Keldabe City // Mandalore // Mandalore Sector
The air was stale and heavy. There was a distinct aroma of death and rot in the air. Walking through what appeared to be some kind of reception area, a rusted and broken-down droid sat behind the desk. Its eyes attempted to flicker to life as Rorwoorr walked past, there was a faint clicking noise and a whirr as whatever power systems the droid had failed to restart the antique droid. The light was orange and dirty, coming in through stained and dirtied glass. There was an occasional patch of true sunlight where a window, or even a wall or roof had been broken down by the ravages of time or ill-tempered youth. Plant life started to creep in through the halls.
He crouched down and touched one of the roots. They all appeared to be part of the same network of life, however, something about it felt off. Tainted and sick at the source, which just happened to be in the direction he was currently headed.
Perhaps it is this life that has called to me. He gripped his staff as he felt a presence ahead. He could feel the plants sickly presence, but there was someone else as well. Someone who was using the plant to call to him, mask their own presence in the Force. Grasping his staff more firmly Rorwoor continued with more caution, using all his senses to attempt to figure out who the mysterious figure was.
Rorwoorrs mind outstretched, he pushed and pulled at the mysterious individual's mind. Though they had strong defenses. Walking into the central room of the building, he stopped and faltered for a moment.
Before him stood a Zabrak, dressed in dark robes with armoured vambraces. A silver and black lightsaber was clipped to his belt. Rorwoorr instantly recognized him even before he stepped into the light as his former apprentice. Ishtil.
The Wookiee loosened the grip he had on his lightsaber, though did not drop his guard entirely.
[Ishtil. It is good to see you.]"And you, Master." The Zabrak bowed his head slightly and used the
term master. While many of the subtleties of Galactic Basic were lost on him, Rorwoorr would place good credits on the fact that there was no actual respect used in the honorific.
[What has brought you to Mandalore?] Keeping his mind open, and his senses primed, Rorwoorr walked over and crouched next to the plant in the middle of the room. He placed his hand upon it and connected with it. He could feel its pain and suffering. He concentrated on the Force, on the individual cells within the planet. His mind reached out, acting akin to antibodies within the plant. Targeting the sickness, rooting it out.
"Oh, just taking in Founding day. Same as you and everyone else. I'm part of an official delegation." Pulling back on his focus the Wookiee nodded.
[You have done well for yourself.]As the plant thanked him, Rorwoorr stood and diverted all his attention to the Zabrak that stood before him. There had been a time, much like with Rorwoorr and Kaura now, where the two of them had been in perfect sync. There would have been no way possible for him to even appear in system without Rorwoorr being aware. For a time, after Knightfall, this connection had remained strong. He would get vague feelings and impressions of conflict and chaos through the Force as his former Padawan engaged with the CIS on behalf of what would become the Empire.
Then one day, with no pain. No sense of fear or doubt. That connection was gone.
[You are the reason I am here?]The Zabrak walked around the room, like a predator eyeing prey. "I felt that it would be good for us to have a catch-up. Since I missed you on Brath Qella."
Rorwoorr raised an eyebrow.
[There was a crisis that demanded aide, I felt that the Empire would not mind-]"No. You misunderstand, the Empire would
never turn down aid for our citizens, especially not from allies." Ishtil touched the plant that Rorwoorr had just healed, the Wookiee felt a jolt of familiarity before they both withdrew their hands. "I came to ask why you waste your time, and your talents."