Star Wars Invasion: Episode VIII, Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

-Years ago-

   Aron Jarsan....

   Toah stared at Atha Prime, who had just revealed to him that he had once gone by this name.

   "So," Toah muttered, "Revan was never-"

   "Known as Aron Jarsan," Atha finished for him. "Another thing I had implemented into your memories."

   Something close to realization dawned on Toah. "On Dantooine, my adopted parents names were Aron and Naya. Does that mean you-"

   "Yes. I am your 'adoptive' father. I take it that, after your 'netherworld' experience, you had assumed that your mother and I were descendants of Revan?"

   "It might have crossed my mind," Toah said. "I guess I... never bothered to make the connection."

   "It would seem so," Atha said. He then stretched his arms out and mimicked a yawn. "Now then, I'm afraid we're going to have to call it a day."

   He turned to the clone Toah. "Finis him."

   The clone nodded and walked towards Toah, his arms raised, poised to unleash a fatal blast of lightning. Toah craned his head up and stared into his own eyes. The ones which he looked at were filled with fury, contempt... and maybe even pity.

   Just as electricity began to crackle on the clone's fingertips, Toah blurted out, "How much would it pain you to kill yourself?"

   The clone paused in his preparation. "What?"

   "If you kill me, you would be killing yourself... and more so. If it weren't for me...."

   Toah glanced at Atha, who remained silent and motionless, and then back to his duplicate.

   "You wouldn't even exist."

   The clone simply stared at him for a moment, his face devoid of expression. Then, much to Toah's surprise, the lightning at his fingers flickered and then dissipated. 

   "What are you doing?" Atha Prime growled. "I said kill him!"

   "Why?" the clone asked.

   "He's a failure! He has prolonged our grand plan. He must be removed!"

   "Listen," Toah said. "All he is going to do is bring chaos to the galaxy. Is that what you want?"

   "Don't listen to him. You belong to me!"

   Something flickered in the clone's eyes as his mouth fell open. He turned to face Atha Prime, his eyes now filled with anger.

   "I belong to nobody."

   He raised his hands and unleashed the blast of lightning meant for Toah. Atha Prime spasm as the power began to mess with his armored suit's circuitry. His eye-lights blinked rapidly as he began running aimlessly around the throne room.

   The moment he reached a window, Toah got to his feet and used the Force the send the crazed scientist flying out the transparisteel glass. A small piece of shrapnel found its way into the neck of Atha's helmet. This let out a burst of energy and in mere moments, Atha Prime, the man who was once known as Aron Jarsan, was no more.

   Silence enveloped the throne room. The two Toah Jarsans stood side by side, one shaking with anger, the other with despair.

   It was finally the former who broke the silence's strong grip. "So... now what?"

   Toah sighed. "I don't know. I suppose we have to stop these beings who are rebuilding the Star Forge. But after all that has happened... I'm not sure I am up to the task."

   Through the Force, he felt the clone's anger slowly fade away as he thought about the situation. "Perhaps... I could."

   He turned to look at Toah. "Perhaps it is time... for the old you to... retire."

   Toah smirked. "Retirement, eh? Aren't I too young for that?"

   The clone shrugged. "No one's forcing you to decide."

   This time, Toah smiled at him. "I never thought the voice inside my head would get a body."

   "I hope it will still stay with you. You're going to need it."

-Present-

   "After that," the Revanchist said, finishing up his tale, "we parted ways. Toah Jarsan left for Deralia and I went elsewhere, searching for ways to prevent the Glorian invasion, and eventually founded the Dark Jedi Order."

   Xanus Baran nodded, having been silent throughout the whole story. Now that it was finished, he finally spoke. "For what purpose?"

   "I beg your pardon?"

   "What purpose does the Dark Jedi Order bring?"

   "Balance. Balance to the Force."

   "I thought Anakin Skywalker was the one who brought balance to the Force."

   "He is," the Revanchist said. "I'm simply trying to preserve it."

   Baran stared at him for a moment before nodding again. "All right. I suppose I now understand."

   He got up from his seat. "Thank you for your time... Revanchist."

   "And thank you for this opportunity."

   Both Jedi leaders looked up in time to see a cloaked being drop from the ceiling, landing on the table between them.

   "Because you have no idea how long I have been looking forward to this."

*  *  *

   Silence had fell upon Atha Prime's chamber once he had finished his tale. 

   It was Jaden Korr who eventually broke it. "Well, that... sort of clears things up. But it fails to answer one thing."

   "Which is?" Toah asked.

   "Why won't you help us fight in this war?"

   Toah traded glances with Atha before speaking. "To be perfectly honest with you? Because I don't want to."

   "Why?"

   "Fear, mainly. I'm afraid that someone will try to use me to control the new Star Forge."

   "Or they could just use your clone."

   Toah blinked. "Point taken. But speaking of him...."

   He sighed. "There was more to our departure than what you've been told. He expressed jealousy of my past actions, such as saving the galaxy. I fear that if I returned, he would feel that I would be trying to overshadow him."

   Typical brotherhood, Jaden thought. Aloud, he said, "Well then, is there anyway I can get you to change your mind?"

   Toah shook his head. "You'd be wasting your time."

   Jaden sighed as he got up from his seat. "All right, then. Farewell, Toah Jarsan, and thank you, Atha Prime-"

   He paused. "Wait. If Aron Jarsan is dead, along with Finis Valorum... then who did you used to be?"

   Atha Prime looked up at him with his scarlet gaze. "Is my previous identity that relevant?"

   Jaden thought about it for a moment before saying, "I guess not."

   With nothing else to say, he walked out of Atha's residence, climbed into his landspeeder, and headed back for Deraln.