"I suppose this will be easier to explain- and you would be more likely to listen- if I take off this mask I suppose." Kallig takes off the mask, revealing- to Luke's surprise- a normal young face. No scars or marking of dark side use, nor the piercing yellow eyes he witnessed on the Emperor. But it was Rey was responded first "What is this? But how? But you… It can't be… Xanthe?"
"Yes. It is me." Xanthe replies with a faint smile. Rey and Luke look at her stunned. "But, I felt no presence until now. How…-?" Luke trailed off.
"It is quite simple really, if you have been well trained in the force. In my case, I also specialised in assassin techniques, so hiding or masking my force signature was essential. Darth Sidious- known by most as Emperor Palpatine- also knew that technique. I met him when he was a senator. He was none the wiser of my force abilities. If the Jedi knew of his force sensitivity and his link to the dark side, do you think he would have been able to even be a senator, let alone Chancellor of the Republic?"
"No, I suppose not." Luke replied. "What is your purpose here if it's not to kill us? As far as I am aware, the Jedi and Sith are a threat to each other."
"Hmm, in a way yes, but my purpose is to keep the Jedi Order alive, as your kind are the only ones able to protect the core worlds at this time. The Sith are somewhat preoccupied at the moment. Despite what you may have been told, there needs to be a balance in the Force."
"I agree. That's why the time for the Jedi must end." Luke states. Rey turns around in shock,"You can't be serious!?"
Xanthe chuckles "That will not be necessary. There was once a group labelled as the Grey Jedi. Their purpose was to find a balance in the force, but unfortunately, some dabbled more dark than light. There were no guidelines so to speak and naturally some became quite ruthless and violent, eventually becoming known as Dark Jedi and so the order eventually vanished. There were other sects like the Revanites who were both Jedi and Sith, following a legendary Jedi-turned Sith-turned Jedi-called Revan. There have been many groups trying to find a balance. I'm not sure what philosophy this "Knights of Ren" group follows, but it does seem to be leaning more towards a Revanite type cult. There was an alliance that was made up of both Jedi and Sith, and for a time, it worked." For a second Rey could've sworn she saw something flicker in Xanthe's eyes before she continued on, "There needs to be a balance. Contrary to your beliefs and the Emperor's, both- the Jedi and the Sith- must survive."
Luke just looked at Xanthe and shook his head. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Xanthe tilted her head, amused. "Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I am no longer a Jedi. The Jedi order was destroyed when Ben joined Snoke, became Kylo Ren and massacred my students." Luke looked away. "I failed them all."
Xanthe continues to have an amused look on her face. "Oh little Jedi… How much you still don't know about the world...and life, I suppose." She sits down, gesturing them to do the same. "This scenario sounds reminiscent to your father and to an extent- Obi wan Kenobi."
"What do you know of my father?" Luke asked.
"I know a lot more than just Anakin was lured by the dark side and became Darth Vader. I was disappointed that "Old Ben" didn't tell you much of your heritage."
"How.. How did you know he went by the name of "Ben Kenobi"?" Luke demanded.
"It is quite a story actually. I will start with your father though. Now, Palpatine was quite the manipulator, as most successful politicians are. He was a senator from your mother's home planet of Naboo, advised your mother to cast a vote of no confidence which resulted in Palpatine becoming Chancellor.
When your father was taken to be trained as a Jedi, he saw- as did I and many of the Jedi- his strong connection to the Force. He befriended him, later stating that they were friends and he was the only Jedi he trusted. He convinced him that the only way to keep those he cared about safe, was to join the dark side.
Circumstances were such, that he ultimately joined Palpatine somewhat reluctantly as the alternative was for Anakin to be cast out of the Jedi Order and Palpatine to be executed. Palpatine was a clever man. The Clone Wars were orchestrated by him and the clones were… you could say, "rigged" with an override command code named: Order 66, which basically meant the Jedi were enemies of the Republic and to be executed, and executed they were, as soon as Anakin pledged his allegiance to Palpatine and given the name of Darth Vader. In fact, in order to help cement him in his new role, Palpatine ordered him to lead the 501st legion of clone troops into the Jedi Temple and kill everyone inside." Xanthe paused, looking at the solemn face of Luke and the outraged face of Rey. "I have seen this destruction with the Jedi Temple before. This time was much... cleaner." Xanthe muttered more to herself more than to them.
"Did Palpatine keep his promise?" Rey asked. Xanthe was slightly confused "What promise?"
"The promise of the ability for keeping those he cared about safe if he joined the dark side." Rey clarified.
Xanthe's amused look returned. "Heh. One bad habit of the Sith is manipulation, even amongst themselves. Always rare to find Sith with honour. You see… tragically, Vader, blinded by the rage influenced by the dark side, didn't realise he injured his wife who, despite being treated for her injuries, ultimately died of a broken heart. But not before giving birth to twins." Xanthe said giving Luke a pointed look. "After fighting with his former master and friend, Obi wan Kenobi, he suffered horrific injuries, which led him to be encased in the suit and mask most of us are familiar with. He turned to the dark side, only for his new master to tell him that he was responsible for Padme's death. So, no he did not keep his promise. However, now that Vader had nothing left, he had no choice but to fully embrace the dark side, as there was no family, no Jedi, nothing left for him. Or so he thought at least, until you, Luke."
"So why didn't Darth Vader kill the Emperor?" Rey asked. Xanthe laughed. "Well he did actually, in order to save Luke. I saw the security footage before leaving the Death Star." Xanthe explained before Luke could ask.
"Perks of being part of the Imperial Guard." Xanthe states with a shrug. "But I assume you mean why didn't Vader kill Sidious immediately, rather than stay as his apprentice for so long? Well… Based on my own experience, and the ways of the Sith, the apprentice must surpass the master.
I would assume Sidious told him there are Force techniques to bring loved ones back from the dead and only by being loyal and truly part of the dark side would he one day be taught the technique. As well for the fact that if he tried to double cross him, Force lightning would destroy Vader's suit. His suit was purposely made with those flaws for many reasons, one of them being fear of Vader's ability in the Force. Of course, being in proximity of Darth Vader as part of the Imperial Guard, I had sensed on more than one occasion of Vader's desire to overthrow his master, as is the nature of the Sith."
Xanthe looked over at Luke sensing more questions. She sighs. "Now, how I know about Obi wan… Quite simply, I met him through Senator Bail Organa- Your sister's adopted father, while I was off duty as a Senate Guard. I had visited Kenobi on Tatooine, revealing my identity and through him, discovered the location of Master Yoda. Of course it took a lot of convincing that I was not a threat, and finally he introduced me to you and your aunt and uncle. Knowing that you and your sister were both were in good hands, I returned to Coruscant to keep an eye on the Emperor's activities."
"So if you weren't with the Emperor, and you claim that the Jedi must survive, why didn't you help the Jedi or the Rebel Alliance?" Luke asked.
"It was simply not my place. Masters Yoda and Kenobi were still alive and I had assumed you would be the start of the next generation of Jedi. Also, I was not going to risk my identity and life for your lot. This was the Republic's mess, the Jedi's mess. I monitored, yes. I kept artifacts hidden from the Emperor, yes. Stage a rebellion? Not my place. I had done that once before and that was enough for me. I had relied on the remaining Jedi to salvage what they could, not die off. Sometimes I wonder why I bothered…" Xanthe muttered to herself.
"So what now?" Rey asked. Xanthe gets up and dusts herself off. "I suggest you recruit as many force sensitives as possible and Luke, you must start training Rey as a Jedi, because very soon we'll be dragged into another war."
"I will not train her. I told you I am no longer a Jedi." Luke states again. Xanthe looks at him with the same look Obi wan had when after learning the truth of his father on Dagobah, refused to fight Darth Vader. "Then, the First Order has already won. The Republic is no more." Then Xanthe's eyes hardened. "Everything you fought for was for nothing. Everything your sister fought for was for nothing. Everyone that died, died for nothing. You saved your father for nothing. You should have just stayed on Tatooine Luke Skywalker." And with that, Xanthe walks away not once looking back.
A/N: I know it's not as long as some people expected and no real Sith info yet, but I'll get there eventually...
