Ask The Peak of Power

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music IC

The ABC-123 ship-o-rama whatsuch was whatever Leh’Min’Ayd had woken up on that day and night in space. She had eaten some rozozo peppers, the hottest contraption this side of the galactic pinwheel, and had to be rushed to the medbay upon boarding.

The vessel was little more than a glorified rent-a-shuttle on its way to the planet Thila in the Outer Rim. There was a factory killing an entire ecosystem but there were of course complications with shutting it down—by no less than a Padawan if not more.

Given that the Togruta had no ship of her own she had to rely on a freelance ferry that the Council paid for out of pocket so fair play. Her partner, whoever and wherever they were, was either onboard already or being invited over for breakfast from their own ship flying beside.

For her part, Lem was too busy clutching her stomach and wandering corridors to wonder who she was working with. Her stomach was ten parts empty and ten parts needed filling.
The music pumping from the ship speakers was also most temptingly tantalizing and reminded her of going back to sleep.

There was another onboard, an Ishi Tib named Chuk-Chuk, and he was the pilot in the cockpit. Apparently he was also a good cook judging by the table of is-it-bacon and maybe-it’s-eggs. Truth be told the universe was still full of culinary surprises but this stuff tasted supreme.

“I’ll take a coffee!” Lem looked left, looked right, saw no one else in the galley. There she isssss! There she was: a cappuccino machine, nestled in the corner, sparkling silver. YUM.

Lem smiled wide. Pressed a button. Drummed her fingers. Heard a beep. Watched a spark. Machine broke. Arms spread. Back arches. Convulsing.

“NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“You can’t leave me!”

“But I must! I’m a monster!”

“I don’t care. Kiss me, my love, and let us run away together.”

“You’re so sweet babers, I—”

Just before the impassioned couple was about to show the public their massive display of affection in the middle of the street, Quin’s face scrunched up and he hit the power button on the remote, turning the viewscreen off. Having forgotten his book about building droids back at the temple, this was the only entertainment available around here.

“Babers? Seriously?” Shaking his head, he got out of bed and headed for the galley, hoping for anything that could take his mind off of the memory of that horrific holodrama.

Suddenly, an anguished scream reverberated around the ship, and Quin’s eyes widened. Was something wrong? He rushed for the galley expecting to encounter some sort of grisly scene, maybe even comparable to the one he’d just watched, only to find Lemon standing in front of a sparking cappuccino machine. His shoulders sagged in relief. This was a problem he could fix.

“Machine broken again?” he asked as he approached, giving the Togruta a sympathetic smile. “I can fix it up for ya. Should only take a few minutes with the right tools.” Fortunately, being on a ship, there were plenty of spare ones he could use. He eyed the untouched plate on the table that their pilot had generously left for him. “In the meantime… care for some bacon?”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music IC

The music changed and a star went supernova in a galaxy even farther away than this one.

“SABADA!” Lemonade felt her heart in her throat as she jumped out of her angst, taken totally off guard by the newcomer. Ever heard of knocking!?!? A subtle scan confirmed no doors to this galley. Oh.

After regaining herself, debating whether to throw one of her fists his way, Lem settled for scowling with arms crossed. Being scared was not fun.

She knew this boy, knew him well enough if not that well, reckoned he was better off polishing tools with his soft boy hands than actually wielding them. Hummmmm.

“So it IS bacon!” Lem’s arms spread again but this time they clamped down on an empty plate and began to fill it. “THE EGGS” In turn, this would allow her to fill the holes in her stomach. “Oh my gaw oh my gaw oh my gaw BACON”

Waffling down her portions she just then spied the waffles. OH MY GAW. “LIN!” She was sure that was his name. “Th-These…” Points to a plate of waffles being drowned alive by blueberry syrup. “...Are gonna need some coffee to wash ‘em down… Be a doll?”

It wasn’t every day that Leh’Min’Ayd stooped to so low a level, the kind that eight o’clock women stooped to on galactic street corners, but she wanted that cappuccino and gave Lin Queonkri every bat of eyelash she could afford.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin grinned in amusement as Lemon earnestly accepted his offer, and before she would notice he was gone he was back with the necessary tools. He caught sight of the waffles at the same time she did, and the eyelash-batting that followed was right out of the film, nearly making him drop the box he was holding.

“Yeah yeah, it’s no problem,” he responded, struggling to contain his laughter as he unplugged the machine. Once he’d figured out the problem and began to work on it, he glanced over at Lemon to see how she was faring without her coffee. Seeing she was fine, at least for the time being, he turned back to the machine and decided to ask her something he’d been meaning to for a while.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you been with the Jedi?” He disconnected a couple wires, marking them with some tape so he could come back to them later. “It’s just that the first time I met you— and I don’t mean this as an insult at all— you didn’t strike me as one. You’re so much more bubbly and energetic than most I know. It’s refreshing.” In a way, she reminded him of how he used to be, and despite the pair being close in age, he found himself wanting to preserve that.

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music IC [Recurring]

Whether it was her charm or his kindness, neither or both, Leh’Min’Ayd was feeling good and that capuccino would make her feel even better. Being stuck on a toilet was not fun. Those rozozo peppers proved more painful than getting kissed by an angsty Sith's agonizing lightning. Hmmm bacon.

She chewed away while watching the boy work. She had to admit that he had deft hands, seemed to know what he was doing, but for all Lem knew he had his comlink on the counter and WeSee had a DUI video on repairing cappuccino machines. Boys do like to impress. Or fail to. Heh.

“I shall answer your question with another question, my very young Padawan,” Lem held up her fork the way a teacher holds up a telescopic stick to a classroom. “What even is a Jedi...besides a bubble of energy?”

She would let him digest those words the way one digests peppered bacon but didn’t actually expect an answer and moved along. “Let’s see…” Fork to lips. “Hummm hummmm hummmmmm dot the t, cross the i, carry the one...” Bopping of the head. “...Three months, two weeks and four days.”

She let him digest that too. “Though, to be fair, I know very few Jedi and very few Jedi know me. Same with my master. I kind of spent most of my training in a cave.” She shrugged. “I mean I'm not a ninja mynock or some bubbly like that but yeah.”

The eggs were good. The eggs were good. “Cappuccinos are also refreshing.” Lem subtly mumbled. Or failed to. “What aboutchaself, big boy?” Lesson #8: Deflect questions by asking questions. Nom-nom-nom-nom-nom-nom.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

What was a Jedi? That wasn’t something he’d spent much time dwelling on. A bubble of energy, as Lem described it, did fit the description, albeit it was a different type of energy that Quin had been talking about. Still, it was a cheeky way to answer the question, and he couldn’t help but smile as she went on to answer his original question.

“Keep track of the hours too?” he teased. Quin had stopped counting the days since he’d joined the Order a while back, and he was quite impressed that Lemon had been able to keep it up for so long. “You know, training in a cave for an extended period of time, staying isolated with no one but your teacher… that sounds like Jedi master material to me. I could never manage it.” He didn’t have the patience. In fact, his master had pointed that out to him on the very first day they met— his unwillingness to wait nearly got them trapped in a cavern. However, he knew that probably wasn’t the case with Lemon.

“Me? I’ve been here…” He let the tool he was using float in front of him with the Force as he counted his fingers. “A year and a half? Two years? Honestly, it feels much longer than that.” Shrugging, he went back to the machine, putting the final pieces in place before he was finished. Taking a step back, he plugged it in again to see how it would work before grinning at the Togruta.

“Moment of truth Lemon… want to do the honors?”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music IC [Recurring]

The forkful was faithful. Pile that egg atop that bacon, create a kinda skewer, slide the food in the cavern, chomp down and listen to Lin.
Lem looked to her plate with eyes that would not betray her for taking a trip down memory lane. Isolated. Teacher. Cave… Light in the dark, Master?

Her teeth froze as did her fork with its waffle, syrup subtly sliding southward. She watched Lin count his fingers but mainly his floating tool.

Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was because Lin was a guy with a tool, or maybe Lem was just reminded that the Force was an everyday tool for the Jedi while being so much more. A part of me now…like peppered bacon and rozozo peppers…

“Two years, huh?” She watched his back as he got back to work, having to watch something while she ate. Hummm isn’t Basaclanca playing back to back on HOB? “Will have to test those two years in the arena sometime,” she grinned.

That was the moment that Leh’Min’Ayd ceased all motor functions as Lin Queonkri grinned back. “Th-The honors?” Is Brown Hair more than just talk!? DID HE FIX IT “Come to me my love!”

Lem all but sprung from her stool and leapt toward Lin Queonkri, arms opened wide and lips pursed.
They kissed the rim of an empty coffee cup soon to be satisfied, her hands wrapping around the cappuccino machine.

Lem smiled wide. Pressed a button. Drummed her fingers. Heard a beep. Watched a light. Machine buzzed. Arms spread. Wrap around Lin. “You’re my new best friend!”

Then it was her turn to get to work. She poured two cappuccinos, clinked cups, didn't much care if her counterpart like cappuccino because she did and slurped hers to shuteye satisfaction. "...I have achieved...serenity..."

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

The amusement in Quin’s eyes suddenly turned into alarm as Lemon suddenly launched herself in his direction, her lips puckered and arms out wide. My love?! Oh my god what did I do what is happening is this the movie come alive what the kri— But she landed on the coffee machine instead. He was unable to keep the sigh of relief from slipping out. Too soon, too soon.

His eyes were still wide and staring at the coffee machine when Lemon wrapped him in a hug.

“You- you’re my best friend too,” he managed to say in return, his voice faint. Although he wasn’t a coffee person, he still found himself absent-mindedly taking a sip of the second cappuccino that Lemon had made. In this case, he found it to be better than tea.

“This is actually… pretty good,” he said, impressed, starting to regain his senses as he looked down at the drink. “If you weren’t already a Jedi, I’d probably recommend you to open your own coffee shop.” Her cappuccino was the perfect blend of coffee, cream, and love— a recipe that could probably outlast anything if it became widely known. And make all the bank in the galaxy while she was at it.

“Speaking of Jedi-ing, I hope we can shut that factory down as easily as fixing this machine. The simpler it is, the better.” But that was only a wish, and one he knew would probably not come true. Ever since Jakku, or perhaps maybe even a little before that, he’d been working on his slicing and technical skills in addition to combat training. But shutting down an entire factory wasn’t going to be as easy as opening a locked door or fixing a coffee machine. At least he had a friend with him, he thought with a smile as he took another sip of the cappuccino. A very hyper friend, but a good friend nonetheless.

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music IC

The music changed and a Leh’Min’Ayd dreamed of cheesecake.

“...Pretty good…” Lemonade echoed, eyes still glazed in the right place. Queue Qeuonkri’s suggestion for Lemon to open up her own coffee shop. Yup.

Lem hum-humm’d over a cozy cafe and the Jedi-ing to be done over the factory down yonder. Simpler, better. Yup. This kid yonder had some wits in his noggin. Despite being a complete donut, dup.

“Simple is for simpletons, brotha, and the Force is not so simple.” The Togruta placed a hand on the Human’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out when we get there, heh? Just like you figured out how to fix a cappuccino machine and Chuk-Chuk figured out how to make breakfast, heh.”

-PING!-

“What the hett?” Lem followed the ping! to a computer screen and scrolled. “Hey, Lin, I think someone sent you a message on the ship’s comms. Probs couldn’t reach you directly. Name’s at the top but I glanced at the bottom and “Master Mirror” sounds like a cheesy hiphop artist and this chick may be dyslexic ‘cause she can’t spell your name but oh well ta ta!”

With that, Lemon poured herself a fresh cup of cappuccino, scooped the steam up her nostrils, sighed like a spice addict and left the dishes for her new best friend. She had more important things to do.

______________________________________________________________

MIRANA, V.
UNIT 4302 BOX 233
DPO SB 1XXO-D2A

Dear Quin,

I know this message may come out of the blue. Unfortunately I am not in a position to engage your comlink directly. Fortunately I learned of your mission and the ship you would be on so did the next best thing and sent what you are reading now.

It has been a while since we last greeted one another in person, shook hands and shared smiles, but it is always good to hear from you so I hope to hear from you!

I wanted to take the liberty to write to you, however briefly, given my current circumstances. Hopefully, when the time is right, light will be shed on what that means. For now, please allow me to simply say hello!

I hope you are keeping well, trust that you are, that your efforts to become a true Jedi are not in vain but, well, I know that they are not. You showed me who you are and what you can become back on that asteroid in the middle of nowhere.

You are Quin Leonkri, Jedi Padawan but even more than that, because every Padawan is a seed of the Jedi Order. Our power does not stem from our Council. Trees may form crowns but trees grow up, not down.

It is often said that children are the future of the world; the teachers, politicians, scientists and surgeons of tomorrow. Padawans, young or old, are no different. You are the Knights and the Masters of tomorrow.

You call me Master Mirror, Quin-Quin, but you are every master’s mirror, just as every knight is a master and every master a knight. We Jedi do well to examine ourselves, and sometimes the best way to do that is to look to one another and not just ourselves alone.

Thank you for reminding me of this and more, my dear friend, whether you realize it or not. Keep up the good fight, Pad, the only true fight, as we all move forward toward what we hope to build and become a better tomorrow.

Your dear friend,
Master Mirror

______________________________________________________________

“I feel like my heart has grown wings…only to fly into yours!”

“And I feel like the spaces between your fingers were meant to be filled with mine!”

“Then let me feel them! See, my love? Those are not the hands of a monster. They are the hands of a man!”

“Oh, babers!”

“B-Babers,” Lem sniffed, crumpling a spent tissue on her bed. That made six. “M-Maybe one d-day…s-some…some…s-someone will c-call me babers t-toooo!” The lovers onscreen and the whole world began to blur as Lemonade cried the night away.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“When you put it like that…” Quin smiled. “Yeah. We’ll figure it out together.” Suddenly, a pinging sound came from the computer. He was curious to what it was, though he let Lemon handle it as he finished the rest of his coffee. But to his surprise, she mentioned a message from Master Mirror, and almost immediately he put his cup down and went over to look.

“A hip hop artist? Oh, that’s just a nickname. She’s- never mind.” He shook his head as Lemon left the room and the dishes, but he had a message to respond to first.

Spoiler: Quin’s message

Dear Master Mirror,

I just read your message, and I am so happy to hear from you, you have no idea! I hope you are doing alright, whatever your circumstances, and if I can help in any way please please please write or call me anytime.

I wish I could write as elegantly at you, master, but you are the Jedi knight between us two so bear with me. I was thinking about what you said about children being the future and the stuff about us and everyone mirroring each other. And I can see that now!

I’m on this mission with a friend called Lemon, and she’s not like anyone I met before. She’s always so nice and happy and upbeat despite any circumstance(except for maybe when the cappuccino machine is broken) and sometimes I can’t believe people like her still exist, before I was reminded that I used to be the same way. I can see parts of her in me too— I think I’m starting to like coffee, if you can believe it! You have to try Lemon’s coffee someday; it’s amazing. If she ever does open a coffee shop, we’ll have to be her first two customers.

I’m getting off topic again, but I really do see what you mean, even if I can’t put it into words. Although I do hope I can make you proud. You’re my role model, whether you’re already aware or not, and you are the kind of knight I and other Padawans should strive to be. I miss you, Master Mirror, and I hope that we will meet again soon.

Your dear friend,

Quin-Quin

Hitting send, Quin went to do the dishes, though he didn’t mind. After they were all done, he retreated back to his quarters to prepare for the upcoming mission, getting changed into the right clothes and whatnot. He could hear the sounds of the holodrama coming from next door in Lemon’s room, but to his surprise, it wasn’t as bad as it had seemed before.

He lost track of time before he heard a knock on his door, and again on Lemon’s.

“We’re here! Time to move out, Jedi,” came the muffled voice of Chuk-Chuk from the hall.

“Coming!” Quin responded, getting himself out of bed for the second time today. “Ready when you are, Lemon!”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music OOC

After Lin helped fix the hyperdrive that had been slowing the rent-a-ship down, it warped to Thila and Lemonade warped out of bed and into the corridor.

“Mornin,” she poked Lin’s shoulder from behind. “I was ready eleventy minutes ago, dodo, so let’s go!”

A thermos in either hand, she held onto the purple one and offered Lin the pink one but there wasn’t much in the way of a refund. “Cappuccino for the road, my good sir.”

One foot followed the other as Chuk-Chuk led the pair into the wide open world of Thila. Fortunately one way Lemonade spent preoccupying her time aboard the ship was by doing her homework.

The planet had been site of a Rebel base during the Galactic Civil War, then home to High Command, then a war story, and none of this history was terribly fascinating to a girl born in the future.

Rather, it was the lore of the land that most intrigued the Padawan. Thila was also home to gigantic mountain ranges that spread across the globe like cobwebs. Lemon had seen the highest peaks from orbit at such a distance no hill could hope for. Soon I shall walk across them.

That journey would begin in the town of Hospry at the foot of Mount Victor. The pilot-cook’s vessel sat in a field just outside the settlement, surrounded by forest, with Victor looming over both. The ramp greeted the earth and the Jedi did too.

Thila was in a bad mood that day, a cold wind howling in the ear, so good thing Lemon brought her backpack and a coat to come out of it. "Looks like town hall over there..." she pointed. "Lodging over there..."
And there it is... A little ways up the mountain, Lem spotted smoke. The factory…


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Armed with a warm thermos filled with cappuccino, his coat, his belt, and his lightsaber, Quin felt ready to take on anything as the pair of Padawans stepped out of the comfort of the ship onto the planet of Thila. But one look at the looming mountain ahead of them and his confidence started to waver.

“Do we really have to climb that?” He saw the smoke coming off of a section of a mountain and instinctively knew that was their destination, but it was intimidating to say the least. The amount of coffee the thermos held didn’t seem as much as Quin had thought before, considering the trip up ahead. But the fear was quickly put into place when he remembered what Master Mirror had told him in the letter. We’re all moving forward to a better hope, a better tomorrow. And this will bring a better tomorrow to these people.

Lemon pointed out the town hall and the lodge, but both seemed surprisingly empty when his eyes followed her finger. In fact, the entire settlement was quiet, too quiet for this time of day.

“Let’s hope that the lodge is actually open,” he commented, unable to keep the worry from his tone. “I’m going to check it out.”

Whether Lemon decided to go with him or not, he headed for the entrance of the town, looking for any sign of life. Before he’d even entered, however, he noticed a bright yellow sign posted on top of a building.

WARNING: SEVERE DROUGHT, it read. USE EXTREME CAUTION. ANY USE OF ELECTRICITY OR FLAME IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. No electricity? That didn’t sound good. As the cold wind bit his ears, he wondered if it really was so dry that even a spark from a wire could start a fire. Was that why the town was so empty?

“This is giving me the creeps,” he muttered aloud.

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music OOC

“Climb if you need the exercise,” Chuk-Chuk answered Lin’s concerns over the mountain. “Personally I’m gonna take a lift. These aging legs ain’t what they used to be. Hmmm I remember one time in this one town there was this old flame of mine—”

“Might be best if you stick with the ship, skip,” Lem patted.

“Hmm I could use a second breakfast and a power nap on that note. Almost certain I misplaced my spatula though. Can never have anything nice, Lip-Lip always said! Hmm wonder if that Ithorian cookbook . . . ” The rest of whatever that was faded into the background as the pair of Padawans faded from view.

The times had not smiled favorably on this town, the apparent abandonment appearing more spontaneous than planned. There was no mention of this, hum. Then again, a severe drought might not have broadcast itself until a short time before the yellow sign went up.

“Then go easy on the caffeine, Chewie,” Lem gave Lin a playful flick across the bicep. Of course, if Lin was Chewbacca then Lem could only be— “Wait, electricity or flame is strictly prohibited?” She grinned. “Least we ain’t gotta worry about Sith!”

Lemon wasn’t sure about Master Mirror but her master always told her that the fear of the unknown was an easy snare for a Jedi.

With that, the Padawan strolled past the other Padawan while ensuring her more sensitive gear was secured, including her lightsaber. And at least this town isn’t a cave…

It was as quiet as one, as hollow, and come the night it would be as dark. Based on the boarded up shop windows, the empty vehicles and the carrion crows feasting on a kind of goat in the middle of the street, that yellow sign appeared to be telling the truth.

“We should check out the town hall,” she nodded toward the biggest building, one that became a dollhouse before the mountain that engulfed it. “Even if no one's inside there's gotta be some answers." That was unless Lin had a better idea than Lem.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“Heh. For once, I don’t think this is a problem caused by the Sith.” Instead, he was fairly certain that the factory had something to do with this. The two Jedi were here because it had been causing environmental issues, and the drought described on the yellow sign was more than likely linked in some way or another. Hopefully, digging around the town hall would provide some more answers.

“I like the way you think,” he said to Lemon with a half-smile, and followed her there. Like the other buildings, the windows were boarded up, and there was no sign of anyone having been here in the recent past. When he walked up to the metal door, he was able to slide it open with the Force with very minor difficulty. The only disadvantage of electric locks of this type over traditional ones. Without power, they were useless.

Quin wandered around inside for a while, looking around for any clue that would lead to a good answer for why everyone left. Not finding anything of interest in the main room aside from some uneaten candy at the front desk, he decided to check in a storage closet— random things tended to be left in there, and one of them could possibly be a lead.

He opened the door, and on the inside was a small pile of cardboard, each having some kind of writing on it. It didn’t seem like much until he went closer and read what they said.

“Stop the factory!” read one. “Save water for our daughters!” “Water works, but not for your waterworks!”

“Hmm…” Protest signs? “Hey, Lemon? I think you might want to take a look at this. I think the factory might be the cause of this drought… somehow.”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Lemon was ever more thankful to be checking out this town in broad daylight. No power meant no lights but, like doors, there was more than one way to light up the dark.

Unfortunately, if there was a Force Flashlight power then her master failed to teach her it and she thought twice about using her actual flashlight, lighter or her lightsaber.

So the metal shutters boarding up windows were strategically forced open, sunlight beaming into the hall as the Togruta combed the corridors.
One room was as useless as the other, computer archives out of the question thanks to, once again, no power. We don’t need spreadsheets. We need footprints.

Lem found a trail in a now windowless office that looked hastily left behind. Whoever was last there had already stopped using the lights, with paper notes spread everywhere and a whiteboard scrawled with marker. Jackpot.

“Send me a pic. I'll do the same.” She snapped a photo and sent it through her comlink. “Those angsty notes paint the picture of your everyday evil corporation, and I’m pretty sure that diagram shows what might be happening to the air but I can’t make heads or tails with it.”

Between this and those protest signs... “Humm this evacuation def feels like a forced one…” Half of her was thinking out loud with Lin still on the line. “Comin’ to ya, Chewie, then comes Mount Victor!”


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Taking photos was a good idea— they would not only be able to look back on them later to piece them all together, but also have evidence on what had actually caused the people of this town to leave. One look at his comm showed a whiteboard with all sorts of papers and markings on it, and it looked like there was some corporation here. Put together with the protest signs…

“Forced or not, we’ll find out soon.” He spoke into his comms and headed back out into the main room to meet up with his partner-in-goodness. Once they’d exited the building together, Quin stared up at the beginning of the winding path that led up to the smoking factory that was causing this mess, and took a deep breath.

“Alright. We might not have speeders, but we do have our caffeine. Race you to the top!”

***​

The race was more like a walk, and a walk in which Quin could barely see Lemon beside him, much less farther up the curved path. If the wind was strong where their ship was, it was at least twice as strong here. Plus, with all the dust and dirt it carried, he could hardly open his eyes. Judging from the clanking sounds up ahead though, they were at least halfway there. He hoped.

“Lemon? How are you doing?” he yelled through the howling wind. “How much coffee you got left?”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

To call Victor a mountain was to do him an injustice. Mountains were what one found on most worlds; on Thila, there were mountains and then there were mountain kings. Lemon was losing this race even at a walking pace on account of gazing upon this king's crown.

The mountainside was so vast the little girl could barely make out anything else beyond the horizon both this way and that. Looking up was forfeit unless the goal was to see the sky. I’ll hike to the peak next time… Got a factory to talk to first.

It wasn’t as high up by any means. Still, it was a windy, windy walk. “In my bladder, ya mean?” She called up the path.
Sadly, Lemon’s thermos had long since suffered a drought of its own. “Speaking of, bathroom break in five, my dude.”

For now she freed one thumb from beneath a backpack strap and caught up with Lin, comlink held up. From said backpack also came a pair of goggles but she only had one.

“We’re halfway there if the map is anything to go by. It’s a pretty big facility. No idea what kinda reception we’ll get if we get one at all and I’m gonna fast forward those five minutes be right back.”

With that, Lem power walked toward an appropriately sized boulder and vanished from view.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“Aw, I was gonna ask her for some,” Quin lamented to himself after picking up on her response. His own thermos had been drained a long time ago— so much for rationing it.

“Okay!” he called back. “I’ll wait for you.” He found a decently sized crevice shielded by a large rock on the side of the path and squeezed himself in. It was good to finally have a break from the wind, and he would stay there until he saw Lemon passing by in front of him.

Quin lost track of time and distance as the pair moved on— the only thing on his mind was to keep going forward. Their efforts were eventually rewarded when the path started to straighten out, and the Padawan lifted his head just a bit to see the looming silhouette of the factory just up ahead.

“Here we are,” he said, relieved that they’d made it. “Now let’s see what this is all about.” As they approached, the wind began to die down, blocked for the most part by the factory and the tall boulders around them. He could see better here too, and when he looked up at the main entrance, he could see that the guards were droids. YD-series security models from the looks of it, and each of the six carried blasters. He ducked behind a rock just as one swung its gaze over, pulling Lemon in as well.

“I think we could take them,” he whispered, looking back at the droids. “But they’ll probably alert the entire factory if they see us. My idea is we could lure them out a little farther, maybe even to the path, and cut them down from behind. The wind and dust should jam their sensors enough to stop them from detecting us, assuming we work fast enough. What do you think?”

@Die Shize

 

[Leh'Min'Ayd]

Spoiler: Music OOC

When Lem looked up at the main entrance she couldn’t see anything. Is that bird poop? She furiously wiped her goggles as Lin guided her to the rock.

“Right. Yeah.” She agreed, following Lin’s gaze to count six YD’s. “Hummm I can’t remember if Lure Droid is a thing but here’s what I think, Chewie.”

Lemon reached for the purple thermos holstered at her backpack before remembering the unholy thing was empty. Karkle. “I think my master mainly just said “point here stab there” but what if one of us maybe casts Force Cloak on himself/herself and kinda just Force Nudges the droids to these boulders where the other dude/dudette casts Force Disable, Nan’s your nanny and we’re in the factory in time for coffee?”

Hoping for the best, Lem held up two thumbs and flashed her teeth. If her idea was terrible then they were going with Lin's and she would get to make the coffee.


@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“How about both?” Quin suggested. “I can push them over here, and you can disable them. Then we can slice them up— and I don’t mean reprogramming. Don’t want ‘em coming back after we’ve already dealt with them, and destroying them is the best way to be sure.” Though he wasn’t too fond of ripping droids apart, he didn’t want to risk them having to fight their way out if things went awry inside. Better safe than sorry.

“But it’s up to you. For now, we’ll stick with your plan.” Flashing Lemon a grin, he went behind the boulder and concentrated on dimming his appearance, feeling the Force wrap around him as if it were a blanket. It required quite a bit of effort keeping it together as he wasn’t used to doing it at all, but soon he thought it was good enough and decided to try it out.

So this is what it feels like to be invisible? Working up the courage, he stepped out onto the open path again just as one of the droids’ heads turned in his direction again. However, to his dismay, its head stopped turning and its gaze remained locked on him.

“Facial recognition failed. Target unidentified. Open fire.” The other droids turned in unison, raised their blasters, and Quin immediately ducked behind a boulder as they began to send bolts flying in his direction.

“Uhh… Lemon? I think we need a new plan,” he said into comms just as a blaster bolt flew over his head.

Spoiler: Roll

Rolled 8 on disc for the Force Cloak attempt

@Die Shize