In Time

[Jairus Starvald]

Z H A R​

​

[member="Taeli Raaf"]​

​

The missive had been short, punctual and clear-cut like the razor brushing past.

It said just enough to intrigue, but not enough to give away. It mentioned that the game had been known from the start and that a meeting would take place soon. On Zhar, at least one of its moons, where a station would hang softly amidst the gravitational pull. An old mining facility long since decommissioned after the Union had fallen through conflicting agendas and weakness.

In truth Carach had never quite forgotten about one Taeli Raaf.

Not after she had betrayed them, not after the Dark Lord had ordered him to end her life and not after he had realized the extent of her long con.

They had fought together prior.

Blood shed for the same causes and aims, but she had impressed him with the extent of her great deceit.

Was there anyone else from those days who realized? Did it matter? Carach did not think so.

The missive had been signed Carach and as such the Sith Lord waited on Zhar. Perhaps she would come, perhaps she would not. Only time could truly tell just how interested she was in playing the long game they all played.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

The quiet of the Zhar was disturbed as a single ship dropped out of hyperspace, angling towards one of the many moons that orbited the gas giant the system was named for. Taeli was admittedly curious about why one of the former Voices of the One Sith had sent her a missive. They hadn't had many interactions when she was a member of the One Sith, beyond when she had given up the Bilbringi yards in the process of establishing her plan. Perhaps he wanted to settle the supposed death sentence that had been placed on her when she left? Or perhaps... he had figured out that there was more to events than initially met the eye or even after a second closer look.

It seemed that he had suspected as much, given her message, but the game could mean a great many things. Still, she was not going to be entering this meeting without some precautions. No overt armor, but she did make sure to wear the robes she had designed so long ago... and have all her lightsabers on her. If he really did want to discuss her long game, then they wouldn't be needed. If not, then she would be glad to have them. Being prepared was an important lesson to live by for any Sith.

She saw the former Techno Union station in orbit of the moon, her ship automatically following the provided coordinates and heading towards the open hanger bay. She closed her eyes, but did not sense any presences beyond that of the one she had come here to meet. That didn't mean they were alone, but to all appearances, it would seem they were. Landing her ship, she descended down the boarding ramp into the dimly lit space and headed towards where his presence radiated from the station.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

His presence was similar to a pulse.

Dimming every breath or so, before flaring up in its intensity. Meditation, releasing and reassuming control over and over again in a circle of the tide itself. Most Sith never understood that the only way to gain true control was to learn how to let go. Otherwise you were at risk of being controlled yourself, while your eyes were blinded with hunger and hubris.

The presence within the Force beckoned to her across the station and tugged her along. From ruined corridors to refineries to hangars and lifts, until finally doors hissed open and a single long corridor was left for her.

On the far end were another set of doors.

It led to the star observatory that once hosted dozens of union technicians and miners during their parties. It had a beautiful view and that was where she would find Carach himself. Back against her - such a tasty target to end him once and for all, what with his attention seemingly shifted to the scenery.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

The doors hissed open to reveal the observatory, the man who had sent the invite standing with his back to her, looking out over the view the room presented. Footsteps clinked on the deck as she slowly walked up to the viewport and the Sith Lord. One would think, if she wanted to kill him, that now would be such an opportune moment. However, she knew that while the view of the star system they were in was spectacular, such a viewport would also allow someone to see the reflections playing out behind them.

She stopped as she drew next to him, her gaze still facing out towards the window and the system beyond.

"So, to what do I owe this invitation?" she asked, still not looking at the Sith Lord.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

The Sith Lord continued his study of the stars as the station managed its slow rotation.

"Curiosity." He finally responded. "Wondering what a Sith Lord is doing within the Galactic Alliance mostly."

Well, her case was a special one.

What with being considered a shining beacon of justice and light by the Alliance as a Jedi Master. Some whispered of her as the successor to Raaf, they probably meant that as a compliment; what with her having been the Grandmaster, but Carach kept wondering how it was possible how little awareness some people possessed.

"I expect it is the same reason that you came here."

After all, he might as well been trying to kill her, how would she know?

Except perhaps by Carach's old reputation of being one of the reasonable Sith Lords. It wouldn't have been within his character to simply murder her years after the fall of the One Sith, would it?

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

He had always been one of the smarter and reasonable Sith Lords in the One Sith, she mused to herself. He might have put together the small pieces of her deception after all, but she had to debate with herself if she wanted to play coy or dumb about answering that question. But then... that wouldn't be showing proper respect to someone like him.

"Ridasizi," she muttered. The Marks of Darkness that had been placed around her eyes back during those old days flared to life, the spell unraveling and allowing her true nature to reappear. Carach would now feel a presence as powerful in the dark side as his was. She would shake her hands, almost as though she were getting rid of the last dredges of her spell like one does when getting rid of excess water droplets.

"How long have you known?" she asked, a small but confident smirk on her lips now.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

His head tilted to the side almost as if he was listening to a refreshing tune.

"Suspected? From the day the Dark Lord requested my presence in his chambers." He had sensed the strangeness then, when his Lord had ordered the spilling of Raaf blood as vengeance after informing him of her defection. There was anger there... yes, but it had an additional dimension to it that Carach couldn't place right then.

Only later did the Sith Lord understand that the extra touch had been resentment. Perhaps the Dark Lord had seen in his future his fall and foreseen that Taeli had switched sides, but simply not to the Jedi.

Instead creating her own side.

"But I put the pieces together some time ago... you covered your tracks well." He complimented briefly. "Sadly I didn't have time to get into it sooner, busy with my own projects, you understand."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

"Of course," she replied. "I thank you for the compliment, and in a way a warning. I shall have to cover my tracks a little bit better to keep the game afoot."

She had to admit some surprise that he had suspected since the kill order had been put out on her. Most every other Sith had believed the kill order to be about vengeance, to kill a traitor that had defected to the Jedi when presented with family. It had been something to seal the deal, so to speak. Perhaps the Dark Lord had not been able to sell the deception, or some other tell had been present in the old ruler. Regardless to her, besides some idle curiosity about the now very deceased Sith's feelings, she had been playing her part quite well.

"So, Lord Carach, how can I be of assistance to you? I would like to think I know you well enough to know you wouldn't just ask me to meet with you out of some curiosity about confirming your suspicions," she continued.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

An inclination of the head to signify approval and confirmation.

"No, there is other business I would like to discuss." The Sith informed her patiently, before shoulders shrugged. "I have done everything I have wished to do, my plots are finished, I am..."

His head tilted while those eyes studied the stars in the distance.

"Bored? I have come to you, because I think you understand more than most, that destruction is a tool... not the end-goal." The Alliance could be destroyed, yes, but what was the point of that? All that would serve is another organization quite like it replacing it in the very end.

"I have plans for the Alliance, there are internal struggles there that we could use."

Finally he looked over to her.

"I think we could work together on this."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

There was amusement when Carach said that he was bored, something she never had expected to hear from a Sith Lord... for a variety of reasons. She could understand the sentiment, to a degree anyways. She had always been a scholar so to be bored for her meant simply looking for something new to study or experiment with. He was right though, her goal was not the destruction of the Alliance or even the Jedi. Killing a few here or there, sure that was inevitable. But no, for a Sith to truly have victory, they couldn't destroy something... they needed to turn it.

She turned her head to regard the Sith Lord, still that smile on her lips.

"I agree, I think we can work together on such plans," she said.

For the most part, she had been quietly observing and studying the Jedi around her, looking for potential weaknesses that could be exploited in some way. Since Mustafar, her thoughts had shifted though to something more... interesting to pursue. A movement, so to speak, that would encompass all branches of the Alliance as it would never be enough to simply take control of manipulate one. You needed all three.

"What did you have in mind?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

"The border-worlds of the Alliance are getting antsy." He reminded her. So close to the organization herself, she would probably be moderately aware of it. Perhaps not to the extent that Carach did, but his connections around these regions ran far and deep. It only took a whisper, only took a kind word and a grip of the shoulder, squeezing just so, before they poured out their worries to him. An entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a famous industrialist, they trusted Carach, because his identity had made sure that his investments in this part of the Galaxy ran as deep, if not deeper than the Tion Cluster.

"They are always the first ones to get hit by the First Order, Remnant, or any other upstart organization hellbent on destruction. They are starting to consider the reality that the Alliance has lost the stomach to do what it needs to do to guarantee their protection." Kaeshana, Mustafar, those had been heavy losses. Skor they managed to hold off... now Hoth?

Difficult, very difficult.

Even if the Alliance's campaign on Hoth would succeed, how much more could they stretch themselves out?

"I can push them further, force them to accept the reality that the Alliance can no longer protect all of them." A shrug of the shoulders. "There are elements within their military, navy, their precious Order and even the intelligence arm, that are starting to wonder."

"An organization, then, formed to combat any and all threats against the territories of the Alliance... be that domestic or foreign." That's where the grin tugged, because that's where the conflict would start. "Made up of the extremists, the ones that hate the route of compassion and complacency the Alliance has been taking the last years, who will not compromise for anything."

Not even to accept an alliance of Firemane mercenaries, who were one of the best hopes for the Alliance to win their war.

"What do you think?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

It was almost like they had the same thoughts, almost anyways. That Carach had such an influence on the border worlds was, admittedly, surprising... until she considered that half of this territory once was part of the Lords of the Fringe. Yes, she suspected Carach and other Sith had made sure to plant a few deep roots or seeds here, just in case. Regardless, he was right that such a movement could be very... effective for any goals they might have.

"You want to bring back the fanaticism of the old Alliance, the less pragmatic and more dogmatic view of the galaxy, but use it for our own ends... I like it," she replied. She could see the game that would and could be played here, she had been at this long enough to see it for what it really was. "Such an organization would, of course, necessarily need to start small, make inroads up and around the chain of command and society. If such a thing grows too quickly, it would look suspicious and would be put down."

She looked back out at the stars beyond, thinking.

"It would need to start somewhere innocuous, be written off by higher-ups as nothing more than a few people venting their frustrations," she mused.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Carach thought while nodding along with her.

It was good sense - his instincts told him to make it spectacular from the get-go, but in truth it would look better if they picked it up slowly and build it out with achievements. Slow, meticulous and with sharp precision. The Alliance liked to say that they believed in the freedom of speech and expression, but if they had the assumption that something else was happening... then they might come down hard regardless.

Just to be safe.

That's what the Sith Lord would have done in their place anyway.

"Vandelhelm. Center of the Alliance, but not as well-fortified and crucial as Yag'Dhul or others. I have some influence with the current reigning King as well, so with the right words he'd not mind hosting this organization." Shelter them from the Alliance, until they were ready to act independently.

After all, every planet was sovereign and the Alliance couldn't kark around, if a planet was shielding them.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

"Sounds perfect," she said. Vandelhelm, being situated on the Rimme Trade Spine, would be a prime location to slowly spread ideas out from. The fact it also played home to mining interests and shipwrights would also help their cause as those two industries would definitely see an increase in business if the Alliance stepped up its war machine to crack down on any enemies. Such businesses, and its employees, would be perfect people to target with the message.

"The Rimma will help spread the message slowly through Alliance space, using the freighter captains and crews, the miners, the shipbuilders," she mused. "It might not reach the Jedi from there however, although I may have an idea about that. I had been pondering a similar movement, mainly within the Jedi, to start hunting down supposed dark side corruption and expunging it, imprisoning it, or eliminating it. An inquisition if you will. Now though, this gives the situation an even better footing as this could then be the Jedi branch of such a movement."

She stared back out at the stars.

"We will need a public face to lead this movement, someone we can control ourselves."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

That made Carach think for a moment, before he smiled.

"I have the perfect person for it." From the depths of his robes he revealed a datapad. A few taps of the controls and it revealed information on a particular person. "A scion of a Naboo noble house, served with the Pyre under Potteiger's inquisition movement and earned his stripes there."

"I have been grooming him for a while now, pushing him towards more extremism and showing him the weakness of the Alliance." At first to turn him into a possible apprentice, but this could possibly work better.

"A fighter, experienced, strong in the Force and blinded by his moral outrage."

A shrug of the shoulders.

"Unless you have someone else in mind?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

"He certainly has the pedigree and background we would need," she muttered thoughtfully as she observed Carach's chosen candidate. With how influential Naboo was within the Alliance, among the other major worlds such as Sullust and Yag'dhul, a scion from that world with a prominent name could draw followers. This Benedict Ortega could certainly be the central figure they could use, the public face of the movement to slowly draw the Alliance into the perfect position.

"I wonder how charismatic he could be," she continued to ponder. "People would listen to him because of his experience, but to be what we need him to be, he will need to be able to handle crowds, spread a message that people can latch onto."

If anything, what they were planning to do, this Ortega boy would find himself in almost a similar position as Revan had been during the Mandalorian Wars.

"We'll need... a few success stories to bolster his standing, some successful raids on dark siders and their pawns both within and without the Alliance. The optimal targets would be the First Order of course, and the most expected. Yes, he would work perfectly... and we would be a gentle guiding hand for him."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

"A work-in-progress sadly." Ben wasn't a natural when it came to swaying the crowds and being the daring hero that they really needed for this job. But if they were building up the organization from scratch, then they could be building up Ben along with it, until he was exactly what they needed. It would be a long journey, a difficult one and Carach doubted that they could guide him through it without him acquiring a decent amount of... wear and tear.

But it would be good for the lad.

"But who better than the two of us to guide him towards greatness?"

Then Carach nodded in agreement. They would definitely need to build up his legend - his years of service would help, but that was a long time ago. In the public eye anyway. If they wanted to make this man into a legend, into the daring hero of the public and for his name to be on their lips?

He would need to win.

"We can get him a few wins." A shrug of the shoulders. "Can't make it too easy for him, he won't grow as a leader and a warrior, if we just hand it to him on a platter. But the right situations, the right scenarios, the right locale... and we can make sure it all helps him grow further."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

"Yes, I can see how it would go," Taeli said, smirking. A finger lazily seemed to play connect the dots with the stars in the distance. "A few easy wins at the beginning, allow him to build up a cadre of loyal followers. Spread his message out... then a horrific loss, possibly one that we advice him against pursuing while all the while hoping he would. Use the brashness, and the heat of success, to make him think he and his early followers are invincible. He loses some friends, close friends... and we make them martyrs for his cause. If only the GA had provided more resources, if only the NJO had trained them better..."

Yes, she could see the path forward clearly. It wouldn't be hard either to give him something to pursue, some dark forces for him to fight against. Eldaah and she had been testing a few Sithspawn in the region, with the GA encountering them on Xagobah and Aleen.

"He starts to draw more people to his cause, across all branches and strata of society," she continued. "Never forget such and such, or some other message. Call up memories of past disasters and horrors, give a clear answer to them. New ships, equipment, a whole new training and caliber of Force User. And then... well I'm sure you can figure out the rest of how the story plays out."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Carach couldn't have put it better, if he had even tried.

"I see we are on the same wavelength, then." the Sith responded with a pleased nod. "He will need to trust you, he's naturally suspicious,"

That brought a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Not suspicious enough to wonder about his noble benefactor, but the Sith Lord couldn't really blame Ben for not realizing it. After all, he had been playing this game for many years now. Decades. It wasn't a fair expectation to have the young one uncover everything in one fell swoop.

"I will let him know about a friend I have within the New Jedi Order. Someone who can become a natural ally to him, not a yes-woman, but someone with the experience and know-how to guide him where I can not." A shrug of the shoulder. "The rest is up to you then."

"He has a distaste for the Alliance's Jedi, but if you show you are willing to fight and do what needs to be done? I think you will find him quite receptive."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Carach"]

"I've found I've got a certain gift for getting people to trust me," she answered with a smirk. The fact she was sitting in the position that she was within the New Jedi Order would be a testament that she knew how to play the game well enough that she could slip into people's confidences rather easily. It all depended on what sort of message you were saying, what actions you took. To perpetuate a lie, one needed to be willing to be adaptive and to go into a role with the wherewithal that you needed to commit fully to the lie, so much so that even those closest would believe it.

"It shouldn't be too hard, I know just the strings to weave around him," she said, already thinking about what she could say and do to present the proper front to this young and unsuspecting pawn in their game.