Private Sun and Moon

[Calyx Sundrift]

T R O I T H E -,. L E V E L -2 3 ​

Calyx leaned over the narrow iron balustrade that separated him from the abyss of Troithe’s lower levels. Far below, the crevice shimmered with traffic lights and glowing windows, just barely revealing the distant factory floors. They had once been down there, at least. But Troithe had grown by at least three levels since his last visit. The factories had likely moved upward, closer to the surface, taking the jobs and economic pulse with them. In a few years, Calyx figured, the only ones left down here would be retirees and ghosts.

He pushed off the railing and continued down the promenade of the newly christened Level 23. Neon signs and flickering holograms pulsed from every corner, mascots dancing in a desperate bid for attention. It reminded him more of the chaos of Denon or Nar Shaddaa than Coruscant - which had once been Troithe’s rival. But years of war, corruption, and neglect had changed the Galaxy, even on the Core Worlds. The Galactic Alliance could only hold back so much rot.

Calyx, at least, saw the ecumenopolis for what it was: a city in the midst of an identity-crisis.

And somehow, that made him feel right at home.

A sudden eruption of fast footfalls broke his thoughts. Calyx's eyes shot back to the street as a burly Gran charged past a group of Rodians, breathing hard. The alien glanced back just as he moved into Calyx’s path. “Hey!” But he was too late. The Gran crashed into him, slamming Calyx against the concrete. Pain shot through his elbow as he hit the ground hard. The Gran toppled with him, but only briefly. “Look where you’re going, at least!” Calyx growled, rolling over.

But the Gran was already on his feet, rushing down the promenade again.

In his hand glinted a bright blue identification card.

Calyx patted his pocket. Empty.

“Somebody stop him!”

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23

​

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Acier had never been so far into the Core before, or the Core at all for that matter. Never had a reason, that and needing to lie low. Regardless, he still didn't have a reason to be in the Deep Core. He wasn't sure what he expected from Troithe, but it was something more. Turns out the system was no different than Bonadan, Nar Shaddaa, or Denon - it just had a fancier coat of paint.

He'd been at a cross-roads for some time now. He'd left Bonadan all that time ago with a mission: to find out who his parents were. So much had changed. So much had happened, around him and to him. Ace had uncovered the identity of his father, his bloodline and that had given him a new sense of identity. Understanding. But there was still more to the mystery, who his mother was and why she left him.

Then there was training with Pisti, leading to a new type of understanding within himself too. He was sharper, stronger, faster but still unfinished. Like a quarter-finished software update.

Ace knew somewhat of who he was, had this incomplete training - the galaxy was his to explore freely. But the question was, what was he to do with this newfound freedom?

“…She’s the reason I stopped surviving and started living.”

As if on cue, the words of Aadihr flashed in his mind. It was something that had stuck with him during their encounter on Denon. In the following months though, amidst all the craziness and chaos - he'd forgotten it. But now? As he reflected everything, he was still in the same place. Except he wasn't surviving anymore, just... drifting. He still wasn't living.

How does someone live?

Cruising through the promenade, Ace was snapped out of his introspection when the sounds of commotion reached his ears. Head whipping in the direction of the noise, he saw a Gran on top of some guy. Looked like one, or both weren't looking where they were going. Ace paid it no mind, it wasn't his problem. He turned to continue on his way, then came the shout:

“Somebody stop him!”

Oh, it was a bump and lift. Core, Rim, everywhere was the same apparently. He sighed, and without thinking, he broke into a sprint after the Gran. The thief was fast, but uncoordinated, like he hadn't planned anything past the lift. Knocking into people, bumping into the railing and other things in his path.

Ace, meanwhile, navigated his way through the crowd that pushed against him - ironically, like some sort of poetic allegory for his life. This time though, he wasn't forcing himself through, he weaved. Maybe it was the training, the Force, his newfound confidence... or maybe all three.

It didn't take long for him to catch up, Pisti's brutal pre-breakfast roadwork routines weren't for nothing. His stamina control was greater, speed grander. When he got close, Ace lunged and slammed the Gran into the ground with full force. He rose to one knee, grabbed the Gran's right arm and twistedit up behind his back.

"Take it from me. There's easier and less risky ways to make credits."

With his free hand, Ace rummaged through the thief's pockets and pulled out the blue ID card. He stood to his full height, rotating his wrist in order to inspect every angle of the card. The name on the ID read 'Calyx Sundrifter'.

The freckle-faced young man glanced at the Gran, still on the floor, shaking with fear. He recognized it all too well. Ace wasn't going to turn him in for this, knowing what it was like, the kind of desperation that makes someone take such a risk. Acier offered the thief a hand, pulling him up when he finally accepted.

"Think of this as a blessing, or a gift from whatever deity you worship." he said "If it hadn't been me, it could've been someone a lot worse. For your sake, learn from this."

Jerking his head forward, Ace gave him the cue to leave. And that he did, vanishing into the sea of people ahead.

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Calyx broke into a sprint as he rose. The Gran had a headstart, but it wouldn’t be enough to stay ahead of him. Crowds parted and people jumped aside as the Gran barrelled through. Unfortunately, he did not receive the same treatment. He just didn’t have the Gran’s intimidating physique, with arms like steel cables. Nor did he have three eyes.

Somebody else – a dark-skinned guy with snow-white hair – was cutting through the mass of people as if it was nothing. Calyx shifted direction, intent on flanking the Gran in case he tried to duck into an alley.

Then, the stranger lunged. He crashed into the Gran, sending them both to the ground. No sooner than he’d completed his tackle, and he had the Gran in a secure lock. By the time Calyx arrived, the Gran was already up again. Fading into the crowds, looking anxiously over his shoulder. Calyx watched him until he was out of sight, then let out a long, slow sigh.

Turning to the stranger, he grinned. “Thanks. He got the drop on me.” He shrugged. “Literally, I suppose.”

It’d really come out of nowhere. No – he had let his guard down. How long ago had it been since he’d last done that?

“I’d introduce myself, but seeing as you’ve already got my credentials, I’m guessing you don’t need my name.” He raised his hand to take the card back, eyeing the stranger. The guy was probably just a couple of years younger than him. Calyx didn’t know many human offshoots with such stark contrast in hair and complexion, but then again, it wasn’t unheard of. “Anyway, I’m Calyx. Calyx Sundrift.” He flashed a smile as he spoke. “Is there any way I can repay you for, well... this?” He gestured to the spot where the Gran had lain.

“Let me buy you a Kaff at least. There’s this great café just a couple of blocks away.” Calyx pointed back toward their starting point. “Or we could look for a bar, if you’re the type for day-drinking.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “But seriously, let me treat you to something. It’s the least I can do.”

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23

​

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

It didn't take long for, who he assumed to be, Calyx to arrive for his card. Acier turned to face him, watching with a faint smirk while Calyx thanked him.

As he continued to speak, Ace eyed him carefully - taking in his characteristics. He was a little taller than Ace, pale skinned with blond hair and blue eyes. Nothing out of the ordinary. What really caught his eye though, was the the total mismatch between his getup and his face. He dressed in dark clothing that appeared almost second-hand but his face? It almost looked regal.

Calyx made a comment about not needing introductions, pulling Ace's gaze back to his.

"That'd be a little redundant, yeah." he answered with his usual dryness, but not devoid of levity. His eyes lowered, realizing that Calyx was waiting for his card back. Ace handed it back to him without a word.

Calyx still introduced himself anyway "Acier." he responded, not bothering with his surname. What was the point?

Shooting him a departing nod, Ace turned to leave but stopped once he heard Calyx offer to repay him. It really wasn't necessary, not over this at least. But Sundrift continued, proposing caff or heading to a bar. Ace began to feel like this was a little like deja vu, reminding him of his run-in with Thalen Dhorain back on Ord Mantell.

Well, it wasn't like Ace had anything better to do anyway. He exhaled, shoulder's sinking and met Calyx's gaze "'Kay." he replied "Not a day-drinker, or a drinker at all. But I won't say no to a Scarif Slush."

Silence hung between them as Ace scanned for nearby bars, head turned to his left, then right. He placed his hands on his hips, sort of in resignation, and looked at Calyx. Guess they were going to be walking further than anticipated. Ace gestured for Calyx to walk with him.

TAce would walk in in a steady silence, the buzz of Level 23's lower promenade filling the air between them. Neon signs blinked overhead, casting their faces in shifting shades of pink and green as they passed corner cafés, rundown diners, and shady lounges with names like The Backdraft and Spire Smoke.

Eventually, they came across a narrow stairwell that dipped beneath an old mechanic's shop, a flickering sign overhead reading: LOW TIDE. Ace looked to Calyx with a raised brow.

"Thoughts?"

Calyx Sundrift
​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

His own casual tone was bounced back by Acier. It took effort not to return a stupid grin. "Acier. A good name!" Calyx declared. Then, he added "Can I call you Ace?" It felt more casual. Somehow, more fitting too.

They'd already begun a slow saunter back to where neon billboards competed with holographic sign spinners when Acier agreed. Although he did consider himself much of a drinker, Calyx did feel like the teen would rather visit a bar than a café. "A bar it is then." Calyx said with a nod of approval.

Finding one, however, proved more difficult.

The promenade mainly held small cafés, luxurious dining rooms, or the liquor store that sold wines priced like landspeeders. Exactly the kind of things one could expect from Level 23. Approaching high class, in every sense of the term.

They talked little. An occasional pointer here and there. Sometimes a small remark on a particularly gleaming speeder passing by, or a street musician. Calyx had claimed to know a shortcut, the kind that took them through alleys and over occasional fire escapes. The kind that had only a rusty grate sitting beneath you and the traffic abyss below.

"Level 23 still, but it's actually level 27." Calyx said as he leapt off a final ladder. "They count up here, the deeper you go down. As opposed to Coruscant, where the system actually works." It was a small jab at the capital, the kind he wasn't certain would land with Acier. "Real inconvenient to change your numbering every time a new level is added. Causes people to mess up. Like they did here."

He folded his arms, scanning the narrow street that lay before them. Flashes of green and pink illuminated the smog that leaked from exhaust pipes and chimneys. There were no vanancies - every shop window was filled and every restaurant had either stalls or seats to claim a little of the stained concrete. Bars like The Backdraft and Spire Smoke awaited them. Yet as they made their way through, Acier found something different. "Low Tide", a set of stairs that led to a door that, really, gave nothing away.

"Well," Calyx began. "I didn't expect you to find the best hidden place in '27. Didn't even know this was here." He shot Ace an uncertain look. The came a glimmer of amusement. "At least they set the bar real low for us."

Calyx slapped Ace on the shoulder and began to descend first.

L O W- T I D E​

Theme​

His pace slowed. Motions became more deliberate. Calyx was stunned. "Ace, you blasting nerfherder." He laughed, glancing back. "This is just plain unfair to pick after I've said 'drinks on me'." Not giving Acier the chance to turn back, Calyx began moving further in. Confident, pushing his way through the club toward one of the few empty tables. "Alas, a promise is a promise." He said, as he turned his chair so that he could sit on in the wrong way, letting his elbows resting on the chair's back. Pressing a small button on the table made the holographic menu card appear. "Doubt they've got your Scarif Slush here though."

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

​

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

This Calyx guy seemed to like to talk to fill the silence... a lot. So much so that Ace was regretting agreeing to let him repay him. First, Calyx started off with asking him if he could call him 'Ace' - that was met with a dry "If you want." Then some random information about the different Level systems on Troithe, and how it compared to Coruscant. Ace simply responded with a nod and an "Uh-huh" in between every few words.

"At least they set the bar real low for us."

"What was that? Was that a pun?" Ace asked, deadpan, casting Calyx a sidelong glance.

He was definitely a chummy one On Bonadan, slapping someone's shoulder, even in a friendly manner, would've gotten you flattened. With a huff, Ace followed Calyx down the stairs and into the Low Tide.

As soon as the door shut behind them, the hum of the city dimmed, replaced by pulsing bass and the low murmur of voices tucked into dim-lit booths. The air inside Low Tide was warm, tinged with spice, perfume, and old machinery. Neon strips traced the walls in gentle blue arcs.

Ace could feel this place, The Force didn't scream in here, it settled. It was low and quiet, like tidewater over stone. It wasn't clean or peaceful, not like it was during his time training… but it wasn't hostile either. It was layered. Thick. Like emotion had seeped into the walls, years of stories, lovers' whispers, drunken confessions, silent regrets. All that energy lingered, humming just beneath the surface. Ace didn't hear voices or see echoes but he could sense weight. A presence. The Force was dense here.

As he centred himself back, he caught the tail end of what Calyx said. Something about it being unfair to pick this place for drinks. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at the other man and shrugged.

"Sorry. Didn't know. We can go somewhere else--"

But he'd already picked out a table. Following, he slid into the seat across from Calyx, one brow slightly raised. Ace eyed the holographic menu, flipping through glowing drink names he didn't recognize and couldn't pronounce. No Scarif Slush. Of course.

"Figures." he muttered. "Nothing's ever simple."

He leaned back slightly, letting the menu fade. For a moment, his gaze drifted to the bar's low lights, the quiet pockets of conversation, the hum beneath it all. He wasn't used to places like this. Not really. Too clean to be seedy, too shadowed to be safe. It was either one extreme or the other, usually the seedy end.

"Guess I'll take whatever you're having." he said finally, eyes flicking back to Calyx. "Long as it doesn't taste like engine coolant."

Calyx Sundrift
​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Nothing was ever this simple.

One glance at the menu was all he needed to make his choice. "You sure? Because I prefer the stronger stuff." Ace had said he wasn't a drinker. Calyx hadn't been - not until he'd lost the transmitter chip implanted in his forearm. Since then, Calyx found himself searching for stronger liquors every day. There was no better way to celebrate newfound freedom.

"I'd recommend the Utoz. Or the Revnog. Both are excellent choices if you're gonna be spitting it out anyway." Calyx offered as he scrolled. He'd already made his choice; Jet Juice. Because of Ace's remark. It was the closest thing to engine coolant that he could think of.

"What brings you to Troithe anyway?" Calyx absently flicked through the menu card, but his attention was fully on Ace. He seemed unbothered by the pulsing, pink-lit clouds of incense and smoke, the rhythm of the bass, or the hypnotic swirl of holographic dancers spiraling above the crowd that mimicked the real performers. "Lay over?" Tourists and day-trip visitors never made it down to Level 23. The promenades were suited for the locals, but Ace was none. Not if accent was anything to go by. Then again, there were always people looking for work. Even on Troithe, where menial jobs were scarce. "Family?" Acier's clothes were the rugged type. A simplistic blend of muted colors preferred by men who valued practicality more than fashion-sense. It wasn't the sort of thing worn by anyone whose family also had the credits to live in the Deep Core. "Oh, I know." He leaned back triumphantly. "You're here to see our world famous Cerberron Singularity." He made a dismissive gesture. "I'm kidding. I don't know you. It's not like you owe me a story."

He let short silence fall. "That's the thing of it though." He smiled, seemingly to himself. "Your secrets are safest with strangers. They're the furthest removed from your life." His eyes darted through the room, for the first time really focusing on the many performers and their patrons at the many tables. "Got a type, Ace? Men? Women? Wookiees?" Calyx seemed mesmerized by the ghostlike shape of a passionate dancer in the far back. "Mine's Twi'leks. Blue, preferably. Don't really mind the gender. It's- they're just the most beautiful creatures in the galaxy. Usually passionate, with an unmatched strength of character." He shrugged. "I like people who unapologetically stand up for who they are. Perhaps that's the most important thing." Confiding into a stranger, especially when it came to love, was not new to him. It tended to make people uncomfortable. Put them on a back foot. Perhaps that was why he liked to do it.

Plus, somebody's type said about everything you needed to know about the person.

He looked expectantly at Ace, gauging his reaction.

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

​

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Acier waved off the menu, letting the hologram flicker out. None of the options were of interest to him. He didn't want to seem ungrateful, but he'd rather Calyx save his credits instead of wasting them on a drink Ace would hate. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms as Calyx started guessing. He didn't interrupt, just listened - fingers drumming against his bicep.

While he spoke, Ace's eyes drifted for a moment toward the swirling pink haze above the dancers. There was so much movement in here. Color, music, perfume, people brushing too close, laughter too loud. It should've overwhelmed him. A few months ago, it would've. But now he was just tuned to the rythm underneath - it felt as noticeable as his own heartbeat.

Ace stayed quiet. Still listening. His gaze half-lidded, tracking every gesture like it might give him a better read. The guy was charming, sure. Funny, even. But it wasn't just nerves or banter. He was doing that thing people did when they were looking for something in someone else. A reaction, chink in the armor maybe. Something that showed your true face. His eyes drifted again, lowering this time.

Upon hearing something about Twi'lek's, his eyes lifted "You talk a lot." he said, not unkindly "I came here for reasons of my own. That's it."

He let the words hang in the space between them, eyes skimming the flickering blue and violet lights overhead. In truth, he didn't really know why he sat down, why he agreed to... whatever this was. Maybe it was what had already been plaguing him for so long... aimlessness. How he was just doing things for the sake of it now.

Ace shifted in his seat, glancing toward the back of the room. It was instinct, more than curiosity. Old habits, but nobody was watching. Not yet, at least.

"And I don't have a type." he added, like he was still deciding whether to answer at all "Not 'cause I'm above it or whatever. Just never had time to explore. I like girls, I guess" he shrugged. Like it was something he never really thought about.

Ace stayed silent for a moment, looking down at his arms. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched as he glanced up.

"I do know a blue Twi'lek, though."

Calyx Sundrift ​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Calyx dismissed the comment with a short laugh. He did talk a lot and it wasn't the first time somebody explicitly told him. "Reasons of your own..." He studied Ace intently. Then put up his hands. "Fine, I give up." He had, in fact, not given up. Some things simply took time.

Calyx's gaze shot back to Ace as soon as he shifted to look in the same direction. Despite the distance he tried to keep, Acier did seem to possess an inherent curiosity. A mentality of 'Mind your own business' with a hint of 'nosy neighbor'. He could narrow that down to a mix and match of Outer Rim and Core space. Maybe the exact systems too, with a little thought.

Other matters had priority, though.

Ace didn't claim to have a type. Anyone who ever said that, in his not-so-humble opinion, had never even held hands before. Or tried to hide whomever their crush was on.

There was a pause after Ace defended himself. An uncomfortably long silence, with Calyx staring at him. "You like… girls?" Calyx repeated. "That's it?" He cocked his head to the side. "What do you even mean with 'no time to explore?' You're telling me that there were no farmgirls or shopkeeper's daughters in the Outer Rim who liked this-" He gestured at Ace. "Sour and brooding thing you got going on?" Calyx shook his head firmly. "Yeah like I'd believe that. Turn me into a sixteen-year-old girl and put me on, say-" His gaze narrowed. Calculating. "Ryloth or Corellia." A dangerous glint played about them. "And I would've known." Again, he shook his head. "No Ace, dear friend, I'm not falling for that one. Issue's with you, isn't it?" He pointed. "Tell me you're as confident with the girls as you were when you jumped on that Gran back there. I can tell when you're lying." He smiled. "I think, at least."

Ace had said something else too. That hadn't slipped by. "Twi'lek, though? We talking about a he or a she here? What are they like? Mesmerizing in all the wrong ways? Somehow they keep coming back in your life?" Again, his attention seemed to waver. "Could you introduce me some day?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

​

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Calyx repeated Ace's earlier statement, almost with a tone of disbelief. Or, maybe suspicion. He was sharp, catching on to what Ace had said about 'not having time to explore'. Meeting someone like Cal was far and few between, the kind who never missed a thing or knew the right things to point out. He had to stifle a sigh at Calyx's continued probing.

"Let's just say I had more important things to worry about growing up." Like my next meal he wanted to add, but, Ace didn't want to give off the impression he was some sort of victim. Ace continued "If anyone were even interested. Wouldn't have noticed."

He shrugged, casting a glance into the distance. He was scanning again, exits, people, hazards - any sign that something was wrong. But, this time it wasn't because of instinct. It was from the uncomfortableness of this conversation, Ace desperately needed a distraction.

"Issue's with you, isn't it?"

Calyx had done it again. Chosen the right words to draw Ace's attention. His gaze, and his focus, returned to the man sat opposite him. Ace shifted in his seat uncomfortably while Calyx continued to speak. To poke and prod. Calyx's last words made him snap out of it, drawing out a scoff from the white-haired nomad.

"You've just met me and can tell when I'm lying?" He said mockingly. Then his expression fell flat again "All I've ever known is fighting, or scrapping. Stuff's second nature to me."

Ace let that one hang too, refusing to elaborate further. Calyx was clearly intelligent and Ace believed it would be a satisfying piece of information to leave the man with. He sat back in his seat again, arms tightening in their crossover.

Then, Calyx went on about Twi'lek's again. Well, he was showing interest in the one he had mentioned off-handedly: Rheyla.

Ace felt his jaw tighten when Calyx mentioned being introduced to her, followed by a weird pang in his chest. It was involuntary, one that even surprised himself. What was that? He quickly regained his composure, before responding. Playing off what had just happened and what he'd just felt.

"She's prickly, gets under your skin in the worst ways, really good at killing. But..." he averted his gaze, one corner of his lip tugged "... She's probably the closest thing I've got to a friend."

Once he had said that out loud, Ace quickly realized how pathetic it sounded. He didn't care about how Calyx would interpret it, but to himself? It only made him realize how lonely he truly was. He knew a few people, got along with others, even had a newfound brother but... they were all basically strangers. It took a moment before he realized he'd trailed off in contemplation.

"Sure, I can introduce you. Good luck with that, though." Ace's expression hardened quickly "Is there a point to this? Why are you even interrogating me about this stuff?"

Calyx Sundrift ​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Calyx nodded, feigning understanding. "And that's exactly the problem." He knew the type. Worry was natural. From 'Can I pay next month's rent?' to 'will I survive the next bombardment?' Light or heavy challenges - ultimately it was about survival. The strength to see tomorrow's sun rise. He'd been there himself only months ago.

Never again.

"You're way too focused on surviving." He snapped his fingers as Ace glanced back to keep his attention. "Surviving while you're supposed to be living." He couldn't keep the insistency concealed. "People never appreciate what they have until it's taken from them." Whether it were bonds, material goods, or their lives. Parting with something they considered their was not something any being liked to do. It was why the Order had had such a hard time teaching detachment.

The conversation took another turn when Ace contested his abilities. "Reading people is what I do, Ace." He huffed. "That, and getting on people's nerves." It didn't hurt to share that he was aware of that fact. "Gotta make do with what the Force gave you. Else you're not getting very far."

He managed to shift the subject back to the Twi'leks. To Ace's acquantaince. Upon her description, Calyx let out a laugh. "If getting under your skin is what it takes, then consider this my application." It struck him like a sensitive subject. 'Closest thing to' meant that, at present, he likely had none at all. Calyx chose not to pry further. "That's good though. Really. It's nice to have friends. Couldn't do without." He said, more seriously this time.

Then, Ace got on the defensive. Calyx's brow creased a little. "Well..." he thought for a moment. "Me and my people skills have decided that you need a friend. And a lady friend too, if I can help it." He couldn't suppress the amusement, a smile playing about his lips again.

"Gallant of me, no?" With Ace, Calyx already knew what kind of answer he would get. "Truth is, I could use one too. At least for tonight." Calyx suddenly seemed less certain of himself. Glassy eyes staring at shadows in the pink vapours. "I happen to be on borrowed time. Gotta make the best of it I suppose." He mumbled.

Snapping out of it, Calyx turned to Ace again. "Drinks! I promised you a drink. Made your choice yet?"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Ace's eyes darted to Calyx as he snapped his fingers. He smirked, not at Calyx but to himself. It was amusing in a way, that Calyx needed to resort to something as menial as snapping his fingers. Regardless, it worked though, Ace listened to what the man had to say.

Surviving while you're supposed to be living hit Ace hard. So much so that his expression softened ever so slightly. Someone like Calyx would be able to catch it if they were paying attention. What he said... it was as if the man had read his thoughts. Or peered so deeply into his heart and unravelled it. Then Calyx followed it up with another nugget knowledge. One he'd heard enough, and one that always made him think:

What if you never had anything to begin with.

Calyx had earned himself a faint smirk when he admitted to getting on people's nerves. At least he was self aware, it was healthy. But then he did it again, dropped something significant amidst all the white noise of casual conversation. Ace's eyes widened slightly, he'd mentioned the Force casually and off-handedly. Not in some kind of general knowledge way, but like he actually knew it.

What piqued his curiosity though, was that Ace couldn't sense anything on him. No hints of Force-sensitivity or nothing... almost like, he was invisible to it.

Ace hadn't realized he was so deep in thought, analyzing what Calyx had said about the Force, that he'd partially missed the rest of what he had to say. Only catching the end of him saying something about deciding that Ace needed both a friend and a lady friend.

"What? No--" he attempted to interject but Calyx cut him off, playfully referring to himself as 'gallant' - whatever that meant.

Ace sighed, shoulders slumping and lowering his gaze slightly. Calyx's tone then turned serious, lowering a few octaves. It made Ace glance up at him again. It seemed like a moment of vulnerability, he admitted to being in need of... well, he wasn't sure if he meant a friend or another kind of friend. But, his demeanor almost seemed forlorn.

His expression softened and his body loosened. Ace leaned forward a little, voice becoming a little gentler. Ace ignored Calyx's question about drinks completely. The man, whether purposeful or not, had succeeded at tugging at Ace's compassion. Was he in trouble? Was there anything he can to help?

"What do you mean you're on borrowed time?"

Ace paused after asking, biting his cheeks slightly as he pondered whether to ask the next question on his mind.

Curiosity won out.

"Earlier, you said something about the Force. It... you sounded a little too familiar with it to off-handedly mention it the way you did." he asked, tone slightly more stern now.

Calyx Sundrift​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

How quickly Ace refused and deflected delighted him. The man was like a closed book written in an esoteric language. Sometimes, however, you could make do with the illustrations and interpret what was written. This, definitely, counted as one of the illustrations. Acier might as well have leapt out of his chair.

He supressed a smirk and signalled the server.

She came just in time to form a distraction. He'd said too much, and Ace pressed on the subject. Calyx ignored the question and put on his most charming smile for the server - a Nagai woman with her dark hair in updo and a glittering purple bodyglove hugging her frame. She was a little older than them. Late twenties, perhaps.

She shot him one look, then began swiping on her holopad with feigned disinterest. "What'll it be boys?"

"A Jet juice, a revnog for him, and…" Calyx glance at the drinks menu again. "An Ardees, if your shift happens to end in the coming hour." He looked at her expectantly, head supported on his fist.

She eyed him. Then Ace. "Ardees with or without ice?"

"You tell me." He replied.

She seemed to consider it.

"A good time. Have a laugh, visit some clubs- I'm treating Ace over here. Man's saved my life today." Calyx let that linger. "Jumped on a violent thug who tried to rob me. You should've seen the guy go at it! Heroic right?"

The Nagai woman lowered her holopad. Curiosity played about her features as she glanced at Ace. "Very. She said, faintly impressed. "Ardees, was it?"

Calyx nodded.

"Make it a Niamos Daiquiri. I'm off in twenty minutes." Calyx put up his most charming smile as she walked away.

"Doubt she'll actually join us." Calyx laughed. "Waitresses are remarkably hard to impress. It's the effort that counts though. Worst case scenario we'll have to share a Niamos." The thought entertained him. It was more likely that he'd end up having to drink all three drinks by himself.

Then, Ace took control of the conversation. Pushing it in a direction he'd rather not talk about. Calyx smiled a little too wide, and it did not reach his eyes. "The Force? I barely know anything about it. Ma used to believe in that stuff. I'd like to, but really it's just a whole lot of mumbo jumbo." It was a hard lie to get out. Fortunately, lying was what he did best. "Can't make me believe that some hokey religion is enough to win battles involving turbolasers." Calyx chuckled, his laughter hollow compared to before.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Deflection. Of course, Ace wasn't sure if Calyx believed it wasn't obvious, or just didn't care. Regardless, if the man didn't want to dicuss, Ace wouldn't pry. The mask was back on quickly, the same plastered smile to hide what was really going on behind his eyes. Whatever it was, he wasn't as carefree and laid-back as he led on.

A Nagai server soon appeared at Calyx's behest, ready to to take his order. Ace glanced at her once, she was pretty but looked tired. The kind of tired where you were just mentally and emotionally done. He could relate.

He sat in silence, staring at the floor as Calyx not so subtely flirted with the waitress. The corner of his lip tugged slightly as he could sense the woman's disinterest - even without use of the Force. Served him right for ordering Ace Jet juice after he specifically said nothing that tasted like engine coolant.

Ace's jaw clenched when Calyx brought up the bump and lift. He covertly rolled his eyes before casting the waitress another glance, now finding her watching him too, if briefly.

"It was nothing."

Then, she was gone. Said she was off in twenty. He didn't believe it and neither did Calyx apparently. Ace let out a low chuckle when he mentioned that waitresses were hard to impress.

"Yeah." he agreed "Seen mercs, spacers, and gangsters all try and fail. Maybe you'll end up being the chosen one." the delivery was dry but not devoid of humor.

The atmosphere turned serious again, the conversation falling back on the topic of the Force. Calyx smiled, a little too hard, like he was trying too hard to front. The man mentioned how it was something his mother believed in, but not himself. Ace raised a brow, displaying that he didn't but what Calyx was selling.

The way it was delivered; casual, dismissive, a little too perfectly timed. It didn't sound like a real memory, more like a cover story... or something rehearsed.

Ace didn't say anything at first. His expression and silence would speak for itself. He held Calyx's gaze hen turned slightly in his seat. His eyes fell on one of the empty glasses at the edge of their table. It lifted, slowly, cleanly, rising into the air. Ace held it there, suspended before he let it drift back down with a gentle clink.

"Funny thing about mumbo jumbo." Ace muttered, turning his eyes back to Calyx. "Doesn't care if you believe in it or not. Still works."

This wasn't for show, wasn't to impress or intimidate. It was calculated. He knew Calyx was lying, or at least, withholding. And Ace wanted to see how he'd handle being faced with the thing he claimed not to believe in. Whether he'd come clean… or double down.

Calyx Sundrift​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Calyx grinned. "Maybe I am." He held up his hands. "Who's to say?" 'Chosen one' had a nice ring to it. Reminded him of the prophecy that held the same name, more than nine millenia ago. It no longer had any relevance. But perhaps the prophecies would repeat themselves one day. It wasn't unthinkable - the Sith'ari prophecy returned almost every decade. Not that the Sith made sense to him anyway. It was worth delving in to. If not out of curiosity, then because the Jedi had forbid it.

The thoughts stirred in his mind when he felt the Force tug at his awareness. The glass on the edge of the table between them rose. Calyx froze almost imperceptibly, a smile still plastered across his face. Blue eyes, calculating, clashed with inquisitive brown.

Almost immediately, he has hand shot out to press the glass down to the table again. "That was foolish. Very foolish. Calyx hissed. It took effort to supress the contempt that welled up inside. "Don't you realize where we-"

"Sundrift!" A broad-shouldered Aqualish in a pilot suit strode over, stopping to loom over their table. "That's you eh?" The Aqualish had a watery accent, the kind you needed to hear twice to properly understand. Yet his voice boomed louder than the music.

Calyx shot a warning glance at Ace. Then, with remarkable speed, veiled his intent with charms and smiles again. "In the flesh." He rose to welcome the Aqualish, who did not accept his handshake. The alien was a head taller, and did not stop until he stood close enough to emphasize that difference.

"Showing your face in 'ere. Bold." Calyx caught a glimpse of three other figures looming behind the Aqualish. He could only make out the shape of a gamorrean. The other two were out of sight too quickly.

"Grab a chair, we were just getting started."

The Aqualish gestured at Ace with a nod. "Interesting company you keep."

He managed to feign a puzzled look. "How so?" Calyx turned to introduce Ace. "This is Soro Lagu. Old friend of mine." The lie came out easily, followed by another warning glance.

"Gorsich swears he saw a glass float. At your table." The hulking Aqualish turned to Ace, revealing a holstered blaster at his side. "We don't take kindly to those types 'ere."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

​

Calyx's reaction was all he needed. The mask was gone again and something else had shown its face. Experience. His immediate action, his response, and his tone. It all screamed that there was more to the story with Calyx and the Force. Whether it was just something he'd witnessed first hand, or if he knew it more... intimately.​

​

The robed man started to say something, something about where they were but another voice cut through. Referring to Calyx by name. Ace's eyes honed in on the origin of the voice, it was an Aqualish. A big one. And there was definitely history between the pair. It didn't take long for his other lackeys to fall in behind him. A Gamorrean, Rodian and a Feeorin - all rough, nasty looking.​

​

As Caylx spoke, trying to charm his way out. Ace's eyes stayed on the Aqualish and the others with him. The Rodian wandered over, stopping behind Ace. Trying to box him and Calyx in. Ace remained calm, unmoving but still vigilant.​

​

The Aqualish turned his attention on Ace. Calyx had tried to lie for him, Ace appreciated the gesture. Genuinley. But he didn't need protecting. Not anymore. The Aqualish had seen Ace's display of telekinesis and proceeded to flash his holstered blaster.​

​

Ace smirked, letting out a low chuckle. He'd have definitely ran away in the past, talked his way out of it, or made up some plan on the spot. Ace was done with all that. Without saying anything, he unclipped his lightsaber and placed it on the table making a quiet thud, hand resting on top of it.​

​

"Yeah? That little blaster s'posed to scare me?"​

​

This could go one of two ways. The lightsaber would be enough to make them reconsider, or they're dumb enough to think it didn't matter.​

​

The thrum of the club dimmed behind the tension coiling at the table. Nobody moved. Not the Rodian behind him. Not the Aqualish. Not Ace. Finally, the silence was broken.​

​

"Big toy for such a skinny kid." the Aqualish growled "You even know how to use it?"​

​

Ace's gaze was unwavering "You tell me. Try something and see."​

​

The Gamorrean cracked his knuckles and the Rodian behind him shifted. Ace stayed still, finally breaking eye contact with the Aqualish to quickly glance at Calyx, then back to the Aqualish. Ace sensed the shift, the Aqualish was losing his authority, he could feel his confidence wavering. But it was slowly being replaced with desperation.​

​

Then, his precognition picked it up before his eyes did, the Aqualish reached for his blaster. Ace's lightsaber snapped to life before he even started shooting. He deflected the first three blaster bolts before managing to redirect the final one into the Aqualish's shoulder. His form still wasn't perfect, but it'd be more than enough.​

​

The Rodian was quick to grab Ace from behind. Good thing Force and lightsaber mastery wasn't the only thing Pisti taught him. She taught him how to fight too, really fight, not just scrap. Ace threw his head back, smashing the back of his skull into the Rodian's face. He staggered and his grip on Ace loosened, arms falling forward. Ace reached for the Rodian's arms and proceeded to fling him forward over his head. ​

​

Don't always rely on the lightsaber. His body was a weapon too. ​

​

Gasps rippled through the bar like a shockwave. Conversations died mid-sentence. A few patrons scrambled back, chairs scraping against the floor as they pushed away from the sudden burst of violence. The music didn't stop, but the rhythm felt distant now, drowned out by the hum of a lightsaber and the subsequent draw of blasters. ​

​

Most watched, wide-eyed, clutching their drinks like shields. A few reached for concealed weapons, unsure whether to run or join in.​

​

Calyx Sundrift ​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Ace placed the lightsaber hilt on the table without breaking eye contact. Calyx’s breath caught. His gaze darted from Ugo to Ace, then to the Rodian who had moved behind them. The situation had officially spiraled. And Calyx knew Ugo. The Aqualish didn’t back down. He doubled down.

Slowly, Calyx turned his chair, then sat down with another deliberately slow move. “Listen- why don’t we all just have a revnog and talk this ov-” He was cut off. Ugo drew. The lightsaber in Ace’s hand sprang to life with a sharp hiss.

Red blaster bolts ripped through the air. Ace deflected them with tight, practiced bladework. In that moment, as blaster bolts tore past him, Calyx stopped pretending. The fallen Knight didn’t tense. Didn’t even flinch.

The Rodian lunged at Ace, who met him with a vicious headbutt, then hurled him backward in a smooth shoulder throw. The Rodian’s body crashed into the table, splintering it into pieces. Calyx stayed seated, watching with faint interest as a Gamorrean slid on brass knuckles and charged. A Feeorin stepped in next, brandishing a vibroknife.

“You!” Ugo bellowed, clutching his shoulder..

Calyx raised his eyebrows and gestured toward himself. “Me?”

“I should’ve kriffing known!” Calyx smirked as Ugo raised his blaster. “You’re a dead man walking, Calyx Sundrift!” Ugo fired. A bolt scorched through an empty chair as Calyx dove aside. He hit the ground, rolled, and ducked behind a knot of panicking customers.

Ugo charged after him, roaring for them to get out of the way. He fired a warning shot into the ceiling. Calyx didn’t wait for him to approach. He burst forward. A vibroknife flashed in his hand for a split-second. Then it was gone. So was Ugo’s strength.

The Aqualish collapsed, groaning as Calyx wrenched the blaster from his twitching hands.

The music had stopped. Screams filled the silence. The crowd was already fleeing, shoulder to shoulder in blind panic.

Calyx turned, scanning the chaos.

Had Ace taken care of the others?

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Ace leapt and backflipped on top of a nearby table, lightsaber calmly humming steady beneath the chaos. From his vantage point, his eyes swept the room. Calyx and the Aqualish were gone. Below, the Gamorrean and the Feeori closed in, one brandished brass knuckles and the other wielding a vibroknife.

The Feeorin struck first, slashing low in a wide arc at Ace's ankles. Ace jumped over it with ease but the Gamorrean was already there, slamming his fist into the table - tipping it over while Ace was still mid-air. Cups, bottles, and glass exploded outward, dousing the nearby crowd in liquor and shards.

Landing in a crouch, he swiftly parried another vibroknife strike before being kicked by the Gamorrean in the gut. Staggering, he fell on to his bottom but moved with it. Rolling backward, Ace planted both hands behind him and pushed off. The move was clumsy but effective, launching himself backward vault that landed him back on his feet, lightsaber humming in hand.

The Rodian was up now too, all three were about to be on him. Thinking fast, Ace threw his off-hand out - the table that had been tipped over jerked before flying toward Ace. On the way it collided with the Rodian and Feeorin, smashing into the back of their heads and back. The speed and force was enough to knock them forward, slamming hard into the ground. It'd be enough to put them out.

Then there was Gamorrean, unaffected and still moving. Ace was on the backfoot, slipping each punch thrown his way. When he saw an opening, Ace raised his lightsaber to counter but an image flashed in his mind. It was Tessk. His body on the floor, torso burn still smoldering. Ace blinked, breath hitching. Trying to regain his bearings, the Gamorrean's brass knuckles connected with his jaw. Patrons screamed. Some ducked behind booths, others scrambled toward the exit, chairs toppling in every direction.

Blood spurted out of his mouth and he staggered back, head feeling light and vision hazy. The Gamorrean was pulling his fist back to deliver another cross, and Ace reacted, purely on instinct, he brought his lightsaber up and sliced through the Gamorrean's arm. He squeled in pain before falling to his knees.

Ace drove the sole of his boot into the Gamorrean's face, he fell back and the squeling stopped. Around him, the crowd surged like a wave, some pushing toward the exit, others frozen, watching. The music finally cut out. The lightsaber dimmed with a hiss, the glow fading from Ace's hands as he stood among the wreckage.

The club was a warzone now, overturned tables, broken glass, bodies groaning or unconscious. The air stank of burnt ozone and spilled spirits. Ace's jaw throbbed. His mouth tasted of blood and static. He wiped it with the back of his hand and turned, scanning the chaos.

He saw Calyx stood with a blaster in one hand and the Aqualish down at his feet. A few stray chairs surrounded him like debris from an impact. Ace didn't say anything, just gave a small nod before stepping over the wreckage and making his way toward him, boots crunching glass as he passed the crumpled bodies.

"You good?" He didn't wait for an answer "We should go. I've got a freighter docked a little bit away from here."

Calyx Sundrift ​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Amidst the chaos, Calyx found Acier.

He hadn’t moved far from where the fight had started. Somehow, he’d managed to hurl a table, taking out two of Ugo’s gang - the Feeorin and the Rodian. Now, Acier was locked in a fistfight with their final assailant, the Gamorrean. A reckless endeavor by any measure.

Calyx nodded to himself. Acier was still tied up, but handling it. That gave him breathing room to consider their options.

Well, option. Singular. Namely running.

His eyes shot upward, scanning the ceiling. Three cameras. That footage would be enough to place them at the scene. Facial recognition would pin the crime on them, tag their identities, and throw a bounty across the network. Fortunately, he was off the grid. At least officially, as his identification was no longer valid. Acier? That was probably another story.

No more data, then.

Calyx raised Ugo’s blasterpistol and fired three precise shots. Each camera burst apart in a spray of molten sparks.

Ace was beside him the next moment, initiating the conversation.

“No, not at all-” Calyx cut himself off, eyes sweeping the crowd. “That was incredibly stupid,” he snapped. “Ugo’s with the Justicars.”

No need to explain further. The name said enough. The Justicars were old. just as old as the Black Sun. Not as infamous outside the deep Core, but no less dangerous. They started as a private military fighting the Black Sun for Coruscant’s underworld. Now, their organization spanned multiple core city-worlds, walking the line between mercenary armies in the galactic wars and organized crime.

Calyx exhaled through his nose, regaining his composure. “Cool moves though. I’ll give you that.”

Ace had the right idea: get off-world and lay low until things cooled down. Calyx nodded approvingly. “Yeah, let’s. Where’d you land your ship? We’ll need to move fast, they'll have the spaceport watched in a couple hours.” He started toward the exit, keeping the blaster low but ready. “You got one?” He turned and held his up. “That lightsaber’s gonna draw too much heat once they catch up.”

No 'if' in that. Only when.

As they moved, Calyx cast a glance back at the pink-lit stages. “Shame, really. I liked this place.” Tomorrow, it’d be gone. The Justicars would see to that. It would be fire and ash, a message written in smoke.

Calyx pushed through the crowd in the club’s doors, stepping out into the street. “Stay casual,” he said, sticking close to Ace. “I’ll warn you if I spot familiar faces.”

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Troithe - Level 23 - Low Tide

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Acier shot Calyx a glance when he mentioned Justicars. Great. He'd figured this was just your run-of-the-mill lowlife, knock them down, send a message. Scare anyone watching into not messing with you.

But the Aqaualish, Ugo, he was connected with the Justicars apparently. Ace wasn't arrogant or stupid enough to test himself against the might of a syndicate that big and connected. They really needed to go.

Smirking at Calyx, he nodded "Thanks. Not even a finished product yet." Responding to his comment on Ace's 'moves'.

Ace glanced at the lightsaber in his hand, Calyx had a point. Clipping it to his belt, Ace fell in line with him as they made their way toward the exit, hand hovering over his own blaster.

"Flickerfox's docked in Sector 6. At a warehouse lot near the water reclamation towers. Off the books, low traffic and no one really scans there."

Once they were back on the street, Ace acknowledged Calyx's advice about staying casual. Easy enough, he'd done this thousands of times back on Bonadan. As Ace carefully led the way to Sector 6, he kept his eye and ear out for any suspicious activity. Childhood had taught him how to spot trouble before it pulled the trigger. Every shout, every glance from a shadowed alley got a second look.

The noise shifted the further they walked, less nightlife, more mechanical. Neon flickers gave way to sodium-orange streetlamps and the cold glow of maintenance droids skimming low over cracked ferrocrete. Above them, support beams and old skyrails crossed like veins.

Ace kept his head low, shoulder brushing past steaming vents and stacked crates outside back-alley stalls. Every now and then, a hovertram groaned overhead, sending a vibration through the walkway beneath their feet. That's when he spotted him. A Devaronian, red-skinned, tall, and a black coat.

At first, Ace brushed it off, Troithe was packed with all kinds. But when the guy made the same three turns and paused at the same durasteel kiosk pretending to look at parts... Ace knew. They were definitely being followed.

He spoke low without breaking stride:

"Don't look. Devaronian, few metres back. Been tailing us since the plaza. Friend of yours?" he asked casually, almost bored.

Calyx Sundrift​