Private You never know what you'll find under a rock. (One-Off/Solo)

[Caltin Vanagor]

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin​

The Kyber Temple on Jedha lied in ruin for the most part. It was the site of an intense battle; but more aptly, it was the source of the great rumor. The rumor went that two Force users just entered the facility and “tore up the place” for laughs. That was incorrect on so many levels(unless you speak to a certain Dathomir witch by the name of Tegan Starfall who believes she rules over all creation, but that is a conversation for another time) but it was the reality for many of those gathered to rebuild. The Temple was intact in many areas, just in a state of horrible ruin; though much of the ancient facility stood erect there was the need for areas to be reinforced.

The mood of many was upbeat, though the rumor lies in their heads. The Jedi pushed back the assault of the Brotherhood of the Maw and their fellow Sith, it was a victory for the light. However when some of the Jedi commissioned to assist with the rebuild came across the remains of corrupted Kyber crystals, the morale fell. The thought of what was done to these and how easily many of the Jedi were duped by this one Dark Sider who slipped in here was disheartening. The bright spot (no pun intended) was that around forty percent of the Temple’s known crystals were either deemed safe on their own or recovered.

“The Temple would be saved.”

Much of the demolition and reclamation took weeks before any type of reconstruction could even be thought of. The cave entrance had not even been reached to this point and it was the very day that it had that something happened. There was the call of a lone figure sitting in the middle of the destruction. This hulking mass of a hooded figure was not meditating, but sitting as the onlookers gathered. Not looking up or answering calls the individual did not move even when approached. Could he/she be dead? Could he/she be deaf? What was wrong with the individual? Only the person under the hood knew as he still sat there covered up. It was when a Jedi approached and put a hand on his shoulder that he snatched it and grasped it tightly.

Slowly standing, the figure held up his other hand as the Jedi instinctively went for his lightsaber. The figure took off his hood, it was one of the Force Users rumored to have destroyed the Temple for laughs. It was Vanagor. He was still down here for all of these weeks? Had no one thought to look for him? Had he looked to escape? The look on his face answered both of those questions. The intriguing aspect of the archaeological investigation was the fact that while he was still exhibiting a mastery of skills related to the Force, not one of the Jedi in the room or the Temple, or even Jedha for that matter could sense it on him. There was a rumor that he was changed down to his very DNA somewhat recently. Could this new twist be a part of that evolution?

He said nothing to those who shouted his name in anger. He said nothing to those questioning if the Great Rumor was true. He simply stood there, hand over the fist of the other Jedi, and surveyed the room. Indeed he had changed. Letting go of the Jedi who slowly walked away, the massive Je… is he a Jedi at this point? The big guy had been through a lot, physically and mentally over these weeks it started with the visit to his daughter’s resting place, and then his parents. His physical changes were affecting his mental state; he was not losing any kind of stability he was gaining perspective.

His parent’s resting place was a harsh reality, but it was the memorial of his daughter that really put things into perspective. The Jedi learn to live in the present by lessons of the past, Caltin, and maybe a few others like Valery Noble and a handful of thawed out Clones were the past. He had nothing left to prove and nothing left to really live to achieve. Now it was simply a matter of making the best of everything.

So what was happening to him at this point? As Vanagor surveyed to room, ignoring the catcalls and the questions, he stood erect. It was when a Jedi made a claim that he could have fallen to the Dark Side that the big guy just stared a hole into her. The Sith Code speaks of breaking the chains that bind you and living your own life, being the sentient you wish to be. Maybe in that respect, he had indeed fallen out of favor of the Jedi. The thing is though that Vanagor was no killer. As much annoyance and maybe even disdain that he held for those in this room right now the big guy would still stand between them and anyone who wished them harm. The Jedi though; do not evolve in the manner that he had. There is stagnation in their beliefs and practices. Where the Jedi do not evolve; the Sith overdo it. Both sides have it wrong.

So which was he? Sith? Jedi? Either? “Gray” Jedi is an oxymoron to him. Truth be told Vanagor can no longer feel the Force at all anymore. Even when he first found the Wellspring and was “changed” he could feel it then, maybe this was a part of the changes that his guide had spoken of. So what now? What is the point of him being here? If he was not a Jedi or a Sith then what was he?

He was a man.

Simply disappearing was no longer an option, nor was fading out of existence. These searchers were bound to report that he was found even if there was no one who had known his name. They were attempting to bar him from leaving but there was only so far that their attempts would take them. Vanagor was not going to stay in this cave any longer and in fact, was leaving Jedha. He was going somewhere to heal both his mind and body. He was getting away from it all. He was disappearing again to hopefully finish whatever evolution was happening to him. Will he return?

Only time will tell.