The transition from the buzzing, stubborn marshes of Toydaria to the high-walled, majestic spires of Iziz on Onderon was like moving from a cluttered workshop into a royal museum. As 99 BBY bled into the beginning of 98 BBY, the Black Pearl ghosted into the Onderonian atmosphere, its Automatic Stealth Generator tuned to mimic the localized magnetic interference of the planet's massive moon, Dxun.
Revan Shan sat in his Sovereign's Command Chair, which was currently angled at a forty-two-degree "Exploratory Repose." Calculus was sprawled across the dash, watching the winged Boma beasts circle the distant cliffs, while Theorem, the silver-and-black kitten, was busy "auditing" the fringe of Chewbacca's shaggy shoulder. The Wookiee Co-Captain let out a soft, patient rumble, his large hand gently steadying the kitten as he monitored the descent.
"You see, Theorem," Revan murmured, his voice carrying the dry, slightly manic rasp of the 12th Doctor as he sipped a latte infused with Toydarian blue-moss syrup. "According to my 3rd Doctorate in Sentient Sociology, Onderon is a localized masterpiece of 'Civilized Savagery.' They have the finest opera houses in the sector, but their primary hobby is riding giant, fire-breathing reptiles. It's statistically magnificent and deeply untidy."
"Landing sequence complete, Revan," Cortana reported through the gauntlet. "The Iziz Spaceport has flagged us as an 'Archaeological Survey Vessel.' I've already pre-paid the docking fees using the 'Kindness Fund'—which should keep the local customs officials from auditing our cargo hold too closely."
"Adventure is the journey, Cortana," Revan grinned, popping a lemon candy. "Let's go see what the Beast-Riders are hiding in the basement."
The Tomb of Freedon Nadd: A Shadow Audit
Onderon in 98 BBY was a world steeped in history, much of it dark. While the modern citizens of Iziz preferred to forget their Sith-tainted past, Revan knew that history was a ledger that never truly closed.
Leaving the Black Pearl under the watchful eyes of Eleven and D6, Revan, Chewie, and HK-47 trekked into the dense, untamed jungles surrounding the capital. They weren't looking for the public monuments. They were looking for the Tomb of Freedon Nadd—or rather, the sub-levels that the Jedi of old had missed when they "cleansed" the site.
"Right then," Revan muttered, pulling his Sonic Screwdriver from his belt as they stood before a collapsed stone archway deep in the forest. "According to my 8th Doctorate in Ancient Art & Archaeology, the Jedi didn't destroy this tomb; they just put a very heavy rug over it. But they forgot that the Sith loved their sub-basements."
Whirrr-vwoop-trill.
> The Obsidian Resonance Equation (\Theta_{obs}):
> By his internal audit, Revan utilized the Sonic Screwdriver to vibrate the ancient Sith-alchemy locks at their natural frequency. He wasn't breaking the door; he was convincing the molecules that it was time to let go. Through Mechu-deru, he whispered to the stone-hewn circuitry, bypassing the lethal traps that had stayed primed for three thousand years.
>
The stone wall groaned and slid aside, revealing a staircase of polished obsidian that descended into a cold, rhythmic darkness.
The Sarcophagus of Shadows
In the heart of the sub-vault, they found it: an ancient Sith sarcophagus, etched with the lineage of Freedon Nadd. It wasn't empty. Revan used the Sonic to bypass the final containment field, the cyan tip flickering against the oppressive dark.
*"Statement: Master, my sensors indicate a 94% increase in 'Creepy Atmosphere'," * HK-47 whirred, his electrostaff sparking. "Observation: I suggest we audit the contents of this box with a high-yield thermal detonator before the meatbag ghost inside decides to complain."
"Patience, HK. We're here for the loot, not the drama," Revan chirped.
Inside the sarcophagus, hidden beneath a layer of Force-preserved silks, was a localized jackpot of history:
* The Gauntlets of the Beast-Lord: Ancient Sith-era gloves that enhance a user's Force Grip and connection to wild fauna.
* 10x High-Grade Kyber-Focus Lenses: Designed for Sith-era starship weaponry (instantly earmarked for the Star-Sass).
* A Cache of 'Sith Gold' and Alloy Bars: 200KG of Phrik and Beskar-hybrid materials.
* Freedon Nadd's Personal Data-Crystal: Containing the "Unwritten Lore of the Beast-Riders"—techniques for Battle Meditation applied to non-sentient creatures.
"Brilliant," Revan whispered, the 12th Doctor's weary curiosity taking over. He placed a hand on the sarcophagus, utilizing Force Psychometry. He felt the echo of the King—the pride, the madness, and the strange, twisted love for the beasts of Onderon.
"Try to be nice, your Majesty," Revan said to the empty air. "You're a footnote now. But a very well-funded one."
The Year of the Beast: Camping and Cats
With the tomb audit complete, Revan declared the rest of 98 BBY to be a "Localized Ecological Sabbatical." They didn't return to Coruscant. They didn't report to the Council. They went camping.
The crew of the Black Pearl set up a high-tech basecamp in the High Plateaus, overlooking the vast migration routes of the Drexl flyers.
* The Wildlife Audit: Revan spent months observing the local fauna. Using his 11th Doctorate in Xenobiology, he cataloged three new subspecies of jungle-cats, which Calculus and Theorem treated with a mixture of royal disdain and feline curiosity.
* The Training Phase: Revan used the Gauntlets of the Beast-Lord to practice Force Meld with the local Bomas, not to control them, but to understand their rhythmic connection to the planet.
* The Family Routine: Chewie acted as the camp's head of logistics (and primary chef for Savrip-steaks), while HK-47 conducted "Kinetic Perimeter Audits"—which mostly involved him scaring away anything with more than four legs.
Revan spent his afternoons in his hammock, the Calculated Nap Angle synchronized to the distant roar of the waterfalls.
"You know, Chewie," Revan said one evening over a campfire. "According to my heart, this is the best part of the journey. No Senate, no Council, just the feeling of the wind and a cargo hold full of Sith metal. It's statistically perfect."
The Itinerary Check: Mid-98 BBY
Revan held up his datapad, the blue text shimmering in the firelight.
| Planet | Status | Key Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Naboo | 104 BBY Completed | Rakatan Stabilizer |
| Ord Mantell | 103 BBY Completed | HK-01 Chassis |
| Kashyyyk | 102 BBY Completed | Star-Silk |
| Corellia | 102 BBY Completed | Thruster Data |
| Chandrila | 101 BBY Completed | Secret Credits |
| Toydaria | 100 BBY Completed | Thought-Vault |
| Onderon | 98 BBY Completed | Beast-Gauntlets / Sith Metal |
"25% of the list is green, D6," Revan noted to the R2 unit. "Next stop for 97 BBY: Dxun. The moon of Mandalorian hauntings. According to my 10th Doctorate in Galactic History, that's where the real 'unkind' variables are buried."
The Sovereign's Nap: End of 98 BBY
As the year drew to a close, the Black Pearl sat on a jagged cliff-edge, the stars of the Onderon system reflecting off its polished hull. Revan was slumped in his chair, Calculus on his lap and Theorem tucked into the crook of his arm.
"Status, Cortana," Revan whispered.
"Onderon is audited. The Sith loot is secured. The 90-million credit liquidity is stable, and the Secret Credit total is now 4.1 Billion," Cortana reported. "The Star-Sass is being fitted with the new Sith lenses. On Coruscant, the Council has officially filed your mission as 'Indeterminate Absence.' They've stopped looking for you, Revan."
"Brilliant," Revan yawned, the chair reclining to its optimal angle. "Adventure is the journey, and the journey for 98 BBY was a masterpiece of camping and reptilian physics."
He closed his eyes. The Maverick was at rest. The "Golden Age" of the Republic continued its slow, oblivious decay, but in the heart of a black freighter, the books were balanced, the fire was warm, and the Auditor was dreaming of the moon.
"Try to be nice, 97 BBY," Revan murmured into the dark. "I'll see you at the Demon Moon."