Unforeseen Enemy

[crystal]

Okay well, this is going to be my attempt to do a fic based on two of my most favorite

RPs, Enemy of the Dark Lord, and Unforeseen Invasion. Sort of... an unofficial

"crossover" and "sequel" to both, perhaps.

The GM of Enemy of the Dark Lord is Slave 1 from KFM, and the original idea was all his.

Unforeseen Invasion was my RP, and the original idea for that one was mine.

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Sarin Jast's eyelids flickered as she slowly pushed herself up off the floor. Her head ached, and she vividly remembered smashing her forehead against the floor when she fell. She slowly reached up to touch it, and her fingers came away slick and sticky. She didn't even have to look at her hand to know that it was her blood on her fingers.

An alarm was going off, and the entire ship was dark. Sarin gritted her teeth as she stumbled toward the front of the ship, fighting against the dull throb in her head as she went. She needed to make certain her friends were alright.

I hope the emergency power kicks in soon, she thought as she struggled to get to the c-o-c-kpit, feeling her way along the wall. She had only her sense of touch and her

Force senses to rely on, for the interior of the ship was almost pitch black.

She vividly remembered what happened. They were in space, about to go through the wormhole that would take them back home to their universe. However, something had apparently gone wrong, and the wormhole destabilized at the very last moment. The next thing she knew, the ship had jolted so hard it was almost as if a giant hand had grabbed it, shook it, and thrown it.

She moaned softly as the pain in her head increased, but she did her best to ignore it.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was making certain the others were okay. And I can only hope that the Enterprisemade it okay, she thought. Kirk's ship had most likely gone through the wormhole to get back to his galaxy near the same time that the Ebon Hawk had.

Sarin finally made it into the cockpit, and as she entered, she suddenly found herself scrunching her eyes shut, for someone pointed a portable light directly into her face.

"Hey!" she protested indignantly, placing a hand protectively over her eyes. "Get that light out of my eyes! You trying to blind me, Carth?"

The light slowly lowered, and even as it did, Sarin realized that it wasn't Carth who stood before her, but someone else entirely. She squinted, and then her eyes widened when she caught a glimpse of his features. At first glance, especially in the dark, one could almost mistake him for Carth. Only this man was a bit leaner, his hair looked just a bit scruffier, and his chin bore a soul patch.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I was just about to ask you that," came the reply. "What are you doing on my ship?"

Sarin blinked, then she snatched the light beacon out of his grasp and shined it on his face, to get a better look. He squinted, and used one hand to shelter his eyes while he used the other to snatch the light back from her.

"I don't know who you are, or how you got here, but you're on my ship," Sarin began slowly.

Just at that moment, before she could go any further, the lights above their heads flickered, then snapped on. The emergency power systems had finally kicked in. She then realized that Carth was on the floor, motionless, and she immediately stooped down to check on him.

The stranger looked around, as though double-checking his surroundings to make sure he was where he thought he was, then he stooped down to check on Carth as well. "Sareth!" he called out suddenly.

Sarin's head snapped up, and she looked puzzled. But then she turned her attention back to Carth, and checked his pulse. "He's just unconscious," she murmured softly. "We should get him to one of the crew quarters, and then you are going to tell me who the hell you are and how you got here."

"Hey, as far as I'm concerned, I should be asking you that," the stranger said, even as he assisted in getting Carth up off the floor. He put one of Carth's arms over his shoulders, and Sarin did likewise with Carth's other arm, and they began to escort the unconscious pilot toward the crew quarters.

"What do you mean?" Sarin grunted, as they left the cockpit.

"I mean that I've been here ever since this misison first started, and then you suddenly appear, acting like you know Carth, right after the ship gets jolted and loses its power! Maybe you can explain what happened here?"

Sarin blinked. This was not making any sense.

Just then, as they entered the main hold, they both spotted Bastila. She was just standing there, leaning heavily against the console, with one hand pressed firmly against her temple. She looked like she was either in great pain or disoriented.

Right at that moment, she glanced up, and noticed both of them approaching. Then she let out a cry out pain as though she had been struck with a lightsaber, and her knees buckled.

A yelp of pain and fear escaped Sarin's lips as a jolt of pain exploded in her chest, and for a moment she felt as though her very soul and mind were being seared by emotion and mental fire. She was only vaguely aware of the stranger yelling out in pain as well, as they both collasped on the floor, on top of Carth.

With that, everything went black.

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[crystal]

This chapter introduces Sareth Carn, wonderfully played, portrayed, and developed by DarthRedHead from KFM, and it reveals who the stranger is--someone who is played brillently by Slave 1 on KFM

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When Sarin finally awoke, she found that she was not alone. In fact, she was in a place that looked strangely familiar, even though all she could see was the ceiling, and the blindingly bright lights. She was also suddenly aware of pressure on her temples, and along her cheek bone and the jawline of her face. Even as her vision cleared and she focused on a very familiar face, the pressure ceased.

Spock removed his hands from her face, and slowly lowered them. A slight frown creased his brow and forehead as he looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "How do you feel?" he asked her.

Sarin raised an eyebrow, in a perfect imitation of a Vulcan. "Don't tell me you're getting more human," she said teasingly, her lips forming a small smile.

Spock's expression changed slightly, and to anyone who knew him well, he looked a bit defensive and indignant. "Really, Sarin," he said dryly. "I was merely inquiring to help ensure that you are mentally and physically fit. I have found that humans often respond best to the question 'how do you feel?' because it gives the illusion of empathy. I, however, do not fully grasp the concept of sympathy or empathy."

"Uh huh," Sarin said, and broke out into a grin that made her head hurt. She grimaced, but continued with what she was going to say anyway. "Maybe there's hope for you yet, Spock."

"Sarin," Spock said, in a completely business-like tone, "something has happened, something that you need to know about."

Sarin looked at the Vulcan, then glanced around the sickbay. Indeed, she realized, she was no longer on the Ebon Hawk, but onboard the Enterprise. She could see Dr. McCoy, along with his chief nurse, attending to a couple of other people. They looked very busy, and very concerned.

One of the people they were attending to was Bastila, another was Carth, and the third was the stranger who she had encountered onboard the Ebon Hawk.

"What happened?" Sarin demanded, attempting to sit up. "What's going on?"

"Remain still," Spock said, placing a gently restraining hand on her shoulder. "Sarin, something happened when the Ebon Hawk and the Enterprise attempted to use the wormhole to get home. We believe that the machine which kept the wormhole stable malfunctioned, so the wormhole destabilized. As a result..." he trailed off.

Before Sarin could demand a further explanation, the sickbay doors opened, and two figures entered. Spock straightened as they entered. One of them was Kirk, the other was a blonde woman whom Sarin did not recognize, although she had the stance of a Jedi, along with the stance of a beaurocrat, almost. Plus, somehow, there seemed to be a bit of a rogue thrown into the mix, too. She glanced over in Sarin's direction, and the two women exchanged curious glances. Then, without a word, the blonde woman walked over to Carth's side, and sat down on the edge of the bio-bed on which he lay.

"I'll do what I can," the woman said.

McCoy nodded. "Very well. At this point, I've done all I can for him. If you and your, ah, Force can do more, then be my guest, Sareth."

The blonde nodded, and she gently placed her hands on Carth's chest, and closed her eyes.

Sarin stiffened slightly. There was something in the way Sareth looked, the way she touched him, that made Sarin realized that this woman cared deeply for Carth. In a way, it was almost as though she knew him, possibly as well--if not better--than Sarin herself did. This realization caused a feeling of jealousy to surge through Sarin's chest, even as she watched Sareth attending to Carth, sensing the healing rays of energy that flowed from her fingertips into the pilot.

"Sarin." Spock touched her shoulder gently, causing her to start.

"Yes?" Sarin responded, tearing her eyes away from Carth and Sareth.

"As I was saying, something has happened," Spock said.

"Yes," Kirk said, and Sarin jumped again, realizing that Kirk was standing close to her bio-bed. The captain moved to stand beside Spock, a wary look crossing his features. "It seems that we have had a little accident," he said with a sigh. "When the wormhole destabilized... well, it seems that the Enterprise was completely unaffected, we were merely thrown off-course, to end up the same place that your ship ended up. But it seems there was a... serious accident."

Spock nodded. "It seems that the destabilization of the wormhole caused a collision in the space-time continuum, and it caused your universe to clash, and partially merge with a paralel universe, one where events were very similar, but also drastically different." The Vulcan paused, then continued. "For example, Bastila is unconscious because she is struggling with an incompatable merging of two different sets of memories. Bastila is now an incomplete merging of two seperate Bastila's, one from your universe, and one from a paralel universe. Her memories and emotions are conflicting."

Sarin blinked, trying to take in all of this information. She then glanced over at Bastila, who Christine Chapel was examining with a portable hand-scanner. "I... I'm having trouble feeling her through the Bond," Sarin whispered.

"I believe I have succeeded in disrupting the Bond, at least temporarily," Spock said. "That is how I was able to help you regain consciousness a few moment ago. If I had not, you would still be unconscious."

"But... why?" Sarin asked, frowning in puzzlement.

"Because there are now two Revans, thanks to the accident that happened," Kirk said, looking tired. "There is you, and there is him." He pointed at the stranger who lay unconscious on one of the bio-beds. "That is Jarod Hess, who is Revan in a paralel universe."

Sarin's eyelids flickered, even as she looked over at Hess. This sounded so crazy, like something out of a weird dream. Someone had to be playing a joke on her. But then again, it did make sense... and it would explain how Jarod got aboard the Ebon Hawk, and why he seemed so puzzled to see her there, and why he acted like she was an intruder.

"By the Force," Sarin whispered, her eyes widening. "It can't be true! But... it is true!"

[crystal]

Sareth removed her hands from Carth's chest, and a cloak of weariness seemed to drape over her like a cloak, causing her shoulders to slump a little. She drew in a deep breath through her parted lips, and looked down at Carth's face.

Sarin was now standing, and although her head still hurt, she was relieved to know that the injury on her forehead had been healed by Dr. McCoy. In many ways, the technology onboard the starship Enterprise could do that which the Force itself could do.

Even as Sareth looked at Carth's face, Sarin felt another pang of jealousy within herself, almost as though she wanted to grab Sareth's arm and yank her away from Carth's side. However she remained completely motionless, watching with a slight frown on her face.

"I've done all I can for him," Sareth said, never taking her eyes off Carth. "I've healed his injuries, but whatever's keeping him unconscious..." She glanced up, looking over at Kirk and Spock, and glanced at Sarin. "I would assume it's the same thing that's keeping Bastila unconscious."

McCoy sighed, then nodded. "I think you're right. Both Carth and Bastila are fighting a mental battle right now, because somehow when that space-time-whatever accident happened that Jim and Spock told you about, they merged with a completely different Carth and Bastila, physically and mentally." The doctor stroked his chin thoughtfully, even as he looked at the two people who he was talking about. "It seems that the physical merging was a complete success, because I've given them both a complete examination," he went on. "There is nothing out of place, and if it wasn't for the fact that they are unconscious and under a great deal of mental and emotional durress right now, I would say they were perfectly healthy."

"So what can be done?" Sarin asked.

"I'm not sure," McCoy said, folding his arms across his chest. "Right now, it's like two completely different people are trying to merge minds, and yet they are the same people. Bastila is struggling because she has two completely different lifetimes of experience that are conflicting with each other, plus her emotions are conflicting. Carth is struggling with the same problem right now." He paused, inhaling deeply, then continued. "Out of all your crew onboard the Ebon Hawk, it seems like the only ones who were not effected drastically were you Sarin, and Jarod Hess, and Sareth here, along with her godfather, Garren. And that's only because each of you do not have a counterpart in the paralel universe."

"Where is Garren?" Sareth asked, slowly rising off the edge of Carth's bed.

"In his quarters, ma'am," Kirk said. "He's getting some rest."

"Good," Sareth said, nodding. "After everything we've been through, I'd say he needs it." She shook her head slightly, a small smile forming on her lips. "He's too stubborn to admit it, but he gets worn out so easily these days. And he's not as young as he used to be."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Kirk said, his teeth flashing brightly as he smiled at her with his "boyish charm". Sarin rolled her eyes.

"Doctor, what would you suggest?" Spock asked, bringing everyone's thoughts back to the situation at hand.

"Well, at this point I'm not sure," McCoy answered. He gestured toward the readouts above Carth's and Bastila's bio-beds. "Right now, they're both stable, but it's like they're on a mental teeter-totter. At any moment, they could begin to stabilize their inner conflict enough to wake up, or they could go insane. Though at this point I don't know if they can work out the struggle that's going on inside them. Though if something is going to be done, it will need to be done soon, or we could lose them both."

"Perhaps a mindmeld would be effective," Spock said.

"That's what you used to bring me back to consciousness, right?" Sarin asked.

The Vulcan nodded. "Indeed. Although all that I did in your case was disrupt your bond with Bastila, so that her inner conflict would discontinue to overwhelm you. However, if I do attempt a mindmeld on Bastila, I should do the same for Mr. Hess first, to bring him back to consciousness, otherwise he would be at risk as well."

"Maybe if you can get him to wake up... the three of us could try and help her sort it out together," Sarin suggested slowly. "I mean, if both Jarod and I are bonded to her, then perhaps we could both use our links to get through to her, and help her sort it out."

A silence fell in the sickbay, and no one spoke for nearly a full minute. "Could it work, Spock?" Kirk asked.

"It might," Spock said thoughtfully. "And it would raise the probability for our chance of success."

"What about Carth?" Sareth asked quietly.

Spock was silent a moment before answering. "It might be best if someone who cares for him the most enters his mind, to assist him," the Vulcan finally said.

Sareth opened her mouth, then closed it when she caught the look on Sarin's face. Both women locked their gazes, and a silent "communication" seemed to pass between them. Suddenly, even though not a word was spoken, they both realized what would need to be done.

In Sarin's universe, she loved Carth, and Carth had fallen for her, even though she had once been Revan, and was responsible for the destruction of Telos, and indirectly, the death of Morgana, his wife. And yet Sarin had found Carth a source of firm support and comfort after she had found out that she was Revan.

In Sareth's universe, Sareth loved Carth, and although their relationship wasn't perfect, they obviously had feelings for each other, and they had been through so much together that they had a deep respect for each other. And even though their relationship was conflicted, and even though they often had their differences, deep in her heart, Sareth loved Carth in a way that she used to love Revan--the Revan from her universe. She loved Carth in a way that she had never loved Revan.

Sarin tore her gaze away, and Sareth lowered her own eyes to glance down at the floor. They both knew what they would need to do to save Carth. They would need to... help balance things in Carth's mind, even though they were both in love with the same man.

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Author's Note: Okay.... this is starting to get a little weird. *starts rethinking chapter*

[Abby]

Ooh, I like it, Crystal. Keep it coming.

[Rain]

Its great

And i love the little intro at the start of each chapter