Distractions

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Pleasant morning greeting.

A return of that greeting, warmly accepted. A casual enquiry on the previous day's work.

It was relatively light. Not many visitors. Thats a shame really. Would you like a drink? I might head out and get something to eat soon. I would like something sweet I think.

Regretfully it has been the same this morning. I'm fine for the time being. I might like something too. Perhaps if it is quiet then we could...In excitement I see humans approaching. Look over your shoulder.

Jacen approached the desk. It was set at waist height for the hyleeans. The sign said tourist information. He tentatively held the translator as the two behind it looked down at him. Their expressions seemed to convey no real emotion.

Delighted greetings. You are both humans. That is interesting as we saw another of your kind just days ago and it is usually a rare experience. Excitement at meeting another culture. Eagerness to answer queries.

Agreement on excitement. Directly: how can we be of assistance?"

The words scrawled across the device faster than Jacen could read. And he took a moment to catch up. The translations from the two beings came in different colours. He guessed text was always going to be a poor translation of the depth of information they could apparently convey in the complex scent molecules.

He reached to type a reply.

We both understand basic.

Well that was sharp and to the point. "We were looking for a guide to direct us out if the city. And transport too if we can."

[In suspicion: why are you leaving the city? There are transports to other tourist destinations.]

Jacen felt the apprehension pass between the two. Was this a religious matter they were crossing?

[The other human went east looking for ruins.]

Jacen showed Aela the screen.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Her eyes narrowed, her lips drew thin.

Other human?

From what she understood this place rarely saw members of their species, even more so those who traveled around the planet. In an instant her mind raced to a hundred different places, a thousand different conspiracies. All of them bad.

She was stuck in an undoubtedly dark place, and surprises were nothing to look forward to there. To her this other 'human' was already a likely Sith or some sort of cultist looking for exactly what they were. It was a logical leap of epic proportions, but Aela couldn't help it. She saw only the shadows that lurked within the corners, not the light that made them. The Jedi Master looked at Jacen, holding her outburst back and instead forcing out a quiet reply. "Ask them what Human."

Jacen was doing the typing after all.

"What they looked like." The moment she said the second she wanted it back.

It was unlikely the Hyleaans could tell one Human from another. Many species in the galaxy looked alike to her, and she assumed that it was exactly the same for a people that rarely interacted with anyone but their own kind. Aela watched as Jacen did as she asked, and then read the reply just as quickly.

[A...female wearing robes of black. She was most generous in her contributions.]

Aela perked an eyebrow, unsure if that was a hint of some sort to she and Jacen. "Tell them we'll match it to follow along."

There was a heat to her tone, almost eagerness.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

[The east wouldn't be safe for you.] A look passed between the two. Jacen supposed it stood to reason that they would still have a form of physical communication. He let out a breath slowly and immersed himself in the Force. It wasn't easy with a species so alien that they didn't even think in words, but he could at least read a sense of emotion and intent from them.

"But it was safe to send a woman on her own?"

[Curt, insulted: She had a guide.]

"I think we'd be safe without one," Jacen replied. There was something behind that suggestion he didn't like. The sense they were being watched returned.

[We don't.]

"I'll double what she paid for the guide, just for some guidance up front. I'm concerned for her."

[You know her?] The device didn't tack on any emotional intent in the words, but Jacen could feel the sudden surge of suspicion.

"No," he replied curtly.

The discussion continued for a short while longer. Jacen was glad of the fact that the scent didn't seem to linger as they walked away. If that had been the case then their words would have echoed for hours after being spoken. Probably not a good thing for survival.

"Let's try and slip through the east gate without picking up too much more attention?" He suggested. "Or perhaps take the north and come around."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela didn't say anything for a moment as Jacen and she continued to walk into the street. Her eyes were flickering across the small windows just ahead of them, and she could have sworn there was a flash of someone watching them.

The Jedi Master didn't say anything as they rounded the corner, though she couldn't help but feel like they were being followed. The idea wasn't all that laughable, they were strangers in a foreign land and the way that this place acted towards them...her thoughts trailed off until she finally managed to organize herself long enough to give Jacen an answer. "North."

The single word was curt, her eyes flicking towards the reflective surface of a nearby shop stall.

"Someone is following us." She said quietly. "Not a local."

Something Aela was rather thankful for. Humans, or bipedal species of any sort stuck out around here, and Aela had managed to catch a glimpse of the hooded figure that was slowly pathing their way behind them. The paranoia that had set into her bones turned out to be somewhat advantageous it seemed. "Let's split up meet up outside the city."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen nodded at her first answer. He even opened his mouth to reply before she added her second idea. It snapped closed quite quickly. This was moving more and more quickly away from the scenario he'd imagined playing out here. He had hoped to give Aela a challenge to focus her mind. Perhaps just taking her somewhere new and getting her to talk more about matters would have helped.

This wasn't the challenge he had in mind. He could sense it now. It was difficult to. Being so alien to the residents a lot of attention fell upon them, but in that sea of thought one had a particularly sharp focus aimed on their backs.

Already his silence had given away his apprehension. A dozen possibilities - all of them bad - played out in his mind. But the truth was he probably trusted Aela to do the right thing more than she trusted herself right now.

"You go on ahead then," he said. "I'll have a little meander and catch up beyond the walls."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

She nodded her head.

There was a knot of apprehension in her stomach but she tried not to focus on it too much. The young Jedi master reminded herself of what she was, who she was, and what she had done. This was nothing, it was a tiny bump in the road.

Compared to what Micah was going through her troubles were just a blip.

Aela reminded herself of that, she gripped her fingers into tight fists, and then she rushed forward. Her step didn't exactly turn into a run or even a jog, but the way that she moved quickened. Her body seemed to flow through the crowd ahead of her. She didn't push or nudge anyone aside, instead she moved through those besides her as though she were water flowing over a rock. None of them paid much attention to her as she moved, most caught up in their own business.

Every few seconds she glanced towards the reflected surfaces nearby, glimpsing to see if she could catch the figure that had been following them.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen watched Aela go. There was a determination in her that had been oddly absent. Sometimes you needed time to yourself to process what had happened, but he knew from experience that sometimes you could be your own worst enemy.

As Aela wove an easy path through the crowd he slowed and moved out into a more open space. Reaching out towards the one following then would have been risky, but Jacen kept his mind open. Separating hadn't caused any immediate alarm and he could sense his tail still there.

Jacen slowed up outside a tall building. He took a few steps back to appreciate its height. Then he turned back on himself. There. A flare on panic he could sense. Had their follower been in a more metropolitan crowd they could have effortless blended in. Not in a group of hyleans. Jacen caught a flourish of dark fabric and his pursuit was gone.

Once more he turned about and continued towards the gate. Whoever had taken an interest in the pair would struggle to observe them unnoticed outside the city walls.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela rounded the city twice before she actually headed towards the spot she knew she could meet Jacen at. Her path was about as winding as a labyrinth, taking her through the market and cutting through various alleyways until she was sure that whomever was following had either given up completely or was simply gone.

She was the first to arrive outside of the city despite this path, her eyes drifting over the landscape until she found a rock outcropping that would be convenient enough.

Within just a few minutes she managed to climb to the top of the large boulder, knowing that from her vantage point she'd be able to spot anyone approaching her. In the distance she could already see Jacen swaggering over towards her. The man had a particular walk that was easy to tell even from a distance, almost as if he were trying to seem relaxed but was actually on edge. It was a familiar sight, and Aela quickly looked past him to see if she could spot any cloaked figures.

When none appeared she greeted him."Took you long enough."

Aela said quietly.

"I'm pretty certain we lost our friend." Her tone made it obvious that she was displeased. "Who do you think it was?"

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen grinned as he sauntered up towards her chosen rock. With those watchful amber eyes and narrow features she was like a predator searching for her quarry on the plains.

"It took me so long to go round in circles with our tail. I think they decided to scarper." He turned his back on her and looked back the way he had come from. The atmosphere was dense, but had much less oxygen than he was accustomed too. Perhaps with younger lungs and being lighter it would affect her less but he was out of breath.

"Anyone with a half decent drone won't have trouble finding us again though. Maybe we should get some distance between us and the city and find somewhere to get out of sight." Perhaps their follower would pass them by and become the one being pursued.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela pointed towards the east. "There's a canyon that way."

Usually it wasn't a good idea to travel along the bottom of canyons, flash floods the narrow rocks were more dangerous than most people would suspect, but given this planets climate she doubted that it would be much of an issue. Besides, they would either have to go over them or through them if they were to actually make it to their destination.

Not that such a thing would be easy.

"Did you manage to get a closer look?" She asked as she began to walk. "All I saw was black robes."

It wasn't much of a clue really. There were hundreds, probably thousands, of organizations across the galaxy that made black robes their official wardrobe. If it had been herself she would have chosen something more beige to blend in with the surrounding, but perhaps that wasn't as important to others as it was to herself.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen tilted his head from side to side. "Humanoid but that's about it. I picked up some panic as I turned back on myself and they slipped away. Knew the city layout but clearly couldn't blend in with the locals."

He followed the line of her hand. Not that he could see the landmark she was directing him towards.

"Works for me," he replied. The spin on this planet meant the sun was heading for the horizon ahead of them as they started off towards the canyon. Jacen kept checking over his shoulder as they went.

"If we do get into trouble...how close will they have to get for that blaster to be any use to you?" he asked in a lighthearted tone.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela considered for a moment, then looked down at the weapon.

"How long is the handle?" The words came out before she knew it, and much to her surprise she knew they would sound like a joke. It wasn't intended that way, mostly because they were more true than she'd like to admit. Aela had never used a blaster, and she was worried that when it came down to it she'd panic and end up shooting Jacen instead of the person she was supposed to take down. Still, with the force acting rather...glitchy, it was stilly the best option.

Not that she liked it.

As they began to walk she tried to reassure him. "I don't think we'll be doing a lot of fighting out here anyway."

Not if their information was any good.

"We should be able to see anyone who follows us, and if they do..." Aela trailed off as she hopped down off a series of rocks and stepped into what she assumed was once a riverbed long ago. "We'll just lose them again."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

"Oh dear," said Jacen as they walked. "I'm not planning on getting you anywhere near a fight if it can be helped." Jacen slowed his pace over some difficult terrain and stopped to look over his shoulder. Now he was aware of the threat he was stretching out with his senses.

"I'll have to teach you how. I tried to reach Trextan and he's useless. I didn't tell you that. Was really proud of himself when he could hit anything ten metres away with a pistol. I went ten years without the Force and just a rifle."

He cast a sideways glance towards Aela. "That made me sound really old."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela glanced down at the weapon for a moment.

"I don't have any interest in that." She said plainly. "I already know enough ways to kill people."

Sure the weapon was useful, could save her life if it came down to it, but it was the principal of the matter. She knew the force, the blade, lightsabers. A laundry list of things that she could kill with. It was not something she had ever enjoyed, and especially now not a subject she really wanted to expand upon. Her expression grew grim for a moment, her lips thinning before she looked over towards Jacen.

A shrug rolled over her shoulder.

"I'll be fine." She assured him, not wanting Jacen to continue down the patch of teaching her to use the blaster.

"Besides." Aela smiled. "If there's a fight I'll just hide behind you."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Stoic, bold Aela had once been an almost enigmatic creature to him. One who seemed to have a confidence far beyond what anyone her age was supposed to possess. Now it was easier to read her. Easier to see the cracks and insecurities. She was still young, he reminded himself. In the army they wouldn't even let her take the rank of Major yet. It was easy to see that suggestion had been a mistake.

"You'll have to duck," he chuckled. "Please of room sideways though. I seem to get broader every year. And have to watch my diet more," he complained. "The students think I spar with them to reach them." He shook his head. "Only way I can still eat cake."

He picked a careful path between some rocks. A weary eye passed over the terrain with the potential of an ambush in mind. If there was danger it seemed to be behind them, but that local had become very defensive about the place and he was concerned it might be guarded.

"What do you think? Press on or shall we find a place to rest and I can have a chat with out mystery friend of they're following us?"

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

She considered the thought for a moment. The idea of finding out just who was following them was an appealing one, especially considering that neither she nor Jacen were really sure of what they were really looking for on this world. The young Jedi Master looked ahead for a moment, glancing down the canyon path and wondering just what mysteries still lay tucked away deep beyond. She knew that most of this world was desert, and it was pretty easy to hide things within the vast ocean of sand.

"Let's wait." Aela said finally.

They knew were they were going, at least mostly anyway, but if they had more information it couldn't hurt. She doubted that whoever was following them had any friendly intent, and if they could curtail an ambush or something of the sort it would work out better for them in the end.

"There's a crevice up there." She pointed high to the left. "We can hide there for a bit and see if anyone comes along."

From there they would simply have to see.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen looked up at where she was pointing. He wished his knees were a little younger and that one leg and hip hadn't been shredded quite so badly during his time with the Republic army. With a nod he turned towards the vantage point and leaned into his climb.

He said very little on the way up, occasionally stopping to look at their view back up the canyon. Given that behaviour it might have seemed odd to Aela that as soon as they reached their destination he headed deeper into the shade. He found a spot that offered no view of the outside terrain and sat down.

"Why don't you take a few minutes?" He asked. Jacen crossed his legs and closed his eyes. The suggestion didn't come forcefully but there was a little more behind the words that a pure question. Jacen let his breathing slow and the cadence of his heart drop. There were times when faith in the Force had to be blind.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

She perked an eyebrow. "I'm not an invalid."

Aela's voice had a tinge of forcefulness to it. Sure she was without the force...or half without it anyway, but she could still do things. Whatever, or whoever was following them posed a threat. She wasn't about to hop down there and kill them, but...well she wasn't useless.

"I can still do things." Even without the force Aela was more than a match for most, not to mention that she worked daily at herself. Her father had long ago taught her that there was more to being a Jedi...more to being anything than just relying on the force. Of course Jacen might not have meant it exactly in that manner, but at the very least she wanted it known that this trip wasn't about her sitting around doing nothing.

No, this was about her rediscovering what she was, what she had fought for.

"I'll wait here." She said calmly. "But not because I have to."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen opened his eyes a fraction, looked to Aela and then closed them again. "I wasn't asking you not to do things. I was asking you to do nothing. Just for a little while."

He knew he risked frustrating Aela, but he knew that restlessness. You could buy time finding distractions, but sometimes you needed to find a complete absence of distractions to clear the mind.

"Meditate with me for a short while. There is no danger just yet."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

She stared at him, but this time she didn't say anything. Aela was no stranger to meditation after all, she had taught it to Jamie, to the young ones, hell she practiced it day in and day out...or she used to. She hadn't done so since Kraysis.

The Jedi Master could not have said why off the top of her head, though if pressed she would admit that it was for one reason and one reason alone; she was scared. Meditaiton, the calm, the silence that it brought to her mind...she was afraid of what she would find there. The thoughts that had been implanted by her doppelganger, that odd SIth spirit or whatever it had been, they still lingered in the back of her mind no matter what she did.
Admitting it was difficult even know.

So she frowned, and then finally she sat herself down.

There was a slight hitch of her breath as she closed her eyes, but she did not fall into the same meditative trance that she always had. Instead her thoughts raced, wrapping around a dozen different possibilities.