Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Two: Coruscant

Kaar had lived in the temple for almost two months now. He suspected that the Council was trying to validate his claims before really taking his words at face value. He knew he had some support, but he wasn't sure how much.

Today was one of the little missions he was always sent on. Small things, like observing Senate meetings or escorting recently threatened senators. He'd gotten to know a few members of the Coruscant Guard, but until right now, he had never seen their Marshall Commander, despite the high praises other guards gave him already.

"Permission to speak freely sir?" Fox said finally. Kaar's gaze flicked to him, nodding, "Go ahead."
"What's with the Jaig eyes sir?"

Kaar looked to Fox, who was a full seventeen centimeters shorter than him. He smiled a little, "My master embroidered them into my tabards. A reward of sorts after my first mission where I showed that her training had sunk in. It's white because in Kaleesh culture, white is a color meaning strength."

Fox turned his head to look at Kaar, "Your master was a mandalorian?"
"In a way." He wasn't about to tell the man that his master was Fox's niece. That would be highly suspicious and sound extremely crazy.

As Kaar reached his floor, he grinned, "It was nice to talk to you finally Commander. Try not to get outfoxed." He heard a strangled laugh behind him as the elevator doors shut on Fox. He turned to look at the guard with a grin, "Hello Stone."

Stone was visibly shaking trying to contain his laughter. Kaar easily joined the group as they headed to the office of the Senator they were to escort. Kaar continually cracked jokes of varying maturity, always getting at least one or two chuckles.

Even while escorting the senator, Stone and Kaar were exchanging banter. Though, the conversation eventually died down.

It took five minutes for Kaar to get bored, and start humming Vode An. Master Wrek had sung it to him multiple times when he was a youngling, and even during his padawanship.

Stone looked like he was about to promptly adopt Kaar into the vode.

Today would be a good day.

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Today was not okay.

Kaar was not okay.

Why was Kaar hyperventilating in a closet in the senate building you ask? Because the two guards he had been working with decided to prank him by locking him in a closet, without knowing that Kaar had claustrophobia.

Another choked sob escaped him, the two guards had promised they'd be back as soon as possible once they realized he was stuck.
That had been three hours ago.

He could almost feel the phantom weight of the explosive collar. The weight of the chains which had left permanent lines in his skin. It almost felt like the old scars on his back were burning. Kaar could almost hear his sister's voice, telling him not to be afraid as she was left with a glowing red slash in her torso. He curled up tighter, no longer feeling like the big and strong Jedi Paladin Kaar Sal, but instead, like the young slave with no hope, Kaar Sal.

A slave to the Empire with no hope of escape.
He wanted to scream. Scream for help, bang on the door, anything other than keep reliving his past in a dark, enclosed space.

Light suddenly streamed in as someone finally got the door open. Kaar jumped up and hugged this someone, hearing him mumble, "Wow you two seriously kriffed up this time."

He pulled away, trying to calm the shake in his hands. Jek guided him away from the closet, trying to calm him down. "I can't say I've seen a Jedi look so terrified. What happened?" Kaar took deep breaths, and for a moment he thought that Jek was Master Wrek, "C— Claustrophobia. Don't blame 'em... they didn't know."

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It had been three months, and several of Kaar's predictions went as he said.

He settled his mask onto his face as he stepped into the council room, holding his head high. Aayla had suggested he wear his thermal cloak, since the council room was supposedly cold. She had been right, and suddenly he was grateful that she said anything.

He bowed respectfully. "Masters."

"Paladin Sal, your predictions have proved correct. Consider the council's trust won."
"A victory I don't take lightly, Master Windu."

"Troubled me, something has."
"I'd be happy to answer your question, Master Yoda."
"Call yourself a Paladin, you do. A difference between Knight and Paladin, there is?"

Kaar nodded, stroking a tusk thoughtfully. "A Jedi Paladin is something my master and her cousins came up with. A Paladin is a Knight who has been given Advanced Recon Commando training. I'm one of the few who went through the training. My master was also a Jedi Paladin, though not in title, before she became a Jedi Master."

Plo Koon sat forward in his seat. "ARC Training? And who were the others?"
Kaar calmly started to rattle off the short list of his fellow Paladins.

"Paladin Kilvo Chessa, Paladin Asher Kaminoa, myself, Paladin Healer Nylyn Tiindura, Paladin Kylyk Tiindura, Paladin Ha Kes, and Paladin Gin Murraa. The rest are still in training."

Shaak Ti tilted her head at the second to last name. "A Kaminoan?"
"Yes, one of few survivors. Lovely girl, I can tell you. Surprising that she and Asher get along."
"There is a reason Paladin Kaminoa and Paladin Kes wouldn't get along?"
"Yes Master Ti. Paladin Kaminoa is a clone, though he doesn't remember much from his time on Kamino. Master Tarvil found him frozen in a glacier, it was quite the shock that he survived."

Shock rippled through the room at the mention of a force sensitive clone. Kaar seemed nonplussed, adding on, "They make quite a team, with Kaminoa's Jar-kai and Kes' lightstaff."

"More about the future, we can speak. At a later date, perhaps. On the present, we should focus."
"I agree."

Mace leveled his gaze at Kaar, sitting forward. "Paladin Sal, you will be going to Kamino, we are adding you and your new battalion to the Open Circle fleet."

Kaar thought for a moment on who was there, then hummed, "Fantastic, I'm sure working with, most notably, the 501st and 212th will be a joy. Now, have you changed anything?"
"Pardon?"

"The timeline, Master Windu. Have you changed anything from the list I gave you?"
"Not yet. We plan to change the outcome of the war, yes, but we haven't changed battles yet."

Kaar chuckles a little, reaching up and slowly slipping his mask off. "I plan to change things as well, Master Windu. Thank you for allowing me the ability to do so." He ran his thumb along the edge of his tusk. "Will that be all Masters? I believe I have some prep work ahead of me, if I am becoming a General."

When Kaar walked out of the council room, the Force whispered in his ears.

This is the beginning.

•—END OF CHAPTER—•