Lord Revan/Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Three days after the Sith meeting on Korriban

The ceiling of the Onderonian throne room glowed with light. Below it, a small crowd was gathered and was listening intently to Queen Thalia while they all waited for the transmission from Captain Riiken that the Sith had resumed their assault. Behind her, several Jedi stood waiting for the battle that would come, including Grand Master Zhar Lestin and the stern looking Master Vrook Lamar.

"...evacuation will be overseen by my servants. Jedi Padawans, when I give the word, you will organise the civilians and lead them to the evacuation point."

Many of the civilians looked terrified. However, one young man called out.

"What if we want to help fight the Sith?" he demanded. Many of the civilians around him applauded and cheered.

"If you are of age according to your species, you may fight." This was greeted with a smattering of applause. Then, quite suddenly, the air was torn apart as a cold voice echoed through the Palace.

"I know that you are preparing to fight." There were screams amongst the gathered crowd, some looking in terror for the speaker. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot stand against me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the members of the Jedi Council. I do not want to spill your blood wantonly."

There was a silence in the throne room now. A ringing silence, that pressed against the eardrums of everybody in the room.

"Surrender," said Revan's voice, "and none shall be harmed. Surrender and I will leave Onderon untouched. Surrender and you shall be rewarded. You have until midnight."

The silence swallowed them again. Every heas turned to face Queen Thalia, awating her decision. Then, a woman in the crowd shouted.

"I say we surrender! Revan will slaughter us otherwise."

Before Thalia could speak, each and everyone of the Jedi around the room had ignited their lightsabers and were pointing them at the woman.

"Thank you," said Thalia. "You shall leave first, I think."

A large number of the crowd filed out of the room, leaving around two hundred behind. Vrook stepped forward to speak.

"We only have a short amount of time, so we need to act fast! A battle plan has already been agrred between the Royalist war cabinet and the Jedi Order. Queen Thalia and Masters Kavar, Zez-Kai El and Quatra will take groups of fighters up to the ramparts of the Palace. There, they will have an excellent position to rain death down upon the Sith forces. Meanwhile, Masters Zhar, Dorak and myself will take Jedi into the grounds, where we will be able to delay the Sith army. We'll need Kiph," he said, indicating the green Twi'lek, "to go to the main control room and set off electrical charges and other traps upon the Sith."

Kiph nodded and ran towards the control room.

"All right," continued Vrook. "Leaders up here and we'll divide the troops."

There was a sudden clattering, and hundreds of men on drexls came into the Palace. Queen Thalia bowed low to one of them before speaking.

"You've brought the Beast-riders?"

"Yes," replied the man. "We heard Revan from outside the city walls, so we've come to help. If Revan wins here, he'll destroy us next."

Suddenly, Vrook came past with his Jedi, running out onto the Sky Ramp, igniting their lightsabers as they ran.

Minutes later, the sounds of battle could be heard from the Sky Ramp. Lightsabers were humming while blasters fired and the screams of the injured carried to the Palace. Thalia ran off to the ramparts, while the Beast-riders charged towards the Sky Ramp.

Two hours later, the battle was still raging and now, the sounds of lightsaber dueeling could be heard coming from the entrance hall of the Palace. The Sith had entered. Two Jedi were fighting back-to-back each one engaged in a lightsaber duel, every combatant's lightsaber moving incredibly quickly. One of the Dark Jedi's mask lipped off to reveal a young, pale man with jet black hair.

"Hello, Atton!" bellowed the Jedi he was duelling. Atton snarled and swung his lightsaber above his head before bringing it down to meet the Jedi's. The Jedi managed to push Atton away and slash him across the arm, leaving a large burn and the awful smell of burnt flesh. The o