The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain returned from his breakfast and early morning study to meet with his regularly scheduled appointment.

Pulling out the holocron and locking his door as best was able in such a case he called on the force and waited for Thy to pop out.

Seeing his holographic friend he smiled warmly, "Morning Gorgeous. Get some good sleep?"

She rolls her eyes and says, “I don’t sleep but I am fine. How goes the training to become a big bad Sith?”

He chuckled, "Well enough. How's deciphering that database going? Any new insights on the force?"

He plopped himself down on his bed. He frequently asked Thy questions about what they had found, her responses varied greatly depending on the day.

“Well assimilation of the data is seamless actually understanding it not so much. But I have found some interesting thoughts on the matter of the force and the effects of the dark side on large time scales,” she says honestly.

"Explain." He said with interest.

“Well you know how the dark side has a straining effect on living material? The more closely tied to the dark side one becomes the more it starts to wear at a person. Dark side energy is naturally entropic, it moves towards chaos and disorder. High concentration on living matter tends to degrade organic matter,” she says.

“For people it usually begins with the eyes and then paleness of skin… a sickly pallor. In more extreme cases it can prematurely age a dark side user but can also provide unnaturally long life.”

“Now think of that on a global scale on a planet with high dark side concentration.”

Sylvain nodded, "Hence the lovely scenery here on Korriban."

"Any chance of reversing that process? Or are the results permanent?"

“All things can be redeemed, but this would take thousands… perhaps millions of years to reverse,” she says honestly.

Sylvain nodded. "Right, so dark side is self-defeating in the long run... eats itself from the inside."

He chuckled, "What about the short term though. What benefits are there from the lightside? Surely there's gotta be a downside."

“I don’t know, downsides only matter if you care about one side being better. Jedi understand that both need to exist for balance in the universe. The Light though is about the unity in all things and preserving life. I am not sure if there is a downside, but each path is demanding,” she says with a nod.

He nods. "Where have you found it useful in your life?"

He smiles, "You may not believe me but I've started to trust your opinions. A testimonial from my pretty Jedi friend would help me figure just what it is the lightside is useful for."

“It’s about helping people and trying to make things better for the greatest gain. I have helped many people and the look on their faces when you do something when no one else will, I am not sure I could ever not be a Jedi,” she says warmly.

"So... it's for the gratification of other's thanking you for your deeds? That doesn't sound 'selfless'." He said in a contemplative tone, not accusatory.

“It’s just a good feeling, I don’t ask for it. A Jedi does not expect reward we do what must be done to bring peace not for some fame or glory. Service to others is the highest ideal,” she says trying to better explain her meaning.

"Why is it the highest ideal? What about 'helping' others is in and of itself virtuous? I see how protecting justice and stability is best in the whole, but helping people that do not help themselves as well... seems to be perpetuating weakness."

“Just because someone is not able to defend themselves does not make them weak,” she says.

"They are in the way that is being tested..." He replied struggling with this foreign concept.

“Helping another in need is not about strength or weakness, it is about compassion. I am helping you not to be stronger but because I believe sharing this knowledge could help you,” she says honestly.

He nods, "I get that... but I'm just not sure how it does help me. What utility does compassion have? It prevents one from destroying themselves on the inside, but in what way would it help me in my attempts to strengthen the Empire?" He asked.

"To abandon my home, family, and the system that creates stability for many... would be quite selfish."

“That is why Jedi forego attachments, we relinquish our place in this world. We do not seek wealth or title in the wider world. We become servants,” she says with a smile.

"But still servants to your Republic, no? The Jedi are not freelance." He asked, "At least not from my understanding."

“We would gladly aid the Empire if the Empire turned from the path of domination and the dark side. Until that time comes we cannot support it, but it is my duty to aid others regardless of affiliation if I can,” she says with a nod.

"What if the interests of one good group of people interfere with the interests of another good group of people? How is order maintained and society structured if not by strength?"

“That is tough one, but a Jedi strives to serve the largest good. We recognize that not every good can be fulfilled without a loss somewhere else. In those instances we must consider what is best for the largest majority,” she says softly.

"Even if it is not in your best interests?" He asked.