Private From Gardens to Glaciers

[Iandre Athlea]

The spaceport cantina overlooked one of Naboo's smaller landing platforms, where the open archways let in a soft breeze that carried the distinct scent of lake water and warm stone. Afternoon light spilled across the intricate mosaic floors and curved pillars, catching on the polished hulls of the various ships resting just beyond the transparisteel. Naboo was almost offensively peaceful to someone who had spent so much of her life surrounded by the cold functionality of military vessels and war zones.

Iandre sat near the edge of the terrace, where she could maintain a clear view of the docks while keeping her posture composed but not entirely rigid. She wore simple grey Jedi travel robes with the fabric layered for practicality rather than display. The sleeves were slightly pushed back at her wrists to reveal hands that bore the faint calluses from years of disciplined saberwork. Her dark hair was braided as always, keeping it neat and precise as it draped over her shoulder.

A small satchel rested at her feet because she carried no luggage beyond what she could manage herself.

She watched the ships come and go with a quiet and thoughtful expression that did not quite match the idyllic setting of the planet. The calm of Naboo had a way of stirring reflection rather than easing it for her. When the cantina door finally slid open and a red-skinned Twi'lek entered with the unhurried confidence of someone accustomed to busy ports and difficult contracts, Iandre's attention shifted naturally toward the newcomer. The pilot wore black trousers, sturdy boots, and a white tank top beneath a bomber jacket. It was an efficient, mobile outfit that clearly marked her as a pilot rather than a typical tourist.

Iandre rose as Ti'sonta approached and offered a small but genuine inclination of her head in greeting.

"Ti'sonta?" she asked, her voice warm and steady. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet me in person."

There was no inspection in her gaze, no sense that she was measuring the other woman, as she offered a simple acknowledgment.

"I am Iandre."

She gestured lightly toward the chair across from her to invite the pilot to join her. "Please."

Once they were both seated, Iandre folded her hands loosely atop the table while she gathered her thoughts.

"I was told you are reliable and that particular quality matters much more to me than speed."

A faint and almost self-aware smile touched her lips as she looked at the stranger.

"I need passage to Hoth via a direct route with no additional stops unless they are absolutely necessary for fuel."

There was no hesitation in that request and no wavering in her voice.

"The destination is not negotiable."

She paused briefly as though she were weighing exactly how much more she should add before she continued with a quiet honesty.

"The timing is somewhat flexible even if the purpose is not."

Her fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the table in a thoughtful way rather than a nervous one.

"I understand that Hoth is not a popular request for a traveler. If the cold concerns you, then I will compensate you accordingly for the trouble. I do not require any luxury and only need transport."

For just a moment, something less certain flickered behind her composure as she glanced around the peaceful cantina. It was not about where she was going, but about everything that had led her to this point.

"I have not traveled privately in quite some time," she admitted quietly as she looked back at the Twi'lek. "So if there are specific procedures or expectations on your end, then I would rather you state them plainly."

Her gaze returned to Ti'sonta's with an open and direct focus.

"I prefer straightforward arrangements."

Despite the clarity in her destination, there remained the faint sense that she was still finding her footing in the strange spaces between a lifetime of war and whatever was supposed to come after.

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

"Hoth? That's in Sith space, and I try to avoid them if at all possible." Ti'sonta frowned as she pulled out a dataslate and brought up the client request form. A few taps on the form filled out the name and 'direct route' check box. "That's not to say I won't do the job, but I'd rather be as discreet as possible on this run. That will mean no cargo either, don't want a paper trail for any acolytes to follow..." Ti'sonta was starting to feel uneasy about this job. Yes the Dolly Dagger was desperate for money, but this had the option to pay rather big. And judging by the lady in front of her and her obvious jedi getup, money wasn't exactly a problem for a group that dressed so much like monks.

No. She wasn't going to stoop to fleecing a jedi. She had already stolen from one jedi before, and she still felt guilty about it.

"Right. So we have a direct flight to Hoth With a flexible timeframe. Will this be a one-way trip or a return flight?" Ti'sonta asked, her mind already doing the mental calculations of supply stocks and route planning, something she was getting goot at through the mental strain of keeping her force signature supressed.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre listened without interruption as Ti'sonta spoke, her attention steady but relaxed. The mention of Sith space did not visibly trouble her, though she acknowledged it with a small, thoughtful nod. It was a reasonable concern. Most pilots preferred not to drift anywhere near that border if they could help it.

Her hands rested loosely together on the table as the Twi'lek worked through the datapad, the faint tapping of the screen blending with the hum of ships outside the cantina.

"Discretion suits me just fine," she said gently. "No cargo is not a problem."

At the question of the return flight, she paused only briefly.

"One way."

The answer came simply, without hesitation.

"I will find my own way off-world when the time comes."

There was no drama in the statement, no implication that it would be dangerous or final. Just the quiet certainty of someone who had already accepted the shape of the journey.

She shifted slightly in her chair, leaning back just enough to give the conversation a more relaxed air.

"Your caution about Sith space is understandable," she added with a faint, sympathetic smile. "If it helps, I have no intention of lingering anywhere near their territory longer than necessary."

Her gaze drifted briefly toward the docking platforms beyond the terrace before returning to Ti'sonta.

"The compensation we discussed will stand, and I will make sure the risk is reflected in it."

She inclined her head slightly.

"You are the pilot. If there is a route you believe keeps us clear of unnecessary attention, I will trust your judgment."

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

Ti'sonta paused when Iandre confirmed that it was to be a one-way trip. The crimson twi'lek looked up into the jedi's eyes and could see no lie. "...as you wish..." She said eventually as she checked the 'one way' box.
"Very well..." Ti'sonta said finally as she spun the data slate around to face Iandre. "A direct-line one way trip from Naboo to Hoth. prioritising discretion over speed Through the Black Curtain will set you back Seven thousand credits. Usually it would only be four thousand, but as you want a direct line, that limits us to a specific corridor where the extra three thousand is needed to secure a passage in and out of Sith space." Ti'sonta explained. "We can leave by this afternoon if you so wish, but if there's any preparations you need to take care of, I'm willing to wait."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre listened attentively as Ti'sonta explained the route and its complications, her expression thoughtful but untroubled by the mention of Sith corridors or passage fees. The numbers themselves did not seem to weigh heavily on her mind; she absorbed them with the quiet practicality of someone accustomed to arranging transport on short notice.

When the dataslate was turned toward her, she glanced down at it briefly before lifting her eyes back to the Twi'lek.

"That seems reasonable," she said softly.

She reached into the inner fold of her grey travel robes, withdrawing a small credit chip between two fingers. The motion was unhurried, almost absentminded, as though she had already settled the decision before Ti'sonta finished explaining the price.

"I can transfer five thousand now," she continued, sliding the chip gently across the table toward the dataslate. "And the remaining three thousand when we arrive."

Her tone carried neither bargaining pressure nor suspicion. It was simply an arrangement offered in good faith.

She leaned back slightly in her chair again, folding her hands loosely together.

"If this afternoon works for you, it works for me."

A small smile touched her lips.

"I travel light. There are no preparations I need beyond finishing this drink."

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the docking platforms outside the cantina before returning to Ti'sonta.

"Shall we say a few hours?"

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

"Sure! You'll find the Dolly Dagger docked at the southern port, dock 28J." Ti'sonta smiled warmly as she slid the credit chit over towards her and slid it into a port of her data slate, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly as the credits were verified. "We'll make sure to have everything set up for you before you arrive. We hope you have an enjoyable journey with us."
Ti'sonta calmly stood up from the table and tapped a few buttons on the data slate, sending a receipt to Iandre's comm. "If you'll excuse me, I'll need to see to the ship's preparations." And with an incline of her head, she casually made her way out of the bar, leaving the jedi to her drink.

Once she was out of the bar, Ti'sonta took out a comm bead and opened up a channel to contact her copilot, the crimson twi'lek making her way through the bustling street on her way to the hangar.
"Come on...pick up pick up..." She muttered to herself before the comm bead crackled to life. "Hey Shifu! How's the temple?...Really? That must bring back memories...yeah, I bet! Look, sorry to cut your trip short, but we got a client. Sending you the details now...Yeah, I know...Not to force the issue, but this one's good...Okay. I'll get started on the supplies and prep, you just come over when you're good. They said a few hours, anyway, so...Right o. O...Okay. I'll leave you to it. Laters!"
Ti'sonta closed the comm bead and let out a weary sigh. "I'll be glad when this job's done." She muttered as she made her way to the southern space port. "One day I'd like to have a passenger that isn't a goody two-shoes..."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre inclined her head politely as the credit chit was verified and the receipt transferred to her comm. The soft chime of confirmation followed a moment later as the data settled into place.

"Dock 28J at the southern port," she repeated calmly.

When Ti'sonta mentioned the preparations and the expected time, Iandre gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

"Very well. I will meet you there in a few hours."

Her tone remained composed and courteous, the sort of quiet professionalism that seemed to follow her everywhere she went.

When the Twi'lek excused herself, Iandre lifted her glass for a final sip of her drink before setting it carefully back onto the table. She remained seated for a moment after Ti'sonta departed, allowing the steady background noise of the bar to settle around her while she considered how best to spend the time.

Eventually, she rose, smoothing the front of her robes as she gathered her things.

With several hours before she needed to be at the southern port, Iandre stepped out into the busy street and allowed herself a rare moment of leisure. The markets nearby were alive with color and movement, stalls displaying fabrics, tools, trinkets, and small curiosities from across the system.

She moved at an unhurried pace, occasionally pausing to examine a display or glance through the windows of nearby shops. Nothing held her attention long, but the simple act of wandering among the storefronts was a pleasant way to pass the time.

Only when the hour drew closer did she finally turn her steps toward the southern spaceport.

Soon enough, the towering structure of the docking bays came into view, and Iandre made her way through the controlled chaos of the landing platforms until she reached Dock 28J.

There she waited calmly near the ramp of the Dolly Dagger, exactly where she had said she would be.

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

Ti'sonta let out a sigh of resignation as she stepped aboard the Dolly Dagger's aft loading ramp. She had a lot of tasks to finish in a few hours, and with SH1-FU still at the Jedi Temple reminiscing about old times, she was going to have to do the bulk of it herself.
Ordering supplies was already done. A few taps on her datapad would be seeing the foodstuffs and other necessities on her ship within the next hour. But she still needed to sort out the Obviously a Jedi's sleeping quarters. She breathed a small sigh of relief as she relaxed her hold upon her Force connectivity, revelling in the feel of the Force flowing through her properly, like taking off a blindfold after so long. At least now she could sense when the client would be arriving. She set the Dagger's PA system to play some fast-paced beat driven industrial number as she got to work. Humming to herself and bopping slightly to the beat, Ti'sonta began to unlock and slide custom-designed wall panels along tracks built into the floor and ceiling as she slowly formed a small room one panel at a time.
Whilst she was locking the panels for the second wall in place, she heard the familiar sound of metallic footsteps stepping up the loading ramp and smiled to herself.
"You really should learn to keep your music down, Ti'sonta." A metallic, gentlemanly voice called out. "You'll certainly damage your hearing at this volume!"
The red twi'lek rolled her eyes and pressed a button, lowering the volume to a more background appropriate level. "Afternoon Shifu. Did you enjoy your little trip?" She asked, her voice smiling as she greeted her friend.
The droid stepped in to help set up the room, playing through the routine they've walked through countless times in their career among the stars. "Indeed, padawan." SH1-FU answered, the term earning an annoyed pout from Ti'sonta and a wry twinkle in the droid's optics. "Everything has changed so much since I last taught at the temple in Coruscant! Their modernised teaching techniques, their governance, even their stance on marriage!"
Ti'sonta arched a tattooed eyebrow at this. "Marriage? I though jedi were to pure and above us to enjoy a good tumble."
It was SH1-FU's turn to give Ti'sonta an annoyed look, earning a playful poke of the tongue in return. "...Vulgarity aside, yes, they have somewhat relaxed their stance on Jedi families. but that is beside the point. The jedi have done well to rebuild from the knowledge they've lost when the Empire rose to power." the droid sighed wistfully as he worked on securing the last panel whilst Ti'sonta took out a bundle of folded linens out of a storage compartment and stepped inside to set up the bed. "The masters and I talked for hours...I could've stayed there forever..."
This made Ti'sonta pause. "...You're thinking of leaving?" She asked finally. "I know you're free to leave whenever you wish, but..."
The old droid gave Ti'sonta a worried look. "You misunderstand, Ti'sonta." he said, his voice soothing. "While I do enjoy the company of Jedi, doing what I was built for, I can't give up on my first and only friend in the galaxy." SH1-FU rested a hand on the twi'lek pilot's shoulder. "Do not worry, I won't be going anywhere for a good while yet."
Ti'sonta smiled her thanks to SH1-FU before she finished tucking in the bedsheets around the mattress of the fold-out bed. "Thanks, Shifu." she said quietly.
"Besides, I'm sure they could help you out with your little problem..." The droid ventured, a hint of mirth in its voice as he pushed one of Ti'sonta's proverbial buttons. "They had a few padawans around your age, you could make new friends!"
Ti'sonta baulked at SH1-FU's words. "What? Noooo no no nonono." She declared, hanging up a fresh towel and bath robe on a small peg along the wall of the now fully assembled room. "You and I both know the Dark Side still has its hold on me. The moment I step near that place they're gonna throw me into their smallest cell and throw away the keys! No amount of you getting chummy with the masters will stop that. The bantha-crap going down with that "Dark veil" or whatever adolescently dark and menacing name they call it has all but assured that."
Ti'sonta paused and took a few long, slow breaths to calm herself before placing a pair of fuzzy slippers under where the bath robe hung as SH1-FU installed the full-length mirror. "Sorry Shifu, but you know how much my freedom means to me. After being in one cage for so long, I don't want to go walking into another."
Ti'sonta folded out the collapsible table and chair from the wall panelling before freezing, feeling the presence of a force sensitive steeped in the Light side like the bow wave of a passing ship across a lake.
"Crap, it's her!" Ti'sonta hissed, the twi'lek instantly working on pulling in and suppressing her connection to the force. "it's go time, let's give our guest a warm welcome."
Ti'sonta tapped on her datapad and killed the music before stepping down the open aft loading ramp, spying the client approaching from the hangar.
"Hello! Welcome aboard the Dolly Dagger. Come, let me give you the tour."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The southern port was quieter than the main commercial lanes, though the steady rhythm of cargo loaders, service crews, and the distant roar of departing ships still filled the air. Iandre moved through it with the same unhurried composure she had carried since leaving the market district earlier.

The grey travel robes marked her as a Jedi to anyone who cared to notice, but on Naboo, that rarely drew more than passing curiosity. Pilgrims, envoys, and wandering Force sensitives were not uncommon sights near the spaceport.

As she approached Dock 28J, the Dolly Dagger came into view, resting comfortably in its berth.

For a brief moment, something brushed against her awareness. A ripple in the Force. Faint. Fleeting. Like the wake of a passing vessel disturbing still water for only an instant before smoothing out again. Iandre slowed half a step without realizing it, her senses instinctively stretching outward to follow the disturbance. Then it was gone. She let the moment pass.

On Naboo, the Force was rarely quiet for long. Too many travelers, too many lives intersecting in one place. It was not unusual for a presence to brush the edges of perception and disappear just as quickly.

Her attention returned to the freighter as a voice called out from the ramp, and she watched as the Twi'lek pilot stepped down to greet her. Iandre inclined her head politely, her dark braid shifting over her shoulder as she offered a faint, respectful smile.

"Good afternoon. The Dolly Dagger, I presume?"

There was a calm steadiness to her presence. The kind that belonged to a traveler long accustomed to the shifting scenery of the galaxy, as she stepped closer to the base of the landing ramp.

"Thank you again for taking the contract," she added, her tone warm but professionally clipped. "And I would certainly appreciate the tour. It is always a comfort to know the vessel you are entrusting your life to."

As she spoke, her gaze flicked toward the ship's interior, her curiosity present but carefully restrained, waiting for the pilot to lead the way into the heart of the craft.

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

"Of course!" Ti'sonta smiled with a well-practiced warmth as she ushered Iandre into the ship proper. "Now, here's the main cargo hold. As we're not transporting any cargo for this trip, We'll have a lot more room for exercise and any activities you may wish to do during the flight. My copilot Shifu would be happy to help you out with that."
As he was introduced, an old but well maintained jedi sparring droid from before the rise of the Empire stepped forth and bowed slightly. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I am SH1-FU. I would be happy to assist you with maintaining your skills should you require. It would be a pleasure to talk to a Jedi again."
"Well, Shifu's just come back from a trip to the Temple here, so he's still keen to mingle with other force types." Ti'sonta cleared her throat before continuing. "Moving on, we have set up a room for you here."
The red twi'lek opened the door to reveal a small, cosy room. a single person bed built into the far wall made with fresh linens, a small writing table and chair tucked into the corner, a full length mirror flush against a wall next to a row of hooks for storing one's personal effects, with a fluffy bath robe and towel hanging from two of the hooks with a pair of slippers resting underneath.
"This is the standard flight package, Miss." Ti'sonta smiled. "There is the galley closer towards the neck of the Dagger, freshly stocked with protein of all kinds and teas if you so wish. Across that is the head, with a refresher unit and shower that you're free to use whenever. And up through that door is the cockpit, where Shifu and I will be piloting the ship. If you ever wonder where we are, chances are we'll be in there if not our rooms."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre stepped aboard the Dolly Dagger with quiet curiosity, her gaze sweeping naturally across the cargo hold as Ti'sonta began the tour. The interior of the ship possessed that distinct, well-loved character of a vessel that had spent a lifetime among the stars; it was worn but meticulously maintained, carrying the subtle, lived-in personality of its crew in every polished bulkhead.

Her attention shifted instantly when the droid stepped forward, and for a brief moment, a flash of genuine surprise softened her features. The design was unmistakable. Her eyes moved across SH1-FU with the careful, reverent recognition of someone watching a memory manifest into the physical world. She traced the proportions of its armature and the familiar construction of its training emitters, noting with a pang of nostalgia how long it had been since she had seen such a unit still operational.

With a respectful inclination of her head, she addressed the droid directly. "It is a truly unexpected pleasure to meet you, SH1-FU." Her smile widened, growing warmer as she looked at the machine. "I remember your model quite well. Units like yours were responsible for training many younglings in the Temple back when I was growing up, and seeing you here feels a bit like finding an old friend. I would be very glad to speak with you during our journey, and I most happily accept your offer to train."

Only after acknowledging the droid did she turn her attention back to Ti'sonta, following the Twi'lek to the small cabin that had been prepared for her. Iandre stepped inside, taking a moment to appreciate the thoughtful arrangement of the bed, the writing table, and the simple comforts like the robe and slippers. It was modest, yet it possessed a welcoming atmosphere that suggested a great deal of care had been taken in her welcome.

Turning back toward the doorway, she offered Ti'sonta a look of sincere gratitude. "This is more than sufficient; it is lovely. Thank you for being so thoughtful in preparing it." Her gaze flicked briefly toward the forward corridor before settling back on the pilot with a faint, playful hint of amusement. "And thank you for the tour. It was a remarkably efficient introduction to the Dolly Dagger, and I shall do my very best not to get lost between here and the galley."

Stepping back into the corridor, she rested a hand lightly against the doorframe, her posture relaxed but respectful. "If you and Shifu need to finish your final preparations for departure, please do not let me delay you any further. I am simply grateful for the passage, and I look forward to seeing what this ship can do once we're underway."

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

Ti'sonta smiled her usual well practiced smile she wore when on business. "Great!" She said, clapping her hands together. "We'll get started on the take-off procedures. Feel free to explore until then." With that, Ti'sonta and SH1-FU made their way into the cockpit to begin their work.
The cockpit door closed behind them, Ti'sonta slumped heavily into the pilot's seat with a weary sigh. "Shifu?" She asked, securing her headset around her long lekku and flicking a few switches to close the aft hangar ramp. "I know you love it here, but let's not go back to Naboo for a while. Keeping myself suppressed like this is really putting the strain on me."
Shifu slowly rotated his head to look at her. "I know, Ti'sonta. I know how much it pressures you to do what you have to do to hide." He let out a low hiss of static, his version of a sigh. "Let's go somewhere you can be yourself after this. You did let me have my little vacation, maybe you need to have one yourself?"
"Thanks Shifu." Ti'sonta smiled, this one genuine and full of warmth. A few presses of seemingly random buttons and the engines began to spool to life, the ship slowly filling with a soft thrum of power that would become the background sound of their flight.
"...Dolly Dagger to tower, come in tower, this is Captain Ti'sonta requesting permission to take off from South Hangar Two Eight Juliette. Over." Ti'sonta spoke through her headset, her voice adopting a level of casual calm reserved for experienced pilots.
"Tower to Dolly Dagger, we read you loud and clear." the voice crackled over the twi'lek's headset. "Permission granted. You may take off when ready. Advise you head bearing One Seven Two for two clicks before ascending out of atmo to avoid incoming traffic. How Copy? Over"
"Solid copy, Tower. Will head two clicks on bearing One Seven Two before launching. Over."
"Roger that, Captain. You have a safe flight. Tower Out."
Ti'sonta allowed herself a smile as she patched herself into the ships PA system. "Attention miss, this is your captain speaking. We've just been given permission to take off so we'll be on our way shortly. Please make your way to the seat by the wall illuminated by the now flashing green light." She flicked the corresponding light switch on and off a few times, causing the glow lamp above a solid padded seat built into the side of the hangar wall before going back to her speech. "If you would secure yourself in, we will begin our final take off procedure."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The steady thrum of the Dolly Dagger's engines reached Iandre even through the bulkheads, a subtle vibration beneath her feet that spoke of a ship coming to life. She had spent enough time aboard transports during the war to recognize the rhythm of a vessel preparing to depart.

When Ti'sonta's voice carried over the ship's internal speakers, Iandre paused where she stood near the small cabin doorway.

The flashing green light caught her attention immediately.

"Understood, Captain," she murmured quietly to herself, already moving.

She stepped back into the cargo hold and located the padded seat built into the wall beneath the blinking lamp. The arrangement was simple but practical, clearly designed for passengers who might not be accustomed to the sudden forces of takeoff.

Iandre settled into the seat smoothly, gathering the folds of her grey travel robes so they would not bunch beneath the restraint. She pulled the harness across her chest and secured it with practiced efficiency, giving the latch a brief tug to ensure it held firm.

Only once she was settled did she allow herself a moment to breathe.

The faint presence she had sensed earlier flickered at the edge of her awareness again, like a distant ripple on still water. It had been brief enough that she had almost dismissed it entirely. On Naboo, the presence of Force-sensitives was not exactly rare, and the sensation had already faded by the time she tried to focus on it.

Perhaps a passing traveler.

Perhaps nothing at all.

She let the thought go.

Her attention returned to the quiet hum of the ship around her as she leaned back against the padded seat, hands resting calmly in her lap while the engines continued to build toward departure.

For a Jedi who had spent so much of her life in motion, the beginning of a journey still carried a familiar sense of anticipation.

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

With a smile she switched off the PA system and patched herself into SH1-FU's personal comms, the droid's four arms busy checking dials and pressing buttons in his usual pre-flight sequence.
"Ready to go, Shifu?" She asked, looking over to her friend.
"Ready when you are, Ti'sonta." the droid replied with his usual calm demeanour.
The twi'lek let out a small sigh as she mentally prepared herself. "Right. Let's get going."

The freighter's anti-grav plates began to kick in as the engines built up power, making the vessel lift up and float a few inches off the deck of the hangar as the landing gear began to retract. With a whine the vessel began to move forward, quickly picking up speed as it floated out of the hangar before launching into the air of Naboo. The HWK-290 climbed into the air, gaining altitude as the polished bone and white of the city changed into the dense green of forest and plains.
"I gotta say one thing about Naboo." Ti'sonta remarked over the comms as she looked out the armoured window of her cockpit. "It sure is a pretty planet."
This earned a hum of agreement from SH1-FU. "Indeed. Even though Coruscant will always be home, the Jedi did well to relocate here."
After flying along the directed route, Ti'sonta pulled up on the controls and brought the nose of the Dolly Dagger up, feeling herself be pushed into the pilot's seat as the ship climbed higher and higher, pushing its way through the air until the sky grew darker and darker before fading into the inky blackness of space.
With a flick of a switch the artificial gravity powered on, and almost immediately Ti'sonta felt everything pull downwards in normal Gs instead of the weightlessness of space.
"Aaaand we're off." Ti'sonta sighed, massaging her temples before focusing herself. "I better get the jump computer programmed. This is gonna be a long flight and I'd rather not make too many jumps if I can avoid it."
SH1-FU nodded slowly before standing up from his seat. "In that case, I'll leave you to your preparations. We will need to check in on our guest in any case."
"Yeah, you do that. I don't think she's the nosy type, but we better be good hosts in any case." Ti'sonta nodded, going back to the jump computer whilst SH1-FU exited the cockpit and closed the door behind him.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The steady vibration of the Dolly Dagger shifted in pitch, a subtle mechanical transition that Iandre recognized instantly as the moment they broke the atmosphere. When the artificial gravity hummed to life a heartbeat later, settling over her with a familiar, grounding weight, she knew they had officially cleared the well.

She loosened the restraint harness across her chest and stood slowly, her boots finding their purchase on the deck plating as the ship transitioned into its cruising rhythm. The engines had lost the violent, rising roar of ascent, replaced now by the deep, thrumming pulse of a vessel committed to the stars.

For a long moment, she simply stood in the center of the hold, her fingers tracing the silver-grey folds of her travel robes before smoothing the braid that rested over her shoulder. It was a habit of hers—a silent way of centering herself before the long silence of hyperspace began.

The cargo hold door hissed open, and SH1-FU stepped inside.

The sight of the old training droid never failed to spark a strange, bittersweet comfort in her chest. Watching him move through the corridor was like seeing a living fragment of her own history walking through the present day, a reminder of a Temple that no longer stood and a world that had moved on without her.

Iandre inclined her head with quiet grace.

"SH1-FU," she greeted, her voice carrying the warm, resonant ease of someone who had long ago made peace with the solitude of travel. "Your captain handles the ship beautifully. The ascent was smoother than most of the military transports I was forced to endure during the war."

A faint, fleeting hint of amusement touched her expression at the memory of cramped gunships and rattling hulls, but it faded quickly into something more gravity-bound. She moved toward the observation window, her eyes tracking the shrinking sphere of Naboo as its vibrant blues and greens dissolved into the vast, indifferent black of the void.

The silence lingered, heavy with the things she hadn't quite said. When she finally spoke again, her tone had softened, turning inward.

"I should thank you both again for agreeing to this journey," she said, her hands coming to rest lightly behind her back. "I am well aware that Hoth is not a destination chosen for its comforts. It is deep within Sith territory, and the route is anything but simple."

She watched the distant starfield, her reflection in the glass looking back at her with a stark, searching honesty.

"Truthfully, this trip is something of a…walkabout. Though perhaps 'pilgrimage' is the more honest word."

She paused, her gaze fixed on a distant nebula.

"For most of my life, the path beneath my feet was paved by others. First, the Jedi Order, then the necessity of the war, and now the heavy expectations of the Diarchy. Those responsibilities matter—they provide a shield for those who cannot protect themselves—but they are also very loud. They leave very little room for a person to hear their own heart."

She glanced back toward the droid, her expression darkening slightly with the weight of her choice.

"Hoth is a harsh, unforgiving world. There is a clarity that comes with a place where the cold can kill you and the shadows are filled with the Sith. In a place like that, you cannot hide behind titles or advisors. You have to know exactly who you are, or the ice will claim what's left of you."

A small, apologetic smile touched her lips, softening the intensity of her words.

"Forgive me, SH1-FU. That was perhaps a bit more philosophical than your average passenger. I suppose the solitude is already getting to me."

Her tone brightened, turning the focus back to her mechanical companion.

"Tell me…has it been long since you last navigated this sector? I imagine even a droid finds the shift into Sith space to be… a calculation worth double-checking."

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

SH1-FU patiently listened to the jedi talk, his processors quietly analysing and parsing her words while he allowed her to vent.
"That's quite alright." the droid intoned warmly, "I've noticed the path of the Jedi can be a lonely one, even with others surrounding them. Not being able to vent whatever is held in can be...dangerous." His internal memory banks brought up unwanted recordings of Order 66 before he forcefully dismissed them back into deep storage. "As for when I last navigated here...It was only the one time."
The droid clasped his two pairs of arms behind his back before continuing. "Unfortunately I am only familiar with the area of space around the junk planet of Lotho Minor, as that was where I was dumped along with so much other refuse after my deactivation during the raid on the Temple of Coruscant. Miss Ti'sonta has more experience in travelling the zone, but she rarely does it by choice." He let out a hum of white noise as he mechanically sighed before continuing. "Though if anyone can do it without detection, it would be Miss Ti'sonta. You have done well to choose us to transport you to your destination."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre listened quietly as SH1-FU spoke, her expression softening at the mention of the Jedi path. There was no denial in her eyes, only a quiet acknowledgment of a truth she had known for most of her life.

"Lonely at times," she admitted gently. "Though I think many Jedi would say the same of any life built around service. You stand between people and danger long enough, and eventually you learn that some burdens cannot be shared."

Her gaze drifted briefly back toward the starfield beyond the viewport before returning to the droid.

The mention of Lotho Minor drew a faint crease in her brow.

"Lotho Minor…" she repeated thoughtfully. "I remember hearing of it during the war. A graveyard for machines and ships."

She studied SH1-FU for a moment, her expression carrying a trace of quiet sympathy rather than pity.

"It must have been…a difficult place to awaken." A pause followed before she continued. "I am glad you were not left there indefinitely."

When he spoke of Ti'sonta's skill as a pilot, Iandre inclined her head slightly in agreement. "She certainly carries herself like someone who knows what she is doing," she said. "The route we are taking is not one most pilots would accept without hesitation." Her tone remained calm, but there was a quiet appreciation beneath it.

"Discretion and skill are often more valuable than speed when traveling near contested space." She folded her hands loosely behind her back again. "And for what it is worth, I am grateful for both of your company on this journey." A faint smile returned to her expression. "Long flights tend to feel much shorter when there are interesting conversations along the way."

Her head tilted slightly as she regarded the old training droid. "Tell me…when you served at the Temple on Coruscant, were you assigned primarily to sparring instruction?" A small hint of curiosity warmed her voice. "I suspect you trained many Jedi over the years."

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

The old droid hummed in affirmation. his circuits flowing pleasantly as he reminisced on better times. "Indeed I have. From younglings to masters, they all at one point turned to my compatriots and I to hone their skills or even just to chat. Many jedi saw sparring as a way to keep the hands busy while the mind was left to ponder. I've helped many jedi surmount various hurdles in the midst of clashing training blades. And then you have the overly cock-sure types - usually padawans - that thought a bit too much of their skills. I remember one particular instance of a padawan that constantly kept making me use more and more sabers in duels. That one tended to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but I won't deny he got more and more capable at making it further through my hardest difficulty settings."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre listened with quiet interest as SH1-FU spoke, the faint hum of the ship's engines filling the brief spaces between his words. The way the droid described the Temple stirred memories she had not revisited in some time, corridors full of younglings rushing between lessons, the steady rhythm of training sabers striking one another in the practice halls.

A small smile touched her lips.

"That sounds very familiar," she said warmly. "The sparring halls were often louder than the archives, but many Jedi preferred them for thinking."

Her gaze drifted thoughtfully for a moment.

"It would not surprise me if our paths crossed back then. I spent a fair amount of time in those rooms myself when I was a padawan." She tilted her head slightly, studying the droid with mild curiosity.

"Though if I did train against you, I suspect I would have been one of the quieter students rather than the ones asking for more sabers." A faint note of amusement warmed her voice. After a moment, she let the thought go with an easy shrug of acceptance. "It was a long time ago, after all."

Her attention shifted back toward the forward section of the ship as she folded her hands loosely behind her back.

"Speaking of time…" she added calmly. "How long do you expect this journey to take?" Her tone carried simple curiosity rather than impatience. "I imagine a direct path through this region requires a certain amount of…caution."

Ti'sonta

 

[Ti'sonta]

SH1-FU's optics whirred as he focused on Iandre's face, his memory banks coming to life as they were combed through by facial recognition programs. "...Your appearance does match several records... pardon me for asking a lady their age, but just how old are you..?"
The old droid shook his head to clear the question away. There was no possible way someone could live that long under normal means. Barring cryostasis of course, but even then the technology that could work for that long was rare.
"As for the duration of our voyage, I suspect it would take about 3-5 days, depending on if we have any unforeseen problems arise." SH1-FU answered before elaborating. "Miss Ti'sonta is programming the jump computer as we speak. It shouldn't take her too much longer, though she does like to be thorough with these things."

~~~
​

Ti'sonta clucked her tongue in annoyance as she tried to calculate the ship's jump computer. Every sequence of jump points she entered always showed the same result. Six days, Seven and a half. Ten days. None to bring their travel time down to at least five. She massaged her temples as she closed her eyes, seeking to mentally step back from the problem.
Of course she knew why the travel time was so high. There was one hyperspace lane that would take them straight to Hoth in under three days. There was one small problem with that lane. It travelled dangerously close to the last known position of the one person she had been trying to avoid all this time. She knew Boy was still furious at her and what she had done. Realistically, Ti'sonta had two options. Does she take the hyperspace lane and risk getting caught by the sith she had once trained beside? Or does she take the long way around and risk her suppression faltering and revealing her connection to the Dark Side to the Jedi she had in her ship? The red twi'lek groaned with annoyance at her choice. She should have never taken this job. She was too desperate, too afraid of slipping on Naboo that she took the job without giving it any real thought.
Just so she could get off the damn planet of Jedi.
Ti'sonta cursed quietly to herself as she weighed her options. She couldn't risk sleeping, as she didn't know if she would accidentally drop her suppression or not. Force dammit, she would be relying a LOT on meditation and recaff to get through this trip. And if all else failed and Boy caught up with them, she had enough dirty tricks to at the very least drive him off. She was still the better duellist, anyways.
At least, she thought she still was.
Ti'sonta keyed in the path she was dreading. Two jumps. Two and a half days. She could handle two and a half days.
The Twi'lek focused inwards and calmed herself like SH1-FU taught her. She could think clearly now. She locked in the jump route and let it commence its calculations before sending SH1-FU a message direct to his cortex.

~~~
​

"Ah, perfect timing!" SH1-FU remarked brightly as the message pinged in his system. "Ms Ti'sonta just sent word that the flight time to Hoth will be two and a half days. It seems you won't have to wait overlong for your voyage to reach your destination."