Jedi Insurgency 164

The lake lay still as glass beneath the pale moonlit sky, its surface reflecting the distant trees, and the slow drift of clouds-things impossible anywhere else on this bone dry world-as if Tatooine itself had paused to breathe. Corvus guided the canoe-shaped leaf forward with a steady hand, the green edge of the boat mostly drove itself, as the Force guided them forward. Placing his hand in the water, it was cool and refreshing, seemingly suffusing him with an endless font of power. 

Spamming [Heal IV] several dozens of times without feeling any strain, he felt like this place was a real holy land. It was a pipe dream, but if he could bait Palpatine into a place like this, then defeating him wouldn't be impossible. However, the old prune was much too smart for that, preferring to hold court rather than dirty his hands. And when Palpatine did make an appearance, it was often sudden, and unpredictable. Such as when he ambushed Maul & Savage, or attacked Yoda with a Darkside vision. That, or he would make a move when he held total confidence in himself. Like when he baited Windu into trying to kill him when Anakin arrived, or when he baited the rebels in Episode IV. Thinking about it like that, Darth Sidious was one cunning bastard. 

That being said…Vader was much more headstrong. It could be worth looking into setting up an ambush on such a world. Illum, for example, could be the perfect place to set a trap. 

Putting such thoughts away for another time, Corvus continued to immerse himself in the Lightside, and practiced his many abilities. Although they didn't improve a tier, he felt as if he were slightly faster in casting time, and that he had greater control of his abilities. 

As the boat glided onward, Corvus let his awareness loosen its grip on his physical sensations, and entered a meditative state. The creak of the leaf's spine, the thought that this piece of plant matter might capsize in the middle of a lake-sized oasis, even the weight of his own body faded into a distant harmony. He closed his eyes and entered an ephemeral state of mind, as though his consciousness had become mist drifting above the lake.

The Force welcomed him.

It flowed through him without resistance. This sensation was not like the fierce pressure of a power washer, or the overwhelming cloying stickiness of the dark, but as a presence that erased the boundaries between self and the universe. He felt the slow patience of ancient stones rumbling beneath the shore, the quiet labor of roots supping upon the Light deep in the soil, the ancient memory of stars burning and collapsing far beyond sight. There was no distinction between his breath and the wind, his heartbeat and the rhythm of the water. Corvus resonated with the Force like a luminous being. 

Half an hour passed by in this state of transcendance, and he finally opened his eyes once they had reached their destination. 

Softly exhaling, Corvus once again appreciated the boundless serenity of the Lightside. Although he did not achieve any quick power due to this trip, he had once again affirmed his place in this galaxy. That even should he die, it would not be as uncertain as his demise on Earth. Supping a handful of water, he glanced at his fellow Jedi, and saw beads of sweat pour down his forehead. 

It would appear he was trying to bind Light, and Dark, but was having a difficult time acclimating to the differing sensations. 

Hett's aura stagnated, threatening to tip into the darkness that gripped his heart. Storm clouds brewed above, and the potential future Sith Lord showcased some of his future power in the Force, as a maelstrom churned the lake like a blender. Whirlpools formed, and the moonlighting became distorted, transforming cool serenity into heat that could fry an egg on the sidewalk! 

Corvus knew he had to do something. Whilst killing Hett would solve this dilemma, that would be something of a last resort. Instead, he would enact a plan. Deciding to help the son of Tatooine out, Corvus cast [Force Barrier] on him, and then simultaneously-with both hands-used [Heal] & [Force Lightning]. In this manner, Hett could experience these conceptual feelings from a very real, practical sense. Due to his advanced understanding of [Heal] as well as help from the Lightside Nexus, Hett was brought back from the brink of no return. 

When the waves calmed down, and the moonlight no longer stung like a magnifying glass frying an ant, Hett opened his eyes, and silently bowed to Corvus in appreciation. 

Grinning under his mask, Corvus was ecstatic. This future top tier combatant was already starting to grow into his own. Although he wasn't much more than a Jedi Master-low at the moment, Hett would grow into a genuine powerhouse. He couldn't wait to field this veteran with a Legion of his own, and set him loose upon the Empire! 

“Master Revan?” Hett tilted his head, and asked in an awkward tone. Apparently, Corvus’s long silence, and ‘staring’ mask had made him slightly uneasy. 

“Ahem, congratulations. I am pleased that the Order has raised such a capable individual such as yourself. Although I only have enough ships to field one Legion at the moment, the supply chain is working furiously. 10 million FNG clone troopers loyal to our cause-that have only been deployed twice-are waiting to be led by men like you. You will do the Order proud, A'Sharad Hett.” Corvus nodded with great solemnity. 

“The Order would rather sit on Tython, what you are doing, what we are doing, that is for the future. By the end of this, I hope that the Order is transformed into something greater, so that this never happens again.” Hett bitterly spat. 

Corvus internally chuckled, because Hett's Legend self, Darth Krayt did precisely that, and reignited the Jedi Sith wars a little more than a decade past Palpatine’s own demise. The Force would always find a way for the galaxy to be in turmoil, it would only be a matter of time before the next existential crisis arrived. Don't even get him started on the Vong, or other cosmic horrors that called this universe home! Hell, the entire Galactic West was a blank side of the map, as Hyperlanes did not go there, who knew what civilizations had developed? Shaking his head, he could only pat Hett on the shoulder. 

“Conflict is inevitable, we can only be our best selves. The Order will change, together, we can make it great as it once was. However, now, we must answer the call of the Force.” Corvus said, and then gestured in front of them. 

As if he had triggered some switch, the water trembled, and began to withdraw, like the waves of a shoreline before a tsunami was inbound. Waves rose on either side of the boat, towering and silent, held in place as if time itself had been arrested. The lake parted cleanly down the center, like Moses parting the Red Sea. Shimmering rainbow colored light pierced the fog, and shimmered onto the two large columns of water. 

At the bottom of the valley of waves was something that made Corvus’s breath hitch. 

A pyramid of obsidian-black stone emerged from the depths, its sharp angles devouring the light that touched it. It was massive, and had a presence suffused with darkness. Whispers of malice, hate, violence, and dominance tickled his mind. Urging him on to take, conquer, rule. 

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, his shadow underneath warped around his body like a protective cocoon. This fierce potency burned his throat like an intense sickness. It was oh so sweet, and tempting. 

Where the lake radiated serenity and warmth, the pyramid answered with a gravity of its own, it was: quiet, immense, and profoundly unsettling.

Corvus felt the contradiction instantly, and absorbed the friendly laughter of the oasis to counterbalance the power of the dark. 

The Light sang all around him, pure and resonant, yet beneath it lay this monument of shadow, resting like a buried colossus beneath calm waters. The Force did not recoil from it. Nor did it embrace it. Instead, it acknowledged it, as one acknowledges a scar long healed but never forgotten.

The leaf-boat drifted to a halt at the edge of the parted column of waves, to an entrance in the pyramid. Corvus stood, robes stirring in the still air, and gazed down at the pyramid. His sense of unity with the universe did not break, but it changed, deepened, sharpened. Oneness did not mean embracing only the Light. Balance did not mean the absence of darkness.

As the waves remained suspended and the pyramid waited below, Corvus grew ever more curious as to why the Force had brought him here. 

Because what rested at the bottom of this lake was no ordinary pyramid. In fact, if he was not mistaken, this was no pyramid at all, but was an octahedron! 

Walking up to the structure as if in a trance, he held his gloved hand to its surface, and traced a hand around alien hieroglyphics. 

“Do you recognize it?” Hett said in a strained tone as he stepped to Corvus’s side, startling him out of his reverie. 

Tilting his head to the side, Corvus held his tongue, wondering just how much he should share with Hett. Afterall, it was one thing to talk about restoring the Order, but the man still had the potential to become a top 20 Sith Lord. 

“If I am not mistaken, this is a Tho Yor, an ancient space ship of great mystery. Eight of these ships-without pilots-traversed the galaxy more than 30,000 years ago. They gathered many Force Sensitives from different planets, and brought them all to Tython. You could say that the Tho Yor are responsible for the formation of the Je'daii Order.” Corvus replied, although a slight frown, and a voice of displeasure colored his tone. 

What he didn't say, was that these octahedrons were some of the most dangerous weapons in the Force Wars, and served as super weapons against the Rakatans. That said, such an intensely dark aura should not be coming from this Tho Yor. For all intents and purposes, they should appear neutral in the Force. The only reason why it would be like this, is because someone, or something within was empowering it with the Darkside. 

Recalling his vision, and that menacing lobster-man, he had known that this wasn't going to be a simple task. Now that a Tho Yor was involved, he even felt some trepidation. Just because dealing with Jabba was as easy as blinking, did not mean he could afford to grow arrogant. It was one thing to kill a slug, but a Force Sensitive who could harness the power of a Darkside Nexus, and imbue their essence into an ancient artifact? That was cause for concern! 

“A Tho Yor, interesting, I have never heard of such a thing.” Hett stroked his chin in thought, then glanced at him. “You are angered by something?” Hett then stated without question. 

“It would appear we are not the only ones who have entered this structure. Stretch out your focus, tell me what you see.” 

Hett then came close, and placed his hand on the wall. Sweat dripped down his chin, and for a moment, Corvus thought he might have to buff the man with [Valor], yet his will was not weak, and he soon gathered himself. 

“This malevolence appears loose, like a noxious gas, surrounding, and all pervasive. Yet this is a surface level understanding…there is a will directing this foul breath, of that, I have no doubt.” Hett spoke with certainty. 

“There is a good chance we might encounter a foe of immense power deep within. Have you prepared yourself?” Corvus questioned. 

“The legends of my people state that this could save Tatooine. I will answer this call, the Force wills it.” Hett met his eye, and spoke with a fiery conviction that even moved Corvus’s pragmatic heart. 

“...well said. The Force wills it.”