CHAPTER FIVE
The Woostoid led Master Baran to a small room, which was dimly lit by lanterns. Its sole occupant was a man clad in a dark robe, crimson armor, and a striking familiar mask, sitting in a meditative position.
"Master," the old Woostoid said quietly to the man. "You have a visitor."
"One which I've been expecting," the Revanchist said. "Leave us."
Baran stepped into the room and the Woostoid closed the door behind. A long silence lasted between the two men, each one waiting for the other to speak first. After it had dragged on for too long, Baran took a deep breath and spoke.
"Hello, Toah Jarsan."
"I do not respond to that name."
"You might have to, since from what I've heard, there are four other Revanchists out there."
"I had a feeling you would find out sooner or later." The Revanchist stood up and turned to face the Jedi Grand Master. "Why have you come here?"
"I am here for answers," Baran said. "For pretty much everything."
He could sense a smile being concealed by the mask. "Just what I was expecting."
"Are you prepared to give me those answers?"
The Revanchist dipped his head. "Certainly." He gestured to two seats at a nearby table. "Why don't you sit down?"
* * *
He's here.
As soon as Jaden had lamented on how difficult it would be trying to find Toah Jarsan, his Force senses perked up and he could immediately feel Toah's presence somewhere in the vicinity.
Moving down the street, going door to door, Jaden probed for Toah's Force signature. He could tell he was drawing nearer, for with each house he passed, the presence grew stronger. By the time he had turned the corner and had reached as house designated 113, he was now certain that this was Toah's residence.
Jaden walked carefully up the pathway leading to the silver durasteel door. Upon reaching it, he rang the doorbell, though he wasn't expecting an immediate answer. He rung it a second time, adding a loud knock on the door at the end. When still no response came, he spoke, projecting loudly.
"Toah, I know you're there. I can feel you through the Force. Please, open up."
Still no response. Not surprised by this, Jaden reached out with his mind and willed the control panel on the other side of the door to unlock the door and open it. He stepped inside, making sure to close the door only halfway in case he needed to make a getaway, and observed the room before him.
It was a rather simple one, with only a few pieces of furniture and accomplices. What caught his eye, though, was the miniature holographic replica of a planet, placed on a fireplace mantle. Jaden could not tell which one it was, but before he could dwell on it, his eyes drifted to a metal plaque adorning the wall above the hologram. Inscribed crudely on the plate was the name Atha Prime.
Something in his memory jostled. Almost subconsciously, he walked up to the plaque, examining it. For whatever reason, the name felt familiar.
Tentatively, he reached out with his hand and touched it. Closing his eyes, he imagined the time-stream as a river, just as Seer Ph'ban had taught him. In his mind, he stepped into the river and went downstream....
* * *
The memory is vague. Moments and days are spliced and patched together. Nothing is complete about it.
In one scene, a group of black-robed beings, with masks resembling skeletal visages concealing their faces, stand united in a circle, surrounding a child as they chant an oath of some sort.
"Only power is real, and the only real power is the power to destroy. Existence is fleeting. Destruction is eternal."
They raise their hands up to the heavens, as if beckoning something.
"This is the one truth. This is the way of the Dark."
A black fog envelopes the scene and then parts to reveal a new one. A lone man is standing in a lab of some sort, tinkering with tools while being surrounded by vats of what appears to be genetic material.
"Existence is fleeting," the man murmurs as he works. "Destruction is eternal."
A wicked grin crosses his face as he holds up a small container.
"Creation...has no limits."
* * *
A light tap on the shoulder snapped Jaden from the vision. He whirled around, igniting his lightsaber, to face the person now standing before him.
That person was Toah Jarsan.
Though he looked several decades older, Jaden could not mistake the face. Calming down, he deactivated his lightsaber and stared into the other man's strangely sunken eyes.
"Hello, Toah."
"Jaden," Toah muttered, nodding curtly to his fellow Jedi. "What brings you here to Deralia?"
"You, of course," Jaden replied. "Where have you been these past ten years?"
"Here, there." Toah gestured with his arms. "Every where."
He nodded to the plaque. "What did it show you?"
"Not much," Jaden said tersely. "Now answer my question, but be more specific."
Toah smiled tiredly. "It is difficult to recount everything. I have been to many places, seen so many things...words can not do them justice."
"Whatever," Jaden said, scowling. He grabbed Toah's arm, intending to drag him out of this strange room. "You're coming with me back to Ossus."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Jaden stared at him bemusedly. "What are you talking about?"
The wizened Jedi let out a hoarse laugh. "What drive do I have to go anywhere but here? I am happy here. Here, I am away from chaos and discord."
"Yeah, well, soon the chaos and discord is going to come here," Jaden snapped. "Come on, Toah. We need you."
The former Jedi stared at him, his eyes suddenly devoid of emotion. "Needed? What possible assistance could I give you? If you brought me back home, your chances against the Glorian Empire would not change."
With surprising strength, Toah wrenched his arm free from Jaden's grip. "No," the former murmured. "All I can give you...for whatever it's worth...is to tell you what I have discovered."
"But you just said so yourself that mere words could not do that justice."
Toah smiled. "My words, perhaps." He inclined his head to the plaque. "But perhaps someone else's would suffice.
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