The Inferno (Book 7)

[Akirapryde]

(7.4) Meditations and Reflections
Republic Cruiser Marauder
Republic Cloak Class Cruiser
Enroute Fra
January 9th, 1938


On Jumus, Master Visst found what he was looking for and than some. The host of their dinner was none other then Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. To many citizens of the Reich Manfred von Richthofen was nothing short of a living legend. The sole father of Reich Naval Aviation. He was more commonly known as the Red Baron. The Red within his nickname was from to the blood red Falx fighter he still flew to this very day. While at the stick of this highly nimble and very able fighter, he racked up more confirmed kills than any other pilot in Galactic history. The Baron part of his name came from his official social rank within the Reich, Freiherr or in basic, Free Lord. Beyond all that everyone knew of this legendary hero of the Reich, Visst learned something much deeper about the man. Manfred was the Senior Grand Master of all of the Sabbat. A man so deep routed within the Force that Visst felt his presence long before they even made landfall. Though Visst was sure that no one else sensed it. It made Master Visst wonder if Manfred had been expected their visit. The ways of the Sabbat were so much like the ways of the old Jedi Order. The Sabbat motives and intentions were not directly clear until one took the time to meditate on that is known.

Master Visst set in his room aboard the Marauder meditating on the motives and intentions of Manfred. Master Visst reflected with a great sense of awe over the meeting. He had met so many Force tradition leaders in his life time. None ever left such an impression on him as Manfred did. On the surface, he was just a normal aged human. The emotions that Manfred showed were as prefect as Master Visst had ever seen. Still, the control and dedication to Manfred's tradition was at a level that Master Visst hoped he would reach within his own traditions. With his eyes closed, Master Visst could still sense the two holocrons on the floor in front of him. Their soft blue light lit up his face as his face remained calm and his mind still. It didn't take long for Master Visst to discover that the Sabbat Leadership had added two thousand years worth of their traditions to these two holocrns. Not only did Master Visst have a window in to the past of his own universe, he had a window in to the history of the Sabbat. There were some seventy new personalities within the two holocrons. Each promised to unlock the secrets of the Sabbat and their unique history starting with the personality of Grand Master Biggs Saar. Also known as the Tiger Prince, but more commonly known in history now as the Dragon of Blood or Prince of Pain. It was a venomous campaign by the Church to undermine and destroy the Sabbat. Still, these new findings would have to wait. Visst's mind was forced to deal with a conflict that he never realized till that long walk back from Manfred's estate.

The very current state of events within the Sesewenna Sector was playing a lead role in this conflict within Visst's mind. There was no more doubt in Master Visst's mind, darkness had returned to the galaxy. The kind of darkness that Master Visst last felt within his own universe. He felt its dark influence spreading across the Sesewenna Sector in the form violent protests against the governments friendly to the Reich. These protests have claimed hundreds of innocent lives and forced more and more armed conflicts between protesters and soldiers. Sometimes these soldiers were Reich Army and sometimes they were the soldiers of local governments. Looking beyond the Sesewenna Sector he could feel across both the Bajic and Quence Sectors joined the violent protests in full force. Mayagil Sector was starting to show signs of protests as well. For all of Master Visst's and the party's influence, the Reich Regional Commander, Admiral Werner Rahn, had did his best to keep his forces at bay. Master Visst knew that it was only a mater of time till the Admiral could no longer hold back. Against all of what the galaxy knows of the Reich, the Admiral took Master Visst's plan of dealing with the protest. But at times it simply was not enough. Master Visst knew that the group known as the RAH or Races Against Humanity were directly behind these protests. Master Visst also knew that Daz was somehow linked the the RAH. Either directly or somehow supporting and aiding them. The fact that Daz would knowingly assist or support, or even condone a terrorist group troubled Master Visst deeply.

Visst knew that the group was focused on spreading hatred and distrust of all humans across the galaxy. He had his concerns of what their next step would be. He didn't want to admit it to the others but his ability to sense the future was becoming more and more clouded. Once more, he knew this to be a direct affect of the darkside moving more freely within the Galaxy. It was because of this clouded sight, Master Visst was unable to foresee the assassination of Admiral Rahn and his staff. A bomb had been carried in to a meeting by one of the Admiral's aides and detonated right next to the Admiral. Master Visst knew all to well it was Naga Sadow that was behind the bombing. And within that event Master Visst was able to see in to an event that linked past and present. Master Visst saw Sadow standing like a tower over Daz demanding to know why he, the Lord of the Sith should serve Daz. When Daz spoke, Master Visst knew it was not Daz's voice, Daz clearly laid out that if the former Sith wanted to survive than he would do as he was told. Master Visst understood clearly the Sith language they were speaking as Daz explained that he was able to destroy Sadow in a way that would end him completely. More importantly, Master Visst knew without a doubt that Daz was a willing party within this conversation. Daz told Sadow that he needed a general that would lead his army against the forces of light and the Church. That if Sadow did his part, that Daz would ensure that Sadow would rule over one third of the Galaxy as his own.

With the death of their beloved Admiral, the Reich soldiers unleashed a violent retaliation against the RAH and anyone caught in the middle. The death toll shot up like a fighter taking flight. On some worlds this turn by the Reich helped silence the protests. But on other worlds, this only caused the protests to explode beyond any measure of control. The Reich reaction to the assassination gave the RAH the best motivation to recruit more new terrorists. Which drove up the violence and death. This in turn drove the need for more Reich soldiers being called in to the region. Before hundreds of ships were speeding their way to Reich space filled with war supplies while those same ships returned with goods and wealth for the region. Now, those same ships return with tens of millions of new soldiers that were destine to be used against the Varl or the unified front within Council space. This level of death was simply not necessary to win this region from the Reich. Admiral Rahn could have become a strong ally and a voice to reach other disheartened Reich Officers. This escalation was foolish and lacked any consideration for the innocent lives that now were being thrown away. It was something that Master Visst could not condone. And this turn of events was only part of what troubled Master Visst.

What was concerning Master Visst was a shape contrast to how he handled the issues of his former Padawa, the late Ubaah K'awil, and the way he was currently handling the raising crisis with Daz. When they first came to this time, Ubaah had already shown his eagerness to pursue the darkside. It came to a head when Ubaah had for some reason foolishly attempted to assassinate Talon. Master Visst confronted Ubaah and asked to understand what was going on. Ubaah had attempted to lie his way out of the situation and frame Talon for it. Once the true was revealed, Ubaah finally came forward and told Master Visst that he was not satisfied with the light side and desired to pursue the darkside of the Force. After the short conversation, Master Visst had no further doubts of Ubaah's intentions and had to give the order to hunt him down. There was no direct intent to kill Ubaah, but that was unavoidable. Visst had tried to speak to Ubaah but instead, Ubaah fled in to the woods in a desperate attempt to get away. Had Ubaah gotten away, he would have posed a very serious threat to the party. It was Ogon who dealt the final blow which took Ubaah's life. A moment that still pulls at Visst's harden wall that is his emotions. He sensed Ubaah's fall slowly coming but there had never seemed to be the time to address the issue. Not that Visst blamed himself completely. When time did present its self, Visst did attempt to speak with Ubaah. But it was Ubaah who had refused to address the issue.

This brought Visst's mind to think of Rose and Alaya. Both force users offer Visst a much deeper understanding of the darkside than he ever had before. 'Don't be fooled, the dark side IS a living breathing thing. It will hunt you down and place temptation along your life's path. I had tried over and over again to turn back. But I couldn't. No, I tried a number of times. But IT keeps finding me and luring me back with the things it knows I want.' The echoes of Alaya's voice filled his mind. The conversation took place as Visst was taking the fallen Jedi to Origin. It was the only place where Visst knew that the Dark side couldn't reach them and further corrupt them again. Rose had talked to them regarding her own experience with the Dark side. She described her sensations more like a hunger that never stops. 'Don't you think I knew that what I was doing was wrong? I did. I knew all too well that it was wrong. I just didn't care about that. I only cared about gaining more power. Feeding that hunger. The last thing I remember before being woken up by Xan was in my room. I was crying. Oh my god Visst I cried. I had murdered a Jedi padawan who only mistake was going to the library and seeing me leave the vault. I thought I had to kill him to protect what I was doing. I don't even remember what it was that was so damn important. But I had to do it. As I was choking the life from him, I looked in to his eyes and he begged me not to kill him. That night I looked in the mirror and knew it was time to leave the Order. I felt so horrible about what I had done, but I just didn't care.'

Rose had seemed to taken to her memories of who she was more emotional than Visst had wanted, but the result seemed to act as a much deeper moral compass for her to guide her life by. Now the clone of the Galaxy's most hated and evil Sith Queen was doing everything in her power to atone for actions that even Visst had a hard time linking to the clone. Visst had watched Rose push herself beyond her limits to help the group achieve their goals. He remembered seeing her for the first time, back then I didn't fully trust her. There were still strong doubts in his heart regarding any possible mysterious lines of code that the Crusade had left within her mind. But for now, Visst was sure that the party could trust her. She has done more than enough and gone far enough proven that point. He had talked to Lysire regarding her own fall in to darkness. Unlike Rose and Alaya, Lysire said that she never realized that she had slipped so far till it was far too late. For Lysire, it was her blind love for Biggs that drove her fall. While her fall might not provide Visst with more details, her atonement offered much deeper insight. 'It was like a never ending climb up an impossible cliff. No matter what you do, it didn't seem to work out. For us, because it was the two of us, we pushed each other. With each passing day, we could feel the warmth of the light returning to our lives. Those days on the run were some of my most found memories. Biggs and I, we actually lived our lives.' Lysire had told Visst when they were back on Fra. Once more, her experience reinforced the same line of thought. That the Dark side not only seeks out targets to corrupt, but does what it can to keep them corrupt. That gives the Dark side a will and mind of its own. This could very well change everything for Master Visst. It was starting to shed light on the coming battle for Daz. It would not be like any battle he had ever fought. Still, there was one more experience Master Visst wanted to hear from.

He activated the holocron and worked passed the gatekeeper. There were so many personalities stored within the holohcron. Some he knew very well, they were the former heroes and Masters of his own universe. Others he didn't recognize, they were most likely Sabbat elders who were now teaching new Sabbat. He didn't fully like the way they taught their younglings and padawan. The Sabbat much like the Sith of old in his universe had one Master and one student. The Sith did this to limit the grab for power and to remain hidden from the Jedi. The Sabbat did this solely to remain hidden from the Church. Still, it was a practice that Master Visst would like to see changed. Even though he completely understood the need for it. He would still change it. The practice allowed the possibility of a Master teaching a student wrong or worse yet leading them down a dark path. Master Visst was starting to get a complete picture of the temptations of the darkside and what it would do to keep those that it has corrupted. He needed to be sure of his information because Daz and the fate of the galaxy could very well rest in the balance.

Visst still had much hope that Daz would somehow turn back from the path that he was on. However the more Visst thought about it, the more Visst realized that maybe turning back was beyond what Daz wanted or was able to do. If Daz didn't see what he was doing, then the darkside had been able to cast an illusion over what Daz could see. If Daz did see what he was doing, then he no longer wished to walk within the light. Rose was much like this. She didn't care what she did as long as her personal goals were being met. Alaya on the other hand had tried a number of time to turn back, but found temptation much harder to resist. Lysire on the other hand never realized what had happened till it was far too late to do anything about it. Daz was not like Lysire, Angel and Visst had gone to him a number of times hoping to warn him of the dangers. 'No' Visst thought as he ruled out ignorance. Daz knows what is happening. Back before when Daz crossed that line with the Darkside, he fought hard to come back. After many failed attempts, Daz finally did cross back over to the light side. So Visst could see Alaya's personal experience within Daz's own experiences. Daz seemed to have done much better, but it was the attachment issues which finally led Daz once more down the path of darkness. Now he sees Rose's experiences within Daz's actions. Daz wanted to recreate the Great Republic do badly that it could be the hunger that could fit Rose's experience. Currently, Daz has done everything he could to feed that goal. Despite his pure intentions, Daz's hands are not without blood. It didn't seem to matter what was said could make Daz aware of this fact. Of the experiences that Visst has studied so far, those of Rose were the most dangerous and the most likely to be linked to Daz's current actions. Looking back at his encounter with Daz, Visst saw the same level of lack of care in Daz that Rose painfully described. Daz will have this Republic regardless of the cost.

That brought Master Visst to consider the situation with Daz more deeply. Unlike Ubaah, who had a hint of darkness in him, Daz was nearly dripping with it. Seeing Daz back on Korriban, Master Visst not only felt the darkness around Daz, he could see the effect across Daz's face. Ubaah had made a declaration that he had no intention of returning to the light. This gave Master Visst the reason needed to remove Ubaah as a threat to the party and most likely the Galaxy. Daz has not made such a declaration so far, so Master Visst still wanted to hold out for hope. Maybe, just maybe, like Lysire and Alaya, something might change in Daz's life and allow him a chance to come back to the light side. There was a chance, and Master Visst was going to hang on to it for as long as he can. For all the good that Daz had done in the past, and for adventures that they did share together, Visst felt that he owed Daz that much. Though this did cause much conflict in Visst. The rigid Jedi Master that Visst was demanded to uphold the Jedi Code in being the Guardian of the Galaxy. Daz could become the Emperor of this Universe and finish what the Church started. The mortal being that is Visst still holds to the strong bounds that is friendship and loyalty. While Visst doesn't wish to have his actions governed by these attachments, their influence is still there in his mind. He knew that whatever he did, he would not allow himself to be influenced by attachments. Part of his mind saw this situation as a true trail of his determination. He had not realized how deeply Daz's friendship was part of his life. Now the situation brought the bitter pain of reality.

There was no longer any doubt for Master Visst, Daz had willing turned from the light side and embraced darkness. Even though there was hope that Daz might turn back sometime in the future, the current situation is a matter of fact. There was also no doubt in Master Visst's mind that he couldn't trust anything that Daz said. There were simply too many times that Daz would say what Visst wanted to hear only to see Daz do what Daz wanted to do in the first place. Throughout their adventuring days Visst had more than enough examples of these half truths and bold face lies. Now with so much more at stake, Daz has tossed off the cloak of half truths and either lied out right or simply refused to answer the questions. Nothing of what Daz said back on Korriban convinced Master Visst. The village, the deaths in the prison, Master Visst knew that Daz was behind them. If Daz was not directly involved, than he had indirectly orchestrated them. Daz was willing to place innocent lives in harms way to further his own goals. Regardless of what those goals intended, it was the very worse thing anyone could do. When Master Visst confronted Daz about it, Daz only deflected the conversation around their own personal conflicts. There was more that Visst needed to know about the situation.

Visst thought of what the Hunter Lysire had said about the deaths within the prison. She had said that the inmates were taken from their carbonite and murdered. Lysire made a point to say that she caught one inmate and took her to rejoin with the Force. This statement felt odd to Visst. If a life is lost, then wouldn't rejoin with the force automatically? The question caused great concern in Visst as he remembered what she had said. “She was so confused and blind from her imprisonment. Still they dragged her to the wall and held her there. They murdered her. I felt that she had paid the price for her crimes and caught her before she fell and took her to rejoin the force.” Visst knew that Lysire couldn't interfere with what was going on. It was the whole reason why the Council of Me was created, to ensure that Lysire didn't break and other rules as she had in the passed. Hunter Lysire represented Law and Order. There was no way she would violate the rules of the Elders. Unless she felt that she had no choice but to interfere. What had Daz done at that prison and why kill the inmates? Daz could have allowed the inmate to remain as they were. And if he felt that they had to be killed, why wouldn't they rejoin with the Force? Visst thought long and hard about these questions.

Visst activated the holocron in front of him. The bluish image of Biggs Saar appeared as a life size man wearing traditional Jedi Robes. His hands were tucked across his body within the openings of his sleeves. The hood of his robes hung down across his back allowing Master Visst to see the much older Biggs for the experience Jedi Master he had become. Not the young hot headed Knight that fell to the dark side. “Master Visst” Biggs said softly with a bow. “I was under the impression that you died in the Hothe System.”

Visst returned the bow with a nod of his head, “Master Saar. It is a very long story. One that I would enjoy sharing with you. But I feel we need to talk about your fall to the Dark side and how you brought your way back” Visst said softly.

Biggs nodded and opened his hands, “Then shall we begin at the beginning, Master Visst.”