Forbidden No Longer

Posted on Tue Apr 10th, 2018 @ 10:05pm by Bomoor Thort & Thane

2,280 words; about a 11 minute read

Chapter: Chapter V: Unbound
Location: Bomoor's Cabin, Red Raptor
Timeline: After "Precipice of Darkness"
Tags: Krayt, Holocron, Bomoor, Gatekeeper

OLD

Bomoor was left with his head swirling about with so many thoughts and feelings. Yes, he had called the Order his home but it was also another prison of sorts: a prison of the mind. Binding him to a narrow view of the galaxy, which sought to chisel him down into a neat little pawn, with which to continue the crusade of the Reborn Order.

He hated that he could so easily be used, even without his conscious knowledge. It was a slower death of the self; even slower than the one he had almost experienced on Jericho and it made him sick. His eyes darted about the cabin, which was so small for his size, even now imagining it as a prison. But there was a light that shone faintly, like the dim hope of escape from a long tunnel. The light came from below his bed - a dim orange-red glow, which sought him out like a warmth that had not been there before.

Kneeling down, Bomoor reached under and pulled out the source: it was Krayt's holocron. In his hands it shone brighter than it ever had when he had held it before. It pulsed like the call of the holoterminal, just waiting for him to open his side of the connection. The Former Jedi was now ready to answer that call.

NEW

The orange-red light of the holocron pulsed, washing the room in an eerie light in the manner that the tide brushes the shore. With the pyramidal device in the palms of his large hands, Bomoor tried to peer into it with his mind. The device itself was just that: a device; yet it was touched by the Force in a similar manner to how organic lightsaber crystals (and presumably the powerful Kaiburr Crystal) could be imbued with a sensitivity to the vast living network of the Force. It was not alive but, through a powerful imprint, it still reflected the essence of its author at the moment of its creation: the founder of the One Sith and ruler of a Galactic Empire that rose even after the fall of Palpatine's: Darth Krayt.

Still calling to him, Bomoor reached out and triggered the activation of the holocron. The waves of light that had been radiating outwards retreated into the device before shooting out from its peak in a single focused beam, which generated the small but imposing figure of the Dark Lord just a few short inches from Bomoor's face.

Reacting to his sudden appearance, the now ex-Jedi Knight placed the holocron down on the bed. He was still in a kneeling position from reaching down for the device and he stayed in this stance so that the projection was now perfectly in line with his large, reflective eyes. While the miniaturised Sith had yet to speak, underneath his bony Yuuzhan Vong helmet, Bomoor could see a dark smirk.

"Hello again, gatekeeper," Bomoor spoke first, breaking the silent gaze between them, "The disturbances in the Force may have already given you some idea, but much has happened since leaving Tython. The man you see before you now is no longer a member of the Reborn Jedi Order. I am not sure what I am now, but I do know that I want to become more than I was under the thumb of the council."

Bomoor shifted his weight slightly on the decorated mat he had placed beside his bed to cover the cold metal floor that lay below, "Judging from the intense glow from your holocron just now, you perhaps have something to share with me?"

"So," Krayt's gatekeeper began, not acknowledging the Ithorian's question, "the conflicted loyalist is no longer as such. It seems you would be more keen for me to share something with you, Jedi."

The avatar of the long-deceased Dread Lord regarded Bomoor with his mismatched eyes, a malevolent intelligence examining the man who stood before him with a measured level of interest. "Do you think that by divesting yourself of your new Order and whatever Code of lies they subscribe to you are entitled to hear the wisdom and learn the secrets of Darth Krayt? Do you truly think me so keen to spread the seed of the One Sith once more, that I am so lonely and having been without a worthwhile muse for so long that I will divulge arcane knowledge unto you?"

Frowning at the immediate dismissal from Krayt, Bomoor was frustrated at how quickly he regretted his decision to interact with this entity that represented as much arrogance and entitlement as Grand Master Quellus, the only difference being which sort of power they clung to, "I am under no illusion that you are some open book to be read by all. In fact, you may have forgotten all this under the layers of Krayt's personality, but your programmed task is to act as judge over those who access your archive."

Bomoor thought back to the few Jedi holocrons that he had interacted with in the archives on Coruscant and all the hurdles they had put him through. Firstly, it was a trial even to get permission from the living Jedi to access the devices and then a further pain to be judged by whatever gatekeeper personality was installed in the holocron. It was like waiting for clearance at the spaceport: an overly-bureaucratic process for what should be a simple task.

"So, if I must be judged, then let me be judged. I shall not assume to have any sort of entitlement. But you are correct that I activate you for more than idle curiosity; I do seek to purge the weakness in myself, to learn how to overcome those things that I surrendered to before, to find new ways to protect that which I care about."

"Hm." The gatekeeper seemed to ponder that for a moment, genuinely appearing to assess Bomoor's rebuke without any ire rising. The data echo crossed its non-existent arms as its eyes locked onto the curious Ithorian once more. "To become powerful is not an end in itself - it must serve a grander purpose, one greater than the wielder of the power itself. So, tell me, what is it that you care about, young Jedi?"

With all this happening so relatively quickly, Bomoor did not immediately know quite how to respond. He could never see himself wanting power for the sake of power but, to simply become strong so as not to be subdued once again - that was hardly much better.

His mind first thought about using power as a tool to protect that which he cared about, as the Jedi should always have done. An extension of that protective power was the ability to deliver justice to the denizens of the Galaxy. He also thought about the things he never was able to explore under the Jedi: ancient histories and forbidden writings that were either destroyed or kept far out of reach. With greater influence and sway, the former Knight might yet open his eyes to more of the galaxy's mysteries; so many of his race wandered the far reaches of the cosmos. He wished to as well.

Attempting to pull together his scattered thoughts, Bomoor answered: "I want to create a galaxy that is not built around corruption: where those of true worth are not beaten down by the rotten few who pollute life and the Force to their own selfish ends. I want to learn from the mistakes and the triumphs of the past to make sure that not only do I never fall victim to this again, but also that those I care for do not suffer for the crimes of the petty few."

In his mind, Bomoor briefly pictured his mother on Öetrago watching a darkness descend on her peace-loving tribe from the sky, helpless to face it.

"I do not want an Empire or my own misguided Republic as then I would surely become the same corruption that I despise. But I no longer want to sit on the sidelines, fighting for something I do not believe in."

"Laudable goals, Ithorian," the gatekeeper answered slowly, glaring at Bomoor as though he could see straight through him, "and I applaud your desire to right the wrongs of a galaxy sick with a cancer it refuses to excise from itself, even though so many must so clearly see with a clarity it must be sickening to ignore it. It was ever thus."

The long-deceased Sith Lord allowed himself to shimmer into a fuller height, matching that of the inquisitive consular and standing beside him. Although he was now stood eye-to-eye with Bomoor, he adopted no pose in an effort to cajole or intimidate him, but instead continued to address him evenly, even as the menace of his hooded scowl struck at his companion from within his artificial helmet.

"There is much anger in you, Jedi - much fear and frustration." The avatar of Krayt wandered over to the lone seat within Bomoor's cabin, which was conveniently angled for him to settle himself down in a facsmilie of claiming a throne. Leaning back, he went on, "When last we spoke, you sought information on the Kaiburr crystal, to defeat a marauding Dark Jedi. You also spoke inanely on protecting the Force." Krayt lowered his head, eyes narrowing. "What has changed?"

Seeing the hologram playing as a living being was borderline amusing to the Ithorian, who now rose and stood facing the simulated-seating lord, "Perhaps much has changed in the universe. Perhaps nothing has. But I will admit that you were right about what you said last time: The Force itself does not need protecting. But the delicate balance of life within it may yet require our guardianship. The Dark Jedi Axion still upsets that balance as he clambers over everything and everyone in his path to place himself above all else. Toppling him is still our number one goal."

The gatekeeper nodded. "And a worthwhile goal at that; this Axion is a mockery of the dark side and a perversion of the might of the Force. Whilst his lust for power and drive to take what he seeks is admirable, his delusions and desires are self-destructive and sickening. His kind must be excised from existence just as much as any back-dealing Hutt or dogmatic Jedi Master."

A moment of silence settled between the holocron and Bomoor, Krayt's echo examining his companion's features as he appeared to mull over what they had been discussing. "Very well, Jedi. I will disclose to you some of that which you seek, but I would - as I'm sure you have surmised - ask something of you in return." The millennium-old intelligence tilted his head and narrowed his artificial eyes. "Two things, even."

"Then tell me what you would have me do, gatekeeper," Bomoor played along, still wary, "I doubt I am the one to carry on your legacy of the One Sith, for that is not what I believe in. But perhaps I can prove to you that there is worth in co-operating with those with an open mind, even if is not a long-lasting relationship."

He sat down on the bed, relaxing his posture slightly, wanting to communicate that they were not talking as master to pupil, but rather as equals. He extended an arm forwards, indicating he was ready to receive the long-dead Lord's requests.

"Firstly," the gatekeeper began, "a simple request. I would have you inform me of the state of the galaxy in its entirety: the names; the factions; all the notable wars of the millennium past. A simple request, I think."

Pleasantly surprised by the straightforward and fair nature of the first request, Bomoor hummed his agreement. Even as a data echo, it must be difficult to live so long in he dark, with nobody ever simply updating you of current events, "Of course, I can provide you some details. The best teacher is an informed teacher. And the other request?"

Krayt inclined his head, and that hint of menace crept back into his aged but taut artificial features. "That, in the spirit that you will indeed continue to maintain this open mind in your engagements with me, you will seek to exert yourself on this universe that surrounds you, and the creatures that dwell within. You have shown wisdom enough already in looking to broaden your learning and on seeking more than the ancient failures of the Jedi. You have a raw power all masters yearn to find in their students, and it is the duty of our kind to bring direction to those without that power or wisdom. The Sith embrace this, and even the Jedi recognise this, although they have both eternally failed in this crusade."

In another show of the data echo's individuality, Krayt's avatar removed the Vong-inspired helmet from his head, revealing a gaunt Human face beneath, otherwise unremarkable but for his tattoos and slicked grey hair. "Perhaps," he said, still sternly, "even in some small way, you shall not."

Looking into the mismatched eyes of the human male that appeared to sit before him, Bomoor felt somewhat empowered by what Krayt said, "Then we are agreed; thank you for opening up a part of yourself and indulging me," Bomoor stood up and collected the holocron from beside him once again, watching the image flicker and then re-stabilise as its emitter was moved through space, "And you need not keep calling me 'Jedi', particularly if we are to carry on these discussions. My name is Bomoor Thort and I am pleased to meet you, Darth Krayt."

RSS Feed