Just Looking for a Road Home

[Vaulkhar]

​

Kashyyyk
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Throughout the ages, Kashyyyk and its inhabitants new trial and tribulation without end. War had come to the planet time and time again, leaving a staunch warrior people in its place. Once upon a time, the One Sith had brought death and destruction to the planet without a greater purpose. A shadow set on Kashyyyk and remained for many years, but the fall of the One Sith brought opportunity for both the planet and galaxy at large. The Silver Jedi Order brought peace and law to the planet, ensuring those who called it home were safe beneath their banner. The Order continued to expand beyond the forest planet, but things had not changed in the years since. Peace had found a home on the war torn planet.

Many spoke of a greater sense of tranquility on the planet. Though some Jedi Orders had proven strict in their traditions, the Silver Jedi were firm in their control but fair in upholding the planet's laws. For this reason, Vaulkhar traveled to the verdant planet. He did not seek redemption through the order. He did not seek anything really. With a mind muddled from amnesia, he only sought peace and a safe place to call home. Having followed a jedi padawan to the planet unknowingly, he managed to disappear into the jedi-society.

Months had passed since his disappearance, but he managed to carve out a respectable life for himself. Taking a job at a budding cantina in one of the planet's towns, he had no trouble paying for his modest lifestyle. At times he even went out for drinks with his coworkers or his beautiful twi'lek neighbor down the hall, but it was rare. He feared a power within him he could not control. Nightmares filled his sleep of events and murders he did not quite remember. Whether they were real or not, he couldn't take the chance. He found peace where he was and he was not willing to throw it all away.

This particular day, Vaulkhar was working a rather slow shift at the Sea Peak cantina. The building was mostly empty, aside from a few regular day drinkers.

[member="Cotan Sar'andor"]​

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

Aside from a few regular day drinkers...and one very irregular one.

Cotan hadn't been on Kashyyk long; while he was technically now a member of the Silver Jedi Order, he still preferred to stay as far away from the major concentration of them as possible. Still, their home planet was a useful place for training, and given how he needed to fully familiarize himself with his new sword, it was the place of choice. Anywhere out in the Outer Rim, he couldn't necessarily count on receiving quick aid if anything went wrong, the same with any neutral areas of the galaxy; the other factions around, well, he trusted them less than he trusted the Silvers to save his backside if he got stuck down in the Shadowlands with a pack of angry Katarns.

It seemed, though, the training had taken a different course; nearly the whole time he'd been on the planet, there'd been something nagging at the back of his mind, a feeling that would set a cold sweat running down the back of his neck. Something that said danger. It said pain.

It said Sith.

So much of his time had now been spent combing through the few cities on the planet to find the source of the disturbance that wouldn't let him be; following the Force had finally led him to this place. He snorted to himself; trust the Silver Jedi Order not to be perceptive enough to even notice a powerfully dark presence on their planet, while the random self-certified Miscellaneous JediTM could.

"Maybe Coren was right," he muttered to himself, approaching the entrance of the cantina. "Maybe I should have been a Shadow." He opened the door, glancing around quickly. Somewhat disappointingly, there was nobody around who was clearly a Sith, or even of the Dark Sided persuasion. That just makes it harder. He walked up to the bartender, waving cheerily at the dark-haired man.

"Can I have a pint of kri'gee, if you have it?"

[member="Vaulkhar"]

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar watched the stranger enter into the cantina and scan his surroundings. It caused the faintest feeling in the back of his mind but he mostly ignored it. All kinds of people wandered into the bar the past month and very few people had proven to be a problem. The presence of the Silver Jedi order kept the peace on reputation alone, which was enough of a reason for him to pay his random feelings of uncertainty no heed. He was midway through wiping down a series of wet glasses as Cotan approached the bar. Vaulkhar offered a nod of greeting in return before setting the glass down and tucking the rag into the apron tied around him.

"Shouldn't be a problem, boss," Vaulkhar took hold of one of the recently dried glasses and slid it into a cooler at his side. He instead took one of the chilled glasses and moved to a series of spouts across the bar. He filled the chilled glass quickly, straining the drink to ensure it was filled nearly to the brim before moving back across the bar. He set the drink down in front of Cotan. "That'll be ten credits."

The door swung open as another grouping of customers came in, though they appeared like the rough and tumble lot. Each of them wore a set of full body armor, Mandalorian make for sure. Vaulkhar noticeably winced as if struck a blow, but he said nothing. He motioned towards the group that had entered and a servant droid rolled out from behind the counter to go handle the new arrivals. Vaulkhar looked back to Cotan as he awaited the credits but his gaze was distant, as if the barkeep was looking through the Jedi at something else entirely.

Memories surged through his mind of a recent battle waged. A Mandalorian commander locked in battle, fighting for his life before him. He did not recognize the memories as they surfaced, but his chest tightened and he struggled to breath as panic surged through him.

[member="Cotan Sar'andor"]​

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

Cotan quickly began to withdraw his credit chip from his pocket, though the sound of metal armour clacking against itself turned his head. He just rolled his eyes at the Mandalorians—or, also possible, random people wearing Mandalorian armour—and turned back to the bartender.

A bartender who seemed quite bothered by the sight of the new party that just walked through the door.

"Hey, man," he said, tapping the bartender on the shoulder. "I doubt they're even actual Mandalorians. Besides, we kicked the clans around pretty well on Azure, there's no need to be scared of any of them if they actually come onto Kashyyyk, y'know?" Of course, how much the Silver Jedi had done compared to the Mandalorian's supposed allies destroying their forces was a bit of an unanswered question. Still, Cotan had fought the Emperor's daughter during most of that fight, not bothering with the Mandalorians themselves.

He squinted for a moment, looking at the bartender's features more closely.

Thinking of the Emperor and his daughter made him wonder...this man had some very similar features. Sure, it was a large galaxy, coincidences could happen...but not if the Force decided to involve itself. Oi, wait, staring at people like that is impolite. And a great way to key off anybody you're trying to track that you're watching them.

In a quick decision to salvage what he was doing, he waved a hand in front of the seemingly still-entranced bartender. "Anybody home?"

[member="Vaulkhar"]

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Huh, wha-" the world seemed to come to as Cotan waved his hand before him. Whatever he was seeing disappeared after the timely interruption offered by the Jedi. Vaulkhar shook his head a bit before focusing in on the man before him. "S-Sorry I uh, not really sure- hmm... yeah, sorry. I don't know what that was. Maybe I haven't been getting enough sleep," he chuckled a bit but the sound was mostly hollow. As Vaulkhar took the chip he noticeably tried to relax, his body slumping slightly as he attempted his best imitation of meditation. He returned the chip after scanning it and leaned against the counter. The move appeared mostly casual, but at the moment he needed it to keep his legs from shaking behind the bar.

"So, stranger, what brings you to Kashyyyk? Looking to turn a profit? Perhaps visit the temple?" Vaulkhar looked past the man towards the droid rolling back behind the counter. As the droid beeped and whirred at the man, he smiled and moved to pat its head. He went through the process of gathering four drinks before setting them atop a tray. Another droid took it and moved back to the Mandalorian customers. As the drinks were set down for them, various credits were given to the droid before it was sent away. On its return, Vaulkhar offered this droid a smile as well. "Thanks pal, couldn't run the joint without you."

Most would consider his treatment of the droids strange. They appeared to contain no personality, but the bartender treated them like friends with each task completed.

By the time the two droids were once more out of sight, Vaulkhar had begun the process of wiping down more wet glasses. Every so often he peered up at Cotan or over his shoulder at the Mandalorians. A holodevice was mostly blocked by their bodies, but a flash here or there caused an uncomfortable feeling to stir in his gut.

Vaulkhar could've sworn he just saw a holographic display of Silver Rest.

[member="Cotan Sar'andor"]​