Private The Orphan, The Old Man

[Martin Dux]

Martin tapped the tip of his boot against the metal flooring anxiously, the hum of the small transport ship mulling in his ear. he sighed, looking out of the window to the city below. Londo, an Esthoriel city.

"You're nervous." Martin looked to the blonde officer sitting across from him, she hadn't even taken her eyes off her holopad.

Martin leaned forward, putting his hands together, placing his chin on them. "It's been a long time since I've seen another force sensitive." He commented.

The officer, his ensign Vidcoy, smerked. "Not many of them around."

Martin shrugged, half in agreement. She was right, there weren't many of Him left at all.

She smiled at him. "Don't worry, I'm sure this one will be very nice." She tried encouraging him, for she did care a little about him.

"By the way, who is this force-user again?" He rubbed his forehead.

"Ria Victorian," Vidcoy stated, "apparently she's rather famous in these parts, probably against her wishes."

"Jedi have a tendency to be that way." He said.

"She was orphaned at a young age, taken in by one 'Giappa Victorian'." She continued.

"Okay, okay, I understand. What I want to know is how we were even alerted to her." Martin looked Vidcoy dead in eye.

She shrugged, sighing a mouth full. "Well... She contacted us."

"Really?"

"Yes," Vidcoy looked out of the small window next to her, "Well, Lord Dux, you can ask her all the questions you want. We're here."

With that statement, the transport slowed to stop and hovered down to the academy's landing pad, rocking as it did. The ship moaned deeply as the ramp lowered to the ground, Martin walking down it, Vidcoy following close behind. Students, onlookers, and professors alike looked on in confusion, as the robed figure and his officer walked into the building.

Walking into the visitor's atrium, Martin found a nice desk to sit at. Vidcoy slid into the seat next to him, confused.

"Shouldn't we be looking for her?" She asked.

Martin smiled at the officer, earnestly. "Believe me, Vid, she'll find us."

Now, he waited.

Ria Victorlan

 

[Ria Victorlan]

Walking through the city of Londo, which led towards the Visitation center, Ria nodded and smiled slightly at a few of the locals she had seen before. It was common ground for her and she felt a sense of comfort and belonging there. However, something had always called to her. Called to reach for something more..Whether that was a bad thing or not remained to be seen. In her heart, despite being a good individual, she was always one to follow her instincts, no matter where it may lead. While passing by a maintenance droid that was sweeping up some debris of broken pottery, she would pause for a moment. The droid stopped its routine and would return the hollowed glare with simple clicking and hardwired ticking noises. It would wave as a genuine gesture, and Ria would wave as well. She continued on but didn't know why the droid looked at her as if it was ready to accept a command besides the one given or programmed for.

As she continued she looked up towards the South entrance...Eyes beaming ahead towards the visitors center. (Could it be?? Have the representatives of the Kuonja finally come to pay a visit from the moon?) She thought to herself as she continued on. One man greeted her as she passed by stating.."Hey Ria....Be careful out there..Remember who you are now.." He nodded scratching his scruffled beard. "I know Jafa...And you as well...stay away from the cantina...It's showing in your weight!" She chuckled as she approached the visitors center. As her thin boots clanked in the hallway under the tall arch she felt something strange that made her heart skip a beat and thump loudly as her eyes started to waiver....(Wha...WHAT..Is this??) She asked herself as she approached within 20 feet of Martin Dux location .

 

[Martin Dux]

There it is. Martin didn't need to guess what he'd just felt. Slowly, a smile settled across his face. He grabbed the edges of his hood, pulling it back. Vidcoy gave him a concerned look, not liking his sudden amusement.

"What is it?" She asked.

"She's close." Martin didn't hesitate. He looked up from the table, looking across the room to where the source of the echo was.

He nudged Officer Vidcoy with his elbow, gesturing to the girl. Vidcoy nodded, she understood completely. "Should I leave? I feel like the meeting would go a lot smoother if I did." She whispered.

Martin shook his head. "No, stay. You'll give it an official kind of look."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course, sir."

While it was completely invisible to every other being in the visitor's center, it poked out like a sore thumb to Martin. It clung to Ria like a miasma, coming off in wispy strands. She was a good person, he could feel that, but he also felt a deep... confusion in her. He frowned at feeling that, he could help her, he'd been the same way when he was younger, but it would take time.

He waved at her, trying to catch her attention. He felt exhilarated, he hid it well, but the trained eye could notice it. For the second in little over a few months, he was going to take on another apprentice. The order hadn't yet gathered the force-sensitives from the navy and army, so it would great to have some to knock the rust off with. That is... If she joined the order.

"Ms. Victorlan!" he called out to her. "May we have a word with you?"

Ria Victorlan

 

[Ria Victorlan]

As Ria would look around her eyes suddenly locked on to the man with the hood that would rest gently around his shoulders, and the seemingly stoic officer next to him. She heard the words clear as day as if they were the only ones in the area. Pausing then letting a slight smile escape her, she nods with compliance. (Who was this man?) She thought to herself as something unexplained drew her closer.

"Good day to you both." She nodded. "Is there something I can help you with?" She asked as she stood tall and upright with her hands coupled behind her back.

Martin Dux

 

[Martin Dux]

Martin narrowed his eyes as he examined the young woman, up and down. He smiled, not just with his mouth, but his eyes too.

He leaned over to Vidcoy. "Begin recording, we'll need testimonies and such." He whispered. Vidcoy, nodding, brought up her holopad, tapping here and there.

Martin turned his attention back to Ria. He put his hands together, resting on the table. He gestured to the seat across from him. "Please, take a seat, relax."

He continued. "Ms. Victorlan, I must say, you weren't hard to find at all. I have to say, that's unusual for someone of your skills." He didn't need to say what he was talking about, she'd know.

"I was even more surprised when I heard you contacted us on your own violation, that rarely happens. Still, I'm quite happy you did, otherwise, you might have been scooped up by some... bad types." He grimaced at that. He didn't know for certain, but he'd heard that there was a few darkside enclaves around this part of space.

If people like that found Ria, well, it wouldn't be pretty, especially given the deep confusion in the girl. Martin was happy about that, the worse that could happen now is that they arrive as Martin did. He didn't worry too much about that, he could probably dispatch any sort of fighting force they sent. He did worry about Vidcoy though, and Ria herself, if she choose to fight with him.

"Nevertheless," He started up again, "We are here, and I'd like to evaluate you. You see... in the Elysium, we have a place for people like you, with your unique skills."

Ria Victorlan

 

[Ria Victorlan]

Ria sat down hearing the precise words from Martins mouth. Although slightly taken off guard from his comments about finding someone with her skills, she would smirk at the sounds of admiration. As her eyes locked on to his..listening to him speak of evaluation, she knew it was appropriate to respond at this point.

"Yes...The Elysium...I took it upon myself to send a message to the embassy in regards to scouting expeditions some time ago. I doubted the message would ever be recieved, more or less responded to, but none the less...I am grateful. I survey landscapes..Mostly within my home planet of course..But...(She would pause as her eyes were still connected with his)..."Theres something....something about you...Your from the Empire correct?" She would ask while resting her hands infront of her while sitting.

Tag: Martin Dux

 

[Martin Dux]

Martin nodded at the girl's question, smiling implicitly.

"That's right, Ms. Victorlan. I, and my friend here, are from the Elysium. We're from a 'specialists' group within the empire." Martin gestured to Vidcoy.

he studied her, trying to pinpoint each and every little thing about her. She seemed sure of herself, strong. He'd met like that before, primarily Rex Valhoun. He nodded, satisfied with what he saw. Ria would be his first student, that he was sure of.

"I have to say, I didn't have any idea you had surveying experience. Either way, that'll for sure be useful for the position we have in mind for you."

Martin looked at the officer next to him, a hint of humor in his eye like he was a part of some inside joke. "Let's begin with a few questions; firstly, what do you know about the force?"

Martin wondered if the girl was catching on to the true nature of this 'evaluation'. She looked perceptive, most younger people were. Still, how much she'd caught onto would be seen in her response.

Ria Victorlan

 

[Ria Victorlan]

"Well..." Ria paused but for a moment as her eyes quickly scanned the two of them. "According to most lore, The force is considered the essence of everything...Both living and the..well....passed....It is a life force that flows and can be used for those who are called to do so. I found this out earlier on in life and have...sought to know more about it. Iv'e heard of thousands that have used the vital essence of the force...For good intensive purposes..and for evil manipulative gain. And then there are those who see the FORCE as an equilibrium...But a pandora's box as well im sure...This is my nature in particular." She responded while chuckling slightly using her right index finger to tap on the table before her as she began to ponder the question at hand.

Tag: Martin Dux