The Dark Academy on Korriban

“Simple accumulation of power is not my end goal, understanding is. I am created to understand the Infinite, I must complete my sole function,” the Void Engine replies.

"Of course it iz, I zpeak of ritualz zhat could prowide you vith zhe powver to repair yourzelf, unless you are incapable of zuch self-repair. Though I must ask, to vhat end vere you designed to observe zhe infinite? For vhat purpose? Zimply to know, as a meanz in and of itzelf, or as part of zome greater design?"

“I was designed to learn all possibilities along an available temporal strata. A time stream and then manipulate it. The Infinite can pierce time and space, thus it was natural to build a device with connections to the Infinite and tap into temporal matrices. As with any sentient life form, my prime directive drives me, but I believe I am more than just what I was designed to be,” the Void Engine says.

"You are, most zertainly zhat. I dare zay you have become an oracle of zhe Umbră-Ușoară. An occulus by vhich v'one may zee the Dark light as it echoes forvard und back zhrough time. A lenz zhrough vhich v'one may zee zhe ebb und flow of zhe Force. If I have zhe right of it, how extraordinary."

“Your praise it not needed but accepted,” the Void Engine replies. Around her she can glimpses from her life, her birth, her death by an apprentice… her life as a child, performing some dark ritual… teaching aspirants the path to power… some of the visions conflict as if there are multiple paths through time and space.

"Yes, I beliewe I begin to understand at least zome small part." She watched the visions in the blackness and nodded at each one. They were all paths that she might take from this moment and each one led to a different end, quick or slow. In truth she knew what she could do with such a device and its power, but she also knew she would have to give up a great deal to seize it.

Darth Traya's words echoed in her mind, asking her what she was willing to sacrifice. The scene played out in the void, one among thousands.

Anyzhing

Anyzhing

Eweryzhing

With this device she could follow whichever road she wished through time to the end she desired most, but to do that she would have to give up all others, and could not deviate from her path. She would be a slave to her own fate. Was she willing?

I've love only for zhe Umbră-Ușoară

Yes, so long as it led to unity with the Dark Side.

"Show me how," she asked of the Void Engine.

“Primitive mind may not understand, but you are tied to the Infinite, open your self, I shall see,” the Void Engine dictates.

Primitive as she may be, Jun-Tsu knew the ways of the Umbră-Ușoară. She had seen, first hand, the miracles of the Dark Side, and the destruction of limitations. Through it she could unfetter herself from the constraints of reality itself. She knew this to be true, all she lacked was the knowledge.

Letting her breathing slow, she settled her mind. Her hands drew out from her body and she let go.

OOC: Void Engine - When Jun-Tsu follows the path, she is aided with prior knowledge but if she fights fate... it conspires against her. (Once per session can grant 2 Boost dice to any one roll, but also once per session will suffer 2 Setback dice to a roll of a GM's choice.)

She sifted through a thousand lifetimes. It was like a thousand strands being woven into a single thread, but also that thread unraveling into thousands of possibilities. The further along she went the freer she felt, but the more bound she became. She dove into it, watching spans of time that felt like centuries, or maybe just minutes until her mind began to reel from the gathered force. As she pressed on it flooded into her with more and more intensity and eventually it simply overwhelmed her.

She gasped sharply, and jerked awake from her trance. Her eyes felt dry and she had a metallic taste in her mouth as adrenaline coursed through her. She could feel her heart beating, but she was back in her tent, and there, in her hands, was the black orb. So black it did not even reflect light. A cosmos in the palm of her hand, all of time, in the palm of her hand.

Jun-Tsu let out a slow, steadying breath. "There it is."

/scene