To Know Your Enemies

[Rhea]

The Jedi temple on Vrogas Vas had long lay in ruin. Few in the Order paid it any mind, though what remained of it still exuded powerful echoes in the Force. After leaving her charges behind on Prakith in the care of Leviticus, Rhea plotted a course for Vrogas Vas. The currents of the Force were becoming clearer to her with each step that it was pushed towards darkness; and it was the echoes that were rippling out from Vrogas Vas that most warranted her attention.

She had first sensed it aboard her ship en route to Prakith. Alais's male companion was not happy about their arrangements—or, rather, the girl's involvement with Rhea. He was powerful, and he had the potential to be more powerful; but his attachment to the girl was the most dangerous thing about him. Rhea got the sense that he would go to great lengths to keep her influence away from Alais—to prevent she and Leviticus from mingling as the dark women intended. This was because he, like most of his kind, suffered from a lack of vision that usually ended at about chest-height. But Rhea, with her gift for foresight, saw the events for what they were:

She knew, for instance, that she herself was no leader. She spoke with a voice that would never move others, with a passion that went unheard; yet she also knew what needed to be done. In both Alais Drast and Leviticus, she saw the potential for her vision to finally reach fruition. Leviticus, whom, despite his proclivity to avoid leadership, possess a charisma that made others desire to follow him and a power rivaled by few; and Alais, who was such a natural leader that she scarcely realized when she was leading, and, more, had the potential to be a black hole within the cosmic energies of the Force. Together, with enough time, the right training, and the proper nudging at the appropriate moments, had the potential to become the most powerful Force-users in the entire galaxy and the leaders it so desperately needed to usher in a new era—the new era she sensed on the fringes of her prophetic dreams.

But Kal, the girl's former Shadow friend, was a threat to all of that. He was a shatterpoint to the future. Used properly, he would be a valuable tool to push both Alais and Leviticus towards their ultimate destinies. However, left unchecked, he threatened to destroy it all and unravel Rhea's machinations. As a result, she needed to know more about him. He might be more powerful than her with the Force or a lightsaber, but he was as dim-witted as most other males of his species. She knew better than any that knowledge was true power; and she wielded it like a master's rod.

Touching down outside the temple on Vrogas Vas, Rhea stretched out with her senses. The echoes she had heard through the Force on Prakith were stronger here, and she sensed... something familiar. Recent. A presence she both knew and didn't know, yet one that was still quite new to her—foreign, almost alien. She set off towards the temple ruins, hoping to learn of its origin.

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

There was only so much one could learn from books, especially the obviously biased selection that was found in any of the libraries of the Jedi. Alais' words and those of others in the Order had really resonated with him, as well as that brush with the Dark Side that everyone seemed to be so afraid of. The allure of power was there, the pure strength of the corrupted techniques of the Force having a great deal of utility in most situations even if the results were more direct than subtle. Despite this, though, Alphonse wasn't interested in taking such a shortcut to power, both from knowing what the downsides were and knowing that he was better than that. He held himself to a higher standard than that and that was something he would do his best to hold the Jedi to.

Vrogas Vas was the name of a planet that had come up in his studies, the location of an old temple that no one seemed to talk about anymore. Considering how few Jedi there were and how preoccupied they were with...doing whatever they were doing, it wasn't too mysterious of a thing that he hadn't heard of the place yet even in the texts he couldn't find out what had been there in the first place. Mysteries like this intrigued Alphonse and now that he had his own hyperdrive-capable shuttle he could go out an discover them to his heart's content. He had no set instructor and no one seemed to pay him much heed at the moment anyway. He made sure the superiors in the organization knew where he was going but he left rather quickly, eager to do his own search. It was almost as if something was drawing him there, giving him a nagging suspicion that the Force was pulling him to the planet for some reason.

As expected, the temple was in ruins. Alphonse had to leave his ship behind a short distance from the place as it was one of the few places he could land safely. Despite the elements he still wore his fine clothing, white jacket and pants over a black shirt with a feathered hat. He hadn't received or made a lightsaber yet so he still walked with his modified cane, though hidden beneath his coat on his right hip was his blaster as he had always had. Inside the pocket on his chest was a fine cigar case, always kept well-stocked for his own use or as gifts for others. As he always said, he kept himself to some high standards and that came with being courteous and polite to others even if the rest of the galaxy would look down on them or hate them.

The place had been picked clean by scavengers after the Order had been weakened during the long war, no longer afraid of retaliation by the beleaguered Jedi. Common rooms and even some of the inner sanctums had been looted for everything they were worth, yet a few places still had signs that they hadn't been accessed yet. The power was gone from the facility yet there was a workaround for everything. Some of the scavengers had tried blasting their way in, usually only serving to make entry impossible or not making a dent. A finer, more intelligent hand was needed in most cases and Alphonse had just the idea on how. Before leaving he had studied the mechanics and engineering of the time the Temple had been built for possible clues in case he had to work on the place manually. Usually stuck in mysticism, the fact that he was looking at non-Force related solutions paid off in finding a manual door release hidden in an engraving that was a common thing back then. Before he could pop it and the ancient door open, though, he felt something familiar as a sort of faint echo in the Force.

Ah, it was her. The woman from the Trial, her name was Rhea. He had learned her name and a few other things when their minds had touched, though his own had been temporarily made to forget thanks to her machinations. Even after remembering everything he hadn't told anyone else, not seeing a point to. Even if he knew she was an Exile he barely cared. She was intelligent, crafty, and had definitely not been the reason Alais had fallen. Hell, he didn't even care that Alais was an exile now as well, the same with Kal Vox. Titles meant little to Alphonse, deeds meaning far more to him. He knew the truth behind Alais, as they had worked together before the Trial. She was just like him, using pragmatic means to do good in the galaxy. The people at the Trial lacked the context of her actions and assumed incorrectly about her, condemning her without even finding out the full truth. In his mind that Councillor deserved what was coming to him, only seeing the situation from the perspective of the Force instead of looking at it from all sides. That was in the past, though.

Alphonse could feel her drawing close, even feeling a hint of curiosity coming from the woman. Perhaps they were linked a bit more than he had thought ever since he had managed to pierce her defenses during the Trial. He walked to the entrance of the temple, not too far from where he had been working, and gave the woman a bow a gentleman would typically give a person of respect. There was no condescension in the move and he hoped she noticed that. "Lady Rhea, welcome to Vrogas Vas. I apologize for the direct way I introduced myself at the Trial, I hope I did not offend. I've only just learned of this place and while the rest of the Order doesn't seem to care I felt it best to learn what I can from here. I'm not as...familiar with the history of the Jedi and if I intend to actually change things then I need to know what has already been to make sure I don't repeat things." He took off his hat in respect, gesturing for her to join him inside the building and out of the elements. "I'm not sure how familiar you are with this place but I just managed to find a way into one of the sealed rooms. I'm not sure if such a thing interests you but if so, you are welcome to join me as I investigate. I don't believe in coincidences so our meeting here must have some importance to it. If you seek something else then I'll be happy to assist you. You are no enemy of mine."

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

Rhea was perplexed and mildly annoyed to find a familiar face among the ruins of the Vrogas Vas temple. Not annoyed with the man himself, per say, but with the Force which constantly tampered with the lives, fates, and destinies of others—just at it had tampered with her fate in bringing her into contact with this man again. Of course she recognized him. He was the one to observe her — to sense her, despite all odds — during the trial of Alais Drast. Only, she sensed a difference in him this time. He had grown stronger.

"You will find that the Order has forgotten a great number of its sacred places," Rhea said. Her voice was casual, but there was a note of curiosity to it. The Force had clearly brought her back into contact with this young man. She might as well follow the trail it was leaving. "They are a wounded beast — the Jedi — and in their pained and labored breathing, they have forgotten much of teachings and knowledge. Such places as these—" She took stock of the ruins that once she would have loved "—do not captivate them as they once did."

She considered what he had said again and appraised him. There was still the element of a criminal about him, though he wore the trappings of a Jedi Knight. The way he sought the thrill of exploring old ruins, which might be ripe for the plucking—where ancient artifacts might rest. He could not shrug off his old nature. It was engrained in him, no matter how much he strove to ignore it. And then there was the word "change" which seemed to ripple through the Force, as though it was attempting to alert her to something more... something deeper.

"And what is it you hope to change? Do you think that the secret to changing the Jedi lies in the secrets of the ancient past?" She resisted a cackle. "It is a noble cause, but one that does not acknowledge the situation for what it is. The call of the past is strong... but it is the call of the dead and holds nothing for us. If the galaxy is to be changed then the remains of the Jedi must run their natural course and something new must rise in its place."

She paused for a moment—both to allow her words to sink in and to gather her thoughts. "Ah, but I can tell that your curiosity cannot be quenched so easily. Very well, I shall indulge you for the now." She gestured broadly to the ruins around them and rested her hand on the smooth surface of an old sandstone pillar jutting out of the wreckage. "The structures that you see around you are all that remains of the great temple of Vrogas Vas. Each room within it was once infused with the history and heritage of the early Jedi Order, containing great mysteries and holocrons detailing the secrets of the Force." She caressed the pillar as though it was an old friend and seemed, even, to reminisce. "But even these hallowed halls could not hold back the curious of the criminal, and, after the temple was abandoned during the Great Darkness, its secrets were plundered and lost to the Jedi forever. Instead they filled the collections of those without the skill or vision to comprehend what they had found."

She came out of her reminiscing daze and turned to regard him once again. He was a curious thing, this tiny Jedi. His mind was open and pliable, filled with good intentions, and yet he did not consider her an enemy when, in reality, she was the greatest threat he could possibly have encountered. Curious. The Force was trying to show her something, she was certain of it; and there was a chance he knew more about what she wished to know. It was an opportunity she could not ignore.

"As it would happen," she continued, "I do not believe in such things as coincidences either. The Force binds all things together and it is no coincidence that we who encountered each other in that critical moment on Ossus have come together again. The 'why' will reveal itself to us in due time. Until then, I will indulge you further and accompany you for the moment; but I do not think there will be anything of import among this mausoleum to the dead Jedi."

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

Alphonse could tell that Rhea was annoyed at being here just in her body language, her mind as tightly guarded as it always was. Subtly he began to observe that mental fortress that she created, trying to learn what he could about her techniques without actually attempting to pierce them or make her seem alarmed. He listened to all of her words silently, taking them in and giving them each their weight of worth. He had a feeling he wouldn't be finding much that would have helped in his pursuits when he got here, even with the discovery that he had just made. Perhaps that was the lesson he was supposed to learn here, that even if there was something to learn from the past that it wasn't as valuable or necessary for the future. Or perhaps there wasn't anything TO learn, simply more of the same, and that would only serve to further strengthen his resolve to change the Order if it were possible.

"Thank you for indulging me, and for sharing your wisdom. I have the feeling that you are correct, that in the attempt to learn something useful from the past to use for the future that my trip here will end in failure. All the same, It doesn't seem that this room has been opened in quite some time, despite repeated attempts by others to force their way in. It doesn't look like they were able to subvert the door and enter from another angle, either. Even if I don't learn something useful from whatever may be there, perhaps there is something that I can use. Or it is all in vain and I have wasted my time. Though...With the location of this planet, it may be worth converting this superstructure into a base of some kind, perhaps a refueling depot. Instead of just leaving it to rot it could be used for something useful, even if it disgraced the 'legacy' of those that originally created this place." He spoke candidly, without any attempt to be misleading or to lie to her about any of his intentions. There was no point, knowing that not only could she pry the information from his mind but that there was no reason to do so in the first place.

He led her inside to the door that he had been working on, having just undid the lock via the hidden compartment. "It's interesting that in the pursuit of entering this room the would-be trespassers only tried brute force instead of researching the technology of the time. That was how I found this latch, and if other Jedi came here afterwards then they may have had the same issues as the scavengers. The criminals I can understand, having been one, but the latter is just...arrogant. On that note, you should have seen the arguments that the other Knights and Masters had during both the funeral of Councilor Vao AND the Conclave that was called the next day. For an organization that proclaims to be the beacon of light and order in the galaxy they seemed to have quite little to spare amongst themselves. Even the whole matter of the Trial in general was a farce. That Councilor went into the thing with Alais' guilt assured. I traveled and worked with her a short time when I was a criminal as well as with Kal Vox. Both are good people, they just did what was necessary to follow their ideals. It was an impossible thing to convince that Vao of that fact, though. You could see it in his eyes, read it in his voice. He was arrogant and afraid, just wanting her and her darkness to be done and the problem gone. It was his fear that led to his death and I hold no remorse for the man."

Trying to open the door, Alphonse was only able to get it open a crack before it stopped, caught on something. Most people would have tried to force it open, most Jedi resorting to using the Force to do what they could not do physically. Instead, Al looked towards where he felt the door being caught and examined the area. It turned out to be a bit of collapsed ceiling pressing into one of the ornamental indents in the door. With a quick draw he fired his blaster at the offending spot, knocking it out of place and watching as the door popped even further open with the pressure gone. Returning the blaster to it's holster he finished opening the door, not having used the Force at all to solve that problem. It was just like he always did, only using the Force to bolster what skills he already had, instead of relying on it.

"It's amusing to see the Jedi rely on the Force so much, from trying to read the emotions and thoughts of others to straight-up overpowering people with its martial abilities. Yet, when a Bounty Hunter gets the drop on them they seem even more weak and pitiful than the common man they attempt to protect. Perhaps that was why Alais was so terrified about having the Force taken from her. I can see where that would be a terrifying thing, yet it wouldn't be the end of the world. You would just become 'normal'. I learned how to take care of myself and do most of the things a Jedi can before I even learned I had the Force, which was how I was able to pick you out of that crowd, by the way. Your whole demeanor was in such stark contrast to the other observers that it stuck out amongst the crowd for me." He opened the rest of the door with a grunt of exertion, allowing light to enter the room for the first time in years.

Inside appeared to be a forge of some kind, pieces of various objects scattered about and some crystals lined up on a far wall. Shelves containing old datapads and even some actual books scattered here and there. The sealed nature of the room had preserved them, though the thing that captured Alphonse's attention was the forge. Taking all the pieces in he could see that it was made for making lightsabers, having all the components needed if he wanted to make one himself. He had read how to do it but hadn't made the attempt yet. Was this the reason he had been brought here? "Looks like a lightsaber forge crossed with a small library. I wonder if any of these books or datapads hold anything of interest. Lightsabers...The legendary weapon, yet now for non-Jedi it's just a key to a credit-filled life thanks to the Hutts. That's another travesty that could have been prevented if the Order weren't so insular. Anyone with half a mind could have seen that coming, at least, someone with a strategic mind."

He frowned, suddenly realizing something. He was talking an awful lot, even to someone as intriguing as Rhea. He didn't think she was the one causing this to happen, not with how closely he was watching her mental barriers. He wouldn't be able to resist her if she tried, but he would at least know it was coming. "You know...I'm not usually this talkative, even with friends. And I know you're not the one doing this...It's like there's something subtle in the back of my head, making me say things that come to mind a lot easier than I usually do. Could that be the Force? If it is, it's quite the rude thing. I know the dark side can be 'corrupting'" He made quotation movements with his fingers as he said that word, "But I didn't think that the Force in general would manipulate people like that. I thought the lightsaber was the reason I came here, yet now I get the feeling it was to talk. I don't even know what about, though, so I apologize if I annoyed or bored you with anything I just said. The gall of the thing...It's like it has a mind of its own and is just treating me like a puppet."

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

Rhea listened to him prattle on about turning the old temple into a refueling depot of some kind. The Jedi librarian that she had once been would have bristled at the notion. Such temples were the storehouses of all the knowledge of the Jedi Order. But she no longer saw it that way. The knowledge of the Jedi was a constraint. Those that had come to understand the other aspects of the Force had discovered a path to the universe's greater truths. Even so, she rather loathed the concept of using the temple for anything militarily; the Jedi did not have much of a fleet anymore to begin with and, more, this place was strong with the Force—its potential would be wasted on a military refueling depot.

It was only when he showed her the chamber door and began to discuss its intricacies that she saw an opportunity to enter the conversation again. As he explained its mechanisms, she dropped down to a crouch and placed a hand on its cold, metallic surface, as if to brush away the dust of the last millennia.

"The crude methods of attempted entry reflect the times," she said at last as her fingers traced the groves in the door. "Criminals and gangsters only speak in a language of force. They understand precious else and will not bother with that which does not yield to it. And, because of the war, and what it has made them, the Jedi have forgotten the elegance of their past — the arcane simplicity — in favor of brute tactics of their own. That is why they cannot perceive their ancestor's technology in such a way that it would allow them access as one, such as yourself, thinks they should."

She stood and dusted her hands off on her robe. That was when the criminal-turned-Jedi took the conversation in a more favorable route. He spoke of the trial; he spoke of the Conclave, the funeral; he talked about Alais Drast... and, yes, there was Kal Vox too. Rhea carefully hid her reaction deep inside of her so that he would not sense it. He did not know that it was she who helped both fallen Jedi off-world. Did not know that it was information on Kal Vox that she so desperately sought to acquire. She listened until he was done; only then did she rejoin the conversation.

"The Jedi — for all their preachings to the contrary — are creatures of fear," she revealed. "They fear what they do not know. They fear what they cannot control. The dark side is a pathway to many mysteries which remain unsolvable to them and it is an energy that ravages all who touch it. In many ways, the dark side is a raging fire that only spreads. It cannot be contained or put out." She paused and placed a hand on her hip. "But it is also an illness. It spreads like an infection, and like terminal cancer, it cannot be easily cut away. The Jedi are infected by it. They know as much, and so they desperately try to cut it away, not knowing that it has already spread to every limb."

She watched as he worked at the door. He was a diligent one, and watching him work revealed as much about his character as conversing with him. Yes, he indeed wore the trappings of a Jedi. He was also strong in the Force. But his ideology was not a Jedi's, nor was his heart. His ingenuity was that of a criminal, as was the skillset he best employed; but that of itself was revealing.

"There is truth in what you say. After all, what is a Jedi without the Force?" she asked, as she had asked so many students before him. "Take the greatest of the Jedi Masters, strip away the Force, and what remains? They rely on it, depend on it; it is the air that fills their lungs, the pulse that keeps their heart beating. In a sense, you shouldn't be so surprised. In many ways, you are more capable than a Jedi. You could survive where they could not simply because you have perceived the galaxy without the lens of the Force. You do not hear it as they do. Without it, they are deaf to the galaxy."

She said nothing of his ability to sense her during the trail. There was much she did not understand about that, yet, nor the mental link that was forged in the aftermath. She could agree with him, at least, on one point, though, and that was that he was a different sort of Force-sensitive. Perhaps it was his upbringing, perhaps a unique method of training, or perhaps something more that granted him such an ability. For now, she could not say... but she was beginning to understand.

She hung back as he finally got the door open and ventured within. The dank stench of the sealed chamber caused her to momentarily cover her nose and mouth. The inside smelled like a tomb, which, she supposed it was in its own way. She realized soon what she was looking down at: a forge, from which young Jedi students constructed their lightsabers. The parts and pieces were still intact. She took a few cautious steps into the labyrinth below as he spoke his last full paragraph.

"Again, you are quite perceptive, tiny Jedi," Rhea said, for a moment allowing her frustrations to be laid bare. "It is said that the Force has a will. A plan — a destiny for us all. I wield it, but it uses us all, and that is abhorrent to me. Indeed, it may be the Force has brought you here to learn from me and I from you. It is an irony — in the way most of the Force's will is — that it would call a Jedi and an exile here for that purpose." She paused for a moment of thought, considering what more he had said, then added: "However, if it is of the dark side you are attempting to learn, be warned, the highest mysteries cannot be learned by falling to the dark side. It is a quick path, and, often, a short one."

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

As he learned more about her from what she had to teach, Alphonse didn't feel himself growing any more knowledgeable about who she actually was from what he had already been able to learn. Obviously she had been with the Jedi at one point but any record of her name, Rhea, was gone without a trace. It would make sense if she had fallen to the Dark Side and the Jedi had gotten rid of any reference to her due to their fear that others would follow her example. She was incredibly intelligent and wise, yet at the same time had the same sense of bitterness that Al had cultivated deep inside of him since his first betrayal by the Jedi all those years ago on Alderaan. The difference was so far he wasn't seeing that little seed of hope that had survived within him inside of her, that perhaps being the main difference between the two. He didn't fault her for this, her own betrayal and revelations had probably wounded her far more than his own had wounded him. He wasn't going to judge her for this, instead he would take all of her words and add them to his internal storehouse of knowledge. Even if what she were saying was just one point of view on an obscure topic or two, it was still a valuable thing to have. Perhaps this, in part, was why he was led here.

"The Dark Side...It is indeed a mystery to me, as I've only felt it but a few times so far. The most of these interactions happened during the Trial, when I gleaned a bit from your mind and then when Alais and Kal fell. I can see the raw power it has, how it can appeal to others, yet...I've not felt a draw to it, beyond the usual mortal desire to know something that another has deemed forbidden. It has not called to me in a way that seems like I NEED to have it in order to accomplish my goals or ideals. Then again, even if it did, I'm not sure if I would entertain it's offer. Obviously I can't say what would happen at the time it truly did try, yet I hold myself to some very high standards. A majority of the galaxy is duplicitous or apathetic, saying one thing but ultimately failing to live up to their words when the chips are down. I had resolved at an early age to be better than these people, if for no other reason than to prove that birth or creed doesn't factor into such a thing but instead one's personal sense of willpower. It is not easy but in truth it shouldn't be. Whether that is strong enough to stave off the Dark Side when it calls, though, I'll only know when the time comes."

With the proper care that was needed for such objects, Alphonse picked up one of the tomes in the room to look at its contents. As expected it was a tome on lightsaber creation, with diagrams for creation as well as an introduction to lightsaber combat. He put the tome down after looking through a few pages, more to digest everything that Rhea had said than to actually read the thing in depth. "If the Force has a will of it's own, I'm not sure I want to use it more than I have been. In fact, I might prefer to not have to use it at all. I've been a pawn in the games of others before, even the Jedi, and it is not a thing I enjoy being. At the same time, I don't know if it is possible to kill something naturally intangible as the Force. If we are born with the ability to use it then the first thought a person might have would be that to end its control over us everyone in the galaxy would have to die, if life is the condition for it's use. Of course such a thing is foolish. I would need to learn a lot more about the Force to even get to a point to create a good plan for it's removal, though I'm not sure if even in one lifetime I could do so. Perhaps the Force steered the Jedi away from such deliberations intentionally, subtly, and is doing what it can to create it's own group of willing slaves to carry out it's will on a galaxy of playthings. I don't see a reason why the Dark Side wouldn't try the same with it's own puppets, and I'm not sure if there's any other path than the two to follow in this regard. Or perhaps I'm just giving the matter too much thought. Your words are incredibly intriguing, though, and I feel I would be quite stupid if I disregarded them just because they dwelt on matters I wasn't as educated in as I would want to be."

Alphonse pondered what she said again for a moment, about how the Force had brought her here to learn from him. He cold understand learning from someone as smart and wise as Rhea, but in the grand scheme of things he was just a spec of galactic scum. What could he have in the way of knowledge to impart to her that she would not already know? The Exile was already enlightening him in a variety of topics that he had never thought he would ever get any answers for. The Force certainly wasn't telling him, meaning he would have to be a bit more direct with the question. An idea came to him as he thought of this, something that he hoped Rhea wouldn't take any exception to. They were already here, in this forge, so he might as well try to use it. If he could gain some wisdom in the art of creating a lightsaber from one like her, then it could only come out stronger or at least better put together.

"You say that the Force brought you here so that I could both learn from you and so that you could learn from me. You've already given a great deal of insight to a variety of nagging questions I've had, yet I wonder what it is I could tell you that you do not already know. You are by far one of the most intelligent and wise people I have ever met and, in the grand scheme of things, I don't think I rate much more than a speck. So, I have a bit of an offer for you. If you will lend me your wisdom in the art of making a lightsaber, as I've yet to craft my own, then I will do my best to answer any question that you have on any topic or topics you want. I'll even let you take it straight from here, if you need." He tapped his head as he spoke, alluding to her ability to root around in the minds of others that he had experienced first hand. "I apologize if I seem presumptuous in my request but of all the tasks a Jedi has to perform as they grow and learn the lightsaber construction has been one I have yet to do. It seems a useful tool, though in these days one that should be used sparingly and not shown in an obvious way lest the greed of those wanting that bounty override good reason or leads one into a trap and inevitable death. Would this be satisfactory for you?" The unsaid sentiment was that if she did not want to assist him then he would still be willing to help her. He just thought that this deal would benefit them both.

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

The tiny Jedi was indeed an interesting specimen, but there was still a naïveté about him. He had not yet experienced the call of the dark side and, like many Jedi before him, believed that he was immune to its call not knowing that its seeds were already planted. His philosophy, and those resentments that burned at the core of him, were distinctly not Jedi—certainly not of the light side. Like others who made that miscalculation, the dark side would have a hold of him before he even realized it; and then it would be much too late. She said nothing of this to him. It was not her place. She could feel as much.

His offer, on the other hand, merited her attention. It was a mediocre thing: the ability to construct a lightsaber in exchange for knowledge. The irony, to Rhea, was that knowledge was the far more useful and powerful weapon. But if he was willing offer her such a trade, she was not going to refuse it. She hid her curiosity behind a wall of indifference; those who knew you were curious about the information they held were more likely to hold it over your head, and Rhea was not one that enjoyed being strung along or blackmailed.

Instead, she said, "Indeed? A Jedi tool... and an Exile weapon. Very well, I shall indulge you once more, so listen to me carefully. There is much weight, much craving attached to such a tiny thing of light. For your sex, its importance seems inordinate. Transcendent, perhaps. But I will leave such male preoccupations for the philosophers and the psychologists." With a smooth, fluid motion, she allowed the hilt of one of her lightsabers to fall from its hiding place in her sleeve into her right hand and held it up so that he could examine it. "To build a lightsaber is less about what one reads in a pile of old books and more about how one perceives themselves through the Force."

Thumbing the ignition knob on her hilt, she observed as the emitter matrix spat a blade of bloodfire that cast crimson shadows on the walls of the room. "Once you have assembled the pieces necessary to construct the weapon, you must focus the Force into a meditation ritual. In a sense, the weapon is literally welded together through the Force; but you must have the strictest focus. A slight mishap or deviation could cause the emitter matrix to become inverted, the power cell improperly placed, or the kyber crystal inserted into the wrong chamber. At best, such a weapon might not activate—at the worst, it might explode and cost you your hand." She extinguished her blade and returned it to its hiding place.

"The crystal is the most important component, and you must choose one that resonates with the Force inside of you," she continued. "The crystal is what focuses a Force-sensitive's power and forges the connection between themselves and their blade." She paused a moment to examine the kyber crystals along the wall. If the Force had brought them both here, then surely one of them was destined to be bonded to this criminal-turned-Jedi. "Go ahead and do as I have instructed. We will speak more when you have succeeded."

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

As Rhea showed him her lightsaber, he made sure to take in as much of it as he could. He knew the components from his studies, yet hadn't been able to get a real close look at the actual thing until now. A few things finally began to click for him mentally, like a puzzle falling into place. As always he took her words in carefully, respecting her wisdom and thankful that she was willing to impart more knowledge onto him. It reminding him of another event a long time ago in his life, the memory tearing free of the darkness he left at the bottom of his soul to rejoin the rebuilding light around the hope in his heart. For now he left it there, willing to remember and ponder it again later. For now, he had a task to do and it wouldn't be right to keep his guest waiting while he did it. Hopefully he didn't mess up and blow off his hand in front of her. That would make for an awkward conversation.

Making sure he had all the right pieces real quick, he sat down on the stone floor to start to meditate. Such a thing was still a bit strange for him, though perhaps not too unlike the long periods of thought he would have between jobs to contemplate one topic or another. The difference was that this time he was connecting with the Force, reaching out and feeling all the different parts of the lightsaber. Everything seemed to be going good until he tried to feel out what crystal was calling out to him, focusing on the facets of one that seemed right. As he looked into the crystal, though, the crystal looked right back. Suddenly he was deep in that dark place, that sea of bitterness that was ever part of his soul, as it started to pry old memories from the muck and bring them back to the light of day.

Alphonse had first killed a man when he was six years old, starving on the streets and trying to fend off the cold. The man had been drunk, passed out in an alleyway with his wallet all for the world to see. It was by luck that Alphonse had been there first, reaching out to grab at what would probably feed him for a week, if not more, until the man drunkenly grabbed at his hand as he brushed against him. In a fit of panic and desperation Alphonse grabbed the only thing he could, a broken shard of a glass bottle, and slashed the man's neck with it as he'd seen others die in the past in front of him. He watched the life fade from his eyes, staring as tears fell down his cheeks before grabbing that wallet. He would go on to kill many more people, yet every death weighed just as heavily on his heart. All he'd learned to do since then was not let it outwardly effect him as much. He might seem callous but he genuinely did care about what he did and the consequences they had. Before he could dwell on this any further his mind's eye shifted into another memory.

The retired admiral's house was a favorite of his, stealing into the library when the man was gone to teach himself how to read. He'd been caught by the man once before, though for reasons Alphonse couldn't understand he was let go without having the authorities called as long as he promised to never take anything from the man again. They never met face to face again, yet Alphonse would listen in on the man's conversations or read from his library when away whenever he could. For his part the admiral seemed to know about his frequent visitor, 'accidentally' leaving out a sandwich or a cup of warm tea whenever the younger man would find his way in. When that man died Alphonse felt he had lost something inside of him, despite never having actually met the man except the once. The words he heard from the admiral on his deathbed had been engraved on his soul, however, as despite the door between them the old man must have known he was there. "My life has been hard, but I know that there are many others out there who have had to make do with far less than me. They're all human, though, just like I am. If you treat them with respect then you will receive it in kind. Never give up on your ideals and never slip from the standards you set for yourself. It may be hard but then you'll always be able to show your true worth." The man's family were confused, yet for Alphonse they hit him so deep that they engraved themselves on his subconscious. He could have turned the boy in at any time yet instead he held himself to a higher standard, opting to help him instead by giving him a safe haven and a place to study. How could he not return the favor and listen to the man now, as he was passing away? The memories shifted again, this time to a darker place.

Alphonse woke with a start, a searing pain in his chest as he looked into the faces of his parents. They hovered over him, stabbing at him with whatever weapons they could find in their bare home in the slums. He had learned much from the admiral and had applied what he had learned in his various ventures in the criminal underworld, all to survive where his parents neglected to even recognize he was alive at all. They were scared of him now, of what he might do or what he might bring down upon them if he failed. The betrayal hurt so badly, just like the wounds, and he would have died if the blaster that was just out of reach hadn't leapt into his hand. With two shots he had slain his parents, his mother falling over and knocking a candle over that started to burn the home down. He managed to crawl from the flames and rubble, burned and cut and bleeding. He walked as far as he could until he collapsed. The memories shifted again, this time to a place he absolutely hated.

Darien Carlisle was a Jedi Master, a noble from Alderaan that had found Alphonse passed out and on death's door not far from his home. He'd felt the Force in the boy and had saved his life, though now thinking back on it he knew that Darien had only done so because he was sensitive to the Force. If he had been a regular boy, he would have been left in the dirt to rot. The Master feigned kindness, teaching Alphonse the basics of being a Jedi while slowly trying to turn his mind into an obedient killing machine to use in his war. Looking back on it now he could see how abusive the man had been, saying things just out of earshot about how commoners like him were only good for one thing as well as other insults. At the time Alphonse hadn't cared, happy to have a home and someone who seemed like they cared for him. He was forbidden to go far from the home, but the Dark Side lurked closer than either of them knew.

Francel never gave Alphonse his last name, though since the both of them had grown up in the slums they bonded quite well despite this. It didn't take long to learn that Francel was an Exile, the boy filling his head with stories of adventures he'd gone on with his own Master before being left on Alderaan to do the man's work. At least he was obvious in his attempts to turn Al to the Dark Side, though he didn't think much of him either. In the end Alphonse finally realized that he was being used by both of them, the pair taking the dreams he had of being a heroic Jedi and dashing them against the cliffs near his home. He was betrayed again, just like how his parents had betrayed him, and now he had nothing left. If it hadn't been for the admiral's words he would have killed himself out of despair, though instead he forced himself to live a higher standard than that. Instead he would trick these two unworthy men into taking each other out, doing what they could not apparently achieve for themselves.

The warehouse was old, attached to a refinery that had been abandoned in favor of newer facilities. It was easy to lure the two to meet each other, though Darien was much more powerful than Francel. The fight wouldn't last long, meaning that Alphonse had to make his move quickly. Having learned how to use a variety of poisons and similar substances in the past he had creating a kind of knockout gas, flooding the room with it after sealing the doors. The two men were too engrossed in their fight to notice until it was too late, both falling to the ground in unconsciousness. Still reeling from the betrayal, Alphonse took their sabers and ended both of their lives so that neither could hunt him down. It was an easy matter to use what funds he had stolen from them to make it off world, turning the sabers in for their bounty and creating a very large amount of money for his savings to live from. To this day he still had this money available, ready to use when needed.

From here the memories flashed by of more recent events. He remembered when he met Jon Reukli, a Jedi who died soon after that meeting but whose legacy still sat with Alphonse as the example of what a Jedi should be. He remembered the young lady who talked of their place in the galaxy together, later learning that she had been a Jedi as well. He recalled helping Kal and Nora, at the time not knowing who they were, kill an Anzati enforcer as they searched for the Councilor for the Jedi Shadows. He remembered helping Alais hunt down a group of human traffickers, admiring her pragmatism and her decision to stick to her ideals at all costs. He remembered helping the people of Atoa when the weather was especially bad, not taking a cent in payment and instead doing it because it was the right thing to do. He remembered when he joined the Jedi, helping those children and the wounded Master Silas alongside Kal Vox.

Despite all the betrayals, all the darkness that he had seen and had to do in order to survive, there was something still light within Alphonse's soul. The Kyber Crystal could feel this, pleased with what it saw. It drew forth that feeling that Alphonse has experienced thinking that his life was over, sacrificing himself so that the children and Jedi could get away to freedom. A burning conviction, the desire to hold himself to his high standards as well as the rest of the galaxy if it were needed, and that sense of hope that the Jedi should be able to instill in others despite the darkness that was flowing through the galaxy. In his mind's eye the Kyber Crystal seemed to burn with the flames of his soul, giving for a bright silver light as it assembled itself with the other parts of the lightsaber. What felt like hours later, Alphonse opened his eyes to grasp his completed lightsaber.

Despite knowing the risks of what could happen if he did it wrong, he thumbed the activation button without hesitation due to how sure he was of what had happened. The blade came to life, a sword of silver that seemed to have flames running deep inside of it if one looked close enough. He moved it in the air around him, getting a feel for his weapon that was even now starting to feel like it was a part of his body instead of another weapon like the ones he had used before. Perhaps there was something to be said of making one's own lightsaber after all. He turned it off, turning back to Rhea now that he was successful in his work. He gave her a bow of thanks before speaking. "It would seem to have been successful. Now, please, how may I help you in return? I'm a man of my word, something I've yet to break for anyone. I try to keep myself to some very high standards."

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

As the criminal-turned-Jedi began to meditate in order to complete his lightsaber, Rhea extended her hand ever so slightly and stretched out with the Force to touch his mind. Her efforts were at first met by a flood of incoherent imagery, but, as she focused her probe, they began to come together and make more sense—blending seamlessly into the images as he was seeing them.

She saw the first man he ever killed. The first taint in his soul. Seeing it laid bare peeled away the light that guarded his heart and revealed the darkness festering underneath. The Force branched out in strands from there; she picked one and followed it to its heart. Death reigned within this man's heart. Not just the death of the first—a drunk man who had managed to terrify the young would-be-criminal—but all the deaths that followed. The weight of what he had done was well-hidden, but felt like an anvil to Rhea's mind. The weight of such guilt would eat him alive eventually... no matter how hard he attempted to hide it.

She drew back and examined another strand. The scene changed. Now she was in a home of some sort—a library. The criminal-to-be had used the tomes within it to grant himself literacy and its owner had left him sustenance in return. The death of his mysterious benefactor merely added to the weight on the criminal-turned-Jedi's heart, in much the way that the death of a loved one would weigh on the hearts of any being in the galaxy. She heard the benefactor's last words whispered on his deathbed and, upon their conclusion, witnessed another string borne of the Force surge forth to lead her to a darker place within the tiny Jedi's soul.

:: Betrayal. :: The word that echoed out was spoken in Rhea's voice. It was the word that described her best and she sensed its impact in the images unfurling before her mind's eye now.

Paternal betrayal had led the soon-to-be-criminal to kill again. Darkness oozed from the memory and Rhea used it to further her connection to his mind and strengthen the clarity of the vision. He had barely survived the betrayal of his parents, but Rhea saw what he did not — the hand of the Force — the hand of destiny. That tiny flicker of power within him had spared his life, and, once more, she was disgusted to see that it had even robbed death of its power. The Force truly was all-powerful and she could not stand it.

A myriad of other memories — flashes — images — attempted to pass before Rhea's mind's eye, but she was in control now and the memories obeyed her. She sensed him: Kal Vox. His echo — the touch that each individual imprinted upon all lives with which they had experienced contact — was here, among the other painful memories that drove the former criminal forward. She willed the memory to surface and, sure enough, the young Jedi had indeed met Kal Vox. She watched the memory until completion, then withdrew from his mind entirely. A moment later, he too awoke from his trance, and was pleased to find a lightsaber now complete.

And when he asked to return the favor, she now knew just how he could do so. "In return for my services, I ask you only to relinquish to me one thing." She paused so that the words had weight, then added: "I want you to divulge to me all that you know about the Jedi Shadow, Kal Vox. Spare no details."

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

If Alphonse were surprised at the request he didn't show it, though in truth the fact that she was asking him about one of her supposedly current companions gave a few pieces to a puzzle that he hadn't realized he was trying to solve. It was a given that not everything would be sunshine and happiness for the Exiles, their very nature usually preventing such camaraderie from what few things he could learn about the organization, but with someone as powerful as Kal being considered a questionable entity that meant that they were fractured and distrusting perhaps as much as the Jedi were currently. That in itself was an incredibly useful piece of knowledge, though he would keep that to himself for now. The rest of the Jedi didn't need to have such things weighing down their minds as they focused on rebuilding. He nodded immediately, thinking back at all of his previous interactions with Kal Vox using his eidetic memory.

"I first met Kal Vox on Nar Shadaa a few years ago, back when I was just a petty criminal. I'd been hired to take out the enforcer to a local gang leader, an Anzati named Icepick. I was making my way to capture and 'coerce' one of his henchmen when I saw Kal and his partner at the time Nora running from a group of thugs trying to gun them down. Nora was captured by them but Kal and I managed to escape the ambush. We worked together to trace his captured friend at the time back to Icepick, where I gave him some covering fire while he rescued Nora and completed their mission. They took out my target at the same time and even left me the gang leader as a prize, so at the time that was worth more than the lightsaber bounty to me. Later I would find out that the two had been trying to track down the missing Jedi Shadows Councilor, Tanda Winters. Whatever they were looking for they seemed to have gotten, despite all odds. I still have a scar on my back from helping the man." Taking out a cigar, Alphonse used the Force to create a spark at the end of it to light it for use. He took a step back, not wanting to irritate Rhea by blowing smoke in her face by accident.

"Sorry, it helps me remember. Okay, the next time I met him was when I joined the Order itself. I'd just finished with a trade between my boss and a rival's gang when I came across a wounded Jedi trying to hide and protect a group of children who were Force Sensitive, apparently the man having found them among the orphans on the street. I was still bitter at my previous betrayal, yet something still wanted me to help the man. I traded my medpack for his lightsaber to sell and started to make my way out. I reconsidered and returned to find some Bounty Hunters on the trail of the Jedi, at the same time noticing I'd dropped my commlink by the wounded Jedi. Kal had apparently been tasked with extracting the man and his charges as he was the one who picked it up after I contacted it with a spare I carried. We worked together to kill those Bounty Hunters, though before we knew it there were a score more on their way. I drew them away by lighting the man's lightsaber and running through the streets, giving Kal enough time to commandeer the assault shuttle I use today. He managed to pick me up before I was gunned down, though he didn't have to, and sponsored me to join the Order. That was the last I saw of him until the Trial, of which you were there for that one." He took a drag of the cigar, reviewing his memories even as he had left his mind open to her to see what he remembered through his mind's eye if she wanted.

"As for personality, Kal seems to be very business-oriented, focused on the mission and to whatever plan he has devised which means he seems to prefer an orderly approach to problems instead of, for lack of a better term, a 'fly by the seat of your pants' strategy. I could tell he was obviously displeased with the sudden changes to the operation when we first met, though that might also have been part worry for his partner at the time. He seems to be very loyal, though more to those he feels deserves such loyalty than to an Organization such as when he left to follow Alais instead of staying with the Jedi. He seems to have a strong sense of right and wrong and does what he thinks is right, giving just about everything he has to do so. His view on life might be a bit black and white, yet whatever he decides to do he seems to give it his all to accomplish his ideals. In essence, he seems a good man, if perhaps a bit easy to manipulate. I'd prefer him as a friend yet he would also make a useful pawn if the strings were colored just right for him. Does this satisfy your curiosity, or is there more I can do for you?" He flicked some of the ashes from his cigar from the tip, still thinking of any other time he'd met the man. The times had been few, yet each one had been meaningful. If Rhea wanted she could have been in his mind the whole time as he recalled the memories, even if he felt her there he wouldn't have forced her out. He'd already offered such a thing before, so in his mind he was just showing he was willing to honor his part of the bargain.

@Malon

 

[Rhea]

Rhea closed her eyes as Alphonse spoke, committing every word to memory. Occasionally, a familiar name would float by and grab her attention. Nora, for instance, was the girl from Alais's trial... and also the one from Canto Bight. She realized that the girl—who was likely a Jedi Shadow, given her undercover nature on Canto Bight and Alphonse's account of her searching for the Jedi Councilor who lead the Shadows—would likely be important in future events now that the Force had brought them together twice, and here her name was again. Perhaps Kal would know more about her.

The aroma of cigarette smoke wafted passed her, but Rhea paid it no heed. The criminal's description of Kal and his deeds were rather menial, confirming some of what she already knew. He was powerful. He was a skilled Shadow. But there was a compassion to him; Rhea wondered if he had not truly fallen yet. Perhaps there was still some loyalty to the Jedi Order left within him, however small. She would need to investigate this, but, ultimately, it was Kal's tie to Alais that would make him a useful pawn.

"You have satisfied me," she said when she had heard enough. "I shall not take up any further of your time. It would seem that we have both acquired what we have come here for." She began to ascend the steps of the ancient chamber until she reached the sunlit top. Then, turning slightly, she looked down upon him: "A final word. You are wasted on the Jedi, young one. Should the day ever arrive when you come to your senses and realize as much... I presume our paths will cross again."

She left him there, in that crypt of the Jedi, and made her way out of the ruins towards her ship. There was business elsewhere to attend to, but she did not regret her detour. Thanks to the boy, she knew more about the Jedi—about Nora, for instance, and Kal whom she had desired to know more. But she also had another name to remember. Alphonse. Yes... she was sure they would cross paths again. And, when they did, she might be able to pry him away from the Jedi as well.

@Insalius

 

[Alphonse Carraway]

As Rhea began to leave, Alphonse gave her a polite bow, taking off his hat and holding it over his chest in as respectful of a manner as he could produce. "I'm glad I could be of service. I'll take your words to heart...All of them. If you would, please give Alais my regards." He hoped he wasn't asking for too much, the request more because he missed the young lady and the adventures they had undertaken together than anything. He had learned and gained much from Rhea on this trip to a forgotten world, perhaps more than either of them truly realized at the moment. The world itself would be his treasure, a diamond very much in the rough, yet with just enough of a gleam to show it's potential worth. The rest of the galaxy may have considered Vrogas Vas to be just a forgotten planet, yet Alphonse would be determined to not let it fade away into obscurity.

The former criminal returned to the revealed forge after Rhea had been long gone, reading the tomes for everything they were worth. They detailed the various Jedi lightsaber fighting forms, used in a variety of circumstances and sometimes with different types of lightsabers. He spent some time here practicing what he read, the same information available to the rest of the Order but here he could do things at his own pace and free of the suspicious looks given by those who had grown up in the Order instead of having been invited in after proving himself like how Kal had gotten him in years ago now. By himself he had studied as he could, completing his fragmented learning and even going so far as to meditate and seek out knowledge on his own. Considering the breadth of his curiosities and his consternation at the status of the Order in general, perhaps this would be for the best.

He'd packed supplies enough to last his time learning on the planet, preserving the books once he was done with them for transport back to Jedha. As best as he could on his own he became trained in the Jedi stances, seemingly preferring the movement style of Makashi to all the others. Still, it wouldn't be as effective until he could actually try it out in live practice or even in combat against others. At the very least, though, he would know what sorts of combat either his peers or enemy Exiles would use, meaning that it was extremely valuable as a tool of insight. He had seen both parties rely in part on regular people not knowing of these fighting stances and being overwhelmed by them, meaning that even just knowledge of them would give him an edge for a short time in combat. That small edge could be the difference between victory and defeat. His knowledge on strategy was also near complete, what he had started with that old Admiral during his childhood completing with access to both the Jedi Archives, what was left of them anyway, and Republic archives that he managed to find his way into.

As he trained and learned, a plan began to form. The one chance he would give the Jedi, to see if they were worth his talents and attention. He would plant the seed that his fellows had restored in him, here on Vrogas Vas. He'd create a base, an aid station and fuel depot to help the people and start ripping control of such things from the hands of criminals and their Hutt masters. If it was able to grow and become a beacon of hope, with the help of the Jedi, then there would be some hope for that organization as well. If not, if it were lost in the chaos of the current state of the Order or left to rot on the planet with the temple, then he would heed Rhea's words and seek her out. They would get one chance and one chance only. If they failed, Alphonse would still follow his heart and ideals, just with his own power. Perhaps THAT was the call of the Dark Side.

/Endthread