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**Hrtofdrkns** · August 24th, 2007, 07:48 AM

Master Darus placed a hand on Halren's shoulder. "It's alright, his power is weakened by that force field, and I'm here with you."

Revan's anger threatened to overwhelm him again. Indeed, he would have already been inside Halren's mind, if only he could.

"The jedi are nothing but children cowering in terror before the dark." Revan spoke calmly. "They would have you believe that the dark side is somehow "evil", when in fact it is the universe's natural state. Is the predator evil for eating it's prey? Of course not. It is the same with people. The weak exist only to benefit the strong."

"Will you look at yourself Revan?" Master Darus asked. "You draw your power from hate, anger, and domination. But when was the last time you felt happiness, joy, or affection for another?"

Revan went silent. "I..."

"You can't anymore, can you?" Darus continued. "Do you see Halren? That is the ultimate price of the dark side."

**Peeker** · August 24th, 2007, 05:08 PM

"...to... not feel... love?"

Despite his master's hand, this last admission made Halren feel a bit more frightened. He took another half step back before steadying himself.

He straightened... took a step forward, away from the Jedi, towards the Sith Lord, and bowed again - as he would to one of his betters.

His eyes shone sympathetically. ...though he often hid it, Halren's bleeding heart was one of his truly endearing qualities - one that few but Darus had seen.

"....I'm sorry, sir. I.. I hope you get better." The boy lowered his head a little further before straightening, and taking a step back. "...I'm sorry."

**Hrtofdrkns** · August 24th, 2007, 06:56 PM

That did it.

Revan threw himself against the force field. "You dare show me pity! You pathetic whelp of a jedi!"

"We're done here Halren." Master Darus said, leading him out.

**Peeker** · August 24th, 2007, 07:08 PM

The two walked in silence for a moment as Darus led his Padawan out. The boy reached behind him, rubbing his rear against the rough cloth, and sighing in discomfort.

He felt tired already. More than tired... worn. His heart was already filled with crying and fear and forgiveness, today. He just wanted... To feel put together again. To feel... less on-edge. He needed to meditate. He needed to feel... warm. Calm. Like he belonged... and didn't need to worry.

"...Master?" The boy tilted his head up slightly to look at the man, unsure if what he'd said in the cell was right, or wrong, or if he'd made a mistake. "...can... can we spare some time? I... Feel...." He didn't know how to say it. Another pause to collect his words. Not-at-ease... unbalanced... "...Troubled."

**Hrtofdrkns** · August 24th, 2007, 07:14 PM

"I understand." The man nodded sympethetically. "It isn't easy to see just how far one can fall." He gently placed a hand on the boy's back. "You should rest for now."

**Peeker** · August 24th, 2007, 07:19 PM

"But what about training?" The boy lowered his head again. "I... I'd rather stay with you. ...can we meditate? ...do... do you have time?"

**Hrtofdrkns** · August 24th, 2007, 07:23 PM

"That was part of your training, to see what the dark side is, what it can do to you." Master Darus told him. "Of course I'll stay with you, as long as you want."

**Peeker** · August 24th, 2007, 07:25 PM

Halren nodded, a little ashamed that he felt so young, asking to cling to his Master.

"...thank you sir." The boy said, softly, before falling back into step, with him, wherever the man might lead.

**Hrtofdrkns** · August 24th, 2007, 07:34 PM

Darus placed an arm around his padawan's shoulder. "Remember that I'm here for you, always."

**********************

Later that day, as Halren went for his evening meal with the other padawans, He saw Revan again. He was being led out on a stretcher, unmoving.

He had changed.

His skin no longer held the grey cast it once had, and the blue veins were gone from his face. His hair was now a dark brown.

**Peeker** · August 24th, 2007, 07:38 PM

Halren assumed this meant that whatever manner of work had been done to remove Revan's corruption from him had, in fact, been successful... the change was rather complete: so much so that Halren only bothered himself when thinking of Darth Revan... this man.. didn't even seem like a shell that the Dark Side had existed in... he seemed... whole.

The boy supposed he shouldn't weigh himself down with such worry, then.

...perhaps food would help...

..and in that, he decided *not* to follow the stretcher, nor ask if the man was okay....

Well, maybe he'd just follow. Food could be satisfied any time: curiosity, not so much.

Halren quietly joined the procession, watching the gurney from halfway down a hall as he walked, wondering where the man was being taken.