AN: This is a double release (just because) Go back to chapter 6.
Thanks to the map feature, Corvus was able to retrace his steps 80% of the way back to the sewer entrance of the Jedi Temple.
However, due to the extensive use of explosives deployed during his flight from the Temple, many pathways were caved in.
As a result, he had to take a circuitous route back.
The tunnels were almost completely dark, but to Corvus, there was something comforting in the almost total blackness of his surroundings. Maybe it was his new prestige class at work, but the shadowy landscape around him was inviting. The Force called to him in a subtle, muted tone. Sort of like the feeling one would get drinking a warm beverage on a wintery cold day.
Cloaked in his newfound invisibility, Corvus bypassed a few nasty looking wild animals, and other aliens up to who knows what.
Whilst he drew near to the temple, Corvus came across a probe droid scanning the environment.
The hovering droid would throw out a blue beam across a room, then would advance to the next section of the sewers.
Corvus saw this as a test. He wanted to see just how viable his cloaking was. Better to discover now that it was not good enough, or needed more work, than when he was balls deep into enemy territory, and at risk of being surrounded.
Standing still, Corvus waited for the probe droid to move up to him, and scan his section of the sewer.
When the beam passed over him, the droid made no noises, or anything, and kept moving forward as if it had seen nothing.
Letting go of a breath he didn't know he was holding, Corvus continued on his journey.
At the moment, his destination was the Jedi Temple.
Corvus decided to head there first, to see if he could loot any holocrons, or find something to sabotage.
The place was where Palpatine intended to construct his Imperial Palace. If Corvus could in any way mess with those plans, that would bring a smile to his face.
But what really interested him was the seizure, and denial of knowledge.
Palpatine was notorious in the books/comics for secluding himself away from the affairs of state to research a means towards immortality.
Corvus would wager that the holocrons-both Sith and Jedi-played a role in his study.
He was also certain that they wouldn't be moved to some other location. The Jedi Temple, in Palpatine's eyes, must be one of the more secure places on Coruscant.
Palpatine was an extremely arrogant man, especially after he had achieved victory over the Jedi, and had defeated Yoda in their duel.
Corvus was interested in the knowledge that he could uncover from those holocrons, and knew that if he wanted to rekindle the Jedi Order, they would be key to his success.
The ancient Jedi were built different, and could instruct a whole new generation on exploring the limits of the Force.
If Corvus was going to take on the Empire, doing so with a group of well trained Jedi would certainly make things easier.
It was with such aspirations in mind that Corvus had finally made it back to the sewer entrance to the Temple.
Stepping past another regiment of guards, Corvus made his way inside.
Taking his first step into the Temple, the Force seemed to coil around him like a snake. He felt stifled, and choked off. A sense of horror, dread, and sorrow permeated the air.
The deaths of so many Jedi in one place tainted the halls with their psychic echoes.
As he advanced deeper into the Temple, Corvus swore he could still hear blaster fire, the hum of a lightsaber, and the screams of the younglings just around the corner.
Darkside energy had tainted this once pure land, and Corvus felt sickened by the seeming miasma of dread the colored these grounds.
This feeling only served to reinforce Corvus's hatred for both Sidious and Vader.
Taking a deep breath, Corvus centered his emotions, along with his feelings within the Force.
'I am at Peace; for I know Emotion.
I have Power; for I also have Knowledge.
I have Passion; for I am Serene.
I can embrace Mortality; for I know Death.
I am balanced through the Force.'
Mentally repeating the mantra he had read within Lucien Dray's holocron, Corvus found some measure of peace, and rekindled his motivation to harm the Empire in every way he could.
During his advance, he noticed many clone troopers patrolling the halls, and the signs of damaged architecture were everywhere.
The Temple was much busier than Corvus had anticipated, but then again, he had to keep in mind that Yoda and Obi-Wan had been here 2 days ago. It made sense that there would be some heightened security.
Meanwhile, Corvus didn't have a clue as to where the holocrons were located.
The archives seemed like a good place to start, so he began to head that way.
During his journey, Corvus was forced to side step a few squadrons of patrolling clones, but overall, it was childsplay to reach his destination.
Entering the Jedi Archives, Corvus saw that items were being catalogued, and placed within boxes. There were literally tens of thousands of objects being shuffled around, it was a collectors wet dream.
Ancient armors, weapons, scrolls, and all sorts of alien items were being recorded on a tablet by a clone commander, and then packaged up.
Honestly, there was so much activity, and so many items, Corvus was a little lost on what to do.
Scratching his chin, he realized he wouldn't know where to even begin in his search for the holocrons.
But since everything was being recorded, what he needed to do was get his hands on the tablet, and then locate the boxes he was looking for.
However…technically, technically, his inventory was bottomless. With infinite capacity, why should he settle for merely taking the holocrons, when he could seize everything.
There was bound to be some epic loot amongst the items being gathered, and by adding things to his inventory, he would gain a blueprint for them in the workshop/lab station menu.
The only problem was that there were tons of soldiers in here, and Corvus wasn't ready to blow his cover just yet. A heist of this magnitude really was eye catching. Besides, if he went mask off, saber swinging, then there was a chance that the items within the archive could sustain damage.
Violence wasn't an option.
Thankfully, he had the most busted tool within a Jedi's arsenal.
Mind Trick.
His effective range of this ability wasn't too long, but he felt that as he had advanced with his prestige class, it had gained in power. Something Corvus had noticed, however, that the ability was stronger the closer he was to the recipient.
Clinging to the shadows, Corvus walked up behind the clone commander, and waved his hand.
'You received a report of suspicious activity at the Temple entrance. Fearing Jedi, you will order the entire unit to rush there as reinforcements. To the best of your ability, hold your men there for at least half an hour.' Corvus willed.
The clone commander seemed to struggle over Corvus's grasp, but ultimately caved under Corvus's continued pressure.
"All units, all units, a report has come in. Suspicious activities have been noted at the main gates, Alpha, Beta, Gamma squads, I want you there on the double!" The commander ordered, and then gestured for the men nearby to follow him.
"Come brothers, for the Empire!"
"For the Empire!" The rest of the clones cheered back, and ran out of the archive.
As soon as they were gone, Corvus slapped on [Force Speed III], and started to grab up everything he could.
Prying open boxes, and touching everything in sight, Corvus used the thrill and potential of being caught to train in his newfound speed.
As he had jumped two levels in Force Speed, he wasn't exactly ready for how fast he really was, and had almost splattered himself into a wall.
"Heh heh." Laughing at himself for the near death experience, Corvus dialed in, and got to work.
Ancient paintings, pottery, weapons and all sorts of things entered Corvus's inventory.
Eventually he made it to the box that held what he had sought.
'Holocrons.' Corvus greedily thought to himself as he nabbed the precious thought crystals one after another.
During his giddy rush to loot and steal, he came across another unexpected treasure trove.
Lightsabers.
Thousands upon thousands of lightsabers.
'There are only 10,000+ active Jedi during this era…some of these must be from the distant past. Lightsabers of the deceased. By taking these I'll be denying Palpatine kyber crystals for the Death Star.' Corvus thought to himself as he looked upon the history of the Jedi Order in reverent awe.
A powerful confluence of the Force seemed to surround these blades, and Corvus felt as if he were being watched by hundreds of pairs of eyes.
They were observing him, yet any judgment was withheld. As if they were waiting for something.
"Thank you, forebears, for this gift. I swear the Jedi shall return one day. The Sith shall face justice." Corvus said, bowing towards the specters just outside his awareness.
Pocketing the lightsabers, Corvus felt their presence disappear.
From the time he Mind Tricked the commander, to the time he took the last lightsaber, only five minutes had passed.
The super speed of a fully fledged Jedi Knight was truly terrifying, and Corvus had stolen every last item he could find within the boxes.
Now that the archive was fully looted, he had one last thing to do while he was in the Temple.
Following the map feature built into his system, Corvus made his way to the security room.
As he approached, he noticed the doors had been blown open, and a heap of twisted metal laid to the side.
'Good, that makes the next part all the more easier.'
Entering the room, there were 2 guards posted out front, and 5 troops working to repair the devices within the room.
Corvus withheld a chuckle.
It seemed he had worried for nothing. Obi-Wan and Yoda must have sabotaged the devices after they viewed Anakin's recording through the security tapes.
However, who knew how crafty the clone technicians were? They might find some way to restore the data.
Obi-Wan and Yoda weren't exactly tech savvants, and these clones' sole purpose in life was to be good at computers.
It was better to be safe than sorry. He also wanted to try something new, and experiment a little. He was going to attempt a group Mind Trick, as well as offer in a suggestion that might go along with their ethos. Corvus was hoping that by appealing to their inner thoughts, that the Mind Trick would face less resistance, and be easier to cast.
Waving his hand at each technician, Corvus cast Mind Trick on them, issuing the same command:
'Delete everything you see that contains information about the Jedi, their allies, contacts, and associates. The Jedi are traitors, by erasing them from history, you are doing the universe a great service.' Corvus ordered.
Feeling his grasp over their minds slip into place, Corvus sighed a breath of relief.
His experiment was a success!
He could cast Mind Trick on more than one person, and by abiding with the target's inner desires placing the geas on them was simpler.
This excursion to the Jedi Temple had been quite fruitful. He had confirmed his stealth capabilities, looted tons of precious objects, and experimented on one of his core abilities.
Only a few hours had passed since he had left Coruscant's floor 1313. Every second counted, and he was in a crunch for time.
Looking out a window from the Temple, Corvus saw a breathtaking view of the megalopolis. There in the distance, was the Senate building, and a few other skyscrapers that must be the centers for military and intelligence.
They were his next targets.
By the end of the day, chaos and terror would grip the hearts and minds of the Empire's officers.
Corvus silently chuckled to himself.
The Imperials didn't think eliminating the Jedi would come without any repercussions, did they?
When initiating a coup against the galaxy's premier organization of Space Wizards, you had better not miss!
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AN: Read up to chapter 26 where I release on patreon on Mon, Tue, Wed, Th.
karpqq patreon.com
Publicly on Fridays.