New Belonging

[Res'uul Tevin]

Res'uul hopped off the transport he had taken to Kashyyyk, looking around the jungle-like planet. He had come here for a sense of new belonging, a purpose he had yet to find. His travels had brought him far, all the way from Ziost. Home. He had left his home to find his calling. The Force was calling to him, and it wanted him here. Why, he did not know just yet, but he intended to find out. He moved among the others of the transport's departures, and now arrivals, to Kashyyyk, being rather obvious in the fact that his height was much more than the others around him. Even so, he moved with a calmness, a serenity unseen in those of his species. People feared him, and the other people in this crowd shied away from him even now. Despite his eyes holding nothing but calm, they saw it as seething anger. Where he held compassion, they saw malevolence. He couldn't blame them. His crimson skin and orange eyes were imposing. They brought hushed whispers and terrified whimpers. "Did you see the Sith?" "Destroy us all, that one will. Stay away from him!"

He slung the bag filled with extra clothes and medical supplies in case of emergency over his shoulder, his long robe marking him as one of the Jedi to some, a Sith to others. He was neither yet, but he had crafted it to accompany his new environment. He pulled the hood up over his head, keeping his arms in a crossed gesture, looking more-so like a scholar than a future Jedi, or something akin to it. The Force called him here, and now it was time to find out why. This was his time, and the Force did not misguide him.

He came across many people in his travels on Kashyyyk, mainly Wookies of whom he did not understand, their language was foreign to him. He stood for hours, mindlessly wandering, reaching out with the Force to find why it had called him to this planet. He felt the pull and knew that he was supposed to be on this planet. But why, he did not know. At least, he did not understand. Why did the Light captivate him so, and not the Dark, like others before him? And why was he filled with such uncertainty?
His boots gently thudded along the ground as he walked, observing those around him, and perhaps being watched himself.

(I plan on having him join one of two Factions, The Order of the Silver Jedi or The Jedi Academy Network. I am unsure which yet, so representatives from either may interact with him if they so wish.)

 

[Alaric Marãll]

“You hear that, Mynock?” He paused for a moment, listening the piercing screech of some far-off bird of prey, one of the most familiar sounds from the vast jungle planet of Kashyyyk. The grizzled old veteran turned his eyes to the girl who stood beside him. They made quite a pair; he was tall, broad shouldered, his hair greyed and his skin wrinkled with age. She, on the other hand, was the picture of youth; thin and athletic, her brown hair falling raggedly around her shoulders. Both of them were dressed in simple civilian clothes- if not for the fact that the natives of this world were huge and furry, they’d have fit right in.

“Just some bird,” she answered him, throwing a glance over her shoulder towards where the sound had come from. “Ain’t nothin’,” she concluded but moved a little closer to him even as she dismissed the creature. He smirked, there was nothing quite as fun as watching someone who’d spent their whole life on the urbanized worlds of the core awkwardly try to navigate the less ‘civilized’ planets in the galaxy.

“Ain’t nothin’,” he asked, only the faintest hint of surprise in his voice, but she knew him too well, her eyes narrowed inquisitively at the subtle shift in tone. “Alright, if that’s what you want to believe, Mynock. I won’t stand in your way.” He shrugged, producing a carton of cigarettes from his inner jacket pocket, lighting one and sticking it resolutely into his mouth, driving away the jitters of withdrawal.

“Well what is it, then?”

“No, it’s fine. Miss Core World can recognize an alien bird by its call and she said it ain’t nothin’, so I suppose it ain’t.” She frowned at him and shoved him half-heartedly, looking over her shoulder again as another screech rang out somewhere in the distant forests.

“Tell me,” she demanded.

“Well…” he puffed on the cigarette and looked her over, “if you’re sure you can handle it.” He interrupted her before she could retort, “now I mean real sure.”

“I ain’t scared of nothin’,” she responded, puffing a strand of hair out of her face, “tell me.”
“Well, that there is the call of the Agr bird.” He shuddered. “You ever heard of it?” She shook her head, her eyes betrayed both her curiosity and her apprehension. “Agr is Wookie speak for ‘child thief.’ You know why they call it that?”

“Why?”

“Because the Agr bird is big enough to carry off Wookie children. Those poor little ape creatures would just be hopping around from tree to tree and then next thing they know,” he clapped his hands, “they’d be carried off and fed to the Agr hatchlings. They pull out your insides, crack your bones- sometimes, if you’re real quite like, you might hear the screams of little, baby walkin’ rugs crying out for someone to come save ‘em. But not even the boldest carpets are willing to walk into an Agr nest.”

“Well… why… why don’t they… do somethin’ about it, Old Man? You know, blast ‘em or something!”

“Aw, don’t worry, Mynock. As long as you stay in the cities, like this here, you’re safe. Agr don’t care to come into populated areas much. As long as you don’t go out after dark that is…” he looked her over, “especially you. Hell, you’re not any bigger than the average Wookie child. Why I’d bet…” with sudden speed impressive for a man his age he reached out and grabbed her sides, causing her to jump and scream a little in fright. “Oh, I got you good, Mynock!” He shouted before surrendering to uproarious laughter, causing a bit of a scene as passengers from the nearby space port brushed past the pair.

“That ain’t karking funny, you old bastard.” The fiery girl retorted, punching him in the arm hard. He wasn’t bothered the assault, just kept on laughing, so hard he nearly lost his cigarette. She fumed for a moment but Alaric paid her no mind, still laughing. After a few moments, she found her anger subsiding as a smirk threatened to overtake her face, “alright,” she said as she put her hands in the air, as if surrendering, “it was kind of funny. But only the littlest bit.”

“Smart girl,” he responded, fending off residual chuckles, “keep your sense of humor. You’ll live longer.” He through the butt of the cigarette away, scanning the sky and spotting what he was fairly certain was their transport coming in. “We otta’ hustle or we’ll miss the ship.”

“Woah…” the girl said under her breath, “Old Man, would you look at that?” She pointed to a segment of the crowd that seemed to be clearing the way for a single, solitary figure. Alaric looked over and narrowed his eyes. “What…” the girl’s voice was heavy with unease, “what is that thing?”

“It’s a Sith.”

“You mean like… one of those actual Sith folks? Like, the species?” She had traveled with Alaric enough to notice how much his mood had changed. Clearly, he was calm, serious, level headed. But that was just a façade, underneath it all he was angry. Frighteningly angry. And dangerous.

“Yep. Get an angle on him. I’m going to go have a little chat with the gentleman.” She paused for a moment, but nodded and disappeared among the crowds, moving around to flank the single Sith as he moved through the crowds. Alaric also moved wide, coming up behind him. Fortunately, the crowds seemed to be uninterested in getting too near the young Sith, giving him ample room to navigate.

The sound of blaster fire announced Alaric’s presence, sending members in the crowd away screaming as they ran for cover. The ground near the Sith’s feet exploded as he fired three shots, each one near the man but clearly not aimed. In the distance, he could see his companion crouched around the corner of a building, her own weapon at the ready.


“How ‘bout you turn ‘round real slow like,” Alaric called out to the person, “you move your arms to try any of that Force nonsense, I’ll shoot ya. You reach for a saber, I’ll shoot ya. You give me a particularly dirty look, well, I think you get the picture.” He waited for a moment to see if the man would comply, ready to fire at the first sign of resistance. Besides, now that he’d shot into a crowded area, it would only be a bit before the authorities arrived. Ideally, he’d be gone and the Sith dead before the police found their way.

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

He slowly raised his hands from underneath his robe, and in one slow movement moved only to bring his hood down, nowhere near the direction of a lightsaber, not that he had one, or in a motion of any Force tricks, although he knew plenty of them. Res'uul spun around slowly, keeping his hands up. He was one of those who could easily just Force the blaster out of the man's hand, but he wasn't daft.

With the blaster shots, he had also noticed the crowd had scattered. It was his first hour on the planet, and already he was being threatened. The man stood before him was lucky that he was not a member of the Sith order, or he surely would've already attempted to cut him in two, just on impulse alone. He spoke with a calm tone, knowing the man would not listen, but he spoke anyhow. His voice was that of a dialect only describable as smooth by some, and akin to sandpaper by others. "Now, I mean you no harm..There is no need for such uncivil actions.. How about you put that blaster away, and we can talk about whatever this is.. Does that sound like something you are willing to do?" He certainly did not want to have any fresh holes in him that he did not need, and he hoped the man was willing to listen to reason. Evidently, the old, rough-looking man did not like his species too much, and he was unsure why. Most of his species was in hiding, but here he was, trying to change his life.

His orange, fire-like eyes looked at the man not in disgust, but calmness. The familiar chin bone-spurs of his species lightly stuck out of his face, the same color of his skin, although the eyebrow-stalks were nearly nonexistent. Peace and serenity, even in the most troubling of situations. He kept his hands up all the while, not wanting to give the man any reason to shoot him. If he wanted medical supplies, he had them. If the man was merely robbing him, fine, he could have his credits. He would earn more as he made his way along the planet. He gently bowed his head and closed his eyes, giving the man a clear shot if he wished to take it, although his hands were still up. "If it is medical supplies you need, I have them. If it is credits you are seeking, I can give them to you. However, if you merely want my death.. Then I will not fight you. Take your shot, or five. I would not blame you." He was no coward, his tone never wavered. He stayed with the same relaxed demeanor. This was not the first time he had a blaster pointed at him, and it would not be the last. Unless the man took him up on his offer.

 

[Alaric Marãll]

Alaric’s signature smirk overtook his face as the man complied. But the grin did not reach his eyes, which were still alert, determined, and hostile. He was ready for anything but apparently this little Sithling wasn’t even armed. It was not a simple task to hide a weapon from the old man’s well-trained eye. Frankly, he found the young Dark Sider’s unarmed status more of a disappointment than a relief. There was nothing quite like fending off a Forcie to get your blood running. “Nice, real nice,” the man commented as the Sith raised his hand carefully, “you play this cool boy and I might even end you with one clean shot. But only ‘cause I’m feelin’ generous like.” He waited for the man to turn, the blaster now pointed at the alien’s face, rather than the back of his head.

“You mean no harm?” Alaric asked with a chuckle, “good. That makes one of us.” He kept the gun level as he reached into his pocket with his left hand, grabbed a cigarette, and placed it in his mouth, holding it there as he spoke. “Uncivil? You would know a thing or two ‘bout that, wouldn’t ya?” A lighter came up in his left hand, lighting the dangling cigarette. “So, who are you set up with boy? Sith Empire? First Order? Or are you just out here all on your own?” He acted as if he had not even heard the man’s request that he holster his weapon. “When your master told you to come to the heart of Silver Jedi territory, what did you figure was goin’ happen? You thought a Dark Sider could just walk in here and walk out?” He laughed again, using his free hand to take a draw on the cigarette. “Karking Sith, even at blaster point, always ready to talk down to ya.”

The older man noted the young Sith’s calm curiously. He lacked the fire, the anger, the volatility that so commonly lurked behind the iris of Dark Siders. Not only that, but Alaric didn’t feel hostility radiating from the hellish creature either. Truly a remarkable Sith. Not that it mattered, the man’s skin, his complexion, his eyes, that was all one needed to know about the boy before him. Korriban bred evil, and nothing else. “Oh, what the hell?” He exclaimed when the man offered him medical supplies and credits. “You think this is some kind of robbery? You think I’m some kind of thug, waitin’ to pop out and yell ‘reach for the sky?’” He sighed and shook his head, disappointed. Maybe he was losing his touch. But then of course… “though it ain’t a half bad notion, I reckon. Alright, hand over the meds, the credits, and anything else of value you’ve got on ya.” He gestured with his blaster, “toss ‘em over here. And make it quick. We ain’t got too long before the officials show up.” Not that they’d bother him; an older human and a young Sith in robes? Even the revoltingly benevolent Silver Jedi would shoot first and ask questions later. And he should still have time to do the Jedi this humanitarian service and still be gone before they arrived to thank, or question, him. He paused a brief moment to allow the man to hand over what he had on him.

“However, if you merely want my death… Then I will not fight you. Take your shot, or five. I would not blame you."

Those words cut through Alaric’s thoughts, and brought him right back to the scene before him. He frowned, his busy white eyebrows coming close together as he pondered at the boy’s response. He eyed the creature suspiciously as he bowed his head, ready for him to take some kind of defensive action, but after a moment, it seemed that his words were genuine. He lowered the blaster slightly, so that it was pointing at the Sith’s chest instead of his head and spat the cigarette out, stomping it into the wooden platform beneath him. “We’ll I’ll be damned…” He pondered about the man’s actions for a moment longer and then shrugged, “hell, this was easy.” As he spoke, his arm moved fluidly up, prepared to make a single well-placed shot. Ending the vile life before him. His finger had begun depressing the trigger when his companion darted forward from the alleyway where she had been lurking.

“Alaric!” He stopped and glanced over at her, annoyance clear on his face at her disapproving tone. “You can’t just shoot him, Old Man.” Despite the seriousness of the situation, he responded with a genuine laugh.

“Well not if you keep interrupting me, Mynock.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Listen, Mynock,” he responded more seriously, “you’ve never met a Dark Sider before, but trust me, they’re a nasty breed of Forcie. And these purebloods, well, they’re dark as they come. I’m doing the galaxy a favor…” he trailed off… they were coming. In the distance, he could hear the commotion in the crowds as police forces converged on the position, responding to the earlier calls. Damn, they made good time. He turned back to his companion and sighed before returning his attention to the Sith, “alright, boy. Two options, and I need your choice quick. One, I shoot you here and now and we get it over with. Two, you come with us, try to kill me, teach Mynock there why y’all can’t be trusted, and I shoot you later. Either way…” he shrugged, “knowin’ now would be great.”

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

He debated just waiting for the police, merely out of spite for the man. He roughly tossed the bag on his shoulder over, without a word for a moment. He then spoke once more, pondering the man's speech as well as his own. "First Order? Sith Empire? You truly believe that all Purebloods are the same, don't you?" He closed his eyes and shook his head, baffled at the man's ignorance. Although perhaps it was wisdom.. Maybe the man had faced too many of his kind that all turned out the same. But, he doubted this as well, unless the man was undercover in some regard. "If I were as dark as you believe me to be, I would've cut you in two before you had the chance to fire. I'm not going to fight you to prove your point. You're misguided, old man. I would say you're out of touch, but you have a better hold on a blaster than I would, I'll give you that. I'm actually here for a different reason. The Light calls out to me. I'm looking for the Silver Jedi, not because of my master, as I have none, but my own will. Believe that or don't, I don't quite care. And also, what would I kill you with? I'm not strong enough to kill you with my hands, and I'm unarmed. Perhaps the Force, but nonetheless, I have no connection to the Dark side."

The man made no attempt to move, quizzically raising an eyebrow at the choices he had been given. So either he would get shot now, or later. The old man was persistent, Res'uul could give him that much. He really wanted him dead. Probably with his head on a pike, saying that he did the Silver Jedi a favor by eliminating the 'baddie Pureblood.' Well, Res'uul wasn't having it. He merely stood there in silence after his first little speech, observing to see what the old man would do next. Would he take his things and run with his companion? She had saved his life for a moment, and he bowed his head in respect to her. He was above such things as acting rudely to others based on predisposition, which clearly this old man was not.

"Look, you might as well either shoot me, or leave, because I'm not moving. I suggest you do the other, as shooting me won't prove much. You have too many witnesses, and to them it will seem like a murder. I'm not trying to make things more difficult for you, I'm trying to make them easier. I will say this once more, now listen to me. I've done my part in listening to you. I have no connection to the Sith Empire, the First Order, or any dark organization. I am not here to kill you, and I am not here to cause trouble. You have my things, take them and walk away. Unless you'd like to be questioned by the authorities.. I have no problem with you. I am not going to bow down to you, or your methods, so do not expect that either. I would like to show you that I am different from others, but it is clear you do not see reason from me. You see an evil being, and that is all."

He noted the man took his things and ran off, leaving him with nothing but the clothes on his back. Figures.

 

[Alaric Marãll]

“Heh,” Alaric snorted at the Pureblood’s implication; sure it was possible that a Sith might not be actively working with the First Order or the Empire that bore their name, but it was unlikely. They were from a dark planet, lurking in dark space, harboring dark desires. They were a corrupted people, one twisted by the power of the Dark Side. It is known. “Trust me boy, when you get to be my age,” he stopped and chuckled again at that, “not that you will of course,” he said maneuvering the blaster slightly, “well, if you got to be my age, you’d understand that experience is the best teacher.” He listened impatiently to the man’s complaint; if he was a Dark Sider he’d do this and that, oh he was quite the fierce little one. The older gentleman smiled, clearly relishing the idea of a fight with a Pureblood though it was clear from his face he completely dismissed the younger’s claims; a Light Side Sith? Contradiction in terms. At the assertion that he had ‘no connection to the Dark Side,’ Alaric burst into laughter, loud, unmoderated laughter that confused the handful of folks who had stayed to gather around and observe the confrontation. After a few seconds of laughing, he pulled himself together. “I’m sorry, boy, that was one of the funniest jokes I’ve heard all week is all. You ain’t got no connection, do ya? Boy, it’s in your blood. You didn’t choose this hand, just the one life dealt you is all. Ain’t nobody’s fault. But don’t you think for a minute, boy, that the Silver Jedi are so dumb as to take you in and put a blade in your hand. Not even they are that dumb.” He sighed, “I was at least hoping for some lightening.” He shrugged, “oh well.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh, yeah. Uh-huh,” Alaric muttered, clearing communicating just how bored he was at the kid’s second little monologue. “Oh, poor boy, almost like ta’ touch my heart,” he feigned, would have just shot the boy but it was rude to cut a man off in his final words. “Alright… so… now then. Good ‘nough.” He raised the blaster to the Sith’s head level and prepared to end the miserable, misguided creature when his companion spoke out to him again.

“Old Man, they’re coming.”

“You sure got a penchant for interrupting me halfway through shooting this boy, ain’t ya, Mynock?”

“They’s gonna be here soon Old Man. We need to get out of here.”

“What,” he scoffed at the assertion, “Hell, let ‘em come. I’ll shoot them too.”

“They’ll have backup. They’ll put the whole port on lockdown.”

“Faced worse odds.”

“Alaric!” She shouted at him, urging him towards the alleys. He sighed deeply. It was clear she didn’t want a gunfight with the authorities and worse still, her nerves were frazzled. Didn’t understand that sometimes, what looks like murder may actually be pure necessity. Justice even. He sighed and grabbed the boy’s things, shaking his head in disbelief at the situation.


“Alright, boy, here’s the deal. You can go on livin’. Hell, maybe even trick those Silver idiots into giving you some training. But next time we meet, if we ever meet again, I reckon you’d best be ready to die.” He stopped for the briefest second of contemplation. “Or kill.” He fired the blaster wildly in the Sith’s direction, aiming for a flesh wound. Couldn’t very well turn his back on an uninjured Sith, but before the sound of the blaster finished residing he was off into the backstreets with his companion, occasionally firing a few shots behind him to ward off any foolish enough to give chase. As they made their way through the port, he turned to his young companion. "Well hell, Mynock, if I didn't know better, I'd say you's going soft on me. Either that or... what you thought he was cute?"

"Shut up."