The Well Worn Path

[Serena Bouie]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She could hear him as he reached through the water pulling it back propelling himself forward, towards her. She slipped under the water and kicked hard to get to the edge to look out onto the expanse of the black from this singular little hideaway. How many others had come down here thinking they were finding a water purifier and ended up looking out there.

She broke through the surface pushing her hair back raking it smooth and out of her eyes. Water drops slowly slid down across her skin refreshing her body and offering memories full of comfort. Memories of her family those living and those gone no matter what...they had grown up unique.

Wow...she thought as she could see out. There it was a sea of endless night broken up and decorated by the twinkling locator beacons from ships either leaving or arriving. For a moment everything that was cold about the galaxy slipped away and all she could see was how beautiful it was.

She turned as Coren reached the edge. "Look Coren....it's so beautiful." She looked down lifting herself up slightly as she craned around to look up too. "I've not seen anything quite like it..." She smiled broadly and looked at him. She could feel his emotions it wasn't hard for her as an empath but she also felt him guarded. She understood that the need to protect what he held precious.

"Whoever thought of this I'd like to shake their hand, its......" there was a long pause, "perfect" And it was the water with its warmth would keep them from feeling the cold from space, and yet the view would hold them there taking in every detail that surrounded them.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was a Starchaser, most of his time was spent in space, but it was hardly ever a chance for him to watch space from within the water. And maybe it was true, or just some rumor of time, that the Starchasers were some intrepid explorers all the way back, being the type to set sail across the Corellian oceans long before space travel met the homeworld. It definitely left a lot open to circumstance, but he was still here, and enjoying the world. The man grinned as he swam closer to Serena.

“It is remarkable, isn’t it? You never take the time to just… look.” Not when flying combat sorties, or smuggling your wares past Imperial style customs checkpoints on your way to make it to the next safe port. He was surprised by just how taken aback he was. Maybe it was the water, or the female company, or the stars, but definitely a mixture of all three.

He moved a bit closer to Serena and nodded. “Its what people need. To be reminded of whats out there.” And the wonders of the galaxy. What he was fighting to protect, after all.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

"It is" she whispered, "we get so busy sometimes that we forget to stop and look." She leaned putting her head on the upper part of Coren's arm as she continued to look out.

Out there millions of lives moved about unaware of the changes in the galaxy and the rising darkness that was waiting. The dark shadow that would extend its reach even as far as the Wheel and take away all that was good and beautiful turning. Sadness touched upon her spirit causing her to shiver.

"We have to remind them. And those that cannot fight for themselves we need to fight for them." This was just a further confirmation that they were destined to rejoin the galaxy at large and contribute what they could.

"WE have to really go back don't we?" She needed to hear him confirm it to her.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He smiled. The companionship was nice, something he forgot he needed. When he left the galaxy, left everyone behind, he was out on the hunt for answers. His companionship was his droid, a spaceship, and whoever was greeting him on the short stays on the Dawn Treader when he needed to refuel, rearm, and drop data for his companions. As time had gone on, the stops had become less frequent and Warbird Wing had made the trips to rearm him on his routes. Data was dropped off and they would deploy some of their new fighters out to investigate. It was… useful.

And with that the Warbird pilots and Nightstingers had begun to change their way of thinking about the Force. It was… useful.

“That’s why I’m back. I’ve seen this galaxy, at its best, and at its worst. We need to be there to help keep it on the right path, and steal what joy of it we can during the doldrums of the wars.” He knew war was inevitable, but he was a soldier, he was ready. “We’re going to need to, soon.” He nodded.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

"I'll go with you Coren. You've always been my friend, been there when I needed someone." She remembered some things as quickly and easily as she forgot other things.

She sighed heavily and laughed, "Maybe next time we can find a beach I'd love to put my toes in the sand." When had she last done that? A long time the burdens she carried with her cemented her to the regions that required little of her. The regions where no one knew her or expected anything of her.

She looked at there once again and realized they were getting to serious a tone. She reached out over and flicked some water at Coren and laughed. Then she did it again, a little harder.

"Race you to other end and back...." She laughed let's have some fun she thought.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

“You’d do the same for me.” And had. But that wasn’t really the point. His time away had matured Coren a bit. Sure, he was still a firebrand and willing to burn people down with the light side of the Force, but that got people only so far. He needed to help others, and keep them on the same side as he was, that was the only way the war would be won.

“Trust me, we’ll find a beach. Need a vacation between all the adventuring. And well…” Conflict. He nodded. “Outer Rim has a lot of worlds we’ll need to see, same with the Alliance.” Because everyone knew he was an Alliance man, through and through. He was always serious, always at work, but when he was with Serena? He didn’t have to be.

And when there was a race? He grinned and kicked off from the wall. “You’re on!”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

The race was on and for some moments she felt like her old self again the spirit of life awakening withing. She stretched out her right arm cupping her hand to pull the water back to propel her forward.

She had always loved the water every happy memory she had revolved around water. She could look at the same spot on the ocean and recall what had happened there whether it had been yesterday or ten years ago. She turned her head to breath she caught site of Coren matching her stroke for stroke. She wanted to pull ahead as her competitive spirit urged her on.

She reached again she knew she would be closing in on the wall and would soon have to dive and turn.

The water a binding element throughout all life no matter who or where they were from the water like the force bound them together.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The water was always the element Coren loved the most. It was what it represented, really, connectedness, fluidity. Everything touched upon everything else. And from here? He felt like he was really a part of the Force, and all that was around him. Connected to the water, to the elements, and atoms, to Serena, in the water with him. He could feel the movements, and sense what was going to happen next. Not unlike when he was behind the controls of a ship.

Serena was ahead of him, and he could see her, as well as sense her. Another paddle and a second, and he knew he was approaching the turn. Feeling her move in the water to dive, Coren prepared, he was a stroke or two behind her and ducked down, spinning and kicking off the wall.

Was he going to win? It didn’t matter, all that mattered was the race.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

The water was also an excellent conduit for the force she could almost feel Coren's thoughts as he took the race in stride. She laughed and began to cough spitting water and air causing her to slow for a few moments to catch her breath, blinking hard to regain air. She took a breath as she took moments to tread the water.

She shook her head and then pushed forward towards the wall and the view of the deep black. She rolled over to the back stroke to give herself more time to draw the precious air to her lungs.

"It's always about the race" she thought to Coren, "how we perform, what we do to achieve the end...but I do plan an touching the end before you..." This time she didn't smile.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The Jedi was falling into the Force, it was a natural reaction for this pilot. When there was stress, how to avoid it, was the Force. He had worked hard to not always rely on it, but with such a power in the Force near him, it blocked his mind from any other approach. He knew that this was a race, and it was in sport, but there was the warrior’s breath in Coren. And he intended to win.

Watching and feeling her roll, Coren grinned. Any time with Serena was never wasted. He enjoyed the times they had run across one another, to see each other and spend time. It reminded him that there was more to this galaxy than the wars that were fought. The lives that were at stake.

That’s what you think.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

Its what I know

She kicked and pulled the water she tried to judge where he was he felt close the movements of his long arms cutting through the water. The gentle intake of a breath the presence in the force. She knew not to smile she'd take in water.

Was she going to lose? He was slightly ahead and pulling forward. She shook her head and did her best to keep moving. She was reaching for the wall stretching further with her hand....just a little more.....

[member="Coren Starchaser"]