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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jun 7, 2010 14:41:17 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jun 7, 2010 14:41:17 GMT -5
The black fabric of space distorted for a brief moment as a small ship fell out of hyperspace over the world of Kiffu. It was large enough to hold a small group of people, though presently, it was only occupied by one man. A man with warm green eyes, and kind face. That face was framed by black dreadlocks that fell all around his head and were long enough to reach down past his shoulders. His torso was covered by a dark grey shirt with vertical white stripes on the sides; the sleeves were worn rolled up to the middle of his biceps, and the fabric fit snugly over his lithely muscular frame. His pants, which were adorned with a number of pockets of various sizes, were a darker shade of grey, and stuffed into black combat boots. A black tattoo ran across him, from the back of each hand, up each arm and both sides of his neck until it became one in a band across his eyes.
This man was Kaven Valli. Many that did not know him thought him to be the sort of kind man that his face and soft-spoken manner portrayed. They were fools. Kaven was many things, but kind was not one of them. Hard. Sadistic. Twisted. Bitter. Those were the qualities that defined Kaven, not kindness.
And it was those same things that led him here, to Kiffu, to his homeworld. The last few weeks had been interesting, to say the least. Dal and Sera's defection, coupled with Balax's death left Kaven team in shambles, and with its dissolution, he found his hopes and ambitions slipping away. After so many years of waiting and working, he'd finally made it to a place where he had every resource he'd need to find his sister made available to him, and then everything collapsed. Frustrated couldn't even begin to describe the way Kaven felt after that. Thoughts of his own defection had not been uncommon. Joining the Sith had been a way of a means to an end. Sure, he'd fought in their battles, under the Empire's banner, but to be honest, he cared little of their game of thrones. Meira, his sister, was the ultimate goal, and, at the time, the Empire had provided the greatest chance to get the knowledge and tools he needed to go after her. Now he had that knowledge though, and he might just go after her himself, Sith Empire be damned.
For the time being, he'd taken a leave of sorts. It was a break from official duty, but, as he entered the cloudy atmosphere of his homeworld, he knew that he was not taking a break at all. He would use what time he had to see what leads he could get on Meira, and when his official leave time was up, he'd make his decision as to what he wanted to do. Now was the time for searcing. The Valli home was where he would start. It was the most obvious place to begin a search for his dear sister. It was also a place he'd not been to in just over eleven years. Time flew, truly.
"This is Kaven Valli, requesting a landing," he said when he drew within range of the clan's holdings. There was another ship taking off, leaving a space that he would more than likely land in. What timing.
"Kaven!" The woman's voice on the other end rang with recognition. " You have returned to us! Permission granted. I will find Terum and Somi at once!"
Now there were two names he'd not heard in a very long while. Terum, his father, and Somi, his mother. Perhaps it would be good to see them again. Maybe they would have word of his sister. Time would tell. It didn't take long to set the vessel down onto the recently-vacated landing pad. Kaven exited the ship a few moments later, with only his short vibroknife at his waist.
Nostalgia flooded him as he looked around, remembering times that seemed to be from another lifetime. It'd been so long. Kaven had almost forgotten what it felt like to be here, but it still felt like home. It was home. He knew the people here, and they knew him. Maybe he would talk to some of them later, but for now, he had to find his parents. The air controller said she'd send them his way, so he just stayed near the landing pad, watching, waiting to see them.
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Meira
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Jun 9, 2010 14:47:20 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jun 9, 2010 14:47:20 GMT -5
Somi did her best to hold the tears back from her eyes as she watched the ship start up. Terum draped one arm across her shoulder as the other was held aloft waving goodbye to the young woman who sat, waving back, in the cockpit of the small ship. His hand squeezed Somi's shoulder gently. He knew the pain in her heart, for he felt it as well as their only daughter lifted the ship from the platform and began to fly away. He turned to his wife then, taking her into a strong embrace and kissing the point where her graying hair met her forehead.
This is a heavy burden, Somi. He said, standing back to look her in the eyes. But you are a strong woman, even in these late years.
Somi raised her eyes to meet her husband's. The two still held a vibrancy in their emerald eyes, a sign of the strength of their spirits. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, the crescent shape of the tattoo less sharp as it once had been. She smiled at her husband's words, thankful for his kindness. It was indeed a heavy burden. As the two turned to walk away from the landing pad, she looked up at Terum again.
Are you calling me old, Terum?
The words were spoken with a slight hint of laughter. Terum reflected the mirth in her words, shaking his head immediately, his gray dreadlocks dancing around his face.
No, no. I wouldn't dare.
The two had hardly made it very far from the landing pad when a woman came running up behind them, shouting out Terum's name. She came sliding to a halt as Terum and Somi had stopped and turned. Terum held up his hand in request that the woman stop and calm herself. It was sometimes a marvel to see how quickly Terum could take upon the countenance of the Arik so quickly. Somi stood quietly at his side as the two waited for the woman to speak her presumably urgent news.
Arik Terum.... Your.... the landing.....
Take a breath, my dear. I am patient enough for that at my age. Terum said with a smile.
Your son Kaven has just arrived. His ship is landing now.
The smile on Terum's face faded into disbelief. Was this true? Kaven hadn't come home for eleven years. And now so suddenly he'd returned, only minutes after his sister's departure? It wasn't until Somi elbowed him in the ribs that Terum's mind returned to the present. His eyes found the controller again, and after a moment he nodded his head.
We will come with you of course.
The controller nodded and turned to lead the way back to the landing pad. Her pace was more manageable now, at a calm walk. When the three appeared on the landing again, the ship was already settled and a young man, obviously of the Valli clan was standing nearby. The features that identified him as the son of the Arik became more apparent as the two clan leaders came closer. The nose, straight and sharp, the slightly pointed chin, and most obviously, the vibrant green eyes. Kaven was a spitting image of his father. Terum's heart swelled at the sight of him.
No words were spoken from the older man. He simply approached and threw his arms around Kaven's shoulders, wrapping the younger man in a surprisingly strong embrace. Terum released his son only to take Kaven's head in his hands, one large hand holding at each side of Kaven's face. Terum studied him for a moment before smiling and releasing him completely.
Kaven had only a moment of freedom before Somi moved in. Like Terum, Kaven was a head and shoulders taller than Somi, but this didn't stop the woman. She threw her arms around Kaven's torso all the same and let out what could only be described as a mixture of laughter and tears. When she stepped back, it could be confirmed that she was indeed both crying and laughing. Terum spoke then. He stood tall, his chest out slightly, as if the sight of his son had pumped years of strength into the aging man.
Kaven, welcome home son! He clapped his hand on Kaven's back, moving to steer the man toward the path that led back to the village. If only you'd arrived yesterday! I might have had my whole family under my roof once again!
You just missed your sister! Somi said, jumping into the conversation as the three walked along the path. Her ship cleared the way for you to land. You remember your sister Meira of course? She smiled up at her son.
We can talk about that later, Somi. Terum interrupted, his eyes gleaming each time he looked at Kaven. My son is home again!
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jun 24, 2010 13:05:15 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jun 24, 2010 13:05:15 GMT -5
When his parents came to greet, them, Kaven smiled and returned their kindness back to them. He hugged his mother warmly, respectfully greeted his father, as was due, and was generally pleasant. But it all felt different. Oh, he was happy to see them, of course, but... He couldn't really explain it, truthfully. Maybe being a part of the military for so long had conditioned him to focus on the mission at hand, but he just could not give himself completely over to their warmth. He doubted he would be able to, even if he wished it. Meira was the reason he'd come here, not seeing them. And besides, they were part of the reason everything came to the point it was at now. Them and the rest of the clan, ignoring him and his talents while Meira, precious Meira got nothing but praise for a gift she'd done nothing to acquire.
Am I really that far gone? he wondered. Here were his parents, people he'd not seen in over a decade, and the first thoughts he had were filled with nothing but bitterness. But the hold of a ship, or an empty barrack could be a very understanding partner, and for eleven years, the walls had listened to the things Kaven wouldn't dare to speak to anyone else. And in those times when he was alone, and able to speak his mind to those walls that could not spill his secrets, that seed of bitterness that he planted in his heart so long ago when he was a still a youth started to germinate, and eventually took root. With time, it grew, as Kaven's heart hardened, and now? Now was tall and strong--some dark twisted tree, the roots of which twined in and out of the hard rock of Kaven's soul. The only thing he could do now would be to hide it as best he could. Meira was his goal here, and if his parents knew that he was after h-
"If only you'd arrived yesterday! I might have had my whole family under my roof once again!"
Kaven almost stopped in his tracks. What? Why was he suddenly so lightheaded?
"If only you'd arrived yesterday!"
Yesterday? Could his father's words possibly mean what he think they did? One day? He'd missed Meira by a day? Was fate always so cruel? No, no, he'd have to stay calm, smiling. Otherwise his parents might notice that there was more to their son that met the eye.
"Father," he said, looking at the man with a surprised smile, "are you telling me that my dear sister was here only yesterday?" It was harder than it should have been to keep his usual facade of kindness and friendliness up that it normally was, but he managed. He managed a disappointed shake of his head, though it wasn't for the reason his parents might have imagined. "I regret that I could not see her. If I had known, I would have come back home sooner."Really, though, he wanted to strangle something. Or to tie someone down and peel off their skin, bit by bit, and listen to their screams...
But he could not. Not here, anyway. It wasn't all bad, though, right? If Meira had been here, then perhaps his parents knew where she went...
"How was she? I trust she was still in good health? How long was she here?"
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Jun 28, 2010 10:33:20 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jun 28, 2010 10:33:20 GMT -5
You need to clean your ears my boy. Somi was giggling to herself from the glee of seeing her boy again as she gave him a playful nudge. Your sister arrived yesterday. She departed today. I just told you that was her ship that took off before you landed. We hadn't even gotten half way back home when poor Neri back there came running after us with news of you landing.
Terum cut in at that time, steering his son away from his chatty wife. He chuckled as well. He couldn't believe his luck. Both his wayward children had come home again. Even if Meira wasn't aware of who her parents were, it had been enough to see her and have her near. But with Kaven, Terum could hug and boast and call him 'son' all he wanted. Everything he wished he could tell Meira, he could tell his son.
She's fine, fine. You know how it is though. She can't know who's her family and all of that. She brought her apprentice to collect some of our clan's songs for the Jedi's library or something. Couldn't stay long though, just the night and then they were gone. Off to do good with the rest of the Jedi.
He came to a stop now. They had made it back to the main square of the small clan village and were standing at the door to their home. Both of his hands fell on Kaven's shoulders as his eyes turned serious for a moment. Yesterday was Meira's day. But today is yours, son. I've waited a long time for you to come home.
Come in already! Somi said as she rushed through the door. Your room is exactly as you left it. There was a silence after that statement that fell over Somi and Terum. Neither had known why Kaven left all those years ago, or where he had gone to. Though they wanted badly to know what had pulled their son away from them so suddenly, they dared not ask. Be it propriety, or a deep, unknown fear of the answer, they couldn't say. But for the time, the two were simply content to have him in their arms again.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 24, 2010 14:43:14 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 24, 2010 14:43:14 GMT -5
"You need to clean your ears my boy."
Playing along was easy enough. Just smile and laugh; act amused and they'd never know the difference.
"Your sister arrived yesterday. She departed today."
Kaven nearly stopped in his tracks at this. What? I missed her by that little? Fate was cruel, tempting him like this. As if her being his sister hadn't been enough.
"I just told you that was her ship that took off before you landed."
"Ah, that's right, you did say that." Kaven thanked the Force that he was so used to putting on facades, or he might have blown it right then. Somi was right; she had said that, but Kaven might have preferred to go on believing that she had not.
Minutes, then. I missed her by minutes. His hands clenched into fists as a hot fury grew within him, threatening to break past through the face he showed the rest of the world. That wouldn't do any good, though, not if he wanted to find Meira. He'd have to play the part of the long-lost son that was happy to return home, rather than the cold bitter one whose main goal in life revolved around causing his sister harm.
"Well, that's unfortunate, mother," he said, smiling and forcing his hands to straighten out. I had hoped to see her again, after all these years. Perhaps fate will bring us together again one day."
It was then that he was steered away by his father, who told him a bit more of why Meira had returned to their clan's home. She was still a Jedi, obviously, and had a student, no less. Kaven filed that particular little piece of information away to be mulled over later. Normally, he might not have cared, but hurting Meira's apprentice could prove to be a marvelous way to hurt her, should the situation arise.
"And I have waited a long time to return home, father. It's been so long since I've seen you or mother, or any of our people." Kaven smiled, and for once, some small, hidden part of him was speaking truly. "It makes does my heart well to see you all again." He nodded to his father and then followed after Somi when she called then on, into their home.
It was as Kaven remembered, for the most part. Time had brought some changes, as it always did, but it wasn't enough to stop the memories that came swelling back when he walked through the door. And when Somi told him that his room was exactly as he'd left it... He walked off toward it, and when the door slid open, he stopped, searching for words.
She hadn't lied. All of his things were still there, from when he'd still been a young man. Everything was the same-his bed the walls, the floors, that little stain in the corner where he'd spilled a drink once. The memories that came back to Kaven, after being buried down in his heart for over decade were almost too much for him.
"I... I can't believe it. It really is the same." He took a few slow step forward, into the room and turned to face his parents. "You didn't change anything." There was a chronometer on the wall, the same one he'd gotten so many years ago when his old one broke. He reached up and touched it, gently, remembering what it had been like to be a boy.
"Wow... Thank you, both of you. It's good to remember what life was like before everything got... complicated." Kaven smiled at them warmly, and his words carried a weight of gratitude.
"So how have these past few years been? How is everyone else doing? It's been so long, I feel out of the loop with the goings-on of the clan."
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Meira
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Aug 4, 2010 8:02:09 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Aug 4, 2010 8:02:09 GMT -5
I will leave you both to talk then. Somi said quietly by the door. I need to prepare supper. She slipped away, trying to hold back the joyful tears until she was out of ear shot. She couldn't believe their good fortune.
Terum too still marveled at the sight of his son. Even Kaven's mention of life becoming complicated only caused a small pause in the man. But he dismissed it, sure that his son would speak on the matter in his own time. Until then, Terum was happy to hear Kaven inquire about the clan. He might make an Arik yet. Terum thought to himself proudly.
We have been mostly unchanged. Our commerce is still small but stable. We are content and the Sheifs of the larger clans leave us well enough alone.
But you know that little changes here, Kaven. What of you? I don't mean to pry, son, but you've been away for so long. Your mother and I have worried about you so.
Terum pulled the chair out from it's place at Kaven's old desk and lowered himself into it somewhat stiffly. His age might have been kind to his mind, but it was not so kind to his knees. Once settled, however, Terum turned his focus back on his son. Perhaps he could learn of what Kaven had been up to. Or at least learn if he was back to stay.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Oct 9, 2010 20:46:32 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Oct 9, 2010 20:46:32 GMT -5
"So not much has changed, eh?" Kaven sighed, looking back up at the chronometer. "I guess that's good at least. Stability is a harder thing to come by than most know, these days." He turned to glance back at his now-sitting father, wearing that same grin as always. "You should treasure it."
While it lasts, he almost added. Saying as much aloud just wouldn't do, though; it would arouse suspicion, and Kaven could hardly explain to his parents that he intended to kill his sister, that he intended to take some of the stability that held the Valli clan together and tear it apart. Right now he needed them to think he was still himself, the same warm boy that had left them. And as long as he could keep the facade up, he could play them both like drums to get the information he might need to go after his sister.
However, before he could get to any of that, he'd have to answer his father's question. Carefully. He would tell some truths, but that didn't mean that Terum would be getting the full truth.
"I've been travelling, mostly," Kaven answered, seating himself on his old bed. He leaned back a bit, making himself look comfortable. It was his old room, after all. "Mainly around the Outer Rim, though I've drifted closer to the core on occasion." The part about him joining the Sith military was conveniently left out.
"I know I left a bit... abruptly, but I just had to get out. I had to see the Galaxy beyond the clan holdings, see all the things that I'd only heard stories of up until that point." Kaven smiled a little bit. It was a knowing smile. "It was stupid to go off on my own like that when I was still just an adolescent, I know, but... I think I'm better off for it.
I've seen more places than I ever dreamt I might, and I've learned to take care of myself." As he spoke, he leaned forward a bit, settling an elbow comfortably on one of his thighs. "Besides, if what I've been told of the Jedi is true, Meira would have been off and traveling the Galaxy long before me." There was a bit of amusement to the chuckle that came at that. It wasn't at what Terum--or even Somi, were she in the room--might imagine it was, but it was genuine.
"But I like traveling, father. I like seeing the Galaxy. But I couldn't stay away from this old place. It's been a long time since I've come home."
Yes, he'd play the warm, happy son as long as they wished. One way or another, though, he'd find out what they knew of Meira's heading. And when he did, he'd find her.
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Nov 24, 2010 16:47:40 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Nov 24, 2010 16:47:40 GMT -5
Wanderlust. It was evident his son had the gene. Well, gene or not, he'd most definitely inherited it. Kaven didn't know this, he was only a toddler when the man died, but Terum's father had been the same way. That man couldn't be tied down to one planet, not even by his responsibilities. Terum spent much of his youth with his uncle, who took on the mantle of Arik when Terum's father stepped down. His uncle was a rooted man, and Terum was the same way. Be it from time spent under his uncle's tutelage, or an inate part of his personality, he couldn't say.
But Tarum's uncle had made it plain that he would not try to steal the Arikdom for his own children. As far as he'd seen, Terum was the heir and so he acted as regent until Terum came of age. Now the old man looked on his son and for the first time saw how much the young man resembled his grandfather. He kept his tongue as Kaven spoke, maybe he was just reading too much into it. But what was he to do if Kaven left again? He'd stubbornly held onto a hope that his son would return, even against the urgings of clan members to name a different heir. Now his son was home. Did Terum dare scare the boy away with talks of becoming Arik? Perhaps it was best, for now, to simply enjoy his son's presence. The rest would sort itself out.
You aren't the first Valli man to look up at the stars and wonder, my boy. He said, a smile on his face. And you're right. Your uncle Evos and Meira were quite busy after he took her as his student. I only wish you'd been here when he brought her home to receive her clan tattoos. She wouldn't have known you, of course... not as her brother anyway. He sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
But the past is gone. Meira has gone back to her temple with her own student now. Strange little boy, that one. Blue skin all over... red eyes. Achi... Archie... something like that. He shrugged again. He took such an interest in our clan though. They took some song recordings back to the Jedi for their archives. Terum waved a hand to dismiss the thought, then slowly stood, his joints aching a bit at the effort. C'mon son. Let's go see what you're mother is cooking up.
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