Ep I Ch 18

1The whole situation reminded me of a fabled woman named… Babylon. Yes, that was her name. It was a story my father always told me to keep me obedient. 2It was said that Babylon, a married woman, had lost her husband in a flight accident down a mineshaft.

3Apart from her, only the husband’s boss and coworkers knew. 4So, they took his body to the Jawas and held a celebration 5where they blessed his body and spirit over a fire.

6In her time of mourning on Tatooine, there were few people who visited, or who she would visit. 7She did visit one friend, who did not believe in The Force. 8She asked her friend, in a polite fashion as Jedi do, “What do you do when you’ve lost someone you love?”

9The friend nodded along, but was not listening. This saddened Babylon’s heart, and reconsidered her friendship with this person. Eventually, she stopped visiting them.

10There was someone who was a Jedi, who brought her food and supplies. 11So one day, she asked the Jedi the same question as before. She hoped for a straightforward answer.

12The Jedi said to her, “Well, that’s quite a specific scenario. I don’t know if I have the right answer for you.” 13He was genuinely concerned for her, and she was grateful for that, at least.

14She thanked him before he left, and looked down at her supper, she didn’t want to eat. 15Eventually, she stopped eating until she thought necessary, which was not often.

16Since homes in Tatooine are so spread out, she found it hard to find comfort in others because she grew so weak. Thoughts came into her mind, and she started to believe the darkest ones. 17There were thoughts that commented on her frailty, or that she would never love a man again. There, her downturn began.

18She knew something was wrong, but didn’t know how to help it. 19Every time she looked in the mirror, she was reminded by her sullen cheeks and dark-rimmed eyes. The mirror became dusty because she was even too weak to clean. 20Something as much as dust on a mirror made her bitter, because she couldn’t do the housework.

21Babylon eventually stopped talking to that Jedi as well, ordering him to leave the food at the door. He asked if she was alright, and she always gave the same answer of nothing. 22One day, she realised that she was no longer in control of herself. She sunk deeper in her dark thoughts, and then…

23So was born General Grievity. She became a dark force, who, now, even the Jedi avoided from then on. This was a tale, apparently true, of the first ever Sith. 24Ever since Dad told me this story in full, I’ve been most conscious of the thoughts I let into my mind, and the dreams I chose to dream. But I know, at least, the Dark Side is real, because I see them all over Theed.