The Dark Academy on Korriban

“My story? Well I was born on Dantooine, my parents were farmers. Master Xe’fi was doing research and found me. I had always had the gift since young but my parents didn’t know what to do about it until he came along and guided me. It was tough leaving home, I had so many attachments but I learned. I trained on Coruscant at the Jedi Temple, it was… it is the most beautiful place I had ever seen.”

“After I completed my training worked along side Master Xe’fi, he said we needed to be here. I think when I… when this Holocron was made I had been here maybe three months. Pretty boring mostly.”

"Boring to some perhaps." He said with another warm smile.

"I've always been intrigued by the Republic." He said. "Not in the traitorous sense of course. But I am a bit of a pragmatist... and to deny that the Empire did lose at the hands of the Republic is to deny reality. If you were truly as weak as we are told, then you could not possibly be as successful as you have been."

He then motioned to the cave, "What did you think of the home of the Sith in your time here? I must think you find our ways as absurd as we find yours."

“Honestly, this place is like a tomb. I mean it’s not a dead world but it feels like one. It was cold which makes no sense since it seems to only have one season, hot and terrible. I could feel the dark side energies from Space, and unlike Master Xe’fi, my sensitivity was not that high,” she said with a tinge of sadness.

“So much undue suffering, I really don’t understand.”

He smiled, "It can be a bit excessive at times can't it?"

Then continued, "I've been here for the better part of two years now. It certainly is quite ominous... but I suppose all trials are better if they are challenging. If one is not pushed to be better by their surroundings, how can they rise above their weakness?"

“That sounds a lot like Jedi training, actually minus the death and dark side bad vibes,” she said with a puzzled look.

“Why did you choose to become Sith?”

He smiled, "Choose? There probably wasn't much of a choice for you to become a Jedi any more than me a Sith. I was born on the capital world of the Sith Empire, to a noble and powerful family. My force sensitivity was discovered at a young age, but my parents were able to get me a tutor quite young. Any who excel in their training aspire to eventually come here to Korriban, the home of the Sith Academy. It is here we are tested before we progress into our roles as true Sith."

“Wait there is a whole Academy here of Sith?” she said a bit surprised at that.

He smiled, "Of course. I would imagine not too different in concept from your training facilities on Coruscant. Though there is sure to be much more death and confrontation. I plan on taking you back there soon."

She joked easily for a moment, “Is that where you take all the girls? To the Sith Academy? Show them your Dark Side?”

She laughed easily and then sighed, “Yeah this is weird. I don’t even know if the real me is alive or dead. Wait let me…”

She was quiet and then said with a slight shriek, “Twenty-eight years! This stupid thing can’t be right. Is this right? I guess it would be. Twenty-eight years since my last activation.”

Sylvain laughed heartily at her joke, "Only the truly pretty ones, fair Knight. Truly a shame you are merely an image."

Then listening to her comment, "It is possible that you are still alive perhaps, at least age wise. Korriban was taken nearly twenty five years ago, so the times do potentially match. The overthrow of Korriban was a violent one, however, I'm not sure if you would have made it out alive. There were many of great strength on both sides who fell."

She put on a mocking robotic voice and said, “Technically 28 years, 6 standard months, 14 standard days, 3 standard hours, and 17 seconds… not that I am counting.”

“Images have feelings too, I think. So what happened, did the Sith… did you attack Korriban? I guess you did if there is an Academy here.”

"I would hate to harm your feelings fair Knight." There may have been a hint of sarcasm in that comment but he covered it with a well-practiced concern.

He nodded, "I personally wasn't alive yet of course, but yes, the Imperial forces attacked Korriban."

He asked, "What were your and your master's duties on Korriban? Was it a long term assignment?"

“The Republic had given up on this place I guess after centuries of nothing they figured the Empire would never came back, but the Jedi remained with a small token force. It was mostly just patrolling the wastes or patrolling space… I know some really liked delving into tombs but no thanks, leave the dead to be dead,” Thy replied honestly.

“Guess the Jedi were right.”

"Their vigilance is commendable it has been many years since the last war... though it is unfortunate that they were not able to convince the Republic of the potential danger."

He smiled a comforting smile, "Would you like to know what happened to you and your master? It is possible a record remains here on Korriban, many Sith take pride in the fact that they were able to... gain glory through combat with a worthy adversary. It is possible that it could be recorded somewhere."

“I think it would be weird to learn how I died, but I think I should know at least what happened to my Master,” she replied honestly.

He smiled and nodded politely, "I'd be more than happy to look for you."

He then tilted his head, "You are far less pious and detached than I thought a Jedi would be. Don't take this as an insult, but I see much of myself in how you act and feel."

Then smiling, "Even if this is some ironic comedy, I am intrigued by it."

“I wasn’t the best student I guess, but I believe in the Jedi and the Light. I just didn’t always go about it the right way I guess. I believe in doing the right thing though, and if you are like me, maybe you do too?” she said with a cock of her head in a questioning manner.

He smiled warmly, "Perhaps. It probably depends on what definition of 'right' you decide to take. I find 'right' for me is merely the option that is best at bringing about the desired result. Sometimes it is wise to be gracious and kind, and sometimes it is wise to be strict and ruthless. One can be loving and hated just as easily as one can be hated and feared. The decisions I make tend to stray away from short-sighted or overly mystical justifications, it should be what makes us stronger and more efficient at what we do. Bringing order and cohesion to the galaxy is what I aim for in my decisions."

“I do whatever helps the most people, without expectation of reward,” she said.

“Master Xe’fi always believed that Compassion would save the galaxy, from itself.”

He smiled, "I don't know about Compassion being able to accomplish your goal... But I too prefer that which serves the needs of the many over that of the few. Unbridled individuality is what cost the Empire its success in the war against your Republic. Self gratification is only useful when the person is able to lift others of strength up with them. Expecting any type of reward for increased knowledge and power is foolish, the knowledge and power is the reward, and the burden of the strong."

She was skeptical in her response and said, “I don’t overly disagree I guess. I am not sure it would be a path I would choose, the real me I guess.”

He smiled, "What path would you follow then?"

“Path of a Jedi, it’s who I am… or was…” she said honestly.

"Can you describe that for me? I'm afraid the sources I have about your path... may be less than generous in their descriptions." He said with a polite smile.

“I am not a Master, it’s I guess an ideal. Service to something greater than yourself following in a legacy that has preserved the Republic and all free peoples from tyranny, no offense. A Jedi is dedicated to the service of others, we seek nothing of glory or personal gain. We are selfless and seek to find peaceful ends to all situations,” she said thoughtfully.

“I probably drew my lightsaber more often than I should have, but aggressive negotiations tended to work better for me than most.”