Raid on Vuundalla

The Raid on Vuundalla was a raid which occurred during the High Republic Era. At the suggestion of the Comet Runners, the Ganguls raided the Vuundalla palace in order to steal the Vuundir family's jewels while the Yarrum Tower pirates attacked a nearby village. The pirates were opposed by Prince Cyrus Vuundir, his Jedi youngling friends Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, Nubs, the starship pilot Nash Durango and her droid RJ-83. Brightstar's discovery that Vuundir was the local pirate Taborr drove a wedge between the two friends, allowing the pirates to plunder the Vuundir family's jewels.^[4]

Prelude

After relocating to the planet Tenoo, the Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, Nubs had clashed with the local pirate Taborr Val Dorn and his gang on several occasions. On one occasion, Taborr stole Kai's first lightsaber during an attempt to steal seeds.^[5] Following a train heist, Brightstar and Taborr came to a better understanding after becoming stranded on a railway carriage.^[6] When a rival pirate gang called the Ganguls stole Taborr's starship Iron Talon and kidnapped him, Taborr's associates EB-3 and Pord convinced Brightstar and his friends to help rescue him.^[7]

Following a groundquake on the planet Vuundalla, the Jedi younglings came to support the disaster relief efforts. They befriended Prince Cyrus Vuundir, who convinced his indulgent parents King Pychor and Queen Dafne Vuundir to help the villagers. This led to a budding friendship between Cyrus and the Jedi younglings particularly, Brightstar.^[8] During the opening of the space station Starlight Beacon, Cyrus in his guise as Taborr attempted to steal the dedication plaque. To maintain his cover and elude his Jedi pursuers, Taborr misled the younglings into believing that he had kidnapped Prince Cyrus. Following the recovery of the dedication plaque, Cyrus joined his Jedi friends in attending the opening ceremony of the space station.^[9]

While Cyrus was hosting the Jedi younglings during a visit, a pirate gang known as the Comet Runners attacked a nearby village and stole several fathiers. Cyrus and his Jedi friends responded to the raid but the pirates captured his friends. Cyrus then donned his Taborr disguise and confronted the Comet Runners while EB-3 and Pord freed the Jedi younglings. Following the defeat of the Comet Runners, Taborr warned the gang not to return to Vuundalla, claiming that the planet was his "turf."^[10] Cyrus later maintained his cover during a visit to Ootoo Prime where he disturbed a swarm of armored amberflies by attempting to steal a gem.^[11]

When another pirate gang known as the Ganguls took over the pirate stronghold of Yarrum Tower, the Jedi younglings joined forces with Taborr's gang to escape the Ganguls, whom they regarded as a greater threat than Taborr's group.^[1] Seeking to curry favor with the Ganguls, the Comet Runners' leader Corr Taldaan convinced the Ganguls' leader Sellaccc Orryak that Vuundalla would be an easy target, dismissing Taborr as a minor inconvenience. Taldaan's second-in-command Gossi argued that raiding the royal palace and its treasury would prove that no planet in the Bri'ahl sector was safe from the Ganguls. Satisfied, Orryak ordered the raid.^[4]

The raid

Prior to the raid, the Jedi younglings, their pilot friend Nash Durango and her droid RJ-83 were visiting Cyrus Vuundir. Vuundir and Brightstar engaged in a combat training exercise with a Marksman-H training remote. This exercise ended with a "twisting strike." This combat move involved Brightstar using his Force powers to give Vuundir a jump so he could slice through the training droid. Following the exercise, Vuundir offered to show Durango and the others his speeder while sending Brightstar to search for a servodriver.^[4]

While searching a cupboard, Brightstar found his first training lightsaber and Taborr's helmet. He quickly realised that Vuundir was the pirate Taborr. Before he could confront Vuundir, the alarms began ringing and the protocol droid CK-38 brought news that castle was under attack from pirates. CK-38 informed the group that Vuundir's parents had fled and urged the prince to evacuate. After the younglings learnt that the pirates were the Ganguls, Vuundir resolved to stay and fight. Since one of the pirate shuttles was heading towards the nearby village, Durango offered to fly the Crimson Firehawk there with the other younglings while Vuundir and Brightstar defended the royal palace. Solay promised to return and help Vuundir. Brightstar hid his feelings and consented to the plan.^[4]

While the Ganguls' Yarrum Tower pirates attacked the village, the Ganguls entered the castle and promptly deactivated the palace security droids. The Ganguls brought two security droids and headed to the vault with the intention of stealing the royal family's jewels. Solay and Nubs fought with the pirate raiders while Durango gave Brightstar a battlefield update via comlink. Brightstar attempted to share his discover of Vuundir's true identity but changed his mind and instead told Durango to hurry up and return to the palace.^[4]

Shadowing the Ganguls, Brightstar distracted one of the battle droids by moving a pot and lured it into a corridor. Meanwhile, Vuundir disabled the security droid. Vuundir noticed that Brightstar was unusually tense and asked what was going on. Brightstar claimed things were alright and the two returned to their mission to stop the pirates from raiding the vault.^[4]

Toda-Joh used a datapad and cable to unlock the royal vault. Before the pirates could loot the treasure, they were confronted by Vuundir and Brightstar. Orryak summoned the droids only to realize they had been incapacitated. Vuundir demanded the pirates leave. The pirates drew their melee weapons and fought the two younglings. During the skirmish, Vuundir convinced a reluctant Brightstar to use a "twisting strike". Brightstar gave Vuundir a jump but panicked when he imagined him as Taborr. This indecision caused Vuundir to roll into Brightstar. The two boys fell inside the vault just as Joh finished loading the stolen jewels and treasure onto a hoversled. The pirates locked the boys inside the vault and departed.^[4]

Unable to contact the others due to the door blocking comlink signals, the two boys waited. Vuundir was angry with Brightstar for not trusting him. In response, Brightstar revealed that he knew that Vuundir was the pirate Taborr, presenting his first lightsaber as evidence. Brightstar said he respected Vuundir as a friend but could not be friends with Taborr as a pirate. Vuundir defended his pirate alter ego and argued he could be both a prince and pirate. This prompted Brightstar to force him to choose between being his friend or a pirate.^[4]

Aftermath

Shortly later, Durango, RJ-88 and the other Jedi younglings unlocked the vault and updated the two boys about the retreat of the other pirates from the village. Brightstar demanded that Vuundir tell the truth but he fled and vowed to retrieve the jewels himself. CK-38 begged the prince to stop but Vuundir ignored them. Later, Brightstar shared his revelation of Vuundir's alter ego with his friends. Despite Brightstar's anger at Vuundir, Solay convinced him and her friends that they needed to help Vuundir to recover the jewels from the other pirates.^[4]

Following the raid, the Ganguls and their crew returned to Yarrum Tower. Pleased with the information and their successful heist, Orryak offered the Comet Runners a place in her crew. Taborr entered the throne room to confront the Ganguls. When Orryak asked if he had come to pay her tribute, Taborr demanded the return of his family jewels and revealed his identity as Prince Cyrus Vuundir. The Ganguls fought with Taborr, who was armed with an electrostaff. The Comet Runners and Yarrum pirates watched the duel, which ended with the trio besting Taborr.^[4]

Brightstar, Solay and Nubs entered the throne room and confronted the Ganguls, revealing they had come for their friend Vuundir. To assist the raid, Durango and RJ-88 used the Firehawk to blast a hole in Yarrum Tower's throneroom. Orryak ordered the Comet Runners to attack the Jedi younglings, who fought back with their lightsabers and Force powers. Brightstar handed Vuundir his electrostaff and the two used a "twisting strike" to incapacitate the Ganguls.^[4]

Brightstar then helped Solay and Nubs used the Force to repel the Comet Runners. As they retreated to the Firehawk using the hole in the wall, Solay called to Vuundir to join them in escaping. The Jedi managed to jump onto the gangplank. Brightstar attempted to convince Vuundir to follow them, saying that he did not need to be Taborr. However, Vuundir decided to remain Taborr and used a grappling cable to escape down to his ship Iron Talon. Under fire from the Rathtar's Revenge, the younglings escaped on the Firehawk into hyperspace.^[4]

Returning to the Tenoo Jedi Temple, Solay and Durango broke the news of Vuundir's true identity as Taborr to Jedi Master Zia Zaldor Zanna and Padawan Wes Vinik. Sensing that Brightstar was upset, she hugged him and spoke to him. When Brightstar expressed frustration and despair that his friend Vuundir had chosen evil over good, Zanna explained that the Jedi could only guide people but that they would have to make their own choices. She expressed her belief there was still good in Vuundir. The group gave Brightstar a group hug.^[4]

Meanwhile, Vuundir sought out his companions EB-3 and Pord on Yarrum. After revealing his identity, he turned to leave but Pord convinced him to stay. She and EB-3 then indicated that they accepted Vuundir as their leader Taborr despite his true princely identity.^[4]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Unmasked"

Notes and references