The views are stunning…

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica glanced around. No obvious means of escape and no open windows. The wounds were inflicted by a blaster or similar weapon.

She considered the options. There was the slimmest of possibilities that there was a shoot-out and they all killed each other in the end. As much as it was a possibility, it was so improbable that she dismissed it.

So the solution was staring them in the face.

She glanced at Varus. The ‘kid’ jibe was duly noted and stored away for later use. Without warning she reached out to the two droids and a purple stream of ions arced towards them. The droids jerked for a few seconds and then remained stationery.

“I better be right about this,” she said under her breath as a variety of weapons were now pointing in her direction.

She slowly walked to them and opening a few compartments finally found what she was looking for. Removing them carefully between thumb and forefinger, she took out the evidence. Not exactly smoking but still warm to the touch.

“Here are your killers. And tell us, is Lobot amongst the dead?”

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus smirked as he watched the young woman making her assumptions and considering the possibilities. It was impressive to watch her work, those intense green eyes moving around the room and absorbing all that it offered. She was talented, of course, but more and more he began to understand the way her mind worked. She was so very sharp and in this case specifically, she didn't let a single thing slip by her. Even when there appeared to be nothing to go on she'd pinpointed the culprits, which just so happened to be a couple of droids that were merely following orders

"Bad idea, Fellas.", Varus said as he took one step and put himself between the blaster brandishing guards and Nubica. When they'd seen what she'd produced from the hidden compartment of the droid, however, they grew less tense and their arms lowered their weapons again. Nubica then asked about Lobot, the name of the man they were looking for, and all at once as if they were being controlled by dangling strings they began looking for the man she'd asked about.

She was surprising him at every turn, and as the guards began examining the bodies for one that matched Lobot's description, Varus glanced over his shoulder at Nubica and gave her a reassuring smile. She was doing quite well on her first outing, and he'd be proud to have her represent him when every other Master hadn't bothered to give her a chance.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica was enjoying the freedom her Master was affording her. He was there when needed – such as when the blasters were raised – but gave her room to breathe, which was a blessing after being treated like just another Youngling back on Ossus.

She wasn’t a fool though. She’d done well so far but it would not last forever. Sooner or later she’d luck out – but like the gambler on a winning streak, she planned to ride this for all it was worth.

Their blank faces told the story. Lobot was not among the dead. She didn’t like coincidences. Someone computer savvy had hacked the security vids. And had clearly afforded this rogue droid access to systems for the reprogramming of its army.

So she contacted her Master telepathically. ‘We have to assume that all technology is hostile. Cameras will watch us, access to any systems will be monitored, no droids can be trusted. It’s a good thing we have the Force.’

She accessed her datapad. It had downloaded information from the database and the first thing she did was sever access to the grid. Then turning her back on the nearest camera, she brought up data. An address and an image. Lobot was an average looking man, mid-twenties, with short brown hair and brown eyes. No distinguishing features at all.

She nodded to the security guards. “Thanks.”

As she headed to the stairwell, she communicated with her Master again. ‘So…I was picked up way late as a Padawan. Care to share why it took you so long to make Master? Excuse the innocent question. I’m just a kid you know.’ She smiled playfully.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

The force transcends all things..., Varus whispered back through the force, knowing that she would hear him clearly, though he made sure that she and she alone would receive any telepathic messages from him. ...it's just as well. I'm not as good with a datapad as I am with a saber.

"We appreciate the information, friends. We'll make sure to set this right. Have a nice day.", Varus said aloud to the guards as he bowed his head and turned to lead them out of the room, as cordial as he'd ever been. When he did he knew that their time in that place had come to an end and that Lobot would be nowhere nearby. That meant that every second they spent in that building was wasted time, and so he lead Nubica back down toward the base level of the building in order to get back out on the street,

Not much had been said between the pair, a rather successful mutual understanding between the two being shared, but when they did speak they spoke in whispers, from one mind to the other. That fact, in truth, had been why a playful little smirk had found it's way to the corner of his mouth as she whispered to him a question that he had a rather interesting answer to.

I suppose the answer to that question is that I didn't think I'd make it this long..., he said, whispering back to her as he pushed open the stairwell door and lead the pair of them into the lobby. ...there are many wise Jedi who's gifted minds are much more valuable than my own, and so I resisted promotion a few times and replaced thoughts of rising through the Jedi ranks with becoming the strongest Jedi alive in order to be for the Council what I needed to be.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica was teasing him with the question – and she knew it. In part it was pay-back for the ‘kid’ jibe but…if she was really honest, it was a question that she really wanted to understand the answer to, and had simply used his gentle banter as an excuse to ask.

But the response threw her. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might have an agenda that was entirely selfless. That he simply wanted to be the best Jedi he could be and cared little for the title.

Every Youngling was desperate to be a Padawan. And Padawans yearned to be Knights. At least that was her experience. Do things change when you become a Knight? It hadn’t occurred to her and she couldn’t get her head around the concept even now she had heard it from his own lips.

Would he hold her back from promotion to ensure she was the best Jedi she could be? And if he did, would that be a bad thing?

Nubica understood she was something of a wild-child and was arrogant and had a wilfulness that bordered on being antagonistic. But she’d always shrugged these thoughts off. She was a Youngling and didn’t need to worry herself about growing-up.

But now she was a Padawan and the next step was Knight. Now was the time she needed to start to think long and hard about what it really meant to be a Jedi.

‘I’ve agreed to go with another Padawan to get a saber crystal. From Ilum. When I return, I would like to craft a saber. With your permission. And with your guidance too.’

It was an odd change of subject – but it felt entirely right. She needed to show she was capable of being independent, but that she valued his judgement, advice and guidance.

‘Now, let’s find this Lobot.’

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Sounds like you've got everything planned out..., Varus whispered back to the young woman in the force, smirking as they stepped out of the building and began scaling the steps down into the streets below. As they did, Varus allowed his blue eyes to look back and forth, carefully watching for another sniper's ambush or suspicious activity among the people making their ways this way and that, back and forth to the casinos, bars, clubs and resorts in Cloud City. ...makes my job easier., he told her as he finally glanced over to Nubica.

I'll be waiting for you to return to me, and when you do we'll get that saber built, because you're going to need it..., he whispered to her as they stopped on the first sidewalk they came to after leaving the last step at the foot of the building. You'll be going with me the next time we are called to defend or liberate a planet's people. Another words, you'll need to be prepared for your first skirmish or battle, but don't worry. We'll do a bit more training before things get too crazy..., he whispered to her as he glanced over and looked her up and down to try and read her response to something like that. He quickly dismissed the idea, though, noting that she might very well think he was checking her out rather than trying to read her body language.

I'd say our best bet is to start asking around for leads on Lobot's location. So... the Undercity districts or the Black Market?

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

He had her well-pegged. She had a plan for everything - including her life. She was certainly driven and did not deviate from her actions without a significant amount of coercion. Politely she’d be referred to as knowing her own mind. Less generous people would say she was stubborn. And they’d be right.

His words were reassuring. He didn’t try to talk her out of anything and his promise of training was welcomed. She had no great desire to be a jack-of-all-trades Jedi. She wanted to be a Guardian and develop her duelling Abilities to the maximum. She wanted to stare down Sith and overcome them. Her needs were basic — but honourable.

‘I’d suggest the Undercity. He may be an expert with computers but he must need contacts to get access to stuff. At the very least, they’ll want a bit of his action — or a pay-off. And I get to see you play bad cop again.’ The humour in her thoughts would leak through.

Despite the stakes, she was enjoying the missions — and his company.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

"If you keep up the flattery I'll start blushing, and then you're in for some trouble.", Varus joked right back, not missing a beat as he glanced away from her and shook his head. He hadn't even known this woman for more than a couple of days and already he was beginning to like her a bit too much. He'd discovered how young she was because, honestly, he'd done his research on her after choosing to accompany her on this mission. Yes, she was younger, but she already carried her as well or better than practically every other woman he'd had to put up with over his years, and she certainly had the confidence and stubbornness to match him any day.

He'd disagree that it was wrong to feel a certain way about a student, seeing as how many Master and Apprentice relationships had ended up romantically among both Jedi and Sith. Their histories told of forbidden love at every turn, despite their eagerness as Jedi to preach against allowing the heart to take part in such baser feelings. To Varus, though, Love was no baser instinctive feeling, whereas Lust did happen to be. There was a clear difference, however, Love being the more evolved form of devotion and need for a single counterpart that life had arranged for you, and so whenever his heart began to nag at him, he couldn't all together ignore it's bothersome advances into his thoughts.

Everyone had their needs, and despite Nubica's young age, he was certain that she was no stranger to the very things that plagued his thoughts. "Alright, Mastermind. You're still running the show. The Undercity districts should be to the south. Let's go.", he told her as he turned and folded one arm over the other, not in any hurry at all. Clearly Lobot knew things were going down and that he was being sought after, but there was no way of knowing if he knew exactly who his pursuers were.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Just as they arrived in the seediest part of Cloud City, Nubica’s Force Sense went into overdrive. She lacked the control of a Master, and so to her, everything was a warning — to the point where the Force wan’t helping any.

On a few occasions her hand twitched toward the training lightsaber at her waist and no sooner had they turned a corner into an alleyway that served as a shortcut to the cantina that purported to be the best place to gather until than her eyes were dazzled with a burst of light. Blinking furiously in an attempt to focus, she saw only blocky shadows, stacked crates, and hunks of decommissioned machinery wrapped in transparent sheeting.

A moment later seven burly, murderous-looking creatures stepped forward, a mix of races: some human, some craggy-faced brutes. One glistening alien dripped blue slime in tiny puddles onto the floor.

The seven were armed with blasters, grenade launchers, and various weapons — and each of them looked mean and scarred and most certainly intent on mayhem.

An icicle of dread slid down her back. Would a Master and a rookie Padawan be able to resist a combined attack from these hired killers.

"Don't move," snarled the slime-dripping alien. Weapons came up and took aim.

A broad-shouldered human with a hairy face from eyebrows to chin growled in a wet, phlegmy voice, "Are these the ones?" One side of his face appeared to have been eaten away by acid.

One of the seven thugs pulled out images printed on evaporating flimiplast.

A man matching Lobot’s description stepped out from his hiding place behind a rusty disconnected pumping generator. “Yes…kill them.”

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Before they'd even been told not to move Varus was had already clutched his fists and lowered his stance, though the difference wouldn't have been very noticeable to he others. Nubica, on the other hand, would have felt a massive draw of the force collecting within the very Jedi Master in front of her, who was dead silent and breathing slow for now. Soon, however, Vaurs began to shiver, a ripple of skin rising to the surface above the bridge of his nose as he gritted his teeth and continued to clench every muscle in his body tight. The moment the words 'kill them' were spoke, however, his frozen blue eyes darted up to the one who'd voice them as a shimmer of light flickered between the two Jedi and their would be killers.

His breathing grew heavier now as the veil of light flickered again, but that didn't stop dogs from taking orders. Without a moment's hesitation they opened fire, bolts of many colors raining down on them. The blues, reds and greens making a rather pretty display as they attempted to take the lives of the meddlesome Jedi, but they hadn't acted quite quick enough, for each shot that left their blasters ended up bounding in random directions right as they were upon their intended targets. Blaster bolts settled into smoking holes along the wall and ground, some of them even darting back at the one's who'd fired them, forcing the gun toting chumps to cease fire before long.

As smoke rose from metal barrels and befuddled expressions took to the faces of the Undercity scum, Varus finally completed his technique. When he did, Varus drew a sharp breath as a bead of sweat dropped from his brow, a displeased and serious look on his face as he took on step and rared back. The next second he swung his right arm up over his head and full circle into the ground beneath his feet, his powerful hand sinking into the street. As his fist struck down, however, the power he'd collected dispersed in all directions, which only made things worse for anyone in front of behind him, seeing as there were only two ways that the pressure could escape he alleyway.

"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!", Varus finally yelled at the top of his lungs, the power of the force exploding from him as if he were a ticking time bomb. The intense waves of the force were meant for those vile creatures who'd gathered to end the lives of more righteous beings than themselves, and for that they would suffer by Varus' own hand. As the force wave rushed over everyone around him, however, the only one left untouched was the only other one who lived by the light from which it was drawn, allowing Nubica to follow up as Varus bolted from his spot and rushed their reeling foes.


[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica had a few fancy tricks but was limited in terms of actual combat skills. Her training saber could not block saber bolts, so she instinctively threw up a Force Barrier to stop any stray shots that might pass Varus – but none came her way. The as she slightly relaxed, she was aware that the Force he had drawn had not been dissipated and as he drove his fist into the ground she jumped, knowing what would happen if she didn’t.

By the time she landed, the men were either on their butts or visibly shaking from the force of the shock wave

She drew her saber. It would not cut off limbs or impale them, but it was strong enough to break bones if wielded properly, and that’s what she intended to do. She aimed for gun hands and kneecaps. None would be allowed to shoot or run away.

She was slower than Varus – but this was no competition – rather her contributing as best she could. She took care of a few and allowed her Master to deal with the rest.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus was upon the men before they could raise their blasters again, and as he was he could sense the presence of his new young Apprentice just a few feet behind him, matching him every step of the way as she rushed to back him up. It made him both proud and reassured him that no matter what, his new student would be there for him. She wasn't going to let the door swing one way only and in her favor, and that was something invaluable in a Jedi that went under appreciated every day. Selflessness was an incredibly necessary asset in order to perform the way that a Jedi should, and even Varus himself couldn't have claimed that he knew complete selflessness.

He was quick to act when he was upon the first gun toting goon he raised his right leg and planted it into the man's chest. Not a moment later the man left his feet, which he hadn't even gotten completely under him, and went tumbling down the alleyway before Varus turned and backhanded another, sending him reeling as the Jedi grabbed a third man by the collar and turned, torquing his midsection so that he could flip the man over his shoulder and fling him into the second man. When the two men collided they were both thrown into a nearby wall as Varus frozen eyes found Lobot, who he quickly pursued with a haste to his steps and an incredibly displeased look upon his face.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

She followed her Master into battle. She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t enjoy it. She was a peacekeeper but whereas many Jedi saw combat as a necessary evil, Nubica enjoyed it. She enjoyed this aspect of being a Jedi most.

One of the men swung a fist at her but she easily dodged it. Before he could swing again, she brought up her own fist and gave a neat spin, breaking his nose with the first turn, and then breaking his forearm with the second.

As others lunged at her, she avoided the carnage by leaping into the air and executed a backward somersault, then landed hard. She kicked at the nearest man’s hamstrings and saw his fall forward, now unable to stand. And then she realised her Master had taken care of the rest. And only Lobot was still standing and Varus was closing in on him quickly.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus' eyes grew more narrow as he descended upon the man they'd gone through hell to find, but before he reached the man he noticed another pulling himself to his feet and holding his leg as if he'd torn his hamstring. It had been the man that Nubica herself helped to put down, and he'd tried to crawl away, but for him that hadn't been fast enough. He was right to try and get away from there, however, as they'd bitten off much more than they could chew today.

As Varus passed the limping man he reached out and clasped the left side of his face with his right hand and thrust him towards the alley way wall. Without much resistance, the man's head slammed into the wall, bricks cracking and pink dust rushing out in all directions from beneath his face, his body going limp as he was knocked out instantly. When he fell limp, Varus let him go so that he could fall into a similar pile that the others were now resting in before the Jedi continued towards Lobot.

"Kill them?", Varus asked with a bit of a disappointed look upon his face as he reached out and snatched the man by the collar, picking him up and dragging him by the tips of his toes as he turned and made his way back over towards Nubica to check on her. "You couldn't have been more original than 'Kill them' in a moment like this?", he asked the man, tightening his grip on the man's collar a bit as they came to a halt in front of Nubica, the man beginning to choke on the fabric that was now beginning to dig into his throat.

"You should be dead right now, you know that?", Varus then asked before glancing over to Nubica and loosening his grip. "And if I were a Sith, you would be.", he warned the man before finally thrusting his hand downward, which was still tightly gripping Lobot's shirt collar, and throwing him to the ground roughly between he and Nubica.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica caught her breath and stared the man down. There would be no good cop and bad cop. She was too tired for that now. She wanted answers and a chance to rest. And this man was all that stopped her doing that right now.

So she walked over to him, proximity was invariably a technique that produced better results.

“I’m a Jedi. I’m not a diplomat, so expect no silver prose. I talk straight. And I’m no rocket scientist, so I’ll keep this simple. I ask questions and you give answers.”

“And I’m no counsellor, so I don’t need to hear why you did anything or if you came from a broken home. Save all of that.”

She knelt down on one knee, so her head was closer to his.

“You are behind the murder of our contact. He suspected you, or had proof. Either way, you made sure he was killed.” He went to speak and she raised a hand to cut him off.

“Save it, remember. And you have a plan to convert this platform into a weapon of sorts. So what I need to know is…where is the programme you intend to use to do it? Give us that and we can chalk up conspiracy to carry out an act of hacking on your rap sheet. Don’t play and we’ll add accessory to murder. Your choice.”

She stood and started to walk towards the way they’d come in. “And this offer is time-bound. Once I’m out of ear-shot, you’re a wanted murderer.”

She didn’t even glance at Varus but walked. Deep down she hoped she didn’t look foolish in front of her new Master and for a dozen steps she was wondering. But finally she heard the clatter of a key behind her. She turned and using the Force pulled it into her hand. It was a data-key for a safe deposit box, for a bank located on Cloud City.

She smiled and moments later the security forces appeared from nowhere to apprehend what was left of the gang.

“If it checks out, you’re a hacker. If not…”

She looked back at her Master. “Looks like we’re almost done. And I most certainly need me a saber.”

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

"Looks like it...", Varus said in agreement as he watched the planetary police force arrived. Two of them took Lobot by either arm and began escorting him down the alleyway behind he and Nubica as the others busied themselves restraining and picking up the other men who'd been put down by the pair of Jedi. As they stepped out into the open, though, Varus turned and beamed at Lobot with those frozen eyes of his, and when Lobot stepped out into the open, still being held by the lawmen of Cloud City. It was a perfect, yet cheap, shot that he took, but with such speed that he couldn't have been stopped, Varus rared back and threw his right arm over his shoulder and snapped it forwards, his fist rushing to Lobot's nose and blasting the defenseless man in the face. His head popped back and his body immediately went limp in the arms of the two officers, a few of the others growing tense and stepping towards Varus to make sure that he wasn't intending to continue.

As they prepared to defend their newest captive, though, Varus took a step back and raised his hands, showing that he was done and meant no further harm to the man. "Sorry about that.", he said immediately, glancing between a few of them before he looked back to Lobot who was gathering his wits after the shot he'd received. "That was for the man you killed today.", the young Jedi Master claimed as he dropped his hands and spat on the ground between he and Lobot. "Because I don't think going to jail for the rest of your life is payment enough for taking someone else's life.", he told the man as he shook his head towards the scumbag he'd just struck. "You'll get plenty of similar treatment in prison though, I'd assume.", he told the man before turning his attention back to Nubica as they dragged the man towards one of their squad speeders.

"So...", he said as he noticed the young woman next to him before he started walking again, glancing down at the key in her hand. "...get this taken care of and then what? Get to work on your saber?", he asked her as he walked along, shaking his hand which he'd just noticed was a bit sore and throbbing in a few places.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica nodded avidly. She glanced down at the key - hopefully the recovery of the data would be routine and then she'd agreed to go to Ilum to grab a crystal.

"I was hoping to use the Forge. The one from Tython that's in the grounds of Ossus now," she said to her Master. "I have a design in mind. And then you can give me some pointers on the use of it. And...an odd question, but blue or green crystal. I mean, I see myself as a guardian but wondered if you set much store by the colour of the blade? If it was important any more?"

As expected the locker was full of evidence against Lobot and ensured the programmes did not fall into the wrong hands. All in all a satisfactory first assignment. But with talk of the Invasions she knew she needed to brush up on her combat skills. Not sparring per se - but fighting. Street-fighting. Using every trick in the book and especially the ones that never made the final draft. Because they were the best ones.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus stopped and stood there, turning to watch her as she spoke, a small smirk in the corner of his mouth as as he reached into his coat pocket and produced one of his sabers. When he did he played with the covering of it, detaching it and reaching inside so that he could pull from it a violet colored crystal. As he did he could see the dark speckled inner core that was it's identity, similar but not identical to that of it's sibling which was resting in his other saber. "I'm not so sure...", Varus whispered as he stepped forward towards Nubica, his smirk spreading into a bit of a smile as he did.

He raised his hand, which was holding the crystal by either of it's pointed ends between his index finger and thumb. He held it up next to her face, that purple hue glowing against her fair skin as his frozen eyes shifted between her deep greens and the crystal he held. For some reason, though, he seemed to be more drawn to her eyes than the crystal, but that he hoped she wouldn't notice.

"I don't think you're a blue or a green.", he told her as he watched her, trying to read the expression on her face and noticing she had one incredible quality that not many had. He couldn't read her at all... not as if she was absent minded, however. It was as if she had been born to keep him guessing and not let him have any slack. As if she was made to test him and draw constantly on his patience and resolve, and he liked that about her more than he could put into words. She would have to tell him what she was thinking if he'd ever want to know, which made him just the slightest bit crazy, but at the same time he knew it would ignite many conversations without much of an effort at all.

"I'd say you're more of a gold... maybe even purple.", he told the young woman, already having realized that this most recent apprentice wasn't one of the typical come and go types. She would be around for a long time, and so he had no problem sharing with her something that had become a part of him on the day he'd found them. The crystals born together on Ilum meant to serve him, and now possibly another Jedi. "It's yours if you want it.", Varus said softly as he lowered his hand and held it out, palm up with the dark purple crystal lying there as if waiting for her decision.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

She watched him lift his saber hilt and access the crystal. Even as he raised it, it was mesmerising. There was an attraction to it.

She knew a Jedi and their crystal were somehow linked once a saber was constructed but this was…calling to her. Like it knew it was for her and she knew it belonged to her.

And she heard his words but didn’t. They washed over her. She knew he was speaking but she only had eyes for the crystal. It was a beautiful shade of purple. It was like his crystal. Maybe there was something in the concept of fate? Her choice of fighting style, her natural affinity for certain Abilities and now a purple crystal.

She stared at his palm, unable to hide her delight. “Yes. Yes, I would love to have it.” Part of her wanted to grab it. To snatch it before he changed his mind. But she knew he would not and so she simply waited to be presented with it. Their return to Ossus could not come quickly enough.

Her green eyes sparkled and finally she tore them away from the crystal and to her Master’s gaze. “Thank you. You have no idea. This is quite simply the best day of my life.”

[member="Varus Shatterstar"]

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus smiled softly as her eyes gleamed with delight at his offer. He'd had other apprentices before , but he'd never offered anyone this kind of gift. It was special, not because of the color or the gesture but because even as he gave away a little piece of himself he was hesitant. Hesitant to let anyone else in or trust anyone else with something he'd prized so greatly, but if anyone deserved this gift it was Nubica.

She'd already proven that she was intelligent, resourcefull and determined, all qualities that a true Jedi wore well. In fact, Varus would even argue that she deserved that crystal more than he ever had, and so it made the part where he had to let go much easier.

"It's very special to me, but I already know you'll take care of it. , Varus said as he reached down and slipped his now vacant saber hilt into his pocket. He then reached out and took her hand with one hand as he pinched the crystal in between his index finger and thumb again as he said, "And if you possess a truly peaceful connection to the force, which I believe you do, you can actually hear something that sounds like a heart beating any time you're at peace and allow yourself to listen."

With that Varus reached down and gently placed the crystal into her palm, closing her hands with his and then softly holding her hand in his palm for a moment. He then slowly closed his eyes and let his mind sink away into the force instantly, and no sooner had he drowned out the ambience of the lively city around hI'm was he hearing three heartbeats. Nubica's, his own, and the faintest little throbbing sound resonating from his Apprentice's palm.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]