Private Looking Towards the Future

[Katherine Holt]

Sometime after the Festival of Stars…​

Even as the night had drawn on, and the festivities had winded down, the streets of Dee’ja Peak were still bustling with a fair amount of activity. Katherine had enjoyed her time, but now she just wanted to experience some peace and quiet, to try and collect her thoughts.

She had found a spot atop one of the taller buildings, far enough away that she could look over a good majority of Dee’ja Peak. Katherine sat along the edge, her hoverchair sitting within reach to her side. Below, many vendors and attractions were packing things up, with the majority of festival goers mostly lingering on the streets.

Katherine imagined a good number of them were in some state of drunk.

But the people of Naboo had good reasons to celebrate, not just because of it being Life Day. In turn however, it had gotten the Padawan to dwell on what had been heavy on her mind as of late.

There are so many people I want to visit, but there’s so little time left…

Something told her that it wouldn’t be much longer until the Aing-Tii would be in contact with her about the ritual. Katherine had approached the crossroad and taken the path she wanted. Her only hope was that it wouldn’t lead to an end.

The Padawan was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the sounds of someone approaching.

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

The cold night air nipped at Lorn's cheeks as he meandered through the thinning crowds of Dee'ja Peak. He'd been delayed at the Queen's retreat, missing the vibrant bustle of the Life Day market earlier. Now, the stalls were mostly closed, the vendors packing away their wares with weary sighs. A single stall, however, still held his attention. A display of exquisitely crafted knives gleamed under the dim lights, each blade a work of art. One, in particular, called to him. After a brief haggle, the knife was his, nestled safely in its sheath.

He unsheathed it now, the blade reflecting the starlight. The blade was impeccably balanced, the weight perfect in his hand. It felt…right. A tool, yes, but something more. As he admired the craftsmanship, his gaze drifted upwards. Atop one of the taller buildings, a familiar silhouette stood out against the night sky – fiery red hair unmistakable against the dark cityscape. Katherine Holt. He'd assumed she'd already left.

A few minutes later, Lorn found himself on the rooftop, the quiet hum of the city in the background.. He approached cautiously, surprised to find her sitting on the edge of the building, her legs dangling, the hoverchair abandoned nearby.

"Good evening, Ms. Holt," he said, his voice soft, the words a counterpoint to the city's low thrum. He settled beside her, mimicking her pose, his own feet dangling precariously over the edge. "I'm surprised to see you. I thought you had left already."

He regarded her for a moment, the city lights painting her face in shifting hues. Then, he removed his thick fur coat, the scent of woodsmoke and warmth clinging to the fabric. He offered it to her with a gentle, almost hesitant movement. Lorn had spent enough nights shivering in the cold to know how uncomfortable it could be, there was no reason Katherine should endure it tonight. He would be fine.

His gaze fell to the festive throngs winding their way through the streets below. The night was still alive with the echoes of celebration, but the distant sounds were softened by the distance. He spoke softly, his voice a gentle query in the vast expanse of the night. "What's on your mind, up here all alone?"

 

[Katherine Holt]

It took a few moments, but finally Katherine heard the footsteps. And for a moment she wondered who else had wandered up onto the rooftop. But as she turned her head around, spotting Lorn, she smiled.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Reingard.” She replied, putting on a little ‘fancy accent’ in a teasing manner. Katherine was never one for formalities, but given where she suspected Lorn had been, she felt it fitting to tease him a bit. “I just wanted to take in the scenery before I left.”

The truth however, was that Katherine had been a bit disappointed she hadn’t run into any familiar faces. Sure, it was never a bad thing to meet new people, but with everything going on she really hoped to try and catch up with those she knew.

So her mind had wandered, and having been amidst the hustle and bustle of the festival, the Padawan wanted to get a better look of everything, to meditate in a way.

Katherine was surprised when she suddenly felt something being draped over her. When she realized what Lorn had done, she smiled, her cheeks burning red a little.

In part out of embarrassment. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she wasn’t too affected by the cold. Shivering still yes, but not nearly as much as one would expect.

A silver living I suppose, of the endurance training the Sith Valkyries put me through…

“I’ve just been thinking…” she said quietly. Immediately debating whether she should bring up what had happened since they had last spoken. “Like for instance, I didn’t see you at the festivities tonight. I’m guessing you were occupied up in the Queen’s retreat? Being all fancy and proper?” She glanced over at him, a small teasing grin on her face.

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn chuckled softly at her playful reply, a genuine warmth spreading through him at her teasing tone. He looked down at the streets below, watching the festival goers move about in a drunken daze, their joyous energy a stark contrast to the quiet contemplation he had been experiencing. He looked back at her as she began to speak again.

"I was," he said with a warm smile, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Although, I don't know if I could be considered fancy or proper." he added, gesturing to his less than stellar attire for the evening, a simple tunic and trousers that hardly qualified as formal. He thought back to the evening, the Order had welcomed him, but he still couldn't help but feel out of place, adrift in a world with strangers. He had felt like a phantom, walking through the halls, an unwanted relic in something far too grandiose.

Lorn struggled for a moment to find the right words, the vulnerability of his feelings making him hesitate. "I've spent so much time away from Naboo, it doesn't feel like home anymore..." he began, his voice softening, a hint of melancholy creeping in. "I was trying to expand my horizons." he added, still feeling the overwhelming sense of loss from being away from the people he had known his whole life. The desire for something more, a desire that had led him away from the familiar, was now a bitter taste in the back of his throat.

His hands instinctively fiddled with his newly purchased knife, the cool metal a grounding presence amidst the turmoil of emotions. He shook off the oversharing, not wanting to burden her with his own internal struggles. He didn't want to upset the girl. "Maybe I should have just skipped the invitation and messaged you to enjoy the evening." he teased her, a playful glint in his eyes. Surely it would have been a less awkward night for him if he had spent it with someone he at least had had a conversation with before.

"How was your afternoon though?" he asked, his voice gentle, probing for some sort of information as to why she would be up here all alone. Lorn felt something weighed heavily on her, a subtle shift in her demeanor he couldn't quite pinpoint. He wouldn't push her, though. He understood not wanting to speak on how he was feeling. It was something he was still getting used to himself.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine chuckled at Lorn’s response, her eyes looking over the man as she examined his choice of attire. “I’d say it was a solid effort,” she replied, a bit of a cheeky grin on her face. As they both sat there, Katherine could feel traces of emotion that were coming off Lorn. It was a…strange sensation for the Padawan, not that it was a completely new thing for her.

During her training; and later when she was actually fighting, Katherine leaned more towards the physical aspects of combat. She utilized the Force, but it was more of an ‘assist’ to her main focus.

But ever since she had become less physically capable, Katherine had found herself leaning more on the Force than ever before. It had inadvertently led her to broaden her senses, picking up on others emotions just being within distance of them.

The mention of ‘expanding one’s horizons’ elicited a smile from Katherine, but she didn’t say anything in response. She had felt something similar when she had hit that point in her training. Where the fear and doubt gave way to curiosity and intrigue. Now with a degree of bitter irony, Katherine felt that same desire again, only now she was being held back by her inability to physically move.

“Well, it does sound like it would’ve made for a less boring evening for you.” She replied, letting out a small laugh. “I spent mine on the Kaadu Sleigh Ride, heading up to the summit of Varynne. The star showers were beautiful enough just being down in the town itself. It’s absolutely stunning from up there.”

Katherine let her mind wander along that whimsical train of thought. She could feel the hesitation emanating from Lorn, there was something on his mind but something stopping him from opening up. So the Padawan decided to extend a metaphorical olive branch, as it were.

“Since we last spoke, I uh…found a solution to my problem.” Katherine paused, mentally debating how to word what she wanted to say. “But in the process, I learned that my body is failing."

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn's smile widened at Katherine's compliment. "Solid effort," she'd called it. He chuckled softly, shaking his head slightly. He always tried to present himself well, but the Naboo people possessed an effortless elegance that he could never quite replicate. They were always impeccably dressed, radiating a refined grace that seemed innate. He'd felt a bit like a rough-hewn tool amidst polished silverware this evening, but Katherine's assessment eased that feeling a bit.

He listened intently as she described her evening, her words painting a vivid picture of the Kaadu Sleigh Ride and the star showers viewed from Varynne's summit. A pang of regret struck him. He'd been so caught up in his own awkwardness and misplaced feelings of belonging that he'd missed out on something truly beautiful. The thought of the star showers, a celestial spectacle witnessed from such a vantage point, made the evening in the Mountain Retreat feel even more lackluster in comparison. Anything would have been better than being the subject or two sisters trying to embarrass each other in front of him.

The mention of a "solution" to her problem snapped Lorn back to the present. He had almost been lost in his thoughts of the grandeur of the stars. His brows furrowed, his playful demeanor dissolving into concern. "Failing?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and alarm. He was aware of her physical limitations, the hoverchair her constant companion, but he hadn't fathomed that the situation was this severe. He had always assumed her struggles were more of a temporary setback, never believing her body was failing her.

He searched her face, trying to discern any sign of pain or discomfort, attempting to quantify the extent of her physical issues. "What's the solution then?" he prodded, his curiosity tinged with worry. He wanted to understand what she was going through, what had led to this state of affairs, and what her solution involved. Was it something that would heal her, or just offer her some relief?

 

[Katherine Holt]

There was a mix of emotions stirring in Katherine’s light blue eyes. Concern, worry, fear, dread…but also a degree of acceptance too. She had come to terms with the pazaak hand she had been dealt with. This course of action was the only real one available to her, the most concrete answer to the problem that had loomed over her head for so long.

“My Master took me to see a group of Aing-Tii refugees he knew. They're interesting people, and have a unique ‘open to all paths’ set of beliefs. Particularly though, they have a ritual that can effectively purge and cleanse my body of the ailments affecting it.”

Katherine tore her gaze from Lorn, instead looking out at the vista before them. The Padawan let out a sigh.

“It was during the talks with them that I learned just how extensive the damages done to me were.” She pulled her right leg up, reaching down to roll the pants leg up, just enough to highlight the lightning scarring across her skin.

“When my torturers were using Force Lightning on me, they focused particularly on my legs, which were already physically broken. It completely ‘burnt out’ a number of my nerves, and damaged a whole bunch more. During the Aing-tii’s examination, they discovered it wasn’t just limited to my legs, but that it will eventually impact my whole body.”

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn listened intently, his initial concern deepening into a knot of worry as Katherine spoke. The mention of Aing-Tii refugees and their unique beliefs was foreign to him; his world had been largely shaped by the familiar rhythms of Naboo and Mirater, within his own secluded existence. While he'd witnessed the Force at work, the idea of a ritual "purging" such extensive damage felt almost magical. Yet, the genuine mix of emotions in Katherine's light blue eyes – fear, acceptance, and a touch of resignation – compelled him to take her seriously.

His gaze followed hers as she revealed the lightning-scarred skin of her leg, a stark testament to the pain she had endured. A wave of anger surged through him at the sight of it, a cold fury rising at the thought of anyone inflicting such brutality. He could only imagine the extent of it as it spread across the rest of her body. The thought of her failing, of her being consumed by this damage, was hard to swallow.

He wanted to jump in and say something, to do something that would make it better. She needed some sort of relief, and he was glad she seemed to find some, even in the most unexpected of places. He watched as she spoke, each word painting a clearer picture of the grim reality she faced.

He hoped, with all that he had, that at least this ritual could return her back to the powerful Jedi she probably was once. He looked at her face, trying to discern more of her feeling, yet he had no clue how she truly felt with this.

"Your Master is sure this will work?" Lorn asked, his voice tinged with hesitation. He had seen the Force do strange things, but this felt different, more desperate. He struggled to reconcile this mystical ritual with the sheer scale of her injuries.

He stilled his own concern. He couldn't add to Katherine's burden, not now. "Just... Just let me know if you ever need anything." He made sure to meet her gaze, to show her that he meant it. "I would like to see it when you get to confront your torturers." he teased, a small smile forming on his face, hoping to lighten the mood. A dark gleam was in his own eyes at the thought of her dispensing justice to those that deserved it.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine looked up at the stars that were still shining in the late night sky. She remembered doing the same thing as a child, gazing up in wonder that each and every one of those was a different planet. And now she had since gotten the chance to, although there had been a great deal of strife and turmoil between both points.

She was reminded of her conversation with Shan, when she informed him of what had happened. He had been reassuring, understanding and kind, like he always was. Suggesting different paths she could take, should her physical impairments not improve enough. At the time, Katherine had been unsure what she wanted to do.

Now she wasn’t.

The Padawan knew she needed to be up there, out in the galaxy. To be a shield to those that can’t defend themselves, and a sword against those that would sow the seeds of chaos and destruction across the galaxy.

Katherine turned to look at Lorn, nodding her head in response. “He trusts in the Aing-Tii’s abilities, his concern was more about me being alright going through with it.” After all, it was essentially putting her through a similar transformation to when the Sith had experimented on her.

“My soul and body have been out of sync since before I was found. Both need healing and ‘re-aligning’ in a way. Involves deep meditation, and the Aing-Tii menders well…mending my physical form.”

Lorn’s offer to help brought a smile to the redhead’s face. His further bit of teasing, towards the prospect of her going after her torturers, elicited a chuckle from her. “Well you know how the saying goes, one small step at a time.”

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn listened intently as Katherine spoke, her words painting a picture of a struggle he couldn't fully comprehend. He watched the way she held herself, the subtle tension that seemed to reside just beneath her calm exterior. He knew she was strong, anyone with her history had to be. But he also saw the vulnerability, the lingering pain that no doubt gnawed at her. The idea of her body and soul being out of sync was a strange concept but he understood the need for harmony. He could feel that inner turmoil in his own heart, on a much smaller scale. He hoped to whatever force she trusted that it would be effective, that it wouldn't just add to her hardship.

He liked the idea of her being out there, being a sword and shield, free from this chair. Just as the thought settled in, he heard her reply to his earlier comment, the light chuckle reaching his ears. He had hoped to break the tension just a little bit, glad it worked in some capacity. Her reply, that it was just one step at a time, made sense. He tried to adopt a similar mindset himself, he hoped she was able to keep it up.

Looking up at the stars again, he only then realized how late it had become. The silence stretched between them, comfortable yet with an underlying current of shared concern. "It's gotten pretty late," he remarked, his voice softer than before. "I can walk you back if you'd like," he offered, "or if you'd rather stay out here a bit longer, I understand." He knew the night could hold its own kind of comfort, especially when the world inside felt like it was moving too fast.

He met her eyes again, his own soft and genuine. "I truly hope this ritual works for you, Katherine. That it gives you what you need to heal." He paused, a flicker of something like eagerness in his eyes. "And," he added, a small smile returning to his lips, "when you're feeling up to it, I'd like to spar with you sometime. I bet you'd give me a run for my credits." He wasn't sure where the sudden bout of confidence came from but he was sure she would be a force.

 

[Katherine Holt]

He’s a good listener.

That was the thought on Katherine’s mind as they just let the silence fall over them. She knew it was often difficult to say something when the other person revealed some serious stuff they were going through. But just as often, all that was needed was a kindred soul to be there to listen, to be a comforting presence.

Katherine couldn’t quite explain it, but she assumed it was something to do with the Force.

How does that saying go? The Force works in mysterious ways?

Something told her that Lorn had gone through his own share of trials and tribulations. Not the exact same as her, but similar enough that they both found themselves on similar paths. It just so happened to be that their paths crossed, amongst the vastness of the galaxy.

Hearing Lorn’s remark, Katherine looked up at the stars too. It was indeed late, or well later than late, given how far into the evening the festival had started. “I’d like that,” she replied, smiling slightly. She was due to head offworld tomorrow, and much as she was a night owl at times, Katherine knew she needed to get some sleep.

Using the Force, the Padawan summoned her hoverchair over, close enough for her to carefully stand up and plop herself down into the comfy cushions. “Here, don’t want you catching a cold now.” Katherine teased, shrugging off the fur coat Lorn had lent her, holding it for him to reclaim.

At the suggestion of a future spar, the redhead let out an amused chuckle. Her eyes connecting with Lorn's, a small challenging smirk on her face. “I’d be down for that, I’ll try not to kick your arse too badly.”

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn's lips curved into a soft smile at Katherine's response, relieved she hadn't declined his offer. The hoverchair glided towards her and he extended a hand to help her settle back into its cushions. "Careful now," he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as she sat. He hesitated for only a moment before gently taking the fur coat back, a smile playing on his lips. "Thank you." he replied, draping back over himself

Katherine's teasing about the spar made him chuckle. "Oh, I wouldn't count on that." he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. "Just because you've been in a hoverchair doesn't mean i'll be going easy on you." It felt good to engage in light banter, something that had been missing from his life lately.

As they began to walk in the direction of her lodging, Lorn fell into step beside her hoverchair, the silence between them now comfortable and companionable. The air grew colder yet he didn't mind it, happy for the walk and her company. He glanced at Katherine, admiring her strength and quiet determination. "I truly wish you all the best with the ritual, Katherine," he said, his voice sincere. "I hope it brings you the peace you seek."

They reached the door of her lodgings and paused, the quiet of the night enveloping them. "And," Lorn continued, offering a small, reassuring smile, "you know where to find me if you ever need anything, whether it's a listening ear or a sparring partner." He paused, a genuine warmth spreading through him. He was surprised by how quickly he'd found a friend on Naboo, it made him happy to be able to form connections again after such a period of loss for him. "It's been a welcome surprise meeting you so early into my return to Naboo. I hope everything works out, and you can be free of that chair soon enough. If you find yourself with free time, do not hesitate to reach out."