"While the mystical explanations of the Force, and its apparent religious nature are rather popular, most Jedi know the Force to be a much simpler concept. It is an infinite energy field, generated by all living things. It surrounds and penetrates all objects, organic or inorganic, and can be manipulated by any Force sensitive, no matter his or her apparent power 'level'. There is little to no limit to what can be accomplished through the Force, from levitating a simple rock, to toppling empires and civilizations. It all depends on the user's control.
Jedi achieve this through iron-clad discipline and mental and physical conditioning. The Force bows to their will, yet guides their hand at once. This is commonly observed during a duel, where the duellist depends on the Force to keep the lightsaber from inflicting self harm, while he/she concentrates on strategy and utilizing his/her knowledge of the Force and the abilities it grants to gain an advantage. In more mundane settings, the Force can guide one's path through intuition, suggestion (often described as 'whispers'), dream visions, and prophecy.
Users of the Dark Side are an entirely different story. It is said that the path to Darkness is quite an easy one to travel, and with good reason. The Dark Side requires little training, and grants far greater individual power in the short term. It is not, however, a gift. It is a transaction. Many cultures and species deal with the concept of an Underworld, stories where its leader, usually demonic in nature, grants a person his power in exchange for his very essence. By embracing their negative emotions, darksiders open themselves to the destructive darkness. The Dark Side of the Force is corrupting by nature; none who use it are free of after effects. Mental in nature, at first, these will progress to a sort of parasitic stage, in which the 'host' is physically corrupted. Sickly yellow irises, blackened teeth, pale and gaunt skin with dark veins...this and more is the price for the terrifying power of a Sith Lord. The mindset of the Sith and the corruption of the Dark Side make it little wonder why the Dark Lords rarely, if ever, die of old age.
And yet, I believe balance can be achieved. I know the warmth of the Light. Yet I have also felt the cool temptation of the Darkness. I have done terrible things, but also saved billions. What if I wasn't the only one? What if more could find and apply this balance to their lives?
Many have concluded that the Force as a whole has a sort of sentience, if not outright omnipotence, and that Jedi and Sith are simply its sharpest tools in shaping the galaxy's history. We would not be tools. We would be weapons. Keeping the peace, or putting down the enemies of the Force, and the Republic." -Anakin Skywalker, Founder and First Operative of the Rogue Jedi Corps, on the nature of the Force, and the reasoning behind the Rogues' formation.
Maris Brood had once been a Jedi Padawan, training under the Togruta Master Shaak Ti. Born on Iridonia, homeworld of her species, the Zabrak, she was quickly identified as Force-sensitive, and taken to Coruscant to be raised in the Jedi Temple, where Master Ti would eventually choose her as her apprentice.
It didn't work out.
Unlike most Jedi younglings, Maris had a good memory, and resented the Jedi Order for taking her away from her family. The years of training had tempered the hate, but some negative feelings still resided. Master Ti tried to stamp it out, but the seed of the Dark Side had taken root and would not let go.
Ordinarily, this would have meant sealing her fate in the AgriCorps. But the Clone Wars' abrupt end, and the changes it heralded for the Jedi Order, meant that Maris Brood could be something else. Something...more.
Maris was part of the first generation of Rogues, trained by Anakin Skywalker, Chosen One of the Force, and Asajj Ventress, former Dark Jedi and Assassin apprentice to the late Count Dooku. The historical significance alone was enough to make Maris feel incredibly proud. And, at the end of the day, that's what it was all about, wasn't it? Being able to feel freely.
Ventress, as second-in-command for the Rogues, let her know that the Jedi Council was requesting one of their own for a vital mission on Tatooine. Maris could see why - the desert planet was controlled by the Hutts, and whatever they were going to do there would likely end up being outside of a Jedi's comfort zone. Rogues were pretty much comfortable with everything, and so Maris found herself looking forward to the trip.
The young Zabrak, unlike most of her Rogue brethren, preferred not to wear armor. Her fighting style relied on deflecting and avoiding enemy hits, and she dressed not just for that, but for taking advantage of her rather attractive features, wearing just a half black top that barely covered her breasts, and tight fitting bantha leather pants. Her clothing, coupled with her red horns, black dreadlocks, yellow-flecked red eyes, black lips and dual red saber tonfas was enough to give her a balanced appearance between demonic and seductive, useful in her regular missions.
Infiltration, sabotage, and assassination were the name of her game, and she was one of the best players out there.
The Rogue training grounds of Dromund Kaas long behind her, Maris stared at the Coruscanti skyline, eager to prove herself.