Valo Cath had been staring at the motivator he had removed from one of the many defunct astromech droids in Anchorhead’s droid shop. He turned it over, and then over again. He contemplated the electronic for just a moment, and tossed it into a bin of functional parts. He turned to Yuka Laka and said “You know, we have enough parts in this little shack to rebuild three or four of these droids.” The Ithorian responded quickly, “Nobody in this city can afford an entire droid. That protocol droid,” he pointed to HK-47, “is lucky to still be in one piece.” HK seemed to not notice. Something about that droid really irritated Valo, like he could feel its menacing mechanical thoughts buzzing around him.
Nothing put Valo at ease like working, which in Anchorhead was becoming more difficult to do. Nobody came to Tatooine in search of a skilled job. If anything those with skills of any kind fled towards the bright center of the universe, which happened to be anywhere but Tatooine. Yuka in his old age had needed a mechanically inclined mind to help keep the store stocked with repaired or even repairable parts, and Valo had been more than happy to oblige him. The pay was alright as long as the parts sold regularly which mainly depended on how deep the pockets of the locals were. The local droids were always in need of repair since they were subjected to such horrible weather conditions.
Valo’s day started like any other day for the past three months. He woke from his small bed in his poorly constructed apartment and opened his pathetic closet with a cracked wooden door. Hanging inside were his casual/work clothes, a pair of machine shop gloves on a hook to the side, and dark brown tunic. He had glanced at the tunic mournfully before heading off to the shower. Upon returning to the still open closet he again glanced at the tunic, but for just a bit longer this time. Something about that basic robe seemed off today. “I have a bad feeling about this.” Valo muttered under his breath. He had dressed himself in his work clothes, scarfed down a quick meal, and marched out the door to Yuka’s shop.
As the day pressed on, he could not shake the feeling that something was out of place. It wasn’t until the door to the shop slid open revealing the day’s first customer that the bad feelings turned into a bad reality. Standing in the doorway stood a man of average height with a muscular build. His dark hair shagged down on either side of his piercing blue eyes. The black robe he wore only slightly covered the hilt of a lightsaber. The man looked familiar, but his demeanor was unmistakable. Valo knew he was looking at the legendary Darth Revan, a man who had died a long time ago. To his side stood another well known face. Bastilla’s brown hair fell to her shoulders in a way that only accentuated her beauty. She looked in Valo’s direction and their eyes locked. Before he could move or respond in any way Bastilla exploded, “Valo Cath?! Is that you? My God it has been so long!” She turned to Revan and said, “You buy the droid and retrieve me from the cantina when you have finished. Valo and I have some catching up to do.”
As the door to the shop slid closed behind Valo and Bastilla he snapped around to face her, but again before he could say anything Bastilla cut him off, “Not a word until we reach the cantina. We are too exposed.” Moments later they were taking a seat in a dark corner of the Anchorhead cantina. Before Valo could be cut off this time he looked at Bastilla and said, “What in sithspawn are you doing with a deceased Sith Lord?!” Especially in my droid shop!” Bastilla looked around and replied, “Time is short. What you need to know is that Revan is alive and is still falling from the light. Take this.” she said handing him a datapad. “This contains the coordinates to something big, something fatal to The Republic. Revan is close to finding it and I believe he will use it against the Jedi Order and the Republic and usher in an era of Sith rule. You must take this to the Jedi Academy on Dantooine and give it to the masters there. They will know what to do. Tell the Ithorian you must leave, pack your things, and board a transport. Today. Hopefully we can catch up another time Valo. May the Force be with you.”
Valo had rushed back to the droid shop only to find HK-47 gone and Yuka’s body laying on the floor. His throat was crushed and his clothes and flesh had been thoroughly burned in many places. Only a truly dark and demented soul could have done such a thing to a kind, old Ithorian. Valo muttered a goodbye to his friend. He wished he had time to properly care for Yuka but his instructions had been quite clear. He blazed a trail through the sand to his apartment where he promptly undressed. Valo opened his closet one more time that day and stared at the dark brown tunic. He removed it from it’s hangar and slung it around his body. The robe fit like a glove and after all this time it was still soft. Valo turned to the end table by his small and unmade bed. Opening the one drawer it contained he reached in and drew out three objects: a sack full of credits, a belt, and the blue and silver hilt of his lightsaber.
Revan’s Return
