Private Grandmaster and a King

[Solan Charr]

Genetics Lab a few kilometers outside of Tahv, Kesh

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Solan was resting, having only just the previous day returned from one of his excursions to kill and break up another slaver ring that had decided to stray too close to Kesh. They hadn't been stupid enough to touch the planet itself, but even being that close made him wary. He hoped that the recent... cleansing was enough to dissuade them in the future. He hated even knowing that those kinds of scum could exist without feeling threatened by the shadows around them or that they might pay ten fold for the crime they have committed.

IF he could, he would wipe Nal Hutta off the face of the Galaxy.

But that was something for him to think on a different time. The ones they had rescued from that batch of slavers were either given the choice of remaining on Kesh or Solan would see to it that they got back to the place they considered home. Either option open to them and he had no intention to have them trade one cruel prison for another.

He knew well what the feeling of being chained down where he could do no good felt like. Even now the stretch of land he had existed in for years after his death was devoid of life and the Force itself, all of it having been consumed by Solan during the battle.

It was one of his greatest regrets that his power had left such a permanent mark outside of the City of Gyn.

But it was fro that reason that he was insistent on their work today. Standing outside of a lab and observing the creatures within one of the pens. Uvak that his people treasured and kept careful care of. He wished to create a race of beasts that could be used in combat, a light twist of alchemy and science in order to create something that the more force aligned members of his world could use as mounts with less worry that the mount would die in combat from a blasterbolt or saber blade. After all, while Uvak were as fast as a speeder, and were strong and capable creatures, they had not evolved to face such destructive weapons.

Of course, he had left information that should anyone come looking for him, to send them his way. He didn't realize though that his little massacre would catch the attention of someone far more interesting than normal. A certain Jedi that he rarely interacted with these days after the Silver Jedi had finally gone and dissolved, though, like with many others even their faces seemed lost to him. Casualties in the process that had returned him to life. While he could remember individuals like Coci and Sochi, he no longer could describe their faces or what they sounded like.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The sun over Kesh was dipping low when Valery finally caught sight of the compound. Word of what had happened to that slaver ring had spread quickly, and while there was no doubt in her mind that those men had earned their fate, she needed to understand what had driven someone to take it that far.

Her boots crunched softly over the packed earth as she moved past the perimeter markers, the breeze blowing through her long hair. She slowed her pace near the lab, hands resting lightly at her sides, letting the presence she felt in the Force guide her steps until she saw him standing there, watching the creatures.

"Solan," she called, her voice calm but carrying enough to reach him over the low hum of the facility. "I heard what you did to those slavers." She closed the distance, her expression steady but touched with something he would recognize — an understanding shared by those who had seen too many chains and too many scars left behind.

She had a particularly strong hatred for slavers.

Her gaze swept over the pens and then back to him. "I came here to talk. To see for myself what you are working toward." She took another step forward, her presence open, ready for whatever his answer might be.

Solan Charr ​

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan when he looked over and saw the individual who had finally arrived was a bit surprised. He had never met them but he knew the face thanks to his own keeping up with the Galaxy. It was hard for one to not know the face of the various Emperors or the Chancellors in the Galaxy, and even more so it was hard to not know the face of the Jedi Grandmaster. That all said, it did take him a moment when he looked over, needing to almost physically make the connections in his mind.

Her words at first made him think this was going to be a moral conversation, him having to listen about how he could have found a better way, or he could have locked up the slavers. He had heard it before and was already about to give a look of annoyance but instead as he looked over he would see that there was more behind it.

It was an interesting look, one that almost seemed as though there was no disapproval for his actions? He couldn't be certain or not what it was, but he would decided to atleast hear out the Grandmaster.

Her atleast doubted she would come this far just to kill or depose him, even if his home was a planet on the farthest reaches of known space.

"I must say, it has been a while since I have greeted a Grandmaster to my home. I think the last was... The Heavenshields? A shame I can barely remember them." He stated, his tone a bit wistful before nodding to her.

"Please, come and lets have a conversation. I was taking some time away from my experiments and from the rebuilding of my planet. But, I will ask you try not to convince me what I did was wrong. If anything I am simply incapable of completing the work I had started." He stated, making his stance clear from the start on how he felt about what he did to the slavers.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery studied him for a moment as he spoke, the setting sun catching across the lines of his face. He was a little older than she had expected, but there was a presence to him, and she could not help but note that he carried himself with the kind of confidence that made him a striking figure.

When he finished, she stepped closer, her hands still loose at her sides, and offered a faint but genuine smile. "I'm Master Valery Noble," she said, inclining her head slightly in greeting. "It is good to meet you." The warmth in her voice was deliberate, carrying no judgment, only intent to understand.

His request drew a small nod. "Noted," she replied softly, the corner of her mouth lifting just a little more.

Her gaze flicked toward the pens again, taking in the creatures and the work clearly underway here, then returned to him. "But I am curious," she went on, tone calm and conversational. "Most kings would send others to do that kind of work, if they bothered at all. Why spend your own time hunting down slaver circles?"

She tilted her head slightly, watching him with an expression that invited honesty rather than challenge.

Solan Charr ​

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan would appreciate that she had accepted his request, and would give her a proper bow of his own head in return when she introduced herself. It had been an unnecessary introduction but one he had gotten used to himself. After all the noble types that had survived the extermination of the various Scar Worlds still liked to return to normalcy with such introductions. He would give a soft and tired smile at the thought before returning with his own.

"Solan Charr, It is a pleasure to meet you Master Noble, I had not expected to have your presence. Atleast, I would have expected a far different reason for me to hold the audience of someone of your station." He kept his speech formal, not wishing to insult or speak too plainly with Valery for now.

A protective measure for the beginning of their conversation until he could get a better hold and understanding of the woman.

"Ah, I see... I suppose that is a fair question. And I could have sent one of my two children to do it but they have settled in and have lives that are not mine to command anymore. Especially considering these days they are nearly as old as I am thanks to this new body." He would give a small chuckle at the thought, wondering if at a certain point they will even exceed him in their age considering his nature of draining the life from others to maintain his current form.

"But, to answer your question, it is for the same reason that I did not send them or any others. My own children were both rescued from the fate of becoming slaves. I had saved them a long time ago, and since then they have become the same as if they were my own blood." He paused, thinking on if he should go deeper into why before continuing.

"Without explaining everything, the reason I insist on doing it myself is because I have yet to complete a task from a long time ago. I failed in keeping a promise to someone when I was young and still in my first lifetime. I will not allow myself to fall into inaction when I can do more and do whatever is necessary to protect those I swear to defend." He would hope that would help explain a bit more of his own mind and his intentions.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened without interrupting, her arms folding loosely across her middle as she let him speak. There was weight in his words, pieces of a past that had clearly shaped him, and by the time he finished she found herself regarding him with a touch more softness than before.

"I had not expected to come here for this reason either," she admitted, "But I am still glad I did. I have heard your name before, but hearing you speak like this… it says far more than any rumor ever could." Her smile returned, small but genuine, and there was no trace of formality for formality's sake in her posture.

Her gaze shifted briefly toward the horizon before returning to him. "I understand more than you might think," she said after a moment. "My own history with slavers is complicated as well." She drew in a slow breath, and for a heartbeat her expression darkened with old memories. "When I was much younger, I was taken captive by slavers as well. It was not for long, but it left marks that never really fade."

She straightened a little, letting her hands fall back to her sides. "So when you tell me why you do this yourself… I do understand. You do not have to explain further if you would rather not."

Valery's eyes softened as she held his gaze. "Perhaps, instead, we can talk about more pleasant things, hm?" She smiled at him and ran a hand up through her long hair.

Solan Charr ​

 

[Solan Charr]

He would laugh at the mention of his name having floated around. That was unsurprising and surely if the Silver Jedi were still around he would be hanging around their temple once more like the old days. They always were an interesting group of Jedi, tolerating someone of his nature and letting him wander about those gardens of theirs. He always preferred to be around the life of such beings, the plants and flowers that made him feel just that little bit more as he had when he was younger.

There were few that made him feel those ways at this point. Was that a result of the revival as well, the portions of himself that had been lost?

After all, he could tell already that not all of him had made it back from the Otherside.

"I can only imagine what they might be saying... I am curious, which ones are still kicking around, perhaps Coci or Ran? Or maybe even Sochi? Though I think ive heard she has taken a darker path, a surprise to be honest." He would pause for a second before raising a brow.

"Hopefully not Dragonsflame. Joshua was always a painful one to argue with and quite frustrating to deal with. He was ever so irritating at times." He would sigh at the thought of the man, but still cherished the few memories he could recover from his past.

A quick pause caused a lighter laugh from him, something that seemed to bring a bit more life to him and banish the tired look from his face.

"Sorry, I fall into my memories so easily. I lost quite a few when I returned, and hold the ones I can remember close to my heart. But yes, I think it would be best to have a more pleasant conversation. There is an observation deck not far away, a place where we can speak without tiring our legs, and where some tea can be brought. I would hate for you to dwell on memories like those you have mentioned, or at the least, I would like to gift you something refreshing to drink if you do find yourself falling into those memories you mentioned." He would wave, welcoming her into the complex. It would not be a far walk, and he knew she would not need to come near any of the darker alchemical wings of the facility.

"I apologize if you can sense the works I am partaking in to create a new beast. Science alone would not allow for the creation of the being I am working towards, and as such I have needed to use some old notes from a friend. It is quite similar to Sith Alchemy, but I can assure you that the more disgusting and cruel methods are not being used in order to complete my works." He knew well a Jedi of her strength would sense the dark rituals, so did not wish to lie to her.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's lips curved into a small smile as he spoke of names from another era. She shook her head slightly. "Coci, I know only by reputation," she admitted. "But I do know her husband, Thurion. He is a close friend, one of the few constants through many difficult years." There was fondness in her tone at the mention of him, a memory that clearly brought her some peace.

When Solan mentioned tea and a place to sit, Valery inclined her head and fell into step beside him as he gestured toward the complex. "Tea and a better view sound perfect," she said warmly. "After the road to get here, I would not mind resting my legs for a little while."

As they began walking, she allowed herself a brief glance toward the wings of the facility he had mentioned. She could feel the subtle ripple of the work being done here, and while she tucked that away in the back of her mind, she chose not to speak on it yet. For now, she simply kept her presence open, calm, and focused on the man leading her forward.

After a moment, she looked back at him with a faint smirk. "You know," she said, her voice carrying amusement, "I am quite surprised by the man I am meeting. I expected a far less warm welcome." Her eyes held his for a moment, genuine curiosity and a touch of playfulness in them as they walked on together.

Solan Charr ​

 

[Solan Charr]

"Ah, Thurion, perhaps I will get to see them again. It is sad that I cannot remember their face anymore, but I do remember him and Coci being very welcoming." He would walk with her, happy to hear the fondness in her tone. It was a good feeling to know that the Jedi were still a order that could be so welcoming, atleast, for those that deserved it. He still often found himself wondering what he would have been like as a Jedi, an alternate path he could only find amusing to think about.

While they walked, Valery would be given the chance to look into the facility itself. The standard expectation of vats containing gene-spliced experiments and creatures was there, but in additions he would notice a portion of the facility had flora as the main focus. After all, Solan himself had always been closer with the plants around himself, and it would be something the Jedi Grandmaster no doubt had far more familiarity with.

Soon though, they would arrive in the observation area. A room that held some of those very same plants that had been noticed before in their final form as well as room for people to sit and look out the windows towards the wide expanse where most of the creatures not actively being used for the experiments could rest or settle in. Even if some of them would need to die in the end for the experiments, Solan wished for them to have as pleasant an existence as he could give them before they were killed for the progress and birth of the creatures he sought the creation of.

"Oh? Expected someone far more like those Sith Emperors or Tyrants? I suppose I am not entirely different from them, as much as I find the thought distasteful. Though, the distinct lack of Horns does make me more approachable than them, don't you think?" He would give her a smirk and a small chuckle, settling down into a chair and tapping on a button nearby. They would need to wait for now, but some water and tea would soon arrive as they settled in.

"But I do thank you for such words. I have no intention to dissuade people from treating my home and its people with malice. As their ruler, I must ensure I am a welcoming figure, for as long as the guest is not hostile towards those I rule over. After all, I had conquered the planet itself, I was not born into this role. It is only right I make good on the better future I promised those I have become a tyrant for." He was not blind that his take over was far from legitimate in the eyes of most of the galaxy, but he hoped the work he had done proved he made Kesh a better world.

"As for you, I had expected a Jedi Grandmaster to take more offense with my rule here, even if I am welcoming to your arrival here."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery let out a soft breath that was almost a laugh and gave him a sidelong glance. "You'd be surprised how many horned Sith Lords I've met," she said, rolling her eyes with a playful shake of her head. "It's never the horns that make them the problem, though."

As they entered the observation area, she took a moment to look around, taking in the view and the carefully arranged flora with a thoughtful expression. There was a calmness to the space, at odds with the darker undercurrents she'd felt earlier, and while she didn't speak on that just yet, it lingered at the edge of her awareness.

She stepped over to one of the seats but didn't sit just yet. Instead, she turned to face him more directly. "I came here with an open mind," she said honestly. "You won't find me swinging a saber just because you rule differently than I would. But I don't blindly trust, either. That has never served me well."

Valery's expression softened a little, her voice calm but steady. "Time will tell whether the future you promised Kesh is one you've lived up to in honesty. And so will our conversations."

She finally settled into the chair across from him, her gaze never fully leaving his. "For now, though... I'm willing to listen."

Solan Charr ​

 

[Solan Charr]

Solan listened patiently, letting her get her thoughts out and finish her words. His own hand reaching out once more to take a cup of tea that had been brought soon after and drinking from it. He found little value in cutting someone off until they were completely finished speaking. After all, it only would mean that he did not have all the important information if he did, and that would only bring him into a more disadvantageous place when speaking to someone like this. Someone with plenty of power and ability after such a long career doing all she could in the name of those she serves as leader.

"I would be more concerned if you did trust me off the bat. Even if I knew such wonderful individuals like that of your predecessors. The measure of an individual is in their own actions and their own merits though, just as you are certain to watch my own future and see how time will tell in my own choices." He was just as honest, just as clear in that he doubted it would be an easy decision even after all of them were gone on if he did a good job.

After he said all that though, he looked bored and almost tired, as if just that small bit of conversation had drained him of his energy and life.

His lips turning into a smile as he realized his own reflection in the cup of tea though, laughing a little before looking at her.

"I am really starting to sound like someone of my age... or well, correct age. This new body is still hard to get used to when I had outgrown such a body some... forty years ago? It is so hard to be sure how much time I had missed out on when I was dead." He laughed again before looking at her eyes and setting the cup down.

"Excuse me, you are the guest. Please, tell me what it is you would like to talk about. I would prefer not to ramble and talk into the void with you stuck simply listening."

Solan Charr