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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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Yes, Maul, I have, in fact, noticed that October is right around the corner. I'm pretty sure anyone who's survived a Deerington October has noticed that. The timing isn't...ideal to be trying to understand a whole new world.

[But he's not naive enough to believe that it won't be bad either. That's just not how things work. ]

Because he takes great joy in making everyone around him suffer, probably. C'mon, you've met him.

If we all sit around and wait for things to be perfect in order to start things, I will be an old Zabrak with cracked horns by the time that happens.

[Yeah, he's like a dog with a bone with this right now and won't be giving up so easily on the subject.]

No wonder he and I get along so well.

They don't need to be perfect, but we need to know what we're dealing with here. We're in a brand new world and none of it makes sense. But we won't do that by a hostile takeover.

[Sorry, Maul, he has i s s u e s with people in power wielding it wrongly and he doesn't trust you not to do that. ]

Har har.

And where exactly did I say I thought a conquering force would be a good idea?

[Smart boy.]

In all seriousness, have you noticed any other changes to himself besides being able to become incorporeal?

So, what? You'd run this place in peace and harmony? You can't even stop yourself from getting into a fight with Glitch every time you hear him speak.

[He's callin' you out on your shit, Maul.]

Not really? But Ruddiger's different from animals from other worlds, I've noticed. He's always been... I dunno, more? It's just how animals are back home.

I might! Besides, that's become more of a hobby than anything else.

[Just digging himself deeper by admitting terrorizing a seventeen year old kid is a hobby for him now.]

He does seem to have a strange sort of sentience I've not found in other creatures. Not quite to the level of being considered a true sentient creature the way it would be defined in my home galaxy but very close to the mark. He's more aware of things than just a dumb animal would be.

It's one you need to stop. I've lost count of the number of times I've asked you to leave him alone. I'm getting tired of asking. You need to decide how important terrorizing a teenager is to you, because I'm about at my limit.

[He's tried of making excuses. Maul has some serious work to do on himself and Varian's realising the gentle approach ain't working. ]

Never let him hear you call him a dumb animal, he'll make your life a living hell. But yeah that's...just how animals are back home. It's honestly weird seeing animals that aren't like that.

That comment was in poor taste. My apologies.

[He won’t admit to never tormenting Glitch ever again, but if he limits himself to snarky comments on the network, that’s definitely a vast improvement over where he’d been before. Even apologizing to Varian for his words was a big step as it stood. He actively was trying to change, slow and hard as it was for him.]

The more I hear about your world, the stranger it becomes. Never have you said something about it which didn’t leave me puzzled or wondering about how it came to pass.

[He...wasn't expecting an apology, and there's a considerable pause on his side. ]

...Thanks. I'm...glad you can see that at least.

[He'd rather Maul leave Glitch alone completely, but this... this was a step forward to the usual bullshit he had to contend with. Maul wasn't defending his actions this time, stubbornly refusing to give ground. It... it was a nice change to see. A baby step. ]

Hah. I get that a lot. There's a lot in my world that just... is? Like, how you guys have the light side and the dark side? It's just...part of existence, y'know?

I know I stress you out a lot. But I am trying even if it doesn't always seem like it.

[All take and no give was just going to alienate people so now it was time for a different tack.]

It sounds most curious. If ever this place gives us the opportunity to visit each other's worlds, I am taking the opportunity.

I'm glad you are. It's...important to do that. Actions, not just words, you know? I'm proud of you to see it.

[It was important to encourage it, he knows that. He doesn't want any more backsliding, as much as he knows he can't be completely responsible for Maul's redemption. ]

Hah, yeah, it'd be interesting to see. I guess we had the chance when the dream collapsed, but I was scared of taking the chance. In case I got stuck there.

Hmph. Well, don't expect a miracle anytime soon.

[But Maul's gruff words don't really match the expression on his face. Knowing Varian thinks he's on the right track makes him very happy.]

If we get the chance again, I'm taking you to my galaxy for a while. You'd love the technology there.

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?

Video; un: darkness

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