Private Checking In

[Liin Terallo]

The recording light blinked red. I looked at it for several seconds before reaching forward and switching it off again. "No." The word escaped with a quiet sigh. I deleted the recording without watching it back. Somehow, speaking to a holocamera always felt more difficult than speaking to another person. At least in conversation there were pauses to fill, expressions to read, and something to react to. A recording simply waited with infinite patience while I attempted to decide how much of myself belonged inside of it.

The second attempt lasted nearly a minute before I stopped that one as well. It was too formal.

The third somehow managed to become an accidental report on atmospheric conditions, local supply shortages, and an entirely unnecessary observation regarding the quality of wine in the sector. I deleted that one too.

Eventually I leaned back in the chair and rubbed at my eyes. "This is ridiculous."

The apartment answered with silence. Outside, rain traced lazy paths across the window while somewhere overhead the small winged biomass creature Mr. Usher had insisted that I take chirped softly from atop a cupboard. It watched me with the unmistakable expression of something convinced it could solve this problem if only it possessed opposable thumbs. "I appreciate the confidence," I murmured.

It chirped again.

Drawing a slow breath, I activated the recorder one final time. The small indicator illuminated. "Hello, Mister Dashiell." A faint smile found me. "It's been a while, and I thought that I should let you know that I'm still alive."

I hesitated briefly before continuing."I don't actually have very much to report." Another small smile appeared. "Which, considering the last few years, is probably the best report that I've been able to give." I folded one hand over the other in front of me.

"I'm alive. And I'm keeping a low profile. As far as I can tell, I'm no longer on anyone's immediate list of priorities." The words sounded strange spoken aloud. "I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to say that."

For a moment my eyes drifted toward the rain beyond the window. "I've been....existing, I suppose. Reading. Travelling when necessary. Trying very hard not to become interesting again." There was a quiet amusement in that admission. "So far, I've been reasonably successful."

A thoughtful silence settled before I continued. "I still keep an eye on certain developments. Old habits die hard. But otherwise...there really isn't much else to report." The admission should have sounded disappointing. But instead, it felt peaceful to me.

"I hope that things have been quieter for you as well. If they haven't..." A faint smile returned. "...then try not to make too many headlines." I paused, considering whether anything more needed saying. But nothing came to mind. "Take care of yourself, Mister Dashiell. I'll check in again if anything changes."

The recording ended with a soft click. For a few moments I simply watched the frozen image staring back at me from the holoprojector. Then, before I could convince myself to revise it again, I pressed send.

Tag: Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

CHECKING-IN
LOCATION: Naboo, Shiraya's Sanctuary
INVENTORY: Ornate Jedi Robes | Crossguard Lightsaber | Standard Lightsaber
TAGS: Liin Terallo

​

Life as a Jedi Knight had been proceeding rather surprisingly well; the young man that Balun Dashiell was, expected far greater difficulty in adapting to the new role than it had actually taken and as often was the case, it proved to be his insecurities and personal doubts that had been far louder and more evident than the practical changes and responsibilities that he had taken on.

It was midday on Naboo, and Balun had just entered his private quarters following an intense training session of his own. There hadn't been any students or members of his peers in the dojo, only the droids and their counterpart training probes, of which Balun had set a high challenge. He had returned to his room to change into a fresh set of robes, his Ornate apparel of which he had most recently finished stitching, sewing and imbuing with the Force, and he hadn't yet worn it. Looking over the blue robe, the charcoal tunic and dark brown leather bracers and boots, he couldn't help but smile to himself in appreciation of his hard work.

As he was pulling the cloak over the tunic, his attention was drawn to his bed, where his datapad lay, yet to be returned to the carry pouch of his utility belt. The notification, which chimed aloud, suggested that he had received a private transmission on his personal channel. One that belonged not to the Jedi Order but to Dashiell Incorporated™.

"Hello, Mister Dashiell. It's been a while, and I thought that I should let you know that I'm still alive.

I don't actually have very much to report. Which, considering the last few years, is probably the best report that I've been able to give.

I'm alive. And I'm keeping a low profile. As far as I can tell, I'm no longer on anyone's immediate list of priorities. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to say that.

I've been....existing, I suppose. Reading. Travelling when necessary. Trying very hard not to become interesting again. So far, I've been reasonably successful.

I still keep an eye on certain developments. Old habits die hard. But otherwise...there really isn't much else to report.

I hope that things have been quieter for you as well. If they haven't...then try not to make too many headlines.

Take care of yourself, Mister Dashiell. I'll check in again if anything changes."

Listening to the message, eyebrows lifting at the reception of Liin's voice, he realised just how long it seemed to have been since they had last spoken to one another. Though it wasn't by choice or conscious will, life as a Jedi saw him roaming from place to place, forever engrossed in the pursuit of helping others or training alongside his fellow Jedi, learning as much as possible about himself and always seeking further study into the Force in order to better himself as a practitioner. He had been so engulfed in the day-to-day that until now, he hadn't thought of how much time had actually passed them by.

Despite the embarrassment he might have shown if they had been speaking face-to-face, he genuinely welcomed the message. It was such a pleasant surprise in his day to hear from his old employer-turned-friend of his and his fathers. The last time they had met, there was still turmoil due to the scientific experimentation Liin had been conducting, and she had actually succeeded in creating a compound that granted her a synthetic version of Force sensitivity. Balun hadn't understood the science behind it, but he personally witnessed the repercussions. To now hear that she was doing well, no longer burdened by her former work and managing to keep out of trouble, was good news indeed.

In fact, she would receive a response without delay, the holo-image of Balun standing within his Jedi robes, with an immediate smile; "Well, hello there", he chuckled softly, greeting her with a touch more enthusiasm than required, and continued in order to save face, a more casual tone to his words; "It's really good to hear from you, Liin. I'm glad to hear that you're doing well and keeping yourself out of trouble. As has always been the case, I've been keeping myself busy between life in the Order and my business dealings on the side. My son's been doing well, enrolled now in the Agri-Corps and learning to cultivate and appreciate the land of Lyrox IX. Dad's also well, and will certainly be glad to hear about your message," he shifted marginally, balancing his weight upon both feet and placing his hands behind his back. "Dare I ask where you're contacting me from? Now that things have quietened down for you, I imagine there's less need for secrecy?" Balun kept the message brief, anticipating a quick response and a likely prolonged back-and-forth, eager to hear what Liin Terallo had been up to lately.

Former Mentor: Ala Quin
Jedi Apprentice: Cerys Dyn
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Liin Terallo]

I watched the recording through to the end before waiting several moments to collect my thoughts. Then I activated the recorder.

"Hello again, Mister Dashiell." A polite smile came naturally enough for me. "It was good to hear from you. I'm pleased that things are going well for you. I wasn't especially surprised, though. You always seemed happiest when you had several responsibilities competing for your attention. I'm also glad to hear your son is doing well. The Agri-Corps sounds like a place he'll learn a great deal. And please pass along my regards to your father."

My attention drifted briefly toward the window before returning to the recorder. "As for your question on my whereabouts...." I considered my answer carefully. "I'm still moving between neutral systems." There was little reason to elaborate further. "I stay somewhere for a time, then move on. Mostly out of habit. I've found that routine is preferable to excitement."

The small biomass creature suddenly appeared on the edge of the recording, hanging upside down from the top of a cupboard before chirping loudly.

I glanced toward it. "It appears that I've acquired quite the travelling companion." The corner of my mouth lifted slightly. "Mister Usher entrusted one of his biomass specimens to me."

The creature fluttered awkwardly to another perch.

"I've been spending rather more time observing it's behavior than I expected. That has occupied most of my attention recently." Which, thankfully, was true. "I don't have much else to report." I offered him a small nod. "So I'm glad that life has been treating you and your family well and I hope that continues."

My hand hovered over the controls. "If circumstances change, I'll let you know." I gave him another polite nod. "Take care of yourself, Mister Dashiell."

The recording ended and I had hit send. For some reason this one seemed easier to record. Perhaps in part because it felt like an official report more than anything. I find that more comfortable and easier for me to handle than it would be to let my guard down. Especially if someone were to hack into the messages. I do not need old rumors to to come to light again.

Tag: Balun Dashiell