A/N: In response to Dr Grimm's question in his review (btw sorry for the delay in responding to your question; I hadn't given it any thought until you said something so I had to do some research to figure out where to place him), I wouldd place it somewhere around 15,000 based on the sort of power I intended him to have (not the most raw natural pwoer but well up there. It is through his traning and research that he becmes more powerfull than any other sith)

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Chapter 20

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"Lord Toral, have you seen Rächen around today?"

"No, why do you ask instructor Star?"

"I was told he did not show up for his training sessions today, and when I went to retrieve him form his quarters he was not there."

"He must have decided to leave the program then; all the better if you ask me. We do not need the likes of him in the program."

"Like it or not you have to admit there is great potential within him; if the Sith are to take over the galaxy having one such as that on our side would be a great asset."

"I told you last night that he is weak, why is it then that you advocate for him?"

"Like I just said, he has potential. If he can learn to calm himself and control himself there he could become a great ally. He has much anger and rage in him and if he can be taught how to use it he could be a huge help in the destruction of the Jedi."

"How do you know of this rage?"

"He came to me last night going on in a rant of nonsense. Saying how you are not loyal to Masters Sanis and Danis and how you cheated and help Dack Sankaar win the battle by using a Battle Meditation. Obviously he is mistaken, but now I fear he may have gone mad and fled the academy."

"If indeed he has gone mad then there is no hope for him. If it will help to ease you I will send a search party out for him in hopes that they can find him and bring him back."

"I would like to head the search myself."

"I'm afraid that is not sensible. You are one of the greatest instructors in the academy. I can not afford to have you out on a Wild Bantha chase; who would work with the students on their light saber techniques? After all you are the best swordsman in the Sith Empire."

"very well, but I want to see who you are sending before they go."

"Of course I wouldn't have it any other way."

It had taken all night just for Rächen to walk form the academy to Dreshade. Arriving shortly after the sun rose he sat down outside the city to gather himself.

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"Why am I doing this? Why am I going to this old academy? What is it I expect to find?" He asked himself aloud.

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He asked himself many more questions as he sat down outside the city. The thought about going back and just patiently waiting for his master to return and telling him all of what he had learned about the academy passed through his mind. Surely he would believe him; but what good would that do, he wouldn't have learned anything and would be no different than when he had come to Koriban. Gathering his strength he got up and continued on his way. The journey lasted little more than half an hour to reach the entrance of the old academy. The doors were easily opened and he proceeded into the main chamber. He sat his stuff down and took a seat on the floor and began to mediate.

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He wasn't sure how much time had passed when he stirred form his meditation to see a figure walking towards him. Only this figure wasn't physical. It appeared to almost be a ghost. It took a few minutes of staring at the figure to realize that it wasn't a ghost. He had heard of figures form the past coming back through the force to individuals and that is what he saw before him, the spirit of someone form the past. Further adding to the confusion was the fact that he recognized the figure from some of the visions he had received while on his way to Koriban.

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"Who are you?" Rächen calmly asked.

"I am Darth Bane. I was once the Dark Lord of the Sith. I lived during a time similar to this one. When I lived there were many Sith, many who called themselves Dark Lords. They shared their power and became weak. I have watched the Sith and have seen them return to their old ways, the ways that I destroyed. As you were once a Jedi you must have heard of the Rule of Two."

"I have. It says that there is to be only one true master and one true apprentice at anytime."

"That is what it has become. When I created it the rule was that there should only be two Sith at a time. A Master and an Apprentice; one to embody the power and knowledge and one to seek it. Now there is one Sith Master and one Apprentice, but many others exist. When the power is shared by many it becomes perverted and weakened. I have watched and waited for one to come along who can purge the Sith and restore them to the way they should be. When I felt your arrival on Koriban I knew that you were the one. It is your ability to listen to the Force that shall guide you to your destiny. There is much information left here in the archives and plenty in the archives of the new academy. Read it, learn it and you will grow more powerful."

"I don't understand, if the Sith are so weak why should they be taken down to two in number? Why not gather an army of powerful Sith to strengthen it, why not rebuild the Brotherhood of Darkness like my Master plans."

"Commit yourself to the studies, learn how to communicate with me at will; it is through this that you will grow more powerful and can learn the truth of the Brotherhood of Darkness."

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With that the Bane turned and walked away diapering as he got further away. Once the spirit of Darth bane was gone Rächen wasted no time finding the archives and began to search through them to find what would be most useful to him as a starting point.

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It took a couple of hours but he searched the entire archive to decide what would be of use to him and what wouldn't. It would take him at least a month to read everything he felt might be of any value to him and he only enough rations to last him for a day or two. He finally decided to grab as much as he could carry with him and would make several trips back and forth over the next few nights. He now knew how to find the academy, the trick was not getting lost on his way to Dreshade; that is what had taken him so long on the first place. The trip would only take him two hours round-trip giving him enough time to make three or four trips each night if he sacrificed getting any sleep. It was settled sleep could wait, the secrets of Dark Lords of the past awaited him; great power would be his.