[color=00aeef][center][h2]Chapter 2[sub][color=0076a3][center]Searching -cont.[/center][/color][/sub][/h2][/center][/color]
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[color=00aeef][right][color=0076a3][h3]Ryloth, 6 ATC, 6[/h3][/color]Week 3, Day 3, Dusk[/right][/color]


The man’s name was Sar Tarkona, a thirty-two year old Twi’lek who had grown up in a time where his kind were often kidnapped for slavery and invaded by independents who wished to take the planet's resources for their own. It was a never ending battle for the Twi’lek people. As soon as one conflict was resolved, another would follow in its wake. There was never rest, never any true peace. The minds behind exploiting the Twi’lek people had been identified as the Hutts, a council who denied every involvement but refused to make any of their records public or to come before the Republic Senate to argue against the accusations thrown at them. 

This is where the Twi’leks had requested help from the Republic, the Jedi, anyone. But after the Sacking of Coruscant, many relief efforts and security projects were called off, and all eyes turned from Ryloth yet again. 

Sar led the Jedi through the canyon to a small underground cave system that remained close to the surface, but very hard to detect or notice.. Their speeders were brought along and stored near the entrance that was heavily guarded by very well hidden Twi’lek scouts. Inside the caves, natural light was brought in by grates that acted as windows to the surface, allowing in light when the sun was high. Torches and illuminating rocks were used to line the rest of the caves, and kept the area bright and welcoming despite the fact that it was a cave.

One Twi’lek helped Lo as the group followed Sar through the tunnels, ultimately coming into a large cavern that seemed to be the central space for all of the Twi’leks living in this clan. Tents provided sleeping areas for many while rooms carved into the side of the cavern supplies spaces for the rest. The middle of the cavern was wide open and flat, while further in the back was another, smaller cavern, seemingly used for gatherings and meetings. Rooms were also carved farther back into the smaller cavern, and it was into these rooms that Dominik and Lo were led. 

A Twi’lek female tended to Lo’s injured ankle as they all were seated, discussing the current situation and trying to make sense of both sides views.

Lo tried not to squirm as the wrap was applied. Her energy began to flood inside her causing her to become restless. She leaned forward into the stool as her fingers dug into and released from the seat’s edge. Her other leg bounced on the foot while she watched the process closely.  

“Our villages are being emptied because of slavers, our holds invaded by pirates and raiders. Yet no one has come to help us, Master Jedi.” Sar explained, a few other warriors sitting around him in the circle. 

“The information that the Jedi Council received did not explain your situation fully. We did not know entire villages were being emptied, and we have no evidence as to who’s behind it. Have you seen any of these raids? The slavers taking your people, do you know what they look like?”

“No,” Sar began, clearly frustrated at his lack of an answer. “Only one of us here has ever walked away from an attack,” he continued, gesturing to the blue-skinned male beside him. “Farsa.”

The man nodded to the Jedi as his name was spoken, his body language speaking a lot to the Master Jedi. 

“Farsa,” Dominik began, nodding in respect to the man, “Do you remember anything from the attack? What weapons they used, their armor? What language were they speaking? Anything.” 

“I remember their armor,” the Twi’lek began, his voice quiet and raspy, “It was brown… leather I think. With gold inlaid into it. Their helmets were oddly shaped too, but I never saw their faces. It was dark when they attacked.”

“These villages,” Dominik began, looking to Sar, “Can you take us to more of them?” 

The Twi’lek man nodded, his gaze then moving to the men besides him who stood and egan filing out of the carved room. “Tomorrow we’ll bring you.” He explained, standing from his perch upon the small rock ledge many of them had shared as a seat. “But for now you and your Padawan should rest. If you are hungry, we don’t have much to eat or drink, but it is our tradition to share what we do have with our guests.” 

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