Delrakkin City
Sakuran Narrative
Venku Bralor
Varloc
Imyusoph. Terminus. Yalara. Zonju V. The edge of the edge of the galaxy. The northernmost border of the Outer Planet's Alliance, where the threat of the First Order conquest had been greatest, many of them even being under direct threat of occupation. But Tiland had a soft spot for these out-of-the-way worlds. Many of them were jungle worlds and Delrakkin City was a pinnacle of civilization this far out. Inhabited mostly by the native reptilian on a mountain high above the torrential, endless storms, it was a place of calm surrounded by storms.
The symbolism always struck him as appropriate. The galaxy, especially close to the center, was shredded by wars and conflict, but there were quiet pockets here and there, places of rest and contemplation.
And that was violently, brutally taken from Delrakkin by an invading force. Most of OPA's forces were scattered across the vast swathes of territory, with the closest world of any significant military force being at Terminus. Yet the Sakuran fleet had rallied here prior to their departure back to their homeworld. It was what brought him here, for he had an old friend among their fleet, and they had come to meet for tea. When the fleets assembled, they would depart, his friend returning home and Tiland would continue his journeys, Or perhaps he would stay. He had not yet to decide.
But already he could hear the sounds of weapons firing in the city streets as the local Partisan and defensive units tried to hold back the invaders, but were cut down by the sudden assault. Tiland frowned and knitted his eyebrows, eying the cup of tea, only now perfectly steeped that steamed quietly on the table in front of him. The other patrons of the small tea-shop had fled the approaching violence, escaping deep into the underground cities that sheltered the rest of the inhabitants from the endless deluges.
He had no desire to abandon his tea. But it seemed impossible that his friend could join him now and there were those who needed help evading the assault.
That left only one option. Wrapping his hand in cloth, he picked up the cup of tea with one hand and his walking staff with another before pacing out the door, the stick rapping softly on the stone streets. The old monk threaded his way through the crowd as they fled the attackers. He wasn't even sure who they were or why they were attacking.
Not far away, chunks of stone and duracrete exploded from a nearby building, raining down in a nearby alley. Tiland froze for a moment and held still as the aftershocks tore through the streets. It swayed beneath his feet and apprehension knotted around his stomach, but he kept a slow, steady breath. He turned a corner and knelt beside a figure in a familiar uniform. His friend had been caught in the attack and crushed, collateral damage, but not yet dying. Unconscious and bleeding, but alive.
Slowly, Tiland knelt to the ground, laying the staff in front of him and setting the cup of tea next to it. He half-closed his eyes, drawing deep from the Force, and placed gnarled fingers on the kitsune's brow, letting the Force flow through Tiland into his friend, bolstering his natural strength and urging the body's natural healing. With his other hand, Tiland withdrew the comlink and activated it, syncing to the fleet in orbit.
"Hello? Is this patched through? Yes? Yes, good. Yes, this is Jedi Master Tiland Kortun. A friend of mine, part of your forces, was injured in the attack, and he's trapped beneath rubble with internal injuries. Can you send someone capable of removing the rubble and evacuating him to a proper medical ward?"
Footsteps and blaster fire echoed around the corner as the vanguard of the attacking force came around the corner. Tiland, picked up the staff and the tea, and rose to his feet. A long, pleasant sip of tea before he gave his sternest glare to the attackers.
"Go home, wherever you call home. End this insanity before your actions kill more innocent people. Hasn't this galaxy seen enough bloodshed with your going and starting more?"