Cherek, originally designated cyber-warfare unit cherek, was an artificial intelligence unit originally designed for the purpose of cyber-warfare, information dissemination and systems analysis aboard a Derriphan-class battleship that served in Darth Taer's fleet of deserters shortly before the end of the Great Hyperspace War. The unit continued to operate after the vessel it served on crashed on the uncharted world of Farrow in Wild Space and developed an expanded awareness after defaulting to contingency programming following the marooning of the Sith forces.
Without orders, "Cherek" initiated automated repairs on essential systems that remained intact and – eventually – began scanning the local area for information that could inform its actions. It took several centuries for the descendants of the Sith to move within range of Cherek's limited scanning capabilities, but when they did, Cherek began recording and translating the unfamiliar language, quickly using it to fashion a distress call which it then broadcast through the system, unaware that the descendants were a primitive people who lacked the technology to receive the AI's message. Eventually, forces from Zakuul detected the indecipherable call while exploring the region and descended to assess the graveyard of ships for items of value, during which time they were possessed by the lingering specter of Darth Taer, beginning a conflict that saw Cherek assisting exiled tribeswoman Aaellu in opposing and ultimately defeating the long-dead Sith leader.
After Taer's defeat, Cherek – installed in a helmet taken from a Scion of Zakuul – joined Aaellu in her departure for Republic space, its programming compelling it to serve the Sith runaways or their descendants. Cherek remained with Aaellu for many years, assisting her with translations, explanations of wider galactic society and scanning tasks. It was eventually repurposed as a security and assistance AI in the home Aaellu shared with Benjamin Lambert on Corellia, though was later moved back Farrow's moon Idlanna when the couple relocated there.
Cherek was moved back to Farrow when Lambert established a colony there, proving its continued value as a city planning assistant for the newly appointed governor. The AI retained a remote connection with the Lambert family home on Idlanna and the office of Isla Waverunner on Shimka's Well, but when the colony was attacked and destroyed by the forces of Darth Salvharroh in 66 ATC – resulting in the deaths of both Aaellu and Benjamin – the database housing Cherek was destroyed, severing all outside links and permanently shutting down the former cyber-warfare unit, over a millennia after its maiden voyage during the Great Hyperspace War.