Learning from the Past
Upon landing on Tython the Jedi trio found that the planet was as lush and full of life as ever. They found the Jedi Temple to be nothing more than ruins with heavy overgrowth.
Kira Carsen: It's amazing what time can do to a place like this. Almost all evidence of civilization has been erased.
Yodette: Indeed it has. Let us still hope that we can find what we came for.
As the three continued their search of the temple ruins they found a lone holocron sitting on a stone table. Yodette meditated on the force and opened the holocron. The image projected by the holocron was none other than Master Yodette.
Holocron: Greetings Jedi, I am the holocron of Jedi Master Yodette, the Barsenthor of the Jedi during the Old Republic era.
Yodette responded with this holocron with a bit of dry humor.
Yodette: Talk about finding yourself.
Holocron: Voice pattern recognized as belonging to the Barsenthor of the Jedi order, playback of recordings initiated.
The holo image flickered for a moment as the image changed to an aged Satele Shan.
Grandmaster Satele Shan's recording: Greetings Barsenthor, knowing that one day you would seek information about the galaxy, critical galactic history and events have been added to this holocron. A similar copy has been made for Coruscant. The following are recordings from all Grandmasters which followed me. As I reach the end of my life I close with a summary of our era. I am pleased to say that the galaxy has remained peaceful since your departure; however, the Jedi Order and Republic will continue to remain vigilant.
The holo recording ended and another recording began this time with an image of a much older Nadia Grell.
Grandmaster Nadia Grell's recording: Greetings Barsenthor, by the time you hear this message I would be long dead, making this message also my final goodbye. You will be pleased to know that I have applied your teachings and have grown in both power and wisdom. While many Jedi Grandmasters have come before me, and many more will follow, I can honestly say that I am the first Jedi Grandmaster to also become royalty, successfully leading both the Jedi Order and my home world. As leader of my people, I've made preparations for your return. Assuming that all goes well in the next 3,600 years you should have a place to find sanctuary. This will be my gift to you, my old master. I regret to inform you that several Jedi fell to the Darkside while you were gone. I confronted as many as I could and even redeemed some to the Light but there were still some that couldn't be reached. I hope that the Grandmaster that follows me will be able to succeed where I failed and stop the rogue Jedi before they become a problem. Due to the desertions, the Republic is growing distrustful of the Jedi and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ease tensions. I miss you, master, what I wouldn't give to have your guidance right now.
Master Yodette had a small tear well up in her eye hearing her old padawan's voice again.
Master Yodette: I regret that I couldn't have been there to guide you during your time of need Nadia. However, I am pleased by the powerful and wise woman you became. Rest in peace, my old friend.
Time continued to march on for the three Jedi, Grandmaster by Grandmaster, era by era. Among the recordings, the Jedi trio gained a complete picture of galactic history. Following their departure, there were Jedi desertions, as many fell to the Darkside and became Sith. Wars continued between the Jedi and Sith followed by times of peace, all coalescing to a grand conflict which involved an Army of Light and the Brotherhood of Darkness. The three learned that a key player in this war was a Sith named Darth Bane who maneuvered the war to severely weaken the Jedi, destroy the Sith, and amass power. He redefined the Sith with a rule of two, the master to wield the power and the apprentice to crave it. Following recordings documented the hunt for Darth Bane and subsequent Sith Lords. During the numerous conflicts with the elusive Sith all life on Tython was destroyed from a bioweapon. Tython was soon labeled as uninhabitable and forgotten by the annals of time. Over time the Sith were thought to have all disappeared and with it the reason for making future holo recordings. The recordings ended after being maintained for 2,500 years.
The three sat quietly contemplating what they were to do next. Several minutes passed before Master Yodette spoke.
Master Yodette: It seems that we still have much to learn about this era, specifically about Darth Bane's rule of two and the current state of the Sith.
Master Ben Quanobi: I agree; we can't defeat an enemy that we know nothing about.
Master Yodette: Then it's settled, as much as we may hate going there, we must seek answers on Korriban.
The three nodded in agreement before boarding their ship. They left Tython for another week long journey to Korriban.
Meanwhile, in another sector of the galaxy, a cloaked ship is traveling for Kamino, it's only passenger, Darth Cadnus, Nox's Wrath and personal enforcer. By infiltrating Kamino he will execute the first phase of his plan to fulfill his empress's wishes.
Flashback
'Darth Cadnus, I want you to infiltrate the Separatists Alliance. Kill as many of the rival Sith you can, I don't like competition. We will work this war from both sides. In the meantime I will be helping the Jedi apprehend our enemies.'
Darth Nox's vague order enabled Cadnus creative freedom in achieving these goals. He promised himself to show Empress Nox that he was every bit as cunning as she is. During his week travel to Kamino, he meditated on the Darkside of the force, fueling his rage and strength for the upcoming battle.
End of Flashback
A week passed and the three Jedi landed on Korriban. The three Jedi hated this place; it was in every way the antithesis of the Jedi home world of Tython. Unlike Tython's lush green environment, Korriban's surface was an arid wasteland with a crimson red color. The buildings were untouched by the passage of time, as the dry and stale air preserved manmade structures for centuries and eons. The tombs were filled with Sith long dead and the dark side permeated and filled the planet like a foul stench of death.
The three Jedi easily found the tomb of Darth Bane, as it was one of the largest. They hoped to find a holocron but what they encountered instead shocked them.
Before their eyes a towering Sith apparition appeared in front of them. The apparition's appearance was orange and black as though his entire body was formed by magma. Sith battle armor adorned the apparition making it appear humanoid.
Ghost of Bane: You jedi defile the tombs of the Sithari with your presence! Do you know who I am!? I am Bane, the conqueror of the Jedi and Sith and founder of the rule of two.
The apparition's voice said with a booming and commanding voice.
Having dealt with Sith apparitions before Yodette was the first to speak.
Master Yodette: We are Jedi of the Old Republic and have come for information regarding the current state of the Sith.
Ghost of Bane: Why should I provide you with the information that you seek?
Master Yodette: We won't leave until you do and there is nothing you can do to us as a sith apparition that we wouldn't be able to shield against with the light side of the force. There is something else you should know. We aren't the only intruders to this era, Darth Nox and her personal Wrath Darth Cadnus are also here and actively defy the rule of two that you created. If you don't provide us with the information we seek the Sith will become diluted again and turn on each other as they did in the past. Helping us helps maintain the order that you created.
Bane paused for a moment considering their words and seeing that they were quite powerful.
Ghost of Bane: I respect your tenacity and power, for this I will give you the information you seek. The galaxy has changed much over these eons; currently your Republic is engaged in a civil war against a Separatist Alliance. I regret to say that war is no longer between warriors, the Separatist faction has built an army of battle droids and the Republic has created a clone army to retaliate. The current sith lord is a Darth called Sidious, I know not his real name, and his sith apprentice Count Dooku is currently leading the Separatist. Whoever this Sidious is I sense that he is cunning, powerful with the force, and has gained complete control over the outcome of this war. Now leave and never return! I don't want to see your presence again.
Master Kira Carsen interjected a bit of banter to lighten the mood ever so slightly. She never grew out of her tendency to talk back to the Sith with her snarky remarks.
Master Kira Carsen: We were just leaving anyways.
The three Jedi boarded their ship and gladly left Korriban.
Master Kira Carsen: So where do we go from here?
Master Yodette: We need allies if we are going to protect the Jedi. Set course for Nadia Grell's home world, Sarkhai.
Kira Carsen input the coordinates into the navigation computer and engaged the hyperdrive.
Meanwhile on Kamino, Darth Cadnus' week long journey came to a close as his cloaked ship landed on the cloning facility, the ship's lone occupant eager for battle.
