The low whining of the speeder was all that Horus could hear at this point. The trips to and from the mines were always long and quiet. Usually he would bring some music to listen to so that the trip didn't seem so long, but not today. Horus had been on Apatros for almost a year, if not longer. He'd come to the planet when he saw about a string of unsolved murders that had taken place in the ORO mines. On Apatros, a world dedicated to the mining and refinement of Cortosis, it was not uncommon for the miners to get in fights, some of them ending in death. However, these deaths had been different. Miners who seldom spoke to anyone were dying for no apparent reason, and in increasing numbers.
When Horus arrived, the death toll had been at seventeen. It was to the point where the ORO officials were unsure if they could continue to operate without a strong security presence. The security teams ORO hired were unimpressive to say the least. Few, if any, of them had any true military or police experience. Most were young men around Horus’ age who ORO promised to clothe and feed in return for working as their security. Horus had contracted onto the security team, hoping to help solve the string of murders. He hadn't even been eighteen when he signed on, but it felt so long ago.
When the speeder gave a soft quake, Horus glanced up at the pilot who had been bringing him back to the mining colony. It had been a long shift, almost sixteen hours all together. He usually worked long shifts, it was better that way, didn't give him as much time to wonder just what the hell he was doing here. Sure, since Horus had started working here, the murders have lessened. Many attributed that to the security teams presence as a whole, however Horus knew better. He knew what the miners called him. The Hero of ORO. Usually it was spoken ironically. Although Horus was young he took his job seriously. He ended the fights quickly, and he'd personally caught two of the men causing the murders himself. He was more than some nineteen year old punk, he was a Jedi.
Or so he told himself. The lightsaber that hung from his waist was small for his size and the hilt was badly rusted. He rarely used it. It felt clumsy and heavy in his hands. He preferred the old DC blaster pistols that ORO provided the security team. It wasn't the best, but at least it fired straight.
When the speeder came in to land at the colony, Horus was the first one to exit onto the street. As soon as his dingy brown boots set onto the ground he drew his back into a tight stretch. His arms fell lazily behind his head while he let out a loud yawn. When a hand came down on his shoulder, he turned towards the man beside him, his dark eyes almost had to readjust to the thick blonde locks he saw. “Don't tell me the Jedi of Apatros is tired. It was only a sixteen hour shift.” The sarcasm that dripped from the other man was good-natured, causing Horus to chuckle lightly at the man while he rubbed his face clear of the dust and dirt that had built up on it.
“Wasn't too bad. Maybe tomorrow I'll do twenty, work a full day.” He returned, though he knew he would not be doing that, sixteen was his limit. Garret, the blonde headed security man, laughed while slapping Horus on the back of his shoulder. “Yea, you're nuts. I'm gonna head to the cantina later, you in?” Horus smiled at the man, but shook his head. It always went the same. Garret would offer for Horus to join him at the cantina and he would decline, and then…
“Maybe next time.” Garret said before making his way towards the pale grey building they had landed next to. Horus followed Garret inside, but they parted ways almost as soon as they entered the building. After a quick shower and changing into a fresh uniform Horus made his way to the small pavilion outside of their building. Most of the men who lived in the security barracks used it as a smoking pit, but Horus liked to meditate in the small wooden structure in the evening. Since the day shift had just ended, most of the people from that shift would be in the cantina or going to sleep, the night shift would be preparing for work, which meant Horus had a few hours to himself.
He lowered himself to his knees in the pavilion, closing his eyes while his dark locks fell over his brow. He took a deep inhale, before trying so desperately to feel for the Force. It was never easy. Some days were better than others, but it always seemed like The Force was something in his imagination. But it wasn't. He knew better. It flowed through him, bound him, and gave him his skill and power. If only he could actually understand it.
When Horus arrived, the death toll had been at seventeen. It was to the point where the ORO officials were unsure if they could continue to operate without a strong security presence. The security teams ORO hired were unimpressive to say the least. Few, if any, of them had any true military or police experience. Most were young men around Horus’ age who ORO promised to clothe and feed in return for working as their security. Horus had contracted onto the security team, hoping to help solve the string of murders. He hadn't even been eighteen when he signed on, but it felt so long ago.
When the speeder gave a soft quake, Horus glanced up at the pilot who had been bringing him back to the mining colony. It had been a long shift, almost sixteen hours all together. He usually worked long shifts, it was better that way, didn't give him as much time to wonder just what the hell he was doing here. Sure, since Horus had started working here, the murders have lessened. Many attributed that to the security teams presence as a whole, however Horus knew better. He knew what the miners called him. The Hero of ORO. Usually it was spoken ironically. Although Horus was young he took his job seriously. He ended the fights quickly, and he'd personally caught two of the men causing the murders himself. He was more than some nineteen year old punk, he was a Jedi.
Or so he told himself. The lightsaber that hung from his waist was small for his size and the hilt was badly rusted. He rarely used it. It felt clumsy and heavy in his hands. He preferred the old DC blaster pistols that ORO provided the security team. It wasn't the best, but at least it fired straight.
When the speeder came in to land at the colony, Horus was the first one to exit onto the street. As soon as his dingy brown boots set onto the ground he drew his back into a tight stretch. His arms fell lazily behind his head while he let out a loud yawn. When a hand came down on his shoulder, he turned towards the man beside him, his dark eyes almost had to readjust to the thick blonde locks he saw. “Don't tell me the Jedi of Apatros is tired. It was only a sixteen hour shift.” The sarcasm that dripped from the other man was good-natured, causing Horus to chuckle lightly at the man while he rubbed his face clear of the dust and dirt that had built up on it.
“Wasn't too bad. Maybe tomorrow I'll do twenty, work a full day.” He returned, though he knew he would not be doing that, sixteen was his limit. Garret, the blonde headed security man, laughed while slapping Horus on the back of his shoulder. “Yea, you're nuts. I'm gonna head to the cantina later, you in?” Horus smiled at the man, but shook his head. It always went the same. Garret would offer for Horus to join him at the cantina and he would decline, and then…
“Maybe next time.” Garret said before making his way towards the pale grey building they had landed next to. Horus followed Garret inside, but they parted ways almost as soon as they entered the building. After a quick shower and changing into a fresh uniform Horus made his way to the small pavilion outside of their building. Most of the men who lived in the security barracks used it as a smoking pit, but Horus liked to meditate in the small wooden structure in the evening. Since the day shift had just ended, most of the people from that shift would be in the cantina or going to sleep, the night shift would be preparing for work, which meant Horus had a few hours to himself.
He lowered himself to his knees in the pavilion, closing his eyes while his dark locks fell over his brow. He took a deep inhale, before trying so desperately to feel for the Force. It was never easy. Some days were better than others, but it always seemed like The Force was something in his imagination. But it wasn't. He knew better. It flowed through him, bound him, and gave him his skill and power. If only he could actually understand it.
