You Can’t Stop The Beat

[Aurora Blackwood]

The Force was difficult to understand. Stories told of Jedi who had such a deep understanding of the mysteries of the Force they would peel back the curtain of uncertainty and divine true futures. Such was their skill they heard the Force clearly. What a bunch of kriffing absurdity. Aurora had started her training at age 3. She had been a ‘Master’ for nearly three decades. Her strength in the Force was considerable, nearly unrivaled by her fellow Masters, and she didn’t know kark. The Force was as mysterious to her now as it was when she was a toddler. Aurora couldn’t understand why she had been pushed together with the odd little Zabrak Pho. The kid was defiant, a little awkward, and a pain in her ass. Yet, he was strong in the Force and her newest student. Somehow the kid had an even worse mouth that Theo.

Aurora knew a student who couldn’t learn in a traditional setting. Pho was every pit that student. He wouldn’t respond well to the tranquil banks of the Al’doleem. No. Pho needed to learn out in the galaxy. That was why Aurora sat at the yoke of her shuttle. The trusty Puddle Jumper. Anoat was allied with the Rebellion. The system had joined the growing Alliance after a series of humanitarian missions, including Aurora’s own failed mission with Val. She didn’t relish returning to the planet that gave the system its name. However, it was necessary.

There were a few troubling trends of violence raising in the capital. Not everyone was thrilled with the danger created by this new alliance. Aurora had volunteered herself and Pho to investigate the growing discontent. It would not exactly be a stress free mission. As they broke through the atmosphere she deftly piloted the shuttle towards one of the landing pads. She quickly turned to Pho in the co-pilots seat. “If you’ve got gear, I’d suggest grabbing it.” Aurora was already wearing unimpressive brown robes, her typical travel attire, and her weapons carefully hidden away. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

The force was still a weird thing to Pho. He had always seen it as Sith magic that only was used by those who were evil. Something that brave people have to fight against with technology and cunning. The Zabrak boy had never believed Jedi were real until now. Even now he felt this was a weird dream. He would follow Aurora as far as his morals would allow. If she turned out to be tricking him, he'd rather die than be a pawn in some evil witch's plans. That had not become apparent yet though.

"I pack light." Pho replied to her, looking her over carefully and noting she wore about the same. "This is all I intend to bring."

Pho wore his wanderer's robes and had his weapons concealed underneath them as well. He kept the hood down for now though as there was no reason to hide his face right now. The boy was nervous but he would power through. His Master as he would learn to call her had some idea here. He figured he'd give it a shot as it was a rebel job either way. Maybe he'd learn something about this Jedi Force to combat the Sith. He wanted so badly to trust it but he just couldn't give in yet.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora nodded as Pho indicated he was ready. She appreciated his sparse gear. She had spent her life as a nomad in the Outer Rim, packing light was a way of life. The Jedi rarely possessed more than she could carry on her back. Her small room in the monastery on Al’doleem held little more than a few changes of clothes and spattering of datapads. Aurora really needed much else. She certainly didn’t now. All she needed was the mind rattling around her skull and the Force. That was usually enough. Usually. Aurora shook her head to refocus. She unbuckled her harness and headed towards the back of ship. She motioned her young student to follow.

The Jedi Master assumed Pho was following her. She spoke as the landing ramp lowered. “There is unrest in the capital.” Aurora reached out in the Force. Yes, she could feel the tension bubbling beneath the surface. “Not everyone on Anoat is thrilled to be working with the Alliance. They are fearful of the Empire…even so far in the Outer Rim.” There would always be fear confronting the might of the Empire. It was all the galaxy had known for five hundred years. That fear would not evaporate in a day, a month, or year.

“Can you feel it?” She rapped her knuckles against the durasteel. “Reach out and feel it.” Her eyes settled on the small delegation from the capital at the end of the landing pad. They were were supposed to send them in the right direction of the problem children. “You have to open your mind to let the Force in, Pho.” Aurora began to walk towards the delegation. She shot a look over her shoulder. “This is a team job by the way…no being mute.” Aurora wasn’t exactly sure if that would be an issue from the young Zabrak or not. He managed to be outgoing and introverted all at once. A truly mind boggling combination. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Here she goes again. That was all Pho could think as things turned mystical. It was clear that most people feared the Sith Empire. Empires? Whatever they were now. Pho didn't need to feel anything to relate to these people feeling disturbed by this dangerous step towards the Alliance. Not everyone was brave and not everyone understood that the efforts were growing around the galaxy. The Zabrak boy hardly felt confident himself most days. Aurora asking him to open his mind, to let in the force, and to feel the people... it was odd to him.

"Of course, I empathize with them... and," Pho paused and glanced to Aurora as he tried to feel some sort of force. "I think I feel... something?"

Pho closed his eyes. There was so much doubt closing his mind. When he tried to open it up all he could feel was the pain of the galaxy. Something he had always been able to feel. Was that what the force had for him? A view of pain? He shook his head and stared off towards the delegation party. They'd be within speaking distance soon and Pho was unsure what to say or feel in that moment.

"I feel... pain. And hunger." He said, rubbing his stomach at the word hunger. "...Sorry."

Once the pair were close to the delegation he would give a respectful bow. The Zabrak Jedi Padawan kept trying to feel with the force but the same result was all he could get. Nothing would clear up until the doubt in his mind could be cleared. Pho was holding himself back out of fear that the Jedi were fake and this was all a rouse.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora was not a violent woman. She had been raised to avoid violence at all costs, it was a last resort. Always. That didn’t stop her from wanting to smack Pho upside the head. She could sense his hesitation and doubt in the Force. A part of him still thought this was all some carefully constructed rouse. That she was an evil Sith just waiting for the right moment to strike. She didn’t blame him, the Jedi were supposed to be dead. The guile of the Sith was legendary. Still, Aurora had given him just about every reason to trust her and he still doubted. She offered a soft smile as they approached the delegation. “Don’t apologize, none of this is easy…if it was easy it would not be worth it.” The Darkside was the easy way out. Emotions could fuel perverted use of the Force, but that was not their way. She would not give Pho a hint of that path.

Aurora performed a smaller version of Pho’s bow. She was presented to the delegation as an Alliance ambassador. That worked well enough for her purposes. In the back of her mind, she could sense Pho still trying to work the Force. She touched his mind while shaking hands with the delegation members. “Doubt clouds your mind…the Force will elude you while that cloud hangs.” The Jedi Master did not break stride during the mental communication. “Ambassador Blackwood, at your service.” She spoke to the Bothan in the middle of the delegation. He was clearly the leader.

“Thank you for coming, Ambassador. We are at a loss for what to do…there is no doubt among the government we made the right choice, but not all in the Capital agree.” Aurora nodded slowly, continuing to watch Pho in the Force. The Bothan kept speaking. “The unrest is in some of our wealthier districts.” Of course the rich feared what they might lose. Aurora smiled brightly. “We have dealt with this before. I promise we will find a solution.” This seemed to placate the man to a certain extent. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Pho felt a shiver go down his spine as Aurora spoke to him directly through the force. That was an odd feeling still to say the least. The Zabrak could not help but feel like she was reading his mind sometimes. He was unsure if that was one of the Sith powers or not. Rumors were hard to differentiate from the truth. Though evidence was showing that they probably could do so to an extent. For the moment he turned his focus to the delegation that she was greeting. Aurora seemed nice enough so far. The delegation was worried about the unrest and even Pho could sense that much. Her words soothed them only so slightly, but maybe that was a good sign.

"Old lady... what could you possibly have as a solution?" He thought really loudly while glancing to Aurora, not realizing he had pushed the thought to her.

The Zabrak boy tried to keep his face neutral, but slightly friendly. He did not want to impose too much on the delegation. Aurora had said this was a team effort and he better not be mute, but he was no diplomat. Pho stood quietly for a moment after she spoke to them and a few eyes drifted in his direction. They were expecting him to introduce himself, he realized.

"Assistant Ambassador Gorcru," he made up on the spot, not wanting to make himself equal to Aurora here. "As she said, we will work hard to bring peace to your city."

Some of the doubt slipped away as he preached about peace. That was what he really wanted. If Aurora, a Sith, let him do such things then maybe there was more to it than a trick. Pho was not fully convinced but he certainly started to feel that maybe things would be okay. Maybe Jedi were not green little creatures with funny talking habits. Maybe a Jedi was just a Sith magic user who fought for good.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

The frown was involuntary. Aurora was skilled in many things, but she had never exactly mastered keeping her face completely neutral. Even now her face showed far too much of what whipped through her mind. She gave Pho a side eyed look. Her mind touched his again. “Not that old…and your thoughts are loud.” She smirked. “Kid.” Aurora refocused on the delegation she smiled again. “He means Assistant to the Ambassador, but Pho is right...we will find a solution.” The delegation seemed to take some solace in that. That was good enough for now. She locked eyes with the Bothan when he started to speak again. “There is a speeder and driver waiting to take you to the most unstable districts. Please let us know what can be done.”

The Bothan stuck out his hand again. Aurora shook it again. “Thank you, but we will be fine without the driver…it will be better that way.” She gave them one last nod and started towards the speeder. She expected Pho to follow. Aurora reached out and touched Pho’s mind again. “Time to learn how to be a Jedi…pay attention Pho.” By the time they reached the speeder the driver was out of the speeder. Aurora lithely vaulted in from the passengers side. Her previous time on Anoat had some benefits. She was vaguely familiar with the layout of the capital and pretty much knew where they were going.

Once Pho was buckled into the passengers seat she slammed on the accelerator. Aurora raced through the streets of the Capital, swerving in and out of traffic. The Force sharpened her reflexes. In short order, they were entering the wealthier district. Aurora could feel the tension boiling in the Force. The fear tinged the very air. She slowed and parked the speeder down an alleyway. “Well, what do you feel? Her senses were extended in the Force. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Surprise was hard to hide as the Zabrak got an answer from Aurora into his mind. He tried his best to conceal it but at first he raised an eyebrow. Pho had not expected his thoughts to actually reach her or for her to be reading his mind so directly. That was a bit disturbing but he also was thrilled with himself for being able to do it. The next message was a bit ominous but he listened to directions and buckled himself into the vehicle next to Aurora. Every rumor he had ever heard of old women driving suddenly came true.

"You're going to kill us!" He said as she rocketed between other speeders and seemed to make last minute adjustments.

Somehow, she didn't kill them. Pho glared over at her as they parked for driving like a psycho. Now that things were slightly settled she asked him what he felt. So far he mostly felt fear for his life due to her driving, but he tried to push that aside now that they arrived. Things certainly felt tense here. He could not put his finger on it, but it felt like walking into the wrong neighborhood. It was hard to say if that was the force or natural intuition. Then Pho realized that maybe his natural intuition was the force. Now he was confusing himself.

"Um," Pho started, glancing to Aurora. "It feels tense. Like a bad neighborhood. Like I should be afraid or uneasy."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora nodded in a approval as Pho expressed the palpable tension. It was no easy feat to feel the bubbling emotions in the Force. Her young Zabrak student was taking to this more easily than perhaps he understood. That didn’t matter for now, eventually he would find confidence in himself and his growing abilities. “Emotions spill into the Force…even beings who are not Force senestive can change the flow.” Aurora opened the speeder car door and stepped out. She gestured all around them. “You feel the emotions boiling in this district…emotions clouding the Force.” The district felt like a pot about to boil over. This may have been more dangerous than she thought.

Several of store fronts and residential units had guards posted out front. Guards that were unaffiliated with the government of Anoat. They were hired security. “Your first defense is always your senses…what you feel in the Force.” Aurora never left herself blind to the world around her. Even when her mental walls were high, and her signature suppressed, she still extended her mind. It was a Jedi’s first and best way to avoid unwanted trouble. Her eyes cast about the street while she reached out in the Force. Sadly, they needed to find some of that trouble. They needed tension.

“This is the part where I tell you to do as I say, not as I do.” Aurora felt anger gathering the Force. Rage almost. A great cluster of frustration and anguish. “If we were anywhere else, it would be best to avoid pain and suffering. Today, we have to find it.” She motioned Pho to follow again and took them towards the growing discontent. A few blocks over was where she sensed the gathering. As they drew closer the Jedi could hear the shouting. Yup, she was right. They arrived at a courtyard filled with a diverse group of clearly wealthy individuals. It was a protest against the government of Anoat. A protest that had reached the boiling point. Just what they needed. @Cazar