The walk through the ship's inner corridors was a quiet one. Which also meant that they were running it either under-manned or just at the bare minimum. A skeleton crew at best. Usually, an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer had a complement of 37,000. Of course, it was not what was required to make it run, but that could still be done with about 1,000 or so. I tried to reach out through the Force to get a read of it, but there was nothing. My senses were blocked from it. As for how? I couldn't tell. What I could tell, though, was that there was no grime, no damage, no wear or tear. It was renovated in a way that made it feel as if the ship was brand new.
Turning my head from the walls and doors, I looked at Vestara Khai, who was walking ahead of us. Her aura was calm and poised. She felt confident and, to my surprise, without any apparent hostility. Still, while guiding us, she didn't speak, didn't even look back to make sure we followed. Not that she needed to. I bet she could feel it if she tried to slip away or go down the wrong door... but if so, why didn't she say anything about where HK-O1 disappeared to? In fact... where did he go? Tsk...
"This place gives me the creeps." Vila leaned over to me, whispering.
"A bit." I agreed, looking to my left while passing through intersecting corridors.
There, it seemed masked figures stood like statues, present at key intersections. I slowed my steps to try and get a better look and a better feeling for them. Even if they noticed my intention, they didn't move and didn't breathe loudly enough for me to hear. For a moment, I thought they might not be humans after all, but droids. It could have been the case... So, I tried brushing my will against one of them through the Force, just a nudge... and the figure recoiled. Well, then... they are not droids.
And they felt Force-sensitive. As for how well they could sense the Force, it was too little of an event for me to judge, but I wouldn't say they were strong enough to become Padawans.
In the end, we were led into a chamber midway up the central spire. It was clearly a conference room once, though its aesthetic was striking after it had been retrofitted. Now, it sported minimalist furniture, obsidian-black walls lined with low, red glyphs, probably some kind of ancient text that I couldn't read, and a long table set in the middle. What made the room pop a little were the bowls of fruit placed on it, giving color to the place, along with a tray of crisp flatbread and some steaming cups of dark tea.
Four young men and women were waiting when we arrived, and they also entered behind us, wearing red sashes over black robes. They were not armed, nor did they feel aggressive, but their movements told me that they were trained. One of the young women placed a teacup before my Master and bowed as someone honoring a guest. I can't lie; the hospitality was throwing me off here. So, I began reaching out via the Force to confirm it. The moment I did, I felt her presence in the Force, unmistakable. These were at least Padawan-level people, for sure... She wasn't as strong as Vila, I think, but she was trained. Maybe sixteen. More than that, the hospitality... was genuine. Or they learned how to trick Jedi Senses.
"They're like Padawans," I whispered to Vila.
"Not quite," she muttered back. "They feel different a bit... but your senses are sharper."
"Well then," Vestara finally turned to face us, gesturing to the seats, looking at both of us, interrupting our probings as my senses were suddenly cut off. "Please. Be comfortable. You're not among enemies."
Master Katarn raised an eyebrow and let out a quiet snort, but took a seat beside my Master nonetheless. Of course, Vila sat beside me, but I felt my back remain stiff after taking a seat. That sudden cutoff bothered me, but I couldn't really speak up about it. It could be seen as... well, rude to probe others like this. Haahh... This was getting tricky. Shaking my head, I looked back at Vestara, who remained standing for a moment longer before finally settling into the high-backed chair at the head of the table. Her eyes moved to Master Katarn first before she exhaled lightly and folded her hands, glancing at my Master.
"I imagine you have questions," she said directly to Ben.
"Yes," He answered calmly. "Several, in fact. But the most pressing one is, what exactly are you trying to build here?"
"I understand the fear you Jedi have." She smiled. It was not smug but sincere... Weird. That made it worse. "This is not a new empire, Ben. I'm not a second Palpatine, and I have no ambition to rule the Galaxy through fear. Or rule it at all."
"Then what do you call all this?" Katarn asked, gesturing vaguely to the walls. "A tea club with a Star Destroyer? You are calling the ship Reborn... Please, do you know how many abominations named like that I killed once?"
"I do. And yet, we are being called 'Sith' and 'evil,' not you. I find it quite... amusing." Vestara chuckled. "Don't worry, Master Katarn, we are not like Dessant's puppets. We call it the Revani Order... You see, I found it fit to name it after someone who understood both sides. You know who I am talking about.
"Revan?" Ben asked, furrowing his brows. It was a name that was unfamiliar to me. Huh. I will have to ask about him later... "Balance through mastery. Understanding through experience."
"His teachings are influenced by both sides, you know that." Vestara continued, "He was reborn... not just once if you look at his history," she added with a sigh, "Look. I had a lot to think about, and along with my meditations, I came to a new understanding, Ben. I did listen to our talks and your attempts to bring me into the Order. I did take your words to heart, but I don't agree with many things Grandmaster Skywalker does. He is, too... Conservative. He leaves too much to the Force, and his actions come as reactions. I... don't think that is the best approach. We can't be just reacting; we must act!"
"..." I watched as Master remained silent, but to my ears, this was still Dark Side talk. Glancing at Vila, to my surprise, she was listening, arms crossed before her chest, but... in her eyes, there was understanding and even the light of agreement.
"Your grandfather," Vestara kept speaking, "brought balance to the Force. And I mean it. At first, I didn't really believe in it, Ben. But now, I do. You do know what balance means... It does not mean that one side can only exist!"
"Are you saying that the Sith is necessary?" Master Katarn asked with a snort.
"We are not Sith," Vestara corrected him. "We are not following the teachings that raised Palpatine or what Darth Bane mandated, nor the words of more ancient figures, akin to Naga Sadow. No. I abandoned that thought after I realized what balance means. On both sides of the Force, falling into the extreme ends means that it becomes twisted. Be it light or darkness... It becomes unbalanced. My new Order is not that different than yours."
"Really?" Vila leaned forward slightly, suddenly speaking. "And those serving us? Are they not your servants then?"
"No, they are our Acolytes," Vestara explained. "The first of our Initiates. They learn not just about the Force, but we give them purpose. Give them discipline and usefulness. In the Jedi, a Padawan obeys until they are deemed worthy. In the Revani Order, an Acolyte serves to understand why power is necessary—and when to offer it to others."
"So, you try to teach them obedience before pride?" Ben asked, and I couldn't even read his thoughts.
"To feel and understand pride, you need to earn it first. It is not given freely..." Vestara nodded. "We don't shun emotion like that or like anger. Nor do we glorify domination like the old Sith dogmas. Power has meaning when directed. It is not cruel... Our passion fuels our actions, but it must benefit the whole."
"What?" I blinked my eyes, finally coming out of my initial shock. That... didn't sound like Sith doctrine. Or Jedi doctrine, either. A mix? Kinda... "You're describing something in between the two..." I said, still furrowing my brows because I wasn't sure if I could or would believe her.
"You are on the right path, Padawan," she said, and her eyes flicked to me. I could feel the weight behind them, and she wasn't just speaking to Ben anymore, but to me, too. "We train our members not to ascend through betrayal or scheming—but through their own power."
"That doesn't mean they won't scheme..." I added, glancing at the others standing behind her.
"Not all schemes are evil." She countered, and I had to hold back from rolling my eyes.
"It is still a Sith-like hierarchy," Katarn exhaled through his nose. "Dressed up with ideology."
"All orders are ideology in uniform," Vestara countered smoothly. "Even yours."
"I have another question," Ben leaned forward slightly. "Why now? Why build this now? You knew we were watching you, keeping tabs on you. You knew that the moment you tried to disappear, we would go after you."
"I knew that Skywalker would send his son after me. We have a connection..." she said as she regarded him for a moment and looked around the table. "As long as his Order stands, as long as Jedi are being nurtured, there will be those who fail and fall. They would be directionless or little more than warlords with lightsabers. So, I decided that I would make something new. Something foundational. Something designed to endure."
"What grand dreams!" Master Katarn chuckled, but Vestara didn't seem offended.
"I know." She agreed, "The old schism happened because the old Jedi didn't want to let a different view of the Force exist besides their dogmas. I know that Grandmaster Skywalker's teachings are different. My question still is, would he be like the old Jedi and try to exterminate us just because of differing views on the Force... or would he honor his own teachings and let us exist? Even... coexist? We don't need to be allies... but we need not to be enemies."
"So, you would start... recruiting?" Ben asked, raising one brow, followed by Master Katarn's comment.
"And if one says no, then comes the kidnapping and brainwashing."
"No. If someone doesn't align with us, then we move on," Vestara said evenly. "We do not conquer worlds. We would invite them to adapt to our beliefs. We offer security, purpose, and strength. And if they decline, they remain as they are. There are many places in the Galaxy at the moment that would welcome our teachings..."
"Heh," Ben folded his hands, shaking his head. "You've certainly put thought into this."
"I had time," she replied. "And vision. And a willingness to let go of old hatreds. I no longer hate the Jedi, Ben. I understand them... I understand you, too... do not deny that." She smiled at him, and I could feel a flicker escape her as if she... did like him. A lot.
"You do know me." Master sighed after a momentary pause, "And I do know you. I also know that the reason you are telling me all this is that you want to convince us that we can work together. There is something that you need us for, and you know we wouldn't help you unless you can make us do it willingly."
"Oh?" Master Katarn hummed, and I also straightened up again, glaring at Vila, who looked back at me, just as curious.
"You are right." She nodded, not denying it. "I told you all this so you can understand us, not to ask for your permission to exist."
"What do you need the Jedi for then?" I asked, blurting out my thoughts and making her look at me with a smile.
"To open the way..." she said, reaching out and tapping a red rune on the table. Suddenly, the room went dark, and a detailed holographic projection detailing the nearby sectors appeared before us all. "There is an unmapped, untraversed sector at this edge of the Galaxy." She began speaking as the image zoomed in on a black, empty region that a moment later changed, becoming lit up and showing stars and nebulas all around it... with clear, red warning spots all attached to a black hole. It was... chaotic.
"What the hell..." Vila whispered, echoing my exact thoughts.
"This is the Rakatan Cliff of No Return." Vestara explained, a half-smile hanging on her lips, "But that is a rough translation. It is a system that they had hidden away before their empire fell. As for why, I don't know. What is in the middle of it? I also don't know. But I found the route..." she tapped again, and a thin, weak hyperplane began drawing between the black holes and other, massive stars leading into it. "but to traverse it, it needs navigators... two, one of them attuned to the Light Side, the other to the Dark. Only the two working together can navigate a ship through."
"Why would you lead you to it?" Master Katarn asked, laughing, but Vestara's next words made him fall silent quickly.
"For now, it is uncharted. But once a secret is revealed, it is no longer a secret. I know about it, which means that others will also learn about it. It's only a matter of time until someone makes his way in. The question is," she chuckled, and I could feel her eyes scanning us in the dark. "Will it be us... or not?"