulan: too geographically remote. I didn't like the game plot of kill-all-the-overseers-and-take-over either - that seemed unrealistic. More appropriate to a bounty hunter group than the influential organization the GenoHaradan had evolved into. So hence in my world: Hulas became a front, a recruiter, and Rulan a retired Overseer. Eridius/Gaalin/Ajax are all OC.

Mando'a:
The language of the Mando'ade, Mando'a (both referred to as Mandalorian by outsiders) is well documented online – however a list of words used throughout this saga can be found in chapter one, including the constructs I created for the purposes of my story.

Kreia / Arren Kae:
Although it's not quite canon for Kreia to have been Arren Kae in the past, this plotline has not been denied by Kreia's creator (I think he labelled it as "interesting", although correct me if I'm wrong). The coincidences in KotOR 2 certainly grant it possibility. That makes for a fascinating backdrop for untapped storylines in KotOR 2, given exactly who Arren Kae's daughter is. Canonically, Kreia admits to chafing beneath Jedi principles as well as delivering philosophies that border on seditious. But if one follows the fanon-favourite arc of her being Arren Kae, then pregnancy was the reason she was kicked out of the Order.
I wonder if that was purely the catalyst.
One last note: canonically Kreia taught Revan during Revan's time as a Jedi. As I had already established Revan's master prior to KotOR 2 being released, Kreia instead became Revan's secret advisor during the Mandalorian Wars.
I imagine there would be much to unveil in a sequel.

Revanchist/Revanchism:
I gave a brief nod to this piece of canon with Malak's definition in chapter 83. It's a piece of canon I don't like, probably because I came into the fandom in 2004 with the game, when Revan was the name of a character that had absolutely nothing to do with a French military term. To me it feels contrived (and not Star Wars-ish) that at a later stage it was decided to use this French term as Revan's title. My biggest issue with it is the meaning. Revanche is revenge, revanchism is the act of payback / revenge in a military sense. This is not why Revan and Malak and all the Jedi who followed them entered in the Mandalorian Wars. They entered as protectors, guardians, to save the Republic and expel the Mandalorians. The fundamental drive was protectionism. I suppose one could argue that it was a concept to boost morale amongst the Republic, but I also see the meaning as being the antithesis of a Jedi – and Revan was still a Jedi in his/her heart during the start of the Mandalorian Wars.

Malak's real name:
Yeah, don't like that either. Looks like someone head-planted a keyboard.

Nomi Sunrider/Ulic Qel-Droma/Vima Sunrider:
Canon says Ulic Qel-Droma died on Rhen Var from a blaster bolt, after training Vima and meeting Nomi again. In my 'verse he didn't stay on Rhen Var, but instead travelled to Talshion – it is no coincidence he ran into Nayama there. Neither was it a coincidence that Malak and his half-brother were there – this was all fallout from Exar Kun. Maybe one day I'll write that prequel.
Fun fact: Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider both died of septic lung disease, on the same day, on opposite sides of the galaxy. Perhaps Vima was right in her supposition of it being a shattered heart, or hearts, finally failing.

The Jedi Thirteen / Revan's Guard of Twelve:
This is my AU take on what canon calls the Jedi Crusaders (or the Revanchists). The most powerful of the Jedi who followed Revan, and who later became her commanders. Certainly there were more than just 13, but these Jedi were the vanguard, the heroes, the leaders that the galactic holo-news centred on. The names Nisotsa, Cariaga Sin, Talvon Esan and Xaset Terep are from a cut-scene in KotOR 2, being Jedi Knights that Malak recruited (according to canon). The other members of the Jedi Thirteen are all OC (excepting Meetra, of course).

Siblings:
In canon, Atris has no surname and is not related to Meetra Surik. But there's an obvious bitterness between Atris and the Exile in KotOR 2 – even suggestions of a romantic link if you play Male!Exile. I liked the idea of a familial bond as a reason for that bitterness.
In canon, Nayama has no surname and is not related to Nomi Sunrider (nee Da-Boda). Without a history for Nayama, I had free rein to make one up…. And her history is crucial to the past and what went down during the time of Exar Kun. This will likely be expanded on in the sequel (or prequel) that I may or may not write.

Malachor V / The Sith Triumverate:
The battle at Malachor V is pivotal to Revan and the galaxy at large, but it feels even more pivotal in KotOR 2 – this was the epochal event that caused the Exile to lose the Force – and also created Darth Nihilus. Given the importance of Malachor, and the running theme of "Wounds in the Force" (Exile, Sion, Nihilus) in KotOR 2, it makes sense to me that Darth Sion was also heavily involved at Malachor (even if canon only places the Exile and Nihilus there). Also, depending on your take of things playing a female Exile, there's some creepy romantic vibes coming from Darth Sion when you face him. Hence my history of Xaset Terep as one of the Jedi Thirteen, at the centre of Malachor, also losing the Force – and as Meetra's lover.
This would be a major subplot if I write the sequel, and even I'm not sure how it would play out yet.

Thanks:
I will take a moment to thank everyone who has ever reviewed, favourited, followed or simply read this incredibly long piece of work. Thank you. Every fav/follow has made me smile, and every review has brightened my day. To my regular reviewers, double-thanks – and triple it for those who write long reviews with their thoughts, speculations etc.

A nod to Curtis who, back in 2004, helped me with the formation of chapters 25 and 41 – the first two HK-47 chapters. Without that, there would never have been an HK-47 POV, and that foundation allowed me to expand and build upon everybody's favourite assassination droid in later chapters.
A billion thanks to my wonderful beta kosiah. Undoubtedly there are elements in this story that have been inspired by her masterpiece Memory. Her betas and ideas and willingness to let me bounce ideas off her have helped tremendously, particularly as I returned to this story after a decade's break.
And, finally, thanks to my long-suffering and supportive SO, who continually puts up with me rabbiting on about Star Wars, and whose grammar and comma placement eclipse mine.

I hope everyone reading this enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

From now on I will PM any review that comes my way. As for anonymous reviewers – let me thank you in advance for any review you leave. Us fanfiction writers may not write for the reviews, but there's no denying we love to get them. It's so gratifying to know people out there are reading our work.

If you have any questions, drop me a PM! (Or review. Hahaha). I would love to hear from you, even if it is months or years after this story has been completed.

And, now, I will finally go and flick that completed switch on this story with – surprisingly – a bit of a heavy heart.

Thank you, all.

-ether

xXx