Corellia

[Rajah]

She hardly noticed the sudden jolt of the couch legs giving way. A warm smile spread across her face.

 

"I'm pretty sure I can never get enough time with you. But if I do get sick of you, you'll be the first to know." She said in a sweetly and planted a little kiss on his cheek. She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. "You know, throw in a crumbling ceiling and a scurrying rodent or two and I'd swear I was back in the underworld of Coruscant." Rajah joked. "Could it get any more romantic than this?"

 

Rajah giggled, pulled Hou-Jo closer and kissed him on the other cheek.

 

"I'm not complaining though. I don't care where I have you, just as long as I have you and you're all mine."

 

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the lips, half afraid that someone or something else would intrude and steal him away from her again.

[Hou-Jo Poleb]

"Well, I'm yours now. I'm not going anywhere." As much as he would like to, he didn't truly believe the latter sentence. He put his hand on her cheek and spaced out, looking at her eyes. He wasn't thinking of being pulled back by the Jedi; he was thinking of Xen-Que's death and the curse. He shook it out of his head. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently. He kissed her again.

_________________

[Rajah]

Rajah squirmed around under Hou-Jo, tried to make herself more comfortable. The sudden jerky movements caused a spring to pop and jab her in the back.

 

"Owwww." she growled into Hou-Jo's mouth. Rajah shoved him up from her. "What's this couch stuffed with? Daggers?" She squirmed around some more but couldn't get comfortable. No matter what way she moved that one spring always stabbed into her back. She eased out from under the Jedi.

 

"Don't know about you but I"m not into the whole pleasure from pain thing. Why not give me a tour of this place? Maybe we'll stumble across someplace more comfortable."

[Adi-Wan]

* Adi-Wan stared at something, apparently completely taken aback. He couldn't believe his eyes. *

 

* He looked over to Reagan, and spoke. *

 

"Red? Is that what I think I'm looking at?" - she smiled.

[Reagan McGreggor]

Reagan just laughed at him... "Yes Adi-Wan, this entire estate is state of the art... and fully functional... " Just then a maid walked into the kitchen... Good day Madam, I didn't know you were going to be on Correllia so soon, I apologize for not having everything in order.

 

"Don't worry about it Lilly, I wasn't expecting to be here either... certain events have occurred recently and I needed to be here... " Reagan gestered towards Adi-Wan, "This is an old friend of mine... please set up the guest bedroom for him so that he can get cleaned up and rest if he would like... we will not be staying long, no more then a day." The woman nodded and went to carry out her instructions...

 

Opening the refridgerator, she tossed Adi-Wan and cold drink and took one for herself... "I am no longer that poor little smuggler girl you knew back on the moon... I have made quite a fortune for myself over the years... anything you want or need just say the word... You'll have it."

 

Moving over to the desk she took out a roll of plans... she spread them out on the dinningroom table and called Adi over... "These are the plans for my estate... what you seek could be anywhere... IF it is here at all... there are over 400 acres of land and house both above and under ground. It could take a while."

[John Skywalker]

John's eyes crinkled, "So Corellia... wait... hmm... I have distinct memories... no... not mine... oh... them... I think, right?"

 

Emily's eyes focused intently on the pad, until hesitation bit her brain, so to speak... "Big city... lots of people!"

 

John chuckled, "Yes... and its quite reminiscent of a distant galaxy's, blue-green planet's religious group... I suppose that would be a stereotypical assumption due to the large quantity of credits and bullion exchanged here."

 

With one raised eyebrow, "Well... my dear, do lead the way..."

[Adi-Wan]

* Adi-Wan eyed the schematics before him, and whistled through his teeth. *

 

"Dex would be proud of his little sister ..." - he said, not looking at her. He could tell her posture changed slightly, and she looked as him.

 

* He turned his head to her. *

 

"What I seek is a lightsaber hilt, Sith-crafted, sliced in half by another saber. It's fused to a stainless durasteel linked necklace. It should weigh no more than several ounces. You may recognize the craftsmanship ... now that you serve the Sith Order." He looked at her now, finishing his sentence "It was made by Brook - also known as Jedi Gal of Darkness."

[Sirvani Zsahra]

"Why, I confess, I've never been to Corellia. I really don't know my way around, although I'm sure we'll have no problem identifiying a place of worship," Sirvani replied, rising.

 

They left the ship and wandered towards the town, not rushing, but not dawdling either.

 

((sorry, not a lot of time))

[John Skywalker]

"Indeed." John response was simple, his eyes began to zero in on the locals... it was different to be in a place so full of life. It had been ages...

 

"Can you feel it, Daddy? They are lots of people here... it feels different!"

 

A faint smile crossed the elder man, "Yes, Emily, tell me... did Mommy, Auntie Jaina, and Uncle Andon start teaching you to touch the Force, to feel it?"

 

John walked speaking to his daughter explicitly, but his wife, brother and sister-in-law could answer just the same...

 

((You gettin' ready for the BCS, your OSU v. my Gators, ))

[Sirvani Zsahra]

((Definately...it should be a very good game... ))

 

Emily wrinkled her brow. "Yes, Daddy, a little bit. Mommy said I could feel it...that's how I could tell that Uncle Andon wasn't flying."

 

She cast an accusatory glance in Andon's direction as Sirvani hid her smirk behind her hand.

 

"But I want to learn more, Daddy!" she said. "It's cool. I like how it feels."

 

Sirvani listened, but didn't speak, allowing the father and daughter to talk. She'd pipe in if she had anything to add, but for now, she was content to remember that John opened her own eyes to the Force...this was his area of specialty, and if she was any indication, he was an excellent teacher.

[John Skywalker]

"Well, that is a wonderful start... and Uncle Andon has a knack for pretending to be doing things he's not." He smiled warmly, "Here's something I want you to do for me, Em, okay?"

 

Emily's eyes brightened, "Yes, daddy... what?"

 

John smirked, "Walk with your eyes closed."

 

Stopping in her tracks, her black hair shining in the warm sun and her grey orbs suddenly sparkled with an accusation, "But... I'll fall!"

 

Laughing quite audibly, "No Emily, try to use the Force as your eyes and ears... and let it guide you."

 

John crossed his arms and waited for her performance...

[Oblivion]

How long do you think it'll be... How long will your arms remain to catch your young when they inevitably must fall...

 

A mental projection from the already teetering equilibrium between sanity and insanity rested inside the father's fragile mind. Pools of darkness flowed from underneath the cracks in the streets, seeping from walls in every direction, every fragment the shadow had casted against the warming sun. Whisps of blackened smoke followed their trail, pooling out to either side of the young girl who now strode with eyes shut.

 

...You can't do it, can you? That weight against your leg, it grows, does it not?... Yes, yes, I know you... just as I know there is still that darkness within you that will remain; the same darkness that allows me to reach you subconsciously...

 

Now you have to tell yourself... Will you let her fall to experience pain? Or will you shelter her from the darkness that awaits? It's your decision...

[Sirvani Zsahra]

As Emily successfully performed the task that John had set before her, Sirvani only half-watched. There was a presence here, Tethyn making himself known once again. She remembered the last conversation that had passed between the three of them, and the warnings the Sith had issued. Reflecting on that was part of what reinforced her ideas--the same ideas she had eluded to on the ship but not spoken of.

 

They soon arrived at a small temple. It called out to Sirvani in the Force, and she turned toward it after praising Emily's efforts and successes. Inside, the five travelers found an elderly priest.

[Aschen Skirata]

Landing on Corellia, Animando lowered the ramp on his ship, waiting for Astraal to arrive. He knew that the Hutts would find his activity suspiscious, but that is how he needed things to look. Activating a listening nullifying device, the Mandalorian awaited the arrival of his fellow hunter.

[John Skywalker]

A strange sensation jumped from his eyes, to the core of his heart... it sped rapidly, accentuated by the sting of an adrenaline rush throughout his veins. The weakening crimson that made certain he lived, at the very least, long enough to do what had to be done... what he had promised to do...

 

Despite the roaring torment of fears, of pain... there was no way to bring a lost son back to the fold, or so his reason kept urging. There was a certain coldness to being in tune and part machine, and it was that coldness that knew that Emily couldn't be saved if she were to fall... down the dark path. Of course, such thoughts bring torment and crippling emotions, enough to leave John in a bitter silence. There was only the faint thought that Tethyn continued to strengthen.

 

His footsteps were a touch heavier, as he moved towards the Temple... and he made few gestures towards the Temple's Adept, forcing only a smile... if only for politeness' sake.

[Sirvani Zsahra]

Sirvani felt his pain, had an echo of it in her own heart, a glimmer of his thoughts that mirrored her own. Silently, she begged that he hold on...no matter what this thing was that was distracting him, causing him to fall silent, his eyes glazed over at times...no matter what it was, she pleaded with him that he remain focused, and hold on through this brief, yet important ceremony.

 

And suddenly, the priest was ready. Andon and Jaina were there as witnesses and escorts. There was a bride and a groom, and even a flower girl. An impulse struck the Twi'lek, and she hurried to the door and invited a few random passersby to come in for the wedding. Several indulged her, and soon, the little Temple held about 20 people. Sirvani briefly thought of the kindly old couple back on Coruscant and wished they could be there, but it was of little consequence.

 

She returned to John's side. "Is it really, finally, time? After all these years?" There was a tint of the old wonderment in her eyes. Much time had indeed passed, and this ceremony was nothing more than legal formalities, but to Sirvani, it was significant. It symbolized the struggle, the learning, the bonding, and the effort that it took to get here. It immortalized them as a pair, and she felt, for the first time in a significant portion of time...excitement mingled with the calm that comes with deep happiness.

[Astraal]

From Space thread: A few hours later, Dancer's Run set down lightly, Astraal running through all the post flight checks and requesting refuelling and restocking. That all done, including her setting up security precautions, she flicked the internal comm stating the obvious, that they had arrived at their destination. She then went in search of the girl.

 

--

 

Vos preceded her through the ship, the violet Twi'lek fingering the device in her pocket that Animando had given her. In her other pocket was the other device Tobias had given her as well.

 

As she searched for the girl, Astraal thought about what had been said prior to leaving Tatooine... it seemed like romance had been on the men's minds, but it was far from hers... she doubted the kind of 'love' she wanted existed in the Galaxy ... it was only on the holonet movies and she wanted to be 'in love like in the movies'. Secretly she admired one of the holostars, though she'd never admit it to anyone.

 

Her thoughts turned to the girl. Why had she felt sorry for the slave? What Tobias said made her think. She dealt in slaves every other day... was it because the girl had so many bad bruises? She had no qualms about Umaga dropping slaves down into the rancor pit... what was it that made her feel sorry for this one? She shook her head. Maybe it was because it had caught her off guard. She would make one acception only ... she'd let this one get off at Corellia and fend for herself. If she were recaptured so be it.

 

... And what about Tobias? She really didn't know what to think of him. He was creepy but she had dealt with men like him before. So sure of themselves. They usually slipped up somewhere sooner or later though. From there her thoughts turned to Animando... in full circle so to speak... what did he want her for if it wasn't an official mission?

[Rihn]

As Astraal and her faithful mutt passed the security room, Tobias called out to them. As they approached, he turned from the console with a cynical grin on his face.

 

Walking a few steps towards them, he pointed at the security monitors, "Well. It looks like your potential goldmine is gone. She's fast... Wasted no time. But a typical slave nonetheless. Money you could have collected. I mean, do you really think she'll last long on the streets? And even if she does, do you think that will actually be a much better life for her? Probably worse than if you had resold her. Oh well."

 

Tobias chuckled to himself.

 

"So are we ready to depart? It looks like everything is in order to me. I'm sure you have things to do as do I. Shall we?"

[Andon]

Corellia.

 

Just the mention of its name was enough to bring the fondest memories he had ever had to the conscious flow of the Jedi's thoughts. Just the sound of it spoken could bring the past to life and every emotion brimming to the surface... actually walking its soil and standing before yet another wedding ceremony was something entirely in itself. Breathing, it was like breathing for the first time again.

 

Walking through the temple a warm hand found his, hazel-gray eyes lighting up as his gaze rested on the woman just beside him. Auburn-green delight and brandy-brown locks were the spectacle that greeted his vision as he found himself entranced by the pair of lips that formed the soft smile on her face.

 

Jaina.

 

The flutter of her heart rained upon enhanced senses as his wife's fingers entwined with his and just by a stroke of luck her eyes found his.

 

He smiled a smile more brilliant than starlight.

 

Today, their two closest friends were to be wed on the same planet that they had shared matrimony bliss on. Before the priest John and Sirvani stood, Andon and Jai standing just behind them as they waited for the ceremony to begin, the renegade lightly tracing his thumb across the top of his wife's hand. With the lightest notions, his thoughts went out to Jai... You're kinda cute, Miss... I hope you know I call dibs on all the dances with you at the reception.

[Jaina Jade Skywalker]

The lingering, faint scent in the air sent shivers up and down Jaina's spine and caused her skin to come alive with electric anticipation. The planet was not her home, nor would it ever be, but it would always serve as a marker.

 

As a gravestone for Jaina Jade Skywalker, as she was.

 

As a birthplace for Jaina Jade Colos, as she lives.

 

And now, as Sirvani and John's love exploded as the supernova of a red giant, so it would create the young, vibrant white dwarf ready to take its place.

 

The hand of her husband, idly playing with her fingers, nearly drove Jaina mad as the ceremony began. The sly smile she caught from the corner of her eye was enough to distract her for the rest of the night. As she felt the lightest touch of his mind on hers, she smiled gently at him.

 

You know, I only dance in moonlight. If the moon's out, I believe that can be arranged.

 

The soft wink she punctuated her statement with was hard to leave, his eyes capturing her: again, and again, and again.

[Andon]

Somewhere in his deeper ability to cognitively think, he wondered if his reaction to her wink while in a church was one that would be unwise. He pondered if one single thought would be enough to use his soul as reigns and ride his body like a chariot to the bowels of suffering.

 

And then she smiled, the realization coming that any thought with her could never be considered a wrong one. He gently squeezed her hand tighter, the ring on his left hand resting flat against her skin as he continued to steal away little glances at her.

 

Her soft message was all his mind could fathom, metaphysically tracing over each vowel and syllable in his head as it took him back to a place far from here. A world that long been forgotten. To an oasis. Under the moonlight they had spent many nights together sitting along the water's edge: sometimes they merely talked... sometimes they swam... sometimes they shared, but under the moonlight they were always together. He remembered so long ago when Jai told him that beneath the moon was one of the few places that made her feel at home.

 

Do you remember the oasis? At night it was the only time I could ever get you to dance with me. For you... I'd snatch the moon from the sky...

[Astraal]

Hearing Tobias call out, Astraal turned back towards the security room...What the hell's he doing in there... is nothing sacred in My ship? That the security room had been locked to prevent unauthorized access concerned her... what else had he gotten into? She had many hidden recesses within her ship that were known only to her... having done the modifications herself.

 

Vos snarled at him as she followed the faithful Vornskr into the room. Hearing that the girl had gone already... and before she'd opened the hatches, also concerned her. She began to have a bad feeling about both her passengers. Her green eyes narrowed as she looked from Tobias to the security screen. If she had indeed gone and the footage hadn't been doctored, than he either was her accomplice in escaping ... but why would that be...? or the girl was a good slicer and was worth more than she had seemed.

 

"It's time to go alright. She's only got a small head start, Vos will be on her tail quickly. That little scutta won't get far."

 

She wasn't a happy camper right then. Going over to one of the monitors, she tapped in a few instructions for her droid. It had remained unseen to the guests while travelling though it was exceedingly clever. It wasn't only her mechanic, it also was her bodyguard before she got Vos. If anything had been stolen from her ship, the droid would know about it.

[Rihn]

Agent Tobias's face suddenly burst with delight.

 

"Yes! Now, we're talking. A hunt. Hunts are fun. But you've already more than underestimated your opponent. She boarded the ship undetected. She exited unassisted. She obviously has quite the bag of tricks."

 

Tobias glanced at his timepiece, "Oh. Well...I'd love you join you on your wild goose chase or in this case, wild slave chase..., " he chuckled as be rephrased his words, "but I have places to be as I'm sure you do, too. We'll resume this later... but more than likely she's gone. It's a pity. She might have actually been one of those keeper slaves with her talents. Regardless... as the ship ramp has been let down already, I think I'll take my leave. Miss Astraal."

 

Tobias nodded to the twi'lek before turning and heading for the ramp. He had seen all he had come to see at the moment and still had much to do.

[Astraal]

Astraal's expression didn't waver from the want to hunt the little scutta down. She was however, relieved to be rid of Tobias. Tapping a few keys on the security monitor, she still couldn't work out how the girl had gotten in and out of the ship undetected. She'd have to have powers of invisibility to do so and she didn't believe anyone had those kinds of abilities, not even the Jedi or Sith.

 

Taking an image print of the girl and forwarding it to the authorities, she told them to keep an eye out for the 'runaway' and that if she were found, that the Twi'lek would collect her.

 

Placing Vos on a lead while on this planet, Astraal headed out of her ship, making sure that all of her security systems were in place. There was no possible way anyone could get in or out this time. She headed in the direction of where she would find Animando, also bringing him into her hunt for the scutta slave girl.

[Jaina Jade Skywalker]

Even as his mind darted to the past that had seemed so long ago yet so ever-present, Jaina had already gone there and back, losing herself in reminiscences of their starlit trysts. His kiss seemed so unfathomable, then. A beauty that she couldn't, nor would ever hope to understand. His touch was softer than the moonlight they bathed in each night. And his voice in her mind joined them together, in the middle of a crowd, alone in the oasis on Chad, where nothing but the darkness of their minds could haunt them. Where everything was so simple and there was only love, only them.

 

Only Jaina.

 

Only Andon.

 

But now, the secret that Jaina held deep in the darkest recesses of her heart, the pulse that threatened to upset all of her plans, the tiny sliver of life within her that was pure and unafraid was all she could give him, not the oasis, not her promises.

 

Just all that she had left.

 

And as a microscopic rhythm within her pulsed in time with the rhythm of her heart, with the rhythm of the galaxy, Jaina knew that what she had left to give was something he would gladly receive.

[Hou-Jo Poleb]

Hou-Jo got up, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and did as Rajah asked of him. He grasped her hand and lead her through the house. He showed her the kitchen with the dripping sink, the second floor with some leaking roofs, and the broken down bathroom. "I can't give much of a tour, though. I don't really remember the place that much."

[Rajah]

"Ive seen and lived in worse." She mentioned. "It's not so bad."

 

She glanced around the place again. Her dark eyes sought out Hou-Jo.

 

"So you were a child here? Try as I might, I can't picture you as a child. I can't see a little you crawling about in diapers or running in through the front door with a scraped knee."

[Astraal]

Finding Animando, Astraal kept her physical distance, Vos inbetween them. A message bleeped on her comlink, the girl checking it as her lekku twitched.

 

"Got to go somewhere... I'll meet you back here unless it's important, otherwise you can meet me on Nar Shaddaa, here. I have to go see someone..."

 

She sent the co-ordinates to Animando's comm device and turned to go, Vos pulling on his lead with the urgency to get back to her ship.

 

"She's sick... I have to go..."

 

It had been a long time since Astraal had seen one of her Aunt's and to find out that Aunt Astra, the Twi'lek in which she had been named after, was very ill shocked her.

 

As soon as she got back to her ship, she efficiently went through her security precautions, not wanting another stowaway. Vos went on guard duty as she released him soon as they got onboard. After warming her ship up, going through all her security checks and preflight checks, she requested clearance and lifted off... heading for Nar Shaddaa.

[Hou-Jo Poleb]

"My parents moved to Coruscant when my brother was very young. A lot of the memories and feelings of this place I gained from Xen-Que when he became one with the Force. I don't even remember if I ever lived here at all. Probably be better off finding somewhere else to stay, somewhere without all the karma. Or camp."

[Bounty]

*At the first bank of Corellia, a bank account belonging to one Garrett Sikuus, frozen since a warrant was issued for his arrest, is quietly sliced without anyone being the wiser. The funds in the account are transferred into an escrow account located on Nar Shadaa. The slicer does her very best to hide her tracks, but for someone with enough skill it is always possible to find a trail...*