Sleeping Beauty

[Amilthi]

The wind was blowing through the streets of Mos Espa, carrying with it the ubiquitous desert sand, dimming the light of the suns. The bustling streets were emptying as merchants hurried to remove their wares from their stands and retreat inside. There was an uncanny silence, as nobody wished to open their mouth to speak in the sandy air. All that was to be heard was the sound of the wind, the rattling of bars and half-disassembled stands, the clanking of items being thrown around and to the ground.

Amilthi slipped through the door of a small cantina and found herself momentarily overwhelmed by a profoundly different atmosphere. The place was booming with voices, the background music barely audible. On any other afternoon, it was probably a sad sight, an establishment too small to afford a live band, graced only by sporadic patrons. But now it was bustling with life, filled to the brim with refugees from the storm. Amilthi drew back the hood of her coat and shook off a bit of sand.

Amilthi squeezed through the crowed towards the bar, feeling, on her way, more than one strange hand in places where it wasn't supposed to be. She paid no attention to it and ordered a glass of pallie juice. She didn't dignify an uncouth remark from a man by her side with more than a smirk and a turn of her back. There was nothing ill-natured in her behaviour, and she didn't even particularly resent the other's - she merely had no interest in engaging and indulging it in any way, and felt under no obligation to do so. She knew it would cause him a twinge of pain, however tiny, however much he might deny it. A pretty woman turning her back always did that, in a manner that she would never quite be able to appreciate from her own perspective. But if a man was so forward as this one, he had to endure it - it wasn't her obligation to protect him from the consequences of his own actions. Where would one be, after all, if everybody were entitled to impose burdens on others like this?

The barkeeper handed her a glass and Amilthi left a coin on the counter before moving away towards a corner of the room. She found herself besides two pacithhip in a sort of entanglement that was clearly of some... significance. As she leaned against the wall, they partially separated and gave her uneasy looks - or rather, they gave her looks that were uninterpretable to a human, and were uneasy at the same time, but to Amilthi, that felt just the same. What she felt through the Force coalesced with information from physial cues into simple, intuitive apprehension. She gave them a brief, but warm smile and noticed how they felt reassured. Amilthi paid no further attention to them, took a sip of her juice and sighed, looked casually around in the dim light. This was no weather to be outside in, and if it persisted, she would have to stay in Mos Espa for the night. Eventually she shrugged. There was no point in having strong feelings about this.

 

[Vulpes]

Mos Espa was out of her way, but it was the closest place to take refuge from the sudden sandstorm that had veiled the surrounding area. Arikka-Mar had been out on business in Beggar's Canyon, just east of the spaceport turned city. She had heard a rumor the day before of a small airspeeder, probably a skyhopper, crashing in the area and she wanted to investigate it before any of the outcasts had rummaged and looted the unfortunate victim. The story turned out to be false, and it was a day wasted on nothing. And to make things worse, the blasted storm had kicked up while she was in the area.

Truthfully, she liked Mos Espa, but it was so far away from her typical zone of operations, that she rarely visited it, unless her current objectives allowed it. But here she was, whether it was bad luck or maybe even good fate, Arikka had made it to the settlement at the edge of Tatoonine's inhabitable zone. She had parked the speeder bike she was using on the outskirts of the settlement and made her way towards the nearest cantina. It was a small one, much smaller than the one she regulared in Bestine, but it was quiet full. Probably due to the sandstorm that was coming through. While herders and farmers suffered from these types of occurrences, innkeepers and cantina owners made a small fortune.

The tone of the cantina was quite the contrary to the outside. Voices boomed with forgotten worries and music drowned out any of the hardships. Arikka was uncertain of the spaceport had grounded the flights, but it was a scene familiar to the times she had seen it happen. But one thing had made the incognito Jedi worrisome, something she didn't expect to feel. There was another Force Sensitive in the building, but who? Her eyes narrowed as she dusted off her cloak, curious to see if someone appeared as off guard as her. It was no use though, there were too many people in the bustling cantina, and if they meant to do her harm, she was already aware of them.

But the feeling didn't feel hostile to her. Arikka peered around the cantina one more time before descending from the entrance and into the bar area. She didn't intend to stay long, so there was no point in hoarding one of the tables to herself. Arikka shifted out of the way of the various beings and creatures in the building, it was much more diverse than Bestine, which was clearly more human-centric than Mos Espa. She took note of two aliens doing...something at the wall in the far end of the room, but took no active interest in them. It instead brought her a thought of what if it was just a force-sensitive species in general, rather than a human, twi'lek, or other being which being force sensitive was not common.

Instead of dwelling on it further, she focused her attention back to the bartender, who seemed busy enough with his current tasks to really provide too much conversation to her, "Just have water," Arikka said to the man. Unlike many other planets, water wasn't free on Tatooine, for obvious reasons. She dug out a credit chip and set it on the counter and swirled the chair to look around once more for what had put her on alert.

 

[Amilthi]

Leaning against the wall, Amilthi entertained herself by observing the other patrons. She felt an idle curiosity about the place, even though there was unlikely to be anything or anyone remarkable here. A rodian was going around and inviting people to a game of gambling. Any human would have seen that she didn't look like a person likely to be receptive to such, but the rodian couldn't recognise this and approached her nonetheless. She felt his impatience and eagerness; either he had a plan for how to cheat and make money off other people, or he was addicted to gambling.

"I don't want to gamble. And neither do you", she replied in Huttese, a serious expression on her face as she looked into his eyes. The gesture accompanied her words could just have been non-verbal emphasis of her refusal.

The rodian looked at her and after a moment, his eyes widened. "You know, I think you're right", he said. Amilthi smiled and looked into the room as he slipped away. Suddenly, she frowned as her gaze fell on a woman by the bar. There was little in her outward appearance that distinguished her from those around, but somehow, Amilthi had a feeling that she was no ordinary person.

Amilthi felt no alarm at her presence and studied the woman curiously.

 

[Vulpes]

"here 'ya go, miss." The bartender had set the drink onto the counter and had already pocketed the credit and moved onto the next customer. The water was crystal clear, possibly even and off world import, but the frown on her face was from something else. The smudged glass that was overall lacking to her personal hygienic code, and was clearly cleaned with some sort of rag or other lazy method.

She sighed as she took the drink into one of her four hands and took a sip. The water tasted fine, and to her surprise, there was no taste of what the last patron had drank. She felt an odd sensation though, coupled with the other feeling she had. Arikka had spent way too much time in dangerous places, and she knew that it wasn't good for her. The Codru-Ji felt like she was being watched. Her eyes turned around the room and she caught a glimpse of a rodian walking away from brunette human girl. They were probably around her age, but she saw that the girl was watching her.

Uncertain of what else to do, she gestured to the woman to come over. Worst comes to worst, she could talk her way out of a conversation well enough.

 

[Amilthi]

It had not been viscerally surprising, but come to think of it, a Codru-Ji woman who looked almost like a local here was actually a rather improbable sight. Amilthi had known a very few of this species years ago among the Jedi, but hadn't seen any since. Their homeworld was on the other end of the galaxy from here, deep in Imperial space. She wondered what had brought this one here.

A smile flickered around her lips and eyes as she saw the woman's inviting gesture. Involuntarily, Amilthi threw a quick glance sideways at the pacithhip before strolling over to her. "Hello there", she said with an open smile. "Stranded as well, or are you from around here?"

 

[Vulpes]

"I suppose a bit of both," she shrugged before taking another sip of her drink. Her earlier sipping allowed her to rid herself of the sandy residue that had gotten in her mouth, but now she was able to fully enjoy the water. She swirled it around with her hand, like she often did with alcohol. The subconscious motion made her almost wish that she had just gotten some whiskey instead, but her mind quickly strayed back to the conversation.

"I am from Tatooine, but not Mos Espa. I live farther east, near Bestine. You?" Arikka decided to leave the girl to formulate her own conclusion. When people said they lived 'near' something, it was implied they were some sort of scrapper, farmer, or herder. None of those titles were totally untrue with the Codru-Ji woman, though. She had done plenty of things during her time back under the twin suns.

The cantina was lacking in windows, so it was difficult to see the weather conditions, but more people had made their way into the establishment, so she had some hunches. "Any idea when this is supposed to let up? I'm wondering if I should try and track down a room at an inn before they fill up." Arikka had no intention to stay overnight, but she was in no hurry to return back to her corner of the planet. She knew how vicious the winds could get, and had no intention to brave the storm.

 

[Amilthi]

"Near Mos Entha. Though of course I wasn't born on Tatooine, either. Came here when the Alliance was dissolved." For a moment, Amilthi's expression was overshadowed, but then she brightened up again. "Hm." She thought for a moment. "I'd put the probability that you'll be able to make it to Bestine today between sixty and seventy percent." It was a strange habit that Amilthi had of forcing herself to distill both explicit reasoning and vague hunches into a number. She had developed it in her youth and it had survived through her Jedi training and her life on Tatooine, occasionally proving useful at least in economic decisions. In general, committing to a number and calculating was useful for minimising regret, since it helped hold on to the belief that one's past actions were rational. "So I suppose whether you should look at a room depends on how you feel about taking risks, and how much you trust your luck... and looks.", she added with a playful smile. "I'm Amilthi, by the way."

 

[Vulpes]

"sixty to seventy percent, eh?" She chuckled a little bit as she glared around the room. Arikka was quite the sabacc player, and numbers like that were a good omen to her kind. "Not sure what you've got in your glass, but I'll take my chances with what you've got to say. Here's hoping that you have some sort of sixth sense over knowing the weather." Arikka's eyes darted back to Amilthi. She still felt that tingling sense of a nearby Force User, but was nearly convinced that it was the green-eyed woman she had just made acquaintances with. "Amilthi, eh? Amethyst." The Jedi nodded her head. It was not that she did not trust the girl, but merely that everyone else on Tatooine knew her under her Hutt name. Complications were the last thing she wished to have, in the event that she ran into another friend in the bar.

"So, what made you come to Tatooine of all places? You don't look the agriculture type... or the criminal type."

 

[Amilthi]

Amilthi chuckled. "For all I can tell, the pallie juice is quite unfermented." With an amused smile, she took a sip of it. "Last time I counted, it was seven senses. Might be eight by now", she remarked jokingly.

"Nice to meet you." Amilthi looked at her vis-à-vis thoughtfully for a few moments. "You're right, I'm not. Although I figure some things I used to do are illegal in the Core by now..." she added with a smirk. "I had a friend who had some connections here and brought me with him. But why I stayed... There is something about Tatooine. I know this must sound silly, but I find it has a certain... spiritual quality. There's something to be said for the simplicity and small scale that life has here. It centers one." Amilthi smiled and then shook her head lightly, as if about herself.

"Don't mistake me, I know that many people would like nothing more than to get away from here and find a life somewhere else, and I wouldn't dream of saying they shouldn't. I've helped more than a few to get on a ship, too. What's keeping you here?"

 

[Vulpes]

Arikka knew the exact feeling that Amilthi was speaking of, the simplicity of the planet. Technology has been at a standstill for centuries, from what it looked like. She had seen weapons and vehicles in use dating back to the Old Republic of over a millennium ago. There was no need for the new blasters, because for bantha herders and moisture farmers, it seemed aged technology worked just as fine to fend off those with malice.

"Yeah, there's something that has brought a lot of people here over the years. Used to just be a tourist attraction, if anything. Since the Core fell though, I'd have to guess if you asked anyone... at least in Bestine, probably one in four would say they're not natives. Huge influx over the last decade, mostly city-type folks." She took a sip of her water and then changed subjects for a brief moment. "Already pay for your drink? I'll cover the tab, if not." she set her drink back down on the flimsy coaster and shrugged.

"How long have you been on Tatooine?" She had already figured out that Amilthi was not a native, so her questions were helping her in finding out who she really was. Directly asking a possible Force-sensitive about who they are was a roulette wheel that even a Corellian would think twice about gambling on.

 

[Amilthi]

"Thanks. It's paid for, though." Amilthi smiled, and not only at the offer. Somehow, she had the impression that the other understood what she had been trying to convey. At the same time, she wondered if it was on purpose that the other didn't answer her question. Amilthi still had no idea who it was that she was talking to. But the feeling that this person was special didn't subside, and somehow she had a vague expectation that this conversation might lead to something important. Where, exactly, she didn't know - perhaps it was the other woman's part to piece everything together, and hers to supply the pieces.

"I've been here for" - she paused for a moment to think - "ten years. I think I haven't been off the planet in seven. It's funny to think it's been such a long time. I wonder if I still know how to fly a ship. Do you think it's one of those skills you never unlearn? Not that I was ever good at it."

 

[Vulpes]

Arikka chuckled slightly at her remark, "I hadn't learned to fly until the latter half of my life, never had a reason I 'pose." It was true. Much of her traveling prior to her Knighthood had been through public transit, or at least back in the days when the Jedi still had the resources to freely fly students across the Galaxy for practically trivial goals. "To be honest, It's a miracle I ever learned in the first place." She was no master at it. She could do the basics, but autopilot had better chances at dodging a turbolaser than her.

The Jedi Master sighed and looked down at her glass of water. "Do you live in town? I feel a tad ill. If not, I can rest at the spaceport. Perhaps you could escort me? These streets are difficult enough without the low visibility." She slid her glass away and looked to Amilithi, hoping for her to accept the offer. Arikka did not care much for the chasing game, and so it'd be better off confronting the woman in private. Worse comes to worst, she could slip out of the confrontation if this potential force-sensitive turned out to be ill-intended or even unknowning. It wouldn't be the first time that her gut instinct was wrong.

 

[Amilthi]

"Latter half of your life as already lived, or latter half of your life as you expect to live it?", Amilthi replied jokingly. The woman didn't look much older than herself, and she would have considered learning to fly a spaceship before age sixteen would have been rather early. But then she didn't know much about Codru Ji children.

"Unfortunately, I don't live here either. You're probably right that it's better not to go outside alone now, even if you know the way..." Amilthi did wonder slightly what the hurry was, but she liked the other woman and had no ill feeling about going along with her. She felt safe enough trusting this lack of a foreboding. If anything, there was the opposite - a faint sense of excitement about something significant that might happen. There was no time to explore all the possibilities of what it might be, and soon enough she would know anyway.

Together they made their way through the crowd towards the door. Amilthi drew the hood of her grey robe over her head and threw a questioning glance at an impatient-looking man by the door. He must have been peeking outside frequently. His expression was doubtful and he shrugged, but she just smiled briefly and went on.