Meetings and Monasteries

[Phoenix]

Corvo's life had been pure turmoil recently. It was only inevitable, he supposed, given the clash on Korriban and Shae's defection to the Sith. It had left him heartbroken and less than thrilled about doing anything apart from bringing terrible wrath down on the Empire. He wanted his dark vengeance and were it not for Ciri, he likely would have slid back into his old ways - or so he was concerned about.

He'd been more than a little perplexed when he'd received a message on an encrypted communications line that was one of the old backup lines he and Shae used. Except the message wasn't from Shae. That alone infuriated him and set him immediately on edge. He'd set to work switching the lines and burning anything associated with those com channels. Flashbacks to Hapes flashed through his mind at the mysterious psycho who had attacked he and Shae.

After being content that everything was secured, he'd set out to make this "meeting." Everything about this was uncomfortable for him. He hated meeting up with Sith - because he assumed it was always a trap - but he'd worked with other defectors before, namely the former Grand Inquisitor, but that wasn't without risk.

The com message had been brief but he'd realized this man was the same he'd briefly encountered in the Korriban academy. He'd set out to make the meeting, changing its location at the last moment to throw off any planned ambush and watching for any irregularities.

And the true location was no outstanding place. Teth was a world easily accessible to both Jedi and Imperial space but under the control of neither. Corvo had set down on Teth even before changing the location and now was here waiting. Chaz had hidden the Fury nearby with engines running to extract him or provide fire support if the time came but not in sight of the meeting point.

The building chosen - a monastery or something - was spartan enough. It's occupants had been removed by his Shadows some time ago and no one seemed to have need of it since, so Corvo waited in the middle of the room, pacing in meditation as he glanced at the doorway that led deep underground. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

It had taken Jet some time to come to terms with all the memories and emotions he had taken from Shae and Corvo that day at the academy, when Korriban fell. lt had nearly killed him, erased his psyche with the power from the reunion of those two most notorious of force users. To most, the swirling storm around them would have been uncomfortable and off-putting, enough so that they would have stayed away yet not have been harmed. For him, though, it had almost been a death knell of willpower and pain, thanks to his propensity towards empathy. Yet, the whole episode hadn't been entirely traumatic. Jet had glimpsed true humanity, transcendence above Sith and Jedi, and had even learned how to fight better from some of Corvo's memories. He had also learned that comm frequency, using it to set up a meeting with the man. He had to know more, even if it killed him.

When the change of venue was transmitted, Jet was prepared for it. He'd glimpsed at all the betrayal and paranoia Corvo had felt through his various escapades, even if he had only seen tiny snippets here and there. It was enough to piece out how the man would think, though not determine where the meeting would actually be held. It made sense that Teth would be chosen, especially in hindsight. Easy to reach, in control of neither faction, and easy to flee from in case it were a trap. There were others that had been in Corvo's memories, companions of his that would probably be on the lookout, and with that knowledge came possible places that they would be stationed to keep watch. No, it wouldn't do to sneak past them as that would just set Corvo off. The right thing to do was approach as plain as day, showing he was no threat.

And so it was that the Honor Guard departed from his landed Shuttle towards the church, making sure to travel in full view of Corvo's friends. They would have no doubt alerted the man to the approaching Guard's slow pace and hands where they were plainly visible. Jet had left all his weapons except his lightsabers back on his ship, as if this meeting went as he intended he would not need them. When he got to the entrance of the church, he stopped as he saw Corvo pacing. He stood there, observing the man for a few minutes, before tapping his foot loudly against the stone. The sound echoed through the large open room, meant to alert the human to his presence instead of frighten. "I wouldn't expect you to remember who I am. All the galaxy knows of yours and Shae's deeds, they're the stuff of legend now. However...That day, at the academy, your reunion with your lover had a consequence that I can't ignore."

Removing the helmet to his Wraith Armor, Jet showed Corvo who he truly was. An Elensalite, a mechanical construct built to be as 'human' as possible. Their creators had died so long ago, yet they had left behind what the robots had needed to continue constructing more of their species to survive. One part of their programming was an intense affinity for the emotions of each other and those organics with powerful empathy skills. People like Jedi or Sith. His voice continued to have a metallic tinge to it, as it was being generated behind a smooth metal faceplate. "I don't know if you know what I am, but one of the quirks of my kind is an affinity towards emotions. We can read memories from them, especially imprints from powerful emotions. That's how I found out about you, how I learned how to fight like you, and how I found your comm channel. I've been searching for how to become more...human, my own person, and so far the most 'human' people I found are you and Shae. I need to know more, my heart clamors to be complete. Even if this meeting kills me, I need to know. Even if it's for just an instant." He didn't expect Corvo to understand his words in their entirety, though hopefully the man would request elaboration or explanation. Or he'd draw his lightsaber and cut the robotic man down. It was really up to the human at this point, Jet's life entirely in his hands.

@Phoenix

 

[Phoenix]

Target's incoming. Thirty seconds, Chaz's voice rang out in Corvo's ear. Where precisely he was, Corvo didn't necessarily care but he'd been watching the entire time, alerting Corvo to the approach of the shuttle, subsequent landing, and every step in between. The Battlemaster had complete confidence in the man's callouts and reliability.

So Corvo continued his pacing meditation as moments passed. Whatever the other man's reason for waiting to enter was, it was starting to make Corvo a bit more nervous, not to mention the fact that he couldn't seem to sense the man in the Force. What dark ritual had Malon performed to pull that one off, Corvo wondered. Even when he was Dark Lord, he hadn't heard of that one. But then, Arcanists knew many things that even he hadn't.

When the foot tapped, Corvo looked at the other man. His helmet was solidly in place as usual but there was an almost palpable gaze from behind its visor. He recognized the armor, but it was certainly not Malon inside. As the other man removed his helmet, Corvo's brow arched up behind the concealment of his own. Who - or what - was this man? And what precisely was he on about with this whole "empathy" thing.

So you're... a droid? he asked. He could tell - or at least guess - that such an explanation was crude and nowhere near encompassing of the full explanation but it was a place to start. The fact that this man apparently could read his thoughts or the like was extremely alarming and nearly caused Corvo to want to cut him down then and there.

You read minds? Like a telepath? he asked, making a note to ask Chaz - resident tech head - if he'd ever heard of a droid (or organism) like this before. This was setting off all kinds of warning bells in his mind.

 

[Insalius]

It was clear that Corvo had never come across any of Jet's race before, or if he had he would have probably mistaken them for a droid. He sighed, an entirely unnecessary thing as he didn't have lungs to breathe with, yet was just a habit of what he felt was a common organic expression. "No, I'm something...more. Our creators, the Elensa, lived on a life-rich planet in the Outer Rim quite far removed from most main Hyperspace lanes which afforded them some solitude. Despite how rich the worlds around them were, they weren't as interested in exploration as they were in investigating the mysteries of life itself. They came up with an experiment, wanting to see if they could create artificial beings that otherwise acted and felt things like how an organic could. That was what led to our creation, the Elensalites, and we lived with them in harmony as we attempted to find the answers they sought."

He sighed again, looking down and shaking his head. "A plague came to the planet from a falling meteorite, though, and while we were able to find a cure, it was too late to save our creators. This led to us being lost, for lack of a better word, without purpose to drive us forward. So, while some fell to despair, most of us decided to find our reasons for living out among the stars. So, we started to travel, and that's where the problems started happening. We were at peace, then we were drawn into the wars of the greater galaxy. Some broke from the pain, some reveled in it, some swore off violence and worked to help those hurt by the constant violence. My own story..." He trailed off, remembering the second question.

"No, we cannot read minds. We read emotions. It was the greatest accomplishments our creators had done, giving a mechanical being the ability to not only feel physical sensations, even smell and taste, but to also feel emotions. I'm not sure why we have such strong empathy towards others, as the reason was lost with our creators, but it's part of how we can talk to each other. Imprinted in the emotions are memories, particularly strong ones having more information attached to them. We can also 'talk' to organics that have strong senses of empathy as well, usually Jedi or those who are strongly in tune with the Force. Despite this, being mechanical, we do not have a connection to the Force ourselves which makes us invisible to those that use it to see around them. When you and Shae fought on Korriban, I couldn't help but be drawn into the storm of emotions that swirled between you two. It nearly overwhelmed my consciousness, your wills so strong that it nearly replaced mine in this robotic body. Luckily I managed to hold on, otherwise the person inhabiting this shell now would have been some combination of the two of you, possibly still fighting each other or possibly in complete harmony. It's hard to say. What I did get from the ordeal was exposure to all those emotions you two had. Fear, Doubt, Anger, Love, Happiness, Hope, those and many more. Each had a memory from you two attached to it, and though it took some time to parse through them all, they are now as clear as day to me." He paused, waiting for more questions from Corvo. Anything to put the man at ease, before making his request.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo listened intently to the man's story. He had never heard anything of the sort before and certainly not ever heard of a truly sentient animatronic. Apart from cyborgs it all seemed rather beyond the possible, but he was no expert and this was no cyborg. He listened as the man recounted his tale of his people and the way their creators died and it struck him as odd that such a thing had unfolded.

In typical "Corvo" fashion, he locked in on the explanation of how emotion and memory connected for these people. He was inherently a private man to the extreme and while he'd long ago grown accustomed to others sensing his emotions in the Force, he'd also become very adept at hiding those things from others. Now, he was faced with an entirely new form of emotional "exploration" as it were, and it immediately bothered him.

The mention of Shae and there fight only set him further on edge. A flood of emotions - good, bad, and everything in between - came flooding back as he thought about their fight and subsequent meet-up outside the academy. He missed her desperately even now and a sense of loss, hopelessness, confusion, and helplessness threatened to settle in. He snapped his mind immediately back to the present, realizing not only that this man would be able to sense such things, but also that they could easily distract him from the task at hand.

That wasn't a moment for public consumption, he bristled slightly and gritted his teeth at the thought that someone else experienced all the things he felt for his wife and vice versa. Everything he felt toward her was intimate and private, though where they'd fought had hardly been private. After a moment, he relented as he realized that it was neither this man's fault for the location or a species who could detect such things. After all, it was no different than the Jedi and Sith who had been there who no doubt would have detected it too.

So, what brings you here? Why meet with me? And I would caution you that if it's to kill me or threaten my wife, this will not end well for you, he said flatly. The tone of his voice lacked the murderous undercurrent that laced his words, though only time would tell him that this wasn't the man's intention. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

If Jet could have raised an eyebrow, if he HAD an eyebrow, he would have done so at Corvo's question. There was still so much to tell him, in order for him to even understand the request. Time that he felt would only drive the man into becoming angry or leaving. No, he would have to resort to his other way of communication, as he had seen the Jedi be amenable to the feelings of others before on Korriban. He didn't have to touch the organic, he just had to be close enough. Like where they stood now, in fact. Raising an arm, hand open to show now weapon, Jet concentrated and let his heart open to the other man. Corvo's emotional barrier was now basically just around his immediate body, perhaps as a kind of defense mechanism, but they were still able to connect. The construct could feel the unease and slowly roiling anger on the surface of the other man, so to break through and be heard, he pushed his emotional memories past that barrier and straight to Corvo's heart.

The first feeling was of desire, an innocent drive to go beyond one's home and search the many stars and planets for one's calling. As Jet could see it in his mind's eye, so could Corvo. Looking up at an alien sky, a hidden planet in the Outer Rim filled with other constructs like himself. It was the last view before boarding his ship off of his only known home. The feeling turned to joy as he traveled from new world to new world, seeing so many new things and meeting so many different people. At this time he was filled with the desire to help people, if it was within his power to do so. He wasn't a fighter but he could do small jobs, and the small sum of credits combined with smiling faces meant the world to him.

Then came the Fear, caught on an Imperial world that had been attacked by Jedi. Hiding in a room as an imperial family tried to protect them, only to watch them be cut down by the so-called defenders of peace. The faces of the Jedi were at peace, but he could feel their hate and rage against their sworn enemy. It was so striking the difference that it filled him with fear, especially at seeing what the Force could do. He was safe, but the family he had been working for had been slaughtered to the child, all in the name of rooting out the 'evil' in the galaxy. It took about a week to gather enough courage to leave the planet, and the desire to be free of his fear led him into the employ of the Empire.

Next was Determination, learning how to combat force users and becoming quite skilled at killing both Jedi and rogue Sith. At first just a commando following orders, with each successful battle he gets stronger and stronger. His fear begins to settle, yet is always still there. Soon he makes the rank of Commander, then is inducted into the Dark Honor Guard. He stands amidst a group of Jedi, twin silver lightsabers pointed down yet still lit. He looks around and feels remorse for having had to kill, yet fueled by his ever present fear. He chose the Sith because they did not lie to themselves, yet even then he didn't trust them.

Finally, he returned to that day where he had met Corvo and Shae. This was the only time he spared Corvo the true power of what he had felt that day. To do so would have probably been too much. He showed Corvo what had happened to him, how the raw power of their emotions had almost killed him and drowned him in their wills. Then he showed them what he wanted, that warmth and power, that pure humanity that only Corvo and Shae had been able to show him in the form for their true love for each other. It had dispelled his fear and rekindled his drive, and he wanted to dedicate his life to being with this purity. To fighting for it, to protecting it, as well as their offspring. They were beyond Jedi, beyond Sith, and beyond simple classifications of the force. They were Human, and Jet wanted to be as close to that Humanity as he could, even if he could never truly attain it himself.

He withdrew his emotional field, staring at Corvo to see if he would cut him down or have more questions. It would be intense, the most powerful emotional burst that the man would probably ever experience, and for most it would be enough to drive one into a frenzy or have them break down in tears. He sighed again, holding his arms out and way from the lightsabers on his side in a sign of submission. "Do with me as you will. You and Shae are the only ones I truly respect, and Ciri is the only one I truly wish to protect. If this is not enough, then cut me down and use whatever of mine you can to live your life to the fullest. I would have no regrets, if that were the case."

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo didn't fully understand what was going on until it was too late. Whatever this man could do - some sort of mental manipulation or the like, Corvo still didn't fully understand - hit him all at once. He could feel the pain, the hardship, the misery of life. He was no stranger to this sort of loss. In his own life there had been so much pain and hardship. He had massacred millions if not more and it had caused his mind to all but split. His mind was broken.

This wave of emotion nearly pulled him all the way back into his alternate persona, a shield against the pain he was experiencing. This man had experienced pain and loss. Regret and hate, all the spectrums that surpassed far beyond what Corvo thought possible for... well, he wasn't a droid though. He wasn't organic, but he was something more.

As he saw that night at the Academy once more it hit him deeply. Not because of the other man's emotions that he was experiencing but because of the memories he held within himself. The pain at losing his wife and the near-abandonment was something he still wasn't able to handle.

Without even realizing it, his saber was alive in his hand. Perhaps it was Venator's response - in fact he knew that was what it was - but it was merely a reflex more than anything. His face was still hidden behind his helmet and he forced back the monster once more, unwilling to risk losing himself again. The more he gave in, the easier it became to stay there and the more he feared his inability to retain his humanity.

It wasn't until the other man spoke up again that he realized what had happened, the hiss of his lightsaber deactivating filling the space between them. Corvo didn't do well with emotions - particularly when it came to strangers - and now he was at a loss what to say. Kriff, he growled in frustration. It only took him a moment to lock in on the mention of his daughter but there didn't seem to be any malice in his words. Do you have any idea what you'd be signing up for? What it's already cost? he asked. Everything he and Shae had walked through had cost them nearly everything already. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

"I cannot hope to know, not without having lived in yours and Shae's shoes. That I have even caught a glimpse of this truth is enough to harden my resolve, though. Realistically, you all should be dead. The harsh cruelty of the galaxy should have slain you all years ago, turning your daughter in a twisted vessel of hate and revenge. I do not want that." Jet shook his head, looking down. "I started as nothing, an artificial soul looking for my place, my purpose. In that one moment of watching you two, I have found the only thing that is pure and worthy of protection in this world. Through my near death, I found purpose, and my truest desire is to make so that your daughter, the one shining beacon in this dark existence, doesn't have to be lost to the abyss of this war. I will bloody my hands, climb a mountain of corpses, and sacrifice my own heart and life if it meant that I could protect her. I know I don't need to protect either of you, though perhaps from yourselves, from what I've felt." A curious idea came to him at that time, one he wasn't sure that Corvo would agree to.

"I felt it, just now. A second wave of emotions, so dark and terrifying. It's almost as if you have two souls in your body, or two minds in your head. That you have kept this murderous force subdued is...impressive. And explains a few things to me, from that day." He extended his hand to Corvo again, but didn't send his emotional field. "If that is a liability, holding you back from focusing your emotions so that you don't lose control, then let me take it from you. Just as when I accidentally took some of yours and Shae's negative emotions that day, I could take that rage and fury so that you might be freed. Not all of it, but enough to achieve a certain...equality, I think you would say. Unless this anger is a source of power to you, then I'll let you do as you will. I'm willing to bear any burden to help you, though. You're not Jedi, nor are you Sith. You have transcended such base titles. Be who you choose to be, not what your peers label you as. Do what you believe is right, and my aid will only falter when I am dead on the ground."

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo's teeth ground together. Everything about this was not what he had expected. He didn't like things that were unexpected. He didn't understand this man, but he thought he did more than he would have expected. Even so, that wasn't enough to make his mind at ease, and certainly not enough to let a dark honor guard near his daughter. But then, he knew that people could change. He was the example of that, but that didn't mean that he assumed he best of anyone. If he did, he would have been dead long ago.

As for Venator: that was something he wasn't ready to talk about with anyone. In fact, he'd only just fully explained it to Shae despite her general knowledge of him for a long time. Venator was something he had to carry and no one else could take. And Venator had only made a stronger appearance on that day.

He just shook his head, not willing to say more on the topic and continuing on. It wasn't that he wouldn't have appreciated the gesture if he knew him better, but there were things that weren't for others to carry. And what are you willing to sacrifice for this? You've sworn loyalty to the Emperor. The most sacred job within the Empire, and you would just throw that away?

It was clear that this man was struggling to find his purpose but Corvo's undying skepticism wouldn't go to rest. You've never wanted to turn against the Empire before. You would abandon your post for this? He wasn't sure where he was going with this. He certainly didn't want to talk the man out of this, but everything was in too much disarray now. Pull your thoughts together, Corvo. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

"The Empire made me feel safe from my fear of the Jedi, and as long as they provided that...security, they had my loyalty. You and Shae banished that in it's entirety, however, which means the Empire no longer holds sway over me. I know I may seem callous, a fair-weather friend, but my heart and loyalty go to those that I believe deserve it. I've not been deaf to the anguish and events around me, I know that both Sith and Jedi are flawed. Their hatred for each other spans millennia and has made them dependent on each other. They hate each other, but they need each other, as if one falls completely then the hunter has nothing to hunt. They become hollow, their teachings ringing falsely with their deeds, and creating the cycle anew again. To be fair, a good amount of this galaxy would need to be put to the torch for any true positive change to happen. If that were your wish, I'd steal a Star Destroyer and start burning worlds right now. I feel, though, that your approach would be a bit more...nuanced." He still held his hand out, with another offer in mind.

"If you won't let me take that from you, then let me at least help shore up your defense against it. There's two sides of this coin, giving and receiving. You've done well to keep it locked away, but again, I felt what just happened when your other half wanted to strike me down. I felt your willingness to give in, to just let it be over and succumb to that darkness. You may think it less painful, or perhaps your fate for what you have done. Do not be tied to the preconceptions of others, or to an overly sensitive conscience. You need rule yourself with heart, mind, and body in sync with each other. If your heart is wounded from the results of your deeds, then perhaps I can help to heal it." This would be the last attempt, as he had nothing else to offer Corvo. He knew the man as broken, that the weight of his actions had indeed caused damage to his psyche. If he wasn't willing to let go of the pain, perhaps it could be soothed and his shields recharged. "One should never live in fear of themselves, nor let that fear of harming those they love rule them. I offer respite and strength, as a token of my intent. I want to help you, Corvo." Those last words came with a small burst of emotion, showing beyond a doubt the truth of his words.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo listened to the man, his own mind unable to be anything but skeptical. It wasn't that the man seemed insincere, but Corvo took paranoia to a whole new level. That's not your job, he finally said. It didn't quite carry the edge that most such conversations would have had - the empathic moments had bought Jet more good will than most - but not enough that Corvo was willing to bare his soul to someone else. Shae was the only person he had for that.

However, there were other words the man said that put all Corvo's bells on high alert. No. I burned worlds before. Massacred countless people. We are not going to go that path. Even if I asked you to. Perhaps it was too harsh or perhaps not, but the implication of that comment set everything on edge. The entire idea was horrid and brought back terrible flashbacks.

Still, the comment showed that he was willing to go to great lengths and there was something to be said for that. Corvo bit back the sigh, not wanting to betray his hand at all. All of this darkness, Shae's descent, right or not, I blame Malon and Cain. And they will come for myself and Ciri in time. Cain's all but gone, but Malon is not. I will kill him eventually; will you help me? And there it was. He'd spelled out exactly what he had planned and he knew the possibility that this was a trap was still real, but it seemed less likely unless this man was capable of extreme deception. But then, there were some species who could manipulate pheromones and the like. Suffice it to say, there was no end to Corvo's paranoia.

 

[Insalius]

There was no hesitation in his answer, no wringing of hands over betrayal. His time with the Empire had been fruitful, and had given him the peace of mind that had been taken during that Jedi attack so long ago. Now, though, he had found his purpose, his desire and what would help him become ‘real’, at least in his mind. Even if it were in servitude to the most notorious family in the known galaxy. It was the surest feeling of what he wanted and he would not turn down a request for aid from the man he viewed as the most human. “Of course. I may know best when to strike.” Reaching to his chest, Jet took an embedded commlink from the communications panel. He had long since switched it off, so as not to be heard, but it would be simple to turn it on again.


“This will be a direct link to me, past all imperial encryptions. While the details of the fight are not yet set, Emperor Malon wishes to crush the Jedi in person when they attack Coruscant. It’s only logical that they would attack there soon. When the time comes, I’ll transmit the boarding codes to his flagship to you and aid you how I can to get you to the bridge.” He walked over to Corvo, offering the Commlink as a show of his loyalty and support. “You can take it apart if you wish, to make sure there is no tracking beacon or other such trick. I put these together myself, to work with this armor’s capabilities, so no one’s hand but my own should have touched them.” This would probably not ease his paranoia, but it was important to be upfront and truthful.


“I’ll also send messages when I can of other information that may be important to you as it comes up. If I’m discovered before you can strike, then I’ll die content to have served you. I apologize that this is the best that I can do.” He stepped back, waiting for Corvo to respond. If he needed more, then he would do his best to provide. If this was enough, though, then he would be satisfied. What he left unspoken was the extended invitation for the emotional aid, as he would be happy to provide it if Corvo ever asked for it in the future. If the man asked him to jump, he wouldn’t even ask how high. He’d give it his best no matter what was asked.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo took the offered comlink, knowing he'd have Chaz pull it apart as it was beyond his area of expertise, but slid it into a pouch on his belt. He gave a nod, wondering if perhaps this man actually was what he said he was, finally realizing that perhaps he should lighten up a bit on the other man.
Appreciated, he said curtly, silently reprimanding himself for it, though there was no change in his demeanor and he was now even more mindful of how his thoughts might dance across to the other man.

I appreciate your willingness to do this, he finally added. He realized that this could be the difference between success and failure and could only hope it wasn't a trap, though from all accounts his senses would be trembling if this were some sort of trap and he got no such indications now.

So what you're seeking, is this something normal for your species? To achieve something like that? he asked. Even as he did, he knew he didn't even fully understand how to ask the question. Those emotions: have you experienced anything like that before? The emotions Jet had been exposed to were some of the most powerful he knew. There was no one that pulled such thoughts from him as his family did. What did you learn? Fine, so some of that was for his own paranoia, but part of it was genuine curiosity as well. He liked to at least pretend that it was curiosity, though part of him knew better. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

"When our creators died, so did their experiment. We were left alive, but without purpose. It soon became a part of our culture and lives, to find our place in the galaxy. Many of us never find what we feel we are supposed to do in our lives, so I count myself lucky that I found you two." He shook his head, calming down from the feeling of constantly being in danger that he had felt from Corvo for so long for this meeting. "As for the emotions, I haven't come across any these strong before in a long time. The first were those Jedi and their concealed hate. It scarred me, for lack of a better term. You and Shae, though, are a whole different league altogether. I've seen Jedi, Sith, Knights, Marauders, and so on. None reach the power that you two have. You've transcended the petty titles that the rest of the galaxy tries to give you. You're free, if you would choose to be so." This was his opinion, though with the power that Corvo and Shae both had, there were very few that could stop them.

"As for what I learned...Perhaps it is best that I show you. No, I won't strike at you, this is just the quickest way to explain." With a flick of his wrists he grabbed the hilts of his lightsabers, activating them and dropping into a familiar stance for the human. The next minute was filled with mock attacks of the Form X style, something only Corvo and those he had trained in it could know. The silver of his blades illuminated the surrounding ruins with their movements, all of them precise as if he'd trained at it his whole life. When done he returned the lightsabers to their place, looking back at the man whose memories had given him those skills. "Other than that, only snippets here and there. Ciri's face, a moment of passion between you and Shae, some bloodshed, and that commlink frequency that I used to call you here. Those are the clearest, as they were attached to the most powerful feelings. If I had the choice, I would not have taken them. Unfortunately, your will and Shae's will were stronger than mine and it was forced upon me. If I hadn't held on to a sliver of myself, it would have 'killed' me and perhaps another version of you would now be walking around in my body."

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo listened intently, pulling what he could from the information, learning about the man, his culture, and insights into who he really was. Of course, this made Corvo sound much more perceptive than he really was, but he did his best. Even as he heard Jet mention he and Shae being unstoppable, his mind couldn't help but pull toward what would happen if he went with her, fully giving himself to conquest of what lay before him. With the two of them together, there would be no one to stop them. Even as he thought it, he knew it was just the wishful desperation of wanting his life's love back and not something he could ever bring himself to do.

In many ways, the search for self that Jet described seemed not all that different from humans: some organics searched their whole lives to find a place they belonged as well. However their creators had managed to design something that so well mimicked life, Corvo would never know, but it was absolutely astounding, of that there could be no doubt.

He watched intently as the other man ignited his sabers, his own hilt still in his hand from earlier, though he felt no need to move at the moment apart from a step back. He watched the routine, knowing inside himself why this was something the other man had seen. The memories were tied to emotion, and the entirety of his creation of the Form was steeped in the violence, abuse, and desperation of his younger years. The Form was a product of his survival. Hopefully it will serve you well when the time comes to strike the Empire, he said, immediately realizing how deadly that could be in the right hands.

He bristled a bit at the mention of he and Shae's intimate moments, but apart from Ciri, there was nothing that elicited as strong of emotions, so it was only logical. He couldn't help but find himself curious at what the man said about his body being taken over. So this imprint that we seem to have left on you... it could have been more than an imprint? An entire re-write, as it were? he queried, the entire idea seeming odd, but not quite as much so as might have been expected. His own personality issues made him realize just how odd these things could be. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

Jet nodded at the Jedi, perturbed at the thought again as he had been back then. "As you can guess, our race is built first then 'programmed', countless factors randomized to create a unique personality. In fact, if two living beings who otherwise weren't able to breed wished to, our creators had made a machine to read and combine information from their minds to create a combination of their personalities in the form of a 'child' of our race. Ultimately, that means that if we could be 'programmed' in this way in the beginning then there could be a way to 'overwrite' this programming. It would seem that we have found that way. It is an obvious thing now, but no less terrifying." He leaned against the far wall, a bit more comfortable to talk now.

"One thing I've noticed about the Jedi and the Sith is that their control over the Force seems tied to how they utilize their own emotions. So many people overlook them in their lives, just accepting their fears or happiness and going on from day to day. The Jedi attain their power by regulating their feelings and tempering it with knowledge and wisdom. The Sith give in to their emotions and feel them deeply, usually focusing on the most negative of emotions for their power. I believe both are wrong, for while each side can attain power, they both become slaves to their preferred method and seemingly the Force itself. After all, if this power can be affected by the emotions of it's user, doesn't it stand to reason that the Force can have emotions of it's own? If it can feel, it can have sentience. If it has sentience, it can feel Desire. With it's power, sentience, and desire, it could bend anyone to do whatever it wants and they would never even know they were being manipulated. Perhaps that is why the Sith and Jedi have been fighting for so long, perhaps there's not just one overall 'Force' but separate entities of this sentient power that uses us as pawns to fight their wars against each other."

He sighed again, looking at Corvo. "Ah, but pray forgive my thoughts if they offend. These are just things I've thought of as I observed the war and even participated in it myself. The Sith would brand me a heretic and have slain me for my thoughts, and there are no other Jedi that would have ever listened to what I say. It is fairly relieving to speak my mind for once. To be more clear, yes, you two could have overwritten my mind. There could very well be another version of you or Shae walking around in my body, perhaps even that darkness that you're trying to keep in check. While they would not be able to use the Force in my body, they would have other benefits. Watch." Winding back, he punched the wall next to him as hard as he could. A normal man would have perhaps shaken the stone and stirred some dust, at the cost of pain to his hand. With Jet's metallic body, however, a large chunk of the wall flew away as a crack proceeded even farther than that. He shook his hand, seemingly in pain at what he did, but the point was made. Even though he could feel pain, his robotic body was far stronger and faster than an organic, which he kept in check at all times to surprise enemies and allies alike. "If that darkness were within me right now, even with the Force, you might be hard pressed to keep up. It is not a boast, it is fact. In a straight battle between an organic and robotic frame, the robot would win."

 

[Phoenix]

The conversation took a turn Corvo certainly wasn't expecting in numerous ways. That's fascinating, he commented. This species was far beyond anything he'd ever seen or heard of before. Have you heard of anything like that happening before? he asked. Though from what you've said, it doesn't sound like you've seen it before, he mused.

I had no idea such a thing was possible of a child. Does that happen often? he asked, wondering if such things were common. But then, if the race was as unknown to others as him, he figured not.

He nodded knowingly as Jet explained his thoughts on the Force. I've heard such thoughts before. I'm sure you're familiar with the Inquisition, formerly the Priesthood. They believe a similar thing about the Force: it has a will and they serve it as if a sentient species. Outside the Sith, the belief that the Force is a continuum is known as the "Unifying Force." It's not as popular a view as the "Living Force" but has merits. If I were to surmise, the answer is somewhere in the middle, he added his own thoughts on the topic.

He watched in admiration at what the robotic man could do, pounding a piece out of the wall. Impressive, he said. [col0r=firebrick]And, yes, I imagine that would be quite the edge in combat. I've known of Sith who augmented their bodies with such things, though in many cases, it didn't work as well as they would have liked. But you, you have it naturally. I suppose that has been a useful tool in the honor guard.

 

[Insalius]

"Indeed, there have been very few that we have come across with such forceful wills combined with that strength of Empathy, the connection to the Force. I daresay that you and Shae are the only people powerful enough in that regard to have done such a thing. Even what I learned of the late Grandmaster didn't equate to the same level of power that you two have. You truly are a cut above the rest." The words he spoke were not only the truth but were filled with admiration. Jet was again talking about the source of his new life's purpose and it filled him with a satisfaction that even killing Jedi to assuage his fear could never give.

It was good to know that he wasn't the only one who had his particular views on the force, as it seemed both Jedi and Sith had given the matter some thought. Still, it did nothing to break the chains they had to each other, that fact alone being the most frustrating part of the whole war between the two. "At what point does the fighting stop? When one side or the other is completely eradicated? That's already proven to be a false victory, as the other side will eventually return and cause another galactic war. I don't believe that a being such as the Force would want this ebb and flow of constant fighting, unless it were a truly malicious and uncaring thing. Yet, I suppose I'll never know. I cannot hear the Force nor control it, so I am not bound by it's influence. Perhaps that is why I question it so. Tell me, when you have doubts about what you have been taught to believe, does the Force calm your misgivings and give you clarity? Does something stop you from dwelling on these discrepancies? I wonder if it tries to influence you even when you don't know it, bending you so subtly to it's will. If possible, I would break you from that control, though only if it were real and you wished it."

Clenching his fist, Jet felt the pain fade away as it always did. "We can still feel pain just like an organic can, and if we believe that we've taken enough damage that a human would have died from then our minds 'die' themselves. Our bodies become inert until a new mind can be programmed. This is how our creators simulated life and death. Because we are metal, we also cannot grow. This will always be the peak of our physical skills. While they are great, they cannot improve. We are static. I suppose that is a fair trade for having this strength. As for the Honor Guard, it was these abilities and my invisibility in the Force that made me excel with them. Besides my lightsabers, my weapons are non-lethal. An Aural Blaster, some Knockdown and Flashbang grenades, Wrist-mounted Foam Spray, all things to throw a Jedi off their concentration. They tend to overly use the Force to sense others, which allows me to get quite close before they even know I was there. I generate no heat and what light I have is easily covered. In the right situations, it would be impossible to see me until it was too late. They couldn't use my nonexistent heart beat or breathing, either."

 

[Phoenix]

They were the type of questions that were always difficult to answer, but perhaps something that Corvo could make a feeble attempt to tackle. How long would the war go on? Therein lay the real question. In Corvo's years, he'd seen so many leaders of the Sith rise and fall that it seemed like it would never end, but what he'd noticed was that with each successive generation, the Sith became weaker until now it seemed as if Malon himself were the only thing hold the Empire together.

We can kill the Sith again and again but they will keep rising. The thing is, burying our heads in the sand won't stop them. They will continue until one side is broken, he paused a moment, wondering how best to explain the next part. Inevitably, whichever side loses will rise again, but does that mean we just stop fighting because of it? Do you stop picking weeds just because more grow? he shook his head at his own question. He wasn't going to quit so easy, though the longer he was in the war, the more it tore at him and seemed to tax his family.

And what the Force wills, that does partially rest with what you believe of the Force. Does the Force have a will? Most would say so, so why let this happen? Just because something isn't in the will of the Force doesn't mean it won't happen. Not unlike a child who refuses to clean her room. It may be his mother's will that he clean his room but it is her will also that allows him to make the decision not to. And so we have the effect that each and every one of us have, he caught himself before continuing onward, realizing he was waxing seriously philosophical, but he had once been the "spiritual" leader of the Sith as Dark Lord, so these were questions he had pondered more than a few times.

Either way, I don't intend to just roll over for the Empire, he added resignedly. He'd long believed in the greater good and even now used terrible means to achieve good ends. Where that would lead him, only time would tell.

I suppose I'll have to be attentive to others of your kind and their abilities to hide in the Force, then, he said, though it wasn't entirely different from droids or cloaked Sith in some ways. Do you know if there are more of your kind that serve the Empire? he asked. @Insalius

 

[Insalius]

"I would never suggest surrender. I know the Empire. They fight for what they believe is right, for an order for the galaxy that they feel it sorely needs. To be honest, I think this is putting them at odds with the Sith themselves. As the more aggressive of their number fall or split away, I've seen more compassionate and honorable men take their place. Perhaps this could only happen due to the weakening of the Sith, but I don't believe that everyone in the Empire need be culled. Just as how I have seen plenty in the Jedi Order that were far more bloodthirsty and brutal than many Sith I have seen, hiding behind their 'duty' to the order. Perhaps if temperance could be fostered in both sides, instead of these extremes, a path to a mutual peace could be found. Eventually the galaxy will grow tired of the constant fighting. The Sith and Jedi are not the only beings living here, and those without the Force are not entirely powerless either. Even a Jedi Grandmaster has not enough power to stop a Turbolaser, it seems." Jet was not trying to be antagonistic, but he felt that peace was possible if a middle ground might be able to be found. If Corvo didn't believe so, though, then he would drop the topic.

"As for others of my race, I know of none currently fighting directly for the Empire. Most of us shy away from fighting, as the negative emotions created during war can be painful for us. Many of us are in support roles, from working in hospitals to construction. And that's not just in the Empire, either. We're found all over, most of the time confused for common droids. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few of us working for your Jedi Order, having found a path quite different to my own. Some would prefer to hide their true intelligence to try and not involve themselves in the war or are content with whatever they are doing. A common trait among us is honesty, however, so if you ever suspect a droid of being an Elensalite, simply ask them. They'll tell you the truth, every time. Even I would, as a member of the Honor Guard. I may have killed many, but I've never lied." @Phoenix