Disclaimer: I own none of it. Except Damien - he's mine. This fanfic was constructed from my memory of playing the XBox version of the game, and the dialog.tlk file from the PC version. It may have some mistakes... probably got continuity errors too... but add the fact the character's not acting like he should anyway, and it doesn't really matter, does it? And the song quote in the A/N is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once More With Feeling (the musical episode).
Author's note: Loose ends need tying up. It's the one thing I didn't like about the ending for the game - it left me with too many questions. Especially the light side ending - what, they're just going to accept the Dark Lord of the Sith back like that? No hard feelings *laughs*. For the record, this is the last chapter of this fanfic.
Shadow39: It is kinda obvious you like it, yeah ^_^ here's more.
Starlight the Wanderer: Yes, I'm well aware of the articles about the sequel. I have seen, and even contributed to, the discussion threads about it. Assuming it is released, and is not an elaborate hoax, whether or not I write a sequel fic does depend on how much I like the sequel game itself. So I'm still debating that issue, and at this rate shall continue to debate it until February ^_^
NathanPostmark: Thank you *blushes* As for the sequel, it depends entirely on the KotOR sequel game.
Master o Randomness: I hope I made Malak believable. I did have trouble with his personality in this chapter. I am surprised you didn't see it coming, though. Revan tried to turn every other Sith he met away from the dark side, and he literally TOLD Carth he wanted to turn Malak back as well, on Dantooine, if you remember that conversation.
Ta'al: I am surprised you didn't see it coming, really. I was worried the not-killing-Malak plotline would be too obvious and cliché, and no one would like it. As for that quote... I was caffeinated, I tend to write strange things when I'm caffeinated (including the part about teaching Bandon to use the dark side being worse than giving a caffeinated two-year-old a fully charged blaster ^_^; and this review-response).
Fan: I wasn't going to end it there, don't worry.
chris-warren876: Glad you liked.
Anonymous-cat: I've seen another fic where Malak was allowed to live... though the one I saw never did go very far with the concept. Nor will I, to be honest. May write him into my sequel... if I write a sequel (which would be based on the sequel game, if/when it's released... and if I like it enough to write about it).
Ozziegrl: Well... Revan is a firm believer in second chances. So Malak shall live. For now, anyway. I do have another interesting plot twist for him in this chapter, though ^_^
arrow maker: Thank you. As far as I've seen, you may be right... but I've certainly not read every KotOR fanfic in existence... yet.
Naron: Thanks ^_^ I love evoking a vehement response like that, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Majin Trunks: I don't get why no one saw Malak being saved a mile away, I mean from Korriban onwards I'd have thought it was too obvious (yes, I planned it from the beginning). In the game, it is possible to get Malak to wish he had been given the opportunity Revan had been given to turn back to the light, but you can't save him in the game... you cannot turn him to the light, really, either... it's as much of a victory as you can have to get him to wonder what might have been. If you try to save him, then tell Bastila you tried but failed, she says she really hadn't expected anyone to even try at all. I heard the sequel's due out around February... I'll probably write my version of it, but don't hold your breath.
The Holy Beergut: Yes, this is the last chapter. I have read about the dancing Twi'lek cheat - you press the four trigger buttons, I think - but I don't have a second controller, so... *shrugs*
g3forc3: Thanks.
Nightmare and Flip: Hey, I'm not the weakling... and better not let Revan hear ya saying that. Mercy is no weakness, it's turning your back on the enemy after you show them mercy that's stupid. As Revan said to Jorak on Korriban, and then was careless enough to demonstrate on Kashyyyk. But sparing his old friend's life is not a weak thing to do.
Xan: ^_^ glad you're enjoying it. And I do like Jolee's character, he's a lot like an old-fart version of me/Damien, which makes him easier to write. The hair thing may or may not have been a joke on Revan's part... even I shall never know. For sequels, you must wait for the game's sequel... and for me to have time to play it and write my version... I'd guess by March, if we're lucky, considering I've heard the sequel game is due in February.
Red Mage Neko: Glad you're enjoying it.
Phlegam: They may not have been easy to beat... gods know how many times I had to restart my game on level 2 of the Star Forge, with my poor pathetic Scoundrel/Consular (heck, even when I played Soldier/Guardian, those guys were tough)... but they are also boring, plot-wise: kill, maim, blast meatbags, kill, maim, blast meatbags, repeat ad nauseam... really not good material story-wise.
2 lazy 2 log in: Thanks. Glad you like it.
Revan_Pearson: I wouldn't have known if you'd not said. And I saw your message about my fic on the discussion forum - thanks ^_^ I'm glad you're enjoying it.
F-15 Eaglestrike: I do know what happens, and I actually love the Genoharadan quests. I even wrote out the meeting with Huulas, but I deleted it and rewrote the conversation about the datapad, because the Genoharadan quests would not be easy to incorporate into the format I've written this in: visiting each planet once, getting what they came for, and moving on.
*The Author bursts spontaneously into song* "The curtains close on a kiss god knows we can tell the end is near. Where do we go from here?"
* * *
Chapter 9 - There Is The Force
I woke on a soft bed, with crisp sheets over me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling - glaringly white. "He's awake!" Bastila's voice said, drawing my attention to the fact she was holding my hand.
As I looked around, I saw she was sitting to my right. HK-47 was stationed at the end of the bed, holding its assault rifle and clearly just waiting for an excuse to blast a meatbag. Mission was sitting on my other side, and Carth was standing at the door.
"Where am I?" I asked, sitting up, "I feel like I've slept for a week."
"Two, actually." Bastila said, smiling, "We were worried you wouldn't wake up." she squeezed my hand. I smiled at her, but the smile faded when I realised what I was wearing.
"Well, I'm awake now... but who was insane enough to think I'd approve of being put in a hospital gown?" I asked.
Mission giggled, "Blame Jolee. And thank him, too - if he hadn't had the bright idea to hide those creepy robes of yours, the Jedi Council'd have gotten their paranoid paws on them."
I rolled my eyes, "I guess I shouldn't complain, then. Where are said robes, anyway?"
"In a hidden compartment I found in the girls' sleeping quarters on the Hawk." she said brightly, "Between Canderous convincing HK you really are quite attached to the robes, and Zaalbar and me camping out on the Hawk, the Masters have been rightly afraid to go in there. Not that they know the robes are even there at all."
I smirked, "It's good to know you guys stick by me even when I'm unconscious and assumed evil." I noted.
"Who said anything about assumed evil?" Mission asked, pouting.
"Well, those robes for one. And the way Carth's watching me - which admiral wants me arrested, Carth?" I asked.
He blinked, "How'd you know?" then he shook his head, "Don't answer that - it's Fleet Admiral Tal'eri. Dodonna has me watching you, just to shut Tal'eri up. Officially, you're under house arrest, only allowed to travel accompanied by a Republic officer - me - and only to the Jedi Enclave."
"Hmm. Hey, what planet are we on?" I asked, mentally kicking myself for not asking sooner.
"Coruscant." Carth said flatly.
I nodded, "What about Malak?" I asked warily.
"He's recovering. He should be awake in a few days." Bastila said, "The Masters have healed his injuries." she smirked slightly, "All of them."
"All?" I asked innocently, clearly asking about the lack-of-jaw.
"Well... it took some effort, I am told. The dark side inhibits the healing powers of the Force." she explained, "But yes. They did eventually heal even his jaw."
"I told him Force heal would fix it, but would he listen - no." I said, sniggering.
Bastila rolled her eyes, "You, Revan, are incorrigible. Must you make jokes all the time?"
"Who's joking?" I asked innocently.
She shook her head, half-laughing, then kissed me suddenly.
"Sheesh, get a room!" Mission snapped, averting her eyes.
I gently pushed Bastila away, "Kid's got a point. And I do want to speak to the Jedi Council. They have a lot of explaining to do."
"So have you." Bastila said flatly.
* * *
I left the hospital building I had woken in - the best on Coruscant - on one of the upper city walkways. It was a short distance to the Jedi enclave. Carth and HK-47 walked with me. Bastila said she would catch up with me later. And Mission - who had got to the hospital in the Hawk's swoopbike - cheerfully took said swoopbike back to the Hawk to "...tell Big Z and Cantankerous that you're awake."
"The Republic wanted to have an award ceremony for us for saving the galaxy... but you were unconscious, so they postponed it." Carth explained as we walked. I nodded slightly. "Then the Jedi Masters told the Fleet Admiral who you are. Dodonna already knew and understood... but Tal'eri wasn't so open-minded. He was set to have you executed before you woke up, but I think Jedi Master Vrook is pretty good at Force persuasion, from what I saw."
I laughed out loud, "Vrook stood up for me?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah. Surprised me too." Carth said, smirking, "Vrook just told him 'Revan has atoned for his crimes. He does not deserve execution' - Tal'eri repeated it word-for-word in that monotone Czerka seems to use a lot around you."
I laughed again, "I thought you hadn't noticed my problem with Czerka?"
"I think the Gizka - in their short stay on the Hawk - noticed your problem with Czerka." Carth said flatly, "And I don't blame you for it."
"Since when did you develop a sense of humour, Carth?" I asked.
"Since Dustil showed up on this planet last week." Carth said, smirking, "I think this sort of humour originates from the dark side, you know."
"I wouldn't be surprised." I said flatly, "You seem... happier."
"I've got some of my life back. My son - I have a second chance with him. I have every right to be happy." Carth said, proudly.
"Damn right." I agreed, nodding.
"Language, Padawan." Vrook's voice said - I hadn't realised we'd reached the Jedi enclave so quickly. And I certainly hadn't expected to be greeted personally by one of the Masters.
I decided repeating my outburst in Mandalorian or Twi'leki would be inappropriate in this situation. So instead, I bowed to Vrook, "I apologise, Master Vrook." I said deferentially, "I hadn't expected to see you out here."
"I suppose you did not." Vrook said calmly, "The Council wishes to speak with you, immediately, regarding your actions. I thought it best to meet you personally, and avoid any time wasted in formalities and paperwork."
"Thank you, Master." I said, bowing again. Carth abandoned me to the mercy of the Jedi, dragging HK-47 with him, telling the droid to go guard the Hawk for me, or something.
I had barely set foot in the Council chamber when a panicked Padawan rushed into the room, "Masters!" he said, out-of-breath, "Masters, the prisoner is awake!"
I rolled my eyes slightly. Figures. Two of the Jedi Masters quickly left the room, in the direction the Padawan had come from. Vrook told me to go with them as he made to follow the other two.
* * *
The 'prisoner' was held in a lower level room of the Jedi building, where the natural light only filtered in at midday. He was lying on a table, and I could sense the Force restraints that a small group of Jedi Knights seemed to be here purely to maintain. I stayed back, in the doorway, watching warily.
Malak looked... totally different. If I hadn't remembered what he had looked like before our fall to the dark side, I might not have recognised him. The tattoos were still there, and his skin was still pale - not as pale as it had been on the Star Forge, but still pale. His eyes, which were darting around the room warily, were a dark shade of amber - his natural eye-colour is dark brown - this was a definite improvement from Sith-yellow. Of course, the most notable change was - as Bastila had said - that his jaw was intact again.
Malak completely ignored the Jedi Masters' attempts to communicate with him. He remained silent, eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. I could sense fear from him in waves, giving the same impression as a cornered animal. After a few minutes, his eyes settled on me. He frowned, and I saw his lip twitch slightly. *Revan?* Malak's voice - what his voice had been before he lost his jaw - asked in my mind.
I smiled and took a step into the room. "Hello, Malak." I said gently. The Masters gave me irritated looks, but I also ignored them.
*What have you done to me?* Malak asked.
"What have I done?" I asked, smiling, "I saved your life, Malak."
"Is he communicating with you, Revan?" a female Jedi Master asked.
"Yes." I said, smirking.
"Revan always had an innate ability for telepathic communications." Zhar informed the woman. She nodded.
Malak snorted, *What else have you done to me? Why can't I speak?*
"I imagine it'll take some getting used to... having a new jaw." I said, smirking at him, "The Jedi Masters healed you."
*How?*
"With a Gizka's ass... how do you think?" I asked, smirking, "With the Force, duh."
I saw his eyes light up as if to smile... but his mouth didn't move. It was almost as creepy as when he didn't have the jaw. *Must you be so flippant?*
"If it makes you smile, then yes." I said, grinning.
*I'm smiling?*
"Well, sort of." I said, shrugging.
"What is he saying?" the female Jedi Master asked.
"He's just complaining about my sense of humour." I said brightly. Malak rolled his eyes.
"Tell us, Malak." Vrook said. Malak's eyes turned to him. "What side are you on?"
*Now, if I were evil, I'd lie and say I'm on your side... if I were good, I'd tell the truth and say I'm on your side... what answer do you think I'm going to give?* he thought, his eyes glittering with amusement.
"That's not an answer, Malak." I said flatly, "That's being evasive. Probably because you know damned well I can tell when someone's lying when I'm reading their thoughts."
His lips actually did curl into a very slight smile, then, *Well, I don't know the answer, so how can I tell you?*
"That, at least, is an honest answer." I said flatly. I looked at Vrook, "He doesn't know what side he's on anymore."
Vrook nodded, "It is better than the first time you woke up, after your capture, then." he said flatly.
I sniggered, "Yeah. I remember that." I said, smirking. The first time I had woken up after being captured, I had screamed vehement death threats at the Jedi Masters, explaining in explicit detail elaborate forms of torture they would suffer at my hands before they died.
Vrook gave me a very sharp look, "You remember?"
"I remember everything about my time as Darth Revan. All of it." I said, in perfect seriousness, "The 'identity' you tried to give me is just like some holonovel - a really cheap and boring one at that - which I saw often enough to memorise. I just played along with your little game, because I knew you'd get paranoid if you thought I remembered."
I heard Malak's laughter in my mind, *Doesn't surprise me.* he thought.
"Hey, you have no right to laugh at me, Malak." I said, but I was smiling to show I wasn't serious.
*I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at their paranoia.*
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." I said cheerfully. It was one of my favourite quotes.
Malak wrinkled his nose, and in my mind I got the mental image that if he had figured out how to use his mouth again he'd have stuck his tongue out at me.
"Now that's just childish." I said flatly. He chuckled audibly.
Vrook rolled his eyes, "The terrible two have been reunited." he muttered.
I grinned at him, "Yeah, when we turned Sith the whole immature sense of humour thing kind of went out the airlock." I said, smirking.
Malak snorted, *You never lost your sense of humour, Revan. It just got a lot darker.*
I shrugged, "That's true, I suppose." I said to him.
"So, Revan." the female Master said pointedly, "If you remember your time as the Dark Lord, what made you turn back to the light?"
"I haven't turned back to the light, Master." I said brightly. The Masters exchanged wary looks.
"Master Dorak tells me you were carrying a lightsaber containing a rare Solari crystal." Vrook said pointedly.
"Yeah. I was." I said flatly.
"Would you mind explaining how it is possible to wield such a blade if you are not a servant of the light?" Vrook persisted.
I rolled my eyes, "I've found a balance. I know all the Jedi and Sith teachings. I know the emotionless calm of the Jedi and the cruel passion of the Sith. And I found somewhere in-between, where I can feel emotion, but I still have a conscience."
*That's a new one.* Malak noted, *And here I thought you'd lost your touch at spinning tall tales for the Council.*
"It's true, Metal Mouth!" I snapped at him, smirking.
*Can't call me that anymore... thankfully.*
"Says you. I can call you whatever I want." I said, grinning.
*You are still evil.*
I laughed, "Whatever you say... meatbag."
He winced, *I hate that name.*
"I know, that's why I said it." I said, cheerfully.
*Please don't tell me...*
"Yes, it's on my ship."
*Oh, Force, no!*
I laughed again. "If you're not too evil, I might reprogram it." I suggested.
*I'm not sure if that's bribery, or a veiled threat.*
"It's both."
*I figured as much.* Malak tried to sit up, but failed miserably, *Can you ask them to let me sit up, at least?*
"Ok, but my so-called 'veiled threat' stands strong if you try anything." I warned. Then I turned to the Masters, "He wants to sit up. If he tries anything, I think I can control him." [Try anything, and I'll have HK follow you around for the rest of your life, singing THAT song.] I said to Malak, in Rakatan - the Masters wouldn't understand it, but I knew Malak would. The song I referred to was dubbed by my subordinates in the Sith fleet as 'the Meatbag song' - it wasn't so much a song as a chant, really.
He shuddered. *I wasn't going to try anything, anyway.*
"I believe it is worth a try." Zhar said calmly. The female Master nodded. Vrook reluctantly nodded, as well. The Jedi Knights, who had watched the conversation carefully, released the Force bindings they had been maintaining.
Slowly, Malak sat up, his legs not moving, and without the aid of his hands - if you've ever heard Outer Rim mythology, you might compare the way he moved to a vampyr. His right hand moved to his chest where I had cut him during our duel. On confirming the wound had ceased to exist, he slowly swung his legs off the table, and sat on the edge of it, looking up at me.
I could sense how nervous he was - he lost his jaw not long after we found the Star Forge. Four years is time enough to get used to lacking a limb. Malak seemed almost afraid to move his hand up the short distance to his face.
But the man has only acted like a coward once in his life, and I think I understand the tactical logic in even that decision. He slowly moved his hand up from his chest to his jaw, running his fingers over the new flesh there. He swallowed subconsciously, then smiled. Smiling must have hurt, though, because he winced. *Why did that hurt?*
"Probably because you're not used to it." I said, sitting next to him, "There have been no recorded cases of anyone surviving the loss of their jaw before, let alone having it regrown. I'm not surprised it hurts a bit."
*I'm going to have to learn to speak again, aren't I?*
"One of these days, yes." I said, nodding. Then I smirked, "Although I'm sure our conversation is bugging the Masters."
I heard the laughter in my mind, and Malak's hand flew to his mouth as if to stifle the sound he hadn't even made. Vrook gave us both a stern glare. I smirked and Malak tried (and failed miserably) to look innocent.
Suddenly, the door burst open. "You've crossed the line with this one!" the man standing in the doorway snarled at the three Jedi Masters. He was a dark purple Twi'lek in Republic uniform - his insignia said he was a fleet admiral. He was wearing a headband with fine metallic thread on it that I recognised right away as a neural re-enforcement band - totally blocks all outside influences on the wearers mind.
"Kindly calm yourself, Fleet Admiral." the female Jedi Master said gently.
"I will not calm myself!" he yelled, "I usually give the Jedi Council a great deal of respect and leeway, but this is too much. I will not allow you to harbour these criminals!"
I noticed the Fleet Admiral was accompanied by a dozen elite Republic troops, all armed to the teeth.
"With all due respect, Admiral Tal'eri." Vrook said coldly, "The Republic's best prisons are not equipped to hold even one prisoner such as these, let alone two. And the Jedi Council shall not turn them over for execution."
"Do remember, 'Master' Vrook." the sarcasm in the word 'Master' was so obvious is was nauseating, "That the Jedi remain on Coruscant only at the discretion of the Republic senate."
"Why don't you just outright threaten them?" I asked flatly.
"You keep out of this, Sith scum!" Tal'eri snapped at me.
"Why should I?" I asked innocently, "It's me you're arguing over. And while I'm flattered by the attention, you really shouldn't be so rude to the Jedi Masters. Or were you never taught to respect your elders and betters?"
Tal'eri glared at me, then at the Jedi Masters, "You will not stop us from taking these criminals into our custody." he said flatly. He then turned his attention to me, "Revan and Malak, you are under arrest for war crimes against the Galactic Republic. You will be publicly executed for these crimes in twenty-four hours."
I glanced at Malak, and the way he was glaring reminded me of our duel on the Star Forge - not a good sign. I stood up and stepped closer to the Fleet Admiral.
"Please, be reasonable." I said calmly - no point trying to use Force persuasion when he was wearing that headband, "We at least deserve a fair trial."
"Ha!" Tal'eri snorted, "Like it'd do you a blind bit of good!"
"Who did I kill that hurt you so much?" I asked quietly.
He blinked and stared at me, momentarily shocked out of his anger. "My- my sister and her family... when your fleet attacked Glaynor." he said, then he realised what he'd just told me and glared, "Not like you'd give a damn, you... you Sith!"
I sighed, "I'm never going to get used to this, am I?" I asked, looking at the Masters, "I doubt I'm ever going to meet anyone who doesn't know someone I've killed. Guilt sucks." I turned back to the Fleet Admiral, "I'll come quietly, if you promise me a fair trial." I said flatly.
He blinked, "You what?" he stared, stunned again, "This is some kind of trick!"
"Would it make you feel better if I tried to kill you and make a break for it?" I asked quietly, "Would it make you feel more certain that I'm the heartless monster I was when I killed your sister, if I tried to massacre my way out of the Jedi enclave? Would you rather I snap your arm in half so you can't reach for that concealed blaster you're carrying, Force choke your men, take the vibrosword your lieutenant is holding, and run it through your heart? I could, if I wanted to... but I don't want to."
He shivered involuntarily, "I suppose a fair trial is... well... only fair." he muttered.
I smiled, and I heard the female Jedi Master snigger slightly, "Take what you can get, I say." she told the Fleet Admiral, "I don't think we'll stop you, if Revan is willing to go."
*What about me? Who said I'm willing to go?!* Malak demanded in my mind.
"Hold on a second." I said to Tal'eri, then I turned to face Malak, "And do you see an alternative?"
*No... but still!*
"Live with it." I said flatly.
*That's exactly the problem! We won't live with it - not even a trial rigged in our favour could acquit us!*
"Are you afraid?" I asked, smirking.
*Of death? Yes!*
"You shouldn't be." I said flatly.
*You had better have a good plan to get us out of this mess, Revan.* Malak thought coldly, *Or when we die, I'll hunt your ghost down and torture you.*
"That's just delightful, Malak." I said flatly, "Just go along with my crazy scheme - it's not like that's a novel concept to you or anything." I said brightly.
Again I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me.
I rolled my eyes, "Act your age, Malak!" I said, smirking to show I didn't mean it. I then turned to the Admiral, "So we've got a deal then? We surrender, you give us a fair trial?"
"I... yes." Tal'eri said irritably.
The soldiers seemed extremely nervous, as they handcuffed Malak and myself, and led us out of the Jedi enclave. Malak glared petulantly, but didn't try to stop them.
Where HK-47 and Canderous came from, I don't know, but I had them to thank for scaring off the news reporters that had somehow known of our arrest well enough in advance to try to gather outside the Jedi enclave. HK-47 and Canderous then intercepted the Republic soldiers who were escorting us.
"Request: Permission to commence blasting meatbags, master?" HK-47 asked.
"No, HK." I said flatly, "Go back to the Hawk where Carth told you to go."
HK-47 looked dejected, but turned and stalked off, "I'm not so easy to get rid of, Revan." Canderous noted.
"You want to get arrested, Canderous?" I asked innocently.
"That's funny. Like they could if they tried." he said, smirking, "Why are you letting them take you? You know this creep here wants you dead."
"I know." I said calmly, "And I'll be fine, Canderous."
Canderous smirked, "Well, if you want a jail-break..."
"I would do it myself - don't get in trouble over me, that's an order." I said flatly.
"Who're you to order me around, huh?" Canderous asked, smirking.
"The man who killed Mandalore - doesn't that make me the next Mandalore, by your people's laws? Therefore, I can give you orders if I feel like it." I said, smirking.
Canderous nodded, his eyes glazed slightly as if he was remembering something, "That's true. Alright, I'll not save your life if you don't want me to." he turned and wandered off in the same direction as HK-47 had gone.
Tal'eri and his soldiers escorted me to the Republic jail.
* * *
"Bored now." I muttered, staring at the ceiling in the jail cell. It was dank and featureless - it reeked of darkness, almost as much as Korriban. "This is a good place to put bad people, y'know that?" I noted to the guard.
"Shut up." the man grouched.
"Ever tried to keep a Jedi in here before?" I asked innocently.
"No. You're the first ones we've not let the Jedi Council deal with." he muttered.
"Figured." I said, smirking darkly, "This place's almost as dark as Korriban."
*Agreed.* Malak thought - he was in the next cell - we couldn't see each other, but the guard could see both of us, and sound travelled well enough. *I'm getting nostalgic.*
"That's not funny, Malak." I said flatly.
"Stop doing that!" the guard snapped.
"What? He can't talk - give us a break!" I snapped.
*I could Force choke him.* Malak noted, *It'd be fun.*
"It'd also damn you. As if you're not already damned." I said flatly.
"I said stop doing that!"
"I'm reconsidering your suggestion, Malak." I muttered.
He chuckled, *May I?*
"No. I just reconsidered it, I didn't actually change my mind." I said flatly.
"Shut up or I'll gag you!" the guard snapped.
"I'd like to see you try." I said cheerfully.
*So would I - damn shame there's a wall between our cells instead of just bars.*
I sniggered. "Look, kid." I said to the guard, "I'm not doing any harm - making rude jokes and playful insults with my friend - not plotting a jailbreak. Believe me, it wouldn't take much plotting to get out of this place. Just let us keep ourselves from being bored senseless, otherwise we might do something senselessly violent."
Malak chuckled again.
The guard cringed, "Fine, fine. But if he's talking in your head, why do you have to talk out loud?"
"Because." I said, smirking.
"Because why?"
"Just because." I grinned evilly.
Malak sniggered again, *Because you want to annoy him.*
"That's right." I said brightly. The guard glared. I smirked, "Y'know, these bars wouldn't stand up to Force wave." I noted to the guard, "That wall wouldn't, either. And Force choke or lightening could kill you, even with the bars between us. Force speed would let us get away before the alarm could sound." I smirked as the guard paled and watched me nervously, "And even without the Force, I could slice the lock. Malak is unnaturally strong and could possibly bend the bars with his bare hands."
*Not when I've just been almost-killed.* Malak noted.
"The ways I could kill you with my bare hands are so numerous I couldn't be bothered counting them." I continued.
*Oh, so it's more than you can count? How many's that? Five?* Malak joked.
"Oh, that's funny, Malak." I said, smirking, "More like at least five hundred."
The guard looked terrified, "Stop talking." he said fearfully.
"Why?" I asked, innocently, "I'm bored. If I stop talking, I'll have to do something else to alleviate the boredom." I held up my hand and let a few sparks of Force lightening dance between my fingers.
The guard whimpered, "Well, talk about something else." he squeaked.
"The weather on Tatooine?" I suggested, "Sandstorms." suddenly, the dust on the floor started whipping around my cell.
The guard whimpered and scrambled away from the cells, until he backed into a wall. Malak chuckled, *This one's too easy.*
"I know, Malak. But it's all we've got." I said flatly, letting the Force whirlwind die down.
*Could you make him dance on the ceiling?*
"No." I said flatly, "I don't want to actually hurt him. It's more fun to scare people, anyway."
The guard blinked as he heard this, "You're just messing with me!"
"Yeah." I said cheerfully, "If you made these cells less boring, maybe I wouldn't have done it."
"You're horrible." the guard said coldly.
"If I was horrible, I'd have done all the things I told you I could do, just to see your blood splatter across these blank walls." I said flatly.
"Oh, that's delightful, Revan." Bastila's sarcastic voice said from the doorway.
I looked up at her and smiled, "Hello, Princess."
"I leave you alone with Malak for five minutes and look how you're acting." she chided, walking over to the bars of the cell.
"I could have said the same to you, love." I said brightly.
She rolled her eyes, "Yes, well at least you're not trying to kill me."
*Give me time.* Malak thought, but the tone was clearly joking.
"That's not funny!" I yelled at him.
"What?" Bastila asked, confused.
"Malak's pathetic idea of a joke." I growled.
*Sorry. I didn't realise you meant it when you called her 'love'.*
"Yeah, well now you do, meatbag." I snapped.
*I deserved that... this time. Call me it again and you'll suffer.*
I shook my head, "We're getting a trial soon, right?"
"Yes. Right now." Carth - who must have arrived with Bastila - said from the doorway, "Guard, I'll be taking them to the courthouse." The guard nervously opened the door to my cell, then rushed away from me, and repeated the process for Malak's cell.
"That Fleet Admiral doesn't want to change the execution date he gave, does he?" I asked, as I followed Carth to the courthouse. Bastila was walking beside me, and Malak on my other side. If my hands hadn't been bound behind me by the handcuffs, she would have been holding my hand.
Carth smiled slightly, "That, actually, is exactly why your trial was arranged so quickly." he said, "Of course, you didn't hear it from me."
"Right." I said flatly.
Bastila sighed, "I wish the Admiral had given you a chance."
"He has. This is it." I said calmly, "I know what I've done, and to be honest, the situation is better than I'd hoped."
Bastila frowned, "I don't want to lose you like this."
"I'm sorry." I said quietly, "I don't have a choice. Well, I do, but the alternative option is to kill a load of people, kidnap you and become Sith Lord again as you asked me to on the temple summit... and that just is not going to happen."
Malak rolled his eyes, *You're such a sap, Revan.*
"Shut up, Malak!" I snapped.
He sniggered, *Make me.*
I glared, "If you'd said that out loud, you'd be jawless again." I growled.
He sniggered again, *But there's nothing you can do to make me stop talking in your head.* he noted smugly.
* * *
The trial was held in the high court of Coruscant, and I'm sure the whole planet was watching. The judge was a human woman with a steely glint in her eyes that gave the clear impression of a strict-yet-fair type of personality.
"Revan and Malak." she said coldly, as Malak and I were led into the court, "You have been charged with high treason against the Galactic Republic, mass murder, and grand larceny... among other things, but we don't have all day. How do you plead."
*Grand larceny?* Malak asked me.
*I think she means the third of the Republic fleet we 'borrowed'.* I thought, so as not to be rude to the judge by talking to Malak out loud. "I plead guilty, your honour." I said calmly.
"And you, Malak?" the judge asked.
Malak scowled at the ground, *I know I'm guilty, but I wouldn't plead it if I could.*
"He is unable to talk, your honour." I said, "Since his jaw has been restored by the Jedi Council, he has not had the time to become accustomed to it. I can speak for him."
"Can you?" the judge asked sceptically.
"I have telepathic abilities, your honour." I said calmly, "He can project his thoughts for me to hear."
"Very well, then." the judge said, shrugging, "And how does he plead?"
*Not guilty.*
*Don't be an idiot, Malak. Please.*
*This hair-brained scheme better work. Fine, guilty then.* Malak sulked, *May you rot on Ravnos if they kill me for this.*
"He also pleads guilty, your honour." I said calmly.
"Very well. In that case, this trial shall decide sentencing." the judge said, seeming relieved, "Save us all a lot of time proving what you did."
"Now you just need to prove we deserve to die for it." I muttered.
The judge looked up at me sharply, "What was that, Revan?" he asked.
"Well, that's why we're having this trial." I said calmly, "It was the only way Fleet Admiral Tal'eri could get us to come quietly, so he could have us executed."
The judge shrugged, "Well, you're not going to be executed unless and until it's proven necessary."
I smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, your honour." my gaze fell on the fleet admiral who was watching me angrily.
"Now, we shall have opening statements from the prosecution."
"Your Honour." a human man in a revolting suit said, standing up, "Do I need to explain the sheer cruelty and heartlessness with which Revan and Malak committed their crimes? They are remorseless monsters who deserve death for their actions."
"I object, your honour." I said.
*Oh crap.*
*Shut up, Malak.* "With all due respect, the prosecution cannot read my mind. How can he be sure I am without remorse and regret for my actions?"
"Your point is valid." the judge said, giving the prosecution a pointed look, "Stick to the facts you are aware of, council."
"Very well, your honour." the prosecution said, nodding, "These two, between them, have devastated half the outer rim in their attempt to take over the galaxy. They have murdered countless millions of innocent people. They have shown no remorse for their actions, and the few who survived their attacks clearly say they appeared to greatly enjoy every moment of their cruelty." he was choosing his words very carefully, now, and I couldn't pick fault in it. "These two deserve the death penalty for these crimes."
"What do you have to say in your defence, Revan?" the judge asked.
"I admit I did those things." I said calmly, "I also admit that at the time I did enjoy it. But... I regret it now. There is no way I could go back and undo all the things I did, but I helped to destroy the Star Forge - the tool I used to fuel my attempted conquest. I have tried to fix what I can of the damage I have done... and what I can't fix hurts me every day to even think about it." I glanced into the stands of people watching the trial, and saw a small group sitting near the front. I smiled, "Am I allowed to call witnesses, your honour?"
"If they are present here, then I don't see a problem." she said, shrugging.
"Yuthura." the purple Twi'lek was sitting alone, and had looked fairly miserable. But as she looked up at me, she smiled. She stood up and walked gracefully to the witness stand. After she was sworn to tell the truth, I asked her, "Tell us about the Sith Academy. Start with what you know of its origins."
"It's been there for years." she said flatly, "As far as I could tell, its most recent incarnation - as an Academy - was founded twenty years ago by Jorak Uln. Not that he had any more that two or three students at a time until four years ago."
"And what happened to that Academy? Is it still there?" I asked, smirking.
"The Academy was dissolved two months ago. The building still stands, vacant, but the students left for better, less evil things. Thanks to your influence, Revan." Yuthura answered. Then continued of her own volition, "It was thanks to you that I, myself, and many other students of the Sith Academy turned away from the dark side and to the Jedi."
I smiled, "Thank you, Yuthura."
The prosecutor stood up, "And was it not through Revan's actions that you came to join the Sith in the first place?"
"No, it was not. I had a bad childhood, and could not be at peace as a Jedi. I sought out the Sith of my own volition, even before Revan's reappearance after the Mandalorian war." Yuthura answered coolly.
The next person I called as a witness was Carth.
"I'm sure you all know Carth Onasi? He's violently anti-Sith, and has good reason to wish me dead." I said calmly.
"Nice description." Carth muttered sarcastically.
"Thank you." I said, just as sarcastically, "He fought at my side to find and destroy the Star Forge." I said calmly, "Carth, you're here as a character witness." I smirked.
He laughed, "Oh, that's rich." he muttered. "Well, when I first met this man, a few months ago, I had no idea he was Revan. Actually, the first time I saved his life, I hadn't even known the false name he was going by either. We were escorting a Jedi envoy to Dantooine, when our ship was attacked by the Sith. We crashed on Taris, and he went out of his way to save my life within two days of it."
"Might I add I was bloody terrified." I noted.
"How does a Sith Lord get a phobia of Rakghouls, anyway?" Carth asked innocently.
"It's called a phobia because it's irrational." I said flatly.
"Right." he muttered, smirking, "Revan is a great man. He did the right thing, at every opportunity, throughout that mission to find the Star Forge. I was... totally surprised and horrified when I found out who he was. I had told him, before I knew, that I would love to put a blaster to Revan's head... when I found out who he was, he tried to get me to shoot him. He said I had every right to. But he's not the same person - Darth Revan would never give two-hundred credits to a needy family, free an enslaved village of Wookiees, reunite a woman with her estranged mother, save a petty-thief from his own stupid plots, and turn the entire Sith Academy, including my own son, from the dark side. He was almost killed the first time he took the risk of trying to talk one of Malak's apprentices away from the dark side, yet it didn't put him off the idea." he said the last line with a faint smirk.
*Because you were in love with the second one... I hope it was just the second one, anyway.*
*Shut up, Malak!*
* * *
"We have no precedent dealing with Jedi." the judge said as the trial was coming to a close, "The Order is usually allowed to police itself. But from what I have heard, the dark side of the Force is a very insidious thing. I believe you acted under its influence, Revan, and have since learned the hard way how to resist it. The testimony of the Jedi Masters themselves says as much. Your witnesses testify to your attempts to redeem yourself - though significant in themselves, they are nothing compared to your evil deeds under the influence of the dark side. However, I do not believe you deserve to die for your crimes."
"Your honour, I object!" Tal'eri yelled, leaping to his feet, his purple skin turning a darker shade as he flushed in anger.
"You ordered this trial, Admiral Tal'eri, you will accept its result." the judge snapped at him, "Now sit down. This is my courtroom, and you will show some respect."
Tal'eri glared petulantly, and sat down again.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted..." the judge said pointedly, "You do not deserve to die for your crimes. I will turn you over to the Jedi to deal with you as they see fit, on condition that you are kept under observation. I shall also give Malak the benefit of the doubt - if you were capable of repenting for your crimes, I believe he should have the same opportunity. The Jedi always were good at guilt-trips-" she sounded like she was speaking from experience there, "-so I'm sure they can punish you both fittingly. I believe, in this case, that living with your guilt is a much worse punishment than death." she then gave us both a stern look, "But if either of you make even the slightest infraction of law on any planet - even so much as a speeding ticket - you will be brought back to me for a re-evaluation. Case dismissed."
I smiled as I stood up.
*It worked?! They're not going to try to execute us?!* Malak thought, stunned.
"I told you so." I said to him, brightly.
*I am never going to underestimate you, ever again.* he thought, standing up and following me out of the courtroom, *First you don't die when I tried to kill you, then you beat the crap out of me on the Star Forge-*
"Not literally, I hope." I said cheerfully.
*No. Not literally. And thank you so much for that mental picture.*
"You're welcome."
*As I was saying - first you don't die when I tried to kill you, then you beat me on the Star Forge, now you talk both of us out of hell. How do you do it?*
"It's a talent." I said brightly.
"And you're going to get your talented self back to the Jedi enclave before Tal'eri catches up with us." Carth said, "Who were you talking to, anyway?"
"Malak - he can't talk, yet. He's not used to the new jaw." I said flatly, "I will get him to talk, though, even if I have to get HK-47's help."
*NO! Please, keep that demonic droid away from me! I'll talk, I'll tell you whatever you want, just don't let that droid near me!*
I laughed, "Malak, you sound like it's an interrogation."
*You threatened me with that droid.*
"I did, didn't I." I said cheerfully.
"That's creepy." Carth muttered.
"The Masters thought so as well." I said brightly.
Malak took to glaring over my shoulder, and I looked up to see HK-47 and Mission waiting for us.
"This isn't over, Revan!" Tal'eri shouted from behind me.
Then, randomly enough, an enraged yell could be heard from another direction, and a man in Sith robes charged at us. It wasn't clear who he was attacking until the last second, when he brought out a dagger and lunged at Admiral Tal'eri.
Because of the initial lack of certainty over who the attackee was, HK-47 saw to it that the attacker never got within ten feet of me... the fact Tal'eri was within ten feet of me was probably what saved his life.
Tal'eri blinked, "What just happened?"
"My droid just saved your life... I think." I said, frowning at the unconscious Sith, "And I am glad I tampered with its blaster rifle, so it would stun, not kill."
"Objection: Master! How do you expect me to eliminate your enemies if you set my weaponry to stun?!"
"By stunning them and letting me deal with them myself." I said flatly. I then walked over to the unconscious Sith, and checked his pulse. "I don't think he likes you, Admiral... I wonder why." I said innocently.
"Perhaps - as he is a Sith - we should take him to the Jedi as well?" Yuthura, who was in the front of the crowd around the incident, suggested.
"No - no no no." the admiral said, shaking his head, "This man personally attempted to assassinate me!" he shouted.
"And my droid stopped him. I'm sure talking to him reasonably - while he's restrained so he can't move, let alone escape - will tell us more than a Republic interrogation. In case you haven't noticed, he is a Sith. I wonder why use a dagger when Force choke is so much more insidious, or Force lightening so much more of a statement."
The admiral shuddered, "This is one of the reasons why I wanted you dead, Revan." Tal'eri said coldly, "You are a Sith, you make it obvious almost every time you open your mouth."
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will be victorious, Tal'eri." I said, smiling faintly, "And what greater weapon is there than to turn an enemy to your cause - to use their own knowledge against them?" I quoted, "That's exactly what the Jedi tried to do with me."
"Tried to do?" Tal'eri asked.
"Well, they didn't turn me back into the emotionless Jedi they wanted me to be." I said calmly, "But they did turn me to their cause. Away from the dark side."
*How long did you hold out before you turned back, anyway?* Malak asked me.
I glanced up at him, "I'm not sure, Malak. I was unconscious for most of the time they had me prisoner. I wasn't keeping track of time."
He shrugged.
I turned back to the admiral, "I won't insult you by trying to force you to let us take him." I said calmly, "But this matter is best left to the Jedi."
Tal'eri wrapped his headtails defensively around his shoulders, and folded his arms, "Fine. But I do expect to be kept informed on this matter."
I nodded, "That is only reasonable. We shall tell the Jedi that when we get him there."
* * *
The large group walking to the Jedi building must have looked most bizarre. Yuthura and Bastila were - between them - levitating the unconscious Sith assassin. Malak and I were walking side-by-side behind them. Mission was on my other side, glancing warily past me at Malak on occasion. Carth had made himself elsewhere, though where he went, I don't know. And HK-47 was walking behind me, scanning the crowd for anything that could be perceived as a threat... or that it might just enjoy blasting. Passing meatbags were lucky it didn't deem blasting them with a stun-gun any fun.
When we got back to the enclave, and the Sith assassin was ditched with a couple of Jedi Knights, Malak and I made our way to the Council chambers, while everyone else went in various other directions.
"I see your trial went well." Vrook noted, as we walked in.
I bowed, and when Malak didn't immediately follow suit, I elbowed him sharply in the ribs and he also bowed to the Masters, "The judge has officially ordered that we be turned over to the mercy of the Jedi Council, Masters." I said calmly.
"I see. And how did you persuade them to do this?" Vrook asked sceptically.
I smirked, "Not the way you're thinking." I said, "My friends vouched for me, and Malak got off on the technicality that if I could be redeemed he should get the same chance."
"Indeed. I hope that you take that chance, Malak." Vrook said calmly.
We both nodded, "What do you wish us to do now, Masters?"
"You shall remain within the Jedi building, for now." Vandar said calmly, "We shall observe your meditations and training, and decide what further course should be taken from there."
I bowed again, "As you wish, Master Vandar."
*Awfully obedient, all of a sudden, aren't you, Revan?*
I dragged Malak out of the Council chamber before answering his comment, "It never hurts to ingratiate yourself to those in control." I snapped, "And I am not the Masters' trained kath-pup, I just felt like behaving for my own reasons."
*Sure.* Malak thought sarcastically.
"Meatbag." I snapped at him.
He winced, and didn't retort.
* * *
It didn't take long for a random - and might I note, terrified of us - Padawan to show us to the living quarters we were to share. Our quarters consisted of a relatively comfortable main room, with four doors off it, one of which led out into the main corridor, one to a bathroom and the other two led to single bedrooms.
"I'm amazed they're letting us stay together." I noted, "I mean, after we turned evil together, it's surprising they're trusting us this much."
"They don't trust you." Bastila said, from the main door. "Your rooms are well monitored. The Council will know everything that is said or done here."
I shivered slightly, "Well, there goes my love-life."
"Oh, don't worry. My room isn't bugged." Bastila purred.
I smirked, "That's good to hear."
Then there was a tentative knock on the door, and a blue face peeked around it, "Hey Revan." Mission said cheerfully, "Oh, maybe this is a bad time." she muttered, on seeing Bastila's smirk and the way I was looking at the Jedi Princess.
"No, it's not a bad time." I said quickly, stepping away from Bastila, "Seriously - this room is bugged, or is it better than you could spot?"
Mission scoped out the room, "Oh..." then counted under her breath as she scanned the room thoroughly, "Five, six, seven... is that? Ten... wow, that's clever... fourteen..." she tilted her head as she looked at a bookshelf, "seventeen, eighteen... and... hmmm... twenty hidden cameras that I can see." she said brightly, "And a couple'a hidden microphones, too. That's just in this room. They're determined, and meticulous. There's no blind spots."
Malak's eyes lit up, *That's a useful skill the blue kid's got.*
"She doesn't like being called a kid, Malak." I said flatly.
*She can't hear me. Who cares?*
"I care." I told him coldly.
He shrugged.
"I'm going to teach you to speak out loud, then I'm going to start ignoring you when you try to speak in my mind." I said flatly.
I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me, yet again.
"And you call her a kid?!" I asked, laughing.
His lips curled slightly in a faint smile, but the glint in his eyes made it clear he meant to smirk. Then he dropped into the nearest seat, and just sat there.
Mission was smiling faintly, "Were you two always like this?" she asked.
*No, I used to be the talkative one.*
I snorted, "Actually - as Malak just reminded me - he used to be the talkative one." Mission giggled. "I went through a phase as a teenager, when I had just discovered my telepathic abilities, where I wouldn't speak out loud to anyone." I explained, smirking, "In fact, said phase started before my voice broke."
Bastila snorted, "Is that why nobody recognised your voice?"
"I think so, yeah." I said, smirking, "My mental voice was nothing like my real voice, and as I became more evil, it became more booming and echoey." Mission giggled nervously, again. "And I started wearing the cloak and mask when I was twenty. I've changed a fair bit since then."
"I'll bet." Mission said brightly.
*I hardly recognised you.* Malak noted.
"So..." Mission said nervously, "Why did you two go all evil, anyway?"
*It's Revan's fault.*
"Yeah, Malak." I said, looking at him, "Remember when we were kids... you said 'friends forever, I'd follow you to hell and back'. Well, you followed me to hell..."
*You're right.* Malak thought, actually smirking, *And I'll probably follow you back... but I'm not sure yet. I'm still debating the merits of murdering the Jedi Council and making a run for it.*
"I wish I could say you were lying about that, Malak." I said, frowning, "But I guess it's better than if you just did it, rather than bothering to debate it."
*I'm sure.* he thought sarcastically.
"Huh?" Mission asked.
"Nothing. Malak's just being semi-evil." I said flatly. I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me. "Stop doing that, Malak, or I'll get HK-47 in here." He blinked a few times, but didn't respond either way. "That's better." I said, smirking.
Mission rolled her eyes, "You guys are almost funny... you know, if you weren't creepy and recently evil." she said brightly.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Carth appeared, followed closely by his son.
"Hello, Revan." Carth said warily.
"Hey." I said, "Is everyone going to show up here? We going to have a party? Mission, if you brother shows, he's bringing the drinks."
Mission giggled, "Griff's not gonna show. He's terrified since he found out the guy who helped him out is really Revan."
"Aww." I said, in mock-disappointment. Truly, I was glad the slime-ball wasn't going to put in an appearance.
Dustil warily edged around the room, "So it is true." he said quietly, "Dad told me you were Revan, but I thought he was joking."
"Oh, I'm Revan. And this here is Malak." I said brightly, "Say hello, Malak." Malak gave me a rude hand-gesture for that. I sniggered, "Never mind."
Dustil smirked faintly, "Interesting to see the Sith Lords have a sense of humour." he noted, "And to think Uthar gave the impression Sith were as cold as Jedi."
"I'm no Sith anymore, kid. I'm also no Jedi." I said brightly.
"Huh." the boy said flatly, "Well, if you do turn evil again, Tal'eri won't get the chance to have you executed. I know several ways to deal with you that are unaffected by strength in the Force."
"That's good to know. And I probably know them all, too. There are a few that would even work on me." I said cheerfully, as if we were discussing nothing more important than the weather.
"Am I late for the party?" Jolee's voice asked from the door.
"Not at all, old man. Nobody's brought any alcohol yet." I said flatly.
"Oh, don't worry. That Mandalorian friend of yours is taking care of that." Jolee said brightly.
*Who decided we were having a party, anyway?* Malak asked me.
*The Force, that's who.* I replied mentally, *And I'm not surprised the old coot picked up on it.*
*Who are half these people, anyway?*
"Oh, Malak just brought it to my attention that I haven't introduced you all." I said, standing up, "Carth and Bastila, you know." Malak nodded, "That's Jolee Bindo - the Wookiees call him the Hairless One."
*I thought that was a legend?*
"No, he's not a myth." I said, smirking.
The old man laughed, "Heard of me, have you?" Malak nodded.
"This is Mission Vao." I noted. Mission waved slightly.
*She's the one who spotted the security cameras. Useful to have around, I'm sure.*
"She can also slice almost any lock, and is one hell of a card shark at Pazaak." I added. Malak nodded to her, and she tried not to look like she was scared of him. "That kid over there is Dustil."
*The brat we caught on Telos? Onasi's son?*
"Yes, that one." I said flatly, "And for once I'm glad you can't speak out loud yet."
Malak opened his mouth slightly, "J-just... for... th-that..." he managed to croak out, his voice hoarse and cracked with disuse.
I grinned, "I knew it! Reverse psychology - works every time!"
Malak glared at me, and I grinned back at him.
"Someone said to bring alcohol?" Canderous' voice asked from the door.
"That would be me." Jolee said, smiling innocently.
[I shall never understand the human desire to intoxicate oneself.] Zaalbar said - he and Canderous were, between them, carrying the crate of Tarisian ale I had obtained on Kashyyyk.
"Nor will I." I said, smirking, "But who cares?"
They dropped the crate in the middle of the room. Mission deliberately waved at one of the security cameras, "I think the Masters are ok with us having a party." she said brightly, "They'd have stormed in here by now if we weren't allowed some fun."
"Too true." I said brightly, "We need music."
"Not a problem." Mission said, walking over to the holovid and reprogramming it to pick up a local dance-station. Soon music similar to that we had heard at the Sith party on Taris was blasting through the room. The door opened yet again to admit Yuthura, Juhani, and Belaya.
"Looks like we're just in time." Yuthura noted, eyeing up the unopened crate of Tarisian ale.
"Is it wise to indulge in such activities?" Juhani asked warily.
"If you don't get your pent up energy out in a good party, you'll end up lashing out at someone. It's a proven fact the Jedi tried to ignore for centuries." I said, dragging the Cathar and the Twi'lek into the room. Belaya was keeping very close to Juhani and giving me wary looks. As soon as I let go of the girls' arms, Belaya and Juhani all-but-bolted for a couch against the far wall, where they began talking about something or other.
I returned my attention to the rest of the 'party-goers'. Canderous was talking to Malak - both must have known Galactic Basic Sign Language, because Malak was using sign, and Canderous seemed to understand it... odd, that. I caught a snatch of what Canderous said, "Don't worry, I told it to guard the ship. Someone needs to keep the authorities at bay." but Sign is not on the list of languages I know.
Zaalbar and Jolee were arguing over some ancient legend of Kashyyyk - Jolee seemed adamant that he was not the fabled 'Hairless One', but that said legend would come to pass eventually. Zaalbar seemed of the opinion that Jolee was the Hairless One, and there were enough legends in this room already, why not one more?
Mission and Dustil were talking. Her headtails were hanging down her back, which is a sign of trust... and the way the tips of her headtails were twitching is a sign of attraction. Dustil, on the other hand, seemed afraid to talk to her. He seemed shy. Odd, considering how self-assured the brat was as a Sith - I guess all that confidence was rooted in anger.
Bastila was standing near Malak, watching me. Nobody was dancing. I walked slowly over to the Jedi Princess, and offered her my hand. She took it, without a word, and I led her into the middle of a free space of floor, and started dancing - it was a fast song, and so our dance was most exuberant.
Soon, some of the others joined us. Juhani and Belaya danced together, most gracefully. Carth, Canderous and Malak each got one dance with Yuthura... Jolee got three dances with the Twi'lek woman. After much nervousness on Dustil's part, Mission got tired waiting and asked him to dance. Zaalbar sat off to the side, watching us with idle curiosity - I guess a human's idea of a party doesn't appeal to a Wookiee.
* * *
Much Tarisian ale was consumed. Mission and Zaalbar were the only ones who hadn't touched the stuff all night... and Carth had told Dustil off after the boy had had one glass. It was getting late. Juhani and Belaya were once again on the couch they had claimed earlier... and while I am a sick and twisted individual, I wasn't voyeuristic enough to watch them too closely... I'd not be surprised if the Jedi Council were, though. Carth and Canderous were sitting on either side of a small table, in a drinking contest, which Yuthura and Jolee were only too happy to umpire... Canderous seemed to be winning. Zaalbar, by this point, had taken a book on The Jedi Way, from the bookshelf in the room, and was reading it, ignoring the rest of us. I was sitting in a chair next to Malak's chair, with Bastila on the arm of my chair (the arm farthest away from Malak, I might add).
"Ok, say it." I said flatly, to Malak.
*No.*
"Say it out loud, or I'll sic HK on you." I said, smirking.
"You... are evil." he growled - he had said a few words through the course of the evening, and even had some Tarisian ale forced down his throat (courtesy of Jolee), and his voice did sound a fair bit more human.
"Just shay it." Bastila, who had underestimated the potency of Tarisian ale and was more than a little drunk, mumbled, leaning heavily against me.
"No." Malak growled.
"Say it." I said, warningly.
He sighed, "I... I'm... sorry." he muttered.
Bastila grinned, and reached across me to pat his head, "See, that washn't sho hard, now wussit?" she slurred.
"Watch it, there, Princess." I said, catching her before she overbalanced, and pulling her into my lap. "You've had waaaaaaay too much to drink."
"No, I 'avn't." she whined.
"Yes, you have." I grinned at her, "Touch your nose with one finger." I said, in a clearly challenging tone. She attempted to do this, and almost poked her eye out. "See. You're drunk."
She pouted ever so cutely, "I don'wanna be drunk." she whined.
*You could use that Force heal of yours to fix that.* Malak noted.
"Malak's right, for a change." I said brightly.
Malak glared at me, and Bastila blinked in confusion, "'D Malak shay shomethin'?" she asked, confused. I rolled my eyes, and used the Force to sober her. Her eyes cleared, and she looked utterly embarrassed, "I am NEVER drinking ANYTHING even vaguely alcoholic, EVER again!" she exclaimed vehemently.
I heard the sound of someone falling off a chair onto the floor behind me, and glanced over my shoulder to see that Canderous had succeeded in drinking Carth under the table. Canderous then proceeded to start an ethical debate with Jolee, while Yuthura check to see that the unconscious Carth was ok.
I grinned at Bastila, "You're cute when you're drunk, you know that?"
"And you're not cute when I'm angry." Bastila snapped.
"Ouch, that hurt." I said sarcastically.
She growled, "Ok, maybe that isn't entirely true." she muttered. I grinned what I'm sure was an infuriating grin. She sighed, "It is surprising that I could lose control under the influence of such an intoxicant, and not fall to the dark side again." she said in confused curiosity.
"Because it's a different sort of intoxicant." I said flatly, "Alcohol just makes you act like a moron. The dark side makes you act like a homicidal moron."
Bastila and Malak both snorted with laughter. *I think you have a point.* Malak noted, mentally, *Ever heard of a Sith Lord that doesn't end up getting killed or redeemed?*
"Nope, never." I replied, smirking. Bastila blinked confused, "I was talking to Malak." I told her. She nodded, and frowned.
*I think there's really not any point trying to become an evil overlord. No matter how many people you kill, you'll never get what you want.* Malak continued.
*The dark side is never enough.* I added, mentally.
*It's not like good always triumphs over evil, or anything...* he thought, carefully, *Just that there's not any point being a major figurehead for either side, cause they're the ones people will try to kill.*
I sniggered, "Valid point, Malak." I said, out loud. Bastila sighed and looked at the floor. "Something the matter, Princess?"
"No. Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking." she said, still looking at the floor.
"About...?" I asked.
She sighed slightly, then gave a pointed look at Malak before deciding she didn't mind him overhearing. "When I told you to go on ahead from the hospital... it was because my mother is at that same facility."
"Oh." I said, surprised. To be honest, I'd expected her mother's assessment of her condition to have been accurate, and that she would have already been dead by now.
"Her condition is not improving, but with a... recent 'anonymous charitable donation'... she is getting the treatment she needs to keep her alive for a few years at least." Bastila said smiling.
"And who gave this donation?" I asked.
Bastila looked intently at her fingernails, "Um... it came from a Sith account on Ravnos." she said quietly, "I read some of Malak's documents the few times he left me alone in his command room. I stole the pass codes for the account, withdrew the money, and sent it to the hospital."
Malak laughed out loud, "Clever girl." he managed to say.
"That's a very sneaky thing to have done to your Sith 'Master'." I said brightly. "And for a good cause, too."
Bastila smiled, relieved that neither of us thought this a terrible thing to have done. She leaned over to kiss me, but stopped when we heard a muffled sound. I think we would both have ignored it if it had come from the direction of the two Jedi women on the couch, but because it came from the opposite direction, I glanced up - as did Malak and Bastila - to see Mission had Dustil pinned to a wall, and they were kissing enthusiastically.
Bastila's jaw dropped, and both she and I blinked in surprise at this. Malak, on the other hand... "Hey..." he said loudly, "Jail-bait... leave the boy alone."
Mission blinked and backed away from Dustil, who looked totally stunned, "What did you call her?"
"He called her jail-bait. Because she's underage on any planet except Sleheyron, Korriban and Ravnos." I said flatly.
Dustil tilted his head to one side, and tried to work that out, but he clearly didn't know all the laws for every known world.
Mission giggled nervously, "And you, Missy." I said pointedly, "Weren't you telling me and Bastila to get a room, earlier?"
"I... well... um..." she mumbled incoherently.
I rolled my eyes. Bastila, however, "Just do whatever you want, as long as it's legal." she said, waving her hand slightly. The slight glaze in the two teens' eyes made it clear she'd used Force persuasion on them.
"There's no law against kissing." Dustil said hopefully.
"As long as your father stays unconscious, I'm sure." I muttered.
The two teenagers made themselves scarce. Carth was unconscious on the floor. Yuthura and Jolee were now playing Pazaak. Juhani and Belaya were... talking about Jedi philosophy... of all the thing I thought they might have been doing over there, that actually wasn't on the list. Zaalbar was still reading. Canderous looked bored out of his mind, and in spite of the vast quantity of Tarisian ale he had consumed, he seemed sober.
The party had been great fun, but... bored now. I stood up sharply, muttered, "Bugger this." and stalked out of the room, heading for one of the Jedi training rooms.
Bastila caught up with me a few corridors away. "Hey, where're you going?" she asked, grabbing my arm gently. I stopped walking when she did so.
"The party was dying." I said, shrugging.
"Well..." Bastila said, moving so she was face to face with me, "It looks like everyone's happy."
"The Sith army's royally screwed, and Admiral Tal'eri's not a happy Gizka, but other than that, yeah. Everything worked out, didn't it." I said, nodding.
She smiled, "So there is such a thing as happily ever after, then?"
"As long as the Jedi Council doesn't try to mess it up, yeah." I smiled.
"Oh, like you'd let them." she said, smirking.
I grinned, "Well I certainly wouldn't let them take you away from me." I said, "I love you, Bastila."
"I love you too, Revan." she whispered.
I brushed that strand of hair out of her eye, gently, and kissed her.
* * *
The End
Author's note: Loose ends need tying up. It's the one thing I didn't like about the ending for the game - it left me with too many questions. Especially the light side ending - what, they're just going to accept the Dark Lord of the Sith back like that? No hard feelings *laughs*. For the record, this is the last chapter of this fanfic.
Shadow39: It is kinda obvious you like it, yeah ^_^ here's more.
Starlight the Wanderer: Yes, I'm well aware of the articles about the sequel. I have seen, and even contributed to, the discussion threads about it. Assuming it is released, and is not an elaborate hoax, whether or not I write a sequel fic does depend on how much I like the sequel game itself. So I'm still debating that issue, and at this rate shall continue to debate it until February ^_^
NathanPostmark: Thank you *blushes* As for the sequel, it depends entirely on the KotOR sequel game.
Master o Randomness: I hope I made Malak believable. I did have trouble with his personality in this chapter. I am surprised you didn't see it coming, though. Revan tried to turn every other Sith he met away from the dark side, and he literally TOLD Carth he wanted to turn Malak back as well, on Dantooine, if you remember that conversation.
Ta'al: I am surprised you didn't see it coming, really. I was worried the not-killing-Malak plotline would be too obvious and cliché, and no one would like it. As for that quote... I was caffeinated, I tend to write strange things when I'm caffeinated (including the part about teaching Bandon to use the dark side being worse than giving a caffeinated two-year-old a fully charged blaster ^_^; and this review-response).
Fan: I wasn't going to end it there, don't worry.
chris-warren876: Glad you liked.
Anonymous-cat: I've seen another fic where Malak was allowed to live... though the one I saw never did go very far with the concept. Nor will I, to be honest. May write him into my sequel... if I write a sequel (which would be based on the sequel game, if/when it's released... and if I like it enough to write about it).
Ozziegrl: Well... Revan is a firm believer in second chances. So Malak shall live. For now, anyway. I do have another interesting plot twist for him in this chapter, though ^_^
arrow maker: Thank you. As far as I've seen, you may be right... but I've certainly not read every KotOR fanfic in existence... yet.
Naron: Thanks ^_^ I love evoking a vehement response like that, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Majin Trunks: I don't get why no one saw Malak being saved a mile away, I mean from Korriban onwards I'd have thought it was too obvious (yes, I planned it from the beginning). In the game, it is possible to get Malak to wish he had been given the opportunity Revan had been given to turn back to the light, but you can't save him in the game... you cannot turn him to the light, really, either... it's as much of a victory as you can have to get him to wonder what might have been. If you try to save him, then tell Bastila you tried but failed, she says she really hadn't expected anyone to even try at all. I heard the sequel's due out around February... I'll probably write my version of it, but don't hold your breath.
The Holy Beergut: Yes, this is the last chapter. I have read about the dancing Twi'lek cheat - you press the four trigger buttons, I think - but I don't have a second controller, so... *shrugs*
g3forc3: Thanks.
Nightmare and Flip: Hey, I'm not the weakling... and better not let Revan hear ya saying that. Mercy is no weakness, it's turning your back on the enemy after you show them mercy that's stupid. As Revan said to Jorak on Korriban, and then was careless enough to demonstrate on Kashyyyk. But sparing his old friend's life is not a weak thing to do.
Xan: ^_^ glad you're enjoying it. And I do like Jolee's character, he's a lot like an old-fart version of me/Damien, which makes him easier to write. The hair thing may or may not have been a joke on Revan's part... even I shall never know. For sequels, you must wait for the game's sequel... and for me to have time to play it and write my version... I'd guess by March, if we're lucky, considering I've heard the sequel game is due in February.
Red Mage Neko: Glad you're enjoying it.
Phlegam: They may not have been easy to beat... gods know how many times I had to restart my game on level 2 of the Star Forge, with my poor pathetic Scoundrel/Consular (heck, even when I played Soldier/Guardian, those guys were tough)... but they are also boring, plot-wise: kill, maim, blast meatbags, kill, maim, blast meatbags, repeat ad nauseam... really not good material story-wise.
2 lazy 2 log in: Thanks. Glad you like it.
Revan_Pearson: I wouldn't have known if you'd not said. And I saw your message about my fic on the discussion forum - thanks ^_^ I'm glad you're enjoying it.
F-15 Eaglestrike: I do know what happens, and I actually love the Genoharadan quests. I even wrote out the meeting with Huulas, but I deleted it and rewrote the conversation about the datapad, because the Genoharadan quests would not be easy to incorporate into the format I've written this in: visiting each planet once, getting what they came for, and moving on.
*The Author bursts spontaneously into song* "The curtains close on a kiss god knows we can tell the end is near. Where do we go from here?"
* * *
Chapter 9 - There Is The Force
I woke on a soft bed, with crisp sheets over me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling - glaringly white. "He's awake!" Bastila's voice said, drawing my attention to the fact she was holding my hand.
As I looked around, I saw she was sitting to my right. HK-47 was stationed at the end of the bed, holding its assault rifle and clearly just waiting for an excuse to blast a meatbag. Mission was sitting on my other side, and Carth was standing at the door.
"Where am I?" I asked, sitting up, "I feel like I've slept for a week."
"Two, actually." Bastila said, smiling, "We were worried you wouldn't wake up." she squeezed my hand. I smiled at her, but the smile faded when I realised what I was wearing.
"Well, I'm awake now... but who was insane enough to think I'd approve of being put in a hospital gown?" I asked.
Mission giggled, "Blame Jolee. And thank him, too - if he hadn't had the bright idea to hide those creepy robes of yours, the Jedi Council'd have gotten their paranoid paws on them."
I rolled my eyes, "I guess I shouldn't complain, then. Where are said robes, anyway?"
"In a hidden compartment I found in the girls' sleeping quarters on the Hawk." she said brightly, "Between Canderous convincing HK you really are quite attached to the robes, and Zaalbar and me camping out on the Hawk, the Masters have been rightly afraid to go in there. Not that they know the robes are even there at all."
I smirked, "It's good to know you guys stick by me even when I'm unconscious and assumed evil." I noted.
"Who said anything about assumed evil?" Mission asked, pouting.
"Well, those robes for one. And the way Carth's watching me - which admiral wants me arrested, Carth?" I asked.
He blinked, "How'd you know?" then he shook his head, "Don't answer that - it's Fleet Admiral Tal'eri. Dodonna has me watching you, just to shut Tal'eri up. Officially, you're under house arrest, only allowed to travel accompanied by a Republic officer - me - and only to the Jedi Enclave."
"Hmm. Hey, what planet are we on?" I asked, mentally kicking myself for not asking sooner.
"Coruscant." Carth said flatly.
I nodded, "What about Malak?" I asked warily.
"He's recovering. He should be awake in a few days." Bastila said, "The Masters have healed his injuries." she smirked slightly, "All of them."
"All?" I asked innocently, clearly asking about the lack-of-jaw.
"Well... it took some effort, I am told. The dark side inhibits the healing powers of the Force." she explained, "But yes. They did eventually heal even his jaw."
"I told him Force heal would fix it, but would he listen - no." I said, sniggering.
Bastila rolled her eyes, "You, Revan, are incorrigible. Must you make jokes all the time?"
"Who's joking?" I asked innocently.
She shook her head, half-laughing, then kissed me suddenly.
"Sheesh, get a room!" Mission snapped, averting her eyes.
I gently pushed Bastila away, "Kid's got a point. And I do want to speak to the Jedi Council. They have a lot of explaining to do."
"So have you." Bastila said flatly.
* * *
I left the hospital building I had woken in - the best on Coruscant - on one of the upper city walkways. It was a short distance to the Jedi enclave. Carth and HK-47 walked with me. Bastila said she would catch up with me later. And Mission - who had got to the hospital in the Hawk's swoopbike - cheerfully took said swoopbike back to the Hawk to "...tell Big Z and Cantankerous that you're awake."
"The Republic wanted to have an award ceremony for us for saving the galaxy... but you were unconscious, so they postponed it." Carth explained as we walked. I nodded slightly. "Then the Jedi Masters told the Fleet Admiral who you are. Dodonna already knew and understood... but Tal'eri wasn't so open-minded. He was set to have you executed before you woke up, but I think Jedi Master Vrook is pretty good at Force persuasion, from what I saw."
I laughed out loud, "Vrook stood up for me?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah. Surprised me too." Carth said, smirking, "Vrook just told him 'Revan has atoned for his crimes. He does not deserve execution' - Tal'eri repeated it word-for-word in that monotone Czerka seems to use a lot around you."
I laughed again, "I thought you hadn't noticed my problem with Czerka?"
"I think the Gizka - in their short stay on the Hawk - noticed your problem with Czerka." Carth said flatly, "And I don't blame you for it."
"Since when did you develop a sense of humour, Carth?" I asked.
"Since Dustil showed up on this planet last week." Carth said, smirking, "I think this sort of humour originates from the dark side, you know."
"I wouldn't be surprised." I said flatly, "You seem... happier."
"I've got some of my life back. My son - I have a second chance with him. I have every right to be happy." Carth said, proudly.
"Damn right." I agreed, nodding.
"Language, Padawan." Vrook's voice said - I hadn't realised we'd reached the Jedi enclave so quickly. And I certainly hadn't expected to be greeted personally by one of the Masters.
I decided repeating my outburst in Mandalorian or Twi'leki would be inappropriate in this situation. So instead, I bowed to Vrook, "I apologise, Master Vrook." I said deferentially, "I hadn't expected to see you out here."
"I suppose you did not." Vrook said calmly, "The Council wishes to speak with you, immediately, regarding your actions. I thought it best to meet you personally, and avoid any time wasted in formalities and paperwork."
"Thank you, Master." I said, bowing again. Carth abandoned me to the mercy of the Jedi, dragging HK-47 with him, telling the droid to go guard the Hawk for me, or something.
I had barely set foot in the Council chamber when a panicked Padawan rushed into the room, "Masters!" he said, out-of-breath, "Masters, the prisoner is awake!"
I rolled my eyes slightly. Figures. Two of the Jedi Masters quickly left the room, in the direction the Padawan had come from. Vrook told me to go with them as he made to follow the other two.
* * *
The 'prisoner' was held in a lower level room of the Jedi building, where the natural light only filtered in at midday. He was lying on a table, and I could sense the Force restraints that a small group of Jedi Knights seemed to be here purely to maintain. I stayed back, in the doorway, watching warily.
Malak looked... totally different. If I hadn't remembered what he had looked like before our fall to the dark side, I might not have recognised him. The tattoos were still there, and his skin was still pale - not as pale as it had been on the Star Forge, but still pale. His eyes, which were darting around the room warily, were a dark shade of amber - his natural eye-colour is dark brown - this was a definite improvement from Sith-yellow. Of course, the most notable change was - as Bastila had said - that his jaw was intact again.
Malak completely ignored the Jedi Masters' attempts to communicate with him. He remained silent, eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. I could sense fear from him in waves, giving the same impression as a cornered animal. After a few minutes, his eyes settled on me. He frowned, and I saw his lip twitch slightly. *Revan?* Malak's voice - what his voice had been before he lost his jaw - asked in my mind.
I smiled and took a step into the room. "Hello, Malak." I said gently. The Masters gave me irritated looks, but I also ignored them.
*What have you done to me?* Malak asked.
"What have I done?" I asked, smiling, "I saved your life, Malak."
"Is he communicating with you, Revan?" a female Jedi Master asked.
"Yes." I said, smirking.
"Revan always had an innate ability for telepathic communications." Zhar informed the woman. She nodded.
Malak snorted, *What else have you done to me? Why can't I speak?*
"I imagine it'll take some getting used to... having a new jaw." I said, smirking at him, "The Jedi Masters healed you."
*How?*
"With a Gizka's ass... how do you think?" I asked, smirking, "With the Force, duh."
I saw his eyes light up as if to smile... but his mouth didn't move. It was almost as creepy as when he didn't have the jaw. *Must you be so flippant?*
"If it makes you smile, then yes." I said, grinning.
*I'm smiling?*
"Well, sort of." I said, shrugging.
"What is he saying?" the female Jedi Master asked.
"He's just complaining about my sense of humour." I said brightly. Malak rolled his eyes.
"Tell us, Malak." Vrook said. Malak's eyes turned to him. "What side are you on?"
*Now, if I were evil, I'd lie and say I'm on your side... if I were good, I'd tell the truth and say I'm on your side... what answer do you think I'm going to give?* he thought, his eyes glittering with amusement.
"That's not an answer, Malak." I said flatly, "That's being evasive. Probably because you know damned well I can tell when someone's lying when I'm reading their thoughts."
His lips actually did curl into a very slight smile, then, *Well, I don't know the answer, so how can I tell you?*
"That, at least, is an honest answer." I said flatly. I looked at Vrook, "He doesn't know what side he's on anymore."
Vrook nodded, "It is better than the first time you woke up, after your capture, then." he said flatly.
I sniggered, "Yeah. I remember that." I said, smirking. The first time I had woken up after being captured, I had screamed vehement death threats at the Jedi Masters, explaining in explicit detail elaborate forms of torture they would suffer at my hands before they died.
Vrook gave me a very sharp look, "You remember?"
"I remember everything about my time as Darth Revan. All of it." I said, in perfect seriousness, "The 'identity' you tried to give me is just like some holonovel - a really cheap and boring one at that - which I saw often enough to memorise. I just played along with your little game, because I knew you'd get paranoid if you thought I remembered."
I heard Malak's laughter in my mind, *Doesn't surprise me.* he thought.
"Hey, you have no right to laugh at me, Malak." I said, but I was smiling to show I wasn't serious.
*I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at their paranoia.*
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." I said cheerfully. It was one of my favourite quotes.
Malak wrinkled his nose, and in my mind I got the mental image that if he had figured out how to use his mouth again he'd have stuck his tongue out at me.
"Now that's just childish." I said flatly. He chuckled audibly.
Vrook rolled his eyes, "The terrible two have been reunited." he muttered.
I grinned at him, "Yeah, when we turned Sith the whole immature sense of humour thing kind of went out the airlock." I said, smirking.
Malak snorted, *You never lost your sense of humour, Revan. It just got a lot darker.*
I shrugged, "That's true, I suppose." I said to him.
"So, Revan." the female Master said pointedly, "If you remember your time as the Dark Lord, what made you turn back to the light?"
"I haven't turned back to the light, Master." I said brightly. The Masters exchanged wary looks.
"Master Dorak tells me you were carrying a lightsaber containing a rare Solari crystal." Vrook said pointedly.
"Yeah. I was." I said flatly.
"Would you mind explaining how it is possible to wield such a blade if you are not a servant of the light?" Vrook persisted.
I rolled my eyes, "I've found a balance. I know all the Jedi and Sith teachings. I know the emotionless calm of the Jedi and the cruel passion of the Sith. And I found somewhere in-between, where I can feel emotion, but I still have a conscience."
*That's a new one.* Malak noted, *And here I thought you'd lost your touch at spinning tall tales for the Council.*
"It's true, Metal Mouth!" I snapped at him, smirking.
*Can't call me that anymore... thankfully.*
"Says you. I can call you whatever I want." I said, grinning.
*You are still evil.*
I laughed, "Whatever you say... meatbag."
He winced, *I hate that name.*
"I know, that's why I said it." I said, cheerfully.
*Please don't tell me...*
"Yes, it's on my ship."
*Oh, Force, no!*
I laughed again. "If you're not too evil, I might reprogram it." I suggested.
*I'm not sure if that's bribery, or a veiled threat.*
"It's both."
*I figured as much.* Malak tried to sit up, but failed miserably, *Can you ask them to let me sit up, at least?*
"Ok, but my so-called 'veiled threat' stands strong if you try anything." I warned. Then I turned to the Masters, "He wants to sit up. If he tries anything, I think I can control him." [Try anything, and I'll have HK follow you around for the rest of your life, singing THAT song.] I said to Malak, in Rakatan - the Masters wouldn't understand it, but I knew Malak would. The song I referred to was dubbed by my subordinates in the Sith fleet as 'the Meatbag song' - it wasn't so much a song as a chant, really.
He shuddered. *I wasn't going to try anything, anyway.*
"I believe it is worth a try." Zhar said calmly. The female Master nodded. Vrook reluctantly nodded, as well. The Jedi Knights, who had watched the conversation carefully, released the Force bindings they had been maintaining.
Slowly, Malak sat up, his legs not moving, and without the aid of his hands - if you've ever heard Outer Rim mythology, you might compare the way he moved to a vampyr. His right hand moved to his chest where I had cut him during our duel. On confirming the wound had ceased to exist, he slowly swung his legs off the table, and sat on the edge of it, looking up at me.
I could sense how nervous he was - he lost his jaw not long after we found the Star Forge. Four years is time enough to get used to lacking a limb. Malak seemed almost afraid to move his hand up the short distance to his face.
But the man has only acted like a coward once in his life, and I think I understand the tactical logic in even that decision. He slowly moved his hand up from his chest to his jaw, running his fingers over the new flesh there. He swallowed subconsciously, then smiled. Smiling must have hurt, though, because he winced. *Why did that hurt?*
"Probably because you're not used to it." I said, sitting next to him, "There have been no recorded cases of anyone surviving the loss of their jaw before, let alone having it regrown. I'm not surprised it hurts a bit."
*I'm going to have to learn to speak again, aren't I?*
"One of these days, yes." I said, nodding. Then I smirked, "Although I'm sure our conversation is bugging the Masters."
I heard the laughter in my mind, and Malak's hand flew to his mouth as if to stifle the sound he hadn't even made. Vrook gave us both a stern glare. I smirked and Malak tried (and failed miserably) to look innocent.
Suddenly, the door burst open. "You've crossed the line with this one!" the man standing in the doorway snarled at the three Jedi Masters. He was a dark purple Twi'lek in Republic uniform - his insignia said he was a fleet admiral. He was wearing a headband with fine metallic thread on it that I recognised right away as a neural re-enforcement band - totally blocks all outside influences on the wearers mind.
"Kindly calm yourself, Fleet Admiral." the female Jedi Master said gently.
"I will not calm myself!" he yelled, "I usually give the Jedi Council a great deal of respect and leeway, but this is too much. I will not allow you to harbour these criminals!"
I noticed the Fleet Admiral was accompanied by a dozen elite Republic troops, all armed to the teeth.
"With all due respect, Admiral Tal'eri." Vrook said coldly, "The Republic's best prisons are not equipped to hold even one prisoner such as these, let alone two. And the Jedi Council shall not turn them over for execution."
"Do remember, 'Master' Vrook." the sarcasm in the word 'Master' was so obvious is was nauseating, "That the Jedi remain on Coruscant only at the discretion of the Republic senate."
"Why don't you just outright threaten them?" I asked flatly.
"You keep out of this, Sith scum!" Tal'eri snapped at me.
"Why should I?" I asked innocently, "It's me you're arguing over. And while I'm flattered by the attention, you really shouldn't be so rude to the Jedi Masters. Or were you never taught to respect your elders and betters?"
Tal'eri glared at me, then at the Jedi Masters, "You will not stop us from taking these criminals into our custody." he said flatly. He then turned his attention to me, "Revan and Malak, you are under arrest for war crimes against the Galactic Republic. You will be publicly executed for these crimes in twenty-four hours."
I glanced at Malak, and the way he was glaring reminded me of our duel on the Star Forge - not a good sign. I stood up and stepped closer to the Fleet Admiral.
"Please, be reasonable." I said calmly - no point trying to use Force persuasion when he was wearing that headband, "We at least deserve a fair trial."
"Ha!" Tal'eri snorted, "Like it'd do you a blind bit of good!"
"Who did I kill that hurt you so much?" I asked quietly.
He blinked and stared at me, momentarily shocked out of his anger. "My- my sister and her family... when your fleet attacked Glaynor." he said, then he realised what he'd just told me and glared, "Not like you'd give a damn, you... you Sith!"
I sighed, "I'm never going to get used to this, am I?" I asked, looking at the Masters, "I doubt I'm ever going to meet anyone who doesn't know someone I've killed. Guilt sucks." I turned back to the Fleet Admiral, "I'll come quietly, if you promise me a fair trial." I said flatly.
He blinked, "You what?" he stared, stunned again, "This is some kind of trick!"
"Would it make you feel better if I tried to kill you and make a break for it?" I asked quietly, "Would it make you feel more certain that I'm the heartless monster I was when I killed your sister, if I tried to massacre my way out of the Jedi enclave? Would you rather I snap your arm in half so you can't reach for that concealed blaster you're carrying, Force choke your men, take the vibrosword your lieutenant is holding, and run it through your heart? I could, if I wanted to... but I don't want to."
He shivered involuntarily, "I suppose a fair trial is... well... only fair." he muttered.
I smiled, and I heard the female Jedi Master snigger slightly, "Take what you can get, I say." she told the Fleet Admiral, "I don't think we'll stop you, if Revan is willing to go."
*What about me? Who said I'm willing to go?!* Malak demanded in my mind.
"Hold on a second." I said to Tal'eri, then I turned to face Malak, "And do you see an alternative?"
*No... but still!*
"Live with it." I said flatly.
*That's exactly the problem! We won't live with it - not even a trial rigged in our favour could acquit us!*
"Are you afraid?" I asked, smirking.
*Of death? Yes!*
"You shouldn't be." I said flatly.
*You had better have a good plan to get us out of this mess, Revan.* Malak thought coldly, *Or when we die, I'll hunt your ghost down and torture you.*
"That's just delightful, Malak." I said flatly, "Just go along with my crazy scheme - it's not like that's a novel concept to you or anything." I said brightly.
Again I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me.
I rolled my eyes, "Act your age, Malak!" I said, smirking to show I didn't mean it. I then turned to the Admiral, "So we've got a deal then? We surrender, you give us a fair trial?"
"I... yes." Tal'eri said irritably.
The soldiers seemed extremely nervous, as they handcuffed Malak and myself, and led us out of the Jedi enclave. Malak glared petulantly, but didn't try to stop them.
Where HK-47 and Canderous came from, I don't know, but I had them to thank for scaring off the news reporters that had somehow known of our arrest well enough in advance to try to gather outside the Jedi enclave. HK-47 and Canderous then intercepted the Republic soldiers who were escorting us.
"Request: Permission to commence blasting meatbags, master?" HK-47 asked.
"No, HK." I said flatly, "Go back to the Hawk where Carth told you to go."
HK-47 looked dejected, but turned and stalked off, "I'm not so easy to get rid of, Revan." Canderous noted.
"You want to get arrested, Canderous?" I asked innocently.
"That's funny. Like they could if they tried." he said, smirking, "Why are you letting them take you? You know this creep here wants you dead."
"I know." I said calmly, "And I'll be fine, Canderous."
Canderous smirked, "Well, if you want a jail-break..."
"I would do it myself - don't get in trouble over me, that's an order." I said flatly.
"Who're you to order me around, huh?" Canderous asked, smirking.
"The man who killed Mandalore - doesn't that make me the next Mandalore, by your people's laws? Therefore, I can give you orders if I feel like it." I said, smirking.
Canderous nodded, his eyes glazed slightly as if he was remembering something, "That's true. Alright, I'll not save your life if you don't want me to." he turned and wandered off in the same direction as HK-47 had gone.
Tal'eri and his soldiers escorted me to the Republic jail.
* * *
"Bored now." I muttered, staring at the ceiling in the jail cell. It was dank and featureless - it reeked of darkness, almost as much as Korriban. "This is a good place to put bad people, y'know that?" I noted to the guard.
"Shut up." the man grouched.
"Ever tried to keep a Jedi in here before?" I asked innocently.
"No. You're the first ones we've not let the Jedi Council deal with." he muttered.
"Figured." I said, smirking darkly, "This place's almost as dark as Korriban."
*Agreed.* Malak thought - he was in the next cell - we couldn't see each other, but the guard could see both of us, and sound travelled well enough. *I'm getting nostalgic.*
"That's not funny, Malak." I said flatly.
"Stop doing that!" the guard snapped.
"What? He can't talk - give us a break!" I snapped.
*I could Force choke him.* Malak noted, *It'd be fun.*
"It'd also damn you. As if you're not already damned." I said flatly.
"I said stop doing that!"
"I'm reconsidering your suggestion, Malak." I muttered.
He chuckled, *May I?*
"No. I just reconsidered it, I didn't actually change my mind." I said flatly.
"Shut up or I'll gag you!" the guard snapped.
"I'd like to see you try." I said cheerfully.
*So would I - damn shame there's a wall between our cells instead of just bars.*
I sniggered. "Look, kid." I said to the guard, "I'm not doing any harm - making rude jokes and playful insults with my friend - not plotting a jailbreak. Believe me, it wouldn't take much plotting to get out of this place. Just let us keep ourselves from being bored senseless, otherwise we might do something senselessly violent."
Malak chuckled again.
The guard cringed, "Fine, fine. But if he's talking in your head, why do you have to talk out loud?"
"Because." I said, smirking.
"Because why?"
"Just because." I grinned evilly.
Malak sniggered again, *Because you want to annoy him.*
"That's right." I said brightly. The guard glared. I smirked, "Y'know, these bars wouldn't stand up to Force wave." I noted to the guard, "That wall wouldn't, either. And Force choke or lightening could kill you, even with the bars between us. Force speed would let us get away before the alarm could sound." I smirked as the guard paled and watched me nervously, "And even without the Force, I could slice the lock. Malak is unnaturally strong and could possibly bend the bars with his bare hands."
*Not when I've just been almost-killed.* Malak noted.
"The ways I could kill you with my bare hands are so numerous I couldn't be bothered counting them." I continued.
*Oh, so it's more than you can count? How many's that? Five?* Malak joked.
"Oh, that's funny, Malak." I said, smirking, "More like at least five hundred."
The guard looked terrified, "Stop talking." he said fearfully.
"Why?" I asked, innocently, "I'm bored. If I stop talking, I'll have to do something else to alleviate the boredom." I held up my hand and let a few sparks of Force lightening dance between my fingers.
The guard whimpered, "Well, talk about something else." he squeaked.
"The weather on Tatooine?" I suggested, "Sandstorms." suddenly, the dust on the floor started whipping around my cell.
The guard whimpered and scrambled away from the cells, until he backed into a wall. Malak chuckled, *This one's too easy.*
"I know, Malak. But it's all we've got." I said flatly, letting the Force whirlwind die down.
*Could you make him dance on the ceiling?*
"No." I said flatly, "I don't want to actually hurt him. It's more fun to scare people, anyway."
The guard blinked as he heard this, "You're just messing with me!"
"Yeah." I said cheerfully, "If you made these cells less boring, maybe I wouldn't have done it."
"You're horrible." the guard said coldly.
"If I was horrible, I'd have done all the things I told you I could do, just to see your blood splatter across these blank walls." I said flatly.
"Oh, that's delightful, Revan." Bastila's sarcastic voice said from the doorway.
I looked up at her and smiled, "Hello, Princess."
"I leave you alone with Malak for five minutes and look how you're acting." she chided, walking over to the bars of the cell.
"I could have said the same to you, love." I said brightly.
She rolled her eyes, "Yes, well at least you're not trying to kill me."
*Give me time.* Malak thought, but the tone was clearly joking.
"That's not funny!" I yelled at him.
"What?" Bastila asked, confused.
"Malak's pathetic idea of a joke." I growled.
*Sorry. I didn't realise you meant it when you called her 'love'.*
"Yeah, well now you do, meatbag." I snapped.
*I deserved that... this time. Call me it again and you'll suffer.*
I shook my head, "We're getting a trial soon, right?"
"Yes. Right now." Carth - who must have arrived with Bastila - said from the doorway, "Guard, I'll be taking them to the courthouse." The guard nervously opened the door to my cell, then rushed away from me, and repeated the process for Malak's cell.
"That Fleet Admiral doesn't want to change the execution date he gave, does he?" I asked, as I followed Carth to the courthouse. Bastila was walking beside me, and Malak on my other side. If my hands hadn't been bound behind me by the handcuffs, she would have been holding my hand.
Carth smiled slightly, "That, actually, is exactly why your trial was arranged so quickly." he said, "Of course, you didn't hear it from me."
"Right." I said flatly.
Bastila sighed, "I wish the Admiral had given you a chance."
"He has. This is it." I said calmly, "I know what I've done, and to be honest, the situation is better than I'd hoped."
Bastila frowned, "I don't want to lose you like this."
"I'm sorry." I said quietly, "I don't have a choice. Well, I do, but the alternative option is to kill a load of people, kidnap you and become Sith Lord again as you asked me to on the temple summit... and that just is not going to happen."
Malak rolled his eyes, *You're such a sap, Revan.*
"Shut up, Malak!" I snapped.
He sniggered, *Make me.*
I glared, "If you'd said that out loud, you'd be jawless again." I growled.
He sniggered again, *But there's nothing you can do to make me stop talking in your head.* he noted smugly.
* * *
The trial was held in the high court of Coruscant, and I'm sure the whole planet was watching. The judge was a human woman with a steely glint in her eyes that gave the clear impression of a strict-yet-fair type of personality.
"Revan and Malak." she said coldly, as Malak and I were led into the court, "You have been charged with high treason against the Galactic Republic, mass murder, and grand larceny... among other things, but we don't have all day. How do you plead."
*Grand larceny?* Malak asked me.
*I think she means the third of the Republic fleet we 'borrowed'.* I thought, so as not to be rude to the judge by talking to Malak out loud. "I plead guilty, your honour." I said calmly.
"And you, Malak?" the judge asked.
Malak scowled at the ground, *I know I'm guilty, but I wouldn't plead it if I could.*
"He is unable to talk, your honour." I said, "Since his jaw has been restored by the Jedi Council, he has not had the time to become accustomed to it. I can speak for him."
"Can you?" the judge asked sceptically.
"I have telepathic abilities, your honour." I said calmly, "He can project his thoughts for me to hear."
"Very well, then." the judge said, shrugging, "And how does he plead?"
*Not guilty.*
*Don't be an idiot, Malak. Please.*
*This hair-brained scheme better work. Fine, guilty then.* Malak sulked, *May you rot on Ravnos if they kill me for this.*
"He also pleads guilty, your honour." I said calmly.
"Very well. In that case, this trial shall decide sentencing." the judge said, seeming relieved, "Save us all a lot of time proving what you did."
"Now you just need to prove we deserve to die for it." I muttered.
The judge looked up at me sharply, "What was that, Revan?" he asked.
"Well, that's why we're having this trial." I said calmly, "It was the only way Fleet Admiral Tal'eri could get us to come quietly, so he could have us executed."
The judge shrugged, "Well, you're not going to be executed unless and until it's proven necessary."
I smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, your honour." my gaze fell on the fleet admiral who was watching me angrily.
"Now, we shall have opening statements from the prosecution."
"Your Honour." a human man in a revolting suit said, standing up, "Do I need to explain the sheer cruelty and heartlessness with which Revan and Malak committed their crimes? They are remorseless monsters who deserve death for their actions."
"I object, your honour." I said.
*Oh crap.*
*Shut up, Malak.* "With all due respect, the prosecution cannot read my mind. How can he be sure I am without remorse and regret for my actions?"
"Your point is valid." the judge said, giving the prosecution a pointed look, "Stick to the facts you are aware of, council."
"Very well, your honour." the prosecution said, nodding, "These two, between them, have devastated half the outer rim in their attempt to take over the galaxy. They have murdered countless millions of innocent people. They have shown no remorse for their actions, and the few who survived their attacks clearly say they appeared to greatly enjoy every moment of their cruelty." he was choosing his words very carefully, now, and I couldn't pick fault in it. "These two deserve the death penalty for these crimes."
"What do you have to say in your defence, Revan?" the judge asked.
"I admit I did those things." I said calmly, "I also admit that at the time I did enjoy it. But... I regret it now. There is no way I could go back and undo all the things I did, but I helped to destroy the Star Forge - the tool I used to fuel my attempted conquest. I have tried to fix what I can of the damage I have done... and what I can't fix hurts me every day to even think about it." I glanced into the stands of people watching the trial, and saw a small group sitting near the front. I smiled, "Am I allowed to call witnesses, your honour?"
"If they are present here, then I don't see a problem." she said, shrugging.
"Yuthura." the purple Twi'lek was sitting alone, and had looked fairly miserable. But as she looked up at me, she smiled. She stood up and walked gracefully to the witness stand. After she was sworn to tell the truth, I asked her, "Tell us about the Sith Academy. Start with what you know of its origins."
"It's been there for years." she said flatly, "As far as I could tell, its most recent incarnation - as an Academy - was founded twenty years ago by Jorak Uln. Not that he had any more that two or three students at a time until four years ago."
"And what happened to that Academy? Is it still there?" I asked, smirking.
"The Academy was dissolved two months ago. The building still stands, vacant, but the students left for better, less evil things. Thanks to your influence, Revan." Yuthura answered. Then continued of her own volition, "It was thanks to you that I, myself, and many other students of the Sith Academy turned away from the dark side and to the Jedi."
I smiled, "Thank you, Yuthura."
The prosecutor stood up, "And was it not through Revan's actions that you came to join the Sith in the first place?"
"No, it was not. I had a bad childhood, and could not be at peace as a Jedi. I sought out the Sith of my own volition, even before Revan's reappearance after the Mandalorian war." Yuthura answered coolly.
The next person I called as a witness was Carth.
"I'm sure you all know Carth Onasi? He's violently anti-Sith, and has good reason to wish me dead." I said calmly.
"Nice description." Carth muttered sarcastically.
"Thank you." I said, just as sarcastically, "He fought at my side to find and destroy the Star Forge." I said calmly, "Carth, you're here as a character witness." I smirked.
He laughed, "Oh, that's rich." he muttered. "Well, when I first met this man, a few months ago, I had no idea he was Revan. Actually, the first time I saved his life, I hadn't even known the false name he was going by either. We were escorting a Jedi envoy to Dantooine, when our ship was attacked by the Sith. We crashed on Taris, and he went out of his way to save my life within two days of it."
"Might I add I was bloody terrified." I noted.
"How does a Sith Lord get a phobia of Rakghouls, anyway?" Carth asked innocently.
"It's called a phobia because it's irrational." I said flatly.
"Right." he muttered, smirking, "Revan is a great man. He did the right thing, at every opportunity, throughout that mission to find the Star Forge. I was... totally surprised and horrified when I found out who he was. I had told him, before I knew, that I would love to put a blaster to Revan's head... when I found out who he was, he tried to get me to shoot him. He said I had every right to. But he's not the same person - Darth Revan would never give two-hundred credits to a needy family, free an enslaved village of Wookiees, reunite a woman with her estranged mother, save a petty-thief from his own stupid plots, and turn the entire Sith Academy, including my own son, from the dark side. He was almost killed the first time he took the risk of trying to talk one of Malak's apprentices away from the dark side, yet it didn't put him off the idea." he said the last line with a faint smirk.
*Because you were in love with the second one... I hope it was just the second one, anyway.*
*Shut up, Malak!*
* * *
"We have no precedent dealing with Jedi." the judge said as the trial was coming to a close, "The Order is usually allowed to police itself. But from what I have heard, the dark side of the Force is a very insidious thing. I believe you acted under its influence, Revan, and have since learned the hard way how to resist it. The testimony of the Jedi Masters themselves says as much. Your witnesses testify to your attempts to redeem yourself - though significant in themselves, they are nothing compared to your evil deeds under the influence of the dark side. However, I do not believe you deserve to die for your crimes."
"Your honour, I object!" Tal'eri yelled, leaping to his feet, his purple skin turning a darker shade as he flushed in anger.
"You ordered this trial, Admiral Tal'eri, you will accept its result." the judge snapped at him, "Now sit down. This is my courtroom, and you will show some respect."
Tal'eri glared petulantly, and sat down again.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted..." the judge said pointedly, "You do not deserve to die for your crimes. I will turn you over to the Jedi to deal with you as they see fit, on condition that you are kept under observation. I shall also give Malak the benefit of the doubt - if you were capable of repenting for your crimes, I believe he should have the same opportunity. The Jedi always were good at guilt-trips-" she sounded like she was speaking from experience there, "-so I'm sure they can punish you both fittingly. I believe, in this case, that living with your guilt is a much worse punishment than death." she then gave us both a stern look, "But if either of you make even the slightest infraction of law on any planet - even so much as a speeding ticket - you will be brought back to me for a re-evaluation. Case dismissed."
I smiled as I stood up.
*It worked?! They're not going to try to execute us?!* Malak thought, stunned.
"I told you so." I said to him, brightly.
*I am never going to underestimate you, ever again.* he thought, standing up and following me out of the courtroom, *First you don't die when I tried to kill you, then you beat the crap out of me on the Star Forge-*
"Not literally, I hope." I said cheerfully.
*No. Not literally. And thank you so much for that mental picture.*
"You're welcome."
*As I was saying - first you don't die when I tried to kill you, then you beat me on the Star Forge, now you talk both of us out of hell. How do you do it?*
"It's a talent." I said brightly.
"And you're going to get your talented self back to the Jedi enclave before Tal'eri catches up with us." Carth said, "Who were you talking to, anyway?"
"Malak - he can't talk, yet. He's not used to the new jaw." I said flatly, "I will get him to talk, though, even if I have to get HK-47's help."
*NO! Please, keep that demonic droid away from me! I'll talk, I'll tell you whatever you want, just don't let that droid near me!*
I laughed, "Malak, you sound like it's an interrogation."
*You threatened me with that droid.*
"I did, didn't I." I said cheerfully.
"That's creepy." Carth muttered.
"The Masters thought so as well." I said brightly.
Malak took to glaring over my shoulder, and I looked up to see HK-47 and Mission waiting for us.
"This isn't over, Revan!" Tal'eri shouted from behind me.
Then, randomly enough, an enraged yell could be heard from another direction, and a man in Sith robes charged at us. It wasn't clear who he was attacking until the last second, when he brought out a dagger and lunged at Admiral Tal'eri.
Because of the initial lack of certainty over who the attackee was, HK-47 saw to it that the attacker never got within ten feet of me... the fact Tal'eri was within ten feet of me was probably what saved his life.
Tal'eri blinked, "What just happened?"
"My droid just saved your life... I think." I said, frowning at the unconscious Sith, "And I am glad I tampered with its blaster rifle, so it would stun, not kill."
"Objection: Master! How do you expect me to eliminate your enemies if you set my weaponry to stun?!"
"By stunning them and letting me deal with them myself." I said flatly. I then walked over to the unconscious Sith, and checked his pulse. "I don't think he likes you, Admiral... I wonder why." I said innocently.
"Perhaps - as he is a Sith - we should take him to the Jedi as well?" Yuthura, who was in the front of the crowd around the incident, suggested.
"No - no no no." the admiral said, shaking his head, "This man personally attempted to assassinate me!" he shouted.
"And my droid stopped him. I'm sure talking to him reasonably - while he's restrained so he can't move, let alone escape - will tell us more than a Republic interrogation. In case you haven't noticed, he is a Sith. I wonder why use a dagger when Force choke is so much more insidious, or Force lightening so much more of a statement."
The admiral shuddered, "This is one of the reasons why I wanted you dead, Revan." Tal'eri said coldly, "You are a Sith, you make it obvious almost every time you open your mouth."
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will be victorious, Tal'eri." I said, smiling faintly, "And what greater weapon is there than to turn an enemy to your cause - to use their own knowledge against them?" I quoted, "That's exactly what the Jedi tried to do with me."
"Tried to do?" Tal'eri asked.
"Well, they didn't turn me back into the emotionless Jedi they wanted me to be." I said calmly, "But they did turn me to their cause. Away from the dark side."
*How long did you hold out before you turned back, anyway?* Malak asked me.
I glanced up at him, "I'm not sure, Malak. I was unconscious for most of the time they had me prisoner. I wasn't keeping track of time."
He shrugged.
I turned back to the admiral, "I won't insult you by trying to force you to let us take him." I said calmly, "But this matter is best left to the Jedi."
Tal'eri wrapped his headtails defensively around his shoulders, and folded his arms, "Fine. But I do expect to be kept informed on this matter."
I nodded, "That is only reasonable. We shall tell the Jedi that when we get him there."
* * *
The large group walking to the Jedi building must have looked most bizarre. Yuthura and Bastila were - between them - levitating the unconscious Sith assassin. Malak and I were walking side-by-side behind them. Mission was on my other side, glancing warily past me at Malak on occasion. Carth had made himself elsewhere, though where he went, I don't know. And HK-47 was walking behind me, scanning the crowd for anything that could be perceived as a threat... or that it might just enjoy blasting. Passing meatbags were lucky it didn't deem blasting them with a stun-gun any fun.
When we got back to the enclave, and the Sith assassin was ditched with a couple of Jedi Knights, Malak and I made our way to the Council chambers, while everyone else went in various other directions.
"I see your trial went well." Vrook noted, as we walked in.
I bowed, and when Malak didn't immediately follow suit, I elbowed him sharply in the ribs and he also bowed to the Masters, "The judge has officially ordered that we be turned over to the mercy of the Jedi Council, Masters." I said calmly.
"I see. And how did you persuade them to do this?" Vrook asked sceptically.
I smirked, "Not the way you're thinking." I said, "My friends vouched for me, and Malak got off on the technicality that if I could be redeemed he should get the same chance."
"Indeed. I hope that you take that chance, Malak." Vrook said calmly.
We both nodded, "What do you wish us to do now, Masters?"
"You shall remain within the Jedi building, for now." Vandar said calmly, "We shall observe your meditations and training, and decide what further course should be taken from there."
I bowed again, "As you wish, Master Vandar."
*Awfully obedient, all of a sudden, aren't you, Revan?*
I dragged Malak out of the Council chamber before answering his comment, "It never hurts to ingratiate yourself to those in control." I snapped, "And I am not the Masters' trained kath-pup, I just felt like behaving for my own reasons."
*Sure.* Malak thought sarcastically.
"Meatbag." I snapped at him.
He winced, and didn't retort.
* * *
It didn't take long for a random - and might I note, terrified of us - Padawan to show us to the living quarters we were to share. Our quarters consisted of a relatively comfortable main room, with four doors off it, one of which led out into the main corridor, one to a bathroom and the other two led to single bedrooms.
"I'm amazed they're letting us stay together." I noted, "I mean, after we turned evil together, it's surprising they're trusting us this much."
"They don't trust you." Bastila said, from the main door. "Your rooms are well monitored. The Council will know everything that is said or done here."
I shivered slightly, "Well, there goes my love-life."
"Oh, don't worry. My room isn't bugged." Bastila purred.
I smirked, "That's good to hear."
Then there was a tentative knock on the door, and a blue face peeked around it, "Hey Revan." Mission said cheerfully, "Oh, maybe this is a bad time." she muttered, on seeing Bastila's smirk and the way I was looking at the Jedi Princess.
"No, it's not a bad time." I said quickly, stepping away from Bastila, "Seriously - this room is bugged, or is it better than you could spot?"
Mission scoped out the room, "Oh..." then counted under her breath as she scanned the room thoroughly, "Five, six, seven... is that? Ten... wow, that's clever... fourteen..." she tilted her head as she looked at a bookshelf, "seventeen, eighteen... and... hmmm... twenty hidden cameras that I can see." she said brightly, "And a couple'a hidden microphones, too. That's just in this room. They're determined, and meticulous. There's no blind spots."
Malak's eyes lit up, *That's a useful skill the blue kid's got.*
"She doesn't like being called a kid, Malak." I said flatly.
*She can't hear me. Who cares?*
"I care." I told him coldly.
He shrugged.
"I'm going to teach you to speak out loud, then I'm going to start ignoring you when you try to speak in my mind." I said flatly.
I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me, yet again.
"And you call her a kid?!" I asked, laughing.
His lips curled slightly in a faint smile, but the glint in his eyes made it clear he meant to smirk. Then he dropped into the nearest seat, and just sat there.
Mission was smiling faintly, "Were you two always like this?" she asked.
*No, I used to be the talkative one.*
I snorted, "Actually - as Malak just reminded me - he used to be the talkative one." Mission giggled. "I went through a phase as a teenager, when I had just discovered my telepathic abilities, where I wouldn't speak out loud to anyone." I explained, smirking, "In fact, said phase started before my voice broke."
Bastila snorted, "Is that why nobody recognised your voice?"
"I think so, yeah." I said, smirking, "My mental voice was nothing like my real voice, and as I became more evil, it became more booming and echoey." Mission giggled nervously, again. "And I started wearing the cloak and mask when I was twenty. I've changed a fair bit since then."
"I'll bet." Mission said brightly.
*I hardly recognised you.* Malak noted.
"So..." Mission said nervously, "Why did you two go all evil, anyway?"
*It's Revan's fault.*
"Yeah, Malak." I said, looking at him, "Remember when we were kids... you said 'friends forever, I'd follow you to hell and back'. Well, you followed me to hell..."
*You're right.* Malak thought, actually smirking, *And I'll probably follow you back... but I'm not sure yet. I'm still debating the merits of murdering the Jedi Council and making a run for it.*
"I wish I could say you were lying about that, Malak." I said, frowning, "But I guess it's better than if you just did it, rather than bothering to debate it."
*I'm sure.* he thought sarcastically.
"Huh?" Mission asked.
"Nothing. Malak's just being semi-evil." I said flatly. I got the mental picture of him sticking his tongue out at me. "Stop doing that, Malak, or I'll get HK-47 in here." He blinked a few times, but didn't respond either way. "That's better." I said, smirking.
Mission rolled her eyes, "You guys are almost funny... you know, if you weren't creepy and recently evil." she said brightly.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Carth appeared, followed closely by his son.
"Hello, Revan." Carth said warily.
"Hey." I said, "Is everyone going to show up here? We going to have a party? Mission, if you brother shows, he's bringing the drinks."
Mission giggled, "Griff's not gonna show. He's terrified since he found out the guy who helped him out is really Revan."
"Aww." I said, in mock-disappointment. Truly, I was glad the slime-ball wasn't going to put in an appearance.
Dustil warily edged around the room, "So it is true." he said quietly, "Dad told me you were Revan, but I thought he was joking."
"Oh, I'm Revan. And this here is Malak." I said brightly, "Say hello, Malak." Malak gave me a rude hand-gesture for that. I sniggered, "Never mind."
Dustil smirked faintly, "Interesting to see the Sith Lords have a sense of humour." he noted, "And to think Uthar gave the impression Sith were as cold as Jedi."
"I'm no Sith anymore, kid. I'm also no Jedi." I said brightly.
"Huh." the boy said flatly, "Well, if you do turn evil again, Tal'eri won't get the chance to have you executed. I know several ways to deal with you that are unaffected by strength in the Force."
"That's good to know. And I probably know them all, too. There are a few that would even work on me." I said cheerfully, as if we were discussing nothing more important than the weather.
"Am I late for the party?" Jolee's voice asked from the door.
"Not at all, old man. Nobody's brought any alcohol yet." I said flatly.
"Oh, don't worry. That Mandalorian friend of yours is taking care of that." Jolee said brightly.
*Who decided we were having a party, anyway?* Malak asked me.
*The Force, that's who.* I replied mentally, *And I'm not surprised the old coot picked up on it.*
*Who are half these people, anyway?*
"Oh, Malak just brought it to my attention that I haven't introduced you all." I said, standing up, "Carth and Bastila, you know." Malak nodded, "That's Jolee Bindo - the Wookiees call him the Hairless One."
*I thought that was a legend?*
"No, he's not a myth." I said, smirking.
The old man laughed, "Heard of me, have you?" Malak nodded.
"This is Mission Vao." I noted. Mission waved slightly.
*She's the one who spotted the security cameras. Useful to have around, I'm sure.*
"She can also slice almost any lock, and is one hell of a card shark at Pazaak." I added. Malak nodded to her, and she tried not to look like she was scared of him. "That kid over there is Dustil."
*The brat we caught on Telos? Onasi's son?*
"Yes, that one." I said flatly, "And for once I'm glad you can't speak out loud yet."
Malak opened his mouth slightly, "J-just... for... th-that..." he managed to croak out, his voice hoarse and cracked with disuse.
I grinned, "I knew it! Reverse psychology - works every time!"
Malak glared at me, and I grinned back at him.
"Someone said to bring alcohol?" Canderous' voice asked from the door.
"That would be me." Jolee said, smiling innocently.
[I shall never understand the human desire to intoxicate oneself.] Zaalbar said - he and Canderous were, between them, carrying the crate of Tarisian ale I had obtained on Kashyyyk.
"Nor will I." I said, smirking, "But who cares?"
They dropped the crate in the middle of the room. Mission deliberately waved at one of the security cameras, "I think the Masters are ok with us having a party." she said brightly, "They'd have stormed in here by now if we weren't allowed some fun."
"Too true." I said brightly, "We need music."
"Not a problem." Mission said, walking over to the holovid and reprogramming it to pick up a local dance-station. Soon music similar to that we had heard at the Sith party on Taris was blasting through the room. The door opened yet again to admit Yuthura, Juhani, and Belaya.
"Looks like we're just in time." Yuthura noted, eyeing up the unopened crate of Tarisian ale.
"Is it wise to indulge in such activities?" Juhani asked warily.
"If you don't get your pent up energy out in a good party, you'll end up lashing out at someone. It's a proven fact the Jedi tried to ignore for centuries." I said, dragging the Cathar and the Twi'lek into the room. Belaya was keeping very close to Juhani and giving me wary looks. As soon as I let go of the girls' arms, Belaya and Juhani all-but-bolted for a couch against the far wall, where they began talking about something or other.
I returned my attention to the rest of the 'party-goers'. Canderous was talking to Malak - both must have known Galactic Basic Sign Language, because Malak was using sign, and Canderous seemed to understand it... odd, that. I caught a snatch of what Canderous said, "Don't worry, I told it to guard the ship. Someone needs to keep the authorities at bay." but Sign is not on the list of languages I know.
Zaalbar and Jolee were arguing over some ancient legend of Kashyyyk - Jolee seemed adamant that he was not the fabled 'Hairless One', but that said legend would come to pass eventually. Zaalbar seemed of the opinion that Jolee was the Hairless One, and there were enough legends in this room already, why not one more?
Mission and Dustil were talking. Her headtails were hanging down her back, which is a sign of trust... and the way the tips of her headtails were twitching is a sign of attraction. Dustil, on the other hand, seemed afraid to talk to her. He seemed shy. Odd, considering how self-assured the brat was as a Sith - I guess all that confidence was rooted in anger.
Bastila was standing near Malak, watching me. Nobody was dancing. I walked slowly over to the Jedi Princess, and offered her my hand. She took it, without a word, and I led her into the middle of a free space of floor, and started dancing - it was a fast song, and so our dance was most exuberant.
Soon, some of the others joined us. Juhani and Belaya danced together, most gracefully. Carth, Canderous and Malak each got one dance with Yuthura... Jolee got three dances with the Twi'lek woman. After much nervousness on Dustil's part, Mission got tired waiting and asked him to dance. Zaalbar sat off to the side, watching us with idle curiosity - I guess a human's idea of a party doesn't appeal to a Wookiee.
* * *
Much Tarisian ale was consumed. Mission and Zaalbar were the only ones who hadn't touched the stuff all night... and Carth had told Dustil off after the boy had had one glass. It was getting late. Juhani and Belaya were once again on the couch they had claimed earlier... and while I am a sick and twisted individual, I wasn't voyeuristic enough to watch them too closely... I'd not be surprised if the Jedi Council were, though. Carth and Canderous were sitting on either side of a small table, in a drinking contest, which Yuthura and Jolee were only too happy to umpire... Canderous seemed to be winning. Zaalbar, by this point, had taken a book on The Jedi Way, from the bookshelf in the room, and was reading it, ignoring the rest of us. I was sitting in a chair next to Malak's chair, with Bastila on the arm of my chair (the arm farthest away from Malak, I might add).
"Ok, say it." I said flatly, to Malak.
*No.*
"Say it out loud, or I'll sic HK on you." I said, smirking.
"You... are evil." he growled - he had said a few words through the course of the evening, and even had some Tarisian ale forced down his throat (courtesy of Jolee), and his voice did sound a fair bit more human.
"Just shay it." Bastila, who had underestimated the potency of Tarisian ale and was more than a little drunk, mumbled, leaning heavily against me.
"No." Malak growled.
"Say it." I said, warningly.
He sighed, "I... I'm... sorry." he muttered.
Bastila grinned, and reached across me to pat his head, "See, that washn't sho hard, now wussit?" she slurred.
"Watch it, there, Princess." I said, catching her before she overbalanced, and pulling her into my lap. "You've had waaaaaaay too much to drink."
"No, I 'avn't." she whined.
"Yes, you have." I grinned at her, "Touch your nose with one finger." I said, in a clearly challenging tone. She attempted to do this, and almost poked her eye out. "See. You're drunk."
She pouted ever so cutely, "I don'wanna be drunk." she whined.
*You could use that Force heal of yours to fix that.* Malak noted.
"Malak's right, for a change." I said brightly.
Malak glared at me, and Bastila blinked in confusion, "'D Malak shay shomethin'?" she asked, confused. I rolled my eyes, and used the Force to sober her. Her eyes cleared, and she looked utterly embarrassed, "I am NEVER drinking ANYTHING even vaguely alcoholic, EVER again!" she exclaimed vehemently.
I heard the sound of someone falling off a chair onto the floor behind me, and glanced over my shoulder to see that Canderous had succeeded in drinking Carth under the table. Canderous then proceeded to start an ethical debate with Jolee, while Yuthura check to see that the unconscious Carth was ok.
I grinned at Bastila, "You're cute when you're drunk, you know that?"
"And you're not cute when I'm angry." Bastila snapped.
"Ouch, that hurt." I said sarcastically.
She growled, "Ok, maybe that isn't entirely true." she muttered. I grinned what I'm sure was an infuriating grin. She sighed, "It is surprising that I could lose control under the influence of such an intoxicant, and not fall to the dark side again." she said in confused curiosity.
"Because it's a different sort of intoxicant." I said flatly, "Alcohol just makes you act like a moron. The dark side makes you act like a homicidal moron."
Bastila and Malak both snorted with laughter. *I think you have a point.* Malak noted, mentally, *Ever heard of a Sith Lord that doesn't end up getting killed or redeemed?*
"Nope, never." I replied, smirking. Bastila blinked confused, "I was talking to Malak." I told her. She nodded, and frowned.
*I think there's really not any point trying to become an evil overlord. No matter how many people you kill, you'll never get what you want.* Malak continued.
*The dark side is never enough.* I added, mentally.
*It's not like good always triumphs over evil, or anything...* he thought, carefully, *Just that there's not any point being a major figurehead for either side, cause they're the ones people will try to kill.*
I sniggered, "Valid point, Malak." I said, out loud. Bastila sighed and looked at the floor. "Something the matter, Princess?"
"No. Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking." she said, still looking at the floor.
"About...?" I asked.
She sighed slightly, then gave a pointed look at Malak before deciding she didn't mind him overhearing. "When I told you to go on ahead from the hospital... it was because my mother is at that same facility."
"Oh." I said, surprised. To be honest, I'd expected her mother's assessment of her condition to have been accurate, and that she would have already been dead by now.
"Her condition is not improving, but with a... recent 'anonymous charitable donation'... she is getting the treatment she needs to keep her alive for a few years at least." Bastila said smiling.
"And who gave this donation?" I asked.
Bastila looked intently at her fingernails, "Um... it came from a Sith account on Ravnos." she said quietly, "I read some of Malak's documents the few times he left me alone in his command room. I stole the pass codes for the account, withdrew the money, and sent it to the hospital."
Malak laughed out loud, "Clever girl." he managed to say.
"That's a very sneaky thing to have done to your Sith 'Master'." I said brightly. "And for a good cause, too."
Bastila smiled, relieved that neither of us thought this a terrible thing to have done. She leaned over to kiss me, but stopped when we heard a muffled sound. I think we would both have ignored it if it had come from the direction of the two Jedi women on the couch, but because it came from the opposite direction, I glanced up - as did Malak and Bastila - to see Mission had Dustil pinned to a wall, and they were kissing enthusiastically.
Bastila's jaw dropped, and both she and I blinked in surprise at this. Malak, on the other hand... "Hey..." he said loudly, "Jail-bait... leave the boy alone."
Mission blinked and backed away from Dustil, who looked totally stunned, "What did you call her?"
"He called her jail-bait. Because she's underage on any planet except Sleheyron, Korriban and Ravnos." I said flatly.
Dustil tilted his head to one side, and tried to work that out, but he clearly didn't know all the laws for every known world.
Mission giggled nervously, "And you, Missy." I said pointedly, "Weren't you telling me and Bastila to get a room, earlier?"
"I... well... um..." she mumbled incoherently.
I rolled my eyes. Bastila, however, "Just do whatever you want, as long as it's legal." she said, waving her hand slightly. The slight glaze in the two teens' eyes made it clear she'd used Force persuasion on them.
"There's no law against kissing." Dustil said hopefully.
"As long as your father stays unconscious, I'm sure." I muttered.
The two teenagers made themselves scarce. Carth was unconscious on the floor. Yuthura and Jolee were now playing Pazaak. Juhani and Belaya were... talking about Jedi philosophy... of all the thing I thought they might have been doing over there, that actually wasn't on the list. Zaalbar was still reading. Canderous looked bored out of his mind, and in spite of the vast quantity of Tarisian ale he had consumed, he seemed sober.
The party had been great fun, but... bored now. I stood up sharply, muttered, "Bugger this." and stalked out of the room, heading for one of the Jedi training rooms.
Bastila caught up with me a few corridors away. "Hey, where're you going?" she asked, grabbing my arm gently. I stopped walking when she did so.
"The party was dying." I said, shrugging.
"Well..." Bastila said, moving so she was face to face with me, "It looks like everyone's happy."
"The Sith army's royally screwed, and Admiral Tal'eri's not a happy Gizka, but other than that, yeah. Everything worked out, didn't it." I said, nodding.
She smiled, "So there is such a thing as happily ever after, then?"
"As long as the Jedi Council doesn't try to mess it up, yeah." I smiled.
"Oh, like you'd let them." she said, smirking.
I grinned, "Well I certainly wouldn't let them take you away from me." I said, "I love you, Bastila."
"I love you too, Revan." she whispered.
I brushed that strand of hair out of her eye, gently, and kissed her.
* * *
The End