Chapter 36: A Talk in the Temple Pt. 1
Rey nodded, and the Admiral led her away and through a door that required an access code. They wandered along as the man periodically gestured to places, talking about their history. Unlike the custodian, the Primidian related the rooms to people Rey had never heard of. It was almost like he was speaking from personal experience until he began to mention dates that went back hundreds of years, if not longer.
She was a bit frustrated at first, wanting to interrogate the man evidently, but after making eye contact a few times, it became clear he was aware of her feelings and was making her wait. In the meantime, she found his tour far more educational than her previous one and even longed to take notes at times.
They ended up in a round room with many cushions for people to sit on. Many were smaller, implying they were meant for children. Once here, the Admiral sighed before explaining, “And here is a very special room. A place where Masters imparted knowledge to younglings.” He moved over and fluidly sat on a mat cushion that was a little too small for him. Primidian gestured to a nearby spot and offered, “It's a good place for us to talk.”
Rey glanced around, feeling a refreshing aura from the room before sitting down. Seeing the man's calm expression, she decided to not rush into an interrogation, though she longed to. She looked around again more closely and asked, “You seem to know even more about the temple than the custodians.”
Primidian stroked his chin, growing a little smug, and responded, “Of course I am; I even had the opportunity to walk these halls before the Jedi Purge.” His gaze grew distant and reminiscent as he added, “Now, those were grand days.”
Rey was first surprised by this but recovered quickly as a concerned frown appeared on her face. She met his gaze and spoke sternly, “Just how old are you?”
The Admiral smiled and chuckled into a hand like an adult watching a mischievous child. After calming his expression, he gestured to the Jedi, “Who do you think I am.”
Rey did not like his coyness and bluntly responded, “You were a close aide of Palpatine, you don't seem to age, you have powerful political connections, and you had a strong relationship with Snoke.” After listing her clues, she finished, “I'd say a Sith Cultist.”
Primidian nodded at this remaining calm, “A wise conclusion.” His eyes then grew sharp, though they retained a hint of playfulness, “But do I seem to like the Sith Cultists you've encountered.”
The Jedi thought back to Exogal, the Nemours assassins that had chased her, and a few hidden bases she had helped raid. The cultists she had found here were all manic and nearly mad, their minds eroded by the Dark Side. Their bodies were haggard. They were savage, cruel, and inhumane. In severe cases, they would even grow to hate the presence of light and cover their bodies in dark clocks. These people had not been Sidius's disciples; rather, they were like he had trained to help him perform evil rituals. They were all specially selected for their affinity with the Dark Side, and by the time they became a full-fledged cultist, they were mindless slaves to their masters. However, once Palpatine was gone, they seemed to go mad. Many had been hunted down, but many had also gone into hiding to pressure an unknown agenda.
Rey had to admit the Admiral was unlike any cultist she had ever met. Begrudgingly, she responded, “No, you're not.”
Primidian seemed pleased by this and responded, “Then what conclusion does that lead you to.”
Rey scowled and snapped, “If I knew, I wouldn't have come to talk.”
The Admiral chuckled again and countered, “But that's not the only reason you're here, is it.” The Jedi's face grew slightly nervous, though quickly grew stern once more and even threatening. Primidian again seemed amused by this before gesturing and nonchalantly offering, “Ask you questions; I will answer what I can.”
The Jedi was surprised by this. In her experience, cultists and villains, in general, were scared of the truth. They would rather control a situation and weave a web of lies than simply allow someone to ask questions and give answers. She also recognized it was possible he could tell her lies meant to deceive and mislead her. Rey didn't dwell on this long and blurted, “Are you my godfather.”
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Seemingly unphased, the grey-haired man nodded, “That is true. I had intended to tell you after the Peace Talks.”
Unsatisfied, Rey demanded, “How? Why?”
Primidian shrugged at this, “I was your father's retainer his entire life. He trusted me, and we had a very good relationship.” The man's eyes grew reminiscent for a moment before he continued, “Snoke was also considered, but his future was uncertain.”
Rey's curiosity was now blazing inside her heart as she blurted again, “How was Snoke involved.”
The Admiral nodded at this calmly before answering, “Your father and Snoke were best friends, and both served under me on the Liberator.”
The Jedi grew flustered at this and a little angry; she snapped, “But Snoke was Palpatine; he was just a puppet.”
Primidian shook his head at this growing grim, “That is both correct and incorrect.” He paused, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions, including sadness and anger, before continuing, “In the end, he indeed was just a puppet; however, he was born a child just like anyone else. He had his own personality, passions, and free will.” The man shook his head and finished, “It was a shame to lose him.”
Rey had never considered this; she had only learned of Snoke's identity after the man's death and hadn't contemplated the subject too deeply. Her brow wrinkled as she asked, “But Snoke was a clone. I saw the lab on Exogal.”
Primidian again nodded at this before responding, “The Emperor was obsessed with not only achieving immortality but also regaining his youth and growing his power. He believed he could achieve all of this through a Sith art known as Essence Transfer. It would allow him to move not only his consciousness but his midi-chlorians to another's body.”
The Jedi was stunned at this, and panic rose up inside her as she helped, “Then Sidus could still be alive.”
The Admiral shook his head at this and raised a hand to calm Rey down; he responded with slight relief, “No, he is truly dead this time. By the time you fought him, Palpatine had lost the ability to perform Essence Transfer.” With a happy expression, he finished, “He is now gone for good.”
Rey didn't follow this and asked, “How can you be sure he was so powerful.” She shivered, remembering her final battle with the man. Only by channeling the will of all the last Jedi had she managed to defeat him, and even then, it was at the expense of her own life.
Primidian responded, returning to a relaxed state, “Now that is something I can not answer.” Rey's eyes flashed dangerously as he finished, “What I can say is that Palpatine decided to undergo a ritual that granted him power far beyond what any mortal should possess. He ultimately succeeds, but in doing so, his body is ruined.”
The Jedi felt slightly overwhelmed at this, though pressed on cautiously, “Why can't you tell me how you're certain Sidus is dead.”
The Admiral smiled and answered, “We're all entitled to our own secrets. You may be my goddaughter, but you still have much to learn before you are ready for the whole truth.”
Rey was slightly peeved at this and asked, “I assume you won't tell me what you're talking about even if I asked.”
Primidian’s eyes sparkled as he responded, “Perhaps in time, you will learn of what I speak on your own.” The man looked off into space as if staring at something elusive far off in the distance and continued, “The Riddle of Palpatine is more complex than you could possibly imagine.” Looking back at her, he went on, “Knowledge is a very powerful thing; if I were to just tell you everything, it could bring about unanticipated consequences.”
The Jedi crossed her arms and grumbled, “Then what can you tell me about Palpatine.”
The Admiral grew calm and even seemed sage-like as he let out a breath, “I can tell you that your understanding of the Force is far from complete.” His eyes shone with comprehension as though pure truth was radiating from behind them, “The Force is not simply a network that connects living beings to one another. It is what binds all of reality itself. Even that which is incorporeal or abstract is connected through the Force.” He met Rey's gaze firmly, and she shivered, “Knowledge, political power, economic influence, and even one's beliefs influence the nature of the Force and are likewise influenced by the Will of the Force.” The majestic and brilliant aura that had momentarily engulfed the man began to fade as he slowed down, “One must understand the nature of existence to understand the Force. And if one understands the Force, then they will be able to not only know what has and will transpire throughout the galaxy but understand why it will happen that way.” Primidian’s aura returned to normal as he concluded, “The answers you seek from me can all be answered so long as you gain a deep enough compression of the nature of the Force.”
Rey didn't realize she had been holding her breath till her lungs started to ache for breath. The men's brief explanation had hit her like a tidal wave and made her question almost everything she knew about the Force. It was as though she had just read a new chapter from the Sacred Jedi Texts. After recovering her wits, the Jedi collected her thoughts and contemplated what the Admiral had just divulged to her. Several minutes passed before she looked up at the man and stated, “I don't fully understand.”
Primidian nodded at this, “I would be impressed if you had. Even your master took many weeks before he began to grasp the essence of what I have just divulged to you.”
Rey gawked at this and blurted, “You knew Luke Skywalker!”