Fandom Jedi Survivors (closed for Hellewise & RavenClaire)

[RavenClaire]

This wasn’t the life he had expected. Standing in a row of fellow Inquisitors, Kylo Ren glanced at their helmed features. Many of them were former Jedi and Padawan, like him, but most had joined after hours and days of torture and brainwashing. He had volunteered. Treason in the eyes of many, but in Kylo’s mind, the Order had betrayed him first.

Having been raised in the Temple on Coruscant, he had dreamed of a life of adventure. He wanted to be a warrior for justice in the galaxy and absorb all there was to learn about the Force. Reality had turned out to be a big disappointment. Rules as thick as shackles stopped him at every turn, and the man who was supposed to be his mentor had raised his lightsaber against him. The Order deserved to be wiped out. But what the Grand Inquisitor was proposing right now wasn’t part of that.

“We will find these children and bring them here. Those who resist will be eliminated.”, the man said, walking slowly up and down the row of his subordinates. “Now go.” Kylo Ren had no idea how the Empire had gathered the whereabouts of Force sensitive children. Perhaps they had raided the archives on Coruscant, or they had found other ways, but those kids deserved better. If they were brought to the Inquisitor headquarters, their lives would be no better than in the Jedi temple. Both were prisons, both would warp their minds, both would lead to misery. He would not stand for it.

As the Inquisitors began to leave the room one by one, so did he, heading straight for his ship and typing in the coordinates of his given destination. Tatooine wasn’t a place he relished to go, but he could hardly defy an order. He would get those children out and then claim they resisted. Nobody would doubt he killed them in cold blood. He had slain Jedi without hesitation before, and his temper was somewhat infamous around the headquarters. It served him well in his new mission.

The journey to the sandy planet was faster than he expected, and when he stepped out into the heat, he instantly took off his helmet. Why anyone chose to live in this place was truly beyond him. There was just sand and rocks as far as he could see and it was even more depressing than the darkness of other places he knew. Then again, it was the perfect spot to hide in. With his lightsaber at hand, he began to make his way to the first settlement. There was no point in asking the locals, but he knew that some traders would sell their own mothers for good credits. And indeed, a greedy little Gran was quick to tell him about a woman, who was often seen in the company of various children, and even pointed him in the right direction. The house he came upon was on the outskirts and looked fairly normal. A regular home among many others. From the inside, he could hear a group of children laughing, and it caused him to pause in his movement. He needed to remind himself why he was here. Then he knocked.

The moment the door opened, he pushed himself in. “Not a word.” he spoke, his lightsaber in hand. He heard the children’s scared gasps, but his eyes were locked on the female before him. He had expected some good-hearted local, not a warrior. “I didn’t come here to shed blood. Give me the children and this can end quickly.”

From the moment she had gotten word from one of her contacts on Tatooine, Tahri had been in mission mode. It wasn’t often that Navi reached out to her, and it usually meant that things were dire indeed. Having informed Cal, they had set out as soon as possible. Even though their little ship was going a maximum speed, it didn’t feel fast enough for the impatient young woman.

For a moment, she tore her gaze away from the vortex in front of them to look at her companion. “Did Cere find a place for them?”, she asked Cal. Tahri knew fairly little about the former Jedi and had met her only twice. Briefly. Cal’s former crew was now part of a secret network specialized in smuggling Jedi survivors and Force sensitive children, as well as their families, out of the Empire’s grasp. It was a task Tahri and Cal were involved in as well, though their missions mostly included rescue operations, intel gathering and downright battling it out with the Imperial forces. After Navi’s message, Cal had contacted Cere, and she had volunteered to take the kids in once they were safe.

“I hope we get there soon. Navi knows how to protect herself, so when she calls for help, she must expect a larger attack.” That could include a small battalion of troopers or an Inquisitor with entourage. Neither option sounded very appealing, to be honest. Not that Tahri was scared, but the longer they continued to fight, the more it occurred to her how outnumbered the resistance was against the apparent might of the Empire.

But what else was there to do but fight? It was her only way to survive as a former Padawan. Besides, her Master would never condone giving up. She had taught Tahri better than that. A flash of sadness passed over her eyes, as she remembered her mentor, but she was quick to shake the emotion away. Instead, she smiled at Cal. He always sounded so fond when talking about his former crew. “When things calm down a little, you could meet them again to catch up. I’m sure Greez would like that”, she offered. It was a very optimistic thought, because when were things ever calm, really? Every day, they were either hunting or being hunted.

Tahri’s hand ran over the smooth surface of her lightsaber, the feel of it helping calm her down. She had never officially finished her training, but the years since Order 66 had made her quite proficient with the weapon. But was she good enough? “When we have the time, can we train that blocking move again you showed me last time?”, she asked, suddenly changing topics. Always more of an offensive fighter, her defense could definitely use some improvement.

 

[Hellewise]

​

The hut was alive with the sound of childish chatter. The sound was unfamiliar to Navi; she acted as a protector from a distance, keeping faithful watch over the dens in the sandy settlement and stepping out only when a rare threat appeared unexpectedly. Things were different this time. There was word going round of an anticipated Imperial drop-in, thanks to recent rebel intelligence that had successfully intercepted their communications. When one of the settlers had knocked at Navi's door and pleaded for a response, she had agreed to sublet her home as a shelter while she made contact with an entrusted contact and awaited their evacuation.

Navi held the comlink lightly to her lips. She had dispatched the message a half hour ago, which she knew wasn't long in the grand scheme of things; but when she was harbouring some fifteen fugitives under her roof and had the impending threat of the Empire turning up at her door, she felt as though she could hear each second ticking by.

She could hold her own against an onslaught, that much was certain. An Imperial assault? The troopers were Bantha fodder. But an imperial assault while she had children to look out for as well as herself? She didn't like those odds so much.

But Navi had complete faith in Tahri. On the rare occasions she'd called on her for help, the young Jedi had never let her down, and Navi had yet to come across a time where she wasn't reliable. She knew her ship would be in hyperspace right now, mere parsecs away.

Too many parsecs away.

Navi's eyes shifted from where their point of focus on the far wall to the door when the knocking came. The sound of juvenile laughter died down immediately in response, and she rose from her seat. Her blaster rifle was holstered securely at her waist as it had been since she'd caught wind of the news, her beskad sheathed on the opposite side.

"Other room, door in the back. Go." She commanded the younglings, retrieving her helmet from where it sat on the table beside her and tucking it firmly under her arm before she cracked open the door.

Navi immediately stepped back when the door was forced open and the looming figure strode in, black robes cast in the red glow shed by his lightsaber. It pulsed and crackled dauntingly with copious amounts of unstable energy, and the sound elicited a hushed gasp from the other room, but she didn't take her eyes off of its wielder's face.

"I'm afraid you must be mistaken." She said calmly.

​

"She's on it. She'll get back to us as soon as she's ready." Cal flicked a series of switches on the panel in front of him as the ship rocketed through hyperspace. Tahri had mentioned that Navi - one of their contacts and an old friend of hers - had sent out a distress call regarding a cache of younglings she had been guarding. Cal had come across the woman a handful of times, but would hardly class them as anything more than polite acquaintances. He respected her skill as a warrior and considered her a notable ally for their cause, however, and this is what drove him forward to set course for Tattooine at the earliest opportunity. As for the children she was shielding, it was alarming that Cere hadn't gotten back to them yet. He trusted her, but there was no denying that the Empire was cutting through the safeguards and strongholds they had, and their resources were running out. They were starting to feel the pressure, that much was certain.

"Whatever happens, we'll be there to help her." He reassured Tahri, sensing her unease. BD-1 beeped rhythmically beside him in agreement. His response didn't seem to do much to allay his partner's concern, but he didn't push. Tahri was a lot more driven by her emotions, she always had been. It was something that kept them at odds more often than not, and a topic that was better left unspoken at the best of times. "Watch our course. BD-1, check the shields."

A small smile crept across his face when Tahri mentioned Greez. It had been too long since he'd seen him or Cere in person. He found himself missing them from time to time, but quashed the feeling when it rose. They all had jobs to do for the time being, jobs that were far more important than catching up over drinks in the nearest city's cantina. He knew Tahri longed to spend more time with his old crew, however, and part of him wished that she could. But it was hard to socialise during war.

Her next question made him look up at her in surprise. Clearly, Tahri's emotions were currently in turmoil from the way she was jumping between topics. She must have been more worried than she was letting on.

"Have you been practising?" Cal asked, raising an eyebrow. "The Marksman-H hardly looks like it's moved since we've been here." It was a standard training droid, one that most Padawans were gifted to aid them during their mentoring. It might have felt childish to still use it, but Cal believed that it was just as useful to use as an experienced Knight as it was for an apprentice. There was only one way to hone skills, after all.

 

[RavenClaire]

​

Had he been in a fouler mood, he would have trashed this place in an instant. This time however, Kylo stood there, studying the woman before him. She had guts to face an Inquisitor like this, he had to give her that. A blaster was no match against a lightsaber, unless of course she had some sort of back-up plan. It made him want to attempt an attack just to find out. Instead, he kept staring her down, waiting for a flicker of fear or defeat that never came.

“You stand no chance. Just give me those children.”, he repeated, his voice deep and steady.

He could feel the children’s fear radiating through the walls. They had obviously never been in a situation like this before. The same could not be said for their guardian.

“You are from Mandalore, are you not? So why help Jedi?” he asked boldly. He had faced Mandalorians before and was familiar with their armor and battle stance to recognize one with ease. However, he had never met one collaborating with the resistance, which this woman clearly was. Why else amass so many Force sensitive children?

This wasn’t supposed to turn into an interrogation, but the information could be invaluable. “Where would you even take them? There is nowhere they can hide from the Empire.” Of course, she would not give up her secrets so easily, so he tried to enter her mind instead. It was a trick he had perfected over time, but when he attempted to slide into her thoughts, he encountered fierce resistance.

Interesting. It wasn’t often that he encountered someone this strong. Her assets were absolutely wasted on the resistance, but given what had happened to Mandalore, she probably wouldn’t even consider working for the Emperor.

In a way it was amusing. The Republic had attempted to unite everyone through talks, which had failed. The same goal couldn’t be achieved through brute force either, as the Empire was clear proof of. They were having trouble finding true allies, even if nobody ever admitted it out loud. It was one of the many reasons why Kylo wanted out.

He had already managed to gather a small group of like-minded people as well. Calling themselves the Knights of Ren, they had built a base for themselves on the jungle moon Ajan Kloss. It was where Kylo planned to take these children once this woman stepped out of the way. They would be safe among his followers. Many of them were defected Jedi or former younglings who were never chosen by a master and thus had to leave the Temple. They were all eager for something new and could teach the next generation in the ways of the Force without the shackles of the old Order.

“If you want to stay with them, feel free. But they will be leaving Tatooine today. One way or another.” It was his final warning clearly, and he slowly raised his lightsaber, hand tightening around the hilt, to underline his words.

Even though the little training device was out of sight, Tahri glanced towards the back of the ship briefly, her lips turning into a frown and her nose wrinkling slightly at the wave of annoyance she felt. “You know I prefer to train with you.”, she said, unable to hide the small whiny tone in her voice. Like all younglings, she had started training with the robot, but her Master had found it pointless. Gaamla had always made sure to spar with her student herself or pick training opponents among the stormtroopers accompanying them. “You need to face real people to be ready for a real fight with them.”, the Jedi Master always used to say, and Tahri had taken it to heart.

“And at least you can give me pointers, while all the Marksman does is beep at me.”, she continued. “No offense against beeping, of course.”, she quickly added, sending a reassuring smile towards BD-1.

Training with a fellow former Padawan was one of the best things about no longer being alone. They could learn from each other and thus increase their chances of survival. “You know what I was just thinking? You probably would have made a great teacher at the Academy. Training younglings and all that.” She could imagine it all too well. Cal would have been a patient and kind teacher, giving equal attention to all his students.

While it was easy to imagine his future, Tahri had trouble envisioning what she would have become. She liked to think she would have made a good Jedi Knight, despite her emotional nature. But it seemed too surreal now. Instead, she found herself thinking about a normal life whenever things got too dire. Even more scary, she found herself imagining it together with Cal and BD-1 and maybe even that crew of his.

“How many kids do you think we will be able to safe before it’s all over?” She didn’t specify whether “over” meant a defeat of the Empire or their own demise. Wow, missions really did put her on edge recently. She certainly wasn’t known to be so gloomy. Laughing at herself, Tahri felt some of the heaviness drop from her shoulders. “Sorry, Cal. I guess I’m just worried. Or hungry. Or in need of a relaxing day by the water, somewhere nice.” Yes, that sounded like a good plan indeed. But first, there were some Imps to deal with. And just as she began to refocus on the mission, their destination appeared on the radar and the ship dropped out of hyperspace.

 

[Hellewise]

​

The Inquisitor was asking too many questions - too many for his own good, anyway. Navi wasn't going to humour him with any sort of response, no matter how much he pushed for her to do so. She owed him no information, and owed the Empire even less. She let him talk, staying silent, buying time for the younglings to hopefully get out of the house.

She knew he was trying to intimidate her. His imposing, wide-legged stance and the way he spoke with devastating calm was telling enough. She glanced at the helmet in his other hand, took note of the silver inlay that flowed around the eyes, and fleetingly wondered why he was unmasked. Surely he must have known that his appearance would be far more formidable with it on; that displaying a bare face to an enemy undermined every threat spoken.

The thought was stopped short by an unwelcome pressure that started to build on the sides of her head. Navi's eyes snapped back up to meet the intruder's gaze, and she saw the indicative, focused stare boring into her soul. Her jaw clenched as she reflexively threw up a defensive shield, concentrating on keeping his prying eyes out. She hadn't been prepared for the sudden offence, so her reaction was weaker than she would have liked it to have been, but the pressure in her mind disappeared as quickly as it had come all the same.

He was going to regret that.

She steadied herself as he raised his head and looked down his nose at her, as if he was studying her, gauging how much of an obstacle she was, but it was his last warning that set her teeth on edge and solidified her combat stance. Slowly, with a fluid, purposeful motion, Navi brought her helmet over her head and secured it into place with a hissing click.

"I wouldn't count on it," she replied coolly, right hand hovering inches above her blaster as she took a cautionary step back, daring him to make the first move.

​

The admission would have flattered anybody. Cal smirked almost gloatingly at Tahri's words. She was constantly pushing him to duel her, and he would always say he was constantly winning each battle, but she was getting stronger and had definitely gained the upper hand over him more than a few times. And she was right; it was more rewarding than training with a droid. There was more to consider when sparring off with an opponent, having to anticipate their next move in the heat of the moment, when a reaction that took one second too long could cost a limb being lost - or worse - as a result.

A low chuckle escaped his lips when BD-1 beeped indignantly at her comment and flew off to busy itself with a task away from them. Cal reached up for the overhead switches, killing the hyper-drive and pulling back on the throttle lever. He'd never paid much mind to what he might have been like if he had finished his training before the events of Order 66, but he thought Tahri might have been right. He could see himself mentoring other padawans, maybe bonding with younglings. It wasn't a thought he kept going for very long, though, and he was quick to cut it before he got carried away with imagination.

"Maybe," he replied, and anticipated the scathing remark that Tahri would undoubtedly make as he brought the tone down again when he continued, "but it doesn't make a difference now that it's gone, Tahri."

She'd gone quiet again. Cal stole a glance in her direction and realised that she hadn't picked up on what he said. She was too carried away with her own thoughts.

He sighed. He'd warned her enough times not to get caught in fantasies or to pay so much mind to her emotions, but it was a habit that she had yet to properly learn, never mind master as a skill. His suspicion was confirmed when she spoke again, prompting another rapid change of topic.

"We'll have to put a pin in that relaxing day for now, but I'll see what I can do about you being hungry after we've secured Navi's cache." He promised as their ship dropped out of hyperspace and maintained a regular speed towards the dusty planet, preparing to enter the atmosphere. He nodded towards it, silently telling her to brace herself. "Know where to find her?"

 

[RavenClaire]

The moment the stranger put on her helmet, Kylo knew she meant business. The fact that she hadn’t worn it from the beginning had been surprising, though, it had probably been for the children’s sake. His own stance changed at the same time as hers, but while she covered her face, he threw his own helmet aside. Honestly, he preferred not to wear it in combat. The item might offer additional protection, but it also dimmed his view and his ability to take in every little detail in his surroundings.

At first, none of them moved, and an eerie silence fell over the room. It could all be over in an instance, yet he hesitated. He could hear the Grand Inquisitor laughing in his mind. Calling him a weakling for not instantly striking the woman down. It fuelled his anger, and his calm demeanor gave way to the darkness. He was just about to lunge forward when he heard footsteps approaching outside. There was no doubt they were heading their way. “So you got backup, huh?”

Suddenly he found himself evading a blast just in time, which would have been deadly to anyone without honed instincts. Just a second later, the door swung open, revealing two people with lightsabers in hand. Now this was unexpected. He didn’t even have time to contemplate when the woman might have called them, because the female Jedi rushed at him instantly, the sound of their sabers crashing echoing through the room. She wasn’t strong, but her movements were quick and precise, and he found himself blocking more than attacking. “What do you think you are doing, little girl?”, he asked, suddenly using the Force to push her back just to quickly find himself against the next enemy, while simultaneously dodging blaster fire.

“And here I thought Jedi fought with honor?”, he taunted them. He was stronger, he felt it, but that didn’t make this fight easy in this small space.

“Navi, get the kids out. The ship is just outside the settlement. We will keep him at bay and then join you.”, he heard the female Jedi call to the woman.

“I don’t think so.”, he said, using the force to push one of the heavy tables in front of the door. “These children are coming with me, or they aren’t going anywhere at all.”

He blocked another attack, staring at the young man who dared to oppose him. “What do you want with them anyway? The Order is dead.”

“Yeah, I got her coordinates. The settlement is in the south. We better land close by to allow a quick escape.”, Tahri replied after making sure her seatbelt was secured for the landing. Then she quickly copied the exact location from the little communication device around her wrist to the ship. Taking a deep breath, she tried to re-focus, especially since they didn’t know who they were going up against.

The settlement was oddly quiet, but there was something heavy in the air. Something dark. She had felt this kind of oppressed atmosphere before, and it always ended with a confrontation against an Inquisitor. Apparently, it was to be no different this time.

The moment the door opened, Tahri caught sight of the lightsaber and instantly sprung into action. She had always been the type of fighter to act and think later. Her opponent was skilled, easily dodging her quick strikes. Not that it stopped Tahri from continuing, especially since she felt him fall into a defensive role. She was about to go in for another move, when the Inquisitor violently sent her flying back.

Using the Force herself, she stopped herself from hitting the wall behind her and when she looked back, she saw that Cal had joined the fight. He was a more balanced fighter than Tahri and far more skilled in defense than she would ever be, she had to admit. But even he was struggling against the tall stranger.

But at least he was buying them time, so she called to Navi to get the kids. She pushed the table away from the door again, but then moved back to join her comrade in battle. The Inquisitor didn’t seem much older than themselves, but he was holding his own against the two of them. Who was he? Not helmed, Tahri studied his features, trying to remember him, but nothing came. Of course, she had never gotten to know all fellow younglings, but there was no doubt he had received Jedi training.

For a moment Tahri’s gaze crossed Cal’s, and she gave a tiny nod. Their primary objective was to get the kids out. There was no point in dying while attempting to kill an Inquisitor. Again she dashed forward, engaging their enemy with another barrage of quick strikes from all sides, though this time more controlled. She was used to taking down several stormtroopers swiftly with those moves, but the man before her now was playing in another league, clearly.

 

[Hellewise]

​

Navi ducked and rolled out of the line of strike as soon as the door swung open, but not before drawing her blaster and firing a warning shot. He dodged it as if it were nothing more than a minor inconvenience to him, and then the room was flooded with light and flying sparks as the two Jedi charged in to attack the intruder.

A relieved sigh left Navi's lips as she watched from where she was crouching on the floor. Tahri continued her relentless assault, swinging her saber around in confident arcs and delivering an unceasing barrage against her nemesis, but the fight still felt unbalanced. The effort that Tahri was putting into each of her strikes was scarcely being met by the Inquisitor; he had taken a defensive position, but was deflecting each of her blows with ease. Even when he had swatted Tahri away like a bug and Cal had taken the lead in the assault, a look of intense focus on his face, this stranger didn't seem to break a sweat.

Tahri's words snapped her out of her trance. When the doorway was clear, she dove through it where she had commanded the children through earlier, firing off another shot at the assailant.

As she emerged into the blazing heat from the dark shelter of the hut, the twin suns beating down on her armour, she caught sight of the group of infants just slightly ahead, already running. She broke into a sprint behind them, ushering them to follow her to the edge of the settlement once she had caught up. They moved too slowly for her liking, naturally, but soon enough the ship came into view and she practically punched the button to lower the loading ramp. The children scampered along it, taking refuge inside without Navi even having to ask, and when the last one had clambered aboard she closed it behind them.

She only hoped Cal and Tahri could keep him busy enough to get out themselves.

​

Cal had sensed it almost as soon as the ship had touched down. There was a repressive atmosphere here, one that was telling of the darkness that had infiltrated the settlement. Navi's distress signal had been for a just cause; the Empire was ramping up its search parties.

They wasted no time in reaching the hut, and as they approached Cal felt the presence grow ever stronger. Drawing his lightsaber, he raised his hand to the door and force-pushed it open, and Tahri leapt in on the offensive before it had even swung all the way. He would have to talk to her about that later; there was no time now.

As Tahri unleashed a swathe of strikes on him, Cal couldn't help but feel that there was something familiar about this Inquisitor; a likeness in his face, even in his aura, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Still, there was no time to dwell on it, because Tahri was suddenly flying across the room and he was advancing.

It left Cal with an opening. While he was focused on Tahri, Cal took the opportunity to lunge forward and catch his lightsaber with his own, forcing it up and away from their faces. He was met with fierce resistance, and the exertion made him grind his teeth together. Outside of the electric crackling of their blades, he heard Tahri instructing Navi to leave while they bought her time.

Something about being reminded of the Order's fate struck a chord within Cal, lending him more strength. Sheer determination and will were often the strongest weapons in his arsenal.

"We—" he grunted, pausing to parry his opponent's counter strike, "—aren't part of that Order."

Tahri caught Cal's eye over the attacker's shoulder, and he immediately understood. We need to go - they were outmatched.

As she rushed forward to engage again, he ducked as Navi fired another wayward shot in their direction, towards the front door. He initially thought that she was taking a potshot upon her swift exit, but that wasn't her style; sure enough, when he glanced over his shoulder to see what she had been aiming at, he noticed the moisture vaporator outside. She was signalling him.

Taking advantage of Tahri creating a distraction, Cal closed his eyes and focused on the structure, bending the Force to his will. It took a lot of energy, but he zeroed in on the spire and tank at the top of the machine, snapping it off in a fluid motion.

His eyes flying open, Cal thrust his arm out and sent the object hurtling towards the Inquisitor, hoping the trajectory would at least land in pinning him to the wall or the ground. If it didn't do that, it would at least afford them a precious few moments to escape.

"Go!" He yelled at Tahri as it came flying through the entryway, sprinting forwards to catch her arm and pull her through the exit at the back while it crashed into the room behind them.

 

[RavenClaire]

Had he faced just one of the two Jedi, the battle would have been over much faster. The girl, while no doubt agile and almost aggressive in her fighting method, lacked the strength and defense to hold up her own for long. And the male, though clearly stronger and more focused, was easily swayed with words. While Kylo’s provocations seemed to give him an initial boost of energy, it showed the Inquisitor that he could also throw him off balance with the right trigger.

But alas, they were both facing him together, working in synch and giving him no real chance for an opening. While he was busy parrying yet another assault from the female, he missed the moment when the water vaporator suddenly flew in his direction. He tried to stop the impact with the Force, but the object still pushed him right against the wall. Releasing a breath, he didn’t realize he had been holding, Kylo concentrated to get the thing away from himself again.

Those few moments had been enough, however, for his opponents to make a run for it. He strode out of the now demolished house and only saw a small silver ship taking off just outside the settlement. He had lost, he realized. The thought caused pure hot rage to run through his veins. This should have been an easy run and nothing more! In all his years as an Inquisitor, he hadn’t faced a real challenge, and it felt exhilarating and enraging at the same time.

“What are you looking at?”, he barked at the few locals who had dared to come out to take a look, obviously drawn in by the sounds of battle. But they were quick to scurry away again at his outbreak. Nobody wanted to deal with an angry Inquisitor, especially when his blade was still drawn.

Still fuming, Kylo walked back to his ship, where he took a few moments to calm himself. He wouldn’t let this go, he swore. He would find out who had crossed him and destroy them. What had the Jedi called the woman again? It had started with an N…. Nabi… Navi, yes. Whether it was her real name was questionable, but it was a first clue. There weren’t many warriors from Mandalore still alive, and even fewer were involved in the resistance. He was bound to find some info on her somewhere. And he knew just where to start. Directing his shop towards Corellia, he sent a message to a contact of his. Being from Mandalore himself, the man could possibly know a little more about this stupidly daring woman. Although not loyal to the Empire, Jaxx was always ready to trade intel with him. Especially with Kylo giving the man secrets that helped the bounty hunter attack the very side he was supposed to be on.

“I will find you. Count on it.”, Kylo promised into the silence of the ship, as it took off.

This had been a close one. Although they had been in tight spots before, it never got any easier. By the time they had gotten to the ship, she and Cal had been quick to get to the cockpit and get them out. “I’m typing in Bogano until we get new coordinates from Cere.”, she announced, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, making her faster and more focused. She pressed a few more buttons, as the sandy landscape of Tatooine was disappearing in the distance. A moment later, only the vast darkness of space was before them again. “Ready for lightspeed.”; she said from her side and watched as the stars faded into a glowing vortex.

Only now did she start to calm down again, and after a few deep breaths she rose to tend to their visitors. “Hey, you ok?”, she first asked Navi, when she got to the back. A moment later, her eyes were on the kids. Seven of them, ranging from the ages five to ten, if she had to guess. They still looked absolutely terrified, and it broke Tahri’s heart in a way. “I have something for you.”, she announced, and moved to a small cabinet in the kitchen, where they stored their food. Although she couldn’t always afford it, she tried to scrape together some credits for candied fruits whenever possible, which could be found on several planets. It was a treat for herself after a really hard day, but now she was giving up her last handful. She also called BD-1, because kids tended to love him. The little droid had returned many a child’s smile, at least for a while.

With their charges occupied with candy and BD-1, Tahri re-joined Navi and Cal to talk about what had happened. “Any idea who that was?”, the female Jedi asked right away. But, of coure, the Inquisitor had hardly introduced himself nicely at the door. “He will hunt you from now on.”, Tahri said in a grave voice. She knew what she was talking about. Her and Cal had faced Inquisitors before and were definitely already on their Most Wanted list. “Is there any place you can go? There is no way you can return to Tatooine now.” Navi was resourceful, but Tahri wasn’t sure to what extent. “If not, I am sure we can ask Cere.” That, however, would most likely include another mission. Many a person would prefer to lie low after an event such as this, but her contact wasn’t just anyone. It was something the young Jedi admired immensely.

 

[Hellewise]

​

Navi had been mostly quiet for the journey with Tahri and Cal, but that was hardly anything new. Her time with them was fleeting, which was how it always went whenever they crossed paths; although she was an emotional soul, Tahri had learned not to take Navi's aloofness to heart, and Cal was indifferent to her disposition. There was an unspoken understanding between them that kept things business, and Navi was grateful for that.

She'd requested that they drop her off at Garang Spaceport after agreeing that Tattooine was off the table, thanks to the Jedi totalling her lodging, and reassured Tahri that she'd keep safe and get back in touch if she needed anything.

When the ship took off again, she was already making her way through the bustling crowds. Spaceports were good for business; there were always people looking for work to be done and informants ready to share secrets—and the odd familiar face.

"Naavina!" A voice called just ahead from the 'fresher doors.

"Vena," Navi greeted the Twi'lek, catching her hand and giving her a swift pat on the back.

Vena had just been a young Twi when the pair had met, and Navi was just starting out in her career. Enslaved on Tattooine, Navi had liberated the girl and her mother from a gang of Spicerunners, and she ended up being a particularly helpful contact. Now a figurehead in the world of galactic entertainment—however that could be defined, Navi didn't press—she got around and knew most of the goings on from planet to planet.

The small talk was short-lived. "What brings you to Dantooine?" Vena had asked. "Last I heard, you were one of the fiercest protectors of Mos Entha."

"Work. You got anything for me?"

She did, and that was how Navi now found herself on Ryloth. Word had spread of a group of exploited Twi'lek adolescents who had become swept up in Spice mining. Of course, Ryloth was renowned for its Spice mines and the crime rate associated, but nobody could save everything. Navi just went where she was told when she could.

She had no idea if these particular youngsters were force-sensitive, but it didn't matter. Cal and Tahri's cause was a job on the side; she followed the credits. If any of them did show a certain midichlorianic disposition, she'd be in touch.

Ryloth was a planet of extreme, unpredictable environments; the coordinates of the settlement Vena had given her lead to a sprawling territory of canyons, with little to no life on the surface. Everything happened underground here, not just the Spice Mines. It was barren, a ghost-town; she was the only figure to be seen for miles walking across the rocky landscape in a bid to find a new lead that would bring her closer to her destination.

​

Coordinates received from Cere in record time, Cal and Tahri had successfully dropped off their export. The children would be safe—for now. He was relieved about that, and grateful that they had finished their mission, but thoughts of their fight had troubled him. He and Tahri weren't exactly new to combat, but remembering how challenging it was to hold their own against one person⁠—to the point where they had to turn tail and run⁠—it bothered him. He'd faced off with Inquisitors before of course, and was familiar with their skills when it came to facing off with one; but this time...

He couldn't put his finger on it.

In fact, he didn't really have time to think about it. The pair had caught word of some stirrings back on Coruscant, something about lost data in the archives being rediscovered. ANy other time he wouldn't have bothered, holding fast to his usual notion of the past being a bygone era. He would have preferred to left it stay buried, but Tahri at insisted that they follow up on it⁠—and when she set her mind on something, very rarely did she not get her way.

The ship lowered through the planet's atmosphere with juddering shakes, and as the old spires leapt up into view, Cal's jaw tensed. Now, with the view laid out in front of him, he regretted more than ever his decision to appease Tahri and come back.

He looked over at the girl beside him, wondering how she was feeling. "Glad to be back?" He asked her, somewhat sardonically.

 

[RavenClaire]

Meeting with his contact on Corellia hadn’t been as fruitful as Kylo would have wanted, but he didn’t leave completely empty-handed either. In fact, the few bits of information he had received from Jaxx were rather interesting. For one, he now had a name to the face, that had stared at him so defiantly: Naavina Din. Secondly, he had been right in his assumption about her being a survivor of the Mandalorian massacre. Thirdly, she was indeed doing jobs for the rebels. But not exclusively. And it was that very last bit of intel that was the most valuable. It meant that she wasn’t a full member, but more of a mercenary. Perhaps she could yet be swayed…

Then he remembered the bitterness of defeat and shook his head. No, if he found her, then it would be for a bit of revenge. She had escaped with the children he had meant to gather for his own cause, and the memory still bit at him. He had no time to start a proper search mission, however. Of course, his superiors had gotten wind of his failure and were now sending him on lesser missions as punishment. They didn’t even know how little he cared. Whether it was collecting force sensitive children, hunting down Jedi or killing a few spice dealers, who had upset the Empire in some way, it didn’t matter. They were all jobs he had to do to reach his end goal somehow.

And so, after a day on Corellia, he set out for Ryloth. The place was notorious for its spice mines, and the Empire profited considerably from the trade. At least the parts they controlled. There were always guilds and smuggler bands who tried to do their own thing, maximizing their own winnings. Sometimes, the empire let them be, as long as they didn’t become too much of an obstacle. This particular group, however, must have either gotten too greedy or found some other way to tickle the Empire’s rage. Either way, they were now on the official execution list. Usually a job for Stormtroopers or perhaps some cheap bounty hunters, but instead they were sending an Inquisitor to teach some dumb lesson.

The planet was even less welcoming than Tatooine in a way, but at least not as unbearably hot. There was an air of death and defeat in the air that pressed down on every living being. Once, Ryloth had been different, people said. But that was long long before the war. It was hard to imagine this place full of life.
Kylo put on his helmet, shielding himself from the world and the remnants of spice that could sometimes be found close to the mines. He had no exact coordinates, but enough details to give him a search radius. For a while, it seemed as if he was the only living being on the entire planet, even though he knew that things were very different underground. He had no interest of going there, but was rather looking for their trade route. They had to get their ware on a ship somewhere and he would cut through their lines right there. Although he hated being idle, he sat down on one of the larger rocks, giving him a good view of the surrounding area and waited for the sign of a ship.

He had no clue that he would find much more than troublesome spice dealers on this planet.

Ever since the fight against the Inquisitor, Tahri was strangely on edge. While she had tried to be lively and friendly around Navi and their short-time guests, the facade crumbled the moment they were gone. She even trained with the Marksman-H for a while, practicing both precision and defense. Once, she had even attempted to meditate along Cal, but had given up a short while later. She simply couldn’t stop her thoughts from running wild.

She hadn’t been good enough, and this fight could have gone either way. She needed to find a way to improve and fast. Therefore, the intel regarding untouched secret archives within the Jedi temple arrived at just the right time. If they found Holocrons containing ancient Force tricks or fighting styles, they could learn something to gain an upper hand. At least that’s how Tahri spun it in her mind.

Convincing Cal to go had been hard, but he always gave in to her whims eventually. In return, she tried not to abuse that power too much.

Yet when the familiar building appeared in front of them, Tahri regretted her plan for a moment. She hadn’t returned here since the war, so it was her first time seeing her former home in this sorry state. Cal’s question invaded her mind and in any other situation, she would have thrown some smart or witty remark at him, but not this time. Instead, she looked at him all serious and said: “Actually, I’m terrified.”

Years ago, the temple would have been teeming with Imperials, but by now, it was utterly abandoned. No Jedi would be foolish enough to return now with nothing to be found but ruins and memories, and the Empire had gotten everything they deemed valuable.

“I hope the information about the restricted archives isn’t false.”, Tahri spoke a while later, when they entered the once grand hall. Their steps and voices echoed through the structure that had once been the centre of the Jedi order. The grandest Masters had walked through here, just like the youngest force users. Even now, amongst all the rubble, Tahri expected to see a familiar face or hear Master Yoda’s soothing voice reprimanding some younglings not to run too fast.

Tahri was almost ready to drown in emotions, but stopped herself just in time. Instead, she made her way to the library, now empty or destroyed. Three of the main walls were intact, however, and one of them was said to hold a secret entrance. They split up to search every inch until finally they found it. Only a force user could open it, and it took her all her concentration together with Cal to will it to move. Inside, they were met with darkness and a long, dusty hallway. “After you.”, Tahri invited her companion.

At the end of the tunnel was indeed a chamber, untouched by time. But it was not Holocrons they found, but relatively modern looking files. “What are those?”, Tahri wondered out loud, taking one from the shelf and watching as information flashed before her. She couldn’t believe what she read. “They are files of exiled members of the Order.”, she whispered, going through name after name. Some had been exiled as long as 70 years ago, some were as recent as just before the war. The reasons also varied, ranging from high treason to much simpler things. In fact, the reason Tahri found listed most often was love. Love for another being. Parental love. Too strong attachments to their Padawans.

Suddenly she saw images of Master Gaamla braiding her hair in the evenings and telling her stories of different planets. Gaamla laughing at her first attempts at cooking. Or Gaamla telling her they would be skipping meditation lessons to instead attend a local festival. If the Council had known, would her Master have been exiled as well? “It’s not fair…”, Tahri found herself whispering. “Love is not a crime.”

 

[Hellewise]

​

The piece of cloth that was attached to one of Navi's shoulder guards a s ort of makeshift cape blew freely in the breeze. The air was dry, and the particulates of spice did their best to permeate her helmet, but to no avail. Other than the dull crunch of her footsteps across the rocky landscape, the only sound to be heard was the faint whistle of wind as it travelled between the canyon walls.

The trouble with not having her own ship was that she had to rely on transports to get from place to place, and was left to do a lot of her travelling on foot. She'd had a speederbike at one point and it had been her lifeline, something she took with her wherever she went that made all the difference to traversing all terrains, but thanks to a particularly nasty confrontation with some lackies from the Hutt clan she had regrettably had to go on without it.

The next thing she would be using her credits for was going to be a shiny new one, and after that, her own ship; even it was little more than scrap metal.

There was no one around she could ask for directions. The dusty, arid landscape stretched on for miles with no sign of any kind of settlement, and she'd already spent half the day wandering so far from the spaceport to turn back.

Irritated, Navi lifted her wrist and activated the comms link that lay nestled in the guard.

"Vena, the coordinates you gave me were a dud." She hissed into it impatiently. There wasn't so much as a beep in return. "Vena? Vena!"

Met with more silence, Navi grunted in frustration and let her arm drop back to her side before she kept walking.

Just great.

​

Tahri's tone of voice shut him up immediately. She was never one to be short of sarcasm, to put Cal in his place whenever he pushed any buttons he shouldn't. Her honesty made him regret the way he had asked, but he held fast to what he had originally said; they shouldn't have come.

He would always curse himself for bending to her will whenever she wanted him to. Every time he did it he promised himself that time would be the last, but of course it never was.

The two of them were silent as they entered the Temple. It had been reduced to ashes, its once towering plinths and pillars now broken down to nothing but stumps and piles of debris.

There once heavy feeling in the atmosphere, the palpable tension of the Force in the air as masters and padawans alike strode through the halls, had all but vanished. As he and Tahri made their way to the library, he reached out and ran his fingertips along some of the desecrated structures as if he were trying to touch memories of the past, but all that came back was silence and the same feeling of nothingness.

Tahri eventually called him over to one of the main walls, apparently having found the supposed entryway they had been told about. After some hesitation he joined her—he'd only been half looking for it, anyway—and after another uncertain pause he helped her open it, revealing a dark passageway.

Of course she wanted him to go first.

"Come on," he said to BD-1, and the droid reluctantly floated ahead of them, lighting their path with the torches in his eyes.

Cal was careful to keep his hands to himself when they got to their destination, instead letting Tahri lose herself in the files, but he couldn't deny that there was a different feeling here. He could sense...  Something. And he had to admit that it was shocking to learn of a saferoom in the belly of the Jedi Temple that seemed to have perfectly preserve so much information—even more shocking that the Empire hadn't stumbled across it when tearing the place apart.

Tahri's voice brought him back to the present. He looked over at her, noticing the crestfallen look on her face as her eyes scanned over the file, and deftly took it from her hands.

Exiled Jedi? He'd never heard of that before; he'd never thought a Jedi would live their life as part of the Order while knowingly breaking the Code. Was that why this had been buried in the depths below as a dark secret?

"It's not in any other place," he responded to Tahri, still looking over a list of names; some just barely recognisable, some entirely foreign. "But emotions have always been against the Code and you know it."

Maybe his tone was too harsh, but what could she expect from him? Cal spent most of his days reminding Tahri that she allowed herself to be led by her feelings too easily, something she would always bite back on. Angrily.

"Tahri, these people knew what they were getting into when they became a part of the Order—when they were padawans and younglings."

 

[RavenClaire]

Being alone with his thoughts for long was never a good idea. While he knew how to meditate, like most others who had received Jedi training, it wasn’t something Kylo actively sought out or enjoyed. While feeling the force around him and through him was a great feeling, it didn’t help him calm the confusing emotions deep inside. He had decided a path for himself, was sure of what he wanted, yet those feelings remained, tormenting him whenever he allowed them too much space. So he simply didn’t.

Sitting on his outlook, he instead took in the vast, desolate area around him. Hard to imagine anyone would be showing up here, but that was exactly what made it the perfect place for less than legal activities. He would just have to bide his time. This mission was a punishment indeed, he thought.

Suddenly he caught a spike in the force. Something or someone was approaching. A vivid sign of life not too far away. Kylo didn’t even bother to move or hide, he just looked in the direction. If the person approaching was hostile, they weren’t going to live very long. If they were not, he could maybe use them for some information to shorten his stay on this miserable planet.

It took a while, but soon a figure appeared in his sight. Armored and by the way she looked a woman. When she approached even closer, Kylo tensed. He knew that helmet. He knew that feeling as well. Could he indeed be so lucky? She drew even closer and he slid from his rock to stand in full height. She stopped a good distance from him and he wondered if she would shoot on sight or not. Cautiously, his hand rested on his lightsaber, but without actively drawing or igniting it.

“What are you doing here?”, he was the first to ask, loud enough for her to hear over the distance between them. His voice was distorted through the helmet, sucking any emotion from it and making it far more menacing than he had intended. “Usually people are smart enough not to cross me twice.” Most rarely got the chance to even try.

“I didn’t realize the rebels were dealing in spices.” Then again, she could be here on other business. Jaxx had pointed out she didn’t work exclusively for traitors.
“Put that blaster away. I am not here to kill you. We are just talking.”, he continued, trying to calm his tone.

Between the two of them, Tahri had always been the emotional one. Whether it was happiness, rage or sadness, she allowed herself to feel it all intensely. While she admired Cal for his control, she couldn’t imagine it for herself.

And once more, they collided on the issue. “I never understood why. Loving someone doesn’t automatically turn you to the dark side.”, she spoke, annoyance thick in her voice not just because of the topic, but also due to her fellow Jedi’s tone.

“You make it sound like a choice, but it isn’t!”, she added more forcefully, just about stopping herself from stomping her foot to underline her words. “We all came to this place as children. There is nothing else we know. There is no family to go back to… There is no other way of living we know… And these Jedi obviously didn’t want to leave. They wanted to serve in their own way.” She might have as well have spoken to the file itself. Irritated, she turned away and stomped towards the darkness of the hallway they had come from. “It’s not like there is a switch for emotions anyway.”, she grumbled before disappearing out of his sight.

She needed to walk the anger off that had risen inside of her, but she didn’t get far. She walked among the rubble of the old library, where she had tried and failed many a time to sit still and concentrate. She wanted to kick a chair or something, but instead did the exact opposite. Closing her eyes, Tahri took deep breaths, just as Cal had taught her whenever emotions dared to overwhelm her. Her tone had been unfair. He hadn't made those rules after all.

When she heard his footsteps emerging from the hallway, she breathed out heavily. “My master was like a mother for me.”, she spoke, her back turned to him. “It breaks my heart to think that our relationship was against the Code. Everything I am today, I owe to this bond…” Anger had made way for sadness, and being in her former home didn’t help the situation at all. “I know you will never understand, but without love, I wouldn’t be standing here. I wouldn’t still be fighting.”

Tahri didn’t dare to look at him. She didn’t want to see the anger or disappointment in his eyes. Cal was special to her. Not because he was a fellow survivor, but because he had somehow managed to earn a place in her heart. First as a companion, then as a friend and then… No, she stopped herself there. Whatever their relationship, fighting with him always left a sour taste in her mouth and a heavy weight on her chest.

 

[Hellewise]

​

Though she had no particular direction to follow and no clue where she was going, Navi kept walking and hanging on to the hope that at some point she would run into another sign of life along her journey, and that a local would point her in the right direction to at least get somewhere less desolate and deserted.

Soon enough, face beginning to sweat beneath her helmet, Navi spied something beginning to appear on the horizon. At first she doubted herself, but as she drew nearer the unmistakable silhouette of a starship started to tower over the rocks nearby, and if she wasn't mistaken... It looked Imperial.

Not exactly the sign of life she had been hoping for.

Navi drew her blaster rifle from its holder and held it across her chest in a ready position, just in case any troopers decided to jump out. She wasn't nervous; they were clumsy and foolish and could barely shoot straight, but if she were to be outnumbered then that would be a problem.

Something started moving between the rocks. In one fluid movement Navi's blaster was aimed and ready to fire, her eye to the scope, but then she noticed the flowing black cloak and the way the light caught those silver helmet embellishments.

Definitely not the life form she had wanted to run into.

She didn't lower her blaster when he asked her to, and kept her eye against the viewfinder. They were a fair way away from each other; far enough for him to have to raise his voice and call to her. Far enough for her to notice that his hand rested on the hilt of his saber, but far enough that he wouldn't be able to surprise her.

"I could ask you the same thing." Navi replied, shouting over the distance. "After what happened in Mos Entha, you owe me a new house."

His comment about talking made her scoff under her breath.

"I prefer to keep it on me when I'm chatting with tyrannical oppressors. Think of it like my insurance."

​

True to form, that hint of indignance crept into Tahri's tone and made a small lump form in Cal's throat. It wasn't fear, per se, or even intimidation. He couldn't figure out what it was, really. He just knew that when she took that tone of voice it meant she was moments away from getting upset, and that was something he didn't enjoy.

He listened as she spoke. He always did. Even if he didn't agree with her point of view, even when they butted heads and argued, he would always listen to her because what Tahri had to say was worth listening to. That wouldn't change. But on this occasion, he decided not to argue and let her vent out her frustrations instead. She must have been annoyed by his lack of response because then she was heading back out the way they had come in, and Cal figured it would be best to wait a few moments before following her.

BD-1 floated beside his head inquisitively, making a few questioning beeps. Cal sighed.

"Check on her," he muttered to the droid, and it obeyed without hesitation.

After a few moments, he made his way back out through the tunnel, following Tahri's movements. When he emerged she was standing by one of the broken pillars, eyes closed. He could sense that she'd started to calm down, that she was trying to meditate—something she usually fought against when he asked her to—and his chest swelled with a small surge of pride.

But then she was looking at him with those eyes, those sad, doe eyes he so disliked because he never knew what to do with them. It made an odd feeling try to float to the surface, but he repressed it all the same, like he did with most things.

She was right. Cal would never understand, at least not fully. He could sympathise, sure, and he was capable of feeling emotions as much as any human, but he'd never been so close to someone to be so afflicted. The most intense emotion he could recall experiencing was the raw fear during the siege of the Temple, but he had come to terms with that years ago.

"You're right.  I can't relate, but I can try to understand." He offered after a drawn-out silence, taking in a long breath. "I won't comment on your relationship with your Master. No one has the right to do that—at least not anymore. I know how you feel about these things and you know how I feel. We'll argue about it over and over,  sure... But it sounds like it's a huge part of who you are, and I happen to like that person."

Cal offered her a small, reassuring smile.

 

[RavenClaire]

Of course, she did not put away her blaster. Even if it wasn’t much of a weapon against an Inquisitor, it still was a weapon. And he had heard about Mandalorian marksmanship before. It was for good reasons that many of them were among the most sought after bounty hunters around. At her comment regarding her house, he actually let out a short chuckle and shook his head.

“As far as I remember, it wasn’t me who hauled the vaporator through the building.”, he pointed out. “I think you’ll have to settle that with your Jedi friends.”

Why was he standing there talking with her? He could just let her be and focus on his mission. But something drew him to this woman. She was like a breath of fresh air after the monotony of the last few years. Obviously not scared to stand up to him, she showed a remarkable amount of inner strength. Something Kylo had always admired.

“I’m gonna humor you. I’m here to deal with some spice traders, who got on the Empire’s bad side.” His mission was no secret after all and somehow he liked the opportunity to keep talking. It was better than staring into the empty nothingness around him, waiting for some sign or another.

“And who are you here to kill?”, he asked directly. Perhaps it was another question she would ignore, but he could be as persistent as she was stubborn. He would get her to talk eventually, even if it was trivial stuff.

His hand eventually retreated, hanging loosely by his side as he took a more relaxed pose. Or at least it felt slightly more comfortable, though to the outside, he likely stood as stiff as ever. The Grand Inquisitor always made sure everyone knew how to show proper respect. Slacking or slouching, though innocent, was enough cause for punishment.

“I know who you are, by the way. A man named Jaxx Gantho was willing to share… Ever heard of him?” He doubted it. Jaxx had always been an outsider, preferring to deal with things his way. Kylo wasn’t even sure if he had been welcome among his people.

“You and I are quite alike. We are part of a dead culture. Just that mine was no real loss to this world. Yours however…” He didn’t know enough about it to say more, though.

Gratitude filled Tahri at his words. She didn’t know how Cal always managed to find the right things to say, no matter her mood. He could calm her down when angry and lift her back up when she felt down only by speaking with her in that calm tone of his.

Without hesitating, she crossed the distance between them and hugged him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. It was unfair.” The moment her apology was spoken, she released him again. While being a person of touch, Tahri never knew whether Cal was alright with it or simply tolerated it as one of her quirks. Besides, hugging him for too long was dangerous. She might not want to let go...

“I also like the person you are, even if we disagree sometimes.”, she tacked on with a smile. “I don’t think anyone else in the galaxy would be able to handle me for as long as you have.” It was always a good sign when her humor returned and she really did feel a weight lift off her shoulders. This argument could have easily escalated, but they had pulled through again. Maybe that whole meditating thing to calm down wasn’t so bad…

“Question is, what do we do with our find?” It was hardly something to be paraded around. The Empire didn’t need more ammunition for propaganda against the old world order. “You think some of those recently exiled are still alive? Perhaps the rebels can use the lists to reach out and see if they are willing to help…”, she suggested, though her tone showed that she was skeptical of her own idea.

“Or we just bury that information here. Seal up the wall and let it remain forgotten.” The Jedi hadn’t been perfect, that was clear proof of it. But sometimes it was best to just let it all rest, even if it was hard.

“After this, I need a nice experience. We could go to a market for supplies?” It was a tactic of hers. She would put forward a practical reason and then use the opportunity to explore or hang out in some cantina to listen to music and watch everyone around her.

 

[Hellewise]

​

With the scope still held to her eye, Navi kept her gaze fixed on the Inquisitor. There was a tension in her frame that kept her muscles seized up and ready to respond at a moment's notice; he could pounce at any moment, and if she wasn't carefully prepared for it then she wouldn't even get the chance to react.

And yet he just kept talking, his words carrying over to her atop the occasional gust of wind that whistled through the canyon. In fact, his willingness to keep their discourse going made Navi somewhat uncomfortable. What was his game? He could have been trying to lure her into a false sense of security, coaxing her to let her guard down so he'd have an opening.

But she would never be that stupid. If she did, she would deserve everything she got.

His question made her swallow against a small lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Who did he think she was?

'You', she might have replied, and then pulled the trigger while he was still open—but something was stopping her from making such a move. The tension in her shoulders was starting to dissipate; she was slowly switching gears. Not letting her guard down in the slightest, of course, but relaxing into a stance where her motions were more fluid and allowed for greater dexterity.

Then he continued, and that same stiffness returned to her form with excruciating speed, locking her limbs into rigidity. She didn't recognise the name he threw at her, but it was alarming enough that such a person would have any information about her, even if it were merely her name.

" Yeah,  right," she shot back, calling his bluff with the blaster still pointed dead at his head.

His next words made her trigger finger start to itch and her jaw clench.

"Don't pretend you know the slightest thing about me. I'm nothing like  you." Navi knew he couldn't see her expression, but she couldn't stop herself from glaring anyway. "You're a traitor and a sellout."

​

As Tahri's frame thudded against his in a fierce embrace, it was almost second nature to Cal to lift a hand and press it to her back. True, he had never been a particularly emotive person, and was often unsure of what to do when it came to displays of affection, but being with the woman for so long had conditioned him to know how to respond to her and even taught him how to regulate his own feelings.

His hand dropped from her figure as soon as she stepped away, but the smile stayed etched on to his face after she apologised. There was some growth evident in her character—in both of their characters. In times gone by, Tahri's frustrated outbursts would often be left with a stretching silence spanning various amounts of time before she would say sorry, and Cal would only contribute to the quiet by letting her stew and refusing to approach her until she got a handle on her emotions. Now, she more readily recognised her anger and controlled it more confidently, but if there ever were an argument that caused a suffocating tension, Cal would force himself to step forward and break it, as he just had.

A short laugh escaped him at her comment. She was probably right; would there be many others who would be able to deal with her firecracker attitude? She might get frustrated with him for keeping all his emotions pointed inward, but doing so gave him the patience of a saint, which was just enough when she was with her.

"I don't know," Cal responded honestly, casting a look back towards the tunnel. "We could take it to Cere if you wanted, have her see if she recognises any of the names and track them down,  but..."

He looked back to Tahri. Her eyes were always telling of how she was feeling; literally windows to her soul, practically. There was conflict evident in them. She'd been affected by what she'd seen, and now she didn't know how to deal with it.

"There's no wrong answer. It's up to you." Giving her the choice would be the best thing to do. She could come to a conclusion herself, and he would deal with whatever the fallout was.

Cal's smile returned at her innocent tone of voice. He didn't bother following the suggestion up, asking what kind of 'supplies' she had in mind.

" Sure." He agreed, amusement apparent in his voice. "I hear Hosnian Prime's great this time of year."

 

[RavenClaire]

For the shortest of moments, he could see her relax a little. Even though her face was hidden by her helmet, her stance spoke volumes. Even stranger, he could feel the tension lift away from her, only to return full force when he spoke of Jaxx. It was fascinating to watch those tiny details about her, as if he was learning about her without trying.

“I’m not bluffing.”, he stated. “Your name is Naavina Din and you are no true ally to the rebellion. Like many of your kind, your weapon is where the credits are.” Now it was time to start pretending, however, because he had offered truly everything he knew. “Do you want me to go on? Or was that enough to convince you?”

His stance relaxed even further, showing that he was no threat. At least not now. “Don’t worry. I don’t intend to share this with my superiors.” He would have nothing to gain from it. In fact, among the Inquisitors, it was best to hoard knowledge just to put it into use at a strategic moment. They might all be on the Empire’s side, but in truth, they were all fighting among each other. Either for survival or for the Grand Inquisitor’s approval.

His jaw clenched slightly when she spat the word traitor at him, and he was glad for his helmet hiding that fact from her. “The Order betrayed me first.”, he said, his tone cold as ice. “It betrayed more people than most realize. It had to go.” He was firm in this belief, and his calmness proved it. “And we do have the sellout thing in common, don’t you think?”

He was provoking her, but not with malicious intent. In fact, it felt like an interesting game while he had time to spare. How would this woman react? How far could he push her? Honestly, Kylo admired her fire. It was both entertaining and alluring, even though she was a complete stranger. “Ah, pointing that blaster at me again, I see. Got it, questioning your allegiance is not a good topic.” Now he was teasing, grinning silently to himself at this little game. Somehow he wished he could see her eyes, undoubtedly staring bullet holes into him.

He left the option of what to do with the files to her and Tahri actually took a few moments to think it through. In the end, she followed her instincts, as always. “Let’s seal it back up. Some things are meant to stay buried.”, she finally said, sending a small smile his way, even though it was bathed in sadness. Together, they used the Force to return the secret door to its place and moved a broken pillar in front of it to be certain nobody would come upon it by accident.

“You were right. We shouldn’t have come.” Tahri hated being wrong, but she wasn’t too proud to admit when someone else had known better. And her tone showed that she had indeed calmed down, accepting this failure for what it was. Not every lead could be a good one after all.

At least Cal seemed open to her plan regarding a market run, and her smile turned brighter at his suggestion. He really did know her through and through, and for a second she felt her heart flutter at this realization. Nobody had ever been so capable of understanding her, not even her Master. Tahri knew she wasn’t always easy to handle, but Cal was still there with her after all this time. The fluttering turned to warmth, and that’s when she tried to stop it. Controlling her emotions wasn’t something she was used to, but this was too risky to feel.

“Hosnian Prime sounds great!”, she said instead, beginning to head back towards their ship. She was more than ready to leave this place behind. “I’ve never been to the Hanging Gardens before. I heard you have an amazing view on the city skyline from there. Especially during sunset.”, she ranted on. If there was something she was truly knowledgeable in, then it was exciting places to visit. “Can we go there? I’d love to see it with you.” Dammit, there it was again, that warmth, unwilling to be silenced.

 

[Hellewise]

​

After this stranger—could she still call him that?—spoke Navi's name aloud, everything he said faded into a dull, persistent hum that soon thereafter became a frustrating buzzing in her ears. Despite the distance between the two of them, the words rang clear and certain, and they sent a harrowing chill down her spine that she rarely experienced.

Her muscles were tensed to the point of pain now, fingers clenching her blaster so tightly that they ached beneath her gloves.

He had to have been bluffing. She'd never even heard of this "Jaxx" person; how would he have ever come to know anything about her? And where was he from? She would make a point to ask, and then she would be sure to hunt him down and—

Navi took a breath and grounded herself. There was no time to get angry and let her thoughts run rampant over that. She didn't even know if this man was telling her the truth; it could definitely be a mislead. He was a Force-user, after all. He could have used his tricks to worm his way into her mind again, just like he'd tried to do back on Tatooine, only this time she had let him slip past her defence unnoticed when she had made the stupid mistake of relaxing even for the half-second she had. The thought of that alone made any trace of calm she had summoned vanish again.

He was still going, and now the arrogant tinge had returned to his words. He was mocking her.

"Enough!" Navi snapped, and before she knew it she had fired a warning shot over his shoulder to punctuate the command. The blaster bolt collided with a stray rock behind him, shattering and spraying miniscule fragments of stone on to the ground. "Save your breath unless the next words you speak are to give me one valid reason why I shouldn't shoot you down where you stand."

​

He would admit it later when emotions were at less risk of running high, but Cal was secretly relieved by her decision. A familiar swell of pride surged within him in response ton Tahri's wish, and he nodded. He couldn't help it; he didn't mean to patronise her and hated to come across like he was, but to see her make choices with a certain level of rationale rather than stay brazen made him realise why she used to be a part of the Order and why she held such promise as a student—why he would always count himself lucky to have her by his side.

"All right."

As they sealed the entrance back up and placed one of the stray pillars across the door, he cast a sideways glance at her to search her face for any trace of how she might have been feeling. To his surprise, she was masking it well. There was no tell-tale glassy sheen to her eyes, no evident wrinkle of her nose to suggest any particular thought.

Still, Cal couldn't help the little upwards pull that tugged at his own mouth when she admitted that he was right—that must have been a jagged little pill to swallow. He wasn't sure if anything would ever feel as good as hearing Tahri Jahnu state aloud that she was wrong about something.

She was becoming herself again, a spring returning to her step as she lead the way back to the ship and he trailed behind, still inwardly smug about being right. It wasn't something he was about to rub in Tahri's face, however, not when things were still fresh here and the atmosphere still had a degree of solemnity in it.

Maybe when they got to the Hanging Gardens...

"Why not?" He agreed readily, slipping into the familiar comfort of his seat and closing the doors once BD-1 had hovered in a few moments later. Cal flicked a few switches on the console and the ship started whirring to life. "Wherever you want."

It might have been argued that he was being too obliging, but she needed it.

"Did you know Hosnian Prime has some of the biggest Caf factories in the system?" He asked as the ship pulled away from the surface and shot through the stratosphere. "They get the beans shipped directly from Endor and the droids working there roast so much of it that for some of them, it's their only function."

 

[RavenClaire]

His natural instinct was to move aside when he saw her pull the trigger, but he stood perfectly still as the shot whizzed past him. A warning, clearly. Mandalorians weren’t known to miss. Beneath his helmet, his lips moved into a smile. She definitely didn’t like to be teased.

“Your message has been clear. Naavina.”, he said, slowly raising his hand as if making a pacifying gesture. “We can simply ignore each other.” That would get boring fast, but it was obvious that the woman across from him had no intention of being his entertainment.

“If you want to go into the mines, there is an entrance a few miles south. But don’t expect to find whoever you are looking for. They will know you arrived and find a backdoor or some secret passage to escape.” It’s why he was waiting out here. The smugglers needed to get their ware off planet eventually, and no ship would be getting away from Ryloth on this day.

“Good luck.”, he said, and then simply turned away, leaving his back wide open. He could block a shot if necessary, but he doubted the woman was the kind to fight dirty. Almost leisurely, he returned to the rock he had previously been sitting on, locking his gaze onto the surrounding area. But even though his eyes seemed to be elsewhere, he was keenly aware of Navi’s presence a short distance away from him. Perhaps she had decided to heed his suggestion to wait, or she was simply making a plan of attack once inside the mines. Either way, it was a bad day for the spice business, with a Mandalorian and an Inquisitor waiting to strike.

The silence dragged on, and he was starting to become restless. Perhaps his target hoped he would get bored, or they waited for him to fall asleep to make their escape. Honestly, they would be waiting quite a while for either to happen. While fidgety, he was too stubborn to give in. And Inquisitors were taught to go many a day without rest. It was a way of torture, of course, but the ability to stay awake for long periods of proved to be rather handy.

To stop himself from pacing, Kylo decided to mediate a little. Not his favourite activity, but useful to kill some time. However, he found no inner peace or quiet. Instead, he became increasingly aware of Navi in his surrounding area. She was like a mosquito he could hear, but not truly grasp. Irritated, he opened his eyes again and turned to find her just where he had sensed her moments ago. Weird, this wasn’t a Force ability he had ever learned. While Jedi could sense incoming danger, their abilities didn’t exactly work like trackers. Or at least, that’s what he had been taught. Perhaps it was another incomplete lesson by the Order.

"I see my presence isn't so bad after all." he called to her. Apparently he really was incapable of stopping himself from teasing her.

Tahri slid into the co-pilot seat next to him and went about her routine to get the ship off planet. After so long, they each had their parts down and needed no spoken words. Before long, they had left Coruscant behind them, and the female was sure that they wouldn’t be returning for quite some time. She was so invested in their conversation, however, that it was but a passing thought.

“I actually didn’t know that.”, she admitted. “We could add that to our supply list. It will probably be cheaper there than most places we usually go.” Their budget, if one could call it that, was pretty tight most of the time. The rebels provided their own with as many funds as possible, but with most being spent on weapons, ships, bribes and safe places, there weren’t many credits to go around.

They spent most of the journey talking about everything they knew about their destination, making plans on what was worth seeing and what wasn’t. Tahri knew that he was taking this break for her sake, and she wasn’t about to abuse that by staying longer than necessary.

But she made the most of the little time they had. They explored the market together, where she made him taste all the free goodies they had on offer with her. There were delicious fruits, as well as the most bitter candy she had ever put in her mouth. And of course, the smell of the strong hot beverage filled the air almost in every street. It was paradise for Tahri, as she could do what she loved most: explore and laugh freely.

By the time they had made it to the Hanging Gardens, the hour was drawing late, and they could barely properly look at the colorful arrays of flowers before the sun would set.

“This is gorgeous.”, Tahri whispered after they had taken a seat on one of the walls. The entire city was stretched out before them like a giant painting, with various buildings bathed in golden and orange, reflecting the last rays of sunlight. At that moment, Tahri felt truly content and at peace. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She glanced at Cal to give him a smile, but suddenly something changed.

She could feel that warmth rush through her body again, with no way to stop it. Her heart started beating faster, and she became intensely aware of Cal’s presence next to her. Of his relaxed features, of the way his hair moved in the light breeze, and of how his hand rested gently on BD-1’s little head next to him. For a second, she swore that she could even hear his heartbeat. But that wasn’t possible. And just like that, the moment ended, leaving Tahri a little disorientated. “What? Sorry, I was a little spaced out.”

 

[Hellewise]

​

The urge to shoot came back with the force of a hurricane when he used her name again, though this time Navi would absolutely aim square for his chest. But he went on, talking about the mine and those inside. It seemed as though he was actually offering her advice.

That was an unprecedented issue. Who was he looking for in there? What did he want with them? Was that why their paths had crossed yet again?

It didn't matter. Her patience had long since worn thin; she was backing out of the job. Too bad. She'd never owed the Republic anything, didn't owe anything to the emerging Rebellion even now, and she definitely wasn't going to spend a moment longer on this wasteland of a planet with him for a minute longer. No amount of credits was worth that.

When he turned away, Navi wondered distantly if he was testing her somehow. But she didn't fight dirty. She wouldn't take a shot at his unguarded back, not unless he tried to attack her first. If she were going to face off with an inquisitor again, it would be on even terms so that there was some sense of honour in the fight. That was the Mandalorian way, after all.

Besides, she wasn't interested in engaging in battle right now. While he'd been speaking—did he ever stop?—she'd noticed the small cruiser behind him. Undoubtedly, it was his personal starship, his private mode of transportation graciously provided by the Empire in exchange for his soul.

Still, the background was irrelevant. All Navi cared about was whether it worked. She'd moved now, circling round in a wide arc to approach the ship behind him, quiet as a cat though her footsteps were deliberate. Somehow, he still knew where to look to find her, but his comment made her scoff. She didn't even bother entertaining an answer, sarcastic or otherwise. She was heading on to the cruiser, and if he made a move to stop her then there would be more hesitation in pulling the trigger, and he would find himself with a blaster-bolt shaped hole in his abdomen.

​

The detour did the job. Cal was glad to see Tahri's spirits lifted, and once they had touched down on the planet it was like nothing had ever happened to ruin her mood in the first place.

She led him around various different stalls, practically dragging him by the wrist through the throng of people and bustling noise. Sure, he enjoyed downtime like this as much as she did, but there was always a small timer that would tick away in the back of his mind. She didn't seem to suffer the same affliction. She was someone who lived in the moment every chance she could, not bothering to act as her own worst enemy and think about impending trouble.

And most times, although the clock in his mind kept ticking incessantly, the sound of her laugh was enough to drown it out.

The Hanging Gardens were a serene place. The atmosphere was a stark difference to the hustle and loudness of the markets below; the faint sound of music and overlapping chatter could still be heard, but it was removed enough to allow some breathing room which Cal was grateful for.

They'd found a perch on one of the high walls, a picturesque spot that allowed for magnificent views across the sprawling cityscape. Now that dusk was drawing in, the lights in the buildings were starting to come on, casting the sky aglow with luminescent spots like man-made stars. Normally Cal didn't care much for urban settings, but it was hard not to appreciate the different kind of beauty here, especially as the sun started to dip below the horizon with only a few rays shining between the structures.

Tahri was speechless, which was a rarity in itself, but he was glad that she could take the moment to relax and reflect. It was as good a time now as any to show her his find at the market, but she was apparently so deeply reflective that she wasn't even listening to him.

"I said 'I got you something'," he repeated with a laugh, and gave BD-1 a quick pat with his palm. Obediently, the droid opened its compartment and produced the small mesh bag, dropping it into Cal's outstretched palm.

It wasn't much. An inexpensive little trinket, it was a small hand-carved wooden charm fastened onto a plaited length of string, just long enough to be a bracelet. Honestly, the drawstring pouch was more impressive than what lay inside, but he figured it was something she would appreciate nonetheless. Tahri had a particular fondness for understated things.

"It's nothing big, so don't get your hopes up." He warned her before handing it over, noting the excited twinkle that had already started to appear in her eye.

 

[RavenClaire]

She still wasn’t talking, no matter which buttons he pushed. It was an amusing and frustrating game at the same time, yet somehow, he didn’t want to stop it. Naavina however, seemed to have other plans, apparently leaving this time. She wasn’t his concern anyway, Kylo reminded himself. He was here for a mission.

He turned his back to her again, not expecting her to do anything stupid. A mistake, as he discovered when he heard the familiar sound of his ship’s door opening. Was this woman really trying to steal his cruiser? Surely nobody was suicidal enough to attempt theft from an Inquisitor. Once again, he had underestimated her guts, though he had very little time to stay impressed.

Instead, he leapt onto his feet, crossing the short distance between himself and the black vessel, entering just in time before the doors could fall shut behind him. In the meantime, Naavina had apparently managed to start the engine, sending Kylo a little off balance at the ship’s sudden movements. She hadn’t flown anything like this before, as proven by the slightly jerky movements, but she was clearly about to take them off planet.

“What do you think you are doing?”, Kylo asked, steadying himself to make his way to the cockpit. It wasn’t large enough for two people, and he had trouble reaching the steering control from behind the large pilot chair, currently occupied by the intruder.

The ground was quickly disappearing beneath them, while the black vastness of space drew nearer. “Go back. Now.”; he ordered, using the Force to try to turn around, but Naavina proved surprisingly strong, refusing to give in. Instead, she even sped up and soon the ship was rocking back and forth, as the two people within battled for control. They had left Ryloth behind them, and still none of the two was a clear winner.

“Are you trying to get us killed?”, Kylo barked as they nearly missed a small stray asteroid, even though she had hardly been steering into its course on purpose. The ship was starting to spiral out of their control and the console started growing dangerously hot, not used to being abused in such a way. Soon enough, the first emergency lights came on, accompanied by a constant warning tone.

This was bad. They needed to land somewhere fast if they didn’t want the vessel blowing up around them. “Head towards the nearest moon.”, he instructed, for the first time, leaving her the freedom to pilot. She had obviously also realized the danger of the situation and would hopefully cooperate.

The moon before them was a dark green bordering on blue and gray and Kylo could recall nothing about it. Was in inhabited? Would they find spare parts there? He hoped they would. But as the surface began to approach, all shabby woods, swamps and barren dark blue sand, he realized that they would be lucky to find any living creature in this place…

Tahri stared at Cal, then at the tiny bag, back at her companion, and then at the unexpected gift once again. She loved presents, no matter how small, but this was almost overwhelming. “Thank you!”, she beamed, pulling at the string and then taking out the small trinket. It was beautiful. Simple, but with fine little details. And exactly the type of accessory she liked.

Suddenly, she found her heart beating faster again, as she stared at the gift. “Could you help me put it on?” She extended her right arm to him, pulling up the sleeve of her simple woolen tunic to allow him access to her wrist. She watched as he carefully tied the string together, her skin tingling whenever his fingertips brushed against it. And all of a sudden it hit Tahri like an unexpected downpour. This warmth, these strange sensations, the connection she felt… she was falling in love. No, she already was head over heels for Cal. The realization scared and excited her at the same time. It was a true whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, and she found herself reeling internally.

“This is truly beautiful… I will treasure it. Always.”, she spoke, realizing that she had yet to say something about it. “What did I do to deserve it, though?” She had to know. A little part of her hoped for something her heart could latch on to, but her head screamed that she was being a fool. This was Cal Kestis. He would never return her feelings. This was a gift from a friend, nothing more.

“Thank you, again. For thinking about me.”, she replied softly to his explanation. “In return, I promise to cook us something good once we get our hands on some decent ingredients again.” It was one of the few things she could always surprise him with and now, the idea of cooking for him seemed even sweeter.

She looked at Cal and smiled, banishing the negative thoughts from her head. It was true, he probably would never return her love, but for now, she would bask in this newfound emotion for as long as possible. Tahri allowed the happiness to wash over her freely now, as well as the longing and the sheer giddiness of just being near him, and it felt better than any kind of meditation.

“We should head back to the ship. Maybe there is a new job waiting for us.”, she pointed out, as darkness fell around them. “But this…”, she gestured towards the scenery before them. “It would be nice if we could do that again sometime.”