Alderaan

Under recommendation from both Kaljaren and Marka Ragnos, I sought to improve my understanding of the light side first.

When asking for guidance on where to go, Kaljaren recommended, "Go to Alderaan. The people there are peaceful and compassionate. Art and philosophy thrive on that world. The world produces a great amount of diplomats, and peace brokers. They have learned to thrive along with their environment, and can be considered harmonious with nature. Watch them, maybe speak with them if you design."

Such a recommendation was sound. Making a small base on the planet wouldn't be difficult either. The security forces can be considered good, but not good enough to hinder me in building a base. They don't have the technology to detect me either.

Myrkr was already fully mine now. The androids had all finished their insertion into positions and identities. I've become the shadow ruler of Myrkr. I can leave the planet at ease.

I didn't dawdle on going to Alderaan, I left immediately. Getting to Alderaan, I decided to make a base in a mountain range near Aldera, the planet's capital. I can't exactly use the motherships laser to make a hole, so I'm going simple. I take only a scout ship down with some supplies to make a camp.

Landing in a good spot, I set camouflage nodes around the decided perimeter of the camp. These nodes will bend light to make an illusion that the landscape is normal. Therefore hiding whatever is inside the perimeter. The nodes can also confuse people to walk around the hidden camp. I don't think it'll work against Jedi though. No Jedi should wander out here though. It was night when I arrived in this part of Alderaan. By the time the camp was finished being set up, it was almost morning.

I went to Aldera to see the city wake, and try to spot someone to "learn" from.

As the people woke, the streets started to get filled and even music filled the air. Music that could be considered classical, contemporary instrumental even. Only in some areas there were bards singing songs. I even began to smell the food. I had heard the Alderaan chefs make great food in general, but the smell took me by surprise. I started to get kind of hungry.

In my great wisdom, I had actually sent some androids here. A few of them are even in Aldera. I chose one to call upon to order food and leave it for me.

It took an hour, but was worth it. The food lived up to its reputation.

I toured the city before coming across an old man in the street. He was wearing simple clothes and speaking to a small crowd. He was sitting in a small city square upon a simple chair.

Listening in, he was talking about love and compassion. Two things I have only superficial understandings of, as I feel all as lesser than me by default. Unless they prove otherwise.

Midday, no one was listening to the old man anymore. He was just sitting there, looking at the sky.

Without uncloaking, I speak from behind him, "Who are you old man?"

The old man looked behind him, and saw nothing. He did not react though, he was still calm. He faces forward again, "I go by Bo. Who are you?"

I think for a moment, "Bido." I decided to show some sincerity, as the words of Bo were intriguing.

He hums, "Bido..., I suppose you have questions?"

I answer, "Yes, I do."

He hums again, "Ask them then."

I ask, "How do you show compassion to beings that are lower than you. Beings that are viewed as prey, and always will be. Beings that are not equal?"

The old man thinks for a moment, "Well, to show compassion, you must put value on their life. This means to value life itself. Even I, a big and strong human, can show compassion to ant. If an ant is stranded on a leaf, and flowing away. I would grab the leaf, and place it on solid ground. The ant is lower, lesser, unequal to me under you way of thinking, yet I still showed compassion for its life."

Bo asks me, "How do you live?"

I answer, "I hunt. I hunt sentient creatures to improve my lethality, to become a better hunter."

Bo asks, unfazed by my answer, "Do you show respect, or hunt by any rules?"

I say, "Yes, I have a code. Short version, they must be armed and combat ready. A trophy is taken from respected prey. I do allow useless suffering. For worthy prey, I offer a fair fight."

Bo nods, "Then you have a respect for the hunt. A respect for the prey. Yet you don't know how to show anything more. To show compassion according to your way; make the deaths quick, make them painless, let it mean something. Outside of the hunt, know that they all have something unique to them. If you see someone hurt, why not heal them? Are they not future potential prey? Isn't every lifeform potential future prey, even an ant. Perhaps, not prey for you, but prey for others, maybe they will become predators themselves. Nonetheless, they all have potential. As a hunter, why allow such potential to be snuffed, when you can give it a chance to grow."

I think, "What you say makes sense. I was expecting you to convince to change into a monk or something. To tell to stop hunting sentient beings. You instead suggested ways to fit compassion into my own way of life. Appreciated."

Bo smiles, "Compassion can be found anywhere. It is not impossible for you, to be a compassionate hunter. You already have respect, you can do compassion."

I say, "Tell me about love Bo. How can I love beings I hunt? How can I even consider being in love with females of species I have hunted? How can I love life in general?"

Bo inhales, "A heavy question. What you are asking me is basically if a bear can love a fat sheep. For you, I would recommend seeing past the species, and looking at the person. There are exceptional people in every species. As for love, love is complicated. To love life, is to recognize what life provides. Life, is the reason none of us are alone. There are animals, trees, grass, and other people around us. This way, we are never alone in living. Life provides sights to the eyes, things to taste, breath to feel, song to hear, and beings to find solace in. This is why life should be loved. As for loving a singular being. I must refer to the phrase, 'falling in love'. Do you know it."

I click my mandibles, "I know it."

Bo continues, "It is phrased that way for a reason. Consider falling, that act of falling is an action of vulnerability. When you are falling, you can be attacked, you can be strode over. To willingly fall, is an act of surrender. Hence, we can say that falling in love is an action of surrender to love. If you truly love someone, you surrender yourself to them. You render yourself defenseless. One thing you must understand Bido, is that it is impossible to truly love without surrendering. If you start to love a female of a hunted species, it won't matter that she is from an hunted species. This is because, if you pursue the love, you will fall. You will surrender in the end if you pursue it to the end. At that point, being a hunter, a killer, won't matter, it won't stop you. This is because love can be considered a form of madness, hehe."

A slight pause, "Beware though of love. If you fall in love with someone that will stab you in the heart, instead of carefully handling it with reciprocal love, you will suffer greatly. Such a blow when you are surrendered will be unlike any other you have felt upon the flesh. Which is why, you must make sure, you surrender to each other. Do not try to seek love so hard either. Love comes naturally, so let it happen naturally, or else you have a higher chance to be stabbed in the heart."

Now it I humming, "Thank you Bo."

Bo smiles, "No problem Predator, come to me again if you like. I am always here."

I am a little startled, "You know of me, and can tell who I am."

Bo chuckles, "I am not ignorant of such fields of knowledge. I am wise enough in my years to conclude this too. Don't worry about me telling you name though. You came to me for wisdom, I will not betray that flattery."

I laugh, "Alright then Bo, until next time."

Leaving behind Bo, his words had got me thinking in the right direction. Now I must look for some experience. Just from meeting Bo, I think I will be able to find enough experiences on this planet.