This story takes place in the Star Wars Universe, which is owned by George Lucas. I do not own the characters Anakin, Luke, or Ben Skywalker, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jaina Solo, Mace Windu, or Corran Horn.

The Rise and Fall of Darth Vissimar

1

My name is Konrad Ssor. But most of the galaxy will remember me as Darth Vissimar. If you are reading this, then you have found my holocron. It has been many years, indeed, many decades since anyone has produced a holocron. But sometimes, I have found that the old ways are the best ways.

I have included much in this holocron. Blueprints for weapons and ships, documented teachings in the ways of the Force, and other information that will prove, at the very least, educational about the past. However, what you have accessed is the story of my life. I'm sure anyone in any Sith or Jedi locale could regale you with the tale, but neither side will tell you the truth. The Jedi will paint me as a traitor, and the Sith will have you believe I was one of the greatest heroes they had ever known. The truth is I was both, and neither, at the same time. It is true that I left the Jedi order and became a Sith Lord. But the reason for that transition was not simply to betray some of my dear friends. Besides, I was hardly a model Jedi to begin with.

It is also true that I did much for the Sith, but it wasn't because I enjoyed it. Indeed, to some degree, I blame the Force itself for the lack of happiness and contentment in my adult life. Perhaps it was out of revenge that I worked so relentlessly to master it.

But enough of my musing. On with the story. I was born in anonymity to the galaxy, just like untold billions of others. It is interesting to note that the vast majority of the galaxy assumed that I had a very troubled childhood, which led me to the dark side. Nothing could be further from the truth. There was never an instance of abuse or neglect in our family.

My father, Izi, owned a bar on Corellia, and my mother, Jayd, was a secretary for a trading company. We weren't necessarily rich, but we lived comfortably. We maintained that living standard even after my sisters, Meena and Ilana were born.

We lived a very happy and normal life until one day, I was attacked by a bully after we'd left school. He walked away with the few credits I'd had in my pocket, leaving me bleeding on the ground. Suddenly, he was lifted off his feet and slammed into a wall. The impact on his nervous system was such that even after he was released from the medical center, he could no longer move his arms.

After the incident had been ruled on in my favor by the proper people, there still remained the question of how exactly the boy had come to be injured. It was answered the next day.

People in long brown robes and a deep hood pulled my eldest sister, Meena, and me out of our classes and sat down with us and our parents. They explained that they were Jedi, and that they suspected I was force-sensitive and had subconsciously tapped in to my abilities. This, they said, would explain how the other boy had been flung fifty feet into a wall without me laying a hand on him. As a result of this theory, they had reason to believe that Meena was also potentially Jedi material. When my mother asked about Ilana, the Jedi replied that she was too young for her Force sensitivity to be deliberately certified. After a long discussion, my parents consented to let the Jedi take us to their academy on Corellia to gauge our abilities more accurately.

So, we said farewell to our parents for a short time to go with the Jedi in their transport to the Jedi Teaching Center. One of the Jedi insisted we begin the measuring of our abilities on the way there. She introduced herself as Fiara Thelosia before instructing us to try and levitate a small drinking vessel. I attempted it first. I sat and stared at the cup, thinking and willing it with all my might to rise up off the table. I was rewarded with it shuddering slightly. "That could have been the ship," said Fiara. "Try again." So I resumed staring intently at the cup, and just as Fiara began to give me some advice as to how to tap in to the Force, the cup flew up and smashed against the ceiling. "Well," she said. "It looks like we'll be placing an emphasis on teaching you to control your abilities."

Then Meena tried to move the cup. She spent the rest of our journey trying. "Why can't I do it?" she asked Fiara. Fiara looked at her, and for a moment, I saw a flash of sadness on her face. But she smiled and said "Usually, the older the person is, the better they are able to use the Force." I suspected then that Meena was not Jedi material.

Soon enough, we came to the Jedi Learning Center. We walked up the long flight of steps, through a grand, lavishly crafted arch and along a promenade lined on the inside with statues and busts of great Jedi. Fiara told us about each one. Finally, we came to the main entrance. On one side was a massive statue of Luke Skywalker, who had brought the Jedi back from the brink of extinction. Opposite it was an equally large statue of Master Corran Horn, the Jedi who had founded the Jedi Learning Center.

We continued our tour through the building for a while, going by the archive room, various classrooms which taught both Jedi and non-Jedi subjects, and the cafeteria. We eventually came to the Council Chambers. Though the Jedi Council wasn't based on Corellia, the teaching center contained a meeting room for use by council members should they happen to be there at the time of a meeting. It just so happened that on that particular day, a Quarren member of the council was on Corellia, and was taking a meeting with the other members via hologram. We waited patiently by the door until he came out. Fiara caught his attention, and explained our situation. He looked at us over the tentacles around his mouth for a few moments before motioning us to follow him.

He brought us to a room filled with various cutlery, cups, stones, and other small objects. "You," he said, looking at me. "I want you to levitate something. Anything in this room." I looked around for a bit before he suddenly placed a blindfold over my eyes. "Without looking at it," he added. I concentrated as I had on the way to the building, but I couldn't see anything to focus on, and the room was silent. I must have stood there for twenty minutes before I finally heard something clatter. I focused on the sound and concentrated harder. Soon, I heard something flying through the air. Almost immediately after that sound, I heard Fiara cry out, followed by a crackling hum and the sound of energy on solid matter. I yanked the blindfold off to see Fiara with her lightsaber drawn and ignited, and two halves of a metal knife, which both had one red hot, near-molten edge. By the looks of it, the knife had been headed straight for me. Fiara had just saved my life for the first time. It would not be the last.

The Quarren looked impressed, if a little startled. He was about to put the blindfold over Meena's eyes before Fiara whispered something to him. He set the blind fold aside, walked over to a shelf, picked up a small rock, and set it at Meena's feet. "Levitate it, child, if you can," he said. "Just concentrate on your goal, which is to bring this rock off the ground. Take your time." Meena stared at the rock for almost as long as I had stood blindfolded. Finally, she closed her eyes for a few moments, and the rock shakily floated up a few inches off the ground. "Meena," said Fiara. "You're doing it. Look!" Meena opened her eyes and smiled. The rock continued to rise, albeit a bit wobbly, until it was level with her eyes. "Good," said the Quarren. "Take them to be tested further." Faria nodded and motioned for us to follow her.

We walked through the corridors of the teaching center yet again. This time, we seemed to be in the infirmary. A young Gran Jedi came over and conversed with Fiara. He then went off to retrieve something. Fiara knelt down and explained that he would be taking blood samples from us, to measure our midichlorion levels. I didn't fully understand what midichlorions were at that time, even though she did her best to explain it to us. The Gran came back with the necessary equipment. and took the blood tests. When it was over, Fiara sat with us to wait for the results. She told us we were both brave enough to be Jedi. She was always so kind.

Eventually, the Gran Jedi came back and showed the results to Fiara. Her eyes narrowed as she read them. "You're sure this is correct?" she asked him. He nodded. "Very well, then," she replied. "Come with me, children." We followed her through the halls again. She led us to the Master's office, and we waited outside while she showed him the test results. After a few moments, they both came out and informed us that we were to be trained as Jedi.