JEDI HoloNet

Though born on Nar Shadaa, Atok Kainyn only ever knew the desolate mountains of Dathomir as home. His parents, Juul and Atokad Kainyn, were indentured advisors to the Hutt Cartel due to their innate perception of Miraluka, their ability to see through the Force an asset to criminal operations. Juul and Atokad’s servitude, for the most part, was a farce. A steady stream of income, food, and a roof over their heads in the refugee sector gave the pair everything they needed, and felt they had no need for a higher status of life.

That is, until the birth of their son, Atok Kainyn, whom they desired a life away from the Cartel. The Hutts were insatiable, and a new Miralukan child with a fresh mind to twist into a fully receptive weapon to their organization was a plan made upon learning Juul was with child. A plan Juul and Atokkad foresaw upon its conception. Cartel thugs arrived at their home to find an exhausted Juul who’d just given birth, while Atokkad took their son and escaped off world.

Atok, an infant, survived under questionable conditions with his father on their ship, The Duality, while searching for a place the Hutts would not venture… settling on the desolate and ruined planet of Dathomir. Settling in on a small cave overlooking a cliff, the pair began a minimalist nomad lifestyle.

Atok grew both well rounded by his fathers teachings, as well as a product of Dathomir’s merciless environment. By age 8, Atokkad fell ill, and Atok was their only hope for food and resources. To excel at this, he studied the land, using the Force Sight to watch the fauna of Dathomir, and let the land teach and guide him through hunts. This resulted in a more feral form of combat, and one that kept him astute and blended into the harsh environment of Dathomir. Around this time, he ventured further beyond the bounds his father set for their camp and stumbled upon some ruins. Inexplicably, he felt drawn to these ruins, and began to venture inside… until halted by a Zabrak named Mercer, and his troop of Nightbrother warriors. Initially hostile to the child, this did not prevent Atok from begging them to assist his ill father. A plea they rejected, and gave Atok once chance to leave their territory, sending the heartbroken child off into the wild alone.

Atokkad, though worsening in condition, implored Atok to stay far away from the Zabrak, astounded anyone lived on Dathomir at all. However, watching his father slowly wither made Atok resistant to this request, and he’d sneak back into Zabrak territory soon enough. Watching and stalking their hunting patterns, Atok rediscovered Mercer and his troop attempting to catch chirodactyl. A beast he’d only heard late at night, and one that pricked him and his father with fear. When the beast attacked, Atok assisted by rushing in to slash at the Dathomir Bat’s wings, ultimately subduing it enough for Mercer and his men to finish the job. Though initially angered that Atok disregarded their demand to stay away, the group would concede in repaying the child by looking into Atokkad. He’d be reprimanded for his disobedience, but ultimately, Mercer concluded Atokkad had a simple infection born from venturing in the swamps, and assured his people had the means to treat it. Atok and Atokkad steadily fostered an alliance, and soon, friendship with Mercer and his tribe, with Mercer joining Atokkad in governing Atok’s wellbeing.

Their life remained cozy for the following years. Atokkad, while dismissive of questions about Atok’s mother, their life on Nar Shadaa, and much of Miralukan history, continued to raise Atok with Miraluka customs and culture. The result birthed a 12 year old content with their hermit lifestyle, and one who respected the culture of their Zabrak friends. Mercer oversaw Atok’s development in the wild, often bringing him and Atokkad on hunts and establishing a fair distribution of resources. Sadly, this wouldn’t last, as two key events would happen in rapid succession.

Nightbrothers began making reports of a ship that docked near an old Citadel, not far from the Zabrak’s tribe and even closer to Atok and Atokkad’s newly built hut in the cliffs. While Atokkad feared the worst, thinking the Hutts may have found them after all this time, Mercer’s scouting reported something else… a member of the Jedi Order, by their robes and study of Dathomir ruins, effigies, and writings. This Jedi, a Twi’Lek named Ninara Cham’Bri, made contact with Atokkad eventually. A Miraluka father and his son living as hermits on Dathomir fascinated her, and she was quick to mention Atok’s force sensitivity to Atokkad. Atokkad adored the idea of Atok joining the order, but Atok, per his Miralukan teachings, desired no elevation to his life, and would politely decline each and every time the offer came up. Still, Ninara lingered.

On one fateful evening, Atok, Atokkad, and Mercer stumbled upon the nest of an Alpha Nydak, and the beast chased them back to the Nightbrother tribe and began causing mayhem for the unprepared residents, saved only by Ninara’s intervention, but at a cost: Atokkad did not survive the attack, leaving Atok fatherless and, effectively, alone. Mercer, who knew all Atokkad wanted was a better life for Atok, waited a couple of weeks before venturing to Atok’s hut… where he’d help the boy pack up a few belongings and walk him to the Jedi Knight’s ship.

Atok put up no fight when Mercer led him to Ninara, the Jedi Knight herself woeful about the circumstances. Mercer would tell Ninara to, “take great care of Nightbrother Atok,” a line that would serve as the only goodbye for the pair. Ninara put her arm around the young boy and led him onto the ship, and took off for his new life with the Jedi Order.