Pilgrims on a lonely journey

[Nova Elgrin]

They were back in space for just a couple of hours. Nova still felt weird around the friend of her dreams. Even though she had felt a connection of some sort between them, it didn't feel quite right to have him on board. Once more she wished she was a bit older, or at least looked a bit older so people wouldn't get the impression of her being unable to take care of herself. But then again, they all did view her as a child, didn't they? As much as she hated the fact they did, what would she do if she saw a girl her age wandering around just by herself? Maybe it was an honorable move of him after all, to not take account of her wish to travel alone, of her wish to not drag another person into this? She didn't really want to admit it to herself, but he was right. Who would save her next time around?
She could feel the dark spots in his aura, an unspoken threat radiating from their core. And yet his light next to her was as comforting as a if he stroked her cheek. She had encountered him so many times in her dreams, and she had shared time with him in the real world now as well, and yet his aura still felt mysterious, almost alien to her. The space radio was filling the awkward silence between them, but after a while Nova turned down the volume. MU2 was piloting the ship at the moment so didn't had to focus on it for now. She turned her head and her eyes met his. "You know..I havn't told you everything about the Sith on Fest..." she sounded insecure. She clearly did not want him to grab her again, she wasn't all too certain he wouldn't grab her by the hair if she irritated him enough "When I defeated the Sith girl...the other man said something..weird." She didn't continue in speaking, however rather shared her memory with him through their link in the force.

She was lying in the snow. It was cold. She had just killed the Sith girl and yet the rain of bolts had her knees give way in less than a second. She saw the man when he knelt next to her, his clear-cut face, the piercing regard of his golden orbs. His voice was defined by something that came disturbingly close to gentleness "Well done..." what followed was a message also unspoken but clearly vibrating in the force. He wanted her to keep on fighting. He wanted her to know that the redhead had been just her first opponent and the snowstorm would be the real enemy to overcome. Suddenly the Sith turned his head and his eyes darted skywards, as if something had caught his attention. He smiled before he rose and with this the memory ended...

Nova felt ashamed for his words, and she couldn't even tell why. She didn't want a Sith to praise her! And it didn't make any sense either, did it?
Her eyes now lowered to her fingers which were nervously playing "That's really...weird...isn't it?"

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn remained quiet for most of the take-off and he didn't complain about the music playing on the space radio. He wasn't used to complaining about things like that. Or to complaining in general. So far throughout his life he had had very little say in most things. Ships ambient temperature? His mothers decision. What space radio station to listen to? His mothers decision. Where to go and what to do? His mothers decision. The few things he had been allowed to decide by himself had been things that didn't interfere with what his mother had wanted. So he had learned to be frugal and thick-skinned. And right now there were things that bothered him far more. Like the fact that they didn't know where they were going. Or that he didn't know how to tell Nova that they were family.

Both problems were equally distracting. How to find someone that could be anywhere in the galaxy by now? Yes, he had found Nova eventually, but that were special circumstances. She was his sister after all. They shared more than just blood. Through the force they shared a connection that went even further. But how would she react if she learned the truth about her own father? Or just the truck about their relationship. Would she like it or hate it? Would she maybe even hate him? Children were unpredictable after all. So for now his own fear of her reaction held him back from telling her anything that related to their shared blood. Their father would remain a no-go topic for now.

Still her revelation that she had not told him everything would soon bring that decision to the test. “What haven't you told me?” He asked and moments later felt her mind touch his. Words it seemed weren't enough to explain it properly. Or maybe she just couldn't find the right ones. His barriers let Nova in almost instantly and without Finn having to do much. The connection they shared had developed fast on his end. She was no longer an intruder to him. More like a welcome guest. At least to the parts of his mind that weren't to terrible for her to see. So while she showed him what she had not told him before he tried his best to hold back the inner darkness that was rumbling in the depth of his being. To keep it away from her.

While he did so he at the same time could feel every emotion Nova had felt after the traumatic event that had been her fight against the Sith girl. The death of that girl at her own hands had clearly shaken Nova. For most people killing wasn't easy. He felt deep sympathy for her. Something he rarely felt for anyone. She should not have to go through this. Especially not by herself.
When the memory progressed and the older Sith came into the picture, speaking to Nova and being all cryptic about it Finn could no longer contain himself. His hands were digging into the upholstery of his chairs armrests. He quickly and violently shut himself off from Nova and had to struggle to force the troubled waters of his soul to come to rest again.

It took him a while until he felt he could speak to her about what he had witnessed. Partly because it had thrown him into turmoil and partly because it had given him much to think, worry and wonder about. What worried him the most was the skyward look that he had noticed in the end. He wasn't sure Nova had even caught on to that yet. But it worried Finn to no end. Had this Sith known he had been on his way to save Nova? Was that even possible? That someone who had never met him could somehow and at a distance tell his presence apart from that of some random other force user? The degree of familiarity one needed for something like this to work was troubling in itself. Had he met this Sith before? Maybe without knowing? It was possible.

“Sith are tricksters. They fool you into trusting them, believing them, pulling you ever closer to the dark side.” He said. “That was his intention I believe.” Finn looked at her. “They must not succeed. Remember what your master taught you! Trust in your fathers guidance.” He told his little sister and meant only her master. For now he figured it was best to keep her thinking of the man as such. “You can see what the dark side does to you.” he said and meant himself. He didn't want her to be tainted in the same way he had been.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

When he asked her why she hadn't told him earlier, a guilty coincidence let her heart sink. Shyly she found his gaze once more. "I..." and yet not single further word managed to pass her lips. She had not openly confessed yet, that the very last dream they had shared still took its toll when it came to trust. His ruse about him letting her believe she was encoutering a Sith in his person had not been forgotten yet. His sharp words...how he had made her cry....

She listend to his evaluation and found it to be legit. He offered her solace, as well as reinsurance and Nova could feel a tide of affection for him entering her heart and flooding it wholly. When she realised her already growing attachment, she tried to let him become aware of only the mere fraction of her feelings. She didn't want him to think of her as a clingy little girl. In the end of course, she didn't manage. She hoped he didn't mind.

When he talked about the dark side, sweet melancholy touched her soul with gentle wandering fingertips "Did one of them fool you into trusting them...?" there was no accusation in her voice, which was almost a surprise for herself as well. She was soft-spoken about it for the first time she could recall.
She had seen memories and impressions of his life in their dreams. But only ever fragements that did not tell a whole story. And even these fragements had been experienced with blurred vision and deafend ear.

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn was astonished how easy it was to console the girl. He would not have believed that a few words could do so much. Just telling her what to do seemed enough. It gave him a strange sense of achievement that he had managed to reassure her.
When she showed him how she felt about him he was glad. And for a short moment after that he felt blessed. A part of him wanted to tell her that and how they were related. It wasn't the right time though. He would know when, or so he hoped.

When she asked about his personal experience with the Sith he had to think for a while. Not so much about the question itself but about how much he could tell her without it being too much. On the one hand she deserved to know. After all she was family. Secrets had never been a big thing between him and his mother. On the other hand she didn't know that this was privileged information. She didn't know that this was only for the two of them.

He did want to tell her, but he didn't know how much he was able to give away right now. So he stayed careful. As he usually did. “Oh it went far beyond that.” He told Nova and looked out into the starry blackness of space. “ 'She' ... made me this way.” He said and felt that little was revealed by that information. “I loved her ...” He admitted finally. “ … and she made me believe that she loved me too.” That was the most terrible part about it. Sam had always known how to apologize in a heart wrenching manner that had just made it impossible for him to not completely and utterly adore his mother. Until that very moment she had died in his arms he had been sure that she needed him just as much as he needed her. He had been her anchor, her light in the grim darkness of the night. But now, now that she was dead, doubt spread through Finn like poison. Had she truly ever needed him? Had she loved him as much as she had sworn to him, over and over again? He simply didn't know. All he had was her word and his memory of her. And his memory didn't paint all too clear a picture.

After he had finished he kept staring out into space. He thought back to that day when Sam had stabbed him through the stomach with her lightsaber. He had almost died that day. The thought alone was enough to make the scar tingle and itch uncomfortably. Her reason for it had been a good one to her. Nobody had the right to threaten her son but Sam herself. So she had 'killed' Finn to show the people that had threatened Finn just how serious she was about that sentiment. You didn't mess with Samantha Simmons. Not if you wanted to survive meeting her.
The men that had died that day stayed with Finn to this day. Their life force ripped from their bodies and forcefully shoved into that of Finn. Only lifeless husks had remained behind after Sam had been finished with them. Finn could sometimes still hear their screams. Thankfully that was the most coherent form of expression they were still capable of. Screaming. During the first few weeks Finn had heard them constantly. In his nightmares they had been with him for months. Now they were but a distant memory.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

His gaze freed itself from her, his eyes now wandering, till they came to rest and the clear blue stared into the infinity of the blackness that surrounded them. He didn't say all that much, yet his words carried weight. She could see and feel that even when he had finished, his thoughts kept on circling. Another person, who had not the slightest idea of his past, would have thought he spoke about former lover. And even though Nova didn't know too much about his life herself, she was still capable of cachting up to the fine nuances of his voice. The women she had seen in her dreams, the one with such harshness to her features and expression. She still regarded him thoughtfully, before her gaze broke free of him to look at the galaxy as well. "Every story is a love story I guess...." her eyes darted towards him after she had spoken. Had the corner of his mouth just twitched? This wasn't even about what he thought! Well, not completely at least. A serious expression now adorned the Nova's childlike face "I mean...it is true! And it's not just the love between two individuals but rather...." she paused for just a moment, before continuing: "Some love power, some revenge, some credits.." she looked at her fingers now again. She covered the missing parts up out of an old habbit. "In the end, every story is a love story..."

 

[FinnSimmons]

When she spoke of power, revenge and credits he couldn't help hut think that she had never felt compelled to get either of them. Was it a love for power or was it not a craving, an addiction? Was revenge not more of a madness? It probably lay closer to insanity than that. And greed was definetively not love. It was empty and hollow. But he chose to keep his mouth shut. She would probably learn all this on her own soon enough. He didn't want to patronize her and so he didn't. He kept nodding and made sounds to acknowledge that he was listening. For a while after that he was simply quiet. The music playing in the background was just enough to cover the humming and buzzing of the cockpit.

When he remembered that they still didn't know where they were going he opened up a star chart and turned his head slightly towards Nova. . “So … where are we going?” He said and held his expectant gaze for a while. Then he turned his head back to face his console and busied himself with the map.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

She looked at the map that appeared in front of Tyûk. "We were attacked on Iridonia" she pondered. She had given him the very short version of the attack while they were staying on Fest. Now she informed him about how, as much as she wanted, she couldn't tell him that much more, as she could hardly remember what had happend. It had been just a normal day, far and wide no threat to feel. They had stayed in a pub for dinner, but Nova was sure the drinks had been poisoned. She described the symptons to her companion, the dizzyness and feeling of sickness as well as the loss of sense of balance. Furthermore all colours had been blindingly loud suddenly, and she had been unable to think straight. Backness had chocked her consciousness and she had woken up the next morning, hidden behind the stall of a bazaar.
"We could go to Iridonia and try to find out more about the attackers... I already tried to get some information, but it was almost like noone saw or heard anything...at least, that was what they were saying..." of course Nova had had the feeling the inkeeper of the pub knew more than he had been willing to admit or share, but in the end noone took the threat of a little gril too serious.
"My father and I share a strong bond within force. We could try to find him by using that...but I can't always...feel it that clear. It feels almost as if...something is covering it at times..." She gave him a questioning look as if she wanted him to decide.

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn listened while his sister told him again of the attack she had suffered on Iridonia. She made a good point when she proposed to go back to the scene of the attack. There was a chance they could find out something about whoever attacked them. And if people had played dumb with Nova before he would make sure they would spill the blue milk. They would not stand in the way of his sisters reunion with her master. Nova needed her master to be safe and Finn would not fail in their quest to find him. “Then Iridonia it is.” He said and zoomed in on the map he had still opened on the screen in front of him. When she continued to talk about her master he felt he had to reassure her. “We will know the reason for that when we find him.” He told her matter-of-factly. If he had to he would take apart the whole neighborhood to find someone who had some information for them. Now that he had set his mind to it there would be nothing that could hold him back from following through.


He let Nova set the course to Iridonia and remained in the cockpit afterwards. It would not take them too long to get to the planet. They were relatively close to start with. So something closer to hours than days they would probably reach the planet. From there they would have to follow in her masters footsteps. Find where he had gone or - possibly - been taken. Finn didn't have any illusions about this being dangerous. He was uncertain he should take nova with him simply because she had been ambushed before. Maybe she was not suited for this. Then again maybe her experience had taught her something. For now though he wanted her to get some rest and he told her to go do so. He still didn't feel like she was back to her full strength. But maybe he was being overprotective.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

Nova nodded. She could be headstrong at times but it felt good to let him make the decision. After all, most decisions regarding her life hadn't been her own as well, but her fathers. Maybe the inkeeper would be willing to share information with Tyûk? Alone his height and stature demanded a certain kind of respect after all. So she set course to Iridonia. It wouldn't take them too long to arrive there. When he demanded her to go get some rest she exhaled in an obviously frustrated manner, however she did as he told her without back talking.

Iridonia wasn't a precisely welcoming planet on first sight. To be honest, it wasn't even on second sight. Its surface was widely covered with pools of acid and everywhere the earth was cracking open spewing lava and reminding of glowing red veines.
Nova woke up from the slight shattering when the landed in the docking bay. Why did he not wake her sooner? She would have landed the ship herself! Hastingly she got up and changed her clothings to something more fitting to the temperature of the local environment. She still remembered very well how hot it had been even in the temperature-controlled city, let alone the pub.
She left her room, patted Luna which of course followed her. Tyûk was just leaving the cockpit when Nova's half surprised half reproachful gaze met him "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn had kept his apparel unlike Nova. She was wearing far to revealing shorts and all but a top He was just about to send her back to her room to change when she asked why he had not woken her.

“Because you need the rest.” He answered to her question and sounded maybe a bit more stern than he had intended to. A brush with death did take something out of you beyond the pure physical exhaustion. And some sleep would certainly not harm her. On the contrary. He felt it would help if she rested more. He would take every opportunity to let her save her strength for whatever was ahead of them still.

With her lack of proper clothing still in mind he walked past her and patted Luna on the head while he did. “Is that what you are going to wear?” He asked and didn't sound very pleased. That wasn't clothing to go on a manhunt in. They didn't know what could or would happen. A bar fight, a chase? She would need the right clothes for that. Starting with her shoes. Sandals. Who wore those anyway? What if she slipped in those? None of her clothes offered any kind of protection from even the mildest of scrapes or bruises. How could they with most of skin exposed. With his pants he could basically walk through razor wire and not get cut. Would he sweat a little? Probably.

On top of that her outfit was far too revealing for her age. Had her Master not told her about modesty? Or practical, situationally appropriate clothing? Maybe that would be his job. Of course he doubted that she would listen to him. But he was willing to try. “How about some pants?” He grumped. “And shoes that you can run in.” Finn added. “We are not going shopping, we are going to shake down people for information.” He growled. Luna barked when he did. Luna obviously didn't like arguments like this one and wailed sadly to make her position heard.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

Her eyebrow formed a puzzled bow when he called her on clothes. When his first question was asked, she simply replied "Yes. Problem?" Her tall-grown companion reminded her of her father. He had not approved this kind of clothing as well, but as Nova only wore it on very hot planets because she insisted on not bing able to handle the heat in any other way, he simply solved the problem by avoiding any environment with higher degrees. Which was actually a pity as Nova actually liked hot weather. Also it was pretty much the only chance to wear something that would confront any male around her with the fact that she was not a child anymore.
“How about some pants?”
"I am wearing pants thank you very much"
“And shoes that you can run in.”
"I'm pretty sure I can keep pace with you"
“We are not going shopping, we are going to shake down people for information.”

Now she gave him a perplexed look before she petted Luna and smiled down at her friend "Don't you worry Lunaly..it's all goooood.." . Her head cocked and she regarded him, her blue orbs catching his "First off: are you aware of how incredibly hot it is out there? Also..what excately is your plan? We can hardly beat him up till he spits something can we?"

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn looked at her and felt as if he had to scream. He wanted to yell, to tell her to listen to her older brother. But he could not. It wasn't time yet. She wouldn't understand. She was not ready. So he looked at her disapprovingly and moved on to the next topic. “Of course we will beat him up! How else did you think he will spill the information he has?” He told her and actually seemed somewhat weird d out by the fact that she apparently felt there was another way. There likely was not. Nothing that wasn't worse than a beating at least. “And don't think for a second I will help you up if you slip and fall in those shoes.” He added. He just could not let the topic go. He didn't want her to walk around like that but apparently he had a mind of her own. For now as long as she didn't know that he was her brother - and therefore by ancient sibling hierarchy the boss of her – he would give her some leeway.

Finn reached for the door controls and with the push of a button the boarding ramp slid out and down to the ground and the airlock opened. Hot air rushed inside and hit Finn in the face like the hand of an upset woman. Temperatures were close to deadly on the planet. For humans at least. He hoped that night time would bring some lower temperatures. And he prayed to the stars that the bar they were headed to had air conditioning. “Lets go!” He told Nova and stepped out of the ship. He walked down the boarding ramp and made his way towards the exit of the landing bay they had parked the ship in. Already a few droids had attached a fuel line to refuel the ship. Finn hoped they would not have to spend too much time here and that they would be able to find some information on Nova's master and then continue their travels to find him as soon as possible.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

This time Nova's mouth formed an unhappy bow when she heard him confirming they would beat the inkeep up, as if this conclusion was just natural. It did concern her and she didn't even try to make her expression hide her qualms. For the moment she hoped he was more talk than action on this matter. Compared to him, she was little more than a dwarf and she doubted she could do much to tame him, if he was determined to act against her conscience.
However when he stated she shouldn't expect him to help her if she would slip, her chin rose and so did one of the corners of her mouth. She regarded him with this rougish line on her lips while she made several steps backwards in a more than relaxed attitude. Should he puzzle over the meaning of her gesture, she wouldn't say another word regarding his statement.

They decided to leave Luna behind in the ship. It was way too hot. They themselves were already suffering from the heat, and they got no thick fur unlike their canine friend. Nova didn't like Iridonia all that much, despite her love for adventure and exploring and her fascination for alien cultures. The planet didn't offer that optimal habitat conditions. Life had managed to wring it's right to exist from its hostile surroundings, yet it had given birth to offspring both hard in physic and mind. After a short while she could feel small pearls of sweat covering her forehead, fine streaks of her bangs sticking to her skin.
If she would have worn her hair down it would have made things even worse, yet luckly she had the blonde shock of hair all tied up. She wondered if he already regretted that he didn't change his clothes as well? She sure hoped so.
The streets weren't too crowded. Most people - humans and all other species alike - avoided the almost unbearable heat of midday.

After like half an hour Nova could spot the Inn in which she and her father had been attacked. For some reason the letters seemed to change places whenever her eye wanted to catch one of it. She shook her head in a subtle manner and nodded into the direction of the building of dark sand stone. It had a curved fassade and its windows were decorated with red flags. "That's it" she confirmed. A glance of hers found his face, yet she could not read in his features. They were also wirtten in letters her eyes couldn't follow...
Together they entered the Inn, Tyûk first, Nova right behind him. The smell of roasted meat and the odeur of exotic herbs welcomed them, accompanied by the steam of this very dark, hot ale everyone seemed to drink the last time around as well. There were barely any customers. The whole taproom was rather dim, yet still bright enough to let Nova recognize the Innkeep behind the bar counter. He was an old Zabrak, his skin of plain umbra colour and nothing like the vibrant red of some of his species. His horns weren't too pointy and all in all he didn't seem like he would harm anyone except for defensive reasons. However Nova had been told many times over by her father she shouldn't judge anyone from just their shell.
Nova leaned slightly towards her companion "It's him. The one behind the counter"

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn walked besides Nova as she lead the way to the cantina she and her master had been ambushed in. Once she had pointed out the building among a few others Finn made it clear that he would take point. “Stay back.” He ordered here and stepped towards the cantina's entrance. Once he had reached it he made a movement wit his head that signaled Nova to follow and stepped inside. The Air in the cantina was somewhat cooler than outside and even if it wasn't by much it was something. What ruined the cool air for Finn was the fact heavy smoke and the smell of spice filled the air. It made breathing harder than it should be.

>>Don't breathe too deeply!<<

he thought and through their shared connection projected the thought into Novas head. It was almost scary how easy it was to talk to her like that. He wondered if it was because they were in relative proximity or because of their shared blood.
That way he didn't have to turn around and give away that they belonged together. At least not right away. The innkeeper would notice that soon enough.

Finn stepped closer to the bar and noticed that most of the few customers that were around hadn't even looked up when he had entered. The fact that some of them were intoxicated was probably the reason for that. Their vacant stares and sickly complexion were signs of the spice they had most certainly indulged in over the last weeks months and possibly years. They were professional slackers without a doubt. Who else drank around midday? Finn took one of the empty bar stools and sat down. “Something cold. Out of a clean glass.” He told the barkeep once he was seated. He wasn't really going to drink what he would be served. Not in a place where he knew for a fact they spiked drinks and abducted people afterwards. The innkeeper put down a freshly cleaned glass and filled it with some kind of liquid that looked blue and was fluorescent.

“ 'Blue Glacier'. Cools you down right away.” The innkeeper mumbled. Finn wasn't the first non-Zabrak that had passed through here and the heat would be as uncomfortable to humans as it would be to most other species.

After serving Finn the innkeeper remained at the bar, standing just in front of Finn. All that separated them was the bar and Finn's slowly dissolving self-control. So this was the man that had poisoned his sisters drink. Finn wasn't impressed. He looked around the back of the room, behind the bar and saw two doors leading out of the taproom one lead to the facilities while the other clearly lead to the kitchen and storage area. Finn didn't loose any time. He showed the glass aside so furiously that it skittered to the end of the bar and fell of the far end . It fell to the ground and shattered no later than Finn had reached for the Zabrak's collar. The upper body of the Zabrack moved forward even before Finn had touched the man and when Finns hand reached around the non-human's neck the Zabrak hadn't even reacted at all. Only now his face took on a surprised look and even that didn't stay for long. Finn pulled hard once and slammed the innkeepers face into the bar. Without Finn preventing it the Zabrack slid to the ground behind the bar. Stunned the innkeep was hardly able to do anything about what Finn was doing. So when Finn stepped behind the bar and grabbed the man by one of his arms and dragged him into the back where the kitchen was the innkeeper did not actively resist.

“Watch the door!” Finn growled towards Nova and there was something ice cold in his voice and in his eyes.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

Nova remained in the background, several steps separated her and Tyûk. The innkeeper looked at her just for once, before centering his focus back on Tyûk . He didn't even remember her, did he? She had been poisoned in his very inn, and had begged him with her tears later, and still he didn't even recognize her face? This was a hard realisation for the young girl.
She observed the situation with a keen eye. Even though she felt a shift in Tyûk's aura, she still wasn't prepared in the slightest for what followed. When the Zabraks head met the counter with full force, Nova didn't find herself able to silence a scream. Her hands shot to her mouth to seal her lips. Everything happend so fast, even her advanced reflexes had trouble keeping pace with the events. The next thing she saw was Tyûk dragging the inkeeper, who was too paralyzed to resist, through a door into another room. Several heartbeats passed by till movement found back into her body. Adrenalin whipped her blood to high tides, and her eyes darted towards the customers. Some didn't even move, but a few had become aware of what had happend. At least to a certain ammount. She could see a rather young human woman, her dark eyes wide open with terror. She wasn't drinking any ale and her expression was as clear as fresh water. Nova reached out in the force while her hand was raising. Ripping the consciousness from people with the force wasn't the easiest thing to do, yet the few souls here were too weak, intoxicated or stunned by fear to fight back. All of them closed their eyes at once and sank into sleeping positions after Nova was done with them. All except the young Miss. Her upper body had been leaning forward, and so she fell on the table when she fainted, her face landing right in a bowl of soup. Oh no."No no no no no no no no no" Nova whispered in a high tune while getting near the Miss as quickly as she could. The soup had been still extremly hot as the steam clearly told. Her poor face would be scalded all over, or the poor thing would even drown! That would have been a pitiful death though...drowing in soup. The young woman clearly didn't deserve to die like that! Noone did. Well, except darksiders maybe, but in the end, this was way too merciful for those people. After all their victims weren't as lucky as to drown in soup.
Nova lifted the womans upper body into a vertical position. She grabbed the napkin made out of thick linen and freed the heart-shaped face of the hot soup. "I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry" she whispered, even though her victim clearly couldn't hear her.
Nova felt quite guilty when she jumped up, her hands digged deep into her hair and looking around in panic "Door!" she told herself "door door door" How would she prevent further customers from entering though?
With a wave of her hand all curtains closed, then she span around and looked at the door. She tried to push the heavy shelf in fron of the door to block it, yet her growing panic made it hard to focus and so the shelter only quivered when she wanted to push it. A curse fled her lips when she rushed towards the shelf. Her hands placed themself on the wooden piece and she started pushing and pulling. Begging the spirit in the force for its aid she finally managed with a combination of force and physical power. She had barely finished the task when a piercing scream sounded from the other room. She turned towards the door that remained as a protective barrier between her and whatever was happening on the other side...it wasn't Tyûk's voice she had heard...
A shiver ran down her spin. She wanted to enter the kitchen, but her legs just didn't move...
"Don't you kriffing kill him!!!" she finally managed to yell.

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn looked up from his work when he heard Nova call out. "Don't you kriffing kill him!!!" Finn got up and left the innkeeper behind in the kitchen. The man was bent over his hand, sobbing and holding it. A handle was visible and whatever it was connected to was now stuck inside the wood of the large and heavy kitchen board. With the Zabrak's hand in between.

He almost had yelled back 'we don't curse I this family' but he stopped himself just in time to omit the part that she didn't have to know just yet. He actually stuck his head out of the kitchen to look at her and give her a stern reminder to watch her language. “Watch that foul mouth young lady! We are not on Zeltros!” He told her and gave her a disproving and disappointed look for a few seconds. Then he returned to the Zabrak inside the kitchen and picked up where he had left off.

“Why are you doing this? I didn't do nothing.” The man sobbed. Finn didn't seem moved by that in the slightest. “I want to know who told you to poison the Jedi and his Padawan.” He explained again. “Young blonde human girl that entered with me just a few minutes ago. Don't tell me you didn't recognize her!” Finn said while he grabbed the man by one of his horns and forced him to look up and into his eyes. The Zabrak ground his teeth in pain and reached for Finn's forearm with his free hand. “I told you: I don't know!” The man told Finn again and for the second time Finn could tell it was a lie. “Now why would you do that? Lie to me twice? Do you think I can't tell?” Finn said and the man grunted when Finn put pressure on the horn as if he was about to twist it out of the man's skull. Indeed, he couldn't really do that but if Finn applied enough force it would hurt like hell. Within seconds of that the man changed his mind. “Please, they will kill me if I tell you! They might kill me just for talking to you.” Finn let go of the man's horn and allowed him take in a more comfortable position for a moment. “Right now I am who you need to be worried about.” Finn explained calmly and looked the man in the eye. What the Zabrak saw there seemed to be enough to convince him to talk. “Alright, alright!” The man pleaded and finally gave up what he knew. “A woman came by. She's a information broker of sorts. She goes by the name Enara Adina. She gave me a powder to mix in their food. … I didn't know what it would do. … She told me they wouldn't get hurt. … She gave me credits. … I needed the money … I didn't think they would harm them. ...” The man explained, blurting out one sentence after the other. Finn cut him short with a gesture and brought up what he wanted to know. “That woman. Where can I find her?” He asked and the man swallowed hard. “I don't know, she travels a lot.” The man said and Finn reached for one of the Zabrak's horns. The man started to struggle, to try and keep Finn off of his horns but failed in the end. So with some more carefully applied pressure Finn coaxed the information he wanted out of the alien. “She works out of an office on Hesperidium.” The Zabrak admitted, pain and fear coloring his voice. Finn let go of the alien's horn and took a step backwards. “See, that wasn't all that hard. And far more pleasurable than me ripping the information from your mind, now wasn't it?.” Finn said and the man simply kept quiet.

Finn turned and went out of the kitchen, leaving the man to hurse his injured hand. Outside in the taproom Finn met up with Nova again. He saw that everyone in the room seemed to have fallen asleep and had to stifle a chuckle. “So? How's it going with the door?” he asked and looked at the entrance which had been barricaded by a shelf.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

When she saw the blond shock of hair stucking out of the door a concerned look met him. However, when he started scolding her for her language her mouth openend, not as in to snap at him, but rather out of indignation. In a situation like this what did it matter if she swore? Also what had this to do with Zeltros? Sounded like a planet, she wasn't sure however. Did the people on Zeltros swear a lot?

A wave of panic splashed over to her from the room in which Tyûk disappared again. Nova could tell it was the innkeeper. He feared for his life. Regret and even something like a guilty conscience blended with the fear. Nova still couldn't handle what was happening. She thought about entering the kitchen, yet she was scared of what she would see there...
While she stood there, paralyzed and unable to move, Tyûk released her of said condition when he met up with her again.
When he simply asked about the door and she became aware of how he didn't look troubled at all, her expression turned into a deeply disturbed one.
Without saying a word she just passed him by and entered the kitchen. She saw the zabrak, tears and sweat bathing his face. He was pulling on something in a desperate attempt, and it took the young blonde a moment to understand. A long kitchen knife stuck in his hand and pinned him to the wooden worktop. Blood was dripping from the board and the sound of the drops meeting the floor was as constant as a metronome. Nova felt her stomach turning.
When the man noticed her he started sobbing again. He thought she would harm him as well, he thought she would ask Tyûk to finish the job. His mind was so loud Nova couldn't help but to listen. She neared with purposeful stride.
"No please! I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it! I didn't want you to get hurt. I'm sorry, please, please!"
Nova could feel he meant it. She couldn't tell however if he meant it because there was a knife pierced through his hand, or if he genuinely meant it because he got a guilty conscience about his deed.
She gripped the handle and wanted to pull it out, just to realize the blade had been wielded with such brute force she couldn't pull it from the wood. Even when she tried utilizing the force to free the man, it was no use. Frustrated and angry she spun around and returned to the taproom.
Her blue was ignited with cold sparks when she met Tyûk's eyes. Her arm shot upwards and her pointing finger was directed towards the door that led to the kitchen. "Pull it out!" she demanded.

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn let Nova storm past him. He turned and looked after her in confusion. What was her problem now? The guy wouldn't have just told them what he knew. Right? And this was something the man would live through without suffering any lasting damage. Be it physical or psychological. At least this way they didn't waste any time investigating Nova's and her master's poisoning and her master's subsequent disappearance. Stars new where the man was by now and they had to be certain they didn't waste any time. Finn shrugged his shoulders in capitulation and casually followed after Nova. He hadn't even reached the kitchen door when Nova came running back towards him and ordered him to take the knife out of the mans hand. “It'll stay.” He told her with a stern face. He wanted to explain to her that nobody just got away with harming his family. But that was still something he didn't want to confront her with right now. “How else will he learn?” Finn said somewhat louder. It was not just meant for Nova to hear, but also for the Zabrak. The man was sobbing in the kitchen and pleading. Through the door which had swung closed again it was hard to tell what exactly he was saying.

When Novas stare didn't end though Finn caved. “Oh alright.” He gave in and while annoyed still took care to move her aout of the way with only the most tentative use of force. He stepped into the Kitchen and the man immediately shut up. His eyes were closed and he was whimpering. “Jeez some people need to develop a thicker skin.” Finn babbled and grabbed the knife. He put his other hand on the wood to get good leverage and pulled once. The man screamed when the knife went back out and immediately after covered on the floor, holding his hand, crying in pain. Finn reached for a clean dish towel and handed it to the Zabrak. The man took it without a word but Finn could tell that the man was grateful. For his sobbing subsided.

Finn walked back outside and snorted at Nova. “You really need to stop being so soft-hearted, you know.” He scolded her. And sighed in frustration. “He tried to poisoned you.” How could she not understand that such a man did not deserve her compassion.

 

[Nova Elgrin]

When he told her the knife would stay and then asked how else the zabrak would learn, clearly for the him to hear as well, Nova exhaled and let her shoulders sink. The anger left her features and nothing but pleading remaind on the very young face "Please..."
And when he finally gave in, she was grateful he met her wish. So she remained in the taproom when he went into the kitchen for one last time.
Seconds later a scream was to hear, but it wasn't as piercing as the first one. Nova could not help but to strongly disagree with his methods. She had hoped he was just all big-mouthed about it and that he didn't actually mean it. Now she knew for certain: behind arms like his was no talk, there were deeds.
She sighed. However she was connected to him, she wasn't really certain she should hope it would be something too close. Having him around was wound and cure at the same time. She wondered what she would see if she dove into the deepness of his very being? And then again, she didn't want to know. Not every secret sea was worth exploring, when one was threatend to choke on its ground.

When he returned to her and immediately began scolding her, her face turned into that of of a beaten puppy. "Soft-hearted..." she repeated "So...you want me to be more like you?" Suprsingly there was neither fury nor accusation, just a very pronounced sadness accompaning her words. It was true the innkeeper had tried to poison her, and worse, he had succeded in his attempt. But Nova could feel his guilty conscience and he had not meant for them to get hurt. She did not plan on forgiving, but she also had no desire to see him bleed for his action.

 

[FinnSimmons]

Finn saw her turn form angry to sad in less than a few minutes and he could not stand her being sad for even a heartbeat. That young girl with her innocent, teary eyes was managing what the Zabrak in the kitchen could never have managed. It made Finn's heart go soft. And what she said actually stung. Be more like him? Stars no! She mustn't.
He reached out to touch her and his hand came to rest on her upper arm, just below her shoulder, affectionately squeezing it. “No, … don't be like me!” He said and there was a strange melancholy in his words. “Just don't let people take advantage of you like this.” He asked of her. “Promise me that.” Finn added and kept his gaze on her. He wanted her to make that commitment. But would she even understand how important it was? Not just for him but for her own safety? Was she maybe still to young? Or was she already able to fully grasp the the danger she was in?