Private Going Slightly Mad

[Xan Deesa]

Xan watched the two in relative silence for a moment while the doctor worked. Her attempt at annoying the Jedi backfired spectacularly and Colette even managed to get under Xan's proverbial skin. Stubbornness prevailed and the engram was mute for a long while. The feeling of humiliation chewed at her with every passing second. To have once been a god among mortals, now reduced to hoping someone could help her.

Colette won the duel... and Xan hated it.

Finally some progress was made and the doctor began closing the droid up after a long while. The switch was flipped in the back of her neck and contact was established. Technicolour eyes flickered open and a few coughs erupted from Xan as she shot up. She could feel the difference almost immediately, her joints worked fine and the most important systems all responded with green. There was still a lot of work to do, but she was operational once again. She looked over to the doctor and Colette for several long moments, lips parted in preparation of speaking.

"... Not a bad job for a back-alley ripper." She spoke, her backhanded compliment accompanied with a smug grin. With everything going on, and her desire to get out of there, it was the best she could muster. She grabbed her clothing and personal effects and quickly made her way to the door... only stopping by the doctor to give a quiet "Thank you." before exiting. She wasn't going to give the Jedi the satisfaction of hearing that. Once she was outside, however, she waited patiently for Colette to emerge and fell in beside her.

"Listen, uh..." She paused, brushing her hand against Colette's shoulder to bring her to a halt. "This isn't normal for me. Normally you're the people in trouble and I'm the one that needs to bail you all out. So..." She looked off at nothing in particular, adjusting the horned cap atop her head as she gathered the right words. "... Don't get used to this." She muttered with a warm smile, looking back at Colette. The devil mask found its way back to her face and the smile was hidden from the world. Ego halted her from saying proper thanks to the Jedi... but she could show it at least. As quick as lighting, Xan wrapped her arms around Colette for a quick hug before retreating back with inhuman speed to study a particularly interesting corner. "Now all that's left is for us to get off this rock." She remarked.

The Jedi saved her... now she owed her a favour. The quicker she could get started with that favour, the better.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa

The backhanded compliment wasn't necessary, but there was no point in arguing. Colette handed a small token sum of credits to the doctor and gave him a nod goodbye. The stench of cityscape refuse and misery was immediate, cut through only by the sound of a stammering robot's gratitude.

And before Colette was any the wiser she had been both embraced and let go of. A lopsided grin pulled at her cheek. She put her hand on Xan's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.

"See? Not that hard to be nice every now and then." She said and gave another firmer squeeze before letting the shoulder go. "Keep it up and you might just become more to people than some kind of terrorist, you know."

The quartermaster glanced up at the raindrops that were slowly starting to fall from high above.

"I feel like the people around here need more than just another fighter. Just… Hope."

 

[Xan Deesa]

THEME​

---

Xan's eyes shifted to the hand on her shoulder and a scoff answered the Jedi's remark. But she didn't speak immediately. Her attention shifted to the droplets beginning to fall around them and a quick tap on Colette's back invited her to the sidewalk where the rain couldn't reach them. "I wouldn't look up if I were you. The acid rain ain't too bad here, but it's not fun to get it in your eyes." She explained, shifting the conversation away from the sore topic for a moment.

But it needed to be said. Colette didn't know of the history, she was probably still a small child when it all went down. Walking beside her saviour, Xan's gaze shifted around the duracrete jungle around them. The stench, the poverty, the oddly warm rain that caressed her skin. "There was a time I was exactly that." She spoke up, not looking at Colette. "Back then, we weren't terrorists. We had the love of the people, we fought for them and they knew it. It wasn't the Jedi fighting for their freedom, it was us." A shrug and a sad smile accompanied her words, hidden behind the demon's mask. "We lost the war. The corpos won. Hell, they won so good that one of them got voted in as your chancellor. We got labelled as terrorists and the galaxy forgave the corpos." She finally looked to Colette.

"Hope died the moment they turned those we fought for against us. There's not really much left for me here. But I can still help others in the galaxy. So... if you don't mind... I'd like to come with you and your chooms." She gave another shrug and a laugh. "If it makes you feel better, you'll be owed another favour by a god." She teased.

The pain lingered. There was so much she wanted to say, but this wasn't the place and it wasn't Colette's war. There was, however, a certain comfort in just talking to her.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa

A curious brow shot up when Xan mentioned having been hope. Not out of scepticism but out of surprise. Not that anything Xan had done so far had shown Colette that the supposed terrorist was just that, more so because it seemed strangely earnest from a person who hid behind jokes and snide remarks. A rare glimpse behind the curtains made to hide how hurt they were by the world around them.

In the end when Colette was supposed to render judgment she would instead start to laugh. First a small little rumble and then a raspy hiss. Her head found the metal wall, away from the rain as she peered out into the oncoming downpour.

"Always knew there was some reason I didn't like her." Colette admitted and turned her head ever so slightly to sideeye Xan with a grin. "I've met her, you know?"

"All sweet smiles and venomed words. Someone so used to lying that you'd be forgiven for being fooled." Her shoulders rose with a deep breath. Eyes closed as she exhaled. "She speaks power, and to some extent knows how to wield it too."

"What about the senator? I know she calls herself a Jedi, but I always found it strange that someone could have so much wealth without seeing how inherently evil the credit is."

 

[Xan Deesa]

There wasn't any expectation around the Jedi's answer, but Xan was taken by surprise when Colette began to laugh. At first the cyborg frowned in preparation, thinking that Colette was laughing at her. But the Jedi clarified and Xan immediately relaxed. With a scoff and a shake of her head, she leaned against the wall beside Colette with her hands in her jacket pockets.

"I've met her, you know?"

"My condolences." Xan remarked, studying the lines along her forearms that hid her brutal cyberware. With a cocked head and a curious squint she listened to Colette's summary of her experiences with the Chancellor. Upon asking about the current senator, Xan simply gave a shake of her head and stared ahead of them. "Nah, can't say I know of her. Doesn't mean there isn't anything, I just can't find something on her now." She explained as she did a quick search in the background of the senator. It was going to take some digging to find dirt on her.

Her head turned and technicolour eyes regarded the Jedi. "But your beloved Chancellor Vexx? She was rising through the ranks back then, before I went under. I don't have any concrete links to what was happening, but I know she was CAD. Her bosses and buddies are the reason you're speaking to a droid right now and not a gracefully aged dame." Xan's tone was light and amused, but even cybernetics could show the anger in her eyes. "The Corporate Authorities strapped me to a chair and tore my being out of my body." Her fists clenched and a shaky breath passed her teeth.

She was trying her hardest to relax and keep things civil.

"Took everything from me. Freedom to feel, freedom to choose... freedom to exist and die..." Another breath and her composure returned. "I don't have proof of her involvement, but the organisation she worked for left more than enough evidence. All in an effort to prove that they were the victims. That the space station we blew up was an attack on them and the citizens of Denon, not a facility that kept everyone down." She stared at the ground with a scowl, a hand idly tracing the lines along her forearm.

She looked to Colette once more as the carefree smile returned. "I'm sorry you had to meet her. Must've been a very traumatic experience. You can talk to people, you know, nobody's going to judge." She teased with a laugh, kicking off the wall to turn and face Colette.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa

They could just do that? Colette listened in horror, waiting for Xan to tell her it was all a joke but the punchline never came. There was just anger. Righteous anger from what Colette could tell, even enough to have radicalized her if things were different. There wasn't much she could say, and so she wouldn't. A caring frown spread on her lips, met by a 'carefree' smile.

And a joke that cut through the tension like butter. Colette laughed out loud.

"Fuck you." She rumbled and put her hand on Xan's shoulder. A relieved breath blew from her lips along with another small laughter. "I've survived worse, I can handle a bit of hot air from some corporate dimwit."

"Look, I shouldn't just take your word for it but I don't see a reason not to." She admitted and let her hand slip from the droid shell's shoulder. "I'm not without my prejudice, and frankly the idea of anyone seeking power gives me enough reason to dislike them."

"Taking a soul is just the next logical step for some of these chit-heads, and I'm not quite sure how to even handle knowing that they've already tried it."

 

[Xan Deesa]

Colette's retort earned a chuckle from the cyborg. With a hand on Xan's shoulder, she shared her opinion of Xan's story. "You don't believe me, I can show you." Xan spoke, not with malice but simply stating a fact. "Took a long time, but I got evidence. I wanted to bring it to the Alliance senate." She admitted.

"Taking a soul is just the next logical step for some of these chit-heads, and I'm not quite sure how to even handle knowing that they've already tried it."

She listened to Colette, a faint nod accompanying the Jedi's thoughts on it all. "Tried it, succeeded, and did it again." Xan remarked. "As far as I know, I'm the second person they did it with. Frankie was the first. She got it way worse than me." She admitted with an absent nod. She looked to Colette with a frown. "There's nothing for me here anymore. All my friends are either dead or missing. Vexx and her chooms won. I don't want to be here anymore." She admitted, looking back at a passing stranger on the other side of the road.

"I had a running gag a while back. 'The Force might reside in all living beings, but I reside everywhere else.' I can still do something for others, plus I owe you." She explained with the shadow of a smile behind her mask.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa

Second person? Colette recoiled, nearly went up on her tippy-toes in sheer disgust and horror. That just confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that Denon was little more than a hellscape dressed up in durasteel plating. She held back the urge to hug Xan one more time and instead opted to show the slicer the way forward.

"Almost inclined to say you don't owe me a thing, but…" Colette exhaled. "I really need that favor."

"Look, we'll get you off-world but I'm not sure I can offer much sanctuary at Shiraya's Sanctuary." She admitted. "We certainly have a few more rooms available, but you're not a Jedi and— well, you get it."

"Do you need anything to get back on your feet? Anything from where we found you? I'll do what I can to help you, but I wasn't really expecting to find a friend today."

 

[Xan Deesa]

A warm smile tugged at Xan's lips in the wake of Colette's words. A friend? They weren't friends, they were barely on a first-name basis. But her kind words, her desire to help the cyborg, the simple gesture of a hand on her shoulder and a chuckle at her quips... it stirred something in the Demon. She nearly forgot to answer. "Aw, a friend? Careful, Jedi, don't go falling in love now." She teased.

She spared a brief glance around them. "No, I... there's nothing there. I'm sealing it back up once your guys are clear." She looked at the old, rotting clothes still clinging to her body. "Some new threads would be appreciated, though." She quipped with a chuckle. With a hand on Colette's back she led the way to the safehouse for them to get going. "And... you don't need to worry about me. Once we're on Naboo, I can get my stuff sorted again. I might still have a contact or two in the neighbouring systems." She explained to the Jedi. All she needed was a way out.

A friend.

The thought lingered for longer than Xan expected.

She couldn't be so starved for affection that the mere thought of having a new friend bothered her this much... but it was a nice thought.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa
Colette gave Xan a roll of her eyes at the jab. It wasn't particularly difficult for her to give her love freely. Which was not to say any kind of hormonal love, or attractive love, just a hint of care for someone that clearly needed it after a series of bad events. After all, she'd be a pretty crap Jedi if she wasn't able to extend her hand even to those who might wrong her. Came with that whole 'everyone deserves redemption' thing that they fractured over.

"Well, I can give you a set of robes to wear until you find something more… Your style." Colette mused out loud and chuckled at herself. "I have some tank tops and other clothes somewhere. Might be slightly out of size, and style, but they should be enough until then."

She withdrew her datapad and quickly issued the order for her backup to return to the ship and meet them there.

"Just a fair warning, I don't own a lot of clothes, so — you know, I'd like them back later."

 

[Xan Deesa]

At the mention of robes, Xan immediately waved off the rest of Colette's options. "Kark you, I'm taking the Jedi robes. Been wanting to see what 'Jedi Xan' would look like for years." She immediately chimed in. "Whether you get it back or not, though... yeah, we'll see." She teased with a snicker.

Once Colette's team cleared the safehouse, it sealed up and the security systems activated. There was nothing needed there, there was nothing left for her, all she wanted now was to see the streaks of hyperspace filling a viewport. Unless prompted, Xan would remain oddly quiet for the most part as she followed the Jedi to her ship with a number of thoughts to keep her busy. The weight of it all was slowly sinking in for the cyborg, the gratitude she owed Colette was beyond what she expected.

She simply wanted someone to help fix her body... she got good company and a way off Denon as well.

Once they were aboard and underway, Xan had another odd request to make of Colette. "You guys got a bath or shower onboard?" She asked the girl, sending a small cloud of dust from her jacket. She would trust the Jedi for a fresh set of clothes, but a shower was too alluring to pass up.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Xan Deesa

It was a quiet walk. Colette was tired from a long day, and Xan undoubtedly had a lot to think about. The other two Jedi looked a little confused when they noticed the cyborg was coming with them but left it alone once Colette explained the situation.

Albeit, since they never asked about the favor she had asked they were also not made privy to it. An admittedly underhanded lie for Colette, but not something that would keep her up at night.

"Of course we do," Colette chuckled at Xan's request. "I'll get you that robe and change.

Her arm motioned for a small closet by the crew quarters. Once Xan stepped in, Colette went to go get the robes and after that, well, she disappeared. Space still haunted her, always had. Ease of mind could only be found in meditation for situations like this and she was deep in a trance by the time Xan was done.

By the time they arrived at Naboo it felt like little more than half a day had passed. The knight resurfaced only once they had touched down safely at port.

"Remember," She said as she descended the ramp with Xan. "You have my number, just reach out if you need anything."

 

[Xan Deesa]

Xan wasted little time to hop into the shower. She was gone for a long while to enjoy the water rushing over her body. Dust and grime were washed away, ragged hair was rinsed and by the time she emerged with the Jedi robes adorned, she looked like a new person. It felt similar to washing a speeder and having it look brand new afterward.

The shenanigans, however, came out in full with one look in the mirror. A datapad was annexed and pictures were taken. Pictures of her, pictures of her in a pose, pictures of her with one of the other Jedi's lightsaber while he firmly asked for it back. She even tracked down Colette and took a few pictures of herself mimicking the Jedi's meditative trance. One last picture, though, was taken in the mirror. One for herself. Her face and cybernetics replaced with a vastly different face laid over her own appearance. That one went straight into her private memory, a private moment for herself.

By the time they landed, Xan had switched to a more socially acceptable attire for a non-Jedi to wear in public. Colette insisted that Xan reach out if she needed anything and received another quick hug from the cyborg. "Will do. I'll send you back your clothes once I get my own." She quipped with a smile, turning to leave the Jedi.

Her datapad would chime with a notification from Xan a few moments later. A photo of her in her meditative trance with the cyborg seated next to her in a mimic of the Jedi's pose. Behind both of them was the bright neon avatar Colette saw in the safehouse, holding up bunny ears behind both of their heads with a beaming grin on her holographic mask.

"See you around, master Jedi!" Xan called out with a wink. One last wave and she set off to take her first proper breath of clean, unpolluted air in years.

Colette