A Path in Shadow (Kian Karr)

[Morgana Forceborn]

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Kamino was a little more calm in the weather as of this day. Not as heavy a storm so much as light rain. It was always wet on this planet, that was a unfathomable truth, but how wet it could be often depended on the day. Still it only enforced the need for the many buildings where the inhabitants of the planet, the Kaminoans, stayed while doig thier day-to-day duties. Those who were not the usual brand of scientist or medical operator did whatver they could, being that the majority of people on this planet were scientists. However one kaminoan seemed to be unseen today, something that had caught the attention of many, including her own father.​

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Returning to thier quaters within the risen city Taro Wi called "Zira? Zira where are you?" looking from room to room for his daughter. "Zira? Everyone's wondering where you are."​

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Eventually he'd found her in her room. Zira, like her father, was dressed in usual Kaminoan attire. Hers may have been a bit more casual but it still seemed elegant in it's own way. She was sitting on a chair close to a window that looked out to the tossing and turning sea horizon of Kamino. Her left hand was outstreatched to a small device on a desk within her room. She seemed to be trying to make it move, with very little success as all it did was tremble a little.​

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"Zira!" her father spat, breaking her concentration and making her look towards him with embaressment. "What do you think you're doing? I've told you before not to play around with those silly powers of yours."​

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She lowered her head in shame before saying "Sorry, father. I did not mean to. It's just..."​

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"Just what?" he asked, though more out of annoyance than curiosity.​

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"I have...been feeling something." she began. "As if something is coming for me. It has made me want to try and understand this thing they call 'the Force'."​

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Her father didn't seem as convinced on the matter. Whenever talk of the Force would come up he would always wave it off as a genetic freak or some random act with a scientific method behind it. No magic or power hidden within sort of thing.​

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Waving it off Taro said "Whatever feeling this is, I suggest you try to ingnore it. You are due to help present a new medicine we have been developing, and the last thing I need to hear from anyone else is that might daughter has been lax. Now get yourself ready."​

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With that he walked out, leaving Zira to prepare. She didn't do it right away. Instead she looked back to the window and sighed, still having that odd sense that someone, or something, was coming for her. It was an odd feeling, but not one she could ignore like her father wanted. It was hard to put in words but the best thing she could say was that it was a sort of need to know what it was that was coming to Kamino.​

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[member="Kian Karr"]​

 

[Kian Karr]

Breath in.....breath out....breath in....breath out....

Kian sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber of The Shadow his Jocasta-Class Light Corvette. Several days prior, Kian and a small group of Shadows had infiltrated a One Sith insurgency base within Republic space. It concerned Kian that the One Sith had been able to set-up the base within Republic space, but they hadn't been given enough time to settle in when the Republic and Jedi-lead task-force took the base and eradicated the threat. They had found a great deal of contraband and smuggled goods within the base. The most valuable items they found, however, were a pirated shipment of biologically altered viruses that had originated on Kamino.

Kian wasn't happy with the idea of the One Sith playing around with biological weapons, but the decision had been made that the viruses should be returned to the Kamino and Kian had taken on the task.

"Sir, we are about to exit hyperspace." Came the voice of CG-50, his protocol droid over the comm system. Kian rose to his feet and left the meditation chamber, heading toward the hanger, and the secured package.

______________________​

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The offload was complete and Kian had signed over the packages to the Kamino scientist, but he still didn't like it. He wanted to see them destroyed immediately, but the head of the project had told Kian that they would need to 'investigate' the alterations to the viruses before they destroyed them. Kian shook his head as he watched the last crate slide down his ships ramp and into the secure laboratories of Kamino.

"Refuel the ship, CG, I'm going to take a walk." Kian said turning and walking along the outer walkways, watching the water crash down below. As he walked, Kian found himself moving on a path without really thinking about it and before he knew it he was standing before two doors that slid open as he approached. Kian wasn't sure why, but something told him he should enter and without a second thought, he walked in.

[member="Zira Wi"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Zira had finally changed as her father wanted. It had taken time, especially after she watched a very grand looking sjip enter into the Kaminoan skies. She watched it and had that same odd feeling of something comig, only now it was almost like an alarm. She didn't know why but she knew it had to do with whatever or whoever was on that ship. Now Zira wore a more elegant dress in Kaminoan style before joinig her father out in the hallway. There were no words between them. It was clear Taro was already upset with her as it was.he only turned and walked with her followig behind with her hands foled in front and her head down.​

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As they walked onward that same feeling kept bugging Zira's senses. It grew more as they walked, making her wonder if it had to do with the little meeting she was supposed to attend with her father. Turning one corner, however, Zira stopped and looked down a different hallway while her father kept walking. Apparently he didn't notice as he just continued on, Zira looking oddly towards the oppiste hall. Something in her mind, or possibly deeper, told her to go down this way. Despite her father knowing the way to go Zira felt as though there was something else coming from where she looked.​

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A quick glance to see her father still walking before Zira herself turned and went down the hall. She continued for a moment before turning a corner, the feeling growing greater and greater. When she did she stopped, seeing a Kal Dor in her path. This was it. She could feel it. Whoever he was this Kel Dor male was the one she had been sensing. Being so close to him made whatever feeling she had seem to flare.​

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She only stood there perplexed for a moment before saying "Excuse me, Master Jedi." finding it odd that she actually knew what he was.​

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[member="Kian Karr"]​

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian felt a presence in the force and it was growing stronger. Kian's hand almost slipped inside his cloak to grasp the lightsaber hilt that hung on his utility belt, but stayed his hand. The presence didn't seem dark or ominious....curious would likely be the best way to describe the feeling he got from it. Then, rounding a corner, Kian saw the Kaminoan approaching him. Kian wasn't particularly familiar with the species, but looking at her approach, Kian got the sense that she was a young adult but couldn't be sure given his lack of familiarity with the species.

Then she addressed him as a Jedi and Kian smiled beneath his mask. While she might have been force sensitive, she certainly wasn't a Jedi or else she wouldn't have used the "Master Jedi" title that civilians usually said out of respect. It would have been far more likely that she would have said "Master" and left out the Jedi part. Besides, while Kian didn't know all the Jedi in the Order, he certainly didn't recognize her.

"Greetings!" Kian said placing a hand over his chest and bowing his head to the girl. "I am Jedi Master Kian Karr, it is a pleasure to meet you." Kian said and paused to hear what the Kaminoan's name was. As he waited, Kian examined the girl in the force. She was giving off an aura, that was true, but it was the sort of aura you'd sense in someone untrained. To Kian the raw power of it spoke of untapped potential and lack of control. Could it be that Kian had stumbled upon someone who hadn't fully known about their abilities? Or perhaps someone who didn't wish to pursue further training? Kian quickly pushed those thoughts aside however. He would need to get to know the girl first before posing questions such as these.

[member="Zira Wi"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

The more Zira was around this Kel Dor Jedi, which she now learned his name was [member="Kian Karr"] , the more she became aware of how strong he was. It was part of that odd feeling she had about finding him; which even that still confused her. It was like knowing the statistics of someone within her soul, not mind, and she could tell this man was very powerful with the Force. He must've been a high ranking meber, though Zira didn't know if it was aster or knight that was the highest rank in a Jedi order.​

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When asked she answered "Zira. Zira Wi, sir." She bowed her long necked head again before asking "And what would bring a Jedi all the way out to Kamino? Does your order require another clone army?"​

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian let out a chuckle at the girl's words. "I think not." Kian said shaking his head. "The last one didn't work out all that great for us." Kian said, and as he did so he allowed his chuckle to die and his mind to wander. The Jedi of the late Republic had been some of the greatest Jedi in their history. They were wise, dedicated men and women who strove to defend the weak....and the majority of them had died at the hands of the clone troopers they had trusted and fought alongside. Kian had idolized Jedi Master Plo Koon when he was a boy back on Dorin....and he had always thought it was an inglorious end to such a wonderful Jedi.

"I've just returned a shipment of stolen biological samples that were recovered from a raid." Kian said, informing her to his presence on her world. "At least that is what initially brought me here." Kian said tilting his head to the side and examining her closely.

"I'm beginning to think that you're the reason I'm here." Kian said folding his arms across his chest and examining her. Kian wasn't typically one to read too much into coincidence....but he knew enough to go with the force when it guided you.

"Are you aware your force sensitive?"

[member="Zira Wi"]​

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Even though his joke was clear Zira didn't exaclty laugh. She only gave a small smile, as if to compensate [member="Kian Karr"] for the joke itself. She did, however, perk with interest when he mentioned returning a bilogical weapon that was formed on Kamino. This actually gave her a worried look. She didn't have time to think on it though, as he pointed out that she was a force sensative. And that she may have been the reason why he came to Kamino in the first place.​

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She awkwardly fiddled her fingers before saying "Yes...I am aware. But...I'm not allowed to speak of it." ​

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Suddenly Taro came walking down the hall saying "Zira! What are you doing? I turn my back for a moment and then you were gone." The moment he walked up to both her and the Jedi he looked oddly at the latter and asked "And who are you?" ​

 

[Kian Karr]

"Why wouldn't you be allowe...." Kian began to say but was quickly interrupted when the older Kaminoan's arrival. Given the way he spoke and the way he carried himself, Kian immediately jumped to the conclusion that this was Zira's father. He seemed unhappy with his daughters sudden disappearance and Kian said nothing as the man spoke.

Then he rounded on Kian and demanded to know who he was. Kian wasn't sure if it was something about his appearance or the fact that he was a stranger who was speaking to his daughter but the man didn't seem to be pleased by Kian's presence.

"I am Kian Karr of the Jedi Order." Kian said extending a hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"I was just talking to your daughter about the fact that she is force sensitive." Kian said, coming right out with it. He had a suspicion he wished to pursue. She had said she wasn't allowed to talk about it....and Kian wondered if her father was why.

[member="Zira Wi"]​

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Taro gave the Kel Dor a rather unpleasant look, not even bothering to shake his hand, as he insisted "My daughter may b force sensitive, but I won't allow her to run off with a bunch of self-proclaimed holy warriors with fancy weapons. Her place is here, working on her projects for the good of Kamino. I suggest, Mr. Karr, you look for new recruits elsewhere." After that he turned on his heel and said "Come, Zira. We're running late as it is." ​

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As her father walked away Zira hesitated, looking between him and Kian. The look on her face said she wanted to go with the Jedi, but her body language made it all the more clear how conflicted she was. She glanced back one more time before lowering her head again.​

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"I'm sorry..." she said to Kain before turning away and following her father.​

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In all of this confusion Zira forgot to ask about the genetic weapon that Kian had found and how it was related to Kamino.​

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[member="Kian Karr"]​

 

[Kian Karr]

"Tell me Mr. Wi," Kian said, his voice even and calm as he followed them with his hands clasped behind his back. "How would you feel if you knew that a virus breed here on Kamino was used to kill thousands....perhaps millions of people?" Kian asked. He had just met the man, but the scientists Kian had worked with in the past were incredibly ethical and sensitive people when it came to the misuse of their products and he doubted that Zira's father was any different.

"That is why I'm here." Kian said shrugging. "I just returned a virus to your labs that was taken by the Sith.....do you suppose they were planning on using it for a good cause?" Kian asked, somewhat sarcastically.

"The Jedi are only 'warriors' when we need to be." Kian said smiling beneath his mask, "You would be hard pressed to find a Jedi who enjoyed fighting....who enjoyed violence. We fight because we have to, to protect the Galactic Republic and the galaxy....including you and your daughter."

"We can't afford to turn our back on others and forsake them for the sake of a single planet.....can you say the same?"

[member="Zira Wi"]​

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

At the mention of a virus Taro stopped in his track. He didn't turn back to [member="Kian Karr"] at first, instead he looked worried. Something about it had caught Zira's attention. She gave the Kel Dor Jedi an odd look before seeing her father only peek back to the Jedi and say "Whatever virus you found I can assure you has nothing to do with me or my people. And as for your talk of fighting, I has nothing to do with my daughter. Now good day, sir."​

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"Wait!" Zira said, stopping him. "Father, how can you just ignore this? If there's a virus at work here then perhaps there's something going on we don't know about." At first he tried to shoot her down, saying it was a foolish notion, but she then added "What about the virus' workings? I was trying to develop a medicine before you took it away. What if someone stole it from you or...." She stopped when she had another realization of what it ight have meant. "F-Father? Did you....?"​

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"Of course not!" he tried to say. "Why would I...?" ​

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian took the distraction of Zira and her father's discussion to slip around them and cut off their line of exit. He settled in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back and his shoulders hunched in a non-threatening manner, inquisitive manner. Now Kian's interest was truly peaked.

"What do you know about the viruses?" Kian asked, his voice was neither hard nor angry but it made it clear that he wasn't simply being curious. Kian wasn't leaving this open for debate. He needed answers and he needed them now.

Kian had to be cautious in his handling of the situation. Kamino was no longer a planet in the Republic sphere of influence and he had no legal right to step in as a peacekeeper....but he was a Jedi and he had no intentions of ignoring a threat to the Galactic Republic.

[member="Zira Wi"]​

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Realizing he had no way out of this Taro, looking between both Zira and [member="Kian Karr"] gave a sigh of defeat before explaining "The Sith were going to take you away, daughter. They knew about your abilities and were willing to kidnap you and possibly brainwash you into becoming one of their own. I couldn't allow it. Instead I offered them a trade. I took your notes and re-worked them into the bio-weapon the Kel Dor had discovered. It was the only thing they would accept over you. I suppose you managed to stop their tests, master Jedi. But do not think to judge me for my actions. I did it for my daughter's sake. Tell me if you would not have done the same, were you in my position? Or would you dare to stand there and say I should have let the Sith, your enemies, take her?" ​