A Promise Kept

[Rhea]

Starlights bled into the blackness of space as the new star courier reverted to realspace and veered towards the red sphere of Prakith below. For months, Rhea had promised Leviticus a gift as proof of her loyalty and trustworthiness; and, while her recent actions could have been seen in such a light, she was intent on keeping her word.

The ship veered towards a particularly mountainous region on Prakith where Rhea found The Cathedral: the academy and temple she had helped Leviticus establish (though he had done most of the leg work). She could still see the scars of their final battle, a great hole in the earth, in the distance cavernous valley, but she chose to land the ship in front of the temple.

Much had changed since she had last seen Leviticus. She now donned a considerably more sophisticated outfit and her power had grown exponentially. No longer was there a gap in their power. Though she suspected Leviticus would not know the difference in that; she had hid her weaknesses well. Only now, she too was a Master. She exited the ship via the landing ramp and met him on the mouth of the white stone bridge leading inside.

"It has been some time," she said when she stood before him again at last. "I see that the repairs are coming along. This is good. And I have not come empty-handed this time. I have two gifts for you, per my original promise. They should aid you, along with this place, in furthering your goals."

She motioned behind her to the first and awaited his inspection and approval.

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

Leviticus leaned against the mouth of the temple. Fiddling with the hilt of his lightsaber, allowing it to dance between his fingers, his thoughts retreated to the back of his mind. Not of the nightmares from his past or in his time as a Jedi Knight, but of his new friends, allies, and this growing cause. While he first thought progress on the temple was too slow, his once meager cult of Dark Jedi had expanded in notoriety across the galaxy. Now, there was not a single Exile who had not already heard of Leviticus and his thriving sanctuary.

Needless to say, he knew he wouldn’t have done it all if not for the others. Halmo’de, Valerian, and in particular: Rhea. Her lure of Alais Drast and former Jedi Master Kal Vox proved critical in the conclave’s own growth, given their own victories checkered over the galaxy. Surely, the pair would come to be even more decisive in the expansion of all Exiles. Rhea had also proved instrumental in both leading and finishing the ritual deep beneath the planet surface. If not for her, Prakith would stay a barren wasteland and Levi would probably be resting in the belly of that beast.

But now? The older woman seemed to be going above and beyond now. Despite her backing and unwavering support, she still planned to make good on the promise she made Leviticus nearly a year ago. A promise the Exile, in fact, had already long forgotten. She was forgiven and welcomed in his book, but after recognizing her slide out of a massive transport ship, which he had first thought was a Republic attack force, Rhea had done him more than just another favor. She hadn’t just fulfilled some petty promise. No, she fulfilled the role as the backbone to this conclave.

Leviticus should have felt overshadowed or inferior in her presence, knowing full well that she was in a position to take control. Instead, the younger man only felt contentment and wonder. As she approached him, however, the Dark Jedi bit back a smirk and remained expressionless. “You’ve returned.” His eyes flickered over to the ship behind her. “And with a gift?” He paused, allowing a strange silence to set in between them. Then, Levi broke it with a smile.

“It’s only been several months and you’ve already done what I once thought would take years.” His grin set in, and the Exile managed a chuckle. “What could I be without you, Rhea?” He leaned off the side of the cavern and beckoned her into the temple. “Come, then. I’m sure there’s much to discuss, aside from your many gifts. The former of which, I have to say, is quite the eye-catcher.” His mind reflected back, now picturing himself in that very cockpit. Oh, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on it— all because of Rhea.

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

"There is indeed," Rhea replied and she followed Leviticus into the antechamber of the temple.

She walked with him a ways, reminiscing about the past year they had been on this journey together. She found it hard to define their relationship. The younger man was not her kin, but also not her pupil—yet she cared for him as a Master might her student. And he was certainly more reasonable than the girl, even if he was lacking in the leadership department.

"There is news from the Rim." she continued once they had reached the inner sanctum. "The Jedi seek to establish an outpost on Vrogas Vas. The leader of this project is... eccentric. Pliable. There is a darkness in him that he has not yet acknowledged. In time, he could make a valuable asset. I have also located a former Jedi accomplice of our mutual cohort, Alais Drast. She too might prove the key—or one of many—to the larger game we play across the galaxy. Which brings me to my next topic..."

Rhea took a moment to gather herself. There were things Leviticus did not know that he needed to know if their partnership was to continue. She had kept the air of secrecy about her during the early phases of their agreement, but now it was prudent that she reveal a bit more about herself. She needed the man to trust her in order for him to more fully fulfill his role in her far more grandiose designs.

"It is time I lifted the veil on some matters that once were not plain to you." She looked him straight in the eye. "Once, in a past life, I was a Jedi historian — a teacher — a keeper of all the lost secrets of the Jedi. It was my job to teach the future generations. This, I'm afraid, is a trait that has followed me into my new life. And, in a sense, it is my second gift to you." Here she paused and her voice became surprisingly sympathetic as she looked upon the younger man. "I sense that the loss of your masked friend has left you unbalanced. And while I can do nothing to replace the companionship you both once shared, I can offer you another — an apprentice of my own — as a replacement for his ruthless brutality to fill the gap he has left in your organization."

She stopped there and searched him for a reaction. Much hinged on her introduction of her own apprentice to this group, even if he did not yet see it.

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

Who was Rhea to Leviticus? A mother, a mentor, a monitor? She was a lot of things, and at the same time, nothing at all. She cared for and helped foster not only the power in Levi, but the power that now festered inside the temple.

As he looked to the ornate statues, the massive pillars and mosaic engravings lined across the halls. Then, his focus moved deeper: to the air around him, the weight on his shoulders. The dark side was strong on Prakith, all because of her. Even still, he couldn’t consider her as its leader or his own.

Perhaps a cougar? Or a sugar momma, with all the gifts she’s been giving. The thought, of course, quickly evaporated from his mind. He cringed at the very thought, in fact. Just picturing Rhea, the spitting image of the dark side from her yellowed eyes to the wrinkles that came with her corruption, as some wandering harlot, sent a chill down his spine. He glanced toward the other Exile though, a little apprehensive, before brushing away the idea. She was far too pensive and deadpan to go that far— right? Right?

Wiping away any unease, Leviticus caught her looking at him straight in the eye. Oh, by the Force, was she expecting him to return the favor? Fortunately for him, Rhea only revealed her past life. A Jedi historian, an archivist for the Order. And strangely enough, he was surprised. All this time, he took her as some ancient, malevolent outcast of the Exiles long before his own introduction to the Jedi. Instead, she was just some ancient, malevolent librarian. Still, at least now she understood— being part of the Order, understanding what they really were, and leaving them. The two were not so different after all.

“A replacement for Valerian?” He repeated with an eyebrow raised. While the scarred Exile was certainly an important part to the sanctuary and its development, he was just a passing figure to Leviticus. Hard to forget, maybe, but the Dark Jedi was hardly as affected by his loss than what Rhea may have thought. With his demise, another two took his place.

The unbalance the other Exile sensed, however, remained. But that was for reasons neither she, nor even Levi himself, could explain. Something was stirring back to life inside of him, and whether it was for better or for worse, only time could tell.

“Interesting.” Levi finally said before the silence grew too stale or awkward. “Who is this apprentice, then? How do I know they can prove themselves worthy to stand at my side? How do I know they’re even worth my time at all?” He stopped just short inside the temple antechamber, looking coolly toward Rhea. “I trust you, Rhea. But give me something concrete.”

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

Rhea scanned Leviticus carefully. Something was off... This Exile had always been unbalanced, but what she glimpsed within him now was something more. Something deadly. But whatever it was was concealed from him as well as her.

"I leave that assessment to you," she answered cryptically. She was still trying to analyze the change in him and decided that was more important than the apprentice. "When you are ready, I will present him to you and you may test him in whichever manner you deem appropriate. The results will speak for themselves, as they have in my case."

How far did she want to take this? The Force nagged at her gut. She sensed danger but could not place its origins. There was a taint in the temple that was not there when she last visited; and its echoes were rippling out from Leviticus himself. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to get to the bottom of it. "I sense a great disquiet within you," she said after a moment. "And it is... different than before. Tell me what burdens you. What is it that is disrupting your connection to the Force?"

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

“So be it.” Leviticus said, brushing off the thought of her so-called apprentice. If they were gifted enough to have caught the eye of Rhea, then the Dark Jedi didn’t doubt their skills himself. But assumptions couldn’t cut it, and neither could frivolously inviting random Exiles. Despite having already spilled the beans to a number of Exiles back on Mustafar, his mind had shifted into a sense of paranoia, as if someone or something was watching him— or had peered into the window of his soul. But Levi couldn’t place it onto where, or why, and especially how. All he was left to do was wonder and fret.

However, it was clear he couldn’t keep his apparent delusions hidden beneath another expressionless grimace, especially from the likes of Rhea. The woman always inspected her surroundings, taking in every detail or sifting through every thought that her mind could grasp. Needless to say, Leviticus found it creepy, or in fact, an invasion of his privacy. As much as he respected her, the Dark Jedi wasn’t exactly fond of someone, met only a year ago, reading him like some open book.

Quickly, Levi’s mind receded into the back of his skull. His blank grimace turned into a glower, masked by a veil of the dark side. “Thoughts,” the young man answered, refusing even the slightest glance toward Rhea, knowing she might be able to see right through him. “Thoughts that don’t pertain to you, or require your attention.” He sighed. “I'm fine, Rhea. I don't need you breathing down my neck. Not now."

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

But see through him, she did, for even his refusal to turn and face her was an answer to one as observant as Rhea. What Leviticus had failed to understand was that, as an Echani, she had ways other than the Force of discerning his intentions and feelings—his stance, for instance, was the most telling. In it, she sensed hesitation. She sensed shame... or was it confusion? He wanted to tell her as much as he did not want to tell her. Else why acknowledge her statement at all?

"I shall not attempt to force the answer from you." It was odd to her how motherly that sounded, and yet she did not stop. She could not stop. "Even so, know that much may happen now that events are finally beginning to take shape—both in your future and mine. But, above all, know this: You may trust... in me. We cradle each other's lives, and what threatens one of us threatens us both." She paused to let her words sink in. Then she spoke directly to the heart of his conflict. "And, if you find that you cannot bring yourself to trust me, trust in your training — trust in yourself. Don't ever doubt what you have done."

She gestured so that he could see his handiwork all around them — so that he would not forget what his labor had wrought him. What it had cost. Then, digging deeper, she continued: "All of your decisions have brought you here, to this point. And soon, perhaps, they — the Jedi that have harmed you so — shall see what you have become and what you have built."

She could not deny the sliver of pride that touched her voice there in the end. But, whatever the case, she had to speak to his conflict. She had to make him see that the choices he made were the right ones. That he would be rewarded for his efforts... so long as he did not give up on them first.

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

Shall not attempt to force the answer from him? So, she was considering it? Or better yet, seriously thought she could? Levi kept his tongue behind his lips though, biting back anymore of his spiteful words. Rhea was trying to reach out, offering a hand to rebalance and restore his troubled mind. Even though the Exile refused the very thought, preferring instead to bottle it up along with the rest of his dreaded past, the older woman was still entitled to more than a sore grimace and embittered glare. For all she had done, it was the least he could do.

His eyes followed after her gesture toward the surrounding temple. More intricate statues, ceilings round and refined, dark side engravings arranged across the walls. All of it did not just materialize on its own, and neither did it take shape by Levi’s own two hands. The whole sanctuary was fashioned by more than just one ordinary Exile. And if he couldn’t stress the thought enough, it was only through Rhea this temple now existed. Why she seemed to think this was built and grown from the fruits of his own labor, he had little idea.

But Leviticus relished in the compliment, and the affirmation that the path he had taken, even if questionable, was perhaps the right one. The Jedi Order, while they may or may not have directly caused the death of his first love, Lily, were still deserving of his hatred. They stole his childhood away, gave him a lightsaber and dumped into onto the nearest war-torn planet. He was cannon fodder before, but now? Now he was Leviticus, and now a means to an end for all Jedi.

Tasting pride and reminded of his bitter resentment of the Order, the Dark Jedi was quick to shrug off his earlier shortcomings. Darkness coalesced within him, and with a nod in direction to Rhea, he managed a short smile. “Alright, I’ll give you that.” He admitted and added, “But this—“ Levi motioned toward the elaborate foyer of the temple as she had. “—was built through you too, Rhea. And this is only the start. Now, with your gift, we can bring the fight to the Order. Just like Devaron.”

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

"Indeed." Rhea's reply was simple, but there was a certain pride behind it. Still, she sensed that something had begun to creep in and tempt him off of his current path. If she meditated on this further, she was certain she would learn who the culprit was. And, from there, the issue could be dealt with.

"As for the other matter," she continued. "I shall send my apprentice to you and leave him in your care. You may use him or dispose of him as you see fit. And you may — of course — always call upon me. For the now, I will turn my sights to gathering more sympathetic followers to your cause. Afterwards, we can turn our focus more fully towards the fate of the Order."

She stepped back from him to leave him with his thoughts. She had much to think of herself. Much to meditate upon. She decided to do so from the Core of the sanctuary, where the dark side of the Force ran strongest and where its energies were more likely to bolster her understanding of the events that were beginning to unfold around her. She cast one last fleeting glance back at Leviticus. Then, with more purpose, she turned around and began to march away.

/END THREAD