Ask Corellia Meetings on Corellia

[Pêro Erval]

Corellia was never a place that Pêro had much desire to visit. Even if it was famous for its history, the planet was still full of criminals and gangs. Coronet could pass off as a pristine and exemplary city of the Core. However if you search well, you can see the dirt that it was trying to hide.

While he walked through the streets of Coronet, Pêro could see exactly that. He was aware of the teenager and children lurking in shadows, prepared to pickpocket a distracted victim. If he was dressed as a Jedi, they would never be staring at him.

However, due to the recent events the Jedi presence wasn’t welcome, even less in one of the members of the ISC. Due to that, he was dressed as a civilian and his lightsaber was hidden on his backpack. Since he looked like any other person, the street urchins watched him as a possible target.

The Jedi Knight didn’t feel comfortable in being here and thought that he should have left someone to come in his place. There were rumors that someone was using the Force on the streets of Coronet city and the Council decided that someone should go there to investigate before it ended in the Holonet and the Jedi were blamed.

Now he was there, Pêro was starting to think that it was only a rumor and there was no Force sensitive. The G’weneen sighed, he wanted to solve this mission and return to Yavin IV as soon as possible.

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee was just done upgrading some technical equipment from a pilot flying trading ships, she left her little makeshift job and went for a little stroll through the district, just ensuring that everything was at order. While working all day, the young woman could easily earn some credits, but in the end she always had to leave the workshop to get some air, even though the Corellian air was clearly not the purest, but it helped her clear her thoghts.

The past weeks went pretty smooth and there were no further incidents. The boss left her alone and even if his spies sometimes tried to watch her, she always found a way to deter them quickly. She had no interest in being watched, which was why she used her yet unknown powers to persuade them to leave even faster than with a charming smile and some promises she never intend to keep. She hated being stuck on this planet more than anything else, but her work now gave her a chance to finally establish a life of her own. A chance, to start anew.

As she reached one of the cantinas, one tall man purposely bumped into her, just so that he could face her with a dirty smile, ruining his apologetic look. "Oh look who we have here. The little runaway. Fancy coming back home with me right now?", he asked provocatively, cooking his head to the side. "Oh get lost, Randyll", the blonde woman replied unimpressed, pushing past him, but the man grabbed her left wrist and pulled her back in an instance. "No sweetheart, you rather obey", he went on, but that was already enough for Hailee. "You leave this place know and you will never lie your filthy hands on me again", she said, her words hitting him like blades of ice and he suddenly just nodded. "I will leave this place and I will never lie my hands on you again", he repeated almost a bit robotically, then turning away to leave, leaving Hailee with a satisfied grip on her lips.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

While he walked through the streets of the city, Pêro wondered how he was going to locate the possible Force user. The rumors talked about someone using the Force at this part of Coronet city, but didn’t specify a gender of a species. If this person didn’t use his ability, it would be impossible for him to find them.

His thoughts about the mission were interrupted by the sound of voices. The Knight looked toward the direction from where the voices were coming and saw a man arguing with a woman. It was obvious that he was trying to do something that she didn’t want. Pêro frowned when he saw the guy pull her.

Then, he decided to intervene. The Knight walked toward the two, prepared to grab the man and send him away. While his face showed no expression, he was furious with what he was seeing. As a Jedi, he wasn’t going to watch someone that was in trouble without doing anything to help.

However, his interference wasn’t necessary. Pêro felt the woman use the Force and the man let her go. The G’weneen saw the walk away, in the typical way someone would do after a Jedi mind trick. When he was alone with the woman, the Knight turned to her. “You are Force sensitive. I need to talk with you.”

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee was just about to enter the cantina, but as soon as Randyll was dealt with, another man appeared and she mentally prepared for another conflict. She turned to face the man confidently, but her fierce glare slightly changed into an almost a little worried one, as her eyes fell on the Jedi. A Jedi? Here? That was not only unexpected but also a rare sight.

She cleared her throat, a little bit overwhelmed by his presence and the fact that he immediately confronted her after she had just used her unknown powers. Force sensitive. She had heard this description before but she never associated it with her doings. She knew that her...skills were not simply a matter of persuasion, but rather something more, but she was quite confused by the instance that a Jedi came at her like she was some criminal. She knew that it wouldn't make sense to deny his presumptions. "I...yeah. I guess we should go somewhere more private, i pressume", she replied as confidently as possible, trying to hide her confusion. She heard several stories of the Jedis and she knew that she had nothing to fear from him, so she nodded into the direction where her apartment could be found.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

The woman seemed surprised when he talked with her. Perhaps Pêro should have been less abrupt when he talked with her. However, he always was someone direct, never going in circles or trying to sugarcoat the truth. The more time the two Force-sensitive stayed here, the more dangerous it could be.

When she offered to go somewhere private, Pêro nodded in agreement. With how the Galaxy was feeling about the Order these days, his presence here wasn’t wanted. The Jedi were already officially banned from two planets, he didn’t to be the cause for the same happening in Corellia.

He would follow the woman through the streets of Coronet city until they reached her apartment. The G’weneen had remained in silence during all the time that they walked, not wanting to start to talk with her until they were alone in a safe place.

Once they arrived at her apartment, Pêro would start to talk. “You are probably thinking about how I knew that you are Force sensitive. Well, as a Jedi, I felt you using it.” the Padawan picked his lightsaber from his backpack and used his abilities to make it levitate. “You are probably feeling something when I do it, too. Even if it’s something weak.” he would stop, and the lightsaber would be on his palm. “Tell me, when you learned that you could do it?”

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

As the Jedi nodded in agreement, she spun on her heels and quickly lead him through the bustling. She surely realized the look some people were giving them but she just ignored them the best way she could. Would she get into trouble for leading a Jedi to her apartment? Tensions against them were rising in the society, even here in the scum-capital of Coronet City, but she actually couldn't care less.

They had soon reached her apartment, which was why the young woman quickly closed the door and the shutters, flipping the light switch on and facing the stranger confidently. She was not afraid of him, as she was quite able in defending herself, but knowing that he might possess certain powers, powers she couldn't yet grasp, made her feel a little uneasy.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the man spoke first and it rarely ever happened that someone was even more direct than her. She watched him attentively as he was showing her something that appeared to be a foal trick, but Hailee couldn't deny that it was also kind of impressive. She had seen the weapon before: A lightsaber, she recalled. But the few Jedi she had seen in her life were normally just passing through quickly. When he mentioned that she could probably feel something, she actually did quite a strong, strange sensation, but she was not sure about letting him know that yet. He was still a stranger.

She decided to only answer the question he had posed last, tilting her head to the side and critically eying the man. "I was quite young. Probably no older than seven when I first felt it. It took me some time to control it, though", she admitted truthfully, not knowing whether it was a smart move to be honest. But what could he possibly do with an information like that anyway? "Why is this important to you?", she asked him curiously and with a hint of mistrust in her voice.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

Pêro paid close attention to what the woman had said. The age that she had when she was Force sensitive was similar to his. However, different from her, he was lucky enough for a Jedi to find him. This allowed the G’weneen to learn how to properly control his abilities early. A Force user out of control was dangerous.

“Because, a Force user that doesn't have control over their abilities is a danger for themselves and others.” Pêro probably sounded rude, but it was the truth. She could have learned by herself something, but without proper training she could fall to the Darkness. “Someone like us, without proper training, can easily tap into the Dark side. Tell me, didn’t you ever feel that your rage could make you stronger? Give you more power? This is the Dark side.”

Then, the Knight remembered that he didn’t even say his name to her. “I’m Jedi Knight Pêro Erval and I’m here to offer you the opportunity to join the Jedi Order.” he said, looking directly into her eyes. “We can teach you how to better control your abilities and to avoid the corruption of the Dark side. You will also learn how to understand the Force and to use it to help those in need in the Galaxy.”

“I’m not going to force you to join us, but your abilities can help many other sentients.” the mission of the Jedi Order was noble, but the failure of some had tarnished it. “Before accepting, you need to know that our situation in front of the Galaxy isn’t good. We are at war with the Sith and there is a great number of people that despise us. However, we will continue helping and seeking to keep the peace. Would you want to join us?”

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee soon realized that this Jedi was not only direct, but he was coming so straight to the point that she needed some time to process everything he just said to her. The blonde woman took a step back, because he literally bombarded her with so much information that for a brief moment she thought she would would to feel a little dizzy.

She had heard several stories of the Jedi and one old man, a loyal costumer of her, once even told her a story about a fallen Jedi that fell for the dark side of the Force. All that he said made sense, yes definitely, and it did not seem as though anything he said was a lie, but over the years Hailee had built up certain walls and defensive mechanisms, which only aimed for protecting her against the wrong influences.

As he mentioned the issue with the rage, she could relate quite well. She always had the feeling that emotions, especially strong emotions like anger made her stronger. Whenever she was really pissed, she managed to do some amazing things, which she could never really grasp, but they definitely helped her in certain precarious situations. And yet she has always been a little anxious when something extreme happened, as though she was afraid to suddenly loose control.

As he finished his talk, a strange sensation wandered through her body. It felt like she could trust him and she couldn't quite understand why. She was never easy to trust and yet everything he said sounded legit and somehow promising. Her life was clearly not easy and she was always the one helping the weak. She had always hated injustice and she always tried to help wherever she could while she was barely surviving herself, so why would she not want to commit herself to a greater purpose?

The answer was actually obvious, and yet she eyed him suspiciously for a few more seconds, still a little speechless and overwhelmed, but she quickly regained her confidence after that. Yes, she had also heard some gossip about the Jedi's current reputation, but from what she noticed, she held it with those who wouldn't blame the whole order for the failure of a few individuals. She brought herself to quick nod, her eyes still locked with his. "I will accept your offer and accompany you", she then replied convinced, not only by his speech, but also by the fact that this stranger had just seemed to offer her a chance to start anew and that was something she had wanted for a long time. An escape from Corellia, a journey into the unknown. Nothing really kept her here, so she was basically ready to leave. She did not know what her consent would entail, because the way he just put it, training would mean following orders and this was not actually her strong suit, but she was ambitious and up for any challenge he could possibly pose.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

While he waited for her answer, Pêro analyzed the woman. From what he could see of her apartment, her life didn’t seem to be easy. She was also an adult. While age wasn’t a problem for someone to become a Jedi anymore, it would make the training a bit more difficult.

An adult with a difficult life could be more easily corrupted by the Dark side. At least the Order could offer the help that she would need to avoid that. Pêro didn’t feel anything evil coming from her. The emotions that flowed through the Force coming from the woman were only surprise and confusion. She wasn’t tainted by the Darkness and the G’weneen had decided that he would not allow it to happen.

When the woman finally said that she agreed to become a Jedi, Pêro nodded to her. “Very well, we will go to the Jedi Temple of Yavin IV.” he said, his mission was successful. “There you will start to learn the way of the Order. You will also need to follow the Jedi Code.” some initiates usually had problems with this part, but if she wanted to one day become a Knight, she would need to live like one of them.

“Before we go, I’ll give you some time for you to prepare your luggage. You can also talk with your family to say where you are going. Once we arrive in Yavin, you can continue talking with them.” Pêro gave her a brief smile, wanting to make her comfortable with the idea of leaving her home. While the Order now allowed its members to maintain contact with their families, it was still difficult to leave their homes.

Then, Pêro remembered that he didn’t ask the woman's name. He was so focused in completing his mission that he forgot completely about that. “Sorry, I didn’t ask it before, but what is your name?”

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

While he was addressing her again, she tried to study his mimic, trying to find something that was telling her to run. He could still be lying. Maybe he was Force sensitive, but in the worst way possible and trying to seduce her into coming with him, just to exploit her in any way. Besides his clothes and the lightsaber, was there any prove for him being a Jedi knight? Or was this even enough prove? She was always reying on her gut feelings, and now they really told her that it was okay to trust him, and yet she was still a little uncertain. She tried to overplay it, but she assumed, that he was probably sensing that her mind was still a little troubled.

The Jedi mentioned Yavin IV and while Hailee had never left Corellia herself before, she had met travelers from Yavin, who shared at least some of their thoughts with her. She knew that the planet was located in the Outer Rim territory and that a long time ago, it functioned as the Alliance's headquarters. A long journey would therefore be ahead of them and she wasn't so sure about how easy it would be for her to stay inside a confined space like a ship for quite some while. As he went one, he mentioned the Order. If she recalled it correctly, the Jedi followed a rather strict code and she immediately realized that this could pose certain problems to her, but time would probably show how much of an issue that would be. She forced herself to a weak smile, to somehow strengthen the impression that she was convinced to come with him.

As he mentioned that she could take some time before their departure, she scoffed bitterly. She strode towards her dresser, pulling out just a few outfits and her well hidden set of throwing knives, before she threw that stuff into a the backpack that rested next to her drawer and then turned around to face him again. "I'm ready. We can leave. I don't have anyone to say goodbye to and I prefer to travel light" , she then replied with a wry smirk. It was the truth. She hadn't had any family here and she would rather not inform anyone about her departure. She surely made some trusted friends over the years, but she knew that if she would talk to them right now, informing them about her abrupt change of plans, they could get into trouble. She was still being watched or even being spied on by the boss's henchman and she wanted to protect her friends from them. The sooner they would leave, the better. It was dangerous enough for her to be seen with a Jedi as rumors about her powers had already started to spread. As he mentioned it, she realized herself that she did not tell him her name yet, but as she was already going with him, she could as well be honest right away. "Sorry, where are my manners? My name is Hailee. Hailee Lightwood", she replied warmly, giving him her actual name and not one of her made up false ones, that she so often used to protect herself.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

The scof that the woman made when he said that she had time to talk with her family didn’t go unnoticed by Pêro. What she said confirmed his suspicions, she didn’t have anyone else. The bitter way that she said it showed that there were reasons behind it.

He wondered if it could be a challenger for her during her training on the Jedi Temple. Training to be a Jedi wasn’t easy, there would always be problems that they needed to solve. Fools were those that believed that to be one you only needed to use the Force and wave lightsabers. There was so much more than it.

He also noticed how she reacted when he mentioned the Jedi Code. Her forced smile didn’t fool him. She would not be the first one that he saw reacting this way about the rules that were an integral part of the Order. This probably was the first challenge that someone needed to face if they wanted to become a Jedi.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hailee.” he said, after she told her name to him. Pêro also gave her a warm smile, or at least the closest to one that he could give. While she continued picking her things, the G’weneen would tell her a bit about what would happen when they arrived at Yavin. “At the Temple, you will be able to have a room only for you. You can also have classes in different subjects. Usually, they are obligatory to Padawans that are children, but the adults can choose if they want to have some.”

Once Hailee finished packing her things, Pêro walked toward the door. “We are going to the spaceport, there is a ship of the Order waiting for us here.” he said, while waiting for her to open it. “Now that you have accepted joining the Order, I would like to know more about it. I’ll also tell you about my life before becoming a Jedi.”

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

While Hailey was too focused on her misstrust at first, she now started to drop that uncertainty and thereby she began to notice a few more things about this Jedi knight as well. He was oddly reserved, maybe even a little stiff and from the stories she heard and the very few Jedis she saw, she remembered that they all seemed to be rather controlled and restrained.

This one was clearly no exception. His behavior could even be interpreted as a little rude, as he was still quite direct, not mincing matters and showing as less real emotions as possible, but Hailee couldn't actually care less and didn't classify him as a rude person. She simply thought that he was one of those chilly, distant guys who needed a thawing process prior to actual interaction.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Pêro", she replied with a weak smile, out of courteousy. When he mentioned having her own room was possible, she felt somehow relieved. It was good if she could have some privacy, just like in her apartment here. She had shared her makeshift bed for way too many years with the other enslaved, so she started to get used to her own confined space. She would see about the classes, as many would probably interest her and she was always eager to learn. She learned that the Jedi were making a distinction between the adult and the children, which pleased her, because she could actually tell him from the very beginning that she wouldn't endure getting belittled or treated like a child in any way. She was already an adult, a very stubborn, feisty one even, and she would clearly have some trouble adjusting to rules, as she only lived by her own right now, enjoying the perks of liberty for the very first time in her life. But she knew that this was about to change. And she would try to comply as best as she could.

She nodded as he explained their current destination, knowing exactly how they could reach the spacesport without being seen by anyone who was not supposed to see them. She headed for the door, throwing him one last bitter smirk. "Are you sure you want to listen to this boring and depressing story in full detail?" she asked, a slight bitter smirk still on her full lips, when she opened the door for the two of them. She was curious to learn about him and his story though, as she always enjoyed learning the stories of strangers.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

Pêro noticed the bitterness in Hailee’s voice. It was the second time that she acted this way when her past or family were mentioned. This gave him the impression that something bad could have happened. It made him more curious to know what could have happened in the woman's life for her to be this way.

“Well, I can start talking if you want. “ he said, while opening the door for her. The corridor of the building was empty, allowing him to talk without needing to whisper. Nowadays, it was a risk to have people hearing that you were a Jedi. “I was born in G’wenee. I lived with my mother in one of the cities of the planet, she used to make and sell cakes.” he missed her. Since the Sith conquered his planet, the Knight never was able to see her again.

“One day, a Jedi appeared to eat a cake that she was selling and I accidentally used the Force. He offered a chance for me to become a Jedi and my mother allowed me to go. It happened when I was six, I've been with the Order since then.” even after so many years, it still seemed that was only yesterday when he left his homeworld and arrived in Yavin IV for the first time.

When they arrived outside of the building, Pêro used his commlink to call for a cab. While they waited for it to arrive, the Knight turned to Hailee. “Then, after training for some time, I became a Knight. Did you always live here in Corellia?” he asked, trying to convince her to star talking.

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee followed the knight outside, her light backpack strapped over one shoulder. She wasn't quite sure of what to expect but as soon as she stepped outside and into the busy streets again, she didn't even look back once. When he offered to start talking she felt a little relieved, because she couldn't rid herself of all the misstrust yet and learning something about him first made it easier for her to open up as well.

She listened to him attentively, somehow sensing that he was telling the truth, but his story made her feel a little uneasy. Hailee has always been rather empathetic and even though she had never heard of G'weenee before, she noticed a slight trace of vulnerability in his voice. To her, it sounded like his childhood wasn't the wealthiest either and learning that he had spent most of his life with the Order made her want to learn more about his life there, but she would have enough time for further questions. She figured he missed home, that was clearly something that differentiated them. She wouldn't miss Corellia at all...She couldn't wait to leave.

When they started waiting for the cab, he addressed her again. After she let her eyes wander over her old neighborhood one last time, she turned to him, tilting her head upwards, his dark eyes directly meeting her green ones. "So, how long exactly did it take you to become a Knight? And did you ever return home?", she asked him softly, knowing that those memories could be painful for him as well. Nevertheless, she wasn't only curious about him. She also wanted to give him the answers he was looking for and since she felt as though she could trust him, she decided that she could share her own story with him. "I've always lived here. I was born not far from here, but I don't have many memories of my parents and my early childhood any more. My parents sold me to one of Corellia's crime bosses and I was in his service for way too many years. I could escape the system though. I've got to admit that my...powers helped me a lot. Otherwise I might have been still stuck there", she then replied honestly, the bitterness in her voice replaced with a slight hint of indifference. She went through a lot, but it didn't matter now. Those memories still made her furious sometimes, but she had learned how to convert those feelings into strength.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

Pêro didn’t expect that she would ask how much time it took for him to become a Knight. He wondered if she was impatient and wanted to become one as fast as possible. A Jedi needed to be patient, Hailee would need to learn how to be it if she wanted to be part of the Order.

“I became a Knight when I was 20 years old. It was two years ago. I joined the Order when I was six, it took me fourteen years for me to become one.” he still remembers how his time as a Padawan was. There were so many good memories. “Since you seem to already have some knowledge of the Force, I don’t believe that you will take so much time to become one.”

The Jedi’s stern expression briefly disappeared when Hailee asked if he had returned to his homeworld. “I visited G’weneen sometimes when I was still a Padawan. However, recently the Sith had conquered it. Since then, I can’t go there and lost contact with my mother.” he still wanted to return here, to see if she was fine. But it was too dangerous.

Then, the woman told him about her past. Pêro frowned, he couldn’t believe that parents would be capable of doing something like that. It was terrible. He wasn’t surprised that she was bitter about it. These conditions were perfect for her to fall to the Dark side. The Knight would watch Hailee carefully while she trained, perhaps she would need help to deal with these feelings.

After she finished, a silence fell between the two. While Pêro felt sympathy for Hailee, he was terrible at dealing with this type of situation. He had no idea of what he should say to the woman. Thankfully, their cab arrived. He would wait for her to enter first to do it. Once the two were inside, they would go to the spaceport. "I never met my father. He abandoned my mother before I was born." he said, suddenly. It was the first thing that came to his mind, perhaps as an attempt to show to her that he also had a bad relative.

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee held eye contact with the knight most of the time, but every now and then she started to control their surroundings. She couldn't have the boss know about her leaving. It was too dangerous for the both of them. Every time she noticed someone staring for a bit too long, she focused for a second, leading into her being able to catch a glimpse about what they were thinking and soon having the certainty that all was good for now. She knew she owed that skill to the Force as well and it had taken her some years to learn it, but it had always been rather helpful to her.

As Pêro went on, she noticed his changed expressions. There was a certain amount of pain and grief in him, but Hailee sensed that he did his best in covering it. She had already noticed that the man was extremely reserved and rather stern and she wondered whether this trip would feel longer than expected. Hailee was quite social normally, not having issues with talking to anyone, but it sometimes bothered her when people were not as lighthearted. She was sometimes too fiery, emotional and impatient, but right now she thought that she did a good job in holding back. When he mentioned his fourteen years of training, she couldn't help but to swallow, as this was actually quite some time. His next comment felt at least a little relieving, but all in all she already knew that her patience would probably be tested many times.

When he answered her question, her mimic softened empathetically. Living with the uncertainty of his mother's well-being must be horrible for him. "I'm sorry", she replied honestly, compassionately. When she had finished her own story, his frowning did not go unnoticed by the young woman, making her feel a little unsure about whether it was helpful that she had shared her story so honestly. Her background could evoke the feeling that she needed to be feared or at least watched...she was pretty aware of that. She immediately questioned her choice to come with him in the first place. The silence that fell soon after felt a little oppressing to her and made it thereby worse, but the arriving cab was a welcome distraction from that. Once inside, the Jedi raised his voice again, sharing another important detail of his childhood, but Hailee couldn't help but to wonder whether he shared that information just to make her feel better in any way, perhaps as though they would have more in common. "Oh. I'm also sorry for that. It must have been difficult as well, for her and for you", she still replied softly, since she understood the feeling of being left just too well.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

During the time that they waited for the arrival of the cab, Pêro had noticed how Hailee stayed looking around. She seemed to be expecting something to happen at any second. It was the same way that someone who was being hunted would be careful with their surroundings, as if expecting their hunter to jump on them. It was strange and made the G’weneen wonder what she was afraid of.

The cab started to move toward the spaceport and the two continued in silence. After he had told her about his father, Pêro didn’t make any effort to continue talking. Talking about it made him remember a time when he was child that he would ask about his father to mother. Now, he didn’t care about it anymore or he tried to convince himself of it, because a part of him still remained curious about who was the man that abandoned his mother.

When he heard Hailee talking, Pêro turned to look at her. "At first it was, but my mother was clever and strong. She had several jobs and saved enough money to start her own bake store." he said, his voice full of admiration. His mother was probably the strongest woman that he ever met. She was able to take care of him alone while working several jobs. He missed her so much.

While the cab moved toward the spaceport, Pêro decided to continue a conversation with her. If she was going to become part of the Order, Hailee should feel comfortable to talk about her life and problems with another Jedi. After all, they were going to be a family. "Do you have a job? Perhaps we should warn them about where you are going."

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Once inside the cab, Hailee tried to sit down as comfortable as possible, trying to force the tension out for her muscles. She reminded herself of not needing to be so on edge. Everything was fine. They weren't followed and she would never have to see anyone from that bunch of criminal scum again. She forced herself to breath calmly and directed her gaze back to Pêro instead of having it analyzing the streets.

When Pêro shared some more details about his mother, a genuine smile graced her lips. "Your mother sounds like a truly wonderful person. It seems like she put a lot of effort into providing for you the best way possible", she replied softly. She tried her bestvnot to think of her own parents who sold her like a worthless object and rather focus on the positivity of him. She could notice the trace of admiration in his voice, realizing that he must really be in a lot of pain related to not being able to see her. Hopefully he would have the chance to check on her any time soon...

Before Hailee could drift into sadder thoughts, Pêro raised another question directed at the blonde. She tried to suppress a scoff or any other sarcastic gesture, as it wouldn't be the most polite reaction. The Jedi knight had no idea about her former life, so she tried to remain as neutral as possible. "Trust me, it's best if no one knows I'm gone until my feet have literally left the planet. I was...self employed and independent for some time now, so nobody is going to miss me just now. But it's for the best if my former employers don't notice my departure", she answered with a slight smirk on her lips. Maybe humor would make it easier, she thought. She had realized that Pêro was quite curious about her and she was clearly not afraid of sharing her story with him, but just to be safe, it would actually be helpful to leave the atmosphere first before sharing any more piquant details about her ex-boss. Instinctively, she shifted her gaze to the driver for a moment, eyeing the pilot droid through the rear view mirror, but she figured that this unit wouldn't spill any information. She wanted to remain careful, though.

@LouJoVi

 

[Pêro Erval]

When he heard Hailee praise his mother, a small smile appeared on Pêro's lips. "She really is. When she revealed her pregnancy, my grandparents became furious and expelled her from home without any money." like how he couldn’t believe that parents would sell their child, the G’weneen also couldn’t believe that they would be capable of doing so with their pregnant child. In his opinion, it was something terrible and inhuman.

"My mother not only gave birth to me, but she also worked so much to give me a good education. We lived in one of the worst parts of the city until she had enough money to buy our own house in a better place. Then she turned it into a bake store." there was admiration in Pêro's voice. He had met many wonderful and heroic Jedi, but his true hero would always be his mother.

Then, Hailee started to talk about her life. Pêro noticed that she wasn’t going direct to the point and seemed to be talking about it in a neutral way. He felt that there was more behind what she was saying, for example the reasons why she feared her employers so much. However, the Knight didn’t ask more questions and remained in silence the rest of the trip to the spaceport. He believed she would open herself at the right time.

After some time, the cab finally arrived at the spaceport. Before leaving the vehicle, Pêro paid the droid pilot and waited for Hailee to get out of it. While he waited, the Knight noticed a strange movement of people inside the building. It looked like they were searching for something. The G’weneen wondered what could be happening.

@LadyRen

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee was never the one to trust stranger fast, but the knight made her actually feel comfortable enough to dismiss all of her misstrust for now. She assumed that he wanted them both to talk in order to build a foundation of trust, because they probably needed to trust one another if this was supposed to work. She did embrace the conversation, not only because she learned a lot about him, but also because he was starting to get to know her and this was important for him to understand her.

Pêro's further admiring voice and even heroic story made Hailee exhibit an even more genuine, broader smile, even though it was also making her sad. She could relate to it so well, because of what her parents did to her."People can be truly horrible. I sometimes find it hard not to loose faith in humanity, but people like your mother prove that there is another way", she responded contemplatively. It might have sounded harsh, but it was true. Hailee had met many people in her life and she would hardly trust more than five...People could do terrible things and especially Coronet City was renowned for its...fantastic reputation.

Allthough she had appreciated the conversation, it was now also relieving to stay quiet for a while. It gave her a chance to focus on her own thoughts for some more time, enabling her to sort her thoughts. When they were already approaching the spaceport, Hailee directed her gaze at the surroundings again. Even though the spaceport area was normally safer, as it was frequently patrolled by the authorities, you could never be truly sure on Corellia. The cab came to an halt and while the Knight paid the droid, Hailee got out already, focusing her gaze onto the building to their left. She immediately noticed that something was not right. The tumult of people proved that you always had to be on guard. " Did something happen here on the planet?", she immediately asked the Jedi, hoping that he could provide any kind of an answer.

@LouJoVi