Private Mariners and Mercenaries

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Locate the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

The skies above the port town in Trask hung heavy with grey clouds, adding to the already miserable, gloomy mood of the sea slicked docks. That was until a carefully manicured hand reached up to the sky, and with a gentle push of the force, created a small hole in the clouds. Sunlight shone through it, illuminating the woman directly underneath like a spotlight at the Galaxies Opera house.

The woman who warmed herself under the thin slit of sunlight did indeed stand out. Dressed not in the drab neutrals of the dock workers around her but in the colourful silks of her home planet, Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris was unmistakably a visitor here. Her light whips hung ready at her belt as she leaned against the railing, repeating the details of her mission here over and over in her head.

Just a day ago, the high Jedi council had summoned her to a meeting room. Gathered around a holo desk, they had shown her the image of a Quarren with a terrible scar across his face and a modified harpoon gun in his hands.

"They call him Leister. From what we have been able to gather, he is a mercenary who specialises in hunting Jedi. We believe that the sith order hired him to do - well, to do this," One of the council members explained, changing the display to a recording of the same quarren breaking into the temple grounds. Cori watched with sickening dread as he stalked through the hallowed halls, testing each door until he found the one he was looking for - the youngling quarters. The ersansyr looked away as their screams rang out.

"It was a surprise attack. Three of the younglings were badly injured before the temple guards were called and he escaped," the council member sighed. "And with the war stretching our resources thin...we can't say for sure whether or not they will make it."

Cori clenched her fist. "Then I will do everything in my power to bring him to justice."

Nods from all around the table. "We've tracked him down to Trask, where we believe he has purchased a boat that he is using as a home base. You will find it and bring him to us in handcuffs. And remember Cordelia, violence is not the Jedi way."

"We're assigning a padawan to accompany you," another Jedi added. "She is young, but skilled with naval navigation. She does not know of the mercenary's crimes - only that he is a dangerous criminal that must be apprehended."

Tuning herself back into the present, Cori sighed. Such tragic events really suffocated all of the joy of being near the water again. If she could, she would make sure the red headed padawan she was assigned wouldn't feel the same. A small smile graced her lips as she recalled her meditation the evening prior, where the force had given her a vision of a ginger haired girl looking out over the sea beside her. Apart from that, the future was a mystery.

Still, the Jedi knight waited patiently, scanning the docks for this mysteriously skilled padawan she had been partnered up with.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

Everyone on the docks seemed to be having the worst days of their lives. The constant gloom on their face in combination with the grey skies above them. Yet as Reina was making her way there, the woman couldn't help but smile. This was the kind of weather she liked. Dreary. Grey. With a strong breeze. It reminded her of nights out at sea. It reminded her of home. Yet that changed as the skies opened up to reveal beams of sunlight gracing the land. A small grumble escaped Reina's lips at the sun, but it wasn't enough to ruin her mood.

She was dressed in her old fishing outfit. It was strange. Reina was sure she hadn't grown, but the outfit felt smaller on her now. Perhaps it had been how she had grown as a person. Whilst she thought she'd look like she used to...There were still key physical differences at least. The Lightsaber at her hip. The prosthesis leg that clacked against the dock. At the very least, since she didn't expect them to be walking on a soft surface like mud, she didn't need to put the actual foot part of the leg back on. So for now she hobbled with one good foot alongside what was basically a peg leg. In a way, she felt like she was becoming more and more like that Darker Version of herself she saw in the mirror some days...but she was adamant that she was making her own path. Staying away from that potential future for herself.

It didn't take long for her to find the Jedi Knight she was meant to be meeting. They stuck out like a sore thumb. Whilst Reina could have easily been mistaken for a local, it seemed like the same couldn't be said for Cori. None of that mattered to Reina however. She had learned pretty early on now to judge someone by her appearance. It was one of the actual good lessons she had learned from the fishing crew that raised. For now, she made her way over towards Cori, raising her hand up awkwardly in greeting. Reina wasn't good...with talking to people. She had a habit of being blunt but she was trying to change.

"Knight Eldoris? I'm Reina. Or well...Padawan Daival. Sorry. I'm still not into the whole...titles and stuff. I'm here to help get this...criminal guy."

Reina rubbed the back of her neck, trying to figure out if there was anything extra she should say. They were going after a criminal. Reina's natural instincts, that she was trying to push away was that they needed to remove him. But she knew that wasn't the right way. Not anymore. If it was a case of self-defense, that was different. She shouldn't go out looking to kill someone.

"...I should warn you. I have a bit of a...temper. I can be volatile. I'll try to restrain myself. But it's something I believe you should know."

With that, she lowered her head. It was her way of showing respect. She wasn't much for bowing, nor for saluting. In her eyes, respect was something you gave by listening. By following orders. This was the losest thing she could to actually show it.​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Locate the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

"Knight Eldoris? I'm Reina. Or well...Padawan Daival. Sorry. I'm still not into the whole...titles and stuff. I'm here to help get this...criminal guy."​

Even though she was actively looking for her, Cori was still surprised when Reina snuck up and introduced herself. The padawan, despite her flaming orange hair, had a remarkable ability to blend in, likely due to the fishing clothes she was wearing. Cori pursed her lips, worried for a second that she had missed some crucial briefing about wearing disguises.

Then again, Cori had always been skilled at reading people, and from what she could tell, the girl wasn't uncomfortable in her outfit, but rather, it seemed that it was something she actually wanted to wear. Besides, the lightsaber at her hip made it abundantly clear who she was, so if it was a disguise, it was a poor one at best.

The girl looked at her expectantly and Cori blushed, realising she hadn't said anything yet. Inwardly chastising herself for being so rude, she shot the girl one of her classic, friendly smiles.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Reina. I mediated on you last night. The force told me you have a good heart," Was that too much, too soon? Maybe. But Cori knew her honesty would likely be appreciated later. Especially if the jedi knight happened to have another one of her vision induced fainting spells. "And the Jedi council told me you have a good head for navigation. That will be very useful for our mission."

"Oh, and please, Cori is just fine," the ersansyr added cheerfully. "I understand how you feel about the whole titles thing. Thankfully, you'll find that as you advance in the order, more people are willing to let that slide."

"...I should warn you. I have a bit of a...temper. I can be volatile. I'll try to restrain myself. But it's something I believe you should know."

With that, she lowered her head.​

Very gently, Cori used her fingertips to carefully lift Reina's head back up. "Hey, that's ok. It's something we have in common, perhaps," she let her hand drop back down as she turned to gaze wishfully out at the ocean, "You don't know this, but my species is known for being a little...savage at times. Especially if we haven't had a chance to be submerged in the water for a while."

She shook her head, returning her gaze to the padawan. "But I am a jedi. When it comes down to it, I know I can keep myself in check. And I know you will too."

With that, she clapped her hands excitedly before pointing to the boat beside them. "But enough of that! This shall be our vessel. I trust you can help me prepare it for the journey?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"Me? A...good heart? I...I think you should...maybe ask the Force if it's sure."

Reina couldn't help but let out an awkward chuckle at that, tugging at the collar of her outfit. A good heart wasn't something she associated with herself. She was closed off. Cold. Not good with people. Yes, she wanted to protect them but she was also far too aggressive. She had been someone who had closed her heart off to the Galaxy and was only just starting to open it back up again. Letting herself feel things she had never felt before and she wasn't sure if it was helping her grow or holding her back...

"I can work with just Cori. That's...fine with me. I just don't want to sound too...lazy or friendly about it all."

She wasn't sure how most Jedi felt about being relaxed. Sure, some of them were probably all for it, but it would be Reina's luck that she started acting friendly to the wrong Knight. Though before she knew it, she felt a pair of fingertips on her chin. Almost immediately, the woman's cheeks turned a bright red out of embarrassment. Reina didn't do physical contact. Not overly. Everest was different since she was her best friend. She made Reina feel...warm and secure whenever they hugged. She liked that feeling. Wait. She was getting off track.

"...Heh. Maybe I have some of your species' blood in me. I get extra...annoyed when I'm away from water. It's just...I know there's times I haven't kept myself in check."

With that, Reina tapped her prosthesis for a moment. She didn't elaborate on it. But it was the truth. She saw too much red in that moment. It was also interesting that she leaned more about Cori's species. Reina didn't know anything about her birth family. What species her parents were. What blood flowed through her. She knew she was at least part human. But she knew she had too much of an affinity for the sea to just be a regular human. Yet once again it wasn't important for the task at hand.

Instead she turned her eyes towards the boat, giving it a quick apprisal before giving a sharp nod. Her gaze had changed ever so slightly. She was no longer looking as things like a Padawan. No. She was a sailor now, getting ready to set out on the sea as she made her way over towards the boat, expecting Cori to be right beside her.

"It's a bit smaller than I'm used to. But that's fine. We have a smaller crew to be fair with just the two of us. I should be able to get us heading in the right direction."​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Locate the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

"Me? A...good heart? I...I think you should...maybe ask the Force if it's sure."

Reina couldn't help but let out an awkward chuckle at that, tugging at the collar of her outfit.​

Cori pursed her lips together into a disapproving frown. The Ersansyr was remarkably skilled with people and she was confident that neither her nor the force had misread this padawan. Whatever self doubt clouded her young mind and whatever self hatred swirled within Reina, Cori hoped that in time, the padawan would learn to love every aspect of herself. Even the darker ones. But for now, the Jedi knight simply shook her head at the girl's remark, her gentle smile quickly returning.

"I can work with just Cori. That's...fine with me. I just don't want to sound too...lazy or friendly about it all."​

"Well, I wouldn't try it with just any knight," Cori giggled, almost as if she read the padawan's mind. "Some Jedi can be pretty strict about these things, so you were right to start off with the traditional greeting. But you don't have to worry about little old me. In my mind, there's nothing lazy or overly friendly about calling me by my name."

Though before she knew it, she felt a pair of fingertips on her chin. Almost immediately, the woman's cheeks turned a bright red out of embarrassment. Reina didn't do physical contact.

Cori felt a pang of guilt at the girl's flustered expression - she hadn't meant to make her feel uncomfortable. Casual physical contact was so common back in her underwater home, she sometimes forgot that not everyone appreciated it on the surface worlds.

"...Heh. Maybe I have some of your species' blood in me. I get extra...annoyed when I'm away from water. It's just...I know there's times I haven't kept myself in check."
With that, Reina tapped her prosthesis for a moment.​

"Ooh, maybe you are part Ersansyr!" Cori responded excitedly, her cyan eyes lighting up at the idea. "Tell me, how well can you swim? Do you have any gills? Do you have a good singing voice?"

The Jedi knight suddenly caught herself, realising she was asking way too many questions, way too quickly. "Or maybe you just love the ocean," she chuckled, holding her hands up apologetically. "Nobody could fault you for that."

She watched curiously as the girl tapped her prosthetic leg. There was a story there, but Cori knew better than to pry. It wasn't right of her to demand to know everything about Reina at once. Trust would be earned between the two Jedi as they embarked on this mission together.

"It's a bit smaller than I'm used to. But that's fine. We have a smaller crew to be fair with just the two of us. I should be able to get us heading in the right direction."​

Cori followed the padawan, nodding thoughtfully at her words. The boat was indeed small, and certainly not of the highest quality. "Yes, I believe the alliance has hired it from an old fisherman and his son. It's not ideal, but our mission was short notice."

Stepping onto the vessel, she carefully lifted her skirts to avoid dirtying them, then looked back at Reina with a smile. "Our mercenary was last seen headed south east. I'll defer to your expertise when it comes to our navigation."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"Trust me. I know some Knights can be quite...strict. I had one practically scream in my face because I told them I nearly slapped someone...but it's fine. People are...different. Some are overly protective. Some aren't protective whatsoever."

Reina wasn't sure what she was under that list. Did she protect people enough? Did she not do enough? Reina always felt like she wasn't doing enough but she knew that was just her being too harsh on herself. She knew she expected too much out of herself but that didn't make things anyway easier. Either way, Reina focused on her breathing, trying to make the flush fade from her cheeks. She didn't want Cori to feel bad, or doubt Reina's abilities just because she was blushing away.

"Hm? I...don't have gills. I guess I have a nice singing voice. No-one's ever said anything about it. But none of the crew complained when I was little and sang shanties with them."

At that thought, Reina brought her hand to her throat for a moment, rubbing it in thought. Was her voice that nice? Maybe she'd ask some of the people at the Temple when she was back. She didn't feel comfortable singing that much...but Eve made her feel comfortable. So she could sing for her. Maybe for Azurine and Tigris as well...

"I am pretty good at swimming though. I could swim before I could walk. Plus...I might not have gills, but I can hold my breath for a while. Sometimes I use the Force to help though. I'll just...make it easier for me to hold my breath. I know I scared a Jedi Knight last time I did it...It pissed me off though. That he thought I was at risk."

A small scowl graced Reina's face at that. It was the thing she hated the most. To be seen as weak. As a vulnerability. Something that would hold people back. She was focused on moving forward at all points. Though she turned her head over towards Cori as the Jedi Knight held her hands up and Reina gave the faintest sign of a smile, shaking her head for a moment.

"It's fine Cori. These aren't personal questions. I don't mind answering them. I'm...not good at asking questions myself anyway. But...It's more than I just love the Ocean. I feel a connection to the water. I feel alive when I'm in it. I believe the Spirit of the Ocean is always at my back. I know most people call it the Force...but I still believe it as the Spirit."

And with that, Reina prepared to set off to the south east, raising an eyebrow at Cori looking after her skirt as much as she was. A small giggle escaping Reina's mouth...before another blush came over her face as she realised what sound she made. Turning her attention straight to the sea instead as she took in a deep breath.

"This probably wouldn't inspire most Sailors, but I'm navigated by the Force. As long as I feel the Spirit at my back, I know I'm going in the right direction."​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Locate the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

"Trust me. I know some Knights can be quite...strict. I had one practically scream in my face because I told them I nearly slapped someone...but it's fine. People are...different. Some are overly protective. Some aren't protective whatsoever."​

Cori shook her head disapprovingly at the padawan's story. "How immature. A real Jedi knight would have approached that situation with patience and understanding. But yes, you are right. People are different. And people who might seem the same as you one day...can very easily change to being someone entirely different to you the next."

"Hm? I...don't have gills. I guess I have a nice singing voice. No-one's ever said anything about it. But none of the crew complained when I was little and sang shanties with them."
"I am pretty good at swimming though. I could swim before I could walk. Plus...I might not have gills, but I can hold my breath for a while. Sometimes I use the Force to help though. I'll just...make it easier for me to hold my breath. I know I scared a Jedi Knight last time I did it...It pissed me off though. That he thought I was at risk."​

"Shanties? Oh, you'll definitely have to teach me some on our journey," Cori responded cheerfully. "You know, if you're as good at swimming and holding your breath as you say, perhaps you are part Ersansyr. It is uncommon for my species to travel the wider galaxy, but it's not entirely unheard of, either. Case in point," She paused to chuckle, gesturing to herself, "And seeing as you have that vibrant orange hair of yours, offset with a pale complexion, well, I think you could very easily have some siren blood in you."

The Jedi knight listened carefully to Reina's next story, but didn't offer any comment of her own. Her master had once told her before that the best teachers created room for their students draw their own conclusions. Even though Reina wasn't her student, per se, Cori figured it was best to let her reflect on it herself, without any unwanted opinions or warnings about the dangers of pride and anger.

"It's fine Cori. These aren't personal questions. I don't mind answering them. I'm...not good at asking questions myself anyway. But...It's more than I just love the Ocean. I feel a connection to the water. I feel alive when I'm in it. I believe the Spirit of the Ocean is always at my back. I know most people call it the Force...but I still believe it as the Spirit."​

"I know how you feel," Cori smiled, not her usual, friendly grin she always used to put people at ease, but a deeper, more appreciative expression that spoke to her empathy. "We are the same - salt water, it runs in our blood. When I am apart from the sea, it feels as if I am merely a shell of who I am supposed to be. That I've left a part of my soul in the waves."

"As for the spirit of the ocean," The Ersansyr lifted a manicured finger to her chin thoughtfully, "I left my home to live in the temple at a young age, and learnt the doctrine of the force very early on. Like most of my people, in light of advancements made through the force and scriptures wrought by both the Jedi and the Sith, I abandoned the old beliefs. But before all that...back when my people were just melodie, and not songbirds...they believed in an ocean spirit. The one they once called...the great mother."

Cori's face fell. "But she has been forgotten now, lost to time."

And with that, Reina prepared to set off to the south east, raising an eyebrow at Cori looking after her skirt as much as she was. A small giggle escaping Reina's mouth...before another blush came over her face as she realised what sound she made. Turning her attention straight to the sea instead as she took in a deep breath.

"This probably wouldn't inspire most Sailors, but I'm navigated by the Force. As long as I feel the Spirit at my back, I know I'm going in the right direction."​

Cori rolled her eyes playfully at Reina's giggle. She certainly wouldn't be the first Jedi to tease her about how particular she was about her clothes. But coral worm silks imported directly from Aquilaris Minor did not come cheap and she was not about to ruin them.

"As a Jedi myself, I am actually relieved to know you are using on the force to guide you," Cori responded to the padawan as she untied the rope anchoring the ship to the dock. After she finished, she moved to stand in front of the ginger as the boat began to gently sway.

"You seem like quite a responsible young lady, Reina," She began, not disingenuously. "And you are clearly experienced in travelling the sea using vessels like this one. So, I propose that not only should you be in charge of our navigation, but you can consider yourself in charge of the whole ship - including me."

"That is, until we reach the mercenary and his hide out," she added, her tone becoming more serious. "In the event of serious danger, I need to know that I will be able to trust you to follow my directions. But for now, I want you to captain this ship. You know more about this type of travel than me and I think it will be a good learning experience for both of us."

The Jedi knight was not trying to shirk her duties, nor pass on her responsibilities to a padawan much younger than her. Still, Cori was a realistic individual. She knew Reina was more knowledgable about ships than she was and would be a better fit to be their captain. Besides that, Cori really, really wanted to nurture the girl's confidence. It was such a key trait and big part of her own culture that the Ersansyr was desperate to encourage it within Reina if she could.

So, she gave the girl a playful salute and a wink. "So, what are your orders, Captain?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"It's fine. People yelling at me won't bother me...I've been shot by Mandalorians. Bitten by weird Sith dogs. Lost my leg. A few harsh words aren't going to break me. It's funny. That Knight is my Master now. She's...nice would be the wrong word to use...but she's inspirational. She lets me believe I can aim my frustrations and anger in a useful direction. Instead of letting it dwell inside."

It matched what Cori was saying in a way. The Knight had been someone one day, and now they were someone completely different to Reina. Someone she trusted. Which wasn't a long list for Reina. There were people she liked, but very few that she actively trusted. Cori was...slowly falling into that group of people, but Reina would need to get more familiar before she opened up too much.

"I...don't do the shanties anymore. I don't have much of a reason to. Not anymore. It's...possible I could have Siren blood in me. Maybe I was left out at sea alone because my parents were two different species. Maybe I was left out at sea because they didn't want me. I just...try not to think about it anymore. My birth name isn't even Reina. It's what the Sailors who found me named me. My birth-date is also a lie. Nothing...about me is the truth."

It was something Reina struggled with immensely. Who was she meant to be? Everything had been decided for her. The crew had decided her name. Her birthdate. They had decided to send her on her way. The only decision she had ever made in her life, at least in her eyes, was to join the Jedi. And even to this day, she was still worried it wasn't the right decision. That she wasn't the right material for a Jedi.

Now however, it was her turn to listen to Cori as Reina checked over the ship, making sure that there wasn't anything that would go wrong whilst they were out at sea. Listening carefully to the story, as Reina tilted her head in thought for a moment. She could see that the story was somewhat important to Cori, from the way her face fell. And Reina took in a deep breath, before stepping over towards the Knight, gently and quite nervously putting her hand on Cori's shoulder.

"She's not fully forgotten. You remember some of the stories. And someone on my Crew must have remembered. When I first showed that I could use the Force...They never used that name. They said I had been blessed by the Ocean. That the Spirit was with me. They never called it the Great Mother...but still. She's not fully gone as long as someone is here to remember her...I'm going to shut up. I'm getting too...positive for my liking."

She broke out into a little grin at that. Reina was slowly but surely starting to let her nerves fade away as she headed over towards the controls of the ship. This was going to be her first time taking such a Leadership role...and there was a part of her, a large part of her that was nervous about it all. What if she got something wrong? What if her or Cori got hurt? But there was that smaller voice, that was louder than the rest. Reina had literally been raised on a ship. She had seen what people should do and shouldn't do. No matter what, she could do this as she prepared to give orders...

Yet at the wink, even if it was teasing, it didn't stop Reina's face from burning a bright red once more. It was easy for her to get flustered around stuff like that. She had to stay focused however as Reina turned her attention towards the ocean for a moment, debating what the orders should be before looking back over towards Cori.

"I'll need you to keep a good eye on the horizon and our surroundings. My eyes are mostly going to be focused ahead of us, so I want you to make sure nothing tries to sneak up."​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Follow the captain's orders! (And locate the mercenary)
Tags: Reina Daival

"It's fine. People yelling at me won't bother me...I've been shot by Mandalorians. Bitten by weird Sith dogs. Lost my leg. A few harsh words aren't going to break me. It's funny. That Knight is my Master now. She's...nice would be the wrong word to use...but she's inspirational. She lets me believe I can aim my frustrations and anger in a useful direction. Instead of letting it dwell inside."​

Oh no.

Cori had not meant to insult the girl's master. What was she thinking? Passing judgement without learning the full context of the situation? She could have slapped herself for such a clumsy social blunder.

Still, she tried not to let her mortification show as she replied with the slightest tinge of nervousness in her voice: "I can relate to troubles with the Mandalorians too! But Sith dogs I'm not so familiar with. And I'm truly sorry about your leg."

Pausing to pick her next words carefully, she continued: "I apologise for...speaking unfairly about your master. I am sure she is a talented and patient teacher. The way you have described her with such respect and admiration proves that much."

She paused to bow her head respectfully, a gesture of apology that she hoped Reina would accept.

"I...don't do the shanties anymore. I don't have much of a reason to. Not anymore. It's...possible I could have Siren blood in me. Maybe I was left out at sea alone because my parents were two different species. Maybe I was left out at sea because they didn't want me. I just...try not to think about it anymore. My birth name isn't even Reina. It's what the Sailors who found me named me. My birth-date is also a lie. Nothing...about me is the truth."​

"Sometimes, it is good to sing for no reason other than the joy of the act itself," Cori responded gently. "As for your past...do not dwell on it. It is easier said than done, I know, but you are worth more than the circumstances of your birth. You have become some one new, and that new person is both deeply loved and wanted. That much is the truth."

And Reina took in a deep breath, before stepping over towards the Knight, gently and quite nervously putting her hand on Cori's shoulder.

"She's not fully forgotten. You remember some of the stories. And someone on my Crew must have remembered. When I first showed that I could use the Force...They never used that name. They said I had been blessed by the Ocean. That the Spirit was with me. They never called it the Great Mother...but still. She's not fully gone as long as someone is here to remember her...I'm going to shut up. I'm getting too...positive for my liking."​

Cori looked up in surprise as Reina spoke, one hesitant hand on her shoulder. Not fully forgotten...maybe. But was that even a good thing, though? Would it be better for her not to cling to forgotten myths and legends that contradicted her religion, her very life's doctrine?

Or was it betrayal to turn her back on these tales, to turn her back on the culture of her people? Was the myth even unique to Ersansyr? Reina spoke of the crew being acquainted with the mother as well. Was there something important hidden within this legend that the Jedi order had forgotten, or worse, ignored?

The Jedi knight did not know the answer.

Instead, she gently squeezed Reina's hand back before carefully lifting it off her shoulder. "See, what did I tell you? You do have a good heart."

"I'll need you to keep a good eye on the horizon and our surroundings. My eyes are mostly going to be focused ahead of us, so I want you to make sure nothing tries to sneak up."​

Cori nodded faithfully, taking her place at the side of the ship where she could see a good three quarters of the water around them. Sharp cyan eyes scanned the ocean as they left the docks and began to follow Reina's heading south east.

The wind quickly picked up, tugging at Cori's hair as they cut through the waves, the rocking of the boat itself growing stronger. The same dark clouds as before had returned, though they were thicker now, and heavier. Imposing, even. Still, it was only once they began to spit rain down that the ersansyr approached Reina with a small frown.

"I have a feeling this little drizzle will turn into a real storm soon," she sighed. "Do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for that inevitability?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"It was before I joined the Jedi. I met Grandmaster Valery and my best friend during it. Jedha had gotten frozen over. It wasn't a huge deal I guess. It's just...where I first learned how much I enjoyed fighting. They weren't people. I could...happily kill them. It's...not something I like to look upon fondly. Not anymore. It's a side of me that I don't want to embrace. Not anymore. I don't want to focus on how violent I used to be."

Though Reina raised an eyebrow at the apology that Cori seemed to be giving her, as the redhead broke out into a small little giggle. It was amusing to see Cori trying to make up for her words, but Reina shook her head at that as she focused on the ship for a moment.

"Patient is...not the word I'd use. But it's fine. You can say what you want. I won't hold it against you. Words are words. Actions speak louder than them. Plus...My master doesn't need me to defend her. She's not the kind to let words get to her. Not in my eyes at least."

Yet at Cori's next statement, Reina couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. Loved and wanted? Reina wasn't either of those. She had friends. That was for sure. But they'd always pick someone else over her. Pick something over her. Reina would never be someone's first choice about something. It was what she had learned. Serina ended up picking the Sith over Reina's friendship. So that was more important to her than Reina was. Eve was with Tigris, and so Reina would never expect to be picked over her. And that was...the extent of the "friendships" Reina had. It hurt. But she tried not to think about it. She tried to focus on putting up walls, but they were slowly starting to collapse no matter how hard she tried...

"...The truth can be subjective. It all depends on what you know and how you look at things. And I've...never had a good view of things. It was how I was raised."

It was hard to see things in a good light, when you always felt like you were thrown to the side. That you weren't important to anyone. It was life for her though. She wouldn't complain about it. Complaining wasn't who Reina was. She'd hold it inside. Maybe let it explode out of her one day. Or maybe she'd find a way to let the frustrations fade away into nothingness...For now, she just tried to focus on the task at hand. She had a job to do and it wasn't to dwell on how she felt.

"I don't have a good heart. I'm just pointing out the obvious. It's how I do things. If I think someone is wrong, I'll plainly tell them. And so...you're wrong. The Great Mother is still remembered. Same way the New Jedi Order might be remembered as a Myth. Or the terrors of the Sith."

And with that, Reina turned her attention back towards the ocean. letting her mind focus on the waves. Feeling the brush of the wind against her back. It was what she had always missed. Of course, her role was somewhat different this time. SHe wasn't no longer the little runt, running around and helping out to make sure the ship was still floating. Though Cori then mentioned that it appeared like a storm was about to start...and Reina reached for her lightsaber for a moment, focusing on the crystal inside of it.

"...When it starts, I can use the Force to make sure the storm won't affect us too much. But I'll need you to make sure everything is tied down. I don't want anything get blown away. If anything, we might be able to use the storm to our advantage. It'll hide our approach at the very least."
​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Follow the captain's orders! (And locate the mercenary)
Tags: Reina Daival

"It was before I joined the Jedi. I met Grandmaster Valery and my best friend during it. Jedha had gotten frozen over. It wasn't a huge deal I guess. It's just...where I first learned how much I enjoyed fighting. They weren't people. I could...happily kill them. It's...not something I like to look upon fondly. Not anymore. It's a side of me that I don't want to embrace. Not anymore. I don't want to focus on how violent I used to be."​

Cori kept silent. Reina was clearly troubled by her memories and the Jedi knight wasn't about to give her a lecture on the ways violence could twist your mind. Because, as much as she hated to admit it, that would be extremely hypocritical of her.

There was a reason she was a Jedi Guardian, and not a consular, despite her natural affinity for divination. A new and beloved Consular - yes, that was what many in the order had expected her to become. She had been a sweet little padawan who would surely have grown up to be a gentle mentor figure in the temple, locked up in some tower spouting prophecies to the council so they could send others to deal with whatever threat she foresaw.

That wasn't who she became at all. So many were surprised to see her fighting at the front lines, blood staining her clothes and eyes lit up by the blue glow of her kyber crystals. She wasn't surprised at all. Because deep down, Cori loved to fight. She adored the rush of adrenalin that shot through her veins as she soared through the air, lightwhips slashing at her opponents like the tendrils of a medusozoa. It was her form of the hunt, her way to satisfy the predatory instincts deep within her.

"It's...a hard line to balance," Cori eventually muttered in response. "Keeping the darkness at bay while still doing what needs to be done."

After all, there would always be that anxiety, buried deep down within her heart. That hidden fear, that if she chased the thrill of the fight too far, she'd fall to the dark side.

"Patient is...not the word I'd use. But it's fine. You can say what you want. I won't hold it against you. Words are words. Actions speak louder than them. Plus...My master doesn't need me to defend her. She's not the kind to let words get to her. Not in my eyes at least."​

"I'm just glad I didn't offend you," The Ersansyr breathed a sigh of relief, then chuckled self deprecatingly. "Can you believe I come from a family of diplomats and wordsmiths? Oh, if they ever caught wind of this social blunder, I swear, I'd never hear the end of it..."

"...The truth can be subjective. It all depends on what you know and how you look at things. And I've...never had a good view of things. It was how I was raised."
"I don't have a good heart. I'm just pointing out the obvious. It's how I do things. If I think someone is wrong, I'll plainly tell them. And so...you're wrong. The Great Mother is still remembered. Same way the New Jedi Order might be remembered as a Myth. Or the terrors of the Sith." ​

Cori listened intently to Reina, her cyan eyes piercing as she stared back into the girls green ones. When she spoke, her voice was clear and confident, almost commanding if it weren't for the way her words were laced with a kindness born from empathy.

"Reina, my friend, there is nothing wrong with holding a realistic worldview. But should your perception of the world grow pessimistic, that is when things become dangerous," she paused to gesture to her light whips, "And I do not speak of the light and dark side here, or the Jedi and the Sith. This is not that simple. Our minds are complex and varied, and not easily tamed."

Brushing aside a lock of her orange pink hair, Cori held one hand up to her temple. "I know what it's like to view everything as hopeless, to feel as if there is no good left in this world. Every night, I receive visions of terrible things happening to innocent people. When I was younger, I let that shape my worldview and that left me a bitter, miserable individual who simply could not ever experience happiness."

"I know you believe now that you are only speaking the truth. But you must find a way to find joy in what you can, or else you will lose your mind. Make peace with the fact that the world is flawed in the same way that I did and embrace the freedom of optimism if you can."

"And yes, I still believe you have a good heart," Cori finished with a smile. "And you're right. Perhaps after this mission I shall return to the other Ersansyr and ask about The Great Mother. Maybe we can remember the old stories again, together as one."

"...When it starts, I can use the Force to make sure the storm won't affect us too much. But I'll need you to make sure everything is tied down. I don't want anything get blown away. If anything, we might be able to use the storm to our advantage. It'll hide our approach at the very least."​

The Jedi knight nodded curtly in response. "Of course. I'll set to work tying down the loose stuff on deck. I will also do what I can with the force. I am no master at controlling the storm clouds themselves, but I can use what I know of manipulating water to help keep the waves in check."

Never mind the fact that she had never done it from a boat before - she was usually actually in the water. Pushing her doubts aside, the Ersansyr hurried about on the ship as the wind continued to grow stronger, lashing down the crates and fishing equipment to the deck. By the time she was done, the rain had begun to truly bucket down, soaking them both in a deluge of water. Squinting, Cori took in the giant wave that was growing in size and rapidly approaching them.

"Direct me as you will," She said to Reina, still seeing this as a great learning opportunity. Lifting her hands, she settled into a steady stance, ready to use the force at a moments notice. "I'm here to help."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"I have...people who believe in me. That keep me towards the Light. They make it...easier to confront the Darkness inside my heart. There's one in specific...Who's been helping me grow. She's helping my Light to grow brighter and to help my ice to thaw. It might not be...a good thing, but she is perhaps the main reason why I would never give into the Dark. I don't want to hurt her again."

Reina couldn't help but smile to herself at the thought, even if the topic seemed somewhat grim. She didn't elaborate on who she meant. That wasn't important. What was important was how they had convinced Reina to change. She no longer strove for violence as a first resort. It was what she did best, it was what she enjoyed, but it wasn't what she sought. She'd needed to broaden her skill set. Whilst the path of a Jedi Consular would never be for Reina, a Sentinel or a Guardian always could be.

Her eyes fell upon Cori for a moment as Reina thought to herself. The Ersansyr was interesting to Reina. In a way, she was partly what Reina wanted to be like. Energetic. Bubbly. Out-going. But Reina knew that was easier said than done. It was a long way before she'd fully come out of her shell and be able to work with someone the way Cori was working with her. Reina had no little nuggets of wisdom that she could pass onto someone else, no lessons she could teach. Not because she didn't know things. Reina...just didn't have the confidence for it, nor the patience.

"...I don't see everything as hopeless. Everything happens for a reason. Me being abandoned happened for a reason. Me being alone in life happened for a reason. It all makes me who I am. The same way your visions have made you who you are. I had joy in my life. When all I had to worry about was fishing with my old...family. But then the droids put us out of business. It was easier to set up a group of droids to go fishing compared to living breathing people."

The horizon kept her attention as Reina's eyes then moved over to the front of her, her gaze slowly steadying and losing some of its warmth. Whether she liked it or not, Reina was slowly crawling into her shell.

"I used to want to be a Knight. Not the Jedi version. The one little kids are raised hearing stories about. Charging into a fight with shining armour and a glowing blade above their head to save the innocent. But...I can't be that. Not anymore. They lie to people. They act like everything will always be alright. But...I've seen too much to repeat that lie. The Galaxy will not always be alright. If that's pessimism, then that makes me a pessimist. I see myself as a realist."

Her hands gripped the wheel tightly, as her knuckles started to turn white from her grip. Her eyes not moving from the horizon, even as Reina's voice slowly dipped in emotion.

"And...I don't know how to have joy anymore. How to find fun in things. There are people I enjoy being with...but...they also give me emotions that I don't understand. I don't know how to deal with them. And it makes it feel wrong."

And with that, Reina didn't elaborate. She focused on sailing as the rain started to pour down around them. It didn't bother her. Rain was the type of weather Reina lived for as she spun the wheel to tackle the wave cascading towards them head on. It would be the best way to take it, instead of letting it hit them on their flank. It was growing in size, more and more. This would be the kind of storm that her crew would have tied themselves to the ship for, to make sure they'd stay safe...to make sure they wouldn't be swept away below the waves.

She didn't have that fear about Cori however. If the Knight got swept under the waves, Reina was sure she'd be able to keep in some way. In a way she might have even enjoyed taking a dip in the ocean but Reina tried not to focus on that as she braced herself against the wheel.

"If you can reduce the wave's size in any way, that'd be helpful. I can't focus on it much...from here."


​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Stoooorm!
Tags: Reina Daival

"I have...people who believe in me. That keep me towards the Light. They make it...easier to confront the Darkness inside my heart. There's one in specific...Who's been helping me grow. She's helping my Light to grow brighter and to help my ice to thaw. It might not be...a good thing, but she is perhaps the main reason why I would never give into the Dark. I don't want to hurt her again."​

"Well, I am glad you have found companions who you can lean on in times of need," Cori responded with a smile. "The life of a Jedi should never be a lonely one."

That didn't mean that it wasn't, though. After all, what Reina had just described was a dangerous mentality to have. To stake the balance of your soul on the whims of another meant to lose everything if they fell. To fight solely for them meant it was all that much easier for the dark side to twist your love and passion into obsession and darkness.

And yet, the Ersansyr chose to keep her thoughts to herself. Who was she to lecture Reina? She had her own attachments, her own weaknesses in the forms of her friends and family. At the end of the day, Cori would do anything to save her master from death. She still obsessively hunted down every scrap of evidence she could find on her former best friend, who had joined the Sith and then disappeared. Furthermore, if the people of her home planet ever called on her to sacrifice everything she was to save them, she would do so in a heartbeat.

"...I don't see everything as hopeless. Everything happens for a reason. Me being abandoned happened for a reason. Me being alone in life happened for a reason. It all makes me who I am. The same way your visions have made you who you are. I had joy in my life. When all I had to worry about was fishing with my old...family. But then the droids put us out of business. It was easier to set up a group of droids to go fishing compared to living breathing people."​

Cori hummed sadly, her advanced vocal cords giving the sound an almost ethereal quality. "I'm so sorry to hear that. On Aquilaris Minor, we aren't very technologically advanced. When I encountered droids for the first time, it was a significant culture shock to say the least. I still find them a little unnerving, to be honest."

"I used to want to be a Knight. Not the Jedi version. The one little kids are raised hearing stories about. Charging into a fight with shining armour and a glowing blade above their head to save the innocent. But...I can't be that. Not anymore. They lie to people. They act like everything will always be alright. But...I've seen too much to repeat that lie. The Galaxy will not always be alright. If that's pessimism, then that makes me a pessimist. I see myself as a realist."​

"For what it's worth," Cori's cyan eyes were filled with depth and emotion, an effect heightened by the darkness of the storm highlighting their natural bioluminescence, "I am not lying to you, or acting. I genuinely believe things will get better. But I am no fool, either. I've seen countless wars pass in just my short lifetime. I've seen terrible events play out that I was helpless to prevent. But for me, I have to believe that good will triumph in the end. It has done so countless times before, and it will do so again."

"Without hope, we have nothing," she sighed, looking back over the roaring waves reflectively, "Without hope, we have already given up."

"And...I don't know how to have joy anymore. How to find fun in things. There are people I enjoy being with...but...they also give me emotions that I don't understand. I don't know how to deal with them. And it makes it feel wrong."​

"No emotion is inherently wrong or even dangerous," the Ersansyr replied comfortingly. "How we deal with them can be, though. If you're in the market for advice, I would suggest taking the time to process how you feel with someone you're close to. There is no sense in carrying guilt over something you don't understand."

"It's not fair on yourself," Cori added, her voice softer. "You deserve happiness too, Reina."

"If you can reduce the wave's size in any way, that'd be helpful. I can't focus on it much...from here."​

Something clicked into focus inside Cori then, the same steely determination she wore into battle taking over her usually bubbly exterior. To call it her true self would be a lie, but there was something natural, something almost instinctual about the way her jaw locked into place and her eyes narrowed on the massive wave threatening to overwhelm them.
As it drew nearer, casting the two Jedi in it's shadow, Cori lifted her hands above her head and snapped her fists shut. The wave stilled then, held as if by an invisble hand, before the knight opened her fists again, pushing her arms down and away from her. The water mimicked her motion, falling down and back until it formed a smaller crest for the boat to meet.

The ersansyr let out her breath, taking a second to flex her fingers. As she did, her eyes widened at the sight of a structure looming in the distant horizon, previously hidden by the wave.

"We're almost there!" She called out over the rain, pointing the shape out to Reina. "We just need to fight through the rest of this storm first!"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"I am used to being lonely. The idea of having a life that is the opposite is something that I am...not used to. Either way. It's fine. I'll...always be lonely in a way. I might have friends. But I don't have family. I don't have anyone I'm special to."

Unfortunately for Reina, she was speaking about this as if it was the most regular thing in the world. She didn't see herself as special to anyone. She was just Reina. In a way, that wasn't even who she was. Reina was a name given to her by the crew. It wasn't what she was born with. That name was gone. She knew all of this could be used against her. Someone special to her had already tried to manipulate her with her feelings and thoughts but Reina wouldn't stand for it. Not anymore.

She had someone who believed in her. Plenty of people if she thought about it but she didn't want to think about it. She wanted to stay on the task at hand. They had to go and find this guy. Talking about herself and how she felt wasn't going to be solving that. She needed to focus on sailing, even as she listened to Cori's words. A small frown gracing her face. It was nice at the very least to know that she wasn't the only one who wasn't a fan of droids. Reina had seen so many people who had loved the bucket of bolts because they made their life so much easier. Yeah, but they didn't make other people's lives easier. Her grip was slowly tightening along the wheel, her knuckles turning more and more white as she tried to keep her frustrations in, even as they were indirectly playing with the storm.

"You might not be lying to me Cori. But that's the hard part. Sometimes people don't even know they're lying. Lying to others. Lying to themselves. There's someone I...cared for. Truly. She was walking down a Dark path because she kept lying to herself. No matter how hard I tried to show her the truth, I couldn't. And now it's too late. Her Lies have become her Truth. Your Good might prevail against the Evil you face, but I cannot. I am not as good as you. I am not as good as any of the Jedi."

With that, Reina returned to silence. Letting herself stew in her emotions, even when Cori said she deserved happiness. Because in Reina's eyes, she didn't. She was too blunt. Too rough around the edges to ever deserve happiness. She was too harsh on people. She enjoyed the rush of a fight too much. But even with that being said, she couldn't help but want to have happiness. To have a family. To be loved.

As the boat smashed its way through the waves, Reina braced herself as the water came crashing down upon the deck. It could have been a lot worse had Cori not used the Force to shrink the wave down in size but they were able to get through without anything going missing or flying off. They'd be able to fight through the storm. They could do this! Even as Reina scowled to herself, pushing herself and the boat forward. They were getting closer to the structure. At the very least, the storm should give them some form of shelter.​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Capture the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

"I am used to being lonely. The idea of having a life that is the opposite is something that I am...not used to. Either way. It's fine. I'll...always be lonely in a way. I might have friends. But I don't have family. I don't have anyone I'm special to."
​

The Ersansyr hummed a little at that, in the same half sad, half concerned quality as before. "Perhaps you're not used to it now, but one day you might grow to find you prefer a life that is...opposite, as you put it. You can adjust to anything, given enough time. Even a fish out of water can learn to walk on land."

Cori knew it must be hard for the girl. She was going through a transitional period of her life, a rather dramatic and abrupt change to her environment. In that regard, the knight could relate - how many nights had she spent sobbing over how much she missed her family when she had first left for the temple? The change had been so sudden and jarring that it had taken her years before she got used to life on the surface worlds.

"Sometimes our friends become our family," She said in reply to Reina's remark about her relationships. "And unless you read their minds - which is a terribly rude thing to do - you have no idea just how close someone might hold you in their regard. So don't write yourself off. You are more loved than you think."

"You might not be lying to me Cori. But that's the hard part. Sometimes people don't even know they're lying. Lying to others. Lying to themselves. There's someone I...cared for. Truly. She was walking down a Dark path because she kept lying to herself. No matter how hard I tried to show her the truth, I couldn't. And now it's too late. Her Lies have become her Truth. Your Good might prevail against the Evil you face, but I cannot. I am not as good as you. I am not as good as any of the Jedi."​

The storm raged around them, Cori using the force to help carve through the terrible waves as Reina spoke of someone she once knew. The Jedi knight had known someone similar, once. A woman who'd thrown their friendship away for the allure of the Sith. Her former best friend, now lost, possibly, forever.

"No one is born good or bad," she eventually sighed, softly. "It is as you say. We make our choices, we choose the truths and the lies that we shape into the codes we live by. Your friend was not born predestined to lead a life of darkness. It was a path she chose, and her fall is in no way a reflection of you. Do not blame yourself. You will go mad."

Cori had nearly gone insane herself, in those weeks when her friend had first gone missing. She'd worked herself into a frenzy, hopelessly scouring every inch of the holonet, banging on the doors of every nightclub, even pleading with her master to help her find her best friend.

Was her desperation truly born out of love, back then? Or was it simply a symptom of her guilt? If she hadn't insisted they go out that night, her friend might have never turned to the dark side.

"No Jedi is perfect, Reina," Cori shook her thoughts away, returning to the present. "What sets us apart is what we choose to do. Who we try to be. What we fight for. Will you choose to dedicate your life to the pursuit of kindness, empathy and purity? Or will you choose to give up before you have even started?"

The ersansyr fell silent again at that, focusing her concentration solely on getting them through the storm. It was not long before they reached the structure. Half boat, half house, the two story metal shack swayed dangerously in the wind. Stacked haphazardly on top of the corrugated, circular roof was a mess of cables, aerials and generators. Cori pointed them out to Reina.

"We'll take out his power, cut him off entirely and leave him in darkness," she said, curtly but not unkindly. "Then, when he emerges from his hideout, we can apprehend him. If he tries to swim I'll dive in after him, but under no circumstances should you follow me - you may be a strong swimmer but there is no telling what this current could do to you."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"Not every fish can learn how to walk on land. And some might, but it might feel like torture to them compared to a life at sea. Perhaps they can. Perhaps they can't. It's always different for the fish."

Reina shrugged her shoulders at that. She wasn't the kind of person to cry over spilt milk. If anything, she was more likely to keep all of that bundled up inside of her. A small frown on her face all the same, as she tried to focus on the ocean in front of her. She didn't believe that she was more loved than she thought she was. All Reina ever did was cause issues for people. She didn't help make things better for anyone. Too violent. Too prideful. She didn't have any family, as much as Cori might have thought otherwise.

And then Reina spoke up once more over the storm. Her gaze settled ahead of them, the light in her eyes far dulled as her knuckles grippled around the wheel fiercely. A small scowl coming across her face as she took in Cori's words.

"You're wrong. She was predestined to Darkness. At least that is her belief. That she was always going to be like that. That the Light Side wouldn't accept her. And no matter how hard I tried to show her otherwise, it never worked. I had tried my hardest...I had thought I could help her...Only to find out that she never cared for me. Never cared for who I was. She wants me, yes. But not as I am right now. She wants to break me down...and remake me into who she believes I am."

All that made Reina feel was anger. For someone she had cared about so much to end up being so vile. So cruel. It was why she wanted to cut her heart off to people once more. Of course that was far easier said than done. She wasn't sure what she was fighting for. She wasn't empathetic. She wasn't kind. And she wasn't pure. But at the same time she was not the kind of person to give up. To surrender and just crawl up in the corner...but she didn't know what she wanted to do anymore.

Luckily, Reina was able to turn her attention back towards the mission, as they arrived at the criminal's location. The wind was battering against the shack, and Reina did have the idea of trying to make the winds stronger. To blow the shack down but that would lead to too much collateral damage. Destruction wasn't the Jedi way, as much as Reina wanted to.

"...Fine. Fine. If he tries to escape into the water, I'll stay here."

Reina was sure she'd be fine. She had survived worst storms, but Cori knew best. She was the Knight in this situation and Reina wasn't going to go against what the Ersanyhr said.
​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Capture the mercenary
Tags: Reina Daival

"Not every fish can learn how to walk on land. And some might, but it might feel like torture to them compared to a life at sea. Perhaps they can. Perhaps they can't. It's always different for the fish."​

Cori just hummed sadly in response. Maybe that was fair, close to the truth even. There were so many times, living on Coruscant, when she felt as if she was in excruciating pain, having to walk around with legs instead of her beloved tail. There were far too many times when she felt trapped in the wrong skin, desperate for a life she could never have.
How could she judge Reina, when deep down, all Cori truly ever wanted was to spend the rest of her days wandering the ocean waves?

Of course it was dangerous to live within your comfort zone, unwilling to ever change your ways. She knew that. But perhaps it was just as dangerous to allow yourself to go mad, trying in vain to be something you're not. Something you could never be.

"You're wrong. She was predestined to Darkness. At least that is her belief. That she was always going to be like that. That the Light Side wouldn't accept her."​

Cori scoffed at that. "Truly, the arrogance of the Sith knows no bounds. They will come up with the most ridiculous excuses to justify their actions. I stand by what I said. She was the one who chose to give up on the light side. It did not give up on her."

Being a seer, many would assume that the ersansyr would believe in predetermination, and fate. But from her personal experience, most of the worst things she had foreseen were caused by the deliberate, malicious choices of others. Destiny was a tapestry woven with the threads of other's decisions and their resulting consequences.

"And no matter how hard I tried to show her otherwise, it never worked. I had tried my hardest...I had thought I could help her...Only to find out that she never cared for me. Never cared for who I was. She wants me, yes. But not as I am right now. She wants to break me down...and remake me into who she believes I am."​

Cori's sarcastic smile quickly turned into a sympathetic frown. "Do not blame yourself. A manipulative, cold hearted woman like that does not deserve to occupy even a single sliver of your brain. Her intentions are clearly impure, to ignore every beautiful thing that makes you who you are - to hope to destroy every last bit of your personality, until you are nothing but a clone of her - a servant of the darkside - I truly cannot think of anything more evil."

"...Fine. Fine. If he tries to escape into the water, I'll stay here."​

Cori nodded appreciatively, smoothing back her wet hair from her face before jumping from the boat and onto the swaying platform the hovel was stacked upon. Eyes raised to the roof of the shack, an embarrassed blush quickly crept up her cheeks as she realised she wasn't quite sure which aerial to destroy. A thousand curses upon her low tech background.

"I'll trust you to take out the power," she whispered back to the padawan behind her. "Then move to the back door. I'll take the front. Try to take him down without killing him if he comes through your door."

Without another word, the knight then leapt over the structure, using a force induced backflip to completely clear it. Landing in a three point pose before the front entrance, she drew her light whips, though she didn't activate them yet. Instead, she waited patiently, slitted cerulean eyes narrowing on the door in front of her.

OOC - Feel free to control the mercenary and his actions too

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

Reina gave a short nod at Cori's words. She didn't have any retort to give in response right now as she made sure to bring the boat to as much of a halt as she could. They had to be careful not to bump against the structure and give their position away. There was only so much noise that the storm could block out and she felt like the sound of metal crashing against metal might not be something they could ignore forever. As much as Reina wanted to think upon what Cori had said, they had to stay focused on the job at hand. Cori was trusting her to deal with the electricity so that's what Reina was going to do as she made her way up towards the structure.

Technology wasn't Reina's strong suit either, but she had at least a basic understanding of electronics from working on the ship. Her eyes scanned along through the wiring for a moment, using her index finger to trail her way over towards where she thought most of the electronics were connected. It wasn't as simple as going after the red wire or the yellow wire. She scowled to herself, as she tried to trace the wires back to the source...before she decided kark it, and took out her lightsaber, igniting the white blade for a moment and slashed through the power cables, as the entire shack was suddenly plunged into darkness...and with that, she made her way towards the back...

-------

"Oi! Drek. Go check on t' power couplin'! Think t' damned storms busted it."

A rough voice yelled from inside the dark interior of the shack, the sounds of bumping and shuffling being heard as the occupants moved around. Was it any surprise that the Quarran criminal had some form of backup? Of course not. A criminal rarely worked alone. That was why Drek had signed up to work with Leister. A group of criminals were far more effective than a singular one at the end of the day. Either way, the Duros shook his head for a moment as he made his way over towards the front door. Why did he always get stuck with these kind of jobs? Why couldn't Leister do it himself? Drek hated the storms.

And so he pushed open the front door, just as a flash of lightning cracked upon the horizon, as the Duros came face to face with Cori. Drek froze for a moment, a look of shock evident in his red eyes as his hand went for his side, moving for his blaster whilst at the same time he opened his mouth, ready to shout the alarm to warn the others...
​

 

[Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris]

Location: Trask
Objective: Apprehend the two criminals
Tags: Reina Daival

Reina plunged the structure into darkness, lighting up Cori's bioluminescent eyes in the dark, their cyan glow revealing the sharp edges of her teeth. That was until the lightning flashed behind her, revealing the glorious, warrior like silhouette of a Jedi knight.

A truly terrifying sight for Drek to walk into.

The duros stumbled back, reaching for his blaster, only for Cori to ignite her lightwhips. In the span of seconds, a teal blue tendril slapped his gun out of his hand. Drek barely had time to let out a hiss of pain before Cori's other lightwhip wrapped around him like a lasso, pulling him forward so she could cover his mouth with her hand.

"You are not who I came here for," The Jedi whispered, cold and quiet. "Where is the one called Leister?"

In response, Drek bit down on her hand, hard, and Cori withdrew it with a yelp of pain. She gritted her teeth as the duros began to run towards a boat nearby, shouting at the top of his voice: "Leister! Run! It's the Jedi! The Jedi are here, damn it!"

Snarling in frustration, Cori lashed out again with her lightwhips, one tendril pulling the duros back towards her and the other slashing across his ankles. Screaming in pain, the blue skinned mercenary drew another blaster hidden in his boot and began to shoot hot plasma at her. The ersansyr ducked and rolled, weaving through the fire while maintaining her strikes with her lightwhips.

It almost looked like a dance.

Still, the tell tale sound of the back door slamming made Cori twitch nervously as fought. But she had no choice but to focus on the mercenary in front of her, and trust Reina to apprehend Leister herself.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Trask
Tags: Cordelia 'Cori' Eldoris
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

Reina could hear some kind of commotion happening at the front. She was sure that whatever was going on however Cori would be able to deal with it. She just had to stay at the back door and prepare herself. That's when the Force screamed out a warning to her. The hair on the back of her neck suddenly jolting up as the redhead jumped away from the back door as it slammed open, the big ugly face of a Quarren coming running out and being face to face with Reina.

At first, Reina stumbled, her prosthetic foot slipping on the wet floor of the shack. It was hard to get grip when you had slippery metal against metal but Reina was used to being off balance as she let herself fall backwards, using her hands to almost break out into a small flip, letting herself land back onto her good leg, as her eyes settled on the Quarren.

"Leister! Stop right there! You're under arrest."

Did she even have the right to arrest someone? It wasn't important to Reina. She had to stop Leister here and now. It wasn't a good idea for her to use her Lightsaber. No, she'd risk killing him by accident then. Instead she tried to rush Leister down, going in to try and tackle the Quarren. Even a knee to the face couldn't stop her as she dragged him down to the ground. Maybe there was a more professional way for her to do this, but by the time they both started throwing punches, it was far too late.

Fists and knees were flying all over the place as Reina tried to knock Leister out and then...the sudden feeling of weightlessness and falling. Her eyes going wide for a moment before the sudden splash of water came over her. In the struggle, it seemed the pair had slipped off the shanty and landed in the water as Reina's first response was to hold her breath. Most when plunged into cold water reactively took in a breath of water, but Reina was experienced. For now, she just tried to keep her grip on Leister, as the Quarren tried to swim away.
​