Private A Longing

[Iandre Athlea]

It had been almost a year since the two Force users had discovered her emaciated body. One had been part of the New Jedi Order, and her people had been the ones to stabilize Iandre. Still, she had decided to go to the Diarchy and learn about them until such a time as she felt like exploring the other faction. However, she didn't see herself leaving them and rejoining the Jedi. She felt her fate was set and sealed, with her heart belonging to one of the leaders of the Diarchy. The desire to know more was burning within her, and so she left Diarchy territory behind to do just that.

Smiling to herself as she set the course for Tython, she wondered if she would see Gem again. She was the young Cathar who helped bring her to light. And the one who invited her to visit whenever she wanted to. Deciding to take her up on that offer, she sat back in her seat for the long flight in front of her.

Not falling into her default habit of meditating, one of the last times she had done that, when she woke up, over 900 years had passed. But it had brought her to now, and so she did sleep, but would keep her meditating for when she had solid ground under her feet.

In order not to stick out like a sore thumb, she wore what she would have worn in her time. Multilayered ivory and grey robes with some embroidery and braided hair. Her grey eyes held confidence and happiness. Being guided in and told where to land, she brought in her ship and set it down easily. Climbing out, she seemed lost for a few moments before finding where she needed to go.

Seeing all the different people, races, and vendors, she avoided interacting with the last group. She didn't need to buy anything and just nodded at the friendly faces of the others.

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Location: New Hope (Tython City)

Jedi Robes

Between missions, Mykel was not content to remain at the Temple. He liked to go back into the city, working at the dining facility he had established there. Such acts of service kept him grounded, being surrounded regular people who had nothing to do with the Jedi.

Months had gone by since the first refugees had made their way to the burgeoning settlement, and commerce had long taken root, many grocers and restaurants stood up. Yet the original dining facility remained opened as a charity, providing hot regular meals for all those in need.

Within the dining hall, Mykel could be found inside, standing right on the line doling out food. To account for the diversity of the New Hope, the overall menu was kept streamlined, but all the basics were covered with hearty but well made dishes. Everyone from pure carnivores to a literal leaf eaters could find something to munch on.

While passing out meals, he would often strike up conversations with people on the other side of the line, particularly with his regulars like the construction crews and excavator teams of the Service Corps. It was a great opportunity to catch up with old faces he hadn't seen in a while, or new one gracing the dining hall for the very first time.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Walking past the market, the smell of food caught her attention, and she decided to follow her nose. Looking inside the dining hall, Iandre was surprised by the diverse selection of people and the variety of food offerings. Without realizing she was even hungry, her stomach let her know by growling ferociously at her. Deciding to take this as a sign to stop and eat, she joined the line of patrons going in to eat.

She tried to eat a wide variety of foods, and she saw some that were familiar from her time. With a bit of surprise, she picked them out and waited for the food to be doled out to her.

Standing patiently, the former Jedi looked around at the people and felt the atmosphere in the restaurant. It seemed peaceful, but she expected that on this world. This was where the New Jedi had established their base and maintained peace simply by being present. At least, that is what it felt like to Iandre.

Not meeting the eyes of anybody, she didn't want any of them to think she was being odd.

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

The line chugged along, Mykel and the other volunteers behind the counter issuing trays and glasses smoothly with well practiced ease even as he was chattering with every other person in the line at the same time.

Again, most of the faces were quite familiar to him after all these months, but every so often a new one would pop up. Such was the case with a woman that came through the line, her brilliant green eyes and her presence in the Force catching his attention.

Almost immediately, his curiosity would be piqued. The Jedi Knight was even more familiar with his fellow brethren at the main temple than with the patrons here. Yet he could not recall her face, remaining an enigma in his mind.

Perhaps a fresh initiate or transplant? He wouldn't be surprised, as Mykel himself had originally come to the NJO from an independent Jedi Enclave while still a Padawan.

Whatever the case, he was eager to hear her story, if she was willing to share.

"Good afternoon to you!" He greeted her warmly, tipping his head. "Welcome to the Dining Hall. Today for he lunch service, we have Ranch Tip-Yip Chicken Wraps or Nerf Chili as the main entree. Of course, if you're not a fan of meat, then we also have Cheesy Nuna Bean Soup and Glowleaf Stir-Fry as our vegetarian options."

"If that still doesn't tickle your fancy," he added, his tone becoming more somber. "...then we even offer nutrient squares and ration packs if you're in a hurry."

He had yet to see anyone willingly take the bland ration packs, but he was always nice enough to offer. "Of course, beyond our main dishes, feel free to help yourself to our fruit and salad bar at the end of the the line."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"No, I like meat, thank you. I'll take the chicken wrap."

Giving him a warm smile in return, she appreciated the welcome and the options he had provided. If she were still hungry, she'd try the chili. As it turned out, she didn't think that would be the case, but you never knew. Wrinkling her nose when he offered the nutrient bar and rations, she had lived on those long enough in the Clone Wars.

As he had not asked her anything about herself, she didn't offer any answer. She wasn't psychic and didn't try to read his mind. That was just not polite, and she hadn't thought of it.

"Can I get that in addition to the fruit, or is it one or the other?"

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Mykel beamed at her selection. "The wrap? Excellent choice, it's one of my personal recipes."

The woman had good taste(buds). Already off to a good start with this one.

"No no, you can help yourself to the fruit at the end of the line. Honestly, take as much as you like - it's all local produce donated to the dining hall every morning before it goes bad. The wrap itself also comes with seasoned fries as a side." He began to construct the wrap, only half minding his progress as it had practically become muscle memory after serving this exact entree thousands of times. However, he was mindful enough to slow down a bit, long enough to spark up a conversation with the woman and see if it went anywhere.

"So I don't think I've seen you around before," he started. "Not that it's a problem, we love seeing new faces here. Did you come to New Hope to seek a fresh start, or are you just passing through?"

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Giving Mykel a neutral but not an unfriendly little smile, she waited for her wrap to get finished. Tilting her head when he mentioned it was his recipe brought more emotion into her expression. Maybe it softened slightly, and she let out a breath.

"That's wonderful. I'm sure it'll be delicious."

Getting an answer about the fruit at the end of the line, she nodded in thanks but didn't respond to the fries comment. She didn't remember having them before, so it'll be a new experience for the former Jedi. Times had indeed changed, and it seemed the foods had as well.

"That'll be fine, thank you.

"You're right, this is my first time here. I'm Iandre, and I'm just passing through, I suppose. Looking to learn of the Jedi here and explore the grounds if I'm allowed."

Not giving away too much information, nothing she said was a lie.

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

So his suspicions were confirmed. The Force Sensitive woman was here for the Jedi, though beyond that basic admission, he still had no idea of her motives or background. She seemed harmless enough, but while he would love to give her the benefit of the doubt, a little more probing was an order.

"Oh the Jedi, huh? You want to have a go twirling one of their fancy laser swords?" he teased, chuckling lightly.

At present, he didn't look anything like a traditional robed Jedi. A black bandana was wrapped around his dark locks to keep the sweat out of his eyes, and tunic and coat had been replaced with a matching black undershirt and apron. His lightwhip and other gear were stuffed in the back. As added measure, he also gradually shrank himself in the Force, letting the his fellow Jedi in the dining hall outshine him with much stronger auras.

As of now, he was simply Mykel, the friendly cook.

He finished rolling the wrap, then began to shake a around a bowl of fries in a small bath of seasonings.

"So, I'm about to go on my break, actually. Care for some company as you eat? I'll even throw in a slice of my housemade cheesecake as a little extra treat. By the way, my name's Mykel. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Iandre."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"I already have one."

She chuckled at his teasing question. Not yet going into any further detail, she would if he asked. However, she didn't feel the need to and kept any other information to herself. Iandre wasn't one to probe another person to know if they could use the Force or not. So she never considered doing that to Mykel.

"That would be great, Mykel. Nice to meet you as well."

Giving him a bit of a formal nod, there wasn't a way to shake hands as he was mixing the fries with their seasonings.

"Thank you for the welcome."

She had the feeling there was something more to him but Ian couldn't put her finger on it. She might be able to figure it out after chatting with him for a while. Smiling, she waited for her food.

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

"Oh my!" He exclaimed, genuinely impressed. Lightsabers were as rare as they were powerful. "Unless you're carrying it as a fashion statement, then I take it that you're a space wizard yourself. How fortunate I am to meet you, then."

Tray ready, he passed it over the sneezeguard to her and motioned for her to find a seat.

"Get whatever you like at the fruit bar, then find us a spot, I'll be with you shortly."

From there, he kept the line going, serving up a few more people for the next ten minutes until he found a lull to get swapped out. He grabbed a chicken wrap for himself on his way to the service area in the back to wash up a bit and remove his soiled apron, reeking strongly of oil. A nice long shower was calling for him back at the temple.

Reflexively he turned to don his hanging tunic and cloak, but he caught himself with an amused huff. I'm still just Chef Mykel.

Instead, he replaced his apron with a fresh black one, and returning to the dining area to find Iandre.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Not wanting to make more of the fact she could use the Force than needed, Iandre tried shrugging off his comment, but she did nod. They were going to be chatting soon enough, and the conversation would be much quieter than when standing in line to get her food. Accepting the tray, followed his motion and nodded.

"I'll see you soon."

Moving to the fruit bar, she picked up a plate and then gathered a few familiar items and smiled a little as she walked to a table. Finding a small one that could seat two, she positioned herself so Mykel would be able to see her and she could watch the rest of the room. It wasn't for the need to escape, but to people-watch.

Seeing all the different types of people, from various races, and watching them interact peacefully was nice. There wasn't a raised, hostile voice or the distant sounds of war. Nobody wanting to kill another person over a minor offense. Enjoying the peace and momentary solitude, she waved at him as he came out from behind the serving line.

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Eventually he found her with nothing but his two natural eyeballs as he was still moving incognito, highly appreciative that she hadn't made it too difficult to pick her out of the crowd. At the height of the lunch service, the place was packed, a thousand conversations in dozens of languages now unfolding around him. The dining hall was a much a menagerie as it was a cafeteria.

"Phew, this place is bustling!" he exclaimed as he took a seat opposite of her. He was much louder than he had been at the serving line so that his voice wasn't lost in cacophony, but not quite shouting. "Nerf chili really brings outs the crowds."

He had many questions for Iandre, wishing to finally unmask the enigma of a woman. First came the most pressing.

"How's the food?"

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

She was calmly chewing on the wrap when Mykel joined her. She had been people watching while she waited, and set the food down when he sat across from her. Picking up her drink, she washed the food out of her mouth.

Listening to his conversational comments about the diner being busy, she gave him half a smile and nodded. On Coruscant, places like this were commonly busy. So it wasn't a surprise to Iandre that his was as well.

"It's excellent. Thank you for the suggestion and for making it for me. You probably already knew that. You don't have food for yourself."

Mykel Dawson

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Mykel chuckled. "I don't like to brag, but I think we do a pretty good job in the back."

He took pride in the development of the dining hall, taking it from a circle of dingy tents to a full institution serving the entire settlement every day. Sometimes it was funny to think back as a padawan how he had loathed the infrastructure assignment from his former master, but now it brought him no small amount of joy when he returned from Tython after a deployment, seeing people jolly and nourished. A welcome break from the chaos abroad.

With Iandre now settled, he decided to probe a bit.

"So, I take it you're already versed in the Force, if you have a lightsaber." The iconic weapon of the Jedi was extremely difficult to wield by non force users, who became more of a danger to themselves and their comrades than their opponents. "Do you know any cool moves? I've seen some Jedi here move their swords with only their minds, looks like it's being wielded by a ghost, cool stuff."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The scent of simmering broth and freshly baked bread filled the hall, grounding and familiar. Lanternlight shimmered along the walls, catching in the sheen of metal trays and the quiet movement of people sharing stories. It was humble, alive, a far cry from the battlefields she'd once known.

Iandre drew her grey Jedi robe a little tighter around her shoulders, letting the soft fabric brush her fingers. It wasn't armor, but it had always made her feel steady. Centered. Turning toward Mykel, she smiled — a warm, genuine expression that softened her usual reserve.

"You've every right to be proud," she said softly. "What you've built here. It's more than just a hall. You've given people something to come back to — something that feels like home."

When his gaze flicked to the lightsaber at her side, she followed it. Her hand brushed the familiar hilt, its polished metal warm from her touch. The green within pulsed faintly — steady, alive.

"I was trained by Master Aisha," she continued, her voice dipping into quiet reverence. "She believed the Force was like breath — not loud, not demanding. Just there. Constant. She used to say a lightsaber wasn't about strength, but purpose. That every motion, every swing, should mean something."

Her eyes lingered on the light flickering against the stone floor. "I lost her during the war," she said after a pause. "For a long time, I thought if I just kept moving, kept fighting, I wouldn't have to feel it. But the Force doesn't silence grief — it just reminds you that you're never really alone in it."

Then her expression softened, a faint warmth returning. "Someone helped me remember that," she added — no name spoken, but the quiet fondness in her voice carried the truth easily enough. "He reminded me that peace isn't the absence of struggle…it's knowing you can stop running from it."

Her smile returned, gentler now, and she inclined her head toward Mykel's curiosity.

"As for saber tricks — I've seen those too. Impressive, yes, but I prefer precision over spectacle. Sometimes the best move is the one nobody notices until it's over."

Mykel Dawson