Revoking the Darkness

[Jenno]

Their guest’s speech was still far from smooth, but there was more meaning for Vreem to grasp at, to try and understand. His eyes shifted between the datapad in his hand and Varrin as he spoke. It was a tough situation to try and make sense of, not an easy feat even for a Jedi Master, especially when there was the emotional involvement to be considered.

But a pattern began to form between the two retellings he now knew, a sequence of overlaps that allowed dots to connect between the Jedi record and a lost Jedi’s tale. But even knowing didn’t bring about the greatest of comfort. “I am sorry that I have to make you recount this for me.” Vreem hesitated for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts and direct them into a sentence.

“According to our records, the Council at the time was quite sceptical of the way things had turned out; it seems that a Jedi was assigned to look into Gavit and the events that had happened quite carefully. But a year after the event apparently he and a number of those loyal to him deserted the Republic. The Jedi almost uncovered his location on a few occasions, but it’s noted here that Gavit was always able to remain a step ahead of them. I’m sorry to say that given how things progressed; the Council assumed that you had died along with the other Jedi assigned to the mission upon Omwat.”

“After a number of years it seems as though some of his crew were found working amongst varying pirate groups. We don’t have any record of what happened to Gavit or why his crew broke apart.”

Vreem suspected there was something more to the story. If Varrin had survived that attack then why had he not returned to the Order sooner, it would not have been hard to find his way to transport upon Omwat and return to the Jedi with a warning. He denied the logical progression which formed within his mind, but it all made sense. Of course, he would have to hear it from Varrin to believe it.

“Why is it that you’ve only just returned to us now, 40 years later? Where have you been for all of this time? Do you know what happened to Gavit?”

[Vako]

As the Jedi Master gave his side of the story from the record Varrin closed his mouth a bit. He was still breathing only from there, but his look of awe had come back under his control and he looked more like someone who was exhausted. It wasn’t that Varrin was tired, he just appeared to be it from his age. Nothing he was told was surprising to him. He’d always thought the Jedi presumed him to be dead, as that’s what Gavit had told him. And why wouldn’t they? Three were dead, and his captivity had pulled him from the sight of anyone but those involved for a decade.

The call to answer the larger questions was something that Varrin expected. His constantly shifting thoughts didn’t keep him from knowing that would come. The most pressing elements of what happened to him afterward they were shot, and what happened to Gavit were things that only Varrin knew the answer to.

”He’s dead.” Varrin spoke bitterly and didn’t have the satisfaction in that some might expect from someone in his circumstance. There was none to be had. Thinking the repayment for the pain his captor had caused him only served to further damage him, as it brought him towards everything else. It forced him to face that he had so many questions that could never be answered because of what he’d done. He did not feel bad about what he had done, but he was far from feeling good about it.

Varrin had no reason to lie, and nothing was to be gained by saying anything less then the truth. ”He held me captive for a decade.” Varrin blinked recalling it all. ”I killed him.” Varrin revealed. ”Just before I managed to escape from his ship.” Varrin closed his eyes, and took a breathe in through his nose while pressing his lower lip to his teeth. ”I’ve been exile ever since.” Varrin explained. Though that phrase could have many meanings, he had always taken it for someone who didn’t want to be found, which was exactly what his circumstance was.