Jedi Insurgency 207

After experiencing that awe inspiring meditation, Corvus wasn't in any mood to celebrate over completing part two of the quest. 

Whilst he was enthusiastic towards the eclipse due tomorrow, for the time being, he was still caught up in last night's events. He felt that if he wanted to enter that intangible realm of prophecy, that macro view of the galaxy, he could do so after another deep meditation. At least so long as he was in a place full of both Light & Dark or a Nexus he could.

Remaining in his spot atop the Imperial Garrison, he had been invisible to the world as the sun rose up over the horizon. 

Now the sun hung high above the skyline of Gyndine, casting bright reflections across the glass towers and metallic spires of the city. The bustle of civilian life had returned to its usual rhythm: speeders cutting through traffic lanes, vendors calling out across crowded plazas, Imperial recruits marching around with increasing zeal as Palpatine's speeches played on loop across various screens. 

Yet far above it all, Corvus stood in place. 

He was not meditating this time, but was deep in thought, categorizing his gains, and the perils of the Force. Clasping his hands behind his back, he glanced at the shadows of these tall buildings, and for a fraction of a second, felt like a puppet master capable of seeing potential futures, or spying upon the residents as they lived their ordinary lives. From here the entire city stretched outward in a vast urban ocean. Somewhere below, Jax was likely wandering the streets again, perhaps still enjoying the lighthearted games they had shared the day before, or maybe finding some new Princess to save. Yon was probably still in the Falcon playing games, and the Bad Batch were likely going mad waiting for the greenlight to save their baby sister. 

But Corvus’s thoughts were elsewhere.

Those nine presences in the Force had felt like distant colossuses. Mighty, and brimming with power. Although Force Adepts could theoretically track one another between systems and planets, few such luminous beings could be felt from half a galaxy away…the fact that there were so many of them was concerning to say the least. If he had to guess, that faint cog must represent Vader, whilst Palpatine was probably the chessboard or dark cloud. Master Yoda was likely the white light, or resigned patience. As for the rest, he had a guess regarding the sarcophagus, but hoped it wasn't true. As for that burning symbol…

He had spent the hours quietly reflecting last night's events, turning the experience over in his mind again and again, the way a scholar might study an ancient relic.

Corvus was many things.

But he was not a fool.

Gyndine was a place where the ancient Great Sith War had been fought. Long before the rise of the modern Republic’s conflicts, this region of space had once trembled beneath the ambitions of a single Sith Lord.

Corvus exhaled slowly as he imagined that man's superb lightsaber skills. Hailed as the most prodigal duelist in the galaxy-depending on which nerd you asked-he was the inventor of the saber staff, the weapon Darth Maul was most famous for wielding. 

This ancient will had offered him an invitation to converse through the Force. Despite being only a remnant soul, this long dead man had nearly drawn Corvus into a meeting of the minds against his will. 

And buried within the currents of the Force had been something unmistakable. That symbol was the one that all Sith understood. 

It was the mark of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Many beings across history had claimed that title. Ambitious warlords. Mad tyrants. False prophets who draped themselves in ancient traditions they barely understood. But only one had truly carved that symbol into the galaxy with such terrifying clarity that the Force itself still remembered it.

Corvus’s voice murmured quietly beneath his mask as he unconsciously spoke the name with unconcealed respect: 

“Exar Kun.”

The name carried weight even after millennia, and seemed to briefly tear a fabric in the universe around him for less than a millisecond. Corvus found his heart rate slowly increase as he touched upon one of the surviving ancients from a bygone era. 

Exar Kun was a fallen Jedi prodigy who had plunged the galaxy into chaos. The master of forbidden knowledge, he was the architect of a war so devastating that entire worlds still carried its scars.

And when the Jedi had finally defeated him, he had refused to die. Instead, Exar Kun had bound his spirit to the temples of Yavin IV, becoming something far worse than a mere memory. Learning from his own master. Exar Kun had transformed himself into a ghost. 

Corvus’s eyes narrowed slightly as the wind swept past him. It was funny. In a way, Exar Kun and Revan shared many similarities. Both were Jedi, both were fed up with the corrupted Order, and had left to wage war, and reshape the galaxy in their own image. The same story had played out again with Dooku, and then with Krayt, all of them had once been Jedi, all of them idealistic. Anakin himself would have played into this trope if he had not lost to Obi-Wan on Mustafar. 

Sighing to himself, Corvus ran a hand across the mask he wore, and pitied these great men who were ruined by fate. 

‘Perhaps this is why Marka Ragnos has remained silent for all these years.’

Shaking his head, Corvus drudged up what he could recall from Legends. Exar Kun was initially entombed when literally thousands of Jedi came together and performed one of the ultimate moves known to the Jedi Order, the Wall of Light. His remnant soul-only a fraction of his true power-was barely defeated by the combined efforts of Grandmaster Luke Skywalker and his students. Based off what he knew, Exar Kun was due to make a resurgence some time in the next 30 or so years. However, perhaps due to Corvus’s own meddling, the ancient Sith Lord must've sensed an opportunity to rise. Between himself, Maul, Sidious, Plagueis, Vader, and whatever Inquisitors were lurking about, a fullblown ‘Sith Civil War’ was underway, and the galaxy was a mess between dozens of different competing factions. Objectively speaking, now was the perfect time for an ancient power to rise from the grave. Perhaps thinking that Revan had returned at this time, all the other old monsters had decided it was a good time to throw their hats in the ring? 

Clenching his fists, Corvus hissed in irritation…however, this wasn’t all bad news. Although Exar Kun would likely be an enemy, he would also be an enemy to Palpatine. There was room for maneuvering to be had. Like with Maul, it was possible to leverage Exar Kun against Sidious. However, this was indeed a dangerous game of Sabacc that was unfolding. 

The Force had shown him echoes of the ancient war last night, and honestly, what he saw had him spooked. This was the first time he had witnessed what SSS tier combat looked like, and even if all he saw was a fragment of Exar Kun's true power, it was enough to instill caution in him. 

Corvus leaned slightly against the edge of the skyscraper, feeling as if he moved a muscle, he would fall off the edge. That's how he felt right now on the galactic stage. For all his accomplishments, he was nothing compared to a true top tier. Considering most people rated Exar Kun below Palpatine on their lists of top 10 Sith, it truly made him respect the likes of Windu and Yoda for being able to stand up against that damned old prune. 

“If it was you, what would you do?” Corvus slowly asked the mask of Revan that he held in his hand. 

The replica offered no counsel, but his own shadow rippled ever so slightly. Lost in thought, he didn't notice this peculiarity, but did not lose hope. Jedi Master (mid) would be achieved tomorrow. His path to increased strength was clear. By following Path of the Jedi, and helping the weak, needy, or just, he would not only achieve his goal for levels, but also spread the name of the Jedi in a positive light, recruiting more people to his banner. Crix Madine was evidence that his actions were having an impact on the galaxy at large. And lastly, by following the Path of the Jedi, he could do some real good in this kriffed up universe, and walk the path that Revan had initially departed the Order over. 

His kyber crystal hummed in agreement, its soft song spread through his mind like a balm, washing these dark, brooding thoughts away. 

Although the ghost of Yavin IV was supposed to be trapped by the Wall of Light, that didn't mean he hadn't found a way to free himself earlier. The Force had given him a warning. If indeed Exar Kun had truly reached outward, if even a fragment of that ancient Sith’s consciousness had brushed against Corvus’s meditation, then it suggested something troubling.

Having gathered himself, Corvus folded his arms, and closed his eyes, coming to peace with this information. 

He did not feel fear, rather, he was curious to one day stand on equal footing with this man of Legend. To discuss their differing philosophies regarding the Force. Although he was someone who had slaughtered countless lifeforms, Exar Kun was somewhat of a fan favorite for Corvus. A small part of him harbored the hope that he could be redeemed, and return to the Light, much as Revan had. However, Corvus was a pragmatic man, and would do what needed to be done should they become enemies.  

Corvus tilted his head slightly toward the sky, observing those three pale moons that were faintly visible even in daylight; he felt as if the Clone Wars was nothing more than the prelude for something much more spectacular. 

The dim moons that had pulled him back from the brink of the void last night seemed to flash in approval at his statement. 

A faint smile touched his lips as yet another Jedi/Sith War was due to arrive. For the past five years, most combatants were droids or clones. A Core World being directly attacked was about as common as a direct attack upon a NATO country. But now with so many players, it would only be a matter of time before idyllic worlds like Alderaan burned once more.

Holding an empty palm up towards the sky, Corvus began to speak towards the direction of Yavin, towards Exar Kun. 

“Well, if you are planning something…” He slowly began. “…you’ve chosen a very interesting time to return.”

Because the galaxy was already full of monsters.

The Empire.

The Republic. 

The CIS. 

The Baneite Sith. 

And quite possibly the return of the Rakata. 

And somewhere within it all walked him, the herald of the Je'daii. 

If the ghost of Exar Kun truly wished to rise again…then he would find that the galaxy was no longer empty of rivals!