It'd been a long journey back from Malachor, but finally the Ebon Hawk descended out of the night sky and into a decidedly dark and ominous hangar. They would all be glad for the rest after the harrowing escape from the Trayus Core. All except the Exile, of course. For her there would be no rest.

She sighed as she looked over Atton's shoulder. The last time she'd come here from Malachor, it was aboard a Republic warship. A shuttle had brought her down from orbit, and for the entire journey down, she'd thought about what she would say when she stood before the Council. She'd worked out several carefully rehearsed speeches and determined she would pick the appropriate one when she once more stood before them. But as with so many things in her life, things had not gone as planned. There'd been a lot of indignation, anger even, rising within her. Much of it was fueled by the open hostility of Atris. The inflexibility and the lack of understanding by the other Masters was little better, and she had responded with hostility of her own....It quickly spiralled out of control from there, and she'd regretted ever stepping foot in that place again.

"Hey, you all right?"

She realized she was still staring out the view screen at the dark hangar even though the ship had landed and the engines powered down. Atton stood looking at her with a slightly concerned look on his face.

"No, not really. But it won't get any better standing here," she said finally. "Let's go."

She led the way out of the cockpit, through the ship and down the ramp where the rest of her crew had already gathered, waiting expectantly. All eyes except those of the two droids were on her as she came down. Mira, Mical, and Visas stood, attempting not to stare at her as she exited the ship. HK-47 had already taken up a guard position, scanning the darkness around them for potential enemies, blaster rifle at the ready. T3-M4 had rolled over towards a darkened console nearby and was attempting to interface with it. An instant later, the lights in the hangar abruptly went on revealing an unpleasant scene around them.

Skeletal remains dressed in brown and black lie about the chamber. Sith and Jedi alike lay dead in various positions, weapons lying beside therms. Part of the hangar had collapsed off to one side, power conduit and broken wiring hanging from the ceiling. Blood stains and blaster marks were scattered about the room. No words were necessary among the group. All of those who could feel the Force felt a familiar twinge of what they'd experienced elsewhere in the galaxy.

"It's like Dxun," Atton's muffled voice could be heard saying.

Yes, the Exile had to agree with him. What she'd felt echoing from those battlefields was indeed similar to what she felt now. She'd hadn't even realized Atton was realizing his Force potential then enough to sense it. But there would be plenty of time to discuss it later.

"T3," she said, "turning to face the astromech still working away at the console. "Try and get the power and communications up. Atton, once he does that, take HK and head down to the communications chamber. See if you can contact Coruscant Emergency Services. Apprise them of the situation and request that they send us whatever help they can."

The astromech squeaked in the affirmative and returned to working the console. Atton nodded. "Okay, just be careful. Holler if you need us."

The Exile turned and led the rest of the group out of the room. "Be ready," she cautioned them. "The enemy may still be here."

They made their way out into the corridor, and then spread out in two groups to search the rest of the Temple. The Exile and Visas in one, Mira and Mical in the other. "Contact us if you see anything," the Exile instructed them as they went their separate directions.

She realized she and Visas ought to have some sort of priority to how they conducted their search, but even as she led the way through the darkened temple by the light of her glow rod,  there was no doubt where her steps were taking them. So lost in thought was she that she barely noticed more signs of combat in the corridors. They found more skeletons lying about along the way. It was with a heavy heart that she looked down at them. They'd died defending the Temple while she'd been off in the Outer Rim wandering. With each fallen Jedi that she passed, she felt the anxiety rising within her. It wasn't fear for herself, but fear of what else might lie in this place, what other scenes from the battle they might find. Most of all she dreaded the thought that some of these had been people she'd liked and respected, and now the blank stares of the of toccasional skull facing upwards seemed to regard her with accusation in its empty sockets. As nonsensical as it was, she found herself purposefully keeping her eyes off the ground and away from the remains.

But as they rounded a corner, there it was. An ornately carved lightsaber that had once belonged to a Padawan she used to spar with on Dantooine before the woman was sent to Coruscant. Rahara Noatun was her name, and her lightsaber was unique, the handle carved with glyphs from her homeworld. Many times she'd seen the purple blade spring from that handle as she met Rahara in the training room. Now it lie next to a set of remains in a brown robe flanked on either side by similiar remains covered from head-to-toe in black. Sith assassins, their force pikes lying beside them. Try as she might, she found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the scene before her. As it all became more personal for her, the full weight of the battle that had taken place in the Temple settled on her all at once. The tension she could feel rising up out of her chest, and she found herself swallowing hard to force it back down.

"The battle that took place here has left a deep stirring in the Force," Visas said. "Can you feel it?"

"Yes, Visas, I can!" the Exile said, a little more forcefully than she intended, and then sighed again. She briefly put a hand over her face, choking back a little emotion, and then turned to face Visas.

"Forgive me, Master," Visas was saying. "I did not mean to..."

"I know," the Exile said quietly, turning to face her. Of course it wasn't a matter of Visas being cold-hearted. She'd been forced into slavery by Nihilus after her entire world had been destroyed. Was it any surprise if the emotion was burned out of her? 'There's nothing for you to apologize for. None of us has suffered a greater tragedy than you have. None of us knows loss like you do. It's I who owe you the apology. This is all more than I was prepared for." She wave a hand at the corridor around them, her eyes moving across the remains of the dead once more. "Even after Kreia said the Temple was empty, I didn't really know what to expect here. I guess I had this vision that once we were done on Malachor that everything would just be fixed. When you go off to war, it's usually with the knowledge that you'll eventually be coming home. Some place safe. But this war is everywhere. Hearing about it and seeing it for yourself firsthand are two entirely different things."

"You almost make me remember what it is to feel these things again," Visas said. "It has been a long time. But know this. Whatever battles you face, I will face them with you."

The Exile smiled before beginning to turn back down the corridor. But a hand on her arm stopped her causing her to look back at Visas.

"You intend to go looking for Revan?"

"Yes. At some point."

"Then I will accompany you. If you go to face the Sith, I will fight with you," Visas said.

"Sure you want to come along? I can't be sure what we're going to find out there."

"Whatever lingers beyond the Outer Rim cannot be any worse than my former Master."

"Probably true," the Exile. "I'd welcome your company when the time comes. But we'll talk more about it later. Come on, we'd better get moving."

They began walking again, and before too much longer, they reached the place she had been traveling to for the past five years. A place she'd dreaded and yet longed to see again.

The Council chamber was dark and silent, the night sky of Coruscant visible through the skylights. The room had mercifully been left untouched by the battle that had raged throughout the rest of the Temple. The tall-backed chairs of the Jedi Masters stood empty in a circle around them. The standing stone in the center still bore the mark where her lightsaber had pierced it so many years ago.

As she stood there once more in the Jedi Council chambers in their midst, she couldn't help feeling a wave of distress move through her. Memories flashed through her mind of her last time standing before them. Accusations had filled the air, and looks of condemnation had surrounded her. It had been a mistake coming back to Coruscant. She had hoped to find out why she'd lost her connection to the Force, but they hadn't told her what happened, instead being fixated on drawing an apology from her. At that moment, nothing could have been further from her mind. It was they who needed to apologize, she'd felt. Apologize to the entire Republic for delaying to assist them in their time of need against the Mandalorians. The memories alone were strong enough so that she found that her hands had begun to shake and her breathing became forced. She could almost hear the distant echoes of their voices as they spoke to her on that fateful day when they cast her out, and instinctively she turned to face the chair that Atris had sat in, expecting to hear again those ugly tone that she'd used that day. The empty chair stood before her, and in her mind she heard the echo of a female voice asking, "Is your Revan your master now?"

But as she stood there in the stillness, sensing the presence of Visas behind her, the whispers were finally silenced. There she stood one of the last of the Jedi with the enormous task of restoring an Order which had existed for thousands of years. She who'd never risen above the official rank of Padawan before leaving for the war. She who they'd treated like a Sith now had the future of the Jedi in her hands.

A search of the Temple revealed it to be empty with the exception of a few of Coruscant's non-sentient life forms who'd made a home there but balked at challenging it's former masters for it. It was clear that the invading Sith had plundered the building before they left. What they hadn't taken had been further scavenged,  no doubt, by those looking to sell "Jedi artifacts" in some back alley marketplace.

When the Health Services workers arrived with their droid laborers, they at long last set to work cleaning up and repairing the place. DNA testing was done on the various sets of remains, and not surprisingly some of the Sith remains were found to be of former Jedi who'd once trained in that very building. Having not been maintenanced in some time, the Temple required enough minor repairs that T3 was soon overwhelmed, and eventually the Exile contacted Bao Dur on Telos to request his help. Upon hearing about their situation, he agreed to help. Days turned into weeks, and the Temple once more began to resemble what it had looked like in better times.

As time went by, the Exile found herself growing restless, her thoughts far from Coruscant moving to Malachor and beyond. To the words of Kreia as they stood in the Core. To Revan fighting the ancient Sith her own way, alone as she felt she must without even her apprentice, Bastila. And what of Bastila? Did her remains rest somewhere on Korriban or was she out there still with the possible remnants of the Sith? And why was she not on Malachor after having chosen the Dark Path? Why had Kreia not spoken of her, of the only one who might have known Revan's destination?

After repairs on the Temple had been made and her students set in their functions towards running the place, the Exile, feeling the burden of it all becoming overwhelming, at last took T3 and the Ebon Hawk on a solo journey to find some inner peace, walking amongst the ruins of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine once more. From there she'd went to Kashyyk, Tatooine and Manaan only partially conscious she was following in the footsteps of Revan. But  she found no peace on Manaan, unexpectedly encountering Atris there for what she hoped to be the last time and achieving if not understanding than a semblance of peace. Still the encounter had been trying, though she felt stronger for it as she made her way back to Coruscant. But when she returned to the Temple, she found her mood once more sinking.

One morning in the Jedi Council chambers she stood surrounded by her students Visas, Mical, Atton, and Mira. Trying to force down the feelings of hopelessness threatening to rise up within her, she explained to them the need of forming a new Council  and rebuilding the Order while simultaneously mounting a search for Revan. As it was, she was faced with the prospect of leaving Mical, Atton and Mira to the task of rebuilding the Order while she and Visas went in search of Revan. Either that, or leave Revan to her fate without ever having made an attempt to find her nor to investigate the possible Sith threat. Neither choice was particularly appealing to her, and so it was with immense relief, that she sensed the presences of the trio of Jedi drawing near to the Council chambers.

Masters Nomi Sunrider, her daughter Vima Sunrider and Thon, the mysterious Tchuukthai appeared unlooked for that morning. Kreia had, perhaps, been more prophetic than she knew. She'd said on Dantooine that for every Jedi destroyed, another would spring up. So maybe it should have come to no surprise for three Jedi to have returned to the Temple to replace those who fell in the clearing on Dantooine.

The sight of them was to the Exile's immense relief, and she bowed to each in turn. Visas, Mira, Mical and Atton mimicked her somewhat awkwardly. The three Masters showed signs of exhaustion, but their enthusiasm was clear and their resolve undiminished. They greeted the other Jedi as they would have long time members of the Order. The Exile felt her spirits soar so strong were they in the Force and so reaffirming was the confidence they radiated.

"Masters," she said. "Welcome back. It is relief to see you alive and well."

At this Nomi smiled, though with a hint of sadness in it. "Despite the best  efforts of the Sith, we endure. The Order continues on as it always has. We have lost many friends along the way, but we will rebuild."

From there, the three masters thankfully took charge. A new Jedi Council of three took the place of the old one, and under their guidance the Temple more quickly resumed a sense of order. The Republic was notified of the official return of the Order to Coruscant, and that the Sith threat had been put down, at least for the time being. The beacon in the communications room was set to call any remaining wandering Jedi home.

Vima Sunrider put the new Padawans to various tasks and took the burden of their training on to herself. Atton, Mira, Mical and Visas soon were experiencing true Jedi training. They found themselves spending long sessions in meditation contemplating their past experiences and undertaking a vigorous regimen. The weaknesses inherent in each were brought into focus so that they might finally let go of that which had held them back. They were made to understand the true difficulties of walking the Jedi's path.

For the Exile, it meant long sessions in discussion with Nomi Sunrider and Thon, recounting her experiences from the moment she'd left Dantooine to join Revan's cause up until her most recent meeting with Atris. During their discussions, Thon also told the Exile of the Sunriders and his journey to Ambria, a place they knew well. There where Thon had once trained Nomi as a Padawan, they'd attempted to gather some of the younger Jedi, but even that place was attacked by Sith assassins. Seemingly nowhere in the galaxy could avoid the sight of whatever hand had commanded them, Thon told her. Little did they suspect it was Kreia behind it. Only the three of them remained when the battle was over. When every step of the Exile's journey had been gone over to the satisfaction of the two Jedi masters, Vima was summoned. The nature of the Exile's condition was examined anew by Nomi and Thon, and they proclaimed her well on the way to healing the wound that she had sustained at Malachor. It was then that the new Jedi Council held a session and called her before them.

"You're Exile status is lifted. You are once more a member of the Jedi Order."

"Thank you, Master," she said bowing.

 But Thon was not yet finished speaking, "Furthermore, the Council confers on you the rank of Master in recognition of your accomplishments on behalf of both the Order and the Republic."

Of course she'd been expecting her status to be changed, but not the promotion. Not so soon anyway. She was entirely unprepared for the surge of emotion which suddenly rose in her, settling in her throat, preventing her from speaking at first. She felt her eyes beginning to mist over, and she quickly bowed again to hide her reaction. "I am overwhelmed," Jedi Master Alinia Sher said. As she bowed again, eyes to the ground, she did not notice the smiles spreading across the faces of Vima and Nomi that just as quickly disappeared so as not to embarrass her. Slowly she rose and met their gazes feeling slightly flushed.

"But Master Sher," Nomi said, her tone becoming more serious. "We do have misgivings about letting you go off into the unknown regions, and about your taking this former Sith with you. We do not feel she is ready for the challenge of meeting the Sith, particularly should you find the Sith Empire. We must deliberate further on this. We request your patience."

"As you wish," Alinia said. She turned and stepped out of the room, feeling not disappointed as she had thought she might, but a strange sort of elation. Satisfaction even that the proceedings had went better than expected, and if they had not immediately agreed to her search for Revan, at last her reaction this time had been more to her liking than when she had last stood before a Jedi Council. The faces of a hostile Atris and Vrook finally faded giving way to Council members who greeted her with warmth rather coldness.

Later that day found her walking with Vima through the Room of a Thousand Fountains, newly restored with the help of droid laborers, the sounds of the water flowing over the rocks and splashing into the pools beneath. Coupled with the sounds was the fragrance of the plants that grew out of the pools, a gift from the Senator from Alderaan. Combined the sensations brought a sense of a peace to Alinia that she had not felt since as a Padawan on Dantooine, before the call of Revan reached that planet and brought discord to the students there.

"Are you sure this is the for the best, you're taking this journey? You assume Revan wants to be found and that she can be brought back to the light," Vima said.

"Confronting Revan is only one of my goals, and not necessarily the most important. If the Sith do exist out there, if they are preparing for war, then time surely must be running out for us. We may not have time to gather our strength here. If I am able to confirm that they are gearing up, then striking a blow there may delay them further, and if not, then at least I can send back a warning."

"I've no doubt you see it that way, and your reasoning is sound. But does it not strike you as odd that Visas came to you in your hour of need to help you strike down her master. That after years of Sith training and walking the dark path, she abruptly turns about and becomes your Padawan?" She turned and faced Alinia. "I respect your compassion for her and even your identifying with her as another exile, but, Alinia, I have to ask if perhaps your feelings are not clouding your judgment. We cannot afford to lose you. As for Visas, with time, we can be sure her convictions about the path she has chosen are secure. Whether you trust her or not is not in question, but if you take her there, you will subject her to a enormous pressure to revert back to her old teachings." Then looking at Alinia, she sighed and said, "I imagine now I sound like one of your old Masters on Dantooine telling you not to join Revan's cause. I hope I will not provoke the same reaction as they did."

"No, Vima," Alinia said. "I'm not the same Padawan who felt the call of the Mandalorian Wars, and you won't easily be mistaken for Vrook. And then with slight smile, I assure you that you bear no resemblance to him.

This prompted a brief chuckle from Vima, but still their was concern in her eyes.

"In understand  your concern," Alinia continued, "and I want you to know I will respect the Council's wishes. If you decide I should stay, then I will. I'm not without my regrets over the war. If the Jedi Council knew a better way, I would like to think I would have respected it back then. It just didn't seem that way at the time. But this is now, and this Council, I  will accept the judgment of. I just hope that if I am not to go that some provision is made for Revan. That she is not abandoned out there."

"And you are certain that she does not intend to lead a Sith force back her to finish what she started?"

"Oh yes. If that were here intent, she would arrived on Coruscant some time ago," Alinia said.

Vima turned to face one of the fountains, regarding it thoughtfully. "I'm just not sure if I'm willing to take Kreia's word for it. It seems to me that madness overcame her, and anything she said to you on Malachor must be suspect. It's not just all the killing we've experienced, all the brushes with the Dark Side, but a great many strange things happening over the last few years. I grew up amongst troubled times, the war with Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma. I can scarcely remember happy times. I'm hoping this is the beginning of a time of peace for the Republic and for the Order."

"So do I, Vima."

And once more Vima turned to look at Alina. "I will see what I can do..."

The following evening, the Council gave Alina the approval to search for Revan, and agreed to allow her to take Visas along. They passed on such wisdom and advice as they could find within them, and informed her there would be a place on the Council for her when she returned.