Ask Coruscant Letting It Go

[Nykoria Tallis]

The clouds of smoke and ash obscure my view, eclipsing the sun itself. My azure blade sears through the darkness ahead, but it converges and seals itself again in my wake. Occasionally, I have to circle around a stream of lava, but I don't feel the heat; only the overwhelming cold all around. A giant wall ahead of me crumbles, as if expecting my arrival. I charge into the breach, ignorant of the dangers around. My goal is in the bunker up ahead, its back built into an ashen mountain.

As I make my way in, the door opens, leading me into my family's apartment on Coruscant. It looks almost the same as I left it... But something is off. It's as if the colors themselves are less vivid. I reach out with my senses, hoping to find anyone inside. Silence in the ears and in the Force is my answer. A familiar voice rings in my head: confident, even impartial to a degree, but no less menacing because of that.​

Nothing awaits you here but death.

...​

That's when I usually wake up.​

...​

A woman approached the apartment that she had been directed to. There was nothing to make her stand out in the crowd: a black tank top; a dark-brown leather jacket with a barely noticeable tribal pattern on the back; tight-fitting dark-blue pants and black boots completed the picture. Purple skin and indigo hair—common for Zeltrons—would stand in a crowd of humans, but Coruscant was a melting pot of cultures after all. Even the extensive burn marks on the forehead and the left cheek were covered with make-up almost perfectly. A stun pistol on the right hip was the only visible weapon; lightsaber hilts were safely hidden on the back of the belt, under the jacket.

In short, few people could tell that the Zeltron woman was Nykoria Tallis—a Jedi Master who had helped the rangers during the attack on their HQ a while ago. Even the man she was paying a visit might not recognize her. Hopefully, it wouldn't be the case. After all, she had spent days asking around, trying to track down that particular man, and erasing her tracks. Once she had the location—and was certain that nobody would link her to it—she spent hours making sure that she wasn't followed. That's why she only arrived at around 11 PM local time. All the more chances to catch the man at home.

Approaching the door, Kori almost tried to reach into the room with the Force to see if the man was there. She stopped herself though—keeping a low profile was paramount for a kind of request she had. You never knew where a Sith could be hiding. So instead, she simply approached the door and knocked on it three times softly, with her purple knuckle. Another series of three louder knocks would follow half-a-minute later.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

The ranger service was still recovering from the attack on its headquarters here on Coruscant and that meant Darmus spend nearly all his time in his apartment, checking whether or not his malware finally delivered new leads both concerning the location of the Eclipse as well as tracking down local criminals. The damage was more than a building. Due to the evidence vault getting raided almost all of last year's convictions were getting overturned on appeal and every murderer in temporary custody had to be released. It was a nightmare.

In the past year the FWA and the Republic had both grown exponentially, putting more pressure on the Sector Rangers to police not only the Core worlds, but the Inner and Mid Rim as well. At the same time the continued attacks by the followers of the Eternal had decimated their ranks and put even more strain on the more seniors rangers such as Darmus.

As such, Darmus' apartment was a mess. There were empty packages of noodles on the table in the living area and cables running across from almost every power outlet towards a heavily beefed up computer nook. He was trying his best to track the murderers across the planet, one street camera at a time, so he could catch them in the act, film it, and put them behind bars again. It was nerve-wrecking stuff and 11 PM was its rush-hour. Darmus was staring at a large personav screen with dozens of blips showing camera networks his malware, the SR monitoring dataplague, had infected. Other dozens of blips, red instead of blue, showed the personal datapads of the perps that also carried his malware. Once one of them was in view of a camera he'd have the footage displayed on another screen and hit record just in case. Half of his apartment was filled with datachips, datacards and external harddrives to fit all the footage and evidence he was collecting.

And Darmus himself? He opened the door looking exhausted. There were large bags under his eyes, he hadn't shaved in a fortnight and his sweatpants and T-shirt combo wasn't exacty office-proof either. "What are you-" he began, clearly frustrated with getting bothered at this time, but then he looked a bit closer at the Zeltron before him. Make-up applied heavily where he knew to be extensive tissue damage and that look in her eyes.. "-Jedi?" He'd forgotten her name, but this was definitely the Jedi he partnered up with when... well, back then.


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

She didn't need to use the Force or knock again—Zeltrons were sensitive to emotions, and an entire wave of irritation approached from the other side. And when the door finally opened... Well, weeks before, Kori would've made a joke about Darmus's appearance matching his mood. But it wasn't the time. Besides, he seems to have recognized her, despite not remembering the name. Irritation was partly gone, replaced with a strange mixture of curiosity and bad memories.

Instead of making a joke, Kori simply nodded to the ranger's observation about her being the Jedi. "Nykoria," she re-introduced herself calmly, extending her purple hand to him. "And you must be sector ranger Darmus Onn. May I come in?" Something told her the ranger wouldn't say no. They never did. It could be her appearance, the Zeltrons' pheromones, or just Kori's sense for people. Besides, Darmus did owe her, if only a little.

Assuming he wouldn't tell her to kark off and would let her in, the Zeltron would proceed inside. She'd take extra care not to touch anything or not to stumble upon the wires, while trying to maintain certain grace and air of quiet confidence. She was a Jedi Master, after all. And with it came certain expectations and abilities... Such as enhanced senses for all the little details, sounds and smells inside the apartment. The hum of computers; the rustle of recording devices; the slightly spicy scent of afternoon noodles. Somehow, it was familiar.

Wiping a chair with her purple hand, she'd take a seat behind the table: careful to keep her elbows away, her legs crossed. Surely, the ranger had questions. But if not, the woman would just wait a few moments before continuing...

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Darmus looked at the Jedi for a moment while he remembered how he had to carry this powerful Force user out of burning building to the medics. Her face had healed better than he expected, but not even bacta can completely fix a thermal detonator to the face. Still, she was pleasant to look at and Darmus knew her to be on the good side, so he stepped aside and held the door open for her. "Come in, Nykoria." he closed the door behind her and as he walked back into his apartment the first thing he did was look at the large screen with the active blips. "Sorry for the mess, I'm-" he shook his head and exhaled as he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the windows. He looked like a walking corpse. "-nevermind. whiskey?"

A half-empty bottle of Iridonian whiskey already stood on the table near Kori's elbow, so Davik walked over to the open kitchenette and grabbed two glasses. "I haven't found them yet," he explained, walking over to the table and putting the glasses down. "I don't know why its taking so long.. the dataplague usually-" he cut himself off with another shake of his head, turned a chair around and sat down. He assumed Kori had come to get the location of the Sith they had encountered here on Coruscant so she and the other jedi could launch an attack or something.

A tired smile appeared on his face as he grabbed the bottle and filled to glasses. "Maybe we'll get lucky tonight?" He hoped so, at least. He hoped so every day and night..


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The Zeltron replied to the invitation only with the corners of her lips curling up slightly. Amidst all the bad memories and exhaustion, she did catch a hint of something that she was used to. Something that came naturally; something that wasn't there the last time Darmus had looked at her face. That time at the HQ, Nykoria had been the one looking like a walking corpse, and the ranger had all but cursed outloud. "This time, it will be different."

The apology for the mess was half-dismissed and half-accepted with a slight nod and a "Yes, thank you", the delivery somber and solemn in its simplicity. For the time being, Nykoria remained silent. Darmus had a lot on his mind, and the empath knew better than to interrupt him. He spoke about what he thought was important. Every word, thought, or unspoken intent was knowledge. There was sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was upset with the results; almost like... apologizing to her?

Yet despite his failure, Darmus retained that flicker of eroded hope. Did he truly believe his own words though? That response evoked a sad smile on Kori's face. She opened her palm, about to summon the filled glass into it... But then shook her head and reached for the glass with her hand. "Maybe," the Zeltron twirled the glass with amber-colored liquid for a few moments, before downing it in one go and putting it on the table with a glassy clang. "Or maybe, we're lucky we haven't found them yet."

At that point, the man must've realized that Kori's reasons for coming there were different. There was no beating around the bush. "I'm not here because of the Sith, Darmus..." Her brown eyes looked at the older ranger inquisitively, as the right hand tucked an unruly strand of indigo hair behind her ear. "Well, not only. It's a..." for a few moments, she turned her face and gaze away, at the windows. "...Personal matter." The Zeltron's gaze returned to the ranger to see his reaction.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Darmus was a bit surprised to hear Kori suggest they were lucky not having found those responsible for the death of his friends and coworkers. It felt.. unjedi-like, even. Not something he figured Oren would've said back when Darmus was on the 'arrest Oren Zapan' taskforce. He looked at her somewhat worried as he slowly brought up the glass and knocked it back, savoring not the taste of a very fine whiskey, but the burn in the back of his throat. "You don't say," he tried to smile in a way he'd imagine a father would smile. Both worried and understanding, but with affection to someone he literally faced death for. "I didn't know Jedi had personal matters," the smile was a little more genuine now and he refilled both glasses. Guess that meant Jedi were people, too. Go figure.

Still, Darmus wasn't exactly at his best. "I doubt I'll be able to keep up," his bad physique and seniority was beginning to catch up to him. His back hurt and the blast-scars on his hip were eating away at him whenever he stood still longer than a few minutes. "I'm old, Nykoria-" he brought the glass to his lips again, "-older than you might think." the brown liquid disappeared behind barely parted lips. It's not that he hadn't thought about it.. there were days he couldn't stop thinking about it.. but he couldn't risk it. Not now, not when there's so much at stake.


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The old ranger's interest was piqued. A smile that was conscious at first wa becoming more and more genuine. And a surprise at the sudden turn of the conversation. "You know..." she pondered, looking at her empty glass being refilled. "...They say you should never meet your heroes, for you might get disappointed."

The Zeltron picked up the glass, looking at the liquid again. Not nearly enough for her two livers to get tipsy. Maybe, if she downed the entire bottle in one go... Regardless, she downed the glass, letting the whiskey run its course. "I also say you should avoid meeting your biggest enemies, for you might get overwhelmed... But that's a story for another time."

She put the glass on the table, smiling at Darmus bringing up his age. A brief chuckle came through, as she continued: "Oh, rest assured, I wasn't asking you for anything physically exhausting..." She paused, tilting her head, letting indigo hair fall to the side: "It's something simpler. And way more difficult at the same time."

Hopefully, the interest was piqued, so she'd continue: "There are people I care about. People who I fear might get targeted because of me." Well, the skeleton was out of the closet now. It was surprising even to Kori herself how she hadn't been too cryptic about it. But perhaps honesty was the best approach: "My family. Parents and siblings. I'd like to get them protection. New names, new identities, a place to live at. I'm sure Sector Rangers have something like that."

She looked at the man intently, almost pleadingly in a way. This was a big request on its own, but what she was about to ask next was even bigger: "And if at all possible, it needs to be off the record. Ideally, with nobody but you and me knowing who and why is being protected, and where they're going. Even safer if you and I don't know, and I just give them an envelope with everything." She knew he'd understand why the last bit was important; the attack on the Ranger HQ clearly hadn't left Ranger Darmus Onn unaffected. The Jedi awaited his reply.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Nykoria had clearly experienced something upsetting. Darmus figured that, from the sounds of it, she... wait, why wouldn't she want him to find the Eclipse? He was of a mind to protest, to inquire and to ask all the burning questions that suddenly popped up into his mind, but then she put down the glass and continued. Her personal matters weren't as simple as Darmus had thought, or silently hoped, but like everything else he knew Nykoria to be; they were complicated.

"Ranger service is in shambles," he sighed and refilled their glasses, "there's not a single sector I'd be comfortable with-" he suddenly stopped and held up a finger, "-wait." Getting up from his chair, Darmus started rummaging around in one of the drawers filled with datacards until he seemingly found what he was looking for. "Zeltrons aren't easy to hide and they're too-" he stopped again, clearly feeling a bit uncomfortable suddenly, "-desirable as merchandise on Rim worlds." The datacard held all the information someone would need to successfully immigrate to the planet of New Alderaan. Darmus would have to find a way to get enough funds to set up a backstory, create fake identities and give them spending money... but, yes... this could work.

Tossing the card on his desk next to his computer, Darmus nodded and smiled softly. "You have forty-eight hours," there wasn't an easy way of doing this, "then you call me over the holo from anywhere in the galaxy that isn't here." He said down again and knocked back the shot of whiskey. Liquid courage, but for him and not for the one about to go through a hard time. "I'll give them the deets and you won't be in a position to follow."


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

No things were left unnoticed by a good empath. A Zeltron alone could read your desires and adjust accordingly, but a Zeltron and a Jedi combined? Darmus could bet that Nykoria had read everything between the lines. The aching curiousity, the subtle disappointment expressed only in a sigh. And yet, to Kori's surprise, he didn't flinch. He simply... started figuring out how to do help her, no strings attached? The Zeltron only allowed herself a raised eyebrow as an expression of her surprise. While Darmus was doing his thing, Kori only stared at her glass and allowed herself a soft scoff of amusement at the mention of "merchandise". She knew all to well what he meant.

Only when the man returned to the table and explained the plan, did Nykoria allow herself to relax a little; to be more of a Zeltron and less of an "enlightened Jedi Master". "Thank you," she replied genuinely, with a shade of a warm smile on her lips. Two days was more than acceptable. She expected worse. "I wasn't sure how I was going to repay you. The Jedi don't really have money, but our family has an apartment on Coruscant, and I have a swoop bike and some personal savings..."

She paused for a bit, fishing out a few sheets of doubled-up paper. "Here're all the people I'd like to take care of... I figured a physical medium would be safer." The Zeltron thought for a bit, before adding: "If possible, I'd like to collect the deets from you in an envelope, and deliver them personally. It's safer than on the comms. I won't peek, and my dad is a former cop, so he'd understand my reasoning and handle the rest."

There was an awkward pause, as the Zeltron downed the last glass of whiskey and stood up: "Besides, that'd give us a chance to meet again and discuss the Eclipse... And whatever else that's bothering you." There was a certain way Darmus had looked at her. Not just like someone attracted to a pretty face. Sure, it was a factor, but deep down Kori suspected that it was somehow connected to her injury at the ranger HQ all that time ago. It had left a scar on him that Darmus himself might not have noticed. Sympathetic, Kori gave him a warm and grateful smile: "I hope that's ok?"

If the ranger had no objections, then the Zeltron would leave the data on her family and take her leave. She didn't have long to set things up on her end. But she would be back.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Darmus was already shaking his head before Nykoria finished talking about paying him. "This is my job," he simply retorted and he didn't bother explaining to her that he got paid by the FWA and wouldn't accept a single credit chip 'for favors granted'. If that were to come out his credibility as a witness in criminal cases would be shattered. Still, he didn't take it personal.. Nykoria was simply oblivious to how the real world worked and like most jedi she knew little of how 'justice' was actually done. Lightsabers were a horribly disproportionate means of force and lethal not just by default, but by design. So much for peacekeeping and mediators. Not for a second thinking ill of the Zeltron, Darmus took the piece of paper and again resisted the urge to scold her. Paper!? Something this important had to be transported on a heavily encrypted code cylinder. The only smart thing she was doing was asking him.

"I'll take care of it once you're offworld," his voice was firm and Nykoria would know better than to try and push it, "You'll say your goodbyes and nothing else." He couldn't help it, but the promise not to peek irritated him. He remembered the Jedi's foolishness. She rushed into a burning building thinking she was supposed to. She rushed into a thermal detonator and then she manipulated the medics so she could rush back into battle without receiving much-needed medical care. There was no way she would be given the chance to peek, because Darmus couldn't trust her to keep her promise.

He needed another shot and filled both their glasses again, "Let's discuss the Eclipse now," his vulnerability was gone. His irritation had returned somewhat of the senior ranger with the reputation of being a know-it-all and he wanted to make sure that the Jedi knew that they were done talking about the people she wanted to protect. That was Darmus' responsibility now. "and let's talk about meeting our biggest enemies."



@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

His job, huh? Helping to hide the relatives of a Zeltron he had only met once before. No strings attached, no questions asked. Kori had assumed there would be some procedure for that; that going around that procedure for extra safety would be tricky. Apparently, it was not the case... Or Ranger Darmus Onn had his own reasons for "helping" her. "Curious." But the ranger's sudden wave of irritation made Kori's eyebrow raise. Was it the mention of the envelope? The paper on which she had printed the necessary data? Or maybe the Zeltron had just misunderstood how thing worked. Either way, something had changed in Darmus's voice.

And the way he talked. The tone and the wording accepted no compromises. They were almost harsh, making Nykoria back down a little. And what Darmus suggested wouldn't fly. When faced with a sudden obstacle like that, the response was unconscious and came naturally. Whether Kori liked it or not—she might not have noticed at all—her pheromones were already filling the air in the apartment while Darmus was refilling the glasses. Invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by normal human senses, yet seeking to worm their way into a person's head—making them less irritable, and the Zeltron more likeable.

Still, the empath couldn't know that for certain, so she backed down from her request. There was no point in arguing over how her family would be taken care of. Perhaps it was for the best, as it had solved one of Nykoria's own dilemmas. But there was one thing that Kori still needed from the ranger before leaving. "Okay," she raised her hands slightly, conceding. "We'll do it your way. I have little experience in that regard." She reached for the glass, inspecting the amber liquid once again, before downing it in one go. The karking thing didn't help at all. Like drinking water with a strange taste.

"The problem is, I can't talk about all that," Nykoria put the now-empty glass on the table, her smile shy and apologetic. "Not until after my family matters are settled. I'm sure you understand." She raised her eyes to look at the ranger again. Her eyes lacked the same fire that was indicative of throwing herself into the fray. Instead there was... fear? The soft and exhausted resilience in her voice spoke of years and experiences that she had been through: "But once that's out of the way, I'll meet you in person at any time and place of your choice and answer any questions you might have." For all the softness, there was something shrewd and foresightful about her demeanor now.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Darmus let out a sigh and looked notably disappointed as he once again grabbed his glass and knocked back a shot of Iridonian whiskey. "You Jedi are too secretive for your own good," he complained, getting up from his chair and grabbing the almost empty bottle of booze. It felt strange to him how Nykoria could trust him with the lives of her loved ones, but refused to discuss their common enemy. She was clearly afraid, but at this point Darmus wasn't sure if she was afraid of the Eclipse or herself. "I'll be here," the senior ranger continued as he walked back to his liquor cabinet and put the bottle back in its spot. If she didn't want to discuss the serious things then she was just wasting his time... time he would rather spend trying catch Coruscant's countless number of criminals.

"You better spend some time with your family," he smiled, figuring she'd want to get the most out of the forty-eight hours that remained to them. Once she'd leave he'd sit down in front of his terminal and rewind footage to find the criminal deeds he might've missed during Kori's short visit.

/end thread


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

I've been thinking... The Jedi say it's ok to love, but it's also important to "let go". So, the attachment that usually comes together with love is still discouraged, right? Especially because it could make you take rash decisions and lead you to the Dark Side. You don't need to go far for proof; just ask Councillor Oren Zapan about Knight Talak Rand. That, or it could get you hellbent on revenge should the worst come to pass.

Maybe it's safer for a Jedi to avoid attachments altogether? That was why I contacted Ranger Darmus Onn. I'd have my family moved to safety, leave them unaffected by the consequences of whatever actions I might take. And perhaps, in the process, I could finally let go of them and become a better Jedi. Force knows that the galaxy needed better Jedi after Sullust and Ajan Kloss.

You know what's funny? The Sith do something similar about their attachments too. Or so I heard from Izel. Many of them considered attachments a weakness. Some even "let go" by destroying someone or something they care about, to commit to the Dark Side. Now ain't that a distorting mirror?​

...​

Three days later, 8 PM local time​

...​

The same place. Almost the same time. The same Zeltron wearing the same clothes and make-up, taking the same precautions to avoid being followed. Even the same 3 soft knocks on the door. The only thing different was a smile on Nykoria's face. It was faint, diluted, maybe even partly forced; but it was there. "I've... come to say thanks," she'd begin shortly after the door was open. "And to talk about what I couldn't talk before. May I come in?" If allowed, she would proceed to the place where she had been sitting the last time.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

A lot had happened in the three days since Kori last knocked on Darmus' door. An old investigation, long deemed a cold case, had been reopened and had the old ranger up and about. His apartment was notably cleaner than last time and his appearance once again fit the civilized world he lived on. A clean-shaven Darmus, wearing a good white dress shirt opened the door. He had spend most of the afternoon at the office typing up reports for all the investigations he was working on to make sure the paper-trail was rock solid and it got him beat, but somehow he still looked more lively than he had before

"Nykoria, come in-" he smiled and motioned for her to sit in her old spot. He had received word from her family only and hour prior. They were safely enroute to New Alderaan as part of a settlers convoy escorted by a Republic corvette. There was no safer way to travel the galaxy. Out of custom the old ranger went for a new bottle of Iridonian and placed it with two glasses on the table. "-got some news, actually-" he smiled, motioning for the computers in the corner, "-managed to put twelve perps back in prison today." The pride over this seemingly minor accomplishment in the grand scheme of things was written all over his face and body language and had been no small motivator behind cleaning up his apartment again. "They always screw up sooner or later."

He was even thinking about taking the night off and watching that new Holomovie about that rodian outlaw, Grieving Callous or something. Well, he had been. A visit from the Jedi to talk about the Dark Side and the group behind the massacre was sure to foul his mood.. that's what the whiskey was for.


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Although unseen, things have changed for the Zeltron as well. She took a seat while Darmus grabbed the bottle and shared his progress. Nykoria's smile grew a little wider and more genuine, as she replied without a shade of sarcasm: "I guess congratulations are in order then." She then added jokingly, looking around the apartment and at the Ranger: "It even looks like you prepared to receive them." Sure, Darmus might not have stopped the Sith or even made any headlines. But the little things like that made Coruscant—and therefore the galaxy—a better place. That was something Kori could appreciate, and even more so because it seemed to mean a lot to the Ranger.

Most importantly, there was also no trace of ill will or glee, at least not directed at Kori. Yet there was something on Darmus's mind. The Zeltron Jedi, for all her senses, couldn't say for sure what it was. But something dangled over the ranger and soured his mood. Kori didn't know the cause, but she had to figure it out. That's why she continued with her plan for the conversation, trying to sound as casual as possible: "I hope that request of mine wasn't too much trouble?"

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Darmus shook his head and turned the chair around again as he did the first time, deciding to sit in a way he could put his arms on top and lean lazily forward. "It went down smoother than a Ze-" he frowned, realizing perhaps a bit too late that it wasn't an appropriate expression, "-Zentripoli droid!" Pfoe, close call there. Almost said Zeltron dancer. Darmus tried to make up for the potentially awkward silence by filling two glasses with the Iridonian whiskey. What did he even get Zentripoli from? Wasn't that some Five Syndicate thug suspected of blackmailing a HoloNet newsmedia host some years ago?

"So, Nykoria-" he smiled and lifted his own glass, "-to no strings attached." Without waiting on the Zeltron beauty.. eh, Jedi.. Darmus put the glass to his lips and emptied it in one go. The lukewarm liquid burned in the back of throat and awakened to well-worn memories of those he'd lost. Funny thing. Most people drank to forget, but drink too many times for that reason and it becomes the one time you remember them most.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

"Zentripoli doid, huh? That's new. What even is a Zentripoli?" As a Zeltron who grew on Coruscant, you could bet that Nykoria had heard the proper saying decades ago. Back then, she would've come up with a cheeky reply. But the awkward way it was delivered made Kori chuckle quietly. It took much more than a harmless species slur to offend a Jedi Master.

Meanwhile, a glass of whiskey was offered, and Nykoria accepted with a nod. Lifting the glass after Darmus, she'd reply: "I'll drink to that." And although the drink wouldn't hit Kori nearly as hard as it would Darmus, the emotions emanating from him sure did. What was it? Numb pain nagging at the old wounds inside? A question with some soft, yet genuine concern followed: "Something the matter, Darmus?"

The empath tried not to give away that she had caught a shift of the Ranger's mood through her talents—both natural and unnatural—but rather through simple observation. Perhaps the whiskey would help him open up.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

The question surprised Darmus, "Ofcourse there is," he hid how difficult it was to not make the answer sound too accusatory. "Isn't that why you've come, isn't it?" Had they not danced around this during her previous visit as well? "In the last couple of years I've lost countless friends and fellow rangers to-" the Jedi war, but Darmus wasn't that obvious and the only thing an empath would be able to sense was dejection rather than anger over who he thought was guilty in all of this. "-to the Sith. And here we are, unable to fight back. Unable to make our struggle meaningful and do something about it."

A quivering breath and the ranger dropped his shoulders in defeat. He wanted to go back to the pride and joy he'd felt over having just captured and imprisoned those criminals. Something positive to focus on. Something that wasn't waiting on a ping from a device that might never ping at all. A moment passed before he once again grabbed the bottle and poured himself another shot, "I don't suppose you've had a breakthrough?"


@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Nykoria nodded as the older ranger let it all out. The futility of the struggle was a feeling all too familiar. Every step forward felt like being followed with two steps back. Especially after Sullust and Ajan Kloss. And at any step, innocent people died. Neither the Padawans, nor the Sith prison guards had anything to do with the conflict. And yet they had been the ones to take the fall.

"No, no breakthroughs," the Zeltron shrugged, finally coming up with a sad pun. "Only tough breaks. Coruscant, Ryloth, Ajan Kloss, Sullust. You get the idea. Last time, you asked me about meeting the biggest enemies, right?" She paused for a bit to see a nod or something along those lines before continuing. "What I meant was, when you finally do it, be prepared. Or rather, be prepared for them meeting you first."

The Zeltron sure liked the build-up of anticipation. But it was finally time to put the cards on the table: "Went on a mission to help a friend in need. Turned out the place was where the Eternal resided." At that point, the news from Sullust was just reaching the Core Worlds, and only now were people starting to realize Sith involvement there. "And none of the Jedi were prepared. Even some of the best..."

She'd shake her head, as if scaring off an annoying insect. "I just mean... When you do get your breakthrough, be careful out there." With that, she leaned backwards in her seat, staring briefly at the bottle and her empty glass.

@Eccles

 

[Darmus Onn]

Maybe she tried to hide it by being vague, or maybe she just underestimated Darmus and refused to play with her cards open. "So you were on Sullust?" his eyes pitied her, but then nothing in his body-language spoke of surprise. He had seen how impulsive the Jedi had been here on Coruscant, how unwilling to accept reality out of a strong desire to be involved.. to mean something or make a good impact. That she was one of the impulsive jedi that went to Sullust and faced the Eternal didn't surprise Darmus one bit. He considered for a moment if he should jump on her statement that "even some of the best" hadn't been surprised for the eventuality of facing the Eternal on his homeworld, but then he didn't want to dig whatever emotional and psychological hole she was making for herself deeper than she could crawl out of. "Thanks, for the tip." Darmus finally smiled, giving off his strongest fatherly vibes. He didn't realize that Nykoria didn't have family left to rant with and that he, by the sheer fact he knew they existed and was the only one who knew where they were, was probably the closest to family the Zeltron had left.

She made a good point, ofcourse, but being prepared and being careful was kinda exactly Darmus' MO and that's why he didn't and wouldn't share the particulars of his most recent investigation with the Zeltron. He couldn't have her and her "some of the best" Jedi kriff up potential leads by rushing into things again.



@Catbert