Ask Mandalore A Pilgrimage for Answers

[Roland Rook]

Roland would have thought about the other Mandalorian's question a bit longer but he heard Thalia's question as well. The white armored warrior paced to the side, his helmet looking up at the architecture of the room. "Oh yeah, real fine....tradecraft you could say. But ah, not so much for the rest of us." Roland's visor turned to look at speaker and squint at the man in piecemeal armor from behind his helmet He stopped and used one of his boots to scuff at a spot on the ground, making a tsking noise as if discovering a stain on a carpet. Roland decided to finally answer the other mandalorian's other question neither Ranger had yet to answer. "I suppose..." His helmet turning back to look over at Thalia slightly. "If they're not here then there's no point in us staying here."

The scarred and dirty plates of the white armor turned to face Roland, giving him his attention again. "But you wanted to know where they went" The Ranger shrugged a little. "Just looking for a point in the right direction." A pregnant pause followed until the white armored warrior took in a deep breath and then let out an equally deep sigh. "Bandomeer or Taris." He started walking at the same pace as before but this time towards the door. "His ship's vector as he jumped suggested it unless you think he's the type of guy to risk hitting a misshap." Roland was surprised that they were able to calculate that and honestly wasn't sure if he believed him. But he knew that was the best they were probably going to get.

@GABA

 

[Thalia Windraider]

As the white-clad mandalorian spoke, explaining what he meant, Thalia glanced at Roland and then at his plates of armor. She found she wasn't necessarily satisfied with the answer and instead had more questions for her Ranger and the reasons for this search for his family. She reached up and gently ran her finger along a plate of his armor as Roland replied, reaffirming they would not need to stay if his clan was not present. Thalia felt some disappointment in the lack-luster mountain climb to the fortress, "Agreed." she sighed and glanced back at the young mando as their conversation continued.

Roland pressed for more direction and he finally was able to get some possible worlds they had gone to and Thalia frowned, not liking this chase could lead them to more dead ends. The two worlds were very different and she did not like the idea of going to either. Though of the lesser two evils, Bandomeer was more desirable after her encounter with the sewer beasts of Taris. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out this guy as much as Roland was. She wanted to reach into her senses, but there was caution, as she did not wish to expose herself in a den of lions...well, badgers and who else knows.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

Without anything else to say from either of them the halfplate Mandalorian headed past them and out the door leaving the two Rangers alone. Roland looked at Thalia but his mind was on trying to figure out which of the two systems his father would be more likely to go to. "What do you think, Windraider?"

The Mandalorian had not spoken to his family in years. Maybe he's not making the choices anymore. That would make more sense of why I haven't found them yet. That man was always one to leave a wake wherever he went, in more ways than one.

Whichever planet they chose, they could still do more asking around before heading towards either. There was still the hike down. Roland doubted any of the present Mandalorians who had ships tucked into secret hiding spaces were willing to share their vessels with the likes of either of them. Stepping out of the ceremonial chamber he looked up and down the halls. Most visors looked in his direction, likely due to his company but a few turned away. Roland didn't drop his head. If they disliked his choices they could challenge him. He would do the same if it came to it. "I think we've spent enough time here."

@GABA

 

[Thalia Windraider]

Thalia eyed the mismatched armored Mandalorian as he walked past them and out the door into the halls of the fortress. She glanced up at Roland, eyebrows raised and her lips pursed that communicated feelings of awkwardness and uncertainty as she tried to figure out for herself where to go next or even to suggest. He asked her own thoughts and Thalia sighed, trying to decide how to decipher the information she had. She was not certain of the individuals Roland was looking for regarding their habits as she thought about the two systems they had to chose from.

Her moment of silent contemplation was interrupted though with a soft whisper from Roland, unaware his thoughts were unspoken, Thalia glanced at him, "A wake? Well, maybe they're smarter than you're giving credit to, I wouldn't start trouble here, clearly out numbered." She followed along side him as they made their way out of the chamber also and soon out of the fortress. Though as they left, she still did not feel relieved of the eyes that kept on them. A stir in the Force kept her cautious as they made their way back down the mountain.

"We should go to Bandomeer." she suggested finally, "Once we get back to the ship, we can put out a BOLO for your clan on Taris, there are Rangers there, less luck with them on Bandomeer, so that is where we should go." Thalia explained.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

Roland didn't pick up on Thalia's response. His own thoughts and the alien idea of his inner monologue being heard delayed it a second. The Mandalorian's brow furrowed and a look of suspicion was unavoidable as his helmet turned to center on the woman. He blinked a few times.

Mandalorians watched them pass as they headed out. He wouldn't be surprised if there were some scouts that would follow them to the base of the mountain. The piecemeal warrior inferred they had that kind of tracking capability. Thalia gave some points but he doubted that they would pick up on any of the planetary law enforcement.

Maybe I did say something out loud. How would I test for telepathic capability?.... They continued to head down the mountain. The wind felt a bit harsher than when they had come up the mountain. Roland stopped after the fortress was out of sight. Thalia, I think a storm is coming in. He tried thinking about it on the surface of his mind and concentrate on it if that even matter. Roland watched the woman to see how she reacted.

@GABA

 

[Thalia Windraider]

Thalia let out a long sigh after pausing, realizing they were only half way down; she thought things were easier downhill. She watched as Roland continued without necessarily confirming if her idea was something that would work, she was not really up to the idea of chasing a clan to the ends of the galaxy. However, she knew it was important to him and wondered with curiosity what he would do once he did meet up with his clan. Following after Roland, she kept close, not wishing to get so far behind and then having to encounter the other clans as an unwelcomed guest. She could still feel something in the Force, sometimes a stir that is stronger that kept her alerted that they were still being followed most likely until they get on their ship and leave.

The wind started to pick up as she worked her way down behind Roland; she paused, feeling the cold nip at her nose and cheeks. She felt the Force flow through her limbs as she released her grasp on a small ledge, dropping down behind Roland. "Storms?" she sighed and glanced up at the sky; it had been clouded over since they arrived, "Could be, we're almost back to the ship. Hopefully we'll beat it." she explained, unaware of the source of the conversation as she continued ahead.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

When she answered he gave her a sideways glance from behind his helmet, wondering how to approach this discovery. But his mind was not private any longer. The only option was to be direct unless he wanted to take a gamble. But she was a fellow ranger.

"Stop." Roland's booted feet came to a crunching halt as the tred compacted the snow underfoot. He took a deep breath and sighed. "You have the Force." It was a statement though he wondered if she would take it as an accusation. Roland felt tense, waiting to see if she would deny it or try and explain herself in some way. <Just answer truthfully> It was a concious thought in Mando'a, just in case Thalia was continuing to read his thoughts. But Roland didn't want to think about anything else.

This was a first for the Mandalorian. He had only ever encountered Jedi and Sith but never someone who had belonged to neither. Even moreso the fact that he considered her a comrade made this uncomfortable.

@GABA