Duty of Kinship

Posted on Sun Oct 28th, 2012 @ 5:22am by Bomoor Thort & Thane

2,459 words; about a 12 minute read

Chapter: Chapter II: Era's Dawn
Location: Red Raptor
Timeline: Early, Day Three

Thane lay on his back on his cabin's bunk, eyes as open as they were the entire night. Since he had first activated Darth Bane's holocron late last night, he had been unwilling (or perhaps unable) to shut it off and head to sleep. By the Force, he certainly needed the rest and recuperation; the previous two days had been hectic, full of revelations, discoveries and combat with Dark Jedi from the Cult of Axion, but the towering spirit-like figure that had erupted from the ancient Sith relic had been both commanding and enticing.

The gatekeeper, once he had been certain to make his point, had resorted to a smaller and more suitable size. Whilst the deceased Dark Lord of the Sith had been full of arrogance and preaching about the might of the dark side, the personality imprinted upon the holocron was also pragmatic in his approach. Apparently, confirming what Thane had suspected, he would not have appeared to someone not deemed 'worthy'. For now, even when pressed, Bane would not delve into any further details concerning that, and had settled on first describing his own Order of the Sith Lords, forged over twenty-two hundred years ago, following the Battle of Ruusan at the time of the Old Republic.

Bane had been quick to regale events surrounding his ascension to Sith Lord, and how he had reinvented the Sith Order under his Rule of Two. The gatekeeper was also fully aware of later Sith generations and incarnations, but he did not seem best pleased with all that had progressed. Whilst he had demanded some answers from the Jedi Guardian, he in fact told Thane more about his dealings with the living since the creation of the holocron. Most notably, Darth Krayt, who had taken over the Second Galactic Empire about one thousand years ago. Since then, the holocron had refused access to nearly all who had tried... until Thane. When pressed again about choosing him, Bane was silent, glaring with a mixture of malice and pleasure at the young Human.

Not everything Darth Bane revealed was new to Thane, as the New Jedi Order had learned much from Emperor Palpatine's old libraries and findings, as well as other records following the end of the First Galactic Empire. It seemed Bane was content to blame Palpatine for these failures, particularly given he had violated the Rule of Two. The same went for Darth Krayt, who he continued to refer to as the "pretender", and was most pleased to learn of his failure. However, he saw no need to dwell on it and so went on with his explanations on his views on power, how the Sith should organise themselves, and spoke of many different techniques that could be mastered, promising to reveal them in time.

For that first night, Thane had sat almost silently, cross-legged on the floor before Bane, listening intently, controlling his fear and feeding his curiosity. He could not deny that he found some of the philosophies appealing, but was also somewhat concerned about how similar some ideas were to his own. Whilst he had spent hours in the Jedi Archives seeking knowledge about the Sith, the Reborn Jedi Order were too fearful to really reveal much, believing the dark side to be a corruption and perversion.

Thane had his doubts.

Whilst his defiance of the Jedi Codes had never concerned him before; he had developed an attitude he felt was reasonably mature and with reason, which sometimes crossed over to some darker ideals and was certainly against the Council's wishes, he had never embraced any Sith teachings, even in his pursuit of ways to make himself a better Guardian. It left him concerned. Even with the best of intentions, many Sith had simply devolved into murderous fools, power-hungry and unable to truly do anything good for the galaxy. There was a reason why were still a feared name in some parts of the galaxy, although most considered them extinct.

Not that it would be the first time, Thane mused grimly, looking over to the holocron, sat in plain sight upon the floor. Making his decision, he swung out of the bunk and made for the door, not looking back to Bane's heirloom as he stepped to the cabin next to his - Bomoor's room - and knocked on the door.

A thud came from within as Bomoor jumped from the bed and made his way to the door. As he opened it, he swung his narrow head through the doorway to observe the visitor, "Thane..." Bomoor spoke in a soft tone seeing his friend rather pale and dishevelled.

The Ithorian held out a large brown hand and swept Thane slowly into the room before closing the door. He took a long hard look at his friend. Bomoor knew there was very little that could shake Thane. He was a proud and respectful being, unfazed by so many of life's unpleasantries. But the figure who stood before him now looked like he had seen a ghost, "...something has happened. I could feel it - is it something Axion has done to you?"

Snorting with some dark amusement, Thane leant back on the wall and crossed his arms. "I suppose you could put it that way. I can't deny that what happened left me overthinking a lot of things, wondering and analysing." The Human paused and looked to the metal floor, running his tongue over his teeth before continuing. "When I broke into the vault in Grogga's Palace, thinking to find the Kaiburr shard before Axion's lot could get to it, I found something else instead: a Sith holocron. More specifically, Darth Bane's." If there was one thing Thane despised, it was deceit - and particularly amongst friends. It was better for him to simply lay out before Bomoor what had transpired, but spoke again before the Ithorian could get a word in.

"I sensed a presence about to attack me when I was in there, and I whisked the holocron away into my pocket. It was with me throughout the battle, and I actually think it helped fuel some of my power." He flexed his hand as he was talking, where the bacta patches that had been affixed yesterday were needing to be replaced. "Bomoor, I know we've had numerous discussions before about ways to learn and develop, and how the Jedi aren't necessarily the best source for that... I admit I was hesitant to activate the holocron; I know the cautions about Sith teachings and their destructive - and self-destructive - paths, but surely it is irresponsible of the Jedi Order to ignore this? I'm not talking about becoming a murderous abomination, but there is certainly knowledge within this relic that cannot be denied." Thane took a deep breath, himself knowing his mind, but struggling to convey his opinion without sounding foolish. "It's our responsibility to do right by the people of the galaxy; if this helps, I can't ignore it."

"A Sith Holocron..." Bomoor echoed, "That was what I felt. You should not use that device Thane. Regardless of your motivations, regardless of what teachings it may hold. Sith practices are imbued with darkness - you must know their techniques are all for self-preservation and personal empowerment. Even if your intentions are good, they could backfire drastically if you yourself become one with the darkness."

Bomoor stood tall, he could feel Thane's confidence. He knew his words were having no effect, "Where is it now then? Show it to me."

Motioning towards the door, Thane let Bomoor lead the way out and into Thane's own room, following the Ithorian in but being sure to seal the door behind him. On the floor before them was the holocron, black and red, and surprisingly majestic, despite its dark and angular style. A mixture of both hot and cold radiated from it, almost like light tremors in the Force. Thane was certain Bomoor could sense it; he had already attested to sensing it before.

"The gatekeeper - obviously Darth Bane - claimed the holocron had now answered to anyone in many hundreds of years, and was unaware of its place within Grogga's collection," the Human explained. "I know all of the old stories about Jedi who had the best of intentions, or sought to use the power for something greater... to do good or what-not. I am fully aware of the risks, but I am also aware of the rewards. Not everyone is blessed with a connection to the Force, Bomoor, and not always as strongly as we are, either. Our own midichlorian count is beyond most Jedi - we have a much greater responsibility to the galaxy than others." He gestured to the relic. "Even some Sith recognised that - not all were the ridiculous and megalomaniacal tyrants that history portrays them as."

Thane's voice grew slightly darker, but he meant no ill intent to his friend. "Or how the Jedi Order has portrayed them. We both know that the Council's own paranoia will be their undoing, that it is crippling what the Jedi are meant to stand for - for law and order, justice and the right path. They delude themselves." He was beginning to feel more confident in what he was saying, not as though he should necessarily be defending himself, but more than he was making his point clear. Bomoor was not a fool, and - more importantly - he was his friend, and someone who understood him, which was more than he could say for the Order.

Bomoor knelt down to get a closer look at the holocron. The red etchings around its exterior looked like deep wounds, bright red with fresh blood, "The order is faulted but their ideals still ring true," he replied to Thane, "This Sith, Bane, chose the dark side for a reason. His teachings will be rooted in darkness. You must beware what he says, what he has already said to you."

"Bane is being a careful teacher; he only wants to share with me secrets and techniques that he deems me worthy of," he went on slowly. "He certainly views power as an end in itself, whereas I truly believe it is a means to an end, but he does have knowledge of power. As we currently are, we can't hope to beat Axion, or truly do our jobs as we must. It is an old maxim that he who does not study history is doomed to repeat it. Both Bane's Order and the Jedi Order have failed - but both still have some truths."

Thane stepped about and picked up the holocron. "In the end, it is simply a tool, like our lightsabers are, but neither is without purpose or worth. You have been my friend for a long time; we've shared many trials and we share many views. I am telling you of this not only because I do not wish to conceal things from or deceive you, but also because you can help me temper what I discover." He offered the Sith piece to Bomoor to hold. "It is but what we make of it... Bomoomy." He cracked a friendly but mocking smile at the Ithorian.

Bomoor grimaced hearing Thane speak the unpleasant nickname Bería had bestowed upon him. He then looked at the holocron in Thane's outstretched hands, "No matter which side of the force you study, it is a fact that the force you use is ultimately an expression of who you are. Those who have fear inside them will cast fear around them, like the Dread Masters of old. If you have anger inside you, the force you use will be without mercy. Do you have anger inside you, Thane?"

"Why ask questions you already have an answer to?" Thane posed back to Bomoor, setting the holocron to one side. "Different feelings and emotions come more naturally to different people. I have always found it easy to grow angry at certain things in life, but even some Jedi have recognised that. Rather than becoming downtrodden at this fact, I have found a way to channel it - to make it have a positive purpose - through the seventh form of lightsaber combat."

The Human stepped about to sit himself down on the bunk, still very tired from his sleepless night, and his bacta patches were not looking as fresh or comfortable. "Other Jedi find it easy to find peace, to forgive and not be affected by the actions of others, and it makes them more capable in different ways." Thane gave a shrug and a sigh. "I know you have my best interests at heart, and I'm not going to ignore what you've said, but the Jedi would never even understand in the slightest - they couldn't. Too dogmatic and self-righteous to ever comprehend why their teachings aren't the most ideal." Indeed, Thane found many of the Jedi Masters to be very obnoxious and pretentious, and frequently found himself thankful that both his and Bomoor's Masters had been open-minded and honest. "Thank you, Bomoor," he then said honestly, "but I think I'm more than ready to get a bit of sleep."

He gave the Ithorian a weak and clearly tired smile. "You've helped to clear my head some, but there's still a lot to deal with later. I intend to start some of Bería's tuition... if she can stay still for more than two minutes."

Bomoor still had his eyes on the holocron as he spoke, "Just...be careful. Would you perhaps consider including me next time you use the device. I don't want to pass judgement without having seen this Sith. Although I can't say I don't have a bad feeling about this whole thing."

He held his hand out as if to touch the holocron and then pulled it away. He didn't know if Thane was right, whether even dark side techniques could be turned to a good cause. It seemed illogical but he had always believed that the Force was what you make of it. That was true with many of the masters of the Order - being Light Side devotees did nothing to improve their compassion at times. In fact, the current order often seemed to be the most narrow-minded and careless people in the Republic.

"I think I should return to my room now. Get some rest and we can speak when you're clearer on things. Bería will need someone who's sharp-minded to teach her...Good luck with that."

With that, he slid out of Thane's room and back around into his, hoping he could drift back into sleep after this rather startling revelation.

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