Once Awake

[jadus]

He had read the signs, seen the inevitable diminution. The fall of Adas had opened the galaxy to the sith, and yet his advisors already tore them apart. Could he rule such a people? Perhaps. But it would break him to try, and he would not permit this. Remaining in the shadows too would be pointless. Instead, he would travel to a most secluded vault, hidden on a planet deep within the Stygian Caldera, the dense and treacherous nebula that protected their world.

He left final gifts to his most faithful, and then sealed himself in, alone. His body joined with the half-living alchemy within. Cold, stinging fumes hissed into his lungs, and every breath came slower. His heart beat twenty times in a minute.

Twelve.
Two.

None.

His mind persisted. It was almost free of his body, almost what it should be, but the cold still touched it as well, slowing his thoughts to the scale of decades. The galaxy seemed to roiled with life and pain and fear, shimmering with ceaseless change. At first, it was overwhelming.

But there were patterns. He could not yet describe their form nor predict their course. They were intriguing. And he had so much time to study them.

He was oblivious to the smaller, briefer things around him. He stared unblinking through twenty-four thousand years. His presence in the Force seemed to almost have melded with the land itself, his presence had so thoroughly tainted it over the centuries. But he remained at its center, deathly still yet somehow living.

No one had found him since his servants had departed, and so undisturbed his meditation could persist for eons more.

The vault was set deep into stable, solid bedrock. The water that had once dug these caverns ran dry millennia ago. Though creatures that could stand the Dark made their home here, they avoided the passage that led to him. He had been aware of them much as he had felt the rest of the galaxy: in aggregate, a rustling of many limbs and lives in the darkness.

In this myriad of years, the sith were of little interest to him. The invaders driven from Korriban still shaped the galaxy, and he watched the darkness they wove into steel. Then suddenly, they were gone. Wars guttered in their absence, arcing from the galaxy's core to the rim. A world that had split in two spread a poisonous Light that pained him to witness, but it cast more shadows in its wake. A wave of minds crawled from the core.

In the next myriad, something far distant caught his attention, beyond the galaxy's edge. The loss of something he had not consciously seen before its end. He dimly saw something in its echo, but the nothingness was swallowed up by the roiling of the worlds around him: the core fractured, a new palace of misery to the east, while to the west, twisting skeins of gravity kept the worlds beyond enmeshed in their own constructs of conflict and life. The piercing Light retreated, pushed outward, and broke itself again. The jagged edges left in its wake sprang up around him, bleeding the Sith until they mirrored the light. He felt no grief, only growing disinterest in their fate. The more he meditated, the more the patterns of the Force itself began to make sense.

In this millennium, a sudden crescendo. A war pushed outward from the worlds around him like a wave, then retreated. All around him, death. And then, so soon as to be almost instant, absence. A hole where a planet had once been, an echoing void. He watched the remains, but there were few stirrings in the darkness to explain it. An event in passing. But it slowed his thoughts with consideration. There was a Dark that left it, singular, splitting, settling, leeching. It was of interest, but there was something he had seen in the nothingness it left behind. He would need more time to think on it.

In these centuries, the growing Dark reached hidden tendrils across the galaxy. The formless Light rose in brittle spires, rotted through, and shattered. The Dark around it fed mindlessly on it, but there was no will to shape it further. He was now so vast and uncaring, but even he could reach out with slow sieving grasp and catch those echoes, draw them out into filaments of pure, glimmering fire. In its shimmer, he saw the forms of great and distant things.

Another world disappeared, and this time he stared directly into its un-light, heard the chord it sang for only the briefest moment. In this flash he saw again, and it was as he had desired.

In these years, the shock of seeing had been too much to sustain. He retreated back into cold, into something forgotten.

And in these lengthening days, he grew to dim awareness: something crawled along his surfaces.

He did not see the smooth black curves of his vault, or hear the voices it stole to whisper with. It had done this before, and each time it brought conflict and ruin to the bare rock above, the caves it nested in, the door it had refused to open.

Comments

[tagential]

"Follow me, then," Edwon said. He'd lead Jadus to the cockpit, where he could easily pull up a holographic map of the galaxy for him. It might be quicker to let him use his mind, but... No, he had enough of his presence in there already, and he was trying not to think about it. He really needed to get him some language lessons.

The question was a little surprising, though not because Jadus didn't recognize his species. He just hadn't seemed interested. "Miraluka," he said. "We're not that common, especially in this part of the galaxy. You'll see more humans."

[jadus]

There were unfamiliar devices here. He could pull their meaning from the mind of Cipher Nine, but he would instead observe their function for now, as he would observe the Miraluka himself.

"These creatures are unknown to me." And, for the moment, not a subject of interest. "You are attuned, yet only to sense the world, not work your will upon it. Is this common?"

[tagential]

"For Miraluka. We're all Force sensitive, though not necessarily especially strong beyond being able to see. Most of the people who receive training are human or sith." A pause. "The Jedi do things differently, or at least they claim that they do. But they have other strict requirements."

Some people, he knew, were bitter about that. He just didn't care. Racism was a fact of life, and there were ways to work around it. And he'd never been interested in receiving any sort of training.

As he talked, he pulled up the map, quickly demonstrating how to use it by moving it around, highlighting different parts of the galaxy. The map was especially designed to allow him to use it, even without eyes, and he worked it intuitively. For now he was just waiting for instructions, or at least a reaction from Jadus as he showed him different planets he might be interested in.

[jadus]

"And you were not trained. Do you wish that for yourself?" He watched the map spring to life, viewing the whirl of the galaxy from an perspective he had never before witnessed.

"I do not know of them." Perhaps the name referred to something he had seen, or perhaps it had escaped his notice in the roiling mass of life. Regardless, he rejected the worlds Cipher Nine showed to him. Perhaps he would see them one day, but they did not interest him now. He reached instead for the controls, simply resting fingertips upon them for a long moment as he considered.

[tagential]

"And become a Sith? I'll pass." He didn't bother hiding the contempt in his voice. "I prefer the job I have."

He pulled back, letting Jadus take over control of the map. He wouldn't be able to lock onto a destination, only Edwon could do that, but he could explore as much as he wanted. The galaxy must have changed a lot in the time he'd been sealed away.

"The Jedi are in opposition to the Sith," he said. Judging by his tone, he wasn't very fond of them either. "They use the light side of the Force, instead of the dark side. They claim to have more of a moral code, although I haven't seen much proof of it personally. They don't kill each other as often as the Sith do."

[jadus]

He did not pursue the question further, instead turning his attention to the map. With careful movements, he adjusted it until the view reoriented to the ship's present position: the planet from which he had seen so much. He let the map spin, thinking further. Where was it?

"There are no sides, only aspects. What possesses them to think this? Where did the come from?"

[tagential]

"If you're looking for a history lesson on the development of Sith and Jedi, I can pull up a holo," Edwon said. He shrugged lightly, because while he did know some of it - as much of it as was available to regular people - he'd never been too interested. In the end, it was politics. "But if you present your enemy as your complete opposite, it's easier to justify attacking them. Your way is the right way, and theirs is a threat."

And the Jedi and Sith did love fighting, and they particularly loved dragging everyone else into their war. He doubted it would ever change. If the Sith or the Jedi disappeared, someone else would replace them, and conflict would continue.

Of course, saying all this was tantamount to treason, according to some, but Edwon had never kept his opinions as secret as he should. And he suspected that all of this was what Jadus wanted to hear, and right now he was the more immediate threat to be dealt with. It was easier to stay on his good side, if he had one.

On the other hand, just "staying on someone's good side" was a boring way to live. "You don't actually seem that much different from them. Your arrogance is the same."

[jadus]

"I have seen all histories that followed my entombment, but their names are unknown to me." The description given was enough to learn what he needed. "I know now what the Jedi are. The paralyzing, brittle light. It shatters too easily, as do these sith arrayed against it."

A roiling of defiance and contrary thought. "Do not mistake the surface for the depths." He had rejected the call of his followers to name him Sith'ari in the wake of Adas' fall. There was no place for him in this time, either. "I am a relic of their legends. An object to be coveted and enslaved. This I know--and it is why I will not extend trust you."

[tagential]

"That's a fairly accurate assessment," Edwon agreed. Though now he wondered how much Jadus did know of the galaxy's history, how much he'd really seen, down in that vault. He'd have to ask him more about that later.

For now he was exhausted, and no matter what Jadus said, his arrogance continued to remind him too much of the Sith he was familiar with. That was never going to hold his interest for long. He walked over to one of the chairs in the cockpit and dropped into it, resting his arms behind his head. "If I wanted your trust, I wouldn't be insulting you. I won't be stabbing you in the back unless you give me reason to, but I know we're not on the same side."

[jadus]

"Openness is not how one seeks to gain trust?" Perhaps Miraluka could not sense intent as Sith could. Or perhaps customs were simply different here. In either case, the defiance was not his concern.

He had continued scanning the map as he spoke, moving closer to the planet that interested him. What he found did not surprise him. "There." He pointed to an empty point on the map, far off the safe passages the ship knew. "The planet is there."

[tagential]

“I’m a naturally open person.” That was a lie. He was sure Jadus would see through it as a lie, but he wasn’t about to waste effort convincing Jadus that he didn’t want to be trusted.

And now he has to stand up again. With the adrenaline leaving his system, exhaustion was winning, and right now what he really wanted was a nap. But he’s hold it together for a while longer. He walked back to the galaxy map, a little surprised at the destination, but he didn’t comment on it before plotting in the coordinates. The ship’s engines kicked into life, and soon after they were taking off.

“I can take you there. After that, we’ll need to head for a major planet or station to refuel.”

[jadus]

He watched the Miraluka key in the destination. He had expected more suspicion. More questioning. But its thoughts were already turned towards later plans. Later lies. It was an obvious trap, one he would not pretend to have missed.

"I do not know if you will reconsider." Not freely. "But this ship must move in stealth as it approaches its destination. I can hide it from the minds of others, but I cannot guarantee that knowledge of this place is safe. If your maps do not contain this place, then it has been deliberately hidden by the creature you now call Emperor." He did not know that for certain. His view of the events had been so brief. But he would learn the truth.

"If you find this too much to bear, say it now."

[tagential]

“Then I’ll activate stealth once we get closer,” Edwon said, no pause or hesitation. Actually, that sounded intriguing, and personally he wasn’t especially worried about angering the Emperor. It might get him killed, or tortured, or worse, but that possibility had never stopped him before. It only encouraged him.

He dropped back down into his chair. “You don’t waste time, do you? Five minutes awake, and you’re already trying to uncover the Emperor’s secrets.” He was actually a little impressed. “Personally I’d at least get a drink first, maybe some dinner.”

He’d have to postpone his report now. And he’d have to come up with an excuse for his delay. That wouldn’t be a problem. Finding a way to make that report without Jadus trying to stop him was still his biggest challenge, assuming he made it back from wherever he was taking him.

[jadus]

"There will be time to do so as the ship travels." He could only read the estimated time to arrival through Cipher Nine, but it gave him enough of a sense of it. Besides, he was only still awakening, and his body was slowly becoming aware of its own needs and desires.

[tagential]

“R8 is already preparing a meal,” Edwon said. He stretched his legs out. There were more comfortable chairs elsewhere, but he didn’t feel like moving yet. Thankfully, he could send his droid messages from here. “I’ll have it bring us a drink now.”

[jadus]

When he concentrated, he could feel the movement of something in the ship, but no readable presence in the Force.

"You use droids as your servants?" He was not incredulous, simply learning. He did not know how many of these things resided in the galaxy. Perhaps he should consider how to sense their actions for his future meditation.

[tagential]

“We do. You didn’t?” Maybe he should start asking Jadus more questions about the time he was from. “You’ll find droids everywhere in the galaxy now. R8 takes care of most of the menial tasks on the ship, which means I can focus all of my attention on my missions. Plus, I’m a terrible cook.”

[jadus]

"The shaping of metal was not what drew the interest of our engineers. They worked in stone and crystal to shape the energies of Korriban." Their contributions had been valuable to him. "The shell of my vault was of their design." As was the cargo he had taken with him to the ship. He had left the heavy black case sitting near the airlock, sealed shut and inert.

"We learned of droids from our invaders, but found little use of the idea. Creations that can be sensed and controlled with a thought held more promise to us."

[tagential]

“Personally I think droids are convenient,” Edwon said. “Especially since most of the galaxy isn’t Force sensitive, it hasn’t been trained.”

Which was the moment R8 arrived with their drinks, and his exclamations of “Here you are, Master! I made it to perfection for you! I’m so happy to see you return in one piece, Master, I’ve scrubbed the whole ship twice in your absence!”

Droids could be a bit obnoxious, but R8 definitely made a mean drink. He took the two glasses from him, and sent him back to finish dinner. Then he held out one of the glasses to Jadus.

“I wasn’t sure what your preferences were,” he said, neglecting to mention that he’d ordered R8 to make it strong.

[jadus]

"Without sensitivity?" His tone was still even, but evidently surprised. Force-blindness was rare among the Sith, and the Rakata that had come to them had also had power. Only the aliens' slave races had been without talent, and there had been debate as to how the Rakata had severed them from something so fundamental. Even Massassi and Grotthu Sith could sense the world as others could.

He watched the groveling construct, but with only marginal interest. It did not seem any more advanced than the Rakatan droids that had floated and skittered behind their masters, first extolling the virtues of the Infinite Empire, then screeching its wrath when Adas had rebuffed them. Perhaps this one could kill as well, but if it could, it hid that capacity more thoroughly.

He took the glass, studying it for a moment, dipping a grooved fingertip into the liquid. No poison that he could taste. Simply an abundance of alcohol. The smooth shell of his face retracted, sliding just far enough over his skull to reveal lips that were almost like those of a sith. "Clean and uncontaminated will suffice," he said, and his mouth opened but did not move as he spoke. Something not entirely like a tongue curled inside it, visible for a brief moment before he brought the glass to his lips and drank.

[tagential]

“Did everyone control the Force in your time?” Edwon was surprised as well. The Sith as he knew them would never be happy with that situation, not if it meant having to share their power with people they considered lesser. And the Jedi held similar views, even if they’d argue that they didn’t. “Was that just the Sith as you knew them, or other species as well?”

He sipped his own drink, his mind on Jadus, curiously, as he investigated what he’d been given. As a species, he definitely felt like something unfamiliar, though maybe not entirely distinct. It was impossible to tell for him, with how the different species had evolved over the millennia. He clearly wasn’t entirely organic, either. Some sort of cyborg?

“If you like it, I’ll have R8 make us some more to go with dinner,” he said. His next question was whether or not Jadus could get drunk, and what would happen if he did. He’d find out soon enough.

[jadus]

He drank, considering the odd taste as it flowed into him. Though the Miraluka might not see it in the Force, the liquid was just barely visible through the translucent layers of his throat. A quiet sigh was his only acknowledgement of the burn it left behind.

"We knew only ourselves, our Rakata invaders, and their slaves. We assumed there were more, but we had yet to reach them." Only the most myopic thought they were alone. How could they be, when the Force was so universal? "Their slaves were blind to it, but most considered it an affliction worked upon them by the Rakata." There had been doubts, of course, but it was useful to intimate to the people that the Rakata were monsters that would blind them and rip their spirits from their families. "Perhaps it was true. They conquered many peoples before they found us."

As to the drink... "It is acceptable." Cipher Nine was likely attempting to render him drunk. Whether he acquiesced or not was yet to be decided.

[tagential]

"Not all species are sensitive. Though it wouldn't surprise me if more have the potential than the Sith like to pretend." He shrugged, unconcerned, because he really had never been interested in it himself. There were too many downsides to becoming a Sith. The short life-expectancy didn't bother him, but that attitude they all had didn't suit him at all. He wasn't one for shows of brute strength, either.

"The Rakata are long gone. The Sith met humans, and are not an entirely separate species anymore. A lot has changed." And if that bothered Jadus, that wasn't his problem, though he had a feeling it wouldn't make much difference to the man. He seemed like the type to want to judge other people either way. "Maybe the Force has changed as well."

He didn't know. He wouldn't know. He'd finished about half his drink, which wasn't enough to get him drunk, but it was enough for him to start pretending to be tipsy. Though at the moment, exhaustion was a factor as well, so it wasn't completely an act. "I take it you were Sith? There was something familiar about you."

[jadus]

His body was still cold and slow, but the drink was hot within him. He had fasted before his hibernation, and the drink would fill him more quickly now. With meditation he could banish the effects, but he did not care to.

"It has. It always will. As life changes, so does the Force." Adas had been powerful enough to shape both to his will, even stand against it for a time. but in the end, it had not been enough.

But the changes he had witnessed in the years since then still puzzled him in some ways. "Why did the Sith become Jedi? Did these Humans do that as well?"

[tagential]

The question surprised Edwon enough that he laughed, and had to put his glass down to avoid spilling it. "Please, ask a Sith that question," he said. He wanted to be there for that, somewhere in the background, just to watch the outrage, the indignation. He laughed harder imagining it.

"But it was actually the other way around. There's too much propaganda on both sides, so I don't know exactly what happened, but some Jedi split from the Jedi order - they were human, you had that part right - and they met the Sith on Korriban, they had some fun together, and they created the Sith Empire from there."

He picked up his glass again, just to lift it in a mock toast. "The things we can do if we work together."