Kael Fayne/PartOne

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History

Before there was Kael (45 - 40 BBY)

The Dark Lady; The Man of Peace

"If you're the wine, I'll be the glass."

―Soren Fayne, to his would be bride

Kael's parents, Soren and Alena Fayne, shared a love whose level of passion was only overshadowed by its simple implausibility. Their story began well over 20 years before the fall of the Republic. Alena was a Prophetess of the Darkside who had infiltrated the Republic to serve as a political advisor to various Senators, rubbing elbows with many famous bureaucrats as she spied for her Order. However, while setting up a network of audio bugs in a highly trafficked Coruscant hotel, Alena was spotted by an unnamed Gran Jedi and his human apprentice. The Dark Lady was forced to kill the Gran in order to prevent him from revealing her secrets. Alena then fled Coruscant with local security hot on her trail, leaving the apprentice to mourn his Master.

The Surface of Arkania

Not wanting to lead the Jedi Council back to the Dark Prophets, Alena sought out a planet where she could hide out until the time came when her skills could be used to their fullest. Arkania, an icy planet located in former Sith Space and disoriented with local squabbles, was considered to be her best bet. There Alena took a job as a secretary for Fayne Diamonds, a reasonably successful diamond mining company that was family owned and run outside the confines of the various mining guilds. Her skills in management and diplomacy were soon discovered, leading to her eventual promotion to Production Manager.

At an annual company party, Alena was introduced to her future husband, who proved to be the lone Fayne who had chosen a life outside of the mining industry. Considered the outcast of the family, Soren spent many years in school, earning doctorates in the fields of philosophy, history, and political theory. After a few moments of small talk amongst other acquaintances, the conversation soon turned to the topic of intergalactic and regional politics due to a passing remark made about the recent Arkanian Revolution. Since the failed Revolution had only occurred a year prior, emotions still ran high on both sides, with passion ruling over reason and clarity of though. However, being a political skeptic and peaceful noninterventionist, Soren contended that neither side was worth fighting for, and that the ignorant Jedi had been used to prop up a disgraceful regime. Even though she held no love for the Jedi, Alena's more authoritarian nature led her to argue that Arkania was under Republic jurisdiction and thus the Jedi and Arkanian Dominion were right to enforce their will. Although the informal debate was ultimately inconsequential to the two parties, both Soren and Alena were forced by their intellectual egos and subconscious attraction to continue. Within a few minutes, the two had to be separated for the sake of the other guests.

Despite his initial distaste for Alena's beliefs and political philosophy, Soren found himself frequenting the main offices of Fayne Diamonds more often, vainly defending himself by saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. After several more stimulating conversations with the attractive Production Manager, Soren finally managed to convince Alena to accept an offer to dinner at a local restaurant, saying he would like to talk to her outside the office setting. Even though she did not believe as he did, Alena began to respect Soren's philosophy of peace the more she saw how it permeated even the smallest of details in his life. It was a peace that she had longed for subconsciously, and being with Soren satisfied that need. Two years of such dates passed by before Soren finally popped the question. Alena, a woman once devoted to the Dark Side above all else, was surprised herself as she accepted without a thought.

After several years of marriage, more than one of Alena's abiding contacts within the Prophets of the Dark side began to speak of the possibility of a coming Golden Age for the Sith. They told Alena that they had made contact with a Grand Sith who would avenge their kind of the Jedi once and for all. Accordingly, they offered the former Dark Lady a chance to return to her rightful place and be among the Grand Sith's new secret order at its very inception. Alena began to struggle to find a means of telling Soren, who she did indeed love, that she wasn't really who he thought she was. However, as fate would have it, a routine doctor's appointment revealed to her that she carrying a new life within her womb. After several days of soul searching, Alena embraced her new life on Arkania and shared the good news with her husband. The Prophets, as one might expect, were very displeased with the decision.

Childhood (40 - 27 BBY)

A Child is Born

"He has your eyes!"

―Alena Fayne, joking about Kael's Arkanian eyes

Kael was born in the harsh winter of 40 BBY. Soren and Alena instantly fell in love with the child and, as gushing new parents often do, swore to friends and family that he was the smartest and cutest baby they had ever seen. Each passing day of nurturing her newborn child confirmed Alena in her decision to stay. This experience along with the influence of her husband caused the former Dark Lady to drift more and more away from the beliefs of her past. Although she wanted to stay at home more, Alena was often required to work overtime at Fayne Diamonds due to the incompetency of her brother-in-laws while Soren continued to increase in fame and influence as a political activist and philosopher.

As hundreds of smaller conflicts began to weaken the once mighty Republic, a few highly motivated and crafty civic leaders began to champion the idea of Arkania leaving the Republic once and for all. Foremost amongst these leaders was Soren himself, who began to receive death threats and praises alike as he made the rounds on local holonews networks. Despite his soft voice and careful use of reason, Soren's arguments often led to outrage when they could not be challenged otherwise. Even though a couple attempts were made on his life, Soren only managed to grow in popularity after each incident.

A Mother is Taken

"Listen...Listen to your father...I'll miss you..."

―Alena Fayne to Kael upon her death

A month removed from Kael's third birthday, an envoy of diplomats, including two Jedi, were sent to Arkania in an attempt to sway Soren to change his mind on the issue of Arkanian independence. Unbeknownst to Soren, one of the Jedi was the Apprentice to the Master his wife had slain years before. As was often the case in such debates, Soren frustrated the envoys, Jedi included, to the point that they stormed out of one meeting without saying goodbye. During the negotiation’s brief hiatus, pro-Republic henchmen who were not confined by the Jedi's moral code began digging into Soren's past to see if they could find anything to use against him. The philosopher proved to be clean. His blood relatives, likewise, were only guilty of minor, negligible offenses. However, in comparing Alena's characteristics against those in the criminal database on Coruscant, the henchmen found their possible dirt.

Although they were not sure Alena was the murderer of the Gran Jedi Knight, the allegation alone would be enough to diminish Soren's influence. The henchmen brought the information before the Master's human apprentice, now a Knight himself, who told them he would "take it from here". Rather than use the information as blackmail, the Jedi Knight gave into a long harbored desire for revenge. The Jedi justified it to himself that allowing a Dark Jedi to live only invited trouble, and handing her the advantage of surprise would prove folly as well. This deduction convinced him to attack Alena when her guard would be at its most relaxed point. As she was walking Kael to preschool, the mother and her child were suddenly ambushed by two unmarked gunmen and the Jedi himself. Alena still kept her saber on her at all times, but nonetheless was caught off guard and received a blast to the shoulder and to the side before being able to defend herself. The former Dark Lady managed to deflect enough blasts back to kill the gunmen, but not before little Kael was hit himself in the side by a stray shot. A horrified and enraged Alena launched herself at the Jedi Knight, ignoring her wounds as she quickly overpowered her last attacker and killed him as well. Abandoning all thought of herself and her own injuries, Alena rushed over to Kael and began to use the Force to heal her fatally wounded child. The former Prophetess lived only long enough to see that she had been successful.

A Father is Made

"It's just you and me, kiddo. I apologize in advance."

― Soren Fayne

The impact of Alena's death shook Soren to his very core, causing him to spend many months blaming himself for the attack. The release of details about Alena's past only devastated him more. He cycled through a barrage of emotions: regret, betrayal, depression, and back again. Finally, it was after a conversation with his father, Kael's grandfather, that he began to realize that she wasn't a monster and this was due mostly to his influence. In her death, Alena had proven who she really was, and this gave Soren peace.

A few weeks after Alena's funeral, a separate envoy of Jedi visited with Soren and apologized for their Knight's vengeful ambush. After much soul searching, Soren was able to forgive the Jedi. However, when the envoy offered to take Kael in and train him in the Force, the widowed philosopher asked them to leave using vulgar words rarely found on his lips.

With his influence and voice somewhat diminished, Soren threw his all into fathering his now motherless child, who began to have nightmares about the event that continue to this day. The widower worried that his devotion to the field of philosophy would prevent him from really connecting to the child. He was trapped into thinking in syllogisms and abstract categories. As Kael began to talk, Soren found himself trying to break down deep philosophical and ethical concepts into simple ideas and parables that his son could understand. He was surprised at how easily Kael understood what he was saying, leading them to bond more as Kael also reminded his father what it was like to play.

As an aside, Soren also found another means of connecting with his son: candy. The new father would travel far and wide, going out of his way to find exotic candies to bring back home whether he was traveling on Arkania or across the galaxy. Kael harbors a particular fondness for candy to this day.

Adolescence (27 - 22 BBY)

Those Awkward, Formidable Years

"That wine glass line was so lame..."

―Sybella to Kael upon the latter's use of his father's pickup line

Alena's death continued to hang like a shadow over her otherwise happy son, causing Kael to develop a very shy, quiet personality as he became more self conscious in his teen years. Even though the boy was well known for his ability to make others laugh, he often found it hard to let others get too close. His mother's death implanted in his subconscious the idea that the universe was cold, arbitrary and chaotic. Thus, if there was to be order, it would have to be created or imposed from an outside force. Though operating on a subconscious level, this belief drove Kael in many areas of his life, even to the point of becoming obsessive-compulsive over things under his control. However, the more he succeeded, the more the belief proved a virtue rather than a vice.

Despite tendencies to be a closed off, Kael soon became attracted to his childhood friend, Sybella. A thin, hotheaded Zeltron, Sybella always had a soft spot for Kael because of the death of his mother and the obvious impact it had on him as he grew older. She was one of the few Kael confided in about his feelings concerning the universe and fate, always managing to say just the right thing to make him feel better about himself. In like respect, Kael always stood up for Sybella against the immature Zeltron-related taunts hurled at her by bullies, making her feel like she was more than what they thought her to be. The two dated from the age of 14 onward, making it a rare occurrence for either to be seen in public without the other.

It was during these very early teen years that Kael was first sent by his father to work in the family's diamond mines. Soren, although never wanting to inherit any stake in the family business, felt he himself had built much character doing similar manual labor when he was the boy's age. Today, Kael credits these many hours of excavation and sifting for his physical toughness and endurance.

Differences of Opinion

"Follow virtues, my son, not men."

―Soren Fayne, instructing his son

As a student and part-time employee at Fayne Diamonds, Kael quickly grew in wisdom and stature among his peers. Proving himself to be the son of his father, the young Arkanian developed his own personal love for studying history in particular, as well as political theory. Soren, while managing to write the majority of his beliefs onto Kael's heart, was impressed by his son's ability to hold his own in the debates in which the two differed. Most of these differences were focused not upon the goals of their worldviews, but the means to those goals. While both desired to live in a universe of peace and order, Kael felt his father was too passive and idealistic in his fight for independence from galactic governance, while Soren became concerned with Kael's more impatience, revolutionary approach. These debates became more heated as Kael grew older and started to see the Republic give way to more chaos with each passing year.

Even though his son often stepped over the line in his passionate discourse, Soren's patience often humbled Kael to see the character behind his father's viewpoint. For example, Kael often remarked that a "benevolent dictatorship" would be more desirable and workable than the corrupt Republic, to which Soren would respond by saying that if Kael was that dictator, maybe it would work.

A Pirate's Gambit

"I tried this mission ages ago...she...that witch. She always knew ahead of time. Damn her...and her magic. But...I heard she had...had been killed. Whoever...did it...did the universe a favor."

―Unnamed Pirate, taunting Kael

In order to "make the boy into a man", one of Kael's uncles offered to hire him as a cargo pilot for Fayne Diamonds, arguing that the boy had more sense than all the current transport jocks combined and seeing the galaxy would do Kael some good. Although he worried about the possible dangers that could arise, Soren saw the value in giving his son such responsibility. He did, however, make two caveats: Kael could never fly alone or be armed. As his family expected, Kael became one of the more efficient pilots of the fleet, causing many employees to remark that he was "definitely Alena's son as well." The young Arkanian relished the adventure of space flight, enjoying being away from the cold, frigid air on Arkania as he explored exotic planets across the galaxy.

However, in order to meet an important deadline, Kael was once required to fly alone. After a great deal of argumentation, Soren relented, even allowing Kael's uncle to give him a stun blaster. Upon leaving a refueling station halfway to his destination, Kael's transport was assailed by a group of pirates who managed to board the ship as the 16 year old hid in a cargo compartment. Instead of waiting to be found, Kael managed to sneak up on the three pirates and disable two of them with his stun blaster. The third attempted to shoot the boy in the back as he fled, but upon hearing the disembodied voice of his mother telling him to get down, Kael evaded the blast and stunned the third pirate as well. As this particular pirate twitched on the ground, he looked up at the boy and, because he had scouted out Fayne Diamonds years before, noticed that he was Alena's son. After the pirate made a snide remark about his mother, Kael withdrew the thief's blaster and killed him. Upon escaping via the pirate's transport with his cargo intact, Kael decided not to tell his father the complete truth of what happened.

The scuffle did, however, bolster Kael's belief that the universe was cold and chaotic, and one must be prepared to establish order himself rather than wait on it to happen naturally. Thus from the age of 16 onward, Kael took a particular interest in learning how to build, maintain, and shoot a variety of blasters. Likewise, he also began to ask his uncles how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. A few trips to the local cantina well past Kael's bedtime taught him perhaps more than he wanted to know.

Coming of Age (22 - 19 BBY)

The Dreams That Don't Come True

"I wish you would just say you hate me. That would make it so much easier."

―Kael

Desiring to take up a career that pertained to establishing peace and order, Kael enlisted at the local Civil Security Academy only a year prior to the Battle of Geonosis. Even though he wished for a career more safer and intellectually involved for his son, Soren believed Kael, unlike other power hungry cops, would be a sincere force for good for the citizens of Arkania. Kael's father did, however, worry that his son's choice in women might impede his progress at the Academy.

Sybella, giving into the taunts of her childhood bullies, had by this time become a stripper at the local ski resort, arguing that the money she earned was more than she'd make anywhere else. Kael continued to date her, despite his father's concerns, hoping he could one day convince her to give up such a life. Kael's choice to become a lawman, however, only divided the couple more as Sybella learned of the cop's meager compensation in the face of high risks.

Nevertheless, being comfortable with his choice, Kael finally asked Sybella to marry him during a trip into the mountains with the understanding that she'd have to give up her life in adult entertainment. The Zeltron contended that it was foolish to expect her to act against her nature while at the same time thanking Kael for helping her when they were younger. Kael refused to accept such an answer, becoming angry that she would choose to waste her life for money than spend it with him. In like respect, the hot headed lass rebuked Kael, arguing that he "had no future" and couldn't support a family monetarily or emotionally. On the other hand, she reminded him that Zeltrons were in high demand at any number of resorts across the planet in a variety of adult entertainment vocations. She could use her traits to provide for herself whereas his noble delusion could not. Kael vowed never to speak to Sybella again, dropping her ring in the snow before turning his back on her and leaving.

In the Presence of Greatness

"You cannot escape who you are, but do not forget who you were and who you can be again. Remember!"

―Arca Jeth

A mere week away from the Battle of Geonosis, Kael was proving to be one of the foremost cadets at the Academy, using his training as a distraction from the tattered remains of his personal life. Although closed to personal interaction, Kael had started attending the worst of local cantinas, sleeping with nameless prostitutes and taking various illicit drugs as a further means of escape. On one such night, Kael was awakened by the call of his comlink while lying intoxicated and without his wallet. His Commanding Officer told him there had been a report of a break-in at Arca Jeth's Jedi Praxeum Museum, which was close to Kael's apartment. Forced to investigate the break-in, Kael discovered a lone individual, standing with a red lightsaber withdrawn. Once the figure turned, Kael saw that it was his mother.

Alena then slashed through Kael, causing immense pain before Kael realized it was only a vision, and his mother transformed into someone else: a fiery redhead with a similar blade. The Redhead slashed forward as well, coming out on the other side as a seven foot tall giant of a man. The Giant followed suit after his attack, turning into an older soldier with blonde hair. The Soldier gave way to a Tree with inescapable branches before ending with a devilish man with green, reptilian eyes. Each of the six attackers spoke a single word before attacking, forming the taunt "You cannot escape who you are!". Kael vainly withdrew both of his blasters on the Last Attacker, who sliced through his wrists before the Arkanian could fire. However, instead of losing his hands, the vision changed and Kael was granted a saber of his own, which he used to strike down the last fiend.

As this foe faded away, a new presence emerged before Kael. The person, assuming the form of a [[starwars:Force Ghost|Force Ghost], was none other than [[starwars:Arca Jeth|Arca Jeth] himself, legendary Arkanian and Master to both [[starwars:Qel-Droma family|Qel-Droma] Brothers. Jeth sought to encourage the youth to forsake the path of self-destruction he had set himself on, lamenting that Kael had not been trained as a Jedi. As a student of history, Kael held a great respect for Jeth, listening to his every word. Arca's last statement, which stuck with Kael more than any other, was for him to be strong because "the universe needs good men now more than ever."

Joining a Galaxy at War

"A galaxy at war? Never let it be said that I was left out of it."

―Kael Fayne

Kael reflected on Arca Jeth's words, wondering what to make of the vision until the Battle of Geonosis finally plunged the galaxy into what became known as the Clone Wars. It was then that Kael knew what he had to do. When Kael told his father his plans, Soren tried to argue that neither side was really worth fighting for and that he should stay home. Kael agreed, but contended that the war would forever shape the victor and a new, better government may emerge on the other side. Thus, rather than swear allegiance the rather lawless Confederacy, the young Arkania left home to take part in the Republic's war effort.

Fearing he would be enlisted as a cook or something worse if he went to official Republic recruitment centers, Kael drifted from one militia group to the next for the first few months of the war. In that time, he learned a variety of skills, serving as a scout, engineer, and slicer among other roles. However, Kael felt he spent most of his time critiquing the militia leaders’ strategery, often raising his voice just enough to get kicked out but not enough to get himself shot. Tactics and discipline had always been a militia's downfall, and it angered Kael to watch his peers die for simple mistakes any student of history and war could avoid. As well, the young Arkanian was growing tired of watching battles from afar, feeling his foremost skill as a gunman was ultimately being wasted.

Off the Bench; Into the Game

"Hey! Those are our blasters!"

―Wounded Clone Trooper

Nevertheless, the more Fayne completed his objectives, the more important the objectives became. Militia leaders began to covet his skills for particular tasks, even passing his name on to their counterparts in the Grand Army. Ever searching for more exciting fields of battle, Kael was thrilled when chosen to take part in the Republic's planned liberation of BrentaalIV. Being an Arkanian, Kael didn't necessarily appear as distinct soldier for either side. This allowed him to be planted on Brentaal IV as an engineer inside the world's massive defense fortress, which housed both the planetary shield generators and ion cannons.

Fayne spent most of the battle watching over Clone Troopers as they assaulted the fortress, hacking security cameras to provide pertinent intel as the troops advanced further. In a few hours, the objectives were completed, and the fortress' planetary defenses were disabled. However, the victory did not come without large causalities. As Kael explored the facility to help the wounded and number the dead, he discovered a group of Super Battle Droids dragging a giant of a man away as they made their retreat. The Arkanian had caught a glimpse of the large man on the Acclamator Assault Ship they had arrived on, discussing details of the battle with a few distinct set of troopers and an attractive female with white hair. Borrowing two DC-15 Sidearms from a pair of wounded Clones, Kael raced to find one of the aforementioned squads and inform them of their friend's capture.

Examining the different insignias of the troops leaving the fortress, Kael finally discovered the blind Clone unit known as Zeta Squad. Before Fayne could finish telling his story to the troops, the white haired woman, calling herself Rayne, demanded detailed information on where to find the captured man. Kael refused, saying he wanted to do more than just give intel. Knowing the chances for a successful rescue quickly vanish with time, Rayne relented to let the Arkanian join her as she led the blind troopers on the rescue mission. After a few hours of retracing the captor's steps, Zeta Squadron managed to find and save their friend, who was in the midst of being tortured.

As the former prisoner recouped from his injuries days later, he made a request to see and thank "those who had rescued him." He was surprised to find a stranger in the midst of Zeta Squadron, one whom he himself could sense in the Force as having strong potential. Thus, Kael was introduced to Brent "Archangel" Ligur Victae, aka Brodo, for the first time. Brodo thanked Kael for his help by saying he owed him one, to which the Arkanian responded that he was "just glad he could help."

From Ship to Ship

Kael during the Clone Wars

"That one isn't going to last long."

―A Militia leader, watching Kael dodge blaster fire rather than seek cover

After a year of frustration, Kael finally found his place as the war took its toll on the Grand Army of the Republic. It was becoming obvious to all that too many of the well trained but expensive Clone Troopers were being lost to the cheap, numerous droid armies. Republic Generals across the galaxy began to covet and horde as many of the troops as they could manage. It was not long before the larger militia groups took their place on the front lines, being used as first-wave defenses sacrificed at the height of chaos in order to save the Clones in reserves. Kael's reputation as a calm minded gunslinger preceded him, earning him the rank of Sergeant in one of the militia's Marine Corps.

For the next two years, Kael and his fellow Marines assaulted and captured countless Confederate ships alongside their Clone counterparts, replacing the latter's initial hazing with well deserved respect. The foremost trick of their trade was to storm enemy ships, race to the various control rooms, deactivate self destruct mechanisms, and then slice the computers for vital intel. Such dangerous missions took a toll on one's nerves as many self-destructs were only turned off with seconds to spare. Kael saw more of the galaxy in this short period than most see in a lifetime, quickly attaining the rank of Lieutenant with a platoon of 36 Marines under his direct command. Oddly enough, this time proved to be one of happier periods of Kael's life, as he explains in his journal:

"My men and I were sown together with stitches and welded together with blaster fire. We stepped out into chaos and left order in our wake. We were Knights in every sense of the word. Even more so than the pompous Jedi that nevertheless always seemed to take center stage. Hell, I even started to like the Clones. They shared much of the same honor as we did, even if their virtues were installed rather than chosen. In this galaxy, that still made them better than most. I was proud to serve with the whole lot of them. 'Surely', I thought, 'if such men were the foundation of a new order, the galaxy will be a better place.'"