Lord of the Sith
The sun began to set around the Ebon Hawk and her crew. Salty mist rose from the sea and encircled Carth’s legs, freezing him to the bones. Yet he, nor any of his companions, dared enter the warm ship waiting patiently behind them.
Carth turned his thoughts back to the young Jedi who had risked so much to get them this far, and the icy feeling lifted from his tired limbs. A warming touch filled his heart, and he continued scanning the land around them.
It shouldn’t take this long to find it, Carth thought suddenly. It’s been over two hours since Akira, Jolee, and Juhani left to find that temple. Where are they? Next to him, Mission Vao shivered.
“What if they ran into Bastila?” she whimpered. She dropped to her knees, and laid her vibroblade next to her. “By the time they get back, the Star Forge will have wiped out every Republic ship within a ten mile radius.”
“If they ran into Bastila,” Zaalbar growled behind the twi’lek girl, “then we can only hope that Revan makes the right desicion.”
Fury rose inside Carth’s conscience as he barked, “Do not call her Revan! You know as well as I that she has turned from the Dark Side for good. You can tell by the way she acts… the way she smiles at you… Jolee even mentioned that he’s never seen such a trustworthy and loyal Jedi.”
“Shhh…” Canderous warned. “I hear something.” The mandalorian crept forward. “It’s too dark to see anything.”
“Statement: I could look for you, master,” HK-47 declared.
“Yeah, over my dead body,” Mission said. “If anyone’s going to be looking ahead, I say it should be T3-M4. He, at least, is a droid you can depend on.”
“Unneccisary Threat: The twi’lek meatbag better watch her mouth, or she might find a thermal dentinator lodged in her throat,” the HK droid clicked. Before Mission could talk back, Carth silenced her.
“Akira should be coming back soon. Maybe it is her that Canderous heard. T3-M4, go check it out,” Carth whispered, warmth seeping back into his face as he said the Jedi’s name. The tiny droid beeped its consent, then wheeled off into the distance. It had not gone far when a flash of Force Lightning struck the droid with so much power that the unit caught ablaze. Through the smoke drifting from the destroyed droid, a female Jedi with long, blonde hair and stunning blue eyes appeared. Her robes were completely black, and her staff lightsaber glinted a soft blue. Behind her, another Jedi walked casually towards the Ebon Hawk.
“Akira!” Carth cried. He ran towards her. Suddenly, he recognized the other Jedi as Bastila Shan. “Something’s different about you… what happened inside that temple?” Akira stared eye-to-eye with Carth, and he was shocked to see a very prominent shade of sadness on her face.
“Isn’t it obvious, Carth?” Bastila laughed. “Darth Revan has reclaimed her title as Lord of the Sith.” Akira started to speak, but Bastila cut her off. “Bow before Revan, Lord of the Sith!”
Canderous and HK-47 glanced at the others, before moving towards the Sith.
“No…” whispered Carth. Boiling hatred filled his chest. “NO! Fight it, Akira! This isn’t you.”
“Carth…” the Jedi whispered. “It’s… I… Revan will… Revan will rise again.”
“You…” Carth sighed, disbelieving. “You are being controlled by something, I know it. This is not you; this is not the woman I love.”
Akira grimaced as if in pain, and a sorrowful looked crossed into her eyes. “Carth…” she whispered again. Carth could no longer remain.
“Mission, run!” he shouted, dashing out of sight. He ran up the cliff’s edge until skidding to a stop on a ledge overlooking the Ebon Hawk. He watched in horror as Bastila, HK-47, and Canderous slew Mission and Zaalbar. Akira, however, kept staring straight up at Carth. He caught his breath as Bastila prodded Akira in the shoulder, motioning towards the ship. Akira started to back away from Bastila, when suddenly the Sith held her lightsaber to Akira’s throat. Carth gasped as Bastila forced the Jedi onto the ship.
You fool! Carth thought as he ran back towards the ship. She hasn’t become Revan again! By the time he returned to their landing site, the ship had taken off. In front of the packed sand where the Ebon Hawk once rested, a silver cylinder glinted in the few remaining rays of sunlight. He knelt down and picked up Akira’s lightsaber, dropped as she had been forced onto the ship. The soldier buckled it to his belt. He looked back into the sky, and watched as a Republic vessel landed in front of him. A soldier ran off the ship and addressed Carth quickly, telling him to board immediately. The ship took off towards the Star Forge.
——————
By the time the Republic vessel was able to land inside the Star Forge, Akira and Bastila were walking back towards the stolen Ebon Hawk. Akira stopped suddenly as she saw Carth walking towards her.
“Akira, you can still escape!” Carth said. Bastila’s eyes darkened, and she lunged at the soldier.
“No!” Akira cried, sending a whirlwind of force energy towards Bastila. The Sith lurched, and fell off of the bridge into the empty space below. “Carth…” she whispered, collapsing. Her lips were drained of colour, and her face was turning grey. She dropped unconscious into Carth’s arms, and he carried her quickly to the Ebon Hawk.
The debris of the exploding Star Forge pelted the Ebon Hawk as Carth tried to pilot the ship to safety. He had placed the Jedi in the medical bay, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. When he piloted the ship out of harm’s way, he recieved a message from Admiral Dondonna.
“Carth Onasi, are you all right?” the admiral asked.
“Yes, Admiral. Is the fleet still in order?” Carth asked.
“Yes. As the Star Forge fell, the Sith betallion went into chaos. We’ve won the battle!” came the reply.
“Wonderful news, Admiral. Carth Onasi, out,” the soldier said, flicking off the com-link. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. The Jedi, Akira, stood behind him.
“Carth, I must explain,” she gasped, weak from standing. She sat in the co-pilot’s seat, and faced him. “When Jolee, Juhani, and I entered the temple, we were confronted by Bastila. She asked me to reclaim my title of Dark Lord, but I refused. She attacked us again, and slew Jolee and Juhani. She asked me again to take back my ‘rightful place’, as she called it, yet again I refused. It was then that she told me that Malak and other Sith had the Ebon Hawk and her crew surounded, and that unless I surrendured, you and the others would be killed. I… I didn’t want you hurt, so I surrendured. Bastila used a powerful mind trick on me, and although I could have easily blocked out the trick easily, I surrendured myself to the Force. It wore off quickly, as you saw. While on the Star Forge, Bastila killed Canderous and HK-47, claiming that they were ‘hindering my progress’. I think that she knew I would never go back to being Revan, but she was using me to kill Malak – which I did, although to serve the Republic – and for her to become the Sith Lord. She was actually using her Force Kill on me when you showed up, which is why I as so weak after attacking her.”
Carth sat back in his seat, taking in all that Akira said. He studied her face, now full of its beautiful colour again.
“Reven is dead, as she has been for years,” Akira said. “I am a different person, now.”
Carth smiled, leaning forward and taking Akira’s hand. “I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too,” Akira said weakly.
———————–
The Ebon Hawk flew away from the uncharted planet, leaving behind the last traces of Revan, Lord of the Sith.
i like it
Wow, I love it! It makes my heart sing out.