What Was, And What Will Never Be [Sarge]

[Lief]

She had come away from Korriban with more questions than answers, burdened with the task of tending to two potential students and the nagging question of why one of them was such a blank slate. She had seen it before, in several cases, but each time it had been a unique situation: a flashburned mind, a newly formed clone, even possession. It was no use jumping to conclusions before research had been done and a solid answer acquired. There would be ways to test each possibility, she knew, but Kära had problems of her own to tend to.

Thus she knew her time would be better served finding others to carry out such a task, or at least give her a glimpse into what they knew of the phenomenon. Deciding it best to cover all her bases, it seemed wise to gather a collection of the Galaxies brighter minds on the subject, so far as species were concerned of course. And who knew, perhaps this venture across space would entice further answers to the surface. Arkania would be her first stop, to a people renown for their minds, then down the Mara Corridor to Kamino. Who better to ask questions concerning the mind of a clone, after all?

But along the way Kära had the irritable need to satisfy her own burning question of what had gone on in this strange new world, what had made it so different from her own universe? Truthfully, what she wanted to know is whether or not any of her old achievements had carried over. Had the Kära of this Galaxy - if there had ever been one - followed any of the same paths she had? It was a long shot, to be sure, and seeking out a paralleled individual rather than event might have proven more fruitful, but being that she was already in the area it seemed unwise to pass up the opportunity.

At the upper crossroads of the Mara Corridor, where she ought to have ventured down Hydian Way towards Arkania, Kära instead made a beeline up towards the Tingel Arm. But the journey would not be as long as some she had already taken, for her destination was but a short way along. The world was one she had been rather familiar with once upon a time, during her Academy days, as her squadron had been stationed there on more than one occasion during the peak of the ravaging wars. The thought made her itch for a simpler, yet more dangerous, time, when all she had to consider was when to shoot and when to stand down.

But after Junction, everything had become far more complicated. That was when the Sith had gotten involved with her training. She could only hope that there would be something, anything, upon the world that could aid in her endeavors. For if not there, then where?

 

[Carbon]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

In so far as worlds were concerned, Junction was what one might expect from a planet under Mandalorian influence. Nomadic warriors, roaming the plains, hunting the strongest beasts they could find. A few towns had sprung up, replacing the husks left behind from the War.

Life goes on, as it always does.

Where the old goes to die, the new will spring from the ashes.

Or, in this case, a thinly muscled green skinned boy with black hair will stand and look to the stars, wondering just what the stars held on their grasp. He was, quite literally, a nerf herder. A lengthy stick of wood was held in one hand, a floppy hat set low across a face hidden by a small Mandalorian helmet.

With a strip of cloth wrapped around his neck, he stamped the wood into the dirt and got the herd moving in the direction he wanted. It was a simple job, with no real glory to be had, but he suffered through it. It was a lesson, he imagined.

Sometimes you must do what you don't want to, for people you'd rather not work for. But he got paid just enough that he kept his mouth shut. Blinking violet eyes at the cloudy day, even as a trickle of rain began to descend from the clouds, he gave a shout and waved a hand.

The herd didn't listen. Nerfs weren't actually people.

 

[Lief]

She watched as the world below engulfed the viewing port, and was hit with... Nothing. No defenses kicked in as she plummeted through the atmosphere. How odd... Shaking her head, and wondering what she had truly expected to happen, she instead glanced across the landscape and felt with her other senses. Something felt wrong, or at least very different, from when she was last on Junction. It was severely lacking in the Living Force, but more than that there seemed to be something actively sapping away at it nearby. A wound, perhaps? That was interesting.

As the ship stabilized upon the ground Kära rose from her seat, checked that her lightsaber was in place - which it was - and stepped across to the ramp which opened in unison. Where to go from here... Did she risk venturing closer to the source of despair, or trek out into the wilderness to find some sign of life? It was quite the conundrum, and she found herself torn for a decision. Perhaps I shall head towards this seeming wound, and hope I might happen upon someone along the way? By now she had come to realise that there was no garrison stationed here. The Empire was truly gone, then? That was a shame, but she knew better than to dwell on it too much. The Jedi and the Sith rotated their dominance over the Galaxy, best she lay low and gather strength before doing anything too stupid.

Heading off towards the tainted presence she could feel, Kära made a quick note of the location, so that she could return to her ship at a later time, before focusing inward and attuning herself to her surroundings in other ways. She had never claimed to be an expert in sensory applications of the Force, and while her mind was strong there was still a lot to learn and adjust to on a world such as this. The ground was scarred with sure signs of war, it seemed as though whatever happened had been enough to wipe life off the planet - or so it seemed. She hoped it was not the case, having someone to discuss Galactic affairs with might be nice, after all, especially considering nobody here would know who she was.

Or so she hoped, at least. Still, it didn't hurt to be wary and alert.

[member="Yarva Adisu"]

 

[Carbon]

[member="Lady Kairos"]

Ahead among the sparse reed grass of the plains of Junction stood a lengthy stretch of a patchwork wooden fence. It had been put up by hand and it showed, but it did its job. Pushing open the gate, the young Kindalorian ushered the herd into its pen for the evening. He'd be gone tomorrow. Passing through meant picking up a little extra work where you could, especially if they were willing to pay with a meal and a place to sleep.

Shelter was always good, no matter the weather or time of day.

The two story dilapidated farmhouse stood alone on the prairie, looking as though it was better suited to great expanses of crops rather than a herd of rather daft furred animals. Moving up the steps, resting his crook against the wall of the porch, he turned to pull his hat from his head. Resting it across his chest, he stared out into the great expanse of sparse greenery and thick dust, ruddy red sky telling him it was almost evening.

He'd have gone inside just then when he spotted a figure on the horizon. Blinking slowly, he raised his voice loud enough to shout inside. A clammering told him the patriarch was grabbing a rifle - it was hard to see who it was just now, but one always need be careful around here.

Lone travelers were either familiar or dangerous.

 

[Lief]

She had been walking for some time; initially her sensitive eyes had scorned the unobscured sun, but by now she was venturing without even so much as a squint to her gaze. There had been little more than tumbleweeds and dust so far, the odd sprinkling of grass to break up the coarse ground. It was a surprise to see even that amount of life, in all honesty, the place was so barren.

Ahead still lingered the ever hungry wound that was drawing in the Living Force from around the area. Getting too close could prove dangerous, especially if it tried to sap her too; with that said, it would be a great source of the Darkside - they always were, the despair, the abundant loss of life... It was like a magnet, and right now it had her attracted and drawing ever closer.

So it was that Kairos became confused as the land turned into some sort of ranch; she could see penned in Nerfs and in the distance even a farmhouse which had seen better days. A strange sight, to be sure. It would be best if she avoided them, farmers were especially uptight about their land and strangers. Yet at the same time, who knew when she'd next have a chance to speak to someone here on Junction?

It was a difficult decision to make, yet she did so without ever breaking her stride. Onward she ventured, straight towards the Farmhouse where she could see one being on the porch and hear another rattling within. Hopefully they wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later - she didn't want to start off on such bad footing, after all. Sith she might have been, but she was no monster. And they could prove useful.

[member="Yarva Adisu"]

 

[Carbon]

A hand rose to touch the side of his helmet, zooming in through the advanced HUD to center on the small blonde woman with the dark eyebrows. She strode with a purpose, which out here meant 'absolute nutjob.' So far as anyone here was concerned, there was no Wound. But Force Users around here were rare. Small populations rarely churned out a large number of the low percentage individuals.

"She's alone. Unarmed." He says quietly, almost in disbelief. Another traveler from a foreign land? Perhaps. Who knew.

Rancher Morhe stopped his shuffling, lowering his hunting rifle from where he'd been in the window. Unarmed meant they had a better chance than not. If the boy had a lick of Force Sense about him, perhaps he'd have had an inkling that she wasn't entirely unarmed. But that was not something he was versed in beyond the slightest of margins.

Inhaling through his nostrils despite the helmet, he hefts the shepard's crook again and steps down the three stairs to the barren, dusty ground. "Tired, traveler?" The boy asks in a thick Mandalorian accent.

The usual response was 'only so tired as you'll allow me to stay.' A common call and response among the small population, but he doubted he'd get that answer from her. Sincerely doubted. Which could mean trouble.

Or foreigners from the stars.

[member="Lady Kairos"]

 

[Lief]

As she approached, one of them wandered down from the porch - presumably the nerf herder given the crook - before speaking aloud. She could sense distrust in his being, from his body language more so than anything else. It was to be expected, she knew, this world had known much devastation, that she was certain of. The wound could testify for as much.

Helmet and accent both attested to his point of origin, yet no great warrior was he from appearance at least. The only armor he bore was that upon his head, otherwise the attire was strictly civilian. Interesting, was he hiding out behind a false facade too? Truthfully, she doubted it. He had seemed confused at her presence there, as if he hadn't seen a stranger in some time.

Her usual instincts kicked in, and she subtly scanned his conscious mind for anything of note that might aid her. An odd quote, of sorts, common speak, came to mind. But pretending that she knew their customs would be folly. This was not the same Junction that she had once known and served upon. Instead the Umbaran simply shook her head. "Far from it" came her quiet response.

Tilting her head ever so slightly to the left, Kära contemplated her options. She could feel the wound calling to her, it wasn't too far from here she knew that much, but it wasn't going anywhere. They rarely ever did, without excessive work in the Force. No, she had time. "What happened here?" She could not help herself, this was her past... And if she made it seem more so that way, then perhaps she could pass without causing a ruckus.

"Last time I was here, there was life... Yours is the first face I've come across since returning. My community lies in dust, nothing remains." She sighed, and shook her head. Her curiosity, her attachment to this place, came across as true. It was true, different universe or not.

[member="Yarva Adisu"]

 

[Carbon]

[member="Lady Kairos"]

"Your community?" The boy blinked. He did not remember her at all, but he was a child when the War happened, barely three or so. "The Sith decimated the world, so sudden was their attack that by the time the Mandalorians arrived to reinforce the world it was almost bereft of population." While not entirely true, the small population meant there wasn't too much to target here that was of significance. Which meant beating down the locals until they acceded.

Mandalorians didn't take too kindly to those tactics, and had put up a fierce if futile fight.

Fingers flexed around the shaft of the crook. "And thus it is as it has always been. Where the Sith come, death follows in their wake. They think of nothing but themselves, and the evidence lay in the worlds brought to ruin by their quest for power." The crook lifted, taking in the expanse of plains that alternated between rock, dirt and sparse desert grass. There was little to no life out here, though there was life elsewhere - though, as he'd mentioned, not too much.

A million and a half population before the war. Less than half that now.

 

[Lief]

She could not help but wince at the mention of the Sith; they had done this? Caused the wasteland she saw before her? Of course, in her Universe she doubted that would have happened, but things changed across time and space. It left her wondering what kind of Sith existed here, what they strove towards. And who she had been.

"Why would they do that?" she asked, brows furrowing in slight confusion. Kära could think of a thousand reasons that they might exterminate the population, but given all that the Sith had done in her own Universe to claim and hold Junction, the work of her soldiers no less, made it seem implausible in her mind.

What the man said next she could not entirely agree - or likewise disagree - with. It was difficult to make such a broad statement, some Sith were merely studious. They had ambition, sure, but they were also tactful, mindful. Some sought power, order, even stability. Then there were those who sought destruction, who would wipe out an entire species because they did not fit with their Imperial regime. Kära shook her head and focused back upon the present.

"How many of you remain?" There was still a chance that she might find answers here, if this universe's shade of her had ever even ventured upon this world. And of course there was still the bottomless pit of the Wound which called to her. She could not linger for too long, but it would not do to make this one suspicious. Kära had no great desire to shed blood.

[member="Yarva Adisu"]