Finding Revan Chapter 1

"Are we there yet?"

Atton Rand looked over at his jedi companion, the curse on his lips dying as he saw the mischevious twinkle in her sea blue eyes. Like the oceans on Rahmos, the errant thought swept through his mind before he forced his attention back to the security lock that had been giving him more trouble then it should have."Look sweetheart, noboby's completely perfect.." he returned in yet another round of banter between them. "Not even me.."

She actually giggled at that, a slightly breathless, nervous giggle maybe but a giggle none the less. Gods, he loved to hear her laugh.He couldn't blame her for the nerves though, this whole damn ship felt like something from a horror vid and it sent chills down his spine just being there. Even Visas seemed ill at ease, her normally cool, unflappable aura radiating apprehension and fear. Probably worried about facing off with her old master, Atton thought. Can't blame her for that either.

"Hold on, did I hear that right?" Sephir asked in amusement. "Did Atton Rand just confess to be less then perfect? Ohhh..now I wish I'd brought T3 along so I could have recorded that little admission for posterity...I can't believe I heard that!"

"And you'll never hear it again." he retorted. A rakish grin flashed at her as he moved the final circut, the door sliding open with a swish that sounded eerily loud in the empty hallway. Pure pazaak, he thought to himself smugly, giving a light bow to the two women."Ladies.."

All traces of humor fell from the jedi's features, replaced with a sense of watchfulness. Twin sabers held ready in her gloved hands, she stepped through the doorwary into the large, dimly lit chamber beyond. Atton could feel her reaching into the chamber with her senses through the bond they were forming in their training together, felt her pulling back in revulsion as she stumbled backwards a step. He was there to steady her, his hand against the small of her back with a reassuring strength.

"Death..." she whispered." So much death in here..."

"This is where my master feeds." Visas Marr's low contralto voice seemed oddly at place here."This is the source of his power."

The chamber beyond seemed to be what was once a command deck. Now gutted of most of the stations except the most vital for actually piloting the huge battle cruiser, it looked more like a morgue or some kind of science lab. Lining the walls of the chamber were tall glass cylinders, where bodies floated in various degrees of death or dying, some already decomposed to the point of skeletal bones showing through hunks of rotting flesh. All of them were suspeded in some kind of fluid, their bodies hooked up to various brightly colored tubes. The contrast of color seemed sickeningly macabre against the dull grey steel of the chamber. The cylinders seemed to be lit from within, glowing with a eerie greenish light that provided the only light in the dimly lit room except for the controls of the bridge and the battle fires raging beyond the viewport on Citadel Station.

"These people...." Sephir breathed, her face paling as she looked around in horror." they've been drained of all their life energy...left to rot like.."

Atton's hand moved to give her arm a slight, reassuring squeeze. "You two stay here" he intoned, steeling himself for the grizzly work ahead. He was familiar with death, too familiar, but this was gruesome even to someone as jaded as he saw himself to be. He didn't want Sephir to have to see anymore then she already had. " I'll look around and see if anyone's still left alive."

He felt her hand close over his and clasp it. She took in a deep breath to shake off her initial reaction. "No, Atton. We'll do this together."

"Seph.." he started to argue, but she already moved forward into the chamber.

"That was pretty chivalrous of you to offer though." she glanced back at him with a wry grin, her shaggy two toned blonde hair hanging in her eyes." You're getting to be pretty noble these days, for a self confessed scoundrel and all."

"Yeah...well..." it might have been the dimness in the chamber but she could have sworn she saw his cheeks flush slightly."what can I say? You're a bad influence on me, you know that? And if you tell anyone, I'll deny ever word."

"My hero.." she gave a mock sigh.

They moved through the chamber, inspecting each of the cylinders. However, none of the prisoners remained alive. Aside from the cylinders, there was no signs of activity in the chamber, no clutter like one would find on a working ship's bridge. The lack of clutter only added to the graveyard feel of the room. Sephir felt her face pale as she looked up at one body floating behind glass, locked in a death pose of agony. The mouth hung open in what appeared to be an eternal scream, with half the lower jaw already decaying and falling off. She closed her eyes and looked away, knowing that twisted face would haunt her dreams in times to come.

"Sephir." Atton's voice came from behind her, softly so as not to startle her. She jumped at the sound anyway, her nerves were so on edge in this place.

His eyes studied her face, showing his worry. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." she responded, although they both knew it was just a brave front. "We should...take them out..It's inhuman to leave them to rot in there."

"Nowhere to bury them here sweetheart." he reasoned. "All it would do is let the smell out. But don't worry, pretty soon this whole ship is gonna be one big funeral pyre. They won't have to be here much longer."

She nodded, turning back to the rest of the room. " I guess you're right."

He nodded towards the stairs leading up to the bridge platform."C'mon, let's just check out the bridge area, see if there's any damage we can do to the controls, then set those last charges and get the frack outta here."

He watched her move towards the stairs, then turned back to Visas. "Hey..you, uh...sense anything yet? Like where Darth Numbskull might be lurking?"

"No I do not sense my master." Visas replied, as usual ignoring his attempts at humor. Or maybe Miraluka's didnt grasp humor. He hadn't actually met one before her. " It is strange...I would think he would be here. This is where I would go to speak to him."

Atton eyed her narrowly, chewing at the side of his lip. He didn't know if he trusted the former Sith or not. Which made him feel like the hypocrit because he had asked Sephir to trust him, even after she knew what kind of monster he had been. Every instinct in him was on edge, screaming that something wasn't right here. A bad feeling "Perhaps he was called away to another part of the ship?"

Visas' head turned slightly, as if considering. He found it unnerving that he couldnt see her eyes, if she even had any. He always had been able to read people, but she was like staring at a block of ice.

"Perhaps." was all she answered.

Sephir had moved off towards the bridge platform, scanning the room as she went. She spotted a seperate cylinder, set off from the other ones up on the command deck. A body was floating in it, a woman's body. Sephir moved closer, her breath catching in her throat as the figure became clearer and clearer.

"Seph?" Atton called softly after her, noticing her pace quicken until she almost ran up the few steps to stand in front of a certain cylinder up on the bridge platform. He glanced over at Visas, who showed no reaction, then hurried up the steps to join Sephir. A moment later, the sound of the Miraluka's slow, steady steps walked up behind them.

"That one, she had great power." Visas explained coolly. Atton thought momentarily that she sounded like some kind of tour guide, giving tourists a pre written exposition on this display of death and torment as if it were some museum on Alderaan. "My master has fed off her for many cycles now. Longer then any other, so great was her power. And none have satisfied his hunger like she. He keeps her alive to feed, to fuel his strength with hers.... Even now, her aura is like an almost spent star, slowly dying in the coldness of space..."

The figure floating in this cylinder was definatly female, far too thin as a result of her hellish imprisonment, but still very female. Petite body, with long hair that floated in the fluid around her like some kind of mer-creature from a child's story, the tattered remains of what appeared to have once been a pale colored tunic to a robe clung to her body in shambles, exposing arms and legs that were attached to the brightly colored tubes by long, wicked looking needles. They appeared to be pumping either nutrients or some kind of chemicals into the woman's body. Probably both, Atton thought to himself, a rush of pity and disgust tightening his gut as he surveyed the prisoner.

His eyes roamed up her figure, her floating form moving slightly in the fluid until he reached her face. Most of her features were blocked by the re-breather mask that covered her nose, mouth and chin. A few stray bubbles emitting from it showed that at least this prisoner was still alive, if only barely. A glint caught off of something metal and he was suprised to see that her delicate brow was sporting a neural inhibitor. Sith made, the kind he used to use himself on Jedi prisoners, to prevent them from accessing their connection to the Force while he... he pushed the thought aside, the bile of self hatred rising in his throat once again.

'You call this guy a monster,' the voice in his head taunted.' but you were no better...'

His thoughts were interupted by the sound of a sharp intake of breath from Sephir, standing beside him. She had one hand placed against the glass, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. He reached out to her through their connection, sensing her anguish, her anger, her outrage at the sight before them, trying to offer her comfort, strength, anything to take that sadness from her eyes. Her voice broke as she spoke a single word, a name.

"Sarrin.."

A movement out of the corner of his eye, and his attention was drawn back to the figure in the tank. The floating woman's head raised slightly, her eyes fluttering open at the sound of Sephir's voice. Large, luminous eyes of a dark green seemed to pierce his soul, take his breath away. There was so much in those eyes...pain, fear, pride, a sense of underlying power, and a soul deep sadness that felt like it would swallow his entire being. A memory stirred in his mind, he had seen those eyes before....years ago when he served in the war.That one night when he had been called to a private meeting with his commander, to be told of the new assignment he would be trained to undertake.

Revan.

The name lanced through his consciousness, as his gut grew tight with fear and anger. He had served this woman, she taught him how to kill, seduce, torture and murder. Took his hate and honed him into a powerful weapon of destruction, She had made him into the monster that he came to despise. Destroyed his life...

"We have to get her out of here." Sephir stated, searching the outside of the cylinder for the operating mechanism. " Help me find the controls."

"Are you crazy?" Atton turned to her, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "You do know who this is, right?"

Sephir shot him a look of mild annoyance, her usually full lips pressed tight together in agitation and horror at the state of her old friend.

"Of course I know who she is!" she shot back, a bit more angrily then she intended. "We can't just leave her like this! Hooked up to this thing like some..... so that monster can feed off of her!"

Her anger abated at the struggle she saw in the scoundrel's eyes, the anger and the guilt he felt. And the woman she was asking him to help played in big role in his past mistakes. But still... " Atton...please.....she's my friend."

He let out a sigh, and some of the tension that had gripped his body seemed to disapate at her plea for his help. "Allright...damnit.." he mentally kicked himself for being so whipped over a woman. " I hope you know what you're doing, Seph."

He felt her gratitude sweep over him, her eyes shining at him with those tears she was fighting. "Thank you"

He ducked his head, trying to appear like he was busy looking for the controls although he really just didnt want her to see him blush. "Thank me later." he tossed out."Preferrably someplace private. Just the two of us. Where we won't be disturbed."

He knelt down and tore off a side panel, his fingers working swiftly as he seperated wires from circuits. He felt her fingers as she ruffled his already touseled brown hair.

"It's a deal." she agreed, causing his heart to jump with hope briefly." After all, I know how much you HATE it when someone interrupts us in the middle of a good Pazaak game."

"Oh no you don't, sister." he chuckled. "That's not what I had in mind and you bloody well know it. This one is gonna cost you."

He was rewarded with a soft laugh as he gave her an obvious once over with his eyes, ending with a playful wink. "Don't worry handsome, " she leanded down to whisper in his ear. "You had me at 'allright damnit'."

"Finally!" he heaved a deep sigh. "Damn you are one tough nut to crack."

There was a whirring noise and he looked up with to see the needles being disengaged from Revan's limbs as the tank began to drain. "I am so good." he complimented himself with a grin.

The hand that had been playing with his hair slid down to stroke one gloved finger across his jawline as Sephir straightened up, watching the glass start to slide down into the body of the machine. "Yes, yes you are."

Freed from the restraints and without the glass cylinder to hold her in, the woman in the tank collapsed, falling forward into Sephir's waiting arms. Atton lifted the woman's legs, easing her down out of the remains of the tank and onto the steel flooring as Sephir cradled her head and shoulders against her torso.

He then went to work on the straps to the re-breather mask, trying to be gentle as he pulled it off the womans face. He grimaced at the marks the straps left, the way her mouth seemed almost glued to the mask, it had been on her for so long. A look of terror appeared in Revan's eyes as she struggled to breathe, her lungs unused to the stale air of the ship and operating on their own without being forced by machine for Force knew how long.

"Easy there, Sarrin.." Sephir soothed, her hand smoothing the other woman's hair, pushing her wet, matted tresses off her brow. "I have you now...it's over, it's going to be allright now.."

"S-Sephir..?" Revan's voice croaked, broken and unused for so long. Something that sounded like a sob broke from her, her thin body shuddering with the effort."is it really....T-3 ..he f-found ..."

"Yes he found me, Sarrin. " Sephir responded, her voice calm and comforting. She laid her fingers over the other woman's lips." I'm here now. Your little droid is quite resourceful. But you mustn't try to talk yet, old friend..save your strength. We're going to get you out of here, get you home safe."

"The sooner the better too." Atton broke in, glancing around." When Mandalore sets of those mines, we need to be off this hell hole."

Revan's eyes glanced over at him, a look of recognition flickering in their depths. "C-Canderous?..."

Atton and Sephir exchanged a glance, the scoundrel shrugging at the sound of the strange name." If you say so sister, I know the man by Mandalore cause that's the name he gave and I make it a policy not to ask. C'mon"

He slipped his arms under Revan's, lifting her easily to her feet. His hands steadied her arms as she clung to him, her soaking wet body shaking with the effort. He watched her bite her lip as she struggled to get her feet under her, a sob of frustration and pain escaping her as her legs buckled and she fell against him.

"I..I can't.." she confessed, her head hanging in shame. For a moment, Atton felt pity for her. She seemed so helpless at the moment, so ...defeated. Nothing like the proud, cruel Dark Lord of the Sith he had served.

Visas Marr's voice broke the momentary silence, laced with a touch of apprehension. " My master...I sense him approaching"

Atton swore under his breath and scooped the soggy former Sith Lord up in his arms. "C'mon, lets make tracks before Darth Creepy gets here!"

"No...I..I will only slow you down." Revan tried to push away from Atton, but was too weak to cause any effect other then get his clothing wetter. "Sephir..listen to me...I know his weakness. Better to face him here...where you can isolate him from his troops"

"Now this sounds more like Revan.." Atton muttered. "So whats the plan then?"

"He draws his power from others...from me." Revan continued, still fighting to keep her voice steady."H-he will try to do the same from you..but he has to be stopped..."

"I will stop him, old friend." Sephir replied, her voice a steely promise as her hands gripped her twin sabers tightly."I will see that he never does this to another."

"I know you will my friend..I know.." Revan's eyes closed briefly as she seemed to struggle with something. When she opened them again, they were clearer, stronger with resolve."You cannot allow him to draw from my power, weakened as it is...even if it means you have to kill me to stop him."

Atton almost dropped her out of suprise. "What?"

Sephir shook her head, her voice cracking with emotion. "No...never. I'm going to save you this time, Sarrin." Tears spilled down her cheeks."Like I should have before...I should have stopped you, before the war, or..or at Malachor... even if it meant losing you as a friend...I should have..."

"Sephir...listen to me.."Revan's voice started to falter, and she seemed about to cry herself. Atton steeled himself, two crying women were more then he could handle."I'm tired...so tired..I tried to fight him, stop him but I couldnt. He's used me, used my power to destroy planets..like I destroyed them, after Malachor. Like I destroyed Telos." her eyes turned to the viewscreen with a haunted look." I -I couldnt...stop him...just like I didn't stop Malak before Telos.."

"Sarrin, that wasnt you..." Sephir began.

"Y-you dont know what this means to me, you couldnt know.." Revan continued in a hushed whisper, her voice growing thick with some powerful emotion, some pain. " Telos..when we bombed it before, it destroyed someone's life...someone I've grown to care for very much.I'd rather die here then be a part of destroying it a second time...I won't let that monster use me to hurt him again.."

"Look lady..."Atton snapped, reaching the end of his patience. "Didn't you hear Seph? She said no, not a chance. And I'm not going to let you put that decision on her shoulders." Then added as an afterthought " She also said you werent supposed to waste your strength talking, by the way."

"Atton's right, Sarrin." Sephir flashed him a grateful smile, brushing the tears off her cheeks."Besides, there's no way Im going back to face your Admiral without you."

"Sephir, Nihilus is too strong, you dont under..." Revan began to argue, then a look of confusion crossed her face" My...what?"

"Your Admiral. Surely you remember him?" Sephir looked innocently at her friend. 'Tall, dark hair,big soulfull brown eyes, gorgeous in a scruffy sort of way,strong, broad shoulders, really nice tight...."

Revan's eyes lit up, hope blossoming in them for the first time as color rose on her cheeks. "C-Carth? You've...seen him..?" her voice came out as a breathless rush.

"Uh huh" Sephir nodded, stepping closer and poking her friend playfully with one finger "He asked me to find you. I have a message for you, if you'd care to hear it. But if you're in such a hurry to die, and you arent interested in what he has to say.."

Revan's hand caught hers, a look of pleading in her eyes that almost made Sephir regret her teasing. " Please, tell me he's still safe. I-I thought that by now, he would have believed that I had turned back to the darkside..to the Sith..betrayed the Republic again, b-betrayed him..that he had given up on me..Nihilus...he tried to tell me that Carth had been k-killed but I knew, my heart knew he was still alive...is he? Please tell me that he is."

"He's out there, commanding the battleship Sojurn right now." Sephir nodded towards the viewport where the Republic ship orbited Telos, fighter ships swarming around it like bees, forward guns blazing as she held her ground against the Sith fighters "They made Commander Onasi into an Admiral now, but nothing has stopped him from putting all his resources into looking for you, dear friend"

"He's here? Out there?" A single tear escaped Revan's lashes, slowly trailing down her cheek."He...still believes in me then?"

"He asked me to tell you,"Sephir brushed her friend's tear away with the back of her hand "that Carth Onasi is still waiting for you."

Revan, former Dark Lord of the Sith, conqueror of the galaxy, hero of the Mandalorian Wars, and one time Jedi Knight, broke. Her body shook with sobs as she turned to bury her face in Atton's shoulder, crying like a child in his arms. He froze for a moment, caught by suprise at her reaction, not sure what to do. He tried not to think about what he would have felt in her place, in the Admiral's place...what if Sephir were taken away, and he didnt know what had happened to her all this time.

"Awww hell.." he groused, rocking Revan gently. "That's it...that Schutta Nihilus has gotta die."