Private The Catalyst for Confrontation

[Liin Terallo]

To be alone or amongst a crowd? That seems to be the question on my mind every morning that I wake up. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I am being watched, yes. But hopefully only by the right people. There's no real true knowing of that, however.

So for today I chose to be in one of the parks. It is both among people, yet solitary at the same time. It all depends on where one is at the park and how many people happen to walk by.

An odd feeling surrounds me and I cannot shake it. It is almost as if I was being warned; but the reasons behind it remain elusive. And these days I tend to not work through the holo-net if I can help it. Most especially after the first wave of anomolies appeared. I sat at one of the park tables; one normally reserved for people to play games on; yet I am not using it for that purpose. Instead I am mapping out the anomolies on paper. I use my notes from the holo-news broadcasts to pinpoint the locations of the different events; some ranging from electrical interference to time loops and gravity distortions. They do not head out in just one direction, but in all of them. And in the center if it all? Right here. This section of Bastion.

If others decided to map out the anomolies like I have; then they too would come to the same conclusion. Although more than likely they would suspect that Diarch Rellik and Diarch Reign were testing some kind of secret weapon, as opposed to pinpointing it directly to me. I am a little known former-corporate-politician-turned-scientist-turned-synthetic-force-wizard. My research was mostly private. So I should be safe.

However I just cannot shake this feeling of warning. But for now I must try to ignore it while getting some fresh air. Afterall, I am supposed to become more comfortable with not having to hide and shut out the Galaxy. It is just taking some time.

Tag: Kayla Ordo-Shan

 

[Kayla Ordo-Shan]

The rhythm of her boots on the path was steady. Kayla's ‘jog’ wasn't the kind most people took in Bastion's park. Well physically it was, but mentally it helped her keep her desire to reach out with the Force at bay.

She slowed as she passed the game tables, her gaze settling on the one person there who wasn't playing dejarik or sabacc. Instead, they were hunched over some manner of work.

If anything, it looked damn suspicious to her. Where she might have decided against intervention, she couldn’t help herself, and pressed on.

Kayla adjusted her breathing, masking curiosity as mild interest. She stepped off the jogging path and onto the grass, approaching with a towel slung loosely around her neck.

If this happened to be some sort of…spy ring well, that would be something she could work with.

"Hey there," She said, her voice carrying just enough to be heard without startling. Least she hoped so. "Look like your stumped, and that doesn’t seem like a crossword puzzle."

She pulled out the opposite chair and sat without waiting for permission, resting an elbow on the table. "You mind if I join you?" She asked, as if it were a casual question; though her eyes never left theirs.

She got her curious nature from her mother.

 

[Liin Terallo]

The sudden arrival came as a bit of a shock, yet at least I saw her approach from the corner of my eye. That in and of itself is a bit of a saving grace. As well as the fact that she was not aiming a weapon at me.

But how should I respond to her question? Flat out tell her no and that it is top secret? Or to be elusive? The truth in this case is stranger than fiction anyways. So more than likely she would not be able to detect half truths or that I am choosing to be non-specific in my response. "Hello. I am just working on a little map of sorts. There are quite a lot of big battles and the like in the Galaxy right now. So I thought that maybe I could make a bit of a game out of predicting where the next spot would be."

That is all a lie of course, but I can only hope that it is a believable one. For if she had been paying any attention to current events; she would probably be able to point out the fact that the shaded circles that I have made in the map do not really coincide with any of the battles or wars at all.

She also does not appear to recognize me, which is also a good thing. Now I am not widely known, except for in some small circles. Well and there was that one recent bounty, but I believe that that was rectified by some of those that watch over me. And Bastion is supposed to be a safe place for me.

"This table is not reserved, is it?"

Tag: Kayla Ordo-Shan

 

[Kayla Ordo-Shan]

Kayla's brow arched, just slightly. She leaned back in the chair, towel sliding from her shoulder as if she had all the time in the world to listen.

"Battles, huh? So, you’re trying to predict where battles are going to happen next then?” The words were delivered flat, not aiming to be accusatory. She was just making ann observation, though her eyes may have lingered a heartbeat longer than what one might consider comfortable. She personally found this a bit alarming, but, it could have been very innocent.

At the question, she tilted her head toward the table. "Not reserved. But, I’m hoping that isn’t enforced around here. I might be in trouble if so." She jested, trying to look amusing.

She tapped the edge of the map with a gloved finger. She was curious about this woman to put it mildly. "That’s a heck of a game you’re playing though, like is it a prototype or just like a mental game of sorts?"

Quietly, Kayla was racking her brain, trying to make sense of this odd thing she had stumbled upon. But then again, it could have just been some innocent little mind game someone was playing.

 

[Liin Terallo]

"It is nothing, really. I just like to see if my equations can predict outcomes through pattern recognition," I surmise to her. Through the look in her eyes and through her body movements; I can tell that she does not quite believe me. So perhaps if I can better make myself appear to be some boring scientist; the better.

I then move the map over towards myself more so that her finger was no longer on it. And then I began to roll up the map slowly and smoothly. Whereas some might use datapads and holo-projectors; I prefer somethinng more subtle and less prone to being sliced. A lot of my work is done in that way.

"It is probably just a silly little idea. So do not mind me." And as I spoke I could feel the static electric charge start to build around me. Not only that, but I could smell it too. "Oh no," I uttered under my breath while quickening the pace of rolling up the map. I could feel the hairs on my arms raise up, and so too did the pace of my breath. Something was going to happen. And I needed to get away from her quickly. The pen that I wrote with began to tremor and spin in it's place like a compass that had gotten out of control. I quickly grabbed a hold of it with my free hand and rose to my feet. "Sorry! I lost track of the hour. Have a good day!" I did not pause for her reply like I normally would of done. Nor did I speak at any reasonable pace. The words just poured out of me quickly. Then I just made an about face and began walking quickly towards the grove of trees.

I need to get away from people. And I need to calm down!

Tag: Kayla Ordo-Shan

 

[Kayla Ordo-Shan]

Kayla's eyes narrowed, tracking every twitch, every accelerated breath. Her feeling that something off only grew now, and she was not a fan of it, in the slightest. The rolling of the map wasn't just "tidying up," not with the way the air itself seemed to buzz against her skin. She felt the charge too; enough to make her own hair rise.

"Are...you sure you're alright?" She muttered under her breath as the other bolted, "There's really no need to just take off like this-."

She wasn't sure if she should give chase or not, given the situation she at first mulled it over.

Then, she just had to give in, and rose. This was just...too weird to not engage with.

Kayla was already on her feet before she'd fully decided to move, boots crunching against the path as she cut after them;not running, but pacing fast enough to keep them in sight. Her hand hovered near her hip, never fully drawing, just in case eyes were watching from the park.

"Hey!" She called, voice steady, controlled. "You're not going to outrun me!"

The trees swallowed their retreat, but Kayla followed anyway, gaze sharp. She couldn't let this person get away, not when....they had the potential to do something like this.

 

[Liin Terallo]

No. No I certainly not going to outrun her. I am not a runner at all. Nor am I wearing the proper shoes or attire. Afterall I have never taken up jogging. At most walking away is usually enough. But this lady was persistant.

The trees at least are a welcoming cover. For if I end up doing anything that could be viewed as abnormal; at least there would be very little witnesses for it. I just hope that it does not go that far.

"I am fine," I called out to her over my shoulder. "I just have a meeting to go to. Perhaps we can schedule a talk for another day?" It is doubtful. But to me it is the easiest way to brush her off gently.

Yet I can hear her footsteps catching up behind me. The crunch of twigs and dried leaves tell me as much. Now I could either stop and confront her or keep walking until she catches my arm. I would rather not have to choose between either; yet here I am. It is not as though I can fly or transport myself elsewhere in a blink. So with a heavy sigh I just stop and place a hand on the trunk of a tree in a bid to keep myself grounded.

"Okay. I have stopped..." I did not know what else to say at the moment. Nor did I choose to turn around just yet.

Tag: Kayla Ordo-Shan

 

[Kayla Ordo-Shan]

Kayla didn’t stop, and didn’t buy the lame excuse that was fling her way. She just kept on keeping on.


She closed in on the woman, her abdomen at the start of burning from the exercise, but she could keep going longer if it was required.


Though she found her target slowing, bracing against a tree, and slowed down in kind. Looking a bit disappointed at not having a more exciting chase.

“Why are you being so weird?”

She would remake upon arriving to the woman’s side, crossing her arms and giving a soft huff, ignoring the trickle of sweat the worked down her face.

 

[Liin Terallo]

Well that was a question that I was not prepared to answer. No one had ever refered to me with the word weird before. There were quite a few other words used to describe me; with naive and unwise being among them. But weird? That is certainly a new one.

"I just do not want to risk you or anyone else getting hurt. That is all. I cannot control it yet." I feel almost as though I was someone with a monster possessing me; at least in the way that I had described it to her. But that is not really it at all. It is the power that I cannot control yet. And nothing more.

One day that will be changed. I just need more time.

Tag: Kayla Ordo-Shan