Shadows & Lies Of The Past (Galactic Republic, Jedi Order)

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic tried not to worry too much about how [member="Mak Manto"] himself was feeling at the moment. The elderly jedi must be exhausted by keeping such great secrets for such a long time. As usual he felt nothing but admiration, despite that even light from an as bright sun as Mak seemed to have its flaws.

He listened to everyone speak and realized he had come to a short regarding knowledge on how to proceed. He was a veteran jedi warrior yet felt that he had little to offer in the conversation that took place.

Folding his hands on his back he nodded toward [member="Dune Rhur"] and spoke to [member="Mak Manto"]

"Knight Rhur here has been tasked with handling the Republic Knights archives. As we all know we only have a portion of what used to be the Archives but we have saved much. I have the deepest respect for his skills in managing it. I suggest that [member="Dune Rhur"] stays with you to assist in learning more about this Malics weaknesses, wether its due to his physical form or some other less obvious way." he fell silent for a short moment raising an eybrow.

"Is it possible to find Mali's counterpart in our own archives in this universe? Maybe he has already been defeated by our ancestors and they know a way that never was found in the parallell universe?" he shrugged lightly looking like a questionmark at the others before faling silent again.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Nameless One"] [member="Shmi Labooda"] [member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

Dune listened attentively, taking the details into his highly-evolved mind. Mechu-deru viate, the scholar thought whilst grimacing with evident disgust. A perverse fusion of flesh and technology, warping life itself into some grotesque parody. It wasn't beyond them to take care of this army, as he said aloud.

"This army will not be greatly difficult to deal with as their real danger lies in numbers. Like any technology, they're vulnerable to electromagnetic pulses as well as rusting and other natural means of decay. We simply would need to encourage this oxidization to render them harmless."

With a gesture to the [member="Nameless One"], he also spoke to this Malic himself.

"We've been experimenting, as my colleague has said, with a fusion of Force powers and technologies to counteract such extragalactic beings. I believe that it gives us the best chance to stop this Lord Malic. With no offense meant, Master Manto, your Force powers by themselves may be too predictable. We should strike in an unexpected way in which he cannot hope to defend."

[member="Mak Manto"]
[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mak Manto]

Hearing Mantic's question, Mak knew he was among some of the most talented people in the Galaxy with their reasoning and ideas. Shaking his head, he turned to Mantic, taking a deep inhale on his pipe.

"I've already searched the archives and the historical records. Malic never came into being in your Galaxy, but this doesn't mean we can't stop him."

Turning to Dune, Mak raised a hand.

"No offense is taken. Actually, I will need all of your help. He knows me all to well, as he did with the others in my Galaxy. However, all of you are unknown to him, which means he doesn't have a strategy to handle you in combat."

"Know this, though. Despite the fact our Code forbids us from killing an unarmed combatant or prisoner, this tenet must be ignored for him only. Do not take him prisoner or try to arrest him. If you believe you can kill him, even if he's defeated, then kill him..."

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Mantic Dorn"] [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Shmi Labooda"] [member="Nameless One"] [member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"That will not be an issue" The Jedi Master would speak when Master Manto brought up the fact that they would have to kill.

"At least... For me. I guess that might come as a shock to some people who knew me while I was the Grandmaster, before everything happened..." Joshua would admit quietly, scratching his head. His eyes fell and he couldn't help but stare down toward the floor. It was a rare thing to see from him. "A... A lot's happened. It was something I needed, unfortunately. As much as I hate to say it, sometimes someone, unarmed or not, has to be dealt with, especially if they aren't exactly a person who's.... Well, going to be saved. For me, I found this out when I encountered slavers during my time away from the Jedi Order. I had committed myself to helping people in need in my time away, and freeing slaves from camps, who had been kidnapped from their families... That was my primary mission at the time. At first, I kept the tenants, and the Code. I spared every opponent I faced, armed or unarmed. But... The problem was, they kept coming back. I'd meet them again. And they would kill slaves for no reason when they saw me, if they didn't use them against me. Innocent lives were ended because of my mistake, and I'll never forgive myself for that. It made me realize that... Not everyone is going to take the second chance in life you offer via sparing them. Instead... They'll just kill more people. They forced my hand, and I had no choice but to start killing the slavers I met. Armed, or unarmed. No prisoners. And I'll admit, that still tears at me. I wish I could be numb to it, but I cannot. But I understand that it is necessary. Slavers don't tend to leave behind families, or loved ones... Just reunited families and spared lives. It's a burden I'll bear because it means that a bigger burden is lifted from somebody else."

Josh let out a sigh. "Regardless... I see this sithspawn as no different from the slavers. If the other Jedi here are incapable of finishing him off, Master Manto, if the opportunity arises... I'll do it, if you for some reason are unable. I understand as much as anyone here how important the Code, and the moral compass that it brings, is to the Jedi. I would not ask any of you to break it if you find you truly cannot, even for a Sithspawn that threatens us all. I know full well the mental consequences that it brings."

He smiled sadly. "I almost envy the ones who haven't experienced it. But I understand what needs to be done... Master Manto, you can count on me. This is not a tenant I break lightly, and normally I would only save it for the absolute necessity... But for this sithspawn, I think it's a necessity."

It was a tough thing to admit, all of that. Josh had prided himself so much on being such a pure Jedi, following the Code to the letter as much as he could. Having to take liberties, ending lives as judge, jury and executioner... The notion made him sick. But with age came understanding. Sometimes... You had to do what was necessary to do the right thing. Unfortunately... When it came to slavers, or even this Sithspawn... An unarmed prisoner quickly became an armed and dangerous enemy if you let them go.

"Regardless... We need to focus on defeating this Sithspawn first before we can decide how to dispatch him."

 

[Malic]

Unknown Planet
Unknown Sector

Walking by himself, it was nighttime on the world and the stars were vibrantly etched across the black sky as he looked up. Pulling out a holocron, he waved his hand over it, speaking slowly.

"Today was eventful. Eight children were extracted of their midi-chlorians before they were killed. Though, they will not be missed; simple beggars and street urchins who had no families. The authorities will not notice their disappearances nor will the Galaxy be alerted. However long I can keep the factions from knowing my location, the better."

"Since transferring myself into this Sithspawn body, I've come to learn of the differences of what I once was and what I am now. As a Dark Spirit, I had several strategic benefits than anyone else in the Galaxy. Immortality was one; as a spirit, I never aged, though it was possible to destroy me, but none ever came close. Another was my ability to phase, to be able to survive destruction that would've killed others, such as the starship the Jedi blew up while I was in space."

"However, the greatest asset were my shadows..."

Chuckling, he picked up a stone, crushing it in his hand.

"To see the expression on someone's face when they sliced me in half only for me to reform was priceless. This was a valued trait I could not give up, and so in my final transformation of the body that the Arkanians cloned for me under Mak's orders while I controlled him, I left Mak's mind and sliced off a piece of me, alchemically add it within the Sithspawn."

"I could've been a Human, just as the telepathically mind wiped clone was, but to be a Sithspawn gives me a better chance then it does as a mortal being. Though, there are disadvantages. Light-based attacks are more effective and the negative emotions I once used to fuel me come far more easily then they did. I feel my blood boiling from rage, an itch of wanting to exact my hatred upon this new Galaxy..."

"You see, hatred, true hatred, is something extremely rare. Everyone has someone who stands beside them, who will fight to the death for them, but when you unite a Galaxy to go after you, to have Jedi and Sith, Rebels and Imperials and every faction in between to stand together so that they can destroy you, that is a wondrous thing to see..."

"However, what pathetic fools they were, the beings from the Galaxy Mak and I came from. Ambitions and dreams that never would come into being, despite how many times they had been tried before, be it conquest or peace."

"While I despise him more than anyone else in the history of my life, Mak Manto is able to understand the universe as I can. He considers his longevity a curse and despite the fact so many in our Galaxy thought that Mak considered himself the greatest, secretly, he believes himself to be somewhat of a failure, only wanting to look at the far larger picture, of how everything will play out."

"That is why he has always been my greatest enemy..."

"Though, now comes a new day, one where fear and terror will stretch across the regions of this brand new Galaxy in a wave of desperation and horror as the beings of this reality come to realize who has called this Galaxy his new home..."

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] made his earnest reply and the Bith couldn't help but nod. He was right in that it was something that must be done, but it didn't make it any easier. Thinking about it, Dune could understand how someone might almost feel a sense of pleasure in taking such actions. But there was a difference between retribution and justice.

DragonsFlame, and the Jedi as a whole, brought justice. They took no enjoyment and sought to restore peace with no more in their motivations. It was a terrible thing to be responsible for but the Force required of those it gifted. Great power and greater responsibility to the beings of the galaxy.

"Master Manto, Masters Labooda and DragonsFlame," he said "Shall we begin working towards this creature's end, then?"

[member="Nameless One"]
[member="Shmi Labooda"]
[member="Mak Manto"]
[member="Mantic Dorn"]