Chapter 19
Homecoming/ You don't know the Power of the Dark Side
Two X-wings came in for what was possibly the smoothest and most quiet landing in the jedi hanger in a very long time. It wasn't that the two Jedi were trying to sneak around; they were just avoiding the crowds; Jaina was famous, and Robin was gaining a reputation and some notoriety as well. It had grown to the point that just for his own peace of mind, Robin wore the Mask of Revan, summoning it from the Paladin pocket dimension whenever he met someone who looked like a crazy fan. Thankfully, Luke had allowed him to keep the mask as well as Revan's other possessions, should any turn up in the Archives Master Vault, after all, they would be his and his mum's by right of inheritance. They disembarked from their fighters and used the Force to jump down and cushion their fall rather than use the droid-controlled stairs. They had returned to the Jedi Temple with a few hours to spare before dawn.
The plan was to first see Luke, who no doubt sensed their approach regardless of how stealthy they were, and explain everything in a succinct manner. Then Robin would go to the Forge to create and breathe life into his personal weapon. He had the idea in his mind; now it just needed form.
The Forge is a very interesting place in the Jedi Temple, designed to facilitate the right meditative state required for lightsaber construction. It was more than simply putting the pieces together; it was a sacred ritual for both Jedi and Sith in their respective ways, (We're not going into that right now, maybe later), and when Robin was finished his weapon, the Paladins would be that much closer to a full return to the Galaxy.
Robin and Jaina made their way directly to Luke's office, both to explain and apologize for the sudden departure. They knocked to politely request entrance. "Come in you two," Luke said, and the door opened. Luke stood with his back to them, enjoying the view or perhaps lost in thought. "Please, sit. No need to wait for me," he said with surprising calm. Robin and Jaina had both feared he would be upset.
He turned to them, looking notably normal, and clearly glad to know that his niece and former Apprentice were okay. They explained and recounted the relevant things that they experienced on Dagobah and Ilum. "Wow! You've been busy." Luke said, smiling.
"May I see the crystal, please Robin?" "Yes, certainly, Luke. Here." Robin responded as he held out his Kyber crystal. Luke took it and withdrew a piece of parchment. He looked from the crystal to the parchment, comparing the gem in his hand to the drawing on the parchment. "This parchment I found while you were gone mentions Paladins, though only the Ruler. Each Ruler creates a truly unique crystal; each time it's different, the old one dies with its master, and it can only be used by the Ruler." Luke explained, showing them the parchment. He looked like a kid on Life Day, (This is a Christmas-type holiday, roll with it). Luke gave Balance-Breaker back before preparing to ask one last question.
The two looked exhausted, rightfully so, especially with the Ilum pilgrimage and braving the darkness of their own souls in addition to Dagobah's dark atmosphere. They also felt closer than before. Had Cindy been right after all? The young couple's possible physical activities aside, or lack thereof; whatever happened happened. Luke figured his sister and Robin's mom would compare notes reasonably soon so he wouldn't partake in gossip, though he couldn't say the same of Ben. Ben was a huge advocate of the idea of Robin and Cindy being family in more than an honorary position. Luke looked Robin right in the eyes, gazed unwaveringly, and composed his last question. "You said that you needed to harmonize. Now that you have, are you King of the Paladins?" Luke asked with baited breath.
Robin closed his eyes and looked inward at his mindscape. Both his throne and castle had changed to a defensive design. The throne had grown more elaborate and beautiful, and it radiated power. "Shadow, Einstein. Am I King yet?" Robin silently asked his ever-present advisors. "If you need to ask, probably not, but you're very close. That much, we can tell you. Maybe it's about more than harmonizing opposing forces. Maybe you have a challenge you still need to face." Shadow said. "Maybe you need to be enticed by the dark side, but it needs to be someone else's, not yours. Like when Luke duelled his father and Vader, prior to his redemption, tried to take Luke as his Apprentice, tempting him with power. You haven't really been tempted by the lures of the Dark Side; you accept its role and that it's a part of you. Perhaps you just need to grow into it. Time will tell." Einstein suggested attempting to lift Robin's spirit by suggesting he had yet more to do. The Accords forbade it from being explained in full; it was the leash on his familiars, restricting what could or couldn't be discussed. (We'll get into that at a later point, but it's basically a UN conference on aspects of the Force. Robin will one day be able to attend, but not yet, and he doesn't know about it at all at this point in time).
Robin, with his eyes now open, looked at Luke, the mindscape gone. "No, I'm not King… not yet. But if you could, please release the information about my ancestry. I think that you'll know when. I have one last trial before I'm ready for Kingship."
Robin took a breath to compose his thoughts. "My Trial by darkness isn't over; I need to face the temptations of the entire Dark Side. I looked into Lord Kay shortly after killing him. His father, High Lord Kaiser, is here on Coruscant; he's also the newly "elected" Grand Lord of the Sith." He scoffed before continuing. "I'm going to bait him into a confrontation, one that he can't ignore without looking weak. Besides, the word is he wants to convert me or kill me; he sees both outcomes as a win. If I were to turn, I would likely be forced to take his son's place at his side, championing the dark side; if not, he gets carte blanche to do to me what he wants before killing me and stopping the return of Paladins to the Galaxy." Robin said to both Luke and Jaina.
Luke looked thoughtfully at his former apprentice. He didn't like the idea but understood Robin's reasoning. "I see what you mean about true temptation. Master Horn was in a similar situation when he first joined the Order. He thought that he knew the Dark Side and did, just not its full scope or depth. He learned the hard way, though luckily he kept his hand unlike yours truly. Sure, I'll release your status and intent to reform the Paladin Jedi-clan, as a bonus it'll give you a fair amount of pull you can use, in addition to being a liaison for your own world, extending to your relatives and any future spouse or children you might have." Luke said, chuckling slightly while trying to rile both Robin and Jaina up a little.
Luke turned his attention to his niece; she was shielding her thoughts well, though not perfectly. "You okay, Jaina?" Luke asked. "I'm honestly beat, Uncle Luke. Do you guys mind if I head home? I miss mom and dad, and they might be worried, and I can catch Cindy up on our little adventure." she said.
Luke agreed that Jaina should take a cab home, given her exhaustion. Robin would stay to talk more with his former Master about the Forge and the construction of his own Lightsaber before they too left for home. But first Robin walked Jaina to the cab, and she smooched him, not giving a damn who saw, she wasn't ashamed, quite the opposite; she was proud. It was far and above a simple kiss on the cheek. (It was agreed on Ilum between Robin and Jaina that seeing one another naked put them past that stage of "sickeningly cute fluffy crap", though Jaina phrased it more eloquently than Robin had).
Robin wasn't entirely sure where in their relationship they were. They didn't know each other for very long, but they also had a special connection that couldn't be ignored or pushed aside and was beyond platonic. It was like they'd known each other forever and had only recently met. Then again, maybe they only needed a year to have a meaningful relationship; time would tell. The kiss suggested that they had maybe advanced to being a couple; luckily, most people were smart enough to not gossip about them openly anyway. Gossip would always abound, regrettably.
The same night, Skywalker's residence
Robin crashed face first on his bed; it was super late now, and while he was a night owl, he did actually need to sleep. Between Luke, Ben, and his mum, Robin had been so busy answering as many questions as possible that he ended up accidentally staying up and retiring much later than he'd anticipated or desired. He felt as though the offer to turn to the Dark Side from Kaizer would come tonight, maybe in his dreams. Too bad the Sith didn't know that he was a master at Lucid dreaming from his experience in manipulating his mindscape, (lucid dreaming is essentially controlling one's dreams at will), and thus was far from defenceless. This was a gamble, to be sure, but one he knew in his guts that he'd win, The Force was with him through all of it. It wouldn't be easy to fight the temptations of the Dark Side; Robin knew this, but he would do it all the same. Robin closed his eyes, and sleep instantly took him.
Robin's mindscape
Robin naturally knew where he was, his place of power, his mindscape. However strong he was, he couldn't keep the Sith Lord from invading his most sacred place. Kaizer had come quickly; he'd been impatient. Robin had resisted at first but knew that it was a ruse to appear weaker than he was. Robin saw the new Grand Lord materialize as sludge that poured through a hole in his defences; his dark presence created lightning storms and heavy, angry clouds that were pregnant with rain. Robin didn't want to allow this to happen, but he let it play out to sell his gambit. Kaiser would see what the soon-to-be King wanted him to; this was his kingdom, his realm. By no means was Robin invincible, but he ought to have the edge in his own base of power. Now the show would start, and Robin got into character.
Sith Embassy, Grand Lord Kaiser's chambers
Grand Lord Kaiser grunted and groaned from within his meditation sphere, previously the late Darish Vol's. The boy's, (Robin's,) mental defences and fortitude were something to be admired, Kaiser had to admit. Not even his son had been this gifted at mind-to-mind combat; it was enough to give Kaiser temporary headaches and even a nosebleed.
This would be worth it; the boy hadn't achieved the legendary so-called incorruptible mindset, one of the names of the final phase of a Jedi Paladin's training. After all, Paladin were said to be the closest beings to being incorruptible. Legends are usually embellished, of course, but Kaiser couldn't take that risk. Right now, the young man was still in the initiate phase; even if he was stronger than anticipated and almost a Paladin Knight, Robin wasn't beyond the tempting call of the Dark Side. Vol had been right to take an interest in Robin Stace. Kaiser finally saw it; a pinprick-sized hole in his opponent's defences. And through this hole, Kaiser forced his spirit and consciousness.
Upon materializing in the young man's greatest sanctum, Kaiser beheld a grand castle with jutting spires and wrought iron defences. Turrets jutted out, tracking him. Kaiser smiled at the young man's ingenuity in defending himself; he was highly skilled, and he wanted him converted to the Dark Side even more. Robin would prove to be a powerful ally.
Kaiser took the cobbled road to the castle entrance. He wasn't there to lay siege to the place, not yet. No, Kaiser instead sought to appeal to the young man's desires, wrapping his presence in the form of one he knew and cared for. He could also appeal to the boy's hate and wrath; he knew a couple of tactics he could take in his approach to the challenge of converting Robin.
The grand castle's many turrets were tracking the Grand Lord as defensive constructs, but they weren't firing. "The boy must realize that he poses no chance of winning, against my greater experience. His power, mighty as it is, is meaningless and impotent before mine." Kaiser thought with a smirk, confident in his superiority.
Kaiser's footsteps echoed in the vaunted building. Through corridors and hallways, Kaiser sent his oily, dark presence. The only point he couldn't reach was the throne room, where his ultimate goal was blocked by an invisible barrier. "The boy was strong enough to weather a mental assault of such magnitude and still have reserve power?" He knew that he had to turn him; losing such a powerful individual to the Jedi clan, the Paladins, would be a truly terrible loss to the champions of the Dark Side. The Dark Lord mused as he analyzed the barrier before him.
Kaiser found himself gazing at the young man seated on the throne, who appeared unfazed by the presence of the Sith Lords. For all his self-confidence, Kaiser sensed his opponent was on par with himself in raw power. There was more, but the boy hid his true thoughts beautifully. The Grand Lord of the Sith would have to be cautious.
"You don't seem very surprised by my presence. Interesting. I thought that you might appreciate this form, that of your former Master, Luke Skywalker." The young man cocked an eyebrow. "What I appreciate is honesty, and on that note..." Robin snapped his fingers, and Kaiser's presence in the castle, along with his whispered promises of power, was silenced, banished as though they never had been. Kaiser was further shocked to feel his form revert to its true appearance, that of a red-skinned pure-blood Sith. (Sith were originally a species that the original Dark Jedi converted to their cause after they were expelled from the Jedi Order as a result of the Great Schism thousands of years ago; they're red-skinned and usually left-handed).
"I have stripped you of all your falsehoods, and while you can technically lie here, I don't recommend it." Robin grinned. "It was a grin befitting the man who killed his son," Kaiser thought while keeping his rage in check. "I'm glad that you think it suits me," Robin replied, as though having read the Grand Lord's thoughts. "In this place, nothing is hidden. I killed your son; you invaded my mind, yet you spare it from the numerous abuses you want to inflict upon it. That tells me that you want something from me, putting me in a position of strength." The young man shifted in his seat but never looked away from Kaiser.
"I say this once, and only once. Tell me what you want." Robin demanded. Kaiser cleared his throat before beginning. "It is not what I want, but what I can give you. Yes, you killed my son, and yes, I hate you for that, but the Sith people thank you. He was weak, and we don't look upon weakness well. You gave him a warrior's death and allowed him to retain his dignity and pride. You would have done far worse by sparing his life. I would like to offer you all the resources of the Sith." Kaiser said, hating the man before him more with every word. "Oh, resources? Like what? Do you know what I am? What I'm becoming? What power can you possibly offer me that I don't already have? I've never cared for wealth and I already possess a great following that grows with every accolade and every story. Power, wealth, and political pull are not going to do you any good with me. I already have those." Robin smirked. "By all means, keep trying to incentivize me. Your paltry efforts amuse me, Sith Lord."
Robin had Shadow hide his true self, projecting only what Kaiser would want or expect to see in one with power: confrontation, aggression and arrogance. In other words, his Dark Side. So Robin showed his enemy what he wanted to see; to learn what the Sith planned for the Jedi and the Galaxy at large. The endgame was his goal, but he was fishing for anything useful.
Kaiser smirked before speaking again, his confidence fully restored. "You are indeed powerful, as Vol; my predecessor, foresaw. I would have offered you the head seat on the Sith version of the Jedi Council, but ultimately you're right. I have little to offer, as you say, but not nothing." Kaiser gestured, and an image appeared: a man kneeling in servitude, bound, his spirit broken.
"I offer you this, the first gift of many, should you join me and champion the Dark Side. I, Grand Lord Kaiser, offer you Jagged Fel, politician, political activist, and the leader of the Imperial Remnant. He's the favourite to be the next representative for the Imperial Remnant in the Galactic Alliance senate. But to you, none of that matters; to you, he's simply the man who caused your lady love so much pain and hardship. If you want him, he's yours to do… as you deem fit. It's a good offer; you should consider it, and this would only be the start." Kaiser smirked at the first real signs of the man's temptations. Body language speaks volumes, as does silence, both of which were available in spades.
Robin equated an attack on his people as an attack against himself; it was easy enough to exploit this characteristic. It was all in the eyes. Fury and wrath flooded the air in the castle; most would have found it oppressive, but Kaiser likened it to a very hot bath. Initially shocking and painful, but not debilitating.
Robin had many qualities, but luckily, perfection was not one he was afflicted by. He was genuinely tempted now. This was a true test of his ability to fight his more basic desires. He wanted to do terrible things to Fell. He was the champion of Balance, and it sure as hell felt like Balance to him. "Jagged Fel should suffer as Jaina did!" Robin thought, his mind filled with rage and hate.
Then he remembered that Jaina wasn't destroyed, and was going to be, if not already, fully recovered. She'd said her quick healing was partly because of him on the return trip from Ilum, which warmed his heart immensely and stirred in him a sense of pride. Then Robin felt it; the cool, tranquil waters of forgiveness and mercy, his own personal code, his mother, and his extended family, both in and out of the Jedi Order, all gave him the strength he needed to resist such a powerful temptation.
Nobody would want him to change for anything. He sure as hell wouldn't change into a monster just for a moment of gratification born from Fell's suffering, even if it appealed to him to punch Fel in the face, and he intended to if they met, but he would not do anything more. Jagged Fell would suffer by watching his former fiance live a happy life without him; it was enough for Robin to feel satisfied for the time being. Balance was in control at this moment. Had Robin taken such a deal, Imbalance would have held more power, though probably not enough for reality to come undone.
Robin smiled at the Sith, his eyes reflecting sympathy and pity, no longer filled with obvious thoughts of anger and vengeance. Jagged Fel would have his comeuppance, but not this way, not from a Faustian bargain, (a deal with a devil essentially). The warmth in Robin's sad smile and obvious feelings of regret and pity were big indicators to Kaiser of one thing: the carrot had failed, and now it was time for him to use the stick. Pain might work better; if not, he'd just have to get a better carrot and a bigger stick, retreat, and try again. Though it would mark the worst first day for a Grand Lord of the Sith in a very long time. Record-breaking failure was not on his agenda though; he would just have to adapt.
Kaiser began drawing on the Force when he suddenly felt his power wane and disappear. "Don't bother. Here you have practically no connection to the Force, only enough to exist, and only because I allow it. Here, I am the master of all, so know your place! Now go, while my mercy still exceeds my wrath." Robin grinned. "Enjoy telling your new lackeys that you failed. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, eh? I hope that you outlast your predecessor. You're an interesting plaything. Your son must have taken after you." Robin said, getting the Sith Lord riled up even more.
Kaiser could only growl impotently as he realized that the young man had willingly let him in and appeared weaker than he was just to draw Kaiser into his trap. "He had gambled his soul for information and ultimately won. Damn, the prodigy has balls of Beskar," Kaiser thought with hate-filled grudging respect.
Still, Kaiser was intrigued that the young man had been that bold and brash. He'd felt the stirrings of the Dark Side in Robin like barely contained flames, if only briefly. He would retreat and regroup for now, though he wasn't giving up by any means.
Kaiser knew that there were other veins of temptation he could find and exploit; he would turn the Paladin before he was out of reach or kill him if he would not be turned. He would not fall like Vol had, in failure and disgrace. "Very well. Perhaps my next gift will be more to your liking. I look forward to the day you call me Master and take my son's place at my side as our champion. It's only fitting, as you're the one who bested my son, our former best. That or we can cross blades over and over until one of us ends up dead, preferably you. Your choice, Paladin." Kaiser's form dissipated, his last words echoing in the air. Robin just steeled himself; he would be strong no matter what inner demons were set against him or what temptations were brought before him.
The day following Robin's psychic confrontation with a high echelon of the Sith tribe would be a day long remembered, for this was the day he made his Paladin weapon and truly stepped into his role as the Paladin King. He'd drawn up his lightsaber designs and modifications on his way back from Ilum while waiting to reenter sub-light engine speeds. His hands had stayed on the control yoke while he drew a few rough ideas out on paper via telekinesis. He would be using some of those designs today. Robin read many versions of how to make a lightsaber both practical and beautiful, at least in concept. Luke had walked him through the basics last night as they walked back from the Temple, but it came down to individuality in terms of how to construct your first personal lightsaber.
The paper drawing depicted a lightsaber with three emitters, (the part the blade comes out from), two of which are designed to be hidden. A hilt would be moulded to his hands with biometric locks so only he could access his lightsaber and the crystals he would install. It would be finished with Beskar plating for protection against energy-based weapons and attacks.
Robin knew that he might have to wait on some of the security features, though it depended on the Skywalker funds, at least until he had a paying job and could afford it himself. Beskar was incredibly expensive, along with bio-locks. Jedi do get paid, but not very much, as they are public servants, and peacekeepers who answer a calling. Luckily, Luke was pretty chill regarding money, but this didn't feel like something Luke should help him with. (The son of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader inherited a great deal from his late father, and so did Leia.) Another drawing Robin had made also depicted a lightsaber able to curve in the hilt at the push of a button, a trick he thought would be very useful since different angles made certain styles easier to use and counter. Robin had decided that he would devote the day to the forging of his lightsaber and the modifications to Luke's old weapon. So he gathered the required material, sans Beskaar, and headed to the Temple, forgoing a "proper" breakfast for a quick Caf and bagel since it would likely take a long time and he wanted to get started as soon as possible.
Upon entry to the Jedi Temple, Robin headed to see Luke first and confirm the plans regarding his status as a Paladin being released. He only wanted the information released after he'd finished his lightsaber; it felt like one of the last pieces of a puzzle, one only he could understand. It was also the symbol of his office and authority. After a quick check-in with the Jedi Grand Master to confirm things for later that day, Robin headed to the Forge.
This place too was one of Master Sabatyne's domains, along with the arena; her job was to ensure nothing untoward was done to the Forge. She would help where she could if he asked, and having allies in positions of authority was always a plus. Jaina had offered to meet him when he was ready, as well as provide the Beskar he'd wanted to use. She'd obtained it from some Mandalorians that she knew. It was more than enough, which Robin was floored by since pure Beskar metal is very rare. "Who's your contact? I'm just curious." Robin asked. "Boba Fett," Jaina replied, smirking at Robin's shocked expression. Robin didn't push for information; he was still wrapping his head around the fact that Jaina was in touch with Boba Fett, the current Mandalore, (head Mandalorian,) and notorious former bounty hunter who hated her father and uncle, even if he was said to respect them.
Robin had everything he required minus the bio-locks, including two crystals from the incredibly large gems that were gifted to him and the Order by Wabba the Hutt; the effects would prove interesting as each Jade Pearl possessed multiple properties. Each lightsaber could potentially house three crystals, one for colouring the basic blade and two for often interesting, volatile reactions.
Some lightsabers could freeze targets with a single strike; while others could cause fire or enrage enemies, or so he'd heard. It just depended on what you used and wanted from the weapon. Enhancing Luke's old lightsaber would be relatively easy; it just needed the new crystal installed and a light plating of Beskar if they had enough for both weapons. One of the crystals radiated power reminiscent of high-pressure water; the other felt like fire through the Force, one for his weapon and the other for Luke's former blade.
Seeing as Jaina knew what adjustments Robin wanted to add to Luke's old lightsaber, (the water gem, a piece of the multi-elemental Jade Pearls Robin won from Wabba's tournament), she offered to do that one for him, though she knew that his weapon needed to be made by his own will and by his own hands. The working theory was that the Force took forever to change, or that no matter the era, you had to prove yourself worthy in the eyes of the Force and play by old-school rules.
The Jedi Forge was a very warm place; all the Force energy from every Jedi who had forged their lightsaber left some ambient energy behind. It added up to a very warm area, and as such, Robin had stripped off his thick robe and cloak, leaving on his civilian/off-duty attire, which was lighter, thinner, and more breathable. He knew that meditating was easy enough on its own, but meditating while imbuing his lightsaber components with the Force and putting them together simultaneously would be much more difficult.
Robin sat down and began the important task. Jaina was watching, curious about how he'd proceed. Everyone had their approaches to forging lightsabers. Ben joined them a few minutes later. "Did I miss anything?" Ben asked, hoping that he hadn't missed anything. Jaina pointed to Robin, "He's been just meditating, as far as I can tell. I've already finished modifying this one." She wiggled Luke's old lightsaber, now lightly plated in Beskar, having taken the initiative since she had been given a little extra of the precious metal. All it cost was the promise that the warrior the metal would serve would meet Bobba Fett's expectations for a warrior, and eventually, Bobba would spar with Robin, who would be forbidden by the Force for such a bout. She'd tell him another day; such information was not exactly calming. Boba Fett wasn't a bounty hunter anymore; his duties and position as Mandalore were more important, especially to his people, the Mandalorians. (The Mandalorians are a people born from many species after almost being wiped out; they were a very battle-oriented lot, yet strangely peaceful in a way, once you earned their respect, that is. Not an easy task, earning a Mandalorian's trust. which usually led to a slightly negative, often exaggerated reputation.) Mandos was the slang term they were referred to by most people; these days, they worked as mercenaries, but Boba Fett as Mandalore was the one to ultimately decide what contracts they took.
Robin had not been as idle as he'd looked; he'd been spreading his mind and Force energy through each component, giving each more power than it would have on its own and a greater connection to himself as well. Then, after his consciousness was encompassing every piece, he opened his eyes, and each piece gently floated to his hand, the hilt building around Balance-Breaker while allowing two more spots for various gems and crystals, one of which held the fire gem. No piece was out of place when he'd finally finished screwing in the energy cell and attaching the pommel to the hilt, screwing over a cover for the energy cell with a slot to charge it in the future. He'd already done the first charge with the Force, both his energy and that of the entire galaxy. He'd attached the Beskar plating with heat created by magnetic-induced pressure, (pressure creates heat,) fusing the pieces. Afterwards, Robin moulded the hilt to his hands with the Force protecting him from severe burns courtesy of the pressure-born heat created by his use of magnetics. Ben and Jaina were amazed because his process was either very new or very old and incredibly artisanal.
"It's done; now to test it," Robin thought, grinning like it was his birthday despite being very drained. Robin would recharge quickly enough. He stood and motioned for a little space for safety's sake. He had one button to ignite the main blade and another button for his crossguard emitters underneath it, but right now a single blade would work well enough. The crossguard configuration and bending hilt were meant to be aces up his sleeves, designed to merely look cosmetic; a nasty surprise for his no doubt numerous future enemies. As a Paladin and a Jedi Knight, he imagined it was in the job description to have numerous foes. Ben and Jaina stepped back outside the lightsaber's range, (3 feet, or 91.44 cm), and then he pressed the activation switch. At that moment, history was made after generations of inactivity. Balance-Breaker and the Paladin King had returned to the Galaxy, which heralded the return of the Paladins as a whole.
With a snap-hiss and a strange pulse in the Force lasting for exactly one millisecond, it seemed that perhaps the Force was celebrating with Robin. His lightsaber activated, a beautiful riot of colours that resolved into a half-blue, half-green blade with a little white bar separating the blue and green, and barely perceptible red veins shot throughout. It was breathtaking and impossible to ignore; luckily, Ben and Jaina were the only audience. He swung it around and probed it through the Force, double-checking his handiwork for minor flaws once more, and found none. His work was exemplary, in his own humble opinion. Robin tested the weight of the hilt, which was very important. Unlike a sword, lightsaber blades are made of pure energy, so the force of a blow is heavily based on the weight of the hilt. Heavier hilts are a little harder to swing, but the weapon's protection from delivering stronger blows or surviving them was worth it. "This weapon is your life." Obi-Wan Kenobi once said, and he was right; it reflected Robin perfectly. It would be a formidable weapon even just as a club; it was far from light because of the Beskar plate, but Robin was strong. He wouldn't be much of a man if he couldn't handle his own lightsaber, a thought that Einstein felt amused about, while Shadow outright chuckled at the unintentional double entendre. Robin just grinned lightly admiring his work. His instrument of life and death.
The aesthetics of the weapon were not unlike something from a museum or the Archives; the beauty carried an Old Republic, if not older, charm and grace while also being badass-looking enough to make foes think twice about doing something stupid. The crossguard covering the side emitters depicted a lion and a dragon charging in opposite directions, each roaring in defiance. This detail was an homage to his mother, whom he had emulated his whole life, (and let's face it, lions and dragons are badass animals). He tested its cutting ability, just to be sure. It cut everything perfectly. The blade colours shifted from his thoughts and feelings; he and the crystal were one. "Let's go. I want to show your uncle so he knows to expect an onslaught of questions about it, (Unique lightsabers, like this one and the one and only Darksaber, are highly regarded, even treated as sacred, and often asked about since the blade mirrors it's creator,) and my Paladin status. Since I'm his former apprentice, people will likely hound him for information," Robin said as he deactivated his new weapon and redressed, clipping Balance-Breaker on his left hip and Luke's now modified lightsaber on his right before proceeding up the stairs. Ben and Jaina had been entranced by the intricacies and beauty of the weapon, though Jaina's reaction to the blade had been dulled a little by having seen the crystal. Ben gaped in awe, but the spell broke once the weapon had been deactivated. The trio then left for Luke's office.
Sith HQ within the Kesh Embassy
"I still can't fully believe that he got one over you, that's all. You're older and far more experienced." The High Lord Malyketh said calmly, trying to cool an irate Grand Lord Kaiser the day after his first confrontation with the man who killed Kaiser's only son. The new Grand Lord was, shall we say, still sore on the subject, and rightfully so. It was a less than-auspicious beginning to his reign, losing to someone who was a young child by comparison. "I underestimated him, and he played on my ego. A mistake that will not happen again. He's far from a normal Jedi Knight; his power, his skills… definitely someone that we want with us or at least not against us." Kaiser said.
In Kaiser's defence, nobody knew much about Paladins except not to mess with one. Darish Vol had been a great Master to Kaiser; he had taught him everything that Kaiser knew. However, Vol had grown weak, and the younger generation had long been hungry for power. Kaiser had thought it fitting that he take his old Master's place, especially as he blamed him for his son's death. He claimed the right to rule as Grand Lord since he was the most worthy to succeed the old man his Master had become, having no heirs or living relatives. The little knowledge Darish had possessed of the Paladins died with him. "The wily old man died with critical information, and he left no trace of it in any way. Perhaps I was premature in killing my old Master. The Circle of Lords, and more importantly tradition, had demanded Darish Vol's immediate execution. Damn." Kaiser thought angrily.
The Paladin wasn't out of his reach; he just needed a different tact. He would learn what he could about those whom the young man called allies and friends; they were the young Paladin's strength and weakness. The ones that he knew of were incredibly influential; he'd have to tie their hands somehow. "He knows who to befriend, it seems," Kaiser thought as he reviewed the lists of Robin's friends, allies, and acquaintances. He would study every scrap he could find on Paladins, reaching outside Sith culture and teachings if necessary. He would get the necessary edge against the Paladin, be it from an ancient tome or a dark whisper in an alley. Kaiser took a walk to cool his head and think.
Meanwhile, Malyketh had been relaxing in the lounge the Circle of Lords used when it happened. Somebody had left the Holo on and a news alert opened up. It woke Malyketh up instantly, banishing his drowsiness and replacing it with fear, horror, and the knowledge that he had to tell Grand Lord Kaiser of this recent development if he didn't already know. Malyketh could only imagine Kaiser's reaction, and no reaction would be good with circumstances as they were. Malyketh would have to be cautious, Kaiser had killed his own former Master, and it would be easy enough for Kaiser to kill his friend. Malyketh knew something that his old friend didn't, however. Kaiser needed Malyketh, if only to keep him in check. An unchecked Grand Lord of the Sith was very bad, for allies and enemies alike.
BREAKING NEWS CONFERENCE WITH GRANDMASTER LUKE SKYWALKER