Running the Gambit

[Saria Messoa]

Saria was a farm girl at heart. No matter how far she got from home, she would always be that, and she had a unique love of nature as a part of that. Lately, her life had been nothing but running here and there. And it was honestly, what she needed to do. Saria had to survive, and to survive she needed food. And for food, she needed money. That was just how it was.

But in all of that, she hadn't had a chance to just stop and enjoy nature. She missed nature, she had spent so much time among the sentient beings. They made her feel... strange. Too many thoughts, too many emotions, and too much for her to handle all at once. She needed space from them. The commutes to transport goods wasn't enough. That was different, it was isolation in a strange sense. No, she needed nature's embrace, she needed the way that it felt to be around animals and plants. There was nothing like it. That was what brought her here to Naboo's lake country.

A small bird flew by, fluttering its tiny wings through the forest, its colorful feathers a beautiful display of glory. Saria had been here for a few days now, acquainting herself with the local wildlife and cleansing herself emotionally and mentally from the troubles of society and all the people she had to deal with. It had been insane lately, her life was packed with strangers and the world that entailed. She became a pilot, then a pirate, and now she was--well, she was a little bit of everything.

She sighed. She was happy right now, things were going well for the first time in a while. She ventured deeper into the woods, just savoring the good feeling of the energy around her. Sephanie Swail had told her she was an empath, in touch with the Force. Saria didn't know what that meant, or how to deal with it, but it was a step forward. Saria was getting answers, slowly but surely. She didn't know what that meat or how it would play out, but she was figuring herself out. Maybe when that happened, she thought she might finally come to grips with herself and the things that had made her feel so different from everyone else her whole life.

[member="Veino Garn"]​

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Saria Messoa"]

Sometimes, the Force took him to strange places. Oftentimes, those were dark places. But this was the first time that it had ever led him here to Naboo's lake country. He'd been to Naboo before, of course. Several times, if he remembered correctly, which was never quite certain, but never here. Still it guided him in search of something or someone. Hardly felt dangerous, but it definitely was leading him somewhere.

He pulled the great-coat closer around his shoulders as he strode towards this distant nexus in the Force that he could feel. It was moving, but certainly wasn't dangerous. Not that he could feel anyways. Perhaps... more confused would better describe the sense that he was receiving.

So he walked for some time until he was close and as he paused to scan the surrounding hillsides, he caught movement, a person, the one that he was looking for. Veino adjusted course and headed towards the figure.

A young woman, he realized once he was closer, just wandering about the countryside.

"Hello!" He called, pausing some distance away to not be a threat. "I'm Veino."

 

[Saria Messoa]

Saria could feel him before she could see him. It was like a tickle in the back of her brain. She shook it off, telling herself that it was nothing more than her own imagination or lingering thoughts from the people she had delt with so far. Saria had gone pretty far out of her way to make sure she couldn't be found or talked to. The nearest settlement was an hour away, and even that was a tiny place.

When she saw him, Saria's heart jumped. Her hand gravitated to the side arm strapped to her hip, then shook her head, chiding herself inside for reverting to that. Maybe she was changing from all the things she had seen, and maybe she was becoming more streetwise, bit by bit.

He was coming closer, he didn't feel bad, so she started walking towards him as well. She didn't come here to meet anyone, but if someone was going to show up she figured it would be best to bite the bullet rather than try to avoid him and end up getting ambushed or worse. One way or the other, she was going to end up talking to him.

He introduced himself as Veino, and he didn't seem to mean her any harm. She waved back, "Saria. Your out quite a ways. You crash? Or lost?"

[member="Veino Garn"]​

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Saria Messoa"]

Veino shook his head at the question, hands again buried in his pockets. His eyes followed her hand as it hovered on the gun before moving away again. Interesting. She had seen things, been through things, to make the gun her first reaction. He let out a long breath and his shoulders slumped at all that it implied. The galaxy had fallen into a dark place. Fallen into chaos and into pieces, in fact. Perhaps it was not such a great thing that interstellar travel had been reinstated. Its price was far too high for any possible benefits.

"Pleasure to meet you," he called, and after looking around, took a seat on the grass. Less threatening that way. "No, neither lost nor crashed." He looked up and met her gaze. His eyes shone silver even in the daylight. "The Force has led me to you. I was needed."

He sat there, watching the clouds race across the sky. They were beautiful. Elegant. Peaceful. He could see what had drawn her out here.

"So really," he added after a moment, "What do you need from me?"

 

[Saria Messoa]

"No, neither lost nor crashed. The Force has led me to you. I was needed."

Saria blinked. The Force seemed to be coming up a lot lately in her life, but it almost sounded like this fellow was talking a little crazy. She didn't know why a stranger would come out all the way here to see her, or why any of the Force would bring them here. But it was nice here, and maybe that was what was important. He sat on the grass, and she arched her brows up. This guy was a first rate set of odd.

She decided to remain standing. She didn't want to get dirt or grass on her designer skinny jeans. It was a pain to clean out and the Boon's washing machine wasn't pretty old. She found out pretty early she had to scrub stains out of her clothes by hand.

"What do you need from me?"

"Well," she said tentatively, "a name for starters would be nice."

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Saria Messoa"]

"Veino Garn," he answered, holding his hands out wide. "Member of the New Jedi Order, although not here on their behalf." He gave a half-smile and quiet laugh. "I follow only the Force. But, I am an empath and can sense your uncertainty. What other ways can I prove my intentions to you?"

He let himself fall back against the grass and gazed up at the sky, crossing his arms beneath his head. "Take as long as you need. It's nice here." Without looking, he plucked a piece of grass from the ground and chewed it between his teeth. It was strange to be out travelling again. He'd spent too long in Yumfla, with such small concerns. And yet, it was his home. Was it though? Or was it the galaxy that was his home?

He was never sure and he certainly still wasn't.