Evacuated and fortified…

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus arrived first. The file on Tython she’d pulled from the records had just three words in it…evacuated and fortified. But it was the perfect place to meet her sister. Despite being in the middle of One Sith territory, it was still unoccupied and so travel was relatively simple – well it was as safe as anywhere else in the galaxy at present.

She’d also found some old schematics – it was a departure from the monolithic ziggurat on Ossus and was more embracing of new architecture and ideas. Drawing upon the shapes and architecture of Alderaan bastions, the two story Temple consisted of three cupolas, two smaller ones flanking a large central one, and two open air hangar bays. Once upon a time highly advanced security and defence systems were hidden beneath the elegant architecture, maintaining an air of meditation while ensuring the occupants' safety. A broad promenade extended from the front doors of the Temple with training grounds spreading out into the surrounding, forested landscape. Large carved wood statues stood at attention at the main entrance to the Temple, opening into the cool interior of the main cupola of the complex

Along the curving polished wood walls of the Temple were once holoprojectors displaying the images of many famed Jedi; empty plinths that once held wooden statues of Knights and Masters that would have watched over the halls as Jedi paced in quiet reflection. Inside the main cupola there used to be an enormous dodecahedron-shaped monument known as the Eye of Zallow that was suspended between dual sweeping ramps that led to the upper story, while two smaller holocrons orbited it.

From the domed ceiling were the hooks that used to hold several heritage tapestries that would have gently swayed in the still interior of the spacious chamber. Passages led off into lecture halls, the hangars, Archives and the High Council chamber, the latter of which was located at the top of the dual ramps behind heavy double doors. Opposite of the Jedi Archives was the map room which mirrored its counterpart on Coruscant.

Accessible from the second story, two hangars were located in the rear of the Temple, both with open air ceilings that allowed starships to dock directly at the Temple.

It was here that Corvus landed, and waited for her sister.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

Having received a message from her sister to meet on Tython, Taeli had rushed to her personal Sicarius infiltrator and made the journey to the birthplace of what people considered the light and dark sides of the Force, Ashla and Bogan. She had never had the chance to travel and explore the ancient world, to see the Jedi Temple, the ruins of the ancient Force users, the ruins of the fortress that had been Belia Darzu's. So much history existed on the planet, and her inner scholar was excited to tour it before her colleagues decided to raze the whole place to the ground.

Those bloody crusades being launched by Hauntruss and Vornskr aggravated her, but she would do what she could to preserve the history they wanted to wipe away. Locating the empty Jedi Temple, she landed in the second hanger bay and lowered the ramp to her ship, hurrying down the ramp to see her sister. She was glad Corvus was still alive and here, given the current crisis in the galaxy.

"Corvus!" she almost shouted, and most unladylike ran over to her sister and hugged her tightly. "Thank the Force you're okay!"

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus stood and she was hugged. Like a rag-doll. She neither resisted nor responded, she simply remained impassive.

It was a state she'd known for the past six years. The dresses were still in their wrappers in her locker on her ship. They'd never seen the light of day. Corvus had confided the existence of her sister to Kana. Or rather Avreet had, and she had to confirm it. Was it a strain on their relationship? In truth Corvus didn't know, because since that day she'd felt no emotion and read none either.

She couldn't tell if Kana was angry, sad, ambivalent or full of sorrow for Corvus' plight. And Corvus had pushed her Padawan's away too. Asked other Masters to pick up their training. Of late she'd gone everywhere alone. The Jedi put it down to her new role - at least that's what she heard. And she couldn't tell if they were being honest or not - but then she didn't care. She did her duty and nobody could fault her for that. She was effective and efficient - and in these times, that counted for a lot.

So she stood there, the questions she'd rehearsed evaporating as she ensured her emotions were kept in check. Nothing in and nothing out. Complete and utter emptiness.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

Noticing the lack of reaction, or the lack of feeling anything, Taeli pulled away, an expression of hurt and confusion on her face. Had she done something wrong to warrant such a cold and unemotional welcome? She hadn't done anything, in her memory at all, to warrant such a cold reaction from her sister. No stereotypical acts of the Sith, no mass killings, no torture, not even really lying to other people, even to Jedi she had met. What had happened, and why was it killing her inside to see the blank expression on her sister's face?

"Corvus? Did I do something wrong?" she asked tentatively, still feeling hurt and confused and that would start to bleed into the Force. "I thought . . .,' and she trailed off, unable to even form a thought for a moment. "Why are you being so cold and emotionless?"

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus stared at the ground. In six years she hadn't one wavered. Nothing - not one single thing - had even tempted her to lower her barriers. But seeing her sister brought back memories - and without the emotion that accompanied them, they were like a holovid without the sound. And she desperately wanted to turn on the volume.

With others, she'd know them mostly in a emotionless state. Taeli she only knew with them. It made her feel incomplete. Was that an emotion leaking through? She resolved to shut it down.

"Before we endured the six years of war," she began, still not trusting herself to look her sister in the eyes. Her own eyes, their mother's eyes. "I saw someone on Korriban. A Sith who I'd met previously. We mentioned him on Corellia..." Now there was a subject that needed to be discussed - but not just yet. "I knew he'd returned to the One Sith. You don't carry the stigma of letting a Sith Lord walk free without keeping an eye on these things. And he confirmed what I already knew. And he implicated you in a plot to overthrow the current One Sith regime. An odd and reckless fact to share with just anyone. And he...and he knew you were my sister." She held up a hand in case Taeli tried to speak. "I trusted you. I told no-one. But then I figured, if you're good enough to fool people as paranoid as the Sith leadership, I was no doubt a piece of cake. I wonder if my experience when I found myself on Alderaan was in any way to do with you." She tapped the side of her head. "Regardless, I thought we had...something. I can't relate it to anything because I never felt that way before. Or since. But I now know I was mistaken."

"And I intend to come and fetch Melori back. Or die trying." She turned her back on her sister and fought to keep six years of emotions at bay.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

Taeli could only stand there, stunned completely by Corvus's words and the coldness they delivered with them. Hurt and pain flowed through her right now, but she had to try and make this right, to explain why Veles knew and he clearly had misunderstood her intentions towards wanting to change the Sith from the inside out.

"Corvus, wait!" she said, catching her sister by the shoulder. "Let me explain, please," she begged. She could not lose another family member . . . she absolutely could not do it. She had to show Corvus she was telling nothing but the truth, and she opened up herself in the Force to her sister completely. There was nothing hidden.

"Veles?" she asked, her eyes widening. "Corvus, I didn't tell him we were sisters! He guessed by my eyes and how my Force signature felt while we were showing the other some new abilities. I didn't confirm anything, but he leapt to conclusions about my intentions and our connection."

Taking a shaky breath, she continued.

"I don't want to overthrow anyone, overtly or covertly!" she implored. "Yes, I want to change the Sith to something more moderate, but I don't want to kill people to do so. I want to teach and show those up and coming Sith there's another way, a way where we don't have to constantly lie and cheat and kill to get ahead! And I have no idea what you're talking about with Alderaan, I haven't been there since I came out of that Rift there from that . . . place."

Tears started to form in her eyes, a crushing sadness gripping her as her sister still didn't look her in the eyes.

"Please . . . Corvus, just . . . look at me, feel me . . . please . . . I don't want to lose you and I . . . I didn't betray you!"

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus felt the touch of her sister and knew…deep down…she wanted her sibling to convince her everything was alright. Is this what love is all about? Especially unconditional love. She remembered her parents always forgiving her, whatever the misdemeanour. Always confirming that things would be alright – because they loved each other. But she couldn’t just switch everything back on again. That risked more pain and heartache.

But her sister opened up to her – Corvus knew there was truth beween Taeli’s heart and the Force.

“But circumstances. He’d known me for some time before he came to this conclusion, one he arrived at just after we met. It can’t just be a coincidence. And if he can tell, anyone can tell. That probably makes both our lives untenable. And…”

She turned to look at her sister finally. Her eyes were wet with tears. It’s funny how a little salt water can melt an iceberg that innumerable bombs and blasters couldn’t.

Six years of locked up emotion were unleashed. To a Sith, the feeling must have been overwhelming. “I don’t know what to say, I…” And then the tears flowed and she held her sister close and sobbed uncontrollably.

“I’m…sorry…I’m…so…so…sorry…I…doubted…you.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

When Corvus started to speak again, Taeli didn't know what to expect . . . she just didn't want any more rejection in her life by her family. That was when the wellspring of six years of emotions slammed into her, and Taeli lost herself in them as she hugged her sister back and sobbed right along with her.

"It's . . . it's okay Corvus . . . I just don't . . . want to lose you," Taeli sobbed. "I've . . . only met Veles twice . . . but . . . you're right, if he can tell, than anyone who has felt both of us can . . . unless . . ."

Letting the emotions run through her, but mainly allowing the love she felt for her sister flow through, she used one of the Sith spells she knew. Palpatine had used it to disguise his Force Sensitivity to the Jedi Order for decades, so changing her signature just a little bit . . . wasn't out of the depths of reality. It was only a small change, but enough to keep anyone else from guessing by that.

"I'm . . . sorry . . . I'm a mess . . . this whole event has been just so . . . trying," Taeli whispered, making sure Corvus would still be able to feel her real signature underneath the Mask technique. "I . . . I got taken into the Nether . . . and it . . . it . . . I never want to experience what it felt like or what that rift made me do . . . ever again."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus felt both better and worse simultaneously - but didn't try to decipher it, she just let the emotions wash over her. And she just stood there, holding her sister until they were both able to breathe calmly again. Finally she was able to step back and talk.

“OK, that wasn’t what I expected but six years is a long time and I just festered. Sorry. And sorry for accusing you of,” she tapped her head again. “You remember that thing on Kashyyk, it happened again when I left the Netherworld. And yes, I know it affected so many, so it was a cheap shot to blame you – but the same thing happened again. It was that Bane part of my mind that encouraged me to kill. If the Vong hadn’t attacked me, it might have been Kana that was dead – or me.”

“But we have so much to catch up on. Melori, Corellia, you.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Interesting," Taeli mumbled, her inner scholar wanting to examine what was happening to her sister more closely now. There would be time for that later though, right now was time to catch up and she knew the first thing she needed to mention as it related directly to . . . just a few moments ago.

"Well, first I have to say, and please please please don't explode at me or anything, but I met Connor on Nar Shaddaa," Taeli said. "I was looking for a cipher to decode a journal from Darth Zannah and he was tracking down the person who had the information. He knows, Corvus, figured it out the same way Veles did through physical traits and how I felt through the Force. We had a little fight and he lost, but before I left, I gave him some bacta to treat his wounds and made sure he would be okay. I didn't want to fight him at all, though, he kinda forced my hand after I gave him a few chances to just walk away."

Taking a breath as she had prattled all that out in one breath, she continued.

"Melori is doing okay, but she's getting this arrogant streak and I can't seem to temper it down at all," she sighed. "I've got an idea of how to handle it, and it takes a leaf out of Darth Bane's book, but I've been making sure she's safe from . . . others."

She didn't want to think about Corellia right now, broken in half and warped beyond imagination. It was rather painful to think about.

"What have you been up to this past six years?" she asked.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus didn’t react to the news of Connor. In truth she understood the logic that applied to Avreet applied to the Silver Jedi too. But she knew about Connor’s demons. How he had been tempted more than once by the Dark-side and how vulnerable he sometimes seemed. She had faith in him, but did not wan to tempt fate by advising her sister of any of this.

“I know him; we’ve met on a few occasions. We are of different Orders, but I doubt he will tell anyone. And I am in no rush to ask him to keep it a secret – in fact I haven’t seen him in over six years.”

Corvus laughed at the idea of Melori being arrogant. “Our father was the same – and she has his eyes too. Once he set his mind he was right, there was no changing his opinion, even in the face of facts. But I loved him as I love her. See what you can do, I suspect it’s a trait no better suited to being a Sith as a Jedi. And Bane? Do you mean neeks? That might kill or cure.”

“And as for me, I’ve been…busy. I’m the GrandMaster now and have simply thrown myself at Jedi business. I must admit, my previous…you know…outburst fuelled that. I shut myself down, completely. Those dresses we bought? They’re still in their wrappers and still on that ship.” She pointed at Raven II. “Maybe I knew deep down things would resolve because I never once thought of throwing them away. In fact, wait here…no come with me.” She grabbed Taeli by the hand and dragged her on board the Jedi Corvette and dashed to her room. She pulled out the first dress that came to her hand and immediately changed out of her Jedi robes and into it. “Well at least I haven’t gained any weight.”

Spoiler

She gave a small twirl. “What have you been doing?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Yes, it would involve a trip to Ambria," Taeli said, "and I know it could either work or backfire, but I think in the end it will help. She would at least learn some patience, but at least it's an inherited trait and not something worse."

She had seen way too many Sith develop an arrogance about their abilities, bordering on the hysterically ridiculous, and they always paid the price for such arrogance. Taeli didn't really have patience for Sith like that, but she didn't think Melori would become like those as they didn't have their family around anymore to be something to fall back on for support.

As Corvus led her by the hand to her ship, Taeli had to say, "I suppose congratulations are in order for becoming the Grandmaster since Kiskla Grayson, I think her name was, is currently . . . missing. Shame on you for just keeping those in a locker on your ship, you're supposed to hang them up and actually wear them sheesh."

As her sister took the purple one and dashed off to change, Taeli looked around her sister's ship and noticed a distinct lack of . . . well, personality. She chalked it up to being a Jedi and always on the move, but still, she had just built her Sicarius infiltrator and had made it feel more homely. It helped to have a desk and a shelf of holo-records to read when she needed them.

"I've been . . . well, doing my duty to the Sith," she said as her sister asked her question and spun. "I was involved in several of the campaigns where we took the Core Worlds, and I lead the taking of Bilbringi. Sorry, but other than that, I've just been busy with a few pet projects and building my company more as best I can in the given climate. Learning new abilities, teaching some acolytes some stuff I know."

Tapping her chin for a moment in thought, she added, "Oh, and I suppose I'm technically part of those crusades Hauntruss and Vornskr are leading . . . but I joined them more to preserve and hide away stuff before they destroy them. I think it's a bit . . . extreme of them to wipe everything out when there is sooooo much we can learn, so much history."

She didn't want to voice aloud another thought that popped into her head, because she had no idea how her sister would react if she found out Taeli was . . . interested in learning a few Light side techniques and more about the Jedi.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus suppressed a laugh when Taeli mentioned Master Grayson’s absence. Not that the subject was funny in any way shape or form but they both knew where she was but the gallows humour was not lost on Corvus. “Thanks – under different circumstances it would have meant more.”

Corvus returned into view just as the Crusades were mentioned. “I can see the symbolism of what they’re doing but it lacks any practicality. The Enclaves are all like this,” she waved as if to point to Tython. “They’re just bricks and mortar and when they’re rebuilt, they’ll mean so much more as they’ll have risen from the ashes. The symbolism reverses in our favour. But that does not mean I condone their actions, far from it. Anything worth stealing has been hidden for a long time – we have this ‘library card access system.’ I’d show you but the holocrons’ gatekeepers won’t share anything when you’re here. And we’re slowly rebuilding Ossus and then we’ll start on Ruusan. I still haven’t decided who is best to run that Academy – but I have a good idea.”

“So, tell me more about Melori and let’s go on a wander.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Well our dear little sister has been . . . definitely zealous in her learning, very stubborn and tenacious," Taeli said, sighing a little as they left Corvus's ship and walked back out into the temple's hanger bay. "I've shown her a few things, some basic telekinesis and one rather more advanced technique that I don't know if she was ready to learn, but she wanted to know it. She started a Makashi lesson with Veles that would have killed her if I wasn't there to prevent her getting stabbed through the heart, training saber or no. Even after that, she kept going, so I don't know if it was to prove something to me or to herself."

Stopping for a moment to actually look around the hanger, she continued saying, "I'm proud of her already, even if she just began training and is a bit of a hot-head, but I can't help but love her for that. Like I said, I've got an idea to tone down her arrogance, and I gave her some reading material on some past Sith Lords, mainly Maul and Dooku."

"I have to say, you Jedi have much more pleasing architecture than we Sith do," she said, smiling now. "Help me figure something out though, why the aesthetic choice if Jedi are not concerned with things looking nice. Peaceful sure, but this temple is almost like a Naboo palace."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus chuckled. “The more you describe Melori, the more I’m reminded of our father. Of course, my memories are few…” She was at risk of getting melancholy, so she picked herself up. “I often quote Dooku. I don’t always mention who the quote was from as that can confuse Younglings especially. But he was a great Jedi before he fell to the Dark-side. Let’s not forget his prowess with a saber.”

At Taeli's words, Corvus glanced up at the building. “Do you know what, I never see that. I mean, I see it of course but it’s all so superficial. Like the Kenobi Praxeum ships. They’re gold-plated. How many people could be fed with that money?” She shook her head.

As they continued their walk, Corvus felt the coldness of the floor underfoot. “Next time we go shopping, we need to buy some shoes.” She stopped and lifted her dress. She was barefoot. “It feels nice but not entirely practical.”

“And talking of practical, what can be done with Corellia? Is it temporary?”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"I have absolutely no idea," Taeli said, a pained expression passing across her face as Corellia was mentioned. Being split in half was never a good thing for a world. "If it had just been fused with whatever planet was coming through the rifts there, it would have been disruptive, but manageable to fix. Being split in half . . . well, it might take a some extreme measures to fix if it's permanent."

She had been thinking about it constantly since it occurred, and she had landed on a few ideas.

"Dovin basals could probably pull the two chunks back together, might need a lot of them, but it would be possible. Have to get the core of the planet back though, so you'd need some sort of geo-seismic charge to set off a chain reaction in the planet's core to get the molten stuff going again. It would be a huge undertaking by any stretch of the imagination to rebuild, but possible in the long term. I've given a lot of thought to the problem though."

"Anywho, yes, shoe shopping," she said, perking up again. "You haven't lived until you feel this type of shoe that is both comfy and high-end! I'll have to take you to another shop though, maybe somewhere neutral otherwise I'd take you to this one on Coruscant where I do my shopping mainly."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was impressed by her sister’s knowledge of the potential problems and solutions for Corellia. She was relieved to know this wasn’t just off the top of her head and that she’d actually done some work on the subject.

“I went back, just before the Sith arrived. To say goodbye. We’re trained to not become too attached to things we fear losing. Sure path to the Dark-side and all that.” She pulled a fake smile. “One day that will be put to the test. I will be put to the test, am I a Jedi or a sister first?” Whatever her thoughts were, she didn’t share them.

“Most people have difficulty working out which shop to go to. We struggle to find a planet. But I’m sure you’ll find one.”

“How is Merlori with…me?” It was one of the first questions she wanted to ask but was afraid of the answer.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Well, I know which I hope is the end result," Taeli mumbled as her sister talked about a test that would be coming her way. She didn't care if Corvus was a Jedi or not, she just wanted her sister to remain her sister . . . and most certainly not be that cold, unfeeling person she had seen just a bit ago. That terrified her more than anything else right now, but she still cringed a little at her sister's next question.

"Well, oh how can I put this, uh," she started say, rubbing the back of her head as the awkwardness for her settled in. This was not going to be a particularly easy question to answer. "On the plus side, she doesn't want to kill you anymore . . . well immediately right now. On the minus side, she wants to destroy everything you've built. The Academy on Ossus, every person you've trained, anything you've touched she wants to break. So . . . I guess it's kinda progress . . . in a small way, but there's only so much I can do in the short time she's been awake from her coma. I'm working on it though, I promise!"

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus sighed. “I genuinely preferred it the old way. I’d rather she just wanted to kill me. I could reconcile that in my mind.”

She stared at Taeli. “One day I’ll get a report that a Sith answering to Melori’s description has murdered Jedi. My view has to be consistent with any other servant of the Dark-side. She would have to be given no special dispensation.”

She paced around now, walking circles around her sister. “I once asked you to keep her alive. I wonder the sense in that sentiment. For as much as I hope that one day she can be redeemed – and I know that’s not a view you’d share – it conflicts me knowing that innocents will die just because of me.”

“And I fear for our relationship too. We don’t share secrets of course and I know that my resolve to be a Jedi and do the right thing hasn’t changed but it does complicate matters significantly. The Code is clear about relationships and I’ll not jeopardise lives for my own benefit. I’d rather leave the Order.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Well that's a decision only you can decide, Corvus," Taeli sighed, placing a hand on the wall. Staring up at it, she continued saying, "I know I don't care if you're a Jedi or not, you're my sister. Some would say I'm letting my emotions cloud my judgment, but in my opinion, I've never seen more clearly. I don't want Melori to turn into a murderer against the Jedi, but there's only so much I can do to temper her bloodlust down. Give me some more time before you judge her."

Running her hand slowly along the wall, she whispered, "She wants to win my approval, she wants to be . . . I don't know, the best apprentice I've ever had. She wants me to be proud of her, to give her the love she craves since our parents and family were killed."

"I have to ask," she sighed, turning back to her sister, "the Jedi Code has changed a few times throughout the Order's history. I know you proscribe to the old code of the Old Republic, but why not the one Grandmaster Skywalker created with the new Jedi Order. Many of the Masters and Knights had families or relationships, yes some went dark, but many stayed in the light. Corran Horn, Kyp Durron, the Skywalkers themselves, Jaina Solo, all of them had families or a significant other they loved and it didn't affect their stance in the Order. So why do you and some others go old school as it were?"