It is when people are at lowest point in their lives that they find out who they really are. Revan smashed his Force-empowered hand through the table in rage as his eyes glowed grey with power that was unrivaled by another being other than the True Sith. He turned to look at Arus.

"Plot a course for Dromund Kaas. They will die. They will all die," said Revan as he literally began to radiate power as Bastila and the others backed away in fear.

"Revan, you're not in your right mind. I know it's hard for you bu – " started Arus.

"You know nothing! You know nothing of how I feel!" screamed Revan, empowering his voice with the Force. Arus was barely able to nullify the shout and even that used up most of his energy.

"Don't I? Remember Natharis? Do you remember how I watched my own wife die?" whispered Arus, his golden eyes burning with barely contained fury. Revan deflated at Arus' words his eyes slowly lost their glow and angry and instead Arus saw horror in shame in them at the words he had just shouted.

"Arus, I'm sorry I should never have –"

"Forget it Revan. You need to be strong. For yourself, and the empire," replied Arus.

"I know, but my rage is not my own," replied Revan his eyes started to glow grey again.

"What do you mean?" asked Bastila.

"Alek was never supposed to die," replied Revan. "The Force guides us all, in ways we can't even begin to imagine. The Jedi and Sith have some understanding of this. They see the ways the Force guides us like a man looks at a mountain, just a side of it. Members of my order can see how the Force guides every aspect of our lives as if we were viewing it like a map. The Force allows us our choices to some degree, but certain events are supposed to be constant. The Jedi and Sith coming into existence was just one of these events, they were constant and should not and were not supposed to have been prevented. The same was supposed to be true for Alek's life. He was not supposed to die today. The Force was guiding to his redemption so that he could kill the Sith Emperor Vitiate's general. By his death, the entire galaxy has been thrown off balance. An event that was supposed to happen was prevented, and as such, the Force's plan was completely destroyed. Vitiate can see how the Force guides us, and he knew that the Force was going to lead him to his death, so he set in motion a chain of events that led to Alek's death, throwing the Force's plan off and attempting to ensure his own survival."

"So what happens now?" asked Arus.

"I don't know. Not even the Force knows. We are in uncharted territory now. Not since the dawn of creation has an event that was supposed to happen be averted. But I do know one thing. Vitiate and I are still destined to face each other. There has never been a Sith; True or otherwise, as powerful as he, and there never will be again. There never has and never will be a Force-user who was not a Sith as powerful as me," replied Revan darkly.

"You're not alone Revan, we will help you," replied Jolee kindly.

"No. You must promise me this. When Vitiate and I face off, all of you must abandon me and get away, as far as you can," said Revan.

"You can't expect us to abandon you!" shouted Bastila indignantly.

"I can and I will. Universal mechanics dictate that when two celestial beings collide, there will always be collateral damage. I can't risk that happening to any of you. The powers that he and I will wield are beyond your comprehension. Stars will go supernova, entire systems will be ground into dust. None of you come close to possessing the power need to withstand our fight. You must leave. Promise me this, or I will not take you any further," murmured Revan seriously.

"But –" started Bastila.

"No. This is something that I have to do alone. Vitiate's strength is on an entire scale beyond that which you can imagine."

"He can't be that powerful," rationalized Carth. Revan glared at him.

"A Sith Lord can create a Force Storm strong enough to incinerate ten men. Vitiate's Force Storm is capable of frying a planet the size of Taris." Revan shot back. "For Force's sake! He caused a star to go supernova. Do you have any idea how much power it would take to do that?"

"Emperor Revan, a message from the Sith fleet," said one of the crewmen.

"Patch him through," said Revan as he put his mask on.

The screen came to light and a powerfully built man with ashen grey skin and soulless yellow eyes, smirked at Revan. The whites of his eyes were jet black and he was wearing body armor that resembled Revan's. A cloak of shadowy grey was worn over the armor and the hood darkened his eyes even more. Even through the screen everyone could tell he exemplified confidence and strength, but there was emptiness in the Sith Emperor's eyes that chilled everyone to the core.

"Revan, I thought we could talk. After all, I just eliminated a major threat to you. I'm expecting some thanks," said Vitiate maliciously.

"Vitiate, how are you doing? I hope that the base on Dromund Kass didn't suffer too much damage from the 3,000 proton bombs I was able to detonate over it," replied Revan casually. Vitiate's smile shrunk a bit.

"I hope my ships didn't give you too much trouble when you ran away."

"I'd like to talk about your ship. How is it? I hope The Leviathan didn't cause too much damage."

"Actually, it's fine. I created a Force Wall in front of my ship. The Leviathan exploded against it. Honestly, Alek was such a failure. His act in life, and he couldn't even heat the paint on my ship up. Pathetic really," said Vitiate as he started to laugh.

"This game will not end well for you Vitiate. The Force has enough mercy to let you return to Dromund Kaas. I don't. You will die. Every one loyal to you will die. I will personally make sure of it," growled Revan.

"Stooping to threats Revan? I had expected more of you. Your tactical genius is unrivaled even here my own Empire. To play this game of chess with you, is something I have never had the pleasure of experience. Not in 1000 years of life," replied Vitiate. "That's right, I'm immortal. If I wanted to I could simply wait until you died to invade, but that's no fun. We are as close to equals in power and intellect as we will find in this galaxy. I wish to test my own strength against yours. When I win, I am sure I will enjoy it."

"There is an old saying among your people Vitiate. What was it? Death is the only victor. All things come to pass Vitiate. You included," replied Revan evenly, though Bastila could feel his barely contained rage through their bond. Vitiate's smile disappeared.

"I've just taken your knight Revan. I await your next move," replied Vitiate solemnly before the transmission disappeared.

"Very well Vitiate, you have my night, let's see how you do without your bishop," replied Revan with a smirk.

"What's the plan?" asked Jerc Averre as he entered the room. Like Arus he was wearing armor like Revan's except he wore a deep blue cloak with intricate gold trim and designs on it over his armor. The hood shadowed his face giving him the appearance of a mysterious and powerful warrior.

"I'm taking my friends with me on the Ebon Hawk. We're going to Dromund Kaas and assassinating the Sith High Priest. With their priest dead, the True Sith will start to have second thoughts and doubts about this war. If I can someone like the Sith High Priest on his own planet, who else could I reach? Vitiate will begin to doubt his own security as well forcing to maneuver more carefully. If this pans out, we will be able to better predict his future moves while making them look twice at every shadow and every ally," replied Revan with a chuckle.

"What about the Council Revan? What are our orders?" asked Arus.

"Jerc, you need to find Raen and Jundomiin and have them return to active duty, your job will be to draw both the True Sith and the Republic into a fight and then leave so that the Republic will finally understand the true danger. Arus, I need you Esbern, Daelin, Sophia, and Jo to find Meetra. It is imperative that she rejoin the Council. We need her as a secondary tactician to myself. This way our double tactics will confuse Vitiate as he will only be expecting my tactics, not Meetra's," responded Revan.

"Understood Revan. Take care of yourself," replied Jerc as he left the room without making any noise.

"Force guide you, Revan," said Arus with kind eyes as he embraced his friend before excusing himself.

"I'm not going to lie," started Revan as he turned to look at his friends. "The odds are terrible. My Council has been scattered to the winds. Alek is dead. The Republic is still too blinded too see the true threat, and the Jedi have been exiled," revealed Revan.

"What?" shouted Bastila and Carth in disbelief.

"The Chancellor found out that the Jedi had aided me. He accused them of betraying the Republic and exiled them. Master Vadar, Sunstrider, Vash, Kavar, and Ell are hiding on Tatooine. The Knights have scattered to the corners of the galaxy, taking their Padawans with them. The Jedi Order, is no more," said Revan solemnly.

"Then the Republic is doomed. Without Force-users to sense the True Sith, they will be taken completely by surprise," said Jolee shaking his head.

"Which means my plans must adjust for this factor. I've calculated that if Vitiate were to strike now, My fleet would not be able to intervene until he has conquered everything up to the core worlds. The only worlds I would be able to save would be Coruscant and Corellia. Even then, it would only slow his conquest. In order to save the Republic, I must let it die."

"You can't be serious. I thought the whole point of your training was so we could stop them!" yelled Carth as he jabbed a finger at Revan.

"That was the plan. I assumed that Alek would still be alive! My contingency plan for this situation was to let Vitiate conquer the Republic then launch a two pronged assault on Dromund Kaas; the Sith homeworld, and his fleet at the same time. This way I could liberate some planets save whoever is left, and then relocate them into the Unknown Regions. It is the best I can do under these circumstances."

"What about my Battle Meditation?" asked Bastila hopefully. Revan shook his head.

"It takes exponentially more strength to use at a greater distance. The more people you need to affect drains more strength. You wouldn't make any difference before you passed out from the endeavor," replied Revan.

"So I need to get stronger," replied Bastila thoughtfully.

"Bastila, no. I will not let you damn yourself for this. It's not worth it," replied Revan seriously.

"Who are you to make my decisions? I decide what's worth it for myself Revan. Not you! And if saving the Republic wasn't worth it, then why'd you do it yourself?" accused Bastila as her voice rose. Revan looked taken aback as Bastila stormed out of the room.

"I'm an idiot," Revan rubbing his forehead.

"Go after her. We can't afford any distrust within our group if we're going to war. This will be the greatest war in the history of the galaxy, and we can't afford weakness," said Carth wisely.

"I'm going. Carth gather the Legion. Have them rendezvous with the 54th at Onderon. I'm assigning you the position of Fleet Admiral. Do whatever you have to, but delay Vitiate's forces until I get back," said Revan as Carth snapped to a salute. After finding out what Revan had sacrificed for the galaxy, Carth's distrust had turned into respect and admiration.

"Jolee and Juhani you two will lead the Vanguard force-users into battle. Jolee I want you, Mission, and Zaalbar to take a battalion with you back to Kashyyyk and fortify it. The True Sith won't know the terrain. Use that to your advantage. Fight with guerrilla tactics. Juhani you and Canderous with fortify Tatooine with another battalion. Same tactics. Hit hard, fade back into the desert. Rendezvous with the Jedi Masters if you can. HK you will take the other assassin droids and operate from the shadows. Strike only to kill, and never be seen, cause as much confusion, chaos, and destruction as you possibly can in Vitiate's ranks."

With that the companions that had banded together for a common purpose on the Ebon Hawk went their separate ways. Each knowing that the only way they would see each other again was if they won the war. They all had their own duties to perform, and even one of them failing would cripple Revan's plan and any chance for a bright future. The balance hung by the edge of a knife and they all knew just what was at stake.

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"Bas are you here?" asked Revan as he tentatively entered her room. He was met with a Force Push that shoved him out of the room and the door locking. "Bas please don't be like this. I just want to talk."

"Go away," muttered Bastila, her voice barely carrying beyond the door.

"I'm sorry for overreacting alright? It was stupid of me. Please, open the door," pleaded Revan.

"You never let me do anything for myself. It was the same when I was your Padawan. You were always so… suffocating!" ranted Bastila. Revan felt a pang of guilt at the truth of Bastila's words. When she had been his Padawan learner he had always tried to protect her from everything, he had never allowed her to grow. Revan sighed.

"If… If your wish is to reach the realization that I and the others of order have come to… I will teach you. You are right it is not my choice but I want you to understand the consequences of such an action."

"Then why did you do it?" asked Bastila as she opened the door.

"I didn't do it for the Republic if that's what you're asking. The Force hates the Republic. A bunch of rich, corrupt few rule over people infinitely more worthy than them. It is a system that only breeds hatred, greed, and intolerance. It is a system that needs to die," said Revan through gritted teeth. Bastila was taken aback by how much hatred Revan felt for the Republic.

"Then why?" Revan looked down uneasily.

"For you. All of it was for you," whispered Revan after a moments silence. Bastila gasped as she felt Revan completely open the Force Bond them had. She was stunned by the amount of love that Revan had for her. It seemed infinite. She also felt everything else that he felt. The soul-crushing guilt of trillions of lives. The all-consuming drive that he had. The fierce protectiveness of people's innocence. Everything that defined Revan. In that moment, she was Revan.

"Now you see. I'm not a saint. I'm not a hero. I'm just a selfish person whose thrown everything away for something they care about. I'm no different from any other person in the galaxy," said Revan as he turned to stare out the window at the stars.

"Revan look at me," said Bastila gently as she reached up and turned Revan's face back towards hers. "You are not selfish. You are the least selfish person I know. You are allowed to have feelings Revan. You are allowed to act on them. That was part of the code you told me wasn't it? 'Emotion, yet peace.'"

"But – " started Revan before Bastila stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. His eyes widened in shock before he returned the kiss. He grinned as Bastila moaned. She had clearly wanted this for a long time. He pulled back to stare into her grey eyes as he brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen loose. Bastila blushed under Revan's intense stare.

"You don't have to be strong by yourself. Let others share the burden. That's why Arus and Jerc pledged themselves to you. That's why the rest of us follow you. That's why I want to be with you," said Bastila as she looked up into Revan's eyes.

"I'm sorry about what I said before. You're right, I was wrong," apologized Revan as Bastila leaned into him, her eyes twinkling.

"I always am and don't you forget it," teased Bastila as she pulled away from him with a smile on her face. Revan shook his head but smiled all the same.

"Yes, mother," he said with sarcasm. He was met with a slap to the back of his head. "Ow."

"Where do we go from here?" asked Bastila, a hint of nervousness entering her voice. Revan smiled as he faced her.

"Wherever we want," he said with a smile as he leaned down to kiss her again. He felt her smile on his lips. Revan chuckled as he pulled her with him as he fell backwards onto her bed.

"What?" asked Revan with a laugh as Bastila gave him a look. She turned so that she was laying on her stomach her head resting on her arms.

"Are you going to tell me the consequences?" asked Bastila.

"Like I said you will not become one with the Force. You will become an immortal guardian that carries out its wishes for the rest of time. At least that is what the Force told me. It is not a power to be sought lightly. You must be absolutely sure this decision is what you want, because unlike redeeming a Sith from the Dark Side there is no turning back. Once you start down this road, that's it," explained Revan gently.

"I could think of worse things than spending eternity with you," said Bastila with a smirk.

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"Why do you serve Revan?" asked Carth as he stopped Arus outside the bridge.

Arus stared at Carth before replying, "Noblesse Oblige. One who claims nobility and lordship must conduct himself nobly. Noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails responsibility. We who are the lords of the Revanchist Empire must also conduct ourselves with honor. We do not act for recognition or gain, but simply because it is the right thing to do."

"Since when did Revan have so many honorable people following him?" asked Carth with a chuckle.

"He has always been a rallying point for the honorable. We follow him because he gives us hope. Hope that one day, those in power will be truly noble. The weak and will not be forced to live off scraps. Hope that one day I may set down my blade for good and take up the smith's hammer instead. Hope that there will be peace."

"Hey no need to be so serious. I was just asking," said Carth as he raised his hands.

"No need? When we are with our soldiers, we must never let our guard down. They are willing to lay down their lives for us. We must never dishonor that sacrifice. I remember the names of every single man and woman that has died underneath my command. I will never forget them," said Arus as his he balled his hands into fists. He took a couple deep breathes before turning and leaving.

"I didn't know all of the Council took their duty as seriously as Revan did," thought Carth as he watched Arus disappear.

"You didn't have to taunt him," said a man with a low voice. Carth turned around to see a man with long shaggy black hair and three scars over his left eye looking at him with his good eye. Jerc Averre, the Force Destruction.

"I wasn't trying to. I just wanted to know why all of you cared so much. Why you felt it was your duty. Why not let someone else do it? "asked Carth.

"Like Arus said, 'Noblesse Oblige'. We have power and that comes with responsibility. We cannot simply leave the weak to their fate and claim lordship and nobility. It is our duty and our sacred honor to sacrifice our lives if need be, in order to preserve the lives of those who cannot fight," said Jerc as he looked at Carth.

"And Revan?" askd Carth.

"Out of us all he is the noblest and most honorable. He shoulders this burden freely and without complaint. He has felt pain and sadness enough to drive a weaker man insane, and yet he continues to fight. He is always the one that gives us words of comfort when we feel all is lost, and yet he does not ask for those words in return. He is the candle in the darkness. We follow him because it is our duty. He leads us, because it is his," said Jerc.

"One last question," said Carth as Jerc turned to leave. "Why are you called the Force Destruction?"

"You'll find out soon enough," said Jerc with a feral smile.

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Bastila relaxed as she sat down in a traditional meditation pose while Revan knelt behind her and placed both his hands on her shoulders. The air hummed with energy as Revan's released the strength he had been holding back and let it flare wildly. Every Force-sensitive being in the galaxy would have felt it. Bastila gasped as he started to pour all of it into her. At first she felt like she would explode from all of the energy. She felt like a dam that was about to break. Then the Force exploded past her, force her along like a leaf on a roaring river.

Her mind which had been so narrowly limited felt like it was expanding in every direction faster than she could have ever imagined. She felt her senses expand past Revan's room. Then past Revan's ship. Soon her senses had encompassed the entire system they were in. She marveled at countless number of life forms in the solar system, sentient and non-sentient before her senses were pushed even further and with awe she realized that she was now feeling the senses of the entire galaxy.

"Is this what a god feels?" wondered Bastila as she felt every single being in the entire galaxy. There were hundreds of quadrillions of life forms. If she could have seen every living thing as a bright dot, the galaxy would've shimmered with more brightness than all the stars in the night sky.

In that moment Bastila knew why Revan fought. She understood the burdens that he carried. The weight of every battle lost meant billions of lives extinguished. She knew then, that it was not Revan's destiny to stand alone against the coming darkness. It had been only him. She would be there as well, and so would Arus, Jerc, Carth, Juhani, Jolee, and everyone who believed in him would stand by him to the very end. With a smile she saw Alek watching over his old friend, no longer tainted by the Dark Side with a peaceful smile on his face.