AN-Hey everybody, I got a new story for y'all. I ran into a wall while writing Galaxy at Arms, So I played some Old Republic and Battlefront 2 hoping I would get some ideas. Well, I did, and this is the product of that. Anyways, remember to leave a review, and as always, I hope you enjoy!
What Haunts Us
Korriban, 32 BBY- An eleven year old boy walked on top of an old temple on the barren planet, balancing himself on the narrow ledges of the old ruins with ease. He did this every day, and never once did he slip, not since he was six, and even then he had caught himself. The boy began to speed up, until he was sprinting at a speed beyond what he should be able to reach. He didn't know how he did it, but he knew he felt good when he did, like he was more than himself, he was drawn out of his thoughts when he saw two children, one boy and one girl, walking his way.
"What do you want?" He yelled so they could hear him. The two kids looked up, and saw him.
"We were looking for you, Talen. We wanted to ask if you wanted to come eat with us later." The girl said. Talen's face lit up at this, as he was always hungry, though he then felt a pang of guilt.
"Are you sure Brenna? I know your mom and dad don't make that much money.." He replied.
"Its okay, Dad got a promotion today, so we're celebrating, right Roy?" Brenna said, nudging her brother.
"Right! And besides, our parents were friends of yours, and they promised to take care of you after the accident!" Roy said, before getting elbowed in the ribs by his sister.
"Don't mention that, idiot!" She whispered. Roy just shrugged sheepishly.
"Its okay, I know you didn't mean to bring it up." Talen responded.
"So, will come to dinner?" Brenna asked, almost pleading. Talen sighed before nodding.
"Fine, I'll eat with you guys." He said. Brenna and Roy perked up, and the siblings smiled.
"Okay Talen! See you there!" Roy yelled. Brenna nodded, and the two of them left, heading back home. Talen shook his head and took a step back. Some of the stones behind him fell out of place, causing him to slip. Talen caught himself as he fell,and looked down. He saw a small object radiating light, and let his curiosity get the best of him. He looked around, and quickly figured out a path to climb down to the bottom. He made his way down, and walked over to the small object, which was poking out of the sand. He pulled it out, and dusted it off. It was a circular amulet encrusted with red crystals, with strange markings he didn't understand. For some reason it felt familiar, like he had seen it before. He focused on the amulet, and it began to vibrate.
"What is this thing?" He thought to himself. He moved it around in his hands, and accidentally cut himself on the jagged edge of a cracked crystal. He cursed silently, as a drop of blood fell on the amulet. The blood caused the amulet to glow bright red, and fly from Talen's hand. It flew into a whole in the wall, and Talen followed. He looked at the amulet curiously, before pushing it into the wall. Suddenly, strange, faded carvings all along the wall started to glow, bright red. The amulet popped out, and the wall slid down, revealing a new room. Talen picked up the amulet, and walked forward. The room began to illuminate as he walked farther in, until he saw a large stone chest. Talen attempted to open it, but could not, as it was locked.
"What are you doing here, boy?" A voice said. Talen whipped his head around, and saw a strange man wearing a mask and robes.
"Looking around, what's it to you?" Talen said, trying to be threatening.
"More than you know. What's your name, kid?" The man asked.
"Talen, who are you?" Talen responded. The man thought for a moment, before an idea popped into his mind.
"Tell you what, if you open the chest, you can learn my name, and maybe I'll let you keep whats in there." He said. Talen nodded and turned back to the chest, and tried to open it again, with no success.
"I can't, it's locked." He said, throwing his hands up in frustration. The man chuckled and shook his head.
"Yes you can, child, just not with your hands. Focus on the lock, and imagine it opening. Imagine every little gear and tumbler moving." He said. Talen looked at him skeptically, before shrugging and focusing on the lock. He closed his eyes, and imagined a key going in, and slowly turning. After a few seconds, he heard a click, and saw that the chest had opened.
"I did it!" He yelled, looking through the chest.
"So, you are strong with the force. I'm surprised the Jedi haven't picked you up yet." The masked man said.
"I'm strong with the Force? Isn't that what the Jedi use?" Talen asked, looking back at the man.
"And the Sith, people always think of Jedi first." The man corrected.
"Sith, like the one that killed that Jedi Master on Naboo? Aren't they like evil Jedi?" Talen said. The man shook his head.
"Not evil by definition, most just succumb to the temptation to become evil." He said. Talen nodded and looked through the materials in the chest, which included a mask, like the one the man was wearing. He gasped as he picked up two of the objects.
"Are these lightsabers?!" He asked.
"Yes, to be specific, they are mine." The masked man said.
"So are you a Jedi, or a Sith?" Talen asked, not one to beat around the bush,
"Both, and in many ways neither." The masked man answered, confusing the eleven year old.
"How does that work?" He questioned.
"I started off as a Jedi, became a Sith, then a Jedi again, and then neither yet both by the end." The masked man said. Suddenly something clicked in Talen's head.
"You're dead, and this is your tomb." He stated. The man nodded.
"Yes, I am, and it is. You're smart, Talen, and very talented from what I can see. Back during the days of the Brotherhood of Darkness, many acolytes came here to test there skills, yet none could open that chest." He said.
"How are you here? Is it through the Force?" Talen asked.
"Right again. I was and am strong with the Force, and with that power I have maintained consciousness and my own spirit. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I still have things to do, although in this state I can do nothing to interact with the world." The man said, grabbing at a stone, only for it to phase through his hand. Talen thought for a moment, before his face lit up.
"You can talk, so you can teach, right?" He suggested.
"Well, I have only had one true apprentice before, and that didn't work too well, but that was because of who he was, and a lack of things for me to teach him. And, I do want to change the galaxy one last time." The man said, pacing back and forth.
"There is plenty you can teach me! I could help change the galaxy, maybe after you teach me I could join the Jedi, maybe even make them better." Talen said, causing the man to scoff.
"There are many things you must know about the Jedi, and one of them is that they are less than fond of change. Besides, even if you could get in a position where you can change things, you would have to convince more than half of them into embracing the change." The man replied.
"What about the Sith then? Could they be changed?" Talen asked. The man put his hand on his forehead, and thought for a moment.
"Well, the Sith are always changing from era to era. And now they follow the Rule of Two, which mean there is always two, a master and an apprentice. Dealing with two men is easier than ten thousand. But to create a new Sith order, you would have to be willing to use the Dark Side." The man said.
"I'll do it, I want to change the galaxy." Talen said. The man sighed and nodded.
"Fine, but know that the Dark Side will change you, and it may even corrupt you. Also, the training I will give you will be grueling, and many if not most tests shall be dangerous, even life threatening. Knowing this, will you still become a Sith?" He warned.
"Yes, I do. If I am strong with the force, then I don't want to waste it." Talen responded.
"Then kneel, and from this day forth, we are master and apprentice, and you shall address me as such." The man said. Talen kneeled, and nodded.
"Master, I have a question." He said, rising.
"What is it, Talen?" The man replied.
"You never did tell me your name." Talen stated. The man chuckled, before walking closer to the boy.
"No, I guess I didn't. My name is Revan. Though, if we are molding you into a Sith, then Darth Revan would be more appropriate. Now come, Talen, we have much to do." Revan said, turning around and walking towards a new room.
"Yes, Master Revan." Talen said, following his new master.
22 BBY, Tomb of Revan- A young man walked into the temple, as he had done many times over the years. He classic Sith robes, that had armor armor plating attached to his chest. His face black hair was covered by his hood, and his master's lightsaber strapped to his waist. He held a small box in his arms.
"Master?" He yelled out, searching for Revan. Said Force ghost appeared before him, and walked closer.
"Talen, my apprentice, you have returned. I imagine you have what I asked you to get." He asked. Talen nodded and put the box down, before picking up a small pyramid, about as big as his hand.
"You're Holocron, master. Unfortunately, as you can tell, it has been severely damaged." He said, laying it down. Revan nodded, as he looked at the scorch marks, and how it no longer could stand properly.
"Hmm, doesn't surprise me. Darth Bane most likely transferred the information somewhere else before using lightning on it. No matter, the test was getting it, not bringing it back in one piece. Now, did you get the materials you need, and your crystal?" He said.
"Yes, master. I collected everything I need to create my own lightsaber." Talen responded, showing his master his crimson crystal.
"Good, now you don't have to use mine. I imagine you already meditated on it while you were on the ship ride back." Revan replied.
"Yes, Master Revan, I can already see the weapon in my mind." Talen said.
"Good, that is the first step. Begin construction of your lightsaber, I shall inspect it once you have finished." His master said. Talen nodded, sat down with his legs crossed, and closed his eyes. He used telekinesis to maneuver all the materials out of the box and into the air. He concentrated, moving the pieces around as the image of his lightsaber appeared in his mind. After around an hour of this, Talen heard a clicking sound, and opened his eyes, his completed lightsaber in front of him.
"It's done." He said, reaching out and grabbing it. He admired the hilt of the blade, which was black with gold plating, and a silver lightning bolt running up and down the length of the hilt. Talen smiled and ignited the weapon, the blade the classic Sith red in color.
"An impressive lightsaber, my apprentice. The crystal you used, it wasn't synthetic like most Sith use. I could feel the natural Force connection. But since it's red, it must have been Adegan, correct?" Revan stated, as Talen went through some of his basic maneuvers with his new weapon.
"Yes Master Revan. You told me the Jedi once to used them to make their best lightsabers, so I decided that my lightsaber should have one." Talen replied.
"Ah yes, only the best for the Sith, it's good you remember that. Now that you have have constructed your lightsaber, I can officially say that your training is complete. I now name you Darth Talen, Dark Lord of the Sith and task you with the reorganization of the Sith Order." Darth Revan said. Talen bowed to his master, a smile on his face. Before he could speak, his holocommunicator began to beep in his pocket. Talen pulled it out, and answered the call.
"What is it, Roy?" He asked, as the image of his friend appearing before him.
"Hey Talen, good day to you too. Anyways, Brenna told me to tell you that she found something she thinks you'll want to see. Apparently she found this while hacking into some Jedi communication signals." Roy answered.
"The Jedi? This should be interesting." Talen said, as the recording began to play. He saw three Jedi, two adult male humans and a young female Tortuga, who was most likely a Padawan. One of the men had hair that almost reached his shoulders, while the other had a well kept beard.
"Ahsoka, you and I will head to Naboo to secure the Gungan child, while Obi-Wan goes to Rodia." The Jedi with the long hair said.
"Good plan, Anakin. Until Cad Bane is captured and the Holocron is recovered, the future of the Jedi order is at risk. I'll make sure to contact you if there are any other developments. May the Force be with you." Obi-Wan replied, ending the call. Talen thought for a moment, before turning to his master.
"Interesting, very interesting. What do you think has got them going to Naboo and Rodia?" Talen asked.
"Hmm, perhaps it has to do with the Holocron they mentioned. I remember that the Jedi always kept a Holocron that detailed all the know Force-sensitives in the galaxy. If it was stolen, it would put thousands at risk, and possibly cripple the order." Revan replied. Talen thought for a few seconds, pondering the situation.
"Master, If I were to attain or make a copy the Holocron, it would make it easier to recruit new Sith. And if I were to return the children, perhaps I could gain the favor of the parents." Talen said.
"Good thinking, Talen. I know that the main reservation that a parent of a Force-Sensitive is that you must give the child up and possibly never see them again. There is no such rule with the Sith order." Revan replied. Talen nodded, and activated his communication.
"Brenna, this is Talen. Tell your brother to get the ship ready. We're going to Naboo. Make sure to bring some goods so we can act as merchants." He said.
"Great, Sith and merchant business all in one. And on a swamp planet too, how fun." Brenna replied. Talen just shook his head at her attitude.
"Just get it done, Brenna. Besides, I know you'll never miss a chance to make some money." He stated.
"Yeah you're right, we should be able to leave in an hour." She said.
"Good, see you soon." Talen responded, ending the transmission. He turned to leave the ancient tomb, only for Revan to appear in front of him.
"Be safe Talen, there is a good chance you may face these Jedi in battle. To achieve your goal live by the New Sith code, let its meaning guide you. May the Force be with you, Darth Talen." Revan said.
"May the Force be with us all." Talen replied. As he made his way out, the code that Revan had created went through his head over and over.
"The Force is both light and dark, day and night. With passion there is strength, with calm there is clarity. Through mastering passion and calm, you find your center. Through finding your center, you understand peace and war. Through understanding peace and war, you master the Force as a whole. Through the Force, you find the truth." Talen chanted in his mind, as he left the tomb, ready for what the future, near and far, may bring.
AN-And that's the first chapter done. Sorry that I haven't put anything up in a while, some personal stuff happened along with a research paper so I was either too busy or not in the mood to write most of the time. Anyways remember to leave a review, and as always, I hope you enjoy!