Star Wars_ The Old Republic_ Revan - Drew Karpyshyn [69]
Revan was speaking slowly, the words coming out only as fast as the details came into focus. His recollections were still hazy and jumbled. The original time and place of each specific memory was unclear. Mandalore had told him some of this. Other details had come from the datacron in the tomb. Most of it he had learned much later, after he and Malak had journeyed into the Unknown Regions themselves.
It was impossible to sort it all out. Out of necessity, his damaged mind had collapsed his memories into one another, merging them into a semi-coherent whole as he’d slept.
“Mandalore helped the Sith find Dramath’s hidden crypt,” he continued. “The Sith took the remains to give to his Master, and in exchange he told Mandalore of a vision his Master had had of the Mandalorians rising up against the Republic. He told him they would conquer world after world, crushing their enemies until the Republic collapsed in on itself. He promised the Mandalorians a glorious victory, and Mandalore believed him.”
“Mandalore the Ultimate wouldn’t lead us into war against the Republic just because some stranger told him we’d win,” Canderous protested.
“It’s more complicated than that. The Sith used the power of the dark side to manipulate him. Only as Mandalore lay dying at my feet was the spell finally broken and he realized he’d been tricked. That was why he told me about this place. So I could come and see for myself.”
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Canderous said. “You say the Sith tricked Mandalore into attacking the Republic. But why?”
“I don’t know,” Revan admitted. “Maybe it was a test of your strength. Or ours. Maybe the Sith are planning another invasion, and they sought to weaken the Republic.”
“But you don’t know for sure?”
“I’m remembering more and more, but there’s still so much missing.” Revan paused before adding, “Maybe I’ll find the answers on Nathema.”
“Nathema?”
“The hyperspace coordinates are on the datacron. I think Malak and I went there to try to learn more.”
“Is Nathema the world you keep dreaming about? The one covered in storms and darkness?” Canderous asked.
Revan closed his eyes and concentrated, summoning the image that had haunted him for so many nights. He tried to associate the vision with the name, but somehow he knew it didn’t fit.
“No. The planet in my dreams isn’t Nathema.”
“You’re sure?”
“I can’t really be sure of anything,” Revan confessed. “But it just doesn’t feel right. I think … I think we went there after Nathema.”
“And when you returned, you tried to conquer the Republic. Just like Mandalore.”
Revan shook his head. “It’s not the same. Mandalore was a warrior, and he had no loyalty to the Republic. Convincing him to attack was more persuasion than domination. The Sith was only telling him what he wanted to hear; he was playing off Mandalore’s own hidden desires.
“But Malak and I were Jedi. It would take more than some persuasive words and a subtle push from the Force to turn us to the dark side. Something else happened to us out there. We found something that changed us.”
“You don’t think going to Nathema again is a little risky?” Canderous asked.
“I have to,” Revan answered. “It’s the only way I’ll find out what happened.”
“What if the same thing happens again?”
“I’ll be more careful this time. My guard will be up.”
“Do you think that’s going to make a difference?”
“I hope so.”
“So when do we leave?”
“You’re not coming,” Revan said. “You have to stay here with your people.” He held up his hand to cut off any protests. “Veela was right about one thing—you should be the leader of the Mandalorians. The Mask is there, just waiting for you to claim it.”
“You need my help,” Canderous insisted. “I turned my back on Veela when she needed me. I’m not going to make the same mistake with you.”
“That’s why you have to stay,” Revan told him. “The Mandalorians were tricked into a war