Jedi Insurgency 106

During a break in the meeting, Corvus found himself alone with Obi-Wan. 

Standing on a balcony overlooking a training yard, the rain clouds had mostly parted, and the last rays of sunshine brought cascading rainbows down upon the war torn city. The scent of recently put out fires met Corvus's nostrils, and formerly smoking ruins-now nothing more than burnt out support beams-dotted the landscape. 

Off in the distance, the sound of artillery boomed. Water that had pooled near his boots shook, and he caught the reflection of blue & red bolts in the air. 

Most of the Imperial troops had retreated alongside Thrawn. However, about a million men had been left behind. Rahm and Poggle were currently in a competition to see who could hunt down the most people. 

Down below, in the square, Jax, Yon, Caleb, and Falon were animatedly telling one another stories, and fooling around. The sight of kids being kids, and simply living life filled Corvus's heart with pride. This was what he fought for. 

‘Friend.’ His kyber crystal glowed, it, no she, placed an aura around his shoulders like a blanket. 

This warmth that filled his soul then radiated outwards, and cut the chill for both him, and everyone within a mile radius. 

Closing his eyes, and embracing this motherly care, Corvus felt a tear of relief drip down his face. Although Corvus enjoyed being alone 90% of the time, as a man, it felt good to be loved, to be needed. That his actions as a protector directly lead to this outcome, this victory, it was a relief. 

This feeling of belonging, of being needed, he shared it with everyone that he was bonded with. Jax, Yon, Tann, and even Keira. 

Each one of them was quick to respond. 

Jax's emote was solemn, yet affirming that he would be the one to protect Corvus going forward! The proud echo of tyranny lingered like a distant roar. Corvus felt that Jax was solid like a mountain, and would go far. But he worried that should he perish, this child might go to extreme lengths…

Yon's response was embarrassment, followed by a quiet will to improve himself. Corvus grasped that perhaps his pursuit of power was no longer solely focused for himself. 

Tann didn't respond with an emotion, per se. More like Corvus felt a wet kiss on his lips, and the phantom caress of a hand on his buttocks before it disappeared. He could only snort from this sensation, and replied with a phantom smack of his own. 

Lastly, Keira. Their bond was the weakest, yet from her, he sensed that she was deep in meditation at the moment. The powerful resonance of Tython seemed to amplify their tenuous bond, and for a minute, he felt as if he had astral projected to her location. 

Opening his eyes, he glanced down at the green short haired tomboy, and watched her athletic form dodge hundreds of projectiles every second. Sweat gleamed off of her, and he could feel the beat of her heart, and the hotness of her breath. Her black lipstick marked lips crested into a smile when she saw him. Keira held him as an object of competition! Evidently defeating her so easily had not broken her spirit, and in fact, had pushed her ever further! Just as his phantom astral projection was about to fade away, she ran up to him, and stared him in the eyes. 

!!!

Corvus was greatly shocked when he felt the intensity of her gaze. It was like he was naked, and she was a predator eyeing a fine piece of meat! Her competitive spirit blazed through their bond, and she leaned forward. 

‘I have learned much on Tython. From our past. That the Je'daii had families. I know you have feelings for me…I want to know if this bond should be broken…or if we should deepen it. See you soon.’ Keira messaged, and then, with a conflicting look, gently lifted his mask, kissed him, and then sent him back into his body with a punch to the gut. 

Raising an eyebrow, he could only speculate that Keira's death & resurrection had changed her. That what she learned on Tython had opened her up to new possibilities. He was eager to step foot on that fabled planet himself. 

Shaking his head to try and clear his mind, Corvus focused up so as not to lose himself in the moment. After all, he experienced all these different emotions one after another. 

Once he had sifted through all those conflicting thoughts, he held up his lightsaber, and popped out the kyber crystal. 

‘Thank you.’ 

His crystal pulsed, and that warmth spread out from him once more. 

After some time had passed, Corvus let out a content sigh-as if all was right in the world-and then he turned to regard Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

They had both been silent for the last half hour, each one deep within their own thoughts, and respecting one another enough that they didn't seek attention or interrupt one another's thinking time. Seeing that Obi-Wan was calmly drinking tea, and reclining on a chair, the bearded Jedi Master then raised his cup in invitation. 

Leaving the railing, Corvus sat down in a chair across from Obi-Wan, and rested his hands in his lap. 

“Master Kenobi, it is a pleasure to meet the famed ‘Negotiator.’ I have long been a fan of your work. That time you faked your own death, and acted as an inmate? It was simply inspired.” Corvus started the conversation with a compliment. 

“You know of that, do you?” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and asked. “Forgive me, Master Revan, but as I understood it, Senator Organa said that you had only returned to the galaxy recently?” He then asked in a skeptical tone of voice, his eyes never left Corvus’s mask. 

Slowly nodding his head, Corvus looked out to the city as he mulled over what to reveal, and what to keep close to his chest. 

“You could say I've seen many visions about you, and other central figures in the galaxy.” 

“I am flattered to be labeled as a central figure, however, I find it worrisome that your visions apparently peeped on my love life. Would Revan bother? It makes one wonder if instead, it was the observation of an overly curious Jedi Shadow?” Obi-Wan queried, and stirred his spoon in the cup, seemingly idly. 

“That is a funny way of asking me if I am Revan.” Corvus drily chuckled, and opened himself up in the Force. If anyone scanned him at that moment, it would be as easy as reading a book. “Truthfully, I am not Revan.” He then slowly took off his mask, and revealed his handsome face. 

Obi-Wan paused in his stirring, and looked as if he were both relieved, and disappointed by this knowledge. 

“Then you have hidden yourself deeply, my friend. A Jedi Shadow hasn't been seen in hundreds of years. If you don't mind me asking, who was your Master?” Obi-Wan probed. 

Corvus stared deep into Obi-Wan’s blue eyes, and smiled. “The truth is, I am Revan, from a certain point of view.” 

Obi-Wan's relief immediately soured, and he almost dropped his tea cup as Corvus dropped this bombshell on him. 

“That’s not possible.” Obi-Wan denied. 

“I have his face. I have his talents although they are slow to awaken. I have lived his life, and have memories of his actions. Yet I also consider myself to be Corvus, a Jedi Knight, Master to Jax & Yon. You could say that I am & that I am not Revan.” Corvus said in a casual conversational tone, as if he were telling a colleague what the score in a sports match was. 

Whilst Obi-Wan was paralyzed by this ‘forbidden’ knowledge, Corvus stole his teacup, and took a sip. 

“You destroyed the Jedi Order.” Obi-Wan’s voice came with an edge, as if he were preparing himself to strike Corvus down at that very moment. 

“After being brainwashed by the Sith Emperor Vitiate. Sadly Revan was too weak to defeat him, otherwise the Sith might have been gone for good.” Corvus defended himself, and then said in a somewhat sorrowful, pitying tone. 

Revan, for all his greatness, was doomed to failure. Not even the Heart of the Force could defeat one of the baddest dudes of all time. 

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow. When he went to take a sip of his tea, he was momentarily stunned when his empty hand met his lips. 

His eyes widened, and he wanted to chuckle, but then he pursed his lips, and the laughter died down. 

“Unlike me, Anakin wasn't brainwashed.” Corvus said, noticing that Skywalker was on Kenobi's mind. 

Obi-Wan sharply looked up, only to deflate once he met Corvus's steely eyes. 

“I will take responsibility. He is my student…it is only correct that I be the one to right his wrongs.” He said in a weak manner, yet behind that weakness was a solemn will to get things done. 

To Corvus, Obi-Wan appeared to be like a man who had to go over the trench, and charge the enemy. It was a sort of grim resolve knowing that almost certain death awaited. That going back wasn't an option. 

Honestly, if his own student had gone on a ‘school shooting’ rampage, and murdered tons of kids in cold blood…it would hurt. It would hurt a lot. He sympathized with the pain Obi-Wan was experiencing, and he spread that warmth that he had been experiencing, and spread it to Obi-Wan. 

“You are a strong man, Master Kenobi. It is no lie when I say that I admire you. I genuinely think that this is not the end of your road. That there is more for you to do as a Jedi.” Corvus said in a calm voice. 

“...that is not advice I would expect from one with a past such as yours…but perhaps you are correct. I have much to consider.” Obi-Wan replied, and scratched his beard in thought. 

“I may have been responsible for the destruction of the Order, but I rebirthed it. This time, I would like to do that with more friends.” Corvus smiled. 

“Perhaps. I cannot say that isn't tempting. However, I wonder. Where were you this entire time? Were you truly in another galaxy?” Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes, and observed Corvus's face for any flaws. 

“That is correct. As I told Bail, I was not in this region of space. Actually, my being in the Temple during Order 66 was quite the accident. I can only blame the Force for placing me at the right place at the right time.” Corvus replied as truthfully as he could. 

“So you are still recovering your powers then?” Obi-Wan questioned. 

“Yes, otherwise I would have confronted Darth Vader. Unfortunately I was only as powerful as a freshly promoted Knight at the time.” Corvus explained. 

“Remarkable. It has only been a little more than 2 months since then. And you say you have improved so much? I find that very hard to believe…and yet, I do. Strange. Your words Revan. It is as if they hold some magnetic quality about them. I almost suspect you are manipulating my mind…but you are not. Curiouser and curiouser.” Obi-Wan's eyes had gone wide with astonishment, and he examined Corvus as if he were some brand new technology that must be studied. 

Corvus could only scratch the back of his head, and smile in embarrassment. It was kind of funny to be called out for his-frankly absurd-high level of Persuade. He couldn't say he wasn't impressed, because if anyone would notice this peculiarity, it would be a famous diplomat like Obi-Wan. A title like ‘The Negotiator’ wasn't just for show. 

“I hope I have satisfied your questions, Master Kenobi. If I may be so bold, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, Obi-Wan.” Corvus then poured a fresh cup for both of them, and held up his for a toast. 

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, and hesitantly held up his steaming hot cup. 

“I can't say I've uncovered everything, but I'm satisfied for now.” Obi-Wan replied, and clinked his glass against Corvus's. 

A feeling of harmony and peace spread throughout the balcony as the two men enjoyed a warm beverage on a cloudy, dusky evening. As the sun set on Eriadu City, the drums of liberation sounded across the galaxy. A message had been sent to those who held the ideals of the Republic & the Jedi close to their hearts: 

We can win.