Duel Trouble at Sepan 8

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

Sepan 8 was a terrestrial world, but not one of the primary habitable worlds of the Sepan system. Certainly it could be, but the two people groups, the Dimok and Ripoblus, typically kept to their particular worlds when they weren't engaged in a system civil war with one another. Their hostilities were off again, on again, and had been ever since the beginning of their civilizations. The only time they'd ever truly been united, and even that was a farce, had been in their disdain for the Galactic Empire. Sepan 8 had been the designated meeting place for both groups of people to resolve their fighting with a treaty and resolution against the Empire.

But it seemed, even nearly a thousand years later, that tension was still there, and was threatening to explode. While the system was not within Alliance space, it was still reachable by the Jedi, and several individuals on both sides had reached out in search of a mediator to help quell the hostilities of the system, as they decided to meet at a newly constructed space station orbiting Sepan 8 that was mutually designated as a non-hostility zone. Despite the designation, and much to the chagrin of the Jedi dispatched to mediate, no one was stopped from having weapons.

The station itself was actually quite large and had turned into its own city. Both Dimok and Ripublus people's that were tired of the hostilities had settled on the station and were living together in harmony. It served, now, as a stopping point for most vessels entering and leaving the system, offering repair and refueling services, along with a variety of dining options for people who were tired of the rations afforded to them by whatever ship they were traveling on. Lots of different goods were sold, kids played in corridors, and people seemed genuinely happy despite the tense negotiations taking place on their station.

While the other Jedi dealt with the negotiation situation, Caelan wandered the station. Despite his upbringing and ability to handle such discussions, he wasn't suited for handling negotiations just yet. In fact, if he had his way, he and Arhiaa would work together on such situations, and he would allow her to handle the majority of the diplomatic efforts while he served as guardian. Mainly he wasn't involved in the negotiations because of his lack of experience in them and this situation was too historically volatile to allow him to participate as a means of gaining experience. He'd have to wait for something smaller to get his feet wet.

In the meantime, he could wander the station and keep his eye out for trouble. It wasn't known whether secondary groups within the two people's governments might try something, so he was tasked with preventing that from happening. It was still an important job, and he didn't feel disappointed in being given the assignment. If anything, he felt honored they thought him worthy. He wouldn't let them down.

 

[Darth Reign]

Darth Reign, Sith Lord and co-leader of the Diarchy, walked the station orbiting Sepan 8.
He had come here as a holdover for refueling and food during his other business and diplomatic missions in the galaxy at large.

He had been remotely aware of some peace negotiations happening between the two species in this sector, but petty infighting did not interest him at all, in fact, it was part of his purpose to eradicate such things.

What did interest him, was the fact that Jedi were on the space station. He wondered to himself if they would cross paths. His interactions with Jedi had been varied, from dueling a master and teaching padawans, To trading verbal jabs with the Grandmaster herself. Only time would tell.

He settled down to eat, taking his time and eying the passersby, he suspected he wouldn’t spy any Jedi at this time, with them being involved in the negotiations, but, who knows. Perhaps he’d have some luck he thought.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

Whether or not it was luck or the Force was hard to say, but he was destined to cross paths with a Jedi that day.

As Caelan walked he felt the nagging suspicion that something was off, but his limited perception skills made it hard for him to figure out why. It could be the Force warning him, or it could just be a bad feeling about the mediation efforts. There was definitely some trouble associated with the latter, given the historical context between the two party's. But it didn't seem like that would suddenly bother him since he'd known it was troubling to begin with.

He drew near to where Reign had settled in for a bite to eat, a pensive look on his face as he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his scar. Wincing, he reached a hand up to touch his cheek, and when he did, he felt a flare of power from nearby. Not the use of power, but the presence of it. Turning his head about, he scanned his surroundings, and settled on a man.

A man with orange eyes.

Exercising caution, Caelan approached Reign. His saber was on his hip, but he didn't reach for it. Even though he was not, strictly speaking, a form zero practitioner, Arhiaa would give him an earful if he went right into combat mode.

"Hello," he said, greeting the man, though keeping some distance. "What brings you to Sepan 8?"

 

[Darth Reign]

Reign appraised the youth before him. Taking special note of the scar on his face. It seemed to call to the dark lord so he figured it had to have been inflicted with some dark power.

Smiling at him, Reign said “Well hello there. I wasn’t expecting to have company.”

He thought for a moment before answering, a slight smirk on his face “refueling and food, like most others here. What about you? I didn’t think Jedi sent children to negotiations of this magnitude?”

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

The jab was not unexpected. Not in the sense that he had believed that the man would issue it, but that it seemed common that people question his youth when he was on missions. Why they did, he didn't know, since many Jedi started their training quite young. Many of those his age were taken on missions alongside their masters.

"That would, in part, be the reason I am not in the negotiations," he said without batting an eye.

This man felt off. Dark. Was he a Sith or just someone who practiced the dark side of the Force? Hard to say. The man hadn't immediately attacked him, so at the very least he wasn't one of those militant types of dark users whose life seemed dedicated to the eradication of the light and all of those who used it. No, this wasn't like what he'd experienced on Tython. Those ones had wanted to erase his very existence.

"I trust that your stay will be a short one? We don't have need of trouble here."

 

[Darth Reign]

Reign chuckled at the youth, he enjoyed those with a sharp wit. He motioned to the seat across from him. “I suppose I walked into that. Please, join me”

He took a small sip of the caf he had been drinking, he was unsure of the young man would take the seat or not but he continued “my stay will be as long as it needs to Padawan. And as for trouble, the only trouble you will find is what you go looking for. You’ll find quite a difference between myself and some of my..contemporaries.. among the Sith.”

The scar interested him greatly the more he looked at it. He hoped the young man would sit, so he could probe into what the cause was.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

Caelan looked to the motioned to seat and considered saying no, but when the man continued, he knew he had found his purpose for coming to the negotiations. It wasn't to participate, it was to deal with this man, this Sith. Yes, the man had confirmed his suspicions from the start, but as he indicated, he didn't seem to have an interest in combat, at least for the moment. Still, he couldn't be allowed to wander the station at will, not under the current circumstances.

Thus, he took the seat.

"I'm not looking for trouble," he said, settling in such a way that he could move quickly if he needed to. "I'm here to dissuade it from happening."

Not untrue. His presence had partly been meant as a deterrent. Keeping anyone from acting out on either of the two sides while they were in talks was imperative to keeping the peace in the system.

"Why do you keep looking at my scar?"

 

[Darth Reign]

There was some bravado in the young man. All too common among the Jedi lately, The Sith thought. But, it mattered not, Reign thought. He would enjoy the conversation and if it came to it, the combat as well.

“Forgive me for saying, but how much of a deterrent can a Padawan be?”

He was genuinely curious, the youth was close in age to his own daughters, but he was still uncertain of the differences in responsibility and power between Sith and Jedi learners.

“ah, about the scar, forgive my lapse in manners, but, that wound was inflicted by the dark side correct? Which would explain why it’s not healing correctly.”

He had no doubt the young Jedi would be guarded about the wound but Reign was interested in the story of it.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

The question likely would have drawn anger from most. In fact, he could think of some people that would flat out get uppity as a result of their usefulness being questioned. Caelan did not feel it worth his time to be affected by the words. He knew what he could do, and he knew that he was capable of handling most issues.

"Enough of one for most problems that typical civilians would encounter," he said, eyes not leaving the man in front of him.

His senses were still heightened, and he continued to try and feel out and about around him even though he was currently engaged in conversation.

"I believe it was created by a dark side imbued blade, but I do not know that for certain. The encounter was quick and before I came to the Jedi."

It had happened within seconds, and even then, Caelan had been in flight. His goal was escape, not discovery of what had struck him. Likely when he returned to Lazerian IV he would discover the truth behind the attack that had cost him his family and given him the wound. He had no interest in dragging that up here as it would serve as a distraction, keeping him from giving his full attention to the situation at hand.

"You should leave, though. While I have no intention of fighting you since you're not causing trouble, I cannot guarantee that those I'm with will not when they detect your presence here. There are some within the Order who openly value the termination of Sith lives."

 

[Darth Reign]

Reign pondered the youths answers, it was true a Jedi, with any formal training, would be able to handle a civilian situation. “Fair enough, I doubt you’ll find too much trouble outside of me, my own senses of the area have found only you, your colleague, and myself as the force users here”

He caught himself again staring at the wound, chastising himself internally for his lack of decorum. “My brother Darth Rellik is more knowledgeable about these things, but it would appear you are correct.”

He took another sip of his caf, and motioned for the serving droid to refill it. Taking his time to think of a response to the Padawan’s final statement. Taking a conspiratorial tone he leaned in saying “some of those in your order are indeed very zealous in their hunting of my kind.. but.. your master is so involved in the peace talks, the only way the Jedi would know I was here, was if you told them. You don’t strike me as the type my young friend”

He leaned back before adding “besides, if I left now, I wouldn’t make it home.. refueling and all. Plus, I’d miss out on this stimulating conversation. It’s not every day I share a table with a Jedi”

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

This was an odd situation to find himself in, especially since his last encounter with a Sith had involved said Sith shoving a lightsaber through his shoulder. Reflexively, he flexed that shoulder once. There was no pain there anymore. His trips to physical therapy had all been made thanks to Arhiia Voronwe making him go. She was relentless and he loved her for it. If it weren't for her, well, he'd not be in as good a place as he was in that moment, even if he was sitting across from a Sith.

"Well, don't say I didn't at try and warn you if something comes of it," he said, watching as the serving droid refilled the man's drink.

The droid turned to him and he shook his head. He wasn't thirsty at the moment, but even if he was, it wouldn't look good if he was having drinks with someone most would refer to as the enemy.

"I disagree with what you are, I just don't think the first choice should be killing you. There's enough death in the galaxy without our adding to it. Especially since we don't even know each other's names."

He lifted a hand and touched it to his chest.

"I am Caelan Valoren, Jedi Padawan to Dreidi Xeraic . How may I refer to you?"

 

[Darth Reign]

Reign pondered the young man’s words a moment. Taking time to relish the youths manners, something the Diarch felt severely lacking in the galaxy nowadays.

He smiled, a little lest warmth than the last ones “consider me warned then”

He thanked the droid with a nod of his head before turning his focus back to the Jedi.
His piercing yellow eyes locked on to the youth.

Taking a cordial tone he said “and what am I? All you know is I practice the dark side. What of my being a father? A husband? A brother and Son. This all define me much more than my use of the Dark Side.”

The Dark Lord bowed his head in respect.
“I am Lord Reign, Lord of the Diarchy and Sith Lord”

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

"You very well know I was referring to the fact you are a Sith," Caelan said, not perturbed by the mans words.

It was true that Sith could be just as normal in the mundane parts of life as anyone else. They could marry, have children, have a home. Yet many of them chose to put all of that to the side in the sake of seeking power and rule over the galaxy as a whole. Many of them sought to eradicate anyone that would dare to disagree with them on their beliefs. No, this particular one might be different, but to ignore the reality of what he was, well, that was something Caelan could not do.

"Lord Reign of the Diarchy. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with such, so you have the advantage in that matter."

At the very least he didn't appear, at first glance, to be a part of the Sith Order or the Dark Empire. Perhaps he was a different type of Sith altogether, one that sought power through intellectual means?

"Back to the other, having a family does not assuage you from the guilt associated with those of your theological inclination. To be Sith is to follow a code just as to be Jedi is, is it not?"

 

[Darth Reign]

The youth had a point, but Reign was not like the Sith he’d met before, however, as with most of his order, the assumption is already engrained in his mind. Maybe more so due to his interaction with a dark side infused blade.

He chuckled at Caelan before answering “I know what you were referring to, however, I am far and above different than other Sith you may have met.”

He had not expected a verbal sparring match when he set his ship down today, but he was enjoying his time greatly. The philosophy of the Sith was something he himself questioned often. And more often than not, found himself disagreeing with.

“the anonymity of my movement has provided me
with many opportunities to avoid conflict. I do not seek out war, not without purpose. So I agree, I hold an advantage here as all know of the Jedi.”

He leaned back in his seat maintaining his air of ease, while his mind searched for an answer to the question of code.

“while you are correct, the Sith adhere to a code, just as the Jedi. We in the Diarchy however, operate by a different code. I am not for the Sith Order, or the Empire, or whatever they call themselves. I serve a higher purpose, a purpose for order from this chaos. Tell me young Jedi, do you blindly follow the code your masters have pressed upon you?”

The fundamental differences between the Diarch and other Sith would become glaring the longer the conversation went on, many Padawans he conversed with seemed far more open minded than the Masters that had been indoctrinated their entire lives.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

Different? Maybe. That was for Caelan to judge. It was easy to say one was different, but much harder to prove it. A Sith was a Sith unless they weren't. His mother had impressed such on him before she'd been slain, and he had yet to see anything that proved him wrong. If they followed the Sith code then they were a Sith and it didn't matter because their usage of the Force involved essentially destroying it and bending it to their will, which was then utilized to control and subjugate others.

"War has no purpose except to breed more war," he said, firmly believing that to be true. "I don't know of any war that could ever be completely justified or necessary."

Granted, he didn't know that many wars, but he knew enough of them that he believed the majority were not necessary and fell into line with his belief that war begets war. Even the Alliance had seen as much. The Maw defeated only for the Dark Empire to rise. It was never ending. Cut off one head and another takes its place.

"If you operate by a different code, are you actually a Sith? To be Sith is to follow the Sith code. If you follow a different one, would you not be better served by a different label? As for our code, I made the choice to follow it because that is what it means to be a Jedi. Peace, knowledge, serenity and harmony are what we strive for."

 

[Darth Reign]

Tantalizing, the Dark Lord thought. The youth of today all asking the same questions. “Was he truly a Sith if he didn’t follow the Sith code” a question he’d been asked far too often, but, he thought for good reason.

He himself thought he was something more, the next step of what a dark force user should be. Raised as a Sith, by a Sith, he harbored many of their values. But, felt disdain for many more.

“the galaxy is not so black and white my young friend. I am a master of the dark side, and was bestowed the title of Darth by my Master. Yet, I do not seek the chaos and the destruction that other “Sith” call for. I am for peace, for order, but I am not afraid to do what it takes to achieve it. I call myself a Sith and have been called a Sith due to my views of the force”

He leaned forward, fully engrossed in the conversation now. He truly loved talk of philosophy.

“I am a Sith because I do not deny myself who I am. You Jedi put up walls and block out who you truly are. Answer me this, since you have started your journey with the Jedi, have you experienced Peace, Serenity, and Harmony? Or have you been shuttled off, one conflict to another?”

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Borrowed Blue Lightsaber
TAGS: Darth Reign

"You're not a Sith if you don't follow their code," Caelan said, rather matter-of-factly. "There are many who utilize the dark but are not Sith."

No, he dismissed the mans argument. To be Sith was to follow the Sith code. Peace was a lie. No Sith would seek for peace. Any that said they did were not Sith, or were lying about seeking peace. It was possible that was the case with this man, that he was lying, but if he wasn't, then what Caelan said held true, at least in his eyes. So no, the galaxy was not black and white, but it was actually Reign who was seeing it that way, not the Padawan he was speaking to.

"I have experienced many things since becoming a Jedi. Some horrid, some beautiful. I have not been sent off to battle, though I twice chose to go, once to help heal, and the other to defend a queen in peril. I was never ordered to go. In fact, I wasn't supposed to go at all. I did because I felt called to."

He sat back in his seat, starting to feel more comfortable with the situation since the man seemed to have no intentions of causing trouble.

"How often have you worked for peace versus fighting to control?"