After opening up the bay doors and allowing Kreia to enter the Voidship, Erebus finally recognized the woman to be Darth Traya from the Knights of the Old Republic game. He knew that she was manipulative and steeped in betrayal-especially since her former apprentices Nihilus and Sion betrayed her and forcibly severed her connection to the Force over three hundred years ago-but he could feel that she had business with him.
In fact, Erebus even pitied the former Darth for how her acolytes betrayed her for their own selfish gains. He only saw the "waste" that they had done for themselves as a golden opportunity to make sure Kreia's teachings were able to stick around-especially when he was ready to traverse through Time once more and return to the Clone Wars era.
Yes, at this point, Erebus understood that there was something in the current era he had to do first before dealing with the Clone Wars and the Galactic Empire.
As to what that "something" was? Well, he had no idea what it was since his System didn't tell him it at all and figured that it required a higher level, cultivation tier, and proficiency in the Force.
When Kreia crossed the threshold and fully entered the Voidship, she understood that this was no normal ship that anyone in the Galaxy-in any of the known eras-could have constructed. On the outside, it was clear it was similar to a personal starship that anyone could get from the shipyards, but the inside was far bigger and expansive with multiple layers in a similar fashion to the TARDIS.
She immediately understood a part of the "wonders" that strange entity told her about when she entered the Voidship. All sorts of impossible things were going to take place in the near future and she understood that things were going to become dangerous, but for the time being, she would help train Erebus in the ways of the Force.
Thus began Erebus' foray into how both the Sith and Jedi perceive the Force. Even Arch-who was not sensitive to the Force-took part in Kreia's teachings as to the [Cyber Monarch], the Force was similar to utilizing aspectless arcane magic.
Kreia herself understood who and what Arch was, but didn't bother herself from excluding the sapient living AI in her teachings. To her, this entity was already beyond her understanding and during the times when Erebus had to stop learning about the Force to cultivate, she would learn many things from Arch.
This included learning about Erebus' strange nature as an Outworlder.
"Really? Such a thing exists?!" Kreia exclaimed in shock upon learning that Erebus had a specialized and soulbound System which helped him in many things.
Arch nodded his head. "System Hosts-like Erebus-exist outside of the Variant Timelines and inside of them too. Many of them require absurd once-in-a-lifetime conditions to occur before acquiring and activating them like hosts of the [Energy System], but in Erebus' case, the requirements were far worse."
"Wh..." Kreia started in astonishment before being interrupted by Arch.
"He died and his soul was injured severely," Arch quickly explained. "To the point that he was already barely qualified to be sent to the Galaxy and wield the Force. The reason he cultivates is to mend his soul and potentially regain enough strength to be reborn properly."
Kreia was astonished further, but then she asked a very dangerous question. "What happens once he grows strong enough?"
Arch sighed. "He'll return back home and be forced to make a choice."
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"What kind of choice?"
Arch didn't respond to that inquiry because his gloomy silence was enough to answer her question. Understanding his silence, Kreia sighed in some slight concern for her newest charge's future endeavors.
"I could feel the Dark Side cling to him heavily," Kreia admitted in a soft breathless mutter. "Both the light and dark cling to him even now, but it seems to be an unconscious drawing upon both sides. The darkness loves and fears him while the light tries to pull him in the right direction, yet neither seem to affect him any more than two children holding his hands. How is that possible?"
"It is the power of Shadow," Arch explained lightly-concern evident in his tone too. "It is a mix of both light and dark yet more powerful than either of them. He cannot be a true Jedi or Sith, but the compensation more than makes up for it."
"Wouldn't that just make him insane?" Kreia inquired. "No living being can handle both sides of the Force like that!"
Arch nodded again, but this time with a dark look on his semi-holographic face. "That is the main drawback. Even outside of the Variant Timelines, those who wield the forces of Shadow are destined to suffer the madness that comes with its eldritch power. Erebus is no different in this regard, but then again, he was already quite insane before you met him."
Through this, Kreia fell silent in compilation. She wondered what happened during his death that made him insane enough to draw upon this mysterious force called 'Shadow' and risk losing his mind...
<===+===>
The old warrior of the Sith had closed his eyes for the last time on that battlefield, but quickly opened his eyes once more to only be greeted by a nostalgic sight.
He knew that this was the inside of the shuttle which brought him to the Academy all those years ago where he met Overseer Tremel and began his adventure as a Sith, but something felt wrong to his senses. He felt his connection to the Dark Side still remain as strong as it had been when he died while his body felt slightly fatigued. This warrior had no idea of what exactly happened to him, but he did feel like something had happened.
'Did the Force do this?' The warrior mentally inquired himself-a bit unsure of what was exactly happening. He then shook his head. 'No, this wasn't ever told as something the Force could do...'
He then heard the announcement he barely remembered through his hazy memory.
"Now arriving at the Sith Academy, my Lord. Please prepare for docking," the announcer said over the internal coms.
'So, this is real?' He quickly pondered as his malicious intent surged through his crimson orange eyes-turning the environment a tad colder than normal. 'I will make sure to use this opportunity well. First is Vemrin then Baras...'
Thus began a regressor's tale.
<===+===>
Alex had arrived in the tomb of Ajunta Pall and reached Spindrall's cave without much hassle due to his System and memory of the game's events. He walked up towards the "doddering old man" as he referred himself in the game and without prompting him, the old man turned to face him directly.
Needless to say, Alex did feel a bit intimidated by facing the man in the flesh compared to behind a computer screen, but he kept his cool long enough to get through the dialogue. It started off as one would expect with Spindrall making a remark about him learning the ways of the Sith from him in a dusty tomb and then it devolved into a bloodbath between himself and the acolytes who sought redemption.
However, this is when certain events diverge slightly from the game's depiction.
After killing the very last acolyte and turning to face Spindrall, Alex saw the old hermit staring right at him with a stern glare in his eyes. It was almost like he was analyzing him further before the look faded and he began to learn the ways of the Sith from him-starting with the Sith Code.
Peace is a lie; there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall set me free.
It was as easy as it had been depicted in the game and Alex was satisfied upon hearing the code along with being shooed away back to the Overseer. He quickly bowed in respect to the old hermit and departed.
After a few moments and making sure that Alex was gone, Spindrall let out a soft knowing smirk. The old hermit bastard knew more than he let on and he was aware that this would be the only time he would encounter Alex.
Silence reigned once more in the tomb of Ajunta Pall after that.
<===+===>