In the belly of the beast

[Rafeesh]

Rafeesh thought for a moment before saying calmly, "I will keep this brief, I guess that you have already heard about the talk that Mantic and I have had. I was a Jedi for a most of my early life. I fought against the Sith and their Imperial soldiers. I was part of the campaign of the Republic against the Sith Empire, I fought on a number of planets. I was taken captive by the Sith after losing a battle and through torture and other methods I was turned. I forget how many years I was under them, but I hunted Jedi and turned or killed them as necessary.

I was put into testing later on, my Sith master wanted this work done rather than hunting Jedi. I was put through tests that helped develop a stasis chamber. When it was completed I was placed in stasis and was evidently left for a little more than four thousand years. I was awoken at that point by a salvage hunter who took care of me while I regained my strength. I made my way into the galaxy trying to become stronger, I found my way under the tutelage of Mythos. I was sent to Naboo to destroy any information that may have been left behind of Mythos. The rest is easily recounted as the last few days."

He took a deeper breath as he tried to think of his reasoning for wishing to leave the Sith. "I feel that I have been making the wrong decisions for the last however many years. I wish to atone for my sins and perhaps help fix the galaxy that I took part in breaking." He wondered if those were good reasons, or if they were selfish.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened. His frankness was exemplary.

She nodded as he recounted his story and when she was sure he had finished she glanced at Mantic before speaking.

“History is a rear-view mirror. And this is me as a scholar speaking It tells you about the past. What is important here is the future. About the path you choose to walk. About your destination.”

“And nobody can predict the future but we can help guide you – although each step will be your own. If Mantic here is willing, he can be that guide. We have a process on the Council. If and when the Jedi you would be assigned to is satisfied you are both honest in your desire to turn to the Light and have demonstrated as such, we can formally discuss you joining the Order. Until that point you would be free to learn from any Jedi of our Order.”

“What are your thoughts? Both of you?”

[member="Rafeesh"] | [member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic listened and observed as both of them spoke and silently he tried to grasp the situation at hand. The story was hard to believe yet it made sense in some strange way. He also could not help but think what would have happened if more of his ancient powers awoke from dormant sleep during their fight. Would it have been the end of himself.
It was pointless to thin k that way but still...

He stirred from his thoughts as the grand master directed a question to him.
He was taken by surprise and began by shfting foot looking between them for a moment.

"Naturally I am honored by your confidence grand Master" Mantic began, then his eyes turned toward [member="Rafeesh"]

"But we have begun our relation with a less pleasent confrontation. Are you certain me being a mentor is a good choice?"

Mantic was not sure this was something he wanted. He was not sure a creature of that age and possible dormant power was something he could contain and help shape. But there was a curiosity within him and he did feel for the person behind the story of the millenia. But still, the doubts were many.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Rafeesh]

Rafeesh smiled as he looked over towards [member="Mantic Dorn"]. He said, "I believe, if I may, that you would do well. I do not mind the method of our meeting. The fact that we have conflicted is a good thing, at least for me. Of course, I will not force you to train me if you doubt me or yourself." He bowed his head.

He was still wondering if he was truly here. Could he be a Jedi? It was almost like a dream, he wished some of his friends could have been here. They might have congratulated him on his return to the Light. But most certainly they were dead, along with his past. He was a new person... but did that allow him to throw off the weights of his past decisions? The redemption he was unworthy of, was given to him but why?

If he had been a weak Sith, would he have been offered the same chance? Would he have been ended? Or would he have simply been left defeated? Was it perhaps that power that lay within him was wanted by the Jedi? Did they wish to bend him into an instrument of their will as the Dark Side had done to him? How could he know? Would they answer truthfully if he asked? No, of course not. But that didn't matter.

It was by faith that he decided to stay. No more using empirical evidence, he would trust them.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic was not sure about any of this. He could feel the weight of this responsibility weighing down upon him and it was not easily disregarded for a man like Mantic.
But he also knew that this was truly what being a jedi was all about. He could not ignore that mercy and second chances were items he himself so eagerly preached in lessons. Was this fate telling him to actually do what he told others to do?

But then, who knew what powers lay hidden in the ancient sith... or was he to be called sith anylonger?

Mantic scratched his beard and looked upon [member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Grand Master, do you belive I am ready for this? To train a former sith lord as my padawan? It is not my ability to see the good in him that I doubt but my capability to see through any hidden darkness burried deeper then I have gone so far."
the question was simple, plain and to the point. He did not hide his feelings from [member="Rafeesh"] either. Somehow he felt it was important that this potential new student knew what the premises were about.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

She looked to Mantic. "Who is best to fulfil such a position? I suspect someone who accepts without reservation would not be the ideal candidate. Your reticence does you proud. It means you shall not shirk nor cut corners."

Then she turned her attention to Rafeesh. "You have undertaken a commitment here. One not easily set aside. But I have faith in you, and in Mantic. But above all...I have faith in the Force."

"I am sure the next time we meet, I shall be calling you a fellow Jedi. Once Mantic is sure you are ready, you will be. Our next meeting will be a formality, and I shall welcome you officially into the Jedi Order."

[member="Mantic Dorn"] | [member="Rafeesh"]

 

[Rafeesh]

Rafeesh smiled, he was glad that someone had faith in him, he knew that [member="Mantic Dorn"] did as well, but if felt good to hear it from someone who was a bastion of the Light Side. It gave him hope that he could truly do this. That he could make the commitment and hold to it in those dark times that were ahead. He had been though the path of the Light once before, he knew its twists and turns and he knew that there would be times when he would question himself, probably question his very soul.

"Thank you. I will not let either of you down, Masters. Is that the correct term, it has been a long time?" He felt somewhat embarrassed at having to ask. The last time he had been talking with Jedi in such a way had been thousands of years ago and the last time had spoken of a Master had been Mythos under the Sith. Now he was no longer a Sith. Was he a Jedi? Was he something greater? Was he something much less? Jumping between the two, was that a sign of weakness? He couldn't answer that, perhaps he would ask his new master, if he accepted, at a later point.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

The situation was new to Mantic. the sith he had encountered so far were either set on delivering pain and death or spewing forth venomous words to corrupt and trick people over to the dark side.

He had heard of sith, or dark jedis wanting to find the light but this was the first one that seemed to be serious about it.
He put his hands inside the sleeves of his robes.

"Very well. I shall take this one as my new padawan and promise to do my very best to guide you back to the light regardless of your past crimes and sins." he spoke with a sincere voice. "I expect that you on your part will behave accordingly and follow my instructions until I say otherwise. It is especially important in your case to not run off on errands of your own until we both agree on that you are ready."

"Release this man." he then requested from the prison guards who slowly and with a hesitant expression followed through.

While they did so [member="Rafeesh"] belongings were brought to Mantic who turned to [member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Shall I make him a room here on Ossus or shall I take him elsewhere until we have seen some progress on his... " Mantic pondered for a while, searching for the correct word.

"... taint?" he finalized and looked upon the grand master for a final instruction on this matter.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Rafeesh"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened to them both speaking. The former Sith seemed sure of his conviction to turn to the Light-side and Mantic was equally strong in his determination to help to guide him.

She nodded at his approach, by way of confirmation.

“If you are to be a Jedi,” she spoke directly to the former Sith as opposed to Mantic, “Then it makes sense for you to be here, with Younglings and Padawans alike. You will learn as they learn. The only stipulation – as is our process – is that your saber is withheld until you are through your probation. Until Mantic is sure you’re ready to be called a Jedi.”

“So you are free to come and go. We have no restricted areas, nothing of value that is locked away. As far as anyone else is concerned, you are a new Padawan. If you wish to share your story, that is entirely up to you.”

Then she turned to Mantic. “I shall be here if you need me, although I doubt it.”

And with that she bowed to them both and left them to discuss arrangements.

[member="Mantic Dorn"] | [member="Rafeesh"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic took a bow at [member="Corvus Raaf"]

"As you wish grand Master." he then turned to [member="Rafeesh"] taking a good look upon his new student. If he could be called that considering it all.

"It appears the two of us has a allot of work to do." he stated and motioned for the former sith to acknowledge what had been agreed upon by him and the grand master.

 

[Rafeesh]

"That we do." He thought for a moment, remembering all that time he had spent as a Sith. His personality had been shaped, he didn't fool himself into believing that it was all good change, but he did realize some parts of him had retained some of those Jedi traits he had learned before he had become a Sith. He had avoided as best as was possible, by his standards, the killing of innocents and bystanders. He had held in his emotions, for different reasons than the Jedi had taught but it had been taught nonetheless.

"Will I still be who I am? The person I have become, while imperfect, will it be retained or will it be purged along with the imperfections?" He had forgotten most of the Jedi teachings, only remembering those that had been drilled into him by the Sith as hypocritical and those that could be used to turn Jedi. To think of it he didn't remember much in the way of Sith teachings. Time must have worn both.

For a blinding moment he feared for his identity, it was all gone Jedi and Sith, both ground into dust by time. Neither the Sith nor the Jedi of his time had survived as a group. It was all gone now. He was reminded of all those he had left behind, those men that had followed him into battle against the Sith, his surrogate brothers outside the Order, and the love within the Sith that had stood beside him in his times of need.

Then he reminded himself that it was all the past. No longer did any of that matter. He was a Jedi, there was no emotion, there is only peace. He trusted [member="Mantic Dorn"] yet he didn't trust himself. He feared that he would fail the Jedi he had chosen to follow. He didn't fear for his own life, but for the pain he could cause by failure. He didn't want to let anyone down and in that fear arose his fear to continue.