Perfect Strangers

[Leah Reach]

Leah Reach hated Ord Mantell.

She had visited the world once before. In search of high-grade military equipment, she was ultimately deceived, forced to team up with a smuggler and brutally fought against a captive Sith. It went without saying her memories of the wayward planet were not fond ones. Why had she returned? Another mission. The Galactic Alliance was always looking to expand. According to Commander Ion and Jedi Master Vu’thari, the world could prove useful to the war effort. She never wanted to believe it, but Leah did not have much a choice in the matter. They wanted her to assess the criminal and Imperial presence on the planet to ensure future rebel activity could proceed without issue. She reluctantly obliged.

Her obligations only led her into a new hole to climb out of. After she reached the planet and started reconnaissance, she was recognized by several bounty hunters seeking retribution after she crippled one of the major syndicates on the planet. Leah barely escaped the city centre with her life. Knowing there were gangsters still out for blood, the Jedi Master knew it was high time to leave. She acquired enough intel to satisfy the Council. All she needed to do now was leave. Sneaking through the spaceport and attempting to evade undercover thugs was no cake walk. The Azure Twilight syndicate, the one she stole from several weeks prior, was on the lookout for her. She had to be discreet.

Ahead, not far from the spaceport where she kept her ship, Leah spotted several armed thugs approaching. None of them recognized her, but she didn’t bother to wait around and see if they would. Not worth the risk. Instead, the rebel ambassador tried to find another way out of the situation. A retreat to the bathroom, hiding behind the local vendor, try to act casual. She was out of options. So, Leah decided to stick with the next best thing. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a young Pantoran male walking down the avenue just minding his own business. He was close, he was relaxed and he was the perfect walking shield for her to hide behind. The ensuing exchange would be strange, but nothing Leah couldn’t handle.

Stepping behind him, she slipped an arm under his like any lady would to a gentleman. “Well, if it isn’t... Ordo, uh— Martell!” Not very original. “Long time, no see. How have you been? Are the kids doing all right?” She flashed a wide smile. The woman expected the Pantoran to be utterly lost, but she hoped he was too shy or sheepish to call her out or push her away. She was already so close to the spaceport. If Leah could squeeze past the guards unnoticed, she would be home free.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Cessair was bored, and this drab planet was doing nothing to rectify the situation. It was his third day on the planet and it was easily his worst. His patron didn’t have any work for him, and unlike Cessair, his boss’ boredom usually led to painful “games”. So instead of returning he had gone on a bit of a vacation. The only problem at the moment being a lack of transportation. He still didn’t have a pilot’s license and none of his criminal coworkers were willing to deviate from their routes to give him a lift. But this hadn’t deterred him. After all, even Dinadan Darkrose had some setbacks, what’s adventure without a little adversity? So with his charm and good looks he had managed to hitchhike this far, onto Ord Mantell. His goal was to make it to Imperial space, that’s where the money was and as a result that was where the greatest adventures were to be had. What he hadn’t counted on was the much more bitter attitude and atmosphere of Ord Mantell. He hadn’t managed to find a single person willing to give him a ride, so he did the one thing he could: wander aimlessly.

He left his small motel room that day wearing a sleek modern styled long sleeve polo of navy, red and white. His pants were a brighter burgundy and he wore blue suede shoes. He wasn’t dressed up per se, but definitely more formal than the rest of the crowd. He strolled down the street with confidence, carving a lazy path through the crowds towards one of the many bars in the area. He entered and called to the bartender “Greetings, fine shopkeep!” He said in his best adventurer voice. “Have you any news of the goingson of this fine city? Brigands in the streets causing a ruckus? Treasures lost in the trash? Damsels in distress? Monsters in need of slaying?” The bartender hung his head in annoyance, he was back. The poor man had been forced to deal with Cessair’s delusions for the past three days. The man had silently hoped for sweet relief, but whatever deity he had prayed to failed to stop Cessair D. Darkrose. “No, little blue boy. Leave. You’re disturbing my clientele and Moxie is in a bad mood. I’d recommend you flee back to whatever child’s tale puked you up and beg it to take you back.”

It was the most hostile the barkeep had been to him and he had already met Moxie once before. She was a female Gomorrean, larger than the average female of her species and covered in odd splotches of aesthetically displeasing glitter. If it weren’t for the shiny dust the being seemed to use like makeup, she was the closest Cessair had come to seeing a real life monster. So he didn’t push his luck, me crossed the bar off in his mind, one more place he could never return. That list was getting longer recently and it was starting to worry him, but he found comfort in the expanse of the galaxy and figured the whole thing couldn’t reject him. He planned to go to a casino next, he wasn’t feeling the bad vibe anymore and he missed the feeling of being around those with wealth. It was oddly nostalgic to be around the flow of credits even if he wasn’t directly participating. But he didn’t. As he walked with just himself and his thoughts, he found himself drifting towards the spaceport instead. It was the location he was most familiar with after two days straight of failed hitchhiking there. That didn’t sound nearly as fun as the casino, but for some reason he felt like this was the right way to go.

As he walked towards the spaceport, observing the gathering clouds above and feeling the winds beginning to pick up, he felt an arm wrap around his unexpectedly. He stared blankly for a moment as she rattled off a conversation, trying to catch up to the situation quickly. He was pretty good at reading people, so he ruled out genuine mistaken identity immediately. The woman seemed older than himself but still very much an attractive woman by his standards. If he had to guess he’d place her in the late twenties early thirties bracket. She also had an odd presence about her, one he hadn’t felt in a while, though he wasn’t sure what it was. Not quite the typical damsel in distress, but Cessair recognized the smell of bantha fodder, he has bluffed his way through most of his life so he was quite familiar. Although he could read people, he was horrible at reading a crowd and failed to see what she was avoiding. She could be avoiding anything from a petty ex or a tyrant trying to destroy the entire planet. So his mind began racing, reaching for a narrative. Finally some adventure!

He relaxed himself, realizing that he had tended up reflexively and even pulled her in a little closer. “Rubbing it in as always, eh, Mantella? Sorry I haven’t been lucky enough to find someone I want to literally create life with. Besides that, I’ve been pretty good. You’re looking as beautiful as ever. How are the triplets Ordo, Ella, and Mant? Are they still as much a handful as I remember?” He gave an innocent laugh, as if she’d just told a joke, projecting the illusion of friendly conversation a little farther. “You know, you probably shouldn’t hold me this close, people could get the wrong idea. Or the right one.” He said with a wink. Then he leaned in so his mouth was up to her ear and whispered through his smile to maintain the facade “So, what’s the plan, m’lady?”

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

To say the least, Leah was surprised. She chose to the wandering Pantoran purely in the hopes of finding a shield to hide behind or creating a makeshift couple to blend into. They were told to be on the lookout for a red-haired woman on her own, not a pair of close friends or long-time lovers. What caught her off guard was the speed of her newfound companion, his quick thinking, his loose-lipped talking. Rather than stay silently confused or push her aside, he blindly followed suit. For whatever reason, she couldn’t tell. Uncertainty and suspicion spiked. No stranger in their right mind would have done the same. On Ord Mantell, no less. Leah wondered if she had fallen into a trap, but she sensed no dark intentions from the man. Only blissful ignorance and a charming grin.

The Jedi Master looked over to the young man and blinked several times, not sure if she heard him right. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the guards coming ever closer. Not toward her, but she toward them. If Leah wanted to play it right, she needed to play along. “Oh, believe me when I say I would rather be herding bantha than raising those three. A pain in my ass, I’m telling you.” She shared in his laughter, a bright but feigned smile plastered on her features. One of the gangsters quickly noticed the pair approaching, but at seeing them together, glanced away. On the other hand, the second one eyed them longer than she hoped. Leah needed to do more. She needed to make things uncomfortable. Herself included.

Welcoming the wink, she leaned in close and pressed her other hand against his upper arm. “Let them think whatever they want, I don’t care. I love you, Ordo. Nothing can change that.” That escalated quickly. Enough for the last thug to awkwardly turn away. The first one shifted several inches toward the wall, likewise agitated. To drive the point home, Leah inclined her head as the stranger did, close enough to kiss— and to stay out of earshot from anyone around. A perfect chance to lay out the plan. “I’m being pursued by some racketeers. My ship is down the corridor but they know I’m here and will do whatever it takes to stop me.” She locked eyes with the man. “You are my disguise. Or meat shield. Whichever way you prefer.”

The Jedi tried not to spill too much information. There was no way she would let the stranger know she was being hunted by none other than the Azure Twilight syndicate. One of the largest and most dangerous criminal organizations in the system. If she did, she had no doubt the Pantoran would sell her out in the blink of an eye. No criminal, smuggler or womanizer would ever risk getting in their way. Better the stranger stayed in the dark. Of course, she needed to make sure he continued with the facade. No way could Leah trust him to take her to the ship now that he knew. “If they discover who I am, you will be marked. As an accomplice, I’m sure. So please, don't try anything dumb.”

“You can either help me reach my ship, where you will be paid handsomely, or I’ll throw you under the bus. Your choice.” She made her thoughts known. Clear-cut and forthright, the rebel ambassador was done with pleasantries, introductions and smalltalk. If she wanted to escape the hellhole of that planet, she needed to be positive she could make it to her transport.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Now this was fun! Even more so than just general suspense, he was enjoying the little verbal improvisation. He loved the fact that in a matter of seconds he had spun a neat little narrative, though now he almost felt compelled to flesh out this new Ordo character. But there were more pressing matters. He listened to her rundown of the current situation. Nothing too surprising. The generic terms of her speak didn’t faze him, he himself usually thought in such terms regardless. Evil was evil no matter what name it went by, and as such should be quelled in whatever form it decided to take in the world. He did however since at the idea of being a meat shield. That concept was none too pleasing and probably bad for his overall health. Generally speaking, evildoers always got the cooler weaponry, so he’d rather avoid that role.

Her tone became increasingly serious however, rattling off consequences and what even sounded like a veiled threat. A bit odd for a damsel in distress to be so aggressive, but he figured it was just the stress getting to her, not that she was actually malicious in her intent. Staying close, he whispered “I would like to believe my meat is of a finer caliber, a more acquired taste not meant to be tenderized, so I would refrain from that option if at all possible.” He backed off for a second, giving another slow glance across the landscape, but still saw no immediately obvious threats. Returning to her ear he said slipping into his chivalrous knight voice “These pursuers you speak of, a vile group of brigands, ne’er-do-wells and evildoers I presume? I’ve not many an encounter with the type but I know how to counteract such unlawful persons if need be.”

As they neared the area he had spent the last two days planning for fool’s gold trying to get a ride, he could only hope any racketeers in pursuit where on her radar by this point, because he was still frustratingly clueless. “I have a few marks on my name already, there are many who despise a do-gooder such as myself, suxh a brand does not frighten me." He did not have a mark on him, not of the variety she spoke of. He had an obligation based on debt and another based on family, but he wasn’t even a footnote in the criminal world. He was probably more along the lines of a beverage stain on a page. In response to her threat he said “I’d rather neither m’lady. I don’t do this for money.” He finished with a wink and gave her a gentle kiss. Short and sweet, just enough to be uncomfortable for anyone watching but not enough to slow their step.

Turning his attention to his surroundings once more, he gave his best wandering tourist expression, giving ooh’s and aah’s as he went. He would let his eyes go wide and the most inane things, pointing and rambling nonsense about whatever vendor or poster had his attention for the moment. He had no idea where he was going, so hopefully he could just pass it off as a species obviously alien to the planet on a little vacation until the fair maiden could steer him in the right direction.

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

The man was a natural charmer. She wondered how many woman had rolled over for it. The Jedi Master would not be one of them. She was a warrior, recluse and a lone wolf. Leah always preferred to work alone. The circumstances only forced her to find a partner in the shape of the stranger. While she was pleased to know he would play her little game, she was suddenly unsure if his advances were a front or bona fide. The latter of which she was not so ready to accept. He may have been successful in warding off guards and thugs, painting a pretty picture nobody wanted to see, but Leah was starting to feel mildly uncomfortable too. Tempting and attractive as the man was, he was not only on the younger side but on the ignorant. He had no idea who or what she really was.

Not that she planned for him ever to know. As a Jedi Master, she vowed complete secrecy. The lightsaber was tucked as far beneath her outfit as physically possible. Her presence in the Force was pulled deep, hidden under thick skin and a hard head. If there were Sith around, they would only see a woman locked in arms with a dashing stranger. Nothing more, nothing less. However, the Sith were not the problem. The Azure Twilight syndicate was hunting her down and the second they recognized her face, she would be exposed. Hiding her blade or mastery of the Force would do nothing to shield her vulnerability. At least she could make do with the stranger beside her.

“Sorry, not sure if I heard you right.” She flashed another feigned smile and chuckled. “But did you just you’re not in this for the money?” The question was rhetorical. Of course, she heard what the man said. She only found it difficult to comprehend it. Outside Imperial territory, on the scavenging wasteland of Ord Mantell, Leah never knew a soul who was not always thirsting for credits. Even a few rebels in the Galactic Alliance were on the lookout for pay. While the Jedi sensed he was telling the truth, and neither could feel any dark intentions, she was immediately skeptical. It didn’t help as he leaned in to kiss her, which she reluctantly accepted. Not before tilting her head so that he pecked her cheek rather than her cherry lips.

“All right, pretty boy. Let’s not get too carried away.” She said, holding a hand to his chest. Less in the romantic sense, more in an attempt to keep him in place. Although they had not left the line of sight from the thugs, they were already behind the pair and out of earshot. For now, Leah believed, she was in the clear. “But what do you mean you have a few marks on your name? In fact, what is your name?” She asked, suspicious. She hoped and prayed she had not just picked up a wanted man. That would only make matters worse, especially if anyone recognized him too. The Jedi was not looking for trouble. Just trying to escape it. An image she could already see as she rounded the corner and saw her ship at the end of the large corridor, left untouched on the landing platform.

She was so close. It was just a matter of time.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Cessair beamed at the opportunity to tell of his paragon morals, something very few would give the time of day to hear, and none would care if the words fell on their ears by happenstance. But, in an odd way, he had a bit of a captive audience, so it was the perfect occasion. “You heard me correctly. I don’t rise with the sun for coin and such frivolities. The reason my heart beats blood into my veins and the reason my lungs continue to breathe this rather putrid air is for the good of the galaxy! To uproot evil where it festers, to be chivalrous unto all, and help those in need. I am the modern day knight, not the hero the galaxy needs but the one it deserves! Years from now they’ll sing in the streets of my name and it’s legacy. A dynasty of all that is pure and true, tales will be told of my heroic deeds and the new age of knighthood I ushered in. Someday. Unfortunately such a life does not pay well and I’ve yet to accrue the funds necessary to make true change so far, but soon.”

He took note that she pulled back a little and made a mental note. Either the immediate threat had passed, thank goodness, or she simply wasn’t as committed to the act as he was. Regardless, no further shenanigans were to occur unless explicitly requested. Another opportunity arose when she asked his name, though he wished he had a little more room for grandeur that wasn’t afforded to him in the current armlock. A name such as his own should be delivered with a bow, but he’d have to settle for one of the mental variety. With a puff of his chest but keeping his volume just in range of close conversation he said “I am Sir Cessair D. Darkrose, at your service.” He realized he was involuntarily bowing slightly regardless when he felt resistance from the stranger’s arm around his. He just silently hoped it came off as intentional and didn’t detract from what he felt was an important moment, maybe in history. Definitely in the foreseeable future, as he was beginning to think this was no chance encounter.

Cessair was a firm believer in destiny, and believed it was his to be the galaxy’s hero, or at the very least one of them. Just as Dinadan Darkrose was destined to slay the Elder Dragon, it would be his to become a legend. And this mystery woman, who had by seemingly extreme luck happened into meeting him, could very well be the first of his numerous exploits to come. But if he wanted his story told, he’d have to tell it himself first. This made him an open book, and not shy about speaking of his “marks”. “Not every hero has pleasant origins. My mother was a working woman and my father a Sith, or at the very least in hopes of becoming one. To be honest, I’ve never understood what that meant, but I guess you have to have the Force to know what it all means, sadly I am not such a being. My first “mark” as you put it is to one day reunite with my father, as I’m sure he’s in peril. I was kidnapped by the very forces of evil I seek to eradicate and he has yet to pay the requested ransom, leading me to believe he has for some reason been unable to make the transaction. My other mark is with my captors, whom I’ve been serving much to my dismay recently in an effort to work off the ransom on my own. My only solace is knowing every day under them is a day I grow stronger and learn more of the criminal psyche. Experience that I plan to put to great use in my future adventures. Though I wouldn’t worry heavily about either. My father is a strong man and can handle himself until I’m ready to return. And my patron isn’t exactly a kingpin of his market, just one of the many nuisances to the galaxy too big to kill but too small for the system at large to care.”

As they neared the maiden’s apparent destination, he laid eyes on her vessel. Despite his most recent line of work, he still knew very little of spacecraft and the capabilities of such vehicles at a glance. Turning to his first damsel in distress he said “Ah yes, a fine ship. I should’ve expected no less for a lady of your excellence. Is it an M1 Nova? A Headhunter? I kid, I don’t know much of the flock of the hyperlanes and I won’t pretend that I do. I can certainly say it looks expensive.” Slowing just a bit to meet her eyes he continued “Does it have room for one more? I don’t operate for coin, but I am a bit stranded on this drab planet at the moment, would you care to give me a lift. I don’t really have a specific destination in mind. Just somewhere interesting. Oh, sorry, my manners. What is your name m’lady?”

 

[Leah Reach]

Mother of Moons, the man was remarkably chatty. More than any man she ever met, perhaps save for Jedi Master Luy. The pair had only just met and he was already raging on about his aspirations, legacy and mark on the galaxy. Something of a dynasty, which sent a shudder up her spine as she reminded of the Drast family line. However, as she processed what was said, she knew the young man meant no ill will. Neither was he looking to subjugate the galaxy. Rather, he was out only to good. A vigilante, something of a hero— a rebel. He had the looks, the charm, the spirit. Leah wondered if she ran into a rebel outside of the Galactic Alliance. Somebody who understood evil, saw it in the face of the Empire, and decided to take action.

Still, she found the man rather strange. He was almost something out of a film. Better yet, a novel. It wasn’t until she heard his last name that she got a trace of that very idea: Darkrose. Large as the galaxy was, she was not unfamiliar with the series. Although she personally stuck to sacred texts and Jedi tomes, her daughter had always loved the Tales of Dinadan Darkrose. She read it to her every night she asked. Every night until she passed away, into the Force. Losing her was one of the hardest moments in her life, and hearing that name again only tugged at her heart strings. Perhaps it was coincidence. Perhaps he was a madman, believing he could take on a character pulled from the pages of a fictional narrative. Perhaps he was more than that. More than what meets the eye.

Leah listened to him carefully. In most instances, she would have abandoned anyone right then and there if they decided to blather on about their life story. Even if it did sound like something of a novel too. But the more she listened, the more her interest grew. The son of an aspiring Sith, a slave to the work of seedy pirates he apparently vowed to destroy. Contradictory but curious. However, if he were a son of a Sith, she wondered if he too possessed the Force. If he stood against their ways, then again, she wondered if he was ripe for the Jedi Order to take. After all, their meeting could not have been mere coincidence if so. Leah met far too many individuals gifted by the Force in the strangest of ways.

Asha, on a diplomatic mission to Ifrane. Eisa Swan, a scavenger she met after her speeder broke down in the dunes of Savareen. Devrim Wolfe and Toland Vult, found in a shoddy bar not only a day later. Crix, in the middle of a battle against the same criminal syndicate who now pursued her. Many of her most promising students were stumbled upon by coincidence. No, by fate and the Force. The Jedi Master believed this same, bizarre encounter could be yet another path. At hearing that he was looking for a way out of Ord Mantell, Leah couldn’t resist the thought. He helped her get that far. If he didn’t want credits, she could at least pay him with a ticket off the dusty rock. If he proved not to be in possession of the Force, no matter, she could drop him off at Savareen or elsewhere. But if he did? A new chapter in her story would open. In both of their stories.

“Expensive? I’m flattered.” She answered Cessair as he complimented and examined her shuttle from afar. It was nothing special. Then again, this was Ord Mantell. She imagined compared to the other rust buckets or junk heaps, her freighter looked like the finest damn ship in the world. “But it has room, and I suppose I could always use the company.” The woman gave a tiny smile. She raised a single finger at his face and jokingly warned him. “As long as you don’t try kissing me again. Especially when there’s nobody around to mislead.” The woman glanced to their surroundings. For the most part, the coast was clear. Relieved, she turned back to the young man and answered. “But my name is Leah— Leah Reach.”

Before she could continue with any further pleasantries or introductions, she spotted three men emerge from the other side of her ship. They had been waiting for. The Azure Twilight Syndicate. “Oh, shit.” Her fingers wandered down her waist. She glanced between Cessair and the thugs. “You know what, about that kiss…” She joked again, even in the face of death or capture. Before she could say anything else, the thugs raised their blasters. “Hello, pretty lady.” One man said and eyed Cessair locked beside her. “With a friend?”

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Cessair let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that once again he had inadvertently gotten himself a ride. Despite setting out with the exact opposite goal, today was the day he found success. Maybe he should look less often. In fact, in this short moment of self reflection it seemed most of his success came by some other intangible outside his own volition. It was just odd enough to catch his chain of thought but not enough to bother him, so it quickly got pushed away. He smiled at her joke and said in an equally jestful tone “T’was merely a precaution, m’lady. Following your lead I might add. But if it be thy wish so be it. I hereby vow to never kiss you again unless explicitly requested otherwise. I may speak with bias when I say this, but I do believe you’d be more hesitant to swear off such an act so soon had it been a proper osculating and not the concise practice of pretend that it was.”

He silently thanked whoever sired the fair maiden for giving a reasonable name. One thing he had quickly learned after being abducted and left in the Outer Rim was the massive variety of language and species. With that came names, oh stars the names. He had quite literally encountered names he needed different vocal chords to pronounce properly. Leah Reach on the other hand was very doable and pretty easy to remember by the galaxy’s standards. He was still walking forward when she stopped and halted his own forward progress. He glanced up to see the three men approaching from behind the ship. Cessair wasn’t the brightest star but he could figure these were the brigands after Leah. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and said “Such expletives are unbefitting of a lady. Don’t worry, just kiss me when we get out of this kerfuffle.”

He took a deep breath, an important breath. Whatever he said next would dictate how this would go down. He noticed Leah’s hand drift down to her waist and he put a reassuring hand on her arm before pulling away. Little did they know they were messing with the modern knight of the galaxy. An expert swordsman. Born rough rider. Stalwart and persistent til death. Potentially. Right now, he was a vagabond with not a single weapon in his possession. Firepower wasn’t cheap and giving an unpaid laborer a blaster was never a good idea. His only weapon would be his wit and charm, hopefully it’d be enough to avoid a full-on shootout. If such a thing came to pass he’d be utterly useless and odds of death always skyrocketed when firefights were around. He walked forward with arms wide open towards the men, walking at an angle just far enough to put himself between them and Leah.

Recognizing his chivalry would do little to deter an ensuing conflict he spoke more loosely “Good afternoon gents! I get the feeling I’m a little in over my head at the moment. Y’all seem very serious at the moment, what flashing your pieces like that and all. Nice to meet you by the way, name’s Pzorzak, with a p. But most, including this little lady right here, probably know me as Lonestar Blastwood, escort extraordinaire. If you’d be so kind as to give us at least an hour to conduct our little “transaction” I’d really appreciate it, even throw in a discount if you’d be interested in hiring yours truly or any of the other escorts. I could use the money at the moment, to be honest I’ve been a little short in the credits department ever since my embarrassing photos were made public. And, come on, man to man here, wouldn’t you love to have a good shag before you die. I mean I’m not assuming anything here, I don’t know what business you plan to conduct with my client. But if your intentions are as lethal as they look, then let a lady have 60 minutes in heaven before she goes. That’s the dream isn’t it? I’m sure we’d all like to go out like that when our time comes.”

He was hoping his appeal would get them onto the ship where they could at least have a chance of speeding off without man to man combat. But at the very least he’d wait for a response and if their response was hostile he hoped his rambling bought Leah enough time to come up with a plan of attack.

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

The three thugs glanced between the Pantoran and each other. Cessair, Pzorzak, or Lonestar Blastwood— whatever his name was, Leah was confused. The best she could do was watch and listen. Worry took root. There was no way the young man could persuade the thugs to leave her alone. Not even for the briefest moment. Not after they knew who she was and what she was planning. Then again, Cessair was causing quite the distraction. Each man looked confused and lost, not sure whatever the supposed vigilante was saying. Up until one of the gangsters perked his head and leaned forward, curious. “A discount? How much?” The second thug smacked the man across the side of his head, not believing what he was hearing.

Leah thought the same way. The angle Cessair was playing was almost infuriating. The implication that he was some kind of street hooker and she was his client was a far cry from the truth. She was a Jedi Master, a rebel ambassador, a woman of respectability and polished skill. Not a chump for sex. As the young man went on and on, as the thugs stood entangled by his words, Leah found it hard to do the same. She was done. By the time he was finished, she grunted. “Mother of Moons! Let’s just get this over with.” One foot brought her forward. With a curled fist, she cocked back her elbow and slammed her knuckles into the face of the closest man. Skin rippled. His skull rattled. In an instant, he was knocked cold into the ground.

The other thugs were shocked but reacted quickly. Both moved for the rifles already in their hands. They were fast but Leah could match their speed with ease. As one bandit hovered a finger over the trigger, she seized the barrel of his blaster. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the Force filled her hand and she crushed the barrel into a mesh of black metal. The man looked at the ruined edge of his rifle then to her. The last thing he saw was her left fist shattering his nose. That would leave a wicked mark. Either way, the blow alone was enough to rocket the man back into the pavement. His grip slipped smoothly from the blaster which Leah still held onto by its barrel. As for the last man, the Jedi spun around and bitch slapped him with the rifle.

With all three men down for the count, Leah tossed the weapon over her shoulder. It clattered on the ground, and if Cessair were to examine it, would see it had become a mangled mess. The Jedi Master realized the man might stand confused, or try to piece together what he saw and how she did what she did, but there was no time to dawdle or idle. Down the hall, several more guards rounded the corner. Seeing their ambush had miserably failed, they raised their weapons and charged toward the pair. “That’s our cue to go!” Was all she managed to say before she took Cessair’s hand and pulled him toward her ship. One of her droids who had been hiding onboard saw her approach and quickly opened the landing ramp inside.

The gangsters behind them pursued. Some waved their rifles angrily, others shot at the retreating couple. That was when Leah saw him. The man of the Azure Twilight syndicate. The man who first placed the bounty. Daz Beletoph. They locked eyes. Before the woman reached the ship confines, she raised a single finger. Her middle one, at that. Then, the ramp closed.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

He knew it had been a long shot, and he couldn’t keep this up much longer. Aside from the one goon gullible enough to bite at the bait for a second, it seems his fabricated story was doing nothing but wasting time. Thankfully, it seemed Leah was ready for action. He watched as with stunning speed she eliminated the first thug from the equation. Impressive, for a lady. With such an openly hostile display in motion, he reacted about as fast as the other two ambushers. As they raised their weapons he instinctively dove for cover, flattening his body against the cold durasteel floor in order to make himself a lesser target. He covered his ears in anticipation of blaster bolts, but they never came. He glanced up to watch Leah take on the other two, knocking out one and backhanding the other with the rifle. He was suddenly feeling not so heroic considering he was on the floor. The lack of weaponry didn’t seem to faze her, maybe it wasn’t as hard as he thought it was.

He pushed himself to his feet and striaghtened out his shirt, hoping he didn’t look cowardly. It was just common sense to avoid being shot, right? He saw the destroyed rifle as it spun lazily to a slow stop on the ground. He didn’t even notice the guards as he stood in bewilderment at the display he had just witnessed. Then his eyes went wide with realization. Impossible. Unbelievable. Amazing. From somewhere deep down in his gut, some force he couldn’t control bubbles up and exploded. As just a guttural reaction he yelled “Woooooo!” He felt a rush of blood to his head as he extatically howled from at the top of his lungs. His mind was racing at what this meant. He had reached the only logical conclusion and the implied myriad of adventures that could come from such a development. He charged forward as Leah pulled him towards the ship, a newfound energy in his step to the point where he was almost outpacing her.

With unadulterated glee he turned to the next wave of approaching attackers, ignoring the incoming blaster fire in the moment of excitement and shouted in their direction “Tally ho, stench! Parting is such sweet sorrow!” He smiled in Leah’s direction as the ramp was closing, seeing a very different expression in stark contrast to his own. He was shocked by her gesture at the dangerous individuals and as a knee jerk reaction held his hand up to hide her hand from view. “You should really stop being so vulgar. I understand the situation’s tense but when you do that you stoop to their level, and I would never want to be associated with such heathens.” Despite the momentary lapse of judgement on her part, he was still over the moon with what had just transpired. For the first time sincerely they met, his excitement broke the chivalrous tone he had made it a point to speak with.

“You’re a sith?! You didn’t tell me you were a sith! I mean, I guess it never really came up, but still! If I was a sith I’d tell everyone! My stars I can’t believe it, you’re a sith! Ive never met one, aside from my father of course but that doesn’t count. I’ve never seen one in action, I mean. I don’t know much about the Force but that’s the only way you could’ve wrecked that guy’s blaster like that. No offense, but there’s no way you’re that strong on your own. Do you have a lightsaber? Can you read minds? Are you reading my mind right now? How many people have you saved? Have you killed any Jedi before? How long have you been a Sith? What’s it like to have the Force? Can you crush other stuff like that? What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever crushed? Is this a sith ship? Can you fly it with the Force? How powerful are you? Are you like, super powerful or is that just like low level stuff? Did you always know you had the Force?”

He was running out of breath with his rambling questions. It was the lack of oxygen in his lungs that clued him into the fact that he was talking too much. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. Clearing his throat and collecting himself he said in his knightly voice “Pardon my fervor, m’lady. ‘Tis a fortuitous revelation is all. And my apologies for painting you in such a light back there. I was trying to appeal to the immature and sexual psyche of their type.”

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

She marched through the cabin of the ship and toward the cockpit. As she did, she listened to Cessair ramble behind her. She didn’t bother to respond to the heathen comment. If he really believed the woman would refrain from her natural obscenity to men who had been trying to kill her for weeks, he was wrong. “Did you just call me a heathen?” She answered his first remark with a serious glance only to chuckle. “That’s a first.” The Jedi Master entered the cockpit. Lights jumped to life. Several alarms hissed, almost reacting to her arrival. They were not in the air yet and the syndicate outside were still trying to hammer their way inside. Sliding into the pilot’s seat, she prepared for liftoff. Her transport was a tough nut to crack and she doubted the thugs outside could break in. The only real problem was the young man still blathering beside her.

Leah was not sure whether to be amused or annoyed to be called a Sith. While it was a common reaction and perfectly acceptable after seeing her take out the thugs in such a manner, the Jedi Master was not welcome to the thought. Neither did she welcome being smothered with so many questions. Leaning forward in her seat, she pulled the yoke of her ship and clicked a few controls and forced the transport into the air. Engines hummed and hissed. Higher and higher, they rose until the gangsters on the landing platform were nothing more than tiny specks. Even as she veered the ship into the sky and away from the city, Cessair was still talking. At least, he had run out of breath and finally realized he was done. The Jedi Master could have been anymore relieved. Not that she let the other man know.

She chuckled as the shuttle pierced the upper atmosphere. “It’s fine,” she said, not minding the whole charade they played back on the landing platform. It proved how skilled the young man was at talking his way out of a situation. Of course, Leah didn’t have to time to wait, hence her quick move to act rather than observe. Processing his other questions, however, she paused to consider what more to say. That quick action did reveal something else: her supernatural strength and gift with the Force. Maybe she overstepped her bounds. Maybe it was better she kept it a secret and left Cessair in the dark. Maybe not. He was not quick to judge her, and to her surprise, welcomed it. He was beyond ecstatic knowing she was not some ordinary passerby. Perhaps it was for the better.

Almost rolling her eyes, she answered with some reluctance. “I’m not a Sith.” Firm, she continued to work along the dashboard of her ship, trying to occupy herself when it was clear there was no escaping the young man. He wanted answers, and she had them. “But the Force? I’ve always known. As long as I could remember.” She glanced toward him and managed a soft smile. “It’s just always been there. Hidden away.” She shrugged. “Not anymore.” Leah shifted in her seat awkwardly, unsure of what else to say. Then, it clicked. Tilting her head at Cessair, she asked him with an easygoing and nonchalant tone as if she didn’t already know the answer. “And what about you, Cessair? Have you always known?” She fought back another tiny smile. Very smooth. Totally.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Cessair retracted a bit, crestfallen that his questions seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. He wondered if he said something wrong and decided to stay quiet for the moment. He had said quite alot, maybe it was just too many to remember. He certainly wasn’t going to run through them all again, that would annoy even himself. In the brief silence that followed he looked over Leah’s shoulder. He was trying to see from a distance how she maneuvered this ship. He still didn’t know exactly how to fly, so he took whatever opportunity that presented itself to try and figure it out from the third person perspective. Starships had so many buttons, he was certain that some of them had to be for decoration. No way they all had a function. If they did, he’d never learn how to fly. He withdrew hastily as she resumed speaking, hoping that she didn’t notice his hovering.

He was perplexed at her very pointed rejection of being a Sith. It seemed like the logical career choice for someone with such talents. That’s what he would do. It’s all his father talked about doing the few times they spoke. Maybe the life of danger wasn’t for her. Maybe being on the frontlines wasn’t her style. Then again, they had just narrowly avoided several blaster wielding goons, so she obviously wasn’t a stranger to hostile interactions. He was relieved that she was answering a few of his questions now, it was enough to remind him to not feel sorry for himself but not quite enough to think he hadn’t gone too far. He listened to her intently as she described her relationship with the Force. It was interesting, though it did leave him a little perplexed. He wasn’t sure what she meant by it being “hidden”, or why it wasn’t any longer. She wasn’t clear with her wording, which for Cessair naturally meant: ASK. MORE. QUESTIONS. But he held himself back, he could feel every word caught in his throat as he tried to show some semblance of self restraint. He swallowed the potential verbiage and forced himself to just listen.

If he hadn’t, he might not have heard what came next. She said it so casually and plainly that he did a bit of a double take, not believing what she said at first. “Excuse me, Lea-. M’lady. I believe you’re mistaken. I told you earlier I am no such individual. I understand if you were confused, given the silver tongued nature I’ve displayed in the past few minutes but that statement was true.” He was certain he couldn’t do anything like the show she had put on down below in the spaceport. Technically speaking he hadn’t tried doing that. He didn’t exactly have anything in the vicinity he could experiment on anyways. His father would’ve told him. Yeah, of course he would. Two sith were certainly better than one. They could’ve fought side by side, an unstoppable duo. He couldn’t see any reason he’d feed him a lie. But such a simple statement, from for all intents and purposes a stranger, was doing way more to his mind than it probably should. He circled back in a matter of seconds, needing some form of resolution to the matter.

“Okay, hang on. You’re obviously implying that I have the Force. But I know that I can’t do what you just did. And I’ve been given confirmation before that I don’t possess such abilities. Could it be that whatever you sense, or feel, or however it works, is just force residue or something from my father? Like radiation or something... I don’t know.” He was pacing back and forth at this point as his mind raced. Which was an odd site to behold as the starship was a 1 person starship. It was built for speed, not comfort. Such a design did not lend itself to a large cockpit, meaning he could only pace two steps at a time before having to turn. If he didn’t stop he’d start getting dizzy. He was starting to talk less and less with Leah and more just speaking to himself “Do I have the Force? I mean, I guess it could be hereditary. It would be really cool, and a serious boon in my future. But father.” He turned back to Leah. “Sorry if I’m running your ear off. It’s just confusing is all. Plus I haven’t had anyone to talk to in the past three days, I might’ve been a little backed up.”

He wasn’t acting very heroic at this point. In his own mental chaos he had dropped the chivalrous tone again. His voice had probably shifted up in pitch as well. He wasn’t sure why he kept apologizing, but he felt an odd urge to please Leah, something he couldn’t quite place. It was messing up the one thing he did well. When a complete stranger could undo him so easily, the false bravado fell away and showed just how young and inexperienced he was. He had no knowledge of how the galaxy worked, all he knew were the stories he’d read and the parties he’d snuck into. Not exactly a strong foundation for world views. The more he thought about it, the more conflicted he became. He had never wanted something to be simultaneously true and untrue at the same time. With no place to sit he simply knelt by her chair, resting his hand on her arm. He did so as he looked into her eyes, his own probably looking as lost as a homeless puppy. As he held her gaze he said slowly “If what you’re implying is true, then my father lied to me, which I don’t think he would do. If you’re lying, this is a very cruel joke and one I don’t appreciate. Just please, be straight with me. How would you know that I’m, that I’m like you? Like my father? How can you be sure?”

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

Cessair was in complete denial. She figured, knowing the pair had only just met. She understood, realizing he was raised against the very thought. She sympathized, respecting his inherent disbelief. However, no matter what he said or told her, she knew. The Jedi Master could sense that somewhere, past his loose-lipped mouth and under all of his bravado, the Force flowed through him. He possessed the gift so many, perhaps his father, would have killed to siphon or control. Although she was uncertain about it before, the longer Leah was around the young man, the more she could feel it. Having known the Force for as long as she could remember, she had grown quick to catch it even as the faintest strain in the strangest of people.

“I just know because I do.” She said and shrugged. It was a terrible answer, nothing Cessair might have wanted to hear, but what more could she say? Leah could explain the intricacies of the Force, how she could see into his mind’s eye if she tried hard enough, because of an energy that flowed through and between every living thing. Even if she did, was that what Cessair wanted? The matter of the fact was, he refused to see the truth. As a child, always guided forward by the Force, doing what was considered unimaginable, maneuvering through his old estate. He may not have understood then but there was no reason he couldn’t now. Cessair didn’t have to know everything to take his first steps into the Light. It was a leap of faith. Leah wondered if he was willing to take it.

“I know what you’re thinking: crazy, impossible, ridiculous.” She glanced away from the controls as the ship emerged out of the planet atmosphere. Below, the surface was a canvas of bronze and gray and white, from dry dunes to the crowded cities or mountain peaks. Leah smiled knowing the world was behind her. “I’m not asking for you to believe me, Cessair. Just to listen. Not only to my words but to yourself. Look closely. Search your feelings, and you will know it to be true.” She guided his hand toward his chest and trusted he might pick up from where she left off. If he was ready to accept it, then he would know. If not? Then it was fine either way. The Jedi was not going to force the truth down his throat. Like she said, he was not there to make him believe. Just to guide him.

Still, she worried. Leah wanted to whisk him up in her arms, like a mother would to a child, and explain every little detail he might need or want to know. But how would that help? As a Jedi Master, it was her responsibility to teach, but the success of the student also relied on a willingness to learn. To grow. Cessair, or any force-sensitive individual for that matter, was like a flower. She could not force it to blossom. She could not urge it to develop in the middle of winter, or in this case, in this war between Jedi and Sith. Leah could water him with knowledge, nurture him toward true freedom, but he needed to absorb that to grow. So, the Jedi would leave it to him to decide whether he wanted to accept the reality now, or later. Either way, it was inevitable.

Truth is inescapable.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

She wasn’t helping. Not at first anyways. He was almost audibly exasperated at her complete lack of a satisfactory answer. But what else could he say or do? They were alone up here in open space. No one would hear him scream, no one would hear his beating heart as it broke a million miles above the surface. He sat there in stunned silence, desperately trying to find words. Words that mattered. He felt the entire basic dictionary threatening to spew out of his lips, but none of them would help. He had to find something. His tongue was his greatest asset, yet it couldn’t help him now. Even when he was in the den of pirates and smugglers, away from his home and everyone he knew, he hadn’t felt this alone. Because he knew everything would be ok. He knew how everything was going to end: he’d get his revenge on his kidnappers, he’d return home triumphantly and save his father from whatever danger ailed him, he’d find a maiden to call his own and reap the benefits of his adventures. Now it was all being put into question, and he was failing to come to grips with it.

Thankfully she talked before he was forced to, saving him from the silent void that had formed between them. She was trying to help him, which he appreciated. She wasn’t just dropping a bomb on him and leaving him to figure it out. As she guided his hand, he rested his forehead on her shoulder, trying to find some solace in her warmth. He could feel his own heartbeat pounding at an alarming rate, despite his efforts to slow it down. He nervously took a shaky breath and barely mouthed the word “Okay.” He tried to focus on... something. He didn’t know what searching his feelings meant. He felt scared at the idea of his life being derailed. He felt confused at his father’s apparent omissions- no. Lies. He felt alone, but yet he wasn’t. Here was Leah, someone he was having trouble denying that he hadn’t met by chance. He focused on her. He focused on recalling what little time had transpired after they met. He tried to envision it all in his mind, maybe that would help.

He wasn’t alone, there. He was acutely aware of where she was, so he knew that presence wasn’t hers. There was something besides them. It wasn’t tangible, he couldn’t see it. But just as she said, he could tell it was true, whatever that meant. So he sat there. He didn’t pull away, he couldn’t. He couldn’t describe the sensation he felt around her, but it was something he hadn’t felt before. It wasn’t physical, he was quite familiar with that sensation. After what felt like too long a stretch of time, he spoke up. Still with his head resting on her he said “So, what does this mean? Does it mean anything? Everything? I have so many questions, I don’t know what to do with myself. I can’t go back to my patron, he hates force users. He’s no stranger to murder, either. I’m not ready to confront him. I don’t have a single weapon to my name.” He held his eyes shut with extreme force. He still had to show some semblance of composure, he forced himself to stay still to avoid shaking.

He started to get angry at himself for being so easily unraveled and pulled away suddenly. No hero would act in such a way. He straightened his clothes and realized he had left all his clothing back on the planet. Great. He straightened his hair a bit then turned back to face Leah. “Fine. It’s true. Whatever. This changes nothing. I’m sure my father had a good reason, this just strengthens my belief that he’s in some sort of trouble. Trouble I’ll save him from.” He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more: Leah, or himself. “You say you’re not a sith, do you at least know some of them? If I have the Force then I’ll need to know how to use it. I’m sure I could find someone to train me. After all, I am hard to turn down. Just point me in the right direction, and-, and I’ll get out of your hair. I’m sure you don’t want a fool like me sticking around.”

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

Change was not always a welcome force. Leah understood, and she could sense the same sentiment in Cessair. When one lived their whole life revolved around a single idea or purpose, and someone decided to flip their world upside down with nothing more than a few words, then it would certainly be hard to accept what was said. The young man had been told he was nothing special, or left with the thought that he wasn’t of any worth to his father, who had abandoned him to his own captors. But Leah? She saw differently, and she wanted him to see that too. Perhaps even reel him into the revived Jedi, or perhaps not. The choice ultimately remained with him. Leah would not be the one to decide his fate or future. It was in his hands.

Cessair stepped in close. Maybe a little too close for comfort. The Jedi Master hoped for the young man to search his own feelings, rather than hers, but she did nothing to stop him. It wasn’t that she felt her privacy was being invaded. It was that she was afraid he might see something he shouldn’t. Pain, death, remorse. As much of a Jedi she proclaimed herself to be, Leah was still human. Broken, hurting, vulnerable. So she maintained a steely gaze, indifferent, and hid away her emotions. But her spirit and presence in the Force? She allowed it to flow freely. More than enough for Cessair to recognize, absorb and understand. It was the Force, but without an inkling of the Dark Side he had come to know through his father.

His patron. She raised a brow. “You don’t have a ship. You’re not ready to confront your patron. You don’t have a single weapon.” She echoed his words back at him, but added a small note of hope. “Yet.” Finger raised, she offered a comforting smile. “You have the Force. You have this determination, this resolve— I haven’t seen in anyone I’ve met before. You’re a lot more than what you think you are, Cessair, and you can be so much more too.” Around them, as the ship left the world behind them, the stars glimmered against the backdrop of what seemed like oblivion. Light against the dark. “I’m not a Sith.” Her hesitation melted away. “I’m a Jedi, like my mother before me.” She tried her best not to overwhelm him. “And like what you will be, I hope. One day. If you’re willing.”

Her hand slipped away as she relaxed in her seat, hoping to give him some space. “You’re not a fool.” She chuckled at the idea. He might have talked more than most but that didn’t change the fact he was different. “You’re so much more than that.” She repeated, driving the point home. Of course, Leah made sure to back off, fully expecting her makeshift request would leave much to be considered. “I know this is abrupt. I know we’ve just met. I know you have no idea who I really am or what I might do.” A pause. “But I trust you. The Force guides me, as I’m sure it as guided you, to this very moment.” She shrugged. “I’m not here to force my faith down your throat. I’m not here to press you into my religion, or cult, or however you might see me. I’m just here to make sure you understand.”

Leah stood out of her seat, allowing her mechanical co-pilot to maintain their course. “I’ll leave you alone. Give you some time to think.” She nodded to the droid and drifted toward the cockpit exit. Her thoughts were running. Heart thumping. The Jedi Master revealed a dangerous secret of her own to a random vigilante. Was it wise? No. Was it right? There was no telling. Did she believe it was? Without a doubt. Leah trusted in the Force. She always did.

@Lost Hero

 

[Cessair Darkrose]

Cessair seemed to mime the words of comfort she said, as if he was trying to convince himself they were true. He didn’t believe it though, he wasn’t feeling like much at the moment. He kept his face neutral though, he did appreciate the kind words after all, even if they didn’t take root in his heart. He tried to keep an open mind as she continued, which turned out to be very much a necessity with what she said next. He already knew she wasn’t a sith, but he felt there was a huge difference between having the Force and being a Jedi. He reflexively made a sour face at the mention. He quickly realized his error and returned to the neutral thoughtful expression. The few times he and his father spoke about the Jedi, it was always in a negative manner, of weakness. She didn’t seem weak to him. She had done more than he had ever seen his father prove capable of. He was very much predisposed to disliking or even hating the Jedi, but the truth was he knew very little of them. His father refused to educate him on such things. Maybe times had changed, maybe Jedi weren’t as weak as they were when his father was growing up. Such would seem to be the case if Leah was the rule and not the exception.

He felt her pull away and he almost followed her, but was resolute in staying in place, trying to show some of that resolve that she seemed to think he had despite what he himself believed. He heard her assurances, but they were getting diminishing returns. Less and less of a reaction. The smaller statements were washing over him as he tried to think. He just continued to stand there and hear her out, at this point he had given up on talking. She seemed to read him well and left soon after. He was alone again. As he’d felt for the majority of his life. A father who he believed loved him, but still recognized had a love for power more than for his son. A mother he never knew because she didn’t want him, never knowing a nurturing figure in his youth. Never making any strong connections. The faces of the all nighters that frequented clubs and bars started to smear in his mind’s eye. They all started to blend together and become a blur of memory.

It was easy being whoever he wanted to be for a night. Some nights he was damaged, a brooding soul who’d seen things no one his age should have witnessed. Some nights he was a jester, the loudest one in the room working the crowd. Sometimes he was the knight, letting everyone laugh at the relic of days past prance about in a scene that didn’t want him. No matter who he was, he’s still wake up himself. Alone. So, as he stood there alone in what with a little self reflection seemed to be his natural state of being, he pulled out a book. A physical book with pages and binding. The book that was always on his person, the one that had seen almost as many years as he had. The Tales of Dinadan Darkrose. He sat down to read, but didn’t start at the first page. He simply opened the book and started reading. He knew the plot by memory. He knew the characters, the events, the outcomes. Some parts he could even recite off the top of his head. In the stories he found solace. A world unlike his own, a world on the brink yet somehow better than reality. In this world, heroes prevailed. In this world he knew that the hero would live, he would save the day, and he would get the girl. It’s what he figured his life was.

But he didn’t know any of those things. He didn’t know if today would be his last, he was far from a savior for anyone besides himself, and girls... they left. Even the one who brought him into the galaxy. And now he had met another. A maiden who had saved him more than he had saved her. H couldn’t call her the fairest of the land either as the riffraff of the galaxy seemed to have rubbed off on her language and behavior. Yet she was kind and patient, nurturing and calm. In his mind the two contradicted each other, two things that didn’t go hand in hand. Could he trust someone like that? He had never heard the Force be referred to as a religion before. He simply saw it as a power that two opposing factions were well known for utilizing. The more he thought, the more he came to understand: He knew nothing. There had to be some rhyme and reason within all of this. Some path for him to follow. A narrative. An entire year had passed since getting his first taste of the galaxy outside Coruscant. Looking back, he hadn’t made any significant change. He couldn’t point to a single event where he made someone’s life better that didn’t include his own happiness in the equation. Some hero he turned out to be.

He closed the book after some time. He had no idea how much time had passed, be it a few minutes or a few hours. Whatever happened next had to be decisive. Indecision would tear him apart. Think. Think. Maybe he could just ask for a ride to Coruscant. Try to get to authorities before his patron even knew he ran off. Then what? Live in fear and failure? He could try to strike it out on his own, maybe just aim to make an honest living. Then what? Live in loneliness and loathing? Or, he could take a chance and follow this new path. Then what? He didn’t know. That was the key! “I don’t know!” He exclaimed, breaking the silence for the first time in what felt like a long time. Adventure was never certain. He didn’t know how thing would pan out, but he didn’t have to. Was it crazy? Absolutely. Did it go against everything his father taught him? Yes. Yet it was the best idea. His father had lied to him, but he didn’t assume ill intentions. The Force guided him just as it did his father. What if it was all meant to happen? What if this was how he was meant to save his dad all along? He sat up with renewed vigor and set out to find Leah once more, which wasn’t hard on a ship this small.

“Okay. I’ll do it. I do have a few conditions though. First, I want to be able to leave if I change my mind. If I decide that whatever this is, this path is one I no longer want to follow, I want to be able to pack my stuff and go. Second, I don’t want any secrecy. I’m trusting you on this, I don’t like being lied to and if I find out you are I’ll never forgive you. And finally, just, just don’t abandon me, okay? I know nothing is forever, but I’ve had a lot I gone-too-soon’s and not enough here to stay’s. I don’t expect you to care about my personal baggage, no one ever seems to give a damn about me for more than a night, I just don’t want to be left and forgotten before I can go back home and make things right.”

@Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

Leah moved into the main cabin of the light freighter. The ship was small, nothing worth more than a glance, but it was home to her. At least, for the time being. Her travels from one corner of the galaxy to the other was composed almost purely on that very bucket of bolts. It could be deathly quiet. Awkward, sometimes. But she enjoyed the peace. Some occasions, she turned to deep meditation and contemplation. For most, she fell into what was essentially a coma, resting for the journey, or fiddled with one of the several artifacts stored aboard. While Cessair was busy considering his choice, maybe it was best the Jedi Master turned to contemplation or prayer. A chance to prove she was not the vulgar vagabond he may have come to know her as. Then again, how he perceived Leah would not change his destiny.

So, in this case, she decided to play a game of Dejarik with the ship’s astromech droid. Reclined in her seat, she waved two fingers by each move. The droid was a clever one, always one step ahead of the Jedi, but Leah was not to be underestimated. She had played the game enough to know every detail and trick. Not purely because of her constant traveling. Her husband, the one man she could confide in, always loved a game of Dejarik. He was good at it. Back then, the best in the Rebellion. He never so much as used the Force to gain an advantage either, something Leah was tempted to do in more times than one. Now? She wanted to follow after him. Another small way of honoring the man she lost. A part of her believed if she played the game enough, she could shift one inch closer to closure. Of course, all she was left with was grief.

Leah wanted to honor her husband. She tried whenever she could, but she struggled to be the wise, sympathetic Jedi Master he had been. No matter what she did, she couldn’t fill his shoes. She encouraged outsiders like Cessair, she trained new students, she continued to learn the ways of the Force, but Leah always fell short. Not a day went by that she wished he was there. Maybe he would have done a better job at persuading the young man still stuck in the cockpit, left alone to his thoughts. Maybe he would have stayed with him, guiding him further unlike she had. Unfortunately, Leah would never know. The best she could do was hope she hadn’t made a mistake.

Her eyes drifted back down to the board. Through all the holographic pieces of each wild creature, she spotted an opening. As the droid moved its main piece into the center, the woman bit back a smirk and beckoned her own piece, a Mantellian Savrip, to meet it. Seizing the opposing Kintan strider, her piece lifted it into the air and smacked it down. The droid, knowing it had virtually lost the game, offered several annoyed, obscene beeps in response. “Chill your circuits, buddy. It’s just a game.” The droid ignored her and bleeped some more. “Watch the language. We have a guest aboard…” Leah realized the Pantoran vigilante was not too fond of her jargon, even if she was so accustomed to its use in the Rebellion. It was surprising he hadn’t picked that up during his stay on Ord Mantell.

As her thoughts wandered over to him, Cessair waltzed into the cabin. He carried a serious look, full of a confidence she had not seen when she first revealed the truth. Attention unwavering, she clung to his every word. What he was asking for was a lot. Almost too much. Knowing what he knew, no Jedi in their right mind could afford to let him leave whenever he wanted. What if he was captured out there, tormented for information? The risk was too great. But what was a rebellion without risk? Leah was willing to take a gamble on him. Whether the odds were stacked against her or not, it didn’t matter. All she needed was faith, and she trusted Cessair would do the right thing. The Jedi Master may have known him for so little time, but the Force guided her to him for a reason. She sensed promise. So the least she could do was return the favor.

A silent nod, a narrow smile. Leah answered, “All right.” She prayed she wouldn’t regret it. “This is your choice, your life, your destiny. I cannot promise you will welcome everything I tell you, or what might happen down the road, but if you ever decide to leave because of it, I won’t stop you.” Cessair didn’t need the Force to know she was telling the truth. Leah raised her hands defensively. “And no secrets. The Jedi are not built on lies, I can assure you.” Her smile widened. “And I won’t leave you. Never. Even if you decide to train under someone else, I’ll always be with you. In the Force and in the flesh. And if you ever need someone to confide in, I’m here. You don’t have to tell me now, but when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

“But in the meantime—“ She shifted in her seat, opening a new spot among the booth and around the table. Before an awkward silence could settle in, hoping to welcome Cessair into the family, she gestured him to sit down. “—care to join us for a round?” That same smile turned into a grin. The astromech droid beeped, curious if the young man could fare better against the woman. Maybe not, but he could always try. There was no better way to learn.

End Thread.​