Ask Dromund Kaas In The Ruins of the Past

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

Dromund Kaas, there was more than a year since Wilhelm had visited this planet. After he followed his Master’s advice, the Acolyte had abandoned the Sith Academy here and joined the Republic. For a brief period of time, this world had been his home. The boy had good memories of these days and being here again brought some nostalgia to him.

However, the reasons that brought him back here weren't good. The Holonet was full of news about the destruction of the Sith Academy by the FWA. As soon as he saw it, Wilhelm felt the desire to visit the place. Even if his time there was brief, the Acolyte considered that it had been an important part of his life. It was there that he started his training and his ambitions grew.

Using the vacations of the Naval Academy as an opportunity, Wilhelm rented a ship with a false ID and traveled to Dromund Kaas. His trip to the planet was uneventful and he arrived at the spaceport without any problem. The place was crowded, there were relatives of many Acolytes arriving to see if they were fine. There was also Imperial authorities, trying to catch the responsible for the bombing.

Wilhelm didn’t pay much attention to them and left the spaceport, walking toward the Academy. He wasn’t afraid of being recognized. The boy wasn’t someone important, at least for now, and he was also disguised. The Acolyte had dyed his hair white and was using blue eye lenses. He was also using a fake name, the same one that he used when he studied here. At the time, his parents never allowed him to be identified as a Tarkin.

When he arrived where the Academy used to be, Wilhelm saw that the place was crowded with people removing the debris, in attempts to find anything that could have survived the bombing. He walked toward them, perhaps he could help them and use the opportunity to see the place closer.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

While much of the initial traffic around the ruins of the Dromund Kaas academy had died down over the past couple hours, Vahliri had opted to stick around for just a bit longer. For years, the academy place has been her home - the source of memories both positive and negative, and it carried a sense of familiarity after so much time spent.

And in a single stroke, all of it was gone - reduced to nothing but ashes and rubble. And now they had to pick up the pieces and try to start again.

For the moment, Vahliri was seated atop a stray piece of debris where the dorms had once been - amber eyes drifting across her surroundings. The smell of smoke and dust was still heavy in the air, and Imperial officials were still busy attempting to clear the rubble that had been sent in all directions from the explosion. The half-Annfyn was dressed in a black blouse and high-waisted pants, while her hair was tied back away from her face.

Without a word, Vahliri reached down near her feet - pulling the remnants of a painters canvas from the wreckage. It had been one of her own pieces - something she had spent hours upon hours creating - and now? All but the edges of the piece had been scorched and burned away. Vahliri brushed her head across it, dusting away some of the ash.

@LouJoVi

 

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

In the end, Wilhelm discovered that most of the important things that could be saved from the debris were already removed. The group of people that he saw were only some students and surviving teachers that arrived here to try to recover personal items and to remember about the time that they stayed here. Now the memories were the only things that remained.

Some of these people were walking around the ruins aimlessly, as if they were in some type of trance. Wilhelm understood what they were feeling. They couldn’t believe that this place no longer existed. Many of them probably spend more time at this place than in their own houses. It was as if their own home was annihilated.

The boy walked around the ruins, trying to identify where each part of it used to be. He could discern some structures of what once were the main and dining hall, but most of the place was unrecognizable. The classrooms, the library and the gymnasium became only a pile of rubble.

During his walk around the ruins, Wilhelm would end up arriving where the dormitories used to be. He had good memories of this place. The boy felt more comfortable living here than in his house, where his parents would be constantly trying to teach him about the importance of achieving greatness for the Tarkin Family.

He stopped where his room used to be. There was nothing there, since Wilhelm left for the Republic Academy months ago. However, his roommate, Naec Oondrel, had remained here. The Acolyte wondered what could have happened with him. He wasn’t a bad person to be around and could have been a good ally.

While he looked at the piles of rubbles of what once were the dormitories, Wilhelm noticed that a girl was there and she was holding something. The boy had the impression that he knew her from. When he approached her, the Acolyte had recognized her as Vahliri Kahtal, a half-Annfyn with whom he used to share some classes.

Wilhelm wondered if he should talk with her. They never talked beyond a casual hello. However, he was already close enough of her that the girl would probably notice his presence. Since it would be strange and impolite for him to run away, he decided to say something.

“Uh, hello?” he said tentatively. “You are Vahliri, right? I don’t know if you remember me, but we used to attend some classes together. I’m William Nikrat.” he identified himself with the fake name that he used when he attended the Academy. “I saw you there and wanted to say hi. There was so much time that I didn't see anyone from here.” he justified himself.

If she said nothing, the boy would turn and continue looking around the place where his room used to be. Maybe he could find something that used to be of Naec. Perhaps he could even use it to find where his roommate went.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Contrary to what Wilhelm might’ve thought, Vahliri didn’t really notice the fellow Acolyte at first. There were still dozens of Imperial officials mulling about the ruins and assisting with clean-up, and many students were still lingering around the blast-site as well. Only hours before, she had been with Altair and Ashla not far from where she was sitting now.

For a few moments, the half-Annfyn continued to inspect what remained of her belongings - fishing out what still was largely intact - whether it was scraps of artwork she had spend hours delicately creating, gifts from one of her brothers, or pieces of jewelry scattered amongst the ash and rubble.

As a result, Vahliri only glanced back over her shoulder when Wilhelm finally spoke - his voice bringing the half-Annfyn back to reality. She blinked a few times, tilting her head ever-so-slightly as she regarded him. “Yup, that’s me.” Recognition.. Kinda flashed in her eyes? He certainly looked familiar, but it took several seconds for her to actually piece together a name. “..Wilhelm, right?” She said tentatively, clenching her teeth a bit in the event that she had gotten it dead wrong. “Sorry.. It’s been a while.” She offered him a faint grin. “It’s good to see you again - and its good to see you are okay.” From what Vahliri had seen, no students had actually been injured in the attack. She couldn’t say the same for professors, security and other faculty, though.

“Hard to believe it’s gone. Just like that.” She muttered back to him, looking straight ahead to where the grand center of Sith learning had once been.

 

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

Wilhelm was surprised that Vahliri remembered him. He didn’t expect that it would happen. Not only they had only some classes together, but it has been some time since they saw each other "Yes, I'm. It's good to see you too." there was so much time since the boy saw a familiar Sith that wasn’t his Master. At least here no one would be angry at him because of his origins.

While she talked, the Acolyte noticed how she sounded melancholic. "I only wanted it to be a better moment." he muttered, before turning to look at the ruins. The destruction of the Academy left marks in everyone. "I never thought that something like that would happen, do you know? I used to think that it would stand here for many centuries."

"I heard that no students got hurt, but several members of the staff died." Wilhelm couldn’t say that it was comforting. He knew many of the professors and other staff members that died there. Even Professor Meriades, who taught Astrography was killed too. The woman wasn’t even Force Sensitive, she was only a very clever and excellent professional that was able to secure this position. The Galaxy lost a bright mind.

While no student was killed, Wilhelm believed that the consequences of the destruction of the Academy would be deeper for some. He knew that some of the Acolytes had no place to stay beyond this building. With Naec Oondrel being one of them. It made him feel more concerned with the boy.

He turned to look at Vahliri, feeling uncomfortable for staring at the ruins for so long. "Do you remember Naec Oondrel? He was a Tarisian boy with blach hair, glasses and had green eyes. We used to share classes too." the Acolyte described his roommate, hoping that it could help her remember. "Do you know what happened to him? The Academy was his only house."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri offered Wilhelm a somber smile, the usual warmth and expression visibly muted in that moment. It was good to see that he wasn’t injured, but she didn’t know him well enough to feel any significant relief at that revelation - and it certainly didn’t change the loss that they both were experiencing.

“Yeah.. Me neither.” Vahliri said, a bit of sadness and raw emotion bleeding into her tone. Of all places, the half-Annfyn hadn’t expected something like this attack to take place, Dromund Kaas was the lowest on her list. She couldn’t help the pain that coursed through her as she thought about it, nor the angry and primal desire for revenge.

She glanced back to Wilhelm, blinking a few times when she mentioned a fellow Acolyte. “I.. Think so?” Vahliri said, attempting to pull Naec’s face into the forefront of her mind. “Only in passing.” She finally admitted. The half-Annfyn listened when Wilhelm asked what had become of the Acolyte. “I don’t know.. But it’s possibly he already checked into temporary housing? Most of the students were.” She knew that Altair and others had already checked into what were little more then military barracks converted for the acolytes.

“Maybe start there?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

Wilhelm noticed Vahliri's somber smile and reciprocated it. He probably wasn’t the right person to comfort her right now. Beyond some occasional interactions, they were completely strangers to each other. At this moment, the half-Annfyn probably preferred to be talking with one of her close friends.

Turning back to the destroyed Academy, Wilhelm wondered if the half-Annfyn was feeling something beyond the same feeling of loss that he had. She stayed here longer than him, probably this place was like a second home for her. He was wrong to think that what they were feeling was the same. It probably was worse for Vahliri.

Many Sith would want to seek revenge because of what happened here. He wondered if the half-Annfyn wanted to do it, to have the satisfaction of destroying those that hurt her. Before meeting his Master, Wilhelm probably would have wanted to do it. Now, he became more analytical, reflecting about his actions before doing them.

While avenging the destruction of the Academy was satisfactory, would the risks behind such vengeance be worth it? The chances of being captured were great, Onderon was a well protected planet. Besides that, it would bring this place back. Even if it was rebuilt, this wasn’t going to be the same. Now there were only the memories.

His musings were interrupted by Vahliri mentioning the temporary housings. "I didn't. Maybe he could be there. Thank you." Wilhelm smiled at her and turned to walk toward it. However, he would soon stop. He had no idea where these housing could be. "Can you help me go there? I have no idea where the housings are."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri was entirely oblivious to any internal musings Wilhelm might’ve been having at that moment - and it was entirely likely she wouldn’t have in the slightest cared even if he voiced them. She didn’t care if her desire for revenge was impulsive, nor what the risks were associated with it. Vahliri wanted to hit back, and hit back hard, against whoever was responsible.

And there was very little - if anything - anyone could do to dissuade her.

She blinked a few times when Wilhelm asked her to guide him there. After a few moments though, she merely shrugged and pushed off from where she was sitting. “Sure, I don’t mind.”

The half-Annfyn glanced down at her commlink before proceeding to walk ahead, gesturing for Wilhelm to follow behind. It was something of a long walk to the temporary housing facilities, but it wasn’t like either of them had much better to do - and for whatever reason, she didn’t really feel like flagging down a taxi.

After a few moments, Vahliri glanced back over her shoulder - looking back to Wilhelm. “So,” She began, “Where have you been all this time? You said you haven’t been back to the academy in a while.” Nor did she remember seeing him, but if she was being honest, she likely could’ve passed him in the halls and not particularly noticed.

“I was off-world when it happened.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

Wilhelm thought that Vahliri was going to refuse to help him when she remained in silence. If she did, the boy would not mind. Given the circumstances, such a reaction would be totally understandable. She would probably want to stay here, remembering about her good times at the Academy.

To his surprise, the half-Annfyn agreed to show him where the temporary housings were located. “Thank you.” Wilhelm said, before smiling at the girl. Then, he followed her, deciding to stay behind while she led the way. While they walked, the boy would be able to see more of the damage that the explosion left. Nothing left beyond stones and burned things.

He would turn his attention away from this scene when he heard Vahliri’s voice. The boy would need to be careful with how he was going to answer this question. It could be dangerous for him and for his Master’s plans if he revealed to anyone what he was doing at the Republic.

Before talking, the boy looked at Vahliri’s brown eyes and this made him remember how he used to think that she was attractive. “I was training.” he decided to tell a half truth. Wilhelm’s life had become full of those these past few days. “I’m training under a Master that wants to teach me himself, rather than leaving it to be made by the Academy. He is a bit old fashioned, but very wise and powerful. We are constantly traveling because of my training.”

“And you? How was your life before that?” he asked the half-Annfyn. “Did you find a Master already? Also, is everyone in our class doing well?” Wilhelm didn’t remember the names of everyone, but it would be good to know if they were fine. At least talking about good things could make this day less terrible.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Truth be told, Vahliri was more than happy to leave the Academy ruins behind. She had lingered amongst the burnt and broken things for hours now, and the environment only contributed further to the melancholy that hung over the half-Annfyn like a shroud. It was part of the reason - beyond simply being helpful to a fellow student - that she decided to escort Wilhelm a few blocks down the road in the first place. Within only a few minutes of walking, the pair began to make their way onto the sidewalks that criss-crossed through Kaas City’s main thoroughfares - speeders zipping across the roads just adjacent.

She glanced back at Wilhelm when he mentioned that he had been training at the time - listening for a moment or two longer as he explained the purpose of his travels. In some ways, the half-Annfyn envied the Acolyte for the opportunity.

“Good, all things considered.” She answered with a vague shrug, pausing at at crosswalk while the light ticked from yellow to red. “I haven’t,” The half-Annfyn said in response to his question about her finding a Master. “But I’ve done well-enough without one.”

While others had replied upon a Sith Lord or Champion to guide their training, Vahliri had never been singled out by a Master. Perhaps there had once been a time when that fact would’ve bothered the half-Annfyn, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth now. It necessitated her to work even harder as an Acolyte, and only herself to credit for each and every success she achieved. “Everyone else is doing well,” She paused a bit. “As well as anyone can be, right now.”

A few more minutes of walking would pass before Vahliri glanced back over her shoulder. “Shouldn’t be far now.” She said before looking back ahead. “Going to be sticking around long after you find your friend?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Wilhelm Tarkin]

Wilhelm noticed how Vahliri reacted when he mentioned his Master and if she already had one. It made him think that perhaps she didn’t have one and being reminded of it wasn’t something that she liked or wanted at this moment. He was prepared to ask her to forget what he said and that he should be more careful with what he said to others.

However, Vahliri’s answer surprised him. The half-Annfyn confirmed his suspicions that she indeed didn’t have a Master, but rather than seeming sad or even mad because of it, she seemed conformed. He didn’t doubt that she had made great progress with her training without a Master.

Once the light at the crosswalk turned red, the two Acolytes were able to continue walking. “It’s good to hear that everyone is going well.” with the ongoing war, it could be a matter of time until someone that he knew was dead. At least now the Republic was at peace with the Empire at he would not be forced to deal with his old colleagues.

“Yes. I’ll stay here to see where they are going to send him. Also, it has been a long time since I visited Dromund Kaas. I would like to visit some of the old places that I frequented when I was at the Academy.” he would have good use of this opportunity. Who knows when he would return to this planet. “And you? Do you plan to stay here longer?”

@Altaris