New Chapter up. More Jedi Code discussion. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
Vala paced back and forth in the small cell in the interrogation room. She hadn't been taken out of her main cell for days after her last session with the Sith Lord. This left her with nothing else to do but think.
At first, she was confident the Sith was just trying to lure her to the Darkside. That is what Sith did. But the more she thought about his opinions about chaos and harmony, the more his words seemed to make sense. More sense than the Jedi code, at least. This thought worried Vala. She was a Jedi. Not just a Jedi, a Shan, which meant something. She could not deviate from her path, no matter how much sense the Sith might be making.
Eventually, Vala was moved to the cell in the interrogation room. She was only alone for a short time before the Sith returned. He still wore the same spiked armor he'd worn the first time she'd seen him, and every time since. At first, the armor scared her a little, but then she pulled herself together. It was just armor. The man under the armor was still just a man. A powerful, rather large Force user of indeterminate species, yes, but still just a living, breathing person. And, he was doing nothing directly to her which should cause her to fear him.
"How are you today, my little Jedi? Forgive me for leaving you alone for so long, but I am a member of the dark council. I have responsibilities. You understand about responsibilities, I'm sure."
Vala nodded, more out of a lack of something to say than actual agreement. This Sith was a member of the dark council? Was she really that important?
"Now, to continue our conversation. The next part of your Jedi code I wish to discuss is 'There is no emotion, there is peace'. Tell me, has your lack of emotion allowed you to find peace?"
Vala smiled to herself. This was an easy question.
"It has. I was at peace when I was captured on Balmorra and I'm at peace now."
"Indeed you are. I can sense it in you as we speak, much like I've sensed in you since this all began." The Sith nodded. She had him.
"Do you love your parents, Vala?" He asked.
Vala caught her mouth before it dropped open. She hadn't expected a question like that to come from the Sith and it seemed to have nothing to do with the conversation at hand. "What?"
"You were probably raised by the Jedi from a very young age considering your lineage, but I'm sure you at least knew your mother and father. Do you love them?"
Vala's mother had died giving birth to her, but she knew her father, Theron, very well. He'd raised her until it had been confirmed she was sensitive to the Force. And even though he'd agreed to let her be trained, he stipulated that he'd agree only if he'd been allowed to continue to be a part of his daughter's life. Being non-Force sensitive, her father didn't see any reason to follow their code and was not willing to simply give her over to the Jedi.
"I care for them." Vala replied. She was stating only half of the truth and the Sith could probably tell, if Sith were as good at detecting deceit as Jedi.
"That is not the question I asked. Do you love them?"
Vala sighed. So much from her having the upper hand. There was no point in trying to lie.
"I never knew my mother, but yes, I do love my father. Very much." She conceded.
"So, you admit to having peace, even though you also feel emotion. Interesting. So, it's not that you don't feel emotions, it's simply that you push them to the back of your mind. Your code is stated slightly inaccurately, but I get the idea. I understand your interpretation."
The Sith emphasized the word interpretation. Vala opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it again. Was pushing emotions to the side really the same thing as there being no emotion? Was it possible that she was indeed following her own interpretation of that particular section of the code? She stole a quick glance at the Sith, wishing she could see his face, so she could read his reactions. Vala could sense very little from him through the Force. His control was impressive. He reminded her of her grandmother.
The Sith made a sound, almost like a chuckle.
"I think you now see one of the points I was trying to make from the beginning. Most Jedi use their code as a shield. When they're captured, they recite it over and over to try to ingrain the Force within them. To help keep them strong. Tell me, have you recited the Jedi code even once since you were captured? Be honest. I can tell if you're lying."
Vala took a seat on the ground, so her back was to the wall, then looked up at the Sith. "No. But what does that mean? Am I weak for not using the Force as a shield?"
"I don't believe so. The Force is different for each person. To some it's a shield, to others it's a weapon or a tool. The Force is in everything and can be anything, depending on the person welding it. Being different from other Jedi does not mean you're weak. You're still very young. You've been shown the basics of the Force, but have yet to learn how you will ultimately use it. The Jedi and Sith both train their students to use the Force as per their code, but very few actually follow it to the letter as they evolve into their own person, or so is my experience."
Vala was silent for several minutes and the Sith did nothing to break it.
"So, what you're saying is that all Force users use the Force how they will, regardless of how they were taught."
"Exactly. I was trained at a young age to follow the Sith philosophy of the Force. Do I still follow that philosophy today, just as I did when I was a youth? Of course not. I often hear that Jedi like to claim they follow their code faithfully, but how can that be true if so many Jedi have long family legacies with the Force." He motioned towards Vala. "You for example. Even though your father is not Force sensitive, you come from a very long line of Force users. Not all of them were born from Force-null exceptions within the bloodline. There would be no line, if all of them followed the Jedi code exactly as written."
Vala remained quiet, not entirely sure what to say to the Sith's reasoning. She wanted to argue, but his words were true. She would not exist today, if her grandmother hadn't broken the Jedi code and fallen in love with her grandfather, even if the relationship didn't last.
"And this leads me to the final portion of the Jedi code. There is no passion, there is serenity. Have you ever experienced passion, Vala? And I don't mean having a passion for your work or for some activity you enjoy, I'm talking about true physical passion. The passion you feel when you see another person and your heart starts to race and your breath catches. The thought of being close to that person, talking with them, fills you with anxiety and fear, but you'd still give anything, do anything, to be near them."
"No." Vala said softly. She couldn't even imagine the emotions the Sith was describing to her.
"Then you would not know the genuine serenity you experience if the other person shares your passion. When that connection is made, it is a pleasure...a release like none other in the galaxy. The word 'serene' is the only word that can describe it. I do agree, serenity does not come from most passions, but in this one case, I would argue against your code."
Vala could feel something from the Sith, a certain exhilaration as he described passion.
"Have you ever experienced this passion?" Vala asked, not entirely sure if she should be engaging in this conversion with the Sith. Unfortunately, something in the back of her mind was pushing her forward. She needed to know.
"Once, when I was still quite young."
"I guess Jedi wouldn't know about this kind of serenity if they do not allow themselves to feel passion." Vala reasoned, the words slipping out without her really meaning them to. She was talking more to herself than the Sith.
The Sith did not reply, only stood silently as he observed the young Jedi.
Allowing Vala time to think, allowed Marr time to think, as well.
He could remember the one time his passion for another person had granted him the serenity he had described to the young Jedi. He had been very young and fairly new to his role of being a Sith. The young woman had also been Sith. They shared nearly a year of passion, high off their new found power and freedom from the academy. Unfortunately, like most true passion, it ended all too soon.
Marr shook the thoughts away, realizing he was not being as careful with his Force presence as he should have been while visiting his guest. Though, even showing slight vulnerability might be an advantage with the young Jedi. The more she saw him as a person and not just some nebulous Sith, the better for his plan.
To Be Continued...