She listened solemnly when the raven spector decided to speak. Every word that dripped from his lips oozed experience and wisdom, and she was hooked on his insights. Mostly because he was articulating exactly how she felt.
The Jedi Master knew that even the terms 'Sith' and 'Jedi' were conceived by mortals; those finding it necessary to categorize in order to understand. The Ones had opened her eyes to that, and the Cameron was opening her ears to sayings she had been deaf to. Her pace, although matching his, was taken with heavy steps. The gravity of the reality the Sith was explaining was weighing on her. Some things he said, had more impact on her than others.
He was right about her intelligence in knowing that there was no out to the perpetual push and pull of the opposing Forces. That was something she'd known for a long time. But, that didn't mean she wouldn't stop trying to have an impact, even if it was temporary. It was when he said The strength and the fun is in the struggle...which pushes all sides to be the best version of themselves that @[member="Cameron Centurion"] had her completely captivated.
The best version of themselves.
Both sides were entities of selfishness, focused on self-preservation. It was inevitable, despite all the deemed 'selfless' acts of The Jedi. His reference to being in the position of a vanguard couldn't have been more accurate. When was the last time any Jedi reached out to a Sith for insight into their mentality? As far as neutrality between the dark forces and the light, it wasn't the first time. Their meeting wasn't strange in that instance. Even Darron, one of the purest beings after her first Master, had been in mutual admiration of the fallen empress. She'd helped them escape a targeted attack on a space station and sat in a rather confined space with a very dark person. Neither Jedi had been corrupted, however, despite the Jedi's bold warnings that any contact with darkness would be the end of any warrior.
In truth, the darkness was just as corrupt as the light; it just depended which version of the propaganda you leant an ear to.
Some people's personalities defined the outcome of their alliance. The pioneers of The Jedi were more partial to the empathetic side of the Force, and yet purged the emotion right out of empathy. The first Sith? They favoured the power of the darkside. Neither were to blame.
You hardly need to fully understand the mind of a Sith to prevail against them, you merely need to accept what you are.
Was he speaking of her as a representative of the Jedi Order, or her considering her genetic makeup? Kiskla Grayson was a sentient vessel.
Your Order seems to fashion themselves the shield of the galaxy, designed to absorb the blows of those with a more destructive inclination. My response to that is to lay waste to innocent populations until the Jedi have little choice other than to bend to my will. Naturally, I know that the Jedi Order will never do this. They are so rooted in their own self-importance, they would never capitulate to the Sith no matter how badly things proceed. What happens then? The Jedi quickly become thrown into the same category as the Sith, oppressive and unfeeling.
Kiskla hadn't even noticed that they had peeled away from the crowds. There was a tightness behind her eyes as the Sith unloaded his horrible perspective. To hear him speak so calmly of calamity was unnerving, but the more he divulged his opinion, the more the root of his message spread to her own foundation. YOLO. Not in the sense of only living once, but in the sense of making the most of the time granted in this galaxy; with little regard to how any actions affected others. But not all Sith felt that way.
The Empire promised to protect it's people, as did The Republic. They were both anchored by duties to their civillians, promises of protection. Perhaps The Empire saw some of their citizens as expendable, she didn't know. But she did know that The Jedi, were only a partial extension of The Republic. Republican soldiers had no depths in the spiritual nature of The Order, and therefore owed nothing to any creed other than to offer their best for that of their government. The Jedi needed to regard The Empire in the nature that The Sith viewed The Republic. Hurdles. Obstacles. Fools. Temporary.
The difference between Sith and Jedi, Kiskla, is that the Sith care not greater perception of those too weak to defend themselves. They indoctrinate their people with the same beliefs. It forces them to strive to be more, to be strong. Jedi are champions for the weak, the defenseless. It's a great children's story, but it is not a recipe for any level of success.
Kiskla had a thick, reeling moment but steadied herself. "Champions for the weak and defenseless, perhaps." Kiskla agreed with this sentiment. After all, it was what Antares Marclonus had drilled into her from the very first day of Padawanhood. "But that doesn't mean their incapable of overthrowing oppression." Why was she arguing. She was here for insight, not a debate. It was fairly obvious that everything Centurion said was credible and true; still it pained her to admit that The Jedi's morals would be their undoing.
Again.
She frowned, and stared back brazenly at the hooded figure. There was malice coupled with wisdom in those emerald optics; eyes that had beheld sights she couldn't fathom. But, if she tried hard enough, and if he willed, she could walk through the caverns of his mind and be eclipsed in a majority of his tales, absorbing more morals than this sermon had imparted. Had he always been a creature of darkness? Bred in the shadows of The Force?
Probably.
She felt increasingly raw. "Your inferred recipe for success seems to denote that there is little alternative than to create chaos." Her lips drew in a thin line, folding her arms against her chest. That sort of malevolence would simply not sway with herself, nor The Order she represented. "As if it's safe to assume that each foe to the Jedi will throw down someone weak to step on them, and rise up." She paused. Okay, she'd have to allude to her concerns about The Empire. "Even on a grand scale."
Kiskla was at the same wall she reached when meditating alone. Her morals restricted her from pursuing the path Cameron suggested. She couldn't tear apart someone who couldn't defend themselves, despite the shock factor. There had to be another way -- she needed further persuasion. She needed to plunge deeper into his type of mentality, to overcome her own intrinsic barrier.