After everything had settled down, Corvus-having changed into his Revan mask and Jedi robes-found himself within a tasteful office the size of a penthouse suite.
A large water tank the size of a wall was filled with exotic sea critters, and all sorts of statues, paintings, and other 'rich guy' paraphernalia filled the room.
Yet for all this artistry, the room wasn't overfilled. Bail Organa had struck the perfect balance between impressive, and laid back.
Frankly speaking, this was the coziest office Corvus had ever set foot in.
"Please, Revan, take a seat." Bail gestured towards a couch.
Bail then ignored the large wooden desk nearby, and joined him on an opposing chair.
Resting on the couch, Corvus marveled at how soft the upholstery was, and ran a hand along the surface, taking a brief few seconds to enjoy this creature comfort.
After being shot, stabbed, screamed, and flirted at, this was the first time today that he had a genuine moment of relaxation.
"This is a soft couch, I haven't felt anything quite like it." Corvus complimented.
"It is Onderon Silk, quite soft to the touch. The couch is yours should you wish. Nothing is off the table for the savior of my child. However, I know how you Jedi are when it comes to possessions, so do not feel pressured into accepting a Senator's gift."
"The times have changed, Senator Organa. You witnessed that first hand four days ago."
"I was grief stricken when the Temple was attacked. Palpatine declaring himself Emperor, the clones turning on the Jedi. It makes no sense." Bail shook his head, and replied in a lost tone.
"Doubtlessly in your discussions with Senator Amidala, you heard inklings of the Sith?" Corvus questioned.
"I researched my family records, I thought they were destroyed at the Battle of Ruusan a thousand years ago. Is it true then? Palpatine is one of these Sith?" Bail frowned.
"Unfortunately, yes. A thousand years ago, a single Sith survived. That lineage has been bent on the destruction of the Jedi, and the conquest of the galaxy. Palpatine is the culmination of that legacy. He is the revenge of the Sith." Corvus explained.
"So you have come to me seeking an ally. Very well, you have found a friend in me, Revan, and please, call me Bail."
"The Jedi Knights have been friends with House Organa ever since the founding of the Republic. We have fought side by side for eons. It was no coincidence that I arrived here tonight. The Force has brought us together, aiding the two of us in our times of greatest need." Corvhs replied, deliberately sounding like a mystic.
"I believe you, Revan, however I am still having trouble wrapping my head around Palpatine's rise. I mean no offense when saying this, but if the Force is so all knowing, how come the events leading up to this tragedy went unnoticed?" Bail hesitated to ask, yet soldiered through with his question.
"No offense taken, Bail. The Jedi grew arrogant in their power. We believed ourselves all knowing. Palpatine, however, is amongst the strongest Sith to have ever existed. In your records, certainly the name Valkorion has popped up here and there. You may consider Palpatine to be similarly dangerous as this figure of myth and legend." Corvus grimly intoned.
"This is serious." Bail replied, and placed a hand on his forehead, seemingly recalling something.
"Indeed. Which is why I am grateful for Alderaan's continued goodwill." Corvus stood up, and lightly bowed.
"No need for that my friend, what you have done for my wife, for my family means everything to me!" Bail was quick to stand, and held Corvus up.
"By siding against the Emperor, you will place that very same family, as well as the lives of billions on the line. You, Bail Organa, are a principled man, and a just ruler within a galaxy full of scum and villainy. You are worthy of my respect." Corvus nodded.
"You spoke of changing times, what can the House of Organa do to aid the Jedi Order?" Bail questioned.
"There are many Jedi who survived and are in hiding. I wish you to give these to any survivors you come across." Corvus said, and reached into the black doctors bag he had bought with him, then deposited a few hundred Taozin Amulets inside. "They are Taozin Amulets, they shall mask the Jedi within the Force. This way, Palpatine's agents shall have a much more difficult time tracking us down."
"I do not pretend to understand what that means, but if it will help the Jedi, I shall do as you suggest." Bail nodded, then took the bag, and set it aside.
"Other than that, do what you feel is right. Be a voice of reason within the Senate, take advantage of the pending economic collapse to invest, and seize power. Act as the gum within the cog of bureaucracy. Do what must be done to restore the Republic." Corvus said with finality.
"You are rather straightforward for a Jedi, aren't you?" Bail asked with a smirk.
"Spent many an hour with Master Yoda, you have?"
"Haha, yes. Him and many more can be quite obtuse in their reasoning….it can be difficult to discuss politics or anything else for that matter with a Jedi." Bail candidly admitted.
"As I said, the times are changing. I am what the Jedi were before the Ruusan Reformation, and I intend to lead the Jedi back to our roots. If we are to survive, then change must occur. Once we have achieved victory, not only are we going to restore the Republic, but we are going to reimagine it as it should be."
"I can get behind that concept, Revan, but resistance can only go so far. Palpatine is incredibly popular in the galaxy, and he controls both the army and the senate. I'll do my part, but the Delegation of 2,000 are the only ones opposed to him." Bail shook his head in disappointment.
"I did say that an economic collapse is due, did I not? Less than half an hour ago, I sabotaged Galactic Bank. A financial meltdown is underway as we speak."
"Crashing the economy isn't something I expected from a Jedi. That, however, still leaves the clones. I understand that their logistics will be affected due to the economic downturn, but their loyalty is unquestionable. How do you intend to deal with them?"
"The Confederacy of Independent Systems shall become our new partners. Without Dooku or Grievous, they are like Tip-yips (space chickens) with their heads cut off. I am positioning myself to replace Dooku, and have made inroads with their leadership. It is my goal to unify this coalition along with those worlds that the Delegation of 2,000 represent."
"Now that would be a tall order. Many Systems contain planets with multiple intelligent lifeforms. Some have sided with the Republic, and others the CIS. This war, in many regards, is an excuse to exacerbate ancient blood feuds, and put old grudges to rest. Finding an alliance amongst these dispirit peoples would be…challenging to say the least." Bail grimaced as he basically told Corvus that his goal was unrealistic.
"Which is why you shall be the glue that binds them together. Alderaan is one of the ten most influential planets in the galaxy. Do not doubt your charisma, Bail. With your networking skills, and my abilities, I am certain we can bring peace to the galaxy."
Bail closed his eyes, and took a heavy seat into his chair.
"This is a dangerous game you wish to play." Bail eventually got out.
"The price for peace is a stiff coin to pay, yet men such as we are the ones who must bare the burden. You have read what the Sith are capable of. Do you truly wish to raise your son under such a regime? To see him one day grow into a King that begs and scrapes at the hem of Palpatine's robe?"
"You would have made an effective Chancellor, Revan." Bail smirked, dishing out a statement that was one part compliment, one part burn.
"The Jedi have served the people in that role many times. Perhaps I shall fill those shoes someday, but we must focus on the matter at hand." Corvus chuckled along, but brought the conversation about the CIS back to the forefront.
"Very well, I shall do my part." Bail spoke in a resigned sort of way. "It is a shame that I hadn't met you sooner, your skills would have been of great use to the Republic." Bail spoke somewhat bitterly.
Corvus read between the lines, and noticed Bail was likely referencing his wife and her prior miscarriages.
"Healing is a lost art amongst modern Jedi, I apologize for the suffering your wife has endured up to this point. I, however, was beyond the reaches of this galaxy for the duration of this war, and could not help you even if I wanted to." Corvus explained.
"You went beyond the Outer Rim? What marvels have you witnessed?" Bail asked, quick to change the subject.
"Horror. Beyond this galaxy is one dominated by a race known as the Yuuzhan Vong. I have learnt that they intend to launch a galactic scale invasion upon us 30 years from now and have returned to gather support from the Order. Much to my shock, the Sith have returned."
"An alien invader? This is troubling news." Bail said, and took out a silken cloth, then wiped some sweat from his forehead.
"The likes of which intend to destroy all life as we know it. Yes, the Vong are a serious threat no lesser than that of the Empire. I tell you this now, so that we may prepare for the future."
"You weren't jesting about the steep price of peace." Bail morosely joked.
"We are living in interesting times, Bail. I thank you for your friendship, and the support you have shown the Jedi." Corvus said, and then stood up from the comfortable couch.
"If you aren't in a rush, why don't you stay for a time? After I take care of some business off-world, I would be honored if you would join me on Alderaan." Bail invited.
"Thank you, but no. I am responsible for the lives of many Jedi, and I intend to take them to our monastery planet."
"Ah, Tython. I read about it in the records, but when I researched the topic, I discovered that the hyperlane to that System is quite volatile." Bail said with some concern.
"The Force shall guide us. On that note, I shall periodically keep in touch with you. Any Jedi survivors you rescue, I shall come to collect. I appreciate your future cooperation, Bail."
"It is me who should be thanking you, Revan, I never thought I would be a father." Bail grandly smiled.
"Then this is where we part ways." Corvus nodded, and turned to go.
Bail stood up as well, but had a hint of hesitation in his gait. From within the Force, Corvus sensed that the man was feeling some guilt.
Corvus smirked behind his mask, he wasn't really ready to go, he had some final parting words to Bail, but he was curious to see what the Senator's reaction would be.
"Yes…take care."
"You are a loyal man, Bail, this is a commendable trait." Revan said, pausing at the door.
"My wife certainly agrees." Bail was quick to smile.
"As would Obi-Wan and Yoda, correct? This matter off-world wouldn't happen to take place on Polis Massa, would it?"
"You are eerily astute, Revan." Bail slumped his shoulders, and let loose a breath, as if he was relieved that he had gotten something off his chest.
Corvus had been genuine in his praise. In canon, Bail kept Yoda, Obi-Wan, and the twins' survival a secret from everyone, even Ahsoka. The guy knew how to keep his lips sealed.
"I have a message for my fellow Jedi Knights, would you care to convey it to them?"
"It's the least I could do." Bail nodded.
"May I have a pen and paper? I know it is archaic, but a man such as yourself doubtlessly carries such curios." Corvus requested.
Bail wordlessly turned around, and shuffled through a desk, then handed Corvus what he wanted.
Nodding in thanks, Corvus got to writing:
[Dark days are ahead of us as the Emperor tightens his grasp around the galaxy. As one who operates from within the shadows, it is my duty to fight the Sith at every turn.
I have taken steps to devastate the Imperial economy, cripple their intelligence apparatus, convince military officers to our cause, and paralyzed the logistics of war.
Gathering a group of survivors from the Temple, I will journey to Tython where the Jedi Order shall return to its roots.
In pursuit of the destruction of Darth Sidious, I have made inroads with the CIS leadership, and will fight against this Sith Empire with everything I have.
Entrusted to Senator Organa are Taozin Amulets. The bearers of these items shall become masked within the Force. Use them wisely, for Darth Vader and a new Order of Dark Jedi consisting of tortured Padawans and Younglings shall be turned upon our Order with extreme prejudice.
If you should decide to become active once again in the galaxy, the planet of Ruusan is a major Force Nexus, and excellent for gathering, training, and hiding out.
~~~~~
(Page 2)
To you, Obi-Wan, I must inform you that Dooku only ever spoke the truth to you. The Sith controlled the senate, yet you turned a deaf ear. It is such a tragedy.
You pulled upon the darkside to bisect Darth Maul, held deep love for Duchess Satine, and loved Anakin like a brother. These attachments and emotions made you a stronger man, and a stronger Jedi.
If you had been born before the Ruusan Reformation, you would be considered a consummate Jedi, a paragon of our ideals. Yet the Ruusan Reformation turned such beliefs into filth, and caused you constant inner turmoil.
You are a good man, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Do not allow the pains of the past to dictate your future. Do not become so engrossed in prophecy that it blinds you to reality. Open yourself to the Force, and know that Qui-Gon Jinn has never left your side.
I applaud you for the fortitude to duel Anakin. If only you had seen it to the end…Vader has been rescued by his master, your work is not finished, Master Kenobi.
If the day should come, I look forward to meeting the famed Negotiator.
~~~~~~
(Page 3)
To you, Master Yoda, when Anakin came to you in fear for his mother, in fear for his wife, you instructed him to ignore such feelings. It is this strict abstinence of feelings which directly led to your own student's fall, and the chain reaction that created the Separatist crisis. You, Yoda are the Order's largest failure.
That being said, I always looked up to you as a grandfatherly figure, just like the thousands of other Jedi who were let down by you. Dooku loved you, as did every Jedi within the Order. We respect your wisdom, and fear your disapproval.
Perhaps it is for the best that you retire on some dreaded swamp planet, and are forgotten by the annals of history. However, your presence would inspire confidence in the survivors.
Come to Tython. Not as Grandmaster of the Order, but as a fellow learner.
Stay with Bail for a while. In due time, I shall collect what survivors I can, and ferry them to our ancient homeland.
Arrogance has blinded us to the truth for much too long. It is time for the Jedi to become what they once were.
-Revan
Leaving Bail's office, the squad lead he had bowled over earlier was escorting him out, and Corvus had an idea.
"Does this building have its own private elevator to the lower levels?" Corvus asked.
The older man had a weather worn face, and gruffly nodded at him.
Corvus couldn't blame the guy for the cold shoulder, as he did kind of bowl him over half an hour ago. In fact, the damages to the building were being taped off as they spoke.
Plenty of guards gave him glum, complicated looks. Sensing them through the Force, Corvus felt fear, self loathing, anger, and respect. It was quite the gambit of emotions.
The guy next to him was more ticked off at himself than anything else.
"Well then, could you direct me to the elevator then, please? I have need of it, and shall be returning for my ship once my business on the lower levels has been concluded."
"Of course. You are an honored guest of the Prince." The man bit out, and started taking Corvus towards another part of the building.
During this brief walk around, Corvus looked out the window to pass the time, and drink the city in before he left. As he did so, he noticed an almost finished brand new, monolithic building.
On an old world such as Coruscant, this was actually quite stunning. What was even more surprising was the height and width of the building. It was almost as tall as the Organa building, and rivaled the Jedi Temple in size.
On the surface, this was a banal observation, however there was a height limit to buildings on Coruscant. You had to be someone incredibly important and powerful if you wanted to compete with Alderaan.
"Who does that palace belong to?" Corvus questioned.
The guard frowned as he peered out the window, then was quick to respond.
"A property constructed by the scion of House Sizhran. The Falleen, Prince Xizor is reputed to have commissioned the building. He is the youngest trillionaire in the galaxy, a truly influential man." The guard shared, and kept moving forward.
Corvus, however, entered Pause as he absorbed this information.
During his trip today he had four primary targets in mind. The Jedi Temple, the Inspectorate, Galactic Bank, and House Organa. He had initially intended to secure transport via Organa, and with this elevator, was on his way to collect his troupe of Jedi.
Now, however, it seemed as if he now had a fifth location to infiltrate.
Prince Xizor was from the Shadows of the Empire series, and was an incredibly important player in galactic politics.
His influence was no less than that of Bail's. Xizor was a shipping magnet that put Amazon to shame, and was a critical lynchpin in deliveries, and logistics. Right now, he was 'nothing' more than one of the richest people in the galaxy.
However, Xizor was a power hungry man, one driven by ambition. At this moment, he was creating inroads with the Black Sun crime syndicate, one of the largest organized criminal organizations in the galaxy. In the future, he would rise to head this organization, but now, when he was at his 'lowest' so to speak, would be the perfect time for Corvus to introduce himself.
In general, Corvus was against organized crime, but he understood that if such syndicates could exist in 'idyllic' countries like Japan or Switzerland, then in a galaxy teeming with trillions, it would be impossible to eliminate. There would always be some people in search of a quick fix, and trying to stop all of them seemed like a pain in the ass.
Which is why, if he had a man on the inside, he could get the benefits of this organization-its contacts, hideouts, smugglers-and at the same time try and reduce the more horrific aspects that came with the business, such as human trafficking, and slavery.
Allying with Xizor perhaps wasn't the wisest decision, as he was quite cutthroat, and at times was even considered as Palpatine's number 3, just below Vader.
Xizor was machiavellian, but also seemed like the type to play both sides, and think he was oh so smart.
In truth, Corvus decided he would help Xizor rise through the ranks, not out of friendship, like with Bail, but to make the Falleen owe him. Their relationship wouldn't be an alliance, but more like that of associates with benefits.
Furthermore, assuming Darth Maul survived in this universe, the tattooed Sith Assassin was currently the shadow ruler of all the major crime syndicates at the moment. Supplanting Maul was something worth considering.
If Corvus were a true-blooded Jedi, he would never even consider working with a criminal. However, sticking to the Jedi Code 24/7 is what got Windu thrown out a window.
Funnily enough, as important as Xizor became in the criminal underworld, Corvus was actually more interested in his shipping company. As a seasoned arm chair general, Corvus was well aware how valuable logistics were to war. Really, whether he killed Xizor and sabotaged his company, or secured him as an associate, Corvus couldn't ignore the Falleen Prince now that he was aware of him.
'It's decided then. I'll collect everyone else after this last infiltration.' Corvus mentally nodded to himself, and then Un-Paused.
"You don't happen to have a workbench nearby before we reach the elevator, do you?" Corvus questioned the guard.
The older man's cheek twitched, but to his credit, he didn't say anything disagreeable, and took Corvus off to a side room.
Working quickly, Corvus restocked on mines, and other devices by scrapping the clone troopers weapons/gear that he obtained at the Inspectorate. He then modified his Revan mask so that it protected him from gas and notably, pheromones.
Falleen were notorious for secreting hormones that made them appear beautiful. It worked on just about every other race, and Corvus really didn't want to accidentally get horny looking at some reptile alien dude.
When he finished, Corvus looked out the window one more time at the mostly completed skyscraper, and thanks to his Awareness, noticed a few small spots where the building was somewhat exposed.
Turning to the disgruntled guard, Corvus hit him with another request.
"Do you have a parachute?"
The older guard peered past Corvus's shoulder at the unfinished building, shook his head, and grumbled to himself as he left for a supply room.
After all this, Corvus opened a window, and dismissed the guard once he came back with the parachute he had requested.
Placing the backpack over his shoulders, Corvus tried going invisible.
'Ha, it works!'
When he went invisible, the effect would also apply to all his clothes too.
The backpack that the parachute rested in also seemed to follow this logic.
Pleased with this development, Corvus praised his own genius, because if he didn't make this discovery, he would've had to have snuck his way through hundreds of flights of stairs.
Fuck that!
Preparing his parachute, Corvus glanced down at it, and realized he didn't really know how to operate one. However, given how his body went into a 3rd Person POV when he flew a ship, he was hoping a similar case would happen now…otherwise, he'd probably fly face first into Xizor's skyscraper.
Casting Valor and repeating the Jedi Shadow mantra to steady his nerves, Corvus waited for the flying car traffic to clear, and then jumped!
Willing himself to deploy the parachute, Corvus felt himself pull the ripcord, and then the foil was deployed.
His vision shifted, and it felt like he was piloting himself like a character from a video game.
Aiming for the hole in the structure, Corvus used the Force to help pull himself inside. As soon as he landed, he placed the parachute into his inventory, and took stock of his surroundings.
The area he found himself in seemed like a harmless little alcove, perhaps 12ft in front of him was an inocuos sliding door, one that someone would leave if they wanted to get a good look at the city, maybe go for a smoke, or breathe in some fresh air. However, Corvus's senses were absolutely screaming danger at him.
From the safety of Pause, Corvus realized that there were panels on the side of the walls the perfect size for turrets to be hiding in. Furthermore, he noticed a pad just a foot in front of him. If he depressed it, he was sure to trigger some sort of mechanism.
'That clever bastard.' Corvus couldn't help but praise.
The criminal was more inventive than the boring minds that occupied the Inspectorate.
Prince Xizor had seemingly left a chink in his new residences's armor, yet he had transformed it into a trap for would-be assassins!
Considering this spot was only one floor down from the penthouse suite at the top, it was an incredibly ballsy maneuver on the Prince's part.
Corvus respected this line of thinking. It was as Sun Tzu said, appear weak when you are strong.
Glancing all around himself for any other traps, or a way out of this predicament, Corvus didn't immediately have a solution.
But that didn't mean he was hopeless.
He had had quite a bit of practice opening doors as of late, and even if it wasn't a power listed in his system, he felt that his repeated use of basic telekinesis had made him more proficient at the skill.
Even though the door was a little further away then he would like, Corvus knew that he had to eliminate this mental block. The only thing that held a Force Adept were the restrictions one placed upon themselves.
You had to believe that whatever you were trying to achieve was possible. As Yoda said to Luke: 'Do or do not, there is no try.'
Reaching out with his hand, and feeling with his mind, Corvus searched for a button on the other side of the door, and depressed it.
The second the door slid open, Corvus jumped the 12ft distance, making sure not to touch the pads on the floor.
Whooshing into the residence, Corvus saw an incredible amount of art pieces, animal exhibits, instruments, rugs, shiny jewels, and all manner of expensive items. There were even things that tempted him, such as the: kyber crystals, full suits of Mandalorian beskar armor, holocrons, ancient texts, and assorted objects that oozed in the Force.
Heck, there was even an old gaming console where one could play Pazaak, the card game from Kotor 2! In the modern era, everyone played Sabaac, a multiplayer game, but Pazaak was the OG 1v1 card game. It went out of fashion, so it was amusing to see one in this room. Heck, it even appeared to be recently used!
This large room was a thieves wet dream, and in Corvus's opinion, incredibly gauche. When compared to the simplicity of Bail's residence, Xizor seemed like he wanted to clobber visitors with how much wealth he had amassed.
In Corvus's opinion, this room served as another layer of defense, and was quite ingenious.
On one hand, any would-be assassins that made it this far might be tempted to nab something that caught their fancy. Doubtlessly an alarm-or possibly an explosive/gas attack-would be triggered when any item was tampered with.
On the other hand, this outrageous amount of casually displayed wealth was like a wild animal flashing its colors, letting all who saw it know that it was poisonous.
Xizor was clearly a sophisticated man, and had put great thought into this palace. Going into this, Corvus wondered how their meeting would play out. Now he had such high expectations, that despite all these warning signs, there was no way he would back out now.
Moving forward, Corvus saw a grand door festooned with jewels, gold and other flashy items. It was the final barrier separating him from the penthouse suite.
Extending his senses, Corvus felt that there was one lifeform within, a single droid, and a few sources of danger that he couldn't quantify. .
The Force was interesting, it seemed as if this lifeform-likely Xizor-was excited. As if he was expecting Corvus.
Corvus wondered if he had been spotted, then thought back to the door he had opened up. Perhaps a silent alarm had been installed, and Xizor was expecting company.
Even though Corvus was invisible, it's not like stealth generators were non-existent. There were other ways to achieve such a level of camouflage.
Now knowing that there could be a trap inside, Corvus could probably slice his way through this door, or the wall, and speed blitz Xizor. But killing the Falleen wasn't the point of this mission. Sure, threatening him, or showcasing his power might provide a convincing show, but it would also needlessly sew conflict.
Xizor was a man who enjoyed the finer things in life, so Corvus would entertain this rich playboy, and play his game.
Searching through the items he had looted from the Jedi Temple, and searched under miscellaneous for anything beginning with Falleen.
Finding an item labeled [Traditional Falleen Mask], and a short blurb describing it as belonging to a date from thousands of years ago, he knew it would hold some value to this avid collector. Corvus spawned it into his hands, and exited Pause.
Then, he did what any courteous guest would do.
He knocked.