Prologue
Qui-Gon Jinn feels the flow of the force, the ripples it releases and the events that causes them. He is watching the death of Maul at the hands of Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon smiles as he sees Obi-Wan holds Maul as he stays within the Zabrak's final moments.
He feels Obi-Wan's emotions, he feels the sorrow and respect that Obi-Wan has for Maul, and as for the anger and hate, Obi-Wan replace them, in favour for compassion and understanding.
"You have truly become a Master, Obi-Wan," said Qui-Gon as he feels pride blossom at his former Padawan, whom has truly risen amongst the Jedi.
"Honestly, I was hoping for more of a fight. Obi-Wan had a chance for vengeance, to destroy his mortal enemy. Yet instead he comforts Maul, acts as though he and Maul were old friends. Truly, your Padawan has grown Qui-Gon," says a calm yet cold, powerful voice.
Qui-Gon feels the Force grows cold, silent yet deadly and oppressive, as another Force being appears. Yet Qui-Gon didn't flinch or react at the darkness instead his smile grew a bit as he feels the presence.
"Indeed, I am," replies Qui-Gon, "I was blessed with a smart Padawan. Yes, he lost himself to a rigid code, but still Obi-Wan was able to grow, and he did grow more than letting himself fall."
"Oh, how I envy you. If only my apprentice was as open-mind as Obi-Wan, maybe I would still be alive," laments the voice. "Though I am still proud Sidious carries on the tradition of the Sith. Even if it seems to have become outdated."
"The events that happened are done, there is no changing them, Plagueis. All we can do now is look to the future, and see what is to come," responds Qui-Gon as he pulls the currents of the force around him once more.
"Indeed, you are correct as always O wise Master Jedi," scoffs Darth Plagueis, "Let us see the future. Let us see the many paths that takes shape by the influence of a few people of this galaxy."
In response to the Dark Lord, Qui-Gon just sighs as he delves in the currents of the Force once more. He feels the peace and tranquillity of the soothing waves of the Light as it envelops him. Qui-Gon can also feel the currents of darkness seeping around the edges, due to his guest.
Curious of his companion's sudden visit, Qui-Gon allows the darkness to seep in. Using his sense, he tries to feel the emotions the strand of Plagueis is emitting. Qui-Gon feels the usual emotions of a typical Sith Lord, anger, hatred, passion and aggression. Furthermore, beneath it all Qui-Gon feels another emotion that is more prominent in the Sith. An emotion, that Qui-Gon feels is the cause for Plagueis's visit.
"You're bored, aren't you?" Asks Qui-Gon in amusement of Plagueis's emotion. In Qui-Gon's time amongst the Force, he has met and learnt of many Lords of the Sith whom either, meditate in the Darkness, becoming one with the Force or in a rare case, stay in the mortal realm as a vengeful spirit. Yet here in front of him was a Sith who wanted none of these options.
Darth Plagueis stares at Qui-Gon in silence, his emotions flaring as he feels slightly humiliated for a Jedi to call out on his emotions. But as quickly as the darkness rose with Plagueis's emotions, it quickly left as he sighs in resignation.
"Indeed, I am," responds Plagueis. "I was not expecting to be here in the afterlife, to be one with the Force. I am person of science, an explorer of the mysterious the Force offers me."
"You can still do so. Just because you are dead, does not mean the end. If anything, you can seek out many powerful force beings here. If they are willing, you can learn from them, see their points of view, and maybe spar."
"Exactly, I can do all those things but I have no need of them here," sighs Plagueis in sorrow. "Furthermore, what is the point of it. I once studied if there was a possibility for the dead to communicate with the living. I travelled to Korriban; I went to the Valley of the Dead. And the moment I stepped off the ship, the moment I opened myself to the force, to listen, to feel the presence of previous the Dark Lords, I heard nothing!"
"Therefore, you concluded it was not really important." Finished Qui-Gon. "Like the Jedi Council, you assumed that was the limit. There was nothing more to learn."
"Exactly." Says Plagueis.
At that note, both Masters fell silent for a few moments. The currents of the light and dark side of the Force swirls around them, interlinking with each other like two different liquids.
Then Qui-Gon breaks the silence as he starts to laugh. Even Plagueis can see the amusement of it all as he joins the Jedi in laughter of the situation.
"And so, we seem to arrive at the root of your problem. Like a Jedi, you believe that in the afterlife you become one with the Force. There is nothing more you can do, since the moment you become one," Said Qui-Gon in a calm manner. "For we cease to be ourselves."
"And yet the Sith and Jedi were wrong. We were wrong. I was wrong. I thought I knew the Force, I thought I understood its most complicated and intricate purpose in life. But the thought learning that I understand nothing is so frustrating and humiliating!"
"As well as humbling," interjected Qui-Gon.
"Yes. Humbling!" Plagueis says the it with venom as though the mere word offends the Muun's very existence. "However, I did enjoy learning what I could from the Force. The idea of me going on exploration to discover something new about the Force. It was the most satisfying to do in life." Replies Plagueis in longing. "Now, I do not need to put in the effort. There is no need to apply the science and understanding of the Force in here. Not when it is at the tip of our thoughts."
"I understand your pain, Plagueis," replies Qui-Gon as he sympathises with his companion. "Even I wish to walk amongst the mortal realm once more, to truly live amongst them again. What I am willing to do to be there with them. Especially teasing Obi-Wan on his infatuation on the Duchess."
Both Qui-Gon and Plagueis fall silent at the thought of living. Both reminiscing their time of being alive, of the adventures they had, the trials and tribulations that they've undertaken, the experiences and bonds they have formed.
Using the force Qui-Gon, pulls in the force and wills it to show a blonde child in his room, fiddling with some tools a machine and another plane that shows a brunette girl brushing her hair in her mirror. Qui-Gon stares at the children with pain as he feels a sense of Deja-vu. He could not help notice so many similarities between Luke Skywalker and his father, Anakin in their love for machines. As for Leia, Qui-Gon could swear that she looks almost exactly like her mother.
Qui-Gon sighs in pain, as he allows his thoughts drift off to a brighter future the children could've have enjoyed more, if Sidious's plan failed. A future in which Luke and Leia enjoys a life with a whole family. Where Anakin and Padme can raise their son and daughter together in Naboo.
Plagueis also joins the Jedi in contemplating what the children could've walk upon. He envisions a future of Luke at Vader's side. A future where Vader is victorious over Palpatine, and takes his rightful mantle as Emperor, and train Luke and Leia as his successor. Then when the time comes, Luke or Leia can take their rightful place as the new Dark Lord of the Sith and Emperor of the galaxy. The true dynasty of the Sith that shall until the death of the galaxy.
Both look at their twists and turns of what could've been in their respective wishful thinking. And when they have seen enough, they peer into each other's to behold and understand what the child can do.
Sadly, no matter how much they wish, or how much power they have, what they see is not possible. The moment has passed and the fate that awaits Luke is what he forges by his own decisions in life.
"No matter how much we try, we cannot change anything. We can only watch." Says Plagueis in resignation, as he stares at a future where Luke and Leia fought each other, as the last Sith and Jedi. "In the end, the Skywalker's will decide which Order shall stand."
"It is quite depressing in sense, to see our Orders hanging on the edge of the abyss. The final destruction of either of them in the hands of a few people." Agrees Qui-Gon as he understands Plagueis's pain. The idea of one's work being lost forever, and the agony of seeing it happen yet not having the power to change anything.
Both Masters watch the boy succeed in fixing his machine. The boy whoops in happiness before activating the machine and starts to use it.
"What is he doing?" Asks Plagueis in puzzlement. Sadly, the Muun did not keep in touch with the technological advancement in the entertainment industry otherwise he would recognise a game console.
"I believe he is playing a holo-game," replies Qui-Gon in amusement, as he remembers playing some of those games in secret with Tahl when they had some time together.
"And the point of them are?"
"Well, I can see Luke is playing a classical version Starforge and dragons. Its popular game, even amongst certain Jedi. It allows you to design a character and you must level them up. It has quests, different occupations, money, skills and pets."
"That sounds like a waste of time," huffs Plagueis.
"It's quite fun way to pass the time. Plus, it does help with strategic planning, I had to so numerous times until I won against the final boss." Explains Qui-Gon in remembrance. "Oh, how Tahl and I argue over the details of the plan."
"So what? How do people derive pleasure from this? Is there a reward in the game, something to take from it?"
"Well, I did a rerun of the game just to learn every lore of the game just to receive an online trophy."
"An online trophy? Is there a point for it? Spending so much time online for that accomplishes nothing that helps one in real life. That sounds stupid." Huffs Plagueis.
"It's quite fun to play. If anything, I know a lot of people whom wouldn't mind the life becoming a video-game. It can be quite fun," says Qui-Gon in a slight childish glee. "Imagine learning everything quickly instead of years. Plus, it doesn't have to be from the same class."
Plagueis huffs in annoyance at the idea Qui-Gon is saying. Living life like a video-game sounds quite …
"Genius," murmurs Plagueis in amazement. "Qui-Gon what you said is genius. If I gather every scrap of knowledge in here and create a system that can emulate it all in life for Luke to pick up on and learn, all the knowledge, culture and even our very Orders can maybe still live."
Qui-Gon listens and as he ponders the idea of what Plagueis is saying, the more it sounds like it can work. Though he can see one glaring error.
"There is a problem. You can design it and even perfect it but how will you pass it on?"
"You Master Jedi. You can pass it on from the dead to the living."
"That is not possible. I can commune with the living, but sadly I wasn't able to fully learn the skill. Even then, I will need other Force spirits to help me. However even if we did all of this, it may still be a fantasy as it can go against the taboo law." replies Qui-Gon in a somber tone.
"Ah but we can make it a reality. You forget Qui-Gon, you are speaking to Sith Arcana. With our knowledge and wisdom in the Force, we can make the impossible possible." exclaims Plagueis in excitement.
"And what of Leia? Will she not receive this gift as well?"
"I would love to give it to her as well. But sadly, her adoptive parents have weakened her connection to the force until it seems asleep." Mutters Plagueis in irritation. "Even I cannot awaken it unless a situation involving life and death can awaken it."
"If the time comes, then we will gift it to her." Qui-Gon says in thought.
Plagueis nods in agreement as he starts to make mental plans of what needs to be done.
"So, Qui-Gon, shall we start?" Plagueis says as he feels the embers of life flaring up once more with idea.
"I'm ready when you are, Plagueis." Qui-Gon says as he feels the Plagueis's excitement spreading across the Force.
I hope you the first chapter. Do not worry if any plot holes pop up, I will address them through omakes as much as possible.
Until next time.
May the Force be with you all.