Saviour, Conqueror, Hero, Villain.
Author's Notes: Mwahahahahahaa... ok people, here's the alternate, Dark Side ending. Carthoholics, proceed beyond this point at your own risk - don't say you weren't warned... mwahahahahahaaaaa!! The format of this chapter is different from the rest of the fanfic, because I switch POV... often... to show elements of the story that Revan isn't present to witness. Enjoy.
Niliav: Hey, it ain't over yet! There's still this chapter to be read!
Alice the Raven: Glad you like it.
Delight: Yes, you get the DS ending... and Dustil is persistent in his theft of the spotlight, here, too.
Lord Valentai: Well, I've added the DS ending... and I know what you mean... the LS ending was a bit anti-climactic, and it felt forced. So did this chapter, but it was the best I could come up with, considering that Kira is a lot more serious than Damien.
Firera: You will see more of my fem!Revan... hopefully... I've been working on a fic showing how she and Malak fell to the DS... but it may or may not be uploaded, depending on whether or not I'm capable of finishing it.
Rascarin: Thanks.
rockerbabe: Yes. It just doesn't seem believable that the Republic would welcome back a traitorous mass-murderer, just because she betrayed the bad-guys... doesn't make sense to me. You're right, I liked Damien's ending better... but it's not easy to come up with two (or three, if you count this one) different endings of the same standard, like that. Yes, the Sithlord of Spandex is priceless... I'm humbled and honoured that you count my short-ass remark in a similar category. My prequel is a tough thing to write, and it's started off pretty slow... but I've got to the bit where Star Maps start to feature, so it should get easier to write from there on. I wonder if this chapter makes a better ending? I doubt it.
NathanPostmark: Thank you.
Prisoner 24601: Yeah... the LS ending kinda went and died on me, halfway through. You're not the first to say so. In my mind, it's forced because the LS ending in the game is a cop-out, and to go with it the way I did was a bad idea. And LS Kira's idea of a Sith is clearly different from Carth's preconceptions... he's willing to give her a chance, because he's fallen in love with her... he's also following her to keep an eye on her. My view on Sith is what I believe the ancient Sith were... but the fallen Jedi that embraced their beliefs screwed things up, as far as I can tell... I've never read the Golden Age comics, but from what I've heard, it actually gives me the impression that the Jedi declared war on the Sith and tried to wipe them out without provocation (or at least with very little provocation)... I could be wrong, but I get the feeling the Jedi were self-righteous fools who were afraid of anything they don't understand, and the modern Sith are morons who claim to follow a belief system they don't understand... this degree of ignorance (something both Jedi and Sith revile, btw) is the reason they are always at each other's throats.
Elflady: Thank you {bows (stupid doesn't do the star-thingies anymore, so these squirly brackets'll do)}. Oh, this DS ending is great... not sure if it's a great success, or a great failure, but it is great!
Ceridan: Last two chapters, she made the LS choice at the temple... hence it was the LS ending. This chapter is the DS ending. Those Knights weren't stupid... they thought there were enough of them to subdue her... they just made a miscalculation, is all.
Dark Lord Daishi: Thanks {bows}. Here be DS ending.
Trunxluvr82190: Technically, the ending last chapter was as LS as I could make Kira go. This chapter, though, I'm taking her to DS Mastery.
x x x
Chapter 10 - Darkness, Take Me
"Kill them!" Bastila goaded, "Rend their flesh! Show them the fate of all who dare stand against us! Embrace the power of the dark side!"
The malice sang to me through our Force bond. I could feel her bloodlust... I turned to face the two Jedi, with a feral smirk, "Sounds like fun to me, Bastila." I said quietly, drawing my two lightsabers. Both Jedi went for their own lightsabers, too, "Death to the Jedi!" I snarled.
I heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting behind me... Bastila.
"Down, girl." I said coldly.
"Excuse me?" she asked, indignantly.
"You heard me - these two are mine - now back off." I snapped.
Bastila retracted her blade like a feral cat retracting its claws, with a petulant look on her face, as she folded her arms and glared at thin air somewhere between me and the two Jedi.
Jolee and Juhani had both assumed defensive stances, in the hope that I would change my mind. They both knew they couldn't beat me by themselves, even if Bastila didn't join in the fight.
I sized them both up - having fought alongside both of them before, I knew their fighting styles. Juhani would always attack fast, usually aiming for the torso. Jolee preferred to use Force powers such as throwing his lightsaber, Stun, or Force Whirlwind, to keep his opponent at bay as long as possible, then wait to parry his opponent's first attack before aiming low to take out their legs.
True to form, Juhani couldn't wait, and attacked first. "I will be your doom!" she yelled, her favourite battle cry, as she lunged for me.
I dodged her first attack, and cut her down with one swing of my lightsaber. I watched her carefully - the wound wasn't fatal, but it was debilitating enough to exclude her from the fight. I focused on Jolee. He would be harder to beat.
He threw his lightsaber at me, with the Force. I parried it, and threw Force lightening at him. It hurt him, but he stayed standing. He caught his lightsaber, and held it defensively. I lunged at him, but he dodged my first attack. I turned in time to block him from mirroring what I had done to Juhani. I threw him away from me with the Force, knocking his lightsaber out of his hand as I did so.
"Kneel." I growled, using the Force to pull him to his knees. He resisted as best he could, but his willpower was no match for mine. "You're not worth the effort." I growled, throwing a wave of the Force at him that sent him flying across the ground... beaten, unable to move, but still alive. I turned to Bastila, "Let's leave these losers to rot." I growled.
I stalked over to the control panel, and deactivated the disruptor field and the shields guarding the temple. Then I turned to leave.
"They're still alive." Dustil noted, kicking Juhani's lightsaber away from her as she tried to reach for it.
"They're too weak to bother killing." I glared at both of the Jedi, "Survive long enough to get in my way, however, and I will kill you."
'Talk about PMS.' I could literally hear Jolee thinking.
I laughed, 'A week of bloodshed, and not much of it mine.' I replied, amused - it was something I had overheard my underlings saying about me once when I had been Sith Lord, naturally their blood was added to their statement, but that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate the joke. I then led Bastila and Dustil out of the temple, leaving to two Jedi to die slowly - it's a shame I couldn't stay to watch, and mock, and laugh... but I had an empire to reclaim.
x x x
"You're back!" Carth said, the second we appeared on the beach, as he ran over to us, stopping right in front of Dustil, "What were you thinking running off like that? You could have got yourself killed!"
"Calm down, father." Dustil said, sounding exasperated already, "As you can clearly see, I'm still alive. So why don't you interrogate Revan instead... please?"
Carth scowled at him, but he just smiled innocently... which infuriated Carth, no end. Then Carth spotted Bastila, "Bastila - you're alive! I was worried about you. For a minute there I was sure we'd never see you again once Malak got his... wait a minute. Where are Juhani and Jolee Bindo? Are they okay? What happened inside that temple?"
"I am taking back what's mine, that's what's happening." I said, "First Bastila, and as soon as I get my claws into Malak, the Star Forge will be mine again, as well."
Carth stared at me, horrified. "What... what are you talking about?" he asked. He knew damned well, he was just trying to deny it. I could tell he'd been expecting this. In spite of seeing some humanity in me, he knew I would do this.
"The Jedi Council has failed, Carth - Darth Revan has been reborn!" Bastila crowed proudly, "Together we will destroy Malak and seize control of his fleet, then use it to crush the Republic!"
"Oh, for the love of the Force, shut up!" I snapped, "You're more pompous and verbose than the Jedi Council!"
Dustil sniggered, "Good thing I'll never meet them, then, isn't it... I'd be bored to death."
"So that's how you kill a Sith, huh?" Mission asked coldly. Dustil shot her a glare, and she shut up.
"Now..." I said brightly, "As I was saying. Juhani and Jolee would not join me. I couldn't be bothered killing them myself." I shrugged, "Only a Force-sensitive can enter the temple, and without medical attention, those two won't last long there. It would have been a waste of effort."
"Now you will swear loyalty to Darth Revan, or face your own death!" Bastila butted in.
I glared at the girl, "I have a very effective way of silencing apprentices, Bastila." I warned. She squeaked, and bowed her head without daring retort. I returned my attention to the rest of the crew, "But she's right. Join me or die."
"No - we serve the Republic!" Carth said, fear evident in his tone, "You're no better than Malak! We'll never swear allegiance to one who serves the dark side!"
"I serve NO ONE, Carth." I growled, "But suit yourself. If you won't join me, then..." I ignited my lightsaber and took a step towards him. But after a fraction of a second's hesitation, Dustil stepped in my way. "Get out of my way, Dustil." I growled.
I could sense fear from him in waves, but he stood his ground, "Please, My Lord." he said, his voice shaking with fear, "Let me try to change his mind."
I tilted my head to one side, staring the boy down, "Mercy is a weakness. He has made his choice."
"Please, Lord Revan. I beg you. He may be useful to us, if I can convince him." Dustil pleaded.
I shrugged, and deactivated my lightsaber, "All right, then. But if he refuses, you have to kill him yourself."
Both men stared at me for a second, then Dustil nervously nodded, "Th-thank you, My Lord."
I watched as he turned to face Carth, and started talking in a hushed whisper that I couldn't hear. I shook my head, and turned to Canderous, "I can assume you will follow me?" I asked him idly.
"Of course." he answered proudly, "It doesn't matter who you're fighting against, I'll be at your side. Mandalorians don't have any great love for the Republic anyway. Light side, dark side - it doesn't make any difference to me, Revan. I'll stick by your side no matter what comes."
I nodded, still watching Carth and Dustil out of the corner of my eye. They were arguing quite viciously, but their voices were still lowered so I couldn't hear them. Then Carth sighed dejectedly, and proceeded to glare at me, "All right. I'll join you." he muttered sulkily.
I grinned evilly, "Well done, Dustil." I said. The boy nodded his thanks for that praise, and I turned to Mission, "What about you, kid?" I asked.
"C-Carth? Why'd you agree to join her?" Mission asked, stunned.
"I can't abandon Dustil again." he said quietly, "Not even for the Republic." Translation: Dustil used the unsubtle art of guilt to change Carth's mind.
Mission scowled, then turned to face me, her face set in determination, "I saw what the Sith did to Taris - anyone who serves the dark side is evil! Big Z and I are so not gonna join you, Sith!"
[No, Mission.] Zaalbar interrupted balefully, [I am bound by the oath of my life debt. I... I must stand with Revan.]
"Zaalbar - Revan's a Sith!" Mission whined, "Just like Malak! It's not a betrayal if you break your life debt now!"
[If I go back on my vow I am betraying myself, my people and my ancestors. I cannot do that.] Zaalbar replied, [Please, Mission - join us.]
Mission frowned, and shook her head. Her headtails wavered, speaking of resentment - saying that she felt betrayed that Zaalbar would suggest such a thing, "No, Zaalbar. I don't care! I won't help the Sith against the Republic! Not for anything! Not even for you!"
"Run away, little girl." I said, grinning viciously, "That is, if you can."
Once again, I ignited my lightsaber, and took a step towards Mission. This time, there was no one to defend her, as Zaalbar could not make a move against me, and Dustil had grabbed Carth to stop him from protecting Mission.
The Twi'lek girl stared at my lightsaber, her eyes wide, but I sensed no fear. She then looked up at me, and her lip twitched before she disappeared into thin air. I sensed her aura flicker with determination, as she bolted away from me, but I couldn't get a clear aim to throw my lightsaber, and she skittered round the corner. I glared at her aura, as she ran up the path behind the rock-formation, towards the temple. Part of me was glad she got away... but I quickly buried that thought under a pile of rancor dung.
I turned back to the rest of the crew, "Come on. We've got a Star Forge to reclaim."
x x x
Mission:
I kept running. I wasn't about to give Revan the chance to catch up to me. When I got to the temple, I stopped, and looked around. I had nowhere else to go. The natives wouldn't like me. The Republic was miles away, overhead. Revan said this temple only let Force-sensitives in. I frowned at the temple entrance, and deactivated my stealth field.
"Can't hurt to try, right?" I asked myself.
I tentatively reached my hand out to the entranceway, and stepped forward. It felt like pushing my hand into some sort of really thick slime... except without the mess involved. I pushed harder, and after a while my whole arm was inside the temple. I waved my hand, on the other side of the 'barrier' - no resistance there. I held my breath, and pushed the rest of the way into the temple.
"Weird with a capital 'we'." I muttered, looking at where the invisible 'barrier' was. Then I shrugged and reactivated my stealth belt, before setting off at a trot, into the temple.
I soon figured out that Revan had pretty-much totalled the place. There were Sith bodies and busted droids all over. It took me long enough to find the stairs up to the roof. Jolee and Juhani were both on the ground. Jolee was propped on one elbow, next to Juhani. Looked like he might be trying to heal her, or something.
He looked up at me, surprised, "And how did you get in here, eh?" he asked.
I deactivated my stealth, and trotted over to them, "Dunno. Guess I'm lucky." I said, kneeling next to him.
"Lucky, my foot." Jolee muttered.
I shrugged and took out my personal stash of medpacks, "Where should I stick this?" I asked, waving a kolto needle in front of him.
Jolee chuckled, "Give it to me, kid. If I recover enough, I can heal her."
"Right you are, old geezer." I stuck the needle sharply into his upper arm, and injected him with the kolto.
"Delightful bedside manner you have, child." Jolee noted.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He recovered quickly, and healed Juhani. It took about half an hour, all in all. "Thanks, kid." Jolee said, smiling, "Couldn't have done it without you."
"You're welcome." I said, grinning, "What's so lucky about your foot, though?" I asked him.
"I was being sarcastic." he grouched, "Basically, 'there is no luck, there is only the Force'."
"You're saying that me being lucky is Force-stuff?" I asked, stunned.
"Basically, yes." he said, nodding.
"Cool." I cheered.
"Don't get too excited, kid." he interrupted, "You're no Jedi. You just have better instincts. Some might call it a scoundrel's luck. But like I said. No luck, only the Force."
"Still cool." I noted.
He smiled enigmatically.
"How do we plan to leave this planet?" Juhani asked.
I looked around. My eyes landed on the small ship across the roof from us, "I bet I could slice into that thing."
"Have at it, kid." Jolee said.
x x x
Carth:
Revan insisted on dragging me along onto the Star Forge. She didn't trust me not to escape from Canderous and HK-47 again, I think. Dustil and Bastila also tagged along, and since I was unarmed, they killed all the soldiers that attacked us, leaving me relatively defenceless... unless you counted the fact that Dustil managed to keep himself neatly between me and anyone with an idea to kill me.
Eventually, Revan stopped Bastila, after a particularly gruesome battle with three dark Jedi. "Bastila, the Star Forge is under attack. You need to stay here and use your Battle Meditation to keep us from falling into the sun. I'll deal with Malak."
Bastila nodded obediently, "Yes, Master."
"Dustil, you stay here and protect her. And keep an eye on Carth, while you're at it." she added.
Dustil nodded, just as obediently as Bastila had done, "Yes, My Lord."
Revan turned and left the room without any further debate. Bastila knelt in the centre of the room, and I saw a faint blue glow appear around her. Dustil watched her for a moment, then walked over to look out of the window.
"What is so fascinating to watch, out there, Dustil?" I asked.
"Death." he said quietly. He leaned against the plasteel window, his eyes closed, as if sensing something I couldn't perceive. The idea that anyone would want to sense death disgusted me, but I continued to watch him, regardless. As I watched, I could see his eyes darting under his eyelids, and his breathing getting faster. When he opened his eyes again, I could see a glitter of unnatural golden yellow in them. He looked at me, then, with a dark smile.
"Why would anyone want to sense death?" I asked apprehensively.
"There's a theory... that at the moment of death, the sense of release is greater than any other ecstasy." he said, smirking, "And the empathic echo of that is the sense of pleasure a Sith can feel when someone dies." he looked out the window again.
"Gaining pleasure from someone else's pain. That's sick." I said coldly.
"Oh, there's a lot of pain out there..." he said, smirking, "It's not the same thing. I'm tuning out the pain. It's only the death I'm feeling."
I shook my head and looked at Bastila. She was likely the cause of most of those deaths, I thought.
I heard Dustil gasp, and turned sharply to look at him. He was still leaning against the window, with his mouth slightly open. My lip curled in disgust - he really was getting off on sensing death through the Force. That is sick.
I walked quietly over to Bastila, and looked down at her. She didn't seem to notice me. It seemed odd that I could sneak up on a Jedi, but I guess all her attention was on the battle outside the station.
I reached into my pocket, and found a gas grenade. Sleeping gas. I had grabbed the first few grenades I could, when I'd been locked in the cargo hold while Revan had sweet-talked the Republic Admiral. I hadn't had a chance to look at what I'd stolen, until now. This would work perfectly.
I set the grenade down, and quickly walked away from Bastila. The grenade went off, and Bastila fell over, unconscious. I frowned, as I watched her sleeping. Mission accomplished. I looked up, wondering how long it would take for the Star Forge to be destroyed... I wondered if it would be enough. Or was it too little, too late?
"What did you do?!" Dustil demanded, suddenly.
I looked at him, startled. He was glaring at me. "It's just sleeping gas." I said quietly. I felt almost detached from the situation.
"You..." Dustil looked from me to Bastila, and back, "You betrayed us!" he yelled, stalking towards me, his hand moving towards his lightsaber.
I winced at that, "No. No, I didn't!" I said, backing away from him.
"Without Bastila, this station's going to fall into the star, and kill us all!" Dustil yelled, drawing his red lightsaber. He backed me into a wall, and held his lightsaber near my throat, "You betrayed me." he said quietly. Dangerously.
"Dustil, please. Don't do this." I begged. I could see the indecision in his expression. He grit his teeth, as if trying to convince himself to go through with it.
But then the Star Forge shook from the first volley of the Republic attack. It threw both of us off balance, and I felt searing pain in the side of my neck as we both fell to the ground. I heard the hiss of Dustil's lightsaber deactivating, as he sat up to kneel next to me, "No!" he sounded horrified, "I didn't mean it!" he cried. I felt his hand pressing on my neck... trying to stop the bleeding, I thought distantly. "Don't die. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please don't die, dad!"
I blinked several times, and focused on his face. I could see tears in his eyes. "Looks like I'll find out if that theory's true or not." I said weakly. I could breathe, but I still felt like I was drowning.
He shook his head, "No... please don't die. I... I don't know how to heal you." I felt tears fall onto my face. His tears. "I'm so sorry, dad. I didn't mean to do it."
"I... I forgive you." I said quietly, "I should... I should be the one apologising. I'm sorry I... I wasn't there for you, Dustil."
He swallowed a lump in his throat, and tried to blink back the tears, "I forgive you, too, dad." he said sadly. The world seemed to be going out of focus. Fading. I could feel him holding my hand, now. "Tell mom I love her." I barely even heard him say that, it sounded so distant.
"I will." I whispered... I think I did, anyway.
The theory was true.
x x x
Malak:
Of course, she made it. She was damned near unstoppable. I waited for her, on the observation deck. It didn't take her long to find me. I turned to face her - I would have smiled if I could, "Well done, Revan." I said calmly, "I was certain the defences of the Star Forge would destroy you, but I see you are stronger than I thought; stronger than you ever were during your reign as the Dark Lord. I did not think that was possible."
She was watching the battle, out the window. She always loved to watch epic battles like that. I never understood why. All I saw was glittering light reflecting off ships. I never saw deeper than that. "Nothing's impossible, Malak." she said distantly, still not deigning to look at me, "Surely you know that?"
I nodded, and looked at the window she was staring out through, "What do you find so fascinating out there? I never understood it."
"I see every life in that battle... it's like reading a story of emotion, pain, fear... death." she answered. In spite of the calm tone in her voice, the gleam in her eyes told of the pleasure she gleaned from sensing death.
Not for the first time, I wished I could still smile. I was slightly amused at her perversion, and I wished there could be some other way to end this.
"If we fight, you won't win, Malak." she noted, in such a matter-of-fact tone.
I laughed, a sharp humourless laugh, ""Once you were stronger than me, Revan. But as your apprentice I surpassed you. The Master must always be stronger than the apprentice... that was why I betrayed you."
She turned to face me, her gaze piercing, penetrating. "You don't seriously think that, do you?" she asked, laughing, "You betrayed me from afar, because you were afraid to face me, Malak!"
"No!" I snapped, "I was prepared to face you, Revan. But fate presented me with a better option. I saw my opportunity and seized it. The trap set by the Jedi only hastened my decision. If they had not attacked I would have challenged you for mastery of the Sith soon enough."
She glared at me. Why did that expression always make me want to either run and hide, or apologise profusely? Well I won't give in to that subtle manipulation, anymore. "And if it weren't for the Jedi, when would you have stabbed me in the back, Malak? As I slept?!"
I winced slightly at the mere suggestion. I would never have done that to her - I couldn't have. "I had planned on challenging you to a duel." I growled, "I had planned it for weeks before the Jedi attack. But if you want me to stab you in the back that badly, I happily could!"
Her glare became threatening, "Try it. Just try it."
I drew my lightsaber, and lunged at her. She drew her own lightsaber, and blocked me. She was strong. The battle was intense. But she wasn't too powerful... she wasn't as strong as I had thought she had become. I gradually beat her back, towards the edge of the platform. A fall from there would be fatal.
She threw a wave of the Force at me, throwing me off balance, and giving her the chance to duck away from me, and leap up onto a higher ledge. Was she running away from me?
I ran up the ramp to try to follow her, but she bolted down the opposite ramp, and out of sight. Yes, she was trying to run away from me. Interesting.
"Are you afraid to face me, Revan?" I asked, amused. I stalked slowly across the upper platform, trying to see where she had disappeared to, "Where are you hiding?" I couldn't believe she was so cowardly as to try to run and hide, like this.
The station shook, causing Revan to stumble out from where she had been hiding. I didn't give her time to recover before I leapt down and attacked her again. She defended herself, blocking my lightsaber with her own. Our eyes locked between our crossed blades, "The Star Forge is dying." she said quietly, "We don't have time to fight like this. We need to escape now, or we both die."
I knew she was telling the truth. Part of me still doubted she was capable of lying. "You're right." I pushed her away from me, using the Force, and deactivated my lightsaber. If she were trying to trick me, I would have time to defend myself, because I had pushed her away.
She smiled, and also deactivated her lightsaber. "Let's get out of here, Malak."
"Why is the little traitor not using her Battle Meditation to keep the fleet at bay?" I asked, "Whoever she serves, it would be in her best interests."
"I was wondering that, myself." she said, frowning. Her eyes lost focus, and her frown deepened, "She's not answering me. Something's wrong." she turned and bolted out of the observation chamber. I followed close behind her.
x x x
Dustil:
I couldn't sense his death on the Force. I didn't want to, really. I didn't really want to believe he was dead... even though I knew I couldn't stop it. How stupid could I have been? Why the hell did I do that? If I get my hands on whoever fired that shot that shook the station, I will... do to them what Revan did to Xor. Yes, that sounds appropriate.
I sensed a wave of anger through the Force... the difference between it and the battle outside was that there was fear and concern in it too. I'd bet my life that Revan just realised Bastila wasn't doing her job.
I debated for a few seconds, before deciding to leave his body here. It wouldn't help to take him back to the Republic - he would only slow me down. Instead, I crossed the room quickly, and picked up the much lighter body of the unconscious Battle Meditation brat.
Revan was on her way here, I could tell. I was going to make myself scarce.
I carried Bastila back down to the docking level, where one of three Jedi was still waiting. I had been surprised that Revan had let them live, when we had entered the Star Forge, but tricking the enemy into helping you is always worthwhile.
The Jedi greeted me, looking quite exhausted, "Thank the Force you're back!" he said, "I couldn't have held the Sith off much longer... and it feels like this station is going down, too!"
"That's about right. Take her and get the hell out of here." I said bluntly, handing Bastila over to him.
"What about your companions?"
"I can't believe you didn't notice she's a Sith. Darth Revan, to be precise." I growled, "Get the girl off the station before Revan finds you... I can assure you, you will suffer a slow and painful death, if she catches you."
The Jedi shivered, and carried Bastila towards one of the three Jedi strike ships.
"And make sure Bastila stays unconscious!" I snapped. The Jedi gave me a confused look, "Go!" I shouted, bolting for the nearest other Jedi ship.
The Jedi vessels were capable of carrying two passengers, as well as the pilot. Small vessels designed to be able to slip past enemy defences, in order for Jedi Knights to board an enemy ship. Jedi were all but useless in the sky, but once they get a lightsaber in their hands, they're deadly.
I watched the Jedi take off, with Bastila on his ship.
"Dustil Onasi!" Revan snarled, "Get back here, you traitorous little son of a rancor!"
I looked round to see her. She stood not too far away... though I doubted lightening would reach quite that distance. Malak stood near her, I noticed. That surprised me... but I guess cooperation is essential, sometimes. Dad made me see that when I first met him on Korriban - we had to work together to find out what had happened to Revan - it had ended up saving Juhani's life.
Revan and Malak would likely have died fighting each other, when the Star Forge crashed, if they hadn't formed whatever shaky truce they had now. "Which one would you rather have, Revan?" I asked coldly, "The rancor... or the terentatek?" I glanced at Malak as I mentioned the dark beast. I made the comparison clear.
Then I sealed the Jedi ship I had stolen, and took off before she could even have time to splutter indignantly.
I headed away from the Star Forge, towards the planet. I wasn't sure what I would do now. I had chosen to give Bastila back to the Jedi, because it was what father would have wanted. I had betrayed Revan, because... if I couldn't stand what I had done to him, there was no way I could be a true Sith. I had no problem killing for personal gain... as long as I didn't know the victim. A true Sith wouldn't have cared, wouldn't even have hesitated. It was an accident, I hadn't even meant to do it, and I still felt like staying on the Star Forge, to burn with him. But I deserved worse. A quick death is too good for me.
I landed on the Rakatan world, near the temple. I would wait here for the Republic to go away. For Revan to move on to more strategically viable worlds. Then I would head for the unexplored territory, beyond Republic, Sith or even Hutt space. Somewhere where I couldn't do any more damage.
Less than a minute after I landed, I got a distress signal on the Jedi ship's commsystem. "Hey, is anyone out there? Hello? Little help here? C'mon, there's gotta be someone out there! Please?"
That sounded like the little blue girl. The Twi'lek Revan almost killed, on this planet. I traced the signal. It came from the Temple summit. "Hey, Little Blue." I replied, into the commlink, "What are you doing in the Temple?"
"Being lucky." she replied, "What're you up to, Sithkid?"
"Pretty much nothing at the moment." I answered.
"Could ya give us a lift?" she asked hopefully, "This stupid Sithy ship of Bastila's is encrypted - I was lucky enough to get the comm working."
"Lucky seems to be your middle name, Little Blue." I noted, amused, "And you can use the word again to describe the fact that I feel inclined to help you. I'll be there in a few minutes."
x x x
HK-47:
The Master returned to the ship hurriedly, her jawless apprentice close behind her. This inept lackey had attacked the Master, one year five months three days ago, and the Master came to this location with the intention of retaliation. This revolting organic was a threat. "Halt, meatbag." I ordered him, placing myself between him and the entrance to the ship.
"HK, let him enter." the Master snapped.
I stepped aside, and the jawless plebeian boarded the ship. I kept my sensor arrays on him, as the ship took off under the guidance of the Mandalorian meatbag. I did not approve of the Mandalorian, but he had not attempted to harm my Master, so I would allow him to live as long as the Master wished me to. The Jawless One, however, was another matter.
"Malak, get on those blasters. If I'm running away, I'm damned well doing it in style!" the Master ordered, making her own way towards the cockpit.
I stalked after the Jawless One, as he made his way to the blaster turrets. He fired on the lead enemy ship, as our vessel fled the Star Forge. We then jumped to hyperspace, and the Jawless One returned to the main room of the ship. I followed him, observing him carefully.
The Master returned to the main room, "Right. We need to regroup." she said, slouching sulkily in one of the chairs available.
The Jawless One watched her carefully, for twenty seconds, before speaking, "Just because I realised we would both die if we continued to fight does not mean I am conceding defeat, Revan. You are not my Master anymore."
She looked up, and stared calmly at him. Even my sensors could read the air of smugness she exuded. "You're in my territory now, Malak. Look around you, I've got HK, a Mandalorian warrior, and a Wookiee, all on my side here."
"Commentary: I would greatly appreciate you to attempt a coup, meatbag. It would be my intense pleasure to blast you into your component molecules."
"I think I'll pass on that offer, thanks." the Jawless One retorted.
"We need to regroup." Revan repeated, "Malak, I suggest we work together, if we want to defeat the Republic. If you try to fight me, I will devastate what remains of your army, but if you work with me, I can focus my destructive energies on our mutual enemy. I do not want to depose you as Master of the Sith... I was actually going to suggest an equal partnership, purely for the sake of not squabbling over who is in command."
The Master's logic was flawless, as usual. For a meatbag, she does think with incredible droid-like dispassion - it is one of the things I truly admire about the Master... besides the fact she created me, of course.
After three minutes and twenty-six seconds, the Jawless One replied, "You're right, Revan. Very well, a truce for now."
x x x
Jolee:
The ship that landed was one of the Jedi's little toys. All sleek lines, but no good unless you want to fly ridiculously fast. The boy flying it, however, was no Jedi.
"Thought we'd seen the last of you." I muttered, as he opened the hatch of the ship, "And where do you get off stealing a Jedi ship, eh?"
"You really want me to answer that question, old man?" he asked, amused. I sniggered and shrugged innocently.
"Thanks for coming to help us, Sithkid." Mission cheered. Heh, I like the name she picked for him. Better than the one I'd been thinking of... then again, I really don't think calling Carth's son 'kinrath-brain' would have gone down so well.
"No problem. It's not like I had anything better to do." the boy replied, smirking.
"This ship is only designed to carry three people." Juhani noted.
The Sithkid shrugged, "Someone sit on someone else's lap." he suggested innocently.
The two girls looked at each other, then at me, then back to the Sithkid, "You're kidding, right?" Mission asked.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" he asked, "Unless you want me to ditch one of you here, don't be so prissy."
I shrugged and climbed into the ship. I sure wasn't going to be sitting on anybody else's lap. Let the girls work that one out between themselves. Might be interesting.
"Dibs on the other seat!" Mission declared, bounding into the ship over-eagerly, and landing next to me with a grin on her face.
Juhani scowled, "You have the smaller build, Mission. You should be the one to sit on someone else's lap." she protested.
"You could sit on Jolee's knee. I'm sure he'd not mind." Mission said, winking.
I'm sure Juhani paled under that fine fur. "I would much rather not."
"Something the matter, Jedi?" the boy asked her snidely.
"I simply do not wish to share a seat with him." Juhani replied coldly. I could sense a faint hint of a memory she was trying to avoid... her dark past might come back to bite her, metaphorically, if she were pushed into the wrong situation. Dark past... figures... we've all got one of those, haven't we?
"Mission, why don't you be courteous for a change, eh?" I suggested, "Let Juhani have the seat."
"Yeah, Little Blue. You could sit on my lap if you wanted." the boy suggested, grinning.
"Ew, no way, Sithkid!" she retorted coldly.
He chuckled, and smirked at her, "I'm not making two trips, here... either you all get a lift now, or I leave one of you behind. Be thankful I showed up at all, Little Blue."
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he just grinned in response... he's not strong enough to project thoughts, but I could tell what he was thinking, and I didn't think it at all appropriate, considering the girl was only fourteen. Kids these days, bah.
Juhani gave Mission a calculating look, then said innocently, "If you do not wish to sit on either man's lap, and neither do I, then we shall have to share a seat, Mission. Would you rather sit on my lap, or I sit on yours?"
Mission squeaked, "Nobody's sitting on me!" she said, a bit too high-pitched.
"Then that is settled." Juhani said sweetly, "Kindly move."
Mission glared petulantly, then stood up to let Juhani have the seat. When Juhani was seated, Mission sat between the two of us, squashing herself in where there shouldn't have been room. "Obstinate brat." Dustil noted brightly.
"Hey, that's my line, Sithkid." I said, mildly amused.
He sniggered, and sealed the ship, guiding it up towards the Republic flagship.
x x x
Admiral Dodonna:
"Admiral, we're receiving a signal from one of the Jedi ships, but it's using an old Republic frequency." ensign Rin informed me.
"What do you mean by 'old'?" I asked him.
"I mean it's two years out of date - it was decrypted by the Sith years ago." he replied.
I frowned. It was possible the Sith could have commandeered one of the Jedi ships. It wasn't possible for the Jedi to transmit a spurious code - they didn't do that. It was also likely that one of the Ebon Hawk crew got to the Jedi ship, but I had no idea why they would use an out-of-date code - Carth knew the most up-to-date codes.
"The code's changed, Admiral." the ensign said, scowling, "It's cycling, now - an outdated Jedi encryption... an Outer Rim sector code from six years ago... a modern Jedi sequence."
"Put them through on speakers." I ordered.
"Look, I told you that wouldn't work!" a female voice snapped over the comm, "Give me that!"
"No!" a male voice retorted, "Paws off, Little Blue!"
"But using an expired code is as good as painting a neon sign on the ship that says 'I am a Sith, shoot at me'!" the female whined.
"Ahem." another female voice said pointedly, "The commlink is active."
Silence for a second.
"Um... ok, I don't know how to address a fleet ship." the male noted sheepishly.
"Allow me." a clearly older male voice said calmly, "Hello there, Admiral... Master Vandar. Care to let us land?"
"Identify yourselves." I said coldly. How did they know Master Vandar was standing right next to me?
"This is Jolee Bindo, has-been-Jedi." the older man said brightly, "With me are three more misfits from the Ebon Hawk."
"I'm not a misfit!" the other male snapped.
"You're a defecting Sith giving two Jedi and a street-urchin a lift to the Republic flagship. What else would you call yourself, kid?" the older man asked.
"Well, 'kid' works." the younger man noted.
"Do you have no sense of civilised behaviour?" the woman not referred to as Little Blue asked.
"None whatsoever." the older man said smugly.
"That's Jolee for ya, Ju." Little Blue replied.
"The point is, can we dock?" the younger man asked, "Please?"
"Very well. Proceed to the main docking bay." Master Vandar said calmly, "We will meet you there."
"Thanks, Jedi." the younger man said, before cutting the commlink.
"How did they know you were here?" I asked Master Vandar.
"Jolee Bindo is a trained Jedi." he said calmly, "And the younger man is strong in the Force. I believe from her voice, that one of the women on that ship is Juhani - another trained Jedi. The three Force-sensitives would be able to detect my presence... especially Jolee, whom was once a close friend of mine. Incidentally, judging from the conversation, I would assume that the younger girl is Mission Vao - one of the previous crew of the Ebon Hawk, before our young lady's second fall."
"You're perceptive." I muttered.
x x x
Juhani:
We disembarked from the Jedi vessel Carth Onasi's son had... acquired. Considering the boy was recently a Sith Apprentice, I do not particularly wish to know how he acquired the vessel, however. The boy made a move to reseal the ship and depart alone, but a wave of Master Vandar's hand put an end to that idea. I bowed low to Master Vandar, "Greetings, Master Vandar." I intoned, "We are uncertain what has transpired regarding... recent events, however we wish to assist in any way possible."
"Recent events include Revan and Malak reuniting and making a truce to save their collective skins." Dustil answered me, "Now, Jedi." he was addressing Master Vandar, "Can you please allow me to leave?"
"I am afraid not, young man." Master Vandar said calmly, "Please, join your companions."
He climbed out of the ship without intending to. Master Vandar appeared to have used some form of Force Persuasion on the boy, however I did not notice it until I witnessed its effect on the boy.
"If you know what happened on the Star Forge..." the woman wearing the uniform of a Republic Admiral said pointedly, "We do wish to know details."
"Tough luck, Admiral." the boy replied petulantly, "I've no intention of telling ANYONE the details. I already told you the important part."
"Where's Zaalbar?" Mission Vao piped up.
"Probably on the Hawk with Revan." Dustil answered, "He swore a lifedebt to her, that's gotta mean something, even if she is an evil bitch again."
"And where is Carth Onasi?" the Admiral asked.
The boy flinched, as if the Admiral's words had slapped him in the face, "He's dead."
"How? What happened to him?" the Admiral persisted.
The boy glared at her, with enough venom that she almost choked. He did see what he had done, in time to stop it turning into a true dark attack, but she still felt it. "As a matter of fact, his death was partially caused by the first volley of blaster fire to hit the Star Forge." he growled. That made the Admiral wince noticeably.
"Hey, calm down, kid." Jolee Bindo said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. I could sense the Force in his words, which made the boy back away from his anger, somewhat, "But you're not telling us everything, are you?"
He flinched away from Jolee, "That's right. Can you bloody well drop it? Please?"
"Sorry, Dustil." Jolee chided, "Can't do that."
His use of the boy's first name was deliberate, I could sense... and it had the expected effect. The Admiral seemed to recognise the name. "Dustil? Dustil Onasi? Carth's son?" she asked. The boy nodded. "I had thought you were dead. Your father searched everywhere he could think of for you."
"Well he didn't look on Korriban." Dustil retorted coldly.
"Korriban?" the Admiral asked, stunned.
"He's been training as a Sith, for the last three years." Mission supplied. The Admiral just stared, dumbstruck.
"Now, kid. Care to tell us what happened to your father, eh?" I considered Jolee Bindo's approach incredibly harsh, until I sensed a wave of guilt from the boy. I can only assume Jolee detected the emotion sooner than I. It seems the boy at least believes he had some influence in his father's death.
He stared determinedly at the floor, avoiding the questioning stares of every other person within the room.
"Tell us what happened, please." Master Vandar's almost cruel use of Force Persuasion made my stomach turn. I understood his reasons for it, but I was certain Dustil Onasi would be greatly upset by it.
"I joined Darth Revan, when she reclaimed her title as Sith Lord. She promised to make me her apprentice." the boy explained, his tone mechanical, but he was glaring at Master Vandar with deepest loathing. "I convinced my father not to try to fight Revan - Revan told me if I couldn't convince him to follow her, I would have to kill him myself."
I sensed a wave of self-loathing and disgust as he said it. Jolee Bindo and I shared a look that told of our mutual understanding of what we sensed. The boy's self-disgust was for his father's death... he considered himself the cause of death.
"He conceded... he joined us." the boy continued, "Revan insisted he come with us onto the Star Forge, and when she left us so she could confront Malak, and Bastila could use her Battle Meditation, she ordered me to keep an eye on my father." he sighed, dropping his glare to the floor, "My father managed to incapacitate Bastila, while I wasn't paying attention. I shouted at him, and threatened him. I held my lightsaber to his throat. But I couldn't bring myself to deal the fatal blow. Some Sith, huh? Can't kill someone I care about... love and mercy are weaknesses I wouldn't have displayed if I were a real Sith. That's why I abandoned Revan."
"You haven't told us how Carth died." the Admiral prompted.
"Yeah, I was trying to be evasive. You Jedi think it's not torture to Force me to tell you this?!" he snarled at Master Vandar.
"If you do not fight it, it will be relatively less painful." Master Vandar said calmly.
"You know what?" Dustil ground out through gritted teeth, sweat beading on his forehead from the effort of resisting Master Vandar's Force Persuasion, "That's exactly what Sith interrogators say before electrocuting and dismembering their prisoners... only difference is you're torturing my mind instead of my body."
"Just answer the Admiral's question." Master Vandar said, still the picture of calm. It struck me that the boy had a point. But we did need to know what happened, and this was the most expedient method of acquiring the information.
"As I hesitated... my conscience getting the better of my Sith training, by a long shot... the Star Forge shook from the first attack on it. My hand slipped. My lightsaber severed a major blood-vessel in his neck, too quickly to cauterise the wound, and I cannot use the Force to heal. He died in my arms as I tried in vain to fix the damage I had done."
The Admiral stared at Dustil, her mouth agape with shock and horror. Jolee Bindo sighed dramatically, "Well, isn't that just delightful? Glad you pried that from him, now, aren't you, Vandar?" his tone dripped with sarcasm.
Master Vandar frowned for a moment, considering his options. But the Admiral seemed to gather her wits before Master Vandar had come to a decision, "You killed him?"
"It was an accident. If the Star Forge hadn't shaken at that exact moment, I would never have done it." the boy said coldly, wrapping his arms around himself, defensively. I sensed deep, heartfelt pain from him... regret, and guilt. He was truly repentant for his mistake.
'You know what? You Jedi preach forgiveness so often... how about acting on it? I did.'
I jumped and looked at Jolee Bindo, who had raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at me. 'You did hear him, didn't you, Juhani?' Jolee projected his thoughts to me. I nodded slowly... though I wasn't entirely certain whom I had heard. The mind behind the thought was familiar, if incredibly distant, barely real. 'Was there actually anyone on the Ebon Hawk without some flicker of Force in them?'
T3-M4?
'Funny. Really funny.'
What about the Mandalorian, Canderous Ordo?
'Yeah, there's one.'
I could understand from his wording that he implied it was Carth Onasi's spirit we had heard. It certainly was possible. In incredibly rare occurrences, those not strong in the Force have been known to communicate as a form of Force-spirit, to communicate something they feel is important to them. The only recorded cases of such communications were heard only by relatively strong Jedi who had been close to the deceased... in a sense, I was surprised that Jolee Bindo and I were close enough comrades to Carth for us to hear him.
'You'd be surprised how close you get to someone who you've fought alongside for the last few months, Juhani.' Jolee put in helpfully. I was not capable of projecting my thoughts, but Jolee Bindo was capable of reading minds well enough that I did not need to project to him.
And it appeared that Carth Onasi wished us to forgive Dustil.
"I hate to do this, Dustil." the Admiral said sadly, "But I have to place you under arrest for the murder of Carth Onasi."
Dustil gave her a fearful look, "What? No!" he backed away, towards us.
Jolee Bindo placed a hand on Dustil's shoulder, which the boy quickly shook off, "Hey, kid. I'm on your side this time. We heard the ghost, too." Jolee said quietly, to the boy. That stopped Dustil from trying to fight us.
I stepped forward, "Perhaps, Admiral, it would be best if the Jedi dealt with this situation. After all, the boy is strong in the Force."
"She's right, Admiral." Jolee added. He looked pointedly at Master Vandar, and I could tell they were communicating, though I could not hear their thoughts.
"Yes, indeed. The Jedi will deal with this situation, with your permission, of course, Admiral." Master Vandar said calmly.
Dustil's eyes narrowed, "No offence, short-stop, but if the Jedi want to take me, I'd damned well better not be going with you. I don't trust you as far as... well I could probably throw you pretty far-"
"Don't bet on it, kid. I tried that once." Jolee Bindo muttered. I bit my lip to avoid laughing at that comment. I found the mental picture of Jolee Bindo trying to hurl Master Vandar across the Dantooine fields most amusing.
"-but I still don't trust you." Dustil finished, still glaring at Master Vandar.
"Very well." Master Vandar conceded, "You may be supervised by Juhani and Jolee." Dustil nodded slowly, to show that ha agreed to these terms.
The Admiral also conceded, "Very well." she said coldly, giving Dustil a scowl. I could sense revulsion from her... she found what Dustil had done, accident or no, to be unforgivable. "The Jedi can have him. So long as they keep a very, very close eye on him."
x x x
Revan:
"Advisement: The Master does not wish to be disturbed. Threat: Try to disrupt the Master's sleep-patterns, meatbag, and I will disrupt you on a molecular level." HK-47 said, indicating the disruptor rifle in its hands.
I was, however, standing in the doorway behind the droid. I put my index finger to my lips, indicating to the recipient of the threat that he should not tell the droid I was there.
"I'm not disrupting anyone's sleep patterns, you useless pile of ex-sandcrawler scrap." Malak growled.
"Observation: You are attempting to intrude on the Master's private quarters, during time the Master designated to rest. That constitutes disrupting the Master's sleep patterns."
"Ahem. HK. I'm wide awake and standing right behind you." I said flatly.
The droid's head jerked to the side, so it could see me in its peripheral vision, "Apology: I did not see you there, Master."
"Of course you didn't." I said, smirking. It hadn't seen me, but it had detected me, and chosen to feign naiveté in order to gain an opportunity to threaten Malak. "What did you want, Malak?" I asked him.
"If we're going to work together..." I could sense his thoughts, even though he didn't say it. I had thought our bond was broken when he tried to kill me. Shows a Sith definition of betrayal, if neither of us truly, in our hearts, considered what he had done to be betrayal, doesn't it?
I laughed lightly, "You still have some feelings for me, don't you? I thought you hated me now?"
He glanced warily at the droid, "Can we talk without that Czerka-reject listening to us?"
I smirked, "HK, go wait in the swoop hold. Only return if you detect signs of physical injury from me." I knew the droid had some senses within the Force... it could literally smell blood, for one thing. I knew it would be able to tell if I were injured.
"Affirmative: As you command, Master." the droid nodded its head, and left us alone.
I looked at Malak carefully. "I have changed, Malak... and trying to kill me isn't something I can forgive easily."
"Bastila told me she's now your bond-mate..." he noted. I sensed jealousy from him.
"Sister." I corrected, smiling faintly. A flicker of hope in his aura. "You didn't think she was my type, did you?" I asked sceptically.
"I wouldn't put anything past you." he muttered.
I laughed, "Then you wouldn't be surprised if I did this...?" I took a step closer to him, placed my hands on his shoulders, stood up on the tips of my toes, and only just managed to reach to kiss his cheekbone, just above the metal jaw-plate. I then took a step back again, looking at him carefully.
"I said, I wouldn't put anything past you... doesn't mean that didn't surprise me." he said, slightly stunned.
For the first time in years, I looked into his eyes. Into his soul. I wanted to know why he had betrayed me... why he had tried to kill me. What I saw there surprised me. He still loved me, in spite of everything that had happened. In that moment of understanding, we both realised that this relationship could only end with death... and a true Sith never dies. We were destined to either be together, or kill each other... and I wasn't about to test the second half of that theory today.
He stepped towards me, placed his hands on my waist, and pushed me gently backwards into my room. I let him, and closed the door behind us, using the Force. HK had the codes if Malak tried anything he shouldn't, and it would keep the others out (especially that perverted T3 unit).
"You said we could rule the galaxy together? Both of us Masters." he said quietly.
"Yes. You've proved you are capable of ruling the Sith fleet. You lack self-control when your temper is riled, but beyond that you are a great Sith Lord." I said, smiling, "I always needed you, Malak. I could never have been Sith Lord without you... but you need me, too."
He nodded, "You're right. I didn't see that when I betrayed you. All I saw was that a Sith Apprentice must one day rise to replace his Master... you taught me that. I only did it because it was what I knew you expected."
"Well I don't see why we cannot rule together." I said, smiling... because I had re-established our connection, I could see through his mind, as well as my own... I could see that my own eyes had lit up cruelly... it was a disconcerting sensation, to see though two perspectives at once, but it wasn't the first time I had done so with him. "We will conquer the galaxy together... the Jedi will rue the day they dared try to mess with Darth Revan... and the Republic will tremble at our feet before it falls into ruins!"
I always was one for motivational speeches, and I could sense my words drawing him to me. I pushed him down onto my bed, and he willingly let me. I felt a faint sense of deja vu. This reminded me so strongly of the last time we had... I think the term 'made love' isn't quite right, but it'll do... I could sense that in this moment, he would let me do anything, literally anything, to him. Just like old times.
He may continue to think we were equals... but if I can maintain that illusion, and ensure that this time he remains in love with me, I can keep him as good as a slave. A slave to his own emotions. True, I did still feel for him, but I have learned how not to allow my heart to rule me, just as I have learned not to allow the dark side to rule me. I will use them both, instead, to destroy the Republic and the Jedi... and then the galaxy will be MINE!
x x x
The End.
Author's Notes: Mwahahahahahaa... ok people, here's the alternate, Dark Side ending. Carthoholics, proceed beyond this point at your own risk - don't say you weren't warned... mwahahahahahaaaaa!! The format of this chapter is different from the rest of the fanfic, because I switch POV... often... to show elements of the story that Revan isn't present to witness. Enjoy.
Niliav: Hey, it ain't over yet! There's still this chapter to be read!
Alice the Raven: Glad you like it.
Delight: Yes, you get the DS ending... and Dustil is persistent in his theft of the spotlight, here, too.
Lord Valentai: Well, I've added the DS ending... and I know what you mean... the LS ending was a bit anti-climactic, and it felt forced. So did this chapter, but it was the best I could come up with, considering that Kira is a lot more serious than Damien.
Firera: You will see more of my fem!Revan... hopefully... I've been working on a fic showing how she and Malak fell to the DS... but it may or may not be uploaded, depending on whether or not I'm capable of finishing it.
Rascarin: Thanks.
rockerbabe: Yes. It just doesn't seem believable that the Republic would welcome back a traitorous mass-murderer, just because she betrayed the bad-guys... doesn't make sense to me. You're right, I liked Damien's ending better... but it's not easy to come up with two (or three, if you count this one) different endings of the same standard, like that. Yes, the Sithlord of Spandex is priceless... I'm humbled and honoured that you count my short-ass remark in a similar category. My prequel is a tough thing to write, and it's started off pretty slow... but I've got to the bit where Star Maps start to feature, so it should get easier to write from there on. I wonder if this chapter makes a better ending? I doubt it.
NathanPostmark: Thank you.
Prisoner 24601: Yeah... the LS ending kinda went and died on me, halfway through. You're not the first to say so. In my mind, it's forced because the LS ending in the game is a cop-out, and to go with it the way I did was a bad idea. And LS Kira's idea of a Sith is clearly different from Carth's preconceptions... he's willing to give her a chance, because he's fallen in love with her... he's also following her to keep an eye on her. My view on Sith is what I believe the ancient Sith were... but the fallen Jedi that embraced their beliefs screwed things up, as far as I can tell... I've never read the Golden Age comics, but from what I've heard, it actually gives me the impression that the Jedi declared war on the Sith and tried to wipe them out without provocation (or at least with very little provocation)... I could be wrong, but I get the feeling the Jedi were self-righteous fools who were afraid of anything they don't understand, and the modern Sith are morons who claim to follow a belief system they don't understand... this degree of ignorance (something both Jedi and Sith revile, btw) is the reason they are always at each other's throats.
Elflady: Thank you {bows (stupid doesn't do the star-thingies anymore, so these squirly brackets'll do)}. Oh, this DS ending is great... not sure if it's a great success, or a great failure, but it is great!
Ceridan: Last two chapters, she made the LS choice at the temple... hence it was the LS ending. This chapter is the DS ending. Those Knights weren't stupid... they thought there were enough of them to subdue her... they just made a miscalculation, is all.
Dark Lord Daishi: Thanks {bows}. Here be DS ending.
Trunxluvr82190: Technically, the ending last chapter was as LS as I could make Kira go. This chapter, though, I'm taking her to DS Mastery.
x x x
Chapter 10 - Darkness, Take Me
"Kill them!" Bastila goaded, "Rend their flesh! Show them the fate of all who dare stand against us! Embrace the power of the dark side!"
The malice sang to me through our Force bond. I could feel her bloodlust... I turned to face the two Jedi, with a feral smirk, "Sounds like fun to me, Bastila." I said quietly, drawing my two lightsabers. Both Jedi went for their own lightsabers, too, "Death to the Jedi!" I snarled.
I heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting behind me... Bastila.
"Down, girl." I said coldly.
"Excuse me?" she asked, indignantly.
"You heard me - these two are mine - now back off." I snapped.
Bastila retracted her blade like a feral cat retracting its claws, with a petulant look on her face, as she folded her arms and glared at thin air somewhere between me and the two Jedi.
Jolee and Juhani had both assumed defensive stances, in the hope that I would change my mind. They both knew they couldn't beat me by themselves, even if Bastila didn't join in the fight.
I sized them both up - having fought alongside both of them before, I knew their fighting styles. Juhani would always attack fast, usually aiming for the torso. Jolee preferred to use Force powers such as throwing his lightsaber, Stun, or Force Whirlwind, to keep his opponent at bay as long as possible, then wait to parry his opponent's first attack before aiming low to take out their legs.
True to form, Juhani couldn't wait, and attacked first. "I will be your doom!" she yelled, her favourite battle cry, as she lunged for me.
I dodged her first attack, and cut her down with one swing of my lightsaber. I watched her carefully - the wound wasn't fatal, but it was debilitating enough to exclude her from the fight. I focused on Jolee. He would be harder to beat.
He threw his lightsaber at me, with the Force. I parried it, and threw Force lightening at him. It hurt him, but he stayed standing. He caught his lightsaber, and held it defensively. I lunged at him, but he dodged my first attack. I turned in time to block him from mirroring what I had done to Juhani. I threw him away from me with the Force, knocking his lightsaber out of his hand as I did so.
"Kneel." I growled, using the Force to pull him to his knees. He resisted as best he could, but his willpower was no match for mine. "You're not worth the effort." I growled, throwing a wave of the Force at him that sent him flying across the ground... beaten, unable to move, but still alive. I turned to Bastila, "Let's leave these losers to rot." I growled.
I stalked over to the control panel, and deactivated the disruptor field and the shields guarding the temple. Then I turned to leave.
"They're still alive." Dustil noted, kicking Juhani's lightsaber away from her as she tried to reach for it.
"They're too weak to bother killing." I glared at both of the Jedi, "Survive long enough to get in my way, however, and I will kill you."
'Talk about PMS.' I could literally hear Jolee thinking.
I laughed, 'A week of bloodshed, and not much of it mine.' I replied, amused - it was something I had overheard my underlings saying about me once when I had been Sith Lord, naturally their blood was added to their statement, but that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate the joke. I then led Bastila and Dustil out of the temple, leaving to two Jedi to die slowly - it's a shame I couldn't stay to watch, and mock, and laugh... but I had an empire to reclaim.
x x x
"You're back!" Carth said, the second we appeared on the beach, as he ran over to us, stopping right in front of Dustil, "What were you thinking running off like that? You could have got yourself killed!"
"Calm down, father." Dustil said, sounding exasperated already, "As you can clearly see, I'm still alive. So why don't you interrogate Revan instead... please?"
Carth scowled at him, but he just smiled innocently... which infuriated Carth, no end. Then Carth spotted Bastila, "Bastila - you're alive! I was worried about you. For a minute there I was sure we'd never see you again once Malak got his... wait a minute. Where are Juhani and Jolee Bindo? Are they okay? What happened inside that temple?"
"I am taking back what's mine, that's what's happening." I said, "First Bastila, and as soon as I get my claws into Malak, the Star Forge will be mine again, as well."
Carth stared at me, horrified. "What... what are you talking about?" he asked. He knew damned well, he was just trying to deny it. I could tell he'd been expecting this. In spite of seeing some humanity in me, he knew I would do this.
"The Jedi Council has failed, Carth - Darth Revan has been reborn!" Bastila crowed proudly, "Together we will destroy Malak and seize control of his fleet, then use it to crush the Republic!"
"Oh, for the love of the Force, shut up!" I snapped, "You're more pompous and verbose than the Jedi Council!"
Dustil sniggered, "Good thing I'll never meet them, then, isn't it... I'd be bored to death."
"So that's how you kill a Sith, huh?" Mission asked coldly. Dustil shot her a glare, and she shut up.
"Now..." I said brightly, "As I was saying. Juhani and Jolee would not join me. I couldn't be bothered killing them myself." I shrugged, "Only a Force-sensitive can enter the temple, and without medical attention, those two won't last long there. It would have been a waste of effort."
"Now you will swear loyalty to Darth Revan, or face your own death!" Bastila butted in.
I glared at the girl, "I have a very effective way of silencing apprentices, Bastila." I warned. She squeaked, and bowed her head without daring retort. I returned my attention to the rest of the crew, "But she's right. Join me or die."
"No - we serve the Republic!" Carth said, fear evident in his tone, "You're no better than Malak! We'll never swear allegiance to one who serves the dark side!"
"I serve NO ONE, Carth." I growled, "But suit yourself. If you won't join me, then..." I ignited my lightsaber and took a step towards him. But after a fraction of a second's hesitation, Dustil stepped in my way. "Get out of my way, Dustil." I growled.
I could sense fear from him in waves, but he stood his ground, "Please, My Lord." he said, his voice shaking with fear, "Let me try to change his mind."
I tilted my head to one side, staring the boy down, "Mercy is a weakness. He has made his choice."
"Please, Lord Revan. I beg you. He may be useful to us, if I can convince him." Dustil pleaded.
I shrugged, and deactivated my lightsaber, "All right, then. But if he refuses, you have to kill him yourself."
Both men stared at me for a second, then Dustil nervously nodded, "Th-thank you, My Lord."
I watched as he turned to face Carth, and started talking in a hushed whisper that I couldn't hear. I shook my head, and turned to Canderous, "I can assume you will follow me?" I asked him idly.
"Of course." he answered proudly, "It doesn't matter who you're fighting against, I'll be at your side. Mandalorians don't have any great love for the Republic anyway. Light side, dark side - it doesn't make any difference to me, Revan. I'll stick by your side no matter what comes."
I nodded, still watching Carth and Dustil out of the corner of my eye. They were arguing quite viciously, but their voices were still lowered so I couldn't hear them. Then Carth sighed dejectedly, and proceeded to glare at me, "All right. I'll join you." he muttered sulkily.
I grinned evilly, "Well done, Dustil." I said. The boy nodded his thanks for that praise, and I turned to Mission, "What about you, kid?" I asked.
"C-Carth? Why'd you agree to join her?" Mission asked, stunned.
"I can't abandon Dustil again." he said quietly, "Not even for the Republic." Translation: Dustil used the unsubtle art of guilt to change Carth's mind.
Mission scowled, then turned to face me, her face set in determination, "I saw what the Sith did to Taris - anyone who serves the dark side is evil! Big Z and I are so not gonna join you, Sith!"
[No, Mission.] Zaalbar interrupted balefully, [I am bound by the oath of my life debt. I... I must stand with Revan.]
"Zaalbar - Revan's a Sith!" Mission whined, "Just like Malak! It's not a betrayal if you break your life debt now!"
[If I go back on my vow I am betraying myself, my people and my ancestors. I cannot do that.] Zaalbar replied, [Please, Mission - join us.]
Mission frowned, and shook her head. Her headtails wavered, speaking of resentment - saying that she felt betrayed that Zaalbar would suggest such a thing, "No, Zaalbar. I don't care! I won't help the Sith against the Republic! Not for anything! Not even for you!"
"Run away, little girl." I said, grinning viciously, "That is, if you can."
Once again, I ignited my lightsaber, and took a step towards Mission. This time, there was no one to defend her, as Zaalbar could not make a move against me, and Dustil had grabbed Carth to stop him from protecting Mission.
The Twi'lek girl stared at my lightsaber, her eyes wide, but I sensed no fear. She then looked up at me, and her lip twitched before she disappeared into thin air. I sensed her aura flicker with determination, as she bolted away from me, but I couldn't get a clear aim to throw my lightsaber, and she skittered round the corner. I glared at her aura, as she ran up the path behind the rock-formation, towards the temple. Part of me was glad she got away... but I quickly buried that thought under a pile of rancor dung.
I turned back to the rest of the crew, "Come on. We've got a Star Forge to reclaim."
x x x
Mission:
I kept running. I wasn't about to give Revan the chance to catch up to me. When I got to the temple, I stopped, and looked around. I had nowhere else to go. The natives wouldn't like me. The Republic was miles away, overhead. Revan said this temple only let Force-sensitives in. I frowned at the temple entrance, and deactivated my stealth field.
"Can't hurt to try, right?" I asked myself.
I tentatively reached my hand out to the entranceway, and stepped forward. It felt like pushing my hand into some sort of really thick slime... except without the mess involved. I pushed harder, and after a while my whole arm was inside the temple. I waved my hand, on the other side of the 'barrier' - no resistance there. I held my breath, and pushed the rest of the way into the temple.
"Weird with a capital 'we'." I muttered, looking at where the invisible 'barrier' was. Then I shrugged and reactivated my stealth belt, before setting off at a trot, into the temple.
I soon figured out that Revan had pretty-much totalled the place. There were Sith bodies and busted droids all over. It took me long enough to find the stairs up to the roof. Jolee and Juhani were both on the ground. Jolee was propped on one elbow, next to Juhani. Looked like he might be trying to heal her, or something.
He looked up at me, surprised, "And how did you get in here, eh?" he asked.
I deactivated my stealth, and trotted over to them, "Dunno. Guess I'm lucky." I said, kneeling next to him.
"Lucky, my foot." Jolee muttered.
I shrugged and took out my personal stash of medpacks, "Where should I stick this?" I asked, waving a kolto needle in front of him.
Jolee chuckled, "Give it to me, kid. If I recover enough, I can heal her."
"Right you are, old geezer." I stuck the needle sharply into his upper arm, and injected him with the kolto.
"Delightful bedside manner you have, child." Jolee noted.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He recovered quickly, and healed Juhani. It took about half an hour, all in all. "Thanks, kid." Jolee said, smiling, "Couldn't have done it without you."
"You're welcome." I said, grinning, "What's so lucky about your foot, though?" I asked him.
"I was being sarcastic." he grouched, "Basically, 'there is no luck, there is only the Force'."
"You're saying that me being lucky is Force-stuff?" I asked, stunned.
"Basically, yes." he said, nodding.
"Cool." I cheered.
"Don't get too excited, kid." he interrupted, "You're no Jedi. You just have better instincts. Some might call it a scoundrel's luck. But like I said. No luck, only the Force."
"Still cool." I noted.
He smiled enigmatically.
"How do we plan to leave this planet?" Juhani asked.
I looked around. My eyes landed on the small ship across the roof from us, "I bet I could slice into that thing."
"Have at it, kid." Jolee said.
x x x
Carth:
Revan insisted on dragging me along onto the Star Forge. She didn't trust me not to escape from Canderous and HK-47 again, I think. Dustil and Bastila also tagged along, and since I was unarmed, they killed all the soldiers that attacked us, leaving me relatively defenceless... unless you counted the fact that Dustil managed to keep himself neatly between me and anyone with an idea to kill me.
Eventually, Revan stopped Bastila, after a particularly gruesome battle with three dark Jedi. "Bastila, the Star Forge is under attack. You need to stay here and use your Battle Meditation to keep us from falling into the sun. I'll deal with Malak."
Bastila nodded obediently, "Yes, Master."
"Dustil, you stay here and protect her. And keep an eye on Carth, while you're at it." she added.
Dustil nodded, just as obediently as Bastila had done, "Yes, My Lord."
Revan turned and left the room without any further debate. Bastila knelt in the centre of the room, and I saw a faint blue glow appear around her. Dustil watched her for a moment, then walked over to look out of the window.
"What is so fascinating to watch, out there, Dustil?" I asked.
"Death." he said quietly. He leaned against the plasteel window, his eyes closed, as if sensing something I couldn't perceive. The idea that anyone would want to sense death disgusted me, but I continued to watch him, regardless. As I watched, I could see his eyes darting under his eyelids, and his breathing getting faster. When he opened his eyes again, I could see a glitter of unnatural golden yellow in them. He looked at me, then, with a dark smile.
"Why would anyone want to sense death?" I asked apprehensively.
"There's a theory... that at the moment of death, the sense of release is greater than any other ecstasy." he said, smirking, "And the empathic echo of that is the sense of pleasure a Sith can feel when someone dies." he looked out the window again.
"Gaining pleasure from someone else's pain. That's sick." I said coldly.
"Oh, there's a lot of pain out there..." he said, smirking, "It's not the same thing. I'm tuning out the pain. It's only the death I'm feeling."
I shook my head and looked at Bastila. She was likely the cause of most of those deaths, I thought.
I heard Dustil gasp, and turned sharply to look at him. He was still leaning against the window, with his mouth slightly open. My lip curled in disgust - he really was getting off on sensing death through the Force. That is sick.
I walked quietly over to Bastila, and looked down at her. She didn't seem to notice me. It seemed odd that I could sneak up on a Jedi, but I guess all her attention was on the battle outside the station.
I reached into my pocket, and found a gas grenade. Sleeping gas. I had grabbed the first few grenades I could, when I'd been locked in the cargo hold while Revan had sweet-talked the Republic Admiral. I hadn't had a chance to look at what I'd stolen, until now. This would work perfectly.
I set the grenade down, and quickly walked away from Bastila. The grenade went off, and Bastila fell over, unconscious. I frowned, as I watched her sleeping. Mission accomplished. I looked up, wondering how long it would take for the Star Forge to be destroyed... I wondered if it would be enough. Or was it too little, too late?
"What did you do?!" Dustil demanded, suddenly.
I looked at him, startled. He was glaring at me. "It's just sleeping gas." I said quietly. I felt almost detached from the situation.
"You..." Dustil looked from me to Bastila, and back, "You betrayed us!" he yelled, stalking towards me, his hand moving towards his lightsaber.
I winced at that, "No. No, I didn't!" I said, backing away from him.
"Without Bastila, this station's going to fall into the star, and kill us all!" Dustil yelled, drawing his red lightsaber. He backed me into a wall, and held his lightsaber near my throat, "You betrayed me." he said quietly. Dangerously.
"Dustil, please. Don't do this." I begged. I could see the indecision in his expression. He grit his teeth, as if trying to convince himself to go through with it.
But then the Star Forge shook from the first volley of the Republic attack. It threw both of us off balance, and I felt searing pain in the side of my neck as we both fell to the ground. I heard the hiss of Dustil's lightsaber deactivating, as he sat up to kneel next to me, "No!" he sounded horrified, "I didn't mean it!" he cried. I felt his hand pressing on my neck... trying to stop the bleeding, I thought distantly. "Don't die. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please don't die, dad!"
I blinked several times, and focused on his face. I could see tears in his eyes. "Looks like I'll find out if that theory's true or not." I said weakly. I could breathe, but I still felt like I was drowning.
He shook his head, "No... please don't die. I... I don't know how to heal you." I felt tears fall onto my face. His tears. "I'm so sorry, dad. I didn't mean to do it."
"I... I forgive you." I said quietly, "I should... I should be the one apologising. I'm sorry I... I wasn't there for you, Dustil."
He swallowed a lump in his throat, and tried to blink back the tears, "I forgive you, too, dad." he said sadly. The world seemed to be going out of focus. Fading. I could feel him holding my hand, now. "Tell mom I love her." I barely even heard him say that, it sounded so distant.
"I will." I whispered... I think I did, anyway.
The theory was true.
x x x
Malak:
Of course, she made it. She was damned near unstoppable. I waited for her, on the observation deck. It didn't take her long to find me. I turned to face her - I would have smiled if I could, "Well done, Revan." I said calmly, "I was certain the defences of the Star Forge would destroy you, but I see you are stronger than I thought; stronger than you ever were during your reign as the Dark Lord. I did not think that was possible."
She was watching the battle, out the window. She always loved to watch epic battles like that. I never understood why. All I saw was glittering light reflecting off ships. I never saw deeper than that. "Nothing's impossible, Malak." she said distantly, still not deigning to look at me, "Surely you know that?"
I nodded, and looked at the window she was staring out through, "What do you find so fascinating out there? I never understood it."
"I see every life in that battle... it's like reading a story of emotion, pain, fear... death." she answered. In spite of the calm tone in her voice, the gleam in her eyes told of the pleasure she gleaned from sensing death.
Not for the first time, I wished I could still smile. I was slightly amused at her perversion, and I wished there could be some other way to end this.
"If we fight, you won't win, Malak." she noted, in such a matter-of-fact tone.
I laughed, a sharp humourless laugh, ""Once you were stronger than me, Revan. But as your apprentice I surpassed you. The Master must always be stronger than the apprentice... that was why I betrayed you."
She turned to face me, her gaze piercing, penetrating. "You don't seriously think that, do you?" she asked, laughing, "You betrayed me from afar, because you were afraid to face me, Malak!"
"No!" I snapped, "I was prepared to face you, Revan. But fate presented me with a better option. I saw my opportunity and seized it. The trap set by the Jedi only hastened my decision. If they had not attacked I would have challenged you for mastery of the Sith soon enough."
She glared at me. Why did that expression always make me want to either run and hide, or apologise profusely? Well I won't give in to that subtle manipulation, anymore. "And if it weren't for the Jedi, when would you have stabbed me in the back, Malak? As I slept?!"
I winced slightly at the mere suggestion. I would never have done that to her - I couldn't have. "I had planned on challenging you to a duel." I growled, "I had planned it for weeks before the Jedi attack. But if you want me to stab you in the back that badly, I happily could!"
Her glare became threatening, "Try it. Just try it."
I drew my lightsaber, and lunged at her. She drew her own lightsaber, and blocked me. She was strong. The battle was intense. But she wasn't too powerful... she wasn't as strong as I had thought she had become. I gradually beat her back, towards the edge of the platform. A fall from there would be fatal.
She threw a wave of the Force at me, throwing me off balance, and giving her the chance to duck away from me, and leap up onto a higher ledge. Was she running away from me?
I ran up the ramp to try to follow her, but she bolted down the opposite ramp, and out of sight. Yes, she was trying to run away from me. Interesting.
"Are you afraid to face me, Revan?" I asked, amused. I stalked slowly across the upper platform, trying to see where she had disappeared to, "Where are you hiding?" I couldn't believe she was so cowardly as to try to run and hide, like this.
The station shook, causing Revan to stumble out from where she had been hiding. I didn't give her time to recover before I leapt down and attacked her again. She defended herself, blocking my lightsaber with her own. Our eyes locked between our crossed blades, "The Star Forge is dying." she said quietly, "We don't have time to fight like this. We need to escape now, or we both die."
I knew she was telling the truth. Part of me still doubted she was capable of lying. "You're right." I pushed her away from me, using the Force, and deactivated my lightsaber. If she were trying to trick me, I would have time to defend myself, because I had pushed her away.
She smiled, and also deactivated her lightsaber. "Let's get out of here, Malak."
"Why is the little traitor not using her Battle Meditation to keep the fleet at bay?" I asked, "Whoever she serves, it would be in her best interests."
"I was wondering that, myself." she said, frowning. Her eyes lost focus, and her frown deepened, "She's not answering me. Something's wrong." she turned and bolted out of the observation chamber. I followed close behind her.
x x x
Dustil:
I couldn't sense his death on the Force. I didn't want to, really. I didn't really want to believe he was dead... even though I knew I couldn't stop it. How stupid could I have been? Why the hell did I do that? If I get my hands on whoever fired that shot that shook the station, I will... do to them what Revan did to Xor. Yes, that sounds appropriate.
I sensed a wave of anger through the Force... the difference between it and the battle outside was that there was fear and concern in it too. I'd bet my life that Revan just realised Bastila wasn't doing her job.
I debated for a few seconds, before deciding to leave his body here. It wouldn't help to take him back to the Republic - he would only slow me down. Instead, I crossed the room quickly, and picked up the much lighter body of the unconscious Battle Meditation brat.
Revan was on her way here, I could tell. I was going to make myself scarce.
I carried Bastila back down to the docking level, where one of three Jedi was still waiting. I had been surprised that Revan had let them live, when we had entered the Star Forge, but tricking the enemy into helping you is always worthwhile.
The Jedi greeted me, looking quite exhausted, "Thank the Force you're back!" he said, "I couldn't have held the Sith off much longer... and it feels like this station is going down, too!"
"That's about right. Take her and get the hell out of here." I said bluntly, handing Bastila over to him.
"What about your companions?"
"I can't believe you didn't notice she's a Sith. Darth Revan, to be precise." I growled, "Get the girl off the station before Revan finds you... I can assure you, you will suffer a slow and painful death, if she catches you."
The Jedi shivered, and carried Bastila towards one of the three Jedi strike ships.
"And make sure Bastila stays unconscious!" I snapped. The Jedi gave me a confused look, "Go!" I shouted, bolting for the nearest other Jedi ship.
The Jedi vessels were capable of carrying two passengers, as well as the pilot. Small vessels designed to be able to slip past enemy defences, in order for Jedi Knights to board an enemy ship. Jedi were all but useless in the sky, but once they get a lightsaber in their hands, they're deadly.
I watched the Jedi take off, with Bastila on his ship.
"Dustil Onasi!" Revan snarled, "Get back here, you traitorous little son of a rancor!"
I looked round to see her. She stood not too far away... though I doubted lightening would reach quite that distance. Malak stood near her, I noticed. That surprised me... but I guess cooperation is essential, sometimes. Dad made me see that when I first met him on Korriban - we had to work together to find out what had happened to Revan - it had ended up saving Juhani's life.
Revan and Malak would likely have died fighting each other, when the Star Forge crashed, if they hadn't formed whatever shaky truce they had now. "Which one would you rather have, Revan?" I asked coldly, "The rancor... or the terentatek?" I glanced at Malak as I mentioned the dark beast. I made the comparison clear.
Then I sealed the Jedi ship I had stolen, and took off before she could even have time to splutter indignantly.
I headed away from the Star Forge, towards the planet. I wasn't sure what I would do now. I had chosen to give Bastila back to the Jedi, because it was what father would have wanted. I had betrayed Revan, because... if I couldn't stand what I had done to him, there was no way I could be a true Sith. I had no problem killing for personal gain... as long as I didn't know the victim. A true Sith wouldn't have cared, wouldn't even have hesitated. It was an accident, I hadn't even meant to do it, and I still felt like staying on the Star Forge, to burn with him. But I deserved worse. A quick death is too good for me.
I landed on the Rakatan world, near the temple. I would wait here for the Republic to go away. For Revan to move on to more strategically viable worlds. Then I would head for the unexplored territory, beyond Republic, Sith or even Hutt space. Somewhere where I couldn't do any more damage.
Less than a minute after I landed, I got a distress signal on the Jedi ship's commsystem. "Hey, is anyone out there? Hello? Little help here? C'mon, there's gotta be someone out there! Please?"
That sounded like the little blue girl. The Twi'lek Revan almost killed, on this planet. I traced the signal. It came from the Temple summit. "Hey, Little Blue." I replied, into the commlink, "What are you doing in the Temple?"
"Being lucky." she replied, "What're you up to, Sithkid?"
"Pretty much nothing at the moment." I answered.
"Could ya give us a lift?" she asked hopefully, "This stupid Sithy ship of Bastila's is encrypted - I was lucky enough to get the comm working."
"Lucky seems to be your middle name, Little Blue." I noted, amused, "And you can use the word again to describe the fact that I feel inclined to help you. I'll be there in a few minutes."
x x x
HK-47:
The Master returned to the ship hurriedly, her jawless apprentice close behind her. This inept lackey had attacked the Master, one year five months three days ago, and the Master came to this location with the intention of retaliation. This revolting organic was a threat. "Halt, meatbag." I ordered him, placing myself between him and the entrance to the ship.
"HK, let him enter." the Master snapped.
I stepped aside, and the jawless plebeian boarded the ship. I kept my sensor arrays on him, as the ship took off under the guidance of the Mandalorian meatbag. I did not approve of the Mandalorian, but he had not attempted to harm my Master, so I would allow him to live as long as the Master wished me to. The Jawless One, however, was another matter.
"Malak, get on those blasters. If I'm running away, I'm damned well doing it in style!" the Master ordered, making her own way towards the cockpit.
I stalked after the Jawless One, as he made his way to the blaster turrets. He fired on the lead enemy ship, as our vessel fled the Star Forge. We then jumped to hyperspace, and the Jawless One returned to the main room of the ship. I followed him, observing him carefully.
The Master returned to the main room, "Right. We need to regroup." she said, slouching sulkily in one of the chairs available.
The Jawless One watched her carefully, for twenty seconds, before speaking, "Just because I realised we would both die if we continued to fight does not mean I am conceding defeat, Revan. You are not my Master anymore."
She looked up, and stared calmly at him. Even my sensors could read the air of smugness she exuded. "You're in my territory now, Malak. Look around you, I've got HK, a Mandalorian warrior, and a Wookiee, all on my side here."
"Commentary: I would greatly appreciate you to attempt a coup, meatbag. It would be my intense pleasure to blast you into your component molecules."
"I think I'll pass on that offer, thanks." the Jawless One retorted.
"We need to regroup." Revan repeated, "Malak, I suggest we work together, if we want to defeat the Republic. If you try to fight me, I will devastate what remains of your army, but if you work with me, I can focus my destructive energies on our mutual enemy. I do not want to depose you as Master of the Sith... I was actually going to suggest an equal partnership, purely for the sake of not squabbling over who is in command."
The Master's logic was flawless, as usual. For a meatbag, she does think with incredible droid-like dispassion - it is one of the things I truly admire about the Master... besides the fact she created me, of course.
After three minutes and twenty-six seconds, the Jawless One replied, "You're right, Revan. Very well, a truce for now."
x x x
Jolee:
The ship that landed was one of the Jedi's little toys. All sleek lines, but no good unless you want to fly ridiculously fast. The boy flying it, however, was no Jedi.
"Thought we'd seen the last of you." I muttered, as he opened the hatch of the ship, "And where do you get off stealing a Jedi ship, eh?"
"You really want me to answer that question, old man?" he asked, amused. I sniggered and shrugged innocently.
"Thanks for coming to help us, Sithkid." Mission cheered. Heh, I like the name she picked for him. Better than the one I'd been thinking of... then again, I really don't think calling Carth's son 'kinrath-brain' would have gone down so well.
"No problem. It's not like I had anything better to do." the boy replied, smirking.
"This ship is only designed to carry three people." Juhani noted.
The Sithkid shrugged, "Someone sit on someone else's lap." he suggested innocently.
The two girls looked at each other, then at me, then back to the Sithkid, "You're kidding, right?" Mission asked.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" he asked, "Unless you want me to ditch one of you here, don't be so prissy."
I shrugged and climbed into the ship. I sure wasn't going to be sitting on anybody else's lap. Let the girls work that one out between themselves. Might be interesting.
"Dibs on the other seat!" Mission declared, bounding into the ship over-eagerly, and landing next to me with a grin on her face.
Juhani scowled, "You have the smaller build, Mission. You should be the one to sit on someone else's lap." she protested.
"You could sit on Jolee's knee. I'm sure he'd not mind." Mission said, winking.
I'm sure Juhani paled under that fine fur. "I would much rather not."
"Something the matter, Jedi?" the boy asked her snidely.
"I simply do not wish to share a seat with him." Juhani replied coldly. I could sense a faint hint of a memory she was trying to avoid... her dark past might come back to bite her, metaphorically, if she were pushed into the wrong situation. Dark past... figures... we've all got one of those, haven't we?
"Mission, why don't you be courteous for a change, eh?" I suggested, "Let Juhani have the seat."
"Yeah, Little Blue. You could sit on my lap if you wanted." the boy suggested, grinning.
"Ew, no way, Sithkid!" she retorted coldly.
He chuckled, and smirked at her, "I'm not making two trips, here... either you all get a lift now, or I leave one of you behind. Be thankful I showed up at all, Little Blue."
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he just grinned in response... he's not strong enough to project thoughts, but I could tell what he was thinking, and I didn't think it at all appropriate, considering the girl was only fourteen. Kids these days, bah.
Juhani gave Mission a calculating look, then said innocently, "If you do not wish to sit on either man's lap, and neither do I, then we shall have to share a seat, Mission. Would you rather sit on my lap, or I sit on yours?"
Mission squeaked, "Nobody's sitting on me!" she said, a bit too high-pitched.
"Then that is settled." Juhani said sweetly, "Kindly move."
Mission glared petulantly, then stood up to let Juhani have the seat. When Juhani was seated, Mission sat between the two of us, squashing herself in where there shouldn't have been room. "Obstinate brat." Dustil noted brightly.
"Hey, that's my line, Sithkid." I said, mildly amused.
He sniggered, and sealed the ship, guiding it up towards the Republic flagship.
x x x
Admiral Dodonna:
"Admiral, we're receiving a signal from one of the Jedi ships, but it's using an old Republic frequency." ensign Rin informed me.
"What do you mean by 'old'?" I asked him.
"I mean it's two years out of date - it was decrypted by the Sith years ago." he replied.
I frowned. It was possible the Sith could have commandeered one of the Jedi ships. It wasn't possible for the Jedi to transmit a spurious code - they didn't do that. It was also likely that one of the Ebon Hawk crew got to the Jedi ship, but I had no idea why they would use an out-of-date code - Carth knew the most up-to-date codes.
"The code's changed, Admiral." the ensign said, scowling, "It's cycling, now - an outdated Jedi encryption... an Outer Rim sector code from six years ago... a modern Jedi sequence."
"Put them through on speakers." I ordered.
"Look, I told you that wouldn't work!" a female voice snapped over the comm, "Give me that!"
"No!" a male voice retorted, "Paws off, Little Blue!"
"But using an expired code is as good as painting a neon sign on the ship that says 'I am a Sith, shoot at me'!" the female whined.
"Ahem." another female voice said pointedly, "The commlink is active."
Silence for a second.
"Um... ok, I don't know how to address a fleet ship." the male noted sheepishly.
"Allow me." a clearly older male voice said calmly, "Hello there, Admiral... Master Vandar. Care to let us land?"
"Identify yourselves." I said coldly. How did they know Master Vandar was standing right next to me?
"This is Jolee Bindo, has-been-Jedi." the older man said brightly, "With me are three more misfits from the Ebon Hawk."
"I'm not a misfit!" the other male snapped.
"You're a defecting Sith giving two Jedi and a street-urchin a lift to the Republic flagship. What else would you call yourself, kid?" the older man asked.
"Well, 'kid' works." the younger man noted.
"Do you have no sense of civilised behaviour?" the woman not referred to as Little Blue asked.
"None whatsoever." the older man said smugly.
"That's Jolee for ya, Ju." Little Blue replied.
"The point is, can we dock?" the younger man asked, "Please?"
"Very well. Proceed to the main docking bay." Master Vandar said calmly, "We will meet you there."
"Thanks, Jedi." the younger man said, before cutting the commlink.
"How did they know you were here?" I asked Master Vandar.
"Jolee Bindo is a trained Jedi." he said calmly, "And the younger man is strong in the Force. I believe from her voice, that one of the women on that ship is Juhani - another trained Jedi. The three Force-sensitives would be able to detect my presence... especially Jolee, whom was once a close friend of mine. Incidentally, judging from the conversation, I would assume that the younger girl is Mission Vao - one of the previous crew of the Ebon Hawk, before our young lady's second fall."
"You're perceptive." I muttered.
x x x
Juhani:
We disembarked from the Jedi vessel Carth Onasi's son had... acquired. Considering the boy was recently a Sith Apprentice, I do not particularly wish to know how he acquired the vessel, however. The boy made a move to reseal the ship and depart alone, but a wave of Master Vandar's hand put an end to that idea. I bowed low to Master Vandar, "Greetings, Master Vandar." I intoned, "We are uncertain what has transpired regarding... recent events, however we wish to assist in any way possible."
"Recent events include Revan and Malak reuniting and making a truce to save their collective skins." Dustil answered me, "Now, Jedi." he was addressing Master Vandar, "Can you please allow me to leave?"
"I am afraid not, young man." Master Vandar said calmly, "Please, join your companions."
He climbed out of the ship without intending to. Master Vandar appeared to have used some form of Force Persuasion on the boy, however I did not notice it until I witnessed its effect on the boy.
"If you know what happened on the Star Forge..." the woman wearing the uniform of a Republic Admiral said pointedly, "We do wish to know details."
"Tough luck, Admiral." the boy replied petulantly, "I've no intention of telling ANYONE the details. I already told you the important part."
"Where's Zaalbar?" Mission Vao piped up.
"Probably on the Hawk with Revan." Dustil answered, "He swore a lifedebt to her, that's gotta mean something, even if she is an evil bitch again."
"And where is Carth Onasi?" the Admiral asked.
The boy flinched, as if the Admiral's words had slapped him in the face, "He's dead."
"How? What happened to him?" the Admiral persisted.
The boy glared at her, with enough venom that she almost choked. He did see what he had done, in time to stop it turning into a true dark attack, but she still felt it. "As a matter of fact, his death was partially caused by the first volley of blaster fire to hit the Star Forge." he growled. That made the Admiral wince noticeably.
"Hey, calm down, kid." Jolee Bindo said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. I could sense the Force in his words, which made the boy back away from his anger, somewhat, "But you're not telling us everything, are you?"
He flinched away from Jolee, "That's right. Can you bloody well drop it? Please?"
"Sorry, Dustil." Jolee chided, "Can't do that."
His use of the boy's first name was deliberate, I could sense... and it had the expected effect. The Admiral seemed to recognise the name. "Dustil? Dustil Onasi? Carth's son?" she asked. The boy nodded. "I had thought you were dead. Your father searched everywhere he could think of for you."
"Well he didn't look on Korriban." Dustil retorted coldly.
"Korriban?" the Admiral asked, stunned.
"He's been training as a Sith, for the last three years." Mission supplied. The Admiral just stared, dumbstruck.
"Now, kid. Care to tell us what happened to your father, eh?" I considered Jolee Bindo's approach incredibly harsh, until I sensed a wave of guilt from the boy. I can only assume Jolee detected the emotion sooner than I. It seems the boy at least believes he had some influence in his father's death.
He stared determinedly at the floor, avoiding the questioning stares of every other person within the room.
"Tell us what happened, please." Master Vandar's almost cruel use of Force Persuasion made my stomach turn. I understood his reasons for it, but I was certain Dustil Onasi would be greatly upset by it.
"I joined Darth Revan, when she reclaimed her title as Sith Lord. She promised to make me her apprentice." the boy explained, his tone mechanical, but he was glaring at Master Vandar with deepest loathing. "I convinced my father not to try to fight Revan - Revan told me if I couldn't convince him to follow her, I would have to kill him myself."
I sensed a wave of self-loathing and disgust as he said it. Jolee Bindo and I shared a look that told of our mutual understanding of what we sensed. The boy's self-disgust was for his father's death... he considered himself the cause of death.
"He conceded... he joined us." the boy continued, "Revan insisted he come with us onto the Star Forge, and when she left us so she could confront Malak, and Bastila could use her Battle Meditation, she ordered me to keep an eye on my father." he sighed, dropping his glare to the floor, "My father managed to incapacitate Bastila, while I wasn't paying attention. I shouted at him, and threatened him. I held my lightsaber to his throat. But I couldn't bring myself to deal the fatal blow. Some Sith, huh? Can't kill someone I care about... love and mercy are weaknesses I wouldn't have displayed if I were a real Sith. That's why I abandoned Revan."
"You haven't told us how Carth died." the Admiral prompted.
"Yeah, I was trying to be evasive. You Jedi think it's not torture to Force me to tell you this?!" he snarled at Master Vandar.
"If you do not fight it, it will be relatively less painful." Master Vandar said calmly.
"You know what?" Dustil ground out through gritted teeth, sweat beading on his forehead from the effort of resisting Master Vandar's Force Persuasion, "That's exactly what Sith interrogators say before electrocuting and dismembering their prisoners... only difference is you're torturing my mind instead of my body."
"Just answer the Admiral's question." Master Vandar said, still the picture of calm. It struck me that the boy had a point. But we did need to know what happened, and this was the most expedient method of acquiring the information.
"As I hesitated... my conscience getting the better of my Sith training, by a long shot... the Star Forge shook from the first attack on it. My hand slipped. My lightsaber severed a major blood-vessel in his neck, too quickly to cauterise the wound, and I cannot use the Force to heal. He died in my arms as I tried in vain to fix the damage I had done."
The Admiral stared at Dustil, her mouth agape with shock and horror. Jolee Bindo sighed dramatically, "Well, isn't that just delightful? Glad you pried that from him, now, aren't you, Vandar?" his tone dripped with sarcasm.
Master Vandar frowned for a moment, considering his options. But the Admiral seemed to gather her wits before Master Vandar had come to a decision, "You killed him?"
"It was an accident. If the Star Forge hadn't shaken at that exact moment, I would never have done it." the boy said coldly, wrapping his arms around himself, defensively. I sensed deep, heartfelt pain from him... regret, and guilt. He was truly repentant for his mistake.
'You know what? You Jedi preach forgiveness so often... how about acting on it? I did.'
I jumped and looked at Jolee Bindo, who had raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at me. 'You did hear him, didn't you, Juhani?' Jolee projected his thoughts to me. I nodded slowly... though I wasn't entirely certain whom I had heard. The mind behind the thought was familiar, if incredibly distant, barely real. 'Was there actually anyone on the Ebon Hawk without some flicker of Force in them?'
T3-M4?
'Funny. Really funny.'
What about the Mandalorian, Canderous Ordo?
'Yeah, there's one.'
I could understand from his wording that he implied it was Carth Onasi's spirit we had heard. It certainly was possible. In incredibly rare occurrences, those not strong in the Force have been known to communicate as a form of Force-spirit, to communicate something they feel is important to them. The only recorded cases of such communications were heard only by relatively strong Jedi who had been close to the deceased... in a sense, I was surprised that Jolee Bindo and I were close enough comrades to Carth for us to hear him.
'You'd be surprised how close you get to someone who you've fought alongside for the last few months, Juhani.' Jolee put in helpfully. I was not capable of projecting my thoughts, but Jolee Bindo was capable of reading minds well enough that I did not need to project to him.
And it appeared that Carth Onasi wished us to forgive Dustil.
"I hate to do this, Dustil." the Admiral said sadly, "But I have to place you under arrest for the murder of Carth Onasi."
Dustil gave her a fearful look, "What? No!" he backed away, towards us.
Jolee Bindo placed a hand on Dustil's shoulder, which the boy quickly shook off, "Hey, kid. I'm on your side this time. We heard the ghost, too." Jolee said quietly, to the boy. That stopped Dustil from trying to fight us.
I stepped forward, "Perhaps, Admiral, it would be best if the Jedi dealt with this situation. After all, the boy is strong in the Force."
"She's right, Admiral." Jolee added. He looked pointedly at Master Vandar, and I could tell they were communicating, though I could not hear their thoughts.
"Yes, indeed. The Jedi will deal with this situation, with your permission, of course, Admiral." Master Vandar said calmly.
Dustil's eyes narrowed, "No offence, short-stop, but if the Jedi want to take me, I'd damned well better not be going with you. I don't trust you as far as... well I could probably throw you pretty far-"
"Don't bet on it, kid. I tried that once." Jolee Bindo muttered. I bit my lip to avoid laughing at that comment. I found the mental picture of Jolee Bindo trying to hurl Master Vandar across the Dantooine fields most amusing.
"-but I still don't trust you." Dustil finished, still glaring at Master Vandar.
"Very well." Master Vandar conceded, "You may be supervised by Juhani and Jolee." Dustil nodded slowly, to show that ha agreed to these terms.
The Admiral also conceded, "Very well." she said coldly, giving Dustil a scowl. I could sense revulsion from her... she found what Dustil had done, accident or no, to be unforgivable. "The Jedi can have him. So long as they keep a very, very close eye on him."
x x x
Revan:
"Advisement: The Master does not wish to be disturbed. Threat: Try to disrupt the Master's sleep-patterns, meatbag, and I will disrupt you on a molecular level." HK-47 said, indicating the disruptor rifle in its hands.
I was, however, standing in the doorway behind the droid. I put my index finger to my lips, indicating to the recipient of the threat that he should not tell the droid I was there.
"I'm not disrupting anyone's sleep patterns, you useless pile of ex-sandcrawler scrap." Malak growled.
"Observation: You are attempting to intrude on the Master's private quarters, during time the Master designated to rest. That constitutes disrupting the Master's sleep patterns."
"Ahem. HK. I'm wide awake and standing right behind you." I said flatly.
The droid's head jerked to the side, so it could see me in its peripheral vision, "Apology: I did not see you there, Master."
"Of course you didn't." I said, smirking. It hadn't seen me, but it had detected me, and chosen to feign naiveté in order to gain an opportunity to threaten Malak. "What did you want, Malak?" I asked him.
"If we're going to work together..." I could sense his thoughts, even though he didn't say it. I had thought our bond was broken when he tried to kill me. Shows a Sith definition of betrayal, if neither of us truly, in our hearts, considered what he had done to be betrayal, doesn't it?
I laughed lightly, "You still have some feelings for me, don't you? I thought you hated me now?"
He glanced warily at the droid, "Can we talk without that Czerka-reject listening to us?"
I smirked, "HK, go wait in the swoop hold. Only return if you detect signs of physical injury from me." I knew the droid had some senses within the Force... it could literally smell blood, for one thing. I knew it would be able to tell if I were injured.
"Affirmative: As you command, Master." the droid nodded its head, and left us alone.
I looked at Malak carefully. "I have changed, Malak... and trying to kill me isn't something I can forgive easily."
"Bastila told me she's now your bond-mate..." he noted. I sensed jealousy from him.
"Sister." I corrected, smiling faintly. A flicker of hope in his aura. "You didn't think she was my type, did you?" I asked sceptically.
"I wouldn't put anything past you." he muttered.
I laughed, "Then you wouldn't be surprised if I did this...?" I took a step closer to him, placed my hands on his shoulders, stood up on the tips of my toes, and only just managed to reach to kiss his cheekbone, just above the metal jaw-plate. I then took a step back again, looking at him carefully.
"I said, I wouldn't put anything past you... doesn't mean that didn't surprise me." he said, slightly stunned.
For the first time in years, I looked into his eyes. Into his soul. I wanted to know why he had betrayed me... why he had tried to kill me. What I saw there surprised me. He still loved me, in spite of everything that had happened. In that moment of understanding, we both realised that this relationship could only end with death... and a true Sith never dies. We were destined to either be together, or kill each other... and I wasn't about to test the second half of that theory today.
He stepped towards me, placed his hands on my waist, and pushed me gently backwards into my room. I let him, and closed the door behind us, using the Force. HK had the codes if Malak tried anything he shouldn't, and it would keep the others out (especially that perverted T3 unit).
"You said we could rule the galaxy together? Both of us Masters." he said quietly.
"Yes. You've proved you are capable of ruling the Sith fleet. You lack self-control when your temper is riled, but beyond that you are a great Sith Lord." I said, smiling, "I always needed you, Malak. I could never have been Sith Lord without you... but you need me, too."
He nodded, "You're right. I didn't see that when I betrayed you. All I saw was that a Sith Apprentice must one day rise to replace his Master... you taught me that. I only did it because it was what I knew you expected."
"Well I don't see why we cannot rule together." I said, smiling... because I had re-established our connection, I could see through his mind, as well as my own... I could see that my own eyes had lit up cruelly... it was a disconcerting sensation, to see though two perspectives at once, but it wasn't the first time I had done so with him. "We will conquer the galaxy together... the Jedi will rue the day they dared try to mess with Darth Revan... and the Republic will tremble at our feet before it falls into ruins!"
I always was one for motivational speeches, and I could sense my words drawing him to me. I pushed him down onto my bed, and he willingly let me. I felt a faint sense of deja vu. This reminded me so strongly of the last time we had... I think the term 'made love' isn't quite right, but it'll do... I could sense that in this moment, he would let me do anything, literally anything, to him. Just like old times.
He may continue to think we were equals... but if I can maintain that illusion, and ensure that this time he remains in love with me, I can keep him as good as a slave. A slave to his own emotions. True, I did still feel for him, but I have learned how not to allow my heart to rule me, just as I have learned not to allow the dark side to rule me. I will use them both, instead, to destroy the Republic and the Jedi... and then the galaxy will be MINE!
x x x
The End.