Stranded (Year One on Refuge)

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Outer Rim Territory, 13:20 hours.

Six months.

Six long, lonely months. Gherron let that sink in. Six months since he had said goodbye to his fiance, whom he had promised to marry one day. Six months since he had lowered his gaze from his once-master, his brother in all but blood, Joshua DragonsFlame. He'd done his best to not go over the edge since then, but boy was it tempting. The young man was only in his mid-twenties, and already he was sure his liver would explode from his excessive drinking. He'd already lost his connection to the force, though whether it was a result of the drinking or something else he wasn't sure. His lightsaber sat next to him, a fine layer of dust coating it from not using it in so long. Even if he could activate it, he wasn't sure if he even wanted to. That part of his life was over, at least for now. He didn't deserve the title of Jedi Knight . Still... His hand hovered over the weapon for a moment, his fingers itching to press the activation button on the side as he envisioned seeing the beautiful pale blue blade again. No. Gherron grimaced as he drew his hand back. Instead, he sighed and reached to the other side of his seat and took a swig of whiskey. Taking a breath, he relished the sweet flavor burning down his throat for a few seconds. "Oh, that's the stuff", he said, his voice somewhat gravelly. Hey, it was a better addiction than death sticks. Those things were called that for a reason.

Trying to keep his eyes open, for he hadn't slept in days, Gherron peered out the view port of his ship. Where was he anyway? Pulling up a map of the general area around him, he noted one planet off to the side, though it was unmarked. That was somewhat rare these days... The Republic usually had a pretty good grip on the galaxy and the planets in it. The fact that this one wasn't in the records... Plotting a course to investigate, he got up out of his chair and walked to his room, instantly heading for the bathroom inside. Looking in the mirror, he studied his reflection. He looked nothing like the once proud protector of the people he used to be. His features were now rough, and his face somewhat gaunt. His eyes drooped from lack of sleep. Just thinking about sleep right at that moment, he made his way over to the bed, and was knocked out within a matter of seconds. When he next opened his eyes, he heard an alarm blaring through his head.

WARNING: FUEL RESERVES LOW. PLEASE LAND AT NEAREST AVAILABLE STATION.

Gherron raced to the controls to find that yes, he was almost completely out of fuel. Looking through the view port, he spotted a very green planet below that kind of reminded him of Endor. It must have been the one he'd seen earlier on the map. As quickly as he could, he took the ship into manual control and took the ship into the atmosphere. Halfway through the clouds, the alarms stopped blaring. Usually, this would be a good thing, except that what followed was a massive message on the dashboard reading FUEL EMPTY.

"Kark."

A few seconds later, Gherron's ship crashed into the surface, skidding to a stop in the middle of a massive forest, leaving him unconscious with several scrapes across his body, and a large gash in his forehead.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Unknown planet, 16:42 hours.

Gherron sat up, a throbbing pain reverberating through his head. Opening his eyes painfully, he looked up at the shattered glass of the front viewport, to find nothing but forestry surrounding him. Birds chirped from somewhere up high. Sunlight radiated through the trees, giving the area a calming look that for some reason immediately put Gherron at ease. However, that didn't change the fact that he had crashed on some random planet that wasn't even on the star charts. Struggling to get up, he knew the first place he'd have to go is the ship's small med bay, to salvage some supplies and fix himself up. Limping over, he opened some cabinets, grabbing bandages and gauze. He sat down then, and began to clean up some of his cuts, focusing especially on the large gash in his forehead. It wasn't too deep, he noted. Taking a small cotton swab, he cleaned the cut up some and placed a few thin bandages over it to keep the skin together. His leg had suffered a minor sprain as well, so he put it in a makeshift splint. Once he was sure he was ready to go, he strode toward the exit of the ship. Standing in the doorway for a moment, he doubled back and grabbed a pistol and made sure it was full. Who knew what this planet might have to offer in terms of danger. Taking a deep breath, he limped his way outside.

Taking in his surroundings, Gherron wondered how long this planet had been just sitting around. Like Endor, it seemed to be mostly forest. It also seemed to be absolutely full of life and activity. However, the gravity seemed a bit denser than what he was used to. He'd been to Datar, where there was significantly less gravity. This was the exact opposite. If only he had the force at his disposal... he'd be able to meditate on the planet and see just what was around him. It seemed he'd have to rely on his eyesight. Walking through the forestry, he made several mental notes to himself, marking locations both by memory and by breaking branches and setting stones down so he didn't get lost. However, the forest seemed to go on forever, and everything looked the same. He also couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched... but every time he looked up at the trees, nothing was there. "Beautiful, huh?" He turned toward the voice, and immediately reeled back. It was [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]. "Y-you're not here. I left you with Nef and the others months ago. You're on the other side of the galaxy. I made sure of that!" The master gave him a sad smile. "You're right, Gherron. i'm not really here. Your mind is creating this as a way of coping. You've been so consumed by grief this whole time that you needed someone to talk to. You can't keep doing this to yourself." Gherron turned his face, like he was hoping the vision would go away. "A bit late for that, don't you think? I'm stranded here on this godforsaken planet, and who knows how long i'll survive."

This went on for hours as Gherron trekked, the phantom of his old master talking to him, and him refusing to listen. Eventually, he started forgetting to mark his path, and he went deeper and deeper into the forest. Soon, he found himself in an area where the sun was reaching less and less of the ground. Perhaps he was going down a slope, and the trees were blocking too much... Then he realized something. The birds weren't singing. Nothing made a sound, except for himself crunching on leaves and twigs. Then, a golden set of eyes peered out at him from the darkness, followed by an enormous set of fangs. Backing up slowly, he turned to his left, to find that Josh was gone. Of course, he couldn't even control his own mind from going off the edge. Backing up as he did, however, the fangs grew closer, and Gherron could see a massive wolf's snout peeking out from the darkness. Acting fast, he raised his blaster and fired off a shot, which only glanced off to the side, making the creature angrier, it seemed. Gherron's eyes widened for a second, then he quickly turned heel and ran the other direction.

There was an immediate growling sound behind him as he began to sprint, and a horrible, ragged breathing that seemed to be getting closer and closer with each step. Gherron was fast, but this thing was insanely fast. Desperate, he looked around for options. Trees. There were trees everywhere. Maybe it wasn't a great climber. Heading for a large trunk, he began to scale it, quickly making his way up to a high branch. Not a second later did he hear the creature following him still, even in what seemed to be a safe height. Groaning, he didn't bother looking back, and just jumped down, which sent a spike of pain going through his leg. "AHHH!" Clenching his teeth, he dug through the pain and kept running. A sound began playing to his left then, low but still distinct. Water. Turning toward the sound, he ran in that direction as fast as he could on his damaged leg, soon hearing the rushing water very close. When he saw the steep decline that could only mean a waterfall, he didn't hesitate. He jumped several feet into the air, and let gravity take him. Seconds later, a massive WHOOSH filled his ears as he hit the water.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

He was dying. Gherron realized that as he floated to the bottom of the lake, staring up at the surface. The way he was living now, he only had but so long. And did it really matter? He'd caused enough pain. To his friends. To those who trusted him. To himself. Who would miss him, if he just decided to sit on the bottom of the lake, and never come up? He'd done his part. He hadn't always been satisfied with his life, but at least he knew that with all the destruction he'd caused, he'd also done some good in his life. Memories flashed in the back of his mind as he closed his eyes. The first time he met Josh. Meditating by the falls on Tython. Fighting in several wars. Becoming strong enough to protect the people, and finally becoming a Jedi Knight. Helping those in need. Taking on his own padawan, and watching him grow into a Knight himself. Good memories. Memories he could live with, die with. A smile spread across his face. He was at peace.

"Gherron."​

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His name was called from the back of his mind.

"Wake up, Gherron."​

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He tried to ignore it. ​

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"Wake up!"​

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His eyes finally snapped open, and he immediately began coughing up water. His chest felt like lead, and his eyes were red. "Finally! What the hell were you doing in there?! You trying to kill yourself?" Gherron's vision was still too watery to see who'd saved him, but the man had a young voice to him, a bit younger than himself. "Maybe", he managed to croak out. He coughed a few more times before trying to sit up, and finally did so, very painfully. When he could finally see, he looked over to see a boy that looked about seventeen, with tousled brown hair and a face full of freckles. He was very skinny, but he'd still managed to pull Gherron out of the water somehow. He must have been used to the gravity of the planet, and that was likely what made him able to do something like that. "Dude, stop gawking at me like that. It's weird." Gherron closed his mouth, he hadn't realized it was open. Clearing his throat, he opened his mouth again to say something, but was immediately cut off. "I'm Darren. Nice to meet you!" He stretched out his hand, which Gherron took slowly, shaking it. "Gheron. How... Why are you here? This planet's not on any star charts." "Yet you still found us." "Us...?" Darren offered his hand again. "Lemme show you." Taking the hand, Darren pulled Gherron up easily. When Gherron stumbled, Darren looked at his leg, which, now that the bottom of his pants were torn up, now showed very bruised and discolored flesh. "That's not good... Here, let me lend you an arm. I'll get you some help." He took Gherron's arm and wrapped it around his shoulder, taking most of the weight off the leg. Once he was sure Gherron was ready, he began leading him back into a different part of the forest, all the time trying to be gentle so that Gherron's leg didn't flare up in pain again.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

As Darren had Gherron over his shoulder, he began making some conversation during the walk. "So... Gherron. Where you from?" Gherron tried his best not to fall over from the pain. He tried his best to keep his mind off of it for the time being. "Coruscant, originally. Though i've been all over the place." Darren scrunched his nose. "Coruscant? Never heard of it. Actually, I don't know of any other planets than Refuge. We don't really get out much. Or at all, actually." Gherron stopped him right there. "There it is again. 'We'. I assume there's a whole village somewhere, and that's where you're taking me. But how long have humans been here? How do you not know about any other planets? How long... How long as it been since someone has left this planet?" He grimaced and collapsed then, his body racking with pain again, after which Darren quickly steadied him. "Let's get you to the village. Okay? You can ask all the questions you want when we get there and you're healing. But for now, shut up." Maybe that was Darren's way of saying he cared, Gherron figured. It's exactly the kind of thing he'd say to someone else. So, nodding and keeping his mouth shut, he let the young boy guide him farther. For the next fifteen minutes or so they walked, Gherron stumbling every now and then, and Darren helping him up. Eventually, they came to a clearing, where a massive, sprawling village could be seen. Gherron's eyes went wide then. "You guys definitely have been here a while..." "Didn't I tell you to shut it?"

Grinning to himself, Gherron complied and continued to follow Darren's lead until they were in front of a building that was a few stories higher than a lot of the others. Knocking on the door, Darren called out, "Krauss! I've got a friend here that needs your help!" A few moments later, the door swung open rather rapidly, to reveal an older man, looking to be in his mid-forties. "Bring him in, let me take a look at him." Helping Gherron inside, Darren sat him down on a small table, then had him lay down while he revealed the condition of his leg, which was now swollen. Looking it up and down, the man frowned softly. "My... What were you doing to get an injury like this?" He gently prodded around, feeling the various spots on the leg that seemed the worst to him, all the while Gherron was fighting the urge not to scream. "It looks to me like it wouldn't have been very bad at all, had you stayed off of it for a while." Gherron let out a strangled sound, and Darren left the room at a motion from the doctor. "Let me see what I can do." The doctor began working on Gherron's leg, and at some point, he just passed out finally from the pain.

For the next few hours, all he saw was blackness. Unfortunately, that blackness had a friend. Nightmares. In his nightmare, Gherron was running from the creature again, but this time it was getting closer. It was so close that he could feel its breath on his neck, and he could only wonder why it hadn't eaten him yet. He was fresh meat. Be careful what you wish for. In that moment, he was snapped up, ripped into chunks, and swallowed. Pain seared into his mind, and he screamed wildly. The next thing he knew, he was back on Coruscant, the day he had lost control, only he was looking at himself from across the courtyard this time. He felt the fear he had radiated that day. The chaos and destruction. He closed his eyes as he watched himself kill that innocent officer, and a choked cry escaped him when he heard Nefertari's voice. She was scared for him. Scared of him. Josh had been ready to put him down, and he'd done just that. Only for Gherron to wake back up in the station and lose it again. It was that second time that he knew he had to leave. He was a monster. Nobody could trust him, not even himself. That's why he needed to be alone.

Opening his eyes, Gherron looked down to see that his leg had gone down in size, and was no longer as large as it was from the swelling. It was also wrapped in a thin layer of gauze, and a fresh splint to keep it in place. Putting his hand to his head, he felt the cut there, but somehow it was significantly smaller. "Drink this." He looked over to see Doctor Krauss handing him a glass with some green liquid in it. Taking it shakily, he put it to his lips, and took a sip. Chills ran down his body as he did, and he felt instant relief. It was in no time at all that he found himself downing the entire glass. "What is this stuff? It's great." The man smiled and took the glass from him. "My name is Doctor Krauss. I'm guessing you're new here, so that's why you haven't heard of Banya. It's a plant that grows here that has excellent regenerative properties. Without it, you'd be a whole lot worse off than you are now, I promise you that." He sat down next to Gherron to better look at him. "Now, Darren tells me your name is Gherron, and from what he says, you're from off-planet. Now, I don't know much about what could be out there, but the fact that you're from another world says a lot. You're our first visitor in a very long time." The doctor let this sink in for a moment before continuing. "You should take a few days to rest here while your leg gets better, but when that happens, maybe you'd like a look around? I'm sure Darren would be more than happy to be your guide." Gherron nodded at this. "I'd be... very interested. Thank you doctor." Krauss smiled a little and nodded in return. "I look forward to seeing you on your feet again, Mr. Gherron."

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

A few days passed, and like Doctor Krauss predicted, Gherron was feeling a lot better. He'd still been having wild nightmares, though there wasn't much he could do about that. Waking up, he stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes, thinking. It was then that he heard some rattling behind him. Getting up slowly and turning around, he spotted [member="Rael sul B'an"] trying not to knock over everything in sight. When the kaleesh looked up to find Gherron staring, he hastily looked down in embarrassment. "Ah, um, sorry master. I didn't mean to-" "I'm not your master Rael, you were promoted a long time ago." Rael nodded and clasped his hands together. "Yes. Sorry. Gherron." He walked over to Gherron's bedside, trying not to fall over everything. "Before you even start, don't. I know you're not real." The kaleesh Jedi looked puzzled under his mask. "Of course i'm not Gherron. I... just thought you needed someone to talk to. You've been lonely recently. Cut off from everyone else." Sighing, Gherron shook his head. The exact same thing his vision of Josh had said. "Look, Rael, i'm fine. I left for a reason. Hell... unless you're still on your planet, you probably don't have any idea what i've been going through." "But i'm a part of your mind right now. I'm just the inside of your head trying to make you feel better. Or something. Besides... Don't you remember our bond?" Gherron did remember, now that it was put to words. Him and the real Rael shared a force bond, one that made the kaleesh like his own kin. It was possible that somewhere in the galaxy, Rael had felt the pain Gherron was going through, and in the instance that he truly was cut off from the force, perhaps the kaleesh had felt that too. "I don't know. I don't know, okay? I just... need time."

"Who are you talking to?" Gherron turned at the sound of Darren's voice. When he turned back to where Rael had been, he was gone. His eyes drooped with sadness then. "Nobody." The boy stepped into the doorway and stood next to Gherron, looking him over. "Your leg looks a lot better. Try it out!" Nodding, Gherron was surprised he hadn't yet. Gingerly raising himself up, he touched his foot to the floor and put his weight on it. It felt weird, like stepping into a different skin, but he figured that would be gone in a while. Standing up fully, he smiled and rocked the leg back and forth in the air. "Not bad. I told you Krauss could do it. Here, he left this for you just in case." He reached over and grabbed a wooden staff, and handed it to Gherron, who gratefully took it and added it to his support. "Thank you. Now, I was told you'd be my guide around here?" Darren nodded. "Yup! Follow me, i'll show you around." He walked out into the sunlight, and waited for Gherron.

At first, the sunlight blinded Gherron when it hit his eyes. When his vision came to, he looked around to see the sprawling village he'd spotted before. Actually, village wasn't doing it justice. The place was massive, like a city. Not very well in the technological field, but there were some signs of tools used around the place. "I've never seen a settlement this massive before." Darren shrugged."Yeah, it's alright. I actually prefer hanging around the forest than staying here. My parents don't mind, as long as I don't go into Lagnok." Gherron looked at him strangely. "Lagnok?" "Mhm. It's one of the darkest parts of the forest. People say there's something in there that kills without hesitation. Large, and very fast." Gherron's mind flashed to the creature that was chasing him. Some kind of giant wolf. He decided to keep the information to himself. "I see", he said instead. They walked around for hours, Darren pointing out buildings and other places of reference, or people walking by that he knew. Meanwhile, Gherron found himself getting worn out a whole lot quicker than he usually did, a side effect of the planet's gravity. "Listen, Darren. Can we take a break?" The young boy studied him, noticing how tired he must have looked. "Yeah, yeah sure. Let's take a seat right over here." He pointed to a bench in the shade.

Once they had both sat down, Darren took something out of his pocket, which looked like a bundle of leaves. What Gherron actually found out however, was that the outside was just a wrapping. Once Darren unwrapped what was inside, he offered a strange pink fruit to him. "Here, try this. You'll love it." Slowly, Gherron took the fruit and took a bite into it. His mouth exploded with a powerful, sweet flavor that lit up all of his taste buds. "This is fantastic! What is it?" Darren laughed. "It's called baron fruit. I eat this stuff all the time." Gherron took another bite, then another. "Woah, slow down there." Darren laughed a bit more and watched as Gherron swallowed the bite he had in his mouth. "I think I just found my new favorite snack." "I figured that much." The two laughed for a minute, then. "Hey Gherron, you wanna come to my house for dinner? You could always bunk there for a while, and i'm sure you don't wanna sleep in a room with Krauss. He is a heavy snorer." Gherron nodded and smiled. "I'd like that. Lead the way."

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

"I'm home!", Darren called out when he walked inside the house. It was a nice place, Gherron noted to himself. Not too big, not too small. He was caught off guard as an older man stepped out from a hallway and made his way toward them. His face crinkled into a smile as he walked over and gave Darren a hug. "Good to see you, son. Who's your friend?" "That's Gherron, the guy I told you about." The man smiled and offered his hand to Gherron. "So, I see you've healed up quite nicely. How's your leg?" Gherron took his hand and shook it, smiling. "Feeling a lot better, sir. If it wasn't for Darren, i'd be a lot worse off right now, that's for sure." "Please, call me Faradel." The man backed up a little so the two could come in, Gherron nodding with a smile. "Faradel. Pleased to meet you." Darren chose that moment to pipe up. "I offered Gherron a place to stay for a while, if that's okay with you dad." Faradel chuckled and walked into the living room. "Of course he can stay. I trust your judge of character, and Gherron seems like a fine man." Sitting down on the couch, he motioned for his son and guest to do the same. "So, Gherron. Tell us a little about yourself."

Gherron wasn't sure where to start. He wasn't too sure about mentioning that he was previously a Jedi. Depending on how long exactly the civilization had been on Refuge, they either hadn't heard of them, or had an entirely different opinion, so he figured keeping that a secret was the best option for the moment. "Well, like I told Darren, I was born on a planet called Coruscant. The entire planet is a city, like your village here, but much, much larger. I was practically an orphan, I never knew my parents. I grew up to eventually be adopted by a larger family, and i've been with them for a good part of my life now. They've always taken care of me. Recently though, I've been trying to get away from them. The thing is, I hurt them. I did something bad. I ran away because I couldn't forgive myself... I needed space. Then I ended up here, crashed in the forest some ways back." The story was twisted and changed in some ways, of course. But one thing remained the same. He wasn't kidding about his family. Not the Jedi in particular, but his brothers and sisters that he'd met while being one. No matter how far he was from them, he'd never forget them, and they would never forget him, he was sure of it.

Faradel listened carefully, scratching the stubble on his chin every now and then. He seemed interested when Gheron mentioned doing a 'bad thing', but if he really was, he didn't ask about it. "Well, if our patriarch is right, and he is about a lot of things, you did good by coming here if you needed space. In fact, we're close to the very edge of the galaxy, or so he says." Gherron arched an eyebrow. "Patriarch?" Faradel shut his mouth then, like he'd said too much. It made sense. He was an outsider, he didn't expect to be given the full rundown just yet. Faradel clapped his hands suddenly. "Well then! It is about time for dinner. We're having veal tonight. Do they have deer where you come from, Gherron?" Gherron's stomach rumbled at the thought of meat. "Not on Coruscant, but i've definitely had it before. I love the stuff." Faradel smiled then. "Good! I'll have it ready in an hour."

When they were called for dinner, Gherron had to control himself so he wouldn't make a mad dash for the kitchen at the smell of the food. Seeing as he hadn't eaten much in the last week, he was ready do devour an entire deer if he had the chance. Maybe two. As soon as he got his food to the table, he dug in, shoving the veal in his mouth as quickly as it would go. Faradel couldn't help but laugh. "Woah! Slow down son, there's plenty still left!" Darren laughed as well then. "Don't worry dad, i'm pretty sure that's how he eats everything." They had a bunch of good laughs, sharing stories with each other, though Gherron was careful to avoid any big details, and Faradel was just as cautious. Though the man was friendly, Gherron could sense a veil of uncertainty and distrust about him. He wondered what was really going on...

When it was getting late, Darren showed Gherron his bed, and Faradel offered some of his clothes, which thankfully fit. Gherron was happy to finally drop his old rags for something cleaner. Soon, Darren called for lights out, and they both went to sleep. Gherron was immediately attacked by nightmares once again. This time, it was Nef running away from someone in a dark hood. "Hey!", he called out, and began chasing them. It didn't take long for Gherron to catch up with the man and spin him around. When the hood fell down however, Gherron yelled in surprise. He was staring himself in the face.

Gherron woke up with a start, finding himself covered in cold sweat. After taking a minute to steady his breath, he noticed that Darren wasn't in his bed. Curious, he got up and silently walked out of the room to find where his friend had gone, when he heard hushed voices down the hall.

"....we can trust him! Why don't you?"

"He is an outsider, Darren. You remember what happened a year ago. Don't you think for an instant that I won't protect you over him."

"Dad, I just don't see what you find wrong about him. He's an orphan dammit..."

"And you were very close to being one. Your mother and sister still haven't been found, along with millions."

"Millions...", Gherron whispered to himself. He'd completely forgotten about the Netherworld crisis. Had it affected Refuge too? With as peaceful as the people seemed here, he could imagine how that would rattle them. He'd almost lost Nef and Rael to it. The idea that Faradel thought Gherron was somehow a part of it... Then again, these people didn't have any connection to the rest of the galaxy. For them, anything was possible. Soon, he heard Darren coming back up the stairs. As quickly and quietly as he could, he crept back into the room and got into bed. He wasn't able to sleep much that night.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Refuge, 05:12 hours.

The next morning, Gherron woke with a heavy heart. He had seen the nature of these people in the last week, and they seemed to be a peaceful group, with no problems when it came to crime. To have something like the Netherworld event happen, and them not knowing what had been going on, he knew that must have caused lots of panic. He was considering talking to his two hosts, but he wasn't sure how they would handle it. Especially after what he heard the night before... They couldn't trust him. And wouldn't him having knowledge of the event prove to them that he was involved on a much darker scale? Hell, they might even think that the Netherworld was the 'bad thing' he had mentioned in his story. No, he couldn't plague these people any more. He had to run. Watching Darren still sleeping, for it was still the early hours of morn, he dropped his head before walking out the room. Going to the kitchen, he helped himself to some veal from the night prior, as well as a few packages of baron fruit. On the counter was a small carving knife, which he also took. Rolling up an extra set of clothes, he slung them over his shoulder, grabbed his staff from the side of the front door, and headed out.

The village seemed to be early risers for the most part, it seemed. People were already walking around, some going off to their various jobs. That was a good thing, Gherron reasoned. There was one person he needed to visit before heading back off into the forest. Heading down the path he'd remembered by sight and landmarks, he soon found himself at Doctor Krauss' door. Studying it, he noticed a small tag he didn't see before: Doctor Ian Krauss. Hesitating at first, he eventually knocked three times. A few moments, and there was a shuffling sound inside, followed by the door swinging open rapidly. He was met by a huge smile. "Gherron! I see you've been putting use to my staff. How wonderful. If-" Gherron cut him off by putting his hand up. "Doctor Krauss, i'm sorry but this isn't a social call. I'm heading back out, and i'm gonna need some of that stuff you gave me before." The man's eyes drooped for a moment as he noticed how Gherron was dressed, and his tone became a little more somber. "Yes... Yes. The banya. Give me one moment." Gherron felt a little bad; he could tell the man kept friendships close. But that wasn't what he was there for. He'd never intended to make new friends. He just needed peace and quiet. He'd caused enough trouble already, anyway. When Krauss came back, he was clutching three small vials of the thick, green liquid. Handing them to Gherron, he backed away a few feet. "I'm sorry we couldn't keep you here, Gherron. It was fun having you." Gheron looked into his eyes. He'd lost someone to Netherworld too. Judging from the way he talked with Gherron, probably a son. He was hoping for a new one. Sadly, that was something Gherron couldn't have. Stuffing the vials into the middle of the clothes roll, he nodded. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay. My place just isn't here." Turning heel slowly, he dropped his head as he walked back into the forest he'd come from.

Once he was back in the brunt of the forest, and he couldn't see any more of the village, Gherron relaxed. He figured the best way for him to get his mind off of everything was to drop what he knew about himself. He had to survive this place. The best way to do that was forging a new identity for himself. Sitting down on a rock, he pulled out his knife and began shaving one of the ends of his staff. In a matter of minutes, one end was sharp to a point. His first hunting weapon. Now he had support for his walking, as well as a means of getting him food. He'd never used a spear before... but this was the perfect time to learn. Thankfully, he didn't need to hunt just yet, as he had the cooked veal in his pack. Continuing his trek through the forest, he noted certain things for himself about the forest. For one, it didn't take him long to find a small cropping of baron fruit. He marked the spot by memory, hopefully his memory didn't fail him in the future. For the most part, the forest of Refuge seemed like any other forest, just much deeper and housing more secrets. He needed to learn the forest, become a part of it.

Gherron spent a week roaming the forest, learning everything he could. However, there was only so long he could go with a little bit of veal and some fruit. Snapping up the last bit of meat he had, he realized it was now time to hunt. He needed food, and he needed to be able to cook it by the time night came around. Remembering a small location where the deer often grazed, he headed for that spot in hope that one was there. When he thought he was getting close, Gherron crept along, trying not to make any noise. Peeking over a small ledge, he spotted one small deer, just recently growing out of the natural camouflage of the young. Holding up his spear, he aimed as best as he could. When he was sure of his aim, he threw it as hard as he could, spearing the animal in it's hind leg. It began screaming instantly, unable to move. Jumping up, Gherron was quick to run over and silence it by jabbing it in the heart with his knife. When he looked at where the spear had hit, he was surprised. It went in very deep, even more so than he had expected. Perhaps he was adapting to the planet's gravity. He was getting stronger now. Maybe, he reasoned, using the same principle, he could be faster too.

In no less than a couple of hours, Gherron had the meat cooking over a small fire, and was cleaning his tools in a nearby spring. As he did this, he looked over at the deerskin, and had an idea. He could make his own clothes, using deer leather... and he just happened to remember how to make leather. He had made his own armor before, after all. He figured he'd start by using what he had on a shirt. It would be a tight fit, but he'd manage. Taking the skin, he walked back to the fire he'd set up, where the meat was now just about to burn. Cursing himself, he got it out of the heat, and took a few bites. It was a little bland by itself, but with a side of baron fruit, it was manageable. As he ate, he began to work on the leather. It took him an hour or so to actually get the shape he wanted, as well as determining where he would need to put the shirt together. Once he had a good idea of what he was doing, he used his knife to cut out the shape, as well as several strips that he would use to stitch it up. There was one small piece left when he'd done this, and he wondered for a moment. He could really use a hood to protect his head and face from the forest elements... With that in mind, he cut that out too. Once the leather was tanned, he began sowing it all together. This whole process took him much of the night, and he used the fire for light. When he was finally finished, he went to sleep.

The next morning, Gherron looked around, realizing he'd overslept a bit. However, he'd got a first look at his new garb. Rather proud of himself, he slipped it on. It was an open shirt with a hood, nothing special, but it made him feel accomplished that he was able to hold his own against nature and use it to his advantage. Pulling the hood over his head, he slung the roll of clothes over his shoulder, grabbed his spear, and headed off through the forest once again.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

For the next few weeks, Gherron roamed around Refuge, learning the land around him and hunting when needed. Each time he made a kill, he'd gotten more efficient with his spear. Now, instead of just wounding his targets, he was becoming more able to pierce them through the heart. Though he was getting good at killing deer, there was one little critter he couldn't quite get yet- the rabbit. He couldn't kill one with a spear, that left too much meat going to waste. No, he needed a smaller, more precise weapon. Something like a bow. The thought crossed his mind one day as he was washing himself and his clothes in a river. What could he use for string though, that was in the forest? Maybe if he made a strip of leather tight enough... Quickly as he could, he jumped out of the water and unrolled his pack, taking a piece of leather out and cutting a very thin strip with his knife. Once he had the strip to the length he wanted, he examined it slowly, thinking. While he had a thought on his mind, he cut two more strips about the same length, and began to braid all three together. Soon, he had a long leather string, tough enough to undergo a lot of pressure when he used it. Now, he just needed a base...

Putting his clothes back on, Gherron headed back to his camp and set his stuff down. Picking up a small piece of fire wood, he began whittling at it with his knife, shaping the weapon as best as he could. Since his tools were minimal, it came out a little crude, but it was useful, nonetheless. Once it was finished, he strung it up and inspected it. The crossbow wasn't the best of its kind, but it would work. Setting his new weapon aside, Gherron then looked over at another piece of wood, and sighed as he realized the tedious task ahead of him. Taking it into his hands, he slowly and meticulously began carving out several long rods, making sure each was as straight as possible. If the rod was too thin, too thick, or bowed in any way, he would toss it off to the side. When he had a good pile of them at his side, he began to sharpen each at one end, and carve a notch in the other end. Soon, he had twenty bolts, each ready to deal a nasty blow to whatever was on the other end.

For once, Gherron felt like a true hunter. For two months now, he had braved the forest around him and made it his home. He'd used the tools of the forest to make weapons and clothing for himself. He was a survivor. Now, he needed to go bag himself a rabbit. Slinging the weapon on his back, he grabbed his spear and pulled his hood up, leaving his pack at the campsite. It was time to go hunting. In no time at all, Gherron was running through the trees, using them as his own personal conveyance. He ran and leaped from branch to branch, trusting his legs to direct him where he needed to go. Eventually, he stopped, and began creeping along silently. He was in an area he'd seen a few days earlier, where he was sure he'd seen some rabbits. Sure enough, he soon saw one hopping around, a nice, plump brown one. Aiming his new weapon in close, he fired it off without hesitation, and got the animal straight through the heart. Grinning to himself, he jumped down to claim his prize.

So you enjoy the death of innocents.​

​

Gherron's head popped up at the sound of the voice. It was the same he'd heard in his nightmare, just after being treated by Krauss. "Who are you?", he demanded. I am the forest. I am the life that guides it. "Yeah, well i'm not buying it. Who are you really, and how.. how did you appear in my dream?" The voice seemed to grow closer then, but Gherron still couldn't see anything. Do you want to know, or will you insist on asking stupid questions? Gherron went to say something then, but shut his mouth and pulled his hood back. Good answer. A man appeared then, seeming to fade into existence. Gherron took a step back in surprise, watching what was coming to life before him. "You're... a spirit. A ghost." The spirit nodded and smiled. I am. But I think you know more about that than you're letting on. Gherron felt as if the wind was knocked out of him. "You're a force ghost. How long have you been here?" Many, many generations. I was once a force user, yes. I was an adventurer, much like you, until I took an arrow in the knee. Gherron wasn't quite sure, but he could have sworn he'd seen the ghost smile. Kidding. No, I crashed here, much like you did. I was alone however, and had no knowledge of survival skills. I starved to death. He shrugged then, kind of like he was saying "Oh, well." "So... Why are you telling me all this?" I thought that was obvious. I could sense your force signature the moment you arrived.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

"That's impossible. I lost my force sensitivity some time ago." The ghost laughed a loud, hearty laugh. So... You think the midichlorians just left you without reason? What sense would that make? No, the force hasn't left you. You have left it. Something horrible happen to you recently? Gherron was stunned. He didn't know what to say. "Yes... Something very horrible." His voice was barely audible. Well, there it is. You're still dealing with whatever happened, and until you face up to it, I doubt you'll have any control over your thoughts or the force for a long time to come. Gherron nodded then, understanding. It made sense. A mental block was causing him to not be able to use the force, due to the stress he'd been through. Gherron decided to go out on a limb, and do something he hadn't done in a very, very long time. "Can you help me?", he asked. I can counsel you, and I can guide you. As far as teaching you the ways of the force are concerned, that I cannot do. As long as you understand this, then yes, I can help you regain your mind. Nodding, Gherron looked up at the spirit's face. "I'm gonna need a name though. Or do you prefer I call you 'spirit' all the time?" The ghost mused on that for a moment. I'm afraid it's been so long that i've forgotten my name. "Hm... How about Jason then?" Jason...? I.. guess that's an alright name. I'll take it. Call me Jason. What then, should I call you? "I'm Gherron. Gherron Vael." Jason nodded and smiled. Nice to meet you, Gherron Vael.

Some time after their formalities, Gherron and Jason began talking about the nature of the force, and how it worked according to each of their views. For Gherron, it was all a simple review of what he had learned through the years, but it was interesting to hear a different side of the story. It always was, for him. They talked about all aspects of the force, often times one giving ideas and information where the other had no knowledge of previously. While they shared back and forth, Gherron found it increasingly easier to stay calm. His heavy thoughts drifted away, the more he thought about Refuge. When the sky was getting dark, Gherron turned to go, but was stopped by Jason. Gherron. You can go back to your camp if you like, or I can show you the way to your ship. It's your choice. Gherron thought about it. Truthfully, he'd completely forgotten about his ship. He'd been so ingrained in the forest that he'd just isolated himself from any form of technology. Maybe it was time to go back... Stepping forward, he nodded. Then, the spirit touched his forehead, and Gherron instantly saw a path traced in his head, showing him where to go to find his ship again. "How..." Jason chuckled. I told you, i'm a guide. Now go. Find your ship.

Walking through the forest again, Gherron began to reflect on the events of the day. He never expected to meet a force ghost on Refuge. In fact, he'd never expected to meet humans either. The whole place was weird. As he walked, his darker thoughts began to return to him, hard as he tried to keep them out. Jason had told him that if he was able to get over what had happened, maybe he'd be able to use the force again. He'd just have to practice, instead of being so stubborn all the time. He had to learn to stop blaming himself for everything. He had to let go. Soon enough, Gherron looked over into a small clearing, where he saw a massive heap of metal covered in plants and vines of all kinds. His pace slowed as he studied it, wondering if he should go inside. After all, his past was in there. However, the past was exactly that, and the past needed to be let go of, forgotten. Hefting his spear, Gherron used all of his strength and threw it at the nose of the ship, embedding it in the metal an inch or two. "I'll be back", he stated simply. "I just need to clear my head first."

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

After finding his ship that day, Gherron found it increasingly easier to forget it. However, that didn't stop his friends from appearing from the back of his mind. Oftentimes it was Josh, counseling him on things he already knew, or Rael stumbling through the bushes and vines. Every now and then though, another old friend came to him, and he always had something interesting to say. "Hello, Gherron." The first time he heard the voice, he'd froze. Now, it was getting more common, but he had the same reaction each time. Turning around slowly, he saw the man, built largely all around, and now at this point, looking very similar to himself, with his long blonde hair and beard. His hammer hung at his side, brandishing itself in the sunlight. "Xander. Come to lecture me on life like the others?" As the phantom walked over, he shook his head softly. "No. I'm here to remind you of who you are." Gherron had always seen [member="Xander Carrick"] as an older brother. The Jedi had counseled him several times, especially when he was dealing with his force wound for the first time. It was in some ice caves hunting for crystals that he had lost control fully for the first time, and Xander had shown him the way back to the light. Reaching his hand to his neck, he felt the necklace he'd been given by him that day. A gorgodon tusk, carved with tribal runes of safety, and centered by the emblem of the early Jedi. He'd treasured it above anything else.

"I see you still have my gift", Xander stated with a small smile. "Yeah, well... It hasn't exactly been helping me out much lately. Though I guess it's more based on how you look at it. I am safe here. At least here, even if I still had my abilities, I could vent my problems out and nobody would know." "Except Jason." "Yeah, except- Wait, how do you know that?" Xander smiled and tapped Gherron's forehead a few times. "I know what you know. Perhaps the others don't and here's why. You need Josh to keep you on your toes, like he always has, and always will. Rael keeps your best interests at heart, and will tell you what you want to hear. I'm simply here to guide you in the right direction so you don't kark up anything else." Gherron nodded, understanding. Or rather, not understanding. How could his mind create such an elaborate plot? "Because you're very intelligent, Gherron. You always have been." Gherron backed up as the other answered his thoughts. "Woah, okay. That's just borderline creepy. Let's... not do that again, okay?" The older man chuckled and nodded. Then, Gherron's face warped into a frown. "Wait... I've seen you, Rael, and Josh these past few months... Why not Nefertari?" The elder looked at him sadly. "She was the one you wanted to get away from most. She will not appear to you unless you've accepted her into your heart again."

Upon hearing that, Gherron's face turned to one of pure anger. "No! I love her! I love Nefertari!" Xander simply looked on as Gherron screamed into the forest. "I left to protect her! I..." He crumpled to his knees. "I failed her", he whispered. That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "No, Gherron. You failed yourself." He spoke softly to him. "You couldn't handle the fact that for once, all of your built-in rage was finally let loose, and because of it you hurt the one you love. The truth is... you didn't need any help for your wound. The anger never came from it. He knelt down to face Gherron. "It came from you." Gherron looked up, his dirty face showing clean streaks left by tears. "I want to go home, Xander. But i'm not ready." "No, you're not. But you will be. In time." Gherron nodded and looked down. When he looked back up to say something, the man was gone.

Spoiler

Self reminder: Two months on Refuge as of this post.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

It took Gherron a while to process what Xander had said. He was right. The more he thought about it, the more Gherron realized that it had in fact been his own built up anger that had caused him to lose control since the wound. He'd just finally had something to blame it on. Of course, this only made him feel worse. This whole time, it was his own actions leading to his downfall. Sure, it was the Sith who had caused him to lose himself in the first place, but even then he had to step back and think. All his life, Gherron had been fighting. Growing up in the streets like he did, he'd had to. He remembered sometimes actually starting fights, even as a padawan, just for fun. Now that he looked further into it, maybe it was his way of letting off steam from all the anger he'd kept bottled up. It was also a good reason for him letting go so much whenever he faced Nickolas. He needed a way to vent, and thrashing the Sith, getting thrashed himself, to the point of near death, gave him the rush he needed to dispel his anger. And then the scar... That had been it. His way out, an honest excuse to let loose. That bothered him. He was a volatile person; he was dangerous. He needed some serious work done on him before he could even consider going back home.

Sitting down and crossing his legs, Gherron decided to try something he hadn't done in a while. Very slowly, he closed his eyes and rested his hands on his knees. And then he felt it. A tiny pinprick of light at first, just barely noticeable. He reached out to grab it, and his mind exploded. Instantaneously, he felt the forest come to life around him. The birds high up in the sky. The whispering of the wind through their feathers. The sunlight raining down on the animals below. He could feel their heartbeats, individual to each other but all the same. The tiniest of bugs filled his vision; ants scurrying to their food, flies buzzing around in the air. Gherron felt alive, more so than he ever had in his entire life. This planet had so much to offer, so much to show for its existence. Glad to have the force back within him, Gherron sucked in all he could, not able to get enough of it. He was like an addict anxious for his next fix, relishing as the force whirled around him, fed and nourished him. His body filled with renewed strength. He was alive again, and it felt great.

Gherron sat there for hours, taking in every single bit of knowledge and insight he could about the planet and its features. For the first time since being held captive on Refuge, he didn't see it that way. No, he was privileged to be a part of something on such a scale. The way everything worked together in harmony, and nature itself was an intricate wed of needlessness. Nothing required anything here, everything was supplied through nature itself. He'd never felt so peaceful in his entire life. Not even on Tython, where he'd gone to for relaxation so many times in his past. When he eventually opened his eyes, it was already dark. Though he hadn't had dinner yet, he found himself not to be hungry at all, as though he'd sustained himself purely through the force. Gherron was anxious to test himself on the planet, but he knew his limitations. Night vision was not listed among his skills. Even though he wasn't tired, Gherron found himself going to sleep right where he was. He'd have plenty of time to kill the next day.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

The next morning, Gherron couldn't get up fast enough. He had a quick breakfast of rabbit, then headed off to find some good places to train. First, he tried to find an open clearing. He needed his speed back. When he was satisfied he'd found a good spot, he didn't hesitate. He ran. Right into a tree. Falling on his back, he groaned and rubbed his forehead. "That wasn't even that fast.", he complained. Once he got up, he tried to step back a little bit more, then tried again. His first few runs were fruitless. He'd only been able to match his original speed with his new strength given from his time on the planet. Then, it happened. Surprising himself, he took off at a speed three times faster than normal. Reaching the edge of the clearing quicker now, he stopped himself, jumping up with a loud whoop as he did so. But of course, it still wasn't good enough. He was Gherron Vael, and he would push until he couldn't any more. Staring at one point in the forest, he gave himself a few seconds to judge the distance between the trees, and then he was off. Zipping through the trees like lightning, Gherron could feel the rush of the wind around him. He was free. This is what freedom was meant to be. Unfortunately for him, he was a little bit too free at that moment, and didn't notice an oncoming cliffside. When he realized finally, he was already in the air. "Ohhh no. No no no no no!"

As he fell, Gherron looked everywhere for a way to save himself. There was nothing around, only trees below him. He was approaching them rapidly, but suddenly he had an idea. Diving down, he embraced the wind, accepted it. He knew what he was about to do was probably stupid, but it was probably his only chance. Going faster through the air, he waited for just the right moment... Finally, about five feet from the ground, he threw both hands in front of him, which emitted a powerful wave of the force. In that moment, he flew back up a few feet before going back down, his heart beating a million miles a second. "Well." He took a second to breathe. "That was fun." Dusting himself off a bit, he decided to head over and check on Jason, see how the old ghost was doing. Besides, he needed some counsel. He'd gotten his use of the force back, but still wasn't sure if he'd entirely gotten over what he'd done. He now knew the truth, but that didn't exactly make him feel any better. Maybe the spirit could give him answers.

Reaching the clearing, Gherron didn't need to look for Jason this time. He felt where the ghost was, and let his senses tell him. Still, he heard him before he saw him. I felt it when you tapped into the force again. Well done. He appeared from behind a tree then, and Gherron looked at him with a questioning face. "I still haven't forgiven myself for what I did. I just... see it differently now." Is that so? Gherron nodded. Well then. Please, explain. Slowly, Gherron explained how he'd realized that losing himself to anger wasn't an effect of his scar, but that it had instead come from himself. That, even though the poison within the scar may have had influence on him, it was Gherron who ultimately had the choice in the matter. It was also why he had refused help early on, even when he knew what was happening. Though not consciously, Gherron had already known that the scar wasn't affecting him as much as his own emotions were. When he finished, he looked out of breath, as though just speaking the truth had set a heavy toll on him, which it did. That is very interesting, Gherron. I take it you have come to terms with this? Gherron nodded again. Then we can help you to find yourself once more. Sit. Gherron did as he was told. Get into your meditative position, and begin. Feel the force around, you, and the life it brings. Gherron wanted to shout, "I already know how to meditate!", but instead bit his tongue. This was part of the process. If he had to relearn everything again, he would. He'd do whatever it took.

Just like he had the day before, Gherron sat in one spot, taking in the planet around him, breathing in whatever came into his mind. Once he was sure of himself, he began to explore. In his mind, he jumped over rivers and through trees, flew through the air with the birds, dove into the deep waters to meet the fish. Soon though, he found himself going too far. He found himself heading into the darkness, where he'd ran away from the creature that had nearly killed him. Fear gripped his being, and he wasn't sure of himself. Carefully, he treaded carefully through the forest, not knowing where the vicious creature was. All he could hear was breathing. Then, silence. Gherron stopped in his tracks. Turning this way and that slowly, he couldn't find where he was. Then turning to his left once more, he was pinned to the ground.

"No!"​

​

Gherron's eyes snapped back open, his face beaded with sweat. His eyes were wild as he looked around, making sure he was really there. "I... it killed me." No. What it did do was show you your fear. What do you fear most, Gherron? His mouth felt like sand paper; he couldn't speak. The last thing he saw before opening his eyes... The image was stuck in his mind, burning itself into his memory. Getting up, he strode out of the clearing without a word.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

What do you fear most?​

​

Those words had reverberated through his mind over and over since that day. If he didn't know before, he did now. That creature... It was one of nightmares. The kind that scared little kids to sleep at night, but much, much worse. Currently, Gherron walked along the edge of a small riverbank, looking down and kicking sticks into the air. He was frustrated with himself, yes. He just couldn't fathom what he'd seen in those eyes, those bloodthirsty eyes. It was terrible. Shaking his head softly, he considered taking a run for a while when a familiar voice broke through the silence. "Gherron?" He turned around to see a very hopeful Darren. "Gherron! It is you!" The boy ran and hugged Gherron close for a second, then quickly stepped away as if it had never happened. Gherron couldn't help but let loose a small smile. "Hey Darren. How's your dad?" Darren's face went angry then. "Like-like you would care! You just got up and left without a word! What's the deal with that, huh?!" Gherron sighed softly. "Look, it's hard to explain, okay? I-" "No! It's not hard at all! You've been gone for months. Months. I... we missed you..." Gherron looked at the other sadly. "We both know that's not true." He paused for a moment. "I heard your dad that night. That's why I left. He's right, I can't be trusted." When Darren looked back up at his friend, his eyes were rimmed with tears. "I knew my dad would ruin everything... He thought you were the reason for everyone disappearing. That's why he said what he did." Gherron sighed then, and pointed to the ground. "Sit." Once they were both sitting, Gherron began to explain.

"Your father may be wrong about me being the reason, but I was definitely involved with what happened to your mother and sister, as well as everyone else that was lost. Across the galaxy, it was known as the Netherworld event. Out of nowhere, people just... vanished. I was in my ship when I..." He caught himself before he said felt, knowing that would raise even more questions. "I figured something might be wrong. I called a few of my friends. Some answered, some did not. After searching, I found myself with a group of people who were in the same predicament. We were encountered by a man named Bol-Jahir. He claimed it was caused by a being known as Akala. We followed him, desperate to find those we lost. He took us through a portal to hell. We were in the Netherworld... and it was absolute chaos. People were already dead when we got there, and more were on the way. Portals were found all over the galaxy, bringing us together for one massive fight against Akala... and the dead. She controlled the dead to fight us. Some of us were scarred beyond anything..." He recalled Nefertari having to fight the ghost of a relative. He himself fight several dead, though none he recognized. "It was hard. But we finally beat her. Akala, I mean. But not without casualties."

Darren listened to Gherron; he listened to every detail like he was being read a story. "Do you think... My mom and sister are still alive then?" "I don't know, Darren." He couldn't bring himself to meet the teenager's eyes. What he did know was that it was very possible they were both dead. He himself, as well as several other force users, had a hard time, just because they didn't have the aid of the force on their side. It was their other skills in the battlefield as well as off that helped them survive. With the people of Refuge being as peaceful as they were, with no fighting skills... Gherron doubted they would have made it. He wouldn't say that though. "Gherron... If my dad knows this, he might trust you." They looked at each other, and Gherron could see the pleading in the young boy's eyes. "Fine. I'll try." Darren's eyes lit up then, and he jumped up. "Well come on then! Let's go!" Smiling to himself, Gherron got up as well, and they walked back to the village.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Once Faradel had heard the whole story from Gherron, he was quiet for some time. It was all a brand new look on what he'd known for so long. After thinking about Gherron's story of the Netherworld, he made up his mind. "You should see the patriarch." "Again, the patriarch. Who is that?" "The patriarch is the one who knows more than any of us do. He speaks with the spirit in the forest, which guides most of our actions. You should see him, tell him what you've told me so he can relay that to the spirit." It took Gherron a few seconds to understand. "Wait... So you have a middleman to speak to the spirit?" He looked at the two oddly. He almost said that he'd spoken to the spirit himself several times now, but stopped himself. If there was already a way of doing things, he didn't want to disrupt that. "Show me where this patriarch is, and i''ll speak with them."

The three walked through the village for some time until they came to a rather intricate house, more so than any others Gherron had seen in the area. Figuring it wise to stay silent, he let Faradel do the talking. "We are here to speak with the patriarch", he said once they were inside. Nodding, the man up front stepped away for a minute, for what Gherron assumed was to summon the patriarch. He came back out a few minutes later, followed by a sharply dressed man. His age was definitely present, but he didn't look weak either. In fact, Gherron sensed a large amount of strength in him. Bowing, as he assumed was appropriate, he finally spoke. "Hello there. I am a visitor from offworld. I know you don't usually hear that... Actually Faradel here tells me I would be the first in... well, ever. I have news about the event that happened a year ago." The man's eyes widened for a split second, then went back to normal. Motioning for Faradel and Darren to leave, he waited until they were gone to speak. "Please, tell me what you know."

Nodding, Gherron explained for the third time the events of the Netherworld crisis, and his involvement in it. He talked about traveling across the galaxy to find out how to get inside and save his friends. Now that he wasn't talking around Darren, he explained the true horrors that he'd faced. Swamps full of blood, plains littered with ancient weapons from warriors long past. Having to fight his way through to the mastermind of it all, and finally watching as the killing blow was dealt, ending the disaster. When he was done, the patriarch took a long breath. "What you have described... I have never heard of anything so drastic and brutal. You must have gone through hell and back." Gherron nodded. "It was that, and worse sir." The man looked distraught. Perhaps he had a family that was lost as well. "I should go immediately. The spirit should be notified of this." He moved to get up, but Gherron held up his hand. "Wait. Keep this between you and me, but i've talked to him already. He knows. I've... been here for a while actually. Jason and I are pretty close now. That's what I call him." Surprisingly, the man looked relaxed. "Thank you. Do you know how much trouble it is to have to walk all that way every time something important comes up? It's... exhausting." Gherron smiled. "I understand, don't worry. Look, I should probably get going now, if that's okay with you?" The patriarch nodded with a small smile. Thanking him for the audience, Gherron walked out, and told Darren and Faradel he had something to do, and that he'd be back in a few days. Regardless of what he said, he had not told Jason. Now, he had to.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

As Gherron ran through the forest, he surprised himself by knowing exactly where to go now. He knew the forest like the back of his hand, at least the parts of it he had been in up to this point. It was his playground, especially now that he had the force at his side. None in the village knew yet, and for now, he planned to keep it that way. He hadn't gotten so far without knowing when to be secretive. There was a time and a place for things to be said, and right now, nobody needed to know that he had the force. When he reached the clearing where Jason was, he called out for him immediately. "Jason!" His voice rung out into the distance, but he was nowhere to be seen. Using the force to guide him, he locked onto Jason's signature and followed it. What he saw when he found it surprised him. He'd found the ghost, but he was conversing with a strange-looking humanoid. It's skin was pale green in the sunlight, and its features were slanted, almost like a feline's. He realized he'd seen the green skin before, once when he'd met a man named Jak. Perhaps it was a plant... But how had he not heard it it and others like it before this? Figuring the ghost would explain, he patiently waited for the conversation to end. Watching the green humanoid walk away, he noted how graceful it was while doing so. However, Jason had a lot to explain for himself.

"So... What was that all about?" The ghost met his eyes instantly. I assume you mean 'Why did I not tell you there were not only humans on Refuge? Nodding, Gherron stayed silent then. I did not know how you would react. The humans here sure took it as a surprise when they first discovered the theowei. "What are they though? Are they some sort of plant life?" Jason nodded. Very astute, Gherron. They are part plant in their biology. They come from another world they call Retalik. According to them, their ancestors crashed here much like the humans did originally. They were being transported by a slaver ship in the process. So you see, this planet has a knack for stranding people here. Gherron tried not to laugh. So every sentient on the planet had arrived by means of crash-landing? That was ironic. But it said a lot. "This planet was never meant to be found, I think. That's why people that end up here never look for it. They just find themselves here without reason." Jason nodded again, showing his agreement. That has been my assumption as well. Refuge is a very isolated planet, so now I think you understand more why we don't know anything of the galaxy's affairs. Gherron shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah... about that. There's something you should know. It's why I came."

With that, Gherron began telling the story once again of his exploits during what the galaxy had called the Netherworld event. Jason showed no emotion through the entire narrative, but Gherron could tell that he was thinking hard on it. When people began disappearing, the villagers assumed it was an act of God. Or whatever gods they worshiped, anyway. They thought they'd been punished by an angry deity. I knew this was not true, for I felt a huge disturbance in the force. I knew something terribly wrong had happened, but beyond that I could not say. Have you told the human patriarch yet? Is that why you came? Gherron nodded. "Yeah, he knows. I assume that from the way I heard things work, he's gonna tell the rest of the village now?" Yes, that is how it works. I thank you for telling me though, Gherron. "Yeah, so... I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that was the thee-way patriarch you were talking to?" Theowei. And yes, it was. You're not going to let this go, are you?" Gherron grinned. "Nope!" He couldn't exactly tell, but Gherron was pretty sure Jason had sighed.

Unfortunately... Since the event, relations have been pretty low between the humans and theowei. Nobody knows what happened, so naturally they assumed it was the other. However, now that we have this information... Gherron, I want you to go to the theowei village and speak on my behalf. Gherron looked at him like he'd just said to eat a pile of bantha crap. "But I don't even know what to say! I couldn't even understand what that guy was saying that you were talking to. And what about the thing these people have where only the patriarch speaks to you?" Jason raised his hand to quiet him. The theowei are coated in tradition, but this they will understand. Go. Be my mouthpiece, Gherron. Tell them the truth. Touching his forehead, Jason imparted him with the knowledge of how to get to the village, as well as something he hadn't expected- an old-sounding, archaic language. The language of the theowei. "I..." Nodding, he ran off, eager now to see the patriarch of the theowei.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

The closer he got to his destination, Gherron began to slow down gradually. In the forest around him, he began to feel a more mystical air around him. Everything was different, even the atmosphere changed in regard for what lay before him. Though it was night time when he got there, plants around him glowed with an eerie light. One in particular he noted was a neon blue fern, which reminded him once again of the pale blue hue of his lightsaber's blade. Petals from flowers in the trees above fell down around him, sometimes startling him whenever one touched his cheek on the way down. He also had the same feeling as the first time he'd arrived on the planet; that of being watched, though he could not find the eyes. When he delved into the force to try to find those spying on him, he was surprised to find the force fluctuating rapidly, all around him. He could sense several force signatures, but it was all too much for him to handle. When he finally reached the village, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

The same ferns he'd seen before littered the ground, and hung from thin string in the air leading from house to house. Every now and then, he would see a theowei walking around, but for the most part the village was silent in a very serene way. Slowly, Gherron began walking around, admiring the sheer beauty of the village. Soon, members of the theowei began to notice him, and some even dropped what they were doing to join him on his walk, whispering softly and pointing. Looking around him, he wasn't exactly skittish, but some of what they were saying rang off in his head. They called him things like 'outsider' and 'round-ears' in their tongue. He wasn't too insulted, but he couldn't help but feel like he wasn't the most welcome person in the world right now. As he walked, he could see a small pavilion up ahead, and he somehow knew it was the patriarch's house.

As he got closer, he could see how much more intricate it was in comparison to the humans'. Here, everything was created with a different perspective, like an art. Just by looking at the architecture and the way they were dressed, Gherron could tell instantly that they held beauty as a very high standard. Once he was at the base of the building he was being led to, what seemed like well over three million theowei had crowded around him, and more were coming, like this was a concert event not to be missed. Gherron smirked at the thought. 'Gets your tickets now! The first human to come to our village in... a long time!' His thoughts were shattered however as he saw the person he was coming to meet walking slowly down the stairs. He had the garb of some kind of well-decorated priest, his robes billowing behind him. He had a very wise look to his eyes; one glance and Gherron could tell he'd been around for a good while. When he was finally face to face, he tested his knowledge of their language. "I eneth nîn Gherron Vael. Tolin oin Faetaur ar siniath." The patriarch didn't look stunned, much to Gherron's surprise. Instead, after a short pause, he replied. "Le suilon, Gherron Vael. Tolo ar nin... Peditham o laew naid." Turning around, he walked back up the stairs, Gherron in tow.

Spoiler

[1] "My name is Gherron Vael. I come from The Spirit of the Forest with news."
[2] "I greet you, Gherron Vael. Come with me... We will speak of many things."

TO BE CONTINUED....​

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He knew he'd sensed it. He just knew it!

It had been months and months since Josh had seen his former Padawan, when Gherron had completely lost control and Josh had to step in himself to stop him. Josh had searched for him since, but to no avail, and Josh soon was dragged into new duties. Re-joining the Jedi Order that both he and Gherron had once been members of, now separated from the Republic, in order to cleanse it's mistakes and make way for the future was one of them. As a Council Member once again, Josh was back doing the job he loved. Unfortunately, this made his search for Gherron, as well as his work spent liberating slaves, have to take less of his time. But Josh hadn't given up hope. It was when he sensed something as he was passing by a planet in the Final Dragon, it was faint, but familiar... That he knew he had to investigate.

The planet was new to him. He hadn't seen it before, and didn't know what awaited him, but as the Final Dragon would touch down on it, Josh would step out, his lightsaber hooked to his belt... Ready to see if his hunch was real or not.

[member="Gherron Vael"]

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Gherron's talk with the patriarch revealed a lot of things he'd been wondering about the nature of the planet, and of the theowei themselves. According to the man, the air of tension in the area was due to the netherworld event, and the havoc that it had caused. Both the humans and theowei were greatly affected, and a large portion of the theowei had blamed it on their neighbors. Upon hearing this, Gherron quickly assured the patriarch that this was not the case, and once again told his story. Wether it was due to the spirituality of the theowei or just the fact that Gherron had been sent by the spirit that their culture so highly looked up to, the patriarch seemed to accept his answer. However, this also made the other more curious about him and his ventures. It seemed that Refuge was a magnet for crashed ships, because the theowei here were also from another planet. The story was that they were being hauled as slaves from their homeworld, Retalik, when the ship was stranded on Refuge. That meant that as far as Gherron knew, all sentients on the planet were there as a result of being marooned on a planet that they didn't know. The information really interested him, and he promised himself to look into it a little more. As he left the room, Gherron walked around town a little, experimenting with his newfound language. It seemed to flow off his tongue like honey, and it sounded like music when it left his mouth. He figured he would have a great time exploring the depths of the theowei language in its entirety. However, one thing the patriarch mentioned perked Gherron's curiosity especially. The rumor, or rather, legend of a crystal formation deep in the forest, and that it was the source of the planet's feeling of peace and tranquility. He decided he'd give the matter a look; perhaps he could better his own self with whatever knowledge the crystals held. Pulling his hood over his face, he disappeared into the forest, eager to find answers to all of his new questions.

Hours passed, and Gherron saw the sky beginning to darken. It was almost time for the predators of the night to roam freely, and he intended to participate in the nightly hunt. Making sure he had a full stock of bolts in his quiver, he tightened the strap on his crossbow and took to the trees. His night vision kicked in almost immediately, and he scanned the forest floor for movement, when suddenly a feeling from inside make him flinch, and a man's face invaded his head for a moment. His eyes filled with wonder for a few seconds, then went from wonder to fear, and fear to anger. What was he doing here? Gherron had come this far so that he wouldn't be found, and even that hadn't worked. Keeping to the upper branches, he shook his head softly and went to investigate.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The gravity on the planet was intense, twice as much as that on planets he had been to regularly. Luckily, this wasn't his first foray onto a planet with advanced gravity. Being a Jedi Master, he'd gone to many planets for different reasons, and had dealt with many different conditions. Changes in gravity was just another issue that he'd dealt with when landing on a new planet. The Jedi Master was definitely much slower then before because of it, but it didn't seem to bother him all that much. Instead, he was intent on finding just what he was looking for.

Soon enough, the hatch would open and the Jedi Master would step out. The planet seemed desolate... Fulled with foliage and supernatural fauna and plant life... But no Gherron. He could sense him. He could sense him somewhere... But where could he be?

One thing was clear though...

He was close.

[member="Gherron Vael"]

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

As he leapt through the trees, Gherron began noticing small details, like the fact that there was still a certain stillness to the forest. That meant that his old master had not crashed here, somehow. Maybe it wasn't the planet's doing then, and more of a case of bad luck that caused people to be marooned here. Continuing his path, he became closer and closer to his goal, the new ship that had landed, and the man who had stepped out of it, but something was wrong. Suddenly, he saw a flash of black lightning, and there was a low growl. Gherron's eyes went wide. That's right, he was in the darker part of the forest, where that thing had attacked him. And Josh's ship was right in its hunting grounds. As far as he knew, it couldn't be killed, but it could be driven off. Determined, Gherron sped up his pace as he chased it in the direction of the ship. Josh would likely try to fight it head on, and would not expect the curse that it held in its eyes.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]