ACCESS DENIED.

The red letters kept flashing on the screen before him and the sexless voice that spoke them didn’t make the message any more pleasant. Still, even though there have been numerous repetitions of the message, no irritation or annoyance was brought to the Keeper. Such distractions were long gone from his disciplined mind. He was, however, forced to lean back on his sit and stare at the screen thoughtfully. He had tried every possible keyword, from his apprentice’s name or that of his loyal Kath Hound, to the young Jedi’s species name, which he knew the apprentice valued greatly, his favorite drink, his home-world or even his first assignment.

Assignment! Of course! Val’s practical mind wouldn’t venture far in order to come up with a password. The simplest way would be to title his transmission with the mission’s objective, an objective which was known only between the two of them anyway. He pressed the letters, one by one, confident this time about his success.

E-X-I-L-E

ACCESS GRANTED.

Satisfied, the Kel Dor Jedi leaned back comfortably on his chair and watched with interest, as the hologram’s blue-white light glittered on the black lenses of his protective goggles. The familiar face of his Padawan appeared, unhooded but always blindfolded, as was customary among the eyeless Miralukas that ventured beyond their world.

“Peace and Wisdom, Master Gnost-Dural” the young Jedi’s voice said, as his head lowered to a respectful bow. “I regret that I was forced to encrypt the hologram but, as was expected, the Sith are closely monitoring my movements, even though I do not believe they have understood the nature of my assignment yet. However, recent findings on Telos, urge me to continue my investigation to deeper parts of the Outer Rim, where communications may be difficult to establish. But I shall speak more of that later. For now, allow me to present what I have gathered so far in my investigation.

The subject’s movements are hard to follow, as time and the war have scarred the Ebon Hawk’s tracks, even more so since the Jedi known to us as the Exile seems to have been trying deliberately to avoid detection, using alternate routes and even shadowy docking procedures. With ERA-D8’s help though, I was able to confirm her presence in several planets, confirming, at least partly, the Dantooine Archives: Nar Shadaa, Onderon and Dantooine are all planets the Exile visited, her presence to each of those marking significant events in the planets’ history, like the Civil War on Onderon, the First Battle of Dantooine and a strong disturbance in Nar Shadaa’s underworld balance. Whether she was responsible for those events, in one way or another, it is unclear, yet such a repetitive pattern would suggest a connection.

The pattern continues along with her tracks on Telos IV. There, her presence coincides with the assault of the Sith forces and at first I came to believe that she was actually responsible for them, perhaps even leading the assault. However, a holographic log left by the Republic’s Admiral in charge of the defense of Telos, suggests that the Exile participated in the defense and even assaulted along with her comrades the Sith Master Nihilus’ ship, the Ravager, leading to the ship’s destruction and the demise of Darth Nihilus himself. Again however, the reasons behind her course of action remain unclear.

To this point, Master, I would like to underline two things: first, the pattern of both beneficent and destructive events that follow the Exile’s path. Due to the lack of information it is hard to clarify whether she, in fact, chose to act in a helpful or egoistic manner during any of the above events. Secondly, because of the above, it is hard to reach a solid conclusion in my investigation. The motives of the Exile, her way of thinking and her allegiances remain shrouded in mystery and even through the Force, I find it hard to reach her mind, as I have done with other subjects of similar investigations. It is not so much the gap of time between us, as much as her own presence in the Force, as it was scarred with her movements. It is as if the Force was blind to her yet at the same time covered her with a shadow. In my efforts to reach those events in my meditations, I have encountered both a shield of Force and an absence of it. It is hard to explain, Master, and I hope that upon my return, we can discuss and ponder upon this mystery together. It is unlike anything I have ever encountered and I cannot understand it, I have, however, reached the conclusion that at least one Dark Side user was trying to cover the Exile’s mind from the Force. Whether that user was herself or another, I cannot be sure.

This is my investigation as it stands, Master Gnost-Dural. While I am not satisfied with the results so far and the connection, if any, between the Exile and the reassembly of the Sith Empire remains unclear, I do feel that progress has been made and that I am nearing the answer to said question. For my next move, I will follow a report of departure that places the Ebon Hawk en route to deeper in the Outer Rim. Before that, however, I will visit Telos’ arctic regions. It seems from the reports that the Ebon Hawk arrived to the battle from the pole. At first I thought it was but a way to avoid being intercepted by the Sith forces orbiting above the Citadel Station. Newly discovered evidence, however, suggest that the Exile visited the polar regions before, with a shuttle other than the Ebon Hawk. It could be nothing but I will visit said region before I depart from the planet, just to make sure.

I enclose in this disc all the evidence that have led me to this point, to be added to the Archives, including reports, civilian and military journal entries and security footage, as well as personal notes concerning all the evidence in particular. I have personally studied all of them but I will ask that you review my notes and findings. As you have often told me in the past, two minds serve better than one and you may notice something I might have overlooked.

Hopefully I will communicate with you soon, Master. Until then, may the Force be with you”.

 

 

It was a few days earlier and Valec Minru had just finished recording the hologram that was to be sent to the Jedi Archive Keeper, and his Jedi Master, Gnost-Dural. He was looking at the now turned off screen, motionless, his head resting upon his hand in a thoughtful manner. The Miraluka Jedi was troubled and the grey cloth that covered his missing eyes didn’t do much to hide it.

He was young, nearing his mid-twenties at best, yet his face, his expression, showed serenity and wisdom, such seldom found in this age, even among the Jedi. Even now, that his eyebrows were lowered and his mouth frowned, he did not seem stressed. It was merely evidence that his calculative mind was assessing a situation, a situation unlike any he had ever been in before. Valec Minru, a Padawan still among the ranks of the Jedi Order, had just purposefully deceived his own Master.

Guilt was a natural sentiment to follow his action, yet even as he delivered the data-disk to be sent to his Master, he did not hesitate. One of Valec’s strong beliefs was that since an action has been decided, there was no use in dwelling over it. He had taken his decision, hard as it was, especially for him, and was determined to see where it would lead him. Lowering his green robe’s hood over his face and crossing his arms in their sleeves, he returned to the Scarlet Raven and told Kinoss, his pilot, to prepare for takeoff.

Was it really such a terrible offence, the one he had committed? He hadn’t lied to Gnost-Dural. He had simply concealed information about his destination, believing, or rather knowing, that his Master would disagree with his course of action and would have advised against it. Still, he felt dishonest, perhaps even sinful, not simply because he had never acted against his Master’s will in the past, but because for years he had lived through it, being obedient to the point of worship of Gnost-Dural’s every word. Valec felt confused and despite his resolve to see this through on his own, he secretly wished that his Master was with him.

As the Scarlet Raven cut through the clouds of Telos like a flaming arrow, the Padawan had retreated to his cabin and was meditating. Like every Miraluka, he could feel the Force around him to the point that he could make up for his ever-closed, lidless eyes, and the sensation filled him as he closed his mind to everything else. The patterns of energy as they filled the ship’s metal skin, wire upon wire, made the Raven seem like a flying web, taken by the winds of the Force itself and traveling in the air. Machines appeared like lanterns of energy in his mind and Leera, his trusted Kath Hound who was now lying guard near the cabin’s door, was like every living organism, a beacon of light, of life, a testimony of the Force’s magnificence.

Peace came to him as he ventured deep into the flow of the Force and allowed his mind to drift with it. The valleys, the meadows, the mountains and the seas, the trees and flowers and animals that the Scarlet Raven cast her shadow upon, they all appeared in Valec’s mind, as a single picture, clear and colorful, filled with motion and sound, as if he had a single eye that could watch the whole planet in a single blink. He guided his mind to their destination and soon what he had sensed before was confirmed. There was something there, a concentration of the Force, both benign and malevolent, both serene and in turmoil. This was where Valec’s treachery lied, where he had betrayed his Master, for as he drew closer he could feel the Dark Side to be strong there but somehow so was the Light Side, the two not struggling for supremacy but rather completing each other through their opposite nature. He was now certain that the Exile had been there. He was also certain, even more as the Raven drew closer and closer, that the Sith were present there now and that Gnost-Dural would have forbidden him to go there on his own. He was, after all, just a Padawan.

This last thought broke his concentration and his senses came thundering back to cover his mind. The subtle roar of the ship’s engine, the harsh feeling of the metal floor, the smell of Leera’s fur and the oils of the ship, along with the bitter taste of his empty stomach, were soon too much of a distraction to ignore. Annoyed by this failure, he rose to his feet and contemplated upon his decision, despite his previous wish not to.

Why was he drawn so much to this place? Was it the immense gathering of the Force there? Was it the temptation of the dark side that lured him into disobedience and rebellion against what he knew to be his Master’s will? This last thought troubled him as a possibility. He nervously tightened the knot of the single lock of his blonde hair that was tied into a thin braid and decided against it. No, while he couldn’t bring himself to say that what he did was only dedication to his mission, he did conclude that it was in a way because of it.

It was Marr, Visas Marr, the Miraluka that had followed the Exile on his path, even though she was Darth Nihilus’ apprentice. When the path of the Exile finally reached an end, she came back and helped restore the Jedi Order, some three hundred years ago. Her name was revered among the members of the Order now, although there were numerous questions about her past that she refused to answer, including her days with the Exile. Valec always felt a strange kinship with her and not only because of their shared lineage. Like Visas, he had spent his early days among the Sith, being forged against his will into an instrument of the Dark Side. Like Visas, he had managed to break free from his Sith Master, resisting his teachings and ultimately joining the Jedi Order. For Valec, it was Gnost-Dural that had saved him, not only from the service of the Sith, but also from the passions they would have him succumb too. But what of Visas? Was it the Exile that had helped her change her path, being an avatar of Light herself? Or was it Visas alone, perhaps even realizing the corruption of the Dark Side as she saw it in Darth Nihilus or the Exile or both?
This question held great significance for Valec. Soon he would cease to be a Padawan and be named a Knight, which, while an honor, ment that he could no longer rely on his Master to guide him. The thought terrified him for even after so many years he could still feel the urge to release his passions upon the Force. Even with his presence, Gnost-Dural held that urge checked but if he was no longer there, Valec feared it would not take him long to fall. Already he had acted with deception, merely weeks having passed from when he left his Master’s side for this mission.

Such gloomy thoughts of failure besieged his mind, when Kinoss, the Duros pilot and mechanic, as well as designer of the Scarlet Raven, called for him through the intra-com of the ship.

“Captain, we’re nearing our destination”.

“I’ll be right there, Kinoss” came the reply. Forcing his troubled mind to focus on the task at hand, Valec exited his cabin, walked through the narrow corridors of the Raven and entered the cockpit.

“We’re almost at the coordinates you gave me” said Kinoss “but I must say it doesn’t seem like there’s anything out here, Captain. Only snow. It will be hard to find any place to land, even if we wanted to”. And it certainly seemed so, looking out the cockpit’s window. The world outside was covered by a cold, white carpet, and the howling wind was picking up the snow, making a curtain of ice and hale that hid almost everything. Clashes of thunder echoed from somewhere in the distance and the Raven kept bouncing violently as the air pushed her. Valec was adamant, though. Even more so now than ever, he could feel the strange concentration of the Force around him. Unhindered by the limitations of normal eyesight, he scoured the land beneath them until he finally found what he was looking for.

“There” he pointed for Kinoss to see. “There is a building there, shaped like a hill. The top is flat but move in quietly. We might not be as alone in this place as it would seem”. Used to the Miraluka’s weird powers, the Duros did as he was instructed and changed course, preparing the ship for landing. A few seconds later he could see the flat top himself and, avoiding with ease the pillar that suddenly appeared among the snow, brought the Raven to land safely. Valec tilted his head, as if he was trying to listen to something. The tangles of Force as they appeared in his thoughts were strong and colorful, dark and mysterious mingling with bright and soothing. They came out of the building beneath him, some caressing, others pulling him. He led his thoughts to follow them and there, near the middle of this alive web of the Force, a spore of shadow was standing, beaming darkness and hate. A new enemy rose within him and he fought hard to suppress it’s attack, as fear tried to prevent him from speaking the words he said to his Duros comrade.

“Wait for me here, Kinoss” he said with a low voice. “Keep the Raven’s defenses active and leave if I’m not back in half an hour”.

“Should I call for reinforcements, Captain?” asked the pilot.

“No. Just do as I told you” Valec replied and, lowering his hood over his eyes, turned his back and walked outside.

The howling wind’s chill bit his skin with ferocity as soon as the Raven’s door slid open, crawling up his sleeves and all the way through his spine, making him shiver uncontrollably in seconds. He didn’t pay attention. Fear and doubt were his enemies, not cold, and he fought with them valiantly with every step that brought him closer and closer to the building’s roof entrance. He didn’t allow himself to think and instead just walked, concentrating on every step as if they were the most important action he would take in his life. It was a simple exercise that focused the mind on mundane things rather than letting it be drowned from serious matters, dwelling upon which would provide no help in any way. It proved saving. Before he even realized it, he was pressing an almost frozen button and the dark entrance was open before him. He entered, welcoming the soft warmth that covered the interior, and the door closed behind him, sealing the passage out. For a moment he hesitated but he resisted the urge to flee. He had made it this far and would see this to the end, as he had promised to himself time and again.

The halls would be silent but for his soft footsteps, if the Force hadn’t been so strong in the place. Valec was in awe, as distant voices echoed through the Force in his mind, some soft spoken and reassuring, others screaming and cursing defiantly, even centuries after they had been spoken. What is this place? he wondered aloud. During his tutelage under Gnost-Dural, he had visited several sites with strong connection to the Force, yet few as alive as this was, despite the obvious abandonment. The design of the halls reminded him that of an Academy but no matter how hard he was searching among his memories, he couldn’t bring up one that spoke of such an establishment on Telos. Were fear was but seconds ago, now enthusiasm reigned. He had made a discovery and, judging by the presence of a Sith somewhere there, it should be an important one.

This last thought made him concentrate once more to his surroundings, rather than their meaning. Keeping his senses alert but disciplined, he walked deeper down the halls of the building, passing through what seemed to be training and sleeping rooms, until finally he reached a circular hall with multiple doors around. He didn’t hesitate long. Both the origin of the Force concentration and the Sith presence laid beyond a specific door and he walked there. A wide catwalk led to a circular room and as he opened the door, he finally saw clearly the presence of the Sith that was there.

Her fair skin was scarred by black veins, making her seem like she was made of marble in the gloom of the poorly lit room. She was tampering with the single other door of the room, opposite the one Valec came through, yet as he entered she turned her head and looked at him, her white hair falling on the side. Two red eyes without pupils glittered in the dark as she smirked at him and, turning her body fully to face him, she crossed her hands over her chest, grabbing secretly the two lightsabers that were hidden among her dark robe.

“Here to beg for some spare credits, blind man?” she said, laughing mockingly. “Or have the Jedi dived so low these days that they recruit cripples in their desperation?”

“The ignorance of the dark teachings prevail upon you, Sith” replied Valec. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“Must the prey know the name of the predator that eats it, Jedi”, she asked “or do you wish to stall with small talk the inevitability of the Force claiming you? Suffice it to say, I will be your executioner soon”, she added with a taunting voice.

“And now the arrogance shows itself as well” replied Valec calmly.

“It’s not arrogance when it’s about to become true!” she yelled, covering the distance between them with a single jump even as she uttered the final words, her lightsabers flashing to life, coloring the room with an ominous red glow. Valec’s lightsaber answered with its yellow light, and all three united a few inches away from the Miraluka’s neck, clashing in a flash that illuminated everything around them. Cracking noises echoed in the round hall as the blades of concentrated energy were pressed together by their wielders.

“The relics and holocrons are mine, Jedi”, she whispered between her grinding teeth, “and when I return with them, the Dark Council will reward my success!”

Finally, things started to make sense for Valec. The strong presence of the Force, the obscene location of the Academy, even the reason of the Exile’s arrival there, all were suddenly explained, at least partly. This secret location was used as an archive, a place where the knowledge of both Jedi and Sith was stored, along with heirlooms of their power in the past. Whoever this Sith was, she was there for that, following perhaps some trail of information about the installation from the Sith records. She had no intention to bring anything to anyone, for this Valec was sure. Even to him, she was lying, trying to hide her intention to use whatever knowledge and power was kept here for herself, perhaps to increase her status among the Sith order or maybe, and in Valec’s opinion more likely, to use that power to kill and succeed one of her superiors, probably even her own Master.

The young Padawan was disgusted even at the thought of such a betrayal. Ignoring the waves of hatred that the Sith emitted, he held his lightsaber against hers with one hand and motioned as if pushing towards his adversary with the other. Obedient under his command, the Force violently sent her body to the air and she landed with her back on the floor, some few feet away from where she jumped from. A moan escaped from her black lips as the air in her lungs was forced out from the impact and her saber turned off. The yellow light of Valec’s saber soon followed and the room fell once more in near darkness.

“Not bad” the woman said as she was standing on her feet again. “At least for a Jedi”.

“It does not have to be this way” replied Valec. “Throw your lightsaber, then come into my custody or even leave. Either is acceptable by me”.

“Don’t get coy, Jedi, just because you were lucky” she said. “Anexxa yields to no one, certainly not to…” She never finished her sentence. One of her lightsabers was lit again, already flying towards him, twisting in the air and guided by her will. Valec was surprised and scolded himself for letting his guard down, even as he struggled to control the weapon’s flight. His will met hers and the red beam stopped mid-air with its tip only feet away from the Miraluka’s torso, as the two fought through the Force for supremacy.

Anexxa had the upper hand, as her connection to the lightsaber was already established, the crystal already attuned to her through the Force but the Sith’s efforts, while strong, were hectic, controlled mainly by the tide of her hatred. For her, the Force was a tool, and she used it as she would wield a weapon. Valec, on the other hand, built a wall of discipline and determination, a wall of serenity that prevented the weapon to move. The Force was his friend and ally, one that accompanied him and guided him since he could remember. He guided it gently and it granted his requests. For some time, neither took the advantage, and they remained motionless, focusing. Suddenly, she stopped pushing forward and the lightsaber fell on the ground, its fall echoing in the empty room.

“You use the Force well, blind-one” she admitted reluctantly, a hint of admiration in her voice. “But how good are you with a lightsaber?” Valec didn’t reply. Slowly, he threw back his hood, took his hands off his green robe’s sleeves and let the heavy cloth slide to the floor from his back. Taking a step forward, he turned on his weapon, focusing on the imperceptible increase of weight in his hand, as the yellow energy flowed through the hilt, making his white shirt and brown vest to glow gold.
“Let’s find out!” Anexxa went on and with the second lightsaber flashing red with hatred, she run towards him, unleashing her attack.

The Sith was fast, maybe even too fast. She had taken the offensive, delivering one attack after the other with immense speed and a ferocity that forced the Jedi to step back as he was fighting. She laughed as she felt, and correctly so, that she had the upper hand. Her enemy was forced to defend and defend alone, as she left him little room to do anything else. She let her hatred for him, for life, for everything, to pour on her lightsaber and guide it with strength and rage against her enemy.

Valec on the other hand was trying to get over the initial shock of the attack’s ferocity. The young Padawan soon realized that this was no sparring match with his Master and the Sith had no intention of pulling away. Her every strike would be a fatal one, but Valec’s saber always parried, even if some replies came at the last possible moment. He allowed the Force to guide his moves, as throw it he could see moments before the next attack, even if there was little for him to do but defend. Slowly but steadily, he regained some degree of control over the fight. Still, the Sith seemed unstoppable and there was no room for counter attacks. Valec knew that unless something changed, it would be a matter of time before one of her attacks pierced through his defense. In an effort to restart the fight and attempt to rebalance it, he parried an attack and, before the next one was delivered, he jumped back, allowing the Force to carry him higher and further than normally possible. He sighed with relief as he landed with his feet spread and his hand helping him balance the fall but he didn’t have time to enjoy the success of disengage.

Thunder echoed roaring throughout the Academy, as Anexxa’s hatred manifested through the Force into a single stroke of lightning that aimed at his head, as he rose to his feet. Taken aback, he raised his lightsaber at the last possible moment and concentrated on it absorbing the attack. But the attack didn’t aim to cause harm. Barely managing to suppress his fear, he jumped further back, as the Sith had run to him with incredible speed and delivered a low, slashing blow that aimed at his feet. Sparkles jumped as her lightsaber swiped the floor were his legs were only moments earlier. Annoyed with her trick failing, Anexxa left an angry cry and, before Valec could get his bearings back, she charged at him anew.

And the sparring resumed.

Again, the Jedi was forced to defend only as the Sith delivered her blows with renewed strength.

This time Valec didn’t take any chances. He equipped himself with patience and concentrated on

the flow of the attacks, parrying when possible and avoiding them when necessary.

The two warriors circled around the room again and again, as the Jedi was always giving way to the

Sith’s ferocity. With every attack, with every blow failing to land on her target, Anexxa became all

the more fierce, her hatred and her determination to kill her enemy growing stronger. Valec struggled

to keep up with her speed, yet still, he did not try to take the offensive and relieve the pressure from

him a bit, waiting instead for his opponent’s passion to turn against her, forcing her to a mistake.

Then, one of them made that mistake.

Anexxa was unleashing a new series of attacks, as she had grabbed her saber with both hands

and kept lowering it with rage, always aiming at his head. Valec’s hand grew numb from the effort to parry

the blows, when, suddenly, she changed her angle of attack and aimed with a slashing move for his abdomen.

The attack wasn’t hard to parry and the Jedi had only to lower his lightsaber opposite hers. But Valec didn’t

do so. Instead, he twisted his body, turned around and took a step away from her, then leaned backwards,

until his back was almost parallel to the floor and his head was looking at her upside down. He spread his arms

to help him keep his balance in the awkward position and the moment that followed lasted forever in his mind.

He felt the strong heat of Anexxa’s lightsaber on the back of his neck, as it passed merely inches below his head.

He smelled the scent of burned hair and felt his single, thin braid, the symbol of his Padawan status, being cut off without resistance. And finally, he heard the gulping gasp that Anexxa left, as her other lightsaber, the one left in the middle of the room and that would had stabbed him in the back, had he not heeded the Force’s warning, pierced her torso without effort, all the way until the hilt hit her and threw her on her back.

Silence fell in the room, broken only by the Sith’s gasps for air and Valec’s panting breaths as he regained his balance.

“You, son-of-a-Kath-Hound…” Anexxa growled with widened eyes and grinding teeth, like she was trying to keep her spirit in her body. “How did you..?”

And then, her head falling powerless to the side, she died and blood from her pierced lung followed her final breath and stained her cheek.

Valec fell to his knees, every inch of his body aching from the effort. His lungs were burning, craving for more air to feed his tired muscles and he answered their request by long, deep breaths. Pride about his success surfaced in his thoughts but he knew better than to give in to them. Anexxa had made a mistake by underestimating his focus but if she hadn’t tried to rush her victory, it would be him lying lifeless on the floor. If he had been forced to defend in that way for a little longer, his body would eventually fail him, leading him to a slow reaction or a weak parry. The Sith’s skill would have proved such a mistake fatal.

His face winced as he rose to his feet and looked at his fallen opponent, her body slowly fading from his vision. Sadness came over the Miraluka at the sight of the once beaming with Life body. And then, like a statue of smoke blown away by a soft breath of air, Anexxa no longer appeared in his vision and the place where her body lied became subtle darkness for him, empty of Force as the metal walls of the room around him or the lock of cut hair that used to be his Padawan braid.

“Be with the Force now, Sith” he whispered with respect, almost swallowing the words as he spoke them. “May you find peace at last in the next part of your journey”.

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *

“You are too lenient, Gnost-Dural. Not only did you not scold your apprentice for hiding information about his mission, but you actually plan to recommend him for Knighthood to the Council”.

“It would be unfair to scold a Padawan, when he did exactly what I set him out to do and then some”.

“I don’t understand”.

“Allow me to elaborate, then, Master Dhisram. You and I both know that the chances of discovering anything new beyond what we already know about the Exile are extremely thin. Correct?”

“Correct”.

“Still, knowing that, I sent out my apprentice alone to what would seem like a fool’s errand. Why would I do that? The answer is rather simple.

Valec is like most, if not all, students that have come in contact with the dark side before their training has been completed, or even begun, for that matter: always doubtful, they are, always second guessing themselves, fearing the Dark Side so much that they do not realize that that is the surest way to be finally lured by it. Moreover, he is a Miraluka and like all members of his race, he has a strong disposition towards loyalty, be it to their race, their friends, their family or a cause. In Valec’s case, his loyalty lied with me.

Combining those two factors, my Padawan became increasingly attached to me, to the point of dependence. So long as I was with him, Valec was the perfect example of discipline, serenity and ever-growing wisdom but whenever he was left alone, he would hesitate not only about his every action, but even about his thoughts. Reassuring him of my belief in his own abilities would probably increase his dependence on me, perhaps even push him to ever seek of my approval of his every choice. But as a Knight, while staying loyal to the Order’s teachings and his superiors, Valec would have to be a strong individual , capable of initiative.

I needed a role model, someone that Valec could identify himself with and that would teach him the importance of being the master of his self. So, I thought of Visas Marr. A Miraluka, like Valec, she was once the apprentice of Darth Nihilus. When he sent her to kill the Exile, she was defeated but her life was spared. Her allegiance changed and she devoted herself to her savior’s cause, whatever that truly was. In the end, however, she managed to detach herself from the Exile’s influence, becoming one of our history’s most important figures, as she helped rebuilt the Order, assembling the Lost Jedi once more.

I knew, of course, that Valec had little chance of discovering what really happened between Marr and the Exile. But his investigation was bound to make him study her life and I was certain that his interest and admiration in her would grow. By reflecting upon Marr’s life, I forced him to do the same with his. This was Valec’s Trial of the Spirit, or Trial of the Mirror as some call it, where he had to face his greatest adversary: himself. Trusting in my apprentice’s wisdom, I believed that he would eventually discover the lesson that Marr’s story teaches us: no one can fulfill their destiny, unless they take their own path in Life, with the Force as their guide.

Whether Valec realized that lesson fully or not, I do not know. But when he decided to act alone and not consult me, he showed to me that at least he is on the right path”.

“I see. It was quite a gamble, what you did, Gnost-Dural. You could have lost your Padawan forever. You said it yourself, the young man was questioning himself about his ability to resist the lure of the Dark Side. After all, he was once their apprentice and even if they never had the chance to go far with his training, the temptation of giving in must be great for him”.

“True. But the way he handled his confrontation with the Sith proved to me and, more importantly, to him, that he possesses the discipline of mind needed. He held his passions at bay and fought in serenity through the body and Force”.

“That is what he claims”.

“There was no lie in his voice, Dhisram, and I know my apprentice”.

“I have no reason to doubt your words, then, my friend. What of his other Trials, though? Have they been completed?”

“They have now. By fighting the Sith and using the Force with wisdom during the encounter, he passed in my eyes both the Trial of Courage and that of Skill”.

“And the Trial of Flesh?”

“To see a Force user die in front of him… To witness the scar that such a loss brings to the Force...  It is always a sad thing but for a Miraluka... For a Miraluka, it must be like taking his eyes out, forbidding him from ever seeing that part of the universe again. And yet, he spoke of it with hope, as if he had witnessed with his own eyes that it was not the end. Yes… I think that Valec passed his Trial of the Flesh and the sense of loss and pain it requires and came out stronger by it”.

“All the Trials in one… A rare occurrence, indeed”.

“True. But the Force speaks to us in many ways and I am not one to ignore its signs when given. Even before I proposed Valec’s name to the Council, the Force had already knighted him”.

“How do you mean?”

“There will be no braid for me to cut with my lightsaber in Valec’s Knighting ceremony, my friend. It has already been done”.