deernet | Video; un: darkness

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Video; un: darkness

[The video turns on and it's everyone's not-so-favorite Sith Lord. He looks better than he did upon arrival though he wears the usual expression of just barely contained fury he's known for. Sitting next to him is a creature that might be the stuff of human nightmares given how they're all teeth. They could have easily been mistaken for a monster in this place were it not for the fact they're remaining perfectly still, Maul's right hand resting along their back.

If you're all done fooling around with these devices like the children half of you are, perhaps we can turn our attention to more serious matters. Oh, and for those of you who had hoped I wouldn't find my way here, so sorry to disappoint.

[Though he sounds anything but.]

For one, I recall a lot of bleating about organizing a government and such during your charming little witch hunt of me. I assume for most you that was all talk but surely there has to be a few enterprising souls that were serious. If so, let us talk more. I am most curious given I have some experience with running an entire planet. [Venge, the Maalraas sitting by Maul, paws him gently.] Oh and has anyone else found themselves suddenly with an animal companion?

[Then, having blithely insulted a good three-fourths of the population, the video is turned off.]

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I know, I won't. But any improvement is better than none.

[Aww, it's nice to see him happy. Varian sincerely hopes he can keep this up.]

I probably would. I'd still love to understand full the mechanics of a lightsaber.

[Turns out being killed with one hasn't quelled that desire. ]

I can show you if you'd like. The next time you're over to do maintenance on my legs I'll take it apart to show you how the crystals work with the technology to create the plasma blades.

Really?

[Should he feel weird about examining the actual weapon that killed him? Probably. Does he? Not really, no. ]

I'd like to see that. At least to try and have a better understanding of how it works.

The kyber crystal is a most curious type of creation in the galaxy. Some claim they have a form of sentience and sometimes it seems they are right. The crystals seem to pick who will wield them and only the person meant to use them can sense them at first. They can experience a form of pain and will resist attempts to change them.

[Oh yeesh, that steps a little too close to home for comfort, and Varian can't hide the little grimace crossing his features. But he knows he's going to have to get used to it. ]

And people used them to make weapons with...even if they're...kind of sentient?

Yes. Both Jedi and Sith do. To be fair, the kyber crystals usually agree to such a process. If they didn’t, they might not ever work properly in a lightsaber at all. Jedi treat their crystals with more kindness and respect, hence the colors of their lightsabers being blue, green, and the like. Sith, unfortunately…...we make our crystals bleed.

[And yes, that vague description really is as horrific as it sounds.]

[Give him a second while the utter horror of what he means settles in here. Well, that's the worst thing he's heard for days.]

...So that's why your lightsaber is red?

[Uncle, did you stab him with a living, BLEEDING thing?!!!!]

…….Yes.

[Maul says quietly and without any pride. What he’s done to the crystals is something he can admit is utterly horrific]

My double-bladed lightsaber requires four crystals, two for each side to work properly, so I’ve had to do this six times over the course of my life. You have to take all the negative emotions you feel and pour them into the crystal until it changes.

[Yep, Maul has got a LOT of pent-up rage, anger, hatred, and pain if he was able to do that over and over again.]

I’m unsure why the crystals keep letting themselves be found by me.

[But perhaps they know something he doesn’t. Maybe the pain he’ll put them through will eventually be alleviated with time if he’s ever able to find true peace and purify them once more. They would know better than he would after all.]

[He's quiet for what seems like an age, trying to work out how he feels about this. It makes an unsettled, heavy feeling rest in his stomach. He's not sure who he feels more sympathy for- the crystals used to make the lightsaber or what Maul has gone through to be able to pour that into them. ]

Well. That's...uh. That's a lot. To-to process. I think it's a little harder knowing it uh... you know. Killed me and everything.

[It makes the whole process a tad more personal. ]

I'm sorry, though. I...I know you've been through a lot already but this really...hammers that home. Maybe they find you because they think putting that into them might...help you carry it?

Be glad you're not Force sensitive. You'd be able to actually sense things from them.

[By now, Maul is used to the pain and agony that radiates out from his crystals, but he knows for the Jedi he faces they can sense it all well how much pain the poor kyber crystals are in.]

.....You know, I have never honestly considered that possibility.

[The idea that the crystals were trying to help him by doing this had never even entered Maul's mind. He thought they always resented him for what he'd done to them but maybe that wasn't the case at all.]

...Yeah I definitely don't want those in my life, thanks. It was bad enough as it was.

[And yet he and Fern are STILL trying to recreate one. Like crazy people. All Maul has done is provide more information for their foolhardy mission. Thanks, Unc! ]

If they're sentient and they're actively seeking you out rather than avoiding you...well, it's a possibility, right?

[And honestly, it was about time SOMETHING back home was in Maul's corner.]

[He's going to lump them both on the head the day he finds out they're still on that crazy mission. Maybe two lumps for good measure.

Maul's face goes very thoughtful as Varian puts forth his hypothesis.]

You have a point. A person can be surrounded in a cave by dozens of kyber crystals yet never feel any of them call to them unless the crystal actively wants to go with and be with them. Despite all I have done to them, they've never sought out another.

[Fair, really. ]

Well, there you go. If they have the option to go to someone else and haven't...well, they clearly see a reason to be with you, right?

I do like that idea very much. They are in tune with the Force even moreso than some Force-users can be and both work in mysterious ways.

I have heard there is a way to purge them of their bleeding and purify the crystals again but I don't know if it is merely a myth or not.

[It's been a long time since any Dark-aligned user would have found a reason to do so and Jedi don't come across crystals that have been bled all that often.]

Is that something you would ever want to try? Purging and purifying them?

[Because that sounds an awful lot like it goes hand in hand with redemption, dear uncle. ]

I don't even know how I'd go about starting the process.

[Maybe Obi-Wan would know if he asked him. He should do so one of these days.]

Besides, I still have too much of the emotions I put into them to bleed them in the first place and not enough of what I would need to change them back just yet.

[He'd need to be strong enough to take away all that anger, hate, and pain the crystals and pour into them the new emotions he's only recently rediscovered: compassion, love, empathy. Maul knows himself well enough to understand what he possesses right now isn't enough to overcome the darkness of his past just yet.]

There are a lot of people from your world here now. Would any of them know?

[He hums softly, understanding. Not pushing. He knows first-hand this sort of thing takes time.]

That's fair. Maybe something to think about for the future? When you're ready? No point rushing it.

Doubtful. Something like this hasn't been done in hundreds if not close to a thousand years.

[He is uncertain if any Jedi had found bled crystals during the time the Sith had remained hiding but knows he's never encountered anything about a Sith being able or willing to change their crystals back during all the reading he'd done as a youth in Sidious' private library of Sith teachings.]

....I shall think about it.

[It's given Maul something to really mull over and think about as the months will pass by here.]

But just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it can't be.

[Varian definitely didn't get to where he is today by baulking at how difficult something was, after all. ]

Great! I'm sure if anyone can manage it, it'll be you.

[How's that faith in you feel, Maul?]

....Perhaps.

[Maul's not so sure but he does know his natural determination and stubbornness have served him well many times over the course of his life. He's not going to give up just because doing something like this might be hard.]

Your optimism is thrilling.

[Just ignore Maul being his usual contrary self. He can't help but be a pessimist at all times.]

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Video; un: darkness

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