Episode 23 - Star Forge
Stardate: 41331.5.
Earth Standard Date: May 1, 2364.
Location: USS Enterprise-D, Omicron Pascal System.
"Number One, please inform Ensign Tyson that our arrival at Starbase 74 will be delayed a week." Picard straightened his uniform jacket, tugging it sharply into place. "I believe the good Admiral wishes to satisfy his curiosity regarding the man who saved his life. He's scheduled a full evaluation of Tyson's actions since arriving on the Enterprise."
Commander Riker nodded. "Aye, sir." He tapped his combadge. "Riker to Ensign Tyson."
"Tyson here," came the prompt response.
"Ensign, I wanted to inform you that Admiral Jameson has insisted on evaluating your progress when we arrive at Starbase 74 in two weeks."
"Understood, Commander. Thank you for the update."
As Riker signed off, Tyson leaned back in his chair. He had taken to staying within his Personal Reality, but leaving a small portal opened to an unused section of the Enterprise so that he could still receive communications through his combadge. Now, he needed to decide how best to spend his newfound time. In his suite within the Housing Complex, the remnants of breakfast still lingered on the table. The warm aroma of Tyson's coffee and T'Pol's tea filled the air.
"Two weeks," Tyson mused, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee mug.
"How do you intend to utilize this period?" his companion asked.
Tyson smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Well, I was hoping you might have some input on that, T'Pol. I'd like to spend some of this time with you if you're amenable."
"That would be... agreeable," T'Pol replied with a hint of warmth that Tyson had learned to recognize. "However, I must remind you that my duties continue, regardless of your temporary reprieve."
"Of course. I wouldn't dream of interfering with your work. But perhaps we could explore some shared interests during your off-hours?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Would you like to go on a date with me to the arboretum? We could search for special plants, like we did on Haven."
After a moment's consideration, T'Pol nodded her agreement. "Very well. I accept your invitation. It seems like a... logical way to spend our time."
Tyson reached for her hand, and their fingers intertwined. He opened another portal to the Enterprise, and together, they strolled toward the arboretum. The lush greenery and soft lighting created an idyllic setting for their date. The air was rich with the mingling scents of various plants. His eyes landed on a tree with vivid crimson leaves, their edges tinted with hints of amber and gold. As they drew nearer, an aromatic scent wafted from the foliage, spicy yet subtly sweet.
"This tree reminds me of you, though I can't quite pinpoint why," Tyson remarked.
"Indeed. It is Vulcan spice tea. The leaves are dried and steeped to produce a popular variety of tea on my homeworld. You have observed me drinking it many times, which likely explains the association."
Tyson studied the tree with new appreciation. He carefully selected the smallest sapling and uprooted it. Rich soil clung to its roots as he cradled the plant, and they resumed their leisurely stroll through the arboretum. Their path led them to a tiny, secluded corner glade covered with soft, verdant grass. Feeling a touch of whimsy, Tyson asked, "Would you like to join me in the grass?" he asked, attempting to inject an air of romance into their walk.
"While I do not typically engage in such frivolous activities, I am willing, for you, Tyson."
He gently guided T'Pol into the vibrant green patch, which was marked with a sign as Klaban grass. They sat on the soft, cushioned ground, facing each other with their knees touching. The air was filled with the soothing scent of the grass, creating an atmosphere of serenity that enveloped them. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centering himself in the moment.
Glancing down at the lush grass beneath them, an idea formed. With gentle care, Tyson uprooted a small section of grass and cradled it alongside the Vulcan spice tea sapling.
They rose to their feet and resumed their stroll through the arboretum, with Tyson carefully balancing his acquisitions. As they completed their circuit, they stumbled upon a quaint gift shop nestled among the verdant greenery.
A captivating aroma wafted through the air, guiding T'Pol to a display of potted plants labeled Jibalian Fudge Thistle. The rich, chocolate-like scent was simply irresistible. Despite her stoic Vulcan demeanor, T'Pol found herself inexplicably drawn to the small herbaceous plant. Its alluring aroma seemed to bypass her logical defenses, tapping into a hidden, indulgent side she rarely allowed herself to experience.
Tyson couldn't help but playfully tease as she examined the velvety purple blooms with fascination. "It appears that even Vulcan women cannot resist the allure of chocolate."
A subtle green flush colored her cheeks as she raised an eyebrow, acknowledging the unexpected truth in his words. "It seems you are correct," she admitted.
He watched as T'Pol's fingers hovered near the velvety petals, not quite touching but close.
"You know," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial, "The sign says that this plant has some rather interesting properties. Beyond its taste and strong scent, it can induce a mild euphoria in certain species."
T'Pol's eyebrow arched higher. "Indeed? I assure you that Vulcans are immune to such effects."
Tyson chuckled softly. "Of course, of course. But surely you can appreciate its aesthetic qualities and unique aroma?"
"It is... pleasing," she conceded.
Tyson gently picked up one of the potted Jibalian Fudge Thistles, cradling it alongside the Vulcan spice tea sapling and the patch of Klaban grass. "Well, then. I think we've found the perfect addition to our little botanical collection."
As they made their way to the counter, Tyson noticed T'Pol's gaze lingering on thir most recent acquisition with something that looked suspiciously like anticipation.
The shopkeeper, a jovial Bolian with bright blue skin, greeted them warmly. "Ah, excellent choices! The Jibalian Fudge Thistle is particularly popular for its uses in cooking and desserts."
The shopkeeper packaged their plant, and upon leaving the arboretum, Tyson opened a portal to his Personal Reality. They stepped onto the island of Crete with their recent acquisitions.
"Do you have anywhere in particular you were thinking of planting these?" she asked.
"I do have something in mind," he admitted. With a gesture, he pulled up the system menu.
[100 RP] Guardian's Greenhouse (Personal Reality)
This greenhouse is set up for geoponics/terraponics, hydroponics, or aeroponics. All plants/fungi grown in your Greenhouse are guaranteed to be either vibrantly tasty and nutritious or peak effective. The Greenhouse comes with a Soil Analyzer, which can analyze a plant or seed to determine what conditions it needs to produce optimal results and produce soil, clay, mulch, rock, atmosphere, or hydro-solutions to match. It can also analyze soil samples you give it and recreate them. Adds a custom Guardian Chiller to all kitchens in your Personal Reality. Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Herbs, Mushrooms, and similar produce stored in a Guardian Chiller are guaranteed not to lose their flavor over time and to remain at the peak of ripeness as long as that's where they were harvested. Plants within the Guardian's Greenhouse will begin growing in appropriate environments across your Personal Reality, and a steady supply of any edible portions of the plants will be added to the Guardian Chillers.
Reality Points: 800
Slowly, a structure began to materialize a short distance from the other buildings. It solidified into a magnificent greenhouse that seamlessly blended with the surrounding architecture. The greenhouse's walls were a combination of marble columns and expansive panels of crystal-clear glass.
"This is the Guardian's Greenhouse. It's a facility designed for optimal plant growth and cultivation. Would you like to come inside with me? We can plant our new acquisitions together."
"That would be agreeable."
The air inside was perfectly regulated, warm and humid without being oppressive. The scent of rich earth filled their senses.
Tyson led T'Pol to a central workstation, where they carefully set down their plants from the Enterprise's arboretum.
"Where shall we begin?" Tyson asked, gesturing to the array of planting areas around them. There were raised beds filled with rich, dark soil, hydroponic systems with nutrient-rich water flowing through them, and even sections set up for aeroponic cultivation.
T'Pol considered for a moment, her eyes scanning the options. "Perhaps we should start with the Vulcan spice tea sapling," she suggested. "It would likely benefit from soil similar to that of my homeworld."
Tyson nodded, moving to the Soil Sampler and Analyzer. "Excellent idea. Let's see what we can do."
He placed a leaf from the sapling into the device, and within moments, it had analyzed the plant's needs. The machine hummed to life, mixing and preparing the perfect soil composition. A minute later, the Soil Sampler beeped. Together, they carefully transplanted the Vulcan spice tea sapling into its new home in a raised bed near the center of the greenhouse.
As they patted the soil around the sapling's base, their hands brushed against each other. Tyson felt the spark of a psychic connection. He looked up to find T'Pol's eyes on him.
"Shall we plant the Klaban grass next?" Tyson asked softly, not wanting to break the moment.
T'Pol's fingers lingered near his for a moment longer. "Yes, I believe that would be logical. Its properties may prove beneficial for meditation practices."
They moved to another section of the greenhouse, this one set up for larger ground cover plants. As they prepared the area for the Klaban grass, Tyson couldn't help but reflect on how this simple act of planting together felt like nurturing more than just flora; it was growing the connection between him and T'Pol as well as enriching his Personal Reality.
The tranquil moment in the Guardian's Greenhouse was shattered when a warning message flashed across his HUD, the words appearing directly in the middle of his field of view
Red Alert.
Recognizing the urgency of the notification, he realized it could only be from one person, the only one who could control his suit like that. Vicky. She'd merged with all her VIs, so Ivy was part of her once more. The message began scrolling.
The Ebon Hawk has entered the Lehon system with a Republic fleet.
T'Pol immediately sensed the shift in his demeanor.
"I need to go. It's time. D'Lavina is attacking." She moved to join him, but Tyson shook his head. "I appreciate you and value you, so I say this kindly. You are not ready for a fight like this yet. You're not familiar enough with your Space Wizard powers or Photonic Rapier to the point where you could enter a battle with a Jedi like Revan. Please return to your Enterprise for now."
Tyson's empathy allowed him to sense the undercurrent of concern that T'Pol masked. But finally, she replied, "I understand. Good luck, and please consider my recommendations."
He gave a final nod and opened a portal to the false-Star Forge station they'd positioned near Lehon's star. Without hesitation, he stepped through, leaving T'Pol to return to the NX-01. The space station was a hive of activity, with the Soong-type android crew, all Vicky VI's hidden within Sith armor, working in perfect synchronicity. Tyson immediately moved to the central command console.
"Vicky, what's the situation," he demanded.
The real Vicky entered the room through a portal to stand beside him. "The Ebon Hawk has entered the system, accompanied by a substantial Republic fleet. They're headed straight for us. I've already begun mobilizing our forces. The token Sith fleet is moving to intercept. This facility has no shields; it's about as open a target as we can make ourselves."
"I want all available Sith androids equipped and ready for combat."
"Understood," Vicky replied, fulfilling Tyson's orders through her various autonomous bodies.
— Star Jumper —
The stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across the endless void of space. In the distance, massive fleets of warships from both the Republic and the Sith forces had gathered. Republic Hammerhead cruisers formed the vanguard. On the opposing side, Interdictor cruisers surrounded by swarms of Sith interceptors and bombers hovered around the capital ships. As the two fleets drew closer, the tension was palpable. Turbolaser batteries charged, and squadrons of starfighters flew in formation.
Suddenly, the standoff was shattered by a barrage of turbolaser fire. Emerald and crimson lances of energy crisscrossed the void, striking shields and deflector arrays. The first casualties began to mount as smaller vessels were caught in the crossfire.
Republic Aurek-class strikefighter squadrons weaved through the hail of enemy fire, unleashing proton torpedoes and concussion missiles upon the Sith capital ships. Explosions blossomed across the hulls of the dreadnoughts, their shields flickering under the strain.
The Sith retaliated with Interceptors that swarmed the Republic lines. Laser cannons blazed, cutting down the Republic fighters.
Lord Malak ordered that the Sith Interdictor cruisers not engage their gravity well projectors, allowing damaged Republic vessels to retreat.
Through it all, the False Star Forge remained untouched in the distance.
The battle raged on, with both sides suffering losses. Republic and Sith fighters engaged in deadly dogfights, and capital ships exchanged devastating broadsides.
Vicky and Tyson watched the battle from the False Star Forge's Viewing Platform. Turbolaser fire crisscrossed the void, illuminating the darkness with emerald and crimson hues.
"I need them to take the bait," Tyson mumbled as he studied the unfolding conflict.
"Maybe we need to sweeten the pot," Vicky suggested. "Give them a little extra incentive."
Tyson nodded slowly. "Yeah, maybe I need to do something to make D'Lavina notice me. I could go out there and stir things up a bit."
"That's risky," Vicky cautioned. "The Interceptors aren't durable. One stray shot, and you'll be space dust."
"You're right." Tyson pulled up his System menu, scrolling through the options.
He'd always planned on improving the Narada and added the Modular upgrades to the more recent purchases to take advantage of sharing the benefits of multiple ships. But there was one purchase he'd been eyeing for a while. He'd held off purchasing it because it used Character Points, which he'd been running low on. He'd much rather use Ship Points, but he'd resolved to stop being stingy with his points when it came to overcoming D'Lavina. Plus, regardless of how strong he was, if the ship he was piloting were destroyed, it'd all be for naught.
[200 CP] Iconic Item (Items)
This status can be attached to any item (chosen when this is purchased). In addition to never needing to be cleaned, maintained, sharpened, refueled, recharged, or reloaded, and always functioning properly, this item will now gain the abilities of any item of the same type (melee weapon to melee weapon, computer to computer, vehicle to vehicle, etc.) that has system backing, if you want to add those abilities. If destroyed this item returs to your Warehouse in 24 hours.
If he purchased the Iconic Item and designated a spaceship, it would gain the properties of his other spaceships. It was an elegant solution.
Tyson purchased the Iconic Item and picked out a random Sith Interceptor from those remaining inside the False Star Forge. Immediately, the starfighter began to transform, its hull shifting and expanding as it took on the capabilities of Tyson's other vessels.
Character Points: 150
The Sith Interceptor now boasted a formidable array of weapons and defensive systems. Its hull bristled with turbolaser batteries, small phaser arrays and missile launchers. Powerful deflector shields enveloped the craft, that now had multiple ftl options.
Tyson grinned. The ship had every upgrade any of his Spaceships possessed.
Iconic Interceptor
(Ship Size Rating: IV) (General Upgrades: Artificial Gravity, Auto-Repair System, Bridge Upgrade, Modular, Exotic Materials: Nanomaterials, Exotic Materials: Crystal, Secure) (Sections: Cargo Bay, Cryo-Chambers, Hangar, Living Quarters, Production Lines) (Controls: A.I. Core, Distributed, Synapses) (Crew: Follower Crew, Automated Ship) (Propulsion: Alcubierre Drive, Hyperdrive (Transwarp), Hyperdrive, Inertialess Drive) (Reactors: Battery Banks, Fusion Reactor, Antimatter Reactor, Negentropy Reactor) (Sensors: Navigation Suite, Analytic Suite) (Shields: Physical Armor, Point Defense, Deflector Shields, Gravitic Shields, Jump Suppression Field, ) (Utilities: Docking Port, Entertainment Deck, Transporter Room, Clarktech Matter Printer) (Weapons: Beam Weapons, Missiles, Cyber Warfare Suite (Mining Drill), Nanite Shroud)
As Tyson vaulted into the cockpit, Vicky splayed her hand on the Interceptor's hull. Her consciousness flowed into the ship, integrating herself with the AI Core. The hull widened, and the central area of the ship scaled up slightly to accommodate the Bridge Upgrade. Settling into the command chair, Tyson sensed the Interceptor responding to his thoughts, becoming an extension of his will. Through the Synapses neural interface, his mind melded seamlessly with Vicky's within the Interceptor. With a thought, he guided it from the hangar into the raging battle beyond. Follower Crew members in Sith armor entered the bridge, manning the other stations, though with Tyson directly controlling the ship with his mind, they were mainly for apperances.
The ship moved as if alive, connected to his mind. Now, to put it through its paces. Vicky's consciousness within the A.I. Core embraced his, ready to unleash hell. As the Iconic Interceptor entered the battle, Vicky and Tyson's minds interfaced, working together. Vicky processed all the incoming sensor data of the hundreds of ships surrounding them, seamlessly passing all relevant data to Tyson's mind while he controlled the ship.
A Republic Hammerhead cruiser was his first target. Its turbolaser batteries spat emerald bolts at the Sith capital ships, not noting his presence. Tyson locked onto the vessel, and the Interceptor's forward-facing laser cannons and its phaser array opened fire. Crimson-orange lances of energy lashed out, slamming into the cruiser's shields. The Hammerhead's deflector arrays flickered and wavered. It didn't take long for the Iconic Interceptor's Rating-IV firepower to collapse the cruiser's shields, leaving its hull exposed. With a thought, a swarm of missiles streaked from the Interceptor. These projectiles, gained from the Narada, swarmed toward the defenseless Hammerhead, targeting non-vital systems. Explosions blossomed across its hull as the missiles found their mark, shredding through armor and superstructure.
The cruiser was left adrift. The Iconic Interceptor banked hard at unmatched speed, its Inertialess Drive allowing it to defy the laws of physics.
Another Hammerhead cruiser filled the Interceptor's targeting reticle. Again, the laser cannons and phasers blazed, and another volley of swarm missiles followed. This time, the cruiser's shields held longer, but they, too, ultimately failed under the relentless barrage.
By the time Tyson had crippled a third Hammerhead, the Republic forces had taken notice of the new threat in their midst. Several cruisers broke formation, and their turbolaser batteries swiveled to track the Iconic Interceptor.
But the Interceptor was no mere starfighter. Its advanced systems and upgrades made it a force to be reckoned with. Tyson pushed the throttle forward, and the ship surged ahead, its Inertialess Drive allowing it to outmaneuver the slow-turning cruisers easily. As the Interceptor danced through the hail of turbolaser fire, a new threat emerged. A squadron of Republic starfighters, led by the Ebon Hawk, broke off from the main battle and gave chase.
Under Tyson's direction, the Interceptor broke away from the battle, retreating toward the False Star Forge.
Vicky's voice crackled over the comm. "Sith Interceptor squadron, engaging the Republic fighters."
Laser cannons blazed, and the Republic fighters scattered, their pilots reacting with to avoid the flanking Sith. But one ship remained on Tyson's tail and refused to be deterred.
The Ebon Hawk.
Tyson's lips curled into a grin as he recognized the freighter-turned-starfighter. The Iconic Interceptor raced back toward the False Star Forge with the Ebon Hawk hot on its tail. Laser fire scorched the void around them as the Republic freighter refused to break off its pursuit. As they neared the station's entrance, Tyson opened a portal leading directly into the Automated Repair Facility within his Personal Reality. Into the 'true' replacement Star Forge. With a deft maneuver, he guided the Interceptor through the shimmering gateway, the ship vanishing from normal space.
To any outside observer, it would appear as though the Interceptor had docked within the False Star Forge itself. But in actuality, Tyson had transported it to his Personal Reality where it would be safe.
Once inside the Repair Facility, he opened another portal and stepped back onto the False Star Forge Viewing Platform.
"The Ebon Hawk has docked," Vicky reported.
— Star Jumper —
Sure enough, the feed showed the modified freighter had settled into one of the station's hangars. Tyson watched as the boarding ramp lowered, and a group of figures emerged.
D'Lavina led the way, clad in revealing dark robes. Avner strode at her side. Canderous Ordo, the grizzled Mandalorian mercenary, followed close behind while Carth Onasi, the Republic soldier, kept a wary hand on his blaster pistol. Zaalbar, the Wookiee, brought up the rear, his crossbow held at the ready. Then, the last member came into view.
HK-47.
Tyson cursed. The droid's presence explained how he'd lost the Ebon Hawk the first time. HK wasn't part of their group when he saw them on Tatooine. It must have been somewhere on the Ebon Hawk, and he missed it. He wouldn't have detected the droid with empathy, and apparently not with the Force. He suspected some plot armor shenanigans were at play, but it explained how the Ebon Hawk had been stolen and his other ship destroyed.
They encountered resistance as the group left the Hangar Bay and made their way deeper into the station. Squads of Sith troopers emerged from side corridors. But unbeknownst to the group, these were no ordinary troopers. They were Soong-type androids, all controlled by Vicky. The androids opened fire. D'Lavina reacted, her lightsaber igniting with viridian plasma. She deflected the incoming fire, sending the bolts ricocheting harmlessly off her blade. Avner was a whirlwind of motion, his own purple lightsaber a blur as he tried to cut down the android troopers. Canderous and Carth added their own firepower to the fray, their blasters barking in rapid succession. Zaalbar let loose a roar as his bowcaster released bolts.
On the bridge, Tyson watched the unfolding battle with grim satisfaction. "Keep the pressure on them," he instructed Vicky. "Let them advance, but make sure it's a slow progression. Do your best to wear them down."
"Understood," Vicky replied as the commands were instantly relayed to the android forces.
Tyson opened a portal and stepped through, leaving Vicky alone on the Viewing Platform.
The battle inside the 'Star Forge' continued, but it quickly became apparent that D'Lavina and her companions were facing a far more formidable enemy than they had anticipated. The Sith Troopers moved with uncanny coordination; their reactions were faster, and their targeting was more precise than any common soldier the group had ever encountered.
Avner closed on a trooper and slashed with his lightsaber, aiming for its midsection. To his shock, the blade met unexpected resistance when a shimmering energy field flickered to life, blocking his lightsaber and leaving the trooper unharmed.
"They have personal shields!" Avner shouted.
D'Lavina gritted her teeth. "Focus your attacks! We need to overload their shields!"
Canderous unleashed a barrage from his heavy repeating blaster, the rapid-fire bolts hammering against a trooper's defenses. The energy field flickered and wavered under the sustained assault.
"Damn it!" the Mandalorian growled. "All this to take down just one of them?"
Carth ducked behind a fallen piece of debris, popping up to squeeze off a few blaster shots. "We're not making a dent in them!"
HK-47's metallic voice cut through the chaos. "Observation: These meatbags seem to possess superior defensive capabilities. Suggestion: Perhaps a tactical retreat would be advisable, master."
Zaalbar roared in agreement, providing cover fire for Carth as they fell back. D'Lavina's face was a mask of concentration as she reached out with the Force, attempting to push back the advancing line of Troopers. But her Force Push washed unaffectively over the Sith trooper's shields.
"Fall back!" she commanded, using her lightsaber to bat away incoming bolts as she covered the group's retreat. Avner moved in perfect sync with D'Lavina, the two Force users created a protective barrier of deflected blaster fire as their companions withdrew. But for every Trooper they managed to stagger or push back, another seemed to take its place.
Canderous unleashed a final, furious barrage from his repeating blaster before turning to sprint toward the ship. "We need to come up with a new plan!"
Carth nodded grimly, providing covering fire for the Mandalorian mercenary as they retreated. "He's right. We're outgunned and outmatched."
D'Lavina's eyes narrowed as she deflected another volley of blaster fire. She could sense something was off about these troopers, but in the heat of battle and with their shields, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. "Everyone, to the ship!" she ordered over the din of combat.
As they neared the Ebon Hawk's boarding ramp, the Sith troopers intensified their assault, seemingly intent on keeping them pinned down. Blaster fire rained down on the retreating group, forcing them to duck behind cover and stalling their final sprint to safety.
As D'Lavina and her companions were trapped so close to the Ebon Hawk's boarding ramp, they all heard a sound that crushed their hopes of escape.
The freighter's ramp unexpectedly began to rise.
Confusion and alarm rippled through the group as they realized they were now cut off from their only means of escape.
Unknown to them, Tyson had already infiltrated the Ebon Hawk, using his ability to create portals to gain access to the ship. He had bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With the Jumper's Master Key, he easily reclaimed control of the ship's systems.
The Ebon Hawk's engines roared to life, and the ship began to lift off.
Avner reached out with the Force in a desperate attempt to halt the escaping vessel. His hands clenched into a fist as he poured his will into the effort.
To Tyson's surprise, just as the Ebon Hawk ascended, its progress was stopped. He felt Revan's invisible bonds of Force engulfing the vessel. "You've gotta be kidding me," he mumbled, feeling the freighter shaking as its engines strained against Revan's formidable power.
"Vicky," he said through gritted teeth, "I need a distraction."
Vicky's consciousness, housed within the Gray Goo Suit, heard his request, and the androids in the hangar bay responded immediately. They shifted their focus, and their blaster rifles trained solely on the Jedi, Revan and D'Lavina.
The two Force users suddenly encountered a relentless barrage of energy bolts. Their concentration shattered as they were forced to focus on deflecting the incoming fire and abandon their efforts to hold the Ebon Hawk in place. Canderous, Carth, and Zaalbar did their best to adjust to the sudden shift in the Troopers' tactics; they didn't have a defensive counter but tried to provide cover for their Jedi.
Then, even more troopers joined the fight. Blaster bolts ricocheted off the durasteel walls, filling the air with the acrid scent of ozone and scorched metal. Canderous unleashed a torrent of curses as he ducked behind a fallen piece of debris. Carth and Zaalbar found themselves pinned down.
With Revan and D'Lavina fully occupied, their focus split between deflecting blaster bolts and shielding their companions, Tyson seized the opportunity, pouring power into the ship's engines to free the Ebon Hawk. The freighter surged forward, escaping the hangar bay and soaring into the void beyond. Tyson initially thought of bringing the ship into his Personal Reality. But he quickly dismissed the idea, wary of the potential risks involved. Instead, he opened a portal into the space above Taris. He guided the Ebon Hawk through the portal, emerging in the ecumanopolis's orbit.
Once safely in the void of space, Tyson opened another personal portal leading back to the Viewing Platform of the False Star Forge, leaving the Ebon Hawk adrift in Taris' orbit for now.
He reported, "The Ebon Hawk is secure,"
Vicky responded, "D'Lavina and her companions are still aboard the station, trapped in the hangar bay."
"Good. Let's see how they handle the next phase of our little game."
— Star Jumper —
D'Lavina and Avner exchanged a grim look as they surveyed the overwhelming forces arrayed against them. With the Ebon Hawk gone, their escape routes had dwindled to nothing. They scanned their surroundings frantically.
Carth called out, "There!" He pointed to a corner of the hangar. "An elevator!"
They had initially avoided it, wary of being trapped in such a confined space. But with blaster fire raining down on them and their options rapidly diminishing, the elevator suddenly looked like their only choice.
The group made a mad dash for the lift, deflecting blaster bolts and returning covering fire. They piled in, and as the doors slid shut, a barrage of shots peppered the metal surface.
Carth, breathing heavily, consulted his datapad. "According to the scans of this place, we can take the elevator to the command deck. From there, we follow the corridor to the eastern elevator, which leads to the Viewing Platform. That's where we should find Malak."
In the relative quiet of the elevator, D'Lavina furrowed her brow. Finally, she was able to place what was bothering her about their enemies. "These Sith troopers... they have no Force presence."
Avner nodded grimly. "I took a closer look at the one of the few we defeated. They're droids."
Canderous let out a low whistle. "Strongest combat droids I've ever seen. And I've seen plenty."
The elevator doors slid open, and they quickly found themselves again in the thick of battle. They fought their way across the station, blasters blazing and lightsabers humming. Surprisingly, the resistance was much lighter here. It was as if the Sith had overextended their forces, focusing on stopping the group at the hangar.
HK-47 took point, leading them toward the east elevator. They entered a large, circular room, and the droid assassin paused. The door to the east elevator was sealed shut, and no amount of trying to slice the control panel or force the doors open was effective. The other two exits were equally inaccessible.
Only one door remained open.
"Observation: This is undoubtedly a trap, master," HK-47 stated.
Carth grimaced. "We don't have any other options."
The others nodded in agreement and cautiously approached the sole open door. It turned out to be another elevator. They stepped inside, and it began its ascent.
Avner suddenly tensed at a strange sensation at the back of his head. "Something's wrong," he muttered.
D'Lavina nodded, her face etched with concern. "I sense it too, but we need to keep moving."
The elevator doors slid open, and the group cautiously stepped onto the Viewing Platform. Malak stood with his back to them, cutting an imposing figure, silhouetted against the Lehon star and the vast expanse of space visible through the massive viewport. To his side, a few meters away, stood a figure wearing a Mandalorian helmet that watched them enter.
Carth leveled his blaster rifle at Malak, the others quickly following suit. "Don't move, Malak," he growled, his finger ready on the trigger.
Malak slowly turned to regard the intruders. "Ah, the great heroes have arrived. I must admit, I'm impressed you made it this far."
D'Lavina stepped forward and ignited her green lightsaber with a snap-hiss. "It's over, Malak. Surrender now, and we can end this without further bloodshed."
"Oh, but the battle has only just begun, my dear."
Avner's eyes darted between Malak and his apprentice. Then, the apprentice reached up and removed his Mandalorian helmet, tossing it aside.
Gasps could be heard as they realized it was Tyson underneath the mask.
"Why are you working with him?" Avner demanded. "You're not Sith."
Tyson smiled enigmatically. "Things aren't always as they seem, Avner. Or should I say... Revan?"
The name hung in the air like a physical presence. D'Lavina's eyes widened in shock while the others looked at Avner in confusion.
Malak let out a harsh laugh. "Oh yes, your council has been keeping secrets. The great Revan, reduced to this... a pawn of the Jedi."
Avner, or rather Revan, shook his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
D'Lavina stepped closer to him. "Revan... it can't be."
Tyson moved away from the viewport, circling the group. "It's true. The Jedi Council captured Revan after Malak's betrayal. Rather than let such a powerful Force user die, they gave him a new identity." he paused dramatically before saying, "Avner is Revan, reborn. What better way to defeat your greatest enemies than to set them upon each other?"
The revelation sent shockwaves through the group. Carth's face twisted in anger and betrayal, while Canderous, surprisingly, looked almost pleased. Revan struggled to process this information as images flashed through his mind. "I... I don't remember... but I've been having visions, or maybe they're flashbacks."
Malak mocked, "Of course, you don't remember. The Jedi took that from you. But now you're beginning to see, to remember."
D'Lavina's grip on her lightsaber tightened. "Even if what you say is true, it doesn't change anything. We're here to stop you, Malak."
Tyson raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that, D'Lavina? Did you tell them your secret?"
All eyes turned to D'Lavina, who suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.
"Oh, I think you do. You're not who you claim to be either, are you? You're not even from this universe."
D'Lavina's companions looked at her with a mixture of confusion and suspicion.
"What is he talking about?" Carth demanded.
Her shoulders sagged slightly. "I..."
Tyson interrupted, "D'Lavina here is an Orion, a race whose women have a unique trait. They release pheromones that allow them to control men."
Malak laughed coldly. "And here I thought I was the greatest threat to the galaxy. It seems you have an even more dangerous interloper in your midst."
D'Lavina's eyes flashed with anger. "That's not true! I'm here to help!"
"By manipulating people to your liking?" Tyson challenged.
Revan stepped between them, his head still reeling from the rapid revelations. "Enough! Whatever the truth is, we're here now. We need to focus on stopping Malak and destroying the Star Forge." He pointed his lightsaber at Tyson. "Have you allied yourself with the Sith?"
"I have allied myself with no one but my own goals," he replied. "Malak is merely a means to an end."
"You're a fool if you think you can control him," Canderous rumbled, his repeating blaster leveled at Tyson. "The Sith answer to no one."
Malak's laughter boomed again as his hand drifted to the hilt of his lightsaber. "Enough talk. It's time to end this charade."
D'Lavina tensed, raising her blade defensively. "We don't have to do this, Malak. There's still a chance to walk away from the dark side. To join me."
Malak's eyes narrowed, and his lightsaber ignited with a crimson blaze. "The only chance you have is to embrace death."
The Sith Lord charged forward, and his blade clashed against D'Lavina's in a shower of sparks. Carth and the others opened fire on Tyson, but he activated his red lightsaber and deflected the blaster bolts.
The clash of lightsabers filled the air as D'Lavina and Malak traded blows. Revan watched the duel unfold, his mind still reeling from the revelations about his true identity. He could sense the power radiating from D'Lavina, her Force presence burning bright and intense. But Malak... there was something off about him.
Carth and the others continued firing at Tyson, and a few of their blaster bolts even got past his guard. But those bolts dissipated against a shield that rose to protect him. Frustration etched across Carth's face as he emptied another volley to no avail. Canderous growled as his heavy repeater proved equally ineffective.
Revan reached out with the Force to sense their opponents' presence. But it was like grasping at smoke. "This isn't right," he mumbled, eyeing Tyson warily. "Something's not adding up." Malak and Tyson's signatures were muted, almost non-existent. A frown creased his brow. For someone as powerful as Malak, his Force aura should have been overwhelming.
D'Lavina disengaged from the duel, leaping back to gain some distance. She shot a questioning look at Revan, silently communicating her confusion.
"I sense it too," Revan said grimly. "Their Force presences... they're suppressed somehow."
Malak let out a harsh laugh; his artificial voice grated their ears. "Ah, the great Revan finally begins to see the truth."
He charged forward. D'Lavina raised her lightsaber to parry the attack. Malak battered her defenses, raining down a flurry of blows that drove her back, step by step.
Revan moved to aid her, but Tyson stepped into his path. "I'm afraid this is between them, Revan. You'll have to go through me."
Canderous leveled his blaster at Tyson. "With pleasure."
The Mandalorian opened fire, but Tyson parried Canderous' bolts. In his off-hand, Tyson leveled a remote-control-style phaser and fired at the Mandalorian. Canderous let out a grunt of pain as the stun beam slammed into him, dropping him to the deck. Carth raised his blaster and fired at Tyson. But his red lightsaber deflected each shot with almost casual precision. Carth's eyes widened as Tyson's phaser pointed toward him, and then everything went black as he, too, was struck by a stun beam.
Revan reentered the battle, making a large Force-assisted leap at Tyson. Purple lightsaber met red as their blades clashed in a shower of sparks and crackling energy. Tyson parried and blocked each strike, fighting defensively. Across the platform, D'Lavina found herself hard-pressed against Malak's assault. A series of rapid strikes drove her back, step by step.
Zaalbar's bowcaster spit a barrage of energy bolts at Malak, forcing the Sith Lord to break off his attack to deflect the incoming fire. D'Lavina seized the opportunity, launching a counterattack that turned the tide in her favor.
Revan disengaged from his duel with Tyson, spinning to aid D'Lavina against Malak. The two Jedi moved in perfect sync. Malak's defenses crumbled under the dual onslaught. D'Lavina saw her chance and took it. Her emerald blade lanced forward in a blindingly fast strike.
The blade pierced Malak's chest. As it withdrew, he sank to his knees. He dropped his blade, and the crimson glow of his lightsaber snuffed out.
Tyson used the opening to hit Zaalbar with two shots from his phaser, then moved to rejoin the fray, but he was too late. Revan and D'Lavina had already turned their attention to him and raised their lightsabers in a challenge.
He didn't back down, engaging the two opponents. They pressed the advantage relentlessly, their strikes coming from multiple angles, probing for any weakness in his guard. Revan saw an opening and seized it. His purple blade lanced forward in a lightning-fast strike. Tyson tried to parry, but the Jedi's blade sliced through his defenses, cleaving through his forearm in a shower of sparks and severed circuitry.
Tyson staggered back, and his severed hand and lightsaber clattered to the deck.
He dropped to one knee, his remaining hand clutching the cauterized stump of his wrist as D'Lavina leveled her blade at his throat.
"Surrender," she commanded, her voice hard as durasteel.
Tyson's head dropped, his shoulders slumping in apparent defeat.
But Revan's eyes narrowed as he studied the scene more closely. Tyson's severed hand wasn't covered in seared flesh and blood. Instead, it was a tangle of broken circuitry and metal. He glanced at the gaping hole in Malak's chest, and his suspicions crystallized.
"It's not them," Revan growled, his voice laced with disgust. "We've been fighting droids this entire time."
D'Lavina closed her eyes, reaching out with the Force to sense her surroundings. What she felt through the Force and what she saw with her eyes were distinctly different. With a growl of frustration, she threw her lightsaber at the ground. The floor in that area immediately shifted to reveal a simple, solid black floor.
"It's a holodeck," she spat. "We've been tricked."
The Tyson-android laughed a deep echoing bellow. D'Lavina cut it off with a quick slice, severing the android's head from its body.
Revan's brow furrowed as he took in their surroundings. "We need to backtrack and follow the original path," he said as he bent down. He claimed the fake Tyson's red lightsaber and donned the Mandalorian-style helmet he discarded. He glanced over at the prone forms of Carth, Zaalbar, and Canderous, who were still unconscious from the android-Tyson's stun blasts.
"What about them?"
HK-47's synthetic voice cut through the tension. "Declaration: Leave the meatbags. We need to finish this."
D'Lavina nodded grimly. "He's right. We'll come back for them."
The three turned and left Zaalbar, Carth, and Canderous behind, with HK-47 leading the way.
They reached the sealed door they had initially avoided, and Revan jabbed his purple and crimson blades into the heavily reinforced durasteel, slowly slicing through the bulky metal. Eventually, the door fell aside, revealing another corridor leading to an elevator.
As they moved cautiously forward, D'Lavina couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her grip tightened on her lightsaber hilt, and she stretched her senses to their limits but still sensed nothing at their destination.
Back on the Entertainment Deck, where the androids had fought the group, the real Tyson shimmered into view, deactivating his Scaling Cloak as he appeared beside the prone forms of Carth, Zaalbar, and Canderous. He opened a portal and grabbed the humans. As the elevator doors slid shut behind D'Lavina, HK, and Revan, they remained none-the-wiser that Tyson was dropping Carth and Canderous on beds within the Medical Bay of his Personal Reality. Another quick trip, and they were followed by the Wookie, who was large enough that Tyson needed two hands to carry him.
Bastila and Mission, who'd been within his Personal Reality since he left Tatooine, stood nearby, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.
"What's going on?" Bastila demanded, her eyes flicking between the unconscious forms of their former companions.
"They'll be fine," Tyson reassured, "But they've been under D'Lavina's control. She emitted pheromones to manipulate them. The Medical Bay will clear their system of her influence."
Tyson opened another portal and stepped through, gesturing for Bastila and Mission to follow him. The two women found themselves in the cockpit of the Ebon Hawk. Tyson opened a portal in space outside the ship. He piloted the modified freighter, heading through the opening to the Lehon system, where the battle still raged. He set the Ebon Hawk in an area away from the battle but in view of the False Star Forge suspended in orbit around the sun.
The station had previously been in a high orbit, but now it quickly sank toward the star's surface. Unbeknownst to all except Tyson, this was Vicky's doing.
It was the final part of their trap.
Planned back when they purchased the station. With the A.I. Core and Secure upgrades, the station was under Vicky's control, and no one could adjust the station's heading from within.
The pair were trapped with no escape vessels on a station set on a collision course with a star.
"D'Lavina and Revan are still on the station," Tyson said.
Bastila gasped. "You know Avner was Revan?"
Tyson nodded gravely, he smoothly lied. "I could sense the taint of the Dark Side on Revan." He opened another portal.
Then, with as much conviction as he could muster, he announced, "I need to make sure they don't destroy the Star Forge and that Revan doesn't fully turn to the dark side." He closed his eyes, locking in his resolve, ensuring it was truly his goal. Then he turned to Bastila and Mission, reannouncing his intentions to them and the universe, "I'm going to save the Star Forge and prevent Revan from embracing the Dark Side."
As he stepped through the portal, Mission called out, "Good luck, Starbreaker!" using his moniker earned in the Taris Dueling Ring for added emphasis.
On the False Star Forge, Revan, D'lavina, and Revan strode up the steps to the true Viewing Platform to find it empty. Their footfalls echoed off the metal deck plating in the vast chamber.
Halfway up, HK-47 paused as he stepped into a puddle of viscous silver liquid. The substance clung to his metal feet and legs like a shiny tar.
"Query: What is this secretion?" the droid grumbled, scraping at it with little success. "Deduction: Undoubtedly, some meatbag's refuse."
D'Lavina and Revan ignored the droid's antics and continued their ascent to the large panoramic windows. Lehon's enormous yellow-orange star dominated the view, swirling gases and plasma flaring as the station lost altitude. Seemingly caught in its gravitational pull, the False Star Forge sank ever closer to oblivion in the star.
"We haven't much time," Revan said. "The Star Forge's defenses won't last long in that heat."
D'Lavina turned to examine the chamber, looking for the computer consoles. There had to be controls for the station's emergency thrusters nearby.
"Statement: We will be incinerated. There are no escape craft within the station," HK-47 reported matter-of-factly as he continued fruitlessly wiping at the silver goo clinging to his feet and climbing up his legs.
Horror etched across her features as she took in the looming inferno. The star swelled before them, its golden flames licking ever closer.
Revan closed his eyes, his brow creasing in concentration. He flung out a hand, the Force rippling from his fingertips. The station jerked to a halt, metal groaning in protest. Sweat beaded his temples from the effort. But his connection to the Force was strong. He was able to take hold of the 'Star Forge.' Roaring plasma ejected from the star filled the viewport, and scorching heat was seeping through the hull, warming the Viewing Platform uncomfortably. But with Revan's intervention, the station no longer fell closer to the star. It now hung precariously on the precipice of the point of no return.
"We need to leave now!" Revan said through clenched teeth. Veins bulged under the strain as he used all his focus to stave off disaster, but he couldn't maintain this for long.
D'Lavina grabbed his hand. She closed her eyes and added her efforts to his. Together, they focused and called upon the Force. Slowly, the station began moving away from the star.
Revan grunted with the effort. "We can't... keep this up... for long."
D'Lavina nodded, her face a mask of concentration. "We need... to find another... solution."
— Star Jumper —
Tyson stepped through the portal from the Ebon Hawk into the False Star Forge and activated his Scaling Cloak. Invisible to the senses and sensors, he made his way to the Viewing Platform to see Revan with his hand out in concentration. Tyson underestimated his strength in the Force. He single-handedly halted the station's movement, keeping it from plummeting into the sun. D'Lavina grabbed his hand, adding her efforts to his. Together, they slowly moved the False Star Forge back toward a safe orbit.
Revan grunted with the effort. "We can't... keep this up... for long."
D'Lavina nodded, her face a mask of concentration. "We need... to find another... solution."
Tyson shook his head at the plot-armor-shenanigans happening before his eyes. They were able to fight against the False Star Forge's thrusters and the gravitational pull of a star?
Pure bullshit.
He crept behind the focused pair, relying on the stealth field of his Scaling Cloak to hide his presence.
But as he neared, Revan and D'Lavina both stiffened as the Force screamed a warning of impending danger.
Whirling quickly, Revan leapt clear, but not before Tyson's upward slash connected with his helmet. The Mandalorian-Style durasteel split and fell off as he sailed away under the power of his Force-assisted jump, unharmed. D'Lavina ignited her blade and thrust it toward where the Force warned of the threat. Her lightsaber flashed through empty air as Tyson followed through his slash at Revan and dodged.
But his attack had served its purpose. It broke their concentration.
The False Star Forge groaned as its descent towards the star resumed.
Her weapon still lit, D'Lavina slashed at Tyson again, but his shield flared to life, stopping her follow-through. Seizing the opening, he grabbed her throat. His Augment strength and Best of the Best Perks combined to create an iron grip. His Perk Q This activated the moment he got his hands on her, mitigating her reality-warping plot armor. He drove his Lightsaber deep into D'Lavina's chest. She gasped, her eyes going wide in shock. Revan shouted in rage. He channeled the Force, into a focused push, telekinetically throwing Tyson violently away.
Sliding to a halt several meters away, Tyson swiftly regained his feet as Revan rushed to D'Lavina's side. Glancing outside, Tyson noted the station's dangerous proximity to the roiling sun's surface.
He was tempted to leave now via portal but didn't.
There was no doubt that without confirming her death, the trope where the hero improbably survives would come into play.
Tyson mumbled, "Vicky, make sure you're recording this."
Revan, unmasked after Tyson's opening slash, looked up. Yellow crept into his eyes as the Dark Side fueled his grief and anger.
"I will never forgive you for this," he spat, equal parts curse and vow. He ignited both his purple lightsaber and the red one he'd picked up from the android earlier, cutting an iconic figure.
The Viewing Platform trembled as the False Star Forge continued its descent toward the star. The air grew thick with tension as Revan faced Tyson, wielding his dual lightsabers. Tyson stood his ground, his own Lightsaber and Laser Blade casting an eerie glow across the metallic floor.
Revan's face contorted with rage, and his yellow eyes burned with an intensity that matched the star looming outside. With a primal roar, Revan lunged forward, his dual lightsabers whirling in a deadly dance of purple and crimson. Tyson parried the first strikes, and the clash of their weapons sent sparks flying. But the Force-enhanced strength of Revan's attack pushed Tyson back.
Tyson ducked under a horizontal slash, feeling the heat of the blade pass over his head. He countered with a quick thrust, but Revan batted it away effortlessly. The Jedi-turned-Sith was a whirlwind of motion, his lightsabers creating a near-impenetrable defense. Tyson gritted his teeth, focusing on maintaining his defense against Revan's relentless assault. He could feel the heat rising in the room as the False Star Forge drew closer to the star.
Time was running out.
Revan feinted left, then struck from the right. Tyson barely managed to deflect the blow, the force of it sending him staggering backward. He bumped into a control panel, and an idea sparked in his mind.
"The station, Revan," Tyson shouted. "We're going to crash into the star if we don't do something!"
For a moment, Revan's eyes flickered, a hint of their former clarity returning. But the darkness quickly reasserted itself. "Let it burn," he snarled. "As long as you burn with it."
Revan launched into another series of attacks. Tyson found himself being driven back, step by step, toward the massive viewport. The star loomed larger now, its fiery surface filling most of the view. Sweat poured down Revan's face as he attacked. He could feel the heat of the star even through the station's hull. The False Star Forge groaned and shuddered around them, systems failing as it plummeted toward its doom.
In a desperate move, Tyson reached out with the Force, grabbing a loose piece of machinery and hurling it at Revan. The Sith Lord sliced through it easily, but the distraction gave Tyson the opening he needed. He lunged forward, his lightsaber arcing toward Revan's chest.
Revan twisted at the last second, avoiding a fatal blow, but Tyson's blade sliced across his arm. Revan cried out in pain and anger, his yellow eyes blazing with renewed hatred.
The duel intensified as Revan's fury fueled his attacks. Tyson found himself on the defensive, barely able to keep up with the onslaught. The Grievous training program on the holodeck didn't hold a candle to Revan's mastery. His strength with the Force was evident in every move, every strike. He seemed to anticipate Tyson's actions before he made them. And, using the Dark Side, he bent the Force to his will, making any warnings from the Force unreliable and mandating Tyson rely on his enhanced reflexes and training. Without his weeks of holodeck training, Tyson would've fallen quickly under Revan's impossibly fast attacks.
Revan pressed his advantage, his dual lightsabers creating a dazzling display of purple and red light. Tyson's shield flared repeatedly as it absorbed glancing blows, each impact draining its energy. The False Star Forge continued its descent, the heat in the room rising to uncomfortable levels.
Tyson gritted his teeth, focusing on maintaining his defense. He knew, in terms of raw Force power, he was outmatched. But he had other advantages, if he could just find an opening to use them.
In a bold move, Revan leaped high, somersaulting over Tyson's head like he was goddamned Anakin Skywalker. It should have been his doom, a move Tyson could have easily countered.
But it wasn't.
The move was impossibly fast, as if gravity worked differently for Revan. It was more like he teleported rather than jumped. As he landed, he thrust both lightsabers toward Tyson's back. Tyson spun, managing to deflect one blade with his own lightsaber, but the other slipped past his guard.
In a split-second decision, Tyson disabled his shield. The purple blade continued forward to thrust through Tyson's armor…
And winked out of existence.
Revan's eyes widened in shock as his lightsaber deactivated upon contact with the cortosis-plating in Tyson's Gray Goo Suit. The unexpected turn of events threw him off balance.
Tyson seized the opportunity, launching a counterattack. His Lightsaber and Laser Blade moved in perfect harmony, forcing Revan to discard the purple lightsaber in his retreat.
The tables had turned.
Now, it was Revan using both hands on the single red lightsaber and struggling to keep up with Tyson's assault.
"Enough!" he roared. Revan raised his hand, and Tyson sensed him gathering Dark Side energy and could see the crackle between Revan's fingers. He reactivated his shield, and the shimmering barrier appeared just in time to take the Force Lightning attack.
As Revan ceased his attack, the shield dropped with a slight popping sound. They both knew what it meant. Its power had been completely expended, leaving Tyson vulnerable.
"This is the end for you," Revan said, "Any last words?"
Tyson cheekily replied, "Yeah. Look out behind you."
The Force screamed a warning, and Revan spun, just barely deflecting a blaster shot from HK-47.
The droid's usual rusty red color was gone, completely replaced by a silver sheen. Revan closed the distance in the blur of Force Speed, his lightsabers flashing as he slashed at the droid's neck. HK-47's head tumbled off, but even as it fell, the Force screamed another warning at him.
Tyson was on him, his own Lightsaber and Laser Blade clashing against Revan's in a two-on-one weapons lock. Tyson pushed with all his might, his Augment-enhanced strength far exceeding that of a normal human. But Revan drew upon the Force. His eyes burned with hatred as he matched and exceeded Tyson's power.
Then Tyson used Sever Force.
Revan's Force-enhanced strength faded, giving Tyson an exceptional advantage. The former Sith Lord was forced to a knee, barely able to hold against the weapons' lock.
His blade was trapped, engaged with Tyson. Momentarily cut off from the force, Revan couldn't receive warnings about any incoming attacks.
Then, they both heard the unmistakable sound of a blaster firing.
Revan gasped in pain as a bolt struck him in the back. Another shot rang out, and another, each one punching through his robes.
The headless HK-47 continued firing, smoke curling from the barrel of his blaster. Revan stumbled, and his defenses faltered.
Impossibly, the severed droid head that had hit the ground melted and flowed like liquid metal. The silvery goo streamed up and into the droid's leg, reforming and reshaping the droid into a humanoid figure.
Vicky.
Tyson didn't take any chances. He capitalized on Revan's failed defenses. With a powerful two-handed swing, he slashed both of his blades in a brutal cross-cut.
Revan's body was bisected at the waist, and his head tumbled free a moment later.
The Jedi turned Sith Lord, turned Jedi, and back again, was dead.
Moving quickly, Tyson scooped up Revan's fallen lightsabers and tossed them through a small portal he opened into his Warehouse. Glancing out the viewport, he saw the looming star growing ever larger.
It wouldn't be long now before the False Star Forge was consumed.
Tyson knelt beside D'Lavina's still form, his face unreadable as he studied her wound. The smell of charred flesh hung heavy in the air.
He knew what he needed to do. All his preparations had led to this moment. The final step was to put his faith in the plan… and T'Pol's Vulcan logic.
He announced aloud, "The Star Forge will be destroyed. I tried to stop it, but it seems I failed. I tried to stop Revan's fall to the Dark Side, but I failed in that, as well."
Tyson turned to D'Lavina and said, "I'm worried that the Dark Side has tainted you, like Revan."
D'Lavina, who'd been clutching her impaled-then-cauterized chest, weakly shook her head, trying to say it wasn't true. Her eyes now held a mixture of pain and desperation. She struggled to speak but only managed a faint whisper lost in the dying station's rumble.
"Though I believe I've finally won the Barter By Combat. So you owe me safe passage and accommodations, and I don't need to be your willing servant." Tyson said lightly.
D'Lavina's eyes widened at his words, a flicker of recognition passed across her features, and she smiled despite her grievous wounds. She tried to push herself up, but the pain from her wound was too great. She fell back, gasping for breath.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I had to do it. I needed to stop the Sith Lords."
He glanced at Revan's bisected corpse, then back to D'Lavina. "I killed Malak, and I knew Revan would turn to the Dark Side. I knew it the entire time since the moment I woke up in this universe… I knew there was a chance he would. I had to stop him before he could corrupt you, D'Lavina. It was the only way."
"Why did you have to fight me so hard? I wanted this station to be the hope for the galaxy, but now, it'll be destroyed."
"But I'd be lying if I said my reasons were purely altruistic. I wanted you badly when I saw you on that Tramp Freighter. Even from that moment, I knew we were meant to be together. I nearly submitted to you before we were pulled into that anomaly. I thought I'd lost you when I woke up in this universe, and you weren't there. But, when I first saw you again, you had a harem of men following you." D'Lavina shook her head adamantly, and tears welled in her eyes as Tyson continued, "I admit, I'm a jealous man. It's why I never became a Jedi. If I had, I'd have fallen just like Revan. I don't like competition; I'd kill any man who placed his hands on you. But now it's just you and me, and Vicky, too, right Vicky?"
"Right," Vicky replied from nearby.
D'Lavina opened her mouth, but no words came out. She coughed, a trickle of blood spilling from her lips, her eyes pleading.
Tyson held her in his arms, the Q This Perk mitigating her plot armor. He didn't need to take any further action. If he just held her in his arms, she'd die from her wounds. He could easily take her life with his weapons or bare hands. She was defeated.
But he couldn't be sure.
Plot armor was fickle like that.
D'Lavina lay broken before him, no longer the unstoppable force. He gazed down at her pale green face, blood still trickling from the corner of her mouth. A gentle smile played across his lips. "Look at my eyes. There's no yellow taint of the Dark Side. I haven't been corrupted. It's the opposite. I feel like… It's hard to say… It's almost like being near you, holding you, has saved me. We're here, together. I'm with you at the end. We've stopped the Sith Lords, and the destruction of this station has been… my redemption."
Mary Sue (Drawback) Removed!
Tension drained from Tyson's shoulders. The conditions had been met. D'Lavina had accepted that she'd redeemed Tyson and made him part of her harem. She'd opposed his actions, the Fake Star Forge was doomed, and she believed she'd turned him to her side.
The Mary Sue Drawback lifted like a heavy cloak falling away.
"Don't worry. Lady D'Lavina. I'll save you."
Tyson tore open a portal to his Personal Reality. He lifted D'Lavina's limp form, carrying her through to his Medical Bay. Vicky followed, assisting as he placed the critically injured Orion onto one of the diagnostic beds. Blue light washed over the wounded woman as the bed's scanners activated, targeting and beginning to repair the charred flesh where Tyson's lightsaber had struck.
Behind them, orange light bloomed through the portal's opening as solar plasma breached the False Star Forge's failing hull. Tyson flexed his will, sealing the portal shut before the station's death could reach through into his Personal Reality.
Vicky stared at the now unconscious D'Lavina, watching as the Medical Bay went to work healing her. "I can't believe that actually worked," she said finally, shaking her head. "You managed to completely manipulate her right up until the end. That was some masterful gaslighting."
Tyson gave a thin smile, though his eyes remained fixed on D'Lavina. "I simply treated the drawback like a prophecy," he replied after a moment. "She was destined to oppose my goals and try to force me into her harem no matter what." He let out a long breath. "I made my goal to keep her from destroying the station, and it ended up destroyed. The true Star Forge is gone, decommissioned. The 'fake' replacement we put in its place has also been destroyed. The Sith Lords are dead. Both Malak and Revan. With just the two of us left, pledging ourselves to her, her harem quota was met. I gave her exactly what she and the Drawback wanted." He gave a bitter laugh.
"It's almost poetic, in a twisted way. We fulfilled her story."
Vicky eyed D'Lavina's motionless form, uncertainty furrowing her brow. "Are you certain bringing her here was a good idea? You could've just left her to die."
"Maybe, but a true Mary Sue would find some way to recover. From her perspective, I've been redeemed by saving her," Tyson replied, "Besides, if you look at everything objectively, she hasn't done enough to merit me killing her. She never harmed me. The biggest inconvenience she caused me was destroying the Interdictor and stealing back the Ebon Hawk. But now, I have the Ebon Hawk back, and the Iconic Interceptor has all the qualities of the Interdictor anyway. Besides, technically, HK-47 did those things, and you absorbed him, so he's 'dead.' Outside of the Drawback, she would never have been an issue, and without it, thanks to Untainted, I'm immune to her pheromones."
He looked over the Orion one final time before turning to Vicky completely, "We have time to decide what to do with her. Her wound would've been fatal, so it'll take some time for the Medical Bay to bring her back to full health." He paused, considering, before finishing, "I think so long as we stay true to the conditions that removed the Drawback, we don't have to worry about her."
Vicky burst into laughter. "So we'll have to continue being her harem?" Her shoulders shook as she struggled to contain her mirth. "Great strategy there, Tyson. I can't believe you're willing to go along with that."
"It was T'Pol's idea. I just put my own spin on it. D'Lavina understands the rules now. I made it clear. No men in her harem, not after what happened to Revan and the others." A ghost of satisfaction crossed his features. "The 'prophecy' binds her as much as it did us. She won't risk my fall to the Dark Side or becoming homicidal by recruiting more men. Especially now that she knows what I'm capable of."
Understanding dawned on Vicky's face. "You brilliant bastard. You didn't just escape her harem. With her only able to pick up women, you turned it into YOUR harem."
The corner of Tyson's mouth curved upward, and his eyebrows bounced in an exaggerated way that somehow managed to be both playful and smug. "I notice you aren't exactly complaining about the arrangement." he added, "Just in case, we'll make another purchase for the Medical Bay to ensure that she's properly rehabilitated."
[200 RP] The Counseling Bay (Personal Reality)
This upgrade helps you (or anyone else) work through any psychological issue. A couch and solid-light therapist are included. This does not work instantly. More severe issues will require multiple hour-long sessions.
Reality Points: 600
Shortly afterward, the remainder of D'Lavina's companions began to stir from their healing. Carth was the first to rise, his eyes blinking rapidly as he took in his surroundings. Canderous, the Mandalorian mercenary, followed suit, and then, finally, Zaalbar roused himself with a low growl.
Tyson watched as they regained their bearings. "Welcome back to being yourselves, guys," he said, trying to project friendliness.
Canderous narrowed his eyes, instantly suspicious. "What does that mean?" he demanded, his hand straying toward the blaster at his hip.
Tyson held up a placating hand. "Come with me. I'll explain everything to everyone, I promise." With a wave of his hand, he opened a portal, revealing the interior of the Ebon Hawk on the other side.
Without waiting for a response, Tyson stepped through the portal, trusting the others to follow. They did, albeit hesitantly, emerging into the ship's main hold. Bastila and Mission were already there, having finished watching the Star Forge's destruction from the viewport.
"What's it looking like out there?" Tyson asked.
"The Star Forge has been destroyed," Bastila reported. "The Sith forces are in disarray, fleeing the system."
Tyson nodded, unsurprised. "Let me explain," he said, drawing the attention of the entire group.
"Back on Taris, after we split, I entered the Leviathan. Lord Malak took an interest in me, and I played along, becoming his apprentice."
Carth scowled at the admission, but Tyson held up a hand to forestall any interruptions. "When I had the chance, I killed Malak and replaced him with a decoy. A droid. That was what you fought on the Star Forge," Tyson continued. "The problem was that you picked up D'Lavina. Like I told you all, she's from a species known as Orions. They have pheromones that allow them to control men. When I realized this back on Tatooine, I brought Mission and Bastila with me to get away from her. On the Star Forge, I had to knock you guys out to get them to leave you behind so I could get you to safety." He paused, letting them digest his words. Canderous shifted uncomfortably while Carth and Zaalbar exchanged an unsettled look. "That, and I could sense the Dark Side taint on Revan, even as far back as when we were on the Endar Spire," Tyson went on. "Then I went back and fought them on the Star Forge. Revan is dead, and D'Lavina was gravely injured."
A heavy silence fell over the group as they processed Tyson's revelations. Bastila was the first to speak. "You killed Revan?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Tyson met her gaze levelly. "Revan had fallen to the Dark Side again," he said. "He was beyond redemption. He would have retaken the mantle as Sith Lord if I hadn't stopped him."
Tyson walked over to a holographic projector. He interfaced his suit to the device, and it flickered to life. The recording showed Revan's face in stark detail, his eyes the sickly yellow of Dark Side corruption. After a few exchanges, Lightning crackled from his fingertips, the Dark Force energy distorting the air before it branched out to splash upon Tyson's shield.
Bastila took an involuntary step back, her face draining of color as she watched the undeniable evidence of Revan's fall. Carth clenched his jaw as he watched. The recording spoke volumes, more convincing than any words could have been. The image flickered and died as the recording ended.
Carth shook his head, his expression conflicted. "I can't believe Avner… Revan would turn like that again," he muttered. "After everything we went through..."
"Believe it," Tyson said. "And D'Lavina was no better, using her powers to manipulate and control you all."
Canderous snorted derisively. "I don't know about the rest of you, but no one was controlling me," he growled.
Tyson arched an eyebrow at the Mandalorian. "Really? Then why were you following her orders so obediently?" Canderous opened his mouth to retort, then closed it again, having no comeback.
"Look, I know this is a lot to take in," Tyson said. "But I did what I had to do to protect you all from the influence of the Dark Side, and the Republic from the Sith."
The crew of the Ebon Hawk exchanged uncertain glances, the weight of recent events still settling on their shoulders. The destruction of the Star Forge, the revelation of Revan's fall, and the manipulation by D'Lavina had left them adrift, their purpose suddenly unclear.
After a few minutes of contemplation, he asked, "Where will you go now?"
Carth opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, shaking his head slightly. Mission fidgeted with the edge of her vest, her usual exuberance dampened by the situation. Even Canderous, typically quick with a gruff response, remained uncharacteristically quiet. Again, it was Bastila who broke the silence. "I suppose we should return to Dantooine and report to the Jedi Council," she said, her voice carrying a hint of resignation. She straightened her posture as if the mere mention of the Council had reminded her of her duty. "They'll need to know about everything that's happened."
Tyson nodded slowly. "That makes sense," he agreed. "The Council would want a full account of what transpired here."
Carth's expression hardened slightly. "And what exactly are we going to tell them?" he asked with a note of challenge. "About Revan? About this... Orion woman?"
"The truth," Tyson replied. "The Council needs to understand the full extent of what was faced here. The threat of the Sith Lords and the Star Forge may be over, but the repercussions of these events will be far-reaching. A new Sith Lord may rise from the remnants. There were still plenty of fallen Jedi among the Sith."
Canderous grunted in agreement. "No point in hiding anything now," he said. "Besides, I'd like to see the looks on their faces when they hear about all this."
Mission piped up, her voice small but determined. "What about me and Big Z?" she asked, glancing at the towering Wookiee beside her. "We're not exactly Jedi material," Zaalbar growled softly in response, conveying his agreement.
Bastila's expression softened as she looked at the young Twi'lek. "You're both welcome to come with us," she assured them. "The Council will want to hear from everyone involved."
"Before we set course for Dantooine, we should take some time to rest and recover," Carth suggested. "It's been a long and difficult journey for all of us." The others murmured their agreement, the exhaustion of their ordeal finally catching up with them.
"What about you, Tyson?" Bastila asked, "Will you be coming with us to Dantooine?"
Tyson considered his response carefully. He glanced around the hold of the Ebon Hawk, taking in the faces of the companions Revan's death left behind. "No," he said finally. "I never visited the council on Dantooine. I was posing as Malak's apprentice while you were there. I was never formally trained as a Jedi. And I worry about what the council will think of my part in all this. I should distance myself from the Jedi and Sith for a time."
Bastila's brow furrowed as Tyson spoke. Her blue eyes, usually so clear, were clouded with uncertainty. "I... understand your hesitation. But I believe the Council would greatly value your testimony. Your perspective could provide valuable insights into the workings of the Sith. Your time with Malak, while troubling, could be seen as a necessary sacrifice in the greater fight against the dark side. The Council has shown wisdom and understanding in the past, even in... complicated situations."
Yet even as she spoke, doubt crept into her voice. Her Jedi training warred with the reality of what Tyson had done, of the choices he had made. She had been raised to view the ways of the Sith as a corruption of the Force. The idea of someone willingly joining their ranks, even as a ruse, went against everything she had been taught.
"I won't deny that your time with the Sith would be... problematic in the eyes of the Council. Especially after Revan's second fall," Bastila admitted, her tone growing more conflicted as she reasoned aloud. "They might question your motivations, your methods. The Dark Side leaves its mark, Tyson. And though I can't sense it on you. Should they, they would be wary of its influence on you."
She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly with her internal struggle. "I find myself torn," Bastila confessed. "As a Jedi, I believe in the wisdom and judgment of the Council. But I also understand your desire to distance yourself, to find your own path."
Mission, who had been listening intently to the exchange, could no longer contain herself. "You can't just leave!" she blurted out. "After everything we've been through? You were gone for so long, and now that you're back, I don't want you to go. You're part of the team!" Mission's voice cracked slightly, betraying the depth of her emotions. "I thought... I thought we were friends. You helped us. You saved us from Taris. You saved us from Revan and that Orion woman. How can you just walk away now?"
She looked around at the others, seeking support. "Tell him, guys! He belongs with us, doesn't he?" The raw emotion in Mission's plea starkly contrasted with Bastila's measured words. The young Twi'lek's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her usual bravado stripped away to reveal the vulnerability beneath. "Please, Tyson. Don't go. We've lost so much already. Don't make us lose you too."
Carth was torn between his suspicion of Tyson's Sith connections and his grudging respect for the man's actions. Canderous remained stoic, more intrigued by the potential fallout of Tyson's decision than any care for the man himself. Zaalbar let out a low, mournful growl, expressing his agreement with Mission and desire for Tyson to stay with the group.
Tyson's expression softened as he looked at Mission's tear-filled eyes. Glancing around at the others, he took in their varied reactions to his decision. He relented, "Alright. I hear you, Mission. How about this? I'll return in... less than a month to check in on you all. How's that sound?"
Mission's face lit up. "Really? You mean it?"
"I do. It'll give me some time to... come to terms with everything that's happened and handle some other things I've got going on. And it'll give you all a chance to deal with the Council without me complicating things further."
"That seems like a reasonable compromise," Bastila said approvingly. "It will allow us to report to the Council without immediate concerns about your unique situation while also ensuring we don't lose contact with you entirely."
Carth, who had been watching the exchange guardedly, finally spoke up. "I suppose that's fair. A month isn't too long, and it'll give us time to figure out our next steps." His pointed look made it clear that his suspicions hadn't entirely faded, though he was willing to accept this arrangement.
Canderous grunted, which could have been interpreted as approval or indifference. Zaalbar let out a series of growls and grunts, which Mission translated. "Big Z says he's glad you're not leaving for good. He says you've proven yourself a true friend and warrior."
Tyson nodded, acknowledging each of their responses. "Thank you all for understanding," he said. "I promise I'll be back before you know it."
With that, Tyson raised his hand, and a portal materialized in the air beside him. "Until next time. Take care of yourselves. And Mission?" The young Twi'lek perked up at the sound of her name. "Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"
Mission grinned mischievously. "No promises," she quipped, her earlier sadness all but forgotten.
With a chuckle and a wave, Tyson stepped through the portal, and then both Tyson and the portal vanished, leaving the crew of the Ebon Hawk staring at the space where he had stood. For a moment, silence reigned in the ship's hold. Then, slowly, conversations began to pick up as they prepared for their journey to Dantooine.
Episode: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Complete!
+1000 RP
Reality Points: 1600
— Star Jumper —
Tyson
Origins: Human, Humanoid, Drop-In, Space Pirate, Bad Guy, Officer
Race: Augment Human-Betazoid (Hybrid)
Character Points: 150, [250 KOTOR (Vicky)]
Reality Points: 1600
Ship Points: 2650
Credits: 115,350
Status Effects: (none)
Drawbacks:
Gauntlet (Locked)
Ensign Marty Stu
A Simple Re'Q'uest
Hybrid (Betazoid)
Amok Time/Blood Fever
Outlawed
Divine Voyeur
Perks:
Cosmic Awareness
Out of Nowhere
Going Native
Live and Let Live
This is (Not?) Rocket Science
Kinda Bland
Determinator
Painted On
Snakeskin
Adaptable
Duelist
Master with your Hands
Best of the Best
Everything Is A Weapon
Augment
Force Specialization: Intelligence
Tactical Info
Sever Force
Specialty: Operations; Sub-Specialties (Communications, Engineering, Piloting)
Speedy Promotions
Untainted
Q This
Items:
Laser Blade
Spacesuit
Agony Booth
Cloaking Minefield
Lightsaber
Gray Goo Suit
Transwarp Beam Equation
Iconic Item: Iconic Interceptor
Companions:
(Vicky) V-KO IV Nursedroid: Access Key, Artificial Intelligence Upgrade, Gray Goo Upgrade, Master With Your Hands, Light Weapon, Jumper's Master Key, Scaling Cloak, Origin: Jedi, Force Specialization: Intelligence, Enhanced Mind, Lightsaber, Armored Robes, Battle Meditation, Origin: AI, Origin: Elite, Memory Banks, Social Algorithms, Above Law and Reason, Pedigree, Planetary Domicile, Photonic Rapier, Security Features, Quantum Locked BUS, Adaptive Personal Force Field, False Star Forge.
T'Pol: Access Key, Origin: Rubber Forehead, Origin: Elite, Above Law and Reason, Pedigree, Distinct Feature, Everone Likes Green Chicks, Planetary Domicile, Photonic Rapier, Protector Drones, Space Elf, Space Wizard, Symbol
Personal Reality:
Access Key (Additional Keys, Key Link)
Control Room
Security System
Antechamber
Warehouse
High-Security Inter-Reality Connecting Door (Star Trek Enterprise, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic)
Medical Bay (The Nano-Medical Lab, The Bio-Synthesis Lab, Microbiome Replacement Lab, The Counseling Bay)
Housing Complex (Basic Nutrition, Choice Apartments, Who's Got the Powa, Pipes Pipes Pipes)
Playing With Portals (Portal Link, Portal Control Rod, Free Portal, Portal Aperature x4)
The Mystical Menagerie
Guardian's Greenhouse
Ship Sections (Cryo-Chambers)
Personal Mini-Reality (The Village, Wildlife for Your Wild Life, The Meaning of Life)
Spaceships:
Tramp Freighter (Destroyed - Respawn on 02/28/2365)
Sith Interceptor (Destroyed - Respawn on 04/18/2365) (Bridge Upgrade)
Automated Repair Station (Ship Size Rating: IV, Station, Bridge, Space Hulk, Artificial Gravity, Cryo-Chambers, Auto-Repair System, Synapses, Distributed, Automated Ship, Analytic Suite, Docking Port, Transporter Room, Matter Printer, Negentropy Reactor, Deflector Shields, Clarketech Module, Production Lines, Hangar, Cargo Bay, Living Quarters)
Narada (Ship Size Rating: IV, Artificial Gravity, Alcubierre Drive, Auto-Repair System, Exotic Materials (Nanomaterials), Cargo Bay, Hangar, Hyperdrive (Transwarp), Antimatter Reactor, Navigation Suite, Analytic Suite, Deflector Shields, Missiles, Cyber Warfare Suite (Mining Drill)
Interdictor (Destroyed - Respawn on 04/18/2365) (Ship Size Rating: III, Artificial Gravity, Hangar, Hyperdrive, Fusion Reactor, Navigation Suite, Point Defense, Deflector Shields, Jump Suppression Field, Beam Weapons, Follower Crew)
False Star Forge (Destroyed - Respawn on 05/01/2365) (Ship Size Rating: III, Station, A.I. Core, Entertainment Deck, Exotic Materials: Nanomaterials, Modular, Secure, Nanite Shroud)
Symbol (Ship Size Rating: II, Distributed, Battery Banks, Physical Armor, Beam Weapons, Gravitic Shields, Exotic Materials: Crystal, A.I. Core, Modular, Inertialess Drive)
Iconic Interceptor (Ship Size Rating: IV) (General Upgrades: Articial Gravity, Auto-Repair System, Bridge Upgrade, Modular, Exotic Materials: Nanomaterials, Exotic Materials: Crystal, Secure) (Sections: Cargo Bay, Cryo-Chambers, Hangar, Living Quarters, Production Lines) (Controls: A.I. Core, Distributed, Synapses) (Crew: Follower Crew, Automated Ship) (Propulsion: Alcubierre Drive, Hyperdrive (Transwarp), Hyperdrive, Inertialess Drive) (Reactors: Battery Banks, Fusion Reactor, Antimatter Reactor, Negentropy Reactor) (Sensors: Navigation Suite, Analytic Suite) (Shields: Physical Armor, Point Defense, Deflector Shields, Gravitic Shields, Jump Suppression Field, ) (Utilities: Docking Port, Entertainment Deck, Transporter Room, Clarktech Matter Printer) (Weapons: Beam Weapons, Missiles, Cyber Warfare Suite (Mining Drill), Nanite Shroud)